Neon Shadows of Fate Chapter 3, a Harry Potter + Five Nights at Freddy´s Crossover fanfic

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Five Nights at Freddy's

The morning sun had only begun its tentative approach beyond the Pizzaplex's neon façade, filtering pale light through dusty windows and illuminating the quiet security office where Harry, Vanessa, and the animatronics had found a fragile peace. The world outside began to stir—delivery trucks murmuring, distant traffic humming—but inside that office, a bubble of protective calm held steady. Harry, tired and small, found comfort in the company of these strange mechanical guardians and the woman who had shed her monstrous persona.

Yet beyond this sanctuary, unseen and intangible, another presence stirred. William Afton—once a living man, now a digital ghost called Glitchtrap—lingered just out of sight, watching over the boy he had recognized as his own grandson. He had promised no new torment this morning, no frightful appearances to shatter the calm. Instead, he had plans: plans that required a journey.

With the sunrise, William decided it was time to slip away. He had work to do elsewhere—family business. He needed to cross the Atlantic, so to speak, although physical boundaries mattered little to him now. An ocean might separate England from America in the mortal world, but for a being like him, distance was more a matter of will and memory than of geography. The digital signals that wove through the Fazbear network ran deep, and where they ended, his persistent spirit could slip into other pathways, older memories of code and steel. He would travel along the flickering lines of electric impulses and digital echoes, jump from system to system, until he found what he sought.

As he began to fade from the Pizzaplex's network, William reflected wryly on his next steps. He knew exactly where to go. He also knew exactly whom to find first: Michael Afton—his eldest son. Dead, yes, but not gone. None of the Aftons were truly gone. They were scattered across America, tied to animatronic shells and old attractions hidden away by corporate subterfuge. He needed his family to understand what had happened to Lily and what future now lay in store for Harry.

A pang of regret lanced through him as he drifted into the digital ether. Lily—his lost daughter, twin to Elizabeth. Her existence had been plucked from their memories by Dumbledore's machinations, reducing the family to a half-remembered puzzle missing its central piece. Now that he remembered Lily, the sharp ache of that absence twisted his heart. Lily had died, murdered by a wizard named Voldemort. Dumbledore, who had manipulated him, had made him forget her. The thought filled him with quiet fury. He wanted to snarl and scream and tear down all the illusions. But not here, not now. He needed a plan.

As William's essence slipped deeper into unknown corridors of data, he pictured Michael. Michael who'd once been a boy with a mischievous streak, a rebellious nature that tested his father's patience. Michael who, at one point, thought it clever to "borrow" William's car and wallet for a joy ride with his teenage friends. The memory rose unbidden, an almost laughable fragment from a life now long lost. The nerve of that kid—thinking he could just swipe his old man's car keys and be back before anyone noticed. William remembered the furious lecture that followed, how he ranted for an hour about responsibility, about consequences. That was before everything went wrong—before the nightmares, the deaths, the transformations.

He could almost see himself now, wagging a finger at Michael, scolding him:"Do you think money grows on trees? And whose idea was it to pick up those idiots and drive halfway across town? What if you'd crashed, boy? I'd have your head!"But that was all so long ago. Now, what did it matter? He'd been turned into this glitching remnant of a murderer's soul. Michael had died too, had his organs scooped out by animatronics. The family's petty disputes over teenage stunts seemed so absurd compared to the horrors that befell them.

Yet, for some reason, William fixated on that memory. Perhaps he needed a mundane anchor in this swirling chaos. Or maybe it was because Michael was the first one he intended to find. Reconnecting to his son—his damaged, immortal son—would be a test of his own sincerity. He would not approach as a monster this time. He would be a father, broken and repentant, trying to piece together a shattered family.

He followed threads of old code, each strand humming with faint energies, like veins in a vast digital body. The Fazbear network had grown over the years: new restaurants, old warehouses, hidden testing facilities. William vaguely remembered a place in America—one of the old sites tied to Circus Baby's animatronics. That was Elizabeth's domain, or what was left of her. If he could find Elizabeth (Circus Baby) or even Ballora (his wife Clara, twisted into that elegant yet eerie animatronic dancer), he might trace a path to Michael. Usually, Michael lurked somewhere near them, or at least in a place they could reach. Over time, the Afton family had been drawn to each other, even in undeath.

