Chapter 33
Magical Number 7
"Albus? Blimey, you've truly aged, haven't you?" Slughorn exclaimed in surprise as he looked at Dumbledore.
"You looked better, with a shorter beard...if I'm being honest..." Slughorn commented absent-mindedly.
"Age is but a journey, my dear Horace. It treats some kindly, and others..." Albus chuckled.
"Alright, alright! I didn't ask for one of your mysterious sermons!" Slughorn interjected, swatting the air dismissively.
"Why are you here? And how did you find me?" He inquired, peering at Dumbledore.
"Your cousin Augusta sends her regards." Lyra chimed in.
Slughorn regarded her with slight wonderment. Lyra recognized that look; she had seen it on many faces before. She instantly knew he was about to fawn over her.
"You're...you're Lyra Marks, aren't you?" He exclaimed with extreme surprise.
"Yes, sir...uh...I am..."
"Oh, please, call me Horace!"
"I remember you...from all those news clipping in the Daily Prophet...what in the world are you doing here?"
"And why is the American Dumbledore looking for a humble potions master like me?" He asked chuckling, puffing his chest slightly.
Lyra's nostrils flared as she tried to gain a grip on herself. She really didn't like that wretched nickname. She could feel Albus looking at her amusedly. She knew what he was thinking. It was surprising how, unwittingly Rita Skeeter had drawn a completely honest parallel. Probably, the only honest piece of information, that had ever left her quill.
"Please! JUST CALL...just call me...Lyra...and to answer your question, sir..."
"Oh, you want me for one of your American missions, do you? Finally, that useless Mackleby boy got MACUSA to admit that I was the man you needed on your potions team!"
"Uh...not quite, sir. And Mr. Mackleby is far from useless at MACUSA!" Lyra replied staunchly. Mackleby was one of the heads of MACUSA's plants and potions regulatory body. He was a good friend to Zenia, and a repeat customer of her apothecary. He was also someone Lyra met frequently down at a local Boston watering hole.
"Horace, we are here on rather urgent business. You have something we need." Albus said, cutting through the small talk.
Slughorn laughed loudly.
"Look at my state, Albus! What makes you think I have anything worth giving? I am hiding in a muggle house, constantly under the threat of being demolished. I am being hunted like an animal by Death Eaters! No one is ready to lend support; all they offer are false promises, but never any actual help, after everything I've done for them!" He spat out bitterly.
"You still have a wealth of knowledge to share, sir. Knowledge that none of us, but you, possesses." Snape finally spoke as he walked out of the shadows and joined the group of three.
"Severus Snape—Merlin! Look how you've grown!" Slughorn smiled at the man, and Severus nodded in acknowledgment.
"Mr. Slughorn...there is something crucial that we need..." Lyra began.
Severus placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, prompting her to pause and look at him. He then waved his wand, and the house began to rattle dangerously. Every broken shard and piece suddenly came to life, moving past each other like an organized army, returning to their original positions and fixing themselves. Lyra smiled; she had never seen a repairing charm work so precisely. The lights in the house returned, the dust disappeared, the torn couches stitched themselves up, and the entire room looked possibly better than before Slughorn had found it. Severus then waved his wand over the old professor. His striped pajamas transformed into a dark green suit, and his unkempt mustache trimmed itself to a more respectable length. The shabby man before them was now restored to his former glory.
"That's better, sir. You look just as you did when I was in school." Severus complimented.
Slughorn seemed to choke back a response. Lyra realized that this was probably the kindest anyone had been to the old man in a long time. She understood what Snape was doing; those things they said about Slytherin house were probably true. Snape was indeed very cunning. He had just managed to win the man's trust with a simple compliment and a few clever spells. She took a step back, recognizing the need to let Severus lead this conversation.
"This is all lovely, Severus. Thank you! You were always a very kind boy, even if you hardly ever showed it." Slughorn said, looking proudly at his former pupil.
"I followed in your footsteps, sir. I'm currently the Potions Master and head of Slytherin at Hogwarts."
"My—I never thought I'd have such a significant impact on your life, my boy!"
"Yes, sir. But you did." Severus replied, concealing his true feelings.
"What can I do for you?" Slughorn asked softly, his ego momentarily satisfied.
"I will let Ms. Marks and Professor Dumbledore explain our requirements." Severus said, nodding at them.
