I Know You Know Who I Am

by TheSecretAdmirer

2nd of Eden Trilogy/Sequel to Enemy of My Enemy. 5 years later, Leolin returns to find everything has changed and Draco is engaged to another woman. She struggles to win back his love & trust while facing the demons of her past. As darkness begins to fall, she realises she might have to choose between the man she loves and rescuing the world from a familiar evil...COMPLETE! RE-READ

36. Chapter 35: Devil Take the Hindmost

a/n: yes I realise there are typos...I will fix them later. ENJOY AND PLEASE REVIEW

Chapter 36: Devil Take the Hindmost

"Sir? Lieutenant Pucey to see you."

Lucius looked up from the parchment he'd been perusing to fix his new assistant with a cool stare. He'd been forced to dispose of the three following Finlay Reed's unsavoury demise, but he'd been hopeful this one would show more initiative. She was Walden McNair's niece, and as such, had come highly recommended, though she'd yet still perform to expectation. Still, Lucius supposed she was nice enough to look at, at least from behind.

"Send him in," Lucius replied. "And close my grate. We're not to be disturbed for any reason, is that clear?"

"Crystal, sir," she squeaked, and he rolled his eyes and went back to his parchment, only bothering to look up again when he heard the french doors click and swing in.

Lieutenant," Lucius said, rising from seat. "I wasn't expecting you. I thought you were still abroad."

"Forgive the intrusion, sir," Adrian said, handing his coat to Regena and giving her a dispassionate up-down he didn't deign to conceal. "I've only just returned, but I have news that couldn't wait."

Lucius nodded calmly.

"Would you care for a drink?"

"Thank you," Adrian replied, brushing unnecessarily close to Regena as he ambled gracefully to the bar.

For her part, she didn't seem to know whether she wanted to be flattered or put off by his attention, and she shifted nervously from foot to foot, waiting to be dismissed.

"You may go," Lucius snapped at her. "Lock the door behind you."

"Yes, sir," she said, ultimately unable to avoid the temptation to glance at Adrian again. He gave her a mildly predatory look and raised his eyebrows at her, and she blushed.

"Now," Lucius demanded, and she nodded, flush deepening as she scuttled off.

"Nervous little thing, isn't she?" Adrian commented dryly, straying back to the desk.

"Yes, I'm afraid her talents have been rather over exaggerated," Lucius said wryly, pursing his lips.

"Or maybe you just haven't discovered them, sir," Adrian said in a mild tone.

Lucius considered this, the right side of his mouth curling into a cruel half smile.

"Perhaps if I like what you've brought me, I'll let you discover them yourself."

Adrian laughed quietly before downing his glass and slinking to refill it.

"Well?" Lucius said calmly. Even in the face of good news, he was never impatient

"It's Genevieve," Adrian called casually over his shoulder, taking another sip. "She's the Secret Keeper."

"You're sure?" Lucius pressed, sitting on his desk.

"Positive, sir," Adrian said, returning.

"How?" Lucius demanded. "I thought you said you'd just come back from Europe."

"I have," Adrian agreed calmly. "But Jaime Quinn is finally proving himself useful. He's being working the American crew, slipping them veritaserum and asking questions. Last night he had finally had a shot at Genevieve, and she rolled over like a pup. Gave him everything but the bloke's name."

Lucius considered.

"And you're sure she won't remember? I can't have this getting back to Draco or Brankovitch."

Adrian shook his head.

"Tate does beautiful work when it comes to memory charms. She only remember that she had a conversation with Quinn, but not what was said. Trust me, she won't be eager to admit to Draco she's been flirting with the likes of Quinn."

"And Draco still has no idea you've been watching him?"

"He knows some," Adrian admitted. "But he has no idea Quinn's been spying on them. And from what Genevieve said, the King Pin hasn't brought Draco into the fold, which means there are still blindspots in their alliance. I know how to work them to our advantage, I assure you.'

"Good," Lucius said. "Then your next task is finding her weakness. Something we can leverage against her. Her father, perhaps, or mother?"

Adrian shook his head.

"Draco is her weakness. She's terrified of losing him."

"You're not to threaten him,"" Lucius instructed. "I can't have him getting wind of this before we find Bones. Speaking of which, where are we with hiring La Genie? Cassius tells me there is some vaseware in Athens that might help us identify the coins. I want them. You can tell La Genie he'll be handsomely paid."

"Oh, that won't be necessary, sir," Adrian said casually, finishing his second glass. "I've found a way to cut out the middle man, as it were. As for Draco, I don't need to threaten him to get Genevieve to talk. I have something much more elegant in mind."

"Sounds very economical," Lucius said, leaning forward slightly. "Go on."

Adrian smirked, setting down his now empty glass and drawing a stack of photos from his interior coast pocket and passed them to Lucius, who picked them up and began to thumb through them. They were group shots which had surreptitiously taken at a party, and he studied each face carefully.

"La Genie runs a tight ship, I'll give him that," Adrian said in preface. "His team is meticulous and careful, and it took me ages to get invited to this party. Still, you'll never believe who I ran into when I arrived."

"And who's that?" Lucius said.

"May I?" Adrian said, gesturing to the photos.

"Please," Lucius said, handing the stack back.

"La Genie's top dealer," Adrian said, sifting quickly through the pile. "is a French woman name Naomi Thénard. She's his second in command. She was the one I was meant to meet."

"Who is she?" Lucius said, frowning slightly. "I don't recognise the name."

Adrian's smirk widened as he found the right picture and passed it to Lucius.

"Then perhaps you'll recognise her face."

Lucius accepted the photograph, studying the beautiful young woman for a second before smiling darkly.

"No," he breathed, smile widening. "It can't be."

"It is, I assure you. I spoke to her myself."

"And she didn't know who you were?"

Adrian raised his eyebrows in a look of smug self appreciation.

"She's not the only one who's good with disguises. And that's not even the best part. This photograph was taken in Paris."

"Clever girl," Lucius breathed in grudging appreciation. "She's figured out a way to come back for him."

"And when she does," Adrian said. "We use La Genie as leverage against her and set her in Draco's path. He won't be able to resist crawling back to her, and Genevieve will have no choice but to come to you for help when he does."

"You really think she's that desperate?"

Adrian's eyes glittered.

"I know her kind. She'd do anything to be loved."

Lucius considered.

"It's admittedly a fair number of pieces to keep in play," he said. "But if you manage to pull it off, we could solve all our problems at once."

"Exactly," Adrian said, eyes glittering.

Lucius studied his protegeé with appreciation.

"You've done well, Adrian. Truly. I'm very pleased."

Adrian smirked.

"My pleasure, sir," he said smugly. "I live to serve."

"Indeed," Lucius said. "And I mean to see you handsomely rewarded for it. Tell me, what is it you want?"

"Let me to continue to serve at your side," Adrian said automatically. "The spoils from the new order will be more than enough, I'm sure."

Lucius nodded.

"Anything else?"

Adrian considered before answering.

"There is something," he admitted finally, eyes glittering greedily.

"Name it and it's yours."

"Her," Adrian said finally, gesturing to the picture on the desk. "I want Lefevre."

At this, Lucius gave a smooth laugh.

"A compelling choice," he said. "Though hardly surprising. I assure you her...charms have not been overstated. Quite the opposite, in fact."

"I'm sure," Adrian said. "But it's more than that."

"I'm intrigued," Lucius admitted, giving a dark smile. "Go on."

Adrian picked up his glass and strayed back to the bar, filling it a third time. He took a sip, seeming to contemplate what he wanted to say next.

"When I was growing up, my father used to go on magical game trophy hunts," he explained, swirling the amber liquid in his crystal glass. Thestrals, mostly, and Augerey. Occasionally Acromantula. Once on a trip to America, he even shot a Wampus. Tommy and I were beside ourselves with excitement; they're nearly impossible to kill. He was only the seventh person to ever bring one down. He even had this wand made," he said, drawing a handsome Irish Blackthorn wood wand from his hip. "It has the heartstring of the beast."

"Not surprising," Lucius said appreciatively, though his tone was not without a hint of jealousy. He had a weakness for one-of-a-kind artifacts. "I watched your father perform incredible magic with it."

"He said it was a reminder," Adrian continued. "That one's place in the world is defined by his dominion over his surrounding. It's the truest form of power, he said. And it's intoxicating."

"Agreed," Lucius said, increasingly drawn in.

"But there was one beast he wanted more than any other. A sphynx. 'Could you imagine the thrill?' he used to ask me. An impossibly powerful creature with human intelligence. He considered it to be the ultimately conquest of the animal kingdom. He was due to take a trip to Africa just before he died," Adrian went on. "So he fell just short. But I never forgot that, and it made he yearn for a trophy of my own."

"Lefevre may be a tantalizing creature," Lucius acquiesced. "But she's no Sphinx."

"Perhaps not," Adrian agreed. "But she's still forbidden and beautiful and wild. I can't think of a more satisfying trophy for my mantle." He considered before grinning darkly. "Or my bed."

Lucius gave an approving nod, giving a cruel smirk of his own.

"That I can't argue."

"I want to break her," Adrian said greedily, ambulating through the room again. "I want to stand at the centre of her universe. When I'm done with her, I want to her shudder when she hears my name and beg for my touch. Besides," he said, eying the figure he saw in the foe glass in the corner with hungry appreciation. "I think you can agree she'd make a lovely set piece in the new regime. She's the people's champion. Think of how many spirits will break after she marries me and bears my children."

