A/N: Finals are over and the finale chapters are incoming! Everything is about to be revealed...


"Office," said Professor Magellan venomously. "Now."

I sighed in defeat and pocketed my wand. Peeves followed closely behind us, giggling and mocking me until Professor Diggory shooed him off.

And I've just finished weekly detention! Can't I ever catch a break?

And yet more ironically, why couldn't I have been sent to McGonagall's office?


Chapter 19: The Point of No Return

Dad's responses about the Malfoy Problem grew shorter as time wore on. A week later, I got a letter from Teddy confirming that the investigation had been classified.

Albus was game for trying Polyjuice Potion, but James and I vetoed it. We didn't have months. Besides, I was the only one who was still really interested in completing the task. I had to take responsibility.

Since the Scorpius Malfoy and The Friendly Bus Station Kiss incident, we'd lost a valuable source of information. According to Al, he was spending less and less time in the Slytherin common room, and more and more time lurking around, doing overtime on his Prefect duties and being incredibly nosy.

The golden opportunity came nearly at the end of March.

Lysander and Lorcan were studying for their O.W.L's, and I decided to spend most of my time in the library with them. Carla and Rose were particularly pleased that I was taking an interest in my studies.

Rose even wrote to Victoire about it.

However, my library research was only marginally related to my classwork. I needed to find an alternate way of getting into McGonagall's office and retrieving the Sorting Hat that didn't include getting in even more trouble.

Detentions with Magellan were really eating up my free time, and between research with Lysander and Lorcan, Quidditch practice, and homework, I barely got any time to get adequate sleep.

Thank Merlin for concealer.

Lorcan was the one who found the book.

"Hey, Lil. Try this."

I looked up from the clutter of books and notes spread on the table. Lysander's Charms notes were mixed in with Lorcan's D.A.D.A. homework, and my discarded ideas for spells or potions that would help.

I took the book from Lorcan, feeling rather apprehensive. Lysander had fallen asleep over his textbook.

"Magick Moste Evile?" I asked in a harsh whisper. "Are you sure about this, Lorcan?"

He shrugged. "Well, you've tried virtually every Light spellbook in this library. And it's just theory. You don't have to actually do any of the things in it."

I didn't like lying to my friends. My chest felt tight. This wasn't just research. I might end up using one of the spells. But I wasn't getting anywhere.

"But this is seriously Dark magic, Lorcan! Dark magic!"

I sighed. What did I really have to lose?

I steeled myself, trying to calm the nervous flutter in my stomach as I reached for the corner of the book. Lorcan put his hand over mine.

"But you might want to read it away from prying eyes," he said. "Harry Potter's daughter reading a book about Dark magic? You might not mean any harm, but it's not a good look."

I nodded. He was right. How could I not have thought of that?

"Keep us updated, yeah?"

Lysander waved sleepily as I exited the library.

The weight of Magick Moste Evile in my bag was surprisingly heavy. I followed Lorcan's advice and did not open it until the crimson curtains were shut tight around my bed, and the entire fourth-year girls' dormitory was asleep.

"Lumos."

I began to read the book's introduction.

"Of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction —"

"Horcrux?"

I had no idea what that was, but it didn't sound very nice at all if a Dark magic reference book found the topic unspeakably horrifying. Nisha padded over the bed, settling next to me in a warm, furry ball. Lysander's paper crane was next to my pillow. If not for the book I was holding, the whole set-up would have be quite cozy.

"Curses, hexes, jinxes... maybe's there an appendix?"

I flipped to the very back of the book.

"Hidden places... nope, nothing. Passwords? Getting someone to tell you a secret... there's Legilimency, the Imperius Curse..."

I was really beginning to regret this.

Nisha's tail swished.

"Hey!"

I'd lost the page, and the book fell open to somewhere in the middle. I leaned forward, squinting at the diagram. It reminded me of something from magical theory.

"Removing or weakening magical traces on objects."

Magical traces on objects... like the gargoyle guarding McGonagall's office!

If James, Albus, and I were able to cast the spell at the same time, we just might be able to weaken the enchantment for moment, just enough to slip through.

I could barely sleep that night. Partially from excitement, and partially from the guilt churning in my stomach.

I imagined Dad's face if he knew I was planning to use a Dark spell. He would be so disappointed in me. I couldn't tell James or Albus where I got it from.

I was going to have to lie.


James, Albus, and I made our way to McGonagall's office at midnight; me and Albus under the Invisibility Cloak, and James under a Disillusionment Charm.

