Words Fly: In this chapter, the family of OCs is introduced. I did my best to write them clearly and distinctively, but sometimes I forget that people reading don't see what I picture. So if anything is ever confusing, please don't hesitate to ask a question or to point out a mistake/confusing piece. Also, I have picked face claims for the characters but feel free to picture them however you want. If you like knowing what I picture when I write, here's the list!

Albus Dumbledore: Jude Law
Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody: Sean Bean
Bree Halliwell: Kristen Stewart
Cat Halliwell: Amber Heard
Maze Halliwell: Teresa Palmer
Jackson Thibodeaux: Liam Hemsworth
Severus Snape: Adam Driver

Post Date: 09 July 2019

Word Count: 20,670

exsanguis
bloodless; pale; wan

X

CHAPTER TWO
TIME TO MEET THE HALLIWELL FAMILY

19 MAY 1979
SMALL COTTAGE
UNDISCLOSED MUGGLE TOWN

ALBUS

Albus looked across the scarred surface of the rickety kitchen table and was not surprised to see Alastor's eyes narrowed in a glare. The glare was expected, so expected that Albus struggled to hide his amusement at his younger friend's predictability despite his tendency to tell everyone in the near vicinity about constant vigilance. What they were discussing was no laughing matter; however, Albus knew that the plan he'd just told Alastor was necessary. Instead of pushing Alastor to speak and share his thoughts, he stayed silent and tapped his fingers against the picture laid out in front of him while continuing to watch Alastor's angry eyes. The quiet stretched on, the old house that they were in was secluded and they were the only occupants on this night, and Albus felt as if he could feel the words he'd spoken laying across them like a heavy blanket.

"We cannot trust a stranger with something like this!" Alastor finally yelled. His friend had a good point. To trust someone unknown with a task this important could very well lead to their downfall, but Albus truly believed that it could work. (Buried at the back of his mind and darkening his heart, he knew that this plan was a selfish one. He could not look someone that he knew and cared for in the eye while asking for this kind of sacrifice. Not again.)

"We are losing, and we are heavily outnumbered. We need someone new; someone that will never be expected, but also someone with just the right attributes to guarantee success. I believe she can do it." Alastor let out a sigh that was closer to a groan, leaned back in his chair as his hands scrubbed at his face, and he still looked angry when he lowered his hands but he looked so tired as well.

"How do you know that this girl can pull it off?" One finger jabbed at the photo still laying on the center of the table, and Albus glanced down. The girl was young, too young for what he was going to ask of her, but there was strength in her. The picture had been taken from a newspaper, and it showed the girl with a fierce look on her face and her arms outstretched. Guarding her two younger sisters who were each holding a babe only days old as well as the small boy that peeked out from around her leg. The girls were holding the babes tightly and looking down, the boy had tears falling from his wide eyes, but the eldest had fire in her eyes as she guarded her siblings.

"I have no way of knowing, not for sure, which is why I will be going to the Halliwell Manor to meet Miss Halliwell." Miss Halliwell…a child of nineteen, eldest of Claude and Lillian Halliwell, was now the sole guardian of her five younger siblings at the Halliwell Manor in Louisiana. Albus knew it was wrong to burden her and to ask for something from someone who had so much to lose, but she was perfect for what he needed. There was no time to find someone else.

"You're not going alone," Alastor finally growled. It was what Albus had hoped to hear, and now it was time to start making preparations. If he was going to visit America, he was going to make more than one stop.

02 JUNE 1979
HALLIWELL MANOR
FOLSOM, LOUISIANA

BREE

Bree tucked a blanket around little Nate, and her younger brother smiled and giggled up at her. The look was so cute that she ducked to pepper kisses against the baby's face, and she easily swung to the right and peppered noisy kisses against her other baby brother's cheeks. Bash reacted in the same way as his twin, with giggling and gibberish, and Bree straightened up so she could make sure that everything was in order. They were in a two-sided baby basket, perfectly sized for the twin soon-to-be one year olds. Tucked in tight, favorite toys in grabbing distance, and they were both in a happy mood this morning. Which meant that Bree was in a happy mood. She talked down to the twins as she hooked her elbow through the basket's handle, and she was telling the twins about her plans for breakfast as she walked out of Nate's room. The twins each had a bedroom connected by a bathroom, but they both slept in Nate's room for now. (If they were having a bad night, they slept downstairs in Bree's room.)

Her first stop was Theo's room, across the hallway from Nate's room, and she stopped right outside and put her ear door to the door for show as the twins watched her. Before going to the twins' room, she'd gone around the hallway to wake everyone up. Including her little five year old brother. For still being so young, he usually didn't have any problems with waking up. Sure enough, she could hear him talking quietly to himself as he pulled on the clothes they had picked out the day before. He was so independent, her little Theo, and she pressed her fingertips against his door with a small smile before pulling away. That was one less person to worry about this morning. As she took another step away, she looked down at the twins.

"What do you think, little bits? Think your older sisters are up?" Right on cue, the sound of a shower starting filled the hallway.

Bree paused in front of the bathroom, a connector of her other two sisters' bedrooms, and waited to see if she could tell which one of them was awake. A moment later, quiet singing drifted out over the sound of falling water. That meant that Cat was awake, and Bree closed her eyes as she listened to the sixteen year old sing. Cat hadn't really had the heart to sing in the past year, and the sound had been sorely missed. The three oldest Halliwells had all taken singing lessons as children, Theo would start his in the fall, but only Cat had a real gift for it. When Bree opened her eyes and looked down, the twins were quiet and looking around with large eyes filled with wonder. They'd never heard their sister sing, but it was obvious that they enjoyed the sound. She reached down to sweep a hand across their cheeks, which were dimpled with smiles, and enjoyed the happy singing for another moment before taking a few steps to the left.

"It's about to get a little loud, sorry," Bree whispered to the twins. She was standing in front of Maze's door, and she could hear her sister snoring even through the thick wooden door. She'd knocked on the door to wake Maze up when she first got upstairs and again before going to get the twins ready, but Maze wasn't much of a morning person. Not like Bree and Cat were, and Bree had often thanked her lucky stars over the past year that Theo seemed to take after her and Cat instead of Maze. The girl could sleep through almost anything and could be a real pain to wake up sometimes. Bree said a quick prayer and then she raised her arm and slammed the side of her fist against Maze's door. "Margaret Paige! You get out of that bed right now or no presents!"

There was a long groan, the snap of blankets, a thud, a hiss, and finally stomping footsteps. It was a morning routine that she'd seen several times over the years. Maze had tossed her blankets back, probably with an angry scowl on her face, and had hissed after bumping into the large desk next to her bed. All of it meant that she was up for good now, and she should stop stomping somewhere around noon. She let her senses expand a little and forced down a laugh as she heard Maze grumbling about how unfair it was that her sisters woke up too early. Hearing cheery singing as background noise to the rant was amusing, and Bree shook her head as she turned towards the staircase.

"Your sisters are silly, aren't they?" she asked the twins.

"Sil!" Nate yelled up at her. Not be outdone, Bash quickly yelled, "Yah!"

Bree stepped off the last stair and into the dining room, and she put a little extra sway in her steps as she moved around the dining room table and further into the kitchen. The twins laughed along with her at the barely-there dancing, and she felt out of breath as she carefully placed the basket on the long counter next to the stove. They were far away from the stovetop but still in grabbing range, and she lifted an arm and gave a slight wave of her hand. The twins clapped as the windows over the counter opened, so she naturally bowed and thanked them before straightening up. Another wave pulled the curtains back and then she started getting out ingredients for pancakes.

Making pancakes with magic was easier, but cooking was one of the things that Bree loved doing the muggle way. She gripped the handle of a large wooden spoon as she mixed up batter, and she couldn't resist looking up and out of the open windows. The sunlight was warm against her bare skin, because she'd only pulled on a pair of denim shorts and a tank top after her morning shower, and her face lifted against the warmth. It was still early in the morning, so the summer heat hadn't turned too humid or unbearable yet. The day was so clear, there was a small breeze, and it was suddenly taking everything she had not to cry into her bowl of pancake batter.

The sound of a rattling toy interrupted her thoughts, and Bree laughed under her breath as she got her favorite pan and poured out batter for the first pancake. With that done, she reached up and pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. When she peeked over, the twins were focused on their toys and not her, which was a blessing. They might still be babies, but they could sense when something was wrong. She couldn't cry in front of them, or in front of the others. She had to stay strong, always, for them. Their parents were gone. Her younger siblings depended on her, and she couldn't just run to her mother or father whenever she felt lost anymore. It was all up to her now, and she wasn't going to let her family down. It was just…this was Maze's first birthday since their parents passed. (Since their parents were taken from them.) Cat's birthday was a little over two weeks ago, and she had spent the day with a smile on her face and had then cried herself to sleep in Bree's bed. Theo's birthday had been back in March, and the five year old had needed to be coaxed into opening his presents. (It hadn't been as bad as Christmas, thankfully. At Christmas, he had refused to open his presents until their parents joined them.)

"Bee! Bee!" The twins were yelling one after the other, and she flipped a pancake before looking over at the twins and making kissy faces. The three oldest Halliwell sisters were still grieving, but the twins would never remember their parents. They'd only been two days old when…everything happened.

"Bree!" she heard Theo yell right before his small weight crashed into her legs. She let herself rock with the hit as she laughed, and she realized the twins must have heard their big brother running before they started calling her name. Her lingering sadness faded as she reached down to circle an arm around Theo's shoulders, and she felt his face nuzzle against her side. His arms were looped around her waist now, fingers locked together over her opposite hip, and she resisted the urge to ruffle his light brown hair. He always pulled back when she did that, probably because he knew she was going to have to cut it soon. It was already hanging over his ears and starting to hide his eyes.

"Smells good," Cat said as she slipped up behind her. Bree would have jumped, but Cat had always been graceful and walked with silent steps. Her sister leaned against the counter between where Bree was cooking and the twins were playing, and Bree leaned up on her tiptoes. Cat was already tickling the twins, but she leaned down to knock her temple against Bree's. Cat was only three years younger than her, Maze a year younger than that, so Cat had grown up between two affectionate siblings. Bree and Maze both quickly learned that sometimes too much physical contact made their sister uncomfortable, so they had developed alternatives. Like gentle headbutts that their parents had called lovetaps. Even little Theo had picked up on the habits, so he only stretched one arm to poke Cat's knee in greeting.

"Hopefully it'll taste good too. Theo, can you go make sure that Maze is up?" The pancakes were nearly done, and she could hear Maze stomping around upstairs. Theo headbutted her hip before running off, and she turned her head to watch him go before looking back at the stove counter. She already had a small stack of pancakes on a plate next to the stove, she could always cook no matter how preoccupied her thoughts were, but she really should focus a bit more.

"It always does." Cat was dancing her fingers over Nate's face and letting him try to catch them while tickling Bash's feet, and she managed to keep it up as she turned to look at Bree. "Presents after breakfast?"

"Yes, right after. Maze wants a quiet day, no big fuss." Halliwell birthdays had always been big affairs that usually lasted the entire day and into the night. Until this year, of course. Bree hadn't even acknowledged her nineteenth birthday this past February, Theo had been incredibly subdued for a five year old, Cat had turned sixteen with a brave face until she couldn't hold back anymore, and today Maze didn't want any kind of celebration. Just pancakes and her presents at the breakfast table. "The twins' birthday is next month. I want to give them a proper celebration."

