Markus POV

"Mum, what's wrong with the tele" I shouted as static persisted on the screen. A flash of lightning illuminated the london sky, distracting me momentarily from my boredom. I counted the seconds, waiting for the inevitable to follow. One... Two... Three... On the fourth count came the explosive rumbling of a thunderclap. Like a knell summoning some otherworldly deluge, the noise seemed to shake the rain right from the pregnant black clouds. I watched as a torrent of water fell across the city like a shroud across a corpse. It was a dreary night for springtime. The kind of night that made you want to do nothing but stay safely in the warm embrace of your hearth and home. My mother finally stepped into the living room with a small black pocketbook in her left hand, using her right to awkwardly clasp her earrings into place. She was going out? In this weather?

"No idea. Might be the storm."

I looked her up and down skeptically. She had on an elegant evening gown with a jeweled necklace that shone like ten thousand raindrops. It seemed unimportant to mention that the static had started before the storm.

"I see you're wearing that thing again. We can't afford a proper house but you're wearing something that costs more than our flat?"

"What a ludicrously spoiled child you are sometimes Markus. Its not enough for you that we live in an eighty million £ penthouse at the the top of the London Shard? Besides this is the only thing your father's family let me keep when he died. That and you."

"Whatever" I shot, smashing the remote angrily against the side of the table when my frantic clicking failed to work. Another bolt of lightning descended in the distance, cutting its way violently through the night. The forecast had called for clear skies... What a joke. There's no profession more useless than a meteorologist. Scorpius used to tell me that any unscheduled weather was a sign that fairies and goblins and wizards were at war with one another. He used to tell me that bolts of magic would collide and cause changes in the weather patterns. I was too old for fantasy any more. It all seemed so ridiculous now that i'd grown up.

"You sure you don't want to come? The Prime Minister will be there tonight, and so will a lot of your dad's old friends. Not to mention your uncle who hasn't seen you in ages."

"Ever since dad died you've turned into a complete whore. You drag yourself to all of these galas, openings and fundraisers. What are you trying to accomplish? Trying to bag yourself one of dads rich pals to make sure we can afford to keep all this?" I smirked suggestively at her. She raised a suspicious eyebrow at the use of the word whore.

"Markus Falco Lucius Maxus don't you dare talk to me like that. Even in jest. I know how hard it's been since your dad passed but that is no excuse for your behavior. You should never speak to me that way."

"Sorry Mom, it was a bad joke. Just look outside for a moment. You seriously asking me if I want to go out in that? The sky's falling."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "we have an armada of private cars. They pick you up at point A... and drop you off at point B. You aren't going to get two drops of water on you."

I sighed at that. "My answer is still no. I've already done all of my ridiculous coursework and everything else that you've asked of me. Now if you don't mind all I really want to do is sit in and watch the tele. Besides their abducting children again. Before the shit flatscreen went out I saw that another two teenagers have gone missing and another three bodies were found washed up by the Thames."

"That's another poor excuse. You're not going to get abducted at a party attended by Great Britain's PM. I'm fairly certain security there will be adequate enough to protect your spoiled self. Service in the building is going to be shut off for maintenance anyway. I made sure of it. You might as well come along." I rolled my eyes. The smile on her face gave it away. She payed the maintenance team to schedule the service update tonight… there was no way i was staying home. I groaned, rolling myself off the sofa.

"Fine. I'll have a car take me when I'm ready. Just go on ahead. I will be dressed in twenty minutes."

"I thought so."

At five minutes to eight our black and gold Rolls Royce stopped in the underground lot. Victor Viteli and Sylvia Sforza, my two guards, opened the door for me before getting into the front. They always spoke in incomprehensible rapid bursts of Italian. I might have understood what they were saying at one point, but the years i'd spent away from Italy had destroyed any possibility of me maintaining my proficiency with the language. I merely stared out the window as we drove out into the storm. It couldn't have been more than half past eight when security and attendants rushed out with umbrellas to escort me inside.

"Sir, your ID and Invitation please."

Victor pulled out a badge and ID. "Private Security for the little lord. He's the Duke's nephew, Marquess Markus Maxus." I hated the title... it made my name even more obscenely annoying. Marquess Markus Maxus, What a stupid alliteration.