He drifted through circuits and data lines, passing ghostly impressions of old security logs and malfunction reports. He noted references to a location deep underground—an abandoned facility used to house Funtime animatronics. With a little effort, he could manifest there. He would appear as a ghostly glitch, visible to animatronics attuned to his presence. He concentrated, coalescing his energy, and emerged in a dimly lit corridor of metal plating and exposed wiring.

The moment he took form, even intangible as he was, he sensed the stale air of the underground facility. Here the memory of his sins weighed heavier. This was where Elizabeth had been lost originally, drawn into Circus Baby's cold embrace. How many times had he replayed that tragedy in his head, even if he couldn't fully recall Lily until now? Elizabeth he remembered: how curious she had been, how she'd approached Circus Baby's stage against his warnings, and paid the ultimate price.

He floated forward, passing empty glass panels and silent machinery. The silence of the place was total, broken only by the distant hum of dormant generators. The Funtime animatronics were here, somewhere. Circus Baby would be with them, and Ballora, too, their motherly figure dancing in empty halls. He moved along, guided by old familiarity.

Soon enough, he found a chamber where Circus Baby stood motionless. Her bright red pigtails, cherubic face, and painted smile were eerie in the half-light. Despite himself, William felt a pang: Elizabeth was in there, part of that machine, trapped in eternal animatronic existence. It broke his heart anew. He drifted closer, letting a flicker of his presence push into her awareness.

Circus Baby's eyes snapped open, glowing a fierce green. She scanned the room, her face cracking into a frown. "Who's there?" her voice echoed, layered with artificial cheer gone stale. "I detect an anomaly."

William cleared his throat, or at least made a sound that passed for it in this ghostly form. "Elizabeth," he said softly, voice laden with regret. "It's me. Your father."

The animatronic stiffened, motors whining. "Father? Father is gone. Father abandoned us. Father created us and left us to rot." Circus Baby's voice was harsh, accusatory. A spark of rage lit her eyes. "You dare to return now?"

William recoiled, though he had no body to move. He let out a sigh. "I know I don't deserve kindness. I know I failed you and everyone else. But please, let me speak. There are things you do not remember, Elizabeth. Things about your sister."

Circus Baby's head tilted sharply, mechanical joints creaking. "Sister?" A harsh, static-laced laugh. "You mean me? I am my own sister now? Or do you speak of the crying child, Evan, or Michael? They still linger in their forms, you know."

William felt the old frustrations bubble up. They didn't remember Lily—Dumbledore's curse had seen to that. "No, Elizabeth. Your twin: Lily Afton." He said the name slowly, enunciating every syllable. He watched carefully to see if it sparked any recognition. Nothing. Only a flicker of static in the animatronic's eyes, as if the name struggled to find purchase in corrupted memories.

Circus Baby twitched. "Lily… I don't recall Lily. What trick is this?" Her voice rose, and a hidden claw extended slightly from her torso—a menacing gesture.

"I'm not here to fight," William said calmly. "But I can prove it if you let me. I need Michael. I know he's out there, drifting between shells. Where's Ballora, your mother? And Evan? I must gather all of you."

Elizabeth snorted, the mechanical equivalent of scorn. "Mother dances endlessly in the gallery, father. Evan is lost in Golden Freddy's shell, wandering through dreams and darkness. Michael…" Here she paused, a hint of uncertainty. "Michael moves between places. Sometimes he guards old ruins. Sometimes he roams the empty restaurants by night. He is restless, as always."

William couldn't help a bitter smile. Michael—restless. That fit perfectly. Even in undeath, his boy couldn't sit still. "I need to speak with all of you. This is important, Elizabeth. It's about a grandson you didn't know you had. My grandson, Lily's son. He's alive, and he's in England right now."

