"I am stopping this, Salazar," said Helga. Her look was stern, but Salazar could see her displeasure for the words as she spoke them. He made to take her hands, but she crossed her arms.

"Helga…" He began, suddenly fearing her rejection.

"We cannot live in this fantasy any longer! We are disillusioned by our-"

"Our feelings? I believe you were the one to encourage us to act upon our feelings, Helga," Salazar interrupted, now angry with her sudden rejection. She flinched at his words, looking away from him.

He should have foreseen this.

"Salazar, I-," Helga began, choking on her own words. She inhaled sharply, trying not to let her emotions overcome her. He glared at her attempted composure.

"How can you deny this- us, Helga? You cannot!" He spoke harshly, but at low volume, stepping closer to her.

"How can we keep this?" She asked with a small voice, avoiding his eyes.

"By staying in our reverie. Not allowing doubts and fears guide our actions," he spoke with passion. It was his last hope of convincing her, for if his words could not convince her…

"How are we meant to keep this up, Salazar?" Helga was no longer attempting to hide her distress. She looked to her hands in an attempt to keep her eyes from his.

She continued, "Were we supposed to continue to sneak around the castle, even when the students arrive? Keep it from our dearest friends?"

Salazar simply looked at her, his expression betraying his inner despair at her words. He looked away from her.

"If this is the way you want it," he said quietly before adding, "Miss Hufflepuff."

Helga turned her head sharply away, as Salazar walked past her. His footsteps echoed off the corridor's walls loudly; it wasn't until she heard a door slam that Helga was left in silence.

It wouldn't be until tomorrow that she would discover Salazar had left the grounds, not knowing whether or not he'd return