Chapter 54. Secrets, The key and the lock.
"So that's why it's none of your business. Don't be so ignorant and see that we both have to—"
Ivy's voice cut off mid-sentence as the door swung open, and Jakob stepped inside.
The moment they saw him, the air in the room shifted. His movements were slow, and something was staining his clothes; something was wrong. His face was pale, his normally sharp gaze dulled by exhaustion or something worse. He looked hollow like a man dragging himself through the motions.
He didn't even glance at them.
Ivy and Pansy exchanged a look, silently asking what the hell had happened?
They stood as one, their earlier argument forgotten as they moved towards him without thinking. But before they could reach him, Jakob lifted a single finger, halting them.
Then, suddenly, his body jolted, and he clamped a hand over his mouth before hastily turning and moving straight to the window.
With a sharp flick of his wand, the latch snapped open.
The moment the cold night air rushed in, Jakob doubled over the sill and vomited.
Ivy stiffened, and Pansy flinched.
Neither of them moved.
The sound was rough, nothing like the composed Jakob they knew. He heaved again, his body shuddering as he clung to the windowsill with white-knuckled fingers.
Pansy swallowed, casting Ivy a worried glance before hesitantly stepping forward. "Jakob?"
He didn't respond. Didn't even turn his head. He just lifted a hand and shook his finger.
Pansy froze, uncertain. Her hands curled at her sides, torn between concern and respecting his clear demand for space. She turned slightly, looking toward Ivy, who stood rigid with her brows furrowed in what could only be described as frustrated confusion.
"Umm, Pansy," Ivy whispered, nudging the other girl and subtly gesturing toward the pouch slung over Jakob's back.
They noticed that the pouch had been made of stiched-together skin, and what looked disturbingly like human hair had been woven into a crude rope to hold it shut.
Pansy's nose wrinkled in disgust, but she said nothing.
Instead of pressing Jakob immediately, both girls slowly sat back down on the couch, exchanging another glance before deciding to wait. He clearly wasn't ready to talk about whatever had happened to him, whatever had made him walk in looking like that.
Jakob braced himself against the window frame, still pale, still visibly shaken, but the worst of it had passed. When there was nothing left in his stomach, he muttered something under his breath, something that included bloody, and furniture, before flicking his wand at his mouth, vanishing any lingering taste or remnants.
Only then did he straighten, rolling his shoulders before turning back to face them.
He caught the way they were watching him with obvious concern written all over their faces. He sighed, forcing a small, reassuring smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"It's done," he said simply. "I have the ingredients. We just need a Time-Turner now, or rather, we need the sand." He said evenly, but there was weariness beneath it as if he wasn't entirely up to yet another adventure.
Ivy's eyes flickered to the pouch on his back again.
"What's in there?" she asked hesitantly, almost like she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer.
"It's nothing," Jakob said, waving his hand dismissively. "Just something we need for the return home."
Ivy didn't look convinced.
Pansy, however, wasn't ready to let it go so easily. She eyed the pouch, the sickly pallor of the stitched skin, the way it looked almost waxy in the light.
"Why does the skin look so different? Sick?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
Jakob exhaled sharply and unknowingly tightened his jaw. "It's human skin." He answered in a clipped tone, barely masking his disgust. "That lunatic thought it would be a good idea to—"
He stopped suddenly, and his eyes dropped to the satchel as if he had only just noticed it hanging from his shoulder. A second later, he tore it off, flinging it onto the floor beside the couch with a look of utter revulsion.
His whole body gave a shudder as if the very idea of it touching him any longer was unbearable.
Pansy's concern deepened. "Jakob, I've never seen you like this before. What the hell did you witness over there?"
She studied him carefully as he stared at the pouch. Finally, he turned his gaze back to her, forcing a weak smile, one that didn't fool either of them.
"Trust me, you don't want to know. It's enough that I have to remember it." He hesitated and then sighed, running a hand over his face. "But I can tell you this, it was worse than Salem."
The words left his mouth, and even he seemed surprised by them before his frown deepened.
"No." He corrected himself quietly. "So much worse."
Jakob sighed and approached the couch, taking a seat and leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I should have killed him," he admitted in a lower voice as if he were confessing to himself as much as them. "But I didn't."
"Why didn't you?" Pansy asked, narrowing her eyes as she tried to read his expression.
Ivy, who had been silent until now, looked between the two of them in disbelief. How could they talk about killing someone so casually?
Jakob let out a quiet chuckle, though there was no humour in it. "He scared the shit out of me."
He sighed once more and leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes for a brief moment, trying to push back the weight of everything he had seen today.
"I really need to learn Occlumency soon," he muttered. "These memories will drive me insane one day."
There was a long pause.
When Jakob finally opened his eyes again, his frown deepened. His gaze flickered between the two girls, narrowing slightly as if trying to piece together something that didn't add up.
"You're not fighting," he said suddenly, pushing himself upright. His voice carried more suspicion than curiosity.
"And why the hell are you sitting beside each other?"
Jakob's head tilted slightly as wariness crept into his voice. "Is this an illusion? Am I under some kind of curse?"
Pansy let out an exasperated sigh, fully prepared to roll her eyes, but when she caught the genuine confusion on his face, she hesitated.
"No," she said, her voice softer than before. "You are not under some curse."
Her worry deepened. What the hell did he see in Azkaban?
Ivy crossed her arms, giving him a slow once-over like he was some bizarre creature she wasn't quite sure how to classify.
"We've only agreed not to fight while we're stuck here," she said flatly, still watching him as if waiting for him to argue.
Jakob blinked at them, clearly surprised, before giving a slow, lazy thumbs-up.
"Well, that's nice," he muttered. "One less problem to deal with."
