The Medieval Relics

Chapter 36: A Twist in Time

A/N: Well… it's not like I didn't expect a backlash after last chapter. Nonetheless, thanks for all the feedback. I urge you all to read on for the finale before ceasing reading due to the 'death' of a fan favorite. Albus definitely owes Seth, but with or without a time turner, Albus is not incapable of dying and may not be able to save the dire situation single-handedly. Even if he does use a time turner, some (whether it includes Seth or not) will still die. Speaking of time, time to answer questions. I've been asked what this supposed 'death' of Albus entails. Albus was cursed with what resembled but was not quite Voldemort's soul, it was less than a soul. It is no longer. It is now a second soul sharing a host body with another. Before, because it resided without his consent, it threatened to sap his lifespan to gain strength. At that point, Albus was not immune to the Killing Curse. Now that Albus gave consent, he is. Getting a second soul is usually physically destructive, but Albus was not induced with that pain because this was introduced gradually and not suddenly. There is a possibility that if he chooses to defeat Incommodo himself, his soul would be destroyed. This does not mean it will happen nor does it mean Albus cannot die. It is difficult to kill someone like Incommodo or Albus. There are alternatives but the option Merlin proposed is less destructive to the world. There are ways to get rid of the second soul but as Soto said, it is physically destructive and the process is very likely (but not certain) to kill him. (Like taking a fragment from Tom Riddle's soul warped his physical appearance, taking an entire soul from Albus would be far more destructive.) It would take luck. Now to Apollo. Apollo was not threatening Albus with death. He was warning him against cheating death which Albus, let's face it, just did. Apollo has a role to play too, but you may have to wait to find out what it is.

It took a while for Albus' eyes to accept what they were seeing. He never thought he would see this. Seth was smart. He knew how to protect himself. The fact that he had ultimately died meant something very big was afoot. But what? Was he too late? Albus did not know. He bent down by Seth's body, shutting his eyes for him and even kissing his forehead, staring down apologetically. He felt sorry for him. Seth was just a boy in the end. A tough little boy but a boy nonetheless. And he was dead. Well, was he? Why was his body still warm? His wound was still bleeding and his body was not yet stiff. Even in death, he felt alive.

Albus actually felt tears prickling his eyes as he picked his body up and held him, not sure what else to do. He felt a sob expel from his mouth as he hugged him. Albus heard scampering feet. He did not raise his head. Upon seeing from the corner of his eye students rushing across the corridor, Albus knew he was still safe. "There he is! Tell Kimble. He's there. He's safe."

Albus didn't know what they were talking about. He felt arms lift him up, felt himself being embraced as a familiar yell sounded. Albus could not bring himself to look at Simon's grieved face. He prepared himself for a loud wail, a scream of agony in losing his best friend but for some reason, it never came. Albus realized it was Louis who was holding him. Louis had never hugged him before. This was probably Albus' first memory of being hugged by any cousin besides Hugo. The fact Louis was hugging him meant something terrible happened. And Albus was too late.

"Is it over?" a trembling voice of Sierra Lean said.

"Only just," Louis muttered as Albus pulled away from him. "The Reservation got away."

Albus dared a look at Simon but the boy was holding together. He just stared at Seth. Someone, it seemed had taken the liberty of healing Seth's wounds so he looked clean, like he had a painless death. In fact, with the way he had his eyes closed, he may well have been sleeping. Sierra seemed to be trembling, like she wanted to scream aloud but held herself together for the time being. What had happened? Seth possessed the staff, how was it he just simply died? He couldn't… he- he couldn't.

"Al," Louis said slowly, looking him into the eyes. "We- we need to get to the hospital wing."

"What happened?" Albus asked, finding his voice was shaking. He had only been gone for over three hours and already, something happened and ended. What could have happened? The Reservation… Louis said they left…

"Al, just- look, just go, someone will tell you there," Louis said, trying hard to evade the question.

"Louis," Albus said, calling him by name. "What happened? Where- ok, where are the bodies?"

He almost demanded an answer because after asking, someone who sounded like Alex said, "Just tell him. He's going to find out eventually."

Laura sniffed and shook, being supported by a red-haired twin. Albus supposed it was not Alex then, but Eric. Neil Nott, who sported two cuts and a large swelling bauble on his forehead, led him out of the corridor. Albus followed him silently, pausing only when Louis said, "Al… I'm sorry."

Albus nearly had a heart attack. Louis' inability to tell him, Neil silently leading him, people saying he would find out, it was like they knew Albus specifically would be affected. Albus in particular would be grieved to learn of something. Something. What? However many friends he had, very few people in Hogwarts would elicit a drastic emotion from him if they had died. His first thought was Lily. Was it possible that somebody had gotten to her? Did Hugo and Scorpius being around her not help? Losing Hugo would also devastate Albus, losing Scorpius would do it too. Or was it- was it Alexis? His closest of all friends? The one girl he loved? Could she have died? Was Harry or Ginny in the castle? Did Albus lose his mother or father? Both?

