The Crossroads of Fate

Chapter 13: The Relics of Kings

Albus woke up the next morning feeling well rested but with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Scorpius was up too, talking continuously as they pulled their clothes on for the day ahead. He usually did not like Sundays since they were the last days of the weekend but now, they were the only days Albus could just lay back and relax. Scorpius was going on about what Incommodo might have wanted with them and wondering how often he would ask to meet them, guessing openly that perhaps nothing would happen until the second round. Albus hoped he was right, because he remembered how Simon looked the night before when he discovered that Proxima had Incommodo's interest.

The two sat down at the same table Simon and Seth had sat on the night before and opened their books to finish off the last of their homework. Transfiguration homework proved to be the hardest of them because Marius expected them to be able to conjure an entire desk nonverbally by the next lesson and with Incommodo's expectations of better grades hanging over them, the two were beginning to grow worried. Albus kept trying to attempt a conjuration spell as Scorpius tried coaching him and taking notes on the theory and the results each time. After ten minutes, they switched and Albus took notes on Scorpius' attempts, which did not prove to be much better.

By the end of an hour, their desks were beginning to look more shaped but whenever any of them tried piling a single roll of parchment on one, it collapsed and vanished into itself. Scorpius sighed and dropped his quill, "You know what? Screw it. I don't want his approval. In fact, just because he asked me to get good grades, I'm just gonna go ahead and get bad grades. That ought to lift the pressure off."

"And get expelled?"

"I'm dead either way," Scorpius sighed, pushing his homework aside. Nonetheless, he opened the books for his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay and started studying that one instead. "Now this…" Scorpius said. "I can do. My father's the teacher."

Keeping himself quiet about Draco, Albus got to working on his Contego Shield nonverbally. Albus sure did hope it was good enough because he knew that as good as he was with the shield, it was not as effective as Albus would've liked when cast nonverbally. The essay proved to be easier done than the conjuration spells which only got more difficult as time went on. Albus wished he could do it. He wished he could just verbally conjure a desk and be done with it. It was hard enough conjuring a desk verbally than having to do it nonverbally.

"Proxy!" a voice called suddenly, snapping Albus out of his thought process. He and Scorpius looked up. The Common room was surprisingly full for their house, which was still quite small since it saw a purge the year before. Nonetheless, Simon and Proxima were standing a little off, in the center of the room, near the sofas. "The galleons, remember? I want my galleons. One hundred of them. You said to give you a month."

Scorpius looked almost bemusedly. Seth, Albus noticed, also watched with an impassive face but with interested looking eyes. Proxima seemed flustered and went slightly pink before folding her arms, "I don't have a hundred galleons."

"But- but you said you were a girl of your word…"

"Well, this girl of her word doesn't have a job for an income or parents to give her spending money," she said matter-of-factly. "Can you pick something else?" Albus tried returning back to his homework as Simon leaned in and whispered something in her ear. "No, no way!" Proxima yelped as she glared at a grinning Simon in shock.

Just as Albus finished and prepared to outline his essay, Simon folded his arms, "Unless you plan on breaking your word, Proxy, you have to."

Scorpius sighed and looked up, "I have half the mind to shut them up. We're working here."

Albus had no problem with Scorpius shutting them up but when he saw Proxima's red face, he had an inkling of an idea what Simon asked her for. "Please," she pleaded. "Anything but that. You can't be serious."

"Eh… I'm serious," Simon shrugged. "So, go ahead. Get it over with and I'll never bother you again. Go on. Real quick, like. Just, swoop in and "-

"Simon, I decided that I am no longer a girl of my word," Proxima said with dignity.

"Well, now that's funny cause you were telling me last year that you needed to back what you said up or people wouldn't take you seriously. Surely, you want me to take you seriously, right? So… what do you need?"

"Shut them up," Albus sighed.

"It'll make me happy," Simon offered mischievously. Scorpius got up but before he could walk over, he stopped in his tracks. Albus could not blame him either. It became evident what Simon asked her for when she closed her eyes and leaned in. Next Albus knew, the two were kissing. Scorpius fell back into his chair, watching in shock. Simon looked right at home, happy even, eyes shut and clearly enjoying the attention. Proxima on the other hand looked very neutral. Even when they broke apart, she had a neutral, impassive look on her face. Simon was still grinning from ear to ear, "Gotcha. So… liked it?"

"I never liked you," she yawned.

"Aw… is that why you helped me with my homework last week when I was so close to failing with a T?"

"That was pity," Proxima shrugged off.

