CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

The heavy rainfall that fell for the entirety of the following day aptly described in the plainest way possible Harry's general mood to the letter. Not only had she been stuck for the rest of the night on Psychopomp Sorting duty but the nightmares about her friends had returned in full force, thus her friends had been forced to ply her with as much coffee as they were able to at breakfast. Arcturus and Altair had somehow gauged the day before that Harry would not be sleeping well and they had made her an Invigoration Draught to get her through the morning and afternoon lessons. Abraxas and Loreley both looked as though they could use them too, so Harry had shared the vial; both Malfoys had such dark lines around their eyes that it had caused a bit of concern around both groups.

It had worked well enough; she had not fallen asleep once as she had expected to and had been able to participate in all her classes. Harry even had enough energy to have a friendly debate with Binns about if there had been a true need for specialised broom-makers or if it should have stayed a family practise, as it had been in Ireland, Scotland and Wales for centuries. Eventually Harry also had pushed the topic onto the annual broom races held in Sweden since the 10th century and whether the fall in the popularity of Shuntbumps, a game of knockout originated from England that only survived as a children's game; Stichstock, an old German flying game involving inflated bladders and sharpened broom ends that had died down by the 14th century; and Creaothceann, a Scottish flying game involving cauldrons strapped to players heads and falling rocks that had been banned in 1762, was actually a good thing. This topic had at least stirred some Quidditch minded students into also offering opinions, including Avery and Mulciber.

Harry had helped Loreley, Orion and Heron hunt down some past exam questions for Arithmancy and Ancient Runes for their classes during their twenty minute break, and decided to also check out a few for Defence (fifth year), Herbology (seventh year), Care of Magical Creatures (fifth year) and Transfigurations (seventh year). Tom, Percy, Altair, Diggory and Minerva had all been elated at Harry's finds and noted down the section of the library where she had found them so they could all go and plunder the past papers themselves later.

Harry first attended Altair and Percy's Herbology class with Heron and Loreley during her first free period that day. The lesson was focused mostly on Dittany, Asphodel, Floo and Alihotsy and the different results the free ingredients achieved versus non-fresh ones. The latter part of the lesson made use of the Potions classroom in order to try and make two different Potions with varying degree of freshness in the ingredients. Harry was partnered with Heron while Loreley was partnered with a Hufflepuff; Harry and Heron had been assigned the Draught of Living Death; Harry working with fresh ingredients and Heron with the non-fresh ones.

Altair and Percy periodically went around the classroom to keep an eye on them. Heron had smiled at this. "Nott has taken this teaching into his stride," he commented to Harry, watching Altair stop a Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff pairing from grinding up too much Floo.

"As I knew he would," Harry smiled proudly, not knowing her eyes were shining as she watched Altair's utter delight.

"He's changed," Heron commented offhandedly as he began stirring his cauldron twice clockwise after adding the Powdered Root of Asphodel. "In all my years I have never seen him this confident."

"Why do you think that is?" Harry responded with a hint of ice to her voice as she too began stirring her cauldron clockwise twice. "Six years of putting up with sniping and sneering from Dolohov – or from anyone for that matter – damages someone, almost to the point of no return. Especially if they feel it affects a very important relationship with another person."

Heron looked suitably guilty at that. "Yes," he agreed readily as he added the sloth brain to his mixture. "You're right. I have not exactly been guilt-free in that regard. I kept my mouth shut every time, instead of telling Caius to just lay off him."

"Personally, I doubt Dolohov would have listened to you, no offence," Harry stated as she too added sloth brain to her potion. "He does not strike me as someone who takes orders or criticism all too easily."

"He isn't," Heron agreed, not in the least offended. "There is very little that intimidates him. Well, apart from two things."

"Two?" Harry repeated. She frowned; one was likely to be Dolohov's Boggart, his friends, but what was the second?

"Indeed," Heron smiled wryly. "I never thought Caius would fear us; that took me by surprise. I always waged his Boggart would be his fear of his father, just like Felix. Mr. Dolohov isn't a very pleasant character."

No! Never would have guessed, Harry commented snarkily in her head. It was then Heron tried to cut his Sopophorous bean, only for it to, predictably, start trying to escape.

"Speaking of Boggarts," Harry decided to take a gamble and lowering her voice as she turned her attention onto her own Sopophorous bean, "may I ask about yours?"

Heron tensed for a moment, a pained expression spreading on the young Knight's face. He closed his eyes, pursed his lips for five seconds and then took a fortifying breath. "I know about yours. It is only fair you know mine," he mused, sounding more like he was talking to himself than to her. Heron's eyes flew open and he looked at her. "What would you like to know?"

"Your sister – is it an inherited condition that she's suffering from?" Harry asked as tentatively as she could manage.

"No," Heron shook his head as he made another attempt at trying to cut into his bean. "Nymera's illness – it came out of nowhere. It started when she was seven; one minute she was fine and then the next, she needed to be rushed to St. Mungo's in the middle of the night." Heron swallowed. "The Healers were at a loss; it behaved like a blood malediction but we have no history of a blood curse in the family. My father and mother were desperate enough to consult Dark Healers, but even they said the same. One Blood Witch even cleared Nymera of being a Maledictus. No one knows what is wrong with her."

As Harry listened, she couldn't help but feel her honed detective-slash-Cursebreaker senses beginning to tingle. Something fishy was afoot, and she couldn't quite put her finger on why. To try and distract herself from going full on Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple, Harry moved on to the next question. "How many people know?"

"Close family, but no one else, until the Defence lesson," Heron answered with a deep sigh. "I am surprised that it hasn't reached the ears of the vultures at the Daily Prophet yet."

"Do you think so little of the rest of us?" Harry felt just a teensy-weensy bit hurt at that. She was definitely not going to be the one to mention this to Artemis.

"No, not of you or … your friends, or even my own," Heron reassured quickly. "It's just, Slytherins are obviously naturally ambitious and knowing that there are troubles in the House of Lestrange, there are many who would want to capitalise on our misery, especially those from the Minor Houses. Even in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff – we have made many enemies over the years."

Harry nodded ponderingly. "I understand that kind of fear," she eventually stated. She then looked at her Sopophorous bean. She debated her next decision for a moment before smirking mischievously. "Heron, do you trust me?"

"Absolutely, otherwise I wouldn't have told you what I just did," Heron answered without a moment's hesitation. "What is it?"

"Do not cut the bean. Crush it," Harry responded as she once more crushed the Sopophorous bean with the blade of the silver knife, releasing the juices of the bean without much of a problem into the cauldron.

Heron's eyes widened and a small smile spread on his face. "Do I even want to know how you know this?" he teased lightly.

"My Potions tutor was a genius," was Harry's simple answer.

Heron didn't question her, and simply started copying her crushing technique, ecstatic that the bean didn't even have time to jump as he released the juices into his cauldron. Both Harry and Heron stirred their mixture seven times anti-clockwise, and then one more clockwise stir after the seventh.

The result, just as it was in Harry's own sixth year, were two extremely potent Draughts of Living Death, with Harry's fresher ingredients eating up the poor leaf Percy had dropped into their mixture quicker than Orion getting through his meals. The sixth year could barely believe her eyes.

"I think we may need to go to Professor Slughorn for the bottling of these mixtures," Harry and Heron heard Percy comment to Altair, who had grinned at his two friends and shot them a thumbs-up. Harry had felt herself flush a little.

Unfortunately, Heron noticed. "Getting flushed from the fumes there, Harry?" he teased with a smirk.

"Shut up," Harry advised, flushing further, which caused Heron to chuckle. "How is Artemis by the way?"

That did put a stopper in any further teasing from Heron Lestrange.

At least there was no opportunity for any further teasing during Minerva's class. The militant girl covered the Fire to Snake topic, Human Transformations and the Inanimatus Conjurus Spell, not allowing a moment for her students to start messing about. At least there was no Dumbledore to ruin the self-esteem of the snakes when they received compliments. Minerva had even prepared the potion that would reveal to the class their Animagus form should they ever try to go through with the transformation. Harry loved it; the birth of Professor McGonagall had begun! Plus, she was rather pleased with her dragon form; it looked almost as good as her Shadow Form.

Harry was rather relieved that McCullagh once more put her Charms class through the practical Charms practise wringer as she needed some more practise. This time the Charms teacher had decided to pair students together in a little Charm Off, as she had called it. Whichever of the pair managed to cast the most Charms in their time would win. There had been a few groans of despair, mostly from the Slytherins. To Harry's delight, she had been paired with Druella – the girls immediately agreed on Druella dancing and Harry singing and playing the violin McCullagh had prepared for the lesson. Orion was facing Dolohov, Ophelia would be facing off against Ygraine, Walburga was paired with Mulciber, Artemis would face Heron, which made Harry giggle; Arcturus and Septimus would face off, which took Harry by surprise. What also took her aback was that Loreley and Abraxas would square off and Altair had been paired with Tom. Avery and Minerva were also a pairing Harry had not expected. It seemed McCullagh was just as unorthodox in her pairings as Merrythought could be.

