Exhibition is a Right: Chapter 14 (Patreon)
Content
"A Sirius Situation"
All individuals depicted are over the age of 18, and are engaged in consensual acts.
Harry blinked, looking up in surprise at Narcissa. He cleared his throat awkwardly. “And what do you mean by “Sirius's situation”, professor?”
Narcissa looked at him with a raised eyebrow, before gesturing around them “I have put up a privacy spell, Mr. Potter. You don't need to worry about us being overheard.”
She stood up from the desk once more, moving around to sit in the other chair. As she did, Harry took the chance to consider the situation. Clearly, this world's Harry knew something, but he did not. Still, he would have to play along, for now…
As Narcissa settled into her chair and started rummaging through parchment on her desk, Harry leaned forwards. “Ah, ok. So, have you made any progress?” He looked at the stack of parchment she was looking through, but all he could get from the top sheet was that it had the insignia of the Black family embossed on the front.
“Precious little unfortunately. Though, at last, I have received the confirmation I have been hoping for” Here, Narcissa retrieved one sheet of parchment, and slid it over to Harry. Picking it up tentatively, his eyes scanned the document.
It was a letter from the Ministry. Specifically from their records department. It was short, to the point and borderline rude. Within, the department confirmed that there was no official record of a trial for one “Sirius Orion Black”, and to please stop requesting they search for such in their records.
“They confirmed he didn't have a trial?” Harry muttered, starting to understand better. Clearly, for whatever reason, Narcissa was looking into Sirius's history…
Narcissa shrugged. “They confirmed that there's no evidence of a trial. They could still turn around and say that it was a filing error. That the official documentation was lost. The ministry as a whole would rather throw the records department under the knight bus than admit to a scandal involving a pureblood's false imprisonment.”
Harry huffed and placed the parchment back onto the desk in front of him. “Yeah, that sounds about right…” Narcissa retrieved the sheet, putting it back with her papers. “Do not fret. This is enough to give me the right to request an investigation. At the very least, it will get the right people to start taking notice. Have them thinking something isn't right.”
Harry frowns, before looking at Narcissa warily. “Why? Why are you trying to help Sirius?” The blonde woman rests her elbows on the desk, leaning forwards, unheeding of the effect it had on her cleavage spilling from her tight blouse.
“You still do not trust me, then? Even after my continued assistance in this matter?” Harry just looked at her, trying to maintain eye contact despite the view lower down. Narcissa sighs. “It's to be expected, what with my family history.”
She stands once more, turning her back to Harry to look out over the Hogwarts grounds from the window. “As you know, since my divorce from Lucius, I am now a full Black once more. Imagine my surprise, when I was reestablished, to find that the head of the house was not passed straight to myself when I did.”
Narcissa slowly walked to a nearby cabinet, opening it to reveal a crystal decanter with a clear liquid within. Retrieving two glasses, she poured a measure into each as she continued talking. “As my father had passed, and my sister's were either incarcerated or removed from the family, the head of house should have passed to me, since the Empowerment Act came into force.”
She brought the two drinks back to the desk, sitting once more and sliding one of the glasses across the table to Harry. “Instead, it turned out that Sirius was still head of house. This could only be the case if he was never officially convicted”
Picking her glass up, she huffed. “Now the problem is proving it” she said, before taking a sip of the liquid.
Harry tentatively picked up the glass, bringing it close enough to smell its contents without being too obvious. “Gillywater, huh?” He almost chuckled at the sight of Narcissa of all people resorting to a stiff drink.
“Ok, but that doesn't explain why you're helping. Surely you would want to prove that he had a trial, and that he is genuinely guilty. Wouldn't you get the Black headship that way?” Harry asked, swirling the liquid in his own glass but not drinking any.
She shook her head. “No. Contrary to most people's beliefs, I do not seek out riches or power. No, there is only one thing that I seek…” here, Narcissa gazes at a picture frame on her desk. It was turned away from him, so Harry hadn't really paid it much attention before.
Leaning forward just enough, he was able to catch a glimpse of a wizarding photo, showing three young women laughing and jostling each other, smiling at the camera. One had wavy brown hair, one straight black hair, and the third was a platinum blonde, the exact same shade as Narcissa’s.