"Yes of course. His mother and uncle have already arrived. Welcome your grace. The ballroom is straight through on the right."

The three of us entered the enormous room to find throngs of guests already fully enjoying the delights of the party. It took me all of five seconds to dismiss my guards. I couldn't handle being followed around all night. I might as well sit down and twiddle my thumbs.

"V.V. S.S. go find something interesting to distract you, I'll be fine on my own."

"We will await your summons when you are ready to depart."

I quickly vanished into the crowd, searching for a tray of food or alcohol. Pulling out my iphone i deftly typed a message to my cousin who i knew would be here:

Scorpius Malfoy

~-~-~-(Hey... )

~-~-~-(I'm at the PM's diplomatic ball... SAVE ME.)

(Really?)

(I thought you never come to these things?)

~-~-~-(Well apparently i do now...)

(Where are you?)

(•••)

As I made my way towards a waiter at the far end of the room i crashed dangerously into a blurry figure. I had been so busy waiting for Scorpius response that i had failed to pay attention to who was in front of me.

"Oh, excuse me."

"No no, it was my fault" i offered to the young brunette, leaning down to pick up the ring he'd dropped. He looked to be Scorpius's age. I handed the band back to him, watching as he slipped it flawlessly back onto his finger. That was strange... rings couldn't fall off unless you were playing with them... stranger still was that the thing looked familiar to me. I stared at it for a moment longer but couldn't recall where i'd seen it before. He strategically rearranged his clothes, then looked curiously back at me.

"So, what's your psychosis?"

"Pardon?" it was the strangest question I'd ever been asked.

"Sorry, most of us get the reference. I mean, you don't see too many other kids here." I waited for him to continue explaining, but he merely stood there as though i should understand.

"So?"

"So your parents are either especially important and forced you to come, in which case they've already damaged you beyond repair, or you're the one thats mental and decided you'd rather spend time with this stuffy power hungry lot than stay home and vegetate like a normal child. The question i'm asking, is whether your psychosis is self induced, occupational, intermittent. Are you a masochist, or a sadist? or merely the unfortunate victim of circumstance."

I chuckled at that, thinking about what my mom had done to get me to come to this stupid thing. I understood what he meant now. He was asking who my parents were that they thought it necessary for me to come along. He was clever this one. If not a little weird...

"My Father was Falco Maxus so my mother gets invited out of respect. She wanted me to see one of my uncles."

He whistled at my statement.

"A Maxus huh. I met your cousin Juliano at the Ministry in Rome. He's... A little full of himself for someone his age." I couldn't help but agree completely with that assessment. I liked this kid. He was at least a year my junior but he was funny and unafraid to voice his opinions. "I haven't seen you at Hogwarts, so which school did your mum decide to put you in?" There was one of those strange words again.

"I go to a ridiculous private school here in London. I hate it beyond reason."

His eyes went wide as i finished. "Oh... I didn't realize."

"Didn't realize what?"

"Merlin I forgot, i'm supposed to be helping my dad with some diplomatic niceties. I'll find you afterwards if you don't mind. I'm Albus by the way. Albus Potter. I suppose in our society it'd be Marquess Peverell... But don't ever call me by my title though, i hate it." He extended his hand with a smile. I didn't think i'd mind at all. He seemed to know much more than a child ever should. I was curious to find out what he had meant...

"I'm Markus."

"I figured."

After Albus had left i turned towards the crowd, intent on finding my mother. My eyes finally fell on a different relative.

In a corner at the far end of the room i spied my uncle Marius in conversation with Draco Malfoy. They've explained it to me a hundred times but i can never seem to remember how we're related. Draco's grandfather's cousin married a Maxus... Or something equally uninteresting and irrelevant. It was so difficult to find a name for what we were that in the end i merely took to calling Scorpius, cousin.

I stared at them and concluded that whatever they were discussing, their body language intimated that it was important. What was the point of attending an event like this if not to learn something interesting? I tried to get as close to them as possible, dodging waiters and guests who might have recognized me if given the chance. Time for a little eavesdropping. I approached the nearest table and turned my back to them, pretending to drink and observe the dancers.

"It isn't just here, the abductions are occurring all across Europe. Interpol hasn't even realize the pattern yet."