The group settled down as Severus's earlier spell conjured a large tray of tea for them. He picked up a cup and drank deeply, and the others followed suit.
Slughorn turned to the two, one he knew, and one he wished to know. He frowned, shifting his gaze from one to the other.
"Is...is that the color of your eyes, Ms. Marks, or some glamour charm?" He wondered.
"It's completely natural, Horace." Dumbledore calmly responded. Slughorn raised a skeptical eyebrow, eyeing Lyra for a moment. She exchanged a quick glance with Albus, who wore a knowing smile. It was clear that this revelation was intended to further solidify Slughorn's trust.
"Do you know who else has a similar blessing, sir?" Severus asked, finding his opening. This time, Albus frowned slightly and shifted his gaze towards Lyra, clearly surprised that she had disclosed their secret to Severus. Lyra, feeling a bit embarrassed, turned away, her cheeks flushing with color.
Slughorn looked at Severus, shaking his head.
"Lily Potter and her son..."
"Harry Potter?" Slughorn asked softly.
"Yes, sir. Unfortunately, Lily never got to experience the joys of motherhood as she should have..."
Slughorn remained silent, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips.
"Lily...was such a beautiful person." Slughorn reminisced.
"So gifted in potions...a brilliant witch. She was your best friend, as I recall..."
"She was..."
" ...but you had a falling out?"
"We did..."
"So, why bring her up?" Slughorn asked pointedly.
"Because her son needs your help, sir. He needs you to right a grave mistake you made years before you ever met Lily." Severus stated.
"If you're talking about Tom Riddle..."
"Yes, sir..."
"I had nothing to do with him. It's rather rich coming from you, Mr. Snape, considering you were a Death Eater yourself!"
"But you did! You were the one who told him about Horcruxes!" Snape retorted, causing Slughorn's face to contort with horror and shame.
"I am repenting for my sins, sir. But what about you? Don't you owe Lily and her son the respect of admitting what you did?" Severus pressed, his anger simmering.
The two Slytherins shared a tense glance.
"What exactly are you accusing me of, Mr. Snape?" Slughorn inquired angrily.
"He isn't accusing you, sir..." Lyra interjected.
"No one here claims you had anything to do with Lily Potter's death, Horace. However, the chain of events that led us here somehow begins with you." Albus added, gently emphasizing the importance of their request.
Slughorn stood there in silence, his eyes darting around as he desperately searched for a way out. Yet, he was cornered by two powerful wizards and witch, who he knew could give them all a run for their galleons, leaving him with no escape. He decided to employ the cunning tactics of a true Slytherin – he would strike a bargain.
"The information you seek has long been buried deep within my mind. Every encounter with Tom Riddle led me to believe I was helping a young man realize his full potential. Little did I know that he would surpass even my darkest expectations..." Slughorn began, his voice heavy with regret.
"I am deeply ashamed of what I am about to divulge, and I might have to fight for my life after this." He continued, choosing his words carefully. Albus sighed, sensing where this was heading.
"I promise you, Horace, if you share what you know, I will personally ensure your safety." Albus assured him, attempting to appease the apprehensive man. However, Slughorn remained skeptical, as this offer fell short of his requirements.
"That's not sufficient, Albus. I don't want to spend my life in hiding, lurking in the shadows." Slughorn retorted.
"Then what do you propose? It's not as though you're living a very comfortable life right now." Lyra snapped, her impatience showing. Albus shot her a cautionary glare.
"I want to leave this country, to a place where Riddle and his followers can't reach me..." Slughorn replied, his gaze fixed on Lyra. She frowned, anticipating the unusual request he was about to make.
"You were the AIMS mentor last year, weren't you? Rita Skeeter's article praised you highly...your niece and your Aunt Athena as well. It's rare for someone like Skeeter to do so. She kept extolling the virtues of AIMS as a truly merit-based institution." Slughorn began. Lyra's frown deepened.
"Your Aunt Athena and I were in school together, you know. We were in the same year, actually. We were rather good friends until she decided to leave England to be with her sister. I always believed she would do well for herself once she shed her rough exterior. But I suppose being the middle child left her often ignored and unnoticed..." Horace Slughorn remarked, skillfully manipulating Lyra's emotions.
