A/N: This chapter takes place over the course of November 1994. It coincides with the early segments of chapter 16, 'Tasks. First and Unexpected.'

Chapter 17: Charlie and the Scamanders

Charlie Weasley despised relocation missions. In fact, this one, in particular, had become a complete nightmare in the span of a week since his sister had been selected for the Triwizard Tournament. How the hell Ginny had landed herself in an event limited to those of age when she herself was only thirteen was rather confusing. He knew, or rather, wished, that they wouldn't make her compete, but it was still unsettling. Now he himself was delivering a creature with the power to very easily take the life of his little sister.

He prayed she didn't have to face the Horntail.

Dragons were not easy creatures to move. The amount of paperwork it took to explain away the transport of four highly dangerous, endangered species of dragons to multiple foreign Ministries was exhausting in its own right. They moved by foot through most of Europe before arriving at the North Sea. Then, they were moved to two ships, which hugged the shoreline from Germany to France, before crossing the channel and once again staying close to England before finally reaching southern Scotland, and moving back to land. They were currently docked not twenty kilometers away from Normandy. The night sky, tampered slightly by the muggle's pollution, illuminated the beach the dragon wranglers had chosen to rest for the night. Charlie was the last to go to sleep. He sat outside the entrance flap to his personal tent, staring into the flames and thinking about his sister.

They'd been close growing up; he and Bill had always been her favourites. He feared that in his absence, the twins had replaced his place in her life. It bothered him more than he let on. In fact, his relationship with most of his family was pitiful. He felt bad about leaving, especially the way he had abandoned his girlfriend, Nymphadora Tonks. He'd essentially told her that if she didn't follow him, they were over, but if she would, he'd propose. Looking back on that memory always made him cringe in embarrassment and drive him to find a bottle of Ogden's. It was insane how much one could mature in five short years. He'd never make the same mistake again. He hoped she'd found someone new. Someone she deserved.

If he hadn't been so engrossed in his own spiraling thoughts, he would have noticed an approaching figure far sooner than he had. Once he'd heard the sound of boots on gravel not far from where he sat, he shot to his feet and pointed his wand in the stranger's direction.

'You are a right pain to find, Charles, I hope you know that,' Percy Weasley stepped out of the shadows and let the flames illuminate his face. His horn-rimmed glasses cast odd shadows around his eyes that made him look like a bespectacled cat.

Charlie didn't lower his wand. 'Listen, it's not that I'm disappointed to see you, Perce, but you've got to admit that it's strange for you to just show up in France telling me you've been tracking me down,'

Percy grinned. It was an odd relationship the two shared. Charlie could honestly say that Percy was the least like him. He despised adventure, lived for the rules, and was, overall, the anti-Charlie. And yet, at family gatherings, Charlie would seek out Percy first. Every. Single. Time. It was why Percy was his keeper.

'Well,' he began, 'imagine my surprise when your ex,' Charlie cringed, 'came to my desk telling me that the world was beginning to end and that she, and some implied friends, were in desperate need of Bill Weasley. The member of the family only you can track down successfully.'

Charlie's brows knit together. 'Percy, I can't just leave. I've got to deliver these dragons before the first task on the twenty-fourth. And besides, why can't you just send him a letter?'

Percy rolled his eyes. 'Do you think I'd ask you to quit your career if it wasn't important? Furthermore, this information is apparently too dangerous to cross borders. At least, that's what I gathered from what Nymphadora said.'

Charlie scowled. 'Listen, I know Tonks, alright? I'm sure she was just exaggerating. What the hell would she need Bill for?'

'She made sure that I wouldn't take no for an answer, Charlie. I resigned from the Ministry to get this message to you. I'd like to come to Egypt… or wherever Bill is. I want to help.'

Charlie gaped at his brother. 'You quit the Ministry? You just got the job!'

Percy rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, his ears turning pink. 'Let's just say that I don't have very much respect for the likes of Mr. Crouch or the Ministry at the moment.'

'And why would that be?' Charlie asked, his eyebrows raised.

'Mr. Crouch sentenced Sirius Black to Azkaban without a trial, something that is firmly against the law. He doesn't even know my name even though I've been doing most of the heavy lifting for the past four months. As for the Ministry, well… Lucius Malfoy. That's all I've got to say.'

Charlie was, truthfully, amazed at Percy's insightful remark. 'Well, shit Perce, didn't think you had it in you,' he took a swig from his hip flask. 'Still doesn't explain why she wants Bill though.'

Percy reached into his trench coat pocket and retrieved a small envelope. 'She gave me this. It's charmed so only he can open it. I traced its Magical Signature and the charms originated from Sirius Black. So, whatever is happening, it is related to Harry. And in case our raging hippogriff of a mother hadn't already informed you, there are four Triwizard Champions. Ginny and Harry are a part of that roster.'

Charlie nodded. He had spent very little time with Harry over the summer. All he really knew about him was that he'd gone through a dramatic change of appearance and personality over the months prior to the World Cup, that he had rescued Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets, that he was Ron's best friend, and that Ginny was unashamedly arse over kettle in love with him.

It was plain for all to see at the World Cup, though only he had seemed to notice. It was possible that no one had seen the change in their relationship. The fact that Ginny was constantly found staring at him was one thing, but the quick glances and subtle smiles that Harry had displayed were not missed by Charlie.

'So, what do you suggest we do?' he found himself replying.

Percy pointed towards the tent, 'May I?' Charlie nodded and the two pushed through the flap into Charlie's living quarters. It wasn't large, but the furnishings were rich, and the magical appliances were better than anything at the Burrow. This was Charlie's home, though he didn't let anyone know that. It held everything he owned. 'You've done well for yourself,' Percy noted to the room at large, waving his wand to conjure a glass of water for himself. Charlie simply nodded in reply.

'Here is what I propose,' Percy began, sitting down at the kitchen table and suddenly appearing quite composed. This was Percy's comfort area. Serious business. 'You and I, we track down Bill. Give him his letter and bring him back to England. With any luck, we'll be back before the first task is held so we can watch Ginny.'

'I can't believe they're actually making her compete.' Charlie spat, angrily.

Percy seemed entirely too calm for Charlie's comfort. He simply shrugged and took a sip from the glass of water he'd conjured. 'Unless you wish for our sister to lose her magic and possibly die to betrayal of a magical contract… Yes, I'd say she has to compete.'

'What the fuck is Dumbledore doing?'

'Absolutely nothing, by the sound of it,' Percy replied coolly. 'Harry seems to be in the same position. All I know is that the cup was charmed and runically enabled through Mr. Crouch's office. My old office. I'd place all the galleons in my vault on the idea that Tonks needs Bill as a curse-breaker to try and stop Harry and Ginny from competing.'

Charlie frowned, biting the inside of his cheek creating a dimple. 'Right, but that wouldn't explain the whole 'End of the world' threat. Unless there's more to this Tournament?' he left the sentence open-ended and Percy nodded gravely.

'Either way, we won't know until we bring Bill to Nymphadora and Sirius. Will you please help me track him down? You're his keeper, Charlie. This is our sister! We weren't there for her with the Chamber, we might as well be there now.' Percy pleaded with his older brother.

