The Crossroads of Fate

Chapter 15: Aries' Gamble

Albus leapt away just in time. Tyro and Lycah went for each other, each one fighting like monsters. His priority was getting to Apollo and Lancet and getting them out before it was too late. The only problem was, while Lycah was out of her mind, Tyro was not. Vampires did not lose their minds. He parried a stray spell from Tyro before his wand was hit away. Tyro was wandless now and Albus had a chance. He made for Apollo and helped the unconscious boy up. He was beginning to stir so Albus used a spell to get Lancet's body over to him. Things got complicated there.

Apollo's eyes widened suddenly and he gasped, "Duck."

Albus did not need telling twice. He ducked and a jet of explosive red light combusted just above his head. Hard to kill he may have been, Albus would not have survived his face blowing up. Turning around, he saw Lycah had just beaten Tyro down. The vampire was against the wall, dying. Maybe. He could not tell. He prepared to face Lycah next but she leapt just his spell fired. It was too late. He felt himself get attacked by Lycah's wolf form next, felt her teeth barely graze him when she suddenly disappeared and reappeared in a corner, far away from Tyro, unconscious. Apollo was up, he seemed to have had an underage outburst because there was no other explanation for it. He sighed in relief and Lancet's body appeared next to them.

Just when Albus thought there were no more complications, the door opened wide and there stood Mors Incommodo. Albus raised his wand, "Expelliarmus!"

Incommodo re-angled it effortlessly and used one wand to hit Albus in the chest with something. His heart started acting up, attacking itself, probably, he did not know. Albus screamed and Icommodo took the distraction as an opportunity to disarm and bind him. Incommodo had Albus in ropes in seconds, he was far too powerful to be resisted. The ropes started burning hot but it was not the burn that pained Albus, but the sight that befell him next. Incommodo turned on Apollo next.

"NO! NO!" Apollo screamed fearfully, falling back. He fell backward, crawling backwards from the frightful man. "Please! No!"

Apollo sounded like a kid suddenly, like his own age, scared out of his wits. Something was scaring him and that something was Incommodo himself. Albus yelled for Incommodo to stop, pleaded for Apollo to be left alone but Incommodo paid no mind. "You will be killed, Mr. Kimble. For hiding within my school and wasting my valuable time and resources, you will be killed. How painfully you die is up to you. Who wins the war?"

"I- I can't"-

"Crucio!"

Apollo screamed a high-pitched scream, his eyes bulging out of their sockets, his body shaking violently, taking the Curse worst than anyone. Perhaps the residue of the curses he suffered as a baby once more made itself known. Incommodo kept the curse going, ignoring Albus' screams, ignoring Albus' pitiful attempts to get closer, to stop him somehow. Finally he stopped and watched Apollo twitch pathetically on the floor.

The boy had his eyes tightly shut, muttering something, mouthing something that sounded like Aries. Albus had a sudden rush of something, something enter his mind and left. He did not know what it was nor could he think. "Who wins, Mr. Kimble?"

"Y-you," Apollo muttered, his eyes slowly resting themselves back where they belonged. He gazed at Incommodo fearfully, afraid of being cursed again. Albus knew even Apollo could not hold. He was just a child and had been tortured before, traumatized, by that same curse. He did not want to suffer that again. "How? What would be done for it to remain like that? Answer me, Mr. Kimble!"

"I- I- you- you have- he- Al- no, NO!"

"CRUCIO!"

Another high-pitched scream sounded, it was merciless. Albus was tearing, his eyes spilling for Apollo. It was horrible to watch. He'd do anything to end it for him, to stop Incommodo from doing what he was doing. He would break Apollo. He would get the information he wanted, and knowing what he was doing right, knowing his correct crossroads, he would win the war. He would be unstoppable, Aries or no Aries, regardless of the Relics or the DA. The time that passed must have been ten minutes of continuous pain, though it felt like an hour.

When the curse lifted again, Incommodo pushed again, "The war, Kimble! Do you want to die?"

"YES!" Apollo screamed, eyes bulged out violently now, they looked like they were about to fall out. "Yes, I wanna die, kill me. Just kill me!" he pleaded. NOOOO!"

"CRUCIO!"

Apollo's screams reverberated through the hut, so loud it woke Tyro up. The vampire sat up and watched. Even Lancet started stirring and Lycah the wolf was up and for a wonder, not attacking. The screams stopped everything. It was like the world had stopped for Apollo. Like it had frozen in time. "THE WAR!" Incommodo screamed.

"The- the Relics- the Greeks- you- Macmillan- Malfoy- Lex… I- I don't know. I can't, NO! NO PLEASE!"

