Chapter 42. A Rushed decision and the fall of house Quade.
"Close the door, you idiot!" shouted Draco to Jakob, who seemed to snap out from the shortcut in his brain. He hastily walked inside and closed the door behind him.
Draco and Theo looked confusedly at the boy, who usually was the smart one.
"Get out and close the door," said Theo baffled. Jakob nodded, opened the door again and quickly got out, slamming it in the process, making the two boys jump.
"Bloody hell, he didn't have to break it," said Theo looking at his boyfriend.
"He was in shock. I'm sure he didn't mean it," assured Draco as the two boys stared towards the door.
"Didn't you lock it?" asked Theo a bit nervously.
"I did." the blonde said, staring at the boy he had grown to care about more than he was willing to admit in the start.
"Don't worry, I was going to tell him this Christmas anyway. We can trust him."
Theo nodded, feeling some relief that it was at least Jakob who had caught them.
"It could be worse." Chuckled the heir Nott, trying to ease the situation.
"How?"
"It could have been Pansy."
Draco frowned.
"If it were her, she would have been a wreck by now."
The girl in question was exactly that. When Jakob opened the door and walked in, he noted that she hadn't even moved a centimetre and still had that shocking appearance on her face.
The Slytherin boy honestly had no idea of what to do now. He walked slowly over to the bed and sat down, embracing her with his left arm.
The girl slowly let her head rest on his shoulder.
"I don't know why I'm crying. I haven't been exactly faithful either but seeing that... I will have no chance of being happy when we get married. I will just be the unwanted wife, never to be loved." Jakob hushed the girl and kissed the top of her head.
"Don't worry about that. We will change the world, remember? We won't have time for silly things like marriages."
Pansy laughed and cried at the same time.
"But what should I do then? I've been raised to be his perfect wife my whole life."
Jakob chuckled.
"You have to decide for yourself what you want to do, Pansy. They expect me to be a perfect little Lord when I grow up, but I have chosen a higher purpose. I would like it to be our purpose, but in the end, you decide. Maybe own a potion shop or become a master?"
Pansy shrugged hopelessly, and Jakob understood this wasn't a time for answers. She only needed him here.
"I can't even imagen how this must feel, Pansy. But if there is anything I can do, tell me, and I will see it done, alright?"
"Can you hold me closer?" Jakob didn't hesitate. He lifted the girl up on his lap and embraced her. Stroking her long straight black hair as she had her arms close to her chest.
That night Jakob sat with the crying girl comforting her by whispering uplifting words. At the same time, he rocketed her back and forth in his lap, still embracing her. He stroked her back, hearing small sniffs coming from the girl.
Sometime during the night, Pansy fell asleep, and Jakob slowly carried her to her side of the bed and lay beside her, letting her sleeping form snuggle up on his chest.
When morning arrived, Jakob was still awake. Pansy had woken up a few times during the night, crying over the future that awaited her.
When the sun shone inside the room, Jakob looked at the girl who seemed so peaceful. Shit, I never imagen that Pansy would react like this. It wasn't overreacting when he thought about it. Her future had just been ruined, and Jakob felt guilty about not even thinking about it. He had known about Draco's feelings towards her, and what had he done? Nothing.
"Pansy, we need to get up. We have school."
She stirred and opened her eyes. A brief smile appeared before she remembered everything and closed them again.
"I'm sick today."
Jakob nodded.
"I will let them now. But I need to get up now. The newspapers will arrive today, and I'm not sure what will happen next.
Pansy sighed as she rolled over and stood up.
"You don't have to-"
"I will only worry about you anyways like I always do when you decide to do something impulsive like this." interrupted the girl as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
"Maybe she has a point," whispered Jakob in a low voice, feeling more of that guilt rising in his stomach.
When they were done, Jakob gave a questioning look before they opened the door to the outside world of problems.
"Don't look at me like an injured puppy." Snapped the girl. Jakob, a little surprised, opened the door and gestured for the lady to walk out first.
When they wandered into the common room, Jakob noticed that Draco and Theo sat nervously on the couch, glancing towards the corridor where the two had just arrived from.
"They don't think you saw then." Whispered Jakob as he smiled and waved to the two boys who warily walked over to them.
"Are you two ready for breakfast?" asked Jakob and watched the two boys in front of him. They both nodded and glanced towards Pansy, who kept her stoic face.
When they were about to leave, pansy walked to Daphne and Tracey, not wanting to be near the blonde boy right now.
The three remaining Slytherins gave each other a glance and exited the common room.
"Why did you burst in like that? We locked the door for a reason, you know." Jakob, who was walking to Draco's left, gave him a side glance as he heard the boys whisper and sighed.
"Pansy unlocked the door. She wanted you to return a book. She saw you two, and I thought someone had attacked you when I found her. Why haven't you told me about this?"
Theo and Draco's eyes widened when they heard the part with Pansy.
"Is... is she pissed? will she snitch?" Asked Theo, a bit scared.
"I don't know what she is. I was up all night with her. And you can be calm, Theo. She won't."
Jakob stopped and stared at his best friend.
"Why didn't you tell me? I'm your best friend."
Draco glanced at Theo and gestured for him to leave them alone.
"Jake, I wanted to, but you know how the wizarding world sees relationships like Theo and me, and I'm betrothed to her. I don't know... I was panicking, and you were pushing."
"Pushing? How was I pushing? I didn't even know that you two were a thing."
Draco sighed and leaned towards the cold dungeon door.
"Last year, when I got that valentine's letter, you started with your questioning. I always knew that something about me was different. You told me that day when I snapped at you in the library that you had a problem controlling yourself around girls, and I had no idea what you were talking about."
