Cold, Brilliant, and Utterly Still

by caribbean88

Ivy Selwyn's life under the dictation of pureblood society is manageable until something horrific happens to her younger sister Hazel, causing her whole reality to fracture to dust. As she becomes closer with Regulus Black, Severus Snape, and others, she begins to figure out how to take down Voldemort and his ideals from the inside.

40. An Ode To Hogwarts

House of Memories by Panic! At The Disco

Baby, we built this house on memories

Take my picture now, shake it 'til you see it

And when your fantasies become your legacy

Promise me a place in your house of memories

---

June 15th, 1979

"We're not going the wrong way," Regulus led them past the fifth floor up the Grand Staircase, portraits eyeing them as they passed by.

"The entrance," Theya said. "Is at the other end of the castle. Honestly, how many years of Astronomy did you take?"

He shrugged, thoroughly amused at keeping them in the dark about why they were going to the Astronomy Tower.

"Would you hush?" Doe said from the back of their group. "Keep babbling on like this and we'll get caught."

Regulus jumped over a trick step, not at all worried about getting into trouble.

"But what is it," Ivy bounced over the vanishing stair. "That we're trying not to get caught for?"

"It's nearly curfew," Theya reminded them. "Not that I care, Prefect though I am. But the graduation ceremony is tomorrow, I wanted to get up early to-"

She let out a shriek and Regulus looked over his shoulder to find that her leg had gone through the trick step. She flailed about, hissing and spitting like a cat, making him snicker as he hauled her out of the trap with ease. "What was that about you graduating tomorrow?"

"Even third years know all the vanishing stairs," Doe took the lead past the sixth floor and indicated for them to follow with a jerk of her head.

"You watched us jump over it," Regulus added as they continued on.

"I wasn't paying attention," Theya grumbled. "And anyway, I do know the trick steps. It's just that one sodding stair I can never remember."

"Right," he snorted. "I suppose that's why your legs are always bruised to hell - because of one vanishing step."

"Bugger off."

"Oh, we will," Ivy said jauntily. "Once you figure out how to use your legs."

"You've only had them for seventeen years," Regulus teased.

Theya gritted her teeth. "Both of you can-"

"Careful," his girlfriend cooed, reaching out to touch her hair patronisingly. "You're going to get frown lines."

Theya gnashed her teeth, nearly taking a few of Ivy's fingers off.

Regulus laughed as his girlfriend snatched her hand back, but when the two began bickering, he jogged to catch up with Doe. The last time he'd gotten stuck in the middle of one of their pointless squabbles, he'd almost lost a few fingers.

Exiting the Grand Staircase in favour of the seventh floor, a couple passionately snogging on a windowsill jolted apart upon seeing them.

Momentarily, the girl murmured it's just Black and Meadowes as they passed by. He was going to tap on his Head Boy badge before remembering that she had a point; he and Doe were nothing like their predecessors. Potter and Evans -mostly Evans- had been borderline tyrannical in their roles, whereas he and Doe scraped by doing the bare minimum. Sure, they once got suckered into assembling Hallowe'en decor, but aside from that and scrounging up sloppy Prefects' patrol schedules, they were terrible at their appointed positions.

Rounding a corner, the foursome stopped between the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy and a wall that Regulus had gotten to know well the past few weeks.

"You don't mean…?" Theya exchanged a look with Ivy.

"The Come and Go Room?" Doe raised a brow. "Absolutely."

"Is that what it's called?" Ivy asked.

"According to the house elves," Regulus studied the wall.

"House elves," Theya echoed.

"Yeah. You didn't know they work here?"

"Work implies they get paid," Doe said. "Anyhow, let's chat once we're inside, yeah? We're still trying not to get caught."

Regulus withdrew his blackthorn wand. Stealing a look down the corridor, he ensured that they were quite alone before tapping his wand tip against the stone wall three times. A polished door with a brass handle appeared in front of them and he swung it open.

Ushering everyone inside the small, windowless room, he shut the door and nodded to Dirk Cresswell of Hufflepuff, who was the only other occupant. The ashy-haired seventh year was lounging in a solitary armchair, lowering a book from in front of his face. A lone torch on the wall gave off a surprising amount of light, revealing a second door opposite to the one they had entered through.

"Was wondering if you were coming," Dirk said jovially. "It's nearly curfew; you're likely the last ones who'll make it."

"'Course we were coming," Doe said. "Think we'd organise the thing and not bother to enjoy it ourselves?"

"Is someone going to clue us in already?" Theya gestured to herself and Ivy. "We still don't know what it is."

Regulus, Doe, and Dirk smiled in unison.

"And how's this tiny room here? There's supposed to be…" Ivy glanced at Dirk. "Another place. Wand tapping has never gotten me in before."

"What other place?" Dirk's brown eyes widened.

"Er, never mind that." She cleared her throat and turned to Regulus. "Explain."

Regulus waited patiently with a smirk.

"Please," she added with a mocking smile.

He opened his mouth to flirt, but Doe, evidently sensing his intent, spoke over him. "This room can turn into anything you want it to… I think. As far as the wand tapping goes, we asked the room to reveal itself to seventh years who were given the code, which is knocking on the wall three times. Thought it'd be easier than making everyone pace in front of the room to get it to appear."

"Why…?" Theya asked, before seeming to understand. "Oh, all this is about those secret surveys you handed out to all the seventh years, isn't it? You're going to announce who won what in those Most Likely To categories, huh?"

"Yes," Regulus puffed out his chest proudly. "But that's just part of the fun. Doe and I set up an end of Hogwarts party. All seventh years have been invited. With the exception of wankers like Ariadne and Mulciber-"

"And Davey Gudgeon," Dirk added, causing Doe to laugh knowingly. "The prick."

"-There'll be food, games, events, and lots of alcohol in the Astronomy Tower." Regulus swung the second door open, revealing a dimly lit passageway. "Which is where this leads."

"Wicked!" Ivy pumped a fist.

"Oh no," Theya ran a hand through her hair.

"I thought," Doe raised a brow at Theya. "That you of all people would be thrilled."

"I would be," she peered into the cramped, echoey pathway. "If I hadn't snogged a third of our year. You forget, I'm a slag."

"A retired slag," Ivy piped up.

"But a slag nonetheless," Theya smirked. "Though, everyone's probably forgotten my pre-Severus ways by now, right?"

"Don't worry," Regulus said leisurely. "Alcohol will dull any discomfort."

"Comforting, that."

Ivy stepped into the passageway cautiously, Doe close behind.

Regulus followed, hunching over like his willowy girlfriend in order to keep from smacking his head against the top of the damp, mildewy pathway.

Theya lingered at the entrance, eyeing Dirk. "You coming?"

"Nah," he waved a hand from his cushy chair. "Someone needs to be in here or the passage will close up. It's best we exit on this side of the castle when the night is done, that way we can't be tied to the Astronomy Tower if someone finds out about it. Besides, Edgar Bones should be taking my place any minute."

"Cheers," Theya stepped into the smelly pathway and shut the door, shooing Regulus as though he were the one holding them up.

He followed Ivy and Doe down the winding way, their shoes squelching as they went.

"What's to stop us from being caught when we leave?" Ivy asked over her shoulder, voice bouncing off the stone. "We'll be seven floors away from the Slytherin Dormitory with Filch and Prefects around every corner."

"I bribed all the Prefects on patrol," Regulus said.

"What about Filch?"

"I left chocolates in his office," Doe said. "They're spiked with a Sleeping Draught and had a note from a secret admirer."

"You devious little thing," Theya laughed approvingly from behind him.

"Oi!" Ivy suddenly halted, causing a jam in the passage. "Who's there? I can hear you!"

"It's probably just Bones," Regulus squelched past her and Doe to the front of their group. Indeed, Edgar Bones had just rounded the corner ahead of them, lanky shoulders hunched to avoid the stone overhead. "See? It's just Bones."

"Yeah." His green eyes were disdainful. "Just me."

"Er," he cleared his throat. "When are you planning to come back to the party?"

"I'm not," his words were clipped.

Regulus shifted uncomfortably, unsure why Bones was being so frosty. Sure, he had once set Amelia Bones's homework on fire, but that had never been definitively traced back to him.

"I can come take your place in a bit," Doe offered. "So you can enjoy the festivities."

"No need," Bones seemed to soften a smidge and he ran a hand through his chestnut hair. "I was planning to skip your party altogether to read in the Hufflepuff Dormitory, but Dirk convinced me to read in the Come and Go Room instead."

"You sure?" Theya piped up.

Scorn seeped back onto his face. "Very."

"Right," Regulus frowned. "We'll be on our way then."

The foursome pressed themselves against the wall to let Bones pass. The green-eyed wizard went to more extreme lengths than necessary to make sure he didn't touch them, as he was flat against the opposite wall, moving centimetre by centimetre as though they had something contagious.

Doe and Theya voiced their goodbyes once he squeezed through.

Continuing on, they rounded the corner to start their final ascent up a slick-stoned staircase.

"What'd we ever do to him?" Ivy asked louder than was necessary.

"Stuff it, Ivy!" Theya shouted, before lowering her voice and whacking her hard on the arm. "Don't make it worse."