"Cruc"-

A loud explosion sounded so violently, Albus felt his binds release, though the burn still wounded him. Tyro barely avoided it and Lycah used that opportunity to leap for Tyro again. The battle started as suddenly as it stopped and Incommodo was gone. He was just- gone. He disappeared. The hut bore no sign of Incommodo ever having been there. Albus had no idea what happened to him, he hoped he died though. Whatever Apollo's fear did, he hoped it destroyed everything that ever made Incommodo. Evil he might have been, torturing an eight year-old child like Apollo was cruel. Albus crawled over to a crouched Apollo, the boy struggling to get back to normal, his eyes still bulging and his body shaking.

Lancet Goal had woken up, it seemed, and watched Tyro and Lycah fight it out viciously. This time, Tyro was the one who won. He was the one who had her on the ground, twitching under the pain of the Cruciatus Curse. That was when Lancet ran in, about to fight Tyro with his bare hands. "Leave my sister alone you crazed bastard!"

The door to the hut burst open once again just as Tyro lifted the curse. Albus thought it was Incommodo, back to exact vengeance but no. No, there, wand raised high and looking absolutely murderous was Aries V. Kimble. A little behind her was Mark Wallader. One look at her brother on the floor and she went- there was no other descriptive word that could entirely describe it- ballistic. She fired a jet of green light just as Tyro sunk his teeth into Lancet. The eight year-old boy was thrown away into Lycah, who- not in her own mind at all- sunk her teeth into him as well.

Albus suddenly understood. The viewing of Lycah's memories, Lycah focusing intently on Tyro even when she was not on Wolfsbane and could attack anyone, Tyro fighting Lycah… there was no other explanation. Lycah did not betray them voluntarily. She was under the Imperius Curse. This became evident when she landed and shook her head, trying to get an unseen something out of it. She howled in rage. That was probably why she did not pay attention to Albus, even without Wolfsbane. Her enemy was Tyro, he was the cause of the pain inside her. Lancet screamed in pain as Tyro evaded the Killing Curse. A burst of smoke appeared seconds later distracting Aries, Albus and Tyro. The only sounds were Lancet's and Apollo's screams.

It dissipated and having leapt from the portrait, there was Lorcan and Lysander. Tyro bulged his eyes, smirking. "So, there's the hideout. AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A jet of red light made straight for Lycah and a jet of green for Apollo. The wolf was hit, convulsing against itself on the floor. Lorcan and Lysander ran to aid her but Albus kept his eyes on Apollo. A golden dome was conjured that protected Apollo easily. The clash of the jet on the golden light let out a high-pitched whistling and a loud rushing sound, like the rush of death was enveloping the entire room without entirely affecting anyone. Tyro, obviously, had to be silenced. Preferably before Incommodo returned. If he returned.

Before anyone knew it, a stick shot itself like a bullet from Mark's stump leg. It hit Tyro in the head, and just as it clunked to the ground, Mark flicked his wand lazily and it flew up again, transfigured into a rope, choking him. Aries certainly meant to kill Tyro there but then- something miraculous happened. She took one look at Mark, a single look at him and his defeated eyes. Regardless of his show of strength, killing would not benefit him. Albus moved in instead. "Obliviate!"

The stick leg returned to Mark's stump and rested itself there once more while Aries considered the hut. Lorcan and Lysander were kneeling over Lycah's body. Her body. She- she was human. Despite the moon being out, she was human again, somehow. He wanted to think it meant something good but he knew it did not. She rested herself against Lysander's lap, hugging him, hugging Lorcan, tightly. Lancet was still unconscious again, pale-faced and dead-looking but he was breathing. His body was convulsing too, like it wanted to transform but something stopped it from doing so. His skin frequently grew hairs and fur before they fell off and he clutched his own heart. Albus could not tell if he was dying. If he was, nothing could be done. Vampirism and Lycanthropy could not be cured.

"I'm sorry," she muttered to them. Aries abandoned all pretense and bent down by her too. Her stormy gray eyes did not exactly show anger but a bit of question. "You turned my brother in…"

Lycah was definitely not seeing anything now. Albus never liked her but his heart wrenched seeing her in this state. It was probably the first time a full moon came and went and hr Lycanthropy did not take its full course. His heart wrenched even more seeing Lorcan and Lysander look over her, both, even Lysander, looking desperate. Lycah addressed Aries, "I- I had to. I was- the Imperius Curse… I- couldn't- I just…" she exhaled a great breath and took another deep one against Lorcan's urges to save her breath and fight back. "I could've resisted. But Lancet- he was dying- Tyro was going to kill him, my will to resist was weakened. I- I wanted to sav- to sa… I…"

"Lycah," Lorcan looked in complete denial. She smiled at him weakly. "I love you, Lorcan."

