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Chapter Text

“Let me guess, another student has been petrified.” 

The low, flat tones of the potion professor’s voice carried through the meeting room as he entered. Severus was the last to arrive. The rest of the house heads, the school matron and Hagrid were already seated around the table looking worried. Minister Fudge was also present along with several Aurors. 

“You are unfortunately correct, Severus,” Dumbledore confirmed. Snape tried to squash the part of him that was pleased at how tired the old coot looked. He had lots of reasons for disliking the Headmaster, many having to do with the present situation, but it was becoming dire. 

“That's the sixth student!” Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. “I'm going to run out of beds at this point!”

“Who was it this time?” Pomona asked. 

“One of mine,” Filius replied sadly. “Gretta Richardson. A fifth year.”

That made two Ravenclaws, one Hufflepuff and three Gryffindors. Only Slytherin had been spared.

“What of Miss Granger’s discovery?” Minerva inquired. “Surely we can stop this now that we know the culprit?”

Hermione Granger had been the fourth attack. The girl didn't have many close friends so it hadn't been until after the fifth attack that anyone noticed the piece of paper clutched in her fist. It was the entry on basilisks from a dark creature book.

“We tried roosters already,” Hagrid said. “But ‘ogwarts is too big. We need to find where the slippery thing is hiddin’”

Despite Hagrid’s normal soft spot for all creatures he still remembered the last time the Chamber was opened. Even if he was fascinated by the idea of seeing a basilisk with his own eyes he didn’t want one of the students meeting the same fate as poor Myrtle Warren.

“Any idea who the Heir of Slytherin could be?” Filius asked. Everyone turned to Severus who scowled. 

“The Slytherin line ended with the Dark Lord. None of my snakes have even the faintest tie to that family.”

Everyone deflated. They had no leads on who opened the Chamber. 

“I think it's time we start thinking of closing the school,” Madam Pomfrey suggested. “It's a miracle we haven't had a death yet.”

“And then what?” Snape asked. “We've been looking for the Chamber since before Yule. What makes you think we’ll find it when the students are gone?”

“What if we brought in a Parselmouth?”

All eyes turned to Minerva. She was uncharacteristically nervous, biting at her bottom lip. 

“There are no Parselmouths left in Britain,” Severus pointed out. 

“But there are speakers in the East,” Minerva countered. “We can call for foreign aid.”

“Absolutely not!”

Everyone had honestly forgotten Fudge was present. He looked scandalized by the Deputy Headmistress’ suggestion. 

“I am already spread thin trying to keep the attacks from going public. I will not call in a favor from the Indian Ministry. I will not be seen as an incompetent coward that can not handle his own affairs.”

Everyone except Dumbledore glared at the Minister. They had all protested keeping the attacks quiet and advocated for at least informing the victim’s families but Dumbledore and Fudge had shot them down. Now Fudge was denying them help because he was more concerned for his reputation than the students. 

“Why not use the one in Azkaban?”

One of the aurors had stepped forward. He was a newer auror based on the lack of visible scars and seemed uncomfortable with all the attention on him. 

“Please explain my boy,” Dumbledore prompted. 

“When I did my placement on Azkaban the permanent guards said that there was a Parselmouth on the island.”

“Why was I not aware of this?” Fudge demanded, sputtering in indignation. “Which prisoner? What do they look like?” 

“No one has actually seen them but they told me that snakes seemed drawn to the High Tower. I even saw it for myself a few times.”

Severus paled. Surely they wouldn't ask for assistance from that awful place. 

“How can the Ministry not know who they are?” Filius demanded. “Someone must have investigated.”

“High Tower is the Death Eater block,” the auror explained. “Maximum security. It is exclusively overseen by dementors.”

A collective shiver ran through the staff but Dumbledore just leaned back and started running his fingers through his beard. His eyes were twinkling like they did when he was intrigued. 

“Albus!” Minerva cried. “You can not seriously be considering this!” 

“It is the best option we have, my dear,” the Headmaster replied. “Minister Fudge can authorize a temporary release on his own merit and we will put protections in place while they are on Hogwarts grounds.”

Dumbledore gave them what should have been a comforting smile but the Heads of Houses had been around a long time. That particular smile along with that particular intensity of eye twinkle meant he had made up his mind. They would just have to be there to make sure nothing went wrong. 

Two days later it was Friday evening and all the students had been sent to their dorms with strict instructions to stay put. The other teachers and several ghosts were patrolling the halls while the House Heads gathered in the entrance hall with Dumbledore awaiting the arrival of the mysterious prisoner. 

There was a loud crack from just outside at the temporary apparition point. Two aurors entered first, wands drawn and eyes darting around, assessing their surroundings. Behind them came two more aurors with their wands pointed at the surprisingly short prisoner between them. 

They were dressed in the standard gray-striped Azkaban uniform and had chains on their wrists and ankles. They weren't wearing shoes and the uniform was much too big. It fell off their shoulder revealing small runes tattooed along their jutting collar bone. Their long black hair hung nearly half way down their back and hid most of their face from view. 

The professors were distracted from studying their guest when a wave of cold despair wash over them. Two dementors entered last, floating behind the prisoner.

“We agreed no dementors!” Minerva shrieked. The two aurors not watching the prisoner flinched and looked properly apologetic.

“We didn't bring them. They just tagged along,” they explained. 

“Why in Merlin’s name didn't you banish them then?” Minerva asked dangerously. 

“Did you want us to leave two dementors to freely roam the Forbidden Forest? Or Hogsmead?” they snapped back. 

Minerva pressed her lips together and glared but had no reply. Severus was about to suggest leaving them in the great hall when an eerie rasping and rattling sound filled the air. It was coming from one of the dementors. The prisoner tilted their head to listen before making a similar series of noises. The dementors promptly turned and floated back out the doors. 

“Wha—? Where are they—?” Minerva stuttered, torn between asking what had just happened and demanding to know where the dementors were going. 

“They're going to visit the thestrals since their presence is not welcome here. They will not harm anyone they may find,” the prisoner said. Their voice was rough as if from disuse and there was a strange hiss that undercut his words. 

“You speak to them?” Snape asked in disbelief. “I was not aware that dementors had a spoken language.”

For the first time, the prisoner looked up. His hair still covered the right side of his face but what they could see looked young. Too young. 

“This is a child!” Pomona exclaimed. The House Heads immediately turned to the aurors demanding an explanation, wanting to know how this happened and asking why they hadn't reported this to the ministry immediately. 

Dumbledore tuned them out and studied the prisoner more closely. He was livid that he hadn’t known another Parselmouth existed. Such a dark ability needed to be curbed or they would end up with another Dark Lord. It was good the boy was so young. He could lead him to the Light and use him as a tool against the Dark or keep him as scapegoat if he ever needed one. 

Dumbledore's eyes crawled up the boy’s body. He noted that his uniform had been tailored to fit better, that there were no scars visible under his shackles and his hair was messy but not tangled. When he got to the boy’s face he had to force himself not to jump. Their one visible bright green eye was looking right at him as if Dumbledore was a particularly interesting insect.

“What is your name, my boy?” Dumbledore asked, swallowing down his unease. The argument between the professors and the aurors ceased as everyone listened for the answer.

“Hydrus.”

They waited for him to elaborate but Hydrus stayed silent. 

“That's the name on his paperwork,” one of the aurors confirmed. “Just Hydrus, no family name. It didn't even say what he was charged with. We're planning a full investigation.”

“You’d better be,” Pomona snarled. People always forget how vicious badgers can be, especially when protecting cubs. 

“Did you even confirm he's a Parselmouth?” Filius snapped, his sharp teeth visible through his snarl. In response to his question a low lilting hiss filled the entrance hall causing everyone to focus on Hydrus again. 

“So you speak Parseltongue and can talk to dementors. How is it you know two dark languages?” Snape asked. He was finding this boy more intriguing by the second. 

“I speak four. I also know Ghukliak and I'm working on Mermish.”

“You call it Ghukliak?” Fillius exclaimed, shocked that a wizard used the proper term for his people’s tongue rather than the insulting Goobbledegook. “Who taught it to you?”

“Augustus Rockwood but I would have preferred a goblin teacher.”

Everyone froze. They hadn't quite realized the implications of Hydrus residing in the High Tower with the Death Eaters. 

“And Mermish?” Minerva asked hesitantly. “Who taught you that?”

“The merfolk but it's been slow going. They can't get into the caves below the tower very often because of the rough seas.”

The professor's and aurors gaped at the boy. Not only was he associating with Death Eaters but he was also somehow escaping the High Tower to converse with merpeople? What was going on!?

“Shall we get moving?” Hydrus asked in a casual way that made it obvious he knew exactly what kind of effect he was having on the adults. “Don't we have a basilisk to find?”

That finally shook everyone out of their shock. Hydrus and his two guards led the way up the grand staircase. The chains rattled and clanked as he moved but Hydrus didn't seem bothered. The aurors refused to remove them when the House Heads asked, citing the fact that they didn't even know what he had gone to Azkaban for. 

Hydrus seemed to know where he was going. He strode through the halls with sure steps, barely stopping to peer into classrooms as they passed. Eventually they reached Ravenclaw Tower and Hydrus paused. He turned toward the stairs ascending to the common room, his visible green eye shining in the dim light of the torches. 

“Is something wrong?” Filius asked, concerned for his ravens. Hydrus blinked and shook his head as if clearing it before continuing down the hall without a word. 

They had cleared most of the second floor before they got to the library. Hydrus turned to go inside but paused and tilted his head. There was a loud scraping noise and everyone whirled around in time to see a suit of armor slide over to reveal a hidden passage that deposited two redheaded boys into the hall. 

“Mr. Weasley! Mr. Weasley!” Minerva exclaimed. “You were ordered to stay in the common room!”

“Sorry professor…” one of them said. 

“...punish us if you must.” the other continued. 

“But we have a problem…”

“... Ginny is not in the dorms.”

“What do you mean?” Filius squeaked.

“She was there when Professor McGonagall told us to stay…”

“... but she's gone now.”

None of the professor's had ever seen the Weasley twins so frantic. The fact that they had gone for help meant they were truly concerned for their little sister’s safety. As the aurors started asking the twins questions Snape looked over at Albus. If Ginny Weasley had been taken then there was no way he could keep it quiet. She was a pureblood from a Light family. Snape had hoped to see worry or maybe anger in the headmaster’s eyes but all he saw was that damn twinkle. 

Then he realized who was missing.

“Hydrus is gone!” he shouted. 

Suddenly, the sound of baying hounds could be heard in the distance. Everyone rushed toward the noise and turned the corner only to find a pair of open shackles laying on the ground.

Chapter Text

Azkaban was a miserable place. All sharp rocks and stunted vegetation clinging desperately to the cracks. The wind howled across the island carrying the cold spray of the sea with it.

Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped out of the crumbing fireplace in the guard post and shook the ash from their cloaks. Madam Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, arrived a few seconds later. 

The two aurors had been in the floo room getting ready to depart when a very pissed off Madam Bones had burst in. She was livid that the Minister had authorized a prisoner release without informing her and beside herself that the aurors had still gone along with Dumbledore's hairbrained plan once they realized the prisoner was a child. She insisted on coming along to see the boy. 

One of the permanent guards rushed to greet them but no one was in the mood for pleasantries.

“Where’s the file?” Moody snapped. The guard jumped and frantically rushed over to the table to hand the grizzled auror a thin folder. Inside was a laughably bare intake form. Nearly every field was blank except for an incomplete name (Hydrus), prisoner location (High Tower) and request for a uniform and a blanket. 

“I would like to find whoever filed this and give them a stern talking to,” Amelia said. Her tone indicated that the so-called ‘talk’ would include a few choice hexes.

“No one from the Ministry wrote this,” Moody replied. Amelia raised an eyebrow, prompting him to explain. “See the handwriting? It’s like a childs. I think Hydrus filled this in himself and a dementor filed it.”

“Why would they do that?” Kingsley asked.

“Think about it. Hydrus had to be registered as an Azkaban prisoner to receive clothing and food. The Hogwarts staff said he was friendly with the dementors that escorted him. It’s not unreasonable to think they slipped his information in so the kid would be able to eat.”

They stood in silence for a long moment.

“What the hell happened to this kid?” Kingsley whispered, not expecting an answer. 

The trio walked along a crumbling road that was barely two feet wide in some places. In others it disappeared entirely and it took a few Reductos and Wingardium Leviosas to get across. There were several smaller towers and buildings on the island, home to prisoners serving short sentences, but the High Tower loomed over everything, a dark spire in the distance. As they got closer they could see the wear on the stone, the spots where the wind and rain had eaten away at the brick leaving large wounds. There was no door, just an archway that led to a spiral staircase. 

Moody took the lead, holding his lit wand ahead of him. For the first few floors there were only empty cells but when they got a third of the way up they finally met someone.

“It’s about damn time! Where the hell have you lot been?”

The thin face of Bellatrix Lestrange sneered at them from between the bars. Her hair was wild and messy but her eyes didn’t hold the level of madness they had expected after eleven years in Azkaban. Of course, that wasn’t to say she was completely sane. She was a Black after all. 

“I assume you’re referring to Hydrus?” Amelia asked. 

“ I assume you're referring to Hydrus . No shit lady!” Bellatrix mocked.

“Bella, who are you talking to, love?” a deep voice asked. 

They looked up to see Rodolphus Lestrange step into his wife’s cell through an archway that shouldn't have been there. It wasn’t something they dug themselves. It looked like it had been there since the tower was built which was entirely impossible. 

“It’s ol’ Mad-Eye and Madam Bones,” Bellatrix replied. Rodolphus glared at the trio with the same accusing look as his wife.

“Twelve years!” he roared. “That boy has been here twelve years. He’s almost thirteen!”

Amelia felt like she had been punched in the gut. Hydrus had come to Azkaban when he was one year old?

“We–we don’t know what happened,” Amelia confessed. She wasn’t even ashamed to admit that to the two Death Eaters. This whole situation was out of control. “We’re trying to figure it out. Can you point us to his cell?”

The couple glanced at each other, having a silent conversation before turning back to the Ministry workers. 

“Go talk to my cousin,” Bellatrix said. “He’s a couple of levels up.”

Moody nodded and continued to lead his companions higher. They passed more occupied cells. The prisoners watched them silently. Every one was a convicted Death Eater that had been locked up at least ten years but they all seemed calm. It was horribly unsettling. 

The trio knew they had reached the right place when they peered into a cell and saw a black haired man with silver eyes reading in the corner. 

Sirius Black was Moody’s old student and one of the best aurors he had ever trained. Hearing that Sirius had betrayed the Potters to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had been a shock to the entire department.

“Alastor!” Sirius greeted cheerfully. “Still barking mad I take it? And Amelia! Always a pleasure.”

“Black,” Moody grunted. He took a closer look at the cell. It was about twice the size of the ones they had passed earlier with two slabs of stone that served as beds. Both were covered in blankets and had thin mattresses and pillows that looked to be made of old uniforms and dry grass. There were some weathered planks sloppily assembled into shelves that displayed a few books with peeling covers and curling pages. Various little stones, wood carvings and bundles of dried plants were dotted about the room. It honestly looked cozy for a prison cell. 

“Are you here to see my son?” Sirius asked. 

“Hydrus is your son!?” Ameilia gasped.

“You have a son!?” Moody cried at the same time, losing his grumpy and unflappable mask for a moment. 

“Hydrus Lycoris Black, Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black,” Sirius said proudly. He grinned, enjoying their stunned reactions.

“How did your son end up in Azkaban with you?” Kingsley asked.

“Is that Shacklebolt?” Sirius cried, putting his book down and coming closer. “Bloody hell mate, you bulked up!”

“Answer the question brat,” Moody snapped. Sirius laughed good-naturedly.

“Alright, alright. About two days before Lily, James and Harry were attacked I found Hydrus on my doorstep. There was a note claiming he was my son. It wasn’t signed and I may have been rather— indiscreet in those days so I have no idea who the mother is. 

“I had just arrived in Godric’s Hollow to introduce Hydrus when the roof of the cottage blew off. I was running up the front walk with Hydrus in a sling under my robes when I saw Peter in the crowd.”

Amelia, Moody and Kingsley shifted uncomfortably but didn’t dare take their attention off Sirius. This was not at all the story they expected.

“I wasn’t the Secret Keeper,” Sirius continued. “We thought it would be too obvious and switched it to Peter at the last minute. It was him that betrayed Lily, James and Harry. He obviously hadn’t expected me to be there and panicked. He shouted for all the world to hear that I betrayed my best friends and my godson before he blasted the Muggles around him, cut off his finger and disappeared in his Animagus form. A common brown rat.

“Just before he transformed he hit me with a curse. Temporary Hysteria. By the time the aurors arrived I was laughing and sobbing and couldn’t think straight let alone explain what happened. Since I was in no condition to answer questions they just portkeyed me straight to this cell with Hydrus still under my robes.”

The trio blinked at him, mouths agape as Sirius finished his tale.

“Why in the blazes did you not mention this at trial?” Amelia demanded. Sirius laughed. It sounded like a bark and held no trace of amusement.

“I never got a trial.”

“What?” Amelia said, paling considerably.

“I never went to trial. Once Hydrus and I were put in this cell that was it. No one ever came to visit us.”

“But— that's impossible!” Amelia insisted. “Surely someone would have noticed the Sirius Black was never put on trial?”

“Did you?” Sirius challenged. “Did Scrimgeour? Did literally any of my fellow aurors notice I was never called before the Wizengamot?”

Their eyes widened, realizing that he was right. 

“I— I just assumed you had been tried during the madness after You-Kow-Who was defeated,” Kingsley confessed.

Neither Kingsley or Amelia were looking at Sirius but Moody was. For a brief moment his old student scowled, eyes flashing with anger. Moody’s instincts, honed after years of being an auror, were deeply unsettled. Had someone used all the confusion after the Potter’s deaths to cover up Sirius’ arrest? Did they take advantage of everyone's desire to move on from the war to keep the Lord of House Black caged? Why? And who?

Suddenly Sirius clapped his hands, his roguish smile back in place. 

“Welp, enough of that. You came to see Hydrus. I'll take you to him.”

To their surprise Sirius reached out and opened the cell door. The hinges squealed but there was otherwise no indication that it had ever been locked. 

“How did you do that?” Kingsley asked. Sirius chuckled as he stepped past them, making a ‘follow me’ gesture over his shoulder as he started climbing. 

“Azkaban is ancient and the High Tower has been here since long before the Ministry started using it as a prison,” Sirius explained. “The island is full of old magic. It's capable of making its own judgements and rewarding or punishing its inhabitants accordingly. Since Hydrus and I are innocent we’re permitted to have the run of the tower but the island still keeps us from going too far.”

“Is that why Bellatrix and Rodophus’ cells are linked?” Amelia asked. 

“Bingo! All of the Death Eaters pitched in to teach Hydrus. Reading, writing, math, history, magical theory, wizarding culture. He's had quite the education. The tower saw it as making reparations and rewarded them as it saw fit.”

The staircase ended and they stepped out into the open air. It looked as if the top three floors had been sheared off leaving something like a courtyard. It was triangular like the tower itself and parts of the walls still stood in certain areas. A few tufts of grass and weeds and even a gnarled tree were determinately growing in the cracks between the masonry. 

Above them several dementors gilded about, their cloaks flowing in the cold wind. One of the dementors was floating at the edge of the tower. Beside it was a smaller dementor about a third the regular size. The small one’s cloak trailed on the ground like it was too big for it. 

As they watched, the small dementor floated over the edge. It fell a couple of feet before stabilizing and continuing to glide farther from the building. The wind pushed it around a little but the larger dementor stayed close as if making sure they wouldn't be blown away. 

Amelia glanced at her companions. They seem just as flabbergasted as she did. Had they just witnessed a mother dementor teach her child to fly?

“Fascinating isn't it?” Sirius said, watching the little dementor as it got more bold and started experimenting with height and turning. “The Ministry only cares about the dementors in their capacity as Wardens of Azkaban. If they bothered to study them they would realize they’re like any other intelligent creature. They communicate, they have and raise young and they have rituals and morals all their own.” 

“Dumbledore mentioned that Hydrus could talk to them,” Moody prompted. 

“Morstongue,” Sirius replied with a nod. “Not everyone can learn it. I certainly couldn't. I think it's because Hydrus grew up around them and we all know how well young wixen can adapt to new magics.”

Sirius put his fingers to his lips and whistled loudly. One of the dementors immediately broke away and glided toward them. The three ministry workers braced, waiting for cold dread to wash over them, but nothing happened. The dementor was smaller than average but definitely bigger than the child and when it landed they heard small stones crunch under its feet. They stiffened when it reached for its hood, wands ready to cast the Patronus Charm, but nothing could prepare them for what lay underneath. 

“Hello. I’m Hydrus Black.”

The boy’s intense green eyes flicked between them as if committing their faces to memory. His black hair was gathered into a messy bun revealing a few piercings but his most striking feature was the massive branching scar covering the entire right side of his face. It looked like a bolt of pale lightning had frozen mid strike across his forehead, cheek and part of his neck. The deepest part of the scar was a zig-zag mark above his eyebrow. 

“Hello Hydrus. I'm Amelia Bones. This is Auror Shacklebolt and Auror Moody.”

To the kids credit he didn't seem at all perturbed by Moody’s appearance which would scare most children his age. 

“You can fly unassisted?” Moody asked, his magical eye watching the dementors above while his normal eye studied Hydrus. 

“The dementors taught me. It took a while since I'm heavier but I got the hang of it.”

The kid was polite, likely due to being taught wizarding culture by purebloods, and modest, a trait he definitely didn't get from his father. 

“What else have they taught you?” Amelia asked, absolutely fascinated. 

“Besides flying and Morstongue I can create auras,” Hydrus replied. The recognizable chill of a nearby dementor suddenly washed over them but before they could so much as shiver it changed to a warm pulsing that made them feel comfortable and relaxed. 

“Can you perform a Dementor’s Kiss?” Kingsley asked curiously. 

Hydrus’ eyes snapped to him. The green seemed to glow like a deadly curse and the seasoned auror found himself taking a small step back. 

“They taught me lots of things,” Hydrus answered vaguely. “But that’s not why you're here.”

Amelia cleared her throat. 

“On behalf of the Ministry and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement I apologize for the great injustice that has been done to you and your father,” she said, bowing to the pair. “I vow to do everything in my power to see that Sirius Black receives a fair trial and that you are both offered compensation for your years of imprisonment.”

“How long do you think that will take Madam Bones?” Hydrus asked. 

“It will take a couple of weeks to collect evidence and a couple more to convene the Wizengamot. I estimate about a month for Lord Black but you are a minor. I can remove you from Azkaban today.”

“And where would I go?” Hydrus asked. “All my family is here. Azkaban is the only home I've ever known.”

“Hogwarts has offered to host you until the start of term. Your acceptance letter is waiting for you there,” Kingsley revealed. 

Hydrus’ eyes narrowed. 

“By Hogwarts you actually mean Dumbledore correct?” he questioned. No one missed the undertone of disdain in his voice. 

“Yes. That is correct,” Kingsley confirmed. “He has shown a lot of interest in you since the Chamber incident.”

Sirius scoffed while Hydrus rolled his eyes, looking like a proper teenager for the first time since their arrival. 

“No thank you,” he said firmly. “I'll stay here until Sirius is released.”

None of the Ministry workers were very comfortable with leaving a child in Azkaban but no one had a valid argument. Hydrus had lived on the island his entire life. It was a place every wixen feared, a hell that would drive grown men mad, but Hydrus saw it as his home. 

“If you're sure we won't force you to leave,” Amelia assented. Hydrus raised an eyebrow at her as if asking if she really thought she could force him. Something told her she couldn’t.

“Wonderful, that's all sorted then,” Sirius announced. “Thank you for visiting. We look forward to hearing from you soon. I trust you know your way out?”

The clear dismissal prompted Amelia, Kingsley and Moody to head back toward the stairs. They had done what they came to do but were leaving with more questions than they arrived with. 

Once they were gone Sirius put an arm around his son’s shoulders. 

“Finally off to Hogwarts eh? I'm so proud!” 

He ruffled Hydrus’ hair until his bun had slipped down to the nape of his neck.

“Dad! Cut it out!” 

Sirius laughed and pulled Hydrus closer before frowning at where his old colleagues had disappeared. 

“Is it a good idea to make your distrust of Albus so obvious? Amelia has never followed him and Alastor is smart enough to know something stinks but Kingsley is definitely Dumbledore's man. He will hear about this.”

“I'm counting on it,” Hydrus replied. “There’s no way Dumbledore won't be keeping an annoyingly close watch on me after the whole Chamber of Secrets thing. Why make it easy for him?”

Chapter Text

[Two Weeks Earlier]

Hydrus could hear the Weasley twins answering questions as he snuck away. No one was paying any attention to him except the Headmaster. Hydrus could feel Dumbledore prodding at his occlumency shields but he wasn’t able to get through. Once he was around the corner and out of sight, Hydrus removed his chains with a wandless, wordless Alohomora . 

This had not been part of the plan. He was supposed to find the Chamber then leave the aurors and Hogwarts professors to deal with the basilisk. They just needed to make Dumbledore aware of his existence and interested enough to invite him to Hogwarts. He wasn't meant to do anything that could clue the old man into how capable Hydrus was but that all went out the window the moment Fred and George uttered the words ‘ Ginny is not in the dorms ’. If it had been anyone else Hydrus would have stuck to the plan but Ginny was important so here he was, escaping Ministry custody.

He hurried to put some distance between himself and his guards while calling for his Grim. The air shimmered like a sheer curtain was hanging in the middle of the empty corridor before two huge dogs appeared. They looked too skinny to be healthy but their heads reached Hydrus’ shoulder. Their fur was soft as velvet and black as night. Dark mist seemed to cling to them, rolling down their shoulders and backs and pooling around their feet. Their eyes were red and their teeth stark white and wickedly sharp as they growled. Hydrus scratched them behind their large pointed ears and they instantly relaxed. The larger one excitedly nosed at his hand. 

< Hey Anubis,> he greeted in Morstongue, the language of the dead. <I missed you too boy. >

The smaller Grim whined at being ignored and leaned their heavy body on his side, nearly knocking him over. 

< You too Alphie ,> Hydrus assured the big, scary puppy. < I need your help. A friend of mine got taken. Smell anything odd? >

Both Grim immediately put their noses to the ground. They must have detected something interesting because they started leading him deeper into the castile. Half way down a long corridor Hydrus found what the Grim were tracking. A message was written in blood on the wall. Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever .  

“Well that's dramatic,” Hydrus thought. “But helpful if this is Ginny’s blood.”

< Anubis. Alphie ,> he said aloud. < I need to find whoevers blood this is .>

It didn’t take his Grim long to catch the scent. They howled, baying excitedly for the hunt as they ran through the halls. Hydrus chased them up a flight of stairs, past the hospital wing and through endless corridors before being led into a bathroom. Hydrus could sense a ghost somewhere, probably hidden in one of the toilets, but Anubis and Alphie were more interested in the sinks. They sat in front of the middle one and looked back at him, wagging their tails. 

< Good job, > Hydrus praised, patting each on the head before dismissing them. They turned into black smoke and disappeared back behind the veil. 

He looked closer at the sink and found a small snake carved into the side of the faucet. A quick ~open~ in Parseltongue caused the sink to descend into the floor revealing a tunnel sloping downward. Hydrus jumped and slid for what felt like miles before shooting out the other end and landing with a loud crunch. The floor was covered in the bones of small animals; birds and rats mostly. There were a few other pipes branching off in different directions so he summoned Anubis and Alphie again. 

< Lead on, > he ordered and both Grim trotted toward the tunnel directly across from them. The walls were damp and the floor was strewn with rocks broken away from the crumbling ceiling. It was quiet and dark. To anyone else it would have been pitch black but Hydrus had no problem seeing in the dark. 

They went around a bend and the Grim started growling. There was something in the tunnel. Something long, pale green and not moving. Hydrus crept forward and was amazed to discover a snake shed. It was almost forty feet long and as wide as he was tall. He ran his fingers over the impressions of palm sized scales and wondered how vibrant the basilisk would be if just its shed was such a pretty shade of milky jade.

< Leave it ,> Hydrus called to Anubis and Alphie. The pair were curiously sniffing at the skin but hurried to his side when he snapped his fingers. 

They continued down the tunnel until they reached a round metal door. There were several metallic snakes acting as tumblers like on a Muggle bank vault. Another ~open~ caused them to retreat one by one and the door swung open. Inside was a massive chamber. Most of it was flooded making the statues of striking snakes seem like they were emerging from the depths. At the far end was the large stone face of a wizard with flowing hair and a long beard. Laying in front of it was Ginny Weasley. 

With a wave of his hand Hydrus sent his Grim to check the rest of the chamber. They melted into the shadows as he hurried to the redhead. She was pale and cold with sunken cheeks and dark circles around her eyes. He found her pulse but it was weak and her breathing was shallow.

“Who are you?”

Hydrus looked up to see a boy. He had dark hair and dark eyes and wore a Slytherin uniform. He looked like a normal Hogwarts student but he felt similar to how Hydrus sensed ghosts only much more powerful. 

Ghosts were like empty space. They were the absence of physical form, magic and soul; just after images with functioning brains. This boy on the other hand was a black hole, a void that wanted needed to consume, and right now he was consuming Ginny Weasley. 

“No one important,” Hydrus replied. “Who are you?” 

The boy looked him over, obviously confused by his presence and wary of what it meant for him. 

“What is an Azkaban prisoner doing here?”

Hydrus sighed as if annoyed by his questions while sending his magic out to look for whatever was anchoring this wraith to Ginny.

“I don't have time for twenty questions,” Hydrus griped. “Tell you what. I'll answer your two questions if you answer mine plus another. That seems fair to me.”

“Fine,” the wraith snapped. “I'm Tom Marvolo Riddle. Heir of Slytherin.”

Hydrus fought to keep his mask of boredom in place. He hadn't expected to come face to face with Lord Voldemort so soon, even if it was only some kind of living memory. 

“Heya Tom, I’m Hydrus,” he greeted chipperly. His magic had found the tether draining Ginny’s magic so he latched on and followed it. “As for why an Azkaban prisoner is at Hogwarts, I’m the last Parselmouth in Britain. They needed some help with pest control.”

Riddle’s eyes flashed red for a second. 

“I'm the only Parselmouth in Britain,” he growled.

“I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news Tommy-boy but you're dead,” Hydrus argued. “You can't be anything now.”

Riddle was seething, sneering down at him with bared teeth. His chest heaved as he fought to control his temper.

“Which leads me to my question,” Hydrus continued as if he didn’t notice the danger he was in. His magic had locked onto something hidden in Ginny’s robes. “How does it feel to know you were defeated by a baby?” 

“Insolent brat!” Riddle spat, eyes now a piercing red. “It doesn't matter! It's too late! I will drain this useless, prattling little girl and return to my prime! Lord Voldemort will rise again but you will not be around to see it!”

Riddle spun on his heel and reached out toward the face carved on the wall. 

~ Speak to me Salazar Slytherin. Greatest of the Hogwarts four ,~ he hissed. 

The statue’s mouth opened and Hydrus caught a glimpse of a scaly snout before he averted his eyes. The basilisk’s body was covered in beautiful acid green scales and its underside was a pale yellow-green. It coiled in the water, hissing softly.

~ Kill him! ~ Riddle ordered but before the basilisk could move, Hydrus spoke. 

~ Hello gorgeous ,~ Hydrus hissed, focusing on the snake’s throat as it leaned forward to listen. 

~ You are a speaker too? ~ she asked in a decidedly feminine voice.

~ I am ,~ Hydrus confirmed. The snake was silent for a moment. She lowered herself and Hydrus felt her tongue brush against his head. 

~ You can look, hatchling. I will not harm you. ~ 

~ What are you doing? ~ Riddle yelled as Hydrus raised his head to find slitted amber eyes staring back at him. 

~ Do you wish to use me too? ~ the basilisk asked, ignoring Riddle. Hydrus blinked. Had she been an unwilling participant? The basilisk seemed to notice his confusion. ~My bonded, Salazar, placed me here so I could watch over his precious school. I have no interest in harming those I am sworn to protect.~

Hydrus was suddenly glad he had gone off script. It would have been horrible if the Ministry had killed this innocent creature. 

~ I wish to help you if you would permit me ,~ Hydrus replied. The snake nodded and retreated back to the statue, coiling up to watch. 

~ No! I told you to kill him! ~ Riddle shrieked at her. 

“Oh shut up Tom!” Hydrus snapped in English. “You have no power over her.” 

“I am Heir Slytherin! She obeys me!”

“Wrong! She was Salazar's familiar. The bond broke when her wizard died. She is not an heirloom or a pet. She is a protector and you tried to make her kill.”

Riddle was shaking with rage.

“It doesn't matter,” he decided. “Soon I'll be whole again and I’ll kill you and little Ginny myself!”

“You're right,” Hydrus agreed, a crazed smile splitting his face. “You are nearly whole. In fact, I’ll bet you're solid enough to touch now.”

He snapped his fingers and Anubis and Alphie emerged from the shadows. They stalked forward snarling and growling, red eyes locked on their target. 

< Sic him boys! > Hydrus ordered. 

The Grim pounced. Riddle was able to dodge Anubis but Alphie got his jaws around his arm. The wraith fell back, sprawling across the wet floor and tearing his arm free. There was no blood but based on how Riddle screamed when Anubis started mauling his leg he was solid enough to feel pain. 

While the Grim kept Riddle distracted Hydrus hurriedly rifled through Ginny’s robes until he found a thin black diary. As soon as he touched it he could feel the soul inside. It was so cold it burned and struck at him as if trying to sink poison fangs into his core. Hydrus struck back with his own magic, gripping the writhing thing tightly and drawing it out of hiding. A black orb appeared above the book. Tendrils of shadow lashed out but Hydrus snatched it in his fist, raised it to his mouth and swallowed it. 

Riddle screamed. Glowing cracks spread across his body, becoming bigger and brighter as the soul shard keeping him alive was consumed by Hydrus’ much stronger core. Within seconds it dissolved into nothing but energy that Hydrus’ magic drank up happily. Riddle burst apart leaving behind glowing white particles and the stolen essence of Ginny Weasley rushed back to its proper vessel. 

Hydrus fell to his knees and took deep breaths, trying to sooth his racing heart. He had never absorbed such a powerful soul and the energy boost was overwhelming. A cold nose touched his cheek and he glanced up just in time to get a wet kiss from Anubis. 

< I’m alright. I’m okay ,> he assured his faithful Grim, gripping the fur at the back of his neck with shaking hands.

~ Thank you, hatchling. ~

Hydrus heard the basilisk slither closer. He did not fear looking her in the eye, knowing she would have her second eyelid closed. 

~ No problem. Thank you, for not killing anyone .~

~ As you said, I am a protector. I regretted having to petrify the children but I could not kill the wicked speaker and feared what he would do to the girl if I refused him. ~

~ Very wise, ~ Hydrus agreed. ~ What should I call you? ~

~ I am Stheno ,~ she replied.

~I’m Hydrus.~

~Hydrus,~ Stheno repeated. ~That means ‘sea snake', does it not? Very fitting.~

Hydrus chuckled and stood on shaky legs. Anubis and Alphie supported him on either side. 

~ Stheno, can you do me a favor? ~ he asked. She nodded. ~ I need to damage the diary and convince the Headmaster and Ministry that I killed Slytherin's monster. Can I have a few of your teeth? ~

~ Of course. I have some loose ones. ~

She opened her mouth and Hydrus very carefully looked for any wobbly fangs. He found four and plucked them out as gently as he could. He took the longest one and plunged it into the diary. He didn't want anyone asking how he managed to exercise such a dark object without damaging it. By the time he was done Ginny had begun to stir. 

~ You should return to your nest, Stheno. I will visit again when I’m able .~

Stheno nudged his shoulder, nearly making him fall over, before slithering back through the statue's mouth. Just as it closed behind her Ginny gasped awake and Hydrus quickly dismissed Anubis and Alphie. 

“It's okay, you're safe,” he soothed as he approached the redhead. Ginny sat up, eyes widening when they landed on Hydrus.

“Who—who are you?”

Hydrus took another step but stopped when Ginny flinched and leaned away. Waking up in the Chamber of Secrets would be scary without also being alone with a stranger. It didn't help that Hydrus had unconsciously tucked his hair behind his ears so the massive scar across the right side of his face was visible. Between that, his tattoos and piercings and the Azkaban uniform he was probably very intimidating. 

“My name is Hydrus. Your professors asked me to help find you.”

“Where are we?” Ginny asked, looking around. 

“The Chamber of Secrets.”

Ginny paled even farther if possible. Tears welled in her eyes. 

“I swear, I didn't mean to, Riddle made me and–” she broke off when Hydrus showed her the diary with a massive hole punched in it. 

“Don't worry. He can't hurt anyone anymore. I'm sure the Headmaster will understand that it wasn't your fault.”

Tears rolled down Ginny’s face as she sniffled. Hydrus felt for her. She was only a first year and had been possessed by Voldemort for most her time at Hogwarts. She needed rest and the comfort of people she trusted. 

“I’ll take you back up to the castle,” he said, standing and holding out his hand to her. “We’ll go directly to your brothers.”

The thought of seeing her brothers gave Ginny the energy to take Hydrus' hand but she could barely walk. She leaned heavily on him as they traveled through the tunnels. When they reached the bone pit Hydrus followed the trail of dead animals and found the exit Stheno had once used to go hunting. They emerged in a cave in the Forbidden Forest and headed toward the castile towers. Once they slipped inside Hydrus led Ginny through hidden passages until they reached the Gryffindor common room. The Fat Lady’s eyes widened when she saw Ginny and opened without needing the password. 

Hydrus went in first, planning on helping Ginny crawl through the portrait hole, when a sudden shout of Incarcerous and Levicorpus flipped his world upside down. He was hanging by his ankles with chains pinning his arms to his sides. He looked around frantically only to relax when he saw two of the aurors pointing wands at him. A couple dozen students were gathered nearby. Most were staring in shock but a few were yelling while their Head of House tried to maintain calm. 

“Hey fellas,” Hydrus said with a grin. “Sorry, got a little lost.”

“Where have you been?” one of them snapped. Hydrus opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted. 

“Ginny!”

Fred and George pushed past McGonagall and rushed to help their little sister through the portrait hole. They held her close, burying their faces in her fiery hair as she clung to their shirts. 

“See! I was good!” Hydrus whined at his guards. “Can I come down now?”

The aurors scowled but did put him back on the ground. They were careful to put his cuffs on before vanishing the chains. 

“How did you even get the cuffs off?” one of them asked.

“Skill,” Hydrus replied cheekily. The auror was about to demand he explain when another voice cut in.

“Thank you for saving our sister…”

“... We can never repay you.”

The twins had left Ginny to be fussed over by an older boy with horn rim glasses and a boy Hydrus’ age wearing offensively orange pajamas. Hydrus was pretty sure his name was Ron. 

“No problem. It's what I was here for. Well, not really, but I'm an overachiever.”

His answer had drawn the attention of the other Weasleys. The older one scanned him up and down with narrowed eyes. 

“Why would they need a criminal to help them?” he asked rudely. “How do we know you weren’t the one that hurt her?”

~Because I'm not a monster you ungrateful bastard,~ Hydrus hissed. Several people gasped and Glasses paled. Ron scowled, his face turning red. 

“I knew it! You're a lousy Death Eater. Dark Wizard scum!”

<And you're a stupid prat,> Hydrus rasped making the boy blanch. Ginny looked at the pair in disgust, slipping away to tuck herself between the twins who looked just as pissed as she did. 

“Can I go back to Azkaban now?” Hydrus asked the aurors. “The company is better.”

“I'm afraid you will have to stay a little longer my boy. We need to know what happened.”

Hydrus grimaced and turned to see Dumbledore and Snape standing just inside the portrait hole. He glared at a spot over the Headmaster’s shoulder as he dug in his pocket and grabbed the diary. Basilisk fangs clattered to the floor when he pulled it out, soliciting more gasps from the students. Hydrus tossed the book to Dumbledore who caught it and studied the damage. 

“It was a nasty dark object that compelled Ginny to open the Chamber. It's been handled.”

Hydrus started to make his way out of the dorm, not interested in entertaining Dumbledore for another second. As he passed Snape he paused. 

“The fangs are for you. They should have plenty of venom for potions.”

The potions master blinked at him, raising an eyebrow in surprise and confusion, but Hydrus kept walking. He had a couple dementors to collect before he could go home.

Chapter Text

Sirius and Hydrus arrived at Platform 9 3/4 early. Unfortunately, they weren’t the only ones trying to avoid the rush. Their appearance at the apparition point drew stares. Hydrus was in a pair of jeans and a soft hooded sweater but Sirius looked every bit the rich pureblood Lord he was. Normally he preferred comfortable trousers, muggle T-shirts and his leather jacket but he had a meeting with Amelia Bones later so he wore rich black robes with silver embroidery on the hem and sleeves. 

Sirius’ trial had been three weeks before. He was questioned with veritaserum under strict conditions. Only Madam Bones was permitted to interrogate him and only from a list of preapproved questions. Several Wizengamot members protested the change in procedure but between Sirius providing memories of Peter’s escape, no one being able to find records of a previous trial and both Amelia and Moody testifying that they believed Sirius' story, everything went off without a hitch. Sirius was free and Hydrus’ origins remained a secret.

“I'm going to miss you Pup,” Sirius said, wrapping an arm around his son’s shoulders to give him a squeeze. “Home won't be the same without you.”

“Don't say that dad. You'll break Kreacher's heart,” Hydrus teased. 

Upon their release Sirius and Hydrus moved into Grimmauld Place. It had been kept clean for their return by Kreacher. The elf was old and grumpy but pleased to have masters to serve again. He was a big help while the pair adjusted to life outside Azkaban. Hydrus found the world entirely too big for his liking and struggled with leaving the house. It took a lot of work to get him to Diagon Alley for his school supplies but he managed it. In the end his limitless curiosity overcame his agoraphobia. 

Sirius shifted Hydrus so they were face to face.

“Be careful,” he whispered. “We managed to keep your identity hidden but he’ll have his eyes on you because of the Chamber. He probably already has you labeled as a Dark wizard.”

“Don't worry. Dumbledore can watch me all he wants but we both know I'm full of surprises.”

“That you are Pup,” Sirius chuckled. “That you are.”

More people were arriving so they went to find a compartment toward the end of the train. Once Hydrus loaded his trunk he hurried back to the platform. He wasn't willing to say good-bye just yet, and neither was Sirius. 

“Write me as soon as you can. I want to know which house you sort into.”

“Even if it’s Slytherin?”

“Even if it's Slytherin,” Sirius assured him. “Seriously, no matter what house you're in I’ll be proud of you.”

Hydrus could feel tears stinging his eyes. There hadn't been a day in twelve years that his dad hadn't been there. Now he was facing down four long months before they could see each other again. 

“Hey, hey, none of that. You’ve got this Pup. It will be okay,” Sirius soothed, hugging Hydrus tightly. 

“I'm going to miss you.”

“I'm going to miss you too but Yule will be here before you know it and don't forget, you already have a friend at Hogwarts,” Sirius reminded him. 

Hydrus nodded against his dad’s chest but still refused to let go. It wasn't until the growing crowd started getting too close to their private little bubble that they parted.

“You should go,” Hydrus said. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Sirius promised, kissing Hydrus on the forehead before pushing him toward the train. “Don't do anything I would do.”

Hydrus chuckled and reluctantly climbed onto the train. By the time he made it to his compartment Sirius had disappeared. 

An hour later the Hogwarts Express was racing away from London. Not many students were sitting at the back of the train so Hydrus resigned himself to a lonely trip until he heard voices and a face appeared at the window. A face he recognized. 

“I hoped we would find you somewhere,” Ginny said as she slid the door open. “Do you mind if we join you?”

“Come on in,” Hydrus replied. Ginny bounced to the seat across from him with a sweet smile followed by Fred and George who flopped down beside her. 

“This is a good look on you…” Fred said, gesturing to his washed out black jeans and dark purple sweater.

“... Not that stripes weren’t flattering.” George added with a cheeky grin. 

Behind the Weasleys came a boy with earthy brown hair and a round face. He carried a small potted cactus with purple pustules growing on it. 

“This is Neville,” Ginny introduced. “He's a third year Gryffindor.”

Neville waved shyly and sat by the door, leaving room on the bench for the last person. Hydrus had felt her magic the moment the doors opened. It was warm like sunbeams and brushed over his skin like long grass or dandelion fluff. She had white-blonde hair and big bright blue eyes. She wore an odd combination of pinstriped orange pants and a brown poncho. There looked to be small radishes hanging from her ears. 

“And this is Luna. Third year Ravenclaw,” Ginny said. Luna drifted over to Hydrus and sat much closer to him than would normally be polite but Hydrus didn't mind in the slightest. 

“The wrackspurts really like you,” she told him dreamily. 

“Makes sense,” Hydrus admitted. “It's been a while since I’ve met new people. Once I get to know you I'm sure they'll go away.”

Luna smiled at him before turning her attention to fidgeting with a colorful toy in her lap. 

“I've never seen anyone get a handle on Luna's oddities so fast,” George said. 

“It would take a lot more than that to bother me,” Hydrus replied with a shrug. 

“It must be weird being out of Azkaban,” Fred sympathized. 

“You have no idea.”

“Well, I’m glad you're here,” Ginny assured him. “I never got a chance to thank you for saving me or to apologize for Percy and Ron’s behavior.”

“Don't worry about it,” Hydrus said, waving away her thanks and her apology. “I'm sure I’ll have to deal with worse comments this year.”

“Percy chilled out a little after the Prophet ran your story,” George revealed. 

“But Ron’s a prat,” Fred continued. “We tried our best to avoid him over the summer.”

“So, what year are you going into?” Ginny asked. “They're not making you have classes with the firsties right?”

“No, I tested at the proper level. I'll be a third year.”

“What electives are you taking?” Neville suddenly asked, ducking his head sheepishly when everyone except Luna turned to him. 

“Care of Magical Creatures, Runes and Divination,” Hydrus replied. 

“I’m taking Care and Divination too. Maybe we can work together,” Neville said hopefully only to immediately blush. 

“I'd like that Neville,” Hydrus assured him. 

They continued to chat as the countryside rushed past the window. Hydrus learned that Fred and George were Beaters on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and notorious pranksters. Ginny was the only Weasley girl and was very good at hexes and jinxes thanks to growing up with six brothers. When talk turned to core classes Hydrus admitted he was excited about Defense Against the Dark Arts but nervous about Potions. Brewing was almost impossible to learn without practice which he couldn't do in Azkaban. 

Neville was very passionate about Herbology. His normal nervousness completely disappeared as he talked about the greenhouses and all the wonderful plants that grew on the grounds. Something about Neville drew Hydrus in. Something in his magic that smelled of wet soil and was cool like morning dew. Whenever he really got going his magic reached out and wrapped around anyone nearby like vines. Neville didn't just have an interest in Herbology, he had a Gift and Hydrus really, really wanted to learn more. 

Hours later everyone was well acquainted and enjoying each other's company. Luna had been content to just exist amongst them and only made the occasional comment but just as they were wondering if they were nearing Hogwarts she suddenly perked up. Her eyes glazed over for a moment before she smiled and turned to her seatmate. 

“Hydrus,” she said in an amused voice.

“Yes Luna?”

“You have a stowaway.”

Hydrus frowned. 

“What do you mean?”

Someone out in the corridor screamed. It was followed by several more yells and people running past the compartment. Ginny opened the door and grabbed the arm of a girl with curly brown hair.

“Lavender, what’s happening?”

“There's a dementor on the train!” she replied in a panic before wrenching her arm away and continuing to flee.

“Fuck!” Hydrus swore. He dove out of the compartment, fighting against the flow of people that were starting to crush as the crowd reached the end of the train. 

He heard her before he saw her. She was calling for him and becoming more frantic the longer she couldn’t find him judging by the increasingly thick film of frost following in her wake. She floated at chest height but was only as tall as a toddler. She hadn’t grown into her cloak yet so it trailed behind her, the sleeves flopping over the ends of her tiny hands. 

Hydrus had just opened his mouth when a man wearing beige trousers and a knit cardigan full of snags stepped out of one of the compartments. He raised his wand but Hydrus quickly pushed it down. The Patronus burst apart against the floor leaving only a puff of silvery fog.

“Don’t!” Hydrus yelled. “A Patronus can kill a juvenile dementor!”

“What are you talking about? Let go!” the man shouted, trying to break free. His brown eyes flicked between Hydrus and the approaching dementor. He redoubled his efforts when she swooped toward them but Hydrus was stronger than he looked. Using one hand he held the man’s wand down and with the other he reached out and pulled the little dementor against his side. 

< What are you doing here? > he rasped, readjusting her so she sat comfortably on his hip.

< I missed you. When are you coming home? >

< Not for a long time, little one. I have school and the wizards don’t let people visit the Island very easily. >

< Can I come to school too? >

< You don’t really have a choice. It’s not like I can send you back right now. > 

She made a gurgling sound, the dementor equivalent of a giggle, and lay her hooded head on his shoulder. 

“What is happening?”

The man was staring at them, wand forgotten as he listened to a wixen boy have a conversation with a dementor. 

“I second that question…” George announced.

“...Third!” Fred added. Both twins raised their hands as if voting or waiting to be picked in class. The gang from the compartment had just arrived. They eyed the dementor but seemed curious rather than frightened. 

“Do they have a name?” Ginny asked.

Hydrus answered with a short rasp and a few rattles that no one understood. 

“Eurus,” Luna said confidently. “Her name is Eurus.”

“Eurus it is,” Hydrus agreed with no hesitation. 

“How are you able to speak to her?” the sandy haired man asked.

“Dementors speak a language called Morstongue. Like Parseltongue it can only be learned if you're willing to bond with a natural speaker.” 

“How did you manage—?”

“Professor Lupin? Is it safe?”

A girl with bushy hair and a tall redheaded boy, both wearing Gryffindor uniforms, peaked out of a nearby compartment. Hydrus recognized the boy as Ron and was amused to see that Ginny, Fred and George did not look happy to see their brother. He was just contemplating how easy it would be to rile Ron up simply by drawing attention to himself when the girl’s words registered.

“Lupin?” he asked excitedly, turning to the man. “As in Remus Lupin?” 

“That's me,” the man replied. “Do I know you?”

“I’m Hydrus Black.”

Remus’ eyes widened. 

“Your Sirius’ son?” he confirmed.

“Yeah, Uncle Moony, that's me.”

Remus’ chest tightened hearing Hydrus use that old nickname. After he read in the paper about Sirius’ false imprisonment and the son he had been forced to raise in Azkaban Remus desperately wanted to reach out but he wasn’t brave enough. He was ashamed that he ever thought Sirius capable of betraying Lily, James and Harry. Now, Sirius’ son stood before him. He had expected to see a carbon copy of his old friend but Hydrus had traits unique to him, or maybe his mother. He had black hair down to his shoulders that was curly and not wavy or effortlessly sleek as Sirius’ used to be. His face was a little softer than a Black’s usual sharp features and intense green eyes stared back at him rather than the expected gray. 

“You okay Moony?’ Hydrus asked quietly, concerned by the way his uncle seemed to not be breathing. Remus swallowed.

“I’m okay, Cub. I'm just happy to meet you.” he said with a smile. Hydrus beamed back at him. 

“Oi!” Ron shouted, reminding the pair that there were others in the corridor. “What happened to the dementor?” 

“She’s right here,” Hydrus replied, shifting so Eurus was visible playing with the strings of his hoodie. Ron screamed and jumped back while the bushy haired girl shrieked at Remus to ‘kill it’. Hydrus wrapped his arms around the little dementor protectively.

“She’s just a baby!” he shouted, looking at the girl with disgust. “Even if she was fully grown, why would you want to kill her?”

“Dementors are evil,” she insisted. “Everything I’ve read about them says they’re monsters that will suck out your soul if given the chance.”

Hydrus rolled his eyes.

“Everything you’ve read is wrong. Dementors only suck out souls in specific circumstances.”

“What do you know?” Ron sneered, “You’ve never even gone to primary school.”

“I was in Azkaban for twelve years,” Hydrus replied, “I think I know a thing or two about dementors.”

“Yeah Ronniekins. Don't be daft…” George taunted.

“... You’re embarrassing yourself in front of your girlfriend,” Fred added.

Ron turned red and stammered out a weak defense which only encouraged the twins. While they argued Hydrus noticed that the bushy haired girl was looking him over like he was a nasty bug or a muddy smear on the ground.

“Are those real tattoos?” she asked, scrunching up her nose. 

“They are. Do you like them?” Hydrus replied sweetly as he tapped the rune under his left eye with a hand that had more runes tattooed between each knuckle. He fought not to snicker when she pursed her lips like she had swallowed a lemon.

“They’re ghastly!” she cried. “That has to be against the dress code. I’m sure I can find a spell to remove them.”

“Leave him alone, Hermione,” Ginny scolded. “I think he looks cool.”

“He looks like a delinquent,” Hermione argued.

“I am a delinquent,” Hydrus pointed out, fighting down a shit eating grin. It was way too much fun messing with these two. They were so easy to wind up. Neville and Luna seemed to be enjoying it as well. Neville barely managed to hide his laugh behind a cough while Luna giggled wildly which caught Ron’s attention. 

“Shut up Loony!” he snapped. “You have no right to laugh when everyone knows you're balmy. Do us a favor and wander into the lake.”

Hydrus stiffened, his face falling into a mask of barely contained rage. He could feel his magic swirling inside him like a hurricane. It took more self control that he thought he possessed not to create an aura that would make the redhead cower and whimper and wish he was never born. 

“Alright! That's enough!” Remus shouted. He had been standing back, enjoying the fact that Hydrus had inherited Sirius’ ability to perfectly push someone's buttons, but this was getting out of hand. His long-lost nephew looked like he wanted to murder someone. “We're almost in Hogsmeade. You should get changed.”

Hydrus was more than happy to take his leave. He grabbed Luna’s hand as he passed, not willing to leave her anywhere near Ron. The blonde squeezed his fingers and allowed him to lead her back to their compartment. 

The group quickly put their uniforms on. Hydrus wore plain black robes since he hadn't been sorted yet. When they pulled into the station Neville, Luna, Ginny, Fred and George surrounded Hydrus, hiding Eurus from prying eyes as they made their way to the carriages. They chose one near the back and Luna immediately went to stroke the thestral harnessed to it. 

“Luna? What are you doing?” Ginny asked. The Weasleys were watching her with fond amusement but Neville was eyeing the thestral apprehensively. Hydrus stepped forward to pat the creature's bony neck. It made a solid thumping sound and the redheads jumped, their eyes widening.

“It’s a thestral,” Hydrus explained. “They can only be seen by people who’ve seen death. Everyone thinks they're bad omens but they're actually very calm and gentle.”

Luna grabbed Ginny’s wrist and slowly guided her hand to the thestral’s shoulder. Her breath hitched when she touched its leathery hide. Fred and George followed her lead, blindly finding the edge of its wing. Hydrus beckoned Neville toward its head. He seemed nervous as he studied its milky eyes and beak-like snout. 

“It's okay,” Hydrus soothed, scratching the thestral along the cheek. “Just rub his nose. I promise he won't hurt you.”

Neville took a deep breath and held it as he raised a shaky hand. He gasped softly when he made contact and the thestral nuzzled into his palm, begging for more pets. 

“There you go,” Hydrus praised. “He likes you. Can I ask how you can see them?”

“When I was young my grandfather died. He had been sick for a long time so he knew he was going. My grandmother and I sat with him,” Neville explained. “How are you able to see them?”

“I've always been able to,” Hydrus answered vaguely. 

“Come on boys. It's time to go,” Ginny called from inside the carriage. 

After a short ride through Hogsmeade and up a muddy laneway Hydrus got his first proper look at Hogwarts. The castle was breathtaking. Every window glowed and the front doors were opened wide to welcome her students back. 

Their group was one of the last to arrive so everyone wished Hydrus a quick good luck before rushing to join their houses. Hydrus waited in the empty entrance hall until a gaggle of first years appeared from the dungeons led by Hagrid. Sirius had spoken fondly of the groundskeeper and his obsession with all magical creatures. Hydrus was excited to meet him.

No one noticed Hydrus so he was able to quietly follow the younger students toward the Great Hall where a tall, serious looking woman in long dark green robes and a pointed hat stepped out to greet them.

“Firs’ years all accounted for Professor McGonagall,” Hagrid announced. Hydrus smiled. He hadn't had a chance to really enjoy meeting ‘good ol’ Minnie’ the last time he was here. 

“Thank you Hagrid,” McGonagall replied. The groundskeeper waved and went to take his place in the hall as McGonagall turned to the students. 

“Welcome to Hogwarts. In a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates but before you can take your seats you must be sorted into your house. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you're here your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points, any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup.” 

McGonagall finished her customary speech and scanned over the first years, noting excitement and nervousness in equal measure. She didn't notice Hydrus at the back, tucked away in the shadows cast by the torches. 

“The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily. Wait here until I return.”

She marched back into the Great Hall, leaving them alone. The younger students immediately started chattering amongst themselves. Several were wondering how they would be sorted, suggesting everything from a duel to rolling a magic die. Hydrus took the opportunity to really look at the entrance hall. The architecture was simple but grand with stone arches and subtle detailing that looked like tangled branches or Celtic knots around the various windows, alcoves and doors. 

Hydrus was studying the massive wooden tresses holding up the roof when someone suddenly screamed. He looked around for the cause, expecting to see the Hogwarts ghosts, but the first years were all looking at him and Eurus. Hydrus sighed loudly. He was getting really sick of explaining dementors to everyone. 

“This Is Eurus,” he said, hoisting the dementor higher on his hip. “Yes, she is a dementor. No, she won't hurt you. Any other questions?” 

“Why do you have a dementor?”

“She likes me and I like her.”

“What if she gets hungry?”

“Then she’ll eat.”

“What’s a dementor?”

Hydrus glanced down at a small girl standing much closer to him than most of the others. If she hadn’t heard of dementors she was probably muggleborn. 

“Dementors are magical creatures. Eurus is only a child but fully grown dementors are the size of a man. People don't like them because they look scary and feed on emotions but they're actually very intelligent.”

“Can she speak?” someone else asked, likely another muggleborn. 

<Say hello little one,> Hydrus rasped, waving his hand as a demonstration. 

<Hello,> Eurus said, copying Hydrus' wave. 

“You can speak to dementors!?” someone shouted. They were a half-blood or pureblood judging by their incredulousness.

“It's called Morstongue. Not many wizards can speak it.”

“Can I hold her?” asked the same muggleborn girl as before. 

“That's not a good idea but you can shake her hand if you're gentle.”

The girl nodded enthusiastically so Hydrus told Eurus to hold out her arm. Her sleeves covered her hands but the girl didn’t mind.

“Hi Eurus. Nice to meet you.”

Hydrus translated the greeting and told the girl that Eurus said it was nice to meet her too. The interaction seemed to break the tension. Students crowded around, asking so many questions he couldn't keep up. Thankfully, he was saved by the return of Professor McGonagall. Her eyes fell on Hydrus and Eurus and she clutched her chest in shock.

“Mr. Black! Is that a dementor?” she cried.

“That’s Eurus,” one of the first years told her. “She's very friendly.”

Several students nodded in agreement. A few waved at Eurus who automatically mimicked them. McGonagall seemed surprised before schooling her face again.

“This is highly irregular but not at all surprising,” she admitted. “I dare say you'll make a bigger splash than your father did.”

Hydrus grinned and could have sworn the corner of McGonagall’s mouth twitched. 

“Very well. Follow me then.”

The first years had to practically jog to keep up with the Deputy Headmistress' long strides. Hydrus took up the rear and kept his head held high even as his heart began to beat wildly. 

He thought he had gotten used to crowds after Sirius’ trial and their trip to Diagon Alley but this was way more people than he expected and everyone was staring. He hadn't wanted to draw too much attention but realistically he knew the whispers and stares were inevitable. Even without Eurus on his hip the Daily Prophet had been very diligent in reporting every detail of his and his dad’s situation. 

“When I call your name you will place the sorting hat on your head and be sorted into your houses,” McGonagall announced. “Appleby, Nathanial!”

Hydrus didn't pay much attention to the sorting. He was more focused on listening to the students who needed to learn how to whisper. 

“ Is that the Black kid? ”

“ I can't believe the Ministry sent a baby to Azkaban! ”

“ Can we trust him? I heard he was raised by Death Eaters .”

“ What's he holding? ”

“Black, Hydrus!”

Hydrus blinked and realized he was the last one left. He went up the steps and sat on the stool, transferring Eurus to his lap. The whispering picked up as people realized what she was but Hydrus was distracted by the old wizard hat slipping over his eyes. 

“Hello Hydrus. I've been waiting for you,” the hat said in his head. 

“Sorry I took so long.”

“Bah! No need to apologize. None can alter Fate though some may try. Hogwarts is on your side, young Master. She wants her halls full again.”

“I'll do my best.”

“I believe you. It's exactly why I'm placing you in SLYTHERIN!” 

There was some polite clapping and even more whispers as Hydrus made his way to the far right table. He bypassed the first years to sit with his yearmates who made space when he approached. As soon as he was settled, Dumbledore spoke.

“Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. We are very pleased to see all of you back and thrilled to add more brilliant minds to our esteemed houses. Without further ado, dinner is served.” 

The table was suddenly covered in mounds of food. There was anything Hydrus could ever want and it all smelled divine. Despite the way his stomach growled he only served himself a single leg of roast chicken and a scoop of mashed potatoes. He pulled a nutritional potion from his pocket and downed it. The dementors and Sirius had tried their best to keep him well fed but the meals the Ministry provided Azkaban prisoners were small and bland. Kreacher had put in a lot of work to get Hydrus and Sirius eating proper food again but neither could handle too much without feeling sick. 

Thankfully, Hydrus’ classmates were polite enough to leave him be while he ate and started conversations amongst themselves about their summers and plans for the new year. It wasn't until Hydrus was forced to give Eurus some chicken bones to play with when she kept trying to grab his fork that someone spoke to him. 

“I’m Blaise Zabini,” the dark skinned boy to his right said. “Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Zabini.”

“Well met Heir Zabini. I'm Hydrus Black. I have yet to claim my heirship.”

“Understandable, I'm sure you've been quite busy since your release,” the boy with short, wavy brown hair assured him. “I’m Theodore Nott, Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Nott.”

“I'm Daphne Greengrass, Heir of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Greengrass,” the girl with long blonde hair to his left cut in. 

“Pansy Parkinson, Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Parkinson,” the girl with the straight back bob cut added. 

“And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Malfoy,” the last boy, the one with platinum blond hair, finished.

“Well met,” Hydrus said, completing the traditional greetings. “I'm pleased to meet you all, especially you, cousin.”

Draco raised an eyebrow but nodded his head in acknowledgment. 

“A pleasure to meet you as well, Black.”

“Please, call my Hydrus. My father holds your mother in high esteem. She’s his favorite cousin.”

“Really? Sirius Black favors my mother?”

Hydrus nodded.

“What about my father?”

“Not a fan,” Hydrus said dismissively, taking a sip of juice while watching Malfoy over the rim of the cup. The blonde’s pureblood mask stayed firmly in place but Hydrus had a feeling he’d just won points with the Malfoy Heir. Very interesting. 

“And who's your friend?” Greengrass asked. “Are they the little troublemaker that caused such a commotion on the train?”

“This is Eurus. Apparently she couldn’t stand Azkaban without me and followed.”

“How did she get on the train?” Zabini inquired. Hydrus frowned.

<How did you get on the train?> he asked Eurus. 

<Mother took me to one of the Muggle hives. I got on when the loud snake slowed down.>

Hydrus chuckled and gave her a couple more bones that she rattled happily. 

“Sounds like I'm on permanent babysitting duty,” Hydrus informed his housemates. “Her mother put her on the train when it slowed outside Edinburgh.”

“Why would her mother do that?” Parkinson asked.

“Her mother is kind of mine too. Dementors are much more social than wix give them credit for. She's the one that made sure my dad had everything he needed to take care of me. As I got older she taught me Morstongue and some of their magics.” 

The Slytherins were now gaping at him in a very inelegant way. Hydrus found it oddly endearing.

“You need to write a book on dementors,” Nott decided. “To set the record straight.”

“Maybe I will,” Hydrus agreed, grinning at the boy. 

“Okay, I have to ask,” Malfoy spoke up. “Is she not hungry?”

Hydrus looked down just in time to stop Eurus from shoving the chicken bone into her hood and probably her mouth. 

“She’s eating right now,” he revealed. 

“How? I thought dementors ate happiness? I don't feel any different,” Zabini said. 

“Dementors eat emotions. It doesn't matter what kind but as dark creatures they find negative emotions more filling. People assume they feel scared and depressed around dementors because they've eaten all your happiness but that's not correct. Dementors can create auras to encourage you to feel whatever emotion they happen to be craving so they can feed off it.”

“What is Eurus eating right now?” Nott asked. 

“Anxiety. I have plenty at the moment.”

“What do you have to be anxious about?”

Hydrus scoffed.

“Classes, being out in the world for the first time, Dumbledore poking at my occlumency shields, I could go on.”

Being responsible for his dementor pseudo-sister in a castle full of spell happy students, the potions professor studying him like he’s a puzzle, the nasty looks from the Gryffindor table, particularly around Ron and Hermione.

“Is Dumbledore seriously using Legilimency on you?” Pansy asked. 

“Incessantly. Don't worry though. I learned from the best.”

His yearmates knew better than to ask who taught him but Malfoy eyed him curiously. There was no one more versed in mind magic than a Black and no Black outside Narcissa Malfoy more skilled than Bellatrix Lestrange. 

Soon the conversation turned to school. Hydrus learned he would be sharing Care of Magical Creatures with Malfoy, Nott and Parkinson and Runes with Zabini, Greengrass and Nott. Greengrass and Parkinson were also taking Divination but Hydrus expected he would be skiving off that class. 

Before they knew it the desserts disappeared and Dumbledore made a few announcements including that magic was banned in the halls and that the Forbidden Forest was, in fact, forbidden. He then introduced Remus as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and Hagrid as the Care of Magical Creatures professor. There was some polite applause before the students were finally released to head for the dorms. Hydrus followed his yearmates into the dungeons only to be stopped just outside the entrance by Professor Snape. 

“Wait in the common room,” he ordered the rest of the third years. “I need to speak to Mr. Black.”

Once they were alone the pair stood in silence, each looking the other over. Snape seemed to still be forming his opinion on Hydrus. Sirius had been honest with him about his bullying tendencies in school and Hydrus knew the potion’s master and his dad hadn't gotten along. He hoped his professor wouldn't hold old grudges against him.

Eventually, Snape’s dark eyes landed on Eurus. 

“When can you send it back to Azkaban?” He asked. 

“Never,” Hydrus replied firmly. “She has been placed in my care.”

Snape frowned.

“Would you say her attachment to you is similar to a familiar bond?” he pressed. 

“You could say that, sir,” Hydrus acquiesced. He recognized an attempt to help when he saw it. 

“I'll discuss it with Dumbledore. You know how to produce a Patronus Charm?” Snape asked. Hydrus nodded. “Good. Do not allow her in populated areas without you. The Slytherin common room may become the exception once your housemates get used to her.”

“She may occasionally explore the Forbidden Forest to feed or visit the thestrals,” Hydrus said. “Will that be a problem?”

“As long as she's not out when students may stumble on her I don't see why not.”

“Understood,” Hydrus agreed. 

“Go join the rest of the Slytherins. I'll be there in a moment.”

Hydrus took his leave, stepping through the portrait hole to find the entirety of Slytherin House gathered in the common room. The first years were sitting on the chairs and couch closest to the fire while the older years had found space elsewhere. Hydrus spotted Malfoy, Zabini, Greengrass, Parkinson and Nott around one of the tables and joined them. Professor Snape entered less than a minute later. 

“I am Professor Snape, potions master and your Head of House,” he stated, pacing in front of the fire. “You have been sorted into Slytherin, the house of the ambitious, resourceful and cunning. Within these walls we strive for greatness but you will not often find acceptance in students from other houses. Those outside Slytherin see us as schemers and cheats which is what makes what I am about to say so important. 

“Protect each other. I do not care if you are mortal enemies, outside this room you are allies. We must present a united front. Any inter-house disagreements are to be handled in private. Failure to do so will result in punishment. 

“Other students will attack or insult you. I do not expect you to take it lying down. Retaliation to fit the crime is encouraged but do not get caught. If you get caught I will not save you from whatever punishment you get for breaking school rules and will add my own punishment for breaking house rules. Am I understood?”

“Yes Professor!”

“Good. Prefects, please show the first years to their dormitory. Curfew for first and second years is nine o’clock. Third to fifth years can stay up until ten. For anyone else it is eleven. I expect you in the Great Hall for breakfast at seven sharp to collect your schedules. Good night.”

As Snape marched out of the dorms, his cloak billowing dramatically behind him, the prefects started calling for the first years to follow them to their new rooms. The older years started to do the same. It wasn’t very late but everyone was tired from traveling and stuffed from dinner so the common room emptied quickly.

Hydrus was shown to the third year dormitory. They had their own common room with a hall to the right for the girls and a hall to the left for the boys. Each hall had a bathroom at the end. Hydrus’ room was next to the bathroom, having been added the moment he was sorted. Inside was a four-poster bed, a side table, a wardrobe and a desk with a chair. Hydrus’ trunk was already at the foot of the bed. Everything was colored gray, silver and deep emerald green with the wood being a rich, dark walnut. The stone walls reminded him of his cell. He loved it. 

“I advise waking up early,” Zabini said with a grin. “If Draco gets to the bathroom first you'll never make it to class on time.”

Malfoy smacked Zabini upside the head. Hydrus was pleasantly surprised by how relaxed they were in the dorms, away from the prying eyes of the rest of the school. 

“Thanks for the warning,” Hydrus laughed. The pair said good night and left him to change and fall into bed. Eurus explored the room briefly but soon found a dark corner to float in for the night. 

<Good night little one. See you in the morning,> Hydrus yawned before promptly drifting off to sleep.

Chapter Text

It was one in the morning when Hydrus woke with a warm feeling in his chest like something exciting was going to happen. He lay there for a moment, enjoying the electric anticipation flowing through his body, when something tugged on his soul. He smiled and tugged back which resulted in repeated, more insistent pulls.  

Hydrus quickly stood and hurried out of his room. The dorms were quiet as he made his way to the exit. It was meant to be locked at this hour but being a Parselmouth in Slytherin House had its perks. With a quick ~ open ~ he was free to follow the tugging through hidden passages and empty corridors until he reached a simple wooden door. Very few were aware the Room of Requirement existed, let alone where to find it. Even Sirius with his extensive knowledge of Hogwarts’ secrets had never located it.

The tugging was very strong now so Hydrus opened the door and stepped into a familiar cottage. The walls were stone and lined with elegantly carved dark oak shelves full of books and curios. Dried plants and beautifully crafted wind chimes hung from the ceiling beams. The cabinets in the small kitchen were painted with a plethora of colorful flowers and the cobblestone floor was covered with a brightly patterned rug. A fire crackled merrily in the fireplace illuminating a pair of mismatched armchairs. The cottage never failed to make Hydrus relax. It was the perfect blend of his preference for medieval style architecture and his sister’s love of color. 

“Hydrus!”

His arms were suddenly filled with a blonde haired girl wearing a frilly blue nightdress. She clung to him tightly and he didn't hesitate to crush her against his chest. 

“Hey Luna.”

Hydrus had many secrets but none were so precious to him as Cassandra Lunara Black. His twin sister. The train was the first time they had ever physically been near each other and it took everything they had not to give themselves away. The mere inches between them had felt like miles. 

“I’ve missed you Lu,” Hydrus said, burying his nose in Luna’s hair. It smelled like sunshine. 

“I’ve missed you too,” Luna replied, tangling her fingers into the back of Hydrus’ shirt like she was trying to tether herself to the Earth. “The dreams never felt like enough.”

The moment the pair had come into their magic, Hydrus in a cell on Azkaban and Luna tucked away somewhere safe, they had dreamed of each other. They met almost every night in this very cottage and spent hours playing or talking or just existing in each other’s orbit. As they got older more and more shelves appeared and the books and artifacts changed to suit them. They had everything from basic magical theory to obscure texts related to whatever they happened to be interested in. The cottage in their dreams was where they learned and grew into their power. 

“I would never question our divine Mother’s plan,” Luna continued. “But I wish we could have grown in the same garden.”

Hydrus agreed wholeheartedly. They were two halves of the same soul. Two sides of the same coin. It pained them to be apart.  

“How was your first night back?” Hydrus asked, reluctantly releasing his sister and sitting in his black wing-backed chair. Luna curled up in a poofy, blindingly yellow chair that Hydrus always compared to a marshmallow. 

“Nothing to report, though I do expect my shoes to be missing in the morning.”

Hydrus scowled. He thought Ravenclaws were supposed to be smart. How could they not see how amazing Luna was? 

“I know you don't do well with gratitude,” Luna continued, changing the subject before Hydrus decided to steal something more important than shoes from her bunk mates. “But thank you for rescuing Ginny.”

“She's your friend. I would never have left her to die.”

“I know Hyde, but the Goat will be even more suspicious now,” Luna pointed out, eyes flashing at the mention of the headmaster. “You have to be careful.”

“Don't worry. Dumbledore doesn't scare me,” Hydrus assured her.

There was no one the twins loathed more than Dumbledore. Not even Voldemort. If it hadn't been for him they would have grown up together surrounded by their families. They would never forgive him for meddling with Fate and redirecting the course of their lives before they were even born…

[ November 21st, 1979 ]

Pandora Lovegood gasped awake, sitting bolt upright in the bed she shared with her husband. Xenophilius sat up more calmly and gently rubbed her back as she got control of her breathing. 

“A vision?” he asked. Pandora nodded. “Bad?”

She reached back and grasped his hand, pulling it into her lap. She interlaced their fingers as she thought. 

“It could be,” she admitted. “Or it could be the most wonderful thing to happen to us.”

“Will you tell me about it when you're ready?” he asked. 

“Of course my love,” Pandora said softly, giving him a peck on the lips. “Let's go back to bed.”

Xeno pulled his wife against him, wrapping her in his arms. He fell asleep quickly but Pandora lay awake until the birds began to sing. She would have to go out today but for now she just listened to her husband’s steady breathing and drifted off. 

>>>>>>>>

Pandora stood in the middle of an empty field. Only a moment ago her owl had vanished into thin air but it soon returned on the shoulder of a redheaded woman in sweatpants and a baggy sweater. She popped into existence a few yards away from Pandora, wand pointed at the blonde. 

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“I'm sorry, I wouldn't have come if it wasn't important,” Pandora replied. 

“How did you even know where I was? And if you say nargles I’ll hex you.” 

Pandora stayed silent. 

“Well? I’m waiting?”

“You told me not to say nargles,” Pandora replied. “I know better than to risk being hexed by Lily Evans.” 

Lily huffed but lowered her wand ever so slightly. 

“Fine. I guess you can come in but you need to swear that you’re here in good faith.”

“I swear on my magic and my Sight that I mean no harm to anyone residing in Potter Manor nor any friend or associate of the residents including their unborn son.”

Lily’s eyes widened and she unconsciously shifted to protect her stomach. 

“How did you—?”

“I think that's best discussed over tea, and behind wards,” Pandora interrupted.  

Lily stared for a moment before shaking herself and stowing her wand. She stepped forward to whisper in Pandora’s ear.

“Potter Manor can be found in the countryside of West Norfolk.”

Suddenly, a huge stone manor covered in ivy and roofed with mossy clay shingles materialized before their eyes. Lily led Pandora down the drive and through a side entrance that deposited them directly in the kitchen. A house elf was washing up from breakfast and eyed Lily when she started making tea but didn't protest. Once they each had a steaming cup Lily spoke. 

“Only the Order knows that James and I are expecting and it's too early to be able to tell their gender. How did you know?”

“I know more than that,” Pandora replied. “You'll name him Harrison after James’ grandfather and Sirius and Severus will be his godfathers.”

“Sirius and Remus,” Lily corrected. 

“No, Sirius and Severus, or did you not recently reconcile?”

Lily blinked at her.

“Sev came by last night,” she admitted. “He apologized for what happened in fifth year and explained his— mission .”

Pandora tipped her cup to Lily and took a sip. The redhead slouched in her chair with a sigh. 

“I guess all that talk about you being a Seer wasn't just rumors.”

“Highly exaggerated but not untrue,” Pandora admitted. 

“I'm assuming you had some kind of vision then?” Lily asked. “About my son?”

“And my daughter,” Pandora replied. Lily’s tea cup froze halfway to her lips. 

“You're pregnant?” 

Pandora nodded. Lily noticed she was biting the inside of her cheek and gripping her teacup tight enough to shatter it. Lily felt for her. She knew people thought she was mad for starting a family when the future was so uncertain. She couldn't imagine how Pandora felt with her inner eye piling on. Lily gently grabbed the blonde's wrist, lowering her hands so she could place the cup on the table. She kept her hand resting on Pandora’s arm, rubbing soft circles on her skin with her thumb. 

“If our children are meant to be allies or friends or something then we're in this together. Tell me what you saw.”

Pandora swallowed and turned her hand so she was properly holding Lily’s.

“I saw us. Standing side by side. You’re holding your baby boy and I'm holding my girl.”

“What do they look like?” Lily asked breathlessly.

“They're beautiful Lily. They have their father’s hair and our eyes but they're so much brighter. Like emeralds and sapphires.”

Lily squeezed Pandora's hand, her eyes shining as she nodded for Pandora to continue.

“Next thing I know they've aged. They're about five now and everything starts moving too fast. I see places and faces I don't recognize. A gray stone room, a redheaded girl, a rustic cottage, a boy that could be a young Xeno.

“The whole time the children are just standing there holding hands. You and James are with Harrison and Xeno and I are with our Luna but that changes too. Sometimes it's only us and our husbands are gone. Sometimes it’s the other way around. Sometimes Remus or Severus are with Harrison while Barty is with Luna. Sometimes one or both of them are horribly alone.

“Finally everything stops. The children are just standing in a gray void. Then they appeared.”

Pandora was becoming breathless as she spoke faster and faster. She paused to gasp for air, her eyes filled with a kind of terrified awe that made Lily’s heart race as she squeezed the blonde's hand tighter. 

“Who appeared?” she asked.

“Fate and Death,” Pandora whispered. “I've never dreamed of the old gods before. I could feel their power. They looked— they looked proud of our children and spoke gently to them. ‘Godly children born of mortals. You hold the scales. Beware the one who defies the mother and the one who escapes the father. By their hand magic dies, by yours it will rise again .’”

Both women fell silent. Pandora braced herself for the questions she would not have answers to but instead, understanding dawned on Lily’s face. 

“So that's what it meant,” she muttered to herself. 

“What what meant, Lily?” Pandora asked. 

“Albus came by for tea yesterday,” Lily explained. “He said he had interviewed someone for the Divination post and she spoke a prophecy.

"'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies .’

"Albus claimed that the prophecy referred to our son and urged us to go into hiding.”

Lily’s eyes flashed with anger, surprising Pandora. She had thought Lily would take Dumbledore's word as gospel like everyone else in the Order did.

“James was ready to pack up immediately but I pointed out that we didn't even know Harry would be born at the end of July," Lily finished.

“What did Dumbledore say?”

“He kept trying to make us ‘see reason',” the redhead made air quotes with one hand since her other one was still clutching Pandora’s. “He even tried to guilt James but I put my foot down. We had a huge row about it after Albus left and James went to Remus’ to cool off.”

Lily leaned over the table and Pandora copied her. She spoke softly, as if someone would overhear her in her own kitchen.

“Sev showed up after dark, much like you did today. He apologized for our falling out during school and begged me to listen to him. He told me Albus recruited him as a spy just after our fight and he had taken the mark as part of his cover. He said he overheard a prophecy while waiting for a meeting at the Hogshead and that Albus had tasked him with delivering it to Voldemort.”

Pandora gasped.

“He thinks the prophecy is about your son and he wants to give it to the Dark Lord?” she exclaimed. 

“That's not even the worst part,” Lily half snarled. “I played dumb and asked what the prophecy said. Albus gave us an edited version.

"'The ones with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. Either must die at the hand of the other and either can live while the other survives. The ones with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.’”

“There's more than one chosen one,” Pandora realized. Lily nodded. 

“Severus says Albus is convinced it's about my child and believes I'll either have twins or that the second chosen one is Alice's child since she's due around the same time as me.”

“Why would he give his own followers a fake prophecy but make Severus report the true one?” Pandora wondered. She was sure Lily had made Severus follow Dumbledore's order. It would have been too dangerous for him to disobey. 

“Because he's a manipulative bastard,” Lily spat. “He was never particularly interested in me during school but as soon as I married James he was everywhere. It took a year to get James to stop blindly following his advice but he still worshiped the old man. Once Sev told me how Albus recruited him it was pretty obvious he'd done it before. I don't know why he edited the prophecy but I don't trust it.”

Lily took a moment to wrestle down her anger. James would be devastated to know that his beloved mentor would keep such volatile secrets. Lily had barely slept a wink. Sev admitted he’d wanted to apologize to her at the end of fifth year but Albus convinced him that associating with her would be dangerous. She had lost her best friend so Albus could have a fifteen year old spy.

“What do we do now?” Pandora asked. 

“I don't know,” Lily admitted. “Are you sure there wasn't anything in your vision you recognized? A place we can find answers? A person that can help us?”

Pandora wracked her brain, replaying her vision over and over, looking for something, anything, that gave even the barest hint of what to do next.

“There might be something,” she said hesitantly. “I didn't mention it because there was so much else going on but when everything was flashing around the kids two things stayed the same. There was a large raven at Luna’s feet and a black dog laying at Harrison’s.”

Lily’s eyes widened and she opened her mouth to speak before quickly shutting it. She averted her gaze, chewing her bottom lip in thought. Pandora gave her a moment. 

“I know who the dog is,” she finally said. “But I'm not sure he’ll be any help. He's one of Albus’ most loyal followers.”

“All we can do it's try,” Pandora insisted. “Let's pay him a visit. We won't reveal anything until we're sure it's safe.”

Lily nodded and reluctantly released Pandora’s hand to get ready to leave but the warmth lingered. It reminded each of them that they weren't alone. They were in this together, for better or worse. 

>>>>>>>>>

Less than an hour later both women apparated to a Muggle street lined with rows of identical stone townhouses. Lily led Pandora past number eleven but stopped before she reached number thirteen. Number twelve was missing.

“I've never been here myself but if what I heard is true—”

Lily placed her hand on the stone wall dividing number eleven’s yard from number thirteen’s. Nothing happened for a long moment then there was a loud crack and the wall started to split down the middle. It seemed to push the two houses apart, making room for the near identical building that unfolded like an accordion between them. Soon Number 12 Grimmauld Place loomed over the street as if it had always been there. 

They walked through the rusty gate and down the overgrown path but before they reached the door it was pulled open by a man in a pair of pajama bottoms and a worn band shirt. He had one hand hidden behind his leg, likely holding his wand. 

“Lils? What are you doing here? Since when are you and Pandora friends?”

Sirius Black’s voice was uncharacteristically sharp as he looked between them, suspicious of their presence. 

“Aren’t you going to invite us in Pads?” Lily asked. 

“Aren’t you going to answer my question?” he shot back.

Lily narrowed her eyes at him. Pandora hadn't spent much time around Sirius in school but she knew of him from Regulus before their falling out. Even she could tell something was wrong.

“James and I had a fight,” Lily half lied. “Marlene is on a mission and Alice is hosting her mother-in-law. I need somewhere to lay low for a couple hours.”

Sirius’ silvery eyes flicked to Pandora, likely wondering why she was there and why they didn't go to her place, but he ultimately deemed the status of his best friend’s relationship more important. 

“What did you fight about?”

Lily shrugged.

“We disagreed over whether we would do what Albus asked of us. I think he's balmy but James doesn't.”

It wouldn’t hurt to admit that much to Sirius. Lily had made her stance pretty clear to Dumbledore himself. To their surprise Sirius scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“Whatever it was I'm sure you're right,” he said, tucking his wand into his pocket. “You can hide here as long as you want.”

He led them in and invited them to make themselves comfortable in the drawing room.

“Kreacher!”

An ancient house elf with wrinkly skin that looked two sizes too big appeared. His long fingers were bandaged and one of his big, floppy ears was half missing.

“Lord Black calls Kreacher.”

Lily raised an eyebrow. When had Sirius claimed the Black Lordship? 

“Some tea please,” Sirius ordered and Kreacher popped away only to return in a few seconds with a tray of tea and pastries. 

“You know Sirius,” Pandora said once Kreacher was gone. “Regulus once mentioned that you and Kreacher didn't get on. What changed?”

“Oh, you know, this and that. It helps that I’m around more often now.”

He sounded bitter, like it hadn't been his choice to not be around when Lily distinctly remembered him running away and declaring his family dead to him. 

“James never did tell me why you moved back here,” Lily prodded, looking round the room. It was clean but stuffy, not at all Sirius’ style. 

“That's because James doesn't know why,” Sirius admitted. “I love him, I really do, but my reasons are my own and we both know whatever I said would get back to a certain meddling headmaster.”

The women glanced at each other. They had expected to have to carefully tiptoe around the issue, slowly sussing out Sirius’ loyalties, but Sirius was all but spelling it out for them. He didn't trust Dumbledore. 

“Anyway, you didn't answer my question earlier,” Sirius said, eyeing the pair over the rim of his cup. “Since when are you two friends?”

“Since Pandora had a vision about our children,” Lily replied. Sirius froze, eyes flicking between the woman who stared back nervously, muscles tense and ready to move. As an auror, Sirius recognized the body language of someone taking an awful risk. 

“Why are you really here?” he asked. 

They explained everything. The vision, Dumbledore’s fake prophecy, Severus risking his life to bring Lily the real one.

“Pandora saw your animagus form sitting with Harry. That and the raven with Luna were the only things that stayed consistent. We’re hoping you know something or can do something to help us,” Lily concluded. 

The trio’s tea was cold and forgotten on the table. Sirius leaned forward, elbows on his knees and fingers steepled in front of his mouth as he absorbed everything Lily and Pandora told him. At Lily’s question he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them they were hard as steel. 

“I do know something but I need you both to swear you will never tell a soul what you see or hear from this point forward,” he said firmly. 

“We swear,” Pandora and Lily said. Sirius nodded before standing and beckoning them to follow.

“The raven is another animagus,” he explained as they climbed the stairs. “He's the reason I no longer trust Dumbledore and the reason I'm back in this house.”

Sirius knocked on one of the doors on the third floor and opened it without waiting for an answer. Inside was a library containing thousands of books and decked out in elegant black leather furniture. The only exception was an oak four poster bed draped in gray curtains with a Slytherin green quilt spread across it. 

Laying on the bed was someone neither Lily or Pandora had ever expected to see again.

Chapter Text

“Reggy!?” Pandora exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hands as tears instantly welled in her eyes. 

“Hey Pan,” Regulus replied with a smile. “Long time no see.”

Pandora rushed across the room and threw her arms around her old friend. He was paler than normal and definitely skinnier and the arm that wrapped around her waist shook with the effort. 

“Explain!” Lily demanded, smacking Sirius on the arm. 

“Okay, okay,” Sirius cried, rubbing his bruised shoulder. “About two months ago I was in my flat when Kreacher showed up and basically kidnapped me. He brought me here where I found Regulus trying to crawl up the stairs. He was hysterical and when I grabbed him he tried to throw me off but he was too weak.”

Sirius glanced at Regulus who sighed.

“I had drunk a potion that causes despair by making you relive your worst memories. I was trying to reach the roof. I couldn’t—” Regulus choked, intense emotion suddenly swelling in his chest. “I couldn't take watching Evan die over and over. It felt like my only hope for peace was to throw myself off the roof.”

Pandora gasped and grasped Regulus’ hands tightly. 

“Kreacher and I were up for two days straight trying to keep him from hurting himself,” Sirius continued. “When he finally passed out Kreacher told me what happened. 

“Voldemort made Regulus give him Kreacher and took him to a flooded cave with an island in the center. He forced Kreacher to drink the same potion Regulus had drunk and left him to die after hiding something in the basin. Thankfully, house elves are resilient against most wixen magic but Kreacher still would have been killed by the Inferi in the lake if Regulus hadn't called him back.”

“I never wanted to be a Death Eater,” Regulus stated, mostly to Lily. “But Barty and I couldn't leave Evan alone. I hate Voldemort and all the blood purity bullshit. I figured whatever he hid could be the key to ending the war so I ordered Kreacher to take me back. 

“I drank the potion, retrieved the hidden locket and gave it to Kreacher with orders to leave me and do whatever he could to destroy it.”

“You stayed behind!? What in Merlin’s name were you thinking?” Pandora cried. Regulus had the decency to look properly chastised. 

“There was a lot of potion. By the time I got to the locket I was out of my mind. I was prepared to die. I wanted to die. I crawled to the water and let the Infuri drag me under. I only survived because Kreacher disobeyed orders and came back for me.”

