Hijinks

March 25, 1993, 1:00 PM, Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts

Harry Potter

Harry was enjoying a few rare hours of rest at the spot where Astrid was being kept. Their group had taken to calling it the Dragonspot, and Harry couldn’t help but smile at the name.

For all of the name’s gravitas, Dragonspot was no more than a small clearing nestled deep in the wilds of the Forbidden Forest, far from prying eyes and ears. Normally, it wouldn’t have been a sufficient distance for a dragon of Astrid’s size to remain hidden, but given her strangely tame nature, it seemed to work.

Harry leaned back against a tree, his thoughts drifting as he watched Astrid lazily stretch her wings. The dragon’s scales shimmered in the sunlight filtering through the canopy above. Despite her formidable size, Astrid exuded an aura of calm and tranquility that was almost surreal.

Atop her head sat Hedwig, who seemed to be staring at nothing in particular.

He smiled softly; both of his girls together. Any normal dragon would have eaten Hedwig ten times over at this point, but not Astrid.

Harry chuckled, remembering the initial panic that had swept through their group when he had first encountered Astrid, then named Norbert. Hagrid, bless the man’s heart, loved all things big and lethal.

Still, Hagrid’s knowledge on dragons had been invaluable— and apparently he’d learned even more in the summertime, under Newt Scamander himself, no less. Harry made a mental note to thank that man as well, if he ever met him.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. He turned to see Hermione and Ron making their way through the underbrush, their faces lighting up when they saw him. 

“Hey, Harry.” Hermione called out, waving slowly and lowering her voice as she noticed Astrid was half-napping. “How’s Astrid doing?”

“She’s good.” Harry replied, standing up and brushing the dirt off his clothes. “Just enjoying a nap, I suppose. How about you two? Is something going on?”

Ron shook his head, grinning. “Nah, we just thought we’d come and see if you wanted to join us for a bit of an adventure. We’ve got a couple of hours before we need to head back.”

Harry’s smile widened. “Sure, why not? Astrid’s probably going to be out for the rest of the day; Hedwig’ll keep her company just fine.”

A hum of agreement swept over the group. With a last glance at Astrid, Harry joined his friends. Soon, the air was filled with the sound of shoes against the earth as the trio made their way back to Hogwarts.

“Oh!” Harry said as he remembered something. “That’s right; Ron, the Chess tournament! How’d it go?”

Ron’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“Oh, it was brilliant, Harry! You wouldn’t believe how good they were. They were incredible.” He said. “I even lost a few times to this one upperclass witch from Ilvermorny. She was brilliant, really had me stumped a few times.”

Harry grinned, genuinely happy for his friend, though he found it a bit odd that he was excited about losing. “That sounds fantastic, Ron. I’m glad you had a good time. Learn any new strategies?”

Ron nodded eagerly. “Oh, loads! It was great seeing the different styles of play. The Longling students had this really aggressive approach— they’d sacrifice any piece if it meant they can win.”

“And Ilvermorny?” Hermione asked, sounding curious.

“Well.” Ron said. “They play very differently from the Chinese. The Americans can be very bold and aggressive, but sometimes it’s a front for their traps. They’re a real challenge, very patient and all. I’ve got to practice more to keep up with them.”

“I’m so proud of you, Ron.” Hermione said, smiling.”It’s great that you’re learning and challenging yourself.”

Ron’s ears turned a bit pink at the praise, but he looked pleased.

“Thanks, Hermione.” He said, slowly smiling. “Honestly, I might start a chess club when this is all over. It’ll be fun to play more regularly.”

“Maybe you’ll even teach.” Harry suggested.

“I’m… Not so sure about that.” Ron said. “I’m not exactly a teacher.”

“You never know.” Harry said, patting him on the shoulder. “You’re doing pretty well with teaching your Quidditch plays during practice, so you might do a lot better than you would think.”

“Maybe.”

They reached the castle proper, and wandered through the halls, talking about anything and everything. The conversation flowed effortlessly, shifting from games, to magical creatures, to upcoming classes, to the Dueling and Quidditch Tournament. Ron speculated about which opposing teams would make it to the finals, while Hermione mentioned an interesting charm she’d read about that could come in handy for Harry.

“I can’t quite recall the name of the spell.” Hermione said. “But I remember thinking it could be useful.”

Harry laughed, feeling a lightness he hadn’t felt in a while. “Show it to me later; we’ll try it out during practice, Hermione.”

