Sirius Black's POV

Slowly, most of the Weasley family and other members of the Order migrated to Grimmauld Place. It was a relief, in many ways, because the first few days with just Molly, Mundungus, Kreacher, and myself were terrifically awkward and often argumentative.

I especially enjoyed how much my mother's portrait hated seeing all of these "ginger blood traitors" doing stuff to her house. Sometimes, I left her curtains open and let her scream a little longer just so she could have the pleasure of seeing the Weasley family stripping down her legacy.

Finally, however, I had had quite enough of her. I rounded up Fred, George, and Ron and said, "First one who gets the portrait off the wall gets twenty Galleons."

Immediately, Fred and George picked up Ron, took him shouting into another room, and locked the door. It was only when Ginny came around the hallway and heard Ron insulting the twins, that she let Ron out.

By that point, half an hour had passed.

"Any luck?" I asked the twins.

Fred shook his head. And George said, "No, we reckon there's a Permanent Sticking Charm on it."

I sighed. "Shame."

At that moment, three people came around the corner: Remus, who was now a permanent resident here; Nymphadora, a new recruit and the daughter of one of my favorite cousins, Andromeda; and Raylynx, who had only recently returned from who-knows-where. All of them were carrying boxes.

"Where should we put all this stuff?" Nymphadora asked me.

"What is it?"

"Cutlery and drapes from a tea parlor, I think," Nymphadora said. Meanwhile, Remus sneezed behind her, allergic to the dust from the old drapes.

"Oh. You can throw that all way," I said firmly.

Just then, Kreacher slunk around the corner. Having heard my words, he howled, "Master is destroying this house! Master does not care about his own family legacy! Master has been ever ungrateful for the tutelage of his parents and - "

I glared at Kreacher. "You're damn right I don't care."

Kreacher only howled more loudly.

"Well," Remus said, speaking above Kreacher's howling, "the room is basically empty now, if you or Molly want to go in and clean the last of it up."

"Sure," I replied. "Thanks, Moony."

Remus nodded. Then, the three of them walked past me. As they did, I caught Raylynx's eye and she gave me a tired smile as she continued walking.

As they reached the basement, where we were throwing bags of things to be thrown away, I heard Molly say, "Oh! But that's such a shame. This is quality cutlery."

"Sirius said to throw it out, though," Nymphadora told her.

Molly sighed wistfully, but it was a loud enough sigh that it carried all the way up to the hallway where Kreacher and I were still standing, glaring hatefully at each other.


Emmeline Vance's POV

Dumbledore had said to me, "I imagine that if anyone could persuade Riley, it would be you."

But how am I supposed to persuade him, when he's disappeared from my life?

I realized that I had never learned where Jasper lived. Finally, I went to the Auror Department to ask for his information. But when I came to the address listed as his residence, which was a small flat that was nonetheless in quite a rich neighborhood, I found that there was no one there. I saw a pile of letters that had first been crammed into his mailbox slot and under his door, but then started to slowly pile up before his door. Clearly, he hadn't been home for a long time.

I sat down on the front step of his flat. Jasper, where are you? Are you well?

I closed my eyes. Where could you be…? After a moment, my hand slipped off of my knee and brushed up against the stack of letters besides me.

Oh, damn. I winced as the stack toppled over.

I shifted around and reached for the letters, meaning to stack them back up. But then, one of the envelopes caught my eye. It was a very fancy envelope, with Jasper's name written out in golden ink and the stationary was embossed with a crest I could have sworn I'd seen before.

I looked down to see who the sender was. The elegant calligraphy spelled out: Noctis Selwyn.

Selwyn…? Isn't that a pureblood family? Why is Jasper in touch with them?

Suddenly, I stood up. I decided then that I'd stop at nothing to find Jasper. Either he was in trouble, or else he was a double agent. Whichever one it was, I had to know.


Jasper Riley's POV

Abbe, Jared, Alexia and I were still helping Iseline to create anti-vampire venom Potions. Since there was a very high probability that the village would have to relocate yet again in the future, we were trying to create enough of these Potions that every person in the village could carry one with them.

About twenty of the village people were Potioneers and Alchemists. They worked remarkably fast. Jared and Alexia were able to keep up with them. However, Abbe and I, who were not as experienced in Potion-making, knew we would most likely get in the way instead of helping of the Potion-making. So, we offered to take on the risky missions of going out to gather the rare Potions ingredients that couldn't be easily grown within the village.

Abbe and I often went out during mid-morning, when the sun was strong, but not at a position where it cast long shadows everywhere.

One of these mornings, while we trekked up the mountain, I asked Abbe, "Do you think Raylynx is all right? I wish she would've waited for us to leave the village."

"It's hard to say if she will be all right in the long term," Abbe replied seriously. "However, I trust that she made it home safely. Between the protective Runes that Sehtzer inscribed on her body and her own magical ability, I am certain Raylynx made it to her destination safely."

"Thank you, Abbe."

Abbe nodded. A moment later, he asked, "Perhaps it is not my place to ask this, but I couldn't help except notice – you've taken off the ring that bore your family crest. Why is that?"

