Parts (19-24)

IV

Chapter 4

Love is in the Air

Part 1: Different Perspectives

"-Not that there's probably going to be much there with all this stupid war stuff going on," Aubrey was complaining at breakfast one of the days in August of 1997, even more shops had been closing down in the wake of the Wizarding War. Much to his annoyance.

"Darn that war interfering with our spending habits," Audrey quipped sarcastically but naturally, it went over her twin's head.

"Exactly, it's most inconsiderate of them."

"Darn those inconsiderate Death Eaters."

"I know, right?"

"And here," Mavis announced brightly in her strong American accent as she came over with the pancakes and piled the star shaped ones onto Roman's plate, she smiled and kissed his cheek, "Little stars for my little star."

"Thanks Mommy," Roman thanked her happily and dug into them while Mavis went over to give the twins theirs.

"And crowns for my prince and princess," Mavis continued before moving over to put the heart shaped ones onto her own and Magnus' plate, "And hearts for me and my love. And where is your father?"

"His study I think, he'll probably be along in a minute," Audrey shrugged as she snatched up the syrup to bury the pancakes before Aubrey could as usual.

"Save some for me," Aubrey moaned.

"Share or there'll be no syrup," Mavis told them firmly and Audrey handed the syrup over with an unhappy expression before Mavis beamed at something behind Roman and flitted over, Roman turned back to recognize Magnus' arrival, "Morning, love."

Mavis kissed her husband quickly in greeting and remained smiling cheerfully despite his lack of reaction, Magnus wore a severely stoic expression that those who knew him knew was his usual expression. He was tall and thin but unusual for a pureblood wizard though, was Magnus' intense dislike for robes which always gave him something of a muggle vibe. That day he'd decided to dress entirely in black which gave Roman something of an eerie vibe, his cropped raven black hair contributed to this despite being flecked with gray while making his eyes stand out even more, a shade of blue the color of the sky on a crystal clear day. None of his children had inherited that, they all had their mother's brown eyes. They were piercing and always gave Roman the impression that he could see right through you, which may not be untrue as he could always tell when one of them were lying. He sat at the table silently and started on his food, cutting every plain piece into a perfect square before eating while Mavis sat and started up conversation with the twins about their trip to Diagon Alley that day. Roman wasn't allowed to go because it was his birthday in two weeks and they might get presents for him, meaning he couldn't be there to ruin the surprise.

"If we see what shops are open first then it's a good judge of how much money we need to take out of Gring-"

"No," Magnus interrupted his wife abruptly mid-sentence, everyone looked at him as he spoke in his calm, controlled voice, "Aubrey and Audrey are twenty years old in December, it's about time they did these things by themselves and time they're trusted to get money from the family vault themselves."

"But now?" Mavis wondered while the twins looked eager at the prospect of free reign, they'd been out alone before but not with access to the vault, "With the world the way it is?"

"They'll have to get used to it at some point, we won't live forever."

"But Roman's tenth birthday...?"

"Just go on a different day, they should be able to get their own brother gifts from themselves by now," Magnus told her and Mavis opened and closed her mouth a few times, not sold on the idea but trusting of Magnus.

"Alright," Mavis agreed while Magnus went back to his food without another word, "You two can go alone. You do remember the vault number, don't you? And you won't forget to bring a jacket, I know its summer but you never know, sometimes it's cold and you'd rather have it than not. And another thing..."

James was happy to be back in Hogwarts, being suspended wasn't especially fun and he still saw next to nothing of his dad. He'd been forbidden from contacting his friends and actually spent most of his time with his grandparents, he wouldn't mind this if they weren't forever burying him in chores as punishment. Or sometimes things to do with the wedding, having to be dragged along with Victoire, Dom, Gabrielle, his mother, grandmother and Andromeda to look at wedding dresses. He was happy for his cousin and Teddy, he really was but it didn't make looking for wedding dresses any more fun. Everyone but Dom and Gabrielle seemed to find this incredibly fascinating and obsessed over every detail, Gabrielle might've enjoyed it more if she didn't struggle to get around from being the size of a small mountain and frequently needed the bathroom while Dom... Well she just seemed quiet. James didn't see why it took so long, Victoire was pretty and dresses were ugly no matter what they picked so what did it matter really? Being stabbed with a zillion pins for a perfect dress robe fitting wasn't fun either.

His dad had so little time for him that he actually sent Cel to pick him up to take him to the Ministry instead, James didn't mind that so much because Cel was awesome. And perfect and fun, and handsome, and smart and funny, and handsome, and cool and powerful, and handsome. James wished he was more like Cel. And Cel hadn't even yelled at him for getting suspended like most people, even Teddy had but James didn't see why. His hating Dragon-breath had nothing to do with him being a werewolf and everything to do with him being an asshole. He hoped Cel wouldn't go all lame and responsible too. His dad still was giving him the cold shoulder, just handing him the Floo powder in his office to go and following a moment later. James had never been gladder to see a disfigured freak than he was when he saw the scarred Headmaster and the walls of portraits, he was just relieved to be back.

"Ah, Mr Harry Potter, sir! It's an honor to meet you again," Elwood babbled excitedly, his dad gave a strained smile in return.

"Yes, yes. I was wondering if you could do me a favor," his dad said and Elwood's smile looked like it was about to explode at the chance of doing a favor for someone so famous.

"Yes, yes, anything for the greatest hero of our time! If you or Mr Ron Weasley or Mrs Hermione Weasley who used to be Granger need anything at all then I'm your man. You can trust me with anything, I am at your service."

"Great. I wanted to speak to Marius Calderon if that's not too much trouble."

"Oh, yes, yes of course. I'll get him. Right now. For you, Sir Mr Harry Potter Mr," Elwood agreed although seemed a bit disheartened at not being the one needed and didn't seem to notice his gross error in addressing 'Sir Mr Harry Potter Mr'. James snickered while the idiot left until he realized his dad was looking at him with a frown.

"What?" James wondered irritably, how could he possibly be in trouble for that?

"Stay out of trouble, James. I mean it, you have to stop with this bullying people," his dad told him and James felt slightly relieved that he wasn't being told off for laughing at an idiot's stupid comment.

"It's not really bullying," James insisted, not for the first time. Just because his dad had fallen for the silver-tongued lies of certain people, it didn't mean that James had. And Slytherins were just evil. He was doing the right thing keeping them in check, they were future criminals that his dad would probably wind up arresting or killing anyway.

"Don't do it," his dad said firmly with a note of finality.

"Fine," James agreed sulkily, "As long as D-Michael and Malfoy stayed out of his way then I'll leave them alone. Does that make you happy? Because I can hardly just do nothing if they brutally attack me, again."

"Alright," his dad sighed, apparently realizing that was the best he was getting. He looked too tired to argue, the black bags beneath his eyes appeared very heavy. James did feel bad for his dad but he didn't get why he couldn't just take a break, let someone else take over and rest for a bit, spend time with the family he claimed was important. But no, he'd rather work himself to death than have to spend time with his kids. James blamed Vern. After all, why would his dad want to spend time with the son and grandson of people who'd tormented him his entire childhood? Stupid Vern, just because he lost his own dad didn't mean he should take away other people's. Asshole, "Are you going to give me a hug?"

"If you want," James shrugged, trying to be casual as he allowed himself to be hugged. A shame it didn't make up for years of not being there. Carver's dad lived in a different country but he still wrote to Carver more than James' dad did, his dad only paid attention to him if he did something supposedly bad. He smiled at the thought of seeing Carver again though.

"Be good, James, please be good," his dad whispered before pulling apart, "I hope to see you in December and not before, do you understand?"

"Yes, Dad," James confirmed and his dad gestured for him to go, "And don't forget to write. Bye."

"Bye, son."

"Password for the Gryffindor Common Room is 'Dragon's Blood' by the way," one of the portraits called as he went.

James gave an annoyed grunt when his dad was out of earshot, he'd basically confirmed he couldn't be bothered to write by not acknowledging it. What had happened to First Year when he wrote several times a week? Had he really just stopped caring? James didn't know and tried put it out of his mind as he headed back to Gryffindor Tower, it was a Saturday so there were no classes and it also meant it was two weeks before Hogsmeade. He was glad to not have missed it because he was looking forward to hanging out with his friends without the annoying Chrissy, he regretted staying with her so long but he hadn't really wanted to hurt her feelings because he didn't like when girls cried. Plus he'd been desperately hoping puberty would kick in already, he was starting to feel weird about not being girl crazy like normal teenage boys. Stupid slow puberty.

He reached the Common Room, giving the password the portrait had been kind enough to give him and was pleased by the familiar sight. He wasn't pleased however when he saw Carver was sitting, chatting with a dark-haired girl from their year, Tina or Tilly he thought her name was. Carver spotted him though and smiled, bidding the girl goodbye to go over to him but James could only frown, and they'd been sitting oddly close.

"Hey Jay, welcome back," Carver greeted him and James hugged him but continued scowling, "I figure you weren't allowed to write. Were they really mad?"

"Yeah, pretty much. So, Carve, what's with you and Tiffany?" James half-asked, half-demanded.

"You mean Mia?"

"If that's her name then yeah."

"That's the girl I'm taking to Hogsmeade, I asked her out and she said yes. She's telling me the kind of food she likes, since a lot of its been rebuilt and it's harder to plan where to go," Carver told him cheerfully and James' good mood was destroyed by anger dropping in like a bomb, "Pretty cool, right? Mia's pretty."

"Pretty ugly," James scoffed and it was Carver's turn to scowl, "You could totally do better."

"C'mon, I've never had someone say yes when I've asked them out before. They usually just say things like 'you're too fat' or 'I don't like you' or 'I'm not gay'. Mia actually said yes. She's pretty and she likes me, bet she's impressed with my muscles, right?" Carver explained and flexed his arm as he did so, he did have impressive muscles. And he was handsome. And damn his voice. He could see why Mia would like but it didn't make it anymore okay that she should just steal his friend. And why was Carver wearing one of those werewolf bracelets?

"Well what about your friends? What happened to the four of us trying out the new Hogsmeade together? You can't do that with that stupid Gina."

"Mia. And just let me have this, every one of us has had a girlfriend except me, you dated Chrissy for ages. We can just hang out next Hogsmeade trip. I really like her."

"It's not the same!"

"Carver, are you coming back?" Mia called and Carver looked back to her.

"In a minute!" Carver called before turning back to James, "Look, Jay-"

"Its fine, whatever," James snapped at him as he stepped back, "Have fun with your stupid Mia."

James stalked off angrily, dumping his things in his dormitory before heading out. If he had his Map then he could find his other friends, the ones who weren't stabbing him in the back but of course, that had been stolen. And his other friends better not be having dates too. He didn't really want to see his friends anymore anyway, he wanted to take his anger out on someone. Latimer chose that moment to walk by, the hideously ugly freak was looking unhappy and now walked with a limp apparently and who James hated, Gryffindor was the house of heroes not... not ugly weirdoes like Latimer.

"Hey Latimer! I knew from the reek that you were still here, unfortunately Elwood can't be bothered to throw out the trash," James taunted and Latimer threw him a look but said nothing, James whipped out his wand to hex him but Latimer saw and reacted faster. Before James could get his spell out, Latimer had gestured with his wand and James was suddenly on his ass, "Ouch, you son of a bitch!"

"Don't try curse people the year above you then, you moron," Latimer told him tiredly and continued walking while James scrambled to his feet, his face red with embarrassment. He hoped no one had seen. It was a fair point though, and why he never went beyond insults.

"Yeah well... Go to hell and die because everyone hates you, you worthless idiot!" James called after him and Latimer flipped him off without bothering to look back, James noted he was also wearing a werewolf bracelet.

What was up with that? Had Dragon-breath gone on a rampage and bitten them? A horrifying thought occurred to him, it wasn't because of him, was it? Dragon-breath hadn't freaked out and attacked Carver out of revenge because of his attack? Was that why Carver was abandoning him? Feeling suddenly terrible he turned to head back to Gryffindor Tower before hearing his cousin's laughter, he glanced back to see Molly holding hands with the Malfoy and laughing about something. It made sense actually, they and Latimer were all in Quidditch robes so presumably had just come from a practice. Typical Malfoy to steal his Seeker position while James was gone. And they were also wearing the bracelets.

"Hey!" James called out to them and they both stopped, Molly looking uncertain and Malfoy eying him darkly with his ugly gray eyes and stupid white-blond hair. How could Molly stand to hold hands with someone so evil? It was disgusting to look at. If it didn't burn her flesh then she was clearly not as much of a Weasley as everyone thought, then again she had the least favorite of his aunts and uncles for her parents so would did he expect? Malfoy wouldn't be happy until he'd turned everyone in his family against James, "What's up with those bracelets that people are wearing? Did Dragon-breath go psycho and bite a load of people?"

"No, we're just wearing them because it's a stupid law and we're trying to make a stand," Malfoy told him and James was surprised by Carver doing this, maybe it was the only way they'd let him on the team or something? "I guess you don't want one."

"Obviously no. And another thing, now I'm back I want back on the team."

"No, James," Molly insisted.

"But you know I'm good!"

"If you can go the rest of this term without getting suspended then I'll think about giving you a shot to come back on as Beater and Beater only, Scor's a great Seeker and Lily's a talented reserve who's been training for it. You're not being Seeker."

"That's not fair, you're just biased because he's your boyfriend," James protested and Molly just rolled her eyes.

"Goodbye, James," Molly sighed and continued walking with Malfoy, who eyed him warily and James gave him a murderous look back. And now he wouldn't even have Quidditch, why was the world against him? Now he really had to hit someone.

He stalked around idly and angrily, looking for a Slytherin before finding the perfect target. The First Year that Dragon-breath had been defending when he insulted him, stupid brat had fallen flat on his ugly face again. James hauled him to his feet, noticing the Slytherin was also wearing one of those bracelets. It was an epidemic, he left for a few weeks and everything went to chaos.

"Thank you," the Slytherin said, clearly not meaning it as his face went red from embarrassment, "I'm still getting used to these prosthetics, its awkward with two but I think I'm getting better slowly."

"I think different," James growled and the Slytherin looked at him for the first time in panic, James knew he'd been faking. He pulled the boy quickly into the nearest empty classroom he could see while the corridor was empty and whipped out his wand, "Levicorpus!"

"Please, leave me alone. I didn't do anything," the Slytherin lied as he was yanked up into the air by the ankles, James muttered another spell and the prosthetics detached to drop the Slytherin to the ground with his fake legs still floating.

"You're a Slytherin, you were born wrong. You evil scumbag," James spat darkly as the small boy scrambled to sit up awkwardly and drew his wand protectively. James wasn't afraid, Slytherins were cowards and the boy was no exception. He got what he deserved for defending that other Slytherin boy last time.

"P-P-Petrifcitus... erm... err... T-Totalmentis?" the Slytherin guessed wrongly and James smirked at the pitiful attempt, not dignifying it with a spell to disarm as he simply walked over and tore the wand from the boy's grip.

The Slytherin watched as James threw the wand with enough force to make it land on the opposite side of the room, he considered another spell but his fist reacted before he could be bothered to think of one. He hit the Slytherin once square in the jaw, that was for Molly not letting him on the team. He hit him again, that was for Carver abandoning him. He hit him a third time, that was for his dad not caring. Before James realized it, he was on top of the Slytherin and pummeling his rage out into the human-shaped thing. But Slytherins really weren't human, would you call Voldemort human? No. Slytherins were just future Shadows, Slytherins had killed his Uncle Charlie and his Aunt Fleur. And his Aunt Audrey but he didn't really like her as much.

James only stopped when his arms were tired and his anger was sated enough, his knuckles were sore and grazed from punching so much. The Slytherin was in worse shape but James didn't care, he was part the reason for his suspension and he was future evil incarnate. He had his arms raised to desperately try to protect his face like a coward, not that he'd succeeded because bruises were blooming and his nose was dribbling blood. James stood and the Slytherin shakily lowered his arms.

"Don't you dare tell anyone I'm the one who beat you up," James told him threateningly, not wanting to get in trouble, "Or I'll get my friends and we'll beat you up even worse, do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Y-Yes," the Slytherin agreed fearfully, "I won't say it was you."

"Good."

"C-C-Can you put my legs down, please? I-I kind of need them. To walk... Or you know, my wand so I can get them myself."

James looked up at the prosthetic legs dangling upside down and then back to their Slytherin owner. Then he jerked his wand, sending them flying over to the other side of the room and to the opposite side to the Slytherin's wand. Then he left, locking the door behind him and walking away without a second thought.

"Oh my poor babies, I can't believe you're all growing up!" Mavis cried as she threw her arms around Aubrey, stopping them from going for maybe the sixth time in a row. Audrey rolled her eyes, clearly wanting to just go already and Magnus actively put a hand to his face in exasperation. Roman just shook his head and resumed playing with his toy knights but remained close enough to listen as he lined them up to go to war as there were no lessons on weekends.

"I know, Mommy, but you'll always be our Mommy," Aubrey told her emotionally as he hugged her back, "And Daddy will always be our Daddy."

"Assuming we do ever get to leave," Audrey commented quietly to Magnus, "I'll look out for notices for work still or help wanted signs or anything."

"That's my girl," Magnus complimented her with a hint of a smile before he hugged her surprisingly, "At least some of us have to be responsible. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Father," Audrey confirmed as they pulled apart, in contrast Mavis was still clinging to Aubrey. Magnus had managed to instill much more sense and practically into Audrey and Roman in Roman's opinion, money didn't grow on trees - although sometimes Roman thought Aubrey thought that - and making a living was important.

