The Medieval Relics

Chapter 9: An Unexpected Visitor

A/N: Hi, guys! Alright, in answer to a couple of questions: Apollo's full name is Apollo L. Kimble. The 'L' stands for Leonidas. Yes, this time, the middle name is definitely Greek. Not like Viola. All Kimbles have a middle initial stated when they introduce themselves. Aries V. Kimble, Apollo L. Kimble, and Marius K. Kimble. (V for Viola, L for Leonidas, and K for Kronos.) Now, in response to Cal's review. No, don't worry. Simon was just being his usual funny self. Just because he's sad doesn't mean he can't crack a joke for everyone's sake. That was his attempt at lightening the mood. As Seth said, one of his ideas did hold merit but it is NOT kissing the girl and the only one who took that idea seriously was Alpha (cause he's gullible and naïve that way.) Kissing Lily will just give her an illusion attack at this point and if it was as simple as kissing her, Hugo would've done it a while ago, and if that didn't work, Lily would pucker up for Scorpius (if she can find the guts to do it.)

Seth slipped away quietly as Harry walked towards Albus. Albus stood rooted to the spot, apprehensively watching as Harry came closer. Was it really him? Had he really come to the school? If he did, how did he get in so easily with all the protections in place? He stood where he was, waiting until his father was standing facing him. Albus was nearly his height, he noticed. Harry blew out a sigh and motioned for Albus to follow him to a side chamber off the entrance hall. Albus nodded and followed. He did not expect Harry to come but now he was there, he had to make the most of it. Did he come because of the letter Albus had sent? He hoped so. Maybe he could take Lily home.

The chamber they were in was mostly empty. It might have served as a broom cupboard originally before being expanded as a small office. Harry placed protections against the door and Albus cast Muffliato to deafen those who might have been walking around it. Albus' meetings with Harry seemed to be like this at first. They were no longer father and son but strictly on business terms. It was sad but ever since Albus discovered that Harry got himself arrested on purpose, Albus felt betrayed and angered. It did not seem to matter to James but it mattered to Albus a great deal.

"How'd you get in?"

"Professor Macmillan is watching over the grounds on my behalf," Harry said. "He let me in. I got your letter."

"Great," Albus grumbled.

"Wise up, Al," Harry said warningly. "Saying these things in a letter"-

"I was vague," Albus interrupted. "And some things are more important than your stupid army!"

Harry sighed, shook his head and said, "Before I react, I want to make sure that I understood you correctly. Is Lily dying?"

"No," Albus said curtly.

"What is wrong with your sister?"

"Every time someone touches her, she sees visions," Albus told him. "She sees either the past, or a hallucination involving whoever she touched, and probably the future. We're not sure there though."

"Was she cursed in June?" Harry asked.

"No, she's untouched," Albus insisted.

"Al"-

"Hugo took a blast for her, ok!" Albus said angrily. "If anyone's supposed to be cursed, it's him. Why her?"

"I'm taking her home then," Harry said simply.

The way Harry said it, it might have been meant as a form of leverage, as if threatening Albus that this would happen if he did not know everything. Albus, of course had no issues with this. Both he and Hugo wanted Lily to go back home. She would miss a year of school but if her life was on the line, it was best. Albus hated doing this to her but he had no choice left. Besides, from what he saw of the DA's Headquarters, she was safer there than in Hogwarts. Better yet, this way no one could ever use her as leverage over him again.

"Do it," Albus said pleadingly.

Harry nodded and looked around, "Now, Mark…"

Albus felt tears prick his eyes, threatening to spill, but he did not want to cry on Harry's shoulder. He sighed, trying to wait for the overwhelming feeling of grief to pass but it did not. He got up and looked away, out of the window, trying to think best how to put this. Just as he sensed Harry coming closer to him, Albus said, "He's dying, dad."

