This is a pretty long chapter, mostly because I plan on wrapping the time travel arc up soon. Not that I haven't enjoyed writing it. It's been one of my favorite arcs in this story so far.
Chapter 36:
– Albus Dumbledore –
Albus Dumbledore had returned from the Chamber of Secrets with clean robes, a repaired hat, and the deeply unpleasant certainty that he had failed Hogwarts for nearly forty years.
He sat behind his desk with both hands wrapped around a cup of tea that had gone cold several minutes ago. The familiar silver instruments surrounding him continued whirring and puffing as though nothing had changed. Portraits dozed inside their frames. Evening sunlight filtered through the tall windows, bathing shelves of books and delicate magical artifacts in warm gold.
His office looked exactly as it had that morning.
It no longer felt quite as secure.
A fragment of Tom Riddle's soul had been hidden inside the castle.
A basilisk more than sixty feet long had lived beneath generations of unsuspecting students.
Neither Albus nor any of the headmasters who came before him had uncovered that threat.
He closed his eyes and released a slow breath.
A Horcrux.
Albus had known the magic existed. He had encountered references to it during his studies and subsequently ensured that every book containing useful instructions had been removed from the Hogwarts library. The act required murder, but murder alone was merely the beginning. Creating a Horcrux meant deliberately mutilating one's own soul and sealing the severed fragment inside an object.
It was an act of profound arrogance and even greater terror.
Only someone more frightened of death than they were of damnation would attempt it.
Tom had not merely attempted it. He had succeeded.
Worse, he had chosen Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem as the vessel and hidden it inside Hogwarts itself. He had taken an artifact belonging to one of the school's founders, polluted it with murder, and concealed it within the castle that had once offered him sanctuary.
The violation felt deeply personal.
Tom had always claimed Hogwarts as the first place that truly belonged to him. Apparently, his idea of love had always required possession.
Albus opened his eyes and stared at the cold tea.
The diadem might also explain another mystery that had troubled him for years.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts position had become notorious. No professor had managed to hold it for more than a single year since Albus refused Tom the position. Illness, scandal, accidents—some calamity inevitably forced each professor to leave.
Albus had long suspected a curse, but Hogwarts was saturated with so many layers of ancient enchantment that isolating one malicious thread had proven impossible.
Perhaps he had been looking in the wrong place.
Tom might have used the Horcrux as an anchor, allowing the curse to sink into the castle and continuously replenish itself. If so, destroying the soul fragment should have broken the enchantment.
They would not know for certain until a Defense professor survived long enough to begin a second year, but Albus felt cautiously optimistic.
He only wished he understood how Amara had removed the fragment.
The diadem itself remained intact. Albus had inspected it thoroughly and found no trace of the mutilated soul that had once inhabited it. Even the dark residue had been scoured away with a thoroughness that should have required the destruction of the vessel.
Amara's explanation had consisted of the words Black family secret magic from the future and a smile that strongly discouraged additional questions.
It had not been a convincing lie.
It had, however, been an unmistakable boundary.
Albus could have pressed her. He could have questioned her more aggressively or tried to catch her contradicting herself. A sufficiently skilled Legilimens might even have attempted to slip around her defenses.
The thought alone made him feel ashamed.
Amara already watched him as though expecting manipulation behind every question and betrayal behind every smile. Trying to force the truth from her would only prove that she was right to fear him.
Trust freely given possessed value.
Trust extracted by force was merely obedience wearing a prettier face.
His thoughts drifted to the Chamber beneath the castle.
Albus had known that Tom opened it during his school years. He had suspected Tom was responsible for Myrtle Warren's death, but suspicion had not been enough. Tom had framed Rubeus Hagrid and his acromantula, leaving Albus unable to do more than prevent Hagrid's expulsion from becoming permanent exile.
All this time, the proof had been slithering through tunnels beneath their feet.
The basilisk had been enormous. Older than any living professor, heavily armored, lethally venomous, and capable of killing with a glance. Even blinded, it had nearly crushed Amara against the Chamber wall.
Had Tom returned and ordered it to attack the school openly, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Hundreds of children lived within these walls. A single glimpse of its eyes could have killed an entire corridor of students before anyone understood what was happening.
The beast had been a disaster waiting for its master's command.
Now it was dead.
Myrtle had finally been avenged. Tom had lost one of his most dangerous weapons, and Hagrid might at last receive the vindication he deserved.
The victory should have left Albus relieved.
Instead, the full scale of what he had failed to discover pressed heavily upon him.
A low, mournful chirp came from across the office.
Albus looked up.
Fawkes stood upon his golden perch, brilliant red-and-gold feathers gleaming in the fading sunlight. The phoenix tilted his head, studying Albus with dark, knowing eyes.
"I am quite all right, old friend," Albus said.
Fawkes released another unconvinced trill.
"Overwhelmed, perhaps," Albus admitted. "It has been an unusually eventful morning."
Fawkes ruffled his feathers.
"I suspect adventures involving Miss Black tend to progress at an exhausting pace," Albus said. "She uncovered a Horcrux, revealed one of Hogwarts' greatest secrets, and helped slay a basilisk before most students finished their afternoon lessons."
Fawkes chirped more brightly.
"Yes, I am aware that you have done more impressive things before breakfast," Albus said. "There is no need to boast."
The phoenix settled again, although his attention remained fixed on Albus.
A faint smile tugged at Albus's lips before vanishing.
Amara Black.
She had initially described herself as a witch from the future. Their subsequent discussions suggested the truth was far stranger. She came from another reality—one whose history resembled their own closely enough to create familiar people but differed drastically enough to turn those people into strangers.
Albus remembered entering the hospital wing after Amara awakened.
Her wand had appeared in her hand without warning.
