The flat was completely empty once Benjamin and I were done cleaning. It looked as if it had never been occupied. All the furniture was gone, Benjamin had destroyed it with magic; it was cheap furniture, he saw no reason to keep it. Benjamin didn't have many personal belongings or decorations that needed to be packed. All of his items fit into one suitcase, which was next to him as we stood in the empty living room. He would not be returning to the flat. I joked that it would be nice to have him living at the farm house again; he gave me the dirtiest look he could muster.

"I don't need a lecture on how to react to Carrigan's behavior," Benjamin said as he picked up his suitcase.

"What makes you think that is why I wanted to speak to you?" I questioned somewhat surprised. I should have known that he thought I wanted to defend Carrigan's motivations to him.

"What else is there to discuss?" he snipped. "You don't like how I reacted to her using Dark Magic to bring Gabriel back to life. You know they call that Dark Magic necromancy—"

"Our magic comes from our blood, Benjamin," I replied. "It is our intentions that make it Dark or Light, not the magic itself. That's all I'm going to say on the matter. The rest is between you and Carrigan. What I wanted to speak to you about concerns your mother."

Benjamin stopped what he was doing to look at me with a dark glare. "What about her?"

"Carrigan was confident in her ability to perform the spell—"

"—curse," Benjamin interrupted. "What she performed was a curse of Dark Magic."

I rubbed my forehead sorely then waved at Benjamin. "Will you shut up and let me finish?"

"No," Benjamin yelled ruthlessly. "No, I will not shut up—what she did was wrong. Period. There is good magic and bad magic—"

"She resurrected your mother, who was probably the Death Eater here tonight," I snapped bluntly. I no longer had the patients to speak to him calmly, like I originally intended. Benjamin stepped back as his face turned white. He didn't speak though, which surprised me. I continued because of his silence. "She was able to do it this time because of that. You have to see past the black and white. Carrigan isn't black or white. She simply is. You have to trust that she would never do anything with dark magic for a dark purpose—"

"Stop talking," Benjamin interjected. He held his chest as he leaned against the wall behind him. His voice was shaky when he spoke. I frowned deeply realizing how much it must have hurt to hear that his mother was alive. I suddenly felt awful. How could I have told him so coldly? I could only imagine how he felt. If someone told me my mother had been resurrected, I imagine I would have been stunned into silence as well.

Benjamin sunk to the floor and put his head in his hands, his elbows prospered up on his knees. "She's done it before?" he asked looking up at me. His tone was low and stern.

I bit my bottom lip roughly. "Yes," I whispered. Was it possible that he didn't even care that his mother was resurrected? He cared more about the fact that Carrigan had performed the Sanguis Cordis twice.

"On my mother?"

"She didn't know at the time that it was your mother," I replied. "It didn't occur to her until earlier today."

Benjamin rubbed his forehead and then placed this hand against his mouth. "She's worse off than I thought."

"Benjamin," I snipped. "She's not worse off—she's in control."

Benjamin stood up off the ground and shook his head. "How can you not be worried about this? She came home with a Dark Mark and is performing Dark Magic!"

"She told you about her Dark Mark?"

"I'm not an idiot, Cadence. She wears a tank top when we train together," he said.

"I can't believe you doubt her loyalties!" I shouted.

"I understand why you have so much faith in her," he responded quickly. "You're her mother, that is your job, to always have faith in her. Always. But that's not my job. I love her, Cadence. I love her more than anyone else—but I have to be rational about this. I have to trust my gut."

I nodded my head as I put my hands on my hips. I bit my bottom lip and looked at the ground. "Your gut is wrong." I stood up straight and glared him. "Don't come near us. I don't want you near Carrigan or the house. End of story. Gabriel is going to reassign you as my liaison."

I pivoted on my heel before Benjamin could say a word and marched out of the flat. I couldn't believe what he thought about Carrigan and the fact that he didn't even care that his mother had been resurrected or was the Death Eater who attacked him and Haiden.

The farm house was quiet when I entered it. I slammed the front door shut in my rage and threw my cloak off onto the staircase banister. Gabriel appeared instantly from the back of the house, with his wand drawn.

"Cadence," he said surprised. "What is my daughter's name?"

"Jennifer or Quinn," I replied quickly.

"What's the matter?" he asked as lowered his wand.

"Benjamin thinks Carrigan is a Death Eater," I snapped with such anger that the floorboards shook beneath our feet. Gabriel stepped towards me cautiously.

