Marked as His Equal (unedited)

by TheL0sts0uls

On September 1st, 1941, Hogwarts welcomed refugees of Grindelwald's War, as Tom Riddle has been researching his past, trying to uncover his ties to Salazar Slytherin. Among the refugees is an Austrian witch intent on guiding the future Dark Lord down a better path, even as she too must contend with forces threatening to tear her and the world apart. Female Harry Potter, Time Travel

5. Chapter 41-50

Chapter 41: Deepening Bonds

Taking deep breaths, Lilith found her awareness shifting away from the chamber for the Spell Creation class, as Armando Dippet paced outside of a runic array designed to enhance her magical awareness. Having spent weeks going over all the research that existed on Soul Magic, Lilith had asked the Headmaster to oversee her attempt to better understand how it fundamentally worked. As the war neared a certain date, Lilith knew that she needed to be ready, with her contacts within the British Parliament having successfully secured for her access to a tank for her to modify. After looking through how a tank operated, she had already given the manufacturer the modifications that she required, while Lilith worked on perfecting what essentiatially would be the tank's new engine and control system. What concerned her was the way a person could control the vehicle safely, without suffering the blowback from a pseudo familiar bond collapsing. Because the owls had their own independent reasoning skills and will, the connection between them and their companion was relatively safe. The connection between an operator and a remotely operated vehicle that had no consciousness of its own would be far stronger and more susceptible to blowback should the connection be violently severed. Trying to find a middle ground between her discs and complete remote control wasn't easy, which was why she had asked the Headmaster for some assistance. If she could grasp how exactly Soul Magic worked, rather than simply reusing the same method over and over again, she hoped that she could not only make constructs far more easily, but even more accessible to the wider magical population.

After all, Soul Magic was still frowned upon, even if her constructs proved that not all Soul Magic was born from violence and death. Dippet paused before Lilith. "Clear your mind of thoughts, Miss von Schwarzwald. Focus purely on the feel of magic, both within your body and surrounding you. The array will do the rest." Lilith, still with her eyes closed, nodded, before using her Occlumency exercises to clear her mind, which wasn't easy for her. With her upcoming final ritual to synchronize her condition during the Spring Equinox and her magics currently undergoing sporadic instability, not to mention the attack that had destroyed the Riddle Manor that left Thomas homeless until the property was rebuilt, there was a lot that weighed heavily on her heart and mind. Still, with how important this was to everything, Lilith managed to push her concerns down, her mind focusing purely on the flow of magics around her. Ordinarily, this would be a terrible idea within Hogwarts, with how saturated it was with ambient magic from its student population, let alone the Castle's history and the Leylines that crossed over it. Thankfully, Dippet had isolated the room from the rest of the castle's magic using the Castle's wards as a barrier, creating a small bubble devoid of the magic that usually flowed freely. The only things within the bubble were the professor, Lilith's enchanted record player, a set of her disc plates and Galatea, as well as a few items they planned to enchant or curse. Soon, Lilith's awareness faded until all that she could feel was magic.

Of everything around her, both Dippet and Galatea shined brightly, though Galatea visibly showed echoes of both of Lilith's magics within her, though her metallic form kept her safe. The other items were duller in her mind's eye, especially the record player that would only flare to life as soon as she neared it. When she inspected the plates, however, she noticed that their core crystals were as bright as Galatea, which left her curious. "Professor, why would Soul Magic be restricted to a single point in an object, when living things have every inch of their being saturated with it? It doesn't make sense, since the plates themselves are more magically conductive than flesh and blood." Lilith heard the faint sound of Dippet rubbing his chin. "Perhaps it's less about conductivity and more about significance. While there are aspects of magic that are closer to the sciences, there is a lot about magic itself that is drawn from symbolism and seemingly illogical, but emotional significance." Lilith frowned, looking at the plates again. "The only difference, though, between the crystal core and the plates would be the drop of…blood." Lilith pulled one of the inert objects, this one being a book, before getting Galatea to cut into her finger. After drawing the correct runic array, Lilith ran her magic into the book, before the enchantment took effect. She opened the book and turned it around so that Dippet could see it, responding to her silent question. "The enchantment is in place. I am unable to read it."

Lilith then focused her attention on the book itself, seeing the stronger echo of her magic on the cover, the form of the sigil barely noticeable but for the brief gaps between the lines of the crimson body fluid. "It's the blood. The strongest connection between my magic and the objects is through my blood." Dippet hummed, taking the book in her hands. "That does make sense. Blood has been a fundamental part in all forms of Soul Magic that aren't just spells. Even your performance during the duel in the Great Hall was enhanced by the combination of the blood that was running free over your body and the runes carved into your skin. Beyond the scope of magic itself, many religions also use blood, either literally or symbolically, as a medium by which the faithful's soul connects with the will of their divinity." Lilith hummed and ran her fingers over her blood cover thumb, the cut already healed. She then looked towards Galatea, who still shone brighter than the plates, though now on closer inspection, the energy was definitely concentrated in the core, with only faint traces activating and deactivating on the wings. "I had been looking for a way to avoid using the more elaborate pseudo-familiar bond ritual for the operation of certain constructs. Clearly, blood remains the medium of choice. I suppose the question now is whether there is a way to keep the blood bound item on the person, rather than on the object that will be controlled. If I can make the connection less reliant on the Soul Magic elements, it could keep the potential side effects to near zero." Taking a few deep breaths, Lilith disconnected herself from the focusing array, only to flinch the moment her eyes opened.

Rather than the dulled muted colors that accompanied the magicaless bubble or the room itself, her eyes were focused on the windswept void that the stone within her eye tended to reveal whenever she lost focus on the material plane. Panicking a little as her vision refused to go clear, even after going through her usual calming exercises, her eyes were instantly drawn to a dark shape within the void. The hooded figure approached her, as its bony fingers pointed towards Lilith, drawing ever near her. Lilith shook her head, tripping over the cushion she had been kneeling on, before falling onto her back. "No! Stay away!" The figure suddenly appeared above Lilith as its fingers touched her forehead. Thoughts and memories of both Lillian and Lilith flashed before her eyes, followed swiftly by the flash of green light. Dippet panicked as he crossed over the array and saw the body of the girl grow deathly still after it convulsed violently, though life still clung to her now freezing cold form as confirmed by his wand. "Hogsby!" The elf appeared next to him and, upon seeing Lilith, required no further instruction, taking the girl away to receive treatment. Dippet then turned to where the girl had been looking towards, the mechanical owl screeching as it tried to claw at something that even his own eyes could not see. Dropping into Fae Sight, Dippet barely caught a glimpse of a transparent hooded figure before it vanished, the owl growing still, its voice mournful.

It took a few tries for his friend to answer Dippet's summons over the Floo, but eventually Alexander physically arrived, stepping through the chimney. As Armando tried to explain what had occurred, he noticed as Alexander's attention was drawn towards the same corner of the room. "What is it?" Alexander's face grew mournful. "You know what it is. We all do." The aging Headmaster held his hand against his chest. "But why? Why her? There is no reason for it to pursue her. Her health is improving, is it not?" The last of the Peverells ran his hand over his short brown hair, before sighing. "Lilith has cheated death several times now, with the new treatment likely to leave her in a stable condition. If I had to guess, it might want Lilith now, before she is beyond her reach once more." Dippet's face sunk, even as Alexander kept some of his other theories to himself. "Is there anything we can do?" Alexander looked at his old friend, before looking at the objects that Lilith had been working on. "Take care on how far you push her magical talents before the Equinox. Her connection to Death and the Void has only grown stronger in the years that she has been in my care. I had thought that her attunement to the Void would help her gain control of her magic. Clearly, I might have been wrong and it could be exacerbating her condition." Dippet nodded. "I will inform the staff. Though as for her…" Alexander chuvled slightly. "Yes, I know. It will have to come from me for her to take it seriously enough. I will go see her and let her and her boyfriend know about this concern of ours."

As his friend left, Dippet picked up the objects that Lilith had left behind, placing them all in a stack at the edge of her desk, though Galatea had flown out the window of his office at her insistence. The girl had been particularly proud of all of her creations, especially the record player and her pseudo-familiar. Their session together only served to bolster Dippet's belief that Lilith von Schwarzwald was more than just a fine student. Her mind was like that of the old inventors, constantly working towards improving upon her craft, refining what had already been designed, or even blazing a trail that so many others had given up on. She was the world's first true Artificer and Dippet could readily admit to looking forward to what other great magical constructs lay within the confines of her mind, restrained and even threatened by the girl's physical condition. To him, it always seemed to be those students who held the most promise that were the most endangered by forces beyond their control. From the young quarter-goblin Ravenclaw student of his who spent many a of a school term recovering from injuries inflicted upon him by his Goblin kin, despite his gift for charms, to the young Potter second born, his health only sustained by the very potions he now dedicated himself to perfect. Fate was cruel indeed to threaten so many lives, filled with endless possibilities, with lifespans that even to someone as old as him seemed cruelly short. He prayed that Lilith would make it through safely, before another great mind, heart and soul was lost to the void.

