As he was near the Ravenclaw tower, Filch approached him. "Where do you think you're going?" Filch asked as his grumpy eyes stared at him with suspicion.

He froze in fear a little as he tried to come up with a perfect excuse. "N-Nowhere. Nothing Special. Nowhere I'm supposed to be going…" Lucien could already feel like he was making Filch more suspicious than he already was.

"You're Jacob Crow's brother, aren't you?" He stared at him awaiting for his response

"...Yes," Lucien slightly hesitated as he answered

"Your brother was one of the nastiest little rule-breakers this school has ever seen. I was sad to see him expelled." A smirk came on to Filch's face.

"You were?" He was confused but suddenly got an unsettling feeling.

"I was." Filch's smirk turned into a nasty scowl. "I missed my chance to hang him from the ceiling by his wrists. Now I have a second chance with you."

"I'm not like my brother, Mr Filch."

"You're a liar is what you are. Mrs Norris saw two Ravenclaws lurking in a forbidden corridor," Filch growled. "I'm guessing one of those Ravenclaws was you."

It was really surprising how a cat like Filch's can remember for such a long time Lucien thought as he looked at him in the eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about…" He replied. He was getting anxiety from the inside as his body remained calm.

"You won't be going anywhere without me an' Mrs Norris knowing..." Frustration and anger was heard in his voice

Seeming like this won't get him anywhere he quickly comes up with an excuse that he wrote down in one of the scenarios of his plan.

"Have you heard of Peeves?" He asked. Thinking he could use Filch's anger as leverage since he has been studying him and how he is with the poltergeist.

"Course I've heard of Peeves. Filthy little poltergeist has caused me more trouble every student put together. Why?"

"I heard him talking about sabotaging your office," he replied, hoping this would get Filch to stay in his office as long as possible.

"How?" This spiked Filch's curiosity yet he was still suspicious.

"He uh, he said he'd set all of the prank items you confiscated to go off the next time you open the door. I hope Mrs. Norris doesn't get hurt…"

"Why would he do that?!" Filch's eyes widened slightly, unsure if he was telling the truth or not.

"Well, you know Peeves better than me, but I assumed it was because he's fond of mischief and chaos," he gulped before he continued. "And he hates you."

"How do I know you aren't lying?" Filch looked at him trying to figure him out.

"You can think I'm lying, and take the chance that he ruins your office, and hurts Mrs Norris…" Lucien crosses his fingers while mentally praying for Filch to fall for the bait. "Or you can stand guard inside your office, so Peeves can't get the best of you."

"I hate that wretched little poltergeist…" He muttered as it seemed to take the bait. "I can't let him harm Mrs Norris, and damage my office. I keep my favorite chains in there. If I find out you're lying about this, I'll be using those same chains ta hang you by your ankles…" Filch then goes back to his office,assuming to guard it from Peeves. Lucien sighs in relief hoping he will remain in there for a while as he quickly runs to the Ravenclaw tower to get Rowan.

After a few minutes of Lucien getting Rowan, they both headed to the Upstairs Corridor and noticed Ben was already waiting for them by the door.

"I'll admit this is more terrifying than I ever imagined. And I spend a lot of time imagining terrible things…" Ben said as they entered the forbidden corridor. He really seemed frightened. But Lucien understood as he also felt a little nervous. Ben immediately stopped in his tracks. "I'm even more confused by you saying this wouldn't be dangerous, Lucien." He started shaking when they noticed Mrs Norris sitting in front of the mysterious door.

"Is everyone ready?" Lucien asked with a determined look, hoping this will ease the both of them slightly.

"I'm ready to run at the first sign of danger," Ben replied honestly.

"I spent all night studying maps of this section of the castle, and going over the plan, Lucien. I'm ready as I'll ever be," Rowan answered as he also had a determined look.

"I tricked Filch into staying in his office, but we should still hurry. Snape might return any minute. Ben will keep watch to make sure no one is coming. Rowan will give the Sleeping Draught to Mrs Norris while I use Alohomora to unlock the door." Lucien explained the plan to them.

"I've read a lot of books, but none of them explain how to make a cat drink a potion…" Rowan stated as he doesn't know what to do.

