POV: Sanctimonia Exile
Sanny anticipated the "Longbottom Manor" to be a place comparable with the Death Eaters' Headquarters she grew up in. However, the word "Manor" was in this case an overstatement.
There was nothing left from the Manor itself. Aiden explained her, that this place once used to be a fairly large Manor typical to old Pure-Blooded families. However, the building has been turned into debris during Aiden's great-Grandfather's times.
Everything what was left was a very well-developed system of dungeons, rearranged to be a military-style bunker. It was large enough to comfortably accommodate a couple of families. It was a perfect place for the new Order of the Phoenix to hold its Headquarters.
Hannah Abbot Longbottom, Aiden's Mother- a middle-aged fair-haired Witch- placed a cup of hot tea in front of Sanny. The dining room in the basement wasn't very spacious, but felt really cozy.
The girl sat at the round table quietly, listening to Aiden comprehensively reporting the evens of the past two days to his Father.
Mr Longbottom had a chubby face and dark hair like his son, he was also very tall and broad-shouldered, but at the same time very gentle. He wasn't anything like Sanctimonia's Father.
Mrs Abbot Longbottom was very kind towards Sanny from the very second she arrived in the hideout with Aiden a couple of hours before. She was so kind, despite of the fact she must have been aware of the girl's background.
Aiden was still speaking passionately, when two another grown-ups stepped inside of the room.
Sanctimonia sighed with a relief, seeing Professor Mcgonagall, safe and intact. It turned out, just like the two students assumed, that the elderly Witch dissaparated directly to the hideout from Snape's office. Mcgonagall's shattered left arm has already been healed, although, she still had to keep it on a sling.
The other adult who accompanied Mcgonagall was a raven-haired, rather short man with round glasses. Sanctimonia recognized him as James' , Lily's and Albus' Father.
The man approached Sanny and stretched his hand out to her.
'Sanctimonia Exile? I've heard a ton of good stuff about you from Lily and Aiden. I'm Harry Potter, Lily's and James' Dad, pleased to meet you.'
Sanny blushed. She didn't expect such a nice reception from the Order of the Phoenix's side.
Shaking Harry Potter's hand, she looked at him apprehensively.
'Mr Potter, I'm sure you've met my Father...' she muttered with embarrassment.
'I did, but it doesn't matter.' Potter reassured her. 'You don't choose a family you were born into. If you want to stand by our side, then we will welcome you with open arms. Especially that you are the one responsible for releasing Professor Mcgonagall here, from her imprisonment. You have proven yourself worthy.'
Sanny felt pleasant warmth inside. She smiled to Potter.
'I want to stand by your side. I hate my Father and everything he does. If your resistance group want to overthrow the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord, then I am willing to help you.'
Harry Potter smiled to the Mcgonagall.
'Looks like this young lady is a real black sheep in the Exile family, obviously, in a positive way. Unfortunately, the Potters has been unblessed with a black sheep as well; unlike Sanctimonia- in a negative way. I guess such exceptions, whether good or bad, occur in every single family.'
Sanny looked at the man curiously.
'Sir, are you talking about your middle son, Albus?' she asked.
'Yes, I'm talking about Albus, but he is not my son anymore. I have disowned him months ago.' Potter explained.
Sanny, against herself, felt an ice-cold cramp in her stomach.
'Disowned...?' she muttered.
'Albus switched sides.' Potter replied shortly. 'He started associating himself with the wrong crowd, the Death Eaters faculty and the Death Eaters spawns, such as this disgusting little Malfoy. Albus is a disgrace to the Potter's name. '
Sanny nodded hesitantly. She understood Potter's reasoning and despised his son Albus, but disowning an own child still felt... wrong.
"I'm very lucky, that the institution of Gringotts kept its neutrality.' Potter went on. 'Goblins still are in charge of arranging formal family issues. I've owled the Goblins last month and requested to erase my family name from all of the Albus' records and official documents.'
Sanctimonia was unsure how to react. It was a natural thing for Albus' Father to do, but it was still so... rough. Sanny hated her pathetic excuse for a Father wholeheartedly, and she would do anything to oppose him.
However, she wasn't sure what her reaction would be, if Nordi Exile decided to disown her.
BANG!
Everyone inside of the room jumped off their seats and lifted their heads up, having heard an explosion on the ground level. The ceiling of the basement's room trembled.
'What the bloody hell...?!' Potter exclaimed, reaching for his wand.
BANG! Another explosion. The bunker seemed to be under attack from above.
'Neville!' Potter yelled. Mr Longbottom drew his wand and pointed it at the ceiling.
