When Ria gained her consciousness again, she was met with the blurry figure of her mother sitting right beside her. She shook her head, trying to get the image out of her mind. She didn't have time to worry about another vision.

But when her vision became clearer, she saw her mother properly. She was really there, sitting on the chair beside her with slumped, tired shoulders as she looked down at her hands.

She wasn't disappointed.. was she?

"How're you doing, sweetie?" She asked, looking up at her with a soft smile which made her a bit less nervous.

"Fine." said Ria. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah.. go ahead."

"You told me that you and Dad ended on good terms.. then why does he never reach out to us?"

Isabella stared blankly at her daughter at that question. "You see.. It's just.. It's been almost six years now.. It's hard to get back in contact when you haven't reached out yourself for so many years.." She answered. "I— I'm trying, I really am trying to find out where he is.. what he's doing.."

Ria quickly nodded in understanding. Welp.. there she went again, being impatient as ever when her mother was trying her best.

"I'll— I'll try harder, if you want.. I'll—"

Ria was too quick to shake her head. "No, don't bother."

Isabella tilted her head in question. "What? Why?"

Ever thought why your father left you? He never found it in himself to even like you, I'm sure.

Ria shook her head again, this time with a small, fake chuckle. "I mean— I'm sure, you're giving your everything to find out what's up with him. Just.. take your time.. don't rush it."

Besides.. it's not like they were the only ones who should be trying to get in contact..

Her mother slowly nodded. "Oh.. alright, then." She breathed out slowly, looking ahead. "Honey.. why'd you ask this so suddenly?"

"Just wondering."

The door behind them opened, and as soon as she heard the swish of a cloak, she turned around. "Sev.. Severus?" She looked at him. "What happened there? What.."

"The window was mended." He answered almost immediately.

"And the water from the Black Lake would not have gotten in anyway.." another voice said.. Minerva. "Enchantments keep the water from entering or even damaging the window. So.. you do not need to worry."

"Ah.. Asteria. Isabella." The headmaster greeted them with a small smile as he sat behind his table. "It seems we only gather here to discuss serious matters. Pleasure to have you two here again."

Ria only nodded back politely, but her mother.. "Wish I could say the same, Albus." Isabella threw a sarcastic smile at him. Though he was used to her closed off behaviour.

"Enough chatting now.." said Minerva as she walked to them and stood at the side of the table with Snape. "What we do need to know.. is what happened in the Slytherin common room?"

The four adults looked at her with expectant eyes, and though she shouldn't, she felt pressured under them.

"Pansy Parkinson started it." answered Ria. "She made me angry."

McGonagall blinked. "Angry enough to bash her head into the wall and punch her?"

There was a beat of silence. Then Ria answered. "Yes."

She looked over at Isabella, but her expression hadn't changed. After all, she wasn't going to judge her daughter without knowing the story.

"What did she do?" She asked calmly, trying to read her expression.

"Well.. first off, she wrecked Dad's guitar and hid it under her bed so I wouldn't find it. I did, thanks to Cassie." She said. "And then she called Dad by that.. that foul slur."

Both the answers made Isabella's heart tinge with hurt. Though she didn't let it show on her face. "Enough reason, then." She muttered.

"Isabella!"

"Don't you go justifying that behaviour, Minnie!" She argued back. "Pansy Parkinson might be a child, but she needed some cleansing done."

The Professor shook her head in defeat. Who was she trying to convince?

"About your father's guitar.." Dumbledore spoke after his long silence. "How would you like it if we had it mended for you?"

A sigh of relief came out of Asteria's mouth. "I would be really grateful, sir. Thank you." She said, eyes beaming at his kindness.

The man nodded. "And as for the other part of that event.. I will have to ask you some questions. Would you respond to them truthfully?" He asked again.

Isabella shifted in her seat, bracing herself, while Ria only nodded. Her mother appeared more anxious than she did.

"Did you, by any means, use a spell at Miss. Parkinson to harm her? Or even intend to?" inquired Dumbledore.

Ria shook her head. "No, Headmaster. I intended to harm her, and only her, by non-magical means."

With a sigh, Snape pinched the bridge of his nose. Bold as ever..

Dumbledore nodded. So, it was pure anger..

"Tell me, Asteria." He said again, this time with a curious undertone. "Have you felt any unusual energy around you.. when you are angry.. or scared.. or troubled in general?"

