"Are we going anywhere for these wizards' holidays?" Sophia questioned Kalliope.
"Yes, you are going to stay with Remus and the Snape and Darcy children for a week while I take Nimue to Avalon."
Sophia rolled her eyes, as though it was obvious that Kalliope had missed her point, "but are we going anywhere, you, me, Remus..."
Kalliope didn't let her ward see her smile and shook her head at the girl's persistence. "Yes, we are returning to the temple for the second half of the break, and Remus will go with us."
Sophia worried her lower lip as she thought about that, "Are we going to stay at the temple?"
"No, we will return here."
"Forever?"
"You know I can't answer that child."
"But you're the oracle! You should know if we're going to stay!"
Kalliope sighed softly and answered the girl patiently, "Sophia, I know what the goddess gives me to know. We will stay here as long as She wills it."
"Well I hope its forever..." Sophia mumbled under her breath.
"What happened to your dream of being a priestess little one?"
Sophia squirmed in her seat, "well... I still want to be a priestess, but I'm starting to like the wizarding world. I think some of the things they do here make more sense."
"Like what?"
"Well, not their patriarchal system, I'll NEVER understand that. The goddess clearly meant for women to be the leaders of society. But, I do like their school, and I do like that men and women mix more freely, and I like their shops, those are more exciting than the traders that come through at home."
Kalliope smiled, "goddess willing child, you'll get your fill of all of those things you adore about the wizarding world," she murmured under her breath.
"You look great Mum."
Elizabeth turned from where she was examining herself in the tall mirror in her bedroom; she was trying on her wedding dress. Two days to go and she couldn't wait for it all to be done with, "do you approve?" she asked her soon as he came further into the room.
"Of the dress, yes, you look wonderful in blue. Of the marriage no."
Elizabeth sighed, "Oh William... I wish you felt differently about this. It would mean the world to me if you could accept Sirius. I know he will never replace your father, I wouldn't want him to. But I wish you would at least get along with him."
William played with a couple of small bottles on his mother's dresser before replying, "Dad has only been dead for two and a half years, how can you put that behind you and marry Sirius?"
"Because I love him."
"How can you be so disloyal to Dad's memory?!" William slammed his fist down on the top of the dresser, "I thought he meant more to you than that."
"I will always love your father," Elizabeth said in a choked voice, "When Edward died I thought I would spend the rest of my life alone, but then I met Sirius. Your father is still in my heart William, but I made room for Sirius. Edward is not here anymore William, and I know it sounds harsh, but he doesn't need me anymore, however, Sirius does, and I love him. Why can't you accept that William, for my sake?"
"You're in trouble," Kamen informed his sisters' when they returned from their run.
"Why?"
"Let's see... Mum found out you put your trunks in my room, you went running when it was dark out... if I were you I'd hide until Mum gets off the warpath."
"Thanks, I think we'll go hind out in..."
"Where have you two been?!" Morgan felt like she was ready to snap. "You know you're not supposed to run in the dark! What if something happened to you? Do you have no regard for your own personal safety?"
Dierna and Serena stared at their mother in shock for a moment, she was usually the calm parent, it took a lot to get her this worked up. "Mum, we didn't go far, it's not like anything happened," Serena said in their defense.
"That doesn't matter! What you did was irrational and stupid! Never go out alone like that, especially now that..." Morgan stopped herself.
"Now that what?" Dierna pressed for more information.
"Mama? Why is William angry at Sirius?" Willow joined her mother and brother, dragging her favorite blanket behind her.
"I don't know sweetie," Elizabeth knelt down to her daughter's level, "maybe because he doesn't want us to forget your father?"
"I can tell you exactly..." William started irritably.
"Don't ruin this for her!" Elizabeth looked her tall son in the eye, her heart wringing as she realized how much he resembled her Edward. "If she is willing to accept Sirius then don't turn her against him. I couldn't bear it if both of you turned against me."