“Within an hour of getting him home Kreacher knew he couldn't heal Regulus himself so he came and got me,” Sirius added. “I wish I'd known he disobeyed orders to bring Reg back. I would have stopped him from mutilating himself.”

Lily and Pandora grimaced when they remembered Kreacher's bandaged hands and missing ear. Sirius looked honestly upset for the house elf he had loathed his whole life. 

“And the locket?” Lily asked. “What was so special about it?”

Regulus winced.

“It's a Horcrux,” he said. “A bit of very dark magic that allows someone to split off a piece of their soul through a heinous act like murder and store it in an object. As long as the Horcrux is undamaged the person can not die.”

The women looked horrified.

“How do we destroy it?” Pandora asked. 

“Fiendfyre, basilisk venom or reabsorption, which is very painful,” Sirius replied. “We have it locked in the study until the vial of venom I ordered arrives. Unfortunately, we suspect he made more than one.”

“This just gets better and better,” Lily groaned. “How the hell is the prophecy supposed to be fulfilled if the bastard can't die?”

“Prophecy?” Regulus asked. 

“Dumbledore received a prophecy about the downfall of the Dark Lord and he believes it refers to Lily's unborn child,” Pandora explained. “But I had a vision that suggests it's actually her son and my daughter. You and Sirius were in my vision watching over them.”

Regulus’ eyes widened as his head snapped toward his brother. Sirius heard Regulus’ silent question and nodded. Lily narrowed her eyes at them. 

“You two know something,” she accused. 

Sirius swallowed nervously but Regulus spoke before he could.

“We may,” he admitted. “Tell me everything.”

Pandora and Lily repeated what they’d told Sirius and Regulus listened just as intently. By the end of their tale he looked like the ground had been ripped out from under him and the world turned upside down. 

“ Godly children born to mortals, ” Regulus whispered in awe.

“I know,” Sirius replied with less reverence. He sounded like he was going to be sick. 

“What is it?” Lily snapped, her patients wearing thin.

Rather than answer Sirius walked toward a bookshelf by the fireplace and tapped his wand on one of the carved runes. The shelves flipped upside down revealing a new set of books that looked much older than anything else in the library. He grabbed one and brought it over to the bed. The cover read Journal of Altair Black . 

“This is the personal diary of the patriarch of the Black family,” Sirius explained as he flipped through it, looking for a particular entry. “It's been passed down for generations to make sure we would be ready to perform our sacred duty.”

He placed the open book on the bed where Pandora and Lily could read it. 

‘If you are reading this the greatest secret of the Black family has been entrusted to you. I pray you never have to use this knowledge but it must be safeguarded at all costs or magic may cease to exist. 

Last night the old gods appeared before me with a warning. There will come a time when the balance of magic is threatened. The scales will tip and Mother Magic's connection to our world will shatter. To prevent this Lady Fate and Lord Death have promised champions. Their own children born to mortals. The Children of the Moonlit Night. One a bastion of darkness and the other a beacon of light. Opposing forces completely devoted to each other. 

We have been tasked with their protection. The time of their birth will be strife with war and death and blasphemes against Mother Magic. Guard our saviours well. Gods bless.’

“Lily,” Pandora whispered. She sounded so scared and so sad that it broke their hearts. Lily pulled the blonde to her side and rubbed her shoulder comfortingly even though she didn't look any better. 

“What does this mean? Will our children—” she choked on a sob. “Will our children even be ours?”

“Oh Lils, of course they will be,” Sirius soothed. “You can read the rest of the journal. Altair communed with the gods a few times and asked that same question. They will be yours by blood but their magic will belong to the gods.”

Lily nodded and placed her cheek on the top of Pandora’s head. The blonde seemed entirely overwhelmed and Lily obviously needed some time to process so the Black brothers let them be. Sirius conjured a chair beside Regulus’ bed and sat quietly until Pandora sniffled and determinately squared her shoulders. 

“We need a plan,” she said. “My vision spoke of two enemies ‘the one that defies the mother' and ‘the one that escapes the father' . Based on the Horcuxes the one that escapes Death must be Voldemort.”

“And the one that defies Fate has to be Dumbledore,” Lily added. 

“I'm more interested in ‘either must die by the hand of the other and either can live while the other survives’ ,” Regulus said. 

“Me too,” Sirius agreed. “Dumbledore's version implied that Voldemort can only be killed by the chosen one but the true prophecy sounds more like it’s referring to Harry and Luna.”

Regulus and Pandora nodded while Lily looked confused. 

“It's a good thing Lily,” Regulus assured her. “It sounds like it will be difficult to kill the children of Lord Death. They can only be killed by each other or be taken out simultaneously. If they’re anything like magical twins then they will have one soul split across two bodies. Add to that their divine heritage and if one of them is killed while the other survives the living one can probably revive their sibling.”

“That sounds an awful lot like a Horcrux,” Lily pointed out. 

“It's a similar concept,” Regulus agreed reluctantly. “But rather than murder Harry and Luna literally survive by the power of love.”

“Wont old Dumbles just love that,” Sirius scoffed.

“So our best bet is to separate them,” Pandora said. Everyone looked at her but she was focused on Lily, eyes shining with a silent apology. Lily took her hand.

“I think you're right,” she agreed sadly. “When we leave from here we’ll have to split up. We won't even contact each other until—”

“Until they show their first signs of magic,” Sirius interrupted. “They'll need to be trained.”

Lily nodded but Pandora bit her lip in thought. 

“It's not enough,” she declared. “In my vision people faded in and out, including us. This war takes and ruins lives. What if something happens to us before we meet again?”

“What about James and Xenophilius?” Sirius asked. 

“I can't tell James,” Lily said instantly. “I love him with everything I have but he trusts Albus too much. He's an easy target for compulsions from the old coot.”

Sirius winced but didn't argue, knowing it was true. Albus had groomed James for the same reason he groomed Sirius. They were from powerful families and the headmaster would do anything to keep them under his thumb. Unfortunately, Potters didn't have the same resistance to mind magics that a Black did. 

“I could tell Xeno but neither of us have family outside each other,” Pandora said. “If one of us is lost it will be a struggle.”

The group lapsed into silence. No plan they came up with was fool proof but they needed something. They couldn't risk either child being left ignorant and alone, saviors of magic or not. 

“What about a delayed Heir Adoption?” Regulus suggested. 

“What's an Heir Adoption?” Lily asked.

“There are three types of adoption. Legal Adoption, which is just done on paper like a Muggle adoption. Blood Adoption, which is done with a blood ritual through Gringotts where the child becomes a biological match to their new parents. And Heir Adoption, which is done through family magics. In the event that a noble house doesn't have an heir the Head can ask their family magic to adopt someone outside the house and make them eligible for the heirship. The noble family would then have a claim to the new heir like they were born into it.”

“Would it work for House Black?” Sirius asked. “After you there are four others that are eligible. Bella, Andy, Cissa and Andy's daughter Nymphadora. Oh! And Cissa is pregnant so once they're born that makes five.”

“There's only one way to find out,” Regulus said. “Kreacher!”

Kreacher appeared at the foot of Regulus’ bed. 

“What can Kreacher be doing for Master Regulus?”

“Sirius, you have to give the order. It has to come from Lord Black.”

Sirius sighed.

“Kreacher, bring us the Black Ward Stone and the Family Register.”

Kreacher hesitated longer than was proper for a house elf but no one faulted him for it. It was a surprising request. When he did pop away it took nearly five minutes for him to return. He handed an ornate box and a leather bound book with metal accents to Sirius. Sirius placed the box on a conjured podium and touched his wand to the Black crest.

“I, Lord Sirius Orion Black the Third, wish to consult the Ward Stone. I swear on my magic and my life that I only wish to honor and protect the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.”

The box glowed white along the seams before the sides appeared to burn away leaving behind a cluster of jutting black crystals with veins of silver at their cores. 

“Okay Reg, what now?” Sirius asked. 

“Hold on a minute, I'm almost done,” he replied. The moment Kreacher had disappeared Regulus began scribbling wildly on a piece of parchment, occasionally reading it over and scratching things out. He only stopped once to ask Pandora and Lily what they planned to name their children. 

“Alright, what do you think?” 

He handed the parchment to Lily and Pandora. 

‘I, Sirius Orion Black the Third, Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, call upon the family magic and Mother Magic herself to judge if magical twins Harrison James Potter and Luna Evanna Lovegood be worthy of the titles Heir and Heiress Black. 

If they be worthy may Mother Magic grant them the honor in the event their mortal mothers Pandora Lovegood and Lily Potter enter the realm of Lord Death. So mote it be.’

“Will this really work?” Lily asked. 

“I don't know,” Regulus admitted. “It could fail because there are already eligible heirs or because I'm only assuming they’ll be magical twins that are able to share the heirship. Our success is heavily reliant on the gods being personally invested in Harry and Luna’s wellbeing.”

Lily nodded and waited to receive a nod from Pandora before handing the paper to Sirius. He used his wand to cut open his palm, allowing his blood to drip onto the Ward Stone as he read the parchment aloud. When he finished the silver veins started glowing until the crystals turned from black to blinding white. The very air of the room sung with powerful magic before it suddenly stopped. 

“Did it work?” Pandora asked. 

Regulus opened The Black Family Register and flipped to the back as they all crowded around him. The page contained the end of the Black family tree. There were about a dozen portraits sketched in silver ovals if they were alive and black ones if they were dead. Under Sirius’s face was a gold oval that contained only an inky smudge vaguely shaped like a head and shoulders. The name under it was Hydrus Lycoris Black. A similar entry was under Regulus labeled Cassandra Lunara Black. The silvery thread that should have been connecting each child to their new guardian was cut in the middle, ready to be tied together if the adoption was triggered. 

“The gods are on our side,” Regulus said.

Lily reached out and brushed her fingers over their children's new names. 

“They let her keep a form of Luna,” she whispered sadly. She wished her Harry could also have a piece of her and James, even if they were no longer with him. Sirius laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. 

“Lycoris is the name of a flower,” he whispered. “A red spider lily.”

Lily sobbed and turned to bury her face in Sirius’ stomach. He ran his fingers through her hair as she cried. Beside them, Regulus pulled a weeping Pandora against his side. She clutched his shirt as he rubbed her back. 

Everything was changing. Nothing was certain. They would leave here and go about their lives as normal but nothing would ever be normal again. 

[July 31st, 1980 - 11:32pm]

Luna Evanna Lovegood and Harrison James Potter took their first breath and wailed their entry into the world at the exact same second. Both their mothers were aware of this fact but they couldn't say how they were aware. 

Maybe it was the hum of ancient magic that only they seemed to notice. 

Maybe it was the overwhelming sense of wonder and terror that filled them, more potent than simply meeting their babies for the first time. 

Maybe it was the way their children looked around with bright eyes, searching for the half of them that was missing. 

In the private recovery room at St. Mungo's Harry Potter had many visitors. His father showed him proudly to his three best friends. A woman with a round face wearing the same papery robe as his mum introduced him to a boy only one day older. A hooded man with dark eyes and darker hair held him gently as if scared he would break or maybe stain the innocent child. 

In the small Ottery St Catchpole Clinic Luna Lovegood had only her parents, the raven on the window sill and an unopened letter addressed to Bartemius Crouch Jr.

Later that night, at the witching hour, when it was quiet and the mortals were asleep, a certain pair of gods appeared to their children.

A woman with shining golden hair down to her feet and copper flecked skin watched with galaxy filled eyes as her daughter cooed at the invisible sprites floating around her crib. Meanwhile, a man with bone pale skin, long black hair and white eyes allowed his son to clutch at his cold, thin finger. He didn't cry when his father's face shifted to a skull, he just babbled happily and escaped his swaddle again. 

Luna and Harry were loved.

Luna and Harry were safe. 

For now. 

[October 31st, 1981]

Pandora was at the kitchen table editing the latest edition of the Quibbler. The magazine had started as a silly hobby for Pandora and Xeno to publish outlandish stories for the entertainment of their neighbors but once war broke out it became so much more. They reported on the attacks and deaths that the Daily Prophet ignored. They condemned Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters as bigots and terrorists. They hid secret messages directing muggleborns and so-called blood traitors to safe houses. The couple had discussed shutting the Quibbler down after Luna was born but couldn't bring themselves to abandon all the people that needed the small bit of hope their rebellion inspired. 

Pandora didn't know how they were found. Their house was heavily warded and only one other person even knew where they were but the sound of multiple people apparating into their front yard made it obvious their safe haven was compromised. 

Pandora ran to the front window to find about a dozen Death Eaters scattered across their garden. She scrambled for the emergency portkey just as Xeno burst in, Luna swaddled in his arms. He opened his mouth to tell his wife it was time to go but the look on her face rendered him silent. The portkey was dead. They had put up anti-travel wards.

Pandora tried to send out a Patronus message but her silver rabbit just sat on the counter with its ears folded back and sad eyes trained on the blonde witch. There were anti-communication wards too. 

“Pan?” Xeno whispered fearfully. He knew the plan, he knew there was another way to call for help, and he didn't like it. 

Pandora cupped his face with shaking hands. 

“Go love. Protect our Luna.”

She kisses him softly before doing the same to their baby girl. Xeno hesitated for a moment, committing the sight of his beautiful, brave, wonderful wife to memory, before he turned and fled. 

Pandora gripped her wand tightly and threw open the front door. 

“What do you want?” she yelled. A couple of the Death Eaters shot stunners at her but she easily blocked them. 

“Tonight, our Lord will be victorious,” one of them shouted. He sounded too young to be wearing that mask. “He promised us a place among his chosen people if we bring him you and your traitor husband's heads.”

Pandora raised her wand. She thought of Xeno dressed in yellow on their wedding day. She thought of Luna covered in paint, giggling as she smeared a messy rainbow on her nursery wall. She thought of her brother standing tall at the front gate as she ran away, never to see him again. 

“I'm coming Evan,” she whispered. “BOMBARDA NOVA!”

There was a massive explosion. The garden became a crater and the front of the cottage was blown away. The Death Eaters were thrown off their feet and sent tumbling across the grass. A swirling vortex appeared at the epicenter of the explosion. A black hole that greedily sucked in everything nearby; chunks of brick and mortar, uprooted trees, screaming Death Eaters. It consumed everything before collapsing on itself with a blind flash of steering white light. 

The remaining Death Eaters got to their feet to see that the entire garden, half the house, five of their comrades and the woman that had created one of the most destructive spells in the history of magic had ceased to exist.

************

Regulus gasped and doubled over in pain. It felt like something in his chest had sprouted quills that stabbed at his heart and lungs. Sirius rushed over to him, frantically waving his hands over his brother’s body at a complete loss for what to do. 

The pain faded and Regulus felt as if a weight had been hung on his soul. His magic buzzed insistently under his skin as he grabbed Sirius roughly by the front of his shirt. There was no time to waste. 

“The adoption just triggered!” he cried. “Get to the Potters!”

Sirius’ eyes widened.

“But that means Pan–Pandora is—?” 

“Move!” Regulus yelled, shoving Sirius toward the landing. They flew down the stairs and out the front door. Sirius apparated as soon as he was outside the wards and Regulus was right behind him. 

The instantaneous travel didn't feel fast enough. Space warped around him for what felt like an eternity before he popped into existence at the top of a hill. It looked like someone had taken a melon baller and scooped out the front garden and the front of the cottage was cleanly sheared off, each room exposed like it was a child’s dollhouse.  

Regulus heard a scream and saw a purple flash light up the forest behind the house. He dashed down the hill, nearly tripping over the body of a Death Eater laying just outside the trees. The night was overcast and the shadows were oppressively dark but he could see spells flying in the distance so he made for them. 

He came across two more bodies by the time he got close enough to hear people yelling curses. He burst out of the bushes and into a clearing just in time to see Xeno get knocked to his knees by a stunner. He was covered in blood. His hair was dirty and singed and his clothing was torn. He didn't try to get up. He leaned forward, using his body to shield the wailing bundle of blankets under him.

“Avada Kedavra!”

Regulus watched the clearing light up green. He saw Xeno keel over, his body still wrapped around his daughter. His vision turned red, red, red!

“ Sectumsempra !”

The spell hit the closest Death Eater, flaying open their back and partially decapitating them. His comrade screamed and clutched his bleeding shoulder but Regulus cast a silent Deprimo , punching a neat hole through their chest just as the final two Death Eaters turned toward him. 

“Incendio.”

The right one’s robes went up in flames. They shrieked and swatted at themselves but the fire refused to die, even when he rolled on the ground. As soon as the Death Eater stopped screaming and lay still the flames instantly went out, leaving only a burnt husk behind.

Meanwhile, Regulus and the last Death Eater, the one that had cast the killing curse, were locked in a duel. Missed spells churned up the ground and curses tore gouges into trees. Regulus hadn’t dueled in well over a year but it came back to him easily. He attacked and dodged, letting his grief and burning rage fuel him. 

A Diffindo grazed Regulus’ cheek so he threw up a shield just in time to block two more spells. A quick Flumo caused smoke to billow out of his wand and blanket the clearing. The smoke lit up like lightning in a storm cloud as the Death Eater blindly shot off spells. Regulus snuck around until he was behind his target.

“Crucio.”

The Death Eater screamed and collapsed, writhing on the ground in pain. Regulus held the spell until their cries tore their throat and their face started turning blue. By the time Regulus gave him a reprieve, multiple bones had broken from their thrashing and their mask had fallen off. 

Regulus recognized Walter Jakobs. He had been recruited around the same time he, Barty and Evan were. He had a mastery in Warding and had risen through the ranks quickly thanks to his skill at locating and untangling powerful wards. He was never inner circle material but Voldemort considered him a valuable pawn. 

Jakobs’ body spasmed with aftershocks but he managed to turn his bloodshot eyes to Regulus.

“Y–your su–supposed to be d—dead,” he rasped out his ruined throat. Regulus knelt and pressed his wand into the man’s cheek.

“Pandora and Xeno were good people,” he said. 

Jakobs spat at him. Pinkish droplets landed on Regulus’ face but he didn’t finch.

“Duro.”

Jakobs turned to stone.

“Reducto.”

He cracked and crumbled, bursting apart into a pile of dust.

Regulus let out a long sigh. All his muscles ached and his magic felt drained. He took another deep breath and nearly gaged when he smelled iron and burnt flesh. It took some time for the blood to stop rushing in his ears like a hurricane but as soon as it did all he could hear was wailing.

“Luna,” he gasped as he scrambled to his feet.

Even in death Xeno had a protective arm draped over his little girl. She cried and wriggled, one arm freed from her blanket to try and grab at her father’s face, hair, shirt; anything. She didn’t understand why he wasn’t moving, why he wasn’t trying to soothe her, why his eyes were so horribly blank. 

“Shhh, it's okay,” Regulus said, carefully picking up the precious bundle. Luna stopped crying and looked directly into his eyes before gently patting his face with her tiny hand. Regulus let out a wet chuckle. If he didn’t know any better he would say Luna was trying to comfort him. 

“I’ve got you Starlight. I’ll keep you safe.”

Regulus pulled out the emergency portkey and rattled the beaded necklace in front of Luna until she grasped it. As they vanished from the clearing neither noticed the flickering rabbit Patronus that crept out of the undergrowth and nuzzled Xeno's cold pale hand before fading away.

***********

Sirius landed in Godric’s Hollow and cursed Dumbledore as he looked around at all the different streets branching off the village square. 

When Harry was born the Headmaster had tried to send the Potters into hiding again but Lily refused to raise Harry anywhere but his rightful home. There was no reason to leave Potter Manor. It was protected by centuries old wards and additional charms had been added since the war started. Very few people even knew where it was. 

James and Lily fought about it often, mostly after James came back from meetings with Dumbledore. She had floo called Sirius more than once to remove low level compulsions from her husband without his knowledge. It pained them to keep James oblivious but he was no good at Occlumency and they couldn't risk Dumbledore realizing they were onto him. With Sirius’ help Lily was able to hold out for five months.

Then Marleen was killed. She and the entire McKinnon clan were murdered on Yule. Their bodies were scattered across the living room still in their pajamas. The children lay under the tree, still clutching new toys and scraps of wrapping paper. 

Not long after that a couple Death Eaters were spotted in the small village closest to the manor and Lily finally agreed to move to Godric’s Hollow. 

Despite Dumbledore urging them to tell no one they were leaving Sirius received a letter from Lily. She assured him that the safehouse was well warded. Dumbledore had done the charms himself and Lily had checked them thoroughly. It was even under the Fidelius Charm which was why Sirius was currently sprinting up and down the village like a madman. She hadn’t been able to give him their exact location. He didn’t even know the Secret Keeper since it would have been monumentally stupid to put that information in a letter.   

Sirius was running past the little white washed church when he stumbled and grasped the iron fence tight enough that he was surprised he didn’t bend the bars. He was in agony. It felt like something was clawing its way out of him. He fought not to scream and breathed through the pain until it faded, leaving behind a heavy weight in his chest. 

Lily Potter was dead. 

A loud boom rattled the air and Sirius looked up to see a flash of horrible green light paint the night sky only a block away. He dashed down the street to find a quaint stone cottage with the entire right side of its roof blown off. He leapt over the wall and charged through the open door. 

He found James sprawled across the bottom of the stairs. His arms and legs were splayed grotesquely and blood dripped onto the runner from where his head had collided with the steps. His eyes stared blankly from behind shattered glasses. 

“I’m sorry Jamie,” Sirius whispered as he stepped over his best friend’s corpse. He could hear Harry screaming his little heart out upstairs.

He followed the sound to the nursery. It was a disaster. The outer wall was partially collapsed and most of the roof had been blasted away but part of it had caved in. Sirius saw Lily’s red hair, dulled by plaster dust, sticking out from under a chunk of the roof. Her limp hand was reaching toward the only undamaged piece of furniture in the room.

Harry sat in the middle of his crib, one pudgy fist clutching his blanket and blood pouring down his face as he wailed. Sirius hurried over and picked his godson up.

“It’s okay Pup. Padfoot’s here,” he soothed as he performed a quick cleaning spell and got a good look at the damage. Dozens of zig zagging cracks covered the right side of Harry’s face all originating from a deep cut above his eyebrow. They spread across his cheek and down to his chin, a few disappearing into his hairline and one laying over the bridge of his nose. It was a miracle he wasn’t blind since one also cut right through the middle of his eye. Sirius carefully ran his wand along the wounds, muttering a healing spell that should have left no scars but marks remained. Curse wounds never healed completely. 

Now that Harry was clean and healed and had exhausted himself back to sleep Sirius snatched up the chest harness. He removed his outer robes and strap it on, buckling Harry in before replacing his robes and wrapping them tightly around his godson. He was thankful he had still been wearing his auror uniform. The material had warming charms and was somewhat spell-proofed against stunners and minor hexes. He turned to head back downstairs, making a silent promise to Lily as he stepped onto the landing.

“ I’ll love him like you would Lils. Like James would. I promise I'll protect him. ” 

The air was cold as he ducked out the back door and snuck around the side of the house. The Muggle neighbors, drawn by the bright light and loud noise, had gathered on the street to see the damage. 

No one was looking when he stepped over the garden wall onto the street. 

No one noticed when he stopped in his tracks. 

No one but the short, doughy, brown haired man staring at him with panic filled eyes.

“Peter?” Sirius said, confused by his presence. 

“How could you, Sirius!” he shouted, drawing the attention of most of the Muggles. “They trusted you! How could you betray Lily and James? And little Harry?”

In the split second between noticing Peter had his wand out and the explosion that tore up the street and blew about a dozen Muggles to pieces Sirius figured it all out. 

Lily hadn’t asked him to be the Secret Keeper. She had argued that they couldn't risk him being killed for their location when he needed to stay alive for Harry but that didn’t mean they hadn’t chosen another trusted friend. 

“Sirius! Stop! Don’t do this! Please!” Peter begged followed by a pained scream as he cut off his own finger. Sirius went for his wand but it wasn’t where he usually kept it. A memory of tucking it into his back pocket when he strapped the harness on flashed in his mind. Now it was out of reach under his robes. 

A beam of sickly yellow light shot at Sirius. He hugged Harry to his chest and turned his shoulder, taking the hit on his upper arm. The next thing he knew he was on his knees cackling like a madman. He couldn't stop even when he saw a rat scramble into the storm drain. Panic filled his chest and phantom voices whispered in his ear. 

“You didn't run fast enough.”

“You should have insisted on being the Secret Keeper.”

“Harry is better off without you.”

It was all things he knew to be false but they hurt anyway. He couldn't stop laughing and crying, rocking back and forth on his knees. He could hear the wounded Muggles screaming. He could smell blood and melted asphalt. He felt Harry rub his face against his chest in his sleep. 

“Get a hold of yourself!” Sirius yelled in his head. “You have to get out of here before—”

A series of cracks hailed the arrival of aurors. Someone walked up to him. 

“Black? What happened?”

Sirius tried to answer but it came out as a pitiful whine. 

“Sirius. What have you done?”

No. No, no, no, NO!

He saw the burnt orange hem of one of Dumbledore's horrid robes enter his field of vision. 

“Albus, do you know what happened?” the auror asked. Sirius couldn't tell who it was. He couldn't even raise his head. He tried to slap himself but his arms had a mind of their own. He dug his fingernails into his face, dragging them down his cheeks and leaving stinging lines behind.

“This is the Potter cottage,” Dumbledore explained, his voice sad. “We had reason to believe Voldemort was targeting them so we put them under the Fidelius Charm. Sirius was the Secret Keeper.”

“You're lying!” Sirius cried, finally managing to raise his head. His accusation came out as a wordless snarl fit for his animagus form. The auror stepped back, looking at Sirius with disgust. It was Dawlish, a senior auror that he, James and Frank had never particularly gotten along with. 

“He betrayed James to the Dark Lord?” Dawlish clarified. 

“I'm afraid so,” Dumbledore confirmed. “And it appears the reality of seeing his best friend and his family dead has broken his mind. He is a Black after all.”

Dawlish looked, if possible, even more disgusted at the mention of Sirius’ family name. He had never been convinced that the Heir of such a dark family could be trusted. This just confirmed all his suspicions. 

“Why did you do it Black?” he asked angrily. Dawlish roughly patted Sirius down until he found his wand and removed it. Sirius didn't know if he should be disappointed or relieved that he only checked him from the waist down, completely missing Harry. 

“I didn't!” Sirius snapped.

“It's my fault,” he actually said. 

“No! It was Peter!”

“I'm sorry James. I'm so sorry.”

“Shut up! I didn't do it!”

“I might as well have killed them myself.”

“It seems like Mr. Black isn't capable of answering questions at the moment,” Dumbledore said. “Do you have an Azkaban portkey? The dementors will snap him out of it.”

Dawlish smiled wickedly. The dementors were more likely to make him worse. It was exactly what Death Eater scum deserved. 

“I have one. Scrimgeour took the rest to Longbottom Manor.”

“Longbottom Manor? What happened to the Longbottoms? Are Frank and Alice okay? What about Neville?” Sirius tried to ask but a fresh wave of laughs and sobs tore the words away. 

“It would be best to remove him post haste. You have a lot of Muggles to obliviate after all,” Dumbledore pointed out. 

Sirius was starting to hyperventilate, whatever curse he was under combining with his natural panic. He didn't know what to do. If they sent him to Azkaban he would drag Harry with him but if he revealed he had Harry then Dumbledore would take him.

The last thing Sirius saw as Dawlish levitated the portkey toward him was Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flash with victory. 

He landed hard in a cold stone cell. Between the yank of the portkey, the biting wind blowing through the barred window and the pain in his knees where they had hit the ground, the curse broke but that did little to comfort Sirius. 

James and Lily were dead.

Pandora was dead.

Peter and Dumbledore had betrayed them, he didn't know where Regulus was and he was stuck in Azkaban with Harry.

Sirius found the most protected corner of the cell, curled his aching body around Harry and wept, his tears turning to ice on his cheeks.

Hours later when Sirius was emotionally exhausted and shivering from the cold Harry finally woke. The howling of the wind accompanied his wails as he screamed for mama and cried for dada but the moment those impossibly green eyes locked onto Sirius he started begging for Pa’foo. It made Sirius want to cry again. He hadn’t seen Harry in almost a year so Lily and James must have taught him who Sirius was. Did he know Moony too? And Wormtail? 

Thinking of the former made Sirius’ chest tighten painfully. He should have told Remus how he felt instead of using the war as an excuse. Now he may never get the chance.

Thoughts of the rat made his blood boil. Peter had always been the best at getting out of trouble but Sirius never dreamed he would join the Death Eaters when things got dicey.

A quiet whine and little sneeze snapped Sirius out of his thoughts. He pulled his hood up, sheltering them as best he could, and buried his nose in Harry’s already thick black hair. He rocked his son gently as he rubbed his back. 

“Padfoot’s here, Hydrus,” he whispered. “I'll be your dad like Lily wanted. I'll make James proud.”

He had made a promise to his best friend and the kindest, bravest, most amazing witch he had ever known.

He intended to keep it.

Chapter Text

Sirius was going to maintain his dignity in all this. 

He had successfully got Hydrus on the Hogwarts Express that morning and had a meeting with Amelia where she asked if he would be willing to return to the Auror Department. He had declined, making excuses about readjusting to society and being there for his son, but she was smart enough to know he no longer trusted the DMLE or the Ministry. 

When he got back to Grimmauld Place it felt too empty, too quiet. He was already feeling the absence of Hydrus. A familiar but old sense of loneliness was creeping into his chest so he was not ashamed in the slightest of the way he rocketed down the stairs when Kreacher announced Regulus had just flooed into the parlor. He must have sounded like a rampaging Crumplehork Snorkack and no, he did not trip on the second floor landing. 

“Reg!” he cried as soon as he laid eyes on his baby brother. He practically tackled him, squeezing tightly and lifting him off the ground. 

He had been chomping at the bit to see Regulus again but he and Hydrus had been so busy since their release and Dumbledore was watching them. Kingsley had come around occasionally under the guise of seeing how they were adjusting and Sirius was down right insulted when he spotted Mundungus Fletcher loitering outside. Dumbledore did remember he was an ex-auror right? He had arrested Mundungus multiple times. The scruffy thief was easily recognizable. 

“Siri! Put me down!” Regulus laughed, unable to push his brother off with his arms pinned to his sides.

“I missed you,” Sirius said, returning Regulus to the floor. 

“I missed you too, you wanker,” Regulus agreed, grinning. Then his smile disappeared and Sirius threw his arms up to defend against the barrage of slaps raining down on him. 

“Azkaban!? Really Sirius!?” Regulus screeched. “What the fuck!? I ought to hex you into next week!”

“It wasn't my fault!” Sirius yelped, trying to put the couch between them but Regulus followed. “Peter framed me! And Dumbledore told the Ministry I was the Secret Keeper!”

“I know, I read the paper,” Regulus said, giving Sirius one more sharp smack to the back of the head. “Doesn't mean I wasn't worried out of my mind for seven years.”

Sirius gave him a sympathetic look. 

“I'm sorry Reg. If it makes you feel any better it turns out Azkaban was exactly where Hydrus needed to be for training.”

Regulus sighed and collapsed on the couch.

“How is Hydrus?” he asked. 

“Pretty damn good all things considered. He's a resilient kid,” Sirius replied, sitting beside his brother. “I never thought I would say this, but thank Merlin for dementors and Death Eaters.”

Regulus looked at him like he was insane but just then Sirius sat bolt upright and turned his whole body toward Regulus. His eyes sparkled with glee and if he was in dog form he would be wagging his tail.

“What about Luna? How is she?” he asked. 

“She’s wonderful,” Regulus gushed, pleased to have an opportunity to compliment his daughter. “It hasn’t been easy between being separated from Hydrus and inheriting an amplified version of Pandora’s gift but she's a trooper.”

“What was her first bit of magic?” Sirius asked. Regulus smirked. 

“She felt like the forest was too bland in December and needed a bit of color. She made a whole meadow bloom out of season. It was amazing.”

“Impressive,” Sirius said. “Was this during the winter solstice?”

“Yeah, how did you—?” he cut himself off. “Hydrus did magic at the same time, didn't he?”

“Yep. I was telling him about how we used to lay under that old elm and look at the stars during the solstice so he made a tree grow on the roof of the High Tower and changed the weather so we could actually see the stars.”

“He changed the weather on Azkaban?” Regulus exclaimed. 

“Sure did.”

“Damn. Our kids are powerful.”

Sirius nodded in agreement. 

“Anyway, where have you been all this time?” he asked. 

“Pleiades House,” Regulus replied. “I really only planned on resting there a few days but something made me stay. I think it's because that's where Luna needed to be, like Hydrus in Azkaban.”

Pleiades House was a rustic farmhouse in the countryside. It was painted blue with a yellow door and shutters and shingled with orange clay tiles. It was surrounded by a massive forest protected by standing stones making it one of the last remaining magical habitats in Britain.

Luna often wandered the woods. She knew every flower and tree, could tell by the way the brook babbled if it was going to rain or not and had befriended a menagerie of creatures. 

Fairies in particular liked Luna and it wasn't long before she was Fae Kissed allowing her to see Avalon, the invisible plane most fae existed in. What she called nargles, wackspurts and blibbering humdingers were actually sprites, nipsies, sylphs and other small creatures that usually remained unseen. 

“You said she inherited Pandora’s gift?” Sirius prompted. 

“Yeah, and Lady Fate amplified it. Sometimes she just knows things and she zones out a lot. It took a while to get used to, for her and for me, but it comes in handy. The day I found out you went to Azkaban she stopped me from doing something stupid.”

He would never forget the day. Regulus left the five year old in the care of Juppy, the Pleiades House elf, and went to the closest village. Before that day he had stuck to the plan and put up mail wards to keep even owls from finding them. He located a wixen new stand and was waiting for the customer ahead of him to finish haggling over the price of an owl to Egypt when he caught a glimpse of the Prophet. It was an end of the year edition going over the biggest stories of 1985 and right on the front page was a family photo of Lily, James and Harry. 

FOUR YEARS OF PEACE

Remembering the boy that saved us all.  

On Halloween of 1981 the wizarding world was miraculously saved from the terror of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named by an extraordinary boy. 

Harry James Potter was only one year old when he defeated the Dark Lord. The Potter family was hiding under the Fidelius Charm in their cottage in Godric's Hollow but they were betrayed by their Secret Keeper, Lord Potter’s lifelong friend Sirius Orion Black. After the Dark Lord’s defeat Black was confronted by a former schoolmate, Peter Pettigrew, who was brutally murdered by Black. Black is now serving life in Azkaban. 

Albus Dumbledore, a friend of the Potters and magical guardian to Harry Potter, had this to say at the time. “The Potters and I had suspected since Harry’s birth that the boy was very gifted. I was already making plans to take him under my wing. The power it would have taken to destroy [You-Know-Who] using accidental magic is extraordinary. It’s such a terrible shame he never got the chance to grow.”

Harry Potter survived four days in St. Mungo’s Curse Ward before passing away at the age of 1 year 5 months. It is the longest anyone has ever survived the Killing Curse.

We will never be able to repay Harry Potter for our salvation. He is buried alongside his parents James and Lily Potter in Godric's Hollow. They will be remembered. 

Regulus’ entire world had narrowed down to the tiny words on the page and the ringing in his ears. He didn't know how long he stared at the newspaper before the clerk’s voice broke through. He was asking if he was okay and what he needed but Regulus couldn't think straight. Harry was dead and Sirius was in Azkaban. How did it all go so wrong? He threw the paper on the counter like it had burned him and fled, ignoring the news stand worker’s concerned shouts. 

When he got home Luna was in the garden. He paced in front of the bay windows overlooking the lawn, running his fingers roughly through his hair and not willing to let his daughter out of his sight. What was he going to tell her? Her twin, who she never met, was dead and her uncle was—

Regulus stopped.

Her uncle was falsely imprisoned.

He latched onto that thought, desperately clinging to a small bit of hope. He could get Sirius back. He scrambled to the writing desk in the corner of the living room but paused before putting quill to parchment. Who could he write to? 

Narcissa? Lucius had always been a wily politician. If he’d managed to escape being arrested as a Death Eater then he could help.

Regulus shook his head and pushed that thought aside. He couldn’t go to anyone from Voldemort's camp. They were more likely to kill him as a traitor than help and he had Luna to think of. 

Amelia Bones? She had just started at the DMLE during the war, surely she had managed to climb to a position where she could pull some strings. What about Moody? It shocked Regulus that he was willing to reach out to the old bastard after what happened to Evan but he was desperate. His hand shook and a drop of ink splattered on the parchment as his mind raced. 

“It's okay Papa.”

Regulus jumped and spun around. Luna was in a simple pale purple dress with green wellies. She had a rainbow of flowers braided into her long white-blonde hair. The hairstyle was much too intricate for her to have done herself. 

“Brother says not to worry,” she continued. Her voice was clear, a rarity lately. Over the last few months Luna's abilities had grown stronger causing her to spend less time in reality. Usually her gaze was vacant and her voice dreamy. It was actually more off-putting that she was speaking normally. 

“What do you mean Starlight?” Regulus asked. 

“Hydrus and Uncle Siri are okay. Father says Hydrus is doing well on Azkaban.”

Despite the absurdity of her words Regulus found himself relaxing. He had long ago learned to take Luna at her word even if it made absolutely no sense. He gestured for her to come closer and she didn’t hesitate to scramble onto his lap.

“Tell me what you know,” he whispered to her. 

“The bumblebee man sent them away. He thinks he's punishing Uncle but the Island is one of Father’s temples. His disciples will train Hydrus well.”

“Disciples? Who do you mean?”

“The ones who judge souls. Who punish the wicked and grant peace to those who deserve mercy.”

Regulus shivered hearing his five year old speak that way but her voice was still clear. She was reciting something she actually heard, not delivering a message from the webs of time and space.

“How do you know this?”

“Mother and Father gave us a cottage. They said it was for us to study. I saw Hydrus there. He was happy to see me and gave me a present.”

From under her dress she pulled out a necklace. It was a length of braided gray thread with strange spiky white beads strung on it. Closer inspection revealed them to be snake vertebrae.  

“Did Hydrus make this?” Regulus asked hesitantly. He wasn't sure how he felt about a five year old butchering and skinning a snake to make his sister jewelry. 

“Don't worry,” Luna said with a giggle, as if his concerns were ridiculous. “Brother said the snake gifted him her body. Father taught him the proper rites and Mother taught him to read the bones.”

Surprisingly that did make Regulus feel better. Raising Luna had given him a certain immunity to odd magics. Hydrus obviously took after his Father while Luna took after their Mother. 

“What about Sirius?” he asked. 

“He's doing the best he can. The Island helps and so do the disciples. It is where Hydrus needs to be and Uncle Siri will not abandon him.”

“Of course he won't, sweetheart,” Regulus agreed, relieved that the pair weren't wasting away in a cell. They may not be thriving but it sounded like they had all the support they could get on Azkaban.  

“You mentioned a cottage?” Regulus prompted, remembering something Luna had mentioned earlier. “Can you tell me about it?” 

“Yeah, our cottage,” Luna replied happily, squirming in his lap. “It's so pretty. We can only visit when we sleep though.”

A shared dreamscape then. Regulus had heard about master occlumens being able to visit their mindscape in their sleep but he had never heard of a shared one, never mind one created by an outside source that allowed objects to pass through.

Luna patted his cheek and smiled at him. 

“They’ll be okay Papa. We’ll see them again.”

Regulus pulled his daughter close. 

“Thank you, Starlight.” 

“Hey! You still with me?” 

Fingers snapped in front of Regulus' face, jerking him out of his memories.

“Sorry,” he said. “I was just remembering the day I tried to contact you. I saw an article about the attack. It said Hydrus was dead and you were in Azkaban. I almost wrote someone to get you out but Lu stopped me. She assured me you were both alright and told me about the cottage.”

“Ah yes, the cottage,” Sirius mused. “Did you ever try to wake Luna while she was in the cottage? I don't think they were dreaming.”

“They were definitely astral projecting,” Regulus agreed. No matter what he did he was never able to wake Luna while she was visiting Hydrus. It was like she wasn’t actually in her body. “I wonder where the cottage actually is.”

“Who knows,” Sirius huffed. “It could be somewhere in our world or in some other reality or plane of existence.”

Regulus nodded. He had spent a lot of time trying to make sense of the strange things Luna and Hydrus were able to do. Eventually he accepted he would never know and gave up to save his sanity. Sirius was in the same boat. He loved hearing Hydrus ramble about everything he and Luna had done and learned but it was often too odd for Sirius to fully understand. 

“So, tell me about Azkaban,” Regulus pivoted, picking up a cup of tea. They had forgotten about it in their excitement but it was still hot thanks to Kreacher. 

“Nothing much to say,” Sirius said. “It wasn't too bad but I’m not interested in ever going back. It's rough living.”

“I'll bet. Luna implied the dementors were helping you. Is that true?”

“Yeah. Dementors are way more complex than we give them credit for. They were a huge help and taught Hydrus a lot of unique magic. He can speak their language and fly unassisted. The baby dementors loved him.”

Sirius smiled at his brother’s gobsmacked look. He was sure Regulus would corner him sometime to pick his brain. 

“Bella says hi by the way,” he added. Regulus just about dropped his tea and Sirius cackled. 

“You're an arse Sirius!” Regulus exclaimed, flicking his wand to clean the brown spot off his white button up. “I forgot you were in the High Tower. They didn't try to hurt you, did they?”

“Not at first but once more got arrested after the war there was a bit of tension. A few weren't pleased about their Lord’s defeat. Thankfully, Azkaban didn't consider Hydrus and I prisoners and allowed us to explore the tower. I was able to explain things and they eventually came around. It helped that Bella absolutely adores Hydrus.” 

“I didn't think she was capable of adoring anything,” Regulus said. 

“Me either but he managed it. They actually set up a schedule for Hydrus' schooling. Everyone pitched in. He's a smart kid.”

Regulus laughed lightly, pleased that Hydrus had gotten an education. Most Death Eaters were actually very accomplished wix. The ones Regulus had gone to school with had been great tutors.

A memory of sitting around a hidden table in the Hogwarts library popped into his head. A blonde boy was trying to balance a quill on his fingertip and failing. Another boy, also with blonde hair but his was more straw colored, snatched the quill way and started laying into him about their arithmancy exam. His dark hazel eyes flicked over to Regulus, a plea to help him reign Evan in on his pretty pink lips, but he stopped himself when he noticed Regulus watching him over his book. He smiled and it made Regulus’ heart race. 

“How is—” Regulus swallowed, his mouth feeling dry. “How is Barty?”

Sirius froze. He carefully placed his cup on the table, not meeting Regulus’ eye. 

“Reggy,” he started, his voice choked. Regulus felt his stomach drop. “I'm so sorry. Barty died four years ago.” 

Regulus couldn’t breathe. He didn't feel the hot tea burn his shaking hands or hear his elder brother trying to sooth him.

Barty was gone.

His Barty was dead.

Sirius carefully took Regulus’ cup and placed it on the table before sliding over to put his arm around his brother. Regulus immediately gripped Sirius’ robes and buried his face in his shoulder. Sirius shushed him softly and rubbed his back, letting Regulus cry until he couldn't any more. Eventually he fell silent and sagged into Sirius’ embrace. 

“I'm so sorry Reg,” Sirius repeated into his brother’s hair. Regulus sniffled and sat up. He whipped the tears from his face with the back of his hand. 

“I don't want to talk about it right now. Ask a different question,” he begged. Sirius frowned. He wasn't sure letting Regulus bottle everything up was a good idea but maybe time was what he needed. He resolved to bring it up again later.

“How's Luna doing at school?” 

Regulus grabbed his tea again, gripping it with both hands to keep it steady. Sirius dutifully ignored it. 

“She's doing well. She's in Ravenclaw and gets good grades but I think she's being picked on for her oddities. She doesn't say anything but her things have come back damaged or missing. I know she can handle herself but I get worried.”

“She has Hydrus this year,” Sirius assured him. “He won't let his sister be bullied.”

That got Regulus to smile a little. They were both happy the twins were finally together. 

“What about Dumbledore?” 

Regulus frowned, his eyes narrowing.

“The old coot is up to something. He heavily favors the Gryffindors and encourages hostility between the houses. He's got everyone convinced Slytherin is the enemy. It's like he's reenacting the war within the castle.”

“Has he noticed Luna at all?”

“Thankfully no,” Regulus replied. “He was never interested in the Lovegoods and Pandora took precautions in case he ever looked into other children born at the end of July. Being in Ravenclaw has helped too. The only house he pays less attention to is Hufflepuff.” 

“Hydrus is already on his radar,” Sirius stated. “And I have a feeling it will get worse. That boy is a Slytherin through and through.” 

“Hell yeah! Taking after his Uncle!” Regulus cheered causing Sirius to kick him. Regulus laughed but soon trailed off and studied the way his tea sloshed as he mulled over this next question. 

“Have you— have you spoken to Remus?” 

Now Sirius was studying his tea, swirling it around as he thought. 

“No,” he confessed. “I'm not sure what to say. He must have hated me. He probably still does.”

“Why would he hate you? Surely he would never believe you betrayed the Potters?”

Sirius' silence made it obvious what he thought the answer was. Regulus sighed. 

“Try writing to him. You may be surprised,”

“What if—” Sirius started, uncharacteristically anxious. “What if he sends it back?”

“Did you know he's teaching Defense at Hogwarts this year?” Regulus asked. Sirius’ head snapped up. “Send the letter to Hydrus. Maybe he can sus out how Remus is feeling before he delivers it. That will save you from the dreaded unopened love confession.”

“Shut up!” Sirius snapped, smacking Regulus’ shoulder. His grin faded into a thoughtful frown. “Okay, I'll write Remus when I reply to Hydrus. He promised to send me an owl tomorrow. No love confession though. Not yet.” 

Regulus tipped his cup to his brother and took a sip. They sat in silence for a moment. Sirius was thinking of Remus. What kind of life had he lived these past twelve years? Had anything gotten better for werewolves since he was imprisoned?

“Hey Reg? Do you know who's using the Black seats in the Wizengamot?” he asked. Regulus furrowed his brow and shook his head. 

“No one. You’re Lord Black. Since you were never found guilty before the Wizengamot and Mother Magic your title was never stripped and you never assigned a proxy.”

“What about the Potter seats?”

Regulus scowled. 

“Once Luna went off to school I was curious what had changed so I looked into the public Wizengamot records. Dumbledore claimed Proxy of the Potter votes as Harry’s magical guardian. They’re not the only proxies he has either. The number of votes he’s able to cast is obscene and he uses them for horrible laws that go against family magic, traditional rituals and creature rights. No single man should have that much power, let alone the Chief Warlock.”

“There has to be something we can do,” Sirius stated. 

“You could take up your seats,” Regulus suggested. “Ancient houses have three votes. It doesn't hold a candle to Dumbledore but it's better than nothing.”

Sirius stared off into the distance, contemplating Regulus’ words. Suddenly, he started laughing. Regulus looked at him for an explanation but every time Sirius opened his mouth he started cackling again.

“For fuck sake Siri! What is it?” Regulus finally snapped.

“I–I have the perfect idea,” Sirius wheezed. 

“Well? Spit it out!”

“I think — ha! — I think it’s about time— we– we took the kids to Gringotts,” Sirius finally said, between giggles. 

His smile was wide and his silver eyes sparkled with mischief as he told Regulus his plan. The younger Black couldn’t help laughing just as uncontrollably as his older brother. It would be risky and they would have to plan carefully but, if it worked, it would be glorious.

Chapter Text

Hydrus was feeling very irritable as he climbed the endless flight of stairs up to Divination.

It had been over a week since school started and he had already been subjected to Professor Trelawnies dramatics twice. Hydrus knew she was a true seer but her gift was very weak. She had probably only delivered a couple real prophecies in her life, including the one that ruined his and his family's lives. It wasn’t really her fault, seers can not choose when Lady Fate speaks to them, but seeing her pathetic attempts to awe the students and hearing her preach that anyone can have the Sight irritated him to no end. 

He had thought he would be skiving off Divination by now. He had only taken it because it was an easy O. He may not be as powerful as Luna but he was still the son of Lady Fate and had been gifted with an inner eye. He would never have visions or prophetic dreams but things like tarot, tea leaves and crystal balls always responded to him. Of course, he was most proficient in throwing bones and haruspicy but those were considered dark and were cut from the Hogwarts curriculum.

As he climbed the ladder into the classroom Hydrus tried not to breathe through his nose and take in the sickening mixture of incense and scented candles but that just meant he could taste it. He plopped down on a poof near the front and his mood immediately lifted when the girls already sitting there returned his smile. 

Each table sat six which was perfect since he, Daphne and Pansy had teamed up with Lavender Brown and the Patil twins after an incident with Weasley during their first class. 

He had been loudly complaining about being forced to take most of his classes with the ‘slimy snakes’ and declared Hydrus the ‘slimiest snake of all’ because he could speak Parseltongue. Hydrus, Daphne and Pansy were easily ignoring him but his comment had caught someone else's attention.

“What do you have against Parselmouths?” Parvati Patil demanded. Her sister stood beside her. No one could tell them apart except for their uniforms. 

“They’re evil. We should chuck them all in Azkaban,” Weasley insisted.

To everyone’s surprise Padma started hissing. Hydrus perked up. It wasn’t quite proper Parseltongue but it was enough to get the just of what she was saying. She had basically called Ron an ignoramus. 

~ How do you know Parseltongue? ~ Hydrus asked but Padma shot him an apologetic look. 

“I’m sorry. I can’t actually understand you. My cousin back in India is a Parselmouth and he taught me a little. I know I’ll never be able to speak it properly since I don’t have the gift but it was fascinating to learn.”

“Parselmouths are rare in Britain but a lot of Asian wizards have the ability,” Pavrati said, speaking to Weasley but projecting her voice so the whole class could hear. “Our aunt and cousin are Parselmouths and our great grandmother was one too.”

“But only Dark Wizards can speak to snakes,” Granger pointed out. She was eyeing Parvati suspiciously and Hydrus felt for the Desi girl who had to share a dorm with Miss. Know-It-All. 

“Dark doesn’t mean evil,” Lavender argued, backing up her friends.

Granger scowled at the perceived challenge of her knowledge while Weasley’s face was turning red. A few other people were also looking angry or suspicious so Hydrus decided it was time to turn their attention back to him. 

“Well said, Heiresses Patil, Miss. Brown, but the ignorance of most British wizards runs deep. You’ll have more luck arguing with a flubberworm.”

“Shut your mouth!” Weasley snapped. “You’re not fooling anyone with your fancy talk. You didn’t even know what a shower was a month ago. It’s pathetic how you copy the other snakes to make yourself seem more important than you are.”

Hydrus studied Ron with a cold expression. The redhead seemed pleased with himself. Behind him Neville looked embarrassed to be sitting at his table. Hydrus decided to ignore the prat.

“Would you like to join us ladies?” Hydrus asked Lavender, Padma and Parvati.

“Ooh! Please do,” Pansy added, clasping her hands together as if begging. “I’m dying to talk about home again.”

By the end of that first class the six of them had gotten along really well. Hydrus suspected that Lavender actually did have some prophetic ability but would probably never deliver a full prophecy. Pansy was ecstatic to learn that the twins knew some Korean and eagerly shared that she knew a bit of Bengali. Daphne was just happy to be learning about different cultures and soon monopolized Padma and Parvati’s attention. Pansy didn’t mind, she and Lavender turned out to be their respective house’s gossip queens. 

Now, in their third divination class, it was easy to slip into the girl’s conversations while they waited for Trelawnie to appear. It was the only class they all had together outside History of Magic but since all the houses took that together they each had their own friend groups they were closer with. 

When Trelawnie arrived she got them all brewing tea for reading leaves. She made some ridiculous comment about Neville breaking a cup then proceeded to startle him about half way through class making him knock the table and shatter not only his cup but two of his tablemates as well. Before the class was dismissed Trelawnie reminded them about their dream diaries. Hydrus had written in his but it was full of lies. In his dreams he had access to a living, shifting cottage, visited the Void and Beyond the Veil and saw things most people could never imagine. Trelawnie was only ever going to get fabricated death predictions from him. 

Hydrus and the girls accompanied each other to the Great Hall but split up into their houses to eat. Draco and Theo were already at the table since they’d had a free period. 

“Where’s Blaise?” Daphne asked. 

“Muggle Studies,” Theo replied off handedly, nose buried in a Runes textbook. 

“I can't believe he took that class,” Draco stated, scrunching up his nose in disgust. 

“Isn’t Zabini an Italian family?” Hydrus asked. “There's less stigma attached to mingling with muggles down south. They see it as immersing themselves in a different culture.”

“That is true but we all know Blaise just wants to be able to pick up Muggle girls,” Pansy giggled. 

“I'm hurt Miss. Parkinson. Do you really consider me such a scoundrel?” Blaise asked, taking a seat beside Theo. 

“I don't hear any denials,” Pansy pointed out. Blaise chuckled and winked before loading his plate with roast beef and vegetables. 

Hydrus smiled at his yearmate’s antics. He was thoroughly enjoying being in Slytherin. To everyone else they were aloof rich kids, never given a chance because it was assumed they wouldn't associate with the rabble. In truth they were just teenagers with an enormous amount of pressure on them. In trusted company they were witty, thoughtful and surprisingly fun loving. 

Pansy liked gossip but she was careful what she spread around. Only those that deserved it fell victim to her poison tongue. 

Blaise was a flirt but his attitude could switch from teasing to scathing at the drop of a hat. He didn't need to draw his wand to deal damage to anyone who thought the Snakes were easy targets but Hydrus had no doubt he was a skilled fighter. He had noticed the small dagger Blaise kept on the small of his back under his jumper. 

Draco was a prissy brat and he knew it. His perceived selfishness made people think he wasn't observant but that couldn't be further from the truth. He saw everything and knew how to twist any interaction in his favor. He often found it difficult to lower his mask but he was never more himself than just before curfew, laughing and chatting with the group. 

Daphne and Theo were academic types. Daphne was sociable, preferring to learn through experience and talking with experts, while Theo was a bookworm. Daphne could be tenacious when researching but she was also the group's mother hen, always attentive to their moods and needs. Theo was even tempered and quiet but if you did manage to get under his skin you could expect swift and silent justice. Crabbe and Goyle had found their outer robes one size too small after they callously swept Theo’s books onto the floor one evening. 

Speaking of Crabbe and Goyle, the two boys were stupider than rocks and as friendly as trolls. Thankfully, someone had the good sense to warn them not to bully their yearmates since they were all heirs. The younger years were afforded no such protection.

The final Slytherin third year was Millicent Bullstrode. She had a history with most of her yearmates and none of it was good. The Noble and Most Ancient House of Bullstrode was falling into decline. Previous Lords had squandered the family gold and burned bridges with important allies.

Lord Bullstrode thought he could refresh his House by marrying his only child into a more well off family. He had approached the Malfoys and Notts, seeking Draco or Theo’s hands, and opened negotiations with House Parkinson hoping to make a betrothal contract with Pansy’s younger brother. When the families refused Lord Bullstrode took offence and alienated even more people.

Draco, Theo and Pansy normally wouldn't have held Lord Bullstrode’s folly against Millicent but the girl was spoiled rotten and believed she was owed attention and respect. The group had sent her packing early on. 

A few owls swooped into the Great Hall, carrying mail that had missed morning delivery. Hydrus scanned the ceiling for his raven, Poe, but didn't see him. He huffed and stabbed at a potato, his mood ruined yet again. 

“He has not forgotten.”

Hydrus turned to find Luna standing there. Eurus was floating over her shoulder, her cloak draped around the blonde like a scarf. The dementor zoomed over to Hydrus as soon as she saw him, settling in his lap. Hydrus didn't bother wondering how Luna had got Eurus out of his room. 

“Then why hasn't he written?” 

“He has not forgotten,” Luna repeated. “In fact, it consumes his every thought.”

Hydrus frowned, letting the baby dementor play with his fingers while he thought. What could be making Sirius so anxious he hadn't replied to Hydrus’ letter for a week? Was he disappointed he was in Slytherin? Was he upset about Eurus? Had Hydrus done something wrong?

Luna slipped onto the bench beside him and pressed their shoulders together. He could feel her magic mingling with his. Moonlit fog swirling through inky shadows.

“Don't think so hard. It is not you that worries him,” Luna soothed.

Hydrus squeezed her hand under the table. He appreciated she was trying to comfort him even if she couldn't speak plainly. Her ‘Loony Lovegood’ persona was good for making people overlook her. 

Someone cleared their throat pointedly. Luna and Hydrus glanced up to see everyone watching them. 

“So, how did you two meet?” Pansy asked, a twinkle in her eye. Hydrus shivered. That was the look she got when she was playing matchmaker. 

“Don't even think about it, Parkinson,” Hydrus said firmly, glaring at the brunette. She grinned and put her hands up in surrender. Hydrus kept glaring for a couple more seconds just to be on the safe side. 

“We met on the train,” he eventually admitted. “Apparently I had a lot of wrackspurts.”

“Wrackspurts?” Theo asked.

“Oh yes. Curious little things,” Luna said. “I just had to see who they were so interested in.”

Hydrus suppressed a smirk at his friend’s flabbergasted looks and the fact that Luna was the reason so many sprites had flocked to him. She had sent them to keep watch until she got to the compartment.

“What classes are you taking Luna?” Daphne asked when Luna had served herself some peach cobbler, making it obvious she wasn’t leaving. 

“Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies,” Luna replied. “I love creatures and I’m fascinated by how Muggles view magic. As for Ancient Runes, I know someone who is very skilled with them and I want to be just as good.”

Luna kicked Hydrus’ ankle, making him wince. He covered up his pained hiss by lightly scolding Eurus who was enthusiastically banging a fork and spoon together. 

While Hydrus and Luna shared the resources of the ever shifting cottage library their separate upbringings had caused their skills to diverge. Like most ancient languages, Hydrus found runes easy to understand and he spent a lot of time studying the symbols carved into the walls of Azkaban. Meanwhile, Luna was learning warding from the Fae. Fae were practiced at protecting their domains, a skill they had no issue passing on to their wixen sister. Luna could weave wards so meticulously no one would ever be able to unravel them. Any place that was protected by her magic was a kingdom almost as secure as Avalon itself.

The siblings had agreed to a little friendly competition and challenged themselves to become proficient at the other’s specialty. Luna was taking Ancient Ruins and Hydrus was self-studying Wards but wasn't above sitting in on the class since it was during his free periods. 

Hydrus tuned back into the conversation to hear Luna telling Daphne and Theo how to identify good wand wood by observing the bowtruckles living in the tree. The pair wore fascinated expressions while Pansy, Blaise and Draco were eyeing the Ravenclaw curiously. They had never heard Luna sound so present and articulate before. Hydrus knew his sister had a reputation for being ditzy and odd, but his yearmates were coming to realize that Luna wore her own mask. He hoped they appreciated how much trust she was putting in them by letting them see past it. 

Hydrus suddenly felt eyes on him and subtly looked around the Hall. His first guess was Dumbledore but he was in a conversation with Hagrid and Snape was talking with Flitwick. He felt Luna’s presence in his mind, encouraging him to look straight ahead where Fred and George were watching from the Gryffindor table. When they noticed Hydrus had spotted them they made exaggerated squinty eyes and pursed their lips to express their suspicion. Hydrus smiled and tipped his cup to them while sending a pulse of amusement through his and Luna’s bond. She returned the sentiment. They had no doubt the Weasley twins would be the first to figure it out. 

>>>>>

Poe finally arrived at breakfast the next day. The pitch black bird landed on the table and dropped a letter in Hydrus’ eggs. Hydrus sighed and picked it up as Eurus gave the raven some bacon. He was nervous to open Sirius’ letter but decided to get it over with.

Dear Pup,

I’m so proud of you. You’ll take Slytherin by storm, I have no doubt. Have you driven Snape bonkers yet? I want to hear all about your new friends and your classes in your next letter.

Hearing about ‘Eurus’ gave me a bit of a shock. I never expected one of the dementors to follow you but the little ones always did like you. I am jealous though. She’s the perfect prank companion. Just teach her to be sneaky and you’ll never be caught by Filch or the professors.

I’ve been spending a lot of time with Regulus. It’s great to catch up with him after all these years. He can't wait to meet you and has been sharing all kinds of stories about Luna. I’m sure you’ve properly met your sister by now. How is she? Regulus said she had just as hard a time being apart as you did. 

I’m sorry it took so long to write back, Pup. It wasn’t anything you did. I entirely blame your Uncle Reg. He told me Moony was teaching this year and suggested I write to him. I’ve included a second letter with this one. If he’s not angry with me can you please give it to Remus? I miss him. 

Take care of your sister and cause a little chaos for me. I love you.

Your dad,

Padfoot

Hydrus tucked the letter in his bag to burn later and looked at the second envelope. He really wanted to know what it said. His dad had been pining over Uncle Moony since their school days. Outside not kidnapping him and Lily when he had the chance, Sirius’ biggest regret was not confessing his feelings for Remus.

Draco nudged him and jerked his head toward the Entrance Hall so Hydrus tucked the second letter away too and followed his friends to Potions class. 

Double potions wasn’t so bad but Hydrus would never be as skilled a brewer as Draco. It was meticulous work that required precision and an understanding of the ingredients and how they react with each other. It wasn't something you could become a master at without a lot of practice but Hydrus felt like he could scrape by. 

After lunch he, Luna, Blaise, Daphne and Theo had Ancient Runes. His sister bullied her way into sitting next to him simply by claiming the chair out from under Blaise before he even realized she was there. 

At their first lesson Hydrus had almost managed to hide his tattoos from Professor Babbling but she had definitely spotted them just as class ended. She proceeded to interrogate him in their next class, asking how he learned runes and why he had tattooed himself. 

Hydrus had explained that he was self taught, making up a story about the dementors bringing him a rune book from the guard post while he was in Azkaban. In truth the cottage has supplied numerous texts and he had spent most of his free time copying and combining runes to achieve new outcomes, and experimenting with their application on living skin. He tried carving them on tokens and painting them in blood but tattooing turned out to be the best way to permanently imbue a person with a rune’s power. It required the use of a special ink, the recipe for which Hydrus guarded closely. 

Babbling started class by writing out ten of the most basic runes on the board. When the lecture turned to combining runes Hydrus expected to be called on to explain some of his tattoos but soon realized that their professor was a proper professional. She knew better than to ask him to share his work in front of the whole class. She even took points off Granger when she demanded information about the ‘unsightly’ rune on his cheek. 

The last class of the day was the one Hydrus was looking forward to the most. Their first Herbology class had been a safety briefing since third years almost exclusively worked in greenhouse three, one of the more dangerous areas on school grounds. Their second lesson was mostly weeding. Professor Sprout had meticulously labeled the growing beds and watched how students worked so she would know who needed to be supervised or they would end up as some vicious plants compost. Hydrus had a close call with the Venomous Tentacula when he got distracted by Neville humming a sad tune to the Mourning Glories so they wouldn't pump deadly toxin into the air. 

Hydrus was fascinated by Neville but he hadn’t had much time to talk to him despite having most of their core classes together. Neville was nervous and shy which made even his own house write him off as a coward, but Hydrus could see his determination under all the fidgeting and stuttering. Neville had power and it was closely tied to the Earth. He was the most comfortable with grass under his feet and soil on his hands.

As Hydrus stepped into the greenhouse for their third Herbology lesson he looked around for Neville. He found him already pruning Mandrakes in the back, behind silencing wards. Hydrus waited until he was done and tried not to smile dopily when Neville noticed him and squeaked like a mouse. 

“Hey Neville. How are the Mandrakes?” 

“They're good,” Neville replied proudly. “A few have started puberty so we have to stay on top of the pruning or their acne will be out of control.”

“Did you help raise the ones that cured the petrified students last year?” Hydrus asked. 

“Yeah, this batch are the children of the crop from last year.”

“That's wicked,” Hydrus praised. “You really know your stuff.”

Neville blushed and looked away.

“Any good herbologist can raise Mandrakes,” he argued. 

“But you're not a herbologist yet so it's extra impressive,” Hydrus insisted. “It makes me feel better about asking you to tutor me.”

Neville's eyes snapped to him. 

“You want me to tutor you in Herbology?”

“Yes please. I'm a little out of my depth since Azkaban doesn't exactly have many plants to study.”

While partially true he left out the fact that he had access to a cottage that could provide him with any plant he wanted. He had also read the textbook cover to cover and no, he did not stay up late to finish it after seeing the gleam in Neville's eye during that first Herbology class.

“Um– Are you– are you sure you want me?”

“Definitely,” Hydrus confirmed. “You're the best.”

Neville blushed again but this time he smiled a little at the compliment. 

“Sure, I'll tutor you,” he agreed. 

They spent the rest of class together learning how to harvest poisons for potion ingredients. Neville took his role as Hydrus’ tutor very seriously. Hydrus thought that Herbology may just turn out to be his favorite subject. 

>>>>>

The week crawled by until it was Friday morning. During their first Defense lesson Professor Lupin proved to be a wonderful teacher. It had just been the standard safety briefing and review of the syllabus but he’d managed to make even that sound exciting. The Gryffindors and the Slytherins were eager to see what a proper class would be like. 

Unfortunately, when the door opened, they were greeted by Professor Snape.

“What are you doing here?” Weasley sneered. “Where's Professor Lupin?”

“Professor Lupin has fallen ill. The Scottish weather doesn't appear to agree with him,” Snape drawled. “Take your seats or I will remove points for disrupting class.”

Everyone did as ordered and opened their books to the chapter on household pests. While Snape started the lesson Hydrus was mentally kicking himself. He should have known Moony wouldn't be in class. The night before had been the full moon. He was probably sleeping it off. 

By lunch everyone had notes on soot sprites, ghouls, doxies and garden gnomes, and Hydrus still had a letter for Moony tucked in his bag. He thought about visiting his uncle during his free period but decided against it. Remus deserved to rest.

Instead, he went to the library with Pansy where they found Padma waiting for her sister and Lavender. 

“Can we join you?” Pansy asked. 

“Of course,” the Ravenclaw said, gesturing to the empty seats just as Parvati and Lavender appeared. 

“Bloody Granger is driving me up a wall,” Lavender stated, collapsing dramatically in her chair. “She's been going around claiming wix enslave House Elves and that they should all be freed.”

“What?” Pansy snapped. “Does she know anything about House Elves? If they're not bound they die.”

Everyone at the table had at least one House Elf and everyone but Hydrus and Lavender had had a nanny elf that was very dear to them. 

“We tried to tell her,” Parvati said. “But she won't listen.”

“You should have heard her in Arithmancy on Wednesday,” Padma added.  “She was going on and on about elf rights when Terry Boot made the mistake of telling her that Hogwarts has the largest population of House Elves in Great Britain. I thought she was going to explode.”

Hydrus frowned 

“When was Granger in Arithmancy?” he asked. 

“Second period,” Padma replied.

“She couldn't have been,” Hydrus said. “She was in Ancient Runes that period.”

“No, she was definitely in Arithmancy,” the Ravenclaw insisted. 

“The stubborn lion is trespassing in Father Time’s domain.”

The girls jumped. Luna was standing at the end of the table with a hazy look on her face.

“What do you mean by that?” Lavender asked but Luna didn't reply. She just drifted away toward the back of the library. Hydrus' friends shrugged off the comment and started doing homework but Hydrus’ mind was racing. 

Where did Granger get a time turner?

>>>>>

Hydrus didn't get a chance to visit Remus until Sunday. Sirius had told him Moony enjoyed chocolate so he owl ordered a bunch of different kinds. He also asked the Kitchen Elves to bake some chocolate muffins since he had noticed Remus sometimes missed breakfast. 

He knocked on the office door and heard Remus call for him to enter. Inside was controlled chaos. There were maps and anatomical diagrams on the walls, various cages and tanks containing magical creatures and a couple shelves full of books interspersed with knick-knacks from Remus’ travels. 

“Hey Cub. What’s up?” Moony asked from behind the cluttered desk. Hydrus was pleased to see that he looked relatively alright if a little paler and with darker circles under his eyes.

“Hey Uncle Moony. I brought you some chocolate,” Hydrus replied, placing the parchment wrapped package on the desk and sitting down. “Professor Snape said you were under the weather.”

“‘Under the weather’,” Remus mumbled. “I guess that's one way to put it.”

Hydrus chuckled at Uncle Moony’s put out expression.

“I think I prefer calling it your ‘furry little problem’,” he confessed.

Remus froze, fear flickering in his eyes. Hydrus frowned.

“Did you think I didn’t know?” he asked. “Tales of your time at Hogwarts were my bedtime stories. Dad especially loved talking about running on the full moon.”

Hydrus was relieved to see that cornered prey look leave his uncle’s face but he still wouldn’t meet his eye.

“How—” Remus started before stopping to swallow down his anxiety and take a deep breath. “How is Sirius?”

“He’s good. Still adjusting to the outside world. We both are. I know he’d like to see you though.”

Remus’ eyes flicked to Hydrus for a moment but he looked away just as quickly.

“He doesn’t want to see me.”

“Why not?”

Remus hesitated before replying.

“I didn't fight for him, for either of you,” he said sadly.

Hydrus blinked. Sirius had asked him to make sure Remus wasn’t angry but this was far worse. Remus felt guilty and was punishing himself by staying away. He had probably been isolating himself for years to ensure he was never left alone again but now that he had a chance to see one of his best friends he didn’t think he deserved to.

“He doesn’t blame you, Moony,” Hydrus assured him. “I’m sure you were told that there was no doubt Sirius was guilty. That would shake anyone’s faith. Dad really does want to see you but he’s afraid you're angry with him.”

“Of course I’m not angry,” Remus stated firmly, now looking Hydrus in the face. “Maybe I was twelve years ago but mostly I’ve just been—”

He paused, wringing his hands and closing his eyes against the swell of emotion in his chest.

“Lonely,” Hydrus finished for him. “A wolf without a pack.”

Remus winced at Hydrus’ mention of his wolf and the ravenette sighed. He had deduced from Sirius' stories that Remus wasn't exactly bonded with his wolf but this was unhealthy. To fear his wolf was to fear himself. To hate himself. 

“Remus,” Hydrus started, pausing until Remus looked at him again. “I need you to do me a favor. I need you to tell me what I smell like and I want you to pay attention to how your wolf reacts. Can you do that?”

Remus bit his lip nervously. He didn't like letting his wolf come to the surface but he was curious what his nephew was trying to show him. He nodded and took a deep breath. 

The first scent he picked up was sea salt and wet stone. He assumed Sirius would have a similar scent from their time on Azkaban. Under that was something Remus could only describe as autumn. It was the musky-sweet smell of rotting leaves and the crisp scent of chilled air and frost. His wolf became excited and Remus realized that Hydrus had just officially been recognized as Pack, as his cub. Remus found himself, for the first time in his life, agreeing with his wolf. It made his body feel lighter and the ever present anxiety buzzing in his mind eased. 

Then Hydrus sent out his magic and Remus was hit with the scent of encroaching lightning, blood and death. It wasn't the rancid stink of decomposing offal, but the sickening sour smell of still moist bone and decaying fur or feathers. The combination conjured images of a sacrificial altar deep in the woods. What surprised Remus most though, was the familiar pheromones tugging at his senses and working his wolf into a frenzy. 

Hydrus smelled like a werewolf.

“Wha—? Hydrus, are you—?” Remus stuttered but Hydrus shook his head, a small smile on his lips. 

“No Moony, I'm not a werewolf,” he assured his uncle. “But I am something. There's a lot that I want to tell you but you should talk to dad first. He can get you up to speed.”

Hydrus pulled Sirius’ letter from his pocket and placed it on the desk before standing. Remus didn't say anything, too busy staring at the familiar handwriting on the front of the envelope as the door closed with a soft click. 

>>>>>

The remainder of September ticked away and the students found themselves already in the early weeks of October. The third years were especially excited because the first Hogsmead trip was coming up. By then everyone had settled back into their routines and were ready for something to distract from studying. 

Quidditch fans were lucky enough to find their outlet early. Tryouts were held the first week of October and every team needed to fill at least one spot. Hydrus decided not to try out, feeling that it wasn’t really fair to since he could fly unassisted. He was happy for Draco and Blaise who made Seeker and Chaser on the Slytherin team and he sat with Neville, Lavender and Parvati while Ginny tried out for Gryffindor seeker. Despite being the youngest there she knocked everyone else out of the park and secured the position. 

Hydrus was surprised by how many people he could call friends just one month into school. 

The Divination squad was still going strong even though he, Pansy and Daphne rarely hung out with Lavender, Padma and Pavarti outside Divination or random, unplanned study sessions. Still, he genuinely enjoyed the girl’s company.

Hydrus was also getting closer to Neville. They now spent Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures together, partnering whenever they could and studying together often. Hydrus would love to spend all their joint classes together but Weasley and Granger had noticed their growing friendship and used the unofficial rule that houses didn't sit together in lessons to keep him with the Gryffindors during Divination, Potions, History and Defense.  

The Weasley twins were still watching Hydrus and Luna closely. While the reunited siblings didn't necessarily advertise how close they really were it was obvious they were unusually comfortable with each other. They tended to sit shoulder to shoulder and sometimes forgot to speak out loud. They were relying on everyone's assumption that Hydrus’ time in Azkaban had made him just as odd as Luna to cover their slip ups but the closer they got to their friends the more likely it was they would notice. 

In all honesty, Luna and Hydrus found the playful spying and stalking funny. Fred and George didn't even try to hide it. They followed them down the hall while hiding behind newspapers with eye holes cut out or watched them from across the Great Hall with binoculars, spy glasses or, one time, with a periscope from under the table. 

When they weren't acting like cartoon detectives Fred and George were great fun to have around. The twins got along with the Slytherins who all quickly realized they were snakes in the lion's den. Sometimes they or Luna even dragged Ginny over. She was uncomfortable at first but after she witnessed a couple incidents of other houses tormenting the Slytherins just for existing she started stepping in. She seemed quite pleased when Theo called her a chimera, a lion with a deadly snake tail. 

Luna had been joining the Slytherins more and more. Hydrus had been worried it was because the bullying had gotten worse but Luna assured him that her housemates were actually leaving her alone for the most part. They apparently considered her protected since they noticed her hanging out with the Slytherins. 

While his friend had their own reputations including three heirs to powerful dark families and the son of Italy’s infamous Black Widow, the Gryffindors had spread the story of the night Hydrus went into the Chamber to the rest of the school. Over time the story evolved until everyone had heard about Hydrus stumbling through the portrait hole covered in blood and carrying Ginny's unconscious body. Ginny herself didn't help the rumors, waxing poetic about her ‘hero’ just to watch Ron seeth.

From there people created their own rumors, everything from him learning dark magic at the feet of imprisoned Death Eaters to being able to perform a Dementor's Kiss. The fact that these rumors were actually true amused both Hydrus and Luna.

Of course, not everyone was a friend or even just a neutral schoolmate. Slytherin still had a dark and nasty reputation and other houses targeted them constantly. Weasley and his housemates Finnigan and Thomas were particularly bad. They never missed an opportunity to make any of the ‘baby dark wizards’ or ‘Death Eaters in training' suffer. Weasley especially had it out for Hydrus and Draco. 

Meanwhile, Granger may not have been throwing jinxes in the halls but she was insufferable during class. Her views were so narrow minded and so light leaning that she butted heads with anyone who challenged her. She absolutely refused to hear out anyone she perceived as dark and even talked over purebloods and half-bloods who tried to correct her on how the wixen world worked. 

She was determined to be at the top of every class and was livid after their start of the year assessments. When she learned Hydrus had beaten her on every test she accused him of cheating since he didn't have any formal education. He was tempted to point out that using a time turner to take every class available didn't mean she could actually handle the load but decided to let her figure that out the hard way. 

By far their worst interaction was during Defense Against the Dark Arts.

They were facing a boggart and Hydrus had gone last. When a silvery orb appeared he thought the creature had latched onto Moony but then it started speaking in a voice that sounded suspiciously like the Headmaster. 

“The ones with the power to—”

“Riddikulus!” 

The crystal ball turned into a balloon that rocketed around the room sounding like a whoopee cushion before diving into the wardrobe which shut with a loud bang. 

“Well done,” Professor Lupin praised him. “Go on back to your seat and we'll wrap up early.”

Hydrus walked toward his friends but as he passed Granger she suddenly snatched his wand from his hand. 

“Hey! Give that back!” he shouted, trying to grab it but Granger held it out of reach. 

“What is this?” She demanded turning his wand to get a closer look at the braided handle and large tooth embedded in the end. “This can't be a proper wand.”

“What the hell is a ‘proper wand’?” Hydrus asked, no longer trying to get his property back in case she wouldn't let go and snapped it. 

“An Ollivander wand,” she replied. 

“There are more wand makers than just Ollivander,” Hydrus growled. “Now give it back!”

“Not until you answer my questions.”

“Miss Granger!” Professor Lupin snapped, marching down the aisle. His face was thunderous. “It is highly inappropriate to handle anothers wand without permission. Twenty points from Gryffindor for stealing a classmate's property.”

“But Professor—”

“Fifty points,” Lupin amended. “Shall we make it a hundred?” 

Granger pouted but handed Hydrus’ wand back. 

“I just wanted to know what it's made of,” she whined. 

“Shut up Granger,” Draco snapped, drawing the girl's attention to the fact that every pureblood and most of the half-bloods in the room looked like they wanted to murder her. Weasley’s expression said he couldn't believe she was so stupid. 

“Wands are personal,” Draco continued. “You're only meant to share details with your family or people you trust completely. Hydrus has every right to duel you for what you just did.”

Granger paled. 

“That's barbaric!” she shrieked. “Surely that’s not true.”

She looked to Lupin for confirmation. 

“It is true and sometimes necessary,” he told her. “In fact, Hydrus, do you require a duel?”

Granger gasped and started sputtering but Lupin held up a hand for silence and waited for Hydrus' reply.

“That won't be necessary, Professor,” Hydrus said. “My wand is highly loyal.”

“Very well. Please take your seat.”

Class ended soon after and Remus asked Granger to stay behind. Hydrus hoped he was going to provide her with information on proper wand etiquette before she tried that on someone else. 

Hydrus was headed to the library for his double free period when he heard Neville call for him and slowed so he could catch up. 

“Are you okay, Hydrus?” he asked.

“I'm fine Neville. She just caught me off guard. I wasn't kidding when I said my wand is loyal. It will probably never accept another wielder.”

“That's good,” Neville said, obviously relieved. “If she had done that to me I would have had to duel her. It's my dad's wand and its loyalty to me is shaky at best.”

Hydrus stopped walking.

“You're using your dad's wand?”

“Yeah. My Gran insisted. It accepted me but I can feel that it doesn't really belong to me.”

“You should get your own wand,” Hydrus said but Neville frowned and looked pained. 

“I don't want to upset Gran. She was so happy when I could make dad’s wand work.”

Hydrus sighed. He and Sirius had known Frank and Alice Longbottom were tortured but had only recently learned that it had resulted in them being near catatonic in St. Mungo's. He understood where Neville grandmother was coming from but using a wand that hasn't properly accepted you was a major handicap. No wonder Neville was such an average wizard despite the power Hydrus could sense in him. 

“I understand Neville, I really do. My Father gave me my wand and I would be devastated to lose it, but it's dangerous to not be able to trust your wand.”

Hydrus remembered the day he got his wand fondly. Lord Death had visited Azkaban, meeting Hydrus at the top of the tower under the elm tree he had grown when his magic came in. Father had created the wand right in front of him and presented it along with his familiars, Anubis and Alphie. It was Anubis’ tooth embedded in the handle. 

“I know you're right,” Neville groaned. “But I don't know what to do about it.”

“Have you ever thought about dual wielding?” Hydrus asked. Neville shook his head. “Think about it. If you get a new wand, one that is compatible with you, I'll help you learn to dual wield so you can still use your father's wand.” 

Neville’s eyes widened. 

“Seriously?”

“Seriously,” Hydrus replied. 

“Okay, I'll think about it,” Neville agreed before glancing at his watch. “I have to get to Warding. I'll talk to you later.” 

As Neville strode away Hydrus felt a sudden the urge to call to him. 

“Hey Neville,” the Gryffindor stopped and looked back. Hydrus held up his wand. “It's elm. I wove the handle from dementor cloak and boomslang skin.”

Neville stood frozen for a moment before his face split into a grin Hydrus could see from down the hall. 

“Thanks for trusting me Hyde,” he called back. “I'm glad we're friends.”

He waved and dashed off leaving Hydrus in the middle of the empty corridor, his own beaming smile on his face. 

>>>>>

During the third week of October Hydrus was eating breakfast and listening to Blaise and Theo arguing over whose turn it was to write notes in History of Magic when Poe and a school owl landed on the table. 

Poe dropped a letter bearing Sirius' handwriting on Hydrus’ plate before cawing at Eurus. The two took off out the window, likely headed for the Forbidden Forest. The owl had only a folded note clutched in its beak which Hydrus traded for a bit of ham. 

A jolt of surprise came through Luna’s bond and Hydrus looked up to see his sister reading a letter while her snowy owl, Hedwig, ate bacon off her plate. He ripped open Sirius’ letter quickly.

Dear Pup,

Regulus and I have been talking and we think it's high time we took you and your sister to Gringotts. Unfortunately, the best time to sneak you both out will be the upcoming Hogsmead weekend. Met in the Shrieking Shack at 11am. We’ll handle it from there. 

Love you,

Padfoot

Luna sent curiosity through their link and Hydrus sent it back. Neither of them were sure why their dads wanted to visit Gringotts now. The plan had been to go during Yule so they could claim the Black heirships. Had something happened to move up the timeline? Luna felt his anxiety and sent him patience. Hydrus took a deep breath. If it was something urgent they would have told them. Hogsmead was only a couple days away. He could wait. 

Deciding to put Gringotts out of his head for now he unfolded the note. 

Mr. Black,

I wish to speak with you. Please come to my office after class. I find myself craving Acid Pops today.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore 

Headmaster of Hogwarts

Hydrus gave Luna a mental tug. She stood and wandered over to the Slytherin table. 

“What is it?” she whispered once she had taken a seat.

“Dumbledore wants to meet with me.”

Luna sucked in a sharp breath. 

“Did he say what for?”

“No, he just asked me to come after class. He also made an odd comment about Acid Pops?”

“It's the password for the griffin that guards his office. It's always a candy.”

Hydrus nodded. 

“Can you send a letter to Sirius? If I send one right now it might get intercepted. Tell him I remember everything he taught me and will be fine.”

“Of course,” she agreed, squeezing his hand under the table before gliding out of the hall. 

Hydrus couldn't pay attention to any of his classes. His friends noticed his distraction so he told them about Dumbledore’s note. They were as happy about the summons as he was but they all knew he couldn't ignore it. When Transfiguration ended he waved them off with a promise to come directly to dinner when he was done. 

“Acid Pop,” he told the griffin which leapt aside to reveal a staircase. At the top was a wooden door. He knocked and heard Dumbledore call for him to enter. Inside was a cluttered office full of books and whirring, buzzing instruments. Above the bookshelves were dozens of portraits depicting former headmasters. They watched him as he approached the desk. Dumbledore was standing behind it stroking a beautiful Phoenix with vibrant red-orange feathers. It must have just had a burning day. 

“Good evening headmaster,” Hydrus greeted. “You wanted to see me?”

“Good evening Mr. Black. Please take a seat.”

Hydrus sat in the chair across from Dumbledore. He sensed magic on the right arm so he folded his hands in his lap. A flash of annoyance crossed the Headmaster’s face. 

“You have a very handsome bird. What's its name?” he asked politely. 

“Thank you. His name is Fawkes,” Dumbledore replied, his sparkling blue eyes not leaving Hydrus. Hydrus refuses to meet his gaze, focusing on his crooked nose instead. 

“What can I do for you sir?” he prompted, wanting to get out of that office as soon as possible. 

“I simply want to inquire how you are doing,” the Headmaster said. “Lemon drop?”

Hydrus shook his head at the bowl of poisonously yellow sweets.

“No thank you, I don't want to ruin my dinner.”

“Of course, very responsible of you,” Dumbledore praised but the sparkle in his eye dimmed slightly. “I never got a chance to thank you for your help slaying the basilisk and rescuing Miss. Weasley.”

“No need. Allowing me to attend Hogwarts is thanks enough, Headmaster.”

“Your teachers have only good things to say about your work. How have you been fitting in with the other students?”

“Very well. My housemates have been very accommodating. I have no complaints.”

“Ah yes. The Slytherins. That is what I wanted to talk to you about,” Dumbledore paused to study Hydrus' reaction but he couldn't see past his mask. “I worry that they are not the best companions for you.”

Hydrus fought not to grit his teeth and dug his nails into his palms instead. 

“I’m not sure what you mean, sir.”

“My dear boy, you were raised in Azkaban amongst Death Eaters. I am simply concerned that your prior education has been unfairly skewed toward dark magic. Young Wix need balance, something you have been sorely lacking.”

Hydrus wanted to roll his eyes. Dumbledore preached balance but under his care all magic or subjects considered even slightly dark were removed from the curriculum. They almost exclusively taught light magic with a few gray spells thrown in. 

“Did you not say that my professors have been pleased with my progress?” Hydrus asked. “My previous education must have been sufficient enough if I have received such high praise.”

Dumbledore hummed, his lips pursed. 

“How is your father?”

Hydrus blinked at the sudden pivot but didn't falter. 

“He’s well. He's spending time enjoying the outside world after the injustice done to us.”

He allowed himself to look in Dumbledore's eyes and pushed memories of Azkaban to the front of his mind. They were images of the early days before they made the cell their home and the Death Eaters had started recovering. Dumbledore saw a dark, damp cell, heard the wailing and crazed laughter echoing off the walls, watched dementors float past, rattling and moaning eerily. Hydrus wanted to smirk when the headmaster quickly retreated out of his head.

“Understandable,” Dumbledore said, attempting to sound sympathetic but falling flat. “It was such a horrible oversight. Did Sirius ever mention what happened?”

“No sir,” Hydrus lied easily. “He remembers being hit with a spell but has no memories until he landed in Azkaban. The portkey travel broke the curse.”

The headmaster relaxed near imperceptibly. At trial Sirius had heavily implied that he couldn't remember anything while under the Hysteria Curse. If Dumbledore suspected Sirius knew he had purposefully imprisoned him there was no telling what he would do to keep it under wraps. 

“That's too bad, I would very much like to know who’s responsible.”

Hydrus’ hand flinched but he played it off by crossing his legs and straightening his robes. He very much wanted to hex the old man. 

“Was there anything else you wanted to speak to me about?” he asked. 

“I still believe you would benefit from friends outside Slytherin,” Dumbledore reiterated, folding his hands under his chin. “Ron Weasley is in your year, he comes from a very respectable family. Miss. Granger would also be a good choice. She's a very bright witch. She could help fill the holes in your education.”

This time Hydrus couldn't contain his scoff. 

“I am appalled that you would suggest Miss Granger as a tutor," he exclaimed. "I know Professor Lupin reported her insult against me a couple weeks ago. If she doesn't even know not to touch other people's wands I do not see how useful her insight could be. As for Mr Weasley, he has been relentlessly bullying not just me and my yearmates but the younger Slytherins as well.”

Dumbledore opened his mouth to make excuses for his pawns but Hydrus plowed on as if he hadn't noticed. 

“I understand your concern, sir. I too value varying opinions and experiences so you will be happy to know that I have befriended Mr. Longbottom and Miss Weasley as well as the Weasley twins.”

He watched the headmaster’s reaction closely. With each name the sparkle in his eye dimmed until he was barely managing to hide his displeasure. Hydrus was intrigued. He had expected a bigger reaction to his relationship with Neville but Dumbledore seemed more concerned about the Weasleys. Why were they not held in as high regard as their prat of a brother? 

“That's excellent, I'm pleased to hear you've made such good friends,” Dumbledore said with a strained smile. “Now, I believe there is still time to make it to dinner. You are free to go.”

Hydrus nodded and stood, being careful to only use the left armrest and catching Dumbledore's scowl out of the corner of his eye.

“Good night, Headmaster,” he called as he opened the door. 

“Good night, Mr. Black.”

As soon as the door closed Albus grabbed the crystal bowl of lemon drops and smashed it against the wall. Fawkes screeched and flapped his wings in distress but Albus ignored him. 

Hydrus Black was more frustrating than he expected. He should have been dim and socially stunted from Azkaban but he wasn't. He was winning over the staff with his brilliance and somehow single handedly tearing through the barriers he had been building between the houses. 

Ablus had hoped an inheritance test would shed some light but Hydrus had managed to avoid pricking himself on the disillusioned needle in the chair arm. He would have to go to Plan B and slip some veritaserum or liquid imperious into his food. Until then, he would keep watching.

Chapter Text

Both Luna and Hydrus told their friends they weren’t going to Hogsmead and they made sure to be seen not going. Hydrus curled up in an armchair by the fire and said goodbye to Draco, Theo, Pansy, Blaise and Daphne without looking up from his book. The common room was empty and there were three other books on the side table making it obvious he didn’t plan on leaving any time soon. Luna waved Ginny and Neville off at the front door, telling them not to let the Blibbering Humdingers ruin their trip. Several ghosts and younger students saw her skipping or dreamily drifting down the corridors. 

Then they vanished. 