She had pointed it directly at his chest.
There had been no uncertainty in her posture. No trembling in her wrist. Her face had held a degree of hatred Albus had rarely seen directed at anyone, let alone himself.
She accused another Albus Dumbledore of binding her magic while she was an infant. Of destroying her childhood. Of working with James Potter to murder Sirius Black and steal everything Sirius had left her.
The accusations sounded monstrous.
They also sounded painfully sincere.
Amara had not been repeating rumors or constructing a calculated lie. She had spoken with the raw fury of someone confronting the architect of her suffering.
Whatever his alternate self had done, the scars remained.
Even after spending hours beside him, Amara never relaxed completely. Whenever he raised his wand too quickly, her body tensed. Whenever he asked a question about her abilities, suspicion flickered behind her eyes.
Albus had begun to fear that another version of himself had helped create a future Dark Lady.
Amara possessed immense power. Dark magic answered her with alarming eagerness, and she showed little hesitation about using it. She had spoken casually about killing monsters and nearly dying as if both were ordinary weekly inconveniences.
She also carried secrets far more troubling than future Black family magic.
Yet the woman he had observed during the past two days did not fit comfortably inside the role of a Dark Lady.
Her attachment to Lily Evans was particularly difficult to miss.
Albus had witnessed enough embarrassed glances, clasped hands, and public displays at breakfast to understand that their connection had progressed with remarkable speed. Minerva had spent much of the morning looking as though she regretted not establishing stricter rules concerning affection in the Great Hall.
But Lily was not Amara's only connection.
Amara had looked at the young Sirius Black with grief she could barely hide. She laughed with Marlene McKinnon and Alice Fortescue. She had entrusted her familiar to Hagrid because she knew he would need comfort after surrendering his rooster.
Even her treatment of that doomed bird had revealed compassion. Amara disliked controlling it. She had apologized for using the Imperius Curse and promised that its sacrifice would be remembered.
A person wholly consumed by evil would not have cared…
Tom had gathered followers. He inspired fear, fanaticism, and dependence. He did not form connections built upon mutual affection.
Amara loved people.
She had spoken of those waiting in her own world with a fierce longing that temporarily stripped away every defensive layer. Raven, Morgana, Dick, Kara, Kori, Bellatrix, Daphne, Astoria—names belonging to people Albus had never met, yet whose importance was unmistakable.
Her desperation to return home was not driven by ambition.
It was driven by love.
Amara was undeniably dangerous. She was wounded, secretive, angry, and far too comfortable with destructive magic.
But she was not lost.
The possibility of an evil Albus Dumbledore remained far more disturbing.
Parallel realities meant there could be countless versions of every person. Versions shaped by different choices, victories, losses, and temptations.
Albus knew better than most how thin the line between noble intention and terrible action could become.
Once, as a young man, he had believed he and Gellert Grindelwald could reshape the world for the greater good. He had convinced himself that brilliance granted them the right to determine everyone else's future.
Perhaps another Albus had never stepped away from that path. Perhaps somewhere, the phrase greater good remained an excuse rather than a source of shame.
The thought made his stomach twist.
A man possessing his knowledge and power could cause tremendous harm if he abandoned restraint. Add political influence, institutional authority, and the certainty that every cruelty served some higher purpose, and that man could ruin lives without ever admitting he had become a monster.
Perhaps that was the man Amara knew.
"I cannot change what he did to you," Albus murmured, although Amara was nowhere near the office. "But I need not become him."
The fireplace erupted.
Green flames filled the hearth, casting harsh light across the office walls. Several portraits startled awake as a broad, battered figure stepped through the Floo.
Alastor Moody never emerged from a fireplace gracefully. He lurched forward, caught himself with his cane, and immediately spun to examine the room behind him as though expecting an assassin to follow.
His heavy travelling coat bore fresh scorch marks. A shallow cut crossed one cheek, and his greying hair looked as though it had been combed with an explosive spell.
Despite everything weighing upon him, Albus smiled at the sight of his old friend.
"Alastor," Albus said warmly. "You look well."
Moody stared at him. "Your standards have fallen," Moody said.
"Age brings generosity," Albus said.
"Age ought to bring better eyesight," Moody muttered. He limped away from the fireplace and swept his gaze over every corner of the office. He checked the windows, the ceiling, both doors, and several portraits before finally appearing satisfied that Dumbledore had not been taken hostage in his own tower.
Fawkes chirped a greeting.
"At least someone here takes security seriously," Moody said.
"Would you care for tea?" Albus asked.
"No."
"Brandy?"
Moody hesitated. "Later," Moody said.
That answer removed the last trace of amusement from Albus's expression. Alastor refusing alcohol until after a conversation suggested the matter was serious indeed.
"How are matters in London?" Albus asked.
"Bad," Moody said. Alastor lowered himself into the chair opposite the desk with a grunt. He rested his cane beside his knee but kept his wand in his hand. "Something's happened," Moody continued. "Something that's got right under the Dark Lord's skin."
"Tom has never responded gracefully to frustration," Albus said.
"This is more than one of his usual tantrums," Moody said. "He's raging."
Albus sat straighter. "The attacks have doubled over the past few days," Moody said. "Maybe tripled. Death Eaters who've kept quiet for months are suddenly moving. Safe houses have been hit. Families suspected of helping Muggleborns are disappearing. The bastards aren't even covering their tracks properly anymore."
"That does not sound like Tom," Albus said.
"No," Moody agreed. "He's usually careful. Cruel, but careful. This is different." Moody leaned forward, his scarred face hardening. "He's not choosing targets because hitting them accomplishes anything," Moody said. "He's hurting people because he can't reach whoever actually angered him."
