Parts (47-49)

VI

Chapter 12

For Better or Worse

Part 1: Mother's Choices

Scorpius wasn't actually meeting Molly in Hogsmeade the next day but for once he didn't mind, her birthday was in April – unfortunately not until the week after Easter – so he wanted to get her a nice present while he had the chance. He was just going with the now single Albus along with Maurice, Michael was too weak and confined to the Hospital Wing. It was a pleasant day, the tedious search from Cistro was not so bad when the weather was pleasant. Sadly, Scorpius doubted it was so pleasant for Antonius. He dragged his friends around, looking for a birthday gifts for Molly's nineteenth birthday. Considering he was also her cousin, Albus seemed rather unhelpful on getting her things and Maurice just seemed in a foul mood even after Scorpius decided they should stop for a Butterbeer in the Hog's Head.

"Just be grateful your girlfriend's alive to celebrate her birthday," Maurice pointed out with a bitter sorrow in his tone, "Lenore will never get to turn another year older."

After that, Scorpius did feel a bit worse but it did give him an idea. He got her the usual, chocolates, jewelry, some gloves he thought she'd appreciate and a new charm – a light charm that actually lit up – but also a beautifully crafted picture frame. He intended to put a photograph of Molly's family in there that Albus promised to get for him, considering she was cut from them and with the deaths… he thought she might like a positive memory to hold on to. They also got some things for Abby as her birthday was also in April.

"Merlin's beard, Scor," Albus grumbled on the way back with Molly's things, "You know a card and a Chocolate Frog would've sufficed."

"Would have done that for Grozda?" Scorpius wondered.

"Well of course not but that's Grozda, you're just dating Molly," Albus explained and Scorpius through him a dark look, "What? A decade ago she was happy just to run around jumping in muddy puddles. Aunt Audrey was not impressed."

"I should hope not," Maurice scoffed as he shook his head, letting go of his necklace as he had to while they were walking, "Jumping in muddy puddles, honestly."

"And he wonders why we call him inhuman?"

Scorpius spent a good deal of the rest of the day wrapping after that, he wanted everything to be nice for Molly. The next day was the dreaded apparation class that Michael got to miss because of the full moon, Rose actually succeeded in apparating for the first time as had quite a few others while Albus splinched his elbow and Abby some of her hair but Scorpius? Nothing. He couldn't even splinch his own hair, why was this so hard for him?! It frustrated him to no end, he didn't like failing. He did manage to tell Martha the Alchemy worked though.

The last few days were filled with winding down and encouragement to keep studying over the break if possible, it was never too soon. Most of the teachers anyway, those related to Ashylos said nothing and the new Transfiguration professor Penny Durante gave everyone in class a small chocolate egg that they could eat once they transformed it into a chocolate chick or bunny. The choice was theirs. After that, there really was nothing else to do but pack for the Easter break. A full breakfast, a short carriage ride, a lengthy train trip and they were back in London awaiting pick up.

Corin gave his girlfriend a peck on the cheek and waved goodbye before going to catch another train back to France, Mrs Potter was picking up her own and Ron's so Albus, Vern, Lily, Rose and a sad looking Hugo – Scorpius hoped he was just feeling wiped from the full moon – left with her, the Scamanders went with their mother, Abby and August with their mother, Cade came for Orous and Maurice – who surprisingly had decided to go home, messing with Scorpius' plans of telling the calmer Orous of his siblings to get help telling Maurice – until it was just him and Michael.

"So John's late," Michael commented disapprovingly just as Scorpius' mother approached, she gave him a smile and pulled him unashamedly into a hug quite unlike his father.

"Sorry I'm late, Lysel's still pretty rough after the full moon and we got side-tracked," his mother apologized as she pulled away before she noticed his friend, "Hi Michael, how are you doing?"

"Alright, just waiting for my aunt."

"Ah," his mother said and looked around as if expecting to see Annie, who she hadn't actually met so it was kind of pointless, although he supposed she wasn't seeing anyone who looked like they were approaching Michael, "Are you alright by yourself or would you like us to wait with you?"

"I'm fine," Michael brushed it, "But thank you, have a nice Easter."

"Thank you, you too."

"Bye," Scorpius offered and gave him a hug in farewell, "Good luck."

Carver hated Pegasus. He absolutely loathed him, he did not understand for the life of him why his mum was so interested in him. He wasn't the sharpest sword in the stone but even he could see the man was manipulative, whenever she disagreed with something he always talked his way into making her think she was at fault. For the love of Merlin, he made her change her name for him. He may not know a lot but he could see it was wrong, Pegasus was wrong.

And that was how much he hated him even without taking into account how he treated Carver himself. When he stood up for his mum, Pegasus just pulled out his silver tongue and convinced her that they were the ones at fault again. He constantly insulted Carver, mocking him worse than the kids in the Training Tower ever had and he neither had his dad to stick up for him – he tried telling him but he was more interested in having fun with him then hearing his problems whenever his father made time for him – nor Ethan to talk to who he barely saw anyway now.

That was without the punishments, he was spanked so much it hurt to sit down, Pegasus also liked to strike him across the hands with a stick so much it hurt to his fingers then to tie him upside and leave him there for long periods of time. He swore Pegasus timed it to make it hurt the most as well, such as spanking him just before dinner when he'd have to sit down or striking his hands just before giving him a literacy assignment. Just like his mother, Pegasus had rules except his rules were always punished and he seemed to change them constantly like telling him one day the left hand side of the stairs only was for going up then punishing him for doing it the next week because now the right hand side of the stairs was only for going up. If he complained to his mother, he'd deny ever changing he rule and insist Carver was simply mistaken. Of course she believed Pegasus.

He was surprised the month of his tenth birthday by two sets of terrible news, the first was Pegasus moving in and the second was the birth of new baby brother. He was angry at his dad for having more kids, didn't he have enough? He didn't even spend enough time with the ones he had, let alone wasting the time on a new baby. It took years for them to grow up anyway and by then he'd be older and they'd be boring to him, Martha and Andreas were toddlers incapable of playing anything interesting and Viola just wanted to play with dolls. Carver hated it all, Pegasus moving in just meant he had even less time when he'd be free of him.

And any hope of his mum breaking up with him like his dad did with all the many women he was with was dashed that summer when his mum announced they were getting married, married was like dating but forever from what he understood. Carver never thought he'd actually miss the Training Tower, at least there he had Ethan and the punishments didn't leave him stinging for days after. He tried to convince his dad to let him go back but he insisted he couldn't without his mother then went back to trying to make him play with toys he had outgrown by then, why couldn't his dad just listen to him? Why couldn't anyone listen to him? He was in pain and he was miserable, he cried himself to sleep at night sometimes, did no one hear that?

