The Crossroads of Fate

Chapter 7: The Malfoy Manor

A/N: Ok, few things before we get to the chapter. First off, I have changed the covers of my series. The covers are no freshly drawn by a wonderful reader. I would like to thank Sir Manayaz for the brilliant redesign of the book covers. They truly are excellent pieces of work and I am happy to use them as my book covers for this series as it reaches its conclusion. As I have often admitted, I am terrible at drawing and so a better drawer has done an excellent redesign for the covers and turned out absolutely magnificently considering what the meaning behind those Albus Potter books are. So, thanks Sir Manayaz, for those brilliant covers. I am honored to use them.

Secondly, time to answer some questions: What is up with Neil? You'll find out this book, or you can PM me and I'll tell the whole story. It's not exactly a spoiler because what his story entails isn't nearly as important as what it leads to. Why does Simon have poor taste in friends? He does, because he's self-destructive. He doesn't really realize how horrible his friends can be. In fact, Seth is one thing and Simon is beginning to understand that but Proxima can have a vicious mentality too. And yes, seth giving the stone away (for now) signifies giving up who he is. Very intuitive. The Rune of Partnership? Power and fate are the same. If one dies, so does the other and yes, if Incommodo and a normal person hared this rune and that normal person died, Incommodo would too. The rune makes the partnership as defensive as the weakest link but also as strong as the most powerful link. Now without further ado…

Maximu Tyro stood watching Albus and Neil. They did not answer immediately. In fact, without waiting for an answer, Tyro took out from under his robes a bat trapped in an orb. Neil jumped at the sudden appearance before relaxing, seeing it was just in fact a bat. "Your father has told me an interesting fact about you. I am terribly sorry to hear about your sister." Tyro did not sound as sorry as he claimed. He did not sound anything. His eyes were just alight with curiosity and spoke casually until getting to the main point, "Five years old, was she? Know what the belief is these days, Mr. Nott? Mr. Potter?"

Albus and Neil shook their heads. "What're you"-

"When a witch or wizard suffers a past trauma, their power levels increase," Tyro said simply. "This, of course, is just a theory. An experiment proposed by a Dark Witch from the States. She, of course, is dead now but her ideals have not disappeared. However, I believe differently. I believe that emotional power does not come as a result of trauma, but immediate reaction, when magic is at its most raw. I believe true power comes from raw magic, that is to say, underage magic before we were trained. I wish to see if this is true. Nott… how old are you?"

Neil did not answer. He just stood rooted to the spot, not saying a word. Remembering how James used to respond on Neil's behalf sometimes, Albus said, "Thirteen."

Tyro nodded interestedly. He took out from his robes another bat trapped in a moving orb. The two orbs were placed on the ground. "If the theory rings true, young Master Nott should be capable of killing one and incinerating another with curses far beyond his level. If he proves capable, the theory is true. If not, the theory is false and we move on to other ideas. Do you know how to perform the Killing Curse and Fiendfyre, Mr. Nott?"

"What?" Albus protested.

"Shh, silence, Potter, I'll try you if you wish but let this boy manage first," Tyro said sternly. "Mr. Nott?"

"I'll try it," Neil said suddenly and darkly, Albus actually stepped back. Neil had stepped aside when Era was slated to die but that was one thing. It was indirect involvement. Very indirect. Now, he was being asked to perform two powerful, Dark Curses without remorse. Neil pointed his wand at one bat, fixing it with revulsion Albus had never seen on his face before. What the hell did James see in him?

"Avada Kedavra." Albus braced himself but nothing came. Neil's wand made a sizzling sound, and green smoke came from it but nothing more. "Avada Kedavra." Same. No difference. Albus watched interestedly. Malfoy did too. He actually seemed momentarily surprised. Neil was incapable, regardless of any theory. Tyro actually smiled, "So… it fails. Very good, Mr. Nott."

"Am I weak?" Neil asked fearfully.

"Possibly," Tyro said simply. "Not that you should care. If your weak with a wand, you're powerful with raw magic. You may be of interest to us yet. On the bright side, guess those bats get to live another day, huh, Mr. Potter? Still wish to have your go?" Albus shook his head, fixing Tyro with an angry look. Tyro returned it with a smile and placed the orbs back inside his robes. "Well, I must file my report to the Headmaster. I do not wish to intrude upon your luncheon you are forty-five minutes late for. Good day, Potter. Nott. Congratulations on the disproval of a commonly held theory since Gwendolyn Garth." He left towards the passage leading to the Astronomy tower. Neil and Albus walked back down.

