The Crossroads of Fate

Chapter 8: Lovegood Tower

Draco showed no signs of his latest argument with Albus in his classes. He continued treating Albus as he treated any other student. Only at the end of the first class afterward did he give Albus a look that told him that Harry was well aware of everything. It made Albus wonder if Incommodo informed Draco

of the recent meeting Albus had with him as well. How could Harry be so blind? Incommodo had bad blood with the Malfoys. If Draco was seriously trusted by him, the proof had to be iron-clad. In fact, regardless… why did Incommodo trust Draco? What made him so sure Draco could be trusted as part of his inner circle? What was the game there?

Typical Malfoys, Albus thought. They turned on a sickle if it looked good for them. Why they picked Incommodo to side with and not the Reservation as would be natural for them, Albus did not know. For a time, Scorpius seemed rather distant with Albus too, perhaps having heard about the argument. And what was up between Proxima and Rojer? He watched from the corridor one day as Proxima actually pointed her wand at her father daringly, just outside his office after she had a class with him. Her arm was shaking, saying quietly, "You're lucky. You're lucky you're here under protection. The second you leave, the second you raise a hand against me or my brother, you die. You die and that's a promise."

"Kill your father will"-

"I WILL DO IT!" Proxima screamed furiously, stamping her feet in the same way Samantha used to when she was particularly angry. "I gave you my warning. Heed it or die, I mean it!"

Proxima was lucky she was not punished but Albus could see why. Rojer talking openly about what he did and why they were at odds, let alone drawing attention to it would leave even Incommodo with little choice. Rojer did fire Proxima angry looks as the month wore on though. Still, as the month wore on and they started getting used to classes again, things slowly went back to normal and the fights blew over. Draco and Albus were, if anything, cordial. Scorpius was once again a little more open and talked casually of the dates he was planning on taking Lucy on, and Albus would once again do his mountainous pile of homework with him and Riley, focusing on studies every week before relaxing over the weekend, reading the book Alexis gave him which proved to be very educational.

As September stretched into October, Hogwarts started settling itself into the usual gear. Seth was beginning to get into the OWL spirit, beginning his fourth year, the last year before he would have to sit the exams. Even he could be spotted studying alongside Sierra, even tutoring her calmly, trying his best to ignore Simon and Sophie on the other side of the room. It did look as if their friendship did indeed come to an end. As for Simon and Proxima, the two made it up pretty quickly but neither mentioned the argument they had before.

With the Hogwarts protections extending to Hogsmeade as well, students could come and go as they pleased on weekends. Albus did not go all the time, especially since Alexis did not either, and preferred to remain at Hogwarts to tutor her brother. The weekends were the only times she could since she had homework to do during the weekdays. Once again, Alexis was stretching herself to the limit but even with their father gone, it was not as bad as the year before since Alexander knew the dangers of overworking his sister. Not only that, but Alexander claimed the General Magical Theory course taught by Rojer was a help.

"Some people work better with theoretical knowledge," Lucy said matter-of-factly when Albus told her and Scorpius at the Slytherin table. "I just wish it was taught by somebody other than Selwyn. Son of a- never mind," she stopped herself as Proxima passed.

Proxima merely shrugged and said, "Don't apologize. Curse away. I don't care."

Lucy had a confused look and looked over at Scorpius questioningly who said, "Long story."

Albus may've asked what the story was but Lucy made it quite clear she did not want Albus tagging along to Hogsmeade with them. Instead, Albus spent what might have been a Hogsmeade weekend with Neil Nott, who decided to take Albus up on his offer. Albus spent more and more time in the Gryffindor Common room with Neil, just talking through his years of Hogwarts, hoping something he said would click and get Neil talking.

Like the time before, the two walked the halls by the end, sometimes in silence but at least Master Tyro did not attempt any more experiments involving students killing animals. "The giant squid is quite friendly, you know. You can actually swim with it and if you drown, it stops you. It's really friendly. Ever taken swimming lessons?"

Even a direct question was not enough to get him talking. The boy just shrugged and sat against the three, in the shade, watching the tentacles swim lazily against the surface.

"Speaking of magical creatures, ever heard what happened almost five years ago?" Albus asked, thinking back to Riley's garlic frenzy.

"Busy," Neil said shortly.

"Before Incommodo took power, my dad, Phoenix, and a Head of International Magical Cooperation called Otto Blackberry arranged to have exchange students over."

"Otto?"