"And your friend Harry believes this to be the Valois's doing? If so then a muggle agency will hardly be enough to deal with the crisis."

"Last night Harry Potter was just named GB's new MM. He's here tonight, and since i'm sworn to secrecy you should ask him yourself. He is here to brief the muggle Prime Minister on the assassination. Nobody will have time to deal with the children after that."

There was that word again. Muggle. Ive heard my family use it at least a couple dozen times throughout my life. No one would ever tell me what it meant. There were always these words you had to learn not to ask about. There was one that seemed to particularly unnerve my family. With my relatives the word squib could quiet a conversation quicker than bomb sirens. It was a sad reflection on my life that those trigger words seemed more alarming than the words 'abduction' or 'assassination'.

"You are looking well boy. More and more like your father everyday."

"Uncle Marius..." Of course he had to recognize me instantly. I had hoped to hear more about the missing children before being found out. "I should hope not. I look more my mother than I do dad, and a good thing too. I would hate to think I look anything remotely similar to your ugly mug."

It had been two years since I had last seen my uncle. He looked no different than how I remembered him at the funeral. Stern and unyielding. He always wore strange clothes too. It felt like he was an actor in some period piece on life in the seventeenth century. Except that he was always in costume. He smiled at my cheek.

"I can't believe it. Its felt like an age since last i saw your nephew, Max." Draco gave me one of his rare smiles. They all had started calling my father Max when grandfather passed... Then father died and instead of me the nickname had transferred to Marius. It was always-

"You know Scorpius is here too. Im sure he would be happy to see you. I'll return your uncle in a bit. We're just concluding some family business." I rolled my eyes at that... family business indeed.

"Of course. I will leave you both to it. Just thought i should mention a group of strangers has been following me for months now. I've overheard them use the words squib and test subject at least thirty times now. In case that helps with whatever family business you've been discussing." At that, Draco's mouth fell open. Marius merely smirked.

"You've told him?" Draco asked, turning to my uncle in shock. Marius's face went stiff at the question and Draco could tell he shouldn't have spoken.

"No." The one word sent chills down my spine. I had always felt that somehow my entire life had been a lie. That one day i would wake up and know the truth. I knew better than to ask what it was that they hadn't told me.

"Don't worry, I'll have a talk with your mother about this before you leave. You've mentioned this to your security? If not tell them immediately. I don't pay those idiots a fortune to allow these sorts of mistakes."

I rolled my eyes again. I wanted them to tell me what was happening. I didn't need assurances that i'd be ok. I was tired of being just ok. Again... i knew better than to open my mouth.

"Markus?" A familiar voice queried from behind me, interrupting my thoughts. I shifted around to receive the tightest hug anyone had ever given me. I didn't remember Scorpius to be so demonstrative. It was a welcome change to his cold formality.

"Hello cousin."

"Father, Duke Maxus, i hope neither of you will mind if i borrow Markus momentarily."

"Certainly not. We can catch up a little later." At that i went off with Scorpius as he dragged me away. He had changed a lot since last i saw him. We laughed and joked about each other's appearances, tossing a few lines back and forth until finally the smile fell from his lips.

"How've you been then, really?" A heavy sigh escaped me, trying desperately to stay inside.

"School is shit. Friends are a bunch of posh imbeciles. You want to know how i feel? I miss my dad. Everyday i miss him. Its been weird ever since he... Well my mother refuses to discuss what happened and the other branches of the Maxus family are too busy fighting over who knows what to offer me any help. It's all rather depressing... Anyway, whats up with you?" At that moment two outrageously green eyes shone through the mass of guests. They were unmistakable. In that moment i thought i couldn't have had a better idea... how wrong i would turn out to be.

"Well I-"

"-Hold on, i just saw someone i recognize. He's your age, and a genius, i actually think you'd like him." I pulled Scorpius to the other end of the room where id spotted Albus scanning the crowd. "Hey Albus this is my cousin. Scorpius this is Albus." Albus's smile had vanished the moment he laid eyes on Scor. His gaze returned almost immediately to me. A cold distant stare. I instantly regretted my mistake.

