Fate Chapter 62 - Fool Me Twice, a harry potter fanfic

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Chapter 62 is here! Now a couple of things:

1. Many of you were shocked to learn that Ron was abusing his brothers' notes, which took me by surprise. After all, I've made it rather clear throughout the entire story that that is what Ron does. And when he lost his brothers' notes, he went out of his way to find someone else's. If you think that Ron is a cheat of sorts when it comes to his studies, then you're dead right. He's too reliant on other people's knowledge when it comes to Academics, but with time, that'll change. Maybe...

2. My summary said that the story will get darker as it progresses, and I will be staying true to that. So if you are lighthearted, please be cautious going forward. (This Chapter isn't very dark though)

3. We've had a fair few followers join the Story recently, and we're a part of 8 communities now. So to all the newcomers, welcome!

Please Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, and I do not intend to make any money off of this. Harry Potter is the intellectual property of J. K. Rowling , and I take no credit of it whatsoever.

I was also inspired by Demon Eyes Laharl's: THE RED KNIGHT! and also from Random-Fruitcake04's: CHOICES! I hope you check them out as well because they are genuinely very good stories.

Fate

Chapter 62 – Fool Me Twice

Ronald Weasley's POV

Saturday 18th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Near Lunchtime)

These holidays so far had been… odd. For some reason, Ron felt like he was just floating right through them. Especially recently, but maybe that was because he was overwhelmed by the state of the Wizarding World.

He had taken Lady Longbottom's advice and tried to look more into the World around him, but much to his shock, it was harder than he had expected. He had read his father's Daily Prophet issues over the last three days, something that the twins and Ginny made fun of him for, and Ron was surprised to learn that there was no mention of people like Priscilla. Even the Werewolf Legislation, which sounded rather cruel to Ron, was hyped up to be revolutionary by the Daily Prophet. It gave Ron an empty feeling in his stomach when he realized that Lady Longbottom had been right; The World was run by politicians, and only their agendas mattered. People like Priscilla were best left forgotten.

But what did this realization mean for Ron? Nothing… It meant nothing. He was a thirteen year old boy with very limited knowledge on the World. What was he meant to do? What could he do? Nothing… So for the time being, Ron had actively begun to ignore the idea of people like Priscilla existing. When you are unable to understand your opponent's way of thinking, they have you at a disadvantage. Ron had had that lesson drilled into his head by Lord Greengrass, and by his own experiences in Slytherin House. So for now, he'd learn more about how people like the 'Minister' and Umbridge thought about things, and then he'd do something about it down the line. If he could…

And then there was his shady deal in Knockturn Alley, which Marty had pulled off last night. As it turned out, Marty had a knack for these kinds of dealings. But that made sense considering that Lord Greengrass himself had put Marty in charge of his 'Dark dealings' in the first place.

Marty had lied to Gornuk about Ron 'finding a better deal', and so the desperate Goblin had added an extra two thousand Galleons onto his end of the deal just to keep the original bargain. Instead of making eight thousand Galleons, Ron had made ten thousand Galleons. And it was all thanks to Marty's need to serve Ron to the best of his ability. To say that Ron had been pleased with his Elf was an understatement. Ron was ecstatic, and he had nearly crushed Marty to death in a bear hug.

And yet, all of this combined made Ron feel rather… lost. Like he was just going through the motions… Ron had decided that he needed to see Pomfrey again in order to get a gauge on why he was feeling this way, mostly because he hated feeling this way, but also because Pomfrey always gave him good advice about his troubles. She hadn't failed him yet, and he knew for certain that she had his best interests at heart.

"Ronald, are you coming?" Lord Greengrass asked, breaking Ron out of his thoughts.

"Yes, my Lord" Ron replied, getting out of his chair while Lord Greengrass gave him an odd look.

"You have been very… distracted as of late, Ron" Lord Greengrass observed. "Is everything alright?" No… Yes… I don't know…

"Everything is fine" Ron replied, and Lord Greengrass nodded. The boy was lying… again.

"Then come, let's get some food in us before we continue" Lord Greengrass said, leading the way. They walked to the Dining Room in silence, but they both preferred it that way. Lord Greengrass preferred to speak only when he had something to say, whereas Ron wasn't in the mindset to answer questions that he himself didn't have answers for. As they entered the Dining Room, Ron saw that Daphne had saved him a seat by her side. That made Ron feel rather happy for a moment, but he knew that his crush on her was the cause. You sit with her every time you dine here, get a grip. Ron walked over and took his seat, and Daphne tapped her foot against his. I missed you too.

"How is your training going, Ron?" Mary asked, a pleasant smile on her face. It was good to see him return back to normal, she had vowed never to give him another Calming Draught again.

"It's going well, I'm rather confident about the upcoming Tournament" Ron replied, smiling back at her.

"Good man" Lord Greengrass said, fixing a napkin into his shirt.

"I meant your other training" Mary said, and everyone looked to Ron.

"I'm sore, and that's all I'll say about that" Ron chuckled, stretching his back.

"It's a bit… over the top, don't you think?" Daphne gave him a sorry look, she was still astounded with the fact that Ron had to go through such an insane routine. Wasn't his daily training against dummies enough?

"Over the top?" Theo chuckled. "It's outright mental in my opinion. Ron, can't you just tell her to teach you Spells?" So I can teach them to you? That's what I like about Theo. His self-serving nature is consistent. "I mean, she is working for you isn't she?"

"Ahem" Lord Greengrass coughed, making Tori laugh at Theo's sheepish face. "Ron will do as she says. Believe me, she knows what she's doing. And a little hard-work never killed anyone." Tell that to me after I throw up again. "Speaking of which… Astoria, your tutor tells me that you've been neglecting your homework. Explain yourself." Tutor?

"I've been busy" Tori smiled sheepishly, losing her previous humor. Oh damn, she shouldn't have said that. Even Theo gave her a worried look, slowly edging away from her.

"Busy?" Lord Greengrass asked, his cold eyes just staring through her. Awkward. I think I'll play footsies with Daphne instead. Ron tapped Daphne's foot, and she quickly tapped back. And so it begins.

"My French lessons are really hard, and I've been allocating most of my time to them" Tori replied, trying to be as eloquent as possible.

"Odd then that your French tutor is the one who came to me" Lord Greengrass stated, trapping her in her lie. Tori hid her gaze quickly, while Theo's ever growing grin betrayed his amusement. "You will be attending Hogwarts soon… Is this what you plan to show them? That I raised someone who slacks off constantly." Merlin, what happened? He was so calm, and now he's just drilling into her.

"No, father…" Tori mumbled, looking down. Ron looked to Mary, expecting her to jump in and defend Tori, but the look on Mary's face told Ron that this was her idea. Ah, this was pre-planned. Daphne suddenly wrapped her foot around his, tugging at it with a faint smirk. Damn, I let my guard down.

"I expect better from you" Lord Greengrass said, and then he looked to Daphne. Oh shite. Daphne immediately pulled her foot back, giving her father all of her attention. "Daphne, you will monitor your sister's progress from now on. If she slacks off, you will both be punished accordingly." What? How is that fair?

"Yes, father" Daphne nodded, and then she smiled at Tori. "It'll be fun Tori, I promise." And she accepted…

"Good" Lord Greengrass nodded, looking to Theo. Is he just going to tear into everyone? Wait… I'm next, aren't I? "Theodore, any word from your father?" Ron looked to Theo a little too quickly, earning a slightly confused look from the weedy boy. I need to be more subtle next time.

"None so far, my Lord" Theo replied, looking to Lord Greengrass. "Father tends to forget to write, he is getting a bit old."

"Theo…" Mary chuckled, shaking her head slightly.

"Where did you say he went again?" Lord Greengrass asked.

"Denmark, my Lord" Theo replied, and Lord Greengrass nodded slowly. Denmark? Nott had no businesses there… If he did, then Sebastian would know.

"I see…" Lord Greengrass said, looking to Ron. Oh fuck… My turn. "My daughter told me this morning that you are spending the night here tonight, however I don't recall you brining any of your things." What the fuck, Daph? Why would you lie to him? Now I have to lie too.

"I am going to go get them after our work is finished, my Lord" Ron lied, feeling the urge to kick Daphne's shin.

"Good" Lord Greengrass nodded, his eyes darting to Daphne for a second. "You're planning to spend next week here, so you might as well get started early." Can we eat now? Or are you planning to drill into Mary next. Lord Greengrass then looked to Mary. Shite…

Saturday 18th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Near Midnight)

"Marty has not submitted the Galleons into Master's vault yet" Marty told Ron, they were discussing Ron's 'Dark dealings' in his room at the Manor.

"Why?" Ron asked. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing is wrong Master" Marty explained. "It's just that the Goblins are greedy, and untrusting, creatures…" Not a fan? "They would grow suspicious if a large payment is made to a vault without it coming from a business of some sort. Marty still has the chests of Galleons hidden at Hogwarts, Master. Marty will add them in slowly, just to avoid any suspicion."

"I see" Ron nodded, seeing the sense in Marty's words. "Marty, I really don't know what I'd do without you." Marty beamed at that, his eyes welling up. "Don't cry again, please" Ron said quickly, he didn't want a repeat of last night's events.

"Marty lives to serve" Marty bowed deeply instead, holding back a joyous wail.

"So you'll need to keep the key to my vault for the foreseeable future?" Ron asked, rubbing Marty's shoulder lovingly.

"Yes, Master" Marty nodded. "At least for a week or two."

"Take as much time as you need, and be careful" Ron said, smiling in an understanding way. Someone knocked on his door suddenly, and Ron looked to it with a panicked look. It's locked, relax. "Take care, Marty" Ron whispered.

"You too, Master" Marty replied, and then he was gone with a faint popping noise. Ron walked over to the door, unlocked it, and then opened it slightly.

"Can I come in?" Daphne whispered, wearing her silver silk pajamas.

"Sure" Ron replied, keeping his voice civil. He was a little upset with the stunt that she had pulled, especially because his mother was slightly saddened to see him run off again. Daphne stepped into the room and closed the door behind her, locking it immediately.

"Who were you talking to?" Daphne asked.

"Helios" Ron looked to his Eagle-Owl, who Ron had brought along with him. Helios hooted at Daphne, clearly joining in on Ron's lie. "What do you want, Daphne?"

"I didn't tell father that you were staying over" Daphne told him, she really hadn't.

"Really?" Ron cocked an eyebrow, and she took on a haughty stance.

"Yes, Ronald… Really" Daphne replied, her hands on her hips. "I was just as surprised as you were, believe me."

"Why would he lie?" Ron asked, still not buying her story.

"He was testing to see if you would lie on my behalf, I'd wager" Daphne shrugged, her stance relaxing.

"Testing me?"

"Father tends to do that sometimes, you get used to it" Daphne sighed. "He probably wanted to make sure that you had his princess' best interest in mind." She sounded rather pleased with that sentence. Let's knock her down a peg.

"Tori is his princess, you're the babysitter" Ron smirked, and she frowned adorably.

"Don't be a jerk, Ron" Daphne huffed in indignation. "Wait… What if Tori told him that you were staying?"

"Why the hell would she do that?" Ron blinked, and Daphne tapped her chin with a conflicted look.

"Alright, don't tell her this… But she has a mild crush on you" Daphne whispered, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night. Mild crush? Ron coughed out a laugh, looking at Daphne like she was insane. "It's true, so don't laugh at me" Daphne huffed again.

"She has a crush on me?" Ron chuckled, trying to regain his composure. "Why?"

"Ugh… Do you need me to explain everything to you?" Daphne rolled her eyes.

"Yes."

"Wow…" Daphne sighed, rubbing her forehead. Why were boys so idiotic? "She saw your Duel, and her fairytale addled brain told her that you were Prince Charming."

"That's a mean way to put it, Daph" Ron said slowly, he could hear the possessiveness in her voice.

"Sorry…" Daphne sighed again. Why couldn't she control her 'tendencies'? "Look, she hasn't really seen much Magic before… And then you come along and show her how strong you are, and that probably got her really excited to learn Magic. Not to mention that you keep letting her hug you and kiss you…" Daphne's eyes suddenly narrowed on him, and he took a step back. "Why does she get to do that?"

"What?" Ron blinked, watching Daphne's expression darken slightly. Helios, get help!

"Why does she get to hug you and kiss you in public? You shouldn't let her do that" Daphne said, half-jealous and half-scolding.

"She's just a kid, Daph" Ron shuffled his feet.

"You are only two years older than her…" Daphne gave him a deadpan look.

"I think of her like she's one of my sisters" Ron admitted. "And I love my sisters."

"Well, one of your sisters now has a crush on you" Daphne told him, and then they both made a disgusted face at her words. "I'll take that back…"

"Please do…"

"But still… Can you tell her to… stop?" Daphne asked, fidgeting with her hands for a moment. "Please?"

"Daphne, you're asking me to hurt her feelings" Ron said slowly. "You know that, right? If I tell her to stop, then she'll get upset about it. She'll probably wonder if I don't like her affection…" Daphne looked down at that, feeling bitter about Tori getting whatever she wanted… Again. "Daph, are you alright?"

"Do you think I'm crazy?" Daphne asked meekly, still looking at her feet.

"What? Why would I think that?" Ron asked. Where is this coming from? This entire conversation feels really off to me. Why is she really here?

"Theo said it a couple of days ago…" Daphne mumbled, wondering whether or not she really was crazy. She liked Ron, and she wanted to spend a lot of time with him. What was crazy about that? They had fun together, despite their initial dislike of one another. "I know I'm a little… possessive…" A little?! "But I'm working on that…"

"Daphne, I don't think that you're crazy" Ron assured her, though he did think that she could dial it down a bit. "And I don't know why Theo would say that, but…"

"He mentioned that I kept bringing you up in conversations" Daphne cut in, looking up at Ron with a weak smile. "Mother said the same thing, but she didn't call me a 'crazy bint'…"

"Crazy bint?" Ron repeated, he was going to kill Theo tomorrow.