"What was that about?" Albus wondered aloud. "You didn't have to try, you know."

"He's the Professor, I had to try," Neil said simply and quietly. They continued walking in silence until they reached the Great Hall. Albus offered a goodbye which Neil only returned with a wave of his hand. Albus saw no more of him that day. In fact, Albus spent the rest of the day in the Slytherin Common room, resting once more, talking to no one but Scorpius when he was off. Albus was considering sharing with Scorpius his run-in with Tyro, trying to formulate how to introduce the idea without giving Neil's issues away. He decided to leave it till the next day, which thankfully fell on a weekend. In any case, Albus' dealings with the Dark Arts were not at an end. Scorpius' father Draco was due to teach them last period which Albus was looking forward to, just to see what sort of class it became under Incommodo's heading.

"Seventh years," Draco said shortly. "I will begin with a lecture on NEWT exams since this is your last year at Hogwarts. By now, I expect all of you to be average at nonverbal spells because the NEWT practical will take points away for failed attempts. What's important is that you have a very thorough understanding of Defense Against the Dark Arts. So, your dealings in this class have been very thorough. You've gone through dark creatures, shield charms, useful curses, and the Unforgivable Curses. Your understanding on defending yourselves against the Dark Arts is thorough enough to put most of the Law Enforcement to shame. However, you have not been taught a crucial aspect of defense. The ability to fight fire with fire.

"Now, the Head- Acting Headmaster expects me to teach you the Dark Arts themselves to be used in an offensive way but I reckon things will turn against you soon enough should you lean on them too much. The Dark Arts always leave traces and if you are knowledgeable enough in the field, you may be able to recognize these traces. Once you recognize these traces, you will be taught to get around and ultimately surpass the Dark Arts through offensive magic and the Dark Arts themselves. What escapes many in the field of Dark study is that the Dark Arts have defensive magic of their own and because the Dark Arts are generally more powerful than the usual Arts witches and wizards use, it will generally be harder and require greater sacrifice to deal with. An example… anyone…"

No one raised their hands save for a select few, specifically Scorpius and Aries. Albus for one was pretty stumped and Alexis kept her hands together, preferring to pay attention. Rose had her hand up but it was half-hearted and put it down once Draco's eyes passed over her. "Yes, you…"

"Blood price," Aries said simply.

Draco looked interestedly at her. "Name?"

"Aries V. Kimble," she said simply, puffing herself up proudly.

"Would you by any chance be related to American Dragon Tamer, Marius K. Kimble?"

"He's my father," she responded.

Draco gazed interestedly at her for a second, as if just beginning to understand something. He nodded slowly and continued on, "Blood Price is rather simple to perform, insanely difficult to get through, and impossible to undo unless you are the caster. As the name suggests, entry that requires Blood Price will not open unless you give blood. There are varying degrees of this defensive type of Dark Magic. Some require any sort of blood, some require specific blood from a bloodline, and some require blood from a specific person. I want you all to open the books I will hand out to you to Page 4 and read up on Blood Price and how to deal with it. We'll have a practical next week so read up now and come to the front of the class for testing."

Draco kept his promise too. Once they had read the passage on Blood Price, he called each student to the front of the class where they were challenged to open an empty jam jar by giving up a drop of blood. Everyone left the room with healed cuts and pricks. The first day had been hard indeed. Albus was grateful that the next day happened to be a weekend day. Not that it meant much. Malfoy had left them with a pile of homework on the uses of Blood Price and how to perform it and how to get through it.

If that was no enough, their next class happened to be Magical Artifacts which Incommodo had made core for third years and above. The Professor was none other than Zandar Lex who stood at the front of the class, arms folded as if they had all done something extremely inappropriate. They had all taken their seats quietly, breaths held for the lessons. Lex did not seem very pleasant but he did finally loosen his arm and paced the front of the room. "Seventh years. And yet, not a drop of knowledge of magical artifacts. How a school like this kept running all these years, I will never know. Ok, let's have a roll call and then we'll get to the lesson. Ackerly, Alexis!"

After Lex had taken attendance, the sheet flew back to his desk and he started lecturing, "Magical artifacts, also known as magical objects, are objects that have Charms or Curses placed on them which, if used, inflicts such Charms on a given area. Such objects can be based off charms or curses. Those based off charms are more acceptable while those based off curses are more inclined towards the Dark Arts. However, an object infused with a Charm, or the same Charm cast from a wand, are essentially different. The way to Charm or Curse an object is rather simple. By simply adding the word Obiecti to the object, the curse you muttered will activate upon anyone touching said object. Can anyone tell me how the Necklace of Death was made?"