"Yeah, he's my friend's dad," Albus said, leaning back against the tree with him. "A vampire but his wife died so he raised is half-vampire children alone, and"-

"Vampire?" Neil asked, sitting straight now.

Now Albus was getting somewhere. He was hoping he might get some sort of reaction by mentioning the very beings Seth and Alex believed he was afraid of. Albus just nodded, hoping Neil would say something. But he did not. Not immediately anyway. He remained quiet, thinking, processing, wondering, but saying nothing just yet. He was shivering slightly though. Albus sighed and went on, "Yeah, he worked really closely with my dad before the guy was exiled."

Neil visible relaxed. He leaned against the tree again, "Your father was fooled."

"I'm sure he's being fooled but… I don't think it's by a vampire," Albus said slowly.

"Vampires are evil," Neil muttered, and got up, clearly no longer in the mood to talk. "Trust me."

With those final words, Neil made to walk away. Albus knew the conversation was over so he called him back to give a few last parting words, hoping he had an effect this time around, "Neil. My offer is still open, you know. Talk to me and I'll let you in the Slytherin Common room whenever you want."

Neil froze for a second, saying nothing still. He left soon after and Albus saw little of him for the rest of the week. Once he left, Albus remained by the lake, watching the tentacles glide gracefully against the surface, mind wandering back to Alexis. He was filled with so many worries lately. How Albus wished for a time where he could just rest in a house far away, alone, secluded from the world to just be. Maybe Alexis would be there with him. Would she want to? Could she, even with Alexander? If Albus' life was not in the danger zone, he might have done what Mark did and propose to her. If the war was not eating everything up in his life, destroying his once close relationship with his father, deteriorating the trust between him and the Malfoys, and threatening to eradicate Wizardkind for good, his life might have been happy.

"Hey, AL!" Lorcan's voice yelled loudly, slapping him upside the head to get his attention.

"Sorry," Albus sighed, grimacing as he rubbed his head.

"Wrackspurts?" Lysander asked dreamily as he sat across from Albus. Beside Lysander was his gray wolf who rested next to him calmly, making little to no sound.

"Pretty sure that's not the case," Albus sighed as Lorcan sat across from him.

"Starm Klites?"

"Nope," Albus shook his head. "Need something?"

"Well," Lysander said slowly, looking at his twin and his wolf, Timber, cocked his head up. "Erm… Lorcan and I were going to go to Lovegood tower and fetch the printing equipment for daddy. And Lorcan thinks we should move some important stuff from the… Headmaster's Office… to the tower. Just in case Incommodo gets in."

Albus looked up, mind settling down. "Why?"

"The office depends on legitimate approval," Lorcan reminded him. "With the governors dead and the Minister declaring Hogwarts in session for a whole month now, the teachers are more than able to grant him access. We're being preemptive."

Albus' mind settled down. "Oh. Guessing you need the keys then?"

"Yeah, but neither us nor our dad knows which portraits to take," Lorcan sighed. "Or which key will get us there and it's too dangerous to do trial and error with the Reservation and the Arsenal all over the place. We were hoping you knew."

"I don't," Albus said, getting up and rummaging through his pockets for the key chain. "I only know the way to Malfoy Manor."

Lorcan looked over his shoulder at the keychain and the keys dangling from it. He seemed puzzled by the colors but Lysander actually named them, like he knew all along. "There's the Lovegood tower." Lorcan and Albus froze and Lysander smiled widely, "See? Its color is yellow. Mum's favorite color."

"Are you… sure?" Lorcan asked uncertainly.

"Of course I'm sure," Lysander said. "I know mum."

"Why do you need to get the printing equipment?" Albus asked as they walked towards the castle. Timber bounded across heavily, tongue hanging out. Albus was very aware of the wolf walking just in front of him, tongue lolling out happily.

"The Gorgs informed me of an impending attack of Jirashins against Lovegood tower and the word needs to get out before it's too late," Lysander said importantly as Master Tyro and Ernie Macmillan passed, staring at Timber curiously.

"In English?" Albus asked.

"That was English," Lysander told him.

"Say it in Normal-speak then," Lorcan sighed. "Like, in a way mortal people like Al and I understand?"

Albus laughed as Lysander sighed, considering it carefully. "The crystal ball told me."

"Sander and I were in Divination," Lorcan said simply. "And he saw our tower being attacked so we're just… it's a precaution. Dad thinks it would be best to get it anyway because we've been out of print since the end of last year after the DA vacated all their houses. If we have the equipment here, we can print and sell in Hogsmeade and use that place to spread the news the public- erm- needs to know… somewhat." Lorcan sighed. "At least it puts bread on the table."

