"This 'angel of the abyss' then could have been referencing about the vampires instead of Gerald," Hermione thought aloud as the four trudged on their way up the sidewalk to the noisy crowds just beyond the next turn. "I already said that Lucius' point was to tell us we were dealing with something unknown to us. Vampires are all but so."

"It may be," Arthur spoke, "You were able to warn Stephen and Mary, weren't you, boys?"

"Yes, more or less," Harry nodded. "When we couldn't find Gerald and Oliver, Oliver's brother told us that they had been searching for Brad. We told them to take precautions toward their safety without telling them anything of what was going on."

"Alright, hold on a minute," Ron piped, "If Brad's still missing, then are they even going to be here today?"

"I checked. There wasn't any mention of the band canceling their performance," his wife informed, "Surely there is a stand-in for Brad. Perhaps they'll play the track without his part being performed live."

"Well, muggle music isn't too large a part of what I study," Mr. Weasely stepped in, "But from what I gather, faking a performance like that is a career killer. More likely they will have a replacement that can actually play the drum part."

Harry and Ron had initially looked to arrest Gerald over the weekend, but when they didn't find them, decided to do so after the band performed in London that next week. It was a one time deal- no more dates set for them to work so there were no more expectations of them from fans or the muggle world. With one member already missing, forcing a no-show because a second had disappeared, had the potential to create needless drama which would end up causing the most discomfort on Oliver's part, but it wasn't something the aurors wanted to handle either. Not when they could simply wait until afterward and let others assume the band had not moved forward.

The investigators had brought Hermione along with them as a representative of the Department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures as per Gerald's inhumanity and Arthur was present as an expert in muggle affairs not only because of the arrest taking place about a large muggle event, but also due to Gerald's chosen muggle lifestyle. More than anything, though, Harry and Ron wanted more people they could trust to help if and when Gerald refused to be captured. Ideally, these others would be aurors as well to best follow Ministry standards, however since the fall of Voldemort, Harry and Ron were the only surviving and active aurors.

As the troupe turned the corner, the gated area where the Maysfield Music Festival was taking place came into view. They could hear rock music playing as well as the screams and shouts of excited attendees. Hermione had copied down the list of the performing artists and the order in which they were to go on.

Each featured musician was playing two songs and The Devil's Children were fourth in line to take the stage. Harry and his company had arrived during band number two and as they approached the entrance, could tell their second song had ended by the cheering of the crowd and the host's voice bidding them farewell while introducing the next performers.

"Tickets," the tall, built man at the gates said plainly.

Arthur was the one who handed the four passes over, the guard carefully eyeing and rapidly stamping them before handing them back and putting attention on the next in line. The wizards stepped inside the area and began walking the perimeter. It was a simple setup: a large open floor on this side of the stage with booths for merchandise, snacks, and other propaganda-pushers along the edges. The sides and back of the stage were blocked off and guarded by men with similar builds to the one who had stamped their tickets.

"We'll stay hidden until they come on," Harry instructed as the group stopped at the wall of a booth selling tshirts and CDs. "When the performance is ending, we'll make our way backstage. You have the polyjuice potion?"

"Yes," Hermione pulled a vial from her bag. "I'll take it during the second song."

"Now we wait," the lead auror nodded then peered past the wall behind him to the people and stage beyond.

The next nine or ten minutes, they remained in silence, all keeping a study of their surroundings with careful attention to those on and around the stage. The band playing was from Scotland and Harry had actually heard their music before. He recognized them from one of the songs that they played- apparently their most popular. Otherwise, though, he probably would not have realized who they were. As the familiar tune ended, the stage was taken over by the host.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent," the smiling man complimented. "One more cheer?"

The people's roar surged with power.

"Alright now our next guests have come all the way from America. They're hoping to keep their music going here so I want a big fucking welcome for The Devil's Children!"

The crowd screamed again as Gerald, Oliver, and another man that could have easily been Brad walked onto the stage. Oliver took his place with a guitar, the drummer went to the bulky instrument in the back, and Gerald strolled up to the host, who handed over the microphone. He said something to the wizard who smirked and responded with a just a couple of words. As the host left, the singer put the microphone to his lips.

"Thank you, Dirk," he said, watching after the man who left before turning to the crowd in front of him, "You know, I've put off coming back overseas for a long time because of shit that's happened years ago," his voice was low at first, but lifted on the next part, "But seeing all you happy motherfuckers out there," he paused, letting the people roar again, "has got me wondering why?"

Gerald laughed, turning to Oliver who leaned forward and spoke into the microphone beside him, "Because you're a selfish ass."

The crowd laughed and cheered and Harry's stomach sank at the act the two were giving. It seemed nothing had been made public about Brad and his friends were pretending for the audience that all was well. That terrible things have occurred, but the present was worth living for...a complete lie seething from Gerald's being like a poisonous fume.

