Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

AN:

Hi everyone! I know it's been ages, but let me reassure you that nothing bad happened to me this time, no problem with identity theft or with my arm –it's healing quite nicely!- but I must thank you for your concern! The only reason why I hadn't been writing was because I was studying like mad for my finals, and finally, I'm through with them!! *grins* So at last I had the time to delve once more in my fic, and here's the update that was long coming!

And I must thank you all for your reviews, especially for the long ones, since they're definitely the reason why I was motivated to start writing this chapter the very day I had my last exam! Without them I think I would have procrastinated for a long while before attempting to keep writing the fic. Your reviews truly inspired me! *winks*

Oh, and as you know, I'm forbidden to reply back to individual reviewers in Author's Notes –I used to do that, and it was much simpler, alas, I cannot do it anymore, as per ffnet regulation. So I'm going to clarify some points, addressing them in general to all readers.

It's going to be long, so you can skip it if you want.

1.) In respect to Orion's romantic life, I believe that Orion will always 'love' Voldemort/Tom above all others. I don't want to sound corny, but I think that Orion's fundamental feelings towards Voldemort will never change in essence. What has changed throughout the stories is the way in which Orion admits those feelings and how he acts based on them, and more importantly, how he treats Voldemort due to them.

Time ago, with locket Tom, when Orion was much younger and naive, he was more dramatic and acted more emotionally when it came to his feelings. And he felt everything more deeply and spouted it without second thoughts, like when he claimed that he 'loved' Tom, and how he was affected emotionally by the things that happened to Tom and between them. He was all together 'softer', and it can also be seen in the way that he was affected when he believed that Lezander had died. All in all, he was emotional and didn't do anything to conceal it, and many things threw him off balance, making him feel things deeply. That he was over-emotional can be understood due to his youth, immaturity and also his feeling of being rather lost in everything that happened, since he didn't fully know what was going on and what he was.

Then, he slowly changed as he became older, when things that happened to him made him become hardened. That's why we will never see him again crying and spouting words of love –at least not as emotionally as before-, or running to Lezander to be comforted and that kind of stuff that happened in the Black Heir, when Orion was a young boy. I believe that he's lost that 'innocent' and naively soft part of himself.

Furthermore, at this point, at last, he has determined that even though he loves Voldemort, he also wants Lezander and Draco, for reasons already explained in the fic. But his feelings for Voldemort are reined in due to their failed marriage and all the mistrusts and power plays between them. Due to it, Orion will never be as soft as he was before with Voldemort. He's older, he's wiser, and alas, he's more cynical.

Nevertheless, it's messy and complicated to want 3 people at the same time, and to decide to have them all no matter what, but I think it's realistic given Orion's history with each of them, and also due to external forces –Spirits' manipulations, what happened between Orion and Draco due to the Resurrection Stone, etc..- that have brought him close to them. What remains to be seen is exactly how Orion will manage to be with Lez, Draco and Voldie, in what capacity, and if he will succeed. For now, he only knows that he wants them, and he'll try to have them without giving anything up.

2.) Each reader can have their own theories about the pregnancy thing and what happened when Voldemort obliviated Orion. There are a lot of clues that point to different directions and it will be clarified once Orion discovers it for himself. For now, all the charms casted on him –by Grindelwald, Voldemort and Petra Podroff- indicate that he isn't pregnant, so Orion has put the issue out of his mind. Now he's relieved, and feels that the matter is settled, so he won't keep thinking about it since he has the war to worry about.

3.) Someday, after this fic is over, I would like to edit and change small parts of both fics. There are a lot of stuff I know I could improve, particularly scenes between Dumbledore and Orion –like the pensieve ones- of which I admit I'm not proud of. So perhaps I will take the time to change those parts and improve the fics all together. Anyway, that will be done when this fic is concluded and I would let you know. But, other than that, I don't think I will be writing side-stories. I know some of you would like to read things from Voldemort's point of view, or Lezander's and Draco's, but I don't think I'll spend time on that. If anything, I could perhaps write a short story, a kind of epilogue for the Vindico Atrum, showing what happens years after, if some of you are interested in that. Most probably, I will write another different HP fanfic –much shorter and simpler, this time- or maybe try to write an original story.

NOTE:

This is really looong chapter. I hardly know how it got so long. I tried to make it shorter but everything mentioned was important, everything plays a part later, so I couldn't cut out anything without making the story look chopped off and incongruent, so I hope you are patient.

And I must warn you that Lezander and the Kraljica Mati will come in the next chappie. I had initially planned to include it in this one, but the chapter would have been monstrous if I had kept on going to write those scenes.

But I hope you enjoy it and review nonetheless, even if the scenes you were waiting for didn't happen in this chappie. Pretty please? It really helps me to know what you hate or like!


Chapter 33

Orion was following a stubborn Daisy into Potter Manor's main dining room, with Calypso trailing by his side, her expression still one of deep musings due to what he had told her.

Several hours ago, early in the morning, he had first woken up to find himself entangled in Voldemort's arms, with the wizard's hand atop his flat belly, and his own hand intertwined with the man's. He had been too sleepy and comfortable to do anything but snuggle closer to his source of warmth and fall asleep again.

The next time his eyes drowsily opened, he found the canopied bed empty, Voldemort gone from the bedroom without waking him. It had irritated him to have been left alone so unceremoniously, but he had wasted no time in taking a quick shower, donning on his clothes and wands, and then wander around Malfoy Manor in search of the wizard.

During his exploration, he had found out from a house-elf that Snape was no longer staying at the Manor – which didn't surprise him much. Knowing the Potions Master, the wizard must have left for Spinner's End, since the man valued his privacy and solitude and always stayed as briefly as possible in the company of fellow Death Eaters. Orion knew that, excluding Lucius Malfoy, Snape detested all other Death Eaters, and would take any opportunity to rid himself of their presence under any believable excuse.

Thus, like a hermit preferring solitude to company that would be considered insupportable, there was no doubt that Snape had surreptitiously ensconced himself in his 'home'. Orion remembered the shabby house well since he had occupied it during a short period of time, when Snape had first become his legal guardian. Hence, he knew that it was heavily warded and that the wizard would be safe from Aurors in his hideout, even if it was known to Dumbledore.

While striding along the elegant hallways of Malfoy Manor and curtly nodding to passing Death Eaters which resided there –those who were 'wanted'- Orion had decided that he would pay Snape a short visit before leaving for Zraven Citadel that night. There were still some small matters he needed to discuss with the man.

Once he had found Voldemort in the Manor's master study, and after being forced by the wizard to have something for breakfast, they had engaged in several serious discussions. They had negotiated about issues only the two of them could resolve, since they were the main leaders of the Dark.

It had taken Orion all his powers of persuasion but he had been pleased with the results. Voldemort could be very amenable after a quick shag on the desk, as Orion had found out to his immense pleasure and satisfaction. He had had more reasons to be satisfied when two missives had reached them by owl: one for Voldemort, from McNair, and the other addressed to both of them, from Sebastien Valois.

The first news had been reason for celebration and the second, though not conveying good news, hadn't caused alarm in Orion since he had been expecting something of the sort to happen.

Once their negotiations had concluded and after they had found a solution to a problem in Malfoy Manor's vast library, Orion had left the Manor with a skip in his strides. Though, he had noticed before apparating, that Voldemort's sex-induced 'good mood' had quickly vanished with the reminder that Orion wouldn't be seeing him for four days – the first days of his one month stay at Zraven Citadel.

Nevertheless, Voldemort hadn't said a negative word about it. The wizard had merely stared at him with an emotionless expression on his face, commanding in a sharp hiss that Orion better get from the vampires what they needed for the war. The wizard's threatening 'or else' was implied in the man's tone, but it hadn't fazed Orion one bit.

Thus, about two hours before lunch time, Orion had apparated into Potter Manor after his usual triangulation through the alley of the Leaky Cauldron. He had silently popped straight into his bedroom, to be confronted by a highly angered Sylvana throwing a hissy fit, coiled on top of his bed, her tail rattling.

Shooting her a repentant, sheepish smile, knowing he could no longer procrastinate to make amends with her, he had taken his snake familiar into Potter Manor's vast, beautiful gardens. Indeed, it had taken him a whole hour to get back into her good graces, listening to her hissing angrily about the unfairness and ignominy of having been 'abandoned' for a whole year; banished, alone and forgotten, in Black Manor.

But Orion knew very well how to please his vain, demanding, and self-centered little snake. He had given Sylvana his undivided attention, petting the soft, tender area under her chin, gently scratching the tiny scales between her eyes, soothingly hissing words admiring her beauty, the way the sunlight lit up her silver scales, and then conjuring mice and frogs for her to chase around and haunt through the rose bushes.

After she had magnanimously forgiven him, her once lithe body bulging with the 'snacks' she had gulped down, Sylvana had ordered him to lay down on the grass. And the snake had wasted no time in coiling herself on top of his chest, hissing with pleased satisfaction while she sunbathed, using him as a warm, snuggly cushion.

While she hissed contently, Orion had taken the opportunity to finally contact Hermione through the mind-link he had with her, due to the mind-possession curse he had cast on her.

It was his first attempt, and he had succeeded at once, even if he hadn't quite known what to expect. The ancient, long ago banned and forgotten curse was one he had faintly remembered from the memories of one of his past lives, and he had known little else about it, besides how to cast it and what it did and entailed. Yet going into Hermione's cursed mind had been fairly easy.

He had desired to contact her, and in the next second he had felt as if part of his consciousness had been funneled into a pensieve-like basin brimming with images and memories – Hermione's- while hearing a non-stop voice rattling off her thoughts.

Her mind's inner voice had halted at once, Hermione seemingly instantly feeling an alien presence in her mind, and Orion had immediately felt her tense. Then he had been assaulted by her frantic thoughts, rushing through with rage, anger, impotence, fear and a whole other mesh of emotions, while her voice spat out accusations in the midst of sobs, pleas in the midst of raging fury, as she tried to push his presence away from her mind.

Obviously, Hermione didn't succeed, and it had only taken Orion a few words to make her settle down. He had simply murmured into her mind to calm down, and she had been forced to do so. And while gently inspecting her latest memories, he had soothingly whispered into her mind words of comfort, telling her to simply accept it without fighting, since the more she opposed his presence, the more she would harm herself.

In her mind, he had seen that during the last week, after leaving Hogwarts and going home for her holidays, she had bought by owl books about Occlumency and tried it as a way of fighting the mind curse. Orion knew it was pointless and had told her so, but he didn't doubt that she would forever keep trying to lift from herself a curse that had no counter-spell or any mode of escape from it.

Nevertheless, he had been pleased with what he had found in her mind. She had done as he had ordered her to do: she had moved heaven and earth, sending letters to every wizarding bookstore she could think of, asking if they had a copy of Dumbledore's Treatise. And after a lot of searching and inquiries, she had finally received the booklet by owl, paying for it, from an obscure little wizarding bookshop in Berlin.

Hermione had received it the day before, and had already cast on it the translation spell and was almost through with it – since she couldn't fight his previous order to do so. And Orion had felt the confusion she had regarding Dumbledore's research conclusions: about the crosses between wizarding lines with muggles or muggleborns; how pureblood lines, either dark or light, were magically weakened by muggle blood; and how the man had categorized wizarding kind as a species distinctly separate from muggles.

Indeed, the young witch was appalled by what she had read, her thoughts warring between believing the research papers of a prestigious light wizard she had always admired and looked up to, and wanting to deny Dumbledore's conclusions, since the consequences for her kind were so grave. Hermione was confused, fearful, undecided, yet Orion had still felt her resolute determination of getting to the bottom of things, to know all she could about the issue.

He had also detected her firm thought that, even if Dumbledore's research was correct – and thus what dark wizards had always claimed regarding the importance of blood purity was valid- she still believed that there had to be a solution, that it was no reason for discrimination against muggleborns or muggles. Regarding that, Orion had murmured into her mind that he agreed, and simply left it at that, not wanting to pointlessly debate with her or to cause her more anguish.

