Lunch was a quick affair - what happened after, however, was not. Alabaster was sort of regretting offering to teach his particular brand of magic as soon as Dumbledore told him to take centre stage at the front of the Great Hall.

The only person he had ever taught magic to had been Fahra, and her magic was similar enough to his basics. Sure, she was better at altering the mist and (though she used it rarely) more telekinetic aspects, but at the start Alabaster had only understood altering the mist. The stones and items and the stuff that more closely resembled spell work had come much later on. Even he was surprised at how quick he had picked it up, and he'd had others tell him how he was possibly one of Hecate's most powerful children.

Maybe if things had been different at the beginning he would agree, but personally he felt like he could make a strong argument for Fahra being stronger.

"Ok, um…word of warning, I have only ever given instruction on this sort of thing on the fly, so if my teaching method sucks, it's my bad." Those were the first words out of Alabaster's mouth, and he wrung his hands together nervously. "I'm not expecting you to pick this up as easily as I did, considering how you channel magic differently - if you don't want to take part, feel free to not, you can like…catch up on schoolwork I guess?"

"Gods, you're so bad at this." He heard Fahra mutter and almost distractedly flipped her off, earning a few snickers from every student in the hall. Gods but there must be over one hundred there.

Was it suddenly very hot in here, or was that just him?

"Shut up, I've only ever taught you." Alabaster countered. "Brief rundown on what, exactly, I meant when I use the term pocket dimension. Basically, in the world there are layers of different magic. The Mist, which we have used as a term before, is the first layer and the one you primarily manipulate. We are not accessing the inherent magic there - we are reaching just beyond that and manipulating that layer instead. This is why I'm not expecting anyone to get this on their first try, or even their fifth. Tenth. This isn't what you're used to using or manipulating, so it's going to be a lot trickier than the stuff you learn in your lessons." Alabaster caught the determined look on Hermione's face, along with the apprehensive looks on a few others. "It helps if you can visualise what your pocket looks like - for example, mine's similar to…hmm, let's say a locker. About this big." He gestured with his hands to approximately the size of his pocket. "I can't make it bigger, and making it any smaller than that would be detrimental. It's a storage system, but if you work with too large a space it becomes more of a hindrance than a help. It's why I don't store everything and the kitchen sink in there, and only essentials - my grimoire, extra spell components, stuff like that."

"Wait, so you can access it anywhere?" One of the Ravenclaw's asked, pausing in jotting down notes. "Where you create said pocket doesn't matter?"

"As far as I know it doesn't." Alabaster shrugged. "As previously stated, magic is weird." There were a few giggles at that. "I assume it's because there is innate magic everywhere, just some of it is more forefront than others. The Mist acts as sort of a barrier towards the stuff just past it, which is why some things mundanes cannot see, but as you're manipulating the Mist instead of what's beyond that, it cannot act as a barrier. Some mundane people can see through the Mist, it does not fog their vision or manage to rationalise what they have seen, but that is pretty rare. Every single place in the world does have magic, it's just that in certain places it has sort of…seeped into the very being, the essence of it, like if you use a pot continuously for the same recipe, eventually the flavour sort of sticks, if that makes sense?"

"...Al, sweetheart, love of my life, you use cooking pots and pans to make potions." Topher spoke up, voice unbearably fond. "You know nothing about cooking."

"Rude." Alabaster immediately retorted. "This is magic, anyway - I know what I mean even if no one else does."

"No, no, I get it." Cedric spoke up. "I mean, we can all use our magic everywhere, we're just not supposed to because we manipulate the stuff that is visible to the mundanes, right? But if we manage to reach beyond that, then it's safer, because the other stuff covers it up."

"Got it." Alabaster gave a thumbs up. "You have a point system, right? Can I give points? Is that a thing I can do?"

"For this session, I don't see why not." Dumbledore said, and Alabaster grinned.

"Ok, so like…ten points for Hufflepuff? Is that right?"

"That's correct." Pomona confirmed, looking pleased, and Alabaster turned back to the students who were watching him eagerly.

"I've never actually taught dimensional pockets, so bear with me a bit. I would say…imagine you're reaching through a curtain or a veil to something just behind it. I would start by attempting to put something small inside your visualised pocket, imagine it as a cupboard. Something with a door you can close to stop things from falling out. It's difficult because it's beyond the main layer, but that doesn't mean nobody here can do it. Anyone can do any sort of magic, just some don't come easier, that's all."

"Like how my mum was good at charms?" Harry asked and Alabaster nodded.