"You're the reason I got that nickname, remember?" Daphne reminded him.

"No… You got that nickname after you tried to strangle me" Ron reminded her.

"After you convinced me that you asked out that air-headed Gryffindor" Daphne frowned.

"Stop, we are veering off topic" Ron said, deciding to kill the upcoming argument in its crib. "It doesn't bother me that you bring me up in conversations, I bring you up too." What Ron didn't know was that Daphne brought him up every fifth sentence or so.

"You do?" Daphne's face lit up, and Ron nodded.

"I do" Ron admitted, he brought her up once a day maybe. Daphne took a step forward, no doubt trying to get a kiss from him. "Are you trying to get something from me, Daphne Greengrass?"

"Yes" Daphne whispered. "We haven't kissed since I visited your house…"

"We are doing that a lot more often now" Ron observed, and her smile faltered. "Not that I'm complaining" Ron quickly amended. "I really enjoy kissing you." Did I just say that? Helios, close your ears.

"It's been a week" Daphne pouted slightly. "You said that you'd come over, but then you just vanished…"

"I had… other things on my mind" Ron whispered, shutting away his memories of Knockturn Alley. "Neville's Gran… My training regimen…"

"So it's alright then" Daphne whispered, putting her arms around his lower back. There it is. She's hugging my upper arse again. Ron put his arm around her, and he gave her a long kiss. His stomach felt floaty, and when he finally pulled back, his head spun for a second. Why does it feel so good?

"Helios is watching us… again…" Ron whispered, and Daphne giggled.

"Then let's leave" Daphne said, letting go of his back and tugging at his gloved hand.

"Leave?" Ron blinked, following her to the door. "Daph, where are we going?"

"The Gardens."

Five Minutes Later

"Daphne, it's the middle of the night" Ron whispered, looking around like he was a thief who had tripped the alarm. They were standing in front of the door that led to the Gardens, and Ron wondered why he had let her talk him into this.

"Everyone is asleep" Daphne smiled slyly.

"You and your rebellious streak…" Ron muttered to himself, scared of getting caught.

"What was that?" Daphne hummed, still holding his right hand. She had held it all the way down here.

"Nothing, I just don't want to get caught" Ron whispered.

"You brought your wand, and you can use Magic" Daphne said as she rocked their hands back and forward, something that Ron thought was too girly for her. "That was smart, Ron." Paranoid is the better word. This is some fucking risky shite.

"Let's be quick" Ron whispered, keen to go back to his room.

"No" Daphne hummed, opening the large door. She missed Ron giving her a shocked look. They walked out to the marble balcony overlooking the Gardens, and Ron was once again amazed at how beautiful they were. "No fairies this time" Daphne whispered with a smile. "They're all asleep."

"No witnesses then" Ron joked, earning another giggle from her. Her laugh is so cute, and truth be told, it's like music to my ears. Especially because she never outright shows her emotions in public. It makes me feel like her laughs are reserved just for me. "Do you want me to cast Lumos?"

"No" Daphne shook her head, pulling him down the steps eagerly. "I want to show you something amazing." Ron nodded as he trailed after her, his eyes falling on their joined hands. Does she mind that she's holding onto my glove? Maybe… Ugh, I wish I had a way to read her mind. "Alright, are you ready?" she asked as they stopped.

"I'm ready" Ron chuckled, amused by her need for theatrics. Daphne slowly took a step forward, and a ball of soft white light floated out of the Earth. "Woah, that's neat!" Ron looked at the ball of light, it seemed to be pulsating.

"Listen" Daphne whispered, and he did as he was told. There was a faint hum coming from the light, like it was singing a melody. "It's Fae-Magic" Daphne explained, while Ron just admired the ball of soft white light. "This is their 'light', and they blessed our Gardens with it. The Fairies that live here are friends with my mother, and they help her keep this place 'alive'. Their Magic is Old Magic…"

"Old Magic?" Ron asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Magic forgotten by our civilization, but not forgotten by the Fae" Daphne replied, her voice soft and smooth. "My mother told me that it was the Fae who first discovered Magic, and it was long before men and women claimed it as their own. When we first discovered it, it was the Fae who taught us how to control it. But they taught us too well, and that was their downfall."

"Wizards and witches betrayed them?" Ron asked, and Daphne nodded with a sad look.

"My father says a quote sometimes, I think he learned it from the Muggle World" Daphne said as she tightened her hold on his hand. "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Fae made our ancestors strong, but their strength corrupted them."

"Why weren't the Fae corrupted?" Ron asked, thinking about power. And of the men and women who held it. The Ministry… The Dark Lord… Dumbledore…

"Mother says that the Fae serve the Earth, and not themselves" Daphne smiled at Ron, she always loved her mother's stories. "Their Magic is born from Love, and so it is pure." Love?

"Is any of this true?"

"Maybe… Maybe not…" Daphne shrugged slightly, still smiling. "All I know is that their Magic is beautiful, and it is only used to create Life. These Gardens wouldn't exist without their blessings. Now… Let's go for a walk." Ron nodded at that, and Daphne began leading the way. They walked silently together for a few minutes, balls of soft white light lighting their way, and Ron no longer cared that Daphne was holding his gloved hand. Eventually, they stepped into one of the gazebos and took a seat.

"This really is a beautiful place" Ron admitted, awed by the lights floating around them. They followed us here. There were around a dozen balls of light hovering around them, their melodies syncing together and becoming more audible.

"Tori and I used to spend hours in here" Daphne told him, scooting closer to him. "We'd play hide and seek in the maze, or try to race one another in order to find out who could find the center first."

"Wouldn't you just memorize the right path?" Ron asked.

"It changes randomly, another one of my mother's Charms" Daphne replied, and then a sudden smile broke out onto her face. "Want to play?"

"Want to play?" he repeated, looking to her with a surprised expression. She's a completely different person when other people are around.

"We can race to see who's faster?" Daphne challenged.

"Daph…" Ron smirked. "I've been running every day since I was eight… Mostly every day, anyway."

"True, but I've got the home-field advantage" Daphne smirked, standing up and pulling him out of his seat.

"A Quidditch reference?" Ron blinked, letting her drag him out of the gazebo.

"It'll be fun, I promise!"

Twenty Minutes Later

Ron didn't know what Daphne had been thinking when she had challenged him to a race, but he didn't really care once they took off. He left her in his dust within seconds, and he found the center within fifteen minutes. Daphne was still nowhere to be found, and Ron was beginning to worry. He didn't want her to get lost in the maze, especially at night. The little balls of light had of course followed them, but within the maze, they didn't seem to do much except for lighting a foot or two ahead of you. Two more minutes, and then I'll head out to find her.

"No…" came an upset voice from behind him, and Ron turned to see Daphne run into the center.

"Thank Merlin, I thought that you got lost" Ron breathed out, eyeing her slightly ruffled hair. She was out of breath, and her pajamas were slightly crinkled.

"How long did it take you?" Daphne asked, a miserable pout on her face. She hated losing, especially in something that she was confident in.

"Around fifteen minutes, give or take" Ron shrugged, walking over to her. The center of the maze was larger than he had expected, and it had a grand fountain in its center. A mermaid made of solid gold sat on top of the fountain, and she was currently dozing off instead of playing the harp in her hands.

"Did you use Magic?" Daphne asked.

"No" Ron chuckled. "I'm just quick."

"Well… Congratulations…" Daphne said in a deadpan voice, clearly annoyed with losing. Ron didn't really mind her attitude, he himself despised losing. So instead of gloating, he decided to try and smooth out her hair. He didn't know why he was so alright with doing so, and judging by Daphne's sudden blush, she didn't seem to mind at all. The moment he finished, Daphne took his gloved hand in hers. She really likes holding my hand, doesn't she?

"Want to sit by the fountain?" Ron asked, and she nodded with a weak smile. As they took their seat, Daphne held his hand in her lap. "How long did it take your mother to create this maze?"

"A year or so" Daphne replied, fidgeting with his hand. "Once the Fairies moved in, they began to take over. Mother didn't mind, she was simply overjoyed to have them here."

"I would be too" Ron admitted, looking at the balls of light again. They seem happy, but maybe I'm just imagining that.

"You should spend more time with us in the Gardens" Daphne suggested, eyeing his glove. She wanted to take it off, but she was scared of how he would react. "Theo loves it here, and he tends to be much happier around the flowers and trees."

"I'll try and do that" Ron replied, remembering how he had to work himself to the bone while his friends played around. Feeling like that stung him, it made him feel like he was missing out simply because of his visions. I know that if I start taking breaks, then I'll just feel guilty instead of happy. Damn the Entity, and damn this 'She'…

"Hmmm" Daphne hummed her response, deciding to pull at the glove slightly.

The moment she did that however, a jolt of panic ran throughout Ron's body, and he ripped his hand away from her. His face contorted with rage as he glared at her like a cornered beast, and Daphne froze from fear. They just stared at each for a couple of seconds, with Ron trying to regain his senses and Daphne trying to stop her bottom lip from quivering. Ron quickly realized that he had scared her terribly, and that made him feel like a piece of shite. What was she trying to do?

"I'm sorry…" Daphne managed, her voice meek. Fucking hell Ron, you bloody arsehole.

"Sorry…" Ron apologized as well, his voice hard and slightly panicked. They both just sat there for a minute, awkwardness creeping in to fill the silence. "What were you trying to do?" Ron asked suddenly, controlling his voice in order to sound calmer than he was. His stomach had tightened horribly, and it wasn't relaxing no matter how hard he tried.

"I wanted to see your hand…" Daphne replied, still not looking at him.

"Then why not just ask me?" Ron asked, and Daphne shrunk a little in size. Calm down, Ron. You're fucking scaring her even more. Ron slowly took off his glove, and he hovered his hand in between them. It made him feel… exposed, and he didn't like that one bit. Daphne looked at his damaged hand, and she slowly took it in hers.

"It's alright" she whispered the moment he tensed up. She didn't know what she doing, truth be told, but she knew that she wanted to show him that he had nothing to worry about. She'd never judge his scars, they weren't his fault. Ron on the other hand, was completely tensed up. He wanted to put his glove back on, but she clearly wanted to hold his disgusting hand.

"Daphne, you can hold my left hand if you don't like holding onto my glove" Ron told her, shooting her a quick look. She was just staring at his burn scars, turning his hand up and down in order to study the scars in more detail.

"Do you remember last Christmas? When you showed me all of your scars?" Daphne asked, looking back at him.

"I remember…" Ron's face flushed slightly, he was getting hot under the collar. If she asks me to show her again, I'm simply not going to. I don't like looking at them myself, and I don't want her to see them either.

"Can I see them again?" Daphne whispered.

"No" Ron declined, looking ahead instead of at her.

"You showed them to all of us" Daphne reminded him gently.

"I did that to wake you lot up" Ron told her. "Daphne, I'm not showing you my scars."

"Alright…" Daphne nodded, though he could hear that she was disappointed. She's still holding my hand.

"Don't they disgust you?" Ron asked, sounding like a kicked puppy all of sudden. "Don't lie please…"

"They don't disgust me, but they do scare me a little" she admitted, instantly regretting not lying because of Ron's face falling.

"That's fair…" Ron muttered, closing himself off. Daphne mentally slapped herself in the face, looking back down at his scarred hand. An odd idea popped into her mind, and before she knew it, she pulled his hand to her face and kissed his scar. Ron was taken by surprise, and a shudder passed through him because of how unpleasant that had felt.

"Did that bother you?" Daphne asked, seeing his wary look.

"Yes, please don't do that again" Ron replied, and she nodded.

"Alright, I won't do that again" Daphne agreed, deciding that she'd only do it if he gave her permission. It hadn't really bothered her to kiss his burn scar, despite the fact that his scars were bumpy yet oddly soft.

"It's getting late, we should head back" Ron suggested, eager to call it a night. My scars ruined the night…

"I'm sorry if I ruined the mood" Daphne apologized genuinely, mentally berating herself for being an idiot. What was she thinking? That he'd just let her see them again? Why did she even want to see them? Daphne sorely wished that there was a book out there that could explain to her what was going on in her head.

"You didn't ruin anything" Ron forced on a smile for her sake, and then they both stood up. "I had great time Daphne, I swear."

Sunday 19th July, 1993 (Madam Roberts' Suitcase – Near Midday)

The baton hit his back with a sickening smacking sound, and Ron released a muffled cry of pain as his face hit the dirt. This was his second baton hit of the day, the first one being on his right forearm. Ron had managed to acquire two warnings right from the get-go, one for eating sweets and one for lying about it. Madam Roberts had an eye for the truth, and she had immediately realized that he was lying to her. As for his third warning, that was given out because he was distracted. His late night stroll with Daphne kept popping up into his mind, especially the fact that it ended so abruptly.

"Get up" Madam Roberts ordered, and Ron did so with shaky hands. There were tears in his eyes because of the pain that was crawling throughout his body, but they were also there because being struck filled him with an odd sense of shame and failure. The weaker part of him was begging him to leave, to simply quit and find a new tutor. How was it fair that he had to suffer while children his age got to enjoy Gardens and sleepovers? Even Harry, who is apparently the key to defeating the Dark Lord, is currently living it up with Sirius. But me… I'm getting beaten around.

"Get up" Madam Roberts ordered again, dragging him up to his feet with surprising strength. "One more plank, and then one more set of shoulder presses. Now!" He was on his last two exercises, but his body was fighting him every step of the way. Ron swallowed thickly, deciding to ask her for a small break. I just need a minute, my entire body feels like it's on fire.