Michael watched Scorpius leave, keeping his smile up until they were safely back through the barrier. He gave a wistful sigh as they finally left, he'd much rather be going with them. He was dreading the holiday, by now John had to abusing them and now he was going to get it. For once he was thankful for the full moon because his friends thought he was rundown because of that, in truth he'd barely slept as he lay awake thinking of his poor family being bludgeoned or cruciated or being tortured some other sick magical way like Maurice would probably know. And second John would come sauntering in with grazed knuckles, the whiff of alcohol on his breath and a dark glint in his eyes.

"Michael," a vaguely familiar voice rasped and his eyes snapped back open to see John, he was looking quite the opposite to what Michael had feared.

His face was ashen gray while the scar was livid, bloodshot eyes carried heavy black bags and he was shivering. His skin looked damp, his brown locks was plastered to his head and beads of sweat were already rolling down his brow. Despite this, his azure eyes somehow managed to still remain steely and give him some semblance of not being a complete wreck.

"Are you alright?" Michael asked without thinking, earning himself an incredulous look.

"Dying, remember?" John croaked, his voice sounding rather hoarse and why it was so was immediately answered as he burst into a violent coughing fit. He gripped the train for support with one hand as the coughs wracked his body so forcefully it was like he was trying to cough up his heart, only beads of black bile came out though before it passed, "It's okay, it's not contagious."

"I erm… figured."

"Come on, Crystal is waiting for you," John wheezed and gestured vaguely towards the exit, Michael immediately started pushing his things while John staggered along with him.

"Should you really be walking around in your condition?" Michael felt compelled to utter.

"I reckon I still have a few weeks left, it's easier for Crystal if I get you. Your mother misses you, the little ones too."

Michael resisted the urge to insist John had no right to call his siblings 'the little ones' as they walked, having to stop three more times on the way out of the station due to John's coughing fits where he continued to cough up black bile in place of phlegm. Maybe he was trying to cough out his heart, it likely was black and rotting. He thumbed the vial of cure in his pocket, he wondered if he was a bad person for wishing Rojer had just said he hadn't a clue.

Once they were outside and away from muggle eyes, John apparated them back to his shack and almost seemed on the verge of collapse. They got in though, the little ones scampering to meet him – and John – along with his mother while John brushed off their greeting to head back upstairs to likely sleep although Michael heard the sound of him retching through the floorboards. John was definitely in a bad way but his family actually seemed in a good way, Agnes, Ivy and Flynn started excitedly telling him about their lives with John, Bertie was still quiet but was smiling more and nodded animatedly when they spoke. Crystal went to go check on John but did return, she seemed alright as well.

None of them sported bruises or wounds, was it possible Michael was wrong about John? No, no he was sure John was bad. It was just because of the Festering Curse that he was incapable of hurting them, or he could be erasing their memories or something. The guy was a freaking wizard, if Michael knew or at least knew of some dark stuff then the former Death Eater had to know even more. And yet he found himself fingering the vial in his pocket, the key to saving John. But what that condemn his family? If they were really alright then would they be when he healed John? Would be healing a monster to hurt them? Should he just not do it? But then what about if John was good? He'd be letting an innocent man die. Not just an innocent man, a man his family seemed compelled to care about. Besides, was it not his duty as a wannabe future – if he actually had a chance at one – Healer to help everyone? Even people he disliked? And what about Crystal? What would he tell her? He could sense she was dying to ask.

Crystal went to check on John five times before it hit the little ones bedtime, he could only curse his conscience at he took the opportunity to go see John himself. He rapped politely on the door and was answered by the sound of violent vomiting, he took that as his cue to enter and just in time to see John regurgitating sickly yellow and black bile.

The room was dark, the silver slivers of moonlight sliding in from the open window were the only source of light. Like everywhere, the room looked rundown and made of rotting wood. He couldn't make out much more than the double bed in the gloom, the window was opposite the door though and John was lying closest to it with the light causing the droplets of sweat to glisten noticeably. John didn't seem to notice him and collapsed weakly into the bed when he was done, his body still visibly shaking.

"John?" Michael wondered and John gave a vague groan.

Michael walked over to him, going unnoticed by John as the former Death Eater's eyes had fluttered shut as he lay there breathing unevenly. He sighed to himself, if he wasn't sure before then he was now. He had to help John. He plucked the vial from his pocket and pulled back the blankets down to his waist as he knew the wound was on his side, John had changed into a loose pajama top and didn't seem to notice him still.

He lifted up the top to see the wound on the same side as him, he wrinkled his nose at the stench as it smelled dead and looked worse. The wound did look… well like it had been festering, a swamp of pus and dark decay that was oozing disgustingly. He reached out with the vial only to feel John's clammy hand grasping his wrist, his eyes struggled to open.

"What are you doing?" John croaked, eying him suspiciously, "I know you're into healing but come on."

"Look this is a cure, okay? My Alchemy teacher gave it to me, it'll make you better," Michael explained and waggled the vial of silver, John could only gape at him so Michael went to continue.

"No!" John gasped desperately and grabbed his wrist once more, this time more forcefully.

"Didn't you hear what I said? It's a cure, I prom-"

"I don't want to be cured, okay?" John insisted and Michael almost laughed until he realized he wasn't joking.

"What do you mean you don't want to be cure?" Michael complained of him as he took a confused step back.

"I want to die," John told him seriously but elaborated after Michael continued to stare at him in confusion, "You get one chance at life, Michael, I screwed mine up by becoming a Death Eater. That was it, I'm done, it didn't make a difference I went to Azkaban because there's no such thing as redemption. Lenore was my life instead, she had a chance, a future and I did everything I could to try ensure she'd have a better one then me. But I failed. And she died. There's no point living anymore, there's nothing left for me."

"Why not just kill yourself?"

"I was going to!" John blurted out uncharacteristically desperately, "But the animals… My body might not be discovered for a while and I didn't want them to suffer, that's why I was in London when I met your mother, that's why I gave away my owl so easily because I was trying to find good homes for them. Then she told me about your sister and I figured I could do something good before I died just for once by helping but she was in deep, I recognized she'd need to fake their deaths or the Shadows would come after them so I had to do that. When I realized I'd been hit by the Festering Curse saving Ivy… It was perfect, a guaranteed death and in the meantime I could make sure Crystal and the kids would be alright first. Now I can die, the animals are cared for, they can make a living and when the war's over sell this dump and go back to their regular lives. Win-win for everyone."

"The slow and painful death part didn't bother you?" Michael wondered, his mind trying to catch up to what his ears were hearing.

"No," John scoffed and coughed violently again, "I want it to hurt, if not this I was going to burn myself alive anyway. Pain is good, let's you know you're alive so I want to feel alive for as long as possible, so I know when I draw my very last breath. I deserve a painful death for my crimes anyway."

