Felix sat down next to Alfred, shell-shocked with a stunned expression which he quickly tried to erase.
"What? What is it?" Claudia asked him sitting next to him.
"Hmm? Oh nothing", he replied giving Alfred's shoulder a cousinly squeeze. "Just remembered we have Care of Magical Creatures exam tomorrow and I've not finished revision yet. Incredible how something as seemingly insignificant as a House-Elf can bring down a Raven", Claudia's eyes bulged out but before she could say another word William scooted over placing the Transfiguration textbook closer to Felix.
"I need help do you have a minute…or sixty?" William gave him a hopeful yet sly smile.
"Sure, sup?" Felix turned his attention over William's notes on his Transfiguration exam.
"This thing there, how can -fors lessons changing humans on anything else, felifors, drakonifors, lapifors….how can it not break the equal weight principle we learned on year one? I mean I learned it then, I've revised why now but….my brain hurts…" Felix had to restraint a sigh at how much the Blake brothers reminded him of Charles sometimes and instead proceeded to explaining William's question.
"…so, this examples clarifies it better, it's not that it doesn't break it, it does without doing so because weight is transferred over, a lapifors bunny transformed from an adult human is going to weigh as much as the human does otherwise upon reversal of the spell that human is going to weigh as much as the bunny did…or the results can be unpleasant otherwise", Felix concluded thirty minutes later.
"ooooohhh, right! Thanks!" He saw Claudia tag at his hand in hers to follow her. She walked them slowly yet with purpose to the empty classroom they used for their research into Azrail's past and the Old Gods' spells.
"You realised something back there, I know you too well", she told him looking into his eyes.
He caressed her cheek lovingly with a sigh. "You do know me too well…indeed I did and I will tell you what and what I have to do for it to work but I've a favour to ask, one I don't want to ask you and one you won't want to do but unless I know that if worse comes to worst you and the Blakes won't suffer a prolonged torment I can't move against Azrail, he's only a mortal without the Shadeglass, I can keep running from him for all perpetuity until he dies of old age…because if I face him and die then….then I need to know you three won't be tortured for days and weeks. So, I've a favour to ask you..", his eyes locked with hers.
He had not even asked her yet and she cried, she knew already what he would ask of her.
Felix told her what he had come to understand when he read Alfred's Care of Magical Creatures' textbook and then what he needed her to do if he was to die at Azrail's hands and she cried more, until no more tears existed to fall down her cheeks.
She looked at him determined, all vestiges of childhood and innocence gone from her eyes.
"And you are sure it has to happen like so? It is a year from now, things may change by then?"
"If they don't? If I fail?"
"You certainly know how to ask a lot…" she sighed deeply tightening her grip on his. "Yes, if there's no other way, if you d-die, I'll do as you ask…damn you for asking and damn me for accepting, but I will."
He touched his forehead and nose to hers. "I'll miss you during the summer" he whispered to her hugging her close.
"Come with me to New York, then we don't have to miss each other…" she tried her luck at changing his mind to remain in Hogwarts during the summer.
"He has placed a spell on me, Azrail has. Professor Horsewood told me, he knows everywhere I am and go to…I come with you and I place all your lives, you, your parents', everyone we come in contact with Muggle and Wizarding folk alike in mortal peril, even if we assume we came under Fidelio's protection it wouldn't help…"
"But…but that means…after year seven ends…when you graduate…"
"Come what may, if not before, after I leave Hogwarts I have an inescapable date with my brother."
"What is the spell? Perhaps we can break it next year. The Ministry can get him, then you don't have to."
He kissed her lips for a few seconds, just a simple loving kiss, his hands on her cheeks caressing them gently. "This is my task, my fight. I just need to know the people I care the most in this world won't suffer if I am to fail it. I no longer want or don't mind dying. I know what I must do and although I'm ready for what is to come and I've accepted my duty, I am not , not going to return to you, come high water or road infernal, I will cross hell and back to be with you, to hold you in my arms and tell you how much I love you, love of my life, I just need you to trust in me. This is your leap of faith to make, I made mine, I asked you to forego friendship. Trust in me, please."
Claudia nodded with resolute eyes. "I do, I just hate anticipation before something inevitable…I am only human."
