The Unexpected

The next two days, Andreas went out to find answers in the morning and early afternoon. Serena had him order the kitchen storage to fill, so she could make food for them while he explored farther out. She had also found a library, and from what Andreas could tell spent every moment he was gone searching for answers. Most of the books were in a language Andreas couldn't understand, though Serena said she was close to at least being able to decipher a bit of it.

On that third day, the mare came to him without any prompting. She seemed the most keen on him to begin with, and it hadn't taken long for Andreas to feel like she had always been his. He had even been trying to come up with a name for her, though Serena was the one to mention the name Shadow, and it seemed suitable.

Shadow cantered out past the citadel, through the fields, and to a village Andreas hadn't seen. He pulled back on the reigns he had found. There was an entire tack shed, but Andreas had always preferred bareback riding, having grown up riding Masek with the Gypsy clan in the summers. Shadow stopped in front of a small cottage with a thatched roof. Andreas swung over and landed beside her, throwing the reins twice around a wooden post, then rubbed Shadow's side as he moved around and to the path that lead up to the quaint home.

Andreas knocked on the door, as he had at any building he explored the last few days. When no one answered, he tried the handle. It was unlocked, through he had to press his weight against the door to open it. He moved slowly. There was something eerie in this place, the way the houses looked lived in but were missing their people. He never touched anything. They had what they needed at the palace, though if Andreas was honest, he would happily knick a flying broom if he saw one. He tried the one he found in the small mudroom here, but it didn't do anything but sweep. He sighed, setting it back down. Andreas remembered a single lecture in charms about how brooms worked, but he remembered nothing from it. He wondered if Serena had received that lecture at some point. She was smart enough that if she had, she would probably be able to make one herself.

Andreas moved into the loft, where the hay was laid out like it had been slept in recently. Still, no one. He walked around the space, crouching in the corner, shaking his head slowly. He didn't want to go back and tell Serena there was nothing. Not again. He could see her disappointment every time. And still, he didn't want the others out here until he was certain this place was safe.

Andreas had taken three steps down when he saw a blur of color and heard a giggle pass right under him. His eyes widened and he stumbled down the rest of the ladder. "Wait!" he said.

The laughter stopped as he stood, looking to the right where someone had passed. He moved slowly and the laughter echoed behind him. Andreas turned and ran through the house towards the sound. He made his way into the main room, then turned. They must have gone into the kitchen through here, but when Andreas peeked into the kitchen, there was no one. He slowly turned around and around, waiting for the laugh again while analyzing what he had heard already. Someone young, he thought. A boy, maybe. All he had seen was a blur of dark hair before it was out of sight. Or maybe he had imagined it. Andreas blinked, wiping at his eyes.

After several minutes he gave up. There was no one here. He had just wanted it so badly, he was starting to imagine things. Andreas went out, mounted Shadow, and headed back to the palace.

As he rode, he thought. Callie had little tidbits about the palace and the war and how the place had been destroyed, though it wasn't the long stories of that first morning. Maybe he needed to take her to these places with him. He hated the idea, but somehow that felt like the next step. Andreas also had a feeling that once he broke his rule of not bringing them along, something bad would happen.

Maybe Serena would have found something, he told himself. Maybe there was something in the library.

When Andreas arrived back at the palace, he pulled off Shadow's bridle and let her loose in the pasture, taking the stretch between the field and the palace slowly, thinking of other possibilities. He entered and went up into his room. Callie and Isabella were playing something in their own room next to his, but he wasn't ready to face them yet. He leaned on his knees with his elbows, left alone for a good quarter hour before there was a knock at his door.

"Come in," Andreas said, pushing himself up.

Serena opened the door and peeked in. After that first day, she found a simpler dress, which somehow looked just as sophisticated on her as the blue lace. Andreas had the thought that perhaps she was born in the wrong era, because it all seemed to suit her.

"I was starting to worry," Serena said. "Then Callie told me you were already here. Everything okay?"

Andreas nearly told her about the laughter, but he was leaning more and more towards that being a figment of his imagination. "Yeah, it's fine," Andreas said. "Nothing new, at least."

