Veracity - ✔️

Twenty

"The funny thing about facing imminent death
is that it really snaps everything else into perspective."
- James Patterson

"Athene!" Two very distinct voices echoed through Epeolatry and startled the owner of the building. "We must ask for your advice."

"Shoot." Athene brushed the dust off of her pants and stood straight to look at the red-headed twins leaning casually against some of the bookshelves. "Wait, aren't you supposed to be in school?" The two boys looked sheepishly at each other. Neither of them were dressed in their Hogwarts robes, and there was no sign of a teacher escort.

"Yes," Athene thought it was Fred who spoke, but it might have been George. "But at the same time, no."

"We quit, and now we're going to open up our very own Joke shop right here in Diagon Alley."

"Weasley's Wizards Wheezes is finally taking off, huh?" Athene laughed, relieved that they hadn't gotten into serious trouble. "And how is your mother taking this turn of events?"

"Let's focus on that advice you're going to give us," Fred offered her a charming smile that looked so much like Charlie's. "We want to buy a shop here in Diagon Alley."

"We want you to tell us how you got this charming little place."

She stared at the only other occupants in her shop for several seconds before giving them a firm nod and locking the door. The three of them settled in three of the chairs that George had pushed into a circle. "This place was a wreck before I bought it. Way back when, back when Diagon Alley was just beginning, this place was an antique shop. You can imagine all the junk I found just sitting around."

"It was abandoned?"

"Yep. I bought the place from the Ministry for dirt cheap, and then I renovated it. I did everything myself so that it was to my liking. Enya helped out a bit, but this is my baby."

"How hard was it to start your business?"

"Once I dealt with the Ministry - and that was the most painful part - everything fell together seamlessly." Athene could still remember the nasty Ministry officials that she had to deal with to get Epeolatry running. Something was always wrong in their eyes.

The twins stared at each other before standing from their chairs, drawing Athene's attention away from her thoughts. Their quick movements startled Athene; she had figured there would be more to the advice that they needed. "Thank you very much, Athene."

"Charlie sent his regards and wanted me to inform you that he, and I quote, 'can't wait to see you.'" Fred made a face as he delivered the message. "We'll be taking our leave now." Athene watched as the two boys exited her shop with wide grins on their faces. She had always known that Fred and George Weasley would not go quietly into the night, and she figured that this would be the perfect profession for them. Though, I do hope they don't cause too much trouble in Diagon Alley.

Instead of opening up Epeolatry for thirty minutes, Athene closed early. She meandered her way up the steps, not taking too much time or effort. Athene was looking forward to a night of peace away from the troubles of the Wizarding World and her writings. So, she drew a bath and planned to relax. She was just about to step into the steaming water when a bright orb illuminated the bathroom. Athene brought her hands to her eyes but listened intently. "Report to the Department of Mysteries at once. Be prepared for battle." Any thoughts of an uneventful evening instantly went down the drain.

The first time that Athene had ever seen the Department of Mysteries had been an accident. She had walked by the open door and caught a glimpse of all the prophecies that were locked away. Even though the door had quickly been slammed in her face, Athene knew that it was a place shrouded in silence and ironically, mystery. When Athene apparated into the area, she was met with only one of the two: mystery. Shouts echoed around the entire cavernous room, and the area was lit with the light from hexes bouncing from one person to the next.

Several children were surrounded in the middle of the room by wizards dressed completely in black with masks covering their faces. The only one without a mask was Lucious Malfoy, a man that had claimed innocence when the Dark Lord fell the first time. Athene couldn't say that she was surprised to see him, but she had hoped that maybe there hadn't been any truth to Rita's articles.

Upon their arrival, it had seemed that the students had been outnumbered. But with the help of the Order, the Death Eaters were sent into chaos. The battle resumed, and the Order fought with everything that they had. Athene had been cornered by a Death Eater with a particularly familiar aura about them. Each hex that was sent her way was not lethal, and they only aimed to disarm her.

Athene put everything into her hexes, but nothing seemed to be working. The Death Eater was still dangerously close. She drew back her wand and pushed all of her remaining strength into this next spell. Time seemed to slow as the magic slammed into the Death Eater's mask. Athene stared in horror as the silver cover fell away and revealed who was on the other side. "Enya?"

The woman in question raised her wand and fired spell after spell at Athene. "I had no choice, Athene," Enya shot a disarming spell at Athene, but she managed to dodge the attack. "It was a matter of honor."

"A matter of honor?" Athene shouted back, no longer firing offensive spells. "You were my best friend! Where's the honor in betraying me? Betraying everything you had wanted to be?"

"Being your friend made me perfect for the Dark Lord's tasks. You wouldn't suspect a thing. I could gather information about the Order through you and keep tabs on your articles. He was very disappointed to hear that you followed in your mother's footsteps."

Athene lowered her wand; she refused to fight the woman that she had grown up loving. Enya was like her sister. "Did our friendship really mean so little to you?"

"Of course not. You were my best friend, but I had no choice."

"There is always a choice," Athene raised her wand and prepared to fight again. "And if you can't see it, then my best friend is gone." Athene fired another spell, successfully throwing Enya off of her feet. "The Enya I knew wouldn't be so quick to prove Rita Skeeter right." Athene never got the chance to disarm her former best friend and end the fight.

A spell hit her square in the back, sending her spiraling to the ground in pain. Her screams joined the sounds of battle, though they were soon quieted by the foam that spilled from her lips. Her vision blurred until all she could see was the outline of her attacker. She lay defenseless as Enya - or maybe whoever attacked from behind - stood over her motionless body.

Several moments passed, and Athene could no longer see or hear the battle raging on around her. Her mind had taken her far away to the valley near her childhood home. Everyone that she had ever loved was standing around her. Her mother, her father, Charlie, and even Rita were smiling down at her. If she were to die, at least she would do so in the presence of her family.

Athene released the tension in her shoulders and allowed herself to relax into the warm embrace of her mother and father. To feel their love again was a dream come true. But, as her parents pulled her towards them, the other two occupants of the valley called out to her. Their hands gripped her shoulders, pulling her from the grasp of her parents. Muddled voices echoed through the valley. Athene couldn't make out what they were saying, only that they weren't coming from the mouths of the people standing before her.

Until a moment of clarity overcame her. Suddenly, she was alone in the valley, and the words made perfect sense.

"You can't leave me; not here, not now."

Author's Note:
So there's the end of book two! Originally, I planned to have another chapter added on, but I wanted to leave a bit of a cliff hanger. Please comment and let me know what you thought of the book! I would love to hear your feedback!