"Watch your back."

It was as much of a warning as Harry was given as Matthew barrelled into the console room, dragging with him a thick coil of wires. He and Hermione, being onlookers to the boy's machinations, just about moved out of the way in time, lest they wanted to tempt his anger. Without any further explanation, Matthew began connecting the cables to their relevant spots, building upon the work he'd already carried out. All of which had left the Tardis looking like a jumbled mess.

Not that he was going to say such a thing out loud when the ship was about to potentially save his life.

Neither Harry nor Hermione had been given permission to lend a helping hand, though they likely wouldn't have known where to start anyway. Matthew appeared to be in his element, having always held an acute love for tinkering, especially when it came to his ship. He also had the habit of creating chaos in a somewhat organised fashion, which meant Harry shouldn't have been remotely surprised whenever sparks flew from the controls.

He leaned closer to Hermione as they watched the chaos unfold. "Don't you think this is a little bit strange?"

She tore her attention away from her boyfriend to furrow her brow at Harry. "How so?"

"Matthew's really onboard with this plan."

"You know he'd do anything to help you."

They'd both instinctively lowered their voices, which likely was going to pique Matthew's attention anyway. But, as he worked away on his haphazard upgrades, the noise he was making meant that he was suitably distracted. It was a short opportunity to discuss the matter whilst the boy in question was close by, though Harry kept looking in Matthew's direction, just to make sure that he wasn't listening in to the conversation.

"Yeah, but he didn't even bother to argue against Enola connecting her Tardis to this one. With how strongly he's been against her involvement, don't you think it's weird that he's changed his tune so much? Like, look at him…he's exposing his home to someone he apparently doesn't trust and he's barely batting an eyelid."

"When you put it like that, I suppose it's a little curious. I was surprised when Matthew agreed straight away, given everything else he's said. But he could just be choosing to be the bigger person."

"There are plenty of phrases that can be used to describe Matthew, but is that one of them? At least when Enola is involved?"

"He might absolutely detest everything that Enola represents, but that's outweighed by his love for you, Harry. I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Why are you so eager to poke holes in something that's for your benefit?"

"Because I'm worried. I'm worried that you're right. I'm worried that Matthew is overlooking his common sense because my life is on the line. We're basically in agreement that he wouldn't be doing this under any other circumstances. What if Enola's taking advantage of that? What if she's using me as one of Matthew's weak points?"

"I thought you were giving her the benefit of the doubt?"

"It's hard to keep Matthew's opinions out of my head."

"But something must have changed."

In truth, things had changed, but in a more positive light. Since Enola had arrived at Hogwarts, Harry had felt himself growing closer to her. She was saying the right things and was throwing herself into the new setting, even if most of the other students didn't understand who she was and what she was doing there. It therefore didn't make a lot of sense for doubts to be now creeping in, besides the fact that the crunch time was fast approaching.

"Maybe I'm just nervous about what's around the corner. We've been talking about these plans for ages, but now it's actually going to happen. I reckon my fears are just trying to convince me to come up with some sort of excuse. And I know you'll say that that's perfectly alright, and that I'd be expected to be scared, but it's still embarrassing."

"Have you brought this up with Matthew?"

"Of course not. Like you mentioned, gift horse and all that. I don't want him to think that I'm being ungrateful when he's putting a lot on the line."

"He'd understand."

"I might tell him after the whole ordeal is over with. If I…"

Hermione was quick to hold up a hand. "Don't even finish that sentence. Otherwise I'll go up to Matthew myself and tell him everything you've just run through."

"Yes, ma'am."

She smiled triumphantly at his prompt acquiescence, though it didn't last long. The reason for her change in attitude came in the form of Enola, who poked her head around the Tardis' doors. The other girl had been operating in her ship up to that point, making sure the connections were working on her end. Giving what he'd just been discussing, Harry didn't know how to properly school his expression as her gaze landed on him. As a result, his face must have looked like he was fairly constipated.

"There's an incessant beeping coming from my console," Enola explained. "Is that supposed to happen?"

Matthew popped his head up. "How am I supposed to know? This has never been done before. But I suppose I should check it out, just in case we're about to blow up the entire forest."

Enola's Tardis had been left amongst the trees surrounding the magical school, with its new partner joining it in the Forbidden Forest. It was probably for the best, giving them a bit of wiggle room if things went wrong. The last thing they needed was to cause an incident that saw other people accidentally injured. In the possible event that their plans backfired, at least the only other casualties would be the resident acromantula colony. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Matthew took the time to smile at the two of them before venturing outside once again, conveying a breezy attitude that was at odds with how Harry was feeling. Judging from the look on her face, it was also at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to Hermione's emotions too. She seemed to be glaring at the spot in which Enola had just been standing, so strongly that she might have burned a hole into the ground.

