Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter warning: None

Carpe diem, a battle cry

Aren't we all too young to die?

Ask a reason and no reply

Aren't we all too young to die?

Making a living

Making a killing

What's worth forgiving?

Alright

Marcus inhaled the scent of whisky, musk, and celery. The smells of Fadhbanna were almost as soothing as those related to Quidditch. Marcus practically skipped to his stool in excitement to be back. "The usual, Marcus?" The bartender, Horacio, asked. Marcus nodded. "I was getting worried after you didn't show up Tuesday."

"The wards are too weak around my house," Marcus grunted. "It seemed too dangerous to come out. I finally said screw it."

Horacio sat the glass of brandy down in front of him. "You must really need this then."

Marcus chuckled and nodded. The man next to Marcus spoke, "Ever heard of Benny Williams?"

Marcus glanced at the man. He didn't recognize the mangy man. " 'Course I have."

"He loves Brandy, especially ones who are redheads from Ireland."

Marcus drank the rest of the glass. "What's with the disguise?"

"The stadium was broken into a couple hours after we left. Half the team is dead. Julius and Brutus were the ones who broke in."

Marcus dropped his glass. "Horacio, is the room open?"

Horacio tossed Marcus a key. "How was he let in?" Horacio nodded to the man next to Marcus.

"To reach me, I assume."

Horacio looked at the man in the face. "You cannot be here anymore after today unless you change."

Marcus led the man back to the warded room. "What was that all about?"

"Fadhbanna is Irish for problems. This bar is for those with problems who want to be neutral. Your disguise must be from a neutral because I know if you looked normal you wouldn't have gotten in, Oliver."

"I've been here every day since Tuesday waiting for you," Marcus saw Oliver's appearance began to bubble into his normal one. "I just wondered if—"

"No I haven't seen Julius and Brutus," Marcus snapped. "And I refuse to help you, Wood."

"But why?" Oliver whined. "You don't have to commit to the side."

"I'm not doing it," Marcus said one last time. His voice was low, making Oliver take a step back. "I refuse to join the Order as I do the Death Eaters. I am just a neutral with problems."

"Will you at least think about it?" He asked. "You've always hated Julius and Brutus, and now they've killed our second family."

Marcus sighed. He really did want to help. Puddlemere United didn't judge him when he came on board as a part of the reserves. It was Benny Williams who had first brought him to Fadhbanna and started his love for brandy. Benny was the only one who didn't judge him when he first joined the team. Benny took him under his wing. "What if…" Oliver paused, as if fighting a battle with himself. "What if I could give you information?"

"On what?"

"The Order has put a bounty on Hermione and Neville. It's a hefty sum and recognition. I know you know where they are."

Marcus stared at the man in disbelief. Sitting in front him, Oliver Wood has the power to take him and everything down. "I'm not going to call them," Oliver said. He must've understood how Marcus was thinking. "And I'll give you more information if you just consider helping me."

After silence and contemplation, Marcus replied, "I'll think about. How will I let you know my choice?"

"Come here at your normal time two Tuesdays from now," Oliver ordered.

"Horacio said you weren't welcome here."

Oliver grinned. "You act like I can't fool a man, or a building. I'm wizard, Flint, not a muggle."

Pansy sat on the floor of the shower, letting the droplets of burning water hit her skin. Steam filled the room. Pansy knew that if she didn't get out soon her skin would start to blister. She turned the water off. Grabbing the closest towel and wrapping it around her body, she walked out into her cold room. Goosebumps appeared on her skin.

Trying not to lose the towel, she sat down at her vanity and brushed her hair. "I was starting to wonder if you were trying to drown yourself in there."

Pansy sighed. "What do you want, mother?"

Posy gently sat down on Pansy's bed. "I was just curious to where you disappeared to yesterday. Your father and I were talking and we've found a respectful pure blood family in Denmark with a boy three years older than you. He looks like a gnome, but I'm sure your looks will balance out. The family has agreed to this marriage. We shall leave in two days time for Denmark. Your father has most of the arrangements made. There is nothing left for us here."

It was that moment Pansy missed her brother. Her mother always had focused on Basil, not her. Basil would've convinced his mother this was foolish, even if he'd agree she should marry a gnome. What hit her the most was her mother saying nothing was left for them here in England. Basil was here, his body at least. Her mother would've never arranged a marriage if Basil were alive.

