Chapter 36
The Locket and The Snake
December ushered in a cold, sleety onslaught that could easily freeze anyone venturing outside the Order's headquarters. Lyra loathed London's bitter weather, finding it to be one of the most unpleasant places to live. Yet, the approaching Christmas season did bring a lively atmosphere to the city, adorned with festive decorations. However, Lyra couldn't help but resent the fact that she wouldn't be going home for Christmas.
She bundled herself tightly in her coat, shivering as she made her way towards the headquarters. Having just completed another session at Hogwarts with Aries, she was pleasantly surprised by his progress. His magical abilities had fully returned, and he was steadily growing stronger. During their sessions, Lyra had imparted valuable defense techniques upon his request, even teaching him the basics of dueling with clever spells. This progress had transformed Aries from an underestimated Ravenclaw into the top performer in his class. Professor Flitwick had expressed his amazement to Lyra, hinting at the possibility of a hidden teaching talent. She had modestly brushed off the compliment.
Another Order meeting had come and gone with no significant developments. Albus was still gathering information about the Horcruxes, and Snape was conspicuously absent from most of the gatherings. Voldemort and Umbridge seemed to be aware of the Order's activities, fortifying their defenses accordingly. Death Eaters were growing bolder, and professors were increasingly beholden to Umbridge's demands.
Lyra stifled a yawn as she skimmed through a week-old edition of the American Bugle. Its pages were filled with slanderous articles about MACUSA's latest initiatives, aimed at granting werewolves more rights within the American wizarding society. The Daily Prophet wasn't any better, continuously spewing Ministry-sponsored propaganda, praising Dolores Umbridge's indispensable role at Hogwarts and condemning Dumbledore as an obstruction to progress.
"That Umbridge woman is a nasty piece of work!" Sirius remarked, shaking his head in disgust. He sampled a spoonful of the bland porridge and promptly spat it back into the bowl.
"Kreacher, what is this foul gruel?" He snarled, causing the elf to jump in fright.
"It's porridge, Master, just like Mistress used to make it."
"Well, it's disgusting!"
"Kreacher believes Master doesn't appreciate his family's great legacy..."
"Enough!" Sirius snapped at the elf, who continued muttering under his breath.
"Sirius, it's fine, really. It's not that bad." Lyra said, taking a spoonful of the slop and choking it down.
"Thank you, Kreacher. Uh...it was a hearty meal." She added, suppressing her true feelings about it. The elf glared at her but said nothing.
"You really need to stop taking your frustrations out on the elf, Sirius!" Lyra admonished.
Sirius, annoyed with her attempt at comfort, flung the bowl of porridge into the sink. Lyra, however, had grown weary of his despondency.
"Let's go for a walk." She ordered.
"What?" Sirius frowned.
"A walk. Let's go, now." She insisted, opening the kitchen door.
"Are you mocking my situation? Because it's not funny!" He regarded her darkly.
"I'm not kidding." She asserted.
"Lyra, I can't. If someone spots me—Death Eaters—they know about my animagus form. I can't."
"I'll be with you. Nothing will go wrong. We can protect each other. Let's just go—let's get out of this place." She urged.
He scrutinized her intently.
"If Dumbledore finds out, he'll be furious."
"You're not a student anymore, Sirius. Besides, who's going to tell him?"
Lyra had reached her limit. Each time she visited headquarters, it felt oppressive, as if evil forces were sapping her strength. She couldn't pinpoint the source of this darkness, but she suspected it affected Sirius even more. Living in Grimmauld Place, haunted by the traumatic memories of his childhood, was taking a heavy toll on him. Lyra begged for Sirius to add some cheer into the house, rather than wallowing in lethargy, irritability, and indifference. She refrained from voicing her thoughts, knowing Molly Weasley was better equipped to handle the task.
Carefully selecting a heavy coat, Sirius joined Lyra outside, transforming into his animagus form. He peered at her as if to confirm her seriousness. She wore a determined expression as they stepped out, embarking on a stroll through the streets of muggle London. It was late at night, with only a few pedestrians meandering about. Some shot disapproving glares at Lyra as she walked alongside an unleashed, large black dog.
