Chapter 20

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IT LOOKED LIKE ONE INSULTING ARTICLE WASN'T ENOUGH TO DETER RITA SKEETER COMPLETELY. The woman still had the gall to write ludicrous articles about teenagers to pass the time. Unfortunately, she was targeting people who were dear to Adhara.

Adhara tracked down Luna Lovegood herself this time, planning on publishing another scathing reply to Skeeter with the Quibbler's help. It didn't sell as many papers as the Prophet last time she did, but if there was anything Adhara understood about the Lovegoods, it was that they weren't concerned about popularity. They seem to care more about the truth.

Case and point: Luna Lovegood practically beamed when Adhara asked if she could write another article.

"Absolutely! Dad loved your reply, the last time. Said you really knew how to 'stick it to the man'!"

Adhara blinked, feeling a bit uneasy at Lovegood's overblown display of happiness. She grabbed both of Adhara's hands, which made her take a step back.

Everything about the girl was sparkling, from her eyes to her hair, and even her tie, yet she looked entirely genuine. It was nice, in a way. Adhara just wasn't used to people being so nice to her so fast.

'Extroverts...' she thought to herself.

They were in front of the Defence classroom. Class had ended a while ago, and Adhara waited for Lovegood as the third-years filed out. Lovegood had waved her friends off, choosing to stay with Adhara in the now-empty corridor to talk.

Adhara wondered if the Ravenclaw would have been more laid back if her friends had stayed. Probably not.

"You're certain your father would be okay with it?"

"Oh, without a doubt! He liked your previous article so much, he cut it out and stuck it on our icebox!"

The tips of Adhara's ear burned. She has to look away.

"Ahem!"

Moody had appeared suddenly, standing at the entrance of the classroom, his real eye fixed on both of them.

"Black. Lovegood. What're you two doing here? Up to something, are you?"

Weirdly, Lovegood had gone quiet. She stepped away from the man yet held onto Adhara.

Seeing the uncharacteristic quietness, Adhara spoke for both of them. "Nothing particular. We were just talking and hadn't noticed the time pass."

Moody stood up straight, chin rising. "Is that so? Are. Are you two friends?"

Adhara's brows furrowed at the sudden change in demeanour. Nonetheless, denying would look suspicious, so she nodded.

She felt Lovegood squeeze her hands tighter, but she still didn't say anything.

Moody sniffed. "I see. Did you know that we — I — I mean, they were friends when they attended the school?"

"Who?"

"Your parents. Your father," he said to Adhara, then turned to Lovegood, "and your mother."

Lovegood finally looked up. "You knew my mother?"

A fleeting smile passed over his lips, disappearing just as fast as it appeared. "In passing," Moody grunted, seemingly clearing his throat. "Must be off now, lads. Remember, constant vigilance!"

He patted Adhara's head, messing up her hair before walking away. He did it too quickly for her to react.

She brushed it down with her fingers, brows still furrowed. If Adhara knew any better, she would've sworn Moody's eyes were glassed over when he left.

━━━━

Adahara's hands trembled slightly. Adhara received three letters in total. The first two were already opened and tucked into her father's diary for safekeeping. She was still tense from those letters, not that they contained anything bad, Adhara just didn't think she would receive any letters from Remus and Sirius.

Though she probably should have, considering they both have been consistently writing to her through the year, it was Adhara who never responded (the note about Winky, and the newspaper with her article didn't count, she told herself).

But still. It was the Spring Equinox Holidays. Harry had already notified them that he wouldn't return for the break, and though they had asked Adhara as well, she hadn't replied. Harry's reply should have been enough for both. Therefore, neither Remus nor her uncle had any reason to write to her.

Except, well. It was her birthday today.

Sirius and Remus have written to her numerous times before. It made sense that they would write to her today, too. It's just that. Adhara wasn't expecting it. At least, she didn't think she could expect it. Should expect it. (She didn't hope for anything. Adhara never hoped.)

But they had written to her. They even send her a gift. A pendant with a picture of her father.

