The twins pulled out of the Pensieve. Io crashed to the floor, her eyes bloodshot, head pounding. She had no more energy left for tears, so her body resorted to violent shakes, panic-induced tremors. At least the ache in her muscles distracted her from everything she'd just seen. She heaved, trying not to lose herself completely.

Aster exploded. She grabbed the decanter closest to her and threw it to the floor. Shattered glass scattered around her feet, and the feel of it cutting into her shoes didn't phase her. The screams erupted out of her throat, guttural and dry.

Altair was standing with Dumbledore now, hands tucked behind him. When he received Dumbledore's notice, he praised Merlin that he made the decision to make the trip a month early. Only two wizards had ever successfully apparated across continents, and he wasn't willing to take the risk. However, the daunting task of being here once the girls had finally learned of all the secrets he held close all these years made it all the more difficult to face them.

Io could only see red. Knowing how their parents really did love them and had been alive for God-knows how long broke her mind into a million pieces. They mourned for their parents and the little memories they had of them, and now all those sentimental stories have been charred by everything in the Pensieve.

When Aster could find nothing else to crumble in between her fingers, she stared at her hands, fresh cuts across her flesh. Small red droplets hit the stone floor.

Dumbledore calmly waved his wand, and everything went back into its place, pristine, whole, and glimmering.

"Girls," Altair said calmly. "Gather yourselves."

Aster's head turned slowly, her eyes meeting her uncle's. Her throat was dry and sore, but from the pain that boiled in the pit of her stomach, she spoke clearly. "Gather myself? You expect me to gather myself? You LIED!"

"Why didn't you tell us?" Io sat back, still on the floor. Her face was still, and there was a hollowness to her speech. "Why did we have to see all of that?"

The contrast between the twins' demeanor made it difficult for either of the elders to approach them. Instead, they stood, knowing the only option was to be patient. Words and excuses were of no use to anyone.

Aster's eyes were bloodshot with rage. "This entire time, you had us fooled by stupid stories of you and our father as children, telling us over and over again that we should make them proud, and how our mother… Our mother…" She stumbled back into a small table, leaning onto it for support.

Io looked at Altair. "He tried to hurt her, didn't he? That man, Dolohov."

Altair nodded, never breaking eye contact. "Yes."

"What happened to them?" She asked in a voice just above a whisper, unsteady and trembling. "Are they… Are they still in Azkaban?"

Dumbledore stepped forward. "There was a mass breakout, but as far as we are aware, their whereabouts are unknown. The Dementors that once guarded Azkaban have also abandoned their post, so if there were others, they will not be sought out."

"What about Dolohov?" Aster's breaths eased. "Did he escape?"

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded once. "It seems that due to his unwavering loyalty to Lord Voldemort, he was seen as worthy of freedom."

Io rose, feeling the air enter her lungs. She took deep breaths, steadying herself, before holding out her hand to Aster who appeared beside her. "I know you showed this to us for a reason. I just don't understand that if Papa wanted you to show us this, how was it that we were able to see their capture if he handed Uncle the vials before that?"

Altair and Dumbledore looked at each other, silently settling on a way to explain.

"You would only have been able to show us that unless -"

"Unless we were there," Dumbledore finished.

Aster started trembling again, the resentment building up again in her throat.

"I was present for Ion's trial, and was able to obtain the last of the memories without the Ministry knowing."

Io gripped her sister's hand tightly. "We were never meant to know about them becoming Death Eaters. This was all your idea."

"It was."

Releasing Io's grip, Aster charged forward. She threw her fists at their uncle's chest, swinging blindly, her fury releasing with every motion. Io ran up behind her, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her into an embrace. Aster weeped into her neck in between small screams.

Altair reached for the twins, bringing them both into his arms and squeezing tight. "Please forgive me." He whispered into Io's hair. "I promised your father I would keep you safe. I made a promise, and I kept it."