"Oh quella strega matta! Perchè non ha cercato di evitare lo schianto! Oh, la mia testa!" Orion placed a bag of ice on Alessia's head, who flinched in pain when it touched her. "Easy there! Healer Pomfrey will be right over with the medication. Also, it's very rude to talk about someone who is currently within the room while using a different language, Alessia." The young witch froze as her eyes shifted to Orion. "Wait… did you… how long have you known how to speak Italian!?" Orion blushed slightly. "Since last September. Lilith sent me a few books on the language since her family lived close enough to the Italian border that there was no way they didn't know how to speak it fluently, especially after the way you two addressed each other that day at the library. Why?" Alessia's face went deep red, before she snapped her gaze away from him, as Poppy placed her tray on the table next to Alessia's bed, her gaze switching between the two children. A few beds away, Teresa waved her wand as she sealed Minerva's leg in a cast, her right arm already in a similar situation as it sat in a sling. "Must you always make such reckless plays? You had to have known that you wouldn't have been able to pull up from a dive at speed in time, not without crashing into Miss de Francesco." Minerva winced, slightly from the pain, but mostly from the disappointment in the Healer's voice.

"My apologies, Madam Prewett. I had seen her take similar dives before and I thought I could manage it myself. I guess I…miscalculated the distance." Prewett sighed, as she did a final check of the girl's condition with her hand, before handing her a potion vial. "This should lower some of the pressure you might feel in your head for tonight. If everything heals adequately, you will be free to go by morning. Just please, try to be more careful on the broom. Especially with the younger students. Miss de Francesco was certainly lucky that she impacted you on her way out of the dive, which meant she didn't hit the ground as hard as you did, but that was still a very reckless stunt you pulled. For a second there I thought I was looking at my nephew Ignatius." Minerva smirked slightly at that. "Yeah, he has done similar dives in the past during practice. I thought for sure I could do it just as well as he could. The sight of the ground speeding towards me won't be leaving me anytime soon, so I guess Ignatius is either fearless or insane." Teresa gave the girl a disapproving look. "He is both, and so are you, it seems. Now, you have a visitor waiting to see you so I will let them in." Minerva instantly lowered her eyes, expecting to see her grandfather approaching from the Hospital Wing's entrance, before the lower section of a green dress appeared in her vision. Minerva looked up and felt her heart skip a beat. "Mother! Wha…what are you doing here?" Isobel looked at her daughter with a frown. "Father invited me to come to watch you play, though he neglected to mention how…aggressive your style on a broom seems to be."

Minerva closed her eyes in shame. When she had received a letter from her mother about her injuries during the holidays, she had swallowed her pride and allowed Professor Ross to apparate her to her mother's side. She had soon found herself in the Ross ancestral home, being welcomed by a bunch of kids who were clearly too young to be at Hogwarts, before a stern voice called them to order. The older woman with short white, almost platinum hair, walked down the stairs and stood in front of Minerva, before bowing her head softly. "Welcome to the Ross Estate, young woman. My name is Abigail Ross née Williamson. If you would follow me, I will show you to the house's wing that we have set aside for your mother and brothers. The latter two are currently resting by your mother's side after spending the entire morning exploring the house and grounds with the other grandchildren. Theseus, why don't you go check with the others what's for lunch and that there is plenty for everyone? Rationing and now having five more mouths to feed might make our choice of meal a bit light." Minerva followed after the older woman, unsure what to feel for her. "Is it so uncommon for your husband to come over for the holidays?" The older woman gave Minerva a cheeky smile. "Not at all. Yuletide is a time that even our family tends to gather. Though as Gamekeeper and Professor of Care, Theseus tends to stay at Hogwarts unless it's for an important occasion."

For the rest of the Christmas Break, Minerva spent much of her time with her younger brothers, which wasn't necessarily that easy. Having such a large building made the two kids want to explore and play almost constantly, though for Minerva, it wasn't entirely unwelcome. Spending hours with Robert, Malcolm and the other Ross children playing hide and seek, with her usually being the seeker, kept everyone distracted from the fact that Isobel was currently recovering. Her mother had barely had much of a chance to explain why her husband wasn't at her side, leaving the young Gryffindor unsure how to feel about the whole situation. The Ross themselves weren't as overbearing as Minerva would have believed from everything she had heard. If anything, they seemed rather… lax. While Abigail definitely exuded authority and her presence alone commanded respect, she hardly ever spoke to the young woman but to ask her about her studies and aspirations. There was never much of a push for her to spend time with the others, with both Acamas, who she learned was her eldest uncle, and his wife Cornelia, who spent more time discussing the situation in the Wizengamot than anything else, both being exceedingly polite and unintrusive. Even Theseus seemed far more restrained, though it certainly was odd seeing the old man and his wife interacting in a clearly loving relationship. It was those interactions that had made Minerva's thoughts concerning her own family run rampant.

Despite how much she wanted to believe that her own family was loving, she could now contrast the Ross family's caring and loving gestures with her parents' distant and almost cautious actions. Her mother had almost always seemed jumpy, her eyes taking in her surroundings, probably looking for anything getting out of line, while her father had often stared at Isobel when she wasn't able to see him. They hardly ever seemed to kiss each other, with the few times that she remembered looking awkward and almost mechanical, whereas the way that Cornelia and her husband kissed had certainly made Minerva feel warm and uncomfortable, though it seemed natural to them. Even Theseus, both much older and, from what Minerva had guessed, quite the unattached loner, seemed to wait on Abigail's every need, their hands never far from each other's, smiles always at the edge of breaking out on both their faces. In contrast… Minerva had a hard time remembering her mother smiling. The one time that she remembered clearly was the day that Minerva received her Hogwarts letter. And even then… there was something about that smile that looked off. Seeing her mother here at Hogwarts, however, seemed to show a different side of her.

The nervousness and anxiety that seemed a constant companion of hers was gone. Still, she looked sad for some reason. "I am sorry. If you want me to quit Quidditch, I can just stop. I have a lot on my plate from classes anyways." Isobel blinked at her in surprise before a sad smile grew on her face. She sat on the bed next to her daughter and placed her hand on Minerva's. "I won't lie to you. If that is how you play, I would certainly be more comfortable if you quit the game. But if you truly enjoy playing, then please, don't quit because of me." Minerva searched her mother's face. "Then, why do you look so sad?" Isobel frowned, before she lowered her eyes, her hand still holding Minerva's gently. "I had a talk with your father earlier today… and it didn't go well." Minerva frowned. "But, why? You two seemed fine during the summer. What changed?" Isobel shook her head. "It may have looked like everything was fine but looking back now…I think that our relationship had been falling apart for years now." Minerva lowered her eyes. "Because of us?" Isobel raised her daughter's chin so that they could look each other in the eye. "While having children may have strained our relationship, the damage had already been done the moment that I hid my magic from him." Minerva lips quivered. "Did you ever love him?" Isobel nodded. "I did. When we were younger. But, in time, I think I stopped loving him for who he was and loved only my ideal of him. So I started to ignore the way he treated us and spoke about magic. In a way, I think it was the same for him. He loved his idea of me, always rejecting the reality that I was not the sort of woman he had initially hoped to be married to."

Minerva thought about her mother's words. Did she, herself, love her father? Or was it the same, loving the idea that he was her father, while ignoring how often he wasn't at home, how cold he tended to treat her mother and siblings. She didn't know, but the thought of living with him like this now scared her. "So…what's going to happen to all of us now?" Isobel sighed. "I will probably have to go see a divorce attorney, though the laws of the Ministry favor the magical family over the muggle family, especially when discussing custody of children. Your grandparents are more than happy to offer us a place to stay until the divorce is settled. After that…I don't know." Minerva nodded her softly. "Will we get to see father a few times after the divorce, or…?" Isobel winced. "That is hard to say. Since he is a muggle and is on record for his choice of words towards magicals after the Aurors returned him home, he might lose more than just the divorce. His memories of us may get erased as well." Minerva's eyes widened. "What?! But…that's not fair!" Isobel rested her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Believe me, I know. But the way your father treats magic and how the Statute of Secrecy is enforced… there is a decent chance that his memories will be altered concerning the existence of magic. While I myself am not comfortable letting you and the boys alone with him, I don't want to deny you three getting to speak to him, as I did to all of you concerning my own parents for so many years. I will try and appeal for his memories to remain as much as I can."

