Terminus
Sunday—December 28, 1997
Angelina wasn't sure how they got through the next few days. Between Kenneth breaking down about Luke, Alicia worrying about her family, and Adrian's parents putting up a Fidelius Charm, it was a much worse Christmas than the previous one. Kenneth went back to his parents' house on Boxing Day to create a code with Luke so they could send letters to each other without the Death Eaters blacking everythingout, and Alicia went back to her parents' house on Saturday to try and talk them into leaving the country again, using Luke's experiences as leverage, but they merely told her again that she was exaggerating.
When Alicia returned to the flat, Angelina sat her down for a hard conversation. "You know Umbridge is going to go after them at some point, and soon. You and I can go over one more time, but I think we need to stop trying after that. Adrian is right; we can't risk Death Eaters showing up while we're over there, and your parents are tired of hearing the same arguments. We aren't convincing them, Alicia. I'm sorry."
Alicia nodded sadly, buried her face in her arms on the table, and cried. All Angelina could do was rub her back.
When she had finally calmed down, Alicia said in a voice that sounded like she had an awful head cold, "Let's go tomorrow evening. Before Adrian gets back."
So, the next evening, just as it was getting dark, she and Alicia Apparated together to the Spinnet'sbackyard. Alicia had gone in through the front door a couple of times, hoping that would make an impression, but it hadn't. So to avoid being seen, they went in the back door.
Though Leslie and Patricia let them inside, Angelina could tell neither were in a mood to listen to Alicia begging them to get out of the country yet again. The fact that no Death Eaters or Ministry officials had come for them in the past week confirmed their beliefs that the whole thing was a big fake news story, spun out of control by the Daily Prophet. Leslie and Patty clearly believed that Alicia and Doreen had just been buying into the nonsense. Not even telling them what was happening at Hogwarts helped; they just told Alicia that perhaps Luke was acting out for attention, which was sort of what theyfelt like Alicia was doing, too.
Alicia finally had enough. She and Angelina werejust about to leave for good — they had even buttoned up their coats — when there was an unexpected knock on the front door. Alicia froze just steps from the back door and Angelina tensed.
Patricia Spinnet rolled her eyes. "That'll be your grandmother, probably here to tell us the same thing. Again," she said disparagingly, as she walked towards the front hall.
Leslie shook his head. "Ali, we're going to ask you and Dory to stop coming around if you insist on keeping this up," he said, his tone severe.
Alicia had been doing well until that point, Angelina thought. She hadn't started crying, she hadn't gotten upset, and her voice had remained calm, despite her obvious indignation and worry. Her dad's words cut, though — Angelina could tell. In fact, Angelina was about to tell Alicia to ignore him when they heard Patricia open the front door without a security question, and Angelina felt a twist of fear in her gut. It tingled all the way up her chest and made her fingers go numb.
They heard a very brief bit of mumbled conversation followed by a dim, quick flash of green light that, due to the angle of the kitchen and the hall, only faintly illuminated part of the wall and the fridge and almost wasn't even noticeable. But then there was a weirdthud, as if someone had fallen to the floor.
Angelina saw Alicia's face in that fraction of a second: the sheer terror and panic that flashed through her eyes.
They both moved at the same time, each raising their wands, and Angelina had the abrupt sensation that everything was about to go to hell in a hand-basket. The hair on the back of her neck prickled, and without thinking twice, she cast a Patronus to Adrian, because she knew Alicia wasn't thinking about him. Something was very, very wrong — and Angelina had a feeling they were going to need Adrian as soon as he could get there.
Without any warning, anunexpected explosion knocked both her and Alicia off their feet, though Alicia did yell "Protego!" just in time. Angelina reinforced the shield with all she had; she could feel the very attic crashing down around them, and a split second too late she realized that they had been too far from Leslie Spinnet. Alicia's shield hadn't covered him; he'd been across the kitchen, walking quickly for the door to the hall to check on Patricia. He had just stepped beyond the point of the shield.