Harry stopped and Albus sighed, not wanting to meet Harry's eyes. Harry had trusted him to look after Mark. Mark was his responsibility as long as he was a resident at the Potter house. Mark was depressed, his life had taken a terrible turn, and now Mark would be dead by the summer. Apparently, the death would be slow and painful too. Finally, he turned around and faced Harry, needing to tell him the full story. "His foot is dead. Literally. It just- doesn't work anymore. It's all black, decayed, and it was spreading before Soot- Soto- put a stop to it. We can't save him or reverse it. There's no counter-spell. He's just… he's gonna die."

"Every curse has a counter-curse," Harry said, echoing Albus' old Professor, Ernie Macmillan. "Alright. I'll do everything in my power. You'll be hard-pressed to find a Curse like that, even in the Restricted Section but Aunt Hermione might know of some books."

"Seth does!" Albus remembered. "And Soot knows but neither will talk. Seth is being an annoying little- no, he wants something in return as usual."

"I'll talk to Seth," Harry assured him. "Soot is only being contained. We can't force him to take our side so suddenly. I daresay the only reason he stopped Mark from dying right away is because he knew he'd be kicked out if he did not. Don't worry about it, Al. I'll do everything I can. Mark won't die so don't worry. Focus, ok. We still have important things at hand."

Albus did not know what to say. Harry somehow made everything look better but he was still worried. At least he felt less loaded. If Harry took Lily as promised, that would be a load off his plate. "Alright," he agreed quietly.

"Al- I need your help. As for the Relics…"

"What about them?" Albus asked quietly. "I said I can't be bothered, didn't I? I have more important stuff on my mind. Like, lots more important. Ok, Mark's foot decayed, like it's dead or something and I have a ton of homework 'cause I seemed to have entered NEWT year. Dunno if you remember, dad, but that year is pretty damn tough."

"Al… if you find them, I'm making you Minister for Magic," Harry offered.

The offer was sudden and unexpected. Albus gaped at him, shocked. Minister? Albus barely met the requirements for Curse breaker, he didn't even have Muggle Studies as a NEWT course and he knew Ministers had to be savvy to Muggle culture. Albus had no interest. He shook his head, "Minister? Dad, I'm sixteen, I'm turning seventeen in June and I don't even have Muggle Studies as a"-

"Once Incommodo's Ministry falls, there will be no prerequisites or requirements," Harry talked over him. "After fighting a war, Al, you get to learn some things. Fighting two wars really humbles you, though. The mistake we made from the second war against Voldemort was that the Ministry was not refreshed. We changed a lot of things but many remained the same. The same old men from the first era, people like Incommodo, stayed and they made it very difficult for us to change anything. Once we take down the Arsenal, I'm taking a leaf out of the Reservation's book and dismantling the entire Ministry. From now, I am looking for kids your age, maybe even younger to form a new one once you all come of age. And Al, after what you did last year, your leadership and deductive skills makes you worthy enough to be a Minister. So, Rojer thought you were leading a group. Take it to the next level. Lead the world."

The words flattered him. Deductive? Leadership? He never dared flatter himself like that. "I'm a Curse-breaker, dad. I want to break curses, not form governments."

"By all means," Harry shrugged. "Realistically, no one can become Minister from the beginning. Work your way up, in the meantime there'll be an interim enforcing the law and keeping things from Muggles. Once you get up there, you'll be ready to hire your entire group if you want, you'll have a ready-made law enforcement."

Albus was puzzled, "I don't understand," he muttered. "Why are you coming after me? Am I not allowed a normal school year for a change?"

Albus' question was met with silence. Harry was silent for a good whole minute, considering the question seriously and considering Albus. It was a while before he spoke. "Al," Harry said suddenly. "When your Aunt Hermione researched the Relics, she found but one riddle that's supposed to help. And funnily enough, it matches Apollo's prophecy to the letter." And Harry reached in his pockets and gave him a note like he used to when Albus was younger. "But strangely enough, it was not Aunt Hermione who discovered what we need, it was your Uncle Ron. Let's test your deductive skills, Al…"

Harry took Albus aside and off towards the lake. Albus looked at the parchment. The parchment had names of chess pieces and a blank space next to them. Albus was confused.

