The Black Lion

The Black Lion 

Chapter 24

Magic filled the air around Regulus and Sirius as they walked along the neglected path toward the concealed house. It had been decades since Regulus last stood before this threshold, yet the wards still recognized him. A flicker of warmth brushed over his skin as if the house itself acknowledged his return. The feeling was bittersweet. This was the place where he and Dorcas had hidden during the war, the place where they had dreamed however briefly of a future together. The place where he thought he would be raising his daughter with his wife.

Sirius, impatiently, muttered a spell under his breath, but the wards resisted him. Regulus lifted a hand, whispering a counter-charm, and the air shimmered before the old wooden door creaked open. Dust danced in the dim light as they stepped inside. The air smelled of time, parchment, and a lingering trace of something floral jasmine, maybe. It was as if the house had been waiting for him to return.

They moved through the small cottage in silence. Regulus' fingers ghosted over a chair, his eyes landing on a forgotten cloak draped over the back. He could almost see Dorcas there, curled up with a book, her brow furrowed in concentration. Swallowing hard, he turned away feeling his heart racing.

"Where do you think she kept it?" Sirius asked, his voice subdued. It was almost as if he knew that being here was hard for his younger brother.

Regulus exhaled, forcing himself to think. "Dorcas was diligent. She wouldn’t have left something so important in plain sight. It could be anywhere."

They searched through the rooms, avoiding personal items that held too many memories. It wasn’t until Regulus moved to the small study that he felt a familiar pulse of magic. Dorcas magic he felt it instantly as his gaze snapped to the bookcase. He raised his wand, tracing the air with a spell. A shimmer appeared, revealing a compartment embedded within the wood. With a murmur of recognition, Regulus reached forward, and the concealed panel slid open.

Inside, wrapped in protective enchantments, lay the grimoire.

He carefully lifted it, feeling the weight of it in his hands. The cover was old, bound in deep emerald leather, the edges worn from use. It thrummed with power, recognizing its rightful heir or rather, the one who was meant to pass it down to the heir. She must have put a charm on it so that only certain people would be able to touch it.

Sirius peered over his shoulder. "That it?"

Regulus nodded holding back a small jump from the intrusion he almost forgot Sirius was there with him. "This is her life's work. Everything about True Witch magic."

They sat at the small table, flipping through the pages. It was more than spells, it was personal. Notes filled the margins, theories scribbled alongside charms and enchantments. But it was one particular entry that made Regulus’ breath hitch,

I feel her magic even now, growing inside me. It is unlike anything I have ever known. I suspect she will be stronger than I ever was. Perhaps it is because of Regulus, because of our bond. But I fear for her. If she is stronger than me, how will she control it? How will she ground herself?

Regulus closed his eyes briefly, pressing his fingers against the page. He had never known the extent of Dorcas' concerns, the weight of her foresight. The thought that Hermione could be struggling with her power before she even knew its full capacity sent a sharp pang through his chest.

"She knew," he murmured, voice thick. "She knew Hermione’s magic would be more than even she could comprehend."

Sirius ran a hand through his hair, glancing at the notes. "She mentions anchors. What does she mean by that?"

Regulus skimmed further, his pulse quickening as he read,

Anchors are essential. They tether True Witches to the world, allowing them to balance their magic. I had Regulus, and it was enough. But Hermione… she will need more. She will need those who ground her, who stabilize the storm within. Without them, she risks losing control.

A second passage caught his eye,

I have never found my other anchors, I don't think I ever will, but I never truly needed them. Regulus was always enough for me. But Hermione will. If my suspicions are correct, she will need four. Four who can stand as pillars. But one above all will be her strongest tether.

Regulus set the book down, his hands tightening into fists. His mind raced as he absorbed the weight of Dorcas' words. She had always been a woman of foresight, but, this was beyond her understanding. The thought of Hermione their daughter already in danger from powers that even he couldn't anticipate was almost too much to bear.

"She needs them to keep her magic stable. And we don’t even know if she’s already been affected," Regulus said, his voice a strained whisper.

Sirius sighed heavily, sensing the tension in his brother’s words. "We need to tell her."

"Not yet." Regulus' voice was firm. "Not until we understand this fully. We don’t even know who her anchors are."

Sirius raised a brow. "You have a guess, though."

Regulus looked at him grimly. "Draco, he’s already bound to her through the betrothal. If Dorcas was right, that makes him the most important. But he’s not enough on his own."

Sirius leaned back, thoughtful. "So, who are the others?"

Regulus ran a hand over the page, his mind racing. "Harry. Luna. Neville. They're the ones who have already started gravitating toward her, whether they realize it or not."

Sirius whistled, a low sound of disbelief. "Well, that’s an interesting mix."

Regulus traced his fingers over another line of Dorcas’ notes, reading aloud, each anchor will have a role. One to strengthen, one to calm, one to guide, and one to protect. If they are not balanced, if even one is missing, she may struggle to control herself. She will feel untethered, adrift in power that will answer only to her will.

Sirius let out a low breath. "So, let me guess. Draco is her calm, her foundation. Harry... strength?"

Regulus nodded. "From what I heard about Harry, he has always had an undeniable connection with her. He’s a fighter, but more than that, he pushes her to stand her ground. He gives her confidence."

"Neville?" Sirius asked curiously.

"The protector. He’s always watching, always ensuring she’s safe, even if she doesn’t see it. He’s steadier than people give him credit for." Regulus responds thinking about the young man he recently got close to.

"Luna?" Sirius shots out to wondering about the young woman who always seem to be in a far away place.

Regulus' lips pressed together before he spoke. "The guide. She sees what others can’t thanks to her family magic. She understands magic in a way that most witches and wizards never will. She’ll help Hermione navigate what’s coming."

Sirius rubbed his face, leaning back in his chair. "That’s a lot to drop on her. And what happens if she doesn’t accept it? If she fights it?"

Regulus met his brother’s gaze, his eyes hardening. "Then we make sure she understands what’s at stake before it’s too late. We can't afford for her to reject this."

Sirius didn't argue. Instead, he reached for the bottle of old firewhiskey on the nearby shelf, pouring them each a glass. "To Dorcas, then. Always two steps ahead."

Regulus gave a small, tired smile. "Always."

They drank in silence, but the weight of their discovery hung heavy in the air. The road ahead had only grown more complicated. And Hermione had no idea what was coming.

As they continued reading, Sirius paused, flipping through the grimoire to an entry that caught his attention.

Regulus glanced over his shoulder. "What is it?"

Sirius pointed to a passage, his voice soft with awe. "It says here, that True Witches are needed when the world is unbalanced, when something great threatens to disrupt the very fabric of our magic."

Regulus frowned, the implications of the words settling into his gut like lead. He stood up and began pacing, running a hand through his hair. "So, Hermione's power is not just an anomaly. It's a sign. A symptom of something more dangerous."

Sirius looked grim. "Exactly. Dorcas knew this. Her magic is responding to a disturbance, something's coming that threatens the entire magical world. That's why the True Witch magic rises when the world is teetering on the brink."

Regulus stops pacing, his face pale as he reads the passage, "A power that grows, unchecked. if left untethered, it could consume everything. But the anchors, if she finds them, if they can balance her magic, she could be the key to saving everything, or destroying it all."

Sirius met his gaze. "We don’t know how much time we have. We need to protect her, Regulus. She doesn’t even know what she’s capable of."

Regulus stared at the grimoire, his mind racing, the full scope of the danger finally sinking in. Hermione's magic was not just an extension of herself, it was a warning of something worse coming.