Alicia screamed when she realized she hadn't managed to cover her father; he had instantly been buried under a mound of splintered boards, plaster, insulation, and boxes of stuff from the attic.
Angelina was just about to yell for Alicia to Disapparate when a barrage of spells came hurtling out of the clouds of dust around them. She and Alicia dived down again, even as Angelina cast a stunning spell nonverbally.
A second later, a jet of green light shot just over their heads, and Alicia nonverbally cast a powerful Expulso Curse. They heard a couple of yells and crashes; Alicia's curse had clearly thrown someone into a wall or some furniture, and for a moment, there was silence.
During that short lull, Angelina and Alicia quickly and carefully picked their way over debris to where Leslie had been, while keeping their wands out and ready. Angelina made sure to stay just in front of Alicia, but as she got closer, she froze; she could just see Leslie under the boards and plaster, and it was a rather horrific sight. She threw her hand out to stop Alicia and turned to face her. She didn't speak, she just shook her head once.
Alicia's face crumpled and she started to gulp for air. Angelina grabbed her arm to Disapparate, but another Killing Curse shot by them, missing them by inches. It hit the kitchen sink, which exploded violently, sending water everywhere. Alicia uttered a soft scream and stumbled, and they heard a man burst out laughing.
"Oh, fuck, I should have known Alicia would be here for the hols! That's even better! Hey, Warrington, get up!"
"Fucking hell," Angelina spat in a low voice before she thought about it. "Bletchley?"
"Oh damn, and Johnson, too! Merry fucking Christmas to me!"
The house was small — and at least half of it was demolished — so Angelina knew Bletchley wasn't too far away, but far enough that there was some distance between them.
"Hey Warrington!" he yelled again. "Did you hear me?"
There was no response.
Angelina held her breath. Had Alicia's Expulso Curse knocked Warrington out, or killed him? Merlin, she hoped it was the latter. But he could also be staying silent so as not to give his position away…
"You little bitch!" Bletchley hissed, and Angelina could hear him blundering through the debris towards them. "I swear to hell, I'm going to kill you if he's dead...!"
Angelina took a chance and cast a stunner silently; Alicia had the same idea because she silently cast one, too. Angelina knew the second they both missed because Bletchley swore and she heard him crash into some more debris, and Angelina pulled Alicia down again as he shouted "Avada Kedavra!" and another burst of eerie green light flew over their heads.
And then, out of nowhere, she heard another man yell hatefully, "Bletchley!"
Bletchley twisted, and what little Angelina could suddenly see of his face from the dim streetlights on the road was contorted in fury.
"You!" he shouted, his eyes widening as he drew back his wand arm.
But it wasn't Bletchley that cast the next Avada Kedavra curse. The burst of green light came from the front of the house, and the sheer power of it hit Bletchley square in the chest so hard that it threw him backwards towards where the kitchen had been.
And that was when Alicia suddenly started to cry, and Angelina realized her best friend had finally reached her limit.
Because Alicia had recognized Adrian's voice.
It had been the combination of a burst of green light and Bletchley's hateful slur that made Adrian lose all reason.
He was already on edge from the second Angelina's Patronus showed up— justas he was about to leave his parents' estate and return to the girls' flat, actually. Her voice had been urgent and a little panicked when her harpy opened its mouth.
Death Eaters at the Spinnets, need your help! Now!
Adrian had grabbed his Firebolt even as his mother yelled to ask if he wanted her to go with him. He was already in the air; he cast a Patronus behind him to tell her no, because he did notneed his mother joining a battle. Then he cast a second Patronus to Remus Lupin, because despite not wanting his mother involved, he still needed help. Thank Merlin it was a new moon.
As soon as he reached Chessy's grave, he Apparated to the Spinnet's street and, to his horror,onto the worst scene he could imagine. Their house was half-caved in from some kind of explosion. The Dark Mark had already been cast above the house, and there was debris everywhere, with clouds of dust rising into the darkness. The hair on the back of his neck stood up as fear clawed through his were peering out of their windows and screaming up and down the street, but Adrian pushed himself forward, his wand outstretched.