Adhara clutched the necklace, pocketing it. Firmly, she kept her gaze away from her friends and tore open the third letter.

Adhara's hands shook.

All of her friends stayed back at school for the break, so other than Remus and Sirius, no one else should be writing to her. Especially not Roisin of all people.

It seemed like the relationship between the Hufflepuff and her friends had grown a lot over the past year. Roisin was spending the holidays with the Weasleys, and according to the letter, Molly Weasley also invited the girl to stay with them in the summer.

Unbeknownst to her, a weight lifted off of Adhara's chest. She had to swallow down a sudden swell of emotions that choked her up.

Roisin, and all the other children of Aleyne, they weren't friends, they were far from family. But they were not nothing either. The perfect word to describe their bond didn't exist. Camaraderie would be the closest, but even then, it didn't feel right.

They understood each other more than anyone else ever would, which was why guilt churned in Adhara's stomach ever since she left them all behind.

Adara didn't regret leaving Aleyne. Far from it. She was grateful that she got out, and she would leave all over again if she went back in time. Adhara had to leave. Aleyne was slowly killing her, and she didn't even realize it until she found the Grangers.

Alas, everything had a price, and with Adhara's newfound freedom came the aching pressure of guilt.

No matter how many times she tried to tell herself otherwise, she couldn't make herself believe that she hadn't abandoned them. Yaritza, Roisin and Thomas stayed behind and suffered the consequences of her departure, while Adhara had people soothingly apply salve to her wounds.

It felt undeserved, it felt like betrayal, in a way. It was irrational to think that day, Adhara knew that. And, in a way, it was insulting. They didn't want her pity. Adhara knew that because she didn't want anyone's pity either. All her life, she watched the older children turn fifteen and leave without once turning back. Never once did she blame them, it didn't make sense to. She would've done the same in their place, and Adhara knew they would've done the same if they were in her place.

But, also, it wasn't the same. All those kids who left at fifteen, Adhara came to understand that they only switched one bad situation for another. Yaritza understood that which was why she chose the option that kept a roof over her head.

Kids who came from nothing, became nothing. Though, Adhara wasn't nothing. She wasn't a squib, she wasn't a muggleborn. A half-blood and a bastard, but she had a name that gave her privilege.

Adhara has the money and power to do something about Aleyne. The only problem was that she didn't know what she was supposed to do or who to go to. Barely fourteen, and Adhara wasn't used to asking people for help.

But this letter, Roisin's letter, had the effect of long-awaited rain during a scorching hot day. Not one that left the day humid and unbearable, but the type of rain that cooled down the blazing cement and made it easier to breathe.

The Weasleys were keeping Roisin away from Aleyne, which was a relief. Matron may be a sucker for money, but Adhara doubted she would risk anything by fighting a pureblood family.

But that wasn't the part that had Adhara sucking in her breath.

Also, Molly said your uncle was suing Aleyne? They said that it's all still very hush-hush, so no one knows yet, but I thought you would want to know. He looked very dedicated. And somehow, he found out about Thomas?

The letter crumpled beneath her fingers. Adhara had to set it down.

"You alright?"

Ron noticed her breathing funnily. Swallowing down harshly, Adhara nodded, a sense of newfound hope growing within her.

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It took Sirius all the strength in his body not to barge back inside the office and hex, curse and hurt Hallewell.

Sirius clenched his jaw tight, fingers curling into fists. He found a quiet corridor, closing his eyes instantly and breathing in and out through his nose, like he remembered Euphemia had taught him.

"You might want to hurry and leave."

Cautiously, Sirius peeled one eye open. Yaritza Shafiq stood in front of him with her clean white dress and hands clasped behind her back.

"Matron will get angry if she sees you lurking around after she told you to leave."

"Yeah? And what do you think she'll do when she finds me?"

"Nothing to you. But it's never a good thing for us when she is angry."