"Oh and my baby girl," Mavis began and turned to hug Audrey as well, trying to hug both at the same time, "Going into the world all alone."

"Does Aub not count?" Audrey wondered and Roman snickered at the joke that went unnoticed by the others, except maybe Magnus but... well Roman didn't think he'd ever heard his father laugh.

"Let them go now before all the shops are shut, dear," Magnus intervened finally and pulled the three apart gently, Audrey threw him a grateful look as they said their final goodbyes and left. Mavis waved from the doorway until they were presumably out of sight before turning back with a wide grin as her cheerful nature returned, her wand whipped out as she conjured a duster to dust as she walked.

"Oh well, now I can get started on cleaning the bathroom before my bath," Mavis announced brightly as she flitted away again, she obsessively cleaned everything before and after use.

Roman went back to playing his game, where King Romanus was leading the Romanites against the evil knight Voldus and his forces of darkness, the Life Drinkers since the hero Parry Hotter had failed in his quest to defeat Voldus. King Romanus gave an epic inspiring speech to the Romanites and they charged into battle but really the man battle would be between the king and the evil knight. Roman hoped he'd get a new evil knight for his birthday, the paint was starting to chip on Voldus and it made him much less threatening.

"Roman," Magnus said and Roman's head jolted up immediately, having been too engrossed to realize his father was standing watching him, "Come with me now, I want to show you something."

"Okay," Roman agreed happily and scooped up his stuffed unicorn - Enas - to take with him but his father oddly, just led him to a blank stretch of white wall in the front room.

Magnus offered his hand and Roman took it in confusion, his father pulled them both through the wall into a small closet-sized room. The walls were brown and looked like boards, there were plenty of shelves but only one had anything on it, some kind of puzzle box. Roman noticed that despite the wall being solid from the other side, there was a slight haze around the edges but he could clearly see back out into the front room with his soldiers still in the midst of battle.

"What is this?" Roman asked curiously.

"A special room, hidden by magic that will last long after my death. Only those who carry my blood my enter and no one can see the entrance from the other side so it's safe, you can see out though, you'll see everything," Magnus explained before taking a letter from his pocket and placing it neatly on top of the box, in his father's neat handwriting was written:

Molly Mavis Weasley

2024

"Who's that for?" Roman questioned in confusion, he didn't know anyone by that name.

"Someone who doesn't exist yet," Magnus told him, "I can see the future, Roman, you know this. By this time next year, the Wizarding War will be over and either Voldemort or Harry Potter will be dead although I think the first choice is much more likely but if the second prevails than all this is pointless anyway. I will have four grandchildren, possibly more but there are only four I know for sure, two girls and two boys. The letter is for the only one of them to share my gift, it makes it easier for me to see her future. I won't live to see her though but you will, I need you to do something for me."

"I erm... what?"

"Tell her about this place and this letter I left for her when she comes of age, make sure she realizes that it cannot be opened until 2024. If it is, or if someone else reads it or if she dies before this date then it doesn't matter because the future I wrote it for will not come to pass, she alone will be able to understand it and only in 2024 or later. Remember this, Roman."

"Well it's a super long time away but okay," Roman agreed unsurely and Magnus smiled before taking out his wand.

"That's my boy... I'm sorry," Magnus muttered as he flicked his wand at his son.

Calderon had decided that someone needed to invent a stronger word for hate because hate was not enough to describe his dislike for paperwork. And that was all that Elwood had decided he should do. He was frequently confined to a desk and dumped with the paperwork, he actually invented his own paperwork for Calderon to do if Calderon managed to get through it with time to spare. He wasn't allowed to help out the other staff - unless in his free time - and he wasn't allowed to be in the Great Hall for meals, he wasn't supposed to interact with students at all - unless in his free time - and Elwood had forbade him from wandering around unless he walked in a correct manner. This meant no lights, music or walking oddly unless Elwood had told him to go somewhere. Calderon thought this was very unfair, he physically couldn't do that, he needed an outlet for his magic or things went boom but Elwood didn't understand that. Or actually, he probably did and just didn't care.

Calderon was unhappy. He missed working for Minerva - and Minerva in general - or working for Pippy - or Pippy in general - or even, he even though he preferred his stint as Acting Headmaster. His inability to do anything made him feel trapped, which scared him. Which was an emotion, which meant lights were even more necessary. Which made it even more awkward. That Chastity Prinkett woman had also made him feel terrible from his counselling session, he cried himself to sleep that night. He hadn't had a chance to speak to Scor either, Scor probably hated him. Well everyone hated him really, they'd turn on him if they knew he was Voldemort's son.

Everyone would turn on him then. He knew this. And he knew it would happen to him, unless he died first anyway which was an even worse option. Sal wouldn't hide in the shadows forever, at some point she'd throw away the mask and proudly announce her heritage. And his. And his fragile attempt at a life would be shattered and everyone he cared about would hate him and want him to die. It didn't bother him so much anymore, he'd accepted it and while he was in no hurry for it to happen, he knew it would. Unless he or Sal died before it anyway which was even worse. It was just a matter of enjoying the time he had left. Which Elwood was making incredibly difficult. And so was Sal for that matter.

The brand on his chest still hurt sometimes, hurt with searing pain that he had no defense against. He could just breathe through the pain and wait for it to pass, he wasn't sure what exactly triggered it but there was that. It was especially painful one of the Saturdays in mid-October, Elwood had given him the day off because Harry Potter was set to bring his son back and he didn't want Calderon 'stealing his time' with the famous hero by being there. Calderon didn't mind, he was content to just lie there waiting for the burning to pass as the symbol writhed on his skin. He could close his eyes and still know exactly where it was from the pain alone.

"Calderon!" Elwood's voice barked with an accompanying hammering knock and in his surprise, Calderon both fell out of bed and sent explosions of light shooting out. He paused to watch them for a moment, so many pretty colors. He laughed, "Calderon! Whatever you're doing stop it! Mr Harry Potter is here and he wants to speak to you so hurry up, if I keep him waiting then I may lose face with the greatest hero of all time so get a move on, you nutjob."

"Coming," Calderon sighed as he clapped to stop the lights and hastily dressed, he found it much easier to not bump into things with his bigger room. That was nice. His brand was still burning though. He left the room to see Elwood impatiently waiting outside, tapping his foot in irritation, "Ready."

"That's what you're wearing in the presence of a hero?" Elwood complained before just shaking his head, "Fine, let's just go."

Calderon tried to keep his lights to a minimum as he marched up to the Headmaster's office with the Headmaster, nervous about his presence being requested by Harry Potter. He always felt strange around him, Harry was the man who'd killed his father after all. He forgave Harry of course, his father had been the instigator and the bad guy but it also didn't matter. It didn't matter how evil his father had been, how little he'd seen or cared for his children, he would never stop being Calderon's father any more than his mother would stop being his mother. He felt guilty for getting along with Harry because of this and also guilty that his father had killed Harry's parents, not that Harry knew of course.

There was also that Harry was hunting for his twin sister. Calderon had thought many times about telling on her, telling them everything before they murdered him for being Voldemort's son but he couldn't. Not for his own sake but for loyalty to Sal, no matter what she'd done she was still his sister. His twin sister, who'd been with him since before birth and who he'd spend every second with until leaving Azkaban. He'd never been as close to anyone as he'd been to her, how could he be when he everyone he was close to would turn on him if he revealed his true name? Nothing good he'd ever done would matter then, he couldn't possibly win. But he couldn't turn on her, it'd be giving her a death sentence, he might as well be killing his own flesh and blood twin sister, his family. Now that would be really evil. It wasn't Sal's fault anyway, he blamed the Shadows and he'd been the one to bind them to her so really it was his fault she was how she was. She didn't deserve to die because of him. It still made him feel guilty though, every death was because of him. He was evil either way. Damn.

"Ah Marius, good to see you," Harry greeted him with a smile that Calderon returned, it'd be nice to have an honest relationship with someone for once, "This shouldn't take long, I'll just talk to you out there alone if that's okay?"

"Sure," Calderon agreed while Elwood nodded his consent and waited in his office with star struck eyes as they stood outside without portraits to eavesdrop.

"Can you do that thing where no one can overhear?" Harry asked and Calderon nodded, throwing out his arms and casting the bubble of silence around them. Harry didn't mind his magic, "Okay, so firstly, is it still safe?"

"Yep. No one has entered the chamber, I'd have felt it so the Scepter's still safe. Is the other half?"

"Yes, still secure," Harry nodded before looking slightly nervous, "Good, good. The second thing is really what I wanted to talk to you about, I'm sorry to ask this of you, Marius, but I need a favor. I understand if you say no but if you agree then it'd be really helpful."

"What is it?" Calderon asked, tilting his head to one side curiously in time with curiosity triangles of light.

"Well we know, the Shadow Master is very adept at wandless magic like you are," Harry began and Calderon nodded, he knew this. He knew this a lot better than Harry realized but not the point, "Which means they'd be difficult to apprehend, usually you disarm someone and they're at your mercy but with you that wouldn't be the case because you have no wand to disarm. The Shadow Master might have a wand, we know he stole the wand in Dumbledore's tomb so he at least has access to one but it's also quite likely that he doesn't need one. That like you, arrest would be made impossible because we have no way to stop him tapping into his magic. Even if we could subdue him, he could - in all honesty - probably overpower us and escape upon waking.

"So, the Ministry has been trying to deal with this. We're working on a potion that represses magic, in theory giving it to someone would make them unable to tap into their magic with wand or otherwise. It would still be only temporary but theoretically if we just kept up dosing the Shadow Master then they would remain without their power, they'd be subdued. What I need from you, is to test it. It'd naturally be harder to subdue a more powerful wizard so really we need to test it on someone like you, if it'll work on you then it should work on him. It's not finished yet so you have time to think about it, as I said you can say no and I'd understand. It's not permanent for definite but there could still be other side effects and I don't think it would be a comfortable experience but I think it would really help if you could."

"I'll do it," Calderon agreed without hesitation, he may not want to kill his sister but he still wanted to stop her from hurting people. It worked both ways anyway, he'd rather they use something tested on her than something potentially dangerous. He was very nervous about how it would go but he still couldn't back away, he'd rather suffer through something and know than remain oblivious until it did something to Sal.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked him anxiously and Calderon nodded, Harry smiled, "I'll be in touch with details on it as it develops and you can change your mind at any time, it's alright... And thank you, Marius."

Roman was so shocked he couldn't move and then he realized that he couldn't actually move, Magnus' spell had left him unable to move. Roman was just frozen there and Magnus left without another word, he tried to call out but his mouth refused to budge. All he could do was breath and shift the direction of his eyes slightly, he was facing outwards to see the front room where he realized his parents were now standing. Whatever Magnus was saying in a whisper was making her smile, Roman desperately tried to speak again but his lips were unmoving. He was starting to panic, why would his father do this? Was it a puzzle? Was he supposed to get out of it? How?!

Abruptly there was a sound like an explosion and the front door was torn off its hinges, three cloaked figures with terrifying masks walked in. Death Eaters. Mavis shrieked and aimed her want at the trio but they were faster, one lashed out with spell before she could react and she fell to the ground screaming, clutching at her now smoking arm as her wand fell forgotten. Magnus must've been too shocked to move. The one who'd cast the spell at Magnus laughed and tore off his mask, revealing a man in his early thirties with wavy black hair.

"You're supposed to leave the mask on," one of the others growled at him.

"Why? I like unhindered vision of my victims," the unmasked man complained as he lazily threw another spell at Mavis, this one making her writhe in pain and scream several pitches higher. Magnus moved as if to help her but the other two aimed their wands at him to give him pause, the expression on the unmasked man's face was sadistic before he finally let her go. Mavis curled up sobbing and begging not to do it again, "Are you the only ones here or are there some kiddies around?"

"Just us, they're not here," Magnus lied convincingly, Roman was suddenly afraid of which would be worse. If his siblings got home while the Death Eaters were here, of if they didn't.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are little kiddies," the unmasked man called in the fake childish voice people used to speak to infants or animals, "We can all play a game, and it's a really fun game. It's called 'I torture you to death or your Daddy does what we want', doesn't that sound fun?"

"No, it doesn't," one of the other Death Eaters muttered.

"Search the house, he could be lying."

"Bishop, I'm in charge of you not the other way around!"

"Well clearly you suck at it or I wouldn't be giving you commands," the unmasked man named Bishop pointed out indifferently with a shrug, "So do it. And you, Rivers, make this easier on yourself and just agree to do what old Voldie wants. If you can really see the future then you'll know what we're going to do to you and your woman here if you say no."

"I told you before. I'm not helping your master," Magnus told them, sounding surprisingly calm.

"Don't call the Dark Lord 'old Voldie'," hissed the third Death Eater to Bishop as if Magnus hadn't spoken, "Do you want to die?!"

"Why, you scared of the big bad bald guy?" Bishop wondered with a smirk.

"Yes! And so should you be!"

"Only fools live in fear. I have no regrets, if I say or do something that gets me killed then oh well, I had a good run. And someone search the damned house already."

"I told you, you're not in charge!" the first one snapped at Bishop who pouted childishly.

"And I told you, you suck at being in charge or you would've had someone search the house already," Bishop pointed out slowly as if talking to a child still.

"Stop doing that!"

"Stop doing what? Use your words, Grouse."

"I'm not Grouse! I'm Whitt!"

"And that's why wearing masks is stupid, how am I supposed to keep track of everyone? Also, you are extremely lacking in wit, Whitt."

"This isn't a game, Bishop!"

"If life's not a game then you're not playing it ri-"

"Wand!" the third Death Eater screeched, Magnus had taken advantage of the distraction of them arguing to draw his wand.

"Avada Kedavra," Magnus spoke the unforgivable words and threw the curse at the trio.

Whitt and the nameless one threw themselves out of the way but Bishop did something much cleverer and much more malicious. In one smooth motion, he jumped onto the couch and lashed out with his wand to levitate Mavis' body up as a shield. She didn't have time to scream but her eyes widened in terror as the curse struck her, Roman watched as the loving life in his mother's eyes died. Roman was suddenly glad he was frozen in place, if not he'd be screaming and crying but not even tears would roll down his eyes. He couldn't even close them to stop himself seeing Mavis' body hanging their limply, he wished it was a dream. An awful, awful dream and he just wanted to wake up now. He just wanted to wake up and have Mavis hug his fear away. The two masked Death Eaters threw disarming spells at Magnus, he didn't even try to fight it. Bishop laughed as he bobbed his wand, making Mavis' body move with it like a puppet.

"Oh hey look at me, my husband killed me," Bishop said in a comically high-pitched voice to mimic Mavis, "But dying is fun so I'm going to dance now, look at me, hehehe. Oh husband whose name I forget, why did you kill me? Why couldn't you just do what this super handsome, super powerful, super clever Death Eater wanted you to do? And also, you're a terrible Seer to not see this coming. I hate you so much for killing me because living was fun, lots of hate, your wife. Because I forget my own name but I bet it was something stupid."

"Bishop," Whitt growled and Bishop flicked his wand, tossing Mavis' body aside as it was garbage.

"It's torturing time," Bishop announced cheerfully in his usual voice.

"Only if he still refuses to serve the Dark Lord."

"I refuse," Magnus affirmed as he closed his eyes.

Roman had no choice but to watch as his father was tortured but it didn't matter, Magnus' refusal was unwavering. Roman wished he would give in. He just wanted it to stop, his eyes were burning. Did his father not realize he was screaming? Did the Death Eaters not realize they were hurting someone? Why couldn't they just go away? Hadn't they done enough damage? Bishop was the only one who kept his mask off, he looked increasingly bored with the lack of result before finally seeming to decide to end it.

"Avada Kedavra," Bishop said casually as he flicked a jet of green light at Magnus, Whitt had been using the Cruciatus Curse on him but Magnus' screams ended with his life. Roman hated them. He was freed from his father's spell and fell mutely to his knees, too shocked to react beyond hugging his stuffed unicorn to his chest so tight and squeezing his searing eyes shut, "Ah, killing, it's better than sex."

"Bishop!" Whitt's voice barked.

"What? It's not like he was ever going to agree and some of us were getting bored because it was taking too long, I'm kind of hungry."

"Let's just go, we're clearly done here," the third one sighed.

"Aw, can we not search the house for more people to kill first?"

"Bishop!" Whitt yelled again and there was the sound of footsteps retreating.

"So was that a no?" Bishop wondered, followed by Whitt's cursing as all sounds retreated.

Only then did Roman work up the courage to open his eyes, still seeing his home with his parents' lifeless bodies. He forced his still joints to move and leave the safety of the secret room, still squeezing his unicorn for dear life as he moved around. Things had been knocked out of place during the struggle, a vase smashed and his toy knights scattered everywhere, some of the couch was scorched from fiery spells used in the torture. And there were his parents, lying lifelessly around him. Roman hugged his unicorn tighter, shaking from grief and fear as his knees buckled. The dam of tears finally bursting through as he cried, willing himself to wake up from this horrible nightmare and have Mavis' arms around him to comfort him. He was still crying when his siblings returned.