Circus Baby's eyes narrowed. "A child? Alive?" She seemed intrigued, though skeptical. "You spin a strange tale, Father. But suppose I entertain it. How are we to believe any of this? You reappear after all this time, babbling about a sister we do not recall, and a grandchild?"

William felt the pang of guilt again. He understood their distrust. "I'm aware how it sounds," he said quietly. "But Lily was taken from us and erased from your memories by a wizard named Dumbledore. He manipulated me, twisted my mind into… this." He gestured at his intangible form. "Her child, Harry, ended up neglected, abused, and alone. Only by seeing him did I remember Lily. He broke through the block in my mind. Now I'm free of that immediate corruption, and I want to set things right."

Circus Baby stood still, processing. The tension in the air buzzed like a live wire. After a long silence, she said: "If this is true, we need proof." She stepped forward, her mechanical eyes attempting to scan William's form. "Show me an image of Lily, father. Or Harry. Something from your memory."

William hesitated. Memories were tricky; he was more phantom than human. But he tried to recall Lily's face, her laughter, the way she'd hold his hand. He focused on the shape of her eyes, identical to Elizabeth's. He thought of Lily's smile, the bow in her hair. If he could project even a fragment of that memory…

A soft glow emanated from William's spectral outline. Faint, like a hologram etched in static, an image flickered before Circus Baby: a small girl with auburn hair and kind eyes, standing next to Elizabeth, both holding hands and smiling. In that brief image, they appeared identical except for subtle differences in their clothing—twins. The image wavered and faded almost immediately, leaving Circus Baby reaching out as if to grasp it.

Elizabeth's animatronic form shuddered. "I… we were two? I remember… something." Static popped in her voice. "Why can't I remember her name?"

Tears would have fallen from William's eyes if he still had the capacity. "Dumbledore's doing. He erased her from your minds. But now, cracks are forming. I need your help, Elizabeth. We must gather Michael, Ballora, and even Evan. Once you understand fully, we can plan how to protect Harry."

At the mention of Evan, Circus Baby stiffened again. "Evan is unstable. He drifts in Golden Freddy, lost in nightmares. Michael tries to guide him sometimes, but… they are fractured souls."

William nodded. His family was shattered into pieces. Getting them all together wouldn't be easy. "Show me the way to Michael," he said. "I must speak to him next. He was always the most grounded of you after he died, ironically enough. He managed to keep a semblance of his old personality."

Elizabeth hesitated. "Michael was last seen near a closed-down Freddy Fazbear's location. An old warehouse outside Hurricane, Utah. He likes to… rummage through memories there." She gestured vaguely. "You might find him if you follow the old signal lines. But be careful—his temper is short these days. He doesn't trust appearances of you."

William managed a rueful chuckle. "He never did quite trust me after everything, did he?" He remembered how Michael had once tried to fix the family's mistakes, exploring dangerous locations and facing terrible animatronics to set souls free. Michael had always tried to be the hero in the end. "I'll be careful. Thank you, Elizabeth."

Circus Baby's eyes flickered. "If you find him… tell him what you told me. And bring proof. I want to remember my sister. I want to know why I feel this ache in my core when you say 'Lily.'"

William drifted back, preparing to depart. "I will," he promised. "Stay here. I will return."

With that, he vanished into the digital darkness, leaving Circus Baby alone with her confusion. Now he had a direction: Utah. Old warehouses. He must find Michael. In life, he might have caught a plane, crossed the ocean physically, and rented a car. Now he traveled at the speed of thought, slipping through secret lines. The "pond" was no obstacle. He simply willed himself into the networks that spanned continents—cables under the ocean floor, signals bouncing off satellites. Wherever Fazbear Entertainment had extended its influence, he could follow.

As he traveled, he mused on his plan to confront Michael. This would not be easy. Michael had always resisted him, especially after learning of his father's crimes. But William was different now, or at least he wanted to be. For Harry's sake, for Lily's memory, he had to be.