Of course, nobody answered. Not even Scorpius. Lex seemed displeased as the class remained silent, all of them ignorant to his subject. "Very well," he said. "Who can tell me what the basic properties of the Black Orb are? And what is the difference between an Imperium rod and the Imperius Curse? Nothing? Well… open your books on Imperium objects and find the answer. And while you're at it, explain how wand-based spells are more different than object-based spells. Write it on a piece of parchment and pass it on to me. Failures will be detained. Go!"

The class was a little taken-aback at the sudden command and acted upon meeting the hard gaze Lex had for them. Albus did not know what to write. Alexis seemed to know, so did Scorpius seeing as how he had artifacts of all sorts at home, Mark seemed to know, Rose, Aries, and even Fauna. Albus just wrote Magical artifacts are more wide-ranging than the Charm itself and the Imperius rod is more wide-ranging too sure that he was getting it wrong. At least writing something was better than nothing. After five minutes, Lex summoned all pieces to him and he read through him.

His wand flicked once and the pieces of parchment were flown to different piles, one of which was higher than the other. "Very few of you managed to know that artifacts are not only wide ranging, which is obvious, but also bypass shields. It affects living things in a given area regardless of protections unless these protections are also infused within an object. In the case of shields, artifacts trumps spells. Coming in to a cursed plane with a Shield Charm will not protect you any more than a dragon's scale will protect you from a Killing curse. I want you all to read the first introduction chapter in the text books I will hand out to you. Quietly. No talking."

The rest of the lesson was a dull affair. Albus had a feeling Lex meant to make it so but the reading was very dry and really only mentioned one artifact while mostly dealing with the theory behind making one.

That was not the end of their troubles either. Lex had proven the uselessness of his own class, Albus had no idea what Rojer was doing in his own classes. Neil had told him quietly that he was simply preaching simple laws of magic and where magic was channeled from to get to the wand. "Something about underage magic beig more powerful than wand magic. I wasn't paying attention."

"Why not?"

"Because, magic is evil," Neil muttered and walked away without a backward glance.

Albus meant to run after him and try talking again, or at the very least give him company when he had the misfortune of hearing a loud bang from someone's wand. He heard Scorpius' yelp and Rojer's yell. But just as Albus rounded a corner, all he saw was the Greengrass twins, both standing rooted to the spot but Proxima looking furious with something.

Once evening fell, Albus returned to the Slytherin Common room. The first thing he heard was the overly loud distinctive complaints of Maria Prince who now picked on the greenish tint of the room as too plain. Albus spotted Sierra laying back quite comfortably on the plain floor, a sofa pillow set up against her brother, Seth, who also seemed to be going to sleep. Albus had to admit, the two looked almost peaceful and normal when sleeping, like normal teenagers resting after a long day of study. Spying them from across the room was Proxima Greengrass who was sitting beside Simon. Deciding this was as good a time as any, Albus went over and sat at their table quietly.

"Hi, Al," Proxima said shortly while Simon grimaced a smile and returned to his homework.

"What happened earlier?" Albus asked curiously. "With Rojer?"

"Nothing important," Proxima shrugged. "My cousin simply tripped and almost disrupted father's stroll so father threatened him."

Simon stared with a gape and Albus blinked. Was Proxima seriously suggesting that a potential fight between her cousin and her father was nothing to be concerned about? "And you think Seth is bad?" Simon said pointedly.

"Whatever father does to Scorpius, he deserves it," Proxima insisted quietly and coolly, keeping herself composed as usual. "And whatever Scorpius does to father, he deserves it too. I have no care what happens if the two people I hate most in the world fight. In fact, I'll cross my fingers for a death."

"Why are all my best friends psychopaths?" Simon challenged.

"I don't know, you picked them," Proxima said carelessly. "And what's more, Simon wouldn't shut up about Seth's betrayal last year and Divination was a field day. Trelawney started predicting deaths left and right, and then Kimble's blind brother pops out of nowhere and starts disproving all of her predictions. It went from a Divination lesson to a flare-up between a crazy old lady and a young boy who sees everything. How he can see anything with those white eyes of his, I'll never know."

"Well, it was rather funny," Simon commented quietly.

"Because Simon reckons he saw something," Proxima groaned. "And I'm supposed to believe that a Muggle-born can see when a Pure-blood can't. I hate Divination. I don't know why I signed up for it."