"Calm down," he whispered.

"Don't you tell me to calm down! Guardians aren't supposed to take sides! He's supposed to be loyal to her no matter what side she is on!"

Gabriel hesitated for a moment. "It's not always that easy, Cadence."

"Yes it is," I hissed. I stood up straight suddenly. "What if he isn't her Guardian?"

"Who else would be? Guardians appear at the age of puberty," Gabriel replied. "When students are coming into their physical powers. No one else could be her Guardian."

"What if you're supposed to be her Guardian, like we first thought?"

Gabriel looked at me for a few moments with raised eyebrows. "Benjamin was brought to her life for a reason. And truthfully, she picked him as her Guardian."

I looked at Gabriel confused. "What? We don't pick our Guardians and Guardians don't pick their students. If it worked that way you'd never have picked me."

"True," Gabriel smirked. I rolled my eyes at his cheek. "But it is true, Cadence. You allowed me to teach you. You could have refused it completely, but you let me teach you a bit."

I snorted. A bit. Gabriel taught me everything I knew. "Fine," I sighed. "Choosing Guardians isn't the point—the point is that Benjamin doesn't believe in Carrigan. How can he be her Guardian and not believe in her? I told him never to come near us again and that you would reassign him. I don't want him to be my liaison anymore."

"Cadence," Gabriel shook his head. "I can't just reassign you because you're angry at your liaison."

"Why are you yelling?" Carrigan asked before I could shoot back at Gabriel. I turned to the stairs where Carrigan was standing in her sweatpants and tank top.

I stared at her surprised. "You don't know?"

Carrigan glared at me for a moment. "You don't need to be snippy."

I frowned deeply. "I'm sorry," I sighed. "Benjamin," I hesitated. "Benjamin, is afraid you're a Death Eater."

Carrigan didn't say anything at first. She stared at me for a few moments as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes were turning red. "Alright," she whispered. I bit my bottom lip. What was the matter with me? Why did I tell her so coldly? I stepped forward and grabbed her hand, pulling her into a hug.

"Baby, I'm sorry," I whispered in her ear. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright," she said as she pulled out of my arms. "Of course he feels that way. He doesn't trust easily."

"He should trust you," I said harshly.

"He wants to trust me," she said confidently. "He's just afraid he can't."

"You're handling this well."

Carrigan didn't say anything just shrugged. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you later."

I stopped her before she got up the stairs. "How is your arm?"

"Fine," she nodded. I frowned at her answer, but she disappeared up the stairs before I could say anything. I pivoted to Gabriel with raised eyebrows.

"Her arm is fine," he nodded. "I checked it just before you got here."

"And her magic?"

"Still intact," he smiled at me.

"How are you feeling?" I touched his cheek with concern. He was acting so normal—completely level headed, as usual—that I forgot only an hour ago he was lying dead on the floor of Benjamin's spare bedroom.

Before Gabriel could answer, there was a knock at the door that surprised me. I turned away from Gabriel as we both pulled out our wands. I held the doorknob in my hand with Gabriel close to me. His hand squeezed my shoulder with reassurance.

"Who is it?"

"Benjamin Snow."

"I told you not to come back here!" I shouted angrily. I began to pull the door open but Gabriel pressed his hand against it and stopped me from opening it. I sighed heavily.

"I know what you said," Benjamin said. "But I need to talk to Carrigan."

"Not going to happen!"

"Benjamin, the safe house in Dublin—" Gabriel began to speak.

"—burned down," Benjamin responded before Gabriel could finish.

Gabriel reached around me and opened the door.

"Gabriel!" I snapped as he pulled me back and allowed Benjamin into the house. "What are you doing?"

"Letting him in. This is something we need to discuss," Gabriel said as Benjamin dusted the snow off of his shoulders.

"No," Benjamin looked up at Gabriel and me. "No, this is not something we need to discuss. I just need to speak with Carrigan."

"Get out of my house," I snapped as I lunged forward and shoved Benjamin. "I don't want you here. I don't want you anywhere near my daughter."

Benjamin grabbed my arms to hold me back. "Cadence, I need to speak to her."

"Why?" I hissed.

"Yea," Carrigan said from the staircase. "Why do you need to talk to me?" Her voice was chillingly cold. I turned, looking over my shoulder, and stared up at her with sad eyes.