She tore her eyes from the picture, looking back to Harry once more. “And for that, I need Sirius. And for Sirius, we need to at least be cordial with each other. We want the same thing, after all…”
Here she raised her half empty glass towards him, “For Sirius?” Harry hesitated, but only for a moment. “If I want to help make Sirius a free man, I need all the help I can get. I won't let him die in vain, not this time”. “For Sirius” Harry replied, clunking his own glass against hers.
The two drained their glasses, Harry being less used to alcohol, coughed slightly but still recovered. “Still not as harsh as firewhisky” Narcissa raised an eyebrow, looking mildly impressed by his ability to drink without struggle.
“Well, I believe that is all, for now Mr. Potter. Feel free to head to dinner.” Harry nodded, getting up. As he threw his bag over his shoulder and turned to leave, Narcissa called out once more.
“Oh, and Mr. Potter? Do try not to get caught with Miss Brown after curfew. It would be awfully embarrassing, wouldn't you say?” Harry just blushed and headed out the room, ignoring the soft laughter from behind him as he did.
Once he was outside, Harry paused and rubbed his temple, warding off a headache. “This place just loves to throw me curveballs, huh? One thing for sure, I can't put off that conversation with Sirius any longer…” His stomach chose this time to protest loudly, making him look down before chuckling. “After dinner, it seems.” He then moved off in the direction of the great hall.
One heaped portion of casserole later, and Harry was starting to feel more human. As he worked his way through dessert, choosing sticky toffee pudding for a change, he looked up to see Hermione and Ron looking at him speculatively. “Yes?”
“Not going to tell me what happened to result in you being kept back after class?” Ron asks, taking a bite of his own meal. Harry shrugs. “You saw, I was passing notes. Though really, I wasn't the one doing the passing, technically.”
“And Lavender Brown was then? I wonder what was in that note, huh. Miss Black certainly seemed interested in it…” Hermione asks, leaning forward slightly. Harry blushes lightly. “She just wanted to thank me. You know, for the time in Diagon Alley.”
Hermione smirked. “I bet she did”. She stood up then, throwing her heavy bag over her shoulder. “Well, I need to head to the library, get a start on my assignments. Try not to stay out past curfew, Harry.” Harry watched her leave, failing to resist the urge to watch her hips sway. “Yep, she definitely knows that Lavender wanted to do more than thank me….still…”
He glanced at Ron, who shrugged and returned to his apple pie. “Don't look at me, mate. I don't understand my own girlfriend, let alone Hermione.” Harry frowns. “Where is Fay, by the way?”
Ron points further down the table, where Fay was sitting with a younger girl with a similar shade of hair. “Having family time. We may be going out, but we're not joined at the hip, ya know”.
Harry nodded in understanding. He continued looking around the hall, he failed to see Lavender sitting anywhere nearby. “I wonder if she was still hoping to meet up, even after Narcissa's warning”.
Shrugging, and deciding he had nothing to lose by checking, he finished his dessert and started making his way towards the abandoned classroom in question. “I can always call Sirius tonight. Less likely to be disturbed that way anyway…”
A short while later found him outside the classroom in question on the fifth corridor. He paused outside, wondering if this was a sensible idea or not. “Narcissa did warn us to find a more…private location. She might still turn up and give us detention, regardless of what she said”.
Still, if Lavender was inside, he shouldn't keep her waiting. That would be rude, right? Besides, he knew several privacy spells he could use.
Having convinced himself, Harry raised his hand and knocked several times. After a brief pause and a shuffle of feet, he heard Lavender whisper by the door. “Harry? Is that you?”
“Yeah. Wasn't sure if you still wanted to meet...” Harry was interrupted by the door to the classroom opening, revealing Lavender wearing nothing but lacy purple underwear with a shawl over the top.
“I definitely still want to. You still owe me a good time after you left poor little me without a proper finish. Unless you're having second thoughts?” Lavender pouts, cocking her hip out in a sexy pose.
Harry trailed his eyes down her form, taking in her tight underwear, her cleavage prominent. As he snapped his eyes back up to her face, seeing her sly smile. “Clearly, you're not.” Lavender grabbed his hands and pulled him into the room.
As he followed her in, he swiftly drew his wand, cast privacy spells on the closing door, and re-holstered his wand without Lavender noticing.
