Chapter 34. Souls, Memories and an explosion.
It was dark. Not pitch black, but dark nonetheless. He could hear screaming and wailing all around him. Jakob saw that he was standing in a circular room. Or was it in the eye of a tornado? The cold pressure made it hard to think straight, and he watched as small balls of yellow and blue lights were slowly floating around and over him. This did not resemble any other rooms he had been in before. This wasn't even a room. It was more of a platform with a vortex of moving darkness slowly rising.
As the Slytherin boy walked forward, he raised his hand and was about to touch the darkness when one of the blue lights seemed to feel his presence and slowly descended down to him.
The Slytherin boy watched as the ball of light slowly morphed its shape. Jakob's eyes widened as he saw Mr Lockhart standing in front of him with that smile he always used to have.
"My dearest fan! I knew it! You have finally come to help me get out of this nightmare." Gilderoy's arm was outstretched in a warm welcome, and waited for Jakob to say something. But the boy only frowned when he observed the blue transparent appearance of his former professor.
The older man looked gaunt, he still wore that charming smile, but on that malnourished face, it looked more creepy. His hair was missing in some places, and the skin around his face made him look like an old dead man. Holes in the transparent body were visible, almost like holes.
"Lockhart? What happened to your soul?"
"Ah. Well, my dear student. The dementor that took my soul is feeding on it. It hurts, I might add, and I have already seen someone the poor sods here vanishing, but I'm certain that they will understand why I can't help them now. I have been so long in this nightmare. It's good to see it end."
The screams from above made them both look up, seeing one of the souls slowly fade away and the smile on Lockhart vanished.
"She was a good soul and was going to visit her family in another country with her kids. They never made it."
The transparent soul and Slytherin boy glanced at each other before Jakob cleared his throat.
"Yes, poor her... I only need to find something before we leave," answered Jakob and looked around.
Gilderoy, who had tried his best to remain calm during their interaction, looked desperate when he heard that Jakob wanted to stay longer.
"What are you looking for? is it going to take long?" The Slytherin turned back to him.
"Have you found anything that resembles the dementor's soul?"
Lockhart laughed, and the souls hovering above seemed to stop while hearing that melody of happiness.
"They don't have a soul. It uses us to fuel itself. Can we please get away before…" Gilderoy's eyes widened in fear as the vortex started to slow down, and a low vibrating sound that started as a whisper became louder and louder.
"What's.." Jakob had no time to finish his question as dark smoke shot out from it, hitting the different balls of light and slowly sucking out the blue magic from them. Their screaming of anguish and fear filled his ears, and Jakob had to cover his ears. He looked astonished as the blue light slowly transferred into the vortex and glanced down again to see that Gilderoy had suffered the same fate. Smoke was piercing his stomach and slowly sucking out blue light from him. The terrified man screamed as his blue light was transported away and tried to reach it, he wanted to get it back, but it was useless.
The smoke then retreated back, and Gilderoy looked slightly worse.
"Please get me out! I promise to do anything you want. Just let me out!"
Lockhart was panicking, and Jakob, who thought it was time to leave as well, nodded in response.
"Get every soul down here, and I will release you all, alright? But it must be quick."
Lockhart nodded with a relief showing on his face and looked up. His shape changed to a ball of light again and flew up.
The ball soared up, and Jakob could hear the whispers from the others as they all slowly descended down to the boy. The blue and Yellow balls changed shape, and shortly, transparent people were all around him, looking at their new savour in all manners of expression.
"Thank you. I will never forget you!"
"I will tell everyone about the hero you are."
"Please, can you help me find my mum? She is looking for me."
The different shapes started whispering simultaneously, and Jakob observed them all.
He counted that there were about 15 yellow balls and 9 blue ones. Some were brighter than others.
"All right, you all need to focus and stop talking. Come closer. You must stand as close to me as possible for this to work."
The Slytherin boy gestured with his outstretched hands. The souls were almost touching him now, and Jakob could sense the energy they were giving off. He gave an apologetic smile as he closed his fist.
"I'm sorry, but there is no way out for you, but you all have something that I need."
The people looked confused as they watched the boy they believed was their saviour. Gilderoy stepped up to him, trying to keep a warm smile towards the others, reassuring them that they had heard wrong.
"Is there something else we must do? What do you need? Jakob?"
Jakobs turned to see a little boy who was looking up at him with his eyes showing nervousness and hope. The Slytherin gave him a little wink and then closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, knowing what he was about to do.
"I need your reserves."
When he opened them again, Gilderoy backed away.
"What... wait... please.. don't.."
Jakob opened his hands, and dark smoke similar to the dementors started encircling him and the souls.
