A/N: Some portions of this story are borrowed directly from the game, which I do not own.
"Here, grab my hand." Jae offered as Arah gripped his sweaty palm- grateful for the help as he hoisted her up and out of the underground corridor.
Arah huffed as she climbed out of the hidden chute, dizzy with exhaustion after trekking the past hour through the dark passage. Who knew the cellar under Honeydukes was actually a secret tunnel that lead right to Hogwarts.
"Where are we exactly?" Arah asked, steadying herself on her feet.
"Third-floor corridor," Jae said, rubbing his dirty hands on his trousers. "Been using this One-Eyed Witch statue for years to do my midnight biddings."
"How did you even manage to find this?" Arah panted- brushing the cobwebs off her damp cloak.
"Because I'm Jae Kim. I have my ways." he winked.
"Happen to know a shortcut to the Slytherin Common Room then?" Being on the third floor, the dungeons were a bit of a ways down and Arah felt as if her body was running on fumes.
Jae sucked his teeth "Ah- fresh out of those. Afraid the classic walk-down-the-stairs will have to do. Shall we?"
The two of them set off towards the dungeons- trudging through winding corridors and eventually taking the grand staircase down to its lower floors, making their way in silence.
Arah glanced at the walls covered in paintings- she could see movement in each canvas, mostly grumpy portraits shielding their eyes from the bright glow of Jae's wand. Next to a particularly aggravated painting of a Nun, Arah spotted a clock - the hour hand halfway past 3am. Had it really been that long? A prickling fear ate at her- worry for her brother festered her stomach into knots. Could it already be too late? Silently she begged Jacob to hang on just a little longer.
"Jacob's lucky to have a sister like you." Jae's voice cut the stillness. "I envy the relationship you have with your brother. I know he'd be grateful to see the lengths you have gone for him."
It was odd to hear Jae speaking in such a serious manner- he rarely ever did. It was admirable to see this softer side of him, he usually disguised it with his smug egotism and skeezy charm. Arah could understand what Chiara saw in him- she had a gift of seeing people for who they truly are. Although Chiara never truly confessed her feelings for Jae aloud- it was pretty plain to see.
"Maybe if you weren't an only child, you wouldn't have gotten in so much trouble all the time." Arah tugged the corner of her lips into a smile- this got a chuckle out of Jae. They entered the door to the dungeons- the air feeling a little more drafty in comparison to the rest of the castle.
"Nothing like an older sibling to humble you with a good arse-kicking, eh?"
Arah smiled to herself as they approached the large stone wall- the statue of a serpent carved into the rock slithered to life as it snaked its way into an arch, revealing a large wooden doorway.
"Alright, what now?" Arah looked at Jae expectedly.
"Don't look at me." Jae shrugged. "I don't know the password."
"What?!" Arah gaped at him incredulously. "I thought you were the 'Jae Kim'."
Jae flushed, scratching the back of his neck."Well...I may or may not have oversold myself back there. That's just part of the Jae Kim 'brand'."
Arah analyzed the doorway- debating what to do...
"Damn it." The clock was ticking and the longer she stood there, the closer her brother was to death's door. So...she thought to do what anyone would with a closed door. She knocked.
"Well... that's one way to do it." Jae mumbled to himself, lifting his eyebrows.
Nothing. Arah pounded on the door louder- her wracks echoing throughout the damp corridor. Jae shifted nervously- keeping an eye out for any unwanted visitors. Before long, Arah could hear stirring and muted voices coming from behind the heavy door.
"Shhhh. You'll wake the others. It's probably just that second-year sleepwalking again. They always forget the password..." With a creak, the door opened to reveal a yawning Liz- rubbing her eyes sleepily. She squinted as she adjusted her glasses- eyes widening behind the thick monocles at the realization of who was responsible for the loud disturbance.
"Oh. Hi Arah. Hi Jae."
"What?" Barnaby appeared behind Liz, both dressed in their nightly attire. "Arah? What's this about?" he blinked, clearly still waking up. His eyes shifted, taking in their appearance - both soaked, tired, and looking worst for wear. "You look-"
"Like shit." Ismelda suddenly appeared behind the two friends- her face spotted with bubotuber pus in a clear attempt to rid her acne. Jae stifled a laugh- snorting at her appearance as Ismelda shot him a venomous glare.
"For the record- that is not what I was going to say." Barnaby mumbled under his breath.
"Is everything alright?" Liz asked, eyes magnified with worry.
"No, not really. I could use your help," Arah hesitated. "I'm looking for Merula. I need to talk to her right away, it's urgent." A group of 2nd years peered from behind her Slytherin friends - gawking to see what could possibly have disrupted their slumber.
"I'll get her." Ismelda grumbled as she disappeared from behind the door.
"What's going on, Arah?" Barnaby's emerald eyes hardened with concern.
Arah struggled to answer him - she could see he sensed the pain behind that question. His demeanor shifted- a look of empathy overtook him as his eyes softened. He always had this ability to read her- it could be quite problematic at times.
