Sirius Black watched with satisfaction as two of his colleagues restrained Severus Snape, the man responsible for the Sectumsempra curse and implicated in Evan Rosier's murder. He wasted no time reading Snape his rights.

"Severus Snape, you are under arrest for being the creator of the Sectumsempra curse and for being an accessory to the murder of Evan Rosier. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the Wizengamot. You have the right to have a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the Ministry will assign one to you. Guys, get him out of my sight," Sirius commanded.

Severus Snape's voice rose in anger and desperation, "He forced me! Dumbledore forced me!"

"I don't give a fuck," Sirius snapped, thrusting a potions book at Snape. "Does this fucking book look familiar to you? Because it's yours, and thanks to the fucking curse you created, there's a boy fighting for his life. My niece teeters on the brink of death because of you. What part of that don't you understand?"

Sirius ran his hand through his disheveled hair, exhaustion etched on his face. It seemed like an endless nightmare. When would they finally find happiness?

"Guys, come with me," Sirius barked at two other Aurors, determination in his eyes. "It's time to arrest Dumbledore."

With a swift kick, Sirius flung open the door to Dumbledore's office and instructed his colleagues to handcuff the headmaster.

Dumbledore, narrowing his eyes, demanded, "What is the meaning of this, Sirius?"

"Albus Dumbledore," Sirius said, his voice brimming with satisfaction, "you are being held for the torture and subsequent first-degree murder of Evan Rosier, as well as the torture and use of the Sectumsempra curse. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the Wizengamot. You have the right to have a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the Ministry will assign one to you."

"You don't know what you're doing," Dumbledore warned. "You have nothing against me, no evidence, no witnesses."

"We have Barty," Sirius revealed, watching the shock register on Dumbledore's face. "Isn't it ironic? You thought you hired Moody, but you unwittingly brought Barty on board as a professor. Barty took it upon himself to gather enough evidence against you and Snape to send you both to Azkaban with a Dementor's kiss."

"It's a lie!" Dumbledore shouted. "No one would believe the words of an ex-Death Eater."

"It's not a lie," Barty chimed in, a sly smile on his face as he entered Dumbledore's office dressed as an Auror. "You're going to pay for what you did to Evan."

"You're mistaken about me!" Dumbledore protested as the Aurors led him away. "You're making a grave mistake!"

Sirius extended his hand and patted Barty on the back as he grinned, relief and satisfaction in his eyes. "How are you?" he asked.

Barty, still wearing a half-smile, confessed, "I feel strange. I'm glad it's all over, but I liked it when I was scheming and scaring Dumbledore and Snape."

Sirius chuckled, shaking his head. "You're a twisted bastard," he remarked with a playful tone. "We could use a person like you in the Auror Department."

Barty raised an eyebrow, his expression turning more serious. "I doubt it," he replied. "I still have one thing left to do."

Sirius couldn't help but be curious. "Do I want to know what that thing you have left to do is about?" he inquired.

Barty paused for a moment, a mysterious glint in his eye. "No, Black," he said cryptically. "You'll find out when it happens. By the way, James is waiting for you at the entrance to Hogwarts. Mia and Jace's parents are here, and they are not exactly jumping for joy, so to speak."

"Shit," Sirius muttered, a sense of urgency washing over him. He dashed out of the office but stopped in his tracks before leaving. Turning back to Barty, he expressed his gratitude, "Thank you very much, Barty. Seriously. I wish you the best of luck in that thing you still have to do."

Barty nodded in acknowledgment, and with a wave of his hand, he transformed into a crow and gracefully flew out of the window. His revenge was drawing nearer and he couldn't wait.

"WHERE IS MY SON?" Alec's furious voice echoed through the hallway as he demanded, "WHERE IS MY BOY?" His eyes bore into James, seething with anger.

Eloise was right behind him, equally furious, having heard Theo's desperate voice in his Patronus message. She'd wasted no time contacting Isabelle and Enzo while Alec had packed his things.

"Mr. Grimaldi, please calm down," James urged, attempting to maintain control of the situation. "We are trying to find out what has happened."

