There was nowhere to escape, no way to escape. Gretchen had her backed up against the mirror, had her hand on her shoulder, and then—

A gasp escaped her lips as the dozens of pearls flew from her neck and clattered against the stone floor, some bouncing out of sight while others remained right at her feet. Frida stood speechless, unable to so much as process Gretchen's words and anger; her eyes were stuck on the pearls that remained in sight as the significance of the damage set in. Those were mother's pearls—the piece of jewelry Frida had held close to her heart since the day her mother's will was read. The boggart she'd faced in Professor Sleptov's class had taken the form of her mother snatching away the pearls, which had become a symbol of their relationship.

And now they were all over the floor.

Frida let out a choked sob and finally slid to the side, out and away from Gretchen's reach. She opened her mouth, but no words came. She could only nod.

---