Pansy sat her brush down and looked at the reflection of her mother in the mirror. Pansy looked like her mother; however, Posy's nose was closer to her face, her skin was paler than a Malfoy, her eyes were dark and squinted, constantly looking everywhere, and her hair was in long braid. Pansy couldn't think of time when Posy did not have her hair in a braid. Her father always told her he never liked flowers until he met her mother, and that no bouquet ever matched the beauty of his Posy.

"No," she whispered.

"Excuse me?"

"I said no, mother," Pansy repeated, a little louder this time. "I will not marry some gnome in Denmark."

"I didn't say he was a gnome. I said he looked like one," Posy corrected.

"It doesn't matter. I refuse to take part in this arranged marriage. I don't care if you say it is a part of my womanly duties as a pure blood."

Posy scoffed and stood. "Enough of your foolishness, child. There is no argument for it."

"What if I keep on refusing?"

"Then leave. No one else will ever want you; I hope you know that. This was your one chance to be better."

Pansy faces her mother. "I will prove to you that I am more than just a pretty face."

"You have to be pretty first."

Pansy took a deep breath. "Someday you will cower at what I can accomplish and the men I will attract. It will happen."

Adrian slowly cracked open the door to Terence's room. "Adrian?" He heard Terence call.

He sighed and stepped into the room. Trying to avoid minimal interaction, Adrian quickly grabbed the scroll at the end of Terence's bed. "How are you feeling today, Mr. Higgs?"

"Fine, but Adrian—"

Adrian quickly cut him off. "Excellent. Your recovery seems to be going very well. I'd still give you another week before release discussion begins."

"Adrian, just shut up and listen!" Terence snapped.

Adrian did because Terence never raised his voice. "What's happened? Ever since I came in here no one will tell me about the outside, and even though I know you don't give a shit about me, I need someone to be honest with me. From what I've learned, you're nothing but honest because that's the only action that requires very little emotion."

Adrian could the muscles in his cheek aching to twitch, though he kept them firm. "Harry Potter is in a coma. He who mustn't be named has called a ceasefire and doesn't have any plans at the moment. The Order is on a manhunt."

Adrian could feel his mouth turn down at the sight of Terence's fallen face. "Harry's in a coma. You know who has called for temporary peace and has no plan to end it. Who's the Order hunting down?"

"Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom."

"What? Those are the last two people I'd expect. They're very loyal to the cause. What'd they do?"

Adrian shrugged. He knew, of course, why the Order was looking for them, but it was released in The Daily Prophet the past evening of bounty for them. No crime was listed—just a price and for them to be alive.

"So what are you going to do?" Terence asked him.

"Keep an eye on your abdominal area to make sure no intestines fall out. Then I'm going to check on a different patient who was thrown into a brick wall by an expulso and missing a chunk of their head for said reason," Adrian answered.

Terence rolled his eyes. "I meant your position for the whole war."

"Neutral."

"Even now?"

"I will not be loyal to the Death Eaters or to the Order."

"But—"

"Get some rest, Mr. Higgs," Adrian sighed. "A mediwitch will check on you soon."

Adrian couldn't deal with all of Terence's questions. He could hear Terence calling for him but kept walking faster. Adrian would rather be in the on call room trying to sleep than deal with Terence. He stopped outside of his next patient's door. His chest was heavy and warm. Adrian brushed off the feeling and walked in. He wasn't going to start now with emotions.

Blaise glanced down at the scrap of paper his mother gave him. He looked up at the shop in front of him. He had no idea why his mother recommended that he come to this dingy shop in Knockturn Alley. No one paid mind to him as he slowly entered the shop.

The shop was bare for the most part. A wooden table with two chairs were the only things in there. "Hello? Is anyone here?"

Blaise quietly shut the door behind him. He walked toward the table in the middle of the room. There was no other door besides the one he entered through. "Hello?" He called again.

Only his echo answered him. He watched the people slink by the shop, ignoring the shop as if it wasn't there. He knocked on the window but no one turned around. It wasn't uncommon though for people to ignore each other in Knockturn Alley.

Blaise turned back to the wooden table and two chairs. They were made out of reed, just like his wand. He stuck his hand into his pocket and grasped his wand. It grew warmer as he walked closer to the table.

He sat down and set his wand on the table. No one came to sit in the chair across from him. A slight breeze drifted through the room and opened the door. Blaise grabbed his wand and walked out.