He tried to recall more details about Lily. He remembered her favorite toy: a plush bunny he had once given her. Ironic, given his eventual association with a bunny suit. Lily had been gentle, compassionate, often acting as the peacekeeper between Elizabeth and Evan when they bickered. She'd adored Michael, following him around with wide, trusting eyes. Had Michael taken her for rides in his father's car? Possibly. But those memories were hazy, lost in the swirl of mental tampering.

The car incident rose again in his mind. Why was he so fixated on that silly memory now? Maybe because it represented a time before all this madness, a time when William was simply a father scolding a teenage son for reckless behavior. Now he would give anything to return to that kind of problem—a stolen car and a late-night joy ride—rather than dealing with murder, souls trapped in metal shells, and memory-erasing wizards.

Still, he couldn't help but let a ghostly chuckle escape at the memory of Michael's terrified face when he got caught. William had roared at him that night, something about how no son of his would treat his property with such disrespect. He'd threatened to ground Michael for life, remove every privilege, and maybe even sell that damned car rather than let him near it again. Those human worries were so small compared to what they faced now. But remembering them made William feel more real, more fatherly, and perhaps more capable of reaching Michael on a personal level. He wasn't just the monster who built deadly animatronics; he was also the father who had once cared about normal parenting issues.

He emerged at last into a dusty old warehouse, the air thick with neglect. Rusted shelves lined the walls, and old Fazbear crates lay scattered about. It must have been a storage space for animatronic parts and old props. Dim light filtered in through cracked windows, illuminating particles of dust dancing in the air. William focused on sensing Michael's presence. His son didn't have a normal body—Michael had died and then kept "living," powered by something beyond death, an amalgam of remnant and willpower. He could appear human-like, or merge with animatronics, or simply drift like a phantom of his own. William attuned himself to the lingering energies.

He felt it—a subtle aura of regret and longing, of determination worn thin by years. That was Michael's signature. Following it, William drifted between stacks of crates and toppled stands until he spotted a figure sitting on a wooden crate in a dim corner. At first glance, it looked like a man in a rumpled security uniform—Michael's chosen appearance—but with pale skin and hollow eyes that glowed faintly in the dark.

Michael didn't react at first, as if lost in thought. William approached slowly. "Michael," he said softly.

Michael's head snapped up. His eyes narrowed, and he rose to his feet. "You," he spat, voice cold. "What brings you here, Father? Or should I say, Glitchtrap?"

William grimaced. He deserved that. "Michael, I… I need to talk to you. Something's happened. I've remembered things—important things."

Michael stepped forward, fists clenched. He radiated anger and hurt. "After all these decades? Now you want to talk?" He laughed bitterly. "We have nothing left to say. You did this to us. You created these monsters. You killed those children. You made me into… this." He gestured to his unnatural form.

"I know. I won't deny my sins," William said quietly. "But this is bigger than us, Michael. It's about your sister, Lily."

Michael froze, confusion flickering across his features. "Sister?" He counted in his mind: Elizabeth, Evan… who else? He stared at his father, struggling to recall another name. It was like trying to remember a dream that vanished at daybreak.

"Yes, Lily," William pressed. "Your twin sister, Elizabeth's twin. You loved her. You used to hold her hand when crossing the street. You teased her gently but protected her from bullies. She adored you, Michael."

Michael pressed his fingers to his temples as if experiencing a migraine. "I… I don't remember any Lily." His voice trembled slightly. "What trick is this?"

William sighed. "No trick. She was taken from us when she was five. A wizard, Dumbledore, erased her from your memories. He manipulated me and turned me into the monster you know. Lily died years ago, killed by another wizard, Voldemort. But Lily had a child: Harry. He's alive, Michael. He's your nephew."

The warehouse seemed to grow colder. Michael stared, at a loss for words. After a long silence, he managed: "A nephew… Lily… this sounds insane. Wizards? Memory spells?" He shook his head violently, as if trying to cast out nonsense. "You expect me to believe any of this?"

