Gray: Scorpius Malfoy and the Crux of the Alchemist

by Fiery Gray

UNDER EDITING! (VI): While the Shadow War continues far away from the walls of Hogwarts, Scorpius is left facing the frustration of being stuck inside starting his first year of NEWT classes. He finds himself drawn to the mysterious new Alchemy professor, the subject itself shedding light on certain things while Shadows and a defector lurk closer then he realizes. COMPLETE

7. Chapter 7: Bloody Bonds

Parts (27-30)

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VI

Chapter 7

Bloody Bonds

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Part 1: Going Home

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Celestine Rooke felt extremely frustrated. Of all the things he did for the Soul Eater, there was one task at the top of the list that Sal wanted done. A very simple task, locate her brother. Not even plan, execute or worry about an escape plan but just locate him because you needed that core thing done before you could build on it. But so far he had failed and it was driving him crazy. It wasn't like Florian or Varanian who were actively trying to hide and good at it – he had people looking for them anyway – which he could accept but her brother? Calderon was in their custody, he was their prisoner. He should know this, he should be able to find this out but Harry was staying frustratingly silent. Even to poor Ron who just felt like his best friend in the world no longer trusted him and was buddying up with the Minister, Ron was far easier to get secrets out of then Harry.

He'd tried everything, only a handful of people were allowed to guard and none of them – even under the influence of Vertiaserum unbeknownst to them – knew the location even. Harry brought them there personally and the enchantments on the place dispelled the Tracking Charms he'd attempted, since he apparated he couldn't have Specters following them and Harry used the Patronus Charm on them before leaving to make sure he couldn't sneak one in. He had already searched all the safe houses the Aurors used and every damn property registered to every Auror, everyone in Harry's family and the Minister himself. All nothing. It was either a muggle dwelling – which made it much harder to track down – or some random abandoned building – who even kept track of how many abandoned properties there were in England? – or the property of a relative of an Auror, there were a lot of Aurors to begin with and even more relatives of Aurors to go through.

Celestine was extremely frustrated and immensely upset with himself, Sal was doing so well – of course she was, she was so brilliant – in her conquest of the rest of the world and here he was failing one simple task. He couldn't even say he'd had any luck with Florian, Varanian, Gray or whoever was trying to kill the Scamanders and Scorpius. Well, Martha Seneca was a suspect but his operative hadn't gotten any confirmation or proof before assaulting her and being Xerxes' child didn't equal guilt, she'd been put to sleep for her recovery so there was no chance of asking her at the present time. It could very well be her but Celestine wanted to be sure, he also wanted to know why.

He sighed heavily and tried to push it out of his mind slightly as he returned home, it was the middle of the day and he had arranged to meet with some of his underlings. He liked using his home because he knew it was secure, with Varanian and Gray crawling about he could never be too careful. It was supposed to be empty though, his wife at her work as a Healer and their worthless spawn at the Burrow being babysat by Molly and Arthur Weasley. He swore he could hear his wife's voice though, he scowled in confusion and started scaling their staircase where the voice only got louder. It seemed to be coming from their bedroom, he crept down the very neat home they had and pushed it open.

"Yes, Vale, yes! That's a good boy, that's my wonderful little angel," his wife was saying to their son as he opened the door.

Gabrielle Delacour was his wife, Fleur's sister thus connecting him and further ingraining him in the Potter/Weasley clan. She had the beauty being part Veela provided, dazzling blue eyes and lustrous silvery blond hair that she currently was styling curled. Compared to Sal though, she was as appealing as a pile of rotting garbage but he'd still married her for his cover just like Sal wanted. Their son, Valerian or "Vale" had recently turned two and Celestine despised him with a passion, even more then Gabrielle. He didn't know why people didn't see a monster when they looked at him, he was a vile, deformed, monstrous freak of nature all hidden in the guise of a beautiful blond child. They were sitting on the bed with some toy blocks, Vale on her lap as she was seemingly trying to encourage him to play with them and was succeeding. Somewhat. At least he was holding one and turning it over in his disgusting hands, the weak smile on his face died at his entrance though.

"Oh hi, sweetie, I didn't think you'd be home so early," Gabrielle commented in surprise as she saw him, he also noticed she looked like she'd been crying. Vale froze and his eyes focused on him, unbeknownst to Gabrielle.

"I could say the same for you," Celestine offered and faked a nervous smile as he approached, giving her the customary kiss in greeting like a good husband, "What are you doing back? And Vale too?"

"I don't know," Gabrielle admitted with a sigh and cuddled their son closer, Vale only had eyes for him though even as she stroked his hair, "I was just treating this werewolf boy almost Vale's age today, the full moon destroys his poor little body despite all the potions we're pumping into him to make sure he survives it. He's so weak and goes through excruciating pain, even after his body aches and of course half the people have it out for him. But…"

"But what?"

"But he's still so happy, he smiles weakly and tries to laugh, finds amusement in things despite how bad he has it," Gabrielle explained and kissed the top of Vale's head as her words seemed to catch in her throat, he wished she'd hurry up because Selwyn would be there any second to speak to him, "It made me think of Vale and how miserable he is despite having everything, I just wanted to spend some time with him. I mean, what kind of mother am I that my toddler is so unhappy while this tortured soul can still laugh? I want to hear our boy laugh, be happy like regular carefree toddlers. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, Cel, I don't know why I'm failing so badly."

"You can't blame yourself," Celestine assured her gently and rubbed her shoulder comfortingly like a good husband, "You're a wonderful mother and you do your best, whatever the reason he is for… being how he is, it's not your fault. You're the only thing keeping him going."

"Really?" Gabrielle wondered and turned to him tearfully while Vale finally glanced at his mother, he reached out his small hand to cautiously grasp hers. He was afraid to hold things because Celestine had condition him by snatching things away or making them give him a shock, he shouldn't be touching things.

"Really," Celestine assured her with a comfortingly smile that he didn't feel, he needed to get her to leave, "Why don't you take him to the park? I'd come too but I only came in to pick something up."

"It's freezing outside."

"So play in the snow, kids love snow."

"Nah, I think we're good here," Gabrielle brushed it off and he cursed mentally, trying to think…

Maybe he didn't have to get her to leave, he knew she and Vale were in here so he could just avoid them and tell Selwyn to leave to meet somewhere else when he showed up. Yes, that could work. He just needed to get downstairs.

"Alrighty, why don't I make you a cuppa before I leave then? And some tasteful juice for the young mister."

"That'd be nice, you're the best," Gabrielle said with a smile and Celestine turned, happily thinking his issue was solved. How wrong he was.

"Gee, boss, I was looking for you all over," Selwyn complained with a grunt as he strode in, Gabrielle's jaw dropped. Selwyn was a known Death Eater turned Soul Eater, he had killed Percy Weasley, "She in on this meeting too?"

"Get out!" Celestine hissed at him and Selwyn's expression twisted to surprise before he vanished into the Specters and turned back to his wife, Gabrielle's face had drained of all color and she was looking at him like she'd never seen him before.

"Pl-Please tell me you're working undercover," Gabrielle asked in a whisper and for a second he seriously considered it but the words died in this throat, he smiled to himself. This was a hassle but dammit, how often would he get this opportunity?

"No. But that's the lie I told your sister before I murdered her," Celestine confirmed and she put a horrified hand over her mouth, tears leaking from her eyes and he smirked, "What? Didn't you realize I killed your sister? If it makes you feel better, I had nothing against her but saw something she shouldn't and I had to silence her. Permanent-"

Gabrielle started moving before he'd finished the sentence, apparently catching his drift and lunging to grab her wand off the bedside table. It was too far and she was too slow, his wand was in his hand with the practiced speed few but Aurors could boast of and a non-verbal Imperius Curse already striking her. Calmly she put the wand down and stood up, going to retrieve some parchment, ink and a quill. He'd have to cover up her death somehow.

"Why are you doing this, Cel?" Gabrielle asked of him as she started scratching away at the parchment, fighting against the curse but he was stronger and he only allowed her use of her mouth, "How could you turn to their side? How could you kill my sister?"

"I was always on their side," Celestine scoffed and let her tears fall onto the ink, smudging it and making it seem more genuine, "It was all a lie, all an act because my Master wanted me to gain Harry's trust and get in close with him."

"You're sick. You need help."

"No, I'm afraid you are and you're not going to get it," Celestine smirked and made Gabrielle go retrieve a belt from their closet, she struggled again but he was still stronger.

"Are you really going to kill me, Cel?" Gabrielle asked fearfully as she dragged a chair from her dressing table over, standing on it as she wrapped the belt around her neck and hung it from the ceiling fan, "I'm your wife."

"You were just a way to strengthen that connection, I never loved you, I only ever loved my Master," Celestine told her truthfully, how long he had wanted to say those words and clear the air. She didn't look she was listening though, her crying eyes had focused on something else.

"You're not going to hurt Vale are you?" Gabrielle wondered in the lightest of whispers, as if she was afraid to ask. He glanced back, Vale was still sitting on the bed watching the situation unfold although he was too young to comprehend he was watching his mother die. Good, Celestine wanted him to watch, "He's your son too, you wouldn't k-kill your own child?"

"I'm not going to kill him," Celestine assured her with a smile as he made her kick the chair out from under her so the belt started hanging her, "Yet."

She struggled then, taking him off guard and shattering the Imperius Curse. Too bad it was too late. She clawed desperately at the belt, trying to untie it to free herself so she could protect Vale. It was no use though, her own hanging weight prevented her from being able to unbuckle it or pull it off the fan and she couldn't rip through leather. Her struggling grew weaker as her face grew bluer and then she was just hanging there, her eyes staring sightlessly at her child as her silvery blond hair fell around her face. Vale looked horrified now, he may not understand what had happened yet but he clearly thought it seemed unpleasant. For a second Celestine seriously considered doing it, ending the mutated freak's life but instead just zapped him with the Cruciatus Curse. He'd have plenty of time to kill it later, for now he had a grieving husband to pretend to be.

"Do you know what just happened?" Celestine questioned of his screaming son as he dropped the curse, Vale lay there trembling with a look of absolute terror on his tear-stained face. He shook his head, "After your Mummy brought you home, she did all this by herself. I wasn't here and when I came back, I found her like this and you were just sitting there playing with blocks while your Mummy killed herself because of her guilt over you like the heartless little bastard you are. I'm always watching you, Vale, and if you tell anyone the truth then I will hurt you like this again and I will kill whoever you tell. Do you understand?"

