After dealing with the tearful mess in the infirmary, Severus accompanied Dumbledore to the guest room hidden near the headmaster's office. They walked in to find Bennett sitting at a desk piled with ash and inkstains.

"I see you've been redecorating. Will you be adding brimstone, too, to make it more homely?"

"Ha-ha." The girl rolled her eyes. "They're just old draft letters. No point in keeping them."

"Hiding evidence, more like it."

"Severus, please." Dumbledore lifted a placating hand. "How are you feeling, Miss Bennett?"

She gave a nervous smile. "Better, now. Thank you for sending Fawkes. He helped a lot."

"Fawkes?" An awkward pause followed before Dumbledore continued. "I never asked him to come here."

"Oh." She blinked a few times. "Well, that was nice of him, regardless." Suddenly, the room was engulfed in a flare of light and flame. When the flame subsided, it revealed Dumbledore's phoenix within. "Well speak of the devil!" Snape flinched inwardly at the comment. "Did you find them all alright?" The bird trilled in answer, and the girl smiled. "That's a relief. Thanks for your help."

Both wizards watched the exchange -and subsequent cuddling- with varying levels of shock. Dumbledore spoke haltingly. "Fawkes is awfully taken with you."

"He sensed a kindred spirit with me." She said while smiling affectionately at the phoenix. "Not that I'm a noble heart or anything like that, but it's not everyday you meet someone else who can..." She shrugged. "Well, you know."

"Yes. As you can imagine, we do have some questions about that."

"Of course." She frowned slightly. "Though I should probably start off by letting you know that I don't have any memories of being dead."

Severus narrowed his eyes. "Yet you know that you've had a past life?"

Bennet lifted her hands with a shrug. "I remember dying. One minute I'm falling off a bridge, next thing I know I'm a naked newborn. Everything in between is a blank. I'm not even sure how long it lasted."

"When did you die?" Dumbledore asked.

Bennett cringed at the question. "That's where things get tricky… It was on April 17th, 2022."

"Two thousand twenty-two?"

"April 17th?"

Bennett looked at Snape oddly. "Yeah… is something wrong with April 17th?"

Severus sneered at her. "That was yesterday."

"Oh." She cringed deep into her shoulders. "That's awkward. How is everyone doing today?"

"We can talk about the others later." Dumbledore said. "How can one die in the future, only to be born in the past?"

"Future is a term I'd use loosely. I'm not entirely sure that this is the same world, let alone the same timeline."

"What do you mean?"

"I was a muggle back then, and I'd never been to Britain, so what I knew back then clashes a lot with what I know now. Considering all that, you can imagine how hard it is to tell if this is just the past or another universe entirely."

Severus reeled over the explanation. The idea of this woman being a muggle is laughably absurd. Yet he was far more thrown by the suggestion of future and alternate worlds.

Dumbledore continued after a moment of pondering. "The demon working with you mentioned that the… other demon came from an alternate dimension." Dumbledore grimaced slightly at having to avoid Bill Cipher's name. Unfortunately for them, it was a necessary precaution to avoid the name in Bennett's presence.

Bennett offered a nod. "That makes sense. The others all originate from different realms."

"And how, pray tell, were you able to enlist them?" Severus demanded.

"I can't answer that."

He scoffed. "Can't, or won't?"

She glowered back at him. "Both." She turned back to Dumbledore. "So you can understand my confusion over whether or not this is the same world as my last life."

"Of course. Though… does this mean that you do not have seer abilities? Is it only knowledge from your past life that guides you?"

"Yes and no. Some things are similar in the muggle world that I'm familiar with from the past. But everything else…" She offered a helpless shrug, "Some quirk of being magical, I suppose, or by being a reincarnate. Honestly, when I was a kid I thought I'd been reborn in a sci-fi world like the X-Men or something."

Severus shook his head with exasperation. "You mean to tell me you thought you were a mutant?" The girl cannot possibly be that blind?!

She reacted in equal measure. "Hey, telekinesis and precognition are totally sci-fi! How was I supposed to guess that I'm a broomstick-and-owl witch?"

"We're getting off topic." Dumbledore interrupted. "To be clear, your born knowledge of the future is limited to the muggle world, and all else is dependent on seer abilities?"

The girl nodded. "I never knew that magic was real in my past life."