"Yep. She probably lacked in a certain area, completely normal - like, I'm no good at keeping a plant alive, but I can call up an ice wall if I have the right materials at my disposal." Alabaster flicked his hand at the wrist, pulling out a small notebook that looked like it was practically falling apart, his grimoire most likely. "For me, dimensional pockets came easy. It's manipulation of planes, which sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is. You're already shifting little bits, with your lumos' and all that, this is just doing it on a larger scale."

The attempts, as Alabaster expected, didn't wield much results. He went around, correcting as best he could with his haphazard self-taught magic, but he already knew it wouldn't amount to much. The absence of a wand left most, if not all, floundering, and Hermione got frustrated when she had trouble visualising what she had to do. She worked best with words and physicality, Alabaster suspected, compared to the ones where feelings and imagination worked best, and decided to run her through some of his more powerful spells instead of continuing the pocket dimensions. The Ravenclaws seemed to grasp most of the basics, however, and Cassius Warrington had only failed as he got too excited when he saw his fingers disappear into the point beyond the Mist. That was the closest anyone got to actually crafting the thing, and honestly it was more than what Alabaster was expecting. Some of the adults had tried, but they were struggling too, and Alabaster did not turn red when McGonagall complimented his powerful spellwork.

Sure, he could cast spells, use magic, but none of that could make it so he didn't look like a pleasantly surprised strawberry when complimented on it.

Still, the lesson ended after maybe an hour or so, and Alabaster retook his seat next to Topher, who slung an arm around his shoulders and bussed a kiss to his temple. Alabaster leaned into the contact easily, resting his head against the crook of Topher's shoulder. He felt content, at ease, and eager to listen to the retelling of Harry's first year. He flashed the bespectacled teen a grin, which Harry returned brightly. But by the gods, he loved that kid. Alabaster had never felt such a close connection to anyone in such a short amount of time, but it might be because he saw some of himself in Harry. The magic that tried to stay hidden around people who didn't like it, the relief at finding friendship with those who shared it.

He thought back to his first meeting with his half sister with a stilted fondness, before the narration started up and the voice was…different.

Oh, yeah. His story, too.

He was not looking forward to this.

XoooX

Alabaster I

"Ooh, new narrator!" Hermione sounded very excited, eyes bright.

"You, I take it?" Harry mimicked Alabaster's comment towards him and laughed when Alabaster flipped him off.

"Shut up, this fucking sucks." Alabaster muttered, turning his face into Topher's neck.

"Oh, I know." Harry agreed, just glad he was getting a break from his thoughts being read aloud.

The money had run out about two days in, and the cashpoint denied the card, so that meant Alabaster was going to have to get creative.

"Cashpoint? Card?" Arthur asked, and it was Fahra who answered, considering how Alabaster was still hiding his face.

"Mundanes typically don't carry around money - the card provides a…hm…a way for you to spend however much you need without having to withdraw savings physically. A cashpoint is used to access the money without having to enter the bank physically. We use paper money, so it's obviously a lot more convenient for them to sort of…dispense a lighter thing than it is for coins."

He tugged the oversized coat further around him, shivering slightly in the cold November air. It was getting too close to winter, to be on the streets with no money and the only winter clothes to his name were the boots he managed to shove on and his father's oversized jacket that he'd stolen before running out the door of his house.

Molly couldn't help but frown at that, worry gnawing at her insides. How cold would he have been, she wondered. A ten year old, on the streets, using a coat for a blanket and his only pair of shoes, some boots that he would likely grow out of soon. She couldn't help but try to get his measurements from merely looking at him, a talent she had picked up.

She already knitted jumpers for her husband, her kids, their friends - what was one more? Or, well, maybe four more. Couldn't leave out Alabaster's family of misfits, after all. They had been street kids, too, and Molly had enough space in her heart for all of them.

He'd hoped that he would be able to draw enough money from the credit card he'd taken from his father's wallet, but the old man had definitely cancelled it once he realised it had gone.

Just one last way to screw him over, Alabaster thought bitterly, scowling at the pavement.

"What is it with parents not knowing how to parent - present company not included." Regulus added, tipping his head in the direction of Arthur and Molly.

"Don't they have parenting books?" Cassandra asked. "My mum was amazing and she was a single parent. I mean, so were most of our parents and like…they sounded good? Except Al's."

"Yeah, my dad sucked, as previously stated." Alabaster commented. Harry wrinkled his nose.

"Don't forget guardians." Harry said. "My guardians were horrible."