Albus looked away. Lancet seemed semiconscious but he reached a hand out to touch her and Lysander- Lysander kissed her mouth. Lorcan kissed her mouth, giving her everything she wanted from either of them. "Thank you…" she muttered. She was being embraced, hugged tightly by both of them. Lysander muttered, "Goodbye Lycah," with a gentle, soothing, welcome smile. She looked so happy to be in the arms of the two people she loved the most, feeling the touch of the brother she had bitten, that she smiled back. As she wrapped her arms around them, they fell slightly and Albus knew she was dead. It must've been a major shock to Lysander but Lorcan seemed on edge. She was his second love and she too died.

The hut was still after that. Lancet's eyes were tearing slightly as he gazed as Lycah's body, it still being touched and hugged, neither twin willing to let go. Albus was not sure how to respond to this tragedy. Imperius Curse. He had decided he would modify her memory and there she was under the Imperius Curse. Lycah was dead, now. Hogwarts' next gamekeeper and Hagrid's replacement was dead. Albus hoped, dead as she was, she may've found a better life in the hereafter.

"We have to go," Aries said quietly to Albus. Albus could tell she wanted to go and hide Apollo for real, somewhere that was not Hogwarts or Hogsmeade. Albus wanted to leave too. He knew the Scamander twins deserved time alone. He wondered if Grimmauld Place would suffice, or the Bungalow. But he was not sure. She was convincing Mark to stay behid, to look after Lycah and help the Scamander twins to bury her somewhere and stay concealed.

Aries handed Albus a parcel, "Your cloak and map."

"What?"

"I found out from Malfoy where Apollo would be. He finally told me when I got rid of Lex. Incommodo can't be found anywhere. I took the liberty of fetching those. We need them."

"Wait!" Albus protested, stepping back. "How does he know? What"-

"You're coming with me to make sure we get out safely and I can't handle my brother, the map and cloak in two hands. Now, your cloak, Potter? Or are we going to duel, perhaps?"

Albus sighed and withdrew his cloak. After watching Lycah die, he was not in the mood to argue. A part of him just wanted to sleep. He threw it over them all, himself, Aries and Apollo. He activated the map the way it always was and let Aries hold the cloak while they crouched down and left the hut through the portraits.

"Aries… you do know that some of the teachers are against us, right?" Albus asked uncertainly, not sure to what extent she would defend her father. "I mean, Draco probably betrayed us, Macmillan is definitely"-

"They're with us," Aries insisted without meeting his eyes. "And my father is the one who alerted me and he got it from Malfoy that Incommodo discovered. Now, if father was against me, why in the hell would he tell me to take him away?"

"Lure him out?" Albus suggested.

"Al… are you an idiot? I do get that impression sometimes," Aries said bluntly. "I mean, there I thought Potters were naïve but you're actually the unhealthy opposite in your embodiment of paranoia."

Albus opened his mouth to respond, though he did not know what to say, when Apollo said quietly, "It's true. They're all with you."

Albus closed his mouth and looked at him quizzically. "Are you- are you sure?"

"Just trust me, they're with you," Apollo said weakly.

The three stood there for five minutes in relative silence. Apollo had a faraway look again, seeing something. Aries was watching the map over Albus' shoulder, tracing some of the teacher's routes with her finger. Incommodo reappeared in the Astronomy tower. His dot just appeared there suddenly. He had left the Astronomy tower and walked the castle ominously. She pointed to his dot when it reached the ground floor. Mark, Lorcan and Lysander as well as Lancet and Lycah had left the hut so he would find nothing there. Hopefully, Mark destroyed the portraits.

"Come," she said quietly.

Albus did not dare say a word. Apollo was walking but he still seemed very unhinged. His eyes fluttered open and closed, as if he was dying. They sat in the bungalow now, safe from anyone there.

"Incommodo doesn't know of the room's existence, otherwise he'd have been smart enough to get in. Used a student to get in if it repels him specifically, lured the others out, could've broken enchantments on it. The fact that hasn't happened yet means he is ignorant to its existence. Macmillan knows of its existence, which means he hasn't told the Headmaster and if he hasn't told the Headmaster…" she looked at Albus as they trod the path to Hogsmeade. "He's on our side."

"So, where're we going?" Albus asked as they reached the village.

"The forest. Incommodo will search there first. After thinking he's not there, we will hide Apollo in the forest and he'd be safer."

