"If you want to forget something or someone, never hate it, or never hate him/her. Everything and everyone that you hate is engraved upon your heart; if you want to let go of something, if you want to forget, you cannot hate."
― C. JoyBell C.


Letting Go of the Past

April 1998

The first thing Adrian felt when he came to was the pounding in his head. Reaching out, he could feel the dirt on the ground around him and deduced that he wasn't being kept in one of the many guest rooms upstairs. He started shivering slightly as a draft ran through the room and he slowly peeled open his eyes. At first, he couldn't see anything, but stayed still as the pounding in his head subsided slightly and his eyes adjusted.

Pushing up off the ground, he looked around, noticing he was in a small, dark room with a rough wooden door and small window with bars that allowed a small bit of light to flow in. From far off, he could hear shrieks and yells.

This must be where they kept him in between torture sessions. He was usually only awake during those because of whatever potion they forced down his throat after strapping him down to a chair. He would be awake for a couple hours before he finally passed out from the pain. He had known Antonius Flint was a terrifying man, but never had he thought he'd witness it himself. The man enjoyed inflicting pain, intentionally putting off easier solutions such as veritaserum in order to extract information.

He was a sadist in the truest sense of the word.

Adrian so far had undergone a couple sessions, but still held out, refusing to tell him anything about Sam, her father, or the rest of the Order. It's not like he knew much anyway. They were all spread out and in various safe houses. But at the same time what he did know would only make Flint double his efforts to get to Sam, and he couldn't let that happen.

Suddenly, an image of her filled in his mind. Her eyes wide in fear as Flint gave her the ultimatum - him or Oliver. He had tried to shout at her to choose Oliver - it was only fair. He knew she would struggle to choose on her own and he wanted her to know that it was okay to choose her boyfriend of four years. He had long ago made his peace with that and thought he could look after himself. But he also remembered her shrieking and struggling to get to him before Flint apparated him away.

She was going to try and come after him and likely get herself killed for good this time.

"Adrian?" a voice whispered. He looked around the room, noticing the walls were made of stone. Leave it to Antonius Flint to have an actual dungeon and jail in the basement of his manor.

"Yea," he said softly, thinking it was someone locked up in the cell next door.

The light was temporarily blocked from the door and he looked up, seeing the familiar eyes of his father peering in at him.

"Thank Merlin you're still alive," Randolph Pucey said. "Quickly. I haven't much time until they realize I'm down here." Adrian frowned as he pushed himself up off the ground and limped towards the door.

"What do you want?" he asked coldly. He hadn't been surprised to see his father in Flint's ballroom. But he was surprised to see him here now.

"Quickly, take it," his father urged, holding a stone cup through the bars. Adrian took it and sniffed cautiously at the liquid. "It's just water. They won't bring you any." Adrian looked up at his father and then quickly gulped it down, reveling in the refreshing liquid as it eased the scratchiness of his throat.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked softly, scowling at his father through his one good eye. The other was swollen shut.

"I don't actually like the sight of my son being captive to Flint," Randolph replied.

"Could have fooled me. You did become a death eater in the end," Adrian snapped. "Figured that's where you and mum disappeared to all those months ago."

"Your mother isn't here. I sent her off somewhere safe before I-" the older Pucey faltered.

"Publicly declared your loyalty to a man who would kill innocent people for not being pureblood?" Adrian said. "Lovely."

"I did it to keep you and your mother safe," Randolph hissed before looking up and down the corridor.

"Yes, I've heard that before," Adrian said. "Bugger off. I've nothing more to say to you."

"Adrian, please… hear me out. I don't have much time," Randolph said. Adrian was already limping over to the wall.

"Not like I can go anywhere. Flint's got me locked up," he replied wryly.

"You were never supposed to be here. I did everything I could from the inside to keep him off your trail," Randolph said.

"Ah, but you weren't above helping him find Sam, where you?"

"I had no idea he had that trap planned, otherwise I would have done what I could to stop that as well," Randolph said. "I never meant to turn her family over… I was given an impossible choice… but then I thought I would have time to warn Roger before Flint got to them."

"So what stopped you from turning him in after Voldemort was defeated?" Adrian asked.

"Hush!" Randolph hissed at the mention of the Dark Lord's name.

"Surely he's not here…"

"He comes by regularly," Randolph said dully. "But… I don't know. I still feared Flint. Somehow, he was never arrested, and I didn't put it passed him to take his revenge on you and your mother if I turned against him, even though the war was over."

