Arc III part X

June 9th, 1985.

10 am:

"STOP YELLING!" Sirius exclaimed from within the telephone booth.

"I'M NOT YELLING! YOU'RE YELLING! I'M JUST EXCITED!" Alexa shouted in response, her voice carrying through the line.

"Alright... Let's calm down. Is that okay with you?" Sirius asked, lowering his voice and offering a smile to the two elderly women who passed by the booth, casting suspicious glances at him. "Alexa, can you hear me?"

"Oh! Am I allowed to speak now?" Alexa inquired.

"Alexa, please! Remus' portkey is departing very soon, and he mentioned that you have something important to tell me," Sirius explained.

"My being grounded and not being allowed near the phone is also important... So, I apologize for raising my voice before we could proceed," Alexa acknowledged.

Sirius tightened his grip on the phone, biting his fist in frustration before letting out a sigh and responding calmly, "Alexa, I apologize for shouting at you."

"Alright... I accept your apologies, even though I know you don't mean it," Alexa replied.

"Alexa..." Sirius warned her.

"Okay! Listen, I saw Harry!" Alexa exclaimed.

"What?! When?" Sirius inquired.

"When I went to London for your trial and saved you... I ditched mom and the girls, took a bus to Little Whinging, and went to the address you provided. I found number four, and Harry answered the door," Alexa recounted.

"Harry answered the door?" Sirius raised an eyebrow. "He's turning five in two months!"

"Well, he did! However, his uncle and aunt came rushing over. I told them we're friends and that you sent me," Alexa explained.

"Then what happened? What did they say?" Sirius pressed for more information.

"They were taken aback and looked dumbfounded... So, I explained that I'm a witch, showed them my wand, and handed it to Harry," Alexa paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "I wish I hadn't done that... His aunt snatched Harry away so quickly, and they vanished behind his uncle. The man was furious with me! He started yelling and even shoved me! I stumbled back and ran away, with him chasing after me!"

"What?! Did he hurt you?" Sirius exclaimed, concern evident in his voice.

"No! That jerk is too fat to run... But it didn't go too far! An elderly lady appeared out of nowhere and sort of rescued me," Alexa explained.

"Who was she?" Sirius inquired.

"Sirius! I'm not the damn mayor of the town! How would I know?" Alexa retorted.

"How did she look? Did she mention her name?" Sirius probed further.

"No... Um, she was old, short, with gray hair. Just your typical old lady! Oh, and she had like five cats trailing behind her," Alexa described.

"Arabella... She was a member of the Order. Dumbledore probably asked her to keep an eye on the Dursleys and Harry," Sirius concluded.

"Oh... The man seemed embarrassed when he saw her, and he instantly calmed down. He started talking to her as if nothing had happened, then went back inside. She walked me back to the bus station, and I returned to London... Did I cause trouble for Harry?" Alexa expressed her concern.

"No! You didn't do anything wrong... It was just a misunderstanding. I'm sure Dumbledore cleared it up later. Thank you, Alexa, and I apologize for the trouble," Sirius reassured her.

"Of course..." Alexa replied.

"I can imagine your mother wasn't too pleased when you returned," Sirius said.

"She definitely wasn't... That's why I'm grounded. Two months, all because of you!" Alexa said, blaming him.

"I'm truly sorry! I promise I'll make it up to you the next time we see each other. Now, tell me more about Harry! What does he look like?" Sirius eagerly inquired.

"He's an adorable kid! Bright green eyes, black hair... Although, he is a bit on the shorter and skinnier side for his age, to be honest. Oh! And I saw his scar! It's not just a legend, it's real!" Alexa shared.

"Alright! I have to go now! Let's talk again soon! Until then, try to stay out of trouble!" Sirius said.

"WAIT!" Alexa shouted.

"What is it?" Sirius asked.

"Are you heading back to England soon or off to see your giiiiiiirrrrrllfriend?" Alexa teased.

"I'll go to first, of course! Maybe I'll take her to Spain, a Greek island, for the summer, or go see some dragons!" Sirius revealed with excitement.

"WHAT?! So, you get to live 'la Vida local' while I'm stuck here because of you?" Alexa exclaimed.

"Alexa, sweetheart... I never told you to visit Privet Drive, only to write him letters! I really have to go now!" Sirius explained.

