I was keen to show you the beginning of the change... hoping you will enjoy it!

How Mum reacted

The Daily Prophet, which had woken that story, lay on the table. It was labelled with the suggestive title: Every recognised witches and wizards of secondary education level kindly requested to attend school at Hogwarts… Was it even possible to go that far?

'Recognised witches and wizards–? It's–?'

'– disgusting!'

I had interrupted my brother without thinking at it. The attention turned to me. I gulped, and then threw a peeved glance at the photo of Umbridge. What a toad with her unbearable triumphant smile!

'But what does this really mean? How would 'witches and wizards' be… recognised?'

'It promises that Muggle-borns will be registered… at least…'

'Proven or alleged Muggle-borns…'

Both my parents had the same facial expression: raised eyebrows, killing glances, clenched teeth. There was something wrong. Something more… That would be coming on strong, but–!

'The Ministry of Magic has fallen?!'

'It's debatable', began Mum, 'but only if you are in an Imperturbable bubble.'

'Then, is it true?'

'You must be extremely cautious with that, Aedhan. I hope that's clear!'

'O.K., Mum.'

'Your mother is right, Son. That's not hot air. Your safety is at stake, but also that of your sisters. You get the picture?'

'Besides, Maureen and Justin Finch-Fletchley are also implicated.'

Keelin stayed frozen. Aedhan became red as Dad and I turned to Mum. She stood up. To my great surprise, she placed herself behind Dad and put her hands on his shoulders. 'Dil, I accept plainly your apologies now.' It would have been possible to hear a fly. Aedhan seemed likely to have unlearnt how to breathe. Dad turned a guilty face towards Mum. They observed each other silently. How long hadn't we three been left aside from one of their soundless conversation?

'We'll have a discussion later, Dil. I'm with you this time. What are you planning to do for Justin?'

'The Ministry won't take long to find their address, if they haven't yet. He… They must move away quickly.' Dad answered while lowering his eyes.

'Then', Mum said without pointing out the word 'they', 'we should add a protection to the Unplottablility.'

Dad hadn't told us much about this. Maybe was that why I believed he had hardly recovered from the preceding war? He never flew with us. He seldom used his wand… To my mind, he was keeping himself away from the magical world. Hence the Unplottablility. Mum always presented this to her customer base as a bond of trust, regarding the superior quality of her owl training: the best in Great-Britain and Ireland. But only my cousin was invited, even then, his parents and he have come with Floo powder. The few, whom we welcomed at Owl-Stud, were Muggles coming for horse-riding.

'What do you offer?' Dad asked after a moment.

'My parents talked about the Fidelius Charm during the War. It consisted in hiding a secret deep inside a magical person who would be the only one able to bare it.'

'What does 'secret' means for you: 'piece of information'?'

'Yes, for example, but 'location' too. It would be a Charm powerful enough to make an entire area totally imperceptible. My brother Lance must have a book of spells about that. Unless Aintìn has left something to me thereupon.'

'But will we– I mean– What are you intending to do? Will Justin and his mother come, concretely?'

'Sheeva… It would be safer to shelter them', Mum began, 'now, the question is: when will receive them?'

'As soon as possible.'

Mum turned to Dad.

'And for you, what does 'possible' mean? Have you any Idea of how you'll get in touch with them to talk about that?'

'I have their address. Certainly, the Muggle post won't be fast enough, but your owls–'

'Dil!' Mum interrupted him by hitting the table with her hands. 'You can't approach this issue through a letter!'

'And are you expecting from me? Can I really come out of nowhere and tell Justin that I'm his father? Whereupon would I undoubtedly say: 'Come along, Son! You're in danger and must trust me!' Were you thinking about that?'

'Well, sure, your trustfulness would be more convincing if write that!'

Dad stood up but Mum didn't back off before him. Keelin growled. It was her first sound since the beginning of the conversation. Even Aedhan was breathing again. He muttered.

'Well, it was sure however 'the discussion' wouldn't come that 'later', would it?'

I threw a glance at him. He did not look once at Mum and Dad, who were turning beet red.

'This is not the time for that, Aedhan!'

'What! He is right! Haven't you had enough of always arguing?'

My parents turned towards me at the same time. To my great relief – and my great surprise – my sister gave me some support.

'Always! Yes! But still now! Why so?'

'Is there nothing more important than you two getting worked up?'

Dad spoke after looking at Mum.

'… Maybe it is important, actually. During a War we must feel – and know – that we can trust each other.'

