The small hut was silent, with neither of them speaking a word.
Lys took a deep breath, chastising herself for indulging in thoughts that would never come to fruition. She bid Hagrid farewell and made her way back to the castle.
Just as Lys reached the castle, she found herself face-to-face with a boy sneaking out of a History of Magic class through a window. His face flushed red and pale as he slinked along the castle wall in embarrassment.
Recalling the class schedule, Lys decided to climb in through the same window and join the lesson.
Once inside, however, Lys found herself unable to focus. She rested her head on the desk, her thoughts drifting to the book she had bought at the old bookstore in Diagon Alley after hearing the ghost professor's lecture in History of Magic: The Guardian Knights of the Patronus.
The Patronus Charm had always been a thorn in her side. Although her mother had stopped bringing it up after her fifth year, Lys had never let it go.
Later that evening, Lys cornered Snape. After offering him two vials of spider venom, she finally secured his guidance for Potions class again.
Lys had narrowed down her options for the exam to a few potions, given the constraints of ingredients and time. There was only one potion left that she wasn't yet proficient in.
Pulling a letter from her pocket, Lys handed it to Snape. "Severus, can you take a look at what Lucius is saying here?"
Snape tilted his chin slightly, his gaze flickering with surprise. After glancing at the letter, his expression darkened.
Shaking the piece of parchment, Snape said, "Lucius is reminding you that he already knows your stance. He's warning you not to cause trouble again. What did you do this time?"
Without lifting her eyes, Lys replied nonchalantly, "Oh, nothing serious. I just lost my temper after being insulted about my father on Christmas Day and ended up wrecking Thomas's restaurant. A senior helped me deal with the fallout."
Snape shook his head, clearly baffled by Lys's behavior. Normally so reserved, she seemed to want to disappear entirely. Who would have thought she'd pull such a dramatic stunt?
As Lys was slicing the eyes of a bicorn toad, a knock came at the door.
It was Regulus Black.
Lys glanced at him but felt no inclination to engage. After witnessing him under the effects of a Memory Charm in their fifth year, he had ceased to interest her.
Besides, it was best to avoid the Black family altogether. She couldn't afford to become the next joke or scapegoat of the Blacks.
But Regulus didn't leave after entering, forcing Lys to ask, "What do you want?"
It was then that Lys noticed the boy's pale face and the faint traces of dark circles under his eyes, poorly concealed.
"Can we talk? I have a few questions for you," he said, stepping forward, his tone carrying a subtle weariness.
Even the dogs in Diagon Alley knew that Regulus Black was a favored confidant of the Dark Lord these days. Lys refused outright, especially with people lingering outside the door.
Stepping out, Lys abruptly poked her head around the corner.
She smirked at the eavesdropping Sirius Black. "Your dear brother's in trouble. Aren't you going to help him?"
Sirius responded with a string of curses, prompting Lys to shake her head. She silently cast a powerful Sticking Charm and a Stupefy on the increasingly aggravating mutt.
Caught off guard, Sirius, despite holding his wand, had no time to react.
The dungeon floor was chilly in the spring, but Lys figured Sirius's fiery temper would keep him warm enough.
She tilted her head slightly, catching a glimpse of Regulus's resolute back as he walked away.
With a brother and mother like his, being sensitive and intelligent was more of a burden than a blessing.
Lys retreated to the underground classroom to continue brewing her potion.
Later that night, by the Black Lake, Lys played with Gobble as she toyed with the water. Hearing steady footsteps, she asked, "Well? What do you want to ask?"
But the response was silence. Turning around, Lys realized the visitor wasn't Regulus as she'd expected.
It was Lupin.
Lys stirred the water with her hand, washing Gobble's skin, while her left hand held her wand, teasing the creature with a small ball of magic.
"Have you ever considered joining the Order of the Phoenix?" Lupin suddenly asked after a long silence.
Lys pursed her lips. What was wrong with this guy? Even the headmaster, as the leader of the Order, hadn't extended an invitation. Yet here was a mere recruit daring to ask a Slytherin to join?
"I've always thought you'd be a good fit for the Order, both in terms of skill and ideals. Wouldn't your parents be proud of you? Your uncle—"
"Yes! Your dad was proud—so brave, so righteous! Got himself killed and pissed off Fenrir Greyback enough to bite you. Shouldn't you be proud of that?" Lys interrupted sharply.
"…"
Not waiting for a response, Lys picked up a soaking Gobble and walked away along the lakeshore.
Once she was out of Lupin's sight, Lys used the Silver Arrow to skim across the lake, cutting her journey short.
She couldn't be bothered to waste time on him.
Lys suspected her earlier Rune spell might have scrambled his brain.
Behind her, Lupin stood bewildered. In the distance, rustling sounds approached. "We saw on the Marauder's Map that she left. So, Moony, what did she say?"
Lupin turned slightly. "She didn't say anything. She just… left."
Sirius popped his head out, growling, "She and Snivellus were chatting away, laughing together. You still don't believe me? She's definitely a Death Eater in training!"
James and Lupin exchanged glances. "She's someone the headmaster mentioned as a regrettable loss. While we may not understand, we have to try, don't we, Padfoot?"
"Still, she's just a Slytherin. If she doesn't come, so be it. As long as we have the headmaster, we'll win in the end, right, Padfoot, Moony? Wormtail?" James said, pulling Peter Pettigrew's hand into theirs as the latter hesitated and shrank back.
"For the Order of the Phoenix. For justice."
When Lys landed on the shore after crossing the lake, the momentum caused her to stumble forward.
Still not skilled enough, Lys thought to herself as she returned to her dormitory to continue perfecting the wand she was making for Noah. It would be sent to her father along with her perfect O.W.L.s results.
As always, she went to bed at midnight and woke up at four to study and draft magic arrays.
Time passed methodically, and with just a week until exams, Lys could be seen walking the corridors, reciting the timeline of magical history.
After all, aside from Potions, History of Magic was the subject that gave her the most trouble.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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