"Fuck you!... And call me soon!" Alexa said, before hanging up.


Sirius stepped out of the telephone booth and, a few seconds later, apparated in front of the Balasko residence, where he spotted Remus sitting alone on the stairs. Remus greeted him with a smile and walked over to meet him, and they settled on the short wall bordering the house.

"So, you're already leaving?" Sirius inquired.

"Now that I've made sure you're alright and well-informed, it's time for me to head back to Scotland and report to Dumbledore. Are you sure you don't want to come with me? I thought we could swing by your friend's house in Germany and visit that village in Normandy before crossing the sea," Remus suggested.

"I'd love to, Remus! But unfortunately, there's a lot I need to take care of around here before I make my way back," Sirius replied.

"What's keeping you here?" Remus asked, curiosity evident in his eyes.

"Don't worry about it... I just don't want to rush my return," Sirius evaded the question.

Remus nodded in understanding and expressed, "A lot has happened to you since your escape... I wish I could have done more to help you. Sirius, I'm sorry for believing Peter... I feel like our friendship has been shattered."

Sirius let out a sigh and responded, "I didn't trust you either, Remus... We both let each other down. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I forgive you too. However, I do think it's time we put an end to the Marauder's Map before our next round of mischief causes even more trouble."

"I agree with you... So, Mischief managed?" Remus asked.

"Mischief managed," Sirius confirmed.

"So, what will you do now?" Remus inquired.

"You can't let it go, can you?" Sirius chuckled. Then he continued, "Maybe I'm mistaken, but I'm starting to believe that I'm where I should be at the moment, and everything that has happened since my escape was meant to be," Sirius explained.

"What do you mean?" Remus questioned, curious to understand his friend's perspective.

"I think I'm on a path where I'll learn a great deal about myself and see the world in a new light. I want to keep moving forward until the journey reaches its conclusion... So, England can wait," Sirius declared.

"It's strange to see you so serious," Remus remarked.

"Even I couldn't escape adulthood forever, right?" Sirius replied, smiling. He hopped off the short wall and opened his arms wide.

"What are you up to?" Remus frowned.

"Padfoot wants a hug!" Sirius exclaimed, advancing towards Remus.

"No," Remus protested.

"Too late!" Sirius exclaimed, as he enveloped Remus in a tight embrace, despite his friend's warning.

Ludvik, Worple, Belby, Red, and Joan emerged from the house and walked toward Sirius and Remus. Florin, wearing gloves and one of Red's hoodies, followed them, his head concealed from the sun by oversized sunglasses. Worple and Belby carried their suitcases, ready for the journey back to England with Remus, using the portkey provided by Dumbledore.

"Sirius!" Belby exclaimed, removing his hat and extending his hand to Sirius.

"It's Lord Black for you," Sirius responded sharply before shaking his hand.

"I've been absolutely thrilled to meet you! I hope you'll pay a visit to my laboratory once you're back!" Belby exclaimed.

"To fund his research," Worple added, shaking Sirius' hand and earning a disapproving glance from Belby. "Lord Black! It would be an honor to have you at my home! We could reminisce about the good old days and discuss your accomplishments! Perhaps I could write your biography?"

"No," Sirius curtly replied.

"Take your time to consider!" Worple replied with a smile.

"Sirius, thank you so much for your assistance! I don't know if I'll ever be able to repay you," Florin expressed.

"I'll be satisfied if you take care of yourself, Florin. Has your complexion returned to normal?" Sirius inquired.

"Thanks to Denise's care and Damocles potions. I feel almost back to normal, though the sun still burns me, and I can jump as high as a building... By the way, I'm no longer Florin, but Sanguini," Florin revealed.

"Why did you change your name?" Sirius questioned.

"A new life, a new name to blend into the world I now belong to. We'll make one final visit to Cluj to see my family before I leave for England for good," Florin explained.

"Florin... there's no need to start a whole new life. You're not dead! Time will pass, and you'll learn to accept yourself for who you are. Don't shut yourself off from your family and friends!" Remus advised.

Florin smiled and nodded, saying, "Thank you both!"

"It's incredible how moving you can be, Remus! It's as if you know what you're talking about," Sirius remarked, resting his head on Remus's shoulder.

"Shut up! Go away!" Remus scolded him, then turned to Denise and Ludvik. "Denise, Ludvik, thank you for your hospitality. Is there any message you'd like me to convey to Dumbledore?"

