Author's note: I think this is the last calm chapter of this arc, so prepare yourselves! My flight back home is in like 6 hours or so, so wish me luck because I haven't slept at all lmao. I wanted to finish the chapter before I took the flight! Hope you all like it even if it's a bridge.
Celestial Ascendancy
Chapter 64: Light in the Dark.
Hogwarts.
Elias Black.
We walked in mostly silence toward the Room of Requirement. Everyone of importance, everyone tied to the Order, was following. But I couldn't help but notice how... down everyone looked.
All of them. It was hard to ignore. It was so heavy I could feel the damn mood in my veins. Even the greetings between Iris and the two Marauders felt... distant.
At least at first, Sirius was masking his feelings with his goofy act, and while Iris noticed, she followed along to keep him that way. She was joking with him and Tonks during the walk.
I stopped in front of the tapestry and pictured something that might lift the mood, even if only a little. Even if most of them wouldn't recognize it.
I smiled proudly as soon as I opened the Room. This was exactly what I wanted.
"Really, Eli?" Hermione huffed as she peeked inside, but even she couldn't help but skip into the room, her eyes scanning everything in curiosity.
"Lord of the Rings?" Fleur asked with a raised eyebrow. "Iris was right, Eli. You really are such a dork sometimes."
"If at least two people forget the mess outside for a second, then it did its job," I replied with a small smile, gently nudging them inside. I entered and once more had to marvel at the absolute bullshit this room really was; the fact that it could simulate, from my spotty memories, the war room of Elrond was something else. The person who really created this was an absolute genius.
The rest followed us, Sirius, the Headmaster, some professors, Aurors, Madam Bones, and a couple of civilians who decided to stay. It was a full-on war meeting, and it showed. Probably the top fighters in the country were here… at least the good ones.
"How quaint, Elias," Dumbledore chuckled as he took his seat in the largest chair at the table. The others followed suit, and less than a minute later, everyone was seated, serious but visibly dejected.
With a clap of my hands, the table shifted, turning into a magical map of Wizarding Britain. It wasn't like the Marauder's Map; this one was fixed, not live, but it highlighted every major location across the country.
From the Ministry to the school, from Diagon Alley to St. Mungo's, everything important was marked.
"So... what happened in Azkaban?" I asked the old man seriously. "Explain Voldemort's forces. And him. How different was he compared to the graveyard?"
"A mess, pup," Sirius sighed. "There's no other word for it. A bloody, gruesome mess."
"We lost two Order members, over ten Aurors, and around eight civilians who joined the fight with Bones," Remus added, his voice hard and his eyes flicking almost angrily toward the redheaded woman.
"I warned them," she replied defensively. "They didn't listen. And this is war, Remus. You should know that by now. The Ministry can't defend the country alone… not after all the damn reforms and with recruits greener than grass."
"This is a mess," she muttered and jumped to her feet as the doors burst open with a bang.
"Damn right, it is," a masked man barked from the entrance. His voice was modulated enough to hide his identity.
I sneaked a glance at Dumbledore, who mouthed the name Croaker.
I gave a small nod.
"Where were you, lad?" he asked sharply. "You were supposed to return the moment you got the message. As you can see, Dumbledore can't match the Dark Lord anymore."
"That is true, my friend," Dumbledore said quietly, with a sad smile. "Tom is stronger than he was during his rebirth… and he's begun to wield human magic alongside his own. I'm afraid I am no longer his equal."
"What is human magic? Was that the bright thing that showed up in some of You-Know-Who's spells… and Lord Alaric's?" Cedric's dad asked confusedly.
"You'll be filled in later. I doubt it'll stay a secret for long if Voldemort's using it openly," I said, waving my hand dismissively before turning to Dumbledore. "What matters now is that we found out how the bastard's been returning from the dead. And we're dealing with it. Only two pieces are left."
Dumbledore stood up abruptly, eyes wide with alarm. "Did you really? What was it?"
Everyone leaned in a little closer, especially Bones and Croaker.
"You already know, Headmaster," I replied carefully. "Your hypothesis was right. Even the worst-case scenario you imagined turned out to be true. But it's been handled. That's all I'll say here. We can speak more about it later."
