A/N: So, I wrote one more chapter... thought, why not just upload it too...
To warn, the story is going to evolve quite quickly from now on.

IT'S CHANGED!

Chapter 50 Who?

'… wow…'

'Is that all you all say?!'

They all ignored her but what she told before that was impressive. The dark water, the potion that caused some sort of weird pain… and the locket in the stone basin.

Severus stood up and vanished from everyone's sight… searching for another book! They all groaned. They were fucking sick of reading.

'So… we'll have to cross all of that…' Shane sighed. 'Hefty…'

Austin nodded. 'We just need to know how to cross all those obstacles… because the locket will clearly be in the stone basin…'

'One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the entrance… no clue to that part,' Selene looked in each of their eyes. 'Because as much as I have known him, he wouldn't let anyone come without a challenge…'

'Can the dark lake just be an illusion?' Lily mused.

Charm banged her fists on the table, making everyone jump in their seats and shut up. When everyone was quiet, Charm gave a curt nod and was about to speak, when they all saw a book being slammed on the table. And then… Severus slumped on his chair, sighing.

'I can't get anything. I searched for the all the books that could have such a potion… but I didn't find any. Perhaps, it is something new… or just too well hidden,' he rubbed his chin.

The others stifled a laugh, at Charm annoyed face. She was fuming. 'Severus…' she hissed.

He frowned. 'Yes?'

'Well… only if someone allows me to speak!'

Severus shrugged. 'Speak then, who stopped you anyways…'

That got Charm to intensify her glare. 'Only if someone realises… but anyways-'

She was again about to continue but an owl flew into the library and landed right in front of Austin. She crossed her arms on her chest while the other were intrigued by the letter.

Selene rolled her eyes. 'Just tell us already that it is from Marlene and we'd continue with the discussion, Austin…'

Austin blushed while unrolling the letter, 'Wait… I don't think this is from Marlene. She doesn't have any such owl…'

'Then what is it?' Shane leaned on Austin's chair to peek inside.

'Weak, Weaker, Dead…?' Austin looked up; his eyes wide. 'What does that mean?'

Lily snatched the letter from his hands and saw the very same message.

Weak, Weaker, Dead.

'What can this mean?'

'A threat?' Charm whispered, forgetting all of her previous annoyance. 'What would have Austin done to anyone?'

'Who is the letter from?' Selene asked.

Lily looked at Austin and both of them shook their heads. 'There is no mention.'

Shane snatched it from Lily and waved his wand on it before shaking his head. 'No. Nothing.'

Selene snatched it from him and stood up with her wand out. She waved it on the letter producing a red smoke… but at last she shook her head too. 'No. If this spell didn't work, there is absolutely nothing…'

'Could be a message that can be revealed by a potion…' Severus suggested.

Selene shook her head. 'No, this one will give you an absolute view. If this doesn't work, there is nothing.'

'Why is something like this sent to me?' Austin blinked… almost frightened.

All of there eyes turned to him and Shane patted his shoulder. 'I don't believe it was meant to be for you.'

'Huh?'

Before anyone could answer, the letter was in Severus' hands. He sucked in a shark breath.

'What is it, Sev?'

Severus looked up; his eyes determined but doubtful. 'I know this handwriting. I just need to remember…'

'You know it?!' Charm snatched it away from him before narrowing her eyes. 'I believe so too… but who?'

They both gasped and looked at each other. 'Afroze! Andrew Afroze!'

'What?'

Charm and Severus nodded furiously. 'Yes! Yes! It is him.'

'Are you both sure?' Lily looked at both of them.

'He's been in my dorm for years now.'

'And he's been my deskmate in Transfiguration for three years.'

'Wait…' Austin said quietly. 'Do you notice one thing?'

'What?'

'The handwriting is extremely rushed. As if has got no time to write it.'

Charm slipped the letter in the middle so, that everyone can see. They all nodded.

'Shane is correct. This wasn't for Austin. It was for all of us, by him, because no one would suspect a Slytherin sending any letter to a Hufflepuff…' Lily said.

They nodded once more. 'What does Afroze know?' Severus leaned back in his chair musing.

'Don't ask him!' Selene warned. 'He is trying to help us…'

'But how does he know?' Lily questioned. 'About all of this? About the horcruxes, their destruction, the cave! We have been using Muffliato since ever! And I don't believe there is a counter…'

Severus shook his head. 'No, no counter other than the one that makes everyone know that the spell is removed.'