Serena nodded and came into the room, closing the door behind her.

"I found a book I recognized," Serena said. "There's a copy of it in the Hogwarts library."

"English?"

"Yeah," Serena said. "Though I noticed this one has leafs with translations. I'm thinking it will help me learn to read more quickly."

"I'm glad you're that smart at least," Andreas said. Serena looked down, her cheeks tinting pink. "I think I'm going to have to take Callie with me," he blurted out.

Serena's eye met his. "Is that safe?"

Andreas shrugged. "Nothing's happened so far," he said. "I just… I keep thinking she might be able to sense something we can't. I don't want to, but—" Andreas looked at Serena, who stood stock still, waiting for the rest of his statement. "You think it's a bad idea."

"I don't know what to think anymore," Serena said. She moved over, sitting beside him.

"I want to know what you think I should do," Andreas asked.

Serena pressed her lips together and thought, letting out a slow breath. Finally, she turned to him. "I think Callie might see things we don't," Serena agreed. "And part of me feels like if half of us go, all of us should. But Isabella won't want to leave Furina behind. And… if I'm being honest, I think maybe a couple of us should stay behind in case… in case something happens and you need help."

Andreas nodded. It was what he had thought, too. "I can do a patronus to send messages, if needed. Can you manage one?" he asked. Serena shook her head no. "Then I'll teach you," he added. "We aren't splitting again until we can communicate, and since we don't have any owls that's our best bet."

"Okay," Serena agreed.

The door to the room flew open and Callie ran in. "Andy!" she squealed, Isabella walking in behind her, Furina in her arms. "We're going to have a fancy party tonight!"

Andreas smiled, pushing aside all the other thoughts. "What kind of fancy party?"

"We found ball gowns," Callie said.

"Oh well, I don't know that I'm in any shape to pull off one of those," Andreas said.

"No!" Callie laughed. Andreas looked over and winked at Serena, who was suppressing a smile and shaking her head at his bad joke. "We have men's clothes for you. We can eat in the ballroom with music. Then there can be dancing."

"Fancy clothes and dancing?" Andreas asked. "Alright, I'm sold. Serena and I have a lesson to take care of first, though."

"Isabella and I will start getting things ready," Callie said. "Let us know when you're done!"

The two girls left them alone again.

"You have your wand?" Andreas asked.

Serena pulled it out from a pocket in her dress. "Yours," she corrected.

"Good enough," he said. "Alright, let's get started."


"Cara, sweetheart," Grandma said, reaching out and playing with her curls. "Can you go down and see if the sandwiches for your sisters are ready? Try not to bother the Malfoys, though."

"Okay," Cara said. Grandma kissed the top of her head and Cara left the room, closing the door behind her and making her way to the kitchen's side of the house. The potion was being made, Grandpa said. A potion that would end up making portals for them to go fetch the others. Callie.

It was all Cara's fault, she felt like. If she had only invited Callie to be with her in Hogsmeade that day. If only she had included her, like Grandpa kept trying to tell her. If only she had realized something was wrong sooner. Cara slowed as she passed the room Belvedere was staying in. There was a barrier that even if the door was left wide open, he wouldn't be able to get through. Cara had heard the older Mr. Malfoy and Grandpa talking about it when the former suggested the dungeons again.

Cara put a hand on the door. He wasn't scared. Not really. Not for his life. Just for the project. He didn't want them to mess it up. Cara pulled her hand off, then looked down at the door knob, licking her lips as she looked both directions in the hallway. She would be in terrible trouble.

She heard a door open further down the hall and jumped back, rushing in the direction she had initially gone—towards the kitchen to check on sandwiches. Cara was halfway down the stairs when other emotions flared up and she could hear Malus's dad and grandad talking. Cara sat, listening and watching between two rails.

"Now we wait," Scorpius said. Cara could hear the exhaustion, but what she felt was worry. Worry that he wasn't doing enough. He was worried he would lose another person—his baby girl. He was worried about what Portia would think and wished she were still here.

