Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Anything you don't recognize is mine.

Updated as of 8/5/2020.

Chapter Thirty-Four

The House of Alderfair

The sun dazzled from its high place in the sky as the Hogwarts Express trundled through the Scottish countryside, the new green of spring flashing by the compartment windows where Cassie sat with Marlene, Lily, and Alice.

The three girls had listened in rapt silence as Cassie explained what had happened with Moaning Myrtle and her meeting with Miranda, and the silence stretched on for several moments after she had finished her recount.

"I can't believe Miranda's ghost has been at Hogwarts this whole time," Lily said finally, shaking her head. "How come we've never seen her?"

Cassie shrugged. "Dunno. Myrtle said she usually stayed away from the castle. She must've been guarding the gauntlet, keeping out of sight in case anyone recognized her and found out where it was hidden."

"And she said the gauntlet was at the bottom of a well?" asked Alice. "In the Forbidden Forest?"

"It makes sense," Cassie said. "The Thief who cursed the gauntlet in the first place had been the guardian of the forest before he was killed by Gryffindor, and all the dreams I've had have connected to the forest in some way."

"And Carlisle was looking for something in the forest," Marlene recalled, looking uncharacteristically solemn.

"You just need to be careful, Cassie," Lily implored. "This is all starting to sound so dangerous."

"Which is why we're getting Dumbledore involved as soon as we find the gauntlet," Cassie said firmly. "Dumbledore's the most powerful wizard in centuries; even Voldemort fears him."

The three girls shuddered at the name, but Cassie was done being scared. Voldemort had picked the wrong family to mess with, and by Godric was she going to be the one to bring him down.

"You-Know-Who is powerful, too," Marlene said, her blue eyes wide and anxious.

"He can't touch me at Hogwarts," Cassie pointed out, though she was acutely aware that she would not have the school's protection while she was away at home for the holiday. She could only hope that the Dark Lord wouldn't feel the need to ambush her again.

"Lily's right, though," Alice said. "Are you sure you shouldn't just let Dumbledore find the gauntlet?"

Cassie was already shaking her head before her friend had even finished speaking.

"If Will wanted Dumbledore to find the object, he would've given him the locket," she said. "I had dreams about Miranda before I even knew the gauntlet was what we were looking for. I'm the one who has to get it."

"I'm afraid you were going to say that," Lily said, sighing. "And I suppose the Marauders are going to help you?"

Cassie nodded, hearing the underlying challenge in her voice, but her past worries of choosing between them and the Marauders seemed so distant it was almost laughable.

"They're my friends too," she said, and there was a long moment where both girls stared at each other, unwilling to back down.

"Let it go, Lily," Alice said, raising her eyebrows when both girls turned to stare at her instead, though she directed her next sentence to Cassie. "We're with you too, Cass. We'll help you in any way we can."

Marlene voiced her agreement, and though Lily seemed miffed at having been chided, she nodded her consent to Cassie, her green eyes blazing with determination. Cassie felt her heart swell close to bursting at their willingness and loyalty, despite the certain danger ahead of them.

"Thank you," she said, oddly choked. "If there's anything I need, I'll make sure to come to you."

The four girls clasped hands, shaking on their promise, though the moment was shattered when something hit their compartment door with a loud thump, causing them to yelp and leap back into their seats.

They looked to the door and saw James with his face pressed against the window, his features flattened against the glass with his spectacles askew and his breath fogging the surface, making faces at them from the corridor.

"Oh, for the love of Merlin," Lily said, rolling her eyes.

"That's disgusting," Marlene commented, wrinkling her nose while Alice flipped him the bird.

"I guess that's my cue," Cassie said, sighing and getting to her feet. "See you on the platform?"

The other girls nodded, settling back into their seats as Cassie left the compartment. She opened the door and stepped out, forcing James away from the window. He grinned at her and perched his glasses higher on his nose before turning his attention to Lily.

"Happy to see me, Evans?" he called to her.

"Happy to see you leave," she retorted, but his grin only widened.

"Ah, Evans; as pleasant as ever."

