Magic in the Moonlight
CHAPTER Fifty Three
A month had passed already since Albus had dropped the knowledge that he had figured the location of the first Horcrux. They had not pursued it yet due to Dumbledore taking time to make sure there were no nasty surprises and traps around the place where he believed it to be. It made sense really that he would place a part of his soul in his old family home, despite it not being somewhere he had been brought up, but Horcruxes tended to be linked to the host in some way or another. Lyra had been gearing herself up for the encounter, preparing as much as possible waiting for Albus to summon her like he said he would.
It was late night when she had decided to go for a stroll through Hogwarts, enjoying the cool night air, watching the moonlight reflect languidly across the great lake. It was a sight that always filled her with peace much like when she had been younger. Even now she could clearly see herself, Lily and Severus languidly walking across the grassy embankment. Only this time she was alone. Brushing such dark thoughts aside, she instead headed back towards the school deciding that she would see if Dumbledore was awake. She had thought they would have been underway trying to find the Horcrux in Voldemort's old family home by now but perhaps there were still preparations to complete? However having entered Albus' office it was to find the place empty bar from the usual phoenix. Frowning, Lyra stood by Fawkes' perch idly stroking the phoenix's feathered head as he dozed, earning her an appreciative cooing noise to which she smiled at.
"I don't suppose you know where he's wandered off to?" she muttered quietly but garnered no response.
She only hoped he hadn't decided to go by himself, no matter how great a wizard he was they couldn't take any liberties when dealing with Voldemort. And yet when she heard the unmistakable sound of apparation behind her, Lyra knew it had happened. Only one person could apparate within Hogwarts.
Spinning round her wide eyes took in Albus practically sprawled across the steps leading up to his desk, cradling a blackened hand that looked as if it had been scorched to charcoal, to his chest. Instantly she was at his side but the elderly wizard threw out his other hand to stop her from nearing him.
"No! Do not touch me," he spoke between gritted teeth, showing pain for the first time in front of her, "please get Severus, I will need his help."
Feeling powerless all she could do was nod before leaping out of the room, running faster than she believed she could. It was lucky she had kept up with her fitness as she skidded into the dungeons only moments later, banging loudly against Severus' door.
"What in the blasted-" he started with a growl as he threw open the door, clearly not happy to have his late night potion making spoiled.
"Albus needs you, now!" Lyra almost gasped out, "I think he's been cursed, he wouldn't let me touch him."
Severus took only a moment to collect himself before he hurried along the corridors, not quite running but with almost as much haste as Lyra had used to reach him in the first place.
"It would have been quicker if you had sent me a patronus," Severus practically huffed.
Lyra had to bite her tongue to stop herself from responding with a biting comment, her worry bringing out her less than patient side.
"I'm running low on happy thoughts lately," was all she said.
Reaching Albus' office, Severus stopped her from entering, a serious look on his face.
"Wait out here, if I need you I will call for you."
"But!" she tried to argue but the door was already closed on her before she could begin.
Cursing fluently, and feeling somewhat childish for it, Lyra ran a hand agitatedly through her hair before throwing her back against a wall. Trying to calm herself by closing her eyes, she tried to shut out the thoughts of what could be going behind the door. She felt so useless! First with being unable to help Dumbledore, then with being unable to conjure a patronus to call Severus, and then as a final blow even Severus having admitted she could do nothing before shutting her out. Albus was like a grandfather to her, she had never seen him in pain before and it had scared her to see such a strong wizard in such a way. She couldn't lose him too, not so soon after Sirius.
Clutching a hand to her chest Lyra slid down the wall until she was seated. Only when she touched the cold hard floor did she realise that tears were falling down her face. So much had happened lately only now did it all hit her. She had lost another friend, one she could still clearly stood before her smiling brightly and embracing her warmly, playfully teasing her with their old nicknames and being there for her, talking with her over problems that felt so trivial now. Without Remus she was alone with these thoughts but Sirius had come to her aid and now he too was gone. And now even Albus no longer looked so immortal to her like parents and grandparents looked to their young charges. On a whim Lyra drew her wand, trying to bite back the whimpers of sadness.
'Come on woman, you're a damned Auror!' she scorned herself to no avail.
Instead she flicked her wand lightly, "expecto patronum."
Even though she knew nothing much would happen considering the lack of drive behind her incantation, when nothing so much as a wisp of smoke appeared from the end of her wand she couldn't hold back the sobs any longer. She could no longer recall those powerful happy memories that had driven her so far. Memories of her times in Hogwarts as a child amongst friends. Memories of her time spent with Remus or Lily and James' wedding. Everything felt…hollow.