Albus glanced toward the window. A fragment of his soul disappearing from Ravenclaw's diadem. The basilisk he had controlled since his school days dying beneath Hogwarts.
Two losses in scarcely two days.
Yes, Albus had some idea what might have enraged him.
"Do you know what caused this change?" Moody asked.
"I have a theory," Albus said carefully.
Moody's eyes narrowed. "I hate it when you say that," Moody said.
"So does Minerva."
"I'm not joking, Albus."
"Neither is she."
Moody grunted, but his expression did not soften. "There is something else," Moody said. "One of my sources heard Hogsmeade mentioned during a gathering earlier today."
Albus went very still. "In what context?" he asked.
"Attack," Moody said. "Retaliation. Punishment. The source couldn't hear everything without exposing themselves, but the village was named twice. So was tonight."
Beyond the office windows, the distant rooftops of Hogsmeade were visible between the darkening hills. Tiny columns of smoke rose peacefully from chimneys. Shopkeepers would be preparing to close for the evening. Families would soon sit down to supper.
They had no idea that Voldemort might already have sentenced them to death.
"How reliable is your source?" Albus asked.
"Reliable enough that I came here myself instead of sending a Patronus," Moody said. "Could still be false information. Could be a trap meant to draw us out."
"But you do not believe it is."
"No."
Albus rose from behind his desk.
The weariness that had settled into his bones remained, but it no longer mattered. His mind sharpened as possibilities arranged themselves into threats, defenses, evacuation routes, and contingencies.
Amara's victories had not ended anything.
They had wounded Tom's pride, stripped away treasured pieces of his immortality, and destroyed a creature he considered his birthright. Now innocent people might pay the price for humiliations they did not even understand.
"What aren't you telling me?" Moody asked.
Albus looked at his oldest friend.
"I believe recent events at Hogwarts may have contributed to Tom's anger," Albus said.
Moody surged halfway out of his chair. "What events?" Moody demanded.
"I will explain everything," Albus promised. "But first, we must ensure there remains a Hogsmeade in which to have that conversation."
Moody stared at him for a long moment before giving a curt nod.
"How much time do you think we have?" Albus asked.
"A few hours," Moody said. "Maybe less."
Albus turned toward the portraits surrounding the office. "Wake the headmaster portraits with frames in Hogsmeade," Dumbledore ordered. "Tell them to observe and report anything unusual. Do not spread panic."
The portraits immediately scrambled into motion, several elderly witches and wizards vanishing from their frames.
Albus looked toward Fawkes. "Find Professor McGonagall," he said. "Ask her to come here immediately."
Fawkes released a piercing cry and vanished in a burst of golden fire.
"Students inside the castle before sundown," Moody said.
"Every last one," Albus agreed. "The secret passages into Hogsmeade must be watched, and the wards surrounding the village reinforced. I will contact Aberforth."
Moody retrieved his cane and forced himself upright.
"And if the Death Eaters are already on their way?" he asked.
Albus reached for his wand.
The Elder Wand settled into his hand, and the scattered silver instruments around the office began to tremble beneath the sudden weight of his magic.
"Then Tom will discover that Hogsmeade is not undefended," Dumbledore said.
– Amara Black –
Hot water poured over my head and streamed down my body, carrying the last traces of basilisk blood toward the drain.
It had taken several minutes before the water stopped turning faintly green around my feet. The creature's blood had soaked through my ruined robes, coated my skin, and worked its way into places basilisk blood had absolutely no business reaching.
The heat felt wonderful against muscles that had technically healed but still remembered being thrown nearly fifty feet into a stone wall.
I squeezed a generous amount of soap into my palm and slowly worked it across my shoulders. White lather spread over my skin as my hands moved down my arms, across my stomach, and along the dramatic curve of my hips.
Nothing about the past several hours should have left me horny.
I had eaten another fragment of Voldemort's soul, crawled through a disgusting pipe beneath Hogwarts, watched a heroic rooster get flattened, and helped Dumbledore murder a sixty-foot basilisk. The creature had broken several of my ribs before we finally managed to pin its head beneath several tons of stone and cut open its throat.
That should have killed anyone's desire for at least a week.
Unfortunately, my newly evolved body disagreed.
My soapy hands slid up to my breasts. The instant my palms cupped them, pleasure rolled through me in a warm wave. I squeezed slowly, kneading their weight before rubbing my thumbs over my already hardening nipples.
A moan escaped my lips and echoed around the shower.
"Fucking hell," I whispered.
I had slept with Lily that morning.
It hadn't even been a full day since I had her naked in the prefects' bath, blushing and trembling beneath my hands. I could still remember the way she tasted, the softness of her thighs, and the wonder in her eyes when my horns, wings, and tail emerged.
That should have satisfied me longer than a few hours.
It was not. Being a Succubus Queen would take a lot of getting used to. I don't know if Didi was even watching me from our own Universe, but I had a feeling she was laughing. And maybe touching herself too…
My fingers pinched my nipples.
Another needy sound slipped out.
Heat gathered between my thighs as my mind helpfully replayed Lily moaning my name. I let one hand travel down my stomach, moving through the soap and water until my fingertips brushed the sensitive flesh between my legs.
My knees nearly buckled.
I caught myself against the tiled wall with one hand and slowly rubbed my clit with the other.
Pleasure shot up my spine.
I sighed and let my eyes close as my fingers made another lazy circle. My body immediately demanded more. My hips rolled forward, chasing the friction as my thighs spread beneath the falling water.
It would have been so easy to continue.
Unfortunately, I already knew how that ended.
Masturbation was almost completely useless for me now. I could force myself to orgasm, but it never properly satisfied the demonic hunger burning beneath my skin. If anything, touching myself made the need worse.