"Tell him he can go fuck himself," Ludvik bluntly stated, prompting Denise to give him a punch in the stomach.

"We've been glad to have you here, Remus. Take care of yourself and please extend our regards to Professor Dumbledore," Denise said, and Remus bowed his head in respect.

"Look at how polite he is... Take care of yourself, Remus. It was wonderful to see you again," Sirius added.

"Likewise, Sirius. And what about you? Any message for Dumbledore?" Remus inquired.

"Tell him to mail me my wand; I miss it," Sirius replied.

"It's possible that your wand is still at Azkaban, or maybe they've sent it to your vault. I'll look into it... In the meantime, do what you need to do and come back home. Perhaps by then, Dumbledore will have reconsidered his stance on Harry," Remus suggested.

"Don't worry, his happiness and safety are all that matters. Sooner or later, he'll attend Hogwarts, and we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other," Sirius replied.

"Thank you for not making it any more difficult than it already is, Sirius. It's as if you've truly grown up," Remus commented.

"Fuck you," Sirius replied with a smile.

Belby offered Denise some rare seeds for her garden, and Denise embraced Florin while Worple entertained Ludvik, Red, and Joan with a final joke before they touched the portkey and vanished.

"I already miss them," Red sighed.

"We'll see them again at some point," Joan reassured.

"When will the two of you be leaving?" Sirius inquired.

"Soon... As promised, Ludvik wrote to Gregorovitch, who agreed to take me on as his apprentice. However, I'll have to wait until September to begin," Red explained.

"Why is that?" Sirius asked.

"Until then, he'll be swamped with teaching me anything... July and August are busy with Durmstrang and other Eastern European students who come for school supplies and other orders. But he did send me some gold and a list of items he wants me to procure for him, to keep me occupied, I suppose," Red shared.

"It's his way of introducing you to his suppliers and allowing you to take your first steps in the field," Ludvik added, silently reading the list.

"So, consider your training already underway," Denise chimed in.

"Seriously?" Red asked, surprised.

"Yes... Follow me inside; I believe I have an address book somewhere," Ludvik said, leading the way back to the house, with Red and Denise following closely behind.


In the early hours past midnight, Sirius lay on his back, gazing at the ceiling. The stifling heatwave made sleep impossible, but it wasn't the sole reason for his restless state. Throughout the day, he had futilely tried to guard his thoughts against Ludvik's invasive probing, and the old man hadn't shown him any mercy. Thus, he found solace when departing Bran for Graz to spend the night in his own bed, only to face a similar struggle the next day.

Emma's gentle breath brushed against his shoulder, and Sirius turned his head to the left, where he saw her curled up, her weary eyes fixed upon him, her face glistening with sweat. Shifting onto his side, he directed his gaze towards her, his fingers delicately running through her strands of blonde hair.

"Can't sleep?" Sirius inquired.

Emma shook her head slowly. "How could I... The room is like an oven."

"Me neither," Sirius responded.

"What's on your mind? You barely talked during dinner and went straight to bed afterwards," Emma said.

Sirius nodded and replied, "I was exhausted and had a headache."

Emma caressed his cheek and asked, "Is it because of the mind magic training?"

"I didn't expect it to be so tedious," Sirius admitted.

"Why don't you stop? Is it necessary?" Emma asked.

"Yes... Occlumency and Legilimency are like a ladder to becoming a much higher-level wizard. It's a kind of magic that allows you to optimize the use of your powers, accomplish a lot with relatively little effort, and even potentially reach a point where you don't need a wand anymore," Sirius explained.

"I see... The other day, when you explained to Walter how you became a dog, it sounded very complicated. You must be extraordinarily skilled and ingenious to have achieved it at such a young age... So, what's holding you back?" Emma asked.

"My emotions! No matter how hard I try to control them, whether I'm happy or angry, Ludvik always uses them as a bridge..." Sirius confided.

"Aren't your feelings what have carried you so far?" Emma asked.

"True... But it seems to cut both ways! Ludvik is a friend, but an enemy could exploit my emotions to intercept my thoughts and possess my mind. That's why I must tell you something, Emma," Sirius said.

"Tell me," Emma requested.

"I have to leave for some time. I love being here so much, but it's... affecting me," Sirius explained.

