The Crossroads of Fate

Chapter 14: The Crossroads of Fate

A/N: Hi. Ok, just to clear a couple of things up. Yes, Scorpius was a major coward before. I guess this did it, and just when people liked him. Anyways, the main thing keeping Scorpius off Rojer is fear. This may make Proxima right, she may have justified reason to hate him. I'm not exactly defending him, just giving his point of view, which admittedly isn't much. Though I must make one thing clear: He is not spying on the Ministry or for the Ministry. He spied on the New Roots and that was one thing, Scorpius feels better behind the scenes. That's why he's horrible and that's why he took Rojer's threat seriously. Whether Rojer could've gone through with the threat is completely irrelevant. The threat was there and Scorpius was scared. (His sibling is a girl btw.)

As for Tyro, yes, Cal, he's a vampire. Not all vampires are with the Reservation. I'm sorry it seem abrupt, probably because compared to other revelations, Tyro is a new character so you find things out gradually in the span of a single book instead of big shocking things that hit you like Soot/Soto did. Neil's story will be released later this book. Incommodo expelled Rose because he wants to hit Al, and try to discern where the expelled students end up going. Alexander is ok with Albus but he still prefers he had Alexis to himself. He's a child that way. And in response to Hassan's review: I'll admit there's something between Riley and Rose but whatever it is, I can't say. Interesting guess though…

Anyways, this is a double update, with the next one being a bonus flashback on Lycah due in an hour. Lycah is one of the top characters I've been aked about, with many curious about her and her past. She isn't exactly liked and I have no delusions that her past will make others like her more but it may increase understanding and, because Book 7 features the storyline with Lycah I have always wanted to do, this flashback fits well here. Enjoy…

She will come, the Royal Heir,

And take her brother, also fair.

And she would protect him but set his doom,

And he would relate and release the gloom.

Time will clash

If eras will crash

The Crossroads of Fate shall once be known

And all negative futures, for once be thrown.

Some would heed, some would need,

Some would reject their one true creed.

Yet some would hear, and some would fear

And some would break futures far and near.

And all would walk the Crossroads of Fate,

And embrace death, to them all, their mate.

Albus blinked once as Apollo spoke the words. The Crossroads of- what? The Hogwarts Guard turned to him. Apollo did not seem aware that everyone's eyes were on him again. He just sat cross-legged on the cushion watching them with glazed eyes. Albus half expected him to go blind again but he did not. He stared at them all readily. Albus' heart started beating, the seriousness of the meeting having evaporated. Aries seemed nervous too, her hand by her pocket, as if ready to reach in and strike if anyone said a word. But the Guard was bound by a powerful Silencing Jinx and Memory Charm. No one could tell.

"So… we have to decide something," Alex said slowly. "Time will crash, eras…"

"I'm guessing it's something to do with the Relics," Mark muttered to Alex who nodded.

"Maybe they have to fight their sister Relic," Alex proposed. "Maybe they're meant to be used on Incommodo, not Dubium."

"Of course," Aries said quietly, looking at Apollo. "We've already shown ourselves capable of fighting the Reservation without the Relics. Incommodo is another league. He is our enemy. He was always the Guard's enemy. That never changed. And if he's using the Scepter, then we'll have to attack with added power. Dubium is an easier target, honestly."

"Good luck getting past those enhanced magical shields of his, then," Seth shrugged. "I'll just sit back and watch, because I know you'll fail miserably."

Aries eyed him testily. Seth held her gaze for a time before Aries said, "I think Apollo knows slightly more than you do."

Laura Creevey on the other hand looked very interested, "Do you- do you know who's going to die?"

Apollo did not say anything. He just nodded. Laura gaped open-mouthed, almost in shock as Melvin and Scorpius looked in want for answers. "Will I?" Melvin asked uncertainly.

"I do not answer what my visions show," he said blatantly to Melvin. "Your future is a crossroads. What do you value more, your life or your brother?"

Morpheus nudged him shortly, small grin on his face. Melvin seemed confused or worried. It occurred to some that Apollo had evaded the direct question asked and some were trying to decide how better to ask him. "Do you know who'll win the war?" Pierre Macmillan asked uncertainly.

"It is uncertain," Apollo said simply. "The events of war are too unpredictable."

"Isn't the future always uncertain?" Lysander asked interestedly, with a look in his eyes as far away as Apollo's.

"Yes and no," Apollo answered. "My visions are certain, my methods are not."

"You're not gonna tell us your visions, are you?" Seth sighed.

Apollo turned to Seth next. "I do not reveal my visions. They are personal. I reveal uncertain visions. Visions that contradict each other. I witnessed Trelawney die and tried to warn her. She chose to ignore and met her fate. I've seen you die and I've seen you live and die. You either die in the physical sense, or you die in the personal sense. You will need to come to terms with something very important. Your life depends on the choice you make. Either way, you will die."