"I got you into it," Simon smirked. "That's why. Besides you hate everything from chocolate to your cousin." And he sighed, glancing over at Seth and Sierra, both of whom were now asleep. "I did see something…"

"What did you see?" Albus asked curiously.

Proxima rolled her eyes but put down her quill all the same. Simon actually looked close to tears as he said, "I- I saw Seth dying."

"Seth died?" Albus asked in shock.

Proxima groaned, "Al, the future isn't certain, that's what our mum always told us. Simon says he saw Seth dying, not dead, and there is a difference. So, Seth was dying. Cure him. In the Wizarding world, you can cure ailments, Simon, especially Muggle ailments, so quit worrying and focus on the homework I told you not to leave till the last bloody minute."

Albus had a different interest though, now genuinely curious. He thought Simon had completely given up on Seth but he seemed very worried, "If you care about him, why not talk to him?"

"Why would I?" Simon demanded angrily, eliciting a smirk from Proxima. "He killed two people, watched another die, and asked someone else to kill another just to take their house and give it to me? Because he actually thought I'd live in a house whose occupants were murdered by my best friend. He doesn't even know me. He just… did it." Simon was near-tears now, dropping his quill, making Proxima's eyes roll further. "Like that was supposed to replace my dead parents. Like that is supposed to help me. It… I can't talk to him. Who can? Sophie doesn't even know who she has a crush on anymore and what makes it all worse is he doesn't regret it!"

"It's pretty much in line with what I told you last year countless times," Proxima sighed as Simon started packing his things. "Your friend is the devil. No one acts the way he does. No one works the way he does. He's just there. He doesn't feel, he only thinks, and he thinks of himself. You want to know what your problem was?"

"I assumed the best in him," Simon muttered.

"And next time, you'll learn not to assume the best in people," Proxima lectured.

"People are good"-

"No, Simon, my father tried having my twin brother killed twice in the same year," Proxima said angrily as Simon folded his arms. "My father beat and abused my twin brother. People are not good. They're evil."

Simon looked hurt and devastated and Proxima looked careless to whatever he seemed to be feeling, if anything glad that he was feeling this way. "I'm going to bed, Proxy," Simon mumbled. "Goodnight."

Albus did not know why, but Proxima seemed irritated by then. She got up and faced him, making Albus feel quite out of place. "My name is Proxima."

"And my name is Simon," Simon said, red-faced. "Not 'Muggle-born' or 'baby-face!' And for the record, his name," he referred to Seth. "Is certainly not 'the devil' or 'your friend.' If someone's name isn't worth your breath, stay away from them!"

"You still don't want to get it, do you, Simon? He used you and you still"-

Simon did something Albus never would've expected of him. It was as if all his anger towards Proxima was finally being let out. He withdrew his wand and pointed it at her. "My friend fought the Reservation, my friend incapacitated Dubium, my friend freed an innocent man, my friend protected me when his own father was holding my sister and I hostage, my friend stopped bullies for the past two years while you just stood on the sidelines watching them call me a Mudblood to get in their good graces! You ran and hid like a little girl! If he's the devil, you're a bloody coward!"

Albus might have found their frequent argument amusing at times but it had never taken this drastic a turn. Proxima actually looked near-tears herself now as she watched Simon stalk off towards his dormitories. The dorm room he slept in alone since the rest of his mates had joined the New Roots the previous year and got expelled. Albus and Proxima just stood for a bit, Proxima a shoulder below Albus due to their age gap. She seemed shocked and downright hurt at Simon's actions but even then, she did not draw her wand, she did not even think about striking back. She just stared, wiping her eyes, determined not to show her tears.

"Look, I- Proxy- Proxima- I… don't you think you're a little harsh sometimes?" Albus asked her tentatively.

Proxima did not meet Albus' eyes. She just stood, staring sightlessly at the spot where Simon had been. Scorpius had just come up, looking curiously between them. It might have been Scorpius' arrival but Proxima just left after that, towards her own dormitory. Scorpius and Albus just stood quietly, Scorpius probably debating with himself whether or not to ask what had happened. Apparently deciding not to, he turned to Albus and took a breath, "I… I'm going to visit the Malfoy Manor tomorrow. See my mum since she's pregnant and all. If you want to come, you can. I'm taking Lucy too to show her around."

