The cacophony of the Quidditch match was a relentless assault on Echo's senses. The Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch was a vibrant blur of emerald and scarlet, as the Slytherin home team faced off against Durmstrang, a sea of students in the stands roaring their support. But for Echo, perched uncomfortably in the Slytherin bleachers, it was merely an exercise in endurance. His black hair, a stoic, unmoving black, was almost entirely hidden as he buried his nose deep into his well-worn copy of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.'
"Can they not just… cheer quietly?" Echo muttered, not looking up from a detailed illustration of a Bowtruckle. "The sheer volume is quite unnecessary. One would think a simple applause would suffice, rather than this overly zealous display of collective hysteria."
Beside him, Severus Snape, equally disengaged, made a precise note in the margins of his charms book. He didn't even glance at the pitch, his dark hair a stark curtain around his focused face. "Then why did you come, Echo?" Severus drawled, his voice low and devoid of emotion. "If you intend to complain about the auditory experience simply, you might have chosen to remain in the relative peace of the dungeons."
Echo sighed, reluctantly pulling his gaze from the Bowtruckle. His black hair flickered with a faint, resentful red. "Because, Severus," he began, his voice laced with a reluctant sense of duty, "even though I couldn't join the team when Amos asked me, especially after nearly dying in that whole Dementor incident, I still helped them practice. Gorick, my griffin, made for an excellent obstacle, both offensively and defensively. It's the least I can do to show my support." His hair softened to a resigned blue. "Besides, I owe it to them."
Echo then turned his hollow eyes on Severus. "Speaking of which, why are you here? I'd have thought you'd sooner let a Bludger hit you than be caught dead at a Quidditch match, especially one where Gryffindor isn't even playing."
Severus merely grunted, his gaze still fixed on his book, but a faint, almost imperceptible flush crept up his pale neck.
Echo's lips twitched into a knowing smirk, his blue hair flickering with mischievous yellow. "Unless," he said, drawing out the word conspiratorially, "it has something to do with a certain red-headed Gryffindor girl who happens to be a keen spectator of all sporting events?"
Severus's blush deepened, but he remained stubbornly silent, refusing to acknowledge the implication.
After a few minutes, Echo, still feigning disinterest in the game, reached into his robes. Severus, out of the corner of his eye, noticed a small, dark, and distinctly non-textbook-like object in Echo's hand. Curiosity, a rare beast for Severus, nudged at him.
"What is that?" Severus asked, his voice betraying a hint of his intrigued surprise.
Echo, with a triumphant grin, held up the object. It was a small lizard-like creature, no bigger than a bearded dragon, with six legs, sharp teeth, a red-patterned body, and glowing red eyes—a Chupacabra.
Severus's eyes widened, a flicker of genuine shock crossing his face. "A Chupacabra?" he whispered, his voice incredulous. "Where in Merlin's name did you acquire a Chupacabra, Echo? And not from the Forbidden Forest, I presume."
Echo chuckled, his yellow hair dancing with amusement. "For once, you are correct, Severus. Not the Forbidden Forest. The Hogwarts Express, actually." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a theatrical whisper. "There was a rather unfortunate poacher attempting to sell it to his buyer. I, of course, had to intervene."
Severus raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Intervene? What, did you lecture them on the ethics of creature trafficking?"
Echo's yellow hair flared with a confident, slightly dangerous red. "Something to that effect. I… sunk up on the poacher. And nearly choked him to death, actually. The buyer watched in terror."
Severus scoffed, a rare sound of disbelief escaping him. "You? Choked a grown man? Echo, I have seen you do many things that defy logic, but strangling a fully grown adult is a rather… graphic image for a boy your size, no matter how realistic your illusions are. I still find it hard to believe you could actually do it."
Echo's red hair softened to a sheepish orange. "Alright, alright, fine. I had a little help." He gestured vaguely towards his shoulder, where Shimmer was now a shimmering, invisible presence. "Shimmer gave the poacher a rather enthusiastic whack on the back of the head, disorienting him nicely, and then I began to choke him. And Sniffles," he added, a faint jingle emanating from his pocket, "snatched up both the buyer's and the poacher's wands and all their money. Then he proceeded to tear some rather impressive holes in the buyer's clothes, which sent him fleeing in terror." Echo grinned. "I left the poacher to the authorities and, naturally, liberated the Chupacabra."