And that was when he heard Bletchley.
"You little bitch! I swear to hell, I'm going to kill you if he's dead…!"
Two bursts of red light headed for Bletchley, which meant there were two people still alive, and Bletchley cast a Killing Curse in return.
Adrian hadn't even stopped to think. An insane, furious part of him lost control. He wantedBletchley to know who was about to kill him, so he yelled Bletchley's name as he kicked aside some of the debris and got a good sight on his old dorm mate in the light from the street lamps. Bletchley turned, his face was livid because he recognized Adrian's voice, and only when he actually sawAdrian and shouted "You!"didAdrian cast the curse he'd sworn internally he would never cast. It was so powerful it sent Bletchley into what remained of a wall.
There wasn't silence afterwards. Bletchley was dead, but a woman was screaming and sobbing hysterically. Adrian stumbled over the debris until he reached Angelina and Alicia— they were covered in dust and plaster and water from a busted main, but they were alive, thank the gods. Angelina was restraining Alicia to prevent her from reaching her mother's body, which was just inside the door. Patricia Spinnet had been hit with a Killing Curse.
"We have to get her out of here," Adrian said,his eyes darting worriedly toAlicia. He could hear distant sirens; the muggles would be here, soon."Where's her father?"
"Dead," Angelina answered, tightening her arms around Alicia as Alicia sobbed harder and tried to fight out of Angelina's grip. "Warrington is around somewhere, too. But he never answered Bletchley, so I think Alicia's Expulso Curse must have knocked him out…"
Adrian tensed and turned back to what remained of the room. Shite. He should have known there was more than one of them. Were there others? He had completely rushed into this without thinking, damn it! His cool-headed logic had just flown out the window! He should have remembered that from seventh-year: anything to do with Alicia always made him lose his focus and do the brashest shite! It was as though her Gryffindor recklessness had rubbed off on him!
He picked his way through the debris until he found Warrington. He wasn't dead, but he had been knocked out, just as Angelina suspected. Adrian needed to wake him up and see what his memories were, damn it, and he didn't have much time. He steadied his wand and muttered, "Enervate…"
As soon as Cassius's eyelids flickered, Adrian whispered, "Imperio…"
He felt a curious sensation spread up his arm as Cassius came under his control, and Adrian took a deep breath and silently cast Legilimens. Instantly, flashes popped across his mind.
Umbridge was speaking to both Cassius and Miles in the Ministry…
Cassius and Miles went to the Spinnets' front door in the darkness and knocked; they wanted to taunt them a bit before killing them…
Alicia's mum opened the door, expecting someone else… then confusion and panic flitted over her face as she realized her daughter was right…
Miles smirked darkly, cast Avada Kedavra nonverbally, and Alicia's mother fell to the floor…
Cassiuscast the Dark Mark over the house at the same time thatMiles cast a powerful Blasting Curse…
Half the house exploded under the spell…
Adrian heard someone calling his name but he didn't dare lose his concentration just yet. He needed to see just a bit more…
Someone cast a powerful Expulso Curse and Cassius was thrown backwards into what remained of the wall…
At that point, everything went black in Cassius's mind, and Adrian exhaled. He hadn't seen Alicia or Angelina — or Adrian, until this moment.
Adrian felt his gut twist, though. Cassius hadnow seen him, even if Cassius was under Imperius at the time. The memory of Adrian's face was now there if the Dark Lord looked…
Or, had Adrian cast Imperius quickly enough? Was it too dark to see his face? Would the Dark Lord examine Cassius's mind that closely?
"Adrian!"
Adrian jerked back to reality and turned to stare wildly at Remus Lupin.
"Get the girls out of here," Remus commanded, in a tone Adrian had never heard before. "Now."