Adrian was silent as he sat leaned against the wall, staring at his father.

"You have to believe me… I never wanted the Abbotts to die. I never wanted anyone to get hurt. And I've been doing everything I can to keep them all safe from the inside as I can," he said.

"Ah, so now you fancy yourself a double agent? Lovely," Adrian said, looking away.

"I don't expect you to understand or forgive me. I don't deserve it anyway. But I am going to get you out of here," Randolph said. Adrian whipped his head around to stare at his father. "I suspect Sam is going to try something, so I'm reaching out to her in the hopes I can work with her. Merlin knows her father won't trust me."

"Why are you doing this?" Adrian found himself asking again. Randolph glanced away for a moment and then back at his son.

"It's the right thing to do," he said. Before Adrian could reply, he was gone, his footsteps quick against the stone floor.

For hours, Adrian sat there staring at the floor, his father's words going around in his head.

Because it's the right thing to do…


"No, that's not going to work either," Marcus said, sighing in frustration as Sam glared at him. She picked up the paper and ripped it up angrily before reaching for another.

"Well it's not like anything you've come up with was any better," she snapped at him.

"I told you, we'll never get out if it comes down to a fight," Marcus said. "We need to think more about how to sneak in and then sneak back out."

"But we should be prepared should it come to a fight," Sam yelled back. Marcus just rolled his eyes and pushed up from the table, starting towards the door. "Where are you going?"

"Out for air," he said without turning around.

"You can't go out for a walk right now!" Sam shouted, jumping to her feet and following.

"Obviously it seems you aren't going to let me," he muttered as he pushed the door open and stepped into the small yard behind the decrepit house where they were squatting for the time being. Sam had warded it to kingdom come even though he said it wasn't necessary as he wasn't planning to stay there long.

"We don't have much time," Sam said, though thankfully lowering her voice once they were outside. No one would hear them, but you never could be too sure.

"Why are you doing this?" Marcus asked, spinning around to face her.

"I told you. He's only captured because of me," Sam said.

"Yea, yea, I know that much. But why didn't you ask Wood to help you?" he barked. Sam froze, her mouth falling open. "You were so willing to go rushing in to rescue him and yet you left him behind with the others."

"I'm… I'm not sure," she finally admitted.

"Seems to me he'd be your first choice," Marcus replied.

"Well… everyone was yelling… and no one was listening to me… so I just… left," she said. Marcus studied her a bit.

"Anything going on that I need to know?" he asked.

"What are you talking about?" Sam asked.

"You haven't been sneaking off on Oliver with Pucey, have you?" Marcus asked.

"What?! That's ridiculous," she scoffed.

"Then why do you feel guilty for choosing Oliver over Pucey?" he asked pointedly. Sam shut her mouth as she thought it over. She wasn't sure why, to be honest. To most, it was likely obvious that she would choose Oliver. "And you're certain this isn't you still holding something for Adrian?"

"He's my friend. My good friend. Oliver's too," she said, looking at him. "I couldn't just… leave him there. Not when he came to rescue me. I'd be doing the same if it were any of the others…"

Marcus was silent a few moments before sighing. That was likely true. She was a Gryffindor, after all. Hell, if it were her father or Oliver in his father's clutches, she'd of likely already attempted to break into the manor at this point.

"And, well… I can't let him die. I swore to myself that I wouldn't let another person die," she said. Marcus looked over at her.

"Another?" he asked.

"At the attack on Halloween… a muggle woman died… because I didn't get her out fast enough. Well… it wasn't really my fault, I see that now, but… I could have done more. And since then, I swore if something happened to anyone else, I would do everything I could to make sure they wouldn't die," she said.

"Christ, you lot really are all courage and no brains," he muttered. Sam frowned at him. "But I get it… didn't seem right being out here, away from the fight, when others… my friends even… are in danger." A small smile flinted across Sam's face. "Don't you dare think about trying to hug me right now, Sam."

"Wasn't going to," she said. She looked up to the sky as Marcus started kicking at the ground with the toe of his boot, neither sure what to say next. Her eyes scanned the stars, catching sight of all her favorite constellations. All the stories coming into her mind. Stories of heroes who faced great, insurmountable obstacles. Some were able to overcome them. Others were not. Some were granted a place in the heavens after selfless acts, while others were placed there as punishment. Her eyes fell on Gemini.

