Hey! :) I wanted to post chapter 8 before this year is over, and a Very Happy New Year 2025 to all of you! :)
Thank you for all your feedback regarding this story so far, I really appreciate every single one of you!
It was five thirty in the morning, and it was freezing.
Dumbledore didn't mind the cold when he slowly made his way up to the Astronomy Tower. He came up here at least once a day, often twice a day lately.
The headmaster didn't know it yet, but he was already experiencing side effects of the Praesidio potion he had stolen after Snape had refused to give him any, and that was an overwhelming sense of power along with crippling paranoia.
Dumbledore was certain that only he could keep his horcrux safe- but he had to see it was safe, and he had to see it with his own eyes.
The paranoia made him get up in the middle of the night and walk up to the tower, and it made him sit and stare at his horcrux for an hour straight, and today- it made him commit another murder.
Something is different.
Dumbledore frowned, slowly reaching for his wand. There was something in the air up here…a new smell. And noise, there was definitely a noise.
My horcrux! I am coming! I am coming!
Someone had found out, someone was after his soul!
Dumbledore gasped, racing up the stairs, his long hair and beard wildly moving, his demeanor frantic. He had to protect his horcrux. His soul. His life.
And he reached the top, his eyes frantically searching the tower, the fear making him choke, but he would protect…
What. Is. This.
For a second or two, Dumbledore and the owl sitting casually on the edge of the tower locked eyes- and then the headmaster let out a shrill, unpleasant sound of anger.
That creature has disturbed my soul, it has come to taken my peace!
He was not in his right mind when he lifted his wand, pointing it directly at the harmless snowy owl, who had started to carefully clean herself, using her beak to tidy her feathers.
"Avada Kedavra!"
There was a thud- and then Snowy was lying motionless on the floor, no longer cleaning herself, no longer looking around, no longer flying- no longer alive.
"No one comes up here to disturb my soul", Dumbledore croaked, putting away his wand, "no creature, no one. My horcrux shall be protected by me for eternity!"
He made sure his horcrux was still there, untouched, not bothering at all with the dead owl. Maybe this would be a warning for others, to stay away from here, to leave his soul alone!
"…and therefore, this project will be half of your overall grade this semester", McGonagall now said, giving Sirius who was half-sitting half-lying in his seat a sharp look, "I have put you in pairs to work on this project together, and I hope not to hear any complaints about my choices", her face turned cross, "you'll have time until next week to submit an introduction and overview of your project, it will be due before winter break."
Sirius groaned inwardly. Another bullshit thing on his list- this dumb project. He could only hope to get in a group with Angus or Ginny who'd gladly do all the work for him.
"Orion Lemarc…", McGonagall's lips thinned, and then she handed him a small piece of paper with a name written on it, "I have decided for you to wor…"
Fuck no.
Sirius didn't even listen to McGonagall anymore, everything inside him had frozen when he had looked on the name on that paper.
Thomas Sayre.
Why. Why can't I ever catch a break?
Thomas was definitely the worst choice to work with, even though he was by far the smartest student. But God, how he hated that smug little asshole.
Of course the new kid- because in his mind, he would always be the new kid- didn't look too thrilled either to be working with him, the class failure.
"If you think I'll do any of your work, think twice", Thomas hissed at him as a greeting, taking a seat next to him, "and unlike you, I want to get an Outstanding for this project."
Why do you even care? You're just a spy, aren't you?
He didn't say that out loud, though- he was still debating how to use the information he had on Thomas, and the fact that Aurelius was in on this scheme.
"Fine. Whatever."
"We need an idea and an outline", Thomas went on, ignoring Sirius' snotty remark, "I'll come up with some ideas, and then we can meet and create the outline later."
"Sure. Do that", Sirius was already completely over this project, and he had no problem letting Thomas know, "the world might just end if you don't get your ass kissed for yet another perfect project, right?"
"You'll do better to help me get an O for this project, Lemarc instead of trying to be funny", he was standing up, "but no worries- you can go straight back to being a loser right after I got my Outstanding", his smile was arrogant now, "wouldn't want to mess with your reputation."
He already had a cutting remark on his tongue but then McGonagall walked back over, and he bit his lips just in time.
His revenge would be sweeter, anyways…it was just a matter of time before Thomas would find out that his silly little owl was gone.
"Severus."
"Gryffindor", the Potion Master gave the Founder a quick nod before entering the living room and taking a seat on the leather couch, "there's been a new development."
