Parts (93-96)
IV
Chapter 17
Assault
Part 1: A Nice Day
Calderon was in a much more cheerful mood since Easter, the power-repressing potion hadn't worked, Elwood was still trying to bury him in paperwork and there was a potential new killer on the loose but he was still happier. Scor was speaking to him again. Calderon had thought his cousin had somehow found out about his lineage and hated him for it, it was rather awful when people you cared about hated you. He expected it but it still hurt. That wasn't the case though, he'd just found out about him using Shadows to save Pippy. He'd been as honest as possible without dropping Sal in it, protecting his sister would be the death of him one of these days but he'd still do it. Scor was strangely understanding, Calderon didn't think he really deserved forgiveness but he supposed it was less bad then being Voldemort's son. He was just glad to have his cousin back really, he didn't know how long he had.
Harry contacted him again to test the magic-repressing potion a few days before his thirty-ninth birthday in early June, Calderon got Elwood's permission and left after saying goodbye. It had become fairly routine by now, he knew the way to Fitz - the one creating and testing the potion - but Harry still walked down with him. Talking to him about their lack of progress, asking after his children with particular concern for James' OWLs. Calderon wished he could say more but with Elwood's restricting rules, he didn't get to go around the castle as much so was more out of touch with how the students and teachers were unless he was particularly close to them. They reached Fitz and as usual, the rather dedicated Potioneer handed him the vial without even a greeting in his eagerness. Calderon downed the vial, it wasn't such a luminous green anymore but it did still unfortunately taste like swallowing thorns.
He headed into the room set aside for him and - presumably - other test subjects, dumping his bag and laying down on the bed before the wave of dizziness struck. The strength was sapped from his body as he touched the bed, leaving him drained and tired. Instead his body felt like a huge deadweight that he hadn't the strength to lift, it was more intense than usual though. It didn't matter, he just needed to do magic to prove it didn't work and he'd be allowed to sleep it off. With great effort, he reached inside himself for the magic but felt the same jolt of pain as the power was out of his grasp. He tried again, this time doing what he always did and riding out the pain but he wasn't rewarded by magic filling him. He tried again. And again. And again. He was starting to panic now, was it working?! Could he really not do magic?! He knew that was the point but it still terrified him, he didn't want to be a Squib anymore. His panic turned to terror as it continued to not work and as usual when he felt emotion, magic tried to happen but it couldn't. He felt like he was being electrocuted as the pain shot through him, his body seized as it tried to grasp magic but was repelled. The pain only made his instincts try harder to reach for the power, only intensifying the pain which was a vicious cycle.
Calderon realized he was screaming, he was screaming and no magic was happening. No lights. No sounds. Nothing exploding. Nothing at all. With great effort, he tried to reign in his panic to spare himself the pain of his magic trying to happen. He tried not to feel anything, feeling emotions was bad because it meant magic and magic meant pain since he couldn't do magic. He wasn't sure how long it took him to succeed or if he'd passed out of if anyone had done anything, he wasn't aware of anything but his own situation in that moment. He lay there on his side, breathing heavily and aching as if he'd suffered a severe but internally somehow. It wasn't so bad when he wasn't trying to use magic in any way but he still hated it. He hated the feeling of being so powerless, so helpless. He felt like a child again, an utterly defenseless, scared little child. Except he didn't even have his twin beside him now. He had no one. He had nothing. Not even the magic that made him who he was. He regretted agreeing to help now, he didn't want to feel like this even temporarily and worse than that, he didn't want Sal to have to endure this either. It was too late though, really. The potion worked now.
Happiness flooded her and washed away all the worrying thoughts inside her mind, all thoughts in general were carried off in the joyful tide. Cassia felt so relaxed, it was amazing how calming it was to not have any thoughts inside your head. And then she heard a voice, Viola's voice coming from inside the recesses of her mind, echoing because of the distance.
Pick up the stone and skim it, Viola's voice commanded and Cassia obediently picked up a stone, skimming it across the water perfectly. Just like she'd wanted but exactly not like she'd wanted. Viola... Viola was bad, her mind tried to remind her.
"Good. I wasn't sure I'd be able to control three at once," Viola sighed with relief and plucked something out of the air beside her, something fabric that revealed Lily and August standing there blankly. She stepped closer to them before throwing the fabric back over the three of them, rendering them invisible.
Go to your family and continue to Hogsmeade as planned
Cassia obeyed Viola's command but thoughts were fighting to form behind the fog of joy as she returned to their quarters, Antonius was sitting stroking his dog and talking to their daddy. She didn't want to obey Viola. Viola was the enemy. Viola needed their blood. Viola was probably trying to kidnap them. She needed to do something.
"Are you ready to go, Cassia?" her daddy asked her abruptly with a gentle smile, "We were just about to go get you."
Tell him yes
"Yes," Cassia said while her mind screamed no.
"You have to leave the dog," her daddy pointed out to Antonius as he stood, looking dizzy and putting a hand to the wall to steady himself for a moment before recovering. She tried to ask him if he was okay but her lips didn't move.
"She has a name," Antonius insisted before expressing concern, "Are you okay, Dad?"
"Fine," her daddy brushed it off, "Grab your coats both you, it might get cold later."
Grab your coat like a good little girl
Cassia obediently collected her coat and they headed off, the path now clear as the students were already in Hogsmeade. It was a much quieter journey than usual, she was usually the talkative one especially since Antonius had been hurt by the Shadows but she wasn't with Viola controlling her. Her daddy alternated between rubbing his head and trying to get them to talk more, she tried to tell him she was under the Imperius Curse but her lips weren't listening to her.
She felt herself panicking behind the fog and embraced the fear because it was her own. The Imperius Curse could be resisted, her daddy had said so in his classes. It just required strength of character, willpower and practice. You needed to hold on to who you were and have a stronger will than the caster, fight to be who you are not who they were trying to make you be. Thinking was a good sign, Viola had already said she wasn't sure she could hold three and Viola was a child not an experienced Dark Witch.
"Why don't we get a drink first?" her daddy offered, ushering them into the Three Broomsticks and practically collapsing into a seat at the nearest free table, "Then we can go to Honeydukes or that toy store, huh?"
"How about the book store?" Antonius asked with a hint of enthusiasm.
Her daddy smiled and opened his mouth to reply before closing it quickly as his head lolled, his smile vanished and his face seemed suddenly sucked of all color.
Leave the Three Broomsticks now and come into the forest, while he's distracted by... Whatever's going on with him
NO! Cassia screamed inside her mind, not wanting to leave her daddy when something was wrong with him. To her surprise, it worked. Sort of. Her body simultaneously tried to stand and stay from the two commands from the two controllers, resulting in her jerking oddly and falling back. Her father's body buckled and he collapsed, falling off his seat and hitting the floor.
"Daddy!" Cassia managed to cry out like she wanted, Antonius fell fearfully to his knees beside their daddy.
"Dad? Dad? Wake up," Antonius pleaded and shook their father's shoulder gently but he remained unmoving.
Leave! NOW! Viola's voice commanded and Cassia tore out against her will, while her brother called after her.
Her legs were running now, Cassia tried to fight it which resulted in her body jerking but it didn't stop it. She thought she must look like she was trying to run while having a seizure, she was getting close to the forest but she was managing to stall more frequently. She reached the forest and pelted down, she screamed at her body to not to and jerked so violently back that she hit the ground. Her body got back to her feet and continued running unhelpfully though, Cassia was winning though. She could feel her determination burning like a fire inside of her, even as she saw the cloaked figures she was running to with the other three already there and no longer invisible. She knew who she was, she was Cassia Ashain and she wasn't going to let an evil Shadow control her!
Viola gasped abruptly and Cassia felt her mind tear through the veil of happiness as her body came to the halt she'd wanted, she would have been delighted if not for the cloaked figures who raised their wands threateningly to her. She didn't have time to be happy, she threw herself out of the way of their aim desperately and back into running how as jets of light launched at her. On her terms this time. And for her life. The good thing though, was that they had foolishly taken her to a forest. Where birds lived.
"Attack! Attack! Attack!" Cassia called for the birds to attack the figures after her, gesturing blindly back and the winged creatures flocked to obey like a darkish cloud of feathers descending from the branches. She recalled Maurice's words and added, "Go for the eyes! And the sticks!"
She heard cries behind her and could only assume - and hope - it was working, her heart was thundering as she tore through the trees and continued calling for more birds to come to her aid. She actually had no idea where she was or which direction she was going in relation to Hogsmeade or even to the others, she knew she needed to get help or help the others if they hadn't already been freed when Viola's hold over Cassia was broken. But she was lost already in her desperate scramble, some soldier she was.
There was a crack and a cloaked man appeared before her, he was sporting an assortment of minor bloody wounds from the birds especially on his hands and face. His face what disturbed her, his face was twisted in rage and his eyes looked as if they were crying blood. She opened her mouth to call for the birds to protect her but he hit her with a spell before she could. A Silencing Charm as when she opened her mouth, no sound came out.
"Think it's fun having birds attack people's eyes, you little bitch?!" the man spat and she felt fully afraid now, she tried to run but his next spell struck her and it wasn't so innocent. No screams left her lips as the Torture Curse hit her, sending pain worse than anything she could've possibly imagined jolting through her young, fragile body.
Celestine was actually relieved to be home, he was utterly exhausted and just wanted to crawl into bed. Even if it meant sharing with the utterly awful - well in truth, she wouldn't be that bad if she just wasn't his wife - Gabrielle and sleep. He'd pulled beyond a quadruple shift at the Ministry and then working his Soul Eater duties on top of that, he was just worn out. His eyes felt as if they'd been removed, rolled in sand and put back so every slight twitch rubbed the grit in further. He wandered into his home, trudging through with the deadweights he had for feet right then. Pausing only as he noticed Gabrielle was actually in the kitchen, sitting at the table but seemed to have fallen asleep herself. Fallen asleep holding the creature, the thing had climbed onto the table and was now crawling across it cautiously.
He really didn't understand why everyone thought it was a baby, it didn't even look human. It was a twisted creature of nightmares with shadows for flesh and pitch black holes for eyes, its face was more distorted than Brutus' and its body even more so. He'd chosen the name 'Vale' cleverly, Vale being 'Veil' as the baby was just a mask to hide the thing inside. And everyone said it was adorable, that it looked just like him. Maybe that was why it was such a disgusting abomination of nature, Celestine couldn't even look at himself in the mirror because he didn't see the same thing everyone else saw. He saw a vile inhuman thing staring back at him, he told everyone he just had a fear of mirrors but really it was just his own reflection. People would think him mad - Soul Eaters and Aurors alike - if he told them that was what he saw. He hated the person he was, he hated everything about himself.
