Arc III: Part III
April 28, 1985
When Sirius emerged from his room and descended the stairs, he was greeted by a peculiar sight. Red and Mikhail stood quietly near the partially open kitchen door, discreetly peering into whatever was happening on the other side. Sneaking up behind them, Sirius placed his hand on their shoulders, causing them to startle as he whispered in their ears.
"What are you two up to?" Sirius inquired.
"Keep your voice down!" Red responded angrily, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Everything will be ruined if they hear us!" Mikhail added, glaring at him.
"What will be ruined? What are they doing?" Sirius inquired further.
"Red and I have a ten-Galleon bet... We're trying to finally determine whether you guys maintain your accents when you're alone," Mikhail explained.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Don't you have anything better to do?" he retorted, moving past them and pushing the door open. He joined Worple and Belby at the table, where they were using their wands to tinker with an old radio, speaking to it in hushed tones. "Good morning, Eldred, Damocles," Sirius greeted them, receiving two gruff growls in response.
Sirius poured himself a cup of coffee and buttered a piece of toast, observing their activities with curiosity as they continued adjusting the radio's frequencies.
"What exactly are you trying to accomplish with that?" Sirius inquired.
"We're attempting to extend the antenna's range in order to pick up any British stations," Belby replied.
"The Daily Prophet doesn't reach this far from Britain, and while we're not particularly homesick, we'd like to catch up on some news," Worple explained.
"I'm curious to know as well... I haven't received any news from England since... before I was sent to Azkaban," Sirius admitted, just as Mikhail and Red entered the kitchen, glaring at him for spoiling their plan.
After a moment, the radio began to shake and spin on its own before coming to a stop, and a man's voice resonated clearly from the speaker.
"...And now, without further ado, let's welcome our special guest! Gilderoy Lockhart has graciously agreed to join us on our morning show to discuss magic and provide details about his upcoming summer European tour. So, stay tuned, and you may have the chance to win tickets!"
"Thank you for having me, Elliot. I'm thrilled to be here this morning!" replied a cheerful voice.
"The pleasure is all mine! So, let's get started! I'm sure you must hear this question all the time, wherever you go, but I have to ask! Your magic tricks are simply unbelievable. What's your secret?" Elliot inquired, causing Gilderoy to laugh.
"Well, I'd go bankrupt if I revealed my secrets... But let's say it's a combination of talent and many years of hard work," Gilderoy responded.
"No, I won't let you off that easily! And neither will your fans listening on the radio!" Elliot insisted.
"Well, if you insist... Perhaps you missed the magic in my tricks. That's usually my response to this question," Gilderoy remarked.
"Did I?" Elliot asked curiously.
"Well, the real magic in my work lies in the mystery surrounding it, not just the trick itself. The true magic is in making people try to unravel the secret," Gilderoy explained.
"But there's something peculiar about it... There's a secret ingredient," Elliot probed.
"Yes... my heart," Gilderoy revealed.
"Your heart? Or should we risk saying 'a brilliant mind'?" Elliot questioned.
"Suck his dick while you're at it," Red whispered.
"A brilliant mind is certainly a good starting point, but it's utterly useless if you can't invest your heart and passion into your work... That's why I believe I manage to evoke unique emotions in my audience," Gilderoy elaborated. "I won't say any more, otherwise I might be tempted to use my magic to erase your memories," he added, laughing.
"If it helps me forget my ex-wife and the divorce settlement, feel free to do it!" Elliot jested, joining in the laughter. "Alright, let's take our first caller. Is he still on the line?" he asked.
After a brief moment of hearing a prolonged beep, they heard a timid voice coming through the radio as a young boy spoke.
"Hello! Can you hear me?" the boy said, breathing heavily.
"Hello there! No need to stick your mouth to the phone, buddy. We can hear you loud and clear!" Elliot reassured him.
"Okay... Sorry!" the boy apologized.
"What's your name? And how old are you?" Elliot inquired.
"I'm Neville! And... I'm... One... Two... Three... Four... and a half," Neville replied.
"Welcome to our show, Neville! Although I did say the opposite earlier, could you speak a bit louder? We're having a hard time hearing you now," Elliot requested.
