-͟͟͞☆ Chapter 4

𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
"Hide and Seek"
02:12 ━━━━●───── 03:47

ㅤ ㅤ◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷ ㅤㅤ

🛸✮☄

“You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
- Winnie the Pooh

THIRD PERSON POV 

And she did. 

She did return to the library. 

"I don't like the library at all to be honest" Briony muttered glancing at Sirius who shrugged, "I've been there plenty of times, it'll not... kill you I suppose" He muttered as the girl just gave him a look.

The library stood before her just as she had left it—dark, endless. The book sat there, the same way it did when she came last time. Repeating the steps again, Adalyn went inside as the door closed swiftly behind her. Moving close towards the book, her fingers grasped the leather cover and then, without warning—The chandeliers flickered to life.

A dim golden glow illuminated the towering shelves, stretching endlessly into the shadows above. The dust hanging in the air sparkled like tiny stars, and the scent of old parchment grew stronger, wrapping around her like an embrace.

The moment Adalyn touched the book, nothing happened.

No eerie whispers curling through the air. Just silence.

"I am such a fool sometimes" Adalyn chuckled shaking her head and running her fingers along the book's spine. 

The title had long faded, but the spine was decorated with intricate silver etchings of runes she couldn't quite decipher. Hesitating only for a moment, she pried it open.

The ink was deep black, sharp and almost too precise, as if it had been burned into the parchment rather than written. The words swirled before her eyes—Latin, ancient spells, incantations that made her skin prickle just reading them. The pages held diagrams of ritual circles, dark artifacts, and forbidden enchantments.

Adalyn flipped through the pages, her fingers tracing the faded ink of spells long forgotten—or rather, deliberately erased from common wizarding knowledge. 

She skimmed past a page on Unbreakable Curses, another on the Binding of Souls. The edges of some pages were burned.

"The art of siphoning magic from another... a practice considered unnatural, as it disrupts the balance of a wizard's core. The effects may be irreversible, leaving the victim weakened or worse—unmade."

"What the-" Briony stilled, her mouth agape as she turned to look at Sirius with wide eyes, "Unmade? Why is there a book in your library to-to.. this-" She said her hands gesturing to the book in Remus hand in disbelief. "Well.. what did you expect there to be in the Black family Library? And.. I don't think that's the worst thing I've read actually" He mumbled the last part as James just side eyed him before shaking his head.

Well moving on....

Adalyn frowned. Unmade? She had never heard of such magic before. Hogwarts didn't teach anything remotely like this, not even in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Why was it here? Had someone here used it? Had Dad ever read this book? She thought before shaking her head, No. Dad had despised everything about his family's obsession with Dark Magic. He had run from this house, from these books, from everything the House of Black stood for.

Sirius cleared his throat, suddenly interested in his black boots, swinging them side to side to check the durability of the material. His fingers fidgeted with his rings and he bit the inside of his cheeks and refused, absolutely refused to make eye contact with anyone, specially that little git of his brother, who sat there looking at him with a small smirk.

And yet, here she was. Drawn to it. She knew she should stop. She knew she should put the book back where she found it. But a morbid curiosity rooted her feet to the floor.

Then, from somewhere,  there was a sound—a soft creak. The door has opened. 

Adalyn's breath hitched as she snapped the book close. Oh god, what was it now. Keeping the book where it was, she crouched down behind the shelf. 

What if someone from the order were here? What if they find her lurking in the shadows with a book on dark arts? Adalyn groaned, hitting her head, "God Adalyn, way to become suspect number one," she breathed slowly, peeking from behind. 

"Well, it isn't like you're a Death Eater or something... The most you'll get is be grounded and have suspicious eyes on you, which will mostly be Moody to be honest," Remus said as James nodded, "Yeah, reading some books in a library isn't going to make you .. well them" He said, referring to the Death Eaters group.

But the person she saw standing there was surely not who she was expecting. Slowly, the frown and worry from her face vanished into a small smile. Suddenly, an idea struck her mind. Picking a book from the shelf, she dropped it on the ground and slowly ran to another shelf. 

"Oh, I think I am going to love this" Marlene whispered excitedly, sitting on the edge of her seat with a huge grin on her face.

Harry's attention suddenly went towards the book as he stepped inside, going towards the same shelf where Adalyn was a second ago. "Adalyn, are you there?" He asked, picking up the book and keeping it on the shelf. Suddenly, the sound of another book dropping echoed in the library with the running of footsteps. 

"Are we playing a game?" He whispered with a small smirk on his face. 