"Like Mom and Dad did for us?" Cat wouldn't look at her as she asked it, and Bree slid another pancake onto the stack.

"Yes. They deserve what we had growing up." Her voice was quiet, because the twins would turn one just two days before the one year anniversary of their parent's death.

"You're right. They won't remember turning one, but I'm sure they'll be able to feel that something was different. We were always so excited for our birthdays. We shouldn't take that from them." Cat was smiling down at the twins now, but Bree could hear the tightness in her throat. She was trying not to cry, and Bree held herself back because she knew that Cat hated to be held when she was upset. "I'll go get her presents from the top secret hiding spot."

Bree could hear Cat move through the dining room, into Bree's bedroom, and then past the closet where Maze's presents were and into the bathroom. The sink turned on a second later, and Bree focused her hearing away from her sister. If Cat needed a moment to herself, then Bree wouldn't listen in. Instead she focused on finishing up her stack of pancakes, and she proclaimed her victory to the twins when she was finally finished. The twins were watching her move around the kitchen as she got out plates and silverware, and she couldn't help smiling for them. The twins were the brightest things in their lives. Her sisters and Theo could remember their parents, and they all continued to grieve. The twins didn't know any different. Sometimes Bree thought the four of them would have gone insane if they didn't have their baby boys.

"Ready to set the table? Nate, you take the plates. Bash, you're in charge of the forks," she decided. Everything was kept out of reach, and Bree had put a brief lightening charm on the plates. She grabbed the basket and started to hum as she walked into the dining room, and she sat the basket down in her chair before quickly setting the table.

Her chair was at one end of the table, the head of the table, and she only had to set three more places. The chair directly across from hers, at the foot of the table, was Cat's. Maze usually moved from side to side of the table, as if she was uncomfortable in any of the seats, so she placed her plate in the chair to the left of Bree's. Theo's plate was placed between Cat and Maze, because he always seemed happiest when he was between two of his older siblings. The twins' double highchair was moved to Bree's right, and she kissed each of them as she lifted them out of the basket and carefully put them in their highchairs. After she was sure that they were secure, absolutely secure, she moved back into the kitchen to get the now-towering stack of pancakes.

"You did not call for me, Miss Gabriella," a voice squeaked as soon as she turned around. Cozy, one of the Halliwell house-elves, was standing between the stove counter and the sink counter. Large pale violet eyes looked up at her, nearly accusing, and Bree swallowed her laugh.

"I told you that you and Jory could have the day off last night." Jory was their other house-elf, a male and Cozy's longtime partner, and Cozy continued to stare up at her.

"You need not do everything on your own, Miss Gabriella. Cozy and Jory are honored to help." They hadn't been able to talk the house-elves into using their nicknames instead of their longer (boring) names, but her parents had managed to convince them to use "help" instead of the more traditional "serve" that most house-elves used.

"I know that, Cozy, and we are honored to have your help." Violet eyes quickly glanced down and back up, and Bree's lips twitched. "You and Jory have been so good to us this year, but today is going to be an easy day. No chores or anything. You and Jory are free to do whatever you wish, and I promise to call for you if I need help. Sound fair?"

"Yes, fair, Miss Gabriella. Cozy and Jory would like to wish Miss Margaret a happy day." Bree nodded, because of course that was okay, and Cozy snapped her fingers. The plates of pancakes appeared in her hands, and she turned around before Bree could protest. It was easier not to argue with Cozy, so Bree finally let herself smile and moved to the cabinets above the stove counter.

She reached down to free her wand from the holster around her hips, and it only took one flick to get the dishes to start washing themselves. She might have loved to cook, but scrubbing dishes wasn't her favorite thing to do. So the dishes could take care of themselves, and she returned her wand to its holster before rocking up onto her tiptoes and opening one of the cabinets. There was already a large wooden tray on the counter, and she pulled down glasses and carefully set them on the tray. She dropped back down onto her bare feet after closing the cabinet and looked down. Four glasses, two bottles, and she nodded to herself before starting to actually make the drinks. Nate and Bash got some delicious milk, non-formula, in charmed non-spilling bottles. Little Theo got sweet tea in a large blue glass that had also been charmed so it wouldn't spill, despite his insistence that he was no longer a baby. Maze got black coffee in a giant purple mug, because she kept insisting that she needed the caffeine to live. Cat got a more sensible apple juice in a tall bright yellow glass. The last drink that Bree made was her own, sugary sweet coffee in an old chipped green mug.

"Need any help?" Cat called from the dining room.

"I've got it!" Bree tightly gripped the handles of the tray, lifted, and walked into the dining room. Cozy was talking to the twins about her plans to spend the day in the garden, and the twins were listening with rapt attention. Cat was already in her chair, with the morning wizarding paper open in front of her, and Bree noticed the folded muggle paper next to Maze's plate as she sat the tray down. She knew, about halfway through breakfast, that they would switch newspapers.

She waved her hand and pointed to move the drinks to their appropriate places, and she rolled her shoulders before moving the tray back into the kitchen. She heard the quiet thump of the tray returning to its spot on the counter, and she looked at the table to see if she was missing anything. Plates, forks, drinks, stack of pancakes in the center of the table, but she felt like something was missing. She bent her knees to look under the table and saw the presents in front of Cat's feet, but something still felt off. As she was still trying to figure it out, there was a quiet pop and Jory appeared next to Cat's chair.

"Chocolate chips, Miss Catherine?" Jory asked. He was a little taller than Cozy, with paler skin, but his voice wasn't as high. Right now, he was holding up a small bowl of chilled chocolate chips.

"Yes, thank you, Jory." Cat didn't move the paper away from her face, but Jory was smiling so Bree assumed that Cat had smiled as she thanked him. Bree hated the way that most house-elves were treated, but she took some comfort in knowing that the two Halliwell house-elves had always been treated kindly and with respect. Cozy and Jory had been part of the family since before Bree was born, and they would always be a part of the family.

The only things missing now were Maze and Theo, and Bree looked up at the ceiling as she listened for them. There was the sound of Theo's squealing laugh, Maze's quiet grunt, and finally the sound of Maze's door opening. Bree was still standing next to her chair when Maze started stomping her way down the stairs, and she looked over at the staircase as Maze came down. Her hair was wild and tangled around her face, and the mess nearly completely obscured Theo who was sitting on her shoulders. She could hear him talking cheerfully, and Maze only had one hand loosely curled around his ankle so she could rub the sleep from her eyes as she stumbled the rest of the way down the staircase and weaved into the dining room.

"It's summer and my birthday. Why couldn't I sleep in?" Maze asked through a yawn. She must have stayed up late writing again, to look this tired. Her socked feet dragged along the hardwood floor as she blindly navigated her way towards the table, and Cat quickly grabbed her arm before she could crash into the table. Theo just giggled at the abrupt stop, and he didn't protest as Cat moved him from Maze's shoulders and into his chair on the other side of the table. Maze's eyes finally opened all the way once Theo's weight was gone, but she didn't say anything as Cat pulled her down into a small one-armed hug. Cat rarely hugged anyone so early, and Bree could see Maze's small pout fading as she placed one hand on Cat's shoulder.

"Because if you start sleeping all day now, your sleep schedule will be ruined and you'll regret it when lessons start again. Bree's protecting you from yourself," Cat explained without letting her go. Maze grumbled out syllables but not actual words, and Cat laughed quietly as she pushed Maze towards the twins. She stumbled to a stop before reaching them though and just barely managed not to knock over Cozy and Jory.

"Happy day, Miss Maze!" the elves yelled. Cozy was much louder than Jory while Jory yelled a little faster than Cozy, but it was the first time that Bree had ever heard them use a nickname. Maze smiled down at them and held out her hands, which were quickly grabbed. She gently squeezed the elves' hands, like a long-distance hug.

"Thank you both," Maze said quietly. Her voice was still a little sleep rough, but the two elves still bounced a little in happiness before disappearing with a pop. They were probably going to eat breakfast in the garden; that was their preferred eating spot, as long as the weather was nice.

"Hap!" Bash yelled as Maze looked up. Nate was quick to echo him and shouted out, "Hap!"

Maze was grinning as she leaned over the back of the combined highchair to smack kisses all over the twins, and they reached up to tangle their hands in her long hair. Bree was worried for a moment that their hands would get stuck, but Maze expertly pulled them free and then straightened up. Her eyes were still sleepy as she looked over at Bree, open and unguarded, and she could see happiness warring with grief. Bree opened her arms, and Maze shuffled forwards until she could collapse against her. Maze, and Cat, were both quite a few inches taller than Bree now, but that didn't stop Maze from ducking down until her cheek pressed against Bree's shoulder. Bree started trying to tame her sister's hair with her fingers, and she felt hands clutching at the back of her shirt as Maze held onto her a little tighter.

"Happy birthday," Bree whispered. She felt Maze nod against her shoulder, and she let her sister hold onto her for a moment longer. When she straightened up and pulled back, Bree kissed her fingertips and then raised her arm to press her fingers against Maze's forehead. Maze smiled, just a little, as she swatted at Bree's arm and then moved around her to get to her chair.

Breakfast wasn't like Bree had feared it would be; it wasn't quiet or somber, and no one cried. The stack of pancakes quickly dwindled, even the twins each got their own plain pancake, and Bree mostly kept quiet as she watched her family. Theo was the first to finish eating, for someone so little he could eat a lot very fast, and Bree happily held her little brother in her lap as they watched the rest of their family's antics. Cat and Maze argued over different points in both newspapers like they always did at breakfast, their opposite personalities clashing and sparking debates, and they each got a twin to defend their side. Cat said that Bash was more worried about individuals, like her, and Bash even nodded along with Cat's points. So Maze claimed that Nate was clearly the more logical one and worried about the whole, and Nate let out something that sounded like a kitten's roar as he took Maze's side. It was a beautiful moment that caused them all to stare at a proudly smiling Nate for a few minutes before they all collapsed into giggles. It wasn't quite as loud or extravagant as Maze's usual birthdays, but it still felt like a happy day.

"On that note, I think it's time to put the gloves away so you can open your presents." Cat raised an eyebrow at her, because none of the girls had ever gotten into a physical fight with one another, but Bree just shrugged in response as Maze sat up straighter in her chair. Somewhere between gulping down caffeine, devouring sugar, and loudly debating Maze had finally woken up completely.

Cat moved the presents onto the table after Bree moved all of the dirty dishes into the kitchen, and the pile looked very small compared to previous years. Maze hadn't wanted a lot of presents, she'd been very clear on that point, so Bree and Cat had respected her wishes. The new clothes and stacks of books, both for lessons and for fun, were from Bree and Cat. The small chest that Bree had built had Nate and Bash's handprints on the inside of the lid, Nate's left hand had been dipped in red paint and Bash's right hand had been dipped in green paint, so the wooden chest was really their present to Maze. The carefully woven bracelet, made out of purple and blue yarn from Bree's special knitting basket, was from Theo. Cat had gotten her a new record player with several records that Maze was sure to love, and Bree had found a self-typing typewriter that should respond to Maze's voice if Bree had done the spellwork right.

"I love all of it. Thank you," Maze said sincerely. She briefly smiled at Bree and Cat before blowing kisses at the twins and Theo in thanks, and Bree looked down the table to meet Cat's eyes. She nodded, and Bree leaned back in her chair as she looked over at Maze.