If Albus thought it was impossible to shock Seth, it certainly happened then. Seth looked very shocked and almost disturbed. In fact, even Simon began growing worried. He did not dare ask Apollo what was in store for him. He just glanced at Seth, "Is there… a way for Seth to change." Seth answered 'no' just as Apollo answered 'yes.'

Apollo went on, "And both of you share the same deadly enemy. Yourselves and each other."

"What about my brother?" Laura asked delicately and uncertainly.

"I can't talk about someone I haven't seen," Apollo said in his usual misty voice. "But he has advised you before, asked you to grow up and learn the bigger picture. The more you grow, the closer you get to the ultimate, inevitable end. You can grow up and die, or you can remain innocent and live."

Laura was confused, "Then, why the heck do I want to learn the bigger picture?"

"Sometimes, knowledge is important."

"True," Albus muttered. "You said I'd die. But I lived."

"I saw the Killing Curse hit you," Apollo said simply. Albus realized his mistake too late. Apollo's statement certainly earned him attention. Alexis for one turned her head around so fast, her neck cricked. Aries gaped open-mouthed at Albus, Lily looked confused, and Scorpius fixed Albus with a beady eye. Albus cursed to himself. "What happened after that was your own choice."

"Well, erm… I managed," Albus assured. "It was probably defective or lacked the proper emotion or magic behind it because it did not work."

Apollo shrugged, "I was not there. You still have to accept the inevitability of your own fate. You are at a crossroads too. One path is poison and you will die. The other path will simply lead you to another crossroads. One path is poison and you will die but the other path is life and you will live. You fear loss too much and the more you fear, the more likely it is to come about. Every man and woman in the world faces loss, either through their own lives or the lives of those around them. You are not different or special. If you do not come to terms with this, you will lose everything you hold dear."

"Told you," Alexis muttered to him.

Albus' confused explanation seemed to have temporarily placated the curious looks he got but Scorpius still did not look fooled. As Scorpius held his gaze on Albus, more and more people started crawling over to Apollo.

"And what's wrong with fearing loss?" Mark asked. "Everyone fears loss, everyone fears death, it's in their nature." Apollo gazed at him steadily. Mark was well aware and conscious of his gaze and started getting nervous. "I'm next, aren't I?"

"Fears are meant to be overcome," Apollo said sagely. "If you do not overcome your own fears and embrace your own dark side, you'll never be happy again. You and those around you have dark sides the war brought out. If you cannot accept them, you will be left with very few people around you."

"Trust me," Mark said lowly. "If you've seen what I've seen, happiness is impossible. And you see the future. You can talk to me about happiness, you should look at yourself. You're not happy at all and you never will be. Attain happiness yourself, prove me wrong, and then we'll look at my own lack of happiness." Albus widened his eyes at Mark. He was the only one who talked back to Apollo, let alone a boy who was going to be his future brother-in-law. Apollo did not argue this. Now Albus thought of it, was Apollo happy? Could he ever be, living with tragedies, seeing them happen in vision and in life, seeing their effects in vision as well as life, seeing death in vision and life… Aries had even said that he did indeed know his own time of death.

"I think I'm gonna die, doesn't stop me being happ… wait a sec…" Scorpius looked uncertainly at Apollo. Their eyes certainly met. Apollo seemed a little expectant, like he knew what Scorpius was about to ask. Scorpius seemed uncertain, like a part of him probably did not want to know the answer. But Apollo had already said that he did not reveal visions, only uncertain futures could be changed. Scorpius took a deep breath and asked, as quietly as he could to the boy though Albus heard, "Will I die?"

Apollo was silent at first. His eyes once more had a faraway look in them and Albus knew he was seeing a vision. Scorpius' question had provoked a vision. Apollo definitely knew the answer to his question. The question was, would he answer it? His eyes returned to normal once more and he looked at Scorpius. "Death is not a bad thing. It is merely a stepping stone to a larger adventure we must all take. It is both change and rebirth."

"That's… great, but I still don't know if I die or not," Scorpius said. "Is there anything I have to learn?"

"There's more to life than your material possessions," Apollo said simply. "Whether you die is up to you. If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, you die. If you are at the right place at the right time, you live."

"In other words, I also can't know my future," Scorpius sighed. "What about my future brother or sister? Can I know that?"

"What about mine?" Albus asked. "Our mums just have to stay away from battle and we'll have them. Right?"

Apollo nodded and Sierra scoffed from beside Neil, "Isn't that always the piece of advice? Stay away from war and you live. I came close enough to death last year to know that."

Apollo looked over at her shortly and then rested his eyes on Neil. Albus remembered him saying that Neil's future could not be seen. Now Apollo's eyes had their usual faraway look to them, Albus now knew that this was no longer the case. As his eyes returned, Neil said quietly, "I don't want to know."