His eyes flicked toward Iris's scar. Thankfully, she was too busy admiring the map to notice. I didn't want to know how she would react if she knew that the old man knew.
"The thing is…" I exhaled. "To deal with it, I had to make a deal with someone important. We were with that person for a while. As soon as we learned about the attack, we came back. You have my apologies."
Croaker nodded gruffly. "Fine. What's done is done. I'll ask the goat for more details later. Continue."
I always found funny when Croaker called the Headmaster like that. I supposed that it was for his beard, but some of the Fanon things I remember almost made me cackle everytime.
"Was Walburga present in Azkaban, Headmaster?" Iris asked seriously once she managed to tear her eyes away from the map.
"No, thanks to Merlin, she wasn't," Dumbledore replied gravely. "I doubt we would have survived at all if she had been."
The bitch, as I liked to call her. I didn't understand yet why she was supporting Voldemort. Hell, I knew nothing about her from my previous life, and that made me nervous. From what I could see, nothing good would come from her being interested in us.
"That leaves the question then… what is her plan? Why is she helping Voldemort?" Hermione asked.
My mind spun, trying to piece it together, but I came up blank. Realistically, Voldemort shouldn't even be on her radar. She was too different, too proud, too far removed from the petty squabbles of Wizards. There had to be something else, something about us as a species, that she found interesting. But I had no idea what.
And I didn't know who I could ask. Maybe I should call the blonde from the graveyard; she seemed to have a relationship with Walburga.
"Got it," Iris said with a nod. "So… what's the plan? Do we attack? We know who most of his followers are. Why can't we seek him out and deal with him once and for all?"
"That would be a costly venture, my dear," Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "Neither I nor Madam Bones can ask the people of Britain to do that. And I doubt we'd have the support to pull it off and come out on top."
"Voldemort's followers are too deeply rooted in the Ministry," Bones added sharply. "Any motion we try to pass will be blocked under the guise of legality. And now that You-Know-Who's return is public, the Neutral bloc will hesitate... just like last time. They'll avoid taking sides, afraid of being targeted."
"Well, that's stupid!" Iris snapped, slamming her fist on the table. "We know who they are! We should be hunting them like the dogs they are before they can do any more harm!"
"Then it would not be justice," Kingsley said firmly, looking at Iris as if she'd lost her mind.
"Then fuck justice!" Iris shouted, not backing down. "They're killing people indiscriminately! And you want to wait?!"
Iris was fuming, and I didn't fault her. The girls and I had... a different perspective than the rest, but much to my surprise, it wasn't only us who thought that the death eaters deserved a bit more violence than the norm.
Everyone started shouting and taking sides. Most of the civilians who remained supported Kingsley, while the Aurors were split between the two camps. The professors leaned toward Iris, especially Flitwick, though McGonagall stayed silent throughout the exchange. Sirius and Remus backed her as well.
"Enough," I murmured, letting my presence bleed into the Room.
Everyone fell silent. The ones meeting me for the first time stared with wide, fearful eyes. Those who already knew me were tense but grateful for the interruption.
"We're not getting anywhere by squabbling like children. This is war, whether you like it or not. And I will not let Voldemort murder people without consequence because of something as flimsy as the law. If I catch him or any of his followers doing it in front of me, you can be the ones to clean up their ashes afterward."
"If we're not acting directly yet, for whatever reason, we at least need patrol teams in place. Voldemort won't return to the shadows after Azkaban. I just need time to deal with his last fail-safes. Once I'm done, he'll be mortal. Like the rest of us."
"What do you suggest, you crazy bastard?" Bones asked Croaker as they studied the map together.
"We do what the lad says," Croaker grunted. "He's right. Voldemort will use this momentum to spread chaos all over Britain, and some of these spots are far too vulnerable. Forget Dumbledore and his vigilante group; we need to coordinate if we want to stop him."
He shook his head. "My colleagues won't be of much help. So it's just your people, Dumbledore's, and whatever crazy civilians can hold a wand. Use them."