He could understand why she loved Brutus over him in a way because of that but in another, he was lost. He was so much more dedicated to her then Brutus, he'd killed his own parents because she asked - asked, not threatened or forced in any way - it of him but Brutus continued to put his treacherous family above her goals even when they got in the way, he had betrayed everything he believed in favor of her while Brutus still argued against her in favor of his own morals. Nothing he did was enough yet Brutus doing nothing was everything. Even knowing that she'd probably never love him, Celestine still remained loyal to her every command because he was that devoted. Maybe she saw the same thing he did when he looked in the mirror and that was why she still preferred Brutus.
He watched his 'son' reach the edge of the table, it flicked its forked tongue from behind the jagged teeth and tilted its horned head to look down. Celestine willed it to fall but made no move to harm the creature, it would risk his cover to hurt the monster. He would get to kill it one day anyway, when all was said and done. Along with the Carrows as a personal revenge for his First hellish Year of Hogwarts and himself, he'd destroy his soul when she had no more use for him because he'd have nothing left to live for then, he'd have fulfilled his life's purpose to see her victorious over the world. The world would be a better place then, he could die knowing he made the world a better place. The creature fell off the edge stupidly and he made move to help it, it gave an inhuman screech when it hit the ground which woke Gabrielle. He rushed over to play the concerned father while she also ran to the crying beast.
"What the hell, Gabrielle?! How could you let him fall off a table?!" Celestine demanded unfairly and angrily of her.
"I didn't mean to- I fell asleep," Gabrielle babbled tearfully and fearfully as she got out her wand to tend to the thing, she was a Healer but hesitated, "He's hit his head, we need to get him to St Mungo's. Come on."
Vern had been looking forward to Hogsmeade, both because it was the last real break before exams and because it was the last real break he'd have before the summer. He dreaded the summer, it wasn't that he wasn't grateful as really it had been nice of the Potters to take him in and he was cared for. It just wasn't the same. He always felt like he was just in the way there, intruding on another family. Which he supposed he was, they didn't really want him there anymore than his own family did. What was left of his own family anyway, his parents were still dead. He still missed them. There were bigger things going on than his life though, he had no right to complain and it wouldn't solve anything. It was best to just get on with it and try to make the best of things.
He was also looking forward to spending some time with Olivia and to get away from his friends arguing, well not arguing but Maurice and Orous still talking. Considering the rift with his own siblings, Vern really hated seeing siblings fight especially when they actually got along usually. It would also be his last date with Olivia until the next year school, at least he hoped she'd still want to go out with him after the summer because he still really liked her. Her hair - and his - was growing back now, it was long enough that she had taken to wearing a barrette to pull back her bangs and to look more girlie. She was wearing one with a blue butterfly that day, matching her beautiful blue eyes and the dress she was wearing. He always felt underdressed compared to how stunning she looked, even though he did try to look respectable as his Mum would've put it. They held hands as they walked there in the dazzling sunshine, talking easily and admiring what a nice day it was. They went to the Three Broomsticks first, Olivia hand a fondness for Butterbeer and the walk - especially on a like day like it was then - was thirst-inducing. Things were going well, they were drinking and laughing together over the drastic differences in their pre-Hogwarts educations before the mood was shattered by the sound of someone falling.
"Daddy!" Cassia cried.
Vern's eyes darted immediately in the direction of the sound, seeing Ashain had just collapsed. Antonius fell to his knees beside his father to try wake him with no success and considering Ashain's possession predicament, Vern really, really had a bad feeling that it wasn't something normal like sunstroke. He ran over to help and was glad to see Olivia followed, it would probably be rude to leave your date unattended but the professor's life trumped his love life unfortunately. Ashain didn't seem to be waking.
"Cassia! Where are you going?! Cassia! Come back!" Antonius called after his sister as she randomly took off, hesitating for a minute before rushing after her desperately.
"Antonius, wait!" Vern yelled and bolted after him, not thinking it was safe for two little ones to be running around Hogsmeade alone. For two little kids, they were actually quite quick or maybe it was just because it was easier to dodge the people around as they were smaller. Cassia ran into the forest...? He'd thought she'd been running for help, even at her age it seemed logical to run for help if your father collapsed or to simply stay with the guy. Actually, she was running incredibly strangely too.
"Is she having a seizure or something?" a breathless voice asked and he realized that Olivia was still following him, he slowed down slightly to let her keep pace.
"I don't know," Vern admitted, "You're still with me?"
"Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?" Olivia asked jokingly with a smile as they continued after the Ashains into the forest, "I always thought there should be more running on dates."
"Glad you approve," Vern smiled before giving her a serious answer, "I just want to make sure they're okay."
She nodded in understanding as he finally caught up to Antonius without the throng of people to avoid, grabbing the boy's shoulder. They came to a halt as they saw what was up ahead though, Cassia was running towards cloaked figures with August, Lily and Viola already there. Viola gasped but it didn't seem to be because of them, Cassia stopped running and the cloaked figures raised their wand to fire faster than Vern could draw his. She threw herself out of the way and into a run, some of the figures tore off after and she cawed as she ran. Birds erupted from the trees to sweep down on the cloaked figures, Viola cried out and dropped her wand in panic.
"We're free, Lily, RUN!" August screamed abruptly, both he and Lily took off in the wrong direction to them due to the confusion of the birds although Vern, Olivia and Antonius were too far away for it to bother them.
"Brat!" one of the cloaked figures spat and hit Viola hard enough to send her to the ground while the others took off after the children while try to defend themselves from the birds.
"It's hard to control three at once!" Viola protested, scooping her wand up and Vern noticed blood dripping from her nose now from the force of the blow before he roughly grabbed her arm, they vanished in a loud pop that he thought was apparation.
"Find my friends, they have to know this," Vern told of Antonius as the boy tried to break free of his grip to go after his sister, the Shadows were making a move to kidnap them for the blood. Abby, Albus and James could be in danger too so they should be warned.
"I'm not leaving without Cassia," Antonius said seriously.
"I'll go after her, just go and find them," Vern promised, he'd have to anyway if they had any chance of stopping them in time. He didn't wait for a reply before he charged off in the direction of Cassia's caws.
"And get help from adults! I'll go after the others," Olivia added and ran in the direction that Lily and August had fled in, Antonius bolted back the way they'd came.
Vern wanted to tell her to go back for her own safety but he'd already lost sight of her as they'd ran in different directions, it was probably a stupid thing to do anyway. There was no reason why she shouldn't try to help when that's what he was doing, his heart was pounding in terror and his knuckles white from gripping his wand but he didn't dare stop or leave. He'd never forgive himself if he chickened out and left three people - his cousin, his friend's brother and a seven-year-old no less - to be kidnapped, his blood ran cold thinking of what he knew the Shadows had done to Orous. Scorpius and Lorcan too for that matter. While he knew it was unlikely that's what they'd do to them, it still showed how bad it could be. As if to illustrate his point, he came to a halt near a stream to see Cassia convulsing with her face contorted in agony but no screams were leaving her open mouth as she thrashed about.
"Expelliarmus!" Vern cried and aimed his wand at the figure with his wand on her, to his surprise the guy was knocked back into the stream as well as disarmed. He ran forwards with his wand still aimed on the man, his other hand grabbing Cassia and hauling the shaking girl to her feet as two others joined the torturer on the other side of the stream, "Expelliarmus!"
This time, one of the figures flicked his wand and apparently parried his spell. He wished he knew better spells, he pulled Cassia behind him protectively as he backed away slowly with her. He wasn't letting them get her without putting up a fight, he swallowed fearfully and repositioned his wand as his hands were all sweaty now. One of the newcomers helped the battered one up, he grabbed his wand while the third flicked his wand at Vern.
"Protego!" Vern cast immediately and his shield sprang up in time to deflect a lethal looking purple spell that set the tree it struck ablaze in purple flames.
His heart leaped in terror and it must have shown on his face because the caster smirked. What had he gone and gotten himself into? He'd been on a date laughing and having fun not quarter of an hour ago. His odds weren't good, he was a Third Year of mediocre talent against three adults who knew spells that caused purple fire. He couldn't try to run or they'd just shoot him in the back, he'd be helpless against that and thought Cassia probably had some kind of Silencing Charm on her. He might... He might just be able to hold them off long enough for Cassia to get away though, protecting her was more important and all he could really hope for in that moment.
Vern went to tell Cassia to run, realizing these very well might be his last words and he tried to think of something meaningful to say to someone but couldn't. What was he supposed to say? And to who? What family did he have who would even care? He and Olivia hadn't been together very long and his friends, would they really care that much? He wasn't very important really. Tears pricked his eyes, he was probably going to die and no one would even care. His life didn't matter, he didn't matter. He was probably going to die and it didn't even matter to anyone but him.
"Run, Cassia," Vern whispered tearfully and finally, at the very least he could know that he died trying to do the right thing, "And never stop running."
Part 2: To Save a Sibling
Scorpius tried to be in a good mood for Hogsmeade but he couldn't, he still felt unrested and anxious. While normally he might just use Leebin's technique to push his worries aside, he didn't think he should considering he might be meeting Varanian and should be on the lookout. Maurice was in exceptional spirits, telling them at breakfast about Lenore and how great she was. He'd go back to the start of his spiel whenever another of them joined the table, it made Scorpius wish that he's arrived later so he wouldn't have to hear the same thing multiple times virtually word for word. He didn't have his hands on his translator necklace so they couldn't even tell him to talk about something else and if they tried get him to use it, he insisted they wait until he finished talking about her. It didn't even help when they went outside to go to Hogsmeade as he decided to tell Vern and Orous - apparently forgetting they weren't speaking - while they waited to get their permission slips checked.
Finally though, they set off and the group splintered. Vern went off with his girlfriend Olivia, Scorpius with Molly, Orous walked with a sullen Michael as far away from his brother as possible, Abby and Corin went separately as they didn't like being around each other, Maurice decided to walk with his oldest friend to keep him company while the other three remained with Abby. Maurice finally fell silent about Lenore, he wasn't accustomed to walking and talking due to the way his translator necklace worked. He was out of earshot of their conversations anyway, he just intertwined his fingers with Molly's.
"They're going to get together," Molly pointed out, making him remember he was supposed to be talking to her not worrying.
"Who?" Scorpius wondered uncertainly, afraid she had said it and he just hadn't been listening.
"Maurice and Lenore."
"C'mon," Scorpius scoffed dubiously, "She's a bit out of his age range and besides, I don't think he realizes he has a crush on her yet. He's completely against dating anyway."
"Some things change," Molly shrugged, "She's going to break his heart and he'll probably be even more against dating then though."
"I doubt it. It's not going to happen."
"Oh really?" Molly smirked, "You really want to bet against a Seer?"