Part 2: In The Breeze

Scorpius was actually in a good mood following his counselling session, he still didn't trust Leebin and the guy could just be very dedicated to his manipulative sneakiness but Scorpius could live with it. Leebin was exceedingly better than the woman poor Latimer had been stuck with, almost likable if not for the circumstances. He was still getting requests from people he didn't know for bracelets as October pressed on, some people were even asking for them for their relatives outside of Hogwarts and the looks Michael got were diminishing. He even though the whole thing was bringing Maurice out of his shell a little more, happy to have thought of a good idea. Professor Ashain was acting completely normal, Scorpius was on top of his classwork, he and Molly were still going strong and Quidditch practices were going well even if Freddie was still being a bit weird.

Naturally things still weren't perfect, mid-October had marked James' unfortunate return but he wasn't on the team so Scorpius saw little of him. He still didn't know what to do about his parents but generally, he was still in a good mood. The notices for the times and dates of the second round of counselling sessions went up the end of the week that Scorpius had seen Leebin, the same format although they'd kindly given students old enough to go to Hogsmeade the day off. Scorpius also noticed that things had shifted, each year had had a specific counsellor last time but this time most had a different counsellor. Most but not all, a handful of each year had the same one again which was apparently by request of either counsellor or pupil. Scorpius was glad to still have Leebin, Michael also still had him but Abby, Albus and Rose didn't. Latimer was stuck with that awful woman again. Scorpius didn't have his next session until the day after the Hogsmeade trip which was the last day of times listed, his friends all had theirs sooner but Scorpius didn't mind the wait. Time was creeping by anyway, everyone was much more focused on the upcoming trip to Hogsmeade.

"Scor?" Albus said to him a week before it while they were in the Library, Abby was spending time with Corin, Maurice was helping Rose with Runes and Michael was off with Mirra for his tutoring, "Could you help me with something?"

"I thought you were good at Potions?" Scorpius wondered in confusion since that was what they were working on a long essay for Professor Vipera on antidotes.

"It's not about that."

"Oh well, wait until we're done with Potions before worrying about it."

"It's not about any class!" Albus protested in a hiss, his face coloring as he shifted nervously.

"Okay, what is it then?" Scorpius asked as he set aside his work for moment, Albus twitched uncomfortably.

"It's about Mirra," Albus began awkwardly, looking as if someone had splashed more red onto his face, "You know how I like her? And I know you guys don't think I'm serious about it, that's why I haven't said anything in front of Michael in case he tells Mirra so she thinks I'm a joke but I am serious. I want to ask her out to Hogsmeade."

"Um... Okay, good luck," Scorpius offer unsurely, not sure what it had to do with him.

"Yeah but that's the thing. I... I don't know how," Albus admitted, "Every time I even try to rehearse what to say in a mirror, I get all tongue-tied and nervous and sweaty and terrified she'll say no. I just... just wondered if you had any advice since y'know, you got Molly to go out with you and she's in Mirra's year so you're like the expert."

"I wouldn't consider myself an expert," Scorpius pointed out and felt himself going red, an expert was the last thing he considered himself when it came to relationships. He always felt clueless and unsure if he was doing the right thing or not, "Try your cousin Louis, he's great with girls."

"He's part-Veela, it's in his blood. Plus I already tried asking him and Freddie, Freddie just lectured me about being responsible and careful and encouraged me to not to date until I was older. I even tried asking James too and he just bit my head off because I thought you might say no since she's Molly's friend but please, I'm desperate."

"Hey," Orous greeted them as he and Vern sat down at the table with them, Albus scowled.

"Hello, we're in the middle of something. Go sit with Rose and Maurice."

"I need to sit somewhere with a line of sight of... of a certain person," Vern admitted nervously as he took out a sheet of paper, "C-Can I borrow your quill for a minute, Scor?"

"Sure," Scorpius agreed, not thinking he'd get anything done until he was through talking to Albus. Vern gratefully took it and started writing on the paper, going slowly as if trying to make his handwriting as neat as possible.

"Want to spy on your crush, eh?" Albus wondered, "Naughty Vern."

"Not spy, ask her out," Vern pointed out without stopping what he was doing.

"Silly Vern, asking a girl out isn't easy. Who is she again? And you may as well tell me this time since I'll see who you go to anyway."

"Olivia Nott."

"Well, I could point out that her brother is evil and her other brother is evil so she's going to be evil too but I'm not," Albus told him with a smile as he leaned back in the chair, "I'm just going to sit back and watch as she rejects you because that will prove to you infinitely better that she is evil."

"You're such a great cousin," Orous commented sarcastically.

"I know it."

"I'd rather try and fail then never try at all," Vern muttered, looking somewhere between petrified and determined as he put Scorpius' quill back and started folding, "Life's too short."

"So what's your plan anyway? Writing her a love letter? That's so old fashioned."

"Don't purebloods like old-fashioned?" Orous wondered curiously but Albus was much more interested in the bird-shaped paper that Vern placed upon the table, looking dumbfounded by the Origami.

"Okay, here goes nothing," Vern breathed nervously.

He took a tissue out of his pocket with an extraordinary amount of care, unfolding it to reveal it was just sheltering a single red rose that he rested onto the table in front of the bird. He gulped and took out his wand next, taking a final deep breath before muttering a spell as he waved his wand at the bird. It sprang to life, reaching forward its head to grasp the stem in its tiny paper beak. It looked rather undersized in comparison to the flower but when Vern raised his wand, the bird flapped its paper wings and flew easily with the flower. It dawned on Scorpius why he'd needed a line of sight of Olivia, he had to guide it with his wand from his seat as it fluttered across the room, zigzagging over moving people to reach its target.

Olivia was sitting with some girls who seemed her own age reading, one of them pointed out the bird and the girls watched as it dropped the flower before her. The bird then landed carefully beside the flower and became inanimate once more, Olivia looked at the bird curiously for a moment before taking it with extreme care to unfold. Vern gave out a strangled breath as if he'd been holding it, Scorpius looked back to him as he threw down his wand and appeared to be shaking from nerves.

"That is the weirdest way to ask someone out in the history of the world," Albus pointed out immediately, "There's no way she's going to go for that. Here comes the heartbreak. Literally."

"You're not helping," Scorpius complained while Vern started gnawing in his fingers nervously, bowing his head fearfully which made his stringy brown hair fall over his eyes.

"She's coming back," Albus whispered and jerked his head in her direction in time for them to see Olivia approaching, holding both the rose and the folded paper that had been a bird a minute ago to her chest. Scorpius noticed she was wearing one of the werewolf bracelets.

"H-Hey Olivia," Vern stuttered out nervously, "N-Need something?"

"Yes," Olivia blurted out quickly.

"Really?" Vern wondered in shock.

"Of course!" Olivia agreed before blushing and shifting her dark hair behind her ear nervously as she tried not to smile, "I mean... yeah, I'd... I'd love to go to Hogsmeade with you."

"Great!" Vern exclaimed happily before blushing and brushing back his hair out of his eyes, struggling not to smile, "I mean... that's... that's cool. I'll see you next Saturday. And in classes before then I guess."

"See you, Vern," Olivia nodded and smiled as she went back to her own table, Vern finally letting his face split with a smile.

"She said yes! Did you hear that?! Did I pass out on the floor? Is this a dream? This has to be a dream! She said yes!"

"Yeah, yeah, we all heard," Albus grumbled as he buried his head in his hands, "How am I supposed to compete with paper birds carrying flowers?"

"Did you want to ask someone out?"

"No, I wanted to die alone!"

"I can teach you the bird trick if you like," Vern offered kindly, practically glowing.

"That's not going to work now it's not original," Albus moaned.

"Well we should get going, we have Quidditch practice soon," Orous pointed out and Scorpius held a hand up in farewell as the two left.

"Did you still want some advice?" Scorpius wondered.

"No," Albus sighed, "Why is Vern better than me at everything? You're not going to beat paper birds carrying flowers."

"You don't need to, the odds are no one's done that to Mirra."

"I guess but now anything I do will feel inferior. Let's just finish our Potions homework, leave Mirra for tomorrow."

Since his close call with Scorpius, Michael had had to change his approach to using the stone. He didn't want to use it any less, in fact he used it more because he felt guilty depriving Nick of life. But what he did do was take precaution in making sure he was alone when he spoke to Nick, Nick could talk away but Michael just refrained from saying anything until he was alone or in Transfiguration. This wasn't perfect still but it worked out better, Nick got to be around more and Michael just had to wait until they were alone to reply to comments. It was a bit annoying but it was worth it, better than Nick being dead.

"You know what you should try?" Nick asked him excitedly as soon as Michael was done turning over the stone in his dormitory on Saturday morning, his friends had headed to the Library to study or in Abby's case for some alone time with her boyfriend but Michael was meeting Mirra slightly later so he'd returned to the dormitory for a bit.

"I told you, I'm not going to Hogsmeade," Michael insisted.

"It's not about that," Nick brushed it off eagerly, "I was thinking that we should use that stone for something cool."

"You mean besides raising you from the dead?"

"Yes. See who else you can bring back, test its limitations! Can you bring back just people you know? Just people who've died recently? Can you bring back more than one person at once? Don't get me wrong, I like existing like this but it's the nature of a Slytherin to be more ambitious. Imagine what kind of awesome magic you could learn if you could bring famous badass wizards like Dumbledore or the knowledge you could glean or dead Quidditch players to teach you their moves, I'm dead so I could learn nothing but I still think it'd be cool to meet them. You should at least try seeing what else that thing is capable of."

"I don't know, wouldn't that be kind of an awkward conversation?" Michael queried as he imagined summoning these famous people who'd done incredible things to speak to a teenage werewolf.

"They're dead. I think they'd probably be interested in talking to their only connection to the living world, I mean, it has to beat being dead."

"I'll think about it, right now I have to go study with Mirra."

"Are you gonna ask her out yet?" Nick asked with a smirk as Michael collected his things, really not sure what the point was trying now that he was a werewolf with no future.

"I'm not asking Mirra out."

"Well you won't ask out Rose."

"Because I already did and she rejected me so I know she's not interested in me, if I ask her out again she'll just reject me again because she made her position very clear. Or she'll say yes out of guilt, I don't want someone to date me out of guilt and pity," Michael explained, not for the first time, "There's no chance of anything between us. And she's better off, she deserves someone who she actually likes for real, not a worthless werewolf who tried to kill her."

"You're too hard on yourself. And also, that's why you should ask out Mirra. You never attacked her so you have no guilt, she has no issues with you and I think it'd be good for you to relax for a change."

"I disagree, I think I'm much better off alone," Michael pointed out as he headed downstairs, keeping the stone in his hand in his pocket to keep Nick around.

"Hey Michael," Roxy greeted him as he came into the Common Room, smiling somewhat nervously while Nick was distracted by Lily and Lysander talking nearby.

Roxy had started talking to him a lot more this year on the way back from Quidditch practices this year whereas before he'd tended to walk back with Latimer, it was annoying because it meant he couldn't speak to Nick which was the whole reason he'd stopped walking with Latimer in the first place. Not that she'd know that, he supposed she was just trying to be friendly when she saw him walking back alone which was really nice of her but still. She should try Latimer, he could use friendship more since Michael had Nick.

"Hey Roxy, what's up?"

"Well I... I was just wondering whether you had any plans for Hogsmeade? If you're allowed to go at all."

"I'm just going to stay in Hogwarts," Michael told her, wondering why everyone assumed he'd want to go back to that awful place where he'd became a werewolf.

If he did go then it might be closer to Christmas for presents only but he was hoping he wouldn't have to, that Jack would take him shopping over the break. Assuming Jack ever replied. Michael was still looking forward to it, he couldn't wait to see Annie again although he was afraid what she'd think of him. That reminded him, he still needed to try find out information about magical people not being told of their magic because he was sure that Annie was a witch. He was afraid of how she'd react to that too.

"Y-You know I wouldn't mind staying back with you, you shouldn't have to be alone while everyone else is having fun," Roxy asked in a voice barely above a whisper as she looked at him with an odd expression.

"Thanks but don't worry about it, I have friends staying so I'll be alright," Michael offered with a smile of gratitude at her kindness even if it wasn't necessary, "Just go and have a good time, I'm sure the place looks nice all repaired."

"Yeah," Roxy muttered and gave him a strange smile, she looked almost... disappointed? Maybe he wasn't the only one with qualms about going back there and had been looking for a way out. That had to be it.

"I'm sure it'll be fine, there'll be extra protection against attacks and it's not even a full moon," Michael told her consolingly and she looked up to meet his eyes, "Don't worry about it."

"I... I'll try," Roxy said with a weak smile, "I'll see you, Michael."

"See you."

Michael headed off again with Nick, who recounted what the two had been talking about with Lily apparently trying to encourage Lysander to reach out to Lorcan but he refused. Nick lamented and worried that the twins were no longer close, Michael thought it was sad too but there wasn't anything he could do. He barely knew Lysander whereas he had a decent relationship with Lorcan, Lysander was the one who needed to change his attitude though. Michael tried to put it out of his mind as he reached the agreed upon unused classroom where Mirra was already waiting, he preferred being away from glaring eyes. Although Scorpius and Maurice's bracelet idea was working surprisingly well at diminishing it all, he'd wanted the less public areas before that though. He was lucky to have friends who'd do that, not that he understood why after he'd tried to kill Scorpius and given him that scar on his jaw. He didn't deserve good friends.

"So what have we got to today?" Mirra asked him with a cheerful smile as he sat down with her.

"Why such a good mood for schoolwork?" Michael wondered jokingly as he got out the books he'd need for the subjects.

"Because Sixth Year stuff is hard, doing this makes me feel clever," Mirra pointed out and Michael smiled at her joke, "So what are we doing today?"

"Super long Potions essay that I want to get ahead for, it's a week and a bit until the full moon so I want to try get ahead. Not that I'll succeed."

"Well we can do our best."

"Need to read some stuff first, antidotes," Michael informed her, finding the page he wanted and opening it for her to read to him.

It did feel stupid being read to by her at first but it was faster, it took him longer to read with his Dyslexia even though he could do it and Mirra had admitted to preferring it to waiting in boredom while he read. She did only do it for the longer sections and if it was whole chapters he needed to read through then he would do so beforehand, once the main chunky paragraphs she mostly wrote what he told her to write. Literally writing word for word what he would write himself, if he needed to check things or read smaller segments then he'd do that then as well since it took longer to write then it did to speak. Nick would help too, with the subjects he liked anyway and often proudly offered useful things he remembered or talking about when he'd been learning about it in his Fourth Year. Or sometimes would just talk about things that had nothing to do with it.

"C'mon, just ask her to date you, it's easy," Nick continued to plead while Michael attempted to listen to her read, he'd go quiet for a while when Michael mimed letting go of the stone with his free hand but went back to it after a few minutes, "Okay, how about this? Kiss her."

"What?" Michael couldn't help but uttering in surprise, Mirra looked up at him in surprise.

"Bezoars, you know?" Mirra offered and he realized she thought he'd meant about the sentence.

"Yeah from stomach of goats, sorry my mind just blanked for a moment there. It's okay, sorry, carry on," Michael told her apologetically.

"Happens to us all at some point," Mirra pointed out before going back to reading.

"I'm serious," Nick insisted, "Just kiss her. She'll either respond well and you'll have to ask her out then. Or she'll respond badly, then you get out of having to do homework so its win-win for you."

Michael shook his head as subtly as he could to not alert Mirra.

"How about this? You kiss her and no matter what happens, I will shut up about you asking her out. I'll even shut up about you dating at all until after Christmas as a bonus. C'mon, you know I'm too much of a talker to just about this otherwise. Your heads are so close, it'd be easy. Just put your lips against hers."

Michael looked at Mirra, they were sitting so close together that he could smell her perfume. He felt his heartbeat quicken uncomfortably, he'd never noticed how long her eyelashes were or how milky her skin looked up close, how soft her lips looked. They did get along with her and it would shut Nick up either way, she was a kind enough person to probably not be so cruel if she didn't like him. It wouldn't work anyway, she'd just push him away or move away if he tried to kiss her and she didn't want to. He kind of hoped she wouldn't though.

He could just lie about having been falling asleep or something, that he didn't try to do it on purpose. Mirra finished the segment and looked at him, just as he leaned in to bite the bullet and their lips locked together. He heard Nick cheer. His mind tried to flood him with a happy sensation but he pulled away too quickly to enjoy it, blushing furiously and fearful that he'd just ruined their friendship.

"I-I-So-Sor-I didn't mean-Sorry-I am-Sorry," Michael managed to stammer out in embarrassment at one stupid moment of weakness on his mind's part, his cheeks burning.

"Don't be," Mirra offered.

He looked back to her, surprise shooting through his embarrassment for a moment. She was blushing but smiling, twirling her hair with one hand. He cautiously returned the smile and she leaned in for another kiss, that time he let their lips linger. That time he allowed the giddy, euphoric sensation to flood through him and erase his worries for his mind for a few miraculous minutes, feeling very much like a normal human being for the first time in months. He slipped the stone in his pocket, not really wanting Nick to hang around to watch him snog someone. It felt like the most natural thing in the world and he was still smiling when they pulled apart.

Roman found his life changed in more than just not having his parents anymore, none of them felt comfortable nor wanted to stay in that house so they left and rented an apartment in London. They were alright financially as they had their family's money, it wasn't a vast amount of wealth but it would get them by for the moment. Audrey thought it might help her chances of getting a job at the Ministry if they lived in London rather than the countryside, Roman hated London though. It always seemed dark and gloomy, even though it was still summer. Even though they lived in a complex for magical folk, it was on a muggle street and the loud sounds from the ugly metal machines that patrolled the streets scared him. He'd never seen vehicles before after all, his life was that sheltered and he felt as if now it had all been torn apart.