Masturbating as a succubus was like drinking seawater when thirsty. It provided a few seconds of relief before leaving me even more desperate than when I started.
I reluctantly pulled my hand away.
My pussy gave an irritated throb of protest.
"Yes, I know," I muttered. "Life is cruel…"
I turned off the shower before my willpower collapsed completely.
The sudden silence felt deafening.
I stepped onto the bathmat and wrapped a towel around my hair before grabbing another for my body. I dried my breasts, stomach, and legs by hand, taking care not to let the towel linger anywhere too sensitive.
Once I had removed most of the water, I gathered a small thread of magic.
It responded instantly.
Warm air spiraled around me, drying my skin and hair without removing the flushed, freshly washed glow. My raven-black hair remained slightly damp and glossy, while my pale skin looked warm, clean, and subtly shiny.
Was preserving the just-showered look unnecessarily vain?
Absolutely.
I had spent eighteen years magically cursed to look plain, awkward, and forgettable. I had earned the right to be vain now.
After examining myself in the mirror, I pulled on a black thong and fastened a matching bra around my chest. The garment struggled heroically to contain my breasts, though I suspected it would surrender if I moved too violently.
The Hogwarts uniform presented another challenge.
Whoever designed it clearly never anticipated someone with my proportions. My white shirt stretched tightly over my chest, its buttons threatening to become dangerous projectiles. The skirt hugged my hips before falling around my thighs, and even the robes failed to disguise my figure.
I adjusted my tie and stared at my reflection.
The outfit technically complied with every school rule.
It also made me look like someone had dressed a succubus for a highly inappropriate school fantasy.
"Good enough," I decided.
I left the bathroom and crossed the empty dormitory. Nyx's absence made the room feel strangely quiet. My little phoenix was spending the night with Hagrid, comforting him after the loss of his rooster.
I hoped Hagrid hadn't spoiled him too badly already.
Nyx was shameless enough without a half-giant feeding him treats every few minutes.
I descended the spiral staircase into the Gryffindor common room.
The room was far busier than it had been that morning. Students occupied nearly every table and armchair, celebrating the end of classes with games, gossip, and unfinished homework. A bright fire crackled in the enormous stone fireplace, filling the chamber with comfortable warmth.
Several conversations faltered when I entered.
I felt gazes following me as I crossed the room, but I had already grown accustomed to that. My evolved allure hummed beneath my skin, drawing attention even when I wasn't deliberately using it.
I quickly spotted the group waiting near the fireplace.
Lily, Marlene, and Alice sat together on one sofa. Sirius, Remus, and Peter occupied another positioned across from them.
James Potter was nowhere to be seen.
Again.
I wasn't sure whether he was sulking somewhere because Lily had slept with me, planning some grand romantic gesture nobody wanted, or simply avoiding the group.
Whatever the explanation, I wasn't disappointed.
This James had not done anything remotely comparable to what the version from my world had done. He was jealous, arrogant, and immature, but he hadn't abandoned a baby in an orphanage, tortured his unconscious daughter, or attempted to sell her as breeding stock.
Still, every time I looked at him, I saw the man who had pointed his wand at my chest.
Distance between us was probably healthy.
Everyone looked toward me as I approached.
I smiled and spread my hands.
"Did you wait long?" I asked. "Sorry. I needed a very long shower after my adventure with Dumbledore."
Remus's attention dropped briefly toward my chest before snapping back to my face.
Peter wasn't nearly as subtle. His gaze wandered from my damp hair to the open collar of my shirt, then down toward where the fabric stretched over my breasts.
My enhanced senses picked up their attraction immediately.
Both young men possessed a sweet, nervous scent that made my demonic instincts stir. Beneath that rested something untouched and strangely alluring. Their magic had a freshness to it that my newly evolved senses interpreted in a distinctly sexual way.
They were both virgins.
Cute, blushing, inexperienced virgins.
My succubus side purred.
I gave them both a slow, flirtatious wink.
Remus cleared his throat and abruptly became fascinated by the fireplace. A flush climbed from beneath his collar to his scarred cheeks.
Peter turned so red I briefly wondered whether he was choking.
Sirius noticed both reactions and grinned broadly.
"Careful, cousin," Sirius said. "You're going to kill poor Peter before the evening even starts."
"I only winked at him," I said innocently.
"That was not an innocent wink," Marlene said.
"I don't know what you mean," I said.
"You know exactly what she means," Lily said.
Lily rolled her eyes as she stood, but the affectionate smile pulling at her lips undermined the disapproval. She crossed the small space between us and wrapped her arms around me.
I returned the embrace automatically.
Her warmth pressed against me, and the scent of her hair filled my senses. My body remembered what we had done that morning with humiliating enthusiasm. Heat immediately stirred between my thighs again.
This was going to become a serious problem.
"We only finished classes a few minutes ago," Lily said. "You haven't kept us waiting long."
"That's good," I said.
Lily started to release me, then seemed to reconsider and kept one arm curled possessively around my waist. Her gaze sharpened. "Wait," Lily said. "What did you mean by an adventure with Dumbledore?"
Marlene leaned forward immediately. "You had an adventure with the headmaster?" Marlene asked. "What did you blow up?"
"Why do you assume she blew something up?" Alice asked.
Marlene stared at her.
Alice considered the question before nodding.
"That was foolish of me," Alice said. "What did you blow up?"
Sirius, Remus, and Peter turned their full attention toward me.
I grinned. "It's quite a story," I said. Before I could elaborate, a yawn forced its way from my mouth. I tried to smother it behind one hand, but Sirius noticed.
"Are you tired?" Sirius asked.
"Maybe a little," I admitted. That was an understatement.
