"Do you think he will show up?"

Riley shielded the sun from his eyes and looked across the field for any sign of Picket. "He has no choice."

"He might be too scared to come," Connie pointed out.

Riley shook his head. "He has too much faith in that curse of his."

"I'm not sure I understand…"

"He knew we'd have to meet again. It's all in this book." Riley held up the item, keeping his eyes focused on the grassy field.

"So he wrote this meeting down?"

"He predicted that we'd meet in this exact place after Simon reached the age of thirteen."

"How does he keep track of all this? He doesn't write it in a book like you do."

"He use to do, but that was a very long time ago. Picket's changed his habits now, albeit just slightly."

Connie's eyebrows creased. "And you know why he doesn't do that anymore."

"It makes a good defense mechanism for his enemies. Picket learns from his mistakes— or rather he learns from his sister's mistakes." Riley then smiled at the sight of two bodies that suddenly appeared into the field.

"Get ready," he ordered of Connie.

*/*

"Two days!" Talli grumbled. "I've been looking for that dumb house elf for two days! Mags is starting to call me a Hufflepuff over it! I've never spent so much time searching for anything before! And none of the other house elves are being very helpful! They either don't know Neuf or are seemingly too scared to tell me anything about him!"

"Neuf is a bit of a recluse," Simon explained. I've only seen him twice. He kind of just mutters a greeting— if you can call it that. Even if you did find him, I doubt he'll talk to you."

Talli made a fist in frustration. "I just know he's hiding something! I bet he's sneaking Connie in here… but I just don't know how to prove it…!"

"We're really busy, Tals," Scorpius stressed gently. "I don't want to offend you, but we've got our own problems."

"Why are you making a tracker potion?" she wondered, seating herself next to the boys, peering into Scorpius's cauldron.

"We're going to look for Picket."

Talli crossed her arms after hearing the answer that Simon had provided. She sent her brother a look. "So you got upset with me, lectured me for going down into the kitchens past curfew, but you plan on leaving Hogwarts?!"

"Picket's in trouble," her brother answered simply.

"The whole school is in trouble, Scorpius!" Talli shrieked. "If we don't catch this murderer, they're going to shut down Hogwarts! Haven't you heard the rumours lately?!"

"This should only take a day."

"And what are you going to do when Dad sees that you're not at any of today's meals? He's going to know that you're up to something."

"It'll be no problem," Simon assured her. "We have two house elves who have offered to take our spots."

Talli rolled her eyes. "Something inside me is screaming to tell you boys not to do this, but I'm for certain that you're going to ignore my warning."

"Correct," Scorpius said, counting the stirs to his pot.

"This has to do with our inner sight thing, you wouldn't understand," Simon told her.

Talli sighed dramatically. "Well, this can't end well."

Scorpius looked up from his brewing, brushing off his hands. "You're not going to tell on us, are you? Huldah did say that you were going to be a massive help to us."

Talli tilted her head, morally conflicted. "I guess I shouldn't..." She let out a chuckle. "I've been thinking about all of Mum's stories of her youth. I always thought it'd be neat to experience my own adventures. They're kind of exciting, yes?"

"No," Simon said firmly. "It's unfair for children to have to save the world."

"So why aren't you having an adult go after Picket then?"

Simon shrugged helplessly. "It's Picket. How many people will go after a man who's on the tightrope to insanity? No one cares about the weird forty-year-old. And no one will believe that he needs our help."

"Besides, only Simon can find Simon's hair," Scorpius added.

"Why would you be tracking Simon's hair? I thought you were looking for Pick—" Her eyes widened suddenly, realizing what was going on. "Picket is posing as you?!" Talli wrinkled her face, slightly disgusted. "Why?"

"That's what we're going to find out."

"Wait," she advised them. "This can't be good. Grown adults don't usually pose as children. Something else is going on…"

"That's kind of why we need to do this," Simon said. "We've got to help him. We're sure he's in danger."

A loud, ugly hiss came from the cauldron when Scorpius dropped Simon's hair into the murky brew. Then, there was a bright green light, catching the eyes of the three students.

"Your amulet, Scorpius." Talli pointed at it. "Why is it shining?"

"I have to go," he told his sister. "We've got to save him, Talli."