They eventually found themselves at the courtyard, where other students seemed to have the same idea of hanging out together in the midday sun.

“It’s nice to just relax.” Harry said, leaning back on a column and gazing up at the sky. “Not have to worry about anything for a change.”

Ron stretched out beside him, hands behind his head. “Yeah, it really is. Feels like we can breathe again.”

Hermione sat cross-legged, having an inner debate with herself on whether to enjoy the day or open a book to read. She settled on joining the others. “We should do this more often. Just enjoy the moment.”

As they sat there, Harry felt a sense of peace. The weight of the looming challenges seemed to fade away. His days, of late, had been so dominated by training and Quidditch that he could scarcely find a moment for himself.

Even now, it all felt so unusual. Part of him almost felt guilty, even; the time he was spending now could instead be used to better his Quidditch skills, or perhaps explore the new, mysterious power he had unlocked.

“Look, isn’t that Professor Lockhart?” She said, cutting through his thoughts.

Harry’s gaze went off to the right, and he quickly picked out the man.

Odd.

They saw him hurrying along the corridor, his usual charming smile and good demeanor nowhere to be seen. His face looked almost… transfixed by something. It was so unlike the Professor Lockhart they had become accustomed to that curiosity immediately got the better of them.

“What do you think he’s up to?” Ron asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Only one way to find out.” Harry said, pushing off of the column and leading the others through a few hallways, following the man at a distance.

Once they were far enough from prying eyes, Harry produced his Invisibility Cloak from his bag. He felt a bit sheepish as he explained. “Adam’s always telling me to keep it with me. Guess it’s coming in handy now.”

Hermione and Ron nodded, and they quickly gathered under the cloak, moving as one to follow Lockhart. As they trailed him, they kept their footsteps light and their voices low, careful not to draw any attention.

Lockhart led them through a series of winding corridors, eventually heading toward the less frequented areas of the castle. The deeper they went, the more out of character it seemed for him.

“What could he possibly be doing here?” Hermione whispered.

They continued to follow, trying to stay as close as possible without being noticed.

They inched forward, hearts pounding. As they got nearer, the sight before them became clearer, and the tension in the air was palpable. It was something serious, something that demanded all of Lockhart’s attention, and they were about to find out what it was.

They continued to follow Lockhart, staying close under the cover of the Invisibility Cloak. They moved through the dimly lit corridors, their curiosity growing with each step. Finally, they saw him stop and enter a strange spot: the entrance to a bathroom.

Hermione was the first to break the silence, her voice a scandalized whisper. “What’s he doing entering the girls’ bathroom?”

Harry shook his head, equally bewildered. “I have no idea.”

Ron shrugged, offering a theory. “Maybe he’s trying to exorcize Myrtle? I’ve heard plenty of bad things about that ghost.”

Harry and Hermione exchanged skeptical looks but didn’t dismiss Ron’s idea outright.

“Now what?” Ron muttered after the seconds continued to pass. “Do we just wait here?”

“Quiet.” Hermione hissed. “We need to get closer.”

“To do what? Who knows what he’s doing in there?”

“There’s only one way to find out.” Harry said, inching them closer to the bathroom door.

Carefully, they slipped inside, the cloak still concealing them. The sound of dripping water echoed from off the tile walls, and the flickering light cast eerie shadows. They moved silently, careful not to draw attention to themselves. As they peered into the bathroom proper, they saw a strange sight. The bathroom was empty of people, but something unusual was happening: a large section of sinks was closing over a large hole.

The trio stared in shock as the sinks moved into place with a final, resounding thud. They exchanged wide-eyed glances, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

“What in Merlin’s name was that?” Ron whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

Harry looked equally stunned. “A secret passage, maybe?”

“I’ve never heard of such a passage.” Hermione said. “None of the girls ever told me about this…”

“Maybe it’s a lesser known one…?” Harry said, his mind racing. “I think, for now, we’ll need to get out of here before anyone finds us. You might be fine here, Hermione, but us boys will not have an easy time if we’re found out.”

“Good point.”

Quickly and quietly, they slipped out of the bathroom and back into the hallways. Once they were a safe distance away, they stopped, pulling the Invisibility Cloak off and staring at each other.

“We need to tell someone about this.” Hermione said, her voice urgent.

“What for?” Ron asked, waving her words off. “It’s just a secret passage, isn’t it? True, it’s a little weird that Lockhart’s in the girls’ bathroom…”

“Maybe it wasn’t a girls’ bathroom in the past?” Ron added after a few seconds of silence, though he didn’t sound particularly convinced.