Isobel leaned forward and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "In the meantime, please try not to get sent to the Hospital Wing after every single Quidditch game. I am planning to come watch every single one you play in, after all." Minerva blushed but nodded. "I will try." Isobel caressed Minerva's hair gently, before both Poppy and Teresa called her into the office, to discuss a few medical matters with her in private. Testing out her healing leg in its splint, Minerva took the offered crutches and moved about the Hospital Wing slowly, before noticing that a bed had a privacy screen up, though it wasn't closed completely. Curious, Minerva managed to reach the curtains before pulling it slightly aside. There, resting restlessly on the bed, was Lilith, her face bandaged slightly, with blood just barely leaking through, staining the white cloth. Minerva pulled away, feeling her heart beating, as she remembered what Riddle had said about the girl. How she suffered every so often with a magical affliction that left her bedridden. Professor Dumbledore had said that it was her nature as a Dark Witch striking back at her. And yet…as much as Minerva wanted to deny it, she only ever saw Lilith using curses that one time against Valerio. Even in Defence, the girl hardly ever casted any magic during class. Professor Dumbledore had assured her that her family was a fine example of a stable, happy family and that she didn't need to approach the Ross family. And yet, he was clearly wrong about everything concerning her parents. Could he be wrong about Lilith too. If so… what else was she wrong about? Minerva didn't know and, for the first time since arriving at Hogwarts, she felt lost because of it.

"I remember the days when the Seelie Court had summoned their representatives to discuss the retreat into the Otherworlds. It is depressing to know that the decision was indeed taken, though I am glad to hear that many of your kin and the descendants of the Fae remain among us. It is actually very comforting to know that our school was entrusted to you, though there is much that the old Headmasters have failed to pass on safely to your hands, as we have covered. Ahh, the politics of power that I had hoped would never stain our home." Dippet bowed his head slightly towards Salazar's portrait. "Indeed. However, it is a privilege for me to at least be able to restore some of what has been lost, thanks to you and to your descendant, my Lord Slytherins. If you two will excuse me, I have some examinations to design. Oh, and Mr Riddle, please submit to me what you have written regarding the Transfigurations and how Parselmagic affects the stability of the end result by the end of the week. After that, we can switch over to Conjuration, followed by Defence. As you might be able to guess, your final examination will be a thorough review and demonstration of the fundamentals of all the major wandbased magics and how Parselmagic affects it as the new base language. I would also welcome a bit of original magic, if you find the time to think on the matter. It doesn't have to be a fully realized idea, so please, bring whatever it is that you consider to my attention soon." Tom led the Headmaster to the vault exit of the Chamber, his current control of the wards ensuring that he didn't need to escort the older gentleman the entire way out. "Of course, sir. I will have everything ready by next friday. Until then."

As the vault door closed, Tom sighed in relief, before Salazar chuckled behind him. "Regretting the position of Head of House yet, my Heir?" Tom turned, shaking his head. "No, Ancestor, though the last few weeks have been quite exhausting. Fortunately for me, Lilith did an exceptional job in preparing me for many of the legal aspects, not to mention the adequate etiquette to maintain when representing our Noble House. Though my wrist certainly feels quite more tender from all the documents I have had to sign." Salazar nodded, though his face turned worried, as his eyes lingered on the sleeping form of Rene, the Basilisk being deeply worried about the young woman. "Speaking of your lovely consort, how is she doing?" Tom smiled, though it was partly strained. "Better now. She isn't jumping at shadows anymore and has been more stable with her magic. She has spent some time drawing up the designs for her special project, at least until Madam Prewett clears her to resume her courses." Salazar chuckled. "Of course, even after a brush with Death itself, she would only be rattled so far." Tom shuddered at the mention, before taking a seat next to the portrait. Feeling extra cautious about the safety of Salazar, even though he trusted Dippet, Tom had decided that it was safer to set up a table within the greater Chamber and place the Portrait at the head of the table securely.

His decision seemed to have been the right call, as Salazar was able to satisfy some of Dippet's curiosity regarding the decor and structural design of the Chamber, without touching on the more secretive elements, with the sculpture's mouth having been closed the entire time, though Tom was certain that Professor Ross and Auror Potter had told the Headmaster that it was where the Basilisk tended to reside. Taking a seat text to the Portrait, Tom rubbed the ring on his hand pensively. "Out of curiosity, did you set a condition that required your Heir to have intercourse as part of the ascension process?" Salazar chuckled, but shook his head. "No, I did not, as I told your lovely lady when she dropped by." Tom frowned, turning his attention to his ancestor's face in the canvas. "Then why didn't it trigger when I reached my majority? Why was it after Lilith and I… spent an evening together in intimacy?" Salazar smiled. "Well, how familiar are you with the magical side of physical intimacy?" Tom thought for a second but shook his head. "Not at all. I don't think any of the classes would even cover that as a subject matter." Salazar cursed under his breath. "Of course they wouldn't. It seems the taboos of the body from the Christian faith trickled in and affected our own views. No matter. When engaging in physical intimacy, it is more than a simple exchange in body fluids or a biological drive for procreation. It involves the magics of those participating. In an act of love between two magicals, magic flows from one being to the other freely."

Salazar smiled briefly. "There are different benefits to this truth. In Covens, several witches would select a single man and mate with him repeatedly, infusing him with their magics, thereby creating the true warlocks, warriors of extraordinary magical prowess that would give their lives to protect the Coven and the children born from said unions. Both Helga and Rowena were such coven witches, though Rowena eventually went her own way, while Godric was himself originally a Warlock, before his coven was destroyed and he became a Battlemage. For those who were more picky with their loved ones, the very blending of magics on the eve of Beltane can result in the usually unbreakable bond of soulmates, though the Beltane fertility rites still held a magic of their own that aided conception. Magic is, after all, a fundamental part of life itself, so it is no surprise that the very instance when two bodies and souls, or more, merge can be quite a powerful and noteworthy moment. For me, however, I was more interested in something far more simple for the conditions that would allow an Heir to become a Lord of Slytherin. In a way, it was sort of required that my Heir engaged in physical intimacy to become worthy. The condition that the ring had was, however, not simply the act of mating with another sentient being, but the proof that the action had meaning beyond the physical act."

Seeing the confusion in Tom's face, Salazar elaborated. "Rape or simply intercourse with any person would never have triggered the magic in the ring. What was required was the genuine desire for love for your partner and for your partner to share those feelings back. In a way, it certainly helps in demonstrating your ability to carry on the bloodline, though the primary reason as to why I included that condition was the fact that I believe that love is an important trait for any Head of House to have. To feel love for others, to cherish them is, in my mind, a precondition for compassion and a genuine desire for socialization. So, it wasn't the fact that you and Lilith had sex that proved you worthy of been my successor, but the fact that you could love and be loved in return by a person for whom you had a deep personal connection with that did. It proved beyond a doubt that you were worthy of restoring the family and capable of beginning it anew." Tom stared at Salazar for a second as the portrait's words sunk in. His explanation made much of what Voldemort had done come into clear focus. Having never actually loved anyone enough to share his magic with them, Voldemort had never been qualified to ever be the Lord of House Slytherin. Not only because the magic never triggered, but because fundamentally, he would not have been able to see House Slytherin's continued future, as secured by Salazar himself. For Tom, however, the fact that he was deemed worthy only partially registered in his head.

He knew that what he felt for Lilith was something different from what he felt for everyone else. There were the obvious physical and intellectual attractions for her, but as time passed, there had been this powerful, overwhelming urge to just be with her, to see her eyes drawn to him at every turn, to see the smile grow on her face at the sight of him. At first it had felt as a more selfish desire. He had briefly considered wanting to have her in a similar way, not that different from when he stole trinkets from the other kids at the Orphanage. But the longer he spent with her, the more he valued her willingness to be by his side, that she would choose to be with him rather than with anyone else. The thought of her making that choice was intoxicating beyond all reason. After learning that she was also Lillian Potter from his dreams, he had some difficulty trying to determine if he did love Lilith, or if it was an echo of his feelings for Lillian. In the last few months, he had stopped caring about that, wanting only to feel the connection that he had with her. Knowing now that it was real and that it was indeed love made him feel light, as if a weight on his chest, a secret fear that had lingered deep in his heart, had suddenly been lifted. Salazar himself took note of the change and smiled gently. "I take it that the meaning behind my test was more meaningful to you than what I had intended."

Tom nodded as he looked back at his Ancestor. "For years, at the Orphanage, I had read stories and poems professing the virtues of love, familial or romantic. Yet, for all of those books, I myself had no such experience. I had no parents to show me familial love, with the Carers and Matron barely showing any consideration for me. Even the love spoken concerning the faiths of the muggles was denied to me, as all I ever felt was the disdain and hatred of the so-called holy men that sought to exorcise me." Salazar's lips thinned. "I am sorry to hear about that. I had thought that in a millennium, things would be different. Even if killing those who are different was no longer their way, the pain they inflict seems no less severe." Tom shuddered at the memories, though they were quickly chased away by the warm feeling in his chest from the thought of Lilith. "That's why, ever since I met Lilith, Thomas and you, I have been trying to understand what it is that I was feeling. With you and Thomas, the feeling grew but was steady, a comforting warmth that I didn't wish to lose. With Lilith…it's like a storm of emotions, ebbing and rising with every moment, though I am grateful that most of what I have felt has been comforting and meaningful. When you told me almost a year ago that it might be that I loved her, I jumped at the chance. I wanted, no, needed it to be true."