They were in the Entrance hall. It turned out Neil had not gone to Gryffindor tower but rested himself in a corner beside Alex with a book open. For a wonder, Alexander and Sierra were beside him and Neil seemed harder at work than before. Albus wondered if this would be good for him. If it would help whatever troubled him.

"The dog again?" Proxima asked as she made her way to the dungeons.

The castle was making its way from lunch, it seemed, and everyone did shoot Timber curious glances. Simon sighed, "It's a wolf!"

"Simon"-

The doors to the Great hall opened one last time and out walked Incommodo, standing highly and intimidating over all the students. Proxima jumped, "Headmaster, sir!" Mors Incommodo stopped and turned slightly towards the third year girl. Proxima, thought slightly shivery, spoke, "Sorry, but… is-is that a wolf or a dog, sir?"

Incommodo turned more to rest his gaze on the Scamander twins and the wolf beside them. Timber sat up obediently and whimpered slightly as Incommodo held its gaze. "Which infernal student had the gull to bring a wolf into my school?"

"Told you," Simon hissed to a shocked Proxima. "Told you, told you, TOLD YOU! I WIN!"

"Silence, boy!" Incommodo barked suddenly making Simon jump and scamper off before he could be reprimanded further. "Scamander, out with it!"

"It's my familiar," Lysander said simply and bravely as Lorcan slapped his forehead with his palm.

Lorcan sighed, "Pardon my brother. He believes very crazy things. We usually keep it away but"-

"Scamander, you are no longer the son of a teacher to be able to get away with crimes of this magnitude," Incommodo said wispily again. Albus could sense the tone rising. He would restart his yelling once he had all the information. Albus had his hands in his pocket, ready to duel if he had to. Incommodo continued, "You will take it away immediately or I will have to separate you."

"Well, maybe physically but it's my familiar," Lysander insisted. "We're bound by spirit. And I say I can keep my familiar."

A couple of students giggled but Incommodo did not see the funny side of this in the slightest. In fact, he responded exactly as Albus feared. His teachers Zandar Lex and Rojer Selwyn separated the students nd herded them back to their Common rooms, leaving the ntrance hall filled only with Incommodo, Albus, the Scamander twins, Lex and Rojer. His hart started beating rapidly as Incommodo withdrew a single wand and regarded a fearless Lysander very angrily. "I am going to need you to answer a couple of questions, Scamander. For the school."

Lysander did not shake at all, it was like fear, true fear, was lost on him. He simply did not feel it. Having known him for almost twelve years, Albus knew this the best about him. But this did not mean he was immune to pain. Albus was ready to intervene on Lysander's behalf if he had to.

"The office you… like keeping from me… is no longer yours," Incommodo calmly. Albus could feel it coming. The curse would be fired at any moment and Lysander was end up dead. The students were herded out for a reason. "However, upon my entrance there, all that I wanted is gone. The Pensieve, the instruments, everything, the portraits all give some different story like they were confounded and you took it and I want them all."

"Oh, they were gone when I first came in," Lysander lied easily, his eyes alight with the same air. There was no change in the air, Lysander could lie without narrowing an eye.

"It's true," Lorcan shrugged, building from his brother's bold-faced lie. "The Reservation stole half of them and cast a spell on the room to shut the portraits up. It's supposed to wear off but it might take a few months."

"Then, why, may I ask, do you even bother staying there?" Incommodo demanded.

"The Jibbies. They're presence is very large in that room."

"Liar," Incommodo breathed. "Jibbies, Scamander? Do you think you can feign Lovegood insanity and pass this off as a ruse? You are sorely mistaken."

Before anyone could react, Lysander was screaming loudly in torturous pain and Timber was barking loudly. Lysander never sounded in so much pain, his scream high-pitched and disturbing. Albus, Timber and Lorcan reacted immediately. Timber leapt towards Incommodo but another one of his wands blasted it away. Albus threw himself down from a jet of red light and fired a spell at Incommodo. It met a shield. Lorcan pulled his wand out but it was snatched out of his hand by Incommodo's right hand, Zandar Lex. Lorcan rushed at Incommodo next, a jet of light barely missing his ear. Lorcan changed course for his brother only when Incommodo lifted the Cruciatus Curse, allowing Lysander to gasp in a respite. Lorcan had his wand out but Incommodo did not look about to continue the curse.