"Don't worry," a smile came across Lucien's face. "I mixed it with milk. Just pour it on the ground and she should lick it up." Unsure if it would work but there was only one way to find out.

Rowan slowly gets close to Filch's cat, but not too close to be noticed by her. He took out the potion Lucien gave him out of his robes and slowly poured the liquid on the ground, after he was done he returned back to the two.

"I imagine myself doing all sorts of things at Hogwarts, but I never thought I'd be giving a cat Sleeping Draught…" He said, taking a deep breath of relief.

It only took a second for Mrs Norris to notice the milk disguised potion on the ground. She started licking it and without a second to spare she was out like a light.

"Brilliant plan, Lucien! You have a real gift for this. If wizarding doesn't work out, you should really consider burglary." Rowan jokes.

"Let's Hurry, and get inside the door…" Lucien said. There was no time like the present, Snape or Filch could enter the corridor any moment, so they need to be fast.

"Quick, get the lock open before Filch comes back!" Rowan reminded him as he looked like he was starting to panic a little.

Lucien takes out his wand, waving it just like he practised. "Alohomora!" He shouted the incantation as he pointed the wand at the lock. They heard the sound of the door unlocking. Until Lucien felt something was off.

"Flipendo!" A voice said from behind as the Knockback jinx hits each of them. Ben holds his left arm as he seemed to have broken his fall while Rowan holds his head in pain, seems like the spell sent Rowan to hit his head on the wall.

Lucien turns his head up to see it was Merula standing above them, smiling sinisterly at them. He noticed his wand fell behind her so he was now completely defenseless.

"Only an idiot like you would invite a spineless Mudblood to keep watch, Crow," she said with a cocky tone. She seemed pleased as she looked at the door. "I was wondering how to unlock the door, and get past that nasty cat. All I had to do is follow you, and wait for you to do it for me. A Cursed Vault could be inside, and no one is going to reach the Cursed Vaults before me."

"M-Merula...You don't know what could be in there…!" Lucien finally said before he was shot with a smirk coming from her.

Merula then walked past the three and entered the room. Seconds later they get up to come back on to their feet while Lucien walks over to pick up his wand.

"Have I ever mentioned how much I hate Merula?" Rowan said as he was still holding his head in pain with irritation in his eyes.

"Are you both alright?" He asked, concerned for both of their well-being.

"Now I know the exact pain you saved me from when Merula was bullying me…" Ben replied as he held onto his left shoulder.

"I'll be fine, my head hurts but I'll walk it off." Rowan sets his hand down from his head, looking at him from irritation to concern. "What are we going to do, Lucien?"

Lucien thinks for a moment, there were only two things popped into his mind: stopping her, and making her pay. But then he feels the cold breeze from the door. He felt something was off once again which he had a bad feeling that she could be in trouble.

"I know it sounds mad, but we have to help her," he said as they both looked at him like he was completely insane.

"WHAT?!" They both exclaimed.

"Are you serious?! Why would you want to help someone like her?!" Rowan shouted while Lucien closed his eyes.

"...She could be in danger. I don't know but for some reason I just have to!" Lucien responded as he opened his eyes that had empathy in them.

"Fine, since you are my friend..." Rowan shook his head as he replied before his look of determination came back. "And whatever you choose, I'm right behind you, Lucien."

"I'm afraid of what might be inside, but I'm even more afraid of being all alone in this corridor," Ben added.

Lucien nodded as the three faced the door. "Let's see what's inside this room."

As he opened the door he was instantly hit with a very chilling breeze. He huddled both of his arms together as the condensation was coming out of his separated lips every time he took a breath. Eventually, the three of them entered the room and closed the door behind them so either Snape nor Filch will catch them. The first thing they spotted was Merula on the other side of the iced cold room which made Lucien's eyes widen in terror. Below her waist was encased by the ice. He then noticed her skin was a lot paler than usual which reminded him of his mother. She was shivering violently as she was freezing to death.

"Merula?!" Lucien exclaimed out to her.

"What happened?!" Ben was frantically rubbing both of his arms together trying to stay warm.