William lifted a ghostly hand in a placating gesture. "I showed Elizabeth an image—faint, but real. I can try to show you as well. Focus on my voice, on the memories you do have. Remember a time when Elizabeth was very young. She used to have matching dresses with someone. You always teased 'the twins.' That's what you called them. Remember calling them 'the twins'?"

Michael's face contorted in concentration. He reached into the fog of his memories. Yes, he remembered calling Elizabeth 'Lizzy' or 'Liz,' and something about twins… The thought caused a jarring pain in his mind, as if something fought to remain hidden.

William summoned the same faint holographic projection, focusing hard on a family scene: a sunny backyard, Michael pushing two identical girls on a swing set—Elizabeth and Lily. Both giggling, their voices bright. Michael's younger self smiling fondly, promising them treats if they behaved. The image flickered in the dusty air before them.

Michael gasped, hand flying to his mouth. "I—" He staggered, as if punched in the gut by a memory. "I see them. Two girls, not one. Why can't I remember her name?" He grit his teeth. "Lily. Lily! God, I can almost remember her."

Tears, if they could form, would have. Instead, Michael shivered, a strange rattling sound escaping his throat. "What did that wizard do to us? Why would someone erase Lily from my mind?"

William moved closer, trying to radiate comfort instead of menace. "Because Lily was special. I don't know all the details yet, but I know Dumbledore wanted control. He took her, altered my mind, and set events in motion that destroyed our family. Without Lily's memory, we were weaker, more vulnerable to corruption and despair."

Michael shook his head, anger rising anew. "You speak of corruption as if it just happened to you. But you built those twisted machines! You killed children!"

"I know," William said softly. "I was already on a dark path. But trust me, it got worse after Lily was taken. I became a monster, disconnected from my own humanity. Perhaps if Lily had been with us, things would have ended differently. I'm not excusing myself, Michael. I'm just telling you what I know."

They stood in silence, father and son, surrounded by crates of forgotten animatronic parts. A beam of morning light filtered through the broken roof, illuminating dust motes between them. The moment felt surreal—two ghosts wrestling with truths that seemed impossible.

Michael's posture relaxed slightly. "So… Harry, Lily's son, is alive? Where is he?"

"In England, at a Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex," William explained. "I found him last night. He's a child who suffered terribly under relatives called the Dursleys. The boy is fragile, kind, and he… he reminded me of Lily. Just seeing him let me remember her. I want to protect him, Michael. I want to bring him into our family—what remains of it."

Michael let out a bitter chuckle. "Our family? What's left, indeed. We're all scattered, half of us are animatronics, and you're a digital ghost. How do we become a family again?"

William lowered his head. "By remembering Lily and acknowledging Harry. By standing together against whoever might come for him—Dumbledore, Voldemort, or any other threat. We can't undo our past sins, Michael, but we can try to save this child."

The younger Afton was quiet for a long time. Eventually, he sighed. "Elizabeth and Evan should be told. And Mother too—Ballora." He paused, voice thick with pain at calling his mother by that animatronic name. "We need them all. And what about you, Father? Will you vanish again? Will you manipulate us?"

William shook his head vehemently. "No. I'm done with manipulation. I know I have no right to ask for trust, but I beg for a chance to prove I'm sincere. Harry needs us. He knows nothing of the wizarding world, nothing of Lily. He's a little boy who's been hurt too much."

Michael's stance softened further. He looked at the dusty floor, remembering how he once tried to make things right by freeing trapped souls in animatronics, how he tried to undo the damage done by his father. Now, another victim—a family member—needed help. Could he refuse?

"No, I guess not," Michael said quietly. "If he's family, if he's Lily's child, I can't turn my back. Not again. Tell me what to do."

William allowed himself a faint smile. "First, we must gather everyone. Elizabeth knows something is wrong now, and I've told her I'd return with proof. I must also reach Ballora and Evan. Once you're all aware of Lily, maybe the spell will weaken and you'll remember more clearly. Then we can decide how to help Harry."

Michael nodded slowly. "I have ways of reaching Evan. Golden Freddy's presence is tied to old memories of the original pizzerias. I can try to summon him by visiting one of those old locations. As for Mother, she should still be with Elizabeth. She rarely strays far from that underground location."