Neil stood aside on the marble staircase, or at least what used to be the marble staircase. It was crumbled, pieces strewn across the floor below. He stared across the entrance hall. Bodies were littered across it. He could not see them clearly. Albus had to walk down on a narrow strip of staircase left to reach the bottom. Once he did, he noticed the doors to the Great hall were wide open. The tables were set against the wall and Madam Pomfrey as well as House-elves were carrying stretchers with shrouds over their occupants.

Heart beating heavily against his chest, he entered. The first body he saw was that of Alpha Greengrass. He looked stiff and cold but his eyes were closed and he looked completely fine, like whatever killed him, he had expected and accepted. Before Albus could accept what he saw, he took one look, and ran inside, rushed over to where Hugo was kneeling. Lying against him, eyes shut peacefully, hair resting and once happy face now broken was Lily. Albus knelt down beside him, trying to convince himself she would be fine. Regardless of everything. So Louis said he was sorry, so nobody wanted to tell him, big deal. They could've been fooled. What if she was unconscious? But just looking at her, staring at her pale face and open mouth, it was clear. Lily was dead.

Albus tried to entangle Hugo's arms to take her, to hug her. But Hugo kept his grip, refusing to let go, whispering, "Don't!" Hugo spoke in a shaky way, in a way Albus never heard from him, from anyone, before. He never saw this sort of grief. Hugo clutched her tightly, still refusing to let go, even as Albus hugged her tightly. Her body was also still warm even if it was pale and stiff. Like Seth, one could easily mistake her for unconscious, might just if Hugo was not grieving over her mangled body. This was all recent. How was it recent? What happened in such a short space of time? Why didn't anybody say aloud what happened? He felt a pair of hands take her from both of them.

Before he knew it, a House-elf disappeared with her, presumably to the Hospital Wing. Hugo just stayed sitting, staring ahead. Like Albus did with Seth exactly one year ago, he took Hugo and hugged him tightly. He wailed for a long time, screamed, yelled in agony, worst pain than Albus ever saw the Cruciatus Curse inflict. Hugo was in pain. Emotional, inner pain, pain that he could not, would not, might never recover from.

Long after Hugo pulled himself from Albus' embrace, after Rose came and whispered something to him and supported him away, Albus stayed kneeling in the Great hall. He had lost his sister. He lost Lily. Something terrible had happened. The Reservation somehow attacked. He did not know how. This was new. Somebody tipped someone off to where the kids were, perhaps. It was the only explanation. And as Seth predicted, he was the first target. Somebody betrayed them. Albus looked around, his heart rate slowly returning to normal. It could only increase once Albus gasped. He raced across the room, now aware that fewer bodies littered it as House-elves took them to the Hospital Wing safely. Two bodies. They were Alexis and beside her Alexander. Alexander was clearly dead, face to the floor but Alexis' eyes were half open.

"No, NO!" Albus yelled, face scrunched up. "No, Alexis!" He choked up, seizing her hands, clasping them tightly but it was no use. She gave no response. "No… I need you…" Feeling the last beats of a dying heart melt away, he knew she had just died. Just then, like hearing Albus' voice gave her the closure she needed. Hand silently clasping around his one last time, he felt her slip away. "ALEXIS!" he yelled, tears flying out. "Don't- don't die… Alexis… ALEXIS! DON'T!"

Albus just kept muttering "no", unable to believe it. He kept his own eyes closed, muttering the names of Alexis and Lily, constantly reminding himself that they were where he could not follow, unwilling to see her body. She was so alive few hours ago. Now, she was dead. Alexis, even her brother, everything they worked for- the Ravenclaw line itself- was dead. He never felt so much pain in his life, so much merciless, irreversible pain. He felt as if his whole body went numb. He could feel nothing. He sensed rather than felt the body being taken from him. Then, he fell. Before he knew it, Albus' own heart gave in and he fell into darkness himself.

An hour later, Albus still did not know what happened. He woke up in the hospital wing. Everyone was silent. Nobody even whispered. No conversation, no hint of what caused this calamity. Much more died than Albus himself knew. They were separated from most of the living, most students had been confined to their dormitories, and Aries was taking command, giving orders with few, if any, teachers left. Strangely, when Albus asked about Seth, nobody seemed to know he had died. Lily was put away in an unused classroom with Alexis and other bodies Albus could never identify. Bodies Albus did not want to identify.

Albus was still sitting, staring aimlessly in shock. Nobody seemed to want to speak of it but the way they did speak, it was like whatever happened was a quick horror. It came, it happened, it went, and it left terror in its wake. The door opened and in came Rose, arm tightly around Hugo, who looked distraught. Hugo seemed to be biting on his middle finger, as if to stop himself crying out. His back was shaking, his knees were trembling and Rose gave him a seat by Albus' bed before running off. Albus looked up, "Where are you going?"