I had awakened before dawn, wandered into the Forbidden Forest, united the Deathly Hallows, met Death herself, evolved into a Succubus Queen, reunited with Nyx, had sex with Lily, eaten part of Voldemort's soul, explored the Room of Requirement, fought a boggart wearing the faces of everyone I loved, and helped Dumbledore kill a basilisk.
Somewhere in the middle of all that, I had also attended breakfast.
I had probably earned a nap. Unfortunately, sleep sounded painfully boring compared to whatever Sirius had planned. I waved off his concern. "I'll survive," I said. "What sort of ridiculous plan have you arranged for us tonight?"
Sirius placed a hand against his chest, looking deeply offended.
"Ridiculous?" Sirius asked. "I'll have you know that I have planned a fascinating and educational exploration of Hogwarts."
Lily snorted.
Sirius pointed toward her. "Evans may have given you a tour yesterday," Sirius said, "but I guarantee she only showed you the boring parts."
"I showed her the important parts," Lily said.
"You showed her classrooms and the library," Sirius said.
"Those are important."
"They're the exact places students are supposed to know about," Sirius said. "That defeats the entire point of exploring Hogwarts."
"The point of a school tour is showing students where their classes are," Lily said.
"That sounds like Ministry propaganda," Sirius said gravely.
Marlene covered a laugh with her hand.
Lily gave Sirius an unimpressed look.
"What exactly does your superior tour include?" I asked.
Sirius's grin widened. "Secret tunnels," Sirius said. "Hidden rooms. Private places where professors rarely look. Several excellent shortcuts, two of which might occasionally move, and a passage leading straight into Hogsmeade."
I raised my eyebrows. "There's a secret passage out of the castle?" I asked. I know about the one in the Room of Requirement, but he was obviously talking to us about something else.
"There are several," Remus said.
Sirius turned toward him in betrayal. "You weren't supposed to tell her that yet," Sirius said. "I was building suspense."
"My apologies," Remus said dryly. "Please continue building suspense around information you were already about to reveal."
Lily released a long-suffering sigh. "Obviously, I didn't show Amara any illegal tunnels," Lily said. "I'm Head Girl."
"Yes," Sirius said sympathetically. "We've all been very patient about your condition."
"My condition?"
"Chronic responsibility," Sirius sighed. "Tragic, really…"
Lily's hand tightened around my waist. "Why did I agree to hang with you boys?" Lily asked.
"Because you don't trust Amara alone with them," Marlene said.
Lily's cheeks turned pink. "That isn't the reason…"
"It is absolutely the reason," Alice said.
"I thought it was because Lily secretly enjoys breaking rules," I said.
Lily looked at me.
I smiled sweetly.
Lily tried to maintain her stern Head Girl expression for several seconds before it cracked. "You are a terrible influence," Lily said.
"You slept with me before breakfast," I reminded her. "I think we've established that."
Peter made a strangled noise.
Remus covered his face with one hand.
Sirius looked delighted.
Lily's entire face turned scarlet. "You promised not to keep announcing that!" Lily hissed.
"I don't remember promising that," I said.
"You should have known she would tell everyone," Marlene said.
"I did not tell everyone," I protested. "Only the people in the Great Hall this morning and everyone within hearing distance just now."
"That is everyone," Lily said with narrowed green eyes.
Sirius stood and adjusted his robes with theatrical importance. "As entertaining as this is, we should leave before curfew," Sirius said. "Some of the passages take a while to reach."
Peter remained seated. "No," Peter said. Everyone looked at him. Peter shrank slightly beneath the sudden attention, but he held his ground. "Story first," Peter said. "She said she had an adventure with Dumbledore."
"I agree with Peter," Remus said. "You disappeared with the headmaster, returned hours later looking exhausted, and immediately needed a long shower. I'd like to know whether we should expect part of the castle to collapse."
"That's a reasonable concern," Alice said.
Marlene patted the space beside her. "Sit," Marlene ordered. "Confess."
Lily glanced over me carefully. Her playful embarrassment faded beneath genuine concern. "Were you hurt?" Lily asked. Her arm tightened around me again.
The simple question softened something in my chest. "I'm fine," I assured her. "Completely healed."
Lily's eyes narrowed. "That wasn't quite the same as saying you weren't hurt," Lily said.
"She's learning," Sirius said approvingly.
"She is clever," I agreed with him.
"I'm standing right here," Lily said.
"I noticed," I said, letting my gaze drift appreciatively over her.
Lily blushed again but refused to look away.
Sirius dropped back onto the sofa with an exaggerated sigh. Remus shifted to give him room while Peter leaned forward eagerly. Marlene moved down the opposite sofa, and Lily pulled me into the newly opened space beside her.
Alice sat on the rug near the fire, crossing her legs beneath her robes. Marlene joined her a moment later, leaving Lily and me together on the sofa.
Six curious faces turned toward me.
The fire crackled behind them. Outside the tower windows, the last golden light of afternoon slowly faded toward evening.
I leaned back and draped one arm along the sofa behind Lily.
"All right," I said. "Settle in. It's story time."
Peter's eyes brightened.
Sirius grinned.
Remus looked cautiously interested, while Marlene and Alice waited with open curiosity. Lily rested a hand on my thigh, her expression caught somewhere between concern and anticipation.
I considered where to begin.
There were probably gentle ways to introduce what had happened.
I had never been particularly good at gentle.
"Well," I said, "it started with me fucking up some of Voldemort's plans and ended with Dumbledore and me killing a sixty-foot basilisk…"
– Sirius Black –
Sirius Black had heard plenty of unbelievable stories in his life.
James once claimed he had outrun an enraged mountain troll after stealing its club. Peter regularly insisted his mother's cooking could cure almost any disease. Remus had spent seven years trying to convince them that his monthly disappearances were caused by an unusually contagious skin condition.