Simon scoffed, "Wow, you and Seth should get together. Neither of you like being very open with your feelings, do you?"

Albus returned to his homework, smiling slightly as Simon whooped and cheered that he finally scored a kiss from Proxima Greengrass, Sierra watching bemusedly and watching the entrance interestedly where someone, Albus did not see who, just walked in. He was just beginning to write down the theory of nonverbal spells and how to use them as instructed by Draco when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Rather hoping the tapper would see him working or too busy and go away, he continued working, ignoring the tap. Finally, a harder tap came and a voice with it, "Hey, Al," Scorpius said casually.

"What?"

"You have a friend…"

Albus almost jumped when he saw Neil Nott sitting right next to him. He was so quiet, so stealthy, he had sat down beside Albus without even being noticed, that Albus could appreciate how good a thief he was. How he managed, Albus did not know. Neil was very silent as well, resting his head on his hands and staring blankly ahead. He still looked rather peaky but at least it was better than before. Neil just looked broken. What had happened? How was Albus failing? He was trying? What did James do that Albus did not? It bothered Albus just remembering it the fact that James had died and Neil, James' closest friend, was breaking apart little by little as if Albus' efforts meant nothing. What did he need? Albus tentatively touched his shoulder, "Need something"-

Just as Albus' hand touched his shoulder, it stiffened and Neil started shaking in the legs. Albus withdrew his hand as if his shoulder burned and looked confused. Scorpius just raised an eyebrow. Albus should have realized his mistake. James said Neil did not like being touched. Now Albus got a good look at the boy's broken face, he could see just how destroyed he was. Whatever it was, Neil was dead inside. "I don't want to be touched."

"Sure thing"-

"Boo!" a girly voice said from behind as she jumped right up from behind Neil. Even Scorpius jumped in surprise but Neil just stayed as still as stone. Sierra stretched her neck over Neil and lowered her head upside down in front of his. They stared at each other, Sierra grinning from ear to ear mischievously and Neil looking like something inside was trying to smile, but could not. "So… can't poke you? Cause I've always wanted to poke you. Any chance you tell me what's behind that weird allergy you claimed last year?"

"No," he said, but something in his voice seemed a little more lively, like he liked Sierra's company a little more than other's.

"Any chance you play with me a little game of tag?" she asked.

"What's tag?" Neil and Scorpius said in unison.

"Just a Muggle game that Muggle kids like playing," Sierra said happily. "Simon taught me. It involves tapping though so it might be far from your alley. You're pretty sneaky though, so you'd be good at it. So… wanna play?"

"No."

She considered him intently, her blue eyes gazing at him nonstop. Then… "Too bad. Poked you!" she said, tapping him on the back. And she ran off giggling like mad, Neil looking at her but he did not seem as bothered by her tap as he did when Albus touched his shoulder. Albus wished he could talk to the boy- sort of- but he did have homework to do. He was therefore a little grateful when Neil followed Sierra after all, not to play but to sit down between her and Seth. Albus could finally get back to his homework, with no more interruptions for the rest of the hour. The essay was long but it had to be done and he hoped he could finish it before the day was up.

Homework was his life for the rest of the month, of course. November was coming to an end. The dueling tournament saw no more disasters as they wrapped up the last of the first round. Ever since Rose was expelled, they did not see much of her beyond Guard meetings, which had nothing much except information on the DA's headquarters from the few who actually did journey, one of which Albus was surprised to learn was Proxima Greengrass. Apollo still did not regain his sight but according to Aries, it would not be long now it started returning briefly.

Lycah's hut…

Tyro stood over the hunched girl on the ground. Two bodies were on the floor next to her, that of Lancet. Lancet Goal, her brother, was going to die if she did not listen. Lycah reached a shaking arm across to feel him when Tyro flicked his wand again, causing a deep gash across her forearm. She screamed and withdrew it, feeling the Cruciatus Curse again. What the actual hell? She hated Wizards, oh how she hated Wizards. That's all they did, was pick on Werewolves. She had trusted Teddy once, just once to live with a foster family before showing herself to the Ministry and that family spat on her. Well, the feeling was mutual. If Wizards hated Werewolves so much, what did they expect? Love?

Tyro, however, was not just a Wizard. She could smell- nothing really. She smelled nothing. Tyro lacked the usual human scent. He was a vampire. She had enough years of Lycanthropy to know that an odorless human meant he was a walking dead. A vampire. She did not hate vampires for nothing though, she just didn't like Tyro. "It's really very simple, Miss Thrope, you hand us what we want and you go scout free. Your brother lives and everyone is happy. No one is none the wiser. It's easy, really."

