Calliope caressed Luna's face, and Luna leaned into the touch.

"Need I ask if you are ready?"

"It would be a waste of time," Luna replied airily, holding out her left arm.

Calliope shook her head and summoned another dagger. She didn't hesitate as she repeated the same vow and process with Luna. The blonde seemed as serene as she normally did, her voice remaining steady with every response she gave.

"Do you, Luna Lovegood, swear to uphold the expectations that come with the Mark I have placed on your arm? Do you swear to protect those in this circle just as you would protect me? Do you swear to treat Draco Malfoy-Gauthier with the respect, love, and trust he deserves?" she asked.

Luna winked at Draco over Calliope's shoulder and said, "I swear."

"I accept, honor, and hold you to your vow, Luna Lovegood," she said.

Calliope placed her hand over Luna's Mark and then revealed it to the blonde. Luna smiled at the crescent moon behind the skull, raven, and dragon. She began to kneel when Calliope stopped her.

"There is something else," she said.

Calliope turned the hilt of the dagger to Luna and held out her right arm.

"I saw the Mark you gave to Fred and George. I would like you to place that Mark on me as a sign of my loyalty to you."

"You do?" Luna whispered.

"Think of it like matching tattoos," Calliope said, her eyes amused.

Luna swallowed and nodded quickly. Xeno passed Luna her wand, and Luna glanced once at Calliope before she dug the blade into Calliope's arm. Luna placed the tip of the wand beside it, and she took a deep breath before she performed the same spell she did on the twins. Calliope watched the tattoo take shape on her skin. Once it was done, Calliope held it under the moonlight. It looked good, and it was a permanent reminder of both her brother and her best friend.

"We both know why I call you Selene. You have been that moon, that light in my darkness since the day we met. You shine in all phases of my life, and for that, I vow to be by your side until death. I look forward to all that we accomplish together," she said.

Luna swiped at her tears and said, "I am with you until the end."

When Calliope stepped up to Tonks, she knew this one would be the hardest. Tonks was in her last year at Hogwarts when Calliope arrived. There were days Calliope would see Tonks sitting alone at the Hufflepuff table, her hair a dull brown as the other kids ignored her presence. She would hear rumors about the idiot who knocked over cauldrons during Potions. It would break her heart because no one took the time to know Tonks, the real her. Calliope respected and loved her cousin, but even she could admit she lacked in showing that love consistently. Calliope rubbed her thumb over where the Mark would be on her cousin's arm.

"Before I begin, I would like to say that I love you."

Tonks jerked at the comment and shifted nervously, her hair turning a weird mix of pink and blue. But the metamorphmagus remained quiet, cautious. Calliope held out her hand for the dagger, and once it was in her grip, she sighed and shook her head.

"I should do better at telling you that. Especially since you are the unspoken hero of this family, the silent protector. You visited Bellatrix under the guise of interrogation to remind her she was never alone. You visited Xeno while Luna was away at school so he would have someone to talk to. You defend Severus in the Order meetings because you know what it is like to be an outcast. You taught Draco, Luna, and me how to duel, prepare for anything, and sent us care packages during the school year. You remind me to breathe, to live, and you are the heart of this family. Not me. You."

Calliope gave no warning as she dug the blade deep into Tonks' muscle. She gave her the same general vows as Draco and Luna. In the end, she made an amendment for both her and Tonks' benefit.

"Do you, Nymphadora Tonks, swear to uphold the expectations that come with the Mark I have placed on your arm? Do you swear to protect those in this circle just as you would protect me? Do you swear to treat Nymphadora Tonks with the respect, love, and trust she deserves?" she asked.

She hesitated. Calliope was patient. Eventually, Tonks straightened and said proudly, "I swear."

"I accept, honor, and hold you to your vow, Nymphadora Tonks," she said.

"Don't call me that," Tonks muttered playfully.

Calliope placed her hand over the Mark. She hid her smile as she revealed it. Tonks was the only one who had all three designs on her arm. There was the dragon, the moon, and the raven, all arranged with the skull. But unlike the others, the raven had eyes that changed colors every second.