No one saw them disappear. Not a single person noticed a white-blonde Ravenclaw girl climb through the hump of the One-Eyed Witch statue or heard a tattooed Slytherin boy hissing at the carved ouroboros on one of the dungeon drains until it opened. They emerged outside the Hogwarts wards and made their way to the Shrieking Shack where a raven circled overhead and a big black dog met them at the door just as they’d promised in their letters. 

“Hey Pup,” Sirius said, changing back into his human form to hug Hydrus. Meanwhile, the raven landed and shed its feathers revealing Regulus Black. 

“Starlight! I missed you sweet girl,” he brushed back Luna’s hair and kissed her on the forehead. Luna giggled at her Papa.

“Uncle Reggy?” 

Regulus turned toward his nephew? ward? daughter’s brother? The relationships in this family were super confusing. Thank Merlin they hadn’t blood adopted the twins. That would be hard to explain.

“Hey Hydrus. It’s good to see you kiddo,” Regulus said, opening his arms. He was pleasantly surprised when Hydrus launched himself into a tight embrace. Luna rushed over to Sirius.

“Uncle Siri!” she cried, throwing her arms around the ex-convict and nuzzling into his chest with a happy sigh. Sirius squeezed her back, a huge smile on his face. 

“Look at you little fairy. As gorgeous as your mother. It's wonderful to meet you.”

Everyone basked in the comfort of finally being together as a family. It felt like too soon when the kids released their Uncles and reminded them they had an appointment. 

“Alright, I wrote ahead and got direct access to Black family account manager,” Sirius said as he led them upstairs to the closest fireplace. “Just say ‘Ragnok’s Office’ and it will take you right there. He’s expecting us.”

They each took a pinch of powder and stepped through the green flames one by one. On the other side they found a decently sized office full of beautifully crafted furniture accented with precious metals and upholstered in fine leather. A single goblin sat behind the desk. It was difficult to pin down a goblin’s age but judging by the scars visible on nearly every exposed piece of skin this one had been around a while. 

“Greetings Ragnok,” Sirius said with a small bow. “May your blades be swift and true. Thank you for meeting with us.”

“Greetings Lord Black. May your coffers overflow,” the goblin replied, gesturing to the seats in front of his desk. Hydrus and Luna sat shoulder to shoulder on the loveseat in the middle while their guardians took the chairs on either side. “What can I do for you?”

“These are our wards, Hydrus and Cassandra Black,” Sirius said. Ragnok’s beady eyes studied the youngsters. The boy may be able to pass as a Black but the girl did not. 

“We are relying on your discretion Ragnok,” Regulus added, noticing the goblin’s suspicion. “They require inheritance tests.”

“Of course Mr. Black,” Ragnok replied. He produced two sheets of parchment that shimmered slightly indicating a spell had been placed on them. He then handed small knives to Hydrus and Luna. 

“Place three drops of blood on each parchment for the standard inheritance test. If you wish for a more thorough reading the requirement is seven drops.”

The twins took the blades and nicked their fingers. Three drops of blood splashed on the paper before it was absorbed and red ink began to bloom, forming words in neat handwriting. They looked at Luna’s first. Her family had always been more reclusive so they knew next to nothing about her extended family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

True Name: Cassandra Lunara Black

Titles:
Lady Dulac (unclaimed)
Lady Rosier (unclaimed)
Heiress Black (unclaimed)

Other Names/Titles:
Luna Evanna Lovegood
Mistress of Fate
Divine Oracle
Honored Sister of Avalon

Mother: Pandö̴̤̦̻̖͔͒̋̇͗L̴̟̗͍͓̺͑̓̅̉̐a̸̡̛̳̺͓̐̆͆͘ͅr̶̪̙̱͚̬͆͒̀̒̕á̸̗̬̠̩̭͗͂͊͝ḑ̷̯̥̘̜̓̓̉̒͝ ̶̬̥͕͈̖̓́̽͌̽ÿ̷̰̯͓̱͙́͋̀̆͠Ľ̴̖̙̪͖͌̋̂͆ͅF̴̖̭̯͕͇̔͐̐͊̈́ą̶͔̞͉͔͊̈́̅͌͒o̵̩̠̜͇͓͌̄̎̀̈v̶̛͎̰̫̣̗̄̄͗̚ţ̶͉̮͉̬͆̇͋͒͝e̷͇͕͚͕̞̿͊̔̀̚ę̷̝͎͚͓͌̋̀͝͠good nee Rosier

Father: Xenop̴̧͓͔͈͍̿̒́͊̚h̴̢̰͇̗̍̐̑̑̕ͅĹ̶̫͇̟̩̩̏͒̎̕o̵̡͇̤̩͉̿̐̋͐̐ȋ̶̪͍͉͉͖̈́̄̈́͠l̶̫̠̜̤̄̅͗͂̕ͅr̶͉̙̭͈̦̿̓̀̍̇ì̷̖͖͚͎͍̓̒̇͌u̶͕̝͙̗̟͗̓͂͆͛ḑ̶̡̹̼̟̾̄̅̉̕s̵͇͍͉̱͖̎̌̂͑͊ ̶̬̦̮̦̜́̆͌͌̀D̵̨̯̯̦̈́̊̍̉̀͜ê̷̝̗̤̬̿̈͘͜͠M̴̢̬̳̖̲̆̍̏̒̃ą̷̙̙̮̯͊͌̑̿̏ḁ̴̭͔̞̦́͋̌̆͝l̷͖̬̗̘̲͒̄̽̂̚t̷̮̩͎̪̟͋̄͒͐̚h̶̲͇̹͔͂̈̆͂͠ͅfoy-Lovegood

Adoptive Father: Regulus Arcturus Black

Brother: Hydrus Lycoris Black (magical twin)

Godparent: Bartemius Crouch Jr. (compromised)

Grandparents:
Francois Rosier (maternal, deceased)
Margarette Rosier nee Laurent (maternal, deceased)
Abarax Malfoy (paternal, deceased)
Druella Malfoy nee Macnair (paternal, deceased)

Uncles:
Evan Rosier (maternal, deceased)
Lucius Malfoy (paternal)
Sirius Orion Black III (adopted)

Cousins: Draco Malfoy

Vaults:
Dulac Family Vault
Rosier Main Vault
Rosier Trust Vault
Black Trust Vault

Properties:
See Gringotts Account Manager(s)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I had no idea Lucius had a brother,” Sirius said. He had moved to stand behind the twins and read over Luna’s shoulder. 

“Xeno was older,” Regulus explained. “He was considered the black sheep of the family which ironically meant he was too Light for them. He sorted into Ravenclaw and was disowned in his fifth year just before you went to Hogwarts. I believe Pandora was the one that suggested the name change.”

Sirius snorted. That sounded like Pandora, fiercely protective and with a twisted sense of humor.

“What are all these runes over our parent’s names?” Hydrus asked. He was reading his own results and comparing them to his sister's. Ragnok took their test. His black eyes widened the farther he read. When he was done he glanced up at the family of four with an uncharacteristic look of surprise. 

“If you are agreeable, I would like to consult with a few of my colleagues,” Ragnok stated. When he received agreeing nods from Regulus and Sirius he placed the parchments on the desk before disappearing out the door. 

“I believe we put a chink in his armor,” Sirius chuckled. “He's probably gone to get the Potter and Rosier account managers. What do you think, Reg?”

Regulus didn't answer. Sirius turned to see him fixated on Luna’s test.

“Papa?” Luna asked, placing a hand on his arm. Regulus started before sighing and smiling at his daughter. 

“I'm alright starlight,” he soothed. “I was just looking at your godparent. Pandora always intended for your Uncle Evan to be your godfather but he died in a raid before you were born. In his place she named another of our friends, Barty Crouch Jr., as your godparent.”

Sirius placed a gentle hand on his brother’s shoulder. Regulus’ grief was too close to the surface so Sirius took over the tale.

“Your great-grandfather was the product of a Black and a Rosier and the famed Black Madness hit him hard, especially in his old age. As the head of the house he pledged his son and grandson, the future Lords, to Voldemort. There was nothing your grandparents could do. If Francois or Evan had defected not only would Voldemort kill them but a horrible curse would be unleashed on the entire Rosier line. They sent Pandora into hiding but Evan was trapped. When Reg and Barty heard he had been forced to take the mark they signed up too. It caused quite the rift in our already strained relationship.” 

Sirius sounded ashamed of himself. He should have just talked to Regulus instead of condemning him. The brothers had lost so many years together because he had bought into all the Light versus Dark bullshit. 

“Barty was sent to Azkaban not long after Hydrus and I,” he continued. “It was his father, Crouch Sr., that put him there.”

“He was brilliant,” Hydrus added, grabbing Luna’s hand. “Barty taught me magical theory and wizarding law. He always felt guilty for what happened to the Longbottoms. He was there when it happened but he didn’t like to talk about it. Maybe if he had more time…”

Hydrus trailed off and gazed into the distance. Luna frowned, feeling his sadness through their bond. Sirius ran a soothing hand over her hair to draw her attention to him. 

“We woke up one morning to the dementors carrying his body past our cell,” he almost whispered. “We don't even know what happened. One day he was explaining the Sacred 28 to Hydrus and the next he was dead. Hydrus tried to commune with him to say good-bye but he was young and couldn’t find him past the veil.”

“That’s because he's not dead.”

Sirius blinked and looked down at his brother who was still staring at the parchment. 

“Reg, I'm sorry. I know he was your friend but—”

“Look at this!”

He thrust the test toward Sirius, practically shoving him in the chest. Sirius’ eyes scanned it over before he paused and scanned it again, his eyes going wide. 

“What is it?” Luna asked. 

“Barty Crouch Jr. is listed as compromised, not deceased.”

Luna snatched the parchment and leaned toward Hydrus so they could see for themselves

Godparent: Bartemius Crouch Jr. (compromised)

“What does this mean?” Hydrus asked. “We saw his body.”

“I don't know Pup. It doesn't make any sense,” Sirius glanced at Regulus who was now leaning forward, his elbows on his knees and his hands steepled in front of his mouth as he thought. 

“Say nothing,” Regulus said firmly. “If Barty is in hiding I don't want anyone else but us looking for him.”

The ex-auror and both students nodded just as the door opened to admit Ragnok and three other goblins. They all gathered behind the desk, conjuring extra chairs. 

“This is the Rosier account manager Garvavek and the Potter account manager Griphook,” Ragnok introduced, indicating the two goblins in sharp suits. 

“And this is Elder Sharptooth,” he gestured toward an elderly goblin in rich robes stitched with gold and hemmed in jewels. As the only Lord in the room Sirius bowed.

“Greetings. May your coffers overflow.”

“And may your enemies fall before you,” Eldar Sharptooth acknowledged. “Please know that nothing said within this room will ever leave it. It is an honor to have Children of the Gods grace the halls of the Goblin Nation.”

His eyes flicked between the two young wix. While their guardians had immediately become wary the twins seemed to peel off their masks. They sat straight and proud as if the simple leather couch was a throne of marble and precious metal. Their eyes, green for the boy and blue for the girl, glowed with otherworldly power. 

“Greetings,” the girl said, her voice carrying a melodic quality that drew the listener in. “May Lady Fate look kindly on your ventures.”

“And may Lord Death favor you in battle,” the boy added. His voice was deep as if spoken from the bowels of the earth. They could have sworn they heard the rattling of bones and the rasp of a final breath underneath his words. 

“Greetings Lord Peverell, Lady Dulac. It is an honor,” Elder Sharptooth said. “We will endeavor to answer any question and complete any task you ask of us.”

“We wish you to explain the runes obscuring our parent’s names,” Hydrus declared, placing his and Luna’s tests on the desk.

“You are the children of two divine parents, Lady Fate and Lord Death, but you also have mortal parents. Both are recognized by Mother Magic but our tests do not account for divine parentage. The results ‘glitched’ as the Muggles would say,” Ragnok explained. 

The twins nodded in unison before moving on.

“You call us Lady Dulac,” Luna said.

“And Lord Peverell,” Hydrus said.

“Why is that?” they asked together. 

“Throughout time the old gods have favored certain wix,” Elder Sharptooth replied. “The most commonly recognized blessing occurred in the time of Camelot when a young Mage by the name of Myrddin Emrys caught Mother Magic’s eye. He became known as Merlin and ushered in the Golden Age of magic. 

“Merlin never had any children but his apprentices went on to found several noble houses and a few were powerful enough to receive their own blessings. 

“The original Lady Dulac was an artist. She and her kin created magical artifacts that are still coveted today. Lady Fate took a liking to her and it was said she had the uncanny ability to know exactly what someone needed to complete their chosen quest. History calls her the Lady of the Lake. Guinevere’s crown and Excalibur were two of her most powerful creations. 

“Similarly, the original Lord Peverell was the first Necromancer. He caught Lord Death's attention with the creation of a locket that allowed the wearer to return to life after death and a cup that was later claimed by Muggle religion as the Holy Grail. It could be used to gift another your remaining life force.

“Lord Peverell used the locket to live for seven generations. His family flourished and their magic grew under his tuilage. Death was thoroughly impressed but decided to test Lord Peverell before granting his blessing. He asked for the locket in exchange for three gifts to be given to the three youngest members of the family. Lord Peverell immediately agreed and the moment he greeted Death willingly, for the benefit of his family, the line was blessed.”

“The Potters are descended from the Peverells,” Griphook stated.

“And the Rosiers are of the Dulac line,” Garvavek added. 

“The names have been dormant for centuries but it appears Lady Fate and Lord Death wish you to revive them. All you have to do is accept,” Eldar Sharptooth finished. 

Hydrus and Luna looked at each other but there was no need for any conversation. They grasped hands, letting their magic flow and mingle. 

“I, Hydrus Lycoris Black, accept the mantle of Lord Peverell and all that it entails. May my divine mother watch over me and my divine father meet me at my death with open arms.”

“I, Cassandra Lunara Black, accept the mantle of Lady Dulac and all that it entails. May my divine mother guide my hand and my divine father grant me death at my fated time.”

Their magic flared before fading away. When the twins released each other they found a pair of rings resting on their palms. Frosty white crystal for Luna and polished black obsidian for Hydrus.

“Lordship rings go on the right ring finger,” Ragnok prompted. They each slipped the rings on. They were a perfect fit. 

“Well that was exciting,” Sirius spoke up, breaking the tension. The twins allowed themselves a small smile at his antics. “I have some questions about Hydrus' test though.”

“Let's have a look,” Griphook said. He picked up the parchment and read it aloud, skipping over the tangled mess of runes when he reached it. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

True Name: Hydrus Lycoris Black

Titles:
Lord Peverell
Lord Potter (unclaimed)
Heir Black (unclaimed)

Other Names/Titles:
Harrison "Harry" James Potter
Master of Death
Shadow Prince
Champion of Dark Creatures

Mother: Lily PĻ̸̞̯̙̝̑̅̎̕͘a̴̯̞͚͍̮̔̓̃̅͝ơ̴̡̼͚̭̬͂͂̎͝t̸͕͈͔͋̋̂̄̅͜͜d̷̛̲̙͓̻̤̍͛̏̒ţ̶̡̫̲͚̃̏͒͘͝e̵̲͇̻̯̻̿̽̒̌̌y̴̙̠̦͚̘͆̆̄̎͠r̸̢̢͖̲̫̎̀̾́̏ ̸̢̩͔͔͗̇͂͊͠ͅn̸̢̟̞͙͋̆̌͝͝ͅF̷̭͈̦͍̹̈́̃̈̚͠ḛ̴̢̘̫͚̌͊̾̉͝é̶͍̟̻͈̩̄̎̃͒ ̴̯̰̝̦̘̀̆̏̓̔a̴͙̤̮̱̭͊̀̾̎̚Ȩ̵̯̹̖͖̾̾̌́͝t̴̙͓̰̗̉̉̎͛̕ͅȩ̴̤̰̜͔͂̒͋͊͋vans

Father: JamL̷̤̰̹͖̭̾̾̑̊̂e̵̩̼͚̭͍͒̉͆̿̆ò̵̝̱̜̼͕̀̍̾̂ś̷̨̧̯̻͇̌̊̕͠r̸͚̜̞̥̈́̊̅̐͝ͅd̵͈̩̮̫͍̒̎̍̎̚ ̴̖̹̖̦̏͌̂͛̾͜F̷̼̮͔̺̳̉͂̃͋̄l̵͚͓̫͇̹̊̄̊̕͝e̷̟̰̭͎̭͛͂̍͐̔Ḑ̴̙͈̪̙̂͛̆̍͝a̶̛͖͕̻̼̦̾͐̓̋m̸̬̭̦̘̼̃̎̅̔̓e̷̛̝̝̝̣̯̽̓̚͝o̶͖̝̫͉̙͑̇̅̄͌ȁ̶̟̗̯̦͕̋̂̄̇n̶̜͎͙͍̅̋͒̕͝ͅt̷̗̝͈͕̤͌́͋̐̿ ̴͍̝͇̫̼̋́͆̉̏ț̴̜̼̰́̓̚͘͜͠P̴̨̜̤̞̜̎͐̽̃̓h̷͖̭̙͙̫͒̀̆͛͊ȍ̸̧̦̬̳̹̐̄̈́̈tter

Adoptive Father: Sirius Orion Black III

Sister: Cassandra Lunara Black (magical twin)

Godparent: Severus Tobias Snape

Grandparents:
Fleamont Potter (deceased)
Euphemia Potter nee Sharma (deceased)
Florian Evans (deceased)
Annalee Evans nee Edwards (deceased)

Aunt: Petunia Dursley nee Evans (maternal)

Uncle: Regulus Arcturus Black (adopted)

Cousin: Dudley Dursley

Vaults:
Peverell Family Vault
Potter Main Vault
Potter Trust Vault
Black Trust Vault

Properties:
See Gringotts Account Manager(s)

Blocks and Compulsions:
Compulsion - Trust in Albus Dumbledore (broken by Heir Adoption)
Block - 60% Magic Core (broken by magical inheritance)
Block - Dark Magic (failed)
Compulsion - Hatred of Lord Voldemort/ You-Know-Who/ He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named/ The Dark Lord/ Tom Riddle (broken by Heir Adoption)
Compulsion - Distrust of Slytherins (broken by Heir Adoption)
Compulsion - Friendship with Neville Longbottom (broken by Heir Adoption)
Compulsion - Trust in the Weasley family (broken by Heir Adoption)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Well, it's good to know my relationship with Neville, Ginny, the twins and my own bloody house is real,” Hydrus growled, eyes flashing. 

“I'll speak to Augusta,” Sirius assured him. “If you had this many compulsions and blocks it's possible Neville has them too.”

“Bring him in for a cleansing,” Ragnok suggested. “It is abhorrent to the Goblin Nation that such measures were taken against a child.”

Sirius nodded, already drafting his letter to Lady Longbottom in his head. 

“Why don't we share the Rosier or Potter titles like we do the Black Heirship?” Luna asked. 

“This situation is unique but I assume it is because you do not share mortal parents,” Ragnok stated. “When you were adopted it made you both eligible for the Black heirship and since you’re magical twins if you're both eligible then you both inherit the title. On the other hand you were never a Potter so you do not have a claim to the Potter or Peverell Ladyships. The same goes for your brother regarding the Rosier and Dulac Lordships.”

The Blacks nodded, accepting the explanation. It was likely the best one they would ever get.

“Speaking of the Potter and Rosier titles. Would you like to claim them?” Griphook asked.

The twins nodded, turning their attention to their account managers. Each goblin produced a velvet box and placed it in front of the correct twin. 

“You simply have to put them on,” Garvavek said. “If they accept you the rings will resize to fit your finger. Once they’re on, only you can remove them and they will return to the family vault upon your death.”

Hydrus opened his box to reveal a gold ring bearing the Potter coat of arms encrusted with small rubies. Luna’s ring was silver with the Rosier crest flanked by icy blue and white diamonds. The rings instantly shrunk to fit them, sitting just above their obsidian and crystal bands. 

“Finally, the Black heirship rings,” Ragnok said. He pushed two more boxes toward them. “We duplicated the original. Both have the same potion, compulsion and curse detection charms on them. They will heat up if someone is trying to harm you.”

The Black heir rings were silver but had a darker coloring closer to tungsten. The Black coat of arms was stamped on the metal but they were missing the black diamonds that were present on Sirius’ ring. They slipped them onto their right pointer fingers. 

“Congratulations,” Ragnok said. “You now have access to your vaults without a guardian present and your Wizengamot seats are available to you.”

To everyone but Hydrus’ surprise, Luna shook her head.

“It is too soon to reveal ourselves,” she said dreamily. “The dog and the raven will face the goat.”

“Caught onto our scheme huh?” Sirius chuckled. “You are correct. Dumbledore can’t know you have your titles. So far he has not paid any attention to Luna and he has no idea Hydrus and Harry are the same person. For now Regulus and I will act as proxies.”

“And shock the entire wizarding world at the same time,” Hydrus stated, grinning at his dad and uncle.

“Of course,” Regulus confirmed with a matching grin. He had learned a few things from his older brother. Causing chaos was fun. 

“Be careful papa,” Luna said. “The minute your reveal you’re alive you’ll become a wanted Death Eater.”

“Don’t worry Starlight. Sirius and I have a plan,” Regulus assured her. Luna stared at him for a long moment and Regulus just sat there letting her assess him. Eventually the blonde nodded and turned back to the goblins. 

“If that is everything I would suggest you visit your vaults,” Ragnok said. Griphook and Garvavek handed each twin a key. “Files detailing contents, active investments and transaction histories can be found in each. I encourage you to make copies to peruse at your leisure.”

Regulus and Sirius bowed and headed for the door but stopped when Hydrus and Luna spoke. 

“Many thanks,” Hydrus said, bowing deeply. “May your enemies fall before you and our owl find you in good health.”

The goblins looked at them in confusion, raising an eyebrow or cocking their head.

“Many thanks,” Luna added, bowing as well. “May your gold be plentiful and your Samhain blessed.”

The younger goblins still looked confused but Elder Sharptooth suddenly looked enlightened and smiled at the twins. It was rather disconcerting.

“Many thanks, Children of the Gods,” he replied. “We will await your summons.”

Straightening up, the twins left without another word. 

“What was that?” Sirius asked as they followed a goblin guide that Ragnok assured them was trustworthy down to the vaults. 

“More allies to honor the ancestors,” Luna said happily, skipping along while swinging her brother’s hand. 

“We want to show a few people what we are,” Hydrus explained. “We figured Samhain is a good night to do it.”

“Are you sure? You haven't known them very long,” Regulus pointed out. 

“Mother says our knights are ready. We have gifts for them,” Luna replied.

Sirius glanced at his brother who just shrugged. 

They reached the Rosier and Potter vaults first. They were conveniently only about a dozen doors away from each other. After taking copies of the files they decided to explore a little. The vaults were mostly full of coins but there was also furniture, jewelry, books and various artifacts. 

Luna was running her hand over multitudes of scrolls rolled up on a shelf when the Nargles directed her further into the room. They whizzed around a small wooden chest, occasionally alighting on it only to flutter away. She opened it to find a pocket watch. It had a pearlescent face and two sets of hands, one gold and the other silver. She picked it up, thanked the nargles for showing it to her, and left. 

Meanwhile, Hydrus was watching things pop into existence all over his vault. It was mostly books reappearing on the shelves but there was also an antique curios cabinet, a couple tapestries and— was that a magic carpet ? The last arrival materialized right in front of Hydrus and he had to quickly catch it before it fell to the floor. The smooth silky fabric cascaded through his hands like water. Holding it up Hydrus realized it was a black and gray cloak with silver threads woven in. Sirius looked at it in awe before his eyes darkened. 

“That bloody no-good scheming old bastard!” he growled. Surprisingly, their goblin guide Kilius didn’t look pleased either. 

“What’s wrong?” Hydrus asked.

“When a new Lord Potter enters the vault a retrieval charm is activated to ensure all the artifacts are available to you,” Kilius explained. “Everything that just appeared was stolen from the vault since the last Lord Potter died.”

“It was Dumbledore,” Sirius insisted, teeth bared like a snarling dog. “What you're holding is your father’s invisibility cloak. Dumbledore borrowed it just after you were born. He wanted to study it. Most invisibility cloaks go opaque over time but that cloak has been in the Potter family for generations and it’s still in pristine condition. James asked for it back before your first birthday but as far I know Dumbledore never returned it.”

“How did he even get access to the vault?’ Hydrus asked, directing his question to Kilius. 

“Ah. Yes. I suppose you wouldn’t know,” the goblin said awkwardly. “Dumbledore was Harry Potter’s magical guardian. He had access for four days while the lad was in St. Mungos. Once the Ministry declared him dead the vaults were locked down.”

Hydrus and Sirius glanced at each other, matching sparks of burning rage flickering in their eyes. While their goblin guide was considered trustworthy he had not been told Hydrus’ true identity so didn't realize the full implications of what he had just revealed. They would have to do a full inventory to ensure all the artifacts came back and an audit to make sure he hadn't stolen any gold. 

“The treasures returned to their Lord but the coffers have been pilfered.”

Luna and Regulus stood at the door. Sirius blinked in confusion but Hydrus understood his sister perfectly. 

“Thanks Lu. I'll ask Griphook if there is a way to get the gold back,” he said. 

Hydrus exited the vault, interlocking his fingers with Luna’s when she reached for him. Their frequent meetings in the dreamscape had not prepared them for how intense physically being together would be. Their voices were each other’s favorite lullaby and every touch was warm and electric and completely, utterly right . Even when they were apart neither stopped fidgeting with their connection, twirling it through imaginary fingers and plucking it like a harp string so the other could feel their presence.

“This way to the Ancient Vaults,” Kilius said, leading them to one of the minecarts. 

The Peverell and Dulac vaults were deep underground. Sirius, Luna and Hydrus screamed and raised their arms at every drop while Regulus rolled his eyes fondly. Their guide didn’t seem too sure how to feel about their less than proper behavior.

They came to a stop at the mouth of a natural cavern. In the middle, towering from floor to ceiling, was a pillar of rough hewn stone covered in clusters of uncut gems and veins of raw silver and gold that glinted in the torchlight. Around the edges of the cavern were about half a dozen doors embedded in the walls. 

This was the heart of Gringotts. These were the first vaults entrusted to the Goblin Nation. It was what the bank had been built around. 

The doors didn't have names on them like the Rosier and Potter vaults. Instead, there were various images carved into the ancient stone. Hydrus was drawn to a depiction of the Grim Reaper in his long black cloak. His bony hand holding his recognizable scythe jutted from the wall like he was trying to hand it to Hydrus. Next to Hydrus, Luna was studying the image of a sword with its blade embedded in a boulder. Waves of pale stone seem to lap at the boulder like water and the handle of the sword stuck out as if asking to be wielded. 

Luna grasped the sword and it glowed white. There was a loud crack and a low rumble as the vault door swung open. Hydrus did the same with the scythe achieving similar results except his door momentarily turned to pure shadow. 

Inside was smaller than he expected. There were only a couple chests containing ancient coins and a single shelf full of leather bound books but the most interesting bits were the displays toward the back. There were skulls from different creatures and pots full of various bones. There were preserved insects and bugs in wooden frames as well as jars with strange animals floating in clear fluid. Hydrus saw different types of reptiles and small mammals, the pale blue foot of some kind of dragon and a grindylow with more tentacles, bigger eyes and sharper teeth than the one Remus had in his classroom.  

Not seeing anything he wanted to take with him Hydrus went to return to his dad but something caught his eyes. Amongst the black and brown spines on the shelf was a thin blue book. He slid it out and read the title. The Tales of Beedle the Bard . He remembered the Death Eaters telling him some of Beedle’s stories when he was younger. This copy looked old and hand bound, the stitching yellowed and the embossed title flaking in places. Below the title, written in a messy scrawl with ink and quill, were the words Journal of Ignotus Peverell.

Something told Hydrus he should take the book with him so he tucked it under his arm and exited the vault. Luna returned at the same time holding a length of fabric that could have been a scarf or a sash. It had been weaved using different shades of green thread. Regulus waved his wand over it.

“This has some serious protective charms on it, and something else I can't quite identify,” he said. 

“It is a gift from the Headless Knight's wife. Green is very honest,” Luna said seriously, draping the fabric around her neck. Sirius leaned over to Hydrus.

“Did you catch that?” he asked. Hydrus just smiled at him knowingly before stepping away to offer his elbow to Luna. 

The cart ride was significantly less exhilarating going up. When they re-entered the bank they were shown to the floo room and returned to the Shrinking Shack easily since it wasn't warded. 

“You need to hide your rings,” Regulus told them. “Just will them to be invisible and they’ll disappear.”

They did as he said. Luna hid all her rings but Hydrus kept his heirship ring visible. The crystal and obsidian bands didn’t disappear but those weren't identifiable as Lordship rings so they weren't concerned. 

“Be careful,” Sirius reminded them. “You’re both smart and strong but our best defense is still to remain hidden.”

“Don't worry dad. We’ll be okay,” Hydrus assured him. Regulus and Sirius gave them each one last hug before the twins left under the invisibility cloak. 

They had taken longer than planned so it was late afternoon by the time they got back to the castle. Luna went off to some obscure part of the castle to be found wandering by classmates while Hydrus brought cheese and fruit back for the Slytherins. They promptly forgot about asking where he had been when he promised to show them how to access the kitchen. The twins felt a little bad keeping secrets from their friends but it wouldn’t be too long before they could properly introduce themselves.

Samhain was less than two weeks away.

Chapter Text

Remus was glad the October full moon was on a Saturday. The fewer classes he missed the less likely it was that a particularly clever student would learn his secret. He avoided the Great Hall as he snuck onto the grounds. The immense shadow cast by the castle blanketed the lawn as the sun crept closer to the horizon. The bottle of wolfsbane potion felt heavy in his pocket and he found himself reaching for it a few times but he didn't take it. 

Ever since his talk with Hydrus his wolf had been more present but calmer and less insistent on fighting him. He wasn't quite sure what had caused it. It could have been an effect of Hydrus’ scent and the lingering euphoria of having a pack again or the letter from Sirius asking to run together like old times. Whatever it was, for the first time since he started taking wolfsbane, he didn't feel the need for it. 

Remus approached the Whomping Willow. It started twisting and waving its branches menacingly but Remus just took out a gobstone and flicked it at the secret knot. The tree froze and Remus smiled to himself, pleased he hadn't lost his touch. 

The tunnel felt so much smaller than it did when he was in school. His neck had a kink in it by the time he pushed the trap door open and climbed into the Shrieking Shack. He had expected a rush of bad memories as he looked around the dusty, disheveled building but he just felt nostalgic. There were holes in the baseboards that Peter used to scurry in and out of, a broken railing where he and Sirius had been wrestling and rolled down the stairs and two distinct notches at the top of a few doorframes where James’ antlers would scrape the wood. The shack smelled of dust and dry rot and… butterbeer? 

Remus followed the sweet scent to one of the upstairs bedrooms. When he pushed the door open he found that the room had been cleaned , a low fire was crackling in the hearth and something resembling a child’s blanket fort had been built using a pair of rickety chairs and a familiar maroon blanket covered in yellow stars. Remus’ wolf was very pleased with its new den and he blamed the approaching moon for how fast he shed his outer robes and crawled into the fort. The floor was padded with a couple more blankets and the whole thing smelled of butterbeer, sea salt and sage. There was a note pinned to the inside.

Moony,

I know you never liked us seeing you transform. I’m nearby and will be with you the moment the moon rises. Until then, I was feeling nostalgic for our late night hang outs in the dorms. Can you believe I still had my old blanket? I hope you like it.

- Padfoot

Remus smiled as his wolf preened at Sirius’ thoughtfulness. He settled into the blankets and watched the fire as the room became darker and darker. Surrounded by the scent of his best friend, his human mind and animal instincts both aching to see him again, Remus didn’t even think about taking his wolfsbane until the room was suddenly bathed in silver light. 

Remus had once hoped that the transformation would be easier when he got older but it never was. His bones and joints snapped and popped, flooding his body with burning agony. He felt his skin stretch and rip, his skull remold into a snout and fur grow rapidly all over his body. His screams turned to howls but rather than lonely silence, this time his call was answered. 

His advanced hearing picked up nails clicking on the floor boards before a black dog bounded into the room. Padfoot jumped up and licked his snout, barking and jumping around happily. Moony pounced on him and they rolled across the floor until Padfoot was pinned under the werewolf’s bulk. Moony could smell that salty sweet sage in Padfoot’s fur and feel his heart racing under his paws. It was everything he had been craving the last twelve years.

Padfoot kicked at Moony’s stomach with his back legs and wriggled until he got free. He lowered his front half to the ground, his wagging tail high in the air before he took off out of the Shrieking Shack. Moony followed, racing down the stairs and out into the chilly October air. He smelled the soil and the trees and the tempting aroma of people down in Hogsmeade. His amber eyes turned toward the village, his wolf urging him to hunt, but then Padfoot was there. He nipped at his face until Moony got irritated and growled at him, chasing the playful dog into the woods and away from people. 

It was as if they had never been apart. They ran through the forest, splashed through the lake, hunted rabbits and squirrels and rested in a cave when it began to drizzle. The droplets clung to the grass, the moonlight making them look like tiny diamonds.

As the stars began to die and the sky turned from black to gray the pair returned to the Shrieking Shack. Padfoot waited outside while Moony changed back. It felt smoother this time, more like falling into place rather than jamming broken pieces together. His head wasn’t as hazy and his limbs didn't feel as heavy as he slipped his robes back on.

“Sirius?” he called when he was done.

The door creaked as it swung open and Sirius Black stepped in. He was leaner and scruffier than the last time Remus saw him but he was here and he was smiling.

“Hey Moons,” he said. “It’s good to see you mate.”

Remus grabbed the front of Sirius’ jacket and pulled him into a hug. His old friend’s arms around his back and fingers in his hair felt like coming home. 

“I missed you, you prat. Don’t go away again,” he whispered.

“Never again. I promise.”

Sirius gave him one last squeeze before letting go. He flicked his wand at the now cold fire and it came to life again.

“We have a lot to talk about,” Sirius said, taking a seat amongst the blankets

“We do,” Remus agreed, sitting beside him and trying to ignore how happy his wolf was with Sirius in his den. “Let’s start with why your son smells like a werewolf.”

“Hydrus smells like a werewolf?” Sirius exclaimed. His eyes went wide for just a moment before he suddenly looked exasperated with himself and huff deprecatingly. “Honestly, I don’t know why I’m shocked. That kid had been surprising me since before he was born.”

Remus was thrown by the casual acceptance of something that had been bothering him for over a week but that didn’t stop him from noticing a flaw in Sirius’ claim.

“I thought he was left on your doorstep at one year old? You told the Ministry you didn’t know who his mother was,” Remus accused. 

“I suppose I did. It was safer than revealing the truth,” Sirius replied.

“Which is?” Remus prodded.

“That Hydrus Black is actually Harry Potter.”

Remus froze. He stared at Sirius, wondering if this was a cruel joke or if the ex-convict had actually gone insane but his small, sheepish smile paired with his fearful eyes, eyes that were begging for Remus to believe him, told the werewolf that it was the truth. 

“Tell me everything,” he said. 

So Sirius told him. He told him about being brought to his sick brother's bedside and nursing him back to health. He revealed how Lily and Pandora appeared one day with two prophecies and a plea for help. He outlined all the ways Dumbledore had betrayed them, lying and manipulating their lives for some unknown goal. He explained that Hydrus and his sister were children unlike any other. 

“Luna is as light a witch as you can get, a Divine Seer and Honorary Fae, but Hydrus is the exact opposite. He is Master of Death. Champion of Dark Creatures and the Shadow Prince. 

“He isn’t just a dark wizard, his core is pure, raw dark magic, but that doesn't mean he's evil. He’s not cruel or callous. He loves his sister, he wants to protect his friends and he tries his best to make me proud. He will always be, first and foremost, my son; Lily and James’ blood and the most important thing in my life.”

Sirius’ chest heaved as he finished his passionate speech. He was gripping Remus' arm tightly as if afraid he would run. Remus placed his own hand over Sirius’. 

“Hydrus was my cub the moment he was born. When I lost the pack I was devastated. Now I have a chance to start a new one and I will do everything in my power to keep this one whole and happy. It will be dangerous but I'm with you Sirius. For better or worse.”

Sirius sighed, leaning forward until his forehead was on Remus' shoulder. Remus could feel the tension draining out of him and noticed that his sea salt scent was much weaker, almost completely overpowered by butterbeer and sage. 

“Thank you, Moony,” Sirius whispered before turning his head to smile crookedly at him. “Do you have any plans for Samhain?”

Remus raised an eyebrow.

“I could move some things around. Why?” 

Sirius told him Hydrus and Luna's plan and Remus was immediately on board. They continued to chat through lunch, forgetting all about food in favor of relearning each other. Sirius had forgotten how handsome Remus was when he brushed his hair back and Remus was reminded of how much he missed Sirius’ laugh. 

When they finally parted Remus carefully folded the starry maroon blanket over his arm and Sirius didn't say anything about it. 

—------------

Hydrus waved his friends away after potions class. He had completed a passable dreamless sleep potion so there was really no reason he should be staying behind but something in his eyes prompted them to give him encouraging nods as they left. 

The dungeon classroom was silent once the door shut. Professor Snape was reading over essays from an earlier class but Hydrus could tell he knew he was there. 

“Mr. Black. Are you going to tell me what you want or are you going to make me take points from my own house for wasting my time?” 

Hydrus sighed and moved to a seat in the front row. Snape didn't look up from his grading. 

“Harry Potter,” Hydrus stated bluntly. Snape stiffened, the parchment in his hand crinkling as he tightened his grip. “What do you know about him?” 

The potions professor looked up. His dark, calculating eyes bore into Hydrus but he kept his face blank. 

“He defeated the Dark Lord,” Snape finally said. “They call him The Boy Who Lived though he didn't live very long.”

“That's not what I asked, sir. I asked what you know about him.”

Snape put the essay down on the desk and leaned back, clasping his hands over this stomach casually. 

“Sirius told you I was his godfather?”

Hydrus nodded and Snape sighed. 

“I didn't know Harry as well as I had hoped to. He was born in the middle of the war and his mother and I were assigned very different tasks. I had known Lily Potter since before Hogwarts. She was my best friend. We had a falling out in school but she still forgave me and asked me to be her son’s godfather. 

“I had never particularly gotten along with Harry’s father, James, but they both loved Harry with everything they had. If things had gone differently, I think we could have been more than schoolyard enemies.”

Severus kept his grief and anger carefully trapped behind his occlumency walls. He watched closely as Hydrus averted his gaze, thinking hard about something. 

“I heard Harry spent a few days in St. Mungo's after the attack. Did you visit him?”

Severus shook his head. 

“Even if I was in a position to visit, Dumbledore did not allow anyone to see the boy.”

Hydrus swallowed hard and Severus leaned forward slightly, sensing that he was about to get some questions answered. 

“What if I told you Harry was never admitted to St. Mungo's?” Hydrus said.  

“I would ask what proof you had,” Severus countered. 

Hydrus pulled out his wand. 

“I, Hydrus Lycoris Black, Heir to the House of Black, Lord of the House of Peverell and the House of Potter,” Severus just about jumped out of his chair, his carefully built mask shattered for the first time since he had become a spy. “Swear on my magic that my next three statements are the absolute truth.”

Hydrus raised his wand. 

“I am the son of James Potter and Lily Evans-Potter.”

A shower of sparks shot into the air. 

“For the first year of my life my name was Harrison James Potter.”

The end of his wand glowed brightly. 

“Severus Snape is my godfather. Expecto Patronum !”

To Severus’ surprise a silvery dementor swept around the room before hovering over Hydrus and dissolving. 

The room fell utterly still and deafeningly silent. Severus was gaping at his student who began to squirm slightly in his seat, not able to look at the potions master directly. 

“Your Harry Potter?” Severus choked out.  

“Yes.”

“Your Lily’s son?”

“Yes.”

“My godson?”

“Yes,” Hydrus replied in a much quieter voice. 

Severus fell back into his chair. 

“How?”

“It's a long story,” Hydrus warned. 

“I have the seventh years after lunch and you have a free period. We have time,” Severus countered. 

So Hydrus told his story. How Lily had done her best to protect him but Dumbledore was determined to make Harry the chosen one. How Sirius had arrived within seconds of the blast and smuggled him out only to be spotted by Peter Pettigrew. How he had grown up in Azkaban being told stories of his parents and all their friends.

“Dad said you were one of the bravest men he ever knew,” Hydrus concluded. “He claimed that you risked your life just to meet me.”

They had moved into Severus’ private potions lab off the main classroom, leaving the seventh years to work on personal projects. 

“Your father helped,” Severus admitted. “He snuck me into the hospital the day after you were born. If I had been caught by either side I would have been eliminated but it was worth it”

Something warm bloomed in Hydrus’ chest. It was one thing to be told his godfather cared for him and quite another to hear it from the man himself. A pair of long fingered hands fell onto Hydrus' shoulders, drawing his eyes back to his potions professor. 

“I'm very proud of you, Hydrus,” Severus said. “I know you haven't told me everything but what you did share shows me you are a very smart, very talented wizard.”

Hydrus smiled despite the guilt he felt for still keeping secrets. He assured himself that Severus would learn about Luna and the gods soon. 

“There is so much more I want to tell you,” Hydrus admitted. “Come to the Forbidden Forest on Samhain. In the clearing where Hagrid teaches Care of Magical Creatures sometimes. You'll learn the rest then.”

Hydrus but his lip nervously but Severus brushed his hair back, forcing him to look up. 

“I would come simply because you invited me,” he assured his godson. “Your secrets are yours to share when you're ready.”

Hydrus beamed and threw his arms around Severus’ waist. Severus hesitated a moment but returning the hug. 

“Thanks Uncle Sev,” Hydrus whispered before releasing his godfather and turning to grab his bag. “I’ve got to go. I have Divination.”

He rushed from the room with a quick wave, completely missing Severus' shocked expression. 

He made it to Divination just in time and sat at his regular table with the girls. They were on crystal balls now and Lavender was the only one able to actually see faint shapes in the fog. Hydrus could make out the clear image of his friends in the third year’s common room. They were all looking at him like they were waiting for him to speak. He was pretty sure he knew what that prediction was about. 

Dinner was uneventful and he and his yearmates were in their private common room well before curfew. Normally they would be working on homework but today they were distracted making plans.  

“The empty classroom from last year is out,” Blaise said. “We nearly got caught by Mrs. Norris so Filch will be guarding it this time.”

“What about somewhere in the dungeons?” Pansy asked. “They never patrol down here.”

“That won't work for the same reason we can't do it in the dorms,” Theo replied. “It's underground. We have to be able to at least see the sky.”

“What are you talking about?” Hydrus asked. 

“Samhain,” Draco answered. “Ever since Dumbledore took over students have been forced to celebrate Halloween instead. He hasn't officially banned Samhain but the castle basically goes on lockdown after the feast and it's impossible to get out to do rituals.”

Hydrus grinned. 

“I can get you out,” he announced. His friends immediately turned to listen. It was exactly what he had seen in the crystal ball. 

“How?” Daphne asked.

“There's a passage in the kitchens that leads to the greenhouses. The House Elves have a herb garden back there. The passageway will deposit you a few yards from the edge of the forest. Go to the clearing where we did the Hippogriff lesson.”

“Aren’t you coming with us?” Draco asked.

“I’ll be there,” Hydrus assured them. “Just bring what you need for your rituals. I’ll handle the rest.”

The group tried to get more out of him but Hydrus just smiled and didn't elaborate. In the end they gave up, happy to have the chance to do their rituals in peace. 

—---------------

Fred and George were wandering around the Black Lake, enjoying what was likely the last of the nice weather before winter was upon them. Up ahead they spotted Ginny and Neville by the shore. Ginny was skipping rocks while Neville searched for freshwater plants he could study along the water’s edge. 

“It's not that I don’t enjoy Halloween,” Neville was saying as he bent over to collect some slimy looking weeds. “But I would like to be able to do my family Samhain ritual without having to sneak into the greenhouses after curfew,” 

“What was that we just heard?” George shouted, making Neville jump.

“Is ickle Nev breaking the rules?” Fred asked. 

“I don’t want to be,” Neville replied, focused on securing and labeling his new sample in a jar. “But my ritual is very important to me.”

The Weasley’s glanced at each other. Their family didn’t observe Samhain but a few of them had personal rituals they kept secret. It would be nice to do them properly rather than huddling in the empty common room with a lit candle, hoping the moonlight coming through the windows was enough to carry their prayers past the veil. 

“Samhain night. The clearing near Hagrid’s hut.”

Neville, Fred, George and Ginny jumped and whirled around to find Luna in baby blue corduroy overalls, a yellow knitted jumper and a brown knitted hat. A green scarf was wrapped around her neck. 

“What was that Luna?” Ginny asked.

“Samhain night. In the clearing near Hagrid’s hut,” the blonde repeated. “That’s where I’ll be. You’re welcome to join.”

“In the Forbidden Forest? How will we get there?” Neville asked nervously. 

“The tricksters know how to move unseen,” Luna replied, her voice taking on a dreamy tone.

“Sure, within the castle…” Fred corrected. 

“... but it's impossible to get out on Halloween,” George reminded them. 

“This will help.”

Luna handed Neville a shimmery black and gray cloak. The brunette’s eyes widened and the twins were rendered speechless.

“Is that a bloody invisibility cloak!?” Ginny exclaimed. 

“Yes. It is very special to someone important to me,” Luna replied seriously. “I will need it back after Samhain.”

Neville nodded and tucked the cloak carefully into his bag. Luna smiled and adjust her own denim bag on her shoulder. 

“Wonderful. I'm off then. There's a new Centaur foal that I'm excited to meet.”

Luna skipped away, disappearing into the forest and leaving the four Gryffindors wondering what had just happened and what they’d just gotten themselves into. 

—--------------

After the Halloween feast, just on the cusp of curfew, two groups snuck out of their dorms. 

In Slytherin House, five third years exited one by one. Only some of their housemates were continuing the Halloween celebration in the common room. The rest had retreated to private corners or quiet rooms to do their Samhain rituals to the best of their ability. 

In the kitchens they were accosted by the House Elves and given thermoses of hot apple cider and a basket of pumpkin pasties. There were a few extra thermoses in the basket but the Slytherins didn't question it as they climbed the narrow stairs and emerged behind the greenhouses. They dashed into the trees, keeping under the cover of their remaining leaves as they made their way toward Hagrid's hut. 

Meanwhile, Neville, Ginny, Fred and George were under the invisibility cloak. They tried their best to keep all four of them covered as they waded through throngs of Gryffindors hopped up on sugar and determined to keep the party going well into the night. 

Once they made it into the corridor it was simple enough to travel through hidden passages and slip out near the Quidditch pitch. They hurried along the path, past Hagrid’s hut and into the shadows of the trees.

Both groups arrived at the same time. The five Slytherins and four Gryffindors shot each other curious glances. After two months of being pulled together by their mutual friendships with Hydrus they weren't as antagonistic but it was still awkward. They kept their distance and looked around the clearing curiously. 

There was a huge pile of branches and firewood in the middle with a ring of rocks circling it. Each had a rune drawn on with charcoal. Flocks of glowing fairies fluttered overhead like fireflies, weakly lighting up the area. There was something heavy in the air. It was like the feeling of encroaching lightning or the scent of the seasons changing. It made them buzz in anticipation as they waited for their host. 

“Ah, wonderful! It is refreshing to see students observing the old traditions.”

The students jumped and whirled around. Professor Flitwick entered the clearing wearing his normal layers of rich robes that always seemed too big on the half-goblin. He had allowed the front to fall open revealing an intricate breastplate of goblin steel etched in gold and silver and encrusted with precious stones. A battle ax hung from his hip. Behind him followed about a dozen more goblins also dressed in armor and carrying weapons. The group included Griphook, Garvavek, Ragnok, Elder Sharptooth and Kilius, Filius’ half brother.

“Greetings honored goblins. May your blades be sharp and your enemies cower before them,” Neville greeted with a bow. All the students looked at him in shock, the Weasley’s not aware of the traditional greetings and the Slytherins not expecting Neville to use them.  

“Greetings Heir Longbottom,” Ragnok responded. “May you be granted good fortune on this blessed Samhain night.”

“A blessed night indeed,” another voice spoke up. A trio of centaurs stepped into the clearing. The one at the front had a dappled gray lower body and the upper body of a tanned muscular man with silvery hair. There was also a female centaur with a chestnut body and hair and a male with white patches on his black coat. His upper body had a similar pattern. His skin was a rich coffee color with splashes of white across his torso and face. 

“Farenzi,” Flitwick greeted the gray centaur. “What do the stars have to say this evening?”

As the goblins and centaurs began discussing the positions of the constellations and the brightness of the planets the two groups of students realized they had unconsciously drifted closer together. 

“Longbottom, Weasleys,” Draco greeted stiffly, not used to interacting with them without Hydrus.

“Malfoy,” Ginny replied curtly. Theo rolled his eyes and smacked Draco upside the head. 

“What is this? First year?” Theo scolded. “Hydrus is sticking his neck out to give us a proper Samhain celebration. The least we can do is get along when he's not around.”

“Hydrus?” Ginny questioned, tilting her head at the Slytherins. “We were invited by Luna.”

“Hydrus and Luna organized this together,” a familiar voice called out. 

Professor Lupin and Professor Snape had arrived. They were followed by a pair of cloaked figures. Lupin seemed unconcerned by their presence but Snape was glancing at them warily, making the students become increasingly unsettled. As the moon climbed higher the feeling of unrestrained wild magic in the air grew heavier. It sang in their veins, causing their own magic to become restless. It was wreaking havoc on their nerves.

“Who are they, Professor?” Pansy asked, gesturing to the mystery guests.

“I would like to know myself Lupin,” Snape drawled, crossing his arms and glaring at the DADA professor. 

The taller of the two figures chuckled and removed their hood revealing a pale face framed by wild dark hair that fell almost to his shoulders. Lines of tattooed runes crawled up either side of his neck from under his robes. His face was thin with a sharp jaw and high cheekbones. His silver eyes sparkled mischievously and the scruff covering his chin and cheeks gave him a roguish look when he smiled at them.

“I’m Sirius Black. Hydrus is my son,” he said, waving to the students cheekily like the entire wizarding world hadn’t thought he was a traitor and mass murderer just a few months ago. 

By the time Sirius had introduced himself the second figure had removed their hood. There was no doubt the two were related. This man had the same bone structure but he looked cleaner and healthier with smooth pale skin, no scruff and no tattoos. He also had the same dark hair but it was shorter and styled carefully. While Sirius seemed playful and a little unhinged this man was elegant and refined.

“Reggy?” Snape gasped.

“Hey Sev,” the man replied with a soft smile.

“I thought you were dead!” the potions professor exclaimed. No one had ever heard Snape sound so emotional.

“I thought I was too. I didn’t expect to survive my mission but people rarely account for House Elves when they put up security wards.”

Snape looked like he wanted to ask more questions but couldn’t figure out what to say first. Blaise beat him to it.

“And you are?”

“Apologies. I am Regulus Black, Sirius’ brother. Cassandra Black is my daughter.”

“Hydrus has a little cousin?” Theo asked. He wondered why Hydrus hadn’t mentioned them before.

“No, Cassandra is in her third year.”

“But there are no Blacks at Hogwarts other than Hydrus,” Daphne pointed out.

“Are you sure about that?” Regulus replied, grinning at the students.

“Pretty sure,” Pansy insisted. She was a proud gossip and there was no way someone from the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black had been at Hogwarts for three years without them knowing. A soft gasp drew their attention to the Weasley twins. 

“Gred, you don’t think…?” George asked

“I do think Forge.” Fred replied. They both looked like they had discovered something groundbreaking. 

“What do you devils know?’ Ginny demanded.

“Far be it from us…”

“...to ruin the fun.”

“You will just have to wait…”

“...for the big reveal.”

“You will not have to wait for long,” the painted centaur said, moving closer to the unlit pyre with the rest of his companions and the goblins. There were more centaurs visible just inside the tree line but very few of them were willing to keep the company of wizards. 

“The moon rises,” the female centaur agreed.

Everyone looked up in time to see the waning moon crest the tops of the trees, bathing the clearing in soft silver. The fairies became excited, their lights flaring as they swirled around in mesmerizing patterns. Wild magic sang around them as the pyre suddenly blazed to life, flames towering high above before settling down into a crackling bonfire. The trees began to sway but there was no wind and the shadows and flickering firelight seemed to dance across the clearing. 

Then everything went still. 

Everything went silent.

It was as if the entire world held its breath.  

Out of the woods to the left stepped a thestral. It was the first time many of the students had laid their eyes on one but even they could tell this creature was unique. It was black as obsidian and its white eyes held swirls of milky silver. There were two twisted antlers on its head and its wings were massive and smooth as the richest leather. 

Meanwhile, approaching the fire on the right, was a truly breathtaking sight. It was a unicorn unlike any other. Unicorns were born with golden coats that turned silver as they aged and became white when fully matured. This unicorn had a coat so white it seemed to glow, a mane and tail that looked like finely spun silver and its hooves and horn were made of pure gold. 

The two creatures meet in front of the pyre, watching each other closely as if waiting for something or having a silent conversation. After a moment they bowed low. There was a flash of blinding light from the unicorn and a flare of darkness like the void between the stars from the thestral. When the gathered crowd managed to blink the spots from their vision they could only stare in awe. 

Luna stood where the unicorn had been while Hydrus had replaced the thestral. Hydrus bowed again, extending his hand to Luna. He said something to her in a sharp, rumbling language. Luna accepted his hand, replying to him in a lilting, melodic tongue. They began to dance and chant in their different languages. It sounded like drums from the deep and chimes in the air tangling together and telling tales of when the Earth was young and wild magic was free and plentiful. Curtains of white and gold light draped over Luna, cascading down her back like her hair had become liquid sunbeams. It reminded the watchers of a long wedding train or vast gauzy wings. Shadowy tendrils appeared around Hydrus. They curled and swayed in an invisible wind not unlike a dementor’s cloak would. When they touched the ground they dissolved into black fog.

As if drawn in by the fire and the music and the beckoning of old magic, more magical beings arrived.

On Luna’s side came the centaurs and the hippogriffs and more unicorns of all ages. Fairies filled the sky and the tree branches were heavy with bowtruckles, owls and a pair of augury. Several house elves were also present as well as a few kneazles and a mooncalf that was performing its own dance in the moonlight. The most surprising was Fawkes who swooped in with a soft cry and alighted on the back of the largest unicorn. 

On Hydrus’ side came all manner of beasts thought to be dark and dangerous. A herd of thestral arrived first followed by several acromantula and a few red caps. The dripping skeletal form of a kelpie appeared from the direction of the Black Lake. A flock of Jabberknoll gathered in the trees and Eurus floated above amongst the doxy. Two massive black dogs appeared out of thin air and sat closest to the fire wagging their tails. The goblins were drawn into the ritual and even Remus joined, following the call of his wolf. A pack of moonwolves greeted him like an old friend. 

The final addition left everyone shocked. A low hissing preceded a fifty foot, green-scaled basilisk that coiled up at the edge of the clearing, its head raised to watch Luna and Hydrus. 

The pair stopped dancing. The shadows and light beams faded away leaving them in only their simple white and black robes. They bowed to each other a final time and a cacophony of cries filled the air. Hoots and howls. Stomping hooves and tinkling laughs. War cries and rattling weapons. 

“Lady Fate has blessed this Samhain night,” Luna announced. “We welcome you, children of Mother Magic.”

“Lord Death has opened his realm to us,” Hydrus continued. “Go forth and commune with the Earth and the honored dead how you deem fit. Blessed be.”

As the creatures scattered, most disappearing back into the woods but some staying in the light of the bonfire, Hydrus and Luna approached their friends and teachers hand in hand. 

“We knew there was…” Fred started.

“...something different about you,” George finished.  

“That was beautiful,” Daphne whispered. She wasn't embarrassed to admit that she was crying. She wasn't the only one either. Ginny and Pansy had tears on their cheeks and even a couple of the boys had misty eyes. 

“We promise, we will explain everything,” Hydrus assured them. “But right now we should all be focusing on our own Samhain rituals.”

“The old gods are pleased,” Luna said dreamily. “More than the dead walk amongst us tonight.”

A couple people looked like they wanted to demand answers now, particularly Ginny and Draco, but the adults spoke up. 

“They’re right,” Severus said. “I will take the Slytherins to complete their family rituals. Sirius, Regulus, I trust you can assist the Gryffindors?”

“Don't sweat it,” Sirius replied. “We’ll get them sorted.”

Severus rolled his eyes and led his students to a quiet corner of the clearing. 

“May I be excused?” Neville asked sheepishly. The Longbottoms still practiced the old traditions so he knew what to do. 

“Come Neville,” Luna said, releasing Hydrus for the first time since they started their dance to grab the Gryffindor’s hand. “I have the perfect spot for you.”

Chapter Text

Draco knelt in the damp grass and lit his candle. The pale blue wax was carved with runes and infused with herbs. He had carried it in his trunk, wrapped in a silken cloth, for this very moment.

Every Samhain Draco always felt a little guilty. His grandparents on both sides had passed but he had no intention of honoring them. 

Abarax Malfoy had been one of the first followers of the Dark Lord. His bigotry and willingness to bow down for the promise of power had ruined the once proud family. His wife had never taken the mark but she had been no less cruel. On the Black side his maternal grandparents had resented their daughters for not being sons. They chased away Aunt Andromeda and encouraged Aunt Bellatrix on her path to madness but in Draco’s eyes their most unforgivable cruelty was trapping his mother in a loveless marriage with Lucius Malfoy. 

None of his grandparents deserved his attention, but that didn't mean Draco had no one to light his candle for. He lay a bundle of five white rosebuds wrapped in red thread on the ground. One for every sibling he never got a chance to meet. 

His mother always said Draco was a miracle despite how difficult his birth had been. The Healers told her she would never carry another baby to term and she was okay with that. She had a child and Lucius had his heir so Narcissa thought all would be well. Then Lucius insisted on having a backup Heir and demanded they try again. After four years and five miscarriages he finally gave up. Lucius never touched his wife again and no matter how much Draco was spoiled by his father he would never forgive him for hurting his mother.

Draco took a deep breath and let his magic wash over him, settling on his skin like a warm blanket. He thought of his mother’s garden and imagined chasing five tiny toddlers he could never quite catch through the hedges and flowerbeds. He wished with all his heart that it was a real memory and prayed that his siblings had someone to love them wherever they were. The flame of the candle flickered and Draco could have sworn he heard children's laughter on the wind. 

“It is not too late,” a soft voice said. 

Draco looked up to see a woman seated on a low wooden stool. She wore a simple navy blue dress and a cream colored cloak with the hood pulled up. She was poking at the coals of a small fire at her feet. Its light illuminated a slightly wrinkled but  beautiful face framed by honey colored curls. Something about the woman was comforting. His magic sang for her but his instincts warned him that she was powerful and ancient. 

“I am glad to get the chance to speak to you, young dragon. Your mother's plight is not unknown to me,” she said, giving him a kind smile. 

“You honor us with your attention, Great Lady,” Draco replied. “What shall I call you?” 

The woman laughed and Draco was reminded of his mother in quiet moments when it was just the two of them. 

“I have many names, some lost to time, but your family prefers Latin names so you may call me Juno.”

Draco tried not to let his shock show. He was in the presence of the goddess of women and childbirth. His mother still made offerings to her on what would have been his sibling’s birthdays. 

“I am sorry that I could not ease your mother’s suffering,” Juno lamented. “But the gods can not interfere in the affairs of mortals. Especially a relatively minor god like myself.”

“What do you mean?” Draco asked. Juno frowned but the blonde somehow knew she wasn't upset with him. 

“Tell me, young dragon, what do you know of the blood feud between the Malfoys and the Weasleys?”

“Nothing much,” Draco admitted. “No one remembers who started it or why. I only know that we do not tolerate each other on principle.”

Juno hummed and poked at the fire again, sending up a flurry of sparks. 

“Many, many decades ago a Weasley daughter and a Malfoy heir were forced to marry but they each loved another,” Juno explained. “The Lord expressed his displeasure by being cold toward his wife while the Lady committed infidelity and had an illegitimate child. Her indiscretion was not discovered until the boy was nine and found ineligible to take the Heirship. In retaliation the Malfoys cursed the Weasleys with poverty and the Weasleys responded with the Single Heir Curse.”

Draco gaped at the goddess. His mother's suffering was caused by a decades old curse? The Weasleys were poor because his ancestors made them that way? Draco suddenly felt bad for all the times he had poked fun at their second hand clothes and belongings. 

“There is a way to break the curses.” Juno continued. Draco’s eyes snapped to her, eager to know how to finally end the blood feud. Juno looked amused. “I will not tell you the exact remedy but know that you are on the right path.”

“Can't you just tell me?” Draco whined. Juno laughed and Draco blushed when he remembered who he was talking to. 

“Magic is about intention,” she lectured kindly. “The most powerful spells come from true acts of goodwill or malice. If I told you the solution you would never succeed.”

Draco sighed and nodded. The goddess would know best and he was at least glad he was on the right track despite not actually knowing his destination. 

“You are a fine young man and a good son,” Juno assured him. “I have faith that the curse will be broken by the time you graduate. Blessings to you Draco Malfoy. Until we meet again.”

Juno’s fire flared until Draco was forced to close his eyes. By the time he opened them again she was gone. 

—-------------

The Weasley family didn't have a Samhain ritual but when Fred and George were seven Bill and Charlie snuck them out of the house on Halloween night. 

The twins had expected some mischief but were surprised when their elder brothers led them to a clearing near where they liked to play Quidditch and pulled out two candles. Bill’s was made of smooth black wax with veins of gold. A token etched with a rune they didn't know was tied around it with twine. Charlie's candle was lumpy and obviously handmade. Small stones resembling scales were pressed into the wax alongside more mysterious runes. 

They explained that Samhain was when the veil between the living world and the afterlife was thin. It was a time to honor the dead with offerings and prayers. 

Bill and Charlie each had people to light their candles for but Fred and George had not lost friends like Bill had and were too young to remember their grandparents. They did remember their uncles though. They had been fun loving pranksters. Quick to laugh and determined to corrupt their sister’s twins with their own unique brand of chaos. After they died Fred and George had taken it upon themselves to carry on their spirit. 

Bill and Charlie gave them each a simple white candle and told them just to talk like their uncles were still listening. 

That night soothed something in the twins. Their mother had already started to see them as lazy troublemakers and tried to correct their behavior by comparing them to their siblings. The mere idea that Uncle Fabian and Uncle Gideon were watching over them, likely cheering them on, did wonders for their confidence.

Now, Fred and George sat in the forbidden forest with a small candle carved with their uncle’s initials burning in front of them. On either side sat a firework. Each was created by one of the twins and presented to the other for Samhain. Fred had no idea what his brother’s firework did and the same could be said for George.

“Hey Uncle Fabian, Uncle Gideon…” Fred started.

“...It’s us again, your favorite nephews,” George continued.

“Ginny is here too...”

“...off being a girl.”

Ginny was a few yards away watching the unicorns with stars in her eyes. Her Samhain ritual was quick and simple. She didn’t have anyone to talk to beyond the veil so when Fred and George had done for her what Bill and Charlie did for them she developed her own tradition. She lit a simple white candle nestled in a wreath woven from carefully selected plants. Olive branches for peace, mistletoe to forbid violence, echinacea, yarrow and lavender to encourage good health and ivy for everlasting life. Ginny had not lost anyone, and she did what she could to keep it that way.

“She doesn’t feel like she can’t talk to you because she never met you…”

“...But you would have loved her. She’s a firecracker.”

“We miss you…”

“...We hope you're getting a kick out of our pranks wherever you are.”

“Grá duit, uncles.”

They each reached for a firework, ready to complete their ritual, when a pair of long hairy arms snatched them away. A black monkey with white on its cheeks like mutton chops grinned at them before scrambling to climb a nearby tree. The monkey hung from a branch to hand the fireworks to a tall man reclining against the trunk. He had long white hair and a white beard that could have been tucked into his belt. He wore a richly patterned dressing gown that fell all the way to his feet which were clad in Indian-style silk slippers. His face was wrinkled but his deep laugh lines and sparkling eyes made him seem more youthful than he was. 

“Thank you, son,” the man said, taking the fireworks from the monkey before turning to the twins. “Hello Fred. Hello George. I am Father Time. This is— well, right now he is Sun Wukong but you can call him Trickster.”

Trickster released the tree branch and landed on Father Time’s shoulder in the form of a small red fox. The twins could only stare at the strange pair until George found his voice.

“Nice to meet you both,” he said, unsure how to properly address an ancient god and shapeshifting trickster. 

“Is Trickster really your son?” Fred added, always the more straightforward of the two.

“Trickster is what you would call a minor god,” Father Time explained. “He’s much younger than me but has been a delightful distraction from the monotony of eternity so you could say that I adopted him.”

Trickster turned into a crow and pecked the god sharply. 

“Alright, alright, I’ll get on with it,” Father Time assured the bird who cawed at him. “Trickster is a big fan of yours but he’s not allowed to do blessings anymore. He caused us quite a bit of trouble in Norway several dozen centuries ago and has been restricted to animal forms ever since. He asked me to give you a gift in his place.”

“Us?” the twins cried as one.

“You,” Father Time confirmed.

“Why would you..”

“...want to bless us?”

“Because Trickster asked and I have already blessed your family once before,” the god explained. “There’s a reason Weasleys historically have such large families. Seven is a powerful number in magic so when the seventh son of a seventh son was born to the Wheatlys in Ireland Mother Magic and I granted them the ability to see up to seven days into the future. The Wheatlys tried to recreate the phenomenon for a few generations but by the time they immigrated to Britain and changed their name to Weasley the family had forgotten why they felt the need to have so many children.”

“So if Ginny was a boy…” 

“...she would have had the gift?” they asked.

“You betcha,” Trickster squawked.

The twins blanched. Their chaotic, hex happy, ‘ look at me or my loved ones wrong and your insides become your outsides ’ little sister should not be given more power. 

“We are the fourth…”

“...and fifth sons,” they pointed out.

“We would not qualify…”

“...for the blessing.”

“If I was offering you foresight you would be correct but this is a new blessing from myself and Trickster. There is already a member in your ragtag group that can see the future so giving it to you would be useless. We think you would find time travel much more rewarding but only up to seven minutes at a time. Any more and you could do some serious damage.”

The twins gaped at the God of Time. The ability to go back even a few seconds was strictly regulated by the Ministry and required complex artifacts like Time Turners to achieve. Yet here they were, being offered the ability to time travel at will. Each felt the other's excitement but also a sense of duty. As wicked as it would be to use their blessing for pranks they silently agreed to use it sparingly. For special occasions only. 

“In addition to the gift I also come bearing some important information,” Father Time continued, knocking the twins from their thoughts. “Are you aware that you are both currently Heirs Prewett?” 

“Charlie is Heir Prewett,” Fred argued.

“That he was. Until you were born,” the god revealed. “While the Weaslys have historically had large families, the Prewetts are known for producing twins in almost every generation. A good number of them magical twins. It’s written in the family charter that if magical twins are born the heirship automatically passes to them regardless of age or gender.”  

Fred and George glanced at each other. They hadn’t known what magical twins were until they went to Hogwarts. They had known being able to sense each other's thoughts wasn’t normal, nor was seeing flashes of what the other was looking at, but they hadn’t known why they could do it. When they discovered how unique and coveted magical twins were they kept it a secret. They had long ago stopped wishing for their parents’ acceptance. 

Father Time's reveal about the family charter caused confusion to pulse through their link along with a hint of suspicion. They had always wondered why Charlie never claimed the Prewett heirship. Their mother said he hadn’t wanted the responsibility during school but they distinctly remembered their parents and Charlie going to Gringotts the day after Charlie’s ninth birthday. When asked how their trip went none of them had mentioned Gringotts. Had Charlie been ineligible for the heirship because of them? Why hadn’t they said anything? 

“If you want answers, ask Cassandra,” Father Time suggested. “She inherited my sister’s sight and knows more than she should.”

“Who’s your sister?” George asked. 

Father Time grinned. 

“Fate is a fickle friend and Time makes fools of us all. Happy Samhain boys.”

Neither twin had noticed Trickster return to his monkey form, nor did they see him light the fireworks. They whizzed into the air and exploded with a loud bang. One became a storm of pearlescent bubbles that burst with flashes of colorful light. The other released neon streamers that trailed chalky smoke behind them. 

Fred and George were too busy admiring their twins' creativity to notice Father Time slip into the forest and disappear with a sleek furred Coyote at his heel. 

—--------------

The spot Luna had picked for Neville’s Samhain ritual was under a wizened old elder tree. The late fall chill had stripped most of its leaves revealing knobby, crooked branches. It was the kind of tree that superstitious Muggles would consider haunted by the ghost of a wicked witch that had been hung there but to Neville, knelt on the ground between its roots, the tree was a beacon of magic. He could feel it pulsing through the ground, warm under the chilled dirt. His candles lit easily and burned brightly under its influence. 

There were two candles. One was made of beeswax and smelled of honey. While Neville was a herbalist and gardener his grandfather had been an apiarist. He was rarely seen in the garden without his wide brimmed hat draped in gauzy fabric but he never had a need to protect himself from his bees. He loved them and they loved him. When he died Neville's grandmother hired someone to tend his hives. They sold the honey and beeswax and donated the money to the Janus Thickey ward at St. Mungos. 

The second candle was actually two twisted together. They smelled of cedar for his dad and mint for his mum. He had harvested it himself from the old garden at Longbottom Lodge. The runes for hope and healing were carved into the wax and Neville scattered sprigs of lavender and chamomile petals around them. 

He had been a year old when his parents were tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange, her husband Rodolphus, his brother Rabastan and a fellow Death Eater named Barty Crouch Jr. No one knew how they got in. They had somehow broken through layers of wards and entered the manor undetected. It was shere luck that one of the house elves had been wandering the property, saw what was happening and fetched his dad’s auror friends. Crouch had gotten away but was found a month later and sent to Azkaban. Neville heard the man died. He wondered if Hydrus had known him.

“Hi grandpa,” Neville said, placing a bit of clover by the beeswax candle. “I hope you're happy wherever you are. I bet it's somewhere with lots of flowers for your bees.” 

He felt a lump in his throat and swallowed it down, closing his eyes to better sense his magic coiling around his limbs.

“Mum and Dad are still the same. I think mum recognizes me sometimes though. I'm the only one she gives candy wrapper origami to. If they— if they show up with you one day can you tell them I love them and I'm so proud to be their son.” 

His vision blurred as his tears started to fall. Neville reached up to wipe them and was surprised to find something stuck to his cheek. When he pulled his fingers away there was a small white petal on his fingertip. He looked up and gasped at the sight. 

The elder tree had bloomed. Its leaves were crisp and green and clusters of small white flowers rained petals down like snow. A woman sat on one of the roots. She had odd brown and gray hair but closer inspection revealed that it was actually feathers. Her eyes were yellow and slitted like a cat and her sun kissed skin was smudged with dirt. She was barefoot but her dress was made of moss and foliage with a belt of flowering vine. The cloak around her shoulders looked like someone had weaved dewy spider web into fabric. 

“Hello Neville. It's a pleasure to meet you in person,” she said, her voice like a breeze through long grass. 

“The pleasure is mine,” Neville replied politely. 

“The plants speak very highly of you. I'm glad to see my original blessing has once again found a worthy wielder.”

“Your blessing?”

She smiled softly.

“Yes child. I am Mother Nature. Your family has long been blessed by me but no one has taken to Earth magic as strongly as you in generations.”

Neville blinked at the nature goddess. He had never heard even a rumor that the Longbottoms were blessed. Surely his grandmother would have told him?

“I'm sorry, my Lady, I was not aware you had bestowed that honor on my family.”

“So polite, how sweet” Mother Nature giggled. The leaves of the tree rustled as if it was also amused. “As I said, it has been some time since the blessing has surfaced. Shall I give you a history lesson?”

Neville nodded and shifted so he was sitting cross-legged on the forest floor, looking up at the goddess curiously. 

“Your family name has changed much over the centuries but the name of the man I blessed was Hode. Robyn Hode.”

The name sounded familiar to Neville. Something Muggle he was pretty sure. 

“Robyn was a druid, a protector of the forest who honored my creation and used my gifts well. He was also a champion of the people. He stole from anyone who mistreated the simple folk who lived off the land and gave it away freely. His rebellion got him labeled a criminal and it was only by marrying his beloved Marian Fitzooth and taking her name that he was able to escape execution. 

“Even after abandoning the forest for Fitzooth Manor Robyn and his children and his grandchildren never forgot me. They paid tribute and protected the land and the people who honored it. 

“House Fitzooth started gaining recognition and they were eventually named the King’s Rangers of the Forest at Loxley. That forest, under the protection of Lord Loxley, became a sanctuary for druids, pagans and other magical folk that were being persecuted by the Muggle church.”

Neville felt like an eager child being told a fairy tale before bed. He was leaning forward with wide eyes as he listened to the goddess speak. He had no idea his family had such a rich history.

“Unfortunately, it didn't last and they were soon discovered and driven out by their superstitious neighbors. They settled in a new forest and established a town known as Huntington. The Loxleys changed their name to Longbotm in honor of the protected valley they now called home and Robert Longbotm became Earl of Huntington. He and his sons built the magnificent manor your family still lives in today. Soon they were invited to join the Sacred 28 and changed the Old English spelling to Longbottom.

“Over the years my blessing has mostly appeared as talents related to flora or fauna but Robyn could speak to the forest itself. That was my original blessing and that is what has finally resurfaced in you.”

Neville was speechless. He was self aware enough to admit he was a herbology prodigy but he never suspected that his ability to instinctively know what each plant needed was a blessing. Thinking back he suddenly realized that while he was nurturing the plants, the plants were reaching out to him as well. All those times he had been looking for a particular flower and found it easily, the way the Venomous Tentacula seemed to embrace him rather than strangle him or how simple it was for him to soothe a crying Mandrake. It was all Mother Nature's blessing. 

“How does it work? Is it a language like Hydrus’ Parseltongue or Morstongue?” he asked. 

“No, not a language,” the goddess replied. “It's an understanding that you will honor and care for them and they, in turn, will answer your call.”

“Will they be angry with me if I harvest them?” Neville asked worriedly. He picked a lot of plants for potions and such. Would they resent that?

“No child. My children do not fear Death as you wixen do,” Mother Nature soothed. “They live and when they die, they return to me. The thanks you give when you harvest them for food or medicine or the simple joy of their color or fragrance is powerful magic.”

Medicine . Powerful magic . Neville's mind raced. Could he use this gift to heal? Could he grow more potent potions ingredients? Or even something new?

“You're thinking about how this could help your parents,” the goddess suddenly said as if reading Neville's thoughts. 

Neville lowered his head and fiddled with a loose thread on his trousers. He felt ashamed. It was selfish to want to use Mother Nature's blessing for his own gain. His ancestor had been granted the ability because he honored the forest, not because he exploited its gifts. 

“Raise your head child,” the goddess commanded. Neville did as she asked. He expected to see disappointment, but she just looked sad and painfully fond. “I gave Robyn the blessing not just because he honored me and my children but because he was kind to his fellow man. It is not shameful to want to help.”

Neville sniffled and nodded, his eyes drifting to the clusters of elder flowers rather than continuing to look at the goddess’ knowing expression.

“There is a way.”

His gaze snapped back to her. 

“It is a rare plant found in fairy circles that can only be harvested on Midsummer's Eve. It is extremely perilous and difficult to collect,” she explained. Neville’s shoulders slumped at her warning. “But, I will give you two seeds.”

“You will?” Neville gasped, scrambling to his knees in his excitement.

“Yes child, but do not celebrate yet. The plant can reverse the effects of malicious curses but it needs to be grown in a particular way and if the conditions are not met it is useless.”

“What are the conditions?”

“Remorse. It needs to be grown by the person who did the cursing and they have to sincerely want to right the damage they caused.”

Neville’s stomach sank and it felt like his heart had stopped beating. That meant—

“The Lestranges have to grow it?” he whispered, barely believing his own words. The goddess’ silence was answer enough. 

Once upon a time Neville had felt overwhelming anger when thinking of his parent’s torturers but over the years it had been tempered by pity and curiosity. What horrible things had happened in their lives to push them into You-Know-Who’s arms? How could someone justify causing another so much pain that their minds broke? He didn't have the answers and he didn't know if he wanted them.

“How long does it take to grow?” he asked. 

“One year and the flower has to be eaten within three days of blooming.”

“How long do the seeds keep?” 

He wasn't sure if he was strong enough to face the Lestranges yet but it wouldn't hurt to have the seeds ready. 

“Under a stasis spell they will never spoil.”

Neville nodded and bowed deeply to the goddess. In his knelt position it was as if he was prostrating himself before a Queen. He felt it was fitting.

“Thank you. I accept your generous gift and vow to use your blessing well,” he declared. 

“Silly boy, you already have,” Mother Nature laughed. “Farewell, Neville Longbotm. I will see you again on Midsummer's Eve. In the meantime, do me a favor and stick by my niece and nephew. They will need loyal friends.”

“Your niece and nephew?” Neville questioned. The goddess smirked. 

“As I said, my children do not fear Death. He is my brother after all.”

There was a sudden flurry of leaves and white petals that fully obscured the elder tree. When it stopped Mother Nature was gone and the tree was as bare and twisted as it was before. 

—------------------

Luna and Hydrus looked around the clearing. The Centaurs had returned back to the forest for their own ceremony and the Goblins were gathered nearby. They had already taken a knee for fallen comrades, thumping their weapons on the ground like war drums and calling to those lost in battle. 

Remus was playing with the Moonwolves, Alphie and Anubis by the fire and Stheno was coiled at the edge of the clearing, content to just watch over everyone. Eurus had drifted off to play amongst the fairies who were fascinated with her long cloak. Their friends were off doing their rituals. Hydrus and Luna could already see a few gods paying visits. 

“It's a good thing you did for them,” Regulus said, stepping up beside the pair. He couldn't see the gods but watching so many young Wix observing Samhain made him happy. Sirius hummed in agreement, clapping his son on the shoulder proudly. 

“I must agree. You did well,” a soft voice said. 

The group spun around to find two figures standing a few paces behind them.

“Mother! Father!” the twins cried happily as they rushed toward the pair. Regulus and Sirius should only stand there, wide eyed and speechless. 

The woman was in a full length velvety dress with long trumpet sleeves that brushed the ground. It was impossible to tell what color it was. Every time she moved it shimmered and flashed like oil on water. Her long golden hair fell to her feet and her porcelain skin was flecked with copper but her most striking feature was her eyes. They were large and completely black with points of brilliant white dotted about. Around where her pupil would be swirled cerulean and azure galaxies.

The man was dressed in a sharp suit. It was completely black from the pants, to the waistcoat, to the tie over his silky dress shirt. The jacket fell to the back of his knees and had silver skull buttons to match the skull tie pin and silver rings he was wearing. He leaned on a cane with a silver handle shaped like a scythe. His hair was pitch black and fell in waves to his shoulders and his skin was bone white. His eyes looked the same but in reality his pupil and iris were a pale quicksilver that swirled like fog. He smiled at his children’s excitement and the slight shift caused his jaw and cheeks to flicker into a skull for a fleeting moment. 

“Hello my dears,” Fate greeted, placing a gentle hand on each child’s face. She softly stroked her thumb over the apple of their cheeks, smiling fondly at them.

“Hello Mother,” Luna replied. “Did we do it right?”

“You did it perfectly sweetheart. Both of you were wonderful.”

The children beamed and Death chuckled, the sound rumbled like a landslide. 

“The window into the living world has never been so clear,” he assured them. “Even if they can't see it, every one of your friends has successfully called their loved ones. Heir Nott’s mother...”

He nodded toward the brunette Slytherin and the ghostly figure of a petite woman with long curls appeared knelt beside him. She was brushing her misty fingers through his hair even though he couldn't feel it. 

“Heir Zabini’s father.”

A broad shouldered Italian man was sitting across from Blaise, mirroring his cross-legged position. His eyes sparkled with delight and he laughed silently but merrily at whatever his son was saying. 

“The former Lord Prewett.”

Ginny had finished her ritual and was watching the remaining unicorns unaware of the elderly wizard with wind swept hair wearing casual robes stood beside her. He had a wrinkled hand resting on her shoulder as he watched his granddaughter’s awed expression with a fond smile. 

Luna squealed and bounced excitedly while clutching Hydrus’ arm. They were very happy they were able to give their friends such a magical Samhain. 

“Now,” Lady Fate said sharply but kindly. “I believe you have some people to introduce.”

The twins turned toward their dads. Sirius and Regulus were still frozen in shock but they were aware enough to notice their children’s gaze. Sirius patted Regulus firmly on the back as he stepped forward, dragging his younger brother with him. 

“Greetings Lady Fate, Lord Death,” Sirius said, bowing lowly. Regulus followed his lead. 

“Please, there is no need for that,” Fate admonished gently. “You have done well. There could be no better fathers for our twins than the last of the Blacks.”

“We are honored to raise them,” Regulus assured her. “I could never love anyone like I love my Starlight.”

“Nor I my Pup,” Sirius added. 

“You have our gratitude gentlemen,” Death said. “It is time you were rewarded.”

Both men opened their mouths to protest but Death held his hand out for silence. For a single second his pale fingers became thin bones. 

“This is not just for you. Please collect the werewolf and the potions master.”

Sirius and Regulus nodded and went off to complete the task. Remus’ steps faltered for a moment when he saw the gods but he recovered quickly, recalling Sirius' tale. Severus on the other hand completely froze. He went deathly pale, his mouth opening and closing like a fish and his wide eyes darting between everyone gathered there. 

“Hydrus,” Death started, a note of amusement in his voice. “Did you not prepare your godfather for this?” 

Hydrus grimaced and looked sheepishly up at his Father. 

“I wanted Regulus to tell him he was alive himself but if I mentioned Luna or you and Mother I would have to explain Regulus so I just left that part out then we ran out of time and— and—” 

Death laughed and ruffled his son’s hair. 

“Okay, okay, we shall explain now then,” the God of Death said before turning his attention to Severus. “Professor Snape, I am Lord Death and this is my beloved, Lady Fate. Hydrus and Cassandra, who you know as Luna Lovegood, are our children.”

“But you swore on your magic that you’re Lily’s son,” Severus stated, eyes falling on Hydrus. 

“And that is true,” Lady Fate assured him. “By blood Hydrus is the son of Lily and James Potter and Cassandra is the daughter of Pandora and Xenophilius Lovegood but their magic, their souls, were created by us.”

“I'm still your godson Uncle Sev,” Hydrus said. “I just have a few more parents than a normal kid.”

Severus gave him a dry look, not at all appreciating his humor at the moment. 

“Very well,” he sighed. “But we are having a longer discussion about this later.”

His statement was directed toward Regulus. It was safe to say he still had questions about how the younger Black was alive. 

“Further discussion would be wise,” Death agreed. “There is still much for you and Mr. Lupin to learn if you are to assist our children in their mission, but tonight we have a different task.”

He gestured for Luna and Hydrus to come to him, leaning his cane against his hip so he could place a hand on each of their shoulders. 

“You both had done magnificently with your training but now that you are together and have accepted your Lord and Ladyships your magic has become more powerful. 

“Cassandra, your true test will be on Ostara. I have every confidence you are ready for the cleansing ritual.”

Luna nodded her head seriously as her eyes sparkled with happiness at her Father’s parise. Death smiled at her before turning to Hydrus. 

“Hydrus, your test is tonight. You already know how to open the veil to summon your familiars but the Grim are bound to you, they will always come when you call. Tonight you will learn how to summon unbound souls.”

While Hydrus and Death fell into a hushed conversation where the god did most of the talking and Hydrus nodded along, Luna returned to her Mother’s side. A few minutes later Death joined them while Hydrus stood facing the empty woods. He rolled his shoulders and shook out his arms before he started to chant. It was the same language from the opening ritual, deep and ancient with a punchy, rumbling beat like an earthquake or war drums. The dark fog returned, cloaking Hydrus as he raised one hand and sliced downward. A slash appeared in mid air, like a crack in a mirror. Hydrus kept chanting and the rend in reality started to widen revealing what looked like a sheer silvery curtain fluttering in slow motion. 

“Can you understand what he's saying?” Sirius asked Luna. The adults had joined them to watch Hydrus work. 

“He's speaking an ancient version of Morstongue,” Luna replied. “I do not know it but I can sense his intention. They will be here soon.”

A faint shadow appeared behind the Veil, getting larger and darker the closer it got. Hydrus' chanting reached a crescendo, rattling the air and shaking the ground before it faded away like the echo of an eruption. 

Someone stepped out of the rift, their feet crunching the dried leaves blanketing the clearing. Then another person appeared. Then a third, and a fourth. 

A redhead and a sunshine-blonde clutched each other’s hands as they smiled at the children. 

“Harry.”

“Luna.”

“Mom!”

Hydrus and Luna rush forward, throwing their arms around Lily and Pandora. The women laughed and desperately clung to their children, happy tears running down their cheeks. 

The remaining two figures stepped forward to join. Xenophilius put an arm around his wife and gently brushed Luna’s hair away so he could see daughter’s face. He was smiling so brightly he seemed to glow. James wrapped his arms around his wife and son as if determined to squeeze them into one being. The group swayed gently under his influence like they were dancing. 

Eventually Luna and Hydrus released their parents and stepped back to stand side by side. 

“We're so proud of you,” Pandora said as she wiped her tears away. 

“Of both of you,” Lily added. “You've both grown up beautifully.”

“We’ve been keeping up with your lives. You've already accomplished such wonderful things,” Xeno stated. “Our Luna, adopted by the Fae. That's extraordinary!”

“And Harry, the first wix to learn Dementor magics,” James gushed. “I'm so jealous of that unassisted flight. You would have made a bloody impressive Quidditch player.”

“Dad! That wouldn't have been fair,” Hydrus pointed out but he was blushing at James’ praise. 

“I know, I know. You're very honorable but at least play a few pickup games over the summer. I'm dying to see if you inherited the skill.”

Lily lightly whacked James in the stomach causing him to double over with a quiet oof .

“Alright dad. I'll try,” Hydrus agreed through his snickers. 

Hydrus and Luna heard someone walking up behind them. Lily gasped and covered her mouth with a shaking hand, her eyes sparkling.

“Severus,” she whispered, stepping out from under her husband’s arm to approach her best friend. 

“Lils. What—? How—?” 

Lily grabbed the front of his robes and pulled him into a tight hug. 

“Don't question it. Just enjoy it,” she mumbled into his chest. Severus relaxed and hugged Lily back, resting his cheek on the top of her head. 

“Prongs!”

“James!”

“Moony! Padfoot! I've missed you!”

The werewolf and ex-convict collided with their old friend. James and Sirius were only saved from a tumble by Remus’ enhanced strength. They were a tangle of limbs and a gallery of smiles as they laughed and cried. 

“Xe– Xeno—”

Regulus approached much more cautiously. He was nervous and refused to look at either Lovegood. Pandora smiled sadly as Xenophilius placed his hands on Regulus’ shoulders, startling him into looking up. He opened his mouth to say something but the older man beat him to it. 

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he said. “It was my time to go and I went protecting my daughter long enough for you to save her. Thank you, Regulus, because of you Luna grew up knowing she was loved by so many.”

Regulus sniffled but nodded. Xeno smiled and clapped him on the shoulder before stepping away and allowing his wife to launch herself at her friend. They didn't exchange any words. They just held each other like they would never let go. 

“Now that the reunions are out of the way we will leave you to it,” Lady Fate spoke up, drawing everyone's attention. 

“Samhain only lasts until midnight so use that time well,” Lord Death reminded them. 

Both gods began to either glow with otherworldly light or melt into dense shadow. They condensed into orbs which flew circles around the children a couple times before rocketing into the air and disappearing. Once they were gone James clapped for everyone's attention. 

“Well, you heard them,” he said. “We only have twenty minutes. Let's make the most of it.”

“Go ahead James,” Xeno invited. “You had some family stuff you wanted to tell Hydrus.”

James nodded his thanks before turning to his son. He suddenly seemed serious as he knelt down to Hydrus’ level. 

“First off, I wanted to say I’m sorry. I know Sirius told you everything that happened between your birth announcement and the attack. I was blinded by my respect for Albus, respect I now know he had not earned and does not deserve. 

“Sirius and Lily were smart to keep the second prophecy and heir adoption from me. When I died and all the compulsions disappeared I was appalled by how deeply he had influenced me. Please know that if things had been different I would have done everything to protect you.”

James was ringing his hands nervously as he looked deep into his son’s eyes, green like his mother's but so much brighter. He was determined to show Hydrus how much he regretted unknowingly abandoning him. 

“It's okay, dad” Hydrus assured him. “Mom was strong enough for both of you and I have never resented you for even a minute. I love you.”

James stifled a sob and wiped his eyes before any tears could fall.

“Thank you Harry. I love you too.”

He stood back up and Lily quickly took his hand, squeezing it as Sirius, Remus, Severus and the Lovegoods gathered around. 

“Okay, so, we watched your visit to Gringotts and there are a couple things I need to tell you,” James started. “First is about the artifacts that didn't return. One was the Potter Grimoire. Albus likely has it in a heavily warded room which is why the retrieval charm didn't work. 

