Almost on time ;) Enjoy the new chapter :)


I got so caught up in schoolwork and immortality research for the next few weeks that I barely noticed that Maia went out of her way to avoid me. It was not so much annoying as it was ridiculous and when I finally picked up on it, I made a point of rolling my eyes at her every time she slipped from a room I was in.

Mere days before the Hogsmeade weekend, I finally got word from Sirius concerning his trip. He apologized profusely about not writing earlier, but refused to say why it took him so long. I supposed it had something to do with super-secret Order work that he was not allowed to talk about.

He confirmed the date, though and I broke into a wide grin at that thought. For the past weeks, I had tried to tell myself that I was fine without him, that I did not miss him all that much, but with the realization of how soon I would see him, that lie came crashing down.

But, love, concerning my brother-

I sighed heavily, looking around for Reg, who was as usually having lunch with Crabbe and Macnair. He raised his head in time to meet my eyes. I quickly turned back to the letter when he gave me a small smile.

I know you just can't help yourself and whatnot, but he is what he is. There's no point hoping for redemption where there is none to be found. Please keep away from him. I only fear for your safety, okay? I long since stopped trusting my brother and you should know better than to fall in his trap again. Please, Selene. For me.

I raised my eyes to Regulus again, who was still watching me, was nodding along to something Crabbe was saying while he looked at me. When he saw me looking back, he rolled his eyes with a barely noticeable gesture in his companion's direction. I grinned at that and set the letter down.

I felt bad about going behind Sirius' back, but he was plainly wrong. Once Reg and I found out what the Dark Lord planned, I would be able to fully explain and Sirius would understand. And maybe, just maybe, they could even forgive each other.

On the Friday before our Hogsmeade weekend, I finally put aside my schoolwork to work on Reg's and my research again. I felt like I had never seen a pile of books as huge as the one that I had built up in front of me. Yet, as I sat before it, searching through the books for the third hour by now, I figured that my work was pointless.

No one would ever put information so precarious out into the open for every student to look at. They would have to be mad to do that. My gaze lifted up from the books and found the sealed entrance to the library's Restricted Section. If there were books in this school that told you how to become immortal, they would be sealed away where they could not easily fall into the wrong hands.

"Hey." Reg fell into a chair next to me, eyes fixed on the Restricted Section as well. "I just figured out the same thing."

"We were stupid," I said. "Of course it'd be in there."

"She'll never let us in," Reg said.

We sat together, staring at the entrance in silent thoughtfulness. He was right, of course. Without a special permission from a teacher, Madam Pince would probably not let us inside the Restricted Section. It was restricted after all.

"We could try and sneak in," Reg suggested.

"If we still had the map," I said darkly. "I'd give that a try."

Reg groaned. "It's a shame we lost that."

"Tell me about it," I said, mind jumping again to the question of how I would confess the loss to Sirius. I still did not know.

"But we have to get inside there," he said. "The answer is right there-"

I sighed, letting my head softly fall on top of one of the piles. "You don't know that."

"But I hope," Reg said as if it that settled matter.

I raised my head again slightly to look at him across the table. "Where do you take that from?"

He shrugged with a shrewd smile and then got up. "I'll just give it a shot," he told me. "Can't say more than no, can she?"

He strode confidently through the rows of books and I followed him wearily, carefully keeping so far away that no one would suspect us of being here together. I hid behind a corner when he approached the librarian. She regarded him suspiciously, hands reaching up to adjust her glasses as if to inspect him more thoroughly. Reg was gesturing animatedly as he talked, maybe to convey enthusiasm at the prospect of extended studying.

She was shaking her head even as he kept talking, and finally snapped at him. Reg took a step back and held his hands up in defense. He turned and moved towards me, joining me behind the corner.

"Tried telling her I wanted to gain extra-points for extensive research," he said, pulling a face. "She didn't believe it."

"Pity," I said.

"Your turn, then," Reg said with a faint smile.

"My turn?" I repeated. "What are you talking about?"

"You've got to try it, too," he explained patiently. "Maybe say you forgot the permit."

"She'll never-"

"Don't be a coward."

I raised an eyebrow at him for that. Reg shrugged and then nodded in Madam Pince's direction. I pulled a face but finally complied.

Madam Pince watched my approach with a glare more suited for a dragon than a librarian. I squared my shoulders and put on my sweetest smile. Arm yourself for the fight, I thought to myself, an go slay the beast.

"Good evening, Ma'am," I said.

"What do you want?"

My smile did not waver. "See, I have a little bit of trouble."

"I don't want any trouble around my books."

"Ma'am, I need to use the Restricted Section," I said.

She seemed instantly suspicious. "Permit?" she asked.

"Lost it," I said. "And I really don't want to go and ask Professor McGonagall to give me another one. She'll probably fail me for losing it in the first place."

Madam Pince pursed her lips. "I really can't help you, then. No permit, no entry."

"Ma'am, please," I begged. "It's really important-"

"No permit, no entry," she repeated. "Now go."

I sighed and tried to look as tragic as possible, but the dragon did not even sway. I turned around again and strolled away, joining Reg again behind the bookshelves.

"It was worth a shot," he said in vain attempt at cheerfulness.

"Well," I said. "But it didn't get us one step further."

He shrugged, sending me a smile probably mean as encouragement. "We just got to keep going. On that note, I'm going down to the common room. You coming?"

I frowned at him. Neither of us should be seen wandering the school with the other. I, for one, did not want to risk the gossip. Not anymore. I had had more than enough of that over the past two years, thank you very much.

"I think I'll stay a bit," I said. "Maybe there is something in one of those books."

Reg looked at me as if I had gone insane, but he did not argue. "Fine, then. Enjoy your night," he said, before striding away through the shelves and towards the exit. I watched him go, slightly confused at the dismay I felt at it.

I gladly returned to my books after that. I sank into print and pages and forgot all about time and place. There was nothing useful to be found, at least not for our case, but still, I was perplexed to find myself alone in the library at such a late hour. That was, when the dragon woke me.

"Miss Rosier!" Madam Pince snapped. "It's passed curfew! Leave!"

I blinked at her, shortly confused. "My apologies," I finally choked out. "I just got lost in these..."

I gestured to the books and her expression seemed to soften a bit. "I see," she said. "Well, then-"

"I'll, uh, I guess I'll go to bed, then," I said.

Madam Pince nodded stiffly and I practically jumped up and hurried past her, attempting to leave the library as quickly as possible.

I slowed down as soon as I stepped onto the corridor. If Madam Pince was right, and it was already after curfew, I needed to be a little cautious. Running into Filch again, before I had even served my first detention would not make the best impression. Not that I had anyone to impress, but I did not want to risk my grades so shortly before graduation.

I turned the corner, shuddering a the cold now that I stepped further away from the warming torches. My steps echoed in the width of the empty corridor. I quickened my pace again, thinking of the warmth and comfort of my bed.
The next corridor, too, was deserted, apart from a rusty armour that seemed to watch me with empty eyes. I passed it, but its gaze appeared to follow me, making the hairs on my neck stand high and causing goose-bumps to erupt all over my arms. I wrapped them around me and hurried on.
My steps were loud in my ears, but in the darkness, I seemed to hear every sound the castle made, every crack and moan of its walls and every-

The last thing I heard was my scream before the blackness swallowed me whole.