"There is one more present," Bree said without looking away from Maze. She could see Cat smiling out of the corner of her eye, and Maze looked suspiciously between them before settling her gaze on Bree. So Bree decided that there'd been enough suspense and decided to continue before Maze could start yelling. "We are all going for a run tonight."

"Yeah!" Theo cheered from her lap as he raised both arms in the air.

Maze's face showed shock and confusion, because they hadn't gone for a run in a year, but it was time for them to start doing the things they enjoyed again. The look quickly shifted into happiness and excitement, and Maze jumped up so fast that her chair nearly toppled over. The only thing that saved it was Bree quickly stretching an arm out and summoning just enough magic to push it back onto all fours, and the thing was barely stable before Bree's arms locked around her neck in a choking hug.

"You are the best big sister ever!" Max yelled as the twins clapped and cheered next to them. If she wasn't mistaken, Theo was the one that had encouraged them to clap so loudly.

"I resent that!" Cat called from her seat. Maze shifted but didn't loosen her grip, and Bree smiled serenely as she patted the top of Maze's head and met Cat's eyes.

"You're the second best big sister, so you're still in the top three," Maze said and managed to shrug a shoulder. Cat's eyes narrowed in a glare, because her and Bree were Maze's only older sisters, but Bree could see Cat's cheek twitching as she fought not to smile.

Suddenly, it felt like Maze's birthday was going to be a wonderful day.

LATER THAT NIGHT
HALLIWELL MANOR

ALASTOR

Alastor was standing in the front courtyard of Halliwell Manor, with his feet firmly planted on a large circle of stones, as he looked out into the dark woods that surrounded the Manor on all sides. Slightly in front of him, Albus was complimenting the large white wolf that served as the center of the fountain situated on top of the stones. The other wizard sounded as if he didn't have a care in the world, and Alastor wouldn't even be surprised if he moved to sit on the half-circle stone bench on the other side of the fountain. Everything about this decision, about their being there, felt wrong. Witches and wizards from America tended to keep themselves far removed from other magical countries, so he couldn't seem to understand why Albus had been so insistent. He'd never heard of the Halliwells, so they owed them no loyalty. He understood how important the war they were fighting was, but he doubted that one child could make much of a difference.

"You are trespassing! Leave now and-"

"Miss Halliwell? Gabriella Halliwell?" Albus asked as he moved to stand between the fountain and the bench. The girl's yell had been clear, but Alastor couldn't see her. He couldn't even say with certainty which direction the yell had come from. When the girl didn't respond, Albus tucked his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks and continued to speak in that quiet conversational tone as if the girl was standing right in front of him. "My name is Albus Dumbledore. I was quite fond of your father-"

Alastor took a single step forward as Albus quickly raised his wand, and the curse that had come from their left was easily deflected. It was more like a warning shot than an actual try to hurt Albus, but Alastor kept his wand clutched in his hand even as Albus put his away inside his vest. His eyes strained in the darkness; they'd been waiting in front of this courtyard fountain since dusk, and their greeting was a curse? The girl might be young, but there was hope for her yet if she was slinging curses before asking questions. Her only mistakes were not firing a stronger curse and giving away her position.

"I know who you are, and you have no business here!" The girl sounded calm, but the air felt different. Heavier. He wasn't sure how he knew, but he was sure that the girl was furious.

"I am here with a good friend of mine, Alastor Moody, and we only wish to speak with you." Albus sounded sincere, but Alastor still prepared himself for another curse to come their way.

"Alastor Mad-Eye Moody?!" a different voice called out. The voice was similar to the first, low and with the same drawling accent, but she sounded…younger.

"Apologies, Headmaster, but I do not put my faith in government officials or schoolteachers!" The voice was coming from their right now, so it looked as if the girl hadn't given away her position after all.

"I believe you know that we are both more than that." Alastor glanced over at Albus, but he was still looking straight ahead with a calm expression.

"Is that why you are here, Mister Dumbledore?" The girl was standing in front of Albus now, and Alastor had to resist attacking out of instinct. She had moved so fast that he hadn't been able to tell which direction she came from. "My parents are gone, but my answer will be the same as theirs. I will not get my family involved with a war."

"Your parents always listened before replying." Standing in front of Albus, the nineteen year old looked truly childlike. Short and thin, but she was tense and holding herself up straight. She might be small and young, but this one was a fighter.

"Of course. The Halliwells are always respectful of longtime friends." The girl dipped her chin but didn't lower her eyes, and Alastor thought he might be able to respect her a little. Her head turned to the side, and her next words weren't for them. "Jacks, take them all to the house."

Several bodies moved from the treeline straight ahead of them and across the lawn, and Alastor could only see the blurry shapes of a man followed by trailing blonde hair from two shorter bodies. The sisters. They all disappeared into the house, Alastor heard the click of the front door closing, and the girl moved so that she could keep both Albus and Alastor in her direct line of sight. The girl definitely had sense. She was cautious and careful.

"First, Miss Gabriella, I was truly sorry to hear about your parents. Claude and Lillian will be missed." The girl's jaw tightened, and he thought it was in grief until he noticed that her hands were curled into tight fights. She was angry. Furious. The kind of rage that caused her eyes to spit fire as she looked up at Albus, but she held herself in check.

"Thank you. My father always spoke very highly of you. He told me, not too long before they died, that you were one of the few wizards that he trusted completely. I hope he is right, Mister Dumbledore, because if he is wrong? I will not hesitate. I hope you understand that."

"After all you have suffered, I would expect nothing less." Albus neglected to mention that he'd known the girl's parents, and Alastor didn't know the specifics of their death. The girl inclined her head, as if accepting the answer, and her eyes quickly moved between the two of them.

"I assume this is a conversation best had in privacy?" Before either of them could reply, she continued speaking. "You are both welcome to come inside. We can talk in the dining room."

She led the way across the stone walkway that connected the courtyard fountain to the stairs leading onto the front porch, and she didn't pause until she reached the front door. She had her hand on the knob, already turned, and Alastor watched the way that her thin shirt stretched across her shoulders and back as she took a deep breath. The door swung open as she released the breath, and she immediately stepped out of the way so that they could walk in behind her. As he passed, he noticed the white-knuckled grip she had on the door as she allowed strangers into her home. She was on edge but holding herself together.

"Such a striking resemblance between all of you," Albus remarked. Alastor stepped more fully into the room so that she could close the door, and the eldest Halliwell quickly moved to stand next to her sisters. The two younger girls were standing side-by-side, the youngest was holding a small boy in her arms, but the eldest had moved so that she was standing slightly in front of them. Prepared to shield them if necessary.

"So we have been told," she said. The eldest looked the most different from her younger sisters; her long hair was brown, which was remarkably darker while she was standing next to her blonde sisters. Their facial features were very similar, shaped and proportioned nearly exactly the same, and they were all lean. The only other noticeable difference was that her younger sisters were taller than her, by several inches. The boy, however, favored the eldest so much that he looked as if he could have been her son. He had the same darker hair and even the same eyes as his oldest sister. "Cat, check on the boys and keep Maze upstairs. Theo, you listen to your sisters."

"Aww, c'mon, Bree," the youngest girl said with a bit of a whine. "That's the Mad-Eye Moody!"

"Are you sure that you don't want us to stay?" the middle girl asked quickly.

"Mister Dumbledore is an old family friend and I believe that Mister Moody is an honorable man, so I think I'll be okay on my own. Go upstairs and keep an eye on the boys." The youngest sighed before loudly stomping off, with the little boy bouncing in her arms, and the middle girl looked between Albus and Alastor with a blank expression before following after her sister. "And no eavesdropping!"

"You have a lovely family," Albus said once the youngest girls were gone.

"You should meet the twins, but it's past their bedtime. This way, we can talk in the dining room. Would you like something to drink?" she asked smoothly as she turned around. Albus and Alastor followed her through a doorway with two small swinging doors, and the girl raised her arm to point them in the direction of the table without turning to look at them.

Albus and Alastor moved into the dining room, which was an open space shared with the kitchen, and they sat down on opposite sides of the table so that they were facing one another. Alastor looked around the kitchen, made notes of the staircase in the far corner and all of the doors leading out of the room, while Albus looked in the direction of the kitchen. He asked for tea for both of them, and Alastor could hear the girl moving around as she prepared their drinks.

"Your home looks different from the last time I was here, but that was over twenty years ago," Albus said conversationally. It did nothing to lessen the tension in the room, and Alastor finally turned to look at the girl. She was standing behind a counter that seemed to serve as a small divider between the two rooms, and she briefly looked up after hearing Albus.

"We redecorated after…just, after," she said quietly. Her home had always been the same, until after her parents died.

Albus didn't speak again as she finished making their drinks, and she walked into the dining room carrying a tray with three cups and a teapot. Alastor watched her as she moved and noticed the details he'd missed outside, now that they were in a well-lit room and he was relatively sure she wasn't about to curse them. Before making the drinks, she had pulled her hair up and away from her face which caused her delicate features to appear sharper. He also noticed that she didn't have any color. Her skin was almost unnaturally pale, unlike the healthy glow of her younger sisters, and there wasn't any color in her cheeks or lips. He watched as she passed out the cups and at how stiffly she moved, as if she was tense or in pain. He was right about there be something wrong about this, but now he couldn't put his finger on why.

"Miss Halliwell-" Albus started after the girl had sat down at the head of the table. She quickly raised her hand before he could say anything else, and Albus waited calmly for her to swallow the sip of tea she had taken and speak.

"Please, if we could for now, drop the formalities. They're exhausting, and I'm already tired. Bree is what I prefer." Despite the words, her tone was respectful. She wasn't trying to be difficult or anything of the sort. If asked, Alastor would say that he believed she was just being honest. No hidden agenda or power move. Just honesty.

"Only if you will call us by our names," Albus returned.

"Is that all right with you, Alastor?" The girl, Bree, was looking directly at him now. Her brown eyes were open, expressive, and he could see the banked fire in her gaze.

"Doesn't matter to me." If she was going to be honest with them, he would return the courtesy.

"Thank you for agreeing to speak with us, Bree." Before Albus could say more, he was once again interrupted but this time by the appearance of a house-elf. No, two house-elves. Equally large and pale eyes were looking around the room, green and what looked like either blue or purple, before they both turned to face only Bree.

"Is there anything Cozy and Jory can do for Miss Gabriella and her guests?" the female house-elf asked. There was something off about these house-elves. Especially the male, who kept glaring at Albus and Alastor as if daring them to speak.

"No, everything down here is taken care of. Do you mind sitting with the twins and keeping an eye on Theo? I'll come check on them after our guests leave," Bree said quietly. Alastor had never heard a witch or wizard speak so gently to a house-elf.

"Cozy and Jory will look after the young masters tonight, Miss Gabriella." The female house-elf promptly disappeared, but the male house-elf gave them each one more glare before leaving. Alastor turned to look at the head of the household, and he felt his question slipping out as her eyes met his.

"What were they wearing?" It was a change to see a wizarding family treat a house-elf with so much respect, but the small creatures had been wearing something completely different from the rags he normally saw house-elves wearing.

"The curtains I made for them last Christmas," Bree said with a pointed look in his direction. "Now, I would like to know what's so important that you came to my home in the middle of the night completely unannounced."

"I will get to that soon, but there are other things I would like to discuss first," Albus said. Alastor stopped himself from reminding her that they'd been at her home earlier, at a more reasonable time, but she was the one who spent hours in the woods with her younger siblings.