Finally, he had finally voiced his next orders: to write to Ronald Weasley, asking to spend the rest of her holidays in the Burrow; to show interest in the warding process in preparation for Bill's wedding; to surreptitiously learn as much as she could about the wards, to attach herself for that purpose to McGonagall and Moody, if she had the chance; to tell them about her desire to become part of the Order as soon as they considered her fit for it; and ultimately, to not only attend Bill's wedding but also to be prepared to covertly pull down some of the wards the moment he commanded her to do so through the curse's link.

Orion had felt his orders sink into her mind, and also how Hermione had instantly rebelled against it, furious, angered and fearful that she was being forced into becoming a traitor. Yet he had felt her slightly crack when she fruitlessly battled against his orders in her mind. He had felt her break into tears and sobs, alone in the middle of her bedroom, but he had also felt her pervading sense of impotence and dejection, since she knew she wouldn't be able to refuse or counteract his commands.

In the end, he had receded from her frantic mind, whispering soothing, calming words, which he knew would have the desired effect on her, and he had gently closed the link.

After that, Orion had left the gardens and stepped into the Manor, settled Sylvana on his bed for her nap, and then had gone looking for Calypso, with much to tell her.

As expected, he had found her ensconced in the master study, continuing her research into muggle religions, modern weaponry and warfare. And without any further ado, before she could pipe in a word or rant about her research subjects, he had informed her that he had finally contacted Hermione through the curse.

Calypso looked very satisfied with that, but he had given her no chance to express it, since he had quickly disclosed to her what had happened the night before with Arian, and what he had discovered from Lily's letter to Sirius.

He hadn't told her about his discoveries regarding Regulus, Kreacher and the implications concerning his soul and past lives. He had never planned to do so, those were still very personal matters to him, but he did require her input concerning his suspicions about how much Bathilda Bagshot could know about him or Arian.

And at that precise moment, after telling her about the old magical historian, he had seen how her forehead had crinkled with a deeply pensive frown, the exact expression which always spread over her face when she was trying hard to remember something. But before she could say anything or before he could ask, Daisy had popped into the study, sternly informing them that lunch was served, with a look that brooked no opposition.

Thus, Orion was at present settling down around the dining table with his house guests. Romulus Rosier warmly greeted him and the wizard laid down the day's issue of the Daily Prophet the moment the first dishes popped in front of them. Calypso, on the other hand, was covertly shooting her father musing glances, a frown still present on her face.

"Earlier today, I transferred control of our Manor's wards to Calypso," said Romulus pleasantly, spearing some vegetables on his plate with his fork. "She'll be able to lockdown the wards as you require." He shot them a warm smile. "And if you need my assistance for either of the Fidelius Charms, I'll be happy to help."

"Oh, thanks," said Orion, returning the wizard's smile, "but we know how to cast it. We looked into it."

After that they fell into an uneasy silence, since Calypso didn't beep a word, still glancing at her father with a strange frown, which Romulus clearly didn't understand and neither did Orion.

With his mind busy with his own thoughts, Orion glanced at the discarded Daily Prophet with a slight feeling of apprehension, while he calmly speared a small juicy potato with his fork, feeling very hungry yet displaying his table manners.

He had seen the article on the front page, written by Elphias Doge, which was a sort of 'obituary' for Dumbledore. Of course, the old coot's childhood friend hadn't revealed anything important, most of it was pure sentimental rubbish, but it made him think about the letter he had sent to Rita Skeeter a while ago.

If he had known then that Bathilda Bagshot knew more than expected, he would have never mentioned her to Skeeter in the letter. Though, he was fairly certain that Skeeter would have found out about the old witch's connection with the Dumbledore family, even without his aid. But he had only wanted Skeeter to find out and write an article about Dumbledore's past relationship with Gellert, to discredit the supposedly dead old man. He certainly didn't want Skeeter to discover anything regarding VA matters.

He dreaded to even imagine how Skeeter would present matters with her veiled viciousness and blatant inaccuracy if she got wind of things. Therefore, this was now a threat to his plans which deeply worried him.

Troubled, Orion covertly glanced at Calypso. Perhaps it troubled her as well, given her persistent frown, though he couldn't quite figure out why she was glancing at her father in a searchingly manner.

As he noiselessly munched down a very tasty and tender morsel of duck a la vinagrette, he dearly wished that their lunch would be over soon. He still had a lot to discuss with Calypso and he couldn't do so in front of her father. And they had much to do before he could leave for Zraven Citadel that night. The Elite would be dropping in during the evening, and he had to go through with the Marking Ceremony that Calypso had planned and had yet to tell him about.

If it was up to him, he would simply go to Zraven Citadel as soon as possible. Though he knew he wouldn't find anyone awake until nightfall; especially since he was dropping in without forewarning – they were still expecting him in a week. And vampires, nocturnal creatures that they were, always slept through the day since they preferred to be active during the night, when they were physically stronger and their minds sharper and more aware.

Feeling increasingly uneasy, Orion's gaze flickered from Calypso to her father, detecting the sudden tension coming from his friend. Romulus was shooting his daughter a puzzled and quizzical glance, while Calypso's face looked as if it had suddenly been lit up by an abrupt realization, her fork dangling midway from her mouth to her plate.

She cleared her throat, settled her fork down on the table, and calmly took a sip from her goblet. Orion was now glancing at her expectantly, knowing that something was up, though he continued eating from his plate as casually as possible.

"Father," said Calypso softly, fondly smiling at the man, though Orion knew that tone of voice well. She was onto something, like a hound after a secreted and hidden bone. "I wonder why Karkaroff once asked you to move to Godric's Hollow."

"I beg your pardon?" said Romulus impassively, staring at his daughter, while Orion did the same, though in quite a different manner. "I don't know what you're referring to, my dear."

"Oh, it was long ago, so perhaps you don't quite remember," said Calypso conversationally, pushing around the beans on her plate with her fork. "It was during the holidays of my second year. As always, we were spending them at Durmstrang and I was in your quarters, reading a book in your private library, actually." Her smile widened, as if she was having fond reminiscences. "And Headmaster Karkaroff came into your study, and… well, I couldn't help but overhear-"

"You were eavesdropping," interjected Romulus blandly, his calm tone of voice belied by his eyes, which seemed to be scrutinizing her.

Calypso let out an amused, soft chuckle. "Oh, father, eavesdropping, indeed! Of course not. Why would I be spying on my own father?"

Orion, though quite puzzled about the whole matter, had to hide a grin behind his goblet as he quickly took a sip from it. From what he knew, Calypso had been poking her nose around anything which piqued her curiosity before she was even able to learn her alphabet.

And her spying activities on her father's businesses had saved their hides and benefited them several times – like when she found out that the Death Eaters were going to break into the Department of Mysteries in search of the prophecy. If Calypso hadn't been spying around her father's office at Durmstrang, they would have never known in time.

"May I ask why you're so suddenly interested in a private conversation between Igor and I, which took place so long ago?" said Romulus, arching an eyebrow at his daughter, his tone of voice chiding. "And it was such a trivial conversation as well."

"Well, you see," said Calypso smoothly, shooting Orion a sympathetic glance. "I suddenly remembered it because just before lunch, Orion was telling me that he wanted to visit his mother's grave at Godric's Hollow." Orion nearly choked on his wine, but she continued quite casually, "And I recalled that Karkaroff had asked you to move us into that wizarding village, and that you refused." She shot her father an understanding glance, as she added softly, "Of course, you didn't want to uproot me from Durmstrang, the only home I had known. But you mentioned to Karkaroff that perhaps Ragnarok would be up to the task-"

"Ragnarok?" interjected Orion before he could restrain himself, his goblet dangling from his hand, staring at her with wide eyes, starting to get an inkling about what was going on. "Draco's childhood tutor? And briefly mine?" His gaze flickered to Romulus. "And an Aux Atrum too, as I well know by now. He was the one who inducted Sebastien Valois into the Aux, after all. But what does he have to do with-"

"I see you 'overheard' many things, daughter," interrupted Romulus curtly, without meeting Orion's puzzled yet demanding gaze, his attention fixed on Calypso. His eyes slightly narrowed as they flickered from Calypso to Orion and back. "Both of you know perfectly well that I cannot discuss any Aux matters with you. Now, I would like to know why you have a sudden interest in… Godric's Hollow."

"Because Orion wants to visit his mother's grave, as I told you," replied Calypso, the lie smoothly rolling from her lips, as she gazed at her father with wide, innocent eyes, a hurt expression in them at being questioned. "And given what I remember from your conversation with Karkaroff, I thought that perhaps he did end up ordering Ragnarok to live in Godric's Hollow."

At her father's persistently narrowed eyes, she quickly waved a hand dismissively. "For whatever reason. We really don't need to know. But if Ragnarok is still living in the village, I'm sure Orion would like to have his address." She instantly shot Orion an inquiring glance. "Right?"

"Of course!" said Orion immediately, warmly smiling at Romulus, lacing his voice with melancholic eagerness. "It would be great to see my old tutor again. Not to dig into any Aux matters, rest assured. But since I'll be visiting my mum's grave, I can take the opportunity to pay Ragnarok a visit as well."

"Exactly," interjected Calypso, glancing beseechingly at her father. "So perhaps you could give us his address?"

Romulus gazed at them stoically, waving a hand to indicate he was through with his lunch, at which a house-elf immediately appeared to vanish the wizard's plates with a snap of his fingers.

"I'm not in the least fooled," said the wizard flatly, but his stern expression mellowed when he gazed at his daughter, and he sighed. He drew his wand out from his robes' pocket, and gave it a flick, a piece of parchment instantly materializing by the side of Orion's plate. "That's Ragnarok's address in Godric's Hollow."

Romulus rose to his feet, and added curtly, "I don't want to know what you two are truly up to." He glanced at his daughter, and said quietly, "But be careful. Don't be seen."

And with that, the man calmly strode away from the dining room, leaving Orion and Calypso to stare at each other with small, conspiratorial smiles on their faces.

Seeing that both of them were through with their lunch, Orion quickly asked for some tea to the house-elf, and then stared at the piece of parchment, as he mused, "Do you really think that Karkaroff ended up sending Ragnarok to live in Godric's Hollow, to watch over Bathilda Bagshot?"

"Yes," replied Calypso exultantly, shooting him a satisfied grin. "I suddenly remembered the conversation between my dad and Karkaroff the moment you told me your suspicions regarding Bagshot. And…"

She leaned forward, and continued excitedly, "Well, according to what Komorov disclosed to you, Karkaroff was the one who sent Aux to spy on Arian when he was with the Flamels. So it must have been around that same time when Karkaroff asked my dad to move to Godric's Hollow, and it must have been to keep a watch on Bagshot – who else of importance is left in that village? No one! And since my dad refused for my sake and proposed Ragnarok instead, then your old tutor must still be there, carrying on that mission in between tutoring jobs, if he hasn't retired by now."

"So you think that the Spirits know all about Bagshot?" interjected Orion, quizzically gazing at her. "About what the old witch must have discovered regarding Vindico matters, me, or Arian?"

"I do," replied Calypso firmly, nodding at him. "Why else would have Karkaroff sent an Aux to Godric's Hollow? And I think Ragnarok must have been making sure, during all this time, that no one gleaned any important information from Bagshot."

She stared at him pointedly, and added with a knowing grin, "So you shouldn't concern yourself about what Skeeter could garner from her. If Bagshot isn't able to protect her secrets, then Ragnarok will surely do it for her. After all, all Aux are very skilled when it comes to mind spells, aren't they? I bet you anything that Ragnarok has casted a mind compulsion web on the old witch's mind, so that she cannot disclose any relevant information about Vindico matters. And if you want to learn about what Arian wants you to discover, then you'll need to persuade Ragnarok to help you out."

Orion hummed in agreement while swiftly pocketing the piece of parchment, and then he shot her a grateful smile. "Thanks. I wouldn't have gotten his address if you didn't have your father wrapped around your little finger."