"Can I take just one minute off? Please?" Ron asked as he averted his gaze, his voice cracking slightly. Looking away had been a mistake, mostly because he didn't see the baton coming down on his right thigh. Pain shot up into his brain, and Ron grit his teeth as he did his best to not fall back down. Unfortunately, his body betrayed him once again, he toppled over with a meek sob.

"Take a minute then" Madam Roberts said coldly, watching him with slight disgust. Why had he even bothered hiring her if he wasn't willing to push himself? He was wasting her time, and his own. "And then you will finish your Circuit, do you hear me?"

"I do" Ron muttered, his voice wet because of his need to cry. I hate this bitch so much!

Thirty Minutes Later

Ron had once again gotten stiff during her Healing Therapy, but this time, his pain mixed in with his embarrassment had made him start crying. Madam Roberts had threated to hit him again if he didn't stop mewling, her reasoning being that 'Champions didn't cry because of hard-work'. But it wasn't the prospect of hard-work that had made him cry, it was just how horrible he had felt in that moment. He was in genuine pain, he was as hard as a rock, and Madam Roberts' cold demeanor had all overwhelmed him. And deep down, he was bitter that his friends weren't suffering like he was. That had been the thing that broke him, the fact that he was such a terrible person for wishing for such a thing.

Madam Roberts had also refused to heal his bruises, they would 'serve as a reminder' that she wouldn't put up with any signs of weakness. And to take things further, she had told him that she would check for them next Sunday, and if he had had them healed, then that would be a warning. After that, she had sent him to take a cold shower. By the time Ron was finished, he genuinely hated his life once again. If it wasn't the Entity torturing him, it was this cold witch. He thought about telling her of his brain-damage and Chronic Stress, but he genuinely feared that she would think that he was making excuses.

"Make sure that you don't eat sweets, and make sure to keep doing your Circuit Training" she told him, his defiant yet weak behavior today had thoroughly put her off. If he didn't get his act together in the next three months, then she would gladly wash her hands of him. She already had enough idiots to train, she didn't need another one.

"I understand" Ron replied, touching his bruised right forearm with his left hand. He had looked his bruises over in the shower; one was on his right forearm, one was on his lower back, and one was on his right thigh. The one on his forearm hurt the most, and it had already begun to swell and go purple.

"Good, then we're done for the day" Madam Roberts said, turning around and making her way out. Ron followed her quietly, deciding to keep his injuries to himself. If he told his family, or even Lord Greengrass, he knew that they would fire Madam Roberts immediately. Though that doesn't sound so bad right now. The only reason he didn't plan to tell anyone was because he still held out some hope that she'd start teaching him how to Duel soon. They climbed out of the suitcase, and Ron was glad to see that the Living Room was empty.

"Make sure you eat a large, balanced meal Mr. Weasley" Madam Roberts told him, packing up her suitcase.

"I will" Ron nodded, watching her leave. She stopped at the fireplace, shooting one last look at him. For a moment, Ron thought he saw weariness on her face, but it was gone as quick as it came.

"I will see you next Sunday" Madam Roberts said, looking away from the boy. Had she been too hard on him? Maybe… She definitely didn't enjoy hitting him, or seeing him cry meekly to himself as she had healed his muscles. But pain was the price for strength, she knew that all too well. So she steeled her resolve once again. She had stopped second guessing herself a long time ago, and she didn't plan to start that again anytime soon. Doubt was Death. And without pain, how could weakness be purged?

Madam Roberts flooed away to the Ministry, and Ron relaxed considerably. He touched his right forearm once again, wincing slightly as pain shot up his arm. He then walked over to the Dining Room, hoping to find Mary so that she could summon food for him. He was hungry, cold, and in pain. I will never look forward to Sundays again, I just know it.

As he moved into the Dining Room, he found it empty as well. Where the hell are they? Ron walked over to his usual seat, and he rang the bell. Please let it work. Much to his relief, a lot of food appeared on the dining table. Ron made himself a big plate, one filled with vegetables, and he dug right in. Maybe a full stomach would make him forget how miserable his day had been so far.

Twenty Minutes Later

"Young Master Weasley called for Spinny?" the Elf asked, giving him a deep bow.

"I did" Ron replied, starting his third plate. "Spinny, where is everyone?"

"Master and Mistress Greengrass have left for urgent business" Spinny replied. "Lady Daphne is entertaining her guests in the Gardens, along with Lady Astoria." Guests? Not just Theo?

"Thank you, Spinny" Ron nodded slowly. "Before you leave, do you have today's copy of the Daily Prophet?"

"Spinny will look in Master Greengrass' study for one" Spinny replied, disapperating with a soft pop. Ron went back to his meal, wondering who Daphne's guests were. Probably our friends. The sleepover starts tomorrow, but they probably just came down early. Spinny suddenly popped back into the room, Sunday's Daily Prophet in her hands. "Here you are, Young Master Weasley" Spinny said as Ron took the paper.

"Thank you, Spinny" Ron smiled gratefully, and she disapparated after bowing deeply. Ron looked to the paper, deciding to read as he ate. Show me how the World works. It took one word on the front page to make Ron drop his fork; Albania.

FOREST RITUAL RESULTS IN MASS DESTRUCTION

Last Friday night, an inferno of destruction was unleashed upon the Forests of Albania. There are hundreds of different accounts, but they all state one thing; the inferno was created using Fiendfyre, also known as The Cursed Flames Curse.

Local Magical residents were forced to intervene in order to keep their homes, and lives, intact. However, the Forests have been destroyed beyond repair. This unfortunate event has left the Wizarding World at risk of being discovered, and the Albanian Minister of Magic has dubbed it as 'The Worst Magical Calamity to have ever taken place in Albania'.

Albanian Ministry Officials are working hand-in-hand with Muggle Albanian Officials to keep things from escalating, yet this reporter has confirmation that another Muggle-Wizard War is brewing. The Muggle Albanian 'Prime Minister' is currently in talks with the Albanian Minister of Magic, Agron Shala, and they hope to reach a compromise. But this reporter doesn't think that such a thing is possible.

The International Confederation of Wizards is traveling to Albania later this week to try and make peace with the Muggle Prime Minister's lackeys, with The Supreme Mugwump, Albus Dumbledore, taking over the talks. But is Albus Dumbledore the best wizard for the job? In this reporter's humble opinion, he is not.

Albus Dumbledore's love for Muggle-Wizard Unity is well-known, as is his easy temperament, which makes this reporter doubt that he will have the Albanian Ministry's best interests at heart. Minister Cornelius Fudge will also be travelling to Albania later this week, no doubt planning to put the issue to bed.

As for how the inferno started, there are hundreds of different accounts. But only one of these tales seems to hold any truth to it. And that tale has Xenophilius Lovegood at its center. The notorious Author, and Editor, of the Quibbler, a magazine riddled with mad conspiracy theories, was picked up by the Albanian Ministry and locked away for questioning.

The Albanian Minister heard Mr. Lovegood's tale, and then called in folks from local Magical settlements in order to get a clearer picture of the night's events. This reporter has learned that over three hundred Wizards and Witches answered the call, all of them claiming that Xenophilius Lovegood banded them together to fight the Cursed Flames, despite their initial desires to run away.

Inside sources claim that after interrogating Mr. Lovegood, the Albanian Ministry was shocked to learn that there was a Cult of Fanatics who were sacrificing Unicorns in order to achieve immortality. Mr. Lovegood stumbled upon this Cult when he was traveling through the Albanian Forests, and when he tried to stop them, an Acolyte of the Cult unleashed the Fiendfyre.

Now this all sounds laughable at best, does it not? And who could blame you, the readers, if you thought so. Xenophilius Lovegood's imagination is well-known to any who have read his works, and yet, many of the locals confirmed that Unicorns were indeed slain in 'ritualistic ways'. What's even more shocking is that the locals attempted to make the Albanian Ministry aware of this weeks before the inferno came for their homes, yet their words fell on deaf ears.

So who is to blame for this 'Calamity'? The Cult of Fanatics? The Albanian Ministry itself? Xenophilius Lovegood, who chose to intervene himself rather than warn the Albanian Ministry? This reporter will let you decide for yourself, but if you're intelligent, you'll blame all three parties.

The Daily Prophet,

Rita Skeeter.

Ron put the paper down with shaky hands, his body breaking out in a cold sweat. Xenophilius… Ron was lost for words. Truly lost. But he did know one thing for certain; there was no fucking Cult of Fanatics. If there were Unicorn deaths in the area, then the Dark Lord was involved. Firenze's voice echoed in his mind, and Ron shuddered as remembered the night he ran into the Dark Lord in the Forbidden Forest. Dumbledore! He was there too! He had to be!

Ron grabbed the paper and left the Dining Room, his pace speeding up by the second. Xenophilius… Xenophilius… The walls were closing in as he thought of the man, and Ron broke out in a run. The moment he got to the nearest fireplace, he took a pinch of floo-powder, and hurled it into the flames.

"Severus Snape's Office, Hogwarts" Ron called, his voice shaking with panic and worry.

Severus Snape's POV

Sunday 19th July, 1993 (Dumbledore's Office – Past Midday)

Severus stood in his usual dark corner, watching Minerva and Pomona tear Albus into shreds. The Headmaster of Hogwarts had returned late last night, battle-weary and carrying a baby Fawkes in his hands. Albus had found what he was looking for, and unfortunately, he had lost it soon after. The Dark Lord was once again in the wind, and this time, they had no idea about where he could have gone.

But the Dark Lord's disappearances wasn't the only problem. No… The real problem was that their Duel had burned down the majority of the Albanian Forests, destroying any and all life in there. Unicorns, Fairies, and countless other Magical and Non-Magical creatures were killed. This had turned Pomona into a banshee, and Albus' recklessness had turned Minerva into a banshee.

So here they were, the Headmaster and his Heads of Houses, trying to figure out how it all went to shite. Snape waited patiently for Pomona and Minerva to finish, he'd get his hits in later, while Filius hand fed a baby Fawkes. Albus just sat there, haggard and pale. He hadn't slept last night, instead he had paced his Office all night and raved about how 'Tom needed to be stopped'. Whatever Albus saw in those woods, it had shaken him. That alone scared Snape, and it scared the others too, he could see it.

In the back of Snape's mind, he could already see the ramifications of Albus' Duel with the Dark Lord. For one, Albania might soon be turned into a war-zone. The Statute of Secrecy was hanging on by a thread, and Muggle Prime Minister of Albania was rightfully outraged. Agron Shala, the Albanian Minister of Magic, was doing his best to keep things from escalating, but his own people were losing faith in him already. If a Muggle-Wizard war broke out, then the Dark Lord's return would be the end of them all.

Secondly, Albus had done something incredibly foolish when he had decided to utilize Xenophilius Lovegood's tracking skills. Now a British Magical Citizen was stuck in Albania, no doubt being 'interrogated' by the Albanian Aurors Division. Snape personally didn't give a damn about Lovegood, but a certain red-haired boy did. Ronald would no doubt be here soon, which is why Snape had warded his Office to alert him if the boy did come. Albus and Snape had promised Ronald that they would never endanger his family and friends, and Albus had broken that promise in less than two months. This will haunt us, I just know it.

"So You-Know-Who cast the Fiendfyre?" Filius asked, scratching baby Fawkes' naked chest.

"He did" Albus replied, rubbing his forehead.

"You could have died, Albus!" Minerva snapped, sounding like a broken record. "What was the point of this?!"

"I was attempting to capture him" Albus replied, showing them his Deluminator. "I enhanced it in order to hold Tom's wraith-like form, but I failed to use it."

"You had to save Xenophilius Lovegood?" Snape asked, and Albus nodded. "Great choice…"

"Severus!" Minerva gasped, while Pomona frowned deeply at him.

"Now the Dark Lord has vanished, and an entire Forest is burned to ash" Snape stared at Albus, he wanted to strike the old man. "A Muggle-Wizard war looms over Albania's people, a war that will no doubt reach the rest of Europe. Well done, Headmaster… Well done…" Albus looked down at the table, hiding his gaze for the first time in a long time. Damn your foolishness, Albus. You acted like Ronald's words didn't affect you, but then you do this?

They all fell into a silence, Snape's words were true enough to jar them all. Pomona sat down, pale as a sheet of paper. Minerva began pacing again, occasionally glaring at Albus. Filius turned his attention to nurturing Fawkes, no doubt trying to distract himself. Albus just stared at his Deluminator, still reeling from his mistakes. And Snape… Snape felt a shudder pass through him. Ronald is here.

"I'll be in my lab" Snape told them, heading for the door.

"Severus…" Minerva looked at him with a shocked look. "We need to talk about this…"

"Then you can talk, I myself have better things to do than to berate him" Snape said coldly, not breaking his stride. I can't let any of them see Ronald, they will grow suspicious. "Do not disturb me." Snape exited the Office, walked down the steps, and then began making his way to the Dungeons with haste. I need to cut him off before he gets anywhere near the seventh floor. It wasn't too difficult to find Ronald, the red-head ran straight into Snape on the Moving Staircases.

"Mr. Weas… Ron, come with me" Snape said, stepping into Ron's way. Ron stopped, and Snape could see the panic on his features. The boy was sweating, pale, and he was clutching a copy of the Daily Prophet in his trembling hands.

"Is he here? The Headmaster?" Ron asked, his voice shaky and quick.

"He is inside his Office…" Snape started, and Ron tried to walk past him. Snape grabbed his right forearm to stop him, but the boy howled in pain, causing Snape to jump a little and let go immediately. Ron's face contorted from pain as he held his right forearm, while Snape just blinked at him. What was that? "Ron… Are you hurt?"

"No…" Ron lied, his voice betraying his pain. "Please, I need to see the Headmaster… Xeno… They have him locked up in Albania… I just need to know what happened out there…"

"Come with me, and I will inform you" Snape said, trying to be gentle. "The Headmaster is speaking with the other Heads of Houses. We cannot let them see you, do you understand?" Ron looked towards the seventh floor with a look of longing, and then he nodded at Snape. "Come…" Snape said, not touching Ron this time.