"I...I just need to speak to Merula." Arah wavered- she wouldn't let her emotions overtake her now.
"Alright- off to bed, the lot of you!" Merula barked as the kids scattered off to their dorms. Someone was clearly getting comfortable with their prefect duties. Merula peered from behind the massive door, grimacing at the two of them. "Annon, you better have a good reason for waking me up at this hour."
Arah swallowed back her anger- doing everything she could to avoid lashing out uncontrollably as she had done to Mundungus. She wanted to yell - to scream Traitor. It was the ultimate betrayal to find out Merula was R's mole the entire time- secretly joining forces with the evil cabal. And for what, power? Glory? It made her sick to her stomach. How could she? Merula was her friend - at least used to be. Merula knew what they were capable of - hell, she had even been there when Rowan was killed by the very hands of 'R, but that didn't stop her from joining anyways. And to make matters worst- Arah had to keep this betrayal to herself all year and pretend like nothing had changed. Well, no more acting.
"My brother is dying, Merula." Arah could hear the venom in her own voice as she spoke. "He was trying to get an ancient artifact before 'R' could. You don't happen to know anything about that?"
Merula blinked- clearly caught off guard by Arah's accusation. Good. Merula's eyes darted nervously- seeing plainly the suspicions directed towards her.
"Wait...What?" Barnaby stammered- fully awake now.
"Did you say 'R'?" Liz interrupted- eyes going wide as saucers as Barnaby listened intently- eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Arah ignored the question.
"He has these horrible burns all over him. Burn-Healing paste isn't working and he's getting worse." her voice began to tremble- emotions starting to flow freely. "Merula. I...I need to know if you know what any of this means. Please."
Yet, here she was, groveling and seeking this traitor for help. The very person who stabbed her in the back was her only hope of saving her brother.
"What are you on about?"
"Shut up Barnaby." Merula hissed- not breaking eye contact with Arah. The tension sat thick in the air at the unspoken friction between the two.
"I'm desperate, Merula. He's my brother. If there is something you know that you're not telling me, then now is the time to do it. Because he's running out of it. He will die." The last word seemed to get stuck in her throat, but she didn't dare look away from her.
Merula broke- cursing obscenities under her breath as she raked her hands through her hair. "I need to speak to Arah alone," she said gravely.
It made Arah feel good to see Merula so flighty.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Jae shuffled awkwardly away, shoving his hands in his jumper and leaving them to it.
"C'mon, Barnaby." Liz said as he glowered at Merula- refusing to leave. "Let's give them their space." she tugged at his arm, yet he didn't budge. His green eyes pierced Arah's, his protective nature getting the better of him.
"It's okay, Barns." Arah nodded as he surrendered to Liz pulling him inside, leaving Merula and Arah alone.
"I'll only tell you this once, Annon." Merula's face darkened, pointing her finger into Arah's chest. "You don't know everything that's going on with me or anything else." her voice cracked. "So don't act like you know what's happening here. Because you don't." It was so unlike her it almost made Arah pity her. To see Merula Snyde so...so broken. What could possibly have her this rattled?
"Okay, then I won't. Because this-" Arah gestured dramatically between the two of them, "isn't my concern right now. My concern is saving my brother's life. Jacob will not survive to see tomorrow unless I find some answers. You and I both know you are the only person who can help him." she spoke sharply.
Merula bore into Arah's eyes, battling some internal conflict as to how she would word her next response. She was a bundle of nerves, jittery and wringing her fingers in her sweaty hands.
"You don't understand. I can't." she said barely above a whisper, her eyes welling up with tears. Arah opened her mouth to protest before Merula cut her off "But maybe I can still help you...for your brother's sake."
"Please, anything." Arah pleaded.
"Listen carefully. Go to the Library's Restricted Section and look for a book called History of the Mahoutokoro School of Magic. Find the chapter on Dai Ryusaki... I can't tell you any more than that." Merula instructed. "Please trust me when I say that."
Arah glared into Merula's eyes- testing to see if she were sincere.
"Okay. I'll take your word for it." She said pointedly.
"I mean it Arah. You don't know the half of it." Merula whispered- a shadow of desperation haunted her.
"I don't have time to entertain whatever sympathy your after, Merula. What I do know is we're long overdue for a conversation...I have some things I need to say to you, but we will have to save it for another time. Alright?" Arah spoke impatiently.
"Okay." Merula's eyes darkened. "Good luck with your brother, Annon."
Arah nodded tersely as she walked away leaving Merula standing alone in the doorway. She had seemed earnest in her well-wishes. Arah would have to ruminate later over what all Merula had said, but right now she had other priorities. Merula was a mystery to solve another day.
A/N: I ended up splitting this chapter in half since it was getting WAY too long. I've pretty much got the next chapter fully flushed out, so I promise it's coming soon this time! As always, reviews are always appreciated!