Charlie took a long pull from the flask he kept on him at all times, disgruntled to find it empty. He sighed deeply, thinking back to the horrors that possession could induce on a young mind. How badly he'd failed his sister, and by the sound of it, Ron as well. He'd been told of all his adventures alongside the great Harry Potter. 'Well fuck, let's just leave now,' he said, finally.

Percy drew back in shock. 'What? No. No, Charlie, we need a plan! You need to resign. We are not just leaving to gallivant across the continent,' he paused, and Charlie watched as Percy's eyes widened. 'You do know where Bill is right?'

'Of course I know where he is you tosspot,' Charlie snapped. 'And welcome to the real world, Perce. Here, we realize when we have time to spare, and when we don't. Most of this is going to be on foot because Bill's sites have anti-apparition wards all over them. I know where he is because of the charm, but that's about it. We need to leave. Now.' Charlie stood up and grabbed a rucksack that lay at the foot of one of the kitchen counters. 'I hope that little trench coat of yours is fine material. Where we're going, you're going to need some real protection.'

Percy scrambled to his feet. 'We should bring the tent!'

Charlie turned around and stared incredulously at his brother. 'Well, no shit! What did you expect us to do? Stay in a five-star hotel every other night?' Percy seemed to be at a complete loss as to what a five-star hotel was, but he nodded curtly and strode out of the tent and magically extinguished the fire. It took Charlie three minutes to have the tent collapsed and stuck in a magically expanded rucksack. A metal water bottle dangling from a clip on the side of the bag.

'Right, so… where exactly are we going?' said Percy in a huff. He seemed quite flustered by their sudden departure.

'France,' Charlie said simply as he began to walk up the beach and onto the grass of solid ground.

Percy gaped at his brother before hurrying after him. 'Where exactly in France, Charlie? It's a big country.'

'Oh, I'm sure we'll find him!' Charlie turned around, walking backwards with his arms outstretched, 'It's a big world out there Perce!'

Charlie turned around and continued to walk through the fields, before stopping abruptly. He whirled around, walked straight towards a thoroughly confused Percy, and grabbed him firmly by the shoulder before turning on the spot.

They landed in a heap and Percy knew they had traveled a great distance. The air smelled different, and the grass they were on was shorter. Picking himself up, he chanced a glance around. Charlie was standing there, arms crossed, waiting for Percy to right himself.

'What was that, Charlie?' said Percy, angrily. 'You can't just grab someone and apparate! Communication,' he clapped his hands in Charlie's face.

'Well, I'm not used to having to tell my workmates what I've got to do every step of the bloody way,'

'Get used to it then,' Percy grumbled as he fixed his coat and strode towards his brother, standing by his side. 'Where exactly are we?' The smell of salt was gone from the air. The lack of humidity was also not lost on Percy. There was a forest not thirty meters away from where the two stood. Mountains rising high, far beyond the treeline.

'France,' said Charlie, walking towards the treeline.

Percy threw his arms up in exasperation, once again rushing to catch up with his stocky brother. 'Well, that wasn't exactly difficult to figure out, now, was it? Seeing as you can't apparate through international borders,'

Charlie stepped over a fallen tree and dove into the depths of the forest, Percy following clumsily behind. 'Well,' he said, 'I don't know exactly where we are… only that we're roughly three hundred meters away from Bill,'

'So… we're close then,' said Percy after a long pause, and a lot of tripping over roots and stones.

Charlie sighed and nodded, continuing their trek through the woods. Charlie was perfectly at home in his current element. Climbing over fallen trees and brushing branches out of his way. He strode confidently through the density of pine trees and never faltered.

Percy, on the other hand, was at a bit of a loss. He was gangly, tall, and had not spent much time outside for a long while. He never fell, no he was not that unaware, but he came close.

The smell of burning reached their nostrils and Percy stilled. 'Charlie… I smell fire,'

Charlie stopped and turned, eyeing his brother curiously. 'Strange. I can't smell it… Maybe I've just gotten too used to the dragons,' he grinned and pushed forward, though he drew his wand. Percy did the same, leveling it before him, ready to shoot off a disarming charm if need be.

They arrived at what must have been a clearing, but something was wrong. Very wrong. There wasn't a fire, but Percy felt himself walk through something. As though a veil had been applied to his body before sliding off. 'Wards,' he thought. 'Charlie, the burning smell… it's not fire, it's protective enchantments!'

Charlie looked up and around, eyeing his surroundings. 'How do you know,' he said, before reiterating, 'Besides the lack of any fire,'

Percy shrugged. 'Felt the wards pressing against me. We had a project about it; back in third year. I don't remember much about it if I'm being honest. I didn't take the class to N.E.W.T level, so it's only natural that I forgot some things but… well, I remember being one of the only ones in the class who could feel the wards,'

Charlie nodded and pointed to the sky with his wand. 'Tell me; can you see them too?'

Percy stared up at where Charlie was pointing. 'No, there's nothing there… Charlie, I think what I felt were the imprint of protective enchantments,'

Charlie groaned. 'Perce, listen, I know you're brilliant, but you're going to have to remember that not everyone knows your vocabulary. Are wards and protective enchantments the same thing? If so, just use one of the terms. Stop switching it up,' Percy frowned but nodded his head. 'Right, now, what do you mean 'an imprint'?'

Percy walked further into the clearing. 'I mean that there were wards here… but they've been destroyed… not disabled. That's why it smells like something's on fire,' Percy and Charlie split up, moving across that large clearing, covering the entire space thoroughly. Then, Percy saw it. 'Charlie! Charlie, come here!'

Charlie ran to his brother, before skidding to a stop. Honestly, it was a testament to how large the clearing was that neither of them had noticed this. It was a pit the size of a swimming pool. Only much deeper. At the base was a pile of bodies. Goblins littered the top of the pile, but men and women lay at the base. The bottom of the pit was covered in blood. Percy gagged and eventually threw up into the pit at the sight of it. Charlie was panicking.

'No,' he said, shaking his head as he jumped into the pit. His boots splashed in the pools of blood. 'No, no, no. Bill! Bill come on! You can't be dead,'

Percy stared in incomprehension as Charlie ran to the pile of corpses and began touching them. Moving them aside. Pulling them apart. Trying to find any sign of life. Any sign of Bill.

'Charlie, stop it!' he cried; refusing to clamber down into the pit himself. 'You aren't thinking!'

Charlie didn't reply, continuing his efforts to uncover their brother. 'Accio William Weasley!' Percy shouted.

He waited, he felt a pull on his magic and tears came to his eyes. His summoning charm had picked up on something. That could only mean…

But it wasn't the body of Bill Weasley that soared up to him.

Charlie halted his movements and watched in fascination as a silver band shot out from the pile and flew up to Percy, who caught it mid-air. 'Shame,' Charlie thought, 'He would've made a decent seeker,'

Percy inspected the bracelet and collapsed to his knees in relief. 'It's his charm, Charlie. The one that's connected to yours,'

Charlie apparated up to where Percy sat, thrusting his hand out in a silent request to inspect the bracelet. Percy handed it over.

Charlie clenched his jaw and threw the charm out into the pit.

