Bit of a time jump. This update took so freaking long because I couldn't find the ****ing document. Anyway, the battle is next, and we get to the end of this long, complicated, and dramatic journey with this story. The things we do for our friends, you know?

Albus walked the empty halls with his hands behind his back. It'd finally happened. The children were gone, and he felt a distinct sense of loss. At first, when many parents chose to take their children out of Hogwarts after the junior Death Eater fiasco, Albus assumed the panic would pass. But after Harry's funeral, parents slowly started pulling their children out until there weren't enough to have full classes. And then his professors began resigning or taking other jobs. People were losing faith in Albus, in the Order, and they were taking longer looks at the things he had hoped they would ignore. Someone had published facts that he didn't want the general public to know. More and more individuals questioned his judgment, wondering why he didn't do more to prevent the simmering chaos from growing. It felt like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop in the sudden and tense silence that'd fallen over the country.

It was frustrating that Albus had no idea about what would happen next. With Calliope gone, he anticipated a full-scale attack from the Dark. He was prepared for them to show up to the school, maybe blow up the Ministry. But beyond their response to Sirius and Alastor's massive fuck-up with Augusta, the Dark did nothing. Despite his desire to keep it hidden, Bellatrix discovered her bloodline and had all but vanished. After Lucius, Albus prepared for anger and an ambush by Narcissa Malfoy, but it never came. The Malfoy family handled Lucius' passing with class and grace. And after several weeks had passed, they emerged from their manor and returned to the public eye. It was disorienting to see them move on so quickly as if losing Lucius hadn't changed anything, and Albus found his expectations of the family were…off. Severus and Remus were around. He saw them in passing, both looking haunted and reserved, and he hadn't glimpsed any of the junior Death Eaters that Calliope took from the school. Not even Tom seemed angry enough to retaliate, and Albus felt like a sitting duck. McGonagall, Kingsley, and Alastor reported nothing amiss in the Wizarding World. Beyond the overall belief that "something" was off, it was business as usual.

Albus stopped and rubbed his forehead. Losing Harry was never a part of the plan. At least, not in the beginning. Harry was always meant to sacrifice himself during battle. He needed to be a martyr. And his passing would have been the motivation that the Order and the others would need to fight harder to defeat Voldemort. There was no deviation from that plan. Calliope was never considered to be a threat, a forgotten puzzle piece in the grand scheme of things, and she'd come back to bite him in the ass. He should've done better at killing her the first time around, but thankfully, the second time stuck. Albus looked around the empty halls and sighed heavily. The Order had grown since Harry's passing, die-hard believers aching to get revenge for the loss of their Savior, and Albus let them in without second thought. They would need all the help they could get, as the rumors were swirling that as they Light grew in numbers, as did the Dark.

The battle between their forces, while it would be exceptionally different than he planned and hoped for, was inevitable.

Blaise collapsed on the grass and caught his breath. Travers had been working them for hours, telling them they needed to be ten times greater than what they were. Neville and George laid out beside him, and Fred limped to the patio for water. Daphne and Luna seemed unfazed, but the red painting their cheeks and semi-glazed look in their eyes told Blaise they were as affected as he was. Draco was the only one who was genuinely unbothered by the mock battle they'd been participating in for the last three hours. His shirt was discarded, and several scratch marks from the multiple times he caught a stray spell from Fred or Neville littered his chest. Blaise groaned and pulled himself upright. He shrugged off his shirt and stomped over to the middle of the field.

"Let's get this bloody over with," Blaise huffed.

"Blaise, you can rest," Travers said.

"Yeah, I know that, but I doubt the Order will give me a reprieve when the time comes." Blaise shook out his arms and gestured with his free hand. "Plus, I know that if I stop now, I'll be worse off in the morning," he said.

Fred came over with George and Neville, the three without their shirts, and Daphne and Luna scoffed in unison.

"Don't expect us to strip for you," Daphne said.

"No one would ever want you to," Blaise mocked.

"Speak for yourself, mate," George joked. "I quite like the idea."

"Oy!" Draco exclaimed. "Mind it. That's my wife you're talking about."

"Since when are you two married?"

"Bit of paper doesn't mean anything," Draco said dismissively.

"Does if you're talking finances," Fred replied. "How do you know Luna isn't out for your money?"

"She could drain me dry, and I'd say thank you."

Luna smacked Draco on the shoulder. "You and I both know I'm only with you for what you can do with your-

"Hey, hey, hey!" Neville shouted. "I'd rather get tortured by Bellatrix than hear that."

"If you asked nicely, I'm sure she'd say yes."

