"You've lost it. I wasn't completely sure when you let Malfoy sit with you in the library, day after day, or when you said that Snape wasn't that bad but now it's confirmed. You've lost your bloody mind."

Katrina sifted through the shelves in the History of Magic section, ignoring her brother's hyperbole. From the second she dragged him out of his dormitory, his shoes untied and his glasses falling down his nose, to research the dagger and the myth, he was against spending the day in the library. Like Graham, he dismissed the myth as a ghost story to frighten children, comparing it to the boogeyman in the muggle world. He was convinced that she was attempting to create connections between unrelated things, to show a semblance of progress in the hunt for Cayden.

As she pulled out book after book, Harry gazed wistfully out the windows as students chased each other with snowballs, either carrying them in their hands or bewitching them to float in the air. He had hoped to join in the fun when Sophie, Fay, Parvati, and Lavender popped into the library, to invite Katrina to ice-skate with them on the frozen lake. Katrina, her mind elsewhere, shot them down, pretending that Harry needed her help in finishing his pile of homework that had steadily increased over the week and he would be more productive apart from Ron. No one was wising up to their true reason for being there, thanks to her illusion spell. To anyone else, even Madam Pince, they appeared to be working diligently on essays for several classes, their conversations altered to a stranger's ears to match that perception.

"Katrina, it's been hours," he whined, tilting back on his chair. Their table in the corner was covered end to end in books on a range of topics, from maps of Great Britain to medieval history. "Why are we reading up on an urban legend when we should be telling Dumbledore that Montague is working for Cayden? Shouldn't you be telling Kane and his secret spy team?"

"Not about this. With Lukas compromised, he could be interfering with our communications so we've kept them vague," she said, feeling eyes on her as she grabbed a book on mystical objects. "Kane and I are using a runic code that we developed when I was ten. Lukas wouldn't be able to decipher it but Cayden's smarter and I don't want to risk him knowing that we're onto him."

Katrina placed the book on the table. "Unless he's able to possess Dumbledore, I think it's better to talk to him. We don't have to be involved in this, Katrina. Are you forgetting what happened in the Great Hall?"

"You don't have to remind me!" Luckily, Madam Pince was unable to hear her raised voice. "Trust me, it's on my mind every day. For whatever reason, Cayden's specifically targeting me, which means like it or not, I'm part of this, Harry. As long as he's out there, he's an asset to Voldemort. We don't know what he's been up to since he faked his death, which makes him a dangerous, unknown variable, and if he's so interested in this myth, it's not for bedtime stories."

"So you think it's real?" he asked, skeptically.

"It sounds familiar but that's why we're here." She took out her wand. "If Montague knows the story, it's not a tale lost to time. It's common enough that it could be in these books. I can see you're looking forward to reading through them but I have a faster method."

As she waved her wand over the table, the books opened, the words and pictures rising from the page. Harry stopped balancing a quill on the top of his finger, watching the words move in various directions based on Katrina swiping her hand and change with the turning pages of individual books. Any relevant passage shifted to her left, hovering like puzzle pieces. Sending a few of the books, those lacking in useful information, back to their respective shelves, she read over the remaining passages, telling Harry to be quiet.

Katrina recalled stories she had read throughout her childhood, spending her days tucked away in Kane's library while he was out on a mission or training the task force. The myth Graham described was part of a battle against the dark witch Morgan Le Fay, of both muggle and wizarding world fame, in the middle ages. To fight her reign of terror, her destruction expanding outside the country, followers of her rival Merlin banded together to weaken her, to sever her ties to the dark arts. Betrayed by one of their own, they were caught in the midst of a ritual meant to inhibit her magic and Morgan Le Fay easily defeated them, boasting of the deaths of hundreds of innocent souls to Merlin to guilt him into conceding to her.

In some interpretations of the battle, the wizards had stolen the source of her increased powers: a dagger that she crafted through dark magic. The dagger was rumored to have been lost that day, destroyed in Morgan Le Fay's bloody rampage.

"When wizards die that violently, it can leave a mark…a hotspot," she told a now intrigued Harry. "That's what he wants because wherever it is, the dagger could still be there. It's why he needs me. A normal wizard wouldn't be able to sense that kind of energy without a proper spell but to a siphon, it'd be overwhelming. He's looking for its location."

"How hard is it? If you've read about this battle, he must've too," reasoned Harry. "All the years of hiding from Kane, he couldn't find it?"

"Because it wasn't well-documented so it's mostly hearsay. It was centuries ago and drawn maps from that era wouldn't be helpful today with the lands changing." With a flick of her wand, the passages returned to their books. "That's why Lukas wanted to meet with Selene's cousin. Her department is in charge of international trades and agreements. Say a wizard from Belgium wants to develop his business on a piece of land within the British Ministry's jurisdiction. It might be denied because it's lawfully protected by an old statute or for historical significance. The Ministry wasn't founded until the 1700s so their maps won't date back that far but it doesn't matter because he's using them to find yew trees."

He waited for a group of Slytherin first years, grumbling about Transfiguration homework, to pass by their table. "Why does he care about a tree? What am I missing?"

"Wizards generally get buried with their wands and if it's made of yew, a tree sprouts in that spot," she said, sitting beside him. "In many cultures, wizards believe that yew trees grow to signify death and in an area where hundreds of wizards died? Those trees would be massive. Figuring out where it is will be tough."

"One mystery solved. Now eat," he insisted. She looked at the numerous untouched books containing a possible answer. "Katrina, we have to behave normally. Montague could be telling Lukas what you're doing. It's suspicious if we hole ourselves up in the library."