"Really though." Regulus took the stairs slowly, trying not to slip. "What did we ever do to him?"

"I accidentally got him a reputation." Theya glanced over her shoulder, though Bones was long gone. "You know how everyone calls him the Black Lake Skinny Dipper? I'm the one who got him caught."

"Wait," Doe looked horrified. "That was you? No wonder he hates you - you stole his clothes!"

Regulus stifled laughter.

"It wasn't like that," Theya protested. "We thought it'd be fun to lose our virginity to each other in the Black Lake and his clothes were gone when we got out - to this day I don't know what happened to them. I went to grab him some robes, but he'd been caught by the time I reached the castle."

"Why'd you never tell us that was you?" Ivy asked.

"It's embarrassing," Theya groaned dramatically. "Anyway, he thinks I planned it with you lot, so he can't stand us."

"He likes me," Doe said brightly. "At least, he tolerates me. Which I'll happily take over the filthy looks he was giving the rest of you."

Reaching the top of the steps where a rickety door stood, Regulus waited for the others to join him. Once gathered, he swung the wood open to reveal the top level of the Astronomy Tower.

Earlier that day after finishing their N.E.W.T.s, all the Astronomy supplies had been haphazardly moved into the first and second levels of the tower, leaving five areas for the seventh years to dwell in. The room they were currently facing had one table of barely touched finger foods, and many tables of alcohol bottles that were carelessly cluttered together. A wooden spiral staircase stood in the centre of the room, leading to the top of the Tower. The hatch was open, letting cool night air and laughter into the space below, which was filled with plenty of chatter on its own, since roughly twenty-five seventh years were lounging about.

Ivy and Doe pushed past Regulus immediately, making a beeline for the alcohol.

"I think I'm going to win one of those Most Likely Tos," Theya giggled from beside Regulus, both of them still in the doorway.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I've snogged every person in this room."

---

The sixth level of the Astronomy Tower was the largest, and was thus very hot, as dozens of students were crammed inside, trying to catch one of the night's main events. Most everyone was seated on the stone floor, squished together uncomfortably but babbling nonetheless. Three walls were lined with additional seventh years, the fourth unoccupied in order to leave a small space for the makeshift podium. Composed of several precariously stacked crates, the bottommost one contained what looked like a bunch of badges.

Ivy and Theya were seated on the spiral staircase in the centre of the room. It was still cramped, as they were two of ten students who had managed to squeeze onto the steps. If she were to look up or down, she would find even more sets of eyes trying to catch a peek.

She was about to comment on how dizzying it all was, when their classmates burst into applause. Spotting Regulus as he approached the stack of crates, she and Theya joined in with loud hollers.

When her boyfriend reached the podium, the room fell quiet.

Or, as near to quiet as a room full of pissed seventeen year olds could get.

"Who's ready for Most Likely Tos?" Regulus shouted.

The room erupted into cheers so rambunctious that Ivy thought it would be a miracle if they weren't caught - not that she was going to concern herself with the prospect for longer than ten seconds.

"If you win a title, you'll come up here to claim your badge." Regulus nudged the bottommost crate of the podium with his foot, causing the tower to wobble. "You'll have fifteen seconds to give a speech. Go any longer than that and there will be consequences. Who won what is based solely on your votes from the surveys we handed out. Doe and I don't know who won what, so don't pester us. If you win a title, you must wear the badge for the duration of graduation tomorrow. If you don't…"

"There will be consequences," the crowd shouted back.

Regulus grinned. "Now, Doe will bestow upon you your rewards. Or, your punishments."

All the seventh years, Ivy and Theya included, yelled at the top of their lungs while Regulus made for the spiral staircase.

A nearby group of Ravenclaws tried to stomp their feet in appreciation as Doe took the stand, though they only succeeded in crushing other students' fingers.

The Head Girl withdrew her wand and muttered an incantation, causing the makeshift podium to rearrange, neatly organising itself until the tower no longer teetered. The crate full of badges levitated itself to the top of the stack. While Ivy couldn't read the glowing words on the surface of the badges, she noted that the backgrounds swirled with either red, yellow, or green.

Regulus plopped onto the step below them that Ivy had been saving. Once he was comfy between her legs, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders languidly.

"You don't know whose names are on the badges, huh?" She whispered as a 'Puff she didn't recognize was deemed Most Likely To Be Killed By A Hippogriff.

"I said that I don't know who won what." He looked over his shoulder at her with a mischievous twinkle in his dark eyes. "Not that I don't know the names of the winners."

"Oh?"

"You won something. So did I."

"Hm," she exchanged a look with Theya.

Having caught the look, her boyfriend narrowed his eyes.

"Theya Greengrass!" Doe shouted. "You are Most Likely To Have Snogged Everyone In The Room!"

Theya sighed in resignation before pasting on a charming smile. As she made her way to the podium, she gave graceful middle fingers to a few blokes that jeered.

"I accept this award," Theya stuck the swirling yellow badge to her chest proudly. "Knowing that I'm probably better in bed than most of you."

Ivy and Regulus cheered wildly.

Half the audience joined in, while the other half laughed hard.

Theya strutted her way back to the spiral stairs, pinching Regulus on the arm once she was seated.

"Oi!" He retaliated by swatting her knee as Most Likely To Become Headmaster was named.

"You could've warned me," Theya huffed.

He rolled his eyes, reaching behind himself to lock Ivy's arms back around his shoulders.

This elicited a laugh from her and she kissed the top of his head while Most Likely To Get Caught Skinny Dipping went to Edgar Bones. Doe announced that he was not in attendance, much to the disappointment of the crowd, who booed loudly.

"Disgusting," Theya remarked under her breath.

"The skinny dipping?" Ivy glanced at her. "You were there."

"Not the skinny dipping," she scrunched her nose playfully. "You two."

Ivy took her teasing as a challenge. Tilting Regulus's head of shaggy black hair back, she kissed him upside down for an unnecessarily long moment.

Theya snorted, but didn't comment. "What're the consequences of not wearing the badges tomorrow anyway?"

The room suddenly filled with gasps and Ivy's gaze was drawn back to the podium.

A Gryffindor wearing his red Most Likely To Fall Asleep On The Loo badge had apparently taken longer than fifteen seconds on his speech, as his robes appeared to be flickering in and out of existence, flashing the audience his underwear every now and then.

When it stopped, the room dissipated into whispers and giggles.

The red-faced Gryffindor ducked his head, silently retaking his seat.

"That's the consequence," Regulus snickered.

"Settle down!" Doe effectively shushed the rowdy seventh years. "Most Likely To Always Be Loved goes to…"

Locking eyes with Theya, Ivy made a gagging face.

"Mary MacDonald!"

The audience whooped, though no one was as enthusiastic as Marlene, who gave an ear-piercing whistle from the back of the room. MacDonald, who stood beside her, didn't move to claim her badge until Marlene gave her a shove. The dark-haired witch laughed, shaking her head as she delicately weaved through the crowd, trying quite hard to not crush anyone's fingers. All the while, McKinnon hooted and hollered at the top of her lungs, her obvious pride sinking a pit into Ivy's stomach.

MacDonald eventually reached the stack of crates and placed the swirling green badge on her chest. "I can't say I'm surprised to have won this. But thank you nonetheless."

Admiring the girl's cheekiness, Ivy clapped lightly along with everyone else.

"What do the badge colours mean?" Theya asked Regulus while Doe moved on to Most Likely To Become A Quidditch Star, which went to the Ravenclaw Quidditch team captain, Gwenog Jones.

"Badges of honour are green," Regulus explained. "Yellow is neutral, and badges of shame are red."

Ivy watched as Marlene won Most Likely To Wake Up With A Tattoo. Subsequently, the brazen Gryffindor lifted her shirt to reveal a jagged heart on her hip, announcing that she indeed woke up with it a year ago. The blonde's walk back to her spot at the far end of the room was alight with cheers, and when she reached her place beside MacDonald, she blew a sultry kiss to the room.

"Who else won?" Ivy asked. "Out of the people we know."

"Dirk Cresswell." Regulus noted, promptly before said student was named Most Likely To End Up In St. Mungo's. Their trio joined the applause as the ashy-haired bloke declined to make a speech, instead taking the badge and shuffling quickly away.

"Ivy Selwyn!" Doe's voice nearly made her jump out of her skin. "You are Most Likely To Get Away With Murder!"

"Fuck me," she breathed. Despite the whispers surrounding her, she put on a snidely confident face and trudged to the front of the room. Attaching the badge of shame to her chest, she cleared her throat and spoke clearly, if not a tad haughtily. "I have no comment."

The following shrieks of laughter made her flush happily as she departed from the stack of crates. She'd always assumed that if she got up in front of a crowd of Hogwarts students that she'd be booed into oblivion. It was nice to know that, at least for the night, a truce had been called.

Locking eyes with Marlene as she went back to the staircase, she watched her former friend shake her head and clap slowly, as though resigned to amusement.

Retaking her seat, Ivy murmured lowly to Theya: "Mine was a bit on the nose, don't you think?"

"Aren't they all?"

Regulus opened his mouth to add something to the conversation, but Most Likely To Become An Unspeakable drowned out his words.