"I see." Dumbledore pulled out his wand. "May I conduct some tests?"

Her eyes narrowed. Almost hatefully she answered, "Not with that wand."

The comment confused Severus. Yet that confusion only brought forth more questions as Dumbledore smiled gently and spoke. "Ah, you can sense it, can you?"

"Vaguely. It's more obvious when it's in use."

"And what of Mister Potter's cloak?"

"Same thing." She sighed in answer. Then she shuddered while adding "But, ugh, it's so gross putting it on!"

"What are you two talking about?" Severus asked. At his question, Dumbledore and Bennett exchanged knowing looks. An act which sowed a level of dread within him. It expounded further when Dumbledore gave his answer.

First demons, then reincarnation, now it seems that the Deathly Hallows are more than a bedside fairytale?!

Now massaging his temple, Severus confirmed the absurdity that is now his life. "And you're telling me not only that you can sense a Hallow, but that Potter is in possession of the fabled invisibility cloak?"

Dumbledore answered the latter. "That cloak has been in the Potter family's possession for generations, and has not faded with time. When James Potter lent it to me all those years ago, I studied it and have more or less confirmed that it is the same cloak of legend."

He shuddered inwardly at the thought. The thought that James Potter of all people was once in possession of a Hallow! ...Now that he thought about it, that would explain certain… oddities about his Hogwarts years. No wonder he never got caught by the professors, the smug bastard!

"...Though it seems the younger Mister Potter is now in dual possession of the Hallows."

Severus's mind did a double-take at the odd comment. "Come again?"

"You recall, Severus, what happened when I attempted to obliviate Miss Bennett's mind."

Bennett muttered under her breath. "Hurt like a bitch."

That said, Severus hardly heard it. The events of yesterday played over in his mind with newfound horror. "You can't be serious?!"

"Oh, he can," Bennett answered. Her voice spoke in a way that was confidently dejected.

The voice caught the Headmaster's notice, too. "Was that meant to happen?"

"Not until after you die, and that's years off. Though at this rate I should stop being surprised when Harry does something to mess with the future. I swear, that kid is full of surprises."

I'm sorry, what?!

"So you're saying that it's... common, for young Harry to act in a way that defies fate?"

"Yeah…" She grimaced through her teeth. "You might not want to put all your eggs on Trelawney's prophecy. I make no promises over how that's gonna turn out."

Severus' heart nearly stopped at that moment. That she would so casually, so blatantly speak of Sybil's prophecy… He turned to Dumbledore briefly, though the other man kept his focus to Bennett, a deep frown on his face. It's no wonder. With talk of demons and reincarnation, being out of one's depth is entirely understandable. But to find that all of your planning, your precious secrets, might be thrown to the wayside? Their future is truly, fully, out of their depth.

Through a brief float through the contents of her mind, Melissa arrived at the entrance of a carnival attraction. Beyond the door lay a series of hallways, each with a unique trap that requires careful navigating in order to survive them. A dangerous trek to be sure, like the layered labyrinth she had once constructed for her memories. Fortunately for Melissa, she has since learned the value of adding a shortcut.

"I've come to give Grief her due."

The door to the carnival attraction shifted. What was once metal had now turned to wood. Turning the handle, she stepped inside to find Lucifer waiting for her. A teasing smile on his face.

"How was your conversation with the future dead men?"

"Better than I expected, though highly uncomfortable all the same." She joined him at the constructed table. "It took too many truths to make the lies sound convincing. I've tipped my hand too far. One word from Salvatore or Torrero-Ramirez can reveal everything."

"Those two will know the full truth by this summer. That's inevitable."

"Yes, but better two than four." With a flick of her hand a tray of bottles and shot glasses appeared. She filled two glasses and handed one to Lucifer. "Firewhiskey. A conjuring from memory, but the effects ought to be similar."

Though doubtful, he offered an amused smile. "Will this even work on me?"

"Well at this point I figure if you can possess me, you can probably drink, too. Prost!" She clinked their glasses and tipped back the contents. Closing her eyes, she felt the familiar burning rage down her throat. The effect was somewhat muted, though, phantom and dreamlike in its sensation. Still, life is shit and this is whiskey. She'll take what she can get. As the burning somewhat subsided, her eyes opened slowly. "There's going to be a trial for what I've done."