He sighed, and his body visibly relaxed before he sank further into the couch. Within seconds, his eyes slid shut.
Pansy and Ivy exchanged a look.
"Did he really just fall asleep?" Ivy whispered incredulously, stepping closer to check.
Pansy hesitated before doing the same, kneeling down beside his sleeping form. His breathing had already evened out, his exhaustion pulling him under almost instantly.
"It sounds like he is," Pansy murmured.
Her eyes trailed lower, her brows furrowing when she noticed something off about his robes. Dark patches of wet fabric clung to his chest, giving off a smell that made her frown in disgust. Without thinking, she pulled out her wand, waving it over him, vanishing the slimy residue.
Ivy, however, had her attention elsewhere.
Her gaze locked onto the pouch resting beside Jakob.
Pansy followed her line of sight, her lips parting slightly as she realized exactly what Ivy was thinking.
She wanted to open it.
"I want to see what's inside," Ivy whispered, already reaching for it.
Pansy opened her mouth, instinctively ready to warn her off, but she hesitated.
Because the truth was, she wanted to see as well.
So, instead of stopping the redhead, she watched in silence as Ivy carefully loosened the hair-woven rope and peeled back the skin flap of the pouch.
"There are two boxes," Ivy murmured, carefully pulling one out.
She shot a glance toward Pansy. "Should I open it?"
Pansy's stomach twisted.
Every instinct told her no. But she had never been one to back away from knowledge, no matter how dark.
Slowly, she nodded.
Together, they watched as Ivy lifted the lid.
Ivy's brow furrowed as she tilted her head, studying the strange object inside.
"It's… a ball made of black smoke?"
Pansy, who had seen more than enough dark smoke to recognize the danger, immediately moved closer, narrowing her eyes as she peered down at the sphere.
It looked eerily similar to Jakob's darkness, only more... solid.
Noticing Ivy's hand inching closer in the periphery, Pansy slapped it away.
"Don't touch it! Are you crazy? Why do you think it's in a box?" she hissed, glaring at the redhead's sheer stupidity.
Ivy smirked, completely unbothered. "Relax, it's just a ball of smoke."
Before Pansy could stop her, Ivy's fingers shot forward and grabbed it.
The reaction was instantaneous.
A sharp, sizzling sound filled the air, followed by a harsh gasp from Ivy as her grip failed almost immediately, letting the ball fall back into the box with a soft thud.
Her body jerked backwards, her jaw clenching so tight it looked painful.
She didn't scream.
The only reason she didn't was because she bit down on the inside of her cheek so hard that she tasted blood.
Pansy didn't hesitate. Not for a second.
She slammed the box shut, shoved it back into the pouch, and turned to Ivy, grabbing her wrist.
Her eyes widened.
The centre of Ivy's palm was raw; the skin completely burned away, exposing the glistening red tissue beneath. Blood welled at the edges, seeping into the cracks of her clenched fingers.
But that wasn't the worst of it.
A dark frost had begun to spread from the wound, creeping up her fingers and turning her skin blackened and brittle at the edges.
Pansy swore under her breath.
"Brilliant idea, Ivy," she muttered, tightening her grip on the Gryffindor's wrist. "Absolutely brilliant."
"Close your eyes. Now." She snapped in a worried but frustrated tone. Ivy, too shaken to resist, obeyed, squeezing her eyes shut as she began to mumble, looking strikingly like she had started to pray.
The more composed of the two grabbed Jakob's hand, hovering it over the wound. If this didn't work, they were screwed. If they had to wake him up now… he'd be furious.
For an agonizing moment, nothing happened. Pansy gnawed at her lip as her eyes darted to Jakob's still form. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a faint red glow. She sighed in relief as the light pulsed, the magic finally responding.
Ivy's pain-stricken features softened into relief as the frostbitten wound on her palm slowly shrank, fading until her skin was smooth once more.
Before Ivy could open her eyes, Pansy swiftly moved Jakob's hand back, glancing at him quickly, ensuring he was still asleep.
"How did you do that?" Ivy whispered, staring at her healed palm in awe.
Pansy shrugged nonchalantly. "I know some healing magic. Basics, really."
The two girls eyed the bag warily.
"What the hell was that?" Ivy asked, not breaking eye contact with the unsettling thing.
"No idea," Pansy muttered, mirroring her stare. "But don't touch it again."
That night, neither of them woke Jakob. Pansy settled on the couch with a book in hand while Ivy perched on the armchair, scribbling away at her homework.
Both waited for the other to leave, but stubborn as they were, neither gave in. Eventually, exhaustion won out, and they drifted off to sleep where they sat.
The morning after, Morgan decided it was the perfect time to retrieve Jakob for his first lesson. Though she was curious about whether he had succeeded in his mission, she kept her expression unreadable, acting as if the lesson was the only thing on her mind.
When she stepped inside, her gaze swept the room. Jakob lay sprawled on the couch, still asleep. Her brow arched slightly as she took in the sight of the Slytherin girl curled up on the opposite sofa and the Gryffindor slumped upright in the armchair, her homework resting haphazardly in her lap.
Her attention then flickered to the bag on the floor beside Jakob.
So, he succeeded. Her eyes lingered on the peculiar skin-like material. And judging by its state, Ekrizdis must have taken a liking to him. That was... unsettling.
Morgan cleared her throat, watching as Jakob was the only one who stirred. His green eyes slowly blinked open, still clouded with sleep as he stretched.
It took a second for him to fully register her presence, but when he did, his gaze sharpened, locking onto her standing just inside the doorway.
"Your first lesson starts now," she said coolly. "Follow me."
