Vilandra stared down into her plate, not even attempting to touch any of the food on it. Leroux was playing with his own breakfast, occasionally looking at Vilandra to make sure she was all right. The twins hadn't really noticed anything was wrong with their two cousins. They'd just assumed they'd been up too late the night before, which was true, but it wasn't the reason they were quiet.
Leroux was still trying to grasp what Vilandra had told him the night before, and he couldn't even begin to imagine how Vilandra felt. Considering, he had to admit he thought she'd taken it rather well. He couldn't imagine his own reaction if it had been him instead of her. He probably would've been throwing things around the room, yelling at everyone he saw. For her to just sit there quietly was amazing to him. She was probably bursting inside, wanting to scream and cry and hit everyone near her, but she was holding it all in. Leroux didn't know whether this was a good thing or not. It certainly wasn't healthy.
"What if we threw in some Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder?" Leroux's mind snapped back to the present as Rhett's voice hit his ears. "We could always throws some into the room before we head in. That way, we'd be able to trap the Slytherins inside, and skive the lesson."
"No, I don't like that idea. It's daft." Talak insisted.
"Only cause you're scared of the dark." Rhett teased.
"Not when I'm around." Lexa insisted as she came up behind Talak and kissed his cheek. "He seems quite content in the dark when I'm with him." Talak's cheeks flushed and he lowered his head, looking down into his plate to stop Rhett from noticing. It didn't matter. Rhett had burst out laughing, almost falling off the bench.
"What were you talking about, anyway?" Jase asked, sitting down beside Rhett as Lexa took her seat beside Talak.
"Ways to annoy Snape, of course." Talak replied since Rhett was still laughing too hard to even breathe.
"But we haven't got Potions today." Jase reminded him. "That's tomorrow."
"Didn't you see the notice?" Rhett asked, finally having calmed down enough to speak.
"What notice?" Lexa inquired.
"It was up in the Common Room. Because of Professors Sprout and Sinatra, courses were changed around for the next few days until they can find replacements. We're on a Friday schedule."
"No!" Lexa insisted. "Potions first thing! Could this day get any worse!"
"Well, you're sitting next to Talak, can't get any worse than that." Talak tried to hit his brother across the table, but Rhett ducked, laughing again.
"So, any brilliant plans, then?" Jase asked, ignoring the fight.
"Not really. We're trying to think. These two haven't been much help." Rhett motioned Leroux and Vilandra. "Have you?" He asked them. Neither replied. Vilandra was sitting next to Rhett, Leroux across from her beside Talak.
"Are they okay?" Lexa whispered to Talak. "Vilandra almost looks—green."
"They're fine." Rhett insisted, waving his hand. "Two of them were up late last night, isn't that right, Lonnie?" He patted her shoulder, but she didn't react. She just continued to stare into her plate. "It's been a little boring, really. Lonnie's been like this since yesterday." Rhett shoved her slightly and she didn't react. He smirked as he continued to poke and annoy her, without any retaliation. "This is almost boring without her fighting back. Come on, Lonnie." He began to repeat her name over and over again as he poked her, unwilling to stop until she replied. "Come on, Lonnie, I'm so serious. This is bloody boring, not to mention annoying." Rhett insisted before going back to repeating her name continuously.
Leroux looked at Vilandra and saw tears brimming in her eyes. Enough was enough. He threw his knife angrily onto the table, the end slamming into the hard wood, causing the knife to stick up straight.
"Sod off and leave her alone!" Leroux hollered. Rhett's hand jerked away from Vilandra as everyone in the vicinity turned to him, stunned. Leroux ignored the looks, looking back down into his plate and taking a bite of his breakfast. He pushed all of his eggs across his plate as he chewed, everyone still staring.
Rhett and Talak shared confused looks. Vilandra was never upset for so long, and Leroux never lost his temper. Leroux had never spoken to anyone like that in his entire life. He was never that serious, or that angry, and it made the twins feel like they were being left out of something.