"I'M NOT GOING TO FUCKING CALM DOWN!" Alec thundered, his rage unabated. "THERE'S NOTHING TO INVESTIGATE. MY SON IS DYING. MY ONLY SON IS STRUGGLING BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH RIGHT NOW. DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE TO TELL ME TO CALM DOWN."

Narcissa, looking distressed, interjected, "We are very sorry. It's my son Draco who is responsible. We are very sorry."

"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR STUPID MAGICAL LAWS," Alec shouted, his voice trembling with anger. "I'M GOING TO BRING YOUR SON TO COURT TO PAY FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE TO MY SON. DRACO...

"Draco... he's a wizard," Lucius explained, his frustration evident. "He can't be judged by a Muggle court; he has to be judged by the Wizengamot."

"OH, I DON'T THINK SO," Alec responded, his laughter devoid of mirth. "MY SON IS A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AND THE ONLY ONE IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION. YOUR SON HAS ATTACKED THE CROWN, MY FAMILY, AND HE IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT. MARK MY WORDS."

Narcissa began to sob, pleading, "He's just a child..."

Isabelle's fury matched Alec's as she screamed, "And my son too, fuck you! My son has been on the verge of death twice already, for fucks sake! My son is fighting for his life right now because your bloody son told Mia that she was a person who used people as she pleased and then abandoned them amongst other things."

The revelation stunned those present; they had not been aware of this particular incident.

"You didn't know, right?" Isabelle's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Jace and Draco got into a fight, and Draco was about to attack my son from behind. Moody caught him and turned him into a ferret. A humiliated Draco returned that night looking for my son and challenged him to a duel."

"Duels are prohibited at Hogwarts," Lucius noted, his voice strained.

"Not in Durmstrang," Isabelle retorted. "Your son stepped on Durmstrang territory, and therefore, he was under our jurisdiction. He will be tried under our jurisdiction."

"What does that mean?" Narcissa asked, her voice trembling.

Theo's voice, hoarse and tired, cut through. "It means that the punishment is decided by us."

Eloise couldn't contain her relief as she rushed to hug her nephew. "Teddy, my God! How are you, darling?"

Theo managed a shaky smile, allowing Isabelle to fuss over him briefly. "I'm fine, Aunt Ellie. But Mia and Jace are fighting for their lives. I don't want to be alone; they're all I have left."

"TEDDY!" Isabelle cried out, her eyes filled with tears. "MY DAUGHTER! HOW IS MIA? JACE?"

Seeing the worried expressions on his uncles Enzo and Izzy, Theo couldn't hold back his tears any longer. He crumbled to the floor, shaking with sobs, every fiber of his being hurting. Enzo and Izzy joined him on the floor, enveloping Theo in their arms.

"Teddy, look at me," Enzo implored, his own tears streaming down his face. "They're going to be fine. You've done everything you could. I'm very, very proud of you, my brave boy."

Izzy joined in, her voice filled with love and understanding. "Teddy, it's not your fault, do you hear me? It's not your fault, okay? Don't beat yourself up over it. Breathe, baby."

Theo nodded and let Mia's parents and Jace's parents hold him close. He despised himself for feeling so weak when Jace and Mia needed him. He loathed his weakness when his uncles and aunts needed comforting more than he did. He wasn't the one on the brink of death.

"Teddy, cry all you need," Eloise told him gently as she stroked his hair. "Don't worry about us."

"We are proud of you, Teddy," Alec added, his voice softening as he smiled sadly.

"I'm...I'm sorry," Theo choked out with a voice filled with anger and self-blame. "I'm so sorry."

James questioned Regulus with a frown, "Where were you?"

Regulus hissed in irritation, "I was looking after my goddaughter, who, by the way, is fighting to keep Jace alive right now. Thanks for asking."

James looked concerned as he asked, "What? Barty told me Mia was fine."

Regulus' anger simmered as he explained, "Well, it turns out she's not okay. Her soul is linked to Jace's."

"That's extremely dangerous," Lily, now intrigued, asked, "Who consented to that?"

"Themselves," Regulus replied. "Mia and Jace are Parabatai."

Sirius, unfamiliar with the term, inquired, "What is that?"

Regulus took a moment to explain, "Parabatai are two people with a deep and sacred bond. It's more than just friendship; it's a connection on a spiritual level. They can feel each other's emotions, share their strength… Parabatai are bound for life, and the bond is so strong that it transcends death itself."