Incommodo was on the pathway to the forest now. "The forest?"

"It's safer."

"I'll be safe there," Apollo agreed, barely moving his mouth. "Somewhat."

"Aries, what the actual hell are you thinking?"

Aries fixed him with stormy grey eyes, once again giving Albus the sense of radiated power. "I really do have to spell things out for you, don't I? If Incommodo gets in somehow- maybe someone gave away the location of the bungalow- someone will need to fight him back and destroy the portrait so he doesn't discover the network. This can place everything in jeopardy. This is precaution. We stay here until he passes. When he's back in his office, we'll go if it takes till morning. If he comes, you stay hidden, I fight back. I'll sneak in later and expel myself by residing in the room he clearly doesn't know about yet. We'll think of another way after that."

They waited for five minutes in silence as Albus pondered over her thought process. She was trying actively to repel and counter every possible way someone could find them. Albus could appreciate her thoughtfulness. Slowly, the time passed. Then, Apollo whispered, "He won't find us."

It seemed Incommodo had only investigated where the trail might have disappeared to. He did not know of the network either. He appeared from the forest moments later and went for Hogsmeade next. Though he was getting closer, he could not know that. Yet another thing in Ernie's, let alone Draco's, favor. Albus exhaled a sigh of relief. "Ok, I know I'll regret saying this but you are brilliant."

"I know, why the heck would you regret saying it?" Aries asked curiously as they climbed through the passage portrait.

"Because your ego is large enough as it is," Albus sighed.

"And… my ego is a bad thing?" Aries asked testily. "I hardly understand the logic behind that. Just because I am practically perfect in every way, can duel like the best of them, and have honors from some of the best magical schools in the world, doesn't mean I should shut up about it. In fact, the more people who now about how brilliant I am, the more people know how stupid it is to cross me. I don't understand why all of you people persecute me over that, like your egos are threatened, when there will always be people better than you."

"Exactly," Albus blurted out, light showing itself at the end, meaning they were almost there. "Always people better than you. You should remember that, Aries."

"Well, let me know when you meet someone better than me."

"Well, Seth proved last year how much better he knows the Dark Arts," Albus said seriously. "And they're the most powerful pieces of magic known to us."

"Well"-

"Look, he's heading back," Albus said in relief. "And Nott is returning to his office. Why is Neil there all the time?"

"Don't ask me," Aries shrugged and they jumped out of the portrait. "Whatever it is, his father can deal with it."

They jumped out and looked around. As expected, the hut was in shambles. No one was there. Lycah was dead. Lancet was suffering somewhere, probably in the Room of Requirement. Albus guessed Lorcan and Lysander were with them both. At least, until he heard movement from behind a shuffle of newspapers. Albus jumped and reached for his wand but it was just Lysander. For the first time, he looked quite shaken and shocked. The true weight of what happened did not fully register with him. It always did take a while for something of a large magnitude to register in Lysander's mind.

"Sander?"

L-Lycah is- L-Lorcan buried her," Lysander stuttered. "He- he wants to be alone with her."

No, it was registering. One of the main reasons Lysander took a while to acknowledge anything tragic was because he detached himself from reality. After spending so much time with Lycah, however, Albus guessed even he could not deny this. He reached out and hugged him. He felt Lysander's body shaking inside, trying hard to accept what was happening and what had happened already. As they hugged, Lysander muttered, "She's dead. She's happy now, right? Isn't… isn't she happy?" he asked, pleaded almost. "And L-Lancet, he- he's dying. He- he- his b-b-body can't t-take the changes. Lycanthropy and Vampirism…"

"Are you ok?" he asked as they broke apart.

"I… I am," he said quietly. "Huh, I was just kidding."

Albus blinked. "What?"

"I was telling Lycah I had always wanted to see what happened when a vampire and a Werewolf bit the same person," he recalled casually, like suddenly, everything was normal again. "It's actually happening. I do hope Lancet lives. I'd like to see how he adapts. Perhaps being a child helps. Children are very adaptable, don't you think?"

"Uh… sure?"

"What's wrong with Lycah?" Aries demanded. "Are you sure she was under the Imperius Curse?"

"Oh, yes, she'd never hurt Lancet intentionally," he assured her. Albus was not sure if Lysander was just in a fantasy or if he truly had rational reason to think what he did. It was hard to tell with him. "And she just came back to it. Lycah would never have given Apollo up. She hates too many Wizards to want to get involved with their affairs intentionally. In fact, I think Tyro used Lancet against her."