"You have to," Apollo whispered.

"I don't want to know," Neil repeated.

"Your future is uncertain."

Sierra took one look at Neil, gave him a look of wonder, and shrugged. She crawled over to Apollo and said quietly to Neil could not hear, "Tell me. I'll direct him."

Apollo looked at her. He looked at Neil again and then back at Sierra who was now directly in front of him. Neil did not seem aware nor did he seem to care that Sierra was receiving the information on his behalf. Apollo sighed and said, "His life and future will forever be shrouded in darkness and death. His future depends on his own actions. He has to know that- that attempting his own life will only result in failure and more misery if his path does not change. He needs support."

"Why the- why would he attempt his own life?" Albus whispered frantically as Sierra raised her eyebrows and looked back towards Neil. Albus remembered the previous year how Samantha's bullying made him consider just that. There was a reason James was so protective over him but Albus had never known and Neil was not talking. He was friendly enough with Sierra but even to her, he was as silent as the grave he would one day end up in.

"I don't know," Apollo shrugged. "I can't see the past. Only the future."

"Wait, wait, if you can see the future, then can I ask something?" Alpha asked hopefully. Apollo looked at him next but said nothing. Alpha crossed his own fingers, waiting for a response that never came. "It's not much," he offered. "I just… do you know who my soul mate is going to be?" Apollo still said nothing. He gazed at Alpha through his silvery eyes. Hugo and Lily exchanged knowing, dubious looks and Albus actually rolled his eyes. "Is she far? Do I know her yet? Come on!" he pleaded as Apollo still remained silent. "Ah, never mind. Fine. I just hoped I could get the answer. I don't even know if I… never mind."

"Your efforts are futile as it stands now," Apollo said vaguely. "Give it up or you will get nowhere."

Alpha looked disappointed but said no more. This time, Hugo dared to overtake him, and just to ask him one question, "Is it possible to become a famous Quidditch player?"

Albus thought Apollo would refrain from answering. He certainly did look at Hugo silently for some time and Rose gaped at her brother like she couldn't believe the future he had in mind for himself. But, Apollo did answer eventually in the vaguest way possible, "Your future is in your hands. You can attain what you want but its biggest threat will be your selflessness."

"So, in order for me to become a Quidditch player… I have to be selfish?" Hugo asked. "Why can't I be a selfless Quidditch player?"

"Because you're too happy," Apollo said mysteriously. "And your happiness will be short-lived."

"But"- Hugo shut himself up. He did not dare ask any further questions, not that anyone expected Apollo to answer them. Apollo ignored most of the questioned directed at him, Albus wondered if he was beginning to feel crowded. Rose seemed surprised that so many people wanted to know their futures too. Hugo's curiosity certainly earned him a scoff from Rose. "Why are you asking for the future? There's a reason it's veiled and uncertain, and more reason why it's so imprecise. It's an explosive subject. I do not think this is a good idea."

"Crossroads are important to be known," Apollo told her simply.

"No, they're not," Rose said simply and logically. "Everyone in the world walks their roads with the same eyes as everyone else. Blind eyes. The future is kept secret for a reason, even by true Seers. Why do you reveal so easily?"

"I reveal only what the cards, the stars, the eggs, and the tea leaves show," Apollo responded. "I reveal the crystal ball, the fire omens, and contradicting visions. These are seen by both my eyes and yours. I am simply able to interpret them correctly. You too have a crossroads to walk."

"I have no desire to know," Rose said, turning away.

"Then, you will die alone," Apollo said.

The two faced each other again, young adult and young child. Rose did not seem as certain now Apollo delivered his frank warning. A part of her wanted to ask why he revealed when she asked him not to but she did not. Everyone else seemed interested in their argument too. Rose had outright tried avoiding knowing her future and now she had it delivered regardless. Rose just looked at him with shocked eyes. "Alone?" she repeated.

"Your future flickers," Apollo told her. "Your life is very educated and successful and you can live it as you please but you will not be well-liked. Your relationships will fall apart with friends and family and you will die alone. Or… you can learn the value of those around you, learn that there is more to life than school and grades. If you realize soon enough, your life will be happy. If you realize too late, you will die."

"You're wrong," she said boldly, causing eyebrows to rise. "You're wrong. For years, those with higher achievements have gotten higher honors and have gotten happier lives. But you're acting the same way Trelawney did before you. It's always negative. The future is always negative for you people. Always. The future is always uncertain and your visions do not change that. Your visions which you can't bring yourself to reveal because you don't want to. It's just another attempt to claim knowledge of something even Merlin could not master! You have faults too, you know! You're human just like all of us! I asked that I walk blindly, the way everyone else does. I asked that you hold your silence but you couldn't hold your tongue, could you? You had to speak, because Seers always have to show their abilities off and the more you attempt to show off, the less you actually have to brag about in the first place."

