Chapter Nineteen
Everything Burns

"Mum, I don't like it here," said Hugo for the millionth time. Hermione reached over and ruffled his hair.

"It's just for a little while, until everything dies down a bit." She smiled sadly.

"I'm worried about Rose," he said, surprising her. "She's been acting weird lately."

"What do you mean?"

"She doesn't smile anymore."

/

"Harry! Wait up, would ya?" Avanell called, hurrying down the crowded Ministry corridor to catch up with him before he escaped into his office.

Harry smiled when he saw her. "Yes, Ms. Griffins?"

Avanell had a huge smile on her face as she said, "I heard they found Rose! Is it true?"

"Yes," said Harry slowly.

Avanell's smile fell. "What is it?"

"Hermione and Ron, along with Draco Malfoy, have taken her and Astoria somewhere safe. Not even I know where they are."

"They aren't writing you?" she asked anxiously.

Harry shook his head. "We haven't heard any news for at least two days. Only floo'd Molly to let us know everyone was safe."

Avanell sighed. "I really need to talk to Rose. You say there's no way to get a hold of them?"

"You could try writing a letter, but I don't know if Ron would let her write back."

"Then that's what I'll do. And if Ron Weasley doesn't comply, I'll send him a strongly worded Howler."

/

"I don't see why we have to stay at my place," Scorpius grumbled as he fished the keys to the apartment out of his pocket. Octavius, Sami, and Blaise stood nearby, waiting for him to open the door. "Dad won't like all of you crammed in here. It's not very big…"

"Just open the door, Scor," Sami said with a yawn. "It's been a long three days and I'm uber tired."

Scorpius unlocked the door and gestured them in before him. Once he had closed the door he flicked on the light switch and threw the keys on the hall table.

"Make yourselves at home," he mumbled before heading for the kitchen.

He opened one of the kitchen cupboards to get a cup to drink from, but as he was filling it up with water from the sink, he noticed a note taped to the wall in front of him. Perplexed, he took it down:

::Scorpius,

Your mother and Rose are safe. We've taken them to an unplottable safe house in the English countryside.

Shoot me a patronus.

-Dad

P.S. I hope you're OK (your mother made me write that)::

Scorpius swallowed, his muscles suddenly tensing. His throat tightened as he refrained from punching the first thing in his reach.

He tossed the note in the trash and slammed his fist down on the counter; how had he forgotten? He had been so occupied with Octavius he had completely forgotten the fact that Rose and Astoria had been captured.

"What's going on?" Octavius asked, poking his head around the door.

Scorpius only glared at him, too disgusted with himself to want to even discuss what was 'going on'.

Octavius entered the room and crossed his arms across his torso, leaning against the doorframe.

"Huh?" he said, raising an eyebrow for good measure.

"Where are Sami and Blaise?" Scorpius asked, dodging the question.

"Playing cards. Don't change the subject."

They stared at each other in the darkness of the kitchen, both with their jaws set stubbornly, eyes unblinking, until Octavius threw his head back and laughed, catching Scorpius by surprise.

"You and I are too much alike," he said, still chuckling. "The ole 'Greyback Glare' doesn't work on you. I'd have Sami apologizing for the Earth being round if I used it on her."

Scorpius remained unsmiling.

Octavius gradually composed himself and became serious once more. "Now tell me what's wrong."

"Rose was kidnapped."

"Yeah? And? I told you there was nothing we could do at the moment—"

"She's safe again."

Octavius stared at him, his brow scrunched with question. "Then why are you being so whiney?"

Scorpius eyes hardened. "I didn't even try to do anything. While she was in danger I was in the middle of Africa looking for Godric knows what! She could've been dead, and my mind was so occupied with your Avenger crap, I completely forgot about her being in harm's way. Now you tell me I'm not supposed to feel completely wretched about that!"

If Octavius felt in anyway guilty he didn't show it. "You chose to come with me, Scorpius, because you know it would protect those you love in the long run."

Scorpius finally looked away from him, looking exhausted beyond his years. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Good," said Octavius, his eyes softening ever so slightly. "Glad we've put this behind us because in a couple of days we're going to Australia."

Scorpius's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Australia?"