"Yes," Scorpius insisted and her smile only widened, "You're not doing anything Divinationy or Seery so it's not set in stone or anything."
"Remember how you thought your brother was a girl?"
"That's different," Scorpius said as he blushed furiously, "Baby gender is random chance, this is more like... deductive future guesswork."
"So you'd be willing to bet... five Sickles shall we say on it?"
"Deal," Scorpius grinned, accepting readily before wondering whether betting on one of your friends was particularly moral. Talking to her did help take his mind off things though as they walked, it was a beautiful day and he was starting to relax on their way to the Hog's Head.
"Scorpius, could I talk to you for a minute?" Varanian's voice asked him abruptly and he jolted in shock, turning to the teenager - or rather Varanian in disguise - speaking to him.
"Okay," Scorpius agreed and turned to Molly guiltily, "I erm... have to go speak with Aaron here in the woods now but I'll be back soon."
"Real soon. I have other things to do."
"Can I come?" Molly asked, Scorpius wasn't sure why it surprised him that she would want to come. Varanian didn't look like he expected it either despite both of them knowing she was aware of these things, he wondered if he should get Michael to come too next time, "I know who you are, I don't see why I shouldn't come."
"You know who I am?"
"Aaron is code for you," Scorpius pointed out and Varanian shot him a glare, his eyes remained piercing even as a dull brown.
"Fine but don't go finding anyone else," Varanian agreed with great reluctance before heading off in the direction of the forest with them having to hurry to catch up. They walked until Varanian decided it was an appropriate distance for them to talk, he launched into his explanation of his latest conversation with Ashylos but hadn't gone very far before Varanian put up a hand, "Stop."
"Why?"
"One of my wards had been activated, there's a person or people in the forest. We need to move further away."
"How do you know?" Scorpius asked curiously as he followed Varanian further into the forest, he thought it was the same way to reach the caves.
"It makes a sound that only the caster can hear. Problem is it only works once though, I'd need to set it back up again now."
"Do people usually come into the forest?" Molly wondered after a minute.
"Not usually, or at least I don't think so," Varanian pointed out before shrugging, "I suppose it's a free public forest and other people are entitled to use it if they want, unfortunately. Why do you ask?"
"I just have a bad feel-" Molly started to say but was silenced as an agonized scream tore through the otherwise calm scenery, Varanian's wand was in his hand in an instant.
"Wait here."
"I'm of age."
"I'm not staying by myself," Scorpius protested as they followed after Varanian regardless, both of them with wands drawn.
"Fine but just stay close to me and shut up," Varanian hissed at them as they hurried in the direction the scream had come from.
"I'm going to meet Varanian now," Dom told him, drawing Aurelius out of his thoughts.
He scowled in worry, he'd only just started to relax after they returned from the secret scary room that tried to light his wife on fire. He opened his mouth to reply but closed it as he noticed one of the house-elves was passing by, the one with the droopy ears but he didn't know its name. He hadn't even realized house-elves had names until Dom had told him about it recently, he'd been excited to learn it as he had always thought that house-elves should have names. After all, even pets had names so why not house-elves? He'd tried asking the house-elves their names but they had done what they usually did and ignored him, the house-elves tended to do that. Unless you were his father of course, they were completely loyal to him. His father despised the creatures himself though.
"Good morning. Nice day, isn't it?" Aurelius greeted it kindly with a smile that soon died, it glared back at him with its dark bulging eyes disturbingly as it limped away. He had no idea what he'd ever done to incur the house-elves dislike of him, then again they just seemed to hate everyone who wasn't his father without reason so it probably wasn't just him. Atticus had been scared of them as a child because they were so cold like that, they'd hated his sons since birth. He missed his sons, he didn't think he was a good father and understood why they would hate him but it didn't stop him caring. He wished he could see them again, talk to them, know how they were doing.
"You have the strangest house-elves," Dom mused and his attention reverted to back to what he'd been going to say before the house-elf had interrupted them.
"That was fast."
"It's important, Varanian needs to know if he's going to go after the Scepter," Dom pointed out, understanding his jump in conversation the way most people wouldn't.
"Okay, I get that," Aurelius said as he took her hands gently, he did understand that it was important but he didn't think it was truly urgent. If Varanian got it then he'd destroy it and Atticus would live, if the Shadows got it then he was sure Brutus wouldn't let his brother die. Either way Atticus lived - which was what mattered more in his opinion - and the Scepter probably would be destroyed, thus whatever bad thing it did that the Shadows wanted wouldn't happen regardless so it didn't really matter who got the Scepter as long as one of them did. And now they knew how to get down there and that it tried to burn people alive, it seemed enough furor for one day and fate didn't like to be tempted, "But how about we limit ourselves to only one life-threatening experience a day? Going down there and nearly being incinerated was today, we can save Varanian for tomorrow and stay home where it's safe... Well, safe-er I suppose considering but still, we can just do something nice and calm and relaxing and not dangerous. One day isn't going to make a huge amount of difference."
"How is seeing Varanian life-threatening?" Dom wondered in puzzlement, "He's the good guy here."
"Because Soul Eaters want to murder him and Aurors want to arrest him, he may be good but he's dangerous to be around and you could get caught in the crossfire."
"That hasn't happened the other times I've met him."
"I haven't died yet either but it doesn't mean I'm immortal."
"I'll be fine, okay?" Dom assured him gently as she squeezed his hands comfortingly, "It won't take long, I'm meeting him at the same place as last time. And then we can stay in, do something nice, calm, relaxing and not dangerous when I get back. We can limit it to two life-threatening experiences a day, one more isn't going to make a huge amount of difference."
"Well how about I go with you then? We can be in danger together," Aurelius volunteered, feeling his heart start beating in terror at the thought of being around a fugitive subject to attack at any moment. But he'd still rather go with her then let her go alone, he didn't want anything to happen to her.
"Varanian would rather it just be me. I don't think he trusts you," Dom admitted and Aurelius supposed he didn't blame Varanian for not trusting him, they had never even met and being a fugitive must make one cautious. Instead he simply put his arms around her and hugged her close.
"Just be careful."
"I will," Dom promised and pulled away to kiss him tenderly, he relished the lingering touch of her lips against his as if was their last - death felt imminent these days - and felt a giddy rush of excitement as if it was their first, "I love you, we'll do something fun when I get back I promise."
"I love you too," Aurelius whispered and pecked her on the check a final time in farewell, she smiled at him brightly before leaving.
He never thought he'd fall in love with her, with anyone in fact. Brutus pseudo-death by Atticus' own hand had been too much for his already fragile mind to take, it had shattered whatever was left of him. He'd withdrawn completely into his own broken mind for a long time, the thing about being about rock bottom though was that it couldn't last forever. Eventually you had to either die or start to pull yourself out, put yourself back together piece by painful piece and Aurelius hadn't died. He had no concept of time during that period and had been utterly flabbergasted to learn he was fifty-six by the time he'd recovered enough to care about such things, he'd thought he was in his early forties and that his father lied at first. He'd lost so much time, actual years of his life just because he was too weak to cope. By then of course he thought himself too old to find love or happiness or date, even if he had had the courage to go out and face the world again. It had been the last thing on his mind when he met Dom but now they were married, quite happily, things weren't completely perfect with the war and everything but they had each other and they'd get through life together.
"Aurelius," his father's voice jolted him from his thoughts, he spun to face his father who had the droopy-eared house-elf from earlier by his side, "I think we should talk."
Albus was in a good mood for Hogsmeade, it beat the crap out of being nagged to study for exams anyway. Lenore was determined to dampen his spirits though, despite not even knowing her. First Maurice wouldn't shut up about her and then Rose wouldn't shut up about Maurice - who he couldn't even tease due to his not using his necklace, deafness was inconvenient sometimes - not shutting up about her, he wished he'd thought to walk with one of the others while he had the chance as he'd kind of missed the time when it wouldn't have been awkward to leave. Or better yet, he wished he had a girlfriend he could branch off with like Scorpius or Vern as that was always a good excuse. Except not his cousin or a Slytherin. He wanted a girlfriend so badly, he felt like the only person who'd never had one or never had a first kiss. He knew that wasn't true as one of his friends would be quick to point out but still. Rose was not an easy person to silence and attempting to speak to Abby or Latimer about something else got him yelled at, he just hoped it didn't bother Latimer too much as they were trying to keep him in good spirits.
He thought Latimer was doing okay but he was still scared of losing him, he'd had enough of death and they were in danger enough without his friends losing the will to live. He hadn't spoken to James since punching him, he was still furious with his brother for his reaction to Latimer's suicide attempt and the fact James had been one of those who bullied him. He didn't like James' friends either but he still wouldn't wish them dead or act how James had, he didn't want to be on bad terms with his brother but James really didn't make it easy sometimes. He was still kind of mad at Lily even, she should know better than to have trusted a Slytherin and gone down there. He didn't want her to get hurt and he didn't like her being at risk. He was definitely mad at August though, he was the smart one, the Ravenclaw and he absolutely should have unequivocally known better then to let them go down there. He didn't blame Cassia, she was just young. And absolutely bonkers. How had Ashain wound up with such strange kids? He was alright, except for being possessed and not giving him good grades because they were related now through marriage. Obscure relations counted, look at Vern.
He zoned out as they started debating whether to go get a drink first or go to the shops first or whether to go in separate directions in smaller groups. Albus needed a girlfriend, he'd much rather be eating then arguing right then and he could do that with a girlfriend. And snogging. He spotted the woman that Scorpius had said was Leebin's wife magically cleaning paint off a door before going back inside, Leebin's wife was actually pretty hot. Why did all the beautiful women in the world have to be taken and older then him? He wondered hopelessly whether being the son of Harry Potter would be enough for her to leave her husband to date him. He sighed sadly to himself, it was no wonder he couldn't get a girlfriend when the only thing he could think that was positive about himself was that he was the son of the famous and beloved Harry Potter. He looked like his dad but he was nothing like him, he was just an ass. Literally, his bloody Patronus was a donkey. He had a friend with a Death Eater Slytherin bully for a father who could destroy a school full of Specters and a friend with a deadbeat muggle nobody for a father who could stop a werewolf army yet what had he done? The son of Harry Potter the Head Auror, vanquisher of Voldemort, badass awesome heroic wizard? Hmm... Nothing. It was no wonder his dad didn't want to spend time with him.
"Hey!" a young and familiar voice cried, Albus turned to see Antonius pelting towards and waving his arms wildly.
"Shouldn't you be with your Dad?" Albus wondered as Antonius paused, panting to draw breath as he reached them.
"He collapsed. But not important. Shadows in the forest. Trying to take my sister and yours and Abby's brother."
"Why would they-" Rose began dubiously, of course his heroic cousin wasn't in on everything going on. He didn't care about that right now though, he didn't even care how it had come about. He just had to save his sister.