Find the guard, and pawns who heed the church bells ring,

Find the monarch, the castle, and the one true King.

"What're they asking for?" Harry asked him testily. "A guard, pawns, a monarch, a castle, and a King. What do they all have in common? Come on, Al, you've spent enough time with Uncle Ron to know"-

"Chess," Albus said suddenly. "That's why they're talking about church bells. Bishop."

"And you ask why I go to you?" Harry asked. "Some things are best researched in Hogwarts and you're the best placed and as my son, I trust you."

Four in the castle, one overseas,

One on an island, and one amongst trees

For then, the answer may make itself clear,

The Relics of the Kings known only by ear.

King…

Queen…

Knight…

Bishop…

Rook…

Pawn…

Before Albus could answer, Harry said, "Since he was a kid, your Uncle was wickedly good at chess. The one strategy game your aunt did poorly on. It takes more than a brilliant mind to play the game. We need to actually solve the riddle and that kind of mind, your Uncle does not have. Take this as a fun test, Al. It's a test for not only your wisdom but your reaction time and thought process. If you can't find the Relics, don't. Aries will focus on that. Focus on this, and tell us then what you think each piece represents when you make a parallel to our world. Fail this and I'll take what you said and find someone else."

I'll never get out of this, will I? "I'll try my best," Albus sighed. "But take care of Lily."

"She's my daughter, Al, I promise."

It looked like their meeting was over. Albus had to admit, the more he talked to his dad like an adult, the more he liked it. Harry was treating him as an adult and trusting him with things Harry could not even trust the DA with. Albus wondered why sometimes but he did not complain. When they walked out, Harry left Albus and went to the Headmaster's office to speak directly with Phoenix and he was escorted there by Seth Lean, who waited in the Entrance hall patiently. Harry, of course opened conversation with Seth immediately, supposedly about Mark.

Well, Albus had washed his hands of the matter and Harry tried getting him back into it. He felt a little better with Harry on Lily's case and not just him and Hugo, let alone a careless individual like Seth. A boy who Albus once again found himself making deals with. If he kills anyone else, I swear I am killing him this time, Albus thought drastically to himself. This time, nobody would die. No one.

A bodyguard, Albus thought as he walked the grounds. Seth was being threatened and he wanted Albus to guard him and Simon. Seth already managed to protect Simon for the most part. Was extending that umbrella of protection to Sierra and Sophie too costly? Albus did not know. He woke up from his daydreaming slightly as Scorpius and Rose walked past him, hand in hand. He smiled slightly at them, mind preoccupied. Speaking of those two, he knew he had to recall the Hogwarts Guard for a meeting. They agreed to stick together, therefore he had a duty to give them updates. He would tell them everything this time.

"Al!" Albus snapped out of his thought a second time and looked for the source of the noise. "Al!" He looked around again and saw Hugo, sitting against a tree at the entrance to the Forbidden Forest. He was not far from Hagrid's old hut. Albus knew of course what Hugo was waiting for. "Did Uncle Harry come?" When Albus nodded, Hugo sighed, "Guess Lily's leaving then…"

"Guess so," Albus sighed. "What're you doing here?"

"Waiting for Uncle Harry to come by," Hugo mumbled. "Gotta say goodbye."

Albus sat across from Hugo and the two sat in silence mostly, only saying an occasional word. A chance at conversation may have been found when Hugo asked if Albus was going to recall the Hogwarts Guard. Finding he was not in the mood for conversation, he did not respond with more than an uncertainty. They waited for half an hour, each minute passing feeling like an eternity. Finally, Harry was walking down the path with Lily beside him. Hugo leapt up immediately and stopped in front of her, as if having just remembered that he could not hug her.

