A/N: Sorry for the formatting issues, my browser wont let me upload correctly or update stories so I have to do this on the app with pretyped chapters and I don't have the time to edit them all. But yeah man, another chapter. bit shorter but it moves the story along as I'm eager to get to final battle bullshit. Next chapter will conclude with N.E.W.T.s and then the battle begins. Please enjoy.

Chapter Nineteen

Something About Seraphina Delphi

One Month Later, Valentine's Day..

Nick woke up alone in bed, something he'd been finding more and more common over the last month since Sameera and his little sister had arrived at Hogwarts. He wasn't sure why exactly, not with the new comraderie Bellatrix found with his once-ex. The three hadn't announced anything official as of yet, not wanting even more of a spotlight on them with everything else going on. They had even somewhat 'adopted' Seraphina into their group- excluding talk of anything Voldemort or future-related events of course- since the dual personalities she possessed had been leaning much more towards the calm and tame side of the spectrum as opposed to her chaotic side. Nick knew she was doing it for a purpose, but what that was was still unknown to him so he wanted her close to keep a better eye on the mystery that was Seraphina Delphi. It also didn't help that Sameera and Bellatrix had been together much more often without him lately, whispering things conspiratorially. His mind drifted to the previous night, which found him and a green-haired Seraphina studying for their inevitable N.E.W.T. Exams late into the night.

The Night Before..

It was almost two in the morning, thankfully being the start of the weekend so a bit of Pepperup Potion wouldn't hurt Nick as he yawned, scribbling down a note about the usefulness of Nifflers as opposed to something infinitely more dangerous, like a basilisk, in roles of protection. Seraphina saw him yawning and frowned.

"I'm sorry to keep you up so late, Nick. Magical Creatures never was my strong suit, as easy as the class really is."

Nick shook his head. "It's fine, Sera. I need the extra study time, too. Helping out is what I do." It also gives me the chance to keep a closer eye on you..

Seraphina sighed. "Still, it does mean a lot. And I don't just mean the tutoring, although it's been a Godsend already. You didn't need to include me with your friends, not with how much Bellatrix hates me.."

Nick shook his head. "She doesn't hate you, Sera. Bella, like all of us, doesn't trust you. Not completely. Your arrival, no matter how shady other happenings that week may have been, is literally the biggest question we all have. Especially knowing you don't have records outside of the month you've been here. I had an Auror friend of mine look into you." The girl looked at him, shocked and fearful. "I would ask you for the truth about who you are, but I know your name is at least genuine. Can I at least ask you why you've been much more.. tolerable lately?"

Seraphina's face turned to one of relief. "You mean it isn't obvious by now? Nick, I know I'm not trusted, especially among your closest friends. But at the same time, when I told Bellatrix I was made for you wasn't a lie, either. I'm just.. not allowed to really talk about that, though." She looked down. "So I'm working on being.. better, I guess. So that I'm included with the group, but not in a hostile way from everyone else."

Nick nodded. "I understand. Just go with the flow, trust me it helps." Nick got up from the table, packing his things in his bag. "I think we've done enough for tonight. Plus, gotta be up early for the game." There was an early Quidditch game to be held right after breakfast, Slytherin versus Ravenclaw.

Seraphina nodded, moving to pack her own things. "That's fine. I'm definitely starting to get it all, I think. Goodnight, Nick."

Waving back, Nick made his way to his dormitory.

End Flashback, Great Hall..

Nick sat down next to Bellatrix and grabbed a few things from the various platters. "Morning, Bella."

"Morning, love. You were up late last night. With her. Everything go alright?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah, everything went fine. She seems to be really getting the coursework, now. Thankfully, since N.E.W.T.s aren't too far off, now."

"True. As long as she keeps her mitts to herself."

Nick just smiled as Seraphina appeared at the table then. "Good morning!" She said cheerily.

"Morning, Sera. You okay? Your hand is, uh.. twitching pretty sporadically there."

Seraphina looked and saw at her right hand, the appendage indeed twitching and her fingers bending unnaturally despite no cracks heard from her fingers. She noticed her fingernails flashing between the mint green color she kept in this form and the hostile hot pink color of the darker side she held inside herself. "Oh, no." She said before rushing off. Bellatrix and Sameera both looked at Nick, who raised an eyebrow at the girls.

"What? Should I go after her? Aren't you both totally against us even really being friends with her?"

"While that's true, she obviously trusts you over anyone else in the castle, so you might as well go make sure she's alright. Do you want us to come with you?"

