At two in the morning, Sirius and Remus were still busily searching for ways into the Tower, though now with some assistance. Sirius and Abraxas were working on the door, whilst Remus and Cassiopeia were completing their translation of the inscriptions on the walls.
"Great Merlin," Cassiopeia mumbled. "I trained that boy better than this. He ought to know better than to go barging into a powerful magical location without knowing precisely what he's getting himself into." She sighed. "He's his father's son, I suppose. Idiotic Gryffindors."
"Have you had any luck figuring out why exactly the three secrets were so special to Slytherin?" Remus asked, adroitly changing the subject. He had many years experience at dealing with Black moods, after all. Cassiopeia sniffed. "The basilisk should be obvious," she replied. "As for the other two objects, I have yet to ascertain their intended function."
"I first heard about the Tower years ago, when I was researching centaur legends for my History of Magic N.E.W.T.," Remus mused. "They believe that the tower causes nightmares for those who enter it."
"It is possible," Cassiopeia conceded, "though I fail to see what use such a place would be for Salazar Slytherin. According to the inscriptions, he viewed the Tower as the source of ultimate power." Remus nodded. "In particular, he references the Pool of Possibilities." Cassiopeia closed her eyes in concentration. "Do you know any of the epic songs of the Grey Sorcerers of Montenegro?" she asked snappishly. "No," Remus replied, confused by the sudden change in topic. "If I may ask..."
But he never got to finish his question. Cassiopeia rose to her feet and strolled over to where Abraxas and Sirius were trying to break in to the Tower. Remus shook his head and followed after her. "Just the one," Sirius was saying. "Mum used to sing it to us as a lullaby." Remus suppressed a chuckle. Somehow he couldn't manage to picture Walburga Black singing her sons to sleep. For his part, Sirius began to sing softly.
"Strashnomu Iziaslavu kniaz' pokaza," he began, "chudes istochnik smertnago strakha..." His voice trailed off. "Sorry," he said sheepishly. "I don't really remember the rest." Remus was about to ask what the song meant, and what any of it had to do with Aries, when Abraxas jumped in. "I remember that song," he said. "though I'm not much of a singer. It goes on, 'V nemzhe iavishasia vsia byvshaia i vsia sushchaia'."
"Vsia iazhe byti mogli bysha i iazhe byti eshche mogut," Sirius finished. "I can't believe I forgot that. It used to be my favorite part." He frowned. "But what does it mean?" "And what does any of it have to do with helping Aries?" Remus put in. "The centaurs aren't the only ones with legends, Mr. Lupin,' Cassiopeia said haughtily. 'The inscription speaks of a "Pool of Possibilities" and a "Tower of Terror". The Montenegrin song speaks of a "font of mortal fear" that reveals "all that was and all that is, all that might have been and all that might yet be.' Does it seem like a coincidence to you?"
Remus and Sirius exchanged nervous glances. It certainly sounded as though there might be a connection. "A pool that showed every possible outcome of events would be an incredibly useful weapon," Abraxas pointed out. "If Salazar Slytherin controlled such a thing, it would certainly merit his strongest protections." Remus thought about that for a moment. Something still didn't feel quite right about this explanation. Evidently Sirius felt the same way.
"That doesn't make sense," he said. "Why would something that showed you other possible realities cause nightmares? Aries could see what might have happened if he'd grown up with his parents, if James had lived." Cassiopeia gave Sirius a funny look, and Remus thought he could detect a subtle hint of pity beneath her stern features. "Think about it, Sirius," she said, and her voice was gentler than Remus had ever known it. "The pool shows every possibility, not just the ones we might prefer. There are an infinite number of ways in which something can go wrong, and only a very few sets of possibilities in which everything can go right."
"And even if one could manage to see the more pleasant possibilities," Abraxas added, "one would be forever haunted by the thought of what might have been." Sirius nodded, his brow furrowed in concern. "We've got to get him out of there," he said. "There is a way," Cassiopeia said, "but one of us will have to go after him."
Translation (Approximate):
Strashnomu Iziaslavu kniaz' pokaza - Scary Izyaslav prince showing
chudes istochnik smertnago strakha... - miracles source of mortal fear...
V nemzhe iavishasia vsia byvshaia i vsia sushchaia' - In Nemz, Iavishasiya is all old and all is dry
Vsia iazhe byti mogli bysha i iazhe byti eshche mogut - Everything could have been a bush and still can be