"As always," Lucius said. "You continue to impress. We have an accord, then. After she's played her part, Lefevre is yours. Should we drink to it? To your trophy."

Adrian smirked, raising his fourth glass.

"To Lefevre."

---

Despite her promise to Draco, Leolin woke up knowing she had to go to the manor. She wasn't sure how exactly she'd manage it, but her mind was utterly made up. She knew she'd come too far to give up now. Too much hung in the balance, and despite the danger, she'd couldn't abandon her friends. They still didn't know what Adrian was up to, but whatever it was, Leolin had little doubt it would come to bear fruit today. She'd never forgive herself if she didn't at least try to stop whatever it was he had planned. She felt newly emboldened by finally having Draco back, and she now found herself longing to pay back Adrian's cruelty in kind.

She sat up, running a hand through her hair to push it out of her face before retrieving her floo from were it sat on her bedside table. Up for something risky? she wrote, rising from bed and shrugging into a robe.

She traipsed down the stairs and into the kitchen, wheels already turning. There was only one way into the Manor on a day like this; the Muggle way. She imagined Sweeney scaling the ornate facade at her behest, and she immediately felt sick with guilt. There wasn't a day that passed she did bitterly with she'd gone in his place.

As she was considering how she would even get to Wiltshire, the flames in her hearth roared emerald, and she started.

"You rang, ma belle?" A familiar voice echoed from the flames.

"Merlin's pants," Leolin said, coming over and sinking down in front of the hearth. "Ren, you shared the shite out of me!"

She cradled the key at her throat protectively, and Felix didn't fail to notice.

"Is that—" he began, face splitting into a grin.

She nodded, blushing and beaming.

"He gave it to me last night."

"I'm so happy for you, lapin," he said warmly. "But to be honest, I'm a bit surprised you're still in London. I expected you and Malfoy to be married and halfway around the globe by now."

Leolin sighed.

"So did I," she admitted.

"What happened?"

She sighed again.

"What always happens?"

Felix frowned.

"What does Gen matter, now that Draco knows the truth?"

"It's not Gen," Leolin replied. "Merlin, I wish it was even that easy. It's Adrian. He's basically holding Draco captive at the Manor."

"Why?" Felix asked with scrutiny.

"Whatever he has in the works is obviously going down today. My guess is that he's going to use the wedding as a distraction. I also have a horrible suspicion that he's going to try and use Gen to control Draco, and the only way he can effectively do that is if they are bound by marriage."

"So, what? Malfoy's just going to marry he and try and beat Pucey at his own game?"

"Leolin shook her head.

"No, thank merlin. Luckily our old Potions professor is officiating the ceremony. He can help Draco fake the magic."

"Okay," Felix said. "So what's your plan?"

Leolin had the decency to look sheepish.

"It's a bit risky," she admitted.

"Aren't they all?" he replied dryly.

"We sneak into the Manor, figure out what Adrian's planning, sneak out, and stop him."

"Oh, is that all?" Felix demanded, exasperated. "Leolin, that's not risky; it's effing suicidal. Adrian's going to have that place sown up tighter than Fort Knox."

"Fort what?" she asked bemusedly.

"It's to No-Maj army post in the US where they keep all their gol—no, you know what? It doesn't matter! My point is that no one is getting in without an invitation."

"I can, if I sneak in the Muggle way," Leolin insisted. "Sweeney's already done it."

"Yes, but I'm betting their weren't hundreds of people there when he did it! Besides, Lai—" he sighed, eyes pleading When he continued his voice was soft and tinged with sadness. "Think of what it cost him."

Leolin bowed her head, pained.

"I'm not blaming you, bichette," he assured her. "But I need you to seriously consider the stakes here. If you're right, and today is the day Pucey finally makes his big move, you are going to be the first person he comes after. He's not stupid. He's counting on you showing up, and he's going to be waiting to catch you when you do."

"Then I'm just going to have to outsmart him," she said resolutely.

"No!" Felix said emphatically. " We have to stop trying to beat him at his own game! Seriously, when does it ever work? Besides, if the wedding is a rouse, we need to stay here and stop whatever he's got in the works."

"We have no idea what he's planning, though!" she pointed out. "And we won't know unless we go to the Manor and head him off."

"He's probably targeting the Ministry. It's the only place that makes sense."

"It's not, though!" Leolin insisted. "He could just as easily attack the American Embassy again, or Hogwarts, even."

"Leolin—"

"I'm doing this," she said resolutely. "With or without you."

He shook his head.

"Then I'm in. I promised you I'd be at your side until you ordered me away. I'm not going back out on that now."

"Thank you," she whispered.

"And if Fate isn't with us," he said solemnly. "Then today is as good as any to die."

"We aren't going to die," she assured him. "And we're not going to fail, either. Adrian's convinced he'll have the last word; I've been through too much to let that happen.

"Then I'm with you," Felix said. "Let's end this."

She nodded.

"If you can find us a ride to the Manor, I will figure out our way in."

He nodded.

"Je parlerai plus tard," he said.

"See you later," she agreed. "Je t'aime."

"A toi aussi," he said.

He blew her a salutatory kiss and disappeared in a crackle of flames.

As soon as he disappeared, Leolin set to making preparations. She thought of alerting Severina to her plan—it could be helpful to have someone inside the Manor—but Leolin knew she wouldn't approve, and Leolin didn't want to risk Severina and Xavier running interference.

She made herself a cup of coffee before spreading out all the plans she had of Malfoy Manor on the floor and settling down to work. She intermittently chewed on the end of her quill, plotting several potential paths into the Manor. Her initial instinct was to go in the same way Sweeney had, by scaling the facade and breaking a window. However, Lucius would have almost certainly have corrected that particular blindspot by now. Even if he hadn't, Felix was right; there would literally be hundreds of people arriving at the Manor. It would be impossible to get in unseen.

Her next thought was to land on the roof, but that would require they arrival from the sky, and that hardly seemed less conspicuous. She continued to chew on her quill, tracing path over path before rejecting each in turn. Morning bled slowly into early afternoon, and Leolin remained engrossed in her work.

By two thirty her eyes and fingers had both begun to ache, and she'd run out of viable ideas. Still, she refused to relent, switching between topographical maps of the grounds to layouts of the Manor, silently begging Merlin for something, anything, to go on. Finally, as she blearily surveyed an ancient parchment, stinging eyes tracing the treeline that bordered the Manor to the East, something caught her attention.

It was a small blip, a detail so miniscule she'd initially dismissed it as an errant slip of the quill. The map she was studying looked like it had been completed something around the time the Manor was first built in the twelfth century.

Frantically she leapt up, scrambling to her desk in desperate search of an antique cartographer's glass Sweeney had given her several Christmases prior. It was a beautiful piece from Medieval Persia inlaid with silver and alabaster and obsidian. She wrenched open the drawer, rooting around until her fingers brushed the corner of the worn mahogany box. She pulled it out, tracing the etching on its face reverently before gently lifting the lid. She plucked out the note first, penned in Sweeney's lovably untidy scrawl.

To The Genius of Evil he'd written. Love, a fellow Evil Genius and Ardent Admirer. Happy Christmas, Nay-Nay.

Her eyes began to sting immediately, and she pressed a soft kiss to the parchment before setting it down and retrieving the magnifier from its bed of cardinal velvet. Carefully, she placed it over the cartograph, guiding it to the ink spot of a better look. It turned out to be a small statue of a woman holding a shallow basin which overflowed with water, creating a primitive fountain of sorts. Underneath was a descriptive scroll which read, "Juturna".

Leolin considered this, studying the statue again. Juturna was the Roman goddess of wells and springs, and champion of her brother Turnes, who she'd protected in battle against the Trojan War hero Aeneas.

She shook her head; that was likely irrelevant.

She grabbed her gnarled quill nub and continue to gnaw on it as she considered the implications.

A shrine, perhaps, or a sacrificial alter? If it was, it didn't her little good. Still, it made very little sense that Arnaud, a Norman invader, would erect a shrine to a minor Roman goddess. She ran the magnifier over the label again, noticing a small symbol next to the name Juturna.

Somehow, absurdly, it seemed familiar, and she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to sort through the annal of her mind.

A thousand works of art—Roman statuary, Frankish tapestries, Celtic manuscripts, Rococo fountains—flashed behind her eyes. None of them matched the crudely drawn nymph on the parchment. The longer she searched, the more distraction and fear began to bleed in, and the images of art began to be interspersed with with images of Draco, of Adrian, of her memories of the Manor.

She tried to refocus, to block out the extraneous, but suddenly she saw a flash of Draco that seemed to spark something. He stood smiling at her, diamond eyes glittering in muted torchlight.

"I can't know everything my love," he was saying, smile widening. She squeezed her eyes more tightly shut as she attempted to tug the memory under the illumination of her conscious memory.

"It's too big," he continued. "And too old, and too big of secrets."

Where were they? Was it somewhere on the Manor's grounds, or was this a memory from Hogwarts, instead?

She released a stale breath she'd been holding before inhaling another through her nose. Instead of fighting, she simply let go, allowing the wisps of memory to swirl around her like motes of dust caught in sunlight.

She too another deep breath in. They were underground. The Hogwarts dungeons? No, the air was too damp. She took a third breath—her deepest yet—and focused on the smell of earth and Draco's expression, which was one of pride and delight.

It felt almost like a dungeon which had fallen into disuse. She could remember being surrounded by wrought iron. The bars of a cell?

No! Racks, dozens of them, all empty, running the length of the room.