Sighing to himself, Tom looked away. "I will admit that I might have… I might have behaved a bit too eager with Lilith. The fact that I am here, now, knowing that she loves me and that I love her is more from Lilith's restraint and her determination that we treaded carefully, than from anything that I myself wanted. I can't even say just how grateful I am to have met her this time around in my lifetime." Salazar chuckled. "Then don't say anything. Show it to her, every day, for the rest of your lives. And knowing her, she will do the same to you, for you are very much alike. Now, why don't you take me back to the office? Having Dippet pick my mind was far more exhausting than I thought." Tom nodded, before carrying the painting back into the office. On his way out, he ran his hands over Rene's side. ~"She will be back soon, just you wait. She will clean your scales just the way you like it."~ Rene hissed, her head turned slightly so that she could gaze at Tom with her yellow eye. ~"Rene doesn't mind if the Black Witch doesn't clean my scales. So long as she is unharmed, Rene will be happy for her and father's heir."~ Tom padded her on the scales. ~"She will be, I promise."~ As Tom left, he could not have known that Salazar's portait's expression had slowly shifted, from one of delight and hope, to one of sorrow and foreboding.

Seated within Headmaster Dippet's office, Lilith and Lucretia sat patiently, though both their attention was focused on Druella Rosier, who would periodically start shaking. The light haired brunette had rushed into Lilith's room with a letter in hand, before the redhead was forced to send out a few missives, ignoring the pain that her still unstable magic elicited from the exertion. Worried about how quickly the situation could deteriorate, Lilith had opted to use her Patronus as a messenger, as much as she hated snubbing Galatea. They simply didn't have the time to wait for the letters to reach London in time. After getting Lucretia's support, the two brought Druella before the Headmaster, who upon reading the letter offered them the use of his office and had activated the Floo terminal, which everyone in the room kept eyeing nervously. The flames in the chimney eventually turned green, before Cassiopeia stepped through, her wand in her hand. After confirming everything was safe, she opened the Floo connection herself, through which Melania Black stepped through carefully. She looked towards the Headmaster and bowed her head. "Thank you for accommodating the situation, though I can see the Rosiers potentially bringing a lawsuit against you. Our solicitors would be more than happy to help shield you from any legal woes or fees." Dippet huffed. "The Rosiers can certainly try but they will fail. The Charter is clear that I have the discretion to contact and summon Heads of Houses if I find a student's well being threatened. This, as far as I am concerned, qualifies."

Dippet took his hat off the table and bowed slightly at Melania, before bowing to Cassiopeia. "The two of you have my permission to use my office. All I ask is that you don't leave any errant wards or charms active after you leave. I have had enough of trying to dismantle the work of Black family warding experts in these last few years." Lilith blushed as Dippet looked towards her, but his smile reassured her that he wasn't exactly mad at her for the ward she had introduced into the Slytherin Common Room two years prior. Everyone waited for him to step out of the room, before Cassiopeia sealed it, with all eyes turning towards Druella. Melania was the first to break the silence. "You understand that what you are requesting could earn you quite a great deal of grief. You might never see your birth family ever again, and even if you do, they may look upon you with contempt." Druella bristled. "I would want nothing to do with them! They are literally selling me as if I was a slab of meat, a prized mare whose only value is her womb! Between abandoning my family name or abandoning my freedom and humanity, I will only ever abandon the former." Melania sighed but nodded, as she pulled out a ring. Lilith knew that it was similar to the one she and the other Blacks wore, though this one would only mark Druella as a ward. As Melania was about to begin the incantation, Lilith reached out and stopped her. "Wait."

Cassiopeia looked towards Lilith. "What? This is what we had planned ever since she voiced her concerns and we cleared her." Lilith nodded before she turned towards Druella. "I know, but I need to ask. Does your family have a vial of your blood in storage?" Druella thought for a second. "Y-yeah. Why?" Lilith turned towards Cassiopeia. "My retaliation against the Rosiers included a Maledictus that keeps them from harming us. With my family gone and the Blacks off the table as targets, they wouldn't hesitate to punish one of their own for abandoning them." Cassiopeia thought for a second, before turning to her Lady. "She's right. As soon as they hear that she isn't under their control, they will retaliate quickly. Even under our wards and the best Healers, a deadly Maledictus will still cut her down quickly." Melania frowned as Druella's shoulders slumped. "Then we can just blood adopt her into the family." Lilith raised an eyebrow at that. "With her potentially marrying Cygnus in a few years? I think that would be risky and dangerous to both of them and to whatever children are born to them. Even if you were to pick the furthest Black relation to do the adoption, it would still carry risks best avoided." Melania looked towards Lilith. "Then what do we do? We can't just leave her be. Cygnus cares for her and we are more than happy to see her join the family." Lilith rubbed her chin, giving Druella a look. The girl looked utterly defeated as the very notion that her family could kill her regardless of where she was had sucked out any defiance and hope she had left. "Druella… how do you feel about the Nott or Malfoy heirs?"

The young woman looked towards Lilith. "I am not interested in marrying either of them if that's what you are asking." Lilith shook her head. "Not marrying. Adoption. To keep you alive, you would need a full blood adoption by two parents. Of the families in the Wizengamot, they are amongst the few that have never married into the Black or Rosier families. As foreign families integrated into Britain, they aren't as politically powerful on their own but both of them have been strengthening their relations with the current Dark Faction Speaker. They could accept a request from the Lord and Lady Black in adopting a ward of House Black with the potential that said ward could create a bond of matrimony between the families." As Druella stared at Lilith, Cassiopeia started cackling slightly. "My, my, that is one devious mind you have, little hellion. While it may seem much, her suggestion has merit." Cassiopeia turned towards a pensive Melania. "I have already cleared the Malfoys and Notts as viable allies. If they accept, we would all benefit, though it would be up to our young lady here as well." Druella eyes searched everyone's before landing on Lilith's, her expression a bit more steady, though still filled with concern. "I… Abraxas has always been very kind to me. His family has never held much value to the Rosier family so we were never in consideration for courtship or betrothal. If his parents are ok with it, then… I don't think I would mind being adopted into the Malfoys. And since it keeps my relationship with Cygnus and its prospects intact…"

Melania was pensive before looking at Druella. "I will contact the Malfoys and have them come over to the townhouse quickly to settle this. For now, we will still bring you with us as a ward of House Black, before anyone else realizes that you have left Hogwarts. Did you bring everything?" Druella nodded, turning over her trunk to Cassiopeia, who swept it for tracking charms or any other dangerous enchantments, a few of which she found before silently dispelling them. Once given the go ahead, Melania presented the ring to Druella. "Though it is temporary, do you, Druella Violetta Rosier, place your life and future in the hands of House Black? Will you remain within our walls, seeking to bring no harm to our family and house, by action or inaction, until such a time as your stay is concluded?" Druella presented her right hand to Lady Black. "I, Druella Violetta Rosier, entrust my future to the House of Black for now until the day the Lord and Lady Black decide otherwise. So mote it be." As the ring slipped over her middle finger, the magic of the ring recognized her vow as it shrunk to fit, before Druella felt a wave of magic flow out of her. Cassiopeia rushed towards the young woman, whose feet were wobbling, her wand scanning over her. She frowned. "That's odd. I am not detecting anything, except some curse residue fading away."

Lilith hummed to herself. "Huh, well that's good. So, see you ladies over Easter Break?" Cassiopeia narrowed her eyes at Lilith as Melania nodded. With both Druella and Lady Black gone through the Floo Terminal, Cassiopeia approached Lilith, who had been eyeing her since the surge of magic. Knowing she wouldn't take no for an answer, Lilith elaborated. "It was the Maledictus I had placed on the Rosiers. Willingly and genuinely surrendering her life to the Blacks was a condition by which the curse could be lifted in an individual and all subsequent descendants." Cassiopeia narrowed her eyes. "An interesting set of conditions. One could even say that they might have been tailor made to account for certain… possibilities. Do you know something about Cygnus and Druella that we don't?" Lilith turned to Lucretia, who upon seeing the serious looks on the two, turned away from the pair and plugged her ears, before then refocusing on Cassiopeia who had cast a privacy ward regardless. "In my time they married but it was after Druella had forced herself on Cygnus and conceived a child as a way of escaping her fate. The marriage was loveless because of this betrayal of trust and what Lord Sirius and Lord Rosier likely agreed upon behind closed doors to recognize the union. Their daughters all suffered for this and only one found a measure of happiness, until it was cruelly taken away from her in the final days of the second war. I believe Cygnus and Druella could be happy together, so long as they are together of their own free will and without any obligations to anyone but themselves."