Severus stared at him, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "Of course," he finally managed, his voice dry. "Of course, you did." He shook his head, then, to Echo's surprise, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. "You truly are an infuriatingly effective nuisance, Echo."
Echo then reached into his pocket and pulled out two wands, still clutched by a jingling Sniffles. He plucked one free, a dark, gnarled piece of wood. "Here," he said, holding it out to Severus. "I figured you might want one. They're pretty good quality, considering."
Severus merely raised an eyebrow, a flicker of disdain in his eyes. "And why, pray tell, would I want the discarded wand of a common poacher, Echo? I have my own, perfectly adequate wand, thank you very much."
Echo shrugged, his orange hair flickering with a casual nonchalance. "Well, I can't use them. Any wand that isn't mine, if I try to use it, it just… explodes. Apparently, my magical core is a bit too… volatile for standard magical conduits." He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Although, perhaps I could learn to control it. Turn them into grenade wands, maybe? Could be useful for a quick getaway, or distracting a particularly tenacious opponent."
Severus visibly winced at the thought. "Please, Echo, do not endeavor to turn everyday magical implements into explosive devices. The paperwork alone would be a nightmare. As for the wands, perhaps you can sell them to the first years who invariably break theirs within the first week of term. A profitable side venture for you, I'm sure."
Echo considered this, then grinned. "Not a bad idea, Severus. I'll keep that in mind." He then tucked the wands back into his pocket, and Sniffles let out a contented jingle.
A few minutes passed in relative silence, broken only by the distant roar of the Quidditch crowd and the occasional scribbling of Severus's quill. Then, Echo began to make a series of odd, guttural clicking sounds, his head tilting from side to side as he stared intently at various points in the distance.
Severus, exasperated, finally looked up from his book. "What in Merlin's name are you doing now, Echo? Are you attempting to communicate with the Bludgers?"
Echo, still making the strange noises, waved a dismissive hand. "No, no. Just linking up with Nibbles."
"Nibbles?" Severus cut him off, his voice laced with suspicion. "Who, or what, is Nibbles?"
Echo grinned, holding up the small Chupacabra. "The Chupacabra. That's what I named him. Cute, right?"
Severus stared at the creature, then at Echo, a look of profound weariness on his face. "You named a Chupacabra… Nibbles. I dare not ask why."
As if on cue, Nibbles, who had been resting contentedly in Echo's hand, suddenly extended its six-legged body and placed its mouth firmly onto Echo's thumb.
Severus's eyes widened in alarm. "Echo! It's sucking your blood!"
Echo merely chuckled, his blue hair flickering with amusement. "No, he's not. See? None of his many sharp teeth is biting down. He's just… holding it. I think it's some kind of social thing they do. Or maybe a mating ritual. After all, he is a male."
Severus recoiled slightly, a faint shudder running through him. "Thank you, Echo," he drawled, a distinct note of revulsion in his voice. "That is an image I truly did not need to conjure."
Echo laughed. "Don't worry, it doesn't hurt. But speaking of linking up with Nibbles, I've discovered something rather interesting about Chupacabras." His blue hair brightened with a sudden, excited yellow. "They have telescopic vision. Really, really good telescopic vision. I can see things from miles away in perfect clarity." He paused, his yellow hair flickering with a hint of exasperation. "I just wish my eyes hadn't immediately trailed over to Sirius Black."
Severus, who had been attempting to banish the image of Chupacabra mating rituals from his mind, looked up, a flicker of genuine curiosity in his dark eyes. "Why Black? What in the name of all that is unholy is that imbecile doing now?"
Echo sighed, shaking his head. "As usual, being extra. He's got his shirt off, and the words 'Go Go Gryffindor' are written in red paint across his bare chest. And I can see every single hair on his chest and stomach in perfect clarity, Severus. Every single one." He shivered dramatically.
Severus made a sound that was a mixture of disgust and mild horror. "That sounds absolutely repulsive, Echo. Why would you subject yourself to such an image?"
Echo grinned, his yellow hair blazing with mischief. "Because now you can, too! Want to see?"
Severus immediately recoiled. "Absolutely not! I have no desire to witness Black's unsightly… chest hair, or his pathetic attempts at school spirit!"
But Echo, with a swift movement, reached out and gently touched Severus's temple with his wand, sharing the aspect of Nibbles' telescopic vision.