I looked down at my right hand, now barren of any jewelry.

"Well," I murmured, "it was high time I let go."

I realized that I wasn't answering Abbe's question, but that was all I was willing to say.

Abbe didn't press. Instead, we made our way forward towards the meadow where the plant we were seeking grew.


Sirius Black's POV

I gazed at the empty parlor.

This is where Lucius Petrified me and then humiliated me by inflicting all sorts of curses on me in front of a group of my parents' friends…

I lifted my wand. "Scourgify!"

Although I had merely recited the general cleaning spell, I had said it with such violence that, where the table and sofa had stains on it, instead of simply cleaning it, my spell ripped right through the furniture, so that a huge gash appeared on the sofa and the table toppled over, now one leg short.

"We're supposed to be fixing the house. Not destroying it."

I turned around to see Raylynx standing behind me. I paused, wondering if she was going to recoil from me or judge me for the harsh magic I'd just inflicted on the room. But instead, she gave me a small smile and came forward, walking towards me.

I ran a hand through my hair and let out a breath, as I confessed, "I know it's technically my house and all, and I know I'm meant to fix it up for the Order, but by Merlin, do I love seeing it mangled."

Raylynx laughed lightly. "Well, if it's your house, you have the right to do it."

I reached over and pulled her close to me. "Lynx."

"Hm?"

"Don't think I haven't noticed."

"What?"

"You've been quiet ever since you came back from… wherever you went." Albania, I thought in my head, but I didn't say it out loud.

Raylynx was still for a moment. Then, she slid her arms around me and hugged me tightly. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm still a little tired."

I knew, even then, that Raylynx's tiredness wasn't a normal kind-of tiredness. But the thing was, there were so many things going badly – with Harry nearly dying and Voldemort coming back, with the Ministry deciding not to believe us, with Cedric dying in the Tournament, just as Julian had passed away in the Tournament that Raylynx had competed in, with Raylynx herself nearly dying in her duel with Barty Crouch Jr. – that any of these things could easily send anyone into a depressed state and I knew that it would be unfair of me to ask Raylynx to justify her tiredness to me.

And then, there was the fact that yesterday, Dumbledore had come to us and asked us specifically to refrain from contacting Harry this summer. I had then seen Raylynx blow up in a way that I had never witnessed before.


Dumbledore had gathered McGonagall, Raylynx, and me into living room of Grimmauld Place.

There, he had first said to us, "It is of the utmost importance that you do not contact Harry this summer."

Raylynx pressed, "Why, Dumbledore? Why not? We're his godparents."

Dumbledore merely replied, "I am not denying that. I have never denied that. Rather, it is best for Harry's own safety that you do not contact him."

At this, Raylynx laughed, with no actual humor or mirth in her voice. "Really! And since when you cared about Harry? You, who let him compete in this godforsaken Tournament? You, who wanted to train him up?"

"Raylynx," McGonagall interrupted sharply.

"I did warn you," Dumbledore said softly. "From the very beginning, I asked you to keep your distance from Harry."

"Dumbledore," Raylynx growled, "Harry has no parents. Why can't you understand that he needs a sense of family in his life?"

"He has it. He is with his aunt and uncle."

At this, Raylynx stood up. "If that is truly what you believe, if that is truly a satisfactory answer for you, I no longer have any faith in you. Do not think, for even a moment, that we are allies. I resign from my post at Hogwarts. And if I join your Order – which I haven't yet - it'll only be so that I can be close to Harry. Let's just be clear about that." With that, she walked out of the room.

"Raylynx Kingsley!" McGonagall barked out, shocked. "You come back at once and apologize!"

"Let her be. She has reason enough to be angry with me," Dumbledore said wearily. He blinked slowly, and then focused his gaze on me. "What about you, Sirius? May I count on you? It is truly important that Harry be given as little contact and as little information as possible, for his own safety."

"Dumbledore," I protested, "I hate knowing that Harry is at the Dursleys' as much as Raylynx does. They treat him terribly."

Dumbledore waited for me to finish, before he revealed, "I forged a protective bond between Harry and his only blood relative – Petunia Evans. While Harry calls 'home' that which is a place where his mother's blood resides, he is protected from Voldemort. The protection fades the longer he is away from that place."

My eyes flashed in realization.

Dumbledore gazed at me with his wise, yet untrusting, eyes. "I trust you now understand why I leave Harry in the care of his aunt and uncle. I had told Raylynx this before. But I now tell you, Sirius, because I can no longer trust Raylynx to do what is right. That burden may fall upon you now."

My brow furrowed. I didn't understand what Dumbledore meant by that. So, I said, "Well, I reckon that Raylynx is right. We're Harry's godparents. We owe it to James and Lily to be close to Harry. So why - ?"

"Why now? Because Voldemort is back," Dumbledore said cryptically. "Things have shifted, Sirius. You must realize that. And I can assure you that Voldemort will be using all of his powers to get to the boy."

"Then, we should bring him to headquarters and keep him safe here."