As Jakob's darkness slowly closed, they all began to cry and scream in fear. Gilderoy stared at his former student with shock and betrayal evident in his eyes. A tear slowly fell from his eyes as he was the first who get absorbed into Jakob.
Some of them hunched down, closing their eyes in panic as they waited for the inevitable death. Some changed back to their balls of light and tried to escape. They never made it out as Jakob pointed his palm towards them, and the darkness caught them, devouring them.
For the first time wished, Jakob wished he could have done it differently. That there was a way to save them. The shadow devoured the little boy who had been staring at him, and the Slytherin teen closed his eyes.
"They were already dead." He told himself as the balls of light all got caught in his dark web.
The last light was slowly taken, and the room became dark.
He raised his hand with the darkness slithering around it like it was a sentient being now. He could almost sense the darkness being satisfied, which made the Quade heir smile.
"You are growing. But I have one task for you. The dementor. It has something I need help finding. Take it. Take it all."
Jakob moved his hand upwards, and the darkness shot forwards. It left a trail back to Jake as it circled like a black firework, searching hungrily for something else to eat.
Suddenly it stopped for a blink of an eye and then smashed into the vortex with all its might.
The tornado started to vibrate, and smoke shot forwards, trying to stop the attempt. Still, Jakob's darkness was much stronger and barely flinched as it continued to drill into the vortex. His darkness slowly backed away for a moment and then slammed again, bursting through and dragging something out. It struggled as the thing it was imprisoning tried to pull back.
"Take it! Devour it! Roared Jakob as he saw that a thug of war had begun. His darkness dragged harder, but Jakob knew he had to do something quickly.
He closed his eyes, and his normal ones opened.
He was standing on the ground again. The dementor had released the grip from his throat and backed away from him in fear. The smoke was in its mouth, trying to pull something out. Still, the soul-sucking fiend was gripping it, screaming that unnatural high-pitched scream as it moved around, trying to break the connection. It can touch my darkness? That's interesting, thought a surprised Jakob before a smirk crossed his face as he raised his right hand and his smoke connected around his wrist, almost looking like a long rope.
He pulled back with his arm and saw that the dementor slowly glided towards him. Jakob lifted his other hand and let his darkness shot towards the cloaked fiend and swirled around it, making its arms stick to its side and body freeze.
"You should have listened to me. But rest assured, you will be written into the history books." hissed Jakob as he moved his right hand forward a bit and then pulled back with everything he had.
Something inside the dementor ripped, and the black liquid sprayed out from its mouth. The dementor was still hovering over the ground because of Jakob's darkness holding it in place, but everything went limb. Its head fell down, dripping blood on the grass below.
The darkness slowly retracted out from its mouth, holding something and withdrew into Jakob's hand where it left his prise. The Slytherin teen let go of the dementor and watched it fall with a thud on the grass like a ragdoll.
Jakob stood still for a moment and stared at the dementor's corpse in shock.
"Shit, I actually did it." Whispered the teen in amazement. His head snapped up as he heard the scream of the two dementors above and sighed as they descended.
"Shit, I don't have the time to…."
They grabbed the corpse of the dementor and flew away, leaven Jakob in a defensive stance, wearing a confused frown.
"Bye?" he said while waving with his left hand. The prise in his right hand reminded him of its existence, and his eyes turned down towards it.
It was a sphere. A dark sphere that seemed to look like a glass ball with a black liquid inside, except there was no glass. It was cool to the touch, almost biting cold, and dark smoke was let out when it rolled down in his hand, making it look like a weird illusion. It was heavier than it looked, and Holding it gave the teen a sense of completion. Like it was a missing piece of the puzzle. He pocketed into his robes and looked down at the passed-out Ivy.
"I'm not carrying you back, idiot." With a flick of his wand and uttered.
"Rennervate"
The redhead's eyes opened, and she blinked a few times before seeing a raised eyebrow on Jakob.
"uh.. my head.."
He rolled his eyes as he grabbed her robes and made her stand.
"Hey, what are you doing you…." Started Ivy but stopped when she saw the look Jakob gave her. She had never seen that look before.
"What the hell were you thinking, running out into the woods like this? To you have a death wish?" yelled Jakob at the confused girl.
"I... I was walking towards your classroom and then I… heard someone whisper, and then I stood here, and a dementor flew down towards me."
Jakob observed the disoriented way Ivy talked and did not like what he saw. She wasn't lying. Someone had done something to her.
"Do you remember the voice of the one whispering? Was it a man or woman?"
The redhead started to shake her head but stopped and brought a hand up, pressing it on her temple as she closed her eyes in pain.
"No... I… don't remember. Jake, can we get back? My head is killing me. Were are the dementors?"
Jakob took her arm over his shoulder as they started their way back.