As he took in the classroom, he was pleasantly surprised to see that there was very little dust. Clearly, Lavender had managed to clean the room up. Most noticeably, all the tables and chairs had been shifted to the edge of the room, but the large desk where the professor would normally sit was left in the middle of the room.
When the pair reached the middle of the room, Lavender dropped his hand before skipping to the desk. Turning, she leaned against the edge and struck a pose. Her shawl fell from her shoulders to pool onto the desk.
“So, Harry. Are you going to keep me waiting, or are you going to take responsibility for leaving me all alone in that fitting room?” She hopped onto the desk, slowly opening her legs to reveal her panties, already starting to show her arousal.
Harry's breath hiked at the sight. “Very well. It would be rude to refuse such an offer.” Harry stepped closer, between her legs. Lavender's eyes grew dark with lust. “Yes…I've been wanting this so bad…” Harry leaned closer, before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss.
Lavender returns the kiss eagerly, her arms wrapping around his back and pulling him close. She ran her hands up his back, beneath his shirt. Harry's own hands were not idle, running down her sides and cupping her plump ass. As he massaged her cheeks, Lavender moaned into his mouth.
Separating from the kiss, the pair breathed heavily. Lavender looked into his eyes, her face flush with arousal. “Please Harry…I want more…”
Harry smirked, before starting to kneel down in front of her. Lavender watched him sink down, her body shaking slightly in anticipation.
When he was kneeling between her legs, he started to kiss her thighs, working his way towards her core. The moment he reached her pantie clad pussy, Lavender moaned and brought one of her hands to his head. “Yess! That's the spot. Ohhh, keep licking me, Harry”.
He wasn't going to deny such a request. He licked, nipped, and kissed the silky fabric, the material getting soaked by his saliva and her own juices. Then, he gently gripped the material in his teeth, beginning to pull them off her.
“Holy fuck, that's hot…” Lavender whispered, watching Harry remove her panties with nothing but his teeth. As Harry let go of them and allowed them to slip off her legs, he chuckled. “Well, I figured I owed you, right?” He then dove back between her legs, lapping at her bare pussy directly.
Lavender gasped, before moaning louder. “Oh yes, that's it Harry.” Her legs closed around his head, sandwiching him in pillowy thighs. “I could get used to that…” He continued to gently lick her, until she started to shudder.
“I'm so close…” she whispered. Harry stopped, gently pulling his head free from her grip. Lavender whined as he did. “Nooo…why did you stop?” Harry stood up once more, her juices still coating his lips.
“If I finish you too soon, you might not enjoy the main course” he teased, before stepping closer and allowing his own obvious arousal to press against her through his trousers.
Lavender lost her pout, gaining a sultry smile instead. “I guess you're right…it would be a shame to peak too soon.” She sits up, before bringing her hands towards Harry's waist. With a few deft movements, she had his belt unbuckled and flung across the room.
Harry growled in desire. Lavender just smiles wider, before leaning back on the desk once more. At first, Harry thought this meant he would need to take charge once more…until she raised her legs up and placed her bare feet by the bulge in his trousers.
His breath hitched a little as she ran her heels over his trousers, pressing against his arousal. She then raised them further, before hooking her feet under the waistline of his trousers. Harry watched, impressed, as she was able to lower his trousers and free his erection, entirely with her feet!
“I never considered myself a feet person, but even I have to say that that was hot…” Once his trousers reached his knees, she brought her feet back up to hook them around his back, drawing him in closer. His large member came to rest against her sopping pussy, the head resting by her navel.
“My…I forgot just how gifted you are, Harry. I can't wait to try this somewhere other than my throat” she brought her hand to his length, before slowly guiding his crown to her entrance.
Harry pushed forwards slightly, nudging his crown into her. The pair moaned in unison at the feeling. “Oh fuck. Stop teasing and give me what I want!” she growled, trying to pull him deeper with her legs.
Harry was more than happy to oblige. He leaned forwards, capturing her lips in a deep kiss. He began to slowly thrust, gradually increasing his speed as he sank deeper. Her warm folds gripped him tightly, and soon the pair were working together to bring both pleasure.
“Yes! Oh Merlin, you're so deep!” Lavender mewled as his thrusts brought his hips directly against her ass, ripples forming in her cheeks with each impact. With his entire length buried, he began to increase his pace and really give her a run for her money. Something Lavender was far from complaining about, given her continued moans.