"Don't let my dad hear you say that," said Calypso with a chuckle, her expression one of smugness, yet also of filial love and fondness.

"I think your father is quite aware of it, poor man," remarked Orion with amusement, as he served himself a drop of milk into his after-lunch tea.

Calypso's lips quirked upwards, while she dropped several sugar cubes into her tea and began to gently stir it with a tiny silver spoon. "So… when are we going to Godric's Hollow?"

"Merlin's knickers, after the attacks of August the first, I would say," replied Orion with a sigh. "I barely have time for anything else during this month."

She shot him a frown while she took a sip from her tea. "Why not before? You still have this week before going to Zraven Cita-"

"Oh, no," interrupted Orion, glancing up at her. "I forgot to tell you. I'm leaving tonight."

"What?" said Calypso, slamming down her tea cup, staring at him incredulously. "We have a lot to do! I was counting on you being here during the week-"

"It's more important for me to see the Kraljica Mati as soon as possible, Scaly," he interjected calmly, bringing his tea cup to his lips as he blew over it. "Besides, you're more than capable to carry on with the Elite and the DA, without me, for a couple of days. I'll be back in time for the next planning meeting with Voldemort and the rest of the allies, before I have to leave again to continue my so-called vampire training."

Orion's expression brightened, and he briefly took a sip from his cup before he gently settled it down on the saucer, shooting her a wide smile. "Oh, and I have several news for you."

She perked up with interest, and Orion's smile warmed fondly as he continued, "I managed to convince Voldemort to appoint Lucius as the Minister of Magic once we take over it."

Calypso's eyebrows shot to her hairline, and then she mused aloud pensively, "Well, if our coup goes well, I certainly see the benefits of appointing Mr. Malfoy as the Minister. He knows his way around the political arena, he was highly respected before he was convicted for being a Death Eater a year ago, and that accusation will hardly matter once the Dark takes over the Ministry, and I'm sure he'll be able to charm and manipulate everyone once more."

She picked up her tea cup, and shot him a smug smile. "Not to mention of course, that a wizard like him must have a lot of blackmail material to pull the strings of any important light wizard that we will allow to remain in the Ministry. And I would say that he's already in your pocket after the Spirits revealed themselves to him, hailing you as the Prophet."

"True, but most importantly of all, he's someone very well known by the whole English wizarding community," said Orion firmly, stressing the matter. "No matter their opinions about him, he's a familiar face and name. Both Voldemort and I agreed that the transition must be as smooth as possible when it comes to the Ministry of Magic. If there are too many abrupt changes in figureheads, light wizards will resist and be fearful about what we want to bring upon them. That's something we want to avoid."

He piercingly stared at her, and added decisively, "The less number of light wizarding families that rebel against the new rule, the better. After all, those who end up opposing us by rallying at Hogwarts will be either ultimately killed during that battle, imprisoned, or be pardoned under severe conditions. And we don't want them to be many, since there must be light wizards left to rule over."

"I see your point," piped in Calypso with a bright smile. "Well thought."

"Thanks," said Orion, widely smirking at her. "And, to make it even better, I persuaded Voldemort to give the position of Personal Assistant to the new Minister of Magic to Artemisa."

"Artemisa?!" hissed out Calypso, forcefully slamming down her tea cup, making the tiny silver tea spoon jump into the air before it clanked back on the table. "She's an over-ambitious little harlot who uses her wiles and sexuality to wrap everyone around her little finger, she's a gold-digger-"

"She has her own galleons," interjected Orion, frowning at her, "she stands to inherit the Almeida fortune, she's the only heiress of her family-"

" – who fancies herself as the next Jezabel Zabini!" snapped Calypso, ending her furious rant, piercing him with stern, narrowed eyes. "It didn't escape anybody's notice how she flirted with you when you came to Durmstrang for your weekend classes during the school year, Orion! And she'll be worse when you tell the Elite that you're no longer married to Voldemort. She'll throw herself at you, hoping to ensnare you-"

"She's a valued member of the Elite," interrupted Orion firmly, gazing at her reproachfully. "I don't understand why your dislike for her has grown to such proportions-"

"She gives dark pureblood witches a bad reputation!" bit out Calypso sharply, jabbing her tea spoon into her cup, forcefully stirring it around, spilling tea all over the mantle. "Mark my words, she'll be trouble for you-"

"Everyone knows my inclinations, Scaly," scoffed Orion with a roll of his eyes.

"It won't matter to her," she snapped, huffing angrily. "She's the kind of witch who thinks she can make the most recalcitrant of men fall madly in love with her – no matter their sexual preferences! When you tell the Elite that you're the Prophet of our legends, when you tell them all about the Vindico matter, be assured that she'll see you as the greatest catch there is! You'll be her sole target."

Orion shrugged his shoulders unconcernedly, and then sniggered under his breath. "Well, she'll be entertaining then, won't she?"

Calypso shot him an irritated dark glare, and Orion arched an eyebrow and pointed out calmly, "I'm not going to demote her from the Elite just because she likes to seduce people to get what she wants. In our circles, that's hardly unusual."

He leveled her with a hard gaze, and added curtly, "Besides, she's smart and powerful, worthy of her position in my Dark Army. And like the others, when she agreed to become my follower and part of the Elite, she asked for compensation. Moreover, she has just graduated from Durmstrang. And being the personal assistant of the next English Minister of Magic is something I can grant her before we take over Spain. Then, if she wants, she'll have a high-level position in her own country's Ministry, just like the rest of the Elite will have in their respective countries once we take over all of Europe."

"She's not British," bit out Calypso harshly, raising her chin up. "She has no business in our Ministry-"

"Her Spanish nationality will not be an issue since I'm not giving her a post of public election, am I?" interrupted Orion with impatient annoyance. "And from the Elite, she's the best choice for that position." He took a sip from his tea, and shot her a smug smirk. "I have no doubt that she'll be able to 'ingratiate' herself with Lucius Malfoy. Indeed, I think he'll become quite fond of her, given that he's quite susceptible to beauty, wit, social skills and 'pedigree' – all of which she has in vast amounts. And I need one of my own people in a strategic position inside the English Ministry. She'll be able to pass valuable inside information to us and also keep a watch on Lucius' doings, and thus, on Voldemort's machinations within the Ministry."

Orion took another calm sip from his tea, and concluded, his tone of voice brooking no opposition, "Really, Scaly, she's perfect for the job."

"Fine," groused out Calypso, forcefully slamming her tea cup on its saucer, once again. "I hope, for your sake, that she doesn't use the position for her own benefit, instead of ours."

Orion waved a hand dismissively, not at all concerned. He knew Artemisa was steadfastly loyal to him and the Elite, because it suited her to be part of his group of close followers. Furthermore, soon she would be marked. And in a few days, when he disclosed the VA matter to the Elite, he would be casting the parsel mind web on them, as he had once done to Remus, Snape his father, and later to Connolly and Greyback. So there was no way she could do any damage by spilling his secrets and no foreseeable reason for her to turn against him.

He gazed back at Calypso, seeing that she was still fuming, now in silence, and decided to quickly change subjects before she decided to rant against his decision some more.

"This morning, when I was with Voldemort, we received news from McNair and Sebastien," said Orion quickly, and he instantly saw Calypso's mutinous frown disappear as she looked at him with interest. He shot her a large grin, and continued placidly, "Voldemort's efforts with the Giants has finally paid off. You know that McNair was part of the latest envoy sent to them, and he informs that the Giants have finally agreed to participate in the war, on our side."

"Fantastic!" gushed out Calypso excitedly, her eyes gleaming. She chuckled under her breath. "Muggles will be feeling some earthquakes soon, won't they?"

"In a few months, hopefully, when the Giants make their way to England," said Orion with amusement. "The Giants will be here in time for the battle of Hogwarts, if everything goes as planned. McNair and some others will take care that the Giants won't be seen by muggles during their journey."

Calypso nodded, a merry expression on her face. "Great! We can certainly use them to win that battle." She pinned him with her gaze, and asked eagerly, "And what news did Valois send?"

"His is not a good one," said Orion, frowning down at his cup while he played with his tea spoon. "He has reason to believe that the large Veela community in France has taken Dumbledore's side-"

"Arian!" snapped Calypso, pounding her hand on the table. "This has to be Arian's doing."

"I think so too," said Orion with a frazzled sigh. "It makes sense that the Veela would take part in wizarding matters when it comes to one of their own gaining power. I don't think they would have allied themselves to Dumbledore if it wasn't for Arian. Arian must have been the one to find their communities to recruit them."

Calypso frowned worriedly, biting her lower lip. "We don't know much about Veela. We don't know what kind of opponents they'll make in a battlefield. Apart from throwing bolts of fire, transforming into bird-like creatures, and their allure, what else could they do?"

"Well, no one really knows what a fully blooded Veela can do. They keep to themselves and I hardly think that the books written about them are fully accurate," said Orion musingly. "But I think that it's bad enough with the things you've mentioned. Specially, the allure ability is the most worrying, in my opinion. They could have all of our fighters in their thrall, while light wizards take them down. Our side would be paralyzed-"

"But at least the Veela won't be our opponents in the attacks we have planned for August the first," interrupted Calypso firmly. "Those are surprise attacks on the Ministries, the Light will not have forewarning. So we only have to worry about Arian bringing the Veela when we attack Hogwarts since the Light will be expecting that move from us." Orion nodded in agreement, and she added with apprehension, her hand on the table balling into a tense fist, "What could be done against the Veela allure, then? Surely Voldemort and you discussed it when you received Valois' news."

"We found a spell in Malfoy Manor's library," replied Orion, shooting her a half-smile intended to be soothing. "It's used by potions masters, so that they are not affected by the fumes of their brews. It basically creates a sort of filter in one's nostrils, allowing only the passage of filtered and clean air. After what I experienced with Arian, I believe that the Veela allure works through their scent, through their victim's sense of smell. So hopefully, with this spell, we will not be affected by their allure - at least not completely."

He pinned her with his gaze, and added shortly, "I already learned it. I'll teach it to you and you'll have to teach it to the Elite and the DA while I'm at Zraven Citadel."

Calypso nodded sharply, her expression still worried but also determined. "I'll research to see if I can find any other spell that could be useful."

She let out a frazzled sigh. Suddenly, her expression cheered up, and she dug her hand into her robes' pockets. In the next second, she was pushing two pieces of parchment towards Orion, as she said brightly, "That's what I have planned for the Marking Ceremony and the other is a list of what you should be practicing on."

Orion quirked an eyebrow, grabbing first the so-called 'list', his eyes scanning her writing. He glanced up at her, and said disbelievingly, "You want me to do all this during this month?! Haven't I told you that-"

"Yes, yes," she snapped impatiently, waving a hand dismissively. "You'll be very busy, planning the battles, popping in to supervise the DA sessions, undergoing the vampire training, studying to take your PRIMEs early, and whatnot, but you can easily fit what I have suggested in your free time."

"What free time?" grumbled Orion darkly under his breath, but he gave the list another cursory glance, and then gazed back at her, his lips thinning. "From your list, I have no problem in keep training how to duel with my two wands at the same time, and wandlessly and with the use of my raw dark magic, like Gellert taught me." He stabbed a fingertip on one line in the parchment. "But I see no point in acquiring another animagus form! I don't even know if that's possible-"

"Of course you can!" snapped Calypso briskly, leveling at him a firm glance. "Our Human Transformation professor told you that you have the ability of having several animagi forms thanks to the metamorphagi trait carried in your Black bloodline. You managed to transform into Blackwing when you were a kid, and then you managed to attain your wyvern form after it was revealed in class that it was your true animagus form. A wyvern! A magical creature, no less, which only extremely powerful wizards have. So it's only logical that you can have other forms if you apply your efforts into it. You should milk your ability as far as it can go."

Orion wearily rubbed his forehead, glancing again at her written suggestions. "A fox?"

