Evergreen

“You’re awake!” Hariel said with a smile when she entered the room, seeing Neville already up and sitting on his bed, which she noticed with relief but also worry, seeing as she still wasn’t sure if he was truly up to full health yet. And she’d rather not chance it, especially after that happened.

“Let me help you, Nev-” She then started to say, at which he then gave her a glare at, at her fussing over him that is.

“ Stop it, Harry. ” He simply said, making her smile fall of her face then, which he noticed, he then gave her a soft but firm look.

“...You know this isn’t your fault, right?” He started to say, but before she could shake her head at this, he then glared at her.

“No it isn’t, you idiot. Now let me continue.” He then said with a huff, which left her baffled then.

“While I appreciate you taking care of me, Hariel, this-this is too much! And we both know that I’m fine, back to normal , you didn’t even let the others visit me, besides my gran of course, and don’t let me get started on that.” He then said with an eye-roll, referring to the whole briefing he was a witness to, between his gran and herself, that is.

“While it was rather weirdly interesting to watch, seeing as my gran doesn’t really like anyone and all, nor is she really that talkative-but Merlin did it get boring quickly, I need to get out, and wow I can’t believe I’m going to say this…And I need to socialise with other people, and we can’t skip classes forever, Harry! We have our N.E.W.T.S. this year, Harry!” He then grouched, which Hariel did wince at in guilt then.

He was right. It wasn’t right what she was doing, especially to Neville, he deserved to have a normal life-

“And I recognise that look, Hariel. Don’t.” He then firmly said, which she then opened her mouth in shock at.

‘...Can Neville read her mind?’ But before she could ask him exactly that, he then rolled his eyes,

“No, Harry, I can’t read your mind, that was what you were thinking, right? Of course you were…” He then said with much sass, which took her entirely by surprise, seeing as she didn’t know he had it in him, but wow, that was a good look him for certain. She felt proud at that moment.

“ But I am getting somewhere with my occlumency and legilimency, thank you very much. Well especially with gran and your help.”

“You’re welcome, but it’s all you, you know-” She then started to say, before he once more interrupted her. 

How rude…

“And we are not going to change the subject, Harry!” He then said with his eyes firmly set upon hers, which she then raised her hands up in mock apology at, which Neville then rolled his eyes in fond annoyance at, of course.

Her mouth then twitched into a small grin at this, before she then simply nodded to him, making him widen his eyes in surprise at, which he shouldn’t have.

“Alright. You’re right, and I’m sorry, Nev…” She then said.

“...You are alright with it? Wow, I didn’t think it would be this easy, really..” He then said in thought, which she then rolled her eyes at. 

“And don’t apologize anymore!” He then hissed at her, while he pointed his finger at her.

“Alright, I won’t! But before we go, don’t you want to see your present?” She then said, which of course stopped him in his tracks to get to the door.

“Is it the-” He then quietly asked her, while he widened his eyes at her, which she then simply nodded to with a smile.

“The greenhouse, or green cellar, whatever you call it- yes, that.” She then warmly smiled at how his eyes then shined, which she missed, seeing as the only thing she had seen so far, whenever she would close her eyes- 

were his dead looking ones from that day.

“ Finally , the both of you are here, Draco, Daphne, and Bones were  getting insufferable with all the worrying they were doing, I almost got a grey hair because of it, imagine the horror!” Blaise then said in greeting when the both of them then sat themselves at the Slytherin table.

The people in question of course made their protests know, before Susan then turned her head towards the boy, well not before also warmly greeting them and forcing them to eat their meal.

“Shut up, Blaise- and it’s Susan, we’ve been friends for a couple of years already for Merlin’s sake, and don’t lie- you were the most worried, we had to practically stick you to a chair just to get you to stop from tearing a whole in the ground-” She then said with an eye-roll, before the boy in question then raised his hands to her to shush her, with wide eyes, he looked embarrassed then. Which Neville laughed at, which made her smile then widen at the sight of it in awe.