Lyra clenched her jaw, wondering how Athena fit into this. If she was close to anyone in her family apart from her brother, it was her Aunt Athena. Despite Athena's stern demeanor, she had taken a liking to Lyra and Michelin. She used to scold them for running around her study and causing chaos, but she also had her own way of spoiling them. As they grew older, Athena became a trusted confidant, albeit a reserved one. Michelin and Lyra had learned to love her for it, even if Athena was never the 'fun aunt'. She expressed her love through actions rather than words. Michelin and Lyra had figured out how to cherish her for it. Many times, they had even exploited her position at AIMS.
However, Slughorn's words cut deep. Lyra remembered Athena's remarkable talent in Potions, and how she had been repeatedly overlooked for the position of Headmistress until they couldn't ignore her any longer, mainly thanks to Tessra's influence. Lyra having forced their meetings, many times. A thought struck Lyra: the three McGonagall sisters were vastly different. Margery was motherly, Minerva was fierce, and Athena, whom Lyra always thought of as a stick-in-the-mud, was merely introverted—the quiet one. That was probably because nobody had given her the chance to open up. Between the responsible sister and the fierce one, Athena had decided to be the one who mostly kept her head down.
"What does my aunt have to do with this?" Lyra snapped, her tone laced with a hint of threat.
"Lyra—" Albus cleared his throat, warning her that her approach might jeopardize their efforts.
"Your aunt is the headmistress at AIMS, isn't she? We all know how she got there—it certainly wasn't due to her charming personality. She possesses undeniable skills, but she lacks the charisma required to lead a school." Slughorn stated, glancing back at Lyra.
"If you mention Athena one more time..." Lyra snapped, her wand in hand. Slughorn continued regardless.
"I don't intend to be disrespectful, but desperation has driven me to this point..." He replied, taking a step back.
"What do you want?!" Lyra demanded.
"Well, I'm a skilled Potions Master without a job..."
"AIMS already has an excellent Potions Mistress—my aunt teaches Potions!"
"Yes, but she need not anymore if she were to hire me..."
"Athena would never agree to that." Lyra shook her head. While the request was feasible, knowing Athena, her passion lay in working in the laboratory with students.
"Let me handle that for you, Horace." Albus swiftly intervened, attempting to salvage the situation.
"And I demand tenure!" Slughorn snapped. Lyra rolled her eyes. If Slughorn wanted to spend his remaining years at AIMS, that was of no concern to her. However, convincing Athena would be a completely different challenge.
"What if Athena disagrees—" Slughorn began, his tone suggesting that this sounded like an insurmountable obstacle.
"Don't worry about Athena, Horace. She knows you well. Besides, we'll convince her..." Albus reassured him.
"Fat chance of that!" Lyra scoffed.
Once more, Albus gave her a stern look, reminding her that they were on a delicate mission. Lyra responded childishly, rolling her eyes as she stood there silently. She cast an annoyed glance at Snape, who struggled to suppress a laugh. Lyra knew what he was thinking—that this situation resembled a father scolding his mischievous daughter.
"Horace..."
"I need your word, Albus..."
"You have my word, but until Athena agrees to our proposal, I need you to remain safe."
Slughorn nodded in relief. It seemed he had struck a deal that could potentially save his life.
"Now, tell us about Tom Riddle from the beginning, Horace." Albus urged as Slughorn took a deep breath to begin.
Just as he was about to speak, multiple loud bangs echoed from outside the door.
Severus winced in pain, gripping his hand tightly, while Albus turned to face him.
"They're here! You've been followed!" Slughorn cried out in terror, pointing their attention toward the Dark Mark forming on the wall behind them.
Lyra quickly peered through the window curtains and spotted several shadows by the door. She glanced at the two men accompanying her, and Albus handed Severus a key and a fragment of a teacup.
"Take him and leave..."
"But Albus, there must be at least seven of them!" Snape protested.
"That's the number—the magic number! Tom Riddle's magic number!" Slughorn shrieked in horror.
"It's not safe for either of you. You can't be seen here, Severus. You know this. The Portkey will take you to a safe house. Once you've ensured his safety, return to headquarters immediately." Albus instructed. Snape nodded and offered part of the teacup to Slughorn, who eagerly grabbed it. In a whirl of motion, they vanished.
"Are we just going to wait?" Lyra asked impatiently.
"We never attack first. You're a duellist. You should know this." Albus replied calmly.