"C'mon, deer-boy," Cassie said, gripping the sleeve of his jumper and dragging him off down the corridor before Lily could hex him.

"I'm a stag," he said petulantly once they were out of earshot, "not a deer."

She rolled her eyes. "Same difference."

James sighed, his grin fading into a frustrated frown. "I don't get it, Cass."

"Get what?"

"Evans," he said, waving his hand behind them. "Why does she hate me so much?"

"Oh, no," Cassie said, shaking her head quickly. "I am not putting myself in the middle of you and Lily. No way."

"I just don't understand!" he groaned. "You and Sirius used to hate each other, but now you're dating. You opened up, Cass, but she won't."

She raised a brow at him. "Are you saying I'm easy, Potter?"

"What? No!" He grimaced at the haughty look she fixed him with. "I'm just saying that…well…you and Sirius are made to be, y'know? Written in the stars and all that." He grinned at his pun, but she was unimpressed. "Evans… I dunno, Cassie. I just have a feeling that we're the same way—she just won't see it."

Cassie couldn't help but take pity on him, he looked so hopeful.

"Maybe you're right, James," she said cautiously. "Only time will tell."

He shot her a brilliant smile as they came to the Marauders' compartment and entered. He flung himself down next to Remus while she settled between Sirius and Peter. Sirius winked at her as she sat down, lazily throwing his arm around her shoulders and drawing her closer.

That was one thing she had noticed becoming more frequent since their Hogsmeade date, was the casual way in which he always seemed to have a part of himself touching her, almost unthinkingly. She didn't mind it, of course; it was just in the unconscious manner he did it that interested her. She had to wonder if his upbringing had anything to do with it; Walburga and Orion did not seem the affectionate type, so his craving for contact did not seem such a far-fetched idea.

"Hello, love," he said, and she smiled at him, fighting the blush threatening to overtake her face.

"Long time, no see," she replied; she had seen him at breakfast not two hours before, but with the smirk he gave her then, she would have gladly sat and stared at him for the rest of the day.

"Ugh, just snog and get it over with already," James said from across them, staring at the two in disgust.

"I was under the impression you wanted to join in, James," Cassie said, cocking her brow. "Or has my invitation been rejected?"

Remus snorted. "Stop trying to get Prongs to have a threesome with you, Cass. We all know he's too much of a prude."

Peter giggled from next to her when James turned on Remus, affronted.

"Me?" he said incredulously. "I get more action than you, Moony!"

"Then maybe you could take James's place, Remus," Cassie said, batting her eyelashes, and the sandy-haired boy laughed at the strangled noise that came out of James's mouth.

"Oi, I don't share," Sirius said, tugging her hair and chuckling.

"Your loss, Pads," Remus replied, shrugging, and Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, can we play Exploding Snap?" Peter broke in, obviously disliking how he had been left out of the conversation.

James groaned. "We always play Snap, Pete. Let's go jinx Snivellus or something."

Peter's disappointment changed to excitement immediately. "Ooh, yes! Make him tap dance again, Prongs!"

Goaded on by Peter's words, James got to his feet and started for the door, the predatory smirk he reserved only for Snape already on his face.

"James, that's not a good idea," Cassie protested, but he was already out the door, Peter on his heels and babbling enthusiastically.

Remus sighed. "I'll go make sure he doesn't cause any permanent damage."

He departed as well, leaving Cassie and Sirius alone, which she was very much aware of.

Sirius seemed to notice too, for they fidgeted awkwardly for a few moments in silence, the only sound the roaring of the steam engine as it thundered down the tracks.

"So," she said, trying to break the loaded silence, "are you going home for the holiday?"

He shook his head, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "Nah, I'm staying with James and his parents."

Cassie looked to him sympathetically. "Trouble at home?"

"Nothing worse than usual." He shrugged casually, but his arm tensed around her all the same. "I'm just not in the mood to see my family."

"And Regulus?" His jaw tightened at the mention of his brother. "Have you talked to him lately?"

"Not since…" He trailed off, his face scrunching. "Dunno, really. Not for a while."

She nodded, feeling a bit guilty; she hoped the whole fiasco with Avery and Regulus hadn't driven a deeper wedge between the brothers, but he went on before she could ask.

