Hey guys, I'm back! Finally I have another update! Sorry, I have been very busy, same old same old, but summer is around the corner so the wait time will decrease when that time comes :)

Anyways, have you guys seen the Malec casting? Or the Malec photo? Because they are perfect :)

Anyways, on with the story!

Magnus POV

How could it be that even the best of moments could be ruined by one small thing?

In truth, this particular moment was not one that seemed of much importance to others. It was just another morning in the Great Hall, Magnus and Alec seated besides each other, the latter of the two part-taking in the table's conversation while the former held his hand, drawing random shapes and words on the back of his hand. Not any big moment at all, but to Magnus, it was just another one of the moments he loved.

He loved seeing the smile on Alec's face, free of worry or sadness. He loved the openness he could have with Alec, how comfortable he was with it all; he could take Alec's hand freely without worry and Alec would be content with it. he loved hearing Alec laugh or simply talk about nothing; Magnus just loved to hear his voice laced with confidence and cheerfulness.

But, of course, the moment was ruined, ruined by one owl and an envelope.

Magnus didn't notice the owl approaching and he barely registers it's passing, dropping the envelope it carried. But he did notice when all the talking stopped.

Looking up at the loss of noise, Magnus found the other members of the table staring at one object. A red envelope lay on the table in front of Alec.

A Howler.

Alec stared at the envelope, speechless, frozen, all previous contentment gone.

"Um, sorry, but what is that?" Simon asked.

"It's a Howler," Izzy informed him.

"You should probably just open it," Jace advised him. "Just get it over with."

"What is it even about?" Clary asked.

"I don't know," Alec murmured.

"It can't be that bad," Izzy added. "I mean, I can't think of anything that you-" she paused, realizing something.

"What? What is it?" Magnus asked her.

"I think I know what it's going to say," she confessed.

"What is it?"

Before she could answer, the envelope exploded and a loud, low voice filled hall, closely resembling a roar.

"ALEXANDER GIDEON LIGHTWOOD. I. AM. ASHAMED. YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE LIGHTWOOD NAME!

"PUT THESE ALLEGATIONS TO REST. TELL ME THAT THOSE PICTURES ARE NOT REAL, THAT THAT IS NOT REALLY YOU, BECAUSE IF IT IS, I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU IN MY HOUSE AGAIN.

"I WILL NOT PUT UP WITH SUCH FILTH.

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS COULD COST YOUR MOTHER AND I? THERE IS MORE TO THE WORLD THAN JUST YOU.

"END THESE RUMORS OR YOU NO LONGER HAVE ANY RIGHT TO CALL YOURSELF A LIGHTWOOD.

"And Izzy, how could you let this go on without my knowledge? I am very disappointed. Knock some sense in your brother, for the better of us all.

"Make sure that none of this is ever associated with our family again."

The enveloped burst into flames and it's ashes sprinkled over the table. The entire hall was silent for a moment, watching Alec, waiting for what he would say or do next. But he remained as silent and frozen as them, his head turned down, staring at the spot where the letter had first landed.

"Is little Alec okay?" a voice feigning concern called from behind. Magnus turned to see Camille and Sebastian walking by, smirking at Alec.

Alec said nothing in response.

"Camille," Sebastian began, turning to Camille, but saying it still loud enough for the whole room to hear. "You didn't tell me the fag's got daddy-issues.

They were getting closer to the table.

Izzy was up in an instant.

"Izzy, don't," Simon told her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You don't want to get in trouble again."

"I can't just stand by while they insult my brother!" She argued. "Come on, Simon."

"Yeah, come on Simon," Camille said. "Her brother needs all the help he can get. It's not like he would do anything for himself."

"It's quite pathetic actually," Sebastian put in, now close to Alec. Magnus's grip tightened around his cup, ready to throw it if Sebastian did anything. "Why do you even stand up for the disgusting fag?" he added, turning to Izzy.

"Get away from him," Magnus growled.

Sebastian laughed. "See what I mean; he can't even stand up for himself."

"Shut up," Alec croaked.

"Oh, so he speaks," Sebastian mocked. "I'm sorry, what was that? You're gonna have to speak up. Or is that too hard for you?"

"Shut up," Alec said, standing up slowly. "I said shut UP!"

