Dear Damon,

Thank you for your latest letter. I'm glad to learn that Maya is doing well with her studies and that she is enjoying living in New York. Draco and Luna are both doing well this year as well, especially now that they actually have someone of intelligence teaching them Defence Against the Dark Arts. They're both pleased with the changes I have been endeavouring to make at Hogwarts, as are the rest of Maya's friends there, or so my son tells me.

The main purpose of this letter is to update you on certain happenings in Britain. There are certain bits of news that Maya should be informed of, but which I don't wish her to read in a letter. Therefore, I have decided that it's best to inform you and allow you to tell Maya however you deem best.

As you are aware Vernon Dursley was arrested last year on suspicion of child abuse. The investigation into that has been long and is still ongoing but I can inform you that he has been charged with several counts of child abuse as has his wife Petunia and his sister, a Ms Marjorie Dursley. They have also been charged with crimes relating to fraud and animal abuse, though I don't have the full details on those. As they have not been granted bail, their son has been taken into the custody of the Child Protective Services and I believe plans are being made to place him with some distant cousins.

Madam Bones, the head of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement here in Britain, took the lead on our side of things and I have enclosed a letter from her which goes into greater detail on what precisely they are being charged with and what the likely outcome will be. Madam Bones is a good woman, honest and fair, and she has not so far pushed for answers as to where Maya currently is, but I know that they will come. Mostly because several other members high up in the Ministry, including the minister himself, are aware of the investigation and are pushing for Maya to be located and placed in custody of a magical family here in Britain.

Thankfully, Ragnuk took steps to ensure that I cannot be forced by any means, magical or otherwise, to divulge what I know of Maya's current whereabouts, nor can the children. They may attempt to get answers out of the Horde, but doing so would be futile and pushing too hard could lead to sanctions from the ICW, especially if they come too close to breaching the current peace treaty. That being said, there are several things they can do to kick up a fuss regarding Maya's disappearance from Britain. They may even attempt to make a case of child abduction, a charge that the ICW would be forced to take seriously, especially given Maya's position in our society.

Although Ragnuk ensured that you have legal custody of Maya, there is a possibility that the Ministry could challenge this in the ICW, because custody was arranged through the Horde, rather than through wixen channels. Madam Bones, without knowing where you are, has offered a solution to this. She has contacts with her counterparts in all the magical ministries across the world, and is willing to use these contacts to ensure that your custody of Maya is authorised by the government of the country she is residing in, which in America is MACUSA. She assures me this can be done whilst still keeping Maya's location on a strictly need-to-know basis and that doing so would effectively tie the hands of those in the British Ministry most likely to make a fuss.

The letter from Madam Bones includes a way to contact her to make arrangements, should you wish to do so. I would advise you to accept her offer, as I believe this will be in Maya's best interest. It will prohibit anyone looking to gain control over her from doing so. I would however ensure you have allies at the meeting, Ragnuk as the chieftain of the Horde is a good ally to have, and I believe Maya's headteacher holds a great deal of influence with MACUSA as well. The fact that you were appointed her Godfather by Lady Magic will hold great sway amongst most wixen, and most societies don't have quite such restrictive laws regarding vampires as Britain currently does. The MACUSA representative will likely wish to speak with Maya, but I am confident that they will swiftly approve your guardianship claim.

I leave the final decision to you, know that I will support you no matter what you choose. Give Maya my love.

Your Friend,

Narcissa Malfoy

"So, what do you think?"

Aradia folded up the letter and returned it to the envelope with a quiet sigh.

"The letter from Madam Bones?"

Damon passed it over.

"Much the same as the one from Narcissa, though with less of a personal edge and more detail about the criminal case against the Dursleys. They've been charged, no bail, a statement from Maya would help but isn't required, nor will she be required to testify in court whether she gives a statement or not. She would like to meet with me and help ensure that my guardianship of Maya is completely secure, but she'll understand if I'm not comfortable doing so."