Albus just nodded, not trusting himself to speak at the moment. He gave a nod of agreement, noting that he did still have a meeting with Incommodo at five the next day. Hopefully, they'd be back by then, though Albus would not complain otherwise. He followed Scorpius up to bed and lay awake, thinking of so much. Seth, Simon, Proxima, Scorpius, Lucy, Incommodo, Mark, and Albus' own father. Was Harry still mad at him? Or did he die and Albus did not find out? James had died with an unresolved issue between them. Would the same happen between Harry and Albus? His dreams were only sounds, like a video without picture. Sounds of Harry, Proxima, and Mark yelling over each other, trying to make their voices heard.

The next morning came almost in a flash. The morning of their visit to the Malfoy Manor. They would have to take the long way there through the portrait and use Albus' keys that Harry left for him. Albus sighed as they got dressed. Just as they got their clothes on, a knock sounded and in came Lucy, dressed in a casual red shirt with blue jeans. It actually went well with her red hair which was let down over her ears. Scorpius actually grinned, "I like you with jeans."

"Thanks, I hate me with dresses," she yawned. "So, when're we going? Wait- is Al going?"

"Yup, he's the one with the keys and we want a break from the damned school," Scorpius shrugged, unaware of Lucy looked a little disappointed. "Ready, Al?"

"Yeah, and don't worry Lucy, I won't be in your way," Albus nodded quietly, his mind still going back to the night before. As they walked down and through the Common room, it was clear to see that Simon was now avoiding both Seth and Proxima and just studying by himself, not meeting anyone's eyes. Sophie was beside him as well, and she too was avoiding Seth's eyes, studying by herself now instead of in the usual group. Seth was still in the same spot with Sierra, the two beginning to stir as they woke up. They must've slept all night in that spot.

"Al," a tired voice called over. Albus expected this. Telling Scorpius to wait for him in the Entrance hall, Albus walked up to Seth and sighed. Aware of Sierra listening, Albus filled him in on the argument before. Albus thought Seth would show some signs of depression or sadness but for a wonder, he did not. In fact, he smiled and said, "Alright, then. At least he doesn't hate me. Fine. Go on."

The talk was a lot shorter than Albus thought. He caught up with Scorpius and Lucy in the dungeon corridor. They walked on through the castle, Albus doing his best to ignore passerby. He hoped he did not run into Alexis. He did not want awkward questions as to where he was going and why he was sticking with Scorpius and Lucy who were clearly a couple. Albus did catch Incommodo's eyes though. The Minter used the smallest of head motions to indicate he still expected Albus' presence at five that afternoon. Albus knew he could not avoid the Minister all year and the more he tried, the more furious the Minister would be when Albus finally was caught. He would have to show up. Scorpius and Lucy, whose hands were clasped together, did not say anything but continued on.

Then, from the marble staircase yelled a surprise voice, "Are you kidding me?"

"Hi, Rose," Scorpius said shortly, stopping at the double oak doors.

Rose, Albus' cousin stared. "You and Lucy? Seriously, Lucy? You can do so much better."

"Really, like who?" Lucy said in fake interest.

"Anyone who's not a Malfoy!" Rose said angrily. "Let alone that Malfoy!"

"I'll… take my chances," Lucy sighed and continued walking out with him.

As they passed her, Rose muttered to Scorpius, "Well, I'm dating Riley. So much more my type than"-

"Oh, no," Scorpius said sarcastically. "I am so jealous, I'm going to kill him." He spoke like he was practicing poorly for a drama play. He looked up and aked mockingly, "How was that? Was my reaction right?"

"Shut it."

"Rosie went from forbidden love to a vampire romance," Lucy muttered bemusedly.

"Which is very forbidden," Scorpius added. "She has a thing for guys her family will hate."

A part of Albus wanted to talk to Rose but she wasn't interested in Albus either after the time travelling adventure mere months ago. She kept her eyes determinedly off Albus and watched them go without saying anything more. They were halfway across the lawn to Lycah's hut. Albus was just beginning to wonder what the plan was to get Lycah's consent when Lucy added, "Good thing she doesn't know where we're going or she might've flipped."

"I would've liked to see that," Scorpius said thoughtfully just as they made it up.

Scorpius sighed and knocked on the door. The three braced themselves for the storm as the door opened. Standing at the door was not Lycah but Lorcan. Beside him was Lycah but she was not wearing her usual torn clothes. She was wearing something neater. An earthy yellow robe that fell down to her ankles. She held Lorcan's hand rather tightly as she gazed at them. She did not seem as uptight as she usually was but she did have a flicker of annoyance in her eyes as they showed themselves.

"Hi, guys," Lorcan said brightly.

"Portraits?" Lycah asked shortly, as if trying very hard to keep herself from yelling as she always did.