Jakob remembered, and the puzzle pieces began to form an image.
"You always told me that you weren't sure, that you weren't ready. Was it him all along?"
Draco nodded, and the Quade heir saw that Draco's eyes began to water.
"Dude, it's alright. I won't judge you or anything. I am happy for you. You are my best friend, and that won't change, alright?"
Draco sighed, partly in relief.
"Thanks, mate. I was a bit paranoid that you would be disgusted or whatever. It's just that... If father and mother find out or the Notts, we are screwed. I'm supposed to marry Pansy one day and..."
"Hey, why the hell would I be disgusted? Who you choose to be with is not my business. I'm gonna tell you what I told her." Jakob walked over and put a hand on his best friend's shoulder.
"I'm going to change the world one day. In that world, you and Pansy will be free to be with whomever you want."
The blonde chuckled.
"You really think highly of yourself, mate. sometimes I wonder if-"
"I will change the world. I will start today, and you will see a new world when we are full adults. A world where you are free to be whoever you want." Draco stared into his eyes, and something inside Draco really believed the teenager in front of him.
"I will be there with you."
When Jakob sat down, he sat with Pansy beside him on his left and Draco on his right and watched as the student slowly started to flow in.
Rosier entered with one-third of the Slytherin and sat further down at the Slytherin table, showing exactly where she stood.
The teacher's table was also filled, and Jakob suspected that only Dumbledore knew anything except for Ms Webb. The headmaster gave Jakob a nod, but the usual glint in his eyes wasn't there. The headmaster was preparing for something.
"You, move." Jakob looked up and saw that Frome and Vanity had walked over. Draco, who had been the receiver of Amy's words, gave Jakob a glance, and when Jakob gave him a nod, he moved to sit opposite him beside Theo.
The two girls sat down beside him and started eating like nothing was bothering them.
"Don't do anything. If someone does something stupid, Abby and I will act."
Jakob tried not to stare at the girl who, for the first time, had openly shown her alliance with him, and a lot of questions popped into his mind.
"You know about the newspaper? Is Saliza still with you? Why are you even aiding me?"
Amy gave him a glance and then continued spreading butter on her toast.
"She is with me. And, of course I know. Not a great move and You know exactly why. I haven't been clear this year, but it doesn't change anything. You are still mine." The whisper she returned was so low that Jakob had to strain his ears to even hear what she was saying.
Jakob took a bite from his own toast, glancing over at Rosier, who was now accompanied by a few more Slytherins than last night. One of them being Marcus Flint.
"That little traitor." hissed the boy, seeking his Quiddish captain's eyes, but the older Slytherin avoided even glancing his way.
"He came to us during the night. He has switched alliances, and the Slytherin five has officially been split in two." Answered Vanity in a low voice, giving Jakob a reassuring smile that she stood with him and Amy.
Jakob looked back towards the teacher's table and noticed that Ms Webb had observed the split Slytherin table. The other houses didn't notice anything as of yet, but the teachers who had seen how the Slytherins conducted things knew something was amiss.
Jakob's final destination was at the Gryffindor table, where the golden group and Sirius were placed.
Ivy gave the Slytherin boy a glare, but something in his eyes made her glare switch to a look of confusion.
She knows me so well, thought the Quade heir, trying to distract himself as he started to feel his heart beat faster. He looked up as he noticed the sound. Soon, the morning owls flooded the castle ceiling, dropping down Dailyprophets everywhere.
One of the papers landed in front of Jakob. With slightly shaky hands, he opened the rolled-up paper.
Get it together. You have fought a war. Taking a breath, Jakob examined the front page, where a picture of the three-time travellers showed.
Underneath the picture, big black letters formed a sentence.
The Hero who uncovered the truth. By Rita Skeeter.
Never in my life have I been so honoured to witness history being rewritten. The three students, Jakob Quade, Pansy Parkinson, and Ivy Potter, have, under these three months, been away on a magical trip.
I can tell you today, my readers, that we can stop theorising about where or when they were. In an exclusive interview, I was told by the three that they had visited Hogwarts a thousand years ago when the founders still lived.
But the story only gets better. When asked about their experience with the founders, Jakob Quade, son of Lord Thomas Quade from the ancient and noble house of Quade, told me a remarkable story.
Lord Slytherin wasn't pleased with hearing about the last war. He had even cursed young heir Quade for having the disrespect of saying that it was Slytherin's ideology that started it all.
Young Heir Quade continued his story by saying that Salazar had been livid over people using blood purity in his name. Lord Slytherin had only wanted to take magical children from their muggle parents, letting Hogwarts care for them until they were ready to face the world.
When I asked the soon-to-be 14-year boy what his thought was after hearing that extraordinary piece of new information, he answered that he could understand Slytherin's reasoning. Muggles in that time had begun witch-hunting (see page 45 for an in-depth explanation), and Slytherin just wanted to protect the magical kin from extermination.
If this is true, then he who must not be named, lied to the world about his intention when starting the war, which would claim so many lives. Did Heir Quade just change the wizarding world for the better, or should he fear for his life? Follow us for more news Rita Skeeter.
Jakob looked up and saw that some students were still reading the paper, and some were staring at him with wide eyes.
People were murmuring, and some even began speaking in low voices. Still, no one said anything directly to the Quade heir, which made him believe that he had been worried for nothing.
"You little cockroach! You spouted your lies to the daily prophet?"
Everyone in the hall turned towards Rosier, who had just broken one of the sacred rules.