Harry had turned her wand into a violin bow as she and Druella were called to the centre of the cleared classroom; Orion, Tom, Loreley and Arcturus had been selected to keep a tally on how many Charms each girl used. The Traveller decided to take a gamble on her song and had conjured her four Patronuses already before they started. Druella had frowned but when Harry winked, the Rosier girl simply shrugged and prepared for Harry to start playing.

The song Harry had decided on? Another Disney song she had happened to hear while Horcrux Hunting: I Won't Say I'm in Love. And the ones singing the part of the Muses? Well, Harry had secretly cast a Singing Charm onto her Patronuses!

# If there's a prize for rotten judgement,
I guess I've already won that,
No man is worth the aggravation,
That's ancient history – been there done that!
#

On the latter part of the verse, Harry had cast an Amplification Charm, and then onto her Patronuses and violin as well as both she and Druella began sending different variations of the Vermillious Charm into the air. Druella had cast a Bird Conjuring Charm as she began to dance to the jazzy music.

# Who'd ya think you're kiddin',
He's the Earth and heaven to you,
Try to keep it hidden,
Honey, we can see right through you!
#

Harry and Druella did not need to start casting Cheering Charms because the class was laughing at the fact that Padfoot, Moony, Prongs and the Horntail were in perfect sync and putting sass into the words, thus clapping along with the beat. Druella did put the Dancing Feet Charm onto Harry, making the Traveller's job slightly more difficult, followed by a Snowflake Conjuring Charm it provide a little extra distraction.

# (Oh no!)
Girl, ya can't conceal it,
We know how ya feel and who you think of
(Oh…)
No chance, no way, I won't say it,
No, no,
(You swoon, you sigh, way deny it? Uh-oh!)
It's too cliché,
I won't say I'm in love

I thought that my heart had learned its lesson,
It feels so good when you start out,
My head is screaming, get a grip girl!
Unless you're dying to cry your heart out!

(Oh!)
You keep on denying,
Who you are and how you're feeling,
Baby, we're not buying,
Hon, we saw you hit the ceiling,
(Oh…)
Face it like a grown-up,
When ya gonna own up,
That ya got, got, got it bad?
(Oh…)

No chance, no way, I won't say it,
No, no,
(Give up, or give in,
Check the grin – you're in love)
This scene won't play, I won't say I'm in love …
(You're doing flips, read our lips: you're in love)
You're way off base, I won't say it,
Get off my case, I won't say it,
(Girl, don't be proud,
It's OK, you're in love)

Oh … at least out loud,
I won't say I'm in love
#

Harry had used a Bluebell Flames Charm to make blue fire appear on the Horntail's back as the Patronuses hit a high note and then used a Beauty Charm to make the Patronuses shine a bit more. Druella at the same time had used several different Fire and Water Charms to create several different creatures that danced along to the music in step with her. Funnily enough, the Patronuses too soon started dancing to the beat as well as they sang. Harry had conjured butterflies once more but charmed them to give off lightning as they flew, which Druella had put up protection shields for and used Colour Changing Charms on. Druella had even used the Herbivicus Charm and the Rose Growth Charm to make some very apt flowers. Druella's birds danced on top of the flowers. Just as Harry was about to end the song, she and Druella used Freezing Charms on the dancing elemental creatures and once Harry had hit the last note, they had Banished everything in sync.

Harry knew they must have looked like a bloody pantomime but Druella was laughing so at least the Lady Regnant knew that she hadn't taken her friend completely too much by surprise. Plus, the rest of the class seemed to have enjoyed it well enough.

Professor McCullagh was clapping along with the class. "Fantastic work, girls! All right, time for the points! How many did Miss Evans get?"

"I lost count, professor!" Orion wailed.

"Thirteen, ma'am!" Tom exclaimed not too long after.

"OK, good! Now, what about Miss Rosie?"

"Fourteen!" Loreley and Arcturus chorused. "Druella wins by one point!"

Druella whooped and Harry bowed to her opponent before sharing a quick embrace with the Rosier heiress.

"That was bloody close, though," Druella whispered to her friend. She then smirked. "By the way, what was up with that song?"

Harry blushed a little. "It's just a fun little tune. I thought we needed something a little bit more peppy than what I usually do."

"Uh huh," Druella grinned. "I may have been busy dancing, but I do listen to lyrics of songs I dance to. I think your Patronuses know something you don't. They put way too much sass into those words than I think you ever meant them to."

The Mistress of Death was redder than the roses Druella had conjured in seconds and had tried to distract herself from the embarrassment she felt by watching the other Charm Offs, especially the one between Altair and Tom. It was like watching chaos and order take on each other, and yet Harry saw how well matched they were. They were … beautiful. Her favourite part was when Altair's golden jackal Patronus ended up with a colour-changing top hat at some point and had been put under a Dancing Feet Charm by Tom and Altair had answered with putting both himself and Tom under the same Charm and dancing along with the Patronus.

Loreley had covertly watched the Traveller as she watched the two boys perform and could not keep the smile off her face. Druella was absolutely right – the Patronuses already knew something Harry was not yet ready to admit to herself. The Malfoy heiress hoped that her friend would realise it soon, though. It would save everyone a whole lot of frustrated waiting.

When lunch came, Harry was more than happy to escape to Samhain chant practise with Ophelia and the rest of the Hogwarts choir just so she could escape from Druella, Loreley, Artemis, Orion and anyone else who had to bite their cheeks to stop themselves from laughing at Harry's expense.

##################################

Kara McCullagh came practically singing and dancing into the staffroom after choir practise, the rest of her colleagues staring at her in confusion; the song she was singing was one they had never heard before in their lives!

"Am I right in thinking Miss Evans was singing in practical Charms again and that choir practise went very well?" Aneurin guessed, grinning as he pricked some more potato salad onto his fork as he continued marking essays.

"Aneurin, trust me – they are already getting so much better, in both Charms and the chants," Kara sighed happily. "I have a very good feeling about this Samhain. Yes, I admit that Miss Evans had another treat for us, but Miss Rosier managed to outscore her by one point!"

"Merlin," Marius Bletchley chuckled as he looked up from his marking. "I daresay that by the time the real exams come around none of Kara's class will get anything less than an A."

"Morgana, that would be amazing!" Kara sighed as she flopped into her favourite chair. "I have no idea what dear Cassie would say to that prediction but I for one hope it comes to fruition."

"Kara, why did you take so long in picking the chant this year?" Lyra Vesper asked, finishing the last of the first year marking and moving onto her third years' work but looking up at her colleague before starting. "I was very worried that the Veil would be greeted with silence from us this year."

Kara chuckled awkwardly and looked a little ashamed. "I … I don't know why. I just had this funny feeling that I needed to try something different this year at Samhain. We are supposed to be welcoming our ancestors and our dearly departed to join us for a night and for some reason, nothing stuck. It was like the Sabbath itself was complaining about music being overdone. I never felt anything like it before. But when I read that chant from Shakespeare's Macbeth and read the chant Miss Evans showed me, I finally felt that click. Don't ask me to explain further."

"Odd," Aneurin commented. "But I am glad that you managed to find it just in time!"

"I just hope Miss Evans finds a way to stay this focused on her work, for all our sakes," Galatea piped up from the coffee table, getting her third cup of the day. "I heard some troubling rumours that her latest assignment from Gringotts is so dangerous that those goblins put her under a gag order."

"Merlin!" ran the chorus around the staffroom.

Horace Slughorn chuckled. "Albus will be disappointed not being able to interrogate her. I know he has been dying to start digging into her projects ever since he found no trace of Miss Evans' branch of the Resistance."

Kara scoffed. "That man needs to learn to keep his nose on his face and out of other people's business."

"I would have been worried indeed if Albus managed to find that branch of the Resistance," Vesper shook her head.

"Agreed," Aneurin stated crisply. "I should have found a way to keep that Hair Charm on him longer."

Galatea rolled her eyes at him, but didn't necessarily disagree. At least by the end of the fiasco, they all had some golden blackmail material on Albus Dumbledore! Galatea smirked to herself as she drank her coffee. She was half tempted to send it to the Board of Governors; she knew plenty members who were not happy with the Deputy Headmaster and his past behaviour.

Maybe an idea for the next time Albus stepped out of line?

