Chapter 15
Mad-Eye-Murderer
Lyra stood there, her mind struggling to regain its composure after the shocking sight she had just witnessed. Panic etched onto her face, she made her way to the castle, her heart pounding with urgency. Burst, flapped her wings to catch up, sensing her distress. Lyra had to find someone she could trust and confide in about the murder she had just seen.
She arrived outside Athena's office and waited anxiously for over twenty minutes, but there was no response. Frustration and fear gripped her, pushing her to take drastic action. She hurriedly made her way to the other tower and stood before the Gargoyle that led up to Dumbledore's office.
As the revolving staircase carried her to the door, she knocked frantically. To her surprise, Athena herself opened the door, wearing a grave expression. Lyra entered the room, her distress mounting. However, she found the office crowded with people: the committee, Dumbledore, Athena, Karkaroff, the Minister of Magic, the Bulgarian Magical Chancellor, and their American counterpart, the president of MACUSA. Alastor Moody, the alleged culprit, was in the midst of explaining his version of events. It was evident that he had arrived with his story, prompting Dumbledore to summon the heads of their respective institutions and their country's leaders. Lyra cursed herself; she had arrived too late. Moody was spinning a tale to cover his tracks, a tactic any criminal would employ.
"Don't believe a word he says...he's the one who did it...he murdered Barty Crouch!" Lyra exclaimed, her wand pointed at Moody, while the room regarded her with a mix of disbelief and concern.
"Lyra...what? What are you saying?" Athena asked, her shock evident from her niece's startling accusation.
"I saw it...I saw him there...you murdered him...tell them!" Lyra snarled at Moody, who appeared genuinely taken aback by her allegations. Lyra wasn't surprised; criminals often denied their crimes.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Ms. Marks...I happened upon the scene myself...not something I wished to witness either..."
Lyra's anger flared, but she fought to maintain control. She knew that losing her composure would only lead to another fiery outburst, much like the one on Christmas night.
"You realize there are many ways to prove it was you. He's literally covered in dirt, and there's always Veritaserum..." Lyra threatened, pointing at him, as the others in the room shifted their attention between her and Moody, the latter appearing almost amused by her accusations.
"Enough! Ms. Marks..." Dumbledore thundered, surprising Lyra with his intervention. Of all the people in the room, he was the last she expected to silence her. Her trust in him began to erode with that single statement.
"This was an unfortunate incident. However, I trust Alastor Moody with my life...I don't believe we need to subject him to further scrutiny." Dumbledore added, defending Moody.
"But...he...a man is dead!"
"You were there too, Ms. Marks. If you saw me kill him, why didn't you stop me?" Moody asked, a smirk playing on his lips. Lyra clenched her teeth and turned towards Athena, who refused to meet her gaze. Suddenly, Lyra grasped the gravity of Tessra's initial warning.
"Behave yourself."
Those two words took on a deeper meaning. Lyra realized she was truly on her own here; she had no leverage or jurisdiction in this foreign territory.
"I think...uh...Ms. Marks may not be handling her loss today very well." Remarked the British Minister of Magic, looking at the MACUSA president, who nodded apologetically on her behalf.
"Check his wand...I know what I saw..."
"Did you actually witness Professor Moody cast the killing curse?" Dumbledore questioned pointedly. Lyra's nostrils flared. Why was he defending this murderer? Why wouldn't he believe her?
"No... but I..."
"Then you are just as much a suspect, Ms. Marks, as Professor Moody. After all, as he said, you were also present at the scene." Dumbledore continued, peering over his half-moon glasses. Lyra was dumbfounded by his words. She looked at him with a mixture of disappointment and distrust. She felt betrayed by the one person she had blindly put her faith in over the past few months.
Lyra began to rebuild the emotional walls she had tried so hard to tear down, largely because of Dumbledore. She silently berated herself for falling so easily for his charm and charisma, for letting him into her life. She was furious, not just at him but at herself for being so foolish.
"Ms. Marks, please remember your place. You are not here as an auror or a Coven member, but as a mentor. Accusing a colleague without substantial proof reflects poorly on AIMS. Do you understand that?" The MACUSA president snapped. Lyra gritted her teeth in frustration at his words.
"But...I saw him..." Lyra muttered under her breath. Nobody believed her. She felt utterly helpless.
"Your word against his." Retorted the MACUSA president.