They both walked down in silence, and much to Snape's annoyance, he could hear the boy fidgeting in panic. Ron was muttering to himself, crinkling the Daily Prophet in his hands, and dragging his feet all at the same time. It put Snape's teeth on edge, but he didn't say anything about it. The boy's Chronic Stress was no doubt at an all-time high, with his… whatever Lovegood was to him… in Albanian custody, so Snape knew not to antagonize him right now. How do I even tell him of what happened? I can't lie to him, Albus plans to tell him the truth anyway. As if his noble intentions even matter now. He broke his promise to the boy, and that will cause us a great amount of problems.

"Take a seat, Ron" Snape said as they entered his Office, and Ron did as he was told while Snape shut the door.

"Sir, please tell me what happened" Ron requested, still sounding panicked. Snape began preparing his personal Calming Tonic, his back facing Ron.

"Albus ran into the Dark Lord…" Snape sighed, deciding to come clean for the old man. I need to try and minimize the damage. We need the boy's power, now more than ever. "They fought one another, and at the end of their Duel, the Dark Lord burned the entire Forest down in order to escape."

"Single-handedly?" Ron muttered, and Snape turned to see Ron staring at him with wide-eyes.

"Yes" Snape nodded, handing Ron the Calming Tonic. "Drink." Ron took the glass, and downed it in one go. Good, now he'll be a little calmer.

"This paper…" Ron said, ringing it in his hands. "It says that Xeno was there… They have him locked up, Sir. What happened in Albania?"

"First, you will show me your right forearm" Snape ordered, looking right into Ron's eyes.

"Sir, please just…"

"Now, Ronald" Snape said, his voice coming out in a cold whisper. Ron stared at him for a few seconds, and then he slowly pulled up his sleeve. Snape looked at the bruise with a slight frown, wondering where he had gotten such an injury. "Who did this to you?"

"It doesn't matter" Ron mumbled, his eyes going back to the paper. It doesn't matter? Was it the Entity?

"Was it… the Entity?" Snape asked, and Ron looked back to him with an odd look. Snape really didn't want to bring that monster up, especially because he had learned his lesson. He did not want to send Ron into a panic, not again.

"Yes…"

"I see" Snape nodded curtly, feeling sorry for Ron once again. "Let me heal that…"

"No, it warned me not to" Ron said quickly, pulling down his sleeve. "Just don't…" Snape blinked at Ron, his stomach dropping slightly. It warned him not to get help? Disgusting Demon. "Please just tell me what happened in Albania, that's all I want."

"Very well" Snape responded, walking over to his chair. "Albus ran into Lovegood in a Magical settlement near the Forests. Lovegood was looking into the alleged deaths of the Unicorns in the area…"

"He was?" Ron blinked, clearly this was news to the boy.

"He was" Snape replied. "Albus and Lovegood began traveling together…"

"Why? The Headmaster knew that the Dark Lord was out there" Ron interrupted again, and Snape frowned internally for not giving the boy a stronger dose. "The Headmaster promised me that he wouldn't endanger my family… That was our deal, remember?"

"I remember" Snape nodded slowly. "But Albus needed a tracker, and Lovegood offered to help."

"Offered to help?" Ron blinked, reeling from the fact that Dumbledore had broken his promise in less than two months. "So Xeno knew that the Dark Lord was in the Forest?"

"He… did not" Snape replied, watching Ron go pale. Damn. "Albus did not tell him, and since Albus was under the effects of the Polyjuice Potion, Lovegood didn't even know that it was Albus who he was traveling with."

"He tricked Xeno?" Ron muttered, his bottom lip quivering.

"It's more complicated than that" Snape tried, he really didn't know how to do this. What can I say to undo Albus' mistake? If I lie to the boy, and then Albus tells him the truth, he will never trust either of us.

"How?" Ron asked, looking back down at the paper. Snape felt the need to take that damn Daily Prophet issue away from Ron, mostly because it was making the boy's stress spiral out of control.

"The Dark Lord was hidden too well" Snape started, and Ron looked back up with a flushed face. He's hurting? "Albus couldn't even find a trail to follow before Lovegood joined him, he never intended to put Lovegood into any danger."

"He had him tracking the Dark Lord" Ron stared at Snape like he was insane. "How is that not putting Xeno's life in danger? Xeno could have died!"

"Ron, calm yourself."

"No… Pandora is pregnant with their child, and Dumbledore nearly got Xeno killed!" Ron stated, he was starting to shake with anger. Pregnant? Merlin, did Albus know of this? "I need to…" Ron started again, but Snape's fireplace blazed to life. They both looked to see Albus enter, his eyes immediately going to Ron.

"Ronald" Albus greeted, not at all surprised to see that Ronald was here.

"Headmaster…" Ron blinked, and then he shot out of his chair. "Headmaster, what happened in Albania?" Ron asked, his voice pleading. Albus looked to Snape, who simply sighed in defeat. The damage is done. Well done, Albus.

"I faced Lord Voldemort" Albus replied, and Ron flinched at the name.

"Xeno? Was he there?" Ron asked, hoping to Merlin that Dumbledore hadn't broken his word.

"He was by my side" Albus admitted, and Ron took a step back. The look on the boy's face made even Snape flinch slightly. Ron looked utterly betrayed, and truly hurt.

"Why?" Ron asked, his voice cracking slightly.

"He was helping me track Unicorn movements" Albus replied, his voice gentle and regretful.

"He didn't know of the Dark Lord, did he?" Ron asked, and Albus shook his head. "How could you do this?"

"Ronald…" Albus went to put his hand on the boy's shoulder, but Ron recoiled away from him.

"Pandora is pregnant, and you put his life in danger" Ron accused, his hands trembling again.

"I know" Albus admitted, looking a hundred years older. He knew. Even Snape was left feeling cold by that. Ron's eyes became bloodshot because of unshed tears, and he looked at Albus with a fearful look. Like he couldn't even recognize the man in front of him.

"This paper is talking about some Cult…" Ron muttered, showing Albus the crushed paper with trembling hands. "There's no mention of you being there…"

"I had to hide the truth…" Albus looked at the paper with tired eyes. "I altered his memories to avoid mass panic…" Ron just sniffled as he looked down at his feet, he was having trouble even thinking at this point. He had been betrayed… again. And this time it was by a man that Ron had once worshiped.

"You promised me…" Ron sniffled, completely crushing the paper in his hands. "We had a deal… I told you everything… I risked dying at the hands of this thing!" Ron suddenly yelled, hitting his own head multiple times. Snape and Albus both flinched at that, and Snape found himself just staring at Albus. He wanted to step in and stop this, to calm the boy down before he hurt himself. But at the same time, he wanted Albus to pay for his foolishness. "It was right…" Ron sobbed meekly. "I should never have trusted you… Xeno nearly died because of me… Because I didn't fucking listen…"

At that, the boy walked right past Albus, who didn't even try to stop him, and he flooed back to Greengrass Manor. We just lost him… There was a heavy silence in the room, with Snape just staring at Albus who was looking at where Ron had been with a regretful look. Did Snape agree with Albus' choice to Obliviate Lovegood? He did. But he could also understand Ron's pain. Albus should have never gotten Lovegood involved in the first place. Better yet, he should have never run off to Albania.

"I think we've lost him, Severus" Albus whispered, still looking at where Ron had been.

"You lost him" Snape corrected coldly, and Albus nodded once. "We need to plan our next move."

"Our next move?" Albus asked, looking to Snape. Yes, time is of the essence.

"We can sit around and point fingers, which would all fall on you by the way, or we can take action" Snape replied. "Nott is still looking for the Dark Lord, who is now in the wind, and we might be facing a Muggle-Wizard war soon. There are fires all around us, and if we don't start putting them out, we'll burn."

"You are right" Albus responded, looking utterly spent. "What about Ronald?"

"What about him?" Snape asked in return, and Albus blinked at him. "I found a large bruise on his right arm just now… He probably has more on him. It gave them to him, and it warned him not to get them healed." Albus went slightly pale at that, looking back to where Ron had been.

"I've done something terrible…" Albus said, talking to himself. Snape felt his blood boil at that, if there was one thing he hated, it was people who complained about their regrets openly.

"You did" Snape hissed. "When he came to us, you closed yourself away for a month. I constantly tried to reach out to you, but you kept telling me that you had come to terms with our… Cycles of failure. But in truth, you were driven into a panic. And now, here we are… With Wizarding Europe facing its first Muggle-Wizard war in centuries. The Dark Lord missing. Ronald's power lost to us. And with you leaving the country for the foreseeable future." There was another minute of silence between them, and Snape used it to calm himself down. We need to prepare for so much, and we are quickly running out of time.

"Albus…" Snape broke the silence, and Albus looked to him. "We have to start preparing. Four-hundred and sixty three failed Cycles… We can't fail again… We must act." Albus nodded, and then he took a seat.

"During your time in Tom's camp, did he ever mention any place in particular?"

Sirius Black's POV

Sunday 19th July, 1993 (Albanian Ministry – Mid Afternoon)

This had been the most hectic day in Sirius' recent memory. His morning had started off with him finding a witch in his bed, her bare arse free for everyone's viewing. Sirius had immediately covered her, and then he had prayed to Merlin that Harry hadn't walked into his room at some point. That prayer had gone unanswered, which he learned the moment he came down for some breakfast. He had found his Godson eating his toast with a bright blush on his face, while Remus was glaring at Sirius with utter disappointment.

And then to make matters worse, the witch had come down with a happy smile on her face. Harry had turned beet-red the moment he had laid eyes on her, while she just smiled at him in a knowing manner. It was clear to Sirius that Harry had ended up getting caught, and knowing his Godson, it was probably because he had slammed the door shut in utter panic. Breakfast had been a silent affair, with Sirius looking anywhere but at Remus. The witch had then departed, she knew that this was a one night stand, and that had turned Remus feral.

After being called every terrible word in the book, Sirius had decided to talk to his Godson. Just so he could clear things up. But that was interrupted by Remus, who was now in complete panic. Remus had sent Harry off to Neville's, much to the boy's shock, and then proceeded to read Sirius the day's Daily Prophet. That's when all hell broke loose.

Before Sirius even knew it, he was inside the Burrow. Pandora had gone into some teary trance, just sitting there with tears all over her face. Molly was doing her best to keep Pandora from breaking down even more. Arthur had already left for the Ministry, no doubt trying to find out more about Xeno. The children, including Luna, were confined to upstairs, mostly for their own benefit. And while Sirius and Remus talked about going to Albania in order to see Xeno, two more people had arrived.

Sebastian and Mary had come to see Pandora, probably at Mary's insistence, and while Mary joined Molly in keeping Pandora on the side of sanity, Sebastian had joined Remus and Sirius. Remus mentioned their plan to go to the Albanian Ministry, and Sebastian had mentioned that he knew a guy who could get them a Portkey to Albania within an hour or so. Pandora had overheard them, and then begged them to help her get her husband back. That was enough for Sirius and Remus to go into action, and they dragged Sebastian to the Ministry with them. Mary had decided to join them, and Sirius knew that it was because she wanted Sebastian to help them.

They had met with some shady transport agent, who told them to wait for an hour while he prepared the Portkey and did the paperwork. Sebastian had even bribed the man to hurry up. Remus had found Arthur during that time, who had learned nothing about Xeno's situation. Once the Portkey was ready, they had come up with a 'team' that would retrieve Xeno. Sirius, Sebastian, Mary, and Remus would go to Albania, while Arthur went back home to keep an eye on Pandora and Luna. And now, here they were.

"It's worse than I imagined" Mary said, watching the entire Albanian Ministry workforce rushing from point to point.

"I can't even imagine the pressure all of these people have on them right now" Remus sighed.

"Fuck them, let's go find Xeno and bring him home" Sirius said as he started walking. His companions followed him, but none of them got very far.

"State your business" a fat Official stopped them, his bald head shining because of the lighting.

"We are friends of Xenophilius Lovegood, and we wish to see him" Sebastian answered, stepping forward.

"You wish to see him?" the bald Official blinked, and then he let out a hearty chuckle. Fucking prick! Sirius had to bite his tongue in order to stop himself from cussing at the man.

"That is what I said" Sebastian replied, his dead gaze looking right through the fat man. The Official stopped laughing immediately, clearing his throat with a guarded look.

"You can't do that" the Official told them.

"What do you mean by 'we can't do that'?" Sirius snarled, and he felt Remus nudge him. Bald cunt.

"He is currently being investigated, and is therefore under our custody" the Official told them. "No visitors."

"Please" Mary pleaded softly, her eyes tearing up. "His wife is with child, and she could lose the baby because of shock. Please let us see him for a moment, just so we can tell her that he's safe." The Official shuffled in his spot, looking to Mary with a conflicted look.

"There is a waiting area on the second floor, the lift will take you there" the Official sighed. "I'll go and talk to the Head of the Auror Department."

"Thank you" Mary gave a shaky smile, and the Official nodded curtly before walking off.

"Nicely done" Sebastian smirked, and Mary cleared her eyes.

"Let's go and wait" Mary said, and both Greengrasses began leaving for the lifts. Remus and Sirius exchanged looks, what the fuck had just happened? Bloody snakes. Not that I'm complaining. Remus and Sirius followed after them, with Remus praising Mary for her great acting skills. Sirius, on the other hand, was looking around them.

There wasn't a single person who wasn't running around. People were shouting over one another, exchanging papers, and then running off again. They clearly had some sort of system in place, but Sirius wasn't sure that it would be enough. From what he and Remus had read, an entire fucking Forest had burned down because of some psycho Cult. And Xeno was in the middle of it all. That thought fucking terrified Sirius, mostly because he knew what prisons were like. And a man like Xeno would not survive long in such a place. As soon as they entered the lift, Remus pressed the button for the second floor.