"You might have held off this long, Scamander," Incommodo whispered. "But I will get from you the location of the artifacts you stole. Lex, kill the wolf."

Lysander rested his arms on his side, staring up mistily, as if in spite of the pain, he faced nothing new and it was Lorcan who stood to protect Timber. Lex stopped in front of him, "Stand aside or you are expelled."

"You tortured my brother," Lorcan muttered. "I'm not going anywhere."

Lex and Incommodo looked furious. "You are going to learn what happens to rule-breakers in this castle."

"Well, Sander already did," Lorcan said as Lysander picked himself up and sat, resting, in front of Timber. The wolf nuzzled him and stood next to Lorcan. It looked like somebody would die when the double oak doors opened. With everyone on edge, nobody could see a way out of this situation, even if Rolf Scamander did appear. "Something happening?"

"Your son is defying school rules," Incommodo said simply, making no effort to hide his wands.

Rolf, no longer a teacher, withdrew his wand and Albus reached for his own. Rolf looked about to duel Incommodo but instead he Disarmed Lex of both wands and released a massive smokescreen spell. Albus felt lie cheering as he felt Rolf grabbing him, his sons and Timber and bolted for the door while the smoke was still being cleared. Incommodo was screaming for order and Lex was yelling for someone to hand him a wand. Outside, Rolf ducked them behind the greenhouses and placed a Disillusionment Charm on them before they made for Lycah's hut. Once there, he safely lifted the Charm.

Rolf for one was lecturing Lysander. "I'm about to leave and I cannot take you with me," he was saying. "The least you can do is keep yourself out of trouble. Now, I've accepted the fact that you see things differently than your brother and I, and I've accepted that you've taken up a wolf as a pet but I cannot accept that you continuously get yourself in trouble every other day, take nighttime wanderings into the forest, and incur the wrath of a man who will not hesitate to kill you. If you continue getting yourself in trouble, I will take you home and that will be the end of it. This family has survived the war intact thus far, I prefer we keep it this way. Understood?"

Albus felt quite out of place, he was grateful when Gabriel and Nate showed their faces. "There you are! Heard you stood up to the Headmaster, good for you , mate. Headmaster against Headmaster! Who won?" Gabriel grinned.

"Incommodo did," Lorcan sighed, glaring at his brother. Lysander was quiet now, not saying anything.

Gabriel and Nate did not leave it though. They followed, "Ooooooh, expelled, are we?"

"How would that be funny?" Lorcan challenged.

"It wouldn't be," Nate shrugged. "But Gabe and I had an idea for expelled students. We hide them in the Room of Requirement. We were rather hoping we could test that out."

"Give it a week, you'll get your wish," Rolf sighed. "My son is his own deadliest enemy. I'd rather he gets expelled than dies though."

"I'm not gonna die," Lysander said quietly and his voice actually sounded normal, like Lorcan's. A rare moment when his voice was normalized and no longer purposely softened. It was when Lysander was serious about something. "I have Timber with me."

"As long as he's in charge," Rolf said, pointing to the castle. "You don't. Come."

"Aren't we gonna hade the stuff from the Headmaster's office," Lysander asked with a shaky voice.

"Oh, would you like to test Incommodo's anger further?" Rolf asked him testily. "Keep them in the Room of Requirement for now. And for God's sakes, just come up with a story next time of where they could be."

"We did," Lorcan said casually, following his father.

"Where're you going?" Nate asked casually. "Lycah's hut? She can't come. She's on a wolf break in Hogsmeade, drinking her heart out. We saw her going."

"We're going home for a bit," Lorcan answered shortly.

"Oooooh, really?" Nate said excitedly. "Can I come? Please?" Nate actually bent down and addressed Rolf Scamander. "I've always wanted to see the Quibbler printing tower in person!"

"Your magazines gave me gold my whole life!" Gabriel said honestly.

"Thank you but the magazine isn't mine, it belongs to my wife," Rolf said honestly. "But why not. Go ahead and come. We're not staying long."

Once again, the Hogwarts Guard was bound by the Silencing Jinx and Albus knew neither Gabriel nor Nate could say anything. They simply tagged along behind them as they walked up to the hut. Lorcan opened the hut and walked in. The hut did have a strong smell of alcohol that made Albus scrunch his nose up. Nate actually sniffed, "Firewhiskey with a hint of…"

"Wine?"

"Nope, just plain beer," Nate shrugged. "Wine, Gabe, really? Wine is too proper for a wild beast like Lycah."