A wine cellar. They were in the abandoned wine cellar beneath what had originally been a vineyard on the Southwest corner of the Manor's grounds. Draco had taken her there on her first visit, just after their engagement party.

Leolin tried not to hold her breath again as the memory rushed back with increasing clarity. She still didn't know where Juturna's symbol fit in. She pictured Draco again before seeing beyond him to the circular oak door set into the stone wall behind him. The same door she'd asked him about. The same door he'd admitted lead somewhere unknown.

The ancient wood was faded and tending towards rot in several places, but she could feel the silent thrum of magic radiating off it even now. Adorning the planks was Juturna's unmistakable emblem, branded carefully into the wood.

"Where does that door lead?" she could hear herself asking now.

"Probably a secret passage to somewhere else."

"But you don't know where, though?" she pressed.

The memory was complete now, and she found herself back where she'd begun.

"I can't know everything, my love. It's too big, and too old, and too full of secrets."

Leolin could feel her pulse quickening as her mind gravitated back to the present. She'd found her way in.

Hastily she grabbed a scrap of parchment, scrawling the same to Felix and tossing it into the fire. She received a prompt reply.

And I found us a ride. Diagon Alley. One hour.

Her heart was pounding now, fear and excitement spiking her pulse in equal measure. She'd been passive for too long; it felt good to strike first for once, even if a small voice at the back of her mind was pleading with her to see reason and stay away like she'd promised.

She stood. She ought to eat something. Merlin only knew when she'd get the change next, as she padded to the kitchen, there was a knock on the door that made her jump.

She hastily flicked her wrist, assembling the tornado of parchment into an orderly pile and vanishing it into her cache.

"Be right there!"

"Ren," she began as she dropped the wards and opened the door. "I thought you—Gin! What the bloody hell are you doing here?"

She opened her arms to accept Leolin's grateful embrace.

"Expecting someone else?" Ginny said dryly.

"Not at all," Leolin said too quickly. "Or rather, I just assumed it would be Felix. I figured you were already at the Manor."

"I decided not to go," Ginny said casually, as if she was talking about a casual work do and not her best friend's wedding.

Leolin nodded in understanding and agreement.

"It could be dangerous."

"Not just that," Ginny said, still watching Leolin keenly as she retreated to the kitchen and put on the kettle. "I know today is going to be tough on you, and I didn't want you to have to go through it alone."

"So you're here to babysit me," Leolin interpreted in a dry voice, casually glancing at her watch. She had forty five minutes before she was due in Diagon Alley.

"I didn't say that," Ginny replied in the same tone.

"You didn't have to," Leolin said, cogs around turning. Perhaps this could actually be to her advantage...

"Do you need a babysitter?" ginny pressed less casually.

Leolin gave a hollow laugh.

"I knew it!" she demanded. "Drake sent you here to spy on me."

"Not spy," Ginny amended. "He just asked me to remind you that you promised you would stay out of it today."

"Who says I won't?" Leolin asked, pulling the singing kettle from the stove and dropping two tea bags into waiting mugs.

"History says you won't," Ginny said dryly.

"History can be re-written," Leolin pointed out.

"What made you think it was Chaisson at the door earlier?" Ginny countered, eyes narrowing.

Leolin doused the teabags with hot water before laughing.

"You can't honestly have expected me to know it was going to be you!" she defended, extracting the teabags and adding milk and sugar. "I assumed you'd be in Wiltshire!"

She emerged from the kitchen and offered Ginny the steaming mug.

"You know," Ginny said. "For a successful criminal, you are a surprisingly shite liar."

"I'm not lying!" Leolin laughed.

"Bollocks," Ginny said. "What are you two planning?"

"Have you ever considered becoming an Auror?" Leolin deflected. "You really know your way around an interrogation."

"What are you up to?" Ginny said, growing exasperated. "Just bloody tell me already."

"Nothing!" Leolin insisted. "He was just going to keep me company, is all. Like you said, it's going to be a long day for me."

"Then where is he?" Ginny asked, making a show of looking around. "It's half two already. Is he hiding? Chaisson! Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

"Well he—uh—said he was going to—" she broke off, incapable of coming up with anything.

"Gotcha," Ginny said in self-satisfaction, taking a long draught of tea.

"Fine," Leolin snapped sullenly. She had less than a half hour now. She needed to speed things up. "You win."

"Thank you," Ginny said triumphantly. "And good girl."

Leolin rolled her eyes and went back to her tea, silently weighing her options. She hated the idea of using magic to subdue Ginny, and besides, her wand was still in her bedroom. She had no way to get to it without arousing suspicion. By this time Ginny had finishing her tea and set down her mug.

"Fancy another?" Leolin asked casually. "Or should we start on something stronger?"

"Oh," Ginny said, as if she hadn't thought about it. "Um, just tea for me, thanks. But if you want something, please."

Inadvertently, she reached a hand to rub her swollen stomach, and Leolin felt an unexpected pang.

"Oh Merlin," she said, oddly embarrassed. "I totally—"

"No!" Ginny said quickly. "Don't be! I mean, do you have any red wine? I haven't had a glass in ages, and Langdon Blackburn said I could, you know—"

"No, no," Leolin said, grabbing Ginny's mug and hastily retreating to the kitchen. "Today's more a tea day, anyways. This weather is dreadful."

She glanced up casually to see if Ginny was watching her, but she wasn't. She was looking down instead, and Leolin could tell she felt guilty.

"Gin," Leolin said, putting the kettle on again. "Please don't feel bad. I don't—" she paused. "It's okay. I'm fine. In fact, I'm excited. I can't wait for this little duckling to be born."

Ginny seemed warmed by this.

"Me too," she admitted, eyes glittering with merriment. "And I know I said I didn't care, but as we get closer, I admit I'm really hoping it's a girl."

Leolin smiled, deftly uncorking a small bottle and tipping a little into Ginny's cup.

"I would be, too," Leolin said.

"You should!" Ginny said, perhaps a little too emphatically. "Because, you know, when you and Drake are ready, you can totally—"

"Exactly," Leolin interrupted, unable to stifle a small ache in her chest as she stirred in sugar. "It will be wonderful."

She brought Ginny's mug back to her, trying not to watch her too keenly as she took a sip.

"So what should we do today?" Ginny asked. "I think you owe me a chess rematch."

"You're on," Leolin said, resisting the urge to glance at her watch. "Though I probably ought to shower at some point."

"You can shower now, if you like," Ginny offered. "I could make you something. Have you eaten?"

"Yeah," Leolin lied. "You're sure you don't mind?"

"Of course not," Ginny said, stifling an unexpected yawn.

"Merlin," she said, stifling another. "Sorry about that! I suppose I didn't sleep well last night."

"You could lay down," Leolin offered casually, but she knew immediately it was the wrong thing to say.

Ginny's gaze hardened.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing!"

Ginny tried to stand, but she found she was unsteady on her feet. Leolin bit her lip, feeling terribly guilty.

"You drugged me?" Ginny demanded.

"No!" Leolin said. "It's a herb. Completely safe for you and the baby."

"Leolin!"

"I'm so sorry, Gin," she pleaded. "Please try to understand."

"You promised..." Ginny grit out, fighting the herb. "...Drake..."

"I can't just stand by and do nothing!" Leolin said. "Try to understand."

"Don't—do this—Lai..."

"I have to," Leolin said, tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry I had to involve you."

"Leolin!"

"I'm sorry," she repeated, serruptitiously plucking one of Ginny's hairs off the couch.

"Please...stay!" Ginny said, reaching for her wand.

Leolin grabbed it, feeling horrible as she set it on the coffee table a little out of Ginny's reach.

"I'm going to drop the unplottable wards when I leave," Leolin said, crouching down so the groggy Ginny could hear her. "When you wake up, stay here with the grate closed until I get back. Don't leave for any reason."

Ginny shook her head, fumbling for her floo. Leolin got to it first and set it next to Ginny's wand.

"Give...that to...me..."

"I can't," Leolin pleaded. "I'm so sorry."

By this time, Ginny was almost completely overcome, and she fell back onto the sofa, exhausted from the struggle. Leolin glanced at her watch again before tearing back upstairs and quickly changing into dark stretch trousers and a warmed hooded jacket. She then went to her bathroom cabinet and pulled out the last of her polyjuice vials before vanishing it. She glanced into the mirror at her grim reflection, nodded brusquely before jogging back downstairs.

Ginny's breathing had slowed, all the worry melted from face as she rested peacefully on her back, hand gently resting on her stomach. Leolin approached, pressing a kiss on her forehead and and gently touching Ginny's rounded belly as well.

"I love you," she breathed. "See you on the other side."

With that Leolin withdrew, slipping silently out the door before dropping all the wards and disappearing in a soft pop.

She reappeared a moment later at the intersection of Knockturn and Diagon, glancing around before drawing her hood up. It had begun to grow cold, and her breath clung to the air. She pulled her hood slightly tighter.

It was more a precaution then a necessity, because even though it was Saturday, there was hardly a soul in sight. Half the shops from her childhood were closed or boarded up. She felt a pang as she passed a darkened Quality Quidditch, and she stopped to observe, with welling sadness, Florean Fortescue's abandoned ice cream parlor.

He'd disappeared under mysterious circumstances while she was in Wales, his body turning up in the Thames a week later. Leolin bit her lip. It was such a senseless waste of goodness. Florean's had always been a place of joy and laughter, of friendship and family, and Florean had the most remarkable way of treating every patron like they were special. No, it was more than that. In his eyes, they were all special.