'Oh, for heavens' sake, Charles, that's evidence!' Percy wordlessly summoned the bracelet back to him and stood up. 'We need to get back to England,'

Charlie nodded mutely tapping his foot in the grass, staring at the massacre that sat before his eyes. 'We can't just leave this here,' he said, finally.

Percy swallowed, forcing himself to give attention to the pit. 'No. We can't,' he raised his wand and mumbled under his breath, closing his eyes, chanting the spell in song as fire encased the mound of bodies before it all turned to stone. He breathed in long and hard through his nose before reopening his eyes. 'Now let's get to the French Ministry. We'll need an international portkey.'

Charlie nodded and turned around, walking back the way they came. 'I'm assuming you got here through the British Ministry?'

Percy fidgeted with the bracelet in his hands. 'Not exactly, no.'

Charlie groaned and nearly ran a hand down his face in exasperation before noticing the blood that coated his hands and arms. Pulling out his wand, he quickly cleaned them and stuffed his wand back in his pocket. 'You do know that they're going to ask us how we got in the country if we want a portkey back.'

Percy's lips thinned but he nodded in resignation.

You're a lucky fucker, Percy,' said Charlie. They'd re-entered the forest and were making their way through the dense foliage once more. 'Because I reckon, I'm the only brother – save Fred and George, maybe – who knows how to get an illegal portkey.'

Percy snorted, nearly knocking his glasses off his nose. 'Didn't I just say that I got here without the Ministry's help?'

Charlie, despite the circumstances, grinned. 'There's more to you than I thought, if I'm honest.'

Silently, Percy agreed. If he'd been told a year ago today that he'd be traveling through a forest bordering the French Alps with Charlie on a mission to illegally return to England he'd have laughed in their face. But this side that he was showing, this devotion to his family, was nothing new. It was nothing uncovered. People just didn't know him – not really. They didn't listen to the way he shared his passions. They didn't pay attention to the fact that he'd never felt the need for friends, not because he was so focused on his own ambition, but because he'd always seen his family as the only friendship he'd ever need. But now, with the missing body of Bill Weasley, Percy understood that he'd taken all of that for granted. However much he loved his family, you never truly understood what you had until you'd lost it.

He needed to find Bill.

He needed to get back to England.

'Who's this contact of yours?' Percy asked. The sunlight was barely reaching the forest floor – so dense was the covering above.

'Scamander, you know, Newt Scamander, traveled with the same portkey company back in the twenties I think,' he paused as he clambered over a particularly large fallen tree. 'Newt lives in Paris during the winters, see. I work with his granddaughter, so I've been a regular guest… if you know what I mean,' he winked over his shoulder and Percy's cheeks flushed.

'And erm…' Percy cleared his throat, 'Who might she be? You know... to you?'

Suddenly, Charlie was the one blushing. 'So, Perce, how close are you to mum?'

Percy glared at his brother. 'Don't do that,'

'Do what,'

'The changing subject thing. You used to do it all the time as kids,'

'Well, for me to answer your question, I'd need you to tell me how stable yours and mum's relationship is,' Charlie said, firmly. It was strange to see him so serious about a topic – that in Percy's opinion – wasn't so grave.

'Well…' he paused to really think about it. He wasn't… distant from his mother, per se. But he wasn't close with her like Ron was. In fact, come to think of it, none of them were particularly connected to their mother. Ginny seemed to have made it her life's purpose to go against everything Molly Weasley said. Ron was never outright disrespectful but had never shared much with her. Quite frankly, Ron had never shared much of anything with anyone. Percy used to do that a lot. He felt Ron was likely insecure of his true interests and desires and hadn't bothered to say anything. The twins used to be close. Likely closer than anyone. But they'd drifted upon a mutual disagreement as to what a successful career was. Percy felt as though their joke shop ambition was fool-hardy, but if anyone could persevere and make it work it was Fred and George. He didn't quite understand why his mother had attempted to damper their dreams. As for himself, well, he'd always tried to get closer to his father. He'd never spared much thought for his mum. She'd done nothing wrong, he'd always respected her and loved her, but he couldn't deem himself close to her. The two eldest brothers had left Britain as soon as they possibly could. 'I'm not exactly close to her… I suppose.'

Charlie nodded and they both continued their walk through the forest in silence. Upon reaching the tree-line, and exiting into the mid-morning sun, Charlie turned to face Percy.

'Listen, Alyssa... - Newt's granddaughter - she's not expecting me for a while.'

'She's expecting you?'

'Of course, she is. Just… not for another month or so. She moved back into France in their family home, and I was supposed to meet her there right around Christmas. We were going to move in together,' Charlie ran a hand through his hair and glanced around at their surroundings nervously. As though checking to make sure no one was listening in. Percy felt that this was rather pathetic, seeing as they stood in an empty field in Eastern France with nothing but fields and forests for miles.

'So, it's serious, then?' Percy inquired before something else clicked. 'Hang on… moving in? As in permanently? In France?'

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck, kicking at a pebble on the ground. 'Permanently… yeah. At least I hope so,'

'But what about Romania? Your dragons?'

Charlie didn't answer, he just looked up at Percy with tired eyes.

Comprehension flooded him and he began to piece together everything Charlie had said and done since Percy had found him on the beach in Normandy. 'That's why you left without much fuss… you were already going to leave the reserve.'

Charlie nodded.

'Why? You've never shown any desire to leave your career before. Why now?'

Charlie bit the inside of his cheek. For someone who typically took on the appearance of someone so boisterous and rugged. Cool and unwavering. Charlie appeared incredibly small at this moment. 'There are some things far, far more important than a career.'

Charlie pulled out his wand and tapped the base of his ring finger on his left hand. A plain wedding band appeared from the concealment charm he'd just removed from his hand. Percy's eyes widened and he let out a quick gasp. He looked up from his brother's hand and into his eyes. 'You eloped?'

Charlie nodded and smiled slightly.

'Does mum… she doesn't know?'

'No. Nobody does except you, now. I don't even think mum knows about Alyssa. Bill thinks she's just the girl of the week but that's only because I've changed the name I've used for her in my letters to him for the past three years.'

Percy sighed. 'Three years? You've been secretly married for three years?'

Charlie shook his head. 'No, I've only been married to her since after the World Cup. I've been seeing her for three years.'

'What made you feel the need to mary in secret? Surely mum would've liked to come.'

Charlie stared at Percy for a moment before shaking his head slightly. 'I'll explain all of that when we get there but for now, we really need to get back to England.'

Percy took the change in subject at face value. The reason was likely quite simple. But the complexities of the situation were not an immediate concern. And therefore wasn't worth getting into. 'Alright,' he said.

Charlie grabbed hold of Percy's shoulder and spun on the spot.

They landed in a narrow cobblestone side street that led to an exit Percy couldn't see. He could feel the warding around him. It was similar to Diagon Alley. 'Where are we?' he asked in a whisper.

Charlie began to walk out into the light of another street and Percy followed. The side street opened up into a beautiful square, with many shops adorning five large streets that led in different directions. Great bluish-warded portals displayed what Percy assumed were the exits. Hundreds of witches and wizards (judging by their clothing) were milling about, window shopping, or merely socializing.

'Welcome to Place Cachée,' said Charlie, distractedly. 'Incredibly uninspired name, if you ask me.' Charlie made his way down one of the five streets up to a oxidized copper statue of a woman sitting down on her dress, reaching out to the heavens.