"You need to go," he said quickly as he stepped towards the stairs. I shifted my stances, blocking his path so he couldn't get to her. Benjamin sighed heavily and rolled his eyes.

"Excuse me?" Carrigan descended the stairs all the way with her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"The Ministry is on their way," Benjamin snapped. "I went into the office after Cadence left the flat, someone accused you—they have evidence that you participated in an assassination of a Ministry official in July." He spoke in broken sentences, with incomplete facts. "You've got to go. You have to run."

Carrigan didn't say anything.

"You just accused her of being a Death Eater!" I snapped.

"I'm not taking her to Azkaban-they're coming, Carri, you need to leave."

"What are you talking about? I didn't see a report—" Gabriel said.

"Kingsley warned me," Benjamin said quickly. "He slipped it to me in code. I'm assuming they couldn't let either of us know."

"I'm the head of the department! Who would order an arrest?"

Benjamin didn't say anything to Gabriel, he turned and looked up at Carrigan. He brushed past me and up the last two steps to her. He grabbed her hand and shoved a small key into it.

"It's the last one, no one knows about," he said quickly. "You're the only one who knows where it is."

I had to assume he was referring to a safe house. I frowned deeply. How many could he possibly have? He didn't have infinite resources.

"I'm not running," she replied. "I didn't do anything wrong."

"It doesn't matter what you did or didn't do," Benjamin said. "They're coming—they'll take you to Azkaban—"

"I'm not afraid of that place," she replied calmly.

I bit my bottom lip. I was afraid of that place, especially for her. With everything she had done in order to survive, I was sure that the Dementors would have a field day with her mind. I wasn't sure if she could handle it. The only reason Sirius survived was because he stayed in his dog form for most of his stay.

"Go, Carrigan," I said quickly. "Benjamin, take her to the safe house. Gabriel and I will cover for you. Say that you're returning her to Hogwarts. It will buy you time."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Carrigan, you should go until we sort this out," Gabriel said coolly.

"No," Carrigan shook her head. "I'm not going to let you all ruin your careers hiding me. I didn't do anything. I honestly want to know what sort of evidence they have against me."

"I don't know," Benjamin stated frustrated. "I didn't see the evidence, Kingsley had to send me away. But I don't think it's good. There were seven of them meeting, Carri. They're sending a welcome wagon."

"Well of course they are, they think I'm dangerous."

"You are dangerous," I muttered.

Carrigan punched my shoulder with aggravation. "That may be," she said. "But I don't mean them any harm. I didn't do anything wrong."

"They are not required to show you the evidence against you," Gabriel said. "They can take you simply based on the suspicion that you are a Death Eater. This will not end well, Carrigan. You need to run."

"I'm not going to run away in fear," she hissed.

"You don't have a choice," I whispered. "Just like I didn't. This is a means of survival. Your name will be cleared, but you need to go into hiding while we clear it."

"But what about school? What about my friends?"

"We'll take care of it," I said quickly. I wasn't sure how we would take care of it, but we would. We didn't have a choice. A few months ago she didn't want to return to Hogwarts for fear of being scrutinized. Now, she was going to be publicly scrutinized and had no fear. "Carrigan, I'm telling you as your mother to go with Benjamin."

She stood rigid and shook her head as she looked down at the floor. "No," she muttered. "No, I'll go by myself. I know where the safe house is."

I frowned. I didn't like the idea of her going by herself. Someone needed to make sure she got there safe. She may be able to take care of herself, but she was still a child—my child—I needed to know she was safe.

"Someone needs to go with you," Gabriel said before I could.

"No," Carrigan looked up frankly. "The Ministry is coming up the path now. None of you can come with me. If Benjamin does, they'll know he tipped me off. I can't let any of you put your careers, or lives, at risk."

"You clearly don't understand the point of family," Benjamin said.

"Go," I whispered nodding my head upstairs. "Get your things. We'll tell them you returned to Hogwarts."

"They'll know you helped me," Carrigan insisted.

"We'll deny it," Gabriel responded. "Ben is taking you back to Hogwarts as far as we know. You left ten minutes ago, as soon as Benjamin arrived from the Ministry."

There was a sharp knock on the front door of my home. I stepped up to Carrigan, still below her and Benjamin, and took her hand. "Go," I whispered again. I forced a smile at her. "I love you."