Leroux threw his fork onto his plate and stood up.
"Come on, Lonnie." She stood up without a word, gathering her books, and walked along the table, Leroux following on the other side. The twins shared a look and then jumped up from the bench, running after their cousins. They reached them just as they began to exit the hall.
"Hey, hey, what's the matter with you two?" Rhett demanded, grabbing Vilandra's arm. Leroux slapped his hand away and stood protectively in front of her. "Whoa! Leroux, what's the matter with you two? You're acting odd."
"Just give us some space." Leroux growled. Actually growled. Talak and Rhett shared a look. Talak took a step forward.
"Leroux, whatever's bothering you—let us know, we can help you." He insisted soothingly.
"We're fine." Leroux insisted. "Come on, Lonnie." She turned without a word, following Leroux towards the dungeons. The twins shared another look before following them down.
The four of them entered the dungeons and sat down at their respective places. Other Gryffindors filed in and Snape appeared at the front of the class, scowling at the four cousins.
"I assume none of you have done your homework since you didn't know we would have a Friday schedule." He sneered at them. They said nothing. The twins were still in shock about Leroux and Lonnie. The two Weasleys were quiet because of what they knew. Snape stared back and forth between the four cousins, waiting for some kind of remark. He received none. This confused him slightly, but he didn't let it show. He turned and began his lesson, occasionally shooting out random insults towards the four cousins. None retaliated, and he became more and more confused as to why. Nothing was ever bad enough for them not to retaliate in some way, shape or form. Even when Harry had been taken, Lonnie and Leroux had done an enormous prank. Shortly thereafter, the twins had been back to their menacing selves.
As he went around the room, checking all of their potions, he saw the four of them had done it perfectly right, not even one little thing wrong. He was so surprised he just returned to his desk and sat there for the remainder of the lesson.
As soon as it was time for them to head to Defence Against the Dark Arts, Rhett and Talak shared a look. They nodded to each other and both headed towards their two cousins. They stood on either side of them, watching them closely.
"Why won't you tell us what's wrong?" Talak asked. "We want to know why you're both so upset."
"When she's ready, she'll tell you." Leroux growled, not changing his stride in the slightest, his hand clutching Vilandra's shoulder protectively.
"Oh, so she's told you, then, has she?" Rhett asked jealously. The look Leroux gave him caused him to shrink back, not at all used to the look of hatred in his cousin's eyes.
"Just leave it alone." They turned into the classroom and sat down together, even though they usually didn't.
Rhett and Talak were slowly heading for their seats when Lupin—bandaged and looking slightly pale—approached their two cousins and put his hand comfortingly on Vilandra's shoulder. Neither could hear what he was saying, but it was obvious he was trying to reassure her of something. As they reached their seats, Lupin gave her a reassuring smile, patted her shoulder lovingly, and then turned back to head to his desk. The twins shared another look. Vilandra had been acting weird since the day before, and then she'd told something to Leroux which had caused him to act completely out of character. On top of that, the professors—minus the git, Snape—seemed to be aware of what was going on. This realization unsettled the twins in ways they did not like.
-----
Harry rammed his shoulder into the door again, but just like the last twenty times, it didn't budge. Hermione was beginning to grow tired of his relentless banging and attempts to get out of the room. They both knew it was impossible, so why he continued to try, she would never fully comprehend.
As Harry continued to slam his shoulder against the door, Hermione sat on the bed, wondering what kind of diabolical plans Ron was coming up with while they sat in that room, helpless to do anything to stop him. The realization that so many innocent people would die churned Hermione's stomach, and she was reminded horribly of her childhood when Voldemort was around. She'd always thought no one deserved to live through horrible times like the one she, Harry and Ron had lived through. And now, the man she had married was making everyone re-live it.
She focussed back on Harry as he cried out, having slamming his shoulder yet again against the door.
"Harry, it's no use." She insisted.
"No, there has to be a way out of this." Harry insisted, looking around the room.