Draco Malfoy had a different array of emotions. The main one was hope. This was an opportunity as much as a tragedy, it seemed. He wanted to prove himself to his son. He wanted to remind his grandson he was a part of them. He was frustrated at the former as much as hopeful. Much more complicated.

"Can we please at least talk about you bringing the children around again?" Draco ventured.

Water was running and Scorpius took his time, filling a glass. "There's nothing to talk about," Scorpius said.

"You haven't punished me enough?" Draco snapped.

"It's not about punishing you," Scorpius turned. Anger flared up in him, replacing thoughts of Portia and Isabella. "You know, you're just the same. It's never you. It's never anything you did."

"What did I do?" Draco asked.

"Don't pretend you don't remember, Dad. You know exactly what," Scorpius said. His voice was becoming more shaky. "Two months. Two months after my wife dies… the mother of my children, and you tell me that at least I can marry someone more proper now."

Cara bit her bottom lip, knowing she should either interrupt them and check on sandwiches, or go back upstairs, but she didn't move. Scorpius set down the glass of water hard.

"All I meant—"

"All you meant was that she wasn't good enough," Scorpius growled. "You never liked Portia."

"Bloody hell, Scorpius, you think my parents appreciated your mother? Portia didn't get on with me either. She was still always welcome. I always opened the home to all of you."

"It's more than getting on dad. You didn't like her because she was muggleborn."

"Come on, now you're just exaggerating," Draco said.

"Don't try and bullshit me," Scorpius snapped, turning on his dad. "We heard your snide remarks about it. About how her great grandmother was a squib."

"I was just saying, they still don't know if something like that is hereditary—"

"And so what if it was?" Scorpius demanded. Draco opened his mouth and closed it again. His skin was becoming more pale and Cara could tell his mind was racing with arguments, though none of them surfaced completely in his mind. "That... that right there is why I didn't want you around my children anymore."

"It's not like either of them are squibs," Draco scoffed.

"And what if they had been?" Scorpius asked. "What then dad?"

"You know, you act like I'm so closed minded, Scorpius, but you have no idea what I was raised with."

"Stop using excuses for your bigotry," Scorpius said. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. Cara could barely hear, though it was clear he was keeping himself from acting out. "If you think the way you were raised excuses you to speak of my children's mother in any ill way, and that you still get to be around after, you're a bigger asshole than I thought."

He turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Draco with the vat of potion, sneering and angry. Defensive.

Cara moved carefully down the steps. "Mr. Malfoy?" she said softly.

He turned, surprised to see her there, standing at the bottom of the stairs. He saw opportunity again. She knew that's what her family was: a chance for him to show that he was different than Scorpius painted him out to be. "Yes?" he asked.

"Sorry to bother you, but Grandma wanted me to see if sandwiches were ready?" she asked.

"Oh," he said, looking around the kitchen. "I will have the house elf up there shortly. Would you like some cookies as well?"

He said it like he had never spoken to a thirteen year old, offering cookies like this was the best thing Cara could ask for. "My sisters would like that," she said, instead of declining. "Thank you."

"Certainly," he said, giving a formal nod and Cara turned and made her way up back of the stairs.

As she came near Belvedere's door again, she slowed, looking around. Before she could second guess herself again, she opened the door and dashed inside. Belvedere paced along the far wall, chewing on his finger nails. He stopped mid step and looked over at her.

"Hello," he said. Cara could sense his pulse pick up. He knew she wasn't Callie, but he was reminded of her twin. Cara found herself pleased at how it threw him off. "C-can I help you?"

Cara didn't say anything, but watched him, stone faced. It was enough to make him uncomfortable. Grandpa had already made him talk. He wasn't exactly brave. It was a good thing it wasn't Ministry secrets he held onto, though she wondered how many of those he would be willing to hand over.

Belvedere cleared his throat and looked away from Cara, before glancing sheepishly at her again. "You know there are many sources that talk about the powers twins hold," he said. "The Dioscuri twins were more than just good with horses, in some accounts. At least one of them could actually speak with animals."

