Being a Greengrass after all should sound pretty serene.
But being a part of "the Emeralds" should not, especially when hearts become entangled with the infamous Regulus Black.
Goodness, lawfulness, or evilness. Which path will they tread in the ti...
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December 23rd, 1980
Avery sat curled in the corner of the old velvet armchair in the drawing room, knees tucked to her chest, a quill tapping absently against her lips. The room—usually her sanctuary for thinking—felt hollow in Regulus's absence. The fire crackled weakly in the hearth, but its warmth didn't reach the chill in her chest. Outside, December snow blanketed the streets of London, muffling the world in white and pressing an icy stillness against the windows.
Avery had been thinking for days. Obsessing, really. The idea that there were more Horcruxes out there somewhere in the Wizarding World had lodged itself in her mind. She couldn't ignore it, especially not when everyone she loved was in danger.
Since both the locket and the cup were directly tied to the Hogwarts founders, it stood to reason that the remaining Horcruxes might follow the same pattern—objects of power and legacy belonging to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. But that wasn't the only lens through which Voldemort created them. The Gaunt ring, for instance, had nothing to do with Hogwarts, yet it was steeped in his bloodline. So what else could be significant enough? What other artifacts might reflect the identity he built—or the one he was desperate to preserve?
A knock at the door broke her concentration.
"Ave? It's us!" came Pandora's voice, lively and bright, as always.
Dorcas followed close behind, carrying a stack of old books beneath her cloak. Avery had sent them both a discreet note the night before, asking them to come. She hadn't said why—just that it was important.
"Thanks for coming," Avery said, motioning them in. "I've been going mad in here."
Pandora tilted her head curiously. "What's wrong? Reg not around?"
"Busy," Avery muttered. "He's... doing something for them."
That sentence sat heavily in the room. Even Pandora's smile faded at the implication.
"Right," Dorcas said grimly, dropping the books on the low table between them. "So. What's this about?"
Avery moved from the armchair to the couch, running a hand through her hair before she spoke. "It's just... I've been thinking about the potential Horcruxes. We know the locket belonged to Slytherin and the cup to Hufflepuff. That means there has to be something obviously connected to Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. Or both."
She paused, frustration creasing her brow. "But I can't think of any relics. Not ones powerful enough or a good fit."
"Gryffindor's sword?" Dorcas offered. "It's the only one that comes to mind."
Avery shook her head. "Too well-guarded. Dumbledore has it. Voldemort wouldn't risk going near him."
"What about Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem?" Pandora says dreamily.