"Yeas we are" Mary cheered silently, holding Marlene's hand who turned to smirk at the girl, "We really are" She whispered, her eyes twinkling as she stared in the girl's eyes.

Adalyn bit down a laugh as she crouched behind another towering bookshelf, watching from the shadows as Harry turned toward the sound. The dim candlelight flickered against the dusty shelves, casting long, eerie shadows around him.

Harry ran his fingers over the spine of the book she had left behind, his green eyes narrowing with suspicion before another soft thud echoed through the room—another book hitting the ground.

His smirk widened. "Oh, we are definitely playing a game."

"And to say he was angry and shouting at some poor kids a few minutes ago" James sighed shaking his head, "Merlin, what young love does to people" He whispered as Sirius head snapped in his direction, "The only thing young love does is make people lose their ability to think and function properly, which clearly has happened to you since you were eleven" He snapped as James turned to face him with a small smirk.

"Oh are we really talking about it Sirius? I clearly remember the nights of third year-"

"Moony are you waiting for Professor McGonagall to start shouting at you to continue reading?" Sirius said cutting of James staring at Remus who looked at the two with a knowing smile.

Adalyn stayed low, creeping silently along the edge of the next row of books. She could hear the soft rustle of Harry moving closer, his footsteps steady, calculated. He was playing along, but she could tell he was searching her now.

Good.

She darted out of sight again, her heart hammering with the thrill of the chase.

"You do realize I'm a Seeker, right?" Harry called, amusement laced in his voice.

Adalyn rolled her eyes, suppressing a grin. "Good thing I am not a snitch then" she whispered to herself, moving deeper into the labyrinth of shelves.

"Aww, this is so cute, I might cry," Euphemia said, resting her head on her husband's shoulder while lovely staring at the kids. "There's no need to cry, my love," Fleamont said pressing a soft kiss on top of her head.

She reached the far end of the library and pressed herself against the cold wooden shelf, forcing herself to breathe quietly.

Silence.

Had she lost him?

Then—a whisper, right behind her.

"Caught you."

Before she could react, an arm shot out, grabbing her wrist.

Adalyn let out a startled gasp, spinning around to face Harry, standing barely a foot away, grinning like a victorious cat. Adalyn huffed, crossing her arms. "Alright, Potter. I'll admit it. You're not terrible at this."

Harry raised a brow. "Not terrible? Adalyn, I caught you in less than a minute." Adalyn smirked, stepping back just slightly. 

Before he could question it, she grabbed another book from the shelf and dropped it—hard. The sound echoed through the room.

Harry instinctively glanced down, and in that split second of distraction—Adalyn bolted. Harry cursed under his breath before chasing after her, his anger and frustration long forgotten. 

"Wow, did you ever imagine the dark, lurking Library of the Black family filled with Dark arts, becoming a casual romantic hideout for two people who haven't confessed their love for each other?" Rabastan said, looking at Regulus, who made a face at his description.

"Shut up Lestrange, don't speak like that. You sound cursed"

But, Harry was fast—too fast.

Adalyn barely made it past two shelves before an arm caught hers, pulling her to a sudden stop. She let out a small yelp as she lost balance, stumbling slightly before steadying herself against him.

"Got you," Harry said grinning widely. 

Adalyn turned to face him, and for a moment, neither of them moved.

They were close—closer than they had been in a long time. The flickering candlelight cast shadows over his face, making his green eyes seem even brighter in the dimly lit library. 

She tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "You've grown."

Harry blinked, caught off guard. Then, he let out a small, breathy laugh. "That tends to happen. It's called getting older."

Adalyn scoffed but didn't let go of his arm just yet. "No, really. You're taller now."

Harry grinned. "Well, you're shorter now, so I think it evens out."

"Height gap between couples is so cute" Alice said looking at the girls who nodded. "Yeah height gap, not a giant gap" James snickered looking at Briony whose eyes narrowed in offense, "What do you mean by that?" She asked.

"I mean, have you looked at yourself and Padfoot? You're almost a foot shorter than him" He said causing Briony to blush a deep shade of scarlet.

"I am not short, he's just too tall. Besides I am 5'5, that's average" She said as James snorted, "And he's what? 6'3? That's ten inches"

"Excuse me, people, but will you just ignore the fact that she said couple? They aren't a couple," Sirius said, "Yet" Briony, James and Remus said together.

She rolled her eyes, about to shove him playfully, but before she could, Harry pulled her into a hug. A firm, solid hug—not awkward, not hesitant. Just real.

For a second, Adalyn froze. Then, she exhaled, letting herself lean into him.