"Mum, I'm sorry, but you know how I feel. I'm not going to pretend that I like him, even to please you. Marry him if you want, but don't expect me to be happy about it, and don't expect me to welcome him into this home, because I won't."
Willow's lower lip trembled dangerously, "so is Sirius not going to be my daddy?"
Elizabeth hugged her daughter close, "he would love to be your daddy, sweetheart. And I hope that you want him to, because he is what this family needs."
"I'm sorry girls," Morgan sighed, "I really didn't mean to yell at you like that, you just scared me half to death being out there when..." she stopped herself again.
"Why don't you just tell us what it is Mum?" Kamen was as confused as his sisters as to what was going on.
Morgan wavered for a moment, battling with herself over whether it was better to protect her children by not telling them, or if they should know so that they could be more careful... "The dark mark was seen today, and it was not very far from here. The Ministry is in an uproar, and we don't know for certain that there aren't dark forces still around. I want you to stay close to home, and do not go out after dark unless your father or I are with you."
"Does this mean you're canceling your trip to Paris?" Serena asked.
"I think it might be a wise idea..."
"Go Mum, you deserve a vacation. Remus will be here with us, there's no reason for us to worry yet. The dark mark could have just been from some ex-death eater who got smashed and didn't realize what they were doing. You've been begging Dad to take you to Paris forever, don't back out now that you've finally gotten him to agree," Kamen tried to reassure his mother.
"You promise me you will do exactly what Remus says while we're gone and that you won't go off anywhere by yourselves?"
"Yes Mum," her children chorused together.
"Dad, are you busy?" Nimue paused in the doorway to the living room.
Severus looked down at the letter he had just received from Eric, but forced himself to put it down, "no I am not, did you need something?"
Nimue shrugged her shoulders and looked down at the floor, "not really..."
"Are you sure there is nothing you want to talk about?" Severus pushed gently.
"Well... I'm kinda rethinking the trip to Avalon," Nimue admitted quietly.
"Come here," Severus motioned for Nimue to join him on the sofa, "why are you unsure about going?"
"Because it scares me. What if they want me to become a priestess!? What if they want me to leave Hogwarts?! What if I never learn to control my visions?! What if..."
"Stop that Nimue," Severus said evenly, "I was not sure I liked this trip to Avalon, but I'm starting to think it might be good for you. You need to learn to control these visions, I cannot stand seeing you in pain over this. If the priestesses of Avalon can help you than you should go," he silently added to himself that with the reappearance of the dark mark he felt that Avalon was probably one of the safest places to be now, and he would feel better knowing that his daughter was there.
Tears flooded Nimue's violet eyes as she buried her face her in her father's shoulder, "I just want them to stop! I don't want to live like this, seeing things..."
Severus held his youngest as she sobbed against him, trying to figure out how to best deal with this outpouring of female emotion. He settled for wrapping his arms around her and waiting for her to calm down. When Nimue's wracking sobs subsided into the occasional sniffle he released her from his embrace and turned her face up, "do you feel better now?"
Nimue nodded as she ran her hand across her eyes, "I just wish I knew why this was happening to me."
"Where are you going so early?" Serena asked.
Kamen put a precautionary finger to his lips, signaling for his sister to be quiet, "Me and William are going out, we have...plans."
"Mum and Dad aren't going to be happy, it is your birthday, I thought you were going to spend it with us."
"No way, I can have more fun on my own. Besides, William wants to spend his last Sirius-free day enjoying himself, we're going to use this day to our advantage."
"What are you going to do?" Serena gave her brother a skeptical look; sometimes she just didn't trust him.
"Nothing for you to worry about little sister," Kamen gave her a lopsided grin before he turned to leave.
"What does your friend have to say?"
"He is not my friend," Severus growled.
Morgan wrapped a blanket around herself as she leaned against her husband, trying to get a look at the letter he had received from Eric the night before, "well?"
Severus absently wrapped an arm around his wife as she snuggled closer to him, enjoying the feel of her warm body pressed against him, "Eric says that the dark mark was not just some former death eater fooling around, they killed a muggle last night."