"No... I'm not allowed to use the Muggle owl, and Grandma is sleeping. I don't want to wake her up," Neville whispered.
"The muglow?" Elliot questioned.
"No, muggles!" Neville clarified in a hushed tone.
"Whatever... I believe you have a question for Gilderoy, right?" Elliot asked.
"Yes, my mom and dad are in the hospital... Grandma says I shouldn't complain, but they've been there for a long time now. Can Gilderoy use his magic like he did with that girl who lost her soul after the dementor attack?" Neville shared.
"I see... No, Gilderoy, don't bother! Unfortunately, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. So, we apologize to you and our audience. For the past three months, an imbecile has been playing pranks on us, a pathetic individual, a loser..." Elliot began to explain.
"No, I'm not! I like your..." Neville tried to interject hurriedly, but Elliot cut him off.
"However you disguise your voice, stop it... If you consider yourself so amusing, why don't you come on the show? But you won't, because unlike Gilderoy and our dedicated audience who wake up early every day to go to work... You're just a worthless piece of trash who has failed in life, so your only..."
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset..." Neville mumbled quickly.
"Remember this, Neville, YOU'RE A FUCKING LOSER AND IT'S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE! FUCK YOU!" Elliot yelled, causing the radio to fall silent.
They sat in stunned silence, staring at the radio, until Mikhail spoke up. "What was that kid thinking? Calling a Muggle radio and talking about dementors?"
"Gilderoy Lockhart... Why would a man of his fame go on a Muggle radio?" Worple wondered aloud.
"Probably just a prank... The Ministry will likely send him a warning," Belby suggested.
"I remember Lockhart... He was a few years behind me at Hogwarts, utterly clueless," Sirius chimed in.
"Not as clueless as you might think! His latest book is a bestseller, and you should be wary instead of making fun of him," Belby cautioned.
"Why should I be wary?" Sirius asked, furrowing his brow.
"He has been actively fighting dark arts for the past three years. After your escape, he vowed to track you down," Worple informed him.
"Ohhh... I can't wait for him to find me!" Sirius exclaimed, stretching lazily.
"Whatever... If only I could send a punch through the mail, that Elliot would be picking up his teeth right now," Red remarked. "He completely destroyed that poor kid..."
Later that morning, atop a lofty hill, Sirius shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand, gazing into the distance. Behind him, sitting on the grass, Red and Mikhail engaged in conversation.
"Could you explain again why it's unlikely for the castle to be concealed under the Fidelius?" Mikhail inquired.
"I never said it's unlikely; I said it's impossible," Red clarified.
"Why is it impossible, then?" Mikhail probed.
"The Fidelius Charm is designed to conceal information within a person's soul," Red responded.
"So? Isn't an address considered information?" Mikhail pressed further.
"Well... You could hide a house with the Fidelius, and if you're also the Secret Keeper, you become virtually untraceable and safe within it. However, the charm has certain limitations," Red explained.
"What are those limitations?" Mikhail asked.
"Firstly, you must be the legal owner of the property. Otherwise, people would start hiding other people's houses. So, a magical contract must bind you to the location," Red elaborated.
"That makes sense... What about the other conditions?" Mikhail inquired.
"A house is more than just an address. You must know its precise layout, components, and enchantments. Take Balasko's house, for example. It's not too large, so I reckon it would take them a couple of days to thoroughly inventory and sketch its plans, making it feasible to hide under the Fidelius Charm. Are you following?" Red asked.
"Yes, please continue," Mikhail urged.
"Now, consider Hogwarts... It's not just a colossal castle. Each stone is imbued with enchantments, and the protective wards were incorporated during its construction, not added afterward. Many of these enchantments remain unknown to us. And then you have all the concealed areas and undiscovered secret passages to account for... Creating a comprehensive map of Hogwarts would be impossible. That's why the Fidelius is only compatible with houses, cottages, or perhaps small manors," Red clarified.
"How much are you willing to bet?" Sirius interjected, turning towards them.
"Bet on what?" Red questioned.
"How much would you wager that it's possible to draw a map of Hogwarts?" Sirius challenged.
"I don't know... A hundred Galleons?" Red replied.
"Deal," Sirius agreed.