Hermione frowned, still looking rather scandalized.

“We should tell Adam about this.” Harry suggested.

The others quickly agreed. Hermione nodded, adding, “He always seems to know things others don’t. Maybe he can shed some light on this. Though, maybe it really is a passage just unfortunately placed in the girls’ bathroom.”

“To the Common Room for now, then?”

The three looked at each other and nodded.

“Let’s.”

Soon enough, they were back in the common room, in their usual spots by the fire and settled in. Before long, the three were back to their relaxed state, the events they’d witnessed earlier far from their minds.

oooo

3:00 PM, Empty Classroom, Hogwarts

Adam Clarke

The sharp crack of magic echoed through the room as she launched a barrage of spells at me. Fleur’s movements were swift and precise, a blur of silver-blonde hair and steely determination. I could feel the force of her magic in the air, the power behind each incantation undeniable.

“Duro!” She shouted, and a beam of blue light shot towards me. I sidestepped, flicking my wand to cast a Shield Charm just in time to deflect the spell. The energy crackled against my barrier, dissipating harmlessly.

Fleur’s eyes narrowed, and she pressed on, her frustration growing. This time, she did not invoke her spell out loud, instead sending a burst of explosive energy my way. I swirled my wand in a smooth arc, redirecting the blast to the side where it detonated against the wall, shaking the room as bits and chunks of stone flew everywhere.

If we hadn’t taken pains to keep our activities hidden, I’m sure everyone would’ve heard that.

“Is that all you’ve got?” I teased, unable to resist a small grin. I could see the fire in her eyes, the fierce determination that made her such an incredible duelist— but also an easy target to rile up.

“Stop playing, Adam!” She snapped in French, her voice a mix of anger and annoyance. She didn’t like it when I held back, but I wasn’t here to hurt her.

She lunged forward, her wand a blur as she cast a rapid series of hexes and jinxes.

The first was a Stunning Charm, which I parried, sending it harmlessly into the hole she’d just created seconds before. The second was the Tickling Jinx, which I sidestepped. The third was the Reductor Curse, which I matched with one of my own, causing both spells to cancel out; the clash left a void of air, sucking the both of us forward slightly as the air was pulled to the center.

A moment of silence passed before Fleur addressed me, once more.

“Why won’t you fight back?” She demanded, her frustration boiling over. She fired off a Stunning Charm, aiming low to throw me off balance. I jumped, spinning mid-air to avoid the impact, landing lightly on my feet.

“Because I’m not here to hurt you.” I replied calmly, my voice steady despite the intensity of the duel. “I’m here to help you practice”

Fleur’s expression hardened.

“Then you’re not taking this seriously. How am I supposed to learn anything if—” She said through gritted teeth, stopping herself as she decided to attack. She raised her wand high, summoning a powerful gust of wind that rushed towards me, threatening to knock me off my feet.

I planted my stance firmly to anchor myself against the onslaught. The wind whipped around me, but I drove my wand upwards, slicing through the gust of air with one of my own.

“If you do that!”

“This is hopeless…” I muttered in annoyance, but that seemed to get her to lose her cool completely.

With a frustrated growl, Fleur charged forward, her wand movements becoming more aggressive and losing what little precision she’d been able to muster up beforehand.

This is just getting worse and worse.

I continued to deflect her spells, wincing as I felt the heat from them singed a few hairs off of my forearm. She’d completely given into her nature, her features having turned more avian as she snapped off spell after spell towards me, the temperature of the empty classroom steadily rising as the seconds passed.

I needed to end this. Pushing three of her spells aside, I finally decided to try the idea that had been on my mind for the past week since I’d begun meeting her for these practices.

I snuck a quick look at her soul thread as she panted in exertion, glaring at me with furious, avian blue eyes. It wriggled and writhed like an open flame.

This is either going to fail horribly or work spectacularly. I thought, forcing a smirk on my face to egg her on even more. “Is that really all you can muster up?”

Gritting her teeth, she renewed her attack once again, and even surprised me with her spell speed. At her level, she could easily compete against someone like Hien, though perhaps not Akio.

Still, despite all of that speed, her movements were heavily telegraphed, and so I made my own move.

I stepped forward and tilted my head to the left, wincing slightly as the heat-infused Stunning Charm passed me by, making me feel like I’d pressed my face against a pole that’d been out in the Sun all day. An upward stroke of my wand split her Severing Charm in two, and a series of downward stabs extinguished the barrage of fireballs she’d sent my way.