Nick shrugged. "Might as well. I'm starting to have a bad feeling." Nodding, the three all got up from the Slytherin table and went to go find Seraphina.

The trio soon found themselves outside in the courtyard, the sky dark gray despite it being rhe middle of rhe morning, where they could see Seraphina sitting, facing away from them as she looked into the pool of the fountain. "Sera? Everything alright?" Nick asked as Seraphina laughed darkly.

The girl turned, her eyes suddenly those of a snake. "Oh, hello, cousin. Sorry, but I'm in greater need of my puppet than you are, I'm afraid." She spoke, now in Voldemort's voice.

"Tom." Nick hissed. "What's that supposed to fucking mean?"

"You didn't think my little trip to China really ended with no results? I found exactly what I needed. I'm thankful for that fool Dumbledore and his even more ancient friend Flamel for teaching me the ins and outs of Alchemy. Otherwise Seraphina wouldn't be able to grace you all with her manufactured existence."

Nick gasped almost immediately, realization over just what Voldemort had done, the knowledge he had stolen. "Homunculi.."

Voldemort laughed. "Ah, you really must be top student if you figured that out so quickly. Not like it will make a difference soon enough. Remember your mission, daughter. I will not be so lenient in the future." Seraphina's body slumped forward, her hands catching her fall as they splashed into the fountain pool.

"Yes, father.." The now-revealed homunculus confirmed as the sound of quiet sobbing began.

Bellatrix felt sorry for the girl, now knowing just what had always seemed wrong about her. But for her to be something as majorly illegal and immoral to conjure as a humanoid construct, that was treading on unspoken territory in this life. Homunculi had never been present in Harry Potter. Her and Sameera stepped forward to try comforting the conflicted girl but Nick held them both back, shaking his head with a.. Lost look on his face as he motioned for them to leave with him. Sameera bit her lip before falling in line with the other two.

As the trio walked back inside the Castle, they all had to stop at the heartbreaking sound of Seraphina's crying, now almost at a dull roar as she shouted out to the heavens, rain beginning to fall in the courtyard despite the forecast being slightly overcast. "Fuck you, father!"

Looking into the water, Seraphina grit her teeth at the sight of the darker, more Voldemort half staring back at her. You knew he would be after us for not doing anything, yet. The reflection mocked.

"He needed an assessment. I wasn't going to tell him just anything when I'd need something more concrete for father to use." Seraphina sighed, her words empty.

Her reflection giggled darkly. Bullshite, liar. What did you really expect would happen? They'd find out about our nonexistence and accept you? Help you find some way out of whatever our life truly means to be? As if!

"What about you, then? We may be different personalities, but you want him just as bad as I do. Despite what father wants us to do."

The pink haired reflection rolled her eyes. What does it matter, idiot? We. Aren't. A. Real. Person!

"Yet we have emotions, something an artificial being such as homunculi curiously lack. So you can do what father wants, but try and stop me from being the one in control while I figure out how to save us both. I don't want to die, not by father and definitely not by Nick."

Even if you did save us, that wouldn't stop me from killing him if I have the chance. Father gave us life, it's only fair to allow him to use us for his plans.

"I don't give a shit what father thinks or wants! I want to have as normal a life as possible after watching Nick and his friends mill about the castle. Even with father looming over them, threatening to tear their worlds apart, they persist and live life as if he's nothing to them. Maybe that empowers me to stay in control against you. Maybe not. Either way, you'll have to fight me real hard to wrest control for yourself again!" Without waiting for a reply, Seraphina turned and stalked off into the Castle, tuning out her other self's voice in her mind.

Later..

The Valentine's feast (a lunchtime affair) was in full swing as students sent each other Valentines across the Great Hall using a myriad of spells and enchantments. Nick, much to Bellatrix and Sameera's annoyance, had received a sizable pile of cards, notes and small gifts from a good portion of the school, Bellatrix sending even Lucina a glare as Nick's adopted sister had even seen fit to send him a card, to which the blonde only smiled and laughed in response.

"Come on, girls, it's only a small holiday. It isn't like I'm about to go and make out with every girl who sent me something. I mean,there are things from guys in this pile, too. It's only rude not to accept." Nick explained as his eyes briefly met Seraphina's, who had sequestered herself alone as far away from Nick as she could.

Sameera saw the exchange and scoffed. "Come on, Nicky. After this morning? You two were the ones who didn't trust her in the first place."