"Yeah, thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad!" Lyra said sarcastically. Albus chuckled at her comment and shot her a knowing smirk. The fact that she had referred to him as "Dad" filled his heart, especially considering the chaotic year they had been through. It wasn't exactly how he had planned to bond with his daughter, but it was certainly a start.
The Death Eaters began to file in, pushing and shoving each other, causing mayhem and destruction in the process. One of them finally stepped into the living room, having been burning down the house and laughing at their surroundings, which Severus had just painstakingly repaired.
Upon entering, the Death Eater abruptly froze, his laughter silenced as he gazed upon them with fear. He called for his companions urgently. Lyra and Albus stared back at him, wands at the ready, fully aware that they would have to defend themselves in the coming confrontation. However, Albus still attempted to reason with the intruders, for he seemed to recognize one of them.
"There isn't much to do here, Yaxley. I suggest we avoid any confrontations and go our separate ways." Albus offered. Lyra stood by his side, her eyes fixed on the menacing figures before her.
"I am in charge here. I will decide what needs to be done, Dumbledore!" Snarled a hoarse voice, as the Death Eater removed his mask.
"We came looking for someone else, and it's clear there was a third person with you who disappeared with Slughorn. Now, we may not have Slughorn, but she has much to pay for!" Sneered the Death Eater.
"Oh, I'll pay you in full, believe me. Try me!" Lyra retorted fiercely. The Death Eater smirked in response. Albus raised his hand to shield Lyra from doing anything reckless.
"Like I said, we don't want any trouble..." Albus repeated warningly.
"You almost killed my brother!" Shouted a loud voice from the back as another Death Eater removed his mask, revealing a face mangled and disfigured. Lyra bit her lip as she recognized him—the man she had confronted on the night of the attack, leaving her elemental mark on his face.
"And you awakened the boy who should have died. He died for me long ago!" Growled the Death Eater in-charge. Lyra finally understood that this was Zeus and Aries's father.
Lyra gripped her wand tightly, waiting for a sign from Albus. But she knew he would remain patient, unlike her, and stay calm despite the odds stacked against them.
The group stood still until one of the Death Eaters lost his composure.
"Reducto!" He cried out, sending a destructive curse hurtling towards her. Lyra effortlessly swatted it aside with a wave of her wand.
"Confringo!" She countered. The explosive spell detonated in a brilliant burst of flame, forcing the Death Eaters to dive for cover as sparks began to add fire to the already burning portions of the room.
The disfigured Death Eater, his determination unwavering, continued his assault with a rapid succession of curses.
"Expelliarmus! Incendio! Stupefy!" He snarled, his spells crackling. Once again, she deflected them as if nothing had been cast.
"Diffendo!" He snarled as the slashing jinx missed her by inches, although grazing her slightly as it passed her by.
Lyra frowned, touching the small cut on her face. Seeing her blood colour her fingers, she decided to put an end to this rubbish.
With a focused intent, Lyra chanted "Arenamuta!"
The ground beneath the Death Eater's feet trembled and shifted as the floor transformed into quicksand. His frantic struggles to escape only made him sink deeper into the viscous substance, his robes and limbs gradually consumed by the relentless pull of the enchanted earth. Lyra laughed as the death eaters moved away from their colleague, watching him sink into the earth in horror.
"Enough!" Albus scolded, waving his wand and reversing her spell. She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
He had stood there silently, watching and waiting. His attention was not on the Death Eaters but on the fire that had been inadvertently ignited behind them. Lyra looked at him, perplexed, as the Death Eaters' robes began to catch fire, unbeknownst to them. Lyra couldn't tell whether Albus had cast a non-verbal spell or if she had unconsciously lost control of her magic again. She knew she had been practicing diligently, meditating, and maintaining her focus. It couldn't have been her.
"Are you quite finished?" Albus asked calmly, the seven Death Eaters staring back at him, most uncertain about continuing the fight.
The disfigured Death Eater straightened himself and cast a defiant glance around him.
"Why won't you fight?!" He snarled at his comrades, who remained silent. One by one, they pocketed their wands.
"Now, gentlemen, if you're ready to let us leave, you might want to check your robes..." Albus said politely.
Chaos erupted among the Death Eaters, who frantically checked their robes, fearing that Lyra had cast another Fiendfyre. It only led to more destruction as the house began to burn faster. The fire spread rapidly. Lyra looked around, but Albus remained standing in place, his gaze fixed on the fire that was now engulfing the room. Lyra glanced at him, unsure of his intentions. The Death Eaters disapparated, leaving as quickly as they had arrived.