"Warrington," Adrian croaked. "I have him under Imperio. I need to stun him, and someone needs to make sure he didn't see me here!"
"I'll do that," Remus said, casting a stunner at Cassius without second thought.
Adrian's Imperius Curse broke as Warrington toppled again, and Remus grabbed Adrian's arm and whispered, "Safehouse four."
Adrian nodded, stumbled back over the debris to Alicia and Angelina. Hegrabbed their arms and Disapparated. He jumped four times as a precaution.
When he finally reappeared on the fourth jump, they were in front of the little cottage in Wales. He opened the door with his wand and cast Homenum Revelio, but the house was mercifully empty. He unceremoniously shoved the girls inside and locked the door before casting several protective charms.
"Where are we?" Angelina asked, her still arms around a crying Alicia.
"Safehouse four," Adrian said shortly, castingLumos. "In Wales. Remus will be here soon, he's doing some damage control."
Alicia was gulping air through her sobs.
Adrian quickly summoned a Calming Draught from the supply of potions he'd put in the safehouse months ago and uncorked it as he moved towards them.
"Alicia," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
She turned her eyes to him; her entire face was wet.
"Here. Drink this."
Alicia started to shake her head, but Adrian gently grasped her shoulder.
"Alicia," he whispered. "Please. I need you to drink this for me."
She stared at him for a moment longer before she finally let him give the potion to her. It took a few moments, but he knew the second it took effect. She shuddered and sagged, then stumbled forward and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He let out a shaky breath. "Come on, there's a bedroom. You need to lay down."
"My parents," she wailed softly. "Adrian, my parents —"
"I know, love. Come on."
"It was Bletchley—!"
"I know that, too."
"You killed him," Angelina interrupted. She sounded both wary and impressed.
Alicia froze beneath Adrian and looked up at him in shock.
Adrian steeled himself. "He was trying to kill both of you."
When neither girl said anything, Adrian stroked Alicia's gritty ponytail and repeated, "He was trying to kill you. I wasn't going to let him kill you, 'Licia."
There was a knock on the door and Angelina spun around with her wand out. "Declare yourself!" she yelled.
"Remus Lupin, your old Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"Remus," Adrian said quickly, handing Alicia back to Angelina and moving to the door. "Where did you and I first meet to work on Dumbledore's assignments for the Order this past spring?"
"A folly at a muggle's estate in the Lake District. Who was the second person I told about your involvement in the Order?"
Adrian thought quickly and stammered, "Trick question. It was Arthur and Molly Weasley, wasn't it? Kingsley was first."
Remus Lupin entered the safehouse, looking haggard and wary. "I handled Warrington's memory," he said in a short voice. "I got out just before the muggle police arrived. Fortunately, Warrington didn't see your face because it was too dark, and he now thinks one of Bletchley's Killing Curses hit a mirror and rebounded on Bletchley himself. It's not the best I could do, but I didn't have any more time, and I didn't want to draw attention to the fact that Alicia and Angelina were there. I wouldn't want Umbridge to think Alicia cast a Killing Curse, because Umbridge would put a price on her head for using an Unforgivable. Even though technically, a Killing Curse would shatter a mirror instead of reflecting off of it…" Remus looked concerned, then shook his head. "Hopefully, no one will look too hard into his memory."
Adrian didn't feel relieved. In fact, if anything, he felt even moreworried. What if Umbridge blamed Alicia for Bletchley's death? What if it was just like how Adrian hexed Bletchley in seventh-year after the Gryffindor-Slytherin game, and Umbridge blamed Alicia again? She had clearly sent Bletchley and Warrington to the Spinnet's house to arrest them or kill them. Had Cassius realized Alicia was actually there, like Bletchley had?
"What exactly happened?" Remus demanded curtly, looking between the three of them.
Angelina explained in a hollow voice. "Alicia and I went to try and convince her parents to leave the country one last time. While we were there, someone knocked on the door. Alicia's mum thought it was her mother. Before we could stop her, she'd opened the door without asking a security question. You can probably take it from there."