"Sit down, Isabella or I will make you." Vanity had stood up, making everyone in the hall switch their eyes towards the other girl in shock. Two Slytherins fighting in the open like this had never happened before.
"What Slytherin said is something the rest of the school shares. If you Are against it, you are just as bad as Voldemort!" Shouted Harry from the Gryffindor table as he and some of the other Gryffindors stood up, glaring at Rosier. Most of the students flinched at the taboo word, and Jakob rested his head in his palm, sighing. Of course, would that pompous brat take some of the glory. Little shit. Thought Jakob as he noticed that the great hall soon went into action.
Rosier and her followers weren't the only ones that thought Jakob was a fraud. Some students from the Ravenclaw table were sitting down, casting glares over to Jakob, and the boy tried his best to remember their faces.
Jakob looked over at Rosier, who had turned her attention to him again.
"You are not a true Slytherin. You are just a little shit that has only brought us troubles since you started here.
Jakob gave her an amused smirk and a wink as a response, sending the already raging girl over the edge.
"Caeci facti!" A red, almost sickly jet of light hurled towards the Slytherin, who still sat with his head resting on his palm, watching the blinding curse with a slightly interesting expression. The jet slammed against a shield erected by the Queen of Slytherin, and she stood up, pointing her wand at the now terrified Rosier.
"Enough!" Dumbledore stood up and glared at Isabella.
"You are not allowed to attack a fellow student because of your beliefs, and using a curse of that magnitude can see you expelled. You will follow your head of the house and await further instructions.
The girl gave Jakob one last murderous glance as Snape walked over and escorted her out.
The great hall was silent after witnessing the incident, and Jakob stretched, stood up and was a bit surprised to see that the Slytherins who stood by his side had done the same.
Just as Jakob and the rest were about to take their leave, Dumbledore stopped them.
Heir Quade, you will accompany me to my office. I have just been notified that you have a visitor.
The boy in question looked confusedly at the headmaster, who gave him a serious look in return.
"Oh… lovely." Answered the boy dryly as the headmaster got up and followed him out.
"Who is visiting him?" asked a confused Amy to the blonde boy who had suddenly become very pale.
"I really don't hope that it is his father." Said Draco in a low voice, giving Pansy a worried look.
Jakob walked silently beside the headmaster as they ascended the grand staircase.
"You haven't asked me who the visitor is, Heir Quade."
The Slytherin boy looked straightforward, preparing himself for the confrontation,
"I know who it is. And I Imagen that my father isn't too pleased."
Dumbledore looked at the boy with worry.
"Remember that you have allies in the light, Jakob. If you ever find yourself in a situation, use this."
He handed the boy a small golden ring.
"It will activate if you say light is bright. It's not a portkey, but it will give me your location. Have you begun apparating lessons yet?"
Jakob took the ring and thought this was actually the first time he needed something like this. The Slytherin boy tried to calm his shaking hand when he put the ring on. Dumbledore, who mistook the adrenaline for fear, looked even more worried as the boy had accepted the gift without even the slightest protest or question.
"He won't be able to harm you inside the castle."
"I'm not worried about him harming me," said Jakob quietly. He needed to control himself, or he might land in Azkaban before even having the chance to grow up.
They entered the office, where Thomas stood glaring at him.
"Do you realise what you have done, boy? You are coming with me. Now."
The Quade heir nodded. Knowing that right now, he didn't have any choice in the matter.
"Lord Quade, with all due respect, young Quade has-"
"You will not poison his ears anymore, Dumbledore. Ever since he started at this school, he has changed for the worse. My son will end his studies here and begin anew in Ilvermorny when the winter is over." Interrupted Lord Quade but didn't let his eyes off his sorry excuse for a son and heir.
Dumbledore nodded and gestured for Jakob to follow the bearded man into the fireplace.
"Quade manor." The fireplace burst into green flames as the two disappeared. Dumbledore stared at the place where Jakob had given him a reassuring smile. How wrong it was that a thirteen-year-old boy had to reassure the greatest wizard in the world that he would be fine. Thought the headmaster sitting down in his seat with a heavy sigh. Had he just condemned the boy to death by allowing Thomas to take him away?
"Remember to use the ring, Jakob."
When the flames vanished, Thomas pushed his son out, making him fall down on the black marble floor.
"Do you have any idea what you have done!?"
Emma, who had been waiting for their return in worry, rushed to Jakob and kneeled in front of the boy, shielding him from her father.
"Don't do this, father, please. We just got him-"
"Silence!" roared Thomas and waved his wand, making the blonde girl fly a few meters back.
Jakob stood up and glared at the man in Infront of him with one word in his mind. Control.
"I won't be the son that you asked for. I won't kneel to you or anyone else."
The lord Quade took out his wand, and Jakob flicked out his.
"Cast a spell towards me, and you will see how much I've grown, father." Lord Quade looked almost crazy by the rage he was experiencing, raising his wand.
"Jakob stopp! He will kill you!"
Thomas's haze cleared instantly, and he looked surprised over at his daughter sitting a few meters away with her wand pointed at him.
"What did you say?" Questioned Thomas, looking at his daughter in disbelief.
Emma stared back pleadingly towards her father but could utter a word.
"You think I would kill my own son?"
"She isn't the only one, Thomas." The three Quade's turned their attention to the door where Susie stood with her wand drawn, pointing straight at Jakob, wand glowing, signalling that she maintained a shield on the boy.
"I'm not allowed to hurt you with my magic. But I will do anything in my power to protect him. You are dangerously close to losing yourself to the sickness Thomas."