"What about the Dementors?" Someone asked fearfully, "Not everyone can use the Patronus charm. We need at least one that can be a part of each group."
"Just send a message to me, and I will kill those abominations. They will follow anyone who offers them free food, and I will get rid of them once and for all." I nodded at him firmly.
"Dementors are immortal; everyone knows that," Cedric's father said, looking at me like I was insane for saying that.
"I can kill them; just ask Madam Bones," I grinned at him.
Bones looked at me with twitching lips, clearly remembering the scene where I killed the dementor. Not my finest moment... but it was funny.
"Fine, fine," Bones muttered, visibly deflated. "Fuck. This is a mess." She turned to Dumbledore. "When are the students returning?"
"They're expected back in about a month," he said. "Why do you ask, Amelia?"
She tapped her fingers on the table for a long moment before speaking. "If Voldemort resumes attacks on Muggle-borns, we'll be spread too thin to protect every key location. But we can't leave them hanging. How many generations does your registry show?"
"Three, maybe four," Dumbledore answered absently. With a clap of his hands, a thick book appeared in front of him. "Specifically, the next four years' worth of new students."
"Bring them here," Bones said grimly. "Protect them, along with any underage witches and wizards and their families, if they choose to stay. I'll speak with the Minister about financial assistance."
"Don't worry about that," I cut in. "Try, sure. But don't stress if he says no. I'll cover the cost, and we can ask some of the families to donate. I think everyone here would be willing to chip in to keep their families safe, right?"
I glanced around the Room, nodding as I saw heads agreeing.
"Some families like the Greengrass will pay a pretty penny to have a safe haven like Hogwarts; hell, they might even support our side politically if their safety is assured," Sirius nodded eagerly.
"Yes… that could work," Diggory said, nodding thoughtfully as he closed his eyes. "But the logistics… We'd need dozens of adults capable of Apparition to collect the Muggle-borns or at least get them to a Floo-accessible location. Still, we might manage it if we coordinate properly."
"What if someone from their side sneaks in with the others to cause trouble?" Fleur asked. "You know they're not above that kind of subterfuge. And with so many non-combatants here, things could get messy."
"Couldn't we create new wards for the school?" Hermione suggested. "Between the Headmaster, Professors Flitwick, Vector, and Babbling, I'm sure we could develop something strong enough to monitor everything and shut down anything suspicious before it escalates. We could even use the Slytherin common room as temporary holding cells if someone causes trouble."
"That idea has merit. What do you think, Albus?" McGonagall spoke for the first time in the meeting. She sounded tired and resigned but willing to do what was needed.
Dumbledore took a long moment to think, and everyone watched him with bated breath. Finally, he opened his eyes and shook his head.
"That would be ideal, Miss Granger, but I don't believe it's possible."
Hermione opened her mouth, but he continued over her gently.
"While yes, with all the professors, and perhaps even your bright mind lending a hand, we could build something like that. But it would take weeks, if not months, to create a ward of that magnitude. Time we simply don't have."
He sighed and glanced up toward the ceiling.
"Also, the leylines sustaining the current wartime configuration of the wards are already strained. I cannot redirect enough energy to power a new construct of that scale without risking the existing protections."
A heavy silence fell over the Room as I thought deeply.
"What if I can give you time?" I said evenly, locking eyes with the old man before glancing toward Croaker.
"Absolutely not!" Croaker barked sharply. "You can't just get those. They're locked in the deepest levels of the Department."
Hermione's eyes widened as realization dawned, then brightened with a spark of excitement. "Eli! What if you ask Seek?!"
My heart thumped. That was brilliant. Seek was a friend, and she'd help me even if I offered nothing more than a favor in return. She wouldn't bleed me dry over something like this.
"What are you two talking about?" Dumbledore asked, curiosity peeking through his stern tone.
"A friend. Give me a moment." I waved him off as I took out my phone, dialed the green-haired devil, and put her on speakers.
"Eli," Seekvaira answered coolly. "What can I do for you?"
"Seek, how are you? Do you have some time right now? I might need a favor," I replied, grinning.
"I'm doing well, currently watching Rias's Rating Game footage. They've improved a lot in such a short time. Was that your doing?"