"What is kill?" Vale asked in a quiet, quivering tone and Celestine pointed to Gabrielle's body.

"That is kill. It's when your mind is gone and your body is all that is left, without your mind your body is like an empty shell like if a snail left its back behind. Your Mummy is never going to speak to you again, never play with you, never going to try squeeze a smile out of you, never kiss you goodnight and tell you she loves you. No one will ever love you," Celestine explained and fresh tears rolled down the freak's face, Gabrielle should have just taken him out to play in the snow when she had the chance, "And never lasts forever."

---

"It's a letter from Crystal," Michael told him disinterestedly as he read the letter that John Avery had given to him, he was laying on his bed in their dormitory, "She wants me meet her next week when I'm out of Hogwarts for the holidays so she can fill me and maybe we can have Christmas together, just instructions."

"Does it say why John Avery is delivering it?" Scorpius questioned curiously but Michael shook his head, still looking bored, "You don't seem very pleased to hear from her."

"Is it weird that I'm mad at her?" Michael asked of him, sparing him a glance as he put down the letter and seeming to genuinely want an answer, "I'm told my family die in a fire, I'm worried sick and all my mother can do is send me two short messages?"

"Least she did something," Albus offered with a shrug.

"Mother's suck," a young girl's voice stated and all three jumped as Cassia walked casually into their dormitory, "I told you."

"Cassia, you can't be in here!" Albus hissed at her and the girl threw him a steely glare, looking rather like her father, "It's a boy's dormitory!"

"So?"

"So… What if we were naked or something?!"

"So be naked, I don't care," Cassia insisted, throwing up her arms in exasperation and still looking angry as she started pacing.

"Did you want something?" Scorpius asked of her, sensing something was up and she turned on him angrily.

"I want Skye to die!"

"Harsh much?" Albus prompted and Cassia kicked some bag Reuben Tear had left on the ground.

"After all these years of not giving a fuck about us, she is ruining our Christmas by wanting us to stay with her! How dare she?!" Cassia explained as she continued pacing, still enraged and muttering a string of curses against her much like Professor Ashain.

"Wow, I haven't heard that curse before."

"Maybe your mother feels guilty for leaving but loves you and wants to be part of your life, it's a good thing not bad," Scorpius offered awkwardly and some ornament on Reuben's bedside exploded.

"Well Skye can go shove her guilt up her-"

"Whoa, whoa, you cannot say that about your mother," Albus interjected Cassia's angry sentence, the girl folded her arms crossly.

"That's what Daddy said. That's why I ran off, he tried to say it was a good thing too."

"Well, sorry kid but mothers are mothers."

"Mothers aren't mothers if they walk away from their family," Cassia spat darkly and glared at them again, "You people are supposed to be on my side! You're supposed to be my friends! Why are you siding with Skye?! Are you her friends?! Did you even met her?! Because if you did then you would see what a heartless bitch she is!"

"Cassi-" Albus started to say but she stormed off angrily with a snow globe on Reuben's bedside also exploding, he looked worriedly after her, "I pity Ashain, if she's like this now then she's going to be a nightmare as a teenager."

"If she lives to be a teenager," Michael pointed out and they both threw him concerned looks, "What?"

"That's pretty dark, man, and around Christmas too."

"What are you going to do?" Scorpius asked of Michael, the conversation reverting back to prior Cassia's interruption, "For Christmas I mean. You're still… I mean..."

"I'm still going to yours," Michael agreed with a hesitant sigh, "I don't see why I can't go to yours and find out what's going on with my family."

The final week of Hogwarts rolled in after that, lessons lax and snowball fights abundant outside. The Christmas spirit was rather dampened though, the fear of a psycho going around with a knife – obviously no one knew why Martha had been targeted – lingered in the air, Martha herself remained unconscious, Rose and Albus' Aunt Gabrielle committed suicide - making him stay silent on his Rooke suspicions and conversation with Hogan since Gabrielle had been his wife, it seemed a bad time to bring it up with them - and the Shadows moved on to their next target: Cyprus. It was a small island country, Scorpius didn't think it would last long. The final day came and the last class for Scorpius was Alchemy with Rojer, who alone didn't seem to be going easy on them for Christmas.

"If you want to learn Alchemy then learn Alchemy, if you want to go to Christmas then go to Christmas," Rojer told them when someone complained, "Every lesson of these counts."

"You could at least do something fun?" Elm grumbled under his breath.

"Alchemy is not fun for you?" Rojer wondered, Scorpius wasn't sure whether he was seriously surprised or just being sarcastic, "Huh, well this is too bad for you."

"Are you going to give us back the marks for any of our essays?" Etta Hayes questioned.

"No, I do not mark them," Rojer stated with a shake of his head, "Anyway, today we will get started on what it is that you learn after your Christmas. You are getting the hang of the basic practical Alchemy but there is more, not only is what you are make important but sometimes can do different things dependent on how it is you guide this. This is very much important, especially in the more advanced Alchemy. Not only is the process you have to do but the application is more difficult as well, you can often not even see what is it that you are directing so it is also very important to get this right."

Rojer went on to start explaining to them the process, it was a bit like needing to know wand movements except you weren't casting a spell and it was much more complex movements as well as sometimes needing to guide it. It was completely nonverbal and required a lot of focus, he demonstrated by using the metallic liquid – that Scorpius was sure was the stuff he'd used on him twice before – and simply guiding it into different shapes, patterns and directions to show them. It looked easy enough and Rojer said it was the easiest way, it proved to me much more difficult though. Half of them struggled to move it at all and the other half lost control of it completely, even dedicating the rest of the lesson to it showed little improvement. Scorpius found it rather like trying to juggle with invisible balls that were also weightless, it wasn't easy. Scorpius still hung back after class, wanting to say goodbye to Rojer.

"There is nothing here to help me clean up," Rojer pointed out quite truthfully as he managed to recall all of the potion masterfully while still sitting at his desk, working on some potion as he had been while they were working, "And you do not have to do that either."

"I just wanted to wish you a happy Christmas," Scorpius said, "Doing anything special?"

"Visiting Rayan while he is in the hospital."

"How is he doing?"

"Better I think. He is waking now at the least," Rojer told him as he continued peeling the skin off some exotic fruit, "I do not read good in English and his wife writes all small and joined up, is hard to read so I will know better when I see him."

"Well give him my best and have a good break," Scorpius offered and turned to leave.

"What did you think of that class?" Rojer queried of him, making him turn back although Rojer was still focused on carving away the fruit skin, "Is important if you want to learn about the soul."

"It is?"

"Yes, the soul is not something you can reach out and grab with your physical hands. The mind is the link between the soul and the body and magic is part of the soul, is much more mental and magical to effect the soul. And it will be more harder to do then this."

"Good to know," Scorpius mused thoughtfully as Rojer tossed the skin into the cauldron, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now go on to your holiday and try not to get murdered, buh-bye."

Scorpius spent the rest of the day packing mostly, Michael helping Albus with his and doing his own which Scorpius was glad to see. He was looking forward to Michael being there, both because he thought it would be good for him and because he realized it was his first name having a friend over. Unless he counted Molly but she was his girlfriend, it was slightly different. For once in his life, Scorpius found himself feeling uncomfortable around the Thestrals since he'd been one for a while when he lost his mind and left abruptly. He felt it might be somewhat awkward and he was sure they remembered him, they weren't stupid. Albus actually sat with him that time since Grozda was staying, she would be leaving for holidays but since her father was a professor they would leave later. The train trip was much better than it had been going and finally he was saying goodbye to his friends – except Michael – on the platform.

"Bye, have a great Christmas," Abby offered as she hugged them in turn and went to leave with Sequoia who seemed to have retrieved her things.

"What? Why are you leaving with him?" Albus questioned of her in confusion.

"Because I'm spending Christmas with him."

"WHAT!?" Albus burst out incredulously and Abby shrugged disinterestedly, her expression very set, "You're staying with- Does your mother know?!"

"Already said goodbye to her when you were getting your trunk. Have a nice Christmas," Abby reiterated before leaving, probably wise considering Albus looked ready to collapse from shock.

"Scorpius!" his father's voice called and Scorpius turned as his father approached with a welcoming smile, Michael shifted nervously and his father lost his smile but he did speak civilly, "And friend of Scorpius who will be staying with us, we hope you enjoy your stay."

"Father, this is my friend, Michael Sanford," Scorpius introduced him and his father warily offered his hand which Michael warily took, "Michael, this is my father, Draco Malfoy."

"And I'm Albus," Albus offered as their hands shot apart, sadly Scorpius realized it was more contact then he'd get from his father, "And I'm going. Home. With my family. Like you should at Christmas. Not some random stuck up guy with the sense of humor and personality of a plank of wood!"

"You do that," his father commented disinterestedly as Albus trudged off to his mother and sister who was kissing Orous goodbye, dragging his trunk behind him while Scorpius looked around for his mother, "Astoria is waiting at home, we're babysitting Myriam's kids. Have you got all your stuff?"

"Yes, Father," Scorpius confirmed and Michael also nodded.

"Then I guess we should go."

---

Part 2: Children

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Atticus Ashain sighed heavily as he finished packing Cassia's bags for while she'd been staying with Skye, she was really fighting him on this. He supposed this had been what it was like for Skye, she claimed Cassia had been incredibly difficult while they were separated. He hoped she'd calm down during the actual break, it was going to be impossible to build back up the relationship with their mother again if Cassia was like this. He thought maybe when Cassia saw Skye, she might calm down, when she saw her mother wasn't leaving her again.

Kids needed their mothers, they were the important parent. Fathers were useless. He knew they'd be happier if Skye was back in their lives, she was a better parent then he was and if she wanted custody again then they'd be even better off because they could go to a muggle school again and have friends. Friends their own age, not teenagers or animals. It was healthier. He still found himself feeling rather dejected though at the thought of not spending Christmas with his children, Skye had been clear about not wanting him there. She was with Carl from her work Carl now, who incidentally he'd learned spelled his name with a 'C'.

He supposed he could've pushed to share them for the holiday but he'd been afraid that rocking the boat even slightly would have her jump out completely, his children having their mother in their lives was more important than his own wishes. He'd have their pets as company though… Not that that made him feel any better, Calderon wouldn't be there either because he was still imprisoned. Atticus missed him now that he was gone, son of Voldemort or not he knew he wasn't the Shadow Master. He didn't deserve this and Atticus felt guilty that he couldn't do anything for him. He zipped up the case and carried it back out to the living area of his quarters, Antonius was already there – he'd helped his son pack first - and was rubbing his dog's belly. Christmas was going to be fun.

