Finally done with this one... and my latest research... whew... welp, here it goes...
Serpens watched as one by one, his past friends started leaving, the ones who had nothing more to say to him, at least. Ron had screamed at him for some time, Ginny only told him how disappointed she was, and Hagrid had continued to try and convince him his family was bad, eventually giving up and leaving. What had shocked him most up till now had been the fact that the Weasley twins had told him they were planning on leaving their family.
"We're not planning on becoming Death Eaters,"
"Yet," Fred had joked.
"But we are planning on leaving, figure things out, maybe start our own shop"
Serpens had felt a bit of worry for them, as he knew how difficult that would be on the two brothers. He'd almost protested, but a shake of George's head told him otherwise.
"It's our choice"
"Has nothing to do with you"
Serpens had nodded reluctantly and watched as they flooed back home, their mother following behind after a last embrace. The only ones left were Hermione, Neville, and Remus.
Hermione ran over to him, hugging him like their lives depended on it. Serpens saw his family sneer with disgust out of the corner of his eye and sighed as pulled out of Hermione's embrace slightly.
"I'm sorry, Mione"
"For what?" Hermione asked confused.
"For how my family's treating you"
"It's not your fault, Harry"
"Serpens"
"Oh... right..."
Silence fell between them for a moment, and Hermione broke it with a sad sigh, "Serpens, are you truly planning on supporting them?"
Serpens stared at her for a moment, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, are you truly going to become a Dark wizard? A Death Eater?"
Serpens pursed his lips, thinking about how best to answer her question, finally replying with what Tom had taught him earlier on, "Hermione, is a gun bad?"
"Of course guns are bad. They're used in all kinds of terrible actions. Criminals use them to murder others. But what does that have to do with things?"
"No, Hermione, is a gun, in and of itself, without human use, bad?"
Hermione thought about it, giving in with a "no, I guess not"
Serpens nodded, "its the same with magic. Magic, in and of itself, cannot be classified as evil or good, Dark or Light. That's what Dumbledore wants you to believe, but Tom has been teaching me the truth. Hermione, all 'Dark' curses, as the Order calls them, can be used for good, and have a 'Light' counterpart. Hermione, you can use fairly Light magic for evil. I mean, you could torture someone and kill them by drowning using Aguamenti, or you can kill them immediately with the Avada"
Hermione looked horrified for a bit, but then her expression turned thoughtful. Serpens saw Remus approaching them from the corner of his eye and motioned to Hermione. She hugged him one last time, reassuring him that she still cared, before turning and leaving using the floo.
"I couldn't help but hear your conversation," Remus started.
Serpens sighed and looked him in the eye, "you can't convince me to change my mind"
"I know I can't. I don't condone your actions, but you're resolved to them. Just promise me you won't go too far in them"
"Too far as in kill people..." Serpens stated more than asked.
"Yes," Remus sighed.
"Remus, we're living a war. I can't promise you that. When the time comes, and it will come, people like Dumbledore will be out there fighting to kill, not disarm. I'm not going to let them get me"
Remus sighed, the teenager had a point, even if Remus himself did not want to admit it, "then promise me you won't lose sight of the good person you are"
Serpens had no qualms with this one, "I promise"
Remus nodded and moved to back away, but Serpens caught his arm. He turned back to the boy with a questioning look and Serpens started speaking.
"Remus, this might be only a tiny comfort, but Tom is planning on truly putting an end to werewolves biting wizardkind. If Tom wins, no one will have to suffer like you did"
"Did he tell you to tell me that? Is that your attempt at turning me?"
"No! I just thought it would bring you a semblance of comfort"
"Goodbye, Serpens"
Serpens shoulders fell, "Goodbye, Remus"
Remus left to stand by the floo then, giving space for Neville to finally approach Serpens, who had been wondering why the other boy had come along.
"Hey, Serpens," Neville started nervously.
"Hey, Neville," Serpens replied kindly.
"Serpens, I just wanted to tell you that I'm very sorry about what happened to you. I honestly didn't know that my parents were the horrible people they are. I can't apologize for them, though, and I can't ask you to forgive them. But I'm asking you to forgive me. I don't stand for my parents' actions. I loath what they have done. That's why I've chosen to forsake the Order and the Light side. That doesn't mean I'm going to turn Dark though. I can't, Harry... I mean, Serpens... I can't join You-Know-Who. I can't be as evil as they are, but I also can't stand with the Light side. I'm going neutral"
"Wow," Serpens breathed once Neville was done with his little speech. He had no idea how to respond to that, so he said the most logical thing he could think of, "there's nothing to forgive. How did the others respond?"