"Can't we get someone to help you?" Talli pleaded. "You really shouldn't go on your own."

"We'll bring the mirror," Scorpius promised her. "And we can use it to communicate."

"I still don't like the idea of you going off by yourselves. And when Mum and Dad find out, you'll be in so much trouble."

Simon snorted. "When has trouble ever bothered you?"

She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. "Since my big brothers have started looking for it!"

Scorpius gripped his amulet. His eyes went out of focus. "It's my duty," he said to Talli. "To ignore it would mean that something bad will happen."

"Like murder…" Simon added grimly.

Talli nodded, understanding how serious the situation was. "Alright. You guys go, I'll man the fort here. Please be safe, and alert me as soon as you know something."

*/*

"Didn't you tell me that you'd come alone?"

"I insisted on accompanying him!" Hermione said, not giving the disguised Picket a chance to respond to Riley's question. "He's only a child!"

"It's lovely to see you, Mrs. Granger, but I wasn't—"

"My name is Mrs. Granger-Malfoy; it's hyphenated."

"My mistake," the murderer retracted, setting his eyes to the boy. "Be that as it may, I've no intentions of speaking with you today. This meeting isn't for you and I, it's for me and him. Unfortunately, you're just a third wheel."

Hermione felt an uncomfortable tightness at her wrists and ankles, and she let out a groan, falling to the grass after losing her footing. She grunted, trying to free herself from the binding spell that the house elf had casted upon her.

"You best untie me now, Riley!" she yelled out, huffing in frustration.

"Mrs. Granger-Malfoy, I'd rather you not be my third," she heard Riley reply calmly.

"Your third? Your third what?"

"Murder," Picket murmured to her from his spot in Simon's body. He had knelt down beside her to try and remove the bindings, but the knots were too tight. "He's not done his last yet." The "boy" said the latter more to himself than anyone.

Hermione gave a single, slow nod, piercing Riley with her eyes, watching his every move. "You're finished, Riley! You'll be rotting in Azkaban in no time!"

Riley laughed. "You're in over your head, witch!"

"Don't!" Picket warned Hermione, stopping her from saying anything more. "I've got to do this meeting with him."

"You can't!" she hissed, horrified that he actually intended to have the meeting with the killer.

"He'll hurt you if you get in his way! Please, just trust me! I've got to do it!"

"But he's a criminal! He needs to be incarcerated!"

"Yes, but he must have me once more!"

"I did not come here to watch a child and a woman bicker amongst themselves. If you do not wish to meet with me, Simon, that is up to you." Riley held out his hand for Connie to take. He firmly looked down at the "boy", awaiting his decision.

"I'm going," Picket told Hermione, stepping forward in determination. "Trust fate— he will lose." His legs began to shake as he walked toward the murderer.

Hermione didn't believe in "fate" or the ability to see the future. She knew Picket was a little insane, understanding that he had been imprisoned and tortured for years by the very man he was walking to, but with her current predicament, there was not much she could do but watch the "boy" approach the murderer who had been haunting their lives for months now.

"Such a good boy," Riley complimented "Simon" in approval. He looked down at the helpless Hermione. "Connie, see to it that Mrs. Granger-Malfoy is returned to where she belongs. It's going to be a full moon tonight, we don't want her becoming prey to the wild beasts that roam these parts."

*/*

After following the tracker for a while, the boys found themselves at the home property that Simon lived his first couple of years in. The same house that his mother had been murdered in.

Simon's lips trembled as he stared at the house in the distance. He pressed his fingers to his eyes at the sting of them swelling up with tears. A sob escaped him.

"If I had known we'd end up here, I wouldn't have even left the school," Scorpius regrettably announced, placing a hand to Simon's shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Simon took in a breath, steadying himself. "No," he said, refusing to look back at the house. "We need to do this."

In silence, they followed the light that was leading them to Picket. It floated towards a large birch tree where it disappeared into it.

The boys exchanged looks of confusion before Scorpius touched the bark of the tree. His hand disappeared right before their eyes! He pulled it back quickly, eyeing his hand over.

"What do you think it is?" Simon asked.

Scorpius shook his head. "I've never seen anything like it!"

"Are we to just… walk into it…? Like we do at Platform 9 ¾?"