"Hey Al... I... didn't know... you were going to be here." Scorpius offered shyly, in broken halting speech. He hesitated a moment before continuing. I'd never seen him like this before. "I heard about your dad's elevation this morning... Congratulations wouldn't be the correct term since the circumstances are rather grim... but i can't think of anyone better to run things..."

Albus's eyes narrowed dangerously without actually shifting back to my cousin. Al actually looked like he was grinding his teeth for every second he had to listen to the blond. They obviously knew each other.

"Markus, im still not done with my duties. Here's my mobile number. If i don't see you later tonight we should do something over the summer."

"Come on Al... you're not even going to look at me?" Scor asked reaching for the boy's arm. The moment he made contact sparks erupted.

Albus drew a beautifully carved piece of wood from his jacket pocket so fast that i couldn't understand what had happened. He held it menacingly tip first at Scorpius's throat as though it were a lethal weapon.

"Are you insane! Put that thing away before you get yourself arrested."

"Release me scum or I'll tell the squib here what he actually is."

"Albus! What's happened to you? You... were never this cruel. There are things even you should know never to mention!"

"I am what you made me. Now let go of me Malfoy."

Scorpius let go after a moment, a look of disgust on his face.

"You're a real bastard."

"Is that all you've got then? Not going to tell me to go kill myself this time?"

"Enough! both of you!" I shot, separating them. "My god. Your ex?" I asked shifting towards Scor. There really was no other logical explanation for their behavior.

"No!" They both spat at the same time. I barely noticed it... but Albus had had to look away to conceal a blush. I continued to stare at Scorpius until he reluctantly started to explain.

"We were friends... best friends... Until I said something incredibly stupid. Something i regret very much."

Albus's head spun back to examine Scor at that. Scorpius Malfoy never admitted fault if he could help it. The green eyed boy looked beyond skeptical at the admission, as though it were a ploy or calculated move.

"Well whatever happened between you two, I've never known Scorpius to forget himself in public. The both of you should still have the decency to remember where you are." They turned towards the onlookers who had stopped to watch, embarrassed for their outburst. "Now, i'd very much like for one of you to tell me what this squib nonsense is all about."

The two of them became very still at the use of the word.

"It was wrong of me to bring it up... i'm sorry. If only for that." Al said before rushing away. I turned to my cousin. Waiting for him to answer.

"I can't tell you. Its... something you should discuss with your uncle."

"Don't give me that bullshit Scorpius. How long have I known you, cousin?"

"I can't tell you! I'm sorry. You're uncle would murder me." I hated this. It was always the same. How could this be possible, that even Albus... a boy i had only just met... seemed to know more about me than i did myself. I wanted to scream. Instead I sighed, put my hands in my pockets and walked away.

"Markus... Markus where are you going? You only just got here. Markus, at least stay and catch up with your uncle. Markus!" I merely ignored him. There was nothing he could tell me short of the truth that would satisfy me. I kept walking... Scorpius knew me well enough to know not to follow.

I walked straight from the ballroom, through anterooms and secret walls towards the back entrance. From there I stepped out into the gardens, taking a stone path out onto the street. I couldn't be bothered to shield myself from the rain. Three minutes and I was completely soaked. I didn't care that the water was as cold as ice or that my shoes were ruined. I enjoyed the chilly drops as they splattered noisily against my clothing and skin. I might have told my guards i was leaving... or spoken to my mother to let her know... but i didn't care enough to... even if I had known what was about to happen... how much my life was about to change I wouldn't have done anything differently. The last thing I remembered before the pain, was a flash of red and a single powerful word...

"Stupefy!"

The sound ran through the air like a shockwave, sending me crashing face first into the pavement. I remember lying there on the ground, fighting to stay conscious as little streams of water ran trickling through my hair and down my face... I watched helplessly as two shadows hovered over me in the gloom, smiling wicked toothy grins that made my heart shiver. As the corners of my vision blurred i noticed the taller figure squatting down to examine me. He tilted my face to the side... as though to scrutinize his prey... it was the last coherent thought i had before the darkness took me.

"What a prize we caught this time. He should do nicely indeed."


Sorry for the late update... i was dealing with a really bad data loss incident... twenty thousand words for my other story got deleted along with some other very important stuff so i've been a little preoccupied. Review and we can get closer to the Valois. Hope everyone had a nice summer.