"Albus, we need to get out of here!"
"Yes, we do..."
Lyra reached for her wand, ready to apparate outside. But it wasn't necessary. Albus simply waved his wand, and the rising fire instantly subsided, leaving behind a pile of ashes. He then headed toward the door, and Lyra hurriedly followed suit. The moment they stepped onto the front lawn, the entire structure collapsed behind them.
They got into the car, and Lyra drove back to their headquarters.
"Not everything needs to be resolved through provocation and retaliation. Learn to remain calm. Situations can often be defused with words." Albus remarked sternly.
"Yeah, well, what was I supposed to say? 'Oh, please, Mr. Death Eater, would you kindly stop attacking me with your pointless curses?'" Lyra responded in a mocking tone.
"It doesn't hurt to think twice before using magic intelligently, rather than brandishing your wand for every minor inconvenience..."
"You sound like Mrs. Weasley!"
"And you sound like your mother!"
Their playful argument made them both chuckle. Lyra smiled to herself. This was nice. She appreciated the opportunity to spend a moment like this with him, free from the weight of the world and its judgments.
Lyra pulled out a cigarette and offered one to Albus, who accepted it gratefully. She lit both cigarettes with a flame conjured on her finger.
"You know, if you spent more time learning to control your element instead of using it to light cigarettes, I wouldn't have had to extinguish that fire." Albus teased.
"You're really taking this whole 'being my father' thing very seriously, aren't you?" Lyra quipped.
"I'm making up for lost time." He replied with a smile. She scoffed and shook her head.
"Boy, you wouldn't have liked me as a teenager!"
"No...Lyra..." He began as she rolled her eyes, expecting another lecture but his answer filled her heart and surprised her.
"...I would have adored you!" He replied looking at her lovingly. She shot him a grateful smile and shook her head.
Once they arrived at headquarters, Lyra entered the dimly lit kitchen, while Albus warded the door to ensure privacy. They needed to discuss the situation with Slughorn and the memories he possessed.
"Did he say anything to you?" Lyra asked urgently. Severus shook his head.
"Nothing of value."
"He did, however, extract the memories into a vial." Severus added.
"I wanted to take them from him, but I wasn't sure if they were altered..."
"Albus, he said he'll only share them once he receives a signed letter from AIMS and its headmistress."
Albus remained silent. Perhaps it was time to involve Minerva in this matter. He hoped she could persuade her sister, to see reason. Of course, speaking to Athena also meant involving Alastor, and neither he nor Athena would likely appreciate this conversation. But it was a necessary step.
"I'll arrange for that. Lyra, write to Athena requesting an urgent meeting. I'm confident she won't refuse you. Attach this note to it." Albus instructed, handing her a piece of parchment. He then made his way to the fireplace.
"Severus?" Albus called, looking at the man who was still seated at the table.
Severus had been lost in thought, and it seemed like he and Lyra had exchanged prolonged glances.
"Yes?" Severus drawled as Dumbledore interrupted his thoughts. Albus frowned at him.
"Aren't you coming?" he asked. Snape nodded.
"I'll be right behind you, Albus. There's no trace left on my fireplace." Severus replied, a sly smirk on his face. Dumbledore found his response slightly suspicious but chose to ignore it. There were more pressing matters to attend to.
Severus's gaze returned to Lyra, and hers to him. She wore a smirk, which he found both irritating and alluring.
"What? Not going back to Hogwarts tonight?" She asked teasing as she stood to leave the room.
"Not yet, it seems that you may have been right about...you know..." He replied.
"Why, Severus, it appears my abilities aren't limited to just being a glorified lamp post." She teased as she got up to leave the room.
Severus rose from his seat, a knowing smile playing on his lips, and walked over to her. He pulled her into his arms, and though she scoffed, she didn't pull away. He gazed down into her twinkling blue eyes.
"I believe I can find some more...interesting uses for your abilities upstairs." He whispered seductively. His voice wrapped around her, stirring a desire to accept his enticing invitation.
"I told you, there'd be a next time..." She replied with a playful grin, leading him upstairs to the room where they spent the night together.
AN/- Keep reading and reviewing, love hearing from you'll :)