Lyra discovered a food truck and bought some grilled sandwiches. Afterwards, Padfoot led her to an apparently deserted park with a large, frozen fountain. He transformed out of his animagus form. They sat on a weathered bench overlooking the frozen, unmoving water as Sirius accepted a sandwich and devoured it eagerly, as if he hadn't eaten in years. A heavy silence hung between them as they ate.
"Feeling better?" Lyra asked tentatively.
Sirius nodded, taking a deep breath of the crisp night air. Lyra felt a pang of sympathy for him, realizing how dreadful it must have been for him, alone in that gloomy house for days on end, especially now that the Weasleys had temporarily moved out. Lyra visited and stayed over, but she also enjoyed her own flat when she wasn't needed at headquarters. While he did have the company of Sarah and Zeus, they were either at work or spending time together, leaving Sirius alone. He didn't wish to intrude on their blossoming romance, and even Hestia Jones, whom he had charmed with his boyishness, had been sent on recruitment missions. It dawned on Lyra that Grimmauld Place might feel like one prison exchanged for another for Sirius. She also realized that this man had never truly tasted freedom in his life, aside from his school years. That's why he clung so fiercely to his memories and his remaining true friend, Remus.
"I'm sorry you're stuck in that house all alone, Sirius." She said, feeling a tinge of guilt for not visiting more often.
"It's only temporary. Dumbledore says I'll be a free man once all of this is over. Besides, Christmas is coming up, so that's something to look forward to." Sirius said with a glimmer of hope.
Lyra smiled at him, amazed by his ability to smile even amidst his troubles. She wondered if she could have endured what he had gone through. She shivered slightly from the cold, and in response, Sirius removed his heavy coat and draped it over her shoulders.
"It's fine, keep it. It belonged to my brother..." He said, offering her a faint, pained smile. Lyra nodded gently, but when he mentioned his brother, a nagging feeling stirred in her mind, as if it were trying to piece together fragments of information.
Once they finished eating, Sirius transformed back into his animagus form, and they headed back to headquarters. Along the way, Lyra stopped to buy some coffee, which she sipped as they strolled. Despite the peaceful night, the eerie sensation that often permeated the house returned almost instantly. However, as they typically did, they chose to ignore it. Sirius wished her goodnight, and Lyra stated her intention to spend the night there. But the caffeine had left her unable to sleep, so she decided to explore the library, a room she hadn't ventured into before. The vast collection of books piqued her interest as she scanned the shelves. Thoughts of Regulus Black resurfaced, nagging at her consciousness. She settled down with a book that discussed the Hogwarts founders, starting with Salazar Slytherin. Lyra tried to dismiss the persistent thoughts, but they clung to her like a shadow.
Sirius had mentioned that his brother had been a Death Eater who had worked for Lord Voldemort before deserting and going into hiding. He eventually ordered Kreacher, to poison him. All that remained of Regulus was an unknown locket. Salazar Slytherin had possessed a locket. Could that be the reason Regulus had left the Death Eaters? Had Voldemort entrusted him with the locket and tasked him with hiding it safely? Perhaps Regulus had uncovered the secret of the artefact and decided to take it away from Voldemort, his way of atoning for choosing a path he could no longer follow.
Lyra rose abruptly as the puzzle pieces fell into place. She needed to see that locket for herself. Sirius had mentioned recognizing it but couldn't pinpoint its origins. Perhaps he had recognized it because he had seen statues and portraits of Salazar Slytherin throughout Hogwarts, with the same locket.
Lyra decided it was time to examine the locket herself. Flipping through the pages of the book, she eventually came across an illustration of the locket. She read that it was a family heirloom of great power, passed down through the generations. It made sense; Voldemort claimed to be the heir of Salazar Slytherin, and the locket could have likely come into his possession through his mother. It was possible that she died leaving him with her final possessions...this locket! Albus had explained, that Voldemort's mother had died during child-birth, leaving him in the care of a muggle orphanage.
