Chapter 26 - A Night Visitor

Ava sprinted through the corridor, the blood in her ears louder than her footsteps. Her fingers gripped the letter tightly, crumpling the edges. When she reached the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, she didn't hesitate, she pounded on the door with the flat of her hand.

It opened moments later to reveal Professor Lupin, brows knit with concern. "Ava? What's wrong?"

Wordlessly, she thrust the letter into his hands. Her voice shook. "I–I didn't know who else to go to. You were the first person I thought of."

Lupin's expression darkened as his eyes skimmed the words. Without a second thought, he turned to the enchanted portrait mounted above his desk. "Tell Albus I need to see him. Immediately."

The wizard in the portrait nodded and disappeared from view.

Lupin gently ushered Ava into the room, closing the door behind them with a decisive click. He led her to the worn armchair by the fireplace and handed her a piece of chocolate. "Here…eat this. You're shaking."

She took it with numb fingers, biting into the corner. It helped a little, grounding her just enough to keep the tears at bay.

Minutes later, the door swung open and Dumbledore entered, his robes trailing behind him like a shadow of calm authority.

"What is it, Remus?" he asked, though his eyes had already spotted the letter on Lupin's desk.

Lupin handed it to him silently. The two men read over it together, their heads bent close. A heavy silence lingered between them until Dumbledore finally turned his gaze to Ava.

"When did you receive this?" he asked gently.

"I think it arrived Monday… by owl post. I didn't recognize the bird, and I forgot about it. I only opened it today while watching Quidditch practice." Her voice trembled despite herself. "You don't think he'll try to come here, do you?"

Lupin's jaw tightened ever so slightly. He didn't answer right away, just shot a glance toward Dumbledore, one that lingered a beat too long. Then he stepped aside, murmuring something low beneath his breath. Dumbledore gave a subtle nod, his expression unreadable.

"There is nothing to worry about, Miss Johnson," Dumbledore said with that same maddening calm. "Hogwarts is the safest place you could be."

Ava pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them. "Sirius Black got in," she said quietly. "Undetected. And everyone's watching for him. My godfather could get in easily while eyes are elsewhere."

Lupin shifted where he stood, hands disappearing into his robes as he stared at the carpet. His brow furrowed, but not in confusion. More like guilt, or hesitation.

Dumbledore's gaze flicked to Lupin briefly, a silent exchange passing between them. Then he turned back to Ava, his tone clipped but kind. "You mustn't dwell on that now," he said, voice still warm but firmer. "Dinner should be starting soon. It's best if you return to the Great Hall."

Ava nodded stiffly and stood. "Yes, Professor." Her voice was small. She felt like a scolded child, but it was her life they were talking about. She hadn't meant to question Dumbledore… but fear had a way of making even the rational sound defiant.

She exited the office with her arms wrapped tightly around her middle.

The Great Hall buzzed with the familiar din of laughter, clinking silverware, and fluttering owl wings as plates refilled and students passed pumpkin juice between them. The enchanted ceiling above mirrored the late evening sky, dusky, streaked with clouds, the edges tinged with fading gold. Ava stepped through the arched entry, her movements sluggish, her mind still tangled in the words of the letter burning a hole in her bag.

She spotted Fred and George immediately, seated near the center of the Gryffindor table, surrounded by their usual crew. Fred was gesturing animatedly, no doubt retelling a story with too much embellishment, while George leaned back, laughing at something Lee had said. Angelina sat across from them, flipping lazily through a Quidditch strategy pamphlet. Everything looked normal. Safe.

But as soon as Fred saw her, his posture shifted, shoulders straightening, smile faltering. He nudged George, who looked up too. Fred scooted over without a word, making room. Ava slid into the space between the twins and tried to breathe through the tightness in her chest.

"You're alive!" Katie declared, dramatically clutching her heart like she'd just been reunited with a long-lost relative.

"Where'd you run off to?" George added, nudging her elbow. His voice was light, but his eyes were scanning her face.

"You bolted," Fred said more quietly, concern tightening his brow. "Everything alright?"

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Alicia added, eyeing her carefully over the rim of her goblet.