Cara narrowed her eyes. Belvedere was looking at her with greater interest.

"You have a power, don't you," he asked. Fear was replaced by curiosity. The same curiosity that created the obsession leading to Callie in this other land. "But you don't see the future."

Cara swallowed. She knew she should leave right now. She could only imagine how much her mother would yell at her if she was caught in here.

"No, it wouldn't do for you to have the same gifts," Belvedere assessed. "Tell me."

Cara shook her head back and forth.

"Have you practiced it like your sister did?" Belvedere asked. He tilted his head. "No, probably not. It's why no one's figured you out yet. Your sister had extraordinary ability. You know that right?"

Cara felt tears sting her eyes. Extraordinary, Belvedere called it. Cara had always just called it weird. She hated when Callie talked about things she knew. It made her odd. It made Cara remember she was odd. It wasn't until she was Hogwarts that she realized that. And that was when Cara stopped trying to read other people.

"I would imagine yours is extraordinary too," Belvedere said. "I could help you figure it out. I could tell you how to make it stronger."

Cara took in a deep breath, standing taller. "I don't need you to tell me anything. I just wanted you to know how much I hate you," she said. He looked struck as Cara turned and walked out of the room. Tears stung her eyes and she wiped them away, walking back into the nursery space with Grandma and her younger sisters.

"What's wrong Cara?" Grandma asked.

"I just miss Callie," she said.

"Oh, sweetheart," Grandma said, pulling her into a hug. Cara accepted it, her mind churning over what Belvedere had said.

What would happen if she tried?


Isabella insisted that she needed to do Serena's hair and the girls all disappeared, Callie having handed Andreas a frilly sort of outfit that matched theirs in terms of era. It was a deep, dark blue jacket and pants. The white shirt had ruffles down the front and there were legging and dandy sort of shoes. Andreas couldn't help but laugh at his own reflection once he put it all on. He'd play along, though. Whatever kept Callie and Isabella happy.

The kick off lesson for creating a patronus went well. Serena's corporeal patronus wasn't fully formed, but it was coming along. Andreas pointed out that since it wasn't her own wand, that might make the process more difficult. She said they could wake early and see if she couldn't manage well enough to allow Andreas to take Callie out with him in the morning. Andreas didn't bother telling her it had taken him a week at the least.

Callie came into his room when everything was set up. "We just need you to have the food made up," she said, handing him a list her and Isabella had come up with. Callie was in a green dress, her hair in a large, fluffy sort of bun. He went to the kitchen, doing as asked, then followed Callie into the ballroom. Isabella and Serena were already sitting at one end of a long dining table. The dishes appeared along the table as Andreas stopped. Serena smiled at something Isabella was telling her and looked over.

The dress Callie found for Serena was a lovely, deep grey, with shimmering fabric over the skirt and a silver corset around the middle. The sleeves seemed to go on for miles. Isabella had managed a design of braids crossing in and out of the curls, which flowed down past her shoulders and nearly down her back. Andreas hadn't known her hair was that long. She smiled at him and raised an eyebrow.

Andreas swallowed and moved along with Callie, pulling out her chair and settling her in before taking his own. "Well you all clean up nicely," he said. The two younger girls both laughed at the comment. "So, what music are we listening to."

They began eating and it might as well have been any other evening in any other place. Only every time Andreas caught Serena's eye, he found himself paying more attention to the color of her iris. Or the way one side of her mouth lifted before the other when she smiled. Or how she bit her bottom lip while thinking of a retort.

"I still have Christmas shopping to do," Isabella said. "If we get back in time."

Andreas shook himself from noting how Serena twisted her fork in her hand between bites. "You and me both, Isabella," he said.

"Can we set up decorations here if we stay for Christmas?" Callie asked.

Andreas noticed Serena deflate at the suggestion. "Of course," Andreas said. "But we'll get home before then." The second part he said to Serena more than Callie. "What kind of shopping do you have to get done?" he asked her.

Serena's cheeks went slightly pink. "Well, I don't know that I'll have enough to get anything anyway," she answered. "Not with missing this much work."