"Exactly," piped in Calypso, looking quite smug with herself. "Your two forms can fly, so your third should be an earth-bound animal. Fast, inconspicuous, small and lithe, yet not weak or vulnerable so that it isn't easily captured or killed." She waved a hand, and added shortly, "You can use it to get into small places, spy, or anything like that. I first thought about a rat… but, well-"

"Definitely not a rat," bit out Orion sharply.

Calypso shot him wry smile. "Yes, that's what I thought. So I propose you learn to turn into a fox."

"I'll think about it," muttered Orion noncommittally, grimacing at the thought of having yet one more thing to do.

Seeing the way in which Calypso was grinning at him, blatantly showing that she had no doubt that he would end up doing exactly what she wanted him to do, he shot her a glare before he briskly grabbed the other parchment and read the indications she had for the Marking Ceremony.

His eyebrows rose at all the details she had put into it: ranging from in which room it would be held and the decorations, to what should be said and what he should wear and have on him – all of it full of meaningful representations of his status and other significant yet subtle power displays which would be understood by any dark wizard.

He would have definitely never been able to plan something quite like it. Calypso's deep understanding of her own kind was visible in every single detail, and also her determination that the Marking Ceremony would be always remembered by the Elite, irrevocably binding their loyalty to him.

Abruptly, his expression darkened when he read the list of the names of the Elite, in the order in which they should be marked, by descending rank of magical power, abilities, and importance in their group.

Orion snapped his head up, piercing her with narrowed eyes, and said sharply, "Titania is the first. You're not on this list."

"I'm not," said Calypso, raising her chin up, though he saw her squirming fretfully in her seat.

"Why?" gritted out Orion, his hand balling around the parchment as he did his utmost to remain calm and accepting – and failing.

His expression must have been thunderous indeed, because Calypso sighed, her shoulders slumped, and she said softly, her eyes looking at him almost pleadingly, "For reasons of my own, I cannot be marked. Not yet."

"I see," hissed out Orion, his expression dark and ominous. "What reasons could that be?" His eyes narrowed to slits, and he spat furiously, "Did you allow the Spirits to use you? Have you become an Aux?! Is that the reason why you've been acting so strangely this year, and now this-"

"No!" snapped Calypso, angrily rising to her feet, her expression one of indignant hurt. "You know I wouldn't betray your trust like that-"

"A Death Eater then?" growled Orion, jumping to his feet, having half a mind to vanish the table between them to reach her swiftly before she could escape, to check every inch of her skin.

It must have been clear on his face, because Calypso's lips pressed into a thin line, and she angrily gestured at her left arm. "What – will you undress me? Will you force me to show you my forearm? Do you have so little faith in me? Have I ever given you any reason to doubt me?!"

Seeing her belligerent attitude, but also the hurt in her eyes, Orion forced himself to calm down. He tensely carded his fingers through his hair, and muttered sharply, "No." He searching gazed at her. "I trust you. Always have." His jaw clenched, and he added stiffly, "You said you couldn't be marked 'yet'. Does that mean that you'll allow me to mark you… in the future?"

"Yes," said Calypso, loudly exhaling, her expression turning relieved as she shot him a tentative smile. "I want to bear your mark, Orion. You know that. Just give me some time to sort out some things I must do-"

"How much time?" demanded Orion crisply, closely scrutinizing her. "When?"

She looked momentarily taken aback, before a frown spread on her forehead, her mind undoubtedly fast at work, her expression calculating. "Before the battle of Hogwarts."

Orion wanted nothing more than to tie her down to a chair and batter her with questions until he finally knew what the hell was going on with her, what she had been doing, who was she working for, why had she been so secretive during the year, acting so strangely. Instead, for the sake of their close friendship, which meant more to him than anything, he simply sharply nodded and swallowed his anger, concern and apprehension.

He pocketed the parchments, and said shortly, "Then the Marking Ceremony is postponed until then."

"What? No!" gasped out Calypso looking frazzled. "You shouldn't postpone it for my sake-"

"You should be the first to be marked, and Titania second," interrupted Orion sharply, leveling at her a hard gaze, his tone of voice brooking no opposition. "You and Draco are who I trust the most. He's already marked, so the first during the Ceremony should be you. I want both of you to be my right-hands. And that's final."

He spun on his heels and briskly made way for the door of the dinning room. "Now let's get started with the Fidelius Charms."

As he reached the threshold, he glanced over his shoulder, seeing her still standing rooted in place, looking fretful and uncertain, as if she couldn't believe that he had dropped the matter so easily for her sake.

Orion shot her a tense, wan smile. "Meanwhile you can tell me why you decided that Luna should also be included in the Marking Ceremony. You must have read my mind. But we'll need to plan how we'll kidnap her from her father's house without him being the wiser." He made himself smile more widely and warmly, and gestured at her to follow. "Now come along, we have spells to cast on our respective manors!"

Calypso mutely stared at him, before a large grin spread over her face and she quickly made her way towards him.


The moment Orion's feet landed on stone steps, he flexed his arm and rubbed the place where Calypso had been grabbing him so tightly mere seconds ago to side-along apparate him in front of Rosier Manor.

They had successfully casted the Fidelius Charm on Potter Manor and Dobby had already been sent to personally hand, or send by public owl, letters addressed to Remus, Snape, Sirius and the Elite. They were short missives written by Calypso, his Secret Keeper, with one sole sentence: 'Potter Manor is located in Druids' Path number three, Wiltshire'. And with that, given that Orion had already adjusted the Manor's wards time ago, the letters' recipients would be able to see Potter Manor, locate it, and apparate inside.

At present, they only had to do similarly for Rosier Manor, in which case Orion would be the Secret Keeper. And he would have to write missives for the Elite and also for the whole of the DA, with the simple text of: 'The Dark Army's Headquarters can be found in Rosier Manor, located in Druids' Path number eleven, Wiltshire'.

Orion still found it very amusing that all pureblood families had decided to build their splendid, lavish manors in the same wizarding county. Indeed, he knew that Malfoy Manor was nearly in the midpoint between Rosier and Potter Manor. It was as if their ancestors had wanted to outmatch each other by building their homes in the same spot, to prove by close comparison which was grander.

Though he still wondered why the Blacks didn't have a manor in England. He had once asked Arcturus' portrait, but the stern wizard had leveled at him such a dark glare that Orion hadn't dared to ask again. Given Arcturus' reaction, he secretly suspected that one of his Black ancestors had lost a Black Manor in Wiltshire in a wizarding card game bet. It wouldn't surprise him at all that such a manor could have been lost to another wizarding family and then renamed and re-warded. His ancestors had had many sorts of vices, from what he had managed to glean from Phineas' tight-lipped portrait a long time ago.

Orion gazed at the manor in front of him with deep interest, since it was the first time he had ever seen it. Rosier Manor was enormous. It was certainly the largest manor he had ever seen, larger than Malfoy Manor, even, but it looked derelict and it wasn't remotely as ostentatious, beautiful or ornate as the Malfoy's or even Black Manor in Moscow.

It had been abandoned sixteen years ago, when Calypso was a baby, and he could see huge scorch marks on its large, ornate entrance door. Moreover, the whole front of the manor looked as if had been bombed by a volley of spells, and one of its turrets was completely destroyed, merely a pile of stones and debris.

It was clear that when Alastor Moody had led his force of Aurors to break into Rosier Manor to capture Voldemort's right hand at the time, they had assaulted it with everything they had. Moody had certainly blown to smithereens Evan Rosier and he knew that Calypso's mother, who had stayed behind to help her brother in-law, hadn't fared any better.

He knew that Romulus never stepped into the manor willingly unless cajoled by Calypso, since the wizard couldn't cope with the memories of his dead wife and brother. But unlike her father, Calypso loved the manor and always tried to visit it whenever it was possible, surely to feel some ties to a mother and uncle she didn't remember.

Orion had often heard her saying that she wanted to repair it and bring it back to its former glory. Though now that he saw it, it was clear that a considerable fortune would have to be spent for that purpose, and the Rosiers were not wealthy enough for that. Not at present, at least. Much of the Rosier fortune, which had never been remotely as large as the Black's or Malfoy's, had been used by Evan Rosier to finance Voldemort's first rise.

Nevertheless, even though the manor itself was in a very bad shape, its incredibly vast grounds were breathtaking and well-kept. The gardens were overflowing with blossoming flowers all around, bushes and trees carefully trimmed, the never-ending lawn vibrantly green.

Orion grimaced, since he knew that the house-elves took special care to maintain the grounds spectacularly because Calypso's mother had been very fond of gardening. From what Calypso's father had told her, the manor's grounds had been Felicia Rosier's pride and joy, and soon, when the DA started having it's simulated battles here, most of it would be trampled on and destroyed.

"GET IN! Quick!" suddenly shrieked Calypso frenziedly.

Orion didn't have the chance to even blink before he was grabbed and forcefully propelled forwards. It happened in the bat of an eyelash: a beam of light struck somewhere close to his ear, missing him by mere inches; with a loud, reverberating 'bang!' the front door slammed open, he was pushed inside, and with a scream, Calypso waved her wand and the door slammed shut behind them.

"I didn't know! I didn't see him until now!" cried Calypso frantically, her breathing coming in fast, labored pants, her eyes looking wild.

"What the hell…" wheezed out Orion, recovering his breath before his gaze flickered to her. He jumped forwards and anxiously grabbed her arms, his eyes quickly roving all over her body. "Are you alright? Did anything hit you?!"

"No, no," said Calypso in between pants, slowly straightening up. "I'm fine."

Relieved, Orion exhaled, but in the next second he didn't even glance around the inside of the manor before going straight to one of the windows at either side of the entrance.

He saw it then in the distance: a young wizard standing at the other side of the manor's iron gates, and given the man's robes he could tell the wizard was an Auror.

"As we thought, they have been monitoring your manor, Scaly," said Orion through gritted teeth. He snapped his head around, and said urgently, "Lock down the wards!"

"I already did," said Calypso slowly, looking disheveled and still startled at being suddenly ambushed.

Orion felt quite the same, his heart still felt as if it was about to jump out of his throat.

Calypso joined his side to peer through the oval window, and she mumbled, "He looks as if he didn't know whether to stay there or apparate to inform his superiors of our presence here."

"We have to do it now, before more Aurors arrive," said Orion quickly, instantly grabbing hold of her left hand with his, while he raised his wand with his right hand.

She nodded and immediately did the same, and with their left hands interlaced and their wands held up, they started weaving their wands in the air as they chanted the incantations for the Fidelius Charm.

The moment a ribbon of purple light wrapped around Orion's body, binding him as Calypso's Secret Keeper, and thus ending the spell, a loud shrieking wail-like sound blasted all around them.

Calypso's eyes widened as she gasped, and Orion soothingly squeezed her hand and said softly, "It's one of the Aurors' monitoring charms breaking and alerting them that you've done a Fidelius, Scaly. We knew it would happen. Now make sure again that all the wards have the manor and the grounds secured in a complete lock down."

She jerkily nodded and swiftly closed her eyes, an expression of utmost concentration spreading over her face. In a few seconds she slowly opened her eyes and said deeply reassured, "Everything is alright."

"Good," breathed out Orion. He carded his fingers through his hair and shot her a lop-sided self-reproaching smile, "He caught me unawares. Sorry for that. I didn't even see him. I was admiring your gardens."

"Idiot," said Calypso, grinning at him. "You don't have to be sorry for anything. I wasn't on guard either."

"Yet you saved my hide," interjected Orion, his smile widening warmly.

Calypso waved a hand dismissively and he shot her another grateful smile before he reached the oval window by the entrance once again, to silently contemplate the Auror standing on the road. The young wizard was frantically glancing all around him, now clearly unable to see the manor or the gates in front of his nose. The man still looked uncertain as to what to do, but in the next second he disappeared in an apparition, surely to report back.

"Poor fool," said Orion with a nasty chuckle, "his boss is going to flay him alive. We won't be seeing him again, that's certain. He's going to be doing Azkaban duty for a while after this. If he had stayed standing there, the other Aurors would have been able to locate him and thus find Rosier Manor. With him gone, they won't ever find it again thanks to the Fidelius."