"I told her to stop," Lorcan sighed. "Why doesn't she listen?"

"Because Lycah doesn't like listening," Nate suggested. "And she's a Werewolf. Werewolves are self destructive. Trust me, I know."

"Cause Nate's half vampire so half of him hates Werewolves," Gabriel sniggered.

Rolf undid the curtains around the portrait and climbed in, holding his hand out for Lysander and Lorcan. Timber was helped up by Lysander and Lorcan together. Albus wondered if Lysander would have to leave Timber at the tower. Albus climbed in next and Gabriel and Nate followed before Rolf flicked his wand to shut the curtains again. Gabriel actually looked in wonder.

"Al… does the Guard know about this?" Gabriel asked.

"Some do, but I haven't told too many yet," Albus sighed. "Might've if last year didn't end with a bang."

"When will we meet by the way?" Gabriel asked seriously, for once the wide grin gone from his face.

"Very soon," Albus promised. "There are loads of things we need to talk about, trust me," he added, thinking of Incommodo's identity.

"Like Lycah's drinking problem?" Nate asked.

"Like Nate's vampire issue?" Gabriel added.

"Like Lysander's self-destructive problem?" Nate added again, nudging the Scamander boy in the rib.

"Probably why the two go so well together," Gabriel sniggered.

"Might've if Lysander didn't break up with her," Nate said back.

"I didn't"- Lysander sighed, folding his arms, visibly annoyed for once, like the torture somewhat unhinged him.

"Enough, you two," Rolf said over them, silencing them as the tunnel evened out into the bungalow, letting them all land into what Albus felt once again was no-space. The door would not open because the bungalow was not resting anywhere for it to be opened. As far as reality was concerned, Albus had a feeling the bungalow and everyone in it simply did not exist any longer. At least until he placed the yellow key in the lock and turned it, praying it was indeed the right one. As the door opened, the familiar sight of the cliff and the rickety entryway told him that he was right and Lysander did guess correctly.

Albus remembered three visits to Lovegood tower but his mother insisted he had two as a baby he could not remember, particularly after the Scamander twins were born. Once when Albus was a toddler and first met the Scamander twins and learned how different they both were and how often the two used to fight, another time when he had gone to stay with the Lovegoods to recover from James' cloth prank and found the atmosphere there much easier to sleep in, and one more time when Albus and Lily needed to be looked after because Albus was sick and Harry needed Ginny in Diagon Alley because James was getting his wand and Uncle Bill wanted Ginny to babysit him and Louis.

It looked no different. The cliff Lysander fell off of before he displayed his first bit of Wizardry and disappeared with a pop only to be found in his room. Albus believed that was the basis of his reasons for believing in a Snorkle Fairy to begin with. Lorcan had asked his mother and father to rope off the cliff and place repellant Charms and that was when the twins grew closer. Times so long ago, when Albus was a child, the twins toddlers, his life happier and more carefree. How he envied his younger version, even the Albus that was just recovering from James' prank was enviable. Albus did not realize a single tear leaked from his eye. He wiped it just as Gabriel looked, "Ah, is Al getting nostalgic?"

"We're here," Rolf sighed, and walked up to the printing press used to print the Quibbler. The printer looked dusty as it was out of use since the DA HQ network was attacked but Rolf turned it on to test it. It seemed in working order. Rolf turned to the small party and actually looked grateful Gabriel and Nate were there. "Hold the door open. We have a lot to move. We'll use the bungalow as the printing place so nobody can take us down a second time. We'll need all hands on deck till your mother gets back."

"If she gets back," Lorcan mumbled sadly.

"No matter," Rolf sighed. "Hold the door. Lysander, help me with- where is he?"

Albus looked around. Lysander had disappeared. Lorcan took a single look around and sighed, "I know where he is. I'll get him."

"No, you need to Charm the printer over to the bungalow," Rolf contradicted. "Leave him be. Potter, hold the fort of the bungalow. You two," he looked at Gabriel and Nate, "Help with the Charming. The more hands on deck, the better."

Rolf did not ask Albus to do anything except hold the bungalow door open. Albus did do so, sitting on a wooden chair he dragged from nearby to block the door from shutting. He sat on it and had nothing to do but read. Read the book Alexis had gotten him. Once again, he had something to think about.