/

Draco was pacing the large study in the safe house when the unmistakable silver shape of a patronus shot through the open window and a dragon folded its wings to its scaly side.

"Dad," Scorpius's voice sounded from the dragon's mouth.

Draco nodded in greeting, sending his own patronus as he said, "Scorpius. Glad to know you're safe."

His son's patronus nodded impatiently. "How's Rose? And Mum?"

"They're coping," he said bluntly. "They are both a little shaken."

"Where are you? I need to see both of them."

Draco's eyes flashed. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?" his voice snarled.

"I'm not willing to risk either one's safety," Draco said calmly.

"But I owe it to Rose to explain—"

Draco cut him off, "You owe it to Rose to be there for her when she needs you, Scorpius. You have a decision to make and no one but you can make it. It's either Rose or Octavius!"

He could imagine his son's widening eyes, his torn expression. "Dad, I'm doing this for Rose, and for Mum, and for all of you. Don't make me do this."

"I'm sorry, Scorpius, but you have to decide."

"But, Dad—"

"Don't contradict me, Scorpius!" Draco cut in, running a pale hand through his hair angrily. "You have not seen the state Rose and your mother are in! They were kidnapped! Excuse them if they can't just shrug off that experience!"

The young Malfoy's patronus assumed a defensive position at his father's angry words. "I can't help that, Dad. I wish I could've been there, but Xavier needs to be stopped and I'm the only one who stands a chance against him! I wish I wasn't but I am!"

"Scorpius…I'm sorry."

His son's words were choked, surprising him. "I'm so tired, Dad. And I feel so alone." The patronus's head dropped. "I just … I'm sorry, too."

Before Draco could respond, the patronus dragon had fled the study, dispersing into nothing but a faint silver sheen.

Draco stumbled back until his legs hit a seat, and he sat down heavily. His rubbed his itching eyes, wishing the never-ending nightmare to be over.

/

Rose sat by the window, staring glumly out at the summer night, the countryside dotted with the twinkling of fireflies, twilight descending. She sighed, her mind once again thinking about several different things at once: her mother, Avanell, Xavier…and Scorpius.

Rose's thoughts were interrupted in the form of a jet black owl swooping in from the window, a letter in his beak. The owl dropped the letter on her lap and then perched on the windowsill, watching her with his big amber eyes. Rose wasted no time in opening the letter:

::Dear Rose,

I cannot begin to express how happy I am that you are safe. Now that you are home again, I feel less guilty continuing the search for your mother's cure without you. While you were gone, Edgard found it! I was so happy—for the search and for you and for Hermione—and my team and I will be heading out as soon as possible to acquire it. I really would like for you to join us, Rose. You could contribute much to our successes, and I think it would be special for you to find it for your own mother. But, of course, there's the small matter of Ronald Weasley keeping you under lock and key. That is why I have sent him a Howler.

I hope to see you soon, Rose!

-Avanell::

Just as she finished reading the letter, she heard Avanell's voice echoing around the house, undoubtedly from the Howler she sent to Ron.

With a grin on her face, she rushed down to the kitchen where she knew her mother and father had been, to find Ron sitting at the table, white-faced as the Howler chewed him out.

"…KEEPING HER CAGED IN LIKE AN ANIMAL, RON WEASLEY, HOW DARE YOU!" Avanell screamed. "DO YOU REALLY THINK SHE'LL BE SAFER LOCKED UP IN ONE PLACE? SOONER OR LATER SHE'LL BE FOUND! ROSE'S ASSISTANCE TO ME IS ESSENTIAL FOR HERMIONE'S RECOVERY—speaking of which, you look wonderful, Hermione, dear."

Hermione smiled at the velvet read Howler.

"Ronald Weasley, I expect Rose in my office at seven o'clock tomorrow morning," Avanell continued in a dangerously calm voice. "If she is not there, I will personally track you down myself. I know you're scared for her, and I give you my word that I will protect her with my life. She needs this, Hermione needs this, and I will not allow you to keep this from us. Good day."

The Howler exploded in a flash of fire, the pieces drifting to rest on the table.

Hugo appeared in the doorway to the kitchen wide-eyed. "What the heck was that?"

"Dad?" Rose asked timidly. "Can I go?"

"Absolutely not!" he shouted, his face a dangerous red.

