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CHAPTER NINETY THREE - 🍂 the ୧ . . .
three candidates ও🦌

DAYS TURNED INTO NIGHTS, and nights into days, as time ticked by. The work on the protective ward for the box proved more challenging than Severus had initially anticipated. What he expected to be a few hour's worth of work was now taking up days.

Autumn had to leave the safety of the barrier a few times to gather food. It started with wild berries, then progressed to fish. Occasionally, she even managed to catch small animals, providing them with a more substantial, albeit limited, diet.

Each time, she was careful to return within the safety of the barrier, her hands often filled with something that could suffice as a meal for them both. The routine continued in silent harmony, neither speaking about the extended amount of time it took to complete the task at hand.

Although Autumn knew that Severus was far more skilled in casting spells, she hadn't really expected him to help her in transfiguring objects around the camp. His mind was heavily preoccupied with the task of encasing the box which held the next Horcrux.

She understood that this was no easy task, and any distraction could prove to be fatal. It was for this reason she didn't expect him to help, and she didn't begrudge him for it either.

As the days passed by, their campsite became increasingly comfortable. A simple yet cosy shelter had been erected, providing them with a place to rest safely at night, all thanks to Autumn's transfiguration usage.

At first, Autumn had been hesitant about starting conversations with Severus. However, after a few days, she sensed that he was beginning to open up, albeit subtly. His responses, which initially were limited to one-word replies, slowly started to become longer and more detailed.

Despite her initial worry that he might find her constant chatter irritating, deep down, Autumn knew that he found the distraction necessary. She was a welcome break from the dark thoughts that clouded his mind, especially those about his death.

With each conversation, Autumn felt like she was slowly chipping away at the barriers he'd created around himself. Perhaps, she thought, these brief moments of light banter were helping him find some measure of respite, a way to keep the shadows of his past at bay, at least temporarily.

Autumn observed the small changes in her former friend as their conversations continued. She knew they'd never regain the close bond they once shared in Hogwarts before the fallout, but she wasn't willing to give up on him yet.

There were moments when the hardened shell he'd built around himself seemed to crack, letting bits of his old self show. And she found herself hoping that there was a chance to mend what was broken.

The conversations served as a distraction for both of them. It helped Severus keep his mind off his death, and for Autumn, it was a way to bring back the person she used to be close friends with.

Yes, they were not like they once were, but she held onto the slim hope that there was still a chance to salvage their broken friendship.

"I wonder if Regulus is alright," Autumn mused, her voice filled with concern. "He must've panicked finding us gone."

Severus looked up from the notebook he was writing in, his eyes meeting hers. "I am sure he'll be fine," he responded, his tone somewhat reassuring. "He's probably out there looking for the other Horcruxes as we speak."

Autumn turned to face him fully, her worry evident. "But does he even know where they are?" she asked. "And is it safe to have him look for them alone?"

"There's the Diary and the Cup," Severus noted, his voice steady yet solemn. "Lucius Malfoy has the Diary, while Bellatrix Lestrange has the Cup in her vault at Gringotts."

Autumn's worried expression indicated her disapproval. "Are you serious?" she exclaimed. "You really expect Regulus to obtain those on his own? The Diary, maybe... but the Cup? It's in a vault. That's a suicide mission!"

The words came out before she could completely consider it, but she knew it was the truth. Severus' plan sounded highly implausible and dangerous. Regulus went alone to Gringotts to find the Horcrux in such an impenetrable place, the idea alone sent chills down her spine.

She looked for any sign of uncertainty in Severus' face, but there was none. His expression remained resolute as if he had full confidence in Regulus' ability to complete such a dangerous task. The thought made her uncomfortable, knowing the risks involved and the likelihood of something going wrong.

"Regulus has his house-elf," Severus explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "He can be Apparated into both the Malfoy Manor and the Gringotts Vaults."

Autumn shook her head, sceptical. "That sounds too easy," she mused. "There have to be anti-Apparition charms at Gringotts, and the Malfoys can't be that careless."

Severus let out a smirk, his gaze locked onto her. "House-elves' magic is not restricted like ours," he said. "Many wizards and witches underestimate their power."

"They never consider the potential of their magic," Severus continued, his smirk still present.

Autumn's eyes widened at his words. "Really?" she asked, her voice laced with surprise. "So... should we be worried that they might revolt someday?"

Severus chuckled, trying to hold back a laugh. "Don't give them ideas," he chuckled.

The conversation took an interesting turn.

Autumn couldn't help but chuckle, imagining how the tables might turn if the house elves decided to use their unrestricted magic against humankind. "I guess it's a good thing they're loyal then," she remarked, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Severus nodded, his smirk replaced by a thoughtful expression. "Indeed," he agreed. "Their loyalty is what keeps them from using their magic against us. It's a powerful tool, but thankfully, it's used for the right reasons most of the time."