"We didn't think anyone would show up at their place until tomorrow," Alicia whispered. "Especially not on a Sunday night!"
Adrian added, "Umbridge sent Bletchley and Warrington on purpose." The words tasted like ash in his mouth. "I saw it in Cassius's mind."
"That bitch," Angelina hissed. "She wasbiding her time, damn it. And she deliberately sent those two thugs in revenge against Alicia, all for what happened seventh-year!"
Remus sighed. "Angelina, it's not safe for you to return to your flat alone. Alicia and Adrian need to stay here for a few days at the veryleast. You should stay here, too. And when you do go back, do you have anyone you can stay with?"
Angelina nodded. "I can ask George to stay with me for a few days."
"Good," Remus said quietly.
Alicia was shaking again. Adrian sucked in a quick breath. She might need another Calming Draught, and she definitely needed a Dreamless Sleep potion.
Adrian turned to Remus. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes."
"You need to stay put," Remus said sharply. "They can't access Bletchley's memory, but Warrington's memory is shaky at best, and if—"
"I'm going into a Fidelius Charm," Adrian cut him off. "To get some more potions. I'll be fine. I'll be right back." With that, he darted out the door before Remus could stop him, and Disapparated. Just as he twisted, he heard Alicia and Remus both yell his name, but he ignored that. It was for her benefit that he needed to run this quick errand.
When he reappeared on Chessy's grave, he grabbed his Firebolt, which he'd dropped to the ground next to the grave, and flew at breakneck speed back to the house. He landed a bit too hard on the terrace and burst in through the French doors into the family parlor.
"Mum!"
She was standing by the fireside, her arms crossed, but as soon as she entered, he strode towards him, her mouth a thin line.
"What happened?"
"Alicia's parents were both killed," he said in a rush. "Bletchley and Warrington showed up at their house, and…" Adrian swallowed. "They tried to kill Angelina and Alicia, too. I need a Calming Draught… and Dreamless Sleep… for Alicia… she's really upset, Mum, and I…"
The calm persona he'd put forth for the past fifteen minutes suddenly evaporated. His hands were shaking and he honestly felt like hyperventilating. What the hell was wrong with him? He was the best in his year at dueling and Defense, and yet after his first realfight, he was a wreck? He had to pull himself together, damn it!
His mother grasped his face with both hands and made him look at her. In a calm voice, she asked, "What happened, Adrian? Tell me."
Adrian took in several gulps of air before he managed to say, "Alicia and Angelina went to her parents' house to try and get them to leave one last time, and Umbridge sent Bletchley and Warrington to kill the Spinnets. Bletchley murdered Alicia's mum seconds after she opened the front door, and then he cast a curse that imploded half the house. That's how Alicia's father died, I think. And then, Bletchley tried to kill Angelina and Alicia, and Angelina and Alicia fought back. They knocked Warrington unconscious, but Bletchley was still trying to murder them. That's when I arrived." Adrian a long, unnerving pause, he whispered, "I killed him, Mum."
His mother's expression didn't change. "Of course you did. Because he tried to kill the woman you love."
"He cast Avada Kedavra at her. It missed her by inches." He could feel himself shaking; the very thought of how close that curse had come to hitting Alicia made him want to throw up.
"Thank the gods he missed," his mother said, her voice still calm.
Adrian felt like he needed to explain something else, though. "You don't understand," he stammered. "I didn't just cast the curse at him, Mum. I yelled his name. I made him look at me. I wanted him to know who was going to kill him."
To his shock, she smiled and patted his cheek affectionately. "That's my son."
"Mum! How can you stand there and —?"
"Adrian. First: calm down." Her eyes narrowed at him. "We're at war. You saved Alicia and Angelina, didn't you? I doubt this will be the first time you have to kill someone before it's over."
"How can you be so calm?"