"You don't need to die, you need help," Michael found himself saying, instinctively finding himself against John's mentality as the man rolled his eyes at him, "What about Crystal and the little ones?"

"What about them? Michael, I know you find this really hard to believe but I'm not dating your mother," John insisted very firmly, "I'm nothing to them, they won't care if I die and like I said it'll work out for them."

"Have you told Crystal your plan?"

"Of course not, she'd try convince me otherwise out of the goodness of her heart much like you are," John pointed out and coughed again before giving him a look of disbelief, "Michael, you hate me, remember? You of all people should be on board. You don't want me around your family, you think I'll hurt them, you think I'm bad. I am bad, I did horrible things to innocent people. I deserve death."

"I didn't wish death upon you!" Michael insisted, he also wasn't entirely sure whether John was bolstering the bad to make him agree.

"Plenty of other people did that for you. And you're not killing me, you're just not saving me. Everyone gets what they want if you just put that vial back in your pocket, your family is still cared for, you don't have to worry about me hurting them like your stepdad did. Just tell Crystal it didn't work or that there's no cure depending on what you've told her already."

"I don't think I can," Michael admitted as another coughing fit wracked John's body.

"Well just sleep on it at least? Consider it," John pleaded and Michael sighed, seeing no reason why not as he shoved it back in his pocket which caused relief to flood John's face, "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, I'm still leaning towards saving you," Michael commented, feeling annoyed at the situation in general as he stalked towards the door.

"You know if you do save me then I'm going to kill myself anyway," John called after him, "Maybe I'll take your family with me."

Michael had reached the door but turned back to give John a look of loathing, angry he'd suggest that even if he was bluffing. He opened the door to leave just as Ivy was trying to enter, he saw she was now in a night dress her clutching a book to her chest along with a jar of bluebell flames. He felt a sliver of sadness as he saw her still missing two fingers.

"What are you doing?" Michael asked of her.

"John always used to read me a bedtime story but now's too sick so I'm going to read him a bedtime story," Ivy told him innocently as if it were the most obvious thing in the word, "Excuse me."

Michael moved aside and let her enter, she clambered onto the bed while John finished another coughing fit. John pulled himself upright and propped himself against the pillows as Ivy cuddled up next to him, giving the Death Eater a smile.

"Ready for the next chapter? I've been practicing my reading like you taughted me," Ivy told him cheerfully as she nestled against him comfortably with the book.

"You've been practicing, huh?" John wondered, his tone more child friendly but sounding genuinely interested as she nodded while opening the book.

"It was a dark and stormy night in... What's that word?" Ivy started to read but seemingly became stuck on a word, she pointed it out to John.

"Sound it out like I told you."

"Can't-err-bur-y, Can't-err-bury, Canterbury?"

"Yes, well done," John praised her and gave her a rewarding smile, she beamed in return and he could practically see her confidence blooming as she went back to reading.

John wouldn't hurt her, not when he treated her like that. He wouldn't hurt any of them. Contrary to what John seemed to believe, he thought they would take his death hard. What was he supposed to do now? Michael sighed to himself sadly as he left, why could his home life ever just be simple?

Part 2: Helping Hand

"I'm sorry you can't come with me, Mother's very strict about people staying," Auriga apologized as she hugged her goodbye.

"It's alright, Auri, don't worry about it," Martha brushed it off as she pulled away, in truth she was quite glad. She doubted the Koray household had the protection Hogwarts had so she was more likely to be attacked there, the last thing she wanted was to put her friend or her friend's family at risk, "It's only a week anyway."

"I guess," Auriga sighed and eyed her anxiously, no doubt thinking of the still uncaught attacker she had no idea was connected to the Shadows, "And don't worry, the Aurors will still be here and some of the teachers so… You know, they're on alert and things so you should still be safe."

"I don't doubt it," Martha assured her.

In fact with less students around there was less to watch out for and there was still a decent change her previous attacker was home for the holidays with the rest either. Although logically, she thought they wouldn't use him to go after her again unless or until he'd had some training and since Aurors were only supposed to patrol the grounds it would be suspicious to set one of their Shadow ones on her. Not impossible and she still was being more careful but she did feel reasonably at ease.

"Well you're a stronger person then I am, Marth," Auriga insisted and hugged her for a second time, "Take care and watch yourself."

"You too," Martha offered as she pulled away, giving her one last smile and a wave before joining some of her Ravenclaw friends to get a carriage.

Martha watched her go before heading back to the Hufflepuff Basement, seeing no point in standing around being glared at by Maurice and the Scamanders as they waited. Not that she could blame them for being mad at her but it still was unpleasant, she had brought it upon herself by confessing though. She managed to feel both better and worse for this, it didn't ease her guilt as much as she'd expected – if anything Scorpius' hatred made her feel worse, she still couldn't help but like him – but it had led to removing the connections without having to kill them which she supposed was the most important thing. She hoped it was enough.

She returned to her empty dormitory and threw herself down on her bed, she was the only one in her room who was staying for the break so she had it all to herself. Her eyes flickered tiredly, she had been pushing herself hard lately to practice both her dueling ability and Occlumency because she'd need one if not both if she expected to save herself from the Shadows. If it wasn't good enough then she'd die and would look out for her siblings and worry then? Martha sighed, she was too young for this. She couldn't rest her eyes though, she was meeting someone soon. She tried to distract herself reading for a while until it was a more reasonable hour to head off to meet her brother.

She headed out, wandering through the corridors and trying not to make it obvious her cloudy gray eyes skimmed the halls for knife-wielding students. The boy may have been exceptional poor at effective torture but that didn't mean it hadn't hurt all those times the knife had torn through her flesh, it was an enchanted blade so she still bore scars despite Marigold's best efforts. She'd rather not go through that again if she could help it. She cast a Disillusionment Charm upon herself and walked out into the grounds, towards the Whomping Willow. Her presence may have been unknown to any humans looking but the tree stirred, her heart started to pound as recalled what her brother had told her which he'd heard from James Potter's stories of his famous father's childhood.

It proved accurate, the tree freezing as she touched the knot and allowing her to safely move into the passageway. She lit up her wand for light and cautiously wandered through the tunnel, feeling equal parts relief and anxiety when she came up in the Shrieking Shack. It was a ruin inside, shards of furniture were scattered about the dirty rooms. Everything was either broken or covered in dust, except the walls which she guessed were part of it being rebuilt after the attack on Hogsmeade although its distance from the town had likely spared it more than most. The windows were still boarded up, you could only see out of slight cracks.