The two stared once again, Rose's eyes fiery and Apollo's as silvery and calm as before. As usual, so full of life, a suppressed sort of life that could never really be awakened. Then, "Your future is decided then."

Rose looked so aggravated, she scoffed, huffed, and turned around to walk back into her own curtained room. Her younger brother, Hugo tried touching her from behind to get her attention, to calm her, but she turned to him next, "And you, Hugo. Quidditch player? Of all futures to want to know, you pick whether you'll be a Quidditch player? Well, I have a future for us all, right now. And this future is by a non-Seer actually looking further than our Eye-gazing Prince is ever willing to reveal." Apollo blinked once, as if half-surprised by her tirade. Aries actually looked very amused but Hugo seemed hurt. Rose went on, "Sports is not a profession, it's a hobby. And those who rely solely on that profession from this early in life usually get the boot and those who do manage to make it big there end up with nothing in the very end because they retire young and bored. Hear me, Hugo? What hurts the most is you have so much potential, you can disarm multiple people at once for crying out loud, you could probably break curses with Uncle Bill but you choose to be a Quidditch player. Here's my prediction for you. You're going to fall, and you're going to fall hard and you'll wake up too late."

With those final words, she turned and left to her quarters, leaving behind a very confused Hogwarts Guard indeed. "Well," Cherry said uncertainly, exchanging a mystified glance with Eric. "That was interesting, wasn't it?"

Rose's tirade seemed to mark the end of the meeting. Regardless of her rant, it turned out to be quite the eventful meeting as well. The Crossroads of Fate, Albus thought. That was what Apollo referred to them as. Many, including himself, stood at a crossroads which could lead to one end or another. Apollo had no words for Albus' ultimate fate though Albus did make a mental note to ask him in private one day, if he ever could. He had words for many; Laura, Melvin, Seth, Albus himself, Scorpius, Mark, Alpha, Hugo, Rose and even Neil Nott. Apollo had wisdom far beyond his own years, Albus realized. Mark was probably right. Apollo was not happy either.

The meeting was very eventful to say the least. It felt weird seeing it end. The student left, eventually, even Alexis who gave Albus a quick peck on the mouth before hugging her brother. Lysander sighed, putting the finishing touches on the long piece of parchment which now reached to the floor. Lycah turned to him, who was still writing through an overly long piece of parchment solemnly, smiling at random intervals. Lycah looked confused for a moment before putting her hands at her waist and looking over his shoulder, "What, are you writing an encyclopedia or something?"

"Nope," Lysander said casually, continuing his writing. Then, as if remembering something, he stopped and looked up. "Though, to be honest, that's actually not a half bad idea. My mum discovered too many new creatures and the war stopped us from updating Fantastic Beasts."

"Then, why the heck is your parchment so long?" she demanded.

"Pen pal," Lysander shrugged. "We're hoping to meet after the war ends."

Lycah gaped at him, "Meet? It's not a good idea to meet people you don't know. You could get into trouble."

"It's a Pen Pal program by the American Ministry," Lysander justified. "So, it's organized and safe and done with third parties and stuff. It's part of the International Magical Cooperation program."

"It might not be," Lycah said insistently. "Especially with this Ministry and the Reservation all over you. They just attacked Edinburgh. It's not difficult for them to lure any unsuspecting student out. And you know, my mum had a Pen Pal they met and that Pen Pal is who bit me and turned me into a Werewolf. Maybe the American Ministry is just hatching a plot to get to you, since you're the great grandson of Newt Scamander."

"Then they would've asked for me specifically," Lysander shook his head with surprising rationality, continuing writing on the parchment. "I signed up without being asked."

"It might've been to lure you," Lycah argued.

"And Lila's parents are consenting," Lysander continued as if Lycah had not spoken. "She's born to the famous Oxcraft family in America. She's about my age, has eight brothers and sisters, and her mother is a naturalist like me and she actually believes in my Jibbies and Snorcacks and fairies and everything, says everything exists unless it's proven not to. We entered our interests and everything and Lila and I both consented to start communicating with each other. It's just for interaction but she really is quite brilliant."

"You're being stupid!"

"Hmm? Nah," Lysander yawned, signing his name very neatly and rolling it up. He sighed before he said, "Guess you're not gonna mail this for me so I'm off to the Owlry. Can I have your cloak, Al?"

"Ok, your funeral, see you when you're a vampire," Lycah shrugged.

Lysander took Albus' cloak as well as the map, stopped halfway out the door and smirked, "Strange. I've always wanted to see what happens when a vampire bites a Werewolf or the other way around. I look forward to the results."

Lycah gaped as if affronted by his words and turned to her Lorcan, "Did your twin just insult me?"

Lorcan grinned, "Well, I've always wanted to record the results myself so it would be a rather fascinating watch."

