The Medieval Relics
Chapter 27: The Ultimatum
The news was shocking to say the least. Too many. Too many attacks that year but this time, deaths were happening. Albus' thoughts went to Alexis. She had just lost her brother. Or did she? Even fifteen minutes later, nobody had given news about his body. The grounds had been searched. The last Albus heard, tentacles had just placed something on the bank of the lake so they were investigating that. Albus' hopes were low. Daniel was already dead, the fact that Alexander had not walked in by himself meant he was either dead or too grievously injured to move. If it was the latter, their time was still short.
Albus made way just in time for Professor Ackerly to rush upstairs from outside. What he wanted from upstairs, Albus could not think. Alexis was up there probably. Was she waiting in the hospital wing? And where was Daniel? Albus spied from the first step up Gabriel leaning on Nate, looking half confused, like he did not fully understand how this happened. Nate was attempting to console him, trying to hug him but Gabriel didn't return it. He just stayed still, if anything resting his chin on Nate's shoulder and staring into space.
Professor Redgrow walked in next, silent and foreboding. She exchanged a quiet mutter with Professor Vulneroman. His son, Kabe whispered to his friends, presumably something Redgrow had said. From the silence, a further whispering started going through the crowd. Albus did not hear it until the whispering reached Louis and Fred, who he was nearest to.
"Found Dagger? Where's the boy? Frank? Frank knew something. He discovered something. He might be dead too. Ackerly? Where's his sister? In the hospital wing with her brother."
Before Albus could make heads or tails of the situation, a sudden hush filled the hall. Albus had to look around before he saw Professor Phoenix standing solemnly, facing the students from the top of the marble staircase. Albus turned around to view him with everyone else. The silence was expectant, like they knew beforehand that Phoenix would say something.
"One student has indeed died," Phoenix confirmed. "He is being moved as we speak to the hospital wing to preserve his body until such a time we can bury him in the Hogsmeade cemetery. As for the Ravenclaw boy. He has been found. Due to an extensive discussion with his sister, I can confirm that he is alive due only to a lucky outburst of magic which allowed him to bounce safely into the lake. Nonetheless, he is severely injured. The search for Frank Longbottom is ongoing. We have also…" he stopped to give the students time to take the information in, opened his mouth to say something more, and then left into the Great hall.
Albus was one of the few who walked away after that. He meant to go up to the hospital wing no matter what Phoenix said. Within five minutes, he felt Alexis wrapping her arms around him. She was not crying but she was shaking. Albus never felt her like this before but before he could say a thing, anything to console her, she broke apart from him and they sat down in a corridor. Alexis started wiping her eyes determinedly, as if still refusing to let Albus see her cry.
"Th-they won't let me in the Hospital wing," she said shakily with a dry sob. "Sh-she suspects everyone. E-even me. L-like I would at-attack my own br…" she stopped herself.
"Is he ok?" Albus asked tentatively, unsure of whether he wanted to hear the answer or not.
"He… he's… fine… sort of," she said slowly. She let out another dry sob. "I mean, he didn't break any bones but he's unconscious."
"But- the tower… from that high?"
Alexis looked grim but a shadow of a smile was playing on her face, "Alexander is a boy who has a lot of magic stored up in him. He is very bad at controlling it. It can't be controlled as well as other wizards can control theirs because of his past illness. So… I guess, because of that illness, the magic burst out in a sense of danger." When Albus continued to look confused, Alexis emphasized, "Remember, when we were young, magic could not be controlled. Underage outbursts save our lives when we're in danger, they make things explode or disappear when we're angry… Alexander was in danger and I guess he simply bounced but the impact still winded him."
Alexis' explanation made so much sense, Albus did not argue with it. He was glad that her brother was fine. He had thought the worst. He feared that he was dead. Nonetheless, it was an attempt. He smiled slightly and looked at her, "You told me last year that it was your fault that Alexander fell ill?"
"Yes…?" Alexis pressed.
"Well, I guess it's your blessing that saved him then," he said with a smirk.
She sighed and looked down at her legs spread out in front of her, "If he never fell ill, he would've been able to defend himself."
"Oh, yeah?" Albus asked testily. "You mean like Daniel, Phillip and Penelope defended themselves? We still can't find Frank. When're you gonna quit blaming yourself?"