"I love you. Always and forever," Calliope whispered.

Tonks bowed her head to hide her tears and dropped to her knees as gracefully as she could. Calliope pretended not to see the tears flowing down Andy's face as she held her daughter. Calliope then took a deep breath and smiled at the remaining group.

"Now, the rest of you do not have fancy speeches or hand-crafted designs, but you will all take the same vow. So, if you are having second thoughts, I suggest you leave now. The one behind you will take you inside, and in there, you will wait for me."

When no one moved, Calliope gave a sharp nod.

"Your choice has been made."

Calliope went down the line, starting with Daphne, then the twins, then Blaise, Astoria, and finally Neville. They all had the same vows, same general Mark, and all dropped to their knees at the end. Calliope thought nothing of the tears coming from Astoria or the grimaces coming from Neville and Blaise. If anything, she was proud they were bold enough to show their emotions in front of her. She didn't think it was weakness, especially when they had a red-hot dagger pierced through their arm down to their bone.

Once everyone had been marked, Calliope picked up the last dagger. She held it out, hilt away from her, and said, "I would like my father to do the first one for this part. Bellatrix will do the rest."

Tom rose from his spot behind Fred and came up to her. He took the knife and gently placed his hand on her left shoulder.

"Do you remember which one goes first?" she asked.

"Of course. Your mother made sure I would never forget it," he said. "But Calliope-

"I know," she interrupted. "I trust you."

Tom straightened and carved the rune for Power deep into the middle of her sternum. Calliope could see the concentration on his face and forced herself not to cry out in pain so as not to distract him. Once finished, Bellatrix came up behind him and took the knife from him. Tom went back to his spot. Bellatrix gave Calliope only a moment to breathe before she was carving 'Protection' under 'Power.' Had it not been for the sheer adrenaline coursing through her veins, Calliope would have collapsed from the pain. Unfortunately, Bellatrix was not gentle like Tom.

Not that she expected her to be.

After Bellatrix finished 'Protection,' she started on 'Balance' on her left shoulder. After 'Balance' came 'Family' on her abdomen. After 'Family' were the final two, the hardest two, as they were going in places that required skill and patience. Bellatrix's tongue poked out through her teeth as she gently tilted Calliope's head back.

"Breathe," she warned.

Calliope whimpered a little and took a deep breath. As soon as she exhaled, Bellatrix carved the rune for 'Respect' at the base of her throat. Calliope desperately wanted to swallow but forced herself to focus on something else. When her father warned her what the last part of the ceremony would be like, he neglected to mention the sheer torture that came with forcing your body not to perform basic, instinctual actions like swallowing or breathing. Once Bellatrix finished on her neck, Calliope felt the tip of the blade go over her heart. Bellatrix had already discussed which rune would go over her heart. Though Calliope wanted something like 'Strength' or 'Loyalty,' she grudgingly admitted 'Passion' was a good choice.

So lost in her thoughts, Calliope hadn't realized Bellatrix had finished until Lucius, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Xeno, Andromeda, and Remus began to chant with clasped hands. The fire behind her rose high into the air. Calliope felt like clawing off her skin as the runes sunk into her skin. The chanting grew louder and louder until Calliope fell to the grass. The last thing her conscious mind registered was the stars over her head.


Severus stirred his tea in boredom as Sirius and Molly went off on another tangent. He kept his shield up, knowing how Dumbledore and Mad-Eye both liked to poke around when they thought he wasn't paying attention. Severus wished he was at the party. He knew the ceremony was tonight and wanted to see it without having to watch in someone's memory. However, he was also needed to speak with Calliope and Bellatrix alone. When he examined Bellatrix, he noticed something odd about her. She was sicker than normal, and Severus had her blood tested. What he found was terrifying. Someone had been poisoning Bellatrix. It was subtle, slow-going, but it made him wary. Most of the guards were dead. Some had escaped, but there were still at least twenty people left alive to question. Unfortunately, it meant someone outside of the family knew about the prophecy and tried to take Bellatrix out of the picture before it could come true.