'What does it mean?' said Percy, hurrying after his brother.

'Directly translates to 'Hidden Place'. And you'd be right to assume that it's like Diagon Alley. They're basically the same thing, except France hides their magic a whole lot better than England and the rest of the isles do.' Charlie stepped up to the pillar the statue rested on. Drawing back the hems of her dress and walking straight through the stone.

'Just another platform,' Percy said to himself as he plunged forward into the unknown.

The sound of muggle automobiles flooded his ears, and the general bustle of people making their way about the streets made him look up. 'Where are we now?' Percy asked.

'Fucking hell, can you just accept that we're in Paris?' Charlie snapped back. He was distractedly looking around. He began to make his way through the crowded streets with a well-practiced stride. Absently, Percy marveled at the fact that Charlie had been able to keep a real, serious relationship secret from their mother for so long. Though he felt there was more to it than a lack of connection to their mum.

He looked up at a street sign and noted that they were leaving a juncture between Rue Richer and Rue Girardon. Charlie, for someone who wasn't very tall at all, was quite fast. So fast, in fact, that had he not been graced with the signature Weasley red hair that all but Ginny shared, Percy would've lost him.

Paris was quite beautiful, and he felt a stab of longing resonate deep within his core. Something that he didn't quite recognize. It was a longing for something he hadn't felt in a very long time. Something he'd tampered down long ago.

A longing for adventure. For purpose. Percy had long ago stamped away that desire to fulfill a need that, for him, was far more important.

Money.

He'd grown up with barely any. Believe it or not, raising just Bill, Charlie, and Percy had been when the family had struggled the most. Their father hadn't been promoted to head of his department, and though it was not prestigious in any way, it was still far more gold than they'd been earning when Percy was young. It wasn't until the twins were born that things had begun to look up, but still, it was feeble at best. Ron and Ginny truly didn't understand what they had. Those early years had convinced Percy to never go a day of his life having to scrape the bottom of a Gringotts vault.

He supposed that things were different for their family now. Harry had seen to that. But Percy didn't want to have to rely on his parents. Sure, he lived in the Burrow, but that was more of a comfort than anything.

Percy wanted to thrive. He wanted to have enough gold so that once he eventually did start a family, he'd be able to get them clothes that didn't scratch with the feeling of overuse. To have books that they could open and breathe in the smell of freshly pressed paper. To have wands the had truly chosen their wizard. It was a desire, a need, perhaps. But it was not a purpose.

So as Percy weaved through the traffic of the people of Paris, apologizing profusely in the limited French he knew as he slammed into the shoulder of a stranger, he felt a fire light deep within his very soul.

Find Bill.

Charlie came to a stop on the step of a fine townhouse. Percy's eyes widened slightly before he reprimanded himself. Of course she'd have money. She was a Scamander.

'Well,' he thought to himself, 'A Weasley, now.'

Charlie knocked in a strange pattern over the door. Like entering Diagon Alley, only without a wand. Then, Percy felt a wave of protective enchantments flow over him before the door opened and Charlie rushed in, beckoning Percy inside.

They were in a rainforest clearing. There was nothing but trees for as far as the eye could see. Even the humidity was down to exactly what Percy would expect a rainforest to feel like. He could tell there must have been cooling charms placed on the faux forest, because the humidity wasn't too uncomfortable. It was beautiful charm work.

'Newt made this,' Charlie said, gesturing to the forest they were surrounded in. 'It's essentially a load of extension charms and some Scamander family magic, from what I can tell.'

Percy could only nod dumbly. He'd felt as though he had a grasp on the limits of magic. But this was truly amazing. He followed Charlie through the trees until he came across a small clearing. There was a little cottage with a wraparound deck. Its crooked chimney was being supported by magic and rose high into the sky. There were massive pawprints in the muddy earth that lay around the left side of the cottage. They seemed to belong to an enormous cat.

Charlie seemed to notice where Percy's attention was being drawn to. 'That'd be Zoë,' he said, gesturing to the pawprints. 'She's our Zouwu,' Percy gaped at Charlie and he laughed. 'It's this big teleporting Chinese cat. Dead useful. They can get through any wards you could possibly think of.'

'Wow,' was all Percy had to say.

'Now, Alyssa isn't a magizoologist like her grandad. Her little brother, Rolph. I think he's in Ron's year, he wants to be a magizoologist and all that.' He waved his hand dismissively. 'Zoë's been passed down since Newt found her here in Paris before the Continental War. We take care of her now.'

Percy nodded in understanding. The Scamander brothers had played a pivotal role in Grindelwald's Wizarding war: The Continental War. So much hatred and violence coincided with the muggle's conflict, and it led to an economic disaster for the entire wizarding population worldwide.

They reached the wooden steps to the cottage and Charlie raised his fist to knock on the door before hesitating. 'Shit. I should've brought her something.'

Percy chuckled as he watched Charlie produce a bouquet of flowers out of the tip of his wand. He flattened his hair slightly and knocked three times.

The door opened and Percy got his first glimpse at his secret sister-in-law. His first impression was that she would've been beautiful had she not had angry red scars adorning the right side of her face. She grinned broadly at the sight of Charlie and leapt into his arms. Charlie swung her around on the deck before letting her down gently.

'Hey, love,' he said, nuzzling her neck and she sighed, sinking into his arms.

'Hi,' she said brightly, smiling up at him with a quizzical expression on her face. 'What's with the surprise visit?' she hadn't seemed to have noticed Percy, who was now awkwardly standing with his hands fisted in his pockets, staring anywhere but at the happy couple before him.

It's not that Percy disapproved of public displays of affection. He just felt incredibly uncomfortable whenever anyone did anything remotely romantic in front of everyone. So, he supposed he did disapprove.

'Well… I'm in need of your talents,' he said huskily, making Percy want to forever cement his head into the sands of the Sahara.

Alyssa giggled and traced a hand down Charlie's forearm. Percy was beginning to grow concerned as to what he might witness but Charlie stood up and brought his shoulders back, clearing his throat. 'Alyssa, this is my brother Percy. He came to find me to locate my brother Bill on urgent matters. Apparently, the world is at stake but…' Percy couldn't see what Charlie did, but he must have rolled his eyes because Alyssa laughed again. She stepped up to Percy and held out her hand.

'It's very nice to meet you, Percy.'

Percy shook her hand and was pleased to receive a firm handshake in return. That's always a good measure of someone's character. 'It's a pleasure,' he said, smiling kindly.

She nodded at him and let out a breath. 'Well, come on inside. I'll make some tea,' they all walked in through the doorway and Percy took in the room.

Because that's what it was. The entire main floor was a single room, supposedly held up by magic. It included a common room area, with a floo-sized fireplace and comfortable enough seating. A bookshelf lined the wall beside the fireplace. Though it was a little on the small side for Percy's taste. He chuckled quietly at the copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them that lay on a small coffee table. It could barely close with the number of spare notes and bookmarks jammed into the folds of its pages.

The common room led into a dining area with a small table carrying six chairs. The dining area then led into a beautiful kitchen. Charlie and Percy were the only ones who had carried Molly Weasley's famous hand at cooking with them.