"I didn't see any Dementors. I only saw you lying here. Did you see any?"
Ivy frowned. "Yeh... or I think so... I'm not sure of anything anymore."
She stopped as the headache got worse.
"Ivy, how bad is.." Jakob halted his question as he saw a thin stream of blood running down her nose and began dropping down her chin.
"I'm fine.." she started but stopped as she felt Jakob move beside her and pick her up, quickening his phase through the forest.
The girl would have been smiling joyfully if it weren't for the pain coursing through her head.
"It's expanding." She grunted out and received an alarmed glance from the one carrying her and switched to a light run.
They soon came out from the forest and entered the Hogwarts grounds. Jakob helped her up on his broom, sat behind her and kicked off.
"Keep your eyes open. We are nearly there. Don't go to sleep, alright?" Said Jakob In a firm voice, and Ivy nodded, feeling her concussions slipping away.
He held her tightly around her waist and flew higher.
"The… gate…-"
"We are not going there." Just keep your eyes open.
The broom steered to the right, over to one of the towers, where he searched for the right window.
The matron, Poppy Pomfrey, was sitting in her office, writing a report of yet another injury that Heir potter had made after flying on his broom.
"That boy should not be allowed to fly. It's a miracle that he still is alive." Muttered the matron as she wrote her neat handwriting on the parchment.
A giggle and whisper could be heard, and the matron looked up with a frown through her glass window that separated her small office from the rest of the hospital wing.
One of the beds had the bedside table lamp still lit, and the Granger girl sat on a chair beside the bed giggling. On the bed sat Harry, looking proud at the reaction he had caused his cute friend by telling her that joke.
Poppy sighed as she put down her quill a little harder than necessary, stood up and straightened the white apron on her dress before walking out.
"Patients are trying to sleep here, miss Granger, Mr potter, and visiting hours are…."
The painted window between her and the two Gryffindors smashed, and shards of glass sprayed everywhere. A Slytherin student was soaring through the air together with the glass shards, his body towards the window opening. Poppy almost saw the boy turn his face towards one of the beds in slow motion and point his wand at it.
"Locomotor" the bed moved as he swished his wand, but the Slytherin did not fall into it. Behind him flew an almost unconscious Gryffindor on a broom, dropping down from it and landing smoothly on the bed.
The Slytherin had so much momentum that he smashed into the wall on the other side and dropped to the floor, now covered in glass shards.
Time seemed to run normally again, and Poppy Stared at Ivy and then screamed.
"What in the bloody hell!" The Slytherin boy got up on his knee, blood running down his face and shards embedded in his cheek and chin.
"She is cursed…. Has fallen asleep. Help her!" Said Jakob in pained breaths as he pointed one of his bleeding fingers towards Ivy, who had begun shaking.
Harry and Hermione, who had looked wide-eyed at the display, now began to comprehend that it was Ivy in bed and Jakob who had made a blood stain on the wall.
The matron had hurried to Ivy's side, waving her wand, casting every diagnostic charm she knew, trying to identify the curse.
"Effects?" she asked quickly and continued muttering the different diagnoses charms.
"Blackout, headache and bleeding nose." Said Jakob as he slowly moved forwards to her bed, picking out the shards as his healing began its work.
"What have you done to her?" yelled Harry, who had stood up and taken a step towards The Slytherin. Jakob pointed his wand at the shocked boy, not even glancing at him.
"Don't disturb. Your sister is close to death."
The Potter boy gulped as he saw the matron turn Ivy on her side and lift her hair, showing the exposed neck. A blue symbol behind the neck was glowing. A symbol Jakob never had seen before.
Hermione looked teary-eyed as she watched the situation unfold, taking Harry's hand to make him sit down again. They both watched as Jakob was told what to do by the matron, and Harry felt a lump growing in his throat. When his sister needed him the most, he was powerless and didn't know what to do.
"Hold her still, Quade. I'm going to try something."
Jakob held the shaking girl down as Pomfry started to mumble while pointing her wand at the curse. It glowed briefly red, and Ivy screamed so loud that Hermione and Harry had to cover their ears.
"It has taken root, Quade. I need your hand. We are going to trick the curse."
The Slytherins offered his hand, and the matron touched her wand tip on his palm and then pointed the wand tip at the cursed symbol.
"Dolius Calum." The symbol started to vibrate and slowly moved out from her skin. It slowly glided towards Jakob's hand. Poppy flicked her wand, and a blue spell collided with the symbol. As the blue curse was destroyed, Harry and Hermione ran over to a pale Ivy who started slowly opening her eyes.
"Ivy, are you alright? Did he do that to you?" asked her brother while stroking her head, giving her a worried look.
