The king paced in front of the three women and two men who were tied up and kneeling on the floor in front of him, his boots clanking against the metal floor of the detention cell of his battleship. Three years of war had brought out the best and the worst in his majesty, Albus thought. He was a brutal and unwavering commander and mercy was a rare commodity. Today these men would be given no mercy.

"So at last I have my hands on some actual living members of Grindelwald's wolf army," the king said, sneering.

The prisoners made muffled sounds of rage and desperation through the cloth gags that had been stuffed in their mouths but the king paid them no mind.

"I wonder what I should do with you," the king said and stroked his roughly stubbled chin.

Albus watched the king and realized he really was considering the possibilities. If asked he would counsel the king to show mercy and attempt to coax information from them but the king would not be asking.

"I think it's best if we send you down to Black and let him have his way with you," the king said. Albus wasn't surprised at all. Arcturus Black was officially the king's chief surgeon but more often than not he served a role as chief interrogator. Albus thought he should more aptly be described as chief torturer. The man made Albus uncomfortable. He was cold and quiet. There was no denying, however, that he was a brilliant doctor who made great use of the biological tech and he and Gellert had invented more than thirty years ago.

The entire Black family were elitists who believed people should be forced to use tech. Albus had a sting inside as he remembered a time when he felt the same way. His love for Grindelwald had clouded his judgment. It was not a mistake he would allow to happen again.

"Your majesty," Albus started but the king raised a hand to stop him.

"I know what you will say, Dumbledore, but I am not interested in hearing it," the king said. "Guards! Take them away."

Albus frowned and watched as the guards pulled the prisoners away while the king smiled. Once they were gone the king nodded to Albus then left the room.

Albus made a happy grunt while Elphias stroked his grey streaked auburn hair. They were naked in bed together in the cabin they shared on the king's battleship. The war was taking a toll on them, a toll on everyone. Elphias only hoped the war would end soon before too much was lost.

"The king is headed down a dark path," Albus said. Elphias kissed Albus on the back of his head.

"Yes, he is. He is choosing mindless brutality over mercy and pragmatism," Elphias said.

Albus had come to Elphias reeling from the knowledge of the horrors the king had just sent a group of prisoners to at the hands of Arcturus Black. Elphias had held and comforted Albus. This had led to sex, as it often did. Elphias knew it didn't mean as much to Albus as it meant to him. It never would. Albus would never love him the way he loved Albus. Elphias didn't believe Albus would ever open his heart to anyone again… not after what happened with Grindelwald.

"But is there anything we can do?" Albus said.

"No, I think not. We'll work to end this war as quickly as possible," Elphias said.

"I'm going to have to face him," Albus said.

"The king?" Elphias asked.

"No. Gellert," Albus.

"Well, I'm not sure about having to. Hopefully, it won't be a matter of a one on one confrontation," Elphias said.

Albus sighed then kissed the inside of Elphias's forearm that was draped around him.

"I hope you are right, my old friend," Albus said.

Elphias gently stroked Albus's shoulder with a free hand then said, "Don't worry. Whatever is coming I know you'll be able to face it."

The king had returned to the palace. Minerva could tell on account of the queen's screams echoing down the hall, coming from the king and queen's bedchamber. It didn't used to be like that. When she first came to the palace eight years ago the relationship between his majesty and the queen seemed to be fine. The queen never seemed interested in him but she didn't seem… frightened of him like she did now.

Minerva grabbed a pillow and tried to use it to cover her ears to no effect. Why didn't the guards care? Surely, someone could do something! She had considered telling Dumbledore but every time he was at the palace and she thought she had worked up the nerve something always got in the way.

Minerva tossed the pillow aside. It was no use.

"I see you can't sleep either," a voice said.

"Tom! What are you doing in my room?" Minerva sneered through gritted teeth.

"Like I said: I can't sleep," Tom said and made his way out of the darkness and approached her bedside.

Minerva reached over to the nightstand and touched the globe that sat on it which then began to glow, purple and effervescent, creating a low electronic hum.

Tom stood at the end of her bed. He was thirteen now and had grown into a handsome young man, Minerva thought. And he was charming but something about him always unsettled her.

"I'm sorry if I've startled you, Minerva. I can go if you like," Tom said and started to turn away but she stopped him saying, "No. You may as well stay. At least, you can provide a distraction from… that," and she gestured out the door towards the hall where the queen's scream and cries still echoed.

Tom turned toward the door. He didn't seem concerned. More curious, Minerva thought.

"I can't imagine he can go on forever," Tom said. "He has to finish sometime."

"I should hope so," Minerva said. "Why can't he just leave her alone?"