Jakob rubbed his eyes, glancing at the two sleeping girls before a small smirk ghosted across his lips. Without a word, he pushed himself up and followed Morgan out of the room.
They walked the halls in silence, and after a short while, the two entered a classroom Jakob recognized immediately.
Classroom 6D.
His classroom. The familiarity settled over him like a second skin, yet something about standing here now felt different.
Morgan turned to face him. "I want to assess your knowledge of rituals. Tell me everything you know, and I'll judge what you lack."
Jakob told her about the blood ritual he had performed with Pansy back in his first year with a steady, almost proud voice until he reached the part that had lingered in his mind ever since.
His jaw tightened slightly as he admitted, "I did something wrong. The ritual… bonded us more than I intended." He sighed in slight frustration and shook his head. "I've spent years trying to figure out what I did wrong." He dragged a hand through his hair. "I've looked into countless books that don't even exist yet, but I haven't found anything even close to an answer.
Morgan's lips curled into an amused smile. "I think I know what happened there, Jakob."
The Slytherin boy frowned. His gaze sharpened. "How? I've searched for years, dissected every theory I could find. After three minutes of hearing about it, you suddenly have the answer?"
Morgan laughed warmly as she lightly brushed her fingers against his cheek. "You remind me so much of Ywain," she mused. "That same irritation, spending all that time searching for an answer, only for me to hand it to you so easily."
Jakob didn't reply. He saw how she looked at him and how her gaze softened. She needed this moment, this connection, even if it was only a shadow of something long gone. So, he let her have it.
"You've only searched for mistakes you might have made. And what have you found?"
"Nothing," Jakob admitted, still frowning in confusion.
"Exactly." Morgan snapped her fingers. "Nothing. Tell me, what fuels a ritual regardless if there is a sacrifice? What makes the magic understand?"
Jakob's gaze flickered around the room as he thought. "Intent. But I've—"
"You had your intent perfectly clear," Morgan interrupted smoothly, earning a nod from the boy.
"But you weren't alone, dear." She held up two fingers. "There were two of you. Two different intentions. What the girl hoped for could have been as simple as wanting to be closer to you, and the magic would have ensured it. And as you grow older, the definition of 'close' can change."
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then, Jakob's eyes widened, realization hitting him like a lightning bolt.
"Oh my god, that's it!" he nearly shouted, a grin spreading across his face. "I've been searching for something that wasn't even my fault!" He let out a breathless laugh, relief washing over him like a tide. But just as quickly, his smile faded, his expression turning pensive.
"Is there a way to reverse it?"
Morgan's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Don't you enjoy the… closeness?"
Jakob sighed. "It's not that. It's just…" He hesitated before looking away. "As we've grown, being apart has become… harder. And one day, Pansy will be betrothed. So will I. And we both know it won't be to each other."
Morgan took a step closer, wearing an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry," she said in her soft but now almost apologetic tone. "The thing that makes blood rituals so dangerous is that they are non-refundable. One mistake, and you have to live with it for the rest of your life."
Jakob sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He'd have to tell Pansy, and he had no idea how she'd take it. Better to rip the bandage off quickly, he thought. But Morgan straightened and cleared her throat before he could dwell on it.
"Let's continue the lesson," she said, her tone shifting back to business.
The lesson was unlike anything Jakob had experienced before. Morgan didn't just explain rituals; she demonstrated them.
She led him to a cleared section of the room, where a large ritual circle had been drawn with precision. Runes lined the outer edge, carefully carved into the stone floor. At the centre sat an unlit brazier, its metallic surface blackened from past use.
"Before we begin, we need to prepare," Morgan said, reaching for the ties of her robes. She let the fabric slip from her shoulders, pooling at her feet, leaving her completely bare.
Jakob's throat tightened involuntarily as his gaze dropped before he could stop himself. Her body was lean yet unmistakably feminine; years of discipline had shaped her into something both lethal and alluring. His eyes trailed the curve of her hips, the smooth plane of her stomach, lingering briefly on the fullness of her breasts. The candlelight flickered across her skin, highlighting their natural shape and the subtle movement as she shifted. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe evenly as his gaze drifted lower.
Her toned thighs caught the light, sleek muscle shifting beneath pale skin. Shadows danced over her form, emphasizing the sharp contrast between strength and softness. His gaze almost betrayed him further, stopping just at the dark patch of hair between her legs. Heat crept up his neck, his heartbeat drumming in an unsteady rhythm.
Despite all his efforts to remain composed, Jakob felt heat rise to his face. He quickly averted his eyes, focusing instead on the symbols carved into the ground.
Morgan noticed but simply smirked. "Blood rituals require absolute purity of form," she explained, crouching as she reached for a bowl filled with thick, dark goat's blood. "Any outside material, clothing, jewelry, even residual magic, can interfere. The body must be a blank slate, a direct conduit for the magic to recognize and shape as intended."
Jakob forced a nod, keeping his face neutral as she began painting the ritual symbols onto her skin. Long, deliberate strokes trailed down her arms, her collarbone, and her legs. It was an ancient symbol that Jakob didn't even have any recollection of ever seeing before, which was meant to bind the magic to the welder's need.
When she finished, she handed him the bowl. "Now you."
He hesitated only a second before stripping down, swallowing the discomfort as he did his best to ignore the situation. He mimicked her, dipping his fingers into the thick liquid and tracing the symbols onto his own skin. The cold, wet sensation made his nerves prickle, but he forced himself to focus.
Morgan returned the bowl, stepping closer to draw a final symbol onto his chest. "This will enhance reflexes," she said as she marked him. "It heightens reaction time, strengthens muscle memory, and attunes your senses to movement." She smirked. "And as always, magic requires a sacrifice."
