Sebastian and Lavinia were 12, a year into their home-schooled magical education when the unraveling of their lives began.

It started innocently enough. Father Gaius came home from the Ministry one day and announced casually that he had been dismissed from his job. Gaius claimed that he had been targeted, and would not elaborate. Instead, he called the family together and informed them all that compromises would have to be made until he was able to find steady employment.

First to go were the luxuries. No more weekly shopping trips to Diagon Alley, no more dinners at the seaside, no more decorations for the house, no more toys or games for the children.

Second to go were the 'wants', the nicer clothes, the high end and exotic food, the wine, the fine silver and china

Third to go were the necessities. The magic tutor, a kind, elderly woman that Sebastian and Lavinia had been quite fond of, was sent packing, without the months severance pay she was promised. Mother Chrysanthe's wardrobe grew smaller and less elaborate. The beautiful paintings and tapestries the children had grown up disappeared with each passing day.

Fourth to go was Mother Chrysanthe's sanity. Shortly after the dramatic change in the family's financial situation became apparent, Chrysanthe's demeanor began to change. She began to keep more to herself and withdrew to the master bedroom, seldom coming out unless absolutely necessary. The house elves were no longer allowed in the master bedroom, and it fell to Sebastian or Lavinia to bring breakfast, lunch, and dinner trays to their mother. Father Gaius refused to cater to what he called 'Chrysanthe's dramatic outbursts', but the twins were compelled to do what they could to comfort their mother. Although both children were uncomfortable with their mother's decline in mental health, both took it upon themselves to ensure that she was fed, bathed, and taken care of. Once a day, the twins would go to the master bedroom and spend time with Chrysanthe, whether it was Sebastian reading to her from the Daily Prophet, or Lavinia singing her lullabies, or both of them chatting about their day, not that there was much to chat about.

Most disturbing to the twins was the change in their mother's physical appearance. Chrysanthe DiMera, nee Rosier, was well renowned for her beauty. In her youth, she was regarded as one of the most beautiful girls to ever grace the halls of Hogwarts, and there were many who speculated that there must have been veela in her ancestry. Like all beautiful women, Chrysanthe had a certain amount of vanity. Fearful that her looks would not last, Chrysanthe turned to any and everything that would provide her with eternal beauty. She became enamored and reliant on potions, beauty treatments, toxic flushes, hair dye, beauty charms, anything that would keep her away from the enemy of age. When it came time for her to choose a husband, Chrysanthe looked for security and stability over romance, someone who would be able to finance the multitudes of beauty treatments she required in order to keep up appearances. Chrysanthe had her pick of every eligible bachelor, but gave her hand to young Gaius DiMera, an up-and-coming Compliance Officer in Department of International Magical Cooperation. The DiMera family was considered to be dignified enough. Their lineage traced back to Helena Ravenclaw, and the family was know for their considerable amount of wealth and influence, especially within the magical communities of Spain. Chrysanthe was pleased with her choice in a husband, for not only was he wealthy, he was rather handsome with his dark hair and dark eyes. Gaius and Chrysanthe made an striking couple, and Chrysanthe was convinced that she had found her happily-ever-after.

It was two years into their marriage when Chrysanthe realized that Gaius was not as secure and stable as she had thought him to be.

During one of her semi-annual trips to Gringotts, she was informed by one of the goblins that the DiMera vault had been moved from 417 to 888. When asked why the change in vault, the goblin informed her that there simply wasn't enough money to fill 417, and that they needed to make way for family's that had the wealth necessary to fill the vault.

Chrysanthe left the bank confused. When she confronted Gaius about it, he had no response except that he had several business ventures that had failed, and that the family fortune would return to its former state of glory soon.

Soon never came, and the family found itself living paycheck to paycheck off of Gaius' salary. Fortunately for the DiMera's, the Department of International Magical Cooperation paid very well, and the family was able to live comfortably. This was padded by fact that Gaius had inherited the DiMera estate, along with all it's beautiful and valuable contents, and it was in this fashion that the DiMera's were able to keep up the illusion of financial security.

Shortly before Gaius lost his job, Chrysanthe discovered what Gaius' business endeavors actually were. What she learned deeply disturbed her, and was never quite able to recover from the shock.

The final straw was the sudden decline in the DiMera income. After Gaius lost his job, and it became apparent that he would not be gainfully employed for quite some time, something inside Chrysanthe cracked. She ceased dyeing her hair and ended all of the beauty treatments she had come to love and depend upon. Chrysanthe's weight increased, and she spent more and more of her time sleeping. Even the daily visits from the twins did nothing to combat her depression. She became an emotional and psychological invalid, and there was nothing that could be done to pull her out of the doldrums.

It was Lavinia who first noticed that her mother was slipping away from reality. One day, Lavinia went up to her mother's room for her daily visit. It was still difficult for Lavinia to see her mother cloistered in her room, lying listlessly in the great canopy bed, no makeup, unadorned by expensive jewelry, her eyes tired, her face pale, her hair unbrushed. As Lavinia inched closer to the bed, she noticed that her mother was in a daze. Chrysanthe looked through, not at her daughter, and it was quite some time before she spoke

"Aging! It is a slow death for a beautiful woman!"

"Mother", whispered Lavinia, "It's me, Lavinia. I'm here"

"Lavinia?" Chrysanthe whispered back, confusion in her voice. "Lavinia, that's my daughter's name. My beautiful baby girl. Have you met her? She is probably off playing with her brother, Sebastian. The two are inseparable."

Lavinia froze, unsure of what to do or what to say.

Suddenly, Chrysanthe laughed, a strange and hideous peal of thin laugher. She beckoned for Lavinia to come closer. Lavinia obliged, and as soon as she reached the edge of the bed, Chrysanthe grabbed the front of Lavinia's robe and pulled her close.

Mouth to Lavinia's ear, Chrysanthe whispered to Lavinia the things she had been thinking over and over in her mind.

"Gaius doesn't think I know, but I do. I know what Gaius does, I know where Gaius goes. I know what he does with those filthy witches. I know the sadistic things he does and they won't go unpunished. Gaius has unleashed a curse on this family..." Suddenly Chrysanthe stopped and looked directly at Lavinia, recognizing her for the first time that day. Mother said nothing to daughter for a few seconds.

Then finally, Chrysanthe spoke.

"Take care my girl, the darkest hour has yet to come."

Lavinia cut her time with her mother short. After her visit was over, Lavinia went to Sebastian's room, to tell him what had happened with mother.

Sebastian didn't say anything for a minute, and then told Lavinia what he had witnessed a few days ago in his mother's bedroom. Sebastian told Lavinia that their mother had thought he was their father, and and gone on and on about corrosion, prostitution, sexual deviancy, and sin. Sebastian stated that when he had tried to approach Father Gaius about these accusations, he was told to leave the room immediately and to not believe anything the cunt said.

Lavinia turned this over in her mind. She asked Sebastian a question.

"Do you think it's true? Do you think Father is involved in something...sinister?"

Sebastian looked his sister dead in the eye and answered her question"

"Yes darling, I think he is. Why else would Lucius Malfoy be coming to dine with us tonight?"