Lee, oblivious to the sudden weight around the table, raised his fork. "Can you pass the gravy?"

Ava blinked at him, then realized everyone else had fallen silent. The whole table was watching her now, the energy subdued, their dinner momentarily forgotten.

She forced a thin smile and passed the gravy to Lee. "I'm alright. I just… needed to see Professor Lupin. Ask him something."

Angelina tilted her head, lowering her fork. "You said you were on edge. What happened?"

Ava hesitated. Her fingers played with the hem of her sleeve beneath the table, her pulse still drumming like a warning in her ears. "I… got a letter earlier this week," she said, her voice low. "From my godfather."

That caught everyone's attention.

"I didn't open it until today. During practice." Her eyes dropped to her plate. "He knows I was at the funeral. Somehow."

Fred stiffened beside her.

Alicia leaned forward, frowning. "How? You were under Polyjuice."

"He said we'd be seeing each other again soon," Ava finished, the words tasting like ash on her tongue.

For a moment, no one said anything. Even Lee had stopped chewing. The flickering candlelight made shadows dance across their faces, lending the moment an almost surreal hush.

Then George sat up straighter, his jaw tightening. "That bloody creep."

Fred's hand was already on her back, warm and steady, rubbing slow circles like he could soothe the tremor she hadn't even realized had crept into her limbs.

"You told Lupin?" he asked.

Ava nodded. "And Dumbledore. They both said Hogwarts is safe."

But as her eyes swept the crowded hall, faces laughing, plates piled high, first-years giggling over spilled pumpkin juice, Ava couldn't help the cold that coiled low in her stomach. Because even surrounded by magic, friends, and warmth, she'd never felt more watched.

"Right," George muttered, interrupting her thoughts. "Just like we were safe when Sirius waltzed right into the Gryffindor dorms."

Angelina shook her head. "It's different. Yaxley doesn't have the connections. Not like Black."

"Still," Alicia added, "after everything, Dumbledore's probably reinforced half the castle. And McGonagall would hex his eyebrows off if he got past her."

Lee cleared his throat. "Can someone pass the salt this time?"

Ava, startled by the mundane request, nudged the salt shaker toward him. It felt strange to return to something as normal as dinner conversation after what she'd just said. But maybe that was what she needed. Something normal.

Fred wrapped his arm more tightly around her, his palm moving in gentle, reassuring circles along her back. His fingers worked with quiet intention, like he was trying to ease the fear out of her with each touch. On her other side, George, sensing how close she was to unraveling, launched into a rant about Ravenclaw's Keeper, who apparently flew like a troll on a broom.

The shift was seamless, and intentional. Katie added a sarcastic jab about Cho Chang's dramatic dives, and Alicia mimed throwing a Quaffle at Lee, who promptly ducked into his mashed potatoes. Slowly, the conversation lifted, and the air at the table felt a little less heavy. Not back to normal, but breathing again.

Ava let the others carry the noise. She only half listened, picking at her food without really eating. Her eyes kept drifting toward the tall windows, where the sun dipped behind the jagged outline of the Forbidden Forest. The sky turned a bruised violet. Shadows stretched across the floor like fingers.

She scanned each one, just in case.

After dinner, they wandered back to the Gryffindor common room, the familiar path through the torchlit corridors comforting in its routine. The portrait hole creaked open, and the fire inside the common room greeted them with a cheerful pop. They collapsed onto the couches in a tangle of legs, laughter, and leftover tension, talking about everything and nothing–Quidditch, Zonko's pranks, Snape's horrible mood.

Time softened around them until, one by one, they started slipping off to bed. Katie left with a dramatic yawn. Angelina smacked George with a pillow and called him a prat before disappearing up the stairs with Alicia. Only Ava and Fred remained by the fire, curled up together as the flames painted gold across their faces.

George stood and stretched with a groan. "Right, I'm off. Don't keep him up too long, Ava. He's got a game tomorrow, and we need him semi-coherent."

Fred didn't even look at him. He just kicked his brother in the shin.

"Oi!" George muttered, hopping backward with a grin. "I'm tellin' Mum." He gave Ava a wink and headed up the boys' staircase, his footsteps fading.