Emma winced and closed her eyes, remarking, "Ouch! That's the worst breakup line ever."

"I'm not breaking up with you! Quite the opposite!" Sirius insisted, poking her shoulder.

Emma chuckled and asked, "So, in order for us to be together, you have to be away?"

"It's temporary... Ever since I started this training, I've been forced to delve into myself, digging deeper each time, until I uncovered a conflict that's weakening my mind and magic. It's growing and unless I regain control, it will expand, potentially harming you," Sirius revealed.

"I've told you before, and I'll say it again. There's nothing you could tell me that would scare me or change my mind about you," Emma assured him.

"You don't need to tell me! But it's not about talking; I don't understand it fully, but I have to face it! It's a wall I have to break down on my own," Sirius expressed.

Emma nodded and said, "Alright, Rambo... Do you at least have an idea of how long you'll be away?"

"Maybe the entire summer," Sirius replied.

"The entire summer?!" Emma exclaimed, her eyes widening.

"Not necessarily! But it might take some time," Sirius clarified.

"But... Áurea's summer dresses!" Emma mentioned, poking his sides with her fingers, making him laugh.

"Hans! Leave that body!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Shut up!" Emma responded, wrapping her arms around his neck and saying, "Do whatever you need to do, but come back, Sirius. And please... stay away from dark wizards, Darth Vader, vampires, and werewolves!"

"What if they come looking for me?" Sirius asked.

"Win!" Emma said before kissing him. Then she let out a sigh and complained, "I swear, this weather is making me long for winter... We're all sweaty and sticky!"

"Wait a moment," Sirius said, reaching for Denise's wand on his bedside table and gracefully brandishing it above them. A white cloud materialized on the ceiling, gradually growing darker and bringing down the temperature in the bedroom.

"I love you" Emma whispered with a smile, nestling comfortably under his arm. "And you better not even think about leaving before I wake up."

"I promise," Sirius reassured her.


June 25th, 1985:

Since Remus's departure, Sirius had chosen to stay in Bran, dedicating himself to his Occlumency lessons with Ludvik. After spending an entire morning in the living room with Ludvik, he finally took a break when Red sought Ludvik's assistance with his own occupation. Sirius stretched and headed out of the house, intending to take a walk in the nearby town, until Joan grabbed his arm.

"Where do you go when you're not here?" Joan abruptly asked.

"Not where you imagine," Sirius replied.

"Then, where?" Joan pressed.

"Mind your own business, or you'll regret it," Sirius responded sharply, freeing his arm from Joan's grasp.

"Fine... We haven't spoken since that night beneath the castle," Joan remarked.

"When you lost control and nearly got us killed? It's best if we don't," Sirius declared.

"I know... Sirius, forgive me, but I haven't been completely honest with you," Joan confessed.

"I hate it when a conversation starts with that particular phrase... I fucking hate it," Sirius sighed.

"I understand, but please listen to what I have to say," Joan pleaded.

"Alright, I'm listening," Sirius acquiesced.

"I had prior knowledge that something significant was hidden beneath the castle... Not a stupid treasure, but something akin to what we discovered," Joan revealed.

"You knew about the tomb?" Sirius questioned, his brow furrowing.

"No... I was just as surprised as you! Listen... When I was a child, I overheard a conversation between my two grandfathers. Both held high positions in the Russian Ministry of Magic... From what I gathered, they had dedicated years to a project that the Ministry abruptly shut down without explanation, seizing all their work to be destroyed later. The next day, they publicly confessed to conspiring against the Ministry of Magic and were placed under house arrest, forbidden from receiving any visitors," Joan explained.

"I'm sorry to hear that, but isn't conspiracy a crime punishable by death?" Sirius inquired.

"Yes... However, by keeping them alive, every time someone gets too curious, they parade them out to vehemently deny it all as 'shameful fabricated lies.' Killing them would suggest that the authorities are concealing something," Joan elaborated.

"What do you know about their research?" Sirius asked.

"Do you remember that Archway in Dracul's private quarters?" Joan queried.

"How could I possibly forget?" Sirius responded.

"Well, it's not merely a myth or mere sketches in old books... Those Archways actually exist, and they can be found all over the world. According to what I heard from my grandfather, they are always located near steel and inscribed with an unreadable language to him. I was a curious child, so one night when everyone was asleep, I snuck into their office and borrowed these..." Joan explained, handing Sirius a scroll. "This is all that survived the Aurors' raid a few hours later."