"Ye"-

"Make sure to shut my hut and lock it tight," she told them. "Let anybody in and I bite you. Lysander, keep the hut. I imagine you could at least keep that?"

"Leave my brother alone," Lorcan muttered, which made Lycah go red.

Albus did not understand what was happening between them but Lysander jut shot her a sad look before the door shut. With those final words, she left them where they were and walked off with Lorcan. "Is there… I thought she liked you."

"Nope," Lysander said brightly. "She likes Lorcan now. She thought the dance we shared meant we're getting married."

Albus stifled a laugh and Lysander let a small smile out. "It doesn't matter. I'm happy she's with Lorcan. I grew out of her when I made an overseas friend."

"An overseas friend?" Albus asked interestedly.

"Magizoologist who works at America's Oxcraft Farms," he said brightly. "She's really nice and knowing someone with my same interests… it made me think that chasing Lycah was the wrong way to go. She got mad at me for that."

"Well, good luck," Lucy shrugged. "I personaly don't think much of the Ministry's pen pal programs."

"They're supposed to be really trustworthy," Scorpius commented. "If Scamander thinks it's good for him, it is. My only worry is why he's focusing on something Incommodo is running right now."

"Hence why I don't approve," Lucy hissed. "It'll end horribly."

Lysander was still in the hut but Albus' thoughts were the same as what Scorpius and Lucy started talking about as they walked through the portrait and took the hidden path to Hogsmeade. Lycah was noticeably different than before. It clearly had something to do with the Goals. Lancet was in ogsmeade, it seemed, but Cherry was first year. Lysander might've been Lycah's better choice just to calm her but he guessed it was just as good she chose Lorcan in the end. Neither Scorpius nor Lucy knew Lysander as well as Albus did though, so neither knew of this.

On they walked through the tunnel-like passageway to the bungalow in the Hogsmeade countryside. It was a long walk but finally, they reached stable ground and climbed out of the portrait. Once again, Albus had a feeling of being in a non-space-like zone, like he was trapped in another dimension as long as he was in the bungalow. Albus took out the keychain of countless keys and flipped through them till he got to the green one. He fit it into the lock and turned it, immediately feeling like he landed back on earth again. Lucy was fixing her eyes in wonder at the events as the bungalow door opened to none other than the Malfoy Manor entrance hall. It was official. Albus was no longer in Hogwarts and this was the first time he left the castle for any period of time in a whole year.

"Welcome to the Malfoy Manor," Scorpius said proudly, bowing them in.

Albus grinned for the first time in a while as the familiar entrance hall appeared. The glass python still towered over to greet them and the floor was made of marble. The walls were so shiny they almost looked like glass and the crystallized chandelier hung over their heads. Lucy was entranced by it. She even unclasped her hand from Scorpius' and touched the wall, blowing out a sigh softly. Albus could tell her dignity was being put to the test. She was resisting her urge to squeal and run all over the house to get a good look at the rooms. Scorpius said, "Don't worry, Luce. I'll give you a tour right after we've greeted my mother."

As if on cue, appearing from the doorway was Draco and Astoria Malfoy. Albus straightened himself up, feeling very strange seeing his Professor outside Hogwarts. Would Draco say anything?

"Out of school, are we, Potter?" Draco mused. "Five points from Slytherin."

"What?"

"And five points to Slytherin for having excellent taste in destination," Draco quipped humorously. "And five more points just cause I'm biased. Scorpius, any particular reason why you tend to bring Weasleys upon your return home these days?"

Scorpius went red and Lucy immediately looked flustered, "I apologize. I can leave if you"-

"My son is an adult, it is his Manor to bring whoever he likes over here," Astoria said.

Astoria had a noticeable bump to her stomach five months in her pregnancy. She did not seem accustomed to standing either, as if she had stood only because she heard her son's voice in the doorway. Scorpius was actually clearly supportive too, offering to sit her down in the sitting room again while he gave Lucy a tour of the Manor. Draco actually poured them all tea and asked, "So, anything you want to tell us, Scorpius, before giving the girl a tour of the Malfoy Manor? You haven't introduced us yet."

"Yes, erm… father, mother, this is my girlfriend, Lucy Weasley," Scorpius said straightly, trying to sound as sure of himself as possible. It was the first time Scorpius admitted to his parents to dating a Weasley. Draco and Astoria raised their eyebrows but blissfully said nothing. They just nodded as Albus, Scorpius and Lucy took a seat facing the window to the outside world, even showing beyond the grounds, which was incredible because their grounds were too big to show what was outside from the Manor itself.

