(A.N. I really need someone to slap some sense into me. I know I said I'd post more often, but life continues to make my work-time less frequent. From now on, I'll be posting monthly updates and Polls to keep all of you in the loop on chapter progress and allow for reader influence. Writing these chapters is fun... to an extent at least, but having your opinion on certain aspects will help me write better and make choices easier. I get ideas for this constantly, but I can't choose which is better or will be more enjoyable to read about. Keep in mind that you can suggest ideas via reviews or DMs, just please don't spam my inbox with random shipping material as that has already been planned out. Thanks and sorry for the wait. Enjoy the chapter.)

Chapter 11: Fears of the Sinister

Down in the Great Hall, all the students were enjoying their fresh breakfast and discussing life, classes and other random topics. Some were even getting some early studying in before classes even started.

The LN girls were making their way up through the grand staircase, sharing their schedules and talking about what classes they might enjoy the most.

But their friendly chat would be interrupted by a fearful Sucy who had been trying to make her way down despite the stairs not cooperating with her.

"What's up Sucy? You look like one of your poisons created something terrible" Akko said with a slight smirk.

Sucy regained her breath and nearly screamed, "You need to go to Phoenix's office, he needs to tell us something important. Something involving 'them'."

The group seized up in fear, the thought that the people wanting to continue the dark lord's work were closer than they thought was near heart attack inducing.

"We better hurry then, if he found something out, then we need to hear it so we can help," Diana said, clearly sounding urgent.

They rushed up to his office, thankfully having better luck with the stairs, and came bursting into the DADA classroom. They looked toward the front and found Phoenix pacing while muttering to himself.

"That message...what are they planning? Why are they leaving messages via scars? And most importantly...how are they in the castle?" Phoenix was clearly on edge...but at least he wasn't alone.

He turned his attention to the LN girls, who were standing at the door, just as worried as he was. "Good thing Sucy is quick on her feet when needed. I'm guessing you got my message?"

"Yeah, what did you find out? It had to be big if you had Sucy run to find us," said Akko.

Phoenix started walking toward his students, explaining his findings, "Well, it started when Sucy told me what she found out from a student in her house, a message carved right into the arm of another student, written in what is known as the Caesar Cipher. A type of code in which a word or phrase has each letter changed to a letter up or down the alphabet. For example, if I wanted to encode the word 'wand' I would change each letter a number of letters forward or backward among the alphabet, like so."

He proceeded to pull out his wand and write the word in front of the girls. He then wiped his wand to the side and the word changed to 'aerh'. The girls were confused at first until the studious Diana figured out what Phoenix meant.

"You changed each letter to the one 4 down. W became A, A became E and so on. That's...ingenious, it's amazing, it's-"

"DIANA!"

"Huh...what?" Diana was taken out of her stream complements by Akko, who had a look of ironic enjoyment.

"I think you were channelling me for a moment there. Usually, I'm the one who geeks out."

Diana blushed when she realized what she was doing, shaking it off, embarrassed. "Sorry about that, I guess you must have rubbed off on me Akko."

Akko just chuckled at that statement.

Phoenix was relieved that they were still able to joke around to keep each other sane, but he continued his explanation nonetheless. "Anyway, the message the Sucy had found out about was "She will get the magic to bring back the one true lord", which needless to say was concerning but might as well be an empty threat on its own, but then I decoded a message I got in a letter, that's when I realized what they might be planning.

"The message read, "Though time is valuable, those who have it taken will suffer. But those who wish to end it will find the piece they need."

The girls gave him a look of confusion, it didn't make any sense to them.

"It sounds like a bunch of nonsense, I know, but think about it carefully. Time...as in a person's lifetime or lifespan, having it taken means taking a person's life or at least shortening their life. And ending it means stopping the theft of life, stopping people from being killed. They want to end the lives of those they deem worthless, but are willing to give those who wish to fight it a chance."

Phoenix finished his explanation leaving everyone with different thoughts, but one of them just had to speak their mind, that being Amanda.

"It's almost as if they're looking for a challenge, looking for someone to fight back just to laugh at when they overpower them. It's kinda sick."

Phoenix thought for a moment about what Amanda said and had to agree, it didn't sound right. It sounded like a trap just waiting to happen.

"Either way, I want each of you to keep what you find and what we discuss about 'them', within this group only. The last thing I need is students flocking to my door with tons of questions, let alone an angry Headmistress ranting." Phoenix said, wanting to make sure that McGonagall didn't have to stress out even further.