"What do we do if they don't let us see him?" Remus asked.

"We're seeing him, and that's that" Sirius said firmly.

"Don't be an idiot, Black" Sebastian said coldly, and Sirius shot him a glare. "If we start making trouble, we'll cause more problems for Lovegood. For the time being, we need to wait patiently."

"My husband is right" Mary chimed in, her voice was much more understanding. "Right now, our only goal should be to appeal to these people. They are clearly panicking, and they are most definitely not in the mood to entertain foreigners. Think of what Pandora needs, Sirius. If you lose your temper, we could lose the chance to see Xenophilius." She's right… I need to stay level-headed.

"And if appealing to them doesn't work?" Sirius asked, keeping his voice in check.

"Then we will figure something else out" Mary assured him, and then she looked to her husband. Sebastian simply nodded, not even looking to her. What was that? Do they have some telepathic link? The lift opened, and they all stepped out and walked to the waiting area. So now we just wait. Great…

Sunday 19th July, 1993 (Albanian Ministry – Late Evening)

Patience was never Sirius' strong suit, he had always been the wildest one out of the Marauders. But today, he had forced himself to sit quietly in one spot. He was not going to be the reason behind Xeno's situation getting worse, he just wasn't. So he had sat down and not made a sound, instead he observed his surroundings. Mary and Sebastian were talking to each other in whispers, no doubt plotting something devious. Remus had started pacing, something he only did when he was panicking. The amount of times Sirius had found Remus pacing before a full-moon…

"Are you the friends of Xenophilius Lovegood?" a woman approached them, and then all turned their attention to her. She was a burly woman with a crooked nose, and truth be told, she sort of intimidated Sirius.

"We are" Mary replied, looking to her with a hopeful look.

"I am Ajola Smith, the Head Auror of this Ministry" Ajola introduced herself, giving them a polite nod.

"I'm Mary Greengrass" Mary gave a polite curtsy. "This is my husband Sebastian, and these are our friends; Sirius Black and Remus Lupin."

"A pleasure" Ajola said, looking them all over.

"Is it possible for us to see him?" Remus asked, and Ajola nodded. Thank fucking Merlin!

"Come with me" Ajola said, turning around and leaving for the lift. They did as they were told, glad that despite all the rush, the bald Official had come through for them. It wouldn't have been possible without Mary's brilliant acting, that's for certain. "He's being held in one of our interrogation cells."

"Interrogation cell?" Remus asked, looking to Sirius. Bloody hell.

"He was the prime suspect until recently, but his story checked out" Ajola shrugged, pressing the button for the lowest level. "We're too busy to relocate him, but I assure you, he's being treated with respect."

"Why not set him free then?" Sirius asked.

"Because an entire Forest was burned to ash" Ajola looked to Sirius with a frown. "A Forest that has existed since Albania was first discovered. A Forest that sheltered over two hundred different types of creatures. The Muggles are… angry, while our own people are spending every moment trying to find this 'Cult of Fanatics'."

"Have you found any of them?" Sebastian asked.

"Not a single one" Ajola replied. "Not even a corpse."

"Fiendfyre wouldn't leave a corpse behind" Remus told her, and she nodded curtly.

"Which is why your friend is being held in custody" Ajola said. "No bodies, no culprits… Your friend has all the answers, and so he'll give them to the International Confederation of Wizards." Dumbledore is The Supreme Mugwump, he'll help Xeno out. "Even the Muggle Prime Minister wants to talk to your friend." Xeno, what the hell did you get involved in?

Five Minutes Later

"Hand over your wands" Ajola said, putting her right hand forward. Sebastian and Mary did as they were told, and Remus followed their example. But Sirius hated the idea of not having his wand on his person.

"Sirius, do it" Remus urged, and Sirius swallowed his pride and handed over his wand. The last time an Auror took my wand away, I ended up spending ten years in Azkaban.

"You have five minutes" Ajola told them. "After that, you will be escorted off of the premises." They didn't wait for another second, quickly entering Xeno's 'room'. The inside of the cell was better than what Sirius had been expecting. There was a bed, a toilet, and even some blankets. And on the bed was Xeno, his face bruised and his right hand wrapped in a bloody bandage.

"Xeno?" Sirius blinked, and Xeno looked over to them with a shocked look. Being treated with respect?! "Fucking hell, what did they do to you?" Sirius asked as he rushed forward, looking a still shocked Xeno over.

"Sirius? Remus?" Xeno looked between their worried faces, and then he looked to Sebastian and Mary. "What are you all doing here?"

"We came to see you" Remus replied, looking at Xeno's bandaged hand with a dark look.

"The Aurors did this?" Sebastian asked, frowning slightly. He already knew that they had because of personal experience. After he had been captured, he too had had 'friendly' visitors.

"Is Pandora here?" Xeno asked, his eyes gleaming with hope.

"She can't use Portkeys, Xenophilius" Mary smiled weakly, it was jarring to see the eccentric man so subdued. "The baby would get hurt."

"I understand" Xeno nodded, giving her a weak smile in return.

"They've been beating you?" Sirius all but demanded, his blood boiling in his veins.

"They blamed me for everything at first" Xeno replied. "Some of the… angrier Aurors decided not to hold back…"

"The least they could do is heal you" Mary hissed, losing her kind demeanor for a second.

"They are angry… and scared…" Xeno shrugged gently.

"Why are you defending them?" Sirius asked, giving Xeno a genuinely worried look.

"We don't have time for a pointless conversation" Sebastian cut in, earning a glare from Remus and Sirius. Sebastian just cocked an eyebrow at them, and then looked to Xeno. "Have they told you when your trial is?" Trial?!

"He didn't do this" Sirius barked.

"We know that, but they don't" Mary said in a calming voice. "Sirius, please…" Sirius blinked at her, and then he bit down on his tongue.

"They mentioned that I have to stand in front of the International Confederation of Wizards…" Xeno replied, the fear in his voice was evident. "I even have to speak with the Muggle Leader…"

"From what the Daily Prophet mentioned, you have many witnesses claiming your innocence" Sebastian said, his mind going into planning.

"The Daily Prophet?" Xeno muttered, going slightly wide-eyed. His bruised left eye barely moved however. "Did Luna read it?"

"No, not yet…" Mary sighed, taking out a white handkerchief from her left sleeve. She then began to wipe the dried blood from his face gently, while he looked to Sirius and Remus with a scared look.

"I might never get the chance to see them again…" Xeno croaked, his eyes getting teary.

"That's not happening" Sirius said firmly. "Look at me, Xenophilius" Sirius ordered, and Xeno did as he was told. "We're not leaving this country without you, I promise." I'll be damned before I let him get wrongfully convicted.

"Can you have witnesses at your trial?" Sebastian asked suddenly, and Xeno blinked at him.

"I don't know" Xeno shook his head, while Mary tutted at him to stay still.

"If the International Confederation of Wizards is involved, then we need to assume that he can't" Remus sighed. "They prefer their meetings to be behind closed doors."

"Time's up" Ajola burst into the cell, looking to all of them with an expressionless look.

"Is this what you call 'being treated with respect'?" Sirius demanded, his face flushing.

"The men who did this to him have been disciplined" Ajola replied, not even fazed in the slightest.

"At least heal him" Mary requested, she knew that no discipline had been meted out.

"He looks fine to me" Ajola replied, and Sirius fought the urge to lunge at her. He was strictly against attacking unarmed women, but right now, he couldn't care less. "I've let you see him for his wife's benefit, but your visit is now over."

"Tell Pandora that I'm fine" Xeno requested, looking to them with a pleading look. "Tell her that I'm perfectly healthy… Please…"

"We will" Mary smiled in a kind manner, cupping Xeno's bruised right cheek. You can tell her that. I'm not leaving this country without him in tow.

Ten Minutes Later

"I'll head back to England" Mary said, and then she looked to Sebastian. "Alone."

"Alone?" Sebastian cocked an eyebrow.

"Pandora is my friend, love" Mary said in a soft voice, and Sebastian blinked at her.

"I will help Black and Lupin, I promise" Sebastian nodded, and Mary smiled at him. Sirius and Remus pretended that they weren't there, but they were both listening in.

"I love you, husband" Mary whispered, giving Sebastian a farewell kiss.

"Likewise" Sebastian replied, and Mary smiled a little more widely. Likewise? What the fuck? Who says that? Mary then looked to Remus and Sirius, and they both gave her polite nods.

"Try your best to not kill each other" Mary joked, and Sirius managed a smile.

"Could you please send a letter to Augusta Longbottom?" Remus asked. "Harry is with her, and I don't think that we'll be coming back for a few days."

"I will take care of it" Mary promised, and then she looked back to her husband. "Be safe."

"Take care of our daughters, love" Sebastian said in return. Mary nodded, and then she took the Portkey back to England.

"Likewise?" Sirius asked immediately, and both Sebastian and Remus looked to him with confused looks. "She tells you that she loves you, and all you can manage is 'Likewise'?" Sebastian frowned slightly, electing to ignore Sirius in favor of his better half.

"We should find ourselves a hotel first" Sebastian spoke directly with Remus, who nodded. Did he just ignore me?

"We should also eat something before we start coming up with a plan" Remus replied, and Sebastian nodded. "And it would be wise to stay at a Muggle hotel. I don't think that the Albanian Wizarding Community wants to see anymore foreigners."

"Good point" Sebastian agreed. These cunts are just ignoring me, aren't they? "Until we find out when his trial is going to be, we can't really do much."

"We should go find these 'locals' who claimed his innocence" Sirius blurted out, and the other two men looked to him. "They could tell us more about what really went down."

"I guess we already have a plan then" Sebastian said, giving Sirius a curt nod. "We find a place to stay, and then tomorrow, we go to the Magical settlements."

Ronald Weasley's POV

Sunday 19th July, 1993 (The Burrow – Near Midnight)

Today had been the worst day in his life, Ron was certain of it. His painful training session paled in comparison to the rest of his day. The news of Xeno being locked up in Albania had driven him to tears multiple times during the day, and the situation at the Burrow wasn't helping.

Pandora was… She was just gone. Her sharp eyes had become dull, her silvery hair was disheveled, and her amazing mind was turning on her. She mostly just sat there, looking like she was in a daze, and then she'd start crying out of nowhere. Ron's mother had told him that it was mostly due to her pregnancy, but she herself was having a hard time believing that. Molly hadn't left Pandora's side all day, which meant that the kids had to do everything for themselves.

They had figured out that something was amiss even before Ron came back home, and Luna had also become a teary mess. Ginny, bless her heart, had turned into the Molly Weasley to Luna's Pandora Lovegood, and she had spent the entire day distracting her friend. The twins had decided to help out by making lunch and dinner, and surprisingly, they were pretty decent at it. They had even taken Luna into their lair to show off some new gags, but Luna had simply cried on their shoulders instead.

As for Ron, he was just all over the place. In between his hysterical sobbing, his bursts of sheer rage, and his ever growing hatred for Albus Dumbledore, Ron had simply become unapproachable. He had, of course, sat with Luna and let her cry with him, and he had done the same with Pandora. But all it had taken was for Molly Weasley to say that 'Dumbledore will fix this', and Ron's mind had snapped. He had simply excused himself, gone into his room, and then proceeded to have the worst panic attack of his life.

No matter how he thought about it, he was always the reason behind all of this. Dumbledore was keen to sit on his wrinkly arse, doing nothing, but it was Ron who had dropped harsh truths on him. He had driven a man like Dumbledore to give into his fear, and in that fear, Dumbledore had run off to fight the Dark Lord. Which had then resulted in an entire fucking Forest being destroyed, and Xeno ending up in Albanian Custody.

Ron understood that a lot of things had happened in between, but he had set off the chain of events that led to his mess, and that hurt more than anything. Well… almost anything. Dumbledore, that grey sunken cunt, had broken his promise to Ron in less than two months. He had put Xeno in incredible danger, knowing full well that Pandora was pregnant, and he had done it simply because he needed a tracker. A man that Ron loved like a father-figure had nearly died, and all because Dumbledore had seen him as nothing more than a tool to be used.

He hadn't even gone down for dinner, and the only reason he ate anything was because George had brought him a plate. And when Ron had said that he wasn't hungry, George had pleaded for him to eat something. So he had eaten, but only because he didn't want his brother's kind gesture to be wasted. After eating, he had crawled into his bed to sleep. But sleep hadn't come. Instead, Ron was plagued with grief, stress, and anger.

Ron sat up suddenly, he wasn't getting any sleep tonight. I want to go downstairs for some water, but I just know that Pandora is still down there. I can't see her like that again, and if I do, I'll have another fucking panic attack. The thought of not being there for her made him feel extremely guilty, but guilt was better than having another panic attack. The last one had rendered him unconscious for five minutes. So instead of going down, Ron simply sat on his bed and stared into the darkness.

It wanted to close in on him, he knew it. It wanted to sink into his bones, and render him mad. Ron shook his head clear, got out of bed, and then turned his light on. The room came to life, and the shadows were banished into their rightful corners. Ron walked over to his bed again, but he stopped when he saw the crumpled copy of the Daily Prophet. Xeno… Ron rubbed his face with both hands, what could he do right now?

One of things that Ron had learned about himself was that he tended to shut down when nothing was happening. If he wasn't facing a crisis, or any other sort of problem, he tended to become lazy. And yes, he was aware of the fact that there was a huge crisis right now, but Ron couldn't do anything about it. Xeno was in fucking Albania, and Ron had no intention of leaving Pandora and Luna behind. They needed him here, and starting from tomorrow, he'd do just that.