"This is my fault. It is."
Albus shot her a skeptical look, "Are you"-
"I talked to Jerry- Aramaster- like you told me to," she told him. "Remember when I told you I needed a month. Alexander and I brewed Veritaserum and fed it to him after I stunned him. You know how it works better when the victim is weakened. He shot his mouth off and realized too late what he did. I held him off and Alexander told Phoenix. That's why Alexander was attacked. Payback. And Al, that was me. Al, you may think highly of me but I'm… not perfect."
"I don't want you to be perfect," Albus told her seriously, folding his arms outside the doors to the Great hall. "I want you to be you. I want you to be Alexis Ackerly."
"Well, I am," she sighed. "Somewhat. I never told you what happened with Melvin did I? He's allowed to stay. He swore to tell Phoenix everything he can about the Reservation and the New Roots once they collapse. Since they did, he can talk freely."
"So- what, Phoenix knows?"
"Yes, he- he- Seth, what're you doing here?"
Seth made his way to where they were standing. It was right outside Room 100, the same room the first precursor of the Guard, where the students had plotted their trip into the forest. Seth did not seem to be hiding anything though, but seemed very casual and easy. In fact, the next arrival seemed more desperate. Alice Longbottom and beside her was Alpha Greengrass. She alone seemed to be in desperate tears. "Seth. I'm begging you. Please, Alpha said you can help."
Albus and Alexis watched interestedly as Seth stared down at her bended form impassively, "What's your offer?"
"My- my offer? He's my brother. I- I need a favor…"
"In life, you need to be able to pay the right price to get what you want," Seth told her. "Alpha's right. He heard it from Simon and Simon's the only person I do things for free for. You need an offer."
"I- I'll pay you, ok?" she offered quietly. "Just, save my brother."
"I don't need money," Seth told her. "Hmm… what I want… is information. Ravenclaws meet the Headmaster for appraisal, right?"
"When we get high grades, yes," Alpha confirmed.
"I want all the passwords to the Headmaster's office," Seth told her. "No deletions. Promise me that and I'll save your brother. Or at the very least discover his fate for you. Deal?"
"I will," she agreed immediately.
"What would you want"-
"My business, Ackerly, not yours," Seth interrupted. "You want Frank rescued, right?"
"Just let him do as he likes," Albus sighed.
"I need to tell you guys something," Alpha said seriously. "When I do, you need to stop the heart attack cause it will come. Frank knew something."
Albus cursed inside. He knew where a Relic was. He was not an Heir but he knew and Frank was very talkative. If he let slip that he so much as went on an adventure with a few people, anyone could've gotten suspicious. "He knew where a Relic was, didn't he?"
"Yes," Alpha sighed.
"He told me," Alice interrupted. "He told me he went with you when he shouldn't have. I told him to shut up but he was trying to show off to a couple of fourth year girls in Ravenclaw."
"Those fourth years told a few of the first year boys in Slytherin," Alpha said. "The New Roots knows but nobody managed to tell Aramaster yet. He's the only one who doesn't know. Wait for it…" silence. They waited for the heart attack, Alexis' wand out. Nothing happened. Alpha still breathed, still stood like nothing was wrong.
"Neil got one, why not Alpha?" Albus asked curiously.
"Because," Seth smirked. "The New Roots are over."
Alexis looked worried, "He's ok, then, don't worry. They meant to get information from him, not kill him, or they would've shown off his body like they always did. He's fine."
"I'll get him," Seth promised her. "It'll be easy."
Alexis sighed and opened her mouth to respond when they heard a yell. She hurried off and Albus followed her. They arrived at an unused classroom just in time to see Samantha casting another spell at a boy. "This is your last chance, Nott! Tell Phoenix the truth or I swear, when this is all over, I'll kill you!"
Albus was half grateful Alexis was there. She alone knew to keep a rational head in this situation. She stepped in, wand in hand. "Samantha…"
"Avada Kedavra!"