Rowan seeing the state Merula was in he couldn't help but laugh a little. "This is too good…"

As much as Merula may have deserved the karma, Lucien couldn't help but notice the ice was slowly starting to spread around her.

"The ice st-stuck m-me t-to the f-floor, and k-keeps sp-spreading over me!" She said as she looked like she was about to pass out at any moment as she barely has enough strength to even remain conscious yet alone to even speak.

"It's the same ice from my vision…" Lucien muttered as he could remember the vision as clear as day.

"It's spreading over the door too! Get m-me out of this ice b-before I j-jinx the three of you!" She threateningly demanded with her shaky voice despite freezing to death.

Lucien turns around and sees the door was already spreading over the door.

Ah crap…

"Lucien! Help!" As Lucien was about to say something he heard Rowan yelling. He sees that both Rowan and Benn were encased in the ice as well.

"Hold on!" He yells as he immediately pulls out his wand and points it at the ice that was frozen over Rowan's feet. Shouting the KnockBack Jinx's incantation "Flipendo!" He waved his wand at the ice that was surrounding Rowan's legs and shatters away as it frees Rowan

"Are you okay, Rowan?!" He asked, concerned for his friend

"Don't worry about me. We have to help Ben…" Rowan replied as he reminded him.

Nodding he turns to Ben. Ben seems to be shaking violently in the ice, either he was cold or he was terrorized, either way he has to get him out. Waving his wand once again he shouts the incantation. "Flipendo!" The spell works as Ben was freed as well.

"Thank you, Lucien. I was afraid I'd freeze to death..." Ben said as he sighs in relief.

"No one c-cares about y-you! S-Save m-m-me!" They could hear Merula trying to yell but it was slightly faint. Lucien felt himself getting even colder the longer he stayed inside the room.

"Everyone stand back!" Lucien shouts, seeing that Merula was in the room longer than both Rowan and Ben and it spreaded slowly up to her chest area. This was going to be harder to free her he thought before taking a deep breath.

"This is going to hurt, Merula…" Lucien warns Merula as he did not want to hurt her.

"W-What are you t-talking about?! What are you g-going t-to d-do?!" She faintly tried to shout, the only thing he could see in her eyes were confusion mixed with fear.

`I'm going to save you…` He focused his concentration on the ice surrounding her by the center. He manages to wave his wand without shaking due to being cold.

"FLIPENDO!" He shouts the incantation at the top of his lungs as the ice surrounding Merula explodes into a lot of tiny shards. The force of the impact sends her flying to the ground.

"Owwwww..." She groaned in pain as she lays on the ground. Lucien quickly rushes to her aid.

"Hurts doesn't it?" Rowan remarks before trying to use Flipendo on the door which it barely did anything.

"M-Merula are you alright?!" Lucien asked the freezing Slytherin girl, worried that he might have injured her as he could see she could barely move at all. She was completely pale from the face down almost like she was about to turn blue at any moment. He sees a little bit of snot was frozen down to her trembling lips. Terrified the only thing he could do to help her is placing his forehead onto hers while he cradles her to transfer some of his body heat to her as he holds her close.

"C-Cast the Knockback Jinx on the d-door!" His voice was shaking as he could feel himself getting colder. He then points his wand at the door as he waves it again. "F-FLIPENDO!" The Knockback Jinx hits the door as some of the ice shatters off the door but it was still not enough.

"The door is still stuck! What do we do, Lucien?! The ice is spreading fast!" Rowan asked as he was now pacing back and forth trying to come up with a plan while trying to stay warm.

"It's hopeless…" Ben said as he could already feel like he had given up.

'What can I do…We're going to die if we can't get out of here fast…! W-What do I do?!''

Suddenly Lucien could feel a hand placed on his left cheek which made his head raise up a little as he snapped out of his panicking thought. It was Merula's hand, he slowly looked down at her and saw she was weakly trying to speak.

"I-I…"

"D-Don't speak...I-It's going to be a-alright..." He tries to reassure her.

"I-I...I-I d-don't…"

"I don't...W-Want to d-die…"

Her words made him feel his heart was getting stabbed. He could see tears forming in her eyes but they immediately froze once they were released down to her cheek.