"Missed you, Adalyn," Harry mumbled, his voice slightly muffled against her shoulder.

"Ma lune" Marlene, Alice, Briony, and Mary corrected Remus at the same time as the boy flinched slightly, "Yeah I know, but he called her Adalyn only here"

Adalyn smiled, though he couldn't see it. "Yeah... me too, Harry."

"What are you doing here anyways" Harry asked letting go of her as she shrugged looking up at him. 

Adalyn shrugged, glancing around the dimly lit library. "Just... exploring."

Harry sighed, shaking his head. "Exploring?" He glanced around at the towering shelves packed with dust-covered books. "You found the one room in this house that's covered in dust and books, and you thought, 'Yeah, let me just wander in here alone.'"

Adalyn rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you aren't even a little curious."

Harry scoffed but didn't argue. Of course, he was curious. It was hard not to be, standing in a library that seemed untouched for decades. The candlelight flickered, casting eerie shadows along the wooden shelves. The scent of old parchment and ink lingered in the air, mixed with the faint mustiness of a place long forgotten.

Adalyn grinned, noticing his hesitation. "See? You do want to explore."

Harry exhaled through his nose, crossing his arms. "Fine. But if a book tries to eat us, you're dealing with it."

Adalyn snorted. "Sure gentleman."

She took the lead, weaving through the endless rows of bookshelves, her fingers trailing lightly over the spines of books too ancient to be disturbed. Harry followed, his footsteps quiet against the worn wooden floor.

"I wonder how big this place actually is," Adalyn mused, glancing at the high ceiling where chandeliers, covered in cobwebs, hung motionless. "I mean, Grimmauld Place isn't exactly Hogwarts, but this feels... way bigger than it should be."

Harry hummed in agreement, running his hand along the dusty wooden railing of a spiraling staircase leading to a second level of shelves. "Maybe it's enchanted. Could be one of those rooms that shift and expand."

"Magic keeps it expanded, it's the size of a normal room, but it's enchanted to... grow I guess," Sirius said with a small shrug.

Adalyn raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so now you believe in the magic library theory?"

Harry sighed dramatically. "It's either that, or we've been walking in circles for the past five minutes."

Adalyn looked around and frowned. They had been weaving through the shelves for a while now, but instead of reaching a wall or the edge of the room, it just... kept going.

"Okay, that's weird." She turned to Harry, a hint of excitement flickering in her eyes. "Wanna test a theory?"

Harry narrowed his eyes. "That depends. Does your theory involve us getting lost in a potentially endless maze of books?"

Adalyn grinned. "Obviously."

Harry laughed. "Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant." He forgot about all his worries, or about all the shouting or yelling he just did before. With her, he just felt... happy, content. 

Adalyn's fingers skimmed over the spines of the books as they walked, brushing off layers of dust as she read the faded titles. Most of them sounded incredibly dull—A Comprehensive Guide to Household Hexes, The Proper Preservation of Magical Scrolls—but then, one caught her eye.

She paused, reaching for the book wedged between two particularly thick tomes. Its leather cover was cracked with age, but the title, written in deep silver ink, stood out clearly.

"Split Your Souls," she read aloud, frowning.

"Split your what?" Marlene exclaimed, her eyebrows reaching her hairline in surprise and bafflement. "Split your souls?" Lily mumbled looking at Briony who shrugged.

"Padfoot, I didn't knew you had such.... knowledgeable books at home, truly" James said adjusting his glasses, as Sirius sighed shaking his head.

Harry, who had been eyeing a strange glass case full of old quills, turned at her words. "Uhh what?" 

Adalyn held up the book, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, this one actually sounds mildly interesting. Split your souls? Imagine the possibilities."

Harry crossed his arms, pretending to look thoughtful. "Right, because if there's anything that sounds like a great idea, it's soul-splitting."

Adalyn smirked. "Maybe it's about, I don't know... astrological projection or something."

Harry made a face. "Or maybe it's a detailed step-by-step guide on how to become a walking, talking disaster"

"What would I even do by splitting my soul?" Peter wondered out aloud staring at the floor. "I don't know, become immortal?" Remus said looking at the book quizzically. "How does one become immortal by splitting their soul Moony?" Sirius asked looking at the boy amazed by his theory.

Adalyn snorted, flipping the book open, only to find absolutely nothing. The pages were blank.

She frowned. "Well, that's disappointing."

Harry leaned in, peering over her shoulder. "Maybe it's enchanted. Or maybe the library's trying to keep its secrets from you."