“Thank god I stayed in shape..this pace is hard to maintain.. “ Harry thought, sweat starting to form on his brow. Still, he'd be damned if he stopped before he brought the beautiful girl beneath him to orgasm.
As he wiped his brow, a flicker in the moonlight pouring in through the window caused him to slow. Looking to the window, he caught a glimpse of a distortion before it moved away from the window…
“Huh…so we have an audience so we? Honestly Hermione, I know you have a voyeuristic kink, but how did you even get into the room?”
“Why have you slowed…I was enjoying the rough fuck, Baby…” Lavender pants from beneath him. Looking down, he was immediately amused by her looks. Her hair, usually perfectly styled, was loose as it stuck to her forehead with her sweat. Her mascara had started to run, leaving slight trails down her face, and her skin was flush.
“Sorry Lav…didn't mean to get distracted” He smirked, before reaching down and gently gasping her ankles. As he lifted them, Lavender looked at him in confusion, before realisation lit up her face.
“Oh, you naughty boy. Go on then, finish me off~” Lavender giggled, before helping Harry lift her legs up, her feet by her head, a full mating press! “I might as well give Hermione a show…right?”
He then grabbed Lavender's hips more firmly and started fucking her with all his might! The desk creaked and groaned, though that could barely be heard through the sound of slapping flesh, panting and very loud encouragement.
“Fuck yes! Harder! Is that all you've got, Harry? I don't want to walk tomorrow, just break me with that huge, fucking cock!” Harry chuckled, before shifting her hips nearer to the edge and lifting her slightly. This gave him a slightly different angle…and then every thrust started scraping past her g-spot.
Lavender devolved into a writhing, screaming mess, unable to say full sentences. The occasional words punctuated her moans of pleasure, but they were little more than further encouragement. Soon, Harry felt Lavender's folds tighten, and her moans turned into a keening wail.
He continued to fuck her through her obvious orgasm, bringing her to a swift, second peak. “Ahn…I'm cumming again! It's too much…I'm going crazy!” Though she said this, her grip behind his neck suggested she didn't want to stop…however, Harry was nearing his limit.
As Lavender's pussy fluttered around him for a third time, his own orgasm became too much to deny. “Are you on the potion, Lav? Do I need to pull out?” Lavender just laughed deliriously. “Of course I am…I came here for a reason, Harry! Now fill me up!” Harry couldn't stop himself if he wanted to, and with a final, deep thrust he hilted himself and blew his load.
Several pumps of cum drenched her pussy, the initial force back blasting a little and seeping past their join and down the crack of Lavender's ass. Neither cared, kissing each other almost tenderly as he finished filling her with his seed.
As the two separated, they looked into each other's eyes. “Pant...that was just as amazing…hah...as I'd hoped” she panted, recovering from the exertion. Harry chuckled, his own breathing leveling. “Glad to be of service.”
Lavender smirked, before she then leaned her head back over the edge of the desk to look behind her. “So…think you're up to that sometimes?”
Harry was initially confused…until the distortion he saw previously stepped back into the moonlight, and the disillusionment dropped to reveal a ruffled, flushed Parvati!
“Wait…it wasn't Hermione?!” Lavender looked back at him before laughing at his dumbstruck look. “You should see your face! What, don't like to perform with an audience? I figured after Hermione watched in the fitting room, you'd be all for it.”
Parvati, still fully dressed in her school uniform but clearly aroused, given the hard nipples he could still see beneath her shirt, stepped forwards sheepishly. “Sorry, Harry…I just…Lavender told me such wonderful things and…she said you wouldn't mind.”
Harry blinked, before he shook his head and smiled encouragingly at Parvati. “No, no. I don't mind, just surprised. So…you wanted to join in?”
Parvati blushed, looking down at where the two were still joined. Lavender chuckled, before slowly moving Harry back with her feet, freeing him from her depth and releasing more of his cum onto the desk. “You've got to try it, Par. It'll hit you where your wand could never touch!”
Parvati swallowed, looking at his member that was now starting to recover from its softened state. “I don't know…I've never tried anything so big…” Harry smiled softly, reaching out and taking her hand gently. “We don't need to do anything if you don't want to…just take your time.”