"YOU HAVEN'T EVEN TOLD ME WHAT YOU WANTED, YOU DEATHLY FREAK!" Lycah screamed.

She earned herself another dose of pain, Tyro kicking her at the same time. "You will not hand us conditions of jobs. You will take our side regardless of what we ask. Will you do it?"

She looked up at him. He was dumb. Simply asking would suffice but he wanted to hurt her. She hated him too. He just wanted to hurt her, to impress on her what happened if she ever turned against him. She had to hand it to him, he was smart. He knew she would turn on the Guard in a heartbeat if his side stood to win the war outright, yet he still tortured her just to remind her what would happen if ever she had second thoughts. Incommodo wanted her tortured for her relationship with the Scamander twins. He had come, demanding she tell him where they had gone and she refused to turn them in. So, he moved to Apollo.

If there was ever people she loved, it was Lorcan and Lysander. Especially Lorcan, now, he seemed to understand her best. She did not want to turn against him, not now when he was beginning to help her come out of her shell a little bit more. He introduced her to her brother and sister and then what- they were expelled! Why the heck would she take the side of the one who expelled her best friends? She didn't care, she would never take their side. It was for that reason not even the Imperius Curse worked on her. It just made her mind go still. Quiet. She couldn't do anything in that state, she could not resist and she could not give in.

She stared across at Lancet. She thought she had no love or sympathy for him or his sister but that was before he was being kicked. He was unconscious. Tyro was continuously biting him and sucking the venom out, torturing him in a way none could understand. The boy was shaking in some inner coldness, still unconscious and Tyro bent down for more, staring at her warningly. "Look- ju-just name what you want," she whispered. "Leave him alone and tell me what you want."

"Will you do it?"

"Never," she whispered vengefully.

"Imperio!"

She blinked once and her eyes went far away. Once again, nothingness. Her mind could not handle the presence of two powerful forces inside it. Her love for the Scamander twins shut her up but Tyro's thirst for the boy was just as strong. The boy… she sensed. "Yes," Tyro's voice told her. "Fetch Apollo L. Kimble, Miss Thrope, and your brother will live. Fail to do so and he dies. Simple as that. Fetch Apollo Kimble. Now." She blinked, her body still aching. That was it. That was what he tortured her over? For a child? Ugh, the nerve of these people.

The castle…

As the month ended, Albus grew lazier. Riley, who also started getting tired as the workload increased, took to sitting beside his fifth year brother, who was going to sit his OWLs. Before Albus could think up a way to strike conversation, Archimedes flew in with the news. Catching the newspaper with one hand and sending Archimedes off to the Owlery, Albus caught Riley's eye, and moved over to where he was. "Quibbler. Didn't you get yours?"

"I don't read newspapers or magazines," Riley said casually. "Doesn't matter. Hurry it up though. I wanna eat and take a nap."

Just then, Gabriel chose that moment, whether purposely or by usual klutzy accident, to drop his steak, which slipped down his front, creating a reddish stain on his robes, thereby attracting the attention of the rest of the table, and pointed laughter. It certainly woke Nate up, who hooted with glee as Gabriel's scoured his clothes clean and, as usual, joining in the laughter.

Daily Quibble: Reservation Attacks Ministry

The Reservation has yesterday launched a failed attack on the Ministry for Magic. With the Minister absent and in Hogwarts for the duration of the school year, the Ministry has nonetheless managed to repel their attack with the help of the Dumbledore's Army, whose head Harry Potter has not been seen for some time. The Arsenal of Education, the ruling party of the Ministry declined comment once the cleanup began. Casualties are nonetheless reported to be high as London still witnesses attacks that have started two months ago when Werewolves attacked a small suburb. Goblins, now openly with the Reservation have gone to war with a lone vampire clan in London, sparking efforts to modify memories of Muggle witnesses. This Quibble believes that though the battle for the Ministry has been won, the war over London has not ended yet.

Clearly, Lorcan was still at it. He was still visiting Luna in Hogsmeade and picking the best articles to post. A they finished the rest of their meal, they got a surprise visitor to the Slytherin table. Scorpius finished the last of his steak as Rojer Selwyn said suddenly, making Albus jump and Scorpius freeze, "Mr. Malfoy. Come with me."