"It's ok," Lily muttered.

"No, it's not," Hugo sighed miserably. "Get better, ok?"

Lily appeared very upset but she did not press the matter. She just entwined her gloved hand with Harry's. Hugo dared to touch her clothed back and hugged her as much as he could without physically contacting her. Albus and Harry watched them struggle for a bit before they finally broke apart. Hugo stepped away, went back to the tree and listened with his arms folded.

Harry sighed, "So, here's what's gonna happen. Lily is coming home with me and she's staying for a week at the Headquarters for Dumbledore's Army. I believe we have a way to help her and if she can take a week off and stay with us every weekend afterwards, it could be relatively simple."

"So, she's not leaving?"

"Only for a week and then she'll be back for classes and everything," Harry promised. "As for Mark…"

"Can you help him?" Albus asked quickly.

Harry looked very grim. Albus could tell, by the look in his eyes that Harry had seen the Curse before. It was not new. "Albus Dumbledore was inflicted by this same curse during the last year of his life," Harry recalled. "I don't know much about it but the fact that it is contained does not help. Dumbledore was doomed to die regardless of everything so I- I worry that the same rule applies to Mark. He has a year, at the most. But like I said, we'll look. If any counter curse exists, it'll be in the Hogwarts library or very old records the Ministry has. If it's the latter, that's not good for us."

Albus' stomach sank. He did not know what he expected to hear but after hearing Aries so confidently say that Mark would live to be a hundred and fifty, he supposed that Mark did indeed have a chance. Maybe if Seth did enough research, he would tell Albus how to do it and lift the Curse. What was wrong with him? The silence was shaky. Lily's eyes were glistening and Harry looked very troubled before sighing, "I have a daughter to look after. Al, you remember the job I gave you."

"Look after Mark," Albus remembered glumly. Everyone has a duty in life and Mark is yours.

Harry made to walk into Hagrid's old hut. Albus and Hugo, at whim followed him in. Albus was surprised by what waited for them inside. Lycah still looked dirty and twigs still littered her hair. She was crouching on all fours in a very canine position before jumping up to greet Harry. On their side of the hut was Lorcan and Lysander, Lorcan hanging a portrait on their side of the room and Lysander reading a book.

"Mr. Potter," Lycah acknowledged respectfully.

"Hello Miss Thrope," Harry said genially. "Hello Lorcan, Lysander…"

"Hi," Lorcan said shortly as he attempted to permanently stick the portrait.

"Hello," Lysander said dreamily without making any eye contact.

"The portrait is ready as soon as it's… hung," Lorcan said exasperatedly.

"What's happening?" Hugo asked as Harry stuck the portrait to the wall and opened the curtains blocking it. It was a portrait of a tunnel. Albus was curious by it but Harry folded his arms, looking very pleased. "When I was hunting Horcruxes, a portrait like this allowed me to bypass the protections and get into Hogwarts. No one else knows of this but the DA and we've managed to replicate its type. Part of your Aunt's genius. Lycah has been kind enough to play host to one that leads us straight to the Bungalow in Hogsmeade. Of course, anyone else who makes it there will not know where to go from there. I possess the only keys. Lily on the other hand will have direct access to and from Hogwarts."

"My hut's just a package of help for everyone isn't it?" Lycah rolled her eyes. "Careful you don't abuse it."

Harry and Lily stared at the portrait together before Harry turned to Albus and Hugo, "She'll be just a portrait away anytime you feel lovesick. Ok?"

Hugo just nodded quietly, still looking like he desperately wanted to hug Lily but did not dare. They were forced to watch as Harry climbed up and allowed Lily to climb herself up and stagger into the tunnel. Lycah allowed for the two to say goodbye before they left and she closed the curtain shut on them and kicked Albus and Hugo out impatiently.

"They're friends," Lorcan protested.