Immediately distracted from what he had tried to say, Ivy yelled peevishly above the crowd's disbelieving reaction. "Davey Gudgeon? Please! Like he could be an Unspeakable!"

"You're just miffed," Regulus leaned his back against the railing of the spiral staircase. "Because you wanted that badge."

"Still," she huffed. "He couldn't keep his mouth shut to save his sorry life."

A trio of Hufflepuffs below them on the stairs looked up at her, nodding in serious agreement.

Ivy gestured to them triumphantly as Most Likely To Try A Threesome went to a Gryffindor with dark hair, whose mates screamed their ear-splitting approval.

"Bollocks," Theya cringed at the noise. "If I had their sets of lungs on me, I could be an opera singer."

"Theya Greengrass," Regulus snorted. "World famous opera singer."

"Kinda has a nice ring to it," Theya said contemplatively, while Doe announced a Ravenclaw's win of Most Likely To Make Someone Else Cry. "I wanted to be one when I was little."

"Was this before or after you realised that you're tone deaf?" Ivy quipped.

"Before," she said grudgingly.

Ivy and Regulus laughed as Most Likely To Be Expelled On The Last Day went to someone she wasn't familiar with. Seeing as the Hufflepuff was notorious enough to win a troublemaker title, Ivy thought she might recognize her. However, the ginger-haired girl was decidedly unfamiliar. It was almost embarrassing how little she'd gotten to know her fellow classmates over the years.

"Next we have," Doe withdrew a green badge from the nearly empty crate. "Most Likely To Become Minister for Magic. Or, more accurately, Ministress. Me!"

Although their trio was the first to make copious amounts of noise, they were soon drowned out by applause so deafening that Ivy's eyebrows shot into the air. It was easily the loudest ruckus of the night, complete with foot stomping and whistles of approval. She watched with fascination as every single student, including those below and above them, got to their feet to give Dorcas Meadowes a standing ovation.

The Astronomy Tower's sixth floor took several minutes to settle down, and even though this should've given Ivy enough time to wrap her head around how absolutely adored Doe was, it still hadn't sunk in.

"Merlin," she muttered once things had quieted. "I had no idea she was so… loved."

"Makes me wonder why she spends so much time with us," Regulus said. "Evidently, she has all the options in the world."

"She's an exceptional judge of character," Theya caught Ivy and Regulus's eye rolls. "I'm not inflating our egos - she's just like that."

Too busy studying Doe, she hardly heard when the Head Girl announced Mulciber's title of Most Likely To Wind Up In Azkaban. Even in the midst of such a hectic event, she could command a room like no other. She had an aura of authority that implicitly demanded respect. In fact, if Ivy looked hard enough, she thought she could even see it; a white glow outlining her form, like the marking of true, unadulterated power. She'd only ever sensed such a thing on one other person. Dumbledore.

A head of shoulder-length black hair appeared around the edges of her vision, drawing her attention to a face she knew well. Regulus's appearance was enough to startle away the white glow and her thoughts. She hadn't caught his speech, as he was already making his way back to her. But she didn't need to read the green badge on his chest to know what he'd won.

"Most Likely To Become An Auror?" He retook his seat, scowling. "Really?"

"We don't know what you're on about," Theya smirked.

"You know damn well what I'm on about - you two did this. I know it."

"It's not our fault," Ivy said innocently. "That a bunch of people thought it would be extremely funny to vote you into that category. They were entirely unprompted, you see."

"Unprompted my arse," Regulus said dryly. "My parents are going to be at graduation tomorrow!"

"You don't think they'll be proud?" Ivy teased.

"Ha ha," he glared at her playfully.

"It's time to bring this event to a close." Doe grinned madly up at the podium. "With the most anticipated category - Most Likely To Be Purposefully Set On Fire."

The cheers were equally as dizzying as the Head Girl's win had been.

"This badge goes to… Ariadne Zabini!"

---

Ivy stared up at the moon, letting the stone and air cool her down.

As soon as the widely anticipated event of Veritaserum or Dare began, she had bolted to the roof. Hiding out amongst the stars and wind had proven to be a good choice, seeing as she'd vomited over the edge of the Tower upon arrival.

It had been a good half hour since that truly disgusting ordeal, but her head was still spinning a little. Even so, she was grateful to have cooled off, as every level below the one she was on, was hot and stuffy.

A particularly loud swell of clamouring and booing reached her ears.

Lifting her head where she lay, she realised that the hatch had been opened all the way, allowing a head of blonde hair to poke through.

"Er," Marlene's blue eyes widened. "Hey."

Ivy stared, at a loss for what to say.

Merlin, she thought. Too drunk to say hello, are we? Get it together.

Heaving a sigh, she sat up and leaned against the chilly stone wall in hopes that being upright would ease her drunkenness.

"Mind if I join you?" Marlene asked tentatively.

"I suppose."

The sandy-haired witch spared a glance downward before lifting herself onto the top of the Astronomy Tower. She sat on the edge of the open hatch, letting her legs dangle through the hole that cast light into the otherwise dark area.

Vague cheers made their way to her ears. "No Veritaserum for you?"

"I've learned my lesson."

"Have you now?" Ivy drawled.

"Of course."

She paused. "So have I."

"When have you taken Veritaserum?"

"I haven't," Ivy said evasively.

"Then what-" Marlene narrowed her eyes, though it seemed more playful than suspicious. "Do I even want to know?"

"Nope."

"Sounds about right," the corner of her mouth twitched up. "What do you think'll happen if we're caught up here? Mary reckons they'll make us come back for an eighth year."

"Mary MacDonald?"

"Mhm."

"Most Likely To Always Be Loved," Ivy remarked. "But not Most Likely To Always Be Right. First off, we won't get caught. Regulus and Doe took precautions. And second, we're mere hours from being off the Professors' hands; it's not like they'd bother expelling us."

"Filch would love that. Nearly a hundred and forty students expelled the night before graduation."

"But the amount of effort it would take? Nah. They wouldn't. No matter how much Filch would beg."

"That's a good point."

Another bout of vague gasps leeched into the night.

Although Ivy wondered what kind of secrets were being revealed, she knew it was wise to stay far away from anything relating to Veritaserum. If it was being passed around, someone could easily slip some into her drink. And there would be no getting out of that. Besides, she was sure she'd hear all the gossip from Theya the next day.

Feeling Marlene's gaze on her, she shifted where she sat, as her arse was beginning to hurt.

"Listen," her former friend said quietly. "I know I should've said it ages ago, but I'm sorry about-"

"There you are!" A giddy voice came from below, drawing Marlene's attention away. "I've been looking for you everywhere! Edgar Bones just vindicated himself - Greengrass stole his clothes at the Black Lake, apparently they were shagging that night!"

So much for not attending the party, Ivy thought, wondering who had taken Bones's place in the Come and Go Room. The likely answer was Doe. Either that, or he'd screwed them all by letting the passage close.

"Greengrass says she didn't do it," the girl continued babbling. "But she refuses to take Veritaserum to prove it. It's a right mess, you have to come see!"

Marlene glanced at Ivy. "Just a moment, I-"

"Oh, come on!" MacDonald's flushed, happy face popped into sight. "What could be so bloody important that you'd want to miss- Selwyn?"

Ivy watched the Gryffindor's face change to contempt. Her lip even curled back in disgust, which was interesting; sneering wasn't a reaction she often elicited. It was contextually bold, seeing as most people knew better than to interact with her.

"Is she giving you a hard time?" MacDonald asked her housemate.

"No, I'm giving her a hard time." Heaving a sigh, Marlene cast a guilty look in her direction.

"I know," Ivy said. "Go."

Marlene pursed her lips, then looked as if she was going to add something. MacDonald clearly had other plans, as she yanked on the blonde's arm, effectively pulling her onto the staircase and out of sight.

Listening to them go, she waited a moment before crawling over to the edge of the hatch.

Both girls had disappeared from sight, but the inside of the Astronomy Tower remained warm and light. Laughter drifted up to her, as did the potent smell of booze. She was tempted to join the apparent madness happening a few floors below, but seeing as her mind was spinning again -for different reasons than before- she thought better of it.

Shifting to lie on her stomach, she watched the party go on without her, as they often did.

---

June 16th, 1979

Hauling her trunk up the stairs from the Dungeons, Ivy paused at the top to catch her breath. Glancing over her shoulder as tiny first years with boundless energy rushed past her, she pinched the bridge of her nose.

The Slytherin Dormitory wasn't exactly far from the Entrance Hall on the ground floor; seven years of running up and down the Grand Staircase should have allowed her to take one set of stairs without panting like an eighty year old man.

Shaking her head, she was about ready to move on from the sunny, albeit chilly, room when the Grey Lady caught her eye. The haughty ghost was bobbing beside a portrait of Merlin, though she didn't seem to be looking at it.

It was daring of Helena Ravenclaw to stand -rather, float- out in the open when so many witches and wizards were bustling about in preparation for graduation or going home. Whenever Ivy saw her outside of one of her hiding spots, there was usually a gaggle of students chasing after her. Although it was endlessly amusing to watch the Grey Lady vanish through walls, causing clusters of children to run straight into hard rock, it was also pitiable.