Tears welled in her eyes as she studied the smashed windows and the grimy black and white tile floor, which, in years gone by, had been habitually pristine. She was suddenly overcome with the desire to travel back in time and visit the parlor with Ginny and Harry and the others.

Swallowing a swelling lump in her throat, she headed cautiously down Knockturn. She still had ten minutes, and there was a stop she felt she ought to make first. Compared to Diagon, Knockturn seemed less abandoned, though it was no less deserted. She pulled her hood a little tighter as she passed by Borgin and Burkes, and she noted that there was still a dim light on in Dervish and Banges, which sold foe glasses, sneakascopes and other amateur protection devices.

Finally she reached the corner, and she glanced around again before slipping into The Savage Vagabond. If they were going to pull this off, it wasn't going to be alone.

"Oy, closed," Moira snapped as the door shut behind Leolin.

In response Leolin pushed off her hood and gave a small smile.

"Hey Moira."

"Leolin!" she exclaimed. "Merlin's white beard, it is good to see your face."

"And yours," Leolin said, folding into Moira's warm embrace.

"What the fanny are you doing here?" Moira asked, pulling back to study Leolin.

Leolin glanced around needlessly—the pub was completely empty—but Moira understood the gesture, and she locked the door with a swish of her wand.

"Talk to me," she ordered, squeezing Leolin's hand. "What's going on? I figured you'd be in Wiltshire by now, all things considered."

"I'm headed there soon," Leolin admitted, fingering her key nervously.

"Leolin, what is it?"

"Something coming," she replied finally.

"What?"

"I don't entirely know," she admitted. "But whatever it is, it's going to be big. I need your help."

"Anything," Moira said resolutely, though she looked a touch pale.

"I think Adrian Pucey's going to try and topple the Ministry this afternoon, while everyone is distracted by the wedding."

"He's back?" Moira asked quietly.

Leolin nodded.

"He's at the Manor now, trying to keep strings on Draco, but I don't think he means to stay there much longer. And there's more. I don't think he's going to be alone."

"Former Deatheaters, you reckon?"

Leolin bit her lip.

"I think he's going to have Lucius Malfoy with him."

"He's dead," Moira said quietly.

Leolin bit her lip again.

"For now," she said, slightly breathless.

Moira looked momentarily stunned, but she recovered quickly. After all, this wasn't her first war. He wouldn't be the first Dark Lord she'd seen rise from the dead.

"What's the plan?" she asked instead.

Leolin's floo began to smoke.

"Go to Kelly and Cara's and get everyone you can. Wood, the Weasleys, my cousin. When Adrian comes back to London, we have to be ready for him."

Moira nodded.

Leolin pulled up her hood again, preparing to step back out into the biting cold.

"Whatever you do," Leolin instructed. "Be careful, and stay out of sight as much as possible. We can't be sure who's watching."

"You do the same," Moira replied gravely. "Good luck."

Leolin smiled somewhat grimly.

"And you."

She carefully slid back onto the street, careful to remain in the shadow as she checked her floo.

Borgin and Burkes, it said simply.

A jet a cold flashed in her blood. It didn't feel right. Why would Felix want her to met him there?However, she drew her wand and headed for the shop anyway, ready for an ambush. It was seemingly deserted when she came in.

"Ren?" she called, already backing towards the door.

She froze when she heard movement from the back, and she raised her wand and prepared to shoot. However, her shoulders fell from her ears when the figure emerged.

"Nikki," she breathed in relief as George Weasley's wife appeared.

"Hello, darling," Nikki replied. "It's been too long."

Leolin embraced her old friend, though not without difficulty. Like her sisters-in-law, Nikki was pregnant.

"Thank Merlin you made it," Nikki said. "Your poor French bloke was starting to worry."

"Where is he?" Leolin asked, even as Felix rounded the corner.

"Lapin," he breathed in relief, crushing her to her.

"Sorry," she told him. "I had to make a quick stop."

He nodded.

"Comment ça va? T'es prête?"

"I have to be ready," Leolin said in reply. "I have no choice. George!"

George Weasley smiled at seeing her, and he was trailed by Fred. They had remarkably (or perhaps predictably) aged in almost perfect synchronization, and though they both looked older—they were admittedly almost thirty, and they were both fathers—they were still very much identical. It was only George's left ear—or lack thereof—which separated them.

"Leolin," they greeted in unison, both smiling.

"You look excellent," George said, hugging her.

"Haven't aged a day," Fred added.

"It's good to see you both," she said. "Really, you have no idea. It feels like it's been a lifetime."

"You too," George said. "And in some ways, it has been."

"Though from what Renard here has told us," Fred continued. "You still have the same rubbish taste in blokes."

Leolin laughed heartily at that.

"Suppose I do," she admitted, and they laughed as well. "What can I say?"

"About Malfoy?" they chorused.

"The less, the better," Fred piped.

"Here, here, Freddie darling."

"There's the bloke you ought to be marrying," Fred continued, gesturing to Felix.

"Agreed!" George said, grinning. "That face, oh la la!"

"He wishes," Leolin said, returning the crooked smile Felix flashed her.

"No he doesn't," Felix replied jovially.

Nikki, who'd slipped into the back room shortly after Leolin arrived, reemerged.

"Are we ready?" she asked, consulting her watch. "It's nearly time."

They nodded, and George reached over and tugged an old sheet off an odd, oblong wardrobe about seven feet tall.

"Why are we all gathered around this closet?" Leolin asked in confusion.

"It's a cabinet," the twins said.

"And you'll see in a minute," Fred added.

There was a rustling from the interior, and Leolin immediately drew her wand. But Nikki smiled, gently ushering her to lower it.

"Trust me," she said with reassuring warmth. "You don't need that."

"What—" Leolin began, but the words died in her throat when the door of the cabinet swung open and a regal-looking Minerva McGonagall stepped out. She was dressed, as always, in her austere black robes, though she'd forgone her customary witch's hate for the journey.

"Headmistress," Leolin said, mildly stunned. "What on Earth are you doing here?"

"I came to help, if I can," she said, taking Leolin's hand affectionately. "It's good to see you, my dear."

"And you," Leolin said, folding into the elder woman's embrace.

She was frailer than she seemed, reminding Leolin that she was, by now, getting on in years.

"Fred and George tell me you need a way to Malfoy Manor," McGonagall said, nodding at the twins in greeting.

"Well yes," Leolin said, slightly confused again. "But I—"

"I've sent Hagrid ahead to Keynsham, near Bristol," McGonagall interrupted gently. "He's waiting with Thestrals for you."

She offered Leolin a letter which bore the Headmaster's personal seal.

"Thank you, Leolin said, accepting the letter. "But you didn't have to come all this way to give me letters of mark. I know you must have your hands full."

"I know," McGonagall admitted. "But I wanted to see you off myself, and to wish you good luck in person. As an educator, I know it's inappropriate to have favourite students, but I must admit, Leolin, you were always one of mine."

"What about us?" Fred and George chorused.

McGonagall gave a small, uncharacteristic laugh.

"I'm afraid that six years of the two of you rather contributed to my decision to give up teaching and accept Professor Dumbledore's post."

"Fair enough," George said, and Fred shrugged in agreement.

McGonagall turned back to Leolin, gently touching her cheek.

"You are a smart, brave, and incredibly capable witch, Leolin, and I hope it's not too presumptuous for me to confess I see some of myself in you."

Leolin bowed her head, overcome.

"I don't know what to say," Leolin admitted, biting back tears. "Except that I'm honored by your praise. Thank you."

"It's well deserved," McGonagall assured her.

"I hope I can live up to your expectations," Leolin confessed.

"You've already exceeded any I had for you when you were my student," McGonagall said kindly. "But if you wish to make me proud today, all i ask is that you protect yourself. You've too much to offer, and this cause needs you too much to lose you now. And as for Mr. Pucey—" she took Leolin by the shoulders. "You are two times the wizard he could ever hope to be. Remember that today."

"Thank you," Leolin said, emboldened by McGonagall's surprising declaration. "I promise to make you proud."

"I have no doubt you will," McGonagall agreed. "And by the way, Nichole tells me that congratulations are in order for you again."

Leolin glanced at Nikki, who winked.

"They are," Leolin admitted almost sheepishly, touching her key.

"I'm thrilled for you, my dear. Please tell Draco the same."

"I will. Thank you, professor," Leolin said. "For everything."

"My pleasure," McGonagall replied, squeezing her hand a final time. "Now I'm afraid the time has come for me to say goodbye. I have a castle to protect."

"We'll come with you," George offered.

"Reckon you'll need our help," Freed added. "Besides, we've been meaning to visit anyways. We haven't seen Peeves in an age."

"Yeah," George said, shaking his head reproachfully. "Some friends we are."

"Too late to pick up a fruit basket on the way, you think?" Fred queried.

McGonagall gave him a withering look, and he had the decency to look sheepish.

"Next time, then," he said, exchanging a wry smile with his brother.

"I'm coming, too," Nikki said, and George's grin faded immediately.

"Absolutely not," he said sternly.

"Why?" she demanded fiercely.

"You know why," George countered, covering her round stomach with both hands.

"Viking shieldmaidens went to battle pregnant all the time," she said, brushing off his touch.

"I don't bloody care!" George said somewhat hotly.

She seemed wounded by his tone, which he quickly amended it.

"Nik, Ella and Emma need you."

