Updated 9/9/2021: Edited


Darkness Creation

May 1972

"Alright, what is going on with Peeves?" Alecto hissed as she and Paisley dodged yet another water balloon.

Peeves was a Poltergeist who resided at Hogwarts. All-day, he had been following the Slytherin first years around the Castle, throwing water balloons at them. They had even tried splitting up and taking different routes between classes. Still, Peeves remembered who he followed before the class and followed another group after.

"I've got no idea, but it's getting on my last nerves. I'm just grateful that Flitwick showed us the drying charm after we turned up wet to Charms." Paisley responded angrily as she looked up to see where Peeves was to determine if he would aim another water balloon at them.

"I'm going to ask Amycus if there is anything that can be done about Peeves. Surely there is something, though, that can be done about him. I don't see him taking aim at the other students," Alecto spoke with a glare on her face that Paisley noticed with a quick glance.

"I think I may see if Lucius has a better idea, though. He has been at Hogwarts longer, and he is also a Prefect, so he may know some secret way to control Peeves," Paisley pointed out. She didn't mean that it was malicious about making a jab at Amycus' lack of Prefect badge. She just thought maybe the Prefects would know something that others usually didn't. Still, the look on Alecto's face said otherwise.

"Is that so? Maybe I should ask Selwyn then if that's the case or Gibbons. Does it really matter who we ask then?" Alecto snapped, and Paisley rolled her eyes.

"That could work. I didn't mean anything behind my comment. I just thought that maybe the Prefects get some more confidential information when it comes to Hogwarts and some secrets." Paisley explained, but Alecto didn't seem so convinced.

"It's fine. My parents weren't happy that Amycus wasn't made Prefect, is all. It didn't matter if he was given the captain's badge for the Quidditch team. My parents don't care about Quidditch, and they feel it is a waste of his time," Alecto responded. Paisley looked over at the other girl.

Paisley knew that would make things awkward between them. She hoped to get the Prefects badge when she went into her fifth year. The school year was almost up, and she had already seen just how much power the Prefects had and that Slughorn was only in charge for the other professors' sake. Paisley wondered if Slughorn took a step back because it was the same when he was a student. Because during class, he wasn't all that observant of some students.

"The captain's badge still gives him some power, though; I've seen Lucius and Bulstrode ask for his opinion on some things. It seems as though they still value his opinion despite him not being made Prefect," Paisley spoke, hoping to pull Alecto out of her gloomy thoughts. The last thing she needed was for Alecto to make a plea for the Prefects badge.

"I suppose," Alecto responded quietly. "Come on, let's go find one of our Prefects and find out about Peeves."

"Sure, let's see what we can do about this bloody ghost," Paisley spoke, her tone clipped on the last word as she looked up just to see Peeves blow a raspberry before he picked up another water balloon. "Run," Paisley ordered, and the two girls took off down the corridor, feeling the splashback as the water balloon burst behind them.

Alecto spun around, a glare on her face. "I'm going to find a way to destroy you, mark my words!" she snarled before storming down the corridor while Paisley stood there and looked up at Peeves.

Peeves just blew another raspberry at her before he stayed floating there in the air, doing somersaults and flips. It seemed almost like he wasn't going to pull another water balloon out from wherever they were being kept.

"So, the water balloons weren't for me?" Paisley questioned, watching as Peeves spun around, so he appeared to lay down on his stomach with his chin resting in his hands.

"The elements are friends." That was all Peeves said before he flew up through the ceiling while Paisley stood there in shock.

Paisley had a feeling that the ghosts may have an idea as to who she was as she had heard them murmur 'Time' a couple of times as she passed them. She told others that maybe the ghosts were talking of their lack of representation of time since they were trapped like they were for all of eternity. That was all that was needed. Not even one of the ghosts has outright said they knew she belonged to one of the Elemental clans.

It stuck Paisley as odd that Peeves claimed them to be friends. While she wanted to question it, she knew she couldn't right now as she had no idea where Peeves had gone. She was meant to be following Alecto in her search for a Slytherin Prefect to help control Peeves.

Paisley managed to catch Alecto in the Entrance Hall, where she spoke with Lucius, suggesting that he must have been the first Prefect she had come across.

"Water balloons?" Lucius questioned.