"What about you?" he said, squeezing her shoulder. "Do you think Will's going to come home?"

"I doubt it." She shook her head sadly. "The last time we spoke he made it sound like he was being watched, and after everything that's happened, I don't think Voldemort would be stupid enough to let him out of his sight. Especially now that he knows of my involvement."

Sirius scowled. "You should've stayed at school, Cassie. What if he shows up at your house again?"

"Hogwarts can't protect me forever, Sirius," she said, smiling ruefully. "I'll have to leave it sometime. Besides, I'm done hiding myself away. If he wants to find me, then he knows where I am."

"I wish you would at least let me stay with you," he said grumpily.

"And be tortured by my mother for the next two weeks for bringing a boy home?" Cassie snorted. "I'll pass."

He didn't seem amused by her joke. "We wouldn't have to tell her I'm your boyfriend—"

They both seemed to realize what he had said at the same moment, for the compartment became awkward and tense again.

"We've been on one date," Cassie pointed out, scratching at her jeans as if they had something on them and not looking at him. "And you haven't properly asked me to be your girlfriend, so…"

She trailed off, sneaking a glance at him from behind her hair to find him watching her thoughtfully. "What?"

"Do you want me to?"

She stared at him, bewildered. "Do I want you to what?"

"Ask you to be my girlfriend," he said. "Officially."

Her cheeks flamed instantly, and she stammered, flustered, "I–er–I—"

He raised his eyebrows, and she realized how serious he was being, his face solemn and his eyes probing, mixed with—nervousness? She must be hallucinating; Sirius Black didn't get nervous, especially when it came to girls. In an instant, though, his expression had changed back to a smirk.

"We'll still court like proper pure-bloods, of course," he said. "Walks in the garden, dances in the ballroom, keeping six inches apart all the while—"

"You're insufferable," Cassie said, smacking his arm and laughing.

"Is that a yes, then?" he said, serious once more, and she took a deep breath before nodding.

"Yes, Sirius Black," she said, something like a swarm of butterflies tickling her belly when his face split into a wide grin, making him handsomer than ever. "I will be your girlfriend."

"Brilliant," was his suave reply, and they smiled at each other for a long moment until an echoing BANG rang through the corridor, with several yells and screams following.

They sighed, and said at the same time, in the same defeated tone, "James," before moving in tandem to see what damage the Marauder had done this time.

The lamps were lit by the time the train pulled into Platform 9 ¾, with twilight settling over London beyond. The platform was less crowded than usual as Cassie disembarked with her trunk and rucksack (having left Osbourne at Hogwarts over the break, where he was content to stay in the Owlery upon her return), the Marauders and the girls close behind. Most students preferred to stay at the castle over the Easter holiday to prepare for exams, which seemed like overkill to Cassie, but at least the platform wasn't so clogged, as she spotted her mother immediately in the crowd.

"Cassie!" Eleanor called, swooping upon her daughter in a flurry of fuchsia robes, her signature peacock-feathered quill keeping her elaborately styled hair in place. Cassie thought her ribs were going to crush under the pressure of her mother's hug, but luckily Eleanor released her before that could happen, instead pouncing on her friends.

"Marlene, dear," she said, kissing Marlene's cheeks lightly. "Each time I see you you're lovelier than the last."

Marlene seemed star-struck by Eleanor's comment, and Cassie rolled her eyes playfully at the blonde girl.

"Lily, Alice," Eleanor continued, clearly enjoying herself at her daughter's expense. "Wonderful to see you both again."

They greeted Eleanor politely before practically being shoved away by James, who strode importantly to the front of the throng.

"Madam Alderfair," he said, using the deeper, more mature voice he reserved only to charm people with. He stooped and kissed her hand, and Eleanor watched him amusedly. "I think I was a child the last time I saw you, but you seem more beautiful than I remember."

"Euphemia's boy, yes?" she asked, and he nodded importantly. "I'll have to remember to drop her a line about your excellent manners."

James puffed out his chest slightly, though he stuck his tongue out at Cassie once Eleanor had turned away. Cassie only put up her middle finger in reply.