"And I need you," she said quietly. "You're not going without me."

"Think of Teddy Lupin," he continued in a soft, sorrowful voice. "Please."

"It won't come to that," Fred interjected quickly. "I'll look out for him, Nik. Promise. Cross my heart and hope to die."

"If he comes back with even a scratch," she warned him. "I will stick a needle in your eye."

"I have no doubt," Fred said, sounding a touch scared.

"I love you," she said to George, kissing him fervently.

"Tell the girls I'll be home for dinner," he replied, touching his forehead briefly to hers.

""Good luck," Leolin said.

"You too," Fred replied, and the twins headed into the cabinet.

"Thank you again, professor," Leolin said to McGonagall, who prepared to follow the twins.

"Seal the portal behind us," she instructed in response. "And Leolin?"

"Hmm?"

"Nine years seems long enough," she said wryly. "You may tell Mr. Malfoy he's no longer banned from school property."

Leolin grinned despite everything.

"I will," she agreed. "Thank you."

With that, McGonagall disappeared. As she did, Leolin sent up a silent prayer that it wouldn't be the last time Leolin saw her.

"Ready, bichette?" Felix said, extending a hand.

She took it gratefully.

"Go," Nikki urged. "And stay in touch. And for Merlin's sake, be careful."

Leolin nodded.

"Hang on," she instructed Felix. "Now isn't a great time for splicing."

He nodded now, and she squeezed her eyes shut and they disappeared in a pop.

they arrived in the sleepy Wizarding town of Keynsham several seconds later, just shy of the four oclock hour. Leolin tried not to think about the fact the ceremony began in less than two hours.

"Where to?" Felix said, breath hanging in the chilly air as he spoke.

Leolin tore open the letter from McGonagall.

"The Page and Hammer," she said, drawing her hood up again. "It's a pub just down the road."

They set off, glancing around cautiously before casually entering the pub. The interior was cozy and inviting, and some absurd part of Leolin wanted nothing more than to settle in for pint with Felix.

"See your friend?" Felix breathed as they lowered their hoods.

"No," Leolin replied. "And you can't miss him. He's seven feet tall. C'mon."

Casually she sank down at the bar, looking around carefully.

"Psst," an older bloke next to her hissed quietly, not looking at her. "Leolin Lefevre?"

"Who's asking?" she muttered back.

In response, he slid a scrap of parchment across the bar towards her. It bore the Hogwarts crest and an untidy note.

In the alley. Use the back door.

She showed it to Felix, who nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Cheers," she said quietly, to the man, surreptitiously passing him a galleon before jerking her head at Felix.

They slipped through the crowd and back into the chilly October air.

"Leolin!" Hagrid exclaimed brightly when he saw her. "Err—s'right if I call ya that? 'Miss Lefevre' feels a bit stiff, all things considered."

"Of course," she said politely avoiding looking at the Thestrals standing behind him. She'd never seen one before. "Good to see you, umm, Rubeus?"

"Hagrid's just fine," he clarified, and she smiled.

"Of course," she said. "Sorry. Hagrid, this is my friend, Felix. Ren, this is Hagrid. He teaches Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts."

"Pleased to meet yer," Hagrid said, extending a meaty hand.

"And you," Felix said, shaking it.

"Well, right," Hagrid said. "Off you go then, I s'pose. Shouldn't take you more than twenty minutes to get there."

"Thank you," Leolin said, finally eying the skeletal beasts. "But it's actually just Ren and me. We only need two Thestrals, not three."

"Oh," Hagrid said. "I thought the Headmistress said you'd be needing—"

"We did," Felix clarified. "But I don't think we can wait for them anymore."

Leolin turned to Felix, perplexed.

"Wait for who?"

"Me," a figure said, emerging from the shadows and pushing of their hood to reveal a mop of flaming red hair.

"Effie," Leolin breathed in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

"Chaisson flooed me," she said, approaching slowly. "Reckoned I might want a shot at Pucey."

Leolin glanced at Felix, and he gave a sympathetic shrug.

"Why would you help me?" she asked candidly.

Effie considered this question carefully, exhaling through her nose like a dragon.

"I haven't forgiven you," she admitted finally. "But I also know Sweeney's death wasn't your fault."

"I should never have sent Swish to the manor," Leolin blurted. "There isn't a day that goes by I don't regret it."

"I know that," Effie said. "I know how much you loved my brother. I know you would never have purposefully put him in danger."

"He was—" Leolin began, getting choked up. "He is family to me. You both are."

She took a step towards Effie, who tensed slightly.

"I've relived that night a thousand times," she continued. "And I can see now that there was nothing you could have done. Pucey was going to kill Swish regardless. I know you did everything you could."

"But you were right about me," Leolin said sorrowfully. "Pucey—"

Effie shook her head, seeming almost angry. Leolin realised after a moment she was angry at herself.

"No," she bit out. "I was wrong to say those things. I was hurting and I—" she broke off. "I don't blame you for Pucey. His sick obsession with you—that's not your fault."

Leolin nodded and looked at her feet.

"Thank you," she said finally. "For being here. I know it can't have been an easy decision.

"It wasn't. And to be honest, I'm not ready to move on with you like nothing ever happened. But I'm in your corner, today and forever. I'd be doing Swish's memory shame if I wasn't."

"Thank you," Leolin repeated, choking on unshed tears now.

Effie seemed to sense how badly Leolin wanted to hug her, because she nodded brusquely and turned to mount her own Thestral.

"Viennet, lapin," Felix urged softly, touching her back.

She nodded, placing a foot into the stirrup and swung gracefully up into the finely tooled saddle.

"Thank you, Hagrid," She said, tentatively patting her Thestral's leathery neck as it chuffed softly. "For everything."

"I'm glad I could help," he replied. "Give my best to Harry and the others. And—err—Malfoy, too I s'pose."

She gave a soft smile.

"Now off with ya," Hagrid said, and he gave her Thestral a slap on the rump, and it gave an odd whinny before unfurling its bat-like wings and taking flight.

The wind whipped and howled around them as they soured over the Wiltshire countryside, and the damp air made Leolin's teeth chatter slightly. However, they seemed to be making good time, and before Leolin knew it, they'd spotted Malfoy Manor's Gothic spires jutting out of the darkening clouds.

"Merlin," Felix said as they arced wide to avoid being seen. No wonder Malfoy's such a spoiled prick."

"C'mon," Leolin said, urging her Thestral south, away from the Manor.

"Where are we going?" Effie asked as she and Felix followed suit.

"We'll swing wide and land in those trees," Leolin explained. "We can travel on the ground from there."

Effie and Felix exchanged a glanced and nodded.

When they reached the dense forest that bordered the Manor several eyes to the East, Leolin urged her Thestral into descent.

"Lucky for us this is here," Effie commented. "Don't see a lot of forests in Wiltshire."

She was right; the natural landscape was dominated by rolling hills and verdant farmland.

"This isn't naturally occurring," Leolin explained as they landed in a small clearing. "The Malfoys created it to keep Muggles from the grounds."

"Of course they did," Felix grumbled irritably. Leolin shot him a sympathetic look. She often forgot, given his magical prowess, that his parents and younger brother were all Muggles.

They dismounted, and Leolin conjured the old map and muttered a quick 'lumos' so she could study it. She touched the glowing tip of her wand to the small Juturna symbol, and the wand's glow intensified. She flicked her wrist, and the light shot from her wand and bounded off into the trees, clearing a path for them.

"C'mon," Leolin said, getting back into the saddle.

She drove a boot into the Thestral's soft barrel, and the creature took off at a cantor. They thundered down the newly carved path in silence, and the only sound was the Thestral's hooves pounding the damp forest floor. Finally they spotted a glowing orb in a clearing about twenty five yards ahead, and Leolin tugged up on the reins, urging her Thestral to slow.

The orb hung suspended over Juturna's outstretched basin, rotating slowly.

"What's that?" Effie asked as they approached, eying Juturna's roughly hewn figure. "Odd place for a fountain."

"It's not a fountain," Leolin clarified. "It's a secret 's passage and our way in."

They all dismounted again, approaching cautiously. However, just then there was a rustling in the treetops, and they all drew their wands.

"What was that?" Felix demanded.

"Lumos," Effie said, raising her wand to reveal a mournful looking bird with glistening dark green feathers. At seeing them, it gave a keening lament.

"What is it?" Felix asked in wonder.

"An Augurey," Effie breathed, half in awe and half in fear.

"A what?"

"An Irish Phoenix," Leolin said as the Augurey gave another plaintive warble.

"It's beautiful," Felix said.

"It's a bad omen," Effie replied shakily, breath puffing out in front of her. "Augurey foretell death."

"That's not true," Leolin amended. "They sing when it's going to rain."

"I still don't like it," Effie said. "Let's go."

Leolin watched the Augurey alight from the branch, keening again as it took off further into the forest.

"Effie's right," Felix said. "The sky's about to burst, and we should be going."

Leolin nodded finally, trudging back to the fountain and surveying it carefully.

"So how does it work?" Effie asked.

"No idea," Leolin admitted, examining the roughly hewn basin, which had no more than a few inches of water in it.

"Maybe you have to drink the water?" Felix offered.

Effie made a face.

"You first, then."

"No I think you're right, Ren," Leolin concluded. "It has something to do with the water."

Carefully she rolled up her sleeve to the elbow and stuck her hand in, giving a shriek of surprise when her arm was submerged the the shoulder.

"It's a portal," she said, retracted her hand and shaking off the excess water. "We have to climb through."