The fire crackled, soft and steady. Ava shifted, stretching out across the couch and resting her head in Fred's lap. He threaded his fingers through her hair, slow and soothing. It felt like the only sound in the world.

"You alright?" he asked, his voice low, barely more than a whisper.

"I'm not sure," Ava admitted, eyes locked on the fire. "I feel like I'm waiting for something awful to happen."

Fred didn't say anything right away. He just kept stroking her hair, his other hand resting on her hip like he could anchor her in place. "Do you think he'll come here?" he asked finally.

Ava swallowed hard. "I don't know. I hope not."

Her voice wavered, and Fred's jaw tensed above her. He didn't press her, just exhaled through his nose, slow and steady. The silence between them grew, heavy but warm. Safe.

"Come on," he murmured after a while. "Let's go to bed."

But Ava reached for his hand before he could stand, her fingers curling around his. "Just a bit longer?"

Fred nodded and sank back into the couch, letting her curl against him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, chin resting atop her head. Her body relaxed into his, the tight coil of dread unwinding bit by bit. Outside the common room windows, the wind howled faintly, but inside, she was cocooned in firelight and the steady rhythm of Fred's breathing.

Within minutes, sleep tugged at her like a tide.

She didn't dream.


The next day, the stadium buzzed with anticipation, students bundled in house colors, scarves flapping in the wind, banners waving wildly. The air was brisk but charged with energy, every breath carrying the sharp bite of winter and the tang of excitement.

Ava sat wedged between Leia and Lindsay near the front of the Gryffindor stands, the wooden seats creaking beneath them as they leaned forward. She squinted down at the field, where the Ravenclaw team stood assembled in tight formation, their blue and silver robes gleaming under the pale morning sun.

A low roar rippled through the crowd.

The Gryffindor team emerged from the locker rooms in a blaze of red and gold. The eruption of cheers from the stands was deafening. Ava's eyes scanned the team until she spotted Fred, walking just behind George, broom slung over his shoulder and grinning like he already knew they were going to win. He spotted her instantly and winked, his confidence infectious. Her heart flipped.

Madam Hooch strode onto the pitch, whistle dangling from her neck. "Wood, Davies, shake hands," she barked. "Mount your brooms… on my whistle… three… two… one…"

The whistle shrieked through the air.

In an instant, fourteen brooms kicked off the ground and soared into the sky. Ava's breath caught in her throat. The game exploded into motion, Katie Bell immediately snagged the Quaffle and shot toward the goalposts, weaving past Ravenclaw Chasers. The stands erupted as the Quaffle soared through the middle hoop. Ten points to Gryffindor.

Fred zoomed past the stands in a blur of red, intercepting a Bludger just in time before it smashed into Alicia. He twisted in midair and batted it back toward the Ravenclaw Beaters. "Show her your acceleration, Harry!" he shouted.

Gryffindor was leading eighty points to thirty. Ava's gaze flicked to Harry, who was tearing through the sky after the Snitch, Cho Chang hot on his heels. His form was flawless, streamlined and determined.

But then a shriek rose from the opposite side of the stadium. Then another. Ava's eyes snapped upward. Three tall, black-robed figures hovered at the edge of the pitch, gliding just over the grass. Dementors.

The cold swept in immediately, bone-deep, like water rushing into her lungs. She shivered violently. Below, Harry jerked to a stop, yanked his wand free, and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"

From the tip of his wand, a brilliant silver stag exploded outward, its hooves crashing against the air as it galloped toward the Dementors. The creatures fled, shadows unraveling like smoke.

The crowd held its collective breath, then screamed as Harry shot forward again, arm outstretched. His fingers closed around the Snitch. The final whistle pierced the sky.

Gryffindor… had won!

The stands erupted. Ava shot to her feet, heart hammering with adrenaline and pride, and surged down the stairs with the rest of the Gryffindor supporters. Cheers echoed off the stadium walls, students waving scarves and flags as they flooded the pitch.

She spotted Fred sprinting toward her, mud-splattered and flushed with victory. Without hesitation, she launched herself into his arms, and he caught her effortlessly, spinning her in a wide circle before pulling her in for a kiss. The roar of the crowd faded around them.