"Take us there right now!" Albus commanded and grabbed Antonius arm to half-throw him back into a run, he scrambled breathlessly back into a hard sprint and they followed.
"I think we should get an adult!"
"Then get an adult!" Abby complained before Albus could say it, probably as desperate to save her brother as he was his sister. Maybe even more so considering what had happened to Nick, his heart went out to her while Rose veered off.
"She doesn't know where they're going though," Corin pointed out, he was such a whine. Hagrid was cool and kind albeit fascinated with creatures that wanted to kill them on a weekly basis, how had he wound up with such a whiney brat for a son?
"Then you see where we're going and get help also," Latimer offered, he could actually be quite clever.
"This way," Antonius said in between gasping breaths, leading them to the edge of Hogsmeade and beyond to a forest.
"I'll bring help here," Corin decided as he too rushed off while the rest of the plowed on into the trees.
"They chased my sister off that way, Vern went after her," Antonius paused in something of a clearing and gestured to right before gesturing ahead, "And that's where August and Lily ran off in with the bad guys."
"I'm coming, Lily!" Albus cried desperately and breathlessly as he bolted blindly in that direction, hoping they weren't too late as his sweaty hand pulled his wand from his robes. His lungs burned as he ran and he realized Abby and Latimer had followed, he hoped Latimer would be okay in a dangerous situation. Heck, he hoped they all were. Actually, shit. He had no idea what he was doing, he was useless, "Lily! Lily! Can you hear us?! Lily!"
"Albus!" he heard his voice cry, sounding desperate and afraid and not particularly close. They did alter their direction to go after her though, Abby overtook him completely - in any other situation he would've been embarrassed and felt anxious that maybe he was fat - while Latimer lagged behind as he was hindered by his limp and prosthetic.
"ACUTA! GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF MY BROTHER!" the normally quiet Abby raged as she slashed her wand, Albus had to catch up to see what was happening.
From the guy screaming and clutching his face with blood oozing from his fingers, he thought he had been the target of her spell and he thought he must've been grabbing August from the way the boy scrabbled to get away from him. Another cloaked figure was already turning to target her but Albus' eyes were drawn to his sister, Lily was on the ground with glasses askew and tugging at magical ropes binding her ankles. In fact, from the angle it looked as if casting them had been what felled her. Viola and another cloaked figure had their wands aimed at her, while a third was approaching her.
"Stupefy!" Albus cried as he swished his wand at the one closest to his sister, the man dodged it. Bad guys could dodge too? He didn't know why that surprised him but damn, Viola and the other guy both turned on him. Viola going to fire a spell but the adult was faster, a jet of orange already sprang towards him, "Protego!"
His shield slammed up just in time and shattered from the spell, he saw - to his utter horror - that the dodging guy had reached Lily while he had been defending himself. He turned his wand back to them but it was already too late, the man grabbed his baby sister and disappeared in a crack. He saw another shield go up, deflecting a spell that had been fired while he was distracted that struck Viola down. Latimer was the caster, he was by his side with his wand raised now. Did Albus just have slow reactions or were things just happening very quickly? Were these things always so fast? How was he supposed to keep up? Tears jolted into his eyes. Lily was gone. He'd lost his sister. He'd let her down. He was useless.
"Focus, Al!" Latimer snapped as a stray spell disarmed Albus, he turned his teary eyes back to the scene and almost asked what was the point when they'd lost Lily before he recalled they were still in danger.
Viola was clutching her shoulder on the ground but the man closest to her and another were dueling Latimer, two on one non-verbally. Latimer's scarred face was a mask of focus as he skillfully flicked his wand, throwing up shields and launching his own spells faster than Albus could follow let alone do. Abby was trying to hold her own against another further ahead, August was trying to run to her. The guy Abby had injured disapparated and reappeared by Viola before disapparating a second time, not returning this time. And then Abby went down, she couldn't match the adult skilled wizard and fell limply to the ground. August finally reached her and grabbed up his sister's wand, Albus hastened for his wand and rushed to help the Longbottoms.
"Grab the girl! She's a Longbottom too!" one of the guys Latimer was dueling called out, the one who'd been closest to Viola. The only one in fact, the second was lying unmoving and the speaker was backing away from Latimer's hail of spells.
"Expelliarmus!" August cried as he threw a spell out to defend his sister.
Albus ran towards them to help as he was further away, the Shadow put up a shield effortlessly to stop August's pitiful spell. He'd launched a spell of his own before Albus had finished crossing the distance between them, it struck August and tossed the younger boy back straight into Albus. Albus was knocked down and landed somewhat painfully, his head bouncing off tree roots. He shoved August off him as the Shadow reached Abby, he flicked his wand faster then he'd thought himself capable of in desperation. He thought he heard a scream but it wasn't relevant to their current situation.
"Stupefy!" Albus cast in panic as he sat up, the Shadow ducked easily and grabbed his friend, "NO! DON'T YOU TOUCH HER! DON'T YOU DARE!"
The Shadow disapparated with a sickening crack, taking his friend too. Apparently seeing the task was complete or knowing he would lose or both, Latimer's opponent threw himself at his fallen comrade and they both also disapparated. The forest seemed suddenly very still and very silent. And dark, with the chaotic clash of spells gone. He hung his head, they'd failed. They'd lost his sister. They'd lost one of his closet and oldest friends. He'd failed them both. His dad would never have failed like that. Latimer offered him a hand up and he took it, Latimer had a cut on his forehead and some burn on his shoulder but looked otherwise unscathed considering. And August looked completely fine. He couldn't contain his rage and his fist lashed out before he even registered what he was doing, smashing into the younger boy's face with enough force to knock him to the ground.
"WHAT THE FUCK, AUGUST!?" Albus yelled angrily, tears spilling from his eyes as he spoke and he hauled the Ravenclaw back to his feet to shove him against a tree and the boy looked back with teary eyes. Just like Abby's, he cried harder, "ITS YOUR FAULT! SHE WAS TRYING TO PROTECT YOU! TRYING TO SAVE YOU! AND YOU JUST LET THEM TAKE HER! SHE'S YOUR SISTER! BROTHERS ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT SISTERS! AND LILY WAS YOUR FRIEND! YOU DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO SAVE YOUR FUCKING FRIEND!? HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN!? YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE!"
"I-" August tried to say but Albus didn't care, he hit August again with enough force to make his hand throb and went to strike him again before he was pulled back violently by Latimer.
"This isn't helping!" Latimer shouted at him while August staggered back, touching the tender swelling skin that had been the victim of his punch. Albus shrugged the elder boy's hands off, stepping away and wiping his eyes from the streaming tears, "They're alive, they need them alive or they'd have killed them. As long as they're alive then we can get them back."
Part 3: Trying To Escape
"Hey Orous," Hugo called out to him and Orous slowed his pace to let the younger boy catch up, he and Vern were actually friends with Hugo. Hufflepuffs had to stick together, "You heading out to Hogsmeade now?"
"Yeah," Orous confirmed with a nod, "Going out to get my permission slip checked now. Last Hogsmeade trip until next year when you get to come too."
"Yeah, I can't wait," Hugo admitted with a sheepish grin before reverting back to serious, "I was just wondering if you'd seen Lily or August, we were supposed to hang out but I haven't seen them."
"I haven't seen them, I'm afraid. Sorry."
"It's okay, I just wondered. Lily probably forget again but it's not like August," Hugo pointed out and shrugged, "See you later, have fun."
"Thanks," Orous offered as Hugo turned off, "Hope you find them!"
Orous continued outside and met back up with his friends, Maurice proceeding to launch into detail about a conversation he'd had with some girl. Orous did his best to not listen to his brother, they still weren't really speaking. He knew it bothered Vern and it bothered him too but he couldn't help it, reaching out to him without an apology would be like admitting Maurice was right to blame him and Cade for the Scepter. He could deal with being blamed himself, he felt bad for losing it regardless but not his dad. Maurice's similarity to their mother also got to him somewhat, his heartless attitude and dedication reminding him of their mother's heartless attitude and obsession with him succeeding when she was trying to teach him. His appearance and mannerisms didn't help, he hadn't realized before just how much alike they were. How long before he became as psychotic as she was? Maurice already didn't care about anyone after all. They had their permission slips checked and he purposely avoiding walking with his brother, instead dropping back to keep the morose Michael company as he looked like he needed it.
"You okay?" Orous asked him with concern.
"Yeah," Michael brushed it off and sighed, "I just don't like Hogsmeade is all, it brings back painful memories."
"I understand," Orous admitted sympathetically.
He may not know what it's like to be turned into a werewolf and endure what Michael had but he did understand about places bringing back painful memories, he didn't like going to the park anymore because he associated it with his abduction. Oddly, Florian had reminded him of Linden sometimes too. He tried to take Michael's mind off it by talking about other things, he wasn't sure how successful he was though. It was a beautiful day, Orous wished he could still feel the warmth of the sun on his skin. They reached Hogsmeade and started debating where to go next or if they should split up into smaller groups, Vern and Olivia left to do their own date thing as did Scorpius and Molly. If the rest of them did split up into further groups, he'd probably wind up alone. It would be the Fourth Years - assuming Michael didn't leave as he very much looked like he wanted to - along with Latimer then Corin and Maurice together, he'd be alone as he was on rocky terms with Maurice.
He always felt he missed out somewhat from being a Hufflepuff, he and Vern didn't eat with the Gryffindors after all or go into the Gryffindor tower like they did or go to Gryffindor Quidditch practices like some of them did so they spent less time together. It wasn't as bad with Corin and Maurice as they shared classes together due to being in the same year - although still not as many as he shared with Vern - but he also didn't have that with the others as they were a year or three above, he did feel somewhat closer to Michael and Scorpius but not to the others. So they probably wouldn't want him tagging along, he might just go back to Hogwarts and try help Hugo find his friends. He would kind of like to stay in Hogsmeade but he wasn't particularly confident by himself, he'd been alone when he'd been kidnapped after all. Their conversation was interrupted by Antonius though, alerting them to the worrying developments and they tore through Hogsmeade after him into the forest. Except Rose and Corin who went to get help.
"They chased my sister off that way, Vern went after her. And that's where August and Lily ran off in with the bad guys, Olivia went after them," Antonius explained breathlessly as they reached something of a clearing, Albus called after his sister and bolted before Antonius had even finished speaking, Abby hot on his heels to save her brother.
"I'll go with them as there's probably more Shadows that way, you go after Cassia," Latimer said to no one in particular as he also bolted while Maurice went over to retrieve something on the ground.