"Now then, I think it's time you girls enjoy your last free day before classes start. Try not to let this dark magic business ruin it." Phoenix said walking to open the door.

Upon opening it, the clear sound of two thuds caught his attention. "Ow...get off me you creep."

The voice of Summer got the attention of the group, they looked at the source and found Summer and Ross, on the floor, clearly up to no good.

"Snooping as usual I see," Phoenix said with a raised brow. (Also if you get the reference, you're awesome.)

Ross looked up at the professor and quickly said "We just wanted to know why the girls were running off in such a hurry. I saw them in the grand staircase and noticed they were in a rush. Summer followed me here saying she had something to tell Sucy."

Phoenix was skeptical at first but believed Ross anyway seeing how he wanted to save any truth serum he had left for when he really needed it.

"And I'm guessing you were also eavesdropping?"

Summer spoke up saying, "We didn't mean to eavesdrop, we just kinda...overheard what you said about those weird Voldemort freaks." Summer managed to crawl her way from under Ross to continue talking. "Also, I really don't think having your new students keep major secrets from people who are familiar with what happened in the past is a good idea. I think you should at least let a few students, that they have befriended, be a part of this group of...secret...holders...you know what I mean."

Sucy was surprised to see Summer so...proud of herself after how timid she seemed at first, but it made her happy seeing a friend she made at Hogwarts become a better person thanks to her.

Ross finally recovered and got to his feet to throw his opinion into the mix.

"I agree. I know that having such news that another war may be on the horizon will cause people to freak out, but I say let some of us help, allow us a chance to prove that we can be useful...or at least, help figure out who's behind all of this." Ross just smiled, hoping that he convinced Phoenix to at least consider it.

Phoenix just stood there, arms crossed, with a look of confusion and skepticism. He looked at the girls, then back at the two students in front of him. His face morphed into a smile, and he uncrossed his arms.

"I am so glad I don't have to put so much pressure on a small group of students. If you truly think that you can help, then, by all means, I welcome you, on one condition."

The two leaned in to listen closely to his condition of them joining.

"If any of you leak any information to anyone I don't approve of...I will be sure you never remember a thing about the Luna Nova witches or 'them'. In other words, I'll have your memories altered. Do I make myself clear?" He said with a very strict tone.

The two jerked back, after hearing the punishment for spilling the beans, they knew they would have to watch what they say.

Even though this was a total bluff in Phoenix's part. He wasn't going to do any of that, he wouldn't have the heart to take their friends away. He just couldn't.

The two quickly agreed, Summer even crossing her heart out of habit.

"Now then, I've taken enough of your time, you best be off enjoying your last free day before classes start," Phoenix said.

The group then made their way out of his classroom, closing the door on their way out.

"So...what should we do now? I mean, Phoenix said to try enjoying our time here and keep our minds off that dark topic while we're here, which might be slightly difficult." Amanda said, saying that last bit out the side of her mouth.

"Well, I did promise you girls a mock quidditch game, so why don't we head down to the pitch so you can get a good view of a semi-proper game." Ross said.

Amanda was instantly hyped, her entire personality seemed to change into that of...what can only be described as a fangirl on a sugar rush.

"Really? Well, what are we waiting for? Let's move!"

Amanda said pulling Ross along toward the Quidditch Pitch, leaving the others confused and surprised.

"Does she...normally act like that?" Summer said with a hint of a laugh in her voice.

"Not really...that was really odd for Amanda. Almost...out of character." Constanze said, sounding pretty concerned.

They just kinda stood there for a minute, trying to process Amanda's sudden personality change.

"Well, we might as well catch up while we still can. I'm still kinda curious what a game of Quidditch looks like." Akko said going back to her usual self.

So they made their way down to the Quidditch Pitch, catching up to the hyper Amanda and strangely Not uncomfortable Ross. Once they got down to the pitch, they saw the rest of the Ravenclaw team and the Gryffindor team, setting up the balls and chatting about what they look forward to during the upcoming season.

"Ah, I see already got the ladies crawling all over you eh Rossy?" said one of the Ravenclaw players.

"Not really, just one who may or may not be a bit overexcited, and her much more calm friends." Ross returned, Amanda still hooked onto his arm.

Ross managed to get her to let go, only after getting the others to hang on to her so she wouldn't cling back on.