Lyra acted swiftly, traversing the house until she reached the corridor containing Sirius's room. The faded golden plate bearing Regulus' name reflected dimly in the candlelight next to Sirius' door. She pounded on Sirius' door, hoping he hadn't already fallen asleep. After several knocks, Sirius opened the door, wearing a robe over his boxers, rubbing his eyes and providing additional light with his wand.
"What is it? What's happened?" He asked urgently, still half-asleep.
"I need to see that locket." Lyra said urgently.
"What?" He mumbled, still drowsy.
"Your brother's locket. I need to see it!" She repeated.
"Lyra, it's really late. We can go exploring in the morning." He said, dismissing her, but he paused, his expression changing as if he remembered something.
"Sirius?" Lyra called tentatively.
"You might be onto something." He said addressing Lyra and probably himself.
They moved to the room next to him.
"Alohomora!" Sirius said flicking his wand over the door knob.
Sirius frowned; the lock on the door remained unyielding. Lyra and he exchanged a look, realizing that a locking curse had been placed on the door.
They heard a pop behind them.
"Of course, it's him!" Sirius muttered murderously under his breath.
"Kreacher! Did you place a curse on this door?" Sirius demanded.
The elf looked at him but didn't respond. His silence boiled Sirius' blood more.
"Kreacher! I order you to lift the curse immediately!" Sirius snarled.
The old house-elf began hitting himself. He seemed to be ready to defy any order regarding this.
"Kreacher!"
The elf continued to punish himself for his disobedience.
"Sirius, stop!" Lyra said, placing her hand gently on his arm.
"Kreacher, why did you curse the door?" Lyra asked the house-elf, who glared and swore harshly at her.
"Don't speak to her like that! Answer her!" Sirius snapped at the elf.
"Kreacher, please...we need to know what's inside."
"Kreacher doesn't know what's inside. When Master Sirius opened the room to retrieve Young Master Regulus' remains, Kreacher felt a dark presence, unlike anything Kreacher has ever felt before. Master Sirius later brought children into the house, and Kreacher intended to protect them, as he was instructed. Before Master Sirius returned, Kreacher tried to destroy the locket but couldn't. In order to protect the house and the 'vile little Mudbloods and blood traitors' living here, as Master Sirius had instructed Kreacher, he placed a locking curse on the door."
"That object has dark powers, powers Kreacher isn't familiar with. It has the power to corrupt anyone and everything around it. It's the reason Young Master Regulus took his own life. He didn't know what to do with it. Kreacher was ordered to protect the Mudbloods and blood traitors in the house, so Kreacher ensured they stayed away from the object. Not that Kreacher needed to do much; the object makes the entire corridor feel...unpleasant!"
Lyra found a food truck, where she bought some grilled sandwiches. Padfoot led Lyra into an empty looking park, with a large fountain, where he transformed back.
Lyra handed him a sandwich. They sat on a broken bench over-looking the dirty frozen fountain. He accepted it gratefully, taking a bite of the warm sandwich. They ate in silence. Sirius devoured every bite, like he hadn't eaten in years.
"Feeling better?" Lyra asked slowly. He nodded breathing in the air.
Lyra felt bad for him. She'd never thought about, how dreadful it must have been for him, being stuck in the house…all alone on most days. Especially, since the Weasley's had moved back home for a while. Lyra visited and stayed over frequently, but she preferred staying at her flat, when she wasn't required at headquarters. He did have Sarah and Zeus, for company, but they were either at work or they preferred to spend time with each other. And Sirius wasn't one to come in between young love. Even Hestia Jones, who he had charmed with his boyish mannerisms, was being sent on recruitment missions. Lyra realised; this must have felt like going from one prison to the next. She realised, that this man had never really had, any true freedom in his life. Apart from the few years he'd spent at school. That was why he clung so heavily to his memories and his remaining true friend, Remus.
"I'm sorry you're stuck in that house all alone, Sirius." She said feeling a little guilty that she didn't visit more often.
"It's just for now. Once all of this is over, Dumbledore, says I'll be a free man. Besides, Christmas is coming up…I suppose that's something." Sirius said, sounding hopeful.
