Nick was so confused, the better way to describe it, about his feelings. He had Ginny who crushed on him, but now he knew, it was likely fake. And Cho, who he had gone on one date with, and she cried. Cho had been his only real crush, Ginny in a way had been settling, the only option. He didn't envy Harry, he obviously knew better than anyone, what Harry faced. He didn't just mean in war, but in dating and friends, worried people were using him. He had trouble making friends, because of who he was thought to be, but had. He wished Harry had the same freedom, but until the war was over, Harry had to be him. It was funny, it was he who was meant to be the fake, but Harry really was. Harry had someone else live his life for years, and now instead of reclaiming it, he had to live the other kid's life.

Nick had not told anyone, but his vision was returning, more and more. He usually had Titan with him, as he was his dog and not just eyes, but his dog wasn't as needed any more. Nick wasn't certain why, but he found he could see a lot more, when outdoors.

Nick had to ask Fleur one day. "I don't want you to be upset, but I have been seeing a lot more than I admitted."

Fleur wasn't surprised. "I know, as does your brother and Remus, and your teachers."

Nick felt bad. "I didn't want to lie to you, I just didn't want to get hopes up….."

Fleur reached out and squeezed his hand. "I know, and I assure you, we all understand. This has all been such a struggle for you."

Nick nodded. "I was wondering if there was some reason my eyes work better outside. Or I was perhaps using animals, and didn't know it."

Fleur shook her head. "Not at all. You have shown early on, you can tell when using an animal, and when not."

Nick was reminded there had been times he hadn't, but they had become fewer. "Usually when I am upset, I can't tell."

Fleur had spoken to him before about that. "The answer to why outdoors is simple, your element."

Nick never really thought about that before. "I am an Earth elemental. I guess I am more in touch with it outdoors."

Other powers it was easier to use inside and out. There was air everywhere, and in their world fire in most places, and water as well. One could conjure them, but it took less magic, and was more powerful to use items around. Nick when he was outside, had access to the earth, and the plants and life all around him. He could do it inside, he had used a plant to trap his brother one day, claiming it was part of his studies only.

Fleur had watched with pride as his powers had blossomed. She hadn't been sure she was needed, or would be, when her eyesight came back. She wasn't an elemental, and the other two helped more in that field, but she did too. Her veela blood and training, she understood a lot of his powers.

Fleur handed him a plant in the room. "You feel a connection to your powers, and it allows your vision to come through more."

Nick played with the plant, changing the color of the blossoms, as one might pick leaves off. "So is it really my eyes, or just my powers?"

Fleur saw Andromeda in the door and said. "I believe it is just the confidence your powers give you. But we will see."

Nick was confused. "How?"

Andromeda made herself known. "Fleur let me know, that you perhaps were in need of another test."

Nick turned towards his Aunt's voice and saw her for a brief moment. "|I'm glad you're here Aunty Annie, well if you have good news."

Andromeda sat down. "I will try not to be insulted, you're only happy to have me, if I have good news."

Nick smiled a bit at that. "I promise I am happy to see you any time."

Andromeda kissed his head before she performed the test. "It is good to hear but not needed. Even since last time I saw you, there is progress."

The news was definitely welcome. He was reminded a lot, that it was just mental, and not physical. Andromeda thought her brother in law may not agree, Lucius was extremely protective, but dating seemed to be good for Nick. His trust in his new family had done a lot for him, but one could see, that the relationships were helping him as well.

Nick was happy to have his Aunt there with him. Andromeda and Tonks had been like Remus, a comfort from the past, but like the twins they couldn't always be there for him. He understood, they had lives and work, and Tonks was part of the order still.

Viktor had come into the room and Adrian was with him. "I was surprised when you decided not to have a ride this afternoon."

Nick had meant to be riding with them both but he had cancelled. "I wanted to work on something, and I think Aunt Annie is a sign."

Andromeda was confused. "A sign?"

Adrian caught on. "You want to work on your healing powers? You have spoken of it once or twice since Molly."

Nick nodded. "The final battle is coming, and I want to be of use, somehow."

Fleur shook her head. "Nick you aren't the boy who lived. You don't have to be a part of the war anymore."

Adrian agreed with her. "Your eyes will come back, and you will go to school here in France, have your own life."