"Fine. I'm going to put away the books and I'll meet you for lunch." She held up her pinky. "Pinky swear. If I'm not there in five minutes, you can send McGonagall to drag me out."

Taking his bag, he walked out of the library, leaving Katrina to clear the table. She reversed the illusion spell and began to put the books back on the shelves. As she stood on her tiptoes to reach a high shelf, she saw Snape, the closest he had been near her since the Astronomy Tower incident.

"It's fortunate that your brother has you to keep him on task. With how little he pays attention in class, it's no wonder his assignments are mediocre. Is that why you cast an illusion spell?" Katrina secretly changed the cover of the book in her hands to be about giant rebellions, catching a soft reddish glow under his black robes. "Better cast than any student in Professor Flitwick's NEWT classes though he typically saves such advanced spellwork towards the end of seventh year."

"I don't know what you're—" she started.

"Do not lie to me," he said, stonily. "A wizard with a properly trained eye can sense it. They may not know what it is concealing but they can tell it is there. As your professor, you will tell me why you cast it, Miss Potter."

"Oh, not confusing me for my mother?" she retorted, to throw him off her trail. There was a subtle twitch of his cheek. "I'm not hiding anything. I brought Harry here to focus without Ron or someone else distracting him but I'm curious why you're here when you've spent the week avoiding me like the plague, professor. If you want to punish me, we'll need to talk to Umbridge, right? She has final approval on all punishments? Have fun telling her how I cast the spell when I'm supposed to be fairly new to using my magic."

"I have no intention of punishing you," he said, knowing it would ruin the narrative of her past presented to fool the public. "All I require is your honesty."

"I am being honest but you're certain of the opposite." She glanced at the pocket of his robes. "You're using a nightshade root to track my magic. Kane uses it in drills to make sure the team isn't cheating with wandless magic. I don't recall reading that being illegal in the rulebook but I can check with Dumbledore."

Snape stretched his arm across the aisle. "You're a very intelligent girl…far more than your peers and most adults realize, Katrina. Why is it difficult for you to comprehend that I'm prioritizing your safety? You're stubbornly intent on working with Carlisle and if I have to keep an eye on you, I will to ensure you don't end up as another casualty. If you're honest with me, I will refrain from using the root."

"I already told you. I cast the spell to stop people from bothering me and my brother," she said, her face passive. "Maybe I didn't want Draco Malfoy goading him into a fight and getting away with it while my brother gets something he loves taken from him."

"Your brother's actions are his own and with them comes consequences," he stated, zero empathy for Harry's quidditch ban. "I understand you want Cayden brought to justice but the danger that entails could put your life at risk. If you continue down this path, regardless if it is approved by Carlisle, I will put an end to it."

Snape's declaration put a serious dent in her plans. With his ability to track her magic with the nightshade root, knowing when she cast a spell outside a class period, she had to resort to reading at a normal pace and even that was impeded by a sudden rule change from Madam Pince, who banned students from the library after dinner. It could have been Umbridge's doing, to lock students in their common rooms at night, but Katrina was willing to wager Snape played a role in the new restrictions.

Left with a short window before breakfast and between lesson breaks, Katrina spent the following day studying maps for potential locations of Morgan Le Fay's massacre. Not as detailed as Ministry maps that Lukas may have gotten in his possession, if Graham had done his part to arrange a meeting with Selene's cousin, it required her to work off of multiple, imperfect sources. The Hogwarts library was extensive but there was a low chance of Madam Pince stocking records of topographical maps throughout the centuries. Katrina's advantage was her lengthy time spent in Kane's library, gaining access to the hidden compartment where he kept special editions and books that dealt with ancient, sometimes dark, areas of magic. Her conversation with Harry about yew trees brought forth a deep-rooted memory of opening the compartment to Kane's personal collection but not vividly enough for her to remember how it connected to her search.

Tuesday afternoon during lunch, she was sitting on the window ledge, reading about Morgan Le Fay's crimes, for an inkling of where the slaughter occurred, and considering using McGonagall's signature, taken from Sophie's play petition, to enter the restricted section. If it managed to pass Madam Pince's strict test, the problem was that she would want a specific book to retrieve herself, refusing to allow Katrina to accompany her. She decided to save the signature for later, when she shifted her focus to Cayden's potion.

Hearing a thud, she looked up to see a thin, sickly pale Slytherin girl picking up her fallen books. Katrina had seen her around the library with a couple friends or Daphne, who was her older sister. In stark contrast to her popular, opinionated sister, the girl appeared to be quiet as a mouse.

Hopping down from the ledge, Katrina picked up one of the books, a guide on hippogriffs. "T—thank you," said the girl, dumbfounded by her generosity. "You didn't have to do that."

"Well, it'd be rude if I just sat there. I think we're safe on it not upsetting the delicate rivalry between our houses." As she brushed back her golden locks, there was a hint of a smile. "You're…Astoria? I'm Katrina. I made a goal to learn everyone's name by the end of the year but I may have underestimated how many people are in this castle."

"Yes, Astoria Greengrass," she replied, shyly. "I know who you are. They're always talking about you and your brother in the Slytherin common room."

"I bet," joked Katrina. She handed Astoria the book. "Good choice. He gets overexcited in his writing but when it comes to magizoology, Newt Scamander's the expert."

An alarm bell chimed in her head. Saying goodbye to Astoria, she browsed the Magical Creatures section and pulled out a heavy, leather-bound book. Handwritten notes were written in the margins of each page. She flipped to a chapter on bowtruckle behavior, skimming the notes line by line.

"You have to stop coming here, Katrina." Harry was standing at the end of the bookshelf. "Can't you limit it to one visit a day? Dunbar was asking questions and then started blaming me for being a bad brother for not checking on you. Are you listening to me?"