"So much for not getting wet," Felix said, offering Leolin a hand as she stepped up onto the basin's stone lip.

"Sure about this?" Effie said dubiously.

"No," Leolin admitted. "But it's the best we've got."

Taking a steadying breath, she prodded a foot into the pool,watching it disappear.

"Right," she said. "Here goes nothing."

With that she leapt into the basin, keeping her body rigid as she disappeared into the water. She was only submerged for a moment before she found herself careening down an Earthen water slide, the ending of which curved inexplicably upward, sending her flying. She landed in an ungraceful heap before being flattened, first by Felix and then by Effie.

"Sorry," Felix said, tugging Leolin to her feet. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," she said, brushing damp earth off her arms and legs.

"Slytherin's bunghole," Effie said. "It's bloody freezing down here."

Her teeth were already chattering.

"Here," Felix offered, drawing his wand and drying their clothes. He then conjured a small handheld flame that gave off a pleasant warmth. He offered it to Effie.

"Cheers," she said softly, accepting it.

"Let's go," Leolin said, holding her wand aloft for light as they started down the dark tunnel ahead. They only had about forty five minutes until the ceremony began.

"So," Felix said after several minutes of silence. "In terms of a plan..."

"Honestly," Leolin admitted."don't really have one, beyond figuring out what Adrian's up to and stopping him."

"Figured as much," Felix said without malice.

"I'm sorry," Leolin said. "I know we're flying blind."

"It is what it is," Effie said it what Leolin assumed was supposed to be a comforting tone. "We knew what we were getting into."

Finally they arrived at the round oak door where Leolin had first seen Juturna's symbol. On the other side should be the old wine cellar.

"Bombarda!" she cried, shielding her eyes as the door splintering and blasted apart.

"C'mom," Leolin said as the debris settled. "This way."

"What is this place?" Felix asked, eying the ancient casks and dusty racks.

"It used to be a wine cellar. It connects the basement of the main part of the house. I'll bet that where Adrian's crew have set up camp."

She'd drawn another parchment, this time a relatively newer blueprint, and began weaving expertly through a series of corridors.

The earth walls graduated gave way to dark grey stone, and the temperature began to rise, though it was still uncomfortably cool.

"This feels like a dungeon," Felix whispered, and Leolin gave him a meaningful look.

"They have a dungeon?" he hissed.

"This house was originally build in the eleventh century," she explained. "And Arnaud was gifted the land by William the Conqueror, even though it already belonged to a Muggle Lord. He was understandably less than please when his land got taken away, so he convinced the other Muggle Lords to revolt with him. You'd be surprised how long it took Arnaud to put down the uprising. Hence, dungeon."

"Quite the family you're marrying into," Effie said quietly.

Just then they heard voice ahead, and they stopped dead in their tracks.

"Who is it?" Felix mouthed, edging closer.

Leolin conjured an extendable ear and held it up.

"Tate Rawle," she breathed. "Teddy Nott, and Micky Travers."

"No Pucey?" Effie whispered.

Leolin shook her head.

"And no Thivierge."

she beckoned them over so they could all three heard.

"—All at once," Tate was saying. "I'm heading to London now. Nott, you have Hogwarts. This thing is going to be over before they even know it's begun."

"How many of them are upstairs?" Mickey was asking.

" Everyone," Tate breathed with satisfaction. "Every single member of their new Order, and loads of Ministry higher-ups as well."

"Even Leolin?" Teddy asked. Unlike Tate, he didn't seem particularly enthused.

She remembered the sweet boy she'd dated once upon a lifetime ago at Hogwarts, and the circumstances under which he and Astoria had joined Adrian, and she felt a pang of sympathy for him. However, when she imagined him storming Hogwarts castle with hundreds of innocent children inside, the sentiment faded.

"Not yet," Tate said. "But you know she will be."

"She probably already is," Mickey added. "I bet she's been here since last night. We ought to check Malfoy's bed."

Tate laughed. It was a deep, smooth sound that echoed off the stone walls.

"I'm afraid their reunion will be short lived; after today, she's going to be spending the foreseeable future in Adrian's bed."

Mickey joined in on Tate's cruel laughter, though Teddy did not.

"Right," Tate said. "It's time. See you boys on the other side."

He disappeared in a sharp crack, and after a moment, Teddy did, too.

Leolin gestured silently to Mickey, and the other two nodded. She counted to three, and on four they leapt out.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Petrificus Totalus."

Mickey went stiff as a board as his wand soared through the air and into Effie's outstretched hand. She tucked it carefully into her back pocket.

"Lefevre," he grit out. "We were just talking about you."

"So I heard," she said, advancing and kicking him in the stomach.

He groaned in pain.

"You're—" he coughed. "Too late."

"Am I?" she snarled, kicking him again. "We'll just see, won't we?"

"Don't know how you expect to fight on three fronts," he wheezed, and her blood ran a little colder.

She whirled to face the others.

"It's not a distraction," she said, feeling stupid for not seeing it earlier. "It's a trap."

"What is?" Effie asked in alarm.

"The ceremony. I have to warn Draco. We need to get everyone out of here."

"We'll come with you," Felix said automatically.

"No," Leolin said. "Go to the Ministry. The fight there's already started. I'll get the others and we'll meet you there."

"What about him?" Effie asked, and Leolin sneered.

"Wipe his memory, snap his wand, and throw him in the lake."

Felix and Effie exchanged a look.

"Lai," Felix said quietly. "He could freeze to death."

Leolin clenched her jaw.

"He'd do the same to us."

"Leolin—"

"Just do it, Ren," Leolin commanded. "And keep in touch."

He nodded.

"Be careful, bichette," he cautioned, touching her cheek gently.

"You too," she said, ignoring Mickey's pleas for mercy. "Both of you."

Her eyes strayed to Effie, who nodded stiffly.

"Give Pucey my regards," she said in a grave tone, and Leolin nodded.

With this, Felix wrenched Mickey to his feet as Effie drew his Aspen wand from her pocket, studying it for a moment.

"No!" Mickey begged. "Please!"

She sneered at his pleas before breaking the wand violently across her knees, severing the dragon string core.

"No," Mickey screamed again, but Leolin silenced him with an impatient flick of her wrist.

"Go," Leolin urged, hurriedly conjuring the polyjuice and the hair of Ginny's. "And for Merlin's sake, please be careful."

Felix nodded, giving her a final look.

"I love you," he breathed.

"See you soon," she assured him.

With this he and Effie hurriedly off the way they came, dragging Mickey with them. Leolin hastily transfigured her trousers and jacket into a gown before dropping the fiery strand of hair into the polyjuice and giving it a vigorous shake.

It bubbled lilac, and she put down the lavender-smelling concoction in a single swallow, trying to the gag on the saccharine taste.

She didn't wait for the potion to change her, simply took off, ascending the stone steps three at a time and bursting onto the main floor. There was hardly anyone around, all the guests having already gathered in the ballroom, though she did have to dodge behind a pillar at one point to avoid Langdon McNair, who was on patrol.

She caught sight of her reflection as she crept down the hall, waiting for him to put his back to her, and she noted with grim satisfaction her flashing red hair and swollen midsection.

She slunk silently behind Landgon, firing a quick stupefy and catching him as he crumpled. Easing him to the floor, she stepped over him and tried to side door. It was locked, and her heart raced as she imagined everyone she loved who was trapped inside. She hastily unlocked it with her wand before slipping inside.

It felt like every member of the British Wizarding Elit was assembled, and she felt her pulse quicken even more when she spotted Draco standing at the front, shifting from foot to foot. Blaise was beside him, looking stern.

She carefully swept towards them, smiling weakly as people greeted her. "Lovely to see you, my dear." "My, but you're started to show." "Lovely dress, Ginevra."

Finally Blaise and Draco noticed her, and Blaise frowned concernedly.

"Gin," he breathed when she was close enough, leaning over to kiss her. "What are you doing here?"

"I'd prefer you didn't," Leolin said meaningfully, subtlely placing a hand over his lips. Blaise frowned in slight confusion, but Draco's face immediately melted into an expression of pain.

"Leolin," he breathed. "You promised me you wouldn't come."

"Where's Ginny?" Blaise demanded.

"She's safe" Leolin assured him hurriedly. 'But we have to get everyone out of here. It's a trap."

Draco grew pale. She could tell that, like her, he felt responsible for not realising this before.

"Drake," she said insistently, trying to hide her panic. "We have to go. Now. Tate Rawle's already attacking the Ministry, and they need our help. Drop the wards."

Draco looked around, and Blaise subtlely shifted to shield him from view as he drew his wand. He flourished it deftly, and Leolin expected to feel the customary shift in the air as the wards fell around her. However, instead she felt nothing. Draco exhaled a shaky breath.

"My wand," he said. "It's not working."

Blaise drew his.

"Neither is mine," he breathed.

He and Leolin exchanged a panicky look.

"Blackburn," they said in unison.

"The wand checks!" she said frantically. "That's what he was really doing. Oh gods, everyone's a sitting duck."

"Hang on," Blaise whispered. "Didn't you have Severina's last night? Yours still works!"

Of course it still worked, she realised. She'd just used it two minutes ago.

She fumbled for it, but suddenly the orchestra began to play the grand bridal march. She froze.

"What the fuck is this?" Draco breathed, glancing at Snape for support. The Potionsmaster shook his head to indicate he didn't know.