Scorpius and Albus exchanged glances as Rojer took his former nephew by the arm and led him away. Albus was curious, really. And so, it seemed was Proxima. She watched too, eyes curious and so, it appeared, did Incommodo. Something was happening. What could Rojer want with Scorpius? What was it with that family that required them to speak to each other even after a messy breakup? Rojer was not a Malfoy nor was he associated with them any longer. He was not even a Greengrass. Albus finished his plate off quickly, meaning to get into his cloak and try listening in on them. Perhaps afterwards, he could make his way to the Room of Requirement to study there. Perhaps he could get Rose to help him with Ancient Runes or something.

Albus threw his cloak over himself just as Rojer and Scorpius came out from a side chamber. He was too late. Scorpius' legs were shaking but Albus had a very bad feeling. Something was happening. Just by looking at Scorpius, he could tell. Scorpius was pale-faced and tense. Something was afoot and Scorpius had a stake in it and Rojer held something over him. He followed them upstairs, nearer the Astronomy tower when Alpha came whistling a jaunty tune, walking with a dance to his step, looking somewhat happy about something. Rojer turned to Scorpius, "You will stay back and watch. You know what happens otherwise. Understood?"

Scorpius' legs were shaking violently now. Albus was watching in shock as Rojer raised pointed his wand at Alpha, who was thrown back into the side-chamber. Rojer shut the door once Scorpius came in, looking miserable. Alpha looked as terrified as his cousin, looking from one to the other. Rojer had the same effect on both Scorpius and Alpha.

I saw his father beating him. Yelling at him, telling him he was worthless and weak, and he would die alone in some abandoned shack, miserable.

What the hell did Rojer want now? Was destroying Alpha's self-esteem not enough. "No, no, PLEASE! No! NO!"

"Crucio!"

Alpha was under the pains of the curse, his own screams downing out Albus' own screams. It was just for few seconds before Rojer lifted the curse and he turned to Scorpius while Alpha twitched, tear streaming down his face. "SIT DOWN! One move against me, one involvement in family matters and you know what happens! Sit and watch, or else! Incarcerous!"

Scorpius was tied up against the wall forcefully and albu withdrew his wand. These words made Albus think twice about whipping his own cloak off. Scorpius was being blackmailed. There was no way he would sit back and watch like this. He had a stake. He was ordered to sit back and watch. Rojer threatened him with something? Draco next? Astoria? His sister? Lucy? Who was Albus putting at risk if he attacked?"Crucio!" Rojer yelled, and he continued as the curse was in effect, "Don't bother waiting for the Headmaster. He's making a speech about pathetic rules and rule-breakers."

Alpha was released again with Rojer whispering, "That was for running off with your mother. I'm going to break you."

"No, please," Alpha whispered weakly, legs still twitching from the pain. "Leave me… I'll-I'll do whatever yo"-

If ever, this was the time. Scorpius was incapable but Albus was not. He might regret it later but Rojer was an evil maniac. It hurt him seeing someone torturing his son like this. So… Albus was going to kill him himself. Scorpius should've done it a year ago but failed and it earned Proxima's anger- Proxima. Suddenly, things began making sense. Proxima hated Scorpius because Scorpius never attacked his Uncle. He was scared of him. She held that fear against her cousin. And here, again, Albus was seeing the effects on his best friend. Well, if Scorpius could not, Albus would then. Albus turned his wand on Rojer, "Stupef"-

Albus whipped his cloak off but Rojer parried it easily, forcing Albus to dive to the side, right in front of a Full Body-bind Curse. "I thought I smelled a spy. Do you think I am ignorant to those who spy on me? To people who Charm my office door to make me forget students who were due to be expelled? To kill my right hand? To destroy all my intentions by forcing by two roles into the open? Do you think your plan against me was to succeed? You were mistaken!

He turned back to Alpha, "You had your happy life, it got you nowhere. I offered you all you could want and in return you turn against me. You give away all my movements in your first year! You had too much of your mother in you. Well, your mother is dead, who's left for you now? WHO?"

"You!" Alpha screamed as Rojer tortured him again.

Albus fought against his curse to no avail. He could not move for the life of him. Scorpius was sobbing now, looking as if he so wanted to stop him but did not dare try. Scorpius was tied and Albus was bound. They were both forced to watch the torture. "Which is why," Rojer said quietly. "You and I are going to the Malfoy Manor together. I do not know how but you do… and we're going to take it over and you will be my Heir and you will act as told. I will break you and build you the way I see fit or not at all. Do you understand?"