“The Potters were potioneers for generations but the skill started to die out a few centuries ago as our ancestors started to pursue other careers. The Grimoire is full of recipes for brews that have been forgotten or were never shared.”

“How do we find it?” Hydrus asked. 

“No idea,” James admitted. “But if you do get it back you should consider giving Snape a peak. Some of those potions should be brought back to benefit the wixen world.”

Severus visibly startled, wide eyes snapping to James. Sharing a family Grimoire was not to be taken lightly and being granted the honor was high praise. He was surprised James suggested it. 

“Don't look so shocked,” James told the potions master. “Your Harry’s godfather and Lily told me about everything you were doing in the background to help us win the war. I'm sorry I was such a prat to you.”

Severus pursed his lips but nodded in acknowledgment. It would take more than one apology to overcome seven years of torment but he was willing to forgive him for Lily and Hydrus' sake. Access to the Potter Grimoire was also a pretty hefty peace offering. 

“Moving on,” James continued, turning back to Hydrus. “You know Parseltongue is an inherited ability, correct?” 

Hydrus nodded. 

“While I'm sure your other Father could have easily made you a Parselmouth you actually got it from my mother’s side. She was from India and moved to England when she was very young. The Sharma family had several speakers but there hasn't been a Parselmouth for a few generations. Your heritage combined with the minor bonds you made with the snakes you cared for on Azkaban reintroduced the language to our bloodline.”

“I thought it came from my Dark Speech ability,” Hydrus admitted. “But now that I think about it, Dark Speech just makes it easier to learn dark languages. I would have still needed the inheritance.”

“Exactly! Without Sharma blood you would have never been able to naturally speak Parseltongue,” James said, smiling at his son's awed expression. He had thought he would never be able to do this, to sit his son down and tell him about his roots. Being able to do it now was a dream come true. 

“Okay, last thing,” James announced. Hydrus leaned forward in anticipation. “That book you took from the Peverell vault, The Tales of Beedle the Bard? It's a popular set of children’s stories but it's very important to the Potter family. Our connection to the Peverells is anciemt but we kept it alive by reading the Tale of the Three Brothers. It is said that the brothers in that story were the last of the Peverell line and one of them either started or married into the Potters.”

“What about the other stories?” Luna asked, just as enthralled by the Potter’s history as Hydrus. “Babbitty Rabbitty? Or the Fountain of Fair Fortune?” 

“I supposed the other stories could be related to other families,” James admitted, glancing at the rest of the adults in case they had any insight but no one spoke up. 

“Ten minutes left,” Remus announced. 

The clearing was mostly empty now. Only Eurus, Stheno, Alphie and Anubis were left. Their friends had finished their rituals and were waiting on the other side of the clearing. Pansy was handing out pastries and thermoses from a basket. They were obviously curious about the extra people but didn't dare interrupt. 

“Alright, that's it for me,” James said. He ruffled Hydrus’ hair and chuckled when his son slapped his hand away with a playful glare. “I’m glad I got to share that with you buddy.”

“Me too dad,” Hydrus replied, tucking himself into James side for a one armed hug. Meanwhile, Pandora and Xeno had turned to Luna and Regulus. 

“I don't have much insight into the Delacs. Their connection to the Rosiers wasn't very well known even within the family,” Pandora said. “The information I have is a little closer to home.”

“It's about Uncle Barty,” Luna stated. Regulus sucked in a sharp breath, pleading eyes glancing between his daughter and friend. 

“Yes. He is definitely alive but I have no idea where he is. We can really only watch over blood relations so I wasn't able to check in on him but he is not in the afterlife.”

“Any idea where he could be?” Regulus asked.

“None. I know he lost himself after Evan died and you went missing. It's possible he made other allies that could be hiding him.”

“You have an idea though, don't you maman?” Luna said. 

Pandora nodded but she looked worried. 

“There is a ritual that allows you to look at past events. I do not know the specifics, just that it is very complicated and very dangerous. The instructions are likely in the Rosier Grimoire.”

“Promise us you’ll be careful Lu,” Xeno begged. “Barty wouldn't want you to get hurt looking for him.”

“I promise,” Luna assured them before she suddenly looked nervous. She bit her lip and dug her toe into the dirt. 

“Can I—” she took a deep breath. “Can I see Uncle Evan?”

Pandora frowned and her eyes flicked to Hydrus. The Slytherin grasped his sister's hand. 

“Im sorry Lu, there isn't enough time and I used too much magic to call our parents here,” he said. He was looking at the ground, upset he couldn't grant Luna her request and not willing to see her disappointment. A gentle squeeze of his fingers encouraged him to look up. 

“It's okay Hyde, I understand. I know he's watching and we can always call him next year.” 

“I promise, next year I'll find him,” Hydrus vowed. 

“He'll be very pleased to see you,” Pandora assured her daughter. She reached out to brush Luna’s hair back but her fingers went right through it. 

Pandora, Xeno, Lily and James were starting to lose their color. Their outlines were becoming foggy. 

“Times up,” Lily stated sadly. 

“Remember that we love you,” Pandora said. 

“And that we’re always near,” Xeno added. 

“We’ll see you again next year,” James concluded. 

The two couples made their way back to the rift and waved goodbye as they stepped through. When they were gone Hydrus waved his hand from bottom to top as if erasing a chalk line. The crack zipped closed and disappeared. 

Those remaining stood silently, feeling an odd sense of loss and loneliness. Eventually, the twins sighed. Hydrus offered Luna his elbow and she took it. 

“Shall we join our friends?” Hydrus asked.

“They are eager for answers,” Luna replied. 

The pair made their way across the clearing. They looked elegant and confident as they approached  but they could feel each other’s anxiety through the bond. When they got close to their friends Draco noticed and stood. 

“You have some explaining to do,” he said. The others nodded in agreement. 

“And we will,” Hydrus assured them. He silently conjured a dozen chairs near the still burning bonfire. “Take a seat and we’ll get started.”

Chapter Text

Once everyone was settled in their seats Luna and Hydrus remained standing. Luna was still gripping Hydrus’ elbow. She dug her fingers into his arm hard enough to leave bruises but he didn't mind, it was keeping him from panicking. They glanced at Sirius and Regulus who gave them a thumbs up and an encouraging smile respectively. It made them feel a little better. 

“Let's start with proper introductions,” Hydrus suggested, bowing slightly toward his friends. “As you know I am Hydrus Lycoris Black, but what you do not know is that I was born Harrison James Potter. I am Heir to the House of Black and Lord of the House of Potter and the House of Peverell.”

Nine sets of eyes widened, mouths falling open in shock. Hydrus took advantage of their speechlessness to plow ahead. 

“May I present my twin sister Cassandra Lunara Black, more commonly known as Luna Evanna Lovegood. She is Heiress to the House of Black and Lady of the House of Rosier and the House of Dulac.”

Hydrus but his lip nervously when their friends remained silent. Nine sets of eyes darted between the twins, waiting for more shocking revelations. When nothing else was forthcoming someone finally spoke.

“You’re Harry Potter!?” Ginny shouted.

“Luna is a Black?!” Pansy shrieked. 

“Holy Mother of Merlin!” Daphne exclaimed. “The scar on your face! Is that where—?”

“The Killing Curse hit me? Yes,” Hydrus confirmed. 

“Damn.”

“Badass,” said the twins. 

“So, are you actually my cousin then?” Draco questioned, his face screwed up in confusion. “Your Harry Potter but also Hydrus Black? Were you adopted?”

“Sort of,” Hydrus replied, glancing at Luna. “I suppose we should get family relations out of the way. It’s a little complicated.”

“Hydrus and I are twins but also— not ,” Luna said, struggling to find the words to explain their odd family dynamic. “My mortal parents are Pandora Lovegood, formerly Rosier, and Xenophillius Lovegood, formerly Malfoy. Hyd—”

“Malfoy!?” Darco exclaimed, interrupting Luna.

“Yep. My dad was your father’s brother. He was disowned when he was fifteen. Hydrus and I are both technically your cousins by adoption but I am also your cousin by blood.”

While Draco stared at Luna, blindsided by a second long lost cousin and an uncle he hadn’t even heard about, Neville raised his hand shyly. Hydrus tried not to melt at how adorable it was as he nodded for the Gryffindor to ask his question. 

“You said mortal parents…” he pointed out.

“Yeah, that's where it gets complicated,” Hydrus said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “Luna and I have mortal parents, adopted parents and divine parents.”

“Lord Death, right?”

Hydrus blinked at Neville.

“Ye–yes, how did you—?”

“Oh! Is Lady Fate your mum?” George suddenly asked, resulting in Hydrus turning his head so fast he cracked his neck. Luna giggled and patted his arm consolingly.

“Aunt Gaia and Uncle Time visited them,” she informed him.

“Ah, that makes more sense,” Hydrus said, relaxing slightly. “Did anyone else get a visit from a god?”

Draco raised his hand.

“Juno came by to tell me my family is cursed.”

“I’m sorry!?” Blaise exclaimed incredulously. “Can you repeat that please?” 

“Yeah, apparently that's why the Malfoys and Weasleys don't get on. We cursed each other.”

“Your family cursed ours?” Ginny exclaimed. Draco nodded miserably. 

“With a Poverty Curse. Your family retaliated with a Single Heir Curse which is why I’m an only child.”

“Blood hell,” Fred swore. “Sorry mate.”

“Not your fault,” Draco dismissed, waving his apology away. “I’m sorry I ever made fun of your hand-me-downs and used books.”

“No worries,” George said. “Let's just forget about it and move on.”

“I think we can find it in us to be civil toward you,” Fred teased. Draco grimaced.

“I don’t have to be nice to Ronald do I? Or Percy?”

“Nah, we wouldn’t do that to you,” Fred assured him. He grinned at the blonde and Draco gave him a small smile back. 

“Not that this isn’t fascinating,” Theo spoke up. “But I would like to return to Hydrus and Luna being the children of Lady Fate and Lord Death.”

“Right, back on track,” Hydrus said, pausing for a moment to organize his thoughts before continuing. “We have three sets of parents. Mortal parents who we’ve already told you about. Adopted parents who you’ve met.” Sirius and Regulus waved when Hydrus gestured to them. “And divine parents, Lady Fate and Lord Death. By blood Luna and I are not related but our magic and souls were created by the gods and we were born at the exact same time making us magical twins.”

“Is that why you’re both Heir Black?” Daphne asked.

“Yes,” Luna replied. “As magical twins adopted into the House of Black we share the heirship just like Fred and George share the Prewett Heirship.”

Everyone turned to the redheaded twins, Ginny looking particularly shocked. 

“You’re magical twins!?” she exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Sorry Gin,” George apologized. “We figured it out our first year and just decided to keep it a secret.” 

“You know how overbearing mum can be,” Fred added. “We didn’t want her suddenly parading us around like trophies.”

“And the Prewett Heirship?” Ginny pressed.

“We just learned about that tonight. Apparently the Prewett title alway passes to magical twins if they exist,” Fred explained.

“Mum and dad would have learned that when they took Charlie to Gringotts but no one said anything,” George continued. “Father Time said to ask Cassandra about it actually.”

They turned toward Luna who gazed intently back at them. Something told the twins not to break eye contact even as Luna’s irises started to glow with an eerie blue-white light. When she spoke it was in her signature dreamy tone. 

“The brood hen serves the goat. She creates soldiers for his crusade. All but two have failed. The last son and the sycophant are not to be trusted. The maiden is in danger. The tricksters must claim their birthright to rescue her.” 

When she finished Luna’s eyes faded down to her normal brilliant sapphire. 

“Can we get a translation for those of us that don’t speak Luna?” Sirius asked.

“Lady Weasley is loyal to Dumbledore,” Hydrus explained. “It sounds like all her kids were supposed to have a role to play in whatever he’s planning but most of them took their own paths. Only Ron and Percy are still her puppets. The maiden has to be Ginny. They’re planning something involving her but if Fred and George accept the Prewett Lordship they can bring her into the family and protect her.”

“But we can’t accept the Lordship until we’re seventeen,” Fred pointed out, a touch of panic in his voice. 

“You can if the current head of House Prewett allows you to,” Pansy said. “After your uncles passed the title returned to your grandmother, Lady Prewett. She never announced a new heir. It was a big scandal at the time since she had so many options to choose from and she appointed an anonymous proxy.”

“We haven't seen our grandmother in years,” George revealed. “The last time must have been—”

He trailed off, his eyes going comically wide as he whipped his head toward his twin who looked like he had just been struck the same bolt of lightning.

“After Charlie's birthday!” they exclaimed. 

“Bloody hell!” Fred swore. “Grandma and mum had a fight. It must have been about the heirship. Mum claimed Grandma cut us off but that makes no sense since it would have meant the end of the Prewett line.”

“She was making sure you never learned the truth,” Ginny gasped. “But what about Charlie? And Dad? They were at Gringotts. Surely they would have told you?”

“When they came back from Diagon Alley everyone asked how their trip went,” George recalled. “They mentioned the Magical Menagerie and Quality Quidditch Supplies but neither said anything about Gringotts. It’s possible dad was in on it but Charlie would never. Either he or both of them were obliviated.”

“I'll bet she's also put up wards to keep Grandma from contacting us herself,” Fred growled, George’s own anger compounding his through the bond. 

“I would recommend you visit Gringotts over Yule,” Professor Snape suggested. “Bring your sister with you. The headmaster has a history of using compulsions on his own people. It’s possible you have a few.”

“You can come with us,” Regulus offered. “We already planned to take Neville.”

“Me? Why me?’ Neville asked. 

“It has to do with why Luna and I have been in hiding,” Hydrus replied. “Before we were born Professor Trelawnie foretold the birth of two children that would be able to defeat Voldemort. Both Dumbledore and Professor Snape heard it.”

“I was acting as a spy at the time and Dumbledore ordered me to give the prophecy to the Dark Lord,” Severus explained. “Lily Potter had just announced her pregnancy and Albus was insistent that the prophecy referred to her child. Lily and I were childhood friends so I went off mission and visited her before reporting to the Dark Lord. When I arrived I learned that Albus had lied to her and given her an edited version of the prophecy that implied there was only one chosen one. Dumbledore thought Lily would have twins but—”

“Then another prophecy surfaced,” Sirius took over when Severus trailed off, not fully informed about what happened next. “Pandora Lovegood arrived at Potter Manor and told Lily that she’d had a vision about both their unborn children. The vision included a black dog and a large raven which happen to be mine and Regulus’ animagus forms. They came to us and we put together a plan to protect Luna and Harry that included a delayed heir adoption should either Lily or Pandora die.”

“What does this have to do with me?” Neville asked. Hydrus took a deep breath.

“The prophecy claimed the children would be born at the end of July. Dumbldore wasn’t aware of Luna and the only other wixen child born at the end of July that year was—”

“Me,” Neville whispered. 

“Yes,” Hydrus replied softly. “The original prophecy implied that the chosen ones had to be killed at the same time. The Lestranges didn’t know why Voldemort went after me himself but they were sent to Longbottom Manor with strict orders to kill you at a specific time.”

“Dumbledore had fed Alice and Frank the same lies he did the Potters,” Sirius explained. “Lily and I warned them that something bigger was going on so they created a fortress within a fortress. They warded your nursery, even adding a Fidelius Charm. I believe your grandfather was the Secret Keeper. When Bellatrix and the rest couldn’t find you they panicked and tried to get your location from your parents.”

Sirius and Hydrus finished their tale but Neville stayed silent. His eyes were glazed as he stared at the ground. He clenched and unclenched his fists in his lap, trying to ground himself. Eventually he took a deep breath.

“Did Dumbledore do something to us?” he asked in a near whisper.

“During Hogsmeade weekend Hydrus and I snuck out to go to Gringotts,” Luna replied, sensing Hydrus’ distress through their bond. He really didn't want to deliver more bad news to his friend. “My inheritance test was clean but Hydrus had all sorts of blocks and compulsions. Sixty percent of his magical core was blocked and he was being spelled into not trusting Slytherins, being loyal to Dumbledore and the Weasleys and befriending you. The compulsions were broken when the heir adoption triggered.”

“I plan on writing your grandmother to explain all this and invite you for a cleansing at Gringotts,” Sirius revealed. “Is that okay with you?”

Neville opened his mouth but no sound came out. He cleared his throat and tried again.

“Can you send it next week? I would like to write her first.”

“Of course kid. Take your time. Let Hydrus know when you’ve sent it and he’ll pass on the message.”

Neville nodded and slouched in his chair. His eyes were still trained on the ground. Everyone silently agreed to move on and leave him to process.

“So, Children of the Gods eh?” Balise started. “What exactly does that mean?”

“We have unique magical cores,” Luna explained. “You’ve probably noticed that I have an affinity for light magic while Hydrus’ magic is particularly dark. That’s because, like all magical twins, we share one soul, but ours is split perfectly down the middle. I take more after our Mother while Hydrus is more like our Father.”

“The people you were talking to earlier, who were they?” Daphne asked.

“Our mortal parents,” Hydrus replied. “This is the first Samhain Luna and I have been together. Combined with the energy boost from claiming our titles I was able to open the veil and allow them through.”

“You mean you summoned the dead?” Theo exclaimed. “Like necromancy?”

“Exactly like necromancy,” Hydrus confirmed. “I’m Lord of the Noble and Most Blessed House of Peverell. The Peverells were the first necromancers, they practically invented it.”

“As the Lady of the Noble and Most Blessed House of Dulac my specialty lies in spell weaving,” Luna revealed. “I’m particularly skilled with wards and magical oaths since I was taught primarily by the Fae.” 

By the end of their explanation everyone was looking between Hydrus and Luna with wonder and awe painted on their faces. Luna squeezed Hydrus’ arm tighter, their bond ringing with fear and anxiety. They needed allies but dreaded the inevitable moment their friends would treat them differently. They were proud of their heritage and magic but they also liked just being Hydrus and Luna, normal Hogwarts students. Hydrus leaned a little closer to his sister, assuring her they would still have each other, when the silence was broken by Draco’s barking laugh.

“I wish I could be more impressed by this but I’ve seen you put salt in your tea because you were too tired to tell the difference,” he chuckled as he slapped Blaise on the back prompting him to also start laughing.

“Do you remember when Hydrus got left on the moving staircase?” Blaise asked. “He got stranded and was late to Charms.” 

The rest of the Slytherins broke down into giggles remembering how Hydrus had marched into Charms waxing poetic about how they abandoned him and flipping them off before sitting with Padma and Luna the rest of class. 

“Oh Merlin!” Ginny exclaimed, doubling over to control her laughter. “You should have seen Luna last winter. She was doing her dreamy wandering thing in the courtyard and slipped on ice. I swear she just gave up and laid the snow for ten minutes. People just kept walking around her.”

“I remember that!” Pansy shrieked in glee.

Soon everyone was roaring with laughter. Even Severus hid a snicker behind his hand. Hydrus and Luna felt their anxiety melt away. Their friends didn’t think of them any differently. They still saw the dreamy, awkward, sassy, true versions of them.

“Do you want to see something really funny?” Luna asked, her relief making her feel particularly impish. Their friends nodded eagerly.

“You see those dogs over there?”

She pointed to Alphie and Anubis laying beside the fire. They perked up and started wagging their tails at the attention.

“Those are Church Grim. They’re Hydrus’ familiars.” 

She grinned evilly and turned to her brother. 

“Call them,” she ordered.

“Nooooo!” Hydrus whined. “Don’t do this to me! I beg you!”

“Call them,” she repeated, releasing his arm and walking a few yards away. Hydrus huffed but obeyed.

<Alphie. Anubis. Come.>

The two massive dogs instantly scrambled to their feet and bound across the clearing, running right past Hydrus to happily prance around Luna. 

“Aww. Hello my good boys,” Luna cooed, scratching each of them behind the ears. “I missed you two. Yes I did.”

Luna looked up and smiled sweetly at a pouting Hydrus. He stuck his tongue out at her.

“They’ve been my familiars since I was ten and they both like Luna better,” he explained to the group, shooting them a betrayed look when they started cackling. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. I’m not the only one with a disloyal familiar.”

“Fou would never abandon me,” Luna argued.

“Prove it. Call her right now.”

Luna narrowed her eyes at Hydrus. He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes back until Luna caved. 

She whistled shrilly. Thunder rumbled overhead despite the clear sky and a second later a blinding bolt of lightning struck the air between them creating a ball of crackling electricity. Large white wings emerged from the orb before a shining phoenix soared out. It was the size of a peacock with fuzzy white feathers all over its body and long silvery tail and head feathers. Its feet, beak and eyes were deep black. The stunning bird circled the clearing once on massive wings before coming in for a landing. Luna held out her arm, smirking as her familiar came closer and closer only to shout a betrayed no! as it sailed overhead and landed on Hydrus’ arm instead. 

“Ha! I told you Fou likes me more!” Hydrus cried triumphantly. He stroked the phoenix’s soft chest feathers causing her to release a throaty coo and nip gently at his ear. 

“What in Merlin’s name is that?” Theo asked, eyes locked onto the luminously white bird.

“Fou is a Storm Phoenix,” Luna replied. “They’re very rare. They regenerate using lightning instead of fire like regular phoenixes.” 

Luna gave each dog a final pat before snapping her fingers and pointing to Hydrus. Alphie and Anubis instantly rejoined their master, sitting dutifully on either side of him panting and wagging their tails. Hydrus extended his arm and Fou fluttered over to land on Luna’s shoulder. 

“That’s bloody awesome!” George exclaimed.

“What else you got?” Fred asked, sitting eagerly on the edge of his seat.

“You mean other than Slytherin’s monster?” Ginny pointed out, nodding toward the massive snake coiled up on the other end of the clearing. At the sound of her wizard’s name Stheno lifted her head from her coils and looked over. Everyone went very still. Except Ginny. She was shaking and gripping her chair as if trying not to bolt. Hydrus mentally kicked himself.

“Oh Ginny, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think,” he said. “I promise, Stheno wont hurt you. Slytherin assigned her to protect the castle, not to harm the students.”

“Then why did she petrify all those people?” Neville asked. 

“Because she had no choice,” Hydrus revealed. “Didn’t you think it was strange no one actually died? Ginny was being possessed by a dark object that contained the wraith of an old student, Tom Riddle, who was the last Heir of Slytherin. Riddle wasn’t solid enough for Stheno to attack and she didn’t want to hurt Ginny so she obeyed him but only petrified the students. 

“When I went down into the Chamber I offered to free her from Riddle and she agreed. After I destroyed the book she gave me a few loose teeth so I could trick Dumbledore and the Ministry into thinking Slytherin’s monster was dead.”

“She was protecting me,” Ginny realized, relaxing significantly. Her eyes widened and shone in the firelight. “If she had refused Riddle’s orders he might have drained my magic too fast and I would be dead.”

~Yes child.~ Stheno hissed, slithering a little closer and coiling up next to the fire. ~I remembered Tom from the first time he opened the Chamber. He was a horrible boy but very powerful. Back then he used a spell to make me attack the students but even as a puppet I refused to kill anyone. Tom thought that an offering would endear me to him so he killed a girl in the bathroom and left her for me. Something must have happened to Tom after that night because he never came back to the Chamber.~

“I recognize Tom Riddle’s name from an Award for Services to the School in the trophy room,” Remus recalled once Hydrus had translated what Stheno said. “When did he open the Chamber the first time?”

“1943,” Draco replied. “My father told me when the Chamber opened last year.”

“That was the year he got the award,” Remus confirmed. 

“It was also the year Hagrid got expelled,” Sirius said.

“How do you know that?” Regulus asked. Sirius smiled sheepishly.

“He was a good source of firewhisky back in our seventh year,” Regulus tried to smack his older brother upside the head but he ducked and continued talking. “Hagrid is a chatty drunk. He told us he was raising an ‘Aragog’ in the school. A classmate convinced everyone it was Slytherin’s monster and that Hagrid was the one setting in on muggleborns.”

“But Hagrid is a half-giant, he couldn’t be the Heir of Slytherin,” Ginny pointed out.

“Not to mention Aragog is an acromantula,” Hydrus added. “They’re not capable of petrifying anyone.”

“Headmaster Dippit and the Ministry must have used him as a scapegoat to convince people the problem had been handled,” Severus said. “Someone was probably onto Riddle so he framed Hagrid and closed the Chamber which just made Hagrid look more guilty.”

“How did he become the groundskeeper?” Blaise asked.

“Dumbledore gave him the job,” Remus replied. “Hagrid is absurdly loyal to him.”

Daphne bit her lip, eyes darting between Professor Lupin and Professor Snape.

“Who on the staff can we trust?” she asked. 

The mood of the circle immediately dropped. It hadn’t quite hit them before that they were learning very dangerous secrets. Secrets that could get them hurt or even killed. 

“Professor Flitwick is safe,” Hydrus said. “The goblins recognize mine and Luna’s heritage. Our friends in the Goblin Nation wouldn’t have invited him tonight if they didn’t trust his loyalties. Of course, Uncle Moony and Uncle Sev are also safe.”

“Uncle Sev?” Draco questioned.

“Oh yeah, Professor Snape is my godfather.”

Draco made a choking noise. Severus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as if staving off a sudden headache.

“I’m Draco’s godfather as well,” he sighed.

“How many new family members could I have!?” Darco cried dramatically.

“It’s just the two,” Sirius pointed out. “Hydrus is your adopted cousin and godbrother while Luna is your adopted and blood cousin.”

Draco groaned and buried his face in his hands.

“As amusing as breaking Malfoy’s brain is,” Ginny said, earning a withering glare from the blonde. “Is there anything else you have to tell us?”

Hydrus and Luna had a silent conversation to make sure they hadn’t missed anything. Hydrus’ emotions were content but Luna’s suddenly flared with excitement.

“We don’t have any new information but we do have a gift for someone,” she said.

She rummaged in her pocket and pulled out the silver pocket watch from the Rosier vault. She held it between her hands and spoke a short spell in the same melodic language she had used in the ritual. The watch glowed before there was a snapping sound and Luna was suddenly holding two identical watches. She handed them to Fred and George. 

“These will help with that new blessing Uncle Time and Cousin Trickster gave you,” she explained. “The silver hands show the current time while the gold ones show how far back you’ve traveled.”

The twins took the watches with a grateful nod. Ginny leaned over to take a look and George tilted it so she could see the finely etched casing and pearlescent face.

“You have a blessing too?” Neville asked from Ginny’s other side. 

“Just got it tonight.” Fred replied. “Time Travel.”

“But we can only go back up to seven minus,” George revealed, leaning around Ginny so he could see Neville better. “You have one too Nev?”

Neville nodded.

“How many of us have blessings?” Pansy asked. 

Six hands went up. Luna, Hydrus, Fred, George, Neville and, more reluctantly, Blaise. Draco and Pansy stared at him. They had known the Italian most of their lives but he had never told them he was blessed.

“What the hell Blaise?!” Draco snapped.

“I’m sorry! It’s a family secret! I couldn’t just tell you!” Blaise snapped back. 

“Then why now?” Pansy asked.

“Because the Eye is telling him that keeping it a secret would do more harm than good,” Luna said dreamily.

“The Eye?” Theo echoed.

“The Eye of Horus,” Blaise clarified. His left iris turned gold, the vibrant color standing out starkly against his dark complexion. “It’s been in my family for nearly a thousand years. The Zabini’s once served the pharaohs as guards and assassins though our name was Zakaria back then. When Rome took over we were absorbed into their armies and a few surviving members settled in Italy. 

The Eye was granted to all Zabini children but the strength varied. It allows us to place people under our protection. My mother could only have one protectee but my inheritance is slightly more powerful so I can have three. The Eye gives me the ability to always see where my Wards are and grants a certain level of intuition when it comes to their safety. It doesn’t tell me exactly what to do but it can give me a nudge. If someone does manage to hurt a person under my protection it is my duty to bring them to justice and there is no way they can hide from me.” 

Blaise blinked and his golden iris returned to its normal slate gray but he didn’t take his eyes off Pansy and Draco. Pansy looked like she was still processing while Draco had a small crease in his brow and his eyes were shining.

“That summer when we were eight and visiting your family villa,” he whispered. “When you said you didn’t want to go swimming but got in the water anyway? You saved me from drowning.”

Blaise nodded.

“You’re one of my Wards. My first actually.”

“Who else are you protecting?” Daphne asked.

Blaise turned to Pansy. She gasped and covered her mouth before anyone could see her quivering lip but no one missed the way her eyes suddenly reflected much more firelight. 

“Why?” she asked in a choked voice.

“You and Draco are the closest thing I have to siblings. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Pansy hugged Blaise’s arm tightly and laid her head on his shoulder.

“And your third Ward?” Ginny asked.

“I’m saving it for someone special,” Blaise replied, fidgeting in his seat in embarrassment. Pansy whispered something only her two oldest friends could hear. Draco and Balise chuckled lightly. 

“Okay,” Theo called, bringing everyone’s attention to him. “So we have The Eye of Horus.” he gestured to Blaise. “Time Travel,” the Weasley twins saluted Theo cheekily. “And whatever blessings come with being the magical twins of the God of Death and the Goddess of Fate.”

“Dark Speech, Necromancy, Champion of Dark Creatures and Animagus Triforma,” Hydrus replied. 

“I have Animagus Triforma as well plus Sylvantongue, Foresight and Honored Sister of Avalon,” Luna added.

Theo blinked at them owlishly. 

“What in Merlin’s bloody— no! We've spent far too much time on you two! YOU!” Theo spun around and pointed at Neville. The Gryffindor jumped and looked over his shoulder like Theo could be talking to someone else having a clandestine meeting in the Forbidden Forest at one in the morning. “You raised your hand. What's your blessing?”

“Mother Nature just called it Earth Magic. I can speak to plants,” Neville replied shyly. 

“No wonder you’re so good at Herbology,” Daphne said.The two had a friendly rivalry that was mostly just habit now. No one could surpass Neville when it came to plants.

“Yes, yes, he's very talented,” Theo dismissed, waving his hand as if to swat away her observation. “Would anyone else like to share something?”

As Theo glared at everyone in turn Fred leaned over and whispered to Draco. He made no effort to keep the others from overhearing. 

“What's got his knickers in a twist?”

“He's cranky because he doesn't like not knowing things,” Draco replied, also in a stage whisper. “He probably has a list of new research topics after tonight “

“We’ll never get him away from the library tomorrow,” Daphne added. Theo tried to smack her but she ducked. Before he could mount another attack Regulus spoke up. 

“I'm a former Death Eater, and I've been presumed dead for fourteen years.”

Everyone who didn't already know that looked at him calculatingly, as if weighing his words. 

“Compared to everything else, that's at the bottom of the list of most bonkers statements made tonight,” Ginny said. The rest of the students made various noises of agreement. 

“I'm a werewolf.”

The clearing went dead silent. 

“Remus!” Sirius yelped, turning to his best friend with fear in his eyes. 

“It's okay Padfoot,” Remus soothed. “If everyone else is trusting each other with their secrets it's only fair I do too.”

“You don't have to, Uncle Moony,” Hydrus assured him. 

“I want to, Cub. Ever since our talk and the last moon my wolf has felt— comfortable , I guess. Sirius says he’ll help me explore ways to make the transition easier and I think being honest about my condition is a good first step.”

Sirius wrapped his thin fingers around Remus’ wrist, giving him a gentle but firm squeeze. Remus appreciated the reminder that he was there and would never leave his side. He took a deep breath and addressed the group even as he avoided their gaze, staring into the now much smaller fire. 

“I was bitten by Fenrir Greyback when I was six years old,” he revealed. “Dumbledore arranged for me to attend Hogwarts. I was the first and only werewolf to ever do so. I used to transform in the Shrieking Shack which is where it got its name. In fourth year my best friends, Sirius, James and Peter, became unregistered animagi so they could keep me company.

“It wasn’t until recently that I realized the headmaster’s invitation to come to school was not done out of the kindness of his heart. He had me acting as an ambassador to the werewolf packs during the war but I never got anywhere since he never offered anything to actually help them. 

“The moment the war was over I was left on my own. I couldn’t get a job and went hungry often just so I could afford Wolfsbane. I suspect Dumbledore asked me to be the defense professor because he’s hoping Hydrus or Sirius will open up to me. He believes I still belong to him but he has never understood the power of Pack to werewolves. I would rather die than betray them.”

He risked glancing at the students and found them gaping at him. Sirius’ grip on Remus’ arm was like iron but soon loosened once the ravenette took a good look at the kids. There was no fear on their faces, just shock and curiosity. It made the knot of anxiety Remus was trying to ignore unravel somewhat. 

“Bottom mid-tier on the Bonkers Statements Scale,” Fred finally said, turning to his twin for confirmation. 

“Below the blessings but above the Weasley-Malfoy blood feud,” George agreed. 

Remus couldn't help laughing. They didn't even rank lycanthropy in the top half of their list of concerns. It felt so freeing to be amongst people who knew yet still be treated as human. 

“Alright,” Severus spoke up. He was pleased when every single student immediately turned their attention to him, conditioned to listen to his instructions after years of potions classes. “It's late and we've covered a lot of heavy topics. I don't think I need to remind my Slytherins not to discuss any of this where someone could overhear. Can I trust you Gryffindors to do the same?”

Fred, George and Ginny nodded. 

“Yes professor,” Neville confirmed. 

“Good. Head back to your common rooms the same way you got out. Don't get caught.”

Daphne and Pansy collected the thermoses in the basket while Hydrus vanished the chairs and Sirius doused the fire. Guided only by moonlight five Slytherins and four Gryffindors headed for the edge of the forest accompanied by the Grim in case some of the dark creatures had stuck around. Soon only the adults, Hydrus and Luna were left. 

“That went well,” Sirius said.

“Mother assured me our Knights were ready,” Luna replied. “But I was unsure what the quality of their loyalty would be. I do not wish for worship.”

“Nor do I,” Hydrus agreed. 

“You have a good group here,” Regulus said. “Lots of varying talents and skills.”

“Indeed,” Severus agreed. “But it did not escape my notice that you said nothing of your goals.”

He raised a questioning eyebrow at the Blacks.

“We promise we’ll loop you in Sev. You too, Remus.” Regulus assured them. “We’re making our first move in December so expect an invite to Grimmauld Place during Yule.”

“Can you at least tell us what your first move is?” Remus asked. 

“We need to make it so Reggy can move freely again.”

“And how do you plan on doing that?”

All four Black’s grinned. It made Severus and Remus shiver but also sparked a bit of excitement in their chests. Those smiles promised mayhem and chaos to their enemies. 

“With some help from the Goblins,” Hydrus replied. 

“Some Fae magic,” Luna added. 

“And a lot of drama,” Sirius and Regulus concluded.

Chapter Text

“Hydrus! Where are we going?” Pansy called as she, Daphne and the boys followed their friend up to a rarely used section of the seventh floor.

It was the last day of term and they were supposed to have the day off to pack before catching the train in the morning. The Slytherins had just finished breakfast and were preparing to return to the dorms when Hydrus insisted they follow him somewhere. 

Hydrus didn't reply to Pansy’s question but he did stop in front of a blank wall opposite an odd painting of trolls in tutus. 

“Perfect timing,” someone said. A tapestry further down the hall swung open, depositing Luna, Neville, Ginny and the Weasley twins in the corridor. 

“Can someone please explain what's happening?” Theo cried. 

“Just watch,” Hydrus replied. He paced in front of the wall three times and a wooden door appeared where there wasn't one before. Hydrus opened it and bowed dramatically, gesturing for everyone to go inside. Luna led the way.

“Welcome to the Room of Requirement,” she said. 

The group looked around in awe. They were standing in a space about the size of their common rooms with plush dark gray carpet on the floor and dark wood paneling on the walls. Small lanterns kept the room lit but dim. A mismatched variety of seats were in a semi circle facing the rear wall. There were red armchairs with gold edging from the Gryffindor common room and emerald green armchairs with silver and black leather detailing from the Slytherin common room. In the middle were two seats that didn’t quite fit, a regal looking black wingback chair and a massive yellow poof. It reminded everyone of a theater but in place of the screen there was a huge mirror in an ornate frame. 

“Does anyone remember what’s happening today?” Hydrus asked as he and Luna took the wing-back chair and the poof. 

Everyone looked confused until Draco’s eyes widened. 

“It's the last session of the Wizengamot!” he exclaimed. 

The mirror shimmered for a moment and an image swam into focus. Regulus was standing in a stone room with carved stone pillars evenly spaced around the walls. The floor was a very recognizable checkered black and white marble tile. The younger Black brother waved at them before a finger appeared and tapped the glass a couple times, making a loud ting noise. 

“Hey kids,” Sirius’ voice said. “Enjoy the show.”

Everyone scrambled to find their seats. 

—----------

Albus Dumbledore swept into the Wizengamot Chambers late wearing bright green robes covered in orange stars. The Chief Warlock took his time making his way to the podium, choosing to greet his allies on the Light side instead. The Dark Faction and most of the Gray Faction were eyeing him angrily and grumbling but he wasn’t concerned. He was Albus Dumbledore; Headmaster of Hogwarts, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. He held the power here and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Albus was just excusing himself from a horribly dull conversation with Doge and Diggory when he spotted Augusta Longbottom. Despite her stubbornness and independence she was a powerful ally to have. Alice and Frank proved to be valuable pawns during the war but after they were admitted to St. Mungo’s permanently Albus had turned his attention elsewhere. He trusted Dowager Longbottom to raise her grandson as a proper Light heir, ready for Albus to mold when the time was right, but he hadn’t had an opportunity to chat with her in years. 

He politely dodged Lady Marchbank’s attempt to engage him in conversation and made his way toward the Ancient Houses level. Just as he was stepping onto the stairs Augusta noticed him and Albus froze. Her gaze was cold yet burned with an emotion he couldn’t identify. It dared him to take another step, begging him to go where she could reach him. Albus quickly changed direction, covering up his sudden avoidance of Dowager Longbottom by greeting Lord Smith. 

Eventually he decided he had annoyed the Dark Faction enough and went to the Chief Warlock’s podium.

“Greetings! I call to order this final Wizengamot session of 1993. Does anyone have new business to declare?”

Before anyone could speak the Ministry seal on the floor began to glow. It pulsed in a steady rhythm, shooting beams of light between the cracks in the tiles, up the gallery railing and along the carved stone pillars holding up the glass ceiling. Every single bolt of magic, every flash of power, zipped around the room before converging on an unassuming wooden door that led to the antichamber where new members waited to be summoned. 

The chamber was filled with murmurs. Albus looked to his followers but they were looking back at him in confusion. He glanced at the Dark Faction but they seemed just as shocked. No one knew who was waiting to be sworn in. 

“The Chamber recognizes a new member,” Albus announced, successfully keeping his own confusion from his voice. “Enter.”

The chamber rang with shouts of anger, shock and unrest when Sirius Black entered the chamber. He was dressed in tailored charcoal gray robes with silver fastenings and a maroon tie. His hair was half pulled back with a gray ribbon and he wore a pair of black diamond studs that sparkled in the torchlight along with a silver tie clip shiny enough to be a mirror. He strode to the center of the floor confidently, smiling in amusement at the chaos he had created.

“Sirius? I must say I am surprised to see you here,” Albus stated. 

This was not good. He had taken great pains to remove the Black vote from the Wizengamot. The Blacks were too influential and Sirius was too strong willed. Albus had plans for Magical Britain that would have been jeopardized by the uncontrollable and progressive wizard. Imprisoning the Black Lord had been the only way for him to eliminate Sirius’ influence and gain control over the Potter votes in one fell swoop.  

“It’s Lord Black, Chief Warlock,” Sirius corrected firmly. “And why shouldn’t I be here? The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black has been absent for too long.”

“An ex-convict can not be allowed to serve on the Wizengamot,” Lady Vance cried. “Many Death Eaters were Lords and Ladies. We wouldn't allow them to take their seats, why is Lord Black any different?”

“Because I was never charged or convicted,” Sirius replied. “Everyone here was at my trial. The Wizengamot, guided by the justice represented by these sacred chambers, found me not guilty. Unlike those I shared a prison with, I never lost my Lordship.”

“No one is questioning your claim,” Dumbledore said in his best grandfatherly voice but underneath he was seething. Sirius should never have gone free. Albus had been trying to speak with Alistor ever since he backed up Amelia to get Sirius a trial but his old friend was always busy. “We are simply concerned that you are moving too fast. You have barely been out of Azkaban six months. Surely you want to enjoy your freedom? Go traveling? Visit friends? Be there for your son?” 

Sirius’ lips curled back into a snarl. 

“ Friends ? You want me to visit friends ?” he growled. “I have no friends left. They followed you to their deaths and the only one remaining won't speak to me all because of a bloody clerical error that lasted twelve years!” 

Several members looked ashamed while others bristled at being called out. Sirius’ eyes never left Albus’. The Headmaster tried to poke around in his former pawn’s head but his occlumency walls were air tight and well defended. 

[ “Hydrus, your dad is badass,” Blaise stated. Everyone was giggling at the Headmaster attempting to give Sirius an ‘I’m not mad, just disappointed’ look but he just looked constipated. 

“Damn right he is!” Hydrus replied. “He's been waiting to give the old Goat a piece of his mind for years.” ]

“Remus is simply grieving,” Albus retorted. He needed someone to keep an eye on the Blacks and the half-breed was weak willed. It would be easy to convince him to insert himself back into his boyhood friend’s life. “No one is more sorry than me that so many young Wix were lost but they died bravely. James is remembered as a hero.”

Albus knew he had overstepped when those gray eyes flashed dangerously.

“James is a hero. So is Lily. They did not have to die to be heroes. They did not want to be heroes. Mary MacDonald and Dorcas Meadows wanted to travel. Marlene McKinnon wanted her family safe. Frank and Alice Longbottom wanted to raise their son and Gideon and Fabian Prewett just wanted to make people laugh. 

“The night I was chucked into Azkaban I lost more than just my best friend. I lost my family. I will not stand back and let the world they died for pass me by.”

Sirius' passionate declaration seemed to fill the chamber until it felt like all the air had been pushed out. A few people were surprised his booming voice hadn't shattered the glass roof, exposing the roughly hewn rock underneath. Albus was trying to maintain a mask of grief and shame but he wasn't sure he was succeeding. His hands shook behind the podium. How dare he? How dare Sirius question his actions? How dare he imply those deaths were his fault? If they had been stronger they would have survived but pawns were meant to be sacrificed. 

“Very well,” Albus said softly. To anyone else he sounded sad but he was only trying to hide the way his voice shook with rage. “The chamber has recognized your claim. Speak the oath.”

Sirius took out his wand and held it aloft, his Lordship ring glinting brightly. The band was a steely shade of silver and held an oval cut, smoky quartz crystal flanked by a pair of black diamonds and etched with the Black family crest.

“I, Sirius Orion Black the Third, Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, claim my rightful seat. I pledge myself to upholding the rights of all magical beings and vow to protect Mother Magic's gift for future generations. So mote it be.”

The vacant Black seat flashed with magic and the faded family crest embedded in the backrest brightened into deep blacks, smokey grays and shining silver. The mutterings picked up again when everyone noticed he hadn't moved the seat from the Dark Faction. 

“The claim has been accepted. Please take your—”

“I'm not done yet,” Sirius interrupted. The camber sounded like it was filled with angry wasps now. “I will also be claiming the Potter seat by proxy.”

“You can't do that!” Lord Doge yelled. “You have no right!”

[ “This is better drama than those scandal stories in Witch Weekly,” Pansy said. She, Daphne and Ginny were passing around a bowl of popcorn the room had conjured for them.

“I can’t wait for the Daily Prophet tomorrow,” Blaise said. He summoned some popcorn, earning himself a mild stinging hex from Pansy but he just continued to munch on his stolen treat happily. ]

“I have the only right!” Sirius shouted back. “I am Harry’s godfather. As his legal guardian it was my duty to hold his vaults and titles in trust until he came of age. He was the last of the Potters and when he… died .” Sirius choked on the word. “It became my responsibility to carry on in his place until another heir is found or I die, making the Potter line extinct.”

Several Lords and Ladies shivered. The extinction of a family line from the Sacred 28 did not bear thinking about. Eleven of the twenty eight were currently represented by proxy or not represented at all and two were already extinct. The Shafiq family had naturally died through marriage and squibery but the Gaunt seat had turned gray and lifeless suddenly in the early 40s. No one knew why. 

Albus scrambled to find a way to salvage this. He couldn't lose the Potter seat. He currently had the most votes in the Wizengamot at 14 but losing one of his ancient houses would bring him down to eleven. That was still more than anyone else but it burned him to give it up. 

“Now Sirius,” Albus said in a patronizing tone. “As Harry’s magical guardian I have been handling the Potter’s affairs. I don't think changing it now would be in everyone's best interest.”

“I am aware you are currently using the Potter votes, Chief Warlock,” Sirius replied, flicking back his outer robes to clasp his hands behind him as he started pacing. “I read the Wizengamot transcripts from after the war. You helped pass a law regulating family magics, including Parseltongue. James never kept his family’s Indian roots secret. His mother's side had several speakers and you used his family vote to make it harder for Parselmouths to thrive in Britain. You also proposed a bill that made it harder for werewolves and vampires to work. Lily was a proud creature rights advocate. She would be ashamed of you.” 

It was taking everything in Albus not to hex Sirius. 

“I have only ever done what was needed to protect our world and prevent the proliferation of dark magic that caused the war,” he stated. 

“I disagree,” Sirius replied viciously before pitching his voice so it rang through the room. “I call on these sacred chambers to decide which of us has the stronger claim!”

Before Albus could open his mouth his Chief Warlock seat flashed. A beam of light zipped down the front of the podium, across the viewing platform and up between the Dark Faction members until it hit the Black seat. The chair glowed brightly for a moment, accepting responsibility for the Potter votes. 

Sirius smirked and raised his wand again. 

“I, Sirius Orion Black the Third, Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, claim proxy over the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter on behalf of my godson, Harrison James Potter. I vow to uphold the spirit and values of the honored dead until such a time that a proper heir is found or I enter the realm of Lord Death. So mote it be.”

A pulse of magic rippled across the floor, leaving the Ministry seal glowing slightly before fading. 

“Oh! And I move my seat to the Grey Faction,” Sirius added. The Black seat melted and reformed closer to the middle of the stands, three rows back and to the left of the Chief Warlock’s podium. 

“Have you no honor!” Lord Bullstrode roared. “The Black seat has been in the Dark Faction for generations!”

“This is a new age,” Sirius replied, his eyes roving over the other angry faces on the left side of the chamber. “Get used to it.”

More Dark members started yelling but Sirius seemed to bask in their indignation. Lord Malfoy seemed particularly put out. Albus knew he had hoped his son would be able to claim the Black title. Albus thinks he would have preferred that. He knew how to handle the Malfoys, Sirius was a rogue entity. 

“Order! Order!” Albus shouted, banging his gavel until the chamber fell silent. “Show some decorum! We have wasted enough time. Sirius, please take your seat.”

Sirius didn't move. 

“Lord Black. Your seat.”

The dark haired man started rocking from his heels, to his toes and back again, completely ignoring Albus. 

“Lord Black!” Albus snapped.

“Wait for it,” Sirius said. 

The chamber came to life again. The same pulsing beams of light and magic zipped around the room and gathered at the antichamber door.  

Someone else was waiting to be sworn in.

The man who entered had shiny, carefully styled hair and a smooth, pale complexion. He wore a perfectly pressed set of black robes with a high, stiff collar and silver embroidery across the shoulders and down the middle of his chest. He held his wand out handle first in surrender. 

“Regulus Black!” Fudge exclaimed. The chamber was suddenly filled with shouting again and one woman shrieked in fear. “Aurors! Arrest him! He is a known Death Eater!”

As the guard started advancing on the brothers a commanding voice cut through the chaos. 

“Stand down!” Amelia Bones ordered firmly. Everyone immediately went silent and the aurors paused. They glanced at each other for guidance but were all equally confused over who to obey. 

“A-Amelia! What– what are you—?” Fudge stuttered half in indignation and half in shock. 

“Mr. Black has entered these sacred chambers in surrender,” Amelia pointed out, gesturing to Regulus’ wand. Regulus took that as his cue to toss it across the chamber where it clattered against the tiled floor and hit the podium. “There is no need to escalate this when he obviously wishes to cooperate.”

[ “If I wasn’t gay I would have a crush on that woman!” Hydrus exclaimed. “She got control of the whole room with just two words!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll have a crush for both of us,” Theo assured him. Daphne flicked a popcorn kernel at the brunette.

“Susan Bones is in your year,” George pointed out.

“I heard she takes after her Aunty Amelia,” Fred added, wiggling his eyebrows at Theo. “Every Slytherin needs a Hufflepuff.”

If looks could kill the twins would not have survived the glare Daphne shot them. ]

“Thank you, Madam Bones,” Albus acknowledged. He was starting to feel like he had lost control. Regulus Black was supposed to be dead. It would be hard enough keeping Sirius contained but two Blacks on the loose could spell disaster. He had to get rid of one. 

“Regulus, my boy, I think it's safe to say we're surprised to see you alive and well. Why are you here?” he asked. 

“I came to set the record straight. As you can see, I am not dead and I wish to have my life back.”

“I see. May I ask where you have been?” 

“In hiding,” Regulus replied. “The Dark Lord was not pleased when I tried to liberate a couple of his Death Eaters. I had to disappear or my life would be forfeit.”

“You tried to free Death Eaters?” Lady Abbott asked.

“Yes. Not everyone who served the Dark Lord did so willingly.”

Several members of the Dark Faction eyed the younger Black warily. Lords Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Flint, Bulstrode, Nott, Avery and Parkinson had all escaped Azkaban by claiming they were coerced into taking the mark by way of the Imperious Curse. 

“Preposterous!” a voice roared. Rufus Scrimgeour sounded every bit like the King of Beasts he was so often compared to. His thick auburn hair was pulled back as best as he could but it still looked like a lion’s mane. “We had reliable intel that you and your friends Barty Crouch Jr. and Evan Rosier were within the Death Eater ranks.”

“Evan and Barty were,” Regulus confirmed. “Evan’s grandfather pledged his house to the Dark Lord. He was forced to take the mark or the Rosier’s would have been cursed for breaking their vow. I can only speculate on what Barty’s motivation was.”

Albus scoffed internally. Barty was an ungrateful son. A liar and a delinquent who needed a firm hand. A hand his father was devoted enough to provide despite Barty’s continued disobedience. Albus found himself wishing Crouch Sr. was in attendance. He would have seen the Blacks game for what it was. Unfortunately, Lord Crouch started avoiding the Wizengamot a few years prior. 

“It’s common knowledge that you and your brother had a falling out over your decision to become a Death Eater,” Lord Davis declared. He had been a prefect when the Black brothers parted ways and remembered how depressed the younger had been. 

“We did have a falling out but it was over his friends’ decisions to join the Death Eaters, not Regulus’,” Sirius explained. “I wanted him to cut ties with Evan and Barty but he refused.”

[ “Why aren't they using the Imperius Curse defense?” Draco asked. “I know from my Father that Regulus was a Death Eater, he even admitted it himself at Samhain. If they demand to see his arm it’s over.”

Luna and Hydrus remained silent. ]

“Nevertheless,” Albus spoke up, feeling it was high time he put a stop to this. “You were far too involved with known Death Eaters to be allowed to walk free. Aurors, please show Mr. Black to a holding cell until a hearing can be scheduled.”

“I don’t think so,” Sirius growled, his body tensing as if readying for a fight. “I’m sure everyone here understands why the House of Black refuses for one of their members to be imprisoned without charges.”

“Charges have been laid,” Scrimgeour insisted.

“Having friends with questionable affiliations is not a crime,” Sirius shot back. 

“Enough!” Amelia shouted. “We are getting nowhere. Lord Black, Mr. Black, are you prepared to have a hearing right now? Be warned, if this body finds that you have committed a crime you will be remanded to Ministry custody until your trial.”

“Madam Bones, I must protest,” Albus said quickly. “An emergency hearing needs to be officially requested by a sitting member and be supported by three others. One from each Faction.”

“I officially request an emergency hearing for my brother Regulus Black,” Sirius said immediately.

“The Chamber hears your request,” Albus agreed. “Who seconds?”

Albus tried not to smirk. Everyone was surprised by Sirius’ entrance, there was no way the Blacks had drumbed up enough tri-partisan support to move the hearing forward.

“Lady Bones of the Gray Faction seconds the motion,” Amelia announced.

[ Hydrus and Theo looked at each other and pretended to swoon. ]

“As does Lady Longbottom of the Light Faction,” Augusta added. Albus turned to her in surprise only to find her eyes already on him, a mixture of anger and vindictive glee on her face.

[ No one noticed when Neville’s face showed a similar expression, too busy laughing at Daphne pelting Theo and Hydrus with popcorn. ] 

“Lord Greengrass of the Dark Faction is in support,” Gareth Greengrass said, ignoring his fellow dark members when they glanced at him in confusion.

[ At the sound of her father’s voice Daphne froze, her head snapping toward the mirror.

“Why do you look so surprised?” Ginny asked, taking the popcorn from her before she wasted it all on the boys.

“Dad normally does a ton of research before he even considers voting in the Wizengamot,” Daphne replied. “It’s a running joke in our family that we need to give him five business days to make a decision.”

“Why would he back up Sirius and Regulus then?” Neville wondered. 

“I’ve mentioned Hydrus in a few letters home,” Daphne admitted. “He was pleased I found someone that enjoys hands-on learning like I do. Dad is always worried I’ll get hurt experimenting on my own.”

Hydrus beamed at her and Daphne was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of belonging that she had only ever felt around Theo. She smiled back at her friend. ]

“The motion has passed,” Albus declared, banging the gavel harder than he needed to. Every attempt he made to remove one of the Blacks from the board was failing. He had never been so sure sending Sirius to Azkaban was the right call and never more displeased that he got free. There were supposed to be no opponents left to challenge him. 

Amelia moved to the smaller podium on Albus’ left. As the Head of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement she was the best choice to judge the hearing. Albus almost protested, citing a conflict of interest since she had seconded the motion, but questioning Madam Bones on matters of justice was asking for trouble. 

“Regulus Arcturus Black, you stand accused of being a member of a terrorist organization, hereinafter referred to as the Death Eaters, how do you plead?” Amelia asked.

“Not guilty,” Regulus stated.

“Very well. Auror Scrimgeour, you put forth these charges. What evidence do you have that Mr. Black was or is a Death Eater?”

Scrimgeour tapped the table in front of him with his wand and a stack of papers appeared. He seemed taken aback by how thin the pile was. It was mostly Hogwarts records and the standard identification documents every wix had filed at the Ministry. Only a single war time report mentioned his name. 

“On the nineteenth of February 1979 Regulus Black was spotted in a Death Eater safe house during a raid by aurors,” Scrimgeour summarized. “He fled following the death of Evan Rosier with another Death Eater who was positively identified as Barty Crouch Jr.”

Albus didn't miss the way Regulus ducked his head and clenched his fists, nor how Sirius stepped slightly in front of his brother as if he could bodily protect him from bad memories. Normally Albus would feel giddy over finding an opponent’s weakness but with both boys dead their use as bargaining chips was minimal. 

“May I see that report, Mr. Scrimgeour?” Sirius asked. 

The Head Auror scowled, obviously not wanting to hand over his evidence, but Amelia ordered him to give it to her. She took her time reading all the details. When she reached the last page her face turned stoney, her anger controlled but on the verge of exploding. 

“Is this how the Auror Department is doing business now?” she hissed. “Misrepresenting evidence? The report does not positively identify the third masked Death Eater as Regulus Black. Auror Moody was simply asked to give his best guess. This is not solid evidence of the accused’s involvement!”

“Now now Amelia,” Albus soothed but only succeeded in making the woman bristle more. “Alastor Moody is a veteran auror with decades of experience. If he believes the third individual was Regulus Black we should take his word for it.”

“Have you gone mad?” Amelia snapped. “This is circumstantial at best!”

“Why don't we ask Alistor directly?” Albus suggested. “He is just outside.”

“Very well. Someone fetch Auror Moody.”

One of the guards ducked out of the chamber but returned quickly. Moody's entrance was preceded by the wooden thump of his clawed foot and tap of his staff. Sirius gave his old mentor a polite nod but Regulus pointedly looked away. He gripped his robes to stop his hands from shaking. 

“Auror Moody, in this report you came to the conclusion that the third, unknown contact could have been Regulus Black,” Amelia stated. “How confident are you in your assessment?”

The report floated over to Moody and he plucked it out of the air. He read it over with his good eye while his magical one spun wildly. Albus was confident Alistor would see the need to keep the Black family divided. His testimony at Sirius’ trial was just a lapse in judgment. Now that his old student was trying to get his Death Eater brother acquitted Alistor would cooperate. 

“Ah, it's that shit show of a raid,” Alistor growled to himself, handing the file to Sirius before both eyes snapped to the stands. “I had no real reason to suspect Regulus was present. That operation was a massive fuckup. Minister Bagnold was desperate for something to show for it and insisted I point fingers so her office could claim they had identified another Death Eater.”

“Are you saying you were coerced?” Amelia asked. 

“What gave it away?” Moody replied dryly. 

[ “ ‘How the bloody hell am I supposed to know who it was? ’,” Fred read aloud from the file currently taking up the entire mirror. “ ‘It could have been one of the Elites or some poor bastard who didn't even want to be a Death Eater in the first place. I heard Regulus Black was close with Crouch and Rosier in school. Maybe it was him. Or maybe it was any of the other hundred bloody kids they went to Hogwarts with. It could have been a Muggle playing dress up for Merlin’s sake!’ .” 

“Bloody hell,” George swore. “Scrimgeour thought that would hold up in court?” ]

“The evidence is removed,” Amelia declared. “We can not convict someone based on a guess. Do you have anything further Auror Scrimgeour?” 

Scrimgeour scowled at the useless documents in front of him. That was really the only time Regulus was mentioned in an official report but there was still one foolproof way to expose anyone as a Death Eater. 

“Check his arm,” Scrimgeour said. “He’ll have the mark.”

Albus smirked but quickly schooled his face. There was no getting out of it now. He watched the Black brothers closely, waiting for the moment of sweet despair when they realized they had been outsmarted, but that was not what he saw. Sirius’ eyes twinkled and a small smile pulled at the corners of his lips. Regulus looked just as smug as he unbuttoned his cuff and rolled up his sleeve revealing— nothing. 

[ “What the fuck!” Theo exclaimed, half out of his seat as he gaped at the image of Regulus’ bare arm.

“Can you become a Death Eater without being marked?” Pansy asked, equally as shocked and confused. 

“No,” Draco replied. “Uncle Sev was a spy and not even he was spared.”

“How then?” Pansy demanded, on the verge of hysterics. 

“Be calm,” a melodic voice soothed. The trio felt gentle magic brush against their skin as they met Luna’s intense blue eyes. “We will explain. Have patience.”

The Slytherins sat frozen for a moment before nodding and settling back in their chairs. They let Luna’s magic calm their swirling thoughts until they got a chance to ask questions. ]

A roar filled the chambers. Some people were insisting it was a trick but more than Albus would like were demanding justice for the Blacks. Even his own followers looked unsure. 

He glanced at the Dark Faction and caught a silent exchange between the Lords that had managed to shirk their punishment. Most looked shocked and angry but when the rest weren't paying attention two let their true feelings surface. Lord Nott and Lord Parkinson looked reluctantly hopeful. Was it possible at least a couple former Death Eaters were telling the truth? Albus shook his head, dismissing the thought. No one who practices dark magic could be trusted. They were all liars and criminals. 

“That's not possible!” Scrimgeour cried as the hubbub died down. “He's concealing it somehow!”

Amelia sighed.

“Auror Moody, can you please check that Mr. Black isn't using a disillusionment charm or similar?”

Regulus’ head snapped up, his face twisted in disgust, but Sirius grabbed his arm. They had a quiet conversation where it looked like the younger Black would hit his brother but Regulus soon relaxed, even if his eyes still held a flame of anger. Sirius studied him for a few more seconds, confirming he would cooperate, before waving Alistor over. 

“ Finite Incantatem ,” Alistor said, jabbing his wand at where the mark would normally be. “ Revelio .”

Regulus’s arm remained bare. Alistor spent a couple more minutes casting various silent spells but it changed nothing. 

[ While the Wizengamot members watched Moody move his wand in random patterns Sirius and Regulus, along with their secret audience, were listening to the old auror talk. 

“You have every right not to trust me,” he whispered. “But it will help your case if I'm the one that clears you.”

“Distrust is the least of your worries,” Regulus hissed. 

Moody sighed and did a dramatic zig-zag motion over Regulus’ arm. 

“I'm sorry about Rosier but you don't know everything about that night. When you're ready, I'm willing to talk.”

“What is Regulus’ problem with Moody?” Fred asked, watching the auror jab the younger Black, earning him a withering glare. 

“Moody is responsible for my Uncle Evan’s death,” Luna replied. “At least that's what we believed.” ]

“ Scourgify ,” Moody said aloud, proving that Regulus hadn't used Muggle means to hide the mark. “He's clear. No mark.”

“I think we're ready for a vote,” Amelia announced. “Those in favor of clearing Regulus Arcturus Black of all charges?”

All of the Gray Faction, about a third of the Light Faction and just over half of the Dark Faction raised their wands. Albus wanted to curse them. Most of the Dark Faction knew for a fact that Regulus had been a Death Eater but they were staying silent to save their own skins. Dishonorable wretches. 

“All those opposed?”

Albus didn't even bother voting, choosing to abstain. The question was redundant anyway. 

“Regulus Black is cleared of all charges,” Amelia announced, banging her gavel. “The Ministry will release an official announcement informing the public and will do everything in their power to reverse the effects of his assumed death.”

“Thank you Madam Bones,” Albus said. He wanted to move on quickly. There would be time later to plan his next move. “Let us continue our regular session. Lord Black please take your seat. Mr. Black, feel free to make yourself comfortable in the spectator section.”

Albus had never been happier that the last session of the year was known to be quick and boring. It meant there were less spectators to witness this disaster first hand. Unfortunately, the Daily Prophet always sent a representative. 

“I'm sure I would be, Chief Warlock,” Regulus replied. “But I would prefer to take my Wizengamot seat.”

Albus’ growl was drowned out by fresh murmurs. When would the madness end? Sirius had already secured six votes, three poached from his own collection. If Regulus claimed an Ancient House the Blacks would hold almost as many votes as him.

“Explain yourself,” Albus demanded, more like an exasperated parent than a patient grandfather. 

“When Evan was forced to join the Death Eaters he took precautions to protect his family line,” Regulus stated as he pulled a few pieces of folded parchment from his pocket. “He named me Proxy of the House of Rosier in the event he, as the last Lord, died without an heir.”

He tossed the papers into the air and Sirius vanished them to Albus’ podium. He frowned at the official Gringotts seal stamped on the front. 

“What about Pandora Rosier’s child?” Lord Diggory spoke up. “She had a daughter didn’t she? Can she not claim the title?” 

The Blacks turned to Diggory but someone else spoke before they could. 

“Pandora No Name was disowned by the House of Rosier,” Lord Malfoy sneered. “She and her husband fabricated the name Lovegood in a pathetic attempt to create their own house. The pair were ungrateful wretches rejected by their families and their little chit will never be Lady Rosier.”

Regulus was seething at the Malfoy Lord. Only his elder brother's hand on his shoulder and the fact that his wand was still lying on the floor across the chamber saved Lucius from a nasty hex. 

“I may have only met Luna recently but regardless of her low status she is still my goddaughter,” Regulus hissed. “You will not insult her in my presence.”

[ “Malfoy, your father is a dick,” Fred stated. 

“Mhmm,” Draco hummed, pinching the bridge of his nose in embarrassment. 

“I don't like the look in Dumbledore's eye,” Neville pointed out. Everyone glanced up to see that obnoxious twinkle in the Headmaster’s gaze. It felt significantly less innocent now that they knew what he was really like. 

“What if he looks into Luna’s life now that he knows she's connected to Regulus?” Pansy asked worriedly. 

“We planned for that,” Hydrus assured them but didn't elaborate. There would be time when the session ended. ]

“There is no need to insult the poor girl,” Albus admonished. He had noticed the ditzy Ravenclaw was close to Sirius’ bastard. Maybe he could encourage a falling out between them? That would keep the two brothers from working together. “Mr. Black, please say your oath so we can move on.”

Sirius summoned Regulus’ wand and the younger brother pointed it toward the ceiling.

“I, Regulus Arcturus Black, claim proxy over the Noble and Most Ancient House of Rosier on behalf of my late friend and blood brother, Evan Francois Rosier. I vow to uphold his legacy until a proper heir is found or I enter the realm of Lord Death. So mote it be.”

The Rosier seat flashed and the family crest depicting a shield embossed with an elegant R surrounded by thorny rose branches became bolder and more colorful. 

“I move the Rosier seat to the Gray Faction.”

The chair melted and reformed beside the Black seat. There was some grumbling from the Dark Faction but no one bothered to voice their displeasure this time. Sirius and Regulus climbed the stairs and settled in for their first Wizengamot session. Albus already wanted it to be over.

******************

As the conversation on the other side of the mirror turned to boring government matters the eleven Hogwarts students in the Room of Requirement started talking amongst themselves. 

“That could have gone much worse,” Blaise pointed out. “Regulus is legally alive again and all your seats are secured.”

“Except their Blessed seats,” Pansy added, an evil smile playing at her lips as she imagined the juicy drama that would erupt if Hydrus and Luna activated two of the seats on the upper level of the Wizengamot.

“We do plan on claiming those eventually,” Hydrus revealed. “But it’s too convenient being underestimated at the moment.”

“Even without our debut the Wizengamot is going to get a shake up over the next couple years,” Luna predicted.

“I don’t know if we can top Sirius and Regulus’ performance…” George said. 

“...but we’ll do our best,” Fred added. 

The twins had written to their grandmother not long after Samhain. They used Poe to avoid detection and to get around the mail wards Luna had found on them. Dowager Prewett was elated to hear from her grandsons and relieved they were willing to take the Lordships. They planned to meet with her over Yule. 

“Speaking of Gringotts,” Ginny said. “I assume you had their help with all this?”

“The goblins are not fans of Albus Dumbledore and were willing to bend some rules,” Hydrus confirmed. “They backdated the proxy declaration and had Luna approve it with the Rosier seal rather than a signature so everyone would assume it was Evan that signed off on it. They also helped with fabricating a guardian for her.”

“Explain that,” Daphne requested. “I think we’ll all feel better if we know Luna is safe from the Goat’s meddling.”

“He’s definitely going to show more interest in me now that he knows I’m in contact with Papa,” Luna admitted. “But we managed to make it look like I’ve been living somewhere else all these years. 

“When mum and dad moved to Ottery St. Catchpole they had nothing. Few wixen families would befriend them because they didn’t know what they had done to get disowned. Only one local didn’t care about their past, an old squib lady that runs a kneazle and cat sanctuary outside the village.”

“Mrs. Figg!” Ginny exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly. “I’ve always wanted to adopt one of her kneazles but mum said no because of Percy and Ron’s stupid rat. I really wanted this gorgeous white one. She was so soft.”

Luna and Hydrus stared at Ginny long enough that her wide grin faded before they suddenly burst out laughing. Luna nearly rolled off her poof but Hydrus caught her with his leg.

“Was the— ha! — was the ca– cat’s name S-Selene?” Hydrus wheezed. 

“Yes…” Ginny confirmed. “What is happening?”

Rather than answer Luna transformed into a kneazle that was about three times the size of a regular house cat. She was mostly white but the tufts of fur at the end of her tail and the tips of her ears were a soft gray. Her eyes were the same sapphire blue as her human form and her little nose was a blush pink. Luna pranced over to Ginny, her sleek, medium length fur rippling with the movement, and hopped into her lap. The redhead stroked her back in a daze, making Luna start puring.

“H–How? I thought your animagus form was a unicorn?” Ginny asked once she had processed her best friend being the cat she had begged her mom to adopt. 

“Remember our Animagus Triforma ability?” Hydrus replied. “It means we each have three animagus forms.”

“So Luna can be a unicorn and a kneazle?” Daphne asked. Hydrus nodded. “And you can be a thestral?” he nodded again. “What else?”

Hydrus stood and transformed into a huge dog. It was like a doberman but the size of Hagrid’s boarhound, Fang. He was pitch black with bright red eyes and sharp teeth that became visible when he started panting and wagging his tail. As they watched, dark mist began rolling off his back.

“A Grim,” Theo realized.

Hydrus transformed back.

“Yep. I can even use shadows to travel in that form like Anubis and Alphie can,” he shared.

“What is your final form?” Neville asked. Hydrus opened his mouth but was interrupted by his sister.

“We can’t just tell you,” she stated, sitting across Ginny’s lap. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Ginny’s face was turning the same color as her hair. It looked like she had quickly caught Luna when she transformed back and had inadvertently grabbed the blonde’s waist and thigh. Luna having both arms around Ginny’s neck was also not helping the redhead calm down. 

“You two and your secrets,” Blaise teased. “Anyway, you were telling us about an old cat lady?”

“Right, Mrs. Figg,” Luna said, wiggling so she was more secure in Ginny’s hold. “She saw us when I was six and Papa took me to visit my parent’s graves. She tried to hit him with her bag thinking he had kidnapped me but once he explained she invited us for tea. I wanted to play with the kittens so I transformed for the first time and Mrs. Figg offered to babysit when our house elf Juppy wasn't available.

“Around Samhain Papa asked if she was okay pretending to be my guardian in case Dumbledore got nosy. She agreed and the Goblins created a fake will placing me in her custody to go with the fake birth certificate that hides my true birth date. Even if Dumbledore uses legilimency on her it wouldn’t work. Mrs. Figg learned enough occlumency that she can hide memories of papa while feeding him memories of me when I would visit.”

“You’re trusting a squib with your safety?” Draco asked incredulously.

“Sure. Why not? It’s not Mrs. Figg’s fault she was born without magic and she observes more wixen customs than some half-bloods do. She’s what Muggle’s call Wiccan. While she can’t cast spells the traditional way she still honors the old gods and uses offerings or prayers to invoke small bursts of wild magic. It’s quite impressive.”

By the time Luna finished talking Draco looked thoughtful. Most wizards had forgotten that magic didn't just come from within. It was all around them and wix simply had the ability to channel it. Muggle practices may not be very powerful but sometimes all someone needed was a small miracle.

“Okay, Luna is safe. That's great. Can you please explain how Regulus got rid of his mark now?”

If they didn't know Theo they would have thought he didn't actually care about Luna's safety but that was far from true. He was an attentive friend, always ready to help with homework or assist with a new passion project, but sometimes his thirst for knowledge made him impatient. In this situation his natural voraciousness was being combined with desperation. 

Theo's father had joined the Death Eaters for access to forbidden magic that he could use to cure his wife’s blood curse. He didn't realize he was being strung along until the day after her funeral when a book containing the cure was left on her grave. By then it was too late to escape and he had his newborn son to think about. The son his wife had died to bring into the world. 

“The mark contains an Oath of Servitude geared toward Voldemort. It's what allows him to use it to summon his followers,” Luna explained. She felt kind of bad for not warning Theo, Pansy and Draco beforehand. She hadn't realized how affected they would be seeing Regulus’ mark gone. “You remember how I said I was taught Fae magic? One of the things I learned was how to create magical oaths, and how to break them. 

“It's very difficult to break a properly executed oath but the Dark Mark is far from perfect. Fae tie their contracts to a person's name since there is nothing more deeply etched into a person's being than their true name. Voldemort only tied the mark to his follower’s magic. Magic is fluid, it's easy to manipulate if you're skilled enough. 

“I got lucky with Papa. While it is possible to make multiple oaths, not all are equally powerful. When Papa, Uncle Barty and Uncle Evan were young they made an Oath of Brotherhood and tied it to their love for each other. It was this oath that made them join the Death Eaters together, to keep each other safe. I was able to use that much more powerful agreement to break the Oath of Servitude. After that the mark just faded away.”

Luna didn't even notice the way everyone else was staring at her. All her focus was on Pansy, Theo and Draco. Pansy had hopeful tears in her eyes but she was looking between Theo and Luna timidly, needing a second opinion on if it was even possible. Draco looked conflicted and it wasn't difficult to figure out why. His relationship with his father was rocky at best. Theo was deep in thought, barely even breathing as he stored away all the new information and mulled over their implications. 

“Can you repeat the process with other Death Eaters?” he finally asked.

“I don't know,” Luna admitted. “Like I said, it was pure luck that Papa had made another oath. Without that I would have to find a different way to sever the bond.”

“But you would try?”

“Of course I would try,” Luna assured him. 

“For my dad too?” Pansy asked. 

“For anyone who wants it.”

Luna’s eyes flicked to Draco who took a deep breath and clenched his fists. 

“Not mine,” he said firmly. “Let him reap what he sows.”

Luna nodded, no judgment or disappointment on her face. 

A flurry of rustling robes, footsteps and overlapping voices suddenly filled the room. They turned their attention back to the mirror in time to see Sirius quickly follow Regulus across the Wizengamot floor, avoiding anyone who looked like they wanted to talk. As soon as they closed the antichamber door Sirius plucked off his tie clip and held it out so both brothers were in frame.

“We did it,” he said. “I'm sure we’ll be getting some interesting owls over Yule. Have a good trip home, Pup, I'll see you tomorrow.”

“You too Starlight,” Regulus added. “Good night kids.”

The pair waved before the mirror shimmered and the image of the Black brothers was replaced with a reflection of the Room of Requirement and the eleven students sprawled across chairs with popcorn scattered everywhere. 

“Well, you heard the man,” Fred said as he stood and stretched. 

“Train leaves tomorrow,” George reminded them, standing as well. 

“I haven't packed anything,” Pansy whined. 

“Me neither,” Neville sympathized. “It will probably take me hours to find Trevor.”

“I'll help you find Trevor if you help me find my shoes,” Luna offered, leading the way to the exit. “And my yellow raincoat.”

“I wish you would let me get back at those girls,” Hydrus lamented. While most of Ravenclaw had started leaving Luna alone, Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe still stole her things. 

“Hydrus, what did I tell you?” Luna scolded. 

“Material possessions can be replaced,” Hydrus answered reluctantly.

“So you can’t?”

“Take their souls.”

The group laughed as they exited the Room. They had a lot to do before getting on the train in the morning. 

Yule was going to be busy.

Chapter Text

Kreacher appeared in the library at Grimmauld Place with a loud crack, pulling Hydrus away from his book. 

“Master Hydrus. Master Regulus has arrived with the young Mistress,” the house elf informed him before popping away again. Hydrus snapped his book closed and bolted out of the room, taking the stairs two or three at a time. 

It had been less than a day since he parted from everyone at King's Cross but he was already missing them. Their Slytherin friends had said goodbye on the train as they pulled into the station. They were already going to be subjected to various levels of interrogation from their parents regarding their friendship with Hydrus Black so it was better not to be seen with him until the madness mellowed. Fred, George and Ginny were in the same boat but that situation was further exacerbated by Ronald’s anger over his sibling’s ‘betrayal’ and Lady Weasley’s questionable loyalty. In the end only Neville, Luna and Hydrus exited the train together. 

The station was packed with families looking for their children but it was easy for the trio to find their guardians. Dowager Longbottom chatting with Lord Black and the newly resurrected Regulus Black drew a lot of stares. The gray haired woman standing beside them wearing a homely brown dress and an apron still dusted with flour also didn't help matters. 

“Luna! Sweetheart! I missed you!” Arabella Figg cried when she saw them, pulling Luna into a hug. 

“Hello Granny,” Luna said, hugging her back before turning to introduce the boys. “These are my friends Neville Longbottom and Hydrus Black.”

“Ma’am,” the boys said politely, bowing. 

“Well, aren't you two sweet?” Mrs. Figg cooed. “I'm glad I could meet you. I haven't been able to pick Luna up before now but Regulus was kind enough to help me through the floo.”

Hydrus allowed himself a small smile at Mrs. Figg’s cunning explanation for why no one had seen her collect Luna before. She winked at him, eyes twinkling with mirth.  

Neville and Hydrus greeted their own guardians and made the proper introductions. Dowager Longbottom looked Hydrus over critically before extending an offer for everyone to join them for Yule. 

“I'll owl you with the details,” she assured them when they agreed but her heavy gaze indicated that her letter would focus more on finalizing their trip to Gringotts rather than holiday festivities. 

Once the Longbottoms left Luna and Regulus made a show of saying goodbye before the women headed for the floos and the Black men joined the crowd at the apparition point. They had decided it was safer for the father and daughter to be seen leaving separately but while Hydrus and Sirius landed in the park across from Grimmauld Place Regulus went directly to Pleiades House. Hydrus had tried not to pout but failed miserably. Sirius ruffled his hair and assured him that his sister and uncle would be coming by the next day. 

“Lu!” Hydrus cried when he spotted his sister in the parlor. He snatched her up and spun her around as she giggled. 

“How come you're never that happy to see me?” Sirius asked Regulus who punched him in the arm. 

Once everyone had greeted each other Hydrus excitedly showed Luna around. She was charmed by the small back garden and excited to spend time in the library but she especially loved her room. It was next to Hydrus’ and decked out in crazy patterns and bright colors. In the summer when Hydrus was trying to get over his agoraphobia he had forced himself to go into stores and interact with the clerks just to buy things for decorating Luna’s room. She was especially pleased with the custom drawings of fantastical creatures only the Fae still remembered but she had described to him in great detail over the years. 

They had a wonderful lunch with their dads on the upstairs terrace and spent the afternoon in the family parlor playing chess, exploding snap and a particularly raucous round of gobstones that nearly broke an expensive vase. 

Kreacher made sure everyone always had their favorite drinks and snacks but it was obvious he was absolutely smitten with Luna. Walburga Black had been a horrible person and mother but Kreacher had been her personal elf until the day she died. He was very excited to have a Mistress around again. 

After dinner Sirius and Regulus invited the kids to spend some time in the library while they wrote to Dowager Longbottom. 

“Hey Hyde?” Luna asked after an hour of just enjoying the quiet and each other's company. Hydrus hummed but didn’t turn away from his book. 

“When was the last time you went to the cottage?”

He looked up, brows furrowed as he thought. Now that he and Luna saw each other every day their visits to the cottage had reduced significantly.

“Just before Samhain I think,” he replied. “Sometimes it's hard to tell if I'm traveling or I'm just dreaming, you know?”

“We should visit tonight,” Luna suggested. “We've learned a lot, the cottage probably has some new stuff.”

“Sure, sounds like fun,” Hydrus agreed and smiled as he felt Luna's excitement and curiosity zip across their bond. 

They went back to their reading until their dads returned and spent another hour chatting before going to bed. As soon as their heads hit their pillows they were drifting off and flying away. 

They always woke up in their chairs by the fire as if they had simply fallen asleep listening to the logs crackle and snap. Not much about the cozy living area had changed except now there were several picture frames on the mantle. The images inside were snapshots of memories; Draco and Blaise grinning after they made the Quidditch team, Fred and George trying to escape being hit with the abnormally large book Theo was attempting to read, Ginny, Daphne and Pansy laughing in the kitchens, each with a bowl of icecream in front of them, and Neville smiling softly as he pruned the Venomous Tentacula in the greenhouse. 

“There's more photos over here,” Luna called from near the bookshelves. 

Amongst the astronomy texts there was a framed memory of Sirius and Regulus from earlier that day. Sirius was trying to block his brother’s view of the chess board as if that would help him not get absolutely trounced. 

In the potions section Luna recognized one of her own memories from when she had come across Uncle Severus in the herb garden. It was one of the few times since Samhain she was able to spend time with him without his strict and grumpy professor mask on. 

The final picture was in the magical creatures section. The photo showed a scene Hydrus remembered from after the November full moon. Remus was passed out at his desk but despite his obvious exhaustion he was smiling in his sleep. 

“You think the cottage is trying to remind us we have people around who can teach us now?” Luna asked. She was studying a picture from Samhain that showed all the goblins decked out in their ceremonial gear with Professor Flitwick as the obvious focal point. The photo was in a section dedicated to banking and investments that hadn't existed before. 

“Maybe,” Hydrus replied, pulling a book he didn't recognize from beside Uncle Moony’s picture. It was a handwritten journal by a werewolf from Nepal. He opened it to a random page.

“Or maybe it's trying to help our coven too,” he suggested, turning the book toward Luna so she could read the list of recommended practices for making the monthly transformation smoother. 

“Ginny has been looking for a joke jinx that can still pack a punch,” Luna said distractedly, turning toward the books. “I wonder if I can find something here.”

“Is it for Ron?” Hydrus asked devilishly. 

Before Luna could answer one of the wind chimes ringing softly but insistently up near the top right of the shelf. It depicted a Quidditch player bent low over their broom. Underneath hung the chimes and small metal replicas of a quaffle, a pair of bludgers and a golden snitch. Hydrus reached up and grabbed the book that the distinctly redheaded player was diving for. Unusual Jinxes: For Friends and Enemies.

“I think you're in luck,” Hydrus said, handing it to Luna. 

They spent the rest of the night reading up on various new topics, not hesitating to share interesting facts with each other when they came across them. The pair only stopped once to make tea and discovered they now had access to some blends Pansy had recommended and Blaise’s favorite brand of Italian coffee. 

Eventually the clock started cuckooing, indicating that it was nearly morning back home. Luna and Hydrus put aside their books, leaned back in their chairs and closed their eyes. When they opened them again they were in their beds at Grimmauld Place. The sun was peeking around the edge of the curtains and they could smell bacon cooking down stairs. Hydrus hugged his pillow, not willing to leave the warmth of his bed just yet, and found a weather worn journal tucked under it. Meanwhile, Luna woke hugging a neon green book of jinxes to her chest. 

The second day of break passed pretty much the same as the day before but Remus managed to escape Hogwarts to join them for dinner. He couldn't stay long since Dumbledore would eventually wonder where he was despite him begging off joining his co-workers for a meal. The moon had been the same night as the Wizengamot, so he was using it as an excuse to lock himself away from prying eyes.

Hydrus thought back to what he had read in the journal and discreetly requested Kreacher make two of the meals extremely rare. When the barely seared and bloody steak appeared on Remus’ plate he just about started drooling. He looked around sheepishly at everyone else's medium rare steaks but did a double take when he saw Hydrus’ equally bloody food. Hydrus caught his uncle's eye and took a big bite. 

“ ‘I'm not a werewolf but I am something’ ,” Remus said, quoting what Hydrus had told him back in October. 

“Yes, well, that may have been a gross oversimplification,” Hydrus confessed. “but true in essence.”

The teen grinned and growled softly like a playful cub. It made Remus’ wolf rumble happily.

Hydrus took another bite of his steak and Remus remembered they were eating dinner. He cut off a piece of his own meal but paused before putting it in his mouth. He would be lying if he said he hadn't craved rare meat before, especially right after the full moon, but he had never dared to try it. Hydrus huffed, encouraging him to eat in a language only the two of them could understand, and Remus obeyed. 

It was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted. He felt his wolf rear up as if it also wanted a taste and for once Remus didn't wrestle it back down. He allowed it to stay just under the surface, present but not overwhelming. 

“Your eyes are amber,” Hydrus pointed out. Remus glanced at him and noticed a touch of yellow in the green around his nephew’s pupils. Hydrus went back to his food, breaking eye contact, but that just drew Remus’ attention to the rune tattooed on his left cheek.

“I’ve been meaning to ask about the tattoos,” Remus prompted, deciding that his questions regarding what exactly Hydrus was were too numerous to get into over dinner.

“Cool right?” Sirius said, tugging the collar of his shirt open to show the trident-like rune on his chest. Remus’ heart rate picked up a little. “Hydrus created the runes and did most of the tattooing. This one helps me wrap my magic around myself. It takes a lot of energy but it’s worth it for a full body shield I can put up with just a thought.”

There was a slight increase in air pressure around Sirius and his form became blurry like they were seeing him through lightly dusted glass. After a moment the effect disappeared. 

“And that's not all!” Sirius gushed. “Hydrus has the same protection rune on his chest and the ones on his collarbones and my neck are low level healing spells that can promote faster recovery, fight infection and even regulate temperature and blood pressure.”

Sirius moved his hair aside to show Remus a line of tattoos crawling up the side of his neck to behind his ear. Remus knew it was mirrored on the other side as well.

“Mine include runes that simulate the effects of a calming drought to offset the Black Madness,” Sirius continued, sounding beyond proud of his son. “They were some of the first runes Hydrus felt were good enough to tattoo and were a gods-send for surviving Azkaban. He created them at seven bloody years old!”

“Seven!?” Remus exclaimed. “Surely he didn’t actually do the tattooing that young?” 

He was thoroughly impressed with his nephew’s achievements but no seven year old had the dexterity for the kind of detail these runes contained.

“Oh, Merlin no!” Sirius laughed. “Thorfinn’s family still keeps some viking traditions, including getting a personalized tattoo when they come of age or achieve something. He did the tattooing until Hydrus was comfortable taking over.”

“Thorfinn?” Remus questioned.

“Yeah. Thorfinn Rowle. Interesting guy. He joined Voldemort after his whole family was killed by muggles at their Villa in Finland. He was rightfully upset and may have been a bit impulsive.”

Regulus snorted at his brother's gross understatement. He remembered how angry and violent Rowle had been in the first couple years of his service, always the first to get on board when they were cleared for Muggle hunting. By the time he realized killing random Muggles wasn't helping his grief and took the time to reflect it was too late. He was already a murderer and got sent to Azkaban a few months later.

“Anyway,” Sirius exclaimed, not done praising his son. “Hydrus’ best work is on his hands. Since he didn’t have access to a practice wand the runes between his knuckles helped him to channel his power. He basically learned wandless magic at nine!”

Remus whistled lowly.

“That's quite the feat, cub,” he praised the teen. “You really are full of surprises.”

Hydrus turned bright red.

“It’s not that impressive,” he mumbled. The three adults looked at him like he was insane and Luna rolled her eyes so hard it must have hurt.

“He thinks it’s not impressive because it was too easy,” she scoffed. “His Dark Speech ability works on written languages so ancient runes come naturally to him.”

“Hey! The vision tattoo took me months!” Hydrus protested, tapping the rune under his eye. “Do you know how hard it is to create a rune that permanently alters someone without causing major magical exhaustion? I don't need glasses now and I can see in the dark!”

“Ha! You need a rune to see in the dark!” Luna taunted, partially shifting into her kneazle form. Her face was now framed by silky white fur and two gray tufted ears poked out from under her hair. She grew whiskers and her pupils turned to slits. She scrunched up her little pink nose, looking across the table at Remus and Sirius.

“You two smell like wet dog,” she griped.

“No transformations at the table!” Regulus scolded and the blond immediately returned to her normal form. “And stop being a brat. You're going to give poor Lupin a heart attack.”

“Yeah Luna. You’re being mean to Uncle Moony,” Hydrus pouted. “Imagine if he knew you were Fae Kissed.”

Remus choked on his wine. Sirius slapped him on the back, partially to help him regain his breath and partially in solidarity of being subjected to the twin’s hazing. 

“No one has been Fae Kissed in almost a millennium!” Remus exclaimed. He had been fascinated with magical creatures his whole life, it had even been the subject of his Mastery, but there were no beings less understood than the Fae. Most species spent their whole lives invisible, only seen on special occasions if you were lucky. 

“Luna was raised in Pladies House,” Regulus explained. “The forest nearby is protected by ancient ward stones and is home to multiple fairy circles. The Fae have a particular fondness for Lady Fate since they're one of the few being long-lived enough to appreciate her work.”

“I am an Honored Sister of Avalon,” Luna continued. “The Fae consider me one of their own. My pre-Hogwarts education included lessons with the High Elves and most light creatures trust me since the Fae are sworn to protect them. I hold an unofficial position in their court. You could say I’m the wixen ambassador.”

“Don't let her fool you,” Hydrus warned, side eyeing his drama loving sister. “She's not just a visitor to Avalon. She’s eaten enough of their food and attended enough rituals that she's basically a fairy herself.”

Luna stuck her tongue out at her brother and Hydrus copied her. Remus decided that he had better get used to being surprised or he was going to spend the rest of his life with his jaw on the floor. 

The remainder of the meal passed with easy conversation and moments of bright laughter. Remus enjoyed listening to Hydrus ramble about dementors and merfolk and he hung on every word Luna said when she dropped little tidbits about growing up near a magical forest. Watching the pair made Remus painfully nostalgic. Hydrus reminded him of Lily when she lost herself in one passion project or another, excited to share her research. Luna shouldn't have elicited quite the same reaction but something about her was so familiar. 

Despite being in the same year as Pandora Lovegood Remus hadn't known her very well, but he always suspected she knew about his furry little problem. At the time he hadn’t wondered why her knowing didn't send him into a panic but talking to Luna made him realize it was because she was radiant. Something about her had oozed safety, promising shelter if you wanted it and quiet comfort if you didn't. Luna was much the same. She was playful and mysterious and enjoyed causing chaos but she was also calming and disarming in a way that didn't feel like she was trying to pry you open. It was more like she was helping to hold you up so you had a moment to breathe. 

She adored her dad and loved her uncle but she was totally and completely devoted to her brother. Hydrus wholeheartedly returned the sentiment. They drifted together like the tide and orbited each other like planets, dancing to music only they could hear. Remus felt an odd sensation in his chest like his wolf had just done a happy little twirl around his heart. She is pack , it said. 