Nick sighed, immobilizing the chocolate frog in front of him before it could attempt to hop away. "I know, Meera, but you know me." He bit the frog in half before continuing. "I see the best in people, and believe it or not Seraphina has a lot of good in her. The way she looked at us this morning, it.. it doesn't sit right with me."

"You already have two gorgeous women in front of you and on your arm, what need do you really have for a third?"

"No one said anything about her becoming a third wife, Bella. Even if I would be entitled, being the designated Heir of so many families as it is. Gaunt, Negron, Slytherin, if there's any others I don't know about. My point is that, according to Wizengamot law, I would have to marry at least that many women to equalize our family's power and standing within those chambers. Plus, she's a Homunculus. She isn't human enough to have children, another crucial condition to being a wife to a Pureblood house. Not that I care about that too much, I mean Sameera is No-maj born."

Bellatrix gasped at her darker-skinned companion. "No! With the power you have in those fire-based spells?!"

Nick chuckled, grateful he had some form of knowledge of why that was in his mind despite not having loved that particular bit of this life himself. "It's because of how they teach us at Ilvermorny. They tell us to harness the elements around us when we cast, channel their energies through our wands to amplify the intended spells' power. The reason my wand is almostly godly powerful is because the jeweled aspect of it acts as a semi-prism and amps a spell up even more. As for Meera, her wand has Phoenix feathers mixed into the White Ash chips that's were turned into the finished wand. That's why the little cracks that run along it are actually those feather bits, retaining a tiny bit of fire essence within them at all times. Hence the pulsing of red." Sameera held her wand out, where Bellatrix could indeed see the tiny red, pulsating marks all along the wand.

"That also explains why it's oddly warmer than usual to the touch."

Sameera nodded. "Although it does heat up immensely when used with more advanced fire-based spells. A powered up bombarda could give me light burns if I'm not careful. I am also very capable with healing charms, so I'm aiming to become a Healer when all's said and done with school."

Bellatrix hummed. "I can see that, actually. But, still, we're way off-topic now. Again, what do we do about her? We have to tell Dumbledore, right?"

Nick shook his head. "No, this is something we need to figure out ourselves. Seraphina is still a student and I know the good in her isn't just some stray feeling."

Both girls sighed and spoke in not only the same tone, but in unison. "How did we know you'd say that?" The two looked at each other, giggled and then back at Nick. "Fine, so what do you want to do? If we save her, we need a plan to do so. What's rolling around in your head, babe?"

Nick shrugged. "I don't know. We need to do research. Which means.. I need to go ask James for the Cloak."

Sameera looked confused. "What Cloak? Why would we need it, exactly?"

"Oh, James Potter has an Invisibility Cloak. A Genuine one, too. Nick means we have to sneak into the Restricted Section and research Homunculi, since it's obviously either a dead form of magic or something all too dangerous to have floating around in student's heads. And because we can't just go to the Headmaster about it, we can't just ask for the permission. Unfortunately, the Cloak won't hold all three of us."

"You're top scholastic bitch around here, so you need to go," Sameera said to Bellatrix playfully. "I guess I can sit this one out. Studying like that isn't really my thing, after all. Right, Nicky?"

Memories of helping her out with her studies extensively made Nick sigh. "Fine, take the fun part. That means you have to go make sure she isn't up to anything otherwise. Especially if she's all pinkette."

Sameera groaned. "Fuck. Fine. You're lucky I was top of the class when it came to the disillusionment charm."

"Love you too, Meera." Nick said, shaking his head with a laugh as the trio turned their conversation towards the other happenings around the school, one of such topics being about looking after Rabastan, knowing the younger ex-Lestrange was brewing his own trouble.

Four Days Later, Room of Requirement..

Nick sat around with his friends and allies. Sirius, Marlene, James and Remus sat on one couch while Nick sat on the other longer couch alongside Bellatrix, Sameera and Lucina, who was talking to Bella expressively about something Solaris had said to her in one of their fairly frequent letters to one another. Nick was just happy that the usually hard blonde was finally coming out of her shell a bit. Lastly there was Peter and- surprisingly- Robin who had unofficially joined the Marauders due to James and Sirius watching the young wizard obliterate Rudolphus in a duel during Dueling Club the week before. Then Rudolphus stood over by the single window the RoR had provided them for the night, quietly stewing in his defeat at the hands of a puny first-year.

"Hey, Rudolph, you good over there? It isn't the end of the world, man."