"Enchanted," Astoria said to Albus upon catching his curious expression. "So we can see what's happening outside. We've been needing it lately."

"Indeed, take a look," Draco said importantly, pointing his finger to the window and showing figures in an ominous white flying low on broomsticks. Albus had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach as he saw them, some of them familiar as the people who placed Hogwarts under siege several months ago. The Reservation. The mood suddenly went more ominous as they witnessed them flying low on broomsticks around the perimeter of the grounds. There were several to a line, watching closely, as if waiting for something.

"They've been watching for a fortnight now," Astoria said lowly. "We can see them but they don't know we can see them. And we have a quick escape if they manage to get inside. All our passages are boarded up but they leave sometimes, when they want to attack a nearby village. This area has been their target for a while now. I'm sure they're looking for us."

"How do they know whe"-

"Who else, Scorpius?" Draco asked testily.

"Uncle Rojer," Scorpius muttered.

"Precisely and even in Hogwarts, he is still dangerous," Draco warned. "General Magical Studies indeed."

Rojer Selwyn, now openly with the Reservation and the Arsenal, knew exactly where the Malfoy Manor was. It was useless though. He was not Secret keeper for him to be able to tell anyone. They were safe. For that time at the very least. Lucy finished off her tea and got up, gratefully thanking Draco and Astoria for the tea and going off with Scorpius alone. Draco watched them go and muttered to Astoria, though Albus could hear, "My worst fear realized. A Weasley is the next Mrs. Malfoy."

"Let him date who he likes, this war is like to claim us all before long," Astoria sighed, feeling her bump.

"So, why did you come, Potter?" Draco asked casually, leaning against the wall, making Albus feel quite uncomfortable. "Did the Reservation's attack against Wiltshire attract you?"

"Erm… just to- well- just to get away from Hogwarts, I guess?" he suggested.

"After two years in that castle, hard not to relate," Draco shrugged. "The last time you were here, we were under attack and you killed Hogan Ridge. Don't worry, I won't rat you out. Yet."

"The castle is pretty intense, right now," Albus sighed, getting up and watching closer to the window. Lady was there too, and some of the fliers looked young, like they were new recruits. Albus even thought he recognized some of the previously rejected kids from the year before. He did not yet see Aramaster Ruse but they were definitely part of the search party.

"It is," Draco agreed. "Had I been in charge, I wouldn't be teaching a class full of teenagers. I'd be here until my wife comes out of labor with our next in line. And that's worrisome enough because with more than one Malfoy line, the Manor will become too small few generations down. We must start thinking from now lest our problems because Scorpius' problems."

"Bad enough Scorpius thinks he'll be dead by the end," Albus lamented.

"We all think we're going to die," Draco said pointedly. "The Reservation cannot be negotiated with, and cannot be trusted. Under their ideology, they'll be the only ones with magic before long."

"Yeah, I know," Albus said quietly, remembering Soto's speech to him three months earlier.

"Potter," Draco said suddenly. "You might not be trusting of me, but trust me when I say I learned a long time ago what it means when wizards fight for purity and when they fight for survival. I've experienced both. Right now, we're fighting for survival and teaching at Hogwarts is the best way to do so right now." Albus nodded, not meeting Draco's eyes, not sure if what he was saying was the truth. Could he trust Draco like he could trust Scorpius? Draco continued, "Your father wishes to know something. Something very important to the strategy in defeating the Arsenal when the time comes."

Albus stopped, insides almost freezing over. Where was this going? "Which is…"

"Do you head a group in Hogwarts?" Draco asked bluntly.

Albus met his eyes now, his eyes so like Scorpius' eyes. Albus could not tell him though. Even if he was trustworthy, Draco couldn't know. Only students. Only Albus' friends. One teacher and the entire thing would collapse before long. One look into Draco's mind and Hogwarts would lose its only defenders. And that was assuming Draco was on Harry's side, something Albus could not wrap his mind around even if Harry could. He had to evade the question. He said, "I thought we're all going to die."

"We will," Draco agreed. "But the students will live, mark my words. Your father has a plan against the Reservation. They're going to lose. They even now, don't know that they are on the brink of implosion. Once Dubium is out of the picture, the Arsenal is the threat once more. That is where your group comes in."

"I didn't say I have one," Albus said quickly.

"Ah, but you did," Draco smirked. "You Potters are just too fickle to realize it. Ok, Potter, don't tell me. But your father will certainly know of this conversation. He's on a solo mission right now and last time he went on a solo mission, an entire army collapsed. If you do not trust your father, who do you trust?"