"Everything okay?" Harry risked asking.

"It's nothing," came the unconvincing reply.

"You know, if I said that, you'd bite my head off."

"Is that what you think of me?"

"That you're terrifying? Absolutely. I've never denied that."

"It's Enola."

"I can see that."

"They seem to be getting along, working well together, as if they're settling into a comfortable routine."

"You didn't see what Matthew was like the other day when he escorted me to her room. He couldn't stop cursing her name."

"Even so, this is the sort of situation that could remind him why he was so close to her in the past. She has a Tardis, she knows how it works…they have this shared history that looks close to being remembered."

"Last time I checked, you also know how a Tardis works. There's every chance that you're more intimately connected to this ship than either of them after what you did."

"Still…I don't know how to feel when he's being so chummy with her. It's probably just a shock to the system."

"Hermione," Harry said, grabbing her arm so that she had no choice but to look at him. "Matthew quite literally worships the ground upon which you walk. Nothing's going to change that. With Enola, I think he's just trying to make peace with her, until she no longer serves a purpose. We're worried about Enola using him, when it's working just as much in the other direction. Once we go through with this, I wouldn't be surprised if he reverts back to insulting her."

"We have already discussed this. You know, what it means for the two of us with Enola re-entering the mix. He was absolutely insulted at the insinuation."

"And you should believe him. You're not going to be replaced, even if relationships make it more difficult to think rationally."

"Matthew was also under the impression that it wouldn't matter even if did grow to like her again, seeing as you've beaten him to the punch."

Harry quickly dropped his hands, wishing that he could leave the Tardis just as promptly as the others had done. He was on the verge of facing a life-altering scheme, one that would define whether he had years or months to live. The last thing he needed was a distraction, something that would take his mind off the concentration techniques he'd been told to use. And, as was becoming increasingly apparent, Enola was easily the biggest distraction the world had to throw at him.

Hermione smirked. "Judging from the brightness of your cheeks, he was right. I didn't know whether to believe him at first, and your comments just now weren't exactly painting Enola in a positive light. But that's probably why you're so concerned about her allegiances. You're worried that you've already become emotionally invested and it's too late to change your mind."

"Can we not do this now?"

"There might not be another opportunity, depending on how this goes."

"Yet another reason not to be talking about this. In a few minutes, I might not have any capacity to tell her how I feel."

She wiggled her eyebrows. "So there are feelings involved."

"You're supposed to be taking pity on me, not doing whatever this is. It's bullying."

"I just opened up about something that was troubling me. It's only fair that you repay the favour."

"...did Matthew say anything else? You know, about how he'd respond if…something was to happen?"

"He cut the conversation pretty short, to be honest. We've already established that Enola is a confusing topic for him, so there's no telling how he'd react in that hypothetical situation. I'd like to think that he'd take the high road and give you his blessing, but he might be using up all his generosity in bringing this plan to fruition."

"I don't know whether you're helping or not."

"I can't assist you with everything. This isn't some essay for Snape."

"I…I think Matthew tried bringing it up…that first morning Enola was here."

"And? What happened?"

"I shut him down before he could begin."

She bit her lip in exasperation. "Boys. You'll never get any better at this."

"I forced him to admit his feelings for you in the past. I reckon he was trying to begrudgingly return the favour."

"Then maybe that's a conversation you'll need to start up again once we're done here. Well, maybe not straight after. We don't know a lot about what's going to happen, but I'm sure it's going to leave you massively drained."

"You're saying that my reward for surviving this process is having a difficult chat with Matthew about how I might like his oldest friend?"

"...it would seem that way, yes."

"Is there where I find out that you don't actually want me to pull through? Because the motivational talk could use some adjustments."

That was evidently the wrong thing to say, because Hermione's eyes were soon tearing up. The emotions arrived so quickly that she must have been fighting against them for quite some time, and she was quickly wrapping her arms around him to hide her face. By now, Harry was well accustomed to the fierce hugs she liked to give out, but this certainly one of the strongest they'd ever shared. He wisely chose not to comment on the sound of sniffling coming from his friend.

"Oh, Harry. It's not a matter of wanting you to survive. You are going to survive. There's no other alternative."

"I'll try my best, 'Mione."