"I feel.. very uncomfortable." She answered. "I don't really focus on the feeling.. because I'm too occupied by other things, so I don't really know what exactly I feel.."

The Headmaster slowly nodded, thinking. Out of every ability he had seen in his lifetime, what was it that she could possess?

"As a witch.. what are the most unusual things that you have experienced?" He asked. "And start from the very beginning, if you can."

Ria felt sweat beads forming on her forehead. Dumbledore was asking just the right questions, somehow. She felt like she was under a judicial trial. She breathed out. Well, let's just get it done with, shall we?

"When we lived in the future.." she recalled. "I had this very clear voice in my head that told me what to do, from time to time. At first, I thought it was my instinct. But when I came back here, I couldn't hear it anymore."

"Now I know my instinct and that voice were two different things. But I never quite figure out what that voice in my head was.."

Was that a magical ability of some kind?

"It is not an ability." Dumbledore was quick to answer. "The true, grown up version of you was living in the future too. It could be that she reached out to you.. to help you." He said. "After all, you are one person."

Ria's mouth formed an 'o', in both realisation and awe. That was why the voice had always been right! The grown up version had already gone through all this!

She looked at mother. "Does that mean you heard your older version's voice too?" She asked her.

Isabella nodded hesitantly. "I don't think I did as much as you.." She answered. "Only once.."

While deciding if I was taking you back home or not.. I trusted that voice because it was my own.

"Moving past." Dumbledore interrupted. "What about your visions, Asteria? When did they start?"

Oh crap, I didn't know they were gonna be discussed today.

Her mother's neck turned at lightning speed to look at her. "You get visions?!"

"Ye— Yeah?" She answered hesitantly. Was that worse than her having random outbursts of magic?

Isabella blinked slowly in disbelief. Her hands then moved up to cover her face, then rub it in frustration.

For fuck's sake, really? That too?

Dumbledore cleared his throat, making Ria look at him. "Yeah.. right. I'll try to make it quick." She said. "The first one occurred to me last year, in December. I saw the three-headed dog that Harry, Hermione and Ron faced. I didn't think of it much, obviously.."

And Dumbledore pretended to not notice the glare Isabella was giving him through the gap in her fingers. "Then I saw the bloody message about the Chamber of Secrets. Then I saw Ginny being kidnapped, right before I was petrified. And now it was.." she peeked at her mother. Oh God, she was going to drown in anxiousness. "It was Sirius Black." She muttered.

To her surprise, Isabella just straightened herself up and took a deep breath. "Well.. it's a Wizarding World, after all. Dreams becoming reality can be normal here, right?" She asked.

"..not if she can tell her visions apart from her dreams. And as I recall Sybil Trelawney, you can also predict excellently through various other ways in Divination."

At Dumbledore's words, Isabella felt like bashing his head into something like Asteria had done with Pansy. Oh, her rage was boiling out of the pot, whistling like a kettle with all the heat pressurized inside.

Ria breathed out with hesitation. "I.. I can."

Dumbledore smiled. "Then, without a doubt, you are an innate Seer." He answered. "That is a unique ability, Asteria. Surely, it will help tremendously."

Ria half-nodded. What was she supposed to say? Thank you? She hadn't even done anything remarkable yet with this power of hers.

"Sir.. I don't understand why I have this.." she said in all honesty. "I mean.. I know some people— like Professor Trelawney— have it too. But isn't that because it runs in her family?"

"It doesn't have to." It was McGonagall answering. "Some wizards just have more magic flowing through their bodies than others do. That magic is converted into different magical abilities.. It's just that the way they are conveyed might be different in different wizards. One might be a Seer, other might be an inborn Healer, and another might be a natural Legilimens.." Ria nodded in understanding.

"But it doesn't end there," The Headmaster said, delightfully. "You might have your mother's abilities too."

Ria's mouth fell open wide at his words and she slowly turned towards her mother. She had her lips parted in shock too as she stared at Dumbledore.

"You have powers?" Ria asked in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I— I had them." She finally took her eyes off the Headmaster. "I lost.. I lost control of them."

Ria shook her head. "Okay, you'll need to explain a bit more."

Why was it that her mother hid the best parts of her existence from her?

