Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but anything that isn't from there is clearly mine, so please ask before taking.

AN: It has taken me forever to get this posted, and I'm still not sure I'm happy with it. I have, however, figured out the next portion of the action, a small arch that should only take three chapters. As for the story as a whole, the only things keeping me from finishing it are time constraints from the real world and the writers block I've been suffering through for the last few months. Anyway, enjoy, and as always please review.

Chapter 4

The Watcher

He could tell Vic was up again before he'd even entered the sitting room, the tell tale glow of a fire licking at the bottom of the door. They didn't speak for a long while after he entered, her setting stiffly on the couch, eyes trained in on the hearth as he leaned haggardly against the closed door. "Hugo's alive." He finally said, pulling himself away from the door as he began to pace.

A grim smile curled on Vic's pale lips as she ducked her head into a nod. "I suspected as much." Scorpius stopped to look at her closely, her expression different from any he'd seen before. Sniffling back a tear Vic let out a dark sort of chuckle. "Hugo is the kind of person to care about Hugo. He's not brave, but he is smart, and he knows how to sweet talk the devil himself if it means he's got a chance to run. If anyone was going to survive I knew it'd be him. James was too head strong, Lily never could choose a side, and Rosie was too pure hearted for her own good."

Setting down beside her Scorpius gave her hand a comforting squeeze before facing forwards again. "He said that they were after the Weasely's, that the Raiders had found out something about your family being able to bring them down. They've set their sights on killing every last one." Vic didn't respond, her blue eyes turning glassy as she continued to stare into the fire. "We have to leave; we won't be safe here forever." Heaving a sigh he let go of her hand to wipe at his eyes. "The last time we were here, my grandmother told me about a seer just north of here in old Salem. I was going to go and see what I could find out. Do you want to come with me?"

She sat perfectly still for a moment before giving the barest hint of a nod. Helping her to her feet he went to glance in on Dahlia while Vic went to change. Sliding open the door just slightly he saw her lying on her side, her dirty blond hair obscuring her face. "You want me to watch Nymph then?" Walking over to the side of the bed he knelt down, brushing the hair from her face. Her usually clear blue eyes seemed muddied somehow as she shifted her head slightly to look up at him, the dark circles under her eyes only adding to her already haggard appearance. "How long will you be gone?"

"Not long." He replied dropping a chaste kiss to her forehead. "Keep safe, both of you and if you need anything go to my grandmother immediately." Nodding Dahlia pulled herself up, running awkward hands over her rumpled cloths. Not looking back he got to his feet and headed for the door.

Vic was already waiting for him in the downstairs entrance way, he shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Not saying a word he opened the door, allowing her to exist first before quickly following. It was a half hours walk through the drizzly and chill country side before they finally caught sight of the small wooden cabin his grandmother had told him about. The door had seen better days, half rotten with rusted hinges but he knocked anyway, learning long ago that appearances could be deceiving. The door swung open of its own volition, revealing a dark room beyond. Stepping through the door Scorpius tried to peer through the darkness to make out any kind of shape. "Hello?" He called, taking a step further, shaking his head at Vic when she made to enter. "My name is Scorpius Malfoy, son of Alicia Prewitt, grandson of the High Inquisitor Archibald Prewitt. I come seeking council if you will give it. I have payment with which to repay you for your council." A sudden gust of wind knocked the air from his lungs and slammed the door behind him in a single instant, leaving him alone in the dark.

"Your payment is no good here, Star." A feminine voice echoed from in front of him. In a flourish of movement a thousand candles flickered into life revealing an old wooded table, situated between two windows, topped with a menagerie of books and other items. It was the woman seated behind the table that truly drew his attention, her dark skin seemingly glowing gold in the candle light, her dark hair pulled back in twists, while her eyes, the most unusual shade of violet he had ever seen, stared back at him. "Come set."

His legs move of their own accord towards the chair she had waved at, and for a moment he wasn't sure if it was magic or fear that propelled him to move. "You know what they say I am." He finally managed to work out after he'd shakily taken his seat.

The woman let out a noise that sounded more like twinkling bells then laughter as her painted lips turned up into a wide smile. "No, Scorpius Malfoy, son of Alicia Prewitt, I do not know what they say you are. I know what you truly are." He couldn't find his voice to ask her to elaborate as she picked up a large crystal ball from the table. "What is happening has been echoing through the world for quite some time, even before Voldemort was defeated. No this time began to echo back to us the moment a young boy decided to take a stand. It was all influx before that, a gyrating ball of what if." She rotated the ball in her palms, tilting her head slightly as she looked into it deeper. "I'm afraid what you are, was decided before you were even born. There are things in motion here that are far larger than any of us can imagine. The storm must be stopped, at any and all costs, and it is you who must insure that it is so." Stretching out her arm she brought the ball into his line of sight. "This will tell you what you need to know, if only you look."