The Bane of Darkness

As said, even the most ferocious of Curses can be defended against. Counter-curses are home to so many theories and laws that few have been tested but all have worked at one time or another. While it is very possible to defend against Common curses like the variety of Semper Curses which inflict different types of Eternal Suffering, or the Elemental Curses which very few witches and wizards are able to perform in the first place, once the Killing Curse is dealt with, things start getting a lot more difficult.

Dark Arts theorist George Gregton's Theory of Caster's Death insists without a shadow of a doubt that the death of the caster would result in the lifting of the Jinx or Curse. This is somewhat supported by countless Jinxes that were long lasting until the death of the caster, the most notable being an infamous Jinx cast on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position in Hogwarts School in Great Britain. However, when Gregton had his ailing and dying grandfather cast the Curse of Nex on him, it was not his own theory that saved him, but the theory of another.

Usually, the Curse of Nex can only be reversed by the one who cast it. Herman Giggle presented another way to awaken the victim. He cast his own Curse of Nex using his own Theory of Cancellation. Two equally powered curses cancelled each other out and the Curse of Nex proved no exception to this rule. Giggle's Theory of Cancellation henceforth became law until it was outdated and regarded moot once Dark Wizard Kepler McNulty of Austria cast two Curses of Death which only resulted in increased pain and the later death of the victim.

This led to a new Law proposed by said Kepler. The Law of Increased Expectations state that the more a curse is cast, the more severe it may prove to be. Kepler proved to be a Dark Wizard and was henceforth known to deliver double doses of each curse he inflicted to prove the point. This theory worked far more often than the theories of Giggle or Gregton. Many experts and scholars on counter-jinxes went by this rule until the advent of Austrian Minister Fair Farell defeated Kepler with a counter-theory.

For the first time, this did not contradict the previous theory but rather added to it. Farrell introduced his Law of Fallen Might. Farrell showed in his defeat of Kepler how the more powerful a curs is, the harder its fall may be and the more destructive to the curse the counter-jinx can be if it is powerful enough. Farrell showed this by his lifting of a powerful curse upon an area which caused its inhabitants to fall ill. Upon the breaking of the curse, which was cast thrice prior to Kepler's death, had an unintended effect on increasing the lifespan of those affected.

However, Farrell had yet another addition to the Laws coming. Farrell attempted to lift the troublesome Curse of Decay which Kepler had cast twice on an ailing preteen. The preteen, named later as Ryan Scott, was within seconds of death and had lost an arm and a leg to the decaying curse. The death of Kepler had only slowed it but Farrell was unable to stop it completely. It was his Muggle wife Verity, a paramedic, who proposed the Law of Sacrifice, the only magical law to be proposed by a Muggle. Upon the amputation of the arm and leg effected, Farrell was enabled to save the boy and his family hailed as heroes.

It was Wendell the Warped of Australia who argued that Scott lived only due to his own will. Wendell recalled his success in surviving the acquiring of a second soul, a very dark piece of magic to be discussed later.

"Al!" Lorcan called. "Can you get Sander? We're almost done. He's probably on the top floor lookout point. Remember it?"

A vague memory came back to Albus of him, Lorcan and Lysander playing Count the Gnomes. Albus really had forgotten but during the rare occasions when the Scamanders did visit, he got on very well with them. It was sad that he was never closer to them than he was in Hogwarts. Even there, Albus had too much on his mind. He walked upstairs alone, noticing the cobwebs in the corner and the inch of dust piling on the staircase spiraling up to the top floors. Albus had a feeling he knew why Lysander was up on that room. If he was correct, he would certainly feel like he was intruding. He knew Lorcan was right though. Timber's howls sounded from about the right place. Albus found Lysander at the very top, outside, overlooking the entire scenery with the sea, the cliff, and the gardens.

Lysander was sitting in a particular spot where the telescope once was in the late afternoon sun that was just beginning to set. Albus looked around the orange scenery around him, wondering what Lysander wanted here. It was not nighttime yet for the telescope to be brought out. Lysander was sitting, staring up at the sky. He did not wait for Albus to say anything either. He just sighed, "This is where grandpa died. He lay here, staring at the stars. Pretty nice way to die, don't you think? How would you like to die?"

Albus blinked. He'd never been asked that question before. Albus was not sure how he felt about death, especially around people like Scorpius and Mark, both of whom seemed to be afraid of dying, especially in Mark's case. "Erm… not sure. Haven't thought about it. I guess I'm a little young."

"How are you too young?" Lysander asked curiously. "My mother's mum was young, your friend was young… I don't think you're ever too young."