Lord Quade was silent. He looked around and saw the different faces of his family members, and remorse slowly grew in the man as he slowly lowered his wand. He looked at Susie, who had held the same relationship with him as Ella had with his son. The one who had promised him to stand by his side forever, looking at him like he was the enemy.
"I…I will be in my office." He walked past Jakob and passed Susie, who didn't even glance at her master as he proceeded.
Jakob breathed out, closing his eyes for a second before turning towards his sister. He walked over to her and offered her a hand which she accepted and was hauled up.
"Thank you for standing with me." Emma nodded to her brother's gratitude and wiped away a tear.
"What good did that do." Chuckled the girl trying to look braver than she was feeling.
"It did everything, my dear."
They both turned to Susie, who smiled warmly at them.
"Emma, I need a word with Jakob. Do you mind?"
The blonde nodded and gave the older woman a hug before she left.
When they were alone in the floo room, Susie stepped over to Jakob and gave him a stronger hug than he was used to.
She released him after a few seconds and began walking with him to the kitchen.
"Your father is desperate. Do you understand what you have done by telling the world about Slytherin? What position you put yourself and your father in?"
"Did I destroy his dreams of killing innocents in the name of Salazar?"
Snorted the boy as they entered the kitchen.
Susie turned and gave him a grave look.
"Jakob, your father is losing everything. The allied families don't want anything to do with him. His businesses have all halted, and even the Malfoy has shunned our family."
"shunned? Because of a dark lord who is dead? Where are their loyalty?"
"It's with the dark lord first and foremost. He is trying to remedy this crisis you have caused, but I fear that I don't see how he will be able to do it."
"We have gold and power. Draco will remain loyal to me as the rest of my friends."
Susie gave the naive boy a sad smile.
"You have a good heart, and I hope you are right but remember that they aren't like you. They are not as powerful as you in their mind. They follow you because they need someone to tell them what to do. What do you think they will do when their parents give them an order?"
The Slytherin boy looked down at the ground.
No, he wouldn't lose them like this. He had fought too hard. They wouldn't abandon him like this, right?
Susie could see the realisation of the situation and struggle that had begun in the boy's mind and put her hand on his cheek.
"go upstairs. I will call for you when dinner is ready."
When Jakob walked inside his room, he lay down on his king-sized bed, looking up at the ceiling.
"Did I just fuck everything up? Did I just lose everything?"
The reality of the situation pressed harder every second that passed. Would they abandon him now?
He closed his eyes, dragged his hand through his hair, and clenched his fist, feeling the pain in his scalp. It became harder to breathe. He wanted to scream. He needed fresh air. Panic rose and bubbled inside him, and he had no idea what to do. He opened his mouth to scream, but suddenly a clear picture of Bella appeared.
"Once, there was a boy who fell. He died one day and went to hell."
The heartbeat in his ears slowed down just a little, and the breathing slowed a margin.
"He froze in fear of what he saw. But then he fought with Thoth and claw."
His breathing slowed down, and his tight grip on his hair slowly relaxed.
"His fright and fear went away. With rising hate and rage, he won the day."
Jakob opened his eyes as his heartbeat became normal. His body relaxed, and he stared up at the ceiling.
"He was now a king, mighty and strong. And returned to the place he once belonged."
The Quade heir lay still in his bed and could almost feel Bella's hand playing with his hair.
"Thank you, Bella."
Back at the castle.
"Pansy, I need a word with you."
The black-haired girl turned from Daphne and saw Draco standing before her, giving the second-best friend of Jakob a serious look.
"What do you want?" Draco frowned at her tone but had more important things to discuss.
"I just got a letter from my father, and I need you to take a walk with me."
Pansy's eyes widened. Was this it? Had the betrothal contract gone through?
She stood and followed the blonde, who took the lead as they walked out of their common room.
She glanced nervously at Daphne, who gave her a reassuring smile.
"Of course, you smiling. You will have him all to yourself now." Muttered the nervous but now also annoyed girl as she stepped out into the cold dungeon.
"what is it-"
"Not here." interrupted Draco as he glanced around and continued deeper inside the darkness.
They rounded a corner and continued onwards in silence. Pansy was starting to get a bad feeling about this. She had never been here before and was about to tell Draco to stop when he opened a brown door and gestured with a nod for her to get inside.
Turning his head one more time to ensure no one was following them before closing it behind him.
When pansy walked inside, she noted an overturned chair and some rope on the floor.
"Someone has been kinky", chuckled the usual prude girl.
Draco frowned in confusion and glanced over at the chair. He then rolled his eyes.
"You have to stop hanging around, Jakob. He is infecting you with his bad humour.
Pansy shrugged, agreeing with the blonde, who then walked over to her.
"Father has cut ties with the house of Quade. He told me not to speak with Jakob until further notice."
Pansy's mouth opened as she looked shocked at the blonde.
"What? Why?"
Draco sighed in frustration.
"Because that idiot does things impulsively and doesn't think about the consequences."
"Are you going to listen to your father?" questioned pansy, observing the growing frustration on the blond who was supposed to be Jakobs best friend.
After s few seconds, Draco shook his head in defeat.
"Without Jakob, I would have been dead. And he is my brother in all except blood. But I don't know what to do. I need his advice."
Pansy breathed out s sigh of relief and stepped over Draco, who looked deflated as he sat on an old dusty desk.
"We will continue what he started here. Get as many of the Slytherin to still be on our side until he returns." Draco nodded.
"We already have a large number, and we have the Queen. We must set up a meeting with her to work together."
Pansy nodded, forgetting for a moment that the blonde had ruined her life. The two continued to scheme, not noticing Ms Webb standing outside with a grin on her face.
