The Clockwork Locket || SIRIUS BLACK

The Locket's Secret

"Cassie! Cassie, wait!"

The young witch gave no sign of having heard her pursuers, continuing her brisk pace back to the castle with the Marauders on her heels.

"Cassie, will you please just stop for a minute?"

At James's insistent plea, she finally turned to face the four boys scrambling in her wake. "What?" she demanded, eyeing James as he clutched at a stitch in his side, panting.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"To talk to Moaning Myrtle," she said. "Didn't I just say that five minutes ago?"

"Yeah, but...why?"

She shot an exasperated look to Remus, who took his silent cue and kindly filled James in. "Myrtle might know something about Miranda, or at least where her ghost might be."

Sirius held up his hands. "Wait," he said. "You think Miranda is a ghost, and Moaning Myrtle might know her?"

"Myrtle said I reminded her of someone, months ago," Cassie said. "I thought she meant my brother, but she said it was a ghost." When James, Sirius, and Peter exchanged a dubious glance, she sighed in frustration. "This could be the last clue! Think about it: Miranda went to Hogwarts, and she was in love with Godric Gryffindor. If she became a ghost, where would be the most logical place for her to haunt?"

"But we would've seen her by now, wouldn't we?" Peter said nervously. "I mean, there're tons of ghosts at Hogwarts, but I think you would've recognized one that looks exactly like you."

"Unless she's hiding," Remus suggested. "Not every ghost wishes to be seen. Or she could be haunting a part of the castle that's off-limits."

Cassie nodded, glad that at least Remus seemed to be on her side. She looked at Sirius and found him watching her intently. She raised an eyebrow at him in silent challenge.

"I'm not doubting you, Cass," he said, "but are you really sure you're ready to have an answer?"

She blinked, uncomprehending, and he elaborated.

"Whatever answers Miranda may have," he said slowly, "are you sure you're ready to hear them?"

Her first instinct was to roll her eyes and scoff, but the brunt of his question made her hesitate, the full realization of it hitting her all at once.

If she found Miranda and her ancestor provided her with what she sought, then that would be it. There would be no more clues, no more mystery. She might be able to find the Gauntlet of Gryffindor—but what then? She would be in possession of the object Will, Carlisle, and Lord Voldemort all wanted, but what would she do with it?

Her obvious answer would be to destroy it, but could she? Did she even know how? Giving it away also sounded enticing, but if Voldemort and the Death Eaters wanted it so badly, then it would be better off gone entirely. The gauntlet was powerful, that much she could infer, and allowing it to fall into the wrong hands could be disastrous.

Then what was she to do?

She looked back to Remus, and some sort of understanding passed between them, for she suddenly had her answer.

"I'm ready," she said. "Whatever we find, I know I was meant to be the one to find it. And when we do, we'll go straight to Dumbledore. He's the only one Voldemort fears, and if anyone can help us, then it's him."

The Marauders all flinched at the use of the Dark Lord's name, but they glanced from her to each other, determination filling their gazes. She caught Sirius's eye and he winked, a flicker of pride in his eyes that strengthened her resolve.