Leolin instinctually grabbed Draco's hand as the double doors at the end of the long aisle swung open and Gen emerged in her wedding gown.

However, she was far from the blushing bride guests had clearly been expecting, and cries and gasps of surprise went up as she stumbled more fully into the ballroom. Her white dress was ragged and torn, her hair incredibly mussed, and her cheeks stained from prolonged crying. Most importantly, where were belly had been rounded the night before, it was now—once again—completely flat.

"Draco!" she sobbed pitifully. "I'm so sorry!"

He instinctually started towards her, but he stopped in his tracks where a second figure emerged from the mouth of the door.

Another, more panicked scream went up as Adrian Pucey appeared, grabbing Gen by the hair and forcing her to her knees.

"Here she is, Malfoy!" he called, smiling cruelly. "Your beautiful bride!"

Gen sobbed and tried to wrench away from him, but his grip was incredibly tight, and he was largely unmoved by her struggling.

"No longer pregnant, I'm afraid," Adrian continued, smile widening. "Then, of course, she never really was. Though I suspect you might have guessed as much already."

"Draco!" Gen sobbed, but Draco hadn't moved.

"Suppose it's all sinking in now, isn't it?" Adrian goaded. "She was Brankovitch's Secret Keeper all this time, and she flipped on him in exchange for getting you back. She betrayed you and brought down your little house of cards, all so she could end up here. How does it feel, knowing she colluded with your father just to keep you and Lefevre apart?"

Draco's wand hand twitched, though he remained where he was, subtly shielding Leolin from Adrian's direct sightline. Adrian raised his eyebrows in a gesture of triumph before addressing the crowd more generally. The ballroom had gone completely quiet, and his sonorous voice bounded off the walls.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," he called. "Today is your lucky day. Today is your lucky day, because today you will have the privilege of watching the birth of an empire unlike any you've ever seen."

The room broke into terrified whispers, but he ignored them and continued.

"Eleven years ago, a man stood before you and proclaimed himself your lord. However, this man was weak, and unfit to rule."

A nervous energy filled the room. Even after Voldemort's death, people still feared speaking ill of him.

"Any man who fears death will always be a slave to it," Adrian explained. "Only by facing death can one conquer it."

Leolin and Blaise exchanged a terrified look, and she was sure he was thinking the same thing she was.

"Today I offer you a new Lord, not of Darkness, by of blazing Light. The Morning Star, who was passed through the shadow of death and found his way back. He departed this world a man." Adrian paused, giving a dark smile. "He returns to you a demigod."

Figures were filing in, former Death Eaters and Adrian's co-conspirators, including, Leolin noted with horror, Kelly Troy. However, instead of the Death Easter's typical black, they all wore cloaks of white.

"Oh my gods," Leolin breathed, squeezing Blaise's hand as tears welled in her eyes.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Adrian boomed. "Welcome to the new regime."

The doors burst open a third time, and Leolin had to shield her eyes for the blinding light. It was so bright, she felt she was staring directly into the sun. Everyone reacted in kind, and Draco stumbled back to Leolin, shielding her.

Finally the blazing light faded to a mere glow, and gasps of surprise and horror filled the room as a resurrected Lucius Malfoy practically floated down the main aisle.

All signs of age had melted from his face,and he was inhumanly beautiful. Though his skin was indeed glowing, the greatest concentration of light seemed to be emanating from a golden circlet on his brow. Far from mere ornament, the crown seemed to be part of his person. Leolin knew at once it was the prize he'd ventured into the underworld to retrieve, and she had a sickening suspicion who it had belonged to before him. She thought of what Adrian had said: The Morning Star. Lucius was not the first to bear the epithet, and as she looked at the circlet again, she admitted to herself that it was just the sort of crown an elite member of the Seraphim would wear.

"Jean du Bones sends his regards," he said as he approached Draco. His voice was otherworldly, as if he was speaking in several octaves at once.

"What have you done?" Draco breathed in disgust, horrified tears shining in his eyes.

"I've conquered the land of the Dead," Lucius said arrogantly. "And now I'm here for the living. As my son, you have the honor of being the first to kneel and swear your allegiance."

"I would rather die," Draco ground out as Lucius advanced on him, alabastor teeth flashing.

"Then why doesn't Leolin do it for you?" Lucius said, alien voice echoing through the hall as he looked around for her.

Finally he raised the gilded sceptre he held in his right hand and flourished it, and Leolin felt the facade peeling off of her as she was lifted a foot off the ground.

"Leolin!" Draco cried in panic, but Lucius waved the sceptre again and Draco was held back.

"On your knees, then, Leolin, where you belong."

He released the spell and she crumbled to a heap on the floor as Draco struggled wildly. However, as Lucius raised the Sceptre to compel her, a figure stepped between them, wand raised.

"Don't be a fool, Severus," Lucius said in a silky voice.

"You've given me no choice," Snape replied, looking grim but resolute.

"So be it," Lucius boomed. "Avada Kadavra!"

Snape raised his wand at the same moment. However, it wasn't the same Hawthorn wand Leolin had seen him use before. This one was made a smooth, blanched wood, and it was uncommonly long.

As the jet of green rocketed towards him, Snape flourished the wand, and a blazing white light shot out to meet it. They collided mid-air with a deafening crack, and heat and light frothed from the connection.

"No," Lucius breathed in a soft, malevolent tone. "It can't be."

His followers were prowling along the edge of the connection but were otherwise unable to help. The ball of light seemed to be inching towards his end of the connection now. Like a pearl on a string.

"It was destroyed when he killed the Potter boy," Lucius said, almost to himself. "Shattered into a million pieces."

Snape held on with two hands, perspiration forming on his brow.

"No spell can destroy the true Elder Wand."

"No," Lucius repeated. "Voldemort took that wand from Dumbledore's grave. I was there."

"Dumbledore was no longer the Master of the Elder Wand," Snape said, color draining from the exertion of maintaining the connection.

"You?" Lucius said, smiling now. "You killed Dumbledore? The people's champion. Your mentor? Your friend?"

Snape did not seem unaffected but Lucius's taunts, but he held firm, even as the bead began crawling back towards his side.

"I did want he asked of me," he grit out. "For the greater good."

"And yet you failed," Lucius said, gesturing to his victory. "Nevermind that; you'll see him soon enough."

"You don't frighten me," Snape said resolutely, and the light moved back towards Lucius.

"Then you're a fool," Lucius snapped.

However, as he said the words, a figure shrouded in tempestuous shadow began to materialize to out of the glowing orb. As the figure assumed a more corporal (though not entirely solid) form, he gave a gutteral scream, and the thunder outside the Manor echoed his cry with a jagged boom.

"It can't be," Lucius breathed as the ghost of Guillarme Audige burst forward, lightening crackling in his fingertips.

"What's dead may never die," Audige snarled back.

"You're nothing more than a shadow," Lucius said, circelet glowing.

"I will kill you just the same," Audige said, slinking to Snape's side. "And there will be no Bones to bring you back this time, Samael."

The thunder sounded again as rain began to pound the glass. Leolin didn't pretend to even guess how Snape had managed to summon Audige, or if indeed he'd even meant to, but he seemed as good an ally as any in a fight against a demigod.

"Now," Audige commanded, and Snape jerked the Elder Wand up, severing the connection as Audige pounded his shadowy fists on the ground, plunging them into darkness.

The only light that remained was Lucius himself, and he gave a alien scream so chilling the hair on the back of Leolin's neck stood up.

It was here that the hall erupted into chaos. The sound of screams pierced the air as the assembly collectively realised they were without magic. They rushed the doors as the former Death Eaters fought to keep them at bay, cutting down any who got too close.

"Drake!" Leolin screamed, grabbing him desperately. "Take my wand and break the wards. We have the numbers, we have to use them!"

She stuffed her wand into his hand.

"What about you?" he cried over the din.

A flash of lightening from Lucius temporarily illuminated the room, and Leolin caught Adrian's gaze from across the ballroom. His eyes flashed, and he started towards her.

She drew her customary stiletto before grabbing Draco's lapel and kissing him heatedly.

"I love you," she purred. "Now let's get out of here."

Draco raised her wand as she started off, tracking Adrian with every flash of lightening.

"Leolin!" Severina called from a distance, struggling with Astoria for her wand. However, in another jagged bout of darkness, she lost track of them.

As the room was re-illuminated, Leolin spotted Adrian again, though he'd yet to see her. Taking advantage of another bout of darkness, she charged him, and by the time the room was lit again, it was too late.

She leapt off the ground, slamming her heavy boot into the centre of his sternum. She heard a loud crack, and she thought for a moment she'd crushed his ribcage. However, she realised as he stumbled back that it had been the protective vest he wore. Spitting out a dark mouthful of blood, he stripped off the vest, casting it aside. The kick had disarmed him, and his wand lay several feet behind him. However, instead of scrambling for it like she'd anticipated, he simply raised his fists instead.

"You have no idea how much I'm going to enjoy this," he snarled as they edged closer.

"Say your prayers," she replied, taking a breath and lifting her fists as well.

He struck first, jabbing expertly forward and punching her squarely in the jaw. She doubled over by recovered quickly, striking back. He was well-versed in hand-to-hand and anticipated a blow to the kidneys next, but he must have forgotten that she was left-handed, because he blocked the wrong way, leaving his ribcage exposed on the left side. She slammed her fist into it with all the fury she had.