"What would you do, Zach?" she whispered to herself. "Are you even there?"

She closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out.

Well, I wouldn't give up, for starters…

Sam's eyes flew open as she looked around the darkened yard. The voice was different, yet familiar at the same time. So much so, she almost expected to see an apparition of her brother standing next to her. But no one was there, save her and Marcus.

"I'm not giving up, blighter," she thought to herself. "Just stuck…"

Well, they're expecting you to try for it… who would be the least likely person to rescue Adrian… what would be the thing they least expect…

Sam's mind began to whirl as all the stories of the constellations and Greek myths came flooding through her mind. Her eyes widened as a plan - albeit a tentative one - slowly began to morph in her thoughts.

"Marcus… I think I've got an idea…"


Oliver leaned against the picnic table at the back of the safe house where he, his parents and Sam's parents had moved. In the days since the attack at Flint Manor, it had become a sort of headquarters with people checking in at all times of day. No one had found Sam yet, though he wasn't surprised. He knew enough from watching her with the safe houses that she was clever enough not to leave a trace of her steps. More so now that she knew Flint had managed to track them down.

At the same time, he spent hours a day, and even into the early morning, planning with Roger and Bill on how best to get back into Flint Manor. So far, they had a decent idea of how to get to Adrian, but were still stuck on how to get in and out. They had gotten lucky the last time that everyone inside was distracted by Sam. They wouldn't be so lucky this time.

He sighed as he looked up at the sky, seeing the stars.

"Where are you, Sam?" he asked softly as he found Gemini.

"Thought I'd find you out here," Alicia said, trotting over to the table. Oliver looked over at her and then back up at the sky. "Brooding?"

"No… worrying," he replied.

"I'm sure she's okay," Alicia said, her voice softening. "And if she's with Marcus, I'm positive he's not about to go rushing in without loads of planning… if he even agrees at all. He is a Slytherin… they're all about self-preservation."

"Still worries me," Oliver said. "She had gotten so careful over the months but then… that night… it was like she was someone else…"

"We'll get there before she does," Alicia said assuredly.

"And then what? I've already sent several patronuses to her and there's been no response… what if she doesn't believe me when I send another saying we've gotten Adrian?" he asked. He wasn't even sure if she had been getting the messages in the first place.

"It will work. You have to believe that it will," Alicia said a bit more forcefully. Oliver just looked at her.

"I don't even know why she's hellbent on rescuing him herself in the first place," he said. "Well, that's not completely true… I suppose I do…"

"And why's that?" Alicia asked.

"She doesn't want to let anyone else die if there's a chance she can do something," he replied. Alicia rolled her eyes.

"This is about that bloody Halloween party…"

"It's plagued her a lot more than you know," Oliver said sternly. "And I haven't helped…" Alicia sighed.

"This war isn't going to last forever. It'll be over and we're all going to get through it. And then everything - all the hard patches, fights, everything - you can put it behind you," she said.

"I'm not so sure," Oliver murmured.

"Do not tell me that you're thinking of breaking things off with Sam when this is over," Alicia said.

"Course not! Just saying… I sometimes wonder if all of this is just showing that us… me and Sam… we're not strong enough to be together. If we can't make it through this… maybe we don't have any business being together..." he said glumly, frowning as he looked back up at the stars. He couldn't help thinking that perhaps Cassius had been right in his assessment of them. Alicia was silent a few moments as she studied her former captain. He had always been so sure of himself in everything. Quidditch. Life. His relationship with Sam. It was unnerving to see him so… unsure.

"Oliver… I've known both of you a very long time. You've always been strongest when you're together. Whether it was Sam helping you with plays… or homework, or-"

"But that's it! It's always been Sam helping me! What have I done to help her?" Oliver nearly shouted.

"You got her through a lot of rough times," Alicia said. "When she was in hospital after the car accident and the healers weren't sure if she'd even live or walk again. You were there for her when Zach and her mum died. You helped get her through finding out the truth about the attack… and… everything after that. You may not think it was much, but I'm pretty sure Sam does."

The two friends were again silent as Alicia's words sunk in.

"We're going to get Adrian and then find Sam. And then you two are going to get through this war… together," Alicia said, a note of finality in her voice. "Because Merlin knows if you two can't work out, there's no hope for the rest of us."

"We're not perfect," Oliver said, thinking over their many fights in the last year or so. "Far from it."