'Umm…' Charm shifted in her chair, smoothing her already perfect hair.

That caught everyone's attention. 'What is it?' Shane asked raising his eyebrow.

She gulped. 'Well…'

'Well, what, Charm?' Selene insisted.

'I kind of…'

'Did you speak to him about this?' Austin asked suspiciously.

'NO! Merlin, no!'

'Then what is it?'

'I… When I was returning from Regulus' dorm…'

*Page Break*

All of it was important and she had to tell this to others. If they knew about the challenges they'd face, it will be easier to destroy the locket. They can prepare for it.

That is when she heard footsteps and looked up but before she could actually see who the person is, their shoulder hit hers.

'Ah! What the – Sawyer?' Charm looked at him accusingly. 'What are you doing here? Your dorm room is there…' she pointed at the other door.

Bennet who seemed irritated by something huffed. 'I know!'

'Well, do whatever you like…' Charm rolled her eyes, nursing her shoulder that had kind of gotten a shock by the force Bennet had run into her.

'I didn't even allow McNair to have my laptop!' he complained.

'Oh… but he has… perhaps even forgotten that there was any laptop that he stole because he is right now in a detention for some curse, he threw…'

'Ah…' Bennet smirked. 'Good for him, he deserved that. I'd take it myself. Is someone in there?'

Yes! Regulus was! And so was Kreacher! Charm had to inform them. So, she took a few steps backwards and banged a fist forcefully on the door of the dorm, smiling. 'Yes… there is Regulus. And Bennet, you may go in!' she almost yelled, hoping that Regulus would take on the cue.

Bennet gave her a strange look before nodding. 'Well… thank you for informing…'

'Pleasure…' she began walking again and sighed. That was close. Even though, she knew that Bennet wouldn't be the one helping the Dark Lord at all… she had to make sure, because he sure was a bladder mouth. His laptop hadn't been stolen a ton of times because of nothing.

And before anything else could take a stroll in her mind… she heard another set of footsteps. And this time it was… Barty Crouch Jr.?

She frowned. Had everyone lost their way to their dormitories? Or had everyone's things been stolen? 'Crouch? What are you doing here?'

His head turned to her sharply but was as blank as ever. 'What?'

'What are you doing here?'

'None of your business, Lynx…' the sentence could have been perceived in way many ways, but here, his tone was blank. So blank that his words held almost no value at all.

Charm shrugged, dismissing it and walked past him, before a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She turned back to see Barty's frozen eyes. They had gone red and glassy as if all the blood of his body had travelled up to his head but also as if all of it was drained at the same time. 'Barty…?'

'Shush…' he quietened her hastily and kept his hands on both of her shoulders, pulling her closer.

'What are you-?'

'Shush… look up here… in my eyes, please. Charm faster!'

Barty was so hasty that without thinking Charm looked up in his eyes and he nodded before running away.

Charm stood confused wondering if what she just witnessed even happened… or was it just her stupid hallucinations.

She entered the Common room, which was as always stuffed with people. The seventh-years were fighting over the new spell that was taught. The fifth years were teasing the fourth years over their petty mistakes… the third years were going crazy because all of a sudden, their syllabus had been increased from the second year. And… as always, the first and the second years were chilling out in the open, because, none of them was here studying.

And the couch was occupied by the sixth years. Where… Mulciber, Avery and Afroze were banging their books over each other's. Mulciber picked his wand from the little table where other wands were kept too, and waved it in the air, producing white smoke and then slumping on the couch again. Afroze and Avery chuckled at that and went back to finding something in the books.

Charm's eyes met Afroze's just for a fraction of a second before she rolled her eyes and left.

*Page Break*

'Wait… you actually confronted the people whose writing doesn't even have a relation… but you didn't even make an eye contact with the person whose handwriting matched the one in the letter…' Austin summerised, slumping in his chair.

Charm nodded.

'Wait, wait, wait…' Lily held out a finger. 'Aren't we missing something? First, that Crouch was behaving bizarre and second, that Crouch was the one who legilimized Sev…'

Everyone turned to her.

'Which means… perhaps, our focus was being tried to be diverted…' Selene said eyeing the letter on the table.

'But we still don't know, why would Afroze write this…' Shane pointed towards the letter.