Cassiopeia stared at her for a second before sighing. She rubbed the back of her head. "We will try and make sure of that this time around. Watch out for our children while this story breaks. And take care of yourself too. Don't think we weren't aware of your recent stint within the Hospital Wing." Lilith nodded as the witch vanished into green flames, before pulling Lucretia out of the Headmaster's office. As they wandered the corridors, Lilith raised a privacy spell around both of them. "You can ask." Lucretia looked at Lilith but shook her head. "I trust my parents and Aunt Cassie enough that anything the four of you are keeping secret needs to stay that way, though I do look forward to hearing a bit about what is going on when you come to me for a dress fitting." Lilith smiled at her and pulled her into a brief hug. "Danke, Vetterin." Lucretia hugged her back. "No thanks needed. Now, about you sneaking into the Boy Dorms. Do Alphard and I need to give Riddle a talk about proper behaviour or should we start with you?" Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Last I checked, neither of you would be the right people to talk about proper behaviour. After all, at least I haven't snuck off into a broom cupboard and left it with my clothes disheveled. So, is Ignatius a good kisser or a better lover?" Lucretia's cheeks went deep red. "Uhm… both?" Lilith giggled to herself. "Oh, I think you got it bad." The Head Girl wisely dropped the subject, as Lilith thought about Druella, praying that with this the Black Sisters, whatever form they might take, would have a happier life. And if it erased Draco Malfoy from the timeline… well… all the better, really.

"I was wondering where you snuck off to. I see that you made yourself at home." Lilith didn't turn around as she had already sensed Tom's presence from within Slytherin's chamber as he approached the vault entrance. "I wanted to do a few more refinements to my project for the British Military, which meant that I needed a big enough place to potentially resize this thing and test it out. It was the chamber or the Room of Requirement. After your concerns over Rene feeling lonely, there was simply no better choice. Danke for leaving this table here, by the way. I take it that Salazar's meeting with the Headmaster went well?" Tom hummed as he approached Lilith from behind, gently caressing Rene's head, feeling that the scales were clean and renewed, which by the Basilisk's content state meant that Lilith had probably helped her in shedding her old layer of skin thoroughly once more. Then again, with Renenutet being so close to Lilith's current position on the table at the center of the Chamber, Tom wouldn't be surprised if the sensation of Lilith's magic itself was easing the Basilisk's nerves. Both he and Rene agreed that the young witch's magic, when not in conflict with itself, was quite soothing to be around. The best that Salazar could come up with was that Lilith's soul was inherently kind and that her magic acted as a sort of balm for those she cared for. Which would explain why the younger students treasured her so deeply, even if it was unknowingly.

"No, I don't suppose there was much choice." Bending down slightly, Tom wrapped his arms around her waist, his lips kissing his girlfriend on the neck, which sent a noticeable shudder down her frame. Focusing his attention on the table, Tom frowned for a second before her comment from earlier clicked in his head. "Please tell me you aren't going to fire that in here." Lilith chuckled before rubbing her left hand over his own, which was resting at her waist. "I don't have any live ammunition and while I have been tinkering with how to fire a firearm without it needing to reload with the use of magic, I haven't used any of my attempts on this thing. I would need to see a tank fire in person and try to get the science behind the round's density, speed and kinetic force at impact to even begin to get a fitting approximation, none of which I have current access to. If the demonstration works, however, that information may be provided and then I can start tests, though I hope to do it within the relative safety of the military's training grounds." Tom frowned slightly. "Which means you would be spending less time at the castle." Lilith pulled her hand away from a medallion-like object, which caused the miniaturized vehicle's treds to seize moving, before turning her head to give Tom a look. "Is that a problem?" Tom thought for a second. "I have just… you have felt distant from me these last few weeks at Hogwarts. Your near death experience didn't help but I feel like you have been trying to avoid me."

Lilith turned her attention towards the miniature tank sitting atop a small platform that kept its treds from running on the ground and sighed, before standing up. She turned to Tom and ran her fingers under his chin, his body shivering delightfully at her touch. "Can you think of a reason as to why I have been giving you more time to yourself while in the presence of other students?" Tom nodded, having guessed as much before. "You want me to interact with them in your absence, which lets them feel that I am making decisions on my own regarding House Slytherin, rather than seeking House von Schwarzwald's approval. I must admit, it has worked. Heir Lestrange and the younger Fawley children have been approaching me more often, as have the others." Lilith smiled a little. "See? My presence at your side is a double-edged sword. My family's position and notoriety allows you to gain some attention, as we are not known to offer alliances easily. As the Lord of a Founder's line, you have a similar draw to those who have a more traditional and reserved view on what a Magical Family should be, but they are a lot more wary around me as I am an outsider, regardless of what the Black's say or don't say about me. Since you recently got your position, I felt that you needed the freedom to make your own impression as a young lord."

Tom nodded, before his eyes focused on hers. "And your absence from our bed?" Lilith giggled slightly, before leaning up and capturing his lips with hers. His hands and hers started exploring each other thoroughly as Tom pressed her against the table, before clearing enough of what was atop for him to lift her up and set her sitting on the edge. Lilith moaned in approval into his mouth before breaking off the kiss, both of them breathing heavily, her hand still gently making its way up his chest. "Come now, my lord. Haven't you heard that there is some pleasure to be taken from restraint?" Lilith leaned in and whispered into his ear. "Sure, we could make love every night of every single day, but we could also draw it out, letting the emotions build up." She gently tugged on his ear, getting him to shiver again, his arousal plainly felt against her waist. "All so that we can indulge ourselves in our passions fully. Though don't get me wrong, I do look forward to the warm, comforting feeling of your body pressed into mine every morning." Tom breathed heavily before kissing his way up Lilith's neck. "Good, because it is definitely getting harder to wake up to an empty bed every day." Lilith smiled at him as she pushed him back slightly. "In more ways than one?" Tom closed his eyes and groaned. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"

Lilith chuckled. "Indeed. For all of Abraxas lessons in courting, I doubt he covered a few things. There is only so much you can do with language before it turns uncomfortable. Though maybe Alphard-" Tom pressed his finger against Lilith's lips. "Please…no. I don't need him trying to teach me how to handle flirting and innuendo." Lilith chuckled. "Well, your loss. Now, I would love to indulge in our physical needs, but I do have to finish this before I go meet the government and military officials." As Lilith sat back down, Tom took a moment to center himself, suppressing his desire, but refraining from leaving Lilith's side, electing to sit down beside her. "Speaking of Abraxas, I hear that you are partly responsible for the upcoming addition to his family." Lilith kept testing her control over the tank's treds and turret, gauging how quickly she could change directions, though she would have to place the vehicle on the ground to test its speed. "I am guessing it came up during the last Wizengamot meeting?" Tom chuckled. "Did it ever. Abraxas and Theodore said that the remaining Rosiers tried to claim line theft, since Valerio did end up dying, but the evidence presented regarding the attempted forced marriage with a Grindelwald supporter from Germany made it clear that they were never going to have Druella act as the future Head of House Rosier anyways. They recognized her position as a ward under the protection of House Malfoy."

Tom watched as Lilith tinkered with the medallion for a bit, adding a few more runes, sealing it up in a case that hid both the crystal core and engraved aspects, before testing the connection between it and the tank one more time. "Well, it was either that or have House Black take her in themselves. The issue with that was the chance that a blood curse could have been inflicted on Druella by her family, who have a vial of her blood stored away, as she herself confirmed. Having the Lord and Lady Malfoy perform a blood adoption on her would negate it the same way that Vinda's did. That and the benefits of a possible future marriage between the Malfoys and the Blacks should please both families well enough." Tom chuckled. "Indeed. Abraxas actually seemed to be looking forward to gaining a sister, since his parents had always wanted to have another child. Their relationship won't be as profound as if she were their own, but…" Lilith shook her head. "Oh, I don't know about that. The negotiations for the Cygnus and Druella courtship state that they want a few years before getting engaged and married. I am sure Druella will take that time to get to know her new family far more thoroughly and that they might come to love her as one of their own. Blood and time might be the stronger claims to family, but an act of kindness and understanding can go a long way to building family ties, some… perhaps stronger than what nature alone can build."

Lilith's posture went rigid, her eyes staring into the void, as Tom lowered his gaze. He could imagine who she was remembering. "I am sorry, both for what happened and… and what you have been forced to do." Lilith lowered her gaze, her voice soft, barely above a whisper. "There are times… when I am with Alexander… that I swear that I am sitting next to him. I sit there, waiting for his stupid puns to come tumbling out so that I could roll my eyes at him. When I realize that I am not with Sirius, everything that I have done comes tumbling through my mind. I… I know it's a long shot, but if either Walburga or Orion give rise to that troublemaker… the world will seem a bit brighter to me." Tom pulled her against his chest and rubbed her back, his earlier intentions for tonight set aside. "One way or another, he will be around, Lilith. You will see. And if what I heard is true, he will meet the Potter's son and bring unholy hell upon this school." Lilith smirked slightly. "Well, that will probably be your problem to deal with, won't it." Tom was still for a second. "Ah, right. Maybe you could… try and knock some sense into both of them before they arrive at Hogwarts." Lilith ran her hand over Tom's chest. "We will see. Sometimes, you need a bit of chaos in your life, to appreciate it all the better." Tom kissed her hair before resting his chin on her head, as the two turned all other thoughts and concerns out of their minds, both reveling in the closeness and connection they currently shared, as the night wore on.