Hermione, beside Harry, gave Jakob a teary-eyed nod, then turned back to Ivy and listened to the girl's words.
"No... He...carried me..." she fell asleep again, and Poppy shook her head disapprovingly at the potter heir.
"Heir Potter not only saved heir Quade her life, but he also helped..." Poppy remembered the blood she had seen on the Slytherin and hastily looked at the wall, which had a bloodstain with small drops running down, and then at the shards on the floor.
"Mr Quade, I need you on one of these beds right now I need." As the matron started, she turned her head towards where Jakob had stood just moments before, but he had disappeared, and the hospital door closed.
Jakob breathed out when he was certain he wasn't followed and headed to his common room.
After dodging a couple of prefects on patrol, Jakob finally stood outside his entrance, picking out the last shard that had found its way below his collarbone.
The wound healed as soon as the sharp piece was removed, and Jakob took a last glance at it before letting it drop on the floor. He opened his mouth to say the password when a voice behind him called.
"I need you to follow me, Mr Quade. The headmaster wishes to see you."
Jakob turned and saw his head of house to his left. The dungeon was silent for a moment as the two stared at each other.
"I need to go back inside to switch clothes, professor. I will be right there."
"You can switch clothes when you are done, Mr Quade," said Snape in a firm voice, with his right hand behind his back, gripping his wand tightly.
There was silence once again as they stared at each other. Professor Snape, who was used to Jakob's warmth and willingness, saw resistance in the boys' eyes for the first time. The blood and torn cloths made the potion master hold his breath, prepared to defend himself if it was to become necessary.
"Are you going to do something else than switch clothes Mr Quade? Something that has something to do with the situation before?"
A charming smile was showing on the boy's face, and he shook his head.
"Of course not, professor. Lead the way." The dark-dressed man turned and began walking, and Jakob silently cursed.
He followed behind the professor and slowly put his hand down into his pocket, removing the black sphere. He glanced around, trying to find someplace safe to hide it before they left the dungeon. If Dumbledore saw it, he had no idea how they would react.
He prayed as he tossed the sphere hitting the wall, and rolled behind the statue of hooky, the famous house elf.
The sound was not as loud as Jakob had feared but enough to make Snape turn quickly and point his wand towards the direction he had heard the thud.
"Accio"
Jakob held his breath as he thought that this was the end. But nothing happened.
Snape gave him a suspicious glance.
"I heard something. Did you just throw away something Mr Quade?"
Jakob shook his head and gave the professor a smile.
"No, Professor. If I had, you would have It in your possession now."
Snape's eyes observed the boy's facial features for a long uncomfortable moment before he gestured for Jakob to take the lead.
They walked up the stairs again and soon stood outside the headmaster's office.
"Acid pops." Echoed Snape's voice, and the gargoyle statue moved aside.
"I guess I'm being punished as you are coming with me, professor?" asked Jakob when Snape moved first to ascend the stairs.
The dark-haired man turned and walked over to Jakob.
"You arrived with miss Potter and left her on a bed with a Nervosi curse. You then leave before any questions can be asked. Some might be blind to the progress and power you have accumulated these three years, but I'm not one of them. I made that mistake with your mother, and you are following in her footsteps."
Jakob frowned at the professor, who usually had his back, Now talking to him with hostility in his voice.
"I didn't hurt her professor. If I want to hurt someone, I wouldn't be so stupid to be an obvious suspect. If you know me so well, then you must see that."
Snape turned and began walking up the stairs, not responding to his words.
They opened the door to the headmaster's office. Jakob walked inside, hearing Snape close the door behind him, leaving him alone. Ivy was sitting in an armchair with her hands around a hot cup of something, With Lilly on a chair beside her, stroking her red hair.
James and Sirius stood on the other side of the armchair discussing something with Dumbledore, who nodded his head and sighed before turning towards Jakob.
"Ah, mister Quade I…" Dumbledore halted as he saw the state of the boy. Jakob had dried blood down his forehead and cheek and blood staining his torn robes. No wounds were visible, but it was no question about whose blood it was.
"I'm fine, headmaster. It was only small cuts. You wanted to see me?"
Asked Jakob and put his hands behind his back.
Dumbledore nodded, feeling confused over the state of the boy. He had to look into that later. As of now was something more important to attend to.
"Mr Quade, we have tried asking Miss Potter what happened, but she can't seem to remember anything. Would you like to fill us in?"
The Slytherin boy observed the four other people in the room.
James and Sirius were looking at him in alarm while Lilly looked at the boy with a mixed expression. Ivy did not meet his eyes as she took one more sip from the content in the mug but looking much better now.
"I was waiting for Miss Potter in my classroom. We were going to do homework in runes. But when she was late, I walked over to the window to pass the time. I saw her walking into the forbidden forest and ran after her."