The gargoyle looked more unnerving than it ever had before; the shadows in the corridor were dark and strange.

I shivered, and thought about what a bad idea this was.

"Ready?" Albus whispered, pulling his wand out and folding the cloak under his arm. "On my count."

James and I raised our wands. I glanced over my shoulder, and my back prickled. Something was not right.

"Three, two-"

"Rhys!"

Rhys looked like he had run a long way - he was gasping for breath as he put a hand on Al's shoulder.

Oh shit. This is not good. This is very bad.

Mum and Dad are going to kill us. Especially me.

"Al, listen to me," Rhys said. He was leaning heavily on Albus, as if he needed the support.

My hands had gone slick with sweat. One of the professors had to be around the corner. Why didn't I think to bring the map?

Suddenly, as I looked between Albus and Rhys, who had gone pale and shaky, I realized something. Lysander was right.

"It's a full moon tonight," I whispered.

"We have to go! Now! Run!" James said, grabbing my wand arm.

But it wasn't Rhys in front of us now; it was an enormous, shaggy wolf with a murderous glint in his eyes. I tried to pull Albus away as Werewolf Rhys sprang at him, drawing a long slash down Al's arm.

"But the Wolfsbane!"

I shook my head. "Someone must have sabotaged it. But we have to go, Al!"

He was frantic. "Lil, what if he hurts himself?"

"What if he hurts you?"

James shouted, "Protego! Come on, cast the spell and get inside!"

Werewolf Rhys leapt at James, foaming at the mouth and snarling as he scratched at the magical barrier.

"Hurry up!" James growled. "He's too strong, I can't hold the shield up forever."

This was all my fault. It was all my fault that James and Albus were in danger.

"Come on, Lil," said Albus. "We have to cast it."

"I'm not strong enough! We need James!"

"Yeah, we need James to keep the shield up. Come on."

I winced as Werewolf Rhys flung himself against the shield again. My heart was in my throat, and the air around us had gone still and cold.

I breathed in and out in an attempt to calm myself, and reached into my pocket to feel Lysander's paper crane. I had to relax. I had to focus.

"Right. Let's do it."

Albus and I pointed our wands at the gargoyle.

"Auferte!"

To my shock, the gargoyle leapt aside.

"It worked-"

"Great!" shouted James. The magical barrier was warping as Werewolf Rhys redoubled his efforts. "Now, let's go!"

We retreated into the staircase, and I heard a howl and the skitter of claws against the gargoyle as it slid shut.

"Stupefy!" James shouted, and the red jet of light hit its mark just as the gap narrowed to nothing.

"Is he going to be okay?" asked Albus.

James was bent over, trying to catch his breath. "Yeah, the professors will find him, won't they? Students won't be in the corridors this late."

Albus pressed his lips together, saying nothing more as we ascended the stairs.

"Be quiet," Albus hissed. "We don't want to wake the portraits. They'll tell the professors that we're here."

"What was he even doing here?" muttered James.

"Snooping. Same as us. Look, Al, he's going to be fine."

I had never been in McGonagall's office before. It was large and circular, and the walls were covered with portraits of the previous headmasters, fast asleep in their frames.

Behind an ancient-looking desk, the Sorting Hat sat perched on a shelf.

Then, I heard it.

Come to me.

I turned towards my brothers, overcome with excitement.

"Can you hear her?"

"No, Lil," said James. He looked very serious. Worried, even.

Come. Let me show you something.

"Lily, your eyes!"

My head felt strange, and everything smelled sharp, like metal. I felt the same metallic pressure in my head. My ears buzzed. Everything felt clear and fuzzy at the same time.

Are you brave, Lily Potter? Are you worthy?

"Who are you? Show yourself!"

The voice chuckled. And you call yourself a Gryffindor...

"I am a Gryffindor!"

"Stop, Lil, something's not right!" It was one of my brothers. He sounded far away.

"I'll prove it!" I told the voice. I took a deep breath, marched over to the shelf, and stuck the Sorting Hat defiantly on my head.

Go on, Sort me! Sort me into Gryffindor!

My confidence waned as the Hat fell silent.

The voice laughed derisively. Distraught, I stood up, taking the Hat off of my head.

Something heavy and metal clanged to the floor as I did so. I blinked.

A magnificent silver sword, with a two-handed hilt covered in brilliant rubies lay in front of me. I knew the sword, though I never seen it in person.

The Sword of Gryffindor.

Was that the final prize for solving the mystery? Or was it another hint?

The sword almost seemed to pulse with a strange, fiery energy.

"Lil, no, don't!"