"Give us about 10 minutes to finish setting up, you girls head up to the stands to watch."

The girls did just that, keeping an eye on their unusually clingy friend.

"So, you really must be excited to see this if you were trying to get so close to Ross, eh Amanda?" Said Lotte.

"What do you mean, I was just walking beside him chatting?" Amanda said, sounding like her old self again.

This sudden return confused the group, "You were actually clinging on to him and pulling him along the whole way here." Diana said, slightly confused.

Amanda looked at her friends in confusion and shock, "I was WHAT?! But...that's not how I...I swear I was just...are you sure?"

They all nodded at once, they were telling the whole truth.

Amanda just blushed, placing her face in her hands in embarrassment.

"That is so embarrassing, how could I act so...childish…" Amanda suddenly realized something. "When did I start acting like that?"

"Right about when Ross got within 4 feet of you...why do you ask?" Constanze said.

"I smelled something funny...something...sweet. Almost like a drug." Amanda explained.

"That sounds like some sort of love potion, but the effects must have been modified to only affect you when you're a certain distance from them. But who woul-" Sucy's explanation would be cut off by Amanda saying,

"Rose…"

"Who?" Summer asked.

"ROSE!" Amanda screamed in rage.

They then realized why, they remembered that Rose had a vendetta against anyone, who was female, getting close to her brother. It just made too much sense.

"I'm gonna get that little gremlin."

"Calm yourself Amanda, we'll inform Ross of what happened, even prove it, and HE will give Rose a punishment of his choice. He's her brother, I'm sure he knows what will and will not work as a punishment for her." Diana said, acting like how she would a Luna Nova, only a bit more...loose.

Amanda just growled before relaxing, "Fine, but please tell me you have a way to reverse this."

Sucy thought for a moment, but couldn't think of a direct solution.

"I don't know how, but I have a feeling I might know who does."

But the sound of brooms taking off caught their attention, the practice Quidditch game was about to begin.

Ross flew up to the stands, dressed in his Quidditch attire, "You girls ready for a show? Cause you're about to see what Quidditch is all about."

As the mock game began, the girls were seeing each team flying around at high speeds, the bludgers were being knocked around, Quaffle was being passed and thrown through hoops at a rapid pace, and the snitch...well, the seekers were able to keep up with it fairly well, but it just kept evading them.

The girls watched in awe, they were very much entertained, all in different ways. Amanda was the most pumped, seeing a wizarding sport that she would love to be a part of. While Diana was intrigued by how fluent the brooms could move. Constanze's mind was more on how she could make a broom of her own that as more state of the art. And Akko was obviously happy she didn't have to worry about falling as long as she had her friends close by when she was flying.

After nearly an hour, the teams called it quits, neither team had won, but both could agree that they got a good amount of practice in. They put the balls away and went off to change back into their school robes.

The girls made their way down from the stands to meet up with Ross to let him know what Rose had done.

"I hope he's sensible enough to believe us. I mean, he's had to deal with Rose for most of his life." Amanda said, sounding slightly concerned.

"Don't worry Amanda, I'm sure he trusts you enough to hear you out, even after the way you were acting before." Jasminka said, chuckling a bit at the end.

Ross exited the pitch and saw the girls waiting there. He braced himself for Amanda but would be stopped in his tracks by Constanze, who was kinda short enough to be out of his line of sight.

"I think it's best to talk to us from a distance." Akko said, "We figured out why Amanda was acting that way before, Rose must have sprayed you with some sort of Love Potion."

Ross was skeptical at first, it didn't seem like something Rose was capable of doing...not saying she wouldn't do it if given the chance.

"What makes you so sure?"

Sucy the proceeded to grab Amanda by the arm and pull her until she as just over a meter and a half away from Ross.

"Observe," Sucy said, pushing Amanda into the predicted range of the effect.

As soon as Amanda looked at Ross, her whole attitude changed. But would return to normal when Sucy pulled her back out. Then pushed her in...pulled her out...rinse and repeat several times until Amanda just snapped.

"ALRIGHT! HE GETS THE POINT!" Amanda screamed.

Ross just looked in disbelief and morphed into anger.

"God bloody damn it Rose. When will it end with you and your troublemaking?"

"Anyway, we're going to see if Prof. Slughorn can help with this, so until we fix Amanda's...unusual fangirling, try not to get too close to her. Unless you want another girl obsessively clinging to you." Sucy said, grinning.