"Ria.." she sighed. "To control any powers, you need a calm, collected mind. And I—" she hesitated a bit. "I lost control when Mum and Dad passed away. And since then, I haven't been able to use them again."

At the answer, Ria felt guilty for her impatience yet again. She had so many questions running around in her head, fighting to burst out and get their answers..

"I know you want to ask questions," said Isabella. "Go on."

"Well, what kind of powers did you have?" asked her daughter, with a hint of curiosity in her voice that she tried to hide.

"She's an Enchantress." answered Dumbledore.

Isabella closed her eyes for a moment. Godric, she did not like that dramatic arse title. Enchantress.. really? Why did people decide to call them that?

"Oh.. wow." Ria muttered to herself. Such a fancy term. "I still don't know what that means though."

"An Enchantress can use a wand, but she doesn't need one to channel her magic like everyone else." Snape explained. "She is a witch that can control and manipulate things without a wand. And not just things.. minds too."

Isabella pursed her lips at the last part.. maybe that's where the term came from. Enchantress..

"But it's totally different from simple wandless magic though.." she added. "which can be learned. The Headmaster can perform wandless magic, but that doesn't make him an Enchantress."

"Enchantresses are only witches, and they come with that inborn ability. Unlike simple wandless magic, there are no restraints on the usage of spells here."

"If you learn to use it properly, you can use every spell that is ever created; a jinx, a hex, forbidden curses.. and you can duel or even apparate without a wand. And.. your spells are generally more effective than others. Like.. healing spells for me. I healed faster than others, and was able to heal others better and faster."

"Ah.. yes. It must've slipped my mind, but you need to know." Dumbledore interrupted. "When you woke up from the petrification, the Mandrake Potion wasn't what healed you."

Her jaw dropped at that information. "It— It wasn't?" She felt like she should've received that information way earlier than that.

The headmaster nodded. "You healed because of the Healing abilities you have inherited.. being this Enchantress's daughter." He pointed at Isabella. "We could not tell you before we made sure of it."

Ria was impressed. She could do all that and control minds? That was so cool.

"I know you can't do it anymore.. but what does it look like?" She asked in awe.

Isabella pursed her lips. She knew her daughter was going to lose her mind at this.

"You see.. When I was first harnessing my magic, it looked like a golden light surrounding my hands. And if I got way too carried away my eyes glowed too— I know what you want to say. Just say it."

"Holy crap, you're like the Scarlet Witch of this universe, aren't you?" Ria whispered to her, kind of excitedly. "Except your powers are not red, they're golden. You're the Golden Witch." She chuckled quietly.

"Yeah, sure." Isabella dismissed the topic. "As I got more and more skilled, the light disappeared, and it became tough to tell if I was using magic. It's kind of an advantage."

Ria furrowed her eyebrows at this. "The light disappeared? Why?" It would look wicked.

"I have no idea." Her mother answered with a sigh. "Though some ancient wizard says that the light appears because you're new at using your magic. The more you use your magic, the more it binds itself to you. How closely your magic is binded to you determines how strong of a magic user you are."

McGonagall raised an eyebrow, impressed. "I'm surprised you remember that." She said.

Isabella smiled at her. "Sixth year. Theories in Witchcraft and Wizardry. How could I forget when you were the one training me, Minnie?"

The Professor resisted the urge to smile. Charming, Isabella.. just the way you were when you were at Hogwarts. 

But..

Good lord, her heart ached for Isabella's younger self. She had been through so much..

Not just then, even now.

"So.. that was why I shattered two lanterns and almost broke the common room window.." Ria nodded to herself. "I couldn't control my magic."

"Yes."

"And if I start practicing it more, I'll be able to bind my magic to myself, and lose control less often."

"Also, yes."

Her shoulders slumped in disappointment though. "But that won't be enough." She said. "I know I'm probably hated by more than half the Slytherins by now for almost drowning them. If I go back, I think something like that is bound to happen again.. because I know how.. provoking.. my Housemates can be."

"You can always rely on Draught of Peace." suggested Isabella. "You have had that Potion before, haven't you? Last year?" Ria nodded in response.

"I'm afraid, that won't be healthy." Snape interrupted. "You can take it once in a while. But if you use it often, it will only dizzy your thoughts and emotions with every use." He said. "So, in case you ever run out of the Potion.."

"You won't know what to do." Isabella nodded in thought. "You won't know how to get yourself in control."