Severus stiffened, his eyes widening in horrified recognition. "Merlin's beard! I can see it! I can actually see… the individual follicles! Get it out of my head, Echo, get it out!" he practically shrieked, swatting frantically at the air as if to dislodge the image.
Echo dissolved into laughter, his yellow hair dancing with pure, unadulterated mirth. "See? I told you! It's horrible, isn't it? Well, you know what they say, Severus: those who suffer together, stay together!"
Severus, still rubbing his temples, glared at Echo. "I shall remember that pearl of wisdom, Echo. For when the opportune moment arises for me to drag you down with me into something equally humiliating."
Echo chuckled, his yellow hair softening to a contented blue. "I'm glad we can share this moment, Severus. Though I must admit, it's rather… peculiar. Whenever I look at Black, and I see all… that," he gestured vaguely, his face contorting slightly, "my body gets hotter, and my chest tightens. Disgust is such a weird feeling, isn't it? So many flavors of feeling."
Severus, who had been about to retort, froze. His dark eyes widened almost imperceptibly, a new, dawning realization washing over his face. Hotter… chest tightens… That wasn't disgust. Not even close. Echo, in his emotional inexperience, was mistaking something entirely different.
"Echo," Severus said slowly, his voice unusually devoid of its usual sarcasm, "that's… not disgust."
Echo frowned, his blue hair flickering with thoughtful indigo as he concentrated, as if trying to dissect the sensation he described. "It's not?" he asked, a genuine note of confusion in his voice. "I was emotionally inept even before the Dementor's Kiss, Severus. Having to relearn emotions has been… an experience. I'm not entirely sure what any emotion is supposed to feel like, so this is all a learning process, I suppose."
Severus merely stared at him, a silent battle raging within him. He was sitting on a bombshell, a truly delicious piece of information, and the urge to expose Echo's unwitting self-discovery was almost overwhelming. But no, he wouldn't. Not yet. This was too precious to waste on a quick jab.
Echo, oblivious to Severus's internal conflict, continued, his indigo hair brightening with renewed enthusiasm. "Anyway, this Chupacabra vision is super strong. I can see all the way to the Black Lake! I can even see Skate sitting on a rock." A soft, almost purring sound escaped him. "She looks so good today."
Severus grunted in agreement, but his gaze wasn't directed at the Black Lake. Echo, still linked to Nibbles' vision, followed Severus's line of sight, and his blue hair immediately flared a horrified red. Severus was staring intently at the Gryffindor bleachers, where Lily, vibrant and animated, was jumping up and down, cheering.
"Severus!" Echo exclaimed, snapping the visual link with a jolt. His red hair pulsed with indignation. "That is dirty, even for you! Staring at Lily like that!"
Severus merely arched an eyebrow, a familiar sneer gracing his lips. "Pot, kettle, black, Echo. Need I say more?"
Before Echo could retort, a voice, startlingly close and booming, cut through the stadium noise. "ECHO!"
Both wizards yelped, spinning around to find James Potter's grinning face mere inches from their own, his breath warm on their cheeks. Echo shrieked, stumbling backward, his red hair flaring violently. "Bloody hell, James! I can see every single pore on your face! Get away from me!" He clapped his hand to his temple, severing the connection with Nibbles with a jolt, his face a mask of revulsion.
Equally startled, Severus also recoiled, a rare flush of indignation on his pale face. He quickly regained his composure and glared at James.
Echo, his blue hair settling into a frantic black, pointed a shaky finger at James. "What do you want, James? And why were you so close? Can't you see that Severus and I are trying to ignore the game?"
James, still grinning, stepped back slightly, though not enough to fully alleviate Echo's discomfort. "About that little chat we had, Echo. You know, with the Quidditch match and the need for some… extra team spirit for Hogwarts?"
Echo's black hair immediately flared a decisive red. "No."
James's grin faltered, replaced by a desperate, pleading expression. "Come on, Echo! Please? Just a little bit? It would make such a difference!"
"No," Echo repeated, his voice firm, his red hair unwavering. James continued to plead, his words a desperate stream of persuasion.
With an exasperated sigh, Severus raised his wand. "Silencio!" A shimmering, invisible barrier snapped around James, muffling his ceaseless pleas to inaudible mouthing. Severus then turned to Echo, an arched eyebrow demanding an explanation. "What is he on about?"