He hated his parents' funeral, it was on his tenth birthday and would destroy the occasion for him for the rest of his life. Very few people had shown up, not many of Mavis' family or friends could make it - or wanted to risk it with the war - for the funeral, despite it being on his birthday at the specific request to fit in with some of their schedules. Even less had come for Magnus, just some acquaintances from work who claimed to have respected him even if they found it 'near-impossible' to get to know him better, more would've came but they'd been killed already. Watching their ashes being scattered to the wind was a very painful moment, he didn't want them to be gone. He ran after the ashes, running with the wind and grasping at the air despite knowing it was irrational and hopeless but it felt wrong to just watch them leave his life all over again. He'd only stopped when he'd broken down crying too much to carry on, Audrey had found him to take him home. His siblings had done better at the funeral than he had, Audrey had managed to get a job interview for a Ministry position from one of Magnus' Ministry acquaintances, which would pay off as she got the job. Aubrey had made friends with one of his mother's friends, stayed at the hotel with her that night.

It was strange living with only his siblings, their parents had done all basic things like cooking and cleaning. Audrey and Aubrey were both terrible cooks as it turned out, Audrey had invested in a recipe book but the meals still ranged from tasting like vomit to being hard as rock. They were better at cleaning but the apartment lacked the standards that Roman was used to, he didn't like dirt or mess because it reminded me of their deaths. Everything was alright when it had been neat and clean but a mess when bad things were happening. He took it as a bad sign. He'd never seen Aubrey so quiet, he'd taken over teaching Roman since Audrey had a job now but when not teaching, he just seemed quiet. Roman actually missed him talking, he'd lie for long periods of time just lying on his bed and cuddling Enas his stuffed unicorn in sad silence, like it was the gaping void in his life where his parents had been. Relieving the pain of loss and feeling utterly alone. Sometimes he cried, Aubrey or Audrey would always come to comfort him even if they could do nothing more than hug him.

At least he had them. Sticking together is what family should do, what their parents would want. Despite his utter unhappiness with his life, Roman clung to the thought that they'd get through it together and maybe someday the pain would stop. He should've paid more attention to Aubrey's odd behavior because one drizzling day in the autumn, he wandered out from his room for breakfast to see just Audrey sitting there at the table. Both hands were pressed against her head, one of which had a scrunched up piece of paper sticking out.

"Where's... Where's Aubrey?" Roman asked fearfully and quietly, Audrey sighed and let the paper fall from her fingers as she lowered her hands.

"He left, Roman," Audrey answered in a morbid tone, "He left to go to America with every last Knut we had because he's scared of being killed by Death Eaters. He left us."

Part 3: Plans and Ills

"Okay, Roman," Audrey said seriously as she was preparing to go to work but turned to face him, Roman was holding onto Enas his stuffed unicorn and following her so closely that he'd literally been on her heels, "I have to go to work now and well... there's no one to watch you or teach you now so you're just going to be here by yourself."

"No!" Roman exclaimed in panic, terrified of being left alone... The only time he'd been alone had been after his after his parents had died, he was used to their always being someone around at home even if they weren't all in the same place.

"Yes. You're ten years old now, old enough to be alone for a little while."

"All day isn't a little while. Don't go, Aud, don't leave me all alone here," Roman pleaded and tried to throw his arms around her but she pushed him away.

"I said no, work is more important. We have literally no money, work is more important than ever."

"What am I supposed to do trapped here all day?"

"Play, read, draw pictures, just whatever you want that isn't you know... obviously stupid and dangerous," Audrey told him dismissively, "There's Floo powder if you desperately need it and there's water here, food in the cupboards if you get hungry. Okay?"

"No. Please don't go," Roman tearfully but Audrey's stoic expression didn't waver.

"I'll see you later."

On that note, Audrey turned on her heel and walked out without another word. Roman was crying before the door closed, his sister either didn't notice or care because she left regardless. He cuddled Enas ever closer and stared at the blurring brown door from his tears, wondering if Audrey was even going to bother coming back. He started to panic, what if she really didn't come back? What if she decided to run off like Aubrey?

He started to breath faster in his panic and the, he couldn't breathe at all. He felt like he was being smothered or choked, he couldn't... he couldn't breathe. Why couldn't he breathe? Was he dying? He could feel the sweat dribbling down his forehead, he was hot, and his heart was pounding so loudly as if trying to escape out of his chest. Maybe it was trying to leave him too. He felt sick, he was shaking and he still couldn't breathe. He was going to die, he was going to die all alone. He already felt faint, his unsteady legs gave out and he fell to the ground. Fighting to try to breathe in this gloomy horrible place he hated.

At least maybe he wouldn't be alone with his parents being dead too, he relaxed slightly at that thought and his lungs managed to gulp down a breath of precious air. Calm, he could breathe if he was calm? He took deep breaths and tried to not panic, he just needed to breathe and it'd be okay. In and out. Just gentle breathing. Breathing was nice, breathing was your friend. Gradually the sensations receded and he was just lying there with his stuffed unicorn Enas beside him, he cuddled it close but the strange attack seemed to be over. He felt himself tearing up again, he could've just died and no one was even there to help him. He hated being alone.

"Do you remember? When there used to be sunshine? When we used to live in a nice, calm, clean place? When I wasn't alone? When I used to have siblings that didn't walk away? When I used to have parents that were alive? When I used to be happy? I miss that," Roman whispered in the gloom and wiped his eyes, instead looking into Enas' button eyes, "At least you'll never leave me, right Enas?"

Enas said nothing.

"So only a few days left to Hogsmeade," Rose brought up on Wednesday at dinner, twirling her hair and glancing at Michael, "Decided what you're going to do yet, Michael?"

"I'm not going, I told you people before," Michael insisted without looking up from his food, "I don't want to go back there."

"But it'll be fun, you'd like it when its calm and it will be because there's more protection," Rose protested but Michael stubbornly shook his head, Scorpius might've been on her side for trying to convince him but he still wasn't sure what he was going to do about his parents yet. Plus he wasn't sure if pushing Michael into going was a good idea if he didn't want to.

"No. I'm staying. And I have to go now, study with Mirra," Michael told them as he pushed aside his empty plate and stood, "I'll see you later."

"Well at least his taking an interest in his schoolwork again is a good thing even if it is a strange time to study," Rose sighed after he'd left, "How am I supposed to get him to go to Hogsmeade with me if he keeps being so oblivious?"

"Stop being so subtle?" Albus guessed before looking nervous, "And now I only have two days to ask out Mirra."

"You need to just bite the bullet and do it before someone else asks her," Corin offered and Albus scowled.

"Shut up, Corin," Albus grumbled.

Hogsmeade was on everyone's minds though, the general mood around the castle - amongst the older students anyway - was a positive one. The new, improved, safer and rebuilt Hogsmeade was something that was being hyped up, anonymous donors had given money to a fund to rebuild because it had been pretty much destroyed in the werewolf attack.

"It's great," Maurice told them brightly in the Library the next day, except Vern who was at his counselling session and Michael who was studying with Mirra, "Perfect chance for the werewolf bracelets to spread outside of Hogwarts."

"Yeah that's great but I'm trying to get mentally prepared to ask Mirra out so hush," Albus pointed out.

"Mirra's not even here."

"Yeah but Michael be back to meet us to walk down to dinner with us with Mirra so I have until then to prepare what I'm going to say. And that's soon so don't break my concentration."

"You're an idiot."

"Can I sit with you all, please? There's no empty tables left," a small voice asked nervously and they glanced up to see Antonius Ashain with the dog that he was sure used to be Calderon's with him.

"Sure," Scorpius agreed, seeing no reason not to and Orous pulled up a chair for the boy beside him.

"Thanks," Antonius offered gratefully as he sat with a book on Greek Mythology, his dog plopped itself down beside him and Antonius petted it affectionately.

"Why didn't you just take that book and go back to your room or something?" Rose complained.

"The Librarian won't let me take anything out without my Dad since only staff or students can take books out and I'm neither. He was still doing classes when I left though, we can do whatever when we finish our schoolwork. Cassia always stays though, she likes watching his lessons."

"Don't you think Greek Mythology is a bit advanced for you?"

"No, I like reading. Cassia asked Dad why on the posters, Brutus has such a weird middle name and he said it was the name of a Greek God and Ashain's almost always have middle names after Greek Gods or Titans. So I thought it would be cool to see what the Gods do."

"Why middle names of Gods?" Abby wondered.

"Because first names would seem too pretentious," Antonius shrugged as he opened the book, "Not that second names are much better."

"Pretentious?" Albus repeated in confusion.

"It means-"

"I know what it means!" Albus interrupted but a moment later whispered to Rose, "What does it mean? I don't want to be outsmarted by an eight year old again."

"Go back to worrying about asking Mirra to Hogsmeade," Rose told him with a scowl as she carried on with her work.

"You're doing it wrong," Maurice interrupted and moved Rose's hand away from the page, earning him a murderous look, "You're getting Ehwaz and Eihwaz mixed up, Eihwaz means defense not Ehwaz. It's an easy mistake to make, I always remember it as Eihwaz for defense because there's more letters to defend."

"That's a childish way to remember it," Rose snapped irritably and annoyed at having a flaw pointed out.

"I was a child when I learned it."

"Oh. Well... Thank you," Rose told him begrudgingly and Maurice gave a genuine smile for once.

"No problem, I like teaching people things."

"Hey," Michael greeted them as he joined the table, Albus sat up straighter so suddenly that it looked like it hurt as Mirra was also there except walking over to some Hufflepuff girls who looked her age.

"Did you get the Runes done?" Rose asked immediately, "Because it's really easy to get Eihwaz and Ehwaz mixed up."

"Err... Yeah. And I know, I remember it like Eihwaz is defense because there's more letters so more to defend."

"Well bully for everyone who's not Rose."

"What?"

"Nothing, ignore her," Corin brushed it off.

"Okay, okay, do I look nervous?" Albus inquired nervously, now shaking with his face now looking drained of color and sweat quite visibly dribbling down his brow.

"Yes," Michael, Maurice and Antonius said in oblivious unison, Michael added, "Why?"

"Because I'm in love and I'm going to ask her to come to Hogsmeade with me," Albus announced with bravery that his face failed to convey.

"Midas isn't here."

"I'm so over her! She ruined the chance of being with me, the great and powerful, clever and very, very handsome son of Harry James Potter by being such an evil prejudiced bitch."

"Al, don't swear in front of the child!" Abby protested to which Antonius looked slightly offended.

"Then who are you asking out?" Michael wondered in confusion.

"You should just not to it, you can have fun at Hogsmeade without being with a dating like Dad's taking us," Antonius pointed out, "And then you won't have to do icky kissing."

"Antonius, you are brilliant," Maurice told the boy happily, "Never get older. Keep that attitude and you'll make a fine soldier, you're a survivor not a sucker for the deathtrap they call dating."

"Stop indoctrinating the kid," Rose complained, "No one's a soldier."

"Everyone old enough to walk is old enough to be a soldier. Everyone within these walls is a soldier, boys and girls, students and staff, even Ashain's little kids will have to fight in this Shadow War."

"Hey! Stop veering off topic, we're talking about me and Mirra here," Albus interrupted in frustration.

"You and Mirra?" Michael repeated in confusion as Albus attempted to smooth down his hair, it just made it stick up even more.

"My one true soul mate. Wish me luck," Albus announced grandly and started to head over to her, Michael jumped up in panic and grabbed his arm, "What? Please, my heart's going to die of nerves if I don't move now."

"Mirra's... Sh-She's kind of... seeing someone," Michael pointed out awkwardly and ran his hand through his hair nervously as Albus' face fell.

"She... She is? Since when?"

"Just this week, it's kind of new."

"Well who?!" Albus demanded angrily as he pushed up his sleeves, his face flushing red from either anger or embarrassment, "Who is this guy who stole my girl?! I need to punch him in the face!"

"What is with Potter boys and punching people?" Vern complained.

"He erm... He... He's me, I'm with Mirra," Michael admitted reluctantly, much to everyone's - except Maurice and Antonius who neither cared were listening - surprise. Albus looked like he'd been slapped in the face again while Michael ran his hand through his hair again, fidgeting in a very Jack-like way, "You can... You can punch me in the face if it'd make you feel any better."

"No thanks," Albus mumbled miserably as he pushed his fists into his pockets, "Don't feel like it now."

"I'm sorry... I had no idea you liked her, you never said."

"Neither did you," Rose complained.

"It just sort of happened, I didn't plan on us getting together," Michael protested defensively as people started heading down to dinner, "That's why I didn't want to say anything until we were together longer in case it failed. Plus I don't know what people will think about her dating a werewolf."

"It's fine," Albus offered with a very obviously forced smile as he too started off, "I'm happy for you."

They packed up their stuff to go as well, Antonius being forced to go put his book back. Michael had nothing to pack up since he'd done his work with Mirra so he could just go, Scorpius could've sworn he saw Michael look at empty air and mouth 'I blame you.' Albus had apparently forgotten all of his things so Scorpius and Orous wound up packing it up as well as they waved the others to go on without them. Scorpius was surprised about Michael, he'd thought Michael would've told him. Was he doing something wrong? He tried to help Michael but he seemed further away from him. He was so focused on that for a moment that it occurred to him that Orous seemed unusually quiet.

"Something wrong?" Scorpius asked and Orous blinked in surprise, turning his crimson to him with a half-hearted shrug.

"Just my counselling session was kind of upsetting," Orous offered, speaking quietly again, "She actually asked me about being one of them, of being Stockholm syndromed into wanting to be a Soul Eater. What those muggles did to us is unforgivable, the Shadows setting us up for that is equally unforgivable and all the other stuff they did too. How could she possibly accuse me of wanting to be one of those monsters? I hate everything they stand for and do and I want them gone."

"Let me guess, you got Chastity Prinkett?"

"Yeah."

"That's who Latimer got, she was cruel to him too. Don't let her get to you."

"Too late. You're lucky to get Leebin, he's really great."

"Wait, how would you know that? He had my year last time and apparently not yours this time," Scorpius asked in confusion.

"Oh, he's the counsellor my Dad took me too after my First Year. He really helped," Orous explained.

"I thought he usually deals with Aurors?"

"He does, that's why I was allowed to talk to him because he's up to speed on everything with the Shadows - he has to be in case the Aurors mention things - whereas they haven't released things like the Shadow Master's wandless magic or the tearing the magic out of people's souls or that they were behind what happened to us five to the public. He said it was double classified so I was definitely alright to confide in him," Orous told him with a weak smile.

"Why don't you ask to have him for the rest of these sessions? He said you can request someone if you want."

"My counsellors didn't mention that."

"Well Leebin did, ask him after dinner or something," Scorpius offered and Orous nodded.

Scorpius supposed it gave Leebin some credibility, he still thought the idea of counselling was stupid though. And he didn't need help anyway, he was over the things had happened to him. Some things in the past were bad but he'd gotten through them and over them, it was still bad but he was completely fine, he was strong now. And basically normal, aside from being bound to the Shadow Master. He was more worried about his friends, Albus was definitely sullen but on the bright side, Michael was trying so hard to cheer him up that he seemed his usual self again. Scorpius realized he missed that. And why had Michael mouthed to the air? Had it been a once off or was he still talking to himself? Why did Scorpius always fail at helping his friends?

"So what's the plan for Hogsmeade?" Molly asked him on his way to breakfast the next day, both her and Latimer joining him on the walk down to the Great Hall. Albus was being lazy and slow in getting up, Michael was gone already before he woke up so he headed down alone.

"The plan..." Scorpius mused but had nothing really, his parents were determined to ruin his visit.

"Yeah, with your parents coming and everything. Are you going to be tied up the entire time or just like an hour lunch visit?"

"They want to meet me at the Three Broomsticks first thing then stay with me until I head back to Hogwarts, I don't know how to get rid of them without them realizing it and probably banning me as punishment," Scorpius explained with a hopeless sigh as they reached the table and sat down, joining Maurice, Rose, Abby and Corin who were already there, "I tried my best. Al's getting here slowly, don't know where Michael is."

"Probably having a quick snog," Rose commented acidly, "Can we talk about how we're going to break them up?"

"No!" Scorpius protested and Rose pouted, "Firstly that is a horrible thing to do and it might be good for Michael, and second we were already trying to get rid of my parents in Hogsmeade."

"Just do what I did," Corin shrugged dismissively, "Douse their drinks with Laxative Potion."

"You did what?!" Abby burst out in horror and Corin blinked in confusion, Scorpius oddly found that he wasn't surprised.

"Funny story," Corin laughed nervously, "Albus was kind of right, I did put just a bit of Laxative Potion in his and my Father's drinks so we could have time alone."

"That's just awful," Abby protested looking on the verge of tears, "Why would you do that to your own father and a friend?!"

"To be alone with you. It's not like it was a lot, they were fine in a few hours," Corin protested, looking suddenly very much like a desperate child as he reached out to Abby but she pushed him away.

"Al's right, you're so manipulative and just... nasty!" Abby told him accusingly.

"Some of us are trying to enjoy our breakfast," Maurice complained irritably, "Either shut up or take it outside."

"Okay, we'll shut up," Corin said, clearly regretting mentioning it at all but Abby wasn't going to forget it that easily.

"We'll take it outside, come on," Abby announced darkly as she stood and the pair left, almost bumping into Albus as he arrived.

"What's up with them? Lover's spat?" Albus grumbled as he sat, eying the undefended plates of food before taking Corin's, "Not like he's eating it and its getting cold."

"You were right," Rose offered.