"I know that!" Rudolphus snapped before sighing heavily. "It's a matter of pride. My family, like Bellatrix's, honors dueling records above some matters most others would deem important, like the silver tongue the Malfoys are known for," He smirked at Lucina, who broke her conversation with Bellatrix to seamlessly throw him the bird before resuming the convo with her bestie. "And other than against Bellatrix who is the top formal duelist in all of Hogwarts, my record is untarnished. Especially by a student of a lesser year than mine."

Robin frowned from his seat, where he was reading a duplicated copy of one of the very few books Nick and Bellatrix had been able to find in the library's Restricted Section. "It was luck. I saw you trip up on your confringo and used that as the moment to disarm you. Everyone has a bad day eventually, Rudy." Despite the current hostility, Rudolphus had actually taken to watching over Robin's safety. The two had in fact become fast friends.

Rudolphus sighed, smirking. "Yeah, kid, you're right. It still stings though, so allow me my brief trip of pity." He laughed. "You figure out anything about this new issue?"

Now Robin sighed. "No, but that isn't surprising. The only information I could find in any of these," The first year waved his hand over the small pile of books on the table between them all. "Was that the practice was outlawed due to some event known only as the Vessel War. Apparently it happened back in the middle ages, around when Merlin himself was still fully active in our world, but there's never been a mention of such an event as far as any book relating to the Wizarding World's history, so we have no idea what it could really have been about."

Lucina shook her head with a deep frown. "I know it. The Vessel War is something the personal library of the Malfoy family has comprehensive knowledge of, I believe due to one of my ancestors being a big part of the effort to end such a conflict. According to what I know, the Vessel War was a war between Wizarding kind and Muggles, both sides using Alchemy instead of the tried and true magic we use now. Homunculi are created through Alchemy, bringing forth life from nothing in a vessel created from Earthly, Alchemical materials. There were doppelgangers created of prominent wizards who then sought the internal destruction of our society, as we retaliated in kind to the Muggles. Eventually, Merlin banished the forced spirits of every Homunculus to the Aether whence they came and the knowledge of creating artificial life was lost to all but select families who had no need of such magic but would protect the knowledge with their very lives.. Like with Kazuya's Clan." She explained.

Nick nodded. "That all tracks. Did your family have any knowledge about making such a creation fully real? Preferably without dealing in voodoo rituals or some shit."

Lucina nodded. "There was one way, but it was extremely rare to find such a situation. Supposedly, all it took to make a Homunculus into a.. real person was to have a life willingly sacrificed for such an outcome. I believe the book I saw all this in stated that there were only four Homunculus that had human souls and therefore couldn't be destroyed by Merlin's actions. Nothing was said about what their rates were, though."

"Well, that does help a bit, I guess. Ugh, why does Tom have to be such a fucking genius? How did he even know about.. your father."

Lucina froze, cursing after a moment. "Shite. You're probably right about that. The Malfoy name was synonymous with Voldemort before father was killed and I became a ward to your House."

Nick shook his head with a smile. "You're my sister, Luce. Your protection is obviously my top priority."

Lucina giggled. "Oh, I know, Nick. I'm just glad I can be of help for once. Usually, you and Bella are too far ahead of the rest of us for us to add to the solution."

"Sorry, Lucina, but that's just because my Seer genes have been acting up a lot lately," Bellatrix lied smoothly. "I've been seeing a lot of the Death Eater plans recently, so I just send what I see to Auror Moody."

Lucina shrugged at the explanation, knowing she couldn't expect much more from her best friend. "Sure. Either way, you two really think you can end Voldemort?"

"If things keep going according to plan, by the end of term. I want my cousin out of this realm of life as soon as possible." Why aren't the Diadem and Cup not in this Room? Could he have.. "I'm going to go see Dumbledore about something. I'll go straight back to the dorms, so tonight's little meeting is adjourned. Bella, Meera, I'll see you girls back in the Common Room." The two smiled and nodded at him as the leader of their teenage rebels left the RoR.

Several minutes later found Nick in Dumbledore's office. "Professor, did you go and remove the two items from the Room of Requirement?"

The Headmaster's eye twinkled as he smiled. "Indeed, I went and removed them yesterday, because it seems you and your friends are not the only ones using the Room."

Nick looked at him quizzically. "But.. No one else knows about the Room but my group. Unless, I mean it could be possible, he knew of the Room during his own tenure here.."

"May I ask what this theory of yours is, Nick?"