"H-Help...M-Mum…"

Hearing her calling out for her mother in a state like this, he held onto her hand that was still on his cheek, trying to keep her warm. "I-It's going to be okay...W-We will get out of here...J-Just hold on…" He whispered as he noticed her eyes were closed.

"N-No...Merula s-stay with me!"

He was terrified...This is where they will die. Suddenly an idea struck him.

"B-Ben! We need your help! I know you know the Knockback Jinx!" he turned to Ben who was still staring at the door.

"...I-I'm sorry, Lucien. I can't. I-I'm too scared…" Ben replied, as he was terrified and full of dread.

Lucien did not bother letting go of Merula's hand instead he squeezed it a little, he also felt like he was losing the feeling in his arms as the cold in the room was starting to make the rest of his body go numb with each passing moment.

"Worthless Mudblood…" Lucien muttered to himself as he widened in shock as soon as he realized what he just said.

"W-What did you say L-Lucien?" Ben asked as both himself and Rowan turned to him with confusion.

"I said…" He pauses as he thinks what to say something else. 'Did they not hear me...?'

"I-I know you can do this, you have to try…"

Ben looks at him as he sees Lucien was on the verge of tears. "P-Please...F-For your f-friends…" Lucien pleaded as he felt her hand and head start to warm up a little while he was shaking violently. He was relieved they both didn't hear what he said and was even more relieved to see Merula is hanging on still.

"...I'll try…" Ben said as he took out his wand and turned his focus onto the ice. Lucien stares at Ben while he listens to Merula's steady breathing. Her breathing was actually calming to him. If only they weren't on such negative terms, who knows things would probably be different for them.

"FLIPENDO!" Ben shouts the Knockback Jinx's incantation and fires the spell at the ice. The impact of the spell causes the ice explode into a lot of shards. Rowan manages to take cover behind Ben while Lucien protects the unconscious yet freezing Merula from the ice that was flying everywhere. He felt one of the ice shards stab him in the shoulder which made him let out a small painful grunt.

Lucien slowly looks at the door, seeing that the ice was no longer encasing it. "Y-You did it, Ben!" He said as his teeth chatted from the cold.

"I did it…" Ben mutters as his eyes widened as he was almost at a loss for words.

"Let's get out of here!" Rowan shouts as he helps Lucien up.

"Do you think this ice will keep spreading throughout the castle?" Ben said while he snapped out of his daze.

"We'll worry about it later...For now let's just move...!" Rowan replied as he was helping Lucien.

Once Lucien got up he noticed some glowing runes on the wall near the door.

"W-Wait! Look at t-this!" Lucien weakly points his slightly numbed finger at the runes which made them turn to see them as well.

"What is it?" Ben asked as he was rubbing his own arms, still trying to warm himself up.

"It's some sort of code. Someone left a message in the ice…" Rowan replied, rubbing off the fog on his glasses while getting a little closer to it.

"I-I wish I had something to write it down…" Lucien said, still freezing as he holds Merula in his arms. There was no time as the room was getting very cold at this point. It's amazing how they are still alive.

"I already have it m-memorized," Rowan turns to the both of them. "Let's get out of here."

They both nodded as they left the room while Lucien was still carrying Merula.

"We did it!" Rowan said as he sighs in relief but was overjoyed once they were out of the room.

Ben runs out of the corridor as the fear has gotten the better of him while Rowan and Lucien turn to each other in confusion but shrugging it off.

"That wasn't a Cursed Vault, W-Was it?" Lucien asked as he could feel himself warming up again.

"It doesn't seem likely, but the ice itself did appear to be cursed. Maybe it's protecting a vault? Or somehow escaping from one? Deciphering those runes could give us a clue..." Rowan answered as he scratches his head wondering what those could mean. "Either way, it seems like your vision was some sort of prophecy. If the icing is spreading, it could eventually encase all of Hogwarts…"

Lucien could barely stand up straight as his legs felt numb from staying in the ice room and in the same spot with Merula for a while.