From what Ron had been told, four people had already left for Albania. Sirius, Remus, Lord Greengrass, and Mary… They can help Xeno in ways that I can't. But rather than finding comfort in that, Ron found himself becoming more and more bitter. He couldn't do anything to help Xeno… What the fuck did that even mean? His entire life was dedicated to fixing the Future. His entire life was dedicated to protecting the people he loved most. And yet here he was, just standing in his room and staring at a crumpled piece of paper.

Ron pressed down on his bruised forearm, and the pain woke him up again. Ron clamped down even harder, gritting his teeth as his body begged him to stop. Stupid, useless bastard! That's what you are! A weak-willed fool! Tears blurred his vision, but Ron didn't relent. He deserved this pain. He deserved it for trusting Dumbledore. He deserved it for not being able to help Xenophilius. He deserved it for not going down right now and helping Pandora. He deserved it… Ron let go of his arm, falling to one knee and choking out a strangled sob.

"He betrayed me…" he heard his own voice, but it didn't sound like him at all. "It happened again… I gave them everything… I even risked my life doing it, but he still broke his promise…" He should've listened to the Entity in that regard. The Entity was a cruel and evil prick, but it never lied to Ron when it was questioned. It had warned him not to trust Dumbledore because it knew that Dumbledore would cause more problems than fix, but Ron hadn't listened. And now here they were… So much had been destroyed, and Xeno was facing the consequences for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Some part of Ron, however, was more than just angry. It wanted to act. It wanted Ron to stop crying over his mistakes, and to start fixing them instead. That's when a thought entered Ron's mind, a thought that he had been thinking about a lot today but not acknowledging.

I'm alone in this. Slytherin has taught me so much, and one of those things is that I know for certain now that everyone has their own agendas. Mine is to stop the Dark Lord, and in doing so, save as many lives as I can. And people like Dumbledore, despite claiming that they want the same thing, have their own vision of how things should be done. I promised myself that I'd never give up my control, but I did that when I confessed to Dumbledore. I have to learn from my mistakes, that's how I'll improve. That's how I'll win! Ron turned his head and cracked his neck, a sense of release traveling through him.

Ron got up and walked over to his cupboard, wiping the tears out of his eyes. Learn from your mistake. Ron opened the cupboard, and then he opened the bottom drawer which had all of his old textbooks. Daphne had shown him that she knew a Spell that he didn't, and he resented that. He was supposed to be strong one, the one who knew everything. He wasn't the person who needed her help, it was the other way around. And from now on, he wouldn't rely on anyone's help. If a man like Dumbledore couldn't keep his promise for more than two months, then damn them all. He'd do it all himself. He'd give his own life if he needed to, but he would never give up his control again. This was his Cycle, and he'd be the one to make it succeed.

Tracey Davis' POV

Monday 20th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – After Breakfast)

Daphne's sleepover had been ruined, and she was utterly miserable because of it. Tracey herself was upset about it, but she understood that Ron needed to be there for his family. But Daphne, despite understanding Ron's situation, still tended to give into her possessive nature. She wanted to march down to the Burrow in order to help Ron in any way possible, but Lady Greengrass had forbidden them from disturbing the Weasleys and Lovegoods. Everyone had understood why, they'd just be a hindrance due to the Burrow's size, but Daphne still wanted to sneak off.

"I'm not saying that we all have to go, I can just go" Daphne frowned, earning tired looks from them all.

"He's our friend too" Millie said in a rather firm voice.

"Did I say that he wasn't?" Daphne asked.

"No, but you're acting like you're the only person who can help him" Millie replied. Woah, Millie just dropped the truth on Daphne. I should stop this before it escalates.

"Girls, don't spoil the lovely weather with your dull conversation" Theo jumped in, giving them condescending smiles. "We're all worried for Ron, and we all want to help him… But Lady Greengrass is right. If all six…"

"Seven" Tori interrupted.

"Seven…" Theo corrected. "If all seven of us go there, then we'll just get in their way. They're working through this as a family, and we have no place in that."

"Theo's right" Blaise said in an aloof voice. "Just drink your tea and enjoy your lemon cakes, Ron will be fine." Wow, what an arsehole.

"Blaise, you can be a real jerk sometimes" Pansy told him, but he just shrugged. Absolute arsehole. Luna's father is imprisoned in Albania, and they don't even care. Tracy shot a frown at Theo, and he shrugged as well.

"Fine, I'll do just that" Daphne stood up. "But I'll do it away from you two!" With that, Daphne stormed off.

"Drama queen" Theo rolled his eyes.

"Theodore, do you really want to speak about my sister like that near me?" Tori asked him, and Theo grinned sheepishly.

"I'm going to talk to her" Tracey said, leaving before any of them could object. I don't even know why I like Theo and Blaise sometimes. Tracey made her way straight for Daphne's room, cursing the fact that the Manor was so huge. In that regard, Tracey preferred her own house. At least she didn't have to walk a fucking mile just to reach her best friend's room. Tracey knocked on Daphne's door, and it swung open.

"What?" Daphne asked rather rudely.

"I didn't annoy you, so please don't talk to me like that" Tracey replied, keeping her voice in check. Daphne frowned slightly, but she moved out of the way. Tracey stepped inside and walked over to Daphne's bed, while Daphne closed the door rather loudly. So moody. Is it her time of the month? Tracey herself just had her first period last month, and she already hated them. Not to mention that her mother's 'jokes' had made the experience a million times worse.

"Tracey, why are you here?" Daphne asked, dropping onto her bed unceremoniously.

"Are you on your period?" Tracey asked.

"What?!" Daphne exclaimed. "No!"

"That's a yes" Tracey sniggered, she knew Daphne's tell. She starts yelling, losing her calm demeanor completely.

"Tracey… Stop it" Daphne frowned, looking away from her. "I'm not in the mood."

"Alright, I'll stop" Tracey pouted. "We used to tell each other everything…"

"Don't…" Daphne said.

"I had my first one…"

"Oh Merlin!" Daphne hid her face in her pillow, making Tracey laugh. "You're so gross, Trace!"

"We're both girls, so it's perfectly alright" Tracey shrugged. "Now… Tell me why you want to disobey your mother so openly? This is a bit too much, even for your rebellious streak."

"Ron should be here" Daphne spoke from her pillow.

"Wrong. Ron should be with his family" Tracey corrected her. "They need each other, and it'd be wrong of us to cram ourselves into their lives right now." Please see some sense and come back outside. Theo and Blaise may have been jerks, but they were right.

"You sound like Theo" Daphne groaned.

"Theo's a smart guy, no one can deny that" Tracey said.

"He's smart, is he?" Daphne asked, looking up at Tracey with a deadpan look. I can play this game too.

"Ron should be here, eh?" Tracey asked in return, and Daphne sunk her face into her pillow. And she told Pansy that she's over her crush on Ron. Tracey rolled her eyes, and then she hopped onto Daphne's back.

"Hey! Get off me" Daphne tried to get up, but Tracey kept her pinned down.

"Not until you agree to come back outside" Tracey giggled, leaning down and kissing Daphne right cheek.

"Tracey, you're such a freak!" Daphne pulled the pillow on top of her own head, using it as a shield.

"Maybe" Tracey shrugged, blowing air onto Daphne's nape. "But I like to think of myself as unique."

"What if someone walks in?" Daphne asked from beneath the pillow.

"Millie and Pansy are used to this" Tracey replied. "As for Theo and Blaise… I don't think they'd mind seeing this."

"Merlin…" Daphne mumbled, what was wrong with Tracey's brain? "And when you say that they wouldn't mind, what you really mean is that they just don't care." And there it is again. Daphne is the only one who cares for Ron.

"They were real tossers just now, I won't refute that" Tracey admitted. "But they do care about him."

"They don't sound like they do" Daphne huffed.

"Daph…" Tracey sighed, getting off of her best friend. "Just stop that, alright? No one likes it when you get like this…" Great, I just started a fight. Nice going Trace, you buffoon.

"Get like this?" Daphne asked, sitting up with a glare.

"When you start acting like you're the only person that can help Ron" Tracey replied. "Ron isn't a child, and he doesn't need you to babysit him. He's with his family, he'll be fine."

"Really?" Daphne hissed. "Who has his Calming Draughts?" Tracey blinked at that. What? "Answer the question, Tracey. Who in his family has his Calming Draughts?"

"I… I don't know…"

"No one" Daphne told her. "I've asked him myself, and he told me that his entire supply was with him."

"And we took that supply…" Tracey realized. Oh shite.

"He's probably had multiple stress moments" Daphne said, her voice cracking. Tracey looked to find Daphne teary-eyed, and that felt like an iron-clad punch in her gut. "You know how he is, don't you? He probably hasn't said a word about it to anyone. What if he has a full-blown panic attack? Then what?"

"Then they'll take care of him" Tracey replied, trying to calm Daphne down. Her hormones are probably driving her mad.

"That's not good enough! He has brain-damage that can kill him!" Daphne yelled, making Tracey's ears ring.

"Why are you yelling at me?" Tracey demanded. I don't care if she's panicking, I haven't done anything to deserve blown eardrums.

"You're the one saying that you don't like it when I 'get like this', so you tell me what you're doing to help him?" Daphne asked. "What are Blaise and Theo doing? Nothing. They only help him when they can get something out of him."

"Don't talk about them like that" Tracey shot up to her feet. Why am I defending them? Oh right, I don't want Daphne to start throwing her weight around. "In case you haven't realized, we wouldn't even be friends with Ron if it weren't for them."

"That's laughable, Tracey" Daphne huffed, sounding like a spoiled princess.

"Ron yelled at you within a minute after meeting you" Tracey reminded her, and Daphne's face darkened. "Don't glare at me, I'm not scared of you. And you know that I'm telling you the truth. Theo and Blaise became friends with him, and they convinced him to give us a chance."

"They were trying to get away from Malfoy."

"And we weren't?!" Tracey exclaimed, shocked at Daphne's delusions. "How many times could you stomach him frowning at me with disgust?!"

"How dare you?" Daphne hissed. "I defended you!"

"Well, thank you for being a decent human being sometimes" Tracey retorted, losing her temper. "But most of the time, you just pretended to be the 'Ice-Queen'."

"Why are you even here?" Daphne demanded, her face was starting to turn red.

"I was trying to get you to come back" Tracey replied. "You invite us into your home, but then you spend your time sulking because your crush isn't here." That was a low blow… I really stepped over the line with that one. I should apologize. "Daphne…"

"Get out…" Daphne ordered. "Go back to Theo… Maybe he'll give you a minute of his precious time when he's done ranting about Muggles… and anyone with 'questionable' heritage." Tracey couldn't even try and hide her hurt at that, her eyes were already starting to sting.

"You know what, Daphne? I'm going home" Tracey walked towards the door. "Thanks for having me over." Tracey slammed the door shut on her way out, clenching her hands into fists as she walked down to the fireplaces. Questionable heritage? Theo has never once said that near me. But deep down, she knew that Theo had thought about it often enough. Why else wouldn't he try and spend time with her outside of their group? Why did he ask to stay here rather than at my house? Her fear of her Blood-Status started creeping into her mind.

"Tracey, did you manage to convince her?" came Pansy's voice, and Tracey to see Theo and Pansy walking over to her. The sight of Theo fueled her insecurities, and she barely kept herself from running away.

"No" Tracey replied. "I'm going home."

"Going home?" Theo asked.

"That's what I said" Tracey frowned at him. "Are you deaf?"

"Woah" Theo put his hands up in mock-surrender. Why is he always patronizing people?!

"Trace, what happened?" Pansy asked, shooting a look to Theo. "Theo, give us a minute?"

"Gladly" Theo replied, turning around to leave. Gladly?

"Don't want to talk to the Half-Blood, is that it?" Tracey asked in a venomous voice, and Theo turned around with shocked expression.

"Tracey…" Pansy gasped, completely taken off-guard. Why did I say that? Tracey felt utterly disgusted, and so she quickly turned around and marched towards the fireplaces. I'm so stupid…

"What the fuck was that?" Theo asked, catching up to her. Tracey didn't break her stride, so Theo grabbed her arm and turned her around.

"Don't touch me" Tracey snapped at him, her arm hurting slightly. Pansy had decided not to follow after them, which made sense, the girl hated infighting.

"What was that barb about me not wanting to talk to Half-Bloods?" Theo demanded, looking slightly angry. "What happened between you and Daphne? You were only gone for ten minutes." Tracey glared at him, but that just annoyed him even more. "You girls… I swear to Merlin…"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Tracey asked.

"You're all so damn… crazy!" Theo exclaimed, making her flinch. "We all finally meet up, and instead of enjoying each other's company, you lot start fighting each other on the second day. Daphne's miserable because Ron's not here, Millie decides that today is the fucking day that she'll start standing up for herself, and now you too… Why is it always so complicated with you lot?"

"So you want us to be like you and Blaise?" Tracey asked, and Theo nodded firmly. "You two are jerks, and if you hadn't spoken to us like we were five year olds, then none of this would be happening."

"Don't blame me for your issues" Theo told her. "What happened between you and Daphne is between you and Daphne… Don't put that on Blaise and me."

"Why didn't you come to my house for the Holidays?" Tracey demanded, this had been bugging her for the entire Break.

"What?" Theo blinked.

"You heard me? Why did you come here instead of coming to my house like last time?" Tracey demanded again, crossing her arms.

"I didn't really think about why, I just went to the nearest…"

"Stop lying! You didn't come to mine because it's in Muggle London" Tracey stated, her eyes stinging again. "Go on, deny that!"

"Trace…" Theo said in a pacifying manner. "It's not like that…"

"Don't lie to me" Tracey warned him. "If you do, I swear that I'll never talk to you again." Theo pinched the bridge of his nose, and took in a deep breath. "Well?"

"My father forbid me…" Theo admitted, and Tracey's heart dropped into her stomach. It's because of my stupid Blood-Status…

"Was it because of me? Or my mother?" Tracey asked, trying not to sniffle.

"Your mother…" Theo averted his gaze. My mother?! My mother is the best woman that I know!