Sirius' nails dug into his skin. His thoughts wandered to Adhara's letter. The first proper letter she addressed to him, and it was more than just one sentence long. Adhara had thanked him and had requested (requested!) something from him.

Yaritza Shafiq, Adhara's roommate and confidante for all these years, still lived at Aleyne. Roisin may now be safe, but Yaritza wasn't. In fact, Adhara believed she might be even less safe than the average Aleyne kid because of her position.

Adhara knew what power the Black Family held, the money that they had. She knew that Shafiq would never accept an adoption proposal from Sirius, but Adhara had asked him if they could at least get her to stay at Grimmauld. Or get Shafiq her own place or sponsor her, just something to get her out of Aleyne.

And Adhara had never asked Sirius for anything. She refused to even speak with him, yet she requested this, so what was Sirius supposed to do, say no?

A kid ran towards them suddenly. He jumped straight into Yaritza's arms, who effortlessly placed him on her hip. The kid looked barely three, but Sirius wagered he just might be a bit older. He whispered something to Yaritza, eyeing Sirius warily.

Green eyes, blond hair. It took Sirius a total of three full breaths to remember the picture in the family registry. Sirius wanted to scream.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"You really should leave." It sounded more like a demand than a request.

"Adhara asked about you," Sirius answered instead.

Yaritza blinked, casting him a glance from head to toe. She shifted the real Rosier heir from one hip to the other.

"Did she? What did she say?"

"She wants you to come stay with us."

Sirius watched her shut her eyes and sigh deeply. Her shoulders had relaxed. "Go back to your room, Tommy. I'll be with you soon."

"But, Yara —"

"Please."

Tommy shut right up. Bottom lip out, he threw a glare at Sirius before running back to where he came from.

Yaritza steeled herself in front of him once more. "Thank you, but I must refuse."

"Why?" He didn't understand. Matron was horrible. This girl knew that so why would she willingly stay?

"I can't leave. Someone has to look out for the kids here. I'm the one who works closest to her, so I can keep them all safe."

"You know, you don't have —" Sirius organised his thoughts, shaking his head. He lowered his voice. "I'm working to sue the orphanage. None of you will have to stay here anymore. You won't have to keep them safe."

Yaritza smiled, sadly. "As wonderful as that sounds, Mr. Black, it actually isn't, in reality. Even if we could leave, where would we go?"

"We — well —"

"Abolishing this orphanage isn't the right solution. It's one thing to get rid of Matron, but we can't exactly get rid of the kids. Parents aren't going to stop abandoning their children just because Aleyne disappears. They'll just leave them somewhere else."

Sirius blinked, dumbfounded by the wisdom this sixteen-year-kid displayed, wondering what she had to go through to even realise this truth.

Without thinking, he laid a sympathetic hand on her shoulder, letting her words sink in.

Aleyne wasn't the problem.

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"So you think...that dream...did it really happen?"

"It is possible," said Dumbledore. "I would say — probable. Harry — did you see Voldemort?"

"No," said Harry. "Just Pettigrew in his cell. He was looking — well — at me. Right at me. But — he was being cursed so...I mean, he hasn't got a body, has he? Voldemort, I mean. But...but then how could he have held the wand?" Harry said slowly.

"How indeed?" muttered Dumbledore. "How indeed..."

Harry wandered the grounds of Hogwarts, hands clenched tightly onto his maroon jumper, the hem of which was all frayed and ripped, but Harry couldn't help but tug on it nonetheless.

The conversation with Dumbledore swirled through his mind. Harry recited it back to his friends, word for word, and even they were quite perplexed.

Voldemort doesn't have a body. But then how is he holding a wand?

"Whoever attacked Crouch and Krum," said Adhara earlier that day, after she had shouted at him for letting Moody keep the map, "didn't show up on the map."

Ron interjected quickly, "Unless it was Krum who —"

Millie smacked him over the head.

"Maybe they didn't show up on the map because there was nothing there to show up," continued Adhara, eyes on Harry. "And Voldemort doesn't have a body, and yet he's somehow not dead."

