During this period, Lys nearly fell into a trap set by the wizard responsible for capturing blood status violators, but she used two Muggle-born under the Imperius Curse to eliminate him instead.
Lys was even becoming somewhat accustomed to killing Death Eaters. She tilted her head, contemplating this development.
Then she made those two Imperiused wizards escape before the remaining witnesses...
She also transfigured that Death Eater's corpse into a pocket watch and placed it in a drawer with the others.
She even glanced at the empty space beside them—for an instant, she seemed to perceive another watch materializing.
Three days later, Lys located those two individuals she'd controlled. Fortunately, they hadn't perished. She stuffed several bottles of standard potions into their robes, applied Memory Charms, and transported them to France...
Once, she passed a somewhat familiar French Auror. Observing those Aurors merely establishing warning perimeters at the forest's edge under orders rather than conducting expulsions, she scrutinized their leader more closely.
She was startled to recognize Hagrid's friend from when she'd disrupted the Thomas family gathering...
This compelled her to repeatedly examine her memories, yet she could provide no answers.
Lys frequently corresponded with Fred. She expressed desires to see him, but Fred consistently made excuses—claiming he required tutoring with Professor Snape, tutoring with Professor Flitwick—postponing their meetings until the next Hogsmeade weekend.
On Hogsmeade day, Fred and Lys sat in the pub conversing. "I think Draco's hair has grown back somewhat. He was genuinely terrified when he was home."
He crunched ice cubes, the sound crisp and resonant: "Those two idiots the Dark Lord inserted only know how to shout and punish students with the Cruciatus Curse. Absolutely maddening."
He continued extracting two more ice cubes from his glass, chewing urgently: "I dropped those two classes entirely. Professor Snape... I mean the Headmaster initially refused to authorize it, but eventually he did."
Lys compelled herself to display curiosity, despite actually understanding why Snape had agreed. She wanted to determine if Fred would reveal what truly transpired:
"How did he change his mind?"
"I informed him: my sister told me certain things about your school days, Headmaster. He appeared absolutely dreadful but still consented. Afterward, I requested he teach me some magic, employing the same approach. He looked prepared to curse me."
Fred's expression became mischievous, though he couldn't cease crunching ice:
"Hey! I told him my sister would be angry, and his face looked like he'd encountered a troll."
Lys wanted to laugh but couldn't quite manage it. Recalling her earlier suspicions, she forced her smile to intensify.
It appeared as though she'd failed to suppress laughter.
Observing Lys's expression, Fred relaxed considerably, because Lys displaying positive emotions indicated she was properly taking her medicine and hadn't resumed hunting and killing recklessly.
Regarding Fred, Lys began sharing—for the countless time—the few Hogwarts experiences she'd treasured: that talking suit of armor, the elderly lady in the portrait who told jokes, and the book about the monkey with willow branches in the Restricted Section.
Fred quietly listened to the memories that brought Lys happiness, crunching ice cubes.
But those memories weren't numerous, so Lys soon exhausted her recollections.
"There's a book extremely popular among us lately called The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore. Oh, Lys, I absolutely discourage you from reading it. Grindelwald and Dumbledore in that book appear far too much like lovers. I think it's impossible, but my roommates are completely convinced. Because I don't believe it, they even compiled a list for me."
Fred rummaged in his pocket and handed the list to Lys.
"It actually appears quite convincing, Lys. They even refused to invite me to dinner twice—you must understand, for my roommates, that's genuinely serious..."
Fred quickly assumed control of the conversation, discussing daily trivialities. But you could observe that hearing these things relaxed Lys somewhat.
However, Fred still didn't inform Lys that recently, Lucius had taken him to the location of the Black family's ancestral mansion.
The Dark Lord wanted to determine if Fred could assume control of that Black mansion now, to capture Potter who might utilize it as a refuge.
After all, Potter hadn't returned to Hogwarts for his final year but had gone into hiding to evade the Dark Lord's pursuit.
The magical world's vastness had prevented the Dark Lord from apprehending him.
Now they suspected Potter was concealed in the Black family's old house.
But Fred hadn't been able to make the house materialize through various commands or magic, so he was returned to Hogwarts.