I reached for the sword, and a strangle tingle ran up my arm as my fingers brushed the hilt. The metallic buzzing grew louder and louder until the entire office shook.

A circle of light etched itself around me, Albus, and James.

Violet light filled my vision, and the buzz grew as silent as the air before an atomic bomb.


It took a while for the violet light to fade. In those moments of being trapped in limbo, I felt strangely calm.

Magic and metal are intimately connected. Metal conducts electricity in the same way wands conduct and focus magic. It is believed that the two processes are much the same.

The flash of light faded slowly to black, and my hearing cleared.

"Lil, are you alright?"

This time I recognized the voice as belonging to James.

"Yeah, I- I think so."

I rubbed my eyes. "Al, are you here?"

"Yeah, unfortunately. What were you thinking, Lil?"

"Pot calling the kettle black after that stunt you pulled with the Mirror of Erised, don't you think, Al!" I shot back.

"Finite!"

I inhaled sharply as I recognized the woman standing in front of us and holding the Sword of Gryffindor.

"Astoria Malfoy?"

She frowned. "I'm disappointed that you didn't figure it out on your own."

Astoria crossed her arms. "But then, bravery isn't everything, is it, James?"

James sneered. She raised her hand.

"Albus, it is possible to be too confident in one's own strength... and Lily, insecurity often leaves one open to manipulation."

I gaped. "Those weren't Death's tests. They were yours!"

"Yes. And you all performed rather predictably. At the very least, it allowed you all to become exposed to ancestral magic."

"The library book was you. And the basilisk. And the Mirror. And the sword. But how did you-"

"Isn't there anything else you want to ask about?"

"Yeah!" James got to his feet. "Let us go!"

He tried to walk towards Astoria, but as soon as he tried to step over the circle of runes surrounding the three of us, he was sent flying back towards the middle.

Astoria smiled. "Trust me, James. I've thought this plan out better than you've thought out anything in your short life. None of your magic will work within that barrier, either."

"I've got some chalk in my pocket," whispered Albus.

"Why the hell-"

"Not important!"

"You want to smudge the runes? Good thinking, Al!" I said.

He huffed. "No. We have to be careful. Smudging the wrong thing could lead to a painful death."

"Fine. Then what?"

"Distract Astoria while I read them and think of a way to set us free."

Alright. I could do that. I turned to Astoria.

"Where's Aurelie?" I asked.

"What?" she spat.

"You know. Your daughter. The one who bleeds ichor."

Astoria's smile grew even bigger. "Ah. Perhaps you're not as silly as your brothers. You may have figured it out."

She turned. "Come in, darling! And shut the door."

Aurelie Malfoy tiptoed quietly into the room, and sat at her mother's feet silently.

"We're just waiting for one more person," said Astoria. "Then we may begin."

"I'm wiling to bet we're not here for an exclusive movie screening."

Astoria tilted her head. "I suppose since you won't live to tell the story-"

"Bold words," snapped James. "The minute I get out of here, I'll-"

"Shh. Always getting ahead of yourself, aren't you, James? Now, to finish answering your question, Lily. Do you want to know why I married Draco Malfoy?"

I tossed my head. "Do tell. I'm all ears."

She shook her head. "Any guesses? No? Fine. The Malfoy's are male-line descendants of Morgan's son, Mordred."

"Morgan, as in Circe, as in Hecate, the ancestral witch?" I asked.

"One and the same."

"But this?" I gestured at the circle of runes. "Why?"

"Why don't I let you find out for yourself?"

I tried to catch Aurelie's gaze, but she was staring directly at the ground.

Suddenly, the door flew open.

"Aurelie! There you are, Dad was looking - what the hell is going on in here?"

I didn't think I'd ever been happier to see Scorpius Malfoy in my life. He strode over to Astoria quickly with his wand drawn.

"Astoria, let them go."

"Oh, Scorpius."

She flicked her wand, and she slumped to the ground.

"Malfoy!"

"Scorpius!"

Aurelie didn't move.

"What did you do to him!" snapped Albus. "If you hurt him, I'll-"

"Don't be ridiculous, Albus. He's my son, blood traitor though he is. Speaking of blood-"

Astoria knelt down, drawing out a long knife from the folds of her robes. My heart snagged in my throat as she drew the blade across the belly of Scorpius's forearm. Crimson blood welled out of the cut, and Astoria hummed as she held a small vial to collect it.

"You're heartless," I spat, staring as Scorpius continued to bleed. "You're harvesting blood from your unconscious son. You're vile. You're a monster-"

She waved her wand, and I spluttered in silent indignation.