"You ready to go?" Atticus asked of his son with somewhat forced enthusiasm and Antonius nodded nervously as he glanced at him, he patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "It'll be okay."

"It's just been a long time," Antonius pointed out quietly, "Two and a half years is a long time, Dad. What if I blow it and she leaves forever this time?"

"Antonius, she's your mother," Atticus insisted as he sat down beside his child, putting his arm around him, "Nothing is as strong as the bond mothers have with their children, that love is how Harry Potter defeated Voldemort. There is nothing you can do to 'blow' it with your own mother."

"Really?" Antonius questioned fearfully, looking on the verge of tears, "B-Because she left before."

"That wasn't because of anything you did," Atticus assured him and pulled his child into a hug, Antonius clung to him tightly, "That was because of something I did and I'm not even going to be there so there's no chance of that happening again."

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too but it's only for a few weeks and you'll have your Mum. And Cassia," Atticus offered gently and rubbed Antonius' back soothingly, "It'll be fine."

"I love you, Dad."

"I love you too," Atticus assured him and kissed Antonius' head as he pulled away, giving him a reassuring smile that Antonius returned it weakly and wiped his eyes quickly, "Now come on, let's go find your sister."

He carried his children's bags out of their quarters, through his office and down into the classroom. He was pleased and relieved to see Cassia was returning with her pet vulture perched on her shoulder, she paused when she saw the bags though.

"I'm not going," Cassia insisted stubbornly.

"Yes you are," Atticus countered firmly, "Your mother wants to see you at Christmas so you're going to go."

"SKYE IS NOT MY MOTHER!" Cassia screamed at him furiously and her bags caught fire, he whipped out his wand to put them out, "SHE LEFT! IF SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ALONE ON CHRISTMAS THEN SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE ABANDONED HER FAMILY LIKE AN EVIL HEARTLESS BITCH!"

"Cassia, don't you speak about your mother like that!"

"WOULD YOU RATHER I HAVE AVARIS TEAR OUT HER EYES!? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IF I SEE HER!"

"You're going to go and you're going to behave!" Atticus insisted, trying not to feel somewhat disturbed, "I know you love her deep down, you need to think about that."

"I HATE HER! I HATE HER! I HATE HER!" Cassia screamed as she turned on her heel, "AND I'M NOT GOING!"

"Yes you are!" Atticus yelled determinedly and started to head after her but she cawed, the bird flew at him. It didn't attack him, it just got in the way and by the time he batted it aside she had run off. He sighed heavily as he put down Cassia's bags, "Okay, we'll be late if we wait anymore. I'll drop you off and come back for Cassia, give her some time to cool down. Sound good?"

"Okay," Antonius agreed as he hugged his dog goodbye, "See you soon, Hope."

Atticus patted his son on the back and they headed off, they needed to walk to Hogsmeade so he could apparate them. It wasn't a pleasant walk, the air was icy and the snow all slushy but he managed to get some conversation out of Antonius without Cassia there to but in. Once there, he apparated Antonius to the street he'd once called home. The snow wasn't as thick there, he noticed as he led Antonius over to the door and nervously rapped on it.

Skye opened it a second later, she was still looking beautiful even dressed casually in a thick pale blue sweater with a glittery snowflake on it and jeans. She was slender, her straw-colored hair was identical to Cassia's natural was, except not a tangled mess. Her sea-green eyes were unique to her though, her long lashes made them stand out all the more. He missed not seeing those eyes when he woke up, he missed her and the feelings of loss, hurt and anger at his own stupidity for ruining their relationship welled in his gut.

As usual when he saw her, he had to resist the urge to not break down crying and begging for forgiveness, he didn't want to be alone. He'd do anything to make it right, anything she wanted. He just wanted for them to be together, to be a family again. He still loved her, she still had two children who loved her. Even if Cassia wouldn't admit it. Didn't she know that? Didn't she care? How could she be with someone else?! If Brutus was there, he'd tell him he was being pathetic… And he'd be right. Atticus was pathetic. No wonder Skye left him.

"Hey," Atticus said instead of any of that, realizing there was a void of silence where Antonius and Skye were just staring at each other. Skye glanced back to him.

"Are those Tony's things?" Skye wondered and he nodded, she took the bags from him.

"Antonius," Antonius corrected her barely audibly.

"Where um… Where's Cassia?"

"She… wasn't ready," Atticus said slowly, "I'll drop her by later."

"She didn't want to come, did she?"

"What? Of course she did, she's so… eager to erm… to see you that she…" Atticus started to lie but Skye's expression told him she wasn't believing a single word, "Maybe it wasn't her favorite thing in the world but she'll be fine when she gets here."

"Don't bother," Skye sighed, "You can't force Cassia to do anything, she's impossible. If she doesn't want to come then she doesn't have to, you can have her for Christmas and I'll have Tony. If Cassia's not ready then she's not ready, it can wait."

"Antonius," Antonius corrected her quietly once more.

"Actually, he prefers Antonius now," Atticus informed her and Antonius gave him a grateful look, Skye's gaze slid to her son for a sad second before turning back to him, "And alright, if she changes her mind then I'll tell you."

"She won't," Skye stated with certainty, "I know my own daughter."

"Of course you do," Atticus nodded, in fact she probably knew them better then him. He turned back to Antonius and hugged his son goodbye, "Have a good Christmas."

"You too, Dad," Antonius offered as they pulled apart and Skye let him into the house, "Bye."

"Bye."

"Merry Christmas, Atticus," Skye said as she closed the door on him.

---

"So this is the Malfoy Manor," his father said conversationally to Michael when they arrived there, Michael's jaw dropped as they approached it with the Malfoy patriarch leading the way.

"What?" Scorpius wondered of his friend, Michael was gaping as it glanced at him, "You knew I lived in a mansion and came from money."

"I still didn't think it was… this much!" Michael offered and gestured wildly to his home before shaking his head, "You could fit my old home in here only like a million times over. My family's always been poor, if Aaron's place looked a little nicer on the outside then that would be like a mansion to me. And your home is even bigger."

"Well it's not as big as the Ashain mansion was," Scorpius pointed out defensively, feeling uncomfortable about his family's wealth again, "Before it exploded and all."

"Well there's no danger of the Malfoy Manor exploding, everything is of the highest quality," his father told them proudly as he seemingly believed the Ashain mansion had been of inferior quality and that was somehow responsible, he led them inside again and Michael's jaw dropped again, "See?"

"How are we friends again?" Michael queried of him.

"Why don't I give you a tour and show you where you'll be sleeping? The house-elves will see to your bags, Scorpius go say hello to your Mother."

"Okay," Scorpius muttered in agreement while his father walked off with Michael, who looked very out of place with the well-dressed pure-blood.

Scorpius left the bags for the house-elves and headed off to the parlor where his mother would likely be, he was distracted though by two small figures giggling and tearing their way across the corridor. They were holding hands, Sol leading Lysel who seemed to struggle to run before he tugged Sol and dove under a side table with an expensive vase on it. It also had a convenient table cloth to hide them.

Scorpius went over to them and crouched, lifting up the sheet to see the two almost two year olds – their birthday was in two days – sitting with faces smeared with chocolate. Their tiny hands were pulling mashed lumps of what looked like it might've once been chocolate cake out of their pockets, shoving it into their mouths instead. They looked so opposite, Sol's hair was as fair as Lysel's was dark, Sol's face as full as Lysel's was gaunt, Sol was bigger while Lysel was little and he had gleaming golden eyes weighed down by dark bags. Both were smiling though, Sol cried out excitedly when he saw him but the words were indistinguishable due to the fact his mouth was full of cake. Lysel simply put a finger to his lips and shushed Scorpius, he reached out and Scorpius held out his hand curiously where Lysel deposited a lump of chocolate before shushing him again.

"Scorpius, what are you doing?" his grandmother's voice questioned and Scorpius jumped in surprise, hitting his head on the table which had the toddlers giggle before he moved away and stood to face her.

"Being bribed to silence by a baby, I think," Scorpius admitted, glancing distastefully at the brown lump on his hand.

"Oh, right," his grandmother nodded uncertainly before dropping the conversation to go over and give him a hug.

"Sol! Lysel! Get back here!" his mother's voice yelled and they pulled away to see her stalking into the corridor, she smiled when she spotted them though and gave Scorpius a hug, "Oh Scorpius, it's so good to see you, sweetheart. Where's your friend?"

"Father's showing him around," Scorpius informed her.

"Okay. I'm really sorry, we will talk but right now I really have to find your cake-stealing brother and Lysel, it's time for some of his potions," his mother explained apologetically and Scorpius jerked his thumb at the side table they were hiding her, nodding his head in the direction as well. His mother mouthed thank you as she went over, pulling up the cloth to reveal the two who were now licking chocolate off their fingers but froze as they were discovered, "There you are! And what happened to that cake?!"

"Trolls," Lysel lied immediately as his mother pulled him out, Sol also crawling out and standing while his mother sat the werewolf down on the table.

"Trolls?" his grandmother repeated dubiously while his mother took out a vial of blue potion, Scorpius noticed Lysel wink at Sol.

"Big trolls," Sol added as his mother uncorked the bottle.

"Then why is there cake on your faces?" his mother queried with a raised eyebrow, "That was supposed to be for your birthday.

"Whened the trolls comed for the cake, Sol says 'no! That was spuposted to be for the burtday!' and Sol hitted the trolls and the trolls was angry so the trolls hitted the cake with the club," Lysel explained and mimed swinging a club, "And the cake go all over Sol and me's mouthers and we runned and hided under the table and the trolls can't get us."

"Is that so?" his mother wondered, looking rather amused as she gave Lysel the vial, he cringed as he drank it.

"Yes," Sol agreed, nodded vigorously, "Bad trolls."

"Sol and me was the good guys, the trolls was the bad and yell at them not Sol and me," Lysel told her innocently when he'd finished the vial, he flashed them a hopeful chocolatey smile, "The hair on you is prettiful today, Mrs Malfoy."

"Flattery will get you nowhere," his grandmother complained but laughed, shaking her head regardless, "It's almost a shame that kid will die, he'd be quite the charmer if he grew up."