"That's a lie." everyone turned to Sirius, who was now looking directly at Jakob.
"Excuse me?"
"You did not run after her. You went down into the dungeons and entered your common room." Answered the man as he looked suspiciously at the teenage Slytherin.
"You were following me?" there was a silence in the office that held on until Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"We can discuss that later. But Mr Quade, I would appreciate it if you didn't lie. The consequences of this situation depend on it."
The Slytherin's jaw tensed. So he was a suspect. Great.
"I wasn't lying. But I didn't run out the gate. I ran back towards my room. I knew my broom was faster, so I opened my window and flew out." continued Jakob giving the Auror Black a quick glare before continuing.
"When I went into the forest, I saw Ivy lying down in a clearing and helped her back. She complained about a headache, and I understood something was wrong, so I flew with her to the hospital wing."
Dumbledore nodded and thought for a moment.
"Your story isn't adding up, heir Quade. Ivy has shown traces of being close to a Dementor and experiencing the Imperius curse. The evidence is against you, I'm afraid."
"What do you want from me? I've told you everything. You know what will happens when my father hears about this and sees the truth, headmaster." James' eyes widen in shocked rage.
"Are you threatening Dumbledore before the..." Sirius nudged his friend and gave him a sharp look that told him not to continue.
"I don't wish to do this, heir, Quade. But I have no choice. You will be escorted by Auror Black to the ministry until we find out what really happened.
The third year took heavy breaths to calm his anger and growing panic. Tried to think of something that would help him without exposing him more than he already was.
Sirius walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Sorry, kid but i-"
"he saved me. Don't take him away." Everyone in the room turned towards the redhead girl looking at Jakob with panic and desperation.
"I... He carried me back and helped me to the hospital wing. I can't really remember the start, but."
Ivy looked at her mum.
"You told me once that a pensive was made to watch what one had forgotten. I can show you all, but don't take him away, please."
Sirius looked back at Jakob, who was glaring at the girl. The Auror then looked confused at the headmaster, who nodded towards the redhead.
"Very well." The old man waved his wand, and a cabinet on the side opened, making a large round plate slowly glide towards the middle of the room. Dumbledore walked over to the girl and lightly pressed his wand at her temple.
"Ivy, don't do it." The headmaster ignored his pleading, and the redheaded teen closed her eyes.
A stream of white light was gently pulled out from her temple and carefully dropped into the pensive.
If Ivy showed them anything with the dementors, he was fucked. If they saw his darkness… the thoughts in Jakob's mind screamed at him to stop them.
"You don't have to watch it. Just take me to the ministry." Tried Jakob. The three adults looked alarmed at the statement Jakob had just given. Dumbledore looked down at the pensive, speaking in a calm voice.
"Sirius, you will stay and watch heir Quade. We will return shortly." The three adults almost dipped their noses into the pool before being they were sucked into it.
Dumbledore, James and Lilly watched as Lilly walked up the stairs and entered the corridor where Jakob's classroom lay. She stopped for a second and started to pep herself up by whispering.
"Alright, Ivy. This time you need to make him work for the kiss. Control is key. Control is key."
James and Lilly turned to stare at each other in surprise while Dumbledore chuckled. But that chuckle disappeared when they heard a distorted whisper behind her.
"Imperio." The whisper could belong to anyone, and then they saw that the person behind lifted her red hair and pressed something on her neck.
"I want you to stroll in the forest, and only when you are on the verge of death will you wake up."
James and Lilly looked horrified, and Dumbledore observed the image in Infront of him.
They saw the teenage girl nodding and turned around. The assailant wasn't there anymore. Only the corridor, paintings and torches were present.
Ivy walked out of the corridor and down the stairs towards the castle entrance. She then continued out towards the forest and kept walking. After a few minutes, Ivy entered a clearing, and the temperature dropped. Looking up, they all could see three dementors hovering above the threes, and Ivy seemed to snap out from the curse.
"shit, what do I do?" panicked, she drew her wand, not knowing which dementor to aim for.
Lilly had tears in her eyes, and James held his wife close, but then Lilly jumped and screamed as one of the dementors swooped down and inhaled Infront of Ivy. The young potter let out a terrified scream and fell to the ground. The last thing they could hear before the memory turned dark was.
"Stop!"
"Was that… Quade?" asked James surprised.
"It would seem so. But the vision is not over yet." Stated Dumbledore holding up a hand to silence the Auror.
"You can't have her!" The group tried to distinguish what happened next, but the sound cut in and out, and moments later, it all went completely silent.
"Is it over?" asked James, but Dumbledore shook his head, looking around in the dark space they were standing in.