"Welcome to the club, can't change the inevitable, but we can enjoy the time until then. Be it a day or a year", he placed a kiss on her neck.
"Okay", she rested her head on his neck and shoulder, her soul screeching within.
A week later the exams finished, and Socrates and the other International Exchange Program had to return to their respective schools.
"My friend, this has been a year to remember, when your need arises, call us and we your friends from Hellada will come knocking, kicking and screaming", Socrates gave Felix a hug and a traditional Elysion handshake which Felix reciprocated with enthusiasm. Felix nodded and Socrates touched the portkey Elysion model on the stool.
During the end-of-year celebratory feast Gryffindor was announced as the House cup winners and Hufflepuff as the Quidditch Cup winners.
Headmistress Horsewood stood up standing behind the owl lectern for her traditional end of year speech.
"I haven't much to say this year. Much uncertainty for the future lies before us during this Longest of Nights, some may lose loved ones, some may have to fight for theirs. Congratulations to Gryffindor and Hufflepuff for their success in winning the House and Quidditch cups respectively and much congratulations to all of you for learning something new this year and to everyone who got one or more Outstanding in their exams. With no further wait, let us eat and drink and remember always, after a Long Night, always, always comes dawn", she clasped her hands and plates of food appeared on the tables.
After they had eaten their fill, they boarded the Thestral-ridden carriages to the train station where Hogwarts Express waited to take them back to London, King's Cross and platform nine and three quarters.
Felix took the ride in Claudia's carriage, holding her and chatting with her.
"I'll miss you, and we'll write daily, yes?" She asked him before boarding the train.
"Daily, I love you and I'll see you in two months", he told her kissing her.
Claudia boarded and soon after the train left Hogwarts' train station.
Felix walked the damp carriageway back to the castle, hands in his pockets. Upon reaching the castle he went to the Library to read whatever book he could find that would sway his interest, as he had done for two previous summers now.
The time showed eleven thirty in the evening when a spectral black raven landed on his shoulder causing him a sharp, stabbing pain followed by a feeling of intense dread, as if the life was being drained from him and through the spectral raven and a letter materialized in his hand. The raven squawked and vanished in ash.
Felix took a sharp, shallow breath when he read the handwriting on the envelope, Azrail's handwriting. "To my Brother".
He tore open the envelope with trembling hands, unfolding the letter within.
Tonight you will meet me at the pass below the mountains or I will kill every single person you know, love and care about in that train starting with her. What will it be Brother? Their lives or will you give me the Shadeglass?
Azrail
Pushing on the desk in front of him, the chair clattering on the floor he run out of the library, up the stairs of the Grand Staircase and nearly falling on corridors' corners he reached the Headmistress' office entrance guarded by the stone gargoyle.
He tried to enter it but even with his black pass he could not without the password. He banged on the gargoyle with both hands yelling the Headmistress' name nearly mad with despair and angst.
"Mr. Burton? Something wrong?" Professor Hudson exited her office looking perplexed.
Felix shoved the letter in his hands.
"Go, go to her. Fly, I'll let Professors Jordan and Horsewood know. Go!" Felix didn't even wait for him to finish his sentence taking his eagle form. He flew outside of Hogwarts' protections instantly apparating away and in the Hogwarts' Express just outside Claudia's compartment in the Prefects' carriage.
"Felix!" She yelled standing up. "What are you doing here? I thought…" her voice trailed when she saw his face.
"It is time, go tell the others. The air is still, and the time is nigh. Azrail will destroy the Glenfinnan viaduct when the train passes over it", Felix said in an ashen white face, yet his voice was calm, determined and resolute.
Uriel, Ethel, Emerick and Ariana sitting in the same compartment sat on edge.
"Okay, but come back to me", she tried to hug him, but he held her there for a moment more.
"That is the plan. If I don't make it back, promise me, promise me you won't let Azrail, Sandra or Bloodfang near you or the Blakes…alive", Felix whispered to her holding her close.
She let out a sound between a whimper and a muffled wail, her cheeks losing their vigour. "Yes, I promise you, just come back to me", she kissed him.
Felix left for the front of the train. "Not much time left, we're coming up to the Viaduct", he said as an apparition blink appeared on the valley beneath them.