Ria looked around at their faces, lips pressed in a line. She was sure she won't be able to get her magic in control any sooner.

"I have a suggestion." Dumbledore spoke again. "But that is.. if you do not have any problem with moving out of the Slytherin dorm room."

"Wait.. that's what happened?" asked Theodore, eyes squinted in disbelief.

Ria nodded. She had told them everything while roaming around in Hogsmeade. How could she not? They were her friends, and they had witnessed everything.

"Holy fuck, I thought you were expelled!" He whispered. "I was stressed out! Blaise almost cried."

"Hey.. that was you." He snapped at him. "But yeah, we were kind of worried."

"Aww.." Sophie cooed. "Look at you two showing emotions." She said, pinching their cheeks.

Though they didn't swat her hand away. They were generally softer towards Sophie. And Ria knew why..

This was the start of a blooming friendship between the grumpies and the sunshine. Ooh, sweet!

"But hey!" said Sophie, getting rid of the serious expression. "How can you agree to staying all alone there? I'm not gonna let that happen! I'm moving in with you."

"Sophie.. it's fine. I moved in alone so I won't hurt anyone—"

"I don't care!" She cut her off. "You won't hurt me, I know that. I'll talk to Dumbledore myself if I have to— ow!" Out of nowhere, a ball of snow hit them.

At this, all three stepped in front of her, faces laced with annoyance. "Who the fuck did just—"

"Hey— hey!" said Sophie, chuckling as she walked in front of them. "It's fine. It's just a silly game I started with Justin."

The three blinked on beat. "Justin?"

"Yeah.. Justin. See, there he is! Hey!" She waved at the boy, and he waved back. She ran towards him and hugged him tightly.

Oh.. thought Ria. Justin Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff. Wait, were they seeing each other?!

Great.. great actually. Much much fucking better than Draco 'widow's peak' Malfoy. Oh, she would rub that shit in his face.

If Sophie let her, that is.

"I'll meet up with you later, in an hour, at the Three Broomsticks?" She asked. And only Ria nodded with a wide smile. "Great. See you!"

The boys just watched her go with confused expressions on their faces. "She just totally abandoned us, didn't she?"

"Yeah, she did."

"Oh, come on!" Ria swatted their arms. "We're in Hogsmeade, she has someone to go out with.. Let her have fun!"

Blaise and Theodore just looked at each other, both exchanging unspoken words. This creeped her out sometimes. It was as if they had some psychic connection with each other.

They nodded at each other, and then walked the way Sophie and Justin had. Ria's mouth fell open in surprise and she tried to chase them.

"Hey, you're not going to spy on—" but that was all she could get out before a hand closed her mouth, pulled her away and wrapped her in a cloth.

The two looked back, but did not find anyone there. "Oh, great! Now Ria abandoned us too!"

"Girls.."

Ria recognised the scent as soon as it hit her nose. She elbowed him in the stomach, making him bend over with a small 'ow'.

"Harry, what the bloody hell!" She whisper-yelled, looking back at him. He had a silly, endearing smile on his face. "What? D'you want me to die of a heart attack or something?"

He scrunched his nose. "Sorry." He whispered. "I just missed you."

"Then you could've told me, you idiot!"

"I did."

"When?"

"Right now.. that I missed you."

She stared at him, a smile threatening to dawn on her face. But she just shook her head with a sigh. "So.. you did manage to sneak into Hogwarts, after all. Is this your invisibility cloak?" She asked.

Harry nodded, putting an arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer. "Not very spacious, I know, but we'll adjust, right?"

Ria's demeanour almost broke at his cheeky smile.. almost..

"Right." She said. "So.. where're we going?"

"Well," he said as they began walking. "First we're finding Ron and Hermione. And then, you'll be explaining the rumours flying around.. of you, Asteria Edwards, being a dark witch."

"Ahh.." she nodded. She hadn't explained the situation to them yet. Only those three were left now. Sophie, Ginny, Theodore, Blaise, Amelia, Adrian, Daphne, Professor Sinistra.. the rest her trusted ones had been informed already.

"Well.. do you know where they are?" She asked.

"Yeah.. I just passed them, looking at the Shrieking Shack. But I thought picking you up first would be better." He answered, as the place neared them slowly and slowly.

But his face contorted at the scene in front.