Suddenly Ivy woke, and they saw Jakob standing over her and pulling the girl up to her feet a bit ruffer than necessary. The group observed as Jakob proceeded to scold her and the three adults noticed the worry in the boy's eyes.
A smile slowly spread on Lilly's lips as she witnessed Jakob take her daughter's arm over his shoulder.
"It's strange seeing him like this." Said James with a more warm smile on his face.
"Ivy, how bad is it? I'm fine, it's.." they all looked shocked at how Jakob, seeing Ivy's bleeding nose, stood beside the girl, lifted her up, and started to run.
"You know, it would be romantic if our daughter wasn't dying there." Said James and received a glare from his wife.
"Mr Quade has shown this before." Said Dumbledore with a smile, nodding at the vision before him.
"Showed what before?" asked Lilly, turning her head towards the headmaster, who turned back to her, showing that signature spark in his eye.
"The ability to protect those he deeply cares for. Miss Granger has witnessed this too, but I imagine Ivy is experiencing another emotion Jakob has for her." Answered Dumbledore and watched as he placed Ivy on his broom and sat behind her.
They flew higher and higher and circled the Hogwarts castle until the broom turned towards one of the windows.
"Ivy, you need to stay focused. Okay? Don't fall asleep."
They saw that Ivy was nodding, but the vision started to blur.
"Shit Ivy stay…. Ah fuck it, Ivy, hold tight with everything you have!"
They looked confused as Jakob turned his body and sat with both legs on the right side, flicking out his wand. The broom wasn't slowing down, and as two adults saw the situation with worry, one did not.
"Is he actually going to do it?" asked James in awe as he took a step forward, releasing his wife and staring at Jakob, who was taking a few deep breaths.
"Doing what?" questioned Lilly, confused. Jakob pointed his wand towards the handle of his broom. He pulled it to the left, making the broom turn and take a sudden break, throwing off the Slytherin, who turned back midflight, pointing his wand towards his broom.
"Accio!" the glass shattered behind him, and Jakob turned and pointed his wand at a bed, making it float towards Ivy, who was now almost passed out. Jakob smashed into the other side wall and fell on the glass shards. While Ivy slowly slipped down from the broom.
The last thing the three adults saw was Ivy's body falling into the white covers of the hospital bed.
Outside stood Jakob being quiet and awaiting their return. He looked calm on the outside, but on the inside, he was thinking up different strategies to make his escape.
"Jakob, please I…" started Ivy for what Sirius believed was the 4th time but stopped when the reaction Jakob gave her was ice cold. He didn't look at her. He didn't speak to her.
Sirius sighed as he wanted nothing more than to go away. He hated teenage drama and being the unwanted third wheel.
The pensive spit out the three adults, who all turned towards Jakob instantly, staring at him in shock.
The Slytherin swallowed. He observed the different people and was seconds away from flicking out his wand, casting spells and his darkness if he had to.
Lilly was the first to move. A tear was rolling down her cheek as she leaned in and embraced Jakob. Jakob's breath stopped as he looked at the other two adults. Did she hug him distract so that they could...
"Thank you so much, Jakob." He let the breath he had held release when he heard the whisper of gratitude coming from the mother.
When she released him, he saw that she had tears of joy on her face as she gave him a warm smile. James walked up to him, still stunned over the broom stunt and everything else he had seen the boy do and reached out his hand.
The surprised teen glanced at Dumbledore, who gave him an approving nod, then looked back at James' outstretched hand and shook it.
"House potter is in your debts, Mr Quade. Never hesitate to ask if you ever need anything, and I mean anything."
Jakob nodded, a little surprised himself and feeling the endorphins kicking in after the tense moment.
"What the hell did you three just see? "questioned Sirius, who had lowered his wand and was looking at the pensive In confusion.
"I have two requests. One, destroy that memory, and two, never let anyone know about this. Including the people in the hospital wing."
Jakob then turned and left the room. Without saying goodbye, nobody stopped him.
He wanted to vomit or lay down after the stress he had just been through.
"He really is a good boy." Whispered Lilly with a smile and walked over to Ivy, who was sitting in the armchair, not meeting any of the adult's eyes.
James had walked over to his best friend and started telling him about what had happened, gesturing with his hands like it was the best movie he had ever seen. Sirius, who frowned at first, soon adopted the same energy and expression as his best friend as the tale continued.
"I heard the little pep-talk you had on your way to Jakob. Kiss again?"
Ivy's eyes widened in fear as she looked at her mum and dad, who still talked with Sirius.
"Mum, he already hates me now. He will never speak to me again if he knows that you and dad know. Promise me you won't let anyone else know, please?" whispered Ivy to her mum, almost scared.
Lilly frowned at the way her daughter was speaking.