When they broke apart, she flushed as her gaze caught on someone just outside the crowd, Professor Lupin, standing at the edge of the field. His arms were folded, and a faint, knowing smile played on his lips. Their eyes met.

Ava pulled away from Fred slightly, her stomach twisting. Something about the look reminded her of being caught by a parent, even if Lupin hadn't said a word. He raised an eyebrow, amused but not unkind, and then turned to find Harry in the crowd, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder as he guided him away.

George bounded toward them, practically vibrating with excitement. He threw his arms around both Fred and Ava in a dramatic bear hug. "We won!" he shouted, loud enough to shake the pitch. He turned, cupping his hands around his mouth and bellowed to the crowd, "Party in the Gryffindor common room–now!"

Another cheer went up, echoing into the sky. Ava laughed, breathless and glowing, surrounded by warmth, victory, and people who made her feel safe, even in the shadow of everything still looming beyond the pitch.


The Gryffindor common room pulsed with celebration, laughter, and music as the party stretched long into the night. Ava sat curled up on the couch beside Angelina, Alicia, and Katie, the remnants of a Sugar Quill tucked behind her ear and a bottle of butterbeer balanced on her knee.

Fred and George had vanished shortly after dinner, only to return an hour later laden with armfuls of bottles, pumpkin fizz, chilled butterbeer, and at least two suspicious-looking flasks tucked deep into their pockets. George carried several Honeydukes bags bursting at the seams.

"Where on earth did you get all of that?" Angelina squealed as George tossed Peppermint Toads into the crowd like confetti.

George plopped down beside her with a dramatic sigh, like a weary traveler returning from a long quest. "Bit of this, bit of that… and a little help from the Marauders." He glanced over his shoulder and, in a very un-George-like act of discretion, slipped a silver flask into Angelina's hand. "Firewhiskey. Don't say I never give you anything."

Angelina's eyes lit up with delight.

Fred dropped onto the floor in front of Ava, resting his back against her legs. He looked up at her with a soft smile and handed her a box of Chocolate Frogs. "For the stress," he murmured, kissing her knee lightly.

She smiled and ruffled his hair, unwrapping the chocolate while the flask made its rounds. Around them, the party only grew louder. Lee was standing on a table giving a drunken toast to Gryffindor's victory; Katie and Oliver had gravitated to the far corner, whispering closely, laughing as Oliver passed her the flask again. It was strange to see him so relaxed, he usually buzzed with strategy and stress.

Ava caught Fred's eye again. His cheeks were flushed, his grin just a bit sloppier than usual.

By the time Professor McGonagall appeared in the common room, robes billowing, arms crossed, and an expression that made half the room freeze mid-sip, it was nearly one in the morning. She didn't even need to speak; her glare was enough.

Slowly, the room began to shuffle toward bed. Lindsay was snoring softly in an armchair, Leia curled up in a sixth-year's lap, fast asleep. Ava climbed the stairs to her dorm, knowing she'd have the room to herself.

She'd just slipped inside when she heard the creak of the floorboards behind her.

Fred stood in the doorway, arms crossed and leaning against the frame. He smiled in that mischievous way that always made her stomach do a little flip. "Big room. Looks like you'll be alone."

Ava raised a brow, amused. "Observant tonight, aren't we?"

Fred took a step in, moving close enough for her to smell the firewhiskey on his breath. He dipped his head, lips brushing just beneath her ear. "It's tragic, really. A whole bed going to waste…"

She laughed softly, placing a hand on his chest. "Fred… you're drunk."

He grinned, unbothered. "Barely. Tipsy. Romantically charming, really."

"I don't think that's how that works."

He leaned in again, arms sliding around her waist. "Let me stay," he murmured. "Just sleep. I'll be very respectful."

She chuckled, gently stepping back. "Tempting. Very tempting. But I think I'd rather have you when you're less likely to start snoring before anything happens."

Fred gave her a dramatically wounded look. "Ouch. Right in the ego."

Ava leaned in, close enough to whisper against his ear. "Who knows… maybe you'll get a visitor in the night."