"Oh," Andreas replied. He always seemed to forget her home life wasn't exactly ideal. Andreas had never worried about not having enough to buy Christmas presents.

"If you had a million galleons, what would you get everyone?" Isabella asked Serena, leaning forward and taking a bite of the pastry on her plate. Serena smiled at her.

"I'd get my sister a dollhouse," Serena said. "It's the only thing she's wanted for a while. And then I'd make sure my brothers both had new Quidditch gear." Serena's gaze flickered towards Andreas momentarily. "They both play and… they've always had to use second hand things."

"I'd get Malus a new broom," Isabella declared. Her and Callie started on their own elaborate lists, far more fanciful than Serena's hopes.

Andreas sat back. He'd ask Fred if they could cover her normal pay at least. She was her family's main source of income, Andreas remembered. And he was sure he had some quidditch shoes that had never fit him. Maybe they would work for one of her brothers. Not exactly brand new, but better than most second hand things they would get.

Callie pulled Andreas from his thoughts and seat, wanting to dance. Andreas followed as she had him haphazardly twirling around. Isabella pulled up Serena to join them and they laughed, dancing for a bit until Callie let go of Andreas and pulled on her friend's hands.

Andreas stood, looking over at Serena, who had lost her partner as well. He grinned and she looked down, biting her bottom lip the way she often did. Andreas cleared his throat and walked forward, holding out a hand. Serena took it and he pulled her in, swaying back and forth, with less vigor and energy than Callie had demanded. They moved across the floor, Serena meeting and keeping his gaze. He pulled her in a little tighter, and Serena wrapped her hand up and around his shoulder from behind, resting her head in the same place.

Andreas smiled. "What are you most looking forward to doing when we get back?" he asked quietly.

Serena hummed first, keeping her head against his shoulder. "I'm going to decorate the tree with my siblings," she said. "Mum will forget, I'm sure. They'll be excited to do it. What about you?"

"I'm going to talk to Fred about the ideas I have," Andreas said. In the quiet moments scouting, he kept thinking about how long he had waited already. He had good ideas. He tried to figure out why he was waiting, and the only conclusion was that he was scared to be shot down. It was time to stop being scared. Same with Shantelle. He was amazed to realize he hadn't thought of her the last couple days. But then there had been so much going on it was difficult to think of much besides. "And I'm going to talk to Shantelle. I never did get to thank her for the omnioculars."

Serena stopped, pulling her head back up. She stiffened in his arms. "Yeah, that sounds like a good plan," she said. Serena took a deep breath and moved away from Andreas, leaving his arms suddenly empty. Callie and Isabella were both dancing circles with invisible partners by now. "You know, I think I'm going to go practice my patronus," Serena said. She turned around.

"Do you want me to come help?" Andreas asked, walking behind her.

"No, I can manage," she said, not even glancing back at him. "Goodnight, Isabella… Callie."

The other two stopped and Andreas watched Serena continue, picking up her pace as she hit the main entrance. "What did you do?" Isabella asked.

Andreas turned back to them. "Nothing," he said defensively. "She just always gets in a huff when I bring up these omnioculars Shantelle gave me."

"Well that's why," Callie said, starting to sway again.

"What's why?"

"Shantelle didn't get those for you," Callie explained. "Serena did."


In the last hour of the potion brewing, the adults all convened to discuss what was next. For once, Harry didn't argue for letting Abby be involved. It needed to be too blunt a conversation for her to be there. Instead, Abby and Malus were tasked with watching the other children so that Ginny could come down. She sat beside Harry, taking his hand and steeling herself.

"Alright, we need to decide who's going," Harry said. "Obviously anyone here is capable, but we want as few as possible. The more people we have, the more risk we run of being held up. I think Lorcan is a natural choice."

Lorcan nodded solemnly. Lily rubbed his back. "Then I'm coming too," she said.

"No," Lorcan argued.

"Why not?"

"Because if something goes sideways, we have six other children who need a parent," Lorcan said. The truth of his assessment settled over everyone. Lily's eyes filled with tears, but she just swallowed.