#########################

Thursday did not see much of anything other than lessons, homework, studying, Revision Club meetings, choir practise and the usual, which Harry was very thankful for. It gave her time to prepare her first seventh year History class further for Friday. As Harry had promised, she had asked Athenaïs to meet Aragog the Acromantula, which the Gargouille had eagerly agreed to, fascinated in meeting an apparently giant spider. Athenaïs had to practically drag Sigyn, Seraphina and Frey along; they had been less than amused to meet a gargantuan arachnid! Harry even managed to find some time Thursday evenings to do some extra Mistress of Death training, which had given her an excuse to avoid the Time Compass a little while longer.

Harry knew somehow that Friday would not see the same luck continue. It actually started with Walburga, Druella, Ophelia and Ygraine having the very rare bad-hair day. Walburga couldn't put as many hair clips into her hair because apparently some of them had gone missing and Ophelia's hair was about as untameable as Harry's despite extensive shampooing and conditioning. Ygraine had a uniform malfunction – all of the clothing items needed to go into the laundry – so she had to borrow a set from Druella, who had around the same size as her. It was also apparent that the children in Slytherin who had sleeping issues had one of their worst nights because almost half of the house had deep, dark bags under their eyes and were openly yawning at breakfast, despite all the Invigoration Draughts and coffees that were being poured. A few almost fell asleep into their cereal bowls! One of whom who looked the worst, was actually Abraxas Malfoy.

The state of the Malfoy heir actually made Harry's eyes bug out. His normally well-washed and well-kept hair, nicely brushed and kept out of his eyes by a ribbon, was not held back and instead fell in disorderly cascades over his shoulders. His tresses were still conditioned and shampooed, but that did not seem to ameliorate the sorry state of the boy. Abraxas Malfoy looked almost as green as the accents in his uniform at the prospect of having to touch food or beverages of any kind and was avoiding eye contact with every single person around him, especially Harry and his sister. Even when one of his friends, Avery actually, reached out towards him, Malfoy overtly flinched away from him.

Orion and Altair were for once able to resist the urge to poke their noses into someone else's business. Artemis, however, did not let her shock silence her. "What in the name of Mordred's dragon-breath enchanted sword has happened to you, Malfoy?"

"Mind your own business, Potter," Malfoy retorted with familiar vitriol that almost made Harry smile nostalgically.

"Why? You look like you're about to keel over at any second," Artemis countered, raising an eyebrow. "Are you scared of going to the matron for fear of your reputation?"

Malfoy glowered at her. "You really have no idea what you're talking about," he snarled with a viciousness that Harry had not even seen in Lucius or Draco, which made her swallow a little.

To everyone's surprise, Loreley fixed Artemis with a pointed look. "Leave him alone, Arty."

Artemis gaped but quickly shut her mouth, clearly not used to being told off by her dotty friend. The discombobulated feeling was shared by a lot of the Slytherins and Gryffindors at the table, but no one dared to verbally articulate anything for fear of incurring Loreley Malfoy's rare displeasure.

Harry, however, had a different reason for feeling tense. If Abraxas was this sickly, and Loreley was actively trying to keep people from asking too many awkward questions, Merlin could only know what the Malfoy boy had Seen in his visions from the night before.

Fortunately the tension was cut by the arrival of a beautiful Northern goshawk and the raven belonging to the God of Death, the goshawk heading for Orion and the raven heading for Harry. At the sight of the birds, Orion lit up in an instant and began clapping his hands excitedly, anticipating something with more fervour than normal. Harry quietly guessed it had to do with the reply from Sirius Black II.

Thanatos' raven landed next to her elegantly and stuck out its leg. Harry untied the letter from around the bird and was just as happy as Orion in that moment, because she saw recognised Nicholas Flamel's handwriting on the front. The Mistress of Death broke the seal on the back quite eagerly and unfurled the letter.

My dear Lady Peverell,

Forgive me if this letter happens to reach you quite late; you cannot imagine the tedious process that Perrie and I have to go through at the moment in order to be able to communicate with the outside world. As you know, we have been sequestered away once again but this time at least we have multiple rooms to explore and relax in. Perrie's relieved about that, I can tell you! Of course we are not allowed to say where we are but I can tell you we are surrounded by some very interesting characters and old friends I knew from the past.

Anyway, down to business. I must confess, my Lady, that you are not aware of who your ancestor, the Lady Evren Peverell, is! What do they teach you in History of Magic these days? Your ancestor was one of the most important witches during the late Renaissance, you know, despite ironically enough, not wanting to be. Your informant, Mr. Meret, was absolutely correct in that she was a musician, composer, translator and a master of magic but what he neglected to mention is that Evren's work is known by Muggle and magician alike. Not that many people know, for good reason. So, let's start with some basic information.

Evren's branch of the Peverell line made a habit of maintaining close ties with the Plantagenets and then later the Tudors in order to try and keep an eye on the Monarch, his or her government and the affairs of state by inserting themselves into the most dangerous place they could be: the Court. They, and their allies, were essentially spies on behalf of all of wizard-kind in the British Isles and their practises formed the basis of the practices of the Unspeakables.

Evren's father and mother, Henry and Alice Peverell, were favourites of Queen Catherine Parr, King Henry VIII's last wife, and had helped her escape some very close calls when it came to charges of treason. Because of their friendship, the Peverells were also well acquainted with the three Royal children, especially the then Lady Elizabeth. Indeed, both Henry and Alice were instrumental in saving Her Grace's neck from her sister Mary's axe more than once, especially after Wyatt's failed rebellion. During the turbulent years of Edward VI, the Nine Days Queen Jane and Queen Mary, they had four children who survived into adulthood: Gregory, Edmund, Thomas and, of course, Evren. Queen Elizabeth had been present for both Thomas and Evren's Christenings, both right at the start of her reign.

As you know, I have called Evren Peverell the Peverell who gave me the most grief. That was because I had been hired by Alice Peverell as Evren's tutor when she was five. Precocious does not cover what that girl was! A born troublemaker with a propensity for doing more boyish activities, certainly for the time: hunting, shooting, tennis, swimming, a few examples. It also didn't help that she and Thomas were Parselmouths with a snake familiar each; she somehow managed to befriend a Nathair Sídhe! Those two could, and did, gather blackmail easier than any child should have.

Evren loved languages – she and the Queen would exchange letters in various languages to try and challenge one another. But it was her magic that caused me the most trouble: her magic refused to yield to a wand, which made the wand temperamental too. This was the reason why her wand was shattered during a duel between herself and Perrie when she was eleven and about to go to Hogwarts. We had no other choice but to turn her violin into a conduit for her magic. In hindsight, that had been a very good idea!

After Hogwarts, Gregory, Edmund, Thomas and Evren all inserted themselves into positions at Elizabeth's Court; Evren, being a woman and from a noble family, became a Lady-in-Waiting but worked also in Sir Francis Walsingham's little spy ring. You would think, 'hang on – how is it no one remembers them if they were there?' But here is the clincher with this peculiar branch of your family, they had a core motto: 'Omni tempore abscondita'. 'Hidden at all times'. They never took credit for anything they did – always passing it off as someone else's work. Evren was raised on this ethos. No matter how talented she was or the power she accumulated, she never once allowed history, especially Muggle history, to make any note of it what so ever. As such, Evren often allowed her Muggle allies, a Dr. John Dee being one of them – a so-called 'Court Magician' – to take all the credit, despite Queen Elizabeth knowing her too well. It is only because of magical historians being able to put the pieces together of what little does remain that Evren and her family are remembered. I however will never be able to forget them for as long as I live. They were indeed the ultimate spies for our world.

I could go on, but I suppose I will leave some of the more detailed stories for when I write again. Perrie says I am waffling. So, this is me for now then; I do not fancy vexing Perrie at present. I am already on thin ice after stealing the last slice of cake.

Hoping you are well and blessed Samhain in advance,

Nicholas F.

Harry had been thoroughly absorbed into her letter and thus practically jumped out of her skin when Artemis and Altair nudged her out of her stupor to go to first period.

"Interesting correspondence?" Altair teased as Harry got to her feet, flushing red slightly.

"Yes. My family friend has been in touch for the first time since we … you know," Harry replied. Altair sobered in an instant. She grinned at him. "I asked him for some information on Evren Peverell I and her violin."

"What did he say?" Altair asked eagerly.

"Most of what Mr. Meret told us is true," Harry responded, "but apparently her wand had already shattered before she went to Hogwarts, so when she was eleven. Meaning she spent her Hogwarts years doing magic with her violin."

"Seriously?" Artemis looked awed. "Damn!"

"Artemis, language!" Minerva scolded lightly.

"What else?" Altair pressed eagerly.

"Altair!" the Rosier twins chorused.

"What? Harry is not telling me to mind my own business," Altair protested.

"That's because she has-OWWWW! Harry, you zapped me!" Druella half-protested, half-laughed.