Jakob watched as she waved her wand, summoning two large horses. They stood calmly within a containment ward, their deep brown eyes eerily still. A black cat lay curled beside them, unaware of its fate.
"The horses will fuel the ritual," Morgan continued, unsheathing a ceremonial dagger. "The cat… will pass on its natural agility."
Jakob's breath slowed as he observed the ritual begin. Morgan stepped into the circle first, holding the dagger over the first horse. She whispered an incantation in a steady and reverent voice before driving the blade into the creature's chest. Blood gushed onto the floor, seeping into the carved runes. Magic stirred in the air, vibrating through the room as the second horse met the same fate.
Jakob was mesmerized. The swirling energy shifted in colour, deep reds, purples, and blacks weaving together like living tendrils, hungry for more.
The cat was last. A single swift movement, and its small body went limp.
The air crackled when the final drop of blood touched the circle. The runes pulsed as the magic accepted the sacrifice, swirling wildly before rushing toward them.
Jakob gasped as the energy surged into him, filling every vein, every muscle. It was intoxicating, like fire and lightning coursing through his body, setting every nerve ablaze with heightened awareness. Morgan let out a soft sigh beside him, her fingers flexing as she absorbed the power.
Then, as quickly as it came, the sensation faded. The ritual was complete.
Morgan stepped back, running her fingers through her thick, black curls with an expression of deep satisfaction. "Wasn't that pleasant? Hmm?" she mused, glancing at Jakob with a knowing smirk.
Jakob let out a slow breath, still feeling the lingering buzz of magic in his veins. He nodded. "Yeah… something like that."
Morgan chuckled, retrieving her robes. "I'd say that's enough for today's lesson."
Jakob followed suit, dressing in silence as his mind replayed everything he had just witnessed, the raw power, the precision, the sheer mastery of her execution. He was skilled, no doubt, but Morgan had perfected ritual magic in a way he hadn't even considered.
As they finished, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. Finally, he voiced the question that had been lingering in his mind.
"You told me the thing you summoned was a demon," he said in a measured tone as he put on his shoes. "And that Hell exists. Why did you make the deal? And what did the demon tell you?"
Morgan had been expecting the question. She observed him for a moment before pacing in a slow circle around him.
"I was young and desired power," she admitted. "I wanted to push deeper into the Dark Arts. But seeing Ekrizdis… you can understand why I hesitated."
Jakob nodded but didn't interrupt.
"Then suddenly, I found a way," she continued. "A path to knowledge but my mentor told me not to go through with it. What was I supposed to do? I was young, arrogant. I didn't see what Merlin saw."
She paused as her expression darkened slightly. "Only now do I understand him. And sometimes, I wonder if killing him was the best choice. He was a fool, only following in the trails of the light… but one can never say that Merlin wasn't great."
Jakob listened in silence, absorbing every word. Morgan's past, her choices, and the power she had gained were proof of what she was willing to do and the price she had paid for it.
"All demons are the same," Morgan said almost indifferently. "Whether they are worshipped as gods or feared as monsters, they all come from the same place, and they all share the same thirst."
Jakob's brows furrowed. "And what exactly is that thirst?"
Morgan tilted her head slightly, testing whether he could piece it together himself.
His mind raced, the puzzle clicking into place too quickly for comfort. "So when we sacrifice to the gods, we're actually feeding demons?" His stomach twisted as he thought back to the day he met Syr, to the Blót he had witnessed.
Morgan gave him an approving look. "Some demons are more… aggressive than others, just like us. Just like Muggles. A few have taken on different roles, using trickery rather than brute force to get what they want. The Vikings who raid our shores, slaughtering our people even as we speak, are blind to the creatures they serve. Some demons have managed to escape the clutches of hell and have adapted to the world they now live in." She paused, and her gaze darkened. "And some are just waiting for someone to open the gate."
Jakob exhaled sharply and sat down, his thoughts tangling into a web too vast to untangle all at once. This was… a lot. Too much, even. He had prepared himself to learn from Morgan, but nothing could have readied him for this.
His voice was quieter when he spoke again. "What did the demon you summoned tell you, Morgan about the gift he offered?" He wasn't even sure he wanted to know the answer.
Morgan held his gaze for a long moment before answering.
"The demon that gave me my gift said it was also a key," Morgan answered simply.
Jakob stiffened as a cold feeling crept down his spine.
A key.
He had heard something like that before—someone calling him the key.
"A key to unimaginable possibilities," Morgan continued, her gaze steady on him. "But also a key that unlocked something else, a door that was never meant to be opened. A lock that, once undone, would let them in."
Jakob's expression hardened, his mind working furiously.
For a brief moment, Morgan wondered if he was even listening.
Then, his eyes widened as realization hit him like a sledgehammer.
"A key!"
Jakob shot to his feet, pacing back and forth, his mind almost spinning.
Tom Riddle had called him that.
But how?
How could Voldemort have known about this when he was just a student?
Morgan's sharp gaze followed his movements with a faint, worried frown. "Jakob, is everything alright? You look a bit pale."
"It's fine." He forced himself to stop and take a deep breath to steady his thoughts. His voice was calm when he spoke again, but the question burned in his chest.
"What would happen if those demons were released?"
Morgan hadn't expected that. Suspicion flickered in her dark eyes as she studied him.
"The world as you know it would cease to exist," she said evenly. "At first, it would seem normal. But slowly, the non-magical world would collapse into chaos and death. And when they were wiped out, the magical world would be next."
Jakob swallowed, noticing how dry his throat had suddenly become. "How much stronger are demons compared to us?"
