A/N: Heeeeey, I'm so excited to be getting into the details of things that will be mega important later! I really hope you like!
(Urie POV)
"Have you seen the Daily Prophet?" Draco looked over at me from his bacon and eggs and shook his head as I set the copy I'd gotten from my Owl on the table next to him. "There's been a breakout of Azkaban— more than thirty prisoners are gone and the Ministry's in an uproar." His face suddenly ghostly, I bit my lip as all the boy beside me could do was nod before setting his silverware down and taking a deep breath.
"It's not like this is something we didn't see coming." He finally pointed out, his tone low and though we agreed on that, it didn't stop us from sharing uneasy looks as Jakoba came over with Axelle, both looking very nervous.
"Saw the Daily Prophet?" At our nods, he glanced at his friend before sitting with us to the dismal looks of the Slytherins around us.
"This is bad." He murmured and Draco nodded though he said nothing. They needed to be really careful what they said in the presence of Slytherins, because if his family found out he was a nonsupporter he'd be in a hell of trouble. Luckily for him, at twelve, no one really cared to read his mind yet, so he was safe from them finding out that way.
"We should get to class." I looked between Draco and Jakoba, then at Axelle, who'd been sorted into Hufflepuff.
It was surprising, really because despite this, she was the most "unhufflepuff" I'd ever met. Instead of soft, round and innately kind, the young orphan was fierce, tough, rough around the edges and had a glare so poisonous, I'd even seen her make third year Slytherins back away from her. It was this behavior that made me think of her honesty and loyalty which would have to be the two things she possessed that would get her into the house of Helga Hufflepuff.
Loyalty and Honesty were good traits to have these days, because eventually, they might need Axelle if war was on the horizon. Yes, they were kids but that had never stopped adults before from forcing kids to fight a battle that wasn't innately theirs to fight.
"What do we have first again?" Since Voldemort had gotten the stone and taken Harry and Henry last year, our schedules had all been changed up and the first thing to go had been DADA. They didn't get rid of it for good, but they'd replaced it with another class that they hoped wouldn't be cursed. "Defensive and Offensive Magical Preparation (DaOMP)" they called it, but we just called it "NewMag" since it was a new magical class. The class was taught dually by Professor Darken and Professor Sirius Black, who not only took turns teaching on some days, but on others, they showed us what a proper duel looks like. There was a lot to learn in this class and at only twelve, we were learning things that used to be in a fourth years curriculum. Again, they weren't just teaching theory anymore, they were preparing us for war.
I stood and looked at Jakoba who reminded us that all of us with the exception of Axelle had Potions first— that was another change they'd made over the summer. Houses were forced to intermingle more and when we all went in on that first day, our seats had been chosen for us with Jakoba sitting in between Draco and I and on either side of us were two Gryffindor students named Ron and Hermione. This made it so Slytherins and those in other houses that might be up to no good couldn't sit about and talk of the war all day since most of their parents were not on the side of good. We were just lucky that Jakoba was one of our good friends so having him between us wasn't too bad.
"I have NewMag with Ravenclaw." Axelle sighed and Jakoba nodded.
"It's a good class." I assured her and she nodded, though I knew her annoyance came more from the fact that Jakoba wouldn't be there more than anything and this little fact of knowledge made me smile a little.
"I know it's a good class, Professor Darken teaches a ton of really great stuff." She said and again, Jakoba nodded in agreement with the rest of us.
"I Can walk you to class?" Jakoba said and at her nod, I turned away and rolled my eyes so hard, Draco smirked and whispered.
"If you do that too much, you'll pull a muscle."
"Oh, Can it, Blondie."
With a laugh, I shoved Draco lightly and said goodbye to Jakoba and Axelle before walking with my friend to the dungeons, where Snape was already waiting for us at his desk. I'm not sure exactly what happened last year to change our head of house, but this year, he was less mean for the sake of bullying kids and was now just strict in his art and seemed to be even more intent on making us all as knowledgeable as him by the end of the year.