Rose hesitated, "I have to- send a letter. Someone has to know what happened." She paused, as if a part of her wanted to tell Albus what happened but she left before Albus could press for more.

Hugo laid his head on Albus and closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to sleep was the only way to find peace. Albus felt terrible for Hugo and his grief, especially when Albus did not know how to grieve himself. He lost more than Hugo. He had lost his own sister and his girlfriend. A girl he loved dearly. He heard Proxima wailing from afar, a girl screaming for her dead twin, and Albus knew there would come a time where he himself would grieve, where he would let loose all his emotions and cry for all of them but somehow, anything more than what happened in the Entrance hall, could not come out. Not yet. Not in the hospital wing. Mourning, he knew, would come later. It would come when his father arrived. When Harry would finally hear of it, he would come.

It was nearly five hours since Albus left the school when Rose came back. She did not speak a word. She just walked over, put an arm around a quietly tearing Hugo and held him. Albus sighed, knowing Harry must've figured it out by now. He would be here shortly. Then, Albus did not think he could contain his grief. He had a plan. It was supposed to go well. He was supposed to have discovered Incommodo's secrets and tell everyone. This was not supposed to happen. Alexis and Lily were supposed to be alive, to be sitting in a room with Albus and the rest of the Hogwarts Guard as they made a long term plan to deal with Incommodo, body and soul. Now, they couldn't. Both were dead.

His fists shook. Seth was dead too, and nobody seemed to have a word for him. Simon was nowhere to be seen. Probably alone, grieving, nobody to hold him like Seth did. Albus thought back sadly to one of the last words Seth spoke to him. They came back, like a cold hand clenching his memory. Even in death, he had a way.

"Time turners are pretty tricky, you know. It can only go up to five hours. Either you decide to agree or disagree with the past. Change something behind the scenes or change something outright and probably risk your life. Of course, if you do that, you'd need to be careful and avoid a paradox. Don't erase the reason for going back in time to begin with. See what I mean? Al. If you ever go back in time, reveal yourself to me. I'm serious. I gave you the time turner, you can trust me."

Back during their early years, people had called Mark a genius sometimes, Aries was a prodigy, Alex was just intelligent but Seth… Seth was incredibly clever, he must have known. He always knew more than he let on. And he must have realized that he would need help. Albus found it strange enough that Seth so suddenly brought a time turner up. Albus fingered the time turner, once again, his mind already made up. Fifteen minutes, and Albus would have left five hours ago. He had to be quick.

Without looking, he took it out, still feeling it. Seth's last memento. Albus had to stop this. A light gasp sounded beside him. He looked aside and saw Hugo, staring glassy-eyed at it. Before Albus could tell him to stay calm, Hugo said quietly, almost in a deadly whisper, "Take me with you."

Hugo's whisper caught Rose's attention then and Albus cursed. He only had seconds to prepare himself for her refusal, "What? Hugo, wha"- she stared, eyes wide. "Al, Al, no, listen, please…" Albus readied it regardless of her insistence but before he could turn it once, Rose held his arm, "Stop, let Uncle Harry do it. It's safer. It's"-

"He won't be here in time," Albus refuted quietly. "It's already almost too late."

"Al"-

"You have to take me with you," Hugo pleaded, tears streaming from his eyes all over again, pleading eyes wide. "Al, PLEASE!"

"I will!" Albus told him firmly. "I'll take you"-

"NO!" Rose shrieked so loudly, it elicited glares from the occupants. Madam Pomfrey was going to drag her out and she took would see the time turner. Albus had to go soon.

Thankfully, Hugo seemed to get the message because the curtains around Albus' bed shut closed and he got up, wand on Rose's neck dramatically. "Get off him," he growled.

Albus quietly cast Muffliato as Rose looked shocked. "Hugo…" Rose said lightly. "Look, calm down," she said and she sat down across from him, holding him tightly. "You're upset, ok? I know. Just- please, not you too. Please," she sobbed. "I don't want to lose my brother!"

Hugo seemed unperturbed. He just moved away from her, closer to Albus and Albus put the necklace around them both. That was when Hugo looked up at a sobbing Rose who was still holding his arm, "Rosie," he said quietly. The little bubble of hope seemed to have given him the ability to speak again, "I don't know where Lily is. Where she goes when she dies. But… if I can't save Lily… I don't want to live. I want to be with her, wherever she is."

"Al," Rose whispered, her hand loosening around Hugo. "Please."

"If Uncle Harry can save a Hippogriff, I can save my Lily!" Hugo told her.

Albus looked at Hugo, "You don't trust me, do you?"