"Correct!" Harry stated cheerfully. "Now where was I? Oh yes, apparently Evren's branch of the family were basically Elder Unspeakables; apparently some of their methods form the basis of protocol still used today. They spied on behalf of witches and wizards on the Muggle Royals and their government, to try and keep an eye on things. Henry and Alice Peverell raised their children on a policy of 'barely being seen and not heard at all, especially by history'. They only interfered where necessary and when they did, let others take the credit for it."

"So that is perhaps why witch hunts seemed to be quite controlled and sporadic in England until the 1600s," Arcturus laughed. "It was the Peverells engineering Merlin-knows-what!"

"Quite possibly so, yes," Harry agreed.

"Speaking of hidden family members, my grandfather has agreed to being the substitute Ancient Runes teacher from Monday onwards!" Orion announced, grinning at Harry. "You get to meet one of my favourite and slightly more normal family members. I cannot wait. I am certain that you and Grandfather will get on like a Niffler swimming in jewels!"

"Normal?!" Walburga spluttered. "Great-Uncle Sirius, normal? My dear, he once iced Runes onto my father's birthday cake, causing the cake to grow iced vines that tried to attack anyone who tried to approach it all because my father had opted for a carrot cake instead of a chocolate cake!"

"Ah, yes, he did do that," Orion giggled manically. "And you're forgetting Cygnus got hit in the face with a piece of the cake that the vines tried to throw at your father."

Walburga smirked. "Not just Cygnus – Lucretia and Alphard too! Ironically enough it was the children, led by Megara, who started cleaning everything up. It is times such as those that I still cannot believe Great-Uncle Sirius was an Unspeakable; he is one of the most obnoxious loudmouths one could meet."

Druella split her sides laughing, as did many of the others in their extensive group.

"I still cannot believe Siris Black II abdicated his title, though," Ygraine commented as they stopped in front of the Transfigurations classroom. "I mean, it is just unheard of!"

"Perhaps he just wanted to put his feet up?" Septimus pointed out. "I mean-"

"-being Lord Black-"

"-does become tiring-"

"-after a while," he and Octavius chorused.

"Father is taking better to the role, I have to admit," Orion confessed. "Philanthropy and being in the public eye has always suited Father. My grandfather's Unspeakable past has always made him very private and limelight shy, so the fact he gave it all up for his son is not as surprising as it should be."

"Still, it isn't the done thing," Ophelia agreed with Ygraine.

"What? Would you prefer Orion's grandfather to have worked himself into an early grave?" Harry asked with a hint of snark as the doors opened and the class filed in.

Ophelia blanched. "No! But the hereditary principle usually assumes there has to be a death before an heir can take over. Abdication just throws a spanner into a well-oiled machine. Just look what almost happened to the Windsor family not too long ago."

Harry did an internal facepalm. How could she have forgotten that the Abdication of Edward VIII had been less than eight or nine years ago? Idiot! Speaking of abdication in any context was bound to be sensitive.

Fortunately, it wasn't too long after the class had taken their seats – the Gryffindors and Slytherins all mixing together for once – that Dumbledore breezed into the room, wearing cerulean robes with seal patterns on it. After blinking in shock at the new seating arrangement, he began to teach the lesson Cauldrons into Musical Instruments, which made Harry grin like a Cheshire cat. Minerva had rolled her eyes slightly at the devilish look in her friend's eyes. Fortunately Tom and Dumbledore's discussion was kept rather short and brief for their doing, and soon the classroom was filled by students playing the instruments they Transfigured or cursing at the fact that their harp still had cauldron legs or their tuba was still too cauldron-like in shape. Every single time a spell went wrong, the Weasley twins played comically downtrodden sounding music on their trumpets, causing many to splutter from laughter. Harry, meanwhile, had turned her cauldron into the wine glasses that made up the Glass Harp and was playing Hedwig's Theme, a song she and Luna came up with, on it.

The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes had brightened. "What a unique instrument! I have never seen or heard of it before. Five points to Slytherin!"

Harry grinned at him in thanks as she continued playing.

"I swear the man has several screws loose," Orion had hissed the moment the Head of Gryffindor was out of ear-shot, going to check on Avery and Mulciber's work. "First he is grumpy about the Revision Club, then makes first years cry because we made him even crankier, and now he is back to being civil!"

"I heard he is still on thin ice with rest of faculty," Artemis informed in a low tone. "Especially Headmaster Dippet. There are rumours going around that Dippet threatened to take away his title of Deputy Headmaster if Professor Dumbledore does not shape up."

"Which is ridiculous," Minerva scoffed.

"Not really," Harry argued as she Transfigured her Glass Harp back into a cauldron after finishing her song and then Transfiguring the cauldron into a hurdy gurdy for the fun of it. "It is as I said before, abuses of power need to be tackled immediately or they grow."

Orion had lit up when he finally managed to get his cauldron to turn into a perfect looking trumpet. The Heir to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black picked it up happily and blew into it.

BAAAAAAAARP!

Very promptly, all the surfaces in the room had been covered by brightly coloured flowers from lilies to petunias, to orchids, to poppies, to cornflowers, gillyflowers and heather. Indeed, it looked as though Demeter and Persephone had decided to spontaneously to grow half of their garden in Dumbledore's classroom.

"ORION!" Harry, Artemis, Minerva, Walburga, Altair and several others chorused simultaneously, half laughing and half genuinely annoyed.

Orion chuckled sheepishly as he awkwardly put the trumpet down as the Weasleys played their faux-mournful tune. "It seems trumpets are not my best friend."

"Really? I hadn't noticed," Harry teased with a grin.

Artemis quite quickly turned the trumpet back into a cauldron, mock-scowling at her friend, who sunk lower in his seat in an attempt to escape the looks he was getting.

Professor Dumbledore was, fortunately, in a good mood. "My, my, how wonderfully colourful you have made my classroom, Mr. Black! I daresay I might keep some of them for the next class, though I do think I should get rid of the flowers on the desks. It is better to work with clear desks after all! Five points to Slytherin for execution of the spell and for the lovely flowers."

There was a collective sigh of relief going around the class. It was safe to say Artemis, Minerva and Harry kept a very close eye on Orion's Transfiguration work for the rest of the lesson.

############################################

Loreley had managed to find herself a quiet spot up on the Astronomy Tower to gather her thoughts and do some work during lunch while taking in some rare sunrays poking through the blanket of pearly clouds blanketing the sky above. Harry was at chanting practise, Orion was busy doing research and homework, and Artemis was with a bunch of the other seventh years, including Harry's dorm mates, in the Potions lab to study for their practical exam. It gave Loreley a rare moment all to herself and frankly this time, she needed it. The paths that were being created and the ones changing course were so many and so frequently that it had almost given Loreley cause to use an Anti-Headache Draught, one she had not used in years. Watching young Athenaïs hunt on the roofs below had helped to still her racing mind a little; the Gargouille exhibited such patience into getting a kill and had such an innate precision for timing that Loreley had found it hypnotising to wait and see when precisely the stone dragon would go in for the kill.

Loreley knew she shouldn't have been too surprised. As the Familiar of the Mistress of Death, Athenaïs was in a league of her own but the Malfoy heiress knew it was one thing to know what happens and actually witnessing the events for herself. It was why she never envied her brother for having the Past Sight. Loreley knew that not all of her events were set in stone; no one can escape the past.

It would appear that Harry's familiar must have sensed her presence, or at least her uneasiness, because to Loreley's delight and surprise, the elegant dragon – after finishing her sixth bird – had decided to fly up to the Astronomy Tower from her perch and gave a mystical cry to her in greeting.

Loreley smiled. "Hello, Athenaïs. I assume you know who I am?"

The stone dragon nodded her head a little in affirmative as she prowled around to take a better look at the books Loreley was reading. The Gargouille lit up at the strange lines, squiggles and numbers on the pages – this wasn't like any of Harry's other books! Loreley chuckled as Athenaïs lay in front of the book, crossed her claws in a similar manner to a cat or a Sphinx, and began studying the Arithmantic equations and the three charts.

"Yes, Harry doesn't take this subject. Those equations belong to a branch of magic called Arithmancy; Numerical Divination it is also known as. There are five kinds you know: Pythagorean, Platonist, Kabbalah, Chaldean and Agrippan, but we are only taught the first and last two methods at Hogwarts," Loreley explained as Athenaïs looked up, onyx orbs shining with interest. "You see, Arithmancy assigns a numerical value to a word or phrase in order to help predict the future. The exact position of the number and the quality it has, its Arithmantic quality that is, are extremely important because the answer is also the prediction. You have to translate the equation using the charts there."