"He's been aiming for us first years all day. We tried splitting up, then he would just pick a random group and follow them to the next class," Alecto explained as Paisley stepped in beside the other girl.

"Is this true? I would hate to do what is needed unless absolutely necessary, and I've already crossed paths with Snape, Wilkes and the Nott twins. None of them said anything," Lucius responded, looking at Paisley.

"Maybe they didn't think anything could be done about Peeves. I'm grateful Flitwick showed us all how to dry ourselves magically so we wouldn't be sopping wet all day," Paisley responded. "Alecto originally wanted to speak with her brother since she has gone to him about previous concerns. I thought maybe a Prefect since you said at the start of the year how we can come to you all should we have any concerns. Surely Peeves throwing water balloons at us all is enough of a concern."

"It is very much a concern. The only time I've heard of Peeves turning on a particular group of students multiple times is if they have done something to annoy him. I can't see every single one of you first years doing something against him since you are all so divided in your alliances." Lucius responded calmly, looking at something above them. When Paisley turned around, she found Peeves floating there, something in his hand, and when she squinted, she could just make out the water balloon.

Peeves didn't even give a warning before he took aim and through it, but it was quick work on Lucius' part with him pulling out his wand, and he was able to stop the water balloon on its path.

"That's no fair, Lucy!" Peeves complained. "They deserved it!"

"Did they now? What did they do?" Lucius questioned, but Peeves blew a raspberry in response. "I will get the Bloody Baron involved. We both know how much you love having conversations with him."

They all watched as Peeves' mouth fell open in a comical effect before he sat crossed legged with his arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face like a petulant child.

"You're ruining Peeves fun." That was all Peeves said before he flew up through the ceiling.

"Well, hopefully, that has settled that," Lucius cut into the conversation, and Paisley turned to face him. "Let me know if he starts up again."

"Thank you, Malfoy," Alecto spoke before she turned and stalked off towards the dungeons. Paisley could only assume she was going for a shower because she wanted one.

Drying charms worked wonders, except you didn't necessarily feel clean after being magically dried.

"Lucy?" Paisley raised an eyebrow only to be given a glare from Lucius. "I will never say it, just curious as to where Peeves gets his nickname ideas from." Paisley wanted to know to make sure that Peeves wouldn't use the name Time against her in the future and risk someone she didn't want to know the truth to overhear.

"Peeves gets a kick out of nicknames that could piss you off. I find if you don't react, he doesn't always use them. I believe at that moment, he just wanted me to forget why I was originally angry with him. I don't even know how he knew to call me Lucy. It just started one day. I'm told Amycus gets called Amy," Lucius responded, giving Paisley a little bit of information before tipping his head and heading up the stairs.

Paisley stood there for a moment, wondering why Lucius gave her some vital intel on Alecto's brother. Still, she stored it away before heading off to the common room for a shower of her own.

.

.

.

I spoke with Darkness today; she told me of the spell their clan had designed some time ago. She was worried about what would happen should the information be put into the wrong hands. She told me how one of her ancestors had managed to recreate an existing piece of wand handling magic. They were incorporating the clan magics to make it more powerful and still be used by a wand handler.

She said she was terrified of what should happen if the spell ended up in the wrong hands. She wanted to know if there was a way to remove the passage from the book, essentially removing it from existence so no one could ever split their soul more than once.

I was horrified when I read it when she allowed me to read the passage of her ancestor that explained in detail how to spilt one's soul more than once.

But Space tells me that for us to completely alter one of the books belonging to a clan. We needed all eleven clans to remove that passage from the book long ago. It was all eleven clans that did the ritual to protect the books from anything and everything.

But we're still being punished for Nature and Air's actions, and then Life, Light and Water haven't been made active yet this generation. We don't have enough power to remove this spell. I hate that I can't help appease Darkness's worries and concerns for her descendants because we all know that the males of each clans' family can read the book. It doesn't have to be a female to pass the information over to anyone.

Paisley looked up from the book, a horrified expression on her face as she read the passage once more.

She had been woken from a dream, it not making much sense, but a word struck out to her, so after she had written in the book where she put all her dreams before she pulled out the book for Time.

She had read the passage before. It disturbed her at the time. She wondered if maybe it was just one lousy Darkness that created it and all others since that was worried about the potentials of the spell that was made.

