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IS - Chapter 161: An Emergency
🕑 Added 2025-07-18 11:11:52 +0000 UTCDisclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
“Dialogue”
‘Thoughts’
-Author notes-
Chapter 161: An Emergency
“No, I’d rather you don’t.” Bella frowned. It was obvious that her older sister was still seeing that Muggle-born boy, despite all her warnings to stop doing that.
“Now, cousin.” Andromeda turned to look at Sirius, who seemed very nervous at being locked in a broom closet with them. “Tell us, what is this important thing you wanted to ask?”
Sirius cleared his throat and peeked at Bella. “Do you know where James’s new laboratory is hidden?”
Bella did not react to the question, but Andromeda did.
“He made another one? After the first one blew up and he almost got expelled? What was he thinking?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Bella responded.
Sirius rolled his eyes. “Come on, don’t take me for an idiot. I know you’ve been seeing James in secret all year. I also know about the engag—”
Bella closed his mouth. “How did you find out about that?”
“Regulus,” Andromeda said. She had reached the same conclusion as James.
Sirius nodded.
Bella sighed and removed her hand. “You better keep your mouth shut about this. We already have enough issues at our house. If they find out that my grandfather broke our engagements only to then create a contract with a house like the Potters…”
“You don’t have to worry about me talking,” Sirius responded in an annoyed tone. He was starting to feel angry that no one would trust his capability to keep a secret. “If I were you, I’d be more concerned about Narcissa telling something to Malfoy. Because she also knows about it, right?”
Bella and Andromeda exchanged a look. As much as they wanted to defend their younger sister, they also knew she would probably do anything to get back into Lucius’s good graces.
“Okay, fine. Why do you want to know that?” Bella wanted to move the conversation forward.
“James is missing. We haven’t seen him since early this morning. He missed lunch and now dinner. We’re getting a bit worried...this is not like him.”
“He must be working on something.” She had seen him that morning but had left shortly after that awkward scene.
However, she knew James would often lose track of time when working on one of his projects.
“He always gives us a heads-up when he’s going to be working on something for a long time. But we haven’t heard anything from him. Was he doing something dangerous when you last saw him?”
“When I last saw him?” Bella’s cheeks gained a reddish tint as she recalled what happened back then. “N-nothing happened.” She was glad the broom closet was dark enough to hide her face.
“Oh?” Andromeda leaned closer. “That sounded like something did happen.”
“What?!” Sirius exclaimed. “Wait, that’s not what I was asking. What happened?”
“None of your business!” Bella responded.
“You’re worrying too much, Sirius. I’m sure James knows what he’s doing. No way he’d get hurt while working on one of his projects,” Andromeda said with confidence.
After seeing what he was capable of during their little trip to that ancient tomb, she couldn’t imagine him being hurt by something like that.
“I agree. I’m sure James will appear soon enough,” Bella told him. “Now, can we leave this closet already? It’s getting stuffy in here.”
Sirius frowned. He was sure that Bella knew exactly where James’s lab was, but it didn’t seem like he would be able to get her to talk.
“Kyu! Kyu!”
“What was that noise?” Andromeda asked the moment she heard something crying outside.
“Sounds like an animal of some sort… someone’s pet?” Sirius wondered.
Bella gasped. “Open the door!”
“What are y—ouch!” Sirius cried in pain when she shoved him to one side so she could get the door open.
“Bella, what is g—” Andromeda was also pushed aside.
“Move!” Bella got the door opened just enough to squeeze outside. “Prim!” she called immediately for the little chimera.
She had recognized his voice immediately, although she had no idea why he was roaming the halls. James would never allow him to do that.
“Kyu!”
She heard him again, this time closer, and started running through the halls.
Alarmed by her sudden reaction, Sirius and Andromeda also hurried outside and followed her.
The moment Bella turned the next corner, she found Primum. The little creature was flying with difficulty, its wings were damaged, and a large part of its body was burned.
“Oh no!” Bella exclaimed with shock when she saw him in such a deplorable state.
“Kyu!” Primum found her and moved rapidly toward her, almost collapsing into her arms.
“What happened to you?” Bella looked down at the injured creature. Unfortunately, he couldn’t explain what had occurred and only continued to whimper.
“What is that?” Sirius asked when he saw his cousin holding some pale, winged creature in her arms.
“It looks like a tiny dragon. Where did it come from?” Andromeda wondered.
Bella glanced at Sirius for a moment. “You may be right about James.”
She looked down at the creature with concern. “This is Primum, one of James’s creations.”
“James made that?” Sirius pointed at it.
“Poor thing, it looks very hurt. Maybe we should take it to Hagrid so he can take a look,” Andromeda suggested.
“Hold on… If that creature got hurt and it was with James…” Sirius stared at the whimpering Primum. “Something bad must have happened to him.”
“You came looking for me, Prim? Did something happen to James?” Bella asked.
“Kyu…” Primum nodded its little head.
She glanced at the other two, having made up her mind. “Fine then, I'll take you to his lab.”
