Skylar's First Kill

During this Christmas holiday, most Hogwarts students chose to return home and spend Christmas with their families.

Daphne and Astoria were no exception. The two boarded the train leaving Hogwarts early in the morning, sharing a compartment with Draco, Pansy, and the Carrow Sisters.

Draco and Pansy were naturally returning to the House of Malfoy, while the Carrow Sisters were headed for Carrow Manor.

There were exceptions, however. Because their families had gone abroad, or were too occupied with Ministry of Magic work to get away, Cho Chang, Morrie, Luna, and Susan chose to remain at Hogwarts Castle.

Morrie buried herself in the library's collection of ancient books. Cho Chang practiced new tactics alone on the Quidditch pitch. Luna chatted with her pets in the Suitcase Space, while Susan busied herself organizing the Sleeping Dragon Society's latest intelligence.

The four of them occasionally met in the mirror Chamber of Secrets on the fifth floor. Whenever they spoke of Skylar, their eyes always carried a trace of longing and anticipation they could not hide.

As for Skylar, he quietly arrived at Greenery Manor on Christmas Eve.

The manor gates slowly opened amid the snowstorm. Snowflakes covered Skylar's black robes, yet they slid away automatically before coming within three feet of him. He stepped into the hall, where Mr. Greengrass had long been waiting by the fireplace. The old man wore a deep-green velvet ceremonial robe, his silver hair meticulously combed, his sharp gaze carrying the scrutiny of an elder.

Skylar had come primarily to ask Mr. Greengrass for Daphne's hand in marriage and become engaged to her. At the same time, he hoped to borrow some personnel from the Greengrass Family to help construct the Runespoor breeding grounds on Avalon Island.

Ever since they had met on the train, Daphne had