As their eyes locked, Lyra's fists clenched. She turned and walked out of the office.
"I suggest you go cool off, Ms. Marks. Being a sore loser doesn't suit you..." Added the Minister of Magic, chuckling insensitively, as Lyra left the room.
However, it appeared that the MACUSA president was not finished with her. He called out to her to stop, but she paid no caution to his calls. Frustrated by her insubordination, he furiously chased after her and caught up with her in the corridor outside the Gargoyle statue.
"Lyra…Lyra…Stop!" The MACUSA president yelled, his voice filled with anger.
Lyra paused and turned to look at him, her eyes locking onto his with intensity.
"What was that all about?" He snapped at her, his frustration evident.
"That was me telling the truth, but it seems like people here are too blind to see it!"
"Do you realize how this reflects on MACUSA and AIMS?"
Lyra's breathing hitched.
"Is...is that all you care about, Reggie?" She asked softly, her voice tinged with disappointment. Reggie met her gaze, his own eyes filled with a mixture of anxiety and guilt. She sighed and turned away.
"A man has just died. I told you who killed him...and all you care about is appearances?"
"This isn't America, Lyra...you can't just assert your authority wherever you please!"
"They don't believe me...that's fine. But the fact that YOU stood there and allowed them to say those things about me is what's surprising. You know me...I wouldn't accuse someone if I didn't believe I was right..." She began, her voice growing increasingly agitated as she paced in an attempt to calm herself, which proved futile.
"I know this isn't America...but you're just as spineless here as you are there!" She snarled, turning toward him with a threatening demeanor.
"I'm not here to clean up your mess, Lyra...I'm not your fucking brother!"
"Well, he'd handle this situation much better than you..."
"There's no reasoning with you, is there? You're just as stubborn and conceited as you were years ago..." He retorted feebly, unable to come up with a more substantial response.
"Reasoning? I'm here because your god-daughter, my niece...needed me. I'm here because you agreed to push AIMS to participate in this tournament in the first place. Why are you here?" She snarled.
"If it weren't for me, Tessra Jones wouldn't have called you!" He snapped back at her.
"Do you want a standing ovation for doing your job?"
"I'm not here to argue with you..." He said, growing increasingly frustrated with her. He had never had the patience to deal with her, a fact they had both come to realize over the years.
"At least I know what I stand for!" She spat at him. His anger seemed to intensify with her statement. She turned to leave once more, but he grabbed her hand tightly.
"Do you really? Was burning your brother's face what you stand for? Or traveling around the continent causing chaos in the name of do-goodery what you stand for? Or making Tessra Jones cover up your every mistake?" Reggie's words stung, and they hurt her even now. She pulled her hand out of his grip, massaging it as he continued his onslaught of criticism, the memories of their toxic relationship resurfacing.
"You think you're brilliant, like you're some kind of God! Just because you're part of the 27, just because the Daily Bugle puts you on a pedestal and worships your every move? Well, you're not...you're just as broken and damaged as the rest of us. So stop putting on this act!" He spat venomously.
Lyra's expression darkened as she took a step closer to him, bringing her face close to his, a face that once brought her joy but now only fueled her anger.
"It's easy for you to sit in a comfortable office and sign a few documents, isn't it? How does it feel to go home to your family every day while everyone else slaves away for you? You wouldn't last three seconds if you had to face the things I do every single day, so don't compare your cushy little desk job with mine. It's nice, isn't it Reg? To have a family to go home to...well some of us don't have that privilege. Tell me, how are your beautiful wife and children?"
"Don't, Lyra...don't go there!" Reggie warned, pushing his face closer to hers.
"I will go there! You want to know why I'm like this, Reggie? You want to know why I'm so broken and damaged, as you say?" She snarled. Reggie looked away, his shame evident.
"There you go...there he is. What happened, Reggie? Nothing to say? Nothing to add? Want to run away, like you always do? Well, there's no Ma and Pa here to help you make a decision!"
"The best decision I ever made was listening to my parents!" He shot back at her.
"I'm tired, Reggie. I got tired that night...if you hadn't called Michelin..."
"Lyra, stop..." He said, swallowing his guilt.
"If you can't handle what you dish out, don't lecture me about being broken when you're the one..."
Someone cleared their throat, interrupting their heated exchange. Athena had stepped outside, accompanied by Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic.