Walking over, Ivy stood her trunk upright upon arrival. "I'm surprised you're out here."

"All of you," Helena Ravenclaw spoke firmly. "Are too self absorbed to notice me when I don't serve a purpose. What is it that you want, Omen of Death?"

"Dunno," her posture tightened. "Suppose I just wanted to say goodbye."

"Is that so?" The Grey Lady turned to face her fully.

Instantly uncomfortable with the ghost's unblinking stare, she shrugged and averted her gaze to the painting of Merlin.

The wizard looked exactly like his Chocolate Frog card, except that he was sitting at a table with an ancient-looking book before him. His grey beard was long, his deep emerald robes consistent with those from the Middle Ages. In one hand, he loosely held a staff that was carved with runes distinctly foreign to her, while a sword that she assumed was Excalibur, leaned against the wall behind him. He was sizing her up with such an irritable and wary expression that she thought Helena Ravenclaw's creepy gaze might be the better option.

"You will destroy it, will you not?"

"Hm?" She looked back at the ghost, who was staring hard at her trunk.

"My mother's diadem," the Grey Lady said sternly. "You aim to destroy it, yes?"

"Your mother's…?" A jolt went through her. "That horrible thing in my trunk is Rowena Ravenclaw's Lost Diadem?"

"Yes, it is."

Her jaw dropped and she started sputtering mindlessly.

It was absurd, really, that it was in her possession. But more than that - how in the hell had the Dark Lord gotten ahold of such a relic?

Helena Ravenclaw watched her passively for several long moments before her expression transitioned into one that very clearly said what she was thinking: Stop gawking, daft child.

Ivy cleared her throat. "You… You're not going to walk through me if I tell you that I'm planning to destroy it, are you? I despise when you ghosts do that."

"I would like nothing more," the Grey Lady said. "Then to see it destroyed."

"Ah, well, in that case, that is indeed what I'm planning."

"Hm," the ghost murmured. "I shall take leave of you now."

Squeezing her eyes shut, Ivy scrunched her face in resigned anticipation. When the sensation of being plunged into icy water didn't fill her every pore, she opened her eyes warily.

Helena Ravenclaw was drifting away, a wry smile on her lips.

---

The setup for graduation had seemed small from a distance.

Now that Ivy was on the fringes of it, it was anything but.

Hundreds of chairs had been placed in neat rows a good twenty metres from the Black Lake, where the Giant Squid was making an occasional appearance. The student section was in the centre of the space, a stage erected before it, while seats meant for family and friends formed a semi circle around it all. Very few had taken their chairs; clumps of witches and wizards were scattered about, chatting and hugging one another.

On the hill, she could see a steady stream of vibrantly coloured robes making towards the celebration.

Weaving through the crowd of weeping parents and embarrassed students, she searched for a familiar face, all the while cursing herself for not previously putting together a plan for how she was going to find her loved ones.

Having circled the chairs and stage twice, she'd nearly given up when someone began calling her name. It took her a moment to figure out where the voice was coming from, but eventually she spotted Sere's frantically waving hand. Ducking around a group of stern-looking twenty-somethings, Ivy was yanked into a hug almost immediately.

"My dear girl!" Sere squeezed her tightly, forcing all the breath from her lungs, before pulling back to look at Ivy's deep blue gown. "Don't you look beautiful!"

"A chip off the old block," Reginald beamed.

"She's adopted," Sere pointed out as Ivy withdrew.

Pulling her other adoptive parent into a hug, she breathed in the sandalwood smell of his soap - a smell that was inexplicably fatherly.

"But a chip off the old block nonetheless." He remarked as she pulled out of his embrace.

"I credit my good looks to you two," Ivy agreed.

"Oh," Sere waved a hand, but flipped her blonde hair over a shoulder. "Do go on."

Reginald nodded at Ivy's chest. "What's that?"

"Wha-? Oh." She looked down at her Most Likely To Get Away With Murder badge. "Er… Just a voting game we seventh years played the other night. An ode to our time at Hogwarts, I suppose."

Reginald ruffled her hair. "As though our Ivy could hurt anyone."

Letting out a high-pitched laugh, she hurried to cover it up as a cough.

"Don't put her on a pedestal," Sere said. "We Slytherins are known for crushing those who get in our way."

"Speak for yourself, I'm a Gryffindor." Seeing the look on his daughter's face, he released a boisterous chuckle. "I'd quite forgotten the age old hatred between our Houses."

"I haven't," Sere winked at her husband. "Makes things much more fun, don't you think?"

Ivy made a face, now understanding why Theya didn't like to watch her parents flirt. She still found it cute, but it also made her feel a bit… icky.

Reginald chortled at her expression. "Severus is around here somewhere. I'm sure Theya and Regulus are nearby as well, why don't you go find them?"

"But I want to stand in awe of my little graduate," Sere protested.

"There'll be plenty of time for that later," he insisted, causing his wife to pout. "We'll see plenty of her until she finds a flat of her own. Won't we, Ivy?"

"You'll see plenty of me after too." She smiled and spread her hands. "You're stuck with me."

"I, for one, am happy to be stuck," Sere's voice trembled as she pulled her into another lung-crushing hug. "I'm so proud of you, dear."

Ivy's laughter was joyous and barely contained.

Being fawned over by parents who actually loved her was turning her to mush.

"Alright," Reginald began peeling Sere off of her. "That's enough. Let her enjoy her youth."

"Ugh," Sere kissed Ivy's temple and dabbed at her eyes. "Fine, fine. Leave my nest, if you must."

Giggling, Ivy turned to go before halting in her tracks to look over her shoulder. "Your presence makes me happier than I thought I could be."

Sere promptly burst into tears.

Reginald made a playful shooing motion at Ivy while enveloping his wife into a comforting embrace.

Sensing that it was indeed time to make a hasty departure, she slunk back into the crowd in search of her mates.

This time around, it didn't take long for her to spot a familiar face.

On the outskirts of the celebration a few metres away, she found Regulus, who looked inexplicably sexy. His stature was stoic, his arms crossed over his fine black dress robes as he tapped his foot impatiently. Before she could wonder why he was irritable, however, the sound of uncontrollable laughter reached her ears.

Approaching her boyfriend, it became clear that Severus found something extremely funny, as he was doubled over in absolute hysterics.

"What's so ruddy amusing?" Ivy quirked a brow at them.

"I-" Regulus's annoyance faded as his eyes raked over her tight-fitting gown. Nevertheless, when Severus released a particularly hearty wheeze, his vexation fell back into place. "Severus, why don't you explain, since you're so fucking dignified right now?"

He only laughed harder, and she was certain that he was making a concerted effort to not roll into the grass. After a moment, though, he gasped for breath and pointed a shaky finger at Regulus's chest, where his Most Likely To Become An Auror badge glowed.

"Ah," Ivy said in mock disappointment. "Unfortunate, that."

"Oh, please," Regulus scowled.

"I told you, it was entirely unprompted."

Severus, hunched over again, lost to the irony.

"Unprompted, eh?" Her boyfriend stepped into her personal space and lowered his voice, dark eyes sparking. "Careful, or you're going to pay for this later."

"I sure hope so," she gave him a wicked grin.

His gaze flicked down to her lips. Then, he wound an arm around her waist and gave her arse a punishing smack.

"Regulus!" She hissed, punching him on the arm. "There are people around! Lots of them!"

"Don't pretend it doesn't turn you on." He brought his hand up to touch the side of her face.

Ivy jumped, feeling cold metal on her cheek.

"You two done flirting?" Severus asked, having returned to normalcy aside from the sweat on his brow.

"No," Regulus said blandly.

Rolling her eyes, Ivy took his hand in hers.

Turning it over for a look at what the cold metal had been, her body went rigid when she saw the ring on his finger. It was clearly an heirloom, as the Black family's sigil was engraved upon it, but that wasn't what had caught her eye.

Light grey ashes floated silently off of it.

"How long have you been wearing this?" She asked. "I've never seen it before."

"Not done flirting, then," Severus sighed.

"I told you we weren't," Regulus retorted. "Would you rather I flirt with you?"

He made a face.

Her boyfriend grinned slowly and pulled his hand away to advance on his best mate. "I think someone is in desperate need of a hug."

Ivy sighed, resigned to bringing up the Anima Vas another time.

"Stay away from me, you git!" Severus dodged Regulus, who tried to tackle him in a bear hug. "Where's Theya when I need her?"

As if on cue, his girlfriend appeared by Ivy's side.

The two wizards continued chasing each other about, and it was clear that her presence had gone unnoticed despite her flamboyantly pink gown.

"Speak of a Greengrass," Ivy said. "And she shall appear."

"Funny how that happens. Reckon I should get involved?"

"But then where would we get our entertainment?"

"From our parents, I suppose? Mum was in a right state when I saw her just now. Did she snot all over you yet?"

"No, but she snotted all over Reginald."

"What prompted that?"

"I told them I was happy they came."

"As a former only child," Theya drawled. "I never thought I'd have to fight for the title of Golden Child. You're starting to make me look bad."

"Maybe you should be nicer to them," Ivy suggested.

"Nah, I'm good."

"Then the title can't mean that much to you, can it?"