'It would be easy to say 'it's now or never', but you're right.' Mum added. 'Better late than never. And we have something else to do now… First of all, we must prepare some excuses: no one over there should be suspecting where they are bound for, nor should it seem odd to anyone here that we house strangers. Then we have to convince them to trust us.'

Dad lowered his head: Mum was right. I had maybe some suggestion.

'Dad, could you hire a stable boy?'

'Well– I could offer Justin an apprenticeship training position, but– for Maureen?'

'As things stand, she would surely understand if we were more likely to protect one of them both.'

'What do you mean? There is no question of letting Justin's mother in danger!'

'I haven't said that. What about you? Wasn't it your suggestion that she was able to stand on her own? It's you who called her 'Justin's mother'. And if necessary she'll do her best to protect her son. We could need a Muggle Repelling Charm! Then we should help her finding somewhere else.'

'I'll be already asking too much of them: bursting into their life to get them safe, yes, it's the least I awe them… But separating them– I'm sorry but I can't. Ashley, please–'

'No', snapped Mum for the first time, 'you don't know what this is all about. You don't know in what you're getting involved. Don't you understand what I mean? You are responsible for Justin's gift. So you want to protect him, because you feel guilty that he'll be hunt down because of that. This isn't about duty! It is about need! That's it! That's always been it! From the minute you learned that he was your son you've decided to protect him by hiding what binds you two. You've kept him from being no more than a child born out of wedlock from a Muggle and a Pure-blood, but also from anything else in the magical world! What you need now is to act like a father! What means that you must adapt to the situation for each of your children to be shielded at best. Do you understand? Whatever you should do! Do it! Right now! BE A FATHER, DIL! FOR OUR CHILDREN AS FOR ALL OF YOURS! IF YOU DON'T FIND THE WAY, I WILL!'

Seconds past without any reaction of Dad. His stunned face was turned to Mum's, but what about his mind–?

Then, she was gone – Mum, I mean. Without warning she had left the kitchen. I heard her quick steps reaching the stairs before climbing it. I jumped up suddenly as under Enervate. I hurried to the entrance hall.

Mum had rushed down. I ran to her while she was taking off a long rain coat from the coat rack. She opened the backdoor quickly, and I grabbed randomly a Jacket.

'Mum! Please, wait!'

'Go home, Hatchling!' Mum barely bothered to slow her pace. But she checked that nobody was hanging around before reaching the grove directly in front of us. 'Give your father Aintìns book. It's laid on my desk.'

Thank Morgan! No horseback hike was planned that day! I had no time for rejoicing. Mum was disappearing among the trees. I rushed to our Quidditch field. As always, I felt chilly while walking through the Muggle Repelling Charm. Mum was coming to the middle of the clearing. With her wand, she opened the door of the old stone windmill she had converted in an owlery. I caught up quickly with her.

'Mum! You–! Are you flying away?'

'It won't be long.' Mum answered as she was removing her trusty Nimbus 2000 from the broom closet.

'I want to come with you.'

'No, Sheeva. I need you to help your dad. Please, take care of them. I won't be alone.' She kissed me on the forehead. Long ago hadn't she done such things. But my astonishment was replaced by a feeling of awakening – more familiar to me – as Mum raised her leathery-gloved fist and called: 'Tintreach!'

At lightning speed – like his name – a black bird of prey appeared on Mum's hand. She asked me to carry her broomstick while she locked out the door with her magic wand. The peregrine falcon, whose colour was unusual, looked at me right in the eyes. I felt something like living strength, and a bit of defiance. I answered by holding out the penetrating gaze of his eyes. He had better come for us as soon as anything gets wrong. He was Mum's fastest courier after all, wasn't he? He had better come–! Understood? He lowered the eyes while Mum took her Nimbus 2000 back.

'How long–?'

'In four days' time Tintreach will come back with a message, with me and them if we are lucky.'

'But what are you thinking about? It… You've said it's becoming dangerous outside!'

'Only a mother can convince another. And yes: we are pressed for time. Please, wish me good luck…'

She got on her broom and asked the hawk to take flight. 'Tintreach?' This time I felt her awe-inspiring aura as the bird spread his wings. I was totally voiceless. Tintreach flew in a circle: he was waiting for Mum. She looked at me and said: 'I've got confidence in you, Hatchling.' Then she Disillusioned the broom before pointing her wand toward herself.

'Mum?... May Merlin give you strength and protection.'

She smiled at me… and turned out blurred, until becoming a glass figure with no reflection. The puff of her take-off made my hair dishevelled. And I didn't need to see that Tintreach was disappearing behind the tops of trees, after one last circle, to feel that their presence was fading.

I'm counting on two moths before the next chapter. By then I'm open to any review!