Alyssa waved her hand in what Percy took as a mindless gesture but stopped dead in his tracks when a teapot flew from the kitchen, across the main floor, and straight into her hand. His eyes nearly rolled out of his skull as she did the same with the other hand and levitated three teacups with one hand onto the dining table.

Charlie chuckled and laid a hand on the small of Percy's back, guiding him into the space. 'Maybe wine would be a better drink for this conversation, love,'

Alyssa smiled her perfect teeth to the two brothers and silently banished the kettle and tea cups with a wave of her hand. Then, summoning a bottle of wine and two glasses instead. Percy swallowed at the display of magic.

Wandless magic was near impossible. Even Dumbledore was well documented to struggle with it. Perhaps it was a Scamander trait? No, that didn't fit. Their family was far too famous to keep a secret like that.

She windlessly levitated the bottle, uncorked it, and poured two glasses before resealing the bottle.

'Oh, do you not drink?' said Percy. He felt uncomfortable drinking when others around him weren't. Then again, Charlie was there.

She glanced at Charlie before turning her attention back on Percy and shrugging. 'Not anymore, no,'

A somewhat awkward silence filled the room before Charlie shook himself and laid his glass down to rest for a moment. 'We need to get to England as soon as possible, but Percy traveled here illegally. Therefore, your Ministry, and in turn, our Ministry will need to know how he got into France. So, we were wondering if your family friend could get us over the Channel.'

Alyssa drummed her fingers on the tabletop. 'You're not staying?' she asked, quietly.

Charlie's shoulders slumped slightly, and his expression softened. 'No, love, but I'll be back before you know it. And for good this time.'

She bit her lip and stared at Charlie intently. 'I'll need you there, Charlie. I swear it if you aren't there-'

Charlie laid a hand on hers to stop the drumming. 'Hey, I promised you that I'd be there. You need to trust me on this! When have I ever let you down before?'

Percy was expecting her to list off the numerous occurrences that Charlie had neglected to show up. As Charlie had done so many times before to his own family but was surprised when she smiled slightly and said, 'Never,'

Slightly surprised by the apparent success of his brother's relationship, Percy paid closer attention to the woman in front of him. The scars on her face reminded him of someone. But he couldn't put his finger on it. She seemed young, probably younger than Charlie himself, but had an age to her that sang out of the eyes and the way she smiled. Her eyes had smile lines and her cheekbones stood out prettily. Percy could understand why his brother had been attracted to her.

If it weren't for the scars, Percy would have said she was one of the most beautiful women he'd ever met.

There was something about her though… like the feeling of passing through a ward. Like a warning. He'd felt it before, and, just like the scars, he couldn't place where he'd seen it.

'So what's this with Bill. I've never met him, but I know he's important to Charlie.' Said Alyssa, breaking the silence. She turned to Percy, 'Sorry, Percy, I don't mean that as in you don't care for him, it's just I don't really know you very well.'

Percy nodded his understanding and rolled his shoulders. 'I was sent to get Bill for something back in England. Our sister is involved in the Triwizard Tournament, and we think our friend is trying to get Bill to break the contract and get her out of the Tournament. Thing is, once I found Charlie, we tracked down Bill's bracelet,' he held up the bloodied silver bracelet, ever similar to the one's Charlie and Percy themselves wore, 'There was a massacre at the dig site he was working at. But there was no trace of his body, only his bracelet.'

Charlie clenched his fist and Percy sighed. 'Either he's dead and they moved his body somewhere else, or he's been captured. Bill isn't exactly high profile, more of a D-list celebrity really. But people do know him. They could definitely use him to do something sinister if they really needed to get a job done.'

Alyssa was frowning, throwing concerned looks at her husband, who was determinedly staring at the table, silently fuming. She drummed her fingers again and looked up at Percy. 'So why do you need to get back to England?'

Percy frowned, as did Charlie. 'We need to notify our friends and allies about his disappearance. Not to mention mum,' Charlie cringed at the thought, 'Plus, Ali, we haven't got a shred of a lead!'

Alyssa rolled her eyes at Charlie. 'It's like you forget what I am, or something.'

Percy was bewildered at that statement. He turned his head to face Charlie as he slapped a hand to his forehead. 'Fuck!' he said, rather loudly. 'I can't believe I forgot,'

Alyssa sighed. 'Honestly, it's a bit of a good sign to say that you forgot. Means you don't hold it against me.'

It was Charlie's turn to roll his eyes. 'You know I don't.'

Percy had had enough. 'Alright, what's going on here?'

Alyssa threw him a pitying glance but otherwise ignored him. 'How old do you reckon the crime scene was?' she asked the both of them.

'No clue,' Percy responded, honestly.

'I'd say a day at most,' said Charlie, thoughtfully.

Alyssa nodded, visibly cataloging the information within her mind. Then, the strangest thing happened. Her eyes glazed over, as did Charlie's. No matter what Percy did, they wouldn't notice. 'Hello?' he said, finally resorting to speech to try and get their attention.

The two of them just sat there, blank expressions plastered onto their faces until all of a sudden, as quickly as it had started, their eyes cleared, and they both turned to Percy. 'Alright, we're going to stop and check in with Tonks before doing our own little investigation. Alyssa is going to head out to where we were to try and pick up a scent,' said Charlie in a rush.

Percy gaped at the pair as they both stood from the table and made their way out of the house. He shot to his feet and ran after them. 'Hang on, what the hell was the weird eye thing? What do you mean: 'pick up a scent'?'

Alyssa stopped on the deck, right before the steps. Percy stood next to her, watching as Charlie ran out into the clearing and put his hands to his mouth making a strange purring sound, only much louder.

'Let's just say that there's a very good reason for your mother to have been kept in the dark about our relationship,' Alyssa said, quietly. 'I'll be able to pick up on Bill's scent. I'm… well versed enough with my... abilities to track some magical signatures as well,'

She watched his reaction before continuing. 'Being able to track magical signatures means that I'll be able to figure out where they apparated to; if that's how they left. I won't be able to track him if they used a portkey. So, let's hope that if he's been kidnapped, that his attacker used apparition as means of transport.'

Percy nodded dumbly before staggering at the sound of an earth-shattering roar, like that of a lion, coming from the depths of the rainforest. The sound of a large animal bounding through the bush met his ears before a feline-type animal came hurtling into the clearing. Its strong powerful forelimbs leading its stride. It had a mane that seemed to glow with golden flecks of magic sewn into its fibers. Its body was adorned with stripes like that of a tiger, which led down into a long beautiful flowing tail. Covered in what could only be described as vivid pink flower petals that made up the tail. It was unbelievably long, constantly coiling and flowing around itself like the wind. Its face had small tusks, and its honey-brown eyes centered directly on Percy. It growled slightly but Charlie began to rub the underside of its chin delicately, murmuring to it softly.

Alyssa grabbed Percy by the arm and led him down to the Zouwu. 'Meet Zoë, she's perfectly friendly… you'll just want her to get a good sniff of you,'

Percy held his hand out and laughed as the whiskers tickled his entire arm, such was the length of them. Then, the great cat rubbed up against his arm, nearly bowling him over.

'I reckon she likes you, then,' said Charlie, helping his brother up off the ground.