"I'll take this," Theya tapped her Most Likely To Have Snogged Everyone In The Room badge. "Any day, over kissing someone's arse."

"I'm not kissing their arses, I happen to like them."

"Sure," she said sweetly. "Little Gilded One."

"What happened to Golden Child? Also, little? I'm older than you - and taller."

"Gilded One has a better ring to it. And since you're older, maybe you should try-"

"So much bickering." The cold voice of Walburga came from behind them. "I expect more from the future Lady Black."

Dislike tunnelled down her spine, but Ivy forced back a snotty response and inclined her head. "Apologies."

"Hmph," Regulus's mother fixed her with a derisive stare. It seemed like she had more to say, but then her gaze flicked over to Regulus, who had Severus in a headlock. And just like that, she was onto her next victim, as she quickly descended upon her son in a flurry of expensive black silk. "What on earth do you think you're doing?"

"Ah, bugger." Regulus released Severus and inclined his head the same way Ivy had. "We were just messing about."

"And the reign of terror continues," Theya muttered under her breath.

Ivy elbowed her in the ribs.

"What is that?" The horrid woman jammed a finger into Regulus's Most Likely To Become An Auror badge. "Are you out of your useless mind? Take that ridiculous thing off!"

He clenched his jaw, evidently fighting off his own deep-seated hatred. "I would, but-"

"I won't have anyone thinking my son is going to be an Auror! Take it off! Now!"

"I can't, it's-"

Walburga snarled, reaching out and yanking the green badge straight off his chest.

"Jinxed," Regulus finished, his dress robes flashing in and out of existence.

Letting out a sound that was somewhere between a hiss and a gasp, his mother slammed the badge back onto his chest, with enough force that he stumbled back.

Ivy had half a mind to Crucio the miserable woman right there in front of everyone, consequences be damned. Her fingers twitched toward the wand strapped to her thigh, but Theya caught her wrist in a vice grip.

"I cannot believe you-" Walburga whacked him hard upside the head while Ivy fought against Theya's unrelenting hold. "Would allow this kind of shame to be brought upon our family; nearly all of the Sacred Twenty-Eight are here! Go take your seat before I decide to curse you in front of all your trifling little friends!"

Regulus clearly knew better than to argue, as he turned on a heel and vanished into the crowd.

Ivy made to follow him, finally pulling out of Theya's impressive and bruising grip.

Before she could take another step in his direction, Walburga appeared in front of her, face alight with anger. The witch grabbed her recently freed arm and squeezed, digging her nails in for purchase.

"That was your influence, wasn't it?" Her face was dark and wild with disdain. "He'd have never done something so insipid in years past - all that has changed is your ever increasing presence! If I see something like that from him again, I will do everything within my power to be rid of you! Is that understood?"

Truely, she didn't know why she was surprised by Walburga's reaction.

Perhaps it was because she knew Regulus far better than his mother ever could, and in knowing him the way she did, she was aware of how very uneasy it was to influence him. In Walburga's eyes, however, he needed protecting from silly girls who might take his focus away from his one true purpose in life: being the Black heir.

Ivy gave a curt nod, as she too knew better than to argue.

"I said," the woman stepped closer, bringing up her other hand to pinch Ivy's chin hard between two fingers. "Is that understood?"

She made a concerted effort to control her tone. "Yes, Lady Black."

Walburga held her gaze for a long moment, as though unsure of whether she should believe her, before releasing her future daughter-in-law. Stepping around her to sweep off into the crowd, she muttered about witless children as she went.

Remaining where she stood, Ivy quelled her fury with thoughts of dragging Walburga down a set of stairs by her hair before severing her head from her body. The thirst for blood was unquenchable, but she knew it could be tamed -or at least restrained- by imagining the kill.

"Ivy," Theya said in a small voice. "Are you alright?"

Snapping back to reality, she shrugged. "Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I'm sorry," Severus raised his brows. "Were you not here for the entirety of that conversation? Or should I say, threat?"

"I was. What's your point?"

"Why the fuck are you so calm?" Theya enunciated.

"You remember Avdima and Rhaen, right?" Ivy waved a hand. "What just happened here with Walburga, was a daily occurrence at Selwyn Estate. There's shouting and threats, then you submit, daydream about their death, and move on."

"That's twisted," Theya said sourly.

"Honestly." Severus looked impressed. "And I thought I had it bad."

"You get used to it," Ivy shrugged and looked around. "Now, who's ready to graduate?"

They exchanged a bewildered look.

---

Leaving the bar counter of the Three Broomsticks in favour of the booth, Ivy let the familiar, cosy ambience of the place wash over her. Walking through the stringy smoke that hung in the air, she noted that the inn was considerably less busy than normal. There were enough occupants to create a steady background chatter, but she and her mates hadn't needed to fight for a table like usual, as the place was half empty.

It made her a bit melancholic, though she couldn't place why.

"You know," Ivy said mildly as she eased into the chair beside Regulus. "I thought graduating would be more fun."

"Me too." Theya, in the booth across from them, had her head on the table.

"There was a lot more sitting around in the heat than I'd expected," Severus agreed from beside his girlfriend.

"And the boredom," Regulus rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Who knew that could be so exhausting?"

"I'm just happy to be out of that dress," Theya spoke into the table. "The straps were digging into my back the entire time."

"No wonder," Ivy said. "The last time you wore it was in fourth year."

"I haven't changed that much, have I?" She lifted her head and blinked blearily.

"Of course you have," Severus said. "You've lost all the baby fat in your cheeks and your legs are longer. Not to mention, you started using more hair products and less beauty spells."

His girlfriend stared at him.

"Still short, though," Ivy said playfully, listening to the front door of the pub kick open.

"It's not my fault you're all so freakishly tall." She folded her arms and slumped in her seat. "I must look like a house elf in comparison."

"You do," Ivy and Severus said at the same time.

Theya made a face at them, before eyeing Regulus. "Not interested in Greengrass bashing today?"

Glancing over at him when he didn't reply, Ivy realised he'd stopped paying attention entirely. Following his gaze, she spotted a mass of faces she didn't like and reflexively groaned.

A whole group of Gryffindors -plus Doe- had spilled merrily into the Three Broomsticks. Potter had a lopsided grin on his face, his arm around Evans's shoulders as he whispered in her ear, earning him a light slap against his chest. Lupin, Pettigrew, and Frank Longbottom had gone to claim a table, while Sirius was paired off with Doe at the bar counter. Closeby, Marlene, MacDonald, and Alice Longbottom née Fortescue had formed their own small group, heads together as they spoke in hushed tones.

"Sirius came for McKinnon and MacDonald's graduation." Regulus said absently.

But not for mine went unspoken.

Taking his hand beneath the table, he jumped at the contact, clearly having forgotten that the rest of them were there. Analysing his aristocratic features, it didn't take long for her to discern that his hurt was deeper than he wanted to let on. She'd suspected as much. Still, it made her want to break Sirius's nose again.

"Well," Severus glanced between Regulus and Ivy. "I think we ought to leave."

"We haven't even gotten our drinks yet," Theya said half-heartedly.

"Well," Ivy said. "All the enjoyment has been sucked out of the room."

"Not like we were enjoying ourselves much anyway," Regulus pointed out, earning mumbles of fatigued agreement. "I'm knackered, let's turn in before they start something I'm not in the mood to finish."

They were quick to stand and gather their jumpers.

Making for the door, their foes' eyes turned to them as they approached.

Feeling Regulus's hand on her lower back, Ivy stared straight ahead with her nose in the air as they silently passed by and out into the night.

Only once the door thwacked closed behind them did she relax. It wasn't just her either, as she could feel the tension ease immediately.

Exchanging a look with Theya, she was about to exhale her relief when she heard it: the door opening behind them.

"Oi!"

Carding a glance over her shoulder as their group slowed to a stop, she watched Sirius jog to catch up with them, long black hair flouncing in the wind.

Behind him, Doe and MacDonald lingered in the open doorway of the inn, seemingly apprehensive as they whispered to each other. Through the foggy window, Ivy could see that they'd gained an additional audience, as the other Marauders were peering out at them. It wasn't at all discreet, though when she caught Pettigrew's eye from behind the glass, he ducked his head and disappeared from sight.

"I'm not in the mood," Regulus said blandly.

"I just wanted to say that I liked the badges," Sirius said. "Doe told me they were your idea."

"Thanks." Her boyfriend's face was cold as he spun on a heel. "Gotta go."

"Hold on," his brother started forward.

Ivy, Theya, and Severus automatically matched the step, flanking Regulus protectively.

"Tell your mates not to get their knickers in a twist." Sirius sounded offended. "I just wanted to talk."

Giving him a scathing look, Ivy couldn't fathom what he thought would happen when he chose to advance on Regulus. Their group was three-fourths Death Eaters, while Sirius's was almost entirely Order members; any interaction was guaranteed to end poorly. Not to mention, she knew for a fact that if their roles were reversed, Sirius would have done the same in preemptive defence of his brainless friends.

"I don't want to talk to you," Regulus said curtly. "You've told me you liked the badges, now fuck off."

"Come on, Reg, I-"

"Don't call me that," he snapped. "You lost any right to address me so casually years ago."