Hugo kept his eyes down, "You can't save Alexis and Lily at once. You have to pick one. If you want to save both, you need me."

Albus looked at his watch. Ten minutes later, and five hours will have passed. The earlier he got there, the better. "We're going. Rosie… I'm sorry." He felt guilty leaving her like that, sobbing so hard but Albus could not spare anymore time. If the hourglass was seen, he would be stopped. "Look outside, the minute we disappear. If we're there, we succeeded. Ok?"

And without further word, Albus turned the hourglass, One… two… three… four… five… "Let's go."

Rose looked up just in time before she dissolved along with the rest of the ward. Albus could just see the hangings wrenched open before a whirl of color and shapes were flying past them. Their ears were in pain, like they were Apparating. The second they hit solid ground, Albus felt relief. He hastily took the necklace off Hugo and hid it in his robes again. They were standing in the seventh floor corridor, ten minutes before Albus would leave. Albus took Hugo, hid behind a suit of armor and threw the Invisibility cloak over themselves. "Alright, what happened, tell me."

"The kids Phoenix was holding captive broke loose," Hugo said simply. "I don't know who let them loose but they did. As soon as they broke loose, they cast the Imperius Curse, all of them, on the Headmaster to let down some protections. I don't know what happened to him. He was weakened after that and we never accounted for him before we left. All I know is the Anti-apparation defenses were down, and it took a while to put them back up but enough Reservation members were already inside. The Reservation claimed they were looking for something," Hugo said miserably. "Attacked the Staff room after passing the fifth floor. Killed most of the teachers. I dunno where Phoenix was at the time. Al… it was terrifying. No one wants to talk about it but…"

"Hugo, I need to know," Albus pressed urgently.

"Dubium is back," Hugo whispered to Albus' shocked eyes. "They took his body to Hogwarts. The magic in the air must've revived him. I don't know how they did it. Nothing like it was done before. It's old magic. Rose told me. Something about an Orb. Becoming more powerful than before so the ship can't be destroyed anymore. They repaired their ship and then…" Hugo's throat constricted. Whatever happened took place after that. So, if he was going to prevent this, he had to save Phoenix.

"By now," Hugo whispered, pulling his watch out. "The prisoners will have escaped."

"What, I didn't even leave yet," Albus said, shocked.

"I didn't know you'd left," Hugo said back bitterly. "Things were happening in secret. The second you appear, Phoenix will have gone down because I remember right after I heard, Lily asked where you were and Alex said you left to Hogsmeade."

"Then, we don't have much ti"-

Hugo put a hand over Albus' mouth. There Albus was, in a black cloak. Hugo muttered, "Too late."

Phoenix was already down, at the very least incapacitated. Had Rose not tried stopping them, Albus might've been able to make it. Cursing, he heard the bangs he heard before he left. That was what the bangs were. It had already started. Nobody could've stopped it. The past Albus disappeared inside the Room of Requirement and Albus whipped the cloak off of them. "Alright, the first place they'll appear is Phoenix's office."

"They'll be here by now," Hugo said shakily.

"Where did Alexis and Lily die?"

"Alexis died on the grounds," Hugo said. "She was one of the last victims. Lily… was in a Charms classroom with Alpha. From what I- I heard- they were the first to be attacked and Alp-Alpha died taking a curse for her. H- He died. He did what I should've been there to do. And it was in vain. She's still dead."

"Relax, we'll save her," Albus muttered. "And Alpha too if we can manage it." Albus handed the cloak to him, "I'm in Hogsmeade right now. I won't need this. Very few knew I went anyway. Take the cloak, use it. Do not be seen. Just save Lily. Ok?"

"I- I will," Hugo vowed quietly. "I will. Al," he screwed his face up against tears, "Thank you."

"Don't thank me until she's saved," Albus hissed. "Hurry!"

Hugo disappeared with his cloak in a heartbeat. Albus sighed. If he could trust Hugo to save Lily, Albus himself would have to deal with Alexis who thankfully was at the end. What happened to Seth, then? Could Albus possibly save him? And how could Albus save Seth, Alexis and Lily while still maintaining past Albus' need to go back in time. They needed to die. They were the reason he left. He might have to tell them to act dead or something. He made to turn when a loud bang sounded near him. Albus jumped and turned just in time to see Seth and Samantha dueling wildly. Samantha? Samantha. She did it.

Albus rushed to Seth's side at once, thanking himself for not telling too many people about his Hogsmeade trip to begin with. "Impedimenta!"

Samantha strafed quickly, firing a fiery jet of orange light before pausing, looking at them both, "How- how dare you take his side! HOW DARE YOU!"

Samantha seemed truly insane. She stamped her feet wildly, as if trying to kick the crazy out of her before firing off a jet of green light erratically. It hit the ceiling and sent pieces crumbling down between the parties.

"Present Al or future Al?" Seth muttered.