No one talked back to him, no one dared be late, no one even dared not doing their homework as with Severus Snape, detentions had gotten so much worse than what they used to be. I found that out the hard way last week when I'd been made to clean every bathroom in the school for detention. That one had taken me all night and I'd been expected to be in class the next day.
Immediately upon arrival, we sat down and our books were pulled out. It was just as class was to start that Jakoba had luckily made it to class and was seated in his seat. Snape had put a charm on his classroom so that anyone who was left standing at the start of class would freeze where they stood, so they could receive detention for being late. Today, that was a boy named Neville Longbottom and as I watched Snape scold him, I cringed, knowing the punishment of raking the entire Quidditch field was harsh, but also that there was no way Neville was getting out of it.
After Neville's scolding and he was seated, class began, but as Snape taught and everyone took notes, my mind wondered back to the escaped convicts and I couldn't help but wonder who all escaped, how many more were to follow and if Azkaban was even a viable prison anymore and if it would hold anyone. It made me anxious, to think that so quickly the world was turning dark.
Sunny relaxing days were turning stormy, families were being attacked in the night and a dark mark placed over their house, muggles were being eradicated and then there was Harry Potter and Henry Darken, where were they? Had Voldemort killed them? Would he kill them? Or did he have other devious plans in store? I had no idea but if one thing was certain, I didn't want to just sit by and watch the world fall apart beneath my very eyes.
(Draco POV)
"Malfoy!" I turned as I entered the Great Hall to see Flint coming toward me, a gleam of excitement on his face.
"Yeah?" I had figured this talk might come sooner or later, but it still didn't mean it wouldn't be a hard one for me. The only reason someone like Flint would talk to me is about Quidditch and with Harry gone, I had been next in line for Seeker. Now, it was being given to me, leaving me feeling more hollowed out than ever.
"Guess what? With that lying fraud Potter gone, you get to be our team's seeker!" I gave a cheer, though on the inside, my stomach writhed. Harry had been my friend and getting to fly around and play Quidditch while he was locked away in my home didn't make me feel too good about myself and only made me want to cry though none of my internal struggles showed as I beamed at Flint.
"We're going to smash the other houses, especially Gryffindor." I smirked and he grinned, patting me on the shoulder as he did.
"Yes. Yes we are, but I actually have a favor to ask you."
My heart skipped a beat, paranoia surging through my veins, though all I could do was simply ask what it was that he wanted. What if he wanted something concerning my family and the dark arts, or for me to hurt one of my friends? My thoughts went to the new muggleborn Jakoba had introduced us to. Did he know? Did he want me to hurt her? If he asked me to, could I bring myself to do it? A year ago today I would've jumped at the opportunity to destroy a "filthy little mudblood", but I've grown since then and changed in ways even I can't explain.
I took a deep breath, remembering that I could vouch for the girl's purity. Could I be convincing enough? Yes. I knew I could, though my heart pounding frantically in my chest seemed to disagree and just as I thought I might have a heart attack, Flint finally asked his question.
"Can you ask your father to get the team some new brooms?"
Immediately, all my anxiety went away and without meaning to, I started laughing out loud. Oh my gosh, I'd just nearly had a panic attack over what? Flint wanted new brooms? Oh man, I'm bloody losing it. This war was definitely putting way too much stress on me.
"Geez, you could've just said no, you don't have to laugh at—"
"Nonono..!" I said as I caught my breath and shook my head, "I've just been under a lot of stress at home and you caught me off guard." I easily excused my laughter as my head finally cleared. "I'll write to and ask my dad for those new brooms, okay? Don't worry about it."
He gave me a skeptical look, but after a moment, he nodded and grinning, he pat me on the back again then left to my relief. Now turning myself, I stopped and glared when I saw Urie looking at me as if she was going to start laughing.
"You're losing it, mate." I rolled my eyes and lightly shoved her, causing her to shove me back. "What, you are! You just started laughing like a freaking psycho maniac." She said and finally after trying to glare at her, I smiled.
"I did look pretty crazy, hm?" She nodded and I shoved her again, starting a new round of shoving and pushing between the two of us.