Aries stared, mind working through the explanation, as if trying to decide if he was worth being believed or not. Albus had eyes for the rest of the hut. They would have to destroy the portrait. The hut was too compromised. Suddenly, Aries looked at Lysander with a new idea, outside and at Apollo. She nodded. "Ok, now, we take the front door to the forest, and wait to find Centaurs. They're our best bet."

"What?"

"Think about it," Aries challenged him. "It's against their laws to harm children like Apollo, let alone Seers who can see better than the best of them. Plus, the forest is the last place anyone will look because it's set against Hogwarts right now. It's right under the enemy's nose."

"And you don't think the Reservation will find him?"

"Oh, they won't," Lysander yawned. "No, the Centaurs hide themselves. Undergrowths, underground rooms, secret grasslands, not to mention the vampire clans in here and the Groves planted by Hufflepuff herself are very magically protected. The end of the forest may be our enemy, but the forest itself is very friendly to us. Remember that. Apollo is safer here."

Albus turned to Lysander, "Are you sure? Lysander, no offense but you can be a little… wrong at times."

"Oh, I know, but this is right," Lysander insisted. "I know the forest. We know the forest. We were in the forest, together, and we were helped. We were guided to the Reservation."

"That's a bad thing."

"No, no, it's a good thing, because if we were never guided, we would never be able to find the Black Orb later," he reminded him. "It's good."

"We can't go in, it's suicide"-

"Death isn't bad, though," Lysander insisted, so strongly and certainly. Apollo actually nodded a little, staring wide-eyed at them, eyes still adjusting to the absence of pain. Apollo was still being tortured, on the inside. Albus wondered if he would ever be fine. Apollo's screams, begs and pleas haunted his memories. They would for a long time.

"Ok, we have to leave then," Aries sighed. "Sander, go back to the Room. I'll hide the portrait when you do so the only connection from the Room will be the bungalow. Ok?"

Lysander nodded and did as told. He climbed through the portrait before Aries took it down and put it away I her bag, shrinking it. Before leaving, Apollo turned to Aries and for the first time, showed emotion. He looked very solemn, serious and his eyes a little watery. "Aries… there's a chance that when the Centaurs take me… I will die."

Apollo's words sunk in for a second. Then, Aries' look went from wonder to horror. For the first time, she was terrified. "What? No, what? They're- they're on our side!"

"No, they're neutral," Apollo refuted calmly. "And the Reservation wants them. They too have a choice to make. Depending on their choice, my life may end by the Reservation's wands."

Aries' mind changed in an instant. She shook her head and took her wand out, "Then we return to Hogwarts. We put you back and forget this"-

"If you do, he'll know again," Apollo warned her. "He'll look for me. He'll search the forest, he'll find me and he'll kill me. I can't keep the future from him forever. I'm- I'm only eight."

"You don't"- she stopped herself.

Apollo raised his eyebrow at her. "I do know. I've seen it. If I stay, he will look all over, far and wide, interrogate and torture until all hiding places are discovered. He needs me. He was so close. Death was so close, I could feel Him. I will be found, he will force everything out of me, kill the hidden students, and steal the Relics. He'll win the war. Send me out and nothing changes. He won't try as hard. It just might mean… the end."

"Apollo"-

"I'm not afraid of death," Apollo said quietly. Aries was tearing now, looking more and more human by the second. Apollo's possible death had destroyed whatever emotional barrier she had. "I've seen death, looked it in the eyes, met it, in the past and future. I know what will happen when I die. Don't I deserve peace? And happiness?"

Aries hugged him tightly, tearing slightly, Albus looking away, not getting involved in their moment. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I couldn't find you in time. I- I don't want you to die. How could you? We promised each other… Apollo, you"-

"Here're your Crossroads, sister," Apollo told her. "Take me to the castle and lose the war or take me to the forest and face the possibility of losing me."

Aries' decision, it seemed, was already made. As painful as it was, Apollo's best chance was in the forest. Close to Hogwarts, safer there, in enchanted groves, than in the outside world or in Hogwarts even. They left towards the forest. Albus did not dare speak. Aries still seemed shaken and frightened. "Don't let them," she said as they walked the forest at night. It looked very ominous and dangerous. Their wands were lit and the pathway still present. Albus also spotted a faint silvery line which he remembered led to the Reservation. Once again, he could see it however faint it was. "If they have a crossroads too, stay with them and don't let them turn against us. Stop them, please."

"I don't know if I'll succeed," Apollo admitted. "I'll try my best… but I am still a human. I always will be, in life and death."

The trees were getting thicker. Albus was beginning to get the feeling they were being watched. "Have you seen your death?"