"Martha?" a familiar voice questioned and she jumped, spinning to see her brother standing there. Specifically Carver, the robust teen with beady blue eyes and shaved brutally short brown hair. He lowered his also glowing wand when he saw her as did she, he stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug, "I'm so sorry, I never meant for you to get hurt."

"It's okay, I knew the risks when I agreed to help," Martha assured him as he pulled away, still looking somewhat guilty.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm still standing, aren't I?" Martha pointed out and Carver nodded quietly, "It's not important, I didn't want to see you to talk about my health."

"You didn't?" Carver wondered, sounding slightly surprised, "Because I'd understand if you want out, you'd have to travel around with Pyrrhus though since it'd pretty much seal your guilt with the Shadows."

"No, I have a plan for them."

"You do?"

"Yes," Martha insisted truthfully and moved over to the window to check outside for threats to avoid the way he was looking at her expectantly, "Occlumency. If I'm caught then I'll likely be taken to Stephan, he may be cruel but he'd use Legilimency on me before he'd torture me so I just need to make him see memories of innocence."

"You really think you can do that?" Carver scoffed dubiously as he went to check the opposite window, Martha resisted the urge to sigh at the town in the distance. Hogsmeade, where her mother resided. The mother who wanted nothing to do with her and had slammed the door in her face, she shouldn't have been surprised.

"If I can't then I'll die," Martha shrugged, she'd come to accept her twelfth birthday later in the month may be as long as her lifespan would be, "I'd rather take the risk of having to run the rest of my life. We're playing a dangerous game."

"Tell me about it," Carver sighed as they silently went to switch windows to check, "The cost of having no side, everyone is against us or would be if they knew our true allegiance was to an insane man with a shaky plan to end the war."

"Odds are we aren't getting out of this alive."

"And even if everything works out and we end the war, our names will be lost in history as generic bad people not as people who were doing the right thing."

"Good thing we're doing it for that reason not for the glory," Martha pointed out as they turned back to each other, Carver was nodding.

"And on that subject, you'll be delighted to know our father's last child was born last day of December, happy and healthy," Carver informed her and Martha felt a bubble of happiness that the last child had been alright, she knew her father would've wanted that. Despite his flaws he had cared for his children, "A baby boy, his mother named him Decimus."

"Good to know," Martha nodded more happily but had to change the subject back to why she'd wanted to see him in the place, "And I have good news myself, I told Scorpius about the plan-"

"What?!" Carver interrupted incredulously as his jaw dropped, "How could you-"

"I'm not done!" Martha snapped testily and her brother fell silent, glowering at her, "I told him because I felt bad after he saved my life and all, I was trying to find a way to sever the connection without killing them and Scorpius did. Except he actually succeeded."

"He did?!" Carver burst out again, looking shocked still, "I'd heard rumors but I… I didn't want to get my hopes up."

"Alchemy. That Rojer guy - who I swear could be an Ashain - mixed something up, scrubbed the scars right off them. Scorpius, the Scamanders and Orous Knox are all connection free now."

"What about Maurice?"

"He refused," Martha shook her head while Carver seemed to process this.

"That's brilliant, Martha," Carver told her, a smile creeping onto his face, "Now they don't have to die."

"So the plan would call for Orous too?"

"Him and Maurice but Pyrrhus but he wanted the other three done first, Maurice is so talented he'd have to take him on personally," Carver explained dismissively, "Plus I think he has a soft spot for the being Oathan's half-brothers, that and he mentored Maurice. But now none of them have to die, those four are done and if it can be done then I can get Pyrrhus to look into it to get Maurice."

"Glad I could help. Now what exactly does the rest of the plan entail?" Martha questioned cautiously and the smile slowly crept back off her brother's face, "I know it's a risk for me to know but I'd like to, maybe I can help and maybe I can tell Scorpius to get Gray involved so they can help now they don't have to die."

"I don't think so," Carver shook his head with a sad sigh, "They'd never go for it."

"Why not?"

"Are they upset about Antonius being missing?"

"Well yeah."

"Then they won't," Carver insisted and she looked at him expectantly, wanting to know that at least, "The five of them may get to live but a side effect of the plan… It kind of dooms Antonius to die."

"Oh," Martha muttered, her spirits sinking, "Well that…"

"Sucks," Carver finished her sentence for her, looking rather guilty, "They wouldn't go for that, they wouldn't be willing to sacrifice a ten year old to save the world."

"And we are?"

"That's why we won't be remembered as heroes after they burn us alive," Carver said sadly and sighed again as he stared at the ground unhappily, "Finding another way is not proving productive, bloody souls."

"One life is better than six, I guess," Martha offered quietly, feeling more disheartened herself to know what the plan entails.

"Does that mean you feel any better?"

"Not really."

"Me neither," Carver admitted, "You've pushed the plan ahead though, now we just Maurice disconnected, Antonius prepared and Calderon. I need to speak to Leebin. I also need to get back, Viola will be suspicious if I'm not back soon."

"Okay," Martha nodded in understanding and Carver gave another hug, "I love you, brother."

"I love you too, watch your back."

Maurice went home with Cade and Orous, he'd not wanted to stay alone back in Hogwarts. Not when this time last year he'd stayed there with Lenore for the Easter break, he'd really rather like to not be alone with his thoughts if possible. Cade seemed uncommonly nervous but it wasn't until the next day he realized why when the firefighter sat Orous down after dinner.

So Orous, Cade began nervously and ran his hand over his shaven bald head, There was something I wanted to talk to you about

What, Orous wondered, looking more nervous himself.

Well you know how your mother is no longer with us and all. I um I started dating again

Really

Yes really, Cade explained with a nervous nod to Orous' expression of surprise, Her name is Tabitha. We've been dating the better part of a year right now and I um I'd really like for you to meet her

I'd love to meet her, Orous assured him with a smile that seemed slightly forced unlike Cade, who beamed in response.

That's great, I'll tell her over for lunch tomorrow and you boys can meet her then

I look forward to it, Orous said before they both got up to go to bed while Cade started punching in digits on his telephone. As they went upstairs, Maurice noticed the cheery expression faded from his brother's face.

"Something wrong?" Maurice questioned as the paused in the corridor, about to go into their separate rooms on opposite sides.

No, Orous' words appeared very quickly, too quickly and his twin seemed to realize the obvious lie as he turned to face him, I guess I'm just nervous about him dating this women. If it goes badly and he gets hurt again. I don't want that

"She's not, he'd be acting differently if under the effects of Love Potion, he's no more at risk then the regular fools who put their hearts on the line. What else?" Maurice prompted, sensing there was more to it than that and Orous twiddled his thumbs for a minute as he gazed at the ground.