"Ron…" Hermione said softly, putting a hand on his arm.

"But, Dad! It's not for me! It's for Mum!"

"He's still out there looking for you, Rosie!" Ron shouted, gesturing around wildly, as if Xavier were present. "Don't you get it? He wants you dead!"

"I'm willing to die for Mum!" Rose cried, the tears in her eyes causing Ron to fall silent. "I'm sick of being afraid!"

"Avanell's right, Ron," Hermione said in a soft voice. "I think Rose will be safer if she's on the move. Staying in one place could be dangerous, even if we're unplottable."

Ron groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why is everything so difficult?"

"Please, Dad?" Rose asked again.

"No! And that's final!"

"But Dad!"

"Ron," Hermione said, her eyes hard, "this isn't about letting her go with Avanell, is it? Or even about her safety."

Ron didn't meet any of their eyes. Hermione's eyes softened as she took his hand. "Ronald Weasley, you have to let her go," she whispered. "She's not a little girl anymore, and sooner or later she's going to leave to be on her own."

"I'd prefer it to be later," he mumbled.

"Oh, Dad," Rose cried, hugging him. "I'll be fine. I'll be surrounded by other witches and wizards, and Avanell will be there—and you know how much of a spitfire she is…and I'm nearly seventeen, so I'll be able to defend myself even…and I'll always be your little girl."

Ron nodded a couple of times, clearing his throat. "Okay then. Get some sleep."

Rose grinned happily, hugged her mother goodnight, and then bounded out of the room.

"You big softie," Hermione said, smiling lovingly at her husband.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Hugo cried, covering his eyes. "I'm still in the room!"

"Son," said Ron, raising an eyebrow, "we're not doing anything."

Hugo uncovered one eye and then sighed with relief. He shrugged. "Just thought I'd do that."

/

"You know, Octo," said Sami, "I'm getting kinda tired of following you all around the world."

"Don't call me Octo," said Octavius as they hiked along a dust covered path in the Australian plains, "and I said you could stay back in London with the Avengers."

"Then who would play cards with Blaise?" she asked, smiling at their newest member.

Octavius rolled his eyes and chose to ignore her. "See anything, Scorpius?" he called up to the young Malfoy, who walked a ways ahead of the rest of them, his blonde hair covered by the hat he wore to keep the sun out of his face. All of them were dressed lightly, trying their best to keep from becoming overheated and dehydrated.

Scorpius scanned the horizon. "It looks like the terrain is on fire," he remarked, gazing at the dust covered plateaus and plains around them. "Hey, Octavius, the next place we're going is Iceland, okay? I'm tired of the heat."

"Stop your griping. Do you see it anywhere?"

"You mean the 'big rock' in the middle of a desert? Nope."

Octavius consulted the map he had stored in his rucksack. "It's supposed to be unplottable, so it could be anywhere."

"Well that is helpful," Blaise commented.

"Do you think the 'big rock' could be a plateau?" Sami asked.

Octavius turned to stare at her, looking shocked.

"What?" she asked, looking self conscious. "Do I have something in my teeth?"

"How could I be so stupid?" he asked no one in particular. "Of course that must be it! Godric, I'm an idiot! Sami, you're smarter than you look."

"Awww, thanks! Hey, wait! What's that supposed to mean?"

Octavius ignored her and spread the map out on the path, kneeling down to inspect it closely. "What's the biggest plateau on here? It's gotta be on that one."

Blaise crouched down next to him while Scorpius remained standing upright, eyes narrowed and scanning the horizon…for what, he didn't know.

"The Drainage Division, maybe?" Octavius was saying. "Western Plateau. It looks like our best bet."

"But it would take days to walk there. Would we apparate?" Blaise asked, looking up from the map.

"That's our best option, though I'm not a big fan of apparating."

"Who is?" Sami asked. Octavius ignored her.

"Ready to go, Scorpius?" When he didn't answer, Octavius looked up to find him not in sight. "Scorpius?"

"Where is he going?" Sami asked, pointing at his distant form. He was running across the plain, his rucksack laid abandoned next to Blaise.

"The heat must be getting to him," Blaise said, shielding his eyes and watching as Scorpius continued running.