"Ok, so how would you like to die if you're thinking about it so much?" Albus asked.

"I'm not thinking about it so much," Lysander shook his head. "Just today because I'm remembering my granddad, and because Incommodo could've killed me. I did think I would die."

"Well, that was a pretty good story you told him," Albus complimented. "Build from it next time. Say the Reservation took it. It's not hard to believe considering how they attacked the Headmaster's office first. Just stick to your story. He can't do anything to you if he doesn't have proof."

Lysander nodded, mind still apparently on the previous subject, "I'd… like to go in my sleep. It seems like the best way to go."

"If you say so," Albus shrugged, and he considered it. "If I had to pick, it would probably be dying protecting somebody I loved."

"You should've been a Gryffindor," Lysander observed. "You'd do better there. And I probably should've been a Ravenclaw. Not sure why he put me in Gryffindor to be honest."

"Well, the hat's not an idiot," Albus reminded him. "He put us in our houses for a reason. I'm actually pleased to be a Slytherin."

"So is my brother," Lysander said casually. "Not sure why. It might've been better if we were Ravenclaw. We don't even sleep in our dorms anyway. Lycah lets us stay with her because we're nice to her and we don't hate Werewolves."

"She's been different lately," Albus observed, remembering her reaction when he mentioned the Goal siblings.

"Lycah fled from her Muggle mother when she was young," Lysander said easily. "Didn't take being bitten too well. She had two half siblings and she thinks she found them."

"C-Cherry and Lancet?"

"Oh, yes," Lysander said. "But, erm… don't tell her I told you. She won't understand that we're friends."

The two were standing, staring out at the fields and cliff. Lycah… and her brother and sister, Cherry and Lancet. Was it possible? If they were half siblings, was it possible they were a witch and wizard? "How would I tell her? She hardly talks to me."

"Fair point."

"What's her"-

"Sander! Al" Lorcan's voice called from downstairs.

Lysander sighed again and got up. The sun was beginning to set now, "Well, guess we'd better go. Help them pack"-

A loud bang shook the foundation so hard, a piece of the lookout point fell off and Lysander nearly lost his footing. Albus withdrew is wand just as the foundations shook again. This time, Lysander stayed standing as he looked over the balcony at the grounds below. He stepped away, his eyes wide even for him. "The- It's the Reservation. And they have mum!"

So it was true, then. Luna was indeed captured. Lysander seemed shaky now the truth was revealed. "SANDER! AL!" Lorcan's voice called louder than ever. The two raced down the stairs. Lysander withdrew his own wand, once again throwing himself in a battle. Within minutes, they met Lorcan, Rolf, and Gabriel and Nate at the entry way. The entrance to the bungalow was still open and the equipment was entirely inside. Rolf was firing protective enchantments but seemed hopeless. "It won't hold for long," he called. "All of you get into the bungalow and lock the door. Get to Hogsmeade and make your way back to the castle. Now!"

"No way, they got mum!"

"Mum would want you safe," Rolf ordered. "Get to it!"

The kids stood there. Even Gabriel and Nate did not move. Albus could see the members in white firing destructive spells at the tower but it stood. The spells seemed to be meeting some form of resistance so far. Luna must've been with them, captured. That explained it. All DA safe houses had Fidileus Charm on them. Luna must've either been under the Imperius Curse or forced to talk. No one seemed willing to move. Not this time.

"Are you all crazy?" Rolf yelled as the foundations shook again.

A destructive spell hit the wall and it blasted open. Gabriel turned to Nate, "The castle! Incommodo. Tell him, and maybe the tower can be saved"-

"NO!" Rolf yelled. "Let the Arsenal know of our safe houses and the war is over!"

"But the tower, these are our- this is where we live!" Lorcan yelled.

Before Rolf could respond, a horde of Reservation members rushed in through the hold in the wall. Rolf took position in front of the kids and started firing wildly. Albus was wishing he knew how to do Rune Spells now he was in the thick of battle again. Gabriel and Nate left the door of the bungalow and started firing their own spells. It was the first time he saw the two start fighting. The twins on the other hand fought together, in sync as they always did, and to a somewhat good effect. Nonetheless, the Reservation was still far more powerful than the small party left at the tower. That was it then, the battle was on.

"Shut the door!" Albus yelled to Nate, who did as told as Gabriel shielded them both from a strong blast.

