As I stumbled my way home from Merry's grave, a sharp chilling pain spread over my chest. The breath fell from my lips and a trail of mist blew into the air.

These were all signs I should have noticed but I was too caught up in my grief to realise what was going on.

"Shit," I muttered, flicking my wand out and casting the Patronus Charm. As I rushed home, my wolf at my feet, I didn't care if any muggle caught a glimpse of my magic. How could I have forgotten about the dementor that attacked Polly?

I needed to report this to the Ministry.

Polly was in the hall when I barged into the house. I didn't spare her a look as I cast the charms my Papa and Hermione had gone over with me. It was the same list of charms that protected them while they were on the hunt for Horcruxes.

"Polly, I've been an idiot."

"Well, you didn't have to tell me that." She crossed her arms over her chest and gave me a disapproving look. "Where have you been?"

"Where's Thomas?"

"So you care about him now?" She was being snappy and I guess in some way I deserved it, but in others, I really didn't.

"I know what's been happening," I said, rushing past her and into the living room where Ada was cuddling with the baby. "That dementor that attacked you a couple of weeks ago, it's still here. It's been feeding off me."

"I thought you said it feeds off happiness."

"I was happy. I'm happy with Thomas. I love him and despite Merry being gone, I'm happy."

"Then why did you say you didn't want him!"

"Do you remember how you felt when it attacked you? That feeling of emptiness, of nothing. Can you understand now?" I knew she could understand now. The fear in her eyes as she remembered was enough for me to know that.

"How are you going to deal with it?"

"I've got to go to the Ministry."

"What's the Ministry?"

"I don't have time to explain at the moment, Ada, I've got to sort this problem out before it gets worse." I took Thomas from her, tucking him into the blanket and holding him against my chest as I walked over to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of flew-powder. "Ministry of Magic!"

I stumbled into the Ministry, no surprise really seeing as I always stumbled out of a flew network. I was thrown off a little by the entrance hall. This was not the Ministry I was used to seeing.

It was dull, full of dark tones and seriously reminded me of the dungeons at Hogwarts. It was like a potions master was in charge of the Ministry.

"Umm, can I help you, Miss?"

I turned to the voice, frowning at the man that came towards me with his wand out. Oh, yeah. Women weren't expected to do things for themselves in this time. I could remember Nanna Molly going on about the struggles of women being able to do things for themselves throughout her life.

"I've got a rogue dementor in Small Heath," I told him, not bothering to beat around the bush. "I need it dealt with. It's affecting my son." I rocked Thomas in my arms gently, hoping it would draw his attention to the baby.

"Oh, umm, well I can call someone for you. Err, just give me a—"

"No need, Jefferey, I've got it." A man with curly dark hair and a familiar face stepped forward waving the security guy off. "Dementor did you say?"

"Umm, yes. In Small Heath, Birmingham. It attacked a muggle and has been feeding off me for the last few days." I glanced down at Thomas and sighed deeply.

"I can help you with it, let me follow you back to your house and I—"

"No offence, sir, but I don't know you. I'm not going to invite you back to my house where my family is sleeping."

"I work for The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. I can help with your situation."

Yeah, how was I meant to believe him? One, he seemed too good looking to be messing around with dangerous creatures every day. I could picture him being in either the Department of Mysteries or the Department of Law Enforcement.

"Here," he said, pulling out ID badge which proved he was indeed from the Control of Magical Creatures Department.

"Phineas Black?" He couldn't be. "You're the son of Headmaster Phineas Black."

"The very same." I'd upset him. Or at the very least insulted him.

"Oh God, how can you live with such a dick for a father?" My eyes widened as I realised what I'd said. If I wasn't holding the baby I would have brought my hand up to cover my mouth.

"You believe in God?"

"What?"

"You said God instead of Merlin. That's a muggle term, are you a muggleborn?"

"Umm, no I'm not but I live with a family of muggles. Though they know about magic due to having a squib in their family." His eyes lit up at the mention of my muggle family. "Can you help with the dementor?"

"Yes. Do you believe I'm not a predator and actually out to help you?" He was teasing me. Why did I like the fact that he was teasing me?

It was as if the whole of Small Heath had changed. It was surprising what a dementor could do to affect everyone around it. For months Small Heath had been hidden under a shadow and now, three weeks later, you could almost see the sun shining in the streets.

I would never underestimate the power of one dementor, not after the damage I'd seen one do.

