The twins didn't even have time to think as their father's fears became theirs. The moved quickly and efficiently, their mind focused on one thing and one thing only as their

hearts beat in their chests. Doing the only thing they knew best, they ran.

It was wise not to go out in the open for fear that they would be seen. Finn suggested that they take the short cut through the back. It'll be quicker, and plus we would be

hidden. He had told her. That didn't matter to Fallon though. She would do just about anything if it meant getting as far away from them as possible. She fell into a brisk jog

next to her brother, instantly wishing she was more physically adept as she struggled to keep up. It was a while before she had to stop to take her breath.

"Finn, wait!" She said as he slowed to a stop next to her. "I need to breathe" She panted.

He didn't say anything, only stared intently around him as if at any moment something would jump out at them. She couldn't blame him. While the short cut

succeeded in concealing them from wandering eyes, it also meant that they had to pass through the woods. Fallon felt on edge as she glanced wearily about her, her

claustrophobia getting the best of her as the trees seemed to loom menacingly around them. Her mind thought fleetingly back to the stories she read as a child; about young

children who went missing in the woods and were never found again. She hoped they weren't one of those unfortunate few.

"How long have we been running?"

Finn glanced down to check his watch. "Only five minutes"

She groaned inwardly. It had felt more like an hour. Her legs were burning with fatigue, her breath coming out fast that she had to lean on her knees for

support. Finn placed a hand on her shoulder as she finally straightened up.

"Come on, we can't stay out in the open for too long."

Fallon nodded tiredly as she lifted her foot to move. Checking to see that she wouldn't topple over, Finn turned brusquely on his heels as he broke into a jog. It was silent

then, the only sound they could hear was their short, heaving breaths. Even the animals had fallen silent, as if they too could sense that something was wrong. Fallon kept her

attention on her brother's back, trying to keep her mind off her flailing body and mind as they trekked through the marshy terrain.

Yes, her brother was hard work. But at times like these, he was the rock that kept her up. She was grateful he was there with her. She didn't know what

she would have done without him.

Theycontinued to run, stopping occasionally to catch their breath before resuming again. Finn seemed to know exactly where to go, despite being unfamiliar with the area.

Despite this, She trusted him wholeheartedly. Wherever he went, she would always follow,

The spotted a clearing of trees not a short distance ahead, quickening their pace as they made their way towards it. They both breathed a sigh of relief as their feet hit hard

cement. As they took a moment to catch their breath, Fallon glanced around her to take in her surroundings. The area was familiar. The same winding country road, the same

overgrown grass paddocks and picket fences. They were only a short five minute walk from their house. She turned towards her brother, a look of amazement on her face as she

appraised him silently.

"How did you know where to go?" She was in awe.

"I don't know...I just did." He didn't say it in a snarky way, it was more as if he couldn't help it, like a hidden instinct telling him where to go.

"Amazing" She said loudly as she gaped at him.

"Stop gawking at me like that. It's awkward" He frowned as he scratched his head embarrassingly. She couldn't help it though. Her brother, her twin brother, was absolutely

brilliant!

"Sorry" Fallon said quickly. "I'm just a little flustered to be in the presence of a powerful wizard!" She had meant it as a joke but a hint of truth had shown itself in her voice.

Finn scoffed as he pushed her shoulder lightly.

"Please, I wouldn't say that." But he couldn't help the smile that blossomed on his face. They grinned at each other as they turned to walk side by side. As they walked in

silence, both feeling comforted by each other's presence. This was how she had remembered them both; an invisible bond that could never be broken. Not by anyone, or

anything. She had almost forgotten about previous events when reality slapped her in the face.

There, just up ahead, were two dark figures, each standing a feet apart as they walked silently side by side. The twins couldn't see their faces, only the threatening bare of their

backs but it was enough to scare them to their bones. They hadn't seen them yet, so the twins ducked quickly behind a nearby tree. As expected, the figures

stopped just outside their home. Fallon felt her back stiffen as her body froze in fear.

"Finn...what do we do?"

He didn't answer. His focus was on something else entirely. She followed his eyes and had to grab his shoulder for support to keep from falling. Their father stood in the entrance

to the house, his eyes narrowed as he stared intently at the unwelcome visitors.

One of them stepped forward, a woman who looked like she was in her late 30's. With her baby blonde hair and small face, she didn't look menacing at all.

Looks can be deceiving. Her father's words echoed in her mind.