"Good job Jakob, you are gathering followers who are loyal to you."
Phoenix headquarters.
Dumbledore was seated at the table at Grimmauld place and observed the members who had been able to show up at such short notice.
The Potters, Moody, Black, Weasley, and Shakelebolt, were seated around the table, looking at their leader with some concern.
"You might be wondering why I have gathered you here today. The phoenix order was made to fight Voldemort, and you can rest assured that he hasn't risen again.
The people around the table looked ten times more relaxed as they heard those words.
"Then why have you summoned us, Albus?" grunted moody, staring at the headmaster with his magical eye.
"Because Alistor, I believe Young heir Quade might be in danger."
"of course he is. He is s son of a known death eater." Snorted Shacklebolt.
Dumbledore gave the man a look that told him to shut up before he continued.
"As you all know, Jakob recently did something historical. He is trying to change how we see muggle-borns, but I fear that this time he has, as they say, bit of more than he can chew."
"What do you mean?" asked Lilly worriedly.
"His father collected him today, and when I arrived at the ministry, I witnessed things that suggest that the dark alliance has cut ties with the Quads."
"So what?" questioned Moody, wanting Albus to get to the point
"I have given Jakob a ring that will let me track him if anything happens to him. Seeing what new foes he has earned in this short time, we need to be extra watchful for clues suggesting an attack on the Quade manor."
"Why is this boy so important to you?" asked Arthur Weasley calmly but with a hint of curiousness.
"I will let you all know in time, but it's vital that we get him to the light. He can't be harmed. If you hear anything that suggests Jakob has been abused or taken, you will contact me directly, understood?"
The people around the table nodded.
Gryffindor tower.
"Hi, kids. What are you up to? any pranks?"
Ivy, positioned beside her brother and the others in a half circle by the fireplace, looked over to the Auror who had just stepped inside, halting them in their game of exploding snap.
"Hi, Sirius. Just playing, you wanna join?" asked Harry excitedly as he made some room between himself and Ivy.
The Auror sat down and grinned as he picked up the cards.
"So what does this. A shit." He dropped his cards near Ivy. The Gryffindors began to laugh at the childish Aurors antics while Lord Black, who laughed with them, started picking them up. When he picked up a card close to Ivy, he whispered almost too silently for even the redhead to interpret.
"Your mother's office, now."
Ivy, who had barely heard the whisper while the others had laughed, frowned at the Auror, who gave her a smile that made her wonder if she had gone crazy.
"Um, I need to go. I will be right back." Said Ivy, stumbling up on her feet that had gone to sleep after sitting on the red carpet.
"Where are you going this late?" frowned Granger, noticing the weird tone in her best friend's voice.
"Don't be a stalker, Hermione, let's play!" laughed Sirius as the bushy-haired girl gave him a sharp glare.
When she looked back to where Ivy had recently stood, she noticed with raised eyebrows that she had already left.
The redhead went straight to her mother's classroom, a bit worried after Sirius had been so weird about it.
She opened the door without knocking and saw her mother seated behind her desk, waiting for her.
"What has happened?" asked Ivy, breathing heavily after her quick walk.
Lilly waved her wand, closing the door and silencing the room.
"Ivy, take a seat." Her mother waved her wand again, making a chair move in front of the desk.
The younger redhead felt her worries grow as Lilly looked like she was about to tell her that James had been in an accident at work. She sat opposite her mum and waited for the matriarch to speak.
"It's about Jakob." Started Lilly, and Ivy panicked.
"What do you mean? Is he hurt? "
Lilly raised her hand and would have smiled if it weren't for the situation.
"He is fine, but he has been taken home by his father after the speech he made. You have been close to him these last weeks. Has he talked about his family or father with you?"
Ivy frowned.
"Yes, well, I mean. Some things I'm not sure that I can tell you though, I promised him that-"
"Ivy, he might be in danger. You don't have to tell me everything but answer this. Do you have any way of contacting him to see if he is alright?"
"No, mum… I don't."
Lilly observed the girl for a moment.
"Ivy, I need you to do me a favour. If you hear anything about Jakob or about something relating to him, you tell me, alright? I know this might scare you, but life can be a bit scary sometimes."
Ivy nodded.
"What has happened to him? Why are you so worried?" the redhead held back her tears as she focused on her mother's answer.
Lilly sighed.
"We are just worried about him like I'm worried when you are out late or get into trouble."
"Mum, you are lying. Tell me the truth."
"Lilly glanced to Ivy's right for a second before sighing.
"Jakob is a good kid but isn't in the best companies. When he told the world about muggle-borns, he might anger some people, one of who I believe could be his own father."
Ivy looked down at her mother's desk, torn about what to say. She needed to help him.
"Mum, his father… he isn't nice. He…" Ivy couldn't. She had promised Jakob never to tell anyone about this, and she closed her eyes.
"It's alright, darling, we know. Remember. If you hear anything, notify me, okay? It doesn't matter if I have class or eat dinner."
The redhead nodded and walked out of her mother's classroom.
The tears began to flow freely now, but she tried her best to control the sniffing she made.
"What should I do… I must do something." She shook her head, telling herself that emotions could come later. Right now, she needed to think clearly.
"I need to speak with Pansy."
Inside the classroom, Lilly sighed as she leaned back on her chair.
"She didn't know anything." The invisibility cloak was pulled off, and Dumbledore gave her a reassuring smile.
"But you have started something in the girl. She will try to find out more now, and in my experience, kids know secrets that adults think they are clueless about.
Lilly gave the headmaster a frown.