"Ah, dear Sirius!" she exclaimed, rounding on the dark-haired boy and beaming. "How are you, darling?"

"Well, thank you, Mrs. Alderfair," he said politely. Cassie didn't know whether to laugh at his manners or flee before her mother could embarrass her further. It was agonizing to see her speaking with Sirius, especially now that he had the label of being her boyfriend.

"I don't see Walburga here," Eleanor said curiously, and Sirius struggled to hold back his grimace.

"You probably just missed her; she was only taking Regulus home. I'm staying with the Potters."

"Wonderful family," she said, smiling fondly at James. "And who are these two young gentlemen, Cassie? I don't think I've had the pleasure yet."

"Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew," Cassie said, pointing individually to the boys, and they smiled respectfully to her and shook her hand.

"Lupin?" Eleanor said in surprise. "You wouldn't happen to be the son of Lyall Lupin by chance?"

"Yes, ma'am," Remus said, his eyes flicking to Cassie warily. She nodded back reassuringly; Eleanor had no idea that Remus had been bitten, as far as her knowledge went.

It seemed she was right, for her mother only said, "A good man. I met him once when I was visiting Cassie's father at the Ministry, but only briefly; he had been working on the case of Fenrir Greyback, if I recall. Nasty business—but of course, you're too young to remember any of it."

Remus had gone pale at the mention of Fenrir Greyback, but Eleanor didn't seem to notice, instead moving on and addressing Peter, who hadn't been able to stop staring at the beautiful woman since her arrival. Leaving Peter to fend for himself, however, Cassie sidled closer to Remus, touching his elbow gently.

"I'm sorry about her," she whispered. "She doesn't know, otherwise she wouldn't have said anything."

"It's fine, Cass," he said, giving her a reassuring smile and squeezing her hand. "Seriously, don't worry about it."

"Well, Cassie, we should be on our way," Eleanor said, interrupting the two. "Liddy has dinner ready, and you know she doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Cassie nodded, giving Remus a swift hug and saying, "See you soon." She hugged the girls goodbye and "pounded fists" with Peter at the boy's insistence, whatever that was supposed to mean. James half-tackled, half-embraced her, and somehow managed to ruffle her hair at the same time, which led her to punch his arm and for her mother to scold her. Finally, she turned to Sirius, hesitating on what she should do with so many eyes watching, especially Eleanor's hawk-like ones.

"Bye," she said stupidly, holding out her arms, and he stepped into them easily. She relaxed immediately into him, and his chest heaved in a tight breath.

"Be careful, Cassie," he said softly, and she drew back slightly, winking.

"Always am."

He smirked at her before ducking in and kissing her forehead, so quickly she barely caught it. She made her way back to Eleanor, grimacing at her mother's wide eyes and knowing she would be bombarded with questions as soon as they got home.

Eleanor Apparated them outside the manor's gates, miraculously managing not to splinch either of them; Eleanor had only just passed her test when she had been a student at Hogwarts, which Cassie had learned the hard way when she was nine and she had splinched her pinky finger during Eleanor's Side-Along Apparition.

The gates swung open with a flick of Eleanor's wand, and they passed through, the words of their house bearing down on them: Fortes fortuna iuvat. Eleanor had Charmed Cassie's luggage to float along beside them as they made their way up the drive toward the foreboding house at the top of the hill, and she wasted no time in wringing the information she wanted out of her daughter.

"So," she said primly, "Sirius Black?"

"Mum," Cassie whined. "You're so embarrassing, stop."

"How am I being embarrassing?" she said. "I'm simply curious as to what sort of relationships might be developing between my daughter and a certain boy."

Cassie sighed, knowing that arguing was futile; Eleanor was a journalist and a Ravenclaw through and through, and she would find a way to get the answers she sought come Hell or high water.

"Sirius and I may or may not be dating," she mumbled, and Eleanor clapped her hands excitedly.

"Oh, Cassie, darling, that's marvelous!" she said, and Cassie was sure that if her mother hadn't been trained so well to keep her composure, she would've been jumping up and down and squealing like a schoolgirl again. "Your first boyfriend! And such a handsome one at that."