"I've seen all scenarios of my death," Apollo said gravely as they stopped in a clearing.

They were definitely being watched. Just before the Centaurs showed themselves, Albus bent down and hugged him. He pitied him. Apollo was not a happy child. He had lost that happiness a long time ago and in spite of the energy inside, he could not act on it. Albus met his silvery eyes, "You save yourself, ok? Don't die. You're a brilliant Seer and when you're older, you'll be able to control your magic more and control your visions more."

"That's true," Aries whispered, voice a little stronger now. "Like you gave Crossroads to some students, please, please walk your own. Try your best to save yourself. Ok?"

Apollo met her eyes as the Centaurs moved in closer. "I will."

The first Centaur to show himself was one of a palomino body that looked vaguely familiar to Albus. He looked interestedly at Apollo while two other Centaurs, including the militant white-haired one watched Aries and Albus warily. "Man, in our forest."

"Technically, man and woman," Aries corrected to the wispy-voiced Centaur's anger.

"Firenze, these are trespassers," one said in a low voice.

"Albus Potter," Firenze said, bowing his head.

"Firenze"-

"They have reasons for coming to us in our sacred grove," Firenze said pointedly. "I have not seen an Amulet of this much energy before," he added, looking at Aries' Enchanted Amulet. "Why have you come to our sacred grove? Many of my kind are quite angry."

Albus opened his mouth to respond when Aries cleared her throat and put a hand protectively on her brother's shoulder. "It is not Potter who comes, he is only an accomplice. I come… with an offer."

Apollo blinked his silvery eyes once and they once again had a faraway look. Albus had a feeling he knew what Aries was thinking and Apollo was seeing whether her plan would work or not. Albus' eyes flicked from Aries to Firenze to Apollo, his heart beating, wondering if he'd end up having to use his wand or not. How friendly were they going to be? Aries seemed to be thinking along the same lines because her hand was casually went to her pockets. Even from there, he felt the power and energy radiating off of her and had the impression the Centaurs felt the same.

"We do not bargain with humans," a Centaur said.

"But you will bargain with me," Aries said, eyes blazing dangerously. "The planets foretold it."

"How dare you"-

"They did," Apollo interrupted, looking up. His eyes seemed back, normal again, at peace oddly where he was. "The stars are in position, aligned to fit with an allegiance. It is no coincidence that Venus shines directly above our meeting grove."

"The bringer of Mars speaks of a battle between us here and now," a young-voiced Centaur said from behind Firenze.

"That is only true if we know that Pluto was hiding behind Mars," Apollo said as he took the tiny astronomical kit from his pocket. Did he just- carry hat around? A small golden sphere he opened. Suddenly, the grove became filled with planets. Apollo's silvery eyes began reflecting the planets being seen. Albus was rather impressed. "Pluto is too out back to be associated with our meeting."

The planets suddenly disappeared as Aries shut the golden sphere. It certainly snapped the Centaurs out of their trances, "So, here's my offer. My brother is a Seer and a very gifted one. He sees visions, can read the stars, and his Astro-sphere reflects the planets' positions almost perfectly. Under the condition you do not hurt him, he can stay with you, under your protection. He may be a human, but he has the gift of a Centaur. In return, I ask that the Centaurs take our side against the Reservation which seeks to wipe Wizardkind out."

"It just so happens that my kind are in the midst of debating this very topic," Firenze told her calmly. "Many of us, I am indeed sorry to say, wish to see Wizardkind wiped out."

"Rightly so," a Centaur blurted from beside Apollo. "They have denied us our rightful spots. Wide areas, open, free from lights to stargaze as we please. We have been confined to forests for centuries. Small pieces of land fit for a pauper."

"I have tried and thus far failed to convince them that taking the side of the Reservation is against our interests," Firenze added.

"Which is why Wizardkind is now offering our best Seer as a truce," Aries emphasized. "To be kept and looked after for as long as the war extends. When the war is over, Apollo is returned unharmed."

"And once Apollo is returned to you…"

Aries smirked. Albus once again felt grateful. If only Aries was like this all the time. "I will personally see to it that this forest is extended to include the lands the Reservation holds as well as areas off Hogsmeade. This will give you access to the grasslands off the village which should be wide enough for your kind. In the meantime, the lands the Reservation currently hold may be flat enough to see the stars in their full glory, not to mention its beaches should give you access to tidal Divination, which is directly affected by your stars. I think that's a pretty fair deal, don't you?" Did she… have the power to do that? Albus thought to himself.