"Confringo!" the Scamander twins yelled in unison. Albus saw one curse like that cause an enormous explosion. Rolf had to conjure a shield to protect him and the others from the incredible blast that rocked the entire tower so much, Albus was sure pieces were falling. In fact, they were. The few Reservation members who managed to get away from the initial explosion only got crushed by falling rubble.

"Stupefy!"

Albus' spell was parried by the one who came in. A witch with fiery red hair and a flat-like nose. "Avada Kedavra!"

Rolf summoned a piece of rubble over to take the blast. It burst into green flames which Gabriel used to fire a spell through just as Lorcan took control of those flames and threw it at another witch. Rolf backed the kids further into the house as one ore came in. This one looked familiar. It was Rojer. Rojer Selwyn and in his control was Luna. Rolf stopped as Rojer ordered all wands down.

Rojer must've guessed where they would go, since Rolf had come to their aid earlier. That was it. After this, they were so expelled. "Kill your husband," Rojer ordered Luna calmly.

Luna looked completely lost in her eyes. This was no Imperius Curse. It was something else. Something he might have acquired from the Mold Manor before leaving. Luna raised her wand blankly as Rolf backed away quickly, trying to make an escape plan. Albus already had one.

Terra Dimoveo, he thought, wand pointing casually at the ground beneath Rojer. Albus was not sure how distracted Rojer had to be for the curs to break but it seemed to have done the trick. Rojer stumbled as five spells fired from different directions. Jets of green light were fired, exactly on their targets but they dove aside, avoiding what could've killed them. Albus caught his brief window of opportunity and pointed his wand at the entrapped Rojer, "Obliviate!"

Rojer conjured up a shield but in his situation, the charm was so feeble, it shattered. Albus had a feeling the Memory Charm would not be so effective but at least he would forget any recent development. Luna fell forward, now no longer under his control. Albus raised his wand for another attack but was interrupted by another spell sizzling over his hair, making it stand on end. Albus fired, "Signus."

The wall that was blasted open sealed itself with some trapped between. The seal undid itself but the result was two Reservation members with boils growing on their faces. Lorcan was hit by a spell and went flying back. Rolf backed further away as he took an unconscious Luna by the hand and dragged her by the entry door. Albus leapt to it, parrying more spells. Gabriel shot up a shield against a jet of red light but the shield shattered and Gabriel collapsed. The defense gave Albus enough time to open it with the keys and let Rolf get Luna to safety. They had to get away but they were all over the place and too close. They did not have enough time and giving one of them the location to the bungalow was suicide.

"ATTACK!" a voice yelled from afar.

A screech sounded in the evening sky and Albus gaped open-mouthed. "Vampires!' Lysander called.

So it looked like. Pale-faced, red-eyed and fangs out, they rushed the Reservation. In the lead was a familiar face Albus had not seen for a long time. The exiled Otto Blackberry. So, that was where he was. Albus should have known. Hagrid had told Riley what was going on three years ago, months before his death.

"Yer father is in the forest after the Heads' been shuffled at the Ministry," Hagrid said simply. "He's heading the Vampires, makin' sure they got prior'ties straight and organizing them."

Nate grinned and rushed in again to aid his father but Rolf threw up a barrier to block him. "No. Don't get between a vampire in their prey."

"I'm half vampire myself!" Nate argued.

"All the more reason to stay away!" Rolf ordered. "Don't lose yourself. You're lucky to lack the natural thirst."

Nate reluctantly stayed out as the Reservation turned their wands on the vampires now. Otto fired an explosive spell before leaping on one of them. Rojer had only just managed to get away, glaring at Rolf furiously. Albus knew what happened. Rolf must have called them here just in case. Night fell and the vampires attacked.

"Vampires are evil," Neil muttered, and got up, clearly no longer in the mood to talk. "Trust me."

Albus wondered what Neil would say if he was here. Would he take back what he said? Or would it just make his fear, there for whatever reason, worse? As the vampires attacked and held some of them off, Rojer and three more turned their wands on a weakened Rolf and the Guard party that accompanied him. Rolf fixed Rojer with a single stare before flicking his wand.

In the sudden smoke that rose up, Albus could not see what had happened. He felt a hand grab him and push him inside the bungalow, which was open once again. As he was pushed, he saw Luna's body beside him. She looked unconscious.

"Avada Kedavra!"

A jet of green and another jet of white light impacted and two bodies were smashed inside the bungalow to land beside Albus. He did not see them yet because just as the bodies were smashed inside, Albus bolted up and shut the door, locking it frantically. He knew they were safe but what the cost was, he was just about to find out.