"Always so bloody difficult." Sirius glared at him. "Are you really so self-righteous that we can't even have a civil conversation anymore?"

"He told you to sod off," Ivy hissed. "I've broken your nose once, I'm not above doing it again."

Sirius looked to Regulus expectantly, before his face hardened. "You're going to let her talk to me like that? I'm trying to wave a white flag here. At least, temporarily."

"You murdered her boyfriend," Regulus said coolly. "She can talk to you however she pleases. And anyway, what makes you think I'd entertain any kind of truce?"

"I'm your brother!" He snarled. "Or does that mean nothing to you?"

"Now, I'm your brother?" He laughed mirthlessly. "Get lost before I decide to show you precisely what I think of your brotherhood."

"I can't believe this." Sirius shook his head and turned to leave, before whirling around and stalking over. "You know what? I thought you might be worth saving, but you're just the same as ever! Heartless, petty, and ignorant!"

Seeing a movement near Sirius's waist, Ivy instinctively stepped in front of Regulus.

Within seconds, the eldest Black son had a wand pointed at her chest.

Instantly, three wands pointed steadily back at him.

"Go ahead, Sirius," Ivy said slyly. "Do me in like you did Frederick. Show all your mates that you're not as different from us as you've fooled them into thinking."

Sirius's eyes blazed with hatred and he opened his mouth. "Confrin-"

Suddenly, Doe was between them.

Smacking Sirius's wand out of his grasp with a resounding slap, she placed her hands on his shoulders and shoved him hard. Her dark hair flashed in the dim light of the street as he stumbled back with a stunned look scrawled across his features.

"They told you to piss off," Doe sounded enraged. "Do it, you insolent man!"

Ivy couldn't see her face, but she knew it was quite a sight to behold. All the other Gryffindors had come outside, though only MacDonald had approached with Doe. The rest of them were clearly scared and uneasy.

Not of the Death Eaters, but of the witch who had come to their aid.

Sirius snatched up his wand without argument to rejoin his obnoxious group.

Doe looked over her shoulder apologetically. "I'm sorry, he can be a right git sometimes. Mary, let's go."

"Not yet," MacDonald nodded at Ivy. "I have something to say to her."

"That's not a good idea," she retorted sharply.

"I'm not Sirius," her voice was soft and reassuring. "You don't have to manage me."

Doe considered her for a moment, before shooting Ivy a questioning look.

Inclining her head in response, she watched the Ravenclaw wordlessly stomp back over to the watching crowd. The former Head Girl exchanged a few words with them, then waited in a hauntingly similar way to Professor McGonagall as they went back inside. Sirius was last in the line and tried to speak to her, but Doe put up a hand, silencing him. He walked like a dog with its tail between its legs into the pub, and soon after, the door snapped shut.

Alone on the street with MacDonald and her mates, Ivy nodded to her friends. "Go on, I'll catch up."

"Are you sure?" Regulus asked.

"We can stay," Severus told her.

"Don't worry about Mary, she's decent." Theya ushered them down the road and shouted over her shoulder. "Scream if you need me!"

"I will!" Ivy called.

"I wasn't talking to you!" Theya hollered back as they rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.

Turning back to MacDonald, Ivy levelled her with an exasperated look. "What is it, then?"

"I don't know how," she said slowly. "You manipulated someone as clever as Doe into enjoying the company of your sordid little group, but none of you will fool me. Not even Greengrass."

"Bollocks," Ivy smirked. "How did you know I've been so worried about your opinion?"

"Marlene and Lily," MacDonald continued as though she hadn't spoken. "Might think you have some deeply hidden redeeming qualities because of what you did for me in fourth year, but I know you didn't do it for me."

"Oh?" She tilted her head patronisingly.

"Do you want to know what I think?" She folded her arms, though her shoulders remained thrown back confidently.

"Of course, your thoughts on the matter really mean a lot to me."

"I think you're trying to infiltrate the Order," MacDonald stepped closer, as though trying to intimidate her. "You need to know before your plot goes any further that I won't let that happen. I see you for who you truly are; cruel, manipulative, and worthless to humanity. Marlene and Lily might not see it now, but you can be sure that before I'm through, they will."

Ivy had held back her amusement through the girl's soliloquy, but once it was over, she couldn't contain herself any longer. A tidal wave of manic, crazed laughter erupted from her, making MacDonald narrow her eyes a smidge, though she didn't step away.

It was sorely tempting to tell her that she had an offer to become a member of the Order on the table as they spoke. In fact, she could officially become one tomorrow, if she wanted. And oh, did she want to see the look on MacDonald's face when she ate her self-important words.

"Merlin," Ivy wiped her eyes. "You lot sure are begging for it tonight. Normally, I'd be happy to oblige, but I'm just so bloody tired. Are we done here, then?"

"Yes. We're done," she said firmly, heading back in the direction of the inn.

"Would you do me a favour?" Ivy called after her. "Tell McKinnon and Evans about your theory! I'm picturing their reactions in my head and it's mind-numbingly amusing! Will you do that for me?"

MacDonald gave her a scathing look before disappearing inside the pub.

---

Regulus flopped onto the bed that had been reserved for them at the Hog's Head Inn, releasing a moan of satisfaction despite how hard the mattress was. Ivy was soon to copy him, as he'd waited for her outside the pub while Severus and Theya retired for some alone time.

"Fuuuuuck," her curse was muffled.

"Tell me about it," he turned his head to look at her.

Ivy was facedown on the duvet, white hair spilling messily about.

He thought to continue the conversation, but found that silence was refreshing after such a frenzied day.

Heaving a sigh, he moved to stand beside the bed and readied himself for sleep. Kicking off his shoes and removing his socks, he stripped until he was in his boxers. Stretching his arms overhead, he tensed his muscles with a yawn, then released the tightness.

Making to remove the Black family ring, he caught Ivy's eye.

She was watching him with a sleepy, contented smile, though the expression was replaced with something harder when her gaze dropped to the ring.

Raising a brow, he slipped the adornment off his right middle finger and placed it on the bedside table. "You alright?"

"Yeah," she rolled onto her back. "But just so you know, that ring of yours is an Anima Vas."

"Is it?" He glanced over at the adornment, his dislike for it deepening.

Ever since his initiation, it had given him the creeps.

Not only was he opposed to wearing Black family crests, as he despised most every person in his family, but now it also reminded him of the murder he'd committed. More than that, it taunted him with the thought of Hecate Meriweather's eyes. The girl couldn't have been older than fourteen, which meant that he'd outlived her, and he'd gotten her to cry so profusely that her eyes had almost swollen shut. He didn't even know what colour they had been.

Only after the murder had he learned that Hecate was the name of a Grecian goddess who presided over certain aspects of death. Ever since, he'd developed a recurring nightmare that the goddess was greeting him after he died, bearing the eyes of the Meriweather girl. It haunted him, even during waking hours.

"Why'd you wear it today?" Ivy inquired. "I've never seen it before."

"Walburga made me," he rubbed the back of his neck. "Just like she made me wear it for the initiation."

"That woman makes me sick."

"You and me both."

Ivy watched him for a moment. "I think you should start wearing it. And I don't think you should take it off again."

"Why would I do that? You, of all people, know what that would be like."

"I do. But it could save your life."

"Maybe," Regulus said hesitantly. "Does it have to be on me in order to save my life? Couldn't I just keep it in a locked box, buried two metres underground where I'd never have to see it again?"

"I don't know," she chewed her lip. "But I do know that Anima Vases don't protect against instant deaths, meaning they need time in order to work. At least, that's what I gather… I worry that if you don't have it on you, proximity could be an issue. What if something happened, and because you weren't near enough to the Anima Vas, seconds that could have saved your life, didn't save it?"

"But I don't want to wear it," he grumbled, as it was his only defence against her irritably reasonable logic.

"Well, I want you alive. Tell me, which dilemma do you think is more pressing?"

"Fine," he rolled his eyes and made a show of sliding the ring back onto his right middle finger. "Just know that I'm doing it with an air of protest."

"As you wish," Ivy laughed. "Now, are you planning to get into bed, or must I ogle you from afar?"

"I'm coming." Regulus grinned and knelt on the mattress, leaning back on his heels. "So long as I get to ogle you too."

"That can be arranged."

Sitting up, she moved closer and pushed his knees apart to kneel between his legs.

Reaching a hand out to begin undressing his far too clothed girlfriend, she slapped his hand away with a coy look that said: You're not allowed to touch me. Yet. He raised a brow but acquiesced her demand and watched as she unbuttoned her black robes, subsequently tossing them aside. Her trousers followed quickly, leaving her in just a black oxford shirt that was, unfortunately, long enough to conceal her knickers.

Nevertheless, a whiny sound rose in his throat at the mouth-watering sight of Ivy. Her elbow-length white hair was straight down her back, aside from the top half that had been wound into a bun. The Thestral pin was just there, hidden among the black ribbons he was eyeing ravenously.

As much as he wanted to pull them from her hair, he was quickly distracted when she began unbuttoning her shirt. When she was through, his eyes possessively roamed the slope between her breasts, which were still concealed by either side of the open shirt. Her black knickers were visible now, and he took in her toned thighs, which he very much wanted to be in between.