No more major events happened that month as it ended, except that Rose mysteriously disappeared. Albus carried on with his homework the very next day, ignoring all else except Neil, who he now knew needed serious help. Ever since the Guard meeting, Sierra had paid more attention to him too. Come December, Albus frequently saw him walking inside the Slytherin Common room alongside Sierra and not leave, sometimes for days at a time. Albus almost expected Incommodo to discover somehow and raise hell about it like he threatened to do with Mark if he returned to Gryffindor house but even he said nothing. Sierra did a lot of the talking, both near and far from Albus but Neil was not responsive.

Still, there was not much Albus could do about it. With NEWT work, the book Alexis had gotten him, and the Hogwarts Guard, his own war effort, and the grief of his dead brother still weighing on him, Albus felt swamped.

Dark Witches and Wizards and their Banes

Dark Witches and Wizards have existed throughout many different eras of time, ancient, medieval and modern. What is a Dark Witch or Wizard? A Dark Witch or Wizard is someone who uses the Dark Arts when put broadly. Some scholars have debated the intention behind the use of the Dark Arts since Medieval times but it has generally been agreed that using the Dark Arts makes someone a Dark Witch or Wizard. There have been minor witches and wizards who have used them, many of them theorists in the field and some have used them to further their own ends and ultimately met their downfall through who was later known as the Wizard's Bane.

A Wizard's Bane is the person who is considered the sole survivor, the one who managed to defeat who could usually not be defeated. The first major Dark Wizard in existence was Herpo the Foul of Greece. Herpo the Foul hoped to further the teaching of the Dark Arts around the world, believing them to be wholly important to the balance of the world and the wellbeing of those living in it. Herpo is the only Wizard who was not killed by a single bane, but a collective effort of the people united against him. The one Bane he had was the rooster, whose crow killed his Basilisk and erased the main point of fear surrounding him. The people revolted after that.

As Herpo gained power in Greece, a Dark Wizard in Egypt named Hashemi experimented with bodily mutations. This wizard was quickly defeated when the objects he cursed to bring such effects about were sealed with the Pyramids. One of the Muggle Pharaoh's closest advisors, who was a witch at the time, defeated him once he was cut off from the heart of his power and subsequent Dark Witches and Wizards have taken from that example and kept the core of their powers close by.

The Medieval times were home to Salazar Slytherin and Morgan Le Fay. Salazar Slytherin was a Dark Wizard who was reputed to have sealed a Basilisk within the school he taught. Upon leaving the school, Slytherin attempted to increase his own power by use of three famed Relics of that age, the Soulless Scepter which belonged to Herpo himself, the Serpentine Staff which was his own invention, and the Black Orb which resided with Morgan. Slytherin had never found the Scepter and before he got his hands on the Orb, he conducted a massacre of a Muggle town with an army of snakes he was known to have summoned with his Serpentine Staff. Godric Gryffindor used his Sword and was finally forced to put an end to his former friend becoming known as Slytherin's Bane.

Morgan Le Fay ruled over the Hidden Island of Avalon, the only fully Wizarding nation in history to exist. Morgan was known to have possessed an Orb that granted her an unnaturally long life, rumored even to extent to immortality. She was also rumored to have pursued a romantic relationship with her Bane, Merlin, a wizard who had studied in Hogwarts under his teacher Salazar Slytherin, another Dark Wizard who is reputed to have sealed a Basilisk within the school he taught. The details of Merlin's defeat of Morgan is unknown due to Merlin's death shortly after. Since her death, Avalon had been abandoned and subsequently disappeared. Many believe it is gone forever but it is rumored that her bloodline has the power to locate and reveal it once more.

Modern times are home to Gellert Grindelwald and Lord Voldemort and most recently Gwendolyn Garth. Grindelwald exploited a European Muggle war and conducted an invasion of Wizarding Europe with the Elder Wand, a wand with the legendary ability to win any duel. However, even this wand was no match for his Bane, Albus Dumbledore. This was yet another example of a Dark Wizard being taken down by a former best friend and why most Dark Wizards avoid making such friends, afraid that they alone would be able to exploit their secrets. Grindelwald was locked and never released, ultimately being murdered in his own cell. The Muggles he had enslaved and the Wizards he had controlled had come back and his reign had ended on par with a global war the Muggles had fought too.

Mere decades later, Lord Voldemort rose to power and pushed the dark boundaries further than even Herpo had pushed them. Possessing enormous power and even immortality through seven Horcruxes, this wizard was alone responsible for not one but two campaigns of terror consisting of control, torture and ultimately death. Both times, he was defeated by the same Wizard who commonly became known as his Bane, Harry Potter, subsequently known as the Boy Who Lived. This is the first but not the last time a Wizard's Bane ends up being an underage student.