Benjamin took Carrigan's elbow and led her upstairs as another knock ragged on the door. I turned to Gabriel and held up my finger as he reached for the door knob. He nodded his head as he pulled his wand. I listened intently upstairs. When I heard two soft cracks I turned and nodded my head to Gabriel. He squeezed the door handle and pulled open the door.

"Kingsley," Gabriel sounded legitimately surprised. He held his wand straight in front of him, pointing it at one of his best Aurors. "This morning we had a meeting with—"

"Dumbledore," Kingsley replied before Gabriel finished his security question. "They're all with me."

"What brings you and seven of the finest Aurors in the department to my door this late in the evening?"

I approached the door with my hands on my hips. "What's going on?"

"Good evening, Cadence," Kingsley said gravely. "I'm sorry to come here on these terms, but I have an order to arrest Carrigan."

"Arrest?" I snapped viciously. I stepped forward in the doorframe to examine the order Kingsley was holding in front of him. "For what?"

"Suspicion of practicing Dark Magic and being a Death Eater," Kingsley's face was frowned.

"What!?" I practically yelled.

"We need to come in and search the premise."

"No, absolutely not—"

"Cadence," Gabriel whispered as he touched my shoulder. "Of course, Kingsley. Come on in," he stepped back from the door, pulling me back. "But unfortunately, Carrigan left about ten minutes ago to return to school. Benjamin escorted her."

"Benjamin was just at the Ministry," Biggs, a tall and boxy looking Auror behind Kingsley, said.

"We planned to have him escort Carrigan back to school once he was off work this evening," Gabriel said with a straight tone. "They are very close and wished to be alone for her return journey."

"You expect us to believe that Benjamin wasn't tipped off?" Biggs questioned as his booming form squished through the doorframe into the foyer.

"I don't like what you are suggesting, Biggs," Gabriel said to his Auror sharply with a cross look on his chiseled face.

"Cool it, Biggs," Kingsley said. "Colson and Ronald, go upstairs please. Cassidy, Ginger, Scotts, take the back of the house. Biggs and Summer, check the basement. I'll wait here with Gabriel and Cadence."

"No, you can't come into my house like this!" I shouted.

"Cadence," Gabriel whispered as he touched my shoulders. "Yes, they can."

"This is ridiculous! Carrigan didn't do anything wrong! She is the victim!"

"I'm not disagreeing with you, Cadence," Kingsley said calmly. "But, I have my orders."

"From who?" Gabriel asked extending his hand to see the written order that Kingsley had flashed before. Kingsley handed it over without aggravation; he looked sincerely sorry about what he had to do.

Gabriel unfolded the written arrest order and saw that it was signed by the Minister himself. I frowned deeply. So much for Scrimgeour being on our side. Gabriel sighed and folded the order, then returned it to Kingsley.

"He probably didn't have a choice," Gabriel muttered.

"The evidence is pretty overwhelming," Kingsley whispered as he peered down the hall and up the stairwell to make sure none of the other seven could hear him.

"What evidence?"

"Your tattoo artist," Kingsley said quickly.

Gabriel stood up straight in surprise. His dark eyes glazed over with loathing. "What?" his tone was flat, not full of disbelief, but rather of betrayal.

Kingsley stepped forward and grabbed hold on Gabriel's forearm. "I'm telling you this as a friend," he hissed. "And I trust that you will not act rashly with his information."

"He won't," I said quickly as I touched his shoulder. Gabriel looked down at me with surprise. "He won't," I repeated.

"Where did you send her? I can point them in the opposite direction."

My gut wrenched. I wanted to trust Kingsley. He was being a friend by tipping off Benjamin and telling us who was testifying against Carrigan, but we couldn't take the chance. We couldn't trust anyone. Not that we had to lie, we truly didn't know where Benjamin was taking her.

"She's at Hogwarts for all we know," Gabriel spat.

Kingsley rolled his eyes and turned away.

"Kingsley," I called after him as he head for the back of the house. "We honestly don't know. We sent her to Hogwarts."

He bowed his head, but said nothing. I wasn't sure if he was upset with us because he felt we were lying and didn't trust him, or because he had to deal with Carrigan escaping.

Gabriel pulled me close against him in a comforting manner. "At least Crouch isn't around anymore…"

I frowned. "How do we handle Jeremiah?"

"I'm the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Gabriel sighed. "How do you expect me to handle him?"

I nodded my head as I bit my bottom lip. I didn't look up at Gabriel as I spoke next. "I'll handle him."