"I don't like that we are using children, my child, as a tool to get information about this. She shouldn't be dragged into this dark world so soon."
Dumbledore nodded sadly.
"I know, Lilly. I would also like children to be children, but we must make the necessary sacrifices. Haven't Jakob done enough for us to earn this?" The redheaded Muggleborn teacher nodded sadly.
"Yes... Yes, he has."
When the next day arrived, Ivy stood outside the transfiguration classroom where the Slytherins and Huffelbuffs were just finishing up.
She saw the stream of green and gold walk out, and when she saw the girl she needed to talk with walk out beside Malfoy and Nott, she leaned off the wall.
"You think you are really special, don't you?" Pansy turned together with the rest of the students and looked at Ivy with a raised eyebrow.
"What are blabbering about Potter?" sneered the girl taking a step forward. Draco and Theo glared at the Gryffindor, but Pansy, who was now only showing her face towards the Gryffindor after taking that step, gave her a questioning look.
"Sending those dung bombs into the Gryffindor common room yesterday. You must think I'm an idiot."
"It's because you are. I wish I had, but you got the wrong person." Pansy waved her off and turned around.
"Don't walk away from me!" hissed Ivy, rushing over to the black-haired girl, turning her back around, and grabbing her robes.
"Next time I see you. You won't be with your friends, and we will have a nice and long chat."
Pansy felt her pocket get slightly heavier and her surprised expression turned into an amused smirk.
"You and what army? Because I believe mine are pointing their wands at you this very moment."
Ivy glanced behind her and saw that she was right.
She released the girl and raised her chin a little.
"Come on guys, she just wants an excuse for us to get into trouble said Pansy and gestured for Ivy to leave.
When the redhead walked past them, Pansy sent her a stinging hex, hitting her bum, and let out an "ouch!" as she gave the giggling girl a glare.
"What the hell is her problem? Does she have a death wish?" asked Theo as they continued to walk towards the great hall for lunch.
"She is a Potter. Potters are idiots." Answered Daphne, making the rest of them laugh in agreement.
Pansy, who had been slowing down, quickly glanced to her left and snuck inside an empty classroom.
She took out the crumble-up note that read. Astronomy tower. Need to talk.
She frowned and opened the door, noticing that her friends had already proceeded to the Great hall.
She hurried the other way and went up to the midnight classroom.
When she ascended the last steps, she saw Ivy sitting on a stool waiting for her.
"You didn't need to send a stinging hex."
Pansy shrugged.
"Keeping up appearance, what's going on?"
Ivy stood and walked over to her.
"Mum asked to see me last night and told me she wanted information on Jakob's safety. I think she is worried that he might get hurt. She went on and on about Jakob having new enemies and that she wanted to know if-"
"Stop, you are giving me a headache." Interrupted Pansy raising her hand to silence the rambling girl.
"I already know this, Ivy. But why does your mother seem so interested in this?"
Ivy frowned.
"I… I don't know, really, Sirius only told me to talk with her, and when she talked, she used we instead of I.-"
"wait, Sirius? The Auror? That means that Dumbledore is involved ."
Said the black-haired girl with a thoughtful expression.
"You think Dumbledore is worried too?"
Pansy nodded.
"It seems like the light faction wants Jakob to be safe. I don't know why, and I can't believe I say this, but he needs allies, so this is good news."
Ivy nodded as she kept staring at the Slytherin.
Pansy looked around and even walked over to the stairs to check them for unwanted listeners before returning to Ivy.
"Don't tell anyone I told you, but Jakob has divided our house. About two-thirds are with him, but some are following Rosier."
Ivy frowned.
"Rosier?"
"She is an ugly bitch. Make sure that Gryffindor targets her and those around her. Everyone you and the Gryffindors bring to the hospital wing is one less for me and the rest to deal with, alright?"
Ivy nodded, feeling more relieved every second that Pansy spoke.
"And tell your mother this. Many of the ancient families have received letters telling them to cut ties with Jakob. He isn't popular with the adults right now. If I hear anything more or if you do, we will meet here again, alright?"
Ivy nodded, but tears betrayed the calm expression she was trying to uphold. When Pansy was done, Ivy hugged the Slytherin girl.
"I'm scared for him. What if something happens? "
Pansy had been keeping her own shit together ever since Jakob disappeared, felt the same as the redhead. She slowly raised her hands and hugged the redhead back.
"Remember, we need to be strong now. He told us that we can't let emotions direct our decision."
Ivy nodded but didn't let go.
"He seems to always be there when we need his help, and now when Jakob needs ours, we are stuck at school."
Pansy chuckled, not noticing that she also had begun to cry.
"Yeh, it really sucks."
The two girls, who never had in a million years believed that they would comfort each other on top of the astronomy tower, had found something on their travel. They might be rivals, but they had also found consolation and trust in one another. Something they only shared with the boy who was right now taken from them.
The boy in question had no idea what the two girls had been up to that day and were currently sitting and enjoying his second dinner since he had returned home.
He glanced at Feemey, who stood beside him and stared at the boy expectantly.
He chewed a bit awkwardly and swallowed his roasted chicken.
"It's really good. Great work."
The house elf clapped her hands and jumped in joy.
"Feemey is very happy to hear you say that, Master." She poured up a glass of pumpkin juice and then hurried inside the kitchen.
"You have ruined her, pest." Jakob glared unamusedly towards his sister, who followed the elf with her eyes.
"Why? Because she is Happy? Have you ever seen Dobby? The elf is hurting himself if he even thinks a bad thought."
Emma laughed.
"Yeh, he is quite funny, isn't he?"