"She hasn't given him an heir yet," Tom stated plainly.

"You say that like it's her duty!" Minerva said.

"May as well be," Tom said then came around next to the bed and sat down near her.

Minerva leaned up in bed and propped her back against the headboard. She then reached over to the nightstand where she left her pins and began to pull her long black hair up into a bun as she had begun to these last few years.

"What do you mean it may as well be?" Minerva said as she continued to work with her hair, talking through her pins which she had placed in her mouth.

"Well, whether she wants it or not she agreed to it when she married the king. She knew that he is the last of the line of Arthur. And now there's a war. The king could die in battle. She knows what's at stake," Tom said.

"Tom, you can't seriously believe she deserves… what he is doing to her," Minerva said, finding herself unable to call it for what it was.

"No. Of course not," Tom said. "I merely think that the king's desperation is not surprising and that she is unwilling now is unfortunate."

Minerva finally had finished her bun and sat there staring at Tom. He was always so polite and nice but sometimes he really did say things that scared her. What did they teach him at the orphanage?

"She has a right to her own body, Tom! I think she should divorce the king. It's not unheard of," Minerva said.

"Yes. You're probably right," Tom said then turned to her and smiled.

Minerva found herself smiling at him in spite of herself. Oh, he was handsome. But he was practically her brother. They queen certainly had treated them as siblings all these years. Minerva had had siblings but… they were gone now.

Tom stared at Minerva intently then said, "You've become very pretty, Minerva. I've never told you that before but it's true."

Minerva blushed but internally chided herself. It was Tom, for Merlin's sake!

"Thank you, Tom," Minerva said then she listened. The sounds of the queen's screams had ended. Inside she felt sad for the queen and desperately wondered what she could do to help her.

"It's my pleasure. You know, Minerva, that you'll be going away to Hogwarts Academy next year. I will barely see you for a year as I won't be fifteen until the following year," Tom said.

"Yes. What's your point?" Minerva said.

"My point is that it might be a shame if… No, never mind. I'm being foolish," Tom said then looked away.

"What is it, Tom?" Minerva said.

"Well…" Tom said turning back. "I was wondering if you might give me a kiss."

Tom looked back at her seeming hopeful.

"A kiss? Why? You're my brother!" Minerva objected.

"No I'm not! And you find me attractive I can tell by the way you look at me," Tom said.

Minerva frowned. She had never kissed anyone before. She had to admit that the idea of kissing Tom had some appeal. She glanced at his lips and thought how soft they look and how good they might feel against her own.

"I don't know, Tom. Maybe… maybe as long as it's just a kiss. And just one kiss. Promise me!" Minerva said.

"Of course. I promise," Tom said then turned to face her.

Minerva pulled her cover off her then moved down the bed toward him then slowly raised her head to him and then cautiously pressed her mouth into his. His lips were soft. She felt a rush of warmth as their lips moved against each other for a moment before she slowly pulled away then backed up to the headboard again.

Tom looked ponderous then said, "Hmm. That was interesting."

"Interesting?" Minerva said.

"Yes," Tom said then nodded.

"What do you mean it was interesting?" Minerva asked. She had thought it was nice but his choice of word was surprising.

"Well, I just wasn't sure what would happen. Was is it that people get out of putting their mouths together?" Tom said.

"I suppose it's because it feels nice? I'm don't really know," Minerva admitted.

"It did feel nice, I suppose. But having done it I'm not sure I really see the big deal," Tom said.

Minerva felt insulted and her face must have shown it as Tom lifted a hand and said, "Please, take no offense, Minerva. You were fine. Great, in fact. I'm just not sure kissing has much appeal to me."

Minerva nodded then said, "That's wonderful, Tom. Now if you don't mind I would like to get back to sleep."

"A thousand pardons, Minerva. I will be out of your way," Tom said then got off the bed and headed to the door.

Before he had made it to the doorway Minerva said, "Tom!"

Tom turned around and smiled back at her.

"I did enjoy it. Whether you did or not. I liked the kiss," Minerva said.

"Then I am happy for it," Tom said and walked out of her room.

That night Minerva had many nightmares. Nightmares about the queen and the war and Tom all rolled up into one. She dreamed that she and Tom were the king and queen. Tom was horrible. He was killing his subjects and enslaving them. He was worse than Grindelwald or the king. And he was cruel to her. Cruel to everyone.

In the morning, she awoke in a sweat. She decided that she couldn't wait for next year to come and to get away from the palace. The sooner she could be away from the king and queen and Tom the better. Yes, Tom would be at Hogwarts the following year but at least they wouldn't be stuck alone so much. And she could study for her future.

She vowed that once she could live away from the palace she would never return there. Never.