Percy quickly scourgified himself, now that he'd fallen in the mud, and turned his attention back on the cat.

His analytical mind, always turning, seemed to perceive an opportunity that neither Charlie nor Alyssa had considered before. 'Hey Charlie,' said Percy, turning to face away from the cat and looking at his brother instead. 'You said Zoë can teleport? Through any wards?'

Charlie frowned at Percy. 'Yeah… that's what I- Oh shit, Perce, you're brilliant!' he cried jumping in the air and laughing. 'I can't believe I hadn't thought of that!'

Alyssa made her way over to her husband. 'What? What is it?'

Percy turned to her, grinning like an idiot. 'Do you think she could jump the Channel?'

'Are you sure this is it?' said Percy, eyeing the run-down flat door apprehensively.

'Yes, I'm sure it's the right place, you dolt,' said Charlie, running a hand down his face. It had been a long day. Initially, the plan to use Zoë had seemed to be perfect and without issue. Unfortunately, there came the realization that they'd have to carry her around in a leather travel case wherever they went. Percy was currently carrying it around, but there was a flaw in the charms on the case that led to one of the clasps occasionally flying open. It had proven to be incredibly frustrating to constantly be having to remember to check the clasps.

'I'm only saying that it's been a few years and it's possible she's moved out or something,' said Percy, repeating the same words he'd tried to get settled into Charlie's skull the entire walk from the Thames to this run-down flat.

'I just know, alright?' Charlie didn't explain that the reason he knew is because of the amount of time Tonks had gone through in searching for the perfect flat. She'd wanted something she could redecorate, something she could live in for the rest of her life to record muggle music in as a side project. She'd taken too much time and invested too much money into the furnishings and renovations to ever abandon it.

As Charlie continued to stare at the door, Percy let out a huff of annoyance. He pushed Charlie aside and knocked three times.

'No! Perce, fuck! I wasn't ready!'

'Bill could be dead you blithering idiot!' Percy hissed, 'And if you give a damn about tracking him down, and potentially saving his life, you've got to man up and stop hiding from your ex! You're married for heaven's sake!'

'Alright, alright,' said Charlie, raising his hands in surrender. It was true, he knew. It was a stupid insecurity, seeing the person he'd treated so terribly before.

He hadn't even gotten a chance to sort through his thoughts before the door to the flat opened and Tonks's vivid pink hair died down to a muted mousy brown. She stared at Charlie for a long while before turning to Percy. 'Hate to break it to you, but this is the wrong brother,'

Percy opened his mouth to retort but Tonks spoke over him.

'I'm sure it's difficult to remember them all, seeing as there are six of you, but I really hoped that out of the two that are older than you are, you'd have been able to guess correctly. See, I need Bill Weasley, not Charles,'

'Shut up, Tonks, we need to speak to Sirius,' said Charlie, interrupting her diatribe. She gaped at him for a moment before folding her arms over her chest and leaning against her doorframe. 'Who said anything about Sirius?'

'I traced his magical signature from the letter you gave me. It was charmed by Sirius Black,' Percy supplied, likely eager to get the conversation rolling away from Charlie's presence.

She glared at Percy. 'Didn't I tell you not to read it?'

'He didn't read it, Tonks, he only traced it,' said Charlie. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He knew she'd act like this if he was here. 'Listen, Tonks, I get that I was a total git, prat, ignorant fuck, whatever you want to call me, that's how I was…' he paused to make sure he had her attention, 'But that was years ago now, I mean, honestly, I'm married… it's time we just got over this,' he dropped his hand from his hair and sighed. 'I'm truly sorry for the way I treated you. If it's any consolation at all, I've learned from my mistakes and I've treated people differently - better, I reckon,'

Tonks shrugged one shoulder before sighing herself. 'Fine, you're right. But why do you need to see Sirius?'

'Bill's been kidnapped. He might be dead, we don't know…' Percy stuffed his hands in his pockets. 'There's a lot to it, we'd be here for a while…' he tried to subtly look over her shoulder into her flat as though he'd like to be invited in but she shook her head.

'No, I'll take you in,' she stepped out of her flat and closed the door. Taking out her keys, she locked the door and grabbed them both by the forearm. 'Just trust me,'

The familiar sensation of apparition flared through Charlie. Before he knew wit, his feet slammed into the floor of a beautiful entrance hall.

'Where are we?' Percy asked for what Charlie swore was the hundredth time that day.

'England,' Charlie replied, cheekily.

'I'm not at liberty to say,' Tonks answered, speaking over whatever retort Percy was going to come up with. 'Follow me,'

She led them through the beautiful manor and Percy seemed to realize something. 'This is Potter Manor!'

Charlie's eyebrows shot up but he otherwise remained silent. They arrived at a door and Tonks knocked.

A muffled 'Come in,' was heard, and Tonks opened the door.

If Charlie was surprised at the location, he was even more confused at the people populating the kitchen.

Narcissa Malfoy sat ramrod straight across from an extremely irriatted Sirius Black. Behind Sirius stood Mad-Eye Moody, who was frowning at the occupants of the doorway.

'Where's William,' the ragged auror said, rather testily in Charlie's opinion. He noticed Narcissa perked up and turned to face them at the mention of Bill.

'Did you find him?' she asked, suddenly quite interested in the proceedings.

'We found what was left of his team,' said Charlie, hesitantly. 'I'm sorry, but why is she here?'

Narcissa opened her mouth to speak but Sirius cut her off. 'She's with us, for now… what happened, Charlie, explain.'

Percy shrugged and they, together, dove into the explanation of finding the forest clearing, the mass grave, and the detached bracelet.

'Nymphadora, get Molly. Arthur as well, if you can reach him. He'll be preoccupied with his muggle toys but I reckon the disappearance and possible murder of his eldest son will be enough to get his attention,' Moody spoke clearly. This was no place to waste time. Tonks quickly rose to her feet and scurried off to what Charlie assumed was the nearest floo.

Silence settled into the room. Even Narcissa looked worried. Something that Charlie simply could not understand.

'What's in that case, son,' Moody eventually said, his magical eye, for once, not whirring about but focused in on the leather travel case Percy was carrying.

'Zoë,' Charlie replied, simply, 'She's my Zouwu,'

Moody roled his one real eye, the magical one remained focused on the case. 'You're as bad as Scamander was. Always carrying animals across international borders. Whilst fighting in a bloody war on top of it all. Drove his brother mad, if I remember correctly.'

'You were alive? Even back then?'

Both eyes focused on Percy contemptuously. 'No, that'd be ridiculous. Newt's brother, Theseus, was my mentor back when I was your age,'

The false calm that had settled in was shattered when both Charlie's mum and dad came running into the kitchen. 'What's happened to Bill?' his mother said in a near whisper.

Tonks brought the two parents further into the kitchen and sat them down opposite Narcissa. His father sat incredibly stiffly, Charlie couldn't blame him. The wife of the man who had made his life and career nearly impossible. The wife of the man who had destroyed their daughter. His sister.

'We don't know, mum, and we aren't sticking around here for long,' said Charlie. Staring down at his toes, he retold everything they'd seen at the massacre, before reiterating that he and Percy wouldn't be staying home.

'You aren't staying? For once, Charlie, you should see reason and stay home!'