Autumn suddenly paused, realization dawning on her. "So if Regulus asked his house-elf to Apparate here..." she began, her voice trailing off.

Severus looked at her and nodded, his lips curling into a slight smirk. "I guess you worried for nothing," he replied.

With a scoff, Autumn retorted, "It's just in my nature to worry, okay?"

Severus rolled his eyes but then added, "Better to worry than not worry at all."

Autumn let out a contemplative hum, mulling over her question. "So the Horcrux in the box has to be the ring," she mused, her eyes flickering towards the container.

Severus turned to her, his gaze thoughtful. "And the seventh one that hasn't been made yet..."

Autumn's attention was fully on what he was about to say next. "Why can't we just destroy the six existing Horcruxes and end him?" she asked.

"Regulus and I have already asked Winter that question," Severus answered, his voice laced with a hint of resignation. "And he said that it failed before. He'll be aware of the last Horcrux to be destroyed."

Autumn's brows furrowed as she listened intently.

Severus continued, his tone solemn. "With his seventh made, his body is weaker."

There was a moment of silence as Autumn contemplated what she had just heard. The pieces were slowly coming together, and the implications were grave. The fact that Voldemort would be aware of the last Horcrux to be destroyed and the reality that his body was weaker after making his seventh Horcrux was a chilling realization.

"Why would making a seventh be so different?" Autumn wondered aloud, her mind racing. "He's just splitting his soul into pieces, right?"

Severus nodded, his expression sombre. "It's because it's the last remaining part of his humanity," he explained. "Once he is rid of that last shred of humanity, he won't even realize when we're on the last one. His body will be at its weakest after making the seventh."

The weight of the revelation settled heavily on them both. The thought that Voldemort, in making his seventh Horcrux, would be completely void of humanity and at his most vulnerable, was both a grim realization and a glimmer of hope.

"What will be the seventh anyways?" she probed, noticing the way Severus suddenly froze. Sensing the unease in his reaction, Autumn became alert.

"Sev, what is the seventh Horcrux?" she repeated, her voice growing more urgent with each word.

Severus remained quiet for a moment, his eyes avoiding her gaze. Her growing worry made her stand up and move closer to him.

"Why are you so quiet? Sev—what is the final Horcrux?" she persisted.

His response came out slow, his voice filled with dread, "It's a person."

A beat of silence hung in the air as the weight of his words hit her. "A person?" she repeated in disbelief, her mind struggling to grasp the enormity of what he was saying.

The thought of a living being being turned into a container for Voldemort's shattered soul was horrifying. She took a step back, her eyes never leaving his face.

"Who is it?" Her voice trembled, her mind already running with grim possibilities. Who was the person who was destined to bear this tragic fate? How would they ever find them in time?

Severus averted his gaze, unable to stomach the thought of speaking the candidates aloud. He knew that once he uttered them, he would have to face two daunting possibilities: either Autumn would leave to attempt to change fate, or worse, she would be consumed by uncontrollable anger, beyond any attempt at reasoning.

The air around them felt heavy with the silence, each passing moment stretching out like an eternity as they both knew they were on the brink of a terrible revelation.

"There are three possible candidates..." Severus finally broke the deafening silence, his voice barely above a whisper. Autumn's gaze locked onto him, her body tensing with trepidation.

"Who?" she managed to get out, her voice shaking nervously.

Severus clenched his eyes shut as the words hung in the air. He knew that, by all accounts, Elliot had ensured that the other two possibilities were out of the question, but the thought of his friend being so willing to sacrifice himself infuriated Severus. However, he also knew that the choice was not his to make; it was solely up to the ones involved.

"Elliot and Lily's son, your and James' daughter, or the Longbottom's son," he finally managed to say, his voice laced with a mix of resignation and sadness.

Autumn's eyes widened, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place in her mind. "The prophecy..." she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The one that Sybill Trelawny made..."

Severus nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of the prophecy's implications. It had been foretold barely a year ago, predicting the dire future of the wizarding world.

A chill ran down her spine as she realized the gravity of the situation. This prophecy, which had seemed like nothing but an obscure and ominous warning, had now taken a personal turn that could directly involve her and her family. The realization of its potential impact on her loved ones sent a wave of panic coursing through her.

Autumn's voice trembled with panic as she tried to make sense of Severus' explanation. "Elliot... He's going to make sure it's his and Lily's son?" she demanded, desperate for understanding.

Severus interrupted her, his own voice heavy with resignation. "Winter's never explained why he was so sure it had to be his son. I can't even imagine how Lily feels about the idea."

Autumn's voice rose in frustration, "She had to be against it! She has to be!"

"She must be against it," Autumn repeated, her voice pleading, as if her own words could change the tragic fate that lay ahead.