But now, after having the dream she had, she thought maybe not. She thought perhaps someone out there had passed on the information to someone. She witnessed Dumbledore discussing with some kid that didn't look all that old about Horcruxes and the likelihood of splitting one's soul seven times.

.

.

.

"Time."

Paisley looked up and flashed Marlene a smile. "Fire."

They both wanted to get used to using the clan names like it seemed like their ancestors had before them.

While Paisley could be seen using aeroplane notes with her brother, that communication was needed. Even the rare conversations spotted between her and Sirius could be explained by the closeness between the two families. Paisley had no valid reason for being seen speaking to Marlene, and communication had to be limited. As such, the two girls were using the school's owls to send communication when needed.

"Do you happen to know which family Darkness is? Does your book give any indication?" Paisley questioned, and Marlene shook her head before walking over and taking a seat beside her. "I had an odd dream the other night, and then I reread this passage to see if it helped explains some things." Paisley opened the book and held it out for Marlene to read.

"You're sharing your book?" Marlene teased, and Paisley rolled her eyes.

"Just this one passage, I'm curious about your thoughts about it. As well as your thoughts about Darkness, I know if we can find Space, then we can find out who Darkness is, but this seems pressing," Paisley explained. Marlene nodded, grabbing the book and reading the passage.

Marlene scrunched her face up in concentration as she read the passage before her eyes widened. She took a moment when she had finished before closing the book and handed it back, staying silent.

"You think a Darkness family member could have passed along whatever the spell was to split their soul more than once?" Marlene questioned.

"Potentially. I heard the word Horcrux get used, but I'm not entirely sure what it is. I feel like if I start asking questions, people may ask where I heard that word." Paisley responded, falling silent in thought for a moment. "I feel that if someone truly had access to our magics, then they know we work in prime numbers. Imagine splitting one's soul three, five or seven times and the amount of effort needed to try and reverse that kind of magic."

"Reverse that kind of magic? Surely by that point, the person who had done it would be beyond fixing. Wouldn't it be better to just destroy them?" Marlene questioned, and Paisley looked at her.

"Or is this your clan speaking? Fire can be destructive," Paisley teased, and Marlene narrowed her eyes.

"Careful, I will set you on fire."

"Try it," Paisley grinned, and Marlene let out a laugh. "One would assume that Light is a Light family, one that has always been Light and never crossed to the Grey or Dark. I would assume the same with Darkness?"

"It's a good theory, but a lot of the Light families that I know have been Light for generations."

Paisley nodded, looking ahead as she flicked open the book to the passage about Nature and Air and what they did to anger the elements. "I assume this passage is about Potter and Longbottom, not sure which is which, though. I would have thought they were always Light families, but they obviously did something which would be considered an act of Dark."

"You make a valid point." Marlene let out a sigh. "I will go through my book, see if I can find something that will help us find Space or Darkness. I suppose during the summer, you can investigate some of the Dark families. I can do the same with the Light."

"I just wish there was an easier way to find the others," Paisley confessed, looking lost in thought.

At random times throughout the day, whether it be in the Great Hall or travelling between classes, she had felt a connection like the one with Marlene.

She always just assumed it was Marlene, but there were times when she couldn't even spot Marlene.

"Do you wonder if there are others at Hogwarts?" Marlene questioned.

"I think there is, but there are always too many students around for me to determine who it is. Sometimes I think it's just you out of view as well," Paisley responded. "A passage said that I can differentiate between all the clans over time and that the pulls and connections are all slightly different. The passage explained that the Fire connection is like a blast of heat while something was cooling about water."

"I read that as well, but at the moment, your connection and pull just feels…." Marlene fell silent as she tried to find the correct word. "Odd, I guess."

Paisley let out a laugh. "I can sort pick up the heat aspect for you, but again, until I find someone else, it's hard to determine exactly how different they are."

Marlene reached out and patted Paisley's hand. "We'll get there. We're still young. Look, I have to go. I could only make this quick."

Paisley just nodded but didn't say anything as Marlene jumped up from her spot and left the room.

She just stayed there for a moment. Wondering if she could ask her brother if he had any idea about what a Horcrux exactly was and if it was worth investigating it further.