Soon, Loreley found herself teaching Harry's familiar the basics of Arithmancy, mostly at the young dragon's eager insistence. One could say that not even the Malfoy heiress could have Seen that she would end up giving a quill, charts and parchment to a Gargouille to do Arithmancy with and teaching the familiar of one of her best friends how to predict events and the behaviour of people using the calculating of probabilities. Athenaïs, on her part, was utterly absorbed, studying the charts and equations carefully before dipping her quill into ink with her telekinetic powers and attempting to write down her answer. If her powers faltered, the young dragon simply picked up the quill in her mouth and would continue that way.

It was while Athenaïs was doing the last of the sums that Loreley heard the door to the Astronomy Tower open. She smiled to herself – she had actually expected him earlier. The Sighted Ravenclaw quietly guessed that he had deliberately delayed just to annoy her. Indeed, up the stairs came Abraxas, looking slightly more dishevelled than he did that morning, if it was even possible. He smiled ever so slightly when Athenaïs greeted him with an enthusiastic Kyuuuuooo!

"Hello, brother," Loreley sang, a teasing note to her voice as her draconic student went back to her studies. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

"Who the hell is she?"

The cold demand made Loreley's heart skip a few beats. She pursed her lips for a moment. "What are you talking about?" she asked coolly, deciding to feign ignorance.

"Hera Peverell. Who is she – really?" Abraxas almost winced at the desperation in his voice.

Both Loreley and Athenaïs looked at him and simultaneously looked soggy with sympathy when they saw a lost expression form onto his countenance, a glazed and haunted look in those strange eyes of his.

"Brother, what did you See?" Loreley asked the fateful question.

"Too much," came the candid response as the Malfoy heir degraded himself by sitting on the floor of the Astronomy Tower with his sister and Athenaïs. "I … can't get any of these images out of my head. Not just about the girl … Loreley, what do you know about this girl?"

Loreley regarded her brother with a cold, hard look that appeared almost unnatural in her golden eyes. "Why should I tell you a thing? You have made it abundantly clear that you do not walk in step with me and the rest of us blessed with Melusina's blood."

Abraxas scoffed. "You think I would willingly divulge anything I have Seen to a member outside the family? Please! The only one I spoke to about a vision was Hera herself, and that is because I needed answers about something … unsettling I had seen about her past."

"Then, pray, why not ask her again?" Loreley questioned silkily, raising an annoyingly knowing eyebrow.

"Because you know as well as I, what I have Seen she will never give a straight answer to," Abraxas fired back. He scoffed lightly. "What do you want from me, Lorri? What do I need to do in order to get the answer I need to save my own sanity? You want me to apologise for not being there for you?"

"That would be a start," Loreley agreed with a hint of snark. "You can also apologise in advance to your descendants for almost condemning them to a life of abject suffering and the rest of our ancestors for almost destroying what is left of our Noble House!"

Loreley usually was not one for showing aggression or anger; a life time of training had tempered the propensity for ire and vengeance that lingered in the Saint-Pol line but on the rare occasions that Loreley made no attempt to disguise her displeasure, it was a fearsome sight to behold. Hence, Abraxas was soon cowering behind the biggest Arithmancy book he could get his hands on. Athenaïs watched the siblings bicker in fascination.

"When … why did I … how did I …" Abraxas' voice tailed off as he shuddered as he realised the answer for himself very quickly. "How many of us remained?" he dared to ask.

"By the time the dust had settled, only three remained," Loreley informed coldly, "not counting my descendants, of whom only two were alive."

Abraxas hung his head into his hands. "No … that cannot be allowed to happen."

"On that we are agreed," Loreley stated definitively. "And I will do what I need to protect the person who can make sure it never comes to pass."

Abraxas' head shot back up sharply. "Hera Peverell."

"Indeed."

Abraxas' head went up and down a couple of times in a pondering nod. "Very well. What is your price for the information I seek, sister?"

Loreley smirked slightly. "Oh that is very simple, brother. You will learn Occlumency."

Abraxas' eyes widened. "And you know of someone who can teach me Occlumency behind the backs of Mother and Father – oh no, no, no, no I know that look! Don't you dare tell me that Hera Peverell and her merry band have been doing what I think they have been doing!"

Athenaïs began giggling. Loreley's beaming smile almost made Apollo and Helios incredibly envious. Abraxas sighed deeply, chuckling. "Of course they have. I shouldn't be surprised. Why can't anything be normal around that girl?"

"I think you know why for yourself," Loreley stated.

"Touché, Lorri."

Loreley chuckled lightly. "Huh. That's the second time."

Abraxas frowned. "Second time, doing what?"

"The second time you called me Lorri in six years. You haven't called me that since we were eleven and you started socialising more and more with Tom Riddle and the others."

"Oh, yes," Abraxas had the decency to look a little ashamed of himself. He then sat up and looked his twin sister in the eyes. "I swear on the powers and gifts bestowed on me by Lady Magic and our ancestress Melusina I will learn Occlumency in order to protect the secrets I have Seen and may yet See. So mote it be!"

Loreley smiled in satisfaction. "Good. Now, tell me first what you have Seen."

Her brother's countenance twisted into one of fear and pain. "It wasn't just Peverell's past … Lorri, I have been Seeing Dumbledore and Grindelwald's."

Loreley's brow furrowed in an instant. "Tell me everything."

Abraxas scoffed. "Everything?! I think not! Some of the things I have seen – I wish I hadn't."

"What? Were the visions too violent for Abraxas Malfoy?" Loreley sneered.

"No," Abraxas' cheeks were redder than tomatoes, "they were too intimate."

"Oh," Loreley's eyes widened at that implication. "Well, tell me about some of the more modest ones."

-Flashback-

Abraxas was standing in a middle-class looking bedchamber, filled with a desk, chair, bed and bookcase after bookcase that were filled. He Saw the young Albus Dumbledore and Grindelwald laying together on the bed with books open, in a way Abraxas had never seen occur in his own dormitory. Not even Nott and Rosier lay in the way those two did.

For a moment in the vision, the speech between the two was garbled but then the vision sharpened.

"-but we are both in agreement that the Deathly Hallows are central to our plan?" Grindelwald asked silkily.

Young Dumbledore grinned. "Absolutely! With all three at our command, we will be the Masters of Death. No one would dare to stand in our way. I will be able to get my mother back; Ariana will have someone who can take care of her properly."

"Until then, we take her with us," Grindelwald added with a smile. "And your brother, if he wants."

"He will never agree," Albus shook his head, his jaw setting slightly. "Aberforth does not trust you."

"That is because your brother has refused to learn the lesson that he should have learned after Ariana's attack," Grindelwald scoffed. "Muggles can never be trusted to simply garner more and more ways of threatening our kind when they already outnumber us." He then trailed a finger along Albus' jaw. "Then again, why am I surprised when he is clearly not as brilliant as his older brother?"

The young Albus flushed and just when Abraxas Saw the young Dark Lord invade the boy's personal space precariously, the Malfoy heir breathed a sigh of relief when the door burst open, forcing the two to jump apart. In the doorway was a small woman with a lithe build and her dark, silver streaked hair in a very old fashioned bun on the top of her head and lines around her steely eyes. Behind her stood Aberforth Dumbledore, looking thunderous.

"Tante Bathilda! Aberforth!" Grindelwald greeted jovially. "Tante, I thought I said we were not to be disturbed during our research."

Abraxas had snorted at this. Research indeed!

"Albus! You left Ariana alone again!" Aberforth snarled, his hands curling. "She almost ran into the street and was spooked by the Mason children riding their bikes."

Albus heaved a deep sigh. "Again? Why did you not stop her?"

"Oh, I don't know? I was getting ingredients for tonight's dinner," Aberforth retorted coldly. "Something

you should have done already."

Albus' jaw clenched and with one parting look at Grindelwald, who subtly winked at him, he followed his brother out of the Bagshot residence.

-Flashback ends-

"Morgana and Morgause!" Loreley exhaled sharply, conjuring herself a fan. Athenaïs looked utterly stumped – the funny bearded wizard with silly clothes had a mate?! "Is it hot out here or is it just me? And you are telling me that isn't even the most … intimate you have seen them?"

"Correct," Abraxas could barely look his sister in the eyes. "And the things they discussed – Lorri, most of the ideas people say are just Grindelwald's were actually Dumbledore's ideas! The man wrote Grindelwald a letter and stated, and I quote, 'we have been given power and yes, that power gives us the right to rule, but it also gives us responsibilities over the ruled'. Talked about only 'using force where necessary and no more'."

Loreley shuddered. "How in the name of Merlin's sainted mother Hunith has no one found this out?!"

"Dumbledore is tricky; he must have some friends in high places who are helping him hide the truth," Abraxas responded, shaking his head.

Loreley took a moment to observe her twin. "Let me guess – this does not even scratch the worst of what you have Seen?"

Abraxas looked at her with one of the most deadly serious looks he has ever given her. "Brace yourself because this one was a long one."