"I know that you are aware of the growing unease in the wizarding world, and I know what you are already doing to help us." The conversation had just started and Albus was already talking about things that Alastor knew nothing about, so he decided to keep quiet and see what he could learn about Albus's history with the Halliwells and what else Albus had left out when he first divulged his plan.

"You helped my parents set it up, and I have been helping out when I can." She must have been able to sense his confusion, because she moved her focus away from Albus and explained to Alastor in a calm tone. "Congress stopped all movement after Voldemort first started to rise to power, and our borders have been closed. We are free to leave, but no witches or wizards are currently allowed to enter the country. My parents, as well as a few other families, started helping people from your part of the world get safely relocated here in the United States. I know it doesn't seem like much, but we are putting ourselves at risk and doing what we can to help."

Alastor grunted in place of an answer, he couldn't even think of what to say because Albus had never mentioned relocating people to America to any of the Order members, but the girl didn't seem bothered by the lack of an answer. She just sat back in her chair, took another sip of tea, and then looked over at Albus again. He knew that she'd been taking a risk. America had refused to take sides in the growing conflict, which didn't help them but also didn't help Voldemort. America's laws were strict though, and anyone going against a law like that would be severely punished if caught.

"I commend you for continuing what your parents helped start, most especially since what your family has suffered." This time, Alastor could see the way that the girl's body tensed and the noticeable darkening of her eyes. "I imagine it has been quite difficult to be the sole guardian of five younger siblings."

"Nothing difficult about it. I love my family, and I will always be there for them." Her voice was still calm but was tight as she struggled to keep her anger subdued. "Are you here because you don't think I can take care of them?"

"I am merely admiring your strength for looking after two teenagers and three small children, and immediately following such a horrible trauma." The cup in Bree's hands shattered from her tightened grip, and the hot liquid and broken pieces disappeared as Bree pressed her hands flat against the top of the table.

"My trauma has absolutely nothing to do with this conversation. I allowed you into my home out of respect for my parents, but I will not tolerate a stranger to me talking about something that he knows nothing about." He was surprised at how even her voice was, since her arms were shaking from how tense she was.

"On the contrary, I have learned quite a bit about what your family suffered." Bree was grinding her teeth so hard that Alastor heard her jaw crack, and he didn't understand why Albus was riling her up. He hadn't even told Alastor any of this; all he knew was that her parents had died not too long ago, and that Bree was now the head of her family because they didn't have any other family. Albus didn't tell him anything about the girl suffering from a trauma separate from the loss of her parents.

"Listening to gossip and speculations does not count as knowing anything about me, or my family." Her voice had dropped into a lower tone, a much colder one, and Alastor thought she was holding herself back from physically attacking Albus. "If you are here hoping to hear the whole story, you should leave ri-"

"Two days after the twins were born, you and your family left the hospital to return home. You had barely even stepped outside when you were attacked. The family house-elves were able to get your brothers to safety, but they couldn't stop your parents from being killed right out in the open. No one saved you and your sisters from being captured. The reports I have heard have been in conflict, but I assume that you were the first to be tortured. Is that correct, Miss Halliwell?"

"I'd like to know the names of your sources." Her voice was still full of anger, but her arms had moved to wrap around her stomach.

"So you were the first. After that I was told that they tortured your middle sister, Cat, is it? They only focused on her after you lost consciousness, but you recovered faster than they thought and managed to break free. Not before they hurt your sister. I understand that you both still carry the scars?"

"Enough!" Alastor finally yelled as he got to his feet. Going by the shocked look on his face, Albus hadn't expected such a reaction. Was that why he wanted Alastor to come? Because he thought that Alastor would sit quietly? Normally he would have, so it looked as if he'd surprised himself as well. "Can't you see what you're doing to the poor girl?!"

She was holding herself together admirably, she hadn't once tried to attack physically or magically, but watching her as Albus had continued to talk had turned his stomach. She looked so damn young as she pressed her back tight against the chair, and tears were continuously falling from her widened eyes as she shook all over. He didn't know the specifics of what she had been through, and he didn't want to know because it was none of his business. Albus had said enough for him to realize that she'd suffered more than just the loss of loved ones. He didn't know her, but he knew what it was like to carry around the pain of scars. If Albus had really been a friend of her parents, speaking to her this way was an insult to their memory.

"Thank you, Alastor, but you shouldn't be so quick to defend me. I was tortured under the suspicion of being a Dark Wizard, as well as being a Dark Creature, and conspiring with other Dark Wizards." She was still crying. He'd seen people cry quietly, but she was completely silent. Her breath didn't even hitch as she spoke directly to him. He continued to look at her, not over at Albus, and just let himself speak.

"Are you a Dark Wizard?" She didn't look offended or upset, so Alastor didn't try to smooth the question over.

"I have all the criteria of one. An old pureblood family. A born vampire as opposed to a created one. A family name that was associated with Dark Magic for several generations, until my parents. My father wanted to be better than his ancestors, and he and my mother were good. They were kind and generous and taught us the value of doing what's right for others, not for ourselves. My hope is to always be as they were, and it makes me sick that they were murdered because they were believed to be Dark. Does that answer your question?"

"It does." She nodded, and she bent forwards to press her elbows against the tabletop as she quickly wiped at her wet cheeks. It was the first time she'd sat forwards instead of straight or back against the chair, and Alastor could see small glimpses of skin along the tops of her shoulders as she scrubbed at her face. The shirt she was wearing didn't have any sleeves, so he could see the line of her shoulders and a bit of her back where the shirt dipped below her neck. The scars that he could see were dark red, as if they were still healing, and it explained why she moved so slowly if the scars continued down her back.

"There are some things that even a vampire can't heal from," she said quietly. Her face was clear, all evidence of her crying gone except for the redness of her eyes, but she no longer looked upset.

"I am deeply sorry for upsetting you, Bree." She dipped her chin in acknowledgement of Albus's apology, and Alastor lowered himself back into his chair. When he dug a flask out of his jacket and offered it to Bree, she motioned to the empty space in front of her and then shrugged. So Alastor poured a healthy amount from the flask into his empty cup and then pushed it towards her, and her smile was small and grateful before she quickly downed the liquid.

"My father used to tell me that you never said or did anything without a purpose." She pushed the cup back towards Alastor, patted his hand in thanks, and then looked over at Albus. "What was the purpose of reminding me of something that I'll never forget?"

"I need you to understand that what happened to your family, a true tragedy, is happening regularly in this war. Entire families are being tortured, killed. Sometimes entire villages disappear in a night. Do you understand that?" Alastor could understand the reasoning, but he still didn't like it.

"Which is awful and is one of the reasons why I have still helped families hide here. What more can I do?" It was a question she shouldn't have asked, because Albus calmly took a sip of his tea before speaking again. She'd given him an opening.

"We need your help."

"By we, you mean the Order."

"So I was right to believe that your father told you about the Order, that's good, but I do not need you to join the Order. We are losing this war, and Order members keep dying. What we need is someone that can enter Voldemort's inner circle, someone that he will entrust with his plans so that we may prevent more lives from being lost." To her credit, Bree didn't react in any kind of way. No unconscious ticks or subtle changes in her expression.

"After everything that has already been said tonight, you honestly believe that I would join that mass murderer? You honestly believe that I will risk my life and my family's lives? Because if I was discovered as a spy, they wouldn't stop at killing just me."

"I believe that you will listen to my reasoning and give my proposition consideration. Your cousin tells me that you are very level-headed. That you think problems through and act according to what you believe is right." What little color that had appeared in her face while she was upset was immediately leeched away, and Alastor thought for a moment that she was going to faint. She surprised him once again though and remained upright.

"My mother always said you were good at getting people's attention. Okay, tell me how it would work if I agreed."

"Your family would be safe and under Order protection, and your sisters will be welcomed at Hogwarts where I will personally keep them safe. Furthermore, you will not be the only spy in the Death Eater ranks." Albus and Bree were both turned towards each other now, eyes locked, as they discussed Albus's mad plans.

"If you already have a spy, then why do you need me?" It was a good question, a sensible one, but Alastor was sure that Albus had prepared an answer before they ever even touched down on American soil.

"He has risen far in the ranks, but there is only so much he can do without causing suspicion. I believe that you will be able to get to Voldemort quickly, and that he may even let his guard down around you."

"Because I am a Dark Creature?"

"I know, Miss Bree, that there is more to you than what you are. Voldemort, however, will view you as slightly less than human. He will also view you as something rare, something…special, I believe."

"Because born vampires keep their magic?" When a wizard was turned into a vampire, they lost their magic. The advantage of being turned was that they were physically stronger and could still use what was commonly referred to as vampire magic. Born vampires were stronger than humans but weaker than turned vampires, but they still had the same magical abilities as any other witch and wizard.

"Yes, and because your family is pureblood. You are a pureblood born vampire, something so rare that very few wizards have ever even encountered your kind. There are only five other families like yours, correct?" Albus was speaking as if the girl was an animal chained up outside, but Bree was listening in quiet consideration just like Albus had thought she would.

"There are possibly some unknown families, but there are six known families of born vampires. The others are all wise enough to stay hidden though." It sounded like she was regretting not taking her family and hiding them all away, but she wasn't yelling or attempting to kill either of them.

"I realize that what I am asking of you is quite a lot to take in, but I can give you no more than two weeks' time before I must ask for an answer. If you are willing to consider my request, that is?"

Alastor watched Bree as she thought it over, and he was surprised when she suddenly extended an arm towards him. Her hand was open, palm slightly upturned, and he noticed the stark black numbers tattooed on the skin of her inner wrist. An identification number, marking her as a registered vampire. Her fingers curled slightly, and Alastor pulled out his flask and splashed a large amount into his empty cup again. He handed the cup to her, and she tipped her head back to drink the burning liquid slowly as she continued to think. When she handed the cup back to him, her eyes had lightened from black back into a warm brown.

"I will think over everything that you've said, and I will not make my decision lightly. I do still have questions though." She was young, but she wasn't foolish. Not like Alastor had worried she would be.

"Of course you do, Bree. With your permission, I will send the other Order member that is acting as a Death Eater here the day after tomorrow. He can answer whatever questions you have then, or you may allow him to stay here until my return in two weeks."

"Doesn't he have more important things to do?" Bree asked as she placed her hands flat against the table. She wasn't wrong, his part in this war was very important, but the boy could do with some rest in the countryside.

"This request is important, and I think spending some time away from both the Order and the Death Eaters would be good for him." She looked confused for a moment, but understanding quickly showed in her eyes. Albus was pointing out that the boy was leading a double life, without mentioning how worn down he'd looked lately. Being a spy took its toll.

"He will be welcomed here, for as long as he wishes to stay, and I will have an answer when you return." She pushed herself to her feet, but she didn't look away from Albus. "I will also be telling my sisters about this plan, because my decision will affect their lives as well. I would never do what you're asking without their blessing."

"I understand completely, Bree, and thank you for not throwing us out," Albus said as he stood up as well. Alastor had stood up when Bree did.

"Throwing you out was a serious temptation, but Alastor is always welcome. Especially as long as he promises to share his firewhiskey." Alastor huffed as the girl started leading them towards the front door, and he could see Albus smiling at him from the corner of his real eye. "And Albus? I do have a favor to ask you in return."

"Anything." They were standing next to the front door now, the girl was even gripping the knob, but she had turned to look at them.