Regulus shifted forward onto the caps of his knees. One hand slid beneath her shirt onto her hip, eliciting a breathy noise from his girlfriend, while his other reached up to wind itself around one of the ends of her ribbons.

Looking into her silver hues, he smiled at all he could see in their depths: love, fire, cruelty, and desire. Tugging gently on the ribbons, satisfaction washed over him as her hair tumbled out of place.

They exhaled shaky breaths at the same time.

Before he could draw another, she blurted: "I never let Frederick do that."

"Huh?" He blinked, taken aback.

"He always wanted to," Ivy said hurriedly, almost guiltily. "But I never let him."

"Why not?" Regulus was certain he already knew her answer, so he used his hand on her hip to press her against him. Tossing the ribbons aside, he tilted her head and placed worshipping, bruising kisses onto her hot skin with the blatant intent to claim.

"Every time he tried, I just…" her eyes fluttered closed, fingers moving to graze over his chest as she pressed her hips into his. "Stopped him."

"Mm," he murmured against her lavender-scented skin. Slowly pushing the shirt off her shoulders, she arched into his touch as he moved his nipping kisses down her throat and between her breasts.

"I felt like I had to." Her voice was dreamy, as though she no longer knew what she was talking about.

"I see." Moving his mouth to hover a centimetre away from one of her nipples, Regulus breathed gently and watched her legs quiver, listening to her whimper for his touch. Granting her wish, he leaned forward to pull the pink peak into his mouth, sucking and flicking his tongue over its apex.

"He… And I…" Her head rolled back.

Drawing one of his hands up to take a fistful of her soft hair as he lavished intention upon her breast, he gently guided her head until he could watch every glorious effect he had on her. Eyes closed, her brow was furrowed and her lips were parted in just the way he had anticipated.

Perfect, Regulus thought as his other hand slipped between her legs to caress her. "Are you done talking about Frederick now?"

"Quite," she breathed.

Opening her eyes, Ivy began pushing him until his back hit the mattress. Straddling his waist, she crushed her mouth against his as if she could no longer take the distance. Rubbing herself against his increasing hardness, he gripped her arse, causing her to moan deliciously against his mouth.

When she bit down on his bottom lip, he moaned back and pushed his pelvis up into hers.

Her mouth left his and he released a throaty sound of indignation.

But when her soft lips began returning his earlier favour of leaving love bites all down his throat and torso, the indignance was replaced with a feeling that went straight to his groin. She laughed against his skin as though she'd noticed, and ground her core down his length, slow and hard.

"You know," Regulus moaned. "I told Ariadne that I loved her when she drugged me."

Ivy halted her tantalising work and looked up at him with a frown. "Do you have any idea how much of a mood killer that is?"

"If you'd have let me finish," he laughed breathlessly. "I would've added that I had been saving those words for you."

"Oh. Go on then." She tossed her hair, causing her pert breasts to bounce and his cock to twitch.

"I'm still furious," his eyes raked over the expanse of flesh he couldn't wait to claim. "That you weren't the first and only one to hear those words. I think that's what you meant; you were saving the ribbons for me."

"Oh?" Running her fingers down his chest, she leaned over him. Hair creating an intimate white curtain around their faces, she reached down between them. Springing his length free from his boxers, she moved aside her knickers and lowered herself down onto him in one swift, satisfying movement.

"Using my own games against me," Regulus growled. "You evil little witch."

"You've no idea." She sighed happily and tossed her head back.

Resisting the urge to slam into her with pure abandon, he brought his hands behind his head to enjoy the view. Her lithe body rolled against his, small tits bouncing with her every stroke, graceful and undeniably beautiful. With each swirl and snap of her hips, he fell more in love with her, just as he did with every passing moment they spent together.

He'd come to find in their recent time together, that loving her in all her imperfect perfection was what turned him on the most. His desires could no longer be met without her, and although it remained unspoken, he knew she felt the same.

"Are you just going to sit here and watch?" Ivy panted, slamming her pelvis down on him as though in playful punishment. "Or are you going to do something useful with your hands?"

"As you wish."

When he sat up, she wrapped her legs around his waist as his hands roamed her svelte body. Fingers sliding over her hips to grip her arse as she rode him, he began meeting her in a steady rhythm of thrusts. Latching his mouth onto one of her breasts and sucking hard the way he knew she liked, she released a needy whimper that signalled her nearness to orgasm.

Knowing that he was inside of her was near enough to make him come, but he wasn't finished until she was finished. Pressing her tight against him as pleasure curled up his spine, he began feeling her walls clench around him.

Releasing her tit as his cock began to pulsate with waves of euphoria, he tried to push back the peak of rapture to watch her face. Ivy came on Regulus hard, snapping her hips ferociously, and he immediately reached his apex at the sight. Spilling himself into her as she whispered his name mindlessly, he let fulfilment wash over him. It was only made better by watching her; her cheeks were pink and her face was tight as she whimpered her release, strands of sweaty white hair sticking to her wide forehead as she gave a final swirl of her hips and a slow, satisfied breath.

In the aftermath, he cleaned their mess with a quick Scouring Charm, before nestling under the covers.

Propping his head up on a hand, she snuggled into him and began tracing her finger lightly along his chest, which was marked with blooming hickeys. The slow sensation sent tingles through him and he smiled faintly at the thought of being loved this way for the rest of his life.

"You know," Regulus said softly. "I've been wearing your tie since fifth year."

Looking up at him, she raised her brows. "What do you mean?"

"Remember that time Severus, Theya, and Ariadne caught us in the abandoned classroom? You know, when things went to shite between us."

"Unfortunately," she sighed.

"Well," he watched her face. "We were in such a rush to get out of there that we mixed up our ties and I took yours. Didn't realise until a while later that IES was embroidered on the inside of mine."

"No way." She rolled out of bed, only wearing her knickers, and walked over to her trunk which was leaned beside the door. Snapping it open, she dug through it until she found her tie. Turning it over, she inspected it. "How did I never notice your initials? More importantly, why'd you never say anything? You despised me back then, I'm surprised you didn't want it back."

"I've never despised you, Iv." He chuckled and sat up. "I was hurt, there's a difference. And, anyway, I didn't tell you because I didn't want to. It was comforting to have something of yours when we weren't talking."

"Was it?" She bent over, giving him a quite pleasant view of her arse as she put away the tie. Snapping the trunk closed, she returned to the bed and climbed under the covers with an adorable little shiver.

"Of course," Regulus smiled. "When Ariadne and I were together, did you ever see her adjusting my tie?"

"Constantly."

"Right. Well, being with her was a nightmare on its own, but I hated the tie fixing bullshit more than any of her other irritating habits because it was your tie."

"I see," Ivy gave him a lopsided smile. "While we're confessing things, I should probably tell you that I intend to kill Ariadne one day."

"Not if I get to her first."

"Just know that if I see an opportunity, I'm taking it."

"As you should," he leaned back into the hard pillows. "You never did like Ariadne much. Even before she turned barmy."

"She never won my loyalty." Snuggling into his chest, she fastened his arms around her, making him smile. "Not really. She never did anything to earn it."

"What did we do to earn it - Severus, Theya, and I? You were on board with us practically from the beginning."

"You three made me laugh."

"Your loyalty is very easily won," Regulus teased.

"It's not," she snorted. "You all eased my suffering in a way I can't describe. I suppose what it comes down to is that I could be more myself when with you lot than anyone else. Even when I tried to hide things, I kept letting them slip because the only thing worse than letting it all out would've been to lose you because you didn't know the truth."

He supposed that was what tethered their group together; no one else wanted them. Additionally, they hated the world and most everyone in it. All four of them were dark and twisted in their own way. Most of all, they loved each other because they were that way.

"I want to marry you," he blurted.

Ivy laughed, hard, and shifted to look at him. "Is that supposed to be a proposal?"

"No," Regulus said confidently. "It's a pre-proposal. I know we're already engaged, but this is me asking if you want to be, er, actually married to me. Beyond the title and what's expected of us, if I asked you to truly marry me, would you say yes?"

"I would," she positively beamed.

Despite not having been particularly worried about her answer, relief flooded through his veins, warm and impossibly happy. "In that case, expect a proper proposal, with a ring."

"I will." Ivy grinned and slid a hand around the back of his head to pull him in for a long-lasting kiss. He was still smiling ear-to-ear when she pulled away. "We'll have a lot of planning to do, but Narcissa's decided to host a bridal shower for me in October. That's one thing off the list."

"No lists," Regulus groaned and laid his head on her chest, wrapping an arm tightly around her waist. "Can't we give it a few weeks before we do all that?"

"Not a problem," she stroked his hair. "I think Narcissa's just trying to take her mind off things anyway. Her fertility treatments still aren't working. Seems like every time she's put on a new one, she decides to host an event in order to distract herself."

"Yeah," he frowned. "I have a feeling Lucius punishes her for it."

"What?" She sat up quickly, jostling him out of his comfortable position. "Why'd you never tell me that?"

"Because I can't confirm it. It's just a suspicion. She flinches a lot when people try to touch her. You've never noticed?"