Is it selfish to worry that it'll go really well. So well that he won't want anything to do with us anymore since he'll have a new family with his wife and maybe kids. What if he decides his family is happier when we're not part of it. I wouldn't blame him

"Orous, look at me," Maurice said seriously and took his brother's shoulders gently, forcing Orous' crimson eyes to meet his own oceanic shade, "Cade raised you since you were a helpless infant, he stuck out an abusive marriage for you, he kept you even after your biological mother left, he stayed even after everything you've been through, he got legal guardianship after you died to ensure he could keep you. Clearly he's determined to stick with you for the long haul, if he stays with you through the bad times then why would he leave you in the good times? Besides, why would he be so worried about your opinion if he was planning on leaving you? Because he's not, Orous, he's more loyal to you then our real parents combined."

Orous nodded, looking more at ease before shrugging off Maurice's arms and throwing him an annoyed look as he went back into his room. Still mad at him. Maurice sighed and returned back into his own room, trying to push it out of his mind.

Maurice had been looking forward to meeting Cade's girlfriend, if only so he could try gauge the likeliness of her being a Shadow or a threat in general. He doubted she was and doubted it even more after meeting her, Maurice found the whole lunch quite amusing really. Both Orous and Tabitha seemed to be trying very hard to be nice to each other, Orous had even combed his hair and put on a nice shirt for the occasion. Much of the meal consisted of them nervously smiling and trying to make polite conversation while Cade glanced between the pair anxiously, clearly worried the pair wouldn't get along. She asked Orous about his classes in Hogwarts, he asked about her work as a Healer in St Mungo's.

Maurice wasn't paying much attention as he found it rather boring, he knew enough about both Healing and Orous' classwork to not have much interest. It was almost amusing seeing the pair being overly nice to each other though, he thought they probably would get along. He didn't contribute much to the conversation and didn't say much if she questioned him, after all he wasn't Cade's son like Orous was. Tabitha didn't strike him as a Shadow and he managed to check her wand discretely for signs of the Shadow corruption, it was clean. After the lunch he went to help Cade with the dishes, tactically leaving Tabitha and Orous to talk more.

"Relax, Cade," Maurice told the still nervous-looking man, starting to give him an encouraging smile before catching a glimpse of a flash of light reflected in a spoon.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Cade and pulled them both to the ground behind the island. A cabinet above them exploded into a shower of splinters as the stunner struck it, usually Maurice was perfectly fine with being deaf but hearing would be rather useful in that particular instance since he had no line of sight of either the attacker, Tabitha, Orous or the dogs so no way to gauge if they were alright.

He poked his head out the side of the island counter, more surprised than he really should have been to see Pyrrhus Florian as the attacker. Tabitha grabbed Orous and disapparated them both before a spell could hit them so it instead hit the doors to the garden, Pyrrhus seemed to be alone though and he was glad Cade's new girlfriend had the presence of mind to take his brother to safety. He quickly cast a non-verbal anti-apparation spell though, he didn't want to throw herself back into the fold and get in the way nor did he want Pyrrhus to be able to flee or for more people to be able to appear behind him.

"Take the dogs and run for your life when I distract him," Maurice told Cade firmly, it wasn't a discussion and the muggle had no place in a magical duel, "Tabitha and Orous will be getting help."

He didn't wait for a reply or even see if Cade had heard him as he cast a spell to launch the island counter out at Pyrrhus, Pyrrhus leaped over it effortlessly but it gave Maurice a chance to jump to his feet and fire a barrage of stunners at his former mentor. Pyrrhus levitated the counter, throwing it back in the path in a whiplash motion to take the hits while Cade rushed to grab the dogs and flee while he had the chance.

Maurice cast a spell to cause the ground to lurch under Pyrrhus' feet while his vision was blocked by the counter being pummeled to bits by his stunners, he saw Pyrrhus' feet being thrown backwards but he sent the counter hurtling back at him. Maurice cast the Blasting Curse at it to blow it to smithereens, freezing the explosion in midair and transfiguring the shards masterfully into a hail of jagged knife-like shapes that he hurled back down at Pyrrhus who was only just getting back onto his feet.

He conjured a hovering wooden shield that the knives plunged into instead, Maurice launched a flurry of flames at him to burn it away. Pyrrhus transfigured it into wall of water, reducing his fire to steam that filled the room reducing Maurice's capacity to see. In fact, he was sure Pyrrhus was making it worse purposefully to stop him seeing as the room was filling more much densely then he would've expected, so much so that he lost sight of his attacker. He cast a charm to cause a high pitched sound as he crept forwards, trying to vanish the steam as quickly as possible while Pyrrhus was hopefully occupied by the distraction.

Out of nowhere he felt a spell strike him in the back, sending him hurtling through space until he collided painfully with a wall while a Disarming Charm hit him from where Pyrrhus' direction to send his wand from his hand. He thudded back to ground but his wand arm became snagged on the wall as a segment snaked out to bind his wrist to it, he flicked his eyes around both to take in the scene and to locate his wand. Pyrrhus was standing in the same general direction scowling and rubbing his ear with one hand while he finished vanishing the smoke with the other, in the kitchen area he saw a man that had to Michael's father vanishing in a blur of shadow.

Maurice mentally kicked himself, of course why would anti-apparation charms matter when Pyrrhus had an ally who could transport himself like the Specters could? He spotted his wand though and stretched out his left hand to reach it while Pyrrhus approached him, it shot even further away from him and he glanced at his former mentor. Pyrrhus had an expression of guilt on his face, would he really kill him? After everything? He felt a pang of sadness but tried to ignore it as he focused on wandless magic to will his wand back to him, his heart beating fast as Pyrrhus raised his wand. He wasn't sure if he could be faster.

Pyrrhus didn't make the movement for the Killing Curse though, he brought his wand down in a flashing movement. Maurice screamed as his wrist exploded in agony, he dragged his eyes back in horror to see his left hand had been severed along with some of his wrist. He felt like he was going throw up or pass out, he tried not to panic. Limbs could be reattached, they could. Maurice felt as if he'd entered a very surreal dream as Pyrrhus picked up his own left hand and wrist engraved with words upon words, the connection scar was no longer part of him. And then Pyrrhus lit it on fire.

"NO!" Maurice screamed desperately and felt unexpected tears flying from his eyes, they couldn't reattach a limb if Pyrrhus destroyed it, "DON'T! DON'T! I NEED MY HAND! I NEED IT! NO!"

'I'm sorry,' Pyrrhus signed, looking apologetic as he dropped Maurice's hand to the ground to let it burn, 'You have to be disconnected and you refused. It's either this or death.'

"NO!" Maurice cried again helplessly, sobbing like a pathetic child as he watched his hand incinerated into ash. Rage and pain bubbled within him as he turned back to Pyrrhus, "YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU! YOU HEAR ME?! I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS! I'LL KILL YOU! MY HAND! YOU DESTROYED MY HAND! I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOUR WHOLE SICK FAMILY!"