A stab forward, and the Knockback Jinx drove the air out of her stomach, buying me the time I needed to land my final blow.

For a split second, I delved into the element of fire, feeling its nature course through my soul before focusing my will and desire to snuff it out. 

Fervor Gelatus. I waved my wand in a circle and a flash of white washed over Fleur, her wide eyes losing focus as the spell took hold.

As the light dissipated, Fleur took a step forward, then another, before falling to her knees, her wand slipping out of her hand and clattering towards my feet. Her features had already shifted back to normal.

“What…” She could barely force the words out of her lips as she struggled to get ahold of herself. “What did you do!?”

For a moment, I stood there, watching her as she did her best to get ahold of herself. Her unfocused blue eyes looked up into mine, and I could see the deep fear set in them.

Oh, dear. I thought and knelt, taking her wand before walking to her and holding out my hand.

She stared at it in sheer confusion and a note of panic for a moment before taking it.

“Up you get.” I said, directing her towards one of the chairs in the corner. Once she was seated, I returned her wand. “You alright? You need water?”

“I— What—” She said, still looking disoriented. “Yes. Water.”

I obliged, and watched her drink a few gulps before she leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes as she tried to fight off what I assumed was another wave of vertigo.

“What was that?” She said, having regained enough of her bearings to speak in English again.

“That.” I said slowly, making sure not to disturb the delicate balance she’d managed to achieve. “Was a Flame-Freezing Charm.”

“…” She said nothing to that.

“It was a hunch, but I figured that, since your spells keep getting charged with fire, then a spell like that would take the wind out of your sails.” I said, smiling slightly. “Or, I guess, in this case, it would take the fire out of you.”

“You…” Fleur said, and she seemed perturbed as she spoke. “That should not have worked.”

“Why not?” I said, shrugging as she deigned to send me a look of incredulity. “Just because no one’s tried it, doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. I had a hunch and acted on it. Fire is part of your soul, so disturbing that balance made sense.”

Once again, she did not reply.

“You’re good, Fleur.” I said softly, finally lowering my guard. “But this practice you asked for isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about learning.”

She huffed, her shoulders relaxing slightly as well. “And what am I supposed to learn when you don’t even fight back?”

“Control.” I replied simply. “Precision. Understanding your opponent. There’s more to dueling than just overpowering the other person.”

Her face shifted in a familiar way which told me that I had not gotten through to her, and so I tilted her chin up, meeting her blue eyes with my mismatched ones of white and black.

“Your Veela side brings you power, Fleur.” I said, and her eyes widened. “Power enough to strike me down. You do not lack for power, but control; and without control, your power cannot reach me.”

I let go of her chin and stepped back. “That’s why I don’t fight back; I’m trying to get you to focus your efforts on pinning me down, but it seems that maybe it’s better to do it your way.”

“It is?” She said, looking surprised.

“Sure.” I agreed. “I’m not exactly the best teacher, and I make mistakes too, you know. So, sorry.”

Her features softened slightly at my apology, but she shook her head, a small frown still lingering on her lips.

“It’s not about that, you’ve even just taught me a good lesson.” She replied, her voice softer now. “I just wanted you to take our duel seriously. No holding back.”

I met her gaze, understanding the seriousness of her request.

“Then, I promise.” I said earnestly. “Next time, I’ll fight you seriously.”

Fleur nodded, a hint of satisfaction flickering in her eyes.

“Good.” She said simply, before trying to get up and failing.

“I— um… You need help?”

“No, no, I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

“Really.” She said, shaking her head as she forced herself up. She wobbled slightly before getting control again. “I’ll be fine; I’ve had worse.”

“All right, then.” I said. “Off you trot!”

I watched her go, feeling a little off about leaving her like that.

As Fleur exited the room, I felt a familiar presence buzz into my mind with unmistakable excitement. A small mote of yellow light materialized before me, spinning around my form with exuberance.

“Alef.” I greeted the genius loci with a nod. “Something the matter?”

The mote of light darted around me in a playful dance, its vibrant glow casting a warm aura around the room. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness in response to his boundless enthusiasm.

“You seem excited. Is there something special happening?” I inquired, curious about the source of his exuberance.

Alef Ard buzzed in the negative, his movements becoming even more animated. It seemed that he was simply happy to be spending time with me, reveling in the simple joy of our companionship.

I chuckled softly at his response.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here, Alef.” I said warmly. “Think you can keep an eye on Fleur for me?”