"..Weaselbee how to respect his superiors!"

Oh, of course, Malfoy.. Who else could it be?

"Wait here, please?" Harry made Ria exit the cloak and hide behind a tree, and she quickly did so.

"Hope you don't mean yourself!" said Hermione.

Malfoy's face contorted in disgust. "How dare you talk to me! You filthy little mud—" Before he could complete, however, a snowball crashed into him. He looked in the direction, grey eyes wide open.

"Who's there?" He whimpered before another snowball crashed directly into his face. One by one they kept coming, scaring the three.

Ria chuckled quietly. Deserved.

"Don't stand there, do something! Make it stop!" Draco bellowed at his goons.

The rest of them laughed as Goyle's beanie and Crabbe's pants were suddenly pulled down. Crabbe was soon faceplanted into the ground. Goyle's scarf was floating in the air, making him move in circles while Draco tripped over Crabbe.

Malfoy was now being dragged by his legs, towards the Shrieking Shack. Ron started laughing loudly. "What's up, Malfoy? Lost your skis?" He commented, making Hermione laugh harder.

The three Slytherins ran away tripping over one another while Ron and Hermione were in hysterics.

Suddenly, the strings of Ron's beanie and Hermione's hair were being tugged very lightly. "Harry!" She called out, and Harry finally took his invisible cloak off.

"Bloody hell, Harry. That was not funny." Ron commented, but broke down into laughter as he saw the faces of his friends.

Then slowly, Ria walked towards them and yelled, making the two jump once again. She and Harry laughed harder, leaning onto each other. "Oh, Godric! You two!" Said Hermione, hand on her chest. And the two Gryffindors eventually joined into their laughter too.

"Those Weasels! Never told me about any Marauder's Map!" Ron bellowed in annoyance.

The Gryffindor girl sighed in annoyance. "He won't keep it. He'll turn it over to Professor McGonagall. Won't you?" She asked hopefully.

Ron snorted. "Sure. Along with his invisibility cloak." He joked, making Hermione roll her eyes and huff in annoyance.

"Oh, come off it, Mione! Let him have his fun!" Ria nudged her gently.

"You don't say, Ria!" She said. "What are these rumours going on around about you being a dark witch?"

Ria sighed, and explained the story of her having visions and her being a Seer. She then explained what had happened in the Slytherin common room. And how she had powers from her mother passed down to her.

"Woah.." said Ron, amazed. "You've got two powers? That's wicked!"

"Yeah.. I guess." She shrugged. "Wicked unless I don't get them under control. They're kind of destructive in nature."

"I'm sure you'll do well." Harry nudged his shoulder into hers, and smiled with reassurance. "You've always been a good learner."

"Yeah!" Hermione mused in. "Pretty sure you'll nail it, with McGonagall teaching you. And what about your new dorm? How is it?"

She sighed. "It's kind of in the centre? Not really close to any other Houses? But it's close to Minnie's office." She answered. "There's a small common room with a couch and a study table, and there are four rooms connected to it. I'm taking one. And I think Sophie's about to convince Dumbledore to let her take one. She thinks I shouldn't stay all alone." She said with a small smile.

"Like your common room, there's a portrait guarding it. Only that it's Cassandra Trelawney's.. the famous Seer from Professor Trelawney's family. Dumbledore said she'd be good to guide me with Divination."

"Oh yeah, I've heard a lot about her." Hermione nodded. "So, is it the same? Do you need a password too?"

She shook her head. "No. Actually, Dumbledore asked me to keep the list of my visitors small. Cassandra will only let them in. So, it's basically going to be the people I've told about my powers to."

Ron nodded in thought. "Wow.. that happened all of sudden, yeah?"

Ria let out a fake chuckle, shaking her head. "Maybe, for you. I've been feeling it all build up for some months now." She admitted with a sigh. "It was scary at first. But now that I know what it is, I feel much better."

Harry smiled at her, placing an arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer. "Just let us know if you ever need anything, yeah?"

She grinned, looking up at him. "Of course."

The four had had a great time in the village of Hogsmeade, even though they had to be cautious at every step as to no one would notice Harry.

But their plan had almost gone to hell.

