The air inside the leader's chamber was heavy with the stench of dust, ink, and something darker — the lingering trace of magic burned too deep into the walls to be erased. Eira stepped over the wreckage of their duel, her boots crunching on splintered wood and shattered glass.
Her gaze swept across the room. A locked cabinet in the corner yielded to a sharp unlocking charm, revealing a familiar length of polished wood — her true wand. A faint hum of magic greeted her fingers when she touched it. She pulled it free and, with her other hand, retrieved the wand once belonging to the lord of this house — now hers by right of victory — and slipped it into her system's storage with a flicker of magic.
She found Hermione's wand lying on the desk beside a small leather pouch — her pouch. A quick check showed it was still brimming with preserved food. Relief warmed her; two days without eating had left her stomach twisting painfully, though most of that time she'd been unconscious. She slung the pouch at her waist and took one last look around the office, sweeping the desk for anything of use. Nothing but a scattering of irrelevant papers…
Time to go.
Eira returned to the cell with the purpose of freeing Hermione. Though the door was already locked, she had sealed it with an additional layer of magic out of concern for Hermione's safety, instructing her to stay inside. Now, as Eira reached the door, muffled thumps echoed softly from within.
"Move, you stupid door!" Hermione's voice rang out between kicks.
Eira raised a brow, aimed her wand, and whispered a simple unlocking charm. The door swung inward — just in time for Hermione's next kick to connect with empty air. The girl stumbled forward and hit the ground with a startled yelp.
Eira's laughter spilled into the room. "Oh, that was perfect."
Hermione scrambled up, brushing dirt from her skirt. "Don't laugh! You could have warned me before opening it."
"When I told you to wait here, did you think I'd abandon you?" Eira smirked. "Where's the trust, girl?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine. What happened to our captors?"
"Nothing much," Eira lied smoothly. "They're unconscious. When we get out, I'll inform the Ministry and they can handle them with law and justice."as she clearly hid the fact that she already sent them to whatever god or goddess they believed.
"Really? They were adult wizards. How did you take them all on?"
Eira's smirk widened. "It wasn't hard. They were distracted. I used a few spells, locked them in a room. They won't move for a day."
Hermione looked unconvinced but let it go.
Eira reached into her cloak and handed over Hermione's wand. "Here. Try not to lose it again."
Hermione accepted it gratefully. "Thanks… but why do you have two wands? Everyone only has one."
"Perk of being head of the White family," Eira said with a mysterious shrug.
They left the cell and navigated through the crumbling corridors until they emerged into the wilds beyond. The forest stretched in every direction, the abandoned castle standing like a forgotten relic among the trees.
"Why build a castle in the middle of nowhere?" Hermione asked, glancing at the unbroken green around them.
"Some people liked isolation," Eira replied. "Or maybe it was some rich witch who wanted to live far from anyone else. You know — the kind from stories, snatching children from villages."
Hermione glanced sideways. "You're Eira White? I wasn't sure in that dark room, but now that I see you… you really do look like her."
Eira chuckled softly. "By now, you've probably figured it out—we've already talked about it. You were kidnapped because of me."
"You're quite famous at Hogwarts," Hermione said. "You're in the Daily Prophet all the time. A lot of people talk about you… especially the boys."
"Don't tell me they have a crush on me," Eira teased.
Hermione coughed awkwardly. "…Some do."
They walked for hours, snacking from Eira's pouch along the way, until the trees thinned and the sky opened above them. Here, at last, her emergency artifact began to hum with power. She activated it with a touch, relief softening her features.
"Now we wait. My help will come," she said, drawing her wand once more. A few fluid transfiguration spells later, chairs and a large table stood on the grass. More food appeared atop it — bread, fruit, meat pies, and her personal favorite: mango juice in two tall glasses.
Hermione stared at her. "Are we having a picnic? What if more kidnappers come?"
Eira leaned back in her chair. "Don't worry. Everything's under control. My assistant will be here soon, and besides, we're safe for now. Sit down and eat—I'm sure they haven't given you anything to eat or drink. Let's enjoy what we have and take in the view while we can."
Hermione hesitated for a moment before finally joining her. The sun had dipped low, its soft light slanting across the clearing and catching in the glass of juice between them. The first hints of evening shadows began to stretch as they quietly began to eat—two unlikely companions sharing a rare moment of calm as the day gently gave way to night.