"I've got it." She waved the book in front of him. "Newt Scamander. That's who I couldn't remember until I said his name. He's the key."

"A wizard who studies creatures?" he asked, reading the title. "What does he have to do with that dagger?"

"Hermione's right. You and Ron need to open a book once in awhile," she said, frustrated with his lack of excitement. "He's a famous magizoologist. I read one of his books when I was babysitting a Hungarian Horntail for Kane. Long story, unimportant. Anyway, after that, I had this magizoology phase and I read all of his books. Kane had a special edition of this autobiography that talks about his animal encounters at Hogwarts."

In the book, Mr. Scamander described his study of a bowtruckle colony in the Forbidden Forest. His handwritten notes, mainly random observations, mentioned how the bowtruckles, creatures that lived in trees of wand quality, evaded a circle of gnarled trees with droopy branches, remarking on how other creatures in the forest purposely strayed from those same trees throughout the day. Harry missed the point, believing that the bowtruckles had a preference for their homes.

"That's not—they're yew trees," she clarified. "The trees were among the tallest in the forest but their bark wasn't damaged. Creatures are able to sense powerful magic and it can spook them. What if they were feeling a strong energy from the deaths of hundreds of wizards? When Morgan Le Fay was wreaking havoc, Hogwarts was lax with security because wizards didn't care much about hiding from muggles. The protective enchantments weren't as immense and the forest was open space, not part of the school grounds. What if the attack happened in the forest?"

"Slow down. Let's assume Cayden got those maps." He nodded towards the open book. "Wouldn't he have Montague check them?"

"It wouldn't be on the Ministry maps. When the Ministry was founded, the headmaster was Vindictus Viridian, who was a famous author and potioneer," she explained. "Viridian was paranoid that a rival author was going to break into Hogwarts to steal his work so he bullied the Minister of Magic to destroy maps of the school grounds and surrounding areas, lying that he had received threatening letters and he didn't want a criminal to find their way to the castle. They never reversed the law, meaning there are no geographical records of Hogwarts or the forest. "

Instead of joining in her excitement, he seemed hesitant. "We can't go in the forest. It's—Katrina, I've been in there and it's never given me a pleasant memory. You have to tell Kane. He's a world-renowned former auror and I'd rather he run into a troll or worse, not you. Come on, we have Care of Magical Creatures and Hagrid needs all the support he can get."

In a less perilous, world, where they were not under the threat of two dark wizards, Katrina would agree to his and Snape's requests, to stay out of the fray, but they did not live in that world. With communications scarce, she could never relay the information to Kane or meet him face to face without fear of being spied on by a witch or wizard under Cayden's control. For once, they were a step ahead, if she was correct about the creatures' behavior. To assuage her concerns, Harry would pressure her to tell Dumbledore but he was out on 'private business' , McGonagall implying that it was related to the Order when asked by Harry.

On the way to Care of Magical Creatures, Harry listed reasons against an expedition into the Forbidden Forest. Katrina endured his exaggerated retelling of his previous adventures, including a run-in with a Voldemort possessed Professor Quirrell and fleeing from an acromantula colony. An opportunity to explore, or at least find the yew trees, presented itself when she saw Hagrid outside the forest, carrying a dead cow. There were fresh bruises on his face, along with bleeding cuts, despite Katrina's healing paste. What was causing his injuries?

"Where have you two been?" asked Hermione, the Gryffindors trailing behind them in the snow.

Before Harry could answer, Sophie squealed, bumping her elbow against Katrina's. "Guess who had an amazing talk with Flitwick. My petition worked! That must be why Dumbledore's gone, to talk to the Ministry. He said it's probationary but we're discussing play ideas at choir practice tonight. Double elbow bumps."

"That's amazing," said Katrina, acting as if her mind was not on other matters. "I can't wait to see it."

"Well, they won't be putting it on in the library" said Fay, a reference to Katrina's constant trips.

"Fay," hissed Dean.

The approaching Slytherins interfered with Fay's attempt to question her over her affinity for the library, spending more time there than in the common room. Their disdain for Hagrid was blatant, Pansy, clutching to Draco like a lifeboat, wrinkling her nose. Most of the students had not reacted well to his presence in the Great Hall on Monday morning, whether it was out of prejudice against his half-giant lineage or believing Grubbly-Plank to be the superior teacher.

A panic spread through students of both houses when they learned he was bringing them into the forest. In a rare instance of solidarity, some were weighing their options of faking an injury to skip the lesson and agreeing with Draco's reluctance of the creatures being well-trained. As Hagrid, defensive over Draco acknowledging his bruises, strode into the forest, Katrina followed him, Harry at her side to prevent her from breaking from the group. They walked through the dense forest until they were in a clearing, Hagrid depositing the cow on the ground.

"Gather roun', gather roun'," he encouraged. "Now, they'll be attracted by the smell o' the meat but I'm goin' ter give 'em a call anyway, 'cause they like ter know it's me…"

Hagrid gave a shrieking cry that echoed through the clearing, half of the class crouched behind trees. Roper was whispering to a quivering Parvati about playing with unicorns, not monsters. Glancing around the clearing for any sign of a creature she could use to lead her to the trees, she made eye contact with Draco, who was looking at her like a wounded puppy. It had not been a complete lie when she told Snape the illusion spell was meant to keep Draco away, but it was for both her and Harry's sakes. In the wake of the quidditch match, he had resorted to sending her notes during classes or meals, all sharing the same fate of getting burnt to a crisp.

Harry poked her side. "D—don't you see them? Either Ron's kidding or I've gone mad. That black horse with wings."