"Future," Albus whispered back before conjuring a shield to take Samantha's blasts.

"HE KILLED MY BROTHERS!" she screamed. "HE DID IT!"

"Samantha, calm down, let me"-

"YOU CAN'T REASON WITH DEATH!" she screamed at him. Her eyes seemed beyond reason. "My- my father, my brothers, my Manor, EVERYTHING I LOVED STOLEN FROM THIS PSYCHOTIC, SADISTIC LITTLE FREAK! GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

Seth was unperturbed by this rant. He just stared, face impassive as always before saying, "It was for my friend."

"I am a Pure-blood witch," she whispered, body shaking from the grief, madness and anger she must have felt. Her tone rose until eventually she yelled again, "I am a better person THEN YOUR MUDBLOOD FRIEND IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Albus yelped as a jet of green light exploded from Seth's wand. Samantha leapt to the ground, before attacking Seth physically. Albus had to cast her off him with a nonverbal Knock-back Jinx. A quick jet of red light and she parried it, breathing heavily. She backed away, probably seeing she was outmatched, even in her insanity. She pointed a shaking finger at Seth, "I will get you. I swear, I will get you. I WILL MAKE YOU REGRET E"-

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Seth, stop!" Albus yelled as the jet nearly hit her face.

She seemingly fled the corridor and Seth rounded on Albus, "She needs to die. I'm sorry but I don't tend to let people who attempt my life live. She needs to go!"

"Hey, Lean, Potter!" Samantha yelled from around the corner. They turned around only for both to gasp, Seth included for the one in her grasp was none other than a small blonde-haired girl. Sierra. Bound up. Her wand was doing something to her though, sending some blackish smoke in her and Seth widened his eyes too late.

"CRUCIO!"

She moved to the side from Seth's jet of green light as the Cruciatus curse hit Sierra. Sierra, poor Sierra screamed in intense pain, invisible knives cutting through her. She took the spell worst than anyone else Albus knew. She pounded her fists on the ground, shook violently, she screamed more as her eyes went teary and when the curse was released, she was still sobbing. Seth made to run for her but Samantha flicked her wand and Sierra was brought back to her in a headlock. "One more move and I kill her!" the yelled savagely.

Seth stopped and Albus had his wand pointing at her, not sure how to get at her without risking Sierra. Seth looked shocked and now, pretty much helpless. "Look," Seth said, and he sounded desperate. For the first time, he sounded desperate. "Let her go, ok? I'll do whatever you want. Anything."

"Oh yeah?" she asked with a fanatical smile on her face. "Can you bring the dead back? Go ahead and bring the dead back!"

"I- no magic"-

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Her wand exploded in a flash of green but Seth and Albus fired Disarmers at the same time. Her wand soared in the air, the aim diverted enough for the jet to crash into the floor instead, very nearly hitting Samantha herself from above. Sierra rolled out of the way but Samantha kicked her face viciously and dove for her wand, which had just landed a few feet away. The scuffle over her wand was intense and she screamed, hit, and even bit as they fought. After a physical fight between her and Seth, Seth got off with his ear bitten half off and his nose broken and Samantha was up, her wand on Sierra, stopping Albus from doing anything again, "CRUCIO!"

"STOP!" Seth screamed and as the Cruciatus Curse hit Sierra briefly, Samantha lost the brief chance she had to defend herself. She was blasted back by a jet of yellow light. She crawled off as they ran for Sierra.

"I'm ok, I'm- I- I…" Sierra screamed again as Seth calmly and gently lowered his hands. Her face looked unhurt and unmarked but she still seemed in immense pain.

"Wha"-

"Raging monster," Seth muttered. "Sierra, look at me."

The girl seemed to be deteriorating but she still rested against the wall, still screaming, "It hurts! I can't- it hurts!"

Seth sighed, looking at Sierra miserably. "Sierra… look at me. Just look at me." Sierra's eyes flickered, looking very much in pain. Albus did not know the Cruciatus Curse to cause this much pain. She looked about to die. Seth looked worried enough. Tears leaked down her eyes and Seth picked her up, almost lovingly. "Sierra…"

"Seth"- Albus began but he didn't know what to say. Seth was crying again, but this time it wasn't tears of worry but tears of tears of sadness and grief. Albus was shocked. Sierra was fine when he came back from Hogwarts. Was this what would happen at the cost of saving Seth? "She was alive."

"Sierra," Seth said again. She was still breathing but the pain was slowly ebbing her life away. Did Seth have no trump for this? "Remember how I told you about the Curse of Death, and how brief pain from the Cruciatus can kill in conjunction with that curse? That's why you're like this. I've never seen someone with such powerful hatred." Albus remembered Soot's lesson. Yet again, his rule came into effect. Sierra was dying because Samantha infused her with the Curse of Death. He recalled the blackish smoke, knowing now what it was.