"Come on, let's go find these trolls and get you cleaned up," his mother decided, her amusement fading as his grandmother walked off. She let Lysel down, he high-fived Sol triumphantly and the pair giggled at having gotten away with stealing cake, "Scorpius, can you hold your brother's hand?"

Scorpius went with his mother and Sol, she ended up carrying Lysel because he walked so slowly on shaking legs. He wasn't sure if Lysel was just smarter then Sol or just more articulate in his speech but Sol wasn't as good at holding conversations and Scorpius could only understand half of what he tried to say, they were both cheerful though despite Lysel seeming weak. His father and Michael returned just after they'd finished cleaning the chocolate off them, dinner was just after that and was mostly spent with his parents asking him about how his year was going except this time Michael also had questions thrown at him. Scorpius only managed to finally retreat upstairs with Michael after, he almost regretted it though as Myriam came to pick up her kids. He thought it might be healthy for Michael to talk to another werewolf, one who wasn't a bitter, miserable drunk or a toddler.

"So what do you think?" Scorpius asked of his friend as he led him into his room.

"I think I'm going to get lost a lot," Michael admitted as he sat on the bed, glancing around, "Your Mum seems nice, you take after her. Your Dad was better than I thought considering you have issues with him and I don't think your Grandmother likes me very much. And your room is surprisingly not too different from the dormitory, are photographs by your bed and a poster of a motorcycle all you consider personalization?"

"That's pretty personal," Scorpius insisted as he sat down beside him, "So want to ring over to Varanian and Annie?"

"You really need a better word then 'ring' because muggles use it when talking about phone calls."

"Do you want to go or not?"

"Not. I want to wait until we speak to Crystal tomorrow, find out what's happening with that so I can tell Annie," Michael told him, "If that's okay with you? It's just one more day and today feels like it's been a long one."

"Okay."

---

Atticus apparated back to Hogsmeade and trudged solemnly through the snow, the battered town was barely recognizable as the place he'd visited in his youth. It made him feel sad to be there now, especially alone without his children to distract him. The first time he'd been there had been with Brutus in his Third Year, his older brother wanting to show him around. They'd had scoffed down the most expensive chocolate in Honeydukes because… well they'd always money, why not spend it? They'd competed to see who dared go the closest to the Shrieking Shack, ultimately agreeing it was a tie. They'd drooled over the new brooms, Brutus had dragged him away from the bookstore. Brutus treated him to his first Butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks, he'd blown off his friends to spend the day with his little brother the loser and hadn't ditched him when his friends had asked again in there.

Most people remembered Hogsmeade as the place they had a good time with their mates or the place they went on their first date but for him, he remembered it as a fun time with his brother. His depression had been bad that week to the point he'd decided not to go because he'd just be alone, Brutus had insisted he go and agreed to go with him, he'd really helped pull him out of it. It was the last place they'd been before he learned he was a Death Eater too, the last place before their relationship had gone to hell. And now Brutus was a Soul Eater, the highest ranking one who was working to destroy the world, killing millions, destroying millions more lives. He watched the memory of their younger selves laughing as they walked through the streets, wondering how the hell it had come down to this.

He wiped a tear from his eye before it could fall as he left the village, he couldn't hate his brother. He still loved Brutus and Brutus had proved on several occasions that he felt the same, he was working for the source of all evil but he wasn't all evil himself. He had his own suspicions about why, Brutus was loyal but this was extreme and things Calderon had said now made more sense in context. He thought everyone was wrong, they weren't after Voldemort's son but his daughter. Calderon didn't have a brother, he had a sister and Brutus was in love with her, maybe even had children with her. Atticus couldn't decide if he was better or worse for staying loyal to his lover, he didn't think he would be able to stand by Skye if she was doing that. Was that good or bad? He needed a drink.

He reached Hogwarts and sighed, he was forty-eight and still living in the school. He really should buy a house to leave it like all the other teachers did, it seemed a lot less safe with Calderon gone and a psycho who butchered little girls going around anyway. With a nervous pang, he wondered if it had been such a wise idea to let Cassia stay alone there. He returned to his classroom but Cassia wasn't there, nor in the office or in their quarters. Why did Hogwarts have to be such so damn big? He started searching, going to places he knew she liked but was coming up blank.

"Penny!" Atticus called to the new Transfiguration Professor as he saw her passing, she smiled at him as he reached her. She was very kind and had an unusually pretty smile, "You wouldn't by chance have seen my daughter anywhere, would you?"

"Next floor, hiding behind the statue of the one-eyed witch so her Daddy won't take her to live with her evil not-mother Skye," Penny informed him readily, "But you didn't hear that from me."

"Thank you, you're a life saver," Atticus offered gratefully and continued on to find his daughter, the vulture perched on top of the statue gave it away slightly, "Cassia?"

"I'M NOT GOING!" Cassia yelled immediately.

"I know you're not, you don't have to go anymore," Atticus assured her and she peered around the stature.

"Really?"

"Really," Atticus repeated and sat down on a windowsill, patting it to tell her she should sit too and she did so. He noticed her eyes were red, "Were you crying?"

"No," Cassia lied quickly and wiped her eyes, he pulled her onto his lap and she nestled against him. He sighed, he really needed to deal with this if Cassia was going to let Skye be a mother to her again.

"You can't avoid your mother forever, you know?"

"You're doing okay avoid your father. And she's not my mother."

"I told you before, that's completely different," Atticus insisted and she shrugged disbelievingly, "Besides, I'm an adult. You're still a child."

"That doesn't mean I'm stupid or wrong."

"Then tell me – very calmly and without yelling – what is your problem with Skye?"

"Everything," Cassia stated and glanced at him as if it was obvious, "She sent you away, she didn't let us see you, you nearly died because she made you go away, she thinks our entire wizarding race is sick and diseased, she tried to get Shadows to rip my magic out, she actually did let Shadows rip out Antonius' magic, all Antonius' pain and misery is her fault. And then after all that, does she say she was sorry? Does she try to make it up to him? No. She walks away. She left you and she left me and she left Antonius, she walked away from her family. Family is the most important thing, you say, but Skye walked away like we were nothing, she walked away even when you called her name, even when Antonius ran after the car crying and begging her to come back. You don't leave your family, Daddy, you don't!"

"Cassia, you can't blame her for everything. Not all of those things are her fault."

"Yes I can," Cassia protested stubbornly and looked down again, wiping away tears, "I hate her."

"Then why are you crying?" Atticus asked of her and she said nothing, he rubbed her arm gently, "I know what it feels like to be mad at someone because you're hurt by something they did."

"It hurts that she did those things," Cassia admitted quietly, "And mothers aren't supposed to abandon you, she even tried to make it right. I don't want to see her and Antonius and you shouldn't see her again either, she'll just hurt us again. We've been through enough."

"How can she try to make it right if you don't even try to let her?"

"Why should I have to try if you don't try with your daddy?" Cassia countered defensively and he sighed, he didn't think she was going to let this go.

"Alright, I will try with my Father if you try with Skye."

"Okay," Cassia agreed reluctantly, "But I still get to stay with you for Christmas, right?"

"How about you get to stay but you come with me to pick Antonius up so you can see her?" Atticus told her and she looked thoughtfully for a moment, "For me?"

"Okay, Daddy."

"That's my girl," Atticus smiled and kissed the top of her head, she cuddled him. Baby steps.

---

Part 3: Betrayal

---

"Come on, Cel, you should go home," Ron was saying to him as they sat on the couch in Harry's office, Celestine rested his head on his hand with the most depressed expression he should muster, "You don't to rush back into this work."

"I just… I just need something to keep my mind of it, you know?" Celestine lied, looking at the sympathetic man tearfully, "Home doesn't feel like home anymore without her, it's just an empty silent building."

"You have Vale."

"Vale the world's quietest toddler?" Celestine pointed out and Ron nodded in agreement with this, "He'll just be sleeping now anyway."

"So get some rest," Ron offered and clapped him on the back, "You need it, buddy."

"I can't sleep, I just lie there at night and all I can see is her… hanging there," Celestine invented and thought of his dead parents to cause a lump to well in his throat, "I can't believe I didn't know, that I didn't see it. I knew she was upset about Vale but I didn't think…"

"None of us did, you can't blame yourself."

"But she's my wife- was my wife. I should have known," Celestine insisted as his voice broke, "And if I'd jus-just gotten there a bit sooner then-"

"You can't torture yourself with ifs, Cel," Ron interjected seriously, Celestine thought he was completely nailing the grieving, guilt-ridden husband act, "You're not the first to and you're not the last but it never helps. You know what does though?"

"What?" Celestine sniffed and wiped at his eyes.

"A round at the Leaky Cauldron, come on. That will take your mind off this crap, my treat."

"Okay," he agreed but Harry walked in before either of them had made a move, they both tensed up.

"What's up?" Harry wondered of them.

"Nothing," Ron admitted as he shrugged it off.

"Then why are you in my office?"

"Because your couch is comfy," Ron told him truthfully as it was obvious and Harry scratched at his head as they both stood, "In another meeting with Alaric Layton, were you?"

"Yes," Harry sighed before his expression turned more sympathetic as he spotted Celestine, "How you doing?"

"Fine. Great. Terrible. The worst," Celestine reeled off, he could get away being more a jerk because of is 'grief' now, "What do you care? You don't trust me, why should I trust you?"

"It's not about trust, it's just safety," Harry insisted not for the first time while he and Ron started to move over to the door.

"Of course it is, mate," Ron stated sarcastically, "Apparently information isn't safe with us anymore but 'always-absent' Alaric 'I-don't-trust-that-guy' Layton is apparently Gringotts."

"You know what? Fine," Harry snapped and closed the door before they could leave, he whipped out his wand and conjured his silver stag to run circles around them to keep any Specters away so they couldn't overhear, "You really want to know the Secret-Keeper's identity?"

"Yes."

"I guess," Celestine shrugged, hardly daring to hope.

"It's Flannery Leebin, okay?" Harry told them in a hushed down, much to both of their surprise.

"But he's a civilian, not an Auror?"

"He volunteered and Alaric agreed to it like an idiot so just don't say anything, I don't want to get him killed. I'm serious, Ron, not even to Hermione."

"Okay," Ron nodded.

"Got it," Celestine confirmed and put his hand over his mouth as if in thought, it covered his smirk. Things were really lining up for him, Gabrielle died and now he'd get to find Calderon and get rid of the suspicious Leebin all in one go.

"So how are you doing?" Harry asked with concern.

