I was told they were unable of feelings.
I was told they were worst kind of men.
I have always believed those words,
Up until I have met one of them.

1997, POV: Orion Exile

'Just... please, honestly, Nordi. It's already an hour past the curfew. Why do you insist on getting yourself in trouble all the time?'

'I couldn't care less about the curfew, Orion! You know about that! Just let me inside, for once... Please!'

Orion Exile looked down at his protégé. Nordi's forehead was shining with sweat, his light grey eyes seemed to glow in darkness. His still child-like face with high cheekbones was blushing with anxiety and excitement.

'We've discussed it so many times. It is no time for you to go to the Headquarters, not just yet. You're so close to your NEWT exams. After you graduate, you are free to do whatever you want, but for now, please, return to the castle and focus on your studies.'

'Orion...!'

Orion frowned. He leaned against a wall outside the Malfoy Manor estate, trying to remain calm.

'If you insist on bothering me like that, I won't tolerate you sneaking out of school to meet me here anymore. I'll assign someone to guard you, and you will not be allowed outside of the school wards.'

Nordi rose his eyebrows in surprise. Orion was satisfied; he finally managed to disconcert the boy.

'Firstly, nobody can make me a prisoner of this damn school, secondly, I highly doubt you would do this to me!' Nordi replied, frowning.
Orion opened his mouth to disagree, but he heard some voices from the side of the Manor. Somebody was coming by.

'Orion-boy! Orion-boy, where are you?'

Bellatrix and Rudolphus. Damn it. Perfect timing.

Orion sighed, running his hand through his dark blond hair. Two dark-eyed Death Eaters walked through the huge iron front gate of the Malfoy's estate. Nordi's glowing eyes widened instantly. Bellatrix gave the boy a surprised look through her heavy-lidded black eyes. Rudolph crossed his huge arms on his chest. Well, no wonder they were confused, seeing a strange twelve-year -old in Hogwarts' school robes, standing so close to the Headquarters.

'Orion-boy, I knew some of your protégés were attending Hogwarts, but I didn't expect one of them here.' Bella said.

'He's... I told him he shouldn't be coming here...' Orion said lamely, but Nordi stepped forward.

'Is it possible that you are... Lord and Lady Lestrange from the Inner Circle? Ones of the greatest heroes of the First Wizarding War?' He asked in admiration, his voice slightly shaking. Bella rose her eyebrows, but she couldn't hide being flattered.

'You are not mistaken, boy.' she said.

Nordi came by to Rudolph and shook his hand firmly, then he bowed slightly in front of Bella and kissed her hand's knuckles. Well, at least he showed some pure-blooded traditional courtesy that was taught him since his youngest years at the Orphanage.

'I am Nordi Exile.' the boy introduced himself. 'It's a honor to meet both of you.'

Bella was visibly pleased with Nordi's manners. Orion, on the other hand, wasn't happy; he really tried to keep the boy out of this mess as long as possible. He was perfectly aware how fixated Nordi was on joining Dark Lord's forces and partaking in the war effort. However, Orion didn't want to let him fight. He was barely twelve.

'Orion-boy? I think you have some explanation to do. Why didn't you invite your protégé inside?'

Nordi looked at Bella in admiration and a boundless gratitude. Orion could only imagine how happy the boy was, finally having an opportunity to enter the HQ. The young man clenched his teeth.

'Because, Bella' he said slowly 'he is not supposed to be outside of school past curfew. Nordi, please, head back to the castle.'

'Boy, by the way, how did you get here? It's not so easy to travel in and out of Hogwarts.' said Rudolph in a curious voice.
Nordi smiled.

'Yes, sir, that's correct; it's not exactly easy with those rather impressive wards of theirs. However, it's not the first time I sneaked out of Hogwarts to meet Orion here...'

'...It's more like a thousandth time.' Orion smirked.

'...I leave the castle grounds using an abandoned underground passageway, leading to the Forbidden Forrest. I apparate once I cross the wards.' Nordi explained, ignoring Orion's remark.
Bella's eyes widened.

'You can actually tell when you are crossing the wards? But those wards are ancient and extremely powerful; most people are unable to sense them!'

Orion sighed.

'He is a Warding Master, Bella.' he said reluctantly. 'He is not only able to sense all kinds of wards. He can erect multi-purpose, powerful wards in no-time as well.'

Bella gave Orion an unimpressed look.

'It's a pity you never came to introduce him to us, Orion-boy. Come, Nordi. Have you had any dinner?'

'No, ma'am.'

'I was actually looking for your guardian here, to tell him that the house elves are ready with the food. You shall eat with us tonight.'