Sierra was breathing heavily, like she was fighting harder to stay alive. "I- I want- want you to- I want you to kill her."

"Oh, trust me, she is dead," Seth assured her. "No way she's living through this. Sierra…" Every time Seth said her name, her eyes flickered open. She truly looked like she was dying. "Listen to me, you're going to die."

"I- I don't want to die," she muttered.

"I can save you," he assured her calmly. "But you gotta trust me. Ok?"

"I love you, Seth," she said with a weak voice. "I'll always trust you. Always."

"Close your eyes then, and brace yourself," Seth told her. A single tear dropped from Seth's eye as he stared down at his pained sister. "Nex," he said simply. Sierra went limp, her body relaxing, and her eyes open. She looked- she looked dead. Like Seth had actually killed her. "She won't wake till I tell her to. Until then, at least the- the pain- is not there…" Seth looked very disturbed, staring at his little sister, as if seeing her in a fake death still bothered him. "The pain was what was killing her. I didn't want to do that to her at all," he said miserably. "I'm- I'm going to kill her. I'm going to make her suffer so much. I'll show her what insanity is, I'll"-

"Seth, I'm from the future!" Albus blurted out.

Seth calmed down and turned around, "Right. Wait… Simon…"

"Simon's fine," Albus said before Seth could ask. "It's… it's you."

Seth's eyes stared, "Me- me? I"- He settled down as a dawn of realization came over him. "I was supposed to die this battle."

"I don't know," Albus sighed. "It happened right here. I'm not sure how the whole time loop works, really but the Reservation attacked and Dubium came back."

"Who- who else?" Seth asked.

"Alexis and Lily," Albus sighed, heart still wrenching at the memory of it.

Seth looked down. He did not look apologetic or sympathetic but he did nod, took one last look at the peaceful Sierra and sighed, "Alright, your sister is in the Charms classroom on the fifth floor. Your girlfriend is in the grounds with her brother. They're looking at plants since her brother got an eighty percent on Herbology."

"And you… you died right here," Albus reminded him. "You said we need a way to keep the reasons for going back in time so we don't create a paradox. I- I need your help. You said to trust you."

"When did you see me?"

"Four hours from now," Albus said hurriedly.

"Alright," Seth said, mind working silently. "I know what to do, so just trust me. I can wake Sierra up too."

"How?"

"The Curse of Nex," Seth told him quietly. "Very easy to use. One wave, say Nex, and the body drops down, dead. Temporary death. There are a couple of ways to awaken them though. Make sure to give them chocolate and an Awakening Potion for the after-effects though. I'm sure Era has some Potions. It'll be easy. Do it for those you find so they can keep the charade too."

Albus nodded slowly. He could hear feet scampering down the stairs behind them. "It's gonna get really bad," Albus warned him. "Careful. And stay away from the grounds, apparently."

"I will," Seth said. "Just want to wake my sister up, now. The death-like state should eliminate the pain. Give me a sec."

At that, the two went their separate ways. Albus' heart was beating heavily. Here was his chance. And hopefully, Seth was saved but he could not focus on him. He had to make for Alexis now. If he could cast the Curse on her, and beg for forgiveness afterwards, he might have a chance. But apparently, Alexis had been one of the last. Albus was closer to Lily. He should help Hugo first. Albus rushed to the main seventh floor staircase, the Headmaster's office in sights. His mouth dropped open. The griffin was knocked off its pedestal and witches and wizards rushed down, all in white robes. The Reservation had arrived.

That meant Albus had very little time left. He made for a passageway out of sight when Albus ran into James. James' mouth opened in shock but Albus silenced him and dragged him out of sight too.

"What do you"-

A loud crash interrupted them and James widened his eyes. Without thinking, not caring that James might have a million question, he blurted, "Lily! Fifth floor Charms classroom! Quick!"

Without demand for explanation, they made for the fifth floor, wands out. The fifth floor corridor was their next stop, thanks to a passageway they took. He raised his wand just before they reached the classroom. It was wide open, probably not for privacy. Alpha and Lily were sitting there, seeming to be in the middle of an argument about why he did not feel forgiven despite her forgiving him countless times. Both seemed unaware of the impending doom on its way. Albus briefly saw Hugo show himself to Albus before concealing himself again. James was probably trying to wrap his mind about this. Albus said, "Alright, they'll be here soon. We need to"-

"What's happening?" James demanded.

"James, this may be hard for you to accept but- but I- I'm from the future," Albus told him significantly. "I'm trying to stop something from happening."