The most recent Dark Witch was an American witch by the name of Gwendolyn Garth. Garth's terror was focused primarily on the Salem Witches Institute. A quiet revolution had been unfolding to grant wizards just as good a quality an education as witches. Starting with the 2015 birth of a Seer Wizard whose name is unknown, however as a baby spoke the Prophecy of a Wizards' Revolution. Whole many witches supported this development, some did not. Amongst them was Gwendolyn Garth. Garth conducted what was quickly known as the Salem Massacre of 2019-2020 which originally meant to target the Seer who was never found and identity never revealed. The young Wizards who were killed in the massacre were brothers of reputable Salem Witches who revolted under the leadership of Salem Prodigy and Lady Duelist of the Salem Witches Institute Aries V. Kimble, then thirteen years old. Following Garth's demise at her hands, she returned to Britain for her own safety.

Albus had to admit, he thought as Neil and Sierra took a seat at the same table as him. He was quite interested in the reading now. It had mentioned Herpo, Merlin, Grindelwald, Harry Potter and even Aries. While Albus knew more about the events than the book described, the news was Aries' story. Somehow, he felt he should have known that a witch like her was responsible for the defeat of someone like Garth. The fact that Albus did not know of what was happening in te States during his third year made him aware of how sheltered he really was.

He looked up at Sierra and Neil. Sierra was still going on about the Crossroads. "The future isn't that scary when you think about it," she said to him. "It's actually kind of fun, wondering and being in the dark, and getting riddles. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for me, can you? What kind of job you'll have, who you'll marry, where you'll live, why things happened, even when you'll die. I wonder if he sees those things… he's lucky knowing so much."

"He's not," Neil said so quietly.

"You're right," Albus said, looking up from his Ancient Runes homework. He met Neil's eyes briefly, "I don't think he's happy at all. He probably wishes he wasn't a Seer."

"But, why?" Sierra asked.

Neil sighed and rested his head on his hands. Albus spoke instead, "Imagine knowing everything, to the point there are no surprises. You liked hearing the riddle, imagine knowing the answer and knowing there's not much you can do to change it. Imagine knowing when you might die, how. The joy of life comes from the surprise of it, not the knowledge. And that's not counting how often he goes blind if he sees a prophecy."

"Ah, I dunno," Sierra shrugged uncertainly. "I sort of wish I knew these things."

"You don't," Neil said, looking at her. "How could anyone bare knowing the future when knowing the past is hard enough?"

Albus stopped writing. Sierra looked up interestedly and tried, for the umpteenth time, to get him to talk, "The past? Neil, why don't you just tell me?"

"No."

"Neil," Albus said suddenly over Sierra. "I won't make you, ok? But I swore to James I'd look after you and make sure you were happy. So, whatever happens, whoever you decide to spill to, please keep that in mind. The longer you stay silent, the worse it gets."

As Sierra pleaded, Albus received a tap on the shoulder. He turned around to see Mark. Mark, now Albus looked at him up close, looked quite underfed once again. Whatever had happened to bring Mark down again, he did not know. "Dad wants to talk to you. Godric's Hollow. Lily told me. She and Hugo were there yesterday helping mu- erm… Ginny with the work there to make the house livable."

Albus was quite curious. Dad wanted him? Really? Would he try and hold Albus back by taking the keys from him? Albus started packing his things up before leaving. Mark on the other hand turned to Neil who now looked cornered. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Neil said shortly.

"Yeah, right," Mark scoffed. "I lost my aunt and uncle at one, I lost my parents at eleven, I lost my best friend at fifteen and I went through a year of depression. I'm not even over it yet. I know sad and trust me, Nott, not once have I ever seen you smile. Try me."

Albus had just packed up and threw the bag over his shoulders as Neil rested his head on the table and closed his eyes. Sierra actually took a small blanket from her bag and put it over him. Albus turned to Mark, "Want to come with me? Odds are dad forces me to stay anyway."

"I'm not returning to Godric's Hollow," Mark said firmly. "I'm a legal adult and once I graduate, I'm getting my own place."

Mark nonetheless accompanied Albus out of the Common room and out of the dungeons. Just as they reached the mouth of the dungeons, they ran into Aries. This would not have been much of a problem if she did not look so fiery, her very aura brimming with energy. Albus could feel it. She wanted to hurt somebody and that somebody…

"Where's Apollo?" she demanded of them both as if they had taken her.

"Isn- isn't he in the Room of Requirement?" Mark asked.

Aries' eyes quivered, twitched, as if the suggestion angered her. She wished he was. "Do you think I'd be asking where he was if he was there? WHERE'S APOLLO!"

Albus and Mark jumped back as she withdrew her wand. Albus knew he would never reach his own wand in time but she did not even seem to be aiming for him. She attacked a passing Rojer. Rojer was taken-aback too and barely managed to throw up a shield. Aries did not stop though. Rojer screamed for backup and Lex joined him as Aries fought them both.