Alpha had the curse lifted briefly and he looked weakly from Scorpius to Rojer, moved his eyes to Albus and back to Scorpius again. His eyes seemed alight with something Albus could not place. Some kind of determination, or was it just giving up? Alpha looked very different, like all he wanted before simply did not matter to him anymore. Scorpius actually wiped his own eyes, attempting to fix his with Alpha's, "Go on. I deserve it." Was Scorpius seriously selling out his own family? What could Rojer possibly have over him? "You promised no harm to my mother or sibling. No harm to Lucy. Where is she?"

"Your mother will be kept until labor, your father is safe here," Rojer said. "Your blood-traitor girlfriend is with Lex on the ground floor. Provided I remain here for the day, she walks free. You will never visit that Manor unless you yourself wish to die. It is no longer yours. Alpha! What say you?"

Albus understood. Rojer held Astoria, the baby and Lucy over Scorpius. It was them over Alpha. And Scorpius picked them. And Alpha, it seemed, softened his eyes, "I'm never helping you!" he yelled with surprising strength. "Never."

"Very well, Cruc"-

The door banged open and in came Proxima. The events of the night before made sense too, now, for behind her was the Headmaster. Incommodo towered over them. Incommodo knew now. That was what happened. Proxima had told Incommodo, turned Rojer in to him. So, why did Rojer look so calm and easy? He turned to the Headmaster readily and said, "The boy has attacked my person before, his cousin too, and they are both paying the price for disrespecting their elders, their superiors, and their teacher."

Incommodo stared through his dangerous yellow eyes at Rojer. Albus felt his heart beating as he was forced to watch, still unable to move against Scorpius' Full Body-bind Curse. Not that Albus would do anything. Lucy was at stake, and as little as Albus cared about Draco, he was at stake too, Astoria and a baby were at stake… Rojer was evil.

"I have received information that you have tortured this boy before, and murdered Narcissa Malfoy," Incommodo said in a wispy, dangerous voice.

"Oh?" Rojer said in fake surprise. "Has she any proof? Or this a rambling of another teenager bent to weaken your inner circle, Headmaster? There stands the importance of witnesses, Minister."

"Indeed," Incommodo agreed, and turned to Albus, "Potter, have you witnessed any such crime?"

Albus would've loved to say something but his mouth was tied. He was forced into silence. He knew Incommodo could tell but the Headmaster did nothing. He moved his eyes to Scorpius. "Malfoy. According to your cousin, you witnessed the murder. I have valuable information from Lex that your cousin is not on good terms with you. Your words count as much. Did you witness the crime for which the punishment is imprisonment?"

Scorpius was frozen now. He forcibly dried his own eyes, watching them all. Albus did not know if he blamed him or not. He suddenly understood it all. All of it. Proxima hated Scorpius on Alpha's behalf. She raged because Rojer broke Alpha, because Scorpius had never turned his Uncle in for murder. Why? That, Albus did not understand. And now, blackmailed, Scorpius could hardly be expected to make up for any past mistake. Rojer kept Scorpius silent guessing something was amiss. How he guessed… no clue. Scorpius tried very hard to keep his face impassive against Proxima's pleading look. "Please. Scorpius, please."

"I didn't see anything," Scorpius muttered.

Proxima stared, in shock and anger, her eyes blazing. Albus had no doubt, given the chance, if she was not surrounded, she would commit murder. Incommodo blinked like that decided it and turned, "You and your weak brother are both expelled from Hogwarts. One step in this castle is the snapping of the wand. Anymore falsifications and it's death. Go."

"Scorpius, please, I'll do anything, anything!"

"Get out!"

"Scorpius!"

"Out!"

"I'M GONNA GET YOU!" Proxima yelled at Scorpius. "I'll get you, Malfoy! I SWEAR ON MY MOTHER'S GRAVE I'LL GET YOU!"

"GET OUT OF THIS CASTLE!"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Rojer side-stepped the curse easily but Proxima's attempt was the end for her. Incommodo's wands exploded jets of green light madly, both right on their target but Proxima evading them madly. Her eyes were wide, almost reminding Albus of Samantha but there was something different. She seemed furious but Scorpius was still a second goal. She wanted Rojer down first. She was calculating, even in her anger, she was thoughtful. She knew what she was doing. Incommodo proved to be too defensive. She blew the ceiling up with rubble and it collapsed on both, allowing Proxima to grab her brother and run, as fast as she could.

Well, one thing for sure, Rojer was free. He had won. He had forced Scorpius into silence. Incommodo and Rojer rushed through the castle, looking everywhere for her but no sign of her anywhere. It meant she got to the Room of Requirement. She couldn't have gotten anywhere else. The gates were locked. Scorpius freed Albus from the curse, hugging him tightly, sobbing over his shoulder. He had never seemed so defeated before. Scorpius just kept muttering the names of his mother, his future sibling, and his girlfriend, as if trying to convince himself he did the right thing.