"It was their own effort, I'm afraid," I chuckled. "But let's say I pushed them to the brink often enough. Why, interested?"
"I'd be lying if I said no. But tell me your need; I'll help if it's in my power."
I sighed. "War just broke out here. We're in the middle of a planning meeting. Hermione had the idea of turning Hogwarts into a safe haven protected by a massive ward for all non-combatants. But the Headmaster says we don't have the time to do it."
"And you're hoping I could help," Seekvaira mused aloud, then sighed. "I'm afraid not, Eli. My version of my family's magic is designed for tactical applications. Short bursts of time manipulation in combat. Not large-scale compression like what you need."
"Fuck," I muttered, slamming my fist softly on the table as I noticed the others' faces drop.
"My father could do it," she added. "Easily, in fact. But he's not the type to waste time on something like this… not while he's mediating between the factions of our government."
"A shame. Thank you anyway, Seek. I'll probably be busy for a while, but if you ever need something, reach out."
"There might be a way, Eli," Seekvaira said before I could end the call. "Do you remember what I told you when we first met? That my father owes your family a favor. A real one."
My eyes widened. Right. She said that the wife of Lord Black, four hundred or so years ago, healed his Queen of some curse with Parseltongue.
"You know what that means for my kind," she continued, her voice serious now. "The question is, would you really spend that favor on this?"
I looked around the Room. Everyone was watching me, waiting for my response, even if they didn't understand the full weight of our conversation.
No one judged me. Not like I cared about what they thought about me, but also... It didn't feel like a waste, not when I could save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.
I nodded resolutely. "It's worth it. We're talking about protecting children and giving them a chance to live without fear. Tell your father we're cashing in the favor. Thank you, Seek. Say hi to our friends if you see them, and let me know as soon as you can. Please be fast."
"I knew you'd say that, Eli," she replied softly, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "That's why I admire you. I'll speak to him right away and call you when we're ready. Sounds good?"
"You'll make me blush," I said with a quiet chuckle.
"He IS blushing!" Iris shouted from her seat, cackling as I sputtered.
I ended the call before Seek could add fuel to the fire.
"I won't say I understand everything, Elias," Dumbledore said gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. "But I can guess you just used something important for this; you have my thanks from the bottom of my heart."
Everyone nodded, albeit some with confused expressions.
"Will you explain, lad?" Croaker grunted from the side.
"Our friend knows some magic that manipulates time, I had thought that she could help, but as you heard, her father will," I waved my hand.
"Fine enough," He continued drily, "But you have forgotten the other problem, powering up the damn thing."
"I will take care of that," I said resolutely, "Hook them to me; I will do the rest."
"We're talking about powering a ward covering the whole school and protecting everything inside! Even the Headmaster said so; everyone knows the only reason why Hogwarts can have these kinds of protections is the leylines, not a person!" Scrimgeour scoffed, "You would burn through your core as soon as we even start; getting rid of a combatant of your caliber for something like this is foolish!"
I just looked at him, still not forgiving him for the Pettigrew mess.
I didn't speak.
I raised my hand and let my magic rise.
At first, it was nothing, just a thin wisp of magic curling at my palm like smoke. But it pulsed once. Then again. And again. Each beat was heavier and denser like my soul was exhaling something it had kept caged for far too long. And perhaps that was exactly it, considering what we learned with Ajuka.
The wisp began to condense.
It shimmered pale blue at first, flickering with barely visible threads of magic. Then it deepened, sharpened, and turned gold, like the usual look when I used my Aetherius. A moment later, it went white. Blinding. Like staring into a star from up close. It was beautiful and undeniably deadly.
Gasps echoed across the Room. Someone stumbled back from the sheer weight radiating off it, even though it wasn't formed.
The space around the orb bent and warped. The wood beneath my feet groaned. My fingertips tingled as the air grew thick, trembling with pressure as the orb condensed more and more.
Then, the orb collapsed in on itself.
There was no explosion, not even a crack, just silence.
But everyone in the Room felt it. Some swayed. A few clutched their chairs for support. Even Scrimgeour didn't speak; he was looking fearfully at my hand, his eyes wide in shock.