It looked like Albus' Invisibility Cloak? He didn't have time to wonder about it though as Antonius threw himself back into a run after his sister, despite not having a wand or anything and being out of breath from running around Hogsmeade to get them then back. They were forced to scrabble after him, hurtling deeper into the increasingly dense forest as he ignored their calls to come back. And it paid off, a small straw-haired figure emerged from the trees opposite them running rapidly. Her dark chestnut eyes bulged when she saw then and frantically waved her arms, her mouth opening as if she was speaking but no words came out. Some kind of Silencing... Charm? Silencing Charms were a thing, weren't they? He immediately saw why as man followed her, Orous scrambled to draw his wand but a jet of light had already shot out to hit the man from Maurice. The man had no time to react, crumpling to a heap on the ground without even being able to finishing looking in the deaf boy's direction and Maurice tossed the cloak over his body.
"So no one else will be able to find and revive their comrade," Maurice explained the question on their lips as Cassia reached them on shaky legs and Antonius went to hug her but she brushed him aside and gestured frantically back the way she'd came as her mouth continued to move desperately but silently, "Michael, have you learned about Silencing Charms yet? I know how to do it and reverse it but its OWL level and I'm not sure I can do it."
"No we haven't," Michael shook his head and it clicked in Orous' mind what she could be trying to say.
"Where's Vern?" Orous asked worriedly as he recalled Antonius mentioning his friend had gone after them, Cassia nodded and jabbed her finger in the direction she'd been coming from again, "I'm going after him."
"No, I'll go. You two get the Ashains out of here."
"I'll go with you and Orous can get them back to Hogsmeade," Maurice decided, "There are no Shadows that way but there is presumably more with Vern."
"Why can't I go and you take the kids back?!" Orous protested as the other two went to leave, feeling rather like he was just abandoning Vern by not going after him.
"Because we're better wizards then you."
"Because we're wasting time and someone needs to get them to safety," Michael said instead.
"We'll just go by ourselves," Antonius offered and stalked off without another word, taking his sister's hand and pulling her along too. They were so young, they shouldn't be alone in case more came for them.
"Fine, I'll go," Orous agreed and jogged after the Ashains while the other two charged off in the direction Cassia had come from. It was a good thing he had as there was a crack and another black robed figure appeared, a spell already aimed at them, "Protego!"
His shield slammed up perfectly to protect the siblings from... whatever spell that had been, Antonius placed himself protectively in front of Cassia while a scream echoed from somewhere but they couldn't think about that right then. Orous launched a Body-Bind spell that the attack dodged and threw another spell back at him, Orous ducked to avoid it and fired another one out. Orous actually liked dueling, it was one of the rare times the after effects of having the magic ripped from your soul was useful. He felt incredibly detached when he held his wand in his hand, his soul focus was on the wand and the magic without emotions interfering. It wasn't particularly good in any other situation but in duels he had absolute focus, it was almost like a dance or a game to move and cast on cue depending on what the opponent did. Dueling an adult Shadow was much more difficult than a classmate, they were faster and had access to so many more spells then Orous did. He found himself able to match the speed just about, he could avoid and defend but it was much harder to get an attack in then if he did it was cast aside pretty easily.
However, his opponent - who Orous noticed had dozens of small odd wounds across his face and hands, his robes torn in places too, his eyes were all bloody and crimson drops rolled down his cheeks - must've gotten fed up trapped in a stalemate with a thirteen year old and disapparated. There was another crack and Orous spun to see him by the Ashain kids, he grabbed Antonius and Orous raise his wand, the Body-Bind curse on his lips but Cassia reacted faster. She violently lashed out with her foot and kicked the man squarely between his legs, he abandoned Antonius immediately in favor of clutching his privates in pain. Orous pulled Antonius back with his free hand to get him clear of being grabbed.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Orous cried as he flicked his wand at the Shadow, the man threw himself to the ground out of the way in time and grabbed Cassia's ankle, "Petrif-"
The Shadow disapparated with Cassia in a spectacularly mocking bang before he'd finished his spell.
"NO!" Antonius screamed in anguish, Orous hung his head and put his head in his hands as. A great sense of guilt descended on him as horror gripped his heart, why hadn't he pulled Cassia back too? What kind of absolute stupid idiot didn't think to pull both kids out of the enemy's reach? His mistake had probably just cost a seven year old her life.
"What... What about?" Aurelius asked of his father, hoping he didn't sound as afraid as he felt. His father talking to him was never a good sign.
Damn it, you're an adult! You're a wizard! You're a man! Stop being afraid of your father! Aurelius' mind snapped at itself angrily but it was useless, he was still the same amount of terrified of his father as he had been since he was a toddler. Corvinus Ashain was in his nineties but - much like Aurelius and Ashains in general - he didn't look it, he looked much more like he was Aurelius' real age. He still had a full head of long extremely dark auburn hair with just a streak of silver on the right side, the full mustache and goatee were devoid of grays though. His eyes were the same dark chestnut as Aurelius and his sons but they were much more deep-set, he had an aquiline nose and a very square jaw that were unique to him as Aurelius had his mother's features. He'd lost weight over the past few years, he was no longer rotund but was much more robust than Aurelius still. Aurelius had the misfortune of inheriting his mother's slight, flimsy frame. His father was dressed in finery as always - Aurelius thought there wasn't enough variety of colors - with an overabundance of rings shoved onto his fingers, his left hand was gripping the black orb at the top of his cane while his right held his wand. Also black, very much like his heart.
"I think you know what about," his father told him conversationally, even like this his words sounded cold. He abruptly struck the poor droopy eared house-elf with his cane, the thing gave a yelp of pain while Aurelius averted his eyes uncomfortably but felt guiltily relieved that he hadn't been the target, "This thing told me about what it heard of the conversation with the gold digging harlot with tainted blood that you married."
"Don't insult Dom," Aurelius blurted out defensively, immediately regretting it as he felt fear frosting over his heart and shoved his hands into the pockets of his robes. His wand was in his pocket, he gripped it tightly and felt slightly more at ease. Slightly.
"I can insult whoever I please, especially when it's the truth," his father decided arrogantly and Aurelius open his mouth to reply but closed it again as he noticed the beautiful effect of the marble walls. As if the colors were trapped beneath a rippling surface, Dom thought it was too dark but if you could just use brighter colors then it might actually be rather delightful. He wondered if they could do that to the walls in his quarters, make them blue and white marble to look like the sky or just different shades of blue to look like water. It would look nicer than the current marble, safer, more relaxing and maybe it would make Dom feel more at home. He wanted her to feel comfortable in their home, "Aurelius!"
"Hmm?" Aurelius muttered disinteresting, flinching at his father's tone and risking a glance back to the enraged man.
"Pay attention to me when I'm talking to you," his father insisted, zoning out when he was talking infuriated him really easily. It did to a lot of people actually as he'd discovered throughout his life, it wasn't as if he did it on purpose though. Aurelius just found focusing incredibly difficult and always had done, his mind tended to wander. He was still waiting to grow out of it, everyone had told him as a child that he would grow out of it but he hadn't yet, "I know your wife went to meet Varanian."
"Did she?" Aurelius mused, hoping he didn't look alarmed.
"You're a terrible liar, it's the mark of a fool."
"Am I?"
"Aurelius!"
"Well what do you want me to say?" Aurelius wondered seriously, "I don't know what you expect me to say or what you want from me."
"I want to know what she went to tell him," his father told him patronizingly as if explaining it to a child, a very slow child at that, "And where she's meeting him, taking out that hindrance will do me well."
"Why are you doing this?" Aurelius asked him sadly and with genuine curiosity, "Why are you working for the Soul Eaters? What happened to not taking orders from anyone? What happened to not caring about what was happening with the world because we have everything we want here?"
"That was all well and good when I was younger but I'm getting older now, I'm ninety-five this year," his father explained, eying him as if he was an insect. Actually, he probably thought Aurelius was an insect, "I never cared much for Riddle, a half-blood raised by muggles? I knew he would fail. I was content to live my life out with the fortune of the Ashain name to do whatever I please but now? I'm old and bored, this isn't enough anymore. I have so much life left to live and I want more."
"This is just going to get you killed," Aurelius pointed out and his father laughed, a cruel, cold laugh that seemed to make the temperature drop by several degrees. His eyes glinted darkly as he sobered, a sadistic smile on his lips as he took a step towards him and Aurelius backed away fearfully as his heart started to thunder.
"I cannot die, Aurelius."
"I know you have a high opinion on yourself but you're still just mortal."
"Do you know what happened to your mother?"
"She died," Aurelius answered, really not wanting to talk about her or think about her.
"She wanted to divorce me, you know? After all these years. It wouldn't matter if your wife divorced you, you only have access to your trust fund and not even marriage gives her access to that but it works differently for the one in charge of my estate. If Cordelia had divorced me then I would've lost everything," his father continued as if he hadn't spoken, taking another step towards him and Aurelius again tried to back away but tripped over his feet and fell. He backed up against the wall and went to stand before he noticed his father's wand levelled on him, he swallowed in terror and remained still.
"D-Doesn't divorce only entitle each person to half?" Aurelius wondered meekly, trying to keep him talking despite having a bad feeling he wouldn't like where this story was going.
"Losing half of this is losing everything to me," his father spat as if it was blatantly obvious before his face twisted into some semblance of a smirk, "So do you know what I did?"
"I don't think I want to know."
"I killed her."
"Your killed your own wife over that?!" Aurelius gasped, the trivial reasoning of her wanting a divorce surprised him oddly more than the fact he had. He tried to feel bad for his mother but he really didn't, he just felt saddened and scared his father was a killer.
"Of course, you see money has value whereas people are just worthless sacks of flesh," his father continued, still smiling psychotically, "Why do you think I murdered everyone in my family to ensure I got absolute control over the family's wealth and estate?"
"You k-killed your own family?" Aurelius repeated in a whisper, feeling suddenly incredibly sick to his core. He actually thought he might vomit.
"Yes. They always gave me everything I ever wanted, they should be pleased their deaths gave me the thing that mattered most but I'm getting sidetracked. My point is that when I killed your mother Cordelia, I used her death to create a Horcrux. I'll live forever now, I can never truly die. This wealth is good for a lifetime but for an eternity? I want more," his father told him and Aurelius actually swallowed bile, he'd much rather be anywhere else but there right now. Anywhere. Even Azka- oh wait, Azkaban had been destroyed. Where else was somewhere awful he'd rather be? The room that tried to set Dom on fire. That was a good bad place to be right now, "So then what happens but all this Shadow stuff? I may be following them for now but for now we have the same goals, I'll let this Shadow Master do the heavy lifting as I actually think it may be possible with these Specters. Then when the world is theirs, I'll kill him and take it for myself. I'll have the entire wealth of the world, much more fitting for my eternity."
"I think you might be insane," Aurelius muttered truthfully and his father lost his glee.