Chapter 42: Building Strength

"Marcus Rosier certainly looked in poor form." Arcturus shrugged as he sat in one of the comfortable seats of the Neutral Chambers, having walked in as soon as the Wizengamot Session and Trial completed. After his actions within the Wizengamot, all the Rosier properties were searched, with Gringotts being forthcoming in providing the locations of properties that the Rosiers had purchased under pseudonyms, which resulted in further charges being added against the Rosier Head of House after sufficient evidence of his support for Grindelwald's saboteurs was found. As expected, the Family panicked as soon as it became clear that the fines would essentially cripple them financially for years. The distraught Lady Rosier, though unable to reclaim the seat and vote that her husband lost in the Wizengamot, was more than happy to testify under Veritaserum in order to reduce the punishment, in exchange for exposing the other families that had been aiding the saboteurs alongside the Rosiers. This, of course, led to the arrests of Lord Travers and Goyle, with a few other rogue families also turning over any information they had to protect themselves from further fines and sanctions. "I am not surprised. While the extremist families were panicking after his arrest, he was held within Azkaban while awaiting trial. I am just surprised how well it's proceeding. Auror Euphemia Potter has certainly been putting in a lot of work. Word is that Shafiq is already preparing to recognize her as his successor, with Crouch eyeing retirement soon and likely leaving Shafiq the Director's chair once the war is over."

Henry sighed, though there was a satisfied smile on his face. "Well, with all the hours she has been putting into the DMLE, it's good to know that they aren't going to waste. Still, until the remaining saboteurs are found, I doubt she and the rest of the DMLE will get much rest." Arcturus eyed the other man in the room, who had spent the beginning of the conversation meticulously adding cream, sugar and even honey to his drink, supplies that he himself had brought to the meeting. "True, though this counter insurgency force has certainly done quite the amount of damage to the saboteurs, enough that they seem to have gone into hiding, foregoing any further attacks." Alexander sat back, smelling his cup of tea for a second. "Well, to be fair, I was hoping that their losses on Christmas would have revealed the enemy's exact location, which it did, but only after the survivors left their former base of operations. As long as they remain inactive, locating them becomes all the more difficult." Arcturus sat back as Alexander drank from his cup. "Still, I am amazed at how well you were able to counter them throughout the last six months. Then again, you have been able to keep your own family's existence concealed for nearly eight hundred years. Even Cassiopeia failed to turn any information up on you. A Peverell family secret?" Henry eyed Alexander for a second, curious how much of the Peverell secrets were successfully passed to the Potters and how much was kept hidden with the reclusive family.

After finishing his sip, Alexander lowered his cup down onto the saucer held against his lap. "Hard to say. Being presumed dead has its advantages, not to mention having sufficiently divested and stored funds that can be converted into currency at a moment's notice. A good relationship with Gringotts is always a wise investment as well." Henry straightened his back slightly, using his cane for support. "Still, it must have been difficult keeping quiet for so long. Especially with the oaths that your family is behoven to. How were the Peverells able to manage it all while still hidden?" Alexander pursed his lips and remained silent, enough that the two other lords thought that he would refuse to answer. "When the island of Britain was united under a single great authority, the need for our services diminished greatly. After all, as the magical side of the family that had given rise to Lord Percival, knight of Camelot, it was our sworn duty to defend Albion from a variety of threats, both from beyond our shores, and from within." Arcturus frowned. "Still, with all the foreign campaigns in the centuries since, how were your people able to conceal your presence on the battlefield? Even the Elder Wand was not hidden as well from historical records." Alexander shrugged. "Mostly… because we didn't get involved. It was harder with the conflicts in Europe, though the geography of Albion served well as a counter against most foreign powers. With our policy of non-interference during the civil wars, there was no reason to get involved elsewhere. As the British Empire grew…"

Alexander went silent for a moment. "Ignoring the call to arms was made easier, as the very actions of the subjects and the British crown itself became less than just. The violence against foreign nations and peoples as their sphere of influence grew, the enslavement of humans who were deemed inferior by arbitrary reasons that only the most apathetic minds could justify and the subsequent oppression of foreign territories as the crown and the nation profited from the suffering of others. When Napoleon attempted his conquest of Britain, we were very much of two minds as to whether or not we should intervene to save a country that had become so morally corrupt in such a few centuries." Henry lowered his eyes, his hands squeezing his cane tightly. "I see. So you too felt the same guilt as I did, standing within the ICW Assembly as I listened to the atrocities the magical representatives of African, Asian and Oceanian communities revealed to us, in the hopes that we used our influence to change the minds of the European non-magical governments to cease these acts of inhumanity. My great shame was my inability to do anything concerning these atrocities, other than the use of my family's private wealth to aid the victims however much we could, as the Wizengamot was uninterested in using its position to pressure Parliament over matters they deemed "not of concern"." Arcturus sighed. "My family never supported these acts, though like much of Britain, we likely reaped the rewards just the same. Perhaps, at the conclusion of this war, the governments of the world, magical or otherwise, can finally address these evils and begin making amends where possible."

Henry looked towards Alexander. "I imagine that a certain young woman was the catalyst for you bringing the family back to the defense of Britain?" Alexander smirked slightly. "In a way. The German Air Raids had certainly caught my interest, but without an invasion of the island, I had no intention of taking part in the war. Until Lilith arrived at my home, carrying memories of a little girl so many years into the future. Talking to her, hearing and seeing how the future she experienced was a clear consequence of the failures and choices of this era… well, it certainly made me feel the need to be more involved in the war." Arcturus turned quiet, remembering what Cassiopeia had mentioned concerning Cygnus and Druella, and wondering what other choices led to the fall of House Black. One of the things that had been a sticking point with his wife and cousin recently was when Orion should start his proper training to be the Heir Apparent. He was clearly a decent spellcaster, but his propensity and skills with curses was yet untested, though Lilith's lessons in Runes, Warding and Potions were certainly doing a good job in preparing him for his future position. A thought struck Arcturus as he considered how well Lilith seemed at training someone early at becoming an Heir, even while being discreet about it. "Alexander, you have made no mention of family beyond Lilith and the Potters. I must ask… are you training Lilith to be the future Head of House Peverell?"

Alexander looked at the two men and sighed. "Yes and no. I will readily admit… I would be relieved knowing that Lilith would take my place. That said, Lordship over House Peverell isn't easy and while I would be happy if she asked me to bind her to the family, I know in my heart that she has another path ahead of her, one that I have been doing my best to prepare her for, in the absence of her own family." Henry frowned. "Then why do you allow her to carry the Cloak, even if it's a redundant duplicate?" Alexander smirked, making sure to not mention the stone's current location. "Because it's hers. While the existence and power of the Hallows is a responsibility of the House of Peverell, it isn't part of our family's duty to itself or others. The Cloak is hers and while she may never claim the name Peverell again, she, as a von Schwarzwald, is capable of handling the responsibility of keeping it safe and securing it for future generations." Henry rubbed his family ring. "Is that what you are helping her prepare for? Her responsibilities as a von Schwarzwald." Alexander nodded. "While our families have only had brief interactions in the past, we share a similar understanding regarding the Dark Arts, as well as the need to safeguard objects, locations and even the Dark Creatures that are readily found in our world. As a von Schwarzwald, that burden is even greater for her now, being the sole living member of the family, with her duties calling her back into a world covered in the quagmire of war."

Arcturus sighed. "I had hoped that I could entice her to remain in Britain as a member of the Black Family. The girl has suffered enough as it stands. She has earned her rest." Alexander's expression turned sorrowful. "She will not take that offer, even if it was all that she could ever ask for. Even if or when Riddle proposes to her… even then, she will refuse to remain in Britain." Henry tried his best to recall his brief interactions with her at Potter Manor, trying to understand why she would refuse to be passive. "I can understand the restlessness that an idle existence can bring to one's life. My position at the ICW often caused me and my family much grief, even though my wife would never have complained within earshot of me or our sons. Still, Lilith must recognize how dangerous her path is. She has cheated death far too many times as it is. Fate cannot be so generous as to spare her forever." Alexander placed his saucer and empty cup of tea on the table between them. "Were it bravery, pride or even confidence that drove her, she would have turned away as soon as the loss of her arm, of that I have no doubt. No… Lilith's motivations run deeper than that, her devotion and obsession with the von Schwarzwald family being the symptom of the cause." Henry remembered the way that she looked at the Potter family. "Guilt. Though I don't understand. Her guilt concerning our family is to be expected. What else could she be feeling guilty for?"