"Could you ask my cousin to write me? I know that sending out owls has become more dangerous, but I haven't heard from him since my parent's funeral. Maybe if he asks for my help, I'll be a little more swayed to your cause." The girl was playing dirty, which caused Albus to laugh quietly.

"I'll be sure to speak with him," Albus said as the girl opened the door. She paused with the door open and turned back again, and Alastor was just about to tell her to hurry up before she suddenly looked up at him.

"One last thing before you go, would you mind signing something for my sister Maze? She's a fan of yours," Bree said with an almost shy smile. She suddenly looked completely different from the girl who'd been sitting at the table with them moments before. Now she truly looked her age, with shining warmth in her brown eyes and a little bit of color in her cheeks.

"Me?" he heard himself ask. She nodded, and a few pieces of hair slipped down against her pinking cheeks. Now that she wasn't standing next to her golden-haired sisters, the brown color looked much lighter. It even looked like she had a few dark golden strands of her own hidden under the darker mass.

"She's always saying that you're the greatest Auror in the world, and she even follows you in the papers. You don't have to, of course, but she might actually kill me if I don't ask." Her smile was still small and shy, and he knew why being here was wrong now. The girl in front of him wasn't even twenty yet, and she was responsible for the two girls they'd seen earlier as well as three much younger children. They shouldn't have come here.

"Sure," he grunted and ignored the way that Albus was looking at him. The girl waved her hand and moved her lips without making a sound, and a thick pad of paper stopped between the two of them with a pen hovering over it. Not a quill like he was used to but an actual muggle pen.

"You only have to write her name and yours. That's M-A-Z-E. Nothing fancy." He plucked the pen from the air and considered doing just that, but he decided to add in a little extra as he remembered how the youngest girl had said his name. It wasn't in awe, like he'd heard some people when asking for an autograph, but in respect.

Stay alert and practice constant vigilance, Maze. Mad-Eye.

"See you in two weeks, Bree," Albus said after the paper and pen had disappeared. The smiling girl faded as she looked up at Albus again, and she nodded before turning back towards the door.

"Two weeks," she agreed and stepped out of the doorway. It was a clear and polite way of asking them to leave, and Alastor followed Albus out onto the porch. The door closed behind them, and he heard the clicking of several locks as wards were raised. Albus turned towards him and looked as if he was about to speak, about something amusing going by the damn twinkle in his eye, and Alastor was not about to listen to whatever he was going to say.

"Are you sure Snape is the right person to convince her?" Alastor quickly asked. He and Snape rarely got along, even though they usually agreed on whatever the Order was debating. Alastor would never admit it out loud, but he respected Snape. Unlike everyone else in the Order, except for Albus, he'd seen Snape after a Death Eater mission or meeting gone badly. The boy was truly sacrificing himself for the greater good.

"She needs to know the truth, and Severus will be honest."

"Does he know about this particular mission?" Albus's only reply was a smile, which was answer enough.

BREE

After the door was closed and the house was fully warded, Bree leaned back against the door and tried to take a few slow deep breaths. She could hear the two men talking quietly on the other side of the door, made a mental note of the name Severus Snape before they left, and her head fell back against the door. Her hands pressed tight against her stomach, but it still felt like the floor was rolling under her feet. Deep breathing wasn't working, neither was closing her eyes, and she could hear several pairs of footsteps headed her way. That wasn't good, because she could tell that she was going to be sick.

She managed to get the door open again before the first person could reach her, and she could hear Cat calling her name as she raced out onto the porch. Her hands gripped the railing as she bent over and puked her dinner into the bushes below, and she felt a hand smoothing across her forehead to hold back her fallen hair. The front of a body pressed tight against her side as the other hand rubbed circles against her back, but it was still several moments before her stomach was empty and settled down. Whispered words removed the acrid taste in her mouth, and she slumped against the person supporting her.

"Don't get too close, Maze. She still looks a little green," she heard Jackson say above her head. He was the one holding her up, supporting her in the most literal way, but she still felt the urge to stomp on his toes.

"Shut up, you idiot!" Maze hissed. The footsteps that crept closer were hesitant, and Bree forced her head to raise. "Are you okay now, Bree?"

"Yeah, it was just a lot to process at one time. Thank you all for listening in."

When Bree told Cat and Maze not to eavesdrop, she'd been requesting the opposite. The girls were used to being careful of giving people their privacy, so none of them were really eavesdroppers. She'd had a feeling, from the moment she had realized that Albus Dumbledore was at her home, that something big was coming. So she'd asked the girls to listen in, because it was easier than trying to explain everything again. Plus, she trusted her sisters. All family decisions were discussed and decided by the three of them, so they deserved to know whatever she did.

"Come on, let's sit you down," Maze decided. Arms wrapped around Bree's waist and pulled her over to the porch steps, and she let Maze pull her down to sit next to her. Her arms were still wrapped around Bree's waist, and she quickly dropped her head onto Bree's shoulder. Cat moved to sit down on her other side, and she carefully pressed their thighs together to show Bree that she was there for her.

Another set of footsteps moved around them, until the Thibodeaux boy from across the way was standing on the bottom step and facing the three sitting sisters. The girls had grown up with Jackson, who lived not too far away, and he was more family than friend and had joined them earlier that night for a run at Maze's request. She was glad that he was here; she'd felt a little safer with another magical-capable person in the house. The more the better, right? Now Jackson, who was only two years older than Bree, leaned against the railing with his arms crossed as he waited for Bree to recover herself.

"The boys?" she asked quickly.

"Upstairs. Cozy is with the twins, and Jory is sitting with Theo," Cat answered quietly. She wrapped an arm around Maze's back, saw the signed piece of paper sticking out of the small pocket on the front of her shirt, and actually smiled. Everyone had been quiet while she talked with Albus and Alastor, but Maze had fervently asked for Alastor's autograph as she spoke to the two wizards at the front door.

"Are you really going to consider this?" Jackson asked her. He was normally loud and loved a good laugh, but he knew when to be serious.

"I considered it before." She noticed all of the eyes trained on her and then explained. "I was sixteen when our parents let me help with relocating the families, and Dad and I talked seriously about me going to help the Order. Dad and I had even talked to our cousin in the Order about me coming to live with him, but then Mom got pregnant with the twins. We decided to hold off on the plan, you know how worried Mom was about such a late pregnancy, but we obviously never discussed it again. That was then though, and it's very different now."

"Because of us?" Maze asked.

"Because I can't do what Albus is asking of me without your approval and support. Both of you," she said and looked between her sisters. She even looked straight ahead at Jackson, at her oldest friend, who inclined his head towards her. He'd support her decision, no matter which one it was.

"Are you sure about the other spy staying here?" Jackson drawled.

"Maybe this will be like a vacation for him, and I think I'll get clearer answers from him than I did from Albus. The three of us will ask what questions need to be asked, and we'll decide together. I'll keep you in the loop as well," she said with a small smile.

"I'll keep my distance and let your guest get settled in before I come calling again. If you need me, just holler," Jackson decided. He gave a quick wave and said a quiet goodbye before apparating back to his house, and Bree twisted her neck a little so she could see both of her sisters.

"If you want me to say no right now, I will. I won't even let our guest reach the property," she said seriously.

"No," Maze said first. She pulled away from Bree but kept close, and Bree leaned back so that Cat could see their younger sister's serious expression. "You're a bit poetic and dramatic when you're mad, but you're right too. They taught us the value of doing what's right for others, not for ourselves, and I think we should honor that."

"I couldn't have said it better myself," Cat said and propped her chin on Bree's shoulder.

"Then I guess we'll get the house ready tomorrow for our guest. Right now though, it's bedtime." Bree was the first one to get to her feet, and she ushered the girls in ahead of her. They moved off to their rooms while Bree locked the door and put the wards back up, and she didn't even consider going straight to her room.

Her steps were light as she walked up the stairs, and she could hear the twins crying after reaching the top of the stairs. She walked into Nate's room, where both boys were, and Cozy and Jory were each rocking a baby and trying to calm them. They looked up with wide eyes as Bree walked into the room, and she wanted to reassure them but didn't want to yell to be heard. Instead, she settled into the large rocking chair in the room and opened her arms. Cozy reached her first and placed Bash in the curve of her right arm, and Jory carefully settled Nate in her left arm. She pulled them close to her, let them feel her heat, and then started to hum quietly as their crying dimmed into sniffles.

"Theo?" she asked first. Cat had said that Theo was with Jory, but the elf was in here with Cozy and there was no Theo in sight.

"With Miss Margaret," Jory said quickly.

"Cozy and Jory tried to make the young masters feel better," Cozy explained.

"It's alright, Cozy. Even this young, their senses are pretty strong. They probably just felt how upset I was, but everything is okay now. I'll sit with them until they fall asleep." Their little faces were red, but they had stopped crying now.

"What can we do, Miss Gabriella?" Jory asked. She started to tell them that there was nothing more to be done and that she'd see them at breakfast, but then she had an idea.

"Can you take their beds to my room? I think they'll sleep easier with me tonight. After that, you can do whatever you want."

"Of course, miss. Goodnight, miss." Jory and the beds disappeared, and Bree looked down at Cozy.

"Miss Gabriella is a good mistress. Fair and kind. Cozy and Jory are happy to help the Halliwell family." Oh, it looked like Cozy was tearing up. She knew that the elves missed her parents as well, and she would have reached an arm out if she wasn't holding the twins.

"Cozy and Jory are members of the Halliwell family. No matter what happens, you will always be Cozy Halliwell and Jory Halliwell." Cozy plucked a handkerchief out of the air and quietly blew her nose, and she was smiling when her pale eyes looked upwards.

"A kind mistress. Master Claude and Mistress Lilian would be very proud of Miss Gabriella's kind heart." The elves had heard her discussion with Albus and Alastor. They knew how most elves of pureblood families were treated, and they were more than intelligent enough to realize that she would have to act differently if the family moved closer to the war.

"I don't care what will be expected of me if I go, but your family will never treat you badly and I would never allow anyone else to treat you and Jory badly either."

"Cozy and Jory already know, Miss Gabriella. Cozy will make breakfast in the morning. Miss Gabriella needs her rest." Bree could tell that she was wrung out because she felt ready to burst into tears, and she felt the twins shifting in her hold.

"Thank you, Cozy. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, miss."

Bree was left alone with the twins, and she looked down to see that they were both looking up at her. The people at their parent's funeral had thought it was appropriate to tell her that the boys looked like they could be hers, and at the time she had felt hatred towards every person who said that to her. Now, it felt like a compliment. Cat and Maze both had long golden blonde hair and light colored eyes, but not her boys. Theo was already tall for his age, so he wasn't going to have her short height, but he had her brown hair and her brown eyes. The twins weren't identical, but they looked identical at first glance. They also had Bree's darker hair color, which was actually a deep brown and only dark when wet. They had Bree's eyes as well, just like little Theo; the same shape, and the same shade of warm brown. None of the boys had Maze's clear blue, and Cat was still the only Halliwell to have their maternal grandmother's light green eyes.