"Stupefy!"

Aries blocked it off easily. Her Amulet was glowing gold, too, showing off its own power. Students were scurrying in different directions some falling in the crossfire between the three duelists. Albus reached for his own wand but Mark grabbed it. He looked alert for the first time in a long time. "Al! Don't try anything!"

"What do you"-

"Where's Apollo? If he's kidnapped, that's serious! Let her do what she needs to do!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

A jet of green light was shot at Rojer who dodged it effortlessly and Lex fired forth a powerful beam of fire that Aries dissipated easily. The fire went off in two different directions before converging in one spot, right where Lex happened to be. A powerful explosion shook the Entrance Hall. In the commotion, Aries sent a piece of rubble falling on Lex and Rojer at once but both were Charmed back at her. Aries took control of them and with a quick Transfiguration spell, turned them both into anvils before throwing them at Rojer and Lex just as Rojer fired a Killing Curse. Even Aries could not act with what she was doing. Mark yelled in fear and Albus braced himself, knowing she was about to die.

Then… a shield popped up in front of her. The anvils hit Lex's chest and one scratched Rojer up badly. Both ended up on the floor as the Killing Curse hit the golden shield. Aries had blocked the Killing Curse. He knew it was due to the Amulet's incredible defensive power but it was the first time he saw even a fraction of what she could do. She walked up calmly, finally the energy around her disappearing as she went back to normal. "Where is he?" she whispered demandingly to Rojer.

"You are so exp"-

"Oh, no, you see, your Headmaster- he needs me," Aries seethed. "Without me, his entire tournament goes to waste. His whole plan of showing the best of the best collapses. He wouldn't dare expel me which means I can do whatever I want. WHERE IS HE?"

The crowd around them had either disappeared or fell unconscious. Lex looked up, facing her furiously, "Do you think the Headmaster will"-

"Crucio!"

Mark looked away determinedly as Lex screamed in pain. Rojer tried getting up, holding his sides, but Aries petrified him with a spell before turning back to Lex. "Gonna tell me?"

"Never"-

"Crucio!"

More screams. Mark winced to himself, cringed, not even wanting to hear the screams. It was like the curse was affecting him too, even though it was not hitting him. Then, the hall went silent. Aries looked over and so did Albus. He sensed him before he even shoed himself. Incommodo was arriving. At Mark's behest, Albus wrapped himself with the cloak quickly. If he was going to meet Harry, Icommodo had better not see Albus there. Mark ran in front bravely, standing in front and blocking Incommodo's way. "Leave her alone!"

"I will do no harm so long as she releases my teachers," he said quietly. "Release them, Miss Kimble and we forget this whole thing."

"WHERE IS HE?" she screamed at him.

"Where is who, if you don't mind my asking?" Incommodo challenged wispily. Did Aries dare say who? Could she even? Incommodo was not supposed to know Apollo was even a Seer. He and Aries locked eyes. "Hand me the Amulet, won't you? Perhaps we both get what we want, whatever it is you want, should the Amulet be handed to me?"

Albus caught the look on Mark's face. A look demanding he run off then and there. He and Aries would handle this. Aries was on Apollo's trail but Incommdo knew he was there. He kidnapped him. Where was he? Was he already tortured? Dead? He would tell Harry. Harry was expecting him anyway. If ever was the time, that was it. Harry would know and find Apollo too, Incommodo was in allegiance, he could not possible refuse this.

Albus ended up going alone, by way of Lycah's hut, to where he walked once more in his Invisibility cloak. The grounds were more or less clear, except for Tyro who kept watch from the shade of a tree, lurking and watching. No one was tailing him since he was invisible anyway. He knocked on the door and only took his cloak off once the doorknob turned. Lycah actually groaned in annoyance as Albus slipped in and allowed Lycah to justify opening her door somehow to Tyro. Her eyes seemed oddly glassy and faraway, shadowed from exhaustion related to the full moon, certainly not altogether there.

Lancet was sitting in the hut as well, the eight year-old boy seemed glassy-eyed as too. There seemed something oddly off about him. Being too used to Lycah snubbing people off, Albus did not even get through the portrait. He sealed it off and just stood there under it, watching Lancet. Apollo was gone and lancet was sitting in Lycahs hut, near death. The boy- he looked dead, but he wasn't. He was moving, he was breathing, his eyes were half-open and something told Albus they could see nothing. Yet, he was not awake. Lycah came back in and looked around. Clearly thinking Albus was gone, she sat down beside Lancet. This was not normal and all signs, Lancet, Lycah's hut and Apollo… it pointed to Lycah being the traitor. Aries was after the wrong people.