Jakob shook his head and continued his dinner.
"Tomorrow, we will go on a trip. Just you and me. We are going to Greece." Stated Emma while flipping a page in the book she was currently reading while lifting her fork and taking a bite of the roasted chicken.
"Why are we going to Greece?"
His sister shrugged.
"Thought you might like it. I know you love to travel and thought it could be fun, just you and me. But whatever, if you don't-"
"I do. "interrupted Jakob giving his sister a smile as she looked up at him.
She was about to say something when Thomas walked in and looked at his son for the first time since they returned yesterday.
"We are taking a walk."
Jakob sighed and stood.
"If you wish."
Thomas gestured for him to take the lead and gave his daughter a reassuring nod before turning and following after his son.
They walked outside in silence. Jakob looked around their enormous backyard as they continued on their path.
"I want to give you something." Said lord Quade, clearing his throat and handing him an envelope and a black book, making Jakob frown.
"If I die, the seal on the envelope will be broken. And you will be able to read its content."
Jakob pocketed the envelope and nodded.
"Are you planning on dying? Why would you give me this?"
Thomas sighed.
"I'm not planning on dying, but you never know about the future.
"what about the book?"
"When you first entered my studies, I saw your eyes drawn to that book. I promised myself never to open it. It belonged to your mother."
Jakob's eyes widened as he stared at the black leather book with no letter on the cover.
"Why are you giving me all this, father? Do you think something will happen?"
Thomas sighed in frustration.
"Susie told you everything. You are my son and heir, but sometimes I wonder if I raised an idiot. What were you thinking, boy? Didn't you use your head when you spoke to that reporter?"
Thomas didn't sound angry like he used to. He sounded tired and frustrated.
Jakob sighed in frustration. Would they never get a moment when they didn't fight? The heir, Quade, was about to open his mouth to give a retort to his father.
"Wait." They halted as Thomas felt something.
"Father? what is it?" asked Jakob carefully, seeing the man beside him frowning and looking around as if he searched where his thoughts were.
"Someone has breached our wards. We must."
Before lord Quade could end his sentence, they saw flashes of lights shining through the mansion's windows and heard distant screams of incantations from both Susie and Emma.
Jakob's eyes widened as he saw black-covered people inside the house searching the different rooms, holding firearms. Three cloaked humans started shooting in one of the windows as the green jet of light hit one of them.
"Stay here!" roared Tomas and apparated into the mansion.
Jakob didn't stay. He bolted towards the mansion. He pushed his body, screaming as he tried to be faster and faster.
An explosion of fire shot the rumble of the mansion wall out in the backyard. Stones varying in size flew up in the sky and were pulled down by gravity making the Heir Quade jump out of the way and duck as one particularly big piece of the wall headed his way. When he got up, he saw a person wearing a mask with a white skull looking out and seeing him.
Jakob didn't hesitate as he pointed his wand at the person.
"Imperio!" The man seemed to stop whatever he was doing and then slowly raised the firearm under his chin.
"No, Ellie!" Someone behind the person had apparently seen what his friend was about to do.
"Shoot." hissed Jakob, and the ceiling above the men in that room painted red as three shots were fired. The skull-masked man fell out from the hole, hitting the stone steps Jakob ascended.
But he didn't have time to look at the corpse. Instead, Jakob rushed inside the enormous building and scanned the foyer. Two masked muggles stood further away, guarding the area, and when they caught the heavy-breathing teen, they aimed their weapons towards him.
"It's him, fire!"
Jakob raised a shield and saw the small bullets striking it. They were strong and fast, making the shield shimmer as they collided, draining his magic faster than he thought possible.
Jakob flicked his wand, and the right man's head exploded, showering the other man with his brain and blood.
"You... You freak!" screamed the man as he looked at his clothes and his dead friend in shock.
"Don't let your emotions get in the way." hissed Jakob in an amused tone and flicked his wand under the man. The floor rose up in a spike and pierced the man exiting through his mouth, continuing up a bit more, raising his feet from the floor. The man twitched a few times and made a hollow sound before his body slowly relaxed and sank a few centimetres more.
The Slytherin boy heard shooting coming from upstairs and rushed up the stairs. When he entered the corridor, he fell to his knees in hopelessness.
Susie lay there with bullet wounds in her stomach and chest. Jakob gently touched her cold cheek and knew that those eyes that stared up at the ceiling were dead.
"Susie... Please don't be dead." tears ran down his cheeks. as he looked at the corpse of the woman who had been with him since the day he was born. What would Ella say?
The boy was interrupted by a man and woman wearing those dark clothes but not any masks, showing their faces. A rage filled the teen's eyes as he stared at the two who had turned around and raised their firearms toward him.
" That's him. Take him down!" yelled the woman with a ponytail and was about to press her finger on the trigger, but Jakob was quicker.
He had closed his fist and leaned back as if to throw something at them, and when he did, he roared. The two muggles watched in shocked terror as the darkness that had manifested behind the teenager shot towards them, almost filling the entire corridor. They didn't have time to scream as the darkness tore away their clothes, skin, mussels and bones. When Jakob's war cry stopped, the dark smoke evaporated, leaving only pieces of bone and blood where the two had previously stood.
Already on his knees, Jakob slammed his fist down, making it look like he was breathing heavily on all fours.
"I will kill them all. I will rip them to shreds. I will eat their souls."
The voice wasn't natural anymore, his eyes turned a shade darker, and he looked up the corridor as he heard shooting coming from the parlour.
He took a running position and pushed away, launching at the wall furthest down. He slammed into it and broke through, knocking one of the masked men down. The four others backed away in surprise when they witnessed the teenager who had just burst out.