BANG!
Somebody clearly was making his way to the pill-box, blasting the ground above it apart with explosions.
The room was shaking more and more severely. The ceiling was about to fall down.
'What is going on?!' Mcgonagall asked, squeezing Sanny's wand in her fingers.
'...One more time, Bella. We are almost there.'
Sanny flinched and squeaked, having recognized her Father's loathsome voice.
'Neville! This place is under Fidelius, isn't it?!' Potter yelled in disbelief.
'Yes, it is!' Neville answered anxiously. 'Aiden! Are you sure nobody has followed the two of you!?'
'Yes, Father, I'm sure!' Aiden cried with tears in his eyes. 'It's impossible! How can it be possible, Sanny?!'
Sanctimonia looked up with blank eyes.
'Albus...' she whispered.
'BOMBARDA MAXIMA!'
The ceiling blasted apart, and huge parts of debris, concrete and shattered soil fell down on their heads.
Sanny felt being knocked down to the ground by Mcgonagall. The older Witch laid down next to her and protected the girl's head with her arm.
Three individuals descended down to the floor, landing safely on bended knees. Sanctimonia lifted her eyes slightly, looking through the dust.
Just like she had assumed, Father, Bellatrix and Albus Potter were standing in front of them. Harry Potter picked himself up from the ground immedietly.
'YOU...!' he yelled at Albus.
'Hello, Father.' the emerald-eyed boy said calmly. 'Oh, forgive me. I forgot we are not family anymore.'
'Stay close to me, Albus.' Sanny's Father said, mowing the boy gently between himself and Bella.
'WHAT THE...?' Harry growled, turning crimson on his face. 'STUPEFY!' he yelled, aiming his wand at Nordi.
Father created a hemisphere shield around himself, Bella and Albus.
'Calm down, Potter!' the Death Eater snarled. 'I'm here to take my daughter home.'
'And I'm not going anywhere!' Sanny squeaked from the floor.
'Yes, you are. And our honorable Professor Mcgonagall goes as well.' Father said calmly.
Sanny lifted one eye on the elderly Witch who was still shielding her. Mcgonagall's face became pale like a ghost from outrage; her lips clenched making a thin line. The girl watched her lifting the wand at her Father.
'FIENDFYRE!' she yelled.
Sanny gasped; Mcgonagall has just used her Father's trademark spell. Her Cursed Flames weren't nearly as impressive as his; they consisted of merely two serpent-like fire threads, which started circulating around the room.
Sanny watched her Father, under his protective shield, looking at the elderly Witch in shock. However, his facial expression quickly changed into amusement.
'Well, Professor, I feel young again.' he said calmly, disregarding Cursed Flames writhing like snakes upon his head. 'This is exactly like during the Battle of Hogwarts.'
Bellatrix giggled, her famous insane laugh was driving Sanny crazy.
'She thinks she can turn our own weapon against us, Nordi-boy, how cute!' Bella said.
'Bella, I will ask you to shield Albus and yourself for a while.' Father said and lifted his protective hemisphere.
Sanctimonia watched in a surprise, as Nordi stretched his hand out towards the Cursed Flames. For a split second, the girl was sure that the fire is going to burn his arm into ashes.
However, when she turned her eyes towards Mcgonagall again, the old Witch's face expressed pure shock and disbelief. Sanny comprehended: she had no more control over her Flames. Father has just overtaken them from her.
The girl saw the fire serpents encircling Nordi obediently, bending to his will. Mr Longbottom and Mr Potter started tossing curses and hexes at him, none of which managed to hit the target.
Sanny watched helplessly the Cursed Flames making familiar, tight rings around Longbottom, Potter, Hannah and Mcgonagall, immobilizing them. Father always used the same method: he prevented his prays from making any sudden moves, surrounding their bodies with burning fire.
'Quite a bunch of you.' Nordi said, looking around and frowning. Sanctimonia shot him a hateful look and made sure he noticed it.
'Nordi-boy, before you put the Flames down, we will tie them up.' Bella said firmly. 'Are you ready to help me... Albus? By the Dark Lord, we really must figure out a new first name for you.'
'I will help.' Albus answered solemnly and pulled his wand out.
'DON'T YOU EVEN DARE, ALBUS POTTER!' Harry yelled, when his son approached him with an outstretched wand.
'Excuse me, Father, did I mishear?' Albus asked, smiling lightly. 'I was positive that you had disowned me. INCANCEROUS!'
The boy immobilized Mr Potter's body, binding his wrists and toes with Magical ties.
