Chapter 28: We Break Several Laws

(Hugo)

The pain had been worse than anything I'd ever felt before. It's weird because it wasn't exactly pain even. More like exhaustion until the point it hurt.

I guess it was partly because I hadn't moved in what felt like months, but was probably only days. It was sort of like I'd been asleep all that time. So when my heart started pumping a million miles per hour it felt odd. And when the blood began rushing to my head, that horrible sensation of everything moving so fast it made you dizzy, and every other part of my body, it felt slightly painful.

I welcomed the pain though, because if there was one thing I was sure I knew about being dead is that you didn't feel anything. You physically couldn't. Maybe emotional pain was possible, depending if the afterlife existed, but not physical. And so with this pain I must've been alive.

Then my entire body started throbbing. Slightly painful went to quite painful. Then my heart started pumping even faster, making me wonder if it was going to hammer right out of my chest. Quite painful turned to very painful. And then to top it off my lungs started gulping air so fast that I felt like I was going to choke on it. And very painful went to unbearably painful. Unbearably painful to the point that I almost wished I was dead.

But then I caught a glimpse of Lily. In my memory or in real life I didn't know, but it was enough. I embraced the pain. I willed the pain to wake me.

And it did. My eyes opened and I was staring into the anxious faces of Lily, Jacob, Rose and Scorpius.

Rose started crying when she saw my eyes open. Jacob stopped pacing and grinned his widest grin. Lily threw her arms around me and squeezed so hard my eyeballs threatened to pop out of my head. Scorpius just looked relieved, like a weight had been lifted off his chest.

"Get off him," Madame Poppy snarled. "He needs his rest."

"I've had enough rest," I snapped throwing my blankets off and trying to stand.

Lily had to catch me because I wasn't stable. "You have to rest," Madame Poppy insisted. "Your limbs were unable to move for weeks. You need to slowly introduce them to regular activities again. And that includes walking."

I sighed, exasperated. I had things to do! I needed to find James to warn him. "I can't stay still!"

Madame Poppy looked at Rose. "Make sure he gets his rest," she said and walked out of the room.

Rose helped me towards my bed. Well, more liked dragged as I was very unwilling. "Rosie, you don't understand-"

"Oh, I understand plenty, you need rest."

"No, I don't-"

"Yes you do!"

"Would you just let the poor boy say what he's trying to say?" Jacob demanded.

I let out a sigh of relief. "James is being lured into a trap by Code and I think Albus went in alone to save him!"

"We have to go save them!" Lily and Jacob shouted.

"No!" Rose argued. "That's the mistake we always make. We're children, we can't handle this alone."

"Well, who are we going to ask then?" asked Scorpius, who had been silent up until that moment.

Rose grinned a little. "We had a special guest come to watch the final task for the Four House Cup. I bet he's still here."

"Who?" we all asked simultaneously.

"Nicholas Stonewell, the Minister of Magic."

(James)

I wasn't sure exactly what happened. I just know that I was scared and that Code had won.

I tried to fight him, I really did. But how did you fight an enemy that was in your head? How could you fight someone you couldn't see? With Legilimency, I suppose. Or with that weird connection we had that let me read his mind. But I was such a fail that I couldn't even keep Code out of my head, never mind attack him.

And so I helplessly waited, yelling like a maniac telling Code to get out of my head. The one thing I swore to myself I wouldn't do was beg him for mercy or forgiveness. I would keep what little dignity I had.

But it didn't matter. Because somehow it was like Code was controlling me. I could hear his voice whispering in my ear, telling me where to go. And for some reason I was listening to it. I didn't want to and I was trying to resist, but I couldn't. My legs seemed to move on their own.

The maze kept getting darker and drearier as I continued to walk. Eventually, after what seemed like hours but was only minutes, I arrived at a door. Except it was exactly a door. At first glance it looked like regular stone, but then you realised it was actually a passageway. Yes, passageway. Because saying door implied a handle, or a way to open it. This was just a stone passageway that seemed impenetrable. It looked as if someone had filled it in. There was the outline of the passageway there but there was no way to move the rock blocking it.