The months Merry and I had spent here before she died, I had wondered why everything seemed so glum. I thought at first, it was the poverty of the area, but I'd been mistaken for the depression the dementor was spreading.

Don't get me wrong, Small Heath was a dump, but it was a place I called home.

"I don't like him," Polly said, dropping the morning paper on the kitchen table as she frowned at me.

I adjusted Thomas in my arms as he sucked from his bottle greedily and turned my attention to her.

"Who are you talking about, Pol?"

"That Phineas Black bloke, the one that pops round every Wednesday night."

"You're joking, Polly. Right?" I can't believe she thinks I'd step out with Phineas. Eww, no way. He's related to me, even if it's long-distance. I was not going out with him. Yuck. "He's just a friend, Polly."

"I don't think he's got friendship on his mind, love."

"He's engaged, Polly. To a muggleborn girl." I pulled the bottle from Tom's mouth and rested him on my shoulder, patting him on the back lightly. "He's just concerned about me is all. He thinks I'm his father's illegitimate daughter."

"Why does he think that?"

"I appeared on the famous Black Family Tapestry." I would have loved to see how Phineas Nigellus Black explained that to his wife. According to Phin, I appeared under their father's name and Thomas appeared under mine.

"How's that possible?"

"I guess because in the future I am from the Black family, my being here now has sort of confused the tapestry. It's meant to record everyone from the Black family line."

"And that's why Phineas keeps coming round? Because he thinks you're his sister?"

"No." I shook my head and rose, walking over to the pram by the backdoor. "I told him the truth."

"You told him the truth?"

I knew where she was going with this. It was dangerous telling people the truth but I knew all about Phineas. He was disowned from the Black family because of his beliefs. He didn't want to be part of the pure-blood supremacists. He had beliefs he wanted to follow.

"I got one of those feelings, Polly. I know what I'm doing."

"I sure hope you know what you're doing." She muttered to herself as she glanced up to the ceiling. We could hear the children running around up there and I knew Polly didn't want them involved in this conversation. "Tommy's not gonna like him being here."

"What does it have to do with Tommy?" I asked, confused at the mention of her nephew.

"You haven't written to him in over a month. Ada's been writing to him nearly every week. If she mentions Phineas he'll think it's why you've stopped writing to him."

"Why should that matter?" She turned her head away and looked out the window. Why did I feel like I was being scolded for cheating? "Why should it matter, Polly?"

"He's had his heart broken before, Romy. I won't let you do it to him again, not in the middle of a goddamn war!"

"You're making this out to be something it isn't, Polly. I write to the damn man, but I am not in love with him. He's not in love with me. We barely know each other, for christ sake. He's my friend, that is all," I cried in frustration, getting up and rocking the pram as Thomas started to cry.

"You've got a lot to learn."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, turning to face her and gritting my teeth. Polly rolled her eyes and got up from the table. She gave me a look before leaving the house, her coat flowing out of the door behind her. "Your Aunt Pol is a fucking nightmare, Thomas."

"She's just worried for him, is all." I was startled by Ada's appearance. I kept forgetting she'd moved into Merry's room. It seemed these Shelby's spent more time at my house than their own nowadays.

"She should be worried for him, Ada, he's in the middle of a fucking war," I snapped, feeling guilty instantly for my behaviour towards her. "Sorry."

"It's not that." She shook her head as she came into the kitchen and settled at the table. She watched the teapot move on its own and frowned slightly as a cup of tea was made in front of her. Ada was still unsure about all this magic. "Tommy would never admit it but he falls in love quickly."

I found that surprising. From all the stories I'd been told, it seemed like Tommy was the brains. If he was so intelligent, how did he fall in love so quickly when he knew the potential damage it could cause?

"He's a romantic. He also knows what he wants. You're the sort of woman that would be perfect for him. You're independent, you're strong, you know what you want. It wouldn't be a surprise if he falls in love with you through your letters."

"From where I come from, that sort of thing doesn't really happen, Ada. Unfortunately, people in my era put more focus on appearance than personality." I could only think of the number of times Annie had been out on a date after one of her online things. It wasn't really for me and was probably why I'd never dated. That and according to Dora I was too career-driven.

"Perhaps you should give the letters a go." She placed three letters neatly on the table, sliding them over to me. "I expect you to write back to him."

I touched the top letter and slid it closer, peeling it open and pulling the letter out to read.

Dear Romy,

I think it's the 27th of October but I'm not too sure They don't really tell us much if it's not important.

I couldn't believe that I'd been ignoring him for so long. It was nearly December and I'd not written to him since the beginning of October. I was such a selfish bitch.