Remus was disappointed when the clock struck 7:50 and he had to leave. He suspected Dumbledore would pop by for a nightcap and a little interrogation before turning in. 

Sirius escorted him to the door. Remus had just stepped outside and turned to say goodbye but was surprised when Sirius pecked him on the cheek. 

“S–see you next year Moony,” he stuttered quickly before shutting the door in his face. 

Remus stood in shock for a moment, brushing his fingertips over the tingling spot where Sirius’ lips had been. He felt like a schoolboy again and couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as he turned toward the apparition point. His wolf bound through his veins, howling triumphantly. 

Inside, Sirius returned to the kitchen to find Luna and Hydrus sitting shoulder to shoulder, staring at him. They looked equal parts pleased and exasperated. 

“You know nothing,” he hissed at them, internally cursing the twin’s strange omniscience. Luna and Hydrus simply tilted their heads toward each other and grinned impishly. 

Two more days passed before the Black family was gathered in the parlor preparing to floo to Gringotts. 

Dowager Longbottom had confirmed her and Neville’s appointment with their account manager the day before and informed them that Dowager Prewett had gotten a meeting with her account manager at the same time. The twins had used Poe to inform Fred and George since Hedwig was too conspicuous. The raven had strict orders to only approach the redheaded twins if they were alone and had returned a few hours later with a hastily scribbled note confirming they and Ginny would arrive on time. 

Hydrus stepped into the private arrivals room after Regulus and turned to offer Luna his elbow as she emerged from the flames. Sirius arrived last, brushing ashes off his robes. Not a minute later the fire roared to life again and the Longbottoms appeared along with a woman they didn't recognize. She had chestnut brown hair streaked with gray and plaited down her back. She wore richly embroidered robes in lilac and sunshine yellow. Her complexion was a healthy tan from spending time outdoors and the lines around her mouth and hazel eyes indicated she was an expressive person. 

“Hydrus! Luna!” Neville called when he spotted them. He offered his arm to his grandmother and came over, followed by the mystery woman. 

“Lord Black, Mister Black, Heir and Heiress Black,” he said, nodding to each of them in turn. “Well met. You know my grandmother, Dowager Augusta Longbottom, and this is Dowager Muriel Prewett.”

“Well met,” Sirius acknowledged, taking Dowager Prewett’s hand and kissing the back of it. She smiled softly. 

“I am pleased to meet you, Lord Black,” she said politely. 

“Call me Sirius,” Sirius insisted. “There are far too many Blacks present to use formal titles.”

“Then you may call me Muriel,” Muriel replied. “I hear it’s your family I have to thank for bringing some of my grandchildren back to me.”

“It was all the children’s doing, I assure you,” Sirius refuted. “May I introduce my brother Regulus Black.”

Regulus smiled and inclined his head in greeting. 

“And our wards, Hydrus and Cassandra Black.”

Hydrus bowed while Luna curtsied. 

“Please call me Hydrus ma’am,” Hydrus allowed. 

“And I prefer Luna,” Luna added. 

“I must confess, I was under the impression your name was Luna Lovegood,” Muriel said. “Am I mistaken?”

“No ma’am, I do go by Luna Lovegood but my name is Cassandra Lunara Black, adopted daughter of Regulus Black.”

“So your interaction on Platform 9 ¾ was a performance,” Augusta stated, less of a question and more an observation.

“Smoke and mirrors, Dowager Longbottom,” Luna confirmed with a smile. “Just smoke and mirrors for the eyes of an old Goat.”

Augusta laughed. This outing was proving very exciting already. She had never been one of Dumbledore's followers but she had respected him up until he virtually abandoned her son and daughter-in-law the moment they were of no further use to him. Still, she had no reason to be openly hostile until Neville had written to her explaining that they had been betrayed and to expect a letter from a friend in a few days. Lord Black’s correspondence had laid out the manipulations of an egotistical old coot who had dared place spells on her grandson. Augusta wanted nothing more than to make him suffer. 

The click of the door announced the arrival of a trio of redheads. The Weasleys had made an effort to look presentable. Fred and George were in semi-formal but well worn robes over black slacks and dress shirts in maroon and bottle green while Ginny wore a burnt-yellow sweater and fitted black pants. A navy cloak hung over her arm. 

“Sorry we’re late,” Fred said, hurrying toward them. “We weren't sure if mum monitors the floo so we had to apparate.”

“No need to apologize,” Sirius assured them. “We only arrived ten minutes ago.”

The siblings paused, their eyes falling on Muriel. The twins hadn't seen their grandmother in over a decade and Ginny had never met her.

“Grandmother?” George asked. 

“Hello my dears,” Muriel said softly, almost reverently. “It's good to see you.”

“It's good to see you too,” Fred replied, swallowing a lump in his throat. He could feel George's awe and nerves over their bond. 

“You can call me Grandma if you'd like,” Muriel suggested, sounding nervous herself. “But if you're uncomfortable with that Muriel will do.”

“No! Um… Grandma is perfect,” George said. “I’m George. This is Fred. We’re twins, but you probably already knew that. And this is Ginny.”

Ginny waved shyly, partially hiding behind her brothers. Neither Hydrus or Luna had ever seen her so unsure before. Muriel smiled at her granddaughter. 

“It’s okay dear, let me look at you,” she coaxed. 

Ginny crept out of hiding and approached her grandmother. Muriel smiled and brushed a lock of Ginny’s wavy red hair behind her ear, letting her palm rest on her cheek.

“Your grandfather had hair just like yours,” she said fondly. “I’m sorry I’ve not been part of your life. I should have tried harder to get your mother to see reason. If it’s okay with you, I would like to get to know you better. All three of you.”

Ginny nodded, feeling a little choked up. Her Grandmother’s hand felt rough and calloused but warm. It was comforting, like her mother’s had been before Ginny developed her ‘boyish tendencies’. Muriel’s smile brightened.

“Thank you dear,” she said softly. “Now, I believe we have very important business to attend to but first, I have to properly introduce you to Dowager Augusta Longbottom. She is a dear friend of mine and has been holding the Prewett seat in anonymous Proxy since the war.”

Dowager Longbottom nodded toward the Weasleys. Fred and George responded with shallow bows.

“Well met. Thank you for your service to our family,” they said.

“I had heard you were a pair of rabble-rousers,” Augusta confessed. “But you are quite well spoken.”

“While we do enjoy a bit of fun…”

“A touch of mischief now and again...”

“It doesn't mean we don't…”

“... understand the importance of tradition.”

“Well said boys,” their grandmother praised, beaming at them. Fred and George reminded her so strongly of Gideon and Fabian that it was almost painful. She wanted to learn everything about them but it would have to wait, a goblin in Gringotts livery had just entered the lounge. 

“Greetings. May your gold ever flow,” the goblin said. “Gritsop is ready for you, Dowager Prewett.”

“Splendid. Thank you. May your enemies fall before you,” Muriel replied. The goblin nodded and stood aside, holding the door open for her and her grandchildren. 

“Dowager Prewett,” Luna called. Muriel turned to the young lady. “If I may be so bold, I would like to join you.”

Muriel remained silent. It was highly irregular to have a non-family member attend Gringotts appointments but Ginny squeezed her arm lightly, giving her an encouraging smile and slight nod. Muriel decided that if her granddaughter trusted the young witch then she would go along with it. 

“You are welcome to, Heiress Black,” she permitted. Her grandsons grinned and strode over to Luna side by side.

“My Lady. May I?” Fred asked, holding out his arm.

“No, please, allow me,” George refuted, mirroring his twin on Luna’s other side. 

“I think I shall permit you both to escort me,” Luna declared, her lips quirked into a fond smile as she took their elbows. 

The group left the lounge and followed their goblin guide down the hall to the Prewett account manager’s office. Inside was decked out in light oak furniture with red cushions and copper accents. When it came to decor the office had an obvious theme. Dragons. Dragon figurines, dragon tapestries, swords with dragon hilts and shields depicting dragon crests, but the most stunning artifact was the fireplace itself. It was made of ash gray stone with bright red and orange veins running through it. The veins seemed to glow slightly as if they could put their hands to it and feel the heat of flames within the rock. 

“Dragon Stone,” Luna gasped, abandoning the twins to get a closer look. “From the depths of Dinas Emrys I presume?”

“You have keen eyes young Lady,” the goblin sitting behind the desk said. 

The goblin wore a red robe over light leather armor declaring himself a proud warrior. His ears were larger than average and flopped down a little at the tips. A deep scar ran from under his right eye, across his nose resulting in a chunk being missing and down his left cheek.

“Dragon Stone?” George asked. 

“Dinas Emrys?” Fred added. 

“Stone collected from the lair of an ancient dragon,” the goblin replied. “The Prewetts originally hailed from Wales, the home of one of the most famous dragon dens in Europe. Dinas Emrys was where the first dragons to bond with the Pendragons lived. Merlin himself gave its location to an ancestor of King Arthur resulting in a partnership that lasted until the fall of Camelot.”

“Legend says that the red and white dragons that lived in Dinas Emrys were mortal enemies but that's not true,” Luna added. “They were a mated pair. They bonded with Camelot’s King and Queen and their hatchlings in turn bonded with the Princes and Princesses all the way to Arthur Pendragon and Guinevere. This is a beautiful piece of history.”

Luna ran her hand over one of the roaring dragons snaking up the side of the fireplace. The veins along its back seemed to glow brighter under her palm. 

“Thank you. It’s always a pleasure to meet another that appreciates the old tales,” the goblin said, earning a soft smile from the blonde before he turned to Muriel and her grandchildren. “Greetings. May your gold ever flow. I am Gritsop, the Prewett account manager. How can I help you today, Dowager Prewett?”

“Greetings Gritsop. May your enemies fall before you. I require inheritance tests for my grandsons. They wish to claim the Lordship.”

“Excellent. I am pleased the Noble and Most Ancient House of Prewett will endure,” Gritsop said as he rummaged in his desk drawer. Two simmering parchments were produced along with two small ceremonial knives. Luna came over to sit next to Ginny on the sofa as Fred and George took the knives. 

“We only require the standard inheritance test. Three drops of blood should do it.”

The twins complied and soon red writing was blossoming across the parchment. Everyone leaned in to take a look. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

True Name: George Gideon Weasley // Fredrick Fabian Weasley

Titles: Lord Prewett (unclaimed)

Other Names/Titles:
Divine Knight

Mother: Molly Edith Weasley nee Prewett

Father: Arthur Septimus Weasley

Brothers:
William Arthur Weasley
Charles Ignatius Weasley
Percival Terrance Weasley
Fredrick Fabian Weasley // George Gideon Weasley
Ronald Billius Weasley

Sister: Ginevra Cedrella Weasley

Godparent: Gideon Prewett (deceased) // Fabian Prewett (deceased)

Grandparents:
Ignatius Prewett (maternal, deceased)
Muriel Prewett nee Macmillan (maternal)
Cedrella Weasley nee Doyle (paternal, deceased)
Septimus Weasley (paternal, deceased)

Uncles:
Fabian Prewett (maternal, deceased)
Gideon Prewett (maternal, deceased)
Billius Weasley (paternal, deceased)
Septimus Weasley II (paternal, deceased)
Ian Weasley (paternal, deceased)
Terrance Weasley (paternal, deceased)

Aunts:
Dorothy Moore nee Weasley (paternal)
Jane McKinnon nee Weasley (paternal, deceased)

Cousins:
Jackie Moore
Vivian Moore
Trenton Moore
Alexander McKinnon (deceased)

Vaults:
Personal Savings Vault

Properties:
See Gringotts Account Manager(s)

Blocks and Compulsions:
Compulsion - Disinterest in Family Legacy (broken by Father Time)
Compulsion - Obedience to Molly Weasley (failed)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What in Merlin’s name did my idiot daughter do?” Muriel exclaimed, her fingers running over the compulsions put on her grandsons. 

“That's why we never investigated after Charlie didn't take the heirship,” George realized. Fred nodded, his face stormy. It had been weighing on them since Samhain. Normally they would never have allowed the mystery to go unsolved but for some reason they hadn’t done any investigation. Something had always told them it wasn't worth the effort. 

“At least her obedience compulsion failed,” Ginny pointed out, hoping to cheer her brothers up. 

“Why was she so against us taking the heirship?” Fred asked.

“I don't know dear,” Muriel replied. “When Charlie was denied she called me to the Burrow and demanded I allow him to become the heir. When I explained the twins clause in the family charter she tried to convince me you were unworthy and it should be given to Charlie or Percy. We had a huge fight. A couple weeks later I attempted to return but the Burrow was warded against me and all my letters returned unopened.”

“Tricksters are untamable. The Goat needs loyal pawns. They await the death of the Queen of the Hill.” 

Luna’s voice sounded like she was speaking from within a vast cavern. Her eyes were a milky blue until she blinked and they returned to normal. 

“Apologies,” she said, relaxing from the stiff posture she had adopted. “Lady Weasley couldn't guarantee Fred and George would follow Dumbledore. They are waiting for Dowager Prewett to die which they believe would give Lady Weasley the ability to choose the heir as the next eldest in the family. It would never have worked. The family magic already acknowledges Fred and George as the heirs.”

Fred, George and Ginny nodded along, used to Luna’s predictions, but Muriel was looking at the blonde with wide eyes while Gritsop seemed intrigued. 

“You’re a Seer?” Muriel exclaimed, distracted from the purpose of their visit by the display of prophetic power. 

“She is more than that,” Gritsop said, glancing at Luna for permission. The blonde nodded slightly and the goblin grinned. “Cassandra Lunara Black is Lady Dulac, Daughter of Lady Fate and Divine Oracle. She is an Honored Sister of Avalon and Lady Commander of the Divine Knights, of which Ser Fredrick, Ser George and Dame Ginevra are members.”

Muriel gaped at her account manager for a long moment before looking around at the children. For the first time she noticed how Fred and George flanked the couch on either side of the girls and how Ginny sat at Luna’s right hand, poised to move at a moment's notice. Despite the trio’s obvious willingness to protect their Lady, something about Luna had changed. Muriel could feel the power held just under her skin, could see the way it made her white-blonde hair seem to glow and her eyes sparkle like polished sapphire. Her magic was warm but some primal part of Muriel’s mind and soul warned her that that warmth could scorch the Earth.

“Lady Dulac. Well met,” Dowager Prewett greeted the young witch properly. 

“Well met Dowager Prewett,” Luna replied. “My brother and I have much to tell you and Dowager Longbottom but that is a conversation best had over a meal. Please know that we consider your grandchildren to be dear friends and hope to foster an allyship with the House of Prewett.”

“House Prewett would be honored to count you and your family as allies,” Muriel replied. “But I believe that decision will be up to its new Lords.”

Luna smiled sweetly. 

“The Lord's Prewett would never discount the wisdom of the Queen of the Hill,” she refuted. For a moment Muriel’s mind was filled with the image of a massive hillock covered in lush green trees and singing with ancient magic. It was a sight she hadn't seen since the death of her beloved Ignatius when they buried him on the hillside. 

“She’s right, grandmother,” Fred said, pulling Muriel from her memories of the Welsh countryside.

“We have much to learn,” George added. 

“And I have much to teach you,” Muriel replied feeling overwhelmingly proud of her grandchildren. “Are the rings ready, Gritsop?”

The goblin slid two boxes across the desk which Fred and George opened to reveal a pair of iron rings. The twins hesitated to touch them.

“Um… Is there any way we could use different rings?” George asked. 

“It's just… Luna is of the Fae. Wouldn't iron hurt her?” Fred added. Luna giggled but seemed quite moved by their concern. 

“Don't worry. Iron is uncomfortable but not painful. Besides, those are made of Mage Iron. It's forged with dragon flame and cooled in fairy water. It’s not harmful to the Fae.”

Assured that their Lordship rings wouldn't inadvertently harm Luna they each slipped one on. The band's were etched with a scale-like pattern and a pair of ferocious looking dragons each held one side of a heater-shaped shield in their claws. The shield displayed a fiery red P in elegant calligraphy. The rings instantly adjusted to fit their fingers. 

“Congratulations, you are now the Lords Prewett,” Gritsop announced. “In a moment we will go over your properties and vaults but is there anything else I can assist you with before we move on?”

“We wish to adopt Ginevra Weasley into the Noble and Most Ancient House of Prewett,” the twins said. 

“Very well, the process is simple. I only need a drop of blo—”

“Wait.”

All eyes turned to Ginny. 

“Don't adopt me yet.”

“What do you mean Gin?” Fred asked. 

“Luna said you were in danger and becoming a Prewett would save you,” George argued. 

“I know,” Ginny agreed. “But we need to learn what their plans are. If I remain a Weasley I can collect information.”

“You want to be a spy?” George exclaimed. 

“I want to help,” Ginny shot back. “And I can do that better as a Weasley.”

The twins glanced at each other, having a silent conversation. 

“Luna, can you See anything if we don't adopt Ginny?” Fred asked. Luna’s eyes lightened for a few seconds before changing back. 

“I can't tell,” she confessed.

“What kind of danger is Ginevra in?” Muriel inquired nervously.  

“The Goat and the Brood Hen want her for something but it’s too far in the future for an accurate prediction,” Luna explained. 

“Is there a way we can adopt her in a hurry if something happens?” Fred asked Gritsop. “Or do we have to bring her to Gringotts?” 

Gritsop thought for a moment, claws clicking on the arm of his chair. Eventually he sighed and pulled a document from his desk. He signed it and slid it over to the twins along with a stick of wax. 

“This is highly irregular but you are allies of House Black who are friends of the Goblin Nation,” Gritsop said. “This is a family adoption form. You both need to sign and seal it.”

Fred and George did as he said, each letting the magically heated wax drip onto the page and pressing their rings into it. 

“If you ever need to induct Dame Ginevra into the House of Prewett she needs only sign the document and provide a drop of blood,” Gritsop instructed. “She will immediately be adopted in the eyes of Mother Magic but you need to bring the document to Gringotts as soon as possible.”

George took the parchment and carefully slipped it into his robes. 

“Thank you,” he said. “Now, regarding our Wizengamot seat. If Ginny is returning to the Burrow…”

“... then we should wait to claim it,” Fred concluded.

“It's in safe hands with Dowager Longbottom,” George agreed.

“If she is willing to continue being Proxy?” Fred added. 

“I assure you that Augusta will not mind continuing to hold the Prewett vote if only to make Dumbledore's life harder,” Muriel laughed.

“Perfect,” the twins said. 

“No one will know we’ve claimed the Lordship…” 

“...until we either adopt Ginny or decide to take our seat.”

“That way we can return to the Burrow as well…”

“...and help Ginny with her spying.” 

The twins ruffled their sister's hair. She swatted them away but smiled nonetheless. She would have braved her family on her own but was happy to still have her favorite brothers with her. 

“While I do love a good conspiracy, I think it’s time we moved on to your accounts,” Gritsop prompted, opening a massive ledger no one had noticed before. “The House of Prewett has three—”

The goblin cut himself off when Luna suddenly sat bolt upright. She cocked her head as if listening to something before standing. 

“My apologies. Something requires my attention,” she announced. “Goblin Gritsop, may Lady Fate smile upon you. Dowager Prewett, Lord Fredrick, Lord George, Dame Ginevra, I shall see you at the Yule celebration.”

She gave the room a curt nod and deep bow before gliding out of the office.

Chapter Text

A few minutes after the Weasleys, Luna and Dowager Prewett left the lounge the door opened again. This time it was not a Gringotts employee but Elder Sharptooth. His beady black eyes roamed over the gathered wix, pausing briefly on Hydrus. 

“Greetings. May the blood of your enemies flow,” he said. 

“Greetings Elder Sharptooth,” Hydrus replied. “May Lord Death favor you in battle. Please speak plainly. The Longbottoms are allies.”

“Very well, Lord Peverell,” the goblin said with a small bow before turning to Augusta and Neville. His thin lips twitched when he saw the shocked expression on Dowager Longbottom’s normally stoic face. “I am Elder Sharptooth. The Goblin Nation has taken a keen interest in the crimes of Albus Dumbledore so I will be joining Harkak for your appointment today. Please follow me.”

They exited the lounge and walked down the hall. At one point Regulus peeled off and headed for Garvavek’s office. The Rosier account manager had informed them that Dumbledore was already making inquiries. He requested a meeting to finalize their plan for duping the Headmaster. 

When those who remained entered Harkak’s office the dark skinned goblin was seated behind his desk wearing a matching tunic and robe simply but beautifully embroidered with silver and gold threads. While he was the keeper of treasures for a family with close ties to the forest Harkak obviously had a love for gifts from the mountain. Samples of ore and precious gems were scattered about the tables and shelves alongside well loved mining tools including picks and lanterns. Based on his hunched posture and crooked hands the tools were likely his from a past life.

Neville guided his grandmother to a high back chair carved from rich, dark wood and cushioned with worn brown leather before joining Hydrus on a matching sofa. Sirius remained standing as Elder Sharptooth whispered something to Harkak and conjured a chair for himself behind the desk. 

“Greetings. May your gold ever flow,” the account manager said. “I understand some of you may have questions before we get to the purpose of your visit.”

“You referred to Heir Black as Lord Peverell,” Augusta stated bluntly, her gaze bouncing between Elder Sharptooth and Hydrus. 

“Indeed I did,” Sharptooth replied. “The young man you call Heir Black is in fact Lord Peverell. He is the son of Lord Death, Shadow Prince and Champion of Dark Creatures. Your grandson, Ser Neville, is a member of his Divine Knights.”

Dowager Longbottom's head snapped to Neville. The Gryffindor briefly cowered under her gaze but steeled himself and sat up straight.

“It's true, Grandmother,” he confirmed. “A lot has happened since Samhain but it was not my place to share my Lord Commander’s secrets.”

Augusta continued to stare at Neville but he stood strong. He had endured her heavy gaze his entire life. He knew his grandmother loved him but it always felt like she was judging him, like she thought he could be better than he was. This time was different. It was as if she was assessing him and for once, he had not been found wanting. 

Suddenly, Augusta smiled.

“Well done Neville,” she praised, breaking the tension in the room. “You found your calling at last.”

Neville smiled back. In the months since Samhain he had been working hard to earn his place as a Divine Knight despite Hydrus’ insistence that Neville had a place no matter what. For the first time he felt truly accomplished. He was part of something bigger and more important than himself. Something that would make his parents proud.

“I assume Muriel is receiving a similar bombshell?” Augusta asked, her attention shifting to Hydrus and Sirius. 

“Correct,” Hydrus confirmed. “Luna holds the title of Lady Dulac. She is filling in Dowager Prewett but a more lengthy explanation should wait until we're all together at Yule.”

“Dulac as well?” Augusta said, surprised that two Blessed Houses had re-emerged in her lifetime. “I can see why explanations would be better suited for a later date.”

Hydrus nodded in agreement. 

“Now that proper introductions have been made, let us move on,” Elder Sharptooth announced. “How much do you know about Dumbledore's crimes, Dowager Longbottom?”

“Lord Black has informed me of Albus’ tendency to place compulsions on his people and suggested he spelled Neville when he was young. Apparently he did something similar to poor Harry before his death.”

She glanced at Sirius for confirmation. The Black Lord cleared his throat. 

“Everything I told you is true but there’s more to the story,” he confessed. “Were you aware of the prophecy?”

Augusta’s grip on her cane tightened.

“Dumbledore visited the lodge the winter before Neville was born. He told Frank and Alice that a prophecy had been made proclaiming Neville the Chosen One who was destined to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He encouraged them to go into hiding. Frank and Alice discussed it with Beorn and I and we were all set to send them to Godric’s Hollow but they suddenly changed their minds. They started insisting that it was safer to remain behind the lodge wards.”

“That's because Dumbledore lied,” Sirius informed her. “The prophecy foretold the birth of two children that would defeat the Dark Lord. Albus believed Neville was one and the other was Harry. 

“Severus Snape was working as a spy for the Order and heard the prophecy himself. Dumbledore tasked him with taking it to the Dark Lord but Snape and Lily had been childhood friends so he went to warn her which is how we discovered Albus’ deception. Lily and I then warned Frank and Alice. That’s probably why they changed their minds about moving. They no longer trusted Dumbledore at his word.” 

“But the prophecy is completed now,” Augusta said. “Harry died taking out You-Know-Who and the attack on the lodge resulted in his most loyal Death Eaters being imprisoned. I would call that ‘defeated’.”

Sirius sighed. 

“Dumbledore believes the Dark Lord will return. He also believes that Neville is the chosen one. If he left any lingering spells on him we need to get them removed.”

Augusta narrowed her eyes at him. 

“That's the second time you’ve said Dumbledore believes Neville is the chosen one. He was the chosen one and his task is done.”

“Gran,” Neville said in a soft voice, drawing her attention. The grief and growing sorrow in her eyes felt like they would crush him. “I'm not the chosen one. Dumbledore had it wrong.”

Hydrus put a comforting hand on Neville’s shoulder, silently offering to take over. Neville leaned into his touch, feeling immensely grateful for his presence. 

“There was a second prophecy,” Hydrus explained. “In his arrogance Dumbledore never considered someone outside his own people and overlooked another child born at the end of July. The night after Sybil Trelawny delivered her prophecy Pandora Lovegood had a vision that identified the chosen ones as Harry Potter and her own daughter, Luna Lovegood. Not Neville.”

Something in Augusta seemed to crumble. She sagged in her seat causing Neville to scramble to her side, kneeling and taking her hand.

“It was all for nothing,” she said in a pain-filled voice. “My dear Frank. His beloved Alice. Wasting away. And for what?”

Hydrus felt anger rear up inside him. His fingers turned ice cold as he tried to reign in his magic. He respected that Augusta was Neville's grandmother and that he loved her but he couldn't stand the way Neville hollowed himself out for her approval. The way he tried to shove the spirit of his father in the empty space that would never be filled. His father’s wand. His father’s title. His father’s ghost. Where was Neville meant to fit in?

“It wasn't for nothing,” Hydrus said. “It was for Neville. So he could survive.”

He tried to keep his voice calm but Augusta heard the resentment behind his words. She looked confused for a moment before her eyes widened and she turned her attention to Neville. He was trying to put on a brave face as he gently stroked her hand, comforting her in her grief, but that newly kindled fire she had been so proud of had sputtered out. 

“Oh Neville,” she whispered, turning her wrist to grip her grandson's hand tightly. “I didn't mean it like that. I only meant that if Dumbledore hadn't meddled You-Know-Who wouldn't have been interested in you and our family would be safe and whole. Never think for a moment that I resent you for what happened. Your parents would be so proud of who you've become and I am so sorry I never told you how happy it makes me to watch you grow up.”

Neville leaned forward, laying his forehead on the back of Augusta's hand. Hydrus could hear the way his breath shuddered and shook. 

“I'm not like dad, Gran,” he said weakly. 

“I know and I'm sorry I ever made you think you had to be.”

“I lied about trying out for Quidditch.”

Augusta laughed.

“That’s alright. Morgana knows I had enough anxiety watching your father battle bludgers. I don't think my heart could take it again.”

“I’m not good at Transfiguration.”

“But you excel at Herbology. The Longbottom greenthumb skipped Frank. I'm glad it came back to you.”

“I need my own wand.”

Augusta paused, at a loss for words. 

“It doesn't work right for me,” Neville explained. “It's still loyal to dad.”

Augusta ran her fingers through her grandson's hair, encouraging him to look at her. 

“Then we’ll get you your own wand,” she assured him. Neville visibly relaxed, leaning into his grandmother's touch with a sigh. Augusta's eyes found Hydrus. He gave her a small smile, pleased that the pair now had a better understanding of each other. 

“I think we should do the inheritance test now,” Augusta decided. “I'm sure there's much more left to learn.”

Neville sniffled and stood, squeezing his grandmother’s hand. The enchanted parchment was already on the desk and Harkak was handing him a ceremonial dagger. 

“It’s three drops of blood for the standard inheritance test,” he explained. 

“How much for the advanced one?” Neville asked. 

“Seven.”

Neville sliced his palm and squeezed out seven drops of blood. It took a little longer for his test to reveal itself. There were a few extra sections that hadn’t been on Hydrus’ test. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

True Name: Neville Frank Longbottom

Titles: Heir Longbottom

Other Names/Titles:
Divine Knight

Abilities:
Blessing - Archdruid
Animagus - Undiscovered

Wand:
Cedar
8 ¼ inches
Dragon Heartstring Core
Loyalty - 62% Frank Robert Longbottom, 38% Neville Frank Longbottom

Mother: Alice Longbottom nee Fortescue (compromised)

Father: Frank Robert Longbottom (compromised)

Grandparents:
Albert Fortescue (maternal, deceased)
Gertrude Fortescue nee Abbott (maternal, deceased)
Augusta Longbottom nee Fawcett (paternal)
Beorn Longbottom (paternal, deceased)

Uncles:
Algie Longbottom (paternal, great uncle)
Julian Fawcett (paternal, great uncle)
Florean Fortescue (maternal, great uncle)
Hillary Abbott (maternal, great aunt)

Cousins:
Hannah Abbott (3rd cousin)
Samantha Fawcett (3rd cousin)

Vaults:
Longbottom Trust Vault

Properties:
See Gringotts Account Manager(s)

Blocks and Compulsions:
Compulsion - Trust in Albus Dumbledore (broken by Cassandra and Hydrus Black)
Block - 60% Magic Core (broken by Heirship Claim)
Compulsion - Disinterest in Healing Magic (broken by Mother Nature)
Compulsion - Hatred of Lord Voldemort/ You-Know-Who/ He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named/ The Dark Lord/ Tom Riddle
Compulsion - Distrust of Slytherins (broken by Hydrus Black)
Compulsion - Friendship with Harrison Potter (broken by Heir Adoption of Harrison Potter)
Compulsion - Trust in the Weasley family
Blood Bind - Sanctuarium Sancti Hieronymi (broken by Heirship Claim)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Archdruid? You have a blessing!?” Dowager Longbottom exclaimed. 

“The Longbottoms have a blessing,” Neville corrected. “Given to us by Mother Nature centuries ago. It’s where Grandfather got his affinity for beekeeping but the true blessing is much more powerful.”

“Show her Nev,” Hydrus encouraged. 

Neville looked around until he spotted a copper lantern by the fireplace. He flicked his wrist and a long green vine shot toward it. Delicate tendrils wrapped around the metal before snapping back, depositing the lantern in Neville’s hand. 

Inside was a yellow mushroom. Its flesh was wrinkly and its edges a sickly gray. Neville reached inside and stroked over its cap with a single finger. The mushroom instantly brightened, its surface becoming smooth and brilliantly yellow. Spots began appearing. They glowed with a light as warm as the sun.

“Solar Shroom,” Neville explained. “They collect sunlight as they mature and use it to attract other plants. If they don’t stay in the sun they eventually go dormant. This one just needed a boost.”

“A powerful blessing indeed,” Harkak said. He seemed pleased that one of his antiques had been given new life.

“And the vine?” Augusta asked. Neville smiled as a green vine wriggled out from under his collar. It crawled up his neck like a lizard, using the tendrils along its length as feet. The strange creature curled around Neville’s ear, looping at the end to create the rough facsimile of a head at his temple.

“This is Jack,” Neville introduced. “He’s an extremely rare Creeping Vine. No one really knows if they’re plants or animals but he’s taken a liking to me. They can uproot themselves and crawl around to find better feeding grounds and grow at impressive speeds as long as they have the energy. Apparently Jack finds my magic very potent.”

Neville had discovered Jack in the greenhouse not long after Samhain, scurrying around in a freshly churned flower bed. Neville gave him some compost and from then on Jack would come to watch Neville whenever he was gardening. 

One day around mid November a blizzard hit and Neville braved the snow with Professor Sprout to strengthen the warming charms on the greenhouses. As soon as they stepped inside Jack scurried to Neville, climbed up his leg and wiggled under his cloak for warmth. Professor Sprout had noticed nothing and Jack refused to be peeled off so Neville brought him back to the dorms. 

Despite Neville trying to return Jack to the greenhouses after the storm he refused to leave, preferring to stay coiled around Neville's arm under his robes. The herbologist had been worried the Creeping Vine wouldn’t get enough nutrition stuck in the castle but Jack thrived. He became thicker and more flexible and his previous sage coloring became a vibrant jewel green. He started helping Neville with little things; pulling an inkwell closer, reaching a book on a high shelf, keeping him from falling on the stairs. Jack may be mostly plant, but he was as loyal a familiar as you could get.   

“Hello Jack,” Augusta said, reaching out to the little vine. It curled a tendril around her finger in greeting. 

Sirius took the opportunity to ask the goblins a question. 

“Why is there an undiscovered animagus form listed under abilities? I thought any wix could become an animagus?”

“The ability is fairly common but not universal,” Harkak explained. “Some people could go through the entire ritual and come out the other side with nothing to show for it. Only about two thirds of the wix population actually have an animagus form waiting to be unlocked.”

While Sirius and the goblins continued to discuss the nuances of becoming an animagus, Augusta turned her attention back to her grandson's test. 

She noted the Divine Knight title she would have to ask about later and saw the proof that her son’s wand truly wasn’t loyal to Neville. When she reached the bottom of the page Augusta’s whole body tightened with suppressed rage. She had been prepared for the compulsions but it was distressing to see that a few had only been broken in the last year, after Neville befriended Hydrus. The magic block in particular stoked her anger. They had thought Neville a squib for most of his childhood and while she would have loved him anyway, she knew he had noticed her disappointment. His anxiety and poor self esteem were directly caused by his perceived powerlessness which they now knew was artificial. Augusta kept reading lest she tear the paper in half. Her eyes fell on a spell that encouraged friendship between Neville and Harrison. 

Compulsion - Friendship with Harrison Potter (broken by Heir Adoption of Harrison Potter)

Augusta felt a fresh wave of grief wash over her for the family and the boy who had died too young. There had been no need for a compulsion. Augusta had no doubt that if the pair had met Harry would have been Neville’s best friend. She brushed her fingers over Harrison’s name and wondered how different life would be if Lily and Alice had been able to plan playdates and joint birthday parties. 

…broken by Heir Adoption of Harrison Potter...

Augusta paused, her thought process grinding to a halt and backtracking abruptly. She blinked to make sure she wasn't seeing things. 

…broken by Heir Adoption…

Heir Adoption. 

Not death.

Memories of the past couple hours flashed through her mind, familiar voices whispering in her ear.

“...identified the chosen ones as Harry Potter and her own daughter, Luna Lovegood.’

‘...our wards, Hydrus and Cassandra Black.”

‘I prefer Luna’

‘...call me Hydrus, ma’am.’

Hydrus. Sirius’ son who was also Harrison’s godfather.

Hydrus. Co-Heir to the House of Black with Luna Lovegood.

Hydrus. Scarred by an obviously powerful dark curse.

“Harrison,” Augusta gasped. The office went dead silent. Everyone looked at her but she only had eyes for Hydrus. She could see it now. The dark, messy hair and set of his jaw was James’ despite his sharper features. The slope of his nose and shape of his eyes was all Lily even if his irises were so much brighter. 

“You're alive!” she declared, joy and relief and confusion swirling within her. Harry Potter was alive. He was sitting right in front of her, healthy and thriving.

“Yeah,” Hydrus said, actually looking slightly sheepish under her tear filled gaze. “Voldemort’s Killing Curse rebound. Sirius was attempting to smuggle me out when Peter Pettigrew caught us.”

“But you were in St. Mungo’s for four days. Dumbledore said—”

Augusta cut herself off, a sour look twisting her features.

“I was never at St. Mungo’s,” Hydrus refuted, suddenly angry. “Dumbledore faked it so he could delay the Ministry declaring me dead which would have locked down my vaults. He stole thousands of galleons and dozens of Potter relics, including the Grimoire.”

Augusta’s grip on her cane tightened. The cane itself was a Longbottom relic given to her by her husband and she would eviscerate anyone who dared try to take it from her. She couldn’t imagine losing a Grimoire. 

“You’re Lord Potter as well then?” Dowager Longbottom asked. 

“Yes ma’am, I am Lord Hydrus Lycoris Peverell-Potter-Black,” he stated, using his full legal name. 

“I assume this is actually how you knew Neville was under compulsions? Not some vague suspicion based on Dumbledore's past actions?” Augusta guessed, turning her attention to Sirius. The Black Lord nodded and gestured to the bottom of Neville’s test.

“Hydrus had most of the same compulsions except this one at the bottom. I didn’t see a Blood Bind on Hydrus’ test.”

Everyone followed his finger to Blood Bind - Sanctuarium Sancti Hieronymi (broken by Heirship Claim).

“Sanctuary of Saint Jerome,” Hydrus translated. Latin wasn’t a dark or dead language that came easy to him but it was the language used for the majority of incantations. He and Luna had spent a lot of time studying it.

“Saint Jerome?” Neville asked.

“The Patron Saint of Orphans,” Elder Sharptooth explained. “The early 15th century was a dark time for the magical world. Religious persecution was at an all time high and young witches and wizards were in the most danger due to accidental magic. The ones that weren’t killed were turned out on the streets or given to orphanages. Jerome Emiliani made it his mission to find and protect orphaned wix but he soon realized Muggle orphans had it just as bad. He used simple, common magics to improve the conditions of orphanages all over Italy and Spain. 

“Emiliani was an exceedingly clever wizard who avoided being persecuted as a heretic by pretending to be a pious man and attending church while observing wixen customs in secret. He faked it so well that after his death the Muggle church canonized him. 

“Saint Jerome’s story is not unique. A number of Muggle Saints were actually wix using magic to help their fellow man.”

“Do you know what the Sanctuary of Saint Jerome is?” Sirius asked. 

“I unfortunately do not,” Sharptooth confessed. “He developed a number of spells specifically geared toward orphans and abandoned youth but his methods are considered illegal now. Not much information has survived.”

“I wonder why I have it and Hydrus doesn't,” Neville mused. “If it's a protection spell could my parents have cast it?” 

He glanced at his grandmother but she didn't seem to know either.

“I'm not sure Hydrus doesn't have it,” Sirius said. “Blood magic ingrains itself much deeper than mere compulsions. This is an advanced inheritance test. Hydrus only did the standard one.”

Without prompting Harkak produced another enchanted parchment and a fresh blade. Hydrus didn't hesitate to slash his palm and provide the needed seven drops of blood. As word began to appear he took the parchment and returned to his seat beside Neville.

True Name: Hydrus Lycoris Black

Titles:
Lord Peverell
Lord Potter
Heir Black

Other Names:
Harrison “Harry” James Potter
Master of Death
Shadow Prince
Champion of Dark Creatures
Lord Commander of the Divine Knights

Abilities:
Dark Speech
Necromancy
Animagus Triforma - Thestral, Grimm, Sw—

Hydrus covered the parchment with his hand before Neville could read further. A small, mischievous smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. 

“Luna’s orders,” he said cheekily. “Can't give away my final form.”

Neville rolled his eyes at Hydrus’ antics even as he bit his tongue to keep from asking about the second section his friend was hiding. Hydrus folded the top of the parchment over before Neville caught the details but he was pretty sure it was labeled Ailments . He continued reading to distract from the pit in his stomach. Was Hydrus sick? 

Wand:
Elm
12 inches
Damned Soul Core
Additions - Dementor Cloak and Boomslang Skin handle, Hellhound Tooth pommel.
Loyalty - Death Bound to Hydrus Lycoris Black

“A damned soul core?” Neville questioned, raising an eyebrow. Hydrus shrugged. 

“Father made my wand. What else would Lord Death use?”

Neville had a feeling that was the best answer he was going to get and he didn’t dare ask whose soul was currently residing in Hydrus’ wand.

“What does ‘death bound’ mean?” he asked instead. 

“It means the wand will work for no other,” Elder Sharptooth replied. “It will only ever obey Lord Peverell and its magic will die when its master dies.”

Neville hummed in understanding. He skipped over Hydrus’ family and possessions until he reached Compulsions and Blocks . All the spells were already broken, including the newly revealed Blood Bind at the bottom. 

Blood Bind - Sanctuarium Sancti Hieronymi (broken by Heir Adoption)

“We both had it so it’s unlikely our parents were the ones to bind us,” Hydrus said. “If mom or dad had spelled me Sirius would have known about it.”

“Then who did?” Neville wondered. 

“Could it have been Dumbledore?” Sirius asked. 

Augusta actually growled at the suggestion but Hydrus looked thoughtful. He absentmindedly rubbed the tattoo on his forearm through his sleeve. It depicted a blue kite emblazoned with a silver crescent moon. The kite was tied with red string to the bars of a window on the side of a black tower buffeted by foaming waves. It was the only tattoo Hydrus had that wasn't a rune and was by far his favorite.  

The occupants of the office waited patiently. Hydrus’ eyes looked glazed and distant as he thought but soon came back into terrifying focus. They seemed to glow an eerie curse green and burned with sudden rage. Black mist began rolling off him as the air became cold enough that they could see their breaths. 

“He did it on purpose,” Hydrus growled, his voice rattling the trinkets on Harkak’s desk. “He set us up.”

“What are you talking about?” Augusta asked, pulling her shawl tighter around herself. 

“The Sanctuary of Saint Jerome likely only works on orphans and he didn't put any other protections on us. He meant for us to become orphans.”

Sirius swore and roughly ran his fingers through his hair as he started pacing, ignoring how the rug crackled under his feet like grass during the morning frost.

“I always assumed Lily and James chose Peter as Secret Keeper but what if it was Dumbledore?” he said. “What if he knew Peter was a traitor and planned for him to give their location away?”

Augusta gasped, her eyes widening in realization. 

“Aurors said the Lestranges came through a hole in the wards but that never made sense to me,” she revealed. “It would have taken days to untangle that many spells. I puzzled over it for months before giving up.”

“Bella and Dolphus both said that they found a weak point in the lodge defenses,” Sirius informed her. “It took them less than an hour to break through.” 

Augusta shook her head.

“Impossible. The wards on Longbottom Lodge are ancient and layered in generations of additional spells. They were inspected every year.”

“Dumbledore created the breach. Just like he chose my parent’s Secret Keeper,” Hydrus hissed, his Parseltongue accent slipping through. He was livid. A pool of dark fog was expanding around his feet and the sofa was coated in ice. 

Suddenly, the door burst open. It banged against the wall making everyone jump and whirl around. Luna hurried to Hydrus’ side and the room instantly felt warmer. The chill remained but now it felt more like they were standing in the sun on a winter day rather than braving a frozen tundra in the dead of night.  

Luna cupped Hydrus’ face in both hands, forcing his eyes to hers. She spoke to him in the melodic language Neville now recognized as High Sylvan and Hydrus responded in rumbling Ancient Morstongue. They chatted back and forth for a couple minutes and the mist began to dissipate as the ice melted. Eventually Luna released her brother's face and perched on the arm of the couch. 

“Why would the Goat want them to be orphaned?” she asked. The occupants of the room released a breath they hadn't realized they were holding, thankful for the blonde’s calming presence. 

“Probably to make them easier to manipulate,” Sirius suggested. 

“No, it's more than that,” Hydrus said, his voice calmer but still holding an edge of anger. “We're missing something.”

He glanced at Luna and her eyes glazed over into a more muted sky blue. 

“The answer is in the room of glass moons,” she said dreamily before blinking, her irises returning to their normal sapphire. She shook her head slightly to clear it. “Sorry, the answer is in a room full of crystal balls.”

“The Department of Mysteries,” Augusta said. “They keep a record of every prophecy on crystal balls. Rumor has it that the prophecies can only be retrieved by the person they’re about.”

Hydrus and Luna looked at each other. Hydrus grinned maniacally.

“Ministry heist?” he asked.  

“Ministry heist,” Luna agreed with a matching grin. 

“No Ministry heist!” Sirius growled.

“Awww! Why not?” The twins whined. 

“It's too risky. If any place was going to beat your weird magic it would be the place that studies and develops weird magic.”

“Auggy would help us break in,” Hydrus pouted. 

“He definitely would,” Sirius agreed. “But you’d have to break him out of Azkaban first.”

“Oof. Sorry Hyde. The Island wouldn't like that,” Luna said. “He did kill a few people.”

Hydrus sullenly crossed his arms and slouched against his sister. 

“Is this normal?” Augusta asked Neville. 

“Nothing about Hydrus and Luna is normal but yes, this is a common occurrence,” he replied. 

“I see.”

Augusta was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. It was not a feeling she was familiar with. She had always prided herself on being able to adapt but in this case she decided to cut herself some slack. When faced with the children of gods, resurrected saviors, strange magics and a web of lies so tangled an Acromantula would be horrified, anyone would need a moment to process. 

“Neville has two compulsions still active,” she pointed out, choosing to focus on something she could fix now. “I would like to request a cleansing.”

“I believe that would be prudent,” Harkak agreed. “The cleansing will take about an hour but Heir Longbottom will need to go to the ritual chamber. No one but the Healers will be permitted to join him. We can go now if you're ready?”

“Yes, please,” Neville replied. Harkak nodded and wrote a quick note which he folded and addressed before tossing it in the fire. Less than a minute later a goblin in a white robe appeared and led Neville away. 

Elder Sharptooth invited them to wait in the lounge they had arrived in, promising that it was warded and the floo locked down for their privacy. When they arrived Regulus was already present sipping tea from an impressive service the bank had provided. They gave him a brief rundown of what they'd learned. He was both horrified and fascinated by the Sanctuarium Sancti Hieronymi blood bind and was already making plans to research it. 

Twenty minutes later the Prewetts joined them though Ginny told them she had chosen to keep the Weasley name for now. Hydrus could tell Luna was worried for her best friend. She hated when the Universe kept things hidden from her but not even Lady Fate could See everything. Some things just were and always would be. 

Instead of dwelling on it, Luna showed Ginny the jinx book from the cottage. The pair spent the rest of their wait pointing out different spells and discussing their merits as deterrences for bullies. Muriel sat nearby, listening in with a fond smile. Fred and George were in conference with Sirius over some prank products they had been developing. Regulus was attempting to head off any potential disasters. Augusta and Hydrus sat silently, waiting for Neville to return. Hydrus appreciated that Dowager Longbottom didn't press him for answers to the host of questions she no doubt had. When Neville finally returned the pair immediately fussed over him, asking if he was feeling okay, but he didn't truly relax until Fred, George and Ginny approached. 

“Hey mate. Are you okay?” George asked.

“Yeah, you don't look so good,” Fred agreed. 

Ginny stood nervously at their side, arms half raised as if she wanted to hug her fellow Gryffindor. 

“Oh thank Merlin!” Neville exclaimed, pulling Ginny into an embrace. “I had a compulsion to trust the Weasleys. I was afraid it would ruin our friendship.”

Ginny’s grip on him tightened while the twins' eyes widened. 

“Well, we aren't technicaly Weasleys any more,” Fred pointed out. 

“Except Ginny, and it seems like you still trust her,” George added. “Maybe now you can actually stand up to Ron.”

Neville blinked at them. In hindsight it made a lot of sense. Objectively he didn’t like Ron’s attitude and disapproved of the way he treated people but he had never spoken up or made an effort to distance himself. He had allowed Ron’s little gang to pull him away from Hydrus and the rest of the Slytherins without even token resistance and found himself spending time with his dorm-mates even after they bullied him. Neville felt violated. It was horrifying how much the compulsions had affected his life without him realizing. 

“How about some ice cream?” Sirius suggested. “I'm sure we could all use a distraction. Further revelations can wait for Yule.”

Everyone agreed and left the bank after glamoring the three very recognizable redheads into plain looking students. 

They went directly to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour where Neville introduced everyone to his great-uncle. He got them a pretty good discount on three scoops of one of their 100 flavors but Sirius insisted on paying full price for everyone anyway. 

Florean was a former historian who had opened the ice cream parlor after Voldemort's defeat. Studying past wars and conflicts didn't have the same luster when you had lived through one yourself. Their ice cream flavors changed constantly but the pecan raisin ice cream had been on the menu since their inception. It had been Alice Frotescue’s favorite. 

After ice cream they went to Flourish and Blotts. The Prewett twins wanted to get more advanced potions and charms texts so they could try some of the tricks Sirius had suggested. Neville disappeared into the herbology section and Regulus searched for anything on Saints or Jerome Emiliani specifically. Hydrus and Luna suspected he would be taking a trip to Knockturn Alley soon. 

As they were finishing checking out and headed for the door Sirius stopped dead. 

“Anyone who's under a glamor, scatter,” he whispered. Fred, George and Ginny drifted into different aisles but not before they spotted a heavy-built, dark-skinned wizard in cobalt robes standing outside. 

“Kingsley!” Sirius cried as he stepped onto the street. 

“Black! Good to see you,” Kingsley replied, casually eyeing the crowd that followed his old colleague out of the bookstore.

“How’ve you been?” Sirius asked. 

“I'm good thanks, just doing some last minute Christmas shopping.”

“Same here. Yule really snuck up on me.”

Kingsley narrowed his eyes slightly. It was so subtle most people wouldn't notice but Sirius wasn't most people. 

“Heir Shacklebolt. Well met,” Muriel greeted, redirecting his attention. 

“Well met Dowager Prewett, Dowager Longbottom, Mr. Black,” he replied. “And, of course, greetings to the young Heirs.”

“Hello Kingsley,” Hydrus chirped with a wide smile. He was trying really hard not to shield his sister from his gaze. Kingsley seemed particularly interested in her and Regulus. 

“Hello Hydrus. Family outing?”

“Yeah, I’ve never shopped for presents before. We just swapped writings or little tokens in Azkaban.”

Something pain-filled and pitying flashed across Kingsley’s face before he smiled again. 

“You seem to have lots of people to shop for now,” he commented. “I wasn't aware the House of Black and the House of Longbottom were close.”

“Neville, Luna and Hydrus are good friends,” Augusta explained. “If they can show some inter-house cooperation then the Houses of Black and Longbottom can too.”

“Very wise,” Kingsley agreed. “Well, I won't keep you. Merry Christmas.”

“Thank you, Heir Shacklebolt. Happy Yule to you as well,” Muriel replied. 

Kingsley waved and made his way toward the Leaky Cauldron. Sirius waited until he could no longer make out his formidable frame before rapping on the Flourish and Blotts display window. Fred, George and Ginny joined them quickly. 

“Friend of yours?” Fred asked.

“Used to be,” Sirius replied. “He's one of Dumbledore's people.”

“How long has he been following us?” Ginny asked. 

“He wasn't. He probably saw me, Regulus, Hydrus or Luna through the window and took it upon himself to get some information for Albus.”

“Should we leave? Reconvene at Yule?” Augusta wondered. 

“No, he's gone and I haven't noticed anyone else watching us,” Sirius assured her. “Let's not let it ruin our day.”

The kids instantly perked up.

“Where should we go next?” Ginny asked. 

“Gambol and Japes?” George suggested. 

“Quality Quidditch?” Fred countered. 

“Madam Malkins,” Luna said. 

“But, no one needs new robes,” Neville pointed out but Luna was already skipping down the street. 

When they reached the tailor shop three people were leaving. Luna floated right up to one of the boys and looped her arm with his. 

“How dare you— Oh! Hey Luna,” Draco said. 

“Hello Draco,” she chirped. “You made a good choice. Navy looks great with your complexion. You too Pansy, that shade of lavender is beautiful.”

Draco tried to hide his pleased smile but Pansy beamed.

“Thanks! Any suggestions for jewelry?” she asked

“Silver for sure. Madam Primpernelle’s has some new pieces in.”

“What about me?” Blaise whined. “Do I not get any compliments?”

“You look good in everything you ponce,” Hydrus argued, catching up to his sister.

“Really? Maybe I should have gone with the bright pink robes then,” Blaise teased. 

“What are you guys shopping for?” Ginny asked.

“Final preparations for the Malfoy’s Yule Ball,” Pansy replied, eyeing her and the twins suspiciously. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met.”

Fred and George grinned and bowed dramatically.

“Wartsfield Glumberbum…”

“... and Fickelford Nutterflugen.”

“At your service.”

“Oh Merlin! It’s you two,” Draco groaned. 

“Why are you glamored?” Pansy asked in a whisper.

“We snuck out of the house.”

“We had an appointment with the goblins.”

Pansy gasped, clapping her hand over her mouth to stifle the sound.

“You did it? Your Lords Prewett?” she exclaimed, her voice muffled.

“We are,” the twins confirmed. 

“Congratulations,” Blaise said. “What should we do to celebrate? You have access to enough galleons to afford some luxuries now.”

Fred and George had a silent conversation before deciding. 

“New brooms.”

“How do you plan to explain new brooms to Ron and Percy when Quidditch starts again?” Neville asked. 

“We won’t actually use them…” Fred said. 

“...until after we reveal ourselves,” George finished. 

“Quality Quidditch Supply it is then,” Blaise announced. “Madam Primpernelle’s is right next door so Pansy and Luna can browse the jewelry while we browse the brooms.”

“Ginny can help Pansy with her jewelry,” Luna corrected. “I came to steal Draco.”

“Why am I being kidnapped?” Draco asked.

“I want to introduce you to someone,” she replied vaguely, pulling him away from his friends and snagging Neville's hand as she passed. Hydrus chuckled, offered his arm to Dowager Longbottom and followed Luna as she marched them right to Ollivander’s Wand Shop. 

“Uncle! We’re here!” Luna called as soon as they entered. 

The old wand maker appeared from within the maze of narrow shelves at the back of the store. He studied their little party with milky blue-gray eyes that seemed to be looking right through them. 

“Luna!” Ollivander cried. “I’ve been waiting for you dear girl. I know you didn’t need a wand from little old me but you could have at least visited.”

Luna released Draco and Neville’s arms to hug Ollivander.

“Sorry Uncle but I wanted to bring Draco along too.”

The pair turned to the Slytherin. He fidgeted uncomfortably under their gaze. 

“Draco Malfoy. Hawthorn. 10 inches. Dragon heartstring. Reasonably springy if I remember correctly, and I always do.”

As the premiere wandmaker in Britain Ollivander was somewhat exempt from the rules surrounding knowledge of other people’s wands. His shop was spelled so anyone that shouldn’t know a wand’s makeup would forget as soon as they exited. 

“Y–yes, sir,” Draco stuttered. He did not remember the wandmaker’s presence being so commanding three years ago. At the time he had thought the old man was a little senile but now he seemed wise beyond measure. 

“Do you know who I am, Draco?” Ollivander asked. Draco shook his head. 

“I was born Garrick Malfoy. Abarax was my younger brother. I was disowned when my Hogwarts letter didn’t arrive.”

“You're a squib?” Draco exclaimed.

“Yes, and no. I don't have any magical ability of my own but I can See it, the way magic flows and saturates everything around us. I can tell what wood is good for wand making and which are inert, can see the moment a core and a wand accept each other and sense when someone will make a worthy wielder for any of my creations. Another wandmaker recognized my ability when I was very young and taught me his craft. I became Ollivander when I took over this shop.”

“And you’re our great uncle?” Draco clarified, glancing at his cousin. Luna nodded excitedly but frowned when Draco spoke again. “It was the Single Heir Curse wasn’t it? It took your magic.”

“Generational curses work in strange ways,” Luna explained sadly. “Uncle Olly was disowned for being a squib, leaving only Abarax. My dad was disowned for being a Light wizard, leaving only Lucius. Your mother is unable to have any more children, making you the only Heir.”

Draco swallowed, his jaw tightening as he grit his teeth.

“I’m going to break it,” he vowed to his uncle. “I should have been able to know you. I should have grown up with Luna and Uncle Xeno and my mom should be able to have the daughter she always wanted. When I have children, they will be safe and healthy and know their own children will be the same.”

Ollivander studied him closely, his nearly white eyes alight with magic. It reminded him of Luna when she made a prediction and he wondered if Aunt Pandora’s eyes had also done that or if Luna had gotten it from the Malfoy side. 

“I believe that if anyone was going to break the curse it would be you,” Ollivander decided. Draco felt pride and determination swell inside him. For his whole life the only family that had supported him was his mother. Nowadays he had a whole host of friends cheering him on but it felt good to have a cousin who wanted to be close to him and a great uncle who believed in him. 

“Now,” Ollivander said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. “Someone needs a new wand. Come along young man, let's see the one you've been using.”

Neville stepped forward and presented his father's wand. Rather than take it Ollivander grabbed his wrist and became very interested in studying his arm. 

“Ah, yes. It is lending you its loyalty but the bond is very weak. Your core and the wand are barely connected.”

He started mumbling to himself as he shuffled to the back. They lost sight of him but could hear rustling and the occasional comment. He returned with an armful of long thin boxes. 

“Let's see how your core responds to these.”

They tried all sorts of wands made of a variety of wood; hickory, cherry, rose, maple, acacia. The cores included the standard trio of unicorn hair, pheonix feather and dragon heartstring but also some rarer cores like acromantula venom, wyvern claws or siren scales. The pile of discarded wands was getting higher but Ollivander was only becoming more excited. 

“All part of the process,” he assured them. “The wand chooses the wizard, we just have to find the right combination.”

When the second pile of wands had been exhausted Ollivander paused to think. 

“He has a gray core,” the wandmaker muttered to himself. “And an affinity for elemental magic. Earth if I'm not mistaken. Powerful enough that he can share magic with his familiar without draining. You have a blessing don't you?”

Neville jumped at the sudden question. 

“Yes sir, from Mother Nature. It's called Archdruid. I can influence plants.”

The wandmaker’s eyes widened and he scurried back to the shelves. He returned with an extremely worn wooden box. It was dented and scratched and even cracked in some places. The chipped and peeling image of leaves, grass and flowers painted in once vibrant hues covered the surface. The hinges were rusty and the latch squealed as Ollivander opened it. 

“This is not one of my creations. It has been passed down wandmaker to wandmaker for hundreds of years. No one knows who made it or who wielded it.”

He turned the box toward Neville revealing a wand made of yellowish wood with a bold light brown grain pattern. The wand was long and almost half of it was a handle carved to look like an arrow. The pommel was the fletching and the guard was the arrowhead. The handle was slightly darker than the rest of the wand. 

Neville gently removed it from the box and a shower of white flowers with delicate filaments sprouting from their centers erupted from the end of the wand. Ollivander clapped his hands and laughed joyously. 

“Wonderful! Ash. Twelve inches. Very sturdy. I don’t know the core but there’s no doubt this is your wand.”

Neville had to agree. He could feel it. Magic pulsed down his arm and made something in his chest feel warm and more present than it had been his whole life. Jack peaked out of his sleeve and wrapped around his hand, wanting to get closer to that point of power where he and his wand connected. Neville didn't want to let go but forced himself to put it back in the box. 

“How much do we owe you?” Augusta asked. Her eyes looked suspiciously wet. 

“Nothing,” Ollivander replied. “As I said, this is not one of my creations. I suspect it has been waiting for Heir Longbottom this whole time.”

Neville cradled the box like it was a child. He felt oddly possessive of it and was already planning to purchase an arm sheath so it would always be on him. Hydrus was giving him a knowing look. Neville wondered if this is what he had felt when he got his wand. A wand that would never be wielded by another, even in death. 

The group thanked the wand maker who invited Draco and Luna to write to him so he could get to know them better. Both promised to keep in contact. Draco seemed particularly excited to discuss wand lore with the legendary wand maker. 

As they stepped out of the shop and went to find their friends, Hydrus realized that he could still remember the makeup of Neville's wand. He smiled brightly, his heart fluttering in his chest.

Chapter Text

A few days after their visit to Gringotts and impromptu shopping trip it was finally time for Yule. The holiday was actually twelve days long but each family chose when they would have a proper celebration. The Longbottoms did it on the sixth night, using the first half of Yule to reflect on the past year and the second to look ahead and pray for good fortune. The Blacks decided to do the same. 

At midnight they gathered in the garden where a large Yule log lay in the old ritual circle along with various dried herbs. Sirius waved his wand and the herbs caught fire, quickly burning and wrapping the log in dancing orange flames. The scent was cloying and earthy as they silently watched, each sending their hopes and prayers out into the universe. Regulus asked for wisdom, Sirius asked for strength, Luna wanted peace and Hydrus wanted the power to protect his loved ones. When the log burned down to shimmering coals Luna produced a dusty jewel green bottle.

“Elven wine,” she explained, popping the cork. 

She passed it to her dad who took a swig after some subtle prompting. He almost choked on the sweet burn of the liquor as it slid down his throat. Regulus passed the bottle to Sirius who drank it easily and only hesitated a moment before handing it to Hydrus. 

Hydrus stepped toward the circle. He said something in Morstongue before taking a swig and pouring some over the embers. They flared bright green for a moment then died down again, much dimmer than before. Luna did the same, this time in High Sylvan, but when she made her offering there was a poof of bluish-white flame that lit up the backyard before disappearing, leaving only ash. Luna waved her hand and the ash scattered across the garden to strengthen the soil and feed the plants.

The Blacks went to bed feeling lighter and looking forward to the next day.

In the morning the twins woke late and enjoyed a delicious breakfast prepared by Kreacher. Then they retired to the parlor with their dads to open presents while still in their pajamas. 

Hydrus received an album as a joint gift from Sirius and Remus full of photos of his parents, a book on the uses of runes in warding from Regulus and a forearm wand sheath with a quick release charm from Luna. The sheath was made of rainbow serpent skin which shone with a breathtaking array of colors in the light.

For Sirius Luna gave him a Gryffindor bandana to wear as Padfoot, Regulus got him a record player and a few rock albums and Hydrus gave him a tattoo coupon for when Hydrus finished perfecting his latest rune project. 

Sirius gifted Regulus with something that had already belonged to him. It was a set of earrings, one a silver star stud with a black diamond in the middle and the other a silver ear cuff and dangling chain with a matching star hanging from it. Apparently Sirius had pierced Regulus’ ears while they were at Hogwarts but their mother confiscated his jewelry which Sirius found again while cleaning out Walburga’s tea room. Luna and Hydrus each gave Regulus books from the cottage. One was about blood magic and the other about soul magic. 

For Luna there was a beautiful royal purple and gold quill from her dad and a matching journal from Sirius. Hydrus had dusted off the art skills he had honed in Azkaban and gifted his sister with another set of creature paintings. The images of obscure dark creatures weren’t as good as the light creature ones he’d had commissioned but Luna seemed to like them just the same. 

After lunch the Blacks got changed into presentable but still comfortable clothes and flooed to Longbottom Lodge. 

Neville met them at the fireplace while Augusta, Muriel and Arabella greeted them from where they were just finishing up lunch. At 1:00 on the dot the Slytherin’s arrived. They had all spent the morning with their families before making their escape. Pansy, Daphne, Theo and Draco used the Dark Faction’s traditional post-ball luncheon as a smokescreen to convince their parents to let them go to Zabini Villa for the evening. Isabella Zabini was out with her new man so as long as they were back by morning no one would know they were gone. The Coven had a betting pool going on how this particular paramore would meet his end. 

Once everyone had greeted each other the adults gathered in the sunroom overlooking the garden while the kids bundled up and went outside. Hydrus and Luna knew their dads were using the opportunity to get Dowager Longbottom, Dowager Prewett and Mrs. Figg caught up so when Theo and Daphne pulled out a list of questions they had about everyone's abilities no one thought twice about showing off. 

Since they were in Neville’s domain they started with him. Besides the Prewett twins Neville was the least familiar with his blessing. Over the last couple months he had been experimenting and practicing every chance he got. The Hogwarts greenhouses were thriving under his care but it was here, in the garden he had tended to since he was old enough to toddle around with a watering can, that he really shone. 

He coaxed various flowers out of their winter slumber only to lull them back to sleep just as gently, he stroked the petals of the color changing poinsettias, encouraging them to shift to any color or pattern his friends suggested and changed the layout of the hedge maze simply by walking through the walls which parted for him. Even Jack was convinced to come out from the warmth of Neville’s charmed cloak to demonstrate that he could reach a length of about ten meters now. 

Eventually Neville told them he didn't want to push the garden too far since most of the plants were trying to hibernate so they moved on. 

Daphne and Theo’s next line of inquiry concerned Hydrus’ Grimm so he summoned Alphie and Anubis. 

“Can they take orders from others?” Daphne asked.

They could but the pair always obeyed Hydrus’ orders first. They’re betrayal on Samhain proved to be a bit of fun by the cheeky mutts since even when Luna called for them after Hydrus told the pair to sit they didn't move even though they whined about it. 

“Can they take others with them when they shadow travel?” Theo wondered. 

“No. They’re using the Veil to shorten the trip. It would kill a normal person,” Hydrus explained. Theo noted it, looking a little green.

“You mentioned that you could shadow travel in your animagus form,” Draco recalled. “Can you show us?”

Hydrus transformed and bound toward the shed, dissolving into the shadow cast by the afternoon sun. A moment later they heard a shriek and looked over to see Muriel clutching her chest. She was staring at the massive black dog that had just wiggled out from behind the sofa and placed his head on her lap, begging for a pastry with big puppy dog eyes. Sirius howled with laughter while Regulus scolded and shooed him back outside. 

“Can you shadow travel without being a Grimm?” Blaise asked when Hydrus transformed back.

“I don't know,” he confessed. “And I'm not keen to try without researching first, or talking to Father.”

Theo jotted that down so he would remember to pester Hydrus about it later. 

“Speaking of travel,” he said, turning to Luna. “Can Fou do that fire travel thing like regular phoenixes can?” 

Luna whistled and Fou appeared in a flash of lightning, perching on Theo’s head. The brunette looked starstruck as Daphne gingerly pet the bird's fluffy feathers. Little shocks of static electricity made her fingers tingle. 

“Fou can lightning travel,” Luna confirmed. “But she can only take others along on my orders since she's bonded to me. You just have to hold her tail.” 

Despite Daphne and Theo’s begging, Luna refused to demonstrate. She explained that it was for long distances and emergencies only since it drained Fou's lifespan too much to use frivolously.

“Do storm phoenixes have the same life span as fire phoenixes?” Daphne asked. 

“They live about twice as long but have similar cycles,” Luna revealed. “When they reach the end of their lives they start to get stiff and their feathers become dry and brittle. At the moment of death lightning strikes them which shatters their bodies and leaves behind a glass nest with a single egg. The egg hatches into a chick within a minute.” 

Theo was feverishly writing down everything Luna said. Storm phoenixes were so rare that there was almost no research on them and he would be damned if he didn’t document everything. When he was done he turned to Blaise. 

“What exactly can you see with your Eye of Horus?” he asked. 

“When I have it active I can tell where my Wards are,” Blaise explained. “It's like they’re surrounded by a golden halo and I can see them through walls and concealment spells. If they're far away they appear as a star on the horizon.”

“You mentioned that you can sense when they're in danger,” Daphne prompted. 

“Sort of. I get hunches. My instincts tell me to stay close to them and I become paranoid or suspicious of people who may cause harm.” 

“So what would happen if I did this?” 

Theo smacked Draco hard across the face. The blonde reeled, clutching his cheek and nearly falling over. Blaise’s left eye immediately turned gold and he grabbed for Theo but the brunette was already running. 

Blaise was fast but Theo made it to the hedge maze first and disappeared with the Italian hot on his tail. There was a few minutes of silence before they heard Theo scream and the pair came crashing through the bushes. They rolled through the snow until Blaise had Theo pinned under him. 

“What the fuck Theo!?” Blaise yelled, yanking on the front of Theo's cloak so they’re noses were nearly touching. “That was really dangerous! If you had knocked him out and made him vulnerable I would have been compelled to draw blood.”

Theo blinked at his friend, suddenly realizing that he had been monumentally stupid. 

“And now?” he asked nervously. 

Blaise drew back his fist and socked Theo right in the jaw. 

“The crime is avenged,” he declared, getting off Theo and offering him a hand up. Theo accepted, rubbing his chin and moving his jaw to make sure it wasn't broken. Neville handed him a tin of bruise paste. He had headed off the adults as they rushed to see what all the commotion was about and explained what happened. They seemed to agree that Theo had brought it on himself but gave Neville a second tin of paste anyway. Pansy was already smearing some on Draco’s cheek. 

“What if one of your Wards is killed?” Theo asked as Daphne fussed over him, mumbling a scathing lecture under her breath.

“Then I would have to kill whoever was responsible. Why do you think Ma kills all her boyfriends?” 

“Wait! Hold up!” Pansy exclaimed. “Your mom kills her paramours because they killed her Wards?” 

“One Ward,” Blaise corrected. “My father. He was an important politician in the magical and Muggle governments who was assassinated when I was seven. A number of people were involved in the assassination. Ma ‘dates’ them, drains their bank accounts, secretly ruins their relationships with their families and destroys their careers before ultimately killing them.”

“You'd think they would learn not to get involved with her by now,” Daphne pointed out. 

“We're trained assassins. She's good at what she does.” 

Blaise was pleasantly surprised when his friends just shrugged off his casual mention of murder. He had been nervous they would disapprove. 

“Good to know that if someone offs me I’ll be avenged,” Draco said, knocking his shoulder against Blaise's. The Italian smirked at him. 

Eventually Theo and Daphne ran out of questions so they all went inside to warm up in the parlor. The pair lamented the absence of the Prewett twins. They had wanted to test their time travel ability but Fred, George and Ginny couldn't think of a way to reliably escape the Burrow which was why everyone was surprised when a house elf informed them they had visitors. Augusta went to see who it was and returned with a harried looking Fred and George.

“Probably can't stay long,” Fred said breathlessly. 

“We're not sure what will happen in about five minutes,” George added. 

“You time traveled?” Daphne asked. 

“Yeah, we’re testing what happens if we're far away from the place we activated it when the seven minutes is up.”

“That's so dangerous!” Draco cried. 

“What's life without a little risk,” the twins countered. Their declaration was followed by the sound of Regulus smacking Sirius upside the head, annoyed that his elder brother’s personal motto was being used to justify experimenting with time. 

“Anyway, we brought fudge,” Fred informed them. 

They placed a few bags of homemade fudge on the table. The Coven had agreed not to go too wild for Yule and only give each other sweets. Regulus produced a bag with an undetectable extension charm on it and Daphne, Theo, Pansy, Draco, Hydrus, Luna and Neville started stuffing it full of candy for Fred, George and Ginny. Then they all sat around watching the twin’s pocket watches and waiting for the gold and silver hands to sync up again. 

“... three… two… one…”

Nothing happened. 

“Huh. I was expecting to get ripped back to the Burrow,” George said. 

“Me too,” Fred agreed. 

They glanced at Theo, Daphne and Hydrus, the three most academic people they knew. Daphne and Theo looked thoughtful but Hydrus looked like he was holding in laughter. Daphne gasped and grabbed Theo’s shoulder, shaking him in her excitement.  

“They synced up!” she exclaimed. 

“What are you talking about?” Theo asked. 

“The moment the hands on the watch start moving together again is the same moment the other thems time travel.”

Theo's eyes widened. 

“Want to clue the rest of us in?” Blaise asked.

“When Fred and George use the ability it creates two versions of them, the Them and the Other Them,” Theo explained. “When they time travel the Other Them are doing exactly what the twins were doing 7 minutes prior like setting the table or pranking Ronald, while the Them, the ones that actually traveled, are free to do whatever they want.”

“Like apparating to Longbottom Lodge to deliver fudge,” Pansy suggested. 

“Exactly!” Daphne said. “But once 7 minutes is up the Other Them time travel as well and the two Thems sync up leaving only one version of Fred and George remaining.”

Everyone but the Black twins stared at them in confusion. Hydrus pressed his forehead to Luna’s shoulder, shaking with suppressed laughter. Luna looked very amused by the whole situation. 

“What does that mean!?” The twins exclaimed, frustrated with the Thems and the Other Thems. 

“There's only one version of you existing right now,” Daphne repeated. 

Fred and George nodded. 

“You're here, with us,” Theo pointed out.

They nodded again.

“Which means there's no one at…”

“The Burrow!” they exclaimed.  

Fred and George scrambled to their feet and hurried for the door. 

“Gotta go!” one of them shouted. 

“Thanks for having us!” the other added.

“Happy Yule!”

“We’ll see you when term starts!”

“Bye Grandma!”

“What he said!”

And then they were gone. 

“Just like their Uncles,” Muriel said fondly, taking a sip of her wine. 

The rest of the evening was spent with dinner and games and comfortable conversation. The Coven did their candy exchange which turned into more of a trading auction with Chocolate Frogs being tossed across the room in exchange for Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and Ice Mice getting swapped for Sugar Quills. In the end everyone got something they enjoyed and the Cockroach Clusters were pointedly ignored but Neville and Luna assured them the house elves would like the treat. 

Before everyone left Sirius and Regulus gathered the Slytherins together for a serious conversation. These kids weren't naive, they knew standing against both Dumbledore and Voldemort was dangerous. They also weren't stupid. They deserved to have a say in who joined the cause, deserved to give their own families a chance to stand beside them if possible.

Daphne was all for getting her dad on board but suggested using the Wizengamot to prime him first. Gareth Greengrass was a career politician who dreamed of restoring the Dark Faction to its pre-Grindelwald glory. Seeing the work that Houses Black, Longbottom and Rosier were doing to better the wizarding world would go a long way. 

Blaise informed them that he’d already told Lady Zabini everything. She had pledged the support of House Zabini should it be needed but as an Italian family they had no interest in getting involved with ‘English issues’. She had encouraged her son to continue on his path though. She was proud of his commitment to a righteous cause and saw it as a test of his training as a Zabini warrior. 

Pansy and Theo were adamant that their families not be told. Pansy’s father had joined the Death Eaters out of fear and she didn't know what he or her mother would do should the Dark Lord return. Theo’s father no longer wished to serve but was in too deep. He was an Elite and unless Luna could figure out how to remove his mark he would serve the Dark Lord to protect himself and Theo. 

Draco seemed the most unsure. He would never trust his father, knowing he craved power and prestige well above Draco’s happiness, but he had hope for his mother. Eventually Sirius and Regulus offered to invite her for tea to get a read on how she may take the news of a third side in the coming conflict. 

Everyone parted with friendly farewells, promises to meet on the train and lots to think about. 

>>>>>>>>>

The day before new years an old gray owl swooped into the kitchen at Grimmauld Place and crash landed on the table. He was followed by a sleek tawny owl who alighted gracefully on one of the chairs. She eyed the sprawled owl with all the judgement her round feathery face could manage. 

“That's Errol, the Weasley's owl,” Luna explained as she gingerly cradled the limp but breathing owl in her arms and took him to her room to recover with Hedwig. 

While she did that Hydrus collected a letter from the post owl and fed her a strip of bacon as a tip before she flew away again. The front of the letter said ‘Read Errol’s letter first' in Ginny’s loopy handwriting. Luna soon returned with said letter and sat beside her brother so they could both read it. 

Dear Luna,

We would like to invite you to New Years at the Burrow. 

I understand the last couple weeks may have been trying for you with the reappearance of your godfather. Please allow us to lift your spirits. Ginny would love to have you and we would like to get to know you better as well. 

Fred and George mentioned that you’ve become close to your godfather's nephew. If you wish to invite him along you’re welcome to but if you want some separation that's fine as well. 

Errol will await your reply,

-The Weasleys 

“Well, she's certainly bold,” Hydrus commented, sliding the letter across the table to their dads. 

“And rude,” Luna added. “Assuming that I'm not happy to have my godfather back.”

“Ginny sent a letter too,” Hydrus told her, ripping the second envelope open. 

Hydrus and Luna,

I hope Errol managed to get there first. If he hasn’t I promise he’s on his way. He's so old that he may be delayed even though it took me an hour to sneak out to the post office.

As you can see mum has invited you both to New Years but I have to warn you, it was Dumbledore’s idea to invite Hydrus. Mum really didn't want to. He also made Ron invite Neville even though the prat wanted to invite Finnigan.

Me and the twins would love for you both to come but they're definitely planning something so we should take precautions. Fred and George said your rings will give a warning if anyone tries to curse or poison you and they have Cure All Potion from testing their inventions just in case. 

If you do come I’ll have to give Hydrus the cold shoulder. Ron and mum are convinced I only hang out with the Slytherins because I’m worried about Luna. Fred and George will be on your side though. They openly call Hydrus their ‘Slytherin mate’. It drives mum round the bend. 

Hope to see you soon,

-Ginny (and Fred and George)

“What do you want to do Pup?” Sirius asked after he had read Ginny’s letter. 

“I'm going,” Hydrus replied. “I want to see what methods she uses and it will be fun to push her buttons.”

“Don't go too crazy,” Regulus warned. “You shouldn’t give them any more reasons to suspect you’re more than a normal wixen kid despite your unique language skills.”

“Dumbldore has already decided I'm a Dark Wizard destined for Voldemort's ranks,” Hydrus refuted. “The more we know about their plans and motivations the better.”

“We should write Neville,” Luna said. “He needs to pretend the Weasley trust compulsion is still active.”

Hydrus nodded and drained the rest of his coffee before following Luna out of the room. Regulus glanced at Sirius who shrugged. Hydrus could handle himself and with the kids out of the house it may be a good opportunity to invite Severus and Remus around. 

They still had one more secret to reveal. 

>>>>>>>>>>

The next day Luna went to Mrs. Figg's for tea so she could floo directly from her supposed home. Sirius chatted with Hydrus on the front steps of Grimmauld Place, waiting until Luna tugged on the twin bond to let them know she had arrived. When Hydrus announced it was time Sirius apparated him to the edge of the Burrow’s wards. He shouted after his son to behave as Hydrus walked down the garden path and noticed Molly watching from the kitchen window. She scowled, not realizing Sirius could see her. Once Hydrus was invited inside by the twins Sirius apparated back to Grimmauld Place. 

Severus was already there chatting with Regulus. Their relationship had only gotten better since reuniting. In school the looming war and pressure from their peers made it hard to develop a real friendship but they had always respected each other for their mutual interest in the Dark Arts. 

Sirius had to admit that his feelings toward Severus were complicated and he was sure Severus felt the same way. 

James had been the first person to befriend Sirius for him and not the prestige of his family name. When James started going after Severus out of petty jealousy over his closeness with Lily, Sirius jumped on the opportunity. Severus represented everything Sirius hated. He was a Slytherin, a Dark Wizard and a suck up chasing after the approval of his pureblood classmates. It wasn't until after the whole prophecy debacle that Sirius realized Severus’ pandering had been a defense mechanism. No one would give a poor Slytherin half-blood a chance so Severus made them look. He made them see how skilled he was, how powerful an ally he could be. 

It took time and a number of clandestine meetings set up by Lily for them to stop biting each other's heads off but they didn't truly call a truce until the night Harry was born. Sirius helped Severus sneak in to St. Mungo’s to see their godson and while escorting him out Severus called him by his given name for the first time. He made Sirius promise to protect Lily and Harry and in turn Sirius had made Severus promise to be safe so he could be part of Harry’s life. They didn't see each other again after that but Sirius delivered photos to a predetermined drop point a few times. 

The floo blazed and Remus stepped out. He sneezed, the ash bothering his sensitive nose, and Sirius tried very hard to control his blush. 

“Happy New Year! I brought the booze.”

Remus held up two bottles of Firewhiskey.

“I hope you don't expect us to drink all of that,” Severus drawled. 

“Nope. One bottle is just for me. Damn werewolf metabolism.”

Since Samhain Remus had been much more comfortable speaking casually about his wolf but there was still a slight pause whenever he mentioned it; a small hitch in his breath, eyes flicking over everyone in the room as if they were suddenly going to be afraid of him after accepting him so easily. Sometimes Sirius felt ashamed that he and James hadn't been enough to make Remus believe he was worth something back in school before remembering they had been fighting against the manipulations of Albus Dumbledore. The Headmaster had no problem convincing a vulnerable teenager that he would always be dangerous, diseased and unwanted just so he could have a token ‘half-breed’ in his band of righteous warriors. It was amazing how much progress could be made when all the illusions shattered. 

“How did you two manage to get away from Hogwarts for the night?” Regulus asked as he dug the whiskey glasses out of the cupboard. 

“Well, Severus hates holidays, parties, celebrations and pretty much anything else that causes joy in lesser humans,” Remus teased. 

“I'm hiding from the staff New Years festivities in my potions lab,” Severus translated. 

“And I’m visiting my old friend Sirius,” Remus told them, throwing his arm over his friend's shoulder. “He needs to be brought back to the Light, don't you know?”

“Albus already cornered you?” Sirius asked. 

“Couple days ago,” Remus admitted, his playful grin turning into a deep frown. “We should talk about that actually. He made a comment about your sanity and implied you're not a fit parent.”

The kitchen table suddenly cracked down the middle and collapsed. Regulus managed to save his tea but Severus was glaring at him as he picked his cup up off his lap. Sirius didn't notice. He was seething, his magic rattling the glassware and cabinet doors. 

“Hey. Siri. Calm down,” Remus soothed, his thumb rubbing calming circles on the back of his neck. “He would be an idiot to try and take Hydrus. You raised a smart, kind, well rounded child in Azkaban of all places. No one would believe you're not a fit parent no matter what Dumbledore said.”

Sirius took a deep breath, letting the weight of Remus’ hand ground him. 

His old friend wasn't entirely correct. There were plenty of people who would try to take Hydrus if given the opportunity. Their imprisonment and subsequent release had embarrassed the Ministry while Regulus’ reappearance and their storming of the Wizengamot had only made matters worse. On the other hand, the wixen public loved the story of a betrayed war hero and his only son who survived hell and returned victorious. Any attempt to split them apart would be met with outrage. 

Remus waved his wand, casing repairo and setting the table to rights.

“Let's pour the drinks,” he suggested, placing a large, warm hand in the small of Sirius’ back and guiding him to a chair. Sirius forgot how to breathe for a moment. “You and Regulus said you had something to tell us.” 

Remus poured everyone some whiskey. When he reached over to hand Regulus a glass he subtly shifted his seat a little closer to Sirius. Their knees nearly touched and every time Sirius took a drink his elbow brushed the sleeve of Remus’ sweater. 

“So,” Regulus began awkwardly. “The Dark Lord isn't dead.”

Severus scoffed. By now all their allies were aware of Voldemort's continued existence and the possibility of his return. They were horrified but determined to be ready should he manage to be resurrected. 

“Old news Reg,” the potion’s master drawled. “Dumbledore has been preaching that for years and the mark may be dormant, but it still burns a little whenever someone uses his name.”

“Luna said she could remove yours,” Regulus reminded his friend. “The Dark Lord killed your blood bonded sister after swearing he wouldn’t. That's more than enough to dissolve the Oath of Servitude.”

“And I told you we need someone on the inside if he does find a way to come back,” Severus retorted. Regulus pursed his lips and kept his mouth shut. They had already had this argument back when Regulus had his mark removed. 

“Anyway,” Sirius said loudly, wanting to get this over with. “We figured out how he survived. Have either of you heard of a Horcrux?”

Remus shook his head but Severus paled. 

“He didn't,” the potions master gasped.

“He did. More than one actually.”

“What in Merlin’s name is a Horcrux?” Remus asked. 

“Some of the darkest dark magic ever created,” Regulus replied. “Horcruxes are vessels that contain a piece of someone's soul. By committing a terrible sin like murder someone could weaken their soul enough to break off a piece. A ritual is then performed to lock the soul shard within an object. As long as the Horcrux is intact that person can not truly die.”

Remus felt like he was going to be sick. How could anyone willingly shatter their own soul? 

“We’ve already destroyed three,” Sirius revealed, pulling something from his pocket and placing it on the table. 

It was a large oval locket on a silver chain. The pendant was warped and melted in places. There had once been an elegant S on the front made of small emeralds but most of the gems were missing leaving pockmarks in the metal. 

“We submerged this one in basilisk venom,” Regulus said. “That, Fiendfyre and reabsorption through remorse for the actions that created the Horcrux are the only ways to destroy one.”

“Or a dementor's kiss,” Sirius added. “That's how Hydrus destroyed the diary Horcrux that possessed Ginny earlier this year.”

“How did he manage to do that?” Remus asked. 

“When Hydrus came to Hogwarts to help us find the Chamber two dementors came with him,” Severus explained. “I assume he took the diary to them before returning to the castle.”

He looked to the Black brothers for confirmation but neither would meet his eye. 

“About that,” Sirius started, fiddling with his whiskey glass. “Hydrus can actually perform his own dementor’s kiss.”

“He can what!?” Remus yelled. Severus was speechless.  

“It was one of the things the dementors taught him in Azkaban,” Sirius cried by way of explanation. He paused, glancing at Regulus who nodded encouragingly. Sirius took a deep breath and drained the rest of his drink to steady himself. 

“After Hydrus’ power manifested he took to dementor magic like a niffler with gold. He learned to fly and create emotional auras like he had been doing it his whole life. One dementor in particular took a shine to him. We’ll call her Lilith since dementor names don’t translate well to English. 

“Lilith came to our cell one day and explained that something wasn't right with Hydrus’ soul. He had a piece of someone else's latched onto his like a leech.”

Severus’ glass shattered in his hand. Regulus quickly repaired it but the potions master didn’t seem to notice. He could only stare at Sirius in horror. Remus wasn’t sure when he had pressed his and Sirius’ knees together but the moment he thought about leaning away from the small comfort his wolf whined so pitifully it made his chest tighten. 

“The night You-Know-Who killed James and Lily it must have broken off a piece of his soul. When the killing curse backfired the shard was knocked loose and it fled to the only other living thing in the room.”

“Harry,” Remus breathed. Sirius nodded solemnly. 

“We were lucky the ritual wasn’t completed or the Dark Lord would be back by now using Hydrus’ body.”

Everyone silently and collectively agreed that ‘ the Dark Lord could have possessed a child and come back with the power of Death at his fingertips ’ was the single most nightmare inducing sentence to ever be said. 

“What do we do?” Remus asked. 

“There’s nothing left to be done. We already destroyed it,” Sirius informed them. “The shard was too tangled with Hydrus’ soul for the dementors to suck out so Lilith taught him how to do a dementor’s kiss himself. He practiced on rats and fish mostly. There's a partially flooded cell in the basement of High Tower that's currently full of soulless fish. They just swim in circles. It’s kind of mesmerizing.”

“Sirius!” Regulus snapped.

“Right, sorry,” Sirius apologized sheepishly before getting back on track. “The way Hydrus’ kiss works is a little different than a dementor. He has to draw the soul out before swallowing it, allowing his own soul to absorb and break it down into energy. It took over a year for him to untangle the Dark Lord’s soul enough that it was safe to remove.”

“So Hydrus ate the Dark Lord’s soul?” Severus said incredulously. It wasn’t often he was out of his depth but this was one of those times.

“Oh. No. We were concerned that if Hydrus ate it we would end up back at square one so Lilith ate it instead. There was more than enough energy in just that small piece for Eurus to be created.”

“Eurus? Hydrus’ little dementor friend? That Eurus!?” Remus cried.

“That’s the one. Lilith thought she’d have to wait years to collect enough energy to have a child but the Dark Lord provided,” Sirius laughed, more at how bad his joke was than the joke itself. “She was lucky she already had a cloak ready to start the process early.”

“One day I’m going to force you to sit down and tell me everything you know about dementors,” Regulus threatened.

“Talk to Hydrus, he knows way more than me,” Sirius countered. 

“How many Horcruxes do you think he made?” Severus asked, reaching for the bottle to top up his drink.

“We’re not exactly sure but we can make a guess,” Regulus said. “While Luna and I were in hiding I studied the locket.” He nodded to the lump of metal on the table. “It matches the description of a locket Salazar Slytherin owned around the time Hogwarts was built. It’s one of the founder’s lost relics.”

“You think He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named found the lost relics and made Horcuxes from them?” Remus questioned. 

“It’s exactly something the Dark Lord would do,” Severus agreed with Regulus. “He wouldn’t allow his soul to reside in just any object. The more priceless the artifact the better.”

“Gryffindor’s lost relic was found centuries ago,” Sirius said. “But the sword isn’t exactly known for staying in one spot so I think we can rule it out. Hufflepuff’s cup and Ravenclaw's diadem are still on the table though.”

“We also know he values things from his past, like the diary,” Regulus added. “We should look into his childhood for important objects or places he could be hiding them. The cave where I found the locket couldn’t have just been random.”

“I can go through the Hogwarts archive,” Remus offered. “It’s hell to navigate but nearly every unclaimed essay, library stamp card and detention slip ends up there eventually. Tom Riddle has to be mentioned somewhere.”

“I’ll take the Ministry archives,” Sirius volunteered. “I can explain my interest away as getting caught up on changes in the wizarding world over the last twelve years.”

“And I’ll keep looking for new books and going through the Black libraries,” Regulus said. “My list of research topics keeps growing.”

“I guess that leaves me brewing Wolfsbane that’s no longer needed,” Severus grumbled. Remus grimaced apologetically. He hadn’t taken his potion since the first night he and Sirius ran together again but Severus had to keep brewing it in case Dumbledore checked. 

“You can help me with the Sanctuarium Sancti Hieronymi research. I know you still have your Dark Magic texts hidden away,” Regulus suggested.

“What the bloody hell is Sanctuarium Sancti Hieronymi?” Severus asked.

Sirius and Regulus started filling Remus and Severus in on everything they had learned from their Gringotts trip. As the night wore on the whiskey bottles emptied and the group moved to the parlor to lounge on the couches in front of the fire. Conversation flowed easily and so did the expensive wine Kreacher had found. Sirius and Regulus were sure it was meant to be saved for one of their weddings. 