"Yea, well being in a bloody war doesn't always bring out the best of us at times. But you're allowed your moments as long as you stand up and do what needs to be done when it counts," Alicia replied. "And I know both of you will." Oliver nodded slowly, taking another deep breath.

"I hope so…"

There was a shout from inside the house that grabbed both Oliver and Alicia's attention. They turned over, seeing a flurry of activity through the kitchen window.

"What do you think's going on?" Oliver asked as he started towards the door.

"Dunno," Alicia replied. The two walked in and looked around the group, seeing grinning Lucy leaning against the kitchen counter as Roger sat at the table, pouring over a piece of parchment. Celeste stood next to him, a stunned look on her face as she looked over to someone who was skulking in a corner. Oliver's eyes widened as he walked over a pulled his old friend into a bear hug.

"Perce? What are you doing here?" he asked before starting to look him over. "You've seen better days."

"Speak for yourself," Percy said, pushing Oliver away and then straightening his robes and glasses. Oliver looked over at Roger.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Seems Percy here has been playing spy all these months," Lucy interjected before Roger could say anything. "Just found out he's been my ministry source." Oliver's eyebrows rose as he looked over at his friend.

"Thought it was only fair. You lot were running off and nearly getting yourselves killed. I might as well join in," he huffed. "And well, when I got that, you were the only ones I could think to turn to. Where's Sam, by the way? It's addressed to her."

"Ehm… she's not here at the moment," Oliver said, before walking over to Roger. "What is it?"

"It's from Randolph Pucey. He's been accompanying Antonius Flint to the Ministry. When they were leaving today, he slipped me that," Percy said, motioning to the parchment. "Guess he thought I'd know where Sam was as we were friends in school. I obviously didn't, but though Lucy would. She brought me here."

"He wants to break Adrian out of Flint's manor and needs our help," Roger said, still reading the letter. Oliver's face lit up.

"This is brilliant! This is exactly what we need!" he shouted, not understanding why Roger was still frowning.

"This could be another trap," Roger said sternly. "I've already sent for Bill to come look it over. He could have put some sort of tracking spell on it."

"I assure you, I've already checked and there doesn't seem to be any sort of enchantment on it," Percy said, a bit put out that the auror would think him incapable of checking before bringing it to them.

"You can never be too safe," Roger replied.

"But if it's true… this is what we've been looking for. A way into Flint Manor," Oliver persisted. He looked over at Percy. "Well done. I'm so happy, I could kiss you."

Percy frowned and looked around the room nervously.

"I still don't understand why you're so eager to break Pucey out," he said. Oliver looked over at Alicia, who just rolled her eyes.

"He's there because Flint got Sam there. Adrian, Oliver and the rest went to rescue her. In the process, Flint got Adrian and Sam's runoff to find Marcus Flint and likely try to rescue Pucey herself," she said quickly. "So, we're trying to break in and rescue him before she does in the hopes it keeps her out of Flint's hands."

Percy's eyes widened as he looked around the room, the now somewhat grim looks on the faces confirming the story.

"Blimey, I knew she could be a bit rash and reckless, but this is… how did Flint get her in the first place?" he asked.

"Well laid trap that played on her rashness," Roger replied. "Said he had Oliver…" Percy looked to Oliver as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Why couldn't you just find her?" Percy asked.

"That's how good Sam was at safe houses… we have no idea where anyone is and she's shut down a number of the direct access points so we can't follow her," Oliver said. "I tried the one to Adrian and Cassius' place a few times."

"But why would she run off on her own? And to Marcus Flint, at that?" Percy asked.

"Because of me," Roger said, finally looking up. "I… lost it. Yelled at her even though she had done what any of us would do. So… she took off." Percy thought it over and then just nodded his head curtly.

"Well then. If we are to believe this letter, what is our next course of action?" he asked calmly. Oliver gaped at him as Lucy cackled and started bouncing on her toes slightly, obviously thrilled to be in the thick of the plot.

"You're going to help us?" Oliver.

"Why would I not? Sam's my friend, too. And I suppose Adrian's not so bad… he was in the Order after all. And I'm strategically placed at the Ministry, so I can get word rather surreptitiously to Randolph Pucey. Seems you need me," he said rationally.

They all turned to look at Roger. He put the parchment on the table and rubbed his face, not saying a word. He then looked around the group and sighed.

"We need to wait on Bill, but I think I know what we can do…"


Camryn Kissel - Thanks!

As always, thank you for reading!