So...hi. I'm not even going to tell you why I've been gone so long, just know I'm really REALLY sorry. Here is the new chapter, if you still want to read it (hopefully you do). I can't say it's worth the wait, because-let's face it- two months to wait for this is way too long. Anyway, enjoy the read!

The portrait creaked open to my touch. I started slow at first, but under the spell of the moment—and the push of Sirius—I pushed my full weight on the portrait. It swung open as we all yelled our best battle cry….

To no one.

Well that's anticlimactic, isn't it?

"What in Merlin's green earth?" James asked, speaking on behalf of the group's collective bewilderment.

"They were literally just here," Sirius said with a tone of frustration. "They can't have blown each other up that quickly. They both would've been too afraid to mess up their hair."

"Really not the time for jokes, Padfoot."

"It's always a time for jokes, Prongs. Or did doe-eyes over here make you forget that? Another joke!"

Lily kept her 'doe-eyes' squinted at Sirius as she lowered her fist. "I'm watching you, Black."

"They can't have gone far," I said, reeling the conversation back in. I pursed my lips as I scanned the corridor. My eyes got stuck on a weird blot of green on the marble floor. I crinkled my eyebrows at it. "Is that…ink?"

"Where?"

They all craned their necks in the direction of my outstretched finger.

"Alright, hawk-eyes."

"What is it with you and eye jokes today, mate?"

"Can we continue or what?" If I had to keep these two on track for the entire rescue mission, I'd implode.

"Sorry, mum," they said together. I rolled my eyes, but had the feeling they high-fived behind my back as I did so.

I stepped over to the ink blot. It stuck to my finger tackily as I pulled it up from the ground. Still wet. My eyes scanned the floor. Not five paces from the first one, another ink blot stained the stone.

"I think it's a trail," I said over my shoulder. "I bet you anything Regulus left it."

"Why not Moony?" Sirius asked. Everyone stared. "It was only a theory, Merlin. Maybe he left it so we could find him."

"That would imply Remus wrote all of those notes, you git," Mary said.

"Hang on," James piped up, "I thought Snape left those?"

"We don't have to time to argue. Let's follow them," I said, keen to move along.

The trail led us far into the dungeons. The cold walls pressed the atmosphere against us, keeping the tone nice and stressful. We all lit our wands, which helped a little. Though, fear still ached deep within my bones.

"You can see your breath," Sirius panted, rubbing his hands together. "No wonder Regulus likes it down here. His heart is about the same temperature."

"Shh!"

"Alright, Mary. Who died and made you queen?"

"Both of you shut up or I'll hex the shit out of you."

"Oh, not you too, Prongs."

"Shh!"

We tiptoed down the corridor, huddled together in a tight pack. I stood in front, my wand held out so I could see the, now pooled, droplets of ink on the dark gray floor.

"Stop." I put out an arm to keep the group from stepping in the green. "Here."

"What?" Sirius asked.

"They stopped here."

There was a pause.

"You having a laugh?"

"No!"

"You must be, because all that's here is a wall," Sirius said gently. He leaned over to James and whispered, "She's gone batty, Prongs. Best take over."

"Honestly," I said under my breath, "See this pool of ink, yeah? That means they stopped here for an extended period of time. If you noticed, the whole way leading up to this wall there's been droplets. Because they were walking. Funny how that works."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Where did they go? Surely they can't have Apparated," Mary said.

"Maybe there's some kind of enchantment on the wall," Lily replied, stepping up to the seemingly plain brick wall and pointing her wand at the stones. "Homenum Revelio!"

Her wand vibrated in her hand.

"What does that mean?" Sirius asked.

"Someone's in there."

"Well, how do we get to them?"

"I say we blast it down."

"No, Mary," Lily said quickly, pushing Mary's poised wand arm back down to her side. "That'll make too big a fuss."

"It may be our only choice," James piped in. "How else can we get through?"

I stared at the wall while the others debated the best course of action. Strange markings began to appear in the gray stone. I reached my hand up to touch the end of one. The ridges scraped against my fingers. I followed its curved path until I realized that all the markings were connected.

"Guys."

They continued to bicker.

"Guys."

Still going.

"Shut it!"

Their eyes finally snapped up. My cheeks warmed as they stared in shock. I cleared my throat.

"I found something."

"Okay," James said timidly.

"Snakes."

"Pardon?"

"The walls. There are snakes carved into them. Look," I held up my lighted wand tip to the stone.

"Of course," Lily exclaimed, moving closer to the wall.

"Yes, of course," Sirius said, clearing his throat. "Why don't you explain, Lily, so everyone can understand. I get it, but these guys might not."

"Shut up, Padfoot." James turned to Lily. "What is it?"

She pursed her lips. "The bricks are charmed." She turned back to the wall. Starting at the end of the snake, she tapped the bricks with her wand. At her touch, the bricks shifted inwards. It reminded me of the entrance to Diagon Alley through the Leaky Cauldron. Strange, how such innocent magic can be twisted into a concealer of great evil. Lily finished her task, revealing an open space where a wall once was.

"Well done, you two," James said with his sideways grin. "Let's get Moony back, eh?"

Collectively nodding, we took a moment to breathe before entering. My mind raced. How did all this even happen? Was there something I did wrong to warrant a dark overlord slowly taking over Hogwarts? No. There wasn't. But that's almost worse. If there was a moment that I could take back to make all of this go away, I'd take it. But there isn't. Evil and darkness happened on its own. Its toxicity seeped into my life without any prodding. There was nothing I could do.

Yet, a light shined in the dark. A warm, gentle light who touched every part of my heart. Taking away a moment would surely take away the darkness, but the light would go with it. He would go with it. My stomach dropped at the thought.

"You alright, Jordan?" Lily asked, placing a hand on my shoulder. I nodded with my lips pressed tightly together. "We will get him back."

I nodded again, this time with more assurance. She's right. We would get him back. And if we didn't—Regulus had better guard his life.

Like I said, not worth the wait. Still, reaching the end! I'm so ready for this fic to be done, honestly. Not that I don't love writing it, but I need something new, you know?

Here's a question:

How do you think the story will end?

Hopefully the next update won't take so long, but who knows. Spring semester starts in a week, so I'll be really busy again. Until next time!