"Maybe he's fallen victim to a mirage," Octavius said. "Idiot probably thinks he's seen an oasis—"

"HEY!" Scorpius had stopped and was waving madly at them. "I FOUND SOMETHING!"

"He's delusional," Blaise said with a shake of his head.

"I don't think so…" Sami said slowly, walking forward, hey eyes narrowed. She must've seen what he had seen for she dropped her bag suddenly and took off at a run.

"Hey, where are you going?" Octavius demanded.

"IT'S A BODY!" Scorpius roared, his voice quieted by the distance between them.

"A body?" Blaise repeated. "What's he going on about?"

"HE'S RIGHT!" Sami called back, now next to Scorpius. She dropped to her knees.

"For Merlin's sake," Octavius grumbled, picking up Scorpius's bag while Blaise took Sami's. "Why would there be a body out here in the middle of nowhere?"

When he and Blaise reached Scorpius and Sami, they ate their words. Sami looked up from the sunburnt face of an unconscious girl.

"Octavius…" she said uncertainly, fear written on her face. "Look at her arm."

Octavius reached down and grabbed the unconscious girl's arm. "My God…" he muttered, rubbing a finger tenderly across the scars.

::Scipio Xavier::

"This guy really does like to leave his mark, doesn't he?" Sami remarked. "First Azkaban and now this!"

"I'm surprised she didn't bleed to death," Blaise said, noting the dried blood on her arm. "He must've stopped the blood flow."

Scorpius turned away, feeling the now familiar anger pumping through his veins. "This madman needs to be stopped."

"That's why we're here," Octavius muttered, looking grimfaced into each of their eyes. He turned to look at Blaise. "Wake her up."

Blaise looked startled. "Wake her up?" he repeated. "Look at her, Octavius! She was probably driven mad—!"

"Do it now."

Blaise sighed and pulled his wand out, pointing it at the girl. "Rennervate!"

She woke up screaming and thrashing, and Blaise had to hold her down.

"Calm down," he said in soothing tones. "You are safe now. He will no longer harm you."

"Who are you?" she sobbed, looking around at them all with wide eyes filled with tears, sounding like a lost child.

"We're looking for who did this to you," said Octavius gruffly. "And you are going to help us."

She closed her eyes, clutching Blaise's shirt in fright, shaking her head vigorously. "He'll kill me, he'll kill me."

"Who are you?" Sami asked gently. The young woman looked at her, her large silver eyes shockingly fierce.

"My name is Alora," she whispered, "and they killed everyone."

"Everyone? Who is everyone?" Octavius asked urgently. Hey eyes were slowly losing focus and Blaise gave her a little shake.

She shuddered. "My family…my brothers…"

"Don't be so dramatic!" he shouted in frustration as her eyes began to droop. "Your brothers. Who are your brothers?"

"They live in the shack," she gasped, her hand flying to her side. Blaise took it away to find the opened wound. He swore loudly. Sami acted quickly, pressing her hands over it to stop the new flow of blood.

"This doesn't happen!" Octavius cried helplessly as the color slowly drained from her face. "This is real life! This doesn't happen in real life!"

"Hiding…in the canyon," she rasped. "I'm sorry." Her eyes locked onto Octavius's, noting the frustration.

"I can't stop the bleeding," Sami moaned, blood covering her hands. The girl shuddered again, her hand went limp and her head fell back to Blaise's chest.

Sami wiped the sweat from her face, ignoring the blood that was now streaked across her cheek. Blaise laid the young woman gently on the ground.

"He's taken to harming people with tools other than a wand," Blaise muttered.

"Her brothers are who we are looking for," Octavius growled. "And somehow Xavier is a step ahead of us."

Scorpius finally tore his eyes away from the still body lying out before them.

"Octavius, what are we going to do?"

Octavius looked at each of them: Sami, with her cheek streaked with blood, Scorpius, his young eyes firm, and Blaise, the small frown on his face.

"We're gonna step up our game. No more worrying about the consequences. Forget Wizarding Law. We're practically outcasts anyway. We do what we have to do, no questions asked. Are you with me?"

"For the Vanguard," Sami said, for once without a smile on her face. "The Sentinel. Whatever we're called. And for Alora and her family. And the rest of the Wizarding World."