They were in the Three Broomsticks, drinking Butterbeer together when McGonagall, Flitwick, Hagrid and Cornelius Fudge had walked in. Ron and Hermione had pushed Harry below the table while Ria had been clueless. But when she did notice, she quickly pulled her chair right in front of him while Hermione shielded his presence with the Christmas tree near their table.

"So, what brings you to this neck of the woods, Minister?" came Madam Rosmerta's voice.

Harry saw the lower part of Fudge's thick body twist in his chair as though he were checking for eavesdroppers. Then he said in a quiet voice, "What else, m'dear, but Sirius Black? I daresay you heard what happened at the school on Halloween?"

Ria gulped. Was there more to come than Sirius Black just breaking in?

"I did hear a rumour," admitted Madam Rosmerta.

"Did you tell the whole pub, Hagrid?" said Professor McGonagall exasperatedly.

"Do you think Black's still in the area, Minister?" whispered Madam Rosmerta.

"I'm sure of it," said Fudge shortly. 

"You know that the dementors have searched the whole village twice?" said Madam Rosmerta, a slight edge to her voice. "Scared all my customers away.. It's very bad for business, Minister."

"Rosmerta, m'dear, I don't like them any more than you do," said Fudge uncomfortably. "Necessary precaution.. unfortunate, but there you are.. I've just met some of them. They're in a fury against Dumbledore— he won't let them inside the castle grounds."

"And for good." Ria muttered to the two, who agreed with small nods.

"I should think not," said Professor McGonagall sharply. "How are we supposed to teach with those horrors floating around?"

"Hear, hear!" squeaked tiny Professor Flitwick, whose feet were dangling a foot from the ground.

"All the same," demurred Fudge, "they are here to protect you all from something much worse.. We all know what Black's capable of.."

"But we cannot take that risk," said McGonagall. "Two of our students were attacked by them at the very start of the year! We just cannot allow it." She said.

"Do you know, I still have trouble believing it," said Madam Rosmerta thoughtfully. "Of all the people to go over to the Dark Side, Sirius Black was the last I'd have thought.. I mean, I remember him when he was a boy at Hogwarts. If you'd told me then what he was going to become, I'd have said you'd had too much mead."

"You don't know the half of it, Rosmerta," said Fudge gruffly. "The worst he did isn't widely known."

"The worst?" said Madam Rosmerta, her voice alive with curiosity. "Worse than murdering all those poor people, you mean?"

Oh great heavens, what was he? A monster?

"I certainly do," said Fudge.

"I can't believe that. What could possibly be worse?"

"You say you remember him at Hogwarts, Rosmerta," murmured Professor McGonagall. "Do you remember who his best friends were?"

"Naturally," said Madam Rosmerta, with a small laugh. "Never saw them apart, did you? The number of times I had them in here— ooh, they used to make me laugh. Quite the charmers, Sirius Black, Isabella Diggory and James Potter!"

Harry dropped his tankard with a loud clunk. Ron kicked him. While Ria froze in the midst of sipping her drink.

What?

"Precisely," said Professor McGonagall. "Black, Diggory, and Potter. The trio one could never forget. They were very bright, of course— exceptionally bright, in fact— but I don't think we've ever had such a pair of troublemakers—"

"I dunno," chuckled Hagrid. "Fred and George Weasley could give 'em a run fer their money."

"You'd have thought Black and Potter were brothers!" chimed in Professor Flitwick. "Inseparable!"

"Of course they were," said Fudge. "Potter trusted Black with his life. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was the best man when James married Lily. Then they named him godfather to Harry. Harry has no idea, of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment him."

"Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who?" whispered Madam Rosmerta.

"Even worse than that, m'dear.." Fudge dropped his voice and proceeded in a sort of low rumble.

Ria's heart was now beating out of her chest. She reached his hand out for Harry, and he gripped on to it.

"Not many people are aware that the Potters knew You-Know-Who was after them. Dumbledore, who was of course working tirelessly against You-Know-Who, had a number of useful spies. One of them was Isabella Diggory."

Ron and Hermione simultaneously looked at Ria. 

She gulped. Her mother should really start telling her things about her life.

"You-Know-Who and Katherine Lagarde took a great amount of interest in her abilities, as you'd know she was an Enchantress. The witch's mind is always closed off to anyone else who does not possess the ability of her kind. So no one, even You-Know-Who or Lagarde, could break her defence." He explained in a lowly voice. "And that was Dumbledore's ultimate weapon."