The small family held onto each other, now feeling much different than they had before. The vivid stories that shaped them were clouded by the terrible fate of their parents.

"Forgive me, Altair." Dumbledore lowered his spectacles. "But there is something else they must know."

Io was the first to pull apart, smearing the small remnants of phantom tears on her cheeks. "There were two vials. What was in the second one?"

"You will see in a moment. First, there is a matter of what will happen now that you know of your parents and how they joined Lord Voldemort."

Altair had his arms around each of the twins' shoulders, gripping them tightly. There wasn't much more either of them could take, but after everything they'd just seen, they were numb to anything else that could have shocked them.

After all the outbursts, the portraits on the walls were all alert and gossiping amongst themselves. Dumbledore seemed to be used to hearing the whispers and mutters around them, easily ignoring the questions they had.

"The last memory we found confirmed that Lord Voldemort did in fact succeed in creating Horcruxes, and he made six before the murder of Lily and James Potter. The items must be found and destroyed before he can be killed. The sooner that happens, the better."

Aster held out her hands, sticky from the cuts. "You want us to find Horcruxes then?"

Dumbledore waved his wand again, and the small wounds sealed. "No. I have tasked Harry with retrieving them. If my assumption is correct and I believe it is, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley will accompany him."

Io shook her head in disbelief. "Wait, if those three are already looking for them, then what are we supposed to do?"

Altair's grip tightened. Aster's thoughts were racing, thinking about Hermione running around aimlessly looking for items that would more or less be pivotal to the impending war. And aside from the obvious danger, the last conversation they'd had was less than positive - at least on her end. She knew she needed to find time to talk to her before all of this came to fruition.

Dumbledore looked troubled. He removed his spectacles, cleaned them with his sleeve, then said, "When the war reaches Hogwarts, Lord Voldemort will most likely seek those who are willing to join him. I'm sure you're aware that there are some students, specifically in Slytherin house, who are the children of Death Eaters. It isn't a fair notion, but many of them have been raised with those values. As the Dark Lord grows stronger, so does the loyalty of his followers."

"Albus," Altair gritted his teeth.

"Forgive me, old friend. I will try to make this quick." He looked at the twins. "There is one person who deserves to be saved - if only to give him the chance to make the right decision."

"You're talking about Draco." Io said.

"I am."

"You want us to save Draco Malfoy?" Aster shook her head. "How are we supposed to do that?"

"It won't be the two of you saving him." Dumbledore placed the spectacles back to the edge of his nose. "Just… you."

The air escaped Io's lungs as the headmaster's eyes landed on her. "Me? But I - How am I supposed to -"

"Draco Malfoy has been raised his entire life believing in Pure-blood superiority in a house owned by one of the oldest wizarding families. You already know his father, Lucius, is a Death Eater, and you know that Draco, himself, became one as well. This was the Dark Lord's decision, I assume, to spite Lucius and punish him for his failure to subdue Mr. Potter last year. It will be up to you to present Draco with the choice to step away, and see beyond what he's been told since birth.

"Now that you've seen what happened to Ion and Aeris, this is proof that despite their fates, you both grew up without the prejudice of blood purity, and, as mischievous as you can be, you are not drawn to the dark arts. You have not been tempted by the Dark Lord and his offerings, and instead are well-rounded witches who were very much well-loved and cared for. Your parents' choice was not made out of temptation and anger, but out of love for their children. That made all the difference."

Io gently pushed their uncle's hand off her shoulder and began to pace around the room. "Yes, we saw, but that still doesn't explain why or how I'm supposed to do whatever you're asking me to do."

Dumbledore actually chuckled, looking down at the floor almost amused. "You sound like Mr. Potter. I admit I might have lost my patience with him, but I think you will understand better than him. You see, just as love saved him from the Dark Lord when his mother sacrificed herself to save him, love saved you both. And love is what will save Draco Malfoy. You must be the one to make him see the life he could have outside of the only kind of love he's ever known."