/

As soon as Rose had walked into Avanell's office five minutes before seven, she had been attacked by Edgard and his aunt. Hugged fiercely and not let go until she turned blue, she appreciated their concern, even if her arms would probably be bruised because of their hugs.

"Edgard, you can let go of me now," she said with a laugh.

"Oh," he said, letting go of her, his face red. "Sorry."

"So," said Avanell, "are you ready to meet the team?"

"Sure," said Rose, "why not?"

Avanell winked as she led her to an adjoining door. "I think you might know a few of them."

Avanell opened the door and stepped in, gesturing Rose to follow her.

Rose blinked as she entered the brightly lit room, waiting for her eyes to adjust before laughing and exclaiming, "Albus? What on Earth?"

Albus shrugged with a laugh, hugging her tight. "You didn't expect Uncle Ron to just let you run off by yourself, did you? Glad to know you're okay, Rosie."

Rose beamed at them all, then noticed the others, some of them vaguely familiar, if familiar at all. All of them were smiling amiably, looking ready for action, or for whatever lay ahead of them.

"I hate to sound cliché," said Avanell, "but…let's do this."

Edgard snorted. "You're so cheesy sometimes…"

Avanell whacked him on the back of the head. "I'm also not afraid to spank a grown man, so shut it."

Wisely, he did as she said.

/

Now that they knew what they were looking for, it wasn't hard to find the shack that was on fire. They expected to find dead bodies, but instead Scorpius and the others found three teenagers blasting the burning cottage with water from their wands, furiously trying to douse the flames, but the fire just steadily grew larger, until it engulfed the entire shack.

Scorpius rushed forward to help them, pulling out his wand as he ran. As he came up alongside one of the boys close to his own age, he aimed his wand near the base of the shack and shouted the proper incantation, "Aguamenti!"

Sami, Octavius, and Blaise joined in, and eventually they doused the fire, leaving the shack a burnt, steaming pile on the ground.

All of them were breathing deeply, their faces sweaty from the heat of the fire. Scorpius wiped his face wearily, before turning to the one who looked like the oldest of the three.

Before a word could be said, Scorpius found a blade in his face, held by the one he was about to address.

"Who are you?" the older boy demanded. "Why are you here?"

"Calm down," Scorpius said, eyeing the sharp end of the blade. "We're here to ask for your help."

"Who are you?" another one repeated, a tall boy with a sword strapped across his back. The third one watched them warily, his wand pointed at Blaise, who was the tallest and most menacing.

"I am Octavius Greyback," Octavius said, stepping forward. The oldest brought his sword away from Scorpius's face and to Octavius's. "I'm here to—"

"Kill us?" he spat nastily.

"No!" Sami squeaked, causing the three strangers to look at her. She blushed but made herself continue. "We found Alora."

At the name, the three boys started and the oldest lowered his sword slightly.

"Alora? What about her?"

"She's dead," said Octavius, his eyes soft.

The blade fell out of his hand. "But it wasn't…you didn't…I swear, if it was you—"

"It wasn't us," said Sami, looking frightened and tired and sad. "It was Scipio Xavier. And we need your help to stop him."

"You're saying he's the one who killed our sister?" one of the younger brother's spoke up. Sami nodded.

"I'm in!" said the one with a sword strapped to his back. "I've been itching for a fight anyway. I'm ready to kick as—"

"Blood, I told you to watch your tongue," the eldest hissed, his eyes still on Octavius.

"C'mon, Fuzz, you always do it," the one called Blood said with a smirk. "Just because you see a pretty blond doesn't mean you have to act all refined."

Sami blushed and ducked out of sight behind Blaise's towering figure.

"Seeing as our place has been destroyed and our family murdered, we'll help you," the one called 'Fuzz' said to Octavius. "These are my brothers, Blood and Crow," he added, nodding at them, "what do we need to do?"

"First off, we need to get back to London. I have a feeling that's where all of this is going down," said Octavius, "and I don't want to miss the fight."

"Neither do I!" Crow spoke up enthusiastically. "I've got my battleaxe!"

They all stared at him.

"What?"

Octavius rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Great. Another Sami."

/

Another Sami indeed. No, not really. Don't know why Octavius said that. He's silly.