"Don't care, my hut is for me and my friends," Lycah said stubbornly and kicked them out, shutting the door in their faces.

"You know," Hugo said casually, seemingly in a better mood now Lily would get the treatment she needed. "She gives Werewolves a bad name."

Albus had little to do after that but return to his Herbology homework in the library where he found himself leaning on Penelope again and again, Alexis even caught him copying from her.

"Replaced me?" she asked casually with a small smile as Albus returned Penelope's notes and watched her walk back to the kitchen corridor.

"No, just accepting help," Albus mumbled, still remembering Alexander's attitude.

"I talked to my brother, by the way," Alexis told him, as if reading his expression.

"Great, does he finally like me? Cause I don't remember what I did to him."

"He… doesn't," Alexis sighed. "But he promised not to be rude to you again. That was out of line." Albus turned and looked at her. They continued looking at each other. Albus did not know what to say. Alexander disliked him. He did not want Alexis near him. He was threatened. Albus knew it, Alexis knew it, and Alexander all but admitted to it. Albus was right, their relationship was coming to an end. "Al," she said, folding her arms. "I know what you're thinking and that's mean of you too. I have a brother to look after. He's my responsibility. He hardly even trusts my mum next to me. I need to be the one to do it."

"You're overworking yourself," Albus said truthfully.

"No, I'm not, I'm just having a bit of trouble adapting," Alexis insisted.

"Alexis"-

"Al!" Alexis said warningly. "Drop it, ok? Alexander is my responsibility to handle. And he wants me to handle him."

Albus folded his arms, "Why not your father? He's right there!"

"No, Al, my father has enough on his plate"-

"So do you"-

"He's not the one who cursed him, I am," Alexis said, going red. "And Alexander wants me to help him. He won't even accept your help."

"I think you need a rest!"

"No, I don't, now drop it," Alexis sighed. And before Albus could respond, she left, leaving him to feel very dejected and upset that she refused him so readily.

Albus lay awake that night thinking about Alexis and Alexander. If only she would allow some help…

Albus fell into a strange sleep. The chest where the mark Aries burned into him hurt. It was as if she burnt it into him again but somehow, it only hastened his sleep. If he could call that sleep. If he was to be honest, when he woke up, he was not sure whether he truly fell asleep or not. When he shut his eyes, instead of his world going dark, it went white. He felt like he was stuck between sleep and consciousness and the room he found himself in did not look familiar. It had nothing more or less than a plastic chair facing an ornamental one with an amulet at the very top adorning two swords. Aries' amulet. What was it doing there? Albus held out his hand to take it back when he discovered it was stuck to the chair, like it fit there all along.

A sudden strong gust of wind blew from it, throwing Albus into the plastic chair behind him. As his bottom hit the chair, he saw a figure had already taken a seat on the throne opposite him. Albus was too petrified to move. He wanted to wake up but he couldn't. He even tried biting himself but he stayed asleep… if he was asleep. He still was not sure.

The room around him started taking form. The white transitioned into sea blue. The floor was glass, reflecting the blue marble of the walls and the night blue of the ceiling which was spangled with yellow stars. An extra chair of lime green was situated so the occupants of the three chairs would make a triangle. Of course, they were one occupant short and it did not seem that occupant would be coming. The tall figure sitting in the chair was staring right at him and Albus started shivering. The man was intimidating. He wore a long white beard and blue robes with yellow stars mirroring the ceiling but his face was not benign and looked very firm yet powerful. Albus knew who this was but he could not believe it.

Merlin.

"Welcome, young master Albus Severus Potter," Merlin said with a strong voice despite his seemingly being in the midst of old age. "For a long time now, I have been waiting for you."

"Waiting… for me?" Albus found he could not get off his chair, even if he wanted to.

"I trust, by now you realize who I am," he said strongly, his voice echoing and reverberating off the walls, even his language seemed to be of their age. "And why I chose you to appear to."