"Please...don't do this...not here...not after so many years." She pleaded with both of them in a soft, desperate voice. She then approached them, and they reluctantly moved apart.
"She needs to get her priorities straight!" Reggie spat, straightening his jacket.
"Talk to her, Athena, before she ruins everything, just like she always does!" Reggie snapped back cruelly.
That was the breaking point. Anger overcame Lyra, and flames burst from her hands, shooting towards Reggie. He stumbled backward, as did Athena. Fear filled their faces as they stared at her.
"Lyra!" Athena yelled, snapping her niece back to reality. The flames vanished as quickly as they had appeared.
Lyra looked at the horrified expressions on their faces, her own guilt weighing heavily on her. She turned and walked away.
"Are...are you okay?" Athena asked Reggie, who remained fixated on the spot where Lyra had stood just moments ago. Dumbledore and the Minister rushed over to assist them.
"This...this is unacceptable...she has no right to use elemental magic!" Fudge snarled, eyeing Lyra Marks as she walked away.
"She does...the 27 Coven and their magic have no jurisdiction, except for Tessra Jones...MACUSA doesn't control them. They operate independently..." Reggie explained.
"Magic for Good..." Athena said softly, reciting the Coven's motto.
"How was that...how was that 'for good'? She could have seriously hurt you!" The Minister barked at the president.
"She'd never hurt me...not intentionally anyway." The president replied darkly. He looked at Athena, who shook her head pityingly. The Minister seemed perplexed by the president's lack of concern regarding this unregulated magic.
"She's...she's already tapped into her element?" Reggie asked, still catching his breath after the shock. Athena nodded gravely.
"She's not in control of it...Headmistress McGonagall...something needs to be done! I'll need to have strong words with Tessra Jones!" Reggie declared authoritatively.
"You've done quite enough, Mr. President. You chased after her...you provoked her!" Athena retorted scathingly. He looked at her with shame once more.
"I did what was necessary for AIMS... for MACUSA." He snapped, straightening his jacket. Athena gave him a sharp look.
"...And for yourself." Athena added softly, referring to his previous statement. He averted his gaze guiltily. He understood, what she was truly referring to.
"In Lyra's case...as you know...most people seem to act in their own self-interest." Athena replied, her tone still in defence of her niece.
"Do you...do you believe her?" He asked, shocked by her statement.
"Lyra may be annoying, arrogant, and stubborn, but don't forget who she is, Mr. President. If this had been any other member of the 27 Coven, would you have treated them the same?" Athena snapped.
"She doesn't know how to behave like one of them! They're nothing like her!"
"Yet, she is one of them, handpicked by Tessra Jones, trained by them, with potential and power far beyond what any of them could have foreseen!"
"But... Headmistress...you heard Professor Dumbledore in there..."
"Dumbledore...isn't a seer!" Athena snapped, casting a disgusted glance in Dumbledore's direction.
"Neither is your niece!" Retorted the president.
"I don't condone her actions...however, something suspicious is happening with this tournament, Mr. President...Minister...something that shouldn't be..."
"And Ms. Marks somehow knows? That sounds extremely far-fetched!" The Minister said irritably.
"No...no, I don't think she does...but considering her track record, she clearly suspects something. She might be mistaken, but she's not foolish enough to act like this unless there's more to it than she's revealed." Athena replied, turning to the president.
"Then why the hell won't she tell us?" The president countered. Before she could respond, he continued.
"She's your niece, and I understand that. I also realize your eagerness to consider her perspective, given our shared history. However, both of us are well aware of the mad theories Lyra tends to concoct in her mind."
"Those "Mad" theories have hardly ever steered her wrong..."
"But they are often baseless, just like this one! Athena, you can't be serious! We can't accuse a man based on just her intuition! She knows that too! This is just her throwing her weight around...as always!"
"You know her, Reggie...you've known her for years...you know what she's really like...she's not..."
"I know her as an arrogant and exasperating person, Athena! And it's been years since...since then, Athena...I fear...I don't know...Lyra anymore...she's not the Lyra I knew, not after that night." He admitted regretfully.
Athena looked at him with a pained expression, and Reggie looked away guiltily.
"We should get back in there...there's much to figure out before my Portkey departs." He said, returning to his professional demeanor.
Athena nodded, and the four of them walked back towards Dumbledore's office.