Ross definitely didn't need nor want that so he nodded in understanding and made his way back into the pitch to chat with his mates.

The others made their way to the Potions classroom to at least get a temporary solution to the love potion problem. The love potion on Ross' clothes should only last 24 hours roughly according to Sucy.

"Hopefully this doesn't happen again, the last thing I need is making a fool of myself, let alone get angry over something so...physically harmless." said Amanda.

"If there's one person that seems to hold a grudge and keep hold of said grudge well, it's Rose, maybe she'll lighten up and not be so harsh, or, if you're lucky enough, she'll just target someone else." Akko said jokingly.

Diana gave her a firm punch to the shoulder, "We want a peaceful resolution, not to have someone else suffer because of some girl's creepy obsession."

Akko rubbed her now sore shoulder letting out a light chuckle, "I'm just joking, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. But unless Ross gives her a reason to stop what she's been doing, anyone who gets close to him could get hurt."

Summer was just walking beside Sucy wondering if stuff like this happens at their old school. She hadn't seen anything this comical since that one time she saw a Muggle show called...Shark Bait I think...it was really funny back then, but she didn't remember much from it, due to her being so young at the time.

"So, uh, Sucy. Once your friend's issue is taken care of, there's something I need to ask you." said Summer.

"Sure, I don't exactly have plans once this is dealt with. I was going to head to the Potions classroom anyway, so this is just killing two birds with one poison vial."

Summer was confused by Sucy's simile but chalked it up as just her own personal phrase. She always did seem like a colourful person, even if her speech seemed incredibly monotone.

They made their way down to the dungeons, toward the Potions Classroom, all the while keeping an eye out for Rose. They figured she would have some sort of backup should the Love Potion plan fail. Entering the classroom they found it to be mostly barren, say for the few items on the shelves.

"Looks like Prof. Slughorn did some clearing out," Akko said, "he must be planning to get some fresh ingredients."

Looking around they found the empty jars and vials laying about the tables with traces of the previous ingredients on the sides of the inside. They were curious as to how he planned to get most of the ingredients that were presumably thrown out.

Then, out of his office, came Prof. Slughorn, looking quite groggy.

"Ah, girls, nice to see you, sorry for my tired appearance, I uh ...was just doing some experimenting when I realized some of the ingredients I had were strangely contaminated with flower petals, roses to be precise. So I have to go around and dispose of any ingredients that had petals in them."

The group all looked at each other in confusion and disbelief, but they didn't want to think about who was responsible for it.

"Anyway, is there something I can help you with?" Slughorn said.

"Yeah, we need a love potion antidote, Amanda is being affected by some sort of love potions spray that is causing her to act a little odd when she's around Ross," said Akko.

Slughorn raised a brow in concern, "I see...any idea who's to blame for this, I've been trying to limit students access to the ingredients for such potions."

"We suspect his sister, Rose, is to blame. She's a little ...hostile toward any female that gets near her brother, partially ones that try to "steal" him from her." Diana answered.

Slughorn understood the moment Rose was mentioned, as he was actually warned by Prof. Flitwick about her recent antics, which were definitely a cause for concern.

"I see, well lucky for you I usually keep extra in a safe, right inside my office, but unfortunately, I'd forgotten the combination and the safe was made spell proof."

This was most certainly unfortunate, but, lucky for them, the person who needed the antidote had ways of getting into places she shouldn't. They all looked at Amanda who just stared in confusion ...until she realized why they were looking at her.

"Oh no, I said was going to avoid using my troublemaking tricks while I was here, and I intend to keep it that way."

"I know you said that but I'm sure Prof. Slughorn wouldn't mind, you need that antidote to talk to Ross, and Prof. Slughorn would appreciate someone with talent like yours opening the safe he needs to get into anyway," said Jasminka.

Slughorn looked at Amanda and gave a reassuring nod, showing that he approves of the idea.

"(Sigh) Alright, fine. Where's the safe?" Amanda said reluctantly.

Slughorn led her into his office and pointed to the rather large safe in the corner of the room. With that she got to work, listening carefully, hearing clicking which lead her down the path of unlocking the safe. After about 2 minutes, the safe creaked open revealing not only the Love Potion Antidote but a couple other types of potions.

Slughorn grabbed the smallest bottle and a shot glass from his cupboard.

"Seeing how it's effects are minor compared to what I usually see, you won't need much. But it's probably for the best if I add a little something to give you a little extra resistance to the potion again should the same problem arise."