Silence. Apollo once again had a faraway look in his eyes. Firenze and the Centaurs turned to discuss the matter. "The human has offered their prize for our allegiance. In return, this forest is extended and our territory widened to include the Hogsmeade grasslands and the Unseen Lands the Reservation holds. I propose we offer up our bows and take the fight to the Reservation as we once did when the Death Eaters insulted our order. They are not to be trusted. All in favor!" It was like watching a special meeting Albus had no part in. Those in favor fired arrows into the air which incinerated upon their descent. "Motion passed."

Aries hugged her brother before he was taken upon the back of a Centaur. Apollo watched her with sad eyes as Firenze bent low to address Aries. "Do not worry, human. Whatever comes to pass, I will make sure your brother is not harmed."

They left. They had no choice. Aries seemed very shaken and depressed. She almost forgot to activate her amulet upon their return to the grounds. They returned to the castle through the cloak, watching the map very intently for any sign of Incommodo. It was well past midnight by the time they got inside and it was so silent, every pin drop sounded like a train whistle that might wake the entire castle. Albus was terrified that Incommodo would take Albus aside and kill him in secret but he did no such thing. Albus threw himself in bed and got to sleep in seconds, forgetting to get into his pajamas.

Not that this helped him much. Albus did not feel asleep. What felt like seconds later, he saw a dream. In this dream, he saw a horse fighting against a sea of white foam under the night sky. He heard a woman crying, a wailing voice sounding like Aries, and then a flash of white. Next, he saw a horde of little kings fighting against a bishop with the head of a snake. A voice in the background sounding like Apollo's dictating what would happen next, followed by the very event he predicted. Next, his screams echoed through the air, screams of pain, pleas, begs, and Incommodo's harsh torturous voice. It looked very drastic but Albus woke up sweaty and shaking. He sighed in relief as he sat up, checking the time. Three hours had passed and he had ten minutes before Ancient Runes started.

Albus did not feel well rested at all when he got up the next day. He wondered where Apollo was then, and how he was being treated. Would he gain more control of his visions with Centaurs, or would they get worse? Or would his ominous prediction come to pass and he would simply die? Was he being allowed to recover from his torturous experience?

Albus stayed out of sight the next day too, refusing to leave the Common room. He opted to skip his classes that day, knowing Incommodo would want to speak with him. By looking at the map, he saw he spoke with Mark instead. Mark lived, at least, coming back to the Slytherin Common room and telling Albus that no one was expelled but Incommodo knew for sure that they were behind all rebellious actions in Hogwarts. One more thing that went wrong, and either Albus or Mark would likely be killed. The events of the night before were too drastic to ignore.

In fact, the next day, Albus had skived off all his classes that day and went straight to the Room of Requirement. He used his cloak and map to avoid the teachers, no matter who they were. He took every passageway he knew, even the one to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom Seth showed him the year before, and took one more to get from the second to the seventh floor in a mere two minutes. He ducked around and stole into the Room of Requirement. The air there was immediate. He knew he was entering into a room where someone was dying. Almost the entire Guard was there, exempting only Neil, Seth, and Sierra.

Cherry was silent, holding a pale hand that belonged to her brother. Lancet looked alive but he looked very different. Albus would not quite say vampire but something along the lines of a hybrid. He seemed very weak though, like his body could not handle the stress it was under. Albus was not even sure why he was still alive.

"He might live," Alexis told Cherry quietly. "I just- don't know how it would be. What he would be. Lycanthropy represents mortality and vampirism represents immortality, these two battling it out inside him isn't healthy."

"Is- is there a possibility he would be immortal?" Cherry asked in a small voice.

"No," Alexis shook her head. "If there was, he wouldn't be in this state."

"I need him to- I…" Cherry stared in shock. Albus could sympathize. Cherry grew up with her brother, discovered she had a half sister she could not remember. That half sister ended up under the Imperius Curse, unable to resist it due to an absence and locking of emotions, and later died of her wounds, mental, emotional and physical. She died gladly, feeling nothing but love and Cherry could not understand that. All she knew was that her half sister gave her brother either a blessing, a curse, or a death sentence. She could not decide how she felt about her sister until after they knew what Lancet was in for.

"What's under threat?" Maria asked interestedly.

"The heart," Alexis said easily. "The Vampirism in him is depleting the blood flow and that puts the heart in jeopardy. If the heart was helped, he might live…"

Maria's eyes lit up, making Mark glance at her uneasily. "Ok… I know what to do."

"Maria…"

"Alchemy," she said simply. "But the dark kind. Conjuration."

"What do you mean?" Alexis asked quickly.