"No," Dumbledore replied. "The answer is not to hide Harry away. He must come into his own. In that sense, your and Raylynx's relationship with Harry is of the utmost importance. But we must give Harry the opportunity to try his strength. There is nothing as important as that."

I pushed back, "I understand that Harry has to build his own strength. But why can't we protect him, at least for the time being? You know what happened to Harry during the Tournament. It's the stuff of nightmares. It's enough to traumatize even the most hard-hearted person, let alone a fourteen-year-old boy. If Harry ever needed support, it's now."

Dumbledore sighed quietly. "There are things you can and cannot protect Harry from, Sirius. We are nearing the point where you – nor anyone else – can protect Harry from his own fate. Raylynx knows this well. I imagine that is why these conversations are so painful for her."

McGonagall looked worriedly over her shoulder, at the door through which Raylynx had left.

Before I could say anything further, Dumbledore had risen from his seat. "Thank you, Sirius. And please do not forget to continue laying low. The Aurors have finally lost your trail. Let us please keep it that way."

Then, he and McGonagall were gone.


Now, I was standing in the doorway of the room, holding Raylynx while she leaned against me, burying her face against my neck.

"Maybe you should rest," I told Raylynx. "Take a break from all this cleaning stuff."

I felt her shake her head. "I'm all right. And the cleaning's not hard at all."

I paused. Is it just me or is she running warm?

"Lynx," I said, "look at me."

"Don't want to," she whispered, in a muffled voice, as she buried her face gently against my neck. "I'm comfortable like this."

"C'mon, I want to see your face," I said, half-teasing her and half-requesting she listen to me. I lifted my shoulder a bit, making her draw back.

Finally, Raylynx lifted her face. She looked up at me and smiled, but once again, I could tell by the heaviness near her eyes and mouth and the slight dimness in her normally bright eyes that she wasn't fully herself. Her cheeks also seem flushed.

I put my hand on her forehead. "Are you sick? You feel a bit feverish."

"I'm okay," she assured me again. But as she did, she stepped away from me.

I frowned. I meant to pull her back to me, to get a better sense of whether she was actually running a fever or not, but we were interrupted.

It was Molly. She gasped when she saw the state of the room.

"We'll fix it," Raylynx said hastily.

"In due course," I added.

Raylynx reached over and pinched my arm, telling me to shush.

Molly eyed me skeptically. But she decided to let it go. Instead, she said, "Bill will be arriving soon. I was thinking – we could clear out Regulus' old room and - "

"No." The word came out far sharper than I intended.

The mood immediately soured. Raylynx shot me a nervous glance.

Molly tried to convince me, though in a more careful tone than usual, "But it's already a bedroom, so there'll be far less work to do in terms of setting it up - "

"We'll change another one of my mother's ridiculous parlors into a bedroom, then," I said firmly. "Don't you dare touch that room."

I gave Molly a hard stare. "Do you understand me?"

Molly blinked, taken aback by how angry I suddenly seemed.

From besides me, Raylynx said, in a soft voice that woke me up, "Of course we won't touch that room. It was just a suggestion, Sirius."

"Of course," Molly agreed.

I gave Molly a stiff nod. "Thank you."

Before I could let my temper rise any further (which I realized that Molly definitely did not deserve to receive), I had left the room, leaving both Molly and Raylynx behind.

I quickly entered another room, meaning to calm down. Only – Damn it, I cursed. I can't believe I walked into this room.

Sprawling before me was a grand woven tapestry of all of my family lineage. Where there was once was my name and portrait, there was a small, burnt hole.

I reached up and clutched at my head. I hate being here. I hate being stuck here again. I know it shouldn't affect me so much, but I can't help except re-live all of the terrible memories of this place. And everything is a thousand times worse, knowing that Regulus is gone.

My eyes drifted over to Regulus' portrait. I hated looking at it. It looked nothing like him. That high arch of the eyebrows, that cruel mouth – those were features of most of the Blacks, including myself, but not Regulus. No, Regulus always had this wide-eyed, doe-like expression, with a soft, open mouth and raised, rounded eyebrows, that my father had always hated and that I had always teased him for.

How can Molly even suggest getting rid of Regulus' room, when this whole house was supposed to be his? I was going to give it to Regulus, as soon as he turned of age and I could find him. That day never came. Now, it never will.


Harry Potter's POV

"Avada Kedavra!"

A burst of green light –

"No, Cedric! Run!" My eyes shot open.

Hah! … Hah…" I was panting heavily and drenched in sweat.

Another nightmare, I groaned to myself. I sat up and buried my head in my hands. During the day, I try my best not to think about everything that happened in the cemetery. But I can't stop the nightmares.

I heard a rush of footsteps and my bedroom door flew open.

"Will you keep it down?!" Uncle Vernon, standing in his bathrobe, yelled furiously at me. "Are you running a marathon in here or something? For God's sake!"

I didn't reply, but Uncle Vernon didn't need a reply. He had come purely to yell at me. Turning on his heel, he stomped out, shutting the door behind him with a large SLAM!