Sirius gazed at the drawing of an Archway resembling the one he had encountered at Dracul's castle in Germany the previous year. Unfortunately, the text on the scroll was illegible, and he couldn't recognize any of the symbols. However, his attention was drawn to two words that were underlined, leading to handwritten notes in Russian at the margin of the page.

"What does it say?" Sirius inquired.

Joan pointed to one word and said, "This means 'princes of Wallachia,' and the other one means 'Black clan.'"

"Like me?" Sirius frowned at him.

"I responded to Ludvik's call in the newspaper to provide an excuse for my trip here, and the Ministry bought it... Then you appeared out of nowhere, the last surviving member of your family... I had no knowledge of Ludvik's plan before I arrived here! It couldn't be a mere coincidence! That's why I insisted on patrolling with you and keeping an eye on you, convinced that you were the one using Ludvik rather than the other way around. So, you must know something!" Joan exclaimed.

Sirius shook his head slowly and replied, "No... I didn't know anything about this."

"That's impossible! That wall responded to your blood. You may be mistaken when you said that Dracul wanted his treasure to be discovered by wizards. In the end, there was no treasure, and we didn't even try it with my blood! What are the chances that it only reacts to yours?" Joan insisted.

"I had no idea it would work... I didn't even care about what lay beneath as long as it wasn't dangerous," Sirius admitted.

"Are you certain you've never seen anything like that text or Archway in your family home? Have your parents or relatives ever mentioned anything about Dracul, Vampires, or Ravenclaw?" Joan inquired.

"I've never heard anything about it... My parents were pure-blood supremacists, which means they despised vampires and anything that wasn't pure-blooded. As for Ravenclaw, except for me, I'm certain everyone in my family was sorted into Slytherin. However, it's not the first time I've encountered an Archway like that," Sirius disclosed.

"Where?" Joan asked.

"Last year in Germany. I believe the gorgon I killed was guarding it... But I must warn you never to approach it! They possess an enchanting power... They are dangerous," Sirius cautioned.

"You... You saw a real one?!" Joan exclaimed.

"I did, and it tempted me to cross it... I was close to doing so before the gorgon attacked, and I had to flee," Sirius recounted.

"I see... Was there any steel nearby?" Joan inquired.

"I can't say for sure... There may have been steel nearby, but I wasn't actively searching for it. The clearing was filled with the victims of the gorgon, all transformed into stone. Anyway, I can take you there to see for yourself while I visit my friend," Sirius offered.

"No, we can't... The German Ministry has established an office there, officially claiming to 'strengthen ties with the magical community of that village'... At least, now I know the real reason," Joan replied.

"I'm sorry I can't help you more... However, when I return to London, I'll have to make a stop at my parents' house. If my father knew anything, it would likely be in his office," Sirius mentioned, handing the scroll back to Joan.

"I'm disappointed... But thank you anyway," Joan responded.

"So, do you plan on returning to Russia soon?" Sirius inquired.

"I'm not sure... I miss my family and my country, but I have to continue my search. And once I'm back there, any single move could put me on the Ministry's radar... If I'm not already," Joan admitted.

"I understand... Would you like to hear my thoughts on all of this?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah, sure!" Joan replied.

"You came here because the note mentioned 'the princes of Wallachia' and my family. Then, once you were here, you also found me, and we discovered Ravenclaw's Tomb together. Is that right?" Sirius confirmed.

"That's correct," Joan nodded.

"Isn't there a point where you consider delving deeper into Hogwarts' history and its founders?" Sirius suggested.


June 30th, 1985:

"Clear your mind, Sirius," Ludvik whispered to Sirius, seated in front of him.

"My mind is closed," Sirius responded, feeling irritated.

"You're thinking about a sheep riding a broom," Ludvik stated.

"It's because of that silly story Red told me at lunch. I can't seem to get the image out of my head!" Sirius complained, running his hand through his hair.

Ludvik let out a sigh and reclined in his armchair. "Sirius, I don't think you fully grasp the significance of what we're attempting to achieve. Denise and the others have agreed to let us use the house for a few hours. Therefore, I suggest you make the most of every second."