Lyra smiled at him. She didn't know how he did that, smile through his misery. She didn't know if she'd be able to survive what he'd been through. She shivered slightly, because of the cold. He instantly took-off his heavy coat and draped it over her.
"It's fine...keep it. It's my brother's anyway." He said with a painful smile. Lyra nodded gently. But when he mentioned his brother, she had a nagging feeling, like her brain was trying to put some pieces together, but wasn't quite able to.
Once they were done, Sirius transformed back into his animagus form and they began walking back towards headquarters. On the way, Lyra stopped to buy some coffee. She took a sip as she followed him, taking in the peaceful night and entered the house. The dark and nasty feeling returned almost instantly. But somehow, they both ignored it, like they usually did. Sirius bid her goodnight as Lyra stated, she would spend the night here. But not being able to sleep, after a kick of caffeine, she decided to explore the library. She hadn't really been in the dusty room before, but the collection of books there, was rather impressive. She scrolled through the bookshelves, as thoughts of Regulus Black nagged at her again. She sat down with a book, opening it, it seemed to talk about the founders of Hogwarts, the first one being Salazar Slytherin. Lyra tried to rid herself of those nagging thoughts, but they didn't leave her alone.
Sirius had mentioned, that his brother had worked for the Dark Lord as a death eater. After deserting, he had gone into hiding. Eventually ordering the elf to poison his tea. All that was left of him was an unknown locket. Salazar Slytherin's prized possession was a locket. Could that have been the reason for Regulus leaving the death eaters? Could Voldemort have trusted him, with the locket and asked him to hide it away somewhere safe? Maybe Regulus had found out the secret behind the artefact and decided to take it away from Voldemort. Perhaps, this was his way of redeeming himself for choosing a path he was no longer comfortable with.
Lyra stood suddenly as the pieces fit together. She needed to see that locket. Sirius had mentioned that he had recognized it, but couldn't place its origins. Perhaps, he had recognized it, because he had seen statues and portraits of Salazar Slytherin across Hogwarts, wearing that locket.
She decided, perhaps it was time, she saw the locket herself. Flipping through the pages of the book quickly, she came upon the locket itself. She read how it had been a family heirloom, that held great power. It also said that it had been passed on, from generation to generation. It made sense, Voldemort had himself said, that he was the heir of Salazar Slytherin. There was no doubting that he had come to possess the locket through his family.
Lyra made quick work through the house, as she reached the corridor that held Sirius's room. The eerie feeling, grew stronger as she looked at the room next to it. The now faded golden plate that held Regulus's name, reflected in the candlelight.
She pounded on Sirius's door, hoping he hadn't fallen asleep. Thankfully, after multiple knocks, Sirius opened the door to his bedroom tightening his robe around his boxers.
"What is it? What has happened?" He asked urgently, rubbing his eyes. His wand providing some more light to the dark corridor.
"I need to see that locket." She said urgently.
"What?" He mumbled still half asleep.
"Your brother's locket…I need to see it…" She repeated.
"Lyra, it's really late. We can go exploring in the morning…" He said waving her away.
"No…I need to see it now!" She demanded pulling him out of the room.
"Lyra!"
"Get the locket…"
"It's in the room, Lyra. I haven't entered that place in months!"
"Well…unlock it…I need it."
"Why do you need it so desperately?"
"I think…it's…it's a horcrux."
"Horcrux? Lyra, as much as I respect your genius. I doubt, my brother, could have possibly come in contact with a…" Sirius stated dismissing her, but paused to reflect upon something.
"Sirius?"
"You…might be on to something." He said thinking to himself, walking over to the room next to his.
"That…locket…looked familiar. I just couldn't tell, where I had seen it."
"It belonged to Salazar Slytherin." Lyra replied, as Sirius began unlocking the door to Regulus's room.
"That explains the snake on it…" Sirius said. Suddenly, he joined the pieces together, like Lyra had minutes ago.
"Alohomora!"
Sirius frowned. The lock on the door didn't budge. Lyra and he shared a look. Someone, had placed a locking curse on the door.
They heard a pop behind them.
"Of course, it was him!" Sirius growled under his breath.
"Kreacher! Have you placed a curse on this door?" Sirius demanded.