"Sorry- no," Albus said uncertainly. "Your Heir is in the school, she"-

"Your world is at war, different factions are claiming pieces of it and my Heir alone will not be enough," Merlin said, voice still strong. "You alone will have the power to defeat a danger more persistent than even those who would destroy your world."

Albus' mind was racing. What did this mean? There was someone more dangerous than the Reservation? Soto was mean but at the moment, harmless and Incommodo was just a man. He could be beaten.

"No, Mr. Potter, he cannot," Merlin said suddenly and Albus jumped. Merlin laughed, his voice reverberating powerfully off the walls now so that Albus' hair stood on end. "As this is taking place in your mind, I am not unwise to your thoughts and your Minister cannot be beaten by conventional means. The more you meet with me, Mr. Potter, the more you will come to learn the origins of Mors Incommodo and how he came to be. You will come to understand what role you yourself have to play in those events."

"Look," Albus said, stumbling for words but determined on saying what was on his mind. "I think you made a mistake. I'm not your Heir, I don't have anything special, I'm just a sixth year student. Why me? It could be anyone else."

"And in time, you will come to learn just why it has to be you," Merlin told him softly. "You were a temporary bearer of the Amulet I possessed, therefore I am enabled to speak to you, a guardian of its heritage. You have a power, both a blessing and curse which alone can help you defeat the Minister." As Merlin said this, Albus started feeling a cold unconnected to the presence of Merlin. He heard, in his mind, inside his self, a cold laugh, returning from the pits of his essence, returning to prominence. He started feeling pain. "You are in the midst of a war," Merlin said, voice softening as his presence faded and Albus' pain grew. His vision slowly went from colored to a tinted red. "We will meet again!"

A warm wind blasted across the room at him, throwing him off the chair and high into the air. He screamed as he heard a loud, young voice calling, "Al! Al! AL! OI! AL!" He felt an invisible force slap him and Albus thrashed around. No, it could not be back. It could not be. It made no sense.

"OW!"

Albus felt his fist make contact with something. It must have been invisible.

"You handle him, I'm done!"

"Levicorpus!"

Albus braced himself. He snapped awake suddenly, feeling his ankles being hoisted and hanging him upside down. He yelled angrily.

"Told you, he's not pleasant when he's angry," Scorpius' voice said nonchalantly.

"Wake up, Potter!"

Albus was let back down and he felt himself fuming at none other than Seth. What was he even doing there? He was irrationally angry. He felt like he had no sleep whatsoever and someone dared to wake him up on a Saturday? What was the meaning of this? He had every right to sleep in! "What the bloody hell was that for?" he stormed at Seth. "I'm sleeping!"

"Yeah, and you hit me," Seth shrugged. "So, we're kinda, sorta even. Wake up, we have Quidditch practice and you're five minutes late. Scorpius wanted me to get you."

Albus looked around but Scorpius had left the room. Seth made to but Albus groaned as he fumbled for his Quidditch robes, "Seth, if you ever wake me up again"-

"Yeah, yeah, you'll kill me," Seth finished. "Trust me, Al, I'd love to see you try."

Albus was left alone in the dormitory to get into his Quidditch robes. He had half a mind to call practice off early and get himself some sleep but once he got into his robes, he shook the sleep off and made his way back down to the Quidditch pitch, ten minutes late but the entire team still waiting. He sighed, "Alright, let's get this game on. I want twice our game from last year. Go!"

Albus was overall pleased with his team's performance. He had a feeling that he now captained the best Quidditch team in the school. Seth had ordered a new broom over the summer, he practiced with Simon and even though the latter was not on the team, Seth still did very well. Lorcan, on the other hand clearly practiced and got better. Albus did not see talent on the pitch very often. He was no Hugo but he was certainly enough to take on two regular Gryffindor chasers at once. Albus and Lucy together could deal with Hugo and stop him from even trying to get past Seth. Meanwhile, Albus was hitting himself over why he had not found Nate the previous year. His aim was so accurate, Gabriel often joked that Nate Charmed the bludger to avoid all green-clad players.