"I miss my wife," Celestine cried with tears of joy.

---

Xerxes nervously approached the door his half-brother apparently lived in, it was a much nicer neighborhood then his mother's had been. He didn't know whether it was that, the fact he'd had no prior contact with his brother or because Hecate's… death had made him feel like life was too short but he didn't feel the urge to flee this time and work up the courage to return like he had before. He took the knocker and politely rapped on it a few times, fidgeting idly because of his nerves before the door opened. He was surprised to be greeted by a boy, maybe ten years old with emerald eyes and grubby brown hair. The boy stared at him blankly as if waiting for him to speak, his eyes unblinking. Was this his brother?

"Urm… Hi," Xerxes greeted the silent child whose expression didn't change, "Are you called Pyrrhus Florian by any chance?"

"No," the boy scoffed as if it were obvious, "He's my brother."

"Ah well, good. Is he in?"

"Yes."

"Can I speak to him?"

"No."

"What about your father? Is he in?" Xerxes questioned instead, thinking that was a more logical route to take.

"Yes."

"Can I speak to him?"

"No."

"Well why not?!" Xerxes demanded irritably.

"He's busy," the boy told him, shifting uncomfortably, "With Pyrrhus."

"Can't you just tell him there's someone here to see him?"

"I don't wanna," the boy whined and averted his eyes, "Can't you just talk to me? I'm way better then Pyrrhus, he likes girly gymnastics and boring history. But I don't, last week I scored a goal in football. And it wasn't an own goal this time!"

"Well I'm sure that's very nice, kid-"

"Marvin," the boy corrected with a smile.

"-Marvin but you see, Pyrrhus is my brother. We have the same Mummy. Do you understand?"

"Are you a witch too?" Marvin asked him, his eyes shooting to him with interest, "I want to be a witch."

"Wizard. Boys are called wizards," Xerxes corrected him and Marvin ogled him, looking impressed, "And yes, I am so if you don't let me in and tell your father that I'm here then I'll turn you into a toad."

Marvin couldn't scramble to get out of the way fast enough, he let Xerxes into the comfortable sitting room while the boy bolted upstairs. Xerxes closed the door behind him and went to sit, glancing around and seeing an abundance of plant life but it was neat and clean, except for some toys on the coffee table that Marvin had problem been playing with. Marvin ran back down the stairs a few minutes later.

"Daddy said he'd be down in a minute when he's finished," Marvin informed him and Xerxes felt a pang of relief, "Would you like a drink while you wait?"

"No, I'm okay," Xerxes brushed it off and Marvin nodded before kneeling down by the table with the toys.

"Do you want to play with me?" Marvin asked of him cheerfully and offered him one of the toys, some plastic man dressed in commando gear, "You can be Captain strong, he's the best. I want to be like him when I grow up, he's bigger and stronger and gets to beat up the other guys then fuck them."

"What did you say?!" Xerxes gasped in shock at the language and use of it, Marvin looked confused, "What game is this?"

"Love."

"Marvin, come here," Xerxes offered instead, feeling rather disturbed and patting the seat beside him.

"Well okay," Marvin agreed and went over to sit beside him, "If I do what you want can you turn me into a wizard?"

"No, you're either with magic or you're not."

"I can still give you a magical time," Marvin whispered and reached out to put his hand on Xerxes' leg, he grabbed the boy's hand and caught his eye.

Xerxes then delved into his mind and immediately wished he hadn't, it was the most disturbing mind he'd ever jumped into. Hecate had been very wrong, Linden Florian was not a good man. He was a pedophile, he'd been abusing his three sons for a long time and the eldest boy took after him except with a more sadistic, violent streak. They'd abused his poor brother, they were abusing him right now. He tore himself free of Marvin's mind, he wanted to throw up and scrub the inside of his mind out with soap. Forget just meeting his brother, he couldn't leave Pyrrhus there when he was going to be suffering through that.

"What?" Marvin questioned of him, looking puzzled.

Xerxes opened his mouth to speak but was distracted as he laid eyes on his brother for the first time, well for the first time with his own eyes. He was thirteen and looked quite young for his age, his skin not touched by acne probably helped with that. His short hair was crimson and his violet eyes red as if he'd been crying, he had his arms wrapped protectively around himself and walked with his head hung. He was walking behind the sorry excuse he had for a father, a lanky man with hair already gray and a satisfied smile on his face.

Xerxes felt a burst of rage, how dare this filthy muggle defile his brother?! His magical brother?! And those other two muggle kids he had. Not to mention the fact that as a father himself, Linden was a disgrace to fathers everywhere! He was on his feet before he realized it, wand in hand and a spell already shooting out. It struck Linden and he went flying, smashing – hopefully painfully – through the bannisters and into the wall, he fell from it and bounced down the stairs. He groaned at the foot of the stairs, cringing from whatever wounds he'd received. Neither of Linden's sons made any attempt to help him, Marvin smirked while Pyrrhus just looked fearful as if expecting to be next.

"I know what you are and I know what you did!" Xerxes screamed at him furiously, his wand quivering in his hand, "You're not going to lay a hand on my brother ever again!"

"O-Okay, I-I won't, I-I promise," Linden stammered out fearfully but Xerxes could tell it was a lie, he risked a peek inside his mind and saw he was already fantasizing about doing it again.

"You're sick! You're sick! You're sick! You're just sick!" Xerxes shouted incredulously, if he had no intention of stopping when a wizard was attacking him then there was no way he'd keep his word when Xerxes left. He couldn't leave his brother here, "I'm taking Pyrrhus!"

"What!? No! You can't take my son!"

"Try and stop me, muggle! Pyrrhus, pack whatever things you want because you're leaving. Now!" Xerxes snapped and Pyrrhus apparently agreed the total stranger was a safer bet then staying because he ran back up the stairs, Marvin bolting after him.

"Please don't take my son, I love him," Linden pleaded desperately, trying to stand but failing as his leg looked twisted. Good, "I need him, he's my favorite. We can share-"

"Crucio! Crucio! Crucio! Crucio! Crucio!" Xerxes cast and Linden started screaming as he flailed wildly, he only stopped the torture when Pyrrhus started coming down the stairs with a rucksack slung over his shoulder with Marvin behind him with his own bag, he finally lowered his wand while Linden continued to sob as his body shook, "Come on."

"Where are you taking us, sir?" Pyrrhus asked nervously and Xerxes stopped in front of the door, realizing Pyrrhus didn't know his name.

"Does it matter?" Xerxes wondered and Pyrrhus looked thoughtful for a second before shaking his head while Marvin grabbed his toys off the table, "And my name is Xerxes by the way, Xerxes Seneca. I'm your half-brother by your mother."

"I'm Pyrrhus," Pyrrhus admitted quietly, looking as if he was hardly daring to hope, "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Let's go already," Marvin insisted and Xerxes glanced at him in confusion.

"You're not going," Xerxes told him seriously and the boy looked as if he'd been slapped in the face.

"But… But why?"

"Because you're not my brother and you're a muggle," Xerxes pointed out truthfully and Marvin's eyes welled with tears, Marvin's mind was already somewhat twisted anyway. Besides, he had no connection to the boy or reason to take him, what would he even do with a muggle in a magical school? He wouldn't be surprised if they killed him, "I'm sorry your life sucks but I can't do anything about it."

"Pyrrhus, don't let him leave me."

"Xerx-"

"You can stay here with one brother or leave with another, you can't have both," Xerxes interjected before Pyrrhus could defend his brother, "He can't come where we're going."

"You're not going to leave me are you, Pyrrhus?" Marvin whined at his brother, Pyrrhus hung his head looking incredibly torn, "Pyrrhus, don't leave me. You need to protect me, you have to."

"Decide faster, I don't have all day."

"I-I'm sorry, Marvin," Pyrrhus apologized tearfully as he looked back up, every line on his face was ingrained with guilt, "But I can't… I just can't do this anymore, I'm going to go mad if I stay. I'm so sorry."

"No!" Marvin yelled and stomped his feet, angry tears filling his eyes, "You can't go without me!"

"I'll come back for you," Pyrrhus promised truthfully, "I'll come back for you as soon as I can, I promise."

"Don't bother!" Marvin spat and threw down his things, "I hate you! I hate you all, wizards! If I ever see a wizards then… then I'll shoot them in the head! Shoot them dead! Because you're all bad and I hate you! I hate you!"

"Marv-" Pyrrhus started to say but the younger boy had already stormed off in the direction of the stairs.

"Marvy, sweetheart, if you would just get Daddy the phone," Linden pleaded with the boy in passing but Marvin kicked him in the head.

"I hate you too!" Marvin screamed at him before storming up the stairs while Linden was too busy spitting blood out of his mouth.

Xerxes took that as his cue to leave and led Pyrrhus out of the door, closing it behind him and magically locking it to make sure Pyrrhus didn't run back instead because he still looked guilty. Xerxes glanced at his brother and frowned worriedly, the boy really must be a pathetic excuse for a wizard to allow a muggle to abuse him and he was a wizard not a squib because he'd seen as much in Marvin's memories. He also wondered what the hell he had just done, he didn't want to be responsible for his damaged teenage brother. Pyrrhus looked at him expectantly though, he still couldn't just leave him there. Damn him and his good heart, he'd just have to figure something out. He sighed and put a hand on the boy's shoulder, disapparating them both far away from there.

---

Antonius was feeling incredibly nervous, he knew he shouldn't be and in fact it was rather stupid to feel that way, who felt nervous about seeing their mother? And yet, he couldn't help it. He hadn't seen his mother in so long and he was terrified of ruining his chance to make her like him again. His father's words did make him feel somewhat better but he was still anxious, maybe his father was wrong about how his mother would feel. He didn't know.

He couldn't decide whether he felt better or worse that Cassia wouldn't be there, on one hand he was guaranteed time with his mother and she wouldn't be spending every second dealing with Cassia. Cassia behaving for Skye wasn't something he found easy to imagine considering her current state of mind, even before she'd turned on Skye she'd not been easy to deal with. On the other hand, Cassia needed to see Skye to get along with her again and it was more pressure with just him alone with her. He also wished Hope could've been there, stroking her was calming but his mother hadn't wanted her there.

He was really clueless on how to greet her, normally he'd hug his mother if he'd been a part from her but… Two and a half years. It felt like a long time to him and he felt like a lot had happened in that time, he wasn't the same boy his mother had walked away from. She didn't try to hug him either, they just stared at each other until his father broke the silence. A short conversation later and he was alone with her in the house, he barely recognized the narrow hallway and not because of his memory.