After an extensive stroll through the domain where the castle was supposed to be marked on their map, the trio decided to take another break. Sirius, lost in contemplation, stood and fixated his gaze upon the hill, clenching his teeth. He made an earnest effort to disregard the derisive remarks and sarcasm emanating from the two behind him.
"Look 'ere, mate, just look at 'ow 'ard 'e's tryin', Mikhail," Red exclaimed, making sure Sirius could hear him loud and clear.
"Well, would ya kindly jog me memory of what 'e blabbered on about last night?" Mikhail retorted, mimicking Sirius's voice in a mocking manner.
"Ah, right, 'e said, 'Toworrow! I'll tag along with ya! There's gotta be somethin' ya missed!' " Red replied, emphasizing the enthusiasm in his tone.
"Ohhh, so 'e reckoned, 'Maybe we'll 'ave to face a bloomin' vampire, our lives on the line... somethin' like that'," Mikhail quipped, giving it an extra touch of dramatic flair.
"Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but is Mr. Black, that bleedin' Death Eater and the 'ead honcho of talkin' nonsense, just as clueless as the two of us?" Red inquired, lying on the grass with a twig danglin' between his lips.
"Are you both done?" Sirius asked them, slightly irritated.
"Mikhail, my good fellow, 'ave we reached the end of our little distraction?" Red inquired.
"I can keep at it all day, my brave! Unless Mr. Black 'as somethin' to contribute..." Mikhail declared challengingly.
"Well then, do go ahead and dazzle us, Mr. Black," Red invited, his tone filled with mock anticipation.
"I figured out how the castle is concealed and perhaps have a method to breach its defenses," Sirius confidently declared.
Hogwarts, 1975.
In an abandoned classroom:
"Nope... Absolutely bugger all... It's just me, Evans isn't sitting on my lap, snogging away, and there's no quidditch world cup displayed on the mantelpiece behind me. Just me. Awesome as always," remarked one teenager to his mate, who stood beside him.
"Butt out, Sirius! You're a right numpty; you're doing it all wrong!" retorted the other lad, giving his mate a shove and takin' his place in front of the mirror. "Look!" he exclaimed, pointing his finger at various spots on the reflective surface. "Me...lap...Evans...Mouths...Tongues...Quidditch cup...And you standing there, starry-eyed and teary, in awe in the background."
"There's nothing there but our reflections, James... And my eyes aren't moist from admiring you, cause I'm battling to keep myself awake. All thanks to me pillock of a best mate," Sirius grumbled, stifling a yawn.
"Brother," James corrected him with a smirk.
"...who can't come up with anything better to do than drag me outta my warm bed in the bleeding middle of the night to gawp at a ruddy mirror," Sirius continued, his fatigue evident.
"That's the point! You weren't paying attention; your eyes were half-shut! Anyway, I reckon this mirror shows the future... So, when Lily and I are blissfully wedded, you'll look like a right numpty. I won't even bother inviting you to the wedding," James declared, striding behind the mirror to inspect it.
"IT SHOWS NOTHIN'! IT'S JUST A BLOODY BIG MIRROR! YOU'RE OBSESSED WITH HER! WHY DON'T WE JUST GO BACK UPSTAIRS AND WAKE UP REMUS SO HE CAN VERIFY IT?" Sirius bellowed at him in frustration.
"Since when did we start shouting at each other? I thought we were the perfect couple," James asked, emerging from behind the mirror, clearly taken aback.
"I'm sorry... I'm on edge. It's been a dreadful day... a day that seems to stretch on endlessly," Sirius confessed, his tone laden with remorse.
"NO! You've crossed the line this time, Sirius! I can't bear being spoken to in such a manner! I'm takin' the kids and heading to my mother's! I'll return when you've calmed down and given a proper apology!" James declared, turning his back on Sirius before striding away with his head held high.
"No! I'm begging you! Please don't leave me! I'll change, I promise!" Sirius pleaded, his voice filled with desperation as he fell to his knees.
"You always say that, but then you go and do it all over again!" James retorted, refusing to meet Sirius's gaze.
"Give me one last chance! Think of what the neighbors will say! The children! Think of the dog!" Sirius implored, his voice cracking. And with those words, he transformed into Padfoot.