"Because I've killed someone before, too." She took a deep breath and said, "Mon chéri, I love you. I always will. Nothing —absolutely nothing— will change that. Unless," she laughed suddenly, "you join the Death Eaters. Then I might disown you, but—"
"I would never!" he said angrily. "Mum!"
"Then there is nothing you can do that will make me love you less," she said, growing serious again. "In fact, I rather love you more, because I know you are strong enough to protect yourself and those you love, mon fils. So. First. Calm down. Take a deep breath. You have to go back to Alicia. Why didn't you bring her here?" At that, she looked highly concerned.
"I took her to a safehouse. Remus told me—"
"Safehouses can be compromised. As soon as you can, bring her here. She knows the Fidelius Charm and you'll both be safe, here. In fact, I need you to take the address to Kenneth too, but we'll wait a couple of weeks."
At that moment, his father entered the room."Adrian? What's going on?"
"Alicia's parents were killed by Death Eaters," his mother answered. "Adrian got there just in time to make sure Alicia wasn't killed, too."
Adrian met his father's eyes sorrowfully. "I killed Miles Bletchley, Dad. I lost my head; he tried to kill Alicia, and I just… I saw red, I suppose. I was so angry, and I just…"
"Understandable," his father said, which was not the answer Adrian expected. How the bloody hell could his parents be so calm about this?
He stammered, "She needs another Calming Draught. And Dreamless Sleep."
"It sounds like you both need Calming and Dreamless," his father replied, waving his wand to summon the bottles.
"Maybe I do," Adrian muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Salazar, I can't believe… I can't believe I killed one of my classmates," he whispered.
"Stop that," his mother said sharply, shaking him once. "For starters, Miles Bletchley wasn't a child, Adrian, and neither are you. He took the Dark Mark, didn't he?"
"Yes, but…"
"He knew exactlywhat he was doing. He did it willingly. He wantedto kill Alicia. He killed her parents without even thinking twice. He literally looked her mother in the eye and cast Avada Kedavra, Adrian. Honestly,you should have killed Cassius while you were at it."
"I couldn't," Adrian whispered. "Mum, I couldn't kill Cassius—"
His mother scowled. "Well, it's too late to change that, but my point is, you don't need to feel upset about killing Bletchley. Everyone makes choices,mon fils. Bletchley made his choice. He wanted to hurt others. Adrian, love, you rid the world of a parasite in the middle of a war. There is a difference between killing for fun, and protecting yourself and those you love. It is the difference between you and Miles Bletchley."
"But he has a mother too, Mum," Adrian said dejectedly. "She would want my head if she knew —"
His mother glared at him. "She has no grounds. Her son is a murderer and you were protecting yourself and two others. Besides, it isn't as if anyone is going to tell her. This is a secret you'll carry with you until you die, mon fils. And we won't say anything, either."
Adrian hesitated. Instinctively, he knew she was right: this was a secret he would carry with him until he died, and only a handful of other people would ever know. That weighed on him, too.
His father handed him a bag of potions. "Your mother is right. Here. Make sure you both get a good night's sleep, and get back here as soon as you can with Alicia."
Adrian slowly took the bag. "Thank you," he whispered.
"Are you okay to Apparate?" his mother asked crisply. "Do you want me to go with you?"
"No. I can manage." Adrian met her eyes. "Mum, I'm sorry—"
"Don't be sorry. Go back to the woman you love and make sure she's alright. And then take care of yourself, mon fils. Send me a Patronus to let me know you're safe."
When Adrian returned to the safehouse and exchanged security questions with Remus, he entered to find the older man pacing the small kitchen. As soon as Adrian closed the door, Remus took a deep breath.
"I know why you left," the older man said severely, his eyes narrowed and angry. "But when I tell you that you need to stay, I need you to trust me, Adrian."
"She needed Dreamless Sleep," Adrian answered tersely, putting the bag of potions down on the kitchen table.
"Still," Remus snapped.