Adalyn huffed, shutting the book with a soft thud before slipping it back onto the shelf. "Fine, be mysterious, then. See if I care."

Harry smirked. "You definitely care."

Adalyn rolled her eyes, giving the book Split Your Souls one last glance before waving it off. "Yeah, well, joke's on the book. Its pages were blank anyway. Pretty useless for a dramatic title like that."

Harry leaned against the shelf. "Or maybe it only reveals itself to the worthy."

Adalyn gasped, placing a hand over her heart. "Are you saying I'm not worthy? How dare you."

"Well" he shrugged as the girl just huffed rolling her eyes. They both chuckled before Adalyn stretched her arms above her head, yawning. "Alright, we've had our fill of exploring for today. Shall we leave before we actually do get haunted?"

Harry nodded, gesturing towards the door. "After you, Miss Curiosity-Killed-the-Cat."

Adalyn smirked. "Oh, please. You were just as into this as I was."

Harry made a so-so gesture with his hand. 

Just as they were about to leave, Adalyn hesitated. Her eyes flickered back to the shelf where she had found the book earlier—the one that had first caught her interest before she got distracted by Split Your Souls.

"Don't tell me she's interested in that" Briony mumbled, frowning at the book in Remus' hand.

Just as they were about to leave, Adalyn hesitated. She glanced back at the shelf, her fingers tightening into a fist before she sighed and turned around.

Harry, already halfway to the door, stopped. "What now?"

Adalyn didn't answer right away. Instead, she stepped back to where she had been before he arrived, running her fingers along the edge of a thick, worn-out book. It was old—older than most of the others on the shelf. The cover, once black, had faded into a dull, ashen gray, the edges frayed and brittle. Strange, twisting patterns were carved into the spine, but the title had long since faded.

She hesitated, then pulled it free and turned to Harry. "This is what I found before you came in."

Harry frowned, stepping closer. "Adalyn..." He gave her a look. "You do realize this book screams bad idea, right?"

Adalyn let out a breathy laugh. "Oh, trust me, I know. But..." She flipped it open carefully, revealing pages filled with dense, handwritten text. 

Harry scanned the text. He didn't recognize most of it, but certain words jumped out at him. Curses. Blood Magic. Forbidden Rituals.

He glanced back up at Adalyn. "You know this is Dark Arts, right?"

Adalyn nodded. "I figured. But I wasn't planning on using  anything from it. I just... I don't know. I wanted to understand it."

"That's the first step towards joining the cult" Rabastan said with a sly grin on his face. "As if you've ever read a book in your life, mother wouldn't be disappointed if you did" Evan snickered at the blank look that took over his face.

Harry's first instinct was to tell her to put it back, to leave it alone. But the way she held the book, the cautious yet fascinated look in her eyes—it reminded him too much of himself. How many times had he picked up something dangerous simply because he wanted to know why?

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, I don't love this. But... I trust you. Just—be careful, okay?"

Adalyn smirked. "Aren't I always?"

Harry scoffed. "That's literally never been true.Come on. Let's get out of here before the house decides to trap us in its ever-expanding maze of bookshelves."

Adalyn nodded, clutching the book to her chest as they finally made their way out.

Despite his words, he didn't try to take it from her. He trusted her.

And maybe, just maybe, that was a mistake.

"What? I don't like the tone of yours Moony" Sirius said looking at Remus who raised his hand - the empty one not holding the book - in innocence, "I'm just reading what's written"

Because Adalyn knew one thing for certain—she wasn't putting the book back.

"Chapter's over"

"Give I'll read next" Sirius said taking the book.

A/N

Sneak peak into the next chapter

Adalyn's eyes widen and if not for the situation, her jaw would have touched the floor. Harry James Potter down right lying to Sirius Black? How in world was this possible? She'd hardly ever seen him lie, and now when she did, that too in front of his godfather? Something has possessed him, definitely. 

"Is that so?" Sirius asked tilting his head looking at Adalyn who was trying her best to not let the shock show on her face. 

"Y-yeah, Y'know how I was bored for the last month, so..." Adalyn trailed off as she stared in her father's eyes. Well Harry definitely has some guts to stare in those scary eyes and lie at the same time. 

"Well then, I'll be waiting downstairs for dinner" He said moving down the stairs, but not before giving them both a pointed look.

They both stood there on their spots frozen for a few seconds before Adalyn squeaked loudly, "What if he gets to know" She whispered alarmed as he turned to face her and shrugged, "He won't" 

"And how's that?" She asked as the boy just gave a lopsided grin, "Well, trust me"