The jet went straight for Seth but he strafed to the side, avoiding the curse easily and Alice screamed and fled the room. It blasted a hole in the wall right beside Albus though and he was considering jumping in himself when he felt himself being pushed aside. James and Colin rushed in. Two jets of green light blasted from her wand. Samantha had lost it, hadn't she? She'd finally given in to her urges to kill. She'd gone crazy. She avoided James' spells easily and erected a shield between her and Colin before turning to Alexis. "Avada"-
"NO!" Albus yelled. Terminatio Morbus.
Samantha's spell was interrupted but the second Albus fired the Unforgivable Curse, she took hold of Neil and gazed at them all. "Back away. All of you. Or the kid dies." Albus gaped. She was truly beyond control. Way beyond help. To attempt death on a boy as young as Neil, to try killing Alexis… Seth was right. She needed to go.
James kept walking, gazing at her hatefully. Albus rarely saw that look in James and he did not usually like it but this time, he made an exception. Samantha yelped as a nonverbal spell came from Colin and blasted her off Neil. Neil screamed into James' chest as the older boy hugged him tightly. The sight clenched something in Albus' heart, something stirred in his memories. The last time James ever treated him like that was before second year, when Mark attacked. Even then, James had his own motives but this, this was genuine.
Samantha crawled away and Albus raised his own wand, "Immobulus! Ferula! Incarcerous!"
Samantha screamed as Albus managed to freeze her, bandage her mouth and conjure ropes to bind her arms and legs together. Colin grabbed her roughly and shook her, dragging her away. Albus made to join him but Colin just pushed him away, "I'm taking her. She has information and she's giving it whether she wants to or not." Alexis' hand on his shoulder stopped him from protesting.
As he and Alexis left James to comfort Neil, Albus descended into silence. The cloth incident had destroyed his relationship with James for so many years and that year, Albus was finally beginning to come to terms with that fact. It was not until they reached the entrance hall when he said, "I'm glad James knows how to care for someone now. I never had that relationship with him."
"People grow up," Alexis noted sagely. "Al, listen to me. I don't ever want you using Unforgivable Curses on my behalf, ok?"
Albus looked at her and saw she was very serious. He nodded, "I'm sorry."
"Al, one day, we're going to part," she said seriously and truthfully. "Not by breaking up," she said at the look on Albus' face. "We're never breaking up. But by death. One day, whether by old age or war, one of us will go first and the other one will have to- will have to pull through it and live his or her life. I'm serious, ok?"
"You're right, I'm sorry," Albus said immediately. "I just… it's…" Albus sighed. He didn't know what else to say. Thankfully, he did not have to. She sighed as they entered the Great Hall. The two walked down in awkward silence, almost no words exchanged. Albus was not sure if he went too far with her or not. He was frustrated at her blaming herself but perhaps she felt she needed to atone. What if she felt that Albus was in the way of that? He hoped not. He told her how he felt about her the year before. He did not want that dashed. Wow, was Albus selfish? Alexis had almost lost her brother. Was he selfish for thinking that way?
The meal began but it was irregular. It was not lunch or dinner but people nonetheless sat, outside of house order. Nobody spoke but just ate, gazing intermittently at the staff table where Phoenix sat in conversation with Vulneroman and Ackerly. They looked very grim.
"The second the siege is lifted, the school is closing," Alexis muttered as they took a seat apart from other students.
"Attention!" Phoenix said loudly and clearly for everyone in the hall to hear. "All students will now retire to their Common rooms. Curfew and bedtimes are hereby suspended until further notice as nobody will leave their Common rooms for the time being. You will wait for your Head of House there where you will receive more information. Go!"
Confusion reigned but Phoenix did not seem to be helping matters. Professor Soot in particular watched them all go, gazing very carefully at them all as if trying to sense who was guilty. Albus was forced to split up from Alexis as they went to their respective houses, all the while very worried. The last he saw of Alexis that night was a tear-strained face. Alexis looked distraught under the weight of her brother, Daniel, the school, and now being split from her only source of comfort. Albus gave her a final hug before she composed herself and pat his shoulder. Then, she called Ravenclaw students to order as prefect. Scorpius took charge for Slytherin house and next thing Albus knew, they were all in the Slytherin Common room, everyone apparently forbidden from sleeping.
"I don't know why, Headmaster's Orders," Scorpius said impatiently when a tired first year asked to be allowed down to the dormitories. "Kids these days," he muttered to Albus. "What's Phoenix playing at, huh? Least he could do is tell prefects like me what the hell his plan is."