He buzzed in the negative.

“How come?” I said, blinking. Alef replied with a series of buzzes, sending me feelings of camaraderie, and safety.

“Oh, is she with others?”

A buzz in the affirmative.

“All right, then.”

The mote of light shimmered in response, its brightness seeming to intensify with contentment. Together, we basked in the quiet comfort of each other’s presence, sharing a moment of pure relaxation.

Inevitably, however, my thoughts drifted back to the prophetic visions I had been shown in the chamber of contemplation by the Thestrals. The memory of those haunting images lingered in my mind, their significance weighing heavily on my thoughts.

The visions had been unsettling, to say the least, and as a result, I couldn’t shake the feeling of foreboding that had settled over me since that encounter. It weighed on my shoulders like nothing else.

Lost in my thoughts, I absently traced the outline of the room with my gaze, the familiar surroundings offering little solace in the face of the unknown. I knew that I would have to confront my feelings on the matter, but the path forward remained shrouded in shadow.

Shaking it off, I forced myself to focus on the present. The upcoming matches loomed large on the horizon, and I couldn’t afford to let distractions cloud my preparation. 

The organizers had deliberately kept the details of the matches under wraps, in the hopes of adding an air of mystery and anticipation to the event— which, judging by how the papers had been blowing up, was working.

Still, while part of me was intrigued by the prospect of facing unknown opponents, another part couldn’t shake the sense of unease that accompanied the secrecy surrounding the tournament.

The parallels between the current situation and the events of the canon timeline were impossible to ignore. ‘Harry Potter’ and big events had rarely spelled anything but trouble, and I couldn’t help but wonder if history was destined to go down the same way, regardless of how the timeline had changed.

I exited the class, bringing these thoughts with me along with my backpack. The threads of fate were real— I’d seen them twice at this point— so the idea that fate itself was being directed by some higher consciousness was not out of the question, anymore.

If anything, the idea was quickly gaining traction.

Nothing I can do about it right now, save resuming my experimentation with the void. I thought. The vision the Thestrals had been so kind to show me was informative, to be sure. For now, I’ll have a quick snack.

Who knew, maybe I would figure something out in the midst of a meal?

I quickened my pace, eager to satisfy my craving for warm, fresh bread in the welcoming confines of the Hogwarts kitchens. As I made my way through the familiar corridors, exchanging greetings with acquaintances along the way, a sudden voice shattered the quiet hum of conversation.

“Mr. Clarke.”

I turned on my heel to find Professor Snape standing behind me, his dark eyes piercing in their intensity. Despite my efforts to appear composed, a flicker of unease danced in the pit of my stomach. What could he want?

“Professor Snape.” I replied, mustering what I hoped was an air of casual indifference. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

The corners of Snape’s mouth twitched imperceptibly, a ghost of a smirk playing across his lips.

“I require your presence with a school matter of utmost… urgency.” He stated, his voice betraying none of said urgency.

I arched an eyebrow inquisitively, my curiosity piqued. “And what might that be, Professor?”

He did not answer immediately, instead turning and walking away, his robes billowing in his wake. Sighing, I followed.

We made our way through the corridors of Hogwarts, our steps taking us down into the dungeons. I couldn’t shake the feeling of apprehension that lingered in the air. Snape’s cryptic words had done little to assuage my curiosity, and I found myself growing increasingly anxious with each step we took.

Finally, we arrived at Snape’s office. The familiar scent of potions ingredients wafted through the air, and I wondered if he ever took a break from his obsession.

I’m one to talk. I thought.

Taking a seat across from Snape’s desk, I braced myself for whatever revelation awaited me. If there was one thing I had learned during my time at Hogwarts, it was that time with Snape was always interesting.

Snape’s fingers tapped a staccato rhythm against his desk, a silent command that brought forth a plate laden with freshly baked bread, making me blink in surprise. The tantalizing aroma of warm dough wafted through the air, mingling with the subtle undertones of potions ingredients that lingered in Snape’s office.

“Indulge yourself.” Snape said, his voice carrying the weight of command as he gestured towards the bread. “We cannot converse on an empty stomach.”

Awfully kind of him. My own mind drawled at me.

“…Thank you.” I offered a nod of gratitude, feeling a surge of curiosity mingling with my hunger as I reached for a piece of bread. Each bite was a symphony of flavors, the crusty exterior giving way to a soft, pillowy center that melted on my tongue.