None of those stories came close to the one Amara Black was casually telling beside the fireplace.
It was, without question, the most insane thing Sirius had ever heard.
It did not hurt that the story was being told by the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Amara sat beside Lily on one of the sofas, her long legs crossed beneath a Hogwarts skirt that appeared to have lost an ongoing battle with her thighs. Her raven-black hair remained slightly damp from her shower, gleaming in the firelight. Her skin carried a warm, freshly washed glow, and the top buttons of her shirt strained valiantly across her breasts.
Sirius was doing his best to focus on her words.
He was not succeeding nearly as well as he would have liked.
"So Dumbledore reshaped the statue's mouth," Amara said, "and told the basilisk it was no longer welcome beneath Hogwarts."
Remus leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees.
"He spoke directly to it?" Remus asked.
"No," Amara said. "He made his voice loud enough to wake up every dead snake in Scotland and hoped the basilisk would understand the tone."
"That sounds like Dumbledore," Sirius said.
"It was very dramatic," Amara agreed. "He even stood there with his robes billowing, despite there being no wind underground. I'm almost certain he did that part deliberately."
Lily smiled, but her hand remained wrapped around Amara's wrist.
"And then the basilisk came out?" Peter asked.
Amara nodded. "All sixty feet of it," Amara said. "It was roughly as thick as a carriage, covered in scales harder than steel, and had fangs almost as long as I am tall."
Peter swallowed.
Sirius didn't blame him.
Slytherin's monster was supposed to be a legend told to frighten younger students. The Chamber of Secrets had been a rumor for centuries—one professors dismissed whenever someone asked too many questions.
Amara claimed she had found it during her second day at Hogwarts.
Not only had she found it, she and Dumbledore had gone inside and killed the monster.
The sensible part of Sirius's mind told him the story had to be rubbish.
Unfortunately, Amara provided far too many details for an improvised lie.
She explained where the Chamber entrance had been hidden, how she destroyed the girls' bathroom to reach it, and how she and Dumbledore descended through an enormous pipe beneath the castle. She described the bones scattered through the tunnels, the gigantic snakeskin they found, and the vast complex concealed behind the final door.
She even described Hagrid's rooster.
The rooster had apparently been the key to the entire plan.
"You used the Imperius Curse on a chicken?" Marlene asked.
"It was a rooster," Amara corrected.
"That isn't the part I'm questioning."
"I needed it to stay calm until the basilisk appeared," Amara said. "A rooster's crow can kill a basilisk. We didn't know whether it would kill one that old, but it was our best chance to blind the creature before it looked at us."
"What happened to the rooster?" Alice asked.
Amara's expression dimmed slightly.
"It died heroically," Amara said. "Dumbledore agreed to commission a memorial plaque…"
"Did he agree before or after you volunteered him to commission it?" Lily asked.
"After," Amara admitted. "But only because I promised Hagrid there would be one before consulting him."
Lily released a quiet laugh and rested her head against Amara's shoulder.
The sight did unfortunate things to Sirius's imagination.
Lily Evans had always been stunning. Everyone with functional eyes knew that. Her vivid red hair, clear green eyes, and increasingly impressive figure had driven half of Gryffindor mad for years.
Amara somehow made her even more attractive.
The two of them fit together far too well. Lily's bright coloring contrasted perfectly with Amara's raven hair and pale skin. Lily sat pressed against Amara's side, while Amara kept one arm stretched along the sofa behind her.
Sirius almost wanted to sigh.
The two hottest witches in Gryffindor were together. It was beautiful. It was also deeply unfair.
Amara continued describing the fight. "The rooster crowed as soon as the basilisk appeared," Amara said. "It closed its eyes because of the pain, and I destroyed them before it could look at us."
Lily's fingers tightened around Amara's wrist. "You attacked it directly?" Lily asked.
"That was why we brought the rooster."
"You could have stayed behind Dumbledore!"
"I did," Amara said. "For almost ten seconds."
"That is not reassuring!"
"I'm still alive."
"Amara!"
"I healed," Amara said gently. "I promise."
Lily moved even closer, pressing her thigh against Amara's.
Sirius studied them carefully.
Whatever happened between them in the prefects' bathroom had not been a meaningless encounter. Lily's concern was genuine. Every time Amara described a particularly dangerous moment, Lily clung more tightly to her.
When Amara explained how the basilisk's tail had thrown her into a wall and shattered several ribs, Lily practically climbed into her lap.
"It broke your ribs?" Lily asked.
"Only a few," Amara said.
"ONLY?"
"They grew back."
The entire group fell silent.
Remus blinked.
"Your ribs grew back?" Remus asked.
"They healed," Amara corrected.
"In several hours?"
"Several seconds."
Peter stared at her in wonder.
Amara smiled at him.
Sirius watched Peter's face turn bright red.
That was interesting.
Amara might have been genuinely attached to Lily, but she did not behave as though that attachment prevented her from noticing anyone else.
She had spent the entire story tormenting Remus and Peter.
Whenever Remus asked a question, Amara leaned forward to answer him. The movement pulled her shirt tighter across her breasts and provided an excellent view down her collar.
Remus tried valiantly to keep his eyes on her face.
He failed every single time.
Peter was worse.
Amara shifted her crossed legs, allowing her skirt to ride higher along her thighs. Peter's gaze immediately dropped before he jerked it away with the panicked expression of someone who had accidentally stared into the sun.
Amara noticed. Her full lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.
Peter's ears went scarlet.
Lily noticed too, but she did not seem angry. She merely rolled her eyes and nudged Amara's side.
"You're doing that deliberately," Lily murmured.