Scorpius's eyes widened. "That's it!" He tapped the tree, looking up at the high branches. "It's a portal!" He said no more, stepping into the tree and was abruptly yanked by the magical force of the portal. Just a split moment later, Scorpius found himself back on solid ground.

He looked around and furrowed his eyebrows. A busy street surrounded him. Muggle cars drove by. Dogs could be heard barking.

Simon appeared next to him. His eyes immediately set onto the building they stood right outside of. He stared and stared, giving it his complete attention. They had been here before, and if they went into the building now, who knew what would become of them.

"Hey," Scorpius said to his sister after he mirror-called her to give an update.

"Did you find him?"

"Not yet," Scorpius answered slowly, noticing that Simon hadn't removed his eyes from the building. "We're at the asylum."

Talli's eyes widened. "The asylum?!" she squeaked out. "Get out of there!"

Scorpius tilted his head, not yet decided on what he should do. He then gave it a shake. "I can't, Tals. Picket is in trouble!"

"But it's dangerous!"

"We'll be fine," Scorpius's eyes shifted from his sister's concerned face. He clenched his jaw, swallowing down a lump of fear. "We'll be fine," he repeated a little firmer. "If you don't hear from us in an hour, go get us some help."

Talli nodded. "Will do. Please be safe."

"Ready?" Scorpius asked Simon, making him jump a mile when he set a hand to his back.

"I think I have just discovered something," the teenager said, slightly in a daze.

Scorpius watched his friend, worried about his sudden strange behavior. "What's that?"

"I can see things."

Scorpius moved his hand in front of Simon's eyes, waving it up and down. "Are you doing okay? You're acting a bit weird."

"I mean, my gift," Simon clarified, finally blinking and looking at Scorpius for the first time since they had traveled through the portal. "Tilda can see things when looking at a photograph. It seems I have a similar ability… but with buildings instead."

"But not all buildings?"

Simon shrugged. "For now, that's probably the case. Maybe it's one of those skills that you learn as you go."

"Maybe. Seems everyone is different— so what are you seeing?"

Simon dragged his eyes back up to the building. He sucked in a breath. "Nothing good, that's for sure." His lips pressed together. "I'm not sure I want to go in there."

"Well, Picket's in here."

Simon closed his eyes. He groaned a little. "There's too much screaming."

"Screaming…?"

Simon looked Scorpius right in the eyes. "Too many people were being held here, Scorpius," he whispered shakily. "Too many people who did not give their consent to what was being done to them."

Scorpius bit his lip, and he eyed the building over wearily. "We can't leave him here," he told Simon. "We shouldn't leave anyone here."

Simon touched Scorpius's amulet before cupping it into his hand, and he took in a deep breath. Scorpius felt the amulet heat up. He watched as his friend tightly shut his eyes, seemingly concentrating on something. He grabbed Simon's hand, and he too, started hearing the screaming pleas of helpless people being tortured. Scorpius unintentionally stepped back in horror, having not expected that to happen. He gaped at Simon who stood there, panting with fear.

"What just happened?!" Scorpius demanded.

"I—" Simon scratched at his head. "I think I just transferred something to you…? Didn't I?" He wasn't too sure.

"I heard…" Scorpius shuddered. "I heard screaming and crying. It was awful!"

Simon turned from him. "Just be happy you didn't see anything," he muttered.

"Do you think it's a sign? To not go in?"

"We've got to!" Simon insisted.

"But do you think it's a sign?" Scorpius pressed.

Simon lifted his shoulders up. "I don't know what to think. I just saw things in the windows. Scenes flashed in my head. I heard crying, screaming, pleading. All from people who need help, and no help came for them. Some have even taken their last breath in there." His eyes dropped to the ground at his feet. "All I know is… people don't deserve to be tortured like that…"

Nonetheless, the boys finally agreed to go into the building. Talli would send help in forty-nine minutes if they didn't make it out in time, and there were quite a few people who knew where the asylum was.

Inside, they were greeted by a surprisingly friendly receptionist. This was strange, since the last time they had willingly set foot into the asylum, all the employees were quite cold people.

"Good morning," she greeted them cheerfully, tucking her blonde hair behind her ears. She seemed eager to get away from her desk, rounding it to approach the boys who cautiously stood by the doors near the exit where a fast getaway could happen if they needed it. "How may I assist you today?"