Salazar came into the room at that moment, holding some ornaments that he intended to hang up, and he looked at Snape with curiosity, "is this about the Astronomy Tower? Aurelius told me that Tom has seen him go up there."
"Lupin has as well", Snape leaned back, "therefore, I have put a magical alarm by the stairs of the tower, letting me know immediately when someone goes up there- the alarm went off at five thirty this morning."
"Dumbledore?"
Snape nodded, "I didn't get there right away, but I heard him use the Avada while he was up on the tower."
Salazar paled, sitting down on the couch next to Godric, "but…a student? Did you…"
"He must be getting bold to use an Unforgivable spell like that, right at Hogwarts", Godric interrupted him, anger in his voice, "where you able to identify the victim?"
"I went up right after Dumbledore had left, he did not stay long", Snape replied, "and I found the victim- an owl. A young snowy owl, to be exact."
"How does an owl get on the Astronomy Tower? They usually don't fly over there", Salazar stated, frowning, "and why would he kill a beautiful, innocent creature like that?"
"It's the Praesidio…", Snape looked into the flames, "he must have gotten it from someone else. He sounded…frantic when he spoke the Avada. Terrified, and besides himself."
"He's getting paranoid."
Snape nodded at Salazar, "he certainly is- which is a warning sign", he looked over to Godric who had been unusually silent.
"That…owl…", Gryffindor spoke slowly, "you said it was young?"
Snape nodded again, "maybe a year, and I believe female. I examined the owl; it had a tag from the Owlery on its left claw. It was nam…"
"Snowy."
Snape blinked, a hint of surprise on his face, "how do you…"
Godric stood up, suddenly feeling quite ill. He remembered all too well the look on Tom's face when he had told him he'd buy the owl, and…
I'll take good care of Snowy
Good care of Snowy
Snowy…
"Snowy was Tom's owl", he said quietly, "I bought Snowy for him in Diagon Alley…he was quite excited to have her, and promised to take good care of her."
"And I believe he did", Salazar smiled sadly, "Aurelius told me that Tom would go up to the Owlery every day to check on Snowy."
"How did Snowy end up on the Astronomy Tower then?", Godric frowned, "snowy owls are usually not adventurous like that."
"Do you think Dumbledore brought the owl there to kill it?", Snape asked, frowning as well, "it is certainly…interesting that the one owl he killed belongs to Thomas."
"Could he have found out about Tom? And killing Snowy is some kind of warning sign?", Salazar sounded worried now, and Godric had to admit that he had thought of that as well- the matter of Snowy's death was just a bit too suspicious, "he might have- and if he has, Tom and Aurelius are both in danger. We definitely need to investigate how Snowy got on that tower, and if Dumbledore took her there deliberately to send us a message."
"We need to go to Hogwarts", Godric already turned for the door, "Dumbledore can think we are visiting Aurelius, or the school, or whatever he likes- if he's already suspicious, this might prevent him from escalating things further. He knows he is no match for either of us."
Salazar got up, nodding in agreement, "Tom needs to know about this- and I'd like to take a look at that Astronomy Tower myself, looking for that horcrux."
"I did not find any objects that I would have considered a horcrux up there", Snape now said, "it is difficult to identify a horcrux, though."
"Exactly- and that is why we are going to take another look up there", Godric sounded determined as he walked to the door, "but first we need to tell Tom that Snowy is dead- and that I am rather dreading."
Tom had walked up to the Owlery right after classes and lunch were over, and for the first time, Snowy had not greeted him with her usual happy little hooting.
In fact, he couldn't even see Snowy when he walked closer.
"Snowy?"
No response.
Maybe she's asleep?
Tom walked even closer, and when he came to Snowy's spot at the Owlery, her nest, he found it completely empty.
She might be out hunting.
He knew that could be true- snowy owls often hunted during the daytime, but so far, Snowy had always been here when he'd come up after lunch.
Therefore, he decided to wait.
And wait.
Aaaaand wait…
An hour later, Snowy was still not back- and the feeling of uneasiness he had had now was growing into something bigger.
Something has happened to Snowy.
Tom had already walked around the Owlery while he had waited, looking for signs from Snowy, but there were none. All other owls were where they belonged, and the only owl missing was his own.
He asked some other students who had their owls up here, describing Snowy to everyone, but no one had seen her today, and no one knew where she was.
Eventually, he had to leave the Owlery, feeling upset and bitter and confused. It wasn't like Snowy to just disappear like that- it wasn't like her at all.