"I have no idea what you mean," Amara said.
"You never do."
Amara gave Remus another lingering look.
Remus abruptly forgot what he had been about to ask.
Sirius's interest sharpened. Perhaps Amara and Lily were only friends with benefits. Or perhaps their arrangement was genuine but not exclusive. Either possibility left the door open.
Sirius's gaze travelled over Amara again.
She was absurdly beautiful. Her face appeared flawless from every angle, rosy lips, and vivid green eyes framed by thick lashes. Her body was even more distracting. Full breasts, a tiny waist, wide hips, and legs he desperately wanted wrapped around his head.
The only problem was the name.
Black.
Amara claimed she belonged to a hidden American branch of the family, which meant they might actually be related.
Sirius had spent most of his life listening to his parents praise the purity of the Black bloodline. The family tree on the wall at Grimmauld Place was full of cousins marrying cousins before congratulating themselves for preserving their superior heritage.
He had sworn never to become anything like them.
Attempting to seduce a potential cousin seemed like a remarkably poor way to uphold that promise.
Perhaps he should leave Amara alone and focus on Lily instead.
Lily was undeniably gorgeous, and she appeared far less tightly wound than she had been before Amara arrived. That morning, she had practically sprinted through the Great Hall while glowing, blushing, and walking with a slight limp.
Whatever Amara had done in that bathroom had clearly been good for her.
James no longer had the slightest chance with Lily. She had made that painfully clear even before sleeping with Amara, and now she appeared completely captivated by the new witch.
Maybe Sirius could ask Amara what was happening between them.
If Lily and Amara were keeping things casual, perhaps Lily would be interested in experimenting with someone else too.
Sirius briefly imagined lying between both witches.
The image nearly destroyed what remained of his self-control.
He shifted in his seat.
No. He was not giving up on Amara yet.
Her story about a secret American branch of the family had always sounded suspiciously vague. She could be a distant cousin separated by six or seven generations. She might not be related to him at all. Black was not an uncommon enough name to prove anything without a family tree.
More importantly, Sirius had never backed away from a challenge in his life.
He would flirt with Amara. He would learn exactly how she was connected to his family and discover what arrangement she had with Lily.
After that, he would make his interest unmistakable.
If Amara rejected him, then she rejected him. Sirius was a relentless horn dog, not a monster. But judging by the teasing looks she kept directing toward Remus and Peter, he doubted she would be offended by the attempt.
By the end of the night, he intended to have Amara in his bed!
If Lily happened to join them, Sirius would consider that proof the universe finally appreciated him.
Amara reached the most dramatic part of her story.
"Dumbledore dropped several tons of stone on its head," Amara said. "That finally pinned it down, but the bloody thing still refused to die."
"How did you finish it?" Peter asked.
"I cut through the scales around its throat," Amara said. "Dumbledore opened the wound further, and then I forced cursed fire inside it so it couldn't heal. We kept attacking until it stopped moving."
Remus stared at her.
"You walked up to a living basilisk and cut its throat?" Remus asked.
"It was mostly pinned down."
"Mostly?"
"I never claimed the plan was perfect."
"You are completely insane," Sirius said.
Amara's gaze moved toward him. Her lips curled. "Is that a compliment?" she asked.
"From me?" Sirius asked. "Always."
Her smile widened.
Something hot twisted in his stomach.
Yes. He was absolutely going to try.
Sirius glanced toward Remus and Peter.
Both of his friends looked completely starstruck. For once, their fascination wasn't solely caused by Amara's body.
Remus studied her with quiet admiration, his attention fixed upon her face rather than her chest. Peter's eyes were wide with awe.
Sirius understood.
Amara had voluntarily entered the Chamber of Secrets. She had confronted a monster capable of killing her with a glance, kept fighting after suffering injuries that would have incapacitated anyone else, and helped destroy one of the most dangerous creatures in magical Britain.
She wasn't merely beautiful.
She was brave, powerful, and completely mental.
Sirius found that combination irresistible.
He became aware of how quiet the common room had grown.
At some point during Amara's story, the nearby conversations had stopped. Students abandoned chess matches, homework, and private gossip to drift closer to the sofas.
A group of fifth-years stood behind Remus and Peter. Several younger students sat cross-legged on the carpet near Marlene and Alice. Even a pair of sixth-years who normally considered themselves too mature for common-room excitement leaned against the staircase to listen.
Nearly the entire Gryffindor house had gathered around Amara.
She did not appear bothered by the attention.
If anything, she seemed to thrive under it.
"And that," Amara said, "is how Dumbledore and I killed Salazar Slytherin's basilisk."
Silence held for one breath.
Then Gryffindor Tower erupted.
Students cheered and applauded. Someone near the back shouted Amara's name. A seventh-year Sirius barely knew raised a bottle of butterbeer in her honor.
"The monster's really dead?" a younger student called.
"Very dead," Amara confirmed.
Another wave of cheering rolled through the room.
Amara leaned back with a satisfied smile while Lily remained pressed against her side, looking proud and worried in equal measure.
By breakfast tomorrow, the entire school would know.
The story would grow with every retelling. By the end of the week, Amara would probably have fought three basilisks while Dumbledore hid behind the heroic rooster.
Sirius laughed at the thought.
Then he noticed the empty space where James should have been.
James had refused to join them after classes. He continued acting as though Amara had stolen Lily from him, despite the inconvenient fact that Lily had never belonged to James.
Sirius loved James like a brother.
That did not stop James from being a jealous prick.
He was upstairs sulking while everyone else celebrated the destruction of a legendary monster beneath their school. James should have been there. He would have loved the story under any other circumstances.
Part of Sirius wanted to find him and drag him downstairs.
Not tonight.