Scorpios cleared his throat before speaking out, "We're looking for—"

"We've been expecting you," someone interrupted him. The boys looked to see that Healer Kalb was standing at an interior door, gesturing them forward. "Picket, is it?" He challenged them when they made no motion to move.

"Yes," Simon managed to squeak out. "We're here to see my dad."

"Right," Healer Kalb said slowly, "Your father. I do remember, the last time you were here, you set off a real ruckus."

"I don't doubt that today will be the same," Scorpius advised him.

The friendly receptionist had quickly returned to her desk, pretending to be busy, but every so few seconds, she glanced up, heavily interested with the scene.

"You are coming?" the head healer asked, growing impatient with their lack of action. "Or would you rather stand there all day?"

Scorpios inched forward, leading the way. He ignored the anxious feeling in his gut. He was supposed to trust his gut, but a man needed his help right now, and he couldn't leave him here.

They followed Healer Kalb down the eerie, shiny and white hallway. Simon stuck so close to Scorpius, that he kept stepping on the heels of his shoes. Scorpius refrained from scowling at his friend, knowing Simon was scared to death of this building. He didn't blame him in the slightest.

They stopped at Room 9, Picket's room, and Healer Kalb announced their arrival after unlocking the door. "Picket, you have visitors."

Picket, who was nervously pacing the floors, muttering to himself, whipped around to see who had come to see him. His lips trembled in fear. "It's too soon!" he gasped. "N-No, not now, p-please! It's not time!"

"They've come all this way to see you," Healer Kalb said as he was shutting the boys up into the room. "Don't let their trip become a waste."

And then they were alone.

Picket wrung his hands together. He shook his head in a fit. Incoherent words slipped out of his mouth every so few seconds.

"Why did you come?!" he suddenly demanded.

"We came to save you," Simon told him. "I had this terrible feeling, Dad, but I didn't know you'd be here! What's going on?!"

"It's not time!" Picket repeated feverishly. "Too soon! You needed to—" He closed his eyes, stuttering on his words, unable to speak properly. He whimpered and curled up into a ball at a corner of the room. "You should have waited!" he bellowed out with difficulty.

"Picket, we have to get you out of here," Scorpius said, approaching him. "Something bad is going to happ—"

"I can't help but think you boys have this… attraction to me." Scorpius was cut off by a new voice. One that he wasn't excited to hear. He turned around to face Riley and stood up tall, shielding both Picket and Simon from the man.

"We would very much like to not have you in our lives," Scorpius retorted.

"Then you're sending me some very mixed up signals here."

"Leave them alone, Riley," Picket spoke from his spot at the floor. "It's m-me you w-want."

Riley chuckled. "At this moment, you are not wrong." He took out a notebook and placed it onto the bare desk. Then, meeting Picket's eyes with his own, he delicately took out a pen from the pocket of his pure white robes and set it onto the notebook. He stepped back, motioning Picket to the desk chair. "Go on," he coaxed Picket, as if he was a timid, starving animal who was afraid to eat the bowl of food that was being offered. "You know you must." A grin stretched across his face.

"Let them go," Picket struggled to say. "It's not time yet."

Riley stepped toward them, placing his hands behind his back. "You know very well that that's a lie, Picket."

Picket tossed his head back and forth in denial. "No!"

"Get in the chair, Dayshaun. Now." Threat hung in the man's voice, and Picket knew not to disobey the man when he used that tone. He climbed up to his feet.

Simon tried stopping him. "You don't have to! We can get out of here, we did it once before— if we work together!"

Picket took the boy's hands into his own. "We will win," he assured him. "But not yet." A tear slipped from his eye, and he allowed himself to smile. "You are strong. So much like your mother."

Riley rolled his eyes before smacking his hands together for Picket's attention. "Take your seat!" he demanded impatiently.

Picket did as he was told, and he reluctantly took the pen into his fingers. Riley opened up the notebook to a blank spot. "Start writing."

"Its okay," Picket said to the boys, turning to them, hoping to set their worries at ease.

"I will be forced to remove them if they are a distraction to you," Riley warned him softly.