"We've checked a hundred times." She sighed, having completely given up all hope. "He knows us, Harry. He knows us well enough to know everything we'd try to get out of here."
"Nobody is that good! And he hasn't known anything about us for seven years! We've changed since he last knew us! There has to be something!" Harry let out an angry cry as he slammed his shoulder into the door again. "I want to see Ginny!" He slammed his fists on the door. "I want to see the twins!" He slammed his fists again. "I want the old Ron back!" He continued to slam his fists angrily against the door. Hermione watched him as his knuckles began to bleed. And then, Harry was crying, his fists slamming on the door less frequently and with less force until he finally fell to his knees, crying.
Hermione stood up from the bed, padding over to him. She bent down beside him and hugged him.
"It's going to be all right, Harry." She whispered, reassuring herself more than she was him.
"How?" Harry asked. "How is it going to be all right?" Harry whispered. "Neither of us can kill Ron. Nobody knows where we are. We'll probably be left in here to rot." Hermione sat down beside Harry, leaning back against the door.
"If we were to die, Harry, we wouldn't still be alive." She whispered. "He wants us alive because we still mean something to him."
"How are we going to stop him?" Harry whispered. "How could we possibly stop someone like him?" They sat in silence a long while. Hermione wasn't sure what to say. She knew there was nothing she could say to make Harry feel better. Every scenario she could think of wouldn't work. They all involved the two of them killing Ron, but she knew neither of them could do it. Why couldn't they just do it! She was getting so angry about the fact that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't kill Ron.
"There's no way for us to kill him." She whispered defeated. "We just can't look past the person he used to be. The friend he was to us."
"There's one way for us to kill him." Harry whispered back. Hermione turned to him and he shrugged. "Or, me, anyway."
"What is it?"
"Ginny, Talak, and Rhett." Harry turned to face her. "The only way for me to have enough rage and hatred towards Ron to actually be able to kill him would be if he hurt any of them. They-they mean the world to me, Hermione. I can't lose them." Hermione nodded.
"I know how you feel, Harry. I'm probably the only one who could possibly know how you feel."
"If Ron hurts them—I'll have nothing. If he hurts anyone in our family, I'll kill him." Harry hissed vehemently. "That includes you, Hermione. If he hurts you again, I'll kill him." Hermione smiled, despite the circumstances.
"I know, Harry. I'd do the same for you. If he hurts any of our children, he won't live long enough to understand his mistake."
Hermione reached into her robe pocket and pulled out the picture she'd taken shortly before leaving the house. She unfolded it and stared at it, smiling. She ran her fingers along the glossy paper, staring at each one of her children lovingly. She examined each one carefully, as if she wanted to imprint their images into her mind forever. She scanned them all, and couldn't help but note the sadness in both Chaim and Vilandra's eyes. Even when they smiled, their eyes betrayed their inner sadness. Of course, it was most obvious in Vilandra, but for Hermione to be able to tell just broke her heart. And it was because of the man she once loved that her children were like this. She folded the picture up again and replaced it.
"They'll be all right." Hermione turned to Harry as he spoke. "Chaim and Vilandra are with Dumbledore. Sterling is with Arthur and Molly. They'll be safe." Hermione nodded.
"I know. I just-I can't bear to think of anything happening to them. If Ron hurts them—" She cut herself off. "If he even attempts to get back into their lives, I'll kill him." She looked at Harry. "That's a promise, Harry. If he approaches any of my children, attempting to remake the bond he broke all those years ago, I will kill him."
-----
Molly Weasley chased Sterling around the kitchen as he ran under the table, giggling madly.
"Sterling Weasley, get back here this instant." She said sternly, but the smile on her face betrayed her amusement. It was well past Sterling's bed-time, and he'd been hiding from her so he wouldn't have to go to sleep. Molly had found him, and no sooner had she found him, than he started running around the house to avoid being caught. He laughed as he ran through the door and Arthur caught him around the middle, lifting him off the ground.