"What if the prefects are in with the New Roots though?"
Scorpius was spared having to reply when the exit opened and in came Professor Soot. Albus knew he was Soto so his helpful hand to Phoenix was rather ironic to see. Soot allowed the wall to conceal itself again before turning to the Common room. "Making sure I have all names here. I shall take a roll call now, starting with the A's. Alberdeen…"
Soot went on with the roll call like it was a normal class period, making sure everyone was there, "Bedram, Albert." On and on, from Albus to Lucy to Scorpius to Gabriel and even Seth, who alone looked pretty small compared to the other third years. "Here!" said one last student.
After he finished with everyone, Soot looked up with a twisted smile, "So, here's how things stand. Due to a couple of anonymous self-confessions, anonymous attempts to infiltrate the group, well-placed spies, and the interrogations of a lucky capture and the most insane student to enter this school, the Headmaster has successfully discovered each and every student involved in the group called, unless my information is faulty, The New Roots. What is going to happen is the Headmaster is going to remain in his office. He is giving everyone, starting now, one hour to turn themselves in. Should they turn themselves in, they remain in a Hogwarts room to be confined there while still being imprisoned by the Dumbledore's Army once the siege breaks. Should they fail to, maximum punishment will be delivered by the Ministry of Magic which, under the terms of the new alliance against the Reservation, has sent a promise to the Headmaster that they will use excessive force, imprisonment and in some cases, executions to deal with those responsible."
Soot watched them all, looking for any guilty face, before continuing, "Also, in light of recent events, new restrictions have been put in place: No visitors are allowed in the hospital wing, no more free movement is allowed in the castle, there will be no more evening activities, and all students are to leave to their lessons accompanied by a teacher, even on bathroom breaks. Also, all meals are to be served in the Common rooms as opposed to the Great hall, all free periods will be spent in the Common room, trips to the library will be allowed only with the accompaniment of a teacher. No exceptions. And remember," he said as he turned around so only his face was turned to face them all, "He knows who you are and you stand to lose much should you fail to turn yourself in. Goodnight."
And he left, the wall sealing itself shut behind him. Albus would have thought babbling would break out but it did not. Silence reigned. Scorpius was gazing at the students hardly, even Proxima Greengrass looked around. Albus could almost hear everyone's heartbeats. His immediate assumption was that nobody would get up. This silence was different though. One phrase seemed to be heard. He knows… Albus did not know teachers to give threats that actually produced results. He was shocked, therefore, when a student in the back, a girl he did not recognize, got up and left.
One other girl got up and then two boys from near Scorpius. The wall sealed and unsealed frequently as more and more students left the Common room, presumably to turn themselves in. This was highly unusual of course. Never had students willingly turned themselves in. Never. And surely, after the deaths, students would just try desperately to conceal themselves. Was it not safer, even from their perspective, to remain anonymous and insist on their innocence? Perhaps they knew that Phoenix did indeed have information and even evidence.
Albus was slightly shocked when Scorpius posted another prefect in his place, hesitated, and then left the Common room too. He did so casually though, and even caught Albus' eye to confirm his suspicions, and Albus knew why. He was turning himself in, but as a spy not as a New Roots member. Albus guessed that Alpha did the same. As if in response to his thought, Proxima Greengrass got up and made to leave when a small hand stopped her, "What?"
Proxima looked down and Simon's face looked devastated, as if not fully comprehending the meaning of Proxima leaving. Either Proxima did not care how Simon felt or she was oblivious to his hurtful shock. She just stared down impassively before pulling herself away and saying, "Stay out of it, Simon."
"Proxy," Simon called but she did not answer. As the wall sealed itself, she shot Simon one last look. Albus could not tell if it was apologetic or sad but she disappeared. A snore caught Albus' ear and he looked to see Gabriel sleeping soundly. There was one Slytherin who was probably completely innocent.
"Seth"-
"Stay here," Seth said impassively to his sister and Sophie.
Seth stopped only for Simon who stood in his way, folding his arms, "Not you too!"
Seth actually smiled genuinely and said, "Relax. I'll be fine. I promise. Sierra."