The boys had her coloring, and she loved to tease Cat and Maze about being outnumbered four-to-two. In some ways, it broke her heart too. Every time someone asked her if the boys were hers, she had to explain again that they were her brothers. If the person pressed, she usually admitted that her parents were gone so she was raising them. The girls had years with her parents, but Theo only had a few years and the twins would never have memories of them. Theo's memories would fade as he got older, and she was afraid that one day he wouldn't remember his parents at all. The twins would hear stories, but that was nothing compared to actually knowing their parents. All the boys really had now was their older sisters. If Bree decided to accept Albus's dangerous proposition, what would the boys remember about her? Would Theo remember her as the big sister who read to him, or as a spy that would make him live a false life? Would the twins only ever remember her as a Death Eater?

The twins were asleep now, drooling against her skin and shirt, and she made sure her hold was secure before rocking up onto her feet. The twins didn't even stir as she left Nate's room and moved downstairs, and she was gently bouncing them and humming as she walked into her room. Their beds were right next to hers, but her bed wasn't empty. Cat was curled up on the far edge of the bed, with her head nearly hanging off the side and her curled fists were held against her chest. Maze was lying on the center of the bed, on her back with her limbs spread out, and her snores were muffled by the pillow over her face. Despite being so stretched out, only her toes were touching against the top of Cat's feet. Theo was spread out over Maze's stomach with the back of his head pillowed on her chest, and his mouth was open to let out quiet little snores. They had all fallen asleep without even pulling the blanket back, and Bree carefully lowered the twins into their beds before walking over to her closet.

"Today really was a good day, and I won't let the ending spoil it," she thought as she found her spare blanket. She unfolded it as she walked back to her bed, and she carefully settled it over Cat and Maze so that she wouldn't wake them up. Then she tucked the twins' blankets around them and sat down on her bed with a quiet sigh. She stretched her legs out in front of her and leaned back against the pillow propped up between her back and the wall, and Theo rolled over beneath the blanket so that he rolled off of Maze's front and landed between her spread legs. She gave into the urge to run her fingers through his too-long hair, and she leaned her head back as he nuzzled against her stomach. Above her head, the curtains were pulled back so that she could see the sky out of the window above the bed.

She was responsible for all of the lives in this room. The girls were on her right, Theo was curled up against her, and the twins were on her left. Their lives and happiness was dependent on her and her decisions, and they were her first priority. She would hear this Snape person out, truly consider what Albus had asked of her, but her decision wouldn't be based on any of that. She would do what she thought was right for her family.

04 JUNE 1979

BREE

Bree was sitting on the old stone bench situated behind the fountain and looking out towards the main gate of the Manor; her eyes kept getting caught on the setting sunlight reflecting off of the falling water next to her, and she couldn't stop nervously jiggling her leg as she waited. She'd dressed in full jeans instead of shorts and a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up, to appear a little less like the teenager she still was and more like the head of household she was now. The house had been warded, just as an extra precaution, and the girls were watching the boys in the library. She'd asked them to stay there until their guest had a chance to go up to his room, but she knew they were anxious to meet him. Just as she was. Dumbledore had sent her a fire message around twenty minutes ago to tell her that he would be arriving any moment, but it felt like she had been waiting on the bench for hours. Her ass had even gone numb, and she was thinking of uncrossing her legs from under her and stretching them out.

Before she could uncurl her legs, there was a subtle shifting of the wards around the whole of Halliwell Manor alerting her to a magical presence. She lifted her chin and watched as the gate swung open, and she could see a dark smudge headed her way. Her hands clenched into fists over her thighs as she rolled her shoulders, and there were quiet pops as she rolled the tension out of her body. The smudge had more of a person-shape now, and she thought about getting to her feet. Then she realized that her heart was beating too fast and that her knees felt like liquid, so she stayed put for the time being. He came steadily closer, until his boots were on the stones right in front of where she was sitting, and her neck actually hurt from tipping her head back to meet black eyes.

"Gabriella Halliwell?" The deep voice seemed to vibrate in her chest, along with her thundering heartbeat, and she pushed her fists against her knees to tamp down the nervous shaking of her legs. The whole situation felt so much more real, now that he was standing right in front of her. She didn't want to appear weak or scared though, so she kept her chin raised and her eyes locked on his.

"Call me Bree, please." He dipped his head, barely, and met her eyes again. "You must be Severus Snape. The Death Eater spy."

SEVERUS

Severus's first thought was that one of the younger siblings must have snuck outside. The girl sitting on the bench looked too young to be in charge, and he was still sure that he wasn't standing in front of the eldest Halliwell as she craned her neck to look up at him. Her eyes were squinted against the dying sunlight, and there was dirt streaked across one cheek. There was even some dirt and what looked like a twig mixed into her brown hair, which was barely being held up at the nape of her neck. She was filthy and small, but she answered to the name that Dumbledore gave him. Then she said his name and what he was with a kind of ease that turned his stomach.

"Is there a reason why you are keeping me outside?" Dumbledore had carefully gone over his intentions before sending Severus across the ocean, but he hadn't said much about the actual Halliwell family. Dumbledore did tell him that she was reasonable, and Mad-Eye had added that she was smart. He knew that Dumbledore liked to talk in riddles, but that had been high praise coming from Mad-Eye. He was going to make his own assessments though, and right now she was simply looking up at him with a curious look on her face.

"Because I want to talk before I let you into my home, where my siblings are. Don't worry, it won't be a long conversation." Her voice was lower than what he was used to, slower, with more emphasis in different places. He briefly remembered Dumbledore mentioning younger siblings, but he didn't know how much younger or how many. He didn't really care either, but he'd let her say her piece first. As long as she was quick about it.

"Talk." He dropped his single bag onto the ground and crossed his arms, and even that small amount of movement sent shockwaves through his system. He kept his face blank as she studied him, but her eyes quickly raised to his.

"None of us really go by our given names. They're too long and too traditional, so please use the names that we prefer. I'm not Gabriella, I'm Bree. I'm nineteen and the sole guardian of my five younger siblings. My oldest sister is-"

"I do not need to know your family history," he told her. He'd just traveled a very long way, after being given an impromptu mission, and he didn't want to stand outside while she talked about her family tree. Even though hearing that there were five other people in the house was a little shocking. He hadn't been expecting a large family. What was she? A Weasley? The smile she gave him was small and understanding, and the cheek streaked with dirt dimpled a little.

"You're tired, I get it, and I've already got a room set up for you. You are going to be a guest in my home though, so it's better to get this sorted now to avoid confusion later on. I promise to be quick. I'm only asking you to listen." Her tone was calm, respectful, and the slight agitation he'd felt eased.

"Very well. Tell me about the children." She was the same age as him and responsible for five younger siblings? He wasn't sure how she was still sane, or if he would remain sane while staying in a house full of yelling kids.

"Cat is sixteen. She isn't comfortable with physical contact, unless she initiates it, so please be careful. Bumping into her is okay, there's going to be seven of us in there so knocking into each other is inevitable, but it's something I want you to be aware of so you won't take offense. She's generally quiet but will ask you questions. If you don't want to answer, just tell her that and she won't ask again."

So she was telling him actual relevant information. He considered that a plus in her favor, until she suddenly moved to her feet. She didn't move to stand next to him. Instead, she stood up on the stone bench and propped her hands on her hips as she looked towards the Manor. Even standing on the bench, she was only an inch or so taller than him.

"Maze turned fifteen two days ago. Unlike Cat, she has boundary issues. She doesn't think twice about touching someone while talking to them, but she won't do it again after you tell her not to. She'll also say or ask whatever is on her mind. You can choose to ignore her, even though it's kind of rude, or you can tell her that it's none of her business. Oh, and don't get offended if either of them try to argue with you. They love lively debates."

"Is there anything else?" She looked away from the house and over at him, and he could see the light brown color of her eyes now. The last of the fading sunlight slanted across her face, turning strands of her hair golden, and she twisted around so that she was fully facing him.

"Theo is five now. He will ask you questions, he's in this endless curiosity stage right now, but you don't have to answer if you don't want. Just tell him to find one of his sisters. The twins, Nate and Bash, shouldn't be a problem. They'll be one next month, so they mostly speak in gibberish and haven't made their first steps just yet. They might yell up at you and raise their arms as a signal to be picked up, but you can call for me if that ever happens."

She took two steps to the side before jumping down to finally stand next to him on the ground, and it truly hit him just how small she was. The top of her head didn't even reach his shoulder, but the difference didn't even seem to register with her. Her feet stayed flat on the ground, but her light eyes darkened as she looked up at him. The smile was gone, and she almost looked like a completely different person as she looked at him with her darker eyes. It wasn't just the look in them that turned; the actual color of her eyes, which had been a light and warm brown, was shifting into a darker shade the longer she looked at him.

"I am responsible for their lives. If you hurt any of them or do anything that causes them harm, I'll kill you." His first reaction was derision quickly followed by anger, until he realized she wasn't threatening him. She wasn't even trying to appear tough, like he'd heard countless others proclaim when they were actually terrified. She was only making a statement. He'd looked away at first, but now he met her (nearly black now) eyes.

"Have you killed before?" He kept his voice quiet, in case the kids were listening, and he watched her face carefully for any shifts in her expression. Her face remained smooth and impassive, but the flat black color of her eyes shuttered as if the color was trying to obscure the white of her eyes.

"Yes," she answered in the same quiet tone he had used. Shadows licked at the hollow of her throat and under the curve of her cheeks, but she didn't look away from him as the night started to grow darker. That was good, that she didn't back down. That would help her if she decided to become a spy.

"I am not here to hurt anyone. I came here to answer your questions, truthfully." Dumbledore told him to answer every question she had with complete honesty, so that was what he was going to do. Everything else was up to her.

"You could try to be nice to my family too. I'm not saying it's necessary, but it'll make your stay a little smoother." He nodded absently as he prepared himself to reach down and grab his bag, but she moved quickly. She scooped up the bag and held it out to him, and she was smiling again. The smile that made her look younger than nineteen and lightened her eyes. "I'm a little bit closer to the ground than you are, so I thought I'd save you the trip."

"You left out that you were funny," he said in the driest tone he could muster. She shrugged and turned on the ball of her foot, and she started walking down the stone walkway towards the Manor. He caught up to her in just a few steps but then shortened his strides so he could walk next to her.

"What did Albus tell you? About my family?" Her tone was light and curious, but he knew what she was actually asking him.

"That you are a pureblood witch and born vampire. As are the rest of your siblings." He'd never met a magical vampire before; he wasn't sure anyone had until Dumbledore mentioned knowing her parents, and he could understand why Dumbledore had asked her specifically. He did have an encounter with a feral vampire once, a more ferocious breed, when Voldemort sent him and another Death Eater out to attempt to recruit him. It hadn't ended well, for any of them, and it wasn't an encounter that he wanted to repeat.

"Did he mention my parents?" He hoped this interrogation didn't last long. His body was aching, and he couldn't remember the last time he'd ate.

"They died one year ago. I don't know how or why, and it's none of my business." That must have been the right thing to say, because she hummed happily and quickly moved ahead of him to stand on the porch stairs. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and the two of them were at eye-level now that she was several steps higher.

"Keep it that way, and we'll all get along just fine." Her eyes had been locked with his and her expression was serious, but she quickly looked over her shoulder after speaking. When she looked back at him, she was smiling a little and looked more relaxed. "Now, ready to go inside? Dinner should be done by now. Do you like steak?"

"Steak is fine," he answered and moved onto the bottom step. The move pulled at his side, and he felt something pop and itch. He raised his head and looked forwards, and she was still standing in the same spot and facing him. Her head was slightly tilted to the side as she looked at his burning side, and he saw the quick flaring of her nose as she breathed in. He took another step up, closer to her, and her eyes snapped up to his face. "You're hurt."