James stared dubiously, like he was sure his brother was joking. Albus could not afford to get caught up explaining or making up with James though. This would be saved till after the battle. "The future," James repeated. "Great, I'm complete. I can die knowing I've seen everything. Ok, Al, I'll take the bait. What"-

A loud crash sounded again and James whipped his wand out. A jet of green light was expelled from a wand and made for Lily. She yelped and Alpha leapt in front but Albus was ready. He flicked his wand and a table took the blast at once, Alpha and Lily looked terrified, Lily staring at Alpha in shock. A jet of red light flew from nowhere and hit the one who fired it. Alpha, James and Albus fired at the one beside him all at once but a quick motion with his wand re-angled all spells. "It's the Potter kids! We got them here! Mission objective one complete! Students here! Backup!" Then, a weight threw itself on the man standing. A further jet of red light sent him down for good and Alpha appeared shaken as three more came up, these three led by Rojer Selwyn.

Lily and Albus looked quickly at Alpha who tensed up, his knees beginning to shake. Albus raised his wand readily as Rojer raised his "Avada Kedavra!"

The jet made for Lily but she avoided it by charming a desk in front easily. The desk burst into green flames, which she charmed at Rojer. The flames were charmed back at Lily though and with stronger power, the flames made contact. She screamed as her arm was affected. "Aquamenti!" Alpha said. The flames went out and her arm seemed fine, little damage done to it but nonetheless sending her to the ground, weakened.

"How touching," Rojer whispered, raising his wand again. One flick and Albus and James were blasted to either side, heads hitting the wall, winded. A jet of green light barely missed Lily's ear. She came so close to death again, that suddenly, surprisingly, Alpha roared, "STAY AWAY FROM HER!" and he leapt on Rojer physically while Albus struggled to get up. They fell to the floor, rolling, fighting physically. Rojer was more than a match. He kicked Alpha in the face, off him, staggered back up, and pointed his wand, tooth out and nose broken. Alpha seemed to appear brave but his knees were shaking. Rojer ordered the Reservation members off as he regarded his son, "So, you've chosen the path of weakness. I will break you. Fulgeo Ferveo!"

Alpha stood firmly in front of Lily, who was still on the ground, attempting to get up. James fought the two Reservation members while Albus was by her side, behind Alpha. He barely managed a defense. His weak shield shattered on impact but still parried the curse. The only reason Albus did not help Alpha was because he was more worried about Lily. Alpha fired a Knock-back Jinx but Rojer parried it effortlessly and it rebounded on him. He was knocked back to fall beside Lily as a boiling spell hit his face. He screamed in pain as Lily shrieked and fired a Bat-bogey Hex at Rojer just as an invisible force attacked him physically. Hugo. Rojer was hit with the hex after the distraction, and, seeing a lost battle, fled the scene.

Albus, James and Lily managed to erase the boils but the boy was still weak from terror and pain. Tears leaked from his eyes as he shut them, somewhat smiling a little as he nestled his face against Lily's chest and fell unconscious leaving James, Hugo and Lily. Hugo, still invisible whispered beside him, "I'm gonna be here soon. Fifteen minutes tops. I was held up because Rose was talking to me. The crash is what summons me here. I'll find her body. We need to do"-

"Right," James muttered as another crash sounded. More were coming down. Soon, someone would reinstate the anti-Apparation wards and Jinxes but until then, they had to hold off. Hugo revealed himself and stared at Lily briefly but James' mind seemed to be running. He looked at Hugo, and then at Albus, seeming to piece something together. He looked disturbed. Then… "He said Potter kids…"

"So what"-

"Al, we have to go before I show up," Hugo said.

"James, we stay away from them," Albus tried telling him.

"No, we don't," James said seriously. "Don't you understand? He said he found us. We are their mission. They expect to find us. Which means they're here for us. They know who dad is."

Albus knew he was right. He knew someone had given them away, someone gave the passage portrait in the Hogs Head away. Someone must've also given Harry away too. But what did this have to do with James? What was he saying?

"Hugo, get out of here," James said hurriedly. "I need to talk to Al."

"Go, Hugo," Albus said quickly. "Get Alexis out of the Greenhouses. Save her for me."

Hugo shook his head and James sighed, "You're coming soon, aren't you? You want your past-self to die? Cause he will if they are held up here! Go!"

Hugo disappeared and by scampering feet sounding, he left. James turned to Albus and Lily. "I love you, both, but they have to see us. And they have to think us dead. Let them think their mission is accomplished. Spare the rest of the students."

"James"-

Another bang sounded and James, Albus and Lily looked around just as five Reservation members showed up at the door. Their faces were masked and hooded and James looked up bravely, "Stupefy!"

The spell was parried easily but it did force them back one inch, enough for Lily to slam the door shut, "Colloportus!" By a muffled yell, the door must've hit someone in the face. It blasted open towards the Potter siblings but James flicked his wand and the door fell on the Reservation as Albus and Lily fired another Jinx into the injured one's face. The injured flew back as James sent three desks and chairs to take charge after them, keeping them from entering the room. One of the four still standing sent a blast of fire at the blocking desks and chairs, and James fired two well-placed Stunners through the fire, catching two by surprise. The fire blazed into the room but Albus and Lily doused it with water, which James Charmed into his control and sent it at the remaining members, drenching them. Two were left. Albus had to appreciate this. James was good. Very good.