"Too far, Mum," Cassie said, making a face. "But, yeah, I guess he is. Officially, anyway." She suddenly looked to her mother warningly. "And don't start planning a wedding or something, either. We weren't even official until today."

Eleanor covered her smile with her hand, her eyes still twinkling in a mischievous way Cassie did not like at all, but she had hope that her mother wouldn't overreact—much.

They approached the front doors of the manor just as their house-elf, Liddy, swung one of them open, bowing low upon seeing the two women.

"Mistresses Alderfair," she squeaked. "Welcome home. Liddy has a lovely meal waiting in the dining room."

"Thank you, Liddy," Cassie said kindly, her mouth beginning to water as the house-elf took her coat and her mother's cloak. Liddy led the way into the dining room, and Cassie noticed how only two places had been set at the absurdly long table. Her heart sank a little as the small hope that Will would be there died, and she took her customary seat with a frown.

"Where's Father?" she asked when Eleanor had sat across from her.

"The Ministry," she said, her mouth puckering a bit. "The Minister has drafted a new legislation that the Wizengamot have to read and approve by the end of next week. It's kept him dreadfully busy."

"Something about the war?" Cassie asked, regarding the urgency of the legislation, but Eleanor looked to her strangely.

"War?" she repeated. "What war?"

"Well, it's not an open one, not yet," Cassie said, slicing some of the roasted chicken breast onto her porcelain dinner plate. "But it's only a matter of time."

"There's not going to be a war, Cassie," Eleanor said, looking quite bemused. "This…outburst of blood purity and anti-Muggle sentiment is nothing but a minor blight. These sorts of movements crop up all the time—have for centuries. It will pass in time, trust me."

Cassie was frowning. "But what if it doesn't? You've heard about what's going on out there, Mum. You know what sorts of things he's made Will do."

Eleanor's mouth thinned at the mention of her son, and she took a gulp of the wine that Liddy had set out for her, choosing not to answer.

Cassie stabbed at her potatoes with some aggression; after everything that had been going on in the last several months, after everything that Will and Voldemort had done, how could her mother still believe that there was nothing to worry about? She applauded Eleanor for not following her father's example when it came to blood supremacy, but sometimes she wondered if her mother's ignorance and denial were worse.

Dinner was a quiet affair after that, and Cassie retreated to her room shortly after, kicking off her shoes and flopping on her bed, staring up at the high ceilings and gossamer canopy above her.

Merlin, give me the strength to get through these next two weeks.

The holiday passed slowly for Cassie. Besides the occasional letter from her friends, she did not speak much to anyone, even her own mother. Eleanor was busier than ever preparing for the summer catalogue, and often left before dawn and returned well after sundown, retiring almost immediately after a short dinner with Cassie. She had yet to see her father; she had never once heard him come in at any time, and she wondered if he had taken to staying at the Ministry again. He had done it before in times of urgency, but this time felt different, and she wondered if some strain between her parents was cause for his absence. She never got the opportunity to ask, however, so she kept her speculations to herself.

She had taken to wandering in the gardens during her first week back home for lack of anything better to do. She enjoyed it for a time, as the weather was warmer than usual, and the gardens had always been so beautiful, but the novelty of it began to wear off with each passing day, until she was sure she would be tempted to burn the whole thing down were she to be stuck wandering aimlessly for another week.

The day was warmer for the time of year, but Cassie rather liked it. The sun felt good on her face and bare arms, and the breeze blowing gently through the hedges, bringing the scents of honeysuckle and roses, seemed to breathe fresh life into her, melting away her worries and doubts.

Of course, a moment of peace could never last long for her.

She rounded one of the taller hedges and came to a halt when she saw her father standing with his back to her, his hands clasped behind him and his gaze fixed on the water fountain in the center of the hedges, which depicted a stone alder tree with water streaming from its boughs and leaves, making the tree look as if it were weeping.

Cassie stood, frozen, wondering if she could sneak off back the way she had come. Before she could even take a step, her father said, "I know you are there, Cassiopeia." He beckoned her forward without even turning to look at her. "Come. Talk with me."