"We can try to work it out later...Let's get-" One of Lucien's legs gave out as it interrupted him. Thankfully Rowan was quick enough to keep him steady on his feet while still carrying Merula. He also noticed the ice shard was still stabbed into his shoulder.

"You're hurt!" Rowan exclaimed, as he covered his hand in his robe before grabbing the shard and pulls it out of his shoulder making Lucien wince in pain as his arm started to bleed.

"A-A little warning next time?!" Lucien cried as he grits his still chattering teeth.

"S-Sorry!" Rowan exclaimed as he really didn't mean to pull the shard out that hard. "But we need to get you both to the Hospital Wing!" Rowan then helps him carry Merula while keeping Lucien steady on his feet as they make their way out of the Corridor. They both look around the Corridor and notice Mrs Norris is missing.

"You don't think…" Lucien said as they both started to immediately pick up the pace.

"Let's just get out of here before we get caught!" He replied as they exited the Corridor.

Inside the Hospital wing Lucien was in one of the beds as his shoulder was already healed by Madam Pomfrey she told him to stay and recover since being in the iced room made all of his nerves numb. Thankfully Rowan gave an excuse for the both of them saying he found them both injured. He looked around the wing as it was almost empty, he then noticed Merula was laying in a bed next to his own as Madam Pomfrey was tending to her.

"H-How is she…?" He hesitantly asked as he couldn't keep his worried eyes off the resting Slytherin.

"She will recover by the time she wakes up tomorrow. You should get some rest as well," Madam Pomfrey said before leaving the wing for the night.

As it was just the two of them alone, Lucien slowly gets out of the bed while gripping onto the bed table between them. It seems the numbness in his legs haven't gone away yet. He then carefully walks over to Merula who is currently resting while keeping his balance on the table. He noticed how at peace she was when she was asleep. He could also see that her skin was back to its original tone. Pulling up a chair next to her bed, he continued to look at her. Every time he looks at her he could feel his heart skip a beat which he did not understand why. Ever since that first encounter with Merula, he couldn't stop thinking about her, he just doesn't know what was up with this girl that makes him think about constantly. There were times when he thought about her he wanted to stop her from doing something bad, but then he reminded himself that Merula is acting like this because her parents are in Azkaban.

As Lucien was in his own thoughts he snapped back into reality as he heard sniffling and murmuring. Looking down he sees Merula was crying in her sleep. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

'Could she be having a nightmare?' He thought before he heard Merula starting to talk in her sleep.

"P-Please…Please don't t-take them away…" She murmured as the tears continued to flow down her cheeks.

This hurts him. Seeing her completely vulnerable while being unconscious. He was at a loss for words at this point. He refuses this is the same girl who bullied him and tried to make his year in Hogwarts hell, he believes she is just in a tough spot that makes her act the way she is now.

Unsure what to do, he hesitantly places a hand on her hand while using his other hand to wipe away her tears that were still falling from her face.

"Shhh...You're just having a nightmare…" He whispered as he brushed her hand with his thumb. He could feel her squeezing his hand in return which caught him by surprise. "Poor girl...I could never imagine what you're going through right now, but I do know one thing..." He continued when he felt a sudden tear dripping down his cheek as seeing her cry was making him get a little emotional.

"You aren't alone... A-And if you need someone to talk to-" He cuts himself off before taking a deep breath as he reminds himself that she is still asleep. "...Then I'll be here for you."

He could see a small smile form on her face as her tears stopped falling. At the same time he stopped wiping her cheeks before stroking her hair. He stayed like that for a while before getting up. Noticing he was still holding her hand his face immediately blushed a little before gently letting go of her hand. Maybe with just time and patience she might open up, and maybe they probably could be friends. Thinking about that makes him chuckle a little because it just sounds like a dream.

Heading back to the bed he lays down on it before facing Merula one last time. "Goodnight, and I hope you recover when you wake up…" Whispering once more before closing his eyes.

"...And hopefully you don't attack me when you wake up before I do…" He dreads at the moment before his tiredness gets the better of him as he then falls asleep.