Fred groaned as she slipped past him and nudged him playfully out the door. He made one final grab for her hand, but she was already grinning as she closed it gently in his face.

"Goodnight, Fred," she said through the door.

There was a long pause on the other side. Then came his voice, muffled but hopeful: "I'll leave the door unlocked. Just in case."

She shook her head, smiling to herself as she leaned back against the door.

Maybe tomorrow would come with more fears, more letters, more questions she didn't want to face, but for now, just for tonight, there was this.

Warmth, laughter… and a boy waiting for her just down the hall.


Ava sat up slowly, her sheets twisted around her legs, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. The dorm room was quiet, bathed in moonlight filtering through the curtains. The air was still, almost too still.

Then, softly, the door creaked open.

She froze.

A tall figure slipped inside, silhouetted in the doorway. Her heart jumped to her throat… until she saw the unmistakable outline of Fred. His bare chest caught the faint light, muscles shifting as he moved. He wore only loose, low-hanging plaid pajama bottoms, and something about the way he shut the door behind him, slow, deliberate, sent a thrill through her spine.

Before she could speak, he crossed the room in a few strides, eyes locked on hers with that familiar, mischievous glint, but darker. Hungrier.

His hands found her waist, pulling her close as his mouth crashed against hers, hot, urgent, and all-consuming. The kiss stole the air from her lungs. Her fingers tangled in his hair, clutching him as if she might dissolve without him.

He pressed her back into the pillows, one hand slipping beneath the hem of her nightshirt.

She gasped against his mouth, electricity humming beneath her skin, and reached down, pulling the shirt over her head in one fluid motion.

She was bare beneath it.

With a fierce urgency, he pulled down the cup of her bra, his mouth finding her nipple as he suckled hungrily. She arched her back, moans escaping her lips as pleasure coursed through her.

In a sudden shift, she pushed Fred onto his back on the bed, her heart racing with excitement. She quickly tugged down his pajama bottoms and gazed hungrily at his naked body, desire igniting within her.

Fred sat up, a fire blazing in his eyes. He seized her, flipping her around so she faced the wall, his body pressing against hers from behind. With one swift, powerful thrust, he entered her, the sensation sending shockwaves of pleasure through her. She gasped, lost in the rhythm of his thrusts, each movement sending her closer to the edge. As she neared her peak, she let out a loud moan, feeling him drive into her one last time before he fell against her, both of them breathing heavily.

Rolling onto her back, Ava nestled into Fred's side, her hand resting lightly on his chest as it rose and fell. The heat of their bodies mingled beneath the tangled sheets, the room still thick with the scent of him, of them. She looked up into his face, her heart full and aching.

He was watching her with an expression so unguarded it almost hurt. His eyes, usually gleaming with mischief, were soft now. Open. Real.

She reached up and brushed her fingers along his jaw. "I love you, Fred…" she whispered, a small, breathless smile tugging at her lips.

His mouth found hers again in a kiss, gentler this time, slower, like a promise. And then…

He pulled back.

His eyes widened.

And without warning, he opened his mouth and let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Ava jolted upright in bed, her skin damp with sweat, chest heaving like she'd just sprinted through the Forbidden Forest, her ears still ringing. Her heart thundered against her ribs as her eyes scanned the room, searching for something, someone. But she was alone. The silence pressed in around her like a second blanket.

Just a dream.

She exhaled shakily and ran a trembling hand through her hair. The vividness of it still clung to her skin, his weight, his warmth, and the way he'd whispered her name like a secret. But Fred had never come. He hadn't touched her. It had all been in her head.

She let herself fall back against the pillow, trying to calm her racing pulse when suddenly, a scream shattered the quiet.

She bolted upright again, this time fully alert. It came from above, muffled but sharp. The boys' dormitory. Another scream followed, this one more frantic, and closer.

Ava threw off the covers and rushed toward the door, heart in her throat. Her fingers had just grazed the doorknob when she felt a hand clamp around her from behind, an arm around her waist, and another hand covering her mouth before she could cry out.

Her eyes went wide, her body frozen with terror. The warmth of breath near her ear. The smell, damp wool, faint smoke. She struggled instinctively, but the grip was firm. Someone was in her room. And it wasn't Fred.