He really was alright then…

“Look at that incompetent Weasel, it’s a disgrace he even dares to show his face around, but well it is to expected with Dumbledore still being around, I can’t wait until you succeed in you know, cousin. And also- I know Weasley is on your list at the moment, but can’t I just mess with him a little bit before you finally do him in and all.” Draco then whispered into her ear at the last part, with a malicious smirk already on his face. “Not that he wasn’t alrezady shitting his trousers in fear before this, seeing as he thought that you would jump at him from the shadows of all things, which was a truly pathetic but hilarious sight nonetheless, but I’m still itching to get at him myself, you know how it is Harry-” He then continued to say, all the while he was staring daggers at the red-headed boy in question, who then took a seat next to Granger, the both of them sitting further away from the rest of their housemates, who weren’t even deigning them a look.

Which was rather interesting.

“I give you my blessing, if that is what you’re after Draco.” She then said with a quirk to her lip, before she continued eating her meal, which of course surprised the boy, what with him then as quickly turning his head to stare at her in shock.

“Truly?! I mean, thanks.” He then simply said, while he then too continued eating his meal, the both of them then ignoring the annoyed sigh Neville put out at the both of them.

“I can’t with you two, really.” He said, before he raised his brows at the both of them then, making them look at him in question, while the rest of their friends were watching the three of them in clear amusement already used to it, seeing as they simply labeled it as being a Black thing.

“And shouldn’t it be me that does anything to him?” 

He said which of course made them all drop their mouth open in shock at him then, even Hariel.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I mean it! I am not that nice, you lot just don’t know vengeful I can get…” He then said with irritation, before he took a spoon full of a parfait in his mouth, which was strawberry flavoured, his favourite, Hariel knew.

“Morgana Longbottom, I didn’t know you had it in you, should I be worried?” Blaise then said with a smile towards him, which Neville then smiled in answer to.

“You definitely should, Blaise.” Theodore then interjected, which of course then set the both boys into a little spat between one each other, which was a normal sight.

“Blaise is correct, seeing as you never know with the quiet ones, “ Pansy then giggled, while she shared a look with both Daphne and Susan, the three of them then giggling with one another before they then turned to look back at Neville with secretive smile, which confused the rest of them.

Hariel only tilted her head at them, before she then turned her attention back to Neville, who now wore a blush on his face, his gaze still at the other girls, who sat before them. 

“You’re right, Nev. And of course I never doubted you had it in you. It’s your right to do with him as you please, but if you do want help with ideas, I’m sure Draco and I can be of service to you.” She then said with a smile, her teeth then glinted underneath the candle light, which the rest of her table mates flinched at.

Neville only looked at her in relief, before he then simply gave her a nod.

“Alright, now that is over with and congrats Longbottom, but I have an important question,” Draco then said, while he turned his gaze then upon the other boy, making him tilt his head at him,

“when are we going to do it then, for you need to do it at the right time,  when the weasel would least expect it-” 

“I’ll let you know Draco, but not now .” Neville then simply said, stopping the Malfoy heir from getting even more passioned in his speech, which Hariel simply chuckled at, before she then set her sights upon the table where the teachers sat at, she didn’t spot Dumbledore anywhere, but she did see all of the other teachers, upon whom she she shared a nod with then, many looked relieved at the sight of her and Neville, most of all professor Mcgonnagall, who gave the both of them a warm smile, which she warmed at, before her gaze then met the look of wonder upon the new  professor of this year, Slughorn. Who she gave a nod in greeting to, which the man then warmly smiled at, before she then quickly turned her attention away from him, unfortunately meeting the quiet gaze of professor Snape then, who then surprisingly also greeted her with a nod, after a considerable moment, however stilted it looked.

Now, that was interesting…

“Hello Firenze, beautiful night were having, right?” She then said while she greeted the centaur who had joined her within the Forbidden forest, when she sat upon a rather large stone, which stood in front of a lake, with the forest surrounding it.

And she wasn’t simply making conversation with the centaur, for the night was beautiful, but also so very silent, which would have spooked anyone else, but her. And those that were the forrest’s inhabitants of course.

“While it is a beautiful night, young one, I am sure it is not why you are here for. Not that it isn’t an honour to meet with you, for we are comrades now.” The centaur then warmly said to her, which she smiled at.

“You are correct, my friend. I am here to warn you that a war is coming,” She then started to say, before the centaur then interrupted her with a nod.

“Yes, we have seen it, and you need not ask, for when the time comes- we shall fight alongside you, us and the Mer-people as well, I have seen, young one.” Firenze then firmly said, which took her by surprise, but she shouldn’t be surprised, seeing as it was a rather normal occurrence with centaurs she finds.