Press the triangle with your wand, Code's voice whispered to me.

I tried to resist, for all I knew a dragon could be behind tis door ready to eat me, but I couldn't. Against my will I lifted my wand to the triangle.

The rock blocking the way sort of disappeared and I entered. The corridor was dark, but I lit my wand so I could at least see something.

I wouldn't call this place dark. No, dark was the opposite of light and ceased to exist when light was present. This was more like never ending blackness that encircled you. It almost seemed to devour you. The light from my wand did nothing to ease the blackness. If anything it just seemed to make the blackness more prominent.

I continued down the corridor. It seemed to take hours before I could finally see the end of it. I could see light.

I practically ran towards it, wanting to get out of this eternal blackness. It was starting to freak me out.

I hadn't even reached the end when I heard a voice call out. "Hugo, so glad you can make it."

The connection I'd felt to Code disappeared. I pulled out my wand and sprinted the rest of the way to the opening.

I wasn't exactly sure what I expected to see. Claire Code standing there, Code with her, maybe with his wand pointed at me? But that's not what I saw at all.

Claire Code was leaning against the wall twirling a wand between her hands. She had been grinning until she saw me, and then her pleased, cocky expression slid off her face like rain off a window. Across from her was Lucy and Frank, gagged and strapped to chairs.

"You're not Hugo," she growled.

I forgot I was a wizard. I forgot I had a wand. I just lunged for her with the intention of wrapping my hands around her petite throat. But she flicked the wand in her hand and I was thrown against the wall. I hit my head hard against the stone. I tried to blink away the black circles dancing in front of my eyes, but they persisted until all I could see was darkness.

(Albus)

Lucy and Frank were on one end of the room- if you could call it that, it was more like a giant hall way with a dead end- strapped to chairs. James was on the other end, with Claire Code hovering over him, yelling.

"You're not, Hugo!" she screamed.

James seemed to want to reach out strangle her, but apparently he was immobile. Instead, his voice dripping with heavy sarcasm, he said, "Fascinating. I wasn't aware." His words sounded so venomous I stepped back. I tripped and caught myself on a wall.

The noise caused Claire to turn around. So much for a surprise attack.

She pointed a wand at me and despite the fact that she spoke no incantation a jet of red light shot at me. I used a shield charm just in time.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded.

"Expelliarmus!" I shouted. The wand left her hand but did not soar to mine, like the spell usually would've made it. The wand stayed on the floor between us.

I wasn't sure why she wasn't moving, but the wand was slightly closer to her, any sudden move on my part and she'd probably reach it first.

"Where's Hugo?" she asked me.

"Lying in a hospital bed thanks to your brother," I replied coldly.

Claire looked genuinely confused. "What?"

"Your brother messed with his head! He could be dead! Or dying." I left out the fact that it could be my fault if he was.

"That wasn't part of the plan," Claire growled.

Distract her a voice said in my head. I almost automatically tried to block in out until I realised it was my brother. I didn't dare look at him just nodded slightly.

"What was the plan?" I asked. Claire seemed to be one of those bland villain types. One of the ones you saw on TV and in movies that had no motives whatsoever and were just psychotic people who wanted to take over the world. They killed everyone and destroyed anything in their way, they tortured people for information, but most importantly they were dramatic. And they never missed an opportunity to share their plans.

"Hugo is the master," she said ominously. There was a shadow over half her face, giving her an eerie look. "He saw the memory. He knew that we had a plan to kill James-"

"You had a plan to kill my brother?"

She smiled her creepy, sadistic smile. "No, of course not. We had much more in mind than a simple death." She cocked her head to the side. "Do you really think we're that boring?"

I could feel the shiver run down my spine. I tried to shake it off and not look visibly disturbed. I motioned for her to continue.