Staring deep into the clear crystal he saw nothing but odd refracted light. He was ready to lift his head and tell the 'seer' exactly that when a strange shape started to form in the center. The images that followed were a blur of stone, trees and half understood words. "The place that you seek is far from here. Where ancients tread and mystics live."

"Avalon?" Scorpius asked, not taking his eyes off of the crystal as it continued to shine. The isle in the mist had been abandoned centuries ago when the Wizarding Britain had chosen to unite, but everyone was still told its location in History of Magic.

The seer shook her head, tilting the ball slightly to the side as if that would change what lay within. "This place is not of your home, it is farther still. You seek something older, darker." Raising her eyes to stare at him they flashed an unnerving shade of violet. "You seek the navel of the world. That is where the Watcher waits to show you." She set the ball aside, picking up a quill to jot something down. Taking that as he queue to leave he stood, his limbs shaking slightly as he took the first step. Just as he had started to turn a hand shot out, wrapping around his wrist. The seer looked at him intently, running a thumb over the lines of his hand. "You have a touch of destiny." Nodding he tried to turn again but her grip tightened. "Watch the girl, protect her. You have a touch but she, she sparkles with it." He didn't even have time to ask who she meant when another gust of wind hit him. Blinking rapidly he stared at the worn wooden door he had stepped through just minutes before. Turning to look at Vic he saw her standing exactly where she had been when he stepped into the cottage, a perplexed look marring her delicate features.

"It's in Delphi." His grandmother said conversationally as she poured tea. The walk back to the Hall had taken longer than they had anticipated, dusk falling around them as they stepped through the front door. Neither had spoken much since they departed from the seer's cottage, Vic keeping her thoughts to herself after she informed him that he had been gone less than a minute. As for himself, he had far too much on his mind to even attempt to comfort her confusion. Now resting in a large armchair in his grandmother's parlor he tried to focus his mind on what to do next.

"So we go to Delphi. That's in Greece if memory serves." Dahlia supplied, sipping at her tea. Vic nodded in confirmation her blue eyes looking dull even in comparison to the haunting tone they had taken earlier that day.

"A port key is out of the question. You're just as likely to get dumped into the middle of the ocean as you are to make it there." Setting aside her own cup his grandmother stood, pacing slightly in front of the book cases. Stopping slightly she turned to look at them, a small smile curving on her pale lips. "I trust you call know how to ride."

It took less than an hour to pack and meet in the small lawn in the back of the house. Vic gently rocked Nymph against her, obviously not ready to part with her daughter a second sooner than necessary. "Your grandfather said your father was insane for suggesting getting into the business but I'm eternally grateful that your mother managed to convince him." She told Scorpius as she motioned him towards the small barn situated at the end of the property. Scorpius' breath caught as he stepped through the door, there inside stood five Thestrals, black as night, and clear as day to him. He had never been able to see the one's at Hogwarts, and had been slightly disappointed when Rose had been able to, but he knew that it was childish now. The only way someone could see a Thestral was if they had seen death, and he no longer envied Rose's ability to do see. His grandmother turned towards him three sets of saddling blankets in hand. "It'll be a long ride, but they can be fast when they want to be." Touching his cheek gently he looked down into her eyes and almost drowned in the sorrow there. "I've lost a lot in my life Scorpius. I'm a widower; my children have both been taken from me in these ghastly wars. Even my sisters are all dead now. Don't make me lose someone else. Make sure no one loses anyone else." Pulling her in to a hug he nodded stiffly before pulling away. Not looking at her again he began to sattle the Thestrals.

He kissed Nymph's forehead before handing her back to her mother, turning to climb on to the back of the large animal in front of him. "I promise to see you soon, Grandmother." He said, giving her a wan smile. She didn't return it but the solemn dip of her head let him know she had heard him. Looking back at Vic and Dahlia he gave a nod before gently kicking the Thestral into motion. As the sky filled his vision he let himself release a pent up sigh. If this journey didn't give them anything new, he wasn't sure that he could hold onto the hope that not everything was lost.

tbc.

Next: For the Greater Good