'Don't be like that, you had your chance to safely disconnect yourself but you refused,' Pyrrhus signed calmly, 'And if you did that, you'll only be killing your own brother. We're on the side, Maurice, we both want the war to end. I'm just the only one actually doing something.'

"WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME SIDE! NEVER! NOT LIKE THIS! YOU DESTROYED MY HAND!" Maurice shrieked hysterically, still crying through his rage and agony as Pyrrhus morphed back into a butterfly or a moth or whatever the hell it was, "RUN THEN BUT YOU CAN'T RUN FOREVER YOU SON OF A B- What wait the fuck do you mean I'll kill my own brother?!"

Pyrrhus flew away though and Maurice passed out before he was even out of sight.

Part 3: Lining Up

Scorpius returned home with his mother, although he thought 'home' was feeling less like 'home' since he spent the majority of the year in Hogwarts. He spent the majority of the evening with his family, being questioned on his NEWTs, Quidditch and Apparation. Maybe it was just his imagination but he thought they looked disappointed at his failures, they encouraged him everyone lost or struggled with something however and that he shouldn't be disheartened. There was also the toddlers, Sol was becoming more vocal and thought everything Scorpius described was 'awesoon' while Lysel seemed too weak to do more than nod and smile. He was looking rough, his skin had a grayish tinge to it and lines engraved in his face before their time. He seemed to want to be part of the group still, not miss anything.

"The boy should be out of our hair soon enough," his father told him when his mother went to put the toddlers to bed, "Myriam's recovering, her spine was severely damaged so she's had a slow struggle with walking again. I can't wait, its stressful having a werewolf in the house."

"It's stressful having a werewolf in the house?" Scorpius repeated incredulously while his father just nodded.

"They transform and it's terrifying, we haven't been giving him Wolfsbane so there's the added fear his calmness will revert into violent biting even though I put him in the basement. He has all his baby teeth now, I'm pretty sure he can still infect people."

"He's two years old," Scorpius hissed, very much trying to keep his cool and not yell, "You don't think it's even more terrifying for a small child to go through the agonizing transformation and all the weakness that goes along with it? And now he's locked up in a strange basement-"

"I put lots of blankets and pillows down, its comfortable plus Astoria checks on him and stuff," his father insisted but Scorpius didn't care and didn't stop.

"-all alone since his parents can't be with him, he could've lost his whole family and may never see his father again, he could die from his condition. And yet, you still have the nerve to sit there and complain how bad it is for you?"

"Don't talk to me like that I'm your Father."

"And what would you have done if I'd been bitten instead of Michael, huh?" Scorpius demanded of him, causing his father's eyes to widen in shock, "Would you lock me up? Or would you lock me out of the house completely and disown me?"

"Of course not, you're my son."

"But it's okay to treat Lysel that way?"

"Lysel isn't my son," his father stated as if it were obvious.

"So it's okay to treat people like animals as long as they're not your son? You're pathetic," Scorpius spat angrily as he stood, earning a narrowing of his father's eyes, "You think you're a good person but you're not, not being evil doesn't make you good and not being a Malfoy doesn't make them less then you! Show some fucking compassion for someone outside of yourself for once in your life!"

"How dare you speak to me like that?! Go to your room!"

"Gladly!" Scorpius shot out at him as he stormed off to his room in a rage, still feeling quite passionate on the whole werewolf issue.

He fell into an angry sleep and still wasn't happy the next day, he made his appearance at breakfast and purposefully avoided conversing with his father. He'd avoid his grandmother too since he knew she shared similar beliefs but she wouldn't even have breakfast at the same time as they did while Lysel was around, he couldn't wait to get away to Varanian. After excusing himself, he returned to his room and portkeyed over to the familiar dilapidated wreck – only on the outside – where Gray resided and he could fill Varanian in on everything.

"Interesting," Varanian mused after Scorpius explained about the connection removal, showing him the now unscarred wrist, "I never did much on the soul branch of Alchemy to be honest, it seemed kind of dark. I regret it now, it seems it could have its uses."

"That's my thinking," Scorpius nodded in agreement as he pulled his sleeve back down, "So what's new here? Any progress with finding Antonius? Or Calderon? Or even Leebin? What can I do to help?"

"Not really, no change with Calderon and Florian's a nightmare. The shadow teleporting Jack does cannot be traced so every time I'm tracking them, the trail goes dead when he does that and I have to find them again from scratch when they could be anywhere in England. Antonius is still alive though and able-bodied so he's not being harmed too badly if at all."

"So what can I do?"

"Well, you need to work on your apparation," Varanian stated and Scorpius felt his spirits sink, he was sick of apparation and failing at it, "It's an important magical skill that you need to learn, you won't even have access to extra classes because you have a summer birthday. We don't want you to have to take classes again next year."

"What kind of loser has to take classes again next year?" Scorpius complained and Varanian's cheeks suddenly burned a bright shade of red, "Did you-"

"I was perfect at apparation and got it first try, shut up," Varanian snapped at him stubbornly as he stood.

"I think you're confusing that with me," Annie pointed out and they both turned to see her leaning in the doorway watching them with a smirk.

"No, you're the one who nearly blinds yourself every time you use Lumos," Varanian quipped as he went over to her, a smile creeping onto his own face.

"Good comeback, too bad it's an obvious attempt to change the subject," Annie pointed out readily, "And for the record, I don't always do that."

"You're right, the other times you do actually blind yourself."

"Ah, but I'm still the apparation queen."

"Well then you can teach him apparation while I get back to tracking people."

"That sounds awfully tedious."

"So is the burden of being apparation queen," Varanian insisted playfully to which Annie snorted in amusement before he planted a kiss on her lips, Scorpius guessed they must still be a thing, "I'll see you later. Bye Scorpius."

"Bye," Scorpius and Annie offered in unison as Varanian left, Annie watching him go before turning sharply to Scorpius, "So ready to apparate?"

Scorpius spent the next several hours still trying and failing to apparate, taking into account his parents' tips, what he'd already learned and Annie's own method… He still failed. He completely and utterly failed, he didn't know why. He was trying his best really and truly doing what he'd been told, he didn't understand why he was struggling so badly. Latimer came out to help him instead while Annie went to make dinner for those around, even then Scorpius continued to fail. Wyatt, Austin and even Roman – the only ones around - also offered advice which he tried and still failed after dinner. He returned home feeling extremely disheartened, he knew apparation was supposed to be difficult but this badly? For him?