"No, we just wanted Hugo to think we were killing James. We needed him to come here."

I gulped, trying to swallow my fear and the shivers. "What about my cousin and my friend?" I asked, not sure I wanted to know the answer.

She glanced at Lucy and Frank as if she forgot they were there. It made me mad. I clenched my fists. Just wait, I told myself. James has a plan. Don't make a sudden move, it could ruin everything.

"They're sacrifices," she answered.

"For what?"

"What do you think I'm going to tell you all my plans?" Claire snorted.

"I was sort of hoping," I admitted.

"Ha!" came a triumphant shout from the floor. I looked down to see my brother holding the wand. He was still on the floor, and though he managed to grasp the wand he didn't seem able to lift his hand. Whatever Claire used to immobilize him seemed to still be working well enough.

Claire however didn't seem fazed. Suddenly I pieced together what was going on. "James, no!" I shouted but it was too late.

My brother managed to lift the wand and attempted to cast the spell. Key word attempted. Instead he was blasted back against the wall and the wand rolled out of his grip stopping right next to Claire's foot.

She bent down to pick it up. "James, James, James," she said. "Do you ever think before you do?"

I sighed. Claire clearly had the upper hand here. There was nothing I could do except watch.

"Albus, do you care to explain to your stupid idiot brother what happened?"

At first I didn't say anything. Then she closed the distance between herself and James and placed a foot on his chest. She pressed hard causing James to cough. I could see the hatred and the anger in his eyes. He despised feeling helpless. It was the one thing he couldn't stand. Knowing he wasn't in the position to do anything at all, not even bargain was killing him. No, he couldn't do anything but I could. Bargaining was my job. Something I'd never really done before.

"Do you care to explain, Albus?" Claire repeated, more demandingly.

I sighed again, defeated. "It's the Elder Wand, James."

"Why the hell can that stupid squib use a wand?"

James never, ever used blood status as an insult to anyone, but in this moment I couldn't really blame him. Claire however could. She shifted her foot from his chest to his throat.

"One false move from either of you and I crush his windpipe," she said simply, almost happily and casually as if she were taking about what she was going to have for dessert, not murder.

"She can use it because the Elder Wand doesn't require a wizard to use it. It doesn't require the magic that runs in our blood. It has enough of that itself."

"Good job, Al. Now explain why neither of you can use it."

Claire seemed to enjoy making James feel like an idiot and James clearly couldn't stand it. If he had the ability to he would've made some snarky comment that would get him killed. Both thankfully and unfortunately, depending how you looked at it, he was unable to talk.

I racked my brain for what to do, for anything to do, as I answered, "The Elder Wand has a master. From what I can understand that master at the moment is Hugo. Our father gave up the wand, meaning he was no longer the master, when he set it in Dumbledore's grave. Then Lucius took it out of the grave, and Hugo disarmed him. Since no one claimed the wand after that, and Hugo didn't give it up nor did anyone forcefully take it from him he still remains the master.

"A muggle or a squib, however, doesn't apply to the rules of only the master being able to use the wand. The wand repels anyone except the master away from the wand. The magic inside it repels the magic inside us. Someone without magic in their blood isn't repelled, but they also can't control the wand. However that doesn't mean they can't flick it around and let loose some chaos."

"So now you understand everything. Unfortunately, you understood a second too late to warn your brother."

James could barely breathe, never mind talk, but that didn't seem to stop him, he managed to choke out, "You conniving, lying little-" the words that followed were not so nice.

"Why James, is that anyway to speak young lady?" Claire reprimanded. "It's a shame you had to say those terrible things, because now I must prove you wrong… I did say I'd kill you." She smiled and leaned towards him. "And I am not a liar."

"No!" I shouted knowing what she was going to do. I rushed over to her, but it was too late. Her foot stomped down on James' throat.

"Ryan will be mad, but, unfortunately, it was necessary."

All clear judgement and rationality left my brain. I charged at her. "Stupefy!" I yelled.