They stayed together for the rest of the day, not daring to meet Proxima's eyes as they sat quietly in the Room of Requirement. Slowly, students came in, having heard vaguely what had happened. Lucy was there too, safe from Rojer's threats.

They had finally come together in the hidden Room of Requirement which now resembled a large apartment with six bedrooms. All quarters were wide open though and only Apollo's was curtained off. Albus was not sure what they were waiting for. He did not call this meeting, they just naturally gathered, like news of a member's expulsion travelled fast. Albus guessed Lucy was behind it, having apparently been captive for a while. Aries actually looked curious but she also looked like she had something to say.

Looking around, Albus caught some familiar faces. Rose was resting oddly against a wall, wrapped in blankets beside Riley, who nursed her as if she was sick or something. They looked odd, Albus had no clue what was happening between them but she seemed happy. Also, for the first time since the end of the previous school year, Seth was there and beside him was Sierra. Sophie was talking to Sierra about something and Seth was leaning quietly. The absences were Simon, Proxima and Aries. The last Albus saw of Proxima before she disappeared into a curtained room was her throwing furious glances at her cousin but seemingly calmed down now. At least she did not look as murderous. She reminded Albus of Samantha when she was angry but at least Proxima had a bit of rationality… sometimes. Only Alpha sat there, recovering, throwing uncertain glances over towards the spot where Lily was sitting with Hugo.

Finally, Simon and Proxima walked out. She seemed shaken and quite regretful and apologetic. Simon seemed to have talked to her. She stood over a crouched Scorpius who kept his eyes down, "I… I apologize. But… I am done with you. And I will get you for this, I promise you. Somehow, Scorpius, I will get you."

Scorpius just nodded, keeping Lucy close beside him. He looked sick and Lucy looked on the line. She kept an arm around Scorpius but he did not seem to notice. She returned to a seat beside Alpha who embraced her quietly, neither saying a thing until Aries demanded to know the story.

Proxima glared at him but the room actually went silent. If only to hear the reason. Why had Proxima wanted to hurt Scorpius. Proxima spilled the beans. All of them. She spoke of her history, for the first time opening up, at least having been convinced that she owed them that much. "Ok, I'll tell you all. And you keep in mind, forever, just what sort of person Scorpius was, is and always will be. Alpha was always older than me. He was born five minutes before I was and father and mother were together. Every week, we visited the Malfoy Manor. Then, father killed his grandmother and he witnessed it. Rojer could've gone to prison any time he was turned in. But he used the classical Terminus Curse. It was passed off and believed as a Muggle illness. No proof existed that she was murdered. Just that she got sick!"

"Aunt Daphne believed me," Scorpius muttered. "Everyone believed what I saw. But they didn't want the Ministry's eyes on us again. So we kept it silent. Grandfather tried killing Rojer but he failed and they divorced instead."

"I remember the fight," Alpha muttered, his eyes determinedly kept off Lily now, hating to appear weak or pathetic in any way. "They split up and fought for custody of us."

"But little Scorpius was too frightened to say anything and he was sheltered in his room," Proxima continued. Father took the time he had with us to further his ambitions for a rich Manor of the Dark Arts. Alpha was the eldest, and Rojer wanted him to be the Heir. Father thought Alpha was a weak Heir. And I had to defend him. I took a lot of crap for him, for my brother so he wouldn't be hurt too badly. When we turned six, I'd had it. I told mum what father was doing and she- she basically kidnapped us. She forced full custody of us and father sued. They went before the Ministry and that was Scorpius' second chance to do something. And I begged. He was the only witness. We could've gotten him locked up. We could've gotten him out of our lives forever but Scorpius is a coward. He was too scared. Like Rojer could do anything to him in court. Everything he does, from Hogsmeade to Alpha's predicament, his self-esteem, his mind's destruction, his deep-seated fears, the deaths of Walter, Molly, all of that rests on his head. Because he was the only one who could've stopped it… but didn't."

"So, if I ever commit murder," Proxima added with a look at Mark. "Rojer will have deserved it. You may stop Malfoy, Wallader, but you won't stop me."

"It's ok," Sierra said quietly. "I have parent issues too. Both of mine are dead."

"Mum ran out on us when the war came," Alexander muttered.

