Arlo was tired. Two days of stifling boredom and his father still hadn’t lifted the Charms that held him, trapped in his own home. It was a form of punishment he was used to, however he wasn’t entirely sure what he was being punished for this time. And that only meant his fears were eating away at him, uncertainty clouding every thought. He had spent a few hours of the morning reading in his bedroom, but eventually found himself unable to quiet the voices in his head. He longed for a sense of freedom, any sense of freedom, no matter how pitiful. So he had dressed and made his way to the Drawing Room where he now sat, playing melancholy tunes on the Grand Piano. The sun shone through the large windows, casting shadows on the various bookcases and sofas. He watched the shadows move with a mild sense of interest. He could see time passing, the sun moving in the sky, but he may as well have spent his entire life sitting at the instrument. He let his song falter to a halt, resting his fingers against the keys and sighing deeply. It was only when he heard movement at the door that he pushed the stool back, standing upright, turning to face his company. He was expecting his mother, or perhaps Teeny, the family House Elf. He wasn’t expecting to see Kennedy. A girl he recognised from school and uptight, upper class social gatherings. A girl he often made forced small talk with to please his parents, but who he had never truly spoken to. He straightened his robes before catching her eye, feeling caught off guard by her presence. “Can- can I help you?”