Severus whirled on her, his anxiety and frustration finally bubbling to the surface. "And what if he goes for your daughter?" he snapped, his eyes piercing into hers, desperate to make her understand the gravity of the situation.

Autumn froze in her tracks, the weight of his words sinking in. The realization of the danger her child faced left her speechless momentarily.

Severus continued, his voice tinged with a hint of pleading, "I am willing to do anything to stop it from happening to Lily's son, but I don't know where she is..."

Amid the turmoil, it was clear that Severus felt helpless and tormented by the thought of the prophecy coming true. He didn't know where Lily was, and his intervention seemed precarious, a double-edged sword that could mean saving Lily's son but inadvertently causing harm to Autumn's daughter.

"And the Longbottoms... I... I don't want that for them either," Autumn whispered, her voice barely above a choked sob. She couldn't bear the thought of any child being subjected to such horror, especially when none of them knew what the outcome would be.

"In the previous timeline, what happened to the baby that became a Horcrux?" she asked, her voice filled with resignation.

Severus' reply came in a sombre tone, "It was always an accident. It was always a mother's love that protected the infant."

He paused, his gaze drifting as he mentally pictured the events from the past. "And since it was barely as strong as the other other Horcruxes, it only connected the minds of them and Voldemort."

Autumn sat frozen, the gravity of the statement settling heavily upon her. The thought of a child being used as a vessel for such dark magic was utterly horrifying, even if the infant's innocence and motherly love had shielded it previously.

"The Dark Lord never knew that the seventh existed. Not until the last moment. So while the seventh is made, it's the perfect chance to strike," Severus divulged in a grim tone.

Autumn's outrage flared as she realized he was suggesting murder. "ARE YOU SAYING WE KILL THEM?!"

Severus finally lost his composure, his voice rising in frustration. "I don't know!" He blurted out. "Believe me, Autumn. If there was another way to prevent any one of us from having to murder whoever becomes the seventh, I don't think I could ever live with myself."

Autumn's anger softened as she heard his plea, knowing that he was conflicted. "I know where Lily is hiding," she suddenly blurted out, her voice filled with determination. "If we go there, we can change that, right? We can save her and stop the seventh altogether."

Severus' eyes widened, his surprise evident as she revealed this newfound knowledge. "You know where Lily is?" he echoed, a flicker of hope breaking through his usual stoicism.

Autumn nodded fervently, her resolve strengthening. "I do," she confirmed. "We can use this opportunity to stop this nightmare before it even begins. We can save Lily, prevent the seventh Horcrux...everything."

Severus studied her face, seeing the resolute and determined look in her eyes. He knew the plan was bold, the possibilities daunting, but he also saw the slim chance of achieving the impossible. His mind raced, contemplating the risks and rewards of such an endeavour.

Severus and Autumn were caught off guard as a powerful spell hit them, causing them to be thrown back with force. The unexpected attack momentarily disoriented them, leaving them stunned and scrambling to figure out what had just happened.

Groaning, Autumn pushed herself up, searching the darkness of the trees to see who had attacked them. The forest was eerily silent, the only sound that of their breaths coming in quick, laboured gasps. Severus groaned as he stood, his hand instinctively reaching out for his wand.

"Who's there?" Autumn called out, her voice carrying through the silence. The forest seemed to close in on them, the shadows from the trees casting eerie shadows on the ground. There was no response, only the rustle of leaves being stirred by the gentle night breeze.

"Show yourself," Severus demanded, his hand gripping his wand tightly. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline rushing through his body, preparing for a possible showdown.

As the seconds ticked by with no reply, the tension in the air grew thicker. Autumn's eyes scanned the forest around her, every shadow seeming to hold the potential threat. She felt exposed and vulnerable in the open clearing, and her mind raced with thoughts of who could have attacked them.

As the figures stepped into the dim light, Autumn and Severus froze in disbelief. Standing before them were Lily and Elliot, their solemn expressions filling the air with tension.

Lily looked weary and resigned as she spoke, "We can't have you two changing anything."

Severus' heart sank, but he managed to respond, "You can't ask us to stand by and just watch you sacrifice yourself. There has to be a way."

Lily closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I thank you both for wanting to stop it," she said softly, her voice heavy with resignation," but you both have to understand. It has to be our sacrifice. One mistake and we lose all hope."

Severus' hands trembled with frustration and desperation as he pleaded. "We can't lose hope, Lily. There has to be another way. You can't just sacrifice your life for a slim chance."

Lily's eyes met Severus' gaze, her voice firm yet sympathetic. "Sometimes, the only way to ensure that hope survives is to make sacrifices. We can't afford any mistakes. You both need to understand that."

Autumn stood in silence, her mind racing with a mix of emotions—fear, anger, and disbelief. She wanted to speak, to try and change their minds, but the determination in their eyes made it clear that they were set on this path.