"Honey, I promise, and your dad won't either." Lilly stroked her daughter's red hair and gave her a reassuring smile. The two redheads then jumped as they heard Sirius yell.
"He did what!?" the lord Black quickly walked over to the pensive and leaned down, and James quickly followed his friend so they could rewatch it together.
Lilly rolled her eyes as Ivy raised her hand, trying to stop her father and his best friend.
"He won't say anything either." Assured Lilly and embraced her daughter. While Ivy was in her arms, she sent a glare towards the pensive and mumbled.
"Honestly, she almost died, and he rewatched it because of a broom stunt."
Albus was sitting in his seat, feeling like this was a sign that Jakob was on the right track where he needed him. He is progressing well and is creating new allies. The boy showed emotions towards the girl and fought to save her, something Tom would never have done. He is on the right track. But why had Quade been so scared? What was it that he didn't want us to see? And how did he get rid of the three dementors?
The dungeon was quiet, and a lonely boy searched for something in the dark.
"There you are." Whispered the black-haired boy as he picked up the heavy black sphere that had created an ice patch on the floor under it. He pocketed it inside his robes and continued to the entrance, whistling a tune. The echo of the song made the melody seem more haunted than it really was, but he didn't care.
He spoke the password and stepped inside the now-empty common room. He was walking towards the dorm corridor when he heard a voice on his left side.
"How can you look so beaten up and still be happy?"
He turned towards the sound and saw Amy sitting in an armchair, almost hidden in the dark, reading a book Jakob had not seen before.
"It's nothing. You should see the other guy." Answered Jakob and walked over to her giving her a smile as he sat on the other armchair beside hers. Amy raised an eyebrow, observing the bloodied face of the boy.
"Who was the other guy then?"
"I don't kiss and tell." Jakob gave her a wink. Amy snorted, closed her book, and stood up.
She took a step over to him, leaned down and placed a kiss on his lips.
"It feels like you are always busy. Don't you have any time for your queen anymore?"
"There is time, just a lot of other things that always seem to get in my way. And with you and me having to keep everything secret…."
Amy sighed.
"Jakob, you know that I want to, but-"
"I know. You have already told me. But that is why we don't have any time." Shrugged Jakob as an answer to her question.
"You know that I care for you. But this." He pointed towards Amy and then himself." Will never become anything more if we don't at least try."
The black-haired girl gave him a small smile and leaned in again.
"When I graduate, I won't be the same Amy for you anymore. If you still wish to have me, then I will be yours. But until then, we continue as we have these two years, alright?"
"Amy, when will you see that I care about you and not the things you are worried about? I have a plan for my future, and you are an important part of that."
Amy smirked as she slowly backed away from him.
"I have plans too, Jakob, and you will be a central part of those as well. Good night."
She turned and walked inside her dorm room, leaving a sighing Jakob behind.
She has changed from last year. The girl who took every moment to make out with him and feel his body now gave him a quick kiss and then returned to her dorms. Something was changing, and Jakob didn't know how to stop it.
As Jakob opened his dorm room, he saw Pansy sitting in front of her desk, reading the book of monsters with a frown.
"This book is so idiotic, I can't even..." Her breath hitched as she saw the state of Jakob and let out a breath of relief.
"For one second, you looked like one of those Villagers." chuckled the girl before her brain caught up that even if he wasn't a zombie, something had made him look like one.
"What the hell happened to you this time?!" Pansy got up and started inspecting his body, lifting his arms while Jakob sighed. This would take some time to explain.
The night had been long. Pansy had not understood why he had even bothered to save the Potter girl, which made Jakob explain that they already thought he was a suspect. Pansy had agreed in the end but was in a bad mood over the trouble the Gryffindor idiot had put him in. it took a long time of kissing and touching for her to forget about it, which was why Jakob currently sat in the library the day after.
Feeling too tired to work with his friends in the Slytherin common room, he sat on a chair hidden from view, reading a book that would help him better understand the rune scheme he had to do. He held the dark sphere inside his pocket as he liked the touch of it. Swirling his finger around it relaxed him, and the cold sensation was like scratching.
He had looked through countless books trying to find something that used the 20 runes he needed to make something useful, and then he found it.
Finally!" he sighed when he found what he was looking for. He closed the book and put it in his bag. He strolled out from the library and down the stairs. Ignoring the wave from a Hufflepuff, Jakob walked out from the Hogwarts entrance hall and onto the Hogwarts grounds.
Looking around, he saw a perfect little spot he could try his experiment.
With enthusiastic steps, he walked towards the patch of grass with the book in hand and flicked his wand out. He started to burn the runes into the grass and glanced at the book after every rune to ensure he was doing it right. When he had Three left, he frowned as he heard a voice calling for him in the distance.
