“Does everyone understand the plan?” Ace walks in between Traci and I, waiting on an answer. “I think we've gone over it so many times I've lost count.” I smirk at him. We couldn't wait at the castle any longer, so we opted to head to the Three Broomsticks and wait there instead. Since it was almost time for the plan to commence, we head towards the Shrieking Shack. Not even a few blocks down, the shack comes into view and we duck behind some bushes, concealing ourselves in case Cordelia decides to show up early. Ace turns to me, “Alright, I'm going in now. Just stay out of sight and try to not get caught.” He stands up but I pull on his arm. “Wait,” I lean upwards and kiss him. Why did I just do that? I'll see him again after this is over. He ends the kiss and chuckles as he gets up. He walks towards the door to the shack and slips inside.

Traci stares at me and smirks. A little annoyed, I stare back at her. “What?” She briefly points towards the shack. “Ace seems to really love you, you know.” I blush. I think it's time I tell her about that night. “So, there's something I didn't tell you about Ace and I. A few days ago, I couldn't sleep so I thought to do some homework. Ace secretly dropped a note in my bag saying to meet him in the Room of Requirement, so I went. One thing lead to another and we kissed. Later up in the Astronomy Tower, he told me that was the night he decided not to go through with Cordelia's plan.” There, now it's out in the open. No more secrets. No more hiding. Traci's eyes widen and she squeals in excitement. “No way! No freaking, flipping way!” I roll my eyes. “Traci, do not under any circumstance gossip this around school! I can't stand having my love life on display for the entire school to see.” Traci crosses her fingers and giggles, “No promises! You have to tell me every detail later!” Great, now that everything is out in the open, she'll never stop asking me to retell it.

Boom! The sound of an apparition echos and bounces off of the trees surrounding us and the Shrieking Shack. Cordelia stands right in front of the shack, with a mirror in her hand and on the other, her ruby red ring. The amulet rests on her chest as she fiddles with it with her free hand. She came alone. Did she take the baited letter Ace sent her? She slowly walks towards the shack and slips inside without a sound. “This is it Traci! Follow her, but be sneaky and cautious about it. We don't want her to know it's a trap.” Traci nods her head and we crouch all the way to the Shrieking Shack's door. We slip inside without a sound and begin to hear mumbles upstairs. “You're right mother. I was caught up in a fantasy and it clouded my head with useless doings. I'm here to make things right, just you and me.” Ouch, that stings. I'm just a fantasy? Traci catches my attention by tapping my arm and whispers, “Stay focused Anastasia.” She's right, stay on the plan. We head upstairs, one step at a time. Every step we take, makes a creaking noise. But because the shack likes to creak often, it's not even noticeable in the slightest.

Creeping up to the little area upstairs, Cordelia's back is facing us. Traci and I come into Ace's view, with Traci's wand at the ready. Ace looks at Traci and yells, “Now!” Traci points her wand directly at Cordelia and casts the Full Body-Bind Curse. “Petrificus Totalus!” In shock and met with surprise, Cordelia flops to the ground completely motionless. “Go Traci, Anastasia and I will take it from here until help arrives.” Traci nods her head once more and runs down the stairs and out the shack. I bend down beside Cordelia and rip the amulet off of her chest. As I stare her down, I decide to give her a piece of my mind. “This is for stealing my magic,” I look at Ace and then back down at her again. “And this is for manipulating a person who's magic is stronger than yours will ever be.” I stand up and walk out of the room and out of the shack, with Ace following behind me. I take the amulet and put it around my neck and turn to Ace. Ace already has his wand out and he warns me, “Don't move while I do this. If I hurt you in any way I-” I cut him off. “You won't. You can do this.” I close my eyes as he points his wand at me. “Deletrius!” A flash of light beams through my eyelids and I'm on my knees. Like a river flowing, a string of energy starts to flow through my hands and then throughout my body. My magic, it's coming back! As suddenly as it starts, it stops. My body is forced to fall to the ground and I hear a distant yell for my name, “Anastasia!”

My eyes slowly open to see Ace towering over me. Why am I always the one to faint? “You lifted off of the ground for a moment and then got violently thrown to the ground. It looked like something from a film! Just how much magic do you really got in you?” He smirks and I slap his shoulder playfully. “More than you do I bet.” I smirk back at him and he chuckles. Ace helps me stand just as the magical law enforcement come into view, with Traci running towards us. “Did you do it? Do you have your magic back?” I shrug my shoulders. “Try it out.” Ace takes the wand from my back pocket and hands it to me. I take it and point my wand towards Ace, concentrating on the one tiny hole on his sleeve. “Reparo!” The hole instantly fixes itself and I smirk at Ace. “It works! You're shirt needed a little fix.” He chuckles at me and we all turn towards the Shrieking Shack in time to see the magical law enforcement bringing Cordelia out in hand cuffs. Cordelia sees us and she shoots a hard glance towards Ace and I and suddenly, she escapes from the officers grasp. She runs towards us, with her eyes meeting mine. Ace jumps in front of me to shield me. “If you want her, you'll have to come through me first!” Such a cliche move, Ace. But I appreciate the gesture.

Right before Cordelia has the chance to touch him, the magical law enforcement catch her and drag her away. They all stand around her, making sure she doesn't try to escape again, and they apparate with a boom! A professor comes into view, “Come on now you three, back to the castle at once! School is scheduled to resume tomorrow, you know.” Traci starts to head to the castle and Ace chats with the professor for a moment. On the ground near the Shrieking Shack, I see something shiny. I walk towards it and pick it up. It's Cordelia's ruby red ring. “Anastasia, you coming?” Ace's voices echoes throughout the area. “Coming!” I decide to put the ring in my pocket for now and wait for the right time to give it to Ace. I jog towards Ace as he puts his arm around me. We walk back up to the castle, hoping that tomorrow will bring us a new start.