"Yes! I knew it!" Albus exclaimed happily as he fist bumped the air before looking confused, "Wait, what am I being right about?"

"Corin did give you and Hagrid Laxative Potion that one time."

"Yes! I knew it! Didn't I tell you?! Didn't I?!" Albus told them excitedly, actually bouncing up and down on the seat, "High-five anyone?"

"No, we're trying to think of how to get rid of Scor's parents in Hogsmeade. Presumably without poisoning them with Laxative Potions?"

"Yeah," Scorpius confirmed, he wasn't doing that to his parents even if his mother wasn't pregnant with his soon-to-be dead sister. If they found out they'd ban him from visiting.

"For the love of..." Latimer complained with a roll of his eyes, "Isn't it obvious? Just sit with them for a bit then tell them you're heading back because you have too much homework, throw the cloak over yourself as soon as you're out of their sight then just wait for them to go. Voila, the rest of your time is yours."

"That's pretty good actually."

"It's pretty obvious really."

"That's great," Molly agreed with Scorpius, "You can meet me in the Hog's Head after."

"Yeah, Hogsmeade is back on," Scorpius added happily and offered a high-five to Molly that she took with a smile before wondering if it was weird to do it with your girlfriend.

"Well that's great for you but can we get to back to Michael and Mirra?" Rose insisted, "They're all wrong for each other. And Al should get Mirra."

"It's really none of our business, you should be happy for Michael."

"I don't want Mirra anymore, it'd be weird since she already dated Michael," Albus pointed out unhappily and added quieter, "It sucks but that's how it is... Not like she'd of said yes anyway, I'm a loser. Maybe it'll be good for Michael at least."

"What does he see in her anyway?" Rose complained, annoyed that no one was taking her side or even paying much attention as they ate.

"Maybe he likes blondes?" Albus guessed through a mouthful of food and Rose looked thoughtful.

"I know, I just need to make him jealous by fake-dating someone else."

"Merlin's ass crack, you're as bad as Corin! Let it go."

"No, I think it's a good plan. Maurice," Rose said brightly with a smile and the deaf boy raised an eyebrow, "How'd you like to go out with me in Hogsmeade?"

"No," Maurice told her deadpan.

"C'mon, it's not even a real date."

"No."

"It's just to make Michael jealous."

"No."

"I bet it'd be fun."

"No."

"Maybe you'd see how dating isn't so bad."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"I'd really owe you."

"No."

"I'll give you money."

"No."

"I'll give you anything you want."

"No."

"I won't insult your weird ideas or fight with you or anything."

"No."

"Please, Maurice, I'm begging you."

"No."

"You suck!" Rose snapped angrily, dropping her fake smile while Maurice kept his expression unreadable and unfazed, "Who else can I get to fake date me to make Michael jealous by tomorrow?"

"Latimer?" Albus guessed jokingly.

"Urgh, no! I'd rather peel off my own skin and eat it than pretend to be with that ugly freak for a single second!" Rose protested with a look of disgust before waving dismissively at Latimer, who was well within earshot, "No offense."

"I don't think you get how the 'no offense' thing works," Latimer pointed out.

"Orous?" Albus offered as if Latimer hadn't spoken.

"No he's got white hair and weird skin and red eyes," Rose said with a shake of her head as Abby returned, "Michael won't be jealous if I date someone who's weird looking. Where's Corin?"

"Don't know," Abby told them disinterestedly, her eyes looked puffy as if she'd been crying, "He ran off after I broke up with him. We're through."

"Think he'd fake date me to make Michael jealous?"

He stood in the disused girl's bathroom, staring at the entrance to Salazar Slytherin's secret chamber. It was painful, to know exactly how to get to it but to be incapable of doing so. He could feel the Scepter hidden within, the part of it hidden anyway, the other two parts were much further away and not even inside the castle. He noticed the blades of moonlight that sliced through the darkness to touch his flesh, or rather Atticus Ashain's flesh. He watched the silver slivers dancing on the skin for a moment, he missed the light.

"Back again, are we?" the ghost girl questioned, he neither knew nor cared what her name was but she haunted the bathroom.

"Be gone," he commanded, "I told you before, I have no time to spare for the spirits of cowards."

There was a long howling wail followed by a splash as the foolish ghost retreated back to her lavatory, she was pathetic. He had to leave anyway, there was something else to be done that night because he could not allow Atticus to leave the castle - even for somewhere so close and for such a short time as the village - or he'd have to start again. He didn't want to start again, he needed to get the Scepter as soon as possible and its division only made it more awkward to retrieve the three pieces.

He left the bathroom and headed down the stairs as silent as the night, it was too far into the night for those patrolling to still be out or the Astronomy students to still be in class so the castle was his. He descended to the dungeons where the potion ingredients were kept, willing the door to unlock effortlessly and doing the same for the store cupboard. He was glad the Malfoy boy had bought it being a dream, the effort of sending him back had set back his growth and he doubted the boy would've bought it a second time. The Patronus had surprised him though, he hadn't expected the boy to be capable of such a feat. Not that made a difference, he wasn't one of the creatures of the shadow so it didn't hurt him.

He took the ingredients quickly and easily, replacing things carefully and quietly, locking both doors behind him magically again as he left. He had already decided on the potion to create and returned to where Atticus and the children resided, the children slept and he took a cauldron owned by Atticus unchallenged. The potion was a simple one, it was better that way because he'd need less ingredients and time to spend on it, simple didn't necessary mean ineffective. He finished the potion equally easily even having to use Atticus' wand, it barely felt worthy of the title compared to the wand he'd been used to which was why he preferred wandless. He poured the completed potion into a vial and cleaned the rest up, replacing it so Atticus would be none the wiser.

Finally successful, he took the potion into Atticus' living quarters and found the small room belonging to Atticus' son, the little boy with the broken soul. He slept peacefully with the dog lying curled up on his feet, also asleep but it wouldn't be a problem if it was awake due to using Atticus' body. The boy kept a glass of water by his bedside in case he grew thirsty through the night, it was so easy to creep over and pour the contents of the vial into the glass. It was tasteless.

He retreated back to the shadows and cloaked himself from sight magically, there were better methods but he didn't need it to hide from an eight year old for a few minutes. He wandlessly cast a spell on the boy to make him thirsty, the boy rubbed his eyes as he woke and reached for glass. He didn't release the spell until the boy had drunk it all just to be sure, the boy replaced the glass and petted the dog. His dark chestnut brown eyes scanned the room for a moment, possibly picking up on a presence but he hadn't the knowledge to realize it or do anything about it. The boy swallowed and lay back down to try sleep.

He left the boy and returned to Atticus' room, stripping back to underwear and shirt that Atticus had worn to bed, replacing the clothes and wand before lying back down. He closed his eyes. Then he just had to wait for the potion to kick in, the boy would wake Atticus and he'd lose control again. He couldn't compete with Atticus for control of his own body, it was why he needed Atticus to be completely asleep before taking over. For now anyway, he just needed to be patient. The boy wandered it less than half an hour later, shaking his father awake to complain of feeling ill. Atticus woke and the threads of control were taken from him, he barely managed to conjure a bucket in time for the boy to throw up in. Atticus wouldn't leave his sick son for the sake of an outing, the potion wouldn't wear off until after the weekend so he was safe. The best part was that no one would know, children got sick all the time.

Part 4: Meeting

Roman was forced to settle into his increasingly unhappy life which was now spend in mostly solitude with only Enas and his other toys for company. He still felt scared and incredibly lonely, he wanted to talk to someone who talked back and hug someone who hugged back. The first episode wasn't his last either, he had to try to stay calm because if he got too worked up then he had another panic attack. He found talking to himself and Enas the stuffed unicorn helped with keeping them away, better than outright silence and isolation. He didn't Audrey about it, he was too embarrassed and thought it might make her want to be around her even less. He spent his days trying to lose himself in his imagination with his toys, a book or attempting to improve his cooking skills since he had to feed himself for at least one meal a day and he'd rather it taste nice.

Audrey seemed better off, which was strange for someone in a Ministry secretly controlled by Voldemort but she thought it too risky to leave. Roman hated that she did that, he'd never be caught working for evil maniacs for any reason. She enjoyed work though, often working overtime or bringing her work home with her so she didn't have time for Roman, either that or she was too tired for him. The most time he spent with her was dinner if she didn't miss it from working extra hours, she did most of the talking. Ranting about her boring job or Percy Weasley, some guy she worked with who also was against the Death Eaters too who was apparently was really great. Aubrey never came back.

Audrey and Percy must only have gotten closer though because before the year up was up, she was inviting him home after work. Roman was to stay in his room and pretend to be sleep if he wasn't already, she didn't want him to 'ruin things'. Of course, he didn't go to bed that early and Roman stole a look through the crack in the wall. He wasn't impressed, he thought Percy just looked pretentious and silly. He just used to sit by the door to listen to them just to feel less alone. At first the visits seemed purely work related, they talked about boring Ministry stuff - that actually did put him to sleep - or if anything else then it was anxiety about the Death Eaters. But gradually they seemed to get more personal and more frequent, more things slipped in, they started about books or music or even foods and other tedious things that they seemed to have in common or even about their pasts.

For someone so boring, Percy had claim to an interesting past as he apparently knew The Boy Who Lived, he claimed his youngest brother was friends with Harry Potter. Roman thought this was a lie that Percy was just saying to try impress Audrey, who had taken a sudden interest in her appearance since just before the visits started that wasn't like her, Aubrey was the vain one. Someone as cool as Harry Potter wouldn't know someone as lame as Percy, Harry Potter had defeated Voldemort as a baby, Percy thought rules were interesting. And the worst thing about Percy, the absolute worst, was that he admitted to having turned against his family. Roman didn't care he regretted it and wished he could make amends, Percy had abandoned them just like Aubrey had abandoned them. That was unforgivable.

But did Audrey care? No. Someone the supposed clever missed this and instead consoled him, encouraging him that he could still make amends. Roman hated him. And then when he thought things couldn't get any worse, they started kissing. Each other. On the lips. It was disgusting. Audrey didn't kiss people on the lips, that was married grown up people to do and she wasn't married and she was too young and sensible. Roman realized it was Percy's goal since the beginning, to manipulate his poor, young, unsuspecting sister into trusting him so he could brainwash her, poison her with love potion and probably the Imperius Curse for good measure just to force her to kiss him. Percy was evil. He had to protect his sister. But Percy was scary, he was an adult wizard.

Roman took a deep breath, feeling another panic attack coming on but if he failed then Percy might decide to kill Audrey next like those Death Eaters had killed his parents. It was up to him to be the hero in all his games and books that he loved so much. He put on his boots and dragon hide gloves then used spellotape to tape books to his legs, thighs, upper arm, lower arm, shoulders and chest for protection like armor. It made him feel safer at least. He put a bowl he'd had his soup dinner in over his head - after wiping it clean - as a helmet, took Enas in one hand and the wooden spoon he'd used for the soup - it was the longest and most weapon-like thing he had in his room - and took another breath. He was as ready as he'd ever be.

"Get away from my sister, Percy - you evil piece of work, or I'll strike you down with my super powerful magic... power!" Roman announced bravely as he rushed in, jumping onto the table beside the couch that they were kissing on and brandishing the spoon at Percy. Percy was so surprised he fell off the couch.

"Roman!" Audrey snapped as Percy looked up at him from the ground, there was a moment of silence before he started laughing and Audrey quickly joined him, "You look ridiculous."

"It's my armor, and Enas is my noble steed," Roman insisted losing his confidence and his arm started trembling in fear about what Percy would do, he hadn't really planned beyond that. Although Percy was still just laughing, looking rather ridiculous himself with his hair all messed up, lipstick smears on his face and neck and his glasses lopsided from falling on the floor, "Stop laughing!"

"You better not have damaged those books."

"Aud, shut up, I'm trying to save you from evil."

"Me? Evil?" Percy wondered, wiping a tear from his eye as he finally stopped laughing.

"Yes!" Roman yelled, finding strength in his righteous anger, "I saw you kissing her, I know you're using the Imperius Curse on her!"

"I-I... What?"

"Roman," Audrey sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as her face went as red as his hair, "Percy didn't do anything wrong... It's called 'dating'."

Scorpius was looking forward to Hogsmeade again now he had a plan to get away from his parents and could still go out with Molly, he was hoping there'd be some nice new places he could take her. Michael was still around when he woke up, scowling at one looked like his whole wardrobe minus uniform laid out on his bed. He was also shirtless, revealing his horrific assortment of scars that Greyback had done a good job contributing to. Scorpius felt a pang of simultaneous guilt and sympathy that his friend had suffered so many injuries, what had he been doing while Greyback was tearing Michael apart? Scrabbling for his wand like a useless idiot.

"What's with the clothes?" Scorpius asked curiously to take his mind off it.

"Trying to find something that's both nice enough for my date with Mirra and actually fits me properly," Michael explained as he scratched his chin, "What do you think? I don't have any nice clothes."

"Does that mean you're going to Hogsmeade after all?" Scorpius wondered hopefully but Michael shook his head, he was still glad that Michael was making an effort for something again.

"No but Mirra decided to blow it off to spend time with me so I figure I should do something special and dress nicely and stuff."

"Sounds nice."

"Yeah. So what do you think?"

"Um... Do you have anything you didn't wear when you were ten?"

"The stuff that Orous gave me, these jeans, the purple sweater with that red shirt," Michael pointed out to Scorpius' surprise, he'd been kind of joking because a lot of Michael's clothes looked aimed at children.

"Definitely the red one."

Michael changed into that as Scorpius got up and dressed himself, also taking extra care to try dress nice for both his parents and his date with Molly. In contrast, Albus pulled on whatever he found nearest before they headed down to breakfast. Unusually, the girls were the only ones there, Abby looking sad. Maurice and Corin weren't, they were always there first. Scorpius said as much and was answered with a shrug.

"Can I sit with you since you like my Daddy so much?" another small voice and Cassia didn't wait for an answer before sliding in beside Scorpius, she stuck her tongue out in the direction of the staff table before piling up her plate but looked incredibly unhappy, "Thanks of you."

"Hello? What is with you Ashain kids? There's like a million other seats," Albus grumbled and Cassia just threw him a silencing look.

"Something wrong?" Scorpius asked instead as he realized her brother and father weren't at the table, "Are you not looking forward to Hogsmeade with your Dad?"

"We're not going," Cassia informed him as she stabbed at her sausage ineffectively and Michael wordlessly helped her cut it, "Tony's sick. Stupid Marigold's stupid potion didn't help so we can't go, Daddy's still with him but said I should getting breakfast. Thank you, Michael."

"And why do you want to sit with us?" Albus complained again as Cassia began eating the cut up sausage.

"The teachers are being annoyinger. Rivers is keep asking me what my Daddy's secret is to look so younger and Midas is keep asking me about my brother and Skye."

"Who's Skye?"

"My Daddy's ex-wife."

"Your mother?" Rose guessed.

"I have no mother," Cassia announced darkly.

"Everyone has a mother, just because she left-"

"I have no mother!" Cassia shrieked furiously and there were collective gasps and shrieks of terror as the windows in the Great Hall all simultaneously shattered outwards, Cassia wiped her eyes hastily and stubbornly before tears could form, "Skye died to me the day that she lefted Daddy and abandonmened her family. People who turned their backs on family are not real family. I hate Skye and she is nothing to me. And I hate her."

"Absolutely, completely agree, you're so clever," Albus babbled immediately while the staff went to deal with the windows, Professor Longbottom seemed to realize that Cassia caused it because he didn't look worried and after speaking to the others they didn't look worried but Midas and Elwood through dangerous looks at Cassia, "Silly Rose, don't mess with the beliefs of a child who will explode windows if you question them."

"You're such a child," Rose complained with a roll of her eyes.

"Yes," Cassia nodded before Elwood addressed the school to assure them it was an accident with uncontrolled magic, Cassia irritably began muttering a string of curses that a six-year-old shouldn't know under her breath in regards to Skye, Scorpius smiled despite himself at the similarity to her father.

"What happened to the windows?" Maurice asked curiously as he finally joined them, no Corin though.

"Cassia happened," Scorpius said simply, "Where's Corin?"

"This is why relationships are bad, see Corin is too upset to get up. Nothing I could say or do could convince him and that is after he cried for ages yesterday and I had to comfort him, I'm glad you seem to doing better Abby. Do you see my point yet? Dating is bad kids, don't do it."

"I'm with you!" Cassia agreed eagerly while Abby just looked sadder.

"See, that's the right attitude for a soldier. A six year old has a better attitude to you all," Maurice pointed out and there was an assortment of rolled eyes.

"Am I soldier?"

"Yes. We all are."

"Maurice! Stop corrupting the minds of innocent children with your ridiculous indoctrination," Rose protested to which Cassia scowled.

"I wouldn't call her innocent, didn't you see what you happened to the windows? Ashain's kids are diabolical geniuses," Albus whispered to which she simply threw him a dark look.

"I want to be a soldier," Cassia announced, "I want to fighted the bad guys and the Soul Eating Shadows. Like my Daddy. He's the best and the braverest in the whole wider world and defeats all of the badder guys and he's a hero."

"I'm sure he does."

"He does, look I drawed a picture," Cassia told them and pulled out a crudely drawn crayon picture of who he assumed was Professor Ashain in the center with pictures of black figures with wands, shadows, werewolves and fire. The Professor Ashain in the picture raised his wand and crudely drawn yellow lines shot out and zapped the other pictures that seemed to lay down dead. It then reset and started again, "That's my Daddy getting all of the badder guys acause he's the best, I want to be like him and beater the bad guys too. And revenger them for hurting my brother."