As I finished the last morsel, Snape’s dark eyes pinned me down with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Now.” He said, his voice low and measured. “We can discuss the matter at hand.”

The atmosphere was tense, turning heavy with anticipation.

“Mr. Clarke…” Snape began, his voice like a cold whisper. “I trust you are aware of the importance of our previous discussions.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, knowing exactly what he was referring to. The Resurrection Stone.

I wondered when he would come to me about this. It had been months since Snape had first broached the subject. I was honestly surprised I’d lasted this long.

“I… I know, Professor.” I said. “But with everything that’s been happening—”

Snape cut me off with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I am not interested in your excuses, Mr. Clarke. The Stone is of paramount importance, and I cannot afford to merely dwell on the matter any longer. We must take action.”

I resisted the urge to sigh. He sure knew how to pick the worst times. I had an upcoming match, and he wanted to go Horcrux hunting!

Lucky me. His demand for immediate action regarding the Resurrection Stone hung in the air like a heavy fog. His dark eyes bored into mine, waiting for my response.

“Professor, I understand the urgency.” I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil swirling within me. “But I can’t just drop everything and go with you.”

Snape’s expression darkened, but I pressed on, determined to make him see reason.

“I have responsibilities to my education.” I continued, gesturing towards the stack of textbooks on Snape’s desk. “To say nothing of the League of Nine. Even if there were no other issues, we’d still have to explain our absence. And that’s if our excursion doesn’t result in either of us being harmed— or worse, killed. I can’t even Apparate, yet.”

Snape listened intently, his features impassive as I voiced my concerns. When I finished, he leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of him.

“I understand your apprehension, Clarke.” Snape said, his voice measured. “But I assure you, learning to Apparate wouldn’t be too difficult for a wizard of your skill level.”

Did he listen to anything— I thought and stopped myself. “You conveniently ignored most of what I said.”

“The Headmaster accords me a certain leeway when it comes to my comings and goings.” Snape waved my words away. “The Aurors will not question me. I am a respected member of this establishment.”

“And myself?”

“You’ve left this Castle before, on many occasions.” He said, smirking slightly as he saw me twitch. “You are not as sneaky as you think you are, Clarke.”

With a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and met Snape’s gaze with determination.

“Fine. You’ve convinced me.” I said. “We’ll go and get it. When—”

“When can be decided once the ‘where’ is answered.” Snape said, his eyes asking me the silent question.

“… Little Hangleton.” I revealed tentatively, watching Snape’s expression closely for any reaction.

His face remained impassive, but a hint of curiosity flickered in his dark eyes.

“What about it?” He asked, his tone tinged with caution and curiosity.

“It’s where the Resurrection Stone has its roots.” I explained, hoping to clarify the connection. “It was passed down through the Gaunt family as an heirloom, a ring with the Stone set into it.”

Snape’s brow furrowed in confusion, and for a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. “It was a known Gaunt heirloom?”

I nodded, sensing his confusion.

“Yes.” I said. “And your old boss, Voldemort, got his hands on it. It was his birthright, after all. What he didn’t know was that the stone in it was the Resurrection Stone; he ended up turning the ring into a Horcrux.”

The revelation brought Snape up short, his expression shifting from confusion to disbelief. “… A Horcrux. How do you even— nevermind, yes, your supraversal nature and knowledge.”

Supraversal. I mouthed the word, shaking my head as Severus continued to woolgather.

“I know a lot.” I said, though I shook my head as I continued. “But not everything. I don’t know if the Gaunt Ring, itself, is a Horcrux, or if the Resurrection Stone within the ring was altered.”

Snape’s soul thread whirred with surprise for a moment before it stilled.

“The latter, as you likely have surmised, would not be good to our plans.”

“Obviously.”

I smiled at that. “I suspect that, since he didn’t know what the stone was, the Horcrux is actually the ring itself.”

Snape’s gaze bored into me, though it dared not meet my own, still. Despite our differences, our goals seemed to put us in a certain alignment. How long this would last, I didn’t know, but if I wanted to remain in the man’s good graces, I would likely need to do whatever it was he asked of me.

After one final moment of silence, he nodded.

“Then, the plan remains unchanged.” He said firmly, his voice brooking no argument. “We will go to Little Hangleton. Tonight.”

I felt a surge of apprehension at the thought of venturing into the heart of Voldemort’s dark past, but the look on Snape’s face told me that now was not the time for objections. Instead, I nodded in agreement.

No turning back now.

“Tonight.”