"Have you told Maya about any of this yet?"

"All of it. I don't keep secrets from her. I made her an appointment with Sam, Dr Acesco, so that she could talk it over with her. I figured that would help."

"Probably. Did she give any indication of how she feels about any of it?"

"Adamant that she's not going back and if they try to make her, she'll run away again."

"It won't come to that."

"Won't it?"

Aradia smirked.

"Lady Malfoy was correct; I do hold a great deal of influence with MACUSA, and I will exert all of it to ensure that Maya remains with you."

"Thank you."

"She is also correct in that getting MACUSA to approve your custody of Maya will help in the event that the British Ministry brings a case to the ICW. Not that it is necessary."

"It's not?"

"No, I've been doing some research, ever since I met Maya, the Horde had every right to act as they did. Nevertheless, it wouldn't hurt to get MACUSA on side."

"So, I should set-up a meeting with this Madam Bones?"

"Yes, but not yet. Allow me to set-up a meeting with President Quahog first, lets meet with Madam Bones from a position of strength. Just in case."

"You'd do that?"

"Maya has clearly flourished under your guardianship, and the British Ministry is clearly lacking considering that they have done nothing to help Maya until now. I would go toe-to-toe with Albus Dumbledore himself if I had to, to ensure that Maya remained with you. Fortunately, he seems to have recused himself from any further involvement in the situation so that shouldn't be necessary, but the point remains."

"Thank you. For everything."

"You're welcome, Damon."

"When was the last time we were here together?"

"1912, Zacariah's funeral."

"You come here on this day every year?"

"Almost every year, and I vary the date, but always around this time. It's how Joseph was able to capture me for Augustine in 1953. He knew I'd be in town around this time, and I always check in on our relatives."

"I didn't know you did that."

"Why would you?"

"I visit occasionally, ever since Lexi got me detoxed the last time. None of the relatives have ever mentioned you visiting."

"I don't visit as such. I just look in on them, make sure everything's okay and they don't need anything."

"So, you stalk them?"

"Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to. Ever since Joseph, I've just figured it was safer to keep my distance, but they're still family."

Damon knelt down and placed the wreath he had brought on their mother's grave. The stone was weathered and faded with age, but he didn't need to see the words to know what they said. He could still remember with startling clarity the day they had buried their mother. One of his biggest regrets was missing her funeral, not being their for Stefan, not speaking the eulogy as he was supposed to. He touched a finger to the stone, and offered a silent greeting to the departed before standing again.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"Missing the funeral, not being there when you needed me. I've never said it before."

"I forgive you."

"Really?"

"It was a long time ago, and you've forgiven me for a lot worse."

"Thank you, brother."

"So, what do you usually do now?"

"Go for a walk, see how things are now, remember how they were."

The two of them wandered together through the town and then through the woods that bordered it in silence. Each lost in their own memories of the past, before they knew of the dark forces that lurked in the night, before they were turned into creatures of blood and death, before they were slain by their own father's hand.

They steered clear of the noisy crowd of teenagers, who were drinking and dancing under the moonlight, oblivious to the dangers the night could hold. Their detour brought them to the river, where they witnessed a car skid off the bridge and plunge into the dark water. Stefan acted on instinct, diving in without a second thought, determined to rescue the trapped passengers. Damon swore under his breath at his brother's reckless heroism, but followed him nonetheless, after shedding his jacket and throwing it aside, hoping his phone would survive. He had no clue how many people were in the car, but he guessed it was more than one, and they would need a phone to alert the emergency services.

Stefan was the first to reach the car. The driver was still awake and very much aware of his own mortality beckoning, but he directed them to save his companions. Pointing Stefan to the young girl in the back seat and Damon to the woman who had been seated beside him. Both of them did as they had been bid, using their strength to tear the doors off the car and pull the two victims free. It was a matter of seconds to get them out of the water and onto the bank of the river, but a matter of minutes to get them both breathing again.