The elf looked up at him but didn't say anything.
"Kreacher! I order you to lift the curse immediately!" Sirius snarled.
The old house elf, hit himself.
"Kreacher!"
The elf continued to punish himself for disobeying an order.
"Sirius…stop…" Lyra said, placing her hand gently on his arm.
"Kreacher, why did you place a locking curse on the door?" Lyra asked the house elf. He glared at her and called her nasty things.
"Don't talk to her like that! And answer her question!" Sirius snarled at the elf.
"Kreacher, please…we need to know…what is inside?"
"Kreacher doesn't know…what is inside. When master Sirius opened the room to retrieve young master Regulus's remains. Kreacher felt a dark presence. Nothing like Kreacher has ever felt before! And then Master Sirius brought children into the house. Kreacher, only meant to protect lives…like Master Regulus did."
"Protect lives?"
"Before Master Regulus added the poison to his tea, he did not seem to be the same. It was because of that thing, that he had brought with him. The locket. It made Master Regulus, say things, do things to himself, that he would have never done before. Fearing he was cursed forever, he made Kreacher swear no one but Master Sirius should find it. And Kreacher, made sure of that. Before Master Sirius returned, Kreacher, tried to destroy the locket…but Kreacher couldn't. In order, to protect the house and…the vile little mud-bloods and blood traitors living here…as Master Sirius had instructed Kreacher. Kreacher placed a locking curse on the door."
"That object, has dark powers. Powers Kreacher isn't familiar with, powers of making anyone and all things around it dark too…that object is the reason why young Master Regulus took his life. He didn't know what to do with it, drove him mad! And Kreacher was ordered to protect the mudbloods and blood traitors in the house, so Kreacher, made sure they stayed away from the object. Not like Kreacher, needed to do much, the object makes the entire corridor feel…nasty!"
The elf had made it pretty evident that he had loved Regulus Black dearly. And felt horrible about the way he had died.
"So, you're saying the house is filled with dark magic, because of the object inside?" Lyra asked. They were aware that the Horcrux was a dark artefact, but they weren't aware of the extent to which this darkness spread. Kreacher nodded at her statement.
"Kreacher, if you truly loved Regulus…don't you want to avenge his death?" Lyra asked the elf, who looked at her with his big eyes.
"Help us avenge his death, Kreacher. Open the door." Lyra added softly. The elf, considered her for a few minutes.
"Kreacher…? We can get rid of it...won't you let us help Regulus finish what he started?" Lyra asked gently. Sirius looked at her peculiarly. He knew she was manipulating the elf with her words.
The elf moved towards the door and placed his hand on it. A wave of magic rushed over it as the lock clicked, opening itself to a dark room. Not even the candlelight in the corridor, passed through the doorway. The presence of something extremely sinister was evident, even if it wasn't an exact physical manifestation of it. The two of shared an extremely worried look.
Sirius and Lyra lit their wand tips but their magic felt too weak to penetrate the darkness in the room. The two of them stood outside gathering some courage to enter. He slid his hand into hers and took a deep breath, leading the way in. Lyra pocketed her wand and twisted her ring, to create a ball of fire that floated in the palm of her hand.
The second they stepped into the room, they could hardly see each other. The only real source of light was Lyra's fiery hand. The room was dusty and completely a mess. Book strewn everywhere, bedsheets eaten away by moths and pixies. Something flew past them, as Lyra jumped closer to Sirius grabbing his arm tightly. The room had an unnerving setting, but the dark magic that filled it, made it terrifying to even be there.
Sirius paused near the large desk by the curtained window. He yanked open the drawer that he had dumped the locket in, after he had removed it from his brother's remains. He remembered how awful he'd felt holding it for the first time. The duo stared at the locket and chain for a few minutes, neither dared to touch it. Finally, Lyra inched her fingers towards it. The second she touched it, she could feel the darkness take over her mind. Her deepest darkest memories, began to resurface, tearing it to bits. For a second, she felt herself going mad. Sirius lifted her hand away from it. She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"I know. That's how I felt, when I touched it for the first time." He stated gravely.