'Nice one, Albus!' Nordi yelled to the boy. Albus grinned, but Sanny had enough. She made an attempt to reach for her wand, which laid next to Mcgonagall underneath a stream of fire.
'INCANCEROUS!' Albus yelled again, and the girl squeaked, feeling her body being tied up painfully.
'YOU SON OF A BITCH!' Sanny cried towards the boy. 'YOU DEATH EATERS' PAWN! YOU...'
'SILENCIO!' Albus yelled. A blue light flashed, and Sanctimonia found herself unable to utter a word.
Tied up and gagged, Sanny could do nothing but watch Bella and Albus casting immobilizing spells at everybody one-by-one. Only when everyone in the room was tied-up tightly, Father lifted the Cursed Flames.
'I'm really sorry, but the bunch of you-' Nordi said almost lazily, turning his head towards Aiden's parents, Mr Potter and Professor Mcgonagall '-is going straight to Azkaban tonight.'
Harry Potter writhed in his ties like an eel.
'LEAVE ALBUS ALONE, EXILE, YOU FUCKING BASTARD!' he cried. 'ALBUS, DON'T FOLLOW THIS MAN! ALBUS...! HELP US!'
Nordi looked down at Mr Potter and frowned.
'You 're unbelievable, Potter.' he said quietly. 'Am I confusing something, or have you disowned your son a couple of months ago?'
Harry looked at Nordi hatefully.
'You are the one who should leave this boy alone. Believe me, I'll make sure he doesn't have to watch your face ever again.' the Death Eater added.
Albus came forward to Nordi, and stood by his side.
'I'm going with you, Commander Exile.' he said shortly.
Nordi put a hand on the boy's shoulder.
Why? Why did this simple gesture not only enrage Sanctimonia, but also made her heart sink...?
'Congratulations, Albus, you've just taken part in your first Raid. Even I was older than you, when Bella took me on a Raid for the first time.'
Sanny screwed up her eyes and regretted that she couldn't do the same with her years. She didn't want to listen.
'Thank you, Commander.' Albus answered.
'Albus...' Harry Potter said in a weak voice.
'Sorry, Father. This is a farewell.' the boy said firmly.
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POV: Luna Lovegood-Exile
Dear Dark Princess,
I'm really sorry I didn't manage to drop by and see you when I was at Hogwarts with Bella this afternoon. As you surely understand, our priority was to find Sanctimonia and Mcgonagall. We received clear orders to act quickly, therefore, there was no time to meet and speak with you. I'd like to make up for this to you, writing this letter.
You have obviously already heard about the events of today, so I'm not going to describe everything to you for the second time. I just want to express how relieved and happy I am. Me and Bella managed to fix all the damage our daughter had caused. What is more, not only did we capture Mcgonagall, but also Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom, who had a hideout in an underground bunker.
All three of them, along with Longbottom's wife, have already faced Wizengamot and heard their accusations. They are going to be shipped off to Azkaban tonight.
I took Sanctimonia to the Headquarters just after me and Bella had escorted our culprits to the Ministry. Just like you can guess, Luna, our daughter is not going back to school. She is going to be kept under home arrest. Her wand has already been taken from her, and an Anti-Apparition wristband has been applied. My Parents promised to take turns in keeping an eye on her.
Of course, her behavior still horrifies me. All I can do with her at this point is to lock her up, and let her think things over. I am only immensely relieved, that I managed to clean up the terrible mess she had made, and managed not to displease our Lord again.
I took care of the Potter's disowned son, Albus. He has been a great help for me and Bella. If not for him, I do not think we would be able to find the hideout so easily. He took part in the fight, too, showing not only reflex and courage, but also a very advanced spellwork for his age. I see that Scorpious' tutelage had not been in vain.
Albus has been introduced within the Headquarters. Me and Bella offered him a place to stay, in case he didn't want to go back to Hogwarts. Albus decided to go return to school for the remainings of the term, but he is going to spend summer holidays and winter breaks with us. He asked me for a formal help to officially change his first name and surname in his records and documents. Ross is taking him to Gringotts this Saturday (Ross is better at paperwork than I am).
I will keep you updated with our daughter's behavior.
Love you,
Your Dark Warrior, Nordi Exile
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POV: Sanctimonia Exile
Sanny refused to come out of her room at the Headquarters for almost three months.
The only individuals she had any conversations with during this time, were house elves who bought her meals, drinks and took care of her laundry. Sanny used a small bathroom connected to her room.
Grandfather Ross and Grandmother Jo had an assingment to look after her, so they came by to her room once in a while once in a while. She refused to utter even one word towards the old people.