"I am," he agreed. He said he would be truthful, so he'll be truthful. She needed to know that being a spy wasn't risk-free and came with many consequences. She nodded, once, and then turned around and moved off. By the time he reached the top of the steps, she was taking down the last of the wards. He wasn't certain, but he thought that some of the wards used blood magic. He was unsure because even most Death Eaters wouldn't use the unpredictable form of magic, but she took the wards down with ease.

"Your room is upstairs, but you're welcome to use the guest bathroom on this floor to clean up before dinner. I can take your bag upstairs for you." She spoke as she quickly moved through the front room and through a doorway with only two small swinging doors, and he followed after her into a combined kitchen and dining room. In the corner, he could see the staircase that led upstairs.

"I'll go up to my room first." He wanted to get a feel for the house, and he wanted to take care of his side in privacy.

"Top of the stairs, down the left hallway, second door on the right. There's an attached bathroom, and you can find supplies in the cabinet under the sink. Take your time, but we will start eating without you if you take too long." She gestured her hand towards the staircase before walking into the kitchen, and he realized that she was giving him time to himself before he had to meet the Halliwell children.

"I'll be down shortly," he told her before crossing the dining room in a few strides.

He held onto the bannister as he walked up the stairs, and the hallway itself was designed like an upside-down U. There was a short bit of hallway directly in front of him, and two longer hallways on either side of him. The doors that he could see were shut, and his eyes quickly took in everything he could see from the top of the stairs. The Halliwell Manor was…homey, and unlike the other pureblood Manors and Estates that he had grown accustomed to. Most of them were even larger and cold, with carefully placed artifacts that made him feel almost too afraid to move. Everything in those pristine houses screamed, look but don't touch. The Halliwell Manor was smaller but still larger than averages homes, but that wasn't what really stood out. This house looked lived in. The hardwood stairs and floors were lightly scuffed in some places, as if people frequently moved around without worry. Artwork dotted the dark blue walls, but he had yet to see any kind of family pictures.

After the burning in his side eased, he turned towards the left to stand in the middle of a hallway and was immediately greeted with a shut door. To his right, there was another door that was shut but the white wood was dotted with small yellow flowers instead of being plain. To his left, the hallway was a little longer and there was another door that had been left slightly open. The guest room, his room for the next two weeks. Next to the doorway of his current room, there was a frame on the wall. He couldn't see what was framed, it was likely to be another piece of artwork, and he wasn't able to see it clearly until after stopping in front of the cracked open doorway. The picture was large, a family portrait done in muggle style, but the images were precise.

Severus recognized Bree immediately. She was the only girl with brown hair, but it was free around her shoulders instead of being held up. Her eyes looked brighter, her smile seemed more genuine, and she was standing between her two younger sisters. On the left was who he assumed was the youngest girl, Maze. Her long blonde hair was slightly tangled down next to her elbows, and there was a smudge of what looked like black ink under one bright blue eye. On Bree's other side was the middle sister, Cat, and he realized that the three Halliwell sisters all looked remarkably alike. All three of them had the same shaped eyes, the small point at the end of their noses, and their lips were even curled in the exact same smile. Even with slight age differences, they looked like they could pass for triplets, despite the different coloring. It was odd that that their coloring didn't match, when compared to their other similarities. A brunette with brown eyes, a blonde with blue eyes, and a blonde with green eyes. In front of Bree was a very small boy, possibly only three or four, but his features were developed enough to easily tell that he was another Halliwell. Unlike the other younger siblings, he shared Bree's brown hair and light brown eyes. The similarity between the oldest and the youngest was so strong that he wouldn't be surprised if strangers believed that the boy belonged to Bree.

Behind them were the parents, and the children were an even blend of their parents. All he knew was that Claude and Lillian died at the same time a year ago, and that Bree was in charge of the family now. In the portrait, they looked like such a happy family. Claude Halliwell, a tall man with thick brown hair and brown eyes, was standing behind Cat with one hand braced on her shoulder. Next to him, his much shorter wife was standing between Bree and Maze. Her hand was braced on her swollen stomach, and there was even a bit of a glow to her in the muggle painting. Her long blonde hair was perfectly straight, and Maze's blue eyes were an exact copy of her mother's. All of them were smiling, warmth was showing even though it wasn't a magical portrait, which was how it truly differed from most pureblood family portraits.

Now wasn't the time to study who the family used to be. He needed to get cleaned up and go downstairs, where the remainder of the Halliwell family was waiting. He pushed the bedroom door open the rest of the way so he could step inside, and he quietly closed the door behind him. It was a good-sized bedroom, especially for a guest room, but he only gave the room a cursory glance. He dropped his bag onto the bed, opened it to pull out a clean shirt, and moved into the attached bathroom. He couldn't assess his side until he got his shirt off, and he had to twist around to properly see his ribcage in the mirror. His ribs were still a deep purple, mottled green around the edges, with two cuts slicing through the center.

The curse that caused the cuts was immune to any kind of magical healing, so it was healing slowly on its own. Right now, one of the deep cuts was gaping open and leaving blood streaking down his side. The stitches had popped when he stepped up onto the porch stair, which explained how Bree had known he was hurt. She'd been able to smell the fresh blood. A quick whispered spell cleaned the blood away, and he found a leather kit under the sink with a mixture of potions and muggle healing tools. He used his wand to move the thread he found to close up his side, foregoing the sewing needle in the kit, and he twisted around to make sure that the thread would hold before pulling on his clean shirt. He returned the kit to under the sink, and he was holding his bloodied shirt in his hands as he walked across the room.

Tap-tap-tap

The bedroom door swung open before he could say anything, and Bree was already talking before the door was fully open.

"The girls don't want to start without you, but they're also complaining about me starving them so I thought I'd…come…check…That really doesn't look okay." She was standing frozen in the doorway, looking down at his side, because he hadn't buttoned the shirt yet.

"I've had worse." When she didn't look away from his side, he tossed the bloody shirt onto his bag and bent his knees to catch her attention. Her eyes met his, and he watched as she quickly licked her lips and then swallowed. "You're not thinking about biting me, are you?"

"I don't really prefer living victims. They squirm too much. Bagged blood works just fine. Is there anything I can do to help you?" Her speech was distracted, he wasn't sure if she even realized what she was saying, and he tapped his wand against the bottom button of his shirt. The long-sleeved shirt quickly buttoned itself, and he felt some relief that he'd at least had the sleeves on before she barged in. He wasn't sure if she was ready to see just how permanently Death Eaters were marked.

"It'll heal. Should we go downstairs to your starving sisters?" Her eyes looked clearer now, less vacant, and she suddenly full-out grinned at him.

"Does that mean your shirt is staying on?" The tone was teasing, not in any kind of malice but more playful, and he was so unused to anyone addressing him that way that he couldn't respond. "What a pity. I guess we'll go tend to the children then."

He could hear her sigh as she turned around and started to walk off, and his fingers lightly pulled on the bottom of his shirt as he followed after her. She easily moved down the stairs, she was quick on her feet, and he could hear raised voices before he could even see the dining room. It sounded like arguing, impassioned without anger, and he heard Bree groan before she stepped off the last stair and quickly walked closer to the now occupied table.

"Bree! Cat said that we can't go to anymore lessons, until after you've made your decision, but that can't be right! Right?" He could see the back of two blonde heads, facing towards where Bree was standing at the head of the table, and she propped her fists on her hips as she looked between her sisters.

"When the time comes, we'll discuss it but I think going should be fine. We'll just have to follow Alastor's advice, hmm?" She was young, too young to sound so mothering to two teenagers, but the two younger girls sat up a little straighter in their seats at Bree's firm tone.

"Constant vigilance." Since their backs were to him, he couldn't tell which sister had said Mad-Eye's favorite two words. Bree smiled in reply and then looked over at him, and the girls twisted in their seats to follow her line of sight. Blue eyes. Maze was the one who had quoted Mad-Eye. Over Maze's head, the oldest boy's head popped up.

"Halliwell family, meet Severus Snape." She waved a hand to move a tray filled with drinks onto the table, and he held himself still as the two younger girls studied him. "This is Cat, Maze, Theo, and these two are Nate and Bash."

Cat was sitting at the foot of the table, with Maze on one side of her and Theo on the other. Between Maze and Bree, who apparently sat at the head of the table, were two joined highchairs in place of a normal chair with two babies looking around curiously. The only vacant chair was between Bree and Theo, the little boy was standing up in his chair and smiling excitedly, and Bree motioned for him to take his seat as she passed out glasses of drinks. He slowly moved around where Cat was sitting and to the chair next to Bree, which put him directly across from the twins, and Theo sat down at the same time he did. He was surrounded by small children, but it was better than feeling trapped at the end of the table with the two blondes staring at him.

"I thought he'd be a lot older. Like Mad-Eye," Maze said first.

"So did I, so seeing Severus was a pleasant surprise," Bree said conversationally as she started distributing plates and moving plates of food onto the center of the table. He knew that she was lying, probably for the children's benefit. She had looked up at him outside and been nervous. Not quite afraid but still unsettled. He didn't think he had been the cause of her unease, it was more likely the situation as a whole, but she hadn't looked surprised.

"You have to pay attention to the eyes. The story is always in the eyes," Cat said quietly and looked over at Maze. The youngest sister hummed in thought, and he met Bree's eyes as she shrugged at him. When he looked away, the youngest girl was leaning across the table to look at his eyes.

"His eyes are so dark. Are they dark because of all the secrets you have to keep?" The girl was smiling, but there had been no amusement in her voice. It kept surprising him that they knew so much about the situation, and him. Dumbledore told him that Bree's sisters would know the truth about his visit, but the youngest one had just turned fifteen.

"You're not writing a story about him, Maze. He's our guest, so behave," Bree said as she finally sat down. Maze fell back into her chair, and the girls were quiet as they started to fill their plates. Severus waited for them to finish serving themselves, and Bree caught his eye as she speared a steak. "You don't have to wait. Go ahead and eat, before it's gone."

"He's dark and mysterious, but he doesn't really talk much," Maze said as he served himself.

"Maybe he's still adjusting to the new environment," Cat attempted to explain.

"I don't think that's it. I don't think he likes us, but he didn't have a choice in coming here." Maze wasn't completely wrong, he hadn't had a choice, but he didn't dislike the Halliwell family. Yet.

"Or he could just not like being so far away from home," Cat countered. Bree was staying out of it as she cut up a steak for Theo, and he had a feeling that she was waiting to see how he'd react. To see if he would respond or just continue to ignore them.

"Bree, why're Cat and Maze bullying Severus?" Theo quietly asked. Bree finished with cutting up his steak and stretched to push the plate to him, and Severus watched as she never looked away from her little brother's eyes as she answered.

"They're trying to see what kind of person he is. To see if he's quick to anger or if he's happy to just let them assume things about him without correcting them. What they're doing is wrong. Don't follow in their footsteps. Always be courteous to guests." Theo nodded, and Bree smiled at him before turning around and starting to fix food for the twins.

"How nice to them do I have to be?" he asked Bree. Maze's eyes lit up while Cat smiled, but Bree didn't look away from her task of mashing up potatoes and peas for the babies to eat.

"As nice as they are to you." Bree was testing him, just as much as the other girls were, and he kept that thought in mind as he turned to face the younger sisters.