"Gotcha, you little bugger, you." He laughed as he threw Sterling over his shoulder and headed for the stairs. Sterling laughed when there came a knock at the door. Arthur turned to it, frowning. He glanced at Molly, whose heart leapt into her throat. If it was Vilandra—they didn't know what to say to her. It had been so hard learning about Hermione, they hadn't really been able to help her through it.
"Go ahead, dear. I'll be up in a minute." Molly insisted as she headed for the door. Arthur pressed his lips together, but continued up the stairs with Sterling anyway. Molly reached the door and opened it. She saw a figure before her in a black travelling cloak, their hood up, shielding their face. The figure was much too tall to be Vilandra, and Molly couldn't really think of who it could be.
"Yes?" She asked uncertainly. The figure raised its head and Molly let out a scream.
"Hi, mum. I'm home." She grabbed the door and slammed it shut hurriedly, locking it before Ron had the chance to stop her. She hurried towards the stairs as Arthur ran down them, Sterling still over his shoulder. Panic filled his eyes as he saw his wife's pale face.
"What is it?" He asked.
"The King of Darkness!" Molly shrieked, not wanting to say Ron's name for fear of Sterling recognizing it. "He's here!"
The door was blown off its hinges and the two adults let out startled cries. They ran further into the house, running for the living room.
"We need to get Sterling out of here." Arthur said in as calm a voice as possible while running through the house. Sterling began to cry, not fully understanding what was going on, but not particularly liking it. They reached the living room and Arthur practically threw Sterling into the fireplace. Molly grabbed a pot of Floo powder off the shelf and threw it into the fire, green flames encircling the six-year-old boy.
"Ministry of Magic!" Molly screamed into the fireplace, and Sterling disappeared just as Ron entered the living room calmly. Molly and Arthur turned away from the fireplace, back to face their youngest son. Arthur grabbed Molly protectively, forcing her behind him. Ron just laughed.
"Now, now, dad. What makes you think I'd harm either of you? I was just looking for my son. Rumour has it you keep him during the school year." Arthur gritted his teeth and Molly clutched the back of his robes tightly. "Oh, come on, I just want to see him. I've never met him, after all."
"And with good reason!" Molly shrieked from behind Arthur. "Look what you've become! Hermione has no reason to ever let you see your children again." Ron's face hardened and Molly grimaced. Arthur didn't react in the slightest; he merely kept his eyes locked on his son's.
"This world is full of hatred and corruption. The Purebloods, the Halfbloods, the Muggleborns and the Muggles. All over the world, for all sorts of reason, there are wars, there is hatred, there is suffering—I wish to end it."
"By causing them?" Arthur demanded, speaking for the first time. "You're causing a war right now. You're causing hatred, suffering, and grief. Your daughter was beside herself with grief when you captured Hermione. She thinks she's lost both her parents!"
"She's probably thrilled at knowing I'm still alive, then." Molly and Arthur frowned. "I visited the school not too long ago, and I ran into my daughter. She's beautiful. Looks like her mother, don't you think?"
Molly's face was that of pure horror. Vilandra had found out about Ron, and who he really was. Vilandra had found out, and now she was probably a wreck, and nobody would be able to help her. Knowing Vilandra, she wouldn't burden her cousins with this, and the professors would only know if Dumbledore had found out she knew.
Molly found herself worrying about Vilandra's mental health, almost having forgotten about the situation at hand. A growl from Arthur brought her back to the present, and they both stared at their son.
"So, where's Sterling?" Neither replied. He looked over their shoulder and noticed the fireplace. "Ah, I see. Where did you send him?" They merely glared at him, keeping their mouths shut. He shrugged. "No matter. I'll know soon enough."
"You bloody well will not!" Arthur hollered angrily. "If you wanted to be part of his life, you shouldn't have left Hermione! You shouldn't have become this monster!" Ron let out a low growl.
"A father should never speak to his son like that." He hissed.
"You're not our son." Arthur growled back. "You haven't been our son since you changed your name to the King of Darkness."
"You know, that hurts." Ron insisted, his hand on his chest. "I have feelings."