-Flashback-

Abraxas was standing on a sandy beach, watching the waves roll onto shore, sending foamy water onto one of the rare sand-covered beaches of the English shore. There were some great rocks in the distance, some with seagulls nestled on top of them. The cliffs behind him were lush with verdant grass and wild flowers. Abraxas had no idea where he was but soon he Saw a strange flash of blue and the next thing he knew, three young boys and a young girl were dropped onto the sands. For around a good minute, all of them seemed to be unconscious; the first to wake was the darkly dressed Austrian Dark Lord. The second to wake was Aberforth, coughing and spluttering. The noise he was making in turn roused the young Albus, who immediately got to his feet to investigate his surroundings. The young girl, Ariana, continued to lay face up in the sand, staring up at the sky with a vacant expression.

"Where are we?" Grindelwald demanded, whirling on his feet to head for Albus.

"How did you know about this place?" Albus returned.

"I did not bring us here, Albus," Grindelwald answered immediately, shaking his head slightly.

"No," Aberforth, who had finally managed to regain his breath, agreed, "she did. I told you not to raise your voice near her and look what has happened. You are lucky that none of us are dead."

Everyone looked to Ariana, who had now rolled onto her left side. Aberforth immediately rushed over to check on her.

"What's so special about

this place?" Grindelwald sneered.

"Be quiet, Gellert," Aberforth responded coldly. "You both have done enough."

"Is that the gratitude I receive for trying to create you a better future?" Grindelwald stated icily. "The only reason I entertained taking you along was for Albus' sake. Neither of you should have been included in our plans to begin with, in my opinion."

"Your plans are the reason why she has become more unstable!" Aberforth argued back immediately.

"You really are a stupid little boy, aren't you?" the Austrian's lip curled a little in disgust. "Ariana would no longer have to be hidden if both you and Albus are successful. No one would dare to raise a hand or wand against her! Have you never thought of that? Hmm, stupid question. Obviously not, or you would not be standing in our way!"

"Aberforth," Albus spoke up placatingly, "this is between him and me."

"Then settle it," Aberforth responded. "I want no part of it."

"Fine. Away with you both."

Aberforth gave Ariana a reassuring squeeze on the shoulders before standing up and approaching his brother. "Finish this so we can go home," he said lowly so Grindelwald could not hear and then went back to Ariana to guide her away from her older brother and his lover.

"I will not change our plans for anyone, Albus," Grindelwald stated with vitriol.

"They are my family, Gellert," Albus replied with a deceptively calm demeanour.

"And since when have you truly cared about your family?" came the sneering retort.

A look of guilt spread onto Albus' face. "You are right. Our ambitions have become distracting."

Grindelwald scoffed. "And what, now you find these 'ambitions' to be unworthy?"

"I no longer find the Muggles to be below us as you do," Albus answered. Abraxas snorted at this.

"But yet you are content to hide from them!"

"They fear us, Gellert! They no longer understand our world, they haven't for centuries," Albus attempted to reason.

"This," Gellert hissed, a menacing gleam in his eyes, "is for the Greater Good. We were born superior to them; we were meant to rule them!"

"To rule over the Muggles will be no different to how the British Muggles rule India, or the rest of the Empire," Albus shot back. "How do they have the right to oppress anyone simply because they were born on this island and have white skin and worship one God?"

While Dumbledore and Grindelwald were in a heated verbal debate, Abraxas' vision turned its attention onto Aberforth and Ariana. Aberforth had brought his sister to hide behind a large rock and knelt beside her.

"I will be right over there, Ari, OK?" he said calmly and quietly. "The two of them are fighting."

Ariana didn't seem to care. "I want to be safe," was her answer.

"You will be safe," Aberforth reassured. "Soon. We will go home as soon as your brother stops fighting."

Much like a child of five would do, Ariana made the equation in her head: brother stops fighting equals getting safe quicker. The adolescent stood up. "No more fighting!" she yelled.

"No more fighting," Aberforth agreed, gently pulling her down again.

Ariana turned her sad, haunted eyes onto her brother. "I want to see Mama."

Aberforth looked like he just swallowed a bitter pill. "She's gone, darling."

"When will I see her again?"

"I don't know," was all Aberforth was able to answer.

Ariana didn't seem to care much for that answer. "I want to be safe," she repeated.

Aberforth sighed. "I will come right back," he vowed and got to his feet.

Meanwhile, the verbal joust had continued.

"Is it not because of the Muggles that your sister is in the state she is now?" Grindelwald sneered.

"Her encounter with those Muggle boys was our fault!" Albus shot back. "She was young and we were not paying attention-"

"Your incompetence is not the point!" Grindelwald snarled. "She was met with hatred and fear, and I mean to dispel that fear by revealing our world."

"You mean, to control it," Aberforth corrected, butting in at long last. Abraxas wondered when he would show up; there was no way Aberforth would be able to stay out of the argument for long. "You cannot succeed to that end."

"Oh, why not, little one?" Grindelwald questioned silkily.

"Gellert," Albus stated warningly.

"Because you know nothing of what it means to rule," Aberforth responded candidly. "You are weak."

"That's enough, Aberforth," Albus said sharply.

"No," Grindelwald disagreed. "Go on, little one."

"You like the strength only a family can provide," Aberforth obliged. "But you know nothing of protecting those you love. You only have dominance and manipulation! Your heart is as cold as ice. A true ruler shows compassion; you have none of that."

"I said, that's enough!" Albus snapped, rounding on his brother, eyes blazing.

"No," Grindelwald's gentle tone sounded incredibly ominous to Abraxas' ears. "He's right on all counts." Albus turned around in utter disbelief. "I know nothing of love."

Albus' eyes drooped. "Gellert…"

"It is a fleeting distraction," Abraxas coiled at the words he once heard Tom Riddle say after rejecting yet another Valentine during fifth year.

"You cannot mean that," the heart-break in Dumbledore's tone was not well disguised at all.

"You and I had a common goal, Albus," Grindelwald responded. "To find the Hallows, hunt the Peverells and become Masters of Death. We were to rule over the Muggles and take our place as rulers of the world. I was willing, more than willing, to share this with you. It was nothing more, nothing less."

Abraxas looked straight at the young Dark Lord's eyes and smirked to himself. Someone was in denial …

Unfortunately, Albus was too busy with his own heartbreak to notice the bullshit that was coming out of Grindelwald's mouth. "Gellert, you do know of love-"

"I don't." Well that denial came a little too quickly there! "And your love has blinded you from the Greater Good."

Albus straightened up at that. Aberforth frowned. "What does he mean by that?"

For a moment, neither Albus nor Grindelwald spoke; they simply stared each other down. Aberforth was getting more and more agitated by it. "Albus?"

Albus Dumbledore forced his tone and countenance to remain as neutral as he could manage. "It is clear to me now that I was mistaken. Perhaps I was blinded, but I will have no further part in your plans, Grindelwald."

The moment Albus called him by his last name, a coldness set into the bright blue eyes of the Dark Lord that made Abraxas want to hide under his bed.

"Be on your way."

Aberforth, to Abraxas' surprise, was the one who had other ideas. "We should take him. Take him down while we still can."

"No."

"Albus!"

"You would let me go?" Grindelwald repeated silkily. "Despite all my intentions?"

"Yes," was the short answer, a small, nonchalant smile on Albus' face.

"Albus!" Aberforth could hardly believe his ears. Neither could Abraxas for that matter.

That was when Abraxas Saw Grindelwald's hand going subtly for his wand. "You understand you will have to come after me eventually, my dear blood brother?"

Albus smiled further. "Perhaps."

Grindelwald raised his thorny black wand at his former ally. "Then we settle this now." He ignored the fact Aberforth had his own wand drawn by now, keeping his eyes firmly on Albus. "Arm yourself, Dumbledore."

Albus did not react, simply keeping a neutral expression.

"Arm yourself, now!" Grindelwald ordered.

Albus still did not move a muscle; he did not blink, let alone draw his wand.

Grindelwald's jaw set. "Very well," he sneered, and finally looked at Aberforth, turning his wand onto the boy. "CRUCIO!"

Aberforth Dumbledore was on his knees, screaming and writhing in agony in the sand in about five seconds. Abraxas had to close his ears at the sound. Grindelwald kept his eyes on Albus the entire time he kept Aberforth under the spell; the boy was only released from it once Albus had drawn his own wand.

Albus had cast a powerful non-verbal at Grindelwald, sending the young Dark Lord flying back, skimming over the waves of the sea in a blast of orange and yellow right into the distance before checking up on his younger brother and lifting him to his feet. Abraxas admitted to snorting with laughter at this.

"Get Ariana. We are getting out of here," Albus stated.

"No!" Aberforth argued.