So she simply bowed to him in gratitude then before she moved her arm towards him, which he grasped with his own in equal respect.

“Thank you.” She then said, which the centaur shook his head at,

“It is you who should be thanked for what you have already done for us, and also what you will do for the whole of the magicals, young one.”

“Ooh forging alliances already, smart! ” Ares then laughed with joy at the sight in front of him,  which even Athena grudgingly nodded to, he noticed .

“ I wonder what outfit she’ll wear when she does go for war, but I do hope she won’t get any more cuts, especially not on her pretty face!” His ‘Dite then exclaimed in worry, but her eyes were also alight in clear excitement, which he fondly rolled his eyes at then, before he then softly grazed her arm to get her attention, which she then quickly gave him, he noticed with a grin.

Good , he thought, for her attention should only ever be on him, for she will always favour him above all. He thought, pleased, especially when he then glanced towards the cripple, who was already watching him then, quite seriously Ares thought in amusement, but also in pleasure .

For someone looked rather jealous~

“She will forge an alliance with the Mer-warriors next then, this shall be interesting...” He then heard his sea-weed uncle say in thought, who he then turned his gaze at, the god of the Seas sat in complete interest in his chair, sitting at the edge even! For he looked completely enraptured with the sight of the screen, moreover- the Golden girl in question.

For she was that. 

And Ares then nodded at this, but before he could share his agreement, his stupid bird-brained sister then answered.

“It is to be expected, for what we have seen of her- she bears an intelligent mind, it would be foolish not to. Especially if that mad man decides to set his sights upon the school for some reason, “ Athena then said, which surprised all of them then, seeing as they never would have imagined her ever agreeing with Poseidon over anything.

But Ares only rolled his eyes at her,

“ Well duh, way to state the obvious, “ he said, which of course then made her annoyed, what with the glare she then sent him, which he smirked at.

She really was easy to rile, that idiot .

“I’m sure she will win the war even without her alliances,” His father then murmured in clear belief of the girl’s abilities, which his mother then narrowed her eys to, which his father of course didn’t notice, but the rest of them clearly did. 

“Of course she will,” His uncle then interjected, which, of course, then set their attention upon him, but he did not glance at them, for he was only focused upon the screen in front of them, well at her, that is… his eyes not once having wavered away from her person.

While Ares is very amused about their obvious interest in his champion, they better not do anything stupid now, like get her knocked up!

So instead of having to worry about his dearest mother getting in the way of his entertainment, he now has to worry about this as well, on top of that, for fucks sake.

He wasn’t a babysitter! And for good reason!

“I am so saddened it took us this long to finally talk with one another, Miss Potter!” Professor Slughorn joyfully said, while he moved to set up the tea for the both of them, which Hariel then took to look around his office, which the man then chuckled at.

“Oh don’t mind me, do look around if you want, I’ll just get us some tea then hum.” He warmly said, which made her then smile in thanks at him. And her gaze immediately went to the wall right by his desk, which he kept a lot of pictures on, and one immediately caught her attention, for how could it not?

It was her mother.

She then heard Slughorn move to stand next to her, his hand already holmding the picture in front of the both of them then, before he softly spoke,

“You have your mother’s eyes, you know. Lilly, lovely lilly. She’s exceedingly bright, your mother” he then said in fondness, before he then chuckled, as though in thought.

“Even more impressive when one considers she is a muggle born-not to sound well, do not think me prejudice, for that was not my intention. For your mother was one of my absolute favourite students!” He then said, which Hariel smiled at, for she wasn’t surprised, seeing as that did sound like her mother-well, from all that she had heard from Sirius and Remus, and others of course…but well, it obviously felt her feeling rather bitter as well, seeing as she did’t really know her. 

For she had only known of her.

But its best she not think on that deeply, for now was not the time, especially in front of a professor she knew nothing of, even if what he said was correct, and judgiung by the way her mother comfortably stood next to the man in question, in the photo that is…

Her gaze then left the photo to land upon anothers, and the boy staring at her looked like a younger version of her papa, but well she knew who he was.

“Ah yes, Regulus Black.I taught the whole Black family, except for Sirius, which is a shame- I of course got Regulus when he came along, but yes, it wasn’t  the  full set you could say..” He then said, before Hariel then finally opened her mouth to say something after much thought.