A fandom theory! Echoed throughout Nick's mind for a moment before he shook the thoughts away. "I think Tom has someone personally using the Room for.. something. If I had to put galleons on something, it would be that he plans to attack the school, aiming for me most of all, before the term is finished. Of course, I know Hogwarts won't just let him walk through the extensive warding, but there's always a back door, isn't there?" Dumbledore nodded for Nick to go on. "I know Portkeys can get through the wards, as there are times students have to come to the school later than the rest and whatnot. But that's not what I think whoever is using the Room other than me and my friends has in store. No, I'm thinking something along the vein of lesser used travel methods."

The Headmaster hummed. "Something like, say, a vanishing cabinet set?" Vanishing cabinets were always built and enchanted in pairs, the two creating a closed circuit of teleportation. You could put an apple in one, close it while tapping the cabinet three times and when you opened it back up, the item you initially placed would have moved to the other cabinet in the pair. Nick nodded, knowing that was Tom's most likely method since creating a Portkey was highly regulated and only the most skilled wizards and witches could create one without the Ministry bearing down on them. And while Tom was a genius- a prodigy- at magic, his magical signature would send up a thousand red flags for such magic.

"That's exactly what I was thinking. Does that mean..?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed, the Room's Lost and Found configuration, as you call it, houses one such cabinet. The pair of which, however, was stolen from the school decades ago. I was able to track it down to the shop Borgin and Burke's, which is where I've sent Alastor to check in on the item in question and, if possible, remove it from that dark shop. Knockturn Alley is already notorious for such whispers of being avid Voldemort supporters, the last thing we need is for a magical tunnel to exißt between there and this school."

Nick nodded. "Good. As far as this side of this issue is concerned, I believe it's Rabastan Lestrange and Seraphina Delphi behind such machinations."

"I can understand young Rabastan due to his.. questionable actions this past term but, why Ms. Delphi?"

Nick contemplated whether or not he should tell Dumbledore what him, Sameera and Bellatrix had found earlier in the day, deciding ultimately to tell him since, if anyone could help figure out what to do with said information, it would be Dumbledore. "Well, Professor.. It seems there's a big issue with one of our newest girls in school, namely that she's considered Tom's daughter. But not naturally."

"Indeed? And what do you then mean by not naturally, then?"

"Being frank, sir? She's a Humunculus. That's what Tom was doing when he went and massacred Kazuya's Clan over the holiday break. And now, she's here- for me, in her own words- on his orders. What those exactly are, however, I haven't figured out yet. Knowing Tom, it can only end with her trying to kill me. And I know you have a dear friend in Nicolas Flamel, so possibly he can help shed some light on what we can actually do against such a dangerous and utterly forbidden branch of magic."

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, slightly perturbed by the teen's words. "A Humunculus, you say? Oh, dear, that can't be good in the long run. How would you even know of such things?"

"Other than my usual answer of you'd be surprised, I confronted her in the Courtyard after she booked it out of the Great hall earlier. When I tried calling out to her, her face was all Tom, and he spoke to me through her like she was just a remote radio. Judging by the way she was twitching before exiting the Hall, I'd say it was a very forceful takeover of her body, even if it isn't truly alive."

"Hmm. And what would you have us do about our resident golem, then?"

"I.. I want to help her, but the only method I could find about going about such things would be to-"

"Give a selfless sacrifice for the one in question. Yes, I daresay I know of such whispered methods. It seems a big order to fill."

"Yes, it does. I'll figure something out, I'm sure. Despite her issues, Sera has been making friends. I just hope that isn't a catalyst to her possible awakening as a full person. Anyway, professor, I'm going to head to bed. You destroyed the Diadem and Cup, correct?"

"Yes, a pity for such treasures of this school, but it was necessary. Now, I believe there is only one more Horcrux we must destroy, correct?"

Nick nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, his fucking familiar, Nagini. The hardest one to get to, until he comes for me. Which would seem like we have to wait for his move to be played before taking that one out. It's a good thing I had you imbue the Sword of Gryffindor with the basilisk venom from old Emerald, since now the Sword is effectively the most powerful piece of magic in the entire castle. Save for your very special wand, at least."

Dumbledore frowned. "How do you know about-"

"I'm a Peverell, professor. Technically, the Elder Wand belongs to me. But, I digress to the succession order it's taken since it was created. Let's hope you never lose a duel."