"Crucio."
His father - his own father - used the Torture Curse on him. He thought it was a new level of cruelty from his father, he'd actually thought it was beyond his father. He was apparently wrong though or maybe he was just lost in a flashback that somehow had different elements which kind of went against the whole purpose of a flashback but still. Either way the pain was unbearable, like acid was devouring through every part of him - inside and out - but the true cruelty was that it didn't stop. At least if it was acid then it would kill you, the pain would end when there was nothing else to destroy but it wasn't. There was no physical damage so it could go on and on and on... Tears were streaming down his face as he screamed, his screams echoing off the empty marble halls but there was no one to hear or care for his pain, as his body convulsed to desperately try find a position to escape the pain in any way possible but of course there wasn't. Aurelius desperately tried to crawl into his mind, find refuge in some small part of his brain that wasn't searing in unbearable agony to hide in but there was nothing. Nothing but pain. His father actually let him suffer for longer bursts then the Death Eaters used.
"So tell me, Aurelius, what did your wife go to tell Varanian?" his father asked him casually, as if he hadn't just tortured his son. Aurelius just curled his trembling body up into the fetal position, shaking and sobbing as residual waves of pain rolling through him or maybe just memories of the pain dissipating agonizingly slowly, "Crucio."
"No!" Aurelius screamed again as another round of pain shot through him, unrelenting, unreceding pain. His throat hurt from screaming by the time his father stopped again, the house-elf just stood and watched.
"If you don't answer fast enough then you get another round. Do I need to repeat the question or can you still remember it?"
"I-I r-r-remember," Aurelius stuttered out, struggling to speak through the pain and terror fogging his brain.
"You remember the question so the answer is...?" his father prompting, sounding rather like he was enjoying himself.
"I-I-I d-don't-"
"Crucio."
"I'LL TELL YOU! I'LL TELL YOU!" Aurelius shrieked through his screams as another burst of agony tore through him but his father didn't let it go any sooner, "HOW TO GET TO THE SCEPTER PIECE HERE!"
"Is that so?" his father mused and Aurelius nodded against the floor.
"She's telling him how to get to the scepter piece in the mansion," Aurelius confessed, crying guiltily but he couldn't go through that anymore, he couldn't. It was different then when the Death Eaters had done it, they'd wanted him to commit himself to hurting others which was a harder thing to agree to - even to end his suffering - then one little piece of information in a war he tried hard not to care about.
"The Shadows already know how from Romulus' journal, they just haven't yet because they don't have the middle piece so it would be pretty useless. Where is she meeting him now then?"
"I don't know," Aurelius lied with newfound conviction, squeezing his eyes shut and curling his hands against the polished floor to brace himself for the pain. Information was one thing but telling him that would be putting Dom at risk, they had no reason to not kill her and she'd no doubt try to fight them instead of letting Varanian die. He was a Golden Eagle and they mated for life, he loved Dom and he'd do anything to protect her. Even if it meant being tortured into insanity, zombified insanity or death.
"Wrong answer. Crucio," his father offered and Aurelius was sent spiraling through another session of raw pain, his resolve remained unbroken when his father let him go again though, "Where is she meeting Varanian? And don't worry, I'm sure they'll make Dom's death quick."
"I don't know," Aurelius repeated his lie hoarsely, tears continued to seep from his eyes as he opened them to see his father raising his wand again, "Please, Father, I'm your son. Don't hurt me anymore, please. Please."
"You know, Romulus begged for his life too," his father told him a cruel smile playing on his lips, Aurelius felt a cold welling in the depths of his heart as his father's words while his nightmare about his brother dying by his father's hand played in his eyes. He really, really didn't want to hear this.
"No," Aurelius whimpered, trying to shake his head, "Not your son, your own flesh and blood child. He was just a teenager."
"He was a powerless squib and I despised him. I killed him as soon as you showed signs of magic, there was no point keeping him around when I knew I definitely had a magical child instead. Producing an heir is the proper thing for purebloods to do after all."
"No," Aurelius repeated as he cried, desperately not wanting it to be true. He wanted his father to some spark of a soul inside him, he didn't want his beloved brother to have been murdered. He couldn't imagine ever hurting Brutus or Atticus let alone killing them. How could his father be so cold? Something else occurred to him as he thought that, "Are you going to kill me?"
"Only when I'm done with you, I've been waiting for the day I would get to take your pathetic life since you were two years old and you painted neon-colored vultures on the walls of your room. Don't worry, I'll kill you sons and wife too to keep you company. Crucio," his father confirmed before sending another destructive shot of pain through him, Aurelius' own screams grated on his ears as he cried out through his agony, "Where is Dom meeting Varanian?"
"DON'T YOU THINK I WOULD'VE TOLD YOU IF I KNEW?!" Aurelius blurted out in a panicked screech as his father raised his wand again in preparation to hurt him again due to his slow response, it seemed to give his father pause though as he lowered his wand as he was overcome by a thoughtful expression.
"Yes, you would have," his father nodded in agreement, to Aurelius' surprise as much as relief, "You're such a weak person, you would've given in already if you knew. I'm just going to have to kill you now then, I'll wait for Dom and get the information from her. Less ideal but it's not my fault you're so terrible at marriage that your wife tells you nothing. Good riddance, Aurelius, I've always hated you. Avada Kedavra."
Aurelius threw his still shuddering body barely out of the way in time, the jet of green blasting a crater where he'd been but he paid it no mind as he transformed as he moved, willing his body into his animal form. He took flight shakily as a golden eagle, his father cursed and threw a spell at him but he dodge it as he sought a window. He dodged another and another, ducking and weaving the jets of light as he soared through the halls with his father on his tail. It was harder to pick up speed without the wind or altitude while avoiding spells, especially when his feathered body continued to suffer the tremor after effects of the curse. His intensified eyesight found a window and he shot towards it desperately, doing so put him at risk though and he felt his father's curse strike him.
His scream came out as a caw as it punched through his chest, blood spurted out and he imagined very much that it was similar to how some stabbed would feel but the surge of adrenaline from his desperate flight kept him airborne. He smashed through the window, shards of glass painfully jabbing into him and it was all he could do to keep himself from spiraling out of the sky. He forced his wings to keep flapping, despite the glass tearing through the fragile limbs but succumbing to his injuries meant death and he didn't want to die. Especially when he still had to warn Dom. There was no way he was going to reach her rendezvous point with Varanian in his current condition though. He could feel the blood seeping from the wound his father had given him, staining his feathers crimson. It was getting harder to stay conscious too, he could feel the darkness calling to him.
He made it out range of the Ashain estate before finally allowing his poor body to descend, his flight was already incredibly wobbly from his wounds and he lost control a few feet from the ground. He transformed back into a human as he fell, it was stronger than his eagle body even if he was still flimsy. He collided with the ground painfully, he heard a snap as his shoulder hit the misleadingly hurtful grass first and the force of meeting the ground both bruised and rammed the glass in deeper. He whimpered in pain, his body still shaking as dark specs danced before his vision but he couldn't give in, not yet. He fumbled inside his pocket for his wand, drawing it out with a bloody pained hand. He squeezed his eyes shut and thought of Dom, of his sons, of his brother, the people he loved and clung to that.
"Expecto Patronum," Aurelius whispered before flicking his heavy eyelids back open, seeing a shimmering silver Golden - even if it wasn't golden right then - Eagle before him now to send to Dom, "Don't go back to the mansion, Father knows you're meeting Varanian and he is going to torture the location out of you then kill you. Don't go back or he'll kill you. Don't go back. I love you, Dom."
The bird shot off to deliver its message while Aurelius collapsed weakly onto the ground, not sure whether he'd ever see her again as darkness tried to drown him. Just a little more, he pleaded with himself, just hold on a little more and then you can rest. He thought of St Mungo's, his eyes refused his commands to open and his body ignored his desire to move so thinking of it became the sole focus of his thoughts. He forced himself through that mental tube with the last of his strength, he was too weak to even flinch from the bang as he apparated to - what he hoped - was the hospital. He didn't have the time or effort to find out as the darkness dragged him down into the depths of unconsciousness.
Part 4: It Begins
"We should head back and see if we can help the others with Cassia," Latimer decided, already walking at a fast pace - Albus didn't think running was very easy for him - back and both of them hastened to catch up to him.
"We should check on Olivia first, she was trying to help Lily but she got hit by a spell and I haven't seen her since," August pointed out and Albus threw him a murderous look, still angry with him for losing Lily and Abby before he processed what August had actually said.
"Where di-"
"She's a Slytherin," Albus spat irritably, "She's probably in on the whole thing with Viola."
"That makes no sense, why would she try to help us if she was in on it?" August wondered.
"To trick you, you stup-"
"There she is," Latimer interrupted and gestured to a motionless lump of clothes, jogging over and Albus almost felt bad except he wasn't entirely convinced it wasn't a trick. It wasn't though, her right arm was twisted at an angle that arms weren't supposed to be at and her hair was damp with sticky blood. She was breathing though but Albus still felt shaken, the Shadows weren't above hurting people and they were after little Cassia too, "She's alive but I don't know enough about healing to want to risk trying anything, we can get help for her after we get to the others. Michael would probably know what to do."
"What are we waiting for then?!" Albus snapped with a new sense of purpose as he shot off with the other two on his heels, desperate to salvage the last target. Even if Cassia was bonkers, he didn't want her to get hurt or taken like his sister and friend.
"NO!" Antonius cried as they burst through the trees to see him with Orous, the albino with his head in his hands.
"What happened?"
"They got Cassia," Orous mumbled miserably as he looked up, guilt shimmering in his creepy crimson eyes. Albus felt his heart drop like a stone in the sea, "Did-"
"They got Lily and Abby, she managed to fight them off August," Albus explained and threw an accusing look at August, he should be gone instead of her, "And Olivia's hurt but alive not too far back, we could use Michael. What... What happened to Michael and our resident soldier?"
"They went after Vern," Orous pointed out before something seemed to occur to him as he turned to go in the direction Antonius had indicated earlier, "There's no reason to leave now they have what they want, we can go help the others."
"Maybe someone should wait with Oliv-"
Latimer started to say but the rest of them were already following after Orous, Latimer decided to give up and go with them. Albus didn't think it was really that dangerous, it was a bitter but true thought that the Shadows already had what they wanted to get to the Scepter as they had a Potter, Longbottom and Ashain. Not thanks to August, they should have him instead of Abby. August should have been captured before letting them take Lily, little Lily so fragile and innocent. A voice in the back of his mind reminded him if he'd fought harder then he could've saved the both as well but he silenced that voice angrily, August was more at blame here then him. August had had much more time whereas they had just walked into it. And they did the exact same thing again, coming out at an area by a stream.