"I'm sorry, but I won't let her try to sleep without it."
They glared at each other for a moment, before Remus finally sighed and asked, "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Adrian said automatically.
"Adrian, you just killed one of your classmates. If you were really fine, I'd be absolutely shocked."
Adrian swallowed. "He made his choice, didn't he? We all have."
Remus hesitated, and his voice softened. "That is true. But still. I know how hard it is to kill someone the first time—"
"When didyou—?"
For a moment, Remus didn't say anything. Finally, he murmured, "The year you were born, actually." He laughed quietly at the irony of that, and leaned against the kitchen counter. "Summer, 1978. I had just joined the Order— we all had. Me, Sirius, James, Peter, and Lily. We had no idea what we were getting into. We were fighting blind. We were outnumbered three to one. We were losing members of the Order faster than we knew. That particular night, I was fighting alongside James and Sirius, and a Death Eater honed in on James. I reacted without thinking," he admitted. "I cast Avada Kedavra before I even knew what I'd done."
"What did James and Sirius do?"
"Nothing, really." Remus shrugged. "They knew what we were up against. Sirius in particular didn't give a damn about casting Unforgivables; he used Avada Kedavra more than any of us. But that doesn't mean I didn't feel awful afterwards. Sirius and I were two very different people. I had taken someone's life, and I kept asking myself: what gave me the right to do that? I knew the Death Eater would have killed any of us without thought. Ultimately, we all make choices —"
"That's what my mother said when I told her a minute ago. Miles made a choice, just like I did."
"Your mother is right," Remus said quietly. "You are not a murderer, Adrian — not like Bletchley. He deliberately killed Alicia's mother. For fun. You killed him to protect Alicia. There is a fundamental difference. You have to come to terms with that yourself, though." After a moment, he ran a hand into his graying hair. "But, enough. Go back and check on her. We found a vial of Dreamless Sleep here and Angelina made Alicia take it. She was pretty upset. Angelina told me privately that Mr. Spinnet's body was a gruesome sight, so she might need a Dreamless Sleep, too. I'll stay the night so all of you can rest."
Adrian nodded. "Thank you. I'm so sorry to drag you into this. And I'm sorry I didn't listen when you told me to stay—"
"It's fine. You were worried about Alicia. Besides, staying to stand guard is the least I can do. I'm more familiar with this than any of you, aren't I? I'm just sorry you all have to live through it, too. That's the only reason I got angry at you; I know how dangerous it is. Go on, get some sleep."
When Adrian got to the bedroom, it was to find Angelina still awake, her arms crossed as she gazed down at Alicia, who was asleep.
"Here," Adrian said quietly, handling Angelina a vial. "I forgot there was one here, and Dad gave me two, just in case. Remus wants us all to get some sleep. He's going to stand watch."
Angelina nodded. "Thanks."
"He said her father's body was really bad."
"It was." The oldest Chaser shuddered. "I wouldn't let her look at it."
"A wise decision, it sounds like," Adrian said, fingering the cork in his own vial. "Has anyone checked on her grandmother?"
Angelina nodded. "Remus sent a Patronus to Molly Weasley to ask if one of their family can."
"Good."
"Let's get Alicia in the middle," Angelina said quietly, eyeing the bed. "And you and I can sleep on either side of her."
Adrian nodded and used his wand to shift Alicia. Angelina sat next to her and Adrian got on her other side. They looked at each other over Alicia's body, and Adrian nodded.
He and Angelina drank the potion at the same time. It tasted like lavender and chamomile; it had been a while since Adrian had had Dreamless Sleep. The last time had been in Gassin, at his grandparents' house, when he'd realized Alicia was the only hope for a Healer the Order had at the time. Now they had Eilish MacMillan in case of real emergencies, at least, but —
Adrian didn't even realize when the thought ended and he dropped back onto the pillow next to his girlfriend, or that Angelina collapsed at the same time, or that Remus was watching over all three from the doorway.