Sirius transfigured the dusty bedsheet into a handkerchief and box.
"Best…to keep it away from…all of us." He said, now moving to pick up the locket. He wrapped it in cloth and placed it into the box, shutting it.
"Let's get out of here." He said as they hurried out of the room.
Once they were out, the locket carried its evil energy with it.
They sat down in the kitchen, placing the box on the table, studying it closely, not daring to open it, worried it might affect them like it had Regulus.
"This thing…I can't believe my brother stole this…cursed locket. And he left it to me...I wonder why?" Sirius speculated.
"Maybe…he thought, you'd be able to get Dumbledore to look at it? Maybe, he thought Dumbledore would be able to destroy it." Lyra replied contemplatively.
"Keep it safe…for now. I'll send Burst with a letter asking, Albus, to come have a look at it." Lyra said tearing her eyes from the box. Sirius nodded in agreement. He didn't want that thing around him or anyone in this house, any longer than required.
A worried silence fell through the kitchen as the two of them decided to deal with this in the morning. Sirius stood first, stretching, as he picked up the box. He was about to exit the kitchen, when the fireplace burst to life. Minerva's head popped in, as Lyra and Sirius rushed towards it.
"Professor McGonagall? What's wrong?" Sirius asked urgently. Worried that if Minerva, had bent the rules to floo in from Hogwarts, it could be about Harry.
"Thank goodness, you're both awake! Lyra… get to the hospital, immediately. Sirius…expect a lot of company, in a few hours. I can't be here any longer."
"Minerva, are you going to tell us what has happened?" Sirius asked panicking slightly. If Harry was in trouble…he needed to know!
"There's been an attack on Arthur Weasley. He was on a mission for the Order. He was attacked by Voldemort's snake."
"I must go…"
With that Minerva's head disappeared. The duo looked at each other, crouching over the fireplace.
"Some night, it's been, huh?" He exhaled.
"Keep the locket safe." She instructed.
Sirius nodded, jumping into action. With that Lyra picked up her large winter jacket and whistled out to Burst. In a swirl of fire, she was gone, leaving Sirius alone in the house, once again, but not for long.
Lyra jogged through the hospital entrance, transfiguring her casual clothes into more professional robes. As she ran through the vast lobby, Healer Myers joined her.
"I am assuming you've heard?" He asked finding it difficult to keep up with her long strides.
"I have…where is he?" She asked straightaway.
"Marked unstable at the moment. He's in the 'Dangerous' Dai Llewellyn Ward for Serious Bites. The Healers, have been working on him for the last hour. But I think, we may need you to step in quickly." Myers replied urgently.
"Dumbledore sent a letter through, pressing upon the urgency. Honestly, I've seen many bites in my career, but never anything so…chilling." Myers said shivering. The lift took them to the floor that the ward was situated on.
Lyra passed a distraught trio of Weasleys. An inconsolable, Mrs. Weasley, sat on the bench outside the ward, while Bill, and his brother Charley, who Lyra had recognised from the first task last year, sat with her.
Bill noticed Lyra walk in, he left his family to go speak to her.
"What happened?" Lyra asked hurriedly.
"My father was on a mission outside a muggle antique store. He seemed to have found what Professor Dumbledore, had sent him to look for. He was only waiting outside to find a way in. He took a break to go get something to eat, when he was attacked by the snake." He finished. Bill was cut short as the healer-in-charge of the ward came rushing to speak to Myers.
"Healer Myers…Healer Marks…" He began, noticing Bill standing there, he found it inappropriate to go on.
"Mr. Weasley, would you mind giving us a minute?" Healer Myers stated kindly as Bill nodded, walking back to his family. Once he was out of ear-shot, the healer-in-charge, spoke.
"This attack is nothing like I've seen before. At the moment, we've tried everything possible, but the wounds won't heal. Everything we use…everything we know how to use, isn't helping. One of the muggle-born trainees suggested a muggle method of stitches, but the venom content around the wound dissolves everything. We even tried live leeching him sir, but they refuse to stick, in a matter of seconds they fall away due to the poison."
"We need an anti-venom…perhaps?" Healer Myers offered.