Bits of flesh were torn from the dead cow. Watching the meat vanish into the air and the mixed expressions, apprehension, interest, and distaste, of Neville, Harry, and Theodore, who raised their hands when Hagrid asked who could see the creatures, it dawned on her.

"Excuse me," sneered Draco, back to his 'charming' self. "But what exactly are we supposed to be seeing?"

People gasped at the partially eaten cow. "What's doing it? What's eating it?" asked Parvati, terrified.

"Thestrals," answered Katrina.

Hagrid grinned. "Tha's right, Katrina. Ten points ter Gryffindor. Hogwarts has got a whole herd of 'em in here."

Disregarding Parvati's warning of thestrals bringing misfortune, he spoke about the thestrals being exceedingly clever and how the herd pulled the school carriages. Hermione earned another ten points for Gryffindor by informing the class that thestrals were only visible to those who have witnessed a death.

A fake cough ("Hem, hem") announced the arrival of Umbridge, a clipboard in her hands. Hagrid's warm greeting was not reciprocated, the High Inquisitor speaking to him in that slow voice she adopted the night she visited his cabin. She made a show of not understanding him, causing Hagrid to flap his arms to convey his message that they were discussing thestrals.

"Has…to…resort…to…crude…sign…language…" she muttered, scribbling on the clipboard.

"Don't," Katrina whispered to an angered Hermione. "Let her act like an idiot."

A slightly flustered Hagrid turned towards the class. "Well…anyway…erm, what was I sayin'?"

It prompted mumblings on his poor memory, the Slytherins enjoying every minute. Hagrid, his confidence waning, continued the lesson but any hope of learning was dashed by Umbridge's constant interruptions of thestrals as dangerous, suggesting that Hagrid was a proponent of violence. If Katrina was not in her way, a red-faced Hermione ("You evil hag!") would have hexed her head to swell like a balloon. The Slytherins were shaking themselves, not out of fright but silent laughter.

Picking up pieces of meat that had flung from the dead cow, she slipped one under her sleeve and threw another at Draco's head, Umbridge busy writing her notes. Harry and Ron held in their sniggers at the juice dripping from his cheek attracting a thestral and alarming the Slytherins who were unable to see the winged horse brushing against them. Umbridge, setting Hagrid up for failure, questioned Pansy on her struggles with his speech. With everyone listening to the Slytherins' scathing, derisive comments, Katrina sneaked away from the clearing, hoofprints forming in the ground behind her.

"Adventure time," she said, holding out the piece of rotting meat. "We have to be quick before Harry catches on so we need another friend."

If she could trust her message to not be intercepted, she would have asked Jace's father to meet her in the forest. Growing up, Mr. Moore had taught her and Jace survivalist skills, in case they ever found themselves lost in the wild. It involved learning both magical and non-magical methods like creating a fire or using nature to get a sense of direction. One aspect was animal calls, to attract creatures to track for sources of food and water. While Mr. Moore deemed it a valuable tool, Jace often joked about hailing dragons at Ilvermorny to get him out of class.

Cupping her hand over her mouth, she tried to imitate a fox call. "Why are you out here?"

Katrina mulled casting a sleeping spell, until she remembered Snape's nightshade root. It was why she had planned to use creatures to find the yew trees.

"Maybe I was tired of you and your friends insulting Hagrid," she told Draco, pretending that a thestral was not licking the juice from her palm. "Shouldn't you entertaining Umbridge with your terrible impressions?"

"Then you could've just thrown cow meat at me again. If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I'm a prefect and you're not. I can take points from Gryffindor. How does a hundred sound? Or I could give you detention," he offered. "Have you ever cleaned a trophy room without magic? Talk to me and I'll reconsider."

"I know this might come as a shock to you, spoiled rich kid that you are, but you don't get to decide if or when I talk to you. That's my decision. Take the points. I don't care," she said, harshly. "Anything concerning you could not be further from my thoughts because, despite how you've been raised, the world does not revolve around you."

"Why can't you hear me out?" he pleaded. "I'll admit that my father wanted me to get close to you but I never wrote to him, I swear."

She responded with a slow clap. "Congratulations on having a shred of a conscience. You want to be honest? Put aside the daily insults directed at my brother and friends. Your father is working for the man who wants to kill my brother and probably me as a bonus. In what sane world would we be friends? When your father finally decides to have you in the club, are you going to say no? If he asked you to bring me to your manor, would you refuse?" Draco was silent. "And that's the difference between us. You're too much of a coward to do what's right, especially if it puts others before yourself."

At the sound of pounding hoofbeats, she reached for her wand, her hand bumping against the thestral's head. Two centaurs, one with red hair and beard and a chestnut body and the other with long, wild black hair that matched the rest of him, emerged from the trees, armed with bows. Draco grabbed the back of her robes, tugging her towards him.

"There yeh two are. What are yeh—hold on!" Hagrid stood between them and the centaurs. "Ronan, Bane, lower yer weapons."

"Have you forgotten our last conversation, Hagrid? It seems neither you nor your students respect boundaries," said the dark-haired centaur. His eyes shifted to Katrina. "Drawn to it, were you, abomination?"

Did he know that she was a siphon? "No need fer that, Bane. Katrina's innocent. They mean yeh no harm, honest. I'll be takin' 'em out o' the forest." Hagrid clenched his left hand, possibly gripping the thestral she had lured from the clearing. "I was teachin' a lesson on thestrals and one of 'em must've gotten too friendly, made her nervous…"

"I urge you to keep your foals in line," said his redheaded companion, gravely. "They are blind to the danger that lurks beneath. Heed our warnings, young ones."