"I'm more than willing to do so, but you haven't provided me with much guidance apart from asking me to clear my mind!" Sirius exclaimed.

"I had assumed that with your family background, you would have acquired some knowledge," Ludvik remarked.

"Not at all," Sirius replied.

"Very well... In that case, let's go over the basics once again, shall we? Can you explain to me your understanding of legilimency and occlumency?" Ludvik inquired.

"One involves reading people's thoughts, while the other is a defense against the former," Sirius stated.

"That's more or less correct, though not entirely accurate. Occlumency entails the control of both your conscious and subconscious mind. Do you comprehend what I'm trying to convey?" Ludvik asked.

"Not really..." Sirius admitted.

"Perhaps this approach will make it clearer to you..." Ludvik suggested before locking eyes with Sirius. Suddenly, a cold chill ran through Sirius as he found himself no longer in the Balaskos' cozy living room but in a hospital room standing behind himself and James.

Lily lay on the bed, her face flushed and perspiring, while a healer provided instructions. "Keep pushing, Lily! I can feel the head!... Well, I hope it's the head; otherwise, this baby will have some rather large toes! Keep pushing! Breathe!" the healer urged.

"JAAAAAMESSSS!" Lily screamed.

"NO! I'm Healer Nevi, remember? Nurse! I believe we're losing her!" Healer Nevi said to the woman assisting him, wiping Lily's forehead.

"I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU, YOU MORON! MY HUSBAND, JAMES!" Lily shouted.

"Don't just stand there, you imbecile! Go hold her hand or do something!" Sirius exclaimed, pushing a pale-faced James towards Lily.

James hurried to Lily's bedside, kissed her forehead, took her hand in his, and began encouraging her with a trembling voice.

"I love you, Lily! You're strong! You're amazing! Keep pushing!" James whispered, his voice barely audible over Lily's agonized cries.

"One final push!" Dr. Nevi urged.

"It's almost over! I love you so much! I'd do anything for you! You'll never have to do the dishes again! I'll take out the trash! I'll..." James said, his words interrupted as Lily bit his hand in pain.

"Quiet!" Lily screamed.

"I've got the head!" the doctor exclaimed.

"Merlin! I just saw Lily's..., and there's a head sticking out of it! It's rather distressing!" Sirius yelled, his eyes widening in shock.

"SOMEBODY SHUT HIM UP!" Lily screamed, tears streaming down her face.

"Where is Voldemort when we actually need him?" James muttered, scowling at his best friend.

"And it's done!" the doctor announced cheerfully, bringing a sudden silence to the hospital room, with only the newborn's cries breaking through.

The nurse carefully wrapped the baby in a blanket and placed him in Lily's arms, eliciting a broad smile from her. As soon as the baby contacted his mother's skin, he stopped crying. James gingerly sat on the edge of the bed and draped his arm around Lily's shoulders, gazing at their son in a trance.

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Potter. I'll give you a moment of privacy," Healer Nevi said gently before exiting the room, followed by the nurse.

"I'll wait outside as well. Congratulations!" Sirius said.

"Don't be silly, Sirius. Come meet your Godson!" Lily kindly invited him.

Sirius approached them, his legs shaking, but in an instant, he found himself back in the Balaskos' living room, facing Ludvik, who smoked his cigarette while observing him with amusement.

"Beautiful baby," Ludvik commented.

"How did you... That's private!" Sirius protested.

"Only if you can protect it. Sirius, what I just demonstrated was an intermediate level of Legilimency. I delved deep into your mind and retrieved a vivid memory without encountering resistance. Can you fathom how I accomplished that?" Ludvik inquired.

"I don't know," Sirius replied, shrugging.

"The target's emotions serve as the catalyst for Legilimency. Your mind is unstable and imbalanced when you experience happiness or sadness, creating openings through which I can infiltrate," Ludvik explained.

"But how exactly do you harness emotions, something intangible, to channel your magic? Especially when it's not inherently yours," Sirius inquired.

"Your emotions may be yours, but I provoked them, which means I am a part of them. Let's say that I parasitized your thoughts without you realizing it. I utilize that small, imperceptible portion of my magic that is connected to you, and from there, I establish a link between myself and your subconscious. In your case, it was particularly straightforward," Ludvik elaborated.

"Why was it easier for you?" Sirius questioned.