"No, but I -"

Aster escaped Altair's grip, running to Io and holding her close. She moved her sister, standing in front of her protectively. "I don't like where you're going with this. If you want her to save Draco, she would have to stay close to him, and if she has to stay close, then -"

"Then she will have to be collected by Lord Voldemort, yes."

Dumbledore's words silenced the room. Altair dared not to look at his girls, and the portraits all stared, mouths agape, stunned at how such a heavy suggestion could be said so casually.

Aster's eyes were wide. She turned to Io who stood frozen, staring at Dumbledore and then their uncle. Snapping her attention back, she struggled to speak. "You want her to become a Death Eater? Are you mad?"

"I am not."

"You can't be serious!"

"Lord Voldemort knows the Visage name, and he will expect you to be just like all the rest. Spoiled and tempted, ready to join him when the opportunity presents himself. It will not be easy, but you will be accepted. This is the only way to bring Draco back - from within the house he's been imprisoned in."

There was a cold sweat dripping down Io's back. Her limbs went numb, and she could feel everyone's eyes on her. She waited for someone to object, to argue, to say there's another way. She looked at Altair whose head hung down, his greatest fear coming to life.

"And what makes you think he won't just kill her on the spot? She has to do all this for Draco Malfoy - how can either of you say this is worth it? Is he worth it?" Aster said with spite, saying exactly what her twin was thinking. "Uncle, you're just going to let this happen?"

Altair chewed the inside of his cheek. There was no answer or response that could justify what was being asked of Io.

Aster looked at Dumbledore and pleaded. "Why can't I go with her? We've never been apart like this - what if something happens to her?"

"After my death, Hogwarts will fall. It is not a possibility, but a reality. When that happens, darkness will cloak these halls, and someone needs to be here to prepare. Harry and his friends will not be here to watch over those who want to fight. It will be up to you to protect this castle and everyone in it. You must stay here, and teach them how to defend themselves. You are the only one who fully understands how this will play out, and you are more than capable of teaching them your dueling skills."

"Professor, I can't just -"

"It is what must be done."

The twins turned to each other. They didn't know whether to apologize or argue. There was no way out of this. The war was heading towards them like the harshest hurricane, and it was up to them to climb into the eye of the storm - and they had to do it alone.

"As for your other question… I believe it's up to Io to decide whether or not he is worth it."

"Look at me," Aster grabbed her twin who was doing everything she could to think of how to respond. "Look at me, and tell me the fucking truth. Don't answer for them. Tell me honestly and I won't argue anymore. Do you think Draco is worth saving?"

For a moment, the answer seemed so simple. Io thought back to the kiss – when she could feel anything and everything. The heat from his touch, the desperation on his lips. He turned the cool night into a warm summer breeze by the coast. The thought slowly turned into a web of a million more possibilities and consequences. All the tension and unanswered questions, his wavering loyalty, and the weight of his pain that he kept all to himself, never letting anyone in.

And yet, as the answer lingered on her tongue, Draco's pain seemed to call to her the most. It radiated off his skin, and every chance she could get, she sipped it until it drove her mad.

Io rested her forehead against Aster's. They closed their eyes, holding each other's shoulders.

"I can do it." She said softly. "I can do this. Even if not… even if not out of love, then for the sake of who he could be."

In all their lives, they never imagined they'd be separated. Maybe they'd part for love and marriage, but never for a war. In and out, they took deep breaths, feeling the energy they shared and built up all these years. But even though this was what needed to be done, the fear of the unknown shook them the most. Not how the war would end, but how they'd meet when it was all over.

"It's time for you to see what was in your father's second vial." Dumbledore held out his hand to Aster.

She pulled out her jade trinket, parting from Io, and handed it over.

He repeated the same motion with his wand, and the silver strand dropped into the Pensieve. The clear liquid started to swirl.

Altair guided the twins over. "I will be going with you this time." He glanced over to Dumbledore. "It's been a long time since I was able to see my brother."