Morgan exhaled slowly as if weighing how much to tell him. "It depends. There are countless kinds of demons, just as there are countless kinds of people. Some are nothing more than mindless beasts, faster and stronger than Muggles but lacking in intellect." Her eyes darkened. "And then there are others. The kind that even Merlin would have run from. The kind that makes people like me hesitate before daring to summon them."
Jakob caught the unspoken warning in her words. If you're thinking of doing something reckless, you won't succeed.
He let the message settle, then exhaled through his nose. "How do you even know about these things?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Morgan's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "My dear boy, there is a book that tells quite a bit about them. This book will likely be available when you return to your time, as Christianity is winning every war right now." She glanced at him, then casually ended the conversation.
"I'm sorry, but it seems our time has run short, Jakob. I'll meet you in the morning for our next training."
"Wait."
She was mid-turn when she stopped, glancing over her shoulder. She raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
"In my time, we had something called Time-Turners," Jakob began, choosing his words carefully. "A type of enchanted necklace containing some sort of sand that allowed us to turn back time." He studied her expression, looking for any sign of recognition. "I know this might be a long shot, but you don't happen to have anything like that, do you?" He folded his arms. "That's the second thing I need. If I have that and we find the rune scheme, we'll be set for the return home."
Morgan's carefully measured composure cracked for the first time since he had met her. She blinked at him, her lips parting slightly before, to Jakob's utter confusion, she burst into laughter.
A deep, rich, genuine and unrestrained laugh.
Jakob's frown deepened. "I'm not joking," he snapped, glaring at his ancestor as she waved a hand, trying and failing to compose herself.
"Oh dear," Morgan chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. "What are the odds that you would need something exactly like that?"
Jakob narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?" Trying to calm his quickened pulse. "Don't tell me you have it?" A rare flicker of hope sparked in his chest. If she had it, if this was finally the break he needed, then maybe, just maybe, this entire adventure could end sooner rather than later.
But Morgan merely smirked, dashing that hope in an instant. "No, no," she said, waving off the idea. "I don't have one. But…" She tilted her head as if mulling over her own words. "I have heard whispers."
Jakob's eyes narrowed as his expression shifted into a more wary one. "Whispers?" he repeated slowly.
"There is a place," Morgan continued, ignoring his irritation. "A far-off land that might have what you seek."
"Where?" Jakob half asked half demanded. He already didn't like where this was going.
"This is only a story," she cautioned. "And like most stories, it has likely been exaggerated."
Jakob's patience thinned. "Just say it."
Morgan smiled at his frustration before finally answering. "It is said that sand with magical properties was once discovered in Persia and later moved to the Holy Land."
Persia. The Holy Land. Of course, it couldn't be easy.
Morgan studied his reaction before adding, "I can get you there, but I will not be joining you this time."
Jakob sighed, frowning as he asked, "Why?"
She gave him a light shrug. "I do have a life that requires my attention you know."
Before Jakob could press further, trying again to win her over, Morgan continued.
"The path to the holy land can be… hostile," she admitted, and her smirk returned. "And I would advise you to bring your friends along. One should never sleep alone while travelling those roads."
"Great," Jakob muttered, rubbing his temples. "This is going to be a nightmare."
Jakob walked into the common room and moved toward the couch, lowering himself onto the worn leather with a sigh. His fingers tapped absently against the armrest as he thought of his next move.
He wanted to go alone. Every time he took people with him, it led to more trouble than it was worth. He was capable; he had proven that time and time again. But Morgan had warned him. The roads to this so-called Holy Land were dangerous, and apparently, he needed more eyes and allies who wouldn't hesitate if it came down to a fight.
That, more than anything, made him hesitate.
He let out a slow breath. Fine. He'd be honest with them. Let them decide for themselves.
The creak of the door caught his attention. Pansy stepped inside, her eyes immediately finding him. She smiled and was about to greet him, but something in his expression stopped her.
The warmth faded slightly as she moved toward her roommate, sliding onto the couch beside him. Her gaze flicked towards Ivy's door, making sure they were alone before taking his hand in hers.
"Is this still about what happened yesterday?" she asked quietly.
Jakob shook his head, offering her a small, reassuring smile. "No, it's something else." He hesitated briefly before adding, "But I want to wait until Ivy arrives. She needs to hear this, too."
Almost as if summoned by name, the door swung open again. Ivy strode inside, a wide grin stretched across her freckled face.
"Gryffindor is amazing! He taught us—" She stopped mid-sentence, her excitement faltering as she took in their expressions. Her brow furrowed. "What's going on?"
Jakob gestured toward the couch opposite them. "Sit."
Ivy hesitated but obeyed, dropping onto the cushion across from the two Slytherins. Jakob leaned forward, studying them both for a few seconds, gathering his thoughts. Then, he sighed and began.
"I need to go on another little trip," Jakob said in a measured tone. "This one will be further away and might take longer."
"I'll come with you," Pansy declared immediately, not even sparing Ivy a glance. "Ivy can stay here and continue her studies with Gryffindor."
Ivy scoffed, crossing her arms. "Oh, piss off. I'm coming too." She shot Pansy a sharp glare. "Don't act like you get to decide for me."
Jakob sighed, rubbing his temples. "If you're coming with me, there are ground rules." He pushed himself to his feet, shifting his gaze between the two.
"First, no fighting each other. We'll have enough to deal with as it is. Second, if I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to stay, you what?"
"Stay," the girls muttered in unison.
"Good."
Jakob gestured for them to stand, which they did, albeit begrudgingly. Without another word, he walked over to the two black-sealed boxes resting on the table.
Pansy and Ivy exchanged glances but didn't speak as Jakob carefully opened them. He grabbed a piece of cloth and used it to wrap his palm before retrieving two black spheres. Their surfaces looked smooth but unnervingly dark like they absorbed the very light around them.