"I have, but she's always seemed a little twitchy. I never knew whether it was because of someone or if she was just like that. But if it's Lucius's doing…"

"I think it is," Regulus pursed his lips. "She wasn't like that before they married."

"So many people to kill," Ivy sighed. "And so little time."

"We'll get there eventually." He rolled onto his back and let out an exhausted, whiny sound. "This bed is awful."

"At least there aren't any fleas."

"That we know about."

---

June 17th, 1979

The sun was starting to rise over the lush mountains in the distance. Shades of coral pinks and bright oranges were being reflected on the Black Lake when Ivy looked over her shoulder. The looming castle looked tinged with pink too, as though the stone was a mirror of its surroundings as well.

Circling the great castle in favour of its entrance with Regulus and Theya, she gazed up at the towers of her former home. Hogwarts had once seemed so big to her, and while it remained a fortress, the prospect of it was less daunting. She knew what was within, had trudged through nearly every corridor, grumbling about being late for class.

Now, she wished she'd treasured it more; Ivy didn't know the next time she would return, but she knew that when she did, it would not be the same.

Even as they stepped through the double oak doors to enter the school, a mere twenty-four hours after having graduated, the place felt strange and different.

This, however, may have been due to the fact that it was vacant. Not only were there no students, Professors, or ghosts bustling within, but all the picture frames were empty. The Entrance Hall was eerily silent aside from their footsteps.

It felt heavy.

"Is anyone else creeped out?" Theya asked quietly.

"Very," Regulus said.

Ivy nodded her assent, almost feeling as though she shouldn't speak. It seemed to her that doing so might be an affront, considering that the school's usual loudness had vanished like ash into the wind. She wasn't sure where the instinct was coming from, or whether it was accurate, but nevertheless, she decided to keep silent.

Vague chiming of the Clock Tower reached her ears, signalling that they were late.

Exchanging a look with Regulus and Theya, they headed in the direction of the Grand Staircase.

As they headed up it, Ivy felt an aching sort of nostalgic sadness settle into her. The school had clearly been entirely emptied, as she didn't spot a single face -framed or otherwise- on their way up to the second floor. Nor did she see any signs of life when she took a curious look upward. The stairs too were stationary, and when Theya forgot about a trick step, her foot didn't go through.

None of them commented on it as they reached the second floor and made for the Gargoyle Corridor, even though Ivy thought she knew what had happened.

It appeared to her that the school truly was a reflection of its surroundings. Or, perhaps more accurately, its inhabitants. Now that all the unruly school children had left for the summer -or, in cases such as theirs, indefinitely- all the mischief that came with them was gone as well.

As far as the missing Professors, ghosts, and portraits went, she suspected that Dumbledore had purposefully banished them due to their meeting.

Arriving at the entrance to the Headmaster's Tower, Theya stepped forward. "Earwax-Flavoured Bertie Bott's Beans."

The huge, rather ugly gargoyle stepped aside wordlessly.

Making quick work of the stairs, Ivy found that the doors at the top were already open.

Within the circular room, Dumbledore was seated at his large desk, before which three chairs sat. All portraits remained empty and the many windows let in a hazy morning glow. The Pensieve's stone basin was hidden in an alcove of the office, its ancient jewels twinkling when the light hit them just right. The Headmaster's spindly tables holding various instruments were still in use, whirring and puffing to create the only sound in the place aside from their footsteps as they approached.

The door swung closed behind them of its own accord, but Ivy was warily focused on the very old-looking phoenix perched beside Dumbledore's desk. When it looked at her and didn't instantly die, a little more pep bounced into her step.

"Finally," she said triumphantly. "I was getting quite tired of-"

The crimson phoenix made a gagging noise and spontaneously burst into flames.

Ivy's eye twitched and she unleashed a torrent of foul-mouthed curses, causing Regulus and Theya to look frantically between her and the Headmaster.

Dumbledore merely smiled and motioned towards the armchairs as Ivy finished her bad-tempered tirade. "Please, be seated."

"Ruddy bird," Ivy muttered under her breath as she and her companions complied with his order. "Does it on purpose."

"That he does," the Headmaster's blue eyes twinkled from behind his half-moon spectacles. "Which brings us to our reason for convening today. The Order of the Phoenix."

Theya shifted in her chair as though uncomfortable.

"If you would allow me a moment," Dumbledore continued. "I would like to declare my proposal. In no uncertain terms, to be sure that we are all clear on what is being offered."

They mumbled their assent.

"I would like to offer the three of you the opportunity to join the ranks of my Order. You would be official members, declared to all in the organisation as our own. Although I cannot guarantee that you wouldn't have a difficult time amongst the others, you would have my trust, and thus, my protection. Should you accept, it would be with the knowledge that my protection can only extend so far, as all of you would be in momentous danger at all times. I daresay, more danger than any other Order member. Your roles would be as they have been; maintaining loyalty to the values that have caused you to earnestly consider my offer. In addition, you would report your activities in relation to Lord Voldemort-"

All three of his former students flinched.

"And his Death Eaters to me. You would likely be asked to say or do things that you normally would not - and you would be expected to do them. Refusing is within your right, but the consequences of not doing as instructed could be fatal to other Order members, as well as to the general population. It is for this reason that I expect you all to consider that point in particular, thoroughly before giving your answers."

Ivy had to admit, he was a master with terminology. Unfortunately for him, she was too. All the hidden meanings behind his cleverly spoken words were clear, as though he'd had the candour to say what he actually meant.

"This offer," the Headmaster went on. "Is made to Ms. Selwyn as I have just spoken it. For Ms. Greengrass and Mr. Black, it is proposed with the caveat that you would first undergo questioning while willingly under the influence of Veritaserum. This questioning would be enacted in confidence; only I would be present and I would not share your thoughts with any other."

There were several beats of silence, in which Ivy felt Theya and Regulus's eyes shift to her.

Ivy met her boyfriend's gaze first. His expression was firm and would be unreadable to most. She, however, was of a very similar mind to his own and knew him well. Therefore, she saw in his dark hues that she and him were decidedly on the same page.

In turn, she met Theya's gaze. Her expression was blatantly longing, almost pleading. Ivy knew instantly that if she declined Dumbledore's proposition, as she was evidently being given the power to do, there would be a fracture between her and her best mate. She could sense some form of anger building in the golden-haired witch, like the smell of rain before a downpour.

Facing forward, she took a breath. "I'm afraid we must respectfully decline."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Theya turn her head away.

The motion was definitive, like a knife twisting in her gut, and she knew damage had been done.

"However," Ivy continued. "We have a counter proposition. If you agree to two terms, I will tell you about a traitor in your midst and provide proof."

If the Headmaster was surprised, he only showed it by tilting his head a centimetre. "What are your terms?"

"First, that you ensure the traitor be exposed in a manner that cannot be traced back to the three of us. Second, that you let your offer stand for us to join your Order, as we may change our minds in the future."

Dumbledore inclined his head. "I agree to your terms. What proof do you have to show me?"

Rising from her chair, Ivy walked over to the Pensieve. "The most unbeatable kind in existence."

---

The trio stepped out onto the grounds, the double oak doors swinging shut behind them. The sun had risen into the sky, beating summertime heat down onto their shoulders, though the grass remained dewy underfoot.

Ivy looked over at Theya and Regulus, taking in the worried, apprehensive expressions on their faces. She could tell that they were still digesting the weighted finality of their choices.

The knowledge that from here on out, the three of them were truly on their own.

Standing silently on the steps between them, she let her anxiety consume her.

Something had happened between her and Theya back in the Headmaster's Office. It was something she couldn't put her finger on, but she knew it was there. A rift had opened between them, and while she hoped that it was small, she also knew that it needed to be remedied before it turned into a gaping chasm.

"Theya," she started.

The moment she spoke, the golden-haired witch took off in a brisk walk down the hill. Hair fluttering and gleaming in the wind, Ivy could almost see a sparking red haze around her, like the aura she'd seen on Doe a few nights prior.

"What did I do?" Tears welled up in her eyes and her throat closed. "I don't understand."

"You made her choice for her," Regulus said quietly.

"She let me."

He pursed his lips. "She doesn't see it that way. Even if you're right, even if you have her best interests at heart, all she sees is that you're controlling her."

"I'm not trying to," she said hopelessly, wiping her eyes. "I'm just trying to do what I think is right. And Dumbledore controlling her, isn't right. He would take advantage of her - she's too good to see that."

"I know," Regulus agreed. "But I think Theya's done letting decisions be made for her. You and I came to that point too, remember? She's just taken a little longer than us."

"But before we reached equilibrium, we both made some incredibly poor choices."

"True, but the choices were ours. Maybe just…"

"Back off?" She asked weakly.

"Both of us have made plenty of daft choices that she disagrees with. Maybe it's time she made some for herself."

That was precisely what worried her. She trusted Theya's judgement, but this was not the time to start making daft choices. Now, more than ever, they needed to be in agreement. They needed to be wiser than any of them had been in the past if they wanted to make it out alive.

Chewing her lip, Ivy looked back down the hill at where Theya had gone.

Her golden hair had disappeared from sight.

END OF BOOK ONE : COLD, BRILLIANT, AND UTTERLY STILL