"Is she going to be a problem?" Albus whispered to Athena. She clenched her fists and shot him an offended look, deeply hurt by his statement.
"I am only looking out for my students, Athena." He said solemnly.
"Let me put it in a way you'll understand, Dumbledore. She will never be your problem!" Athena snapped angrily at him. She then ascended the revolving staircase in fury.
Albus gritted his teeth, finding the McGonagall sisters to be quite frustrating at times.
Lyra stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her with seething frustration. In the bedroom, she retrieved a box, swiftly rolling herself a joint. Her fingers reached for the lighter, a Christmas gift, and as she sparked her joint, she found herself fixating on it. In a fit of anger, she hurled the lighter at the wall, shattering it into pieces. The turmoil inside her led her to summon a large bottle of fire whiskey she'd smuggled from the Hogshead a month ago. She gulped it down as rapidly as she could.
Minutes into her uncontrollable rage, she began to physically thrash the room. Amid the chaos, a sharp knock at the door interrupted her. Furious at being pulled away from her mayhem, Lyra prepared to unleash her anger on the intruder, expecting Athena and her usual lectures.
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT NOW?!" She snarled as she drunkenly swung open the door, a lit joint dangling from her lips.
Her anger quickly dissolved into shame as she saw who was standing there.
Minerva regarded Lyra with a mix of anger and surprise, causing a pang of guilt to wash over her.
"What are you doing? The entire faculty tower has been awakened by your noise!" She snapped sternly, arms crossed. With a swift motion, she removed the joint from Lyra's mouth, tossed it to the floor, and crushed it with her boot.
Minerva pushed Lyra back into the room and shut the door behind them. Irritated, she surveyed the room, now in shambles. Waving her wand, she began to repair the damage, objects mended themselves and floated back into place.
"I...don't need your help!" Lyra huffed.
"Shut up and sit down!" Minerva ordered firmly, and surprisingly, Lyra complied.
Minerva took a seat beside Lyra.
"What is wrong with you?" Her gaze held a genuine concern.
"The whole world wants to know..." Lyra replied with disgust.
"How much have you had to drink?"
"Not enough!"
"Lyra..."
"Why the fuck do you care...you aren't talking to me, remember...let's go back to doing that...let's go back to ignoring Lyra..."
"I am still extremely mad at you, Lyra. It wasn't your place to say the things you said to me that night...but that doesn't mean I am going to leave you like this!" Minerva snapped.
Lyra fell silent, with nothing to say. Most people would have abandoned her by now.
"...do you believe me?" Lyra asked softly. In her drunken stupor, she wasn't sure what she was seeking. Validation? No, that was beneath her, and yet, she hoped that at least one person would pay attention to what she was saying.
Minerva looked at the woman before her, brushing a few strands of auburn hair away from her face. The committee had been present when Lyra had her outburst. Dumbledore had dismissed them when she left.
"Oh, Lyra...why are you doing this to yourself?" Minerva sighed, her gaze filled with pain as she looked at the inebriated woman.
Lyra pulled away from Minerva's attempt at affection. She didn't need sympathy; she needed affirmation.
"DO YOU BELIEVE ME?!" Lyra snarled as her hands burst into flames.
"FUCK! STOP DOING THAT!" She shook her hands frantically as if they were lit matchsticks.
"Lyra!" Minerva called out, worried. She held the woman's hands firmly, and Lyra watched in drunken shock as the flames burned Minerva's fingers. The flames died away when Lyra realized she was hurting Minerva. She tried to pull away, but Minerva held her hands firmly. Their eyes met for the first time in the conversation.
"You need to get it together, Lyra! Please...please!" Minerva pleaded.
"You're just like the rest! You think I'm crazy...I'm not crazy...! I know what I SAW!"
"I don't think you're crazy, Lyra..."
"Then, do you believe me?"
"Why...why is it so important for you to always be right?"
"Not always!"
"Do you believe me?"
"Alastor Moody has been my friend for years, Lyra. He is not a bad man...he'd never do something like this...!"
"So, you don't believe me!"
"WHAT I BELIEVE IS NOT IMPORTANT!" Minerva snapped in frustration. She could feel herself breaking.
"I BELIEVE YOU ARE NOT A LIAR. But...no...I don't want to believe what you're saying...even if it's true!"
"But it's true!"
"The truth isn't always black and white, Lyra...!"