Ronan lowered his head then both disappeared into the trees. "Don't pay 'em no mind, Katrina," said Hagrid, leading her and Draco out of the forest. "They tend ter be dramatic but I don't want ter find yeh wanderin' these woods. The thestrals won' hurt yeh."

"You're lying," whispered Draco, as Hagrid strode ahead. "You weren't scared of those invisible horses. I saw the hoofprints in the dirt next to you."

"Is someone talking?" she asked, glancing above him. "Nope, no one there. Just an annoying wind bothering me."

"You're not fooling me, Katrina." He pushed back a low-hanging branch. "I don't want to side with that oaf but you can't be going in the forest alone. You could get killed in there. They don't call it the Forbidden Forest because it's filled with bunnies, kittens, and puppies."

Reuniting with Harry, who was not convinced with Hagrid's story of her being chased by a playful thestral, Katrina headed towards the greenhouses with him and the Gryffindors. She remained tight-lipped about how the thestral managed to drag her from the clearing, tuning out her brother's pestering by sharing a tray with Hannah and Susan. The presence of centaurs gave her mild pause but also hope that she had been close to the circle of yew trees. Ronan's warning of 'a danger that lurks beneath' made her curious if it was literal, that the dagger was buried underground.

"Flitwick would like it best. There are plenty of great roles for the choir and whoever else wants to try out. Runcorn could never hit that high note so I've got the lead in the bag. What do you think, Katrina?"

Sophie had been talking to her as they left the greenhouses. "Sounds great."

"Okay, we're not supposed to say anything but I can't," said Fay, moving in front of Katrina. "You've been weird since you came back from St. Mungo's. The library's basically become your new common room and when you are around, your head's in outer space. Until recently, you were icing out Roger too. What's going on? Your brother may have the tact of a bull but we—are you lost, Montague?"

Graham was behind Katrina, his right sleeve messily unfurled. "Sorry to intrude on what I'm sure is a riveting conversation but to get out of being tutored by Malfoy, after their spat, Potter made a deal with Snape to help with a potion I'm working on for an assignment. The ingredients are brewed at specific times. "

"Yes, I did," she said, playing along. "It was that or clean the castle with Filch for a month. Lesser of two evils. I'll meet you guys in the Great Hall. Let's get this over with, Montague."

Thankful for the reprieve, Katrina followed him down to the dungeons. He led her to the potions classroom, where a cauldron was placed on each desk with a placard detailing its contents and the students tasked with creating the specific potion. The mixing vapors created an overall aroma reminiscent of spoiled milk.

"What's with the sleeve?" she asked, grimacing at a poorly brewed amortentia. "Is that the new preppy style? Skip out on the gym this morning?"

Rolling up his sleeve, he showed her an intricate black mark on his wrist. After meeting with Lukas in Hogsmeade to introduce him to Gwen, under the pretense of him working on a case for MACUSA, Lukas ordered a round of butterbeers in the Three Broomsticks to thank him and had a gift from Cayden to reward him for his loyalty. He called it the next level in the ranks of Chimaera and tapped Graham's wrist with his wand tip, creating the mark. When he received new instructions from Lukas earlier in the day, to report on Katrina's whereabouts, the mark pricked his skin.

She recognized the ridge-like pattern. "A dragon tail. I wondered why that perv had his allegiance on full display. You should've read the fine print."

"What fine print?" He clutched his wrist. "What did he do?"

"It's a linking spell. Similar to Voldemort's dark marks that his followers have on their wrists," she said, picking up a placard with Roger and Finn's names. "He touches his and they get summoned to wherever he's at but this is twice as brutal. It allows him to inflict pain if you're not being sufficiently loyal. Judging by Lukas's fancy artwork, it becomes a chimaera. Subtlety, thy name is not Cayden Coller."

"Get rid of it. Siphon it off my wrist." Katrina looked over at him. "Go on."

"I'm not a sponge, Montague," she replied. "I don't retain the magic that I absorb and that pain'll return when he activates your mark. I'd say go ask Snape but that opens a whole new can of worms, doesn't it? You dug this hole for yourself. Who could've predicted that getting what you want comes with a price?"

"Please. There has to be—ask Kane Carlisle. Cayden learned from him, didn't he?" he asked, desperate for a cure. "He has to know how to remove it. I thought it was a favor for a favor, not signing my life to him."

"Reversing dark magic is tricky but I may have ideas." She stepped away from the simmering cauldron. "If I agree to remove the linking spell, I need something from you of equal weight…technically, two things. One, you get Draco to leave me alone. Put on your big brother pants and spin some wisdom about giving a girl space. Two, I'll need a vial of your blood but we can put that off for a couple weeks."

"My blood? Are you—why the hell do you want it?" he asked, bewildered.

"To work on the linking spell," she said, convincingly. "I need the heat to die down around me a bit. Snape's tracking me these days and it's exhausting to have to make excuses to my friends about why I'm not spending my every minute with them. Want the pain to stop? Do what Cayden wants. You can tell him I spent the day with thestrals and talking about plays with Sophie."

Katrina was unsure if she preferred Draco's notes or his pitying looks from afar. Both were infuriating for their own reasons. Unfamiliar with the concept of rejection, he persisted with regaining their pseudo-friendship, refraining from insulting Harry or any Gryffindors. That kindness extended into the beginning of December and while it had not gone unnoticed by her friends, Katrina was not keen to forgive him, knowing that it was to appease her instead of a true change of heart.

If dealing with him was not draining enough, putting on an act for the entire school was taking a toll on her psyche. To her friends and her brother, she was, like them, awaiting the start of winter term to escape the avalanche of homework. Busy planning lessons for the DA meetings, even Harry had forgotten about her quest for the dagger hidden in the Forbidden Forest but Snape had the memory of an elephant. For all his accusations of her being stubborn, it felt hypocritical and if it were not for the nightshade root, she would have searched the forest.

