I wake up on a bench with Ace's uniform cloak wrapped around me. What happened? Where am I? The memory of the incident comes flooding back and I shoot up into a sitting position. My hand ends up on the right side of my head. Ouch, a headache. It feels like I'm hungover. I hear slight voices in the distance, though it's much clearer now. “I should have told my mother no from the beginning, when I met her on the train that day. That way I could have told her sooner that I love her. None of this would have happened.” Although he lied to me, which does sting, he also showed me that he truly loves me. Should I give him a second chance? I mean, he did prove himself by trying to protect me; an act of love and loyalty. I decide to forgive him and give him another chance. I try to stand up but end up sitting back down, dizziness taking control over my balancing skills. “Anastasia,” Ace runs to my side in an instant, checking to make sure I'm alright. “How long have I been out?” My hand stays on my temple, feeling it throb from the inside. “About an hour or so. We're in the Astronomy Tower. I couldn't bring you to the hospital wing because then people will start asking questions. If that were to happen, I probably would have been expelled by now.”

I nod my head, agreeing that his decision was the best option. “I'll give you two some space. If you need me, I'll be by the entrance to the tower, on the lookout for anyone who tries to enter here.” Traci steps backwards a few paces, turns around, and heads to the entrance, leaving us two alone. Ace helps me up and I finally regain my balance. I walk over towards the edge of the tower, holding onto the railing in front of me. Ace stands beside me and reaches his hands on my hips to balance me, watching me closely. “If you fall, I'm here to catch you. You still seem a bit woozy.” Instead of waving his hands away, I let him balance me. Knowing myself, I'll probably end up falling down the second his hands move away. “Anastasia, I need to tell you why my mother is the way she is. Ever since she was young, she was obsessed with being the most pretty and how she never wanted to age. Each time she would find a flaw in herself, like a zit or a wrinkle, it was always concealed with magical cosmetics. When Cordelia was in her 20s, she finally met my father; a wealthy man. According to her, my father wanted a wife that would stay beautiful forever. He wanted to have a partner who looked like they never aged a day. When they got married, she moved into his estate and she was the perfect wife that he wanted. As a wedding gift, my father gifted my mother a bright red ruby ring. Apparently, the ring symbolizes her beauty. With the ring my father gave her, it only increased her idea of perfection.

Cordelia kept herself young and radiant by using youthful potions and magical cosmetics, though everything she used was short-lasting and temporary. I never met my father, as he got sick and passed away before I was born. Cordelia told me that before he passed, he had two dying wishes. One wish was for his unborn child to one day protect his beautiful wife, like a right hand man that will bend over backwards for her; tend to her every need. The other wish was directed towards my mother and her radiant beauty. He asked her to vow to find a way to become young and beautiful forever, meaning no temporary spells or enchantments. While I grew up, all I can remember is my mother constantly fixing herself with potions and spells. She looked for years in books and studies for a magical something to make her young and beautiful forever. After years of searching, she found this amulet that would be powerful enough to grant her husband's wish. Cordelia eventually hired some men to track the amulet down and they did. However, when she went to purchase it, she found that it was already sold. She came home screaming that day.

Her second in command went to find anything he could about you. Where you live, what school you go to, stuff like that. Once he got the information he needed, he took that information and gave it to my mother. I was getting ready to go to Durmstrang, as school was starting soon, a week later than Hogwarts. At dinner, my mother talked a lot about switching schools from Durmstrang to Hogwarts, and that there was this girl at Hogwarts that she wanted me to get close to. Since I was her golden child, I didn't want to say anything that would make her mad, so I just obeyed. I did what she asked for awhile; meeting you, getting close to you, pretend to fall for you. But then I started to have real feelings for you. Not the kind she wanted, but the kind I never knew I wanted. She manipulated me into making you fall for me so she could activate the amulet without doing the work herself.” I look at him, completely shocked at what he just told me. It wasn't his fault! Cordelia tricked him into doing her dirty work. “I thought that by doing what my mother wanted, I was honouring my father's dying wish. After that night in the Room of Requirement, I realized how wrong I was. I quickly went to the Owlery and wrote a letter to Cordelia, telling her that I was done with her scheme.” Ace dives into his back pocket, takes out a crumpled piece of parchment, and hands it to me. I take it in my hand and smooth it out. It reads:

Mother,

I can't do this anymore! For once in my life, I actually like it here and I don't want to screw it up. I'm not going through with your plan. I love her. I can't hurt her like that. If you dare to try to hurt her in any way, I WILL be there to protect her! Don't come looking for her. Ever.

- Ace

Ace continues, “I planned to tell you the truth today. That's why I searched for you before herbology. I was lucky that I was able to get you out of class, for us two to be alone. I took you to that rock so I could tell you, but my mother's men showed up and drove us apart. She didn't listen to my warning in the letter, the part to not come looking for you. In the Forbidden Forest, Cordelia got to blurting it out before I had the chance to explain. I'm so sorry Anastasia. I've brought you into this before trying to stop it. I tried to protect you and I failed. Now my mother's got your magic an-” I'm completely speechless, not knowing what to say. I look at him, lean in, and kiss him. All the tension between us suddenly collides and vanishes. When I regain my thoughts, I whisper to him, “I forgive you, Ace.” That's it? That's all you can come up with? Just when I think it's not enough, it is. Ace smiles at me, swings me into his arms, and I chuckle. “Hey lovebirds, you two can be flirty after we fix Anastasia's magic.” Ace and I look towards the entrance to find Traci leaning against the wall with her arms across her chest. Oh yeah, I guess that secret is out too. So much for trying to hide it from her. “Sorry Traci, I can't deny that when I'm with her time stops.” I blush at that comment and to avoid unwanted tension, I start the conversation. “So, if you know how the amulet activates, can you reverse it?” Ace looks at me, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “I would have already started a plan to get your magic back if I did.” Great, might as well say goodbye to Hogwarts now, since I don't have magic anymore.

“Wait, I think I overheard some Ravenclaw's who got caught poking around the restricted section talking about some kind of book that might show magical accessories for beauty. I think the book is called the Enchanted Magical Accessories for Enhancing Beauty. The answers to how we can reverse the amulet's magic might be in that book.” For once, her gossip skills are put to good use. Traci lights up in interest of the gossip she remembers, but Ace shoots her down. “Why would there would a beauty book in the restricted section? Too many girls wanting a make-over?” That is true. Why would a beauty book end up in the one place where students couldn't access? Suddenly, my eyes widen in shock. “Unless, there are objects in the book that are used for malicious intent. Like an amulet perhaps?” I take Ace's hand and run out of the tower, with Traci following behind us. Ace keeps his hand in mine as we run. “Where are we going?” With a smile on my face, I slow down to a jog. “The place where the famous Hermione Granger went to for answers; the library of course!”