" grab a piece of cloth and hold out your hands," Jakob instructed in a firm voice, looking at the two girls in front of him with an unreadable expression.
The girls hesitated, exchanging another wary look before slowly extending their hands, palms up.
Without hesitation, Jakob dropped the shadowy spheres into their waiting hands, ensuring the cloth separated their skin from the orbs' cold, unnatural surface.
"I know that you grabbed one." Jakob's voice was cold as his sharp gaze landed on Ivy.
The redhead stiffened but didn't deny it.
He turned his glare on Pansy next. "You should have stopped her."
Pansy shifted uncomfortably under his stare but said nothing.
Jakob exhaled sharply, pulling the cloth pieces from his hands before stretching them out with his palms open.
"Drop the spheres into my hands."
Neither girl moved. Their fingers remained tight around the black orbs, their wide eyes flickering between him and each other.
"But… you'll get hurt," Ivy said, a confused frown pulling at her features.
"Yes?" Jakob arched an eyebrow, his tone completely unbothered.
The two girls exchanged a hesitant glance, silently questioning if he had lost his mind.
Jakob let out a sharp snort.
"As I thought," he muttered. "You say you'll follow my orders, but when the time comes, you'll hesitate. And then you'll die."
He reached for Pansy's hand, intending to take the sphere back, but she instinctively pulled away.
"You can't ask me to hurt you. I would never—"
"You will do as I say, or you will stay here!" Jakob roared, his voice echoing through the common room. Both girls jumped in shock, their eyes widening further.
"This isn't a trip to Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade," he continued, his voice still sharp but now laced with something heavier, something raw. "We won't have teachers or parents to protect us. Yesterday, I saw what dark magic can do when left unchecked. What that freak did to the Muggles…" He swallowed, shaking his head once as if trying to push the memories away.
"I wouldn't even wish it on my worst enemies."
Pansy's eyes flickered with concern. "Jakob, what did—"
"He made them into furniture!" Jakob cut her off, his voice rising again. "He twisted their bodies, fed on their skin, flesh, and blood like it was nothing. And he didn't let them die, he kept them alive long past what should have been possible, just so he could keep using them." His hands trembled slightly at the memory, but he forced himself to continue. "I saw a woman used as a chair. Her head had been twisted so much that the skin on her neck and throat had torn apart."
Pansy paled. Ivy, usually brave and defiant, looked at Jakob like she was watching a horror movie.
Jakob didn't stop. "And he's not the only danger out there. We are in an unknown world. We only have each other to trust. You made me a promise." His green eyes darkened. "And I will be damned if I let you get taken from me because you refused to listen to an order."
The room fell into thick silence.
Jakob took a step forward, his voice dropping to a low, almost growling command.
"This is the last time I'll say this."
His unwavering stare burned into them.
"Drop the fucking spheres.
Pansy had tears in her eyes, as did Ivy. Slowly, almost reluctantly, they both let the spheres slip from their hands, flinching as if expecting immediate pain. Their eyes squeezed shut, bracing for Jakob's scream.
But it never came.
"You can't keep your eyes closed forever, you two," Jakob said with a faint smirk.
Both girls hesitantly opened their eyes, staring at his hands. The spheres sat there, not hurting him in the slightest.
"You… you didn't get hurt?" Ivy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jakob shook his head. "No. They only hurt the ones they don't belong to," he lied smoothly, placing them back into their boxes.
Pansy let out a shaky breath before her frustration boiled over. "You idiot!" she snapped, her knees giving out as she sank onto the couch. Her hands trembled as the adrenaline coursed through her body. "Why did you make me do that?!"
Ivy sat beside her, feeling just as rattled but too drained to yell. Instead, she simply stared at Jakob in an expression caught between sadness and confusion.
"Because when the time comes, I need you to do the right thing," Jakob said in a firm but not unkind tone. His gaze settled on Pansy. "When we were in Salem, you saw what I had to do. Three people died because they didn't follow orders. I won't let that happen to you two."
Pansy sniffled, nodding as she wiped at her tears, her jaw tightening in determination.
Ivy, however, looked more lost than before. "Wait. What are you talking about? Who died?"
Jakob sighed, waving off her question. "No one special," he said flatly. "But they didn't listen. They thought they knew better than me, and they died because of it. I tried to help them, but they wouldn't listen."
He sat down again, circling back to where he had started.
"Tomorrow, we're travelling to a place in a far-off land," Jakob said, lifting his hands to make mocking gestures quotes.
"There are 'whispers'—" he said sarcastically. "Whatever that means," he muttered under his breath before continuing.
"Anyway, the sand is said to be there."
As the tension in the room shifted, Jakob began explaining what little of the plan he had so far. The girls listened intently, their earlier emotions still raw but slowly settling.
That evening, Jakob knocked on Ivy's door.
The redhead answered in a long white nightgown, blinking in pleasant surprise at the sight of him.
"Jakob, what are you doing here— I mean, hi?" she said quickly, tilting her head in slight confusion but clearly pleased as well.
"I need to talk to you about something," he said simply before stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
Ivy closed the door behind him, her mind immediately jumping to other possibilities for this late-night visit. A slow smirk crept onto her lips as she turned, already stepping toward him, closing the space between them.
But Jakob raised a hand, halting her in place before she could even reach him.
"Ivy, this is serious." His tone cut through the warmth in the room, making her freeze. "I need to tell you something that you might not like."
Ivy's smirk faded slightly, though she forced a more neutral expression. "What would that be?"
Jakob studied her for a moment before asking, "You come from a light faction family. Tell me, what would you do if we were attacked on the road?"
The question caught her off guard. She frowned, thinking carefully, her teeth grazing her bottom lip.