Sierra got up too. Simon did not let him go though. Albus actually felt really bad for Simon this time. Seeing Proxima and Seth go at once must have been harsh. He kept his hands on Seth's arms, as if thinking he could stop him from leaving. Seth actually drew him into a hug, unwatched by the majority of the crowd who was fixing themselves on the others getting up and leaving. Once they broke apart, Simon seemed to relax and just sat back down glumly.
"Even Seth, huh?" a low voice said from beside him. Seth had just left the Common room and Mark Wallader took a seat next to Albus.
"Talking to me now?"
"When I want to, I will," Mark said glumly. "Take a look at the Common room. It's tiny."
Albus looked. Mark was right. It was tiny. He was surprised by how many of the Slytherins were actually New Root members. Those who were left were mostly first years, Simon, Sophie, Gabriel, Nate, Riley and Lorcan. Even Samantha seemed to be gone. Wait… where was Lucy? "Crap…"
"So, where's Scorpy, huh?" Mark asked a little chidingly. Albus looked back and saw Mark with a triumphant smile on his face. A smile Albus hated. "Did he join the New Roots? Oh, I must've seen him leave earlier. So… will it just be you and Riley in the dormitory once I'm gone? Or are you in too? Or what?"
Albus rolled his eyes, "Joke's on you, Mark. I sent Scorpius in there. He's a spy. He's been one for ages."
As a mark of his emotionally weakened state, Mark was clearly shocked and surprised before slumping hunchbacked, "You knew? You knew of them?"
"Think I'm blind?" Albus asked.
"And you actually kept an eye on them?"
"I even know who tried killing Alexander," Albus said, thinking of Aramaster.
"How?"
"Mark, there's a few things you need to get through your thick skull," Albus told him, turning to face him. "Just because I happen to be in Slytherin and killed Ridge doesn't make me automatically evil. Just because I used the Dark Arts and killed someone who, let's face it, deserved it, doesn't mean I'm a sadistic freak who wants the Reservation to win. I've been on their case for a while now. I'm James' brother and therefore I have access to most information others would not, especially with a friend like Seth. Couple that with being leader of the Hogwarts Guard, a group meant to find out things should explain things. But forget about all that. Let's look at you. You are a shame to Walter for staying like this and burning all the bridges you ever knew, including those who were closest to him, just for the sake of your own standards. We both know that if it came down to it, you'd torture people into insanity to save Alex or Eric like Aries would do for you. You've officially gotten all your friends and family against you, you even got yourself against you because you're self-loathing. And you know what? I pity you. You're a shadow of your former self. Walter would be disgusted because he went down fighting. I was there and he went down fighting and he would've lived if Incommodo hadn't been there because even Rojer didn't want to kill him just because he promised Seth. So maybe we're not all as evil as you think."
Mark just stared after Albus finished, "Done ranting?"
"Depends…"
"Ok, you're not all evil," Mark smirked. "Seen the Common room?"
Albus sighed, took one look and said, "Maybe it's about time. Those of us who are left are the good ones. We're purified."
"You're ridiculously naïve," Mark shook his head just as the wall unsealed itself.
Albus and Mark gaped. In walked at least ten students, retaking their seats. None of them included Seth but Sierra was one of them. She just yawned and said that they went mainly because they were concerned being witnesses associated them with the New Roots and turned themselves in to stay on the safe side. A minute later, Scorpius returned right beside Lucy and resumed his watch by the dormitories, meeting Albus' eyes only briefly. Albus smirked and turned to Mark, "Of course…"
"Don't even"-
"Some of us are honest, even Slytherins."
Before Mark could open his mouth, as if to push Albus' point across, the wall unsealed itself more and this time, Seth walked in, flashing a smile to Simon, accepted a hug from Sierra and catching Albus' eye. Proxima came back too and resumed her seat beside Simon who abandoned all reason and hugged her tightly, though she did not respond. Mark closed his mouth and looked down, a small smile on his face. Albus knew that smile. For the first time, he liked it. It was an impressed smile, a smile meant to show how pleased he was even if he didn't like admitting it.
Albus and Mark sat in silence, wondering how it was going for other dormitories when Mark muttered, "I forgive you, Al."