"The blood of a first-born is incredibly potent, and a crucial ingredient to many rituals."

Many Dark rituals, she means.

Albus was still looking at the runes surreptitiously. James frowned and crossed his arms. Scorpius looked even paler than usual.

Oh Merlin, what if he bleeds to death?

I pulled James's hand closer to me and tried to tap Morse code.

Dot. Dash. Dot.

Dot.

Dot. Dot. Dot.

R-E-S-S-U-R-E-C-T-I-O-N

M-O-R-G-A-N

James's eyes widened in shock.

"We have to stop her."

He leaned closer to Albus. "Any ideas?"

Albus shook his head. "No. I'm completely stuck. This is some real Dark shit. Blood runes. We never studied these."

"Straight question, Al. Are we screwed?" asked James.

Albus sighed. "Ninety percent chance."

The cauldron hissed as Astoria poured Scorpius's blood into it.

I stared helplessly at Scorpius's unconscious form. At least the cut was starting to clot.

I coughed. My voice had returned.

I suddenly remembered the origami bird that Ly gave me.

"I thought we could use these for sending messages. Just say your message and then the name of the person you want it delivered to."

I reached into my pocket, and my fingers brushed paper.

Yes!

I angled myself away from Astoria as I pulled the paper crane out of my pocket and put it to my lips.

Astoria said that our magic wouldn't work in the circle. Lysander's might.

"Find Lysander," I whispered. "Tell him we're in trouble - me, Al, James, and Scorpius - and that the Aurors need to go to Malfoy Manor, right now because Astoria's doing a resurrection ritual. Fly fast, little bird."

To my great relief, the paper wings fluttered, and the crane disappeared in a burst of blue light.

There was a sharp crackle, and then a bolt of violet lightning tore the room from ceiling to floor. The room filled with the sweet smell of ozone.

I watched in horror as Astoria dipped her daughter's hands in the strange potion.

"Aurelie, darling, do Mother a favor and step through the tear."

Aurelie shuffled towards the bolt obediently, her hands glowing faintly.

Was she Imperiused?

"You'll kill her!"

Astoria smiled. "My daughter is not human. She is not prey to the delicate constitutions of flesh-and-blood creatures. Immortal beings may pass through dimensional barriers unharmed."

So she's been planning the resurrection of Morgan for over a decade!

I watched with horror as Aurelie disappeared into the lightning.

I hope Dad and the Aurors get here fast.

After what felt like hours, Aurelie stepped out, surprisingly unharmed.

She was followed by a strange woman. The woman was tall and barefoot, with long black hair and violet eyes. She seemed to glow, and looked blurry, as if she was so full of energy that it could not be contained in a single body. Her white robes looked diaphanous and floaty, and like her skin, seemed to be lit from within by a kaleidoscope of soft lights.

The woman looked almost transparent, and I wondered how Aurelie managed to hold her hand when the faint light of basement seemed to pass through it.

"She's got to be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," muttered James.

"Come on, she's not all that," hissed Albus, glaring at the runes.

I stared into the woman's violet eyes; the same ones I'd seen in Albus's face when he touched the Mirror of Erised. Astoria looked awed.

"Morgan le Fay?"

"Yes," said the woman. Her voice was soft, and sounded as if it were coming from a distance. She stepped closer to the circle.

"When but one line remains of Peverell's blood

Three shall be born

When their blood is spilled and magic torn

Then shall the three forms of Morgan

Take form"

"What?"

"You do not understand. Just as well."

Morgan gestured to Astoria. "My faithful servant. Come, child. Let us finish the ritual. Are the sacrifices worthy?"

"Yes, My Lady. They've been tested. They are ready."

I slumped as I felt my energy begin to drain. I looked down, and vaguely realized that blood was pooling under me, and creeping along the cracks in the stone floor towards the outside of the circle.

I felt weak.

Everything smelled like metal, as Astoria began to chant something in a strange language.

"What's going on? James? Al?"

"I couldn't find a way to fix the runes. I'm sorry." Albus's voice sounded muffled.

"It's fine."

The world started to go dark and quiet.

The doors flew open again, and everything cleared as scarlet-robed Aurors flooded into the room. A familiar voice spoke.

"Drop your wands! Astoria Greengrass-Malfoy, you are under arrest for the use of forbidden Dark rituals by the order of the British Ministry of Magic!"


The mystery is revealed! (Partially...) The adventure continues with The Dark Lady, as the Aurors face down this strange new threat.