Michael was crouched over something Vern-shaped, his wand out and focused on presumably doing healing type things while Maurice was dueling another figure who apparently hadn't gotten the memo of their victory. Maurice was managing to hold his own against the attacker - much like Latimer had - and actually seemed to be using non-verbal magic, or maybe just mouthing or muttering the spells inaudibly as his lips were actually moving somewhat. The attacker looked frustrated while Maurice retained his usual neutral expression, Albus was rather glad that Maurice was on their side. As much as Maurice's soldier mentality was bizarre and hilarious, it did seem to be paying off now. Latimer rushed forward fastest to aid Maurice but it was unnecessary, three more figures came from the trees to their left. Scorpius - naturally, he always seemed to be in the heart of whatever catastrophic event was happening - and Molly he knew obviously, they were with a boy he didn't recognize though.
A bland looking boy if ever there was one, he was so average that Albus couldn't think of a single distinguishing feature about him, even his hair was the dullest brown imaginable. His eyes were kind of piercing actually but that was it, he was around their age. He was also incredibly fast and apparently adept at non-verbal magic, his wrist flicked rapidly and a jet of light shot towards the woman Maurice dueled. And another before Albus had finished following the line of the first spell- and a third one! Was Albus just slow? The attacker struggled to try defend herself from the onslaught from the boy and Maurice simultaneously, ultimately she just jumped back and disapparated in mid-air. Albus wasn't entirely sure she'd escaped unscathed by the spells either, the boy and Maurice both scanned around with practiced eyes for more threats but the Shadows were gone. Just the empty silence remained, reminding him that Lily, Abby and Cassia weren't there to break it.
"Cool spell work, kid," Albus offered to the stranger, uncomfortable with the still atmosphere.
"I'm not a kid," the boy protested in a voice that sounded vaguely familiar, looking absolutely offended by the suggested as he threw a glare his way. It dawned on Albus who he really was in that moment, Varanian.
'Do you always sleep in your clothes, Rivieres?' Corin asked him when Maurice climbed out of bed the next day and hastened to touch his necklace to catch the words, he thought the intent was to be rude as the part-giant had a similar expression to the other kids who looked down on him for his deafness in his home school, "It is most uncivilized."
"I think nudity is even more uncivilized," Maurice countered, very much wanting to not let Corin get the upper hand and his words seemed to have an effect as the boy lost his composure for a second before righting himself. It was on then that it occurred to him that Corin had spoken in English, "You speak English?"
'Much better then you speak French apparently,' Corin complained at him.
"Do most people also know English?" Maurice asked hopefully, it would be so much easier for him if English was the main language.
'Of course not! You're in France. You were probably put in Platine because Moreau is the only House Leader who speaks English fluently in fact, maybe half the teachers speak it to some degree and most of the students who know it will be those older who studied it.'
"Why do you know it then?"
'My Father is English, he's a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,' Corin announced proudly as if that was supposed to mean something to Maurice, he thought Roman had mentioned it. In fact, hadn't Roman said it was a terrible school? Corin looked offended by his lack of reaction, Maurice took this as a good thing, 'So I'm fluent in English and French both, I'm taking Latin so I'll be fluent in three languages. Like you except I don't sound like I suffered brain damage.'
"I've only had a few weeks to learn it, you've had a life time," Maurice protested defensively, although it did somewhat concern him. He couldn't hear so it was extremely difficult to know if he was saying things right, he'd had a specific class to teach him so for English and Greek but French had no such luxury.
'A few weeks? You'll fail for sure. Go back to England.'
"You just want me gone so you can have the room to yourself," Maurice deduced from what he'd heard before.
'So what if I do? You'll still fail so just save us all the hassle and quit before you're behind, go back to wherever you came from.'
"I wish," Maurice muttered despite the surge of determination he now felt, partly to prove Corin wrong and partly just so the spoiled brat couldn't have his way, "But I'm not going to fail, I'm going to stay here and I'm going to succeed so you're just going to have to get used to not getting every little thing you want just because you have family on the faculty."
'Well, we'll just see who does well and who flunks out because they shouldn't be here,' Corin spat before stalking off out of their room.
Maurice quickly discovered that breakfast was no better than dinner, they had just as much variety and non-porridge. He despised porridge and thought it disgusting but opinion didn't matter, you were supposed to eat it for breakfast but the French had got it wrong. He was also getting that it was expected that they stand for the Headmistress, which was somewhat tedious. Moreau handed them all their class schedules at breakfast, on the back was a map with the classrooms labelled so they'd know where to go. Maurice was surprised by the 'Recre' on his timetable, Moreau hadn't mentioned that as a class so he asked him about it and apparently it was a free time to do whatever they wanted. He supposed it was some kind of test so they could see who were the good soldiers who used the time for practice and study while the others would do... whatever idiots did with their time, he thought Corin was definitely in the latter. Maurice also soon discovered that classes ended far too early, the sun was still up when they were done with classes for the day which was just bizarre. Did Beauxbatons really not realize how much time they were missing out on? They started classes later then at his home school, ended earlier and had breaks throughout so they weren't spending as much time learning as they should be.
But that wasn't even the worst part, the worst and most unbelievable thing in the world was that they had two days off! Two entire days of no classes, completely. It was the strangest thing Maurice had ever heard of, he knew he hadn't had classes - obviously - when he was with Roman but the other three-hundred and fifty-eight days of the year were classes. Being severely injured or gravely ill was the only reason to not be in classes, here though that had two entire days to themselves. It was unbelievable and it took him awhile to wrap his head around it. He also was shocked to discover that they didn't use blood quills, what kind of school expected students to learn anything if they weren't engraving it into their flesh and their memory? He realized that he had to keep his scars covered - he had bandages wrapped around his wrist and hands with fingerless gloves over the visible ones, a skin condition Roman had claimed. He just had to be careful while sharing a room with Corin - but he thought it was more of a superficial thing, people simply didn't like how it looked not that they abandoned the practice completely. What kind of world did they live in? He was frequently assured by teachers that ink was what they were supposed to write with, most universally joked what else would they use. It was such an odd feeling to write and not be in pain, he was so used to it that he actually found it jarring and uncomfortable to not be in pain. He also had yet to see them using the Torture Curse as a punishment, they had to do that... right?
The classes themselves were alright, the basic class was taught by a dumpy woman named Louisette Dupont who never seemed to be without a smile. Maurice was far beyond his peers in regards to the numeracy aspect but on par with the reading and writing, he found it easier than speaking and translating but naturally not as easy as one of the languages he actually knew. He actually found Latin really interesting, the fact the class could be taught in French - unfortunately they all were - was sometimes difficult but apart from that he find it quite good. Latin wasn't very popular so it was also a small class which was nice, unfortunately Corin was in it and the part-giant did have an annoying habit of also sitting at the front of the class. Maurice had no choice as he had to be close to use his necklace but Corin did so just because he seemed to know all the teachers, Latin was taught by the elderly Loic Laurent who Corin seemed to hate as he was especially kind to Maurice. Histoire de la Magie was taught by Vincent La Croix who was half-vampire, the class were somewhere between terrified and in awe of him. The class was interesting enough, it didn't focus enough on the tactics in battles and was unfairly biased. In his home school they always viewed history as impartially as possible, looking at the positive and negative aspects on both sides in term to tactics, motives, casualties but here they always had one side as clearly the villainous one and the other as the heroes. Maurice loved the class though, he treated Vincent as he would any other teacher and wasn't shy about his opinions which seemed to intrigue Vincent. They had the most stimulating debates and Maurice did find it interesting to see the biased perspective of the Wizarding World in general.
Potions was taught by Ilyes Faure, he had boundless - and infectious - enthusiasm for the subject. He really made it seem like Potions had more heart and was much more than simply following a basic list of instructions, Maurice thought it would be the most popular class to the other students if not for Sortileges. The four spell work classes were taught by the House Leaders, Oriana Beauchene - the young, attractive Leader of Or - taught Sortileges which taught Charms. The classes were all very practical and enjoyable, Oriana was a pleasant person and much loved by the students. In stark contrast, Metamorphose was consistently viewed as the most hated from what Maurice picked up from his classmates. It was taught by Enzo Roche - the scruffy Leader of Cuivre who always looked like he'd walked in from sleeping on the streets - and focused on Transfigurations, the branch of magic was known to be difficult and required more hard work and focus, maybe even the most out of all the spell types. The difficulty combined with Roche's attitude put people off, Roche - unlike the other teachers - made no attempts to be friendly and seemed bored or irritated most of the time. Maurice didn't mind that though, the lesson not the teacher's attitude was what was important. Roche did teach them well and Maurice was learning a lot.
The final two classes were Defense contre les forces du Mal - more commonly called simply Defense for short - and Bataille contre les forces du Mal - more commonly called simply Bataille for short - which were probably the most useful for soldiers. Defense was taught by Jeanne Durand, the House Leader was somewhat severe but fair nonetheless and as ready to praise as she was to criticize while the easy-going Moreau taught Bataille. Both had similar yet quite opposite, they both focused on defensive and combat magic. Defense was just that, it focused more on defensive spells and Counter-Spells or even generally on defense in general such as what to do in certain situations or if against various dangerous magical creatures. Bataille was all about attack, focusing on Hexes, Jinxes and Curses all for attack but most importantly - at least in Maurice's opinion - it taught dueling. Years of training had prepared him perfectly and Maurice excelled. In general, Maurice quickly saw he was miles ahead of most of the others due to the extra years of education he'd had. He'd done Potions and History before so he was already on top there, he'd been taught about magic and started practicing at home so he also had quite the advantage on spell work. Maurice supposed it also helped that he - unlike his idiot classmates - spent as much of the break times as possible practicing his spells, his teachers were constantly praising him as he continued to succeed. He was quite proud of himself until he told Roman, who insisted anything he did wasn't the best and he could do better. It was rather disheartening.
Classes also came with the added addition of homework, work to be completed in their free time which he thought was rather easy - although it was useful for making breaks less useless - and did it as soon as possible. The others weren't as lucky though, they didn't have the advantage of his training and often complained about homework. Corin spent many evenings hunched over the desk scribbling away at homework or buried in books studying for tests, Maurice's French improved with time but the workload only increased so Corin's struggle didn't. Maurice would be lying if he didn't say he enjoyed seeing Corin struggle, it served him right for thinking Maurice would fail. Corin jibes about him failing diminished with his success but his animosity didn't, he continued mocking him over his inability to speak French articulately though and for his apparently strange beliefs lack of knowledge on apparently normal things like the Quidditch, as if being mean to him was going to make Roman send Maurice back to his home school. In turn, Maurice taunted him for being stupid - since he was struggling and part-giants weren't noted for their intelligence - and for being a spoiled brat because he was, for example he never got into trouble even when he did something wrong just because of his mother. Maurice rather enjoyed verbally sparring with him actually, too bad he was a prick. And Maurice wasn't the only one who thought so, he heard the others talking about Corin behind his back. They also disliked him for his snobbish attitude, his height - which Maurice didn't agree with, since when was appearance a reason to dislike someone? - and the favoritism he got.