The very next morning, Lucien slowly wakes up in the Hospital Wing, sitting up as he looks around the Wing. No one was around except for Merula who was still asleep. He sighed in relief expecting that she would do something to him. He then could feel his entire body was longer feeling the numbness which he thought was safe enough to cautiously get out of the bed, afraid that he might fall, he latched onto the footboard of the bed as he stood up. He felt a little light headed but it quickly faded as he let go of the bed.

"It seems that you have fully recovered, Mr Crow," a voice said as he turned around to see it was Madam Pomfrey entering the Wing.

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," he replied as he turned his attention to Merula once again seeing she was still asleep. She was resting peacefully as her face was glowing from the sun's rays. He still couldn't understand what it was about her that was giving him these mixed feelings, he should hate her for what she has done to him in the start of the year, but just looking at her every time he just cannot stop himself from not hating her and yet her horrid and vicious behavior almost got him killed at least twice this year. Maybe just maybe his mother's influence on him can make her a better person within time.

"She will wake up soon, but you on the other hand need to get to the Great Hall," Madam Pomfrey suggests as Lucien looks at her with confusion in his eyes as a sudden chill crawled down his spine.

"Is there any particular reason?" He asked as he could already see where this was going.

"Your Prefect, Chester Davies, wants to have a word with you." Madam Pomfrey answered. "He said he wants you to meet him as soon as possible."

Taking a deep breath once he looks at Merula one last time before turning his attention back to Madam Pomfrey.

"Alright, I'll go see him now...Thank you for letting us recover for the night, Madam Pomfrey." He was really reluctant to leave Merula's side but at the same time once she wakes up she will probably get angry at him.

"You are very welcome, Mr Crow. Now get going," she gave him a small smile as she walked over to Merula's bed to see how she was doing while Lucien walked out of the Hospital wing.

Making his way to the Great hall he was in a deep thought. This has to be related to his adventure into the ice-cold room that himself and his friends, including Merula were in. The ice, the code...What could they both mean? Lucien then remembered what he muttered about Ben as he was in the room trying to keep Merula alive while trying to get him to save them all.

'Worthless Mudblood…?' He repeated in his thoughts as he could not understand why he would say such a thing, given that his mother was also a muggle-born. Does it have something to do with his strange behaviour he had ever since the duel with Merula? It was strange enough that it happened before the holidays started. But why did it happen again?

After minutes of pondering he could not think of a single thing nor a reason. Eventually he just gave up once he had entered the Great hall and immediately he spotted his Prefect Davies. He hesitantly walks up to him while preparing for what was about to come. "You wanted to see me..?" Lucien asked as he could see the major disappointment in his eyes.

"I warned you that word travels fast at Hogwarts, Lucien...Is it true you entered a forbidden corridor with Rowan, Ben Copper, and Merula Snyde?" He answered with a question of his own. Lucien froze as he knew that Chester knew "Don't lie to me, Lucien. It will greatly damage our relationship."

Almost several students saw Rowan helping him and Merula into the Hospital Wing. "I entered the corridor alone. I thought it was connected to the Cursed Vaults, and was hoping to find a clue about my brother," He answered with a white lie.

At least you're the only one who is hurting our chances of winning the house Cup." He said before sighing. "Professor Dumbledore has requested to see you later this evening."

"Why?" He asked as he was both surprised yet shocked at the same time.

"I assume to talk about what did or did not happen in the corridor," Chester answered. "Good luck, Lucien. You're going to need it…"

Later this evening as Lucien was heading out to the Clocktower Courtyard he noticed Rowan was by the Great hall door. "Lucien! I wanted to catch you before you meet with Professor Dumbledore!" He said as Lucien sighs.

"I'm sorry, Rowan, But I'm on my way to be punished. I can't ask the headmaster if he'll hire you to be a professor someday," he replies thinking this is what he wanted to talk to him about.

"It's not about that," he said. "Although, if the opportunity presents itself, that would be really cool. It's about the code we saw scrawled in the cursed Ice. I found an obscure book about ciphers. I think I know what it means."

"That's amazing Rowan. What does the code say?" Lucien was now curious as the code was now on his mind

"The Ice Knight stands guard past the vanished Stairs," he answered as Lucien was reminded from his vision before.

