MINOR EDITS IN PROGRESS - The Forgotten Heir | Sirius Black (Marauders Era)

Chapter 9: The Unveiling of Power

The darkness of the night had settled over the castle, shrouding it in an eerie silence. The Forbidden Forest stood as a looming shadow, its secrets hidden deep within the dense trees. Lamia lay in her bed in the Slytherin dormitory, her mind restless as she drifted in and out of sleep. The events of the day were a blur, but one thing remained clear: the forest called to her, whispering secrets she couldn't yet understand.

As she slept, her dreams became vivid, more real than the waking world. She found herself standing in a vast, empty space, a void where time and place seemed to have no meaning. The ground beneath her feet was cold and smooth, like polished stone, yet there was no light, no source of warmth or comfort.

Suddenly, a soft glow appeared in the distance, growing brighter and closer with each passing moment. Lamia squinted, trying to make out the source of the light. It was then that she saw it—a figure, shrouded in a white aura, floating gracefully toward her. The light was almost blinding, yet it didn't hurt her eyes. Instead, it filled her with a strange sense of calm, as if she had known this presence her entire life.

"Who are you?" Lamia's voice echoed in the void, sounding small and uncertain.

The figure did not speak at first. It hovered before her, its form shifting and changing like mist caught in a breeze. When it finally spoke, its voice was soft and melodic, almost as if it were singing rather than speaking.

"You seek answers, child," the figure said. "But the truth is hidden in shadows, wrapped in riddles that only you can unravel."

Lamia's heart pounded in her chest. She felt an overwhelming urge to know more, to grasp at the truths that seemed just out of reach. "Please, tell me who I am," she begged, her voice trembling. "Tell me where I come from."

The figure's aura pulsed gently, as if in response to her plea. "The roots of your blood run deep, entwined with the ancient and the arcane. You are born of the night, where shadows whisper and secrets dwell. To find your past, you must look to the stars, for they hold the key to the power that lies within."

Lamia's brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand. What power? What do you mean by the stars?"

The figure's form flickered, its presence becoming more ethereal. "In the heart of the forest lies a path, where the moon's light dances and the earth speaks. There, you will find the answers you seek. But beware, for the truth may be more than you wish to bear."

Desperation clawed at Lamia as the figure began to fade. "Please, don't go! I need more—what do you mean? What am I supposed to do?"

The figure's voice, now barely a whisper, spoke one last riddle before vanishing into the void. "The blood of the moon, the heart of the night, seek the centaur who walks between the light. There you will find what you have lost, but beware the price—it may come at a cost."

Lamia reached out, trying to grasp the figure, but her hand met only empty air. The void around her began to collapse, the darkness folding in on itself until there was nothing left.

She woke with a start, her heart racing and her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. The room was still dark, the early morning light not yet creeping through the windows of the Slytherin dungeon. She could still feel the presence of the figure, its words echoing in her mind.

Without a second thought, Lamia threw off the covers and hurried to get dressed. She had to get to the Forbidden Forest—to the centaur. The dream had been more than just a dream; it was a message, a warning, and she couldn't ignore it.

As she rushed through the castle, her mind raced with the riddle's cryptic words. The blood of the moon, the heart of the night... What did it mean? And what was this power that lay within her? She didn't have time to dwell on it now. All she knew was that she needed answers, and the Forbidden Forest was where she would find them.