Picket turned back to the notebook. He gave a small nod. "They will not distract me," he promised.

"What are you wanting from him?" Simon wondered, watching the man he considered his dad scribbling away on the paper. A moment passed before Picket ripped out a piece of paper and crumpled it up, giving it a careless toss over his shoulder. He was deeply focused in his task, not giving the rest of them an ounce of his attention.

"This is what he does all day," Riley explained. "Sits, writing down lines and lines of absolute rubbish."

Scorpius narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Then why make him do it?"

Riley bent down, setting his hands onto Pickets shoulders. "Why make him do it?" he sneered into Picket's ear, mocking the boy.

Picket closed his eyes, struggling to keep his concentration. He muttered something.

"Why do I make you do it, Picket?" Riley asked him with a poisonous drip to his voice.

"Not y-yet!" Picket pleaded.

"You're running out of time!"

"Please!"

"Stop tormenting him!" Simon demanded. "You're driving him mad!"

Riley laughed and pulled himself from the man so that he could face the boys. "You think that I did this to him?"

"You did hold him captive for seven years," Scorpius pointed out.

"And tortured him," Simon added.

Riley laughed in complete disbelief. "I did nothing to this man! He, he does this to himself without my help, don't you, Picket?"

"Not yet," Picket whispered frantically, lost in his thoughts.

Riley gestured to him. "You see how he is, I did nothing."

"You triggered him on purpose," Scorpius accused. "You know he becomes this way when he's triggered!"

Riley raised his hands up in defense. "If he's going to become an idiotic invalid either way, I may as well benefit from it, right— Picket? Am I right?"

Picket jumped up. "O-Okay," he stuttered. "It's time now, Riley," he said gently, as if to keep Riley from being upset. "I-I've gotten it. Don't hurt them. I got wh-what y-you—" Picket closed his eyes, thinking on the word he needed to spit out. "—w-want!" He scurried to the plain, clean, white wall and started writing onto it.

"That's it, Picket! Good job," Riley praised, a smile spreading to his face. But it quickly vanished when Picket stepped from the wall so that everyone could read what he had written.

I am the third victim.

Riley gave the man a sharp, unexpected push, knocking him down. "You think me a fool, Picket?!" Spittle flew out of his mouth, and Picket scrambled out of Riley's reach.

"Dad!" Simon gasped at the sight of blood trickling out of a cut on Picket's forehead. He went to help him up, but Riley stopped him by snatching the scrawny boy by his elbow.

"That'll be enough of that," he demanded of Simon, wrapping an arm around his throat to hold him in place. He withdrew something from his robes and pointed it at Scorpius who was attempting to rescue his friend. "You stay back, you little wench, or I'll cut him open from ear to ear!"

Scorpius's eyes widened in horror when he seen the object that Riley was now holding up against Simon's neck. A sharp, red handled knife. His heart thumped against his chest, remembering exactly where he had seen that knife before.

"R-Riley," Picket called out hoarsely. "Please—"

"I'm tired of him calling you his father! You are not his father!" His hold tightened around Simon, cutting off his air flow, causing the teenager's face to redden. "I am your father, Simon! I am your father— do you understand that?!" Simon could only sputter an answer, unable to breathe.

"You're hurting him!" Scorpius wailed, stepping one step forward, stopping only when he remembered the killer's previous threat. "Let him go, Riley! He's done nothing to you! Let him go!"

"He's my son! And I'll do what I wish with him!" He started backing up to the door, pulling Simon with him. "You stay there," he warned Scorpius. "I swear I'll do it, Scorpius! You know I'll do it!"

"Riley! Don't! Please!"

The killer ignored Picket's final plea, fleeing with his son as his newest captive.

AN: What a thrilling ending to this chapter. So now Simon knows who Riley is to him, but how will he react?

I'm settling into my new home alright. It's a tiny one, so we're storing food under the beds, haha! Had a day off, so figured I'd try to write a chapter. This was it! Hope you enjoy!

Review Responses:

chapou69: Thank you so much for your kind words :)

tmtcltb: It was a mess for sure... still have nightmares about it. And since I kinda predicted it, everything that I dream about, I'm freaking out over... *sigh*. Anyway, Riley's story is unfolding! Hopefully your questions will be answered soon!