"I see you like this place," the voice said, and Jace raised his head to find Professor Lupin approaching.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Professor Lupin. I can leave if you want," Jace offered, showing respect for his teacher.
"No, no, it's okay," Remus reassured him, taking a seat beside the second-year Gryffindor. "You can call me Remus, but only outside of class," he added with a chuckle.
"I like this place," Jace shared his appreciation. "The views are beautiful."
Remus nodded, leaning back against the tree trunk. "This tree is special," he reminisced. "It's where we Marauders used to hang out."
"I didn't know you had been part of a group," Jace admitted, raising his eyebrows in surprise. It was challenging for him to imagine Remus as a student.
"The group consisted of James, Sirius, Peter, and me. They discovered that I was a werewolf, and those lovable idiots decided to become illegal Animagi," Remus chuckled, recalling the mischief they used to get up to. "Used to drive Minnie bonkers too"
"Sounds like fun," Jace commented.
"People used to think I was the smartest of the four when really it was James and Sirius who were behind every prank. They were only thirteen when they became Animagi and created the Marauder's map. That's not something a thirteen-year-old wizard does."
"You miss them," Jace observed, smiling at Remus.
"More than anything in this world," Remus sighed. "James was my brother. He could be arrogant and sometimes acted without thinking, but he had a heart of gold. He always made me laugh with his silliness. Together with Sirius, they did my homework during the full moons. It was actually him who made Sirius and me realize that we liked each other."
"How did it happen?" Jace asked, intrigued by the stories of the Marauders.
"Do you know the game 'seven minutes in heaven'?" Jace nodded, and Remus continued. "Well, James colluded with the rest of our friends and locked me and Sirius in a broom closet."
Jace burst into laughter, and Remus joined in. "Sirius and I were afraid that if we admitted what we felt for each other, we would ruin the entire group dynamic."
As the conversation took a more lighthearted turn, Jace couldn't help but ask a cheeky question, mischief sparkling in his eyes. "How does it feel to have bagged one of the richest men in the wizarding world?"
Remus chuckled, "It's the same thing Lily and I said when James and Sirius proposed to us. But to answer your question, a Muggle-born and a werewolf marrying two pureblood heirs from two Sacred Twenty-eight families? We were the envy of the school and the cover of Witch Weekly during—"
Remus was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a dog barking, and before he knew it, the dog crashed into his side. In an instant, the dog transformed into Sirius, his expression serious. "Moony, we have a problem," he declared, causing the smile on Remus's face to fade.
Draco, engrossed in packing his bags, was startled by Harry's voice. "Draco, what are you doing?"
"What does it look like, Harry?" Draco retorted, annoyance evident in his voice as he hastily stuffed clothes into a backpack.
Harry couldn't believe his eyes. His best friend was packing up to leave. He knew about the recent fight between Draco and Adhara, but he hadn't expected Draco to plan on leaving.
"Where are you planning on going?" Harry questioned, grabbing Draco's arm to interrupt him, his fingers tightly gripping the shirt Draco was holding.
"London, where I should be, where we should all be," Draco snapped, ripping off the shirt and stuffing it into his backpack without a second thought.
"Draco, damn it, it's not my fault you had a fight with your sister weeks ago, but it's no reason for you to leave either," Harry argued, his frown deepening.
"Well, we all don't have a perfect sister like you do," Draco sneered sarcastically.
"Leave Mia out of this," Harry warned, protective of his sister. "You're nine years old, Draco. Where do you think you're going?"
"Our sisters were four fucking years old when we came to New York, and no one asked them shit. So, I don't have to explain myself to anyone either. Are you coming with me, or are you staying?"
Harry looked at his best friend, torn between loyalty and responsibility. He wanted to go with Draco, but thoughts of his sister and his dads lingered in his mind. How would they feel if he left without giving an explanation?
"Just... Just let me grab a couple of things, and we can go," Harry finally agreed. "For the record, I'm only going with you because I know you wouldn't survive a day without me."
Draco nodded, and as soon as he left the room, Harry took the opportunity to write a letter.