Alexander nodded and explained. "It is indeed guilt, though not the one you already are aware of. Because of what Lillian did, the lives of countless people have been changed beyond what they had once been. But the one part that still troubles her is the weight of guilt that smothers her whenever she looks in the mirror. The von Schwarzwald family had practically been erased from history by the time that Lillian was alive. Because of Lillian, however, the family is now clinging to life and just barely. Every action, every decision she takes is made with the von Schwarzwald family in mind. Because while she can justify saving and altering the fates of others who yet live, she has no way of knowing if the family whose name she has taken, or the girl whose face she wears, would truly approve of everything that she has done in their name. Even the ritual that is easing her symptoms would have been far more stable and painless had she chosen to be selfish. But she couldn't. She has to live up to the von Schwarzwald name… no matter what it costs her. Because to do any less would be an insult to the soul of the girl whom she replaced upon her death." The three were silent for a moment, letting the words spoken sink in, before Arcturus took out his pocket watch. "Melania and I are having dinner with the Malfoys to help Druella settle in with her new family and to discuss the courting agreement. Thank you for your time, Alexander, Henry." Alexander almost allowed him to leave. Almost.

"Before you leave, Arcturus, there is something I wish to discuss with you two. You were quite right in that the Peverell family may soon end with me, as Lilith will be unable to take up my family's name. Of the two lines capable of inheriting the name, I can say that I am hesitant to burden young Tom Riddle further by carrying another House as a burden to his descendants, especially if it becomes compounded with his relationship with Lilith. Which is why I want to discuss this with you, Henry." Henry sat back, eying Alexander a bit wearily. "If you are to ask if Fleamont would be willing, I would say his heart would be in the right place and that Euphemia would be capable, but I would be remiss in saying that they would hardly be capable of handling the burden that I believe the family name carries with it." Alexander nodded as Arcturus tapped his own cane. "I also don't see why you asked me to stay, as this is clearly not of my concern." Alexander smiled at the Head of House Black briefly. "It might surprise you, but I have come to believe that the burden of the House is too great for one family to carry the secret on its own. As for whether it is your concern or not, I think it may eventually become your concern, if a daughter of House Black were to take up the Peverell name through marriage to her husband." Henry sucked in a breath. "You don't mean…" Alexander turned to the clearly concerned Potter Patriarch and tried to give him a sympathetic look. "I do, which is why I wanted to run it by you two first." Arcturus sighed, before taking the bottle of cognac off the table and opening it. He had a feeling they were all going to need a bit of alcohol to get through this discussion.

"Mistress Euphy! Welcome home." Euphemia smiled at the elf, before handing him her coat and hat, both of which were a bit wet from the weather outside, as the door to the front gate of Potter Manor was closed behind her. "It's good to be home, Petersby. Are Henry and Monty awake?" The elf shook his head, his ears flopping slightly at the action. "Lord Potter is currently resting. He was entertaining the odd guest who reeked of death in his office for some time and was very tired." Euphemia pursed her lips, fully aware as to who the elf was referring to. The man had been meeting her father-in-law on and off for the last few days, sometimes in the company of Lord Black. For some reason, while it didn't seem to trouble the Potter Family elf, he always addressed Alexander as reeking of Death. It certainly didn't alleviate Euphemia's anxieties around the man. "I see. And Monty?" The elf tried to rub his hands together nervously, but the jacket in his hands stopped him. "Master Potter is currently in the Potions Lab, though I am certain that he turned off the cauldrons a few hours ago." Euphemia sighed, though mostly in relief. As the investigations that stemmed from Rosier's arrest had turned up so much information, she had been forced to spend a few late nights at the Ministry, only managing to catch Fleamont twice in the last week alone, usually already passed out in bed. Washing her face and hands in the lobby bathroom, Euphemia then proceeded down the stairs into the basement.

Unlike many of the Family estates that she visited over the last few weeks, the basement of the Potter household wasn't gloomy or foreboding, at least as far as she could find. There was a small chamber that was definitely designed to contain a prisoner, though it was in a lot of ways more comfortable than the Ministry holding cells, which were quite Spartan in design, let alone the cells at Azkaban. Euphemia shivered at the thought of the prison located far into the North Sea. The ancient and mysterious place had been used as a prison as far back as anyone could remember, with the creatures there acting as makeshift guards. The few times that she had been assigned as a guard to the place had left her feeling ill for weeks on end, with Flemont spending that time trying to develop a Potion based counter to the soul deep chill that tended to linger. The end product wasn't perfected yet, but his potions and loving company had managed to improve Euphemia's recovery time by quite a bit. Part of the reason she was in search of her husband was the fact that she had been spending the last few days moving to and from Azkaban because of the investigations. Reaching the reinforced door at the end of the hallway, Eupgemia knocked on the door, opening it upon hearing her husband say "enter". She wrapped her arms around Fleamont and kissed the back of his neck, as his eyes kept going over his ingredient list and the shelves in front of him. "Evening, love. Busy day brewing?"

Shaking his head, he turned around and pulled his wife into a hug. "Not as much today. Supplies are running low at all the apothecaries, what with everyone scared about the supply shortage and the saboteurs still being at large. What about you? Are the long nights over for now?" Ephemia pressed her head against his chest, enjoying the feel of his body's warmth. "For now. All that's left is the trials for everyone else who got hung out to dry. A lot of the Old Families will be losing some seats, though it was surprising how many families outside of the Wizengamot supported the cause as well." Fleamont thought back to what his mother had taught him about history. "A lot of them were probably like the Rosiers, kicked out for crimes against the Ministry and the ICW. Wouldn't be surprised that a few still held a grudge and were jumping at the chance to hurt the Wizengamot back. A chance that Grindelwald provided." Euphemia sighed but nodded. "Sounds about right. So, what's on your mind?" Fleamont raised an eyebrow at her. "What makes you think that there is something on my mind?" Euphemia brushed her lip against his. "Monty, the potion ingredient shelves are properly organized alphabetically and probably by freshness. You only get this zealous about organizing the shelves when you are thinking about something else."

Fleamont rested his forehead against Euphemia's, letting out a heavy exhale. "Father invited me to his study to discuss something, with Peverell being present." Euphemia remained silent, giving her husband time to find the words he wanted to use. "It seems that Lord Peverell has no heirs left to inherit the family name, other than the Potters and the current Lord Slytherin. He and dad were discussing what it would mean for me or Charlus to take up the mantle of Lord Peverell, for when Alexander is no longer around." Euphemia sighed. "Well, this isn't exactly unexpected. This sort of thing does tend to happen to families that have bloodlines that die out. I am just surprised that Lord Peverell hadn't approached your father while you two were at Hogwarts." Fleamont chuckled. "I actually said as much. Apparently, Alexander hadn't been as concerned about the family's future back then as he is now. But with the threat of Grindelwald looming over the country and the chance that Dumbledore's plans might come into effect, he wants to make sure that the Potters and Peverells endure. Which is why he and dad were checking with me as to what I would like to do concerning taking up the Peverell name… or taking Charlus place as the Potter Heir Apparent. I did make it clear that any plans or decisions regarding me would need to involve Charlus input, as well as yours, which is why I stayed up late tonight."

Euphemia kissed Fleamont on the neck before stepping out of his arms. "Well, I am glad that you waited on me. Based on what Alexander has been doing, I don't think either of us would be suited for what a Peverell seems inclined to do. Shall we head up to our room?" Fleamont nodded as he followed Euphemia out. "To be fair, the Peverells have always been very intense. Have I ever told you about what Iolanthe Potter was supposedly like?" Euphemia shook her head, which prompted Fleamont to continue. "According to the family journals, she was a particularly gifted Fairy Doctor. I don't recall what the profession was called back then, but that is how it translates. She was the fulcrum between the Fae and the people of Godric's Hollow, easing any magical maladies inflicted by the Fae upon the population, before dealing with the Fae and ending the source of their distress. Word was that Hardwin Potter first met her when she saved him from becoming the next meal to a Kelpie that was living in the waters of the River Wye, successfully taming the creature in the process. Her home was a small cottage in the woods, constantly surrounded by brownies, faeries, and dryads. Like the typical Potter, Hardwin was so enamoured with her that he tried several times to reach her door, but was driven back by the Fae constantly. Iolanthe even told him, while she was at the village proper, that she would only consider his advances if he successfully reached her door and asked her directly."

As they walked through the corridors leading to the private chambers that belong to Fleamont and his wife, he paused in front of a painting of a cottage surrounded by trees. "This was what her home apparently looked like. Hardwin spent weeks trying to brute force his way to the door, eventually suffering through many different ailments born from Fae Magic, most of which were treated by his parents, who were both Potioneers. Eventually, he found a fellow wizard, now believed to have been a Peverell or one of their allies in disguise, who informed him to study the Fae and learn their ways to successfully reach the door. Took him the better part of a year, but Hardwin eventually reached the door and the two started dating." Euphemia shook her head, a smile on her face. "So the famous Potter stubbornness was very much alive back then. Still, that wasn't that bad of a trial for Hardwin." Fleamont smiled. "That was only to get her attention. For the Peverells to recognize him as worthy of her hand, he was dragged all across Britain as part of their hunts, with Iolanthe at his side. While she was renowned for her kindness and beauty, she was apparently better than him when it came to spellcasting, cutting down Wyverns and rampant Weres with practiced ease. Hardwin certainly improved under the Peverell family's tutelage, but his final test was a hunt of his own. He was sent out into some dark, deadly forest on the Welsh Coast and given no further instructions other than to survive."