Albus knew he was invading privacy but something seemed very off. Lancet was not ok and neither was Lycah. The Scamander twins were not here, the portrait was sealed and Albus just retreated into a corner and stayed there. He would not be going to Godric's Hollow. He was estranged from Harry anyway so he did not care what he wanted. Harry made clear enough that he wanted nothing to do with Albus' plans of action during the war. Whatever he wanted was not as important as the life of an underage minor lolling his head in such a manner that made Albus think of being drugged. Imperius Curse, maybe?

No, Lycah was not a powerful enough witch to maintain control of the Imperius Curse. Albus knew from experience it required a lot of power. Cruciatus Curse required the same thing. Yet, Lancet's state suggested only those two curses to Albus. His mind kept working through possibilities, each one unlikelier than the last. Lycah herself rested on the same sofa with Lancet, and as the full moon was approaching that very night, she seemed very tired and exhausted. She leaned against Lancet's body, cuddling herself up, looking very vulnerable and alone. A single tear dropped down her cheek as she went into thought. A part of Albus really wanted to leave now, not feeling he belonged there at all.

Albus could not justify being there though. He could not leave without giving himself away somehow. Not with the passage portrait sealed off. To unseal it would give himself away. Albus found himself being stuck there for a long time. He started worrying about the full moon as evening came. Would he end up in the same hut as a Werewolf? Maybe giving himself away to an angry Lycah was better than giving himself away, let alone spending the night with, and angry Werewolf. Just as this started occurring to him, a knock sounded on the door.

Lycah looked up and mumbled for the knocker to come on in. The knocker made Albus guiltless for staying behind and spying. It was none other than Maximus Tyro. Tyro looked very pale in the evening light and very sinister. Just looking, he could see what Neil meant about it being obvious he was a vampire. It was further proof even vampires had different allegiances. One was with Harry and led a small clan, several were with the Reservation, it stood to reason one was with Incommodo too. He handed Lycah a single Potion and she downed it in one gulp. Then, with surprising strength, she got up and climbed through the portrait. Tyro watched bemusedly and it dawned on Albus what was happening.

Spy. Damn Lycah. She was giving them away. Tyro knew the passage to the Room of Requirement, the idiot. People would end up dead. Rose, if she was even there since she frequently disappeared, Lorcan and Lysander who she claimed to love, Apollo, Alpha and Proxima who was already angry at Scorpius for putting her there to begin with, and Alexander Ackerly. Alexander would die too. Alexis… no, no, Albus could not let it happen. The thought of cool and rational Alexis calmed him down enough to start thinking clearly. He could undo this damage. He undid damage before…

Memory modification. He would modify Tyro's memory, seal the portrait and when Lycah came back, he would Stun her and take her through himself. Let the Guard try her. Ok, it was easy. Albus had the element of surprise on his side. He withdrew his wand and pointed it slowly before…

"Don't even think about it," Tyro said ominously. He sniffed deeply. "I'm no fool. I can smell you. A student, I'm guessing? A spy? Is Miss Thrope perhaps betraying the deal I made with her? For her brother's sake, she'd better not be."

Albus froze, his heart beating tremendously hard. Tyro knew a student was there, he just wasn't clear on who the student was. Based on scent alone, Tyro was limited. Albus kept his wand level, prepared to defend himself. He kept in mind all the things Professor Macmillan taught him about defending against rogue vampires. They were quick and strong but also vicious and blind, especially at night. Hunger and thirst affected them more than even Werewolves. Albus would have to take advantage of that. He would have to distract Tyro with something else.

Preparing a plan in mind involving throwing a phial of blood to the corner before slipping behind and firing at him. He was just beginning to try and consider how this would work and how he would get a phial of his own blood to the corner before Tyro descended on Albus himself. He would not be fast enough. Tyro needed to be distracted by something else. He wished Seth was there. Or Mark. Either of them would be able to think up some sort of strategy. It was just Albus alone, and the stake was Lancet's life.

He gasped hugely as Tyro attacked then and there. Albus was too distracted. Lycah had arrived alright, and with her was Apollo L. Kimble, stunned and unconscious. Two lives at stake. Tyro attacked Albus mercilessly, only failing on biting him because the cloak was on. Albus kicked and flailed as Lycah started screaming in the pain of transformation. Tyro was blasted off briefly and Albus staggered up.

Lycah was turning. The full moon was upon them and she was turning. All Albus could think of her was traitor as she turned into a Werewolf. This wolf was small but very vicious-looking, almost exactly like Lycah's personality. Tyro looked and raised his wand. Albus just realized that the Potion Tyro had given her was a Strengthening Solution, not Wolfsbane. That meant Lycah was not in her mind. She would bite them both. Albus was in the middle of a fight between a vampire and a Werewolf.

A/N: Bonus flashback on Lycah next. And this book shall be the first, last, and only book to feature two flashbacks. Later, you will see one on Aries.