Echo sighed, running a hand through his now calm blue hair. A faint grin touched his lips. "He wants me to bring out Gorick for the match. To 'cheer on the Hogwarts team.'"
Severus scoffed. "It sounds more like he wants to do it for Gryffindor than for Hogwarts."
Echo nodded, his blue hair flickering with agreement. "That's what I told him. I also reminded him that Gryffindor House is a lion, not a griffin." He glanced at the silently mouthing James. "And I told him I'm not bringing Gorick out just to make Hogwarts look 'cooler.'"
James, still trapped by the Silencing Charm, tried to respond, his hands gesturing wildly, then attempted to give Echo the puppy-dog eyes.
Echo merely stared back, unimpressed. "I don't find you nearly cute enough for that to work, James."
James's face crumpled in defeat. With a sudden burst of energy, he turned and sprinted off, disappearing into the crowd. A moment later, he returned, Remus Lupin and Lily Evans in tow, both now sporting matching, exaggerated puppy-dog eyes directed squarely at Echo.
Echo stared at the trio, his blue hair shifting through various shades of indigo, then purple, then a conflicted pink. He held out for a full, agonizing minute, the battle of wills playing out silently. Finally, with a dramatic sigh and a roll of his hollow eyes, he relented. "Fine! Fine, you win! But only for a little while, and he stays away from the bleachers!"
James, Remus, and Lily erupted in silent cheers, pumping their fists in the air.
Severus, however, merely looked at Echo with a look of profound disappointment. "I am profoundly disappointed in you, Echo."
Echo leaned in, whispering conspiratorially, his pink hair flickering with a sheepish orange. "If it had just been Lily and you, Severus, you'd have folded like origami in seconds. At least I lasted a full minute," making Severus grunt.
Echo then held up a hand to the still-celebrating trio. "Hold on, hold on. I need to make sure Gorick isn't hungry first. The last thing we need is him snacking on the first-years." Echo closed his eyes, his orange hair settling into a focused blue as he connected with Gorick. After a moment, he opened them, a faint smile on his face. "He ate recently, so he should be fine. But I'm keeping him nearby, not in the Gryffindor bleachers, so no one provokes him."
Severus, still with a look of profound disappointment, merely grunted. "Are you quite certain this is a wise course of action, Echo? Regardless of your ability to 'summon and unsummon' this creature at will? You claim to be keeping your 'beast magic' on the down-low, as you so eloquently put it, yet you propose to bring a full-grown griffin to a Quidditch match? The logical inconsistency is rather… glaring."
Echo shrugged, his blue hair flickering with nonchalant confidence. "It's fine, Severus. Everyone already thinks my beast magic is just some advanced illusion. It'll just reinforce that idea. They'll just think Gorick is a particularly well-executed, if rather large, visual trick."
Severus narrowed his eyes. "And the opposing team? Durmstrang? Will they not consider this a rather blatant distraction? A foul, perhaps?"
Echo grinned, his blue hair sparkling with mischief. "Nah, it'll be fine. They'll only be distracted for a moment, and they'll think Gorick is just a big, fancy illusion, too. Besides, a little bit of psychological warfare never hurt anyone, right?"
"Alright, James," Echo said, turning to him, his blue hair settling into a determined indigo. "I'll bring out Gorick. But I have a few conditions. Things I need you to tell Sirius for me."
James, still beaming, nodded enthusiastically. "Anything, Echo! Name it!"
Echo leaned in conspiratorially, his indigo hair flickering with a mischievous glint. "First," he began, his voice firm, "tell him to put his shirt back on and hike up his pants. I don't want to have to put my book down and have a full view of his unusually pink nipples or his underwear every time I look up."
Severus let out a loud, theatrical groan, burying his face in his hands. "Don't remind me, Echo. Please, for the love of Merlin."
Echo ignored him, continuing, "Secondly, tell him to put on some sunscreen. He's looking a bit red, and sunburn isn't fun burn. And finally," Echo paused, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face, "tell him to shave his back. I can't tell where his hair starts and that rug ends."
Severus, who had been trying to stifle a laugh, suddenly let out a strangled cough, trying to cover it. Lily, beside him, fared even worse, a loud snort escaping her as she buried her face in Remus's shoulder. Even Remus, usually the most composed, had to bite his lip to keep from outright laughing, his shoulders shaking with suppressed mirth.