“The hat wanted to put me in Slytherin, you know. Said I would have achieved much greatness within the house.” At which Slughorn then looked at her in utter joy, before his expression turned to heartbreak.

“You asked it to put you in Gryffindor then, I understand why you would have…but quite the loss for the  house Slytherin if I do say so myself!” He said, before he then gave her a wink.

“But quite the Slytherin move, if I do say so myself, my dear.” He chuckingly said, which Hariel then smiled at.

“Well thank you, Professor. And coming from you? That must be quite the honour.” She then said, which the man then joyfully giggled at, which of course took her by surprise.

“Oh my, and a charmer as well! You most certainly are a Black as well, as I have heard Lady Potter-Black. The youngest head of your house as well.. ”He then trailed with a soft but amazed smile, before he then shook his head in realisation.

“Oh Merlin, the tea! Now come miss Potter-Black as I should say, join me right to the lovely arm chairs over here before our tea gets cold, shall we?” He then said, which Hariel simply nodded to.

“Yes please,”

“So very polite as well, just like your mother and Regulus! Now, sugar ?” He then asked, referring to her tea, which she shook her head to.

“Here you go, my dear girl.” He then said while he set the tea in front of her upon the coffee table in between them, which she accepted with thanks.

They then drank their tea, before Slughorn turned his attention back to her.

“You’re very bright as I have learned from my fellow colleagues, but I have also seen it, miss Potter-Black. But well, that might be an understatement, seeing as you excell in all of your classes, truly remarkable!” He then praised, before he then smiled at her.

“I have a club you see, one, as you have seen from in the pictures many of your family have joined, so let me formally then invite you to the club, what say you? We could also continue our chat later on then every time we have our weekly meets with the club, would you like that?” He then asked her, and his eyes were then shining at hers, wanting her to accept it, so she did.

But then again, besides that, she would also have a chance to make other acquantainces as well, alumni from the school and others with prestige and promise for example, who she can charm to further her goals. For she was focused on the future of the magical world first and foremost, especially with the first of the many plans she was going to begin, well soon enough.

“I would be honoured to, professor.” She then said with a soft smile towards the man, who then joyfully laughed.

“Oh my, the honour is mine, my dear!”

“Why have you called for me, headmaster?” Hariel curiously asked of the man when she entered his office.

The man had already been awaiting her, he then stood at her entrance, already looking at her with a certain urgent look, which Hariel raised her brow to, before her gaze then swept upon the sight of his arm, the one which Phineas had told her of, he was keeping it up in a bandage.

“Thank you for coming, my dear girl- and ah, do please take a seat.” He then warmly asked her, all the while he pointed to the chair in front of him, which she then sat int, before her gaze then swept to the familiar portrait of her many great grandfather’s, who only nodded at her, which took a second, for Dumbledore had not once taken note of it.

“I called you here to speak to you about an urgent matter, it has to do with the matter of four years ago, when you saved one Ginevra Weasley, the diary in particular- I should have told you of this even before today, which I apologize for, but I cannot keep it to myself for much longer my dear, for my fears have been corrected.” He then said in clear distress, all the while he then grazed his cursed hand, which she then saw a bit of poking out, and it did look horrid.

It was a wonder it even was intact, for it looked as though it would shrivvle up any moment now, but before she could examine it further, the old coot then noticed and raised it further in front of her.

“And yes, my recent injury has to pertain with this discovery you shall know of today…” He then continued to say everything she had already know of, before he then made her then showed her to a pensive, where he had stored memories of one Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Voldemort.

It didn’t escape her how similar the both of them have grown up, Hariel then realised in anger, with each and every memory the old man had shown her.

Another child he had failed , instead of helping them,

as he should have.

This then made her certain in her findings, he did orchestrate it all, especially at the beginning, for her to be an orphan, to live with her hateful relatives-he wanted her to only ever be dependant on him.

And only him.

Especially when he wants his pawn to eventually martyr herself in the end, like the good puppet he thought her to be, that is.

“Hariel, please! Can you please give me one moment to talk, I-” Hermione begged, after she found her standing in front of a grand window pane in a tower a bit further away from the Headmaster’s office, after what Dumbledore had revealed to her.

She most definitely did not want to hear her voice now, nor did she want to hear any of her pathetic excuses, seeing as she had known what Ronald had done, but she had still chosen to be by his side. But the girl kept on badgering her until she finally snapped at her.