He wasn't looking forward to the next day, he didn't want to spend the break failing at apparation. He wanted to do something, something useful. Or at the very least succeed at the damn thing in the first place, how was he supposed to do anything if he couldn't apparate? He trudged down unhappily for breakfast, the toddlers were sitting doodling excitedly as they'd already finished. He peered at the childish scribbles politely as he sat, noting Sol drawing a person shape and… a rabbit?

"Ik me and Lysel when his a fluffy doggy," Sol explained happily.

"It's very nice," Scorpius offered kindly despite feeling the opposite while Sol beamed as he continued scribbling.

"I add you now."

"Do you stay wit Michael when he's turns?" Lysel questioned of him curiously and Scorpius looked at the young boy in surprise.

"How'd you know Michael is a werewolf?" Scorpius asked of him and Lysel shrugged.

"I just knows. He smells like me."

"You can smell who is a werewolf?"

"Yes," Lysel stated with a nod without stopping on his picture, "Michael and Mummy and the mans from the Still Human and the Ministrying man all are like me. You're not like me but don't worries, I still like you becaused I'm not the prejuiced."

"That's amazing," Scorpius pointed out truthfully, he didn't think normal werewolves can do that.

"Yes, I's am special," Lysel confirmed dismissively as he continued, "Lysel Logan Leebin the firstest born to be the werewolf and can keep of his own mind is so specialer but he will die. That's what they say, I's heard of them say."

"Very good. What are you drawing?" Scorpius inquired politely and peered at Lysel's drawing, some kind of house with a couple of stick figures.

"Mummy and Daddy and Maurene and me," Lysel explained and pointed at them each in turn, "My famlily that was go away, I missed them. And this is where that we stayed when our house was destroyeded, Uncool Hogan's farm he didn't use."

"Wait, what?" Scorpius wondered, feeling a chill creep down his spine as things started slipping into place. Hogan didn't live there, hadn't he complained about letting Leebin's family stay before? Leebin knew Calderon's location, what if he'd volunteered his uncle's farm? "Lysel, where is this farm?"

"Field."

"What field? What do you remember about it?"

"I don't know," Lysel shrugged again as his mother walked back into the room with some more colors for the boys, he'd have to go to an adult, "There was grass."

"Mother, how is Myriam doing?" Scorpius questioned of her, trying not to sound desperate, "I'd really like to see how she is, she's a good person."

"You'll see her in a couple days," his mother answered helpfully as she sat down, "She gets out of St Mungo's then and I offered her a room here for a few days to ease back into things."

"Okay, I'm very glad."

Scorpius made idle conversation with his mother, who at least wasn't a prejudiced pig like some of his family and spent some futile time with the toddlers in hopes of gleaming any further information from Lysel. Alas, it was to no avail. After lunch he retreated to his room, portkeying over to the hideout to spread the good news. He found Varanian standing idly and oddly around as if he wasn't sure what to do with himself.

"I think I may have figured out where Calderon is," Scorpius blurted out and Varanian glanced at him in surprise, "We know Leebin knows his location and I just remember Leebin's uncle has this abandoned muggle farm place that's been in the family for a while but unused, I think Leebin might have offered it as a place to store Calderon. I don't know the exact location but I'll get to speak to Leebin's wife in a few days so I should know then."

"Interesting," Varanian mused, "I'll give my in-laws a call and have them look into it, see if they can track this place down if the wife doesn't know."

"Great," Scorpius grinned, pleased at the thought of finally doing something useful. Unlike Varanian who continued standing around, "What are you doing?"

"I don't know, being distracted? Waiting?" Varanian guessed as he took a seat at the kitchen table, Scorpius with him, "Dom's in labor, she wanted Annie to deliver it so they're upstairs plus Aurelius and Molly for moral support."

"I didn't realize you were so invested in Dom and Aurelius' child."

"I'm not, it just makes me think of my own kids. Before they died, they… they were alive and born just like that baby is," Varanian explained sadly, his burn scars usually hidden by his metamorphmagi ability looking more livid than ever before he swallowed, "Want to go practice apparating?"

"Sure," Scorpius agreed, forcing a smile through gritted teeth. He figured Varanian could use a distraction.

Despite Varanian's best attempts and insistence he needed to practice, Scorpius found he was still struggling with apparation. He didn't know what his problem was, he couldn't even splinch himself. When did he start being so terrible at magic? Varanian actually apparated himself to make sure he hadn't accidentally left anti-apparation wards up, he also tried apparating with Scorpius for a bit to get him a bit more used to the feel of it. But when Scorpius tried alone? Still nothing. He found it incredibly frustrating.

It didn't help when Wyatt returned with news of Florian having attacked Maurice either, cut off his hand. Healers thought he'd be alright though, he'd gotten help quickly but he had no hand. If Scorpius had to guess, he'd say Florian had been trying to sever Maurice's connection since he'd refused. Sadly, he lamented Maurice's lost hand and how the refusal had turned out badly for him in the end. He supposed it could be worse though, at least Florian had tried to find a way that spared his friend's life.

It knocked his concentration further though and he headed back home in the evening, Dom hadn't even had her baby yet so Molly was still occupied as well. The next day was hopefully the last until he could speak to Myriam, he still went over to Varanian's when he had the chance though in case his in-laws had gotten back to him. Scorpius wasn't sure how he expected them to help but he'd take it, he did still want his cousin and Leebin saved ideally despite his preoccupation with Antonius. When he arrived, he found Varanian, Annie and Aurelius in the kitchen. Aurelius walking around with a bundle of blankets in his arms.

"I see the baby was born," Scorpius commented lamely.

"No, Aurelius likes carrying transfiguring birds to newborns and carrying them around," Annie quipped sarcastically but Aurelius ignored her as he smiled.

"He was born in the early hours of the morning, Dom is sleeping now because she was kind of worn out. Understandably," Aurelius offered in explanation and paused to show Scorpius the child, the little one already with a head of extremely dark auburn hair and stared sleepily at them with already dark chestnut eyes. No doubt he was a descendant of Ashylos, "Was hoping for a girl but got this little guy instead, he's adorable though. And small but then he is a couple of days early, Brutus and Atticus were bigger. I forgot how cute babies are. And cuddly."

"Congratulations," Scorpius said with a smile for the newest Ashain, wondering idly what his favorite professor or the Shadow Master's lieutenant would think of their new baby half-brother, "Have you decided on a name?"

"Cres," Aurelius told him as he cradled the baby close once more, beaming down at his son who had no idea the bizarre family he'd been born into, "Crescentius Arthur. You know after Dom's grandfather, he died recently."

"It's a nice gesture."

"I think I'll go check on Dom actually, see if she's still asleep."

"Did you speak to Leebin's wife?" Varanian asked of him as Aurelius left with the baby.

"Not yet, did you hear back from your in-laws?"

"Not yet," Varanian admitted with a shake of his head, "Want to go out and practice apparating some more?"