"I would probably… stun them? Then bind their hands?" Her answer came out more as a question than a statement.
Jakob sighed and turned away, his gaze shifting toward the window. The distant moonlight cast sharp angles over his features, making him seem even colder than before.
"Ivy," he started, his voice quieter now but no less firm. "They won't be students in our year. These will be adults. Men who kill for a living. If we aren't murdered on the spot, they'll sell us as slaves. And believe it or not, that's the positive scenario."
He turned back to face her. "So I'll ask you again. If we are attacked, what will you do?"
Ivy's frown deepened.
"I won't kill anyone," Ivy said firmly. "If that's what you're asking. I won't let myself become as bad as them."
Jakob exhaled sharply, his patience wearing thin.
"Fine." Jakob's tone was measured, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it. "Hopefully, you'll be more reasonable once you're put into a situation where your eyes finally open."
He exhaled sharply before continuing.
"Until then, I only ask that if the time comes, if I have to choose between saving you or letting someone kill us all, you won't stand in my way."
Ivy's lips pressed into a tight line. "Why are you telling me this? Why aren't you telling Pansy this as well?
Jakob glanced toward the door before looking back at her. "Pansy has already proven herself. She's willing to do what's necessary. You, however..." His eyes sharpened. "You are someone I would never bring if the circumstances were normal."
Ivy stiffened. Offence flashed across her face, her freckles standing out more as her cheeks reddened with anger.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she snapped.
"It means you're naïve," Jakob said bluntly. "You think the best of people. You don't see the world for what it really is." His expression hardened. "Neither does your idiot brother."
Ivy flinched at the words before her fury flared. She took a step forward, raising her voice.
"And you seem to see the worst in them!" she shot back. "Maybe Harry was right about you. Maybe you are evil."
Jakob smirked, then let out a low, dark chuckle. The sound sent an unexpected chill down Ivy's spine. She masked her unease with an even fiercer glare, but the flicker of uncertainty was there.
"Do you even know what that word means?" Jakob asked amusedly like he was talking with a child who just had said the word fuck. "I've done what I needed to do to survive." His smirk faded slightly as his expression grew colder. "It's time you wake up, Ivy. The world isn't as black and white as your family and faction would have you believe."
"My eyes are open," Ivy shot back, crossing her arms. "My brother and I stopped Voldemort from taking the stone in our first year, and we found and secured the Chamber of Secrets last year. We did that without harming anyone."
Jakob raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Oh, really?"
He had a hard time believing that Harry had been anything more than the boy who would have died in the Mirror Room with Quirrell.
If Jakob hadn't arrived and killed the professor, then Harry, who had already been unconscious when Jakob entered, would have been the first Voldemort killed the moment he got his hands on the stone.
And in the Chamber…
They all would have died.
Jakob had managed to win that fight, but not without loss, not without sacrifice.
The basilisk alone would have been the end of him if it hadn't been for Saliza.
He let out a short laugh before raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. You win." He sighed before continuing in a measured tone. "But all I ask is that if the time comes, you turn away while I do what I deem necessary. If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with me later. Alright?"
Ivy hesitated, but he wasn't done.
"And remember, you will never tell anyone about this," Jakob warned in a quieter voice. "You know what would happen between the factions if the sister of the Boy Who Lived accused the Heir of the Ancient and Noble House of Quade of murder."
Forcing Ivy into an Unbreakable Vow to ensure her silence would have been the smartest course of action.
But in the end, he decided against it.
Jakob had no idea if there was a way to detect when someone was bound by an Unbreakable Vow or, worse if it could be traced back to him.
And if anyone could uncover it, it would certainly be Dumbledore.
If the old man realized that Jakob had forced Ivy into a vow, the consequences would most likely be devastating.
Ivy's jaw clenched before she finally nodded.
"Good. Then we're done here," Jakob said formally, almost as if he had just closed a transaction.
He turned, already stepping past her toward the door, when he felt it.
A soft sigh followed by the gentle but hasty grip of her hand closing around his.
Jakob paused.
"I'm sorry for calling you evil," Ivy murmured, her voice carrying a rare note of genuine apology. "I just… got angry."
Jakob tilted his head, observing her. But even through the forced sadness in her voice, he saw it. That look. That slight, playful gleam in her eyes. The flicker of something far less remorseful beneath the surface.
Jakob turned his gaze to her, carefully studying her expression. He could see the sadness, the quiet regret in her smile.
"It's fine," he said evenly. "Don't worry about it."
For a moment, Ivy seemed to accept his words. But then, as if something shifted inside her, the sadness in her eyes faded, replaced by something far more familiar.
A playful gleam sparked in her gaze, one that he had seen too many times before. And then, just as his mind registered the look, he caught something else, that same flicker of determination she always had right before she kissed him.
Jakob sighed, already knowing exactly where this was headed.
"Ivy, stop," he muttered warningly, raising his hand in an attempt to halt her before she could close the distance between them.
"When are you going to realize that we would never—"
He never got the chance to finish his sentence.
With a sudden burst of movement, Ivy slapped his hand away, lunging forward before he could react. Her arms locked around his shoulders as she pulled herself against him, her lips crashing onto his in a kiss that was fierce, demanding, and almost angry.
Jakob staggered backwards from its force, momentarily thrown off balance. Her arms locked around his shoulders as her fingers gripped at the fabric of his robes, refusing to let go. Her lips moved against his, desperate, heated like she was trying to prove something, trying to win something.
Jakob barely registered the moment before his back hit the bed, the weight of her pressing down on top of him.
A small, satisfied sound escaped Ivy as she settled over him, her red hair spilling around them like a curtain, her breath hot against his lips.