She was just grateful it was almost time for lunch so she could send him a note so they could meet up to talk.

She sent the note during lunch, requesting if they could meet to talk about some things. A reply was sent telling her that Lucas had Quidditch practise that afternoon and would have to be after dinner.

That was fine by Paisley. She just wanted to discuss this with someone else and have an older person's perspective on her dreams and thoughts.

The afternoon passed by at a relatively quick pace that shocked Paisley as she assumed it would pass slowly since she wanted, no need, to meet with Lucas urgently. She was waiting for him in the Entrance Hall once dinner was finished.

"Come on then," Lucas spoke, tilting his head when Paisley looked up at him, and the two travelled outside.

They both cast Lumos so they could see the path in front of them as they walked.

"What was so urgent?" Lucas questioned once they were a few steps away from the Castle.

Paisley looked around to make sure they were alone before explaining her dream and then the passage she had read about Darkness.

"That's…I actually don't know what to say, Paise," Lucas responded once Paisley was finished with her story. "You have no idea who Darkness is?"

"No, I want to know. I want to find out if one of the recent ancestors could have passed on the information since the dream is of the future," Paisley responded, anger filling her voice.

"Could it have been of the past, though? You said yourself that it's possible to see the past," Lucas queried, and Paisley shook her head.

"It had Dumbledore, looking a little older than he currently does. Others stated that the ability to see the past came later in life. Times clan magics is not something we can learn to control, we just let it happen as it seems, and it's believed that is why we can learn the other clans' magics," Paisley responded softly. At first, she had the same thought, that maybe it was of the past. There was nothing she could do about it but the presence of Dumbledore looking older than he currently was made her realise it was of the future.

"I don't know then, sis," Lucas breathed out. "I honestly don't know. Could you possibly ask grandfather about it during the summer? Maybe there are other family secrets that you don't know about, or me because we aren't due to inherit it all since it will go to Sanders and then in turn Ericson."

"It's possible. If there was such a secret being kept among the Families, why would our grandfather know about something among the Dark?" Paisley argued.

"Don't argue with me. I don't need you to play politics with me," Lucas snapped, and Paisley stopped walking, taking a deep breath.

"Sorry, Alecto has been on my arse lately, and I don't know why. Add that to Snape and his incessant need to try and prove he is better than me in a house full of Purebloods and the Families. I get I have their back, but I can't always let him win. I can't constantly let others fight my battles," Paisley explained, and Lucas pulled her in for a hug.

"It's okay," Lucas whispered, softly kissing the top of her head. "It will be okay, you can handle Snape, and Alecto could possibly be jealous for whatever reason. You're showing you can handle the politics of Slytherin as well as make worthy alliances and connections to the older students that will benefit you in the future."

Paisley pulled away, walked over to the nearby bench, and took a seat before speaking. "She made a comment the other week about how there is pressure in her family to become Prefect. She said her parents were annoyed that Amycus wasn't made Prefect."

"Does being a Prefect really mean something in Slytherin?" Lucas questioned, and Paisley nodded. "But he's the Quidditch Captain. I heard Wood complaining about it and how he's a ruthless beater."

"Like Wood can talk," Paisley scoffed before giving Lucas an innocent-looking smile. "Regardless, Prefects run Slytherin, not Slughorn. It just has been the way for centuries because it's just how it is. No one questions it. Students who don't come from prominent families don't ask questions since it's reinforced at the beginning of the year.

Like, I'm honestly shocked at what the elder Lestrange did for him to not receive the Prefects badge over Gibbons. Five out of six Prefects are from a Sacred Family."

Lucas was silent, and it unnerved Paisley. She was well used to her brother for always having something to say. When he was quiet, it was obvious that he had no idea how to respond. She looked up at her brother, he was her idol, and she looked to him for advice, but now it was like she was stuck in a moment of thought that terrified her, and she was unable to find a way.

"Just let it go for now unless you can find Space or even Darkness. If they're around, you won't know what truly happened. Wait till the summer and see if grandfather knows anything more than what he's already told you." Lucas walked over and sat down beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and tucking her close. "You can't let this consume you. You need to move past it until you have more information."

"Okay," Paisley breathed out, closing her eyes to try and push the thoughts aside while the two siblings sat there in silence.