“I do not want to hear your pleads or whatever it is you want to say to me, Granger.” She spat at the girl, her gaze still firm upon the window, not once sparing her a glance.

She then heard the girl’s breath hitch, 

“...Harry?” she then quietly said, as though she were on the verge of crying then and there.

“And do not call me that, for you do not have that honour-not anymore. Especially after what you did, truly, I never expected this of you to be honest with you. Weasley most definitely, but you? You whom I have called a sister, a title I do not give lightly, mind you. But yet- you betrayed me.” She then coldly said, her tone even, which frightened the bushy haired girl even more, she noticed.

“...B-Betrayed you? How-Harry, ever since Sirius-” And at hearing his name being uttered so suddenly and from her mouth nonetheless- Hariel then hissed in anger.

“Do not speak of him. “ She said, already feeling how her magic then surrounded the whole space they were situated at, making the temperature of the room feel much, much colder now. 

“I had given you my complete trust, I had given you more than that- for I had given you a part of me, which I seldom give others freely, I had given you a place in my family, and I have given you my time and energy, and- you should have been by my side, yet you chose him. Even after knowing what he did to Neville ,  what he got away with doing!” She then said, before Granger then cried out.

“I didn’t know, Harry! I didn’t mean to- I didn’t know what to do from the start,after- when I didn’t hear from you this summer, I had been hearing the most strangest of things about you, Harry, and  it’s not like you even reached out to me-” She then started to hurriedly say in distress, before Hariel then interrupted her.

“You could have asked me then, you know I would have answered, but you didn’t. So do not bring that shite here, especially not now. It’s over Granger, now leave, for you are dead to me.” 

She ignored the way the other girl then froze before she heard her cries, which sounds then as quickly left the room, for Granger had ran away afterwards.

She simply looked at her reflection upon the window, where rain had been pelting against, the person she found staring back at her, she found, was utterly unrecognizable to her then, especially when lighting then erupted from the darkened storm outside, which set her face alight in a sinister way.

She questioned herself if she were truly human then, or just a monster hiding beneath human skin .

 As any morning, everyone had gathered at the Great Hall for breakfast, but this morning, Hariel knew, and anticipated, would not be an ordinary one, and with the bang she then heard from the doors, she then smiled in her cup of tea.

And then it came, dozens upon dozens of owls swooping in to bring them their letters and papers, the paper in specific was going to raise quite an uproar, but that wasn’t all for she was waiting on the cherry on top, especially when she turned a glance upon the man in question, before she then heard the doors to the hall bang open with force, and in came many aurors, their faces set in grim determination, and at the center of them all, once more- Kingsley and Fudge.

“Albus Dumbledore, you are hereby under arrest for your involvement of the wrongful imprisonment of the late Head of house Black, the the embezzlement of gold and assets belonging to an influential heir, withholding information about an attempt on the life of another heir, whose would-be murdered you have still allowed to roam the school, might I add, and lastbut not least: your history pertaining a former Dark Lord.” Fudge pompously declared, before he then nodded to the aurors,

“Arrest him.” he ordered.

Which of course brought the hall into an uproar, but Dumbledore stood up from his seat, with a serene expresion upon his face, or well he tried to, seeing as a deep frown then marred his expression. 

The aurors then stepped forwards as one, closing in around him with their wands pointed towards him, prepared to put him down if he did not comply. 

“That blasted bird isn’t going to save you this time as well, so please comply. “ Fudge then continued to say, which Dumbledore, seeing no other way-then complied with, and in a swift manner two  aurors then seized him, their grip firm as they brought him along with them out of the hall, and with the protests on his behalf, they still continued firmly on their way.

Dumbledore escaped soon after the aurors had held him in their captive, which Hariel shouldn’t have been surprised by, but it irritated her nonetheless.

Until it didn’t.

For she managed to tarnish his reputation and the hold he had on the Wizarding world, well in Britain that is. Well that, and also the letter, which he had then directly sent to her to find him, still thinking highly of her, and being none-the wiser that it had been her all along, which suited her interests very much.

Especially when she intends to truly end him once and for all.

So here she was, waiting at a seaside site near a cave, which she was familiar by-seeing as she was sure it had been the cave where Regulus Black and Kreacher had went into all these years, the location which Hariel had not know of of course, seeing as she did not want to hurt Kreacher anymore by remembering the trauma of it all, if she had continued her questioning  of the locket, Salazar Slytherin’s locket ,which was another one of good ol’ Tom’s Horcruxes, of course.