I lowered my hand.
"I'll power the ward," I said quietly. "Just make it."
-Scene-
I watched as the last adult left the Room to finish the logistics of our actions. Everyone had agreed on our plan, wait for Seekvaira's father to help with the ward. At the same time, we created defensive teams to station around vulnerable areas. The Minister would be informed, reinforcements called, and protective wards reinforced. It was going to be a mess, and frankly, I didn't want to be part of it.
I disliked him and his toad so much that I wasn't in the mood to deal with either of them. Let the others play politics. I had done my part.
The Room of Requirement sensed the shift. As the tension bled from the space, so too did the war room vanish. The hard floors softened into warm cushions, and the stone walls became wood. The harsh dining table and chairs melted away, replaced by plush armchairs and couches arranged around a low tea table. A tea set steamed gently in the middle, with a bunch of pastries around it.
"Come here, Eli," Iris said, patting her lap as she lounged on the biggest couch.
I smiled gratefully and walked over, lowering myself onto the couch before placing my head gently on her thighs. Her fingers threaded through my hair immediately, loving and calming, and my eyes fluttered shut.
"If only they knew what a favor from an Archduke means," she murmured amusedly. "It's better they stay in the dark, right?"
"You think I shouldn't have used it for this?" I asked without opening my eyes. "Did I waste it?"
"No," Hermione said firmly as she joined us, sitting by my legs and placing her hand lightly on my knee. "I think you just showed how much of a wonderful person you are, Eli. Every time you make a decision like this, I remember exactly why I fell for you."
"They're right, you know," Fleur added from the armchair near the fireplace. "You could have saved that favor for anything. Power, influence, and personal gain. Instead, you choose to protect people you don't even know. You, my love, are something special."
"Our love," Iris corrected with a mock glare in Fleur's direction, earning a soft giggle from the French girl and a nod of agreement.
"I also think you did the right thing, Elias," Asia said shyly from across the table, cupping her tea with both hands. "I know you don't follow my religion, but… you just did something truly worthy. Something kind."
I smiled warmly at her, my heart genuinely touched. "God, you're adorable, Asia," I chuckled. "Never change."
She blushed hard, lifting the cup too quickly and choking on her drink. "Ack!"
"Don't tease the poor nun, Eli," Iris said, pinching my cheek as I laughed. "See how you put her?"
"It wasn't my fault!" I grinned and sent a pulse of healing magic her way, gently easing her coughing fit.
Asia blinked at me with wide eyes, then smiled bashfully. "Thank you…"
"Why don't we rest for a bit?" Fleur offered, stretching as she stood and gestured. The Room responded at once, a massive bed blooming into existence in the center, "We've done enough for one day."
"What do you say, Asia?" Fleur turned toward her with a teasing grin. "Want to join us?"
The poor girl went still, like a deer caught in headlights.
"All platonic, yeah?" Iris added quickly, nodding like a conspirator, "And only if you want. Trust me, you won't want to sleep alone after this."
"You two are horrible influences," Hermione muttered, even as she stood up and started pulling her wizard robe off, staying in a simple sundress. "And I hate that you're so good at it."
"If… if you'll have me," Asia finally replied with a blush but smiling nervously.
That was all it took.
The girls squealed. Not loud, but absolutely delighted, and within seconds, all of them were getting ready. Not to the level we were used to, but enough for a comfortable nap.
"Alright, alright," I stood, shaking my head. "Let's rest for a bit, okay?"
With a wave of my hand, I gathered them all, gently levitating the girls with magic as they giggled and yelped, and guided them to the bed before hopping on myself. They piled around me, forming a cozy tangle of limbs that grounded me.
Iris took my chest. Hermione curled into my right side. Fleur stretched herself lazily over my legs like a cat. Asia cautiously took my left, blinking in surprise when I held her hand without hesitation.
I didn't have any romantic feelings for her, but there was just something so precious that I needed to protect. She was so pure. So worthy of a love she couldn't have.
The Room dimmed.
The world could burn outside these walls. But for now, just this time, I allowed myself to forget about it.
This was what I fought to protect.
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