The woman's voice was soft and feminine when she spoke, breaking the uneasy silence around them.

"Flavius." She said as she smiled at him. "It's been a while."

"Vivienne." He didn't even bother with common courtesy.

"Is that all you have to say to your little sister?" The woman called Vivienne pouted at him. " It's been what, eleven years? I thought you would have calmed down by now."

The twins looked at each other, both of their faces mirroring surprise. Sister?

"You aren't my sister anymore." His voice was cold as he dismissed her almost immediately. "Not anymore."

"Well aren't you sweet?" Vivienne chuckled to herself. "Say all you want" She shrugged as she inspected her perfectly shaped nails before flicking her eyes to her father's

"We share the same blood in our veins, whether you like it or not."

"How did you find me?" He growled, ignoring his sisters comment.

"Don't think you're the only one who's good at hiding" She said simply. "Besides, no matter how much you run away you can't hide away from us." He grew visibly

dark when she added "Blood always runs deeper than water."

"You didn't answer my question."

"Fine..." She sighed simply as she rolled her eyes impatiently.

"Does this look familiar?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a long wand made of spruce wood. Clearly it meant something for Flavius blanched suddenly.

"Where did you get that?" He made to reach for it but Vivienne snatched it back before he could.

"It seems that in your haste to leave, you left it behind"

"You had it all this time." He growled menacingly.

"Of course I did. It's my brother's wand, after all."

If his eyes could burn holes, the hatred he felt towards his sister could ignite her entirely.

"That still doesn't explain how you managed to track me" He said finally.

"I'm sure you've heard of the tracking spell?" He fell silent then as she continued.

"The tracking spell Reperio Mihi is an incantation used by the owner of one of a pair of bound wands." She checked to see if her brother was listening. "It can be used to locate

the other, or to call out to one another."

There was silence as their father gaped at his sister.

"How did you know I still kept her wand?"

"Do I really need to answer that?" She raised a perfectly arched eyebrow.

"So all this time...you knew where I was?"

"Of course"

"Then why haven't you shown yourself until now?"

"Because. I have a proposition for you that might be of interest."

"The answer is no" was their father's curt response. "I am through with that families deeds."

"But you haven't even heard what I had to say"

"I don't care." And he really didn't. He had had enough of them.

"Trust me, I wouldn't come all this way without a reason." She said. "You might want to listen."

"I don't want to hear what you have to say." He spat those words out. "Now I want you to turn around and leave. Right now."

Her tone lost its playfulness as the next words spilled out of her mouth. "It involves the children."

She had caught him off guard. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is-." she began. "We want the children."

Right then, their father seemed to get bigger, his aura turning dark as he towered over Vivienne.

"How dare you say that to me"

She must have been intimidated then because she took a step back quickly.

"Now, lets not get any ideas!" She said nervously as she placed a hand to block her companion who looked like she was ready to strike.

"I came here to talk, not start another war."

"It's already too late for that" He reminded her darkly.

"Oh, please" She scoffed before stopping to compose herself once more. "Look, I'm not here to pick a fight with you." She was all seriousness then. "All we want is to take the

children off your hands. That's all."

His eyes widened as he stared at the small blonde. "You cant be serious?" he said after a while. When he realised she was, he shouted the next words. "There's no way

in hell that I'm letting you...you monsters take my children!"

Vivienne clicked her tongue impatiently.

"Listen, Flav." His old nickname felt raw on her tongue from misuse."Flavius" She corrected herself quickly. "The children are in danger."

He shook his head defiantly in response. "They're not in any kind of danger" He sneered, baring white teeth at her. "I've managed to keep them safe for eleven years, dammit!"

Vivienne shook her head slightly. "You may think you've been protecting them all these years" She paused, expecting a curt reply but didn't get any. "But you've only managed

to expose them to even more danger." Their father didn't have a reply to that.

"I'm judging from that look on your face you know I'm right?" She enjoyed mocking him. He huffed in response, but didn't say anything else.

"It's almost September." She said as she glanced at her brother. "And the children should be of age now." Realisation dawned on his face when he realised what she was

implying.

"No..." Distraught was written over his face as he whispered those words. "No!" He said more loudly this time. "You are not taking my children to that god forsaken place!" He

was shaking with rage now. "You're going to have to kill me first." Vivienne watched wearily as his nose flared open, apparently serious.