"...All right... If it's for Padfoot..." James relented, his resolve wavering. He walked past Sirius and the mirror, taking a seat near the window. The room was illuminated by the moon's gentle glow as they both fell into a contemplative silence. Sirius's gaze wandered absently toward the mirror before returning to James, who pulled a joint from his pocket and lit it.
"Sirius, what's been bothering you lately?" James broke the silence before taking a hit from the joint.
"Are you smoking?! The smell! Is that... WEED?! Are you outta your mind? Crush it right NOW!" Sirius ordered, outraged.
"Seriously?" James quipped, blowing the smoke in Sirius's direction.
"Yes, seriously! I can't recall where I heard it, but apparently, the more you smoke, the more brain cells you lose until you turn completely dumb!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Well, you're light-years ahead of the pack on that one," James chuckled, taking another puff.
"Where on earth did you get that from, anyway? I'll inform McGonagall first thing tomorrow morning! This behavior is utterly unacceptable! Parents send their children to Hogwarts to receive an education, to become upstanding individuals, not delinquents!" Sirius exclaimed, dismissing his friend's previous remark.
"You're absolutely right! However, you'd be the first one to be expelled since I found the weed, rolling papers, and lighter in your bedside table drawer," James countered.
"Oh! So, you'll remind me to apologize to Peter for whatever consequences he'll face tomorrow morning... when he wakes up... and during breakfast... dinner... I couldn't care less! I don't want you involved in that stuff. Your sole purpose in life is to lead a long, joyful existence and bless me with nephews whom I'll spoil and corrupt," Sirius asserted.
"It's more or less what I expect from you as well..." James replied.
"Why on earth were you snooping through my things anyway? I haven't played any pranks on you lately..." Sirius asked, curiosity piqued.
"I needed a condom," James replied simply.
"You need a condom to... relieve yourself? Has your hand become too harsh?" Sirius inquired, his voice tinged with concern.
"Evans was sitting in the common room, and I thought if I walked by her and accidentally let a condom slip outta my pocket, she'd reckon I'm a bloke who's experienced and mature... you know what I mean?" James asked a mischievous glint in his eye. But his excitement quickly faded as he observed Sirius facepalm and shake his head slowly from side to side.
"James... you're the dimmest bloke on the planet... Now she must think you're a sex-crazed maniac along with being a bully after what happened with Snivelus the other day..." Sirius said, rolling his eyes.
"Remus did warn me it wasn't a clever idea..." James admitted.
"Why are you always so daft when she's around? Why can't you act the same way you do with me?" Sirius questioned.
"'Cause I know you never judge me, and you'll love me no matter what I do, no matter what happens," James replied.
"To start with, I'm constantly judging you... I'm amazed you've managed to survive this long without choking on your own saliva. Usually, society tosses kids like you in special institutes or abandons them in the forest..." Sirius retorted.
"Fuck you," James replied, his tone laced with a hint of affectionate sarcasm.
"Besides, Remus spends a fair bit of time with Evans when they're patrolling the hallways... prefect duty, before you go and murder him in his sleep. They have many conversations... He told me she's a grounded, lovely lass... So, just be nice, be polite, and stop attacking folks in the hallways like a madman, and things should go better with her," Sirius advised.
"Do you think?" James inquired.
"Aye," Sirius affirmed with certainty.
"Enough to make a deal?" James inquired.
"Aye," Sirius replied.
"Very well," James said, a determined tone in his voice. "From this moment on, I'm putting an end to hexing folks in the hallways or anywhere else in the castle, except in class or to defend someone, of course. I'll leave Snivelus be unless he provokes me, and I'll conduct myself properly in the presence of Evans." James solemnly declared, extending his right hand to Sirius.
"Alright... You're the only one benefiting from this deal thus far, but I accept," Sirius said, shaking James' hand.
"On your part, you pledge to tell me exactly what you saw in the mirror. You can't refuse, we've just made a bro deal," James said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he gazed down at their joined hands.
Sirius let out a sigh. "I knew it was a trap... If you insist... I saw us."
"Just the two of us?" James raised an eyebrow.
"Older, in a living room. You and Evans together, Remus, Peter, and I," Sirius revealed.
"Is that all?" James frowned, sensing there was more.