"He thought they could spin it to their advantage. And they did. Diggory brought in essential pieces of information. After knowing the enemy's intentions, she alerted James and Lily at once. Dumebledore advised them to go into hiding. Well, of course, You-Know-Who wasn't an easy person to hide from. He told them that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm."

"How does that work?" said Madam Rosmerta, breathless with interest. Professor Flitwick cleared his throat.

"An immensely complex spell," he said squeakily, "involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find— unless, of course, the Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret-Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where Lily and James were staying for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their sitting room window!"

"So Black was the Potters' Secret-Keeper?" whispered Madam Rosmerta.

"Naturally, since Isabella was into hiding too. Her family was at risk after they found out she was playing double-agent in Dumbledore's favour." said Professor McGonagall. "James Potter told Dumbledore that Black would die rather than tell where they were, that Black was planning to go into hiding himself.. and yet, Dumbledore remained worried. I remember him offering to be the Potters' Secret-Keeper himself."

"He suspected Black?" gasped Madam Rosmerta.

"He was sure that somebody close to the Potters had been keeping You-Know-Who informed of their movements," said Professor McGonagall darkly.

"Indeed, he had suspected for some time that someone on our side had turned traitor and was passing a lot of information to You-Know-Who."

"But James Potter insisted on using Black?"

"He did," said Fudge heavily. "And then, barely a week after the Fidelius Charm had been performed—"

"Black betrayed them?" breathed Madam Rosmerta.

Ria felt his grip tighten.

"He did indeed. Black was tired of his double-agent role. He was ready to declare his support openly for You-Know-Who, and he seemed to have planned this for the moment of the Potters' death."

"But, as we all know, You-Know-Who met his downfall in little Harry Potter. Powers gone, horribly weakened, he fled. And this left Black in a very nasty position indeed. His master had fallen at the very moment when he, Black, had shown his true colours as a traitor. He had no choice but to run for it—"

"Filthy, stinkin' turncoat!" Hagrid said, so loudly that half the bar went quiet.

"Shh!" said Professor McGonagall.

"I met him!" growled Hagrid. "I musta bin the last ter see him before he killed all them people! It was me what rescued Harry from Lily an' James's house after they was killed! Jus' got him outta the ruins, poor little thing, with a great slash across his forehead, an' his parents dead.. an' Sirius Black turns up, on that flyin' motorbike he used ter ride."

"Never occurred ter me what he was doin' there. I didn' know he'd bin Lily an' James's Secret-Keeper. Thought he'd jus' heard the news o' You-Know-Who's attack an' come ter see what he could do. White an' shakin', he was. An' yeh know what I did? I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN' TRAITOR!" Hagrid roared.

"Hagrid, please!" said Professor McGonagall. "Keep your voice down!"

"How was I ter know he wasn' upset abou' Lily an' James? It was You-Know-Who he cared abou'! An' then he says, 'Give Harry ter me, Hagrid, I'm his godfather, I'll look after him—' Ha! But I'd had me orders from Dumbledore, an' I told Black no, Dumbledore said Harry was ter go ter his aunt an' uncle's. Black argued, but in the end he gave in. Told me ter take his motorbike ter get Harry there. 'I won't need it anymore,' he says.

"I shoulda known there was somethin' fishy goin' on then. He loved that motorbike, what was he givin' it ter me for? Why wouldn' he need it anymore? Fact was, it was too easy ter trace. Dumbledore knew he'd bin the Potters' Secret-Keeper. Black knew he was goin' ter have ter run fer it that night, knew it was a matter o' hours before the Ministry was after him."

"But what if I'd given Harry to him, eh? I bet he'd've pitched him off the bike halfway out ter sea. His bes' friends' son! But when a wizard goes over ter the Dark side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to 'em anymore.."

"And the thing is, it didn't end there." sighed McGonagall. "Sirius Black had also managed revealed Diggory's hiding location to Lagarde. But James and Lily's death had forced Isabella to come out of hiding.. so when they arrived, she wasn't there to protect them.."

"Black intended for Lagarde to wipe out her entire family. But thanks to Severus Snape's warning, she made her way back there quickly and avoided the casualties. Though.. some damage had already been done."

Ria's stomach dropped in realisation. Aunt Kora.. that's how..

A long silence followed their stories.