"That's the plan, guys," Albus told them loudly. "Our opening match is against Gryffindor and they are no pushover." Lucy, who was usually talkative during the game, sat with her knees facing up, staring glassy-eyed at Albus. Albus tried to ignore her, not wanting to remember why she was still quiet and forlorn. "Hugo can be taken. We proved that last year when the stakes were higher. Now, we prove it again. Kick them out of the running from the first game."

The team took to the air again. Despite her being quiet on the ground, Lucy was a different person in the air. She, it seemed had trained too. Albus had spied her during the summer. Quidditch seemed to be her only escape and she got better. She was nowhere near as good as James, but she could manage maneuvers and possibly get around Tulip, plus she was always a good scorer.

Gabriel shrieked as Scorpius whipped past him and caught the snitch. He was red-faced though, "I keep getting slower. It's finding it. I swear, this snitch has been tampered with."

"Doubtful," Nate shrugged. "You need a better eye. Try looking in the same place twice, always helps me."

"I could help," Lucy suggested slowly. "We could always do our Chasing duties but if we happen to see the snitch, we could get message to Scorpy and let him catch it."

"It's Scorpius," Scorpius corrected Lucy, making her go red and look away, staring at the ground as the other six players hovered in the air.

"So Scorps gets four eyes out while us Beaters distract Mark," Nate grinned. "Admit it, Al. We're a brilliant team!"

"Not a bad idea"-

"Lucy," Albus interrupted, snapping her from her thoughts. "If you find it, let him know but you're our best scorer. We don't want that being hampered because you're searching for the snitch."

"It won't be," she promised. "I'll just keep an eye open."

"Sounds good, but we need to test it out next session," Albus shrugged.

The team readied themselves to leave after that. Albus and Lucy stayed behind, putting the balls away before she sighed, "I need to go. Homework."

And without further comment, she carried her broom over her shoulder and walked off. Lucy walking off was the cue for Gabriel and Nate to claim they were late for a little meeting with Roxanne Weasley. "She reckons she can sneak around the security and fetch us some Zonko's products."

They ran off, whooping into the night and Lorcan was hailed by Lysander, who came to watch. "Lycah had to go into the forest tonight. It's just us."

"Dormitory or hut?"

"Dunno, whatever you like," Lysander shrugged.

"Hut then," Lorcan sighed. "Maybe we can talk to Hagrid."

Albus' mouth was halfway open, about to want to talk to Hagrid's portrait himself when Scorpius pat his back, "What's up, mate? Anything new?"

Albus was about to tell him nothing when he reconsidered. Scorpius had asked him the year before to trust him and Albus felt guilty about lacking trust in his closest friend. Would Scorpius know about the Medieval Relics, let alone what might have been ailing Mark and Lily? His family was Pure-blood, very knowledgeable about the Dark Arts, and very privy to the history of the Wizarding world. Judging by Dark Arts lessons, Scorpius was simply a natural at the Dark Arts. If anyone would know how to help, it would be him. Albus stared down, unaware of a blonde boy sitting back, listening to everything.

"Yeah," Albus sighed. "At the beginning of the year, Mark and Lily fell sick."

"Yeah, I saw Mark with a cast, what's been"-

"He's dying," Albus interrupted, staring at Scorpius. His grey eyes were wide and he froze in shock.

Scorpius struggled for words at first, voice shaky over the news, "When you- say dying"-

"Scorpius," Albus said very heavily. He hated repeating this. The more he repeated it, the more he wanted to scream. He found himself having to tell Harry, himself, and now Scorpius and it was bad enough Seth was completely unwilling to help. So much for loyalty. "We won't have him next- next year. He…" Albus couldn't go on. He looked away and sat down on the grass, feeling, in spite of himself, like he needed to cry. Mark. First, he worried for Lily, then he worried over Alexis but Mark… Mark was always strong enough to take care of himself. To die? Die?