"If just because I'll be using my own magic to help kickstart the process. And I'm not having your death on my conscience if things go wrong. Understand?"

"Loud and clear. If anything, I'm more concerned about the three of you."

She pulled away slightly, still keeping him within her grasp, and laughed tearfully. "Of course you are. Because that sums you up perfectly, Harry. Your life is at stake and you're busy worrying about other people."

"For good reason," he tried to argue. "We've got personal experience when it comes to how violently horcruxes can lash out, particularly when they know they're in danger. What if it tries to attack you all during the process? What if…what if it turns me against you?"

"You're stronger than that, Harry, so it's out of the question."

"Stronger than a horcrux?"

"Infinitely. A horcrux is dark magic, which means it's always going to be beaten by the light. That's what you represent, Harry. That's why you're going to win. And that's why you don't need to fret about what's going to happen to us. We know what we're doing. Relatively speaking."

"Are we interrupting something?"

Matthew's voice drifted through, signalling his return. He'd come to a stop by the doors of the Tardis, slightly perplexed by the scene he was greeted with. His question was enough to tear Harry and Hermione apart, looking like they'd been caught doing something wrong. Harry was just relieved to hear no hint of suspicion in his friend's voice, as if he understood that such physical support was a necessity given the circumstances.

He was joined by Enola, who stepped over the threshold of the ship with much clearer curiosity than her counterpart. She was looking at Hermione with an unreadable expression, like she was trying to figure out the complexities of their friendship. Harry didn't know whether to be thrilled at the suggestion that Enola was jealous, seeing as it meant there had to be some form of interest on her part. Or maybe there was some animosity towards Hermione, who was held in such high regard by the two boys Enola was trying to connect with.

"...just some last minute nerves," Harry said, feeling as if it was a decent excuse to say that he was thinking on his feet. And it wasn't necessarily a lie, given everything he'd admitted.

"That's perfectly understandable. None of us have been in your position. No one has, for that matter. It's not as if anyone else has been accidentally turned into a horcrux. That takes some proper bad luck."

Hermione shook her head ruefully. "What Matthew is trying to say is that…we'll only go through with this as long as you're fully onboard. We're not going to force you into anything."

"Even it's been a massive pain to get everything working properly."

Harry perked up somewhat. "Does that mean that we're ready to go?"

"As ready as we'll ever be."

"For the time being, my Tardis is slaved to Matthew's," Enola explained. "When the time comes for it to need an injection of power, you'll have everything that my ship has to offer."

Harry processed that information, frowning as a result. It was so difficult to make sense of the young woman before him. He'd spent a good chunk of time running through his doubts about her to Hermione, and how concerned he was about her true motives. But wasn't her involvement a good sign? If she was willing to leave her Tardis completely and utterly bare for their cause, didn't that prove that she had nothing to hide? That she would do anything to help them?

"Just try not to push it too far," she added. "She's the only thing that I've got and I'd hate to see her damaged."

Harry couldn't help but feel sorry for Enola, whose comments hit close to home. Besides the Tardis, she was completely cut adrift from her home. She had nothing tangible to connect her to her past, just as Harry had been torn from his own family. Did that explain why she was trying so hard to win them over? Was she attempting to forge connections with them all, so that she could finally believe that she belonged in their world? It gave another reason for her close scrutiny of Hermione, as if she were jealous that the trio had already found what she was now searching for.

A small yet stubborn voice at the back of Harry's head told him to be more cynical when it came to Enola. After all, it would have been a good tactic to win their favour. By making them feel sorry for her, there was less chance that they would suspect her of wrongdoing. By being so helpful, was she actually luring them into a false sense of security? Harry knew that a more rational person would have been thinking along those lines.

But, if it was a performance, then he had to admit that he was falling for it.

"I'll do what I can," he promised her. "But I get the sense that I won't have much of a say in how things go."

"That's true," Matthew agreed. "Just as Enola reckons her Tardis will be slaved to the process, the same could be said for you, Harry. We'll be pumping unadulterated pure magic straight through you. It'll be like turning on a bunch of taps, with your head placed directly underneath."

"Or you could try to paint it in a more positive light," Hermione suggested. "So that Harry doesn't consider running away."

"I'm sure he's already thought about fleeing. The fact that he's still standing there, rather than making a man-sized hole in the doors, gives me a bit of confidence. At this point, honesty has to be the best policy."

"Do you have any idea what's going to happen?" Harry asked. "Once the magic connects with me?"