Dear sister,
By the time you read this letter, Draco and I will probably already be in London. It's not your fault or Addie's, I don't know what's going on lately, but everyone is angrier than usual, and you know how hot-headed Draco is sometimes. Well, this is one of those occasions.
Tell 'Papa' and Dad that I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye to them. I'm not leaving forever, just for a while, until Draco gets over his anger. You can visit me whenever you want!
I know that we have fought a lot about whether to return to London or not. I don't remember anything you do, and deep down, I would like to know where mom and dad grew up, what they liked to do, and, above all, get to know Hogwarts. I know I'm still nine years old, but I know for a fact that in two years, I want to go to Hogwarts, and I hope to be a Gryffindor like Dad.
I don't blame you for not wanting to go back to London, and I know that part of the reason you'll go to Hogwarts is because you promised Mum. I'm not telling you to get over their death because I know it was one of the most traumatic moments of your life, but I think it's time for you to face our past, our history.
You are the best sister in the world, I don't think I tell you that enough, Addie too. I know you did what you had to do to protect Draco and me, and I will always be grateful. Nothing ties me to the Shadowhunter world; I don't have Shadowhunter blood like you. I'm a wizard; everything I can learn is at Hogwarts, in London.
Papa, thank you for taking care of me and teaching me the basics of magic, for teaching me how to fly on a broom even though I know you don't like heights, and for helping me tame my hair, I'm taking the hair products you gave me. You're the best pancake cook in the world; I think there is no one who knows how to make them better than you.
Dad, thank you for checking every night to see if there were monsters under my bed, for teaching me how to defend myself, even though I will never be a Shadowhunter. Thank you for telling me bedtime stories, even though I know it's hard for you to be as creative as Papa. But above all, thank you for taking Mia and I as your children.
Love,
Harry
P.S I'll always be proud of being a Lightwood-Bane
He left the letter carefully on his sister's bed, taking a moment to look around the room, realizing how much he was going to miss her. "I hope one day you can forgive me," he thought, closing the door behind him as he left the room.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE?" Remus screeched, his eyes widening in disbelief as he looked at Draco and Harry standing in the room.
"Welcome to your nine-year-old child size problem," Sirius, who had been sitting on the couch, chimed in with a laugh, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Sirius, now is not the time to be fucking funny," Remus snapped, his gaze fixed on Draco and Harry. Sirius immediately ceased his laughter and pouted.
"I'll ask again, what the hell are you doing here?" Remus demanded, his frustration evident. These kids were going to drive him crazy.
"Do you want the short version or the long version?" Harry asked cheekily, a mischievous glint in his eyes. When he noticed Remus's stern expression, he cleared his throat and continued, "Draco has had a fight with Adhara, and here we are. Surprise?"
"Do your parents know you are here? Better yet, how did you get to London?" Remus inquired, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Kreacher helped us," Draco finally spoke up, breaking his silence
"That thing is still alive?" Sirius interjected, scandalized by the mention of his mother's old elf.
"That 'thing' is an elf and has rights," Remus stated firmly, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Where were my rights when that thi... that elf tried to drown me in my bathtub?" Sirius retorted, earning a disapproving look from Remus.
"You treated him like shit; I would have tried to drown you too," Remus laughed, though it was clear that he was growing tired of their banter.
Harry cleared his throat, drawing attention back to the matter at hand. "So, can we stay?"
Remus sighed. "Your sister is going to kill me, but I guess you can stay," he reluctantly conceded. Draco and Harry slyly bumped fists, celebrating their small victory, as Remus gave them one last warning, "But not forever."
To say that Harry's letter had not sat well with anyone was an understatement. Mia had alternated between being angry and stressed, Magnus was worried, and Alec went, weekly like clockwork, without telling anyone, to London to check that nothing was wrong with Harry. Things at the Herondale house were not the same. When they found out, Jace had gotten angry and had fought with Adhara, telling her that she didn't have to treat her brother like that and that it was her fault. Adhara had yelled back that Draco had been picking fights with her for weeks over childish things, and now, Adhara was living with the Lightwoods.
"We should throw a huge fucking party."