I slowly peeled off the covers and went over to the bathroom. I washed the sweat off of my face. As I did, I caught my reflection in the mirror. I hesitated. Then, I slowly pushed up my fringe to see that the lightning scar on my forehead was a blazing red, standing out lividly against my skin.


Sirius Black's POV

Sure enough, Bill Weasley came to Grimmauld Place within the week.

When he arrived, he gave all of his family hugs, but then, he looked straight at his father and mother and said, "Percy won't come."

"What?" George said, frowning. "Why not?"

"They've offered him the position of Junior Assistant to the Ministry himself," Bill explained. "That means he'll be working directly under Fudge."

"Well, obviously, he should turn down that job," Ron said straightforwardly. "I'd hate to work for an idiot like Fudge."

"Ron, don't say things like that," Molly berated her son. Turning back to Bill, she said, "But why won't he come here, Bill?"

Bill's eyes dimmed. "Isn't it obvious, Mum? He doesn't want to join the Order."

The family was silent for a long moment.

Then, Arthur spoke up, "But surely, Percy realizes what's going on? Fudge must have asked Percy to be his junior assistant so that he could keep track of us, and through us, Dumbledore. It's no secret that I'm on Dumbledore's side. It's something that Fudge has disliked about me for a while."

Molly reached over and put her hand on Arthur's shoulder. "It's his loss, dear."

Arthur gave Molly a sad smile.

"But you know Percy," Bill said. "He's always wanted to be at the top of the Ministry. He can't seem to let go of this chance. He's even saying that Fudge is right and Voldemort's not really back."

"What?" Ron sputtered out in disbelief. "He thinks Harry made it all up?"

Bill nodded.

Ginny made an angry noise of disbelief.

"Merlin, Perce is more of an idiot than even I thought," Fred said, annoyed. "How else can he explain all the disappearances happening lately? And what about Cedric's death?"

"Percy should realize best that things have changed," Charlie added, agreeing with Fred. "After all, he was assisting Barty Crouch Senior, and he knows better than anyone else how Barty was Imperiused and then murdered by his own son."

"I know," Bill said tiredly. "I pointed that all out to Percy. But he only got more upset."

"We'll have to go talk to him, Molly," Arthur said to his wife.

Molly, looking incredibly worried, nodded.

But when Ron said sagely, "Yeah, go on, Mum, slap some sense into him," Molly shot Ron a sharp look, which made Ron sober up at once.


Arthur and Molly did go to see Percy. When they came back, it was evident that the conversation had not gone well.

"We don't need a son like that!" Arthur bellowed furiously. "Can't even see past his own pride! What's gotten into him?"

Molly was sobbing.

None of the Weasley children dared to say anything. Neither did I. It was somewhat shocking to see Arthur, ever easy-going, genuinely angry and to see Molly, the indefatigable powerhouse, so deeply saddened.

The entire house was intensely grim that day. I hadn't realized how important Arthur and Molly's presence were at Grimmauld Place until then.

Finally, unable to take it any longer, I threw up my hands and tromped down to the basement, where all the trash bags still were. I grabbed the bag containing the cutlery from parlor.

I went over to Molly's and knocked on her door.

She opened it. She was still sniffling and her eyes were red and teary.

I dropped the trash bag at her feet. "Here. Do what you will with it."

Molly looked up at me. "What is it? Does it need cleaning?"

"No, it's – er – it's the cutlery you wanted," I said awkwardly. "It's for you to – to keep or sell or whatever you'd like."

At this, Molly let out a quiet laugh. She reached over and patted my cheek. "You're a good person, Sirius, even if it does take some time for you to remember that."

"Well, thanks," I said wryly. "Anyways, I'll go now. I've got – um – fix up that couch I busted."

Molly nodded at me. She dragged the bag in and closed the door.

As soon as the door closed, I heard her start to weep again.

I sighed. Poor Arthur and Molly… Shaking my head, I walked away from Molly's room.


Raylynx Kingsley's POV

I slipped out of bed and closed the door behind me as quietly as I could. But once I was out into the hallway, I gasped in pain as I hurried down the hallway. I had to pause and clutch at the hallway as a burning pain flared up in my body. Finally, I made it to the empty broom closet at the end of the hallway. I quickly turned the doorknob and stumbled in. Then, I activated the Ancient Runic circle I'd already forged on the floor. The barriers came up – ensuring that no one could hear or see me outside of the circle – and then I screamed in agony as an intense pain – of what I could only describe as being slowly suffocated from the inside out by molten lava pouring out of your heart and into your bloodstream – took over my body. My hands, in particular, were swelling and blistering from the heat.

Crying with pain, I doubled over and hugged my knees. Thankfully, the plethora of Runes now dotted all over my body (except for my hands, face, and neck) activated. With so many Runes now inscribed on my body, my body glowed brightly as the Runes gave off a golden glow. Finally, the dragon tattoo on my back writhed to life and opened its mouth in a slightly roar.

After a few minutes, my temperature finally came down. I breathed out a shaky sigh of relief.

I had been suffering from these incredible flashes of fever ever since I tried to destroy the Goblet of Fire.