Swallowing down her apprehension, Cassie composed herself and went to stand beside her father, trying to appear as indifferent as she could. Lukas watched the water splash and trickle into the fountain's basin, the breeze barely stirring his brown-and-grey hair.

"Father," Cassie said respectfully, when he did not speak first. "To what do I owe this pleasure? I thought the Ministry has been keeping you busy?"

"Indeed," he said, his voice as flat and emotionless as ever, betraying nothing. "The Minister's new legislation was a piece of work, but the Wizengamot pushed it through and we took a vote on it early this morning. It will go into effect immediately, so I would keep an eye on the Prophet if I were you."

She nodded, and he finally turned to her, his dark eyes sweeping over her critically. She couldn't help grimacing when he took in her bare, dirty feet, or the short, sleeveless dress she had chosen to wear that morning, but he said nothing of it, only gazing intently at her face.

"You look like your mother," he said, almost as if he were displeased by it. He studied her imperiously before letting out a humph. "Tell me, Cassiopeia, what do you plan on doing after Hogwarts?"

Cassie blinked, thrown by the sudden change in topic.

"Er, I don't know yet," she said. "I haven't given much thought about it, honestly."

His face folded into the familiar look of disapproval she was used to seeing from him, but it still felt like a slap to the face when she met his cold eyes.

"Even as a child William showed more ambition than you," he said disdainfully. Her face flushed out of shame and mortification. "And now he has taken the bold leap that many witches and wizards should have done long ago. He is leading the world as we know it into a glorious future."

"One where Muggles are slaves and anyone who is not a pure-blood is eradicated?" she demanded, her anger flaring.

"Wizards have been rulers of Muggles before," he said, unfazed by her hostility. "The world would be a better place because of it—just look at what the Muggles have done to each other! Thirty years ago, they killed off millions of their own kind. Their wars have ravaged countries, people, nature. I have never seen more hatred in a species. Would it not be better for them to have those more powerful keep them in check?"

"It's wrong," Cassie said, shaking her head. "Just because someone doesn't have magic doesn't mean they're inferior."

"Magic is might," Lukas said, "and you would do well to remember that, Cassiopeia."

"Then you are much eviler than I thought," she said quietly. The gardens seemed to hush. His cold eyes bored into her with such intensity that she wondered if he was trying to freeze her, but she met his gaze steadily. Too long had she been cowed by her father's disapproval; too long had she bent and bowed for him—but no longer.

"I tried for years to love you in a way that you could never love me," she continued. "But you are heartless, and cruel, and I will no longer fear you. You have lost me, Father—and you have lost yourself."

"You dare condescend to me?" he hissed. "You? The worthless excuse for a witch that I was burdened for having as a daughter?"

"Hatred will not save you in the end, Father." Her voice was now as cold as his. "And when your darkest moment comes—and it will come—then think on that and wonder how you came to be such a loathsome bastard."

She turned on her heel and disappeared into the gardens, not even bothering to look back at the man she had once called her father.

Cassie woke suddenly during the night, her eyes snapping open to be greeted by pitch darkness. She thought it was the thunder that had awoken her, for a storm was raging outside her bedroom windows, but a creeping sense that she was not alone overtook her. She reached for the wand on her bedside table.

She had just grasped the smooth wood in her palm before a hand shot out of the darkness and latched onto her wrist, another hand coming up to smother her mouth as she tried to scream.

"Cassie, it's me!" a familiar voice whispered, and her heart dropped when a flicker of lightning cut through the shadows around her, revealing Will's pale face above her.

"Will," she breathed when he removed his hand from her mouth. "What are you doing here?"

"I had to see you," he said, groping his way to sit beside her on the bed. She drew her knees in so he would have room and sat up against her headboard. He flicked his wand, and immediately the fireplace against the far wall sprang to life with lapping flames of gold, bathing the large room in a sunny glow.

"How did you get away?" she demanded.

"Used my old broom," he said. There was a trace of his usual self-confidence on his haggard face when he grinned. "He has spies infiltrating the Ministry now; all forms of magical transportation are being watched, but they haven't given a thought to broomsticks yet."