He reached the last carriage before the steam engine as the person in the valley unleased a bright red jet straight at the Viaduct. "Confrigo!" Felix destroyed the coupling holding the carriages to the steam engine and took aim at the hill to his left. "Arresto Protego!" He cried and a web-like spell anchored itself at the hill on both sides forcing the wagons to come to a sharp and sudden stop.
The red jet impacted the viaduct's arched support columns shattering them in a massive explosion that sent debris flying.
"Boys gather the Prefects and Head boy and girl. Ethel gather years four to seven, they are to help protect the younger years in the last carriage. Ariana you'll gather them there" Claudia and the others sprang to action.
"What will you do?" Emerick asked, worried.
"You lot are the vanguard; I am the last line of defense should the spearhead break and all is lost. Unto me fall the easiest and toughest of tasks", Claudia replied death stricken and left for the rear of the train.
"I don't get it…I should but I don't", Emerick said standing up.
Uriel made to reply but Ariana was faster. "She loves him more than life itself and if he dies and all is lost…she will kill Alfred, William and herself rather than let them fall in Azrail's hands to be tortured into insanity", she said in a grim voice.
Felix saw the locomotive eject high in the air carried by the expanding flames below, in the explosion's light he saw the driver's face accepting the incoming death plunge.
Apparating in he grabbed the driver by his elbow and blinked out back to the last carriage at the edge of the ruined Viaduct.
"Help the others, Professors and Aurors should be here soon", he told the man.
"BROTHER! WHERE ART THOU!" Azrail bellowed in the distance.
"My destiny awaits, it is time", Felix told no one in particular and apparated back inside the Viaduct's base covered in flames casting spell after spell.
A mist originating from the viaduct's ruins spread over the valley and lake to the distance, a mist whisper-bearer covered Azrail's ears.
"Azrail…"
"Aaazraiil…"
Shapes begun to materialize out of the mist's fringes carrying whispers from beyond the Veil.
"Do you know your own deepest desire, Azrail?" Azrail stood alone in the center. "Azy why?"
"Mon fils noooon!"
"You leave my wife alone!" Azrail saw the figures take the shapes of all those he had murdered, one by one in spectral blue colours as darkness covered the stars in the night sky.
One would Azrail Avada Kedavra, ten would appear out from beyond his line of sight.
"Come out brother! The chorus of my mind will not avail you!" Yet the certainty in his voice waned.
"Do you want my life, Azrail? Do you want the Shadeglass?" A fourteen-year-old version of Felix asked him holding the Shadeglass gleaming silver.
"Is it me you want, Azy or the Shadeglass?" A ten-year-old Felix asked him in a hollow voice standing in front of him holding the Shadeglass in one hand extended between them.
"Give it to me!" Azrail cried aiming his wand at the spectral Felix.
"You want it Azrail? Then come and get it!"
"Accio Shadeglass!" Cried Azrail yet nothing happened. "Avada Kedavra!" Felix vanished in silver misty droplets.
"Why do you torture me, Azy?" A six-year-old Felix asked him with teary, crazed eyes.
"Forfeited I have, are you selfless enough to drink from the Book of Leaves?" A seven-year-old Felix asked next drinking from the Shadeglass.
"Do you know your heart's desire, Azrail? Do you dare admit it to yourself?" Felix asked him.
Azrail kept killing them as they appeared to no avail.
"How bad do you want this, Azrail, brother of mine? "The Shadeglass appeared within grasp of Azrail's hands but when he tried to grasp for it, it vanished into thin air leaving behind only water droplets.
Azrail wailed in despair. "Enough of this! ANGELSWORD!" With a booming, defeating sound a myriad green jets erupted from the tip of his scythe-like wand above his head.
Felix terminated the mist multithreaded spell and levitated every debris from the ruined Viaduct in front of him and the train carriages above.
As the killing curses homed in the vanishing mist-figures Azrail felt a weird sort of pleasure emanate from his groin and spread throughout his spine and his brain, succeeded by pain excruciating enough to water his eyes and a feeling of despair so profound and so inexplicably threatening to his very being and existence as he had never felt before, not even when his father tortured him or his mother tried to kill him. Something felt irreversibly broken and unquestionably severed inside him.