"I think Lorcan has a point there," Harry said. "We have to consider that we might not be aware of some things. Only one parent for each of them, I think."

"Then I'm going for Andy," Imogen jumped in.

"No," James snapped, his eyes hard.

"You aren't going to win this one," Imogen said, turning to James with a hard look of her own. "Don't even bother."

"Imogen, I'm trained as—"

"Trained? And after everything we've done together, I'm not just as capable?"

"I'm not losing my son and wife."

"And you think I'd take that loss any easier?"

The two spoke over each other, arguing themselves as the best choice. "Both of you stop it!" Ginny finally snapped. "We have to think about the smart decision overall. There are things back here that need attention, too."

"Your mum's right," Harry said to James, who was red in the face already. "James, with Belvedere here, it's better to have you stay back."

"Dad, I—"

"You already pointed out your training, James. You're the one that can ensure he's arrested at the proper time," Harry said. "Besides, if anything happened to our wands it would be beneficial to have Imogen with us."

"You'll already have Andy—"

"James," Ginny said with a sharp look. "Let it go. I'll be here with you."

Imogen hardly looked pleased, though more so than James as he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. Harry knew he'd see the wisdom in it eventually. James would always prefer to be the one leading the charge.

"I'm definitely going," Draco said. "I trust my belongs will remain where they are."

"Oh, please," Ginny responded, rolling her eyes. "Your things will be fine."

Draco nodded absentmindedly. Even Harry could see that the comment was one because he could think of nothing else to say. No matter how obnoxious the statement.

"Scorpius?" Harry asked.

"Of course I'm going," he responded immediately.

"You don't need to," Ginny argued. "You're all Malus has—"

"And I'm all Isabella has, too," Scorpius countered. He swallowed. He was risking the most by going, but Harry understood. He would do the same if he were in Scorpius's position and it was Lily. Or James or Albus, for that matter. He would go every time. The others had a partner to at least have it both ways in some sense. Scorpius had lost his. "Just… if something happens... "

"We'll make sure he's taken care of," Ginny promised.

"Besides, Malus will inherit the Malfoy estate if something goes wrong," Draco pointed out. Scorpius swallowed back a comment, a sour look coming over his face.

"I think that's settled then," Harry said. "How many returns did we get, Draco?"

"Four," he replied.

"That's nearly half of the number returning," Ginny said with an approving nod.

"We will pair up once we get the others," Scorpius said. "One grouping of three. And whoever has the portal doesn't come back without their people."

"Do we have a completed map?" Harry asked Lorcan.

"Nearly," Lorcan said. "It keeps changing. The longer Callie is there, the more it will grow. We may come across things that haven't appeared yet."

"But they're still in the palace," Ginny said. "At least they're staying put."

Everyone sat in silence for a few minutes. There was nothing else. They just had to wait. Wait and hope they were armed with enough information.


"You listen to Mrs. Potter, Malus," Scorpius said, his hand clamped on the back of his neck. "Try and be helpful back here, alright?"

Malus swallowed and nodded. His entire family was going to be over there. And Malus didn't even know where there was. He glanced over where Mr. Scamander was talking to Abby. Abby was crying, trying to control it as she hugged him.

"You're coming back, though, right?" Malus said. They all knew this wasn't an absolute promise anyone could make. Still, his dad pulled him into a tight hug.

"We will be," he said. "I'll bring your sister back."

Malus held tighter, remembering the last hug he gave his mother. She said she was going to be alright as well. Malus wasn't daft enough to believe any of them had control over it. His childhood belief in such promises ended the day she died. Scorpius pulled back.

"Go talk to your Grandad a minute," he said. "Then we have to go."

Malus gave his dad one more hug, then looked over his shoulder where Grandad stood. Everyone else mingled, but Grandad stood there, traveling cloak ready and wand in hand, awkward amid all the goodbyes in the large garden behind his mansion. Malus stepped over, though his dad didn't follow. Grandad smiled and reached out, grabbing Malus's arm.