"Will this never stop?" Morgan hugged her husband tightly.
"It will eventually, but it's not going to be pleasant, and lives will be lost," Severus said evenly, "we should just be thankful that those fools contented themselves by killing a stray muggle last night, it could have been worse. And with the Ministry up in arms about the whole thing Malfoy and his fellow conspirators should lie low for awhile."
Morgan sighed deeply, "Does Eric know anything else?"
"No, but he has acquired an assistant."
"An assistant? Who could he possibly have as an assistant?"
Severus shrugged and kissed Morgan gently, "I have no idea."
Stefan clutched his side as he was seized by pain. He had to stay conscious... that was all that mattered, he thought as he fell to the ground. Why did crucio have to be so damn excruciating?
He was barely breathing by the time the curse was lifted, and he lay on the floor for what seemed like an eternity, trying to find the strength to stand up.
"Next time obey my orders instantly," Macnair spat at the younger man.
"Enough of this," Draco said lazily, "I'm sure young MacNeill has learned his lesson and will be more compliant next time, let him go for the night."
"Thank you sir," Stefan shakily climbed to his feet and nodded in Draco's direction, "I will try harder to please," and I hope you rot in hell, he added in his mind, as he left.
"Why did you let him go so easily?" Macnair quipped; he had enjoyed seeing MacNeill squirm in pain.
"I can't have him damaged."
"Why not? I would like nothing better than to finish that damn little spy off."
"Patience Macnair," Draco smiled menacingly, "our attempts at bringing back our master have failed so far, it may be because muggle blood is too weak. We may need a more suitable sacrifice sometime in the future. I want Stefan to be undamaged when his blood is poured out."
"Why can't I see her Willow?" Sirius knelt down in front of the four year old.
"'Cause she doesn't want to see you."
"Why not?" Sirius was a little worried, had he done something to upset Elizabeth?
Willow giggled and rolled her eyes, "'cause she can't see the day before the wedding silly!"
"Oh really," Sirius said as he reached out to tickle his favorite little girl, "and is that her rule or yours missy?"
Willow shrieked with laughter as Sirius tickled her, "she said she'll see you tomorrow!"
"What if I don't want to wait till tomorrow?" Sirius demanded as he lifted the little girl off the floor.
Willow seemed to consider the question for a moment, "you could do something with me instead."
Sirius laughed, "Alright," he put her back down, "go tell your mother I'm taking you out for awhile."
"Well... what do you think?"
William shrugged, "this is certainly different, we've snuck out of school on plenty of occasions, but I don't think we've ever snuck into it before."
Kamen grinned, "yes, but Celeste Markham stayed at school for the holidays, and I have it on good authority that girls like to be surprised. So... us showing up here should definitely win me points with the fair Celeste."
"Very poetic, however your intentions leave a bit to be desired," William commented dryly.
Kamen pretended to look affronted, "do you dare suggest that I might have ulterior motives where one of the fairer sex is concerned?"
William rolled his eyes, "yeah, pretty much."
"Well you're right. This is one conquest that I intend to make. Shall we?"
Nimue stared at the bag on her bed, it scared her. It held her clothing for the trip to Avalon; it meant she really was going. She fidgeted a bit. She wasn't like her siblings, she didn't long for adventure, she didn't like being the center of attention, she liked quiet solitude, she liked being at home, it felt safe. She'd never been away from home by herself before, the fact that she was only going to be gone for a week didn't matter, she was still going somewhere new and different without her family.
"Are you sure you're going to be alright sweetie?" Morgan leaned in the doorway to her daughter's room.
"Yeah, I guess," Nimue picked up her bag, "is it time to go?"
Morgan nodded as she came forward to envelope her youngest in a warm hug. "You'll be fine darling. You're stronger than you think you are, just give yourself a chance."
Nimue tried to live up to the notion of Gryffindor bravery as she followed her mother downstairs, where Kalliope and Sophia were waiting.