Parvati hesitated, before reaching forwards and placing her hand onto his length. He groaned, as she moved it back and forth, getting her hand slick with his remaining cum and Lavender's juices. “No, I do want to…I'm just not as experienced as Lav…”
Harry nodded, before stepping carefully closer. Parvati looked up at him demurely, her hand still working his length and bringing him back to full mast. As he neared, he leaned closer, the two staring into each other's eyes. As he brought a hand up to cup her chin and kiss her…the school’s bell rang out!
“Damn! Curfew, already? How long were we fucking?” Lavender exclaimed, hopping off the desk and starting to search around for her discarded clothes.
The moment between Harry and Parvati was broken. The pretty, chocolate skinned girl sighed, before resting her head in his chest. “Typical…” Harry chuckled, before placing a kiss on the top of her head. “There's always another time…if you fancy it”
Parvati looked back up, before nodding firmly. “Definitely” she then looked over to Lavender, who was trying to find her discarded panties. “I better help her. You should head on ahead, a smaller group is less likely to get caught by a prefect.” She stepped back, releasing his cock at last.
Harry groaned, and moved to pull up his trousers. Trying to fit his still painfully hard erection into them was something of a challenge. Parvati giggled as she watched him do up his belt. “Yeah yeah, laugh it up, this is your fault you know” he just with little heat. Parvati just winks, before drawing her wand and helping summon the errant items.
Harry headed towards the exit, waving at the still half nude girl pulling on her skirt. “See you Lavender.” The girl waved back enthusiastically. “Bye Harry! Thanks for the amazing orgasms!” she exclaims brazenly. Harry just smiled, before opening the door, checking the coast was clear, and exiting the room.
As he walked back towards the Gryffindor common room, lamenting not bringing the marauders map to keep an eye out for Prefect's, he thought about the turn his life had taken since arriving in this place.
“It's funny. So much is the same, yet one little alteration, and so much changes. The clothes, the attitudes…I can't imagine my worlds Ginny being happy with me having fun with other witches…”
As he walked, he frowned. His footsteps seemed very loud in the quiet corridor…and they almost seemed to echo. Stopping suddenly, he heard the footsteps continue briefly to his left. He looked at the space with a raised eyebrow. “Really?”
He was unsurprised as another disillusionment charm, far better cast than the previous one, revealed Hermione with a smirk firmly in place. She was wearing the same belt-like mesh skirt and top he had seen her wearing the first time he had seen her at the burrow.
“What? I did say I would be keeping a close eye on your escapades, Harry. Shame you didn't have time for Parvati though…I didn't actually get to cross off anyone new…”
Harry rolled his eyes at her pout, continuing his walk towards the common room. “Well, sorry for disappointing you.” Hermione fell into step with him, gaining a slightly glazed look. “Oh, it was far from disappointing…the way you drove Lavender into the desk was fantastic…” she shivered slightly in apparent arousal.
Harry side-eyed his friend. “Just how did you watch us? I didn't see the door open. At first, I thought Parvati was you…her spell work wasn't as good as yours, however.” The gothic beauty just gave him a sly smile.
“That's for me to know, and you to find out”. The pair arrived by the portrait hole. Hermione stopped and turned to face him. “Now, I'm still technically on my prefect round, so I'll be heading back out. Try not to get caught by someone else, they won't all be as forgiving as me.”
Harry gave her a mock salute, before giving the password and entering the common room. By this time, the majority had turned in for the night. Only a few older students remained, sat talking quietly by the fire
“I really need to have that chat with Sirius…I've held off for long enough.” Moving past the group by the fire, he headed up to his dorm.
Once Inside, he stifled a snort at the range of snoring coming from the various beds. Ron’s was still the most impressive, the redhead sleeping with his mouth wide open.
Rummaging through his trunk, he quickly located the familiar, two way mirror. Once he had climbed onto his bed, he closed the curtains and flicked a two way silencing charm into place. Both to keep Ron's snoring out, and his conversation private.
Now that he was laying here, the mirror in his hands, he hesitated. “What if Sirius is different here? Will he still want to be family?” Not only was he concerned about this, he was also worried about keeping his composure. The last time he had seen Sirius…he had fallen backwards through the veil. He wasn't sure how he'd react to seeing him alive again.
Sighing, Harry steeled himself. “Hesitating is not going to get me answers…” He raised the mirror up. “Sirius.” He waited with baited breath, the mirror chiming softly. Just when Harry was begining to grow concerned…the mirror lit up.