'No, mum, we need to do this,' Percy interrupted. He had a determined look on his face and stared right back at his mother's glare.

'You're his keeper, Charlie, how could you have let this happen?' said his mum.

'He is a fully capable adult wizard. Unlike you, I don't think a twenty-four-year-old man needs a child-minder.' said Charlie through gritted teeth.

'Well look where that's got him,'

'Shut up, mum!'

Everyone turned to Percy, whose ears were red and his hands were out of his pockets, tapping the sides of his thighs nervously. 'Just… shut it. We've got someone…' he threw a furtive glance at Charlie, 'who can track him down. As long as they didn't use a portkey, of course.'

'You've got a werewolf helping you?' asked Sirius. Molly's eyes widened and Charlie sighed.

Percy stood there in shock. Alyssa Weasley, née Scamander, was a werewolf? He was related - through marriage - to a werewolf? he groaned inwardly, reflecting on how he had somehow missed the signs. The scars on her face were eerilly similar to that of Professor Lupin's. And that sense of foreboding, like passing through a ward, was exactly how he'd always get around Lupin. Since the summer he'd been forced to reevalute his stance on werewolves by the discovery that one of, if not his favourite teacher was one of the foul beasts. He'd been comforted somewhat by Lupin, and had learned quite a bit in the limited time he'd spent with Sirius Black over lunch at the Ministry the two or three times that had happened.

'Yeah, we have a werewolf tracking down Bill as we speak. It's part of the reason why we've got to return straight away,' he paused for a long while. Everyone could feel that he had more to say, but he remained quiet. Until finally, 'She's my wife, mum, I trust her with my life.'

Charlie couldn't help but feel as though the world had lost all of its warmth as his mother stared at him, mouth agape. What was surprising, however, was his father's reaction.

Arthur Weasley merely smiled to himself, staring at his folded hands in his lap.

'When did it happen?' his mother asked, quietly.

'August. The day I got back from the World Cup,' Charlie replied, never breaking eye contact.

His mother continued to stare at him before visibly deflating. She heaved a great sigh and dropped her head in her hands. She sat there for a moment, unseeing, before letting them slide off her face and fall into her lap. She was staring determinedly at the floor. 'I suppose I ought to focus on Bill at the moment,'

Charlie and Percy's eyebrows shot up. They'd both been expecting a row. And perhaps the time for that would come, but for now, Molly Weasley seemed to have chosen need over fruitless desire.

'Alright,' Percy began, 'Considering the state of the people at the dig-site, I reckon we won't have Bill back in time for the Tournament. Ginny and Harry are going to have to compete,' he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

Their mother let out a dry sob while their father frowned. 'Why wouldn't they be competing? They're magically bound to compete,'

Percy gaped at his father. 'I thought that's what you'd sent us to get Bill for,' he directed the question at Sirius, who was grimacing at the counter near the kitchen sink, 'to break Harry and Ginny free of this ridiculous Tournament!'

Moody shook his head. 'If we'd wanted to do that, we'd have already done so. It isn't curse-breaking, because so far as magic states, Harry and Ginny entered themselves willingly, despite what they themselves say. It is, therefore, not a curse,'

'Are you suggesting that Ginny just tossed her name in, fooling an artifact from the time of the founders into selecting four champions, and passing through Dumbledore's age line? Not bloody likely,' Charlie shouted across the room at the mangy auror. 'What the fuck was the point of us finding Bill then?' he paused, eyeing everyone in the room, 'and be quick about it because we need to get back to France,'

Tonks sighed and Sirius finally took a step away from the counter. 'We need him to rewrite Narcissa's magic,'

Percy and Charlie were shocked into silence, as were their parents. 'Excuse me?' said Arthur in a cold, quiet voice, barely above a whisper.

'The Dark Lord is on the rise once again. For the safety of myself, and the safety of my son, I need to be reabsorbed into the Black family,' said Narcissa Malfoy, her eyes focused solely on her finger, which was tracing lazy circles about the table.

Percy opened his mouth, probably to ask why, but Sirius overrode him. 'Voldemort will be able to track down Narcissa and Draco once he returns. But if they've been reabsorbed into the Black line… well… Voldemort can't get to them. Not as easily, at least,'

Their father cleared his throat. 'And why would you want to do such a thing. You'd put up with your husband's acts in the first war. What's changed,'

Narcissa looked up from her finger and glared daggers at Arthur, going as far as to stand from her seat. 'Sometimes,' she said icily, 'self preservation plays a role in one's choices. Perhaps if you'd learned that lesson a little earlier, you wouldn't have struggled the way you had for so long,' she swept from the kitchen, followed by the crack of apparition a few moments later.

Sirius laid a hand on Arthur's shoulder, his eyes trailing the path Narcissa left behind. 'She's been different, Arthur, truly different. She's just stressed, is all,'

Charlie had been informed by his siblings, specifically Percy, of Voldemort's return and Ginny's involvement. How Harry Potter had deduced that a war was coming and that the rest of the family believed it to be true. He didn't know how to feel about it if he was honest with himself. Though he hadn't yet been accepted into Hogwarts, he'd been old enough to have lasting memories of the first war. He remembered the day Harry Potter defeated Voldemort with nothing but a lightning bolt scar on his forehead with a clarity he couldn't place with any of his other childhood memories. They'd celebrated and cried, they'd gone to the memorial in Godric's Hollow, they'd been to the service for Lily and James Potter that had been available to the public. It was all rather deliberate, on the Ministry's part, to drive up the celebration as much as possible. To overcompensate and hide away their mistakes. Like the refusal to grant Sirius Black a trial, or the lack of protection given to Frank and Alice Longbottom.

The thought of a second war, one that he'd be directly involved in, was terrifying but, in a strange way, exhilarating. Charlie wanted to fight, he wanted to help Ginny as much as he could. Commit as much harm as possible to the man who had possessed his sister.

'Is Bill truly the only cure-breaker who can do this?' Tonks asked to the room at large.

'He's the only one she trusts,' said Sirius, uncorking a bottle of firewhiskey and silently offering a shot to everyone. Charlie readily took one, being the only person – besides Moody and Sirius – who chose to drink. 'And, quite frankly,' Sirius swallowed away the burn of the amber liquid, 'he's the only one I trust as well. This isn't something we want to be plastered across the front page,'

'Yes, but couldn't you just make the bloke take an unbreakable vow before helping you lot?' said Tonks, shifting her feet.

'It comes down to trust,' Moody explained, 'If your magic is being rewritten, you must trust the person performing the task,'

Tonks sighed in defeat and Percy groaned. 'How long do you think we have,' he asked to Sirius.

'A year at most,' he said, taking another shot of frewhiskey, 'I reckon the Tournament is designed to kill Harry and Ginny off easily, then we'd have to deal with Voldemort alone,'

Charlie scoffed. 'No offense to Harry, or Ginny, for that matter, but how could they help?'

'Name anyone who isn't Dumbledore, that's survived an encounter with Voldemort, lived, and technically won,'

Charlie frowned, deep in thought. 'They're just kids,' he said quietly.

Moody shook his head gravely. 'They haven't been kids for a long time,'

Another dry sob came from their mother, sitting with her head bowed, staring at the table.