And with that final word, he turned and punched Sebastian in the jaw.

Everyone gasped.

"Alec!" the headmaster exclaimed, but Alec either didn't hear or didn't pay attention or just ignored him.

"I am SICK of people telling me what to do, and I'm sick of people telling me who I am and what I'm capable of. YOU don't know me, Sebastian, and don't think for a second that you do. I am done dealing with people like you. You think that you can push me around, that this is all a joke? Well guess who's laughing now. Don't you ever think to mess with me again."

He paused for a moment before adding, "And Sebastian, you may not like the fact that I'm gay, but a hell of a lot more people wouldn't be okay with that fact that you're into incest. So next time you consider someone disgusting, try not to be so hypocritical about it."

Alec only just then seemed to notice that the hall was silent and that everyone was watching him in shock. Magnus himself had their same look of shock at his outburst, but, at the same time, he felt a sense of pride in the fact that Alec had stood up for himself.

Before anyone could say anything to Alec, he ducked his head, said, "Excuse me," and made his way out of the room.

Conversations started to build after a moment of silence. Whispers of friends discussing what happened, recalling their own views on the situation, buzzed around Magnus like flies.

Izzy turned to Magnus. "I'm going to go after him," she said softly.

"Wha-" Magnus began, but she was already gone.

Simon looked back and forth between the exit and the crowd of people, before making the split decision to follow her. Magnus was just about to do the same when the headmaster stood up and called to everyone's attention.

"Can someone escort Sebastian to the Hospital Wing?" he instructed the crowd. "Ah, yes, thank you, Camille." She helped him onto his feet and led him out of the room.

"Now, will someone get Mr. Lightwood to my office; I have to talk to him."

"I'll do it," Magnus automatically replied, even though Izzy had already seen to that.

The headmaster sent him off and Magnus was out without another look back.

He sprinted through the halls, desperate to find Alec. But that was the probable with being in a big school: there were too many twists, turns, hallways, staircases, and simply places a person could be. he could be inside the school or on the grounds; he could be in the library or his dorm, or maybe even on the Quidditch field…

The Quidditch field. Wasn't that where he had finally found Alec back by Christmas? Wasn't that where he went to avoid everyone else?

Magnus immediately changed directions, making his way to the Quidditch field.

"Alec, I know you're in here!" a familiar voice called. Magnus could immediately tell it was Izzy. Of course she knew the place, she knew almost everything about her brother.

Magnus ran towards the direction in which he heard her voice. When he got close, he heard another voice talking with her. Magnus walked silently towards the sounds until he reached a corner. Peaking his head around the corner, he saw Simon with his hands on Izzy's arms, trying to steady her.

"He's not here," Izzy stated. "Where could he be?"

"Hey, it's fine, Izzy," Simon told her. "I'm sure we'll find him. Besides, he'll be just fine on his own. He's probably just in the library or something."

"No, you don't understand, this is where he always goes."

"Maybe he went somewhere else this time."

"But that's not the problem, Si," she explained. "I'm worried about him."

"Why?"

Izzy sighed, "Because of dad. Because of that damn Howler. Alec has always been worried about what dad would think, and the newspaper article was already a shock enough. But he had been able to handle that, since it wasn't as direct, and dad's feelings about the situation were not as plain. I don't know. But this, the way dad yelled at him, practically disowned him… I don't know how Alec's gonna handle it. What if he runs away? What if we can't find him? I just don't know what he'll do."

"Hey, its okay, come here," Simon said, pulling her in for a hug. "He'll be fine. You're brother's strong, he's a fighter; he's not going to do anything too risky." He placed a kiss on her forehead. "He'll be fine."

Magnus silently walked away and out of the stands, hoping the pair didn't notice him.

So Alec wasn't in the bleachers, and Izzy was right, there was no telling what he might be feeling or thinking or doing right now. It only made Magnus all the more urgent to find him.

But where could he be?

And then an idea came to Magnus. The one place Alec might be. Somewhere no one else would think to check, since he had only been there once, and most of the students didn't know of it. It was a small chance that he would be there, but Magnus had to try. it was better than nothing.

And so, Magnus ran out of the bleachers and away from the Quidditch field, to the place he really hoped Alec might be.

Thoughts? Did you like it? I'll try to update quicker :)