Paradox | T. Riddle ✔

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Regulus found Sirius at last but by then his and Esmeralda's state was much worse after traveling in the forest for days without food and water. Seeing them so terribly hurt, Sirius took them to his uncle's house at Magnolia Crescent before bringing them to the Order.

When Regulus was finally in a condition to speak, he told Sirius about Eleanor and how she had sacrificed herself for their freedom. Hearing that from him froze Sirius in alarm.

"What? She is still there?"

"Yes and if she isn't rescued in time... He will kill her," Regulus remarked, his voice lowering from too much strain, "please help her, she was certain you'd help."

Sirius was in a tough spot right then. He wanted to help Eleanor but things would be complicated considering she had accepted Voldemort's condition and become a Death Eater. But then he couldn't leave her there to die either.

Just seeing the state Reg and Esme had been in when they had been found made his heart sink in worry for what could be done to Eleanor in all that time they hadn't been able to rescue her.

"He is unhealthily obsessed with her," Esmeralda spoke up, concern dripping from her voice, "she will be in a lot of pain by now... Please save her."

Sirius could see that the situation was not in their favor and he had to act fast. Turning to Regulus, he spoke, "everything that you told me right now, can you tell it to Professor Dumbledore too? We need his help."

He nodded, agreeing immediately because Eleanor's life was at stake.

"Come then," he stood up, creating a patronus to send a message to the Order about their arrival, "only he can help us out."

He took them to the Order headquarters and as expected they were met with much heavier resistance from the other members compared to when Eleanor had joined them. If it hadn't been for Dumbledore, perhaps they wouldn't have allowed Regulus Black, a top-tier Death Eater, to step in.

However, Dumbledore intervened and not only did he allow them to come in but also arranged for them to be treated by a Healer. Both Reg and Esme were badly injured and needed proper medical attention.

But Regulus insisted on speaking with Dumbledore privately first so while Esmeralda was being treated, he went with his former professor, telling him everything that had happened back at the hideout.

Of course, he had to confess along with it that he was a Death Eater too and had joined back in his sixth year. He also had to tell the old man about all the tasks he had carried out for Voldemort that went against the law and moral conduct. He expected no less than Azkaban as a punishment and he would accept that without objection but he wanted them to somehow rescue Eleanor from the clutches of that vile monster.

"I don't know what he wants from her but he will not let her go," it was clear to see that Regulus was devastated, "please, Professor Dumbledore... Please save her."

Dumbledore considered whether or not to tell him the reason behind Voldemort's unhealthy obsession with Eleanor.

At last, he sighed softly, nodding his head as he had understood everything Reg told him, "very well, Mister Black. We'll see what we can do. Miss Troy is a member of our alliance even before she was taken by the Death Eaters and we would definitely help her out."

He didn't ask about the alliance, knowing it must be some group to fight off dark wizards like himself.

"However there are some things you should know to prepare yourself for what to expect," that steady voice caught Reg by slight alarm, "such as the reason why Riddle has detained your fiance."

He was silent for a moment but then spoke, "what reason?"

"Miss Troy has traveled through time," Dumbledore elaborated watching his features flicker in shock, "she has lived through two timelines, one that passed in her life before the time travel and the other she created due to turning time back."

"Eleanor went back in time?"

"Yes and the reason for it was to save you from dying," his voice was solemn as he explained, "this war that is upon us, she has seen it unfold already in a past timeline that got erased the day she spun her time turner to go years back. She went into the past when Lord Voldemort was still Tom Riddle."

Regulus was listening to him intently, just then realizing why Eleanor had been insisting them to stay alive because she couldn't lose them again. It was all starting to make sense after Dumbledore's explanation.

But his slight pause made Reg somewhat anxious as if he was going to say something very impactful and shocking so he was giving him the time to prepare himself.

"Miss Troy went back to that time and killed Tom Riddle so that he would never become Voldemort hence never starting this war that made her lose her family," he had taken off his spectacles, sharp blue eyes gazing into the shocked irises of Regulus Black's.

But of course, killing him in the past might not have worked because he was still alive and wreaking havoc. Regulus had a close enough guess for that. "And killing him in the past must have thrown her into a Paradox... Because it was never meant to happen."

Dumbledore nodded, a grave expression taking over his old features, "indeed."

Reg's features were solemn too as he was piecing the puzzle together, realizing the intensity of the situation. The more things connected in his brain, the more worried he got for Eleanor, knowing that the Dark Lord never let go of grudges and took revenge for even the slightest of acts.

Killing him was a deed that would cause him to go berserk in anger and thinking about all the ways Lord Voldemort could execute revenge on Eleanor for that was making his head hurt.

On the other hand, Remus found out about Sirius bringing in visitors so he went to check as well. Seeing Esmeralda being treated by the Healer, he almost mistook her to be Eleanor as the two women had a striking resemblance.

"Miss Troy?" He spoke up as he reached and Esmeralda turned to look at him in surprise, unable to recognize him.

Right then Remus noticed the slight difference between her and Eleanor. The fact that the woman did not have Eleanor's marble-green eyes made him realize that it wasn't her.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were Eleanor Troy," he explained.

"Esmeralda Troy," she corrected him gently, "Ellie's sister. And you are?"

"Remus Lupin," he replied albeit awkwardly.

She nodded, taking in the concern that was on his face, "you are her friend, I assume?"

"I guess," he mumbled because even though he had been on good terms with Ellie, he did not know whether she considered him a friend or not.

He took a chair beside the bed as Esmeralda didn't object and shortly after the Healer left.

"What happened to you, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I was held captive by the Dark Lord ever since he murdered my parents," her eyes welled up and she looked away, holding back the tears, "he kept Regulus imprisoned too just so he could use us to blackmail Ellie into joining him..."

Through her, Remus also found out what was going on and it made him even more concerned for Eleanor. She needed their help and he hoped Dumbledore would decide to send an Order squad to rescue her.

Because if they didn't rescue her in time, there was no knowing what gruesome torture the Dark Lord would subject her to. It could even result in her death.

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