"One has to wonder, Ronald." Molly snapped. His face hardened again.
"You two aren't being very respectful towards me. If you can't respect me as your son, then at least respect me as the future ruler of the world." Arthur let out a bark of laughter.
"Surely you don't believe you'll ever rule the world! We actually thought it was a joke when we read that!" Ron let out an angered cry and threw out his hand. Arthur flew forward. Molly let out a shriek as Arthur stopped right in front of Ron, hovering in the air.
"Be careful, dad. If you're not nice, I won't keep you alive long enough to know what my rule will consist of." Arthur then flew backwards, slamming into the fireplace.
"Arthur!" Molly ran to him. He groaned as he struggled to stand, Molly right beside him. They both looked at the man who once was their son. Their Ronald. He was that man no more.
Molly screamed as the windows in their living room shattered, sending glass raining down around the two Weasleys. More black-clad figures appeared in their home, and they both knew their deaths were inevitable. Molly only hoped Sterling had gotten to the Ministry all right.
-----
Ginny hurried to the door of Grimmauld place, the knocking persistent and urgent. She threw open the door and Dumbledore entered the house, closing it behind him.
"Ginny, there's been an incident." He said, panic in his eyes. "The King of Darkness attacked your parents. He was after Sterling." Ginny's hand flew to her mouth.
"Are they all right?" She asked urgently.
"We've not been able to reach Molly or Arthur, but Sterling is at the Ministry of Magic. It seems he was sent there mere seconds before the King of Darkness entered their living room. He's hysterical, but I do not want to have Vilandra go and get him." He paused, then sighed. "She knows." Ginny's eyes widened.
"She knows? She knows about…" Ginny trailed off, and Dumbledore nodded gravely. "How?"
"It appears he showed up at Hogwarts, and she saw him." Ginny felt tears beginning to brim her eyes, but she forced herself to keep them back. "Sterling is at the Ministry, and someone needs to go and get him. I would like him to reside here, with you and the other members of the Order." Ginny nodded.
"Of course, professor Dumbledore. I shall apparate to the Ministry immediately." Dumbledore inclined his head.
"Thank you. We'll send Tonks and Remus to check on your parents." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I pray for their safety." Ginny nodded, biting her lip to stop from crying. Dumbledore continued into the house and Ginny went outside.
As soon as she was far enough from Grimmauld place, she apparated to the Ministry. The second she got there, she had no trouble finding out where Sterling was. Just as Dumbledore had said, the six-year-old was hysterical.
"I want Lonnie! I want Lonnie! Get me Lonnie!" He was shrieking as he struggled in the arms of the Ministry official holding him. Ginny rushed towards them as other officials attempted to find some candy to cheer the boy up.
"Sterling." She said, rushing to him. He turned his head, tears streaming down his frightened face.
"Aunty Ginny!" He hollered, holding out his arms to her as the Ministry official holding him held the boy around the waist. Ginny grabbed him in her arms and hugged him tightly, rocking him slightly from side to side. "Where's Lonnie? I want Lonnie!" Sterling exclaimed in Ginny's ears. She shushed the six-year-old.
"It's all right. It's all right, Sterling, everything's okay. You don't need Lonnie."
"Yes! I do! I want Lonnie!" And he began to scream hysterically again. Ginny couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness. Any normal child would've been screaming for their mother. It just showed how often Vilandra was there for Sterling when Hermione wasn't. Ginny found it sad that Sterling would rather have Vilandra there than Hermione. But, it didn't matter which one he'd wanted, he wouldn't have been able to have either of them.
Vilandra had enough on her mind without having to worry about Sterling being attacked by the King of Darkness. She knew Vilandra would've wanted to know. She knew that, in some way, Vilandra deserved to know, but Ginny didn't want to burden the fifteen-year-old any more than she already was.