"I've known you for some time now and manipulated you for weeks into believing you were still wanted. I orchestrated an entire scenario that made it easy for you to react to my provocations because you desired to. This allows me to structure my intrusions more effectively," Ludvik explained.

"So, my intense dislike for you makes me vulnerable?" Sirius remarked.

"That's the idea. However, unless you're a natural Legilimens, most wizards require a wand. But for those with years of experience like me, eye contact is sufficient to establish a connection," Ludvik stated.

"So, to master Occlumency, I must control or conceal my emotions," Sirius concluded.

"No, it's not enough. You must suppress them to achieve an emotionless state," Ludvik clarified.

"That would be like asking me to stop breathing! Nobody can avoid feeling something, whether it's fear, joy, sadness, or anger! It's the very essence of consciousness!" Sirius protested.

"That's precisely why many wizards and witches spend years trying and failing. If you wish to be of use to your godson, you have no choice but to attempt the impossible," Ludvik asserted.

"Alright, alright... But apart from 'close your mind, Sirius,' I still need some guidance to begin," Sirius insisted.

"That's why I am here. Begin with deep introspection to discover your true self—the one you cannot evade. Be alone with yourself and become acquainted with that innermost part of you. Each time I delved into your mind, I encountered profound doubts and regrets that hinder your magic, preventing you from unlocking your full potential as both a wizard and a person. It's self-destructive," Ludvik advised.

"I don't want to be alone with myself... I hate it! That's what was the most harrowing in Azkaban, not the Dementors," Sirius confessed.

Ludvik shrugged and crushed his cigarette in the ashtray. He then said, "Deal with it."


One week later:

From the top of a mountain overlooking the region's landscape, Sirius sat on the grass, eyes closed, relaxed. Cutting off contact with the outside world and immersing himself in his inner world, focusing his attention on a specific memory, studying it, learning from it, and then overcoming it, however painful it was. An exercise that wavers far away from Sirius's explosive nature or his reluctance to fully his heart even to himself. However, he finally took the bull by the horns. He learned that every aspect of the task had a precise function and that nothing was left to luck.

Sitting in that uncomfortable and painful position for his knees, slowly taunting him to divert his attention from his mind to the pain. He established a hierarchy in his priorities, placing his mind at the top of the pyramid, and he could feel the progress he made in a week. Nonetheless, despite his diligence and determination, an area remained within him, and he refused to venture into it. A door he once slammed behind him and was afraid to twist its knob today. What made terrified him so much? Wasn't that a choice he made out of conviction? Yet, he wasn't ready to face it again.

Sirius slowly opened his eyes to sit cross-legged on the grass in front of the beautiful landscape of the Carpathians. Opposite to when he arrived before dawn, the sun was now high in the sky, and he smiled, waving his hand to greet Ludvik, who apparated a little further, carrying a picnic basket under his arm.

"You've improved a lot, Sirius," Ludvik said.

"Unfortunately, not as much as I wished," Sirius said.

"Step by step, you will get there. I can feel your more appeased…My little Trojan horse in you has disappeared. Ludovik said.

"I know; I went for it first," Sirius replied, chuckling.

"So, now that you have acquired some of the basics, you can explore some 'emergency options,'" Ludvik said.

"Emergency options?" Sirius asked.

"Yes. You see, it will take time, years maybe, for you to completely suppress your emotions in any situation. So, you must have a backup plan if you need to protect your mind unexpectedly, such as in a duel". Ludvik.

"You have my full attention," Sirius said.

"You'll agree that using Occlumency and legilimency in a living room during a civilized conversation is different from using it in combat against a real enemy. Until now, you've worked following a structured protocol, but you'll adjust to the situation in moments of need. For example, you can frustrate your opponent by clouding your mind with many incoherent thoughts. Then, if you have some knowledge about him, make your mind a zone of torture to whoever tries to intrude, chasing him away and harming him in the act. A more advanced option, for when you'll have your skills polished, would be to lure the legilimens into your mind to trap him inside, reversing the connection himself would have built, and therefore, possess him or disable him," Ludvik said.

"The first one seems at my range," Sirius said, nodding.

"The two others would, too, with a lot of work. As for the mind arts, you'll understand that continuous effort is a ladder to any successful vocation," Ludvik said melancholically, his gaze lost to the horizon.