His classmates were in the Common Room, which was unusually empty for this time. The fourth graders had dance lessons, the first and second graders were doing an excursion with Hagrid, and the seventh and some sixth graders were all studying for an exam- meaning, it was mostly third, fifth, and a few sixth graders tonight.
Tom walked straight to the other third graders, hoping they'd be able to help him, "Snowy is gone", he declared, the air of authority in his voice making it clear this was most important now, "has anyone seen her today?"
The third graders looked at one another, shaking their heads.
"I saw her last night", Ginny offered, "I went up there to ask Fred something, and I walked right by her. She was cleaning her feathers."
Tom swallowed, and he could see it right there- Snowy, sitting in her usual spot at the Owlery, carefully cleaning feather after feather…
Pull yourself together, damnit. No need to get so emotional!
"I saw her last night, too", one of Ginny's friends now said, "she really is a beautiful owl!"
"Where could she be?", Colin now asked, looking slightly worried, "do snowy owls fly away like that?"
"Not really, no", Angus replied, and began a whole explanation about snowy owls and their habits, often interrupted by the third grader's questions.
The only one- besides Luke, of course- who did not engage in the conversation was Sirius.
He was sitting on one of the couches, pretending to read a book. Inside, he was screaming with laughter. This was going better than expected! No one knew anything, no one had seen anything, and poor Thomas looked like the picture of misery.
Serves him right.
He grinned, turning over a page in his book. Maybe things were finally starting to look better for him…
"What's so funny, Lemarc?"
Sirius looked up, right into Tom's face- which was white with anger, "is it funny to you that my owl has disappeared?"
"Can't say I blame her", Sirius replied smugly, "maybe she just found herself another owner. Have you considered that?"
The other third graders stared at him in amazement, and Tom clenched his hands into fists, "I swear, if you have something to do with this…you'll regret it", he hissed, his eyes blazing with fury, "not that anyone would ever get you a pet- you are too ignorant and dense to take care of a Begonia, let alone an animal."
There were some snickers from the third graders, and Sirius stood up, hot rage rising inside him, a rage too overwhelming to control.
"I'd be careful to accuse me of anything without proof, Sayre", he spat at him, "maybe your owl was just sick and tired of trying to live up to your perfectionism- you probably expected her to hoot in five different languages and perform tricks while doing so."
Some third graders laughed at that, and Sirius immediately felt better. He was not going to let Thomas waltz in and take everything, and certainly not his popularity.
"Nonsense", Thomas was trembling now, and he looked like he wanted to punch him just as bad, "Snowy was perfectly fine when I saw her last night. Just admit that you stole her!"
"What would I want with your silly little owl? Besides, I haven't been at the Owlery in days!"
"That's…not true."
The third graders, including Tom and Sirius all turned their head at the same time, astonishment on their faces.
Luke. Luke Lightwing, the shy little kid who never joined their fun, and barely ever talked- had spoken.
Luke turned as red as a beet now that everyone was staring at him, but he held his ground, "I…I saw you coming down from the Owlery last night, Orion", Luke now whispered, "I…saw you."
And then all of the third graders turned their heads back to him, like this was some bizarre tennis match, and Sirius wanted to the ground to open up and swallow him whole when he saw the disgust and disbelief on their faces.
Fuck…
"I knew it!", and before he could react, Thomas had already punched him straight in the face, "you can't do anything but lie, can you?"
"You're one to talk!", Sirius shot back, shoving Tom hard enough that they both fell to the ground, "you wanna tell everyone why you're really here? Fucking little spy, that's all you are!"
"You cheated to get on the Quidditch team!", Tom hissed, immediately trying to deflect from the fact that Orion Lemarc had just exposed him as a spy- and how the fuck had he even found out about that? and they were really fighting now, the other third graders surrounding them, talking excitedly and watching in shock.
"What the hell are you talking about? I didn't cheat!"
And how the fuck had he even found out about that?!
"You want to tell me to do all that practice with Aurelius voluntarily?", Tom punched him again, and his nose was bleeding now, but he didn't care, "you're a loser. Nothing but a loser."
"You wanna talk about Aurelius?", Sirius kicked him, hard, "and the fact that he knows you're a spy? You're spying on Dumbledore. Our headmaster. You shouldn't even be allowed to be here!"
There were gasps of shock around them now, and a few fifth graders had joined the show as well, watching them both rolling around the Common Room, punching and kicking each other, and they were talking and whispering amongst each other, not really knowing what to do.