Albus' heart skipped a beat, processing what Mark had just said. Thankfully, no one was sitting too near them. They were all near the center except Lucy who preferred to sit near the dormitories where Scorpius stood guard. Albus smiled slightly and muttered back, "What took you?"
Albus regretted the question immediately because Mark screwed his face against years and gasped, "Everything" before hiding his face, silently sobbing into himself. Albus could only pat his back, his small back that was no longer even skinny but underfed, like being depressed had taken from Mark's physical health. The sobbing was silent, no one even spared them a glance, and eventually, Mark cried himself to sleep, curled up on the floor. Albus was left wondering if his rant had done anything, or if perhaps Mark had planned to 'forgive' Albus a long time ago.
Near dawn, Professor Soot finally showed up, folding his arms. The Common room was mostly asleep but when he entered, it jolted everyone awake. Even Scorpius had been roused by a still-awake Lucy and Albus shook Mark awake. Mark mumbled and woke up but stared blankly at Soot, as if not fully comprehending what was happening.
"The entirety of the New Roots has been successfully destroyed," Soot announced. "Today will be a free day to give everyone time to rest. The New Roots will be put under guard in a secret location none but the Headmaster know and are as of now imprisoned. This purge has seen the dissolution of half of this house, and a fair few from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Those of you who have been spies managed to be of help and for the sake of safety, their names will be kept… secret," he finished and Albus could tell Soot did not like it. Seth had a small smirk on his face and Albus had a fleeting suspicion that Seth was one of those spies… or just managed to worm his way out. Albus could not tell.
Albus wished he would tell, because following Soot's speech, when everyone went to bed, Mark fell back asleep and Seth placed his hands in his pockets and said, "Come with me."
Albus followed him again. What he wanted, Albus could only guess. They went into a secret chamber off the Common room Albus actually had no idea was there. It was concealed behind a stone wall under a portrait of Slytherin himself. The chamber was small but homey enough for three people to sit comfortably in. There, Seth sat against the wall and took his ring off. Just as Albus did for Slytherin, he turned it three times and let it drop to the floor. Appearing there as a ghostly form was a figure Albus saw only in a memory. Harriet Wallader. Of course Seth wanted to talk to him. He was still not over being wrong about Mark having a sister.
"Mr. Wallader?" Albus asked.
"Any- ah- no," Harriet seemed very amicable, very unlike his son. A man with blonde hair and a skinny moustache lining his upper lip. "Albus Potter? Last I heard, my son was warring with you. War still going on?"
"No, he- how did you know?"
"Wrote to me," Harriet said happily. "Many times before my demise. I always told him I was not against befriending you."
"Well, we did at one point but"-
"Guys!" Seth said suddenly.
"Oh, right this is Seth Lean, he's a sociopath," Albus introduced. "He wanted to ask you something rather personal cause he has no respect for other people's privacy and is too proud to admit he was wrong about something."
Seth put his hands in his pocket, "Are you aware of the state the world is in right now?"
"Yes, I am, in a way," Harriet said, staring at Seth with slight interest.
"We're chasing down Heirs and we discovered your family comes from Morgan La Fay," Seth started. "Right?"
"That… is correct," Harriet said uncertainly, the air going from amicable to serious.
"All Heirs have two siblings," Seth said reasonably. "Except yours. So, I want the beans spilled. Does Mark have a little brother or sister?"
Harriet did not answer immediately. He looked from Albus to Seth, his eyes no longer looking as friendly as before but rather tense and foreboding, like Seth truly did ask a very personal question. Albus waited expectantly for Harriet to answer in the negative and shoot Seth down. Finally, after a minute of silence, he said, "You say we come from Morgan. Morgan had a half-brother named Arthur. Well… Mark has a half sister."
Albus widened his eyes but Seth seemed unsurprised, "From who?"
"Me and one other during a moment when I was… rather unfaithful," Harriet said. "I do not regret her life in this world but it did create a schism in our family. Maria was born when Mark was six."
"So, she should join us next year," Seth muttered. "Ok, thank you. So, which woman was it?"