"Alchemy is theoretically able to conjure up any human part, be it limb, chest, head or even the whole body," Maria explained smartly, and in this subject, she seemed very smart about it, like she had spoken and read of it since she was five. She might've, Albus thought. "It's not done a lot, but it might also be able to conjure up a heart as well, since it's a human part."

Mark looked almost sickened, green with disgust, as Maria explained this but she looked unconcerned. Her young eyes looked very enthusiastic, as if she had always wanted a chance to try this. "Wh… out of curiosity, what are the ingredients for a heart?" Mark asked.

"Well, the heart has to be compatible so… a heartstring from a family member will do, a great deal of blood which requires a bunch of other ingredients or a simple Blood-replenishing Potion, and we'll need an electrical current to give it life, to pump it to action. Since the boy is alive, though, you'd have to mix them in with very little water or the excess would kill him."

"Can- do it!" Cherry pleaded. "Do it!"

"Love to, but you'll have to talk to my brother," Maria shrugged. "He expressly forbade me from performing the Dark Arts so… sorry. Your brother has to die because Mark prefers it that way."

Cherry looked visibly beside herself, so much so, Mark went red at being put on the spot. "You know, Maria, you're the one who actively researches this monstrosity."

"But it can save a life," Maria emphasized.

"At what cost?"

"A heartstring!" Maria argued. "Big fleshy deal. Her sister is dead anyway, one heartstring to use for free and nobody to sacrifice. Unless you were planning on giving Lycah's heart a fair burial?"

Mark opened his mouth to respond but shut it. He and Maria were staring daggers at each other. Both were shaking in tension until Mark took a deep breath and said, "Lycah can't be touched. Lorcan and Lysander buried her in the forest and you'd need their permission to desecrate her body like that. Not mine."

Maria nodded slowly, eyeing Cherry shortly. Alexis watched with an unfathomable expression. Maria got up to leave, perhaps to talk to the Scamander twins who probably took residence in Lycah's hut. Albus was not sure what they would say or do about this suggestion but he meant to go and see for himself. He walked out with her and to the fifth floor. There, he was forced to part ways for, just as they passed a room, he heard sobbing. Albus turned away and went towards the source of the noise. He went into a side chamber where Neil Nott sat, staring red-eyed out the window. The boy sat muttering to himself, sobbing, trying to ignore the recent entrant into the room.

Albus froze. He was beginning to wonder a great deal what could possibly be bothering James' little friend so much. He had seemed so normal in his first year. No, a rational voice spoke in his head. He only seemed normal. He was always withdrawn and quiet. Always. Whatever had kept his sane in fifth year had disappeared and that must have been James. James' death must have effected Neil more so than it effected even Albus. Albus opened his mouth to say something but he did not know what to say. He stopped over Neil, who finally quieted down.

"I'm… not really good at this," Albus said uncertainly. "But… James seemed to think I could help you somehow. I have no idea what he had in mind but I think it included you telling me what was wrong." Neil was shaking a bit and when Albus had his hand even an inch over his shoulder, the boy tensed up. "James cared for you a great deal."

"Then- then wh-why did he die?" Neil muttered, taking deep breaths to stop himself from crying again. "I-I asked him… I begged him not to get involved. Begged him to stay out of the war, to stay safe. Why did he die?"

"Because…" Albus hesitated. He sat beside the boy, accepting now that he was not attending Ancient Runes that day. "He cared. If he lived, a lot more would've died in the castle. Besides, when you're at war, and when your family is threatened, and you know you can save them, you begin noticing things about yourself that you never noticed before. A protective sort of instinct. James saved my sister and I- and I had to curse her to keep a charade up."

Neil considered this silently. He looked at Albus through watery brown, bloodshot eyes, taking deep breaths still. He nodded, "I should've followed my instincts. I should have never listened to her."

"Who's her, Samantha?" Albus asked.

Neil shook his head. He was very silent again. He stared at the window almost wistfully. Then, "I like Potters. My father owes yours for saving his life after the second war. But- but you all sacrifice yourselves too easily. James shouldn't have gotten involved. Apollo was right. In the end… I'm gonna have to die."

"Not necessarily," Albus disagreed. "Just… look, if you want to die, that's where you'll end up. You have to fight it, you have to want to live. And we're at war. Surely, surely, you can find happiness somewhere. Tell me what's bothering you, won't you? I might be able to help."

For a second, Albus thought Neil would take him up on that offer but he did not. The boy just got up. He eyed Albus wearily and after a full silent minute resigned himself. "Ok…" his voice cracked. "I'm ready to talk. But… after I've told my story, once you've heard it, my pain ends. One way or another, it ends."