"Jake!"
"Pansy? What are you doing here? Why aren't you studying with Draco and the rest?" he lowered his wand when he saw her jogging towards him. She looked around a few times on her way, and when she arrived, she put her hands on her knees, taking deep breaths.
"Hey, slow down. Why are you even running?" The Slytherin girl took one last deep breath as she looked around.
"Draco. He pissed off the potters and Granger… now… they…."
"Pansy breath. You really need to train more if you look like that after a short run from Hagrid hut." Chuckled Jakob while his roommate gave him the finger.
"They started fighting. And I cast a spell. They are coming."
Jakob's eyebrow rose as he looked up. Like a prophecy, the four Gryffindors came into view and looked around. Ron pointed his finger at Pansy, and the golden group ran up towards the two Slytherins.
When the golden squad noticed Jakob standing beside her, they looked a bit more cautious as they switched to a walk the last few meters. Pansy stood behind him, wearing a victorious smirk, when she saw the defeated looks on Hermione and Ivy. They knew that she was protected now.
"We don't have any problems with you, Quade. We only need to borrow Parkinson for a moment." Harry started, giving a warning glance at the boy in question. Jakob, of course, Ignored him and opened his book again, pretending like the four Gryffindors didn't exist and pulling Pansy closer to him simultaneously. Pansy smirked as she noticed the slight jealous look on Ivy's face.
He began waving his wand again, and one of the three runes started to burn into the ground. Harry looked at Ron, giving him a discreet nod and slowly drew out his wand.
"Wait, you are doing the homework without me, you jerk?!" yelled Ivy when she saw what he was doing, and Hermione tried to pull her friend back, knowing she would only cause more trouble.
Pansy snorted towards the girl, feeling more confident now that she had the strongest student in their year on her side.
"Why would he even bother with you? You are a nobody, and Jake is better off doing it alone than to be pestered by your ugly presence."
Ivy's face turned red in rage, making both Harry and Ron take a step back from her and Hermione, loyal to her best friend, took out her wand.
"You take that back!" hissed Hermione towards the Parkinson girl, who laughed in response, taking out her own wand.
"What are you going to do about it? Go back to your boyfriend instead."
Jakob stopped as he turned towards Pansy.
"Boyfriend?" He looked back at Hermione, who started blushing as she quickly glanced at Ivy and then Harry.
" Yeh, Daphne told me she had seen them holding hands the other day. She said that she was close to vomiting."
Jakob looked confused at Hermione and then Harry.
" Shut up!" Screamed Hermione and was about to shoot a spell at Pansy, but Ivy was faster. She ran up to the girl, wrestled her down on the burned grass, and sat over her with her wand pointing at the girl.
Jakob turned and was about to stop the fight but got a knockback jinx in the back, making him take a step forward.
"Oh, you little shit!" chuckled Jakob with a dark tone and sent a skin-burning hex that hit Ron right in the face.
Harry, who heard his friend scream in pain, pointed his wand at Jakob, who did the same.
"Stop it! Please! Yelled Hermione and went between the two. Harry had already cast his stunner, which now accidentally hit Hermione. As she was about to fall, Jakob reached out his hand, trying to get a hold of anything to catch the falling girl.
The Hourglass necklace was the only thing he could grip, and the chain broke as she fell. Jakob, who had pulled back, tripped over the two fighting girls and hit the ground, accidentally breaking the hourglass in his hand when he landed on the grass below.
The dark sphere he had in his pocket fell out, and with his sandy hand, he instinctively grabbed it, and a low humming sound began as the runes below started to glow.
"Shit. Everyone out! now!" Shouted Jakob and saw Harry pulling Hermione out from the circle. The two other girls looked at the glowing runes and then at Jakob, who looked back at them in panic.
"Get..." He had no time to say out as the runes burst, and an explosion made the three remaining Gryffindors fly back a few meters.
Harry was the first to rise and saw that where the three students had been moments ago, there was now a burned patch still glowing.
"Ivy?" Hermione had also risen and ran towards the patch but was pushed back by something invisible.
"What happened to them?" asked the teary-eyed girl to Harry, who once again had a lump forming in his throat. He walked over to the burned patch. Looking around in panic.
"Call Dumbledore Hermione, Now!"
Authors note: Hello, every! I am all up in writing the next chapter, but as it is a key moment, it will take some extra time. There is also a new pre-expansion of a game that I like that comes out tomorrow. And as a working father, I only have so much time, but the chapter is in the making. I will try to get it out as soon as possible, but it might take two days to finish. One chapter takes between 8-10 hours for me to write and beta, so I usually finish one before bedtime.
Hope you all enjoyed this one, and I will see you in the next chapter!
Cheers.