'There's something about Potter, though,' Moody continued, 'Voldemort went after Harry that night, not James and Lily,'

Sirius shook his head. 'Not now, not ever, am I going to share any information on that. Listen, I need you all to just… get back to whatever you were doing. This little group… it isn't- It's just that, a little speculative group to try and get a step ahead whatever Voldemort is planning,' he sighed and scratched at his scalp. 'You two, go find Bill… I'll worry about Cissy. She says she's found a new place…'

Arthur turned in his seat to stare up at Sirius. 'She sold Malfoy Manor?'

Moody gave a loud guffaw. 'Sold? No, Arthur, she destroyed it. Sirius said it was the most impressive display of fiendfyre he'd ever witnessed,' Sirius nodded to Moody's proclamation.

'She burnt it down?' Arthur asked, awestruck.

Sirius nodded. 'Yeah, it's what convinced me of what side she was taking in this new war,' he sighed and shook his head, smiling slightly, 'She just took my arm, apparated right through the manor's wards, stuck her wand up into the sky and disassembled the wards before my eyes. I asked her what she was doing and she just stared at me and said, 'I'm going to prove myself,' before burning the whole thing to the ground,' he paused and looked back up. 'It was spectacular if I'm honest… but I'm never going to forgive her,'

Everyone nodded and the room fell back into an uneasy silence. 'We may not be able to be back in time for Ginny's task,' said Percy, turning his attention to their mum, 'Tell her that we're busy, alright?'

'I'm not going to tell her about Bill, she's very close to him and I don't want her to be distracted during the Tournament,' Molly replied quietly.

Usually, Charlie would be opposed to keeping things from Ginny. Especially considering the fact that she would blow up the most egregiously when the secret came out. But her success in the Tournament was not some trivial matter of winning or losing. It was an event orchestrated by Voldemort himself. She'd won against him before, he was sure she could do it again. But that assurance was not enough to convince Charlie of telling his sister about Bill's disappearance. If anything other than the Tournament was on her mind, she could fail.

'Alright. We keep this from Ginny and Harry, is that fine with you Sirius?' said Arthur, rising from his seat and helping his still shell-shocked wife out of hers.

Sirius nodded dumbly and took a step back from the table as Arthur and Molly left the room in silence. Just as Arthur neared the threshold, he paused. 'Is there any way you can help them survive the Tournament? Isn't cheating a fundamental aspect of the event?'

Sirius sighed and shook his head. 'I've tried. There's a jinx on any information we try to give them. Remus couldn't tell them what the first task was when he tried, and none of my letters make it to them. We think it's been placed on Harry and Ginny alone, though, because the french girl and Krum weren't surprised by the dragons,' Arthur nodded in resignation and led himself, and his wife, out of the kitchen. Tonks and Moody left together shortly after, and Percy and Charlie were just about to make their excuses when Sirius held up a hand. 'So you said you're married to a werewolf?'

Charlie turned away from the door to face Sirius and nodded.

The edges of Sirius's mouth tugged upwards slightly before returning to a straight face. 'And is she happy? Is she better off than what she was outside of a relationship?' Charlie's eyes widened and he cast around for an answer.

'Well, Sirius that's a bit of a personal question,'

'Just answer it, please,' said Sirius.

'Yes,' Charlie answered in a whisper after a pregnant pause, 'She's much happier,'

Sirius smiled, a little too knowingly for his tastes. 'And… tell me… has she been listening in on this whole thing? Or is there someone else in her head,'

Charlie was momentarily driven speechless at Sirius's question, but then remembered Remus Lupin, who was rumored to be very close to Sirius, judging by what The Prophet said in their speculative articles, and by their behaviour towards one another at the World Cup. He had likely told Sirius all about the voice of comfort.

Charlie nodded. 'Yeah, she's been here the whole night,'

Sirius chuckled lightly and motioned to the door. 'Find Bill,' he laid a hand on Percy's shoulder and stared at him intently. 'Bring him home,'

Percy nodded and took a step away from Sirius, leaving the kitchen behind. Charlie hesitated for only a moment before rushing after his gangly younger brother.

The rain was coming down hard near the Edwards' Café. No one had dared venture out this morning upon seeing the weather conditions, so it had been an incredibly dull day at work for Elizabeth Edwards.

That was until a woman entered the café, ringing the small entrance bell. Her face and hair were shrouded by the hood of a large yellow fisherman's jacket. She was dripping water all over the floor, but Elizabeth didn't care. She finally had someone to talk to.

'Hello,' Elizabeth said, waiting to see who this was. She didn't seem to be a regular. At least, Elizabeth had never seen someone stand so awkwardly. She held herself in a very prim and proper manner, but her clothing gave off the appearance of someone who threw on a randomized selection of clothing. 'You want a coffee? Tea?'

The woman's shoulders relaxed slightly, and she nodded. 'Tea, please.'

Elizabeth frowned. Usually, people would've specified what kind of tea, or what they'd like in it. Instead, the woman had sat at the counter and waited with her pale hands resting on the tabletop. 'Alright then,' Elizabeth muttered as she busied herself with the kettle.

'I've only just moved in, see,' the woman said. Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up, though this was missed by the woman as Elizabeth had her back turned to her. 'And, well, the flat is right next to this teahouse so I figured I should come in and say hello,'

Elizabeth couldn't help but find the way the woman was speaking to sound incredibly forced. It was as though she was someone who never really showed much charisma, now exuding it in spades. Elizabeth couldn't put her finger on it, but she figured it was like how a royal would speak to try and fit in a public setting.

'Oh yeah? Where're you from?' said Elizabeth, turning to face the woman who had yet to remove her hood.

'Oh… wales,' she said, picking at a nick in the wood of the counter.

'Wales? You don't sound like you're from wales,'

The woman shifted sightly. 'Well, I'm from England originally, but my… well my husband… he had a home in wales,'

Elizabeth nodded, taking note of the implication of a dead husband. 'I'm sorry for your loss, miss,'

The woman started slightly before letting out an articulated chuckled. 'Oh, no… he isn't dead. I left him,'

Elizabeth smiled awkwardly and handed the woman her tea. 'We don't get loads of newcomers. Especially people my age. We got this boy here last summer for a bit, but he goes to a boarding school up North, so I haven't much to do most of the time,'

'How strange…' the woman trailed off, sipping at her tea. 'That must be Potter, then,' this seemed to have been made as an absent-minded remark, but alarm bells were ringing in Elizabeth's head.

'Yup… that's him,' Elizabeth replied, calmly.

Suddenly the woman stood from her seat at the counter, leaving behind a ten-pound note. 'I'll see you around, then,' she said.

Elizabeth stared in half fascination, half confusion at the note and the woman who strode towards the café's exit. 'I never caught a name, miss,' she said, hoping for a piece to this mystery woman.

She turned around, and Elizabeth could've sworn she caught a glimpse of white-blonde hair. The woman stood there for a long while, nearly thirty seconds before replying with, 'You can call me Miss Black, dear,' she said, before exiting back into the rain.

Black… Sirius Black? She'd have to write to Harry and Ginny. She'd yet to reply to their letter about the Tournament. How she wished she could watch them both.

It was one week and six days until the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, and Elizabeth was wishing more than ever, that she was a witch.