Her pathetic excuse for a Father made countless attempts to speak with her during those months. Sanny only turned her head back and clenched her teeth seeing him.
Once when Father came to try to start a conversation again, he made a mistake of bringing Bellatrix along. That time, Sanny got so furious with both of them, that she performed a strongest kind of accidental Magic, and threw the crystal chandelier off the ceiling. Nordi had to immedietly conjure a shield, to prevent the heavy object from smashing on his and Bella's heads.
Sanny spent her entire days lying on her king-sized bed. He couldn't be bothered to read or study, even though she knew that she was going to fall behind with school after such a long absence.
She felt horrible. Not only did she fail her first assingment for the Order of the Phoenix, but she made the situation even worse than it had been before. Now, not only professor Mcgonagall, but also Harry Potter and Aiden's parents were imprisoned in Azkaban. Of course, she realized that it was not entirely her fault, but she didn't even had anybody to comfort her by her side. She missed her friends from the resistance group terribly. She missed Aiden, Lily, Rose, and even James, who was a prat- but at least, he was on their side.
She tried to figure out a way to sneak out to the owlery behind her Grandparent's backs, and send a letter to Aiden. However, that was easier said than done- the girl has been watched day and night. She theoretically was allowed to leave her room and walk around the Manor - but she always had to be accompanied. Of course, the nasty wristband preventing her from Apparition was permanently clung to her skin.
Knock, knock.
Damn it. The pathetic old man - again.
Nordi half-opened the door and peeped inside the room.
'Sanny...?' he said gently. 'Dobby complains that you don't eat enough.'
Sanny sat turned back to her Father- she had no intention looking at him.
'I'm not hungry.' she snarled.
'You will get sick if you keep on lying in bed whole days, and not even eating your meals.' Nordi said quietly.
'Let me go back to school then!' Sanctimonia snapped, turning her head towards him.
Father sighed.
'You know it is not possible. You are aware of what have you done.' he said sadly.
The girl growled and hit her face in a pillow.
'Leave me alone, then!' she cried. 'Go and grovel by your Lord's feet, and let Bellatrix accompany you, and don't come here to see me ever again!'
Nordi opened his mouth to reply, but he hesitated and closed it back, retreating from his daughter's room.
After that encounter, Sanny had about two hours of peace and silence, which she sacrificed for writing a letter to Aiden. She had to find a way to send it; she was sure to come up with an idea sooner or later.
Just as she started addressing the envelope, somebody knocked at her door again.
'Go away, Father!' she snarled. 'What didn't you understand?!'
The door opened, but it wasn't Father who stood there.
Albus Potter, in his school robes, stepped inside the room hesitantly. Sanny rose her eyebrows.
'Albus? What are you doing here?'
The boy looked at her with his bright emerald eyes.
'Actually, it's not Albus anymore.' he said calmly. 'My name is Anguis Lucius Exile.'
The girl gasped. She felt a horrible cramp in her stomach.
'E-Exile? Does that mean that my pathetic excuse for a Father has adopted you?' she tried to make her voice sound unaffectionate, but she wasn't successful.
'No.' the boy answered simply. 'I have been disowned and abandoned by my family, additionally, my Father ordered the Goblins to erase the name Potter from all my official documents. Therefore, I have all the rights to adapt Exile as my last name, just like the children from the Merit's Orphanage where your Father used to grow up. I have also let Commander to choose my given names, because obviously I couldn't have stayed named Albus. He has picked Anguis, which means serpent, and Lucius, in the honor of Colonel Malfoy.'
'Cute names.' Sanctimonia snarled mockingly. 'My stupid Father has a talent in picking them.'
'You've asked about me being adopted.' the boy went on, disregarding the sarcastic remark. 'I don't have to be adopted. Nobody has to have a custody over me, because, as far as the Ministry is concerned, I am already considered of age.'
'Wh...? Of age? How can that be? You are merely a year older than me! How old are you exactly, twelve?' Sanny asked, narrowing her eyes.
'Thirteen this summer.' Albus -or rather, Anguis - answered. 'However, it doesn't matter, because legally I am already considered a grown-up. I don't have to have a legal guardian, and I answer in front of Wizengamot like an adult.'
'That's impossible! You are twelve!'
Anguis smiled lightly.
'Believe me, it is possible.' he answer, and slowly rolled up his left sleeve.
Sanctimonia gasped and popped her eyes in disbelief, seeing a wriggling, intensive Dark Mark on the boy's forearm.
He looked in horror into his striking green eyes.
'How could you...? You're a Potter...!' she whispered.
The boy smirked.
'No, Sanctimonia, I'm not a Potter. I'm an Exile.'