James, though bewildered by the specifics, nodded gravely, then sprinted off towards the Gryffindor bleachers. He found Sirius, still shirtless, and leaned in, whispering Echo's demands into his ear. Sirius's face, already flushed from the sun, went from red to a profound shade of purple. He turned, his eyes wide with shock, and stared at Echo across the pitch. Then, with an indignant glare, he lifted a hand and wagged a finger accusingly at Echo.
Echo merely met his gaze, a smirk on his face, and then, with a flourish, shot him the bird.
Severus, witnessing the exchange, let out a gasping sound that was half-choke, half-giggle. He quickly recovered, wiping a tear from his eye. "Sometimes, Echo," he admitted, a rare, genuine smile touching his lips, "sometimes, I am truly glad I've met you. For moments like these."
Echo raised his wand with a dramatic flourish and, with a subtle pop, apparated Gorick from the Forbidden Forest. One moment, the bench behind him was empty; the next, the magnificent griffin materialized, his golden-brown feathers gleaming in the stadium lights. A collective gasp rippled through the stands, quickly followed by a stunned silence. Even the announcers, usually so composed, stumbled over their words.
"Bloody hell!" one of them finally shrieked into the microphone. "A… a griffin has just appeared in the Slytherin bleachers!"
Gorick, sensing the immense crowd and the electric atmosphere, let out a triumphant cry that echoed across the stadium, a sound both majestic and fearsome. He unfurled his immense wings, each feather catching the light, his powerful form momentarily dwarfing Echo. The crowd, initially shocked, erupted into a deafening roar of cheers and applause. Echo, however, quickly reached up and gently covered Gorick's feathery ears, a small smile playing on his lips. Even the Durmstrang team, momentarily halted in their play, stared in open-mouthed admiration. The game, revitalized by the unexpected spectacle, picked up with renewed vigor. Hogwarts, fueled by the surge of adrenaline and Gorick's imposing presence, dominated the final moments, securing a decisive victory against Durmstrang, their first in a long time. The final whistle blew, and the stadium exploded with sound. Students poured onto the pitch, celebrating wildly. James Potter, a blur of red and gold, sprinted towards Echo, his face alight with unbridled joy. He practically tackled Echo in a bone-crushing hug.
"Echo! You did it! We won! We actually won!" James exclaimed, his voice hoarse with excitement. He pulled back, beaming. "I could almost kiss you!"
Echo, still slightly winded from the hug, wrinkled his nose. "If your lips come anywhere near me, James, I'll shove Nibbles into your pants."
James, still riding the high of victory, looked genuinely confused. "My pants? Why would I be scared of your Niffler? Sniffles is cute!"
Echo rolled his eyes. "Not Sniffles, you idiot. Nibbles."
As if on cue, the Chupacabra, Nibbles, popped out from Echo's robes, its glowing red eyes fixed on James. It let out a sharp, guttural hiss, baring a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. James, his face blanching, stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet in his haste to get away from the creature, much to Severus's amusement.
"Where did you get that thing, Echo?!" James shrieked, scrambling away.
Severus, who had silently followed, a faint, amused smirk on his face, drawled, "He strangled a man on the Hogwarts Express to acquire it, Potter."
Lily, arriving moments later, sighed dramatically. "Typical, but not unexpected."
James looked from the snarling Chupacabra to Echo, his face a mixture of fear and grudging admiration. "You… you really choked a guy for that?" he asked, a faint note of awe in his voice.
Echo merely shrugged, his blue hair flickering with a casual nonchalance. "He was a poacher, James. And the Chupacabra was distressed. I merely facilitated justice." He paused, then added, a mischievous glint in his hollow eyes, "Besides, it was a good exercise for my 'temporary emotion' of anger. Very cathartic."
Lily, shaking her head, stepped forward and patted Echo on the arm. "You're impossible, Echo. But I suppose we have to thank you for bringing Gorick out. It really did rally the team."
Remus, finally able to speak without laughing, nodded. "She's right, Echo. It was an incredible spectacle. Even if it did almost give the Durmstrang Seeker a heart attack."
Echo's blue hair softened to a contented, hopeful gold. "I'm glad I could help." He then turned to Gorick, who was still basking in the cheers of the crowd, and gave the magnificent griffin a gentle pat on the head. "Alright, big guy, time to go home."
Just before Echo sent Gorick back to the Forbidden Forest, Echo let out a relieved sigh, his gold hair settling into a peaceful blue. He turned to Severus, a satisfied smirk on his face. "See? No harm, no foul. Just a little… spirit."