Nick didn't disagree, but he reminded them there were many people he loved back there. He didn't want to fight, he had never wanted to be a soldier, even before he found out who he was. But he could be help, he was a natural healer, and there would be many injured in the war. He had a power which could help many people, and he wanted to do what he could. He could see becoming a healer when he was done school.

Nick had a mischievous smile on his face when they agreed to at least train him. "Now which one of you is going to be my guinea pig?"

Harry and Draco had been training for weeks with Severus. Detentions covered at first, but they found other ways to meet. Severus watched the two boys together, and saw that despite themselves, they had become friends. Draco had not been sure, he had wanted the extra training, and his Uncle had asked him to help Harry as well. But he still felt odd, and he knew it was his dad's way, of keeping an eye on him. He knew his dad and mum both wanted to get him to come to France, and he was doing everything he could to delay it.

Draco and Harry were up in the room of requirements. Hermione and Luna had joined them, invited by both of the guys for some practice. Neville was meant to have come as well, but he had a project to work with, for a class.

Draco shook his head when the spell he had been trying was not working properly. "I don't see the point of this. I won't be hiding."

Harry looked up from the book. "You have a problem learning defensive spells?"

Hermione knew the two were a bit combustible. "Draco no one expects you to hide."

Draco grumbled under his breath. "Except my parents."

Luna was the one who heard him. "Your parents want their only son to be safe, they can be forgiven for that. My dad is the same with me."

Harry reminded him. "There is no shame of going away to safety. My parents did."

Draco grimaced when he heard that. "We all are fully aware what your parents did. And meant to do."

Hermione tried her best to keep the peace between them. "Harry is not to blame for what Albus did, or his parents either."

Harry could admit he wasn't sure how to feel when it came to his parents. He could understand, them wanting to protect him, not just for the war. But he was aware they had known, about the decoy, and what he was to be used for. They may not have known he wasn't an orphan, but he was an innocent baby, and they had to know the danger he was in. He loved his parents or what he knew of them, and thought them heroes, but he had trouble with those thoughts. He knew though when it came to protecting those you loved, people sometimes made mistakes.

Draco tried to remind himself he needed to work with the kid. But being reminded of the Potters, and why Nick was not raised with him, was hard. Nick should have been raised as his brother, and all his Uncle had suffered, hurt the entire Malfoy and Black families.

Harry sighed when he looked at the kid. "I don't think my parents were right, I hate the choice they made, but I won't hate them."

Draco knew deep down Harry couldn't be blamed for Albus or his parents. "I guess we should get back to work on this."

Hermione knew she couldn't push Draco to apologize, and didn't really think he'd been wrong. "Can we get back to the spell?"

Luna looked to Draco. "It can be used as a security ward, without you in the room, you can transfer it to an item."

Draco turned to look at the girl. "What do you mean?"

Harry explained instead. "One could use it, for instance, to protect a dorm room housing a group of first year students."

They had been warned that the battle may come to the school. The order and the ministry hoped not, and would try and get as many students out of the school possible if it did, but there were risks. There was a chance there would be kids left in the school, and the Hufflepuff dorms would be used, as they were safer. They were underground, down by the kitchens, like the Slytherin dorms which couldn't be used for obvious reasons.

Harry knew they weren't sure if the school was a good place or not. Though Harry was an heir, even if he felt a draw to the castle, so could Voldemort. He knew Nick was not the only heir not coming, none of them had the power to take on Voldemort, it was his powers needed.

Luna surprised him though. "You may not be the only heir here after all."

Harry looked at her in surprise. "What do you mean? Nick's eyes are not recovered, and his teachers will be staying with him."

Draco found his voice. "They are considering allowing him to come. Nick has natural healing abilities, and the other two may come too."

Hermione agreed. "Nick doesn't want to be a warrior, even if his eyes are getting better, but he still wants to make a difference."

Harry had been told about them, but he didn't know the identity of the other heirs. It would remain that way, Nick obviously couldn't come into battle, and the other heirs wouldn't either. But they may return, and help out where they could, from the side lines.

Harry was reminded of when he met Nick. "He did say it was hard not being here to protect you himself, I guess he found a way."

AN: 3 hours of writing, take 60 seconds to review, or I will forget where the update button is.