So, holding the hysterical child in her arms tightly, Ginny headed for the door to the Ministry, aware of everyone whispering and pointing at the small child. They all knew who he belonged to, and word had obviously spread of who was after him. Ignoring the stares and whispering, Ginny exited the Ministry, trying to console her nephew as she returned to Grimmauld place with him.
-----
Dumbledore paced relentlessly in his office, waiting for any news from Lupin and Tonks. It had been over an hour, and he'd heard back from Ginny already. They'd had to stun Sterling because of how hysterical he was being.
Dumbledore wanted nothing more than to give the poor six-year-old what he wanted—namely, his sister—but he couldn't. Vilandra had too much on her mind without having to worry about Sterling. Especially since he was safe at the Order headquarters. He didn't want her to worry for nothing. Sterling was safe, and he would remain safe.
There finally came a knock at his door and he stopped pacing, facing it.
"Enter." The door opened and Lupin walked in. Tonks had obviously returned to the Ministry. "Well?" Dumbledore asked, walking up to the professor before him. Lupin sighed and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, professor Dumbledore. It appears there was a fight, and neither Molly nor Arthur were found." Dumbledore stared at Lupin a long while, as if not understanding what he was saying, and then turned his back on him, pacing again.
"Molly and Arthur are gone." He said to himself, ignoring Lupin's presence completely. "He went after Sterling, and he has Harry and Hermione with him right now." He frowned as he continued pacing, Lupin watching him.
"Professor?" He asked. Dumbledore turned to Lupin. "Do you suppose he is trying to ensure his family's safety during the war?" Dumbledore nodded.
"It does appear that way, doesn't it? Mr. Weasley grew up with a big family, so I think it is safe to assume he wishes to keep his family safe. When one grows up with that many siblings, family becomes very important." Lupin nodded.
"So we can assume that as long as any of Ron's family still reside outside of his captivity, he will not wage the war?" Lupin asked. Dumbledore nodded.
"That is what I believe. Whether or not I am correct is a different matter, but it appears that we have no choice but to hope this is the case." Lupin nodded.
"In the meantime, what do you suggest we do about Sterling? When he wakes up, he'll want Vilandra, and you don't want her to know about it." Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes, it will be a problem, but I'm sure Ginny will handle it accordingly." They stood in silence for a few minutes.
"I spoke to Vilandra today." Lupin informed the Headmaster. Dumbledore turned to him.
"How was she?" Lupin sighed.
"I think it's safe to say that Vilandra and Leroux will not be pulling any more pranks." Dumbledore nodded.
"I had the feeling that Ms. Weasley would tell him." Lupin nodded.
"The twins seemed upset about the fact that he knew something they didn't." Dumbledore nodded.
"Well, the four of them are good friends. I'm sure it upsets them, but they will find out in time. She will not leave them in the dark for long."
"How do you think the twins will react to the news?" Lupin asked. Dumbledore sighed heavily.
"Not well, I would imagine. I just hope they don't take it out on Vilandra." Lupin nodded, and as the two men stood in Dumbledore's office, they feared the worst for the relationship between the two Weasley cousins, and the Potter twins.
There came a sudden tapping on his window and he turned to it. A brown barn owl sat outside his window, waiting to be let in. Dumbledore went to the window, opening it for the owl. He retrieved the letter from its leg and began to read it.
"Is it from him?" Lupin asked from the door. Dumbledore nodded.
"It appears we were right in our assumptions. He's informed me that Arthur and Molly Weasley are, in fact, with the King of Darkness." Dumbledore rolled up the parchment.
"Do you think it's safe for him there? According to him, Ron's powers grow stronger every day. He'll be found out soon, and his children will also be parentless, just like Vilandra and Chaim." Lupin couldn't help but pity the Weasley children. Ron was evil, Hermione was taken—then again, if their source died, his children would truly be parentless. Their mother divorced him, and wanted nothing to do with her children. Lupin found himself worried about his children.
"I'm sure he'll be fine. He's a strong-willed man, you know that." Lupin nodded.
"I do. I just hope nothing happens to him." Dumbledore nodded.
"So do I."