The musicians backed off from their mics as the drummer started a slow beat. Oliver joined in with a casual melody before Gerald opened his mouth again to sing.

You call me a faggot like its supposed to hurt.
You think you're better than me, but you're less than dirt.
I won't buy into the bullshit
Just want to make these thoughts quit.
But I'll never be on your level because I don't know how to kneel.

The beat picked up and the song quickened. There was a brief pause in the vocals where Gerald fell back from his spot in a sort of swerve, one hand gripping the mic tighter in front of his chest as his other arm flew to his side then made a fist that threw itself downward as he began singing...or rather screaming again.

Rot away, I don't care.
Rot and become beautiful again.
Throw away your life
For the fantasy you are in your mind.
Rot and become beautiful again.

The screaming stopped and the music fell into a rhythm somewhere between the initial soft and the harshness of the chorus.

Looking around I see the suffering.
Don't you realize you are nothing?
Hit me, rape me, make me feel like a slave.
Give it all to me, but I'll never behave.
I can take it, each bit of abuse.
You are pathetic; I will not lose.

Gerald repeated the chorus in the same screech as the first time through and then took backward steps to the side as Oliver came forward more to play a powerful solo on his guitar.

Harry watched Gerald as he somehow managed to chug half a bottle of water and simultaneously bang his head pretty heavily to the music still playing around him. When Oliver transitioned into soft rock once more, Gerald was at the mic, singing in a soft, scratchy voice as the drummer gradually stopped beating.

Just rot
The only way you'll find worth.
Just rot
Just rot
Away

The song ended with another belt of yells and whistles and cheers. The two real band members half huddled in front of the drumset and it looked like they were talking to the musician on lend. After a small reprieve, they were all back in position, beginning to play their second song: a more upbeat and loud tune.

Harry turned to Hermione, who gave him a nod, opening the potion she still held. Arthur and Ron joined the lead auror in crowding around the witch and keeping an eye on all passerbys. One or two muggles glanced their way, but Hermione stayed in the clear.

Harry hadn't been paying much heed to the new song as he and the others were readying to move, but the lyrics caught his ear when it came to the first chorus. It sounded like a love song.

I'll be your angel;
I'll be your demon.
All you need.
Just say my name
I'll be the reason
You become insane.

"Alright, I'm ready," a woman's voice sounded behind the three wizards.

Where Hermione had been, now stood the undercover witch from the muggle police headquarters who had alerted the ministry to Lucius' death. Minister Shackelbolt had okayed the impersonation of the woman as the case was still being played as close to the belt as possible. As a muggle officer, Amber Kate could get the group access to backstage without much fuss.

"Lead the way then," Harry breathed, words barely audible over the sound of the concert.

Amber took the front of the group and traversed past rowdy fans and other attendees up to the side of the stage. The wizards did their best to stay hard to see, but as they reached their destination, the song was ending so the band was no longer preoccupied.

Hermione flashed Amber's badge to the guard with a shallow excuse for her presence. The man looked her over, taking note of the name on the shield as he stepped sideways to let the four inside.

Quickly hopping through the line, Harry pushed the way through the smaller quarters to wait just on the other side of the curtains for the band's arrival. However, as the host returned, introduced the next performers, and new music began to play, Harry knew something was wrong.

Hermione registered the look on the auror's face and tapped on the arm of a passing stagehand, "Excuse me. My name is special officer Kate. We're looking for Gerald Davis?"

"Um," the thin man nervously resituated the wires hanging over his shoulders. "I don't-" he glanced behind the witch and then off to either side. "Talk to him," he tilted his head to the side in a gesture before continuing on his way.

The group looked further beyond and saw the drummer who had taken the stage as part of The Devil's Children. This closer inspection proved that he wasn't Brad though he was dressed, up to his hair, as the real thing. The wizards hurried over to him as he turned a corner behind yet another curtain.

"Hey!" Harry yelled at the man, causing him to stop and give a quizzical look.

"Yeah?" the man replied almost seeming aggravated.

"We're looking for Gerald Davis," Harry informed.

The man scrunched his eyes and scratched his head, "Yeah, he and Oliver left right after the last song. Uh..." he twisted his torso slightly, gazing into a working area where several vehicles and other equipment was parked. "You go off there, but they might already be gone."

"Thank you," Hermione smiled, taking the lead again and running the group to the area pointed out to them.

"Hey yeah, good luck. Guy's in a right foul mood!" the drummer called off after them.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:: Ok, so I love poetry, but I suck at writing it. And lyrics are basically just poetry set to music. So yeah, I wrote the songs in this chapter. Don't judge their frailty too hard! I'm not a poet! Lols