James, frustrated, suggested, "Well, fucking break it! My daughter is not going to die because of a stupid bond."

Theo vehemently disagreed, his voice tense with anger, "Don't you dare! Don't you fucking dare separate them. Mia is the only one keeping Jace alive. If you separate them, you will kill them both. I am sure as hell not letting you fucking do that"

Enzo chimed in, his voice laced with anger, "Theo is right, Potter. You're not going to separate Jace from my daughter."

James pressed, "Are you going to let this madness happen?"

Enzo erupted in anger, crying out, "YES! YES, OF COURSE YES! FUCK, JACE HAS DONE MORE FOR MY DAUGHTER THAN ANYONE PRESENT. SO YES, POTTER, IF MY DAUGHTER IS FIGHTING FOR THE LIFE OF HER BEST FRIEND, I'M GOING TO LET HER DO IT. MIA WOULD NEVER FORGIVE ME IF I SEPARATED HER FROM JACE."

"Where is Mia?" Lily, increasingly worried, asked, "Where is my daughter?"

Theo's response was icy, "She is being protected by Balerion, Meraxes, and I can clearly see where your loyalties lie"

"Be careful what you say, young man." James tried to assert himself

But Enzo was having none of it. He warned, "Don't you dare touch Theo." Isabelle and Jace's parents stepped in to support Enzo. "Don't you dare touch my nephew's fucking hair. Not when you're here being self-righteous and you haven't even asked about your daughter in all the time you've been here."

"I'm just following protocol," James defended himself.

Alec sarcastically applauded, "Great, because if we're going to follow fucking protocol, I'm going to press fucking charges against Draco Malfoy. Start writing, Potter."

Harry had been feeling uneasy since he noticed Draco's absence at breakfast. Draco was known for enjoying a hearty breakfast to kickstart his day. However, what troubled Harry even more was the mysterious disappearance of the Durmstrang students from the Great Hall, along with the hushed conversations and pointed looks directed at him.

Growing frustrated with the attention, Harry finally snapped, "What the hell are you all looking at?"

Seamus, looking surprised, approached Harry and cautiously began to explain, "You don't... Don't you know?"

"Know what?" Harry demanded, his gaze sharp and challenging.

"Draco cast a Sectumsempra on your sister's best friend," Seamus said somberly, "and Moody arrested him last night."

"Sectumsempra?" Harry asked, bewildered by the term.

"I've never heard of it," Seamus admitted, "but it's been bad enough that your sister's friend and your sister are in some sort of coma."

Hearing this alarming news, Harry bolted out of the Great Hall, his mind racing in search of answers. He needed to find his godfather and understand what had transpired the previous night.

"Dad, Mom, what... What are you all doing here?" Harry asked, approaching James and Lily anxiously.

"Draco... Draco cast a Sectumsempra on Jace last night," James sighed wearily. "Your sister... Your sister is fighting to keep Jace alive. The wounds were quite deep."

Tears welled up in Harry's eyes as he asked, trembling, "Is... Is she going to be okay?"

James couldn't provide a reassuring answer, saying, "I don't know, Harry. I'm so sorry."

"And Draco?" Harry inquired, his voice quivering, "What's going to happen to him?"

"Jace's parents have formally filed charges against him," James explained, "but apparently, since Draco set foot on Durmstrang territory, he is under their jurisdiction."

"Can I see... Can I see Draco?" Harry asked softly. "I would like to talk to him."

"Sure," James agreed. "Of course. He's in that class down the hall."

With a heavy heart, Harry nodded and walked slowly toward the classroom. How would he face his best friend now? How could he look at Draco when he was the one responsible for his sister being in a coma?

Carefully, he opened the door and entered. Draco looked up and widened his eyes in surprise.

"I just have one question," Harry murmured, his voice trembling, "Why did you do it?"

"I... I'm sorry," Draco replied, his embarrassment evident.

"My sister is in a fucking coma!" Harry erupted, his frustration and anger boiling over. "You don't know the effort I'm making just talking to you. I feel like I'm betraying her."

"I felt humiliated, and... And in the Potions book, the curse was written, and I saw red," Draco said sadly, his voice filled with regret. "I didn't think."