Maurice was more liked, at least by his own house as his success earned them a lot of points while other houses seemed annoyed with him. One girl even volunteered to be his partner in Potions, Arianne Mercier, it was odd having someone actually wanting to talk to you even if they were stupid and childish. Roman warned him against women though, Maurice didn't know what dating was but he certainly didn't want to have his heart broken - considering the vital importance of the heart in survival, he thought it was a crippling disease and possibly even fatal. It surprised him they had never mentioned it in his home school - or die so he was deliberately cold to her and she left him alone. Quidditch started in October on one of the days off, every week there was a different match for the next eight weeks and they had the option of going to view them. Apparently the Quidditch thing was rather popular, it took place outside and inside was all but deserted. Maurice didn't mind so much, less people meant less potential threats to keep an eye on. It was one of those matches closer to the end of November that he went to his room, having finished his homework and wishing to practice there as Corin was usual at the matches. However, his assumption turned out to be incorrect as he saw Corin on his own bed. Crying like a weakling.
"Why are you crying?" Maurice asked with genuine curiosity as to why he was being so weak, Corin turned to him with puffy red eyes while his hand snaked to his translator necklace.
'I'm not crying,' Corin said looking angry and Maurice raised an eyebrow at the blatantly obvious lie, tears were still pouring from his eyes despite the fury on his face, 'Shut up! It's none of your business, okay?!'
"I didn't say anything beyond my initial question."
'My whole life I've lived here and seen other people learning, having friends and fun but no one ever wanted to be friends with me because I was too young. And I'm finally old enough and I still can't get any friends, I can finally learn magic but it's so much harder than I thought. Not that you would know what that's like, you speak French like you're mentally retarded yet you succeed at everything.'
"You shouldn't cry just because you're a complete failure and how is not having friends reason enough to cry? What were friends again?" Maurice wondered and Corin looked at him like he'd grown an extra head.
'Sometimes I actually think you're not human,' Corin told him before standing and rushing to lock himself in the bathroom, 'You're so cold-hearted.'
Maurice decided to just carry on with his original intention to practice as if nothing had happened, the whole thing was rather strange though. And he wasn't cold-hearted, humans were warm-blooded. Was everyone stupid but him? Corin didn't emerge until well after dinner and seemed inclined to pretend nothing had happened, Maurice supposed he was too ashamed of having shown his weakness. Quidditch season ended with December and the emphasis turned to this Christmas thing, Maurice thought it must be some kind of strange French custom like Quidditch as he'd never heard of it. Because of it though, they were disbanding the school for an entire fortnight. Honestly, Maurice thought they were not learning more times than they were, it was shameful. His father - saying Roman seemed to confused people if he was ever asked about his father so he was trying to get into the habit of calling him that - wouldn't let him go home for the holidays though, he'd have to stay in bloody French-speaking - he'd been looking forward to being able to easily translate words in English - Beauxbatons and even worse, there was no classes during the holiday. Maurice was frustrated enough filling the spare time he had without an entire two weeks, most of the teachers also went home for the holidays. Weren't teachers supposed to live in schools?
Scorpius raced through the trees with Varanian and Molly, somewhat impressed by their ability to keep pace with each other. All three had their wands out too, six eyes looked out for danger as they ran but it wasn't until they came to a stream that they actually found presumably the source of the scream. Maurice was dueling with a woman who oddly had injuries all over her hands, face, neck and tears in her clothing as if she'd been nipped by a bunch of rats or someth- Or birds, Scorpius realized. Cassia? He didn't see her, he saw Michael leaning over someone then Latimer, Albus, Antonius, August and Orous were standing out of breath as if they'd just arrived. Latimer was moving to help Maurice, Scorpius also raised his wand but Varanian beat them to the punch, rapidly shoot out three spells. The woman seemed to think retreat was the best option due to the odds now being against her as she disapparated mid-jump while trying to dodge the spells from both Varanian and Maurice.
"Cool spell work, kid," Albus muttered after a minute, Scorpius realized his eyes were red as if he'd been crying. Latimer was also sporting a burn and a cut on his forehead, August looked very much like he'd just been punched in the face a few times.
"I'm not a kid," Varanian snapped, clearly taking offense as he threw Albus a glare.
"You're Varanian, aren't you?"
"Maybe. What happened here?"
"Antonius ran to get us because Shadows were trying to kidnap his sister and mine and August, we ran to help and... and... f-failed," Albus recounted very much looking like he was going to cry again before turning an enraged expression on August, "Why the bloody hell were you even here?! You're not supposed to be in Hogsmeade yet!"
"Viola imperised us!" August protested defensively, "She made Lily go into Gryffindor Tower and steal your Dad's Invisibility Cloak, then hid the three of us under it to go to here where I guess a Specter told Shadows to come so they did. She imperised Cassia too, I'd guess that's why she came here but she managed to throw it off and ran and had birds attack the Shadows. Either we broke free too or Viola couldn't handle the curse anymore because we could do things again so we tried to get away, Olivia tried to help us and got hit and then you showed up and... and well we know the rest."
"We don't know the rest," Varanian pointed out testily, he very much preferred his accounts of things more detailed.
"Latimer, Albus and Abby came and tried to stop them. They managed to take Lily though and Abby was knocked out defending me, they got her too," August admitted, the guilt clearly engraved on his features as he hung his head. Scorpius realized he was holding Abby's wand.
"Yes, your sister was taken defending you," Albus said with extreme emphasis on the fact as if he blamed August.
"Albus!" Latimer hissed.
"Where's Cassia? You managed to get her to safety, right?" Maurice asked of his twin, Orous had been trying to inch closer to see what Michael was doing with Vern but froze as his expression tinged with guilt.
"No," Orous confirmed in a whisper, "They got her."
"HOW COULD YOU LET THEM TAKE HER?!" Maurice demanded of his brother, looking ready to start frothing at the mouth in rage.
"It's not his fault," Antonius interjected, looking unbelievably hopeless but apparently not blaming anyone, "He did his best, everyone did. Sometimes it just doesn't matter, you can do everything right and perfect and flawless but you still fail. Standing around blaming each other isn't going to help anyone and it isn't what anyone would want."
"Kid's right," Latimer agreed readily with a nod of acknowledgement that seemed to quell Albus and Maurice's anger slightly.
"And didn't you say that your father collapsed?" Maurice asked of Antonius instead, pain crossed the eight year old's face at the memory as he nodded, "Ashain's - the Professor Ashain - in the final stages of the Horcrux possession, he has a few days at most before he dies unless we do something."
"Maurice, don't scare the child," Molly chastised as she too seemed to notice how Antonius' eyes welled with frightened tears at Maurice's statement but naturally Maurice ignored her.
"And with the captured three, we need to get to the Scepter now if we're to prevent his demise and stop the Shadows getting their hands on it."
"We need to save the girls," Albus said determinedly.
"I thought that went without saying."
"For someone else yes but you have no value of human life," Orous pointed out, not seeming angry with his brother bust just... disheartened, judging by his expression.
"I'm slightly confused," August pointed out.
"Because you're an idiot," Albus spat at him.
"Now's the time, Varanian," Scorpius offered to the former Headmaster who looked oddly very much he'd rather be anywhere but there.
"I know," Varanian admitted with a sigh.
"Wait, are you going to help us save them?" Albus asked hopefully to which Varanian seemed to be trying not to roll his eyes.
"No, I was just going to let the die. Destroying teenagers hopes is fun for him," Varanian quipped sarcastically, Albus' expression indicated he didn't realize this and Varanian did roll his eyes then, "Yes!"
"Oh good, that saves just Molly having to apparate us all," Maurice commented.
"No. You're not going."
"But you just said-"
"Potter, Longbottom and Ashain is the blood we need so only they are coming," Varanian insisted firmly, Antonius readily moved over to him, as did Albus and a hesitant August. Scorpius opened his mouth to protest before he added, "And Scorpius."
"I want to come," Molly protested, "I'm of age so I'm not bound by the trace and I can apparate."
"Fine. Just Potter, Longbottom, Ashain, Scorpius and... You."
"Molly."
"That's what I said."
"I'm not bound by the trace either," Maurice pointed out, "And I'm a soldier, I'm trained and I have a good idea of what they think like. I can be useful."
"I'm not taking an extra teenager, no matter how trained you are."
"I want to come," Michael announced as he finally stood with a concerned expression, his clothes were soaked with blood that wasn't his own and Vern was in even worse shape. His bloody body shuddered and his right arm was a mangled mess, it looked as if it truly was holding on by a thread. Scorpius guiltily hoped he'd be okay, "I've done all I can for Vern and tried to stop the bleeding, with the tainted wand he needs potions that I don't have on me."
"Okay and Michael but that's it."
"What?" Maurice wondered, looking outraged as Michael went over to Varanian, "You'll take him but not me?"
"I know him," Varanian said as if it was obvious.
"You know me too. From the Ministry."
"Aren't more wands better?" Orous asked with pleading eyes.
"Not underage wands bound by the trace with unfinished schooling," Varanian decided, Orous seemed saddened to be unable to help while Maurice still looked angry.
"I'm of age," Latimer lied.
"Can you apparate?"
"I'm almost of age," Latimer corrected himself but it was irrelevant.
"Almost doesn't cut it," Varanian insisted with a note of finality that left all but Maurice looking defeated, "Okay, I'll take people whose blood we need and you take the rest, Scorpius. To the... place, I'll figure out where we go from there."
"Okay," Scorpius nodded and readied the ring, feeling kind of bad for leaving some of his friends but it was what Varanian wanted and they really didn't have time to argue with everything going on, "I'm sorry."
"I'm not sure about this," August muttered as Scorpius put out his arms for Michael and Molly to take while Varanian did the same and Antonius took hold of him readily.
"Don't you want to save Lily and Abby!?" Albus demanded of him accusingly.
"Of course I do b-"
"Then shut your mouth and stop complaining!" Albus yelled at him and grabbed Varanian's arm, apparently hard enough to aggravate Varanian's burn scars as a moment of pain flashed on his face momentarily. August reluctantly - and much more gently - did the same, "Take us away!"
"And make sure Vern gets help fast," Michael added.
"You know, if you don't take us then we're just going to find them by ourselves," Maurice said, sounding incredibly serious.
"Good luck with that," Varanian offered dubiously and they both portkeyed away, leaving the forest and four friends behind.