Your fear of losing your sister is understandable. When I'm parted from John and Arthur I fear it I'll be the last time I'll see them. I fear I will never see Ada or Finn again.

In the chance that your sister has a boy and he's named Tom, I'm sure we'll figure out who's being spoken to. If the baby turns out to be a girl. I'm sure Polly would be honoured if she's named after her.

I wonder if he knew it had been a boy? I wonder if he knew Thomas was here?

Your heart might be heavy now, Romy but when the time comes. You will be able to move on. It'll hurt at first and you may feel like you resent him but you will never be able to hate him. I promise, one look at him and you'll be deeply in love with him.

I wonder if he knew it had been a boy? I wonder if he knew Thomas was here?

I'm glad you enjoy writing to me, I enjoy receiving your letters. In all this destruction you bring me a little peace.

I would love to share everything with you but most of it will get blackened out. I can tell you I have nightmares and that's all I'm saying about that.

My thoughts are with you as Merry continues in her pregnancy.

Tommy.

P.s. You should have seen John's face when he got his photograph. It's brightened his darkest days and I thank you for that.

I was happy that John had enjoyed his photograph. Polly had the idea of trying to send him one every couple of months so he could see the children grow.

I should have expected he'd get nightmares. I'd seen first hand what being in a war could do to people. There were times that Papa Harry would gaze off in the distance at any mention of the ones we'd lost. Aunt Hermione would lose the light in her at the mention of the scar on her arm and Uncle George was always looking over his shoulder for his twin.

Setting his letter down, I reached for the second in the pile and slid my finger under the flap to open it.

10th November 1916

Dear Romy,

Ada wrote to me.

I'm sorry to hear about Merry.

So he did know about Merry and the baby.

There are no words to express how sorry I am.

Ada mentioned that she had a son. I guess there's another Thomas after all.

She also mentioned how cute he is. I bet he's stolen your heart already.

I was ashamed as I read over his words. I'd been such a mess at this time, well not so much at this time, but when Ada wrote to him, I'd been a mess. I was also embarrassed that he'd known how much of a mess I'd been.

She said Polly's been helping you.

Romy, I believe you can handle this. Merry wouldn't ask you to take her place if she didn't believe you could do it.

You are strong and you can do this.

Don't lose yourself, Romy.

Tommy.

There was no stopping my tears now.

How long ago had it been since I told Polly that we didn't even know each other? Tommy was writing to me and his words were so clear. He understood me. He knew who I was and we'd only been writing for a few weeks.

How was it possible for him to know me when people I'd spent my whole life around couldn't understand me?

Sighing, I reached for the last letter and slowly opened it. If his words were anything like the last two, I knew I'd be a mess.

22nd November 1916

Dear Romy,

Ada told me you've sorted things with baby Thomas.

That makes me happy knowing you plan to take care of him. Merry would be proud of you.

I knew she'd be proud of me, but hearing it from him, made it seem a hundred times more real. It's like I didn't believe it until I heard it from his lips.

Nothing's really changed here besides the fact that John's been deployed and separated from us. Don't tell Finn. We like him thinking we're together. We don't want to scare him.

John's promised to write every week so we know he's safe/ We'll let you know if we find out anything about him and Ada's promised to write in return.

It would be nice to hear back from you. Perhaps send a picture of Thomas, I'd like to see him.

Keep safe,

Tommy.

I'd neglected him in this time of utter confusion and fear. How could he even continue to write to me when I'd just left him hanging?

I would have given up.

30th November 1916

Dear Tommy,

Could you forgive an absolute fool for being an ignorant and selfish bitch?

In my time of grief, I completely forgot the one thing beside Thomas that has kept my light burning. My thoughts have drifted towards you many times but I have failed to pick up a pen and write.

I didn't know how much I missed you until I read your letters.

I do miss you, it's true. You see me in a way that no one else does. How is it that I have yet to meet you but you understand me better than Ada who sees me every day?

How is it you know the thoughts I keep buried inside? You know the fears I ponder on and understand my dreams before I've had them.

I regret the way I have treated you, Thomas Shelby, and I wish with everything you have inside you, to forgive me.

I hope John stays safe and you can continue to communicate with him. We'll be keeping an eye out for any bad news, but it doesn't do to keep waiting for something bad.

With every day that passes between now and the end of the war, I wish you nothing but a safe place to sleep at night, even if it is in the trenches. I'll keep you in my thoughts, forever and always.

Love,

Romy x