“Ah! There you are, my dear girl, I had almostr worried you hadn’t recieved my letter.” Dumbledore then greeted her in evident relief when he walked outside the lone cave.

“Why wouldn’t I have, headmaster?” She then politely said with a soft smile upon her face, before she forced herself to look concerned at the sight of his disarrayed state that is.

“Professor, are you alright?”

Which Dumbledore then shook his head at with a forced chuckle, all the while he waved her worries away.

“ Of course I am , fret not, my dear. Now, on why I asked you here- there’s another of Tom’s Horcruxes here, within the cave, I am certain of it. ” He then firmly said, and with expectation towards her.

“Sir, are you certain-” She then started to wondrously ask, in feigned shock.

She was having a good time so far, with playing with the foolish man, of course

“Yes, Hariel. Now let us not dally anymore, for we need to quickly get it from within the cave. But be careful along the way, for what we are about to journey into will be extremely dangerous, expect their to be traps everywhere, for Tom would have most definitely set them, knowing him… and Hariel, you must obey every command I give you. Without question. ” He then said in seriousness, which she then nodded to, even though she wanted to show her teeth at him then and there, but she held herself in check. Not once breaking character of his Noble, and self-sacrificing pawn.

“Yes, sir.” She then simply said

“ Good , now do follow me, my dear girl.” The old coot then said behind him, which she then did.

The cave was very dark, and ominous, when they entered it, which was to be expected.

“Oh yes…” Dumbledore then murmured in thought, “This place has known magic for certain.” he said, before he then brought out a knife from his robes, which Hariel stood at attention to, before the man then simply cut his hand in front of her,

“Sir!” She then worriedly said, still keeping in character.

“In order to gain passage, payment must be made. Payment intended to weaken any intruder.” He then firmly said, all the while he continued to cut his hand, which Hariel watched in morbid fascination.

“...Please let me, sir.” She then said, continuing her whole facade, even though she meant what she said, for she wanted to butcher him herself.

Dumbledore then shook his head at her, 

“No, Hariel. Your blood is more precious than mine,” He said before he finally raised his hand towards the wall inside the cave, which then opened because of the sacrifice it had been offered, which the both of them admired in silence, before they then entered with a nod towards each other.

The part they then entered had a lake from within, with at the center an altar of sorts, which Dumbledore then said to follow him to, and also warning her not to disturb the water in any way, for there seemed to be something from within its depths, which Hariel stopped at for a moment…seeing as she knew what it was.

Or better yet-what they were: Inferi.

‘Regulus must be within its depths, then,’ She then blankly realised, before she turned to follow Dumbledore at his request.

When they finally climbed upon the alter, it contained a bowl made out of crystal, with next to it a rather large shell, to scoop the liquid from its depths, she then deduced, before she turned her gaze to Dumbledore in question.

“How do you know the Horcrux is in there, sir?”

“Oh yes,” Dumbledore then breathily replied, before he simply waved his hand above its depths, which thenmade a haunting sound erupt from its depths, the liquid swirling around within, which Dumbledore then gasped at in horror, before he seem to realise something. 

“ It has to be drunk. ”

“All of it has to be drunk.You remember the conditions on which I brought you here with me,” He then continued to say, “this potion might paralyse me, mightmake me forget why I am here, or it would cause me so much pain that I would beg  for relief. You are not to indulge this request, it is your job to make sure I keep drinking this potion.” He firmly said, before he took a breath.

“Even if you have to force it down my throat.” He then softly said. “ Understood ?”

“Why can’t I drink it, sir?” She then worriedly asked him, 

“ Because I am much older , much cleverer, and much less valuable.” Dumbledore then firmly said with a glint within his eyes, before he then reached for the shell.

“To your good health, Hariel,” He then said in a toast before he finally drank the potion, which she now knew to be the emerald potion .

And the effects of it were instant, for the old man then trembled in pain, before he then shouted and fell down his knees, all the while he gasped, which Hariel then came to his aid for.

“Professor!” She said, while she held him then,

“Professor, can you hear me?” she then asked him, making him turn towards her then, before he once more moaned in pain.

She then glanced ath the shell besides them and then filled it up with more of the potion for the man to drink, which he then did, before he continued to moan in pain afterwards. 