" You are all mine." hissed the boy and aimed his open hand towards one of the soldiers to the right.
His darkness shot out and made a fist-sized hole in the man's face. The others began to shoot, and Jakob ran forwards. Pulling out his red knife, he threw it towards the one in the middle burying it in the man's neck. With a twist of his wand, he shot a blood-boiling curse, hitting the third one in the face, hearing the man scream agony as he fell down on the floor, twitching as the blood began to leak from his ears, eyes and mouth.
The last one, a woman, wasn't as lucky as the first three. He knocked her down on the floor and raised his hand above his head. He was about to rip the skin from her face when something caught his eye further away. The woman who had glanced over at what Jakob was staring at turned her terrified face towards him.
"No, please. I didn't kill her. It was them. Oh god, please."
Jakob, straddling the woman, ignored the pleadings as he tilted his head to the side when he met the dead eyes of his sister, who was lying on the floor next to a couch. She looked scared. Strings of her blonde hair had fallen over her face.
"You... You killed my sister?" asked Jakob turning his gaze towards the woman who made a scared noise when she locked her eyes with his.
They were black. Pitch black. Piss was soaking her black pants as she tried desperately to escape the monster, who didn't even seem to notice her struggle.
"I only followed orders. I have a family, a son."
Jakob raised his hand and placed it over her face, seeing the horror in her eyes as she stared at him.
" I will eat your soul. You will never meet them him."
He dug his nails into her face and closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, the woman lay still. His eyes had returned to normal, and his feeling of invincibility slowly faded. His darkness was tired and needed to rest.
" When I find out what your son looks like, I will eat his soul too."
He spat on the corpse, got up, and rushed to his sister.
"Emma..." he raised her body up and lay her on his knee, moving away her hair.
"You said we were going to Greece..." he carest her cold cheek and closed his eyes. This was a nightmare.
" Pity... But now you know how I felt."
Jakob slowly turned around with a murderous face.
"Rachel."
" Missed me? I have been searching all over for you. Jakob Quade, is it?"
Jakob gently put down his sister's corpse and turned to the girl who looked nothing like the innocent girl that summer. She looked like a warrior now. Wearing those dark clothes, her blonde hair in a ponytail. she had soldiers behind her, all of them pointing their guns but looking a bit worried seeing the
Jakob took a step forward, but Rachel stopped him with a raised a finger.
"Ah. Ah. AH. We would want your daddy dead now, would we?"
Jakob frowned, but then he saw one of the soldiers push his father down on the floor in front of the blonde woman. She unholstered a gun and pointed it at the bearded man.
" Your son is a troublemaker. Did you know that?"
With his beaten and bloodied face, Thomas gave Rachel a glare and spat his mouthful of blood on her shoes.
" Father." Thomas turned around and saw Jakob looking back at him with a hint of hopelessness and despair.
" Jakob, take your sister and Susie. Forget about me."
"They killed Emma and Susie. They..." Jakob jerked, releasing a tear as a shot was heard, and Lord Thomas Quade died.
Jakob stared at Rachel in shock.
"Now you know how I felt. You took away what mattered most to me, and now I took away what mattered most to you."
Jakob took a step forward, wearing a blank face as he stared at the girl who had just robbed him of his family.
She pointed her gun at him.
" Switch your ammo to none lethal. We are taking him alive."
He stopped as he saw the soldiers entering the room, circling around him. Rachel walked over to him, wearing a smile on her face. A smile he recognised when he met her in Salem, and her voice changed, sounding more innocent.
"I have been looking everywhere. No one seemed to know anything when I described you. Still, I didn't stop and gathered more followers on my way of cleansing both America and other countries. You put me on this path, Jakob, and if it weren't for you killing my grandmother, I would have thanked you."
" I told you, Rachel. If you tried to hunt me, you would die trying." answered the boy looking into her eyes, making her smile amusedly at him and her cheeks blushing slightly.
That is what I like about you. You are so... unexpected. We have you surrounded, and still, I can see..." She frowned as she noticed his eyes turn darker, and a soldier pulled her back out from the circle.
With a roar, Jakob exploded his darkness everywhere, destroying the circle of men before him. Rachel jumped behind a stone pillar, noticing the darkness, almost gracing her foot in mid-air before landing on the marble floor and pressing her back to the pillar, screaming.
"Now!"
Jakob frowned as he heard her yell and suddenly felt something pulling him down like he felt ten times heavier.
He tried with every muscle he had to get up, but the force was too strong, making him go down to one knee with his palms pressed towards the floor.
"What is this?" questioned Jakob with gritting teeth as the blonde walked over, hunching down Infront of him.
"This is science. And you will find soon enough that it can best even the greatest of magics."
She put a hand on his cheek, giving him a smile before raising her gun and pointing it at his chest.
"You think that will kill me?" gritted Jakob, giving her a smirk.
"No, I just need you asleep. I have killed so many to get to you."
She winked at him, still wearing that smirk.
"Nighty nighty."
Authors note: When I wrote this chapter, I thought to myself. Will people believe that Jakob one day turn to the light side and join Dumbledore's light faction and fight the dark faction because they aren't so into him now? I just want to clarify that Jakob has no intention of being someone's pawn. He has his own goals.
You probably have noticed that I have started writing from other people's perspectives. This will be more evident as the story moves on. But there won't be a chapter when we don't follow Jakob. He is the main character of this story, and we are following his journey.
Hope you liked this chapter! It took me some extra time, so there might not be one tomorrow, but in the worse case, you will have it on Monday!
Cheers!