"I ran away," Lycah muttered. "When I- when I was bitten. Haven't seen my parents or talked to my brother or sister since." Cherry met her eyes briefly but said no word as Lycah kept her eyes down. They seemed oddly glassy and far away, not fully there.

"Mum- mum used to slap my mouth whenever I lied…" Fora muttered. "Father got rid of her though. Nowhere near as drastic as Proxima's but"-

"That's why she hardly talks," Kabe said quietly with Hugo nodding silently.

"Wait- you were slapped?" Frank asked in shock. "That's horrible, why would she- why would anyone slap you?"

"I lied," Fora said quietly. "And lying is bad. That's all."

"I'm sorry, Proxy," Alexis told her sympathetically. "I can relate to protecting a brother. Mine is like this because of me. You can imagine how that might feel."

Neil looked like he wanted to share his story but thought better of it and just sighed and looked up. He just mouthed 'my sister' to himself and his eyes were tearing. "I think we're all sorry," Simon said positively. "But you know, guys, that's sort of life, isn't it?" Proxima glared at him but Simon stood his ground. "Bad things happen, but we live through them and fight another day because we're stronger. Alpha's a brilliant person, I'm still the same and I lost both my parents. And Alpha's gonna be much stronger because he'll understand himself more, come to terms with certain things more. Just… be positive, like I am. I smile even when I'm upset cause- cause I don't want anyone else to feel the way I do."

"You- you don't feel- you're fine," Proxima told him, looking very upset.

"No, I can't be fine," Simon told her solemnly. Simon actually seemed very mature now he spoke. "My parents sent me to a boarding school and then I'm off to Hogwarts and they die. I never knew them as well as I wanted. And I'm like you, you know. I do want the Reservation to go down. And I won't be happy till they're destroyed."

As if on cue, the curtains separating them from Apollo opened and the boy walked out. Aries breathed out in relief as the boy sat, handing her a familiar parchment and nodded silently. For the first time, Apollo's eyes were clear and silvery as before. His sight had returned after several months of blindness. The room went very silent as the boy sat down on a cushion set for him by Aries. The mood changed immediately as Apollo sat down in front of them all.

As Apollo sat down, Lycah's eyes snapped up. She looked from Cherry to the Scamander twins to Apollo, as if quickly trying to decide something. Before Albus could speculate, Apollo's voice said in a low mumble, "I'm ready to talk."

Apollo took from Aries a roll of parchment. Albus remembered. He had been given a riddle by Harry Potter and asked to solve it. For the first time since March of the previous school year, Albus was looking at the parchment, now fully solved, and now able to be discerned by Apollo. The young seer would finally show off some wisdom. The mood had indeed changed. It was like the last few minutes talking about horrible pasts had never happened. Albus straightened himself up as Apollo finally shuffled the parchment and read:

Find the guard, and pawns who heed the church bells ring,

Find the monarch, the castle, and the one true King.

Four in the castle, one overseas,

One on an island, and one amongst trees

For then, the answer may make itself clear,

The Relics of the Kings known only by ear.

King… Students

Queen… Headmaster

Knight… Teachers

Bishop… Ministry

Rook… Hogwarts

Pawn… Hogsmeade residents

"Finally, some clearance on this," Fauna sighed. "Been a year since I sat down and tried figuring this one out."

"So, the bishop does equal the Ministry," Simon smirked.

"I thought the Rook was the castle," Riley yawned, laying back against the wall, half asleep.

If Fauna, Riley and Simon showed familiarity, the rest did not. Many seemed confused. The only one who seemed like he might have had a inkling of this was Mark, but he was depressed at the time and contributed very little to the riddle. In fact, even then, even when he seemed to be more or less stable, he still seemed down in the dumps, ears on the speech but eyes on the floor. He too had heard the Prophecy of Merlin, but he was not involved as much. Now, the prophecy was finally making a comeback with an explanation.

The boy who Aries had previously kept hidden was out in the open, so to speak. The Hogwarts Guard was a secret group, no one outside would know what Apollo was. Nonetheless, Albus hoped Aries knew what she was doing. Apollo's cushion levitated to the center of the room, in the middle of the circle of Guard members. It might have looked rather entertaining if Aries was not levitating him with her own wand. Her Amulet started glowing too. He took a deep breath, as if before taking a plunge, and listened. Apollo had finally started speaking. Something he grew to understand very rarely happened.

"The Guards are the Knights on the chess board," Apollo interpreted simply, just as Albus said. He began speaking extensively, probably more than Albus ever heard him speak. "The people of the Wizarding world are the pawns. They follow the Ministry's word, which is referred to by the bishop which are the church bells. The monarch is the Queen and rules over the castle, Hogwarts. The primary duty is to protect the students, which are the King.