Damon felt a surge of pity for the man, even though he knew he was already dead. He had drowned in the car, trapped and helpless. Damon couldn't leave him there, so he went back and pulled him out of the wreck. He laid him on the bank, next to the two women they'd been able to save. He looked at his brother, expecting him to say something, but Stefan was silent. His face was pale, and his eyes were wide, as if he had seen a ghost. He was staring at the girl, who was lying on the grassy bank of the river.

"Stef?"

"It's Katherine."

Several thoughts crossed Damon's mind, most of them uncomplimentary towards his brother, but he bit them back and went with a simple question.

"What?"

"It's Katherine."

Damon looked from the unconscious girl who's face was blocked by his brother's kneeling form, to the back of Stefan's head and back again.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but are you high?"

"No, Damon, it's Katherine. Look!"

Stefan shifted out of the way allowing Damon to see the face of the girl clearly for the first time. Stefan was correct, that was undoubtedly the face of Katherine Pierce. The only problem being that Katherine was a vampire, and the girl Stefan had pulled from the river was clearly human. Vampires after all couldn't drown. And while Katherine might be a manipulative bitch, there was no way she could have known that they would be there to save her at the exact moment the car went over the bridge, and therefore had no reason to pretend to be a helpless human.

"I don't know who that is, or why she looks exactly like Katherine, but it's not her. She's probably just some descendant of Katherine's or something."

"A descendant that could be her identical twin?"

"I don't know what to tell you Stef, genetics are weird, and not my area of expertise. I'll tell you what I do know though, we need to call an ambulance now or this whole rescue thing will have been pointless."

So, saying, Damon retrieved his phone from the jacket he had tossed aside and called 911 to report the crash they'd witnessed. He declined to stay on the line with the operator, hanging up as soon as he'd given them all the pertinent information and turning back to his brother, whose gaze was still fixed on the girl.

"Come on, lets get out of here."

"President Quahog, thank you for agreeing to this meeting."

"Well, I must admit I was most curious. It isn't often that either of you request to meet with me, let alone demand such secrecy as you have done today, Director Ragnuk, Lady Aradia."

Damon, stood slightly behind Ragnuk and Aradia, studied the man who was the leader of Magical America. With once dark hair now threaded with grey, and laugh lines framing his eyes and mouth, Damon would be tempted to say he was in his sixties, had he not been aware of how deceiving looks could be amongst wixen. His attire was not distinctly magical, the robe he wore styled in such a way that most casual viewers would probably classify it as an overcoat. Damon, who had seen similar garments on other wixen, was not one of them. Underneath the robes, a suit that would not be out of place in a muggle office, smart and understated. The only real nod to his position was the ornamental clasp that secured his bolo tie, carved in imitation of MACUSA's phoenix emblem.

"You'll come to understand our request for secrecy over the course of our discussion, I'm sure."

"Hmm. Allow me to introduce you both to Director Picquery, Head of Magical law enforcement, and Director Calhoun, of our Magical Mysteries department, though I believe, Lady Aradia, that the two of you are already acquainted."

Ragnuk gave a short sharp nod in both of their directions as Aradia shook hands with Madam Picquery, and sent a slight smirk towards Director Tremaine.

"Of course, it's wonderful to see you again Galen."

"Lady Aradia."

"May I introduce you all to Damon Salvatore, inducted into our world in 1871 by Henry Potter."

Three pairs of eyes swivelled towards Damon, surveying him with interest, he stared back cooly as he performed his own assessment of the wixen. Director Picquery seemed to be dressed much more casually than her companions in her jeans, shirt, and jacket. But Damon was canny enough to realise that her outfit had been carefully chosen for practicality and protection. Her clothes allowed her to move freely, and her jacket was made of dragon scale, not leather. She might currently be the Director of MACUSA's magical law enforcement department, but her clothes said she was ready to go into the field at any moment should she deem it necessary. Scarred hands and what looked to be an old burn on her cheek told him that she had done so in the past, she had worked her way up through the ranks and she had the marks to prove it. Dark cool eyes studied him back, no doubt seeing as much in him as he did in her, her loose stance told him that she was fully prepared to take him out should he prove to be a threat. She inclined her head in a nod of greeting, without once taking her eyes from him and he knew he'd read her correctly.