“Sorry pup, I was a little…engrossed. Great to hear from you! I had thought the excitement of a new school year had made you forget your ol’ dog father.” The grinning visage of Sirius looked back at him, lit by a bright blue sky behind him.
Harry swallowed, struggling to keep from getting emotional. Sirius looked just as he remembered, if not a little healthier. He still had sunken cheeks, and his eyes still looked slightly haunted despite his smile. However, he wasn't as gaunt as he had been when he had been on the run the last time. This was fairly evident, as he appeared to be topless currently.
As his silence continues, Sirius frowns. “You ok, Harry? This mirror isn't broken is it?” he said, shaking the mirror slightly. Harry shook himself from his stupor. “Oh, er…no, I'm fine, Sirius. Just tired is all…where are you? It looks…bright.”
Sirius's smile returned before he smirked. “Somewhere safe, for now. Check it out!” He turns the mirror around, showing off a large expanse of sand, the sea visible nearby. Even more interestingly, it seemed he wasn't alone. The beach had numerous others, all clearly enjoying the beach. Some were swimming, walking around and sunbathing. He even spotted several young girls who were topless nearby!
The mirror swung back around, showing Sirius once more. “See? Isn't this place amazing? Noone will look for me on Muggle beach. There's even topless bathing Harry!” he exclaimed excitedly, his eyebrows wiggling suggestively.
Harry couldn't help a smile at his godfathers enthusiasm. “Wait…Muggle? Aren't they going to question you speaking into a mirror?” Sirius shrugged. “I've seen several of them doing the same to these little rectangles of metal, so I simply charmed the mirror to look like those. Seems to be working so far…”
Harry chuckled. He then sighed and grew more serious. “So…I had an interesting talk with Narcissa today.” Sirius raised a brow, though he didn't seem upset. “You did? And how is my cousin? Happier since her divorce, I'd wager” he said, scratching his stubble.
Harry, surprised by his lack of hostility, just stared at him. “You're not worried about me talking to her?” Sirius shrugged. “She may have married that pompous jerk, but that's the thing. Was.” He sighed, before looking back to the mirror.
“Look Harry…Narcissa wasn't always a cold, calculating Individual. None of the Black sisters were, when we were young. But the pressures of pure blood society…they change you. If you can't find a way to escape, like I and Andromeda did, then you get stuck. In the case of Narcissa, it was in a loveless marriage. That was still a better hand than what Bellatrix got…”
Harry listened in interest. He always knew that the Blacks were hardline pureblood. Tradition was king, and arranged marriages were common to keep their blood “pure”. Though the way that Sirius said it, he almost sounded…regretful about what happened to the Black sisters.
“Ok…did you know that she's trying to help get you a trial?” Sirius blinked, and looked at him with interest. “Is she now? Huh. I don't know how successful she'll be. Without Pettigrew, I don't think we would have enough proof.”
“You don't seem surprised,” Harry commented. “Narcissa is a Black again. There are reasons why having me free would benefit her. She may not be married to Malfoy anymore, but she's still cunning. If anyone could find a way to get me a trial without Pettigrew, it would be her.”
“Huh…so I should try to work with her?” Harry asks. Sirius paused. “Now, I wouldn't say that. Is she likely to hurt you? Probably not…but she almost certainly has her own agenda. Just…be careful.”
Just then, a soft feminine voice in the distance called out from behind Sirius. “Come on, James! Play some volleyball with us!” Sirius looked over his shoulder with a smirk. “Be there soon, Elesa!” Turning back, he saw Harry’s deadpan look.
“Er…well I can't exactly go around calling myself Sirius if I want to keep a low profile, can I?” he said, sheepishly. Harry shook his head with fond exasperation. “Go and have fun, Sirius.”
Sirius smirked, giving a cheeky salute. “Can do. And Harry…if you need me, don't hesitate to mirror me. I'll be back in England in an instant, risk of arrest be damned.”
Harry felt his throat tighten from emotion once more. “Thanks…Sirius” The older man nodded, before ending the mirror call.
He stared at his own reflection for a short while, before lowering the mirror and slumping back in his bed. “He's still the Sirius I remember.” Relief washed over him.
One thing was for sure…it was even more important for him to prevent the incident in the department of mysteries from happening. “I'm going to need to have another chat with Professor Black, it seems.”