She avoided the spell easily and flicked the Elder Wand. I had no time to avoid the spell. Suddenly it hit me and I was immobilized. I fell to the ground, rigid.

"I believe that's called a full body bind," Claire said as she walked around observing me. "Lucky too because I didn't have any Kanima venom left." To my confused look she added, "That's what I used on your brother. A creature's venom that can paralyze someone from the neck down. He did a pretty good job of resisting it… but anyway he's not a problem anymore."

The casual way she spoke about the death of my brother killed me. I tried to fight the body bind curse, but for now I was unable to move.

"Gee, I wonder how long it will take Hugo to get here?" she mused. "I sort of need him."

Although I knew you could usually talk when you were petrified, I thought better of it. No need to get myself killed like my brother. I had to save Lucy and Frank and myself.

As if reading my thoughts Claire said, "Those two are as good as dead. I need them to open the Labyrinth. Of course you're dead too. Just not yet… Ryan will be mad I killed James, the least I can do is offer him you. I'm mean you're hardly your brother, but you're… well, something, I suppose."

I tried not to let the comment get to me. She was looking for a reaction. She wanted a reaction. And I simply couldn't give her that. I had to wait and think of a plan. A plan where I could save everyone. Maybe even James. Maybe it wasn't too late…

But even that thought went through my mind I could see his chest, which was not moving up and down like it should when someone was breathing. He was dead. I was going to have to accept it.

I knew I needed to keep her talking. Talking meant not killing. And also distraction. Both of which were important parts of the not so developed plan.

"So, uh, why do you need Lucy and Frank to open the Labyrinth?"

"Daedalus the creator of the Labyrinth didn't want just anyone entering his maze. He wanted to make sure only people who really needed it could get in. So in order to get in you need two sacrifices. One boy and one girl. Daedalus figured the best way to make sure someone was seriously about entering the maze was whether or not they were willing to kill for it."

"And I'm guessing you are?"

Claire snorted. "Daedalus is an idiot. Killing is hardly a big burden."

I sighed. This time not out of annoyance or frustration, but out of pity. This poor girl was truly mental. She didn't realise how absolutely insane the things she was saying were. "Actually, Claire, believe it or not, most people think it is."

She shrugged as if my words hadn't affected her at all. "Anyway, I also needed them as extra bate for Hugo. Just in case James wasn't enough. Or if Melissa failed at her job."

"Melissa," I said, deep in thought. "You mean Melissa Young? So she is working with you!"

As I was talking I was trying to intently work on wiggling my toes. If I could just get them to move, I could start working on to my feet and then my legs…

Claire snorted. "Of course. She's actually Megan Carrow, Amycus Carrow's daughter. It took you guys long enough to figure out."

As I was focusing on trying to get my body to move- and partially succeeding- I didn't notice Claire inch towards Lucy and Frank.

By the time I looked it was too late. Claire was holding a pocket knife dripping with blood.

I shut my eyes trying to stop the tears from coming. How could anyone be so cold blooded? They were only kids! Young innocent kids.

I let out a strangled type of scream. I couldn't do this. This couldn't happen. Why did everyone I love keep dying? This had all started with James and Code but it was too much more than that now. There were too many people involved for this to merely be a battle. This was a war. And I wasn't sure if it was ever going to end. And even if it did… who would be left?

Claire just laughed. "I don't get why you people waste so much time feeling. Don't you ever think it's just a waste of time? Don't you ever wonder what it's like to be like me? To not feel a thing when-"

"Claire!" came a booming voice from the passageway. I recognized it immediately. Ryan Code.

"Ryan?" Claire said, peering down the dark tunnel.

Code emerged a second later, looking angrier than I had ever seen him. When he saw Frank and Lucy's seemingly lifeless bodies, I could've sworn I heard him let out a little sob of his own.

"Why would you do this?"

She shrugged. "We needed a sacrifice."

"Why did it have to be them?!" Code shouted. "They were just kids!"