I thought back to how I had set up those interlocking circles and then placed the Goblet in the middle of them, raised my wand and whispered, "Evanesco."


The first thing that appeared before my eyes was the landscape of opaque, milky white cloud.

Child… A low, steady voice grumbled… This voice was not human. No, it was…

My eyes blinked open. Pendragon? I whispered in my mind. Is that you?

Go home, child, he murmured to me. Go home. The path you seek is too far beyond you.

However, my spell was beginning to take hold. The clouds began to crystallize and flatten. Then, in small explosions, the crystals began to crack. Everything began to crack. The entire world was falling apart.

I felt a sense of satisfaction. Everything was going as I had predicted. This was history being determined as an illusion and therefore falling apart to allow for all possibilities. This was contract magic breaking apart.

Slowly, however, I became aware of a sound other than of the glass world breaking – I could hear a wild, high-pitched, glass-like laugh.

I recognized it as the laugh of the Enchantress. It took me a moment to recognize it, however, as the frenzied laugh was a far cry from the elegant, contained voice she once had.

Why is she here? I wondered, confused.

Child… A woman's enchanting, yet icy cold voice slithered out, clearly reaching for me, even though I could not see her. You've become even more helpful to me than I hoped.

Why are you here, Enchantress? I wondered. You don't belong in this world.

She laughed even more wildly. This is my world – or rather, my prison. But I am about to break free. My people have sacrificed a great deal for me – but I am about to honor them – through you!

Another voice – a man's voice, intelligent and sharp, yet vicious and clearly bloodthirsty, wrapped itself around my heart, determined to crush it dead. You foolish thing. I shall kill you now. I should have killed you long ago, at first chance.

Merlin, I recognized.

Even as Merlin spoke, I suddenly noticed rivers of oil-like liquid pouring out of the cracks in the crystals.

I gasped and I made to run – but there was nowhere to run this. This strange liquid was pouring out from everywhere, including the sky and the ground.

Finally, the oil-like liquid touched my toe. To my horror, I found that it immediately pinned me down. No matter how much I tried to pull away, my foot was all but nailed to the ground.

The Enchantress laughed hauntingly. I pity you, Pendragon. She's even more pathetic than Uther and Sehtzer. At least my underlings were intelligent enough to understand life beyond the physical realm.

A soft grumble swept through the world. She is not my underling. She never has been.

The oil kept piling up, higher and higher.

I blinked furiously. In just a few seconds, my face would be covered by this terrifying, inescapable liquid that was fast solidifying all around me.

I tried to use a spell – "Relashio!" on myself, but to no avail.

Pathetic, the man's voice whispered harshly.

Just then, Pendragon's voice sounded out. Child. You know the way home. Why do you resist? Give up this foolish venture of yours. Leave the Goblet of Fire be. Close your eyes and go home.

I can't go home, I told him. I've locked myself into this dream.

Pendragon gave an angry snort. Determined to kill yourself.

There's something I must do here, I told Pendragon. Even if it costs me my life.

At this, Pendragon growled at me, I told you that I do not deal in absolutes! I told you that I let you have the King's Wand because you did not seek complete destruction. Why do you go back on your word now? Have you forgotten our promise?

I haven't forgotten, I said. I haven't. I simply have run out of options…

As I thought this, the oil covered my mouth and then rose above my nose, my eyes, my head…

I'm suffocating…

I wanted to cry, but I couldn't even do that.

It was terrifying, to be trapped in that black oil-like substance. I couldn't move or breathe or see. All I could hear was the hum of the liquid's energy and my own, frantically beating heartbeat, which I knew would slow down in only a matter of time – and then, be still.

I tried to calm myself down by thinking of all the people I would entrust the world to, now that the world would have to be rebuilt.

Ollivander, Sirius, Remus, Sola, Jamie, Jasper, McGonagall, Maudrick… If I've truly succeeded, if my own life ends here, I leave this world in your hands.

I was still panicking, but in that moment, I found just enough peace to let go. I let out the last of the breath that I'd been holding.

I wondered who I'd see first – my parents or Dorcas, Marlene, Lily, and James?

But before I could fully muse on that question, I started to notice a warmth beginning to grow on all sides of me.

It was faint at first, but then it grew and grew and grew…

All of a sudden, three screaming voices all burst out.

"How dare you, Pendragon! No, she must not be freed! Let her suffocate! Let her die!"

"Back, Enchantress! Pendragon, she will not survive your fire!"

"CHILD! CHILD! HEAR ME! YOU MUST SURVIVE MY FIRE!"

I barely registered all of the different voices, much less what they were saying when a fearsomely loud roar sounded out and pushed out any thought whatsoever in my mind.

Then, the solid black oil surrounding me abruptly melted. Only, I couldn't even feel relief, for in the same moment, a raging fire engulfed by entire body.

I let out a piercing scream – first out of shock, as a golden-crimson wave of fire so bright it nearly destroyed my eyes slammed into me – and then in terrible pain, as I felt the fire bite and sting and rip at my body.

"AHHHHH!"

It was the worst pain I'd ever felt – a million times worse than the Cruciatus Curse.