Calypso flashed him with a dazzling cheerful grin. "It's our luck that they sent an inexperienced Auror to surveil my manor."

"Sure is," said Orion, shooting her a smirk. "Well, the job is done. We can go back to Potter-"

"Oh no!" chirped Calypso merrily, grabbing his arm, pulling him along with her. "I'm going to give you the grand tour of Rosier Manor. There's much I want to show you. And you must meet Nana at long last! She's dying to know you."

"Ah, the famed Nana," said Orion airily, quickly trailing after so that his shoulder wouldn't get dislocated due to her tight grasp on his arm . "I can't believe she hasn't kicked the bucket yet-"

"You prat!" gasped out Calypso, while she viciously punched him in the arm, as if he had said something sacrilegious, though she didn't stop from pulling him forwards after her. "I owe her my life-"

"I know," said Orion mollifyingly, masking his amusement at seeing her so giddily happy to show him around the manor and finally introducing him to her most beloved house-elf.

Though, he had to admit to himself that he was looking forward to meeting Nana. It had been rare and scarce times when Calypso had told him about the house-elf, and he knew that it was partly because speaking of Nana was both painful to her yet also important given the place that the old house-elf had gained in her heart.

Nana had been Rosier family's nursing house-elf for over three centuries. The legendary creature had seen the birth of practically every Rosier during that time, bringing them up as a mother would during their childhoods. She had been the nursing maid of Calypso's mother and her grandmother before that, and likewise with Romulus and Evan Rosier. And more importantly, she had been the house-elf to whom Felicia Rosier had trusted with her baby, making Nana go through the floo with a baby Calypso just moments before Moody and his Aurors broke into Rosier Manor.

Thus, Nana had been Calypso's savior and had played an important part during her childhood. And he knew that Calypso had always missed Nana during Durmstrang and even before that, because the house-elf had returned to Rosier Manor as soon as it was safe after Voldemort had first been felled, since the creature had refused to abandon the Rosier's ancestral home. It was only when Calypso managed to convince her father to spend some days in Rosier Manor during the holidays when Calypso was able to see the house-elf again.

"Going up there you would reach the family wing of my mother's branch of the Rosier line," said Calypso proudly as she tugged him along with her, gesturing at a dusty and cracked stairway missing several steps, which clearly had once been grand and imposing and which now looked gloomy and hazardous.

Orion had no doubt that if he put a toe on its first step the whole thing would crumble under him.

"It's a pity that we cannot go to that wing of the manor," continued Calypso with a dejected sigh. "My father once told me that my mother's branch of the family had the most beautiful wing of Rosier Manor, but I'm forbidden to go there. Father locked the wing with wards because it's not safe. Apparently the Aurors' attack particularly destabilized the foundations of that part of the manor."

Orion nodded at her, feeling a frisson of compassion for her, since he knew that there was nothing Calypso would rather see than her mother's childhood rooms and her things.

While she proudly showed him gloomy room after room of the eastern wing of the manor, Calypso continued her cheerful ramblings, "As you know, we Rosiers have never been truly wealthy." She turned her head around to glance at him and winked. "Supposedly there's a curse in the family because one of my ancestors was cursed by a gypsy he tried to trick. Rosiers are cursed to die young, and to never be wealthy." She shook her head with amusement. "I've never believed it, though Nana does and she always fusses about me, worrying that someday I will be struck down by the Rosier Curse."

Calypso rolled her eyes with fondness. "I've never met a house-elf so superstitious as Nana." She clicked her tongue and pulled him towards another dusty and abandoned room. "Anyway, the point is that we've never been wealthy enough to have each branch of the family become independent from the main line. So no Rosier has ever built a separate manor for his family, or changed their family name to found a new line, like most pureblood lines of other houses did ages ago."

She widely gestured around her, and said proudly without a hint of embarrassment, "Hence, since we've always been 'poor' by pureblood standards, Rosier Manor has always housed every single Rosier."

"I think it's a wonderful tradition, regardless if it was brought upon by necessity," said Orion sincerely. "I think of nothing better than having my whole family living together in the same manor. Sons, daughters, grandchildren, in-laws, everyone!" He warmly smiled at her, and added resolutely, "When my time comes to form a family -and I want a very large one!- I'll do the same and establish a new tradition for the Black line."

She shot him a bright, wide smile. "I will do the same. Dad used to tell me that when he was a boy, Rosier Manor was so filled with cousins, aunts and uncles, and all sorts of relatives, that he felt as if he lived in a pixie coop." She chuckled under her breath. "He never admitted that he loved it, but I know he did."

Calypso halted and wickedly grinned at him. "Indeed, if it wasn't for our lack of fortune my dad would have never married my mother. As you know my mum was my father's cousin thrice removed, and thanks to the need of having all Rosiers under one roof, they both grew up together."

She shot him a smug, proud smirk. "Mum was first intended for Uncle Evan, but when she was a teenager she fell in love with my father and refused to marry anyone else. She was thirteen when she firmly informed everyone in the manor that she would marry my dad or die an old maid! She caused quite an uproar, from what my dad told me. She even threatened to become a muggle nun if she was refused!"

She pulled him into another room, as she continued with a ringing chuckle in her voice, "In the end no one dared to oppose her decision to marry dad as soon as she was of age, and ultimately everyone was happy because it was the first love match in the family in a very long time. My dad had always been wrapped around my mum's little finger since they were little children, so he was more than happy to marry her the second she turned seventeen."

Suddenly, she halted and pointed upwards as she murmured quietly, "That's her. She was breathtaking, wasn't she?"

Orion blinked, finally realizing that Calypso had pulled him into a vast room which looked like some kind of library and study. The walls were covered by wood panels filled with shelves with dusty old tomes, and it was sparsely furnished with some couches and round tables here and there, with a large desk pushed against a wall, dominating most of the room since it was the only piece of furniture which displayed ornateness and grandeur.

The room felt cozy and welcoming, even though it had every sign of being abandoned time ago, as the rest of the manor. Yet, a shiver ran down his spine when he saw that many parts of the paneled walls bore scorch marks, with sharp splinters jutting out. And he could have bet his life that the dark stains ingrained in the cracks of the stone floors were blood stains that no house-elf had managed to rub out or spell clean.

At last, his gaze trailed up the fireplace until it reached the large portrait Calypso was pointing at, and his eyes widened as he saw the face of a beautiful young-looking witch who must have been Felicia Rosier. Indeed, Calypso's mother had been a beauty of dark eyes and wavy black, glossy hair, yet part of her portrait's left side of the face was melted, the oil paint having dripped down and later condensed. It made the woman's face look warped and deformed, though he could still see Felicia's beauty when he solely focused his sight on the right side of the portrait's face.

"Some spell hit the portrait, damaging it, and it lost of all its magical properties," murmured Calypso, her eyes riveted on the still portrait. "That's why it's lifeless, why it doesn't move or speak." She gestured at the empty hearth. "And that's the fireplace through which Nana took me through the Floo."

She glanced around, her expression speculative. "This was Uncle Evan's study and where he kept all the plans, books and documents that the Dark Lord had entrusted to him. It was here where my mum and Uncle Evan confronted the Aurors." Her gaze flickered back to the damaged portrait. "And this is the only portrait of my mum. I've always wondered why my Uncle had it in his study, and why my father allowed it after he married my mum."

Her forehead crinkled pensively, and she added quietly, "I've always thought that Uncle Evan must have loved my mum, and that dad knew it. But they were very close so I don't think they ever fought because of it. It was my mum's decision which brother to marry, after all, and they must have accepted her choice without any ill-will towards each other."

Orion didn't say anything, not wanting to break her contemplation, but suddenly Calypso grabbed his arm once more, as she said excitedly, "I have only one more place to show you before you meet Nana! You'll like it."

He was dragged along endless hallways until they climbed down a spiraling staircase which led them to the manor's dungeons. But he barely had the time to glance at his surroundings before Calypso pulled him to the very end of the dungeon's narrowed, damp corridor.

At last, they stood in front of a stone wall, which was completely blank with the exception of an inconspicuous, empty torch-holder. Orion shot Calypso a puzzled frown, but she utterly ignored him, her lips curving upwards as if she was secretly laughing about something. She raised her left hand, and in one swift motion she impaled it through one of the sharp spikes of the torch-holder.

Orion was about to pull her back and shout at her, when he saw the wall before him suddenly fold open silently, stones shifting over each other, without a sound rearranging themselves to form an arch through which he could see a vast room filled with objects glittering in glass cases, some in display, others piled and stacked one over the other. The whole secret room which had been concealed behind the wall seemed to blast off dark magic, coming from the treasures it held but also from its very walls. And his jaw hung agape.

"You never beeped a word about having a Heir's Linchpin!" gasped out Orion with wide eyes, his entranced gaze riveted on the room.

Calypso sniggered under her breath, and shot him a smug smirk. "I didn't want to rub it in before I could show it to you and personally enjoy your envy. You Blacks have always kept your heirlooms in your vaults at Gringotts, and the Potters as well, it seems, since you've never found one." Her smirk widened, and she added in a good-natured singsong, "You're disgustingly rich, but you don't have this."

Orion shot her a mild glare before he quickly crossed the arch, as he said over his shoulder, "Just you wait until I claim the Grindelwald estates! I'm sure Gellert not only has a vault in wizarding Berlin's Gringotts branch but also that his manor has one of these!"

Once he reached the middle of the chamber, he glanced around with fascination. It wasn't only that a Heir's Linchpin withheld all heirlooms and dark artifacts collected and amassed by a dark wizarding pureblood family, but also that such secret chambers were usually heavily warded beyond comparison to anything else. From what he had read in textbooks, such chambers secretly built in the foundations of a manor served as the most secure place in which a family could ensconce themselves in case of attack.

Supposedly, they were built and endlessly layered with spells and wards to make them impregnable and to sustain anyone hiding in them for a very long while, years even. He had always suspected that such chambers had to work like Hogwarts' Room of Requirements, producing any necessity required for a long stay. Though unlike the Room of Requirements, a Heir's Linchpin could also produce food – Merlin knew how, he had never found a book which explained it. Though, wizarding architects surely knew the secret since they were the ones who were paid fortunes to construct such things.

Neverthless, Rosier Manor's Heir's Linchpin was at present nothing but a vast room holding countless of heirlooms and dark artifacts. By his estimation, Orion knew that Calypso could amass a great fortune if she sold even half of the treasures, yet he realized that she would rather die than lose her line's heirlooms.

For a moment he wondered why Calypso's mother and uncle hadn't fled to the room the second they knew Aurors had breached the manor, but he instantly realized the reason. Evan Rosier had stayed in the study to protect the plans and whatever else Voldemort had entrusted to him, and Calypso's mum had stayed with her brother-in-law to help him against the Aurors, given that Romulus Rosier had been out of the country at the time.

It deeply saddened him, knowing that both of them could have lived if it wasn't for Evan Rosier's unfailing loyalty towards Voldemort, but it soon flew out of his mind when his gaze caught sight of something innocently leaning against a wall.

"Is that a magic carpet?!" breathed out Orion with round eyes.

"Yup," piped in Calypso, side-glancing at him while she shot him a wide, taunting smirk.

"So not fair," grumbled Orion, instantly taking two steps to caress the carpet, feeling its magic tingling under his fingertips. "I've always wanted one of these but it's impossible to find one nowadays."

"Oh, don't get your knickers in a twist," said Calypso with a roll of her eyes. "I can hardly use it. Light wizards made them illegal." She grimaced and added under her breath, "And I wouldn't use it even if it was legal, anyway – I hate to fly. Though I suppose it's better than any broom, at least more comfortable for someone like me."

Orion was still adoringly caressing the magic carpet when Calypso placed a hand on his shoulder, chuckling. "Don't pout like a child who has been told that he would receive no presents for Christmas." She conspiratorially winked at him. "If you're a good boy I'll give it to you as a coming of age present."