"A young woman by the name of Georgina Prince. It's a- little known Pure-blood family, used to be very well regarded before the travesty of Eileen marrying Tobias Snape. She took an interest to me during a weak night I… am not proud of. But the only reason any child was borne from us is due to the effects of Love Potion," Harriet said lowly. "She needed to test the effects of love Potion on an Alchemical experiment she was doing, tried proving that even Alchemy cannot make fake love genuine. I do not know if little Maria will be significant to your quest, however. Maria is a half sister but still comes from the same line. Now, are we done pestering the dead with personal questions?"
"I am sorry sir," Albus said politely. "Like I said, no respect. I do have one question though. Just one and it's very important to Mark's mental health…"
"I never got a good look at the one who killed me," Harriet interrupted kindly. "Barbara and I were surrounded by Goblins when the Curse ended my life. I just know it was a Wizard. We could only hear the voice but whoever killed us wanted to know the location of our family Relic, the Black Orb."
"Did- did you break?" Seth asked tensely. "What sort of voice did he have? Wispy? Growl?"
Harriet wasted no time, "It was certainly not a wispy voice but a very strong one. Barbara did not break. But I did…"
And with that final word, he disappeared, allowing Seth to pick the stone up, flick it up once, catch it triumphantly, and wear it once again. "Well, that has Mark beat. And you. He does have a sister."
"Half sister and… he has no idea of her existence," Albus realized quietly. "That's sad."
"And Georgina studied Alchemy, very interesting," Seth said quietly.
"What's Alchemy?"
"Really diverse branch of magic, deals with the healing and conjuration of things where regular magic is incapable. It can conjure limbs, even body parts, internal organs if you're really good and it can create a new body. Its main goal is the making of the Philosopher's Stone and ever since the only one in existence was destroyed, nobody in England studies it anymore. It's very, very Dark Magic, especially when it starts making the Philosopher's Stone. The fact that Mark's half sister is being raised in a family that has no problems with such magic, especially if she tried duplicating love, will say a lot about the girl herself."
"Do you know Alchemy?"
"It requires Elemental Magic," Seth said. "Which I'm pretty good at, so yeah. All I'd need are the ingredients and I could probably whip something up. Why, what's your offer?"
"Nothing, just curious."
"So, we'll have to tell him," Seth agreed. "I'll do the honors, shall I? And the Relic, so whoever killed him has it now. Which means we need to find out who did it, knowing it was not Incommodo. And guess what else is new. Mark showed me father's memories. I- I actually get why he wants to kill my father now. We agreed that he can be the one to do it. Since I so badly want to watch him actually kill someone."
"Wait- what? Why?"
Seth considered Albus and then said, "Offer?"
"Offer? When was the last time you"-
"Mark's business, not mine," Seth said. "Or yours. What's your offer?"
Albus sighed. Seeing Albus had no offer, Seth continued, "We also saw the Reservation's workings. My father actually tried becoming Praetor once but my grandfather beat him and forgave his transgressions provided he gives them information on our world. That said, good news: I can collapse the Reservation. It'll take a while but I can neutralize them in seconds if- if things go well."
"What's the de"-
"It acts as a wolf pack," Seth explained shortly. "Kill the Alpha male, you become the undisputed Alpha male. If the Alpha is defeated but alive, it's actually disputed and you can cause a schism and the best part is… all members are ordered to listen to their leader regardless of the order. If they do not listen to an order from their leader, they die. They're bound by a massive Unbreakable Vow. Even if both are alive, they must listen to the new one."
"Great… so all you have to do is duel Dubium and win," Albus shrugged.
Seth shot him a look before taking out a small silver instrument. It looked like a rod with a pointy end on top of which was balanced a sphere spinning wildly at the top of it. The space around the sphere seemed oddly distorted and blurry. The range of this distortion seemed to be expanding the more the sphere spun. Out of curiosity, Albus walked towards it. Seth smirked slightly and next thing Albus knew, he fell into a daze with a loud ringing in his ears and a voice inside saying Do as I say and the ringing stops. Albus inexplicably got up and did a handstand, walked with his hands and finally flipped over to land on his feet like an acrobat. He grinned stupidly before being released.
Albus snapped out of the daze when Seth put the instrument away and he blinked in confusion. He remembered it but it seemed hazy and Seth actually smiled again, "Brilliant. Perfect. Well, Al, you have no idea how much you helped me."
"Did you- did you control me?" Albus asked, beginning to remember portions of the handstand.