"Er, careful over there, Grandad," Malus said, knowing how stupid he sounded, but having no clue what else to say. He wasn't the same kid who felt as easy running into his Grandad's embrace.

"I will," he said. "You take care of yourself. Alright?"

"Yeah," Malus said. Grandad pulled him into a hug and Malus didn't resist, hugging him back. It felt almost familiar. When he pulled back, Grandad patted his cheek.

"Ready, Draco?" Professor Potter asked.

Grandad didn't look away from him for a moment longer, stepping over with the others, a hundred feet away from the rest of them. Everyone else gathered at the opposite end to stay out of the path of the portal, once it was activated. Abby and the other twin were allowed to come down, but Abby's other sisters were all being watched by one of Grandad's house elves. Malus stood to the side of the group, catching Abby's eye. She had definitely been crying, but a sharp look came over her as she met Malus's stare. She gave a single nod and licked her lips.

Malus's heart picked up speed. Professor Potter took one of the marble sized pods, held it between two fingers, and let it go. It hung, suspended in midair for a moment before it opened up. Wind picked up around all of them, pushing around the top layers of powdered snow. Several of the others lifted their arms to block the blinding white, but Malus was determined to keep his eyes on what was going on. Timing was everything.

The others each stepped through. Professor Potter first, followed by Abby's dad and aunt, then his dad went, and Grandad. Malus licked his lips. The portal was already slowly closing. He moved forward, as did Abby, grabbing onto his hand as they both ran.

"Abigail!" her mother shrieked.

Malus put an arm around her and closed his eyes as they hit the portal, forcing through as it closed in around them. Malus held tightly to Abby, her hands grabbing his wrist as they fell. He opened his eyes as warmth enveloped them. They were approaching green below them. Malus did his best to turn them so that when they landed, he was pressed into a mossy grounding, Abby landing half on him, her elbow digging into his side and knocking the wind out of him. He grabbed his side as Abby rolled to the right, getting onto her knees. Malus tried to push himself up, and looked over at five stunned faces.


Harry couldn't believe what he was seeing. He blinked as all of Lily's arguments rung in his ears. Lorcan was the first to find words.

"Abigail Ginevra," he growled. "What… why…"

Abby got to her feet carefully, her eyes still puffy from what they had all thought were goodbyes. "I couldn't just wait, Daddy."

Harry thought it was a nice touch… Daddy. She certainly had picked up a few of her mother's old tricks.

"I can't… you are in so much trouble," Lorcan said, starting to pace. Abby stayed put.

Scorpius took a different approach, stepping over and picking his son up by his arms, holding him there, muttering threats as Malus made an effort not to look him straight in the eye. The boy had a perfect balance between remorse and defiance. Harry couldn't help but notice that Draco actually seemed pleased with this turn of events. Proud, even. All Harry could think was that another of his grandchildren were in this place they could only hope to navigate.

Abby had grabbed Lorcan's arm, crying as she had before they left. "Dad, I want to find Callie. I want to help!"

"I'm not going to be the only one left with my entire family dead or gone!" Malus shouted as a counterpart. That, at least, Harry understood.

"Look, it's too late now," Draco said, trying to hush the entire group.

"Like hell, it is," Lorcan said. "We're sending you back with one of the portals right now!"

The two teens started immediately arguing, but it was Imogen who talked above them that changed the tone of the moment.

"We can't, Lorcan," she said. "We need every single one we have. I think it's best to plan groups of three now."

"Besides, you said you don't know if we open one of them what that would do to the others, right?" Scorpius countered, sounding miserable.

Lorcan cursed and walked away from Abigail. She looked regretful for a moment. Harry opened up an arm and she ran to him. Harry kissed her head. "It'll be okay," he said, more to himself than to Abby. "You have to follow directions here, though. Do you understand?"

Abigail nodded into him, sniffing. "I couldn't just wait," she repeated.

"I know," Harry said. Maybe it didn't matter what adults did. Fifteen year olds were just going to be fifteen year olds. "Alright, let's go."

They moved along, Lorcan leading the way, still agitated.