He knew what to do now.

"Come in," Daphne called to who was knocking at her room door. Theo was wandering around with Draco, Pansy was at home, Adrian went to St. Mungo's to work his shift, and Marcus went out to supervise Astoria shopping. She heard from her sister that Granger and Longbottom were staying here too, but she had yet to see them.

Leopold Nott slowly pushed the door open. "I'm glad you came, Mr. Nott," Daphne smiled.

Leopold sat in the chair next to her bed. "Leopold, Daphne. We are family. Mr. Nott is reserved for those I hate and I want respect and authority from and over. I see my son won't let you out of bed."

"How do you know my healer didn't order me to stay put?"

Leopold chuckled. "I was the same way with Calla when she was carrying Theodore. We found out when she was six weeks along. I made her stay in bed for almost a week before our elf told me I was an idiot and she wasn't that fragile. She didn't speak to me for three days."

"Theo talks so fondly of her," Daphne commented. "I wish I could've met her."

"She would've loved you, Daphne," Leopold grinned. "Now why have you called me here? I don't think it was just for pleasant conversation. That just doesn't seem to be your style."

"And why do you say that? Mother always said to have pleasant conversations with those you call family."

Daphne could tell, just like his son, Leopold could see right through her. "I know many women who you will bloom into."

"Tom mentioned that you are convinced you'll be gone by the end of the weekend," Daphne said.

"Tom?" Leopold asked, intrigued by the use of the name.

"He has asked us all to call him that."

"And who do you by 'us all'?"

"If you're going to be like this, then we'll just play a little game," Daphne waited until Leopold nodded in agreeance. "I answered you question about Tom. You answer mine: why are you convinced that you will be gone by the end of the weekend?"

Leopold was impressed with his daughter-in-law. "I'm an old wizard."

"You're only in your seventies. Many wizards live beyond that."

He couldn't fool her. "My health has worsened. I've become susceptible to anything," he answered. "And as much as I love my son and want to live to be a grandfather, I miss my cariad. The healers have concluded that I suffer mainly from...I believe muggles call it a broken heart, and the only reason it has yet to kill me is because Theodore needed me more."

"Now that he is older and even has the roots of his own family, you would feel more at peace with yourself leaving him behind," Daphne concluded.

"Smart girl. Now, answer my question."

"Myself, Theo, my sister, Draco, Marcus, Pansy, Adrian, Blaise, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom. He arrived with Hermione when she came back in an unfavorable state," she explained.

"I've heard whispers of a bounty out for them. Has your father heard of your condition?"

Daphne nodded and sat up more. "He made a visit yesterday. Theo handled it." She didn't care to elaborate any more. Leopold didn't need her to.

"Why did you sell out our secrets for protection?"

Leopold contemplated his answer carefully. "Tom can be unpredictable. He appears and makes himself trustworthy, and he can be a good friend, but if the circumstances arise in his favor, he will toss everyone into harm's way. I have a long history with him and have saved his life many times. I'm his last confidant from the origins since Dolohov died last week. I needed to keep you and Theo and my grandchild safe. I know what Theo is capable of, and I'm sure you aren't far behind.

"If Theo took care of your father how I'm imagining, then Tom knows he has power. I also know that even with child, he would toss you to the side or use you as blackmail if necessary."

"You are one he would do anything for," she concluded once more. "I would say the only one but I'm sure he would do lots for Hermione Granger."

Leopold shrugged. "I remember the day we found her. He was ready to kill her, but he just stared at her in her crib and made arrangements. If her aunt and uncle weren't alive, then I was to take her and raise her as Theo's twin sister."

Leopold coughed. He wiped his mouth after, smearing blood across his face. Daphne stared at the streak until Leopold wiped it away with his handkerchief. He was dying. Leopold slowly stood.

"I think it is time I return home. It has been a pleasure, Daphne. Please look after my son."

Daphne smiled at her father-in-law. "I will look after him for the rest of our days and protect him when he is down and push him forward. It has been an honor to talk with you, Leopold."

Leopold staggered out of the bedroom. Fortunately, his son made a good choice. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Tom was screwed if he ever angered the woman lying in the room he just left. She may have had the weak, proper exterior of a pureblood woman, but Leopold could see the warrior underneath with a snake slithering around her feet.

With the use of Google translate:

fadhbanna (Irish)- problems

Cariad (Welsh)- love