"The Medieval Relics were found in places. Four in Hogwarts; the Amulet, the staff, the quill, and the sword. The scepter was in Greece which was taken by the Minister, the Black Orb was on the hidden island of Avalon before it was taken by the Reservation, and the cloak was in the forest. They are the Relics of Kings which means the Kings must use them. The Kings must show their own worth and use the Relics. Together, the Relics can end the War of Existence."

Everyone was silent. There was a mixture of pride running through the members sitting around him but also a sense of fear and wonder. Many of them were a direct help in finding the Relics. They had all put their heads together the year before and researched. Scorpius was a help, Lysander had some knowledge, the house descendants Sierra, Kabe, and Alexander had found some relics, even little Frank Longbottom had helped, Aries had done research, and even Rose of all people got involved and found some information for the Guard. Albus was so proud of them, he distinctly wondered if this was what the future Ministry would look like if they won the war.

Alice Longbottom, who had some knowhow due to her grandmother's death, was the first one to speak, "So, we found them."

"Good to know," Simon commented. "The students are the King. What does that makes us?"

"S-s-slightly enhanced pawns?" Alpha suggested with a quiet stutter.

"The Knights' replacement?" Sierra shrugged.

"But we lost our Knights," Alex reminded.

"Exactly, and some pawns upgraded themselves to replace what we lost," Riley offered. "Makes sense. We're just fellow students trying to make a living."

"We're the King," Seth said frankly. "Obviously. Regardless of what we can do, we're just better at the game than other Kings have been but we still symbolize that piece."

"And now we're going to war with the Reservation?" Melvin asked incredulously from beside Morpheus. "Are you nuts?"

"If we don't, we die," Cherry said simply.

"If we do fight, we die," Morpheus argued.

"Yeah, and I don't much fancy dying," Maria shrugged with a small smirk. "I sort of like living. Sounds like a good deal to me."

"You don't know what they have," Melvin said seriously. "Morpheus and I barely escaped them. They have one of the supposed Relics you need, that Relic powers their Necram Inferi that can actually use magic, and that's not counting their specially made wands to use whatever spells they desire to their fullest extent. You can't just beat them now. Their ship is terrorizing everyone everywhere, they have the orb powering it as well as their Necram and it's protected by a forest filled with dangerous beasts not to mention wards against people like you only to get to their encampment which can't be broken into. You'll be found and killed in seconds. You hear me? It's impossible."

"Exactly," Alexis said back, smiling slightly. "It's not impossible, it's just difficult but it can be done."

"The fact that they have the Relic we need is reason enough to fetch it somehow," Aries told Melvin, and once again, her eyes were stormy gray. If the Orb is in their encampment, then Mark and Maria could successfully break in because Maria is naturally drawn to it."

"Melvin," Alex said in a very calm voice. "Didn't you say last year that they didn't understand the use of wands?" When Melvin nodded, Morpheus actually had a boyish smile on his face and Alex went on. "Doesn't that mean they have a weakness?"

"The wand chooses the wizard," Melvin said simply. "That's basic Wandlore."

"Which means they generally don't have a stable relationship with their wands," Morpheus recalled. "We can do it."

"And the Necram are still just Inferi," Fauna pointed out. "Fire alone deals with them."

"They can conjure water," Melvin reminded them.

"Which is why we use a fire that can't be extinguished," Seth said simply. "I can deal with that."

The room was quiet following Seth's ominous remark. Albus knew that Seth was referring to Fiendfyre which could be used on a wide radius and no water could extinguish it except Cursed Water which had a dangerous drawback of eliciting Cursed Vapor which could affect everyone on the field. Judging by the bothered look on his face, Simon knew what Seth was referring to as well. He stared intently at his former friend for some time as the Hogwarts Guard considered what had been said so far. The basic wandlore, the inexperience with half-ass wands, Mark's ability to get in and Maria's ability to summon the Orb to her. The way Melvin talked, it was impossible but Alexis, Alex, Fauna and even Seth seemed to disagree.

As they thought, Apollo was still sat in the center, stirred slightly. He had a faraway look in his eyes, probably seeing a random vision. He sat alone on the cushion but nobody seemed to be paying him any mind except Aries. At least, until Apollo's eyes blinked and went back to normal. He said suddenly, "This war is going to kill a lot of people. These people will die by their own choices. There will be death running away, and death fighting and there will be death by inaction. Here lie the Crossroads of Fate."