"You each get one question, those of you that can speak. Choose wisely and be specific," he said and looked around at all of them. Including the five year old sitting next to him.

"Are you prejudiced against halfbloods, muggleborns, or Dark Creatures?" The first question came from Cat, and her light green eyes were curious as she waited for his answer.

"No." He had promised Dumbledore that he would be as open as possible, so he continued. "I am a halfblood, I know muggleborns more proficient with magic than purebloods, and Dark Creatures are still living beings that deserve respect."

"I think that was a very good answer," Bree remarked as she helped one of her brothers grab a fistful of peas.

"Why do you…do what you do?" Maze paused in the middle of her question as she glanced across the table at the little brother that was old enough to partially understand, which meant they were being careful not to say too much around him.

"Because what I do is necessary to keep people safe." The girl nodded, in what he thought was acceptance, and he turned to look down at the five year old. "Do you have a question?"

"What's your favorite color?" the little boy asked. His brown eyes were just as expressive as Bree's, and right now he looked completely serious. Because of the serious look and the other eyes that he could feel on him, he decided not to answer black.

"Green." The boy smiled up at him, which showed off a missing tooth on the bottom row, and he looked so much like Bree that Severus really did wonder if he was her son instead of her brother.

"My favorite color is blue and Nate likes red, but Bash likes green too," Theo informed him. Severus looked straight ahead, at the twins, and saw little copies of Theo. The twins weren't completely identical, there were some deviances in their features and one of them had darker brown hair while the other was a lighter shade of brown, but they both had the same warm brown eyes as Bree and Theo. As he looked at them, the one with darker hair slammed his fist against the tray of his highchair while the other one laughed.

"The fist slammer is Bash. He's letting you know that green was the only right answer to that question," Maze loudly whispered. He could see one corner of Bree's lips twitching as she finally turned to face her own plate, and he realized that she had waited until everyone else had gotten a full plate before doing anything for herself. He held still as her eyes met his, and he wondered for a moment if she had a question for him as well.

"Would you like something to drink besides water?" Not exactly what he'd been expecting. When he shook his head in the negative, she raised her fork and stabbed the potato on her plate. "Then let's eat."

BREE

"I think they like you," Bree said quietly. Her and Severus were sitting in the library, which was on the first floor and only a short hallway away from the dining room, so she wasn't sure why she was being so quiet. The girls were upstairs, awake but winding down, and she could hear them both getting ready for bed. Theo had helped her rock the twins, and they were now fast asleep in their beds. Theo was asleep too, after reading her two stories.

She had shown Severus into the library before ushering her siblings up the stairs, and she had come back downstairs to find him sitting at one end of the couch that faced the fireplace. There wasn't a fire tonight, southern summer nights were a little too warm for that, but he had been looking into the fireplace anyway. Going by the magic lingering in the air, she guessed that he'd spoken to Dumbledore and told him that he'd safely made it into the Halliwell home and hadn't died yet. She hadn't asked him about it. Instead, she had walked past him and settled against the other end of the couch with her legs crossed under her.

"They talk too much," was his reply. He did have a slight point. The girls had talked and debated like usual, and Theo had enjoyed having someone else to talk to.

"Two teenage girls and a five year old talk too much?" She was smiling as she asked it, and his only answer was to snort quietly. "If they say or ask anything that upsets you, let me know and I'll talk to them."

"Why did you tell your sisters the truth?" He had turned to put his back against the corner of the couch, so that he was more or less facing her, and she looked away from the long sprawl of his legs and up into his face now that he was looking at her.

She hadn't noticed it earlier, not outside or at dinner, but he looked so tired. There were dark smudges on the pale skin under his eyes, and his whole body looked tense as if he was forcing himself to stay upright. She also couldn't stop picturing the long bruise and deep cuts on his ribcage; he'd been so badly injured, recently, but she never would have known if she hadn't smelled the blood outside or barged into his room before dinner. She was starting to suspect that Albus had sent him to her home so that he could get some rest in addition to telling her what she'd be doing if she decided to help. She was glad that, no matter her decision, he would be getting some rest. He'd also been honest with her, as far as she could tell, so she didn't see the harm in returning the favor.

"If I say yes, my family will come with me. They deserve to have a say in our future, and it wouldn't be right to make a decision this big completely on my own. Theo is far too young to understand, but Cat and Maze? They're only a few years younger than me, and I think it's better to be upfront with them. They're too smart to not realize that something is going on anyway," she answered as simply as she could.

"You talk too much as well." Her laugh was startled out of her, and it was a shock for a stranger to get such a genuine and full laugh out of her. It didn't last long, but it was good to know that she was still capable of laughing so freely.

"I know it's late, so I only have one question tonight. If that's okay?" He was hurt and tired, she had seen that much with her own eyes, so she didn't want to keep him up too much longer. He needed to rest, and she had two weeks to ask her questions.

"Of course." He looked at ease in the library, more at ease than he'd been in the dining room, and she felt herself relaxing as well. He was a stranger, but there was something oddly comforting about his presence.

"Why does Albus want me in Voldemort's inner circle if he has you?" She kept her tone light, because she wasn't trying to be insulting, and she wanted to see how similar his answer would be to the one that Albus had given her.

"I went to school with some of the younger Order members, the ones that the Death Eaters haven't won against in a fight since they joined. I have proven myself to the Dark Lord, but he is distrustful of everyone. Including his most loyal Death Eaters. I believe he is distrustful because he doesn't fully understand human motivations, which is what leads him to continue to look for powerful creatures to aid him in the War." Their eyes stayed locked as he spoke, and his lips suddenly twisted as she felt a spark of anger in her chest. "Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" she asked instantly.

"Like I am the one classifying you, classifying vampires, as creatures. The Dark Lord is the one who thinks that way, as well as most of his followers. If you join, you'll need to control your reaction better." His tone was light, he wasn't trying to make her angry, but she still felt chastised as he continued to watch her.

"I've been told that I'm excellent at controlling my facial expressions. What gave it away?" She was always careful. As a child, she just hadn't wanted anyone to know when she was upset. Now, she constantly kept herself in check because she knew that one little mistake could cause her to lose her siblings.

"Your eyes. They're far too expressive." She could feel how even her face was, no trace of a smile or any other emotion, but she wasn't sure how to control her eyes. "Right now, you're confused."

"Don't sound so smug." His smile was so small that it barely even counted as such, but she felt slightly victorious anyway.

"Vampires are known for their bloodlust and cruelty. It's a narrow-minded perception, but it's one that you can exploit. What you are is rare, so rare that he will want to keep you close and possibly use you against the others." The brief flash of horror she felt must have shown in her eyes, because Severus looked away and back at the unlit fireplace. "He will ask more from you than the others as well. You will be viewed as less than human, and I imagine he will treat you like an attack dog."

"He'll make me…feed, won't he? On humans?" Her stomach rolled at the thought, of being forced to bite and drink from that madman's enemies, and she thought that maybe her hands were shaking when Severus turned to look at her again.

"Yes, that's my assumption." She nodded even as her shoulders curled forwards, and she realized that her arms were wrapped tight around her middle.

"But he will also keep me close, to make me easier to use. I'll have a better chance of learning his plans," she said while still looking at the other end of the couch. He nodded, slowly, and bile built up in the back of her throat.

"I apolo-" She raised her hand, a little too sharply, to cut him off. She knew that her eyes were showing a mixture of disgust and anger, he was probably right about her eyes being too expressive, but she was still grateful that he didn't try to finish his apology. He had nothing to apologize for. He was only being honest, like he'd promised her that he would be.

"Sorry for interrupting you. Please, try not to take it personally," she said once she felt more calm. She'd only ever bitten a human once, and it was still the worst thing she had ever done. The thought of having to do it again, even as a slight possibility, had her all tied up in emotional knots.

"Why would I take your personal issues personally?" The dry sarcasm in his tone made her smile and laugh quietly as tension bled out of her, and he quickly looked away as she started to stretch her sore body. She'd been carrying too much tension the past few days.

"Before we turn in for the night, I just want to make sure that I'm not forgetting anything. If you don't mind waiting for a few more minutes?" He relaxed against the couch and shook his head, which she was thankful for. If she was forgetting something important, it was better for him to hear it now than for her to spring it on him later. "Cozy? Would you mind coming here?"

"Yes, Miss Gabriella?" Bree could see Severus looking at Cozy, with what was possibly curiosity but he was very skilled at hiding his emotions, but Cozy was only looking at her.

"What are our plans for tomorrow? I feel like I'm forgetting something." She was usually very good at remembering everything that needed to be done, but the past couple of days had been slightly more chaotic than usual.

"Miss Gabriella is to take Miss Catherine and Miss Margaret to the Underwood home, for lessons and fixing." That was what she had forgotten!

"Thank you, Cozy. Do you mind watching the boys? Or should I get Jackson to come watch Theo?" Cozy and Jory were amazing with the boys, but she didn't want to ask them to watch after the twins and an energetic five year old. It almost seemed like too much for anyone to take.

"Cozy and Jory can watch after the young masters."

"I can look after Theo, but not the other two. I don't change diapers." Bree and Cozy both turned to look at Severus, who was looking at Bree with an utterly blank expression. It was both eerie and impressive.

"You want to babysit a five year old?" she asked. Theo was well-behaved, sure, but he was also still a child.

"How hard can it be?" Bree exchanged a look with Cozy, but of course the house-elf didn't say anything against Severus. She was far too polite for that.

"Very well. Cozy, if Severus turns out to be evil and tries to harm Theo, let Jory have at him," she decided.

"Of course, Miss Gabriella," Cozy said and dipped her head a little.

"And, as a thank you, do you mind taking Severus's breakfast to him in the morning? I'll cook, but it'd be a great help if you could run it upstairs for me." When Cozy nodded enthusiastically, Bree smiled gently down at her. "Thank you, Cozy. You and Jory have a good night, and I'll see you both in the morning."

"Goodnight, Miss Gabriella." She disappeared without saying a word to Severus, and Bree looked over just in time to see him stand up.

"You're not going to ask what any of that was about?" She was sure that what he had just heard was a bit confusing without context, but he looked as if everything was in order even though he had no clue about what everything was. She'd even just given one of her elves permission to do him bodily harm, if need be.

"It's none of my business. Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?" She really hated looking up at him when he was standing. It made her neck hurt.

"No, that was all. Goodnight, Severus." He didn't say anything in response, just turned and quietly walked out of the library. She stayed on the couch until she heard the door of the guest bedroom close upstairs, and then she slowly unfolded herself and stood up. There was a brief moment where she considered going straight to her room, but she decided to go upstairs and check on her family first. After that, she could get some sleep to prepare herself for the next day.

X

Finis: I did say that the chapters for this story would be long, and this chapter is the ultimate example of that. All of the chapters are between 10,000-20,000 words long. I considered posting shorter chapters and cutting the originally written chapters into sections, but this chapter alone only covers about three days in the timeline of the story. I couldn't decide on any stopping points that I liked, which is why this chapter is so long. So I hope everyone is okay with the longer updates. Thank you for reading!

A5mia: Thank you for the review! I hope that you're reading this after reading the chapter and that you liked the update!

vani12: I do try to keep things balanced out, between dialogue and descriptions, so thank you for the compliment! There is a lot more in-depth explanation of Bree and the rest of the Halliwell family in this chapter, and Bree's relationship with Severus will be expanded on throughout the story. I hope you continue to read and enjoy the story, and thank you for the review!