The old wizard laughed. "Oh, there are many different ways for the Wand to move hands. Only the most notable is right by combat. Move along, Nick. Get some rest. Keep stressing about all of this and it will only make you more restless."

Nick sighed, turning to leave. "Yeah, I know professor. Just let me know when it's done. Tom won't be much of an issue once those pieces of his soul have been neutralized."

Dumbledore nodded again. "Indeed, and the sooner his power wanes to its weakest, he will be most vulnerable. I shall begin tracking this familiar of his. If it is indeed the final Horcrux, we must be ever careful in handling the situation."

Nick suddenly had a thought, something fairly evil even for him. If anyone could induce fear in Tom, it would probably be her.. "True enough, sir. I may have something up my sleeve. Now, I'll go leave you to it, professor. Need to get back to my women." Nick laughed, shaking his head as he left Dumbledore's office.

You want me to bring this fight to me, Tom? Fine, repair the stupid cabinet earlier than originally, it won't matter when you have no Horcruxes left when I send you out of this world forever. Especially with the spell I've been working on. He thought as he flicked his wand at a vase standing on a shelf in the hallway. The vase disintegrated into nothing, the otherwise ashes automatically blown away. "They won't find a way to resurrect what they can't get their hands on."

A Month Later..

Spring had started coming early to Hogwarts, as the days became balmy and warm compared to the sweater weather everyone was so used to at this point in the term. Seraphina had been more distant than anything, staying away from even Rabastan for most of the time Nick and the girls would see her, mostly alone looking like there was an internal argument happening, which was probably right on the money judging by what happened on Valentine's Day.

Nick had also recruited Donna to help, knowing she would have better knowledge of where Nagini might be. Unfortunately, it seemed Voldemort kept the snake close to his vest with the fact he knew Nick was actively and successfully destroying his Horcruxes. And with only a couple more months left until the term was over and done with, Nick knew the otherwise quiet news on the Voldemort front was bad news. Especially when there was yet another issue presenting itself in his life, mainly Solaris' twin sister Solana who wound up sticking close to Nick and company, even though she was just at Hogwarts on an 'educational visa' and had no need to sit in on classes as it was. She hadn't caused any trouble amongst his friends yet though, until today when she made an announcement, complete with a letter signed by Solaris himself- apparently having usurped his father as Lord of his House..

Lord Negron,

I apologize for the sudden correspondence but I have run into some issues back here at home. As you can guess, I have now officially taken over for my father as the Head of House, and as I spoke with you over the holidays, I am bringing many changes to our world on my front of this war. Unfortunately, revolution is not always met with thunderous applause. In opposition to my stand, several Death Eater-related families have set forth bounties on the heads of myself as well as the few remaining members of my House.

This is the main reason I am writing you this letter. As you know, the ball of mischief this letter came with is in fact my younger twin sister, Solana. As the only female in our generation, you no doubt know why I am hesitant to otherwise pawn her off to another family. However, you carry a special reason why it is more- but not entirely- ideal Solana goes to you. That reason being your multiple Lordships, each of which entitles you to take a wife per House, as I'm sure you already know. In all reality, I hope marrying her isn't something you uqve to do, either out of obligation or protective nature, but with the worsening state of the war here at home, I fear there's no other truly viable option.

Don't hesitate to ask of anything you may need in the coming months, as I fear this war will begin embroiling nations other than the European branches of the magical community. Your ally, Solaris.

Nick sighed, putting the letter down as he leveled his eyes at Solana, the girl's crystalline blue hair shining in the lantern light coming from all over the Slytherin Common Room, Nick now noticing Solana wore the blue colors of Ravenclaw. He then looked at Bellatrix and Sameera, who both made different expressions as they thought about the situation.

"For the record, I'm not actually surprised. This is a political marriage, in essence." Sameera said, Bellatrix nodding along.

"Meera's right. Solaris is doing this as extra insurance on his House as well as for Solana's safety. Not that I don't think you can't handle yourself." Bella said, Trixie adding her own input after a moment. "Not to mention Nick's a stud."

Nick groaned. "Here we go. Alright, Solana, but what do you think about this?"

"I think it's a load of shite, what my brother's doing. But, at the same time, I understand why he's doing it and will agree to at least make an effort for this. I just hope Solaris knows I'm going to punch him the fuck out for pulling this."

"Oh, this family gets more and more colorful, dunnit?" Bellatrix said, her eyes closed and her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. "But still, what are we doing about Seraphina?"

Nick had no answer for her..