Despite the fact, it had already been set into motion.

Severus rubbed his temples and sighed.

"Are you alright, Severus?" Dumbledore called out.

Severus looked up and realized the entire room was staring at him. He cleared his throat and said, "I apologize, Albus. I have been up the last few nights helping the soon-to-be-former Dark Lord with a personal problem."

"What are you, his boyfriend?" Sirius scowled.

Severus ignored the jab and said, "Voldemort is beside himself and angrier than normal. But, as you all know, those who were in Azkaban have returned to his care. One prisoner, however, is still in recovery."

Severus decided to test the waters with a little lie. Dumbledore stapled his fingers under his chin and gestured for Severus to proceed.

"It would seem someone had been poisoning Bellatrix during her stay on the island. I was told a healer reversed most of the damage, but the Dark Lord fears his right hand has been forever weakened by the effects. The new Dark Lord, whoever he may be, has yet to appear, but it is a concern shared by both."

"Are you saying my batshit cousin is out for the count?" Sirius exclaimed.

"I would say she is bedridden and incapable of using magic beyond lighting a candle."

"Hot damn!"

Sirius whooped and clapped his hands. He ran off into the kitchen, talking about finding the 'good shit' and celebrating the good news. Severus glanced at the others. Albus had a pensive look on his face as he stared at the wall. Mad-Eye looked as annoyed as Severus felt. Molly and the Weasley group didn't care enough to react. Harry seemed happy, though Severus had a feeling it was because Sirius was happy.

"Please keep us updated," Albus eventually sighed. "Though I am against all they stand for, I would never advocate for murder no matter who it is or what they have done in the past."

Severus kept his face blank, but inside he raged at the man. Finally, he said, "Of course. But if it is alright with you, I would like to retire for the evening. I am tired, and I have an early morning."

"Of course. Thank you, Severus."

Severus bowed and stood from his seat, taking his mug with him. The last thing he wanted was for them to enchant his favorite tea mug or something equally as foolish. He paused on the street, taking a deep breath and glancing at the moon before he began to walk. He took small, careful sips of his tea even though he was well aware of the eyes following his movement.


Luna had her feet tucked into Draco's side as the group relaxed around the study. They were waiting on Calliope to come down after her shower. Fred and George were staring at their Marks, tracing them with their fingers, and Luna was glad to see there was no regret on their faces. Blaise and Draco got to know Neville beyond the Gryffindor screw-up. The three found common ground with, funny enough, alcohol. Little people knew Draco spent some of his free time at pubs and restaurants, tasting different whiskeys and gins. Apparently, Blaise was a beer guy, while Neville liked wine. Draco grabbed her feet and put them on his lap, massaging them as he continued his conversation. She swooned inwardly and turned back to where Tonks was entertaining Daphne with old Auror stories, Astoria fast asleep on Daphne's lap.

"I'm telling you. He splinched himself in half, his intestines spilling out on the sidewalk. I wasn't that bothered, but I did stay away from noodles for a month."

Daphne laughed and said, "Just a month?"

Tonks's hair turned pink as she blushed.

"I like spaghetti too much," she muttered.

"Never had it before," Daphne admitted.

Tonks gasped. "You have to let me take you to this great Italian place in London! They serve the best breadsticks and salad, but their spaghetti is incredible. I-" she paused and backpedaled, "I mean, you don't have to go. I was just offering because, you know, you haven't had it before, and I know a place where you can, but if you-

"I would love to," Daphne interrupted.

Tonks's hair changed from pink to green to blue and then back to pink before she started another story, Daphne's attention not once straying. Luna took note of the interaction before she noticed the twins had fallen asleep on one another. She felt a little bad that their family treated them like screw-ups and vowed that she would treat them like they belonged. It was at that moment Calliope pushed open the door, freshly showered and dressed in muggle pajamas. The twins jerked awake while Astoria slept on.

"How does your chest feel?" Luna asked.