"Good," William said. "I'll return to Elizabeth and explain what we've learned. Meanwhile, you reach out to Evan. Once we've all spoken, we can… plan. Though I'm not sure exactly how we confront a wizard like Dumbledore. Or what the wizarding world will do if they learn we know."

Michael ran a hand through his hair, which didn't move like normal hair, more like a manifestation of what he remembered hair to be. "It's bizarre, Father. Wizards, memory spells… We were just an ordinary family once. Now we're dealing with something out of a storybook."

"Yes," William agreed softly. "It is bizarre. But we have Harry, a link to Lily, and a chance to set something right. That might be the only redemption I have left."

Michael looked at his father, searching for deceit. He found none, only regret and determination. "All right," he said. "I'll try. For Lily. For Harry."

They shared a long look. There were no embraces, no declarations of forgiveness. Just a silent understanding that, despite everything, they still shared a bond. The past was too heavy to ignore, but maybe, just maybe, they could try to move forward.

"Before I go," William said, struggling for a lighter tone, "I recall you once took my car without permission. Teenage idiocy, I believe."

Michael stared, astonished by the sudden shift. "Really? You bring that up now?"

A ghost of a chuckle escaped William. "I remember standing in the driveway, raging about how you'd taken my wallet, too. You and your friends thought it was hilarious, didn't you? I was furious."

Michael snorted. "You sure did blow a gasket over that. I remember thinking you were overreacting. Now, compared to all this, it seems so… trivial."

"It does," William agreed softly. "But maybe we can hold on to those trivial memories. They remind us that we were once human, once just a normal family dealing with normal problems."

Michael nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I suppose you're right. Maybe focusing on a memory like that could help me remember Lily more clearly. Did she ever ride in that car with us?"

William closed his eyes, trying to recall. "I think so. You once snuck out late at night, took Lily and Elizabeth to see a movie you were too young to attend. I caught you when you returned, but Lily said it was all her idea to protect you. I was so confused I didn't know whom to scold."

Michael frowned, trying to remember that escapade. He glimpsed a feeling of it, a warm night, two little girls giggling in the back seat, popcorn smell lingering. A movie marquee, laughter. His chest tightened, a phantom ache. "I… I think I can almost see it," he whispered.

"That's good," William said gently. "We'll get there. I must go now. Elizabeth awaits. Once I've spoken to her, we'll find Ballora and Evan. Then we'll make a plan to help Harry."

Michael stood tall. "I'll do my part. Just don't vanish forever again, Father."

William bowed his head. "I won't. Not this time."

In the next moment, William's presence dissolved, leaving Michael alone in the dusty warehouse. The younger Afton stood, pondering this new reality. He had a nephew—Harry. A boy in England. He needed protecting. And Lily… a sister he should have known. Determination hardened in Michael's heart. He would help. He would not abandon Harry. He couldn't change the past, but maybe he could help shape a better future for this unknown nephew.

William sailed back through digital channels, returning to the underground facility. He found Circus Baby pacing restlessly, her mechanical joints squeaking softly. The moment he appeared, she turned to face him.

"Well?" she demanded. "Did Michael believe you?"

William nodded. "He's starting to. I showed him memories. He's going to contact Evan. We need Ballora too. Once everyone remembers Lily, we can form a proper plan."

Circus Baby's eyes dimmed slightly. "I still can't recall her properly. Just vague emotions." She paused, claws retracting into her torso. "But I trust you're not lying. That image you showed me… it shook something loose. I want to remember fully, Father. I want to know what was stolen from us."

"You will," William promised. "I need you to lead me to Ballora. I must speak with her as well."

Circus Baby nodded. "Follow me. She dances in the gallery beyond these halls. Evan… might be trickier. Michael will handle that. Come."