"They were available!" Claire shot back getting defensive.

"We could've used some adults who deserved it! It didn't have to be-" Code stopped in the middle of his sentence when he saw James' unmoving body on the floor.

"Please tell me that's not James Potter," he said, clearly fighting to keep his voice clam and failing.

"It was necessary," Claire said.

"Necessary?" Code boomed. "Necessary!"

The siblings got into a big argument which gave me my chance. My original plan had to be to stun Claire- as she had been stupid and or cocky enough to not take my wand off me- and then attend to Frank and Lucy. Now that Ryan was here to defend her, my goal was to try and heal Lucy and Frank while the siblings were distracted.

Claire wasn't exactly efficient. She had stabbed both Lucy and Frank in their stomachs, which meant a slow torturous death. Good for me because it meant they weren't dead yet, bad for Frank and Lucy as it meant they were in tremendous pain, and very, very terrible for Claire as it meant she epically failed.

It was literally a miracle that we had just been studying healing in charms. And another miracle that I was considering becoming a healer otherwise I'm not sure I'd remember the spell.

"Medimento," I whispered quietly, pointing my wand at Frank's stomach and then did the same with Lucy.

Thankfully the spell worked. Their wounds healed up and the bleeding stopped. For now. That didn't mean I had fixed much. It didn't mean I had saved them, not yet.

I turned to face Claire and Code who were still arguing. "Stupefy!" I shouted.

I hadn't really thought about who I was aiming for but the jet of red light was so big it hit both of them. They fell to the ground.

I went to check on James, but he was already standing. He hadn't seemed to notice me at all. He seemed to be staring straight at Claire, only seeing her.

"James?" I said uncertainly, scared of the look in my brother's eyes.

He didn't seem to hear me. He just grabbed his wand from where Claire had set it down and yelled, "Avada Kedavra!"

Perhaps the first thing I should've done was run up and hug my brother. Be relieved that he was alive and tell him that. But the only thing I could think was how could he? How could he use the Dark Arts? How could he use the killing curse? We were supposed to be the good guys! We were supposed to do what's right. We were supposed to protect each other, but not by these means…

I was about to voice these thoughts, but I was shocked to silence. For none other than Nicholas Stonewell, the Minister of Magic, appeared in the passageway. I saw Hugo, Lily, Rose, Scorpius and Jacob standing beside him with a few teachers.

With a twisted smile on his face Nicholas Stonewell said, "James Sirius Potter you are under arrest for the use of an Unforgivable Curse."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter and especially that little cliffhanger.

1: Next update will be immediately after this. In fact by the time anyone is reading this A/N the next chapter will already be up.

2: Not sure if everyone remembers from last book, or if I even made it clear, but Nicholas Stonewell, while related to his brother is not/was not working for Filch or Code. At least as far as anyone knows. James has his suspicions, but then again anyone who pisses James off even the slightest is working for Code.

3: Feel free to ask any questions through a review of PM. If you leave a review I will Pm responding to it. Unless you are a guest in which case I can't unless you get an account.

4: Not doing the QotC because I'm doing two next chapter.

5: Just want to make something else clear: Claire fully intended to kill James. She actually thought she had but Jams survived purely by will. He knew he needed to survive to save Albus and Frank and Lucy. Although he was actually wrong because Albus did it himself. And handled it about ten times better than James could've.

Will Hugo me okay? Will there be any side-effects? Was Rose's idea to bring the Minister into things a good plan? Will James ever get better at Occlumency? What is the Labyrinth and why does Claire want to get into it? Who's plan is it (Claire's or Code) to get into the Labyrinth? What would've happened if Claire actually succeeded in killing James? If Code had no intention of killing James or Lucy and Frank that night what were his plans? Why did he come at all? What would've happened if James didn't use an Unforgivable Curse? What will happen to James now?

"Is it better to out-monster the monster or to be quietly devoured?" Friedrich Nietzsche

-Monkeywoman14