By the time the clock struck midnight Regulus was upside down in an armchair barley listening to Severus as he rambled about some theory he had concocted from the dozens of books he was buried in, none of them on the same topic. Sirius occasionally encouraged Severus with suggestions worthy of his niece while running his fingers through Remus’ hair. The werewolf was near catatonic sitting on the floor with his head on Sirius’ knee. Any time Sirius stopped petting him he huffed in annoyance and whined until he started up again. 

When Hydrus and Luna returned in the morning they found three very grumpy ravenettes and an entirely too chipper werewolf drinking coffee in the kitchen while Kreacher made breakfast as loudly as he could. 

Severus eventually mumbled something about Hangover Potion and fled through the floo, barely dodging the teacup Sirius chucked at him when he refused to return with any for the rest of them.

Chapter Text

After Regulus and Sirius had drained a pot of coffee between them, talk turned to the twin’s New Years celebration. 

“How did visiting the Burrow go?” Remus asked. The elder Blacks seemed to perk up at the question, pushing away their hangovers to hear the twins’ answers.

Hydrus and Luna glanced at each other, nervousness zipping across their bond. Their dads were not going to like this.

“We need to check Luna for compulsions,” Hydrus replied. 

Regulus and Sirius now looked completely sober. Regulus hurried to the table near the fireplace where they kept the floo powder and opened the drawer to pull out a slip of parchment.

Ragnok and Eldar Sharptooth had trusted the Blacks with goblin enchanted parchment. It was similar to the parchment used for inheritance tests but made specifically to check for compulsions and other spells. They kept some in nearly every room of Grimmauld Place.

Everyone gathered around as Luna pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall. Even Kreacher was standing on a chair to see over the table edge. 

Blocks and Compulsions:

Compulsion - Hatred of Hydrus Black (failed)

Compulsion - Distrust of Black family (failed)

Compulsion - Trust in Molly and Ginevra Weasley (failed)

Potion - Confidenserum (Keyed to Ginevra Weasley, purged)

“What happened?” Regulus growled, trying to keep his anger over his daughter being spelled contained. 

Hydrus took a deep breath.

“Well…” 

<<<<<<

Hydrus could see Lady Weasley scowling through the kitchen window as he walked up the garden path. He silently hoped it was Luna or the Prewett twins that greeted him or else Sirius would lurk at the edge of the Burrow wards until he was sure Hydrus actually had allies inside. 

Thankfully, it was Fred and George who opened the door.

“Look Gred, it's our friend from the serpent's den!” 

“It sure is Feorge! Good of him to slither in.”

“Hey! Thanks for inviting me!” Hydrus replied cheerily. 

The twins guided him into the kitchen where their mother smiled in a way that would have been motherly if it wasn't so strained. 

“Mr. Black. Wonderful to meet you,” she greeted.

“Lady Weasley. Well met,” Hydrus replied, bowing rather than kissing the back of her hand as was proper. “Thank you for inviting me into your lovely home. I’m honored to celebrate New Years with your family.”

Lady Weasley's lips thinned, caught between disapproval of the pureblood protocol and pleasure at the sweetness of his words. She was saved from having to reply by Luna rushing into the room.

“Hyde!”

“Lu!”

Hydrus caught his sister in a long hug like he hadn't had lunch with her a few hours ago. Ginny followed Luna from the living room. The redhead gave him a quick wink before going back to glaring at him. 

“That’s enough young man,” Lady Weasley said firmly as if Hydrus was keeping Luna prisoner. “The girls were in the middle of painting their nails.”

Luna quickly released her brother but only so she could shove her hands into his face.

“Aren’t they pretty?”

Her nails were painted in a variety of colors. The polish wasn’t smooth and spilled over onto her skin but it was entirely Luna’s style. Hydrus took her hand, turning it to inspect the art and making Lady Weasley and Ginny growl protectively.

“It’s amazing Lu,” Hydrus assured her with a smile that was readily returned.

“Suck up,” Ginny grumbled, grabbing the blonde’s sleeve and tugging her away from Hydrus toward the stairs. “Come on Luna, let’s go to my room. It’s more private.”

“Aww. Let the cousin’s hang out,” Fred whined in an obnoxious voice.

“Yeah. They just found out they’re related,” George added.

“ He is not her cousin,” Ginny snapped back, stressing ‘he’ in a way that made it obvious she didn’t think highly of Hydrus. Luna just stared dreamily at the flowery wallpaper as she was dragged off. 

Lady Weasley seemed ready to explode at her sons for suggesting Luna be subjected to Hydrus’ influence so the Slytherin quickly spoke up.

“Is there anything I can assist with?” he asked, drawing her attention away from the twins. “It can’t be easy to plan a celebration for so many people.”

Lady Weasley gaped at him. The helpful politeness displayed by the boy that was meant to be a dark, blood purist, Death Eater-in-training was making her paranoia skyrocket. 

“N–No, that's quite alright Mr. Black,” she stuttered.

“Please call me Hydrus, Lady Weasley,” Hydrus insisted politely, suppressing a grin as he watched Lady Weasley fight to keep her motherly smile on her face. She didn’t want to show familiarity with the enemy but was not able to refuse without being rude.

“Hydrus,” she repeated tightly. “Please call me Molly.”

“Of course Molly.” Hydrus said with a grin. He could see the twins fighting not to break down into giggles and decided he had to get them out of the kitchen before they got caught. “Perhaps Fred and George can give me a house tour?”

Fred had to cover his laugh with a coughing fit which George used as an excuse to turn his face away, both to thump his brother on the back and hide his shit-eating grin. Molly looked momentarily incensed that Hydrus even suggested having the run of her home without supervision before schooling her face again.

“That’s a wonderful idea,” she said cheerily. “Why don’t you start in the garden? Toss some gnomes while you're at it. They’ve been rather stubborn lately.”

“Sure thing mum,” George said, quickly pushing his brother out of the kitchen followed by Hydrus. As soon as the back door closed behind them all three burst out laughing.

“Sweet Merlin!” Fred howled. “I thought she was going to burst into flames.”

“Who would have thought being polite would piss her off so badly?” George giggled.

“She thinks I’m faking it,” Hydrus chuckled. “I bet she’ll have something for us to do once we go back in. There’s no way she’ll let me loose in the house with you hooligans.”

The twins broke down laughing again.

“That’s a bad bet, mate.”

“You’d totally win.”

The trio spent a half hour exploring the garden. Fred and George showed him the family Quidditch pitch with rings made of broken wagon wheels and the vegetable garden where gnomes scurried between the rows and dove into their dens when they saw them coming. 

While Fred and George were instructing Hydrus on how to properly de-gnome the garden they heard the door open and Ron speaking to someone.

“... pitch in the woods. We can go flying,” he was saying.

“I’m not really a fan of flying Ron,” Neville replied. “I wanted to go outside to see the garden.”

“Why? The garden is boring and infested with gnomes.”

“Gnomes? That’s not good,” Neville said worriedly. “Gnomes eat the bugs that help the plants stay healthy, rip everything up by the root to build nests and their excrement is toxic, it leaches into the soil.”

Ron was looking at Neville like he was insane, his nose scrunched up in disgust. Hydrus felt a brief flash of anger toward the red-head. Neville was just starting to open up and become comfortable sharing his interests with others. Hydrus wouldn’t let Ronald Weasley set his progress back.

“Neville! Ron!” Hydrus called, waving his arm above his head. “We were just about to have a gnome tossing competition. Care to join?”

“Why would we want to hang out with a slimy—”

“Sure, sounds like fun,” Neville interrupted, walking across the lawn toward where Fred, George and Hydrus were stomping on top of a gnome den to scare the creature out. As soon as the little brown man made a break for it Hydrus dove and caught it by the leg. He spun it around and around, making sure it was good and dizzy before chucking it over the hedge into the field beyond. Fred and George watched it go, whistling in appreciation when the gnome landed in the snow bank a few meters short of the far fence.

“Impressive,” Fred said. “I think only Bill has thrown one farther.”

“But only after he came back from Cambodia absolutely shredded,” George added. 

Hydrus rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He didn't notice how Neville eyed the way his friend’s shoulders seemed to broaden, his muscles packed tight within the fabric of his coat. The brunette remembered Hydrus telling him he had picked up a lot of hobbies in Azkaban, including an exercise regimen based on Lord Black’s auror training. It had obviously done some good, Hydrus looked quite fit. 

“You alright Neville?”

Neville jumped at Hydrus’ voice, blushing when he realized he had been staring. He cleared his throat.

“I’m fine, just amazed by your talents,” Neville replied. Hydrus beamed at him, a dusting of pink on his cheeks from the cold. 

“It wasn't that impressive,” Ron grumbled, scowling at the Slytherin.  

“Lets see you…”

“...do better.”

“Ronnikins,” the twins challenged. 

“Gladly,” Ron snapped, marching into the garden.

While Ron was busy chasing the gnomes who suddenly seemed much more evasive, Hydrus leaned toward Neville.

“How are you doing?” he asked. 

“Alright,” Neville replied. “Gran didn’t want to let me come but I convinced her that keeping my cover was safer than being overly hostile.”

“What are you going to do when he, Finnigan and Thomas try to bully you at school?”

Neville remained silent for a moment. 

“Stand up for myself within reason,” he decided. “It was a trust compulsion, not an obedience compulsion. I won't let them walk all over me.”

“Proud of you Nev,” Hydrus said, bumping his shoulder with the brunette’s as they watched Ron dive for a gnome, miss and sprawl across the frozen dirt. “While he's doing that, I noticed some strange herbs near the crabapple tree. Want to check it out?” 

Hydrus’ heart fluttered when Neville’s eye lit up and he nodded excitedly. The tree wasn’t too far and soon they were kneeling on the ground as Neville gushed over the Chrysalin Coriander. He pointed out where it looked like some leaves were stuck together with fine silver thread and peeled them apart to reveal a silvery green moth nestled inside. He explained how the leaves the Jaded Moth used as a chrysalis were used in love potions and the moths themselves were an ingredient in Amortentia. 

Just as Neville was wondering if Molly would let him take a cutting for his own herb garden Hydrus was pushed from behind. He twisted as he fell, not wanting to crush Neville’s coriander, and landed awkwardly on his shoulder. 

“Get away from him!” Ron shouted, standing over Hydrus.

“Ron! What are you doing?” Neville cried, jumping to his feet.

“Don’t listen to anything he says Nevillle! He’s trying to corrupt you!”

“He wasn’t even saying anything!” Neville snapped back. He reached down to help Hydrus up but when he pulled on his arm the Slytherin hissed and grabbed his shoulder. Hydrus felt worry over the twin bond and quickly sent back comfort and an apology for accidentally broadcasting his pain to Luna. 

“Bloody hell Ron!” George shouted as he and Fred ran up.

“Are you okay Hydrus?” Fred asked.

“Yeah, I’m good. I just need a quick—” he pulled his wand out and pointed it at his injured shoulder. “ Episkey! ” There was a crack as Hydrus’ dislocated shoulder snapped into place. He rotated his arm to make sure everything had gone back properly. 

Fred and George turned on Ron, fury in their eyes. Ron met them with his own show of misplaced righteousness.

“He's evil!” the younger Wesley insisted when Fred asked what his problem was. “I'm just looking after Neville. Who knows what that snake was saying or doing to him.” 

“We were talking about Jaded Moths,” Neville explained. “I appreciate that you’re trying to protect me but Hydrus is my friend. It would mean a lot to me if you two could get along.”

Ron looked like he had swallowed a lemon. Hydrus ducked his head as if he was embarrassed over being chastised but he was just trying to hide his smirk. If Neville was put back under the sorting hat Hydrus wondered if he would be sorted into Slytherin this time. 

“Fine!” Ron finally said, crossing his arms. “But I still don't trust him.”

“Really?” Hydrus squealed in the voice of someone being given an amazing gift. “You’ll give me a chance? Oh thank you!”

Behind Ron Fred and George were hanging off each other, trying desperately not to laugh. The younger Weasley looked properly weirded out by Hydrus’ excitement before his expression darkened into something mean and calculating.

“Yeah. I’ll try being your friend,” he said unconvincingly. “Why don’t we do something fun to get to know each other? Do you play Quidditch?”

“Dad used to tell me stories about his time as a Gryffindor Chaser but I’ve never played before,” Hydrus replied. He and the younger dementors had played a version of Quidditch with rocks and baskets made of reeds but he hadn’t had a chance to play a proper game with his wixen friends.  

“Then let’s play a Chaser’s game. Me and Fred versus you and George,” Ron suggested. 

“That actually sounds like a good idea,” George said, seeming genuinely surprised.

“You can borrow Percy’s broom Hydrus,” Fred offered. “Merlin knows he never uses it.”

They collected the equipment from the shed and made the short trek out to the pitch. Percy had an original Comet handed down from his brother Charlie. It had once been well taken care of but now the polish was dull and several twigs were sticking out at odd angles. The quaffle had been repaired many times leaving faint cracks on its surface and the paint was worn off from so many hands catching it over the years. 

“First to ten points,” Fred declared as they all hovered a few feet off the ground. “Neville, can you toss the quaffle to start?” 

Neville stepped into the middle of the pitch and threw the quaffle into the air between George and Ron. George darted forward and snatched it from between Ron’s hands, rolling to the left and rocketing past his brother. Hydrus mirrored him to the right in case he needed to pass but George went straight for the rings. He threw the quaffle at the middle one only for Fred to swat it away. Ron caught it and made a wide turn to race toward the opposite goal. His sloppy maneuver allowed Hydrus to reach the hoops before him and act as Keeper. Ron feigned right but Hydrus saw the way he was leaning slightly left and didn't fall for it. The red-head’s scowl deepened when Hydrus caught it easily.

As the game continued they fell into a rhythm, swapping from offensive to defensive depending on who had the quaffle. Fred and George were easily the best, able to pull off maneuvers that the third years couldn't compete with. 

Hydrus often found himself playing Keeper while George handled his brothers and discovered that he was quite good at it. Dementors were so fluid and graceful in the air that the comparatively awkward flight of a broom was easy to read. Pretty soon Hydrus’ stellar goalkeeping had him and George three points ahead and the game became a little more aggressive. 

They started knocking into each other, diving and swooping close enough to risk crashing. It resulted in a few turnovers and with some creative flying from Fred, he and Ron got caught up with a score of seven to eight. 

It didn't last long. Hydrus booted the quaffle across more than half the pitch directly into George’s hands and he scored on the undefended hoops. They only need one more point to win so when Fred tried to score and Hydrus intercepted the ravenette didn't hesitate to push the old Comet to its limits, rocketing down the pitch. 

He was half way there, Fred in his tail and Ron nowhere to be seen, when a horrible cold and oddly slimy feeling washed over him. He felt panic tear across the twin bond, knocking the air from his lungs. 

“Hydrus! Look out!”

Something slammed into him. The quaffle went one way and Hydrus went the other, the broom continuing down the pitch without a rider. The last thing Hydrus saw before gravity took him was Ron’s face, his lips twisted into a vicious smirk. 

He felt the cold air whipping through his hair and heard panicked voices yelling his name as he fell, the frozen ground rushing up to crush him, but Hydrus barely registered it.

Luna was in danger. 

Suddenly, he wasn't plummeting to his death. He was skimming over the top of the long grass and weaving through the trees as he flew as fast as he could toward the Burrow. He shot over the fence, his long coat fluttering behind him like a dementor cloak, and was preparing to land at the back door when he felt a tug upward. He quickly changed direction, rocketing into the clear winter sky. 

As he reached the upper floors one of the windows opened revealing Ginny looking at him in shock. Hydrus wasted no time diving for her, the red-head stepping out of the way to give him room and revealing Luna sitting on the bed. Her knees were hugged to her chest and the twin link was screaming for comfort, screaming for him. 

With a quick twist Hydrus avoided plowing into the wall and hurried over to his sister.

“Lu! I’m here. I’ve got you.”

When he sat on the bed Luna immediately climbed into his lap, curling up as small as she could so her brother’s arms could completely envelope her. She didn’t say anything but their link already felt lighter, slowly returning to its normal symphony as opposed to the caterwauling of Luna's panic.

“Molly tried to spell her,” Ginny explained. Hydrus’ glowing green eyes snapped to the redhead and she flinched as if he had tried to curse her. Hydrus took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He didn’t want to push more negative emotions onto Luna and he definitely didn’t want to scare Ginny. She was totally and completely loyal to Luna, something Hydrus appreciated more than he could ever express. 

“Sorry, I’m a little on edge,” Hydrus apologized, tightening his hold on his sister and feeling her relax just a tiny bit more. “What happened?”

“We were helping Molly with dinner,” Ginny explained. “She sent Luna to the pantry to get potatoes and as soon as her back was turned Molly was casting at her. There were runes around the doorframe that started glowing and I think I counted three spells.”

“Compulsions,” Hydrus growled. “Long lasting ones require a rune matrix along with the spell. This was planned ahead of time.” 

Ginny’s jaw tightened with barely suppressed anger but she swallowed it down to continue her explanation without accidentally lighting anything on fire. 

“Luna didn’t react to the spells but I could tell she had noticed them when she came back to the kitchen. She was all— empty. It was really scary. I made an excuse to go to my room and she's been like this ever since. The only time she spoke was when she asked me to open the window.”

Hydrus remained silent for a moment, taking the time to smother the rage that had been building behind his occlumency walls. He shifted so he could look down at Luna who was already looking at him, her gaze clearer and her breathing more even than it had been when Hydrus dove through the window. For a split second an image flashed in Hydrus’ head, a silver ring etched with roses and studded with icy blue diamonds. 

“You're sure?” he asked, desperately needing confirmation. 

“Yes,” Luna replied firmly. “Ginny saw three spells and I felt the Rosier ring pulse three times. The compulsions failed.”

Hydrus felt his remaining tension drain away as Ginny lowered herself into the desk chair with a relieved sigh. 

“Any idea what kind of compulsions they were?” the redhead asked. 

“Probably something having to do with me,” Hydrus replied. “We need to keep our distance until we can confirm what exactly she tried to spell her with.”

“I’ll stick with Ginny and avoid you the rest of the night,” Luna agreed, moving off Hydrus’ lap. “You need to go. Ron is on his way back and he can not see you leaving Ginny’s room.”

Hydrus chuckled and slid off the bed, walking over to the still open window.

“Kingsley and Moody already knew about my flying ability so Dumbledore likely knows as well,” he pointed out. “Too bad he didn't warn the Weasleys. Seeing someone flying like a dementor can be quite distressing.”

He grinned as he jumped out the window, rising until he was level with the roof before beginning his descent. He circled the house, admiring its unique structure. Each floor was built slightly off center causing it to tilt precariously and the support beams seemed much too thin to be of any actual use. 

The Burrow oozed magic. Generations of Weasleys had left their mark, adding to its aura like they added rooms and floors. As Hydrus circled lower, staying close to the house, he could see the remnants of what it once was. There was peeling paint in bright colors, siding made of rich woods worn by harsh weather and windows that only retained a few panes of the original stained glass. Years of social and financial decline had stripped away the Burrow’s beauty. Hydrus hoped future generations would restore her. 

Hydrus turned away and made a wide pass over the fields so it wasn't so obvious he had come from the house. Halfway to the Quidditch pitch he came across Ron marching through the thicket followed by Fred and George. Each was holding their own broom and one extra, Hydrus’ borrowed Comet and Ron's Cleansweep that had obviously been confiscated from him. 

The brothers were arguing loudly, the twins reprimanding Ron for nearly killing Hydrus and Ron declaring that he didn't care. Neville trailed after them as if he just wanted to be left out of it but he glared at Ron whenever he wasn't looking. 

Hydrus landed behind them, making Neville jump when his boots crunched in the snow. The ravenette winked and smiled as he slung his arm around the herbologist’s shoulders. Neville returned his smile, rolling his eyes at his friend's dramatics. 

“Who won?”

The redheads whipped around. The twins' faces were full of relief and a silent promise that they would be grilling him about his abrupt departure later. Ron looked equal parts angry and afraid, his eyes flicking between Hydrus and Neville. 

“Get away from him you freak!” Ron snarled. 

Hydrus frowned and squeezed Neville's shoulder before complying, walking toward the youngest Weasley son. Ron stiffend and his hand disappeared behind his back, likely where he was keeping his wand. Hydrus eyed the movement, raising an eyebrow in challenge, but Ron’s darting eyes and shifting feet gave away his uncertainty. 

“I thought we were trying to get along,” Hydrus said, his tone making it clear that he was never under any delusion they could be friends. 

“That was before,” Ron refuted. “Before—”

“Before you tried to kill me?” 

Ron’s mouth closed with an audible snap. 

“Don't worry,” Hydrus continued. “I'm sure everyone will brush it off as an accident.” Ron’s lips twitched into a satisfied smirk. “However.” His face fell. “I am not in the habit of forgetting when people try to hurt me.”

Hydrus released a mild aura, just enough cold to make Ron shiver but still be blamed on the snowy weather. The redhead paled, taking a step back from the look of pure contempt Hydrus was directing at him. It felt like there was frost in his lungs and ice water in his veins. It was the kind of visceral terror that made you feel watched, marked, hunted .

“Y–You can't do anything to me,” Ron declared less than confidently. “If you do then you'll just prove me right. See Neville! I told you he was evil!”

Ron turned toward his house-mate, completely missing the rage that fell over Hydrus' face at his gall. Neville flinched when Ron shouted, wringing his hands and keeping his eyes down and shoulders hunched. 

“He's just upset Ron,” the brunette said in a quiet voice. “Even if it wasn’t on purpose, Hydrus could have been really hurt. Y–you should have been more careful.”

“But–but–” Ron sputtered. “But what about the weird flying? You have to admit it’s unnatural!”

Neville just shrugged, looking for all the world that he would like to be left out of this conversation. 

“Do shut up Ronald,” Fred advised, stepping forward and grabbing his little brother by the coat sleeve as he walked past. “Accept you screwed up.”

“Yeah,” George added, falling into step with Hydrus and Neville as they all headed back to the Burrow. “And don't think we’ll be forgetting your little stunt either.”

Ron wrenched his arm out of Fred's grasp and stomped ahead with a huff that sounded suspiciously like ‘bloody traitors’. 

When Ron disappeared past the hedge at the edge of the garden Hydrus took the opportunity to catch his friends up. 

“Molly tried to cast compulsions on Luna. They didn't stick but she had a panic attack. She’ll be avoiding me the rest of the night and by extension Fred and George.” 

“Shit,” George swore, running a hand roughly through his hair. 

“Keep on your toes,” Hydrus ordered. “We don't know if that's all they have planned.”

Neville, Fred and George nodded just as they reached the back porch. When they stepped inside Ron was speaking to his mother in hushed tones but fell silent when he heard the door. 

“Welcome back,” Molly greeted sweetly. “Dinner is almost ready. Go take a seat.”

Luna, Ginny and Ron were already seated but Percy was nowhere to be found. George whispered that he was holed up in his room cramming for NEWTs. 

As soon as Ron saw Neville he kicked the chair beside him out, gesturing to it so the brunette had no choice but to take it. There was an empty seat by Luna but when Hydrus attempted to sit there Luna placed her hand on the chair so he couldn't pull it out. 

“Molly is sitting there,” she said simply. Hydrus blinked at her as if shocked by her refusal. Ginny gave him a nasty look over Luna’s shoulder. 

“Come sit with us Hydrus,” Fred called from the other side of the table. 

Once everyone was settled Molly went around with a levitating pot ladling servings of thick, hearty stew into their bowls. It smelled delicious and Hydrus dug in as soon as he was sure his Heir and Lordship rings weren't detecting any poisons or mind altering substances. 

He listened idly to Molly prattling to Luna about how silky her hair was and how smooth her skin looked. Ginny piped in with a few of her own compliments but Hydrus could tell how much Molly’s comments hurt the redhead. Her coarser, slightly frizzy hair and freckled skin were a few of the flaws her mother liked to harp on. 

Luna bore the attention politely but eventually turned away from the Weasley matriarch to enjoy her meal. As soon as her spoon touched the stew she froze, surprise shooting across their bond. 

“Anything wrong Luna dear?” Molly asked. 

“Not at all. It just looks so delicious. I'm partial to plimpy soup myself but maybe I can get the recipe from you before I leave?”

“I would be happy to,” Molly replied, a confused crease appearing between her brows. “But don't you want to try it before you ask for the recipe? I'm not sure how it compares to…  plimpy soup .”

Luna smiled and nodded, bringing her spoon up to her mouth. Just as she took a bite Hydrus heard her voice in his head. 

“ Potion .”

Damn! 

Hydrus could feel Luna’s anxiety increasing the more stew she forced herself to swallow under Molly’s watchful eye. He quickly sent her a sense of calm along with the image of a corked vial full of swirling black-grey, silver speckled liquid. 

Cure-All Potion. 

Which George had…

Why in Merlin’s name hadn't he held onto the potion?! He and Luna were most likely to be dosed! He could kick himself for the oversight but decided to kick Fred instead. 

The redhead flinched and glanced at Hydrus who flicked his eyes downward. Fred went to take a bite and promptly dropped his spoon, splattering stew down his front.

“Bollocks!” Fred swore as he and Hydrus dove under the table after the spoon. 

“Luna. Potion.” Hydrus hissed in Fred’s ear once they were out of sight. The redhead’s eyes widened slightly before he nodded.

“Leave it to us,” he whispered back. 

They both returned to the table. Molly was eyeing them with barely concealed suspicion and Hydrus wondered if they had been under the table too long but she went back to her dinner without saying anything. 

Hydrus returned to his own stew while sending a jolt of confidence over the bond. He knew Fred and George were also speaking silently, figuring out a way to get the potion to Luna without Ron or Molly noticing. 

Less than a minute later Ron shrieked. Dozens of spiders were pouring out of his bowl. They were a strange shade of green and oddly round. It took a moment for Hydrus to recognize them as transfigured peas. A few jumped on Ron causing him to push away from the table, tipping his chair and sprawling across the floor as he swatted at himself. 

Molly hurried to her son’s aid and as soon as her back was turned George tossed the potion vial to Luna. She quickly uncorked and swallowed it, shoving the empty vial in the pocket of her cardigan. 

A few of the spiders still on the table scurried toward Ginny and Luna. Ginny, who had seen the hand off and deduced what had happened, picked up her near empty bowl and used it to crush the creepy crawlies. If she knocked Luna’s stew on the floor in her haste then no one could blame her. 

>>>>>

“Molly gave Fred and George an earful and made them do the dishes without magic,” Luna informed a gobsmacked Regulus, Sirius and Remus.

“The rest of the night was nothing special. We just played games until midnight and crashed in the parlor,” Hydrus concluded, taking a bite of his toast which had gone cold during the retelling. 

“The twin’s fireworks are quite impressive though,” Luna gushed. They both smiled at the memory of shimmering dragons, flaming pinwheels and falling stars trailing rainbow sparks. 

Regulus, Sirius and Remus just stared at them, still processing everything the twins had said. 

“Let me get this straight,” Sirius stated, placing his mug of coffee down and realizing his hands were shaking. “Ron dislocated Hydrus’ shoulder and knocked him off his broom five stories up while Molly attempted to not just spell Luna but give her Confidenserum, a highly illegal potion. Do I have that right?” 

The twins glanced at each other before turning back to their dads and uncle.

“Pretty much,” they said.  

“I'm going to kill them,” Sirius growled. 

“I’ll help you,” Regulus assured him, eyes dark. 

“How did Molly even get Confidenserum?” Remus wondered. “Is very expensive and complex to brew.”

His question was enough to stay the Black brother’s rage as they thought it over. 

“I'm not sure,” Regulus admitted. “Sev would have mentioned if he was brewing something like that.”

“Maybe Dumbledore bought it for her?” Sirius suggested. 

“What is Confidenserum anyway?” Luna asked. 

“A truth potion,” Regulus replied. “It's similar to Varitaserum but it lasts much longer and is keyed to a certain person using blood or hair. In your case it would have been impossible to lie to Ginny until the effects wore off. It can last between two weeks and a month depending on how often you talk to her.”

Luna let out a relieved sigh. It was oddly comforting to know that even if they hadn't managed to purge the potion it had been keyed to someone she trusted explicitly. 

“Are you alright Luna?” Remus asked, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Hydrus mentioned you had a panic attack.”

Luna smiled at the werewolf. She was sure he was seconds away from finding her some chocolate. 

“Because I’m of the Fae spells that try to take my free will affect me badly since it goes against our nature,” Luna explained. “I'm okay now.”

Remus and Regulus seemed satisfied and talk turned to plans for the new term but Sirius remained silent. The eldest Black swirled his coffee, watching as the dark liquid created a vortex in his cup. He couldn't help wondering why Molly hadn't tried anything on Hydrus. What had been the point of inviting him?

Chapter Text

Albus stood at his office window looking out at the dark lawn of Hogwarts and the smooth twinkling lake beyond but it did nothing to calm his swirling thoughts. He was glad it was the holidays and he was only obligated to put on the doting grandfather act when meeting with the professors who spent the weeks between terms at the castle. 

Ever since the last Wizengamot session Albus had been irritable. Even the familiar whirring of his instruments and snores of his predecessors were grating on his nerves. He had done so much work, pulled so many strings and buried so many secrets to get where he was. There were supposed to be no surprises left. So how did everything go so wrong? 

Albus wandered over to his chess board sitting on a small table in the middle of the room. It was a curious set. All the pieces were made of blue agate sitting on black or white marble bases. The shimmery milky blue color was reminiscent of pensieve potion due to powdered blue agate being a key ingredient in the device’s creation. As Albus studied the board the pieces shifted to resemble people he knew. The white pieces were mostly unchanged since the last time he had used the board but the headmaster was beginning to suspect he would need to make some adjustments soon.

His eyes fell on a white bishop with a scarred face and clawed metal leg. Alastor Moody had assisted Sirius in his scheming twice now and Albus was beginning to suspect his old friend was losing his touch. He had once been Albus’ most loyal supporter, dropping everything to cater to Albus’ wishes, but now the headmaster couldn't get a meeting or even a quick chat when they crossed paths at the Ministry. Of course, the veteran auror may just be busy. With the Black family making a power grab resulting in another Death Eater on the Wizengamot there was probably all kinds of unsavory activity happening in the shadows. 

Albus glanced at the white knight beside Alastor, the one with Rufus Scrimgeour’s wild tawny hair. Maybe he should sweet talk recent crime reports out of the Head Auror and pass them to his contacts at the Prophet. The public hadn’t had a good scare recently. They needed to be reminded how fragile peace could be.

Despite his setback at the last Wizengamot session Albus was still confident that his foothold in the Ministry remained strong. Besides the Scrimgeour knight and Alastor bishop his other white bishop and knight resembled Kingsley Shacklebolt and Minister Fudge. 

The Minister was a coward who was incapable of making decisions without consulting others. He wrote Albus for advice at least twice a week and Albus took full advantage. Unfortunately, the headmaster knew Fudge sought the counsel of Lucius Malfoy just as often. Only Albus’ prestigious positions as Hogwarts Headmaster, Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump kept the Minister leaning more to his side. 

Kingsley was the exact opposite. The auror saw Albus as a mentor and was determined to make him proud. While Scrimgeour was only useful if pressured Kingsley could be left to his own devices and still produce valuable intel. Just this past week he had reported that the Blacks were seen shopping with the Lovegood girl, the Longbottoms and Dowager Prewett. 

The inclusion of Muriel Prewett in the Black's growing band of allies had been a shock. Albus frowned at a trio of white pawns adorned with flaming red hair as he contemplated what would have caused Molly’s mother to side with the Blacks.

Molly Weasley believed she was more valuable to the headmaster than she really was and Albus let her live in that delusion. He had recruited her while she was in school, recognizing her greed and jealousy toward her older twin brothers as the perfect hook to lure her in. She wanted money and power so Albus promised it to her in exchange for information. She was skilled with both love potions and memory charms and provided Albus with ample gossip from multiple sources across all four houses. 

The year Fabian and Gideon graduated they took over the Prewett Lordship and opened a consulting firm. They assisted businesses with patents and development while also assisting the Order of the Phoenix in the war effort. Their success stoked Molly’s jealousy and Albus used it to his benefit.

The Weasleys were a Light family that had been hit hard by the war. Their three eldest sons were dead leaving the patriarchal family with only two sons. Despite being older Billius Weasley was not interested in politics, marriage or children so the Lordship would likely fall to their youngest, Arthur. Molly had been reluctant to enter a betrothal with Arthur. She knew that the Weasley coffers had been depleted by generations of large families and the continued war effort but Albus assured her he had a plan. He promised her a monthly stipend of 1000 galleons and his help securing the Prewett Ladyship if she agreed to give Albus proxy over the Prewett and Weasley votes.  A few years later Molly and Arthur married and she convinced her husband, the new Lord Weasley, to trust Albus with his votes. 

It was several more years before Albus had the opportunity to make good on his end of the bargain. Molly was pregnant with her sixth son when her father, Ignatius, passed. As per Prewett tradition Muriel transported her husband’s body for burial at the Prewett’s ancestral home in Wales. The family attended the funeral and returned to England after a few days but Ignatius’ widow was duty bound to stay for a month of mourning. 

It was plenty of time for Albus to stage a raid Fabian and Gideon had no hope of surviving. 

By the time Muriel returned from her self imposed isolation her sons were dead and buried in English soil. She was heartbroken over losing her boys so soon after her husband and livid that the twin Lords had been denied a proper burial at Dinas Emrys alongside their ancestors. 

With no living male heirs the responsibility for the House of Prewett fell to a grieving Muriel. Albus was confident that she would hurry to pass the burden to her last remaining child but after weeks of waiting no Gringotts summons arrived at the Burrow. 

Albus had never stopped to wonder where Molly’s vindictiveness came from nor if her parents realized how conniving their daughter truly was. Muriel’s refusal to name Molly or any of her children as the head of House Prewett was a pretty clear answer. 

Molly was enraged and Albus had to remind her that her second oldest son was nearly of age to accept an heirship just to calm her down. He explained that since Muriel was only Dowager she couldn't stop an eligible heir from claiming the title so when Charlie turned nine Molly and Arthur took him straight to Gringotts. 

Albus didn't hear about the fall out until after. Charlie had been denied the heirship and in her rage Molly essentially renounced her mother, ruining any chance at securing the Prewett votes. Albus scoured any family tree remotely related to the Prewetts looking for the true heir but without knowing the contents of the family charter it was a dead end. 

Albus had been tempted to ruin the Weasley matriarch for her stupidity but the Weasley votes and access to the children as future Light soldiers stayed his hand. He had to admit that Molly came through in regards to her children. Bill Weasley was useful both as Heir Weasley and for his magical prowess and relationship with the goblins. Charlie was less useful but his international connections were nothing to scoff at and Percy was on his way to being another reliable Ministry pawn. 

Then there were the twins. It wasn't until they were older that Molly revealed what her mother had said after Charlie's birthday. Fred and George were the true Heirs Prewett due to a twin clause in the family charter. Albus had been annoyed that Molly kept that little tidbit from him but it made no difference in the end. The twins were wild and disobedient. It was impossible to control them no matter what potions or compulsions he and Molly tried. Eventually it was decided they would be kept ignorant. Muriel hadn’t stepped foot in the Wizengamot since becoming Dowager and if Albus couldn't use the votes then no one would. 

The final two Weasley children were the only ones with enough use to warrant a place beside their mother on Albus’ chess board. Despite Molly’s complaints about her tomboyish daughter both Ginny and Ron were obedient and eager to please. They were integral to Albus’ plan to mold the Longbottom boy into the perfect weapon. Ron and Ginny would become Neville's closest confidants, making him beholden to them.

Alongside the Weasley pawns was another with bushy brown hair clutching a stack of books. Hermione Granger was a recent addition to Albus’ plan. He hadn’t taken the youngest Weasley son’s below average intelligence into account, nor did he plan to have to reassign Miss. Weasley to befriend Luna Lovegood in case he had to use her as leverage to thwart a government coup headed by her godfather. Miss. Granger was a smart and capable witch but she was naive and pandered to authority. It was easy to indoctrinate her, after all, why would the Great Albus Dumbledore lie to her? Hermione would be the brains of the operation and make sure Neville passed his classes while keeping him away from studying forbidden magic. 

Albus reached down and picked up the rook bearing Neville Longbottom’s face. He had been watching the Gryffindor closely and for the first two years he’d been pleased with what he saw. The blocks Albus put on Neville resulted in self-esteem issues that Albus had every intention of taking advantage of. He had intended to start pulling back the binds next year, slowly returning Neville’s magic until it overwhelmed the unprepared boy. Albus then planned to use Neville’s magical awakening as an excuse to approach Augusta about becoming Neville’s official mentor but now he wasn’t sure what to do.

Albus placed down Neville’s rook and sneered at the pawn sitting in front of it. He wasn’t convinced Augusta Longbottom belonged amongst his white pieces any more. Something had happened to turn the proud woman away from the Light, something that posed a serious threat to his plans for the Chosen One. She had defied him, embarrassed him and sided with his enemies. He had trusted her as a member of two prominent Light families to raise Neville properly, without being tainted by archaic traditions and dark magic. At some point she had betrayed him and Albus knew exactly who to blame. 

The black side of the board lived up to its name. Not only did it include Lord Black but his insane cousin, bastard son and meddlesome brother as well. 

Regulus Black was a pawn Albus thought he had taken off the board years ago. 

In Sirius’ sixth year, when the war really started ramping up, the Gryffindor asked Albus to use his connections to remove his baby brother from their mother’s clutches. Albus had called Regulus to his office hoping to recruit a new spy but what he found was a boy too suspicious to be controlled and much too fascinated with dark magic to be trusted. 

Regulus Black did not believe in blood supremacy nor did he want to be involved with the Death Eaters but Albus had no use for him. He told Sirius his brother had refused help and declared his intention of joining Voldemort like his mother wanted. He watched as Sirius’ righteous fury and crushing disappointment led him to abandon Regulus leaving the younger depressed and without support. Albus felt vindicated when the youngest Black began wearing exclusively long sleeves right before his graduation.

It was a few years later that Albus found himself sitting across from Regulus again. They were in the Hogshead. The youngest Black wore a cloak with the hood up and spoke quickly. He explained how Evan Rosier’s grandfather had passed away leaving the title to his son. Evan’s father was prepared to dissolve the vow that tied their family to Voldemort but refused to do so until his son and his two best friends were safely hidden. 

Albus agreed to set up a safehouse protected by the most powerful wards he could manage and four days later he sent an owl to their apartment telling the boys to get ready for pickup.

Evan Rosier never left the flat alive. 

A team of aurors led by Alastor Moody had been tipped off by a very reliable source regarding the location of three Death Eaters. They hit the building hard and by the time the dust cleared Regulus Black and Barty Crouch Jr. were gone and Evan Rosier was crushed under the collapsed upper stories. Lord and Lady Rosier were found murdered in their manor a few days later, likely in retaliation for their attempted escape, and Albus congratulated himself for ridding the world of another dark family. 

Regulus never attempted to contact the headmaster again and was soon declared missing, likely dead. Barty Crouch Jr. went off the deep end. While he had previously been a background fighter he started being seen in the company of the Lestranges, assisting with their sick games and participating in the torture. He was caught only a few days after the Lestranges were arrested, grabbed by a patrolling auror while walking through Diagon Alley. He died in Azkaban and was buried in a pauper’s grave on the island when his father refused to collect his body.  

Seeing Regulus at the Wizengamot was a shock and seeing him in the company of his older brother was a serious problem. The face of the black king’s rook was framed by dark wavy hair and held that same fiercely determined look he remembered seeing on Sirius during the war. He was beginning to think he had taken the Black Heir for granted. It was actually concerning to see him amongst the enemy forces. 

Once Voldemort was defeated Albus had no use for Sirius Black. Pettigrew had unexpectedly given him an opportunity to remove the Black family’s influence from wizarding Britain so Albus took full advantage. It was easy to convince Dawlish that Sirius had betrayed the Potters and even easier to make everyone forget he hadn’t been tried. The madness of Bellatrix and the dramatics of the Lestrange brothers was a good distraction for the public. By the time Bartameus Crouch Sr. declared his only son dead to him as the boy was dragged screaming from Courtroom Ten everyone was ready for the war to be over. 

Albus had spent years growing his power since then but even without the Black votes the Dark Faction was still too influential. Six Death Eaters had managed to keep their seats with minimal backlash by claiming they had been coerced into taking the Dark Mark by way of the imperious curse. Lucius Malfoy, the black queen’s rook, was the most dangerous of the group but two of the pawns also resembled Lord Nott and Lord Parkinson. Ever since Albus noticed the secret look exchanged by the two Lords he had been wary of them. Right now the Death Eaters were lying in wait, hoping their Master returned, but if some of them took matters into their own hands Albus didn’t know how he would control it.  What if Nott and Parkinson were in contact with the missing pawns, Yaxley and the Carrow twins? No one had seen the trio since the end of the war and Albus had given up finding them, assuming they fled the country. 

At least he knew where Greyback was. Sort of. His wolf pack had been travelling throughout Norway and Sweden, sometimes even crossing over to Denmark. They never seemed to stay in one place long. Sightings were so far between and traversed such vast distances that it was impossible to tell if they had a home base or were completely nomadic. 

Albus glanced from the hulking grey haired black pawn to the white pawn with tawny hair, a scarred face and patched robes. Inviting Remus to Hogwarts had been a last minute decision after Kingsley reported back from Azkaban, informing Albus that Sirius Black was likely to be released along with his son. The werewolf had been out of sight and out of mind for twelve years but Albus doubted he’d changed much since his youth. Back then he had been so desperate to please, so ready to do whatever his benefactor wanted, that it had been easy to convince him to infiltrate the wolf packs after graduation. 

Albus knew the promises he’d had Remus make were hollow but the introduction of an educated werewolf with a relatively stable life tempted many wolves to at least remain neutral. Others joined Greyback who preached the might of the Packs and promised that the Dark Lord would welcome them with open arms, allowing them to embrace the beast within. Greyback reveled in the hunt, killing and infecting who he pleased. He was especially fond of biting children. 

Albus would need Remus again when the time came but he suspected that the packs would be more hostile this time around, more likely to kill an outsider. Until then, he had Remus keeping an eye on the Blacks. Albus had called the defense professor to his office at the start of Yule break on the pretense of tea but he was really interested in knowing how Remus felt about Sirius being ‘innocent’. The cowardly wolf had expressed how afraid he was to reach out, ashamed that he ever believed Sirius capable of hurting the Potters. He had been clear that he didn’t blame Albus for delivering the news, never suspecting that the man who allowed him to attend Hogwarts would willfully lie to him. Albus thanked Remus for his loyalty and encouraged him to reach out to Sirius. He hinted that he was concerned about the Black’s health after so many years in Azkaban, especially Sirius’ sanity. He suggested that Sirius might start raising Hydrus the same way Walburga had raised him and that seemed to be enough to motivate the wolf. Remus secured an invite to New Years at Grimmauld Place within days. 

Albus’ eyes drifted from Remus to the other two pieces bearing the faces of Hogwarts professors.

Minerva McGonnigal had been at his side for decades. Without her helping him run Hogwarts he would not have been able to secure his position in the Wizengamot or on the ICW as tightly as he had. She ran the day-to-day operations of the school while ensuring Gryffindor house maintained its stellar reputation. Sure, he had to obliviate her a few times when she got in the way of his plans but her use to him as a pawn was invaluable, and that wasn’t even taking into account the votes she’d provided him. Not that she knew she’d done that.

When Minerva started at Hogwarts as the transfiguration professor she had just married Elphinstone Urquhart, her former boss at the DMLE. They bought a cottage in Hogsmeade and Minerva spent more time there with her beloved husband than in her rooms at Hogwarts. Three years later Elphinstone passed away while gardening in their backyard, unaware that a venomous tentacula had taken root. Minerva was devastated and refused to enter the cottage again, moving into the castle permanently. Albus himself had handled selling their possessions, only returning a wooden memory box to Minerva upon her request. 

She was grateful for his help but Albus was not doing it out of the kindness of his heart. He did it to intercept the Gringotts letters sent to inform her she was now head of The Noble and Most Prestigious House of Urquhart. Elphinstone had been the end of the blood line and without children his widow would be responsible for the title until she passed, rendering the family extinct. 

Albus had entered the Wizengamot only a couple years earlier as proxy to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Slughorn. The epicurean man was more than happy to allow Albus to handle the boring politics while he enjoyed fine wine, crystalline pineapple and the company of the rich and famous. Now Albus was looking to expand his power and adding a Prestigious House to his collection would do the job nicely. Unfortunately, he had been unsuccessful in convincing the late Lord Urquhart to entrust his seat to him. A carefully placed tentacula seed and a new job contract as Deputy Headmistress given to a grieving Minerva who didn’t read what she was signing and Albus secured a total of five Wizengamot votes to do with as he pleased.

Using the Slughorn and Urquhart proxies he became leader of the Light Faction and was eventually elected Chief Warlock. His new title came with an extra vote along with the power to veto and recall new laws at his discretion. From there he focused on securing a foothold in the International Confederation of Wizards so it was many years before he added another Wizengamot seat to his collection.

Severus Snape was perhaps his greatest investment, useful enough to be considered one of his white rooks. At first Albus had been wary; a halfblood boy from a troubled background with an above average interest in dark magic? He couldn’t help seeing Tom Riddle all over again. Then he met Lily Evans, a muggleborn who challenged the belief that Muggle raised wix couldn’t adapt. She wanted to know everything about magic, celebrate all the holidays and be immersed in the rites and traditions of her new world. She befriended everyone, challenged the pure-blood rhetoric spouted by her classmates and provided something to Severus that Tom never had. A friend. 

Albus didn’t approve. He had spent too much time convincing the wixen world that they were the ones that needed to adapt to Muggle ways, not the other way around. He argued that Muggleborns and Muggle-raised half-bloods were incapable of embracing the old traditions and suggested that clinging to things like family magic and ancient gods alienated people that could be helping them revive the dwindling wixen population. He had worked too hard to have Lily Evans running around proving him wrong.

Albus kept a close eye on the pair. He saw their talent and their drive and the way they broke barriers wherever they went. Severus had managed to impress even the heirs of ancient houses with his potions skills while Lily was studying with everyone from Muggleborn Hufflepuffs up to pureblood Slytherins. Albus had to make it stop so he called James Potter to his office. He was already deeply in love with Lily and still somewhat cautious of Severus so it was easy to convince him that the Slytherin was a threat to his relationship with Lily. A couple compulsions kept James from realizing his mistake when Lily refused to be associated with him after he and Sirius Black started to severely bully her best friend. 

Being targeted by the Gryffindor Golden Boy instantly changed Severus’ status amongst the rest of the houses. He became an outcast with Slytherin house and Lily being the only exceptions. By the time they were in fifth year Lily hated the so-called Marauders and Severus was miserable, spending more time studying the dark arts and making connections with his housemates than enjoying Hogwarts. He became an enigma to Albus, best friends with a Muggleborn but accepted and even valued by the children of Death Eaters. 

The Headmaster began contemplating how to use the boy and decided having a spy in Voldemort’s ranks would not be amiss. He just needed to make sure Severus had nothing left to live for. 

Albus looked into his family and found an alcoholic father who Severus had no love for and a deceased mother of the Prince line. Now Albus had two reasons to get the Slytherin on his side. Not only would he have a Death Eater spy but he could add another Noble and Most Prestigious House to his collection. All he had to do was separate him from Lily and luckily enough Severus did that for him, calling his best friend a Mudblood at the end of their fifth year in a moment of embarrassment. 

Albus was quick to call the boy to his office, speaking to him kindly and being sympathetic to his woes. Severus wanted to apologize to Lily but Albus convinced him that with the war getting worse and the friends he kept she would not be safe with him. He told Severus that the best thing he could do was help create a world where Muggleborns like Lily weren't seen as inferior, where her intelligence and skill could be appreciated regardless of her blood status. Over several more meetings he nudged Severus toward being a spy and by exams his sixth year he was reporting to Albus which of his classmates were taking the mark at graduation. He also mentioned several students from dark families that had expressed fear over being forced to join Voldemort’s ranks but Albus waved off his concerns. The boy was just naive, wanting to believe that his friends didn’t actually support the Dark Lord.

Severus himself was marked by Yule his seventh year and Tobias Snape drank himself to death not long after. Albus used the opportunity to become the Prince heir’s magical guardian. The boy wasn’t even aware he was part of a Noble and Prestigious House let alone that he had unwittingly signed control over to Albus. 

While Lily was going on dates with James, Severus was going to Death Eater meetings.

When they graduated most of Severus’ peers went on to apprenticeships or masteries but he went back to his childhood home and started brewing exclusively for the Dark Lord. 

When Lily sent him an invite to her wedding Severus ignored it. 

When Albus received a prophecy declaring Lilly’s son the Chosen One, Severus delivered it to his Master with barely a complaint. 

When the Dark Lord fell Severus accepted Albus’ invitation to become the potion’s professor and moved into the castle where he would be ready and waiting to do Albus’ bidding once Voldemort rose again. 

Albus hadn’t needed to call on Severus much in the last twelve years, leaving him to handle the Slytherins while he focused on building a new army from the other houses. Now he was contemplating recruiting him to help keep an eye on a certain student that had the potential to ruin everything Albus had built.

The black king’s knight wore grey robes that trailed off into ribbons of floating fabric. Its hair was black, its eyes were a poisonous green and its skin was pale with an ugly scar across the right side of its face.

Hydrus Black was a Parselmouth from one of the darkest families to ever exist. He was raised by Death Eaters, was capable of using dementor magic and Albus suspected he could cast silently and wandlessly too.

He was everything Albus was trying to eliminate.

The Headmaster had removed spell crafting, alchemy, wixen law and the dark arts from Hogwarts’ curriculum and gutted the History of Magic and Muggle Studies courses down to nothing. Every graduating class was more conditioned than the last. No one openly practiced dark magic any more, few were celebrating Ostara or Samhain and even fewer revered the ancient gods. The Ministry had banned such immoral practices as communing with spirits, blood rituals, divine tribute and anything else that honored the old, barbaric traditions.

By now the British wizarding world had started to become isolated. Foreign wix wouldn't be able to practice magic the way they were taught so they stayed away. Parselmouths from Asia weren't welcome, African mages would be forced to use wands and wix from the Americas were so diverse that the concept of Light and Dark magic barely existed. All it took was carelessly casting a single spell they hadn't realized was banned and they would be in Azkaban for years. 

It was exactly as Albus wanted it. 

Exactly what he and Gellert had dreamt of.

Albus reached toward the white king but didn’t dare touch it. Gellert looked exactly how Albus remembered him from that last summer together with his wavy brown hair, dark eyes and aristocratic features. That was how Albus wanted to remember him, not the white haired gaunt looking man that glared at him from across the dueling grounds with pain and disappointment in his eyes.

Gellert had been on the right track using fear to compel the wizarding world to follow him but made the mistake of becoming a monster worse than the Muggles he claimed were the enemy. Albus went a different route. He imprisoned his old friend and used everyone’s desire for peace to cement himself as a benevolent leader. He didn't want to fight, he was a conversationalist full of sage advice. He didn't judge, he accepted everyone regardless of status. He didn't want power, he wanted to teach the next generation. 

Once he had their attention and admiration he started pulling strings. He convinced powerful families to follow him and slowly started passing bills that outlawed dark magic, traditional rituals and holidays. He whispered in the ear of the Minister and various department heads until they were so indebted to him he could get away with anything. The public praised him as a war hero and a scholar. 

He had the wizarding world in the palm of his hand but he wanted more. 

He wanted the entire world at his feet. 

Albus encouraged wix to embrace Muggle holidays and practices and to shun magics that may appear evil to the uninitiated. When the time came to reveal themselves to the non-magical community he wanted the transition to be smooth. After that it would be childs play to take over the Muggle government, dazzling them with everything magic was capable of until they followed him like sheep. Once he gained enough power and trust the segregation would begin. Their armies would have already been dismantled and their weapons destroyed so there could be no resistance. Wix would be declared superior to Muggles, the supreme race born to rule the weak and powerless. 

Magic was Might after all.

But before he could break the Statute of Secrecy Albus needed to remove his dissenters within the wixen world. To do that he needed a way to identify them and what better way to do that then by starting a war.

Albus found a young orphaned half-blood already spiraling down a dark path and did nothing to help him, even guiding him deeper and deeper until he had a new threat to protect the wizarding world from. 

The handsome features and piercing red eyes gracing the face of the black queen still inspired fear even twelve years after his fall. People had begged Albus to defeat Voldemort just as he had Grindelwald. They rallied around him, took his word as gospel and did anything he asked. 

They killed for him.

They died for him.

Everything was going perfectly.

Then Sybil Trelawney delivered her prophecy, promising the birth of two children who were the only ones that could end Tom Riddle. 

Lily Potter and Alice Longbottom had both recently announced their pregnancies so Albus started planning. He would become their beloved mentor, the man who trained them and made them the saviors that the wixen world needed. He decided not to let them know about each other. It would be easier to convince the families to give him almost complete control over the children’s lives if they thought no one else could be trusted. Besides, if everything worked out the way Albus wanted then their parents wouldn’t be alive to question him.

The Dark Lord shall mark them as his equal, but they will have power the Dark Lord knows not. 

They needed to be marked by Voldemort so Albus made sure that happened. He obliviated the third line from Severus’ mind and sent him to give the prophecy to his master along with the news of Lily and Alice’s pregnancies. He planned to move both families to locations he controlled, where he could ensure they were found. 

Unfortunately, two of his most loyal followers couldn't keep their wives under control. They started to question him and refused to follow his carefully laid plans so he was forced to adapt. 

He started by having Mundungus Fletcher talk a little too loudly in a shady bar, giving away which village Potter Manor was closest to. Once Death Eaters were seen in the area he needed to convince the Potters that even the wards on their family home wouldn’t protect them. It was easy to make an appointment with Lord McKinnon and imperious him to deactivate the McKinnon Hall wardstone. On Christmas eve the Death Eaters received a tip and by morning the McKinnons were found dead in their parlor. 

Under pressure from a compulsed James Lily agreed to move to Godric’s Hollow and even agreed to the Secret Keeper Albus suggested, the same rat that had sold out the McKinnons. 

The Longbottoms on the other hand refused to leave Longbottom Lodge. It took Albus days to unravel a hole in their wards, ready for someone to take advantage of. 

The early hiccups in Albus’ plan appeared to be resolved so he waited for Tom to make his move. Unfortunately on October 31st 1981 he hit another snag. Neville Longbottom survived the attack by the Lestranges but Harry Potter disappeared along with Tom. 

Albus orchestrated an elaborate coverup of Harry’s death. The head of the Curse Ward at St. Mungo's was bribed to pretend the boy was receiving healing in a private room while Albus accessed the Potter vaults and investigated what had gone wrong. 

All Albus had was questions and no answers. Had he misinterpreted the line ‘ Either must die by the hand of the other and either can live while the other survives’ ? He’d thought it meant that the Potter boy was forbidden from dying while Neville lived but that couldn’t be right. Harry was gone with only a splatter of blood in his crib to indicate he had ever been there. Did that mean Harry was never a chosen one? If not him, then who? What happened to Tom? And how in Merlin’s name did his blood bind fail!? 

Once Albus had set his plan in motion he couldn’t just rely on fate to keep his weapons alive. He had placed an illegal blood bind on the boys that would activate if they became orphans. Once Lily and James were dead it should have been impossible for Harry to be hurt but something must have interfered with the spell. He had debated double checking Neville’s bind but in the end decided to wait and see if the side effects appeared. No need to make the Longbottoms suspicious for nothing. 

With only a few days before St. Mungos was forced to declare Harry dead, Albus went looking for another child born at the end of July but couldn't find any. He briefly thought that maybe Tom had run off with Harry but once Harry’s death was officially announced the Gringotts records corroborated it. Harry Potter no longer existed. 

Ultimately Albus decided that Harry was a chosen one and that his part of the prophecy had been fulfilled the day he vanquished the Dark Lord. He had sacrificed himself to give Neville time to train for the destined battle between good and evil. 

Albus had carefully planned Neville's training and meticulously selected his allies but now the Headmaster had to contend with a surprise rogue player on the board.

Hydrus Black, a boy who spoke to dementors and snakes and showed an unhealthy interest in the dark arts. Albus would have to keep an eye on the boy and get closer to Neville while discouraging him from associating with the Black heir. He could not allow Voldemort to plunge the world into darkness, darkness that was represented by the horribly twisted and hunched creature only vaguely shaped like a man that was currently standing as the black king.

Albus could not afford any mistakes. 

Sitting in front of the white queen that was sculpted to look like himself in his favorite periwinkle robes was a short doughy pawn. The Headmaster picked it up and studied it closely. It was his duty to root out the vermin that stood against the Light and if the first to die for the greater good had to be a thirteen year old boy then Albus had the perfect man for the job.

Albus smiled to himself and placed the pawn back on its square before waving his wand to dim the lights and extinguish the fire. He made his way to the bed chamber, planning his next move. 

Once the door closed behind the Headmaster the chess pieces began to change.

The white king and queen were replaced with Voldemort and Dumbledore, their respective sides of the board filling with their true allies.

On the black side Hydrus was crowned king and his queen became a certain white-blonde Ravenclaw. The queen's knight transformed into a redheaded girl while a round faced Gryffindor boy proudly stood as the king’s knight. Sirius and Regulus were rooks while Remus and Severus became bishops. The pawns shed their cowering postures and emerged in their true forms. The politician, the informant, the assassin, the innovator, the tricksters, the scholar, the Queen of the Hill and the Bear’s Wife. 

In the silvery light spilling over the board the wispy figure of a woman in a hooded cloak appeared sitting behind the black pieces. Only Fawkes was there to witness her arrival and hear her alluring, powerful, ancient voice address the empty room.

“White goes first. Your move Defyer.”

Chapter Text

The first thing that caught Hydrus’ attention as he stepped off the platform at Hogsmeade was a shrill scream. 

He, Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Theo and Daphne had disembarked well after most of the other students, wanting to avoid the ones that were looking at Hydrus with fear and disgust. Ron had spread the word about Hydrus’ flying ability and while some were fascinated, most had added it to the growing list of things that made him freakish and dangerous. 

“What in Merlin’s name are they shrieking about?” Pansy asked, standing on her tiptoes and craning her neck to look down the line of carriages. People were pointing upward and ducking for cover as a small cloaked figure glided overhead.

“You’d think more people would be used to her by now,” Draco mumbled, nodding toward a group of Hufflepuffs who waved at Eurus. She did a little twirl and waved back. 

< Little One! > Hydrus rasped. Eurus looked up sharply before shrieking and rocketing toward them, her oversized cloak fluttering behind her.

< Brother! Brother! > she cried excitedly as he caught her in his arms. < I missed you! >

< I missed you too. How was your holiday? >

They had decided that transporting and keeping Eurus at Grimmauld Place wasn’t a good idea, especially since it was in a Muggle neighborhood. They planned to spend future holidays at Pleiades House or even clean up Black Keep so the little dementor could join them.   

< It was good! I stayed with the death horses but sometimes the owls flew with me too. >

< That’s wonderful, Little One, > Hydrus said, moving Eurus to his hip so he could reach into his pocket. < I have presents for you. One is from everybody and the other is from Moon and me. >

He pulled out a black tourmaline crystal on a sturdy cord. It was covered in small red runes.

< This crystal absorbs negative energy. If you ever need to feed and no one is around you can feed on this. > 

Hydrus slipped the cord over Eurus’ hood so it hung around her neck. Eurus picked it up to get a closer look, having to shake her long sleeves away from her tiny, boney hands to do it.

< And this is from Moon and me. >

With a flourish he produced a yellow beret with a sparkly sunflower on it. Eurus made a happy gurgling noise and snatched it from him, practically bouncing with excitement.

< Do you want me to put it on you? > Hydrus asked. Eurus nodded and thrust the gift back at him. He clipped it onto the edge of her hood. < There you go. Very pretty. >

Eurus wiggled until Hydrus let her go and she floated over to his friends who were patiently waiting for him to board the carriage. Pansy and Daphne cooed over her new treasures, much to Eurus’ delight.

The trip up to the castle was uneventful and the whispers and less than subtle glances as they entered the hall weren't unexpected. Hydrus led his friends to the Slytherin table with his head held high, simply placing Eurus on his lap and turning his attention to the staff table once he sat down. He knew his display of pride and indifference would rub a lot of people the wrong way but those were not people he wanted to associate with. 

Dumbledore stood and made his welcome back speech. Everyone except the first years had heard it before and were just waiting for dinner to be served but then he announced something that made them perk up in interest. 

“Last year, Professor Lockheart established a dueling club. It only met a few times before disbanding but I am happy to announce its return. Professor Flitwick and Professor Snape, both masterful duelists, have agreed to oversee the club which will have its first meeting on Thursday for first to fourth years and Friday for the older students.”

Excited chatter erupted throughout the hall, including amongst the Slytherins. It continued even after the food appeared on the table. 

“Who’s Professor Lockheart?” Hydrus asked as he served himself some roast beef. He had to stop Eurus from stealing the carving fork when he finished, handing her a much less stabby serving spoon instead.

“The daft tosser that taught Defense Against the Dark Arts last year,” Draco explained. “After it got around that Slytherin’s monster was a basilisk people started asking him if he was going to slay it. He resigned not long after, claiming he was going to Greece to research his new book.”

“He wrote a lot of books about facing down dark creatures,” Pansy continued when Hydrus still looked confused. “But he's a fraud. We spent more time reenacting his stupid books than learning any defense.”

“I think he stole other people’s accomplishments and passed them off as his,” Theo said. “He couldn't handle Cornish Pixies let alone a Yeti or Banshee.”

Everyone hummed or nodded in agreement. There was no way the bumbling wizard had done everything he’d claimed. 

“Should we join the dueling club?” Daphne asked. “I know Blaise has been showing us some tricks but it would be interesting to learn from professionals. Flitwick was a champion duelist before becoming a professor.”

“Learning from a variety of teachers is a good idea,” Blaise admitted. “Everyone duels differently. It's dangerous to get used to one person’s style. In an actual fight even the smallest thing could be the difference between winning and losing.”

“I agree with Blaise,” Hydrus said. “We can still continue our private lessons since I doubt Dumbledore will let them teach us the more dark and destructive spells. Plus, I told Neville I'd teach him how to dual wield.”

“You can dual wield?” Pansy exclaimed. “Do you have a second wand we don't know about?”

“No, I only have the one, but I've taught myself to cast with both hands and I can use my wand and wandless magic at the same time.”

His friends gaped at him. Hydrus took another bite of his potatoes while they found their voices again. 

“Teach us!” Daphne finally demanded. 

“Wandless magic? Or how to cast with your off hand?” Hydrus asked innocently

“BOTH!” everyone but Blaise cried. Hydrus chuckled, earning himself some playful glares and dramatic pouts. 

“I’ll help you Hydrus,” Blaise offered, knowing the Black heir wouldn't deny his friends the opportunity to become better fighters. “I'm an ambidextrous caster too.”

Soon the empty dinner plates disappeared only to be replaced by dessert. They continued chatting about classes, exams and plans for the next Hogsmeade trip. Pansy was collecting everyone's club schedules. She had taken it upon herself to find time for the Knights to have regular meetings. It was difficult with Blaise and Draco being on the Quidditch team, Theo joining the chess club and Neville’s extra curriculars in the greenhouses plus the new dueling club, but she was determined.

Finally, they were released to their dorms for a good night's sleep. As the group followed their fellow Slytherin's toward the dungeons a familiar voice called out. 

“Hey Black! I'm surprised you took a carriage. Why didn't you just fly up to the school with your little beast?” 

Ron was flanked by his lackeys, Finnigan and Thomas. The students still in the entrance hall stopped to watch the confrontation, a few scrambling out of the line of fire. Hydrus carefully deposited Eurus behind him, keeping his eyes on Ron.

“The carriages are comfortable,” he said with a shrug. “And it's too cold for flying right now.”

“I didn't know dementor spawn could feel the cold,” Ron sneered back. “But I forgot, you're also a slimy snake.”

“I've been meaning to thank you Ron,” Hydrus said, ignoring the dig at his house and his upbringing. The redhead’s scowl deepened. “I’ve been so busy with school I hadn't realized how much I missed flying. Maybe I’ll actually try out for Quidditch next year. I think I'd do pretty well if the game we played on New Year's is any indication.”

Ron turned an angry red. He opened his mouth to reply only to close it again when he couldn't think of a comeback. 

“What's the matter, Ronald? Can't keep up when your target fights back?” Hydrus mocked. “I'm not a first year that you can push around. I am a Slytherin, I was raised by dementors and I am the heir to a Dark family. There’s nothing you can say that will hurt me so why don't you bugger off and spare us all your inane prattling.”

Ron’s wand was in his hand in a flash but Hydrus didn't bother going for his.

“MR. WEASLEY!” 

Professor McGonagall stepped out from the crowd, her face radiating anger and disappointment.

“50 points from Gryffindor and three days detention,” she ordered. 

“But–but–,” Ron stuttered, rendered speechless for a second time by his very intimidating head of house. 

“Not another word! Pulling your wand on another student is unacceptable,” McGonagall barked, causing Ron to immediately lower his head and back down. The Deputy Headmistress nodded, confident that her student was properly chastised, before looking around at all the students still in the hall. “Off to your dorms. Now.”

Everyone scattered quickly. About a third of the entirety of Slytherin house descended the dungeon stairs together but it was completely silent. Everyone was waiting until they reached the common room. 

As soon as they entered Hydrus found his path blocked by Marcus Flint. 

“What are you playing at Black?” he demanded. 

“I'm not sure what you mean, Flint,” Hydrus replied. 

“You're proud to be the heir of a Dark family? What a crock of shit! Lord Black moved his seat out of the Dark Faction and your uncle is a bloody traitor. You're a disgrace to the Dark.”

Hydrus had been expecting a confrontation like this since he was sorted. Slytherin had its own politics that were heavily influenced by family status. The Black family had ruled the house for generations but it had been nearly twenty years since a Black walked these halls and no one had expected them to ever return. Now Hydrus was here and they didn't know what to do with him. 

“Oh, I see,” Hydrus said in a tone that conveyed disappointment in the older Slytherin. “You think Light and Dark has to do with your politics, that I must be Grey because the Lord of my house sits in the Grey Faction?”

Flint nodded, crossing his arms and jutting out his chin defiantly. 

“Heir Zabini,” Hydrus called, not taking his eyes off Flint. “If you would be so kind, how does your family identify?”

“Dark,” Blaise replied. 

“And does your family serve on the Wizengamot?”

“No. We are Italian, factions do not exist in our government.”

“So your magical alignment has nothing to do with political affiliation?”

“Of course not. That's absurd,” Blaise scoffed, causing Flint to tense slightly at the subtle insult. “The Zabinis have been Dark since we were in Egypt.”

“Thank you, Heir Zabini,” Hydrus said before calling out again. “Heiress Greengrass!”

“Yes, Heir Black,” Daphne replied sweetly. Hydrus could almost hear the glee in her voice at being called on to help Hydrus put Flint in his place. “Same question.”

“The Greengrass’ are Dark.”

“And may I ask how you identify personally?”

“My magic is Grey.”

Several gasps rang out, mostly from the younger years. It wasn't rare for a person’s alignment to differ from their family’s but it was less common with purebloods. They tended to push their children toward what they considered the correct alignment. 

“You see Flint,” Hydrus said. “Dark and Light have nothing to do with politics and everything to do with magic. I am Dark because my magic is dark, not because of where my father sits on the Wizengamot.”

Flint’s scowl deepened but Hydrus could see a lot of others looking thoughtful. Since the war the concept of Light and Dark had become more about belief than nature. Many had forgotten that a person's magical alignment had to do with what magic they took more readily to than a hallmark of morality. 

“Your uncle is still a traitor,” Flint pressed. 

“A traitor to who?” Hydrus asked. 

The atmosphere in the common room suddenly felt heavier. All they could hear was the crackling of the fire and the uncomfortable shuffling of their fellow students as everyone waited for Flint’s answer. 

“You know who,” Flint growled before his eyes widened slightly, realizing that in his effort to dodge the question he had unintentionally answered it.

“Ah yes. The Dark Lord,” Hydrus mused. He stepped forward so only Flint could hear what he said next. “I was raised by his most loyal followers,” Hydrus whispered, looking up at the much taller boy but feeling leagues above him as he paled. “They taught me everything I know. Your father renounced him to save his own skin. Which of us do you think stands the best chance of survival should the Dark Lord return?”

Marcus Flint looked decidedly green as he took a hurried step back but made an effort to send his best glare at the younger boy, trying to save face. He marched away angrily and was soon surrounded by his yearmates. They were all asking what Hydrus had told him but were waved off. 

Hydrus continued toward the third year dorm with his friends, the gathered crowd parting as he passed. Once they made it to their private common room and shut the door Hydrus immediately fell into an armchair with a groan. 

“Wonderful start to the new year,” Pansy snarked. Hydrus snorted humorlessly but he couldn't say he was surprised. He had expected fallout from Sirius and Regulus’ stunt and decided to use it to plant seeds amongst the students. 

“Thanks for humoring me,” Hydrus said to Blaise and Daphne. 

“No problem,” Daphne replied. “But can I ask what your plan was?”

Hydrus sat up to find them all sitting around him, waiting for an answer. 

“The next war can't be about Dark and Light, it needs to be about Magic no matter the type. Our goal is balance, a return to the old ways where everyone was free to explore their magic without stigma from their fellow wix. Dumbledore is erasing Dark magic while Voldemort— well, he’s going to end up killing us all.”

“So you reminded them that magic isn't political or moral. It just is,” Draco summarized. 

“Exactly. Maybe it will make some of them rethink their stances and when we offer a third side, they will be open to it.” 

The group lapsed into thoughtful but comfortable silence. They could hear Crabbe and Goyle bumbling around their rooms and Bulstrode was nowhere to be found so they just sat and enjoyed one last moment of peace before classes started. 

“I think I'm Light.” 

All eyes turned to Pansy who was gazing into the fire. She bit her lip nervously, fully aware she had their attention. 

“All my family have been Dark,” she continued. “But I never took to it like my brothers did. Healing magic always came easiest.” 

Draco slid off the couch to sit beside Pansy. She leaned her head on his shoulder. 

“After Danyal died, mom was never the same,” Pansy told them. “Dad said that she stopped taking care of herself. The only reason she got better was because she realized she was pregnant with me but it was almost too late. I was born sickly and stayed that way until I was six. I had a nurse with me at all times and she taught me healing spells. When we moved to Britain she stayed in Korea with her family but we still write sometimes.”

“If you lived in Korea how did your parents get caught up with the war?” Daphne asked. 

“Dad is British but Mom is Korean. When war broke out they were living in Britain with my older brother, Danyal. My grandfather was one of the Dark Lord’s earliest followers, like Theo and Draco’s grandfathers were. When the Dark Lord needed more soldiers they were expected to offer up their children to the cause and mom and dad were expected to be happy about it. They did what they had to do to keep Danyal and themselves safe.”

Pansy took a deep breath.

“Danyal was thirteen when he died. Death Eaters attacked Diagon Alley when they knew families would be shopping for Hogwarts. Mom broke and dad made the decision to send her to her family in Korea but he couldn't go with her. He was considered Elite by then and feared the Dark Lord would send someone to hunt them down if they both disappeared. 

“When the war ended dad split his time between Britain and Korea. They were afraid to bring me home in case he wasn't really gone but then Mom became pregnant with Carson and they decided it was time to be a proper family again.”

Blaise placed his hand on Pansy’s shoulder and she hastily clutched at it with the hand not being squeezed by Draco. 

“We’re glad you came to Britain, Pans,” Draco said fondly, his mind going back to the day he and Blaise had met her. 

It was some stuffy Ministry gala and the pair had hidden under the dessert table with an overflowing plate of cakes and chocolates. They were just about to dig in when a girl about their age wearing a pink dress with a large frilly skirt crawled under with them. She had huffed in annoyance as she wrestled with her skirt before finally settling down. They stared at each other for a long moment before Blaise and Draco started laughing at how the tulle of her dress billowed around her like a cloud. Pansy had responded by throwing a piece of cake at Blaise, splattering his face with icing. From then on they were the best of friends. 

“Healing magic is a great skill to have,” Blaise said, running his thumb soothingly over Pansy’s knuckles. “I know some spells. I'll add them to our training.”

“I can find you some books to read,” Theo offered. 

“And Lavender’s mum is a healer. I'm sure she can answer any questions you have,” Daphne suggested. Pansy turned to look at everyone, not letting go of her boy's hands. 

“I would like that, thanks guys,” she said, smiling at them. 

“That's what friends are for,” Hydrus told her, standing and adjusting Eurus on his hip. “We should go to bed. It's back to homework and studying tomorrow.”

Everyone groaned good naturedly as they also went to their rooms. Hydrus changed into a pair of silky pajama pants and one of his dad's band t-shirts before collapsing on his bed and falling asleep instantly. 

—

Hydrus was not having a good day. 

When he woke up he realized he’d forgotten his toiletries at home. He had to use one of the extra toothbrushes provided by the school and borrow Draco's toothpaste and comb just to get ready for class. He barely made it to breakfast with enough time for a cup of coffee and a bowl of oatmeal. 

Then he was nearly bitten by the Monster Book of Monsters . Apparently it required extra pets after being unopened for so long and snapped at him as soon as the belt was removed. Thankfully class itself wasn't too bad since they were just feeding bowtruckles but Ron was being extra careful not to let Neville out of his sight. 

His day got a little better in Charms. Hydrus sat at a table with Theo, Luna and Padma practicing the cheering charm. Luna got it on the first try but it took him a few casts to get it exactly right. Unfortunately, a side effect of the cheering charm is a feeling of melancholy once the spell wears off. It made Hydrus acutely aware of the whispers and glances following him as he went to get lunch. 

After lunch he and Pansy had a free period so they found a quiet corner of the library to get a head start on their charms homework until Divination. 

The sickly sweet scent of Professor Trelawnie’s classroom was somehow worse after three weeks away. Thankfully Lavender, Padma, Parvati and Daphne had gotten a seat by the window. They were doing tarot readings on themselves and Hydrus was becoming concerned by the cards he was getting. He was especially wary of the Tower and reversed Moon warning of a hidden threat. 

The last straw was when one of the Hufflepuffs stepped on his hand while climbing down the ladder. The boy, who Hydrus was pretty sure was called Justin, shot him a disingenuous apology and walked away with his giggling friends as Hydrus watched his fingers turn purple. 

Pansy set him to rights with a quick episkey and some bruise cream but Hydrus had had enough. He waved off his friends and took dinner in his dorm before going to bed early. 

—

In the morning Hydrus woke up groggy and grumpy but when he shuffled to the bathroom he found a ceramic mug sitting on the counter. It contained his new toothbrush, Draco’s tube of toothpaste and a purple comb he recognized as Pansy’s. His friends' care made him smile and he got ready for class with an extra pep in his step. 

When he entered the third year common room he was surprised to see Blaise, Pansy, Daphne, Theo and Draco still there. They were sitting around the coffee table which had a spread of toast, jam and fruit sitting on top along with a pitcher of pumpkin juice and a pot of tea and coffee. 

“Morning!” Theo greeted. “We asked the house elves if they could serve us a light breakfast in here from now on. I think we all appreciate quiet mornings instead of the hubbub in the great hall.”

Theo wasn't wrong. Draco and the girls often complained about having to rush to get ready, Theo liked to read to wake up his brain but sometimes the great hall was too loud, and Blaise hated going into crowds when he wasn't fully alert. A private breakfast was good for all of them but Hydrus knew they had come up with the idea for him. Draco pushed a cup of coffee toward an empty armchair, silently inviting him to sit. It was made just the way he liked it. 

After breakfast they only had to go up one level to get to double Potions. Potions meant Gryffindors, which meant Ron, but it also meant Professor Snape. He was in fine form and hovered over Ron, Finnigan and Thomas for most of class. He docked a total of 35 points from Gryffindor by lunch and managed to make Finnigan so nervous his cauldron melted. The red clad trio was so eager to get out of the classroom that Ron forgot to make sure Neville was with them when they escaped.

The brunette took his time packing up, waiting for Granger to leave. The bushy haired girl looked more frazzled than normal with heavy bags under her eyes and her robes in desperate need of ironing. Hydrus had noticed her use of the time turner taking its toll before Yule break. The holiday should have cured her exhaustion but that didn't seem to be the case. Hydrus wondered if Uncle Time had sent Trickster to punish Granger for messing with his domain. Maybe some nightmares? Or a series of small inconveniences that slowly drove her insane? 

Neville had been waylaid by Weasley on the train so he hadn’t seen Daphne, Theo, Draco, Pansy or Blaise since Yule. They took a moment to exchange pleasantries in private while Severus did marking at his desk, letting them have their space. Eventually they went up for lunch, meeting the twins at the top of the stairs. 

Their entry into the great hall drew extra attention and increased whispers when they all sat at the Ravenclaw table with Ginny and Luna. Hydrus was surprised when a few of the Ravenclaws gave him polite nods and curious glances rather than suspicious glares. 

“Ravenclaws value knowledge above all else,” Luna reminded them. “They consider you less a pariah and more an opportunity to learn.”

“I'll take it,” Hydrus decided. “Anything is better than the hateful stares.”

His friends scoffed and nodded in agreement. Ginny shot him an apologetic grimace, feeling safe enough to express her true feelings with her back to the Gryffindor table. Hydrus smiled back reassuringly. No matter what she had to do to cover up their friendship or the lengths Ron went to to antagonize him, Hydrus would never hold it against her. 

After lunch Hydrus, Luna, Blaise, Theo and Daphne went to Ancient Runes while Draco and Pansy went to Arithmancy. Ginny had Transfiguration and the twins were headed for History of Magic, claiming it was their favorite class since it was where they thought up some of their best pranks. Neville had a free period so he was spending it in the greenhouse. 

In Ancient Runes Hydrus was well ahead of the class so he stayed in the back working on a personal project. He intended to have it finished by Ostara so Sirius could cash in the tattoo coupon Hydrus had given him for Yule. 

Despite his distraction, Professor Babbling still called on him during class if no one else had the answer. He got all the questions right, much to Granger’s annoyance. Hydrus noticed she was in a fresh set of robes and wondered if she had changed during lunch or if she had already lived this day.

Finally, it was Herbology. Neville met them outside the greenhouse looking super excited. 

“Come on! I have something to show you.”

He grabbed Hydrus and Daphne by the sleeve and dragged them in, Blaise and Theo following closely. They stopped outside an area in the back corner that had the distinct shimmer of heavy wards around it. Inside they could see rows of soil beds and planters all containing magical plants. There were clusters of different herbs and flowers common in potions, a couple flourishing flutterby bushes and a large tentacula tucked away and surrounded by ropes to keep anyone from getting too close. Even Neville’s mimbulus mimbletonia had been replanted since it had outgrown its pot. 

“Isn’t it great!” Neville exclaimed. “There used to be dirigible plum trees here but they got moved to the orchard in November so Professor Sprout told me I could use it. She says I can do whatever I want with what I grow and Hagrid has been helping me run experiments on what kind of fertilizer works best for different plants.”

“It’s definitely impressive,” Theo said. “What’s with the wards?”

“I didn't want anyone messing with my plants. Only me, Luna and Professor Sprout are keyed into them but…” Neville fidgeted slightly, seeming embarrassed. He released Daphne’s sleeve to rub the back of his neck. “I want to add you guys too. I trust you.”

“I’m honored Neville,” Blaise said, clapping the Gryffindor on the back. “But the more people you allow entrance the weaker the security will be. Plants aren’t really my thing so you can count me out.”

“Me too,” Theo added. “Just our classes are enough gardening for me. I’ll stick to books. Pansy and Draco will likely be the same.”

“Well, I’d love to see what you're doing in there,” Daphne said. “Maybe I’ll finally get a better grade than you.”

“You wish Greengrass,” Neville laughed before turning to Hydrus and suddenly seeming much more nervous. “What about you, Hydrus?”

“How do we get keyed in?” Hydrus asked eagerly. Neville beamed at him and pulled out his wand. He ran the tip over the wards in a specific pattern and the shimmery wall flashed, becoming more opaque.

“Place your palm on the wards and push some magic into them,” Neville instructed. Both Hydrus and Daphne complied and as soon as their magical signature was recognized their hands phased right through. Neville repeated the same wand movement as before and the wards returned to their slight shimmer, barely visible to the naked eye. 

As much as Hydrus and Daphne wanted to explore what Neville was working on, it was time for class. They rejoined Draco and Pansy near the front of the greenhouse where Professor Sprout got them started collecting Bubotuber pus. They worked in pairs, one popping the yellowish growths on the slug-like plant, and the other collecting it in jars. Blaise took one for the team and paired up with Bulstrode. She panicked as soon as the pus shot into the jar and dropped it causing the foul smelling liquid to splatter across her shoes. She got docked points for wasting the valuable potions ingredient. 

When Professor Sprout announced the end of class Daphne seemed to teleport directly to Neville and Hydrus’ table, excited to check out Neville’s garden. They hurried away before Weasley or Granger could corner Neville and slipped through the wards with ease. 

The Gryffindor started to give them a tour but made the mistake of starting with his fertilizer experiment, launching Daphne into research mode. While the two of them went over every detail of Neville’s tests and finding so far Hydrus continued to explore on his own. 

Behind the mourning glories which were being soothed by a radio charmed to always play a funeral march he found a large terrarium full of devil’s snare. He pulled back a curtain under one of the tables and discovered a dark, damp space full of rotting logs and grey fungus that reminded him of sea anemones. Eventually he reached the back corner which contained nothing but a large pot about the size of half a barrel. It was made of reddish clay with elegant writing around the lip in blue paint. Inside there was nothing but a ring of pale mushrooms with brown spotted caps but Hydrus could sense something buried in the soil. Something that radiated magic. 

“Hey Neville,” Hydrus called, turning to find that Daphne had already left and Neville was just a few planters away pruning a flutterby bush. He hummed as he looked up and Hydrus went momentarily speechless. Neville had stripped off his tie and outer robes and replaced them with a well worn leather apron, the pockets overflowing with gardening tools and cuttings. There was a smudge of dirt on his cheek and a few of the flutterby flowers had landed in his hair, their soft petals opening and closing like wings. He looked like a modern druid, confident amongst his plants and beautiful in his chaos.

“What’s up, Hydrus?” Neville asked when the Slytherin didn’t say anything. Hydrus shook his head to clear it.

“What’s this?” Hydrus gestured to the large pot. Neville’s eyes flicked to it before his lips curled into a mischievous smile. 

“You have your secrets, I have mine,” he said vaguely. Hydrus groaned good naturedly.

“You won't even give me a hint?”

“Maybe I will,” Neville teased, his tone holding a touch of seriousness. “But only if you tell me what else was on your inheritance test.”

“You just want to know what my third animagus form is?” Hydrus laughed but Neville shook his head.

“I’m more interested in what was listed under Ailments ,” he refuted. Hydrus’ easy grin fell and he looked away from Neville’s earnest, worried expression. 

“I– um… I didn't think you noticed that,” he muttered.

“I only saw the title, not anything underneath,” Neville assured him. “You don’t have to give me specifics but at least tell me if it’s serious or not.” 

Hydrus’ head snapped to his friend, eyes wide. “No! No. It’s nothing serious,” he assured the Gryffindor. “I will tell everyone eventually. There's just something I need to do first.”

Rather than reply Neville put down his sheers and hung his apron on a hook beside the potting bench. He shot Hydrus a small smile as he brushed dirt off his hands.

“You can tell me whenever you're ready,” Neville assured him, turning to leave. “But you’ll have to ask Luna about the pot. It's hers, I’m just letting her use the space.”

Hydrus yelped and hurried to catch up, punching Neville lightly on the arm when he fell into step beside him.

“That was sneaky Nev,” he scolded playfully. “Are you sure you weren’t meant to be in Slytherin?”

Neville laughed. “Are any of us just one thing?”

—

Wednesday was uneventful. 

Hydrus took Eurus to History of Magic. It was Draco's turn to take notes so Theo and Pansy played chess, Blaise was reading a novel with his feet propped up on the desk and Hydrus continued his efforts to teach Eurus English. She would never be able to speak it since her mouth and vocal cords weren’t built for words, but she could learn to understand it. 

After History was Ancient Runes followed by lunch then double Transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs. Justin made a snide comment about Hydrus’ hand but got immediately scolded by two of his housemates. Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott told him he was a gormless toad and an irredeemable trollip that gave Hufflepuffs a bad name. The Slytherins were impressed by their gumption. 

It wasn’t until the next day that the week took another turn. Hydrus spent the morning in Herbology with Neville and Divination with the girls. After lunch Eurus joined them in Care of Magical Creatures where they were all keeping warm by the fires and observing the salamanders scuttling through the coals. 

It was when they went back inside that everything went wrong. The whispers hadn’t stopped but Hydrus had gotten used to ignoring them. People tended to give him a wide berth in the halls, especially if he had Eurus with him like he did now. He and Draco were discussing what they expected from the first meeting of the dueling club while Theo walked and read and Pansy pointed things out to Eurus, carefully enunciating the words so she could learn them. Hydrus was just hopping over a trick step in the stairs when he heard it.

“Expecto Patronum!”

In a heartbeat Hydrus grabbed the hem of Eurus’ cloak and pulled her against him, turning his back toward where he had just caught a bright flash of silvery light. Whoever had cast it wasn’t powerful enough to produce a corporeal patronus but they did manage a thick fog. It rolled over Hydrus and he used his robe to shield the little dementor in his arms.

What many people didn’t know about patronuses was that they were the physical manifestation of someone's magic. Their color varied subtly depending on if you had a Dark, Grey or Light core but the difference was so faint no one really noticed it. Luna’s patronus was a luminous platinum while Hydrus’ was closer to raw, unpolished silver. It was used against dementors not because they were afraid of the light but because it overwhelmed them. Magic is all intent and emotion, something dementors were very sensitive to, but it was also a spectrum and opposing natures were not meant to interact in such a pure form.

Hydrus could tell that whoever had cast the patronus at them had a Light core. It wrapped around his Dark core like a wet towel soaked in scalding water, making him feel feverish, clammy and uncomfortable. When the fog dissipated and his core returned to its normal coolness the sudden shift from hot to cold made him shiver.  

“Who cast that?!” Pansy was shrieking. “You could have hurt her!”

Hydrus untangled Eurus from his robes and hugged her to his chest. She was sobbing, making a gasping gurgling noise while clutching Hydrus’ jumper. 

< It’s okay. You’re okay. I’ve got you Little One. >

< Head feels funny, > Eurus rasped.

< Can you try to float for me? > Hydrus asked. Eurus pushed off his chest and he let her go, keeping his hands outstretched to catch her if needed. She was shaking and slowly sinking toward the floor. Hydrus had seen this in dementors that patrolled the smaller towers on Azkaban. Sometimes the guards sent corporeal patronuses after them and while they weren’t fatal to a full grown dementor, they did cause weakness, tremors and vertigo which made it hard to fly. 

Hydrus quickly scooped Eurus back into his arms. He tried not to think about how much worse she could be without the tourmaline crystal absorbing the stress, general teenage angst and malcontent that had followed Hydrus this past week. 

“Tell Professor Flitwick I’ll be late,” he called to his friends who were squared up with a group of older Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, arguing loudly. Daphne waved him off with a worried glance at Eurus and Hydrus took off up the stairs, heading for the owlery. Whenever it snowed the owls got really irritated. It was the fastest way to get Eurus some extra energy. Plus, the baby dementor liked the owls and Poe should be up there too.

After leaving Eurus with her feathery friends Hydrus rushed to Charms. He apologized profusely for being late but the half-goblin said he understood and wouldn’t dock any points this time. Once they were released to practice conjuring small objects his Slytherin friends and Luna told Hydrus what happened after he left. 

The spell had been cast by a Hufflepuff sixth year on a dare. Apparently, he and his buddies wanted to see if both Hydrus and Eurus had the same reaction to the Patronus Charm. They hadn’t seen the problem with hurting the ‘creepy little monster’ so Pansy tore them apart. She yelled about how Eurus was just a baby and had never hurt anyone in the month she had been at the castle. She and the rest had scolded them for being as narrow minded as they accused Slytherin’s of being. Most of them had backed off but a few wouldn’t admit they were wrong. One called Draco a poof and another said Pansy was a daft bint. No one saw who hit him with a dancing jinx and babbling curse but the way Luna winked at him over Theo’s shoulder made him think he had a pretty good suspect.

Hydrus briefly debated skipping the dueling club, his foul mood from Monday starting to creep up on him again, but ultimately decided to go. He would stick with his friends and try to have a good time. 

Every single first to fourth year had shown up which meant almost a hundred students gathered in front of the raised area that the staff table sat on. The house tables had been levitated and stacked off to the side. 

“Welcome to the first meeting of the Dueling Club,” Professor Flitwick announced. “For anyone who was unfortunate enough to participate in Lockheart’s club rest assured that this will be a much more organized, much less dramatized endeavor.”

His dig at the former DADA professor made most of the students chuckle and more than half visibly relax.

“We will be starting with the disarming and shield spells,” Professor Snape drawled. “These are staples of any professional duel.”

“We will demonstrate both spells before pairing you off to practice for yourselves,” Flitwick said before turning toward Snape. “Wands at the ready!”