"AHHHHHHH!"

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

I wasn't sure if my lungs were burned because of the fire or because of how desperately I was screaming – but soon, I didn't even have a voice.

I was nothing but a charred figure, drooping over in barren field of black oil, which had melted all around me and was also aflame, adding to the heat of everything.

I fell over, still burning.

I couldn't see anything, but I could distantly feel and hear a soft thump as something landed close to me.

Then, a low growl murmuring, "Child. Give up these foolish ambitions. Your desperation is eating you alive. You've forgotten the truths you were born with. You've forgotten how to trust the landscape of myth and fairytale."

Something leathery folded over me – a dragon's wing, perhaps – and for the first time, I felt a sense of relief.

Shade… I whimpered as I forcibly curled up my body, but once I did, I was able to ignore the pain just enough to finally fall unconscious.


"Will… she… all right?"

"Iseline… Burns are too deep… Months…"

"But… Runic Magic?"

"…Don't know. …Not normal… Depends… her strength…"

Slowly and painfully, my eyes opened.

"Raylynx!" A shadowy figure leapt towards me.

"Leave. Everyone. Now."

"But - "

"No exceptions, Jasper. Out."

Someone came and knelt beside me.

For a moment, I forgot how to use my eyes. I forgot how to look at something.

But then, I blinked and refocused – and a familiar face came into view.

"S-Seht…zer?" I whispered, barely able to speak.

"You did a very foolish thing."

I blinked again. This time, my ability went beyond simply identifying the person; I could now make out Sehtzer's expression.

Sehtzer was giving me a hard, fearsome gaze. His brow was furrowed and wrinkles were present on his face that indicated that he was thinking with deep concern.

"Sehtzer," I whispered. "Am I alive?"

"You are. Barely." Sehtzer brought something to my lips. "Here, drink this. It will help with your throat."

I swallowed a cool, mellow liquid. It helped relax my throat at once, though it didn't completely get rid of that hoarse, sore feeling.

I asked Sehtzer, "Am I all burnt?"

"Not physically. But the fire you faced was of a mythical nature – You will not find it easy to get rid of. It is still in your system. I fear it will haunt you for the rest of your days." Sehtzer then reached over and picked something up. "Why were you holding this?"

My heart jolted when I saw what it was –

"The Goblet of Fire."

"Were you seeking to destroy it?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because it's – it's the primordial object of contract magic." I coughed out. "If I break it, contract magic will cease to exist."

Sehtzer inhaled sharply as he realized what I was saying. "Without contract magic, there would be no history. Everything would unravel."

"Exactly," I said hoarsely. "Anything bound to another thing would be let loose – free again."

Sehtzer's eyes flashed. "You cannot possibly think that that is a true solution."

"Why not? We would still – still have human promises. We would still have choices. And we could reforge what's needed."

Sehtzer shook his head furiously.

"We shouldn't have a Goblet of Fire," I insisted. "And we certainly shouldn't have Hor - " I cut myself off from saying the essential word.

Sehtzer stared at me as though he had never seen me before. In heavy, unyielding terms, he said to me, "You cannot destroy this Goblet. The world as we know it may be destroyed."

In my mind, I countered him, saying, If the only way this world survives is by Harry sacrificing himself, then it's not a world worth saving!

Instead, I said, as calmly as I could, "You don't understand, do you, Sehtzer? To submit to contract magic is to submit to fate. Would you leave your people at the mercy of the vampires? That is what you are choosing to do by refusing to help me break contract magic."

Sehtzer seemed pained, but he replied at once, "To break fate is to deny that we are human beings."

I stared at him hollowly. "Then we are to submit to our fate?"

"Ultimately, yes," Sehtzer said quietly. "Because the universe is at work in ways that we cannot imagine. We try, in our own ways, and within our own realms of understanding, to do what we can to save people, but you cannot rip down the fabric of history just for the sake of now."

"Then, if fate meant that your entire village was to be wiped out, would you submit to it?" I challenged. My voice had risen, and I had to cough right after I finished my sentence.

Watching me cough pitifully, Sehtzer's eyes narrowed. His voice was a harsh growl, as he replied, "Yes. If that be the will of the universe, so be it. But know that I would fight my damn hardest every step of the way to protect my people. Yet, I understand and my people understand that our wishes and our existence are not the only things that matter in this world. If it benefits future generations for us to leave this world, somehow, then we would accept that whole-heartedly."

Hearing Sehtzer's response made my heart shrivel up. For to accept his answer was to accept that I had to let fate carry Harry to wherever he was meant to go – and that meant letting Harry die because he was a Horcrux.

Sehtzer must have seen the torment in my eyes, for he sighed and said quietly, "I do not know what has made you so desperate, but you cannot truly believe that the answer lays in unraveling everything."

Sehtzer reached out and put his hand on my shoulder. I flinched in anticipation of contact with my burnt flesh, but actually, nothing hurt.

"Sit up," Sehtzer ordered.

I did, though gingerly.

Sehtzer ran his hand up and down my back, over my clothing. He murmured, "The Rune has long since gone. And I can sense what broke it, what ate it up."