"I don't trust you," Albus said suddenly to him, folding his arms. "My father is convinced everyone around Incommodo, everyone in that circle of his, are on his side. I'm not an idiot and I'm not naïve. Odds are at least one of you lot are traitors and considering the history you have"-

"And my son"-

"Who's proven himself already"-

"Like I have?" Draco quipped.

"Like I know I can trust Scorpius"-

"Your father knows"-

"My father isn't your best friend!" Albus shot back to him.

"Stop yelling," Astoria said suddenly. "It's not good for any of us."

Both Albus and Draco calmed down, took deep breaths and turned away, saying nothing more for the rest of the visit. Albus instead went off to find Scorpius, following the sound of his voice. Albus only had a limited time there at least. He would have to start back at four if he wanted to get back to Incommodo on time. If he was not on time, Incommodo might question where he was the whole day to not be able to make it. Albus was almost grateful for the upcoming meeting. Maybe, then, Albus could discover something for himself. Something neither Harry nor Ernie, Draco, Marius or even Tyro knew. And Albus would be the one alerting his father to the danger surrounding Incommodo. Albus already told Harry about Herpo and the fact that two souls could survive Killing Curses. Would Harry know how to defeat him? How could he when Merlin was convinced Albus was the only one?

Albus ended up leaving Scorpius and Lucy in the Malfoy Manor once it became clear they would not leave by five in the afternoon and Draco would definitely take Scorpius along with him when he had to go. Albus left the Manor at three-thirty and left through the entrance hall to the bungalow, locked the door and took the portrait back to Hogwarts. Upon redressing into his Hogwarts robes and hiding his keys once more in some old socks, he made his way up to the Astronomy tower, passing no one.

"So, you have come after all," the wispy voice of Incommodo said to Albus at five o'clock sharp. "I was beginning to think you would not show up. The enmity between us is great after all and after this night, it will either grow greater or simply end."

"End?"

"Avada Kedavra!"

The Curse came too quickly for Albus to react. He felt it slam against his chest and he was pushed back against the door and to the balcony. He felt different from the first time he was hit though. He was still alive. He felt immediate movement inside his body, his very soul acting, and something imploding within as the Killing Curse cancelled itself out. He felt another scar form on his chest area, resting between his lungs as a straight line. He did not have to time to play dead this time. Incommodo was on top of him immediately, and forced him up. Albus took a breath as Incommodo's yellow eyes rested on him. Albus started shivering again, knowing what was coming.

This time, Incommodo witnessed Albus' survival. As a fellow man with two souls, Incommodo would know full well, once and for all, why Albus managed to survive. Incommodo stared at him dangerously as Albus tried catching his breath. "Two souls, are we?"

"It's- it's not my fault," Albus said lamely.

"Regardless, you and I are unwelcome in the world," Incommodo told him. "I have decided, through the wisdom of my advisers, to offer you a chance to come clean. I have decided to offer you a chance to join my crusade and end this war."

"Why the heck would I join you?" Albus asked incredulously.

Albus was thrown into a chair facing Incommodo's desk and ropes were conjured to bind him to the chair. Albus felt them bind tightly, struggling only making them tighter, as Incommodo regarded him calmly. "You and I are of the same stock now. Unwelcome in a world that is unforgiving of mistakes and events beyond control. So, I reveal my secrets to you and you manage to get away. How many did you tell?"

"As- as many as I bloody well could," Albus muttered.

"Very well, now you will tell me the truth," Incommodo said quietly. "Did you tell your father?"

"Yes, I did," Albus gasped against the ropes.

"And do you have a secret group in Hogwarts?" Incommodo pressed.

"N-No," Albus lied.

Upon telling the lie, the ropes burned white hot against his skin, searing into it, paining him against his new scar. He screamed against the pain and Incommodo gazed into his green eyes. Albus knew lies would get him nowhere this time. He had won. This year, the Hogwarts Guard would not be secret but well in the open. Albus had to survive this meeting. He had to tell. He had to tell everyone what Incommodo could do and keep a low profile. Incommodo said, "You stand alone, Potter. You have two choices, now you're set apart from everybody else. As of now, you're lying, too. You do have a group. And in time, you will tell me. As of now, I may be very incapable of expelling or punishing its unknown members but your little escapade will not go on for long. And Mr. Potter, mark my words, I will do my own studies on the students of Hogwarts and when it comes time, you will tell me and join me, or risk further pain and alienation from everyone around you." Incommodo flicked his wand and the ropes were unbound. "Now get out of my office!"