Hearing the door beside her open she didn't even look up as Severus exited, stood hovering over her. He looked a little haggard as if his spells had taken somewhat of a toll on him also, his sleeves pushed back and a furiously determined look still frozen on his face. Upon seeing the devastated woman sat by the door however broke his frozen shell. Gently, almost wary of her reaction, he place a hand atop her head.
"Albus is recovering, he is past the worst of it for now…go rest."
Nodding, Lyra pushed herself to her feet trying to regain some decorum until she stumbled, partially blinded from her tears as she hastily wiped them away. Sighing quietly, Severus lightly grasped her shoulder.
"Come, you can come with me tomorrow morning to check on Albus, but now you must rest."
Pulling her shoulder back as if burned, Lyra walked away, "I can find my own way thank you," she muttered quietly before carrying herself down the cold stone corridor, leaving behind a slightly stung Severus.
By next morning she had lightened somewhat, gathering her thoughts and locking them away. She had no time to be this way and it surely wasn't the time to be breaking down, she needed to be strong for what she would have to face. In a way she was glad Remus was no longer with her, at least he would not have to see her such a way. Her sleep, or what little of it, had been wrecked with dark dreams that she had not been able to clearly see. Lightning had been striking a tower, bright and dazzling, the clouds above coiling and writhing through the sky, a burning fire on the horizon, but even greater was the feeling of pain in her chest. Each time she woke before she could understand what she knew was a vision, only to be plunged again into its dark depths when she closed her eyes. Carrying her weary legs up to Dumbledore's office not long after dawn, she had been surprised to see Severus just ahead of her. It seemed he had been as eager as herself to see Albus this morning. As if sensing her he glanced back at her but said nothing and she replied in likewise. Perhaps it was childish but Lyra had nothing to say anymore.
Inside it was a surprise to see the elderly wizard sat at his desk as if it was any other day, idly toying with a ring between his fingers, his other blackened hand resting on the desk. Upon their entry he looked up with a small smile.
"Ah, I'm glad you are both here. This was the Horcrux that I spoke of," he held up the small band, a large cracked black jewel resting in its centre, "I broke the seal and managed to destroy it however it seems at great personal cost."
"You should have told me," Lyra scolded instantly, frowning as she stopped before his desk, "I should have come with you."
Albus merely waved his hand as Severus moved to his side to tend to the blackened mess that remained of his other limb.
"Nonsense, better I than you my dear."
He definitely seemed to be back in his usual mood. Severus scowl deepened as he examined the scorched hand with his wand, gently holding the hand as if worried it would crumble in his grasp.
"I have done all I can, you have a year at most…" he spoke quietly before angrily sweeping away from the desk and towards the pensieve.
Frowning at his behaviour, Lyra looked to the elderly wizard who smiled warmly at her.
"I am dying."
Feeling her legs almost give out on her, Lyra quickly sat herself down in the chair opposite Dumbledore, gripping the arm of the chair tightly.
"What?"
"Do not look so horrified my dear," he chuckled as he adjusted his half-moon spectacles, "I have been among this world long enough, but I will not leave it without making sure Harry is ready for what needs to be done."
"Albus…" Lyra's voice almost broke but he merely shook his head.
"With this turn of events I believe it is time we tell Severus."
At hearing his name said wizard turned with an intrigued frown, curling his long cloak around him as he cocked his head slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Albus stood up to address Severus eye to eye, a serious look falling across his now stormy blue eyes. At that moment he truly did look like the world's most powerful wizard, burdened with knowledge that most could only dream to know of.
"That night when Voldemort killed Lily and James Potter, then tried to kill Harry, something more happened that night than just the killing curse rebounding. That night when the killing curse rebounded from its target and hit Voldemort something happened that not even he could have expected. There is a reason why the boy can speak to snakes and shares a link with Voldemort," a look of realisation fell across Severus' silently shocked face, "that night part of Voldemort's soul latched onto Harry and he became a living Horcrux."
"You mean when the time comes…." Severus spoke quietly but there was an underlying emotion that surprised Lyra; anger, "the boy must die?"
"Yes. Yes…he must die."
Lyra had known of this all along, since the days when Remus and Albus had found her and cared for her frail body. That one day to end it all first something must be sacrificed.
"You've kept him alive so that he can die at the proper moment. You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter! And you knew of this?"