"That cheating, soulless harpy!" Sophie slammed her hand on the table, toppling pitchers and empty goblets. "How many years is it in Azkaban for murder? It might be worth it."

"Bad audition?" asked Fay, brushing bread crumbs from her Potions textbook.

"No audition at all!" she cried. Seamus shielded his bowl of soup from her flailing fists. "Umbridge decided that leech Sue Li should get the lead role. Everyone knows it's because her mother donated tons of money to the Ministry. You should've seen her gloating as that toad announced it."

"Aren't there other lead parts? You'll definitely get one," said Katrina, to comfort her.

"Unless she decides to cut it to two and gives it to Runcorn." Her voice was muffled by the white linen tablecloth. "We could get away with it if we have a good alibi. I watch crime shows with my dad. We'll feed her to the giant squad to eliminate the chance the aurors find her body."

Fay patted the top of her head. "Hello pretty lad—ooh, someone's glum," said Finn, as he and Roger approached the Gryffindor table. "Who died?"

"My dreams," sniffled Sophie.

Roger sat beside Katrina. "Umbridge ruined auditions," she told them. "She used her special High Inquisitor powers to give the lead to Sue."

"Well, there are plenty of roles. It's not a one woman play." His supportive words failed to cheer up the miserable Sophie. "The next audition isn't until tomorrow. Take a night off and come to Hogsmeade."

Imitating a drum roll, Finn showed them a crinkled poster for Blazing Phoenix, a band that was gaining popularity in the wizarding world. The band were playing a concert at the Three Broomsticks at eight o'clock, the drummer a relative of Madam Rosmerta. Though it was close to curfew, students in third year and above were going to sneak out, with the assistance of the prefects on patrol.

Fay swayed Sophie by casually mentioning her crush on the guitarist. "What about you, Katrina? A concert is a quintessential teen experience."

"You won't get caught. We've got it worked out," Roger guaranteed. "The aurors station themselves by the Hog's Head at night. It's where Dumbledore's charm would force any outsiders to apparate if they were visiting the village. You usually have to pay for a concert so a free one is a bargain."

"I—it does sound fun," she conceded, her hand on a page of her Charms textbook.

News of the concert circulated through the four tables. The combination of the nearing holidays, a desire to have fun, and the thrill of defying an oppressive Umbridge made students willing to break the rules, a strait-laced Hermione goaded by Ron calling her a chicken.

The girls' dormitory resembled the aftermath of a tornado, clothes strewn about the beds and floor as they debated their outfits. Katrina was lying on her bed with Purrsephone in her lap, reading her Charms textbook, indifferent to Parvati's hints that Roger would 'make his move'. In truth, the concert was an alibi for her true actions. She had decided it was the perfect cover to enter the forest, Snape's nightshade root not an issue if her plan was successful. At ten to eight, they gathered in the Gryffindor common room with the other brave souls. Harry had put an effort into his attire, due to Cho attending the concert.

"Why do you have your bag?" he asked Katrina.

"Montague's annoyed that he has to stay behind for patrol duty and taking it out on me." She partially zipped the bag. "His potion is almost done and he made me get the final ingredients. Once I'm finished, I'll head to Hogsmeade. Don't offer to stay behind. I don't want you getting in a fight with him and then Snape makes me suffer with Malfoy. Besides, you should get a good spot for Cho."

"Shut up. You've been teasing me since that last meeting when I complimented her stunning spell, " he mumbled. "Did Kane make any progress on the you know what?"

"Haven't talked to him in days," she said, climbing through the portrait hole after Neville. "He'd rather find Cayden than stress about a mythical dagger."

On the third floor, they met with the Ravenclaws, Sophie quietly snarling at Sue. Her choir rival, her pink tips now teal, had her arm looped through Liam's, a vomit-inducing sight. Finn was exchanging messages with a Hufflepuff prefect, to know where to dodge Filch and Mrs. Norris.

"You're a huge fan of the band, aren't you, Roger?" asked Sophie, prodding Katrina's back to push her towards the handsome Ravenclaw. "Katrina's never heard their songs. You should tell her about them."

"How about when we're not sneaking past Filch?" whispered Katrina. "The pub isn't that big. I'll find him after Montague lets me out of the dungeons."

Roger's smile fell into a frown. "You're still working on that potion? He's not making you do his work for him, is he?"

"No. Well, he has me slice the gross stuff," she lied. "It's my last night. I won't miss the concert."

At the bottom of the marble staircase, she separated from the small group and walked towards Graham, who was outside the dungeons entrance. He mockingly waved at a suspicious Roger. When the last of the group squeezed through the oak doors, she turned to him expectantly, an empty vial in his hand.

"Did what you said and Snape didn't taste it in his goblet. He's out for the night," said Graham, pocketing the vial. "Why do I have to come with you?"

"Because you're my alibi and your blood might have to be fresh for the spell. Plus if we run into any centaurs, I'll let them chase you." He threw her a sarcastic glare. "We won't run into them. I have a potion to mask our scent and they won't chase us underground."

"And if you get whatever is so important, you'll remove the linking spell?" She gestured towards the doors. "Shouldn't you have actual confirmation before leading us to our deaths?"

"Graham?"

Selene was among the Slytherins exiting the dungeons. In the past week, Graham achieved a miracle, persuading his former flame to rekindle their relationship. The abrupt turnaround suggested it was Cayden's doing, to ingratiate Graham towards his cause, or their families, to avert gossip in their upper-class, high society circles. She internally groaned at Draco, flanked by the fifth years. It was a scenario she hoped to avoid: a Slytherin and Gryffindor being together bound to spark questions.

