Dear Forgiveness,

“Can you make this quick? I’ve got a long shift at the Hog’s Head with my name on it and I don’t wanna be late.”

“I just don’t understand how someone could just… take them. Why? What information could they possibly have that someone would be interested in?”

“Why do Death Eaters do anything?” She asked, taking a deep breath and trying to steady herself. Her mind was working overtime.

“Hey look, I know it’s scary,” he sighed softly, pulling her close. “I know. But we’ve got to have faith that the Aurors know what they’re doing. They’re trained for this. Mackenzie and Lucy will be back and safe, they have to be.”

She hugged him tightly, burying her head in his shoulder and trying to hold on as though it would hold her together. “I just want them to be safe. I’m so scared.”

He wrapped his arms around her, pressing his chin against the top of her head as he let out a gentle sigh. “I know Rosa is helping Callum to pester the Ministry for information,” he told her, his lips pressing into her hair. “That’s all they’ve been able to do, though, unfortunately. I don’t think there’s anything else we can do, but wait, and be there for them when they come home.” 

She took a couple of deep breathes, almost hiding in his arms, grateful for just how easy it was for her to do that with their height difference. “That’s good. I just need to know that they’re. That they’re going to be okay and come back.”

“I know it’s really hard to imagine it, but it’s going to be okay,” Gabe said softly. He knew they would put good Aurors on the case and everybody would be doing anything in their power to fix the situation and get those girls home as quickly as possibly. “I know, I know. Scary stuff is happening. The worst part is feeling so hopeless about it – but you’re not alone.”

She let out a soft sob, pressing close and hugging Gabe, needing comfort. She leaned into him, taking deep breaths. “I don’t want everyone to be in danger. Merlin, Gabe, the look on my mums’ faces when they heard the news. I’ve never seen them look so scared before.”

“Let’s hope that Ravenclaw brain of hers figures a way to get out of there,” Laurel replied. She wasn’t necessarily close with either of the girls, but that didn’t mean she wished ill upon them. All she could hope was that the authorities would find those girls soon, “I also hope those sons-a-bitches that took them get what’s coming to them too. I mean it had to be a kidnapping, there’s no way those girls would’ve just run away like that.”

“No, definitely not running away.” Lalita said, only really half there, beyond worried for Lucy and her welfare, feeling on the verge of tears just thinking about the danger she could be in.

At her answer Aiden let the door close, looking at the other and nodding in understanding, “I get it, the past few days have been.. well they’ve been distracting.” He knew of Mackenzie with her being a rival player, but he hadn’t met Lucy before. “Yeah, I am and you’re the seeker for Puddlemere United, right?”

“It just makes no sense. They’re both such kind people.” She sighed softly, shaking her head. She nodded as he identified her. “That’s me. Newly signed and fucking things up already.” Lalita laughed a little, though there was no humor in it. “But seeing as you’re from an opposing team, I probably shouldn’t be telling you that.”

“I was asking how practice was going for you, but that’s obviously not helping to distract you,” Laurel sighed. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“There’s nothing really to talk about. I’m just worried about Lucy. I know she’s smart and capable. But nobody is prepared for whatever she’s going through.”

“I was just wondering if you were going in?” Aiden asked, coffee in his hand as held open the door from the cafe he had just exited, coming face to face with the other girl who seemed to be in a world of her own, “Are you okay? It’s Lalita, right?” 

“Oh, uh, no.” She shook her head a little. She had been considering it but decided against it. “I’m just distracted.” Lalita smiled a little. “Yeah, Lalita Patil. You’re the keeper for the Magpies, aren’t you?”

“It’s not important,” he replied shaking his head a little when he saw how distracted she was. “Were you close to either of them?”

“Me and Lucy were really close. I love her to pieces.” She sighed, rubbing her eyes. “I’m so scared, Gabe.”

“Are you going to purchase that book?” Lyra asked, nodding to the one beside the girl. “It’s the last copy here. I asked. They’re shipping a new lot in Monday but I just wanted to ask if you were going to buy it now.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine.” She didn’t even realise she was holding a book, handing it over to the younger woman. “I didn’t want it. Is it good?”

“I was just asking if you knew where I could purchase flowers around here. The only store selling plants didn’t have any flowers that looked… like they wouldn’t eat you if they wanted to,” he admitted with a soft chuckle, hoping it would lighten the mood a little. The other didn’t seem to be in good spirits.

“Oh, I, uh...” She thought for a moment, looking around Diagon Alley, rubbing her forehead. “I think there’s a little shop around the corner which sells actual flowers.” Lalita suggested, still not really entirely focused.

“I was asking if you were all right,” he said, his voice quiet as he came up beside her, his hand reaching out to press against the small of her back as he sat down. His eyes moved over her face, trying to gauge her emotions at the present time, but he couldn’t really read her. “Talk to me.”

“Not even a little bit.” She sighed, turning to nuzzle into his neck, feeling comforted by him being there beside her. “I’m so scared for Lucy. She’s in danger and I can’t help and I hate it. I want to do something to help. And I can’t concentrate on anything else.”

Alice grabbed onto Lalita’s arm and looked up at her with glistening eyes. Since she found out, she was crying or on the verge of tears. There was no in between, “Lalita, Lucy is gone! I don’t know what to do.”

“You dropped these,” Alastair said, holding out a set of keys, “Are you okay?”