"I never realised how grateful I should be, because mum and dad are the best." Fred announced. "Like, sure, they yell, or…well 'raise their voices', but only because we're little shits."

"Watch you're language." Arthur said, voice jovial. "And we raise our voices because if you don't know wrong from right, you will get it bigger trouble than being grounded, or having to clean up one of your many, many messes."

"All in the name of experimentation, dad." George argued and Molly let out an exhausted sigh while Ginny snorted in amusement.

He was going to have to steal, he realised, and felt his stomach churn at the thought. Stealing from his father was different - parental ties and also the fact that he was the worst person in the world. The fact that he still had bruises around his neck, matching the size and shape of his hands was a testament to that.

Alabaster raised his fingers to his neck in remembrance of the past wound. Some people hissed, others murmured in hushed, angry tones. Remus' eyes had gone startlingly gold. Regulus blinked slowly.

"How often did he -"

"Not often." Alabaster said. "Too obvious, harder to hide. Usually arms." He felt like that was too much, Regulus' eyes flashing angrily. "It doesn't matter. Ancient history. I'm over it."

"You don't have to be over it, Al." Fahra's voice had gone very quiet, silky smooth. "It's fine to not be over it."

"You just want a reason to be angry." Alabaster retorted.

Shops felt...wrong, bad. He silently promised himself that he would only steal from big companies who could afford to lose money, and not the smaller, independently owned ones.

He was many things, but he wasn't one to inconvenience others who could not afford to be inconvenienced.

"Still a nice boy, even in a situation like that." Pomona murmured to Poppy, who was jotting down notes. She had a list regarding Potter, but Torrington…she felt like giving him a mandatory check up would be worth it, though she knew it would be no easy feat. Alabaster was a bit like a cat - yowling and hissing and clawing when made to do something he did not like, only softer and docile around a few select people. He was opening up a bit to the people he sat with, most notably Harry and maybe Regulus, but was still a little shifty, uncomfortable. He was in his element when discussing magic, though, the barriers falling. Poppy only hoped that trend would continue as time wore on and they began to know each other more.

It was growing darker out, the chill growing more prominent, as was the emptiness of Alabaster's stomach. He had experienced hunger before - a favourite punishment of his father, denying him meals, but Alabaster had combated that in the past by sneaking into the kitchen in the small hours of the morning, shoving granola bars into the loose floorboard beneath his bed just in case.

"Loose floorboards are good for that." Harry agreed. Regulus hummed in slight disagreement.

"Under the mattress for me. Or the backboard. I remember my brother had carved out a hole behind his wardrobe - only because he had something perishable in there and the smell was vile. I had to help him figure out what it was."

"Gross." Alabaster said, though he was relieved that none of them looked ready to force feed him extra, unlike Molly Weasley. Honestly, he was eating regular meals and not living off granola bars and cold canned soup now. He didn't need extra food on his plate.

He stayed out of the spotlight of the streetlights overhead, keeping an eye out for people, which was when he spotted her.

The girl was standing just outside of one of the pools of golden light, and Alabaster could make out the slightly darker tone of her skin, face surrounded by a mess of black hair. He barely noticed that, due to the fact she had a hood pulled up over her head, and she was facing the window of a building - a shop, Alabaster noted, a 7-eleven.

"Oh, it's me!" Fahra said, sounding absolutely ecstatic. "This is the first time we met. We bonded over robbing a store."

"Just sibling things." Alabaster agreed. Cassandra snorted loudly.

"Literally living up to the phrase 'be gay, do crime'."

A big chain store, and considering the fact it was closed, it was definitely later than he had expected it to be.

He kept quiet when he made his way over, noted the fact he could just make out the furrow of her brows. In the same situation as he was, he assumed - hungry, alone, and considering the pros and cons of breaking and entering to avoid starving.

"You know, staring at the entrance isn't going to help." The words came out without Alabaster's consent, slightly too sharp, and the girl whirled to face him. He narrowly ducked the fist aimed at his face on instinct, and caught her wrist when she made for another swipe.

"So violent." Alabaster teased, laughing when Fahra stuck her tongue out in retaliation.

"Tell me you wouldn't do the exact same thing." She retorted.

"Good reflexes." Kingsley murmured to Amelia Bones, who nodded a little. "What was Mad-eye's favourite phrase? Constant vigilance?"

"He'd criticise Swift's inability to land a hit." She retorted. "Though her…tenacity would be appreciated." Kingsley snorted in amusement at that.