Orion snapped his head around, his eyes large and gleaming. "Really?"

"Sure," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. "It's not a heirloom and you would enjoy it much more than I ever would. Father surely wouldn't oppose it."

Orion shot her a warm, grateful smile, but then frowned and said firmly as he withdrew his hand from it, "Thanks, but don't give it to me. It's your family's and I'm only coveting it because they're so rare and unique. I have no real use for it either. I have my broom."

Calypso quirked an eyebrow, but she said nothing while she grabbed his hand to pull him out of the room.

After the chamber close itself behind the wall when she spilled her blood on the torch-holder once again, she dragged him up towards the first floor of the manor while she said quietly, "I didn't show you the Heir's Linchpin to brag. Now that you know where it is, you can use it if you ever have the need to do so-"

"But I can't," interrupted Orion, shooting her a frown. "They only open to someone of the bloodline-"

"And to any house-elf who has been keyed to it," interjected Calypso, her expression grim and serious. "Nana will be able to open it for you if my father or I are not around. Rosier Manor has not only become the DA's headquarters but also a hiding place you should use if it ever comes to that. You cannot always count on Potter Manor remaining undiscovered by Voldemort or the light wizards. I want you and Draco to have somewhere else you can go to."

Her words sounded very ominous to him and he fleetingly wondered what scenario she was imagining in her mind and why. Nevertheless, Orion nodded and saw the relief that swept across her face when she smiled at him.

He remained silent until Calypso stopped in front of a door, a large grin spreading over her face. She quickly glanced at him and said under her breath, "Now be good to Nana. If she doesn't like you she won't help you - ever. She's very particular."

Orion shot her an incredulous glance, but he had no chance to say anything since in the next second Calypso opened the door and pushed him inside. He almost tripped before he regained his balance, and he glanced around, startled. The room looked like… well, a nursery, he supposed, though he had never seen one in any wizarding home, or muggle one, at that, since he had never been kept in a nursery with the Durleys, his cupboard had served as such.

But the room in which he found himself was clearly used for that purpose given that the first thing he saw was an elaborate, beautiful white crib in the middle of the room, with things dangling above it, and with some sort of transparent lacy veil hanging like vapory curtains around it. Furthermore, there were small chests and dressers lined along the walls, with an endless array of stuffed animals, dolls and toys on top of them, impeccably ordered and looking as new as the first time they had been bought.

As his eyes flickered about the room, he caught sight of the walls covered by wizarding pictures of sleeping, gurgling or softly snoring babies. He blinked when he saw the small golden labels under every single small portrait, and soon found the one with Calypso's name on it, as well as some others with Romulus, Evan, or Felicia Rosier's names, respectively. All the other names didn't ring a bell, but all the babies were certainly Rosiers.

Apparently, the room had served as the nursery for every single baby born in Rosier Manor. And given that the every inch of the walls were covered by baby portraits, without leaving a single empty spot, he concluded not only that the Rosier line had been a very prolific one when it came to popping out babies, but also that they certainly had a very bad luck since Calypso and her dad were the only ones left of the line. Gypsy curse or not, Rosiers seemed to die as fast as they seemed to reproduce.

Orion felt a weird twist of apprehension in the pit of his stomach, deepened by the fact that the room seemed to cause in him a strange sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen it before, which certainly wasn't the case. But there was something strangely familiar about the room that he couldn't quite put his finger on…

A discrete clearing of the throat suddenly yanked him away from his troubled musings, and he glanced at Calypso. She pointedly flickered her gaze away from him, and he followed it, and then she saw her.

The creature in front of Calypso was the most tiny, old and wrinkled little thing he had ever laid eyes on. He had always believed that Kreacher must be the oldest house-elf in existence, and he had clearly been mistaken. Nana won the price for that.

The tiny creature, shrunk half a house-elf's natural size surely due to her unimaginable old age, was fixedly staring at him with such stern scrutiny that he couldn't help but slightly squirm under her sharp gaze. He felt like a potion ingredient being inspected under a lense, like someone meeting his mother-in-law for the first time, or something of the sort. It was a bizarre situation he had never found himself in.

He opened his mouth to say something, but instantly shut it close again, without knowing what he was supposed to say. To his dismay, he found the old, tiny little thing to be quite intimidating. Yet, he squarely met her piercing, deeply wrinkled eyes, and kept his silence, since even Calypso seemed to stand tensely by his side. Though he couldn't quite believe that a house-elf was measuring him up to see if he passed muster.

"He is good enough," said the creature, her voice sounding firm and strong, completely in contrast to her frail, withered appearance. Her eyes flickered to Calypso. "Young Mistress's friend is accepted."

He heard Calypso exhaling with relief by his side, and he nearly shot her a disbelieving glance that she had been holding up her breath during the whole time concerned by the house-elf's judgment, as if the tiny thing had the last ruling word on matters of life and death. Yet he stopped from doing so when Nana's gaze swiveled back to him, a toothless crooked smile suddenly stretching on her lips.

"Yes, the Black boy will do, Nana decided," said the house-elf, her gums showing as her smile widened.

"Er… do for what?" mumbled Orion, blinking at the strange creature.

"Don't question her," hissed Calypso under her breath, digging her elbow into his ribs.

"Ouch, stop that!" snapped Orion, glaring at her as he rubbed his side, sure that a large bruise was already forming. Calypso's punches and elbowings were vicious things. "I think I'm bloody entitled to know what I'm supposed to be good enough for, aren't I?"

"Children, behave," commanded the house-elf sharply, leveling at both of them a very hard, reprimanding glance. She suddenly jumped forward with hitherto unsuspected speed and energy, and grabbed his hand with both of her wrinkled, gnarled ones. "I is Nana. And Nana happy to meet Orion Black. You is good enough to be Nana's young Mistress's friend and companion."

Orion stared at the tiny thing, before a wide, warm grin broke on his face. "Well, thank you for that positive appraisal. I'm happy to meet you too, at last."

Nana shot him her toothless, crooked smile, before she seemed to lose all interest in him as her gaze focused back on Calypso, the scrutinizing gleam back in her eyes. "What has young Mistress been eating? How many hours is you sleeping, child? Tell Nana your usual schedule and young Master's-"

"Oh, don't fuss, please," interjected Calypso, clearly suppressing a groan and a roll of her eyes.

But no matter how much Calypso complained, Nana plunged forwards with a barrage of demanding questions, and Orion disconnected his hearing as soon as he heard the words 'toilet', 'how many times' and 'what color'. There were things about Calypso he certainly didn't want to know about.

Calypso looked more mortified with each passing second, and he sniggered under his breath, which earned him a lethal glare from her.

"She'll be the same with you now that she likes you," hissed Calypso under her breath, while Nana's never-ending questions floated all around them, before she glanced back at the house-elf and reluctantly continued answering the creature's inquiries about her daily ablutions.

"Who's 'young master'?" whispered Orion, still watching their interaction with deep amusement.

"My father," replied Calypso when Nana paused to catch her breath before plowing forward with her cross-examination. She snickered, and added in a low whisper, "She still treats dad as if he was a misbehaving little runt. It drives Father nuts."

Nana broke off in the middle of a question, apparently her hearing not at all diminished since she snapped briskly, "Your father is still a boy, young Mistress."

"To you everyone's a child because you're ancient, Nana," said Calypso with a roll of her eyes.

"Ancient and wiser than anyone else, young Mistress," quipped the house-elf, shooting Calypso a pointed glance. "So Mistress will do well to do as Nana says."

"Yes, Nana," said Calypso with a weary sigh. "But you can see that I am well. My health is perfect."

The house-elf's eyes narrowed to slits, her gaze roving over Calypso, putting her under a detailed inspection. Suddenly, she nodded sharply, and declared firmly, "Young Mistress is well. Tell young Master Nana wants to see him next."

"There's a muggle's chance in a Death Eater raid that my father would ever come to see you to tell you about how many times he goes to the loo," muttered Calypso under her breath, her tone clearly implying that she wished she could escape Nana's health evaluations as easily as Romulus clearly did.

"Nana is old, not deaf, young Mistress," said the house-elf sharply, piercing Calypso with a hard, commanding gaze. "Young Mistress will make sure young Master comes to Nana."

"Yes. I promise," said Calypso abruptly brightening, her expression one of devious anticipation to put her father through the same thing she had just been subjected to. "I will bring him tomorrow. He won't escape you this time, Nana."

"Good, child, good. Nana will be happy," said the house-elf, smiling toothlessly.

Calypso widely grinned and bent down to plant a kiss on the tiny creature's wrinkled cheek. "I will see you again soon, Nana."

Nana's eyes moistened and she stood on the tips of her feet, wobbling, as she reached out to lovingly pet the top of Calypso's bent head. "Young Mistress is a good child. Always makes Nana happy. Take good care, for your Nana's sake."

"I will," said Calypso fondly, before she quickly grabbed Orion's hand and started to pull him towards the nursery's door.

"You too take good care, of you and my young Mistress," called out Nana after them.

Orion nodded at her over his shoulder, barely managing to shoot the amusing house-elf a smile before he was pushed through the threshold.

Calypso quickly closed the door shut after them, slumped against it, and loudly exhaled. "At last. I survived." She cleared her throat, straightened to her full height, and said stoically, as if she had managed to finally recover her dignity after her mortification, "Well, that was Nana for you. And she will clearly help you out if you ever need it."

Orion was deeply tempted to forever taunt her with what had just happened, but he thought about it twice when Calypso shot him a vicious glance, which clearly indicated that she knew what he had on his mind and that she also had vast amounts of ammunition to use against him.

Indeed, she looked quite ready for battle, even to dish out more than he could take. In the end, he wisely decided to forego the pleasure of taunting Calypso with Nana-related gibes for the sake of his own pride and dignity.


Orion glanced around his gloomy, impoverished surroundings, alert and on guard, ready for anything that could come his way. Thankfully, he saw no one at the outskirts of the dismal muggle town he had apparated into. Nothing moved, and the only sounds he could hear were those coming from a dingy, small factory nearby.

Nevertheless, he kept his face shrouded underneath the hood of his cloak and his hand tight around the wand in his pocket, as he took the steps towards the front door of the ugly little house.

He knocked twice on the door, and awaited tensely, his eyes constantly glancing around for any sign of movement. He was in quite a hurry to get in the house and fulfill his last task of the day.

His trunk was already packed with everything he would need for his one month stay in Zraven Citadel, he had left Calypso with detailed and precise instructions about everything she had to do and regarding every eventuality, he had given her the two-way mirror Daisy had found in Draco's robes and he had the other. Furthermore, he had already dispatched Dobby to once more deliver a set of letters, these ones pertaining to Rosier Manor's location.

Now he only had to inform this wizard that he was leaving, and he would be done for the evening. And just in time, since the skies were already darkening and it would be two hours later in Romania. He would pop into Zraven Citadel just when every inhabitant would already be on their feet for the night.

Suddenly, he gripped his wand harder and his eyes quickly swiveled back to the house when he felt magic trickling down on him. But he relaxed in the next second when he realized that it was the house's wards sweeping over him. Gratefully, it looked as if he was still keyed to them, since he had no doubt that something very nasty would have happened to him otherwise.

Abruptly, the door cracked open, but he could see nothing through the gloomy darkness of the room behind it except a large crooked nose poking out from the door slightly kept ajar, along with the tip of a wand straightly aimed at him. Yet, he didn't lower his hood. He simply tilted his head up a bit, so that some light struck him and his face could be seen.

"What did you steal from me and never returned?" demanded a caustic, sharp voice, sounding as if it came from the depths of the house.

Orion huffed, and said crisply, "I didn't steal your seventh year Potions text book, Severus. I found it by mere chance during my fourth year at Hogwarts, and I made a copy of it and gave that to you. Surely you're still not sour about it?! Now open up, I'm not a polyjuiced Auror after your sallow hide, and I'm in a hurry."

"You never returned the original, you impudent brat!" snarled Snape, slightly opening the door a bit more, apparently to let him in.