Before Severus could retort, a formidable group of figures converged on them. The Durmstrang Quidditch team, their dark uniforms and stern faces making them appear even more imposing, surrounded Echo. Their captain, a tall, burly young man with a severe expression, stepped forward.
"You," he growled, his accent thick. "You are the one with the… griffin?"
Echo looked up at Gorick, who blinked back at him. Deciding against a snarky or sassy remark, Echo simply said, "Yes. That would be me."
To his complete astonishment, the stern expressions on the Durmstrang players' faces melted away, replaced by wide-eyed awe. They stared at him, then at the spot where Gorick had been, then back at him, their jaws practically on the ground.
"Amazing!" one of them exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine wonder.
"Unbelievable!" another muttered, shaking his head.
Suddenly, Echo was engulfed. The entire Durmstrang team crowded around him, a cacophony of excited questions erupting.
"How did you do that?"
"Is it real?"
"Can you do it again?"
"What does it eat?"
"Is it friendly?"
"Can I pet it?"
Shimmer, with a silvery ripple of alarm, shifted from Echo's shoulder to his back, practically flattening himself against the fabric of Echo's robes. Sniffles, letting out a terrified squeak, burrowed deep into one of Echo's pants pockets. Even Nibbles, popping out from Echo's robes, tried to project an intimidating image, letting out a bluff hiss and baring his tiny, sharp teeth, but the Durmstrang players were too enthralled to notice. After a moment, even Nibbles, seemingly realizing the futility of his efforts, hid himself away. Echo felt a familiar sensation blooming in his chest, his blue hair flickering wildly with that unnamed feeling he had experienced when looking at Sirius. He was being crushed by a wall of unfamiliar, yet oddly pleasant, attention.
"Severus!" Echo called out, his voice slightly muffled by the surrounding bodies, his hair a frantic, conflicted pink. "Help! I'm drowning in a pit of unusually high amounts of testosterone, and I'm getting that same unnamed feeling as before, and I… I sort of like it!"
Severus, who had been observing the entire scene with a smug, almost gleeful expression, merely crossed his arms, a faint smirk playing on his lips. He watched Echo's suffering with an air of profound satisfaction.
Lily, standing nearby, her face alight with amusement, gasped. "Severus! Did you hear that?"
Severus finally turned to her, his smirk widening. "Indeed, Lily. I did. And yes, I figured it out not long ago. Our emotionally stunted friend is experiencing… an awakening, shall we say."
Meanwhile, Echo, thoroughly overwhelmed, began to wriggle and squirm. "Get… off… me!" he gasped, his pink hair flaring with desperation. With a surprising burst of agility, he managed to crawl out from between the legs of two particularly burly Durmstrang players. He scrambled towards Gorick, then, with a frantic jump, clambered onto the griffin's back. "Gorick!" Echo yelled, his voice echoing across the now-silent stadium, his pink hair blazing with a mix of exhilaration and pure, unadulterated panic. "Get me the fuck outta here!"
With a mighty beat of his wings, Gorick launched himself skyward, carrying Echo away from the bewildered Durmstrang team and the amused Hogwarts crowd. Echo clung to his feathery back, his pink hair slowly softening to a relieved blue as the ground receded below. The wind whipped past them, carrying away the echoes of the cheers and questions. From a distance, Severus, Lily, and Remus watched as Echo and Gorick became a speck against the setting sun. Severus still wore a faint, knowing smirk.
"He'll figure it out eventually," Lily mused, a soft smile on her face. "All those 'unnamed feelings'… they're going to be quite a shock when he finally puts a name to them."
Severus merely grunted in agreement, though a faint, almost tender glint was visible in his dark eyes as he watched the disappearing griffin.
"I just hope," Remus added, a touch of concern in his voice, "that when he does, it's not too overwhelming for him. He's been through so much."
"He'll be fine, Remus," Lily said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Echo's stronger than he knows. And he's got all of us, even Severus, to help him through it."
Severus, caught off guard by the unexpected inclusion, merely cleared his throat and adjusted his robes, a faint blush creeping up his neck. But he didn't deny it. As the last rays of sunlight faded, casting long shadows across the Quidditch pitch, the three friends remained, a silent vigil to the peculiar, powerful, and ever-evolving enigma that was Echo.