Uncle Lucius consoled him, explaining the problem wasn't his fault.
The house had already acknowledged its master. Only if the current owner—Harry Potter—renounced his inheritance or died could Fred possibly command that house.
Though Lucius claimed it didn't matter, Bellatrix, who continuously monitored Fred, still confronted him.
She was quite dissatisfied and even perplexed that Fred was a Black.
She insisted it was because Fred didn't acknowledge his Black surname that he lacked qualification to command that house. He needed to learn how to dedicate himself and everything Black to the Dark Lord. The Black family couldn't produce another blood traitor.
The Death Eater Carrow, teaching at Hogwarts, received Bellatrix's order to 'educate' Fred.
"Make him understand his true surname."
That Carrow, who'd always envied the Black family during school, was already an imbecile—what worthwhile ideas could she devise?
So...
The Cruciatus Curse was truly unbearable.
But even after being subjected to the Cruciatus Curse intermittently over a dozen times, "Lamb" remained the sole suffix to that radiant magical name in Fred's true name magic.
Fred's resolve was unbreakable.
When Fred's roommates mustered courage to approach Snape's office and alert Snape to this situation, Snape was genuinely concerned that Starlys would storm into Hogwarts and eliminate those two idiots who dared harm anyone.
This was also the authentic reason Snape agreed to authorize Fred's withdrawal from those two classes, despite the Dark Lord requiring every young wizard to attend those two courses controlled by Death Eaters.
He was also astonished that this protected child resembled his sister so remarkably—even in that situation, not forgetting to mention his youthful past, attempting to threaten him against informing that madwoman Starlys about this...
Yes, Fred temporarily preferred Lys remain unaware. He felt his Lys was too frightened—this would create pressure for her. Abnormal emotions had enormous effects on the soul. He feared his Lys might act impulsively before making proper decisions.
He still had two years until graduation. He wanted Lys to discover her true answer without interference.
But in a sense, Fred overlooked that Lys was the one Snape would treat as an equal.
Snape had only casually agreed not to inform Lys, wanting Fred to consume his medicine quickly—excessive Cruciatus Curse exposure left lasting damage.
When Snape informed Lucius of this matter, Lucius clearly understood this was more serious for Starlys than if she'd been subjected to the Cruciatus Curse herself. Concealment wasn't a wise choice.
So the current Fred didn't realize that Lys had already learned of this from Lucius.
Lys had Fred deliver a note to Snape—she wanted to arrange a conversation with him.
Fred accepted the note, carefully storing it: "That won't be simple. Professor Snape now... I mean the Headmaster is extremely busy. There's a group of students hiding in the school. They call themselves Dumbledore's Army and appear and disappear constantly, but..."
Fred glanced around: "Professor Snape is so capable, I don't believe he can't capture a single student, but he genuinely hasn't caught any."
The two settled their bill and departed the pub. Fred drew his wand from beneath his arm and cast Confundus Charms and anti-eavesdropping spells on both of them: "Professor Snape is genuinely acting as a headmaster protecting his school and students. It's just... how to express it... very awkward, extremely awkward. Professor Snape is really too difficult to appreciate, even though he's authentically fulfilling a headmaster's duties protecting students."
Fred chattered throughout their walk, like an ordinary child sharing his observations and understanding with family...
"...My roommates always claim that lower-year girl is adorable, but when I observe her chattering, my fingertips grow cold and my scalp tightens... but Lu, um, you know whom I mean, she never..."
Lys responded gently to everything.
When they reached near Hogwarts, Lys halted her steps.
Watching Fred's retreating figure—seemingly grown slightly taller but still short and compact—Lys's questions remained concealed behind false emotions, never voiced to Fred.
She wanted to ask Fred: "Are you afraid?"
But she was afraid.
She feared the thing in her hands would vanish, leaving only herself.
And feared that if she disappeared, the thing in her hands would lose meaning and its sole protection.
So she never asked.
She worried her little brother would turn around and comfort her instead...
Just like what Fred had said that night:
"If you want something, you must pursue it. The final result is the same... because whatever decision you make, I'll support you."
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