"Aren't you in a cheery disposition," drawled Orion sarcastically, as he pushed his way through since the wizard had barely given him enough space to slid inside.

Once he was in the main room of Spinner's End, he turned around when Snape closed the door with a bang, the wizard's black eyes narrowed and piercing.

"What do you want?" bit out Snape shortly, his foul mood evident in his expression and tone of voice.

"Why, thank you, I'm very well this fine evening," said Orion mockingly. "And how have you been? As cheerfully peachy as ever, I see-"

"I'm busy, boy!" hissed out Snape acidly. "So spare me your inane chatter and pathetic attempts at wit and tell me why you're imposing your unbearable presence in my home."

Orion quirked an eyebrow, and inspected the wizard closely, seeing the tired expression on the man's gaunt face and the dark circles under the eyes. "My, it seems that you do have a valid reason to be so snarky, for once. What have you been up to?"

"Out!" snarled Snape, grabbing Orion's arm and forcefully pulling him towards the door. "Get out at once-"

"I came to see how you were doing and to tell you I'm leaving for Zraven Citadel tonight!" shouted Orion angrily, tugging his arm backwards, trying to break free from the wizard's vise-like grip.

"Good riddance!" spat Snape, nearly about to push him through the front door. "Hopefully the leeches will suck you dry and do me the favor of getting rid of a half-brained pest-"

Abruptly, a deafening 'BOOM!' exploded throughout the house, rattling bookcases, tables, chairs and floors, and Orion almost lost his balance when Snape briskly let go of him. The most astounding string of profanities flew from Snape's lips, and in the next blink of Orion's eyes he only saw the hem of the wizard's billowing black robes disappearing around the corner which led to the house's only corridor.

Gripping a wall for support, Orion slowly straightened up, his ears ringing while he still felt not only manhandled but severely jostled around. He quickly regained his bearings and chased after the wizard, wondering what was going on and deeply curious.

He instantly found Snape by following the sound of the wizard's voice, which still kept spitting out such curse words he had never heard from the Potions Master. The moment he stepped into the small room, he blinked as he glanced around, his eyebrows shooting upwards. Orion had never seen the potions labs that Snape had set in his house looking so ghastly, though it was clear that the mess in which the room was in had been caused by a brew which had exploded in a cauldron.

There were green globs dripping from every inch of the walls and ceilings, puffs of red thick smoke clogging the windowless space, cracked cauldrons rolling over the floor, the wooden table was splintered down its middle, and ladles, damaged potions ingredients and shards of broken potion vials littered the floor. In the midst of it all, Snape was snarling angrily, quickly waving his wand as he started to put back everything in order.

Orion merely stood by the threshold, covering his mouth and nose with a hand, and waiting it out until the wizard was done.

"Ruined, because you decided to pay me a most unwelcomed visit, because you self-centeredly wasted my time instead of getting out of my house when I told you!" spat Snape furiously, glaring at him with a murderous expression on his face, while he cleared the air with another flick of his wand. "Ungrateful, egotistical brat! It took me months to reach this brewing stage of the potion and now it's lost. You single-handedly delayed my progress for months because you-"

"I didn't know you were brewing!" snapped Orion sharply. "If you had told me that, then I would have left instantly." He crossed his arms over his chest, and glared at him mutinously. "It was your fault as much as mine. And now the damage is done, so there's no point in me leaving. So you might as well put up with me and tell me what you were brewing."

Snape's eyes narrowed to slits, and he hissed out sourly, "If you persist in forcing your presence on me, then make yourself useful or I won't hesitate in transforming you into a flobberworm and use your parts as potion ingredients!"

Orion shot him a triumphant grin, and jumped into action, casting cleaning and repairing spells along-side the wizard. After a very long hour, part of which they spent manually putting things into place and sorting damaged ingredients from the ones which had miraculously survived unscathed, they finally finished.

Rubbing his forehead tiredly, Orion glanced around the once again impeccable potions lab, and then checked his wristwatch, becoming dismayed when he saw how much time had passed by.

His patient good mood instantly vanished, and he leveled Snape with a hard gaze as he said crisply, "Will you tell me now what you were brewing?"

"I don't see why I should," said Snape dourly, arching an eyebrow scathingly. "I doubt your puny little brain could follow any brewing explanation I could give you in the simplest terms."

Orion clenched his jaw and gritted out, "I might not be very adept at brewing but I know and comprehend the theory of potion-making better than anyone in my year with the exception of Calypso. I will understand anything you might say regarding any bloody potion, Severus!"

"Highly doubtful," sneered Snape acidly, waving dismissively at him. "Now go away to visit your little amnesiac halfbreed."

"You're such an unmitigated bastard," hissed out Orion furiously, stepping to stand almost nose-to-nose with the wizard. "I spent a whole hour to help you clean up your sodding lab –because I was feeling guilty for ruining your potion, of all things!- delaying to see Lezander, the event I've been waiting and longing for, for months, and you choose to mock him and me after that?"

He narrowed his eyes at him, and knowing what would hurt the most, he added viciously, "You've always treated me awfully, and I've never complained because I know it's the way you usually are with everybody. But now you know that I was Regulus and you always treated him well – you cared for him, deeply. So I wonder why you haven't changed your attitude towards me."

Orion eyed the wizard closely, seeing a muscle jerkily twitching in Snape's jaw, the tension in the man's shoulders and the white knuckles of the wizard's fisted hands.

With a deep sense of satisfaction, he stretched his lips into a nasty smile. "You still treat me as the son of Sirius Black, as an ally to rein in Voldemort, as the best wizard you can support so that the Dark becomes more tolerant, moderate, and everything else you wish it could be. Yet you know that I'm much more than that. You know that your ties to me go much deeper than that."

His smile widened as he bore his eyes into Snape's, and he added in a soft murmur, "I'm the son of the woman you loved. I know you must see her every time you look into my eyes, exactly like hers. And I was your only best friend, the only one who approached you in Slytherin House without ever condemning you for your half-blood status – not even Lucius did that before you proved your potions skills. You'll do well to remember all that, and you'll do well to change your behavior towards me, Severus. There's so much I will put up with. I'm no longer a boy who needs you as badly as I did in the past. You're the one tethered to me, not the other way around."

"Quite," said Snape coolly, seemingly regaining his self-composed semblance.

Orion stared at him quizzically, and took a step back as he said nonchalantly, waving a hand, "I'm only asking you to treat me as a friend-"

"As Regulus, perhaps?" asked Snape blandly, arching an eyebrow.

"Why not?" said Orion, regarding him carefully. "I was him, after all. I remember everything about his life, as clearly as my own."

"So you will use the fact that you were once Regulus," interjected Snape impassively, "for your own purposes and manipulations?"

"I don't see why I shouldn't," said Orion, his eyes narrowing, slightly thrown off by the wizard's casual tone of voice. "Besides, I wasn't manipulating you. I was simply stating facts."

Snape's lips curved into a smile, and it was a vicious thing. "Very well."

Orion gazed at him with deep suspicion, since he knew that a victory over any dark wizard seemingly easily won shouldn't be trusted.

The Potions Master regarded him closely, and said blandly, "I don't think you clearly remember all what my friendship with Regulus entailed, boy."

"Meaning what?" said Orion crisply, staring scrutinizingly at the wizard.

"True friendships born in Slytherin House are not a simple, easy matter," said Snape, his lips twisting upwards. "There are no rainbows and sunshines – we are not Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs. Slytherins take as much as they give, and then some, from their closests friends, since we know what secrets of our friends we should use to gain what we want from them. We know where to squeeze to cause the most harm, to gain the upper hand over our friends."

Unfazed, Orion scoffed loudly. "Most Slytherins do that, I'm sure. But you didn't act like that with Regulus. You didn't gain anything when you helped me die, for instance."

"I rid the Dark Lord from his favorite pet," said Snape viciously, his eyes gleaming darkly. "I caused the Dark Lord harm, and I reveled in it. I already despised him by then."

Orion arched an eyebrow with utter calmness. "Maybe you want me to believe that Regulus didn't really matter to you so that I cannot use again the fact that I was him to make you do anything."

"Maybe," said Snape, his lips quirking upwards.

"If you're done with your little mind games," interjected Orion, shooting him a baleful, highly annoyed glare, "I would like to know what you've been doing before I leave."

"It was not I who started our… game," sneered Snape. He pinned him with narrowed eyes, and spat mordantly, "Never again attempt to use your mother's memory or your past life as Regulus, and we will not have the same problem twice."

"As long as you start treating me better," bit out Orion sharply, leveling a hard gaze at him. "If you missed my point, I'll make it plain enough for you. I have no use for a supporter who treats me like a child or a pest, and who shows me no respect. Change your tune or we're done."

"An ultimatum," said Snape coolly, arching an eyebrow. "Undoubtedly brought upon because you feel you've earned my friendship after all this time, and that you deserve my respect since you're hailed as the co-leader of the Dark – the 'Lord Black'."

"Among other things, yes," said Orion firmly, pinning him with his gaze.

Snape's lips twisted upwards, before he abruptly stalked to a corner of the potions lab, apparently to unlock a small cabinet at the corner, since the wizard was now waving his wand at it.

And Orion regarded him with a small frown on his face. If he knew anything now, it was that the wizard was still a complex man he hadn't been able to fully unravel yet. He would remember that he should never take Snape and the wizard's true motives for granted. Indeed, he felt now, more than ever, that he would always have to tread carefully with the man, and learn which strings could be pulled to make Snape move in the direction he desired. All feelings of fondness for the man to a side, Snape could be dangerous and tricky and he should never forget it.

Orion silently contemplated Snape as the wizard made his way back to him holding something in his hands. And he realized that the crux of the matter was that Snape truly didn't have a side but his own, since both the Light and Dark sides had failed him in many ways and the wizard despised how they were currently. The Potions Master was a double-edged sword in his hand.

When Snape finally reached him, Orion glanced at the book in the wizard's hand, and then gazed back at the man, incredulously. "That's the book I gave you for Christmas – the translation I wrote for you of Slytherin's research journals." He leveled him with a furious glare, and gritted out, "Are you telling me that the potion you were working on was one of Slytherin's and you've been stupidly refusing to tell me that? To me, who gave you the bloody translation in the first place, Severus?! What was the sodding point-"

"The potion I was brewing is my own variation of one of Salazar's potions," snarled Snape acerbically. "I'm attempting to improve his tests regarding the crosses between different types of magical blood, not to idiotically follow brewing instructions centuries out of date, you dim-witted imbecile!"

"Merlin's knickers, I can't believe I wasted my time here just for this!" spat Orion, shooting him a dark glare. "Next time inform me beforehand that you have nothing solid or interesting to report about your research. No, better yet, just let me know when you've succeeded with the whole bloody research and when you're ready to publish incontrovertible results!"

With his brisk, quick, angered strides, he was reaching the door of the lab when his arm was forcefully gripped and he was yanked around by Snape, who had a thunderous expression on his face, a mix between fury, impatience and exasperation.

"What now?" snapped Orion with supreme irritation. "You wanted me gone, so I'm leaving!"

Snape intently speared him with narrowed eyes, seemingly coming to some sort of decision or other, and he flicked his wand. In the next second, a newspaper came flying through the door and smacked a startled Orion right on his face. With quick reflexes Orion grabbed it before it flittered down to the floor, and he shot Snape his nastiest glare, since the wizard was viciously smirking at him with dark amusement.

Orion brusquely shook the newspaper to make its pages snap straight, and then saw that it was the French wizarding newspaper 'Le Monde Magique'.

"Last page, first article in Nouvelles du Monde des Moldu," said Snape shortly.

Orion shot him a narrowed glance, before he reached the long article somehow squeezed in the small section the newspaper allotted to any important news of the muggle world. He flicked his wand at it, casting the translation spell Calypso had taught him some time ago to read foreign newspapers.

It took him just one glance at the article's first sentence to feel himself boiling with fury.