"None of that is true!", Tom shot back, followed by another brutal kick in Sirius' stomach, "you can go ask Aurelius if you want, he knows that you are the liar here!"
"Does he now?"
No. Nonono…
And then Aurelius was there, and the look on his face made Sirius want to die. Right now, right there.
And he had no idea that Tom felt exactly the same way.
"Get. Up.", he didn't even have to speak loudly, the tone of his voice was enough. More than enough.
The talking from the other Gryffindors had stopped instantly, they could all sense the danger coming from Aurelius in waves- and not even the few sixth graders who had been watching dared to make any comment.
Tom's nose was bleeding, his hair a mess, and his uniform rumpled and torn at the sides- and Sirius was right next to him, bleeding from his left ear, again, with a bloody scratch on his cheek and right hand.
Sirius could hear Aurelius mumble something that sounded like a spell- and for a second, he was afraid the older boy had cursed him now, but…nothing happened.
"Follow me. Both of you."
He did not turn around to make sure they were obeying him when he walked straight out of the Common Room because of course they were- both of them were too terrified to even consider disobeying Aurelius at this moment.
Their steps echoing in the hallway was the only sound that could be heard- Tom was staring down at the ground, not knowing what to think and what to feel anymore, and Sirius, who had an idea where Aurelius was taking them, felt sick with fear.
Aurelius, on the other hand, was fuming. He had heard the last part of the boys' fight, and he had hardly been able to control himself not to spank them both right there and then.
Eventually, they reached his quarters, and he could see the fear in Sirius' eyes now when he opened the door.
You have no idea, wild boy.
"Sit", he pointed at the couch, closing the door firmly behind them, and the boys sat, both of them staring at the ground now.
"Would anyone bother to explain to me what the hell you were thinking?"
Tom and Sirius both winced simultaneously. Aurelius never cursed- but the fact that he had just showed how very, very angry he was.
"He…stole my owl", Tom finally replied, his voice hoarse from yelling, "Luke…saw him."
Sirius closed his eyes, feeling like crying. He couldn't lie to Aurelius, he couldn't, or he would get the soap again, and when had his life become such a clusterfuck? He should have stayed at Grimmauld Place being drunk...
"Do you have anything to say to that?", Aurelius' tone was like cutting ice, and Sirius forced back the tears. He wasn't going to cry in front of Thomas or Aurelius. He wasn't.
"It…was meant to be a joke, nothing more", he croaked, his hands wet with sweat, "I…Snowy's fine. She's on the Astronomy Tower."
"The Astronomy Tower?", Aurelius repeated, and there was something else in his voice now- something alarming, "of all the places…", he sounded downright pissed now, and Sirius had no clue why but did not dare to ask.
"Dumbledore has probably already gotten her then", Tom now said, sounding angry, "you're such a fucking idiot, Lemarc."
"What the hell has that to do with Dumbledore? Just cause he went up there a few times?"
He knew he had said too much when both Aurelius and Thomas stared at him.
Fuck. Fuck!
"And how would you know about that?", Aurelius' voice was dangerously low, "you were listening to our conversation up at the Owlery last night, weren't you?"
"Yes", there was nothing else he could say.
"And you want to call me a spy?", Tom let out a harsh laugh, "you really are the limit, Lemarc."
"You are a spy", Sirius was cornered now, and he knew it, "you said so yourself! You're a traitor, spying on Dumbledore! I should tell him that you…"
"And then I'll tell everyone you used Felix Felicis to get on the team!", Tom interrupted him, a cruel glint in his eyes, "and you know what they'd do to you then, they…"
"Enough", Aurelius' voice was like a whip, cutting and unforgiving, and they both fell silent instantly, "I've listened to your ridiculous antics long enough now. You both behaved absolutely disgraceful, and you", he looked over to Tom, "you risked our whole mission here, and for what? To get revenge? My father will hear about this, be certain of that."
And now Tom looked like he was forcing back tears, and Sirius blinked, utterly confused, "Gryffindor…knows you're spying on the headmaster? But…why?", he couldn't control his curiosity any longer, even though he knew this wasn't a good time to ask.
For a moment, he thought Aurelius would slap him now- but then the fifth grader just sighed, sitting down in the armchair next to the couch, "I should have just Obliviated you with the rest of them earlier- this really wasn't supposed to be your concern."
"Dumbledore has always helped me", Sirius said quietly, "he…he's not…he's the good guy."