Theo and Mia exchanged worried glances, recognizing the party as an avoidance tactic to distract from Draco's upcoming tenth birthday.
"Addie, none of us are old enough to drink alcohol," Theo cautiously pointed out, aware that Adhara was still hurting from her brother's departure.
"Your father is Magnus fucking Bane; we don't need an excuse to throw a party," Adhara retorted, already lost in her thoughts of what the celebration would entail.
"Addie, I don't think that's—," Theo began hesitantly.
"No, Teddy, Addie is right. We should throw the best fucking party in all of New York," Mia interjected, shooting Theo a glance that conveyed she would explain later.
"And that's why I adore you, Mia Lightwood-Bane!" Adhara exclaimed, hugging her best friend.
It didn't take long for Magnus to organize the party; after all, he was known for throwing the best parties. 'Saints and Sinners' is what they had called the party.
The Lightwood apartment expanded and became a dichotomy of the divine and the decadent. Upon entering, guests were greeted by an opulent display of golden halos and ethereal white feathers, juxtaposed against the alluring draw of crimson velvet curtains and dimly lit corners.
The ceiling sparkled, reflecting a starry sky, while the dance floor pulsed with a mix of celestial lights and seductive rhythms. The 'Saints,' dressed in flowing robes and sparkling halos, twirled gracefully alongside the leather and lace-clad 'sinners,' their gazes intertwining in a dance of temptation and innocence.
Heavenly ambrosia and divine nectar shared space with sinfully rich chocolates and blood-red cocktails on the refreshment table. The scent of heavenly incense mingled with the seductive aroma of forbidden fruits, creating an intoxicating atmosphere.
Elegantly attired warlocks mingled with dancing seelies, while werewolves moved gracefully, and vampires, dressed to the nines, roamed the room with sparkling gazes and slightly protruding fangs.
"I never pegged you for a sinner, Angel."
Amidst the revelry, Mia found herself accosted by the Institute's newest addition and the bane of her existence. She rolled her eyes, uninterested in engaging with him. "Where's your little blonde boyfriend?" he continued, goading her further.
"Why don't you go fuck around somewhere else, Riddle?" Mia huffed, growing tired of his antics.
"Because I like to fuck with you, princess. Such a dirty, dirty mouth" Mattheo smirked, pushing her buttons, watching as the usually hazel eyes turned a dangerous amber.
"I'm neither your Angel nor your princess," Mia snapped, shoving Mattheo away.
"My queen, perhaps? I'd get on my knees if you asked me to," Mattheo taunted, testing Mia's limits, see what buttons he could press "Unfortunately this pants are too expensive"
"If you knelt, it would only make it easier for me to cut your annoying head off," Mia smirked sinisterly, thinking how satisfying that would be.
"And deprive the world of my beaty? No thanks. Giving it a second thought, sinner suits—," Mattheo began to say but was interrupted by another voice.
"Mia, hello, sorry I'm late." Jace interrupted, arriving breathlessly. Mia winked at him, appreciating his attire.
"You even came with your wings, where did you leave your halo?" Mattheo intervened again, resting his chin on Mia's shoulder.
Jace raised an eyebrow while Mia pushed Mattheo, causing him to stumble slightly. "Riddle, leave us alone. Choke or choke, but leave us alone," she declared, taking Jace by the arm, and gracefully walked away towards the dance floor, leaving Mattheo behind.
"I love you too, Angel!" Mattheo shouted sarcastically, relishing in the annoyance reflected in Mia's dirty look.
"You've got a feisty one there," a sultry voice commented, accompanied by a low, seductive laugh.
Mattheo, indifferent to the observation, focused on the shot glass in front of him. "Don't care what happens to her or the angel she has as her companion," he declared, taking a sip of his drink.
"Oh my, where are my manners? I haven't introduced myself. Lily, nice to meet you."
Mattheo looked up to see a black-haired, ivory-skinned woman with hypnotic black eyes concealed behind a black lace mask. She wore a blood-red dress and regarded him with a charming smile. Extending her hand toward him, she said, "Looking at the hand extended in front of him, he shook it.
"Mattheo."
"Now, tell me about this girl you were just arguing with."