He cried out in pain, stumbling back. However, when she attempted to kick him again, this time in the face, he grabbed her by the ankle with snake-like reflexes, tugging her roughly towards him an sending her flat on her back. The fall knocked the wind out of her, and her knife clattered from her grip. He summoned his wand and bound her hands to the floor before clamping a hand on her throat and squeezing. It wasn't tight enough to kill her, but right away she could feel herself beginning to lose consciousness.

"Got you now," he breathed as she tossed her head back and forth, trying to break his grip.

Leolin's vision began to blur as he applied more pressure, and she viciously kicked her legs in an effort to dislodge him. However, he was twelve stone of pure muscle, and as such he outweighed her by forty pounds. There was no way she was going to overpower him. Still, she had to do something. If she didn't, Tate's prediction was likely come true, and she would be spending her nights with Adrian instead of Draco.

Her only chance was his wand, which he'd set down mere centimetres from her left hand. She was dizzy from the lack of oxygen, but she flexed her fingers, feeling the wand a hair's breadth from her middle finger.

"Finally," Adrian breathed, unaware of what she was trying to do. "You're mine."

She was about to be pulled under, she could feel it, but her fingers were still straining for the wand, and she felt it roll under the pad of her finger and she was able to wrap a hand around it. It had a nasty, jagged energy about it, and she could tell at once it didn't care for her touch. However, she ignored it, forcing all of her remaining energy into the spell.

"Serpensortia!" she croaked, and the wand reluctantly obeyed, spitting out an agitated black mamba.

In his surprise, Adrian let go, and Leolin gave a jagged cough as air rushed back into her lungs. Adrian scrambled to retrieve his wand and evaporate the snake, but he wasn't nearly quick enough to avoid the Mamba's lightening fast strike. It bit him three times in rapid succession, once in the chest and twice in the soft flesh of his neck, mere inches from his main artery. He immediately collapsed, panting as the poison coursed quickly through his veins. Leolin grabbed his wand again, croaking the countercharm and watching her beautiful mamba disappate into black smoke.

Heaving and still weak, Leolin watched the panic swelling in his eyes, and she crawled laboriously on top of him, watching in grim pleasure as he gold eyes rolled wildly back into his head, the color rapidly evacuating his once handsome face. She could feel the life force draining out of him, felt his heart beat slowing as the light in his eyes grew increasingly dim.

There was a hawksbill knife clipped to his belt, and she opened it, examining the blade. It was small, no longer than three inches, but she could tell it was incredibly sharp.

Studying him again she leaned down, pressing a feather light kiss to his ashen lips. She then tugged his hair so she could whisper in his ear.

"Goodbye, darling," she snarled quietly, fifteen years of emnity thrumming through her fingers as she prepared to drive the knife into his caratoid. "See you in Hell."

"Leolin!" a seemingly distant voice echoed. Leolin glanced up, almost dazed, to find Severina gesturing wildly to something over Leolin's shoulder. "Look out!"

It was too late, Leolin turned only in time to see Torrii Thivierge raising her wand, eyes blazing.

"Crucio!" Torrii screamed, and Leolin was basted back by the curse. She could feel Torrii's white hot fury in her bones.

Torrii kept her wand trained on Leolin as she writhed, vocal chords too swollen to scream properly.

Finally Torrii relented, melting to Adrian's side and checking his pulse. He was still breathing, and she used her wand to draw out the venom. Even as she did, he reanimated, and he sat up, panting.

At this point Torrii turned back to Leolin.

"Sectumsempra!"

Leolin felt herself being jerked to the side as the curse flew towards her.

"Xavier!" she screamed as the curse struck him instead, opening his throat vertically from chin to collarbone.

Severina, who was several feet behind them, screamed in agony as he fell, gurgling. However, Leolin sprung into action.

"Accio wand," she rasped, willing Adrian's wand with everything she had. Again, it reluctantly obeyed. Xavier's wound was gushing blood, but Leolin cold see it had missed both his caratoid and his esophagus.

"Xavy," she commanded in her ruined voice. "Hold on. Don't you dare let go. You hear me?"

"Xavier," Severina sobbed, collasping at his side and taking his hand. She looked at Leolin, eyes pleading.

"Save him," she begged. "Please."

Leolin nodded, twirling Adrian's wand in her hand and acclimating herself to its power.

"Vulnera Sanentur," she whispered, repeating incantation she'd heard Snape used.

Blood slithered back into the wound as the skin drew clumsily back together.

Leolin touched Xavier's chest as murmured the incantation again, urging more blood to his heart. She could feel it beating more steadily as she repeated teh incantation a third time. When it was done she leaned back on her heels as Severina lay her head of Xavier's chest sobbing again.

"Stay here," Leolin commanded softly, petting Severina' hair. "Protect Xavy. I'm going after Thivierge."

"No, Leolin—"

But she wasn't listening. She'd already spotted her forgotten knife, and she scooped it up as her eyes scanned the crowd for Torrii. Leolin saw her battling with Pansy a few feet away. Leolin felt a sick thrill tingling up her spine as she raised the blade, preparing to plunge it into Torrii's exposed back. Whoever had decided it was wrong to stab an enemy in the back was clearly not a Slytherin.

She grabbed Torrii by the swishing ponytail and struck her twice, watching with grim satisfaction as she crumbled to the ground.

"That's for Xavier," she sneered, pressing a boot to Torrii's back and she forced her to bathe in her own blood. She raised Adrian's wand, preparing the end Torrii, when there was a jagged and blinding flash of light accompanied by a feral snarl of lightening. Taking advantage of Leolin's distraction, Torrii disappeared in a pop, though Leolin hardly noticed.

Her heart seized in fear as she turned to find Audige's spectre suspended ten feet in the air by Lucius. Lucius raised his sceptre and flourished it, grotesquely contorting the physics of time by slowing it down to half it's regular speed. Only he seemed to be move at a normal pace, and Leolin watched him raise the sceptre again.

"Sandet Partem."

Leolin watched, in sickeningly slow motion, as Guillarme Audige, King of the Quarter and Servant of Death, was rent in two. His ribcage opened like the wings of a great bird, and his not-quite-human innards plummeted from the gaping cavity and turned to dark smoke. His head and limbs crumbled to ash, showering those below.

Lucius watched in triumph, even as time caught up around him and exploded into activity. Audige's death, or whatever it had been, seemed to have torn the anti-apparition wards open, and people began disappearing as Death Eaters grabbed prisoners.

"Leolin!" someone cried behind her.

She turned to see Kelly, his white cloak stained red in places. She didn't know what to make of it, or him, but as he met her gaze, it was still impossibly sincere, still so genuinely Kelly.

"What are you doing?" she cried.

"What I have to!" He said. "Adrian thinks he's flipped me. I have to stay!"

"You're going to get yourself killed!" she cried.

And he shook his head to indicate he didn't have a choice.

"The Ministry's fallen," he called back. "Get out of here while you can! I'll cover you and others!"

Snape was battling Lucius now, even without Audige, but Leolin could tell he was losing steam. She had to find Draco. Kelly was right; they had to get out before it was too late.

"Lefevre!" Adrian screamed, having found her again from ten yards away.

He was eying her hungrily again, and she could see very clearly what he intended to do. He wasn't going to bother with coercion, Imperius, or anything else. He meant to overpower her, strip her, and take her by force on the spot.

She had to act fast. She could feel the wand in her hand quivering at Adrian's approach. It was eager to return to him. It may have obeyed her once, but she could tell in a head-to-head, its allegiance would be absolute.

Knowing this, she did the only thing she could think of. She met his eyes, raised the wand, and attempted to snap it over her knee. It resisted with snarling displeasure, but when she repeated the action, the core burst forth, emitting what almost sounded like a jaguar's growl. A shard of artic fear slithered down her spin. It was a Wampus heart string. She looked back up at him, and his expression of fury, and she was reminded of just how powerful a man he really was.

Before he could advance further, she disappeared in a crack, reappearing a hundred yards away.

"Draco!" she croaked, looking around wildly and watching friends and enemies battling and disappearing in equal measure.

"Draco!"

She couldn't see him, and she disappeared and reappeared again, refusing to even imagine he'd been captured or worse.

"Draco!"

"Leolin!" came a desperate reply.

He was twenty five yards to her right, wading through the crowd and dodging curses.

"Drake!" she begged, fighting towards him as well.

There was another scream, and Leolin looked temporarily away from Draco to find Snape had collapsed to his knees.

"Severus!" she begged, absurdly trying to reach him, having forgotten she was currently wandless.

Lucius advanced as Leolin caught Snape's desperate gaze.

"Go," he begged resolute but still afraid.

He blocked a final killing curse from Lucius before putting the Elder Wand to his temple.

"Lilly," he breathed, a tear slipping down his cheek as he closed his eyes. "I'm coming. Avada Kadavra."

Leolin screamed again as his lifeless body fell to the floor, the now defunct Elder Wand still clutched in his hand.

"Leolin!"

She turned, tears in her eyes, to see Draco was nearly on her. She reached out a hand towards him, straining for his touch. In the seconds before their fingers finally met, she glanced around the ballroom, at the destruction and the lifeless bodies. This was it; they were at war again.

"Leolin!" Draco was nearly there now, and as their hands touched, her crushed her to him and they disappeared in a jagged crack.

END OF BOOK TWO.

a/n: hope you enjoyed this! It's been a crazy two years writing this thing! Look for the third part, entitled Before We Turn to Stone, very soon. I'm also toying with writing a bunch of Ginny/Blaise one-shots to show their relationship through their perspective. Thoughts? As always, PLEASE REVIEW.