"Aren't you supposed to be patrolling?" asked Selene.

"I'm swapping with Stimpson soon. Apparently, Potter can't read a map and I have to go with her to get the dittany. Don't want to get blamed for her getting lost. This is what happens when you have to rely on a fifth year, a Gryffindor at that," he said, dialing up his inner jerk to fool his housemates. "You could come with us, if you want."
"But look at how she's dressed," said Katrina, tapping the side of her bag. Draco was eyeing the twitching zipper. "You don't want her heels to get ruined in the snow and mud. They're really pretty. I like how they match the ribbon in your hair."

"Aw, you're sweet and have a point. These shoes cost a fortune." She kissed his cheek. "I'll see you after the concert. Be careful in the forest."

"Be a proper gentleman. No snogging," chided Adrian, earning a smack upside the head from Selene.

Katrina and Graham crept over to the Forbidden Forest. "Trying to use her to get out of our deal? Stupid plan."

"No, trying to be a good boyfriend," he snapped. "It's my job to keep her safe. Why is your—you brought your cat?"

Purrsephone's head peeked out from her bag. "Her collar's dipped in the potion to ensure it works wherever we go but she's a Plan B. She's one-quarter wampus. It's why she has specks of yellow in her irises." His blank face was illuminated by his wand. "And you're graduating this year? Not the greatest endorsement of Hogwarts education. Wampus cats are native to North America and capable of legilimency and hypnosis. Her abilities aren't that powerful but if she makes eye contact, she can handle an animal. She's speedy and good in tight spaces too."

Their wands lighting the path, they trekked through the dirt-stained snow to where she previously encountered the centaurs. Taking Purrsephone out, Katrina placed her on the ground, the kitten sniffing around for their intended target. She sprinted through the snow and Katrina and Graham chased after her, listening for the jingling bell on her collar, to stay within the confines of the potion. They traveled deeper into the forest, a clamor of noises coming from the trees that seemed to brush against the starless sky, and their wand tips were not sufficient to see further ahead.

"We should get your cat and go back," advised Graham. "I've got a bad feeling. Potter, where are you? Lumos sphera." Balls of light popped out of the chilly air, giving them a line of vision for several feet. "Your hand's trembling."

"Because I—I can feel it. Siphons are drawn to magic and this is hundreds of times stronger than I've ever…" He pointed his wand at her. "I won't siphon you. I can control it."

"I believe you but you're acting like a billywig sting addict." The light closest to her was flickering, a sign that she was absorbing residual magic. "What if you can't maintain control? What if you siphon without realizing and it kills you or drives you mad? Screw house rivalries. I don't want you dead."

Purrsephone hopped over an icy stump and climbed up to Katrina's shoulder. "She's here because she found it," said Katrina, shakily. "The only thing that matters is getting to it before Cayden, whatever it takes. Removing the linking spell is like putting a bandage over a wound. It doesn't erase the reality. You're indebted to him and his favors won't always be writing to him about my breakfast habits. At the end of the day, he wants what he wants and if that is killing an enemy or an innocent, you won't have the choice. He'd drown Selene in the lake if he thought she was making you weak."

Katrina continued in the direction Purrsephone had run from, grappling with the pain steadily flowing through her and the claws buried in her neck. She knew that her kitten was worried for her safety but the dagger was her top priority. The path led to a circle of gnarled trees, the yew trees from Mr. Scamander's autobiography, the magic pulsing like they were standing atop a living being. Seeing a fox approach the space and then speed into the shrubs, Graham was wary, maintaining a short distance.

During her days in the library, Katrina had read about a series of tunnels beneath the forest that connected to the castle. In previous wars, the headmaster would hide their students in the winding tunnels if their security enchantments had been breached by an enemy. Her theory was that the drawing of a cave she had plucked from Andrews's memories was the location of the dagger. She counted the steps from each tree until she found the exact middle and pressed her wand into the dirt, the ground rumbling under her. A wide hole formed and holding onto Purrsephone, she jumped into it, landing in total darkness. She lit the torches on the walls and shouted for Graham, whose fall was not as graceful.

"These tunnels must be miles long. We can't search them in a single night," he panted.

"Then your blood will come in handy." Taking out a needle, Katrina pierced his thumb. "I won't need a vial's worth but don't move. Ascendo sanguis, invenio pari."

With her wand, she drew a figure-eight shape over his thumb, reciting the spell. Droplets of blood formed in the dirt to their left, Purrsephone dashing down the tunnel.

"Hey," said Graham, catching her as she stumbled. "You're burning up. Why don't you sit and I'll go with the cat? Katrina, you could cause a cave-in."

"I'm okay. The sooner we get it, the sooner we can leave and it'll stop hurting." She stuffed her hands in her coat pockets, to resist touching the walls. "If I sit, I'll be tempted to siphon and it'll be worse than a collapsing cave."

Doing her best to conceal the pain, she followed the blood trail. He walked with her in lockstep, in case she struggled to stand upright. The trail ended at the entrance to a cave like the drawing and inside, it was bare except for Purrsephone pawing at a wooden chest. Runes were carved into every inch of the wood and there was no keyhole.

"You nearly killed yourself over a chest?" scoffed Graham. "You can't even open it. An unlocking charm won't make a dent."

"Doesn't matter," she said, placing the chest and Purrsephone in her bag. "If Cayden thinks there's a chance someone else has it, it's leverage. You'd be surprised how far people are willing to go when you've got something that means everything to them and to Cayden, this is that something. If I'm not at that concert, my brother will flip—"

A searing pain struck her temple, reminding her of Cayden's failed legilimency on the quidditch pitch. Strengthened by the magic in the tunnels, she was unintentionally in another person's head, receiving a secondhand view of Ron, Hermione, and many students fainting simultaneously onto the floor.