Jakob's hands instinctively moved to push her away, but the attempt was half-hearted at best. His mind screamed at him to stop this before it escalated, but his body, his traitorous body, reacted before he could think. His eyes fluttered closed for a brief second, his breath hitching as he felt her hand slowly slide from his shoulder, drifting lower toward his stomach.
That single thought should have been enough to make him shove Ivy off him, to end this madness before it spiralled any further.
But just as he was about to push her away, he froze.
Warm fingers had slipped past his pants and wrapped around his hardness in a slow, deliberate motion.
A sharp breath escaped him, a sound he hadn't meant to make, as her grip tightened. Ivy, catching onto his reaction instantly, let out a small, victorious hum and began moving her hand.
Jakob's mind spiraled. This is a catastrophe. If Pansy walked in right now... No, if anyone walked in right now.
He reached down, trying to pry her hand away, but Ivy refused to release him. And with the hold she had on him, he didn't dare use force. He needed her to let go, fast.
So, he did the only thing that had stopped girls before.
His fingers curled around the hem of her nightgown, pulling it up.
Ivy hesitated for half a second, her breath stalling. Jakob's hand slipped beneath the soft fabric, his palm gliding along the smooth skin of her inner thigh. The kissing stopped.
Her green eyes snapped open, locking onto his as she felt his fingers move higher. Jakob could feel the warmth of her skin, the heat radiating from between her legs. Ivy's body tensed just before she suddenly jerked away.
"You little hypocrite," Jakob whispered, smirking as he propped himself up on his elbows.
Ivy, still breathless, her face flushed with both arousal and frustration, sat there stunned for a second.
Jakob stood up, straightened his robes, and strode toward the door as if nothing had happened.
Ivy swallowed, watching him with narrowed eyes, her chest still rising and falling unevenly. "You surprised me," she blurted out. "Next time, I'll be prepared. And I'll finish what I started."
Jakob didn't acknowledge her words. He simply left.
Ivy just lay there, stunned, staring at the ceiling for a moment. Slowly, the full weight of what had just happened sank in.
Her hand drifted to her lips as she bit her finger, half in worry, half in thought.
Then, as the memory replayed in her mind, a grin slowly stretched across her face. She leaned her legs playfully from side to side, burying her face into a pillow.
"He liked it," she whispered to herself, her voice tinged with mischief. "And that sound he made…"
Her fingers tightened around the pillow as she let out a muffled scream in a mix of joy, frustration, and pure determination.
The next day, Jakob stood ready with Ivy and Pansy beside him. Their shoulders were weighed down by the bags that Helga Hufflepuff had packed for them, three identical satchels, their contents still a mystery. When Jakob tried to peek inside, Lady Hufflepuff gently slapped his hand away, insisting that they only opened them upon arrival and not a moment sooner.
Rowena Ravenclaw had provided them with new attire, garments woven from an unfamiliar but lighter material. The moment the three had changed into them, they exchanged sceptical looks.
Rowena, catching their expressions, had merely lifted a delicate brow. "These are fashionable for the time," she informed them in a prim voice, unimpressed by their silent judgment. "They will help you blend in."
She had also charmed the fabric to regulate their body temperature, ensuring they wouldn't overheat in the relentless sun of the lands they were about to enter.
Godric Gryffindor had gifted them each a sword, his golden beard practically shining with pride as he handed them over. "These blades are lighter than your wands and can cut through anything that isn't magically protected," he had declared in a voice that practically brimmed with enthusiasm. To prove his point, he had casually dropped one of the swords, only for it to slice clean through a solid slab of stonestone.
Pansy, still adjusting the weight of hers, had muttered something under her breath about overcompensation.
Then there was Salazar Slytherin. Unlike the others, he had not given Jakob or Ivy anything. Instead, he had approached Pansy, slipped a ring onto her long, delicate finger, and whispered something only she could hear.
The effect was instant. Pansy's eyes widened in shock, and her lips parted slightly before she bowed low, thanking him profusely.
Slytherin had merely smirked before turning back toward Gryffindor, who rolled his eyes.
Standing before Morgan, Jakob adjusted the straps of his satchel as she handed over two amulets.
"You will use this to get there," she said, placing the first in his open palm. Then she met his eyes, more serious this time. "And this to return."
"Thank you," Jakob said, giving her a respectful bow.
He slipped the return amulet into his bag and kept the other in his right hand, tightening his fingers around it.
Morgan crossed her arms. "I will wait twenty days for your return. If you aren't back by then, I will start searching for you."
Jakob smirked. "I doubt it'll take more than a few days at most, so if you're waiting that long… you can assume we're dead."
Morgan's lips curled into an amused smirk. "Well, in that case, I might skip the search altogether."
Behind him, Pansy and Ivy exchanged wide-eyed glances, looking at the two LeFays in sheer bewilderment. They were casually joking about their own deaths as if discussing the weather.
Jakob shrugged, completely unfazed, and turned to the girls, holding out the amulet. "Grab on."
Still recovering from the exchange they had just witnessed, Pansy and Ivy hesitated for only a second before stepping forward and placing their hands over the artefact.
Morgan gave them a lazy wave. "Have a nice stay. And don't get killed."
The amulet was activated.
In a flash, the three of them were ripped from the castle, magic surging through them as the world spun and the familiar surroundings of Hogwarts vanished.
When the light faded, they were no longer in England.
And when the light and warmth returned, they were closer than ever to the holy land of Jerusalem.
Authors note: There! The secrets and hints I have been putting out since the first year are finally revealed. The next chapter will see the three students visiting the holy city, learning some interesting information, and being put in a situation they have never been in before. Those swords will really come in handy.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I will see you in the next one! remember to like, follow and review!
Cheers!