"Obscurum Expunctus!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

The Killing Curse could never be blocked, Albus knew. But he also knew that the shield Soot taught so many negated the Dark Arts. The spell did not even get to fire. James took advantage of the momentary distraction and yelled, "Mucus ad Nauseum!"

"Bat-bogey Tentatio!" Lily cried.

A muffled yell sounded from behind a mask as extensive bogies burst from the mask and attacked mercilessly. The other was Stunned in his distraction as another crash sounded from afar. More were coming. Damn it, when was past Hugo due? "Flamma!" The bogies were lit on fire and the last one standing screamed in agony. Albus raised his wand as he took Lily's front. She came first. He would have to end this. James was right. They were going to continue until they believed the Potters dead.

"Al," James said seriously as the Reservation started clamoring to get through. James flicked his wand and the walls briefly caved in around the door to take the ones standing there down. "It's over."

"What's"- Albus stopped, sending a burst of oil from his wand at the doorway. "Incendio!" A burst of fire erupted, blocking some Reservations off temporarily. "What's over?"

"Remember what I told you," James said seriously. "You look after Neil, ok? Defend him with your life. Treat him like your own brother."

"James"-

"He's been through more than anyone, so you look after him," James said a little more loudly. "And don't you dare let anyone lay a hand on him!"

"What're you"-

"I'm gonna do what I should've done ages ago!" James yelled.

"JAMES!" Albus and Lily yelled in unison.

James rushed out, charging him physically, using a Curse Albus did not know the name of. He heard someone's skull crack and James sighed before looking up. This time, he gave in as more arrived.

"JAMES NO!" Albus yelled but his jet of light met a shield. James let loose a jet of red light which impacted a jet of green light, sending sparks out. One of the sparks caught James in the eyes and he flew back. Just as he was in the air, a jet of green light impacted the ceiling above him, sending it crashing down on him.

"JAMES!" Lily screamed and Albus knew there was nothing else for it.

The caster of the Curse appeared from around the wall. Albus' jaw dropped. It was Rojer. Rojer Selwyn. He was back in the corridor, now with the Reservation and looking very pleased with what he had done. "Oust me from the school, will you? Avada Kedavra!"

Lily had tears in her eyes but Albus had to do what he did. Seconds before Rojer cast the curse, Albus raised his wand readily. He pulled Lily out of the way of the Curse at the exact same time he used a smokescreen spell. In the smoke, Albus turned to Lily's tear-strained face, kissed her once and cast, "Nex!"

Lily fell down, to be marked falsely as dead just as Sierra was. Albus unleashed a fiery spell at the Reservation members still fighting to get in as Rojer fled the scene. Albus Potter gave chase to him furiously. "YOU KILLED MY BROTHER! YOU SICK BASTARD!"

As Albus gave chase, he caught one glimpse of James' body as he ran, casting spells behind him as two gave chase. He heard one yell, "Another is dead. One more to go! Get him! Get him!"

James' death forced Albus' heart to almost burst. He could distantly hear Hugo calling Lily's name. Past Hugo. He would come in the room at any second but he was safe now. The Reservation was chasing Albus primarily. James was right. They were after them. Memories of James' sacrifice weighed heavily on his mind but he could not bring himself to cry out over this. He knew things were too drastic now to allow time for moping. Albus had also Cursed Lily into a death-like state and who knew what side effects would spring up? It was considered a Dark Art for a reason.

Albus was still giving chase, Rojer stopping only when they reached the Entrance hall. "Avada Kedavra!"

Albus ducked it and sent his own red jet, "Crucio!"

Rojer's shield was shattered and the jet hit. Albus seriously expected the curse to continue, to cause more pain. But Rojer got back up as Reservation members rounded the corner behind Albus. "You have no true hate!" he yelled as Albus ran past him, zigzagging to avoid spells, hoping some might hit Rojer by accident. "You lack the fortitude!"

Rojer stopped at the entrance hall and raised what looked like a metal lightning bolt with a golden rim. It started glowing and something was sizzling, electrifying in the air. Albus remembered Seth telling Albus that Rojer had an object that could break shields. This was it. He took the shields around Hogwarts down. At least some of them. Albus raced down the marble staircase and turned. He thought he distantly heard Hugo screaming, a wail as if he had been placed under the Cruciatus Curse but Albus convinced himself it was something else. He could not think of this. He knew he was allowing Hugo to break a second time but it was too important. Lily was safe. Hugo was not allowed to know it yet. As for Alexis, Albus had to save her. He saved Seth, Lily, now Alexis. If just her now…