'Afroze was made to write it…' Severus whispered absently. 'Or forced…'

'Can you ask him, perhaps?' Austin suggested, shrugging, not even sure of himself.

Severus shook his head. 'No, I can't. Better not attract attention. And if he decided to send a message this way, then it is certain that he anticipates a threat… this is given and done. We better not speak of this again.'

All of them nodded.

'But still, what about… Crouch?' Charm asked.

'He is… trying to do something,' Selene sighed. 'First, Severus and now you… thank Merlin for not passing out for a few days, like Severus did.'

Severus flushed at that. 'I didn't do it on purpose and I was learning Occlumency and Legilimency at that time…'

Charm smirked. 'Well, I am anyways, good at Occlumency, you know, learning since I was three.'

'Yes, whatever, Charm…' he rolled his eyes.

She frowned, tensed by another detail. 'He nodded after he saw in my eyes, though… as if he found what he wished for.'

'No way!' they all yelled before leaning back in their chairs and groaning.

'I am not certain! Don't think he knows it all!' Charm tried to keep up the little optimism she was left with.

'Charm! Prepare for the worst!' Severus threw his head in his hands. 'What if he knows?! He'd go straight to the Dark Lord!'

'He is a follower, but… is he also a… a Death Eater?' Lily whispered as if just saying the term would be like committing a sin.

Everyone sat clueless, but Shane straightened at the question and nodded. 'He most probably is.'

All the eyes turned towards him.

'How do you know?' Selene asked.

'You remember the attack? The attack on the blood traitors?'

They nodded.

'That's when he must have taken the mark…'

'How do you know?' Austin repeated the question.

Shane sighed. 'Well… since then he has turned to seem like a stone. Seem frozen in time… I don' know if I am correct, but we must see him as a threat. He isn't trustable.'

They nodded.

'He isn't.

*Page Break*

Days passed with more stress and staying stuck with the same clues which didn't have answers. They tried to get more answers and be prepared with more spells and ideas before they'd enter the sea-side cave.

Most of it was useless, because they had no idea what was the dark lake or the potion in the basin.

And now, they didn't have even a few days left, because they were off to their homes for the Easter Break, which meant that they'd just have to do with what they knew.

*Page Break*

'After all!' he said slumping on the bed and closing his eyes. This room was so comforting. So, much better than his house. He let out a small laugh. Both his parents were dead, and now, that house was nothing to him other than wretched memories.

Here, he had people whom he could call family. Even though, for a long while he thought that he was a burden to them, but he wasn't. They loved him and didn't have any problem staying with him. They were happy. He was happy.

And then came Lily. Well for now… the only thought about her in his mind was that, perhaps, he'd even get a chance to sleep with Lily for a few days… just sleep.

'Ah, so, Mister?' A voice met his ears just after he heard the hasty closure of his door. He didn't get up or open his eyes, just smirked. It was Lily and better keep her waiting. She had annoyed him a lot until now. 'Wouldn't you even look at me once?'

'Don't pester me, Lily…' he said lazily and soon felt warm arms on his skin and silky hair on his neck and cheek.

'Ah… so, now, I pester you? Huh?' she whispered in his ear, making the hair of the back of his neck stand.

'I am tired, Lily…' he turned his face away from her. 'Let me sleep… we had a long day with a journey… so, perhaps, tomorrow…'

'Come on, Sev, don't be such a bore!' she whined.

Severus didn't wish to admit this but just her voice was hardening him. Or was it the environment? He opened his eyes and turned to Lily, who was looking at him annoyed.

'After all!' she rolled her eyes and hooked her knee on his waist before gasping. 'Wow… Sev, don't tell me, you aren't in the mood…'

He flushed. Of course, she would have felt him on her thigh. 'It wasn't on purpose…'

'Yes, of course,' she kissed him and he couldn't keep himself but return it as hungrily. One of her hands snaked in his shirt while the other held on his neck to keep their faces steady.

'You know, I would be seeming like a star fish…' he pointed out.

'Well, then, don't hesitate to turn into a horse…' she winked before meeting his lips again.

Severus grabbed her waist and pulled her up with himself in a sitting position. 'Don't rub on me, Lily!'

She pulled away and gave him a blank stare. 'Then what do you think I am here for? Read potions?'

'No, Lily, I mean, wait for a while… perhaps, we can not just end up at rubbing each other…'

'Ah…' her eyes glittered with excitement. She took her hand off his shirt and shoved in the back pocket of her trousers, taking a small box out.