Everyone turned to look at Narcissa, dressed in more casual clothes. Andromeda, Ted, Nymphadora, and Severus were with her, and they all wore something similar. Tom waved from the patio, and Remus came jogging out later. There was still no Bellatrix, but Blaise and the others were smart enough not to ask where she was. There was a look in Narcissa and Andromeda's eyes that spoke to something other than Calliope's passing.

"Also, Luna, if you would please not sexualize my son in front of others, that would be lovely," Narcissa said.

"Don't you mean not at all?" Ted asked wryly.

"They're going to do it whether I say yes or no," Narcissa said. "Might as well take what little control I can have over the situation."

"Great parenting," Andromeda said sarcastically.

"Your daughter lost her virginity in your bedroom."

"Aunt Cissy!" Tonks screeched.

"What? They already know, dear."

Andromeda and Ted nodded in unison and a bit of disgust, and Tonks' hair turned pink. Travers shook his head and clapped his hands.

"If you're all coming out here to have a bit of fun, then why don't we make it more interesting," he suggested.

"What do you have in mind?" Remus asked warily.

"Nacht Hexen against the Death Eaters, officially. Everything but the unforgivable, and the winners get whatever they want from the losers. Nacht Hexen has the East and South of the property, and we'll get the North and West."

"When you say whatever-

"I mean within reason, of course," Travers interrupted Ted. "But we all know the list of things outside of reason is short."

No one disagreed with him on that.

"When the sparks fly," Travers said. "We begin."

The Nacht Hexen ran to their side of the manor, and the Death Eaters went to theirs. Blaise glanced around at his family, and he knew they were on the same page. This wasn't a game. The Death Eaters wouldn't go easy on them. Each group was going for blood, and there wouldn't be time for apologies or helping hands. There would be no instruction on being better, just unrelenting brutality. They weren't going to be extended any mercy because there would be no mercy when the battle called for Death instead of bruises or when the bloodshed wouldn't be healed in time for dinner. No one knew when the fight would happen, but they all felt it would happen soon.

It was inevitable.

Calliope picked at her bread while she waited. She still hadn't gotten her magic back, but she felt it. Something was buzzing under her skin, making her anxious and restless, and it was frustrating having it within reach. There was also something else that bothered her. Calliope only had bits and pieces of her memory, things that she knew for a fact, and empty spaces in her mind that hurt to think about for too long. Calliope stiffened as a familiar static sounded in her mind again, and she grabbed her head.

"What is wrong with me?" she groaned.

There was this nagging, wandering emotion that Calliope wasn't as whole as she'd liked to believe, and her answers were found with someone who would rather her suffer than know tell her why. The static grew worse like it was amplified, and then it was gone. Calliope reached for her napkin and pressed it under her nose, stopping the flow of blood before it stained the tablecloth. The door opened, and she looked over her shoulder. The Woman came in with a bag of groceries and shrugged off her coat.

"Headache?" she asked, not looking at her.

"What gave it away?"

The Woman shot her a look and went into the kitchen. "I told you to stop forcing your magic," she said.

"I wasn't," Calliope protested. "And this didn't feel like magic. It felt like…."

"Like?" the Woman pressed.

"I feel as if I am missing something," Calliope said. "In here."

Calliope reluctantly pointed to her heart, and the Woman nodded knowingly.

"You are," she said.

"I am?"

"When people come here, their healing is often distracted or delayed by their emotions. So we temporarily remove any type of obstacle we deem would progress you beyond your limits."

"Meaning?"

"It means that if you knew the true motivation behind you returning, you would force your body and mind too far. You would do more damage, and you would be here longer." The Woman started chopping vegetables and added, "You, in particular, need to be as free from it as possible. But it will not be much longer."

"I'm leaving soon?"

"Don't sound so exciting."

"While I appreciate your help, it feels important that I go back home."

"Yes, and I imagine the big boys upstairs are eager for you to get back too. They're up to something, but as I am the lonely caretaker, they won't let me in on the secret. Do you want potatoes in your stew?"

"Yes, please. And is that what you are? Just the caretaker?"

The Woman grinned and looked over her shoulder.

"I'm a bit more than that, but they like to pretend I'm not."

"What are you?"

"Eat your bread. We have your meditation later, and I don't want you passing out again."

Calliope huffed and muttered, "That was one time."

"One time is more than enough. Eat."

"Fine, fine."