"How do you make the pictures move like that that?" Rose wondered curiously.

"Magic. I is a wizard."

"Witch."

"Whatever. You absolutely should do that," Maurice said to Cassia encouragingly and she smiled, "You have a rare and powerful gift, you may not have a wand yet but you should try utilize your Avisora ability to use birds in battle to fight for you, lots of them. They can blind enemies with pecking, scratching or biting or at least cause a useful distraction. In fact you should be careful, if the Soul Eaters know they'd want you to do that for them."

"Maurice!" Rose barked, "Leave the girl alone."

"Okay," Cassia agreed, deciding to ignore Rose and focus on Maurice's words.

Rose continued to throw Maurice dark looks at encouraging Cassia to embrace his soldier mentality for the rest of breakfast, Scorpius saw Calderon for the first time in what felt like forever when he came to fix the windows with his magical light. He didn't have a chance to speak to him though because he had to go back to the dormitory to get the cloak with Albus before Hogsmeade, Albus sighed miserably as he handed it over.

"What?" Scorpius wondered as he tucked it away inside his leather jacket, "Did you change your mind about me using the cloak?"

"No," Albus sighed, "It's got nothing to do with that."

"Then what is it?"

"I don't know, just... everything. My Dad is a hero, he defeated Voldemort twice and has put away countless other Dark witches and wizards over the years. What have I done?" Albus said miserably, "I look like him but I'm nothing like him. Growing up, I always felt like I was special and perfect just how I was but I'm not. I'm a mediocre wizard at best, James, Lily and even Vern outshine me at everything and I'm not even a natural flier like everyone else in my family, even freakin' Vern can fly and his parents were muggles. My Dad's a hero, my Mum's a famous ex-Quidditch player and what am I? I'm nothing. If he hadn't given me that cloak I wouldn't have any use at all. I don't blame Dad for not wanting to be around me."

"Come on, Al, that's not true and you know it," Scorpius protested and wished Michael had come with them, he was terrible at comforting people.

"Your parents are coming to Hogsmeade just because they want to spend time with you, my Dad couldn't spare five minutes to say hello when he was here on business anyway," Albus pointed out and wiped his eyes, Scorpius tried to think of something to say but Albus cut him off, "Forget it. It doesn't matter, let's just go or we'll not get to go at all."

"Um... Okay."

They headed back down where Professor Longbottom was just starting to check permission slips, again starting from the Seventh Years and working down. At least they didn't have to wait until absolute last this time, unlike Maurice, Orous, Vern and his date Olivia who were only Third Years. He spared them a wave as he joined up with Molly and Latimer for the walk, it was fairly nice weather for the end of October. He missed the usual time alone with her but it made sense with their plan, they walked him to the Three Broomsticks so he wouldn't have to wait alone if his parents weren't there. After meeting up with his parents, they'd split with Molly going with Latimer and Scorpius with his parents for an agreed upon hour and a half. After that, Molly and him would meet up in the Hog's Head for their date while his parents left and Latimer did... whatever he wanted.

You could see Hogsmeade had changed even from a distance, the little thatched roofs were replaced with an entirely new layout and now there was more modernized red tile roofs too, more than thatched and there were more buildings in general. The cobbled streets remained but the layout had changed somewhat, there were a lot of new houses, there were also some new shops and restaurants but there was also a lot of places the same. Or rather, in the same place and had just been rebuilt or repaired maybe although all had newer signs like the Three Broomsticks. There was also a fountain in the middle of Main Street that hadn't been there before, an intricate marble phoenix in flight that was probably meant to symbolize Hogsmeade rising from the ashes but on the base were names of those who died in the attack. He also noticed Aurors patrolling around, considering his knowledge of corrupt Aurors it didn't make him feel safe but he'd expected it, there'd been more staff walking the journey with them as well. He also noticed more than one Hogsmeade resident with a werewolf bracelet.

"Well this is it," Molly announced as they reached the fancy new sign for the Three Broomsticks, she pushed the door open and they were inside the bustling bar. And there were his parents, sitting together in the corner waiting. His mother's bulge was bigger than had been last month, they waved and beckoned him over, "There are your folks."

"Your parents?" a voice commented and Scorpius groaned inwardly as he noticed James and his cronies at the nearest table, oddly Carver wasn't there but James smirked, "Meeting Mummy and Daddy, eh? Still haven't cut the apron strings, Malfoy, for shame."

"You're just jealous," Latimer pointed out seriously which silenced James' friends who'd started to laugh, James' face burned scarlet.

"Know what I did while I was suspended, I banged your mother," James insulted him awkwardly and his friends returned to laughing on cue but Latimer simply raised an eyebrow.

"Huh, didn't have you pegged as a necrophiliac. That's low even by your standards," Latimer said with a straight face while James' went an even darker shade of red and his friends shut up again, he opened and closed his mouth as if struggling to think of a comeback.

"Shut up, Latimer," James spat out finally, "Least I have two feet."

"Yeah, and they're both in your mouth."

"Scorpius?" his father questioned before Scorpius could smirk at Latimer's sharp tongue, he instead turned back to see his father came over to him, probably to get him when he hadn't immediately joined them, "We're over here, son."

"I guess this is goodbye, see you later," Molly said quickly as she went to leave.

"No, you don't have to go. Stay, talk with us. We should get to know the girl who's dating our son," his father offered and she froze, exchanging a look with bemused look with Scorpius but he - and nor could she apparently - think of a way out of it. So much for their plan.

"Um... Okay, Mr Malfoy."

"And who are you?" his father demanded of Latimer with a slight look of disgust.

"He's a friend of Molly's. Not mine," Scorpius lied quickly, afraid of them finding out he'd stayed with Latimer in case he needed to hide out again and they'd know where to look. He thought he saw a flash of hurt in Latimer's eyes, "He was just going."

"Yeah," Latimer muttered and offered a half wave to Molly as he left.

"Yeah, you better run!" James called after him with a look of triumph as he turned back to his cronies, "See, he fears me because he's just a freak. And I'm going to fucking get him for that."

"Well come on," his father insisted, Scorpius and Molly just followed him back to the table where he was pulled into a hug by his mother and kissed an embarrassing number of times before being allowed to sit with Molly. His father smiled, "So do you two want a drink?"

"Sure," Scorpius agreed nervously.

As his father was doing so, he felt a slight burning sensation around his finger from Varanian's message ring. He glanced down as discretely as possible, he knew it might be important and managed to see the words before they faded: Scepter in school. Find. Guard.

Part 5: A Long Day

Roman still hated Percy. And he still wasn't sold on Percy not having done something to his sister to warp her mind, it would explain why she was happier around Percy but he couldn't do anything about it. While Audrey threatened to disown him if he ever interrupted her date again, he also was forced to have more interaction with Percy since Audrey started having all three of them have dinner together for reasons beyond him. Percy also started spending the night sometimes, meaning he was stuck there for breakfast. The one meal that he always to talk to his sister and Percy would ruin it, Roman hated it. Why couldn't he just go away and leave them alone? His parents were dead, his brother had left, why must Percy try take his sister too? Roman didn't want to be alone. He hated being alone.

It wasn't long after that the Battle of Hogwarts happened and the war was over, Voldemort was dead and with any luck, his parents' killers had been amongst the casualties. Percy had fought in the final battle apparently, Roman had been overjoyed with Audrey slapped him across the face for his stupidly risking his life but she ruined it by kissing him after for surviving. Why couldn't Percy have just died too? Or just been put into a coma to never wake up so he'd be out of their lives. Percy had also reconciled with his family and lost one of his brothers so it was all bittersweet, Roman had hoped that Percy could just go back to his family and leave them alone now but that wasn't the case. Stupid Percy. If Roman had a chance to be with his family again, he'd leap at it with both hands. Audrey never had time for him as long as Percy was in the picture anyway. And they only seemed to get closer, Percy started leaving his junk around and staying over more frequently no matter how many times Roman tried to throw the stuff back out. It ruined the neatness that Roman worked so hard to achieve when Percy threw down his things everywhere.

For some reason reconciling with his family also meant Percy wanted Audrey to meet them, Roman was upset at another reason to be left alone until Percy agreed with him. Instead he said that Roman would have to come too. Audrey kept brushing it off, claiming to be too busy but Roman thought it had more to do with her being afraid of being nervous. He finally succeeded in convincing her though - Roman suspected Percy had used magical force - in July for a family gathering... How many siblings had Percy said he had again?

"And remember be polite and don't do anything bad, or weird," Audrey was complaining as she combed his hair neatly as if he was an idiot, she bit her lip nervously, "I really want this to go well, okay? So just be on your best behavior."

"Wouldn't it be easier to leave me here?" Roman half-asked, half-pleaded desperately.

"Aren't you always begging to go with me?"

"No, I'm begging you to stay. Don't you even listen to me?" Roman said hopelessly as he cuddled his stuffed unicorn Enas close for comfort, "Please, Aud, I don't want to go."

"Roman, if Percy and I are going to work then our families need to meet."

"Percy hasn't met Aubrey and that's worked out perfectly fine."

"Because he left," Audrey said darkly, "When you're old enough to walk out on your family too then you can skip out on meeting Percy's family but until then, you're stuck. So be good, okay?"

"Ready?" Percy asked with a smile that Roman wished Audrey would slap off again, he frowned at Roman though, "Are you really going to bring that silly thing?"

"Enas is my friend," Roman protested and hugged Enas closer, there was no way he was getting through it without Enas.

"Don't you think you're getting a bit old for stuffed toy unicorns? You're almost eleven."

"No."

"Let him be, we need to go," Audrey interjected on his behalf for once as she glanced anxiously at the clock, consider they were quarter of an hour early, Roman didn't see the panic but then Magnus had always encouraged punctuality.

Percy also seemed to agree that being an entire quarter of an hour late was atrocious as he too hurried to leave, talking through how to use Floo powder like Roman was an idiot. Percy went first to 'The Burrow' and Audrey made him go next, it was like she was afraid he'd just not follow her or something... Which he actually had been hoping to do. Instead he was forced to go to 'The Burrow'. He was petrified when he stepped out of the fireplace into a place that was... messy. Utterly and hopelessly messy, even Percy was better than this. He cuddled Enas fearfully and stepped out of the way for Audrey, inching closing to Percy who was being hugged by a random woman. Roman felt his start to seize up when the sheer amount of people already there, Roman grabbed Audrey's arm fearfully the moment she was through.

"Alright everyone," Percy said as he cleared his throat and started pointing to people as he spoke, "That's my Father, Arthur, and my Mother, Molly. This is my brother, Bill, and his wife, Fleur. My other brothers, Charlie and George there. Then here's my youngest brother, Ron, and his girlfriend, Hermione. Finally, my sister, Ginny, and her boyfriend, Harry. Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Audrey, and her little brother, Roman."

Roman yelped fearfully at being introduced to the hoard of red-haired humans, jumping behind Audrey in terror as their eyes turned to him. He felt his heart pressing painfully against the inside of his ribcage from beating so fast, Percy was saying something about him being 'a little shy'.

"Can we go now?" Roman begged in a whisper that he could barely hear himself.

"No," Audrey hissed and tried to free her arm, having it yank it away from him and Roman noticed indents from nails from gripping so hard, "Remind me to cut your nails when we get home."

Roman was actually glad to have been separated from her because she was quickly engulfed by Percy's parents to meet her, he darted away from... whatever their names were, Mr and Mrs Weasley quickly and stood cuddling Enas in the dump of a home. He didn't feel safe in a messy a place, mess was when things were going badly wrong. Percy's family looked scarier than he did, one of them... Roman knew he should've listened to which was who but at least he could tell which were Weasleys from the red hair. One Weasley brother had scars across his face, another was missing an ear and another was sporting a burn on his arm. How had they got them? From trying to kill people that fought back? They looked like the kind of people to kill callously, he trembled in fear and squeezed Enas for dear life.

The adults seemed to be ignoring him though, just mingling and talking amongst themselves. Maybe he could Floo away while no one was looking? He crept back towards the fireplace to reach for the Floo powder, only to find the pot lifted over his head and placed out of reach by Percy. Stupid Percy. Stupid childish shortness. Roman turned back to the crowd, his eyes darting over them fearfully while his poor heart continued thundering. And then he noticed something about Harry, he did have lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Percy hadn't been lying after all. Roman was standing in a room with Harry Potter, the hero who'd defeated Voldemort twice. Hs awe overrode his fear for a moment as he watched Harry talk to the Weasley girl, he and Harry both were orphans with black hair. They had so much in common, he had things in common with a hero. That made him smile inwardly and feel less completely alone, it gave him courage to cross the distance between them.

"Ex-Excuse me, Sir?" Roman interrupted nervously but too quietly to be heard, it took him a few attempts before Harry notice him. The Harry Potter looked at him with a kindly smile, "Y-You're Harry Potter, aren't you?"

"Yes I am," Harry admitted and his smile wavered while Roman's grew, he was having a conversation with Harry Potter!

"I-I'm Roman," Roman offered stupidly, Percy had already introduced them. He just needed to stop stuttering and saying stupid things, "Th-hank... I mean... It... I... What you did was really... hero-coo-goo-brav-great. W-With stopping Volde- The Dar- You-Know... Him. And... everything."

"Erm... I'm sorry. You'll have to speak up, I didn't quite catch that," Harry told him awkwardly.

Roman looked down, his cheeks burning from the humiliation of having made a fool of himself in front of a hero. His courage poured out of him, leaving just a small shaking boy cuddling a stuffed unicorn. It was best to just get out of there before he made Harry angry, a powerful hero who could kill Dark Wizards as a baby could easily destroy a defenseless ten-year-old. He wanted something to show for meeting someone so cool though and running away abruptly might also offend Harry, his heart was pounding again but with a great amount of courage, he managed to raise his head to look at Harry again.

"Can I have your autograph?" Roman asked louder than before but still barely passing the range of a whisper. Harry rolled his eyes with an angry irritated look while the youngest-looking Weasley brother laughed.

"Just can't get away from autographs and fans," the Weasley brother commented in amusement, had Roman just offended Harry somehow anyway? He felt tears prick his useless eyes.

"The downside of defeating Voldemort. Fine," Harry agreed.

"I don't want one now!" Roman squeaked in fear and misery as he tried to run, almost colliding with Percy and instead gripped his arm for dear life, he wiped his tears on Enas to hide them, "I want to go home now, Percy. I'm scared."

"Roman, you just got here," Percy complained, "And what could you possibly be afraid of?"

"I offended Harry Potter and now he wants to murder me," Roman explained desperately in terror, "I think all your family do, they're scary and I want to go home now. I don't want to die. Percy, please, I'll be nice to you and stop throwing away your things. Please."

"They don't want to murder you, you're being silly," Percy insisted and looked in pain as he wrenched his arm free, Roman noticed he'd actually broken the skin on Percy's arm from his nails that Percy looked at in shock, "Geez, you actually drew blood."

"Good. Can I go now?"

"No, look Mother's just serving the food. Nice food," Percy pointed out and gestured to the food being brought to the table, it did smell nice but Roman didn't care.

"I don't mind starving. Please, Percy."

"There's nothing to be scared of, they're just people and my family are nice," Percy insisted and led him to the table, putting him in a seat that wasn't next to his sister, "You're getting worked up over nothing. Come on, what happened to having power and whatever you said when you met me?"

"You're one person not a million plus I was just lying to scare you away and it didn't even work!" Roman wailed miserably but too loudly because others at the table were now looking on with so many eyes, Roman was shaking again as he squeezed Enas.

"Do you want some ham?" Mrs Weasley offered as she prepared to give him a slice while One Ear asked Percy about what he'd meant.

"No!" Roman yelped in fear at being addressed and shrank back in his seat.

"Just when he first met me, had spellotaped books to himself and was brandishing a spoon," Percy explained, "Like that was actually threatening, so goofy and adorable."

"And he had a bowl on his head," Audrey added while the table started laughing.

"Stop laughing at me!" Roman shrieked tearfully and they shut up in surprise, Audrey started to tell him not to be so sensitive but Roman was already fleeing in haze of tears with Enas.

"Here's your drink," his mother offered.

"What?" Scorpius looked up at his Butterbeer, having zoned out to stare at the ring for more information but had received none.

He couldn't even attempt to ask for more until he was alone. He tried to put it out of his mind and focus on his parents but it was hard, how was he supposed to find and guard it? Was Harry insane to put it in a school in the first place? Did he not think the Soul Eaters targeted Hogwarts enough without making it even more of a target? And how had Varanian found out? Did the Shadows know? Were they planning something?

"Scorpius?" his father questioned and he looked up again, "Are you even listening?"

"Of course," Scorpius lied.

"What was I saying?"

"You were saying..." Scorpius began and realized he was going to be caught in a very obvious lie until he noticed Molly gesture to her werewolf bracelet, "Or rather asking why we were wearing the werewolf bracelets."

"Oh, yeah, that's right," his father admitted in surprise and Molly wink, he couldn't help but smile.

"We wear them because it's an unfair law and I wanted to support my friend who's a werewolf, we try to get other people to as well because if lots of non-werewolves are wearing them too then it makes them pointless because it's no longer just werewolves. Maurice explains it better, it was his idea."

"Clever," his mother pointed out and Scorpius wouldn't, looking at her pregnant reminded him of the baby sister he was going to lose.