They both held their wands vertically in front of their faces followed by a shallow bow. Both turned and walked ten paces before facing each other again and adopting their chosen fighting stance.

“Now Professor Snape will demonstrate the disarming spell,” Flitwick explained. 

“ Expelliarmus !” Snape cried loudly and clearly, sharply pointing his wand at the half-goblin. 

A beam of red light hit Flitwick causing him to stumble backwards a step as his wand arced through the air and was caught by Snape. 

“A powerful expelliarmus can knock the unprepared off their feet,” the Charms professor said, meeting Snape back where they started to retrieve his wand. “But normally it will feel as if you and your wand are being repelled apart.”

“Preparedness and a good grip will often render a weak or sometimes average attempt futile,” Snape added. 

“Now the shield charm,” Flitwick announced. The professors separated again and returned to their ready stance. “Severus, if you would.”

“ Stupify !”

A blast of bluish light sped toward Flitwick who flicked his wand and shouted “ Protego !” A barrier resembling a bubble appeared causing the spell to break apart on impact. 

The students clapped at the display while Flitwick performed a theatrical bow. 

“Pair off and practice only those two spells,” Snape ordered firmly. “If we catch you casting anything else you will be removed. Remember, it's expelliarmus and a good, strong wave for the disarming spell and portego along with a quick flick for the shield charm. Get moving.”

No sooner had students started calling out to friends when Hydrus spotted Neville coming his way. Behind him Ron opened his mouth to call out only to snarl when he saw who his dormmate was pairing with. 

“You ready?” Hydrus asked when Neville was right in front of him. 

“Yeah, just—” Neville looked nervous. “What if I can't do it?”

“You'll be fine. It may take some practice but we’ll get you casting with both hands in no time.”

Neville gave him a small smile and nodded. Hydrus led him to the edge of the room where there were less people around. 

“The best way to learn is to just do it. First, cast expelliarmus with your dominant hand to get a feel for the spell.”

They bowed and did ten paces before starting. The hall was filled with voices all yelling spells, flashes of red and shimmery shields. It took Neville a couple tries to get it right but once he was casting consistently Hydrus encouraged him to switch hands. They continued that for about ten minutes but Neville couldn't manage even a spark. He was beginning to sweat and breathe heavily.

“That’s enough,” Hydrus called, dropping the shield he had been holding. “Like I said. It takes time.”

“It's like trying to force tar through a straw,” Neville panted as Hydrus approached. 

“You're essentially creating a new channel for your magic. It will take a bit for it to break through.”

“And you can do it with both hands?”

“Yeah, I had an advantage though. The runes on my fingers help me channel my magic so I wasn't having to fight as hard.”

He held out his hands and Neville took a moment to study the small runes tattooed between each knuckle. 

“Can you show me?” Neville asked. “Dual wielding? I want to see it.”

“Sure but it will look different since I'll be casting wandlessly with my off hand.”

Neville thought for a moment before reaching under his robes and pulling out a simple wand made of pale wood. 

“Use this,” Neville said, handing Hydrus his father's wand.

“Are you sure Neville?” Hydrus asked, not reaching for it just yet. 

“Yeah, you're helping me get stronger. I think my dad would have liked that.”

Hydrus grasped the smooth handle and felt the wand’s magic seep into his skin. Its energy felt calm but cagey as if telling him that it was only temporarily loaning Hydrus its loyalty. 

Hydrus backed away and faced Neville once again. 

“Go!”

Hydrus shot off a disarming spell at the same time as Neville while simultaneously summoning a shield with the cedar wand. Neville’s spell hit with a hollow ting just before his wand was wrenched from his hand. He stumbled backwards, tripping on his own feet and falling onto his back. 

“Shoot! Neville! Are you o—”

“What the bloody hell are you doing!?!”

Neville and Hydrus both looked up to see a seething Ron standing a few feet away. His eyes were darting between the three wands, recognizing both Neville’s old and new ones.

“How dare you cast with his wand!? Your grimy hands shouldn't even be touching it!”

“Wait! Ron! I gave him permis—”

“You're a thief and a freak!” Ron yelled over Neville. “Give him his wand back!”

“Back off Weasley!” Hydrus shouted, done with people judging him without getting to know him. “This doesn't concern you! We were just practicing—”

“You were bullying him!” Ron interrupted again like a hypocrite. “I've had enough! I challenge you to a duel!”

Gasps rang out across the great hall. Everyone had stopped to witness the commotion. 

“You will do no such thing,” Professor Snape snapped as he made his way through the crowd. “Not only is it against school rules but I do not trust the two of you will fight fair.”

Hydrus suppressed a snort. Ron definitely wouldn't fight fair but then again, no duel between them would ever be fair. Hydrus was leagues ahead of Weasley and Snape knew it. 

“Are you scared I'll show up your snake?” Ron snapped back, too angry to realize what he was saying and who he was saying it to. 

“Detention Mr. Weasley! I've had quite enough of—”

“What seems to be the problem here?”

Professor Dumbledore in his signature periwinkle robes was striding across the great hall as if taking a leisurely stroll. 

“I'm handling this Headmaster,” Snape said at the same time Ron shouted. “I challenged Black to a duel!”

Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled merrily. 

“Well, this is a Dueling Club. I don't see why they can't partake in a little fun,” the Headmaster said jovially. 

“Mr. Weasley has been antagonizing my house ever since he stepped foot in this castle,” Snape argued. “Allowing him and Mr. Black to duel is inadvisable.”

“Now now Severus, perhaps a duel is exactly what they need. I'm sure they'll come to a better understanding if they work out some energy.”

Professor Snape glared at his boss but Dumbledore just continued to smile. The potions professor had no choice but to back down. 

“Splendid! Let's make this a proper duel.”

Dumbledore slipped his wand out of his sleeve and flicked it toward one of the tables, levitating it to the middle of the hall. Students scrambled out of the way as it was lowered to the ground but Hydrus wasn't paying attention. He could feel something pulling at him. It wasn't his soul like when Luna was trying to get his attention. It was in his blood and his bones, the cells and atoms that made up everything he was. It was a pull on his magic. 

“And now a little transfiguration.”

With another flick the table turned into a garish stage draped in bright colors and patterns like something from a carnival. Hydrus felt the pull again. Now that he was ready for it he could pinpoint its source. It was coming from Dumbledore. 

“Come along boys,” the Headmaster called, waving Hydrus and Ron forward. 

Severus met Hydrus at the stairs to the left. 

“No dark spells,” he whispered. Hydrus nodded and climbed onto the stage. He could see Dumbledore whisper something to Ron before the redhead also climbed up and met Hydrus in the middle. 

They were silent as they bowed. Hydrus kept his face blank but Ron’s eyes were full of hate. 

“The duel will end only if someone is disarmed or forfeits by leaving the stage,” Professor Snape announced. “If I have to call Madam Pomfrey you won't like the consequences.”

With the challenge set, both boys turned and counted ten paces. When they finally faced each other Ron struck a dramatic pose, his wand outstretched and his other arm raised above his head. Hydrus’ stance was loose but stable, his wand ready and knees bent. 

“On the count of three. One. Two. Three!”

“ Flipindo !” Hydrus shouted, wanting to end this fast. There was a loud bang and a purple spell shot toward Ron. He barely got a shield up in time to deflect it toward the roof. 

“ Glacius !”

Ice raced across the stage toward Ron but he stopped it with a hasty Finite . 

“ Expelliarmus !” Ron shouted. Hydrus silently cast a shield charm and the red light bounced off with very little force. 

Hydrus was just about to lower the shield to retaliate when Ron cast again. 

“ Stupify Duo! ”

The amplified spell slammed into his weakened shield and it shattered. The backlash threw Hydrus off his feet but before he could go sailing off the edge of the stage he activated his flying. Hydrus was now hovering a few feet off the ground, robes floating slightly behind him. Several students booed but most looked shocked. Hydrus glanced at Dumbledore and saw his lips twitch as his eyes twinkled smugly. He had told Ron to use that overpowered spell. If it had hit him Hydrus would have been knocked out for hours not to mention how many bones he would have broken hitting the floor. 

Rage boiled inside him. He was sick of people messing with him and his friends. He was sick of Dumbledore meddling. 

“ Serpensortia !” A black snake shot from the end of his wand and thumped against the stage. “ Engorgio !” The snake grew until it was as long as the table and thick as his torso. It reared up and hissed menacingly. 

~ Strike but do not bite him! ~

The snake snapped at Ron nowhere near close enough to actually hurt him but the redhead scrambled back anyway. He tripped and fell off the stage, hitting the stone with a loud oof . 

“Weasley has left the dueling platform. Black wins!” Professor Flitwick cried. 

The announcement was met with silence before the Slytherins and Hydrus’ friends in other houses started to cheer. Daphne and Pansy were jumping up and down while Blaise pumped his fist in the air, whooping in excitement. Lavender and the Patil twins were clapping while Granger shuffled away from them, looking horrified. Neville beamed at him from beside Luna who looked proud and sent a warm, congratulatory feeling across their bond as proof. 

Hydrus lowered himself to the ground feeling lighter than he had since the patronus incident. It felt good to finally fight back. 

He silently cast reducio on the snake, returning it to it’s normal size. 

~ Thank you friend , ~ he hissed. ~ Come to me. I'll find you a good home . ~

The snake slithered toward him and Hydrus extended his arm to allow it to climb up. 

Suddenly, Hydrus felt that pull again. It was different this time, less a call and more a warning. It was so strong for a moment that Hydrus felt genuine panic lodge in his chest. Between one second and the next the snake was headless and blood was dripping down Hydrus’ arm from a long, deep cut. Someone screamed and he looked up to see Dumbledore with his wand pointed at him.

“Why did you do that!?” Hydrus yelled. “I was going to take him to the forest!”

“Fifty points from Slytherin Mr. Black. For setting a dangerous animal on another student.”

Some people protested the punishment while others shouted in agreement.

“And another fifty for cheating,” Dumbledore added.

“Cheating? I didn't cheat!” Hydrus snapped. 

“Using special abilities during a casual duel is very unsportsmanlike young man,” Dumbledore scolded in that grandfatherly tone that made Hydrus' skin crawl. “I believe you owe Mr. Weasley an apology.”

Hydrus glanced at Ron who smirked from between Thomas and Finnegan. He scowled back. 

“I don't think I do sir. I was well within my rights to use any magic available to me.”

“If you can not own up to your mistakes then you will have a week's detention,” Dumbledore pressed. 

Hydrus was seething. The eyes on him felt like a physical weight. He wanted out. He wanted to go back to his dorm and hit something to vent his anger over the unfairness. 

“I apologize Ronald,” he bit out, having to hold tightly to his magic when the ginger git’s chest swelled like he’d won something. Everyone could tell the apology wasn't genuine but Dumbledore seemed satisfied anyway, pleased at his humiliation. 

Hydrus vaulted off the stage and marched through the crowd toward the doors. His friends tried to talk to him but he brushed them off and kept walking. He didn't bother with the password, just hissing at the portrait which opened immediately. He slammed his room door closed, startling Eurus from her nap, but he didn't care. 

Hydrus paced, breathing heavily and clenching his fists to reign in his magic which was whipping round the room wildly. The parchment and open books on his desk fluttered in the storm he was creating but he still couldn't calm down. 

With a yell Hydrus punched the wall. The hard stone hurt his knuckles but he did it again and again until his rage subsided and the shadows retreated back to their proper corners. In the resulting calm Hydrus was reminded of the gash on his arm. The sleeve of his shirt was red with blood so he stripped it off and traded it for a comfortable T-shirt. He rummaged in his trunk for an old towel and the emergency kit his dad had insisted he keep with him. 

He found the kit first and applied some Murtlap Essence but had to dig all the way to the bottom for a towel. When he finally found it and pulled it out something fell onto the floor with a heavy thud

Hydrus looked down and found a leather bound blue book. The title was embossed on the front in flaking silver followed by more writing in black ink:

THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD

Journal of Ignotus Peverell

Chapter Text

Hydrus picked up the book, running his hand over the yellowing stitches and worn leather. With the excitement of Samhain and Yule he had forgotten about the old collection of children’s stories he’d taken from the Peverell vault.  In a single moment all of Hydrus’ frustration was replaced by guilt. He remembered James telling him the book was important. He had seemed so excited to share it with him as father and son but Hydrus had gone and lost it in the bottom of his trunk for months. 

He climbed onto his bed and opened the cover to the title page. The Tales of Beedle the Bard was written in bold letters but underneath there was more writing in three distinct styles. 

I: Hello? It’s Ignotus. Are you getting this?

C: Hello Iggy! It’s Cadmus.

A: Hello. Antioch here.

I: It works! This is amazing!

A: Where did you even find the spell for this?

I: One of Aunt Beatrice’s old books. It said she developed it for the Knights.

C: And you want to use it to read a children’s story?

I: Bugger off Cad! Ana has been away for months and I hardly ever see you. I just want to share this with my brothers.

A: It was very thoughtful, Iggy. Don’t you think so, Cadmus?

C: Fine… I am actually very pleased to have a way to talk to you both.

I: Aww! I miss you too!

C: I never said that!

A: Stop it! Both of you!

I: Sorry Antioch…

C: Sorry Ana…

A: Better. Ignotus, can you tell us what exactly this is?

I: Sure! Cadmus already knows but do you remember my friend Beedle?

A: Yes.

I: He wrote a collection of children’s stories. One is inspired by us.

A: And you want to read it together?

I: Yes please!

A: Of course Iggy. Which story is it?

I: The Tale of the Three Brothers.

Hydrus smiled as he finished reading, a warm feeling fluttering in his chest and smothering all the negative emotions that had been swirling like a hurricane since he had returned to Hogwarts. He’d expected some stuffy memoir or a notarized copy of Beedle’s tales when he opened the book but was delighted to realize he was holding one of three protean journals. 

Protean charms allowed two or more objects to mimic each other, meaning that if something was written in one book it would appear in the others. It looked like Ignotus had made these journals out of copies of Beedle's book so he could enjoy reading The Tale of the Three Brothers with Cadmus and Antioch even though they were apart. It made the brothers feel more human to Hydrus. The old stories made them sound like pillars of power to be feared or admired but in their journals they were just a strict but loving older brother, a teasing middle brother and an excitable little brother. 

Hydrus quickly flipped to The Tale of the Three Brothers , eager to learn more about his ancestors. The chapter was titled in bold capital letters over the image of three silhouetted men crossing a bridge blocked by the cloaked figure of Death. The margins were filled with notes in each brother’s unique handwriting.

 THE  TALE  OF  THE  THREE  BROTHERS 

There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely winding road at twilight. [C:Midnight.] [I:Twilight.] [C:Midnight.] [I:It was twilight Cad! You were there!] In time, the brothers reached a river too deep to wade through and too dangerous to swim across. However, these brothers were learned in the magical arts, and so they simply waved their wands and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water. They were halfway across it when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure.

And Death spoke to them. He was angry that he had been cheated out of three new victims, for travelers usually drowned in the river. [C:He wasn’t angry though? He was pleased. Iggy and I weren’t even fifteen yet!] [I:Beedle says that every story needs a villain.] But Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate the three brothers upon their magic, and said each had earned a prize for having been clever enough to evade him. 

So the oldest brother, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence: a wand that must always win duels for its owner, a wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death! [C:Hey Anna! You conquered Death!] [A:While very flattering this is not at all true.] [I:It's all in good fun!] So Death crossed to an elder tree on the banks of the river, fashioned a wand from a branch that hung there, and gave it to the oldest brother. 

Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man, [I:He knows you so well Cad.] [C:I will throw you in the river!] decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still further, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So Death picked up a stone from the riverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring back the dead.

And then Death asked the third and youngest brother what he would like. The youngest brother was the humblest and also wisest of the brothers, and he did not trust Death.  [C:I thought Beedle was your friend?] [I:He is?] [C:Then he doesn’t know you at all, oh wise one.] [I:Ana! Can I duel him?] [A:No! You can not duel your brother over a children’s story.] So he asked for something that would enable him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death. And Death, most unwillingly, handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility. 

Then Death stood aside and allowed the three brothers to continue on their way and they did so, talking with wonder of the adventure they had had, and admiring Death’s gifts. [C:What adventure? We were fleeing a war!] [I:Don’t be so fussy! Just enjoy the story.]

In due course the brothers separated, each for his own destination. 

The first brother traveled on for a week or more, and reached a distant village, he sought out a fellow wizard with whom he had a quarrel. Naturally, with the Elder Wand as his weapon, he could not fail to win the duel that followed. Leaving his enemy dead upon the floor, he boasted loudly of the powerful wand he had snatched from Death himself, and of how it made him invincible. [A:That is not how the wand works.] [I:It’s just a story to entertain children.] [C:But it’s a story based on our actual lives…]

That very night, another wizard crept upon the oldest brother as he lay, wine-sodden, upon his bed. The thief took the wand and, for good measure, slit the oldest brother’s throat.

And so Death took the first brother for his own. [C:See what I mean? Ana is dead now!] [I:Alright. You have a point.]

Meanwhile, the second brother journeyed to his own home, where he lived alone. Here he took out the stone that had the power to recall the dead, and turned it thrice in his hand. To his amazement and his delight, the figure of the girl he had once hoped to marry before her untimely death appeared at once before him. [C:Excluding the “girl I hoped to marry”, he actually got the stone right.]

Yet she was silent and cold, and separated from him as though by a veil. Though she had returned to the mortal world, she did not truly belong there and suffered. [C:I take it back. He knows nothing.] Finally, the second brother, driven mad with hopeless longing, killed himself so as truly to join her.

And so Death took the second brother for his own. [A:Iggy, please let Beedle know I would like to speak with him.] [I:Please don’t hex my friend.] [C:He just wrote about me committing suicide Iggy!]

But though Death searched for the third brother for many years, he was never able to find him. It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. And then he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life. [C:Why do you get a good ending?] [I:I still died.] [A:We are Peverells. We do not fear Death.]

Hydrus couldn't help chuckling at Antioch and Cadmus’ indignation over Beedle’s interpretation of their tale. He supposed even Peverells would find having their deaths memorialized in a children's story distressing. 

All the little notes pointing out how the story differed from reality were fascinating. Hydrus turned the page, hoping they had written more, and found a block of text in Ignotus’ handwriting. The paper was of a rougher, slightly heavier stock than the pages that contained Beedle’s writing, indicating it wasn't part of the original book. 

The Tale of the Three Brothers, while a delightful work of fiction for the average reader, does not hold up when compared to the true story of how my brothers and I were bestowed with our gifts. 

Grandfather Ezariah was an undertaker’s apprentice in a large village. He had been exposed to Death at an early age and became fascinated with death, blood and soul magic. His experiments resulted in him being run out of town where he crossed paths with a wandering sorcerer named Myrddrin Emrys and a blacksmith’s daughter, Beatrice Dulac. Myrddrin was on a pilgrimage to Albion where Mother Magic had promised he would find a humble kingdom that would become a great nation with his guidance. He invited Ezariah and Beatrice along and by the time they reached Camelot, Myrddrin had officially adopted them both as his apprentices.

The trio spent centuries advising Pendragon royalty all the way to King Arthur and Queen Guinevere but peace cannot last forever. Camelot was betrayed by another of Myrddrin’s apprentices, a witch by the name of Morgana LaFey. Her son, Mordred, led an army into Camelot, but the Knights of the Round Table, with the help of Beatrice Dulac’s enchanted weapons and armor, held them back. In desperation Morgana assassinated Lady Dulac and fled the kingdom. 

Grandfather was devastated by Aunt Beatrice’s death. Myrddrin was long-lived due to his blessing from Mother Magic and Beatrice had fairy blood which greatly increased her lifespan. In order to ensure he would live as long as his friends, Grandfather had created something he called a Horcrux. He encased a sliver of his soul in a locket which allowed him to live for many generations. He and Beatrice had spent centuries together but war had taken her from him. He would not allow it to take any more. 

As Peverells we were known to be followers of Lord Death, even founding the art of Necromancy in his honor, so Grandfather decided to make a deal. He would give up his immortality and sacrifice his long life in exchange for protection for his and Beatrice’s families. Lord Death granted his wish.

The building of the bridge is perhaps the only part of the story that is completely accurate. We were already fleeing Camelot when Grandfather made his deal and Lord Death found us attempting to cross the river at the border. 

He gave Antioch the Elder Wand, a weapon to defend us. Cadmus received the Resurrection Stone, a gift to comfort us. And I was given the Invisibility Cloak, a shield to hide us from our enemies.

At the time of writing this it has been over a decade since Camelot fell. Antioch often travels and I'm sure he’s gotten into his fair share of duels with the Elder Wand but he is still amongst the living. Cadmus summons the shades of our ancestors on Samhain every year but his beloved wife is firmly on this side of the veil. I am unsure if my cloak can truly keep me from my fated death and I have no intention of finding out. I’m simply content to use it to enchant and delight my children, nieces and nephews until I can look back on a life well lived. 

Hydrus lowered the book onto his lap, attempting to process what he had read. 

He was surprised to learn that his ancestor was the one that invented Horcruxes. It sounded like Ezariah’s version was much more stable than the corrupted soul pieces Tom Riddle had ripped from himself. Hydrus remembered the goblin’s saying Lord Peverell had been the head of his family for seven generations, nurturing and uplifting his descendants until the day he died. It was not the legacy of a man that had gone insane due to a shattered soul. 

Perhaps the process of creating a Horcrux was a family secret that had been badly replicated by scrupulous Dark wizards. There was probably a prayer or ritual that had been forgotten with time, some way of appealing to Lord Death. Hydrus found it amusing that his Father was so vexed with Tom for creating Horcruxes but had blessed the man that invented them.

Hydrus was pulled from his thoughts by an explosion and laughter from the third year's common room. A quick tempus told him that dinner had ended twenty minutes before. His friends must be back and playing a few rounds of Exploding Snap before bed.

Hydrus briefly debated going to them and apologizing for blowing them off after Dueling Club but he couldn’t bring himself to put the journal down. The Tale of the Three Brothers had made him feel nostalgic for his childhood being told these stories by the other prisoners and he was enjoying reading the little notes left by the brothers. 

Hydrus flipped back to the first story, The Wizard and the Hopping Pot . It was about an old man that always helped his neighbors by pulling solutions out of his enchanted pot. When the man died he passed his house and the pot on to his greedy son. Whenever the neighbors asked for the son’s help he would turn them away, declaring that he cared nothing for their woes. His refusal caused the pot to sprout a single foot and begin following him, hopping and clanging at all hours. 

As additional punishment the pot mimicked the ailments of the villagers. It was covered in warts, brayed like a lost donkey and filled with the tears of a sick child. Eventually the son couldn't take it anymore and ran out to fix all his neighbors' problems. Once he was done the pot spat out a single silken slipper which was put on its foot, muffling the horrid clanging. From then on the son never refused to help someone in need.

Hydrus smiled fondly. The Wizard and the Hopping Pot had been Sirius’ favorite story to tell him, probably because he thought the pot was a great prank. Ignotus and Cadmus seemed to agree with him.

C: This sounds like something Uncle Sal and Uncle Ric would do as a gag.

A: Or something Aunt Row would use to teach her students about empathy.

I: Maybe that’s where Beedle heard the story!

C: No way! Those four haven't been seen in over a decade.

I: We haven't been back to Albion in over a decade. How do we know they haven't come out of hiding by now?

A: Can you ask Beedle where he heard the story?

I: I can ask but he probably won't tell me. He’s very tight-lipped about his sources. 

Hydrus gaped at the brother’s words. They were talking about the Hogwarts founders! Uncle Sal, Uncle Ric and Aunt Row had to be Salizar Slytherin, Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw! 

Hydrus quickly flipped to the next story, wondering if he would also find Helga Hufflepuff somewhere within the pages, and came upon Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump.

Babbitty was about a Muggle king who wanted to be the only one who could use magic. He sent witch hunters to slay all the wix and put out a proclamation looking for an ‘instructor in magic'. No real witch or wizard dared apply but a charlatan fooled the king using cheap tricks and became the Grand Sorcerer. Eventually the king grew frustrated with the charlatan telling him he wasn't ready yet and declared that he would be performing magic in front of his entire court the next day no matter how hard the charlatan tried to dissuade him. 

Afraid for his life the charlatan took a walk and came upon the home of the castle washerwoman, Babbitty. Peering through her window he witnessed the sheets washing themselves in the sink while the old woman polished a wand. Armed with the knowledge that Babbitty was a witch, he threatened to expose her if she didn't cast the king's spells for him at the performance. 

Babbitty hid in the bushes and did as he asked. She vanished a noblewoman’s hat and made a horse float but when the Captain of the Witch Hunters asked the king to revive his dead hound Babbitty could do nothing. No magic could raise the dead. 

The charlatan, attempting to redirect the king’s anger, declared that Babbitty was a wicked witch who was blocking the king’s magic and sent the witch hunter’s hounds after her. By the time the courtiers caught up, the dogs were howling and sniffing around an old tree. 

Assuming Babbitty had turned into a tree the charlatan ordered it cut down but once it was felled the stump began speaking in Babbitty’s voice. She exposed the charlatan as a fraud and told the king that by killing her he had released a curse upon his land. She claimed it could be broken only if he stopped hunting wix. The king agreed and hurried off to give the order, never noticing the old rabbit that wriggled out from a hole between the stump’s roots and hopped away. 

Hydrus recalled the first time he had heard this particular tale. He had been six or seven and quite grumpy about having to sit outside Barty’s cell learning wizarding history when he wanted to be out flying. Barty must have gotten tired of his fidgeting because he suddenly stopped lecturing and started telling him all about Babbitty Rabbitty and the foolish king. The story had made Hydrus very excited to start learning about the Dark Ages and the witch trials.

Hydrus had to admit that he liked the character of Babbitty. He admired the old witch for saving her magical brethren through sheer cleverness but after reading the brother’s notes he was even more intrigued by her. 

I: Babbitty has to be related to Aunt Helga!

A: I agree. Several of her descendants used professions like washerwoman or shepherdess to cover up their healing work.

C: And she was very insistent we all become Animagi. She used to say it was the best way to escape if we were ever found by witch hunters. 

I: Do you remember when Uncle Sal tried to scare her in his python form?

C: Yes! She nearly tore him in half. Her claws were no joke!

Ignotus and Cadmus continued to reminisce over their aunts and uncle’s antics. Apparently, the Hogwarts mascots represented the founder’s animagus forms. Not only was Salizar a python and Helga a badger but Godric was a lion and Rowena was a golden eagle.

Hydrus’ eyes were drawn back to the start of the conversation. The use of animagus forms as a quick getaway tactic was a good idea. He should talk to the Coven about doing the ritual sometime soon, it could prove useful.

Hydrus flipped to the next story and was delighted to find his favorite tale, The Warlock’s Hairy Heart . The story was about a handsome warlock who swore never to fall in love and used Dark Arts to achieve his goal. As the years passed his peers married and his parents passed but the warlock felt neither jealous nor sad. 

One day he heard his servants talking about him, wondering if there was something wrong with him since he had never been moved by all the beautiful maidens that pursued him. Incensed at being thought defective he immediately began courting the most sought after lady in the village. The lady's family was overjoyed by his interest but she was apprehensive, sensing the coldness within him. 

One day the warlock hosted a feast in the lady's honor. He tried to woo her with sweet words, delicious food and expensive wine but the lady was not moved. She told the warlock that she would have been delighted by his attention if only she thought he had a heart. 

In reply the warlock led her to the dungeon where his heart lay in a crystal casket. It was shriveled and grey and covered in thick black hair. The lady was horrified and begged him to put it back where it belonged. Seeing that it was the only way to convince her to marry him, the warlock cut open his breast and replaced his heart. The lady was overjoyed and threw her arms around the warlock but the heart had grown strange down in the cold and dark. 

When the guests found them the warlock was kneeling over the lady's body, her ruby heart clutched in his hand. He caressed it, vowing to exchange it for his own, but the hairy heart refused to be removed again. In desperation the warlock took up his knife and hacked the heart from his chest. For a single moment he triumphantly held two hearts aloft before collapsing over the lady’s body and dying. 

Hydrus remembered how angry Sirius had been when he heard that Aunt Balla and Uncle Dolphus had told him this story. He hadn't allowed Hydrus anywhere near their cells for weeks but eventually relented when Hydrus begged to hear it again. He would sit in the corridor between the couple’s cells and listen to them take turns telling the tale. They especially liked the ending and would describe the dungeon scene in vivid, gory detail. 

Once, when he was a little older, Hydrus asked them what they thought about the warlock. At the time the couple had praised his use of Dark Magic while simultaneously calling him weak for returning his heart to his chest and compromising the spell. A few years later, after Azkaban had gifted Bellatrix and Rodolphus with adjoining cells, Hydrus asked the question again. This time they pitied the warlock. The pair had missed the feel of each other’s hands and the sound of the other’s voice when they whispered softly instead of shouting down the corridor. They never wanted to be apart again and now understood why the warlock had gone mad when his heart was returned. Love was truly a powerful thing.

Hydrus moved on to the notes at the end of the story. It seemed like Cadmus also enjoyed the more violent tale but Antioch was insistent that it was inappropriate for his younger brothers to read.

C: I’m twenty-seven Ana! Iggy is twenty-five!

A: And I’m thirty-one. You’re still children.

C: And you’re an old man!

I: Anyway! Where do you think this tale came from?

C: Not sure, maybe it’s just an old folktale Beedle picked up.

I: Is there even a ritual that would allow someone to live without a heart?

A: Grandfather figured out a way to break off a piece of his soul so it’s possible. 

C: Or maybe the warlock was just insane.

I: I think he was lonely.

Hydrus agreed with Ignotus. He had always thought that what had driven the warlock mad in the end was loneliness, a sudden realization that he had no one. His heartlessness had driven away his friends and he hadn’t even been able to grieve his parents when they passed. The warlock had wanted the lady's heart because she was beloved by her family and the village. 

Hydrus flipped the page again, expecting to be back at The Tale of the Three Brothers , but was surprised to see The Fountain of Fair Fortune . He didn’t remember ever being told this story but did recall Luna mentioning it at Samhain. The illustration under the title showed a steep hill surrounded by high walls and topped with a gushing fountain. Four figures, one in armor and three in robes, were climbing the hill. 

The tale was about three witches who traveled to a walled garden that housed the Fountain of Fair Fortune. Every year hundreds of unfortunates gathered, hoping the garden picked them to make the journey to the fountain at the top of the hill. 

The witch’s names were Asha, a witch afflicted with an incurable sickness, Altheda, a witch that had been stripped of her home, fortune and wand but an evil sorcerer, and Amata, a witch who had been abandoned by her lover. The women shared their woes and, pitying each other, agreed that if one of them was chosen they would unite and reach the top together.

Sure enough, at the crack of dawn, when the wall opened and creepers from the garden snaked out, they curled around Asha. Asha grabbed Altheda, who grabbed Amata, who got tangled up in the armor of a Muggle knight. All four were dragged into the garden and the wall sealed shut for another year.

Asha and Altheda were angry with Amata for accidentally bringing the knight along. Sir Luckless, seeing that these women were witches, declared that he would not challenge them and withdraw from the garden. His cowardly words made Amata angry too and she bid him draw his sword to help them reach the fountain.

They walked through the magical garden until their path was blocked by a large white worm circling the hill. When they approached, it spoke to them.

Pay me the proof of your pain

Sir Luckless tried to slay the beast but his blade snapped and Asha and Amata’s wands were equally useless. As the sun rose higher Asha began to weep from despair. Her cries caused the worm to turn toward her and drink the tears from her cheeks before slithering into its den.

The group continued but half way up the slope they came upon words carved into the earth:

Pay me the fruit of your labours.

Sir Luckless placed his last coin on the ground but it just rolled away into the grass. The four companions tried to keep climbing but they made no progress and the inscription remained in front of them. Altheda walked faster and harder than the others, encouraging them to follow her example as she wiped the sweat from her brow. The droplets fell onto the earth and the inscription instantly vanished, allowing the group to continue their journey.

The next obstacle was a river with a smooth stone sitting on its bank. Engraved on the stone was:

Pay me the treasure of your past.

Sir Luckless attempted to use his shield as a boat but it sank. The group sat on shore pondering this new challenge as the sun sank toward the horizon. Amata was the first to understand. She extracted all her memories of happy times spent with her lover and dropped them into the water. As soon as they were washed away stepping stones appeared and they were able to cross to the summit of the hill.

The fountain stood in front of them but before they could decide who would bathe in its waters Asha fell to the ground, exhausted by the climb and close to death. Her three friends would have carried her to the fountain but she was in agony and begged them not to touch her. Altheda rushed to pick any herbs that looked useful and mixed them in Sir Luckless’ water gourd. She gave the concoction to Asha who was instantly able to stand, all symptoms of her illness vanished. 

Asha declared herself cured with no need to bathe in the fountain. She bid Altheda to go in her place for saving her. Meanwhile, Altheda was collecting as many herbs as possible. With her new found healing skill she could make her fortune back easily and invited Amata to bathe instead. Amata shook her head and explained that the water had washed away all regret for her former lover. She saw now that he was cruel and faithless and was glad to be rid of him.

The three witches turned to Sir Luckless and offered the fountain to him as a reward for his chivalry. The knight humbly accepted and bathed in the waters just as the sun touched the horizon. When he emerged he threw himself at Amata’s feet, hailing her as the kindest, most beautiful woman he had ever met and begging for her hand and her heart. Amata readily agreed, realizing she had found a man worthy of her.

Happy with their good fortune the four companions set off down the hill together, none knowing or suspecting that the fountain contained no enchantment at all. 

Hydrus understood now why the Death Eaters had never told him this story. It wasn't likely something that circulated in pure blood families due to Amata, a witch, becoming betrothed to a poor Muggle knight. He was actually surprised he hadn’t heard a darker version where the witches sacrificed Sir Luckless or something equally brutal.  

Hydrus thought it was a good story and wondered if it was Luna’s favorite Beedle tale. He was sure the magical garden and the themes of friendship and taking charge of your own fate would appeal to her. 

Resolving to ask his sister about it at breakfast, Hydrus moved on to the brother’s notes. 

C: I think we all know what this one is about. 

I: Everyone write it on the count of three. 1…

C: 2…

I: 3…

C: Llyn Ogwen!

A: Pen yr Ole Wen.

I: Castle Dulac!

C: Well. . .  none of us are wrong.  

I: Beedle must have talked to someone who once traveled to see Aunt Beatrice at Castle Dulac!

A: I agree. The fountain is probably a stand in for Lake Ogwen and the hill is the mountains at Pen yr Ole Wen. 

I: Do you think Sir Luckless was one of the Knights of the Round?

C: It was definitely Gawain. 

Hydrus was buzzing with excitement. The Fountain of Fair Fortune was about the Lady of the Lake, Beatrice Dulac! It was about Luna’s ancestors! 

Hydrus couldn't wait to tell her. No one knew where Camelot once stood, let alone where the legendary lake resided, but now Hydrus did. He could take his sister there. Maybe Castle Dulac was still standing, hidden away in the mountains. 

Hydrus had never expected a collection of children’s stories to contain so much hidden history. He hurriedly flipped past The Tale of the Three Brothers and Ignotus’ afterward to find more pages made of the same rougher, heavier stock paper. These pages looked more like a proper journal if the journal had been written by three people at once. Ignotus’ handwriting appeared the most but Cadmus and Antioch wrote plenty as well. 

It was mostly conversations between the brothers about their lives. Antioch was traveling abroad and continuing his family's research into soul and death magic. He seemed to be enjoying it but Hydrus got the feeling that he missed his little brothers. He was often the one who wrote first after a long pause in the conversation. Ignotus and Cadmus didn’t live too far apart but their responsibilities to their own families, jobs and research kept them from visiting very often.

It was common for the brothers to not write for months at a time only to start up again, usually after a big event. Every birth, death and marriage was shared and celebrated. The conversations spanned decades. As Hydrus reached the end of the journal the brothers were welcoming their great-great-grandchildren and death announcements were becoming more common. 

Eventually Hydrus reached a point where Antioch’s neat and careful handwriting disappeared. Ignotus and Cadmus wrote a few more times, obviously worried by Antioch’s silence, before also disappearing. 

It was over a year before Ignotus began writing again. They were just short messages every few months; ‘the harvest is going well’, ‘Vivian had a little boy’, ‘we should get together for Yule’. Cadmus never wrote back.

The final page was all in Ignotus’ handwriting.

If you're reading this then you are one of my descendants. Only someone with my blood could read these words. To all others the journal appears only as a copy of the Tales of Beedle the Bard without mine and my brother’s annotations. 

I often wonder if we should have asked Beedle to remove our story from his book. It seemed so harmless back then, just a silly story we could tease each other about. We never expected it to be prophetic. 

Like Myrddin, my brothers and I were long lived thanks to our blessing from Lord Death. Loss and grief were not unknown to us but the loss of Antioch was a pain neither Cadmus nor I were prepared for.

Antioch had gone investigating rumors of an island fortress in the North Sea that was said to be haunted. Cadmus wrote to the skipper of the boat he h hired and found out that after decades of avoiding it, being so close to our homeland finally tempted Antioch to return to Albion. From there we tracked him from inn to inn until we found a barmaid in a wixen village who finally told us what happened.

Traveling could be a dangerous endeavor in those days, especially if you came across magical communities. Most were paranoid due to the ongoing witch hunts and it was common for a newcomer to duel to prove they were indeed magical. Antioch participated in a few of these duels and news of his exceptional skill and power spread. People started whispering that Antioch held the Elder Wand of legend. 

The barmaid went on to tell us how Antioch had been challenged to the customary duel, beating their leader with only a few spells. The village had heard the rumors and suspected he was the traveler who was said to hold the Elder Wand. That night, while Antioch slept, someone snuck into his room, slit his throat and stole the wand.

We were devastated. Our brother was dead and his gift had been stolen. Cadmus took it especially hard. He was like a ghost, barely leaving his estate or permitting visitors. 

It was several years later that Beedle’s tales proved to be prophetic yet again. Cadmus and I had already had to bury our children but when Dragon Pox killed his eldest grandchild’s family he couldn’t take it anymore. Cadmus no longer had the Resurrection Stone so it played no part in his death. It was only grief and longing that led him to hang himself. 

Now I am alone. 

Our family has grown and prospered and scattered far and wide until I rarely see them any more. I try to find comfort in their success and in these words which I write in the hopes that someone will read them and remember where they came from. 

Even in my time Necromancy was considered immoral, dark and dangerous. Our family's art was already being twisted at the whim of cowardly wix that saw it as an escape from Death. Creatures like Infiri and practices calling for infanticide and virginal sacrifices are not true Necromancy and are crimes against the gods. Cadmus and I were especially horrified to learn of Herpo the Foul’s perversion of Grandfather’s Horcrux and his resulting decline into madness.

Necromancy celebrates Death and a Necromancer does not fear its inevitability. We are at our most powerful when we embrace the call of the Veil and the great unknown. 

The most recognized perversion of our craft is the Infiri, animated corpses with no soul or need for sustenance. They are doomed to always be in pain, always craving what they can never have. It is reprehensible that their creation was inspired by Vondou zombies, people that willingly meet Death for a short time to better appreciate the beauty of life. 

In a similar vein, sacrifices are only as powerful as the life they lived. The happier the life, the more potent the sacrifice will be. A young sacrifice or a tortured one holds no power. Additionally, Death will not be moved by souls destroyed before their time. Murder is an offence to his Lady and will not endear you to him. A willing sacrifice who has lived a long, full life is a blessing to any Necromancer.

I wish I could write more but I find it harder and harder to stay awake nowadays. I feel as if I will meet an old friend soon. The Peverell vault should have everything you need to learn Necromancy the proper way, the honorable way. 

No matter what anyone says, be proud of your heritage and live a life worthy of a good death.

-Ignotus Peverell 

Hydrus sniffled, quickly wiping his eyes before the tears gathering on his lashes could fall. He didn’t ever want to think about losing Luna so he couldn’t begin to imagine how Ignotus had felt, learning of Antioch’s death then watching Cadmus spiral toward a similar fate. Even knowing what lay beyond the Veil, the loss of their presence, of their comfort and familiarity, would have been heartbreaking. Hydrus took comfort in the fact that Ignotus had seen them again in the end.

Despite the grief Hydrus felt for people he had never met, he was still excited by the promise of more resources in the Peverell vaults even though he had little need for rituals. He felt momentarily guilty that his natural skill at Necromancy had rendered decades of his family’s research moot. As the Son of Lord Death he could slip past the Veil at will and call souls from his Father with only his voice and the innate power running through his veins. However, he was soon cheered up by the thought of passing it along to his own children some day. Hydrus had no idea if the strange magic he was born with could be passed on but he was determined his future children would know the truth of Necromancy and the beauty of death after a life well lived. 

Smiling slightly to himself, Hydrus' went to close the book but noticed the corner of a loose sheet of parchment sticking out from behind the final page. He slipped it out and unfolded it to find three sketches. The first drawing was of a familiar hooded black and silver cloak. This version had silver tassels on the hood and a braided hem that wasn't present on Hydrus’ cloak, likely cut off or worn away over time. The next sketch was of a dark, smokey stone cut into an octahedron shape. The Peverell crest seemed to float just under the surface, held aloft by the frozen black fog within. The last drawing caught Hydrus off guard. It was difficult to tell what color the wand was from a graphite sketch but the five bulbous growths down its length were very distinct. 

It was Dumbledore's wand. 

Hydrus could feel his anger returning. There were rumors that Grindelwald had wielded the Death Stick during his reign of terror but Hydrus hadn't thought much of it. Now the story had merit. 

Dumbledore had won the Elder Wand from Grindelwald. 

No wonder Hydrus could feel it calling for him. It was his wand. His legacy. It was why he felt the need to learn how to dual wield despite already having a loyal wand that he loved. He needed to be prepared to claim the Elder Wand alongside his own. 

The curtains hanging on Hydrus’ bed frame were caught in a gale, whipping around and ripping under the force of Hydrus’ accidental magic. Eurus woke with a startled shriek as the masonry rumbled, showering the room in a thin coating of dust. Hydrus forced himself to take a deep breath, reigning in his magic and shoving everything behind his occlumency shields. 

< It's alright Little One, > Hydrus soothed Eurus who had floated closer to him. < I'm sorry I woke you. >

He held out his arm and Eurus swooped over to cuddle against his chest. He could tell she was already falling asleep again by the way her cloak slowly settled across his lap and her rattling breaths smoothed out into a raspy hum. 

Hydrus wandlessly repaired the curtains and cleaned up the dust before transfiguring his uniform into a pajama set. He settled back into his pillows, tucked Eurus against him and decided to write Sirius in the morning as he fell asleep.

Chapter Text

“Sugar Quill,” Albus said as he approached the griffin that guarded his office. 

The statue leapt aside and Albus climbed the stairs without breaking his stride or his train of thought. He felt conflicted, his mind racing and his emotions reeling. 

Dueling Club was meant to be a distraction and a way for him to gauge the student’s power level. He needed to know which Dark family children would pose a threat in all out war and which Light family children would be useful to him. It also doubled as training for the Longbottom boy but therein lay the problem. 

Neville Longbottom and Hydrus Black were much too close. They had partnered together and if what he’d heard Mr. Weasley yelling was true, Neville had even trusted Hydrus with his father’s wand. 

Albus pushed his office door open harder than was necessary. His feelings about the whole fiasco were coalescing and he found himself leaning toward frustration. The stupid boy was ruining everything! Hydrus even had Neville defending him against Ron who was meant to be his closest friend. Mr. Weasley had reported that Neville hung out with him and the other two boys in the dorms and sat with them in classes but had downplayed how much time Neville spent with Hydrus and his followers.

Albus started pacing the room. He remembered how his chosen one had cheered for a delinquent rather than his own housemate, how he had been one of the students to protest Hydrus’ punishment and how he had watched the boy leave with concern in his eyes. Not even humiliating the Black Heir had made Albus feel better when he could hear half the school advocating for him. Even some of his Gryffindors had been upset on Black’s behalf.

Something needed to be done.  

Albus waved his wand and a section of paneling beside the fireplace swung open revealing cubbies carved into the stone wall. Each cubby was protected by a separate ward. There were vials of illegal potions, artifacts pilfered from vaults and copies of wills that had never been read. Other cubbies held banned books, contracts with extra paragraphs slipped in and dozens of memories from allies and enemies alike. In one of the lower cubbies was a cage. 

When the Dueling Club had started and Albus was sure Gryffindor Tower was mostly empty he had snuck in under a disillusionment charm. He climbed to the third year dorm and easily found what he was looking for snoozing on Mr. Weasley’s pillow. 

Albus tapped the ward in a specific pattern and levitated the cage out. Inside, a fat brown rat scurried around, squeaking in terror.

“Hello Peter,” Albus said, “I have a job for you.”

—

Remus ducked behind a tapestry on the third floor and stepped onto a narrow staircase, lighting his wand against the darkness. 

It was the third week of January, only two weeks since the spring term started. Earlier, Remus had allowed his classes to have an open discussion, the approaching full moon making him feel too anxious and distractible to run a structured lesson. He smiled as he descended the stairs, thinking about how excited his Muggleborn and Muggle raised students had been to share their knowledge of Muggle monsters with the purebloods. The purebloods in turn had been fascinated to learn just how close some Muggle stories got to real magical creatures. 

As Remus opened the wooden door at the bottom of the stairs he picked up a familiar scent. Autumn and sea salt. 

“I know you're there,” he called. 

Hydrus suddenly appeared beside him, hanging the invisibility cloak over his arm.

“You're no fun Uncle Moony,” he pouted.

“What are you doing here? You're missing dinner,” Remus pointed out. 

“I'm coming with you,” Hydrus replied, smiling up at him. 

Remus opened his mouth to tell him no, that it was too dangerous, but was surprised to discover he didn't actually believe that. If anyone was safe around Moony it was Hydrus. He was an animagus, had some kind of strange werewolf adjacent qualities and was both James and Sirius’ son. Remus’ mind conjured an image of Hydrus’ Thestral form with its deer-like antlers and felt a pang of nostalgia for the nights he had run with both a dog and a stag. 

“Let's not keep your dad waiting then,” Remus said, causing Hydrus to beam brighter. 

His nephew put the cloak back on, following him across the lawn and through the Whomping Willow’s roots. Soon they were leaving the rocky tunnel behind and climbing out of the trap door to find Sirius already in the Shrieking Shack, sitting on the sagging steps. 

“Good evening,” he greeted with a crooked grin. 

“Hey dad!” Hydrus chirped happily as Sirius stood to give him a hug. 

“Sorry I didn't tell you the little monster was joining us,” Sirius said, coming to hug Remus as well. “He has a bit of a surprise for you.”

“A surprise?” Remus asked. 

“Mhm. But we can get to that later. The moon is about to rise.”

Remus could feel it, the itching under his skin that preceded the change. He lingered in Sirius’ arms for just a moment longer before backing away. He climbed the stairs to the room that had become his den. The fire was lit and the little blanket fort had been rebuilt. It had a new canopy that smelled of sage, wet leaves, wildflowers and something that reminded him of Grimmauld Place; tea and dust. 

Remus knew he didn't have time to make himself comfortable. The itch was quickly becoming an ache, his joints feeling stiff. He was so focused on mentally preparing for what was coming that he jumped when the door opened and Hydrus walked in. 

“Hyd— what are you—? You shouldn't be here!”

“It's okay Uncle Moony, you shouldn't do this alone.”

“I don't want—” Remus started but it was too late. Silver light spilled through the window and burning agony flooded his body. He just hoped Hydrus was smart enough to be in his animagus form by the time Moony made his appearance. 

A pained cry that was not his own caused him to look up. His skull was shifting and his joints were dislocating but Remus could barely feel it as he watched Hydrus also change. 

It was no less gruesome seeing it than feeling it. The teen was on all fours, his back arching as his shoulder blades under his shirt popped and his shoulders widened. His arms and legs shifted and elongated, his hands already sporting wicked claws. Remus could see his teeth, sharp and white in his furry black snout as he opened his mouth in a silent scream. 

Remus whimpered, distressed at seeing his nephew in pain and because his own agony had made itself known again. His ribs shifted and his hands and feet elongated into something not quite human but not quite wolf. Finally he felt that uncomfortable, prickly tingle as fur rapidly grew across his whole body. 

Moony panted as everything stopped, the pain draining from his body. He heard a whimper and got to his feet, approaching the other wolf in the room. Hydrus was curled into a fluffy black ball so Moony nosed at him, encouraging him to stand. When he did his head only reached Moony’s shoulder and he was shaky on his feet. The larger werewolf pressed their sides together to stabilize him. 

Less than a second later Moony heard Padfoot’s claws clicking on the wooden floor and he bound into the room. The big black dog rushed to greet them but Moony didn’t like that. He put himself between Padfoot and his cub, growling a warning. Padfoot growled back, showing his teeth. 

Taking it as a challenge Moony got ready to pounce but something hit him from the side, knocking him to the floor. Sharp teeth locked around his throat and held him in place. Moony tried to pull away but Hydrus just tightened his grip.  His cub growled and the larger werewolf could feel the vibrations traveling through his entire body. 

Moony immediately went limp. Hydrus was younger and smaller but something about him made his wolf submit. His scent was sharper, more commanding. He was strong and quick, his yellowish-green eyes bright and alert. It was obvious that within their little pack Hydrus was the most powerful. Hydrus was the Alpha. 

Sensing Moony’s acceptance of the new dynamic Hydrus let go. He nuzzled at his uncle’s throat in apology and Moony was quick to nuzzle him back. Padfoot approached, more slowly this time, and whined pitifully. Moony huffed but allowed the dog to lick his face, letting him know there were no hard feelings. 

Their silent apologies were interrupted by Hydrus pouncing on them, yipping and nipping playfully. They spent some time wrestling, just enjoying each other's presence, before Padfoot barked and took off out of the room. Both werewolves followed, bounding down the steps and out the door into the woods. 

Moony could smell the rain from earlier and the sweet pine needles that littered the forest floor. He could smell the people down in Hogsmeade too, like he did every full moon, but he was finding it easier and easier to ignore it. He had his cub and his Padfoot and plenty of other prey to hunt. The urge to attack humans wasn't as strong anymore. 

Hydrus led the way, bounding through the trees. They chased rabbits and squirrels and took a moment to drink when they passed close to the lake. Eventually they reached a clearing where a herd of Thestrals were gathered. They didn't seem at all concerned by two werewolves and a dog joining them, especially when Hydrus dropped the rabbit he was carrying and allowed the foals to rip it apart. 

As the sky started turning grey they returned to the Shrieking Shack. Padfoot stayed outside while Moony and Hydrus curled up in their den, waiting for the sun to rise. They both gasped when they started shifting, quickly separating to opposite sides of the room as their muscles relaxed and their bones settled back into their proper place. 

Remus put on a fresh set of robes and returned to the den, keeping his eyes averted in case Hydrus wasn't dressed yet. He lay on the blankets and pillows and caught his breath, realizing that while the transition was still painful he no longer felt as wrung out after a full.

“Ow,” Hydrus said, sitting down and falling backwards so his head landed on Remus’ stomach making him release a soft oof . “I always forget how much that hurts. Maybe if I did it more often it would be better.”

“Sorry to break it to you Cub, but it's never painless,” Remus replied, absentmindedly running his fingers through Hydrus’ tousled hair. 

“Are you two okay in here?” Sirius called, sticking his head through the door. 

“We're fine. I have some questions though,” Remus replied. 

“I'm sure you do,” Sirius chuckled, coming to sit beside Remus. He pulled his son’s legs into his lap so Hydrus was laying across both of them.

“First of all, why in Merlin’s name did you let me eat a squirrel?” Remus demanded, smacking his lips against the nutty, gamey flavor in his mouth. Sirius just laughed at him. 

“I didn't expect you to actually catch one. They're squirrelly little fuckers.” 

Remus punched him in the shoulder before sitting up so he could see Hydrus’ face. 

“Are you going to tell me what you are now?” he asked. 

“I'm a Dark Creature,” Hydrus replied. 

“No shit Cub but I was hoping for something more specific.”

“No, really, that's the best description I have of it.”

Hydrus rummaged in his pocket and handed Remus a torn piece of parchment. It was part of an inheritance test labeled Ailments . Underneath was listed pseudo-lycanthropy and—

“Pseudo-vampirism?!” Remus exclaimed. 

Hydrus grinned at him and his canines were noticeably sharper, coming to a needle-like point. 

“It's my Champion of Dark Creatures title,” Hydrus explained. “I think it's so I can relate to them better. I have a werewolf form but I can choose for the moon to affect me or not and I can drink blood. It makes me stronger and faster than average but I don't need it to survive.”

Remus processed for a moment. He was suddenly struck by just how many dark creatures Hydrus had a kinship with. He had Dementor magic, Grim and Thestral animagus forms, the ability to speak to snakes, and a mutated strain of lycanthropy and vampirism. 

“You are never going to stop surprising me Cub,” Remus finally said. 

“No he will not,” Sirius agreed. “By the way, I have some things for you, Hydrus.”

He reached into a bag that Remus hadn’t even noticed he was wearing and pulled out a small pouch. Hydrus snatched it and opened it to reveal a toiletry kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb and various vials of potions and creams. He seemed pleased, muttering “finally, no more peppermint” under his breath. 

Next Sirius produced a thick leather bound book. It was navy blue with silver inlays and a metal nameplate that was etched with the name Rosier . 

“Are you sure it's safe to have that in the school?” Remus asked, recognizing the book as a family grimoire. “What if someone steals it?” 

Everyone's mind immediately went to Dumbledore. 

“Don't worry, Luna is great at wards and we’ll spell the cover so it looks like something else when she's reading it,” Hydrus assured them. 

They spent the rest of the morning just enjoying each other's company. Hydrus’ friends were aware he was going out for the full moon and Severus was covering for him. He told everyone Hydrus was sleeping off a migraine. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility. Hydrus had had a rough start to term. Even over a week after Dueling Club the whispers hadn't gotten any worse but the divide between the students was definitely more prominent. Some took Dumbledore’s punishment as proof that Hydrus really was dangerous while others thought it wasn't fair and that Hydrus was just doing his best with what he was given. Remus knew the group that had started calling themselves the Knights had their own secret training sessions. He wouldn't blame them if they skipped the next Dueling Club meeting. 

Just before lunch Sirius said goodbye and Hydrus and Remus returned to the castle via the front gate. Hydrus wore the invisibility cloak so he wouldn't be seen by any students that may be outside. 

Hydrus decided he was going to take advantage of his excused absence and have a nap, feeling fatigued after the full moon. Remus on the other hand found Severus in the staff room and told him he felt well enough to handle afternoon classes. 

It was the best full moon he’d had yet. 

—

Hydrus hummed as he got ready for class the next morning. As much as he appreciated his friends letting him borrow their stuff he enjoyed the sweet flavor of his own strawberry toothpaste over Draco’s peppermint and was happy to have his own comb again. He joined Draco, Pansy, Daphne, Blaise and Theo for breakfast in their common room as usual. The house elves made delicious marmalade and the coffee was just what he needed to start the day. 

It wasn't until the start of Ancient Runes that he noticed something was wrong. His stomach cramped making him feel nauseous and his throat felt tight and tingly. Within minutes he was finding it hard to breathe. 

“Hyde?” Luna whispered, her eyes full of concern. 

“Lu. I ca— I can't breathe,” he gasped. The room spun as he slipped out of his chair and hit the floor. He could hear shouting and someone turned him on his back. 

“Get Madam Pomfrey!” Professor Babbling yelled. 

The matron seemed to materialize at his side but Hydrus thought he was probably delirious. He felt something cold get spelled into his stomach and his nausea went away but he still couldn’t breathe. Gentle magic washed over him and he could hear Madam Pomfrey talking as if she was at the end of a long tunnel.

“His throat is swollen,” she stated. There was another wave of warmth but this time it was concentrated on his throat. He felt it loosen and was able to draw his first full breath, coughing as his lungs burned from lack of oxygen.

“I’m taking him to the infirmary.”

Hydrus felt himself start floating and vaguely made out Luna’s white-blonde hair tucked against Blaise's chest as he held her back. He wanted to comfort her but his throat still felt raw and there was black encroaching on his vision. 

He must have passed out because when he woke he was laying in bed and Professor Snape was speaking to Madame Pomfrey. 

“I don’t know what caused it, Severus. The diagnostic spell said his throat was swollen but there was nothing in his system that could have caused it.”

“Strange, his friends didn’t report anything unusual happening this morning.”

“You said he had a migraine yesterday. Could that be related?”

“No, I ran my own diagnostic after dinner. His migraine was gone,” Severus lied. “Could it have been a poison?”

Madame Pomfrey remained silent for a moment.

“As hesitant as I am to accuse someone of trying to poison a student, the animosity toward Mr. Black can’t be ignored,” she admitted. “However, the diagnostic spell didn’t detect anything.”

Severus hummed thoughtfully as he turned toward his student to see him awake. 

“Mr. Black, how are you feeling?” he asked, drawing Madam Pomfrey's attention. The matron started fussing over him immediately.

“My throat still feels kinda tingly but otherwise I’m okay,” Hydrus replied, his voice sounding hoarse. Madam Pomfrey conjured some water in a glass and handed it to him. 

“Do you have any idea what may have caused this?” she asked.

“No idea,” Hydrus said. Professor Snape raised an eyebrow.

“Perhaps a light meal for Mr. Black,” he suggested to Madam Pomfrey. “Then I’m sure he’ll rest easier in his own room.”

Madam Pomfrey seemed to want to protest but relented. Severus was a competent healer himself so she trusted he would make sure Hydrus was well taken care of. She retreated to her office to call the house elves for some chicken soup. 

“Is it possible you ate something you weren’t supposed to while gallivanting around the forest?” Severus asked as soon as Madam Pomfrey was gone. 

Hydrus thought for a moment. He had caught a few animals but had given them to the Thestrals. He thought maybe the water from the lake was the issue but both Sirius and Remus had drunk that too and at least Remus wasn’t affected or he would be in the hospital wing as well.

“No. Nothing,” he replied. 

“Very well. It’s the middle of last period so once you eat I’ll escort you back to the dorms.”

Hydrus was shocked he had been out that long but grateful not to have to stay in the hospital wing and for the warm soup Madam Pomfrey handed him. It soothed his throat and by the time he was finished he felt like himself again. 

Classes had already been let out by the time they made their way toward the dungeon. The student’s watched them pass but the hateful stares were less noticeable with Professor Snape glaring at everyone and docking points whenever he found a reason. 

Severus left him outside the portrait hole with stern orders to get some rest. The common room was still mostly empty so he had no issue going directly to the third year dorms. Inside he was immediately accosted by his friends, all asking how he was feeling and if he was okay.

“I’m fine,” he assured them once they stopped fussing.

“Did Pomfrey say what caused it?” Daphne asked. Hydrus shook his head.

“We took notes for you,” Theo told him, handing him a stack of parchment along with his bag.

“And you should talk to Luna,” Blaise added. “She’s really worried.”

“I will,” Hydrus replied. “I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Everyone said good night as Hydrus walked past the sitting area toward the boy’s side of the dorm. As he stepped into the hallway he called out to Luna.

“ I’m okay. Back in the dorms now. ” 

Having an actual conversation rather than just sending feelings through their bond took a lot of energy but Hydrus didn’t care. Luna was what was important and he was going to bed anyway. He felt relief that was not his own wash over him.

“ Sorry I worried you, ” he replied and received a jolt of annoyance and worry back that made him chuckle.

“ I know, I know, I love you too, ” he teased. “ We’ll chat tomorrow, I'm going to— WHAT THE HELL?! ”

“ Hyde!? Are you okay? What’s happening? ” Luna’s panicked voice suddenly shouted in his head. On instinct Hydrus broadcasted what he was looking at.

His room was trashed. His trunk had been flipped and dumped out, his clothing torn and scattered. All his books were shredded and his potions kit was broken, various liquids and ingredients oozing onto the floor. Every single thing he owned was damaged in some way.

The image of his invisibility cloak and Ignotus’ journal was pushed to the forefront of his mind but he sent Luna back a feeling of comfort. They were safe in his bag.

The next feeling he got was disbelief and Hydrus was quick to agree. 

He wasn’t getting rest any time soon.

—

At the beginning of February Hydrus couldn’t tell if he was enjoying his second term at Hogwarts or not. 

There were good times of course. The Slytherin Quidditch team beat Hufflepuff thanks to a spectacular catch by Draco and Hydrus managed to get one of the Hippogriffs to bow, though he was pretty sure that was because Luna was standing next to him. The Prewett twins had celebrated Ginny’s birthday by turning all the floating candles in the great hall into garish birthday candles and Theo and Daphne managed to dye themselves pink when their experimental potion exploded. 

All in all Hydrus couldn’t say he hated everything about the first month back but he would be lying if he said he wasn’t becoming easily annoyed and concerningly short tempered. 

The aftermath of the break in had caused a number of little things to go wrong. The one ink bottle he thought had survived cracked and leaked in his bag, the copy of Unclouding Your Inner Eye he borrowed from the common room library was missing pages and he was back to using Draco’s gods damned peppermint toothpaste! 

None of the Slytherins had fessed up to trashing Hydrus’ room so he was forced to let it go but it still bothered him. He just wanted people to leave him alone and stop making his life harder but if the last two weeks was any indication that wasn't happening anytime soon. 

There had been another attempt at using the patronus charm while he was leaving Ancient Runes one day. Thankfully he hadn’t had Eurus with him but he had gotten an evening's detention with Professor Babbling for hexing the person who cast it. He suspected she had only punished him because she caught him red handed since she let him work on his personal project instead of writing lines.

Earlier in the week someone had tripped him on the moving staircase making him miss his stop and get stuck on the wrong landing. The Gryffindor upper year had yelled insults at him across the gap until Hydrus just flew over. Their stupid shocked face had made him feel better but he was still seething when he reached Defense. 

Divination was the worst. He was rethinking his plan to skive off that class like he had planned to before making friends with Lavender, Padma and Pavrati. It was the only class he had with both Justin Finch-Fletchley and his friends along with Weasley, Finnigan and Thomas. They would not lay off, making ridiculous predictions about Hydrus’ fate and throwing veiled insults at him. If they made the predictions gruesome enough even Professor Trelawnie would pile on, too ditzy to realize what they were doing. Hydrus was tempted to throw himself out the window. 

Now he was sitting in the library seriously trying to decide if he should drop out or not. On one hand he was studying with Neville. They had long ago shed the mask of Herbology and Defense tutoring, spending their time together doing homework instead, but that wasn’t what was setting Hydrus on edge. That honor belonged to Granger.

Hydrus honestly couldn’t read her. Sure, she was a naive know-it-all with a nasty competitive streak but he couldn’t tell if her intentions toward Neville were truly academic or if she was here because Dumbledore had told her to be. 

Granger had approached Neville the week before asking for help with Herbology. She had looked so exhausted when she sat at their library table that he had taken pity on her and Hydrus couldn’t blame him. She looked horrible.

Since then they had met a few times but she hadn’t tried to warn him away from Hydrus, play up Dumbledore or convince him to spend more time with Ron. She had even talked to Hydrus about their defense homework. They had argued of course, but eventually she admitted he was right once she found a book that confirmed Kappas will choose cucumbers over any other food if given the option. 

Hydrus knew Dumbledore considered her a pawn due to the Headmaster trying to get him to befriend her and Ron at the start of the year but he wasn’t so sure Granger was aware she was being used. Ultimately Hydrus decided he wasn’t in the right headspace to do anything about it yet. As long as she didn't hurt Neville he would tolerate her. 

Hydrus’ transfiguration essay was starting to give him a headache so he left Granger and Neville discussing some Gryffindor drama having to do with Granger’s half-kneazle and Ronald's rat, and wandered toward the back of the library. He walked past the restricted section and toward a corner he had never been in before. Alongside the books were boxes with labels attached by little metal brackets. He took a look at the closest one and read Arithmancy Essays 1754-1766 .

“Hydrus?”

Hydrus jumped and looked up to see Remus carrying a box to a nearby table. There was another box already on top along with a few open books and a roll of parchment covered in notes, scribbled quickly and crossed out in places. 

“Uncle Moony? Sorry, I didn't know anyone was back here.”

“That’s alright. Very few people actually come back to the archives.”

“The archives?” Hydrus said. “I guess that explains the box of eighteenth century Arithmancy essays.”

“What essays?” Remus asked.

“These essays. Right h—” 

Hydrus looked back at the box but now the label read Hogsmeade Permission Slips 1899- 1913 . 

“But— I could swear that just said—?” Hydrus stuttered causing Remus to laugh.

“The archives shift. It knows what you're looking for but has a funny way of showing it to you.”

Now that Hydrus thought about it, the next Hogsmeade trip had been on his mind. It was on Valentine's Day and he’d heard horror stories from Sirius about the awkwardness that could be witnessed at the Three Broomsticks or, gods forbid, Madam Puddifoots. So far only Theo and Daphne had plans and maybe Draco and Pansy just to get Bulstrode to stop flirting with him. Maybe the rest would appreciate it if he reserved a table at the pub for lunch? He was sure at least Fred and George would enjoy watching a few dates go horribly wrong. 

“What are you looking for?” Hydrus asked, sitting down next to Remus and peeking at the box that had already been on the table. It was labeled Library Punch Cards DA75.6-DA83.2 1937- 1944 .

“I’m looking for any mention of Tom Riddle,” Remus replied. Hydrus’ head snapped up.

“Voldemort? Why?”

“Most lost documents end up here,” Remus explained. “We’re hoping he left something that can tell us more about his Horcruxes like where he hid them or what he used to make them.”

“And you really think the answer is in here?” Hydrus asked, gesturing to the box of punch cards.

“Yes actually. That box had a card signed by Tom Riddle for a book called Secrets of the Darkest Art . According to Madam Pince it was removed from the library when Dumbledore became Headmaster. Regulus found a copy and discovered that it briefly mentions Horcruxes but doesn’t tell you how to make them. It was likely where he first heard the term.”

Hydrus stared at the punch card box as Remus opened the new box he had collected. 

“How many boxes did you have to go through before you found that?” he asked.

“Oh, dozens. Eventually the archive will relinquish what you're looking for but it’s not always exactly what you need. I was getting a lot of essays on soul magic and news clippings about Riddle as a student before I found the punch cards.”

Remus was already going through the papers in the new box. They looked like applications. Checking the label revealed that it was full of job applications from 1940 to present.

The sound of shifting paper stopped. Remus was holding a bunch of yellowing parchment bound together by a rusting paper clip. 

“Huh. What do you know,” Remus mused. Hydrus leaned over to look at what his uncle was holding. In one hand was a letter dated 1978 and in the other was a resume with Tom M. Riddle written at the top. 

“He applied for a job at Hogwarts?” Hydrus exclaimed.

“Looks like it,” Remus replied. “The Defense Against the Dark Arts post. Obviously he didn’t get it.”

“Obviously,” Hydrus scoffed. “Dumbledore was Headmaster by then. Though I wish he had hired him, maybe the DADA curse would have—” Hydrus trailed off, pieces clicking into place. “Uncle Moony, when did the curse on the defense position start?”

Remus’ looked at him in confusion before his eyes widened. He waved for Hydrus to follow him as he leapt to his feet and hurried deeper into the archives. He found himself in front of a shelf covered in identical black leather books with years printed on the spines in gold. Remus grabbed the one labeled 1974-1975. It was full of photos of past students. Remus skipped to the back pages where the staff photos were. After the Alchemy, Ancient Runes and Astrology professors was the Defense professor, a woman named Victory Lancaster.

“Find the 1975 to 1976 class,” Remus ordered. 

Hydrus looked around for it and discovered the books weren’t in order. He eventually located it on the bottom shelf. The Defense professor was still listed as Victory Lancaster. The same held true for the graduating class of 1977 and 1978 where her photo was accompanied by a good-bye message announcing her retirement. In the 1978- 1979 yearbook the position was held by a strict looking man named John Quentin only to be replaced by Langdon Valahova in 1980 followed by Anna-Lee Yates in 1981. Every year after Tom Riddle applied to the Defense Against the Dark Arts post no professor had returned to teach the following term. 

“You-Know-Who cursed the position,” Remus said, finally voicing what they were both thinking.

“How do you think he did it?” Hydrus asked. The DADA curse was well known but he didn’t actually know how you could curse something that wasn't a physical object. A teaching position wasn’t exactly a vase or a piece of jewelry you could cast a spell on.

“It’s probably a cursed object targeting the defense professor,” Remus replied. “But the Defense classroom, office and professor’s living quarters have all been searched countless times. They’ve even been changed at least twice in the last ten years.”

“What if the curse was over the whole school?” Hydrus pointed out.

“If it was over the whole school then it wouldn’t matter where you put the classroom,” Remus admitted. “But it would have to be very powerful magic to affect such a large area.”

“You mean like a Horcrux containing a piece of soul from the most powerful dark wizard in a generation?” Hydrus asked. Remus paled. 

“I have to talk to Severus,” he said.  He shoved the still open 1991-1992 yearbook back on the shelf and rushed out of the library.

Hydrus studied the photo of Quirinus Quirrell. His friends had told him that the turbaned man was found dead at the edge of the forbidden forest with no apparent cause. 

He hoped they figured out a way to break the curse before Remus became its next victim. 

—

Luna climbed the stairs up to the Astronomy Tower. As she stepped onto the parapet she picked Hydrus’ invisibility cloak up off the ground and sat on one of the benches, draping it over her lap. She watched her brother glide overhead, circling above the tower with his eyes trained on the twinkling stars in the vast, night sky. 

Luna knew Hydrus was having a hard time. He was proud of his abilities and the legacy their Father had entrusted to him. It was difficult to listen to bigoted, small minded people spit on the very thing that made Hydrus who he was. 

She was glad for their friends, not only for Hydrus, but for herself too. Luna hadn’t realized how much she needed a friend until she had them. Between her isolated upbringing and her tentative grip on reality she found it difficult to relate to people. Sometimes she had found herself trying to fit in but hiding her true self was as abhorrent to her as it was to Hydrus. Thankfully, she hadn’t felt the need to hide this year and she was happier for it. 

Luna started plucking on the twin bond. The link was like a harp string and she had long ago learned how to play upon it. She chose a slow song she usually played when it was raining out. Pleiades House wasn’t too far from the North Sea so if it was raining at home it was safe to assume it was raining on Azkaban. Luna always did what she could to make those storms feel more bearable for Hydrus. 

Hydrus noticed her quickly but took his time drifting down, enjoying the music resonating through his soul.

“Hey Lu, what are you doing up?” her brother asked as he landed. 

“Couldn’t sleep. The universe is being secretive again.”

Hydrus nodded. There was nothing Luna hated more than when she knew something was going to happen but didn’t know what.

“How did you even get up here?” he wondered, sitting beside her and laying his head on her shoulder with a sigh.

“The castle and I are good friends,” Luna replied. It was true. Hogwarts often joined her in her wanderings, guiding her away from patrols and toward interesting corners and alcoves. 

Luna lay her head on top of Hydrus’, feeling the softness of his hair on her cheek. They sat in comfortable silence for what felt like hours. Time didn’t matter when they could count the seconds by the beating of their hearts through their clasped hands and the cold didn’t bother them when they could feel each other's magic so closely. Nothing felt real but the other half of their soul pressed so close they were almost one again. 

“What’s bothering you Lu?” Hydrus finally asked, his voice barely louder than a breath. 

“The Rosier Grimoire,” she confessed in an equally soft voice. “I found the ritual for looking into the past but I don’t recognize one of the ingredients.” 

Hydrus raised his head to look at her, not needing to ask her to continue. He would listen to anything she said. 

“It's a potion. The Vapors of Pythia.”

“Named after the smoke the Oracle at Delphi would breathe in to enter a prophetic trance,” Hydrus recalled.

“Exactly, but the grimoire doesn’t say how to brew it and I can’t find it in any text. Neither can Uncle Sev.”

“Pythia was named after Pythos,” Hydrus continued as if he hadn’t heard Luna but she knew that wasn’t true. “He was a great snake that dwelled at the center of Delphi. Some stories say Apollo killed him to build his shrine but others think the smoke used by the oracle was Pythos’ breath.”

Luna nodded, waiting for him to come to the same conclusion she had. 

“You already know where the recipe is,” Hydrus stated.

“Yes,” she confirmed. “There is a family of potioneers with a history of communing with snakes. It is in their book.”

“The Potter Grimoire,” Hydrus said.

“The Potter Grimoire,” Luna echoed

Her brother squeezed her hand, a manic smile splitting his face.

“Hogwarts heist?” he asked.

“Hogwarts heist,” she agreed, her smile no less manic.

Chapter Text

Sirius sat at the bar in the Leaky Cauldron waiting for his appointment. It was the middle of the work day so there weren't many customers, mostly down on their luck people finding comfort in a stiff drink. 

The floo flared and a slim woman wearing navy robes accented with silver stepped out. Her eyes were a striking grey-blue and her hair was blonde, pulled back in an elegant twisted bun. Sirius idly thought that as much as Draco looked like a mini Lucius, he hadn't really had a choice when it came to the hair. 

“Cissa!” Sirius shouted, sliding off his stool and waving to her. 

Narcissa Malfoy turned to him with a cold expression. She looked one second away from turning her nose up at him, the dingy pub or the shabby clientele. Maybe all three. 

“Lord Black. Well met. It's lovely to see you again,” she greeted, holding her hand out delicately.

Sirius felt momentarily hurt by her formal introduction but took it in stride. He hadn't had Auggy and Dolphus reteach him all the pureblood customs he had willfully forgotten for nothing. 

“Lady Malfoy. Well met. Always a pleasure,” he replied, taking his cousin's hand and lightly kissing her knuckles. “Please follow me. We’ve booked a private dining room for lunch.” 

Sirius led Narcissa to one of the small rooms usually used for business meetings. He held the door open for her and she stepped past, stopping dead at the sight of Regulus. As soon as the door clicked shut the mask shattered. 

“Reggy!” Narcissa squealed, all pretense of a proper lady forgotten as she flung herself at Regulus. “Oh I missed you! When Lucius told me you appeared at the Wizengamot I just about keeled over!”

Regulus smiled and wrapped his arms around her.

“It's good to be back,” he said. “I'm sorry we didn't tell you I was alive but it was safer that way.”

Narcissa pulled away from Regulus and turned on Sirius. 

“You knew he was alive!?” she cried. Sirius rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. 

“He was only missing for a couple months for me. He stayed at Grimmauld Place before finding somewhere safe to hole up. That was just before I got chucked in Azkaban.”

“Azkaban,” Narcissa echoed breathlessly, her earlier irritation turning to concern. “That must have been awful.”

“It wasn't so bad,” Sirius said, pulling out a chair and inviting Narcissa to sit. “The dementors don't affect you much if you're not guilty and I had Hydrus with me.”

They all settled around the table. There was already tea and a small selection of pastries set out alongside the menus for lunch.

“Ah yes. Hydrus. Your mysterious Heir,” Narcissa drawled, trying to come off as teasing but her curiosity was palpable. “Draco has written home about him. He seems like a very well adjusted kid given his upbringing.”

“He’s full of surprises,” Sirius chuckled. 

“And you really don’t know who his mother is?” Narcissa questioned. “It didn’t show up on the inheritance test?”

“It did actually, but she passed away not long after leaving Hydrus on my doorstep and I don’t want to burden her family.”

If anyone went looking and somehow managed to get past all the security checkpoints the goblins put in place they would find that Hydrus’ mother was Roshni Sharma. She was the only cousin from James’ mother’s side Sirius had met. She was a kindhearted girl but suffered from the effects of a malicious curse that caused her to slowly waste away. 

She was the perfect cover. Not only was Roshni actually related to Hydrus but she had come to see specialists at St. Mungo’s around the same time Lily fell pregnant. She’d traveled in secret, only telling James so he could help her navigate the Ministry bureaucracy. She passed away not long after James and Lily, making it plausible that she had given birth to Hydrus and left him with his father knowing she didn’t have long to live.

“I’m sorry,” Narcissa said softly. “For you and Hydrus both.”

“Thanks Cissa,” Sirius replied. “We’ve made our peace with it and Bella did what she could to give Hydrus a taste of what having a mother is like.”

Narcissa nearly dropped her scone. 

“Bella helped raise Hydrus?” she exclaimed, eyes wide and disbelieving.

“Yeah,” Sirius confirmed, amused by her shock.  “She and Dolphus would have taken him from me if they had the chance. She loves that boy.”

“And she's okay? I mean, as okay as she can be?” Narcissa asked, her voice bordering on begging.

“She’s still batshit crazy but she’s okay. I think Hydrus helped mellow her out a bit. You know how much she wanted kids.”

Bella had been devastated when she learned she was incapable of conceiving. If any of them had to pinpoint the exact moment the Black Madness started overtaking her it was when a healer finally plucked up the courage to tell her and Rodolphus that their five years of trying for a child was for naught.  

“Have you spoken to Andy recently?” Regulus asked when the silence had dragged on too long. Narcissa shook her head sadly.

“She doesn’t want to see me,” she replied, sounding so sure that neither brother dared refute it. 

Andromeda’s disinheritance had been public and brutal and only got worse when she had Nymphadora. The vitriol spewed about a literal baby was disgusting but when she started showing signs of a metamorphmagus ability there was talk of stealing her away to be raised by the ‘proper people’. Andy swore death on anyone who dared try and they knew she wasn’t bluffing. She was a healer in the Infectious Diseases Ward and had plenty of access to fatal illnesses.

“What about you Regulus?” Narcissa said, changing the subject. “You have a goddaughter now.”

“I do,” Regulus replied proudly. “Luna. We’re still getting to know each other but she’s very sweet and so smart.”

Narcissa smiled at his obvious love for the girl before her face fell.

“I’m sorry for what Lucius said,” she apologized. “I don’t think he ever got over his brother getting disowned.”

They all knew that was a lie. Lucius had been ecstatic when his disappointment of an older brother was kicked out making Lucius Heir Malfoy. The two had not had a good relationship so it wasn’t surprising he had an issue with anything having to do with Xenophilius or Pandora who Lucius saw as a tramp. The House of Rosier’s only daughter had been one of Lucius’ options for a betrothal contract and the fact that she chose Xeno instead had enraged him. 

Sirius, Regulus and Narcissa continued chatting about their kids, childhood memories, Narcissa’s charitable work, Sirius’ adjustment to the outside world and whatever Regulus was researching which was a bit of everything. In between topics they ordered lunch and rounded off the meal with tea and coffee before Narcissa finally brought up what Sirius and Regulus had really called her here about.  

“So,” she started. “You spent twelve years raising your son with Death Eaters.” she tipped her cup to Sirius. “But you somehow got your mark removed.” Her eyes flicked to Regulus’ covered arm. “It makes it hard to judge what your… position may be nowadays.”

Sirius and Regulus glanced at each other as Narcissa sipped her tea, not taking her eyes off her cousins.

“I think where we moved our seats speaks for itself,” Sirius stated.

“Spoken like a true politician. I’m impressed, Siri,” Narcissa laughed. “But you're going to have to do better than that. There is no Grey Lord and it's not in either of you to remain neutral.”

“Who says we need a Lord?” Regulus asked. “We believe that wizarding Britain is capable of governing themselves if given the chance.”

Narcissa snorted in a very unlady-like fashion.

“If we let them govern themselves we will lose our culture. Everywhere I look I see more and more Muggle influence. The old ways are dying before our eyes.”

“That's because Dumbledore is currently pulling the strings,” Sirius pointed out. “But if we united all three Factions and worked together we could come up with a compromise, a way for everyone to practice how Mother Magic intended.”

“And you have a plan to do this?”

“We do, but secrecy is paramount. We’re not ready to show our hand yet,” Regulus explained.

Narcissa sipped her coffee again and the brothers stayed silent. Draco had asked them to assess whether his mother would be open to joining their campaign against both Dumbledore and Voldemort. They were really hoping to have good news for him. 

“I cannot help you,” Narcissa finally decided, placing her empty cup on the table. “Lucius would never abandon the cause.”

“Forget about Lucius,” Sirius said, trying to make his cousin see reason. “What do you want?”

“It doesn’t matter what I want. I am Lady Malfoy, I will support my husband.”

Narcissa reached for the teapot as she spoke, not looking either brother in the eye. The action caused the flared sleeve of her robe to pull back and Regulus noticed something underneath. He placed his hand over Narcissa’s and gently pulled her arm toward him, rolling back her sleeve to reveal a deep purple bruise around her wrist. It was in the shape of a handprint.

“Cissa…” Regulus gasped. She snatched her arm away and quickly hid the injury again. 

“It’s nothing,” she said.

“It’s not nothing!” Sirius snapped. “How often does he hurt you?”

“I said it’s nothing!” 

“Does Draco know?” Regulus asked calmly. Narcissa turned to him with a look that said she wanted to rip his tongue out for even daring to ask that.

“No. He doesn’t know,” she replied firmly.

“He does,” Sirius told her, more sure than he had ever been in his life. “You think he doesn’t but he does.”

Orion had thought Sirius didn’t know. He thought his son didn’t see the slight shimmer of a glamor on his cheek or the scratches hidden under his stiff collar. He thought distancing himself would hide it so he buried himself in work and left his sons at the mercy of a woman who had no qualms laying hands on her own husband. He avoided and pretended, put up silencing wards and applied bruise paste, but Sirius had known, and so did Draco.

“I think we’re done here,” Narcissa stated as she stood and smoothed down her robes, the disinterested pureblood mask already back in place. “Lord Black, Mister Black. Good day to you.”

“Cissa!” Regulus called but she was already out the door. 

The brothers sat in stunned silence, staring at where their cousin had just been. Sirius was livid. He could still see the bruise on Narcissa’s pale skin like it was burned onto his retina. 

“Tell me not to go hunting the bastard down,” Sirius requested, digging his nails into the wooden table top until he thought they would break.

“Why should I? I’ll come with you,” Regulus replied. Sirius glanced at his little brother. Something in his eyes told Sirius that maybe Regulus had known too. 

The pair were still feeling vengeful when they flooed back to Grimmauld Place. As they stepped into the parlor they were greeted by a loud crack announcing the arrival of Kreacher. He was holding a square mirror with a simple wooden frame. 

“Little Master and Mistress be asking for Lord Black and Master Regulus,” he said, holding the mirror out to them. “They is wanting to commit crimes”

“ Kreacher! No! How could you betray us like this? ” Hydrus’ voice cried dramatically from out of the mirror.

“Yous not be telling Kreacher nots to tell,” the sly elf replied, popping away once Sirius took the mirror from him. 

“What crimes are you committing?” he asked, sitting on the couch beside Regulus so they would both be visible. Hydrus and Luna were in a room that looked nothing like anything either brother had come across at Hogwarts. They figured it was probably the Room of Requirement. Sirius couldn’t wait until he had a chance to see it for himself. 

“ We want to break into Dumbledore’s office, ” Luna said. 

Sirius and Regulus gaped at them, utterly speechless. 

“And why do you want to do that?” Regulus finally asked. 

“ I found the ritual maman told us about ,” Luna replied. “ It requires a potion we don't recognize. We think it’s in the Potter Grimoire .”

“Which is hidden somewhere in Dumbledore's office,” Sirius finished. 

“ Exactly ,” Hydrus confirmed. “ It will be easy enough to shadow travel inside but we need advice on how to make sure Dumbledore stays away while we’re searching .” 

After Yule Hydrus had been curious about Theo’s theory that he could shadow travel while in human form. It had taken a few tries but Hydrus had managed it and soon he was jumping around the castle testing his limits. The more times he jumped and the farther he traveled the more draining it was and he still couldn’t take others with him. As the Daughter of Lord Death, Luna was the exception. Everyone else recoiled from the Veil, their instincts telling them that just touching it would be fatal.  

“I have plenty of pranks that are big enough to require the Headmaster's presence,” Sirius admitted. “Fred and George could help you set one up.”

“ That would work ,” Hydrus agreed. 

“Hold on a minute,” Regulus interrupted. “Dumbledore isn't who you should be worried about. The portraits will sound the alarm as soon as they see anything suspicious.”

“ Then we’ll use the invisibility cloak ,” Hydrus said. 

“But that won't keep them from seeing if you move or open something,” Regulus pointed out. 

Hydrus pouted while Luna looked thoughtful. Their Hogwarts heist was proving more difficult than they expected. 

“Wait a minute,” Sirius suddenly cried, his face lighting up with mischievous glee. “The portraits! That's it!” 

Luna and Hydrus’ view suddenly blurred as Sirius jumped to his feet and bound up the stairs to the fourth floor. When the image stabilized Sirius was standing in an office with a large desk, a small sitting area and bookshelves lining the walls. 

“What are you doing Siri?” Regulus asked, rushing into the room behind him. 

“I'm looking for— Ah-ha!” 

Sirius propped the mirror on one of the shelves so the twins could watch him pull a sheet off a painting above the fireplace. It appeared to only be a backdrop consisting of black and green curtains. 

“Phineas!” Sirius called. “Phineas Black!”

Suddenly, a man walked into the painting. He had dark hair streaked with grey and a black goatee. His robes were emerald green with the Hogwarts, Slytherin and Black crests stitched on the front. He sneered at Sirius. 

“What do you want, boy?” he demanded. 

“Hello Uncle Phineas. I don't know if you remember me but—”

“You're that troublesome Gryffindor Black,” Phineas interrupted. “I saw you in the Headmaster’s office plenty of times.”

“I'm also Lord Black,” Sirius said, showing him the lordship ring. The former Headmaster looked scandalized. 

“Your Lord Black?! Dear Merlin, what is this family coming to?”

“I wanted to introduce you to a couple people,” Sirius said, ignoring his ancestor’s dramatics. He picked up the mirror and held it toward the painting. “These are your great great— well, many times over great niece and nephew, Hydrus and Cassandra Black.” 

Luna and Hydrus waved and Phineas studied them closely, as if assessing them. His eyes narrowed. 

“I know you. You’ve been giving old Dumbles a right spot of trouble.”

“ Yes sir ,” Hydrus replied, correctly assuming his uncle was talking to him. “ We need your help .”

“And what, pray tell, can I help you with?”

“ We need to break into the Headmaster’s office ,” Luna replied, realizing what Sirius' plan was. “ He stole something from Hydrus and we need it back .”

“What did he steal?”

The twins hesitated. Admitting it was the Potter Grimoire would reveal who Hydrus was. 

“Hydrus and Cassandra are adopted,” Regulus spoke up. “Dumbledore stole the grimoire belonging to Hydrus’ birth family.”

“The old coot did what!?” Phineas roared. He looked ready to march back to his portrait at Hogwarts and give Dumbledore a piece of his mind. 

“ We need you to help us get it back ,” Luna repeated quickly, before he could do anything rash. 

Phineas took a moment to compose himself, readjusting his robes so they were artfully arranged like they had been when his portrait was painted. When he was done he looked back at his descendants. 

“What do you need me to do?”

“Tell us when all the other portraits are asleep,” Sirius said. “Luna and Hydrus have a way in but they need time to search.”

“I can do that,” Phineas agreed. “When do you want to break in?”

“ Tonight if that's okay ,” Hydrus said.

“Kid, I haven't had this much excitement since someone mailed a dung bomb to Dippit. Stay on that clever mirror of yours, I'll come back when everyone else is asleep.”

With that, Phineas Black walked out of frame. Sirius turned the mirror back to himself. 

“Go to dinner,” he ordered. “Keep the mirror on you. We’ll stay here.”

The twins said their goodbyes and the mirror shimmered, their faces distorting and disappearing. 

Regulus and Sirius sat on their father's old couch and waited. 

—

Just after curfew Hydrus snuck up to the seventh floor. He came across a couple patrolling prefects and Mr. Filch but he was wearing the cloak and they didn't notice him. When he reached the Room of Requirement Luna was skipping down the hall from the opposite direction without a care in the world. 

“Good evening Hydrus,” she chirped, somehow knowing exactly where he was. He hoped she could see him roll his eyes at her. 

“Let's get inside,” he said. He paced in front of the blank wall three times, focusing on the shadows and darkness he needed in order to slip behind the veil. When he opened the simple door that appeared he and Luna found themselves plunged into a pitch black abyss. 

“I may have overdone it,” Hydrus muttered, feeling around with his foot in case the room had conjured something they could trip on. 

Suddenly, a white light bloomed behind him. He turned to see Luna surrounded by small floating lights but closer inspection revealed them to be tiny people with spiky hair that reminded him of dandelion fluff. 

Hydrus thought it was fitting that Luna’s Patronus took the form of a swarm of Sprites, the smallest of the fairy folk. She often spoke about playing with them in the garden as a kid, chasing them through fields and over streams. Sprites had been the ones to lead her through the forest and into the path of the Elf that eventually took her under his wing. The tiny creatures were very special to her, her precious nargles.

There was a chime like someone flicking the edge of a wine glass indicating their dads were trying to reach them on the mirror. Luna stepped closer, the sprites following to swirl around both of them as Hydrus answered the call. 

“ Phineas says it’s go time ,” Sirius informed them. If he was surprised by the twins standing in the dark illuminated by eerie white light he didn’t show it. 

“Thanks dad, we’ll call you when we’re done,” Hydrus replied and cut the connection. 