"Yes, we do, but not even Dittany leaves or Wiggenweld are holding strong sir. An anti-venom, could take days to create, and he doesn't have days, sir, not if his body continues to reject these. All we can afford are a few hours, until he bleeds out completely."
"Perhaps, it's time we told the family…that…they need to…start preparing for the worst."
The two men now looked at Lyra, she knew what those looks meant. They wanted her to speak to the distraught family. She had seemed close to them. The man who had been sitting with his mother had left the hysterical woman to come speak to her after all.
Lyra hated this part. Being a healer, came with many perks, but this was the worst part of the job. The subject of Healing could solve a lot of things, but it had its limitations. Lyra gave the two men, an uncertain nod and walked over to the family. They looked at her with eyes full of expectations. Lyra flinched, but they needed to know that the situation was critical.
Lyra took a deep breath, before she began speaking. She was cut off by Molly.
"He's going to die, isn't he?" Cried Mrs. Weasley, mustering whatever courage she had to ask.
"The healers are doing their best, Molly. But the venom, is something they've never come across before. It won't let his wounds heal. And if his wounds don't heal there isn't much they can do. I'm sorry." Lyra said unsure of how to phrase this. Mrs. Weasley, began to cry louder as her sons tried to console their mother, tears falling down their faces as well.
Lyra stepped away, feeling sorry for them, giving them some time to absorb the news. She walked into the chaotic ward, to look at an unconscious Arthur Weasley. The man's bloody robes were discarded by the bed as the healers constantly poured blood replenishers down his throat. His ribs had been crushed and so were the bones in his hands. The snake had coiled around his body to bite down precariously close to his heart, missing it by a few inches. The large open fang marks, had punctured and dragged open two large wounds in his chest. There were two holes that ran from his chest to his side, probably because, he had fought to set himself free.
Everything else seemed easy to fix, but those open puncture wounds were the main problem. The Healers had to tend to those first before they administered care for anything else. But they proved to be the biggest obstacles.
"Not a sight, I had ever hoped to see." Said a voice that Lyra recognised all too well. She didn't know when Albus had arrived, or how long she'd been standing there, staring at the dying man.
"Is there nothing that can be done?" He asked her gently. She shook her head. They had tried everything, even muggle methods, but the venom was too strong.
"Without an anti-venom…they can't do much…" She replied rigidly.
They stood next to each other. Lyra closed her eyes and turned around. This wasn't fair. He was the father of 7 children, he couldn't possibly die…not like this!
"This isn't right…this isn't fair! You should have never sent him to retrieve it!" She snapped angrily, shaking her head. She knew, what exactly Arthur Weasley had been tasked to do.
"Lyra, he knew the risks…"
"And so did you! You knew these…things…would be guarded. You knew it would be dangerous…why send him in when he has so much to lose?!"
"We had information about this artefact being hidden inside a Muggle antique store. His knowledge for muggle items is unparalleled. Besides…his family is the descendant of one of the founders. If there was anyone who would be able to trace this artefact…it would be him."
"And now he lies dying, with nothing we can do to help him." She snapped looking angrily at him. Albus looked back at her calmly, hoping she would cool down.
"I don't know how to fix this!" She said wringing her hands.
"You don't have to be able to fix everything yourself, Lyra." He replied softly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Lyra looked at him, she was upset and disappointed in herself for not being able to help. She was supposed to be the best at overcoming challenges set before her; however difficult they had been. But ever since, she had stepped into England, everything that life threw at her came, with an inequitable amount of difficulty.
In a flash, something struck her though, what he had said, what had seemed unpalatable to her, had suddenly opened her mind to something.
"It seems, like you have thought of something…"
"It may be a long shot…but if it saves Arthur and his family from the inevitable world of grief, they are to witness in the next few hours, it might be worth it!" She replied.
With that she stormed out of the hospital. Her phoenix flew out behind her.
Outside the ward, Lyra grabbed onto Burst's tail and disappeared in another swirl of fire.
Albus watched his daughter leave, unsure of where she had traveled to. He walked back towards the Weasleys to offer them his support.