Her dark eyes were wide and slightly panicked, until she seemed to notice that he was about her age in which her fighting stance loosened slightly. Alabaster figured it was then safe to relax his grip on her wrist, which moved to cross over her midsection, joined by the other. "Besides, if you're considering breaking in, front entrance is not the best - that's where they'll look first. Also, the bars on the glass make it tricky."

"Should we be concerned that you know how to break into places, or at least the logistics of it?" Tonks asked. Alabaster shrugged.

"I mean, it was necessary at the time. I wouldn't break into a place unless I had no other options, and at the time I didn't."

"Homeless shelter?" Bill suggested, and it was Topher who snorted derisively at that.

"When underage? No way. You get sent back home or maybe get into the foster system which, being demigods, is risky."

"As experienced by me, when my last foster parent tried to kill me." Cassandra reminded them.

"Who said anything about breaking in?" She snapped, her voice raspy. Thirsty, Alabaster guessed, and the way her hands clutched at her stomach indicated hunger. He raised an eyebrow, which she returned with the exact same amount of attitude.

"And yet people don't think you're related." Topher said. "Your mannerisms are so similar, and you look at least similar to each other."

"It's because I'm, like, mixed race and Al is one hundred percent white bread." Fahra said and Alabaster snorted.

"Well, that's something I haven't heard before." He said.

"You're thirsty, possibly hungry, and you're eying the door desperately. I can put the pieces together." He retorted. The girl frowned a little, looking defensive.

"You put that together quickly." Tonks said, sounding vaguely impressed.

"Eh, since I was in the exact same position, it wasn't that tricky."

Alabaster sighed heavily. "Look, we're in the same boat right now. I can get us in and out undetected, and no one will be any the wiser."

"As much as I hate to agree with anything he says, Torrington makes a point." Severus immediately groaned when Alabaster put a hand to his chest in mock surprise.

"Was that a compliment?"

"Don't get a big head over it." Snape retorted. "Or you might not be able to get through the doors."

There were a few snorts for the Slytherin table, while the rest of the hall was mostly stunned that Professor Snape, the dungeon bat, made a joke.

"Most people would notice if someone broke into their shop." She looked intrigued, though, and gestured to Alabaster with a 'go ahead' gesture. "If you're so knowledgeable about breaking into buildings, please, be my guest."

"The sass." Charlie sounded amused. "You're ten and that sass…"

"It's a gift." Fahra flipped her hair dramatically. "I mean, Harry has sarcasm." She gestured to said kid, who blinked innocently.

"Who, me?" He asked.

"Don't try it, kid." Fahra laughed. "You know you're a little shit."

Alabaster didn't fight the urge to roll his eyes, instead sauntered over to the alley next to the shop, eying the back door critically. The girl followed a few steps back

He rested his hand over the lock, closed his eyes and focused. Locks were trickier to work with, the main reason he hadn't managed to work with the one on the linen closet until the day he ran away, but he could do it.

"Like us with alohomora?" Hermione asked and Alabaster thought a little.

"That's not of Latin origin." He said carefully. "I also don't know how easy it is to perform. Locks are tricky because it's lots of small, fiddly things. Hermes kids are better with locks because their dad is the god of thieves, but most locks have parts that move. It's tricky to manipulate because of that, but I can do it. I just prefer not to."

It just took time, and was more fiddly than he liked. Moving things with his magic (because it had to be magic, it was the only thing that made sense) was always tricky. It had been easier when he was little, but now it was exhausting to do it.

"Because I supressed my core. At least, that's what it feels like." He said. The room went deadly silent. "...what? What did I say?"

"Dangerous with wizards." Remus managed to explain. "Wizards who suppress their magic…usually they don't live past ten."

"...oh." Alabaster's voice had gone very small at that.

But eventually, he heard the door click and swing inwards. He smirked a little when the girl gave a little gasp.

"How's that for breaking in?" Alabaster asked her, a smirk evident in his tone. "Well, I need to disable the alarms, but -" Either way, the girl had darted in, hastily grabbing what she could from the back room.

A few amused noises came from those gathered, but then again, due to the situation it was expected. It was more so the fact that she had just completely ignored any continued discussion to proceed to steal.

A few sandwiches stored in fridges, some bottled drinks - mostly water and juice. Alabaster figured he'd join in the ransacking of the place - non perishables and bottles of water. He may have used his lockpicking trick on the cabinet holding the more expensive stuff and shoved a couple of packs of paracetamol into his backpack before they left via the backdoor again, closing it and managing to lock it.