"It looks different," Antonius observed quietly as he stood staring at the hallway.

"The fire destroyed pretty much everything, I had to buy all things and redecorate it, a lot of it had to be rebuilt too," Skye told him and Antonius felt stupid for not thinking of that, he felt his stomach curl up in knots. Now she thought he was stupid, "So it looks different, muggles can't magic everything back to normal that fire destroys."

"Wizards can't either," Antonius pointed out, thinking of Varanian being mangled by the flames and Scorpius' hand. Both of them were still all scarred, "Magic can't do everything."

"I'm sure it can't," Skye muttered and glanced at her watch, looking about as nervous as he felt, "Are… Are you thirsty?"

"I… I could drink."

"Good, I'll just put your things in your room and get you one. We can talk and catch up, I'd love to hear how you're doing," Skye offered with a somewhat forced enthusiasm, Antonius felt his insides twist up again. Was he doing something wrong and making her feel awkward or was she just also nervous like he was?

"Sounds good."

Skye headed upstairs and Antonius took the time to look around the ground floor, the living room on the left was the closest to looking the same as he remembered. There was the same mantelpiece, the couch, armchairs and television were all in the same places. They were just different styles and colors to when he'd lived there, there was also very few photographs now and none of the Ashains. On the right was the kitchen/dining room which had changed more drastically, the kitchen had been completely redone and was laid out differently, he couldn't tell if the dining area had been given less space or it was just that the beech table was rather large. There was a radio in there, still on.

"-This is ridiculous!" someone on the radio was saying, sounding very angry and passionate, "Greece, Turkey, Egypt and now Cyprus have fallen, when are the world leaders going to wake up and do something?! These Soul Eaters are starting to take over the actual world, who is next and why is no one stopping them!? What do they have that we don't?! Whatever they do have, they're just getting stronger and growing in power the longer they're left to their own devices. While our leaders sit on their hands, we are sitting ducks. They've taken four countries in a year and a half, everyone's completely cut off, it's causing major disruption for the economy and planes are crashing if they try to fly over it. These people aren't stopping and they're not going to stop! Someone has to take action!"

"I can see you're very passionate about this, Ted," a calmer voice on the radio commented, "But what do you say to the argument that it's not our country's responsibility to help these other countries and it'll just put them as targets?"

"And to that I say: what did Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Cyprus do to put themselves as targets?" the first voice spoke out again, presumably Ted, "Nothing, Joe, but they were attacked anyway. We don't know what these people want or what country these people want next but I think it's obvious that they're not going to stop unless someone stops them."

"I have to agree with Ted there, Joe," a nasally female voice contributed, "And am the only one who finds it suspicious that our world leaders are doing nothing? It's almost like they know something we don't, I don't think we're being told everything-"

"Sorry about that," Skye commented as she clicked the radio off, ending the discussion, "Forgot to turn it off. Do you want a nice warm cup of Hot Chocolate or some Lemonade?"

"Hot Chocolate," Antonius decided and slid into one of the seats at the table while his mother started to make the drinks, feeling rather solemn because of the news, "I didn't know Cyprus had fallen."

"It was announced today, you're too young to be worrying about that stuff though," Skye said and Antonius had to resist the urge to give a snort of amusement, he was too involved to not worry about it. Skye finished making the drinks and carried them over, putting a mug in front of him and sitting opposite with her own. He pulled it over to him and noticed little marshmallows sprinkled on the top, Skye smiled at him wistfully, "I remember you used to like it with little marshmallows. Of course your sister didn't, she only liked it the way Daddy did it. Even though it's exactly the same."

"Thank you," Antonius offered as he sipped his drink and Skye watched him with watery eyes, "Are you okay?"

"I just didn't realize how much I missed you until I saw you again," Skye admitted and reached out to squeeze his hand as the tears leaked from her eyes, "I love you so much, Tony, and don't you ever forget that. Do you understand me? Whatever happens, you're my son and I love."

"I love you too, Mum," Antonius told her tearfully, relief and joy flooding his veins at the thought his mother did still love, "But it's Antonius."

"How touching," a voice he hadn't heard for a while commented.

Antonius jumped up in an instant, spinning to see the old Transfiguration professor leaning casually in the doorway. Pyrrhus Florian. He looked actually younger than the last time Antonius had seen him, his skin was smoother and his hair was no longer gray but a fiery mane that reached past his shoulders. He had heard he'd been using an aging potion to mask his youth though, apparently he had. He had the same wiry frame and the same violently violet eyes, he was dressed in muggle clothes rather than robes though. Antonius didn't know what he wanted but he didn't think it was good.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the edge of table to throw it onto its side to act as a barricade which caused Skye to jump to her feet. Good, he had to protect his mother and she was safer behind it. He grabbed her and pulled her behind the table, he stood protectively in front of her and drew his wand from its invisible holster to aim it at Florian. His heart was pounding in his ears but he wasn't moving, Florian was ogling his wand.

"Stay down, Mum!" Antonius called over his shoulder and Florian opened his mouth to speak but spoke, "Petrificus Totalis!"

Florian leaped out of the way of his perfectly placed spell, laughing. Antonius supposed he didn't blame him, he'd learned that people didn't think a ten year old holding a wand was threatening. He thought they should be though, he may not be much but his wand was powerful and had a habit of doing useful things. Not that he really thought he could beat Florian, in fact unless his father miraculously had forgotten something… He didn't think this would end well, he'd be damned if he was going to lie down and die though. Especially when his mother's life was also at risk.

"Daddy been teaching you a few tricks, boy?" Florian questioned curiously, "It's good, we want you to have a bit of fight in you."

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Antonius tried instead, waving his wand wildly to try confuse Florian what he had been aiming for.

It worked, Florian looked puzzled for a second before Antonius wrenched his wand downwards and the chunk of ceiling he'd targeted was ripped down as well. Florian yelped in surprise and his mother shrieked but the redhead disapparated with a crack before he could be crushed. He heard the accompanying pop to announce Florian had appeared behind him, he turned in time to be hit by something and was thrown violently back against the wall. It hurt and hurt again when he thudded back to the ground, his body aching, his head spinning and the coppery taste of his own blood in his mouth. He grabbed his wand and jumped back up, sure he'd die if he didn't keep fighting.

"You said you wouldn't hurt him!" Skye yelled and Antonius froze.

"I'm still going to defend myself if I'm attacked!" Florian protested and Antonius' eyes drifted between his mother and the psycho who'd killed McGonagall and Nick, his mother wasn't hiding in fear nor trying to protect him, not even trying to run away.

"I don't understand," Antonius whispered disbelievingly as he lowered his wand, meeting his mother's guilt-ridden eyes, "You're selling out your own son? You lured me here and pretended to care just to pawn me off to the raging psychopath?"

"Tony, he's going to kill my brother if you don't go with him," Skye told him as she approached him, looking desperate and tearful again. She tried to touch his shoulder gently but he tore himself away angrily, "You don't want your Uncle Jasper to die do you?! He promised he wouldn't hurt you, he just needs you for something."

"Cassia's right about you, you know?" Antonius spat at her as tears pricked his own eyes, experiencing a soul shattering feeling of absolute betrayal and his scar screamed in pain as if in agreement, "I never understood before, I always defended you but she was right. You are the worst, you don't deserve to be called my mother."

"Tony, please-"

"MY NAME IS NOT TONY!" Antonius screamed at her furiously, stepping back from her, "It's Antonius. Antonius Brutus Ashain. And you know, even my evil Shadow Lieutenant Uncle Brutus is more loyal to his family then you are."

"Yeah, Skye, geez," Florian scoffed in agreement, "You suck."

"You're the one who made me do it!" Skye shrieked at him.

"And? You still suck," Florian said with a shrug before smiling psychotically at Antonius, "So what's it going to be, kid? Throw down your wand, come with me willingly and I don't kill your not-evil non-Shadow not-Lieutenant Uncle Jasper or I duel you into submission and kill all your muggle relatives?"

"Just take me away from her," Antonius said, feeling nothing but hurt as he threw down his wand for Florian, the former professor picked up it up and glanced at it admiringly before pocketing it.

"Let's go then."

"What about my brother?" Skye asked worriedly and Florian sighed.

The former professor rolled his eyes as he withdrew a phone from his pocket, he pressed a few buttons before tossing it to her. It must have been used to contact his accomplice before a second later, a muscular dark haired man with sapphiric eyes was stepping out of the shadows in the doorway with his uncle. Uncle Jasper had his hands tied in front of him, his blond hair had been cut ruthlessly short since the last time he'd seen him but otherwise he seemed the same. He blinked the same sea-green eyes as Skye and glanced around, his eyes widened in panic when he saw him while Skye looked somewhat relieved.

"See, unhurt? I can return people unhurt," Florian stated as if he expected to not be believed, "Your brother for your son, that's the deal."

"What?! No deal!" Uncle Jasper shot out immediately, "Take me, leave my nephew alone! He's just a child."

"You're not in position to be making demands, we don't even want you."

"He promised he won't hurt him and he'll give him back," Skye told him, sounding rather pathetically like she was trying to convince herself of this.

His uncle looked incredulous and the accomplice pushed him forward, apparently a sign of the tradeoff. Uncle Jasper was seemingly not content to be a pawn in this, he caught Antonius' eye and gave the slightest of jerks of his head in the direction of the door. Then without warning, he threw himself at the accomplice to knock him down and out of the way of the doorway.

"Run, Tony, run!" Uncle Jasper yelled at him.

Antonius bolted with the slightest bit of hesitation, feeling guilty for leaving his uncle but Florian had said they didn't want him and had clearly just been using him to get Antonius. That meant they shouldn't him, right…? He had no time to dwell as he hurtled down the narrow corridor and out into the cold street, running desperately and wishing he'd still had his wand. There was a pop though and Florian appeared in front of him, Antonius tried to avoid him but the former professor grabbed him and jabbed a wand into his throat when he tried to struggle.

Florian apparated them back inside the hallway and kicked the front door shut behind him, Uncle Jasper was now bound behind his back and on the floor with a bloody lip. The accomplice was standing over him with a wand on him, Skye was standing in the doorway looking panicked as her eyes darted around fearfully.

"You're not going to try run away from me again, do you understand?" Florian hissed into his ear, "I think you need a demonstration of what happens if you do. Avada Kedavra."