He did put more effort into the conversation though as he and Molly were both asked how their classes were going, how Quidditch was going - Scorpius was shocked to realize it was exactly two weeks until their first match of the season - and other school-related questions, they in turn had to ask about his parents' lives and the pregnancy too. It was how conversation worked. Occasionally they were thrown an unusual question to catch them off guard, things like if the two year age gap was awkward - which Scorpius effortlessly dismissed by asking his parents the same question since they had the same age gap - or if anything strange or bad was happening that could potentially injure him in any way to stop it being a 'normal' year. Scorpius was starting to think a 'normal' year was a year where strange things happened.

Despite it being a surprise and an inconvenience to their plan, Scorpius was actually kind of glad in a way they'd asked Molly to stay too. It may be a bit uncomfortable and he was scared they'd disapprove, he was sure Molly was nervous too from the way she kept trying to not bite her fingernails. But his parents had criticized him as being too young and not ready for a relationship before, the fact they wanted to know Molly might actually mean they were accepting he was growing up. Maybe they wouldn't think of him as a weak, pathetic child forever. His parents didn't bring up him leaving Hogwarts either so that was a relief, maybe it was because Molly was there as well. If only Varanian could've picked a better time to 'ring' him.

It still took longer than intended to get away, Molly being there had thrown the both of them and it was well after an hour before they thought of making an excuse to leave. His mother would insist on one more drink whenever they did try to leave anyway, Scorpius wished she wouldn't. He was dying to try asking Varanian for more information. He also didn't think he'd ever say that he preferred the dingy, dirty, unkempt Hog's Head to anything but he preferred the Hog's Head to the Three Broomsticks. He actually preferred the quiet to the crowded and loud much more popular pub, Latimer was lucky to be there not here. Eventually though they managed to get away, after more hugging and kisses from his mother.

"Take care, son," his father added and patted his shoulder, about as affectionate as he'd be in public before Scorpius rejoined Molly.

"Finally," Scorpius breathed a sigh of relief as they headed for the exit, his fingers intertwining with Molly's as if they were made to fit perfectly with each other's, "I'm sorry about that, I hope it wasn't too painful."

"I guess it's fair since you'll be around my Dad for the wedding," Molly shrugged and looked nervous, "They seem nice enough, I just hope they liked me."

"How could they not? You're brilliant and beautiful," Scorpius wondered and kissed her gently as she blushed before heading out, leaving his parents to watch on sadly from their table, "I hope your Dad likes me."

"How could he not when you pay so much attention to people when they're talking?" Molly joked and Scorpius felt himself blush.

"And thanks for helping me out back there."

"It's okay, you get me next time. So what do you want to do? Go to the Hog's Head or explore Hogsmeade for a bit?"

"We could explore, it's so stuffy and cramped in there that some fresh air would be nice," Scorpius answered before wondering if that sounded insensitive, "Unless you want to go there first."

"No, I'm good. Curious," Molly agreed to his relief, he squeezed her hand tighter and reminded himself how lucky he was to have Molly, "Looks different when werewolves aren't trying to kill everyone."

"Yeah," Scorpius nodded, also thinking back to that horrible night when he'd failed Michael.

They walked in silence for a while, exploring the new layout and new buildings of Hogsmeade with only occasional comments. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence though, he felt relaxed around her even if they didn't say anything and Molly gave no sign of being bothered either. There were some places, some nice restaurants that he thought would be perfect for a future date with Molly. He spotted Vern with Olivia, sitting by the fountain laughing together which he took to be a good sigh. There was also an ice cream parlor that appeared to popular with students already, including with his friends. He saw Abby, Albus and Rose in there, Abby still looked unhappy but the other two seemed to be trying to cheer her up from the encouraging looks on their faces. There was also some interesting looking shops too, Quality Quidditch Supplies had been expanded and revamped as they saw from lingering by it. Orous and Maurice walked by them too, looking less tense than they had in a while. He wondered if he should tell Maurice about the Scepter, locating it seemed like something he'd be good at.

"Your parents should try there for your brother," Molly pointed out and nodded at a new shop called 'Babies and Beyond' which appeared to have an assortment of baby products from the interior.

"It's a girl," Scorpius insisted before they almost walked into the couple exiting the shop, blinking in surprise when he realized it was Freddie and Caitlin, "What were you doing in there?"

"My Aunt Gabrielle and Cel are having a baby, its due in November so we were looking for baby gifts," Freddie answered with a dismissive shrug, "Stuff is expensive though. Super expensive."

"That's oddly mature of you," Molly commented.

"I can be mature," Freddie protested but Caitlin only laughed.

"Says Fast Freddie Weasley?" Caitlin wondered jokingly.

"Ha! See I'm not the only one who calls me that!"

"Ha! See that's such an immature thing to say."

"I'm totally mature," Freddie insisted, actually looking concerned that she didn't think he was as he took her hand and headed off, "Absolutely mature, I'm the most maturerest... Maturest? What's the word I'm looking for here?"

Scorpius and Molly also continued on their way, Scorpius ignored the things in the window. He didn't want to think about babies and losing his sister, Freddie's Aunt Gabrielle and Cel were lucky that their baby wasn't in danger of dying. Poor Lyra. He'd have been a terrible brother anyway. They continued their exploration, Scorpius was about to suggest the Hog's Head since they would have to be heading back soon anyway when he noticed something. In the window of one of the book shops, a colorful title about Greek Mythology and he couldn't help but think of poor little Antonius.

"Wait up, I want to get something and then how about we head to the Hog's Head?" Scorpius half-asked and half-told Molly.

"Err... Sure, what did you want?" Molly wondered and Scorpius nodded his head to the bookstore.

"Professor Ashain's son is sick so I was going to get him that book... You know to cheer him up, a get well present. He was trying to read a similar thing the other day," Scorpius explained and realized Molly was looking at him with a strange expression, "What?"

"You can just be really sweet and kind sometimes," Molly told him seriously as she caressed his cheek and pressed her lips against his, he was blushing when she pulled away. They headed into the shop and he got the book, as well as a coloring book so Cassia wouldn't feel left out, "And generous."

They went to the Hog's Head after that, Scorpius noticed the number of Aurors diminished outside of the high street and had none around their pub. The Hog's Head still stood but also seemed to have been rebuilt to a certain extent, it had been designed the same but the glass in the windows was clean and not as dank, the wood newer and nicer too. It was still dank inside but cleaner, there was a handful more people than he was used to and all of which had werewolf bracelets. Oddly, Latimer wasn't one of them. The barkeeper was the same old Aberforth although as they approached, Scorpius noticed fresh scars down his neck as a war wound from the werewolf attacks. He was wearing a werewolf bracelet too.

"Hey Ab," Molly greeted him cheerfully since she was on good terms with him, "How are you?"

"Still standing like yourself I see," Ab pointed out, "No Latimer?"

"Wasn't he here earlier?"

"Nope, I wanted to thank him for saving my ass but I haven't seen him. Only students here was the albino and the deaf boy handing out these bracelets, had a drink too," Ab explained and gestured to the one on his wrist, "Since werewolves are my best clients now, I figure I'd do my part."

"Your best clients?" Scorpius wondered in confusion.

"Only one Hogwarts student got bit but plenty of Hogsmeade residents did, they're not too happy about it and Wolfsbane weeks are the busiest of the month. Especially with PAW hunting 'em down left, right and center, easy targets with the bracelets so folks are scared."

Scorpius hadn't thought of that, he didn't really read the paper. He insisted on paying for their Butterbeers and thought on it as they went to sit down, he'd just assumed the PAW would calm down when things died down. He shoved it out of his mind as Molly handed him his drink.

"I wonder where Latimer went," Scorpius mused thoughtfully.

"Probably back to the castle," Molly shrugged and scowled "He didn't want to come to Hogsmeade at all, he only did because I badgered him to for that first hour at least. He doesn't feel like doing much these days, not that he'd admit he's going through things or that words hurt him."

"You're prefects."

"Taking points doesn't seem to make a difference and Midas doesn't think things like that warrant detentions so I can't do that."

"I really don't like her," Scorpius complained of Midas.

Somehow common dislike of her managed to get them back into cheerful conversation and they were laughing again before too long, something they hadn't actually done with his parents. They only had time for the one drink before heading back together, holding hands and sneaking kisses on the path back to Hogwarts where they parted ways after a long lingering kiss. He thought he'd finally gotten the hang of being a boyfriend because things seemed to be going well with them.

He headed back to his dormitory while Molly returned to hers or possibly to find Latimer for dinner, Scorpius put back Albus' cloak before heading to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom to give the Ashain kids their gifts. With any luck, he'd still have time before dinner to try get more information out of Varanian if not he could wait until after, he needed to fill Michael in too. He almost walked into Professor Ashain leaving.

"Hey Professor Ashain," Scorpius greeted him happily, noting the professor wasn't dressed in his usual robes but simple jeans and a white shirt.

"Sorry, Scor, this is a bad time," Professor Ashain apologized, "I'm just getting dinner for my kids, my son's sick so I don't want to be gone long. Can it wait until I get back?"

"I just got Antonius a book as a get well present and Cassia a coloring book to not feel left out, all I wanted was to drop them off," Scorpius offered and held up the bag.

"Thanks, that's really nice of you. They're in there, in my office, its open," Professor Ashain pointed out with a grateful smile before carrying on, it struck Scorpius that Rivers was right. For a man in his mid-forties, Professor Ashain could easily pass for someone who was barely in his thirties.

Scorpius went into the empty classroom, there was light already coming from the office up the stairs. Scorpius followed up and saw a room had opened up in the office that led to the professor's living quarters, similar to Calderon's room except it came off from an office. He continued on through to a small sitting room type area that seemed to double as a dining room from the table wedged against the wall with three chairs, there was also an assortment of toys crammed into crannies out of sight, shelves lined with a mixture of children's books and older books he knew were Professor Ashain's.

Antonius' bed had apparently been moved into that room because it was very chunky and out of place with a pail beside it, Antonius himself was sitting up in it and looking ill. His skin seemed waxy and tiredness was etched into his face that hadn't been there the other day, he could see the sweat on the boy's brow even from the doorway. He noticed the extremely dark auburn Ashain hair looked damp, sticking up at all angles uncharacteristically of Antonius which actually made it look much Albus' when he woke up in the morning. Or anytime actually. Cassia was sitting on the couch playing with some stuffed toys and the dog came over to greet Scorpius with a wagging tail, of course both kids looked to him when he arrived.

"I-I got you presents," Scorpius offered nervously, having just wanted to give the gifts and leave. He didn't really know what to do with little kids all by himself, he wasn't Michael. Cassia discarded the toys and rushed to him happily, he handed the coloring book, "Since you seem to like drawing... I got you that."

"Cool! Thanks you!" Cassia told him with a smile and Scorpius found himself being hugged by the small girl.

"You're... You're welcome," Scorpius brushed it off with a blush and she jumped away to skim through the pictures while he continued over to Antonius who'd remained on the bed but had swung his legs over the side in preparation to go over to him, Scorpius took out the book on Greek Mythology and Antonius formed a strained smile through his waxy skin, "Thought it might be better than the Library... I hope you feel... feel better soon."

Antonius looked gratefully and opened his mouth as if to speak before his smile drained, along with the last of the sickly pale color from his skin. Scorpius put down the book hastily and grabbed up the bucket just in time for Antonius to throw up, he shook and clutched his stomach in pain. Scorpius sympathetically rubbed Antonius' back soothingly, recalling his parents doing that when he was younger and ill, muttering whatever random reassuring things he remembered them saying to him. It seemed to pass though and Antonius seemed to relax although continued quivering slightly, there was a glass of water and cloth on the window by the bed. Both of which used, letting Antonius wash away the vile taste and wiping his chin.

"That better?" Scorpius asked gently and Antonius nodded as he leaned back against him again.

"Thanks," Antonius croaked weakly.

"Hey! That's like what's in my dreams," Cassia exclaimed suddenly and both of them looked to her, she must've come to investigate her brother's gift because she was looking at the book. Excitedly, she turned it round and pointed to a picture of an Ancient Greek village similar to the ones from his dreams from the Scepter, "And so is those letters."

"That can't be right," Antonius complained, his voice still a weak whisper, "That's like what my dreams are about. And they're all in a funny language that I don't understand."

"So are mine! I don't amember much but is flashing but I know bits and it's all a differenter speaking that I don't know."

"Wait, wait, what?" Scorpius interrupted in shock that was shared to a lesser extent to the Ashain siblings, "What else about the dreams?"

"They're not nice," Antonius told him sadly, "Fire and armies and a giant snake and magic and vultures."

"So are mine," Cassia confirmed.

Scorpius only scowled deeper, it sounded an awful lot like his Scepter dreams. But that was impossible unless they'd found it somehow? He was trying to think of the best way to phrase it to ask it when Professor Ashain returned with two plates and a bowl that looked like soup, he put them down on the table and the dreams were forgotten as Cassia rushed over to eat while Professor Ashain went to his sick son. Scorpius stepped aside and left him to it, hurrying away quickly.

Would they really have hidden the Scepter in a place that two children could easily find? It didn't seem very safe, not for the Scepter and not for the people since they knew of Scorpius' reaction to it. And the Ashains didn't have Blood Runes scars, why would it have reacted to them? Would they not have told their Dad? And if they had, had he just not told them to expect the dreams? It seemed awfully sloppy to let the Ashains get their hands on it, they were better than that. If Scorpius wanted to hide something in Hogwarts, he'd put it somewhere that was out of the way and hard to access like the Chamber of Secrets of the Room That Doesn't Exist. Although the latter seemed less safe considering Michael had said Florian knew of it but the Chamber... Would they have used that? Why wouldn't they with a Parselmouth at their command? But no. There was no way the Ashains could've gotten to the Scepter there. Unless they hadn't and they were getting the dreams for some other reason... Because their father had been around it or something? Scorpius didn't know. It was frustrating.

His aimless wandering had stupidly brought him to the Great Hall instead of his dormitory to try contact Varanian, maybe it was better to talk it over with Michael first anyway. He joined his friends at the table, Corin still wasn't there though. The meal had already started, everyone but Michael having already started without him. It took him a minute to realize that Michael was actually smiling.

"Date go well?" Scorpius inquired, feeling his worries lift slightly at the thought of Michael's mood improving from something good. Rose threw him a murderous look.

"Yeah," Michael confirmed happily as they started piling their plates with food, "We had a picnic outside by the lake because it was a nice day for October, it was really great, Mirra's great."

"Did you kiss her?" Albus asked wistfully.

"Yeah, we made out as well as talked."

"You made out?" Scorpius wondered in surprise and Michael nodded.

"Yes," Michael confirmed, "I'm sure you and Molly have plenty of times. Did you know Mirra likes guitar music?"

"Hmm..." Scorpius mused as he felt his good mood crashing again, he'd been going out with Molly for much longer and they'd never made out. Kissed yes, but not made out. Was he doing wrong? Were they supposed to have done that already? Was Molly expecting him to do that? Was he going too slowly again? Was Molly unhappy? So much for things going well and getting the hang of being a boyfriend.

Part 6: Change

Roman was miserable. Audrey was furious with him for ruining meeting Percy's family and embarrassing her, she insisted he needed to stop being so sensitive. She also frequently pointed out how stupid he was for thinking they wanted to kill him, she hadn't seen their parents die though and she didn't know what it was like. After a few hours of being yelled at, she'd stormed off and left him there to curl up with Enas - his loyal stuffed unicorn - to cry himself to sleep.

Despite Audrey's rant and terror of it ruining her relationship with Percy, this proved to not be the case - unfortunately - and he even had the nerve to ask how Roman was doing. While Roman desperately hoped the awful experience would be the last time he was forced to face the Weasleys, this also was deemed false as Percy was adamant that he wanted his family to know his 'girlfriend'. For reasons beyond Roman, this included him being there too not left alone. The compromise was that there'd be less Weasleys there, comprising of only his parents and those who still lived at the Burrow - which was still a lot - but it didn't help. Roman had another panic attack seeing all of them, imagining them laughing as Percy played with his and Audrey's body's like Bishop had done to his parents, he'd passed out.

The next attempt had been just Percy's parents and Roman had managed to cope with that, Percy's parents actually seemed nice - or were pretending to be, this was probably more likely - although he still felt uncomfortable. He'd hoped that since it was finally over and done with that it would just be over, however there was a new threat he had to contend with. One sunny summer morning after Percy had spent the night, Roman was surprised when for the first time in his life, a letter dropped in front of him. Audrey looked surprised but Percy didn't seem to think it deserved a second thought as he asked Audrey to pass the orange juice, Roman took a shaking breath and opened the envelope with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall

Dear Mr Rivers,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September.

Yours sincerely,

Filius Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster

"Oh, it's just a Hogwarts letter," Roman said, relieved that it wasn't something worse but disappointed it wasn't anything cool as he tossed it aside dismissively to be thrown out along with the second page.

"Just a Hogwarts letter?" Percy wondered incredulously, "Aren't you excited to finally be able to learn magic at Hogwarts?"

"I already learned magic at home, if anything I should be looking forward to my birthday so I can finally get a wand. Our family doesn't go to Hogwarts," Roman explained, Percy was an idiot. And thinking about his birthday saddened him, the pain of losing his parents obliterating the nine other years of happy birthdays. He really hoped Audrey wouldn't make a big deal out of it.

"You're not going to send him to Hogwarts?" Percy demanded of Audrey instead.