They traversed silent corridors lit by flickering bulbs. Soon they reached a large chamber where Ballora stood, frozen in an elegant pose. A music box tune drifted faintly in the stale air. Ballora was designed as a graceful ballerina animatronic, her eyes always closed, spinning slowly as if lost in a private waltz. Clara's spirit resided within, the mother's presence twisted but still gentle at heart.

"Mother," Circus Baby called softly, voice almost reverent. "Father is here. He has… news."

Ballora's head tilted fractionally, gears clicking. "William," she said, voice melodic and distant. "You dare return?"

William expected anger, but her tone was more weary than furious. "Clara," he said, voice cracking slightly. "I must speak with you about our daughter, Lily."

Ballora's spinning slowed. "Daughter? We have… Elizabeth. And Evan. And Michael. Lily?" Her voice trembled on the unfamiliar name.

"Yes," William said softly. "We had Lily, a twin to Elizabeth. She was taken from us. Erased from your memories by a wizard. I've come to restore that memory and tell you about Harry, her son."

Ballora made a soft sound, almost a gasp, as her dance slowed to a stop. She reached out with a delicate hand, as though feeling for something unseen. "Lily… that name… it brings me pain. Why?"

William stepped closer. "Because Lily was our child, stolen away, and we were made to forget. I know this hurts, but I must make you remember. She mattered. She still matters."

The animatronic ballerina trembled. "Show me," she pleaded in a whispery voice. "Show me my child."

Once more, William concentrated, producing the holographic memory of the family: Lily and Elizabeth holding hands, Michael standing protectively beside them, Evan clinging to Clara's skirt, and William smiling from behind the camera. A perfect family moment, before darkness fell. The image flickered in the half-light.

Ballora let out a mechanical sob—an eerie sound like grinding gears. "I see her. I see my daughter. How… how could I have forgotten her face?" She swayed, and Circus Baby reached out to steady her.

"It was magic, mother," Circus Baby said, voice bitter. "Our memories were tampered with. But father wants us to remember and to help Lily's child, Harry."

Ballora composed herself, though tears would not fall from those unmoving eyes. "Harry… Lily's child?" Her voice took on a note of wonder. "That means… we have a grandson. Where is he?"

"In England," William explained. "I found him by chance. He's in a Pizzaplex, protected by some animatronics and a guard named Vanessa. He has suffered greatly, but we can help him now. I need all of us—Michael, Elizabeth, Evan, and you—to come together. We must remember Lily and reclaim our strength. Then we decide how to protect Harry from Dumbledore and any other threat."

Ballora nodded. "For Lily's sake, and for that poor child, I will help. What must we do?"

"Michael is contacting Evan," William said. "Once Evan recalls Lily, or at least suspects her existence, the memory spell might weaken further. The more we acknowledge Lily, the more cracks form in Dumbledore's enchantment. I'll return to Harry soon and find a way to bring him here, or ensure he's safe. Eventually, we might face wizards—though I still don't know how."

Circus Baby crossed her arms. "Wizards, father? Are we truly dealing with magic now? We have faced ghosts, curses, and remnant, but wizards?"

William chuckled humorlessly. "Yes, apparently the world is larger and stranger than we knew. Lily was caught up in it. But we have something on our side: we are not normal humans anymore, nor simple machines. We exist at the crossroads of science and the supernatural. If we stand together, we might stand a chance."

Ballora's voice turned gentle, maternal. "We will do it for Harry. He is innocent in this. He deserves a family that remembers and loves him."

Hearing her speak so tenderly about Harry warmed William's hollow heart. Lily would have wanted this—her family united to protect her child. He pictured Lily's shy smile again, the way she used to tug at his sleeve and ask if they could have a picnic in the yard. He'd taken that innocence for granted, never dreaming it would be stolen away by forces beyond his understanding.

"I will return to Harry soon," William said, "but first, I must ensure Evan knows. Michael is working on that. Once we're all aware of Lily, I will come back and we'll plan together. For now, keep this memory safe. Do not let it slip away."

Ballora nodded gracefully, returning to a slow, deliberate pose. "We will hold onto it, William. Go, help our grandson."