"NO!" Antonius screamed but was helpless to stop it. He'd been wrong. He was a fool.

Florian jabbed his wand at his bound uncle on the floor, there was a deafening whooshing sound and a burst of green light that seemed to reach every corner of the room. And then his Uncle Jasper was dead. Antonius felt tears well in his eyes, he hadn't ever been especially close to his uncle but the fact he hadn't seen him in over two years but the man had tried to save his life said a lot about the kind of person he was. The kind of person who hadn't deserved to die like that, hadn't deserved to die because of him. Skye fell to the ground, sobbing over her brother's body while the accomplice threw Florian an irritated look.

"Do you understand now, Antonius?" Florian asked in his ear as tears rolled down Antonius' cheeks, "If you don't do what I want or try to escape again then I will kill someone. Do you understand me?"

"I understand," Antonius admitted quietly.

"And Skye," Florian spoke to Skye instead, his mother glanced at him fearfully, "Muggles killed your brother and took your son when he tried to save him, if you tell anyone it was wizards then I'll kill your little boy and your boyfriend and then you. Do you understand me?"

"I understand," Skye sobbed, "Don't hurt my son."

"Make it look more like a muggle attack," Florian commanded to the accomplice before disapparating them both, taking him far away from there.

---

Part 4: Familiar Faces

---

Scorpius woke early the next morning, slightly surprised to find himself in his room not the Hogwarts dormitory. Not early enough apparently as when he went downstairs, his mother was already having breakfast with Michael and Sol. They were having an animated discussion about healing magic while Sol drooled scrambled eggs onto himself, his father and grandmother were nowhere to be seen. Scorpius was lost for most of it but he was glad they seemed to be getting along, he really didn't know enough about healing magic.

"So I was thinking about taking Michael into Diagon Alley," Scorpius spoke up, both to change the subject and because they'd need to get away from his parents to meet Crystal.

"Yeah, I missed the last Hogsmeade weekend because of the full moon so I really need to go to get some stuff," Michael added in agreement.

"Well we could all-"

"Mother, come on, do you really want to be wandering around in the cold?" Scorpius interjected, "We'll take the Knight Bus, and we'll be together. It'll be fine."

"We'll be back as soon as we can, we can move faster alone," Michael assured her, looking very hard like he was trying not to ask what the Knight Bus was, "Please, Mrs Malfoy?"

"Well… Alright," his mother reluctantly agreed, "Just be back by dinner at the latest."

They nodded their agreement and thanks before the conversation resumed, they finished off their breakfast before leaving. Since it was only morning – apparently Crystal's meeting was around lunch time – and his mother would be expecting things to have been bought, they did actually go to Diagon Alley first to get the things. After the conversation with Crystal, Scorpius figured it was the perfect time to visit Varanian to fill him in then they just needed to make sure to be back by dinner. Simple. Scorpius had already done his Christmas shopping so there wasn't much to do, Michael bought a lot less than he did and insisted on paying himself for no reason despite the fact Scorpius had more money and was quite willing to give some over.

He was surprised to find security had been increased there, including a search – not unlike Cistro's – to get into Diagon Alley in the first place and there were more Aurors patrolling as well which put him on edge as he knew some were Shadows. He was relieved when they could leave to go meet Crystal and took the Knight Bus once more, apparently at a random muggle park in a random town. They found the place and Scorpius could only hope Michael's Dyslexia hadn't led him wrong as they sat in wait, on a random bench in the cold.

"I can't wait until we can use magic outside Hogwarts," Scorpius said with a sigh, "I could warm us both up."

"I can't wait until we can legally order alcohol," Michael admitted half to himself but seemed to immediately regret it at the dirty look Scorpius threw him, "And you know what else? Not knowing how to shave is finally working for me because it's keeping my face warm."

"You have to stop drinking, Michael."

"I'm not drinking, I'm sitting on a bench."

"I'm serious," Scorpius insisted and his friend rolled his eyes, "You're drinking for all the wrong reasons and you can't even drink responsibly, you're going to hurt someone one of these days, maybe even yourself and drink yourself into an early grave."

"Good."

"Michael-"

"Michael?" a woman's voice questioned and they both jolted in surprise to see Crystal Sanford approaching them, she smiled when she saw her son and Michael moved to go hug her where he was now the taller of the pair. Scorpius thought she was looking quite good, in a healthy kind of way, "It's so good to see you. How are you? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Michael brushed it off and pulled away, he gestured to Scorpius, "You remember my friend, Scorpius?"

"Of course, how ar-"

"So what's the deal with pretending to be dead?" Michael interrupted before she'd finished her sentence, "Why do people think you're dead? Why is John Avery giving me letters? What is going on?!"

"Okay, you deserve an explanation and I guess Scorpius as well," Crystal nodded and pointed out a picnic bench for them to sit at instead since there was more seats.

They moved over there and Scorpius looked around for passersby but no one was around. Who would be? It was freezing and had started to snow. She then launched into her explanation, the abductions, Florian looking for Jack, John Avery helping her and ultimately how he'd helped them fake their deaths to stop the Shadows coming after them. By the time she was done, Scorpius was feeling much colder and it had nothing to do with the poor weather. Scorpius was wondering what in the world the mad defector Pyrrhus Florian could possibly want with the Specter-charged serial killer Jack Thorne, Michael's first question had absolutely nothing to do with any of that though.

"So what you're dating this John guy?" Michael demanded of her irritably.

"No," she said immediately, sounding truthful albeit surprised, "Of course not, we're just… just friends. He's a great guy though and all, I'm sure you'll like him, the little ones all love him. Except maybe Bertie but you can never tell with Bertie."

"Is that why he took Agnes to Hogsmeade before?" Scorpius questioned, recalling Albus claiming to have seen them.

"That was to get her a wand because he knows a guy who'll see to younger ages, can you believe she's a witch? Bertie too but he's too young."

"Agnes and Bertie are not magical," Michael snapped.

"Yes they are, Agnes can do magic with her wand now and John tested Bertie. They're magical."

"Well maybe John is lying to you just to screw with you and they're not magical!"

"Why would he do that?"

"What is your problem?" Scorpius wondered almost at the same time as Crystal's question, Michael either thought she'd asked it or just directed the answer at his mother anyway.

"My problem is that every guy you date turns out to be a stark-raving psychopath!" Michael yelled at her, "And John will be just the same!"

"I'm not dating John!" Crystal protested once more and for the first time, Scorpius rather wished he was somewhere else, "And he's not a psychopath! He saved our lives and he's still helping us, you really would have no family if not for him."

"He's just going to hurt you, and me, and the little ones! Just like all the guys you date-"

"I'm not dating him!"

"No, you're just living in his house, letting him help raise your children, sharing a bed with him-"

"Michael!" Crystal and Scorpius burst out in warning in unison, apparently both thinking he'd gone too far. Michael sulkily and childishly folded his arms, inducing an awkward silence.

"I want you to come home and stay with your family," Crystal said finally, breaking the silence.

"I already agreed to stay with Scorpius," Michael shot out immediately.

"I don't mean just for the break, I mean don't go back to Hogwarts. John's niece died there, it's not safe anymore. We're best just sticking together, the world's in a bad way. John can teach you like he does Agnes, while he can."

"While he can?"

"He was hit by this the Festering Curse while saving Ivy, its slowly killing him," Crystal admitted sadly, Scorpius just thought it was strange to hear a muggle talking about magical things, "Haven't found a way to cure it yet and St Mungo's don't treat people with that Dark Mark."

"Well… No," Michael told her thoughtfully, thankfully more calmly and seeming to just ignore the fact John was dying. Then again, they didn't really know the guy so sympathies were limited, "I can't just leave my friends and my education, I thought I would fail my OWLs but I didn't. I should at least try for my NEWTs, its better I'm at Hogwarts."

"I understand," Crystal nodded in understanding and sighed wistfully, "I'd rather you stay but it's your decision and I respect it, you can always change your mind. How about you at least stay for the last week of the holidays?"

"How about a few days? And not Christmas, that'd be suspicious."

"Okay."

"Okay."

After that the conversation shifted to more mundane topics or at least things Scorpius already knew, Crystal wanted to know how Michael's year was going so far which he was aware of. He tried to bring up Florian again but as he'd secretly suspected, it was too much to hope for that he'd revealed his plans to her about why he wanted Jack. Thankfully, Michael seemed to have moved past his random outburst against John so the conversation was somewhat more pleasant. It had to come to a close though, the Sanfords went their separate ways and it was time to ring over to Varanian's hideout.

"So do you want to tell me what that was about?" Scorpius asked of him as they started trudging through the slushy snow.

"What was what about?" Michael wondered.

"You going off on Crystal about John."

"I don't know, Scorpius, I guess I just feel like my family has been through enough. Okay?" Michael said in a tone that made it hard to tell whether he was sarcastic or serious.

"Okay so you need to focus on the circle, you need to keep your destination in mind still and be completely determined to get there," Varanian's voice was saying and Scorpius noticed he was standing up ahead with Annie and Austin, the latter of whom was staring with intense focus on the ground in front of him while Annie started to laugh, "What?"

"This is stupid," Annie complained still laughing while Austin threw her a murderous look, "Like this is actually how people learn to teleport."

"Apparate," Austin corrected her testily.

"It is," Varanian insisted, "You just need to focus so turn your attention back to the circles."

"This is boring," Annie sighed while Austin went back to staring intensely at the ground.

"If you can feel bored then you're not putting all you energy into focusing," Varanian stated seriously and opened his mouth to speak again but started laughing once more, "What now?!"

"You're so serious. And this still feels stupid. And you know, I think drinking actually helped my ADHD."

"Well who cares so shut up and focus," Austin snapped at her, "I've wanted to learn to apparate since I saw McGonagall disapparate after she came to my house when I was eleven years old to give me my Hogwarts letter so stop screwing it up!"

"Close your eyes if it helps block out distractions," Varanian offered more gently to Annie who sighed again as she closed her eyes while Austin went back to his intense concentration, "Now focus on the circle and how much you're determined to get there, you want to be in that circle more than anything else in the world-"

"Why don't I just step into it?" Annie wondered curiously.

"Oh my god!" Austin exclaimed in frustration.

"You can't walk, teleport- apparating into the circle is the only way to undo the spell so you want to get there," Varanian continued, "But you know don't be upset if you fail the first time, it's very difficult to do and requires a lot of practice."

"Yeah, yeah, we get it, next step."