"Yes, I did," Seth said happily. "Nicked it from the Mold Manor. Whatever Rojer wanted with it is over. It's mine now."
"You controlled me?" Albus said again.
"Yes, weren't you listening?" Seth asked. "It temporarily molds your mind. Impossible to resist because it makes it like a baby's mind. Easy to be molded, like clay, to do my bidding. Puts the Imperius Curse to shame. I could… use this."
"Seth, don't you dare," Albus told him seriously. "Or I tell my father and whatever sweet little deal you have with him ends here and now. Don't you dare take control of anyone's mind. I'm ser"-
"Relax," Seth yawned. "I just took it to keep it away from Rojer. Besides, controlling people isn't my style. Takes the fun out of manipulating them to freely choose a deal with me and it needs to be in sight, in the open. Too risky to use it in Hogwarts."
"Seth… I'm ser"-
"I know," Seth said through annoyance. "Now if you're done annoying me, I have to return to Simon's dorm. Poor guy has nobody left in that dorm. Hah, looks like Scorpius got his wish after all. What a renaissance we had. More like Purifying. Maybe my father's ideals aren't that crazy after all. If only it was aimed at Hogwarts and not the actual Wizarding world…" Seth sighed. "I'm going to destroy the Reservation."
Seth made to walk away but Albus held him back this time, "Seth…"
"Quit it," Seth said angrily, face still turned. "No respect for privacy, huh? Quit it, Al."
"You quit it," Albus shot back, making Seth freeze. "You claim to be honest, at least open up about how you feel. No one gets you riled up. What's eating you?"
"Everything!" Seth said shakily. "The Headmaster for one thing. So, he's with the DA but apparently, he can't see past his own nose. Wasn't it obvious why so many ragged kids came out and didn't get sorted? People blamed it on the Magic Quill because that's easier to blame than on kids."
"What about the k- oh…" Albus stopped.
Seth sat against a wall, looking very disturbed. Not sad, but angry, furious with something, like he wanted to hit something. "They're with the Reservation, Al," Seth said out loud. "There, I can say it without fear of anyone telling me off. They are. The Quill never registered their names because they're at the Reservation, they came in to start up a group, they started attacking, killing when things got really intense, they're trying to close Hogwarts and they're damn well succeeding. More of us out, the easier it is to pick us off."
"So, you actually have a drive now?"
"What do you think?" Seth said, reverting back to indifferent tone. "The Arsenal almost kills Simon and the Reservation kills people like Simon for a living. I told your father about those kids and what they were supposed to do, your father told Phoenix and that is the whole reason why Phoenix knew so much. He would've known nothing if not for me. Yet, when I tell him he can't keep the kids in Hogwarts, he acts like he knows better. Wow, sometimes, I think I'm allied with idiots. But Al, I don't care what anyone does, I will protect him, Sierra and Sophie by whatever means necessary. And if that means the Serpentine staff or the little device in my pocket, your death or even mine, so be it! What?" he demanded at Albus' smirk.
"That's the Seth I always knew was there," Albus commented quietly. "You might be careless, you might be impassive, you might genuinely not care about anything, but one thing for sure: Simon has a positive influence on you. And he's driven you to the most extreme measures just to protect him. I don't know how you'll end up but the fact that you came through for all of us says a lot about you. It means that deep down, really deep down, you actually care."
Seth just stared at him through empty eyes. He showed no hint of emotion whatsoever, but he did raise his eyebrows, "I just said I was willing to kill you. You don't have a problem with that?"
Albus actually scoffed, "After all we've been through, I don't think you have it in you."
"Oh, yeah?" Seth withdrew his wand and pointed it at Albus' neck threateningly. Albus remained impassive, not taking the threat seriously even then. Seth curled his mouth, "Do you want to test me?"
"Yeah, I do," Albus challenged, convinced, absolutely convinced that he was right. A person like Simon, a good-natured person like Simon would never befriend someone like Seth unless they truly knew something more. "Go on. Do it in the Common room. Try getting away with it."
The stand-off ended there but Seth's words did not. He pocketed his wand once more and fixed Albus with a beady eye, "You'll see, Al. One of these days, you'll genuinely ask for me to kill you. And I will oblige without remorse."
