The tension finally died down in the room, everyone accepting Clarissa's new fate of "being a true Seer". Thankfully, her family understood her reasons for wanting to go through with it. They were proud of their daughter for being so resilient, but like any parent, they were also very scared for her. Clarissa was just about to turn 17 (barely an adult!), and to have this massive weight on her shoulders is not something either parent wants her to bear. Still, respecting her wishes, they set for the boys to protect her secret whilst at school (unfortunately, Damon just graduated that June and will be starting Auror training in the upcoming weeks) and put their foot down at her joining the Order. Clarissa relented after they agreed to update her on the things she already knew about.
It was settled that Dumbledore will be informed about the Horcruxes through Clarissa's "visions", it will be brought up one by one to ensure she has full control of the situation, as well as to not overwhelm everyone. The Order will be made aware of a trusted Seer in which all this information will be coming from, but not who it is. The adults will start additional training for Clarissa and the boys who started a fit when they weren't included, especially in Occlumency.
The conversations turned to a more positive light as they wait for Dumbledore's arrival. The Nox' spoke about their holiday at their villa in France, taking out the souvenirs, which were mostly pastries and a few knick-knacks for the Potter's. In turn, the boys shared their adventures during the past weeks, their pranks, and how the new practice drills James has come up with. Clarissa listened to both sides of the conversation, feeling more relaxed and content for the first time since arriving here. Seeing her family interact with the Potter's made her family seem whole; a feeling of warmth spread through her.
The tension came back when the clock struck six times, the sound of the floo could be heard from where they were. Albus Dumbledore has just arrived, Tinky popping in to inform them of what they already knew. Their parents and Damon steeled themselves, preparing to lie to one of the greatest wizards in the world. Thankfully, they were all adept in Occulumency because Clarissa wouldn't put it past Dumbledore to try and check for lies. Although James and Sirius wanted to stay for the meeting, the three teens were denied attendance, something Clarissa didn't mind. She wasn't in the mood to deal with Dumbledore trying to attack her brain, though she knew she must have had some training, they didn't want to risk it based on her current predicament.
The two families head to the living room to greet the Headmaster and to retire to Fleamont's office while the teens would be left to do their own thing. Albus Dumbledore, in his bright purple robes, was tall and thin. His silver beard was so long that it was tucked in his gold belt, blue eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles.
"Good evening to you all!" He greeted them; his voice full of mirth.
Murmurs of greeting were called out to the Headmaster, his eyes glancing past the people present. Clarissa made unwanted eye contact with the man that caused her to shy away from the intense gaze, tucking her body in James' side.
"Albus, thank you for coming," Fleamont told him, stepping forward to shake the man's hand.
"Not a problem Monty, my friend. From my understanding, we have some important things to discuss?"
Fleamont agreed with him, "Yes, it's a… sensitive topic that shouldn't be discussed over dinner with the kids."
"I hope you don't mind waiting until around half past seven to eat dinner Albus. We could have Tinky prepare some snacks if you're feeling peckish?" Euphemia offered.
"That's not necessary, although tea would be most welcome," Dumbledore declined.
"Come," Dorian said, "Monty said his office would suffice for our discussion."
As all the adults left for the office, Celeste stayed back to assure her daughter that everything will work out just fine and to tell the boys to stay out of trouble before following the rest of the adults. The three teens made their way to the back of the library where a set of reading couches were set up by a fireplace. Clarissa sat on the couch closest to the warmth of the fire, tucking in her legs while James sat beside her and Sirius in front of her.
The mood between the three of them was somber, the arrival of Dumbledore reminded them of what will become of Clarissa's future. Not liking the mood in the room, Clarissa decided to break the silence.
"Will you guys tell me about Hogwarts?"
The two lads turned to look at her, surprised that she spoke.
"What do you want to know?" Asked Sirius.
Clarissa shrugged in response, "I don't know really. I feel like I know a lot of things that could either be true or not about both of you, but I also know nothing about my life there."
"Well, why don't we start with what you do know," James suggested.
"Alright, I know that you're both in Gryffindor while I'm in Ravenclaw. We have the same group of friends for the most part. You're both on the quidditch team, but you're a chaser aren't you James? Not a seeker?"
James nodded at the brunette, indicating that she was right, "Sirius is a beater if you don't recall."
"Yeah, Merlin, the number of times you two ended up in the hospital wing was enough to send me to an early death. I don't understand how you both can keep playing that monster of a game. Especially after that one match where James ended up taking a bludger to the head and had to stay there for two weeks!" She told them both, not realizing that she recalled something from her life in Hogwarts.
Sirius guffawed at the memory, "He would've stayed only for a week and a half Clara, but your yelling gave him such a headache he had to stay for a couple of days extra."