Autumn's heart was heavy as she stood there, her mind racing for a way to change Lily and Elliot's minds. She could see the determination in their eyes, and it made her desperate to do something, anything to persuade them to reconsider. Severus, feeling the same desperation, had raised his wand, and so had Autumn, intending to fight back.

However, Lily and Elliot were one step ahead. They had been watching them the moment they were transported and had prepared a trap. As soon as Autumn and Severus tried to use their wands, they found that their magical powers were suddenly neutralized.

Elliot shook his head, his eyes pained. Lily also gave a pained smile.

Autumn lowered her hand in disbelief," This whole time... you have been making sure we followed everything you set out for us. How... How did you manage to get me to that Shack?"

Elliot sighed, "I had knowledge of the locations of all of them. So I made sure you found a way to them."

Autumn's heart felt heavy as she asked, "So you didn't need me to find the Diadem?"

Lily nodded," You needed the Diadem to get to the ring."

"Why me?" Autumn asked, her voice filled with surprise and confusion.

Elliot explained, "When you drew the Diadem in Hogwarts, you somehow connected to it. That connection created a gateway to the previous Horcrux: the ring...And even if I knew where it was, I couldn't get to it because the Shack was hidden, but your connection to the Diadem brought you straight to it."

Severus, still struggling to process the information, interjected, "Then what about me and Nagini?"

Lily glanced at Severus with a mixture of pain and understanding. "Nagini... even if she lost her human form, she still had some part of her humanity within her asleep. But when she.." Lily struggled to say it.

"Killed me," Severus finished for her, his voice laced with sadness and resignation.

Lily nodded, continuing, "When she did that, the sorrow and grief you had awakened the part within her that was still human."

Autumn and Severus listened intently as Lily continued, "And so, in this new timeline, the guilt and sorrow you felt was so powerful that Nagini came to Elliot to request that you be the one to kill her."

"She could have come to you anytime after," Lily continued," but she probably chose this moment because she probably sensed the other Horcruxes."

Autumn's thoughts swirled with this revelation, and she voiced them aloud, "Severus told me that Nagini was made into a Horcrux a lot earlier than she was supposed to be..."

Elliot nodded in agreement, his arms crossed, and revealed, "She sought out Voldemort, and while he was killing a random muggleborn witch, she became a Horcrux."

"Give Autumn and me more time," Severus pleaded. "I need to encase the ring's box because it's cursed. If anyone touches it, it'll end up killing them slowly."

Elliot nodded solemnly, "All right."

Autumn nodded, her emotions torn between love and frustration. She impulsively hugged them both, her voice filled with a mixture of affection and exasperation. "I really love and hate you two right now."

As they walked away, Autumn watched their receding figures, her heart weighed down with worry and appreciation for their decision to allow them more time.

As Autumn stood there, she watched Severus pack the ring into his bag. Her surprise prompted her to ask, "What are you—"

Severus interrupted her without turning to look at her, "We need to travel. I can't make a spell up without books."

Autumn chuckled, "Huh? I would have thought you'd send me off."

Severus finally looked at her, his expression serious yet gentle. "I can, but I know you'd do something stupid and try anything to stop Winters and Lily."

Autumn's annoyance bubbled to the surface as she countered his comment with a hint of sarcasm. "Excuse me? You were also pretty much willing to do something as well!"

Severus remained unfazed, calmly replying, "I have more common sense than you, Autumn. The moment they arrived, I knew it was futile. You know I don't play hero."

Autumn huffed, feeling mildly irritated by his response. "Right... Denial is your favourite thing to do."

Severus quirked an eyebrow at her comment, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "And your favourite thing to do is to make reckless decisions."

"Oh, we make a great team," Autumn said sarcastically.

Severus couldn't help but smirk at her sarcastic remark. "Oh, we make a great team indeed." He then added with a hint of mock exhaustion, "More like I am babysitting you."

Autumn rolled her eyes playfully, unable to suppress a smirk. "Oh, spare me the babysitting act. You secretly enjoy it."

Severus feigned disbelief, his smirk growing wider. "Enjoy babysitting you? Oh, yes, of course. Nothing like the thrill of dealing with your impulsive decisions and reckless tendencies."

Autumn chuckled, pretending to be offended. "Impulsive decisions? Excuse me, I prefer to call them spontaneous bursts of genius!"

Severus just rolled his eyes as his attention shifted to his hands and wand, and finally spoke, "We can use spells again. We should get moving."

Autumn let out a resigned sigh, nodding in agreement. "Fine," she replied. "So, where are we going first?"

An: don't worry, it won't be long before we are back with the gang! At first, I planned on Autumn and Severus just telling the others what happened and summarising it—but I realized I rather you all experience what they did to get to the point when they arrived at the Potter home.