"Thus no one being none the wiser until the next day." Despite herself, McGonagall found herself very impressed by the actions of two children, getting in and out of a situation without leaving any evidence. She was careful not to say such, though - couldn't have any of her students getting ideas, after all. She already had too much trouble dealing with the so-called 'golden trio'.

Alabaster didn't say a word as he turned and headed off again, back on the main street, stride wide. He didn't pause, even as he heard the sound of quick footsteps following him.

"Antisocial, much?" Angelina asked, a laugh evident in her voice. Alabaster merely stuck his tongue out in response.

"That was magic, right?" She asked, once she was keeping pace with Alabaster. "How on earth did you do that? I mean, I can sometimes do little things, but -"

"Wait, you can…" He trailed off, remembering that he did not want the company of another mouth to feed, and sped up his strides.

"I love how you were shocked to find out another person could do magic, then immediately decided 'actually, fuck this'." Charlie ignored the reprimand from his mother.

"To be honest, I think 'actually, fuck this' describes Al's thought process at least ninety five percent of the time." Fahra said. "The other five percent is…I don't know…um…"

"Trauma, probably." Alabaster said.

"Yeah, fair point."

At least he wasn't alone in this weird thing. Weird things always happened around him, not always magic related, but he wasn't dragging another person into his mess. He could deal with it on his own.

All the demigods minus one unimpressed looking Alabaster snorted loudly. "You know, it's really not that funny."

"It is, though." Cassandra said. "The fact that you are like 'I'm dealing with this on my own' and then you kept picking up people."

"Oh, shut up, Cassie."

"So. We should travel together." The girl was practically jogging to keep up with Alabaster's fast pace, completely derailing his train of thought, a sandwich in one hand. "I mean, you're good with that magic stuff, and it's always good to have a friend, yeah?"

"No." Alabaster turned up the collar of his oversized coat. He sped up slightly, annoyance radiating off him when he realised she was still determined to follow him.

"Come on, you're like...ten. We should stick together. It's easier to get food if you have a partner."

"Persistent, aren't you?" Regulus sounded highly amused and Fahra waved an absent hand.

"Gotta be to get through to this idiot."

"Hey." Alabaster pouted. "I'm not an idiot."

"When it comes to whether you can deal with things yourself or not, you sort of can be." Fahra retorted.

"I'm eleven. Besides, I work best alone." Alabaster did not want this tiny girl following him. With her constant chatter and exaggerated hand gestures, she would draw more attention than he wanted. He didn't want to get noticed.

"There it is. The famous 'I work best alone' line." Topher said, laughing when Alabaster elbowed him in reprimand - though it was gentle enough that it barely jostled his partner.

He thought of a linen closet with no light, fingertips bleeding as he clawed at the door, begging his dad to let him out.

There were a round of winces and Alabaster absently clenched his hand into a fist and released it a few times as though remembering the pain. Yeah, the bleeding…that had been fucking painful.

His traitorous mind also provided a picture of a far too skinny girl, black hair tangled, cheeks gaunt and dirty, and he let out a heavy sigh. Curse his conscience. "...I'll teach you to control your magic. That's it."

"Yes!" She fist pumped the air and Alabaster was seriously reconsidering his choice. "Well then, partner, can I get a name?"

"...Alabaster."

"That can't be your real name." She said, snorting slightly, but carried on before Alabaster could snap at her that it was none of her business as to why he went by Alabaster. "I'm Fahra Swift. I think this will be the start of a beautiful friendship."

"And then we found out we're siblings." Fahra said. "Which was like…almost better. I say almost, because I have to justify him being my brother to people who don't understand genetics."

"Ah, white people."

"Once again, Al, babe, you are a white people."

Alabaster highly doubted that, but kept his thoughts to himself.

After all, it might be...nice, to not be alone.

"Correction - I should have left you on that street corner where you were standing."

"But you didn't." The words were exchanged with ease which caused the few surrounding them to snicker.

"Ok, knock it off with the banter." Topher said, voice entirely fond and earning himself a peck on the jaw from Alabaster. "We have more books to read."

"Damn." Harry muttered. "I hoped you'd forget."

"Yeah, good luck with that mate." Ron said, patting his shoulder in sympathy.

XoOoX

Word count: 4554

Ok, so this took…long. Mostly because it is entirely original writing which always takes me ages if the inspiration doesn't strike at the right time.

This is now part of a series! Loose Threads includes the demigod stories without the additional commentary. Feel free to drop a comment there, or any requests for stories with my OCs. I can't guarantee that I will write them up, I already have a few ideas of what other things to include regarding them, but I'm always eager to hear any input.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! - Jazz xx