Nordi grinned from ear to ear and walked side-by-side Bella to the Manor. Orion followed them reluctantly.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Orion was watching silently Bella and Rudolph chatting casually with Nordi during the dinner. He could see the excitement and joy of his protégé, especially when Rudolph agreed to tell him some stories from the previous war. Nordi always wanted to hear war stories. Even as a toddler, he used to torment Orion, asking him to tell the same stories over and over again. Nordi had a great deal of respect for all those, who fought by the Dark Lord's side years ago. Orion could never understand the boy's admiration for war veterans.

Orion did also fight in the previous war. He served as a Battle Healer in the Death Eaters' regiments. However, he never considered himself a respectable veteran, yet alone a hero.

Orion was no warrior and no hero. He was a troubled young man, struggling with an unbearable childhood trauma, shattered by internal conflicts and remorses. He never felt like a person who deserved to be respected or looked up to, even though he was a guardian to over twenty abandoned kids from the Orphanage.
Right at the moment, one of those kids - instead of being at school where was currently his place- sat at the Headquarters and annoyed Orion with his disobedience.

CRACK! Somebody apparated in the Entrance Hall of the Manor. Orion wasn't surprised; the Manor was opened all the time for all the Death Eaters. They were allowed spend there as much time as they wanted. The Dark Lord was aware that many of his followers had no better place to stay in- some of them didn't even have a place they could call "home". The Malfoy Manor had plenty of space, a lot of spare bedrooms, a large library and a couple of house elves, providing the Death Eaters with food. Both the Dark Lord and Lucius Malfoy agreed to make all those benefits available to everyone involved in the Case, who needed them.

Two men entered the Dining Hall- Septimus Nott and August Rookwood. Orion assumed they were returning from a nighttime assignment. The fair-haired Exile watched Nordi getting up and eagerly shaking hands with both Death Eaters, introducing himself. Rookwood and Nott were visibly unsure at first, but Bella reassured them , inviting them to seat and summoning a house elf. Soon the five of them was already occupied with a lively conversation, which Orion didn't even bother to listen to, lost in his own thoughts.

Orion was under impression that it was already very late. He drew his wand, casting a quick tempus. It was 1 at night. Everybody was done with their dinner.

'Nordi!' Orion yelled. Everybody focused their eyes on him. 'Do you realize what time is it? I'd rather not think If you get caught wandering around Hogwarts castle at this time.'

'That's why he stays.' Bella answered.

'Excuse me?'

'Well, see, Orion... Tomorrow is Saturday and I don't have to attend any classes in the morning, so Lady Lestrange and I figured out that I might as well stay; besides, just like you've pointed out yourself, I'm not supposed to be walking around the castle at this time of night.' Nordi explained.

Orion sighed; he already knew he won't be able to convince the boy otherwise, so he just shrugged his shoulders.

Nordi grinned. 'Lady Lestrange...'

'Please, dear. Call me Bella.'

Nordi opened his mouth in amazement.

'Really? I mean... Yes, of course, Bella!'

Bella smiled. 'Shall we be going then?'

'Yeah, let's go!'

Orion frowned. 'Going where?'

'To the Training Hall, of course. We are all curious about your protégé's combat abilities.' Bella answered.

'What? But... now? In the middle of the night?'

Bella rolled her eyes.

'Orion-boy, Death Eaters are most active during nighttime. After all those years, you should have gotten used to it.'

She stood, up , drew her wand and headed towards the door.

'Time for training, everyone! Wakey, wakey, no sleeping! BOMBARDA!'

Orion looked horrified at the small explosion caused by Bella (which luckily, didn't scratch the ceiling). Nordi, on the other hand, looked with admiration at his new authority figure, and followed her to the Training Hall.

'Are you people insane?' Orion hissed. 'Do you really wish to be cursed? You will upset the Dark Lord with all those noises...'

Nott gave him an unimpressed look.

'Bella would never do anything to upset him, Exile. I thought you were aware of that. The Dark Lord, to your information, is at the Little Hangleton at the moment. And, by the way, please don't butt in anymore. The Lestranges aren't too happy with you.'

Orion frowned.

'Why, Sept?'

Nott rolled his eyes.

'How are we supposed to gain new followers, if you are actively trying to keep the younger generation away from us? From the conversation with the boy tonight I figured that much out: he was willing to approach us for almost two years , many times! And what were you doing? Keeping him oblivious, away from significant events. I must say, Exile, that I am somehow disappointed. This is borderline an act of sabotage. Especially that there are more kids in this Orphanage of yours. Tell me, are they also so eager to partake in the fight, but you are the one who holds them back?'

Orion felt his heart sinking. He froze on the spot, stunned by Nott's accusations.

'Septimus' he said in a small voice. 'I'm not sabotaging, merely trying to protect the boy. I believe that I'm doing only what is best for him and for the other kids. Addressing your last question, no. Nordi is the only one with a will to fight.'

Nott looked at him.

'Your approach is incorrect.' he stated. 'You cannot protect someone against his own will, because such a protection is harmful.'

Having said that, Septimus followed the rest to the Training Hall, leaving Orion alone and broken.