"Your father is a pig" Tracey hissed, unable to control herself. "My mother was nothing but kind to you, Theo. She kept you fed while your father ran around in Romania somewhere, and she was more than happy to house you again. But no… You only care about her 'heritage', don't you?"

"I've never once said that…" Theo muttered, still averting his gaze.

"But you think it, and that's enough to make you just as bad as him" Tracey said, and Theo looked at her with a clenched jaw.

"My father raised me all by himself after some filthy Muggle murdered my mother" Theo told her.

"And my father was imprisoned for falling in love with someone that people like your father didn't approve of, so cry me a river" Tracey shot back. "Hating everyone for the actions of one person is stupid, and it's cruel."

"You know what? Why don't you just leave?" Theo suggested, turning around to walk away.

"Fine, I will" Tracey replied, turning around and doing just that. I was just a baby when they locked my father away. People like Theo's father are a disgusting breed, and if Theo wants to be just like his father, then he can rot for all I care.

Remus Lupin's POV

Monday 20th July, 1993 (Albanian Forest Outskirts – Midday)

The sight of so much scorched Earth made Remus feel uneasy, and the smell nearly made him vomit. So much Death… Now I know why the Albanian Ministry is in complete panic. How are they going to explain this? No Muggle is going to believe that this happened because of a wildfire. I can't see any part of the Forest that survived. It's all charred as far as the eye can see. They were all standing on a hill that overlooked a vast amount of the Forest.

"This is fucked…" Sirius whispered to Remus, and Remus nodded weakly.

"You two better get your wands serviced, we might be facing a Muggle-Wizard War by the end of the month" Sebastian remarked, just staring at the destruction with dead eyes.

"They blamed Xeno for this?" Sirius asked no one in particular. "No wonder they kicked his arse…"

"Now they know that he's innocent, which means that we have a chance to get him out of here" Sebastian told them.

"How do you know that they believe that?" Remus asked.

"They let us see him, didn't they?" Sebastian looked to Remus. That they did.

"So what's the plan?" Sirius asked.

"We should each take a settlement" Remus suggested. "We can cover more ground that way."

"Do you want to be strung up?" Sebastian asked, and Remus blinked at him. "These people are scared, and people who are scared tend to lash out. If we show up and start asking questions…"

"They might think that we're a part of this Cult, and that we're trying to cover our tracks" Remus finished, and Sebastian nodded curtly. "Then we should go to the settlement where Xeno gathered everyone first. If we tell them that we're his friends, they might listen."

"I like that plan" Sirius agreed. "Well, any plan that won't leave us hanging from trees is fine with me. I don't think I want to spend my last moments with you two."

"The feeling is mutual" Sebastian admitted. "Let's apparate."

Ten Minutes Later

"Merlin, they're just eyeballing us" Sirius pointed out, all three of them looking around warily. Story of my life. You get used to it. "I blame Seb for this… He's wearing a fucking suit for Merlin's sake."

"I can hear you, Black" Sebastian said.

"Oh, so you have ears?" Sirius smirked.

"If I recall correctly, I wanted to buy appropriate clothes this morning" Sebastian frowned at Sirius. "But you had a fire under your arse, and you forced us to come here immediately."

"Seb said a dirty word" Sirius informed Remus, who took in a deep breath.

"Can you two stop?" Remus asked. "We're already unwanted enough, and your bickering will have us thrown in the gallows."

"Do they have gallows in this dump?" Sirius asked.

"Black, do you ever shut up with your colorful commentary?" Sebastian asked.

"Not when I'm nervous, no…" Sirius replied, watching an old man eyeball him like he was a slab of meat. "That man has ill-intentions, I can fucking see it in his beady eyes." Merlin, I might just hit him.

"Lupin, is it too late to split up?" Sebastian asked.

"You wanted to stay together, this is what staying together looks like" Remus replied, smiling politely at Sebastian.

"What's your business here?" a young man stepped in their way, a grim look marking his features.

"We came to pick berries" Sirius replied, and Remus smacked him in the chest. Fucking idiot!

"We wish to meet with the elders of this settlement" Remus told the young man, he knew how small settlements like this worked. The young men labored, the women kept the village intact, while the elders passed the laws.

"About what?" the young man asked, a small crowd slowly gathering around them. "What gave you your scars?" Alright…

"The Great War" Remus lied. "I fought alongside the Ministry."

"What gave you your scars?" the young man repeated. Does he know that I'm a Werewolf? Shite, this could turn sour really fast.

"My companion was attacked by a rabid Vampire" Sebastian answered. "He lost his wife in that ordeal…" My wife?!

"I see…" the young man nodded slowly, still eyeing Remus with a suspicious look. "Was he bitten?"

"You don't get turned by being bitten" Sebastian assured the crowd around them. "That only happens if they perform their 'Passing the Blood' ritual on you. Remus, show them that you don't have fangs." Remus nodded slowly, and then he opened his mouth. The young man took a look at his teeth, and then he relaxed a bit.

"He's clear!" the man told the people around them, who also relaxed a bit. Vampires can hide their fangs… Superstitious fools.

"Why do you want to see the elders?" the young man asked.

"We're friends of Xenophilius Lovegood" Sirius announced, and the crowd broke out in chatter.

"You know Xenophilius?" the young man asked with a surprised look.

"They might be lying!"

"What if they're from the Cult?!"

"I say we take them in!"

"We're about to get lynched…" Sirius muttered, looking around with a paling face. Remus, on the other hand, stepped forward with a firm look on his face.

"Our friend is being accused of starting the Cursed Fire that nearly destroyed your homes!" Remus yelled over the chatter. "We know that that isn't true! We know that he came back here to warn you! He banded you together, and he saved countless lives! You owe it to him to at least talk to us!" The crowd just stared at Remus, all the while whispering to each other.

"His wife is with child, and we want to take him back to her!" Sirius yelled as well.

"Mathias, stop with your foolish interrogating" an old man scolded, stepping out of the crowd. People moved out of his way, and Remus knew that this man was an elder of the village.

"I'm watching for intruders" the young man named Mathias told the old man.

"You've done splendidly, my boy" the old man smiled. "It only took you long enough for them to reach the center of our settlement." Mathias frowned and averted his gaze, while the crowd sniggered. "Strangers, my name is Arben" the old man introduced himself. "You say you know Xenophilius? Tell me, what is his daughter's name?"

"Luna" Remus replied, and Arben nodded with a smile. How does he know of Luna?

"Friends of Xenophilius are welcome here" Arben told them. "Come, I will speak with you in my home." Arben then turned to the crowd. "Go about your day, all will be fine."

Five Minutes Later

"Picking berries?" Sebastian hissed at Sirius, they were sitting in Arben's house. The old man was talking to the people of the town outside.

"This coming from the guy who came up with 'Likewise'?" Sirius asked in return.

"Black, I might just…"

"Shut up already" Remus frowned at them both. "We're here for Xeno, so keep your problems in check until we get him back. Sebastian, ignore Sirius' comments. Sirius, stop making wisecracks." A silence fell on them, but it was quickly broken by Sirius.

"Nice story about the Vampire attack" Sirius said, he hated silences. He had had ten years of silence…

"If they discovered Lupin's affliction, we'd be killed on the spot" Sebastian replied, looking ahead with a dead look. My affliction? Remus' chest tightened, and he looked to Sebastian with panic in his eyes.

"You know?" Remus muttered.

"I'm not stupid" Sebastian replied. "I know Werewolf wounds when I see them. Those were self-inflicted, weren't they?"

"Yes…" Remus looked down at his hands.

"If you say anything bigoted about it…" Sirius started, losing all of his humor.

"Have I said anything yet?" Sebastian looked to Sirius, cutting him off.

"Why haven't you?" Remus asked before he could think better. Damnit, now I'm the one inciting conflict.

"Don't presume to know me, you don't" Sebastian replied, looking away from them both. Remus and Sirius exchanged quick looks, and Remus could see that Sirius was about to question Sebastian about his knowledge.

"Sorry about making you wait" Arben said as he entered the room, and Remus rose up respectfully. Arben took a seat and let out a tired sigh, and Remus took that as his queue to sit back down. "These old bones… Pray that you don't live to be as old as me…"

"Elder Arben, we would like to talk about Xenophilius" Remus said, and the old man nodded. "He is being accused of starting the Cursed Fire, and while many believe his innocence, he is still being put on trial in front of the International Confederation of Wizards."

"We know" the old man smiled sadly. "Which is why I convinced many in this village, and the surrounding villages, to speak for him. We went to the Ministry, and we spoke with the Minister himself… But they refused to set him free. What else can we do?"

"Come to the Confederation meeting" Sebastian requested. "Bring your people with you, and stand outside. Make a scene if you have to…"

"If we can show the men in charge that Xeno saved lives, they'll be convinced to let him go" Sirius jumped in.

"And if they're not?" Arben asked.

"Then I'll break in and rescue him myself" Sirius replied, dead-serious. And I'll be right there with you.

"I like your spirit, young man" Arben chuckled. "Forgive my manners, recent events have made me tired… I never asked your names."

"Remus Lupin."

"Sirius Black."

"Sebastian Greengrass."

"I am Arben Shala" the old man said. "No relation to the Minister, of course. Otherwise, we might have some people helping us rebuild."

"The settlement seems alright to me" Sirius said.

"It is, but we have lost our most important asset" Arben sighed tiredly.

"The Forest" Remus noted, and Arben nodded.

"Without it, we have no means of getting food" Arben told them.

"If you agree to help us, then I'll have this village supplied with essentials for a year" Sebastian offered, making Remus blink from shock. He'd go that far for Xeno? And all because his wife asked him to? "My… friend… will help me with the costs." Sebastian then looked to Sirius, who nodded in understanding.

"My…" Arben chuckled, he was rather taken aback by the offer. "Xenophilius has good friends. But then again, I'm not very surprised. Your friend was nothing short of a hero during the inferno. I'd be a fool to refuse such an offer… My people sorely need it."

"So you will help us?" Remus asked, trying not to grin with relief.

"Yes, we will help you."

Monday 20th July, 1993 (Albanian Tavern – Night)

It was funny how quickly people changed their tunes when they stood to gain something. Remus and his companions had originally been met with scorn and suspicion, but now they were being treated like heroes. The townsfolk were celebrating their good fortune, Arben had told them all of the deal, and so the trio had found themselves in the middle of the celebrations. Sebastian wanted to leave for the hotel, but Sirius never could walk away from a good party.

"Picking berries…" Sebastian shook his head, finishing his third tankard.

"I panicked, alright?" Sirius defended himself, a grin on his face. "It all worked out, didn't it? Look around Seb, we've got a whole town behind us now."

"It's not enough" Sebastian pointed out.

"Fuck me, you're such a glum bastard" Sirius chuckled. "Remus, tell him to cheer up for once." Don't put me in the middle of this, you arse.

"Things did work out, Sebastian" Remus said, hoping to play peacekeeper. I still can't believe that he knows about my Curse. And I can't believe that he hasn't ever mentioned it either.

"We should call it a night" Sebastian suggested, but Sirius had already called for the young tavern wench. "Black, we have work to do tomorrow."

"I spoke to Arben, and he's letting us borrow some of the lads from the village" Sirius said, smiling at the young tavern wench. "They'll come with us tomorrow, and with their help, we'll convince the nearby settlements as well."

"You mean I'll have to pay for every peasant in this country" Sebastian frowned.

"We'll share the costs" Sirius laughed it off.

"Three ales?" the young waitress asked, and Sirius nodded. The waitress smiled at Remus, and then she left to go get the ales. Kind woman. People usually fear my scars.

"We won't have to" Sebastian sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"We won't?" Sirius asked.

"Once word of our charity reaches the other Pure-Blood Families, every single one of them will join in" Sebastian explained.

"They'll want the good publicity?" Remus asked, and Sebastian nodded. "You already knew that when you offered to pay for this settlement" Remus realized, deciding to respect Sebastian's mind from this moment on.

"Then why are you complaining?" Sirius laughed, happy at the prospect of saving money.

"Because we'll at least need to pay for a week or so" Sebastian shrugged, looking around at the dancing locals. "And then vultures like Malfoy will swoop in to get their beaks wet."

"Ugh, Malfoy…" Sirius rolled his eyes. "What a cunt…"

"Three ales" the young waitress came back, placing the ales on the table. She shot Remus another smile, and then she was gone. Odd.

"She has her eyes on you" Sebastian noted, taking his tankard.

"Excuse me?" Remus asked.

"She has her eyes on you" Sebastian repeated. "I've been watching her…"

"Creep" Sirius jumped in, drinking from his tankard when Sebastian shot him a glare.

"You're mistaken" Remus said, taking a long sip from his tankard.

"Nah, Seb is right" Sirius said. "She didn't even look at us when she came to take our orders. But you… Well, she was nothing but smiles when it came to you." Remus looked for the young tavern wench, and he saw her serving some locals. She noticed him looking at her, and she smiled again. Merlin, they're right! Remus looked back to his tankard, deciding to drink instead.

"Are you a virgin?" Sebastian asked, and Remus blinked at him.

"Merlin, where did that come from?" Sirius laughed.

"The ale is stronger than I thought it would be" Sebastian shrugged, still looking at Remus. "Well?"

"Remus isn't a virgin" Sirius barked out a laugh. "I walked in on him once at Hogwarts… What was that girl's name?"

"Jessica…" Remus sighed, remembering that night. He walked in mid-act, and instead of leaving, he started cheering me on. Jessica never spoke to me again.

"Ah, Jessica…" Sirius hummed. "She had some nice…"

"Are you done?" Remus asked, and Sirius grinned.

"If you're not a virgin, then why are you being so shy?" Sebastian cocked an eyebrow, wondering how a Werewolf was allowed to study at Hogwarts.