"You're so goddamn clueless", Tom now said, scorn in his eyes, "he's most likely hiding a horcrux up on the Astronomy Tower, and I swear, if anything happened to Snowy, I…"
"A horcrux?", Sirius repeated, dumbfounded, "like…Voldemort?"
And that made the new boy snort for some reason, "how do you know that the Dark Lord had horcruxes?"
"Dumbledore mentioned it. This summer. Not to me, to Remus", and then Sirius realized something, and he went very still.
Dark Lord…
Had horcruxes…
"You…ohmyfuckinggod", he got up the couch, he didn't even know how, but he needed to get away, to put all the distance he could between him and…and…
"Thomas", he felt like he was going to throw up, "you…that's who you are. That's why you're spying on Dumbledore. You're Voldemort."
And the new kid just rolled his eyes, like this wasn't even a big deal, like he hadn't killed his best friend, "I used to be, yes- before Gryffindor appeared and made my life hell."
"A bit dramatic, boy."
Sirius was ready to faint now when he saw Godric bloody Gryffindor casually walking into the living room, and he must have been in here the whole time, and all this was just a bad dream, it surely was.
I need to get out of here.
"Don't even think about it. Sit down", Gryffindor sounded like Aurelius but a hundred times worse, and Sirius sat back down on the couch, trembling.
"I've heard quite a bit about you", Gryffindor was coming closer, the air of authority around him making it impossible to take his eyes off him, "and I cannot say I am surprised to make your acquaintance under these circumstances, Sirius Black."
Sirius Black.
Bile rose in his throat, and he wanted to say something, to somehow explain…but his mind was completely blank now.
"Sirius…Black?", Thomas- Voldemort- next to him had the audacity to sound appalled now, "that's why you don't give a damn about anything?"
"No, that's due to his entitlement and arrogance", Gryffindor replied mildly, "at least that's what my son has told me about you, Sirius Black- and your little stunt in the Common Room today seemed to have proven that just fine."
"He…punched me first", Sirius whispered, feeling sick to his stomach, "this...was just…a prank, the owl…"
"Look at me, Black."
And he did, he didn't want to, but he did.
"Dumbledore found Snowy before we could", the Founder now said, and then he said something else, and then Thomas next to him screamed, and Aurelius pulled him in a hug, and his ears started to ring, and he wanted to desperately pretend he hadn't heard it.
Dumbledore killed Snowy.
"A prank, boy?", Gryffindor was still looking at him, and it was the look in his eyes that finally made him tear up.
"I…didn't…mean this, I…I…", everything went blurry before his eyes, "he…he's Voldemort, why…he should be…", he had to sob, "he should be in Azkaban. Just like…I was", the tears were streaming down his face now, this was all too much, "I didn't want…Snowy to…to die."
"I know", and then Gryffindor sat down next to him, "and I didn't want you to get involved in all this- you already know way more than you were supposed to."
"Are…are you going to kill me?", Sirius now croaked, and Thomas next to him seemed to find that amusing- him dying- but Gryffindor just slightly shook his head, "no- but I will punish you for your repellent behavior", he looked over to Tom, "both of you."
Sirius half-expected Thomas to protest now, to ask what he was getting punished for, but the boy just bit his lips, looking down.
"You don't mind me taking over for a bit, don't you, Aurelius?", Godric looked at his son now, and Aurelius who was still next to Tom, comforting him, chuckled, and Sirius had no idea why, "certainly not. Feel free to use the quarters, unless you want to take them home with you."
"Not today, no- your quarters will be just fine", and then Aurelius nodded, and he walked to the door- and Sirius wanted to yell at him to stop, to not leave him here with Voldemort and Gryffindor, and then Aurelius turned around again, and he smiled at him, "I'll see you in a bit, Sirius. Be good."
Sirius.
He knew all along as well.
"Not all along- but I've known since I talked to you at the lake, that day", and before Sirius could even comprehend what that meant- not that he had any more capacity to comprehend anything- Aurelius had left, the door closing behind him.
There was a silence.
"Sirius, I'd like you to wait in the bedroom- first door over there on the right", Gryffindor now said, and he was already walking over there without realizing it. Anything to get his thoughts sorted out, to have quiet, to get away from…this.
And there was a bed in the room, and he closed the door behind him with shaking fingers, and then he remembered falling face down on the bed and then…nothing.
Just…sleep. Quiet.
The quiet won't last ;) there will be spanking in the next chap, and more Remus& Snape!
I'd love some feedback from you!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!