"Err… No," Scorpius said quickly, dreading another failure session, "I wanted to spend some time with my girlfriend. Make sure she gets her birthday presents for later this month."

"You know you won't get it if you don't practice."

"I know, I know."

"She's in her room," Annie offered helpfully.

"Thank you."

Scorpius retrieved Molly's gifts before going to visit his girlfriend, she was looking even more tired than the last time he'd seen her – he supposed she probably had been up most of the night with Dom - but seemed pleased to see him regardless. She was quite excited about her new baby cousin, Freddie and his girlfriend Caitlin's second child was also due next month. Molly predicted it would be another girl, Scorpius was inclined to agree as he'd learned before with Sol not to argue with a Seer about such matters. They caught up on things that had happened in their lives since Christmas that couldn't be sent safely through letters, they also snogged for quite a while. He was in better spirits when he returned home.

Atticus Ashain strode out of Hogwarts not for the first time, despising seeing the lush grass and colorful blooming flowers of the springtime. How dare they be so beautiful when his son was missing? He was a wreck because of it, thoughts never stopped bouncing around in his brain of all the horrible things Florian could be doing to his son and all the different ways Florian could possibly kill his son and all the things Florian could do with his son's body. He barely managed to pick at his food and his felt raw from not sleeping, every time he closed his eyes he had nightmares about losing his son.

He'd had enough, he wanted his son back and he'd actually thought of something productive to do. While he had no desire to speak to his ex-wife anymore, he thought maybe he could glean some new information from talking to her. So he headed off to Hogsmeade where he was able to disapparate more noisily then usual to get back to the neighborhood he'd once called home, it felt like anything but now. He wondered why he'd even bothered to not appear inside as he knocked on the door, just because Skye didn't like it? Well screw Skye, she'd lost her right to an opinion when she sold out their son to a psychopath. He whipped out his wand and blew the door off its hinges, he heard Skye shriek in terror before she saw him.

"What the hell, Att-"

"Tell me what happened!" Atticus barked at her as he stormed in, trying hard not to instinctively raise his wand at her, "The day you sold out our child, tell me what happened. Exactly what happened."

"Why?" Skye wondered in a mixture of confusion and anger, "Why should I tell you anyway after you just barged into my house and blew up my door?!"

"I don't know! Maybe because you love the son you carried, gave birth to and raised before you turned your back on him and I'm trying to save his freaking life!"

"Have you ever thought maybe it's best to just let Florian use him for whatever you needed him for and wait to return him? He said he wouldn't hurt him."

"Skye, he's a fucking psychopath! Newsflash: psychopaths lie!" Atticus screamed at her angrily – he refused to forgive her for betraying their son - and she sighed heavily.

"You still didn't have to destroy my door," Skye complained and Atticus jabbed his wand at the displaced door, casting a non-verbal Reducto to reduce it to a pile of ash, "What do you even want to know?!"

"Just tell me what happened when Antonius was taken."

"There's not much to say," Skye insisted as she folded her arms, "Florian showed up, Tony took out his wand-"

"Wait, what?" Atticus interrupted in confusion.

"He's my son, I don't see what your problem with calling him Tony i-"

"Not about that, what do you mean he took out his wand? He doesn't have a wand."

"Yes he does," Skye stated firmly.

"Are you sure he didn't just grab a stick or-"

"He's used magic with it, Atty, actual magic with words and spell," Skye cut him off while Atticus could only feel confused, "That seems like a wand to me, I figured you got it for him."

"Well I didn't," Atticus insisted firmly as fresh waves of thought rolled inside his skull, how, where and why in the world did his son have a wand? The water was icy, after all he suddenly had a sneaking suspicion this secret wand related to why Antonius was taken in the first place.

Carver lay anxiously on his bunk in the accommodation the Shadows provided, he was fully dressed and it wasn't night but he just needed to think. And get away from Viola's prying eyes. She didn't make it easy to keep Pyrrhus apprised of the hunt situation, she followed him around constantly. He wasn't sure if she suspected his treachery or just didn't like the other Soul Eaters, she seemed to think herself above them since she was an Elite – although due to her father spoiling her she lacked the skills most from the Training Tower possessed – while they were not. Personally, Carver thought she should be nicer to people she relied so heavily on since she was very limited in her magic due to the Trace being on her.

"Carver!" a familiar voice cried happily.

Carver jolted upright in shock, spinning his head so fast he thought he heard his head snap to see none other than James Sirius Potter standing in the doorway. He was looking very well, somehow looking much more like he belonged in Soul Eater robes then he ever had in Gryffindor ones. He had a nice tan to add to his already handsome face from being in the Mediterranean, making his freckles less noticeable. His mother's bright brown eyes remained unchanged although he had grown out his father's untidy jet black hair more, he smiled and Carver jumped down from his bunk to see him.

"Long time, no see, eh?" James commented as they embraced.

"Yeah," Carver said distractedly as they pulled away, he wasn't sure what he'd been expecting but… well, he hadn't expected James to be doing so well as a Shadow considering his morals, "How are you doing, Jay?"

"Awesome," James told him brightly, sounding exceptionally genuine, "Being a Soul Eater is like the best thing that ever happened to me."

"What about hating them and thinking they were bad?"

"Well I was misguided, wasn't I? They saved me when my own family turned their backs on me. I didn't realize how great they are, we're changing the world for the better and I get to be a part of it. I get to live in luxury, there are servants to do things for me, I get taught lots of cool things. And I torture Leebin for information, I'm in complete control of his treatment. It's a blast, like all my dreams come true."

"Leebin…" Carver repeated sadly, although he supposed James beating him was far from the worst he could be treated, "What are you doing in England anyway?"

"Aren't you pleased to see me?" James questioned, looking hurt.

"Of course, I'm just curious about what changed," Carver offered truthfully and James relaxed somewhat.

"The Shadow Master's going after England on June 6th if all goes to plan with Mexico and Japan, they're starting to preemptively more people here including me," James answered with a dismissive shrug, "Besides, I reckon Leebin's going to break soon and since Calderon's in England it makes sense to be here when he does because the information can be passed along faster. How have you been?"

"Just trying to track my uncle mostly," Carver admitted with a shrug of his own, both afraid for England for the impending Shadow attack and hopeful about Leebin. With any luck he may just be able to save the man, talk to him and find out Calderon's location, the last piece of the puzzle now the five were descarred thanks to some brilliant work from Martha. He just needed to think how to phrase it in a way to not tip James off, clearly he'd been brainwashed by them and didn't seem likely to agree with his plan right now except not for the same reasons Carver had doubts, "Any chance I can see Leebin? After we grab a bite and catch up of course."

"Sure," James grinned in oblivious agreement.