Matthew shrugged. "If you're wanting to know whether it'll be an enjoyable experience, then I can't give you any promises. For all I know, it might be a transcendental experience. It might be akin to a religious awakening, as if you're rising to the heavens. It could be joyous, as you become the first person in known history to feel magic at its purest form."

"But it'll likely be much more painful than that," Enola interjected.

Matthew clicked his fingers and pointed at her. "Sadly, she's right."

"The reason why we're pumping so much magic into you is obviously to sustain the fight that'll happen within you. Just like any other battle, there'll be some unwanted fallout."

"Rather than viewing it as a fight, it might be better to think of it in terms of medication," Hermione countered. "When your body is resisting an infection, you get a fever and things like that. You have to remember that any pain you experience is a good sign."

"Because, if I'm feeling anything at all, it means I'm still alive."

"To put it neatly, yeah."

"It's all about having a positive attitude, right?"

"Exactly. Despite how difficult that's going to be."

"I feel as if we're just skirting around the main event. Everything's set. What are we waiting for?"

"You're not the only one dealing with nerves," Matthew pointed out.

Up to that point, he'd presented a façade of confidence, throwing himself into ensuring the Tardis was fully equipped for the experiment. Harry had almost believed the performance, having grown accustomed to Matthew's bare faced stubbornness whenever danger was on the horizon. For the first time, Matthew's mask slipped and his concern for Harry's welfare was clear to see. More than ever, Harry was truly worried about what the end result of their efforts was actually going to be.

Did he need to say goodbye, just in case?

Hermione looked to be close to tears for the second time in quick succession, and she was soon seeking another hug for both their benefit. Harry wondered whether his friends were coming to the same conclusion. Were they under the impression that there was a distinct possibility that they wouldn't be speaking again? The fears were starting to creep in, and it meant that Harry was clinging onto her with a greater strength than normal. Hermione was only too happy to return the favour.

The weight and gravity of the situation was reinforced by the fact that Matthew was on hand to take over once Hermione finally relented. He and Harry had obviously shared plenty of hugs over the years, but it always felt like a momentous occasion whenever it happened. More often than not, the need for such a physical embrace was brought about by a life-threatening issue. Now was no different. Though Matthew tried to play off some of the seriousness by patting Harry on the back in a manly fashion as they parted.

That left Enola, and there was a distinct air of awkwardness surrounding them. It was easy to hug Hermione and Matthew, with the act being an expected part of their relationships. Was he supposed to do the same thing with the relative stranger? Was he allowed to? Would it have been even more embarrassing if they just settled on something like a handshake? It looked as if Enola was caught in two minds just like Harry, hovering on the spot.

In the end, it was down to him to make the first move, rather than waiting for her to come to him. Harry opened his arms in invitation and she smiled sweetly in response, as if she saw it as a concrete confirmation that she was a true part of their group. The hug they shared was still stiff and uncomfortable, the sign of two people who didn't really know each other yet, and it lasted much shorter than the others. But he was pleased when Enola parted with a kiss on his cheek, the second time she'd caught him off guard with that move.

Matthew cleared his throat pointedly. "Now that the mushy things are out of the way, we can get on with the main event."

Harry did nothing more than dumbly nod his head, though that wasn't strictly down to the fact he was about to face his fate. He was well aware that, to succeed, he needed a clear mind and to keep his wits about him. But how was he supposed to concentrate when Enola was doing things like that? Hermione's none-too-subtle smirk wasn't helping matters, clearly enjoying the development that reinforced their recent conversation.

Matthew, on the other hand, was playing his cards close to his chest, which wasn't necessarily a major change to the status quo. If Harry was expected to remain composed, then the same had to be said for his friend. At the moment, it was touch and go whether he'd be able to maintain that standard, given the way he was slightly turning his nose up at their close interaction. Harry was concerned that Matthew would hex him rather than actually removing the horcrux.

Harry steadied himself. "Well then…how do we do this? Is there a specific process? A complex incantation?"

"Pure magic isn't a spell, as you well know," Matthew reminded him. "There'll be little more to this than pointing and firing."

He got a gulp in response. "That…isn't exactly what I want to hear. Especially since I'm the one in the firing line."

"All you'll have to do is close your eyes."

There was a certain glint in Matthew's eyes that made Harry question whether his friend was actually looking forward to the exercise. Matthew had always been ruled by his curiosity (so much so that it was a miracle that he hadn't been placed in Ravenclaw), which meant he was eager to find out what was going to happen. And, if the experience taught Harry a lesson for daring to share a kiss with Enola in Matthew's own Tardis, then that was likely going to be an added bonus.