"For what he did." Lucifer corrected.

She shook her head. "Doesn't matter. It's still my body, my wand, that killed Runcorn and Avery."

"Be that as it may, belief is a powerful thing. If you believe that you caused those deaths, then they'll use that against you to win the trial."

"They're going to win anyway. The victims are all purebloods. Dumbledore can try to help all he wants, but with the right questions and the right bribes I'll be packed and shipped off by the day's end."

"With the right questions and the right bribes, you can be found not guilty. Useful, seeing as you aren't guilty in the first place."

Melissa gave a pained smile. "You're really going to push that idea, aren't you?"

"Someone has to." Taking the bottle, Lucifer poured them each a drink. "You have a mind full of predictions and possibilities. Politicians will want to capitalize on that."

"Alleged predictions." She countered.

"Prized and sought for by Albus Dumbledore himself." He said with a smirk. After downing his drink, he continued. "Not only that, Snape saw him in your mind. He fought him, and lost. I saw the way that man reacted. He was terrified when he realized what I am. Terrified of the memory of that creature he fought, the same creature that tortured and used those children." Lucifer leaned in close, pushing a claw against Melissa's heart. "They believe that I'm real. They believe that that monster was real. They believe that you are what you say you are. That's what matters. That's what will keep you from the executioner's block. So long as they and the rest of the world believes, you'll be safe."

"Belief." She uttered the word, followed quickly by an airy laugh. "You realize the irony that you of all people are preaching about belief?"

Lucifer grinned, pointing skyward. "Belief is what keeps those idiots in God's good graces. Lack of belief is what sent me to Hell."

"Among other things." The two snickered at the tease. Taking a small break, they poured another round and went awash with fire in their insides. During that time, Melissa contemplated the Devil's words. "I'll have to do that, won't I? Fight back, try to be free?"

"I should certainly hope so."

"I'll have to expose my knowledge to the rest of the world."

"A small price to pay for freedom."

"And what then? Live with people watching my every move? Family and friends looking at me with betrayal and suspicion? Enemies waiting for a chance to curse me behind my back? Is that even living?"

Silence answered her. Then came a tapping, a single claw rhythmic against the table. Lucifer taking time to contemplate an answer. "...Might I break a rule between us? A small hint of the future you left in my charge."

She shrugged lightly. "I suppose so. The floor's yours."

"...If you end things here, get shipped off to a soulless prison with little contact with the outside world, our future path leads to Harry on the wrong end of a killing curse."

Melissa sat up straight. "What? That can't be right! He's- he's the hero, the prophecy- he wins!"

"He wins, and he dies."

"That- that doesn't make sense!" She got up from the table, searching around for the memory orbs. "Where? Show me where it is!" A hand snapped around her wrist tightly, pulling it away from the shelves. "No! Let me go!"

Lucifer spun her around, pinning her wrists against the table. "Listen to me! The only way you can help Harry is to win and live! Win the trial, stay alive, and when you turn fifteen I will show you everything you hid from yourself."

"Why?! Why wait?! This- this is my mind. You should listen to me!"

"I am." Softening his expression, Lucifer placed a hand on her shoulder. "A year ago you made me, and made me swear on my life to keep these memories from you until your birthday. This is non-negotiable. You're making me do this, not just to keep yourself safe, but to keep Harry safe." Lucifer offered a gentle smile. "So win. Win and survive, and in two month's time I'll tell you everything you need to know."

Melissa sniffed, pushing a stray tear from her eye. "You promise?"

"Cross my heart, and hope to die." He answered playfully, his free hand mimicking the promise against his heart.

"...Isn't that your plan, anyways?"

"More or less. The señora is certainly motivated anyways." Releasing her other hand, Lucifer straightened himself up. "Now, are you ready to go back to the waking world, or should I pour you another drink?"

Melissa paused to settle her emotions. "I think… I need another drink."

"Here." A shot glass ended up in her hand, quick as the word. With a "Prost!" a final clink set it on its way.

It's serendipitous that the death day is mention in this week's post. Why does April 17th matter? Because I started writing this story on April 17th, 2018 & April 17th, 2022 was Easter Sunday (a.k.a. Resurrection Sunday!) I'm not Christian, but considering this story's first chapter began on Easter Weekend, the coincidence was too funny to resist.