Fred hurried down the dormitory stairs, George close behind, both still shaken from the chaos unfolding in the boys' room. As they entered the Gryffindor common room, they found a cluster of students gathered in varying states of panic and confusion.

"Excellent, are we carrying on?" Fred asked dryly, trying to mask the unease in his voice with humor.

But the moment was interrupted by a low murmur of voices behind them. The twins turned just in time to see Oliver Wood and Katie Bell descending the stairs together, Oliver in nothing but his boxers, Katie in a backwards nightgown, her hair mussed from sleep.

Angelina's jaw dropped. Alicia burst into giggles.

"Nice fashion statement…" Angelina said, arching a brow.

Katie looked down, realized her mistake, and immediately blushed, ducking behind Oliver in embarrassment.

Before anyone could comment further, Percy Weasley stormed into the common room, his face pale. "Everyone back upstairs!"

Ron darted over to him, out of breath and wide-eyed. "Perce—Sirius Black! In our dormitory! With a knife! Woke me up!"

The room fell silent.

Fred felt his stomach drop. Across the room, Angelina gasped and instinctively moved closer to George, who slung an arm around her shoulders. Katie clung to Oliver's hand as he stared at Percy in disbelief.

Fred scanned the common room, his brow furrowed. Something felt off.

Where's Ava?

She wasn't anywhere in sight. How could she sleep through this?

Professor McGonagall swept into the common room, her expression thunderous as Ron began to explain. She stopped him with a sharp glare. "Don't be ridiculous, Weasley. How could he possibly have gotten through the portrait hole?"

"Ask him!" Ron pointed furiously toward Sir Cadogan, whose painted chest puffed out with pride.

McGonagall wasted no time. She swept toward the portrait, pushed it open, and disappeared into the corridor. The common room remained silent, the weight of fear and confusion pressing down on everyone.

Moments later, she returned with fire in her eyes. "Which person," she demanded, "which abysmally foolish person wrote down this week's passwords and left them lying around?"

Fred sighed as he watched Neville Longbottom hesitantly raise his hand, shame etched across his face.

The rest of the night blurred into uneasy waiting. No one returned to bed. Students huddled in groups across the common room, whispering, worrying, wondering. Fred sat beside George, his knee bouncing.

"She still hasn't come down," he muttered, scanning the room again.

George looked around too. "I haven't seen her… maybe she's still asleep?"

Fred stood and moved to Leia. "Have you seen Ava?"

Leia shook her head. "No. I haven't been back to the room."

Fred turned to Lindsay by the fire. She gave him the same answer, nothing.

Worry gnawed at his gut.

"I'm going to check on her," Fred said, already heading for the girls' staircase. George gave a concerned nod as Fred disappeared from view.

The dormitory hallway was dim and quiet, a stark contrast to the frenzy downstairs. Fred crept toward Ava's door and stopped. There were voices inside. Muffled, but unmistakable.

His heartbeat quickened.

He stepped closer, pressing his ear to the door. The floorboard beneath him gave a loud groan.

Silence.

Then, shuffling.

"Ava?" Fred called, pressing his ear to the door. His voice was low but urgent—laced with concern he couldn't quite hide.

Silence.

Then, a faint rustling. The soft scrape of movement on the other side.

Finally, her voice. "I'm here…"

Fred exhaled in relief, tension easing slightly from his shoulders. She was there. Awake. Breathing.

"Merlin, you scared me," he muttered, letting out a shaky breath and leaning against the doorframe. "Why don't you come out?" he asked gently. "Everyone's in the common room. It's chaos down there… you'd love it."

Then her voice again strained and trembling. "I'm tired… I think I'm just going to go back to sleep."

No. That wasn't right. That wasn't her.

Fred reached for the doorknob. It didn't budge. Locked.

A flicker of unease crawled down his spine.

He knocked again lightly, letting a teasing smile creep into his voice. "Well, if you're up… fancy some company? Big, empty room all to yourself. Bit unfair, don't you think?"

A pause.

Then, her voice again. Quieter now. Unsteady. "Just go away, Fred."

Fred blinked.