Then Madam Rosmerta said with some satisfaction, "But he didn't manage to disappear, did he? The Ministry of Magic caught up with him the next day!"

"Alas, if only we had," said Fudge bitterly. "It was not we who found him. It was little Peter Pettigrew— another of the Potters' friends. Maddened by grief, no doubt, and knowing that Black had been the Potters' Secret-Keeper, he went after Black himself."

"Pettigrew.. that fat little boy who was always tagging around after them at Hogwarts?" said Madam Rosmerta.

"Hero-worshipped Black and Potter.. and Isabella took care of him like a big sister. She even named him her daughter's godfather." said Professor McGonagall.

Ria placed the glass on the table. She couldn't stop shaking. Her mind travelled back to the day she was about to meet Severus for the first time.

"You did tell me about a Godfather, but about the one that died some years ago. Not the one that lived."

"Never quite in their league, talent-wise. I was often rather sharp with him. You can imagine how I— how I regret that now.." She sounded as though she had a sudden head cold.

"There, now, Minerva," said Fudge kindly, "Pettigrew died a hero's death. Eyewitnesses— Muggles, of course, we wiped their memories later— told us how Pettigrew cornered Black. They say he was sobbing, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' And then he went for his wand. Well, of course, Black was quicker. Blew Pettigrew to smithereens.."

Professor McGonagall blew her nose and said thickly, "Stupid boy.. foolish boy.. he was always hopeless at dueling.. should have left it to the Ministry.."

"I tell yeh, if I'd got ter Black before little Pettigrew did, I wouldn't've messed around with wands— I'd've ripped him limb-from-limb," Hagrid growled.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Hagrid," said Fudge sharply. "Nobody but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad would have stood a chance against Black once he was cornered. I was Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Catastrophes at the time, and I was one of the first on the scene after Black murdered all those people."

"I— I will never forget it. I still dream about it sometimes. A crater in the middle of the street, so deep it had cracked the sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And Black standing there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front of him.. a heap of bloodstained robes and a few— a few fragments—"

Fudge's voice stopped abruptly. "Well, there you have it, Rosmerta," He said thickly. "Black was taken away by twenty members of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad and Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First Class, which I think was some comfort to his poor mother. Black's been in Azkaban ever since."

Madam Rosmerta let out a long sigh. "Is it true he's mad, Minister?"

"I wish I could say that he was," said Fudge slowly. "I certainly believe his master's defeat unhinged him for a while. The murder of Pettigrew and all those Muggles was the action of a cornered and desperate man— cruel.. pointless. Yet I met Black on my last inspection of Azkaban."

"You know, most of the prisoners in there sit muttering to themselves in the dark; there's no sense in them.. but I was shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quite rationally to me. It was unnerving. You'd have thought he was merely bored— asked if I'd finished with my newspaper, cool as you please, said he missed doing the crossword."

"Yes, I was astounded at how little effect the dementors seemed to be having on him— and he was one of the most heavily guarded in the place, you know. Dementors outside his door day and night."

"But what do you think he's broken out to do?" said Madam Rosmerta. "Good gracious, Minister, he isn't trying to rejoin You-Know-Who, is he?"

"I daresay that is his— er— eventual plan," said Fudge evasively. "But we hope to catch Black long before that. I must say, You-Know-Who alone and friendless is one thing.. but give him back his most devoted servant, and I shudder to think how quickly he'll rise again.."

There was a small chink of glass on wood. Someone had set down their glass.

"You know, Cornelius, if you're dining with the headmaster, we'd better head back up to the castle," said Professor McGonagall.

One by one, the pairs of feet in front of Harry took the weight of their owners once more; hems of cloaks swung into sight, and Madam Rosemerta's glittering heels disappeared behind the bar. The door of the Three Broomsticks opened again, there was another flurry of snow, and the teachers had disappeared.

"Harry?" Ron's and Hermione's faces appeared under the table. They were both staring at him, lost for words. While Ria had her face hidden in her shaky hands. So much.. so much had happened. It was hard to process.

She knew about Harry being in danger.. but..

Was her mother safe?

Was she really safe?

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

[word count: 6468]

a/n: WOOO my cousin brother got married yesterday ya'll
and they're the sweetest couple ever T-T like-
he's the awkward shy one and she's the talkative girl and they looked so in love 

@/god my romance arc when?