Clarissa pouted at the remembrance of her yelling at a disoriented James Potter for being an idiot to play such a dangerous game, which only ended up with her bursting to tears in relief that he woke up and was safe.
"Yes, well, he deserved it for making me worry so much for him," Clarissa grumbled, making James grin and kiss her on her temple.
"Are you actually in love with Marls Sirius?" Clarissa asked, in an attempt to change the subject.
Sirius blushed a bright pink at the thought of the blue-eyed blonde and began to stutter out answers of denial that only made Clarissa doubt him even more on his feelings.
"I'm not 'in love' with her, but we are seeing each other exclusively," Sirius confessed which made the brunette squeal in delight, happy for both of them.
As Clarissa went on about how cute Sirius and Marlene were, the two boys couldn't help but fondly remember the first time she found out about the two. It saddened them that she didn't remember but the fact that her reaction was still the same made up for it.
"Now tell me honestly James," Clarissa began in a serious tone that made James a bit nervous if he was being honest.
"Do you really have no feelings for Lily Evans?" She asked him, looking straight into his eyes.
James sighed in relief, he thought he was in more trouble than that.
"Love, I told you already. I don't have feelings for Lily, never have and never will."
Clarissa looked in his eyes, searching for a hint that he was lying to her. When she couldn't find any, she turned to Sirius who also agreed to what he said.
"You understand why I'm asking though right?" She questioned both of them.
"Harry Potter is such a vital part of the future that his inexistence could have a terrible outcome."
"Can you tell us more? About the future… about your world?" James asked her softly.
Clarissa nibbled on her bottom lip, contemplating what she should do. If she told them about Peter, she knew they would be in denial and be outraged but the doubt will be there. Truth be told, she never knew the reason for the betrayal he committed or when. As much as possible she wants to be able to meet him first to decide.
"I'm sorry, but it's not a good idea for you to know more than you already do. Certain things need to happen if we want to defeat the old snake, but I promise you both that I will do my hardest to make sure the future I know won't come to fruition."
The two marauders were disappointed at the secrecy but understood the reasoning. Clarissa abruptly stood up, startling the two as she extended her hand towards James.
"Speaking of defeating the old snake, c'mon. We have research to do," Clarissa made a grabbing motion for James to grab.
Sirius let out a disgruntled whine at the talk of research, "Why do we have to? Don't you already know what's happening and what to do?"
James on the other hand took Clarissa's outreached hand and let her pull him out of the couch.
"C'mon Pads, or else I won't tell you about the two hidden rooms in Hogwarts that I'm certain neither of you knows about," Clarissa tempted him, as she pulled James along to where she was doing her research earlier that afternoon.
Sirius' head perked up (uncannily like a dog) at what Clarissa said while James raised an eyebrow in interest. Them being two of the four co-creators of the map were intrigued by these supposed hidden rooms in Hogwarts. Once they arrived at the table Clarissa was earlier, she told them of certain books to look for that might have information that they'd need. Clarissa was flicking through a book when she remembered she needed the map from the boys in order to tell them where the rooms were.
"Hon, could you please get the map for me so I could show you where the rooms are? And grab those sheets I was working on earlier from my room as well, they should be on my desk," She asked of him, not even looking up from the book she was holding.
James smiled at the use of the affectionate term; it was the little things that Clarissa did that gave him hope that she's remembering them. As James left, Sirius came back from the shelves with a stack of books that Clarissa asked for. Most were the same books she was looking at earlier and the rest were books Sirius thought contained practice of the dark arts and information they would need.
"So, what exactly are we researching?" Sirius questioned Clarissa, flicking through the books.
Clarissa closed one book and opened a new one from Sirius' stack, "Well, from my knowledge, the only thing that can kill and destroy a horcrux is by fiendfyre or basilisk venom, I know, both are very inconvenient methods."
"However, I'm proposing that maybe, the killing curse can work too," Clarissa told Sirius.
Sirius pondered on her statement and used his background knowledge on dark magic that he learned as a child to come to the same conclusion as Clarissa.
"You think that because the horcrux is part of a soul, the killing curse will be able to kill it just as it would to any other person."
Clarissa cheekily clicked her tongue and pointed towards Sirius to let him know he guessed correctly, "It should work, I don't see why not. That's essentially what happened to Harry when he let Voldemort kill him, but it might be different since he was a real person and not an inanimate object."
She said it so casually that it took her by surprise when Sirius dropped the book he was holding out of shock. Only then did she realize what she had said to him.
"That snake killed my godson?!" Sirius exclaimed angrily.
Clarissa couldn't help but find what he said funny, seeing as she never mentioned him being Harry's godfather.
"And what makes you think James would appoint you as his son's godfather?" Clarissa teased him.
Sirius scoffed and rolled his eyes, "Oh please, I am so that boy's godfather. James already promised me that role for you guy's first child."