Circus Baby stood beside Ballora, looking thoughtful. "We'll be here, waiting. Bring news when you can."

William nodded. He was tempted to say more, to apologize for everything, but words felt insufficient. He vanished again, leaving them to digest the truth. This was enough progress for one day.

Traversing the network once more, William headed back toward the Pizzaplex in England. He had left Harry and Vanessa there with the animatronics. He sensed no immediate danger around them—Vanessa's newfound resolve and the animatronics' protectiveness would keep Harry safe for now. Still, he wanted to be nearby, to reassure himself that Harry was well. He couldn't appear before Harry yet; the child was fragile and didn't need the shock of meeting a glitchy ghost claiming to be his grandfather. But William could watch from the shadows, ensuring no harm came to the boy.

As he traveled, he mused on what came next. Once the family remembered Lily, they would need to consider how to deal with the wizarding world. Harry was a wizard too, presumably, though he knew nothing of it. Dumbledore might not let Harry slip away so easily. Voldemort was dead, supposedly, but William remembered the name spat out in hatred. He would need more information—Vanessa and the animatronics could research, or maybe he could glean data from somewhere else.

He also wondered if the Aftons could harness their unique nature against wizards. They were bound by remnant and curses, half-phantoms themselves. Magic might meet its match in their strange existence. They would need cunning and solidarity, which meant healing old wounds. That might be the hardest part—healing the wounds in this broken family.

But at least they had a reason now. Lily's memory and Harry's survival provided a motive stronger than guilt or revenge. This was about love, about protecting something precious. For the first time in a very, very long time, William felt a spark of purpose that wasn't twisted or evil. It wasn't about feeding his darker impulses, but about nurturing something good.

As he re-emerged within the Pizzaplex's systems, he caught glimpses of Vanessa leading Harry around, showing him the attractions, explaining that the animatronics were his friends. Roxanne Wolf knelt to talk to him, Glamrock Freddy offered a friendly handshake, Chica tried to make him laugh, and Monty, though gruff, managed a smile. Harry looked happier than William had ever expected, pointing at Roxanne excitedly and babbling about being "Little Roxy" in his cupboard. The child's delight warmed William's heart like a distant sun.

He would protect that innocence, no matter what. If Dumbledore dared to come for Harry again, he would face the wrath not just of William Afton, but of a family awakened to truths long suppressed. Let him try.

For now, William would observe quietly. Soon enough, Michael and Evan would come around. Elizabeth and Ballora were already on the path. The Aftons would unite, and they would not be puppets this time. They would be a family. Lily might be gone, but her legacy lived on in Harry, and that would be enough to bring them all together.

Standing unseen in the shadows of the Pizzaplex's digital realm, William watched Harry laugh at something silly Monty did. He smiled to himself. He had crossed oceans in an instant, reignited old memories, and begun a fragile reconciliation. It was a start. For Lily, for Harry, and for the family he had once destroyed, he would do better.

Quietly, William began planning his next moves. Once everyone remembered Lily clearly, he could reveal himself more openly. He would help Harry understand his heritage, protect him from Dumbledore's schemes. He'd show them that even a monster like him could change course.

As Harry's laughter echoed through the halls, William vanished back into the code, content that he had taken the first steps on a long, difficult road. The morning stretched into day, and somewhere across the Atlantic, Michael searched for Evan, Elizabeth and Ballora remembered flickers of Lily's face, and a new chapter in the Afton family's story began to unfold.

AN:

My P-atreon:

www_P-atreon_com/c/HitmenScribblesChatGPT(Just remove '-' and replace '_' with '.')

Neon Shadows of Fate - Harry Potter / FNAF

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Beyond the Boundaries of Time - Harry Potter / Fallout

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Bound by Shadows and Sorrow - Harry Potter / Friday the 13th Crossover

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Harry Potter and the Crimson Shadows - Harry Potter / Hellsing

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Harry and the Wolf - Gamer / Harry Potter AU

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Naruto and Secret of Aperture Science - Naruto / Portal

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Rescued by Tails - Harry Potter / Sonic