"I just feel really bad." I finally said once Urie and I had grabbed our lunches and were heading outside to eat. It was easier to hang out with Jakoba and Axelle if we ate outside since there was no table divisions out here. "I mean, I get to be Seeker, but only because Harry is gone and the worst part is, I know where he's at and it's at my house." I sighed as Jakoba and Axelle sat down in front of us so we four made a small sort of circle.
"Maybe you should talk to Professor Darken." Jakoba said and as I looked at him, I knew my Gryffendor friend was right.
"I can tell him about the cloak too." I added, "It's not like I've really been able to use it since I've been at school. I think Professor Darken would have a better reason to have it and maybe he can give me some advice on how I feel. He is like Harry's dad after all." Everyone nodded in agreement and with that, I decided that after class today, I'd give the cloak back to Professor Darken since I had his lesson last today.
(Zander POV)
I sighed dismally as I read through the Daily Prophet, my heart sinking at the Breakout and then as I went on to read about the attacks that were beginning to happen to muggles and muggleborns. This was all so messed up and shouldn't be happening. Voldemort should not have gotten the stone, he should not have been allowed to return to power and he should not have been allowed to have my boys.
I had to blink back tears at that last thought, my heart already shattered from the events of last year. Right before my eyes, my boys had been taken from me and no matter the ideas I had, the need I felt to go get my boys, I knew there was no way for me to find them right now and so as I waited, I felt tortured, trapped in my own body and the only thing I could do was bide my time and wait.
Luckily for me, coming to Hogwarts and teaching was an easy distraction and throughout these last couple weeks, I'd managed to distract myself into feeling just a little bit better. That is until I read the Daily Prophet, which made me want to cry. Were my boys going to be okay? Would they be tortured? Were either of them dead?
I put my hand over my heart suddenly, feeling a panic attack coming on and I had to take deep breathes to calm myself and that is when I noticed one of the names of one of the escaped prisoners, and my heart skipped a beat. Bellatrix Lestrange—
"Zander." I spun in my chair to see Sirius looking at me, his eyes gleaming with concern as he walked over and set a hand on my shoulder, causing me to flinch.
"I'm fine—" I began but he shook his head.
"No you're not, Zander." He said, then. "Maybe you shouldn't teach today. You can go be with Rose and I can take over—"
It was my turn to shake my head, taking deep breaths as I did. "Rose needs you right now for her training. I can do it sometimes, but not today." Ever since that day when our boys had been taken, Rose had been determined to do and be better. She'd told me she was sick of sitting at home and doing nothing while we all went out and fought. Sirius had suggested training her to fight with magically modified muggle weapons and though I'd objected at first, I eventually came around after Rose and I had the biggest and worst series of arguments we'd ever had before.
Eventually, I'd agreed but, even if I was complying to let her train now, it didn't mean I enjoyed seeing my beautiful Rose get blasted at by Sirius as he trained her to be not only a defensive killer but an offensive one as well. That mixed with everything else going on, had given me se real episodes of extreme panic and it was only getting worse every day when I wasn't distracting myself.
"She's doing so well, Zander." Sirius said and I nodded. I already knew this. I'd expected it. When MY Rose puts her mind to something, she REALLY puts her mind to it and thus, from what little I've been able to watch, and from what I knew of her already, I'd expect that she's more trained now than a muggle military person, her greenish blue eyes fierce and her aim deadly. I was just glad that despite that, she could still be so loving, so gentle with the kids and me. I needed that from her, I needed her to be gentle because so much in the world was dark and harsh already. It's the same reason that I still tried everyday to be gentle with her.
"Has Dumbledore given her an answer if she can join the order?" I know that's her ultimate goal and I'd be so proud if she could accomplish it, though the thought of her fighting absolutely terrified me. If I lost her— I already lost my babies.
I closed my eyes and let out a breath, Sirius rubbing my back in comfort. "If she can defeat me and Remus in battle, then he said there's no reason she can't join."