"Something's wrong," she said, snapping out of what she perceived as Harry's mind. "We need to go to Hogsmeade. Move!"

The moment they were out of the tunnel, Graham needing to help her climb in her weakened state, she ran out of the forest, getting faster the further she was from the hotspot. She refused to stop until she reached the Three Broomsticks. Ginny, Michael, Anthony, Ernie, and a handful of students, ranging from third to seventh year, were staring at the pub, horrified, and a teary Madam Rosmerta was screeching at Robards and another auror rapidly taking notes.

"Katrina!" shouted Ginny, her voice strained. "T—they're gone. We were at the concert and I went outside with Michael because I was getting a headache and then there was a weird noise and when Ernie opened the door, the pub was empty besides Madam Rosmerta and her staff. We found the aurors on duty but they thought we were drunk and—wait!"

Katrina entered the pub, finding it, like Ginny said, completely empty. The tables were packed with mugs of butterbeer and the erected stage near the bar had instruments but no band members. Behind the stage, a giant chimaera symbol was burned into the wall. As her fingers traced the lion's head, another message appeared above it, taunting her.

Time to be with your real family

Graham was bent down on the floor, picking up a fancy green ribbon. "You knew," she growled. "That's why you wanted Selene to tag along. There was no free concert…no actual band…you knew it was a trap."

"No, I—" He almost tripped over his feet. "I didn't know. Lukas told me not to go and I thought it was because he had new orders for me. I'm telling you the truth."

She stormed off the stage, whipping out her wand. "Where's my brother? Where did he take him?! I'll tear out your spine, you—"

Anthony blocked her from advancing on him. "Katrina, I know you're upset but Montague had nothing to do with it. You were in the potions classroom together, weren't you? The aurors will find them. People don't just vanish." Kane strode through the open doorway. "M—Mr. Carlisle?"

"Get to your common room now. I'll take care of Miss Potter." His commanding tone startled Anthony, the blonde running out of the pub. "Montague, you'll be meeting Snape in his office and tell him I will be there shortly. Don't make a trip to the owlery to write to your father in hopes he'll save you."

If looks could kill, Graham would have exploded before he was out the door. To the annoyance of Robards, Dumbledore had alerted Kane when he learned of what happened in the Three Broomsticks, thanks to a hysterical note from Madam Rosmerta. Umbridge fled to the Ministry to coordinate a statement with Fudge for the Daily Prophet, to not instill a panic in the community and quash any rumors that would arise from the Hogsmeade villagers.

"What's our plan?" she said, as they headed up to the castle. "Do you need me to get in Montague's head? Can I watch you make that slimeball cry? Are Jace and everyone else coming too?"

Kane brought her into an empty classroom on the first floor. "You didn't attend this concert."

"Obviously. I couldn't write to you. It was too much to say through the mirror but remember when you were interrogating Andrews and I had flashes of a dagger and a cave? I cracked the code, Kane. It was a lot of sleepless nights and reading book after book but I did it," she rambled. "He wants Morgan Le Fay's dagger. That's why he recruited Graham, to get to the Ministry maps and find the hotspot with the yew trees but joke's on him because I solved it. We can use Montague to send a message."

"That's not necessary. He sent one to me, minutes before I was summoned by Dumbledore. He's gotten insufferably more arrogant, which I assumed was impossible." He peered out into the corridor. "This is him striking of his own accord, not under Voldemort. If it were, your brother would not have been taken. He won't return the children until we meet his demands."

"It's me. He left a note that only I could see." Purrsephone crawled out of her bag and hissed at Kane. "She's tired. We can set a trap too. We use me as bait to lure him in and—where are we going? To meet with—"

Katrina was repelled from the doorway. Holding out her hand, she discovered that it was a barrier. Kane stood on the other side with McGonagall and Dumbledore.

"Yes, you were the sole demand and I will not entertain his delusions. You are going nowhere near Cayden." She began removing her gloves. "That would be a waste. It's reinforced with blood magic, lifted for those I deem acceptable. You haven't progressed to siphoning blood magic."

Had she gone delirious in the tunnels and this was a fever dream? "Why are you—Harry's out there! You can't lock me in this room! We have to get him!"

"And a search is underway," said Dumbledore, calmly. "Running into the unknown is not the answer. We are not putting additional students in danger and once we are certain that you will not flee to sacrifice yourself, the barrier will be removed. This corridor will be sealed to the remaining students. They will be told that you were taken somewhere safe."

McGonagall seemed the most regretful. "This is for your protection, Miss Potter. We will not let any harm come to your brother. We will rescue all those who were taken tonight."

"Kane, please. You can't leave me in here. We can use different leverage. The dagger…tell him you found it. I—I can take you to it. I can help. He'll kill Harry. You know he'll do it." The insides of her palms were coated in sticky blood that congealed around her fingertips. "Let me out. Let me out!"

Kane recoiled, a fissure forming in the wall behind them. "It'll hold," he assured McGonagall, healing the gash on his cheek. "She'll stay put. The team will be arriving and we'll need to prepare for whatever nonsense actions Fudge has told Scrimgeour to take…"

Katrina rammed her shoulder against the barrier, feeling it burn through her sleeve. "You need me! Let me out!" She slammed into it harder, fueled by her anger. "You need me! You need me! If anything happens to my brother, I'll never forgive you! LET ME OUT!"

The three adults left her in the sealed corridor, in a cycle of her magical outbursts destroying the classroom and Kane's magic restoring it before her anguished screams damaged it all over again.