"And what might that be?" Sucy asked.

"Well, I find that chicken lips tend to allow an extended duration of most potions and antidotes. However, it adds a small side effect, the drinker may experience some minor muscle spasms, mainly in the face and hands. It rarely happens, but when it does, it's usually unnoticeable."

Amanda was understandably concerned but thought dealing with the Love Potion would be a lot worse than the possible side effects of the antidote. Slughorn handed the shot glass to Amanda and she looked down at the mixture.

"Well, bottoms up." Amanda joked as she downed the antidote.

She then felt a flow of release from her head and chest, the antidote had done its job instantly.

"Now then, if you'll excuse me. I need to inform the Headmistress of lack of ingredients and that I must purchase more for class." Slughorn said, clearly annoyed that he would have to spend his own funds.

As he left Sucy began looking around the classroom for a place to hide her ingredients. She knew she couldn't keep them in the common room or the Room of Requirement (because someone would find them somehow) and she knew she wouldn't be able to shake her experimentation habit. She then found a small crevis near a shelf on the far side of the room.

"Perfect, and it should fit plenty," Sucy said, grinning her signature sinister grin.

Summer noticed Sucy sticking her hand in a hole and just kinda chuckled.

"Is that something you usually do? Sick your hand in holes in the hopes you find something?" Summer asked.

Sucy jerked back, scratching her hand on the roof of the hole.

"No. I was just seeing how deep it goes, I was curious if it was made by a rat or another person." Sucy lied, hoping to not sound suspicious.

Summer was surprised by Sucy's obvious lie but humoured her as she was the only other person she saw as a friend she could trust.

"Anyway, about what I wanted to ask you."

Sucy recovered and responded in her usual tone, "Yeah? What did you need to ask?"

"I was wondering...if you would...um..." Summer seemed quite antsy about what she was trying to ask Sucy...almost like she was embarrassed by it. "Um...would you…"

"Would I what? You're leaving me in suspense here." Sucy said in a joking tone.

"Would you….BE MY BROTHER'S GIRLFRIEND!?"

*Spits out drink*

Akko: WHA!?

Diana: Oh My...

Lotte: Pardon? (While blushing)

Chariot: What?

Amanda: Oh… (Smerking)

Jasminka: (Not even paying attention)

Constance: Stares Blankly (She couldn't care less)

Narrator: Wait...we're doing this cliché? Why?

Sucy just stared, wide-eyed, red in the face, trying to process what she was just asked.

"You want me….to do what?" Sucy asked calmly.

"I took what you said to heart, about trying to make up the time and work Marcus used to protect me. And I couldn't think of anything I could make for him, and I know you two have been getting along really well. So, I thought, if I can't make him happy directly, then what better way then helping him find someone else that he can call family".

Summer had clearly thought this through pretty well. Sucy was still trying to process it, she had never dealt with something as foreign to her as "Love". At least, the love of another human being, she's always had her strange love, or obsession, of mushrooms.

"I know this is sudden, but there's actually another reason for me asking you to be Marcus' girlfriend."

Sucy broke from her daze to hear Summer out. She sounded...almost sad.

"Ever since you talked to me at the sorting ceremony, I felt as though I may have been a bit too harsh at first. It's only been Marcus and me for years...I felt like no one else would understand why I'm the way I am. But you, you're different, you don't care if I like talking with creatures or that I tend to be a bit creepy."

Sucy was awestruck, she was beginning to see the real Summer Snow, willingly open up.

"Ever since that day, I felt like you were more than a friend to me...you felt like...a sister to me. An older sister that just wanted to see me smile. I wanted to do that same for you, wanted to do something for you to see you smile."

Sucy's heart was beating hard… she was… feeling. She couldn't help but hold back her grin.

"I know we've only known each other for a few days...but I want us to be like sisters. And maybe, be actual sisters. So, Sucy… would you please be my brother's girlfriend."

Sucy's face, once again went full red. A light steam with shooting from her ears. For the first time in her life… she was full-on… speechless.

"What?!"

The group turned their attention to a voice that came from the corridor outside the classroom.

"Who's there?" Diana yelled with authority.

The person slowly stepped into the doorway, revealing themselves to be…

(Insert 'To Be Continued' end card here… Don't look at me like that I want to get this chapter out ASAP, the readers have waited long enough.)

END OF CHAPTER