Our intention had never been to work with Albus Dumbledore, but with everything that has happened, I felt that there wasn't many other options available to us and in any case, there were others in the Order we cherished. As for them requiring that Rose had to defeat Sirius and Remus, I knew that that wouldn't be easy by any means, but I supposed that that was the point, wasn't it? As a fighter in the order, she'd be fighting very very powerful Death Eaters, if she couldn't even take down Sirius and Remus, what hope would she ever have for survival. "If anyone can do it, she can." I believed in her, even if my heart feared for her, my brain knew how capable she was.
"The Order won't be so small this time." Sirius added. "Arthur's saying Dumbledore's looking for help abroad."
"This is so bad."
"You-Know-Who has the Stone, of course it's bad, Zan. The Elixir of life makes the drinker immortal."
"I hope Harry and Henry are alright." Again, my thoughts circled back to them. My babies, my little boys were gone and I was here, sitting and doing nothing.
"Me, too." Sirius looked out the window and sighed, "We will get them back." He said and by the tone in his voice, I couldn't help but believe him. He sounded so sure of it.
We sat in silence then for a moment when a knock sounded at the door and looking up, I was surprised to see Draco Malfoy, carrying something in his arms— a bundle of some kind. "Can I speak with you, Professor Darken?"
"Can Mr. Black hear, too?" Draco looked nervously at Sirius, but after a moment, he nodded.
"Can we put anti-eavesdropping spells over the room?" Zander was further surprised now to hear that Draco's voice was shaking slightly. Whatever he had to tell them, he was terrified to do so.
Standing, I went around the room and put up advanced protection, then going to sit once more, I invited Draco to pull up one of the student chairs to my desk. Shaking his head as Sirius sat on my desk, the blond boy set the bundle down and opened it to reveal—
"Harry's cloak!" Sirius snatched it up in shock and examined it just to make sure it was really what he thought it was. Then looking at Draco in suspicious awe, he leant forward. "Where did you get this?"
"Ja— Harry left it at the first part of the place where we got the stone." He explained, "I found it when I came up for help."
"Why did you keep it so long?" I couldn't help but ask and now, the young Malfoy boy was fidgeting, looking around fearfully. "I used it all summer to talk to Harry and Henry."
"They're alive!?" Sirius and I cried in unison, excited hope gleaming in both our faces.
"Yes." Draco said. "The Dark— You-Know-Who is planning to kill Harry eventually, but not until he takes his final form."
"His final form?"
"What is he, a butterfly?"
"More like a Pokémon."
"Yeah, I don't know exactly what he's planning, but that's what Harry said— I didn't really get to talk to Henry that much but I heard him crying a lot." Hearing that absolutely broke my heart and I stood.
"Draco, this— this is so helpful, you have no idea. Thank you— I don't know how I can ever repay you. Thank you." I felt like I wanted to cry and dance at the same time, but instead of either, I rubbed my face as the second year before me said more that surprised me, yet made my heart soar.
"Everyone at home tells me I'm supposed to be like them, that I'm supposed to be evil, that I'm supposed to want the eradication of a whole group of people and in wanting that, I'm supposed to support the Dark Lord without question, but I don't." Draco put his head in his hands and I looked at Sirius, who now hopped off the desk to go give Draco a hug.
"I understand you, perfectly." Sirius said and gasping, Draco looked up at him in surprise.
"You do?"
Sirius nodded and before Zander knew it, they were talking and relat8ng, Sirius telling
Draco about his own childhood and Draco, recently relating, finding so much relief in it. "Harry and Henry were like my James and Remus." Sirius couldn't have looked prouder at that statement and as they finished their conversation and Sirius put the cloak back into the bundle, I looked between them, going to unlock the classroom door to let the upcoming class in.
"Draco?" I now looked into his stormy blues and looking back, I knew I could trust him. "I may have a job for you— a favor. I don't have a full plan yet, but when I do, I'll let you know. Would you be willing to help the Order of the Phoenix if I needed you?"
Draco seemed to hesitate, but only for a second before he nodded. "I don't want to be the bad guy." He said. "I'm going to be better than my family before me." I smiled with pride and nodding, I dismissed him and Sirius, my heart full of hope for the first time in months.
A/N: Thoughts? Feelings? Review!