"You need to calm down."

"Don't tell me what or what not to do." Now she was really getting impatient.

"We can do this the hard way, or the easy way." She said through clenched teeth.

He leaned forward to stare menacingly in her face. "I'd prefer the hard way."

Her calm composure faltered a bit. "Don't you realise what's at stake here?" She had shouted. "All you think about is your own selfish self that you don't realise what you're

doing to the people around you!"

"I'm being selfish?"

"Yes, you are." She shot back. "Why do you think we haven't contacted you till now?" She was becoming exasperated. "To protect you and your family, we had to lie to the

ministry of magic about your whereabouts. Do you realise how much strain you've put on our family name?"

"Protecting me? How is that protecting me!?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"The night you took off, the ministry of magic had wandered where you went." She said the next words more softly. "We told them that you had moved off to the country side

with your children. To mourn the death of Ariella."

He felt disgusted when her name appeared on that woman's lips.

"Don't mention her name in front of me" Vivenne had to keep from getting angry. She closed her eyes briefly before turning her attention back to him.

"You have to understand that if the children don't present themselves soon, the ministry of magic will get suspicious. You and I both know how that is going to end." He did. It

was compulsory for young wizards and witches to attend wizarding school to learn how to control their magic. He knew that, but still he was stubborn to accept it. He ignored

the constant letters they would send, burning them before his children could see. But it was no use. No matter how many times he moved, the letters always seemed to find

them. Like a fly that never went away.

"For once in your life, think about your children. And not yourself." Accusation was written all over her face.

"Don't even go there, Viv."

"Think about it, Flav. They don't know anything about their heritage, their history, anything!" She had to stop herself before she spoke again. "They at least deserve to know

who they are. You owe it to them."

Their father glanced around fleetingly as his thoughts started to get the better of him.

"It's best if they don't know anything..." But he wasn't so sure anymore.

"Don't tell me you haven't realised it? The signs of magic? The need to learn? You're children are craving it, Flav."

He flinched then and she knew she had hit the jack pot.

"Untrained wizards and witches are dangerous to the muggle world." She reminded him gently. "I know you know deep down that it's true"

It was dead silence as the two figures stared at each other, no sound emitting from their bodies. The wind howled around them, whipping Vivienne's short blonde hair around

her face. It was a while before their father spoke again.

"There was no word...not even a single phone call. From any of you." His voice was strained. "None of you were even interested when the twins were born." Tears were

beginning to show in his eyes as his voice started to shake with emotion. "Now you decide to show up. After eleven years. Only to take the my children away from me?" He

didn't bother to wipe away his tears. He let them fall freely to the ground. "What more do you want from me?" He pleaded to her.

"I know it must be hard for y-"

"WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME!" He shouted more loudly this time before collapsing to his knees in front of her. There was a rumble as rain started to fall, blending

in with the fall of his tears.

Vivienne clenched her jaw tightly, her cool composure falling away entirely. She had initially agreed to come here, had only wanted to take the children and leave without a

word. But as she stood there staring at the husk that was once her brother, a wave of sympathy washed over. She leant down to touch his face but thought better of it. He

doesn't want my pity. She reminded herself brusquely.

"How long do I have with them?" He was no longer angry, just eerily silent as he accepted his defeat. Vivienne had to look away from the sad sight.

"You have two days." She said lightly. "Before we have to take them by force."

He nodded then. He didn't make a move to move so Vivienne cleared her throat awkwardly.

"I'll be on my way then." He didn't say anything, only stared blankly as he watched her retreating figure leave. She had managed a short distance before she stopped suddenly,

sensing a strong presence nearby. Her head tilted to the left and she spotted them almost immediately.

"It seems we have an audience." She smiled as the children detached themselves from the wall. The twins looked nervously as they watched the woman pass by slowly, their

eyes never breaking away.

Upon hearing them, their father's head shot up as he gingerly stood to his feet.

He looked so helpless as he stood drenched to the spot, the rain showering him like a halo. They watched as he began to pick up his pace before he broke into a desperate run

towards them. As if in sync, the twins ran to catch up to him. The impact was instant. His arms snaked around them both, their faces becoming tangled in his wet shirt. They

didn't care though. All that mattered was that they were there together.

Vivienne paused to take in the moving scene before she turned towards her companion.

"Apparate" Her voice was a silent whisper. She took one last glance over her shoulder before she disappeared into the night.