"And hope for the best?"

"Fingers crossed and all that."

"I wish that we could say that we're going to be gentle," Hermione remarked. "But we're going to have to use a lot of force. This isn't going to be enjoyable for any of us."

Harry huffed. "I reckon I've got the bum end of the deal, though."

"I didn't want to put it like that…but, yeah."

"Once we unleash our power, the Tardis should respond in kind," Enola explained. "Both ships will supplement what we're doing."

"I've seen it in action. The Tardis is very receptive to pure magic, as you can imagine. I'm hoping that it'll be just as instantaneous as when I had to inject her with energy. When I did that, I never imagined that I'd have to do it again. And definitely not in these circumstances. But…back then…I was all alone. I'd lost the two of you. The fact that I've got you back by my side means that I'm not going to lose that again. Do you understand, Harry James Potter?"

He obediently nodded his head. "Loud and clear. Stay alive. That's the main aim of the game."

"Your best option is probably standing by the console," Matthew proposed.

As he spoke, he was already busying himself with moving Harry into the desired position, meaning there was no decision involved. Harry didn't know whether to be comforted by the closer connection with the ship, feeling its familiar warmth reaching out to him. It was like the Tardis was trying to reassure him that she would do everything in her power to protect him. But the side effect was that he was now cut off from the others, the sizable gap signalling what was long overdue.

With a click of his fingers, Matthew forced the Tardis doors to close, which took more effort than usual thanks to the number of cables connecting her to the sister ship. They were now sealed in and, for Harry, he knew it meant that there would be no going back. For the foreseeable future, it was just the four of them, with the outside world barely having a clue as to what was going down. Harry gazed at the doors, his vision going blurry, as he wondered whether he would be stepping out of them again.

"Just a safety precaution," Matthew said quietly, picking up on Harry's anxiety. "If things go wrong, the Tardis will be able to contain the fallout. I'm not the biggest fan of the residents in the forest, but that doesn't mean I want to inadvertently wipe them out."

"But things aren't going to go wrong," Hermione added fretfully. "Positive thoughts from here on out."

Her boyfriend nodded his head. "Good luck, Harry."

He copied the action. "You too. See you on the other side."

It was a rather daunting experience, to be faced by the three of them. Harry was standing before three almighty sorcerers, all of whom packed a punch. And, with their wands slowly being at him, he finally understood what it felt like to be one of their opponents. He was more than glad that, under normal circumstances, he would never have to go through it again, feeling his legs wobbling. The temptation was there to stop them, to shout out and plead to their better senses, but he stubbornly kept his mouth shut.

Harry made the decision to look them all in the eye, but he regretted that choice once he saw the magic beginning to pool at the tips of their wands. It was a quick change of mind that saw his eyes clamp shut, just a second before their magic connected with him. He felt that initial heat in his chest, the breath being taken out of him, before the sensation spread across his limbs. Every so often, he'd consider looking to witness the moment for himself, but he knew that he wouldn't have been brave enough to let it continue in that scenario.

There'd been one instance when Harry had experienced what it was like to be consumed by pure magic. The first time he'd met Enola, she'd used her powers to evaluate him and the energy had ripped through him like a raging fire. Whilst the moment was less antagonistic this time around, his friends were having to use just as much force to stand against the horcrux. It may have been an almost pleasant sensation at first but, as those first seconds ticked by, the pain started to consume him.

He heard the Tardis chiming behind him, though it felt like it was thousands of miles away. If Harry had had his eyes open, he would have seen that nest of wires beginning to match the golden glow that was quickly enveloping him. He would have seen the effect of the two ships working together. He would have seen the same sort of power reaching out from the console to join with the already established onslaught, as the Tardis gifted him her magic in the fight against the horcrux.

What he could feel was the way he was being steadily lifted into the air as the power continued its battle through his body. His senses were being completely drowned out. All he could focus on was the way the magic was scouring over every inch of his existence, as if it was going further than they'd originally planned, as if it was sanitising his every history. The Tardis was a temporal construct, a creation that bent time around itself, and it was showing that might now.

If Harry had had any capacity for rational thought, he might have wondered what his friends were thinking. It must have been a terrifying sight, to watch him ascend above the dais, his eyes blank and flickering. If they were frightened, then they were doing well to ignore those concerns, instead pushing even further. Surely the change in dynamics was a sign that their efforts were working, which encouraged them to keep going with an unrelenting dedication.

Until Harry yelled out.

And everything went white.