"Of course you didn't think!" Harry shouted in frustration, his eyes blazing. "How many times have our parents told us not to use any spell or hex that we don't know its effects?"

"Harry, I'm so sorry," Draco said, his eyes filled with remorse. "I didn't mean to, you have to believe me."

"Jace's father has formally pressed charges," Harry informed him, his tone heavy with disappointment, "but you're under Durmstrang jurisdiction."

"What... What does that mean?" Draco asked, his fear palpable.

"You know perfectly well," Harry replied, narrowing his eyes. "They are going to decide your punishment, and to be honest, I don't know which is worse."

"Am I going to Azkaban?" Draco asked, his voice trembling with fear.

"I doubt it," Harry said thoughtfully, "your parents wouldn't allow it, nor would mine."

"I'm sorry, Harry," Draco said sincerely, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Of course," Harry said, rising to his feet and opening the door, "from now on, if you know what's good for you, you won't talk to my sister. Otherwise, you won't just answer to Theo and Jace, you'll answer to me too."

Mia felt a strange sensation as she walked through her memories with a single thought: Jace. She knew that she would do anything to keep him alive, even if it meant risking her own life. Jace was more than important to her; he was her soulmate, her knight in shining armor, her Parabatai.

Lost in her thoughts, Mia suddenly felt two little arms wrapped around her waist. Startled, she looked down and saw a five-year-old boy with brown hair and blue eyes smiling up at her. The boy's smile was remarkably similar to Jace's, and Mia couldn't help but feel a rush of affection.

"Mom," the child exclaimed happily. "Hi"

Mia's eyes widened in disbelief. The boy had just called her…mom?

"I think...I think you're wrong, honey," Mia said softly, her voice trembling.

"No," the boy insisted, shaking his head vigorously, "you're my mom, you're married to dad, and I'm Evan, your son. Don't tell Percy but I know I'm your favorite"

Mia glanced at her ring finger and was surprised to find a wedding ring on it. She couldn't remember getting married. Who had she married?

Amid the sound of childish laughter, Mia spotted a tall, slightly curly-haired blonde man dressed in a blue linen shirt. Holding the man's hand was a girl with raven-black hair, and she was laughing heartily. Walking beside them was a young blonde boy who resembled the man.

"Percy, Percy!" Evan shouted excitedly, "Look who I found."

The blonde boy smiled and approached Evan, ruffling his hair. "What's wrong, little one?"

"I found mom," Evan declared, pointing to Mia, "she's just acting a little weird."

The blonde boy was an exact copy of Jace, and Mia couldn't believe her eyes. He gazed at her with a tilted head and a lopsided smile.

"Mom is tired, Evan," Percy told his younger brother, taking his hand, "let her rest. You can play with her later."

"Are you okay, princess?" A deep voice said behind her.

Mia closed her eyes tightly. She would recognize that voice anywhere; it was unmistakable. There was only one person in the entire world who called her princess.

"Hey, hey, are you okay, Mia? Is it the baby?" the concerned voice asked.

"The baby?" Mia exclaimed, opening her eyes in shock. "What baby?"

In front of her stood Jace, her Jace, but slightly different. His shoulders were broader, his skin was tanned, and he had a light beard covering his face. However, his eyes were just as she remembered them, twinkling with mischief.

"It's the beard, isn't it?" the older Jace asked with a teasing grin. "You don't like it."

"I...I don't..." Mia stammered, utterly bewildered. "What?"

"The kids are right," the older Jace said, chuckling. "You're acting a bit strange today."

"I..I'm just tired," Mia said, laughing nervously, still trying to process everything.

"I know you, princess," Jace told her in a soft voice, his gaze intense. "Something is troubling you."

"I...You're not real," Mia blurted out.

Jace burst into laughter. Mia watched him, fascinated by the sight. Seeing Jace laugh so freely felt like a breath of fresh air. He gradually composed himself and smiled at her tenderly, his eyes locked onto hers as though she held all the stars in the sky.

"Of course not, princess," Jace said, smiling and planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. "This isn't one of our memories. Look for me, princess. I'll be waiting for you. I love you."

Mia gasped and sat up abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest.

"JACE!" she cried out.