"Nah, my parents and Reg were there too. We were all gathered, enjoying some family time. Like when your mum invites us over to your house," Sirius added. "But you see, this mirror doesn't show the future, James. It shows what you want to see... it's nothing but a liar, an artifact designed to drive people mad."
"I know... truth be told, I just wanted a moment alone with you so we could have a proper heart-to-heart chat. I feel rotten about what happened after the DADA Owl... and I've noticed you keep a lot to yourself lately," James confessed.
"Aye, I have... if you want to know, I reckon my parents are leaning towards supporting Voldemort," Sirius admitted.
"Blimey! Ya must be joking! They wouldn't go that far!" James exclaimed; disbelief evident in his voice.
"Some people came to pay my father a visit during the holidays... Malfoy, Nott, and Avery's fathers. They had a meeting with my father in his office for a good couple of hours. No one enters my father's office, not even my mum, and Kreatur isn't allowed inside. My father cleans it himself, so you can imagine. When they left, my father was fuming, and I didn't hear a peep from him all week."
"Do you reckon they threatened him or tried to blackmail him?" James inquired.
"Nah, my father's a fearsome wizard, and they were in our own territory. It'd be suicidal... The Black House wouldn't let them leave alive if they dared to harm one of us. I reckon they came to give him a warning or offer some advice, like friendly-like..." Sirius explained.
"Sirius, promise me that if you ever have any doubts, you get out of that house. Leave everything behind and come straight to my place. This Voldemort bloke is getting serious. They say people are disappearing and dying out there, but the press keeps it all hushed up... My parents write to me daily, urgently asking me to immediately reply. They're worried about both you and me, but they don't say exactly why," James urged.
"I didn't dare ask... But I'm planning on leaving this summer. At the first mention of Gryffindor or any rubbish about noble blood running through our veins, I'm outta there," Sirius declared.
"Perfect, and you'll come straight to my house! It'll be your home too!" James exclaimed.
"Thank you," Sirius expressed his gratitude.
"You're welcome, m'boy," James replied, playfully ruffling Sirius' hair.
"Do you want us to go wake Remus and Peter and bring them here to see the mirror?" Sirius suggested, changing the subject.
"Nah, the last full moon of the school year is in two days. Let the poor guy rest. But let's head back to bed now; this thing's got me," James said, crushing the joint and tossing it away.
"We should add this room to the map while we're at it... Do you have it on you?" Sirius inquired, looking at James, who had already taken out the Marauder's Map, smiling.
"I do, mate. And I'll show you something brilliant too, so this room stays accessible only to us," James said.
"What is it?" Sirius asked, curious.
"A sort of ward called..."
Back in 1985,
"Sermo rindë... It's not even a proper ward, but rather a charm that grants access to individuals belonging to the same group," Sirius remarked.
"Are you certain? How do you know?" Red inquired, rising to join him.
"Could you lend me your wand for a moment, please?" Sirius requested, turning to Red.
Red hesitated momentarily, but after glancing at Mikhail, who had his wand pointed at Sirius, he agreed to lend his wand. Sirius whispered the incantation, and several blue lights sprang forth, encircling him and Red before forming a bubble. From inside the bubble, they could catch a glimpse of a massive castle with a pointed roof, towering over the valley for a few seconds, before the bubble burst and the image vanished. Sirius smiled and returned Red's wand.
"We've been misled. There is no dark magic involved... Only someone with vampire senses could perceive it. Hence, raiding that castle won't be feasible," Sirius explained, walking away. "Why can't I hear your applause?"
"Because we're not applauding," Mikhail replied.
"Because you just got lucky," Red added.
"Yeah, lucky... Let's get back to the Balasko's," Sirius suggested, snapping his fingers. However, he slipped on something in the grass, and a moment later, he found himself lying on his back, gazing at the sky, while Red and Mikhail erupted in laughter. Ignoring them, Sirius checked his shoe, under which he discovered a small purple flower. He slipped it into his pocket just as an owl landed on Mikhail's arm. Mikhail took the scroll attached to the owl's paw, read it, and then tossed it to Sirius.
"It's for you," Mikhail stated.
Sirius,
Count to five, upon reading this message.
Ludvik.