“No-” He then begged her, while she simply shook her head at him,

“You have to keep drinking, like you said, remember?” Dumbledore then did as she told him to, and when she scooped some more for him to drink, he then cried out ot her to stop.

“I will stop, only if you keep drinking.” She then simply said, while she continued to make him drink the potion, despite his protests.

“I’m sorry, sir.” She then said, but her eyes were shining at the sight of his pained state.

“OOOOOH THIS IS FUCKED, SO FUCKED MAN HAHAHAHA” Ares then cheered, enjoying the show for sure.

“I must say that her acting is rather good.” He then heard mister Romeo himself say in wonderment, which Ares agreed with but in the open rolled his eyes at.

“Kill me!” The old man then moaned, which Ares then openly laughed at,

“You will be, that’s for sure.”

“Do keep quiet, Ares .” His father then ordered him, which he simply huffed at, before he did as his dear dad asked him. But anyways, it did’nt matter how annoyed it made him, for the show in front of him would make his ire all the better!

They then watched as the girl got the old man to drink the last dregs of the potion, which then made the man stop in his actions afterwards, seemingly gaining clarity once more then, when he then asked her for some water. Which she offered him, well not before she took a locket out of that basin.

But it didn’t seem to be enough for the old man, for he then reached for the water in the lake, which the girl warned him against doing, but it was too late, for a claw then grasped the old man’s arm, making him almost fall within its depths before the girl finally pulled him after a moment.

Oooh this was getting good! Ares then thought in excitement, his eyes upon the scene in front of him. A thought which the others then seemed to share as well, by the noise he heard around the room.

And out of the water they came, motherfucking disfigured looking zombies! 

They looked even uglier than Athena!

And then he watched as the girl made the whole room alight with a flick of her hand, and goddamn, there were like hundreds of those ugly motherfuckers’ heads getting out of the waters depths, their creepy sigtless eyes upon the two.

But here’s the most strangest thing that happened then, Ares thought, she was summoning one of them uglies towards her, what the fu-

“What.The.Fuck.” Hermes then said in amazement at the sight in font of them.

Before she set the place in fire, she promised herself to do one final thing.

Which was to retrieve the body of at least one lost son of the House of Black. Regulus Black’s corpse. Who was Sirius’ little brother, and her uncle.

She did it for her family, but furthermore- for Kreacher, so that they can finally put him to rest.

And the sight of his corpse set a chill within her, which she ignored afterwards, for she couldn’t lose any more time, seeing as the reanimated corpses of the inferi were coming closer towards them.

She then levitated the body to be put beside her, before she took her robe off her, and put it over his corpse, before  she burned the whole place down and dissaparated away with Dumbledore grabbed in one hand, while the other grabbed Regulus’ corpse.

When they got back at the beach, further away from the cave, that is, she then ignored the groaning man behind her, in favour of the body beside her.

Who’s sight she will not forget for the years to come, if she was that lucky, that is.

While she could see some resemblance within him…especially seeing as he had looked like a younger version of her papa from before, but the sight that she was met with now- he looked completely unrecognizable, for his whole corpse looked bloated and grissly. His body parts looked welled together in some spaces, he didn’t look human, which was to be expected in the state she found him in, that is…

She didn’t want her family, most of all Kreacher, to see him in such a state, so she then put a glamour upon his appearance, which made him look like he had looked before- whole now. Human.

“...Hariel? What- who is that?” She then heard the shocked voice of Dumbledore gasp behind her.

After she made Regulus look more presentable, and put the robe once more over him- she then slowly turned towards the old man.

“ Don’t you recognize him, professor? Take a closer look, for I am sure you will.” She then firmly said, before she forced him next to her, after she disarmed him from his wands, she then curiously realised.

One looked incredibly familiar to her then…

But she shook her head at this before she decided to put that one in her pocket, while she broke the other, more average looking wand. 

Which made the man next to her look upoin its state in distraught then,

“Now, don’t look at that, for you wanted to know who he was, right, professor?” She then sweetly said, while her eyes were cold upon the man.

“ So look.”

The man then made a sound in shock, before he crawled away from the corpse then, in pure fear, before he gazed at her as though he was seeing someone else.

Which he actually was, seeing as she really wasn’t the girl, the puppet he had thought she had been all along. But well, that’s on him really, for not noticing, perhaps age had gotten to him? 