"Like someone took a knife to it."

"So, a normal night for you then?" Draco said.

Calliope flipped him off and leaned on the door frame.

"How are you all feeling?" she asked.

"Tired but also, not tired," Blaise explained. "If that makes sense."

"I understand. You are not obligated to go to sleep right away. A fully stocked kitchen, liquor cabinet, wine cellar, and pool are free to use. Your parents are not here," she said, laughing. "I only ask you to stay away from the third floor. I do not want you getting hurt with what I have up there."

"I'm having flashbacks of the first year," Neville said, shivering.

Calliope scrunched her nose. "I can assure you Fluffy would be the least of your worries if you go up those stairs," she said.

Luna hid her snort. She knew what was up there, and it wasn't as scary as she was making it seem. Calliope winked at her before she clapped her hands and smiled.

"Okay, I really only came in here to check in on you guys before I went to bed. I already told the elves to have breakfast ready by ten, give you guys a little extra time to sleep," she said.

"Is anything happening tomorrow?" Daphne asked.

"No, because we all have things to do, regular lives to get back to. If I need you, I will summon you."

"But how-

"Your Mark will burn," Calliope said, already guessing Fred's question.

"How do we handle Hermione?" Neville asked. "Because the party is in a month, and I imagine you will not be pleased with me calling you Calli in front of the others."

"You would be correct," she chuckled. "Let me know when you all are free in the upcoming week, and we will have lunch. That way, we can handle school and whatnot. Though the Slytherin bunch barely acknowledged my presence, to begin with."

"Fair," Blaise said.

Calliope yawned and said, "Also, you all should practice your occlumency for the rest of the summer. I will be testing you throughout the year. The Headmaster does not shy away from peeking into private thoughts at his whim."

"Gross," Daphne shuddered.

"Tell me about it," Calliope grumbled. Then, in a louder voice, she added, "Anyway, I am going to sleep. I will see you all in the morning. I will be leaving before you guys as I have business to attend to at Malfoy Manor."

The others said their goodnights as Calliope left the room, closing the door behind her. She stretched and lumbered her way back to her room, where she found Bellatrix already in bed. She crawled under the covers and latched herself to Bellatrix, who adjusted to her presence without waking up. She was asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.


Calliope, in blood-splattered jeans and a tank top, rennervated Rodolphus. He gasped and coughed as he came to. The Malfoy dungeon smelled like burning flesh and urine. The man hanging from the chains strained to get free, but there was no use. Calliope tapped her wand against her lips and cocked her head.

"You stupid bitch!" he shouted, almost foaming at the mouth.

"Bombarda," she said lazily.

The spell shattered his knees and left his legs hanging by strings of muscles and nerves. Rodolphus had little to say, but she could see the stubbornness in his eyes hidden behind the pain. He spat blood at her feet and started laughing.

"Bellatrix will always be mine," he wheezed. "Her body will always belong to me."

"Crucio!"

The spell hit Rodolphus in the chest, and unlike the first three times she cast it, he did not grit his teeth and bear it. The fourth time she put every ounce of rage, pain, and anger into the spell. The fourth time he screamed. Calliope held the spell for a few seconds before she released it. Rodolphus hung from the chains like a rag doll. Unfortunately, he was still breathing. Calliope exhaled through her nose and smiled.

"This has been fun, but I have an appointment to keep."

Before Rodolphus could stammer out a response, Calliope pointed her wand at his head and said, "Engorgio."

Calliope strolled out of the cell and found Bellatrix waiting at the end of the hall.

"Engorgio?" she repeated, confused.

Calliope chuckled and grabbed Bellatrix's hand. She intertwined their fingers and said, "Come. You do not want to be here when-

A massive splattering sound came from behind them. Bellatrix glanced over her shoulder. Brain matter covered the walls. She looked back at Calliope.

"You blew up his head?" she exclaimed.

"It was either that or his dick, but the head was easier to find," she drawled.

Bellatrix let out a loud laugh that echoed through the entire manor.