"I saw stairs and a suit of armor in my vision…" He said as the pieces were now together.

"It's obviously ominous, and since we found it in the cursed ice, it must be connected to the Cursed Vaults," Rowan explained further. "I'll spend the summer holidays searching for any references I can find to Ice Knights and Vanished Stairs at Hogwarts. Hopefully, I'll have it worked out by the time we return for our second year."

"If we return for our second year. I'm expecting to be expelled," Lucien said as the anxiety was kicking in.

"I hope not, Lucien. I want to solve this mystery with my best friend," he said as he smiled.

Lucien smiled back as they gave each other a hug, it could be the first and last hug they give each other. But who knows what has in store for him. As they let go of each other they parted ways. Lucien heads out to the Courtyard fearing what his fate could be.

As he was outside he sees Professor Dumbledore staring at the stars, Lucien gulps as he hesitantly walks over to the headmaster.

"Thank you for meeting with me, Lucien." He greeted him with a calming tone in his voice.

"Of course, Professor Dumbledore. I-"

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" He interrupts him in mid-sentence.

"Sir?" Lucien asked as he was confused.

"The quiet night, the crispr air? It truly puts out your troubles into perspective, doesn't it?" He said as he was still looking at the sky.

He looked up at the sky as he was amazed by the stars that were decorating the night sky, it reminded him of Merula's violet eyes as he suddenly felt at ease a little.

"I often times come here when I need to make an important decision," Dumbledore continued as Lucien looked at him.

"My Prefect said you wanted to see me about everything I've done wrong this year." He said before looking down. "And about what happened with the cursed Ice..."

"You are expecting a lecture, but I feel as though you want to ask me about something…" He replied.

"I had a vision, Professor...I saw living armor, hidden passages, cursed ice…When I heard about the ice, I had to know what it was about. I thought...I think it has something to do with my brother." Lucien explained to the Headmaster.

"Interesting. I have a feeling these things will become clearer to you in the coming years at Hogwarts," he commented.

"I'm not going to be expelled?" He asked as he looked up at the Headmaster with a mix of confusion and a little bit of hope in his eyes.

"You made many, many mistakes this year, Lucien. But you also demonstrated braver, compassion, and resourcefulness. You show great promise. All things considered, I believe you have earned one hundred points for Ravenclaw." He answered as he smiled at him, which Lucien's eyes widened.

"One hundred House points?! Wow...T-Thank you, Professor Dumbledore! He exclaimed with a grin.

"In the years to come, you must be mindful of how your decisions impact others," Dumbledore advised. "Remember, Lucien, it is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices."

"Can we talk about the cursed ice? And my brother? And the Cursed Vaults?" He asked as he was going to ask one more question about his recent behaviour but he decides to keep it a secret for now.

"We can and we will. Next year," he answered. "Enjoy your summer holidays, Lucien."

He nodded before turning around to leave the courtyard. "Oh, Lucien?" Dumbledore called out to him as he turned around.

"Yes, Professor?" He asked.

"I'm truly sorry about what happened to your mother…" He said as his eyes were sympathetic towards him.

"H-How did…" Lucien was about to ask before cutting himself off.

"She was a remarkable student, just like your father as well...They are very proud of you." Dumbledore continued as Lucien looked at him for a moment.

Dumbledore's words hit him really hard in his heart as he told him that his parents were proud. If only they were still around he thought before he could feel the tears welling up inside him.

"Thank you, Professor...Have a nice evening." He replied as he headed inside the castle trying not to let his emotions get to him.

Inside the castle he made sure to keep his emotions under wraps before he heads back to the Great hall to tell his friends that he was not getting expelled from Hogwarts. As he breaks the good news to them they were overjoyed. It made him happy to see that his friends cared. But something did bother him though. He has not seen Merula since he left the Hospital Wing. He hopes that she was alright. Soon after he heads his way back to the Ravenclaw dormitory to get some sleep. He was feeling sluggish from all that fear of almost being expelled by the Headmaster.

I am terribly sorry for the wait and a very long chapter! Originally I was going to post this chapter and the epilogue on Friday because Thursday was April fools but I completely forgot lol