"They don't know yet. You're the first person I told. I imagine they'll all be angry, but it's not their choice. They can't control me"
"Neville, you're gonna be in danger"
With true Gryffindor braveness, Neville nodded, "so be it"
Serpens stood there for a moment, unable to respond, and Neville took it as a cue to leave him.
"I'll see you around, Serpens"
Neville made to leave, but stopped on his way to the floo to speak to Bellatrix, who he'd been avoiding like the plague, and vice versa.
"Lady Black, I am truly sorry for what my parents have done to your family. I don't blame you for what you did. I am also truly sorry for my judgment of you all those years, you do not deserve that. I hope you can forgive me"
With that, Neville finally left the house via the floo, Remus following behind him with a last nod to Serpens.
Bellatrix stood shocked for a moment, before snapping out of it and approaching Serpens, who fell into her arms rather desperately. She held him tightly and motioned with her head to the Malfoys to leave, who did so immediately.
"How do you feel, baby? I know some of that must have hurt"
Serpens took a heavy breath before a sob left his lips.
"Oh, baby," Bellatrix coed, brushing his hair as he cried some more. After a couple minutes, he pulled back and wiped his eyes roughly, shaking his head slightly.
"I didn't think the Weasleys would hate me this much"
"Aw, baby, there's a reason we don't get along with the Weasleys. They're even more prejudiced than the Lestranges"
"But..."
"Just forget them, dear. They're not going to go back for you now that you've accepted your position as the Dark Prince"
"Fred and George are leaving the Light side. They're not planning on joining the Dark side, but they're leaving the Light side. Neville too, he's going neutral"
"Oh"
"They're all going to be in danger. The Light side won't appreciate their decision. Fred and George can take care of themselves, they're in their last year anyways. I worry about Neville"
Bellatrix sighed and thought about it for a moment, "we'll make Orion and Draco look out for him. It's an opportunity anyways, to make one more sacred family join our ranks"
"Mum!"
"What?"
"Is all you care about the fact that he could be an addition to your lines?! Don't you care about what happens to him as a person?!"
"Serp, I'm basically Lady Slytherin. I think in opportunities. It's part of the package. Plus, you are my son, not him. I care about what happens to you, not him"
"But..."
Bellatrix sighed, "you'll understand one day. Now, what happened with the others? The Mutt and the giant oaf?"
"Hagrid's given up. He doesn't approve at all. I think he might keep trying to turn me back once I return to Hogwarts, but he won't succeed. I think he'll truly give up eventually and then he'll leave me. Remus said he's with me till the end even if we're on different sides of the war. He's still fighting for the Light, but he's also going to look out for me. There's also Hermione. She's happy I found my family, but she's disgusted by the fact that I'm starting to use the Dark Arts"
Serpens didn't notice the sneer on his mother's face as he spoke of Hermione. Bellatrix could not stand to think that a mudblood had any sort of influence over her son and vowed to get rid of this toxicity from her son's life.
"Serpens, dear, you have to start moving on. Most of them have done so. Don't stick to the past. Now, move along, your father is waiting"
Once Bellatrix and Serpens got home, the Black family had dinner before Serpens was taken to his father's office. He briefed Tom over what had happened in his reunion with his friends from his past life. Tom had also been unimpressed with the Weasleys and Remus, laughing lightly when Serpens mentioned Hagrid. Serpens had wondered if Tom had a private joke or a funny encounter with the half giant that had made him as amused as he was when listening to him speak about him. He'd tried to ask but Tom had brushed it off as a story for another time.
Tom had seemed particularly pleased when Serpens spoke of his discussion with Neville and the twins, immediately getting a calculating look in his eyes. Serpens wondered what Tom's plan for them would be, as he was one hundred percent sure that Tom must have a plan for them.
"What will you be doing with them?" He eventually asked.
"You mentioned Neville was particularly adept at Herbology?" Tom asked.
"Yes. Why?"
"I shall be sending him some invaluable one of a kind scripts on the subject through Orion, as a symbol of forgiveness and a motive to move to our side. You know he doesn't actually have to kill anyone? Not all of my Death Eaters are deployed to battle. Some of them have different uses. Speaking of requirements, you need to start building your court. You're going to need them eventually"
"How can I build a court when I'm stuck in this house all the time?"
"You'll be attending social gatherings as my son soon enough. Trust me, after you start those, you're going to wish you were still stuck here"
Serpens sighed and nodded his head, already dreading it.
"Serpens?"
"yes?"
"How good are the Weasley twins at what they do?"
"They're the best. Why?"
"I shall be sending them the money that was supposed to be for the winner of the Triwizard Championship. It's enough for them to start their own shop as they want"
Welp, that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed it. Just a little question...
Anything you'd like to see happen?
Anyways, reviews welcome... always. Major thanks to all who reviewed before.