Hermione gasped at the implication. "You don't think..."

"Who else has been after Harry since he was a baby?"

A tense silence loomed as Hermione, Millicent and Ron followed Adhara's gaze.

Millie broke the silence first. "Still, why wouldn't he show up on the map? Pettigrew did."

"Pettigrew was a rat."

"And the ghosts?"

Adhara bit her lip. "I'm not...I'm not sure about that. But then, how else would you explain the attack?"

"Moody could be lying," thought Ron out loud. "It's not as though either of us checked the map ourselves. We are, quite literally, taking his word for it."

"Either way, something very dodgy is happening."

"It's been happening!"

Be careful, Sirius' letter had said. I don't trust this tournament.

Harry got up and left.

Just one year, I swear to Merlin.

He trudged down the grounds, on his way to Hagrid's. It was the only place he could think of to cool his head down. Unfortunately, as he approached the half-giant's door, he noticed a note taped on the front.

Went to Diagon Alie.

Be back for diner.

Harry groaned, smacking the door. Frustrated, he turned around to start his trek back up to the castle, when he noticed Alastor Moody himself march purposely towards the Forbidden Forest, dragging his leg behind him.

Harry quickly hid behind Hagrid's cottage and watched the man from around the corner. Moody checked behind him several times, as if to make sure no one was following him, then entered the woods.

Harry groaned to himself, once more. He was sure Adhara was about to have another reason to say 'I told you, so'.

Annoyed, Harry followed Moody into the forest.

Just one fucking year.

━━

Harry climbed a tree. Mind you, Harry has never climbed a tree in his life, so he was a bit surprised that his neck was still intact. Still, Harry continued to climb higher, hiding himself behind the branches to spy on his professor.

It was quiet in the forest, the trees and the wind almost going still. Harry was afraid to even take a breath.

Alastor Moody was kneeling in front of another figure. They wore a large dark cloak and a witch's hat that hid the top half of their face.

Harry's scar started to sting, all of a sudden, and he had to bite back a hiss.

"It was your only job." They spoke with a crisp and resounding voice, almost like a foreboding bell breaking the stillness of the forest.

The person approached Moody, placing a hand on his head, freezing the man in place. "I trust that you will succeed."

"Yes, my lord."

A chill ran down Harry's spine. The strange figure didn't reply, the still of the forest returning. For a second, Harry's breathing sounded too loud in his own ears. He put his hand to his mouth.

The scene was oddly similar to his dreams. Except, in his dreams, it was Pettigrew kneeling in his cell in Azkaban, begging for mercy to his lord as he crucioed him, over and over again.

But Voldemort never listened. He never even bothered to talk. Harry was assuming it was because Wormtail failed at his task — whatever that was — so Voldemort was too angry to even speak.

And then there was the snake.

But here. There was no Pettigrew, there was no Voldemort, and there was no snake. Yet, the scene made every bone in Harry's body feel like ice. However, in contrast, his scar was burning more and more by the second. Harry pressed a hand to it.

The figure looked up, seemingly in his direction. But Harry was well shrouded by the shadows of the trees, there was no way anyone could see him.

Yet, when the figure looked up, and he saw Bertha Jorkins' ruby red eyes stare right towards him, Harry couldn't help but flinch.

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A/N I would also just like to say that I absolutely love the idea of Regulus and Pandora being friends??? Obviously, along with Barty, Evan and Dorcas. It's why I added that last scene with Moody aka Barty.

Remember how Sirius wrote a letter to Harry after the attack on Crouch and Krum, telling him off for following Krum into the forest? And now Harry follows 'Moody' into the forest, completely ignoring the advice??? Yeah.

Also, if you are wondering why Voldemort didn't kill Harry right there, it's because the entire tournament plot was to get Harry's blood to help Voldemort's body back. Voldemort had plenty of opportunity to kill him through Barty the entire year. And even in first year with Quirrel. But he definitely wants to do it himself in his full form. Remember that he is quite a prideful man.