"Sometimes the truth...isn't what's staring you in the face...sometimes it is shrouded!"
"You don't want to see the truth?"
"I wish I could accept the truth, Lyra. I really do...but sometimes...it's hard to accept it...especially if the circumstances...are...not conducive to it."
Lyra looked at her in utter confusion. Either she was extremely drunk and high on half a measly joint, or what Minerva was saying to defend Alastor Moody being a murderer made no sense!
"He killed him, Minerva...he's a murderer! That's not right..."
"You don't have any proof, Lyra...they don't believe you because you have no proof!"
"Check his wand!"
"Lyra...there isn't substantial reason to check his wand. Your word is not substantial proof."
"Do you believe me?" Lyra repeated for the nth time, drunkenly stumbling towards the couch. Minerva grabbed her before she fell to the floor and helped her sit on the couch.
"I don't know, Lyra...all I know...is that I believe in you..."
Lyra waved her away, her eyes drooping as she passed out on the couch.
Minerva sighed, covering the sleeping woman with a conjured blanket. With one final glance at the peacefully slumbering figure, Minerva bit her lip and shook her head, then closed the door behind her.
Sarah emerged from the exam hall with a confident stride, knowing she had excelled in her Charms paper. Every answer she had penned was impeccable, adorned with underlined keywords and insightful footnotes. It was a stark improvement from the Potions theory paper she had tackled two days earlier. Only the Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA) paper remained, and then she would officially graduate.
Due to their unique circumstances as champions, they were allowed to take their exams a month ahead of their peers. The third task of the Triwizard Tournament was scheduled right after the regular NEWTS, leaving them with insufficient time to prepare for their tests. So, they had the privilege of sitting for their exams a month early.
As Sarah stepped out of the classroom, her bag inexplicably tore open, spilling her belongings onto the ground. She muttered irritably as she began to gather her things, and a kind soul swooped down to assist her.
"I have no idea how that happened...I mean, this bag is practically brand new!" She shook her head, speaking to the person helping her, only to look up and find Zeus by her side. She regarded him with a pointed stare.
"I have nothing to say to you..." She snapped.
"Sarah, please...I've been struggling without you. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't focus on my studies...and I don't even understand why you're treating me like this. Can you at least tell me what I've done?" He pleaded.
Sarah waved her wand, fixing her bag, and began repacking it, her frustration evident.
"You lied to me, Zeus!" She snapped.
"I...I would never lie to you, Sarah..."
"Then why did you claim you had no family you cared about?"
"What do you mean? There...there isn't any!"
"What about your brother, Zeus?"
Zeus looked at her, astounded.
"How...how do you...who told you about him?" Zeus asked with a dark tone.
"Does that even matter? You didn't tell me, Zeus! I...I shared everything about myself with you. I introduced you to my entire family. And you...you didn't even think to mention him?"
"It's...it's complicated, Sarah!" Zeus muttered, looking away, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Zeus, if you truly love me, if your feelings for me are genuine, then you need to trust me..."
"Of course, I love you!" He retorted defensively. Sarah gazed at him patiently.
"If...if I tell you this, Sarah...I'll be putting you in grave danger..."
"I can take care of myself, Zeus, and I can take care of you if it comes to that."
"I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you because of this..."
"You...mean a lot to me, Sarah..."
"Zeus, I'm not going anywhere. I literally argued with my father to stay in London for you. I love you just as deeply as you love me. If we're going to build a life together, Zeus, we need to be completely honest with each other."
Zeus weighed her words for a moment, then leaned in and kissed her. He had missed her terribly during the past month.
"I understand." He mumbled.
"My safety is my responsibility, Zeus. I'm not weak."
"I know you're not, but..."
Zeus fell silent, carefully considering his next words. Yet, she gently held his hand and looked at him with her captivating eyes, causing him to melt. He led her into an empty classroom and proceeded to divulge the harrowing story of the night he had fled his family home.
As Zeus recounted the horrifying events of his parents' attack on his brother due to their dark beliefs, Sarah listened intently, absorbing every detail. She held him tightly when he broke down.
"I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere, Zeus, not now, not ever!" Sarah declared resolutely. She tenderly kissed him as he surrendered himself completely to her.
AN/- Hello! Do let me know what you think of the story so far. Reviews help! And a large thank you to all those who have reviewed so far. Appreciate your thoughts greatly!