Amara deserved a celebration without James glaring at her or picking a fight because Lily touched her.
Sirius rose and clapped his hands loudly.
"Right!" Sirius said.
The common room gradually quieted.
Sirius pointed grandly toward Amara.
"Killing Slytherin's legendary monster deserves more than applause and stale butterbeer," Sirius declared. "It calls for a proper celebration."
Lily regarded him suspiciously. "What do you mean by proper?" Lily asked.
"Drinks," Sirius said. "Music. An establishment that doesn't contain first-years asking whether the basilisk had wings."
"It didn't, did it?" a first-year asked.
"No," Amara said.
"Could it breathe fire?" another asked.
"Also no."
Sirius ignored them.
"I promised Amara a tour of Hogwarts' best secrets," Sirius said. "It's time I delivered."
Amara's eyes lit up. "You mentioned a passage to Hogsmeade," she said.
"I did," Sirius said. "My personal favorite. It leads out beyond the wards and emerges within walking distance of the Three Broomsticks."
Lily's expression flattened. "No," Lily said.
"We haven't even left yet," Sirius said.
"And you aren't going to."
"Why not?"
"Because sneaking out of Hogwarts through an unauthorized passage is against at least twelve school rules," Lily said. "We would also be out after curfew."
Sirius smiled patiently. "That's precisely why you should come," he said.
Lily stared at him. "How does that make any sense?" she asked.
"You're Head Girl," Sirius explained. "If you accompany us, you can supervise."
"I would be supervising you while you broke rules I'm supposed to enforce."
"Exactly," Sirius said. "Responsible leadership."
"That is not what responsible leadership means."
Marlene jumped to her feet. "Wait," Marlene said. "You've known about a secret passage into Hogsmeade this entire time?"
Sirius glanced at Remus and Peter.
Peter looked suddenly nervous.
Remus sighed.
"Possibly," Sirius admitted.
Marlene planted her hands on her hips. "You selfish bastards," she said. "You've been hoarding a tunnel out of the castle for years?"
"It's called a secret passage," Sirius said. "The secrecy is an important feature."
"You could have told the rest of Gryffindor."
"If we told everyone, Filch would discover it within a week."
"He has a point," Alice said as she stood.
Marlene looked betrayed.
"I still want to go," Alice added.
Marlene brightened immediately. "So do I," she said.
Peter rose eagerly.
Remus remained seated for another moment. "This is a terrible idea," Remus said.
Sirius grinned. "That means you're coming," Sirius said.
Remus closed his eyes and sighed. "Yes," he admitted. "Apparently it does."
Lily looked toward Amara, clearly hoping for support.
Amara smiled and extended a hand to her. "Come on, Head Girl," Amara said. "You can keep us out of trouble."
"You are the trouble," Lily said.
"That only makes your presence more necessary."
Lily held out for approximately three seconds before taking Amara's hand.
Sirius's grin widened.
The night was shaping up beautifully.
They had a gorgeous new witch to celebrate, a secret passage waiting, and an entire village full of drinks beyond the castle walls.
Sirius had a feeling the evening would be unforgettable.
He couldn't imagine what could possibly go wrong?
– Amara Black –
We left Gryffindor Tower with the cheers from my newly acquired audience still following us.
Several younger students tried to come along until Lily firmly informed them that the evening's activities were restricted to seventh-years. She refused to elaborate on what those activities were, which naturally made everyone even more curious.
Sirius led us through the portrait hole first. Remus and Peter followed him, with Marlene and Alice close behind. Lily and I brought up the rear.
James remained conspicuously absent.
Nobody mentioned him.
I certainly wasn't going to ruin my first secret excursion through Hogwarts by asking where the jealous alternate version of my biological father had gone. He could spend the night sulking into his pillow about Lily choosing someone else.
That someone else happened to be me, which made his misery much easier to tolerate.
We moved through the castle in a loose group, trying not to look like seven students heading somewhere forbidden. That became increasingly difficult whenever we encountered another prefect, because Sirius immediately adopted the exaggeratedly innocent expression of a man transporting stolen explosives.
Fortunately, having the Head Girl with us provided excellent camouflage.
Two Ravenclaw prefects passed us near the moving staircases. They greeted Lily, admired me with varying degrees of subtlety, and continued without questioning why she was escorting Sirius Black through the castle after classes.
Once they disappeared around the corner, Sirius looked back at Lily. "You're remarkably useful," Sirius said.
Lily narrowed her eyes. "I'm beginning to regret coming," Lily said.
"No, you aren't," Marlene said.
"I'm beginning to regret bringing you too."
"You'd miss us!"
"I would finally know peace."
Alice laughed as we turned down a narrow corridor lined with portraits of sleeping monks.
Sirius stopped before a faded tapestry depicting a group of medieval wizards attempting to teach a troll how to dance. The troll appeared to have misunderstood the lesson and was repeatedly throwing its instructor into a pond.
"I've walked past this tapestry three times since yesterday," I said. "I never sensed anything behind it."
"That's because Hogwarts likes us better," Sirius said.
"Hogwarts likes you?" Lily asked skeptically.
"She appreciates creativity."
"She has tried throwing you down three different staircases."
"Affection takes many forms."
Sirius reached behind the tapestry and pressed something hidden between two stones. A low grinding sound moved through the wall.
Part of the stonework slid inward, revealing a narrow opening filled with absolute darkness.
Marlene stared at it. "You have got to be joking," she said.
"Impressed?" Sirius asked.
"Furious," Marlene corrected. "I could have used this passage for years."
"That's why we didn't tell you," Peter said.
Marlene turned toward him.
Peter quickly stepped through the opening.
Remus followed before Marlene could demand clarification. Alice slipped in after them, laughing beneath her breath.