He shot a look at Lyra who merely said nothing, looking away.
Albus did not looked surprised, a glimmer in his eyes, "don't tell me now that you've grown to care for the boy?"
Severus paused but a moment before he whipped his wand around his head, uttering the words she had only tried that night.
"Expecto patronum!"
Lyra felt her heart give a painful squeeze as a silver doe pranced around the office, happily dancing here and there, free without a care while Severus stared longingly after it, Dumbledore's surprised eyes following the apparition. He looked first at Lyra understandingly before back at Severus, clear surprise etched onto his aged face.
"After all this time?"
"Always," Severus practically breathed out the reply.
Lyra could hear no more. Standing up she made to head for the door only to be stopped by Albus' words.
"He has a right to know."
"No he doesn't," she shot back quickly without turning around, "this is my problem to deal with."
"What else are you hiding from me?" the potions master questioned with narrowed eyes, "if I have a right to know-"
"No you don't!" Lyra snapped as she spun round with furious eyes but above all he couldn't help but notice fear and sadness lingering in them, "it doesn't mean anything to you."
"Lyra," Albus reproached her with a scolding look, "this is not how you want to leave things with someone you care about, trust me. Although things are complex between you both I know that you both do care for each other, no matter how much you try to avoid it."
Grinding her teeth for a moment she snapped back to Severus, "fine, you want to know what I'm hiding? That night Harry wasn't the only unforeseeable occurrence. I was an unexpected visitor who arrived just as the killing curse rebounded back catching me also. That night when I and Voldemort were hit by the curse part of my soul was ripped from me and taken by Voldemort like some sort of reverse Horcrux. We have been linked ever since, sometimes lately I can feel him pulling more and more from me," she grabbed her chest tightly, "like a leech sucking away my life. And you know what the real kicker is? Because of this it means that while I'm alive he cannot die! If he were to die he could just steal the rest of my soul to give him life. So there you have it! For the past sixteen years I have been living with the knowledge that I will have to die to bring him down! There's no optional way out, no hope for me, just waiting for my own death."
Without another word she left, not bothering to explain any further, Lyra had heard and said enough.
For a moment the office was silent, Albus evaluating Severus as said potions master stood frozen. To say the elderly wizard was surprised by what had just occurred between Severus and Lyra would have been a lie. He knew things were complicated between the two and had been since they were children. Albus had been the first to see her developing feelings for the young Slytherin boy, in fact he had warned her that it might not be wise to keep close to the boy having noticed his affiliation towards the Dark Arts. But she had always swore to the good in him, a side Albus had witnessed for himself that dark night when he thought he had lost everything to Voldemort.
"There…there has to be a way," Severus muttered almost breathlessly, turning to face Albus.
"If there is a way I don't doubt she will find it, however she seems to have lost all reason to continue living," Albus sighed quietly, lightly rubbing the bridge of his nose with his good hand, "this last year I have seen her falling into a dark hole she is struggling to escape. Part of this is Voldemort's influence over her, driving her like Harry, to push away everyone until she is lonely and undefended. She believes it better that when the time comes she is alone. So far she is succeeding in this and when I am gone, I fear for her Severus. I truly do."
After a brief thoughtful pause, he made his way slowly towards his pensieve, drawing out several vials from his cabinet. Each vial was a soft gold with a thin black and white ribbon wrapped around them to show they had been unopened since he had been entrusted with them.
"I think the time has come for you to see these Severus. In time she will forgive me for this. When I and Remus first discovered her in the rubble of Godric's Hollow, Lyra's mind was shattered from the effects of part of her soul having been ripped from her. If she hadn't been in her werewolf form she would have died, her transformation kept her body together but not her mind," Severus drew nearer, with each word detailing Lyra's near-death escape tightening the fine line of his mouth, "it took me weeks to recover all of her memories, longer still to successfully return them to her, some were damaged and only now have I managed to piece them back together. I think it is time you see things from another perspective."
The black and white ribbons came undone with a flick of his finger, opening the delicate vials and emptying their silver essence into the swirling pensieve below. Part of Severus hesitated, about to see things that would undoubtedly be personal to his old friend, but he wanted to…no, needed to see them. Her admission of the future had left him suddenly feeling cold and perhaps what he was about to see would put things into perspective for him. As the silver liquid began to change colour and form images for a moment Severus could see Lyra lying there in the darkness, her body still like stone and those beautiful pale grey eyes of her staring up at him without light. His heart stilled in his chest, his breath catching until the image faded away to take on another shape.