Trying hard not to blush, Clarissa quickly changed the subject back to Harry and reassured Sirius that he was safe and alive. She gave him in short details the reason why he had to let himself be killed and made him swear not to tell James. At first, he disagreed seeing as it was his own son that they were talking about but after a quick promise that she'll tell him on her own, he gave in.
The two resumed their search for information, sharing parts of the books that were useful and putting them in a pile to look back at later. James returned with the map and parchment in hand, situating himself to Clarissa's right, putting her in the middle. She pushed aside her own pieces of parchment and pointed her wand at the map saying the magic words. Slowly ink began to appear, showing her the familiar writing of Remus and the artistic styling of Peter. How she knew that was beyond her.
"Okay, I'm going to be honest and say I don't know how to use this map properly so could one of you show me the 7th floor?" Clarissa asked them sheepishly.
Sirius chuckled and promptly opened a few flaps to show her the 7th floor as she asked.
"I don't remember which corridor so would either of you happen to know where the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy is? Just the general area."
This time it was James he pointed out what she was asking for, which essentially was just an empty space on the map.
"Perfect! What you're pointing at is the Room of Requirement, also known as the Come and Go Room," Clarissa told them.
"The what room?" Questioned James, making Clarissa roll her eyes.
"The Room of Requirement. One can only enter if the person has a real need for it, for example, if you really needed the loo, a door would appear and it'll be full of toilets," She explained to the two boys.
"So, if I wanted a quidditch pitch, it would create a field for me?" James asked excitedly at the prospect of being able to fly without interruptions.
"I've never seen it done, but in theory, I think it should work," Clarissa answered, thinking about it.
"Wicked!"
"Hey! Focus you two!" She snapped her fingers in front of them when she noticed she lost both of the boys to quidditch.
"This room actually houses one of Voldemort's horcruxes."
The reminder of why they were researching in the first place was enough to direct them back to the situation at hand.
"It'll be easy enough to acquire, I'll ask for Dumbledore's permission to help with that sometime in the near future. But for now, my main use of the room will be to do research, it might have more books on the dark arts that we don't have access to."
"If you're going to help find a horcrux then so am I," Interjected James with a strong voice.
"Yeah, me too!" Sirius joined.
"I figured, but that is not something we have to think about for a while. Now, show me Myrtle's bathroom."
Although confused at the odd request, Sirius flipped some pages over and pointed out the dead girl's lavatory. It's no surprise that it only showed just that and no secret chamber.
Clarissa looked at their disappointed gaze and sighed, "In hindsight, this would be much cooler if we were actually in the castle so I could show you the rooms."
"Why on earth would Salazar Slytherin put his chamber of secrets in the girl's lavatory?" Questioned James, judgment clear in his voice with Sirius snickering in the background.
The brunette shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not entirely sure, but it does make it easier for the basilisk to travel through the pipes."
The snickering between the boys stopped as both their eyes widened at the news.
"I'm sorry Clara, I must've heard you wrong because there's no way you said a basilisk is living underneath Hogwarts, right?" Sirius asked humorously, although a flicker of fear flashed through his eyes.
Clarissa waved her hand, "Relax guys, it's been dormant for years and it's hidden behind three doors that can only be opened by a Parselmouth. As dangerous as they are, it's actually pretty simple to kill them. That's the backup plan if we don't manage to control the fiendfyre."
Before a conversation about fiendfyre could start, the three were interrupted by Tinky who told them that dinner was ready. A quick glance at the clock in the room showed that it was nearing half past 7. Clarissa, who would much rather stay in the library to continue her research, was pulled from her seat by James—much to her dismay— and began leading them back to the dining room. The trio took their spots and with the snap of the house elf's fingers, dinner was served.
Dinner was a quiet affair, the adults made small talk amongst each other, Dumbledore bringing the three teens into the conversation once in a while. Although the topics never strayed too far from what they did over the summer, it still made Clarissa nervous to be in the same room as the Headmaster. Though she couldn't feel him prodding her brain, she tried hard to only picture a vast field in her mind, just in case. Clarissa couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief once dinner finished and Dumbledore excused himself home, stating he still has a lot of preparations to do for the upcoming school year.
Once again, the house elves busied themselves by clearing the table whilst the two families saw Dumbledore out into the main fireplace. The patriarchs of the families shook hands with the Headmaster, bidding him goodbye. He grabbed a handful of floo powder that was by the mantle and threw it into the fireplace, instantly creating green flames.
"Well, I bid you all goodnight. Enjoy the rest of your summer, Messrs. Black, Potter."
Dumbledore gave a nod to each boy before stopping his twinkling blue eyes at Clarissa, "And you as well Miss Nox. I'll see you three in a couple of days!"
Clarissa gave him a weak smile and she watched as he stepped into the fireplace before being whisked away in the green flames.