"Well," I murmured, "I've been in a few fights since we last met."

Sehtzer shook his head. "It's not others' curses that ate up your Rune, Raylynx. It's your own fear. You destroyed your own self-protection when you gave into your fear.

"Now," he continued, "be still. We must inscribe Runes on you, to protect you when the fire returns to ravage you again. It will be too painful for you to be able to form any thoughts, much like intention for an effective spell, so we will need to build a defense based heavily on Runes."

I eyed Sehtzer with distrust. "You'll still help me? Even knowing what I plan to do?"

"Pendragon has not yet given up on you. That makes me believe that there is still hope for you to find your rightful path."

"How do you know?" I asked. "How do you know Pendragon hasn't given up on me?"

"I still feel his magic running through your veins," he replied. "And when you were in danger, he called upon me to help you."

I fell silent, unsure of what Sehtzer meant by that.

"I will inscribe the Runes you need upon you. Lay back," Sehtzer ordered.

I did so.

Sehtzer lifted my shirt. He first inscribed Runes all down my front and then, he inscribed Runes on my back.

Sehtzer paused, however, and he said, "Pendragon is requesting that he come to you."

I glanced over my shoulder. "What do you mean?"

"The tattoo on my back – do you remember it?"

"Yes. It's of Pendragon."

"It'll come to you now. It'll help to ease the pain when the time comes."

I blinked in confusion. But, trusting Sehtzer, even though we were clearly at odds now, I nodded.

A moment later, I gasped, for I saw the tattoo of Pendragon slither over Sehtzer's shoulder and drop his arm and then, as ink bleeding through his fingers, it appeared on my back.

"Hopefully, when the fire returns, it will recognize Pendragon and withhold its destructive force," Sehtzer explained.

"You keep saying that the fire will return. What do you mean?"

"Pendragon melted the magic that was suffocating your soul. However, he did it by dragon fire. That means that your soul still contains the embers. Dragon fire, when spouted by elder, mythical dragons, does not die out. It was from seeing mythical dragon fire that the most powerful wizards and witches of the first generation developed Gubrathian Fire. Thus, the fire will continue to smolder and it will spark aflame again from time to time. Whenever it does, you will feel the same pain you felt when you were first rescued by Pendragon's fire."

I blanched. "The – The same pain…? It will hurt that much again?"

"Yes. Now, my understanding is quite limited here. But I would guess that the fire will be especially apt to flare up now, since it has just taken hold of your soul. I would guess that it will calm down in a few weeks', even a few days' time. But there is no telling when it will flare up again."

I took a deep, steadying breath. Then, I looked up at Sehtzer. I said to him, as steadfastly as I could, "Sehtzer, thank you. I cannot thank you enough for all of the times you have saved me and for all of the wisdom you have imparted on me. However, in this one thing – you cannot possibly understand. You have no idea the situation I'm in. After all, do you think I want to pursue this insane path of breaking contract magic? Do you think I'm not aware of the dangers of such action?"

"You aren't aware," Sehtzer replied shortly. "If you were, you could never attempt something like this."

"I am aware, and that is why I must attempt something as drastic as this," I pushed back.

"That's a lie, you know it is. You are using the logic of fear. But those are boundaries that you have created for yourself. They are not real. It is foolish and desperate to act on such illusions."

I glared at him. "It's not an illusion."

"Really? Then tell me, Raylynx – are you reacting to something that's happened or trying to prevent something from occurring? If it's the latter, it is an illusion." Sehtzer looked at me knowingly. "It's the latter, isn't it?"

Ignoring his question, I instead demanded angrily, "Give me back the Goblet."

"No." Sehtzer took the Goblet and held it behind him. "It isn't safe with you."

"That's mine. I brought it with me."

"Knowing your intentions, I cannot give this to you," Sehtzer replied firmly. "Particularly given the fact that you nearly succeeded. You have become a very powerful witch, Raylynx Kingsley. But if I had known that your fear was driving your motivation, I would not have taught you about Runic Circles in the first place."

I suddenly held out my hand and shouted, with as much power as I could muster, "Accio!"

A Rune on Sehtzer's neck glowed, however, and blocked my spell.

"Give it back! You thief!" I growled, ignoring the intense burn swelling up once more in my throat.

Sehtzer stared at me with harsh eyes. "I cannot believe you are the same person you once were. To sink so low… What have you become?"

"What have I become?" I repeated. At this, my eyes slowly filled with tears. "Really, Sehtzer…?" I whispered. My voice was not only hoarse now, but broken. "You, who once slaughtered a coven of vampires to save your mother – you can't understand me now?"

Sehtzer made a sudden motion, as if to choke me to stop from saying anything more. But he quickly stopped himself. Letting out a harsh breath and slowly flexing his hand, he said, "Even if I do understand you, I cannot let you do this. No matter how important you feel it is."

"But he's the most important thing," I whispered, utterly heart-broken. "My godson…"

Sehtzer suddenly reached out and grabbed me. I had started to fall forward without even realizing it.