"Are you ready little one?" Kalliope asked gently, it would have taken a blind man to miss how Nimue was shaking with nerves.
"Yes ma'am," Nimue answered softly.
"Why can't I go with you?" Sophia pouted.
"Because child, the priestesses of Avalon did not ask to see you, you are an unimportant novice who needs to learn her place before she can expect to be involved important matters of temple business."
Sophia glared at her guardian, showing her displeasure at being left out of what she considered to be an adventure.
Kalliope turned her attention back to Nimue, "you will do fine child, I promise the Lady will not expect too much from you, and she will do better than I at helping you understand your visions. And you," she turned back to Sophia, "will be on your best behavior while I'm gone, or you will be spending the remainder of the holidays performing the most menial tasks at the temple, is that clear?"
"Yes lady, I understand," Sophia rolled her eyes when she was sure her guardian wasn't looking.
Morgan smiled at Kalliope, "I think Remus will be able to handle them, hopefully we don't have anything to worry about."
"It's a really good thing we have secret passageways to use; I wouldn't want to sneak in past those dragons."
"It's a good thing you're a conceited git who thinks he can have everything his way, otherwise I wouldn't be sneaking into our school to help you get with the Head Girl," William replied sarcastically.
"You know you love this," Kamen shot back.
"True, very true."
The two boys made there ways into the school via the Shrieking Shack and were soon sneaking along the hallways, checking the Marauder's Map every so often to make sure that they weren't going to be discovered.
"Aha... Head Girl straight ahead," Kamen said as he examined the Marauder's Map, "she's coming right toward us. Perfect..."
William stayed out of sight in the shadows of a doorway while Kamen casually leaned against the wall, waiting for Celeste to see him. She was reading a book while she walked, so she was nearly on top of Kamen before she realized he was there, "Kamen! What are you doing here?" she looked at him confusedly.
"Waiting for you," Kamen answered smoothly as he pulled a daisy out of his robes and presented it to Celeste, "you refused my last offering of flowers, but I would like to try again."
Celeste blushed as she accepted the bloom, "you're not supposed to be here, if you get caught you'll be in trouble."
"But you won't report me, and besides," he flashed her his lopsided grin, "you'd be worth it."
"So, why are you really here? You aren't going to vandalize anything are?"
"No..." Kamen wished he'd thought of that, "I came to see you, and to ask you to go on a date with me," he rushed on when he saw that Celeste was about to protest, "no strings attached, just a date, to see if we have anything. One date, and after that, just say the word and I'll leave you alone, but if we do have something... well then, I'd like to escort you to the spring ball."
"That's months away..."
"But I like to be prepared."
Celeste studied Kamen for a long moment; he was awfully good looking, and very smooth... "Fine, one date."
Kamen grinned, "Great, Mystic Acid is playing in Hogsmeade on Thursday, we could go to the concert together."
Celeste shook her head, "I can't leave the school, you know that isn't allowed."
"That never stopped me."
"And it won't stop you from getting in trouble now will it young Snape and Darcy?"
Kamen closed his eyes for a moment, "it had to be Filch that found us..." he murmured under his breath.
"Oh yes... I've been waiting to catch at something for a long time," Argus Filch grinned, "perhaps I'll finally get you two trouble makers expelled, and then I'll be free of you."
"Not today Filch," Kamen gave the irate caretaker a salute, gave Celeste a quick kiss on the cheek and pulled a handful of dung bombs out of his pocket, "better luck next time." He threw down the dung bombs as he and William made a quick exit.
As soon as they were safely en route back to Hogsmeade Kamen let himself celebrate, "she said yes! Hell yeah! This went better than I planned."
"I liked our dramatic exit," William replied lazily, "but I think we should lie low for awhile. I don't want to be home when Mum gets an owl from the school telling about our little exploit."
Kamen ran a hand through his hair, "good idea, being killed by my parents was not on my to do list today. Want to go to the Hog's Head for a drink?"
"Of course, I'll even buy since it's your birthday."