"We're here to help Xeno" Remus replied, though he himself didn't believe that.

"We can't do anything more tonight" Sirius explained. "They've already offered us lodgings, you might as well enjoy the night."

"Sirius…" Remus started, but Sirius reached over and smacked his arm.

"Go and talk to her" Sirius ordered. "While I try and cheer up this sour twat."

"Fuck you, Black" Sebastian spoke into his tankard.

"Yes…" Sirius smiled at Sebastian. "Just let it all out…" Remus shook his head at Sirius, and then he looked to the tavern wench. She looks to be in her early twenties. And she is beautiful… Maybe I should at least try and talk to her. It's not often that someone isn't afraid of my scars.

Ronald Weasley's POV

Wednesday 22nd July, 1993 (The Burrow – Lunchtime)

Xenophilius' trial was on Friday. That's when the International Confederation of Wizards was going to convene, and it was Albus Dumbledore who was in charge of the whole thing. The man who was behind Xeno's crimes was leading his trial, and that disgusted Ron.

Ron's anger had only gotten worse over time, but he refused to release it near his family. They needed one another right now, especially Luna and Pandora. Even the twins were struggling, mostly because they had given up their hobbies in order to help keep the house running. Ron himself was exhausted. He was either helping the twins keep the house in order, or he was helping Ginny keep Luna from crying alone, or he was holding Pandora's hand as hard as he could, or he was studying his old textbooks.

Truth be told, Ron wasn't as far behind in his studies as he had feared. There were quite a few terms that confused him, and there was the occasional useless Charm that he didn't know, but that was it. He mostly understood what he was reading, and he could piece together what he couldn't initially understand with relative ease. Percy was certainly keen to help him, mostly because he didn't know how to help anybody else.

Percy had questioned Ron about why he was re-reading his old textbooks, but Ron had simply told him that he wanted to reinforce his knowledge. Percy had bought that, and even commended Ron on it, but Ron was sure that Percy didn't question him further simply because he wanted to feel useful.

Usually, Percy was the first one to try and take charge when Molly or Arthur were too busy. But this crisis was something that he couldn't really deal with. That was Percy's weakness; he had trouble connecting with the people around him. He had offered to help Luna with her homework, but what he didn't understand was that Luna didn't need to do homework, she needed to be distracted. After a few initial failures, Percy had sort of faded into the background. Quietly doing his, and everyone else's, chores.

"Ron, can you take this to Pandora?" Fred asked, handing Ron a plate of food.

"Get mum to convince Pandora that she needs to eat" George said, looking awfully tired.

"I'll get it done" Ron replied, grabbing the plate of food and heading over to the Living Room. She didn't eat dinner last night, and she didn't have any breakfast this morning either. Ron entered the Living Room, his eyes falling on Pandora and Molly immediately. Pandora had stopped crying, but now she just sat there and stared at the fireplace. I think she expects Xeno to come through it randomly.

"Ronnie, bring that over here" Molly smiled at him, preparing herself for another bout of convincing Pandora to eat. She had refused to leave Pandora's side because of the woman's pregnancy, and she was so proud of her children for taking up responsibility for the house.

"Here you go" Ron said, handing over the plate to his mother. "Pandora… You should eat this…" Pandora nodded absentmindedly, her mind somewhere else. Ron looked over to his mother, and she gave him an assuring look in return. Good luck. Ron turned to leave the room, deciding to go back to his Charms textbook, but that was interrupted when the fireplace blazed to life. Arthur stepped through, looking like he hadn't slept in days.

"Arthur, any news about my husband?" Pandora asked immediately, and Arthur shook his head weakly. Bloody hell.

"I'm sorry Pandora, but the Albanian Ministry is being really tight-lipped" Arthur sighed, he had only come back to pass on a message.

"What brings you home so early then, love?" Molly asked, putting the plate aside.

"Dumbledore sent me" Arthur replied, and Ron tensed immediately. Dumbledore? What does he want?

"Dumbledore?" Molly blinked at her husband.

"He was just at the Ministry, getting a Portkey to Albania, and he wanted me to tell Pandora that Xeno would be home before the end of the weekend" Arthur replied, giving Pandora a weak smile.

"I see, thank you Arthur" Pandora managed a weak smile in return.

"Dumbledore will take care of everything, I just know it" Arthur told them, and Ron felt his stomach turn. Dumbledore… This is all his fault, and yet, he has everyone convinced that he's helping Xeno. Like he's some fucking savior… Xeno wouldn't even be in Albanian custody if it wasn't for Dumbledore's conniving tactics. Ron left the room before he could hear another word about Dumbledore, he needed to finish up with his Charms book already. My Family, my responsibility.

Severus Snape's POV

Wednesday 22nd July, 1993 (Malfoy Manor – Afternoon)

"Are they here?" Snape asked Narcissa, who just smiled politely at him. Snape had just flooed in, and he hadn't even said hello properly.

"Good afternoon, Severus" Narcissa greeted. "How are you today?"

"Save me your games, Narcissa" Snape said, earning a chuckle from her. "Are they here?"

"They are, come with me" Narcissa said, tangling her arm with his. She wants to talk? Something must be bothering her.

"What has happened?" Snape asked, walking with Narcissa towards Lucius' study.

"You always were sharp" Narcissa smirked. "Even when we were in Hogwarts…" Hogwarts? That was a life time ago.

"Narcissa…" Snape drawled, losing his patience with her.

"It's Draco, Severus" Narcissa whispered to him, her voice suddenly laced with worry. "He has not been the same since he came back from Hogwarts… And I am at my wits end with him…"

"What has he done?" Snape asked.

"Nothing" Narcissa replied.

"Nothing?" Snape looked to her, and she nodded.

"He does nothing all day…" Narcissa whispered, her hold tightening on his arm. "He barely talks, he eats only in his room, he hasn't asked for a single thing in almost a month… Severus, he won't even fly his broom…" Odd. I will have to look into this after my meeting. "I am worried beyond words for him…"

"And Lucius?" Snape asked.

"He was upset with Draco at first, and all because of that Weasley boy" Narcissa replied. "But even he is starting to worry… I've seen him trying to talk to Draco, but Draco is so withdrawn that he isn't making any headway."

"And you think I'll succeed where you two failed?" Snape asked, and she nodded.

"He looks up to you, Severus" Narcissa pleaded. "Please…"

"I will see him before I leave, I promise" Snape agreed, stopping in front of the study.

"Thank you" Narcissa smiled, cupping his gaunt cheek with her soft palm. And then, she turned around and left him to his business. First I'll see what Lucius wants, and then I'll look into Draco's odd behavior. Snape entered the study, and his stomach fell at the sight of Nott Snr. What is he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be in Denmark?

"Ah, Severus" Lucius greeted, gesturing Snape to sit down.

"Lucius" Snape nodded curtly, taking a seat. "Nott… How was your 'trip'?"

"It was a waste of time" Nott replied, sounding particularly sour. Good. Here's hoping that you have many more trips like it. "But it matters not… I've come back to discuss something else."

"Something else?" Snape cocked an eyebrow.

"Cornelius wants to make sure that the Muggle-Wizard war that is brewing in Albania takes place" Lucius informed Snape, who had to use his Occlumency in order to keep himself from going slack-jawed. Even Nott can't be that mad.

"And why would you want that?" Snape looked to Nott.

"It is past time we showed ourselves to the Muggles…" Nott replied, his voice venomous. "They cannot hope to stand against our might. And it would certainly help our Lord once he returns."

"Cornelius wants to weaken both the Muggles and the Ministries" Lucius said, looking to Snape for his opinion on the matter. This old fool has to be dealt with immediately.

"Don't be a fool, Nott" Snape said coldly. "The Muggles outnumber us a thousand to one, and their technology will level the playing field… This isn't Medieval Europe anymore. We will be decimated by them." Nott frowned deeply at that, looking to Lucius.

"Once again he defends the Muggles" Nott hissed, shooting Snape a look of disgust.

"I'm not defending them" Snape rolled his eyes, he truly wasn't. "I'm stating a fact that your addled mind can't seem to grasp."

"Severus, we are all friends here" Lucius said, trying to keep the peace. "And you will not start a fight in my home. Cornelius, listen to Snape's council. We are not ready for a war with the Muggles, not yet anyway." At least he has some sense. "Without the Dark Lord to lead us, we will be severely weakened." I take it back.

"Then we must find him" Nott said, and Lucius and Snape exchanged quick looks. "What if this 'Cult of Fanatics' was being led by the Dark Lord?"

"What makes you say that?" Snape asked. Damn him. For an old fool, he certainly has moments of perfect clarity.

"Our Lord boasted of his immortality" Nott replied. "What if he found a new following in the Forests of Albania? A following that was also trying to become immortal?"

"You wish to travel to Albania?" Lucius asked, and Nott nodded curtly. The Dark Lord has most likely left that country behind. And there is no 'Cult'. Let Nott waste his time. "When do we leave?"

"Soon…" Nott replied. "But first, I want to see my son again."

Ten Minutes Later

Nott had left for his Manor, while Lucius had gone back to his books for the day. Snape however, had one more thing to do before he himself could return to his own books. He had to speak to Draco in order to find out what his Godson was up to. Snape knocked on the boy's door, and he waited for a reply.

"The door is unlocked" came Draco's voice, and Snape entered the room and shut the door behind him. Draco was sitting on his study table, his back to Snape, and he was clearly reading something.

"Good afternoon, Draco" Snape drawled, and Draco turned around with a surprised look.

"Godfather? What are you doing here?" Draco asked, getting out of his chair.

"Manners, Draco" Snape said, walking over to see what Draco had been reading. A Wizard's Charisma? A motivational book? Draco quickly closed the book and hid it in his drawer, his pale features flushing slightly.

"It's just some light reading" Draco lied.

"I see" Snape drawled, deciding to ignore the boy's lie. "Your mother and father are worried about you. Care to explain yourself to me?"

"I… I don't know what you mean…" Draco walked over to his lavish bed, hopping onto it as he played innocent.

"Draco…" Snape stared at the boy.

"They're overreacting" Draco rolled his eyes.

"Are they?" Snape asked. "You are being rather anti-social from what I've heard. And what's this about you not flying your broom? Are you that keen to lose to Potter again?"

"I'm quitting Quidditch" Draco averted his gaze, looking rather crestfallen. Quitting Quidditch? The Draco I know would rather lose his arms.

"Draco, my patience is wearing thin" Snape said. "Tell me what's wrong, and maybe I will help you." Draco shifted on his bed, still looking away from Snape. Very well. Snape began to leave, knowing full well that Draco would stop him.

"I'm in trouble, Godfather" Draco spoke up, deciding to confess before Snape could leave. He really did need help, and he had no one else to turn to.

"Trouble?" Snape asked, turning to face his Godson.

"After Weasley took my place…" Draco started, but Snape already found himself frowning at the boy.

"He took nothing from you, you simply lost it because you acted like a fool" Snape reminded him. "Did I not tell you to look yourself in the mirror?"

"What I meant was that after… everything…" Draco restarted, choosing his words carefully. "I made the mistake of making promises that I can't keep…"

"Foolish boy…" Snape said coldly, and Draco flinched a bit. "What promises?"

Five Minutes Later

Snape knew a fool when he saw one, and right now, he would call Draco the prince of fools. Nott Snr held the title of king… Draco had made Marcus Flint promises about winning the Quidditch Cup in the upcoming school year, and in return, Flint had agreed to serve as Draco's muscle. Draco's thinking had been on the right track, but his hatred and jealousy towards Ronald had skewed his plans.

What Draco needed was influence in the House, and Flint provided that simply because he was a sixth year, but Draco had instead settled for muscle. Snape knew that his Godson had always been an entitled brat, and even a bully, but the fact that Draco had chosen muscle over influence truly irked Snape. The boy had the chance to rebuild his standing in the House, but he had settled for being a thug. Like always.

And now Draco was panicking. He had no allies besides Crabbe and Goyle, who honestly preferred the company of Flint over Draco's simply because he was a thug like them, and Draco also knew for certain that he couldn't keep his promise to Flint. Potter, despite being a moron, was unmatched as a Seeker. Draco was in for a tough year, and him being a pampered fool, was going to make things so much harder on him.

Snape found himself being torn between helping his Godson and letting him face the consequences of his actions. On the one hand, he didn't want Draco to be subjected to harsh beatings and bullying, which Snape was certain were in store for the boy. But on the other hand, Snape knew that the lessons people learned through hardship were the lessons that they never forgot. And Draco needed some harsh lessons. He needed to understand just how harsh, and unfair, the World really was. He needed to become the man that Ronald had seen in his visions, Snape truly wished to meet that version of his Godson.

"Can you please help me?" Draco asked, his eyes misty. "I… I don't know what to do…" Snape's chest tightened at seeing Draco so afraid, but he steeled his resolve. This is for his own good.

"Do you remember what I told you about consequences?" Snape asked, and Draco nodded meekly. "It's time you faced the consequences of your actions, Draco." The boy paled slightly, his eyes getting mistier. "You made your bed, and now you must sleep in it."

"Flint is going to kill me…" Draco pleaded. "Please… I don't have anyone else to turn to… Mother and father won't understand…"

"I told you that I would never openly favor you over the other Slytherins, do you remember? It was right before you started Hogwarts" Snape reminded him, using his Occlumency in order to keep his voice calm and cold. "You will not get any help from me, Draco… Not this time." With that, Snape turned around and left. The moment he shut the door behind himself, he heard his Godson's faint cries. This is for his own good…

AUTHOR'S NOTES: And there it is!

We have officially reached ONE MILLION WORDS with this Chapter! Milestone! We are a 1/4 of the way there, and to all of you who have made this possible, THANK YOU! Your support has been nothing short of amazing, and without it, I'd have probably given up on this story.

See you guys on Thursday! (I like to have four days to work on a Chapter)