Severus suppressed a gasp. 'You bought-? From where? When?'

Lily smirked and kissed his cheek. 'Well, protection is necessary, isn't it?'

'Wow… Lily… we of course, don't wish to end up as Shane and Selene,' he shook his head.

'Of course,' she opened the box, taking two small packs out. 'For both a vagina and a penis…'

'You – you are such a… planner!' he initiated the kiss this time.

'I know…' she moaned yanking his trousers with his pants down to his knees. He yelped and pulled back.

'You have learnt to do it quite swiftly…'

'Ah… so, no embarrassment now?' she said as she took her shirt off, leaving her torso in absolutely nothing. Severus looked at her and then in her eyes.

'You weren't wearing anything inside?'

'Not even down…' she winked.

'I had plans… but you just make them better, Lils…' he pulled her closer again making their bare chests clash as their lips met again.

Severus just opened his mouth and following the cue, Lily laced her tongue with his. They grumbled with pleasure as charges of pure energy and excitement ran through their veins. His hand snaked at the back of her and it didn't take him long to bring her pyjamas down.

Lily pulled back and lifted her legs, taking the fabric off herself and pulling Severus' off him too. 'Here… now, it feels full…'

'Not yet…' he whispered in her ear closely and held a breath as his fingers went down to her clit making her try to squeeze her legs with the stimulation.

'Ah… Sev…' her arms laced behind his neck as she rubbed herself back and forth on Severus. 'Take it…'

Severus was breathing heavily. 'You perfectly sure?' he asked through clenched teeth.

She nodded as vigorously as she could and her hand went to grab the rubbers that she had bought. 'I so damn know now, why didn't Shane and Selene use those…'

Severus chuckled as his chest heaved and grabbed one from Lily's hands. They pulled back to open to packet and cover themselves with, though, their eyes never left the other's… parts.

'That was smooth… felt like you have done that before…' Severus teased her.

She looked at his eye from his manhood. 'Well… why do I think I can say the same? Huh?'

He licked the nook of her neck. 'Perhaps, I am too good at dreaming…'

'I see…' Lily stood on her knees, lingering herself over Severus, teasing him.

'Come on, Lily!'

'It isn't that easy…'

'I know… then try doing it… my hands are busy at your back and hair…' he said, wishing her to touch him.

Lily smirked and brought her lips to his neck, while her fingers touched the tip of him. Her hand measured the length of him making him freeze at what he was doing.

'Please, Lily… don't go too hard on me…' he whispered.

'Of course, not…' she answered, her voice hoarse just as she touched him to herself. 'Oh, fuck!'

He was thick! She never realized until now when she had to compare the radius of both herself and him. Severus made space for his hand and rubbed it on her clit, making her head fall back with pleasure. He slid himself inside her in the slightest. 'You fine?'

She nodded as her chest rose and fell. 'You can go in faster than that…'

So, he did go a little further in making her clench her eyes shut and almost dig her nails into Severus' shoulders. 'Fine?'

'Yes…' she breathed.

And this time he just inserted himself. Penetrating her fully and making her suppress a yell. 'Lily is it that painful? You know, we can stop…'

That earned him a painful swat on his back. 'I'd kill you if you pull out now!'

Severus didn't need any more affirmation to rock them and so did Lily, riding his shaft as he kept rubbing her clit with one of his hands.

And in no time, Severus growled. 'Lily…' he clutched on her as tightly as he can, feeling her insides on every inch of him before a slow-evolving charge of pleasure went up fast and sent chilling warmth all over his body. He emptied himself inside her and she yelped.

'Sev…' her eyes clenched tight as his fingers moved faster on her clit. Her knees were squeezing themselves on his thighs but soon her body arched. Sweet blissful tingles of thrill went up all over her body and the muscles around her groin contracted.

They both fell limp and dropped on the bed as if what they wished to achieve in life was done. They were breathing heavily before their lips met again.

'Pull the covers, please, Lily…' Severus whispered. Lily caught the blanket in her toe and he grabbed it with his hand.

'Oh, wait… the rubbers, first…' Lily said, tired but still got off from over Severus and pulled the sticky and slippery thing off herself.

So, did Severus, before they just wiped themselves with the clothes they had discarded.

Perhaps, it wasn't just sleeping.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Thank you for reading.