Luna’s hand slipped into his as her patronus faded away, leaving them completely blind. Hydrus dug his magic into the fabric of reality and pulled until a rip appeared in the air before them. It was the color of the horizon when it wasn’t quite night but not quite day, a soft grey like the feathers of a mourning dove or the lichen on an old tombstone. Hydrus led Luna through. 

Everyone saw something different on the other side of the Veil. It was a personalized Limbo where you waited to move on to the Beyond. It could be a childhood home, a vacation destination you never forgot or the place you proposed to the love of your life. 

Hydrus saw Azkaban in white. Normally he was at the top of High Tower feeling like the world was inverted. The sky was as vast and smooth as a field of freshly fallen snow and the stones beneath his feet were blocks of marble with grey and white swirls that reminded him of clouds. The elm tree in the middle shone like a frozen lightning bolt, like the scar across his face. 

This time was different. Hydrus found himself at the foot of High Tower beside a large standing stone carved with runes. He could see other stones surrounding the building and various plants clinging to the masonry as if trying to claim it for themselves. There were scores of white flowers, trees with bleached bark and pale roots digging into cracks, grape vines like exsanguinated veins snaking up the sides and blankets of ivy that were as white and soft looking as fresh, clean wool. 

This was Hydrus and Luna’s Limbo, combined together. The High Tower of Azkaban Island meets the Fae Forest by Pleiades House. 

Luna squeezed his hand, her eyes shining like sapphires as she stared in awe at the surreal scene before them. Hydrus squeezed her hand back and gently guided her past the standing stone and through another tear. 

It was jarring stepping into the dim office after the purity of Limbo. They had to blink a few times before they could see properly again. 

True to their great uncle’s word, all the portraits were asleep. Only Phineas himself was awake. He looked startled by their sudden appearance but kept quiet. 

“ Start looking, we shouldn't stay long ,” Hydrus said over their bond. 

They split up and started browsing the shelves and opening cabinets as quietly as they could. After several minutes they still hadn't found anything. 

Hydrus approached the Headmaster’s desk, probing at it with his magic to make sure he didn't accidentally set off any protective charms. As he reached for the top drawer a soft coo made him jump. He whirled around and came face to face with Fawkes. He must have sent panic to Luna because she was by his side in a heartbeat, speaking to the firey red bird in High Silvan. Hydrus could only understand what was being said because it was Luna speaking. 

“ Greetings, Undying Flame. We come seeking that which has been stolen. Can you assist us? ”

Fawkes studied them for a long moment, head tilting as he thought over Luna’s request.  Finally, he spread his wings and flew across the room, landing on the mantle of the fireplace. Luna and Hydrus hurried after him and followed Fawkes’ gaze to a blank expanse of wall tucked away where even most of the portraits couldn't see. The Phoenix let out a mournful cry and the paneling popped open. 

Hydrus dug his fingers into the crack and pulled. Inside were about a dozen holes carved into the wall. Each had the familiar shimmer of a ward over their entrances but Hydrus’ eyes were drawn to a cubby containing a single book and a flat package wrapped in parchment and twine. 

Luna pushed past him and plucked her wand out from behind her ear. It was made of honey colored wood and shaped like a tulip that hadn't quite bloomed. The stem made up most of its length with the closed petals acting as the handle. She pointed it at the ward and placed her other hand on the surface, feeling and untangling its magic. It took her a few minutes but eventually the shimmer vanished. 

Luna stepped aside and let Hydrus reach in to take back his family's Grimoire. As his fingers brushed the book’s cover his eyes caught on the package. There was writing on the front in block letters. 

Albus,

I am letting you borrow this with the expectation it will be returned by the end of the school year. 

-James

Hydrus stood frozen for a moment. By rights he should be furious that Dumbledore had something else that belonged to him but in his heart he knew the package was empty. Its contents was currently stuffed in his pocket. 

A jolt of urgency came through the twin bond and Hydrus became aware of one of the portraits shifting in their sleep. He snatched the grimoire from its hiding place and allowed Luna to switch it for a transfigured textbook before replacing the ward. When she was done Hydrus tucked their prize safely under his arm, reaching for Luna with his free hand. 

They both directed a hasty bow toward Fawkes who returned the gesture, cooing a fair well as the twins slipped behind the Veil once again. 

—

Hydrus strolled down the drive with Blaise, Neville, Fred, George, Ginny and Luna at his side. It was Valentine's Day and the first Hogsmeade trip of the new year. 

Daphne and Theo were off on a date. The pair had been courting since first year and were due for an official betrothal during the summer. You had to be at least thirteen before you could be bound to a betrothal contract but most wix waited until sixteen or seventeen. Daphne and Theo hadn't wanted to wait. They had been friends since they could walk and we're confident in their feelings for each other. 

Draco and Pansy had also gone ahead. They planned to be seen taking a romantic stroll through the snowy village before meeting them for lunch. Bulstrode had been particularly annoying throughout the week and they hoped tricking her into thinking Draco and Pansy were together would make her stop. Pansy had joked about visiting Madam Puddifoots to really sell it but judging by the grimace Draco had made at the suggestion he wouldn't be caught dead in the garish cafe. 

As they approached Main Street Hydrus listened to his friends chattering around him. Luna was telling Ginny that the Hufflepuff Quidditch team was full of wrackspurts, declaring that Gryffindor would have no trouble beating them in next week's game. Blaise and Neville were rehashing the training they’d done the weekend before  with Blaise praising the herbologist on his progress using his offhand. Fred and George were still crowing about their latest prank. 

About a dozen students had been hit simultaneously by a Hair Growth Hex which caused their eyebrows, nose and ear hair to rapidly lengthen. No one could figure out how the twins had managed to target specific people but theories abound. Some even whispered that they had dabbled in blood magic. In reality Fred and George had used their time travel ability to create multiple versions of themselves, sending them each to a different target under the invisibility cloak. The hospital wing had been overrun with nearly the entire Slytherin Quidditch team, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ron, Finnegan, Thomas, the Hufflepuff that had almost killed Eurus, Cho Chang and Merrietta Edgecomb. McGonagall had been furious but Fred and George were in Potions that period so they couldn't have possibly done it. 

Since Hydrus and Luna hadn't been to Hogsmeade yet their friends took them on a tour of the village. They visited Zonko’s Joke Shop, waded through the crowd at Honeydukes and browsed the small selection of used books at Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop. Eventually, they came across Draco and Pansy outside The Witch’s Brew, a cozy cafe off the main thoroughfare. It had exposed wooden beams and was painted in deep purples with touches of forest green scattered about. The cafe had opted for more understated Valentine's day decor as opposed to the pink and lace explosion that was Madam Puddifoot’s. Fred, George and Blaise spotted Daphne and Theo through the window. They made faces at Theo until flipped them off while Daphne was busy talking to the waitress. 

It had begun to snow around eleven so the group went to the Three Broomsticks early. Hydrus was glad he had booked a table ahead of time. The pub was packed, trays of food and drink floating all over the place while Madam Rosemerta manned the bar. They pushed their way to the back where there was a large table with a ‘reserved’ sign on it. The table had a lacy doily in the middle for Valentines day with a pink bowl containing complimentary candy and chocolate covered strawberries. 

Draco volunteered to pay for their first round and went to the bar for butterbeer. They drank and snacked on the candy and strawberries while Fred and George started commentating on a few of the more awkward dates they had spotted in the crowd. It was amusing listening to them treat a rejected handhold like a missed goal in Quidditch. 

They ordered another round of butterbeer with their lunch. Hydrus chose shepherd's pie while Luna got a warm bowl of chicken and dumplings but most of their friends had settled for classic fish and chips or hot sandwiches. 

The snow was really starting to come down by the time they were finished so they decided to just hang out at the Three Broomsticks for the rest of the afternoon. Blaise managed to sweet talk a glass of Ogden’s Fire Whiskey from Rosemerta which they passed around, laughing when those who had never had any before made disgusted faces. 

Hydrus thought it was the liquor at first, the residual burn in his throat and the mild twisting of his stomach. Then it got worse. He felt like he was going to be sick and it was becoming hard to breathe. 

His head spun and he gasped for air as he clutched at Draco’s arm. Neville was sputtering over a sip of whiskey so the blonde was still laughing when he looked over, assuming Hydrus had grabbed him while in the throes of his own amusement. The sight of his cousin’s pale face and wide eyes, his breath coming out as pained wheezes, made him sober instantly.

“Hydrus? What the—? Hydrus!”

Hydrus slumped over, only Draco’s arms keeping him from falling to the ground. 

“Bloody hell!” he heard Blaise shout, a chair scraping across the floor as someone jumped to their feet. “Pansy! It’s the same thing that happened in Runes!”

“Put him on the ground!” Pansy ordered. A pair of arms lowered him and Hydrus could just make out Pansy’s soft pink sweater as she knelt beside him. 

“ Inflanox! ”

The swelling in Hydrus’ throat instantly went down and he sucked in a full breath before quickly turning over, pushing Pansy out of the way as he vomited across the floor. He groaned and returned to lying on his back. His head was throbbing and he threw his arm over his eyes to block out the light.

“Pans?” he said hoarsely.

“Yeah Hyde?”

He peaked out from under his arm to see her sitting back on her heels. She was pale, her wand trembling slightly where it was still clutched in her hand.

“Thank you.”

She smiled and seemed to sag in relief.

“I’m just glad it worked. Madam Pomfrey told me the spell but I had never used it before.”

“It was better this time,” he told her. “Probably because you were so fast.” He grimaced at the taste of sick in his mouth. “Though maybe I should carry an Anti-Nausea Potion,” he said.

“Do you think it will happen again?” Draco asked. Hydrus realized all his friends were standing around him and that most of the pub had noticed the commotion. People were straining their necks to try and get a peak, whispering and chattering amongst themselves. Hydrus decided he didn't have the energy to be embarrassed and ignored them.

“I hope not,” Hydrus admitted. “But that’s twice now and we have no idea what’s causing it.”

Footsteps could be heard hurrying toward them. Professor Burbage and Professor Sprout appeared out of the crowd followed by Fred and George. 

“Oh dear!” the herbology professor cried. “What happened?”

As Blaise and Draco explained, Hydrus looked around for Luna. There was an uncomfortable tension in their bond that was making his headache worse and he needed to know she was okay. 

He found her, Ginny and Neville nearby. Neville looked sick with worry but Luna looked on the verge of hysterics. Ginny was holding the Ravenclaw against her chest with an arm around her shoulders but when Luna’s eyes met Hydrus’ she threw Ginny’s arm off and hurried to kneel beside him, grabbing his hand. Suddenly, there was worry, fear, relief, confusion and a collage of other emotions zipping across the bond. It was definitely overwhelming but his head wasn’t throbbing as bad any more.

“Hey Lu. I’m okay,” he whispered, feeling tired.

“What is happening Hyde?” she asked, also whispering. “I felt it. Both times. Whatever is causing this is fatal.”

“I don’t know but we’ll take precautions from now on,” he promised. “Just remember, I can't die if you live. We’ll be okay.”

Luna gave him a small smile but his assurances didn't really make her feel any better. They may be functionally immortal but the thought of her brother dying, even temporarily, was horrifying. She squeezed his hand, letting their bond mellow out into just relief and amusement. Hydrus frowned, pulling her hand higher so she could feel his heart against her fingers.

“Can you promise me something, Lu?” he asked.

“Anything,” she said. 

“Don’t suppress the bond again,” Hydrus requested. “I know you were trying to make it easier on me but not being able to feel you is… painful.”

Luna nodded readily.

“I didn’t like it either,” she admitted.

Their conversation was interrupted by Professor Burbage asking him if he thought he could walk. Hydrus nodded and allowed Luna to help him to his feet. Someone else moved to his other side, an arm wrapping around his waist when he stumbled. Hydrus glanced over to see Neville. The brunette still looked worried but determined to help. Hydrus allowed himself to lean on his friend as they walked across the pub toward the floo. Professor Sprout was already there with the powder and Hydrus was almost disappointed when Neville’s hold disappeared but mostly he just wanted to rest.

With a flash of green fire and a few seconds of blurry activity on the other side Hydrus was laying in bed and falling asleep to the feel of a diagnostic spell washing over him. 

—

“You wanted to see me Headmaster?” 

Severus stood in front of Albus’ desk. The old man didn't even look up from whatever notes he was writing, leaving the potions professor to wait for his attention. It made Severus’ simmering annoyance with the Headmaster bubble into anger but he wrestled it down. 

It had been two weeks since Hydrus had been admitted to the hospital wing for a second time and they were still no closer to figuring out what was causing the boy’s fits. Diagnostic spells still didn't detect any poisons or underlying illnesses and no matter how many times Severus grilled Hydrus about what he had done prior to becoming sick nothing stood out as a cause. 

On top of that the harassment toward Hydrus had ramped up but something was different now. It wasn't just the brash taunts of the Weasley brat or the juvenile throwing of jinxes in the corridors anymore. Just last week a suit of armor had almost fallen on him and he’d been tripped on the grand staircase. It was only his flying ability that saved him from a broken neck. Each time no one was able to tell who had done it. There hadn't even been anyone but Daphne and Theo present when the armor fell. Someone was trying very hard to hurt Hydrus and taking pains to stay hidden as they did it. 

If it had been any other student Dumbledore would have gotten involved weeks ago but the Headmaster remained silent. Even the other Slytherin's would have inspired at least a token investigation. The fact that it was his godson being treated this way made it difficult for Severus to maintain his composure. 

Finally, Dumbledore set his quill down and sat back comfortably in his chair. He didn't invite Severus to sit. He was a pawn, a tool. He existed only to do Albus’ bidding.

“I wanted to speak to you about Neville Longbottom,” the Headmaster said. 

Severus sneered, keeping his cynical, Gryffindor hating mask on.

“Shouldn’t you be speaking to Minerva?” he replied. “Her lions are her problem.”

“Minerva can not help us with this.”

“And what exactly is this ?” the potion’s master drawled. 

“Mr. Black can not be allowed to influence Neville any further.”

“I would argue Mr. Black’s influence has only benefited Mr. Longbottom,” Severus pointed out in lieu of leaping over the desk to strangle the old coot with his bare hands. “He hasn’t caused a catastrophe in my classroom since September.”

Albus looked at him with an amused twinkle in his eye that made Severus' skin crawl.

“I’m surprised at you, Severus. I never thought I’d see the day you tolerated the boy who survived when Lily and her son died.”

Severus covered the way he nearly choked with an irritated scoff. Is that what Dumbledore thought? That he resented Longbottom for surviving? Sure, Severus hadn’t treated him well for the first two years, but that was just because he had a reputation to uphold and Neville was a Gryffindor. 

“Mr. Black may be a benefit to Neville now but that will not always be true,” Albus continued like he hadn’t just thrown Severus’ best friend’s death in his face. “Even Tom Riddle was once Head Boy.”

“Hydrus Black is not Tom Riddle,” Severus refuted. 

“No, he is not,” the Headmaster agreed. “He has the potential to be much worse.”

Severus’ stomach dropped. If Albus thought Hydrus would be worse than Voldemort then his godson was in serious danger.

“What do you want me to do, Albus? Mr. Weasley already keeps the two apart during potions and I have no authority during other classes.”

“Just do what you can. I have others who will also attempt to curb young Blacks influence but he is your student. Do not disappoint me, Severus.”

You owe me, Severus . 

I hold your freedom in the balance, Severus . 

Obey, Severus . 

Severus wished he had seen Albus for who he truly was back in school but he had been a naive teenager. He wasn't any more.  

He wondered who else the Headmaster had recruited to watch Hydrus. Lupin? Hagrid? McGonagall? Definitely Weasley, and maybe Granger as well. He would have to keep an eye on them and speak to Remus as soon as possible. 

“I'll do my best,” Severus replied dryly, his voice dripping with displeasure and reluctance. Albus said nothing. He simply nodded and picked up his quill again. 

Recognizing the dismissal for what it was, the potions master turned toward the door but stopped before exiting. He glanced back at Albus. 

“May I ask what's being done about the attacks on Mr. Black? Poppy and I have still not found the cause of his fits but she assures me they could be fatal.”

Surely the risk of a student dying would make the Headmaster do something. He may consider Hydrus a threat, an adversary, but he was still a child. 

The scratching of Albus’ quill paused. He looked at Severus, the candle light reflecting off his half-moon spectacles and making his eyes seem to flash.  

“I would advise your student to cease practicing Dark magic. It can have unpleasant consequences.” 

Severus turned away again before the sight of Albus’ self righteous face made him lose his composure. He mentally admonished himself for even thinking Dumbledore was capable of caring about the children he was meant to safeguard. He had recruited Severus at fifteen, condemned Regulus at fourteen and conscripted Harry and Neville into the war when they were less than two. Of course he thought Hydrus was making himself sick simply by being who he was. 

The potions master swept down the stairs and past the griffin statue which returned to its post as soon as he exited. He marched through the empty halls, a scowl on his face and his mind racing as his blood boiled. He still hadn't worked out what to do by the time he reached his private potions lab but when he pushed the door open all thoughts of his meeting were driven from his head. 

There was a sparking cauldron sitting on one of the benches, thick orange smoke spewing out and spreading across the floor.

“Get the newt eyes George! No! I said the newt eyes!” Fred was yelling, attempting to approach the cauldron with a stir stick but more sparks caused him to jump back. 

“But the recipe calls for toad eyes!” George shouted back, rifling through the ingredients cupboard frantically. 

“Forget about the bloody recipe! It's going to explode!” 

The rest of the so-called Knights were on the opposite side of the room, observing the chaos like it was a show. Blaise had an amused grin on his face even as he stood partially in front of Draco and Pansy who appeared to be placing bets on how long it would take for the potion to explode. Luna and Ginny sat side by side on one of the tables with not a care in the world as they chatted and swung their legs. They only glanced at the cauldron when it sent up a particularly spectacular flurry of sparks. 

Hydrus and Neville leaned against the wall. Hydrus whispered something to Neville who broke down laughing. The Slytherin smiled at his friend, chuckling as the brunette doubled over, clinging to Hydrus’ sleeve to stay standing. They looked happy together, joyful in a way Severus himself hadn’t felt since before fifth year. 

Hydrus’ gaze flicked to Severus, his green eyes still bright with mirth. 

Those were Lily's eyes. 

Lily’s smile. 

Lily’s son. 

Severus suddenly came to a decision. He would not let Dumbledore do to Hydrus and Neville what he had done to him and Lily. He would prepare them, warn them about Albus’ plan, but he would not ask them to hide or compromise their friendship. They did not deserve that. 

“Mr. Nott! Miss. Greengrass!” Severus barked, spotting the pair at a table nearer to the cauldron. There was a jar of salamander eyes in Daphne’s hand. “Please stabilize whatever concoction the Prewett twins have created or you will share their punishment.”

Theo quickly dashed forward and tossed two eyes in the potion. It sputtered for a moment before the sparks stopped and the smoke thinned out, disappearing in a few seconds. 

“ You had that this whole time! ” The twins yelled. Daphne and Theo only shrugged. 

“Detention Messrs Prewett,” Severus ordered, peering into the cauldron to see some kind of dense orange goop that was charred around the edges. “Tomorrow night. Cleaning cauldrons.”

The Prewett twins groaned but didn't otherwise complain. They knew they got off light considering how severe the potion master’s punishments normally were for unauthorized brewing. 

“Now,” Severus said, moving over to the pre prepared ingredients he’d laid out before his meeting. The students gathered around, eager to hear what he had to say. “Becoming an animagus is a lengthy process…”

Chapter Text

“My mouth is so bloody dry,” Pansy whispered as she slipped onto the bench beside Daphne in the great hall. The rest of the Slytherins made noises of agreement. Draco slid a goblet of pumpkin juice toward Pansy who downed it gratefully.

It had been almost a month since the Knights had started the process of becoming animagi. Everyone was jealous of Luna and Hydrus. Their Animagus Triforma ability was innate so they hadn’t needed to complete the ritual. Lucky sods.   

Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Theo, Daphne, Neville, Ginny, Fred and George all had mandrake leaves attached to the inside of their cheeks with a sticking charm. The leaf caused severe dry mouth and tasted extremely bitter, ruining everything they had eaten for the last few weeks. 

On top of that, the potion part of the process required seven hours of stirring every three days. To avoid the risk of being tied up with something else when they were meant to be tending their potions they had started brewing after curfew. After two weeks Draco pointed out that their lack of sleep was more likely to get them caught than the leaves in their mouths. They were at least thankful that Professor Snape had collected all the ingredients they needed ahead of time. The Death-Head Hawk Moth chrysalis and dew water from a place that has never been tread upon by a human nor ever seen the sun were both extremely rare. 

“It won’t be much longer,” Theo assured everyone, including himself. “In a couple more days we can spit out these nasty leaves.”

“Then we just need a thunderstorm to complete the potions,” Blaise added.

“And when is the next thunderstorm?” Draco asked. 

“Who the hell knows,” Daphne replied. “We missed the rainy season.”

Her declaration caused the group to start grumbling but they were interrupted by the Prewett twins’ arrival. 

“Has anyone managed to pry more information…”

“... from our esteemed Ostara hosts?” they asked the group.

The Slytherin’s shook their heads. The Black twin’s love of drama and mystery was just as bad as the Prewett twin’s love of pranks and general chaos. They hadn’t revealed anything about the Ostara celebration they were planning, only telling them to meet at the regular clearing before sunset. If whatever they had planned was anything like Samhain it was going to be epic. 

“Hydrus has been missing since lunch,” Pansy informed them. “I’m not sure when Luna disappeared but she’s not here now.”

Everyone glanced at the Gryffindor table where Luna was most likely to be when not with the Slytherins. They spotted Ginny chatting with Colin Creevy and Neville looking miserable between Thomas and Ron who appeared to be having a conversation over him. 

The Slytherins and the twins went back to their dinner, discussing whatever came to mind as they waited for the sun to begin setting and the Great Hall to start emptying. Eventually they noticed Ron, Thomas and Finnigan standing to leave. Ron tried to make Neville come along but Ginny had pulled out her herbology book and was asking Neville questions. The herbologist used it as an excuse to wave them off and they didn’t argue, fully aware how talkative their dormmate got when given the chance to discuss plants. Once they left and with one last scan of the staff table to make sure Dumbledore wasn’t present the Knights started to exit in twos and threes. They met in the kitchens, accepting a basket of honey bread, lamb pies and hard boiled eggs from the elves as they made their way up the secret stairs and across the herb garden into the forest. 

The sky was turning a soft orange as they approached the clearing. Sunbeams filtered through the barren branches of the trees and dry leaves skittered across the ground. Severus, Remus, Sirius and Regulus were already there with Hydrus and Luna who were in the same black and white robes from Samhain. 

As soon as the students stepped into the clearing dozens of runes suddenly came alive. They were painted on tree trunks, etched on stones and carved into the ground. They glowed with white light, completely surrounding the Coven and singing like vibrations through fine crystal. 

The Coven watched in awe as the dry grass under their feet turned lush and green, rapidly growing until they were standing in a meadow. Wild flowers bloomed everywhere, a splattering of magnificent colour on a jade and viridian canvas. The trees rapidly budded and their leaves unfurled to dance in the breeze that carried the scent of soil and rain. The phenomenon was confined just to the ritual clearing. Beyond the border of glowing runes the forest remained trapped in winter, just on the cusp of spring but still wilted and brown. 

The sun continued to set, the sky turning a soft pinkish red, but the beams of light that should have been fading away appeared to be getting brighter. They moved across the forest floor like spotlights on a stage until every single one was trained on Luna. She began to shine like a beacon; bright and gold. 

“To the sun that rules the day and the warmth that hails the coming of spring, ushering in a golden summer, we give thanks.”

The swirling light dancing through Luna’s robes and flowing hair burst outward like a shockwave. As it passed through them everyone felt as if something inside them had loosened. Something they hadn’t even realized they were carrying.

Night fell in its wake, skipping right past twilight like Luna had plucked the sun itself from the sky. Smokey shadows swirled through the clearing but they could not say it was dark. Everything glowed. The grass emitted a soft green light while violets shone an eerie purple, poppies gleamed blood red and cornflowers burned an icy blue. Firefly’s danced and the luminously white flowers of the elder tree drifted through the air. The brightest thing in the clearing was Hydrus. He was haloed in a silver aura that glinted like fish scales.

“To the moon that rules the night and the cold that hails the coming of autumn, ushering in a silver winter, we give thanks.”

The shadows began swirling faster and faster, rising to become a vortex above their heads before dispersing on the wind and revealing a clear starry sky. Whatever Luna’s light had loosened disappeared with the shadows leaving them feeling weightless and blissful. 

“The light cleanses,” Luna declared.

“And the dark reveals what remains,” Hydrus added.

Pansy and Daphne gasped, noticing that the other was glowing. Everyone turned to each other in awe. 

Pansy had a soft rosy aura while Daphne’s was an eddy of deep greens. Theo shone royal blue and Draco was a sparkling robin’s egg. Neville’s aura was green as well but it was more sage and olive and rippled like wind through leaves. Blaise was gold like Luna but his was more muted, reminding everyone of a vast desert under the southern sun. Ginny, Fred and George were all red but while the twins were a deep crimson with flecks of yellow like the glitter of fireworks Ginny was surrounded by fire that flickered with bright orange. 

The adults were glowing too. Sirius and Regulus stood amongst black and grey smoke, the younger’s aura being slightly darker than his brother’s. Remus’ mimicked the color of his wolf's fur, full of tawnies and ambers. Severus’ was the most surprising. It almost looked like he didn’t have an aura but when he moved even slightly the air around him shimmered like the sheen that often appeared on the surface of potions. 

“ To the balance of all things, we give thanks. So mote it be. ”

The runes around the perimeter flared so bright they were almost blinding. When the light faded the runes were gone and the clearing was back to the way it was before except the grass was a little greener and a few buds had appeared on the barren branches overhead. Everyone stood as if in a daze. They felt lighter, clearer headed, their magic flowing effortlessly through their veins.

“Salazar’s beard that feels great,” Blaise exclaimed. He snapped his fingers and a flame appeared on the tip of his thumb. “Damn! I’ve never been able to do that so easily or make it that large.”

“Help me out here Zabini,” Sirius called, summoning a pile of dry sticks. Blaise flicked his fingers and the little flame flew toward the wood and caught instantly. 

While they were doing that, Daphne and Ginny, the only other two who had achieved any kind of proficiency in wandless magic so far, summoned water and a flurry of red sparks respectively. They both laughed, feeling their magic surge at their command in a way they had never experienced before. 

“Whoa! Jack!”

Neville was holding up his arm to study his familiar. The living vine had little flowers blossoming amongst his usual delicate tendrils. They were shaped like stars and their pure white petals matched the snowdrops flowering around Neville’s feet.

“I take it it’s been a while since any of you have had a proper cleansing?” Regulus asked. The students all nodded, still looking a little dazed.

“I’ll give you guys some basic rituals to try,” Luna offered. “If you do them every month or so it should keep anything detrimental to your magic from building up.”

“Like what?” Theo asked.

“Stress, negative thoughts, other magics that are malicious or just don’t mix well with your core,” Hydrus replied, counting on his fingers. “We live in a magic castle. Not everything we’re exposed to is good for us. That’s especially true if we’re Dark aligned since the old goat has only allowed Grey and Light magic to be practiced for almost three decades. Ambient Dark magic is lacking.” 

He glanced at Blaise and Draco who grimaced but nodded in agreement. They hadn’t noticed it until it was gone but it almost felt like a thin crust had been building around their cores but it was washed away now. 

“Hey guys…” Daphne called. They all turned to see her making a face like something was stuck in her teeth and she was trying to get it out with her tongue. “Does anyone else’s mandrake leaf suddenly taste sweet?”

Everyone mimicked Daphne, eyes going wide when they also tasted sweetness instead of the awful bitterness that had plagued them for almost a month. Luna squealed in delight.

“It worked! Oh, I was hoping it would!”

“What do you mean Luna?” Ginny asked but Luna had turned to Severus, practically bouncing with excitement. The potion’s professor tried to look annoyed but his lips twitched into a small smile as he whipped his long robes aside revealing a crate at his feet. Inside were nine crystal vials full of clear potion. Hydrus decided to answer Ginny since Luna was distracted.

“You all know that the mandrake leaf is meant to absorb your magic, right? That it stays in your mouth so long because an animagus transformation is basically human transfiguration and requires a lot of power?” Everyone nodded, having all done their own research when Hydrus suggested becoming animagi. “Luna had a theory that exposing the mandrake leaves to your purified auras would speed up the process. At least by a few days.”

“You mean we can finally spit these things out?” Draco cried.

Luna, Sirius and Severus approached each with two or three vials. They’d been carefully labeled so it was easy to hand everyone the proper potion. 

“Remember, once you spit the leaf into the potion you have to shake it thirteen times,” Severus reminded them. Everyone nodded, pointing their wands at their cheeks and murmuring finite incantatem to cancel the sticking charm. Once the leaves were in the vials they shook them vigorously. Each potion remained mostly clear but was now tinted a different colour. 

“They’re the color of our auras,” Pansy pointed out, holding up her now pinkish potion. 

“ Wicked, ” Fred and George said, comparing their identical reddish potions with yellow flecks. 

“Now we just need a thunderstorm,” Theo exclaimed excitedly. Without the leaf in his mouth he found he had much more patience to wait for a storm but Hydrus laughed, drawing everyone’s attention.

“I think we can handle that,” he said, turning to Luna. “You ready, Lu? You haven't used this form in a while.”

“I am comfortable in any skin our Mother and Father created for us,” she replied. 

“Then fly high,” Hydrus said, backing away from his sister. 

Luna took a deep breath and began to change. She grew taller and larger, feathers growing all over her body. Her arms became a set of large wings while two more sets grew from her waist and hips, Two long tufted tails sprouted from her lower back, her feet morphed into fierce golden talons and her face elongated into a golden beak. In moments a massive thunderbird was peering down at them with piercing golden eyes.

She was breathtaking. Thunderbirds had the ability to change the color of their feathers, from the soft, melancholy gray of a rainy sky to the dark, deep slate of a thunder cloud. Luna was pure white like the wisps of fluff that lazily drifted through endless blue after the storm was over. 

Luna beat her triple wings and took off, climbing higher and higher. The scattered clouds that had been drifting overhead started to swell and roll, darkening as the sky became overcast. With a shriek Luna dove into the clouds. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed as rain began to fall, causing the fire to sputter and hiss until Sirius put a shield over it. 

“What are you waiting for?” Severus snapped at his students. “Miss. Weasley, you first.”

Ginny placed her vial on the ground under the swirling clouds and held her wand against her heart.

“ Amato Animo Animato Animagus! ” she cried in a clear, confident voice. The potion darkened from a pale orange-red to something more like red wine with swirls of orange. Everyone else followed her lead, each successfully completing the incantation.

With the potions complete and ready for the next step everyone looked up to watch Luna. She was magnificent circling overhead, a swirling vortex of storm clouds being lit by lightning behind her. With a loud cry accompanied by a clap of thunder the clouds scattered revealing the starry sky once again. 

Luna dove toward the ground but rather than tuck her wings in for a landing she glided across the clearing, headed straight for Hydrus with her claws poised to grab him. 

“Luna! Don't you dare!” Hydrus yelled, trying to scramble out of her way but she caught him around the middle and took off again. “Put me down right now!” he shouted as they rose over the tops of the trees. 

“ As you wish ,” Luna replied in his head before promptly dropping him. 

Hydrus let out a resigned sigh as he started falling. There were a couple ways he could get out of this. He could just use his dementor abilities or change into a Thestral, but he knew exactly what Luna’s intention was. He could feel their twin bond thrumming in challenge and he was not one to back down. 

From the perspective of the people on the ground it looked as if Hydrus’ robes had flared open like a pair of wings but then they just kept growing. He was getting bigger and bigger, almost flattening out as his face elongated into something resembling a dog’s skull and his legs lengthened and split into three long black tails. Just before he hit the ground his massive wings, electric blue underneath and poisonous green on top, caught the air and he passed over everyone's heads. 

Hydrus roared as he rose to chase after his sister. The Thunderbird playfully batted at his leathery wings with her feathered ones as they flew side by side. 

“Bloody hell! That's a fucking Swooping Evil!” Theo exclaimed. 

The creature resembled a large draconic butterfly. Normally their bodies were the size of a fully grown man with a wingspan of almost five meters but Hydrus was easily over twice that size. Swooping Evil’s were reclusive and highly dangerous. Not only did their venom cause insanity due to its ability to deteriorate memories but they're preferred meal was brains which they got by using their long, hollow tongues. They were extremely hard to bring down with their skin being spell resistant and their backs armored, but their best defense was their cocoon. Swooping Evils were able to wrap their wings around themselves until they resembled a large, spiky, bright green egg.

While everyone but Sirius and Regulus were still reeling, Luna and Hydrus came in for a landing. They transformed right before touching the ground and fell smoothly into step beside each other. 

“Merlin's beard you two!” Draco cried. “Are there any more surprises you're keeping from us?”

Hydrus shrugged.

“I don't think there's anything else too exciting we haven't told you,” he replied as Luna giggled. 

“Excuse us if we don't trust your definition of ‘too exciting’.” Daphne snapped. 

“We promise, no more surprises,” Luna assured them. There was some annoyed grumbling and good natured eye rolling in response. 

“While this is fascinating, we should complete the ritual,” Severus drawled, forcing himself to push aside thoughts of all the potions he could brew if Hydrus just gave him some venom.

“Right!” Sirius said, clapping his hands. “You should sit down before you drink. The potion will put you into a meditative state while you search for your form. It will be calling out so all you have to do is listen and follow.” 

Everyone nodded and lowered themselves to sit on the ground in a circle. They glanced at each other nervously before Fred and George raised their vials.

“ Cheers ,” they said before clanking the potions together and downing them in a single gulp. The rest followed their lead. Soon they all relaxed, faces going blank and eyes closing as they were drawn into their minds. 

Neville found himself standing outside the greenhouses at Longbottom Lodge. They weren’t exact copies, being bigger and overgrown in a way Neville would have never allowed in the real world. This was simply his mind palace, the place that lay behind his occlumency shields.

He started walking through the gardens. Each flower and leaf was a memory. All he had to do was reach out and touch them to relive his sixth birthday party, the day of his Hogwarts sorting, reading in the library with Hydrus or any of the other million memories he had stored away. They were memories that would be of little use to any Legilimens that managed to breach his shield. His more dangerous and precious memories were buried in the ground, some even protected by tentaculas or devil’s snare or the replica Whomping Willow which was a new addition to his defenses. 

As Neville wandered the sprawling greenhouses he tried to hear the call Sirius had mentioned or feel a pull but there was nothing. It was all the same plants, the same glint of the sun off the glass roof, the same paths between the soil beds. He stepped out onto the lawn and started for the hedge maze, wondering if his animagus form was hiding in there, when he spotted a bee. 

It was just one bee flitting from flower to flower but it made Neville pause. He had only created insects in one area of his mind palace and that was on the other side of the estate. He had never seen one come this far before. 

As if sensing it wasn't supposed to be there the bee flew off and Neville followed. He traveled through the rose garden where he kept memories of his grandmother and past the willow tree with the mossy swing where each leaf was a fantasy of what life would have been like if his parents were with him. He crossed a bridge over a stream that sounded like every song he had ever heard and finally reached the hives. 

There were dozens of boxes all painted in bright colors. Hundreds of bees buzzed about creating a pleasant hum that made Neville feel sleepy. Neville walked between the hives, knowing that if he opened the lids he would find memories of his grandfather inside. He didn’t notice how the bees followed him as if urging him onward or how they’re buzzing reached a fever pitch when he stepped around one of the bigger hives and came face to face with a bear. 

It was large and white but it wasn’t a polar bear. Its fur was more cream coloured with golden brown around its neck, along its back and on its feet and legs. Its claws were wickedly curved and Neville imagined its teeth would be long and sharp. Its eyes were a deep brown. 

“Hi Gramps,” Neville whispered. 

The bear stepped forward but Neville wasn’t afraid. He reached out and ran his fingers through its soft fur as they pressed their foreheads together. Fog swirled and Neville’s vision went white before fading into darkness. He realized he had his eyes closed and opened them to see Hydrus looking at him with wide sparkling eyes. 

“Welcome back Nev,” he said.

Neville stood feeling much too bulky and lumbering in a bear’s body. He lifted one of his massive paws and studied it. He was the same cream and golden brown colour as the bear in his head and only slightly shorter than Hydrus but if he stood on his hind legs he would be twice his height. Neville was almost afraid to move, he could feel the strength and power of this form and it was a little intimidating. 

Suddenly, something used his back as a springboard, jumping clean over him. He turned to see what it was and found a red fox with a fluffy tail, black legs and a white chest and chin. It yipped playfully and a second identical fox weaved between Neville’s legs to follow the first. Neville had no doubt these were the Prewett twins. 

Hydrus shifted to a grimm and started chasing the todds, barking and pouncing as the twins fluidly avoided him. Their game was soon joined by a red lynx covered in deep black spots that couldn’t be anyone but Ginny. She had massive feet that pounded against the earth, big tufted ears and a bobtail. She quickly ran her brothers up a tree but had no issue climbing it herself, her claws leaving deep marks on the bark. 

Neville decided he needed to start learning his new body so he turned to wander over to the rest of the Knights. Only Theo and Blaise hadn’t found their forms yet, still sitting cross legged with their eyes closed and unaware of the pair of cats and the ferret laying on them. 

Neville laughed when he spotted Draco but it sounded more like a cross between a huff and a low growl. Draco seemed to know he was trying to laugh though because he somehow looked annoyed even with his sharp little ferret face. He was wrapped around Blaise’s neck, his smooth platinum blonde fur looking much brighter than it actually was against the Italians' dark complexion. 

In Blaise's lap lay a Siamese cat. Pansy looked very regal with her tail curled around her and her front paws crossed on her friend’s knee. Her fur was brown except her paws, tail and face which were a darker coffee color. Her eyes were a deep blue.

Neville turned his attention to Theo and the second cat sitting in his lap. It was obviously Daphne judging by the shade of its fur which was dirty blonde and not a colour that was natural for cats. She was slender and sleek with large ears, a dark tail and a white chin. Her eyes remained hazel but the browns that usually shot through the dark green were closer to yellow now. 

Daphne mewed at him, obviously intrigued by his animagus form but unwilling to leave Theo while he was in a trance. Thankfully she didn't have to wait very long since she was suddenly laying across the front paws of a border collie with a curly brown and white coat. Theo blinked down at his girlfriend who stood to rub her face under his chin. The action caused his tail to wag which scared him so badly he yelped and jumped to his feet, spinning round to find the disturbance. 

A course of amused barks distracted Theo enough to stop chasing his tail. Fred, George, Ginny and Hydrus were all sitting nearby watching. Luna was stretched across her brother's back in kneazle form, her head laying between his ears. 

Now it was only Blaise left. Everyone waited with baited breath for him to change but after a few minutes he was still in a trance. They were just beginning to worry that he didn't have an animagus form when Luna perked up. She hopped off Hydrus’ back, trotted over to Blaise and picked Draco up by the scruff of his neck. She then made a merp sound at Pansy who seemed to understand since she left Blaise's lap and followed Luna back to the group. 

By the time Luna had dropped a very disgruntled Draco on the ground Blaise had changed. He shrieked and flailed, his dark wings flapping wildly. Seeing Blaise struggle, Regulus changed into his raven form. He was smaller than Blaise but big enough to hold him down so he could get his wings situated without throwing himself around. 

When Blaise finally found his feet he was a large eagle with dark brown feathers and a stripe of white along the length of his wings. His beak and talons were a brilliant yellow and his eyes were molten gold. Regulus did a couple hops and flapped his wings until he was airborne. Blaise copied and quickly got the hang of flying. With his wings open they could make out that his coloring was actually a gradient from a rich coffee brown at his head and shoulders to black at his tail and the tips of his flight feathers. 

“Alright,” Sirius called when Blaise had safely landed on Neville’s back. “I know it's exciting and you probably want to stay in your new forms but you have to learn to change back. The best way to do that is to simply imagine walking away. For example, I can always find Padfoot in the entrance hall of the Shrieking Shack. To change back I have to leave the shack.”

Neville visualized the apiary with its colorful boxes and busy bees. He imagined the bear leisurely strolling between the hives, protecting them and the memories they held as Neville turned and walked away. He didn't really feel himself change back. One minute he was large and furry and the next he was on two legs and significantly less cumbersome. 

Everyone seemed to change back without issue and the clearing was full of teenagers again rather than a menagerie. 

“That was so cool!” Pansy squealed, grinning from ear to ear. 

“Having a tail is weird,” Theo said, twisting to look behind him like he was afraid it was still there. 

“What took you so long Zabini?” Fred asked. 

“Yeah, you were late to the party by about ten minutes,” George added. 

“You try chasing an eagle through the Temple of Horus,” Blaise griped. “It led me all over the building and its nest was on the main altar the whole time.”

“I can't believe I'm a bloody ferret!” Draco whined as Luna patted his shoulder consolingly. 

“For what it's worth you're a very cute ferret little cousin,” Sirius teased. Draco scowled at him. 

“Alright, alright,” Hydrus shouted, causing everyone to quiet down. “Now that we’re all officially animagi I have one more surprise.”

“You promised no more surprises,” Neville pointed out. 

“Haha, very funny. This isn’t more secrets, it's a gift.” He pulled out a handful of tokens hanging on leather cords. “These are my own creations. If you have them on you when you transform they will allow us to speak to each other in our animagus forms.”

Everyone chattered in excitement but Hydrus didn't move to hand them out just yet. 

“There is another option though.” He reached into his pocket with his free hand and pulled out an odd little machine no one recognized. “It can also be a tattoo.”

Sirius turned around and moved his hair out of the way to reveal a small rune freshly tattooed on the base of his neck. Hydrus studied his friends’ reactions. He wasn't sure if anyone would take him up on the offer but having the tattoo would mean they would always have the rune on them and the magic was a little more potent.

“ We’ll take the tattoo, ” Fred and George decided. 

“Me as well,” Ginny added. 

Draco glanced at Pansy before answering.

“Pansy and I will take the tokens,” he said.

“Me too,” Theo agreed. No one was really surprised that the three of them weren't keen on tattoos. Severus and Regulus had already declined for similar reasons. 

“Token for me as well,” Neville said. “It's easier to explain if Dumbledore gets nosy.”

“I'll do the tattoo,” Blaise stated.

“Same. I want to know what it's like,” Daphne added. 

“Alright, everyone who wants a token come grab one,” Hydrus said.

Neville, Draco, Pansy and Theo came forward along with Luna. 

“This is not the anticipated tattoo,” she whispered as she took one of the necklaces. Long ago she had told Hydrus that he would one day give her a tattoo. A special one that would mark an important moment in their lives. This was apparently not that moment. 

“Alright, for those of you that want the tattoo we'll have to do them in private. I will need some personal information from you. Blaise, you want to go first?”

The Italian nodded and followed Hydrus to the other side of the clearing where Hydrus conjured two stools and a small table. He cast a sanitation charm on the table and pulled a bag out from under his robes. In the bag was a mortar and pestle, a couple bottles of clear liquid, a stack of small cups a little larger than thimbles and a wooden box. Beside everything he set the tattoo gun. 

“How did you do tattoos in Azkaban?” Blaise asked, eyeing the machine. “I doubt you had that.”

“Thor taught me tattooing using a more traditional method,” Hydrus explained as he poured a little from each bottle into the mortar. One smelled of alcohol and the other had no scent, likely water. “Dad had the gun made for me when we got out. It’s easier to handle and quicker than a stick and poke.”

Hydrus opened the box to reveal a collection of twigs. They all look like they came from different trees. 

“Okay, first I need to ask you what wood your wand is made from. These runes need to work closely with your magic and using something that already resonates with it helps bind it. You can obliviate the information from me after I make the mixture. I trust you not to mess around with my memories.”

“No need,” Blaise assured him. “I trust you too. My wand is olive.”

Hydrus rummaged in the box and extracted a twig of light wood with small dark speckles. He turned and conjured a small fire, levitating the branch over it until it charred and started flaking before dropping it in the mortar. He then held a needle out to Blaise. 

“One drop of blood please.”

Blaise did as instructed and Hydrus began using the pestel to mix everything together until it resembled ink which he carefully poured into one of the little cups. 

“One last question,” he said as he picked up the tattoo gun. “The tattoo won't show up well on your skin tone but I can change the color when I'm done. Did you want that or do you prefer to keep it hidden?”

Blaise thought for a moment. 

“Change the color,” he decided. “It will be hidden under my collar most of the time but I'd still like to wear it with pride.”

Hydrus smiled at him, pleased with his choice. 

“Alright. Take off your robe and turn around. Loosen your collar too.”

Blaise obeyed and soon the tattoo gun was drawing stinging lines at the base of his neck. He grit his teeth when the needle moved over his spine but it wasn't too horribly painful. Hydrus was done in less than fifteen minutes. He muttered a color changing charm and covered the fresh tattoo with a soothing cream. 

“All done. The ointment will have it healed up by morning. Send Daphne over will you? She's probably vibrating out of her skin by now.”

Blaise chuckled as he redressed and went to inform Daphne it was her turn. 

The process went about the same except Daphne asked a million questions about the process and the tattoo gun and even how he could see in the dim light. Hydrus answered her patiently while working. He explained that the gun was a Muggle invention but modified to work with magic and revealed that his cheek tattoo adjusted his vision, making it so he could see in the dark if he wanted. 

Fred, George and Ginny sat with much less fuss and rejoined the group around the main fire while Hydrus packed up. They were eating the food the house elves had given them when he finally made his way over. 

“You should practice transforming and moving in your animagus forms every night for the next few weeks,” Regulus was saying as Hydrus sat and was handed a lamb pie by Pansy. “Especially you Blaise. You did well flying for your first time but the nuances are tough to get a handle on.”

“There's a large chamber a few levels down from the common room,” Severus informed them. “It has enough space to fly around. That's where I practiced.”

“Oh! Are you an animagus too sir?” Daphne asked excitedly. Severus suddenly looked like he swallowed a lemon. 

“He's a bit touchy about his animagus form,” Regulus informed them with a chuckle. 

“Why? What is it?” Pansy asked, desperate for some fresh gossip. 

“It can't be much worse than a ferret,” Draco mumbled sulkily. 

Severus sighed and transformed into a large bat. He was all black and his wings were as wide as he was tall. He flapped over everyone's heads before hanging from a tree branch near Sirius. The way his wings curled around his body reminded everyone of when he crossed his arms in class, wrapping his long robes around himself. He eyed everyone as if daring them to say something. Of course, Sirius couldn't keep his mouth shut.

“Really living up to your dungeon bat reputation aren't ya?” he teased.  

One of Severus’ wings snapped out to smack him in the face, making him stumble against Remus who tried unsuccessfully to contain his laughter. 

“When did you do this, Severus?” Remus asked. “I thought Sirius, James and Peter were the only unregistered animagi while we were in school.”

Severus released his hold on the branch, smoothly flipping and transitioning back into his human form before he hit the ground.

“Sixth year,” Severus replied. “After my falling out with Lily I distracted myself with a lot of obscure and complex magics.” 

“We've been meaning to ask,” Fred spoke up. 

“You call Professor Lupin Moony…” George said. 

“...and he calls you Padfoot.”

“Does that make James and Peter…

“... Prongs and Wormtail?”

Sirius, Remus and Hydrus stared at the twins. 

“Wh—where did you hear those names?” Remus asked. 

In response George pulled an old piece of folded parchment from his pocket and handed it to him. 

“Where did you get this?” Sirius exclaimed, slipping it out of Remus’ slack grip.

“We nicked it from Filch first year. It took weeks for us to figure out how to use it,” Fred replied. 

“What is it?” Draco asked. 

“The Marauder's Map,” Remus revealed, shaking himself out of his shock. “Sirius, James, Peter and I created it while we were in school. It shows the whole castle and everyone in it. The finished one is at Grimmauld Place but the prototypes were all supposed to be destroyed.” 

“Who are Prongs and Wormtail?” Daphne asked. 

“We all had nicknames for our animagus forms and Remus’ wolf,” Sirius explained. “Remus is Moony, I’m Padfoot, James Potter was Prongs because he was a stag with huge antlers and Peter Pettigrew was Wormtail. He’s a rat animagus.”

“Wasn't Pettigrew the one that betrayed the Potters and framed you?” Blaise asked. 

“Yeah, it's how he got away. They only ever found his finger because he cut it off and transformed to scurry away into the sewers.”

Ginny gasped, drawing everyone's attention. She looked pale, her eyes wide in the firelight. 

“Which— which finger did he cut off?” she asked.

“Left ring finger I believe,” Sirius replied, eyeing the witch curiously. “Why?”

Ginny’s head whipped toward her brother's who had also gone deathly pale. 

“Scabbers!” she cried. “He's missing a toe on his left paw.”

“ Bloody hell! ” the twins exclaimed, sounding close to hysterics. 

“What is going on?” Remus asked. 

“Ron’s pet rat Scabbers,” Ginny explained. “He's missing a toe on his left paw and now that I think about it, he's old, like, too old. He belonged to Percy first.”

“Son of a bitch!” Sirius exclaimed. “It's Peter. He's been living with your family this whole time.” 

“He sleeps in Ron's fucking bed!” Fred growled in disgust. 

“How the hell did we not see him on the map?” George asked. 

“This is a prototype map,” Remus reminded them. “One of the last things we perfected was getting it to recognize people even if they were disguised or hidden, like with the invisibility cloak or animagus forms. He wouldn't have shown up in this version.”

“We need to capture him!” Sirius declared. “I want that bloody traitor to suffer for what he did to James and Lily and it's not safe for him to be near Neville if he's still loyal to the Dark Lord.”

“It's too late for that,” Neville said. Everyone turned to him but he was focused on Hydrus. The Slytherin groaned and buried his face in his hands. 

“What's wrong? What’s he done?” Sirius demanded. 

Hydrus dragged his hands down his face, muttering curses under his breath. 

“Granger’s half Kneazle Crookshanks has apparently been trying to hunt Scabbers since the beginning of the year. It's caused a lot of tension between her and her housemates. Yesterday she came to our study session super upset.”

Hydrus fell silent, hot anger and crushing disappointment suddenly swelling up and choking out his words. Neville continued for him. 

“Crookshanks succeeded. He ate Scabbers Friday night.”

Chapter Text

Light from an abnormally bright crescent moon poured through the alcove windows on the fifth floor. Thin clouds drifted across its face, creating shifting patterns on the stone, but Severus paid it no mind. He was more focused on studying the wall for a hidden latch or button, anything that would indicate a secret room. 

It had been a couple months since Hydrus theorized that a Horcrux was hidden in the school. Remus and Severus had been using their patrol shifts to try and find it. Between the two of them they probably knew every brick, beam and tile in the whole castle. Severus was loath to admit that the maps had been a big help. Sirius had sent a copy of the original Marauder's Map without the tracking feature and the Prewett twins lent them the prototype map. 

Severus currently had the copy without tracking so he was surprised when he turned the corner and spotted someone farther down the corridor. They wore a yellow and orange mosaic dressing gown with fuzzy purple slippers and their hair was so bright that he briefly thought one of the torches hadn't been dimmed. The apparition paced three times along the wall and a large wooden door with wrought iron accents seemed to melt out of the stone. 

“Hello Uncle Sev,” Luna called without looking over. “Care to join me?”

“Miss Lovegood. What are you doing out of bed?”

Luna waited for Severus to come closer before answering, giving him a bright smile. 

“The castle has been whispering. She wants to help with the ritual.”

Severus hummed, well used to the Black twin’s oddities, and studied the door.

“Is this the Room of Requirement?” he asked. 

“It is.”

“I thought it was on the seventh floor?”

“We are on the seventh floor,” Luna replied. 

Severus glanced over his shoulder, expecting to see a large window at the end of the corridor, but was greeted instead by a long hallway lined with doors and not a window in sight. One of the doors was open, revealing a set of descending stairs in about the same place he had turned the corner on the fifth floor. Stairs he did not remember climbing nor recalled being on the map. 

“Hogwarts is very mysterious,” Luna stated dreamily. 

“So it is,” Severus agreed. He was beginning to understand what Regulus said about just accepting the strange things that happened around the twins. Trying to find any logic in it would just drive him insane. 

“Shall we?” Luna asked, tugging on the large ring that served as a handle without waiting for a reply. 

The massive door swung open easily and Severus found himself looking at the most cluttered room he had ever seen. Piles of junk towered overhead. There was broken furniture, dusty and water damaged books, cracked cauldrons, dented armor and rusty instruments of all kinds. 

“This is the Room Where Lost Things Go,” Luna said as she glided past, running her fingers over a stained curtain and scaring out several Cornish Pixies. They shook their fists and chattered angrily before flying off. “Have you lost something Uncle Sev?” she asked.

“No, but I am looking for something,” he replied. Luna smiled at him.

“I am looking for something too. We can look together.”

Realistically, Severus knew they would have more luck if they split up but found he didn't want to part from Luna. 

Severus may only be Hydrus’ godfather officially but he was fond of Luna too. He had occasionally spent time with Regulus, Barty and Evan in school which meant he was also familiar with Pandora. At first his scientific mind had rejected the blonde’s flights of fancy but over time he came to appreciate her cleverness. She was kind but sharp tongued and had a wicked sense of humor. Her daughter had no doubt inherited Xenophilious’ more lax personality but underneath she was no less cunning or fierce as her mother. 

Severus normally despised useless prattling and loathed when anyone entered his potions lab uninvited but it was different with Luna. He hadn't realized how much his passion for brewing had faded over the years. He still enjoyed it but his curiosity over technique and fascination with the ingredients had waned. Luna was the one that brought it back. She explained to him how wrackspurts lived in mistletoe and boiling the leaves would remove all traces of their magic, reducing the risk of overheating. She told him to use a glass stir stick on Dreamless Sleep Potion rather than metal to eliminate the bitter orange peel taste. She even gifted him a potted snake plant, insisting it would purify the air so the fumes wouldn't make him dizzy or give him a headache when he brewed for long hours, avoiding the terrors that plagued his sleep. 

For the first time in years Severus was notating his recipe book again, improving on potions he had been brewing thoughtlessly since the war ended. He felt alive, like he was a part of the world and not just existing as a ghost that clung to familiar haunts.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, Severus hurried to catch up with Luna. 

“What are you looking for?” he asked as they picked their way farther into the room.

“I need something of Uncle Barty’s,” she replied. “Papa says there was a bracelet, lost in seventh year.”

Severus looked out over the crates of broken dishes and bent cutlery they had just stumbled on. Finding a bracelet in this mess seemed impossible. 

“Don’t worry Uncle Sev,” Luna said confidently, opening an old trunk and quickly shutting it when it began to sing a haunting tune. “I trust that Mother or the universe will show me the way in time. Until then, what are you looking for?”

“A cup or a diadem,” Severus replied, pocketing a vial of golden beetle shells with red and blue markings. Temple Scarabs were hard to import since they became endangered. “Or something entirely different. I'm not sure.”

“If the Dark Lord knew about the Room it would be the perfect place to hide a Horcrux,” Luna mused. 

She wandered up to a tall wardrobe made of dark wood. It was an odd shape, triangular instead of cubic, with the doors latching together at the edge. Luna placed her hand on the handle only to jerk it back. 

“You should burn this,” she said. “The other side feels— tainted .” 

Severus pulled out his wand, eyeing what he now realized was a vanishing cabinet. He wondered where its other half was and why someone had allowed what was essentially an open door through the wards to stay in the castle. 

“ Incendio .” The cabinet caught, flames licking up the sides and the wood crackling as it slowly burned. 

The fire lit up the room. Flickering orange and yellow danced within shards of broken glass and across polished metal but out of the corner of his eye Severus caught a flash of blue. Something was refracting the light, throwing flecks of azure and cerulean against the broken chairs piled around a cluttered table. 

On top of the table was a stone bust with a missing nose wearing a dusty wig and a tarnished silver tiara. The tiara had a large sapphire embedded in it and was shaped like a bird with its wings open, the finely crafted feathers decorated with diamonds and opals. Severus immediately recognized the Diadem of Ravenclaw from the old sketches and descriptions. 

“I told you we’d find them!” Luna exclaimed, stepping forward and plucking something off the spout of a cracked teapot.

It was a bracelet made of three leather cords, worn so badly where they were braided together that they had snapped. Each cord held a single round bead a little smaller than a marble and a metal charm in the shape of letters. Black quartz and the letters R.B, blue agate with an E.R, and citrine accompanied by B.C. 

Severus was momentarily surprised that Barty had actually associated himself with the soft yellow of House Crouch before he remembered citrine meant prosperity, generosity and success. They were values Crouch Sr. had turned his back on. Values Barty had said he hoped to return to the family one day. 

“This looks a little different than I expected,” Luna stated, studying the diadem so closely her nose nearly touched it. Severus was struck by how accurate describing her blue eyes as ‘sapphires’ actually was. “I thought it would be an eagle, not a dove.”

Severus took a closer look and had to agree. The bird had a straight beak rather than a hooked one and the etched feathers were dainty and sleek. It gave the head a smooth, round appearance as opposed to the proud crests of sharp feathers artists typically gave eagles and falcons. Additionally, the words etched into the band were wrong. In all the literature Ravenclaw’s diadem said ‘ wit beyond measure, man’s greatest treasure ’ but in reality it said ‘ The valor of the people is the vitality of the realm. ’

“It is strange,” Sevrus agreed, carefully lifting the tiara off the bust. “Ravenclaw’s diadem was the most well documented of the Founder’s Artifacts because of the Statue of Rowena. It makes no sense that the descriptions of Slytherin’s Locket were more accurate than an actual sculpture of the diadem.”

Luna hummed in agreement. The entrance to the Ravenclaw dorms was on the third floor but two levels below, at the base of the tower, was a statue of Rowena Ravenclaw wearing her diadem. It had been there since the founding of the school and was considered the most accurate depiction of the woman and the diadem but that was no longer true. 

While Severus continued to study the artifact, trying to recall if opals were ever mentioned in the literature, Luna was tuning into the powerful magic radiating from it. It felt curious and commanding but tinted by something irredeemably evil. Something that made Luna’s skin crawl. 

“I’m calling Hydrus,” she finally declared, giving their twin bond a good tug to ensure he would wake up. When he tugged back she sent an image of the troll painting that hung opposite the Room so he would know where to go. 

“Yes, let's invite another student to wander the castle at night,” Severus drawled sarcastically. “Tell your brother to stay put. I still have basilisk fangs from last year.”

“I’m not calling him for a Kiss,” Luna replied with a giggle, not intimidated at all by her Uncle’s tone. “I think I know what's going on but there's someone I want to talk to first.”

With the diadem and bracelet in hand, the pair returned to the door where Hydrus was already waiting. He was in a pair of red plaid pajama pants and a band t-shirt for the Weird Sisters. Severus suspected it was a gift from Sirius since he was sure the Weird Sisters didn't sell Muggle-style band merch. 

“Good evening,” Hydrus greeted with a small wave but his eyes never left Luna. Judging by the way their expressions changed subtly, they were having a silent conversation.

After a couple minutes Hydrus gestured for them to follow, leading them around a corner and down two flights of stairs to a suit of armor holding a spear. The armor had a helmet with a green feather and there was a carved snake wrapped around the spear. Hydrus said something in parseltongue, causing both the armor and a part of the wall behind it to slide open, revealing a hole with a ladder descending into the depths. Severus wasn’t surprised. Hydrus had pointed out several entrances to the Chamber of Secrets but had done the searching down there himself. Stheno may not be a danger to them but it was still full of traps that only a parselmouth could escape. 

Severus followed his godson down the ladder and into a long tunnel with watermarks streaking the grey walls. He was glad he wasn't in his long teaching robes as they picked their way over fallen debris and the occasional puddle until they reached wider, dryer tunnels. From there they shuffled down two steep chutes and waited for Hydrus to deactivate a pit trap in a seemingly harmless junction before finally reaching the main hall. 

The main hall had undergone some changes since Hydrus had taken Severus down just before Yule, excited to show his Slytherin godfather the legendary chamber. The flooding had been reduced revealing the original pools, each with a fountain shaped like a snake in the middle. The walls and ceiling had been repaired and cleaned so the greenish marble bricks and the vaulted ceiling looked as new as when the chamber was built. Clearing the collapses had also revealed additional rooms. All were empty except a bit of furniture and miscellaneous things like a couple rusty cauldrons and a dusty chalkboard with the ghost of old formulas on it. 

They had found their way into Stheno’s den though. It was nearly as big as the main chamber with stone outcroppings charmed to stay warm and hidey holes for sleep. The basilisk had explained quite fondly that emerging from the mouth of Salazar’s statue was meant to be a joke for Godric and not the primary entrance to her home. The true entrance was off to the side. 

When the trio reached the far end of the chamber, Stheno emerged. The sight of the giant snake still triggered a small amount of fear in Severus but he pushed it away. He trusted that Stheno would have her second eyelid closed. 

~Hatchlings! It's wonderful to see you! And Guardian Snape too! Welcome,~ she greeted with Hydrus translating. 

When Stheno learned Severus was Head of Slytherin House she had insisted on calling him ‘Guardian’. Apparently, that’s what the heads of houses were originally called. 

Hydrus hissed a greeting back before speaking to Luna in English. 

“Go ahead and ask your questions. I'll interpret.”

Luna nodded and smiled up at the snake.

“What do you know about Ravenclaw’s treasure?” she asked, gesturing for Severus to hold up the diadem.  

~You found the crown!~ Stheno exclaimed. ~Isn’t it pretty? My wizard and his companions trusted me to watch over it on our journey, even if I was very small then.~

“Your journey?” Severus inquired. 

~Yes. Our journey from the kingdom to this new land. We were told to flee and took the royal treasures with us.~

Once Hydrus had translated Stheno’s reply he hissed something Luna and Severus couldn't understand. When Stheno nodded he looked excited. 

“By ‘kingdom’ she means Camelot,” he told them eagerly. “In his journal Ignotus Peverell wrote about a war that led to the fall of Camelot. The Peverells and Dulacs fled the kingdom and it sounds like the Hogwarts founders did too.” He looked back up at Stheno and spoke in parseltongue again. 

~What were the other treasures?~

~There were three,~ Stheno replied. ~The Sacrificial Cup, Excalibur and Guinevere’s Crown.~

~Was there a locket too?~

~No, but Salazar wore a locket gifted by his adopted father. I believe it was a copy of one Lord Ezariah held dear.~

“I knew it!” Luna exclaimed once Hydrus had translated, shaking her brother by the shoulder. “Remember the artifacts the goblins told us about? The ones our ancestors created?”

Hydrus’ eyes widened. 

“Beatrice Dulac forged both Excalibur and Guinevere's crown,” he gasped. “And Ezariah Peverell created a cup and his Horcrux was housed in a locket”

“The Sword of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw’s Diadem, Hufflepuff’s Cup and Slytherin's Locket!” Luna confirmed, practically vibrating with excitement. Hydrus couldn’t help but laugh. He found it ironic that the locket Voldemort used to make his Horcrux was actually a copy of the original Horcrux's vessel. 

While Hydrus and Luna continued to chatter, awestruck by their own realization, Severus stood speechless. The Founder’s Artifacts, thought to be heirlooms of their respective families, were actually royal treasures belonging to the Pendragons of Camelot! This would rewrite not just Hogwarts’ history but wizarding history itself. So little was remembered about that time, an era when wix were free to live out in the open and helped build kingdoms, not just scattered communities hidden away for fear of persecution.

“Ask her why the diadem looks different from Rowena's statue,” Luna suddenly said, knocking Severus from his thoughts.

The boy and the snake started hissing back and forth. At one point Stheno took a closer look at the diadem, lowering her head so she could peer out of a single bright yellow eye. After a few more comments Hydrus switched back to English.

“She says it looks the same as when she saw it last except the sapphire used to be an opal,” Hydrus translated. “Maybe Rowena transfigured it into an eagle later so no one would question its origin?”

“That’s possible,” Severus admitted. “Ravenclaw is so closely tied to eagles that having a dove on her diadem would raise questions.”

Hydrus furrowed his brow in thought before asking Stheno something else. If it was possible for a hissing snake to sound like they were lecturing, Stheno managed it. 

~King Arthur was known as the Dragon, a fierce protector,~ the snake said. ~Queen Guinevere on the other hand, was the Dove. While the King and his Knights saw to the defense of the kingdom she was focused on the day to day.~

“ The valor of the people is the vitality of the realm ,” Luna recalled. “The valiant dragon that led the people and the gentle dove that helped them thrive.” 

Luna turned her sparkling eyes to her brother only for her face to fall into a worried frown when she saw Hydrus looking angry. 

“Guinevere was a caretaker,” he said in a voice that was equal parts pain and reverence. “It's abhorrent that the crown of such a peaceful queen has been tainted so badly.”

The diadem in Severus’ hand suddenly seemed heavier. He felt an urge to shatter it on the floor, despite knowing it would do nothing to drive out the Horcrux, but he was reluctant to damage such a priceless relic. 

“How do we want to do this?” Luna asked, looking a little pale. “A Kiss would leave the diadem intact. Are you feeling up for it, Hydrus?”

“If I could handle the soul in the diary I can definitely handle the diadem but I have a better idea,” Hydrus replied. “Stheno said the sapphire used to be an opal. I think we should return it to its original state.” 

Severus looked down at the bright sapphire and imagined it as a white opal swimming with pastel blues and pinks. The colors would certainly be more appropriate to represent the breast of a soft grey dove. 

“Does Stheno know where the original opal is?” Severus asked. Hydrus passed on his question but Stheno shook her head, hissing a short reply. 

“She says she doesn't. She’s not even sure why Rowena replaced it instead of just transfiguring it like she did with the rest of the crown.”

Severus sighed, realizing that there were now more mysteries to solve. It seemed never ending. Meanwhile, Hydrus spoke to Stheno who opened her mouth and allowed him to extract a loose fang. Once he did, he passed it to Luna.

“You do the honors,” he said. “The crown was Guinevere's but it was forged by Beatrice Dulac. It seems only right that you be the one to purify it.”

Luna took the fang, careful not to put her hand anywhere near the point, and gestured for Severus to put the diadem on the ground. The silver seemed to glow against the grey stone floor as Luna knelt and raised the fang. She said something in High Silvan, her voice ringing eerily throughout the chamber, before she brought it down on the sapphire. 

There was a pained scream and a dark flash that caused them to shield their eyes. The gem shattered into a million pieces, scorch marks marring the already tarnished silver, but the diadem was otherwise unharmed. 

“Four down,” Hydrus said.

“Hopefully that just leaves the cup,” Severus agreed. “What did you say before you destroyed it?” he asked Luna. 

“A purification prayer,” she replied. “It seemed appropriate.”

Severus nodded as he picked up the diadem. He was sure the goblins would be able to restore it. 

After saying goodbye to Stheno, Severus and Luna followed Hydrus out of the catacombs, up a narrow set of stairs and through a recessed shelf which swung open into the trophy room. From there Luna skipped off toward Ravenclaw Tower, trusting in the castle to keep her from getting caught, while Hydrus melted into the shadows. Severus leisurely strolled back to his quarters, his patrol having ended some time ago. He absentmindedly ran his fingers over the crown in his pocket. He would send it to Grimmauld Place in the morning. 

—

“Hydrus!”

Hydrus turned to find Neville running down the corridor, dodging other students as he tried to catch up to Hydrus and Pansy who were on their way to the library for free period. It was May and final exams were getting closer. Everyone was starting to feel the pressure.

“What's up Nev?” Hydrus asked as Neville skidded to a halt, breathing heavily.

“Do you– damn I need better stamina — do you have my Warding essay?” he gasped.

Hydrus opened his bag and rummaged through his half finished assignments and study notes until he found a piece of parchment covered in Neville’s handwriting.

“Gods damn it,” he swore as he pulled it out. “Here you go.”

“Thanks Hyde. Gotta run.”

Neville snatched the essay and took off back the way he came. 

“That's the ninth time this month,” Pansy pointed out as they watched him go. 

“I know, it’s getting super annoying,” Hydrus replied.

In April someone had started stealing Neville’s stuff and planting it on Hydrus. At first they had written it off as Hydrus accidentally grabbing Neville’s homework when they were in the library together but then his dream diary had gone missing. Neville was panicking since the year-long project had been worth almost a quarter of their Divination grade but thankfully, Hydrus found it when he went to hand his own in. They hadn’t worked on their dream diaries together so were at a loss as to how it got in Hydrus’ bag. 

Since then several more of Neville’s assignments had gone mysteriously missing resulting in the pair obsessively checking their bags before classes to make sure nothing had been moved. 

They knew Dumbledore had to be behind it, probably a weak attempt to make Neville think Hydrus was sabotaging him, but they couldn’t figure out how. Neither boy had even seen Dumbledore outside meals all term. 

Hydrus and Pansy continued up the stairs toward the library. The corridors began to empty as third period started so it was easy to spot Lavender and Pavrati coming from the opposite direction. Lavender waved and Pansy waved back but hesitated when both Gryffindors suddenly looked up, their expressions turning to horror.

“Look out!” Pavrati cried.

There was a loud creaking sound and Hydrus looked up to see the iron chandelier swaying precariously. The chain securing it to the ceiling snapped, sending it plummeting toward them. 

Hydrus pushed Pansy before diving out of the way himself. The sound of metal striking stone was deafening and sent sparks scattering in all directions. The noise summoned several students from the library along with Madam Pince. 

“What's all this racket? This is a libra— Merlin's beard! Are you two okay?”

“I'm fine,” Hydrus assured her, unable to take his eyes off the heavy rings of iron and candles that had almost crushed them. “Are you okay, Pans?”

Pansy didn't reply. Hydrus tore his attention away from the chandelier, concerned Pansy had gotten hurt, but she seemed okay. She was sitting up and gazing at something over Hydrus’ shoulder. He glanced behind him but only saw an empty corridor. 

“Pansy? You okay?” he repeated. 

“Huh? Oh! Yes, I'm fine.”

“What were you looking at?” Hydrus asked, feeling compelled to check over his shoulder again when her eyes flicked that way. 

“Nothing. I thought I saw something,” she replied. 

Hydrus decided to leave it be for now. He would ask again when they were alone. He got to his feet and offered Pansy a hand up. 

“Godric’s ghost that was scary!” Pavrati cried as she and Lavender ran up to them. “It just started swinging like crazy out of nowhere.” 

“Unfortunately, this isn't new,” Hydrus informed them. “I'm just glad it wasn't a suit of armor this time. The last one had an ax.”

The incidents that had been happening around Hydrus since Yule were becoming more and more dangerous. Just last week he had been hurled off his feet while on the changing staircases and tossed over the railing. If he had been thrown into open air he would have been able to fly to safety but there had been another staircase coming into position just below. He hit the steps hard, spraining his ankle and bruising his ribs. 

“Do they know what's causing it?” Lavender asked. 

“No idea,” Hydrus replied bitterly. He was angry that Dumbledore wasn't even trying to investigate, especially now that his friends were getting caught in the crossfire. 

The rest of the day went by without further incident if you didn't count Finch-Fletchley trying to pour hot water on him in Divination. Tuesday was pretty calm as well. He did okay brewing Pepper Up by memory in potions class and spent Ancient Runes tutoring anyone that needed it. In Herbology everyone paired up to do a short presentation on a random plant in the greenhouse. Hydrus and Neville did theirs on Eye Stalks and their different genuses which could be used as a substitute for real eyes in potions. 

History of Magic was as boring as ever on Wednesday. Hydrus was glad Blaise was in charge of note taking so he could play Slap Jack with Daphne, Susan and Hannah. The two Hufflepuffs had taken to occasionally joining them at meals or in the library. Hydrus was pretty sure their interest started as Hannah checking in on her cousin but once she was sure Neville wasn’t being bullied or taken advantage of they stuck around. Susan and Draco in particular enjoyed political debates. 

Ancient Runes was full of more tutoring and lunch was enjoyable but on their way to Transfiguration the next incident happened. A torch fell off the wall, burning embers landing on Hydrus' robes and setting them alight. Blaise and Draco got him put out before he could be hurt but he still had smoldering holes in his clothes. Hydrus turned to ask his friend to tell McGonagall what happened while he got changed and caught Theo, Daphne and Pansy whispering amongst themselves. They looked serious and kept glancing farther down the hall but there were too many students still milling about to tell what they were so interested in. Hydrus resolved to corner them after class as he handed his bag to Draco and headed back to the dungeons for a new robe. 

Another week passed with two more incidents befalling Hydrus. First, the dungeon steps turned slippery under his feet and he was only saved from a tumble by Neville and Jack’s quick reflexes. Then, a heavy book nearly cracked his skull in the library but hit his shoulder instead, leaving a nasty bruise. In the meantime Neville's possessions kept appearing in his bag and pockets. Essays, study notes, a remembrall and most concerning, Neville’s wrist watch which had belonged to his mum. 

Ron and his posse were openly calling Hydrus a thief and confronting him in the halls in an attempt to ‘defend’ their ‘helpless’ dormmate. The hostility was picked up by others that still didn't trust Hydrus resulting in an atmosphere like after the dueling club. 

Hydrus managed to get through the first week of July with only minor disturbances caused by his fellow students and just a few misplaced essays. He should have felt relieved but the respite had only made him more paranoid. Once again, he reminded himself to ask Pansy, Theo and Daphne what they thought. Each time something happened those three put their heads together, whispering and glancing around. When he’d asked after the torch incident Daphne just said they were working on a theory but didn't have anything to tell him yet. 

Hydrus slipped into his regular seat in Charms between Pansy and Luna. They were reviewing invisibility charms, each trying to make their goblet disappear. By the end of class Pansy and Luna had graduated to small cauldrons while Hydrus had made it up to a tankard. He had just managed to make the lacquered wood disappear, leaving the metal handle and accents floating in the air, when the door opened and Professor McGonagall strode in. 

“Apologies, Fillius. I need to borrow Mr. Black,” she announced. 

“Very well, we’re about finished anyway,” the half-goblin replied. 

Confused, Hydrus gathered his things and followed the Deputy Headmistress out. She marched brusquely down the hall without a word as Hydrus hurried to keep up. They passed through the entrance hall and out the front doors until they reached greenhouse three. Once inside Hydrus could hear voices. 

“ — wouldn't do this. It's a mistake!”

“Mr. Longbottom, the evidence is clear. We must at least speak to him.”

Hydrus suppressed a scowl as he and McGonagall approached the back of the greenhouse to find Dumbledore, Professor Sprout and Neville standing just outside Neville’s private garden. 

“I have brought Mr. Black,” McGonagall said curtly. 

“Hydrus!” Neville cried. “I tried to tell them but they wouldn't listen!”

“Tell them what Nev?” 

Neville stepped aside and gestured to his plants. Hydrus' eyes widened at the sight. 

It was a complete disaster. Soil was everywhere, tools were broken, pots shattered, herbs and flowers ripped up by the root. The flutterbys on the flutterby bush had all died and the mourning glories were dripping with poisonous pollen because the now smashed radio was no longer placating them. Only the more dangerous plants had been spared along with Luna’s mystery pot which was probably warded heavily. 

“What happened?” Hydrus asked. 

“You tell us Mr. Black,” McGonagall replied. 

“I don't know what you mean professor,” Hydrus said at the same time Neville shouted. “It wasn't him!”

“We understand that you are one of only four people with access to Mr. Longbottom’s garden,” Dumbledore said. “And we found this under one of the benches.” He held up a book, Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them . Opening the front cover revealed Hydrus’ name written on the title page. 

“How do you explain this young man?” Dumbledore accused. “Were you not just in Care of Magical Creatures?”

“I was,” Hydrus replied. “But Hagrid doesn’t use that book in his class and my copy has been missing since my dorm was broken into back in January.” 

“That still doesn’t explain how it got inside the wards,” McGonnigal spoke up. “Only you and Miss Greengrass have access.”

“I don’t know how it got in the wards but it wasn’t me. I haven't been outside the castle since Herbology this morning.”

“And I came out to check the containment wards on the Devil’s Snare during the break,” Neville added. “My garden was fine before second period.”

“Where were you during lunch?” Dumbledore asked, not acknowledging Neville’s input. “I don’t recall seeing you in the Great Hall.”

Hydrus tried very hard not to glare at the old man. Dumbledore rarely ate meals outside dinner in the Great Hall so someone had to have told him Hydrus wasn’t at lunch. His money was on McGonagall or Ronald. 

“I stopped by the Ancient Runes classroom. You can ask Professor Babbling,” Hydrus replied.

“And she’ll testify that you were with her the whole of lunch?” McGonagall challenged. 

“No, but Blaise will testify that I was with him until I had to go to Care of Magical Creatures,” Hydrus shot back. He and Blaise had been in the Room of Requirement planning for the next Knight meeting but he trusted Blaise to come up with a believable cover. “After I left him I walked down to Hagrids with my friends, that includes Neville and Luna.”

“Did you walk back up to the castle with the same people?” Dumbledore asked. Hydrus eyed him warily.

“No. Neville and Luna stayed behind to talk to Hagrid but I was with Draco, Pansy and Theo all the way to Charms class.”

“I’m afraid that is insufficient. Your friends would no doubt lie to get you out of trouble.”

Hydrus blinked at the Headmaster, shocked he would be so brazen. Even McGonagall looked taken aback and Professor Sprout was visibly furious. 

“Why? Because we’re Slytherins?” Hydrus hissed, his parseltongue accent slipping through. “My friends and I are heirs to Ancient Houses and the Longbottoms are allies to House Black. We are ambitious, not dishonorable. I am not responsible for destroying all of Neville’s hard work!”

“He’s telling the truth.” 

The unexpected voice drew everyone’s attention to Blaise and Hannah who were all standing nearby with Susan. 

“Hannah and I were waiting for them on the front steps and watched them come back from Hagrid’s. No one went anywhere near the greenhouses,” Susan continued while Hannah nodded in agreement. Hydrus caught Sprout shooting them a proud smile. 

“That still leaves the second half of lunch unaccounted for,” Dumbledore insisted.

“Hydrus was with me, like he said,” Blaise informed them. “And if you don’t believe that, the Patil twins stopped us just before lunch ended to ask Hydrus a question about Divination. We were on the sixth floor and on the opposite side of the castle. There’s no way we had time to destroy the greenhouse and make it all the way over there between when we left Professor Babblings and the start of third period.”

Hydrus was pleased to see that the twinkle in Dumbeldore’s eyes had disappeared. He still kept his genial expression in place but Hydrus had grown up with several sociopaths and a couple psychopaths, he could tell the Headmaster was angry. The old coot turned to Neville for one final attempt at discrediting Hydrus.

“It’s your property that was destroyed, Mr. Longbottom. There isn’t sufficient evidence to expel Mr. Black but charges could be laid with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.”

“Charges!?” Hannah gasped.

“Are you serious?!” Blaise cried.

“Aunt Amelia would never allow it!” Susan shouted.

“No, Headmaster,” Neville spoke up, silencing everyone. “I said before that I didn’t believe Hydrus had anything to do with this and I stand by that.”

Dumbledore looked momentarily taken aback by Neville’s conviction before his mask went back on. McGonnagle looked surprised too but her expression was more like she was impressed and oddly fond. Hydrus wondered if she was seeing Alice and Frank in Neville for the first time. 

“Very well Mr. Longbottom,” McGonagall said. “Is there anything we can do to help you get your garden back in order?”

“No thank you Professor,” Neville replied with a smile. “I have plenty of help.” 

He gestured toward the front of the greenhouse. They could see people milling about through the glass. Pansy, Theo, Daphne, Draco, Ginny, Luna, Fred, George, Lavender, Pavrati and Padme. Including Hannah and Susan the group represented every house at Hogwarts. 

“You seem to have collected quite the band of allies,” Dumbledore praised even as he eyed the green uniforms in the crowd with barely concealed suspicion.

“Yes, my friends are a great help,” Neville replied, obviously stressing the word ‘friend’ and causing the Headmaster to clear his throat uncomfortably. 

“We’ll leave you to it. Minerva, Pomona, shall we go to dinner?”

The two women nodded and followed Dumbledore and his poisonously green spotted robes out of the greenhouse. Professor Sprout shot them a wink as she left.

“Is everyone okay?” Pansy asked, leading the larger group inside.

“We’re fine,” Hydrus assured her. “But whoever has been targeting me and Neville stepped up their game.”

The group looked out over the destroyed garden, several glancing at Neville to see his reaction, but the Gryffindor just looked determined. 

“Let me soothe the Mourning Glories,” he said, casting the bubble head charm to protect against the pollen. “Then I’ll take the wards down and you can help me get everything back in order.”

He collected a spare radio from storage and set it to something with a sad piano. As soon as the flowers curled closed and Neville summoned all the valuable but dangerous pollen into vials he lowered the wards. They went about repairing what was broken and inspecting the uprooted plants for critical damage. Thankfully, at least one specimen of every herb and flower was whole enough to be revived. 

While Neville and Daphne worked on returning the surviving Flutterbys to their bush so they could recover, Hydrus glanced toward the far side of the greenhouse to see Theo and Pansy looking out over the lawn. They were talking quietly and occasionally straining their necks to find something.

“What are you two looking at?” he asked, making them jump. They glanced at each other before Theo waved him closer.

“Look out there. Do you see it?” he asked, pointing toward the path to Hagrid’s. For a minute Hydrus didn’t see anything before a flash of orange darted between two rocks. A few seconds later he identified it as a large cat slinking through the long grass.

“Isn’t that Granger’s cat? Crookshanks, right?” he asked.

“It is,” Pansy confirmed. “And it's been nearby every time something happened.” Hydrus’ eyes snapped from the cat to his friends.

“What do you mean?”

“I first noticed him when the chandelier fell but only caught his tail disappearing around the corner,” Pansy explained. “I mentioned it to Theo and Daphne so when the torch incident happened the three of us checked and saw Crookshanks weaving through the crowd.”

“He was at the top of the stairs when you nearly fell in the dungeon and on a nearby landing when you went over the railing,” Theo added.

“Why didn’t you tell me!?” Hydrus demanded.

“We know you study with Granger sometimes. We didn’t want you to get angry and confront her before we had more information,” Pansy placated and Hydrus had to reluctantly agree. He was so fed up with the whole situation that he could easily lose his cool.

“What changed?” he asked.

“We thought of something after charms today. A talented wix can cast the invisibility charm on themselves. It’s usually a NEWT spell but Granger is top of the class in Transfiguration and Charms. She could have the skills to pull all this off without getting caught. She also had access to both you and Neville’s stuff.”

Hydrus could feel that anger his friends were so concerned about bubbling up. He had thought they were getting somewhere. Granger was significantly less hostile toward him and they’d even managed a few debates that hadn’t turned into fights. She was still stubborn and defensive and made minimal effort to adapt to the wixen world but she was opening up, listening rather than lecturing.

“Hey guys, we’re going in for a late dinner,” Neville said as he walked up to them with Daphne, Luna and Ginny. The rest of their friends were chatting as they made their way out of the greenhouse. 

“What’s wrong?” Ginny asked once they got close enough to see how upset Hydrus was. 

Theo and Pansy explained their theory with Daphne’s input. By the time they were done Luna looked thoughtful, Ginny was mad and Neville seemed disappointed. 

The Gryffindor had confided in Hydrus that he dreaded going to his dorm room. Ron, Finnigan and Thomas were some of the worst bullies in the school and they knew at least Ron was under orders to keep Neville close. The herbologist had started to see the girls in his year as his saving grace so the possibility of Granger being behind the incidents deeply upset him. At least he still had Lavender, Pavrati, Ginny and the Prewett twins. 

“Granger usually eats fast and goes to the library on weekdays right?” Hydrus asked. Neville nodded. “Perfect. You up for an impromptu study session?”

Neville frowned, uncertainty written on his face before he squared his shoulders.

“Let's go get some answers,” he said. 

The pair waved off their remaining friends, assuring them they would be fine, and headed for the library. They found Granger at her usual table. The sight of the bushy haired girl reignited Hydrus' anger.

“Granger!” he snapped as he marched up to her. 

“What do you want Black?” she replied irritably. With exams only weeks away she was beginning to abuse the time turner. Her grades hadn't improved all term due to her exhaustion and whatever punishment Father Time had hit her with for messing with his domain. Hydrus suspected she had been cursed with forgetfulness since she often needed to review things several times before it stuck. 

“You wouldn't happen to know anything about Neville’s garden being destroyed, would you?”

His statement caused her to look up from the copious amounts of notes strewn across the table.

“Neville’s garden was destroyed? That's awful!”

Hydrus and Neville glanced at each other. She sounded genuine. 

“So you don't know anything about the things happening around Hydrus either?” Neville pressed. 

“I know stuff’s been happening. It's kind of hard to miss,” Granger replied, brows furrowing in confusion. “Why do you ask?”

Hydrus felt his own confusion dampening his anger. 

“Let me ask you this,” Hydrus said in a much calmer voice. “Did you know your cat has been wandering the castle?”

“Crookshanks!?” Granger cried. “He escaped the dorms!? I need to find him!” 

She started shoving her books into her bag but Neville stopped her. 

“Crookshanks is fine. He's out by the greenhouses.” Granger's panic increased hearing that her cat wasn't just out of the dorms but out of the castle so Neville quickly pressed on. “He'll be okay. He's half Kneazle. They're very smart. He won't go into the forest and will come back when he's ready.”

Granger looked conflicted for a minute before dropping her overflowing bag and sinking into her chair with a groan. 

“That troublesome cat,” she mumbled, running her hands down her face. “I thought he would stay in my room now that Scabbers is dead. He only ever escaped to hunt that rat.”

Alarm bells rang in Hydrus’ head. He sunk into a seat across from Granger while Neville took the chair beside her. 

“Why was Crookshanks so focused on Scabbers?” Hydrus asked. 

“No clue,” Granger replied. “He's had it out for Scabbers since before I bought him. I was browsing the owls at the Magical Menagerie when Ronald came in looking for a tonic for Scabbers. Crookshanks jumped out of the rafters and went straight for him but Ron kicked him away. I told him off for hurting Crookshanks and he yelled at me to shut up. Crookshanks hissed at him like he was protecting me. I decided to buy him on the spot. I thought it would be nice to have a friend this year.”

Neville patted Granger on the shoulder comfortingly. Hydrus felt pity for the girl. For all her stubbornness she was still just a teenager trying to fit into a school and a world she didn't fully understand. 

“Everyone hates me!” Granger suddenly wailed, burying her face in her hands. “Lavender and Pavrati are friendly but I can tell they don't want me around and everyone else calls me a know-it-all. It's only gotten worse since Scabbers died. Now they think I'm heartless just because I defended Crookshanks for doing what cats do.”

“I'm sorry you're having such a hard time Hermione,” Neville soothed. “For what it's worth, Hydrus and I don't hate you.”

Granger snorted and raised her head, her eyes were wet and red rimmed. 

“Please, Black only tolerates me,” she refuted. 

“That's true,” Hydrus agreed. “But remember what we were like at the beginning of the year? We loathed each other. I think we're making progress.”

Granger sniffled and wiped her cheeks. 

“You really think so?” she asked. 

“Sure. I don't hate our debates and you've gotten better at listening, even if I think you have a long way to go. Maybe try relaxing every once in a while? I'm sure Lavender and Pavrati would include you if you talked about something other than homework and studying. They consider the dorm room as a place to unwind and sometimes you get in the way of that.” 

“But there's so much to learn and I can't fall behind. I need to kee—”

Hydrus held up his hand to stop her rambling. He glanced at Neville who nodded. This had gone on long enough. 

“We know you have a time turner Hermione,” Neville said softly. Granger’s head snapped to him, eyes wide with panic. “Don't worry, we won't tell anyone, but it's not doing you any good. You're exhausted and overwhelmed.”

“But my classes! I can’t get to all of them withou—”

“You don't need all those classes,” Hydrus interrupted. “It's obvious you hate Divination so why don't you just drop it? And what's the point of taking Muggle Studies? Your Muggleborn! If you really want the credit you can take the exam without taking the class.” Granger's eyes widened, making it clear that no one had told her that was an option. “Similarly, you can self-study,” Hydrus continued. “Arithmancy is mostly math and I know you went to a Muggle primary school. There's no reason you can’t get your OWL.” 

Granger sat in silence for a long moment, mulling over what Hydrus had said. 

“I can really take the exams without needing to enroll in the class?” she clarified. 

“Really,” Neville confirmed. “If you follow Hydrus’ advice you'll only need to go to Care, Runes and Warding. You can have a normal schedule again but still get all your credits and even your OWLs.” 

Granger fell into thought again but the tension in her shoulders had lessened and the barely restrained manic look in her eyes had retreated. She reached under her robes to pull out a small hourglass hanging on a golden chain. She removed it from her neck and placed it on the table. 

“Okay,” she breathed as if finally putting down a heavy weight. “I’ll speak to Professor McGonagall. I'm sure she'll arrange for me to stop going to Divination, Muggle Studies and Arithmancy but still take the exams. I'll drop them for fourth year.”

Hydrus felt a surprising amount of relief wash over him. He had been concerned Granger would insist on using the time turner until the end of the year and was prepared to pray to Uncle Kairos to get him to lay off his punishment. 

Now that that issue was out of the way, Hydrus returned to the original point of their visit. 

“When Crookshanks killed Scabbers, did he leave a body?” he asked. Granger looked taken aback by the change in topic but shook her head anyway.