They didn't have time to argue any further because Grindelwald Apparated in front of them, looking soaked and none too happy. He promptly sent a Knockback Jinx at Aberforth, throwing him like a rag doll to one side before sending Dumbledore flying up into the air with a nonverbal Ascension Charm. The screams of the boy could be heard, going up and then very clearly as the boy descended down to the ground at rapid pace. But before the boy in question could be turned into an Albus pancake, Grindelwald had used another nonverbal to send him flying towards one of the cliff faces.

Getting precariously close to it, Albus managed to shout, "ARRESTO MOMENTUM!", before dropping mere centimetres from it, the tip of his wand touching the cliff. Unfortunately, Grindelwald hadn't finished – he sent yellow fire straight at Albus who gave a look that could only translate to as 'oh really? This spell?'.

Elegantly, the young boy sent the inferno rocketing into the sky before casting it back, using his wand in a manner akin to a baseball bat, at Grindelwald, whose jaw clenched at the fact his own spell was being cast back. Before it could hit him, Grindelwald had put up a nonverbal shield until all the fire had been absorbed.

Albus came running back along the beach. Grindelwald pelted him with a nonverbal blue jinx, followed by a purple hex, all of which Albus blocked effortlessly. Yellow lightning was cast at him, which Albus too absorbed into a protection spell with very little effort. Brightly coloured spell after brightly coloured spell was hurled from one wizard to the other, with both able to anticipate each other's moves almost to perfection. What Grindelwald clearly didn't anticipate, was Albus tying him up using a Binding Spell that used rope.

Grindelwald, with great difficulty, got to his feet.

"I'm taking you to Azkaban," Albus informed.

"No, no one can-" Grindelwald's next villain speech was interrupted by a sharp Stunner from the one person he always ignored.

"Aberforth!" Albus nearly scolded.

Aberforth approached, wand drawn and his eyes furious. "He dies here."

Albus' brother shot a Bluebell Flames towards Grindelwald but the older boy easily deflected the spell, even while untangling himself from his ropes. Even though it was two against one, Abraxas could not help but feel that it was both Dumbledores who were the ones who were outmatched.

"I've always wanted to do this, Albus," the boy grinned, staring down his opponents. "So, which one of you goes first?"

"Me," Aberforth answered before sending a red coloured stream of magic towards the boy he had detested on sight.

From there, a three way rainbow coloured battle ensued, with one attack being blocked before yet another was being sent right after it. Ariana had poked her head out from behind the rocks to see what was going on, but quickly ducked behind it again when a bolt of yellow lightning struck the rock precariously close to her head.

Lightning, fire, sparks, unknown curse, unknown hex – it was one spell after the other. It was dizzying to have to See; Abraxas could barely keep up with who was doing the attacking and who was doing the blocking. It was pure chaos. Finally, Albus and Aberforth synced their attacks, sending their spells together. Abraxas Watched as the brothers turned their wands to each other, one allowing a blue spell and the other a purple spell, to create a powerful beam of blue and purple that was sent directly at Grindelwald.

Before the spell could hit, Grindelwald Apparated out of the way. Only to reappear behind them. "Petrificus Totalus!"

Down went Aberforth in about two seconds. Grindelwald Apparated before Albus could even throw a spell. Much to both Abraxas and Albus' surprise, when Grindelwald reappeared, the Dark Lord physically attacked Albus, launching him to the ground, and proceeded to punch the other in the face. Like a Muggle. Abraxas could not believe what he was Seeing. Albus punched back and then promptly shot Red Sparks into Grindelwald's face, knocking the other boy off him. Albus then looked to where Aberforth was still in his Body Bind and with a quick nonverbal, freed his brother from it.

Aberforth was up on his feet again instantly. Albus Disapparated quickly. Once Grindelwald was on his feet, he saw Aberforth with his wand out and pointed directly at him but no Albus. A sharp CRACK! soon alerted him to Albus being behind him, also his wand drawn.

Aberforth sent a Stunner at Grindelwald, who caught it and sent it flying at Albus, who this time didn't block and caught it fully, clutching his sides as his knees buckled. That was when Grindelwald rounded fully on the younger of the two brothers. Once more, spell after spell was fired but the young Dark Lord was quickly gaining the upper hand, smirking like a cat about to eat its prey. But then Aberforth managed to land an unknown hex on Grindelwald, hitting him in his left eye.

For a moment, the Dark Lord howled with pain but it quickly turned into almost manic laughter and he knocked Aberforth back with a nonverbal, wandless Stunning spell. It took two seconds for Aberforth to be sprawled on the sand, at Grindelwald's mercy with that thorny black wand pointed at him.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Abraxas watched in shock as Albus had appeared in front of his younger brother, a red beam of light already coming out of his wand, meeting the Killing Curse head on, their wands meeting in a Priori Incantatem.

"YOU'VE LOST YOUR MIND, GELLERT!" Albus yelled. "STOP THIS!"

But Grindelwald's manic grin only spread, especially as it became clear that the Killing Curse was winning the battle between the two spells, causing Albus to collapse to his knees in an effort to maintain the spell. Albus was losing; Dumbledore looked regretfully to his younger brother, who was still picking himself up from the ground.

But it seemed to be this regret that pushed Albus to fight back one more time. The young boy got back onto his feet, putting more effort into his spell than before and forcing Grindelwald to do the same, much to the latter's frustration. Abraxas Watched as the beam of red overpowered the Killing Curse to the point the Dark Lord was forced to dive sharply out of the way. The red comet hurled through the air towards the other side of the beach and collided with the cliffs, sending rocks flying as though a bomb had gone off.

It was this that had spurred something in Ariana. Albus had collapsed onto the beach from exhaustion for a moment, but was forced to get to his feet despite his opponent being on the ground. Aberforth had joined them.

"Albus," Grindelwald sounded almost … pleading.

Aberforth raised his wand but his older brother immediately put himself between his brother's wand and his former lover.

"Out of my way, Albus," Aberforth stated.

"I can't," he whispered back.

"He will kill you! He has already tried. He will kill many more people," Aberforth responded in disbelief.

Grindelwald was now on his feet. "Albus!"

"We have to," Aberforth pleaded with him. "You know we do."

"Don't," Albus begged.

It would seem Grindelwald did not like being ignored. "LOOK AT ME, ALBUS!"

Probably against his better judgement, Albus obeyed and saw one of his former lover's eyes glow blue and the other silver. And it seemed, no one noticed that by now Ariana had come out from her hiding place and had approached the group, a look in her eyes that Abraxas had seen in Loreley's own eyes. Fear for her siblings. Ariana watched as both her brothers and Grindelwald once more raised their wands.

"AVADA-

"-KEDAVRA!" all three incanted at the same time.

"NOOOOOO!" Ariana's scream was as high pitched and as eerie as a banshee's. Abraxas Watched as the young girl raised both her hands and a powerful bright, eldritch light emerged from her hands, turning into a wave of light heading straight for the three fighting wizards. In about two seconds, the wave had hit all three of its mark, knocking Albus, Aberforth and Grindelwald back.

But, what it also had done, was turn the Killing Curses in her direction. Abraxas Watched in horror as all three beams headed straight towards her. Ariana, lowering her hands, was rooted to the spot in fear, utterly at a loss what to do. Abraxas wanted to scream at her to dive, dodge – anything! Get out of the damn way!

All he Saw next was a bright, blinding green-white light.

Albus was the last to sit up, groaning in pain. When he did, he saw that Grindelwald was looking to the right in abject horror and regret.

"ARI!" Aberforth's despairing wail ran out.

Albus was up on his feet in an instant and ran towards his siblings. Aberforth was howling like a wounded animal, clutching the lifeless body of their younger sister. As Grindelwald and Albus both got to their feet staring at each other, the sound of Aberforth's continued sobbing filled their ears. Abraxas Saw the unspoken question in both pairs of eyes – which Curse had hit her first?

Grindelwald looked as though he were about to say something, but he simply Disapparated into thin air, leaving the further broken family behind. Albus stared at the spot where his lover had been for a moment longer before turning back.

"I used to bring her here," Aberforth managed to say through his web of tears. "She said she felt safe."

"I remember," Albus answered tensely.

"This is your fault," Aberforth stated.

Albus closed his eyes momentarily, clearly trying to contain his own grief. "Did you see … which spell …"

Aberforth's jaws clenched. "It doesn't matter. It's done. We are going home." He looked back at his older brother. "Are you coming?"

Without saying a word, Albus put his hand on his brother's shoulder, and Disapparated the three of them out of there.

-Flashback ends-

"FUCK!"

"Loreley, language!"