It wasn't what she said, it was how she said it. There was something… off. Her voice shook, the words clipped and thin like she was trying to keep them steady.

And then… He heard it.

A whisper. Not hers. A man's voice. Faint. Low. Barely audible, but unmistakable.

Fred froze, his heart kicking hard in his chest. Every nerve in his body flared awake. Something was wrong. He straightened, and took a step back.

"All right," he said aloud, tone light…too light. "Sorry for the intrusion, princess. I'll just be on my–" And then he spun and slammed his shoulder into the door.

CRACK.

The door groaned but held. Fred didn't wait. He backed up again and hit it harder. Wood splintered beneath the impact, the frame buckling under the force. A third time, he charged the door like a battering ram.

SMASH.

The lock gave way, and the door burst open. Fred stumbled inside, lungs heaving, eyes scanning wildly. And there she was. Ava was curled in the corner of the room, shaking, her face soaked with tears. The window stood wide open, curtains flapping violently in the wind. Fred rushed to her side, knees hitting the floor.

"Ava—" he breathed, voice cracking as he reached out.

She didn't answer. Didn't need to. One look into her eyes told him everything.


"Shh… It's alright."

The voice. That voice. Her entire body went rigid with dread. Slowly, unwillingly, she turned her head. Corban Yaxley.

His expression was calm. Affectionate, almost, like some deranged parody of warmth. He drew her closer, wrapping her in a twisted embrace. "There, there… I told you we'd be together soon."

Terror rooted her to the floor. Her limbs refused to respond. Her chest ached.

Yaxley raised his wand, the tip glowing faintly as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. His other hand stayed firmly clamped over her mouth.

"I can't have you screaming now, can I?" he murmured. "Don't worry… this won't hurt a bit."

He removed his hand only long enough to whisper, "Silencio."

Ava's mouth opened, instinctively ready to scream, but nothing came out. No sound. Her heart pounded against the confines of her ribs as panic tightened its grip.

She turned and bolted for the door, but her body jerked violently backward as ropes sprang to life from Yaxley's wand, curling around her wrists and legs like serpents. She hit the floor hard and was dragged back toward the center of the room.

Yaxley chuckled, watching her struggle. "You've got fire… Just like your mother."

He dropped his cloak to the floor and crouched beside her legs, his wand tip hovering. "You must be wondering how I got into the castle…"

Ava didn't move. Her eyes locked onto him, cold with silent defiance.

Yaxley traced his wand lazily up her calf. "I knew Sirius Black was here. Useful distraction. While the school watches for him… no one watches for me." He leaned closer, his breath against her skin. "Now that your father's out of the way, you belong to me."

She turned her face sharply as his lips grazed her cheek. Her body trembled, not just from fear, but fury. With a burst of adrenaline, she brought her knee up hard into his stomach.

Yaxley let out a grunt and reeled backward. The magical ropes loosened. Ava kicked herself free, scrambling across the floor as he doubled over with a groan. She lunged for the door, but just as her fingers reached the knob, a floorboard creaked outside.

"Ava?" Fred's voice, low and uncertain, filtered through the door.

Relief flooded her veins, and vanished just as quickly. She opened her mouth to shout, to scream, but the Silencing Charm still held. Her lips moved soundlessly.

Yaxley was on her again in seconds. One hand clamped down on her arm like a vice, the other pressing his wand to her ribs. "I recognize that voice…" he murmured against her ear, breath hot and putrid. "The boy from the train. The one with the mouth."

A faint knock at the door. Fred's voice, soft, concerned. "Ava? Are you there?"

Yaxley tilted his head, amused. "Answer him," he said, lips brushing her cheek. "And if you say anything I don't like…" He pressed the wand harder into her side. "I'll kill him." Then with another flick of his wand, her voice returned.

Ava's voice trembled. "I'm here…"

Relief poured through Fred's voice, warm and sincere. "Merlin, you scared me. Why don't you come out? Everyone's in the common room. It's chaos, you'd love it."

Ava swallowed hard. Her throat was dry as sand. "I'm tired," she whispered. "I think I'm just going to go back to sleep."