Director Calhoun stood as a stark counterpoint to the president and his fellow director, where both of them would be able to seamlessly blend into the muggle world in their current attire, he would not. Clad in head-to-foot robes of deepest purple, decorated with stars, that constantly shifted into new patterns. The hood of his robe, though currently pulled back to reveal a surprisingly young face, was deep enough to cover his head entirely should he choose to do so. Damon wasn't sure what the Magical Mysteries department did, but given the scar that bisected the directors face and the purpling bruise on his temple, it wasn't entirely without danger. Bright blue eyes, sparkled with amusement and interest, and he held his hand out to Damon in greeting.

"A pleasure to meet you Mr Salvatore,"

Damon shook the hand he had offered.

"And you Director Calhoun."

"Please call me Galen. I believe you are from Mystic Falls originally, yes?"

His lips twitched in amusement at Damon's startled look.

"Yes. How did you…?"

"It's an interesting place, with an interesting history, most recently that of you and your brother. I do enjoy learning about interesting things, I would much enjoy speaking with you and your brother about your experiences in 1864, if that's not too forward of me."

Aradia and Ragnuk both had an amused look on their faces and even Director Picquery shook her head, lips twitching slightly, but it was President Quahog who saved Damon from having to answer.

"Perhaps another time Galen, I would much rather get to the point of this meeting."

"Ah, yes, of course, please forgive me, I can get a little carried away sometimes, so much to learn, so little time."

President Quahog shook his head, and muttered something mildly uncomplimentary about academics.

"Well, lets all sit down, and you can tell me what this meeting is about."

Damon had spent a long time discussing with Aradia and Ragnuk, how to handle the meeting, so when everyone had taken a seat, he sat back and allowed the two of them to take the lead.

"I'm sure you're all aware of the events that occurred in Great Britain on Halloween night twelve years ago."

"I believe the entirety of the wixen world is aware of those events, Chief Ragnuk, what is your point?"

If Damon hadn't already marked Director Picquery as being a no-nonsense sort of person, he would have now.

"The point, Director Picquery, is that what occurred on that night has a direct impact on what we are here to discuss."

Ragnuk pulled out one of the files he had brought with him and slid it over the table to Director Calhoun, who opened it, raising an eyebrow and frowning deeply as he scanned the contents.

"This…"

"Indeed. On the 31st of July last year, Lady Narcissa Malfoy, brought an artifact into Gringotts bank in London and handed it over to her account manager, bidding him to destroy it. The item in question was a Horcrux."

Director Picquery let out a low curse.

"Due to the nature of the item, I was alerted immediately, and I made my way to the London branch that night. We dealt with the item as we always do with such items and in doing so discovered that there were five other Horcruxes in addition to the original soul piece and the Horcrux already in our possession. We were making plans to deal with our findings, when, on the 1st of August, Lady Malfoy returned to Gringotts bank with Miss Maya Potter. She had been badly beaten."

Director Picquery wasn't the only one who cursed this time. Ragnuk went on to explain the discovery that Maya had one of the soul pieces embedded in her scar, the ritual they had performed to remove it, during which, the discovery was made that this wasn't the first time that Maya had been beaten, He handed over the files that documented the abuse Maya had suffered between the time she was dropped on the Dursley's doorstep up to Narcissa finding her being beaten by Vernon.

"I understand what an atrocity this is, Chief Ragnuk, believe me I do, but I fail to see what you expect me to do about it. Maya Potter is a British Citizen, you'd be better off handing this evidence over to the British Ministry of Magic and allowing them to deal with it."