Loreley, who had through the entire saga, been listening raptly, her emotions going from confusion, to shock, to anger, to horror, to fear, to excitement – all in mere seconds – could hardly believe what she had just heard. "They all had a hand in it!" she yelled. "Damn foolish idiots, opting for the Killing Curse! Aberforth – he was the one who wanted to kill a Dark Lord! He blamed his brother for doing what he suggested? And Ariana – Merlin, the poor girl! She tried to stop them … but her magic. Morgana, she was an Obscurial; no wonder her magic was so volatile!"

Loreley was pacing madly to and fro, eyes wide with fear. "Merciful Avalon, if anyone ever finds out – no, scratch that, if Dumbledore finds out you know … You learning Occlumency has become more imperative than ever."

Abraxas smiled wryly. "Do you even want me to tell you what I saw about the Lady Hera Peverell?"

Loreley laughed mirthlessly. "There is possibly very little you can tell me about the Lady Peverell that I do not know, brother."

"So you know about the abuses she suffered at the hands of her Muggle family?" Abraxas questioned, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Or about a half-giant coming to a shack in the middle of the ocean – called Rubeus Hagrid – to not only give the most Merlin-awful birthday cake imaginable with atrocious spelling errors, but to tell her she's a witch?"

Loreley froze at this. Abraxas continued. "Or perhaps that she had been taken to Gringotts at eleven and no one allowed her near the Potter or Peverell vaults and that this much older, hairier – if that is even possible – version of Hagrid told her how Lord Voldemort killed her parents and tried to kill her, enlightening her over a giant bowl of soup? Not to mention what her real name is."

"Abraxas," Loreley stated warningly. Athenaïs started growling.

"Her name is Hera Elizabeth Potter, daughter of James and Lily Potter – Lily who was an Evans – born in 1980 and was proclaimed the Girl-Who-Lived after surviving the Killing Curse!" Abraxas finished, looking like he was going mad. "I feel like I am mad because I am supposed to only be able to see the past but I know how to count so I know for a fact Hera Elizabeth Potter isn't even born yet and I am one of the only ones who knows that Tom Riddle calls himself Lord Voldemort, so who the hell is this girl?!"

Loreley sighed. "What else did you See?"

"Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger – in the Hogwarts Express. Hermione was helping a boy named Neville Longbottom look for a toad." Uh-oh. "Ron and Hera hit it off; she treated him to sweets and rebuffed the friendship of Draco Malfoy. She was Sorted into Gryffindor House, which by the way will make Dolohov unbearably smug if he ever knows, and spent the rest of her first year nearly getting murdered by trolls, a Cerberus and a pathetically easy set of puzzles that was supposed to protect the bloody Philosopher's Stone. Her Defence teacher had Voldemort in the back of his bloody head! She killed her Defence tutor by simply touching him. Oh, and Fred and George enchanted snowballs to hit Voldemort right in the face; unbeknownst to them. I saw a house elf named Dobby warn her not to back to school and then got her into some almost lethal trouble with her family. I saw him practically trying to kill her almost the whole year to try and save her. Muggleborns were being attacked by a Basilisk; Hermione was eventually attacked leaving Harry and Ron to face giant spiders and going down into the Chamber, which supposedly doesn't exist, with their teacher at wand point and then Harry facing up against Tom and a giant snake that was almost too big for its own Chambers! The thing bit her and she somehow survived thanks to bloody phoenix tears, I know I am missing several things that happened, and she somehow killed Tom by stabbing a bloody diary. What in Morgana's name am I supposed to do with this because we can all agree Tom is very much alive?!"

"Well, it's not going to get any better from here," Loreley commented dryly.

"Excuse me?!" Abraxas couldn't believe his ears. "Lorri – this girl is from the future! Riddle wants her dead and-"

"No!" Loreley snapped, her eyes glowing. "Correction, dear brother: she was from the future and Riddle will never want her dead if anything I have Seen is anything to go by. As you have correctly pointed out, you See the past. That was Hera's past, not her future."

"Her past is in the future!" Abraxas started waving his hands. "Lorri … what is it that you do know that I should know right now before I lose it completely?"

Loreley exchanged a look with Athenaïs. The young dragon gave her what could only be construed as a pointed look.

Loreley took a deep breath. "She's the Mistress of Death and she's also a Traveller."

Abraxas nearly fainted on the spot. "What … Loreley, that's not funny."

"It isn't a joke." Loreley fixed her brother with a determined look. "Braxi, do you remember the stories Mother used to tell us about people being born into the wrong time and that having grave consequences on the Tapestries woven by the Weavers?"

Abraxas only managed to nod his head.

"Well, Hera was one such example," Loreley explained. "The Weavers decided for whatever reason she needed to be born in 1980, but because of that, it had consequences for us – the people we know. Our friends. We all descended into a madness, a frenzy against Muggles and Muggleborns. Instead of using politics, regulations and laws to achieve our ends, it turned into all-out war. During Voldemort's first rise to power, Harry was born to two people who thrice defied him."

"Defied? James and Lily, they defied Riddle?" Abraxas could barely believe it. "Three times?"

"Riddle knew they were powerful; he didn't care about blood necessarily, the hypocrite," Loreley continued. "But because they were Dumbledore's thralls, they rejected him again and again. When a fake prophecy was thrown into the mix, about a child who could overthrow the Dark Lord, born at the end of July to parents who thrice defied him – well, Harry became target number one because like Riddle, she's a half blood. Neville, the other child, was pureblood but Riddle knew the threat a half blood could pose, since he was one himself."

Abraxas nodded along.

"Harry grew up as she had told us: a good little soldier who was supposed to go willingly to her death, which she did end up doing in the year 1997," Loreley followed up, Abraxas' eyes widening. "The issue was for Voldemort, Harry was already Mistress of Death as well as Marked by Death himself by the time her execution came. The Killing Curse only half worked; she could have opted to simply go back and face him. Tom Riddle would have faced his end. But, Harry – being the ever compassionate soul – had long taken pity on her mortal enemy and his split soul. She defied the expectations of the one who led her to her death and decided to redeem the man who would have her dead. By doing so, what she actually was doing, was fixing the mistake the Fates made."

"Hera should have been born with the rest of us, in 1926," Abraxas stated. "By dying in 1997, and somehow activating her powers and Travelling to the year 1944, she fixed the mistake."

Loreley nodded. "Exactly. Not that she's even aware of this. Harry believes she Travelled here by accident," Loreley scoffed. "You don't Travel by accident. Divine law doesn't permit it. Plus, the issue is … Harry is now tied to our time line for good."

"What?" Abraxas' eyes widened. "She can never go back to 1997?"

"Indeed."

Abraxas paled. "Why?"

"Her wound," Loreley replied simply. "The one made by the Power Wither Hex. By getting wounded in 1944, she is now forever linked to us. Time will treat her as though she were born in 1926. So if she Travels to the past, Hera will come back to us each and every single time."

Abraxas could not believe his ears. "She isn't aware of that, is she?"

"No," Loreley agreed. "But she will be – tonight."

"Tonight?" Abraxas shook his head. "Lorri, you cannot tell her-"

"I will not be the one responsible for breaking the news to her," Loreley reassured definitively. "That is down to something rather more unpleasant."

Both Malfoys were rather relieved when the bell for the next period rang. As for Athenaïs, she stayed put on the Tower for a little moment longer, pondering what she had heard. Her Witch had gone through multiple different lifetimes – she had died and come back to life! No wonder her Mistress's powers were so great.

It was in that moment Athenaïs decided that she would keep an eye on Harry, goblin law be damned.

##############################

So, Harry is learning about one of her ancestors, the truth about Heron's greatest fear and the cat is out of the bag regarding the truth of Dumbledore and Grindelwald's relationship. How will Abraxas deal with this, and the truth he knows about the Lady Regnant? Will Abraxas be able to learn Occlumency in order to hide these dangerous secrets? Stay tuned to find out!

I know guys this has been a long one, but I feel like that the duel was not something that could be rushed!

Naturally the rights to 'I Won't Say I am in Love' belongs to Disney. Hedwing's Theme belongs to its amazing composers and makers of the HP movies. As for the vision of Abraxas seeing the first duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald when they were younger, I wrote it using information that is canon as well as basing many of the sequence of events on the fan-made film by Broad Strokes on YouTube called 'Dumbledore and Grindelwald – The Greater Good – Secrets of Dumbledore Prequel'. I really liked how they did this infamous duel, and I will not deny taking their work as a definitive basis for how I decided to write it. I strongly recommend watching it!

As for the actors, I still see Jamie Campbell Bower for young Grindelwald, Toby Regbo as young Albus, Tommy Knight as young Aberforth (he was in the 2016 'Victoria' series) and Raffey Cassidy as Ariana.

Grindelwald: … It seems I have a Malfoy to hunt.

Harry: Ooooo look, free cookies!

Grindelwald: OOOOO, WHERE?!

... I will see you guys in the next chapter!

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