Or he was just that arrogant in his ways for ever noticing such a crucial part within her. Both him and ol’ Tommy boy.

But well, she was going to end him soon afterwards as well, all in time…

“...Regulus Black, but how.” The old man then muttered to herself, which she then humoursly chuckled at.

“ How indeed.” She said, before she smirked at him.

“Did you really think you were the only one that found out about good ol’ Tom’s little secret?” She then softly said, her eyes glinting in maliciousness upon the older man, which he flinched at. Good.

“That’s right, he knew before you, and so did I .” She then revealed, before she continued.

“It was Kreacher who told me of its existence, well the real Horcrux , that is.” And she then chuckled at the man’s look of absolute horrified realisation.

“Oh yes, you did all of that for nothing, which was rather amusing to watch.” She then said with a smile, all the while she slowly walked towards him, not unlike how a predator would prowl over to its prey.

“...Why are you doing this, Hariel, this isn’t like you- did you somehow get cursed, or  possessed by Tom? Let me help-”

“No.” She then coldly said, while she looked down at him, like how one would look at filth beneath ones boot.

“This is all me, but you never knew, not that I let you, anyways.” She then humourously said, all the while she was still blankly looking down at him. "And I know that I had a piece of the bastards parasite within me, which I got rid of after finding out, that is...oh yes, I let a dementor suck it out of me, but anyways,"

“And why I’m doing this? For revenge of course, why else?” She then droly told the man, before she continued,

“And don’t act innocent, for we both know you aren’t…well neither am I, not really.” She said before she once more continued, after shaking her head in thought.

“Which you made certain of, oh yes, I know what you did.” She then hissed at him, which the man flinched at, for she had been speaking in Parseltongue in between, which she did not seem to take note of, seeing as she simply continued where she left off.

“Did you really think your manipulative, and selfish ways wouldn’t have caught up to you in the end? I knew what you did to me even before I entered my first year at Hogwarts. But this isn’t about me, for I could care less about that, seeing as that child has long past been dead, for I have never been a child, not truly. Which again, you made certain of. But I am not here to woe over my pathetic not-childhood, this is for my family.” She then whispered to him, when she kneeled down in front of his pale face.

“I’ve destroyed all that you have worked on, all these years, yes, it was me all along. Surprise!” She then said in fake cheer, before she continued, this time void of any emotion .

“But this isn’t how I imagined it to be all those years ago…for this is rather disappointing.” She then admitted, 

“For you are just an old, and weak man. Nothing more.” She then coldly said to him before she continued with a shrug.

“But anyways, you’re going to die today, Dumbledore.” She then said before she pulled his cursed arm towards her, which confused the man, who was still silent in shock of everything that’s happening to him at the moment, still not grasping the situation at hand, she imagines.

“You know the interesting thing about this curse?” She then said after she threw the bandage  away from his hand, admiring the extent of the curse in its whole then, all the while she then finally glanced at the ring that adorned his finger still in grimace.

It was her family’s ring.

“The magic used on the ring, well the curse, it’s Parselmagic. I can reverse it.” She then conspicuously said to him, which then filled the man’s eyes with hope, which she then laughed at.

“ But I won’t. On the contrary, I am going to make it even stronger, and yes, i am going to make you suffer, until finally you drop dead without any blood left in your system in the end.” She then coldly told him with a smile, before she continued.

“And no, you won’t even have the time to escape or do anything for the matter, for you will be completely paralysed, which I will show you in a moment, so be patient. Oh and before I forget, ” She then added before she summoned one of her charmed gloves on, “That ring is mine, I would like it back now, thank you.” she said before she pulled it from his finger, almost breaking it off in the process by the force of the pull,  before she finally activated the curse upon his hand, and put even more power within it, which she then forced to do her bidding.

And she then smilled at the way the man then started to scream within her grasp, his blood was boiling from within, all the while the decay travelled upon his body,

“Well, do say hi for me to any familiar faces in hell, won’t you? And yes, dear ol’ Tom will be following you soon as well, and maybe I, seeing as I’m not really good now am I? But anyways- rest in hell.” She then cheerfully said, before she dropped him on the ground, and walked back to Regulus.

“We’re going home now, and don’t worry, i am going to finish what you, and my mother started, so rest now.” She then softly said before she disapparated away with his body in tow.