"Okay, when I saw go you need to relax and turn on spot, moving with deliberation and mentally propelling yourself into your circle."

"How am I supposed to relax if I'm focusing?" Annie questioned.

"Just do it."

Annie must have taken Varanian's comment as the signal for go because she turned and there was a sound like a gunshot, in the next instance Annie appeared on the ground in front of her. She opened her eyes in surprise while Austin started turning randomly but seemed to be failing, Annie grinned.

"I did it!" Annie exclaimed excitedly.

"Well done but that first time could be a fluke, you need to keep practicing it," Varanian insisted and Annie stepped back out of what presumably must be a circle drawn onto the ground, she spun again and there was another crack as she reappeared in the same spot, "Lucky."

It appeared for once, Varanian was actually wrong. Annie consistently seemed capable of apparating into the selected spot, Austin wasn't having as much luck but after several times he also apparated in front of him. A grin split his face and Annie gave him a high five, if they could do it then Scorpius was sure he'd get it easy. Once he'd achieved it one, Austin also seemed to be able to get it almost every time like Annie. Varanian had folded his arms and was looking quite grumpy rather than pleased at how quickly they'd succeeded.

"So this is real difficult, huh?" Annie wondered sardonically, "Hey Pip, how long did it take you to apparate?"

"It took me shut up and try again," Varanian quipped and Annie smiled at him in amusement before turning on the spot, this time she didn't reappear in her circle but right in front of Varanian who had to grab her to steady her. Austin rolled his eyes and headed off in the direction of the base, "See? You missed the circle, it's harder than you think."

"Maybe I wasn't aiming for the circle."

Annie gave him another small smile as she encircled her arms around his shoulders and pressed her lips against his, Varanian pulled her closer as he kissed her back much to Scorpius' surprise. Not as much as Michael apparently as he gave a strangled gasp, Scorpius punched him in the arm gently to shut him up. He was glad Varanian was apparently trying to move on from his dead wife, Scorpius thought he deserved to be happy.

"You're not going to have a problem with Varanian now too, are you?" Scorpius asked him in a whisper.

"No. I'm just weirded out," Michael admitted also quietly, "And it better not be serious, I don't want to wind up with Varanian for an uncle."

"Why not? He'd be the best uncle. I wish he was my uncle."

"Well of course you would think that, he's a father figure to you."

"I told you before, I don't-"

"Scorpius?" Varanian questioned and Scorpius jumped, seeing their leader approaching them. He was a metamorphmagi so could like anyone but he had his usual appearance today, tall and lanky with scruffy tawny hair and piercing silver eyes, his burn scars hidden, "How long have you been there?"

"Just arrived," Scorpius lied, deciding to leave out how they'd watched the apparation lesson and seen them kiss. It was really none of their business after all, "And we have important news."

"We've found out some things too."

"Hi Pip, how are you? Good thanks, how are you, Scorpius? I'm great, Hogwarts is a breeze," Annie quipped and they both looked at her oddly, "It's called making polite conversation, you know rather than just cutting to the chase. It's something humans do."

"Well thanks for that," Varanian said slowly, seemingly thinking on the same lines as Scorpius about that being pointless, "Come on, Scorpius."

They headed back to the hideout which was thankfully nice and warm inside, Scorpius hadn't realized how cold and numb he was feeling until the warmth started seeping back into his bones. Varanian didn't take him to the basement as usual but rather into the… living kind of room except it had his boards of information as well as couches for sitting on, Michael as well and Annie appeared later with mugs of hot chocolate for them that she slid surreptitiously into their hands before sitting as well. Scorpius had launched into his account of what Crystal had told them about Florian and his interest in Jack, he also recounted the attempts on the Scamander's life and finally the stuff about Martha.

"Interesting," Varanian mused thoughtfully, "But you're wrong, Martha could very well still be the killer or at least that the Shadows shared in their suspicions of you."

"Why?" Scorpius wondered curiously.

"Because the Shadows aren't trying to kill you or the Scamanders, in fact it's quite the opposite. They want you to live because of your scarred wrists and connection to the Shadow Master, they're trying to protect you. They think Florian is behind it all since you're part of Gray so it's not us, being his niece they suspect Martha but their operative screwed up so they still don't know if she's innocent or not."

"Why would Florian want to kill us anyway? Because of a sealed connection?"

"They don't know and neither do we," Varanian admitted, "It may be possible he could tap into your magic through Maurice who is the only one unsealed but it would be more difficult, not to mention completely pointless with the Scepter as a power well to tap into easily."

"Well they are after Calderon, maybe Florian also wants him to try get the Scepter off his brother again?" Scorpius guessed but Varanian shook his head.

"The Shadow Master's stopped using Polyjuice with the Scepter to prevent that happening again, if they stand against each other again then he'll stand as himself so the Scepter won't see Calderon as the truer heir. It'd probably stay with him in fact since he's used it more."

"Maybe Florian doesn't know that because not everyone is a genius like we are," Annie offered.

"Maybe but if he's planning on going after the Shadow Master then he damn well better have a good plan or he's going to be obliterated. What I don't know is where Jack fits into this."

"Maybe he's hoping to just bypass dueling to destroying the Shadow Master's soul?" Scorpius guessed but Varanian shook his head.

"This is the Shadow Master," Varanian pointed out, "He knows how to handle, destroy and deal with Specters which Jack is in part. He wouldn't stand a chance, the Shadow Master was that before the Scepter or the wrist scars so that wouldn't have an impact. If he's going to use Jack like that anyway then there's no reason to kill the scarred wrists."

"What else could he possibly need him for?" Michael asked.

"I don't know," Varanian admitted with a sigh as he leaned back, "There's still too many maybes and unknowns, even when we learn new things they're not puzzle pieces that are fitting in."

"I'm sure we'll figure it out," Annie assured him and reached out to squeeze his hand gently.

"Is Wyatt in?" Scorpius inquired, "I'd like to speak to him about becoming an animagi and all. Or Molly. Because she's my girlfriend."

"Molly's out, Wyatt's in," Varanian told him as he stood, "I'll take you to him."

"I know where Wyatt's room is," Scorpius pointed out as they left Michael with his aunt.

"I know, I just figured they could use some privacy."

"Hey Scor," Wyatt offered cheerfully as he wandered into the kitchen before Scorpius could head upstairs to his room, unlike his father he was friendly, "What's up?"

"I'm an animagus," Scorpius told him proudly and Wyatt's grin widened, he excitedly offered him a high five that Scorpius took.

"Sweet! I told you that you were close. What animal?"

"Thestral."

"Nice," Wyatt applauded him while Varanian walked off, "You are going to have to train intensely over this break, get you mastering it and able to transform at will before you get back to Hogwarts. When you don't need spells anymore and it's just natural to you, the Ministry won't be able to detect it with your Trace."

"Good to know," Scorpius admitted, he hadn't been aware of that. That could come in useful.

Wyatt then dragged him off to practice, Scorpius felt much more at ease training with Wyatt because he was an animagus and not only knew exactly what to do but had been through the same thing himself. He only stopped when Michael went to get him because they'd need to be leaving to keep his promise to his mother to be back by dinner time, he did so although didn't feel much like eating dinner because he was full of gummy worms that Wyatt had kept giving him to reward him for his success.

Scorpius actually didn't mind returning home to the Manor so much with Michael there, he was nice having his friend to talk to at dinner and they spent the rest of the evening relaxing by the fire and playing Wizard's Chess to take Michael's mind off things. They didn't get much chance to get away the next day but then Scorpius hadn't expected them too, it was Sol and Lysel's second birthday so his mother and Myriam were throwing the pair another party. Scorpius was naturally expected to attend his brother's birthday and he wanted Michael to be there anyway, he really wanted him to get to talk to Myriam.

"This may sound like a weird request," Scorpius said to Myriam as he pulled her aside thanks to strategically getting the door, "But erm… my friend Michael is here staying and he's a werewolf and he err… is kind of having a hard with it so could you please maybe talk to him? "

"Well I can try," Myriam agreed slowly, "I'm not sure what you want to me to say."

"Thank you."

He actually found it quite nice to see the rather dark manor decorated up in bright colors for the party and the normally quiet place having children's laughter filling the halls, Sol and Lysel did seem fond of each other. When he arrived, Sol squealed excitedly and pulled the werewolf into a vice-like hug before scampering off to play. Scorpius wondered if Sol would be affected if Lysel did die, he seemed to care for him but then they were only two. If he definitely thought Lysel was the leader of the two, Sol didn't seem to know how to open his presents before Lysel showed him and then he could tear them through faster than the weaker Lysel. Maybe this was a good thing considering how Sol had noticeably more presents to unwrap then Lysel, his were generally more expensive as well.

Not that the toddlers minded, they didn't even seem to notice what belonged to who as they played with whatever, even the boxes or wrapping paper itself. This seemed to bother his grandmother for some reason, she didn't seem to want Lysel playing with Sol's things. Scorpius didn't care though, it was their birthday and as long as they were happy then it didn't matter. He even managed to convince his mother to let them go outside to play in the snow for a while, Scorpius and Maurene showed them how to make snow angels and helped them build a snow man, a snow fort. And a snow leopard because… he had no idea why, apparently leopards were cool. They discovered snowball fighting by themselves, although it was more snow lumps or even just waves. They were laughing and happy, it didn't really matter how accurate it was. They got a chance to try out Sol's toy broomstick as well, Lysel was much better with it though and excited to fly.

Scorpius actually ended up having more fun he thought and playing big brother did take his mind off the war and everything, it actually made him rethink his stance on children. Maybe one day in the future – the distant future at that – it wouldn't be so bad, maybe even nice to see the Manor full of his and Molly's carefree, innocent children running around laughing instead. The toddlers were wiped by the end of it but it had been a good day, Scorpius fell asleep in a good mood for once. The next day he thought he shouldn't have got so carried away though and avoiding anything that could bring him down, he'd been too busy with the toddlers to talk to Leebin – well not about Michael's drinking anyway, it seemed weird to bring it up in front of the little ones that Leebin too had seemed keen to spend time with – and had no idea if Myriam had talked to Michael or not. When he went down the next day for breakfast, he was surprised to see his mother crying.

"What's wrong?" Scorpius asked her worriedly and his mother tried to wipe her eyes but more tears kept falling.

"The Leebins were attacked last night," his mother admitted after a minute, "Myriam's in critical condition, Maurene's severely injured, Lysel's wrist is broken and Flan is missing."