My fear! My hate! These are things that are rapped up in myself and I will not allow myself to show them. Those eyes still haunt me, and I see them every night. If I find them I will not be able to move such is the fear of my past. So it is true the past haunts you? They ask. But they will never know the truth that lies hidden in the shadows.

Lucrius Next

Hogwarts Great hall, 8:00 AM 1st December

As the owls, and their noise which was now a standard thing in Lucrius' life, burst through the shutters at the top of the great hall, Lucrius was planning yet another normal day at school. He had grown over the past few months to love the school and for him it was a final sense of being normal which kept him for the boredom most other students felt. Of course due to his superior training in the actually world of work he was top of the 2 classes he was taking during this half of the year. His magical demographics class and Defence against the dark arts class did not start till after his first section NEWT exams that were coming in February. After the final exam he would have a short 2-week brake which would give him the time he needed to rest and go to do some business he had in Diagon alley hen he could return to Hogwarts and begin work on his new subjects.

As he was thinking about this all the owls suddenly scattered and shot out of all the shutters in the roof. Lucrius looked up to find out why, and as he did he saw a huge hawk spiralling down from the ceiling.

"Well now what do we have here?" said Dumbledore raising to his feet. The hawk flew in and Lucrius put out his hand. The hawk saw the hand appear and flew over to it landing on Lucrius hand and gripping it with his talons. Lucrius was as usual wearing dragon skin and mythral gloves and so the talons did not even reach the flesh.

"So father sent me a letter at last." Lucrius said aloud, as he pulled the capsule from the hawk's leg. As he did the hawk showed out his other leg which also had a capsule on it but this was made of a black metal that Lucrius had not seen before. He pulled it off and found it to be incredibly hot on his fingers even through his gloves. The hawk now pulled off his hand and using the small thermals coming from the candles it gradually rose before flying out of a shutter in the roof. The first letter, which was indeed from Lucrius' father read.

"Dear Lucrius,

I have been away on assignment since the beginning of term so I am sorry that this is late. I have heard about your progress, and whether you want to believe me or not I have also read all your letters. How are you doing? Is the Azkaban cup working, as it should? I will be sending some codex's, I found on my last mission, I can not read the symbols but I know you can. I hope they will be of some interest to you. Since your polymorphism, I have transferred all the money and the property, which is rightfully yours over to your name, and you have been accepted into the magical community as a full adult as of the 26th of November. Congratulations, this however means that I am no longer in charge of any problems you may have and so with your freedom comes your responsibility. Good luck my son and do the Next name proud.

Much love

Entued Next

95,36,69,103"

"Well that's nice and written by him as well. He really was always one for business and never one for informal speech." Lucrius muttered, before reaching the second tube. He opened it and pulled out the small single roll of parchment only about an inch thick. He opened it slowly and it had a single line on it, which read.

"I'm getting closer Lucrius." As he read the final word of this letter it burnt up in his hands, and the capsule which it came in exploded. Lucrius stared at his hands for a few minutes before he looked up drained his cup slammed it on the table and walked out of the great hall. As he left over 1500 pairs of eyes followed him out of the hall, all the talking had stopped and the castle was completely silent. The Dumbledore rose and said,

"Would someone please bring me that letter to Lucrius." Harry snatched up the letter and walked out to the front of the hall and passed over the letter. After Dumbledore had read the letter through he once again stood up and announced,

"There will be no school today everyone is free to do what they would like, however there will be no one to leave the grounds." He then spoke quietly to Harry, whilst the hall was once again filled with noise, "Tell Lucrius I wish to see him in my office in 1 hour." Harry turned and walked quickly out of the great hall.

Hogwarts Dumbledore's office 9:30 AM

Lucrius paced up and down the office waiting for Dumbledore to arrive. He was wearing normal muggle clothing, which he had grown accustomed to using. In fact Lucrius was very good with all parts of the muggle world, from their music to their money and therefore was perfect for the muggle liaison officer, a role already given to him by the magical community. It was widely known that the skills of the Next family had missed a generation, and the Entued Next was not a great man, and so the magical community gave him jobs suitably tailored to his specific skills. Even Lucrius, who had greatly admire his father until about a week into July, knew this and he also know of the magically protected charter which brought him into power as soon as he was legally declared an adult. He guessed this is what Dumbledore wanted him to talk about. He whistled and Fawks flew over to him and landed on his shoulder. He stroked Fawks and set him flying round the office. He then went and sat down in the visitor's chair. After a few seconds Dumbledore entered and Fawks flew onto his hat.

"I don't like him flying around my office cause this always happens." He joked. "But I asked you here in all seriousness."

"For the charter?" asked Lucrius.

"Yes for the charter, the next Wizengamot is on the 16th of December and you will be accepted and given your position at the table of the wise council at that meeting. This is during the Christmas holidays and so you have need to worry about missing school."

"Thank you Dumbledore." Said Lucrius

"However since you have been appointed to so many councils, you could potentially leave school and work full time, I hope, however, that you will still stay at Hogwarts and continue your education."

"I will you can have faith in that fact Dumbledore." Replied Lucrius.

"Very well I heard that you have Potions with professor Snape take this note it should explain to him about your new positions."

"Thank you again." Said Lucrius as he turned and walked out of Dumbledore's office.