Scorpius, also in spite of himself, put a hand on Albus' shoulder, only making his feelings worst. "What sort of spell is it?" he asked, sitting down beside him. Scorpius did him the courtesy of not looking him in the eyes so Albus could think to himself.

"Not sure," Albus muttered. "It starts with his foot and it decays. His foot is dead. Decayed. He can't use it anymore. Problem is, they say it's gonna spread. They kept it contained but it's only temporary. When it spreads, he dies."

Albus looked over at Scorpius, hoping to see some recognition there. "That's a nasty spell." Albus' heart leapt. Could Scorpius help? Could Albus actually refuse Seth's help this time? Albus was about to ask more about it when Scorpius said, "Deficio. Wow, that is bad."

"Not helping," Albus commented.

"Would it help if I reminded you that every curse does have a counter-curse?" Scorpius asked.

"Not every Curse," Albus corrected skeptically.

"It's the truth," he added when Albus looked skeptical. "Even the Cruciatus curse can be helped… provided you're not insane by the end of it. Honestly, the one curse you can't cure is the Killing Curse… maybe the Terminal Curse unless you cast it twice and have the two illnesses cancel each other out but no one's tried testing that, and I have doubts that the Retardation Curse can be reversed though that is debatable among Dark Art scholars because if you're quick enough to kill the caster and erase the victim's"-

"Scorpius!"

"Sorry," Scorpius was flustered. "My point is, the Curse of Decay isn't even Unforgivable and there's a reason for that. If we can help some Unforgivables, you can definitely help that Curse."

"How?"

"I dunno, we need to research," Scorpius told him. "Try the Restricted Section. If you can get a slip signed by Professor Soot, you could do it."

"And you think there's a counter-curse?" Albus asked.

"If not, there's always old-fashioned way," Scorpius shrugged. "Find out who did it and kill that person. That works ninety percent of the time when it comes with Curses, especially long-lasting curses like this one. In effect as long as the caster is alive."

Exactly as Seth suggested. If Albus could not find a counter-curse, he would need Seth to tell him who cast the curse. Did Albus have that time? Could he afford to try the Library? Either a counter-curse existed or it did not.

"Scorpius," a familiar voice called from the other side of the pitch.

"Ah," Scorpius went red. "Think about it, Al. Coming, Rosie!"

Albus was left on the pitch, deep in thought. "Won't work," Seth said suddenly from behind, making Albus jump up and nearly withdraw his wand. Seth was still there. Albus stared, not sure whether he was happy he was overheard or furious. Seth seemed completely careless though. He leaned against the goalposts, legs stretched out, clearly relaxed. "Fatherwon't give the name of the book that talks about the Curse of Decaying. He doesn't want you to figure it out."

"So… it does have something of value," Albus got straight.

"Probably," Seth shrugged. "And only he'll know which book, by the way. If it's there. It's a rare curse, y'know."

"This would be much easier if you just decided to help"-

"I did," Seth reminded him. "Is guarding Simon too steep a price? I thought you wanted him to be protected."

Albus remembered. He had not agreed or disagreed to Seth's terms. So, what was it he wanted? Mutual defense and co-leader of the Hogwarts Guard? Could Seth figure things out for him? Was it possible? Well, Albus had two hopes. Scorpius and Seth. This time, perhaps one of them might be able to help. "I can't make you co-leader, Seth, but I'll let you in on everything I do before I do it. You won't stop me, but I'll let you know beforehand."

Seth seemed to seriously consider this and Albus sighed in relief as he nodded in agreement. "Fair enough. Guess we're partners, again, huh?"

"In return, Seth, you'll have to show me the actual notes," Albus told him. "But in the meantime, can you do me a favor?"

"Depends"-

"Call a Hogwarts Guard meeting," Albus told him. "We're overdue."