"Err... Well he's right, Mother went to a school in America that you have to pay for and Father never went to school at all. Aub and I were both home taught magic, worked out pretty fine for me," Audrey offered, sounding more sure of herself as she went on.

"This is different though, your parents were around to teach you. Do you really want to give up all of your free time to teach Roman? Because even if you did that, it still wouldn't amount to as much as Hogwarts or even as much time as you were given. How's he supposed to learn seven years plus in only weekends and semi-days of learning? You can't afford a babysitter, let alone a tutor."

"I... I don't know."

"I'm a fast learner and I don't care if it'll take longer than a full time education would," Roman interjected, hurt that his sister hadn't defended the obvious point herself but Percy continued as if he hadn't spoken.

"And then there are other things to consider, is it really good for him to stay here alone - which he hates - all day? Clearly its negatively impacting him to the point he can't handle a simple family meal, he needs to be out there with people to get used to it because if he can't handle a meal then he won't be able to function when he's old enough for a job. Hogwarts is a good place, he can make friends and get used to people, the teachers are good people and talented in their specialized subjects so he'll learn a lot and probably most importantly of all is that Hogwarts is a prestigious school. Future employers will think much more highly of OWLs and NEWTs from a place like Hogwarts, plus he can do extra things such as becoming a prefect and Head Boy which will absolutely improve his chances of getting a good career."

"Aud, you can't seriously be listening to him?" Roman scoffed when Audrey didn't immediately call Percy on being an idiot.

"I'll think about it, just not now," Audrey offered and wordlessly pocketed the letter.

Varanian stalked through the crowded street as casually as possible, stopping occasionally to feign interest in shop windows he passed. Not that he had any interest, he only did so to appear inconspicuous or for a reason to stop since the target had, and because windows were a fantastic tool to utilize for looking in more directions without actually having to appear curious. In this instance, it was because his target had stopped.

On a random corner no less, probably the assigned meeting place although the guy was far more suspicious than him. Varanian watched him fidgeting and shifting nervously in the window's reflection, a shop selling hats apparently he noticed through his stinging eyes. He felt heat around his finger and glanced at the ring, a message finally forming from Scorpius: more info? Varanian shook his head tiredly, that was what he was trying to get. He hoped it wouldn't take long for the target's contact to show up, his eyes were prickling painfully from not sleeping which wasn't the ideal condition to be in when spying. You missed things.

"Hey, Professor," an excited voice whispered as he realized a person was now standing beside him, he sounded somewhat familiar.

"I'm sorry, I think you must have me confused with someone else," Varanian told the guy, trying to sound different to his usual without daring to look away from his target in the reflection. Although he did make sure he still appeared to look unlike himself in the window, sometimes he could slip if he was exhausted but the stranger he'd made himself look like stared back.

"I'm quite sure I don't, I've been trying to find you for months ever since I heard about that speech you gave in Hogsmeade about fighting the Shadows or Soul Eaters or whatever they're called."

"That was Roman not Varanian and I'm neither of them so leave me alone, I'm busy," Varanian insisted irritably and spared a glance for the speaker, surprised to find he recognized him.

Wyatt Grant. He'd been a student from Varanian's teaching days but mostly he remembered him since he was on his list of 'missing' people that was definitely linked to the Soul Eaters. He was in his early twenties now although his hair still hadn't decided if it was blond or brown but it was filthy, shaggy and stuck up at odd angles now, his face was worn and also dirty. In fact all his clothes looked dirty, worn and torn as if he'd been sleeping rough. His eyes were a bright azure color though and he was smiling enthusiastically or maybe dementedly based off his appearance.

"I know it's you, Professor," Wyatt protested, seeming quite proud of himself, "I've been following you, well actually I didn't know how to find you so I thought I'd follow the Soul Eaters and they're easy to tell because they're the ones who keep trying to murder me when I show my face. I've seen you change appearance three times as you follow Reth and metamorphmagi aren't that common, you're the only one I know or well Teddy Lupin but I didn't really know him personally but we were in the same year so I saw him around but Aurors-In-Training don't follow Ministry personnel around whether they're suspected of being Shadows or not."

"I think I would've noticed if you were following," Varanian pointed out and pre-emptively moved his hand to his wand in preparation to be on the defense.

"If I was a human then absolutely yes, I'm sure you would. I mean how you could not with those freakishly piercing eyes that bore into your soul even if they're not the same color as usual and that kind of always scared me slightly although but I wasn't human at the time. I'm an animagus you see, I can turn into this cute little gliding lizard and it's really good for spying on people too. I can be really useful to you, Professor, and I wasn't a bad student really, I mean you always used to say to say I talk too much and too quickly but I got an O in OWLs and an E in NEWTs for Defense Against the Dark Arts and that's pretty good, right?"

"You're not a registered animagi."

"Funny story, well not so much funny as sad and terrifying if you're the one who it's about. I was trying to become an animagi and then Soul Eaters killed my roommate because he was a muggle-born and they wanted his magic or something like that, I only came in near the end of it and I couldn't save him," Wyatt explained with his smile wavering sadly, "But they tried to kill me too since I was a witness but I managed to get away, I recognized one of them as this guy who's high up in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement because my sister's a journalist and I read all her articles and he was mentioned in one of them with a picture so I've been afraid to go to the Ministry because they can murder people with the Specters pretty easily.

"So I've been in the run from the Soul Eaters and in hiding, they keep trying to kill him if they find me but I finally managed to master transforming and become an animagi while on the run and it's been invaluable in staying alive. But I haven't registered because... well then I'd have to go to the Ministry where the Shadows would be able to find out and you know, murder me. I don't like hiding though, I'm fed up of just surviving and living like this. If you're fighting them then I want to help too, I might as well because I'm never going to have my life back otherwise and it's the right thing to do, those bastards killed my roommate. I get that you may not find it easy to trust me when a lot of the world wants you dead right now but the Shadows want you dead too, I've heard them mentioning their frustration over not being able to kill you yet so I've known you're innocent for a while now but I didn't realize you were doing something useful instead of just hiding away. It really put me to shame and made me realize I could be doing so much more, please let me join you, Professor."

"Stop calling me 'Professor' because I'm not that anymore," Varanian complained as he tried to think, Wyatt could be telling the truth or it was an elaborate trap possibly, "Why should I believe you?"

"Because I'm telling the truth, do whatever - hell, read my mind if it'll make you believe - but I'm telling the truth. I can tell you what I've learned, the few names I know but not here please because it's kind of risky for me to be out in the open like this and I'd rather not die. What's not to believe?"

"Ruining my... information gathering for one," Varanian pointed out and glanced back to his target to see him talking to a cloaked figure now while Wyatt started babbling about being afraid of not having another chance to speak to him, the cloaked one was gesturing in their direction and drawing a- "Move!"

Varanian moved as he spoke, throwing himself to one side just in time to avoid the explosive spell aimed in their direction. Wyatt wasn't so fast and cried out in pain as the spell caught his arm, burning it to some degree and slamming him through the glass. The cloaked figure stepped into the shadows and vanished while his target fled with the rest of the panicked crowd, he doubted the cloaked figure had retreated though. Vanishing and reappearing was an annoying tactic they used and the target would be calling for reinforcements, usually they came up behind him though so that was where he turned with his wand. He was wrong though, the figure stepped out of the shadows to stand over Wyatt as he struggled to sit up inside the hat shop.

"Avada Ke-"

The figure had started to say with their wand aimed squarely at Wyatt, Varanian cut him off by throwing a nonverbal spell at him but the figure noticed in time and slammed up a shield. The force of the colliding magic still threw him back and Varanian jumped through the ruined window to fire several more stunners in rapid succession while he had the advantage, one of them hit and he cloaked figure slumped unconsciously.

"Behind you!" Wyatt cried as he scrambled to his feet, his injured arm clutched to his chest and his good one pointing.

Varanian spun, throwing up a Shield Charm up as he did so that caught whatever spell - or spells - had been fired from the three newcomers but the force still knocked him back. Undeterred, he flicked his wand and that shards of glass from the shattered window rose obediently to dart at the attackers. One threw themselves clear, one disapparated and one screamed in pain as the shards impaled him. He heard a crack and knew one of them had reappeared inside the shop but he intended to take full advantage of the shop owner lowering the wards to escape, he grabbed Wyatt and disapparated them both to safety.

Audrey said no more to him about the Hogwarts nonsense, Roman was glad to see that she hadn't completed lost her mind because of Percy. He did however still go to Diagon Alley on his birthday, it had been a while since he'd been there and the amount of people did scare him but he coped with it as Audrey let him hold her hand. It was just him and Audrey spending time together again which was worth it, he still didn't like his birthday but he was glad to not be just left alone for once.

She got him a set of books that she thought he'd need for his learning along with a telescope and some neat protective dragon hide gloves, stocked up with two sets of phials - she let him pick the crystal ones - and a set of brass scales despite Roman being sure they still had some. She also insisted on getting him his very own cauldron for use to learn potion-making, however she refused to let him pick any of the ones he liked and instead chose a boring size two pewter one that every other child seemed to be getting. She also wanted to get him some new clothes, a random black pointed hat and a black winter cloak with silver fastenings despite the fact that it was still summer, saying it was never too soon to prepare. She also had him measured up but talked to the woman in private to order three sets of something, saying it was a surprise. Roman hoped they weren't black clothes, he preferred white or gray - or red if he was feeling colorful - as black seemed too dark.

They took a break after that, Audrey let him have a big bowl of chocolate ice cream which was a rarity as things like that were bad for your health and teeth, he even got to try a milkshake. Audrey seemed quieter than normal but Roman didn't mind, he felt like he never got a chance to talk and was overjoyed that she was listening to him now. She also offered he could have an owl, cat or toad for a pet so he wouldn't feel so alone. First though was a wand, what Roman had been looking forward to most. He was disappointed to find the world-famous wand shop was actually rather dirty and drab place, they passed a boy around Roman's age who was bragging to his parents about how awesome a wizard he'd be with his new wand as they went in. Kids sucked.

As a result, the aged man behind the counter was just putting the apparently rejected wands away. Roman was annoyed at having to wait and went over to help to speed the process up, however as soon as he picked up the first wand he felt a rush of power flood through him and sparks of magical light danced up the length of it. That had never happened when he'd used any of his family's wands before.

"I like this wand," Roman announced with an odd certainty, "It feels... right."

"I think it likes you too," the old man told him and Roman couldn't help but jump fearfully at being addressed by the stranger, "Unicorn Tail Hair, Acacia wood, eleven inches exactly. Will only produce magic for their owners, that would make you its owner now, boy."

"I'll take it," Roman grinned happily.

He was in a good mood from getting his wand, he could actually defend himself if Percy tried to hurt him or Audrey instead of using a spoon and getting laughed at. The humiliation still stung. He tried to shake his head of it though as they headed to the menagerie, it was a chaotic mesh of cages but he supposed you couldn't expect much with animals. He was torn on what animal to get until he laid eyes on the most adorable thing he'd ever seen, a smoke colored ball of fur that was chasing its bushy tail. It paused to look at Roman with a pair of luminous blue eyes and he knew what he wanted. Less than ten minutes later, he was walking out with his new cat who he decided to call Smokey.

The rest of the summer was a good one, he felt braver with his wand and less lonely with Smokey. He doted on Smokey, grooming him, petting him, cuddling him and rewarding him with treats just for being there. In return, Smokey liked to lie in the middle of the space he was using to play a game, lie on the book he was trying to read, leave fur everywhere and scratch his bedposts. But Roman didn't mind, he thought it was worth it to have something living who he could talk to and constantly cleaning fur was good practice with his wand since he spent a good deal of time practicing his magic to make up for Audrey not being able to give him as much time to teach as his parents had. She wasn't starting to teach him until after summer though, still he wanted to prove he was a fast learner and he didn't need Percy's stupid school to do well.

Scorpius tried asking Varanian for more information but he only got an unhelpful reply much later of 'trying to know more', he simply sighed and got dressed. Albus was actually up for once, from the tired look on his face, Scorpius didn't think he'd slept well. Michael had already before them as usual but they met up with him in the Great Hall as he and Mirra holding hands - his scarred one even - and exchanging a kiss before going to their separate tables, Scorpius was reminded of worrying if he was doing something wrong with Molly since they hadn't made out yet. He still needed to fill Michael in on what he'd learned as well, Albus' unusual insomnia had prevented him from getting to talk to Michael that night since they needed to be alone.

The girls weren't at breakfast yet although Maurice and Corin were, Corin looked a wreck. His usual neatness was gone, he was dressed as if he just pulled on anything without caring what he wore and his hair was a tangled greasy mess as if he hadn't washed it in a few days. He was picking at his food with an expression of misery, his eyes were all red and blotchy from crying too. Despite Michael's and Maurice's - and even Scorpius' - best attempts, he remained unhappy and refused to be coaxed into proper conversation. Albus didn't help but then he didn't help Corin, however he also didn't say anything negative.

"Well I'm done," Michael announced as he finished devouring his third plate straight of bacon and eggs, still without any sign of the girls, "I have to go to my counselling session now

Corin abruptly managed to start choking on the measly semi-full spoonfuls of porridge, Michael went to help but Corin only gestured wildly for them to look. They did so and Scorpius had to do a double take, for a second thinking that Abby had walked in with a different friend but it was Rose. The same old Rose, neatly dressed, freckles, blue eyes but gone was her bushy red hair. It was now dyed a bright shade of gold that was so dazzlingly fake that Scorpius was sure it was blinding people. Rose smiled and casually sat down with Abby - Abby sitting as far from Corin as possible while still being with them - while they just gawked, it was shockingly strange. What had possessed Rose to do something so utterly stupid? Abby looked embarrassed to just be around her, they threw her questioning looks and she just shrugged.

"Morning," Rose greeted them brightly as the girls started putting food on their plates.

"I have to go to my counselling session now," Michael repeated, also looking at Rose as if trying to decide if she'd gone mad, "I'll see you guys later."

"Bye," Scorpius offered as his friend left before turning to Rose, "Are you... feeling okay?"

"Great, why?" Rose asked sweetly and Scorpius glanced to Albus for help but he was still gawking at his cousin like she'd grown an extra head, a blond head. To his surprise, it was Maurice who asked what they were all thinking.

"What the fuck did you do to your hair?" Maurice demanded of her.

"I dyed it blond."

"I think he means why," Corin explained.

"Why do you think?"

"Insanity?" Albus guessed to which she scowled.

"No," Rose snapped testily, "You said Michael likes blondes when I asked what he saw in Mirra."

"I said maybe and I wasn't even being serious!"

"You dyed your hair blond because of an offhand comment by Al?" Abby wondered.

"Yes," Rose protested as she folded her arms, "No one would fake date me to make him jealous."

"Michael's not that superficial," Scorpius pointed out as he shook his head, "Did you ever think maybe he likes Mirra because she's nice to him and doesn't care about his scars?"

"No, that's just stupid, it has to be something about how she looks. And now I'm blond too so I look more beautiful."

"You look like an idiot," Maurice complained irritably as he pushed away his empty plate, "You looked much better as a redhead."

"Roman, we need to talk," Audrey told him on the last day of August just as he was getting into bed, she stood in the doorway with an unreadable expression, "It's about your education."

"It's okay, I understand," Roman offered brightly, "Your job is important to you and we need the money anyway so you can't teach me as much but I'm still looking forward to it, I'm going to try extra hard, I promise. I've been practicing and reading up and everything."

"Roman... Percy was right before."

"Right about what?" Roman wondered worriedly.

"About Hogwarts," Audrey said and Roman felt the iron fist of dread grab his heart and drag it down further with every word, "It's not the same as when our parents were around and Percy was right about everything, I've thought about it a lot and... it's the best place for you."

"Aud, no," Roman pleaded, his eyes already welling with tears as he scrambled of bed to go to her, "The best place is for me to stay with you, don't send me away."

"Roman, it isn't a bad thing and it isn't forever. You don't like being left alone all the time and really... it's not right for me to leave you like that anyway."

"I'll never complain, Aud, I promise if you just let me stay. Please! Aud, please!" Roman begged and literally fell to his knees, "I'll be nice to Percy, I'll try not be scared of his family, I'll never complain, I'll never ask for anything else, just don't send me away. Aud, please."

"I've made up my mind, Roman, it's for the best."

"No, it's not!" Roman sobbed as the dread hand tore out his heart that his final sibling was getting rid of him, "Family is supposed to stick together, not throw each other away! Aubrey left and now you're leaving too."

"It's not like that! This is a good thing," Audrey insisted forcefully, "Hogwarts is something kids are supposed to look forward to, it'll be good from you to be around kids your own age and learn from professionals."

"I hate kids my own age! I don't care about learning from professionals!" Roman screamed through his tears as he jumped back to his feet and jabbed his finger accusingly at her, "And you're lying! This isn't even about that, Percy just wants me out of the way and so do you! You just don't want me! You're a terrible sister! Mom and Dad would never send me away! I hate you!"

"I'm not Mom and Dad! I'm just me! I'm only twenty years old! I never asked or ever expected to be responsible for you by myself, I'm just trying to do the best I can for the both of us! This has nothing to do with Percy, this has to do with Hogwarts being able to give you everything that I can't and much better at it than me!" Audrey yelled back and Roman just stood there shaking from his tears, he looked up when he felt Audrey's hand on his shoulder. When she continued it was in a gentler tone, "At the very least, just give it a try and we'll see how it goes, okay? If you still hate it after a few months then you can come home and we'll rethink things."

"Y-You p-pr-promise?" Roman whispered tearfully and she nodded as he hugged her.