"But why come here?" she asked. "Will, you should be on another continent by now! Somewhere they'll never find you!"

"I'm not running away, Cassie," he said. His eyes looked hollow in the soft light, the space beneath them bruised from exhaustion. His once immaculate hair was now disheveled and wet from the storm, his clothes sopping, and his normally clean face was dirty and shadowed with stubble. "I'm in too deep now. I have to stay."

"He's torturing you, Will," she said, tears threatening to overtake her. "Please, you have to get out before—"

"Before he kills me?" Her brother chuckled darkly. "He won't kill me. Not until he finds what he's looking for. And in order to do that, he needs me to find it for him."

"What about Carlisle?" she said, her mouth twisting at the mention of the foul witch. "She's looking for it, too."

"She won't find it." He shook his head. "She doesn't have the means to. But I can."

"How?"

"With the locket," he said. Her stomach plummeted. "I enchanted it with the message, Cassie—not for you, but for me to remember the clues I had so far. I only gave it to you for safekeeping."

Cassie's jaw dropped open. "What about all the clues you gave me? The book about Miranda?"

He only shook his head. "You were the only person I could trust. I knew you would keep the locket and the book secret until I found a way to come back and use them. I just needed to bide my time until I gained enough of his trust so he would let me do as I please, but that obviously didn't work." His face darkened. "But now's my only chance, Cassie. I can slip away with the locket and the book, find out what the object is and where to find it, and then destroy it before he can get his hands on it."

"What does he want with it?"

"I don't know." He scowled in frustration. "He's obsessed with the Founders—he told me one night, when he still trusted me. He said he liked to find artifacts that had once belonged to them, but he only needed one more Founder to add to his collection."

"Godric Gryffindor," she said, and he nodded. "But why? Is he really going through all this trouble just for the sake of some treasure hunt?"

"No," he said. "Everything the Dark Lord does is carefully calculated and executed. He's not finding heirlooms and baubles because it's a hobby of his. He wants them because they have magic—very strong magic. For what, I don't know, but I intend to find out."

"Well, you can't very well do that if you're dead," she hissed. "Stop worrying about what he wants, Will. You need to protect yourself from him."

"I don't care if he kills me," he said. "I've seen what he does—who he is. He's a monster, and he needs to be stopped."

He lurched to his feet, holding out his hand expectantly. "I need the locket, Cassie. Let me end this."

She shrank back, clutching the locket in her hand so hard she could feel the gears on the inside whirring at a rapid pace, matching the anxious acceleration of her heart.

"I can't do that, Will," she said. "I won't. He'll kill you if he finds out."

He smiled humorlessly at her, his eyes dark. "I'm already dead, Sister."

The two siblings stared at each other, each unwilling to back down from their claim. Though Will didn't know it, Cassie already had her answers, and the treasure map was practically drawn out for her. She was so close to getting the gauntlet, to ending everything, to saving Will. She couldn't let him have the locket. She couldn't let him die trying to find what she had already found.

"Don't make this difficult, Cassie," he said, a touch of his old exasperation tainting his features at her stubbornness. "Give me the locket."

"No," she said, her mind beginning to whirl with the possibilities of what she would do if he tried to take it from her forcefully. "I'm sorry, Will, but I can't let you do this."

"I will rip it from your neck if I have to," he said. His voice had gone eerily calm—deadly. A shadow of the new Will passed over him—the cold, unforgiving shadow she had seen in him before, when he was still Voldemort's loyal servant.

A horrible thought struck her—this was not her brother anymore. This was the shell of a man who imagined himself with nothing left to lose, who was willing to walk into Death's open arms, and she was not going to let that happen. Losing him once was unbearable—but losing him twice would destroy her.

When he saw that she was still unwilling to comply with his demands, he growled in frustration and raised his wand.

She threw herself forward, her fingers scrabbling for her wand, the locket burning red-hot against her skin, and she had barely clutched her wand before the spell was cast:

"Obliviate."

Next Chapter: The Forbidden Forest