Calliope went back to her bread and thought more about what the Woman said. What was the distraction that needed to be removed? Was it that important to Calliope that she would harm herself to get back to it? Was it a person? A lover? Did she have a lover? Who –

Something sharp went through Calliope's mind again, and she cried out in pain and fell to the floor, clutching her head. The Woman rushed over and replaced Calliope's hands. The touch was soothing but not enough.

"Foolish child, I told you it would hurt," she scolded.

Calliope's eyes rolled into the back of her head. For a moment, she heard a voice. It was soft, panicked, and she latched onto it.

"My beautiful Calli. Wherever you are, know that I'm waiting. I love-

The connection cut out, and Calliope's world went dark.

Bellatrix sat in the library alone. There was some kind of ceremony she had to attend, one that would unlock her mother's magic that was buried in her core. It sounded ominous and suspicious as hell when Melrose explained it. She didn't trust that bastard, but he was the only one honest enough to tell her it would hurt. Levi had been mysteriously absent, and she could only imagine what a shadow creature did in its free time. Bellatrix sighed and plopped down in her chair. She sent a letter to her sisters, telling them she was alright but needed more time. There had been no response, but Bellatrix admittedly didn't expect one. She got back to her feet and went over to the bowl on the table. It was filled with a greenish liquid that Fillmore told her she needed to drink before the ceremony.

It tasted like ash mixed with kiwi, and Bellatrix hadn't decided if she liked it or not. All she knew was that she missed Calliope. Bellatrix dunked her cup into the bowl and went back to her chair.

"The bowl is six cups, Bellatrix," she said, mimicking Fillmore. "You must drink it all before the moon replaces the sun."

"Nice, but my impression is better." Bellatrix hissed at Aldon, who held up his hands in mock surrender. "Sorry, thought you heard me come in," he said.

"Why are you here?"

"To kill you."

"Your sense of humor is atrocious."

"Runs in the family." Aldon hummed and sat down in the chair opposite her. "I came to apologize," he said. "I did love Lia."

"And how do you feel about me?" she asked, sipping at her drink.

"I admit I've watched you," he said. "You take after our side of the family."

"So I've heard."

"But your sisters – it truly is a shame they were born to that cretin," Aldon sighed.

"Again, so I've heard."

"Tell me, Bellatrix. Are you afraid?"

"Of?"

"Death."

Bellatrix wondered if the fascination with Death ever went away or if it was just something the Forthrights all obsessed over. Regardless, she drained her cup and stood, going to refill it. "That is a complex question to answer," she said. "Right now, Death and I are at odds."

"Why?"

"You know why if you've watched me."

Aldon crossed his legs and stapled his fingers under his chin. "Do you blame Death for taking her from you?" he asked.

"I blame many people for that, but no. I blame Death for keeping her as long as he, or she, has."

"You think she is alive?"

"Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?" she said, exasperated.

"I like picking people's brains apart."

"The most concerning part of that statement is that I know you mean both literally and figuratively," she muttered, sitting back down.

"Semantics," he said dismissively. "My point is, I like hearing people admit to things. I like understanding how they operate."

"You and my girlfriend would get along."

"I'm no cradle robber. If you wish to dip into the fountain of youth to find love, that's on you." Bellatrix snarled at him, and Aldon laughed. "Lia was easy to tease as well," he said. "I mean no harm."

"I know. You just remind me of someone at home, is all."

"Travers?"

"Severus."

"That's the greasy-looking fellow?"

Bellatrix cackled and said, "Yes! Oh, I cannot wait to tell him about you."

"Capture all sides of me," Aldon said. "I'm a complex individual."

"The only thing complex about you is your haircut."

"My mother did this to me."

"She must hate you."

"You are a marvelous creature," Aldon said, his tone serious. "I could only imagine how you would have turned out had Lia raised you as she desired."

Bellatrix shrugged and stared down into the liquid. For some reason, speaking about her mother with her mother's family felt off. She felt like she belonged but would always remain an outsider in their presence. Aldon stood and walked over to her. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

"When the time comes for us to stand with you, to be there and support however we can, we will. You have our blood in your veins. And when that fateful day comes, when the battle brewing over our heads comes to fruition, we will be with you in here." Aldon touched her heart, and he bent down to kiss her on the head. "You are no outsider. You are a Forthright just as much as you are a Black," he finished.

Aldon moved away and flicked her on the ear.

"Now. Finish the tasty potion so we can take a knife to your stomach and have a bit of fun."

Bellatrix punched him in the thigh, and he left the room cackling. And if the sound was similar to hers, she didn't think much about it. Instead, she finished her drink and sent a silent message to Calliope wherever she was.

"My beautiful Calli. Wherever you are, know that I'm waiting. I love you."