They eased their faces into the liquid, and the falling sensation came again. They landed on a red carpet in a small home - the same place where their mother gave birth to them. There were shelves filled to the ceiling with leather-bound books. Across the fireplace mantle, there were small gold trinkets, and there was a family crest on the wall. It was a bright morning, the sun just above the clouds, and the sky was the brightest blue.

The ghosts of Aeris and Ion sat on a velvet couch in front of a grand mirror, looking at themselves. Aeris looked more worn than in her youth. Her hair was braided, just like Aster loved to do. Ion was beside her, handsome as ever, though the stress aged him. Even in their darkest hour, their parents were beautiful, never once letting the Dark Lord's hold diminish the love they gave.

Altair pushed the girls in front of the mirror, facing their parents. From here, Aeris and Ion's eyes met theirs perfectly, like they were talking about any other day after a breakfast together. Altair stood to the side, staring at his brother.

"Mes petite filles," Aeris spoke first. Her voice was as dainty as the smile on her lips. "I don't know when you will see this, or if you'll see this at all… But when you do, please know that we love you."

Ion had his arm around her, stroking her shoulder with his thumb. "This is not the life we chose for ourselves, but fate always has its plan. In another world, in another life, we would have been a family. You would have attended Beauxbatons just as we did. We would have taken you to the coast in summer and to Paris in spring. Every celebration would have been so grand that the Minister of Magic, himself, would have begged for an invitation. We would have held you close until the very end, and you would have been adored by many."

"You were the first girls to be born to the Visage family line, and they were so excited to meet you. Had we not made the mistakes we did, you'd be held and loved by all of them." Aeris's voice faltered. "And no doubt, you would have been spoiled rotten. It would have been impossible to say no to anything you would have asked for."

Whatever tears were left came streaming down Io's face. She held Aster's hand, and resisted the urge to approach the ghosts if only to feel the essence of their parents' love for a moment.

"I hope my brother raised you well, and I have no doubt that he did. From the moment he held you, I knew he loved you as if you were his own." Ion struggled to laugh. "He was so excited to be an uncle. Just as I was to be your father. You will create so many happy memories to look back on with him."

Altair quietly grieved off to the side. He coughed into his jacket, hiding the pain he felt from the loss of his baby brother. The days of their youth were filled with life and light, running into trouble, and laughter - so much laughter.

Aeris took a deep breath. "We never wanted this life for you - either of you. Being your mother turned my world into a million shades of silver and gold, and I wanted nothing more than to hold your hands until the day I died. You must know that in death, you will always be mine, my greatest achievement, and my most priceless treasures."

"Aster," Ion said, making Aster's eyes widen. "Even as a baby, you're so quick to tell us when you need something, always holding onto things, always… always being you. I know that you are different, ambitious above the rest with the courage of thousands. That courage could keep castles standing even in the harshest war. When the time comes for you to use that strength, I know you will be the strongest pillar of them all. Keep fighting until the end.

"Io, from the moment you were born, I knew you were strong - even if only for the sake of others. You hardly cry, and even when you hurt, you hold it in like you're trying not to be a burden. You hold so much inside, my darling girl, and one day, you must let it out and burn the brightest blue. Set the sky ablaze even on the darkest night when the sun can't find the moon. Watch after your sister, keep her close even when you're apart. Together, you can be a magnificent storm, and from your wake will bloom the most vibrant spring."

Aeris gripped onto her husband's knee. "Io… Aster… One day you will learn about us - your family - your bloodline. The women of the Guerin line dream of a glorious serpent before the birth of their children. It symbolizes strength, rebirth, and the most furious feminine fury. We knew you would be destined for great things because unlike my mother and every mother before her, I dreamt of a serpent on fire - a sign of a new generation more powerful than the rest. Together with the strength of the Visage blood, you're invincible, my darlings."

"We hope that you can forgive us for leaving you so soon."

"We love you, always, nos petite filles. Ça ira."