"Muggles celebrate the one year anniversary of a sheep?!" spat Orion, waving the newspaper clutched in his fist in front of Snape's overlarge nose. "You must be joking, Severus. Why the fuck should I care if deranged muggle peasants are throwing cattle birthday parties?!"

"If you want me to treat you respectfully and like an adult," sneered Snape caustically, "then prove to me that you can refrain from blatantly displaying your idiocy for more than two consecutive minutes. Now read the whole article before shrieking like a half-brained imbecile!"

Orion shot him a frown, before he straightened out the crumbled newspaper and focused on reading the article fully. Soon, he plopped down on a stool, his eyes wide and his mind fast at work as he re-read the article once more, absorbing and trying to quickly comprehend everything he could.

"I don't understand," he muttered quietly at last, glancing up at Snape. He shook his head and carded his fingers through his hair. "I never heard about something like this during my time with the Dursleys, not on the telly or radio, not even at primary school."

"You wouldn't have," interjected Snape shortly, "it is a fairly new branch in muggle biological studies."

"Do you mean to tell me that you fully understand what this is about?" said Orion pointing at the article, his expression befuddled. "About this Dolly sheep to which they did this… er…" He quickly scanned the article again. "…this so-called cloning thing? And about this gene thing and DNA, and whatnot?"

"I've invested some of my time to look into it," said Snape acerbically. "Genetics seems to be a new branch that muggles are quickly developing since they're discovering many uses and applications for it."

"Yes, the articles says that these geneticist muggle people are primarily working in research labs financed by pharmaceutical companies," interjected Orion, searchingly gazing at him with a frown on his face. "But I don't see why this new field of their science interests you..." He trailed off, and gazed at him with wide, horrified eyes. "Surely you aren't thinking of learning about this genetics thing to use it to improve Slytherin's research, Severus! Magic and muggle Science doesn't mix-"

"That is the most ignorant and narrow-minded remark I've ever had the misfortune to hear from you," sneered Snape scathingly, narrowing his eyes at him.

"I was a half-blood just like you, Severus! I'm not spouting any kind of blind prejudice," snapped Orion briskly. "I'm only saying that wizards don't need Science to understand things or explain or validate anything! He have the purest and most natural understanding of matters. We do everything naturally with magic. Muggles are the crippled ones who have to resort to other things because they don't know about magic and cannot use it-"

"Given what I have learned," interrupted Snape sharply, "I believe it could be possible that there is a gene for the magical trait. If I am able to merge both my research with the use of potions with the application of genetics, then-"

"Then it wouldn't matter the slightest bit!" bit out Orion impatiently. "So what if there's a gene thing for our kind? Do you think our world would trust any research results based on muggle Science? No wizard would trust it, no wizard would understand. You must do your research employing wizarding knowledge, expanding on its foundations, which are vaster than anything muggle scientists claim to know. They managed to replicate a bloody sheep after years of research? Please!"

He scoffed scathingly. "With the flick of my wrist and my Necromantic abilities I, by all means, 'cloned' Gellert when I produced an exact, breathing and living replica of his body, and I could have plunged Gellert's soul into it as well. Let me see a blasted muggle scientist do that, and in a natural way!"

"Indeed, Orion Black is the paragon of magical power," sneered Snape viciously, "his abilities are to be revered and hailed by all others-"

"Oh, stuff it, Severus," snapped Orion with deep irritation. "I'm not bragging. I don't need to. I surpass everyone except one –for now- and you know it." He rose to his feet, and added sharply, "Go ahead and delve into this genetics thing if it amuses you and if you think it can help you to improve Slytherin's research. But keep in mind that you will have to document and publish your work to be read by wizards, and thus, it must be explained in wizarding terms and ultimately carried about by wizarding means. I short, magically, not with muggle stuff."

"I will need a considerable amount of galleons," said Snape curtly.

Orion gazed at him disbelievingly. "You're asking me to finance your pointless madness so that you can waste my galleons on what – muggle scientific equipment? You've lost your marbles." He waved the French newspaper at him. "It said their labs were funded by large pharmaceutical companies. It would take all my fortune to amount to such required funds when converted to muggle currency. I'm all for spending galleons in worthwhile endeavors but not to flush them down the toilet, and even less to invest my whole fortune in something that will generate no galleons back! I'm the Head of Black House, I'm planning on increasing the Black fortune, not lose it!"

He paused to force himself to calm down, and while he carded his fingers through his hair something struck him and he eyed the wizard quizzically. "Hang on. First tell me how you're expecting to learn all about genetics when the article said it took muggles ages to develop that branch of science. And they are still developing it, at that. It's at an infant stage according to the article. So how many years, if not decades, will it take you to learn everything pertinent you need to know about genetics in order to use it in your research?" He shook his head, and added resolutely, "It would be best if you employed all that time in wizarding research, expanding your own kind's knowledge."

Snape jeered at him. "Need I remind you that I'm a master in Legilimency?"

"Do I look like a fool?" said Orion scoffing. "Legilimency won't help you attain…" He broke off, and stared at the wizard with a flummoxed expression on his face, and then whispered faintly, "Unless you siphon out all of a muggle's memories..." He clamped his mouth shut, and then gritted out, "Right. I see. So you can kidnap one geneticist, rip out all his memories pertaining to his studies, and then learn from that, from already digested and comprehended information – which would take you much less time than studying the subject by yourself. Or perhaps you're thinking about using the Imperius Curse to make one of them come to you, to make him work for you or perhaps to steal his-"

"There are many possible ways for me to easily and safely attain the knowledge I require."

Orion stared at the wizard as if he had never seen him before, and he suddenly felt as if the floor had been yanked from his feet. Indeed, he suddenly felt quite ill. This was not Snape before him. Oh, it was him, alright, but the man was not himself. Snape would never even think to go to such dangerous lengths. The wizard was extremely careful in his every move.

The Potions Master would never contemplate to waltz in some hi-tech lab to kidnap a scientist - a muggle! Or to imperio one to make him work for him - such liabilities! Snape would never resort to something so blatant and unrefined. The wizard was a master spy, a genius in covert subtlety and sly machinations. Something was driving Snape to such lengths, and it sure as hell wasn't the wizard's own mind.

Yet, before they started discussing Snape's research, the wizard had been himself – he had no doubt about it. And the man was clearly not imperioed, his eyes weren't remotely foggy. No, something else had been done to Snape. But the only viable explanation that he could think of was that a compulsion mind web had been casted on the wizard. However, why would the Spirits or the Aux do such a thing? They would certainly have the same views as himself regarding the use of muggle Science for wizarding research. And Snape's research benefited the Spirits' aims – it benefitted the Dark.

Orion felt utterly out of his depth. He didn't have the slightest inkling of what was going on with Snape. He couldn't think of anyone who could have any reason to make Snape delve in this genetics thing. And someone like Snape, so proficient in Occlumency and Legilimency, would surely detect if a spell had been casted on his mind, wouldn't he?

Furthermore, he didn't dare to use his own Legilimency abilities, which were nothing compared to Snape's, to delve into the wizard's mind to see if something was amiss there. And even if he attempted to break whatever influence Snape was under, it would alert the person who had done it. Moreover, he knew too little to act so quickly, and thus stupidly.

Orion knew that in cases such as these, with nearly an utter lack of any clues and information, it was better to observe before tracing a plan of action. And letting Snape learn about genetics didn't represent any kind of threat. Indeed, it sounded vaguely interesting to him in purely academically way. His only problem with it was that he didn't want muggle Science to be used to explain wizarding matters, since in his opinion that would be a setback instead of a progress.

Wizarding kind should never depend on muggle knowledge for anything - that was one of the most important premises to keep their worlds safely apart. If they started merging knowledge, then it was the first step to start fusing their worlds…

Orion's eyes widened as a suspicion struck him, but he discarded it the next second. Certainly, it would benefit Arian's aims of uniting the muggle and wizarding worlds if the wizarding world started to accept and use muggle knowledge. But on the other hand, Snape's research would validate the Dark's long-held insistence on blood purity, so Arian couldn't be the one behind whatever had been done to Snape. Arian would want to halt Snape's research instead of making the wizard look into genetics, if he knew about it.

No, whoever was behind this was an unknown agent. There was no doubt in Orion's mind. And it made him inwardly groan with deep frustration and frazzled apprehension.

But he knew that for now he could do nothing but observe Snape's doings until more was revealed. He had no doubt that at some point he would have more clues. Nothing as big as this could escape him. And what Snape was being driven to do regarding learning genetics didn't constitute any threat, not any that he could see, except… Except in the case of discovery by muggles, and given that Snape's mind had been messed with, there was no knowing if the wizard was capable of being his usual covert, efficient self.

"Look," said Orion quietly, using all his considerable effort to remain calm and act as if he hadn't noticed that anything was amiss, "if you want to learn about genetics, then fine, do it. But before you even contemplate to kidnap a muggle scientist, imperio one, break into a muggle lab, steal their equipment, or anything remotely along those lines that crosses your mind, let me know." He pinned him with an intense gaze. "You will let me know and I'll help you. Deal?"

Snape pierced him with narrowed eyes, and said acerbically, "You have suddenly decided to help me?"

"Yes," replied Orion honestly. "I rather assist you in that than allow you to do it by yourself. It could be dangerous, you could be captured, and those labs are surely heavily guarded if their equipment is so bloody expensive and their research so important and profitable. So if the time comes, we will do it my way. In exchange, I want you to give me your Wizard's Oath that you won't act in this matter without me."

It was only after more heated discussions, disagreements and negotiations, that Orion finally managed to extract the Oath he wanted from Snape. And by the end of it, Orion simply wanted to rest for a very, very long time. Indeed, his mind couldn't be fuller or more preoccupied.

Besides all the other stuff he had to do, he would now have to keep an eye on Snape, and he would certainly have to learn more about the whole genetics matter. But there was no way he was adding the latter to his plate, he had enough.

He would have to delegate that task, but he could hardly saddle Calypso with one more thing since she was already looking into muggle religions, weaponry and warfare. And anyone else from the Elite would be useless. He had only managed to understand the article after rereading it several times, and he knew he had grasped it so quickly not only because it had been explained as simply as possible, but also due to his upbringing as a muggle. Orion knew what cells and simple stuff like that were in a general sense, he had learned such things in primary school, but any pureblood would have been utterly lost in the article without that base.

Therefore, he finally decided that there was no better person he could order to look into the genetics subject than Hermione Granger herself. The young witch was already reading Dumbledore's Treatise, which had much to do with Slytherin's research results, and she had the base of her muggle upbringing as well. She was just who he needed for the task of filling him in on the subject once she fully understood as much as she could about it.

Despite that that decision lifted a heavy weight from his shoulders, he still felt exhausted. And the war was just beginning. This was only the start. Just great. Orion grumbled under his breath as he disapparated as quickly as possible from Spinner's End.


The moment he landed on his bedroom in Potter Manor, he wasted no time except in taking a quick, revitalizing shower. While he impeccably dressed and groomed himself, he heard the voices and noises coming from the floor below - the Elite had arrived. But he didn't want to see them, he was tired, he felt harrassed by the multitude of things he had to do, and the only person he wanted to see was Lezander, to see how much the young vampire remembered, to determine how he could have him without giving anything or anyone else up, and to reaffirm his hopes that Lezander hadn't changed. And last but not least, he wanted to finally confront the Kraljica Mati and discover what she had to do with everything else.

Mingling with the Elite was the furthest thing in his mind at present, and he thought it pointless. He wasn't going to go through the Marking Ceremony if Calypso didn't participate, and that was it. He would do it once she was ready, he wouldn't leave his right-hand and most trusted and closest friend behind. And by Merlin that she better be willing to tell him what was going on with her by then.

Silently, Orion grabbed the handle of his trunk, looped the strap of the sheath carrying Gryffindor's Sword across one shoulder, and scrunched his eyes shut while he clearly pictured his destination.

And with a tightening around his body and a swirling rush of colors, he felt himself travelling through space in the blink of an eye, at long last, going to Zraven Citadel.