Yaxley grinned beside her, smug and possessive. "Good girl," he purred, then ran his tongue along her jawline like a brand.

Fred knocked again, this time with a bit more insistence. "Well… if you're awake, fancy some company? Big, empty room all to yourself. Bit unfair, don't you think?"

Yaxley growled low in his throat. "Join you?" he mocked under his breath. He bit her earlobe, hard enough to sting. "It saddens me, you know," he whispered. "That someone's touched you before I could."

"Just go away, Fred," she said, her voice wobbling under the weight of panic.

"All right," Fred replied, his voice still too light, too casual. "Sorry for the intrusion, princess. I'll just be on my–"

CRACK.

The door shook violently as Fred slammed into it.

Yaxley jerked toward the sound, caught off guard. In that split second Ava moved.

She wrenched herself free, elbowed him in the gut, and slapped his wand hand away. The wand flew from his grip, spinning through the air, straight out the open window.

His face twisted in shock, then fury. "You little–"

She didn't get the chance to duck. His hand lashed out, cracking across her cheek so hard her knees buckled. She crashed to the floor, blinking stars from her vision.

Yaxley stalked forward, raising his hand again, his face a mask of savage rage.

Another slam at the door. The frame groaned.

Yaxley snarled. His opportunity was gone.

He whirled around, cloak billowing behind him, and with a burst of movement, his form shrank, bones compressing, feathers erupting in a flash of magic. In seconds, a weathered, horned owl flapped into the night air, disappearing into the dark beyond the window.

And then–CRASH.

Fred burst through the door, panting, eyes wild. He found Ava crumpled in the corner, curled into herself, a bruise already darkening her cheek, her chest hitching with silent sobs.

Fred dropped to his knees beside Ava, his hands reaching for her, voice cracking with panic. "Ava–hey, hey–it's me. I've got you."

She didn't speak. Just buried her face in his chest as quiet sobs overtook her.

George barreled into the room seconds later, skidding to a stop. "What the hell–what happened?"

Fred looked up, his voice sharp. "Get McGonagall. Now. Someone was in here."

But Ava shook her head desperately. "No…get Lupin," she sobbed. "My godfather… he…he was here. I can't stay here…I can't."

George didn't hesitate. He tore from the room, already shouting for help down the corridor.

Fred rocked her gently where she trembled in his arms, one hand bracing her back, the other stroking her hair in soothing, aimless patterns. "You're safe," he whispered, over and over. "You're safe. He's gone. He's gone."

Footsteps pounded up the stairs, then stopped in the doorway.

"Ava–"

Lupin.

His voice cracked with urgency, and Fred immediately shifted aside to let him through. Lupin dropped to his knees without hesitation, his wand clattering to the floor as he pulled Ava into his arms with a gentleness that made something inside her splinter.

"I've got you," he murmured, tucking her close against his chest. "I'm here. You're safe now."

His voice was steady, but his hands shook. He held her tightly, tighter than she expected, his arms wrapping around her with a desperate protectiveness she hadn't realized she'd longed for until now.

Ava didn't speak. She couldn't. She just buried her face into the collar of his robes and let the tears come. The warmth of his chest, the steady thrum of his heartbeat, it was unfamiliar. Strange. But welcome. Her father had never held her like this. Had never looked at her with fear in his eyes, or touched her with care.

Lupin whispered something else, soft, almost inaudible, as he smoothed her hair down with a trembling hand. "I'm so sorry," he breathed. "I should've kept you safer."

Professor McGonagall entered seconds later, surveying the shattered room and broken window with grim composure. She crossed quickly to them and rested a hand on Ava's back.

"Let's get her out of here," she said, her voice tight but kind. "She shouldn't be in this room any longer."

Together, Lupin and McGonagall helped Ava to her feet. Her legs buckled almost instantly, but Lupin caught her before she could fall, anchoring her to his side with practiced care.

"It's alright. I've got you," he said again, firmer now.

They made it halfway down the stairs before Ava's knees gave out completely. Her vision swam, the dim candlelight spinning like stars behind her eyes.

"I–" she tried, but the world tilted.

Lupin caught her again as her body went limp in his arms.

And then…darkness.