"Please," I whispered, "I just want to save him." A tear streaked down my face as I murmured, "How can I accept that the right world is the one where he has to sacrifice himself?"

Sehtzer closed his eyes. A moment later, a Rune on his palm glowed, sending me to sleep.

Letting the Goblet drop, Sehtzer gently lay me back down on the cot. As he knelt beside me, he whispered quietly, "I wish I had had someone to stop me back then. Let me be that person for you now. Whatever your fear is – you cannot destroy everything before you just to save that one thing, no matter how important you feel it is to you."

Sehtzer covered me gently with a sheet. Then, he picked the Goblet back up and then walked out of the cot, to hide the Goblet from me forever.


Sirius Black's POV

Raylynx and I slept in the same bed. But, almost every night, she left the bed quite late at night. Still a light sleeper, I always woke up when she left. Sometimes, she wouldn't come back until just before the sun rose. Though she didn't know it, I stayed up with her those nights, waiting for her to come back.

Tonight, too, Raylynx left me. I bit my tongue and tried not to ask her what she was up to, but finally, I couldn't hold back.

This time, when she quietly slipped back into bed, I reached out and grasped her arm. Turning to press my mouth against her hand, I murmured hoarsely, "And where are you always running off to, hm…?"

"I thought you were sleeping," she whispered back.

"You woke me up." I gently pulled her towards me, while trailing kisses down her palm and wrist. "Is it a hobby of yours, to leave me without any explanation? Leaving me behind so that I can't help but be worried about you?"

"No. Never." Raylynx willingly came closer to me until her head was resting on my shoulder.

I put both my arms around her and squeezed.

"Ah!" she gasped a little. "Sirius, you're – you're not letting me b-breathe."

"Yes, I know," I whispered, nuzzling the top of her head. "It's punishment, you sneak."

"Punishment?"

"Yeah. If you've got a defense, I'm willing to hear it, though. But make it quick."

"No thanks, I prefer to go on the offense," she replied. Then, she wrapped her legs around my waist and slid both of her arms around me, latching onto me.

My eyes were closed, but I could feel her trying to squeeze me back. Obviously teasing her by indicating that she had no effect on me whatsoever, I murmured, slighlt grumpily, "What are you doing?"

She sighed. "Nothing. I'm sorry I woke you." Her voice was muffled as she had now pressed her face against my chest.

I felt my mind slip back into sleep. Unintentionally, I let out a soft snore.

Seeing that I was falling back asleep, Raylynx whispered, "Sleep, love."

I did fall asleep, knowing that she was safe in my arms – at least for this one, fleeting moment.


Raylynx Kingsley's POV

I gazed at Sirius, sleeping besides me.

He can sleep comfortably in a bed now, I mused. I smiled to myself.

I didn't succeed with the Goblet of Fire, but I survived it. And of all of the things I'm glad to experience again – being with Sirius is at the top of the list.

Not everything was perfect, of course. Rather everything was pretty much going to hell. The fact that Voldemort had returned and yet the Ministry was refusing to acknowledge that, much less take action, meant that we were on a ticking clock; it would only be a matter of time before the murders and disappearances would start up again. Already, it had begun - Frank Bryce, Barty Crouch Snr., Bertha Jorkins, Cedric Diggory...

Besides that, I recognized that coming back to Grimmauld Place had put Sirius into a darker state of mind. In some ways, he had regressed back to his devil-may-care coping mechanisms. It worried me, to be honest.

However, to finally be able to be with Sirius for more than just a couple of stolen hours here or there felt so wonderful. Somehow, the world felt much kinder now that he was usually close to me.

I watched Sirius sleeping peacefully for another minute. In that minute, my heart circled back around to that heavy truth that I had failed. I failed to break the Goblet of Fire. Contract magic is still intact, which means that Harry is still a Horcrux.

And now, Voldemort is back. What does that mean for Harry? Why is Dumbledore asking us to stay away from Harry? What does it mean for a piece of Voldemort's soul to be in Harry, other than the fact that the 'container' – which in this case is Harry – has to be broken beyond repair for the Horcrux to be truly destroyed? I mean, that fact in it of itself is horrible enough and damn near impossible to overcome, but what if Harry sharing Voldemort's soul also affects Harry while he'll living? I hadn't given any thought to that before because all of my energy was focused on ending Voldemort before he came back to power.

I swallowed hard. My heart was racing as my anxiety threatened to overwhelm me. It was feeling more and more impossible to protect Harry and I was beginning to fear that Dumbledore was right - that Harry had already passed out of the realm of our protection.

At that moment, Sirius shifted slightly. He turned over, and as he did, he pulled me against his chest. I could feel Sirius' chest rising softly under my cheek and I could make out the soft grumbles sounding out softly in his chest as he breathed in and out.

Warm... and safe… I found myself thinking. Yes, I'm safe when I'm with Sirius. Even from my thoughts. Because he's just so warm. This foolish, brash, dark-spirited man... Snoring away all like... I softly clutched onto the front of Sirius' shirt and, with my face pressed against his chest, I closed my eyes and finally got some much-needed sleep.