"Maya Potter has been missing since August last year." Director Picquery responded to the presidents words before anyone else could. "The British Ministry has been very subtle in their attempts to locate her, as has Headmaster Dumbledore's little group, but I have my sources in both."

"Headmaster Dumbledore was Maya Potters magical guardian, neither the Horde nor Lady Malfoy were satisfied by his response when the abuse was reported to him."

Director Calhoun's lips curved into a slight smile at Ragnuk's words.

"It is curious, that you were inducted into our world by Henry Potter, and that you come here today in such illustrious company, to discuss Maya Potter. Is it not Mr Salvatore?"

"Maya has been living with me since last August."

"So, this meeting is to request that custody of Maya be granted to you Mr Salvatore?" President Quahog asked, quickly putting all the dots together.

"Damon Salvatore already has custody of Maya Potter. He was granted such by the Horde, as is our right."

Both directors and President Quahog opened their mouths to speak, but Aradia beat them to it.

"It's an ancient law, one that had perhaps been forgotten by many in the intervening years since it was passed, but I assure you that it is still quite valid. In the treaty of 217, the Horde was granted the right to intervene in cases of abuse against magical children and assign custody as they saw fit, if they were not satisfied that the magical guardian of the child had said child's best interests in heart. I looked into it myself, the treaty was signed by the International Wixen Council and was never revoked in any of the subsequent treaty's made. When the ICW was formed it did not wipe out any of the laws or treaty's made by it's preceding international body."

Aradia handed over the documentation she had found during her research to Director Picquery.

"To be clear, Mr President, Director's, we are not here to seek permission. Mr Salvatore is Maya Potter's legal guardian in both the magical and muggle world. He was named her godfather by Lady Magic herself and is therefore the most suitable person to be such."

"Then why are you here? Why ask for this meeting? Why insist on such secrecy."

"Vernon Dursley, Petunia Dursley, and Marjorie Dursley were all recently charged with several crimes. The British Minister of Magic and some of the other higher-ups have been making a lot of noise about locating Maya Potter and assigning custody to someone suitable. There is some suspicion that they may bring the case to the ICW's summer meeting. We set-up this meeting to make you aware of the custody arrangement that the Horde made for Maya, so that you wont be blindsided in such an event."

President Quahog was silent for a moment, glancing over the files Ragnuk had brought to the meeting. The ones that documented the abuse in her early child, and the ones that covered the past year, her improving physical health and a signed affidavit from a psychiatrist that she was recovering well mentally.

"Where is Miss Potter now?"

"At school, exams are next week, and she is busy studying for them."

"Registered under an alias, I assume? Else news that the Maya Potter was attending your school would have spread far and wide by now, no doubt."

"We have only recently confirmed that the Horde had the legal right to grant custody of Maya to Damon. Attending school and living under an assumed name kept her safe from being forced to return to Britain, something she is decidedly against. Even with us now making you aware of the arrangement, Maya will continue to keep the name she has chosen. She is happy with her anonymity, and it does a lot to keep her safe from those who would exploit her or cause her harm."

President Quahog sighed.

"Galen?"

"Damon Salvatore was chosen to be Miss Potters godfather by Lady Magic, who are we to argue with her?"

"Hmph, Selene?"

"The law is the law is the law. From a legal standpoint we are bound by the laws and treaty's of the ICW. From looking through these files it is clear to me that Miss Potter has thrived since being placed into Mr Salvatores care. We have no just cause to challenge the Hordes decision."

Quahog inclined his head.

"Agreed. MACUSA will stand by the Hordes actions. We grant the right of American citizenship to Maya Potter to be held in duality with her British citizenship. Should the British Ministry of Magic attempt to challenge our assertions they will not win, and I will personally make Minister Fudge aware of that."

It was like a massive weight had been lifted clear off Damon's shoulders. Despite Aradia and Ragnuk's assertions that the meeting would go exactly as it had, a massive part of Damon had still worried that it would go wrong.