Barnaby Lee x Reader - Year 6

R.I.P.

The next day, Ben called Lana to the library. He was sat with Merula at a table, so she went over to join them.

"I don't suppose you two called me here to study." she said as she sat next to Ben.

"I want in on your plans to crash your brother's meeting with 'R'." Merula told her.

"You told Merula about that, Ben?"

"If by 'that' you mean the black quill message telling your brother to meet 'R' in the Forbidden Forest, then yes." Merula said.

"Before you say anything, you should know I have a good reason for getting Merula involved. Just hear me out." Ben said defensively, and proceeded to explain the situation.

"So you wanna bring Merula with us to the forest as another line of defence?" Lana clarified after hearing his excuse.

"The dementors are supposedly only after the escaped wizard, but I doubt they'll pass on a free meal. Getting past them isn't going to be easy, even for me." Ben said.

"You seem to have forgotten that I know the patronus charm." Lana told him.

"That's a big help, but we can't bet it all on its power. We could use an extra wand to make sure you don't get hurt. And who better than someone who's also able to use the patronus charm? Even if it is just an incorporeal patronus."

"At least I can actually cast a patronus, unlike a certain someone." Merula scoffed, rolling her eyes at Ben.

"I considered recruiting the rest of our buried vault crew, but Bill is away on a mission for Gringotts. And if Charlie comes with us, he won't be here to look out for his brothers. The reality is that Merula and I have a lot less to lose in case anything does happen." Ben explained.

"Speak for yourself! You may be expendable, but I have no intention of dying for Riviera! Honestly, just when I was starting to come around, Copper, you go and run your big mouth." Merula frowned.

"Why are you so interested in coming with us to the forest, Merula?" Lana questioned, "Is it possible you're actually worried about me?" she teased.

"Don't be daft! I just think it'll be easier to end Rakepick if I have more info on 'R'."

"Do Merula's motivations really matter? We all want the same things to be there for Jacob's meeting with 'R'." Ben said sternly, "Amd the best way to make that happen is to all go together."

"You're right, Ben. Recruiting Merula was a good call. No matter how I feel about her, it'll be safer to have her with us than to not." Lana said reasonably.

"Glad you see it that way." Ben smiled.

"Don't expect me to thank you though. Now can we focus on how we're gonna get past the dementors?" Merula asked, "Cause I'd rather avoid them if we can help it. I've already run into one once, and that's more than enough for a lifetime."

"You act like you're afraid of dementors, Merula." Ben said suspiciously.

"That's not that unreasonable, is it? They can consume your soul and leave you an empty husk!"

"But I thought the most powerful witch at Hogwarts wasn't afraid of anything?" Lana sassed.

"Shut it, Riviera!" Merula huffed.

"But in all seriousness, Merula, dementors are drawn to happiness. They feed on it. An angsty gal like you shouldn't have anything to worry about." Lana said.

"You little—"

"Lana's right, you shouldn't be afraid. But not for those reasons." Ben said, "Fear is a waste. Best to cast it aside and instead focus on getting stronger, like I did."