Closing the door to their room, Fleamont started to help Euphemia strip out of her robes. "Well, he clearly survived, as the family endured." Fleamont nodded. "He did, but word was that he wasn't the same. He came out of the forest far less reckless, a few massive, cursed scars on his back and neck and with the blessings of the Peverell family to marry Iolanthe. They eventually did, with him being trusted with the family secret concerning the Hallows, and what remained of the Peverell fortune. Or at least, what was supposed to be the Peverell inheritance. Hardwin would eventually take up a strong position within the Wizengamot, becoming one of the first true orators of the Potter family, with Iolanthe ever by his side, the green eyed witch cutting down quite the number of assassins that sought to silence the rising star in the Light Faction." Euphemia pulled her husband to sit on the bed, pressing her body against his side. "Being a Peverell is more than just the name, isn't it?" Fleamont sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Apparently, the test in the forest remains the Peverell family's right of passage for Heirs to become Lords and gain true mastery over the family's legacy. Alexander was very clear that he was certain that I, even with your aid, would probably not survive the test. And I can't disagree with him."

Euphemia rubbed Fleamont's chest in a show of comfort. "You have nothing to prove to me. I am not like Iolanthe, Monty. I prefer my husband to not be near death at any point." He kissed his wife's hand and held it in his hand. "I am grateful for that. Still, if I don't take the Peverell name, Charlus might feel compelled to take it instead. Meaning that I will be taking my father's place. I… I don't think I can do that either. He has been a central figure in the ICW and the Wizengamot for years now. The Light Faction has been recently coalescing around him. I don't have my father's talent for words and I doubt that will change in the next few years. Meaning that I not only fail to measure up as a Peverell, but possibly as a Potter as well. I don't…" Euphemia pulled her husband's face to the side so they would be looking into each other's eyes. "Monty, you don't need to replace Henry or Alexander. Being the head of a family is more than just doing the same as your predecessor. True, you probably won't be a Speaker for the Light, or some great war mage, but that doesn't mean that you are unworthy. You are the most kind, caring, thoughtful person I have ever known and certainly the only man I would ever wish to be my husband. I don't need you to place your life in greater danger, not for me or for anyone else. So please, don't feel that you need to change. Not for me, not for Alexander. Or for anyone else. Just be yourself."

Hearing his wife's words, followed by a searing and passionate kiss dispelled much of the dark thoughts that had lingered in Fleamont's mind over the last few hours. Searching his wife's face, he couldn't help but smile. "What did I do to deserve such a wonderful woman in my life?" Euphemia chuckled. "I already told you. You were simply being yourself. Now, we know that we have a brave, reckless yet exceptionally levelheaded granddaughter waiting to be conceived in our future. While I doubt we will be conceiving her father tonight, I would certainly not be opposed to practicing for that eventuality." Euphemia nibbled on Fleamont's earlobe, his skin growing warmer as his wife's hands began to undo his pants. "And since tomorrow I don't have a shift at all, I wouldn't mind if we went for as long as you wanted. So why don't you lay back and let me get you all warmed up." Fleamont's mind crashed quickly after that as it often did when his beautiful and exceptionally loving wife pressed him into the bed and drove both of them towards a prolonged and breathtaking release. Though his stamina was never the best due to his illness, tonight he pressed on, making sure to give back as much pleasure as his wife gave him, driving her to a voice her approval loudly, leaving him beaming with pride. As they snuggled together under the blankets, his arm wrapped around her waist, Fleamont allowed his insecurities to fall away. While he would never be as renowned as his father or as deadly as his distant relative, he had the love in his arms and a future to prepare for. For his wife and potential children, he would just have to be the best version of himself that he could be. It would have to be enough.

"I don't need you to follow me around. It's not like I can't take care of myself!" Alexander raised an eyebrow at Lilith as they stood in a warehouse just within the Bovington Garrison. The base in Dorset was far from the tank construction facilities in Northern Ireland, which had been kind enough to help with the modifications to the testbed tank that Lilith had been provided by the Military. After the successful demonstration of the remotely operated car to Military personnel, thanks to MP Warren's recommendation, Dorset was the only place that the Military would allow for the demonstration to take place. The base itself felt odd to Lilith. It clearly had some wards on the perimeter of the installation, but they weren't anywhere near as strong or as effective as the wards around magical properties. It made her wonder if part of the reason for the specific location was due to the Carmarthen Trustees. At the initial meeting with the Military planners she had noticed a few men sitting back, wearing typical military uniforms, though one was clearly in the RAF, while the other was an Army uniform, both of whom remained silent throughout the demonstration, at least when it came to her. William had confirmed that these were the Trustees who had met him to discuss his son's future after he approached the Crown regarding his family's growing magical talents. They had apparently agreed to help tutor the boy concerning their role in between the magical and non-magical world when he was old enough.

"That may be so, but you could use some company, especially since Tom couldn't accompany you. Besides, you might imagine that as a Peverell, I might know a thing or two about warding Death away from you now, when you are at the most vulnerable stage of your recovery." Lilith rubbed her arm nervously. Ever since completing the ritual for the Winter Solstice, Lilith had noticed an improvement over her magical abilities. What no one had expected was that the improvement came at an unexpected price. As far as Teresa could see, Lilith's physical body had lost some of the cohesion that usually existed between it and the soul. Since Lillian's soul was technically foreign to Lilith's body, this state seemed to have drawn Lilith's essence to exist somewhere at the edge of life and death. Of course, Lillian's luck being what it was, it meant that the manifestation of Death that had been circling Lilith since her arrival at Hogwarts had redoubled its attention on her, seemingly attempting to pull her into the void on numerous occasions ever since Lilith's attempt to better understand Soul Magic. The only thing that seemed to keep Death at bay was another's presence close to her. During the day, Lilith had no problem being close to her friends and extended family, while at night she had essentially claimed a part of Tom's bed for herself. After New Year's, Lilith had no problems sleeping next to Tom, as any concerns for privacy and restraint had been dealt with.

Understandably, the arrangement after her near brush with death, however, didn't lend much to enticing physical interactions between her and her boyfriend. If anything, they hadn't been able to indulge themselves at all. Though, if she was honest with herself, the lack of sexual activity had no effect at all when it came to their sense of intimacy. Feeling Tom against her body, now without any clothes between them, was a lot like how Lillian felt when she was sharing a bed with Luna. The closeness and intimacy were more like a balm to her soul, easing away some of the anxieties that kept making their way through Lilith's Occlumency. It also seemed to have a similar effect on Tom, who no longer seemed to toss or turn in his sleep, often falling asleep with his arms wrapped around Lilith's waist. She was especially happy that his presence seemed to keep Death at bay, with both of them possessing fragments from a mostly disrupted future. She would have preferred Tom at her side today, but Dippet had already made too many allowances for Tom to attend the Wizengamot Sessions. He simply couldn't give Tom any further preferential treatment. "So, did he personally request for you to accompany me?" Alexander scratched his nose, giving her a brief grin. "He might have, but to be perfectly honest, I would have wanted to accompany you here regardless." Lilith sighed, but nodded, before knocking the wind out of Alexander's lungs by shoving a riflecase into his chest. "Fine, then you get to assist me with the demonstration. I take it that you know how to shoot one of these, right?"

As a door opened at the other end of the warehouse, Alexander opened the lid of the wooden box and smiled. "A Lee-Enfield? Sure. Much better than the old Enfield Muskets I used to practice with back at the Estate. Though knowing you, this thing is anything but standard issue." Lilith frowned as she gave Alexander a curious look. She knew about Muskets when she went researching what would be the best testbed for replicating a projectile weapon, but she was pretty certain that they had been out of circulation for almost a century. Alexander barely looked a day over forty and, like Sirius, tended to behave at times a bit playfully, but never with the degree of unhinged glee of her Godfather. Which made her wonder if her instincts about him were right. After all, Goblins were very, very careful as to how they word their responses. Leaving the matter of her eccentric patron's actual age aside, Lilith focused her attention on the men approaching, spotting one woman among them wearing typical factory fatigues, her hair cut quite short, probably for safety and comfort. Trailing behind were the same two men as before, though the one wearing the RAF uniform sported some fresh cuts along his face and was clearly walking a bit gingerly, which made Lilith wonder if the Trustees didn't have access to effective Potions. The man up front presented his hand to Lilith. "A pleasure to see you again, young lady. Willow here has briefed me on the modifications she and the other plant workers did on the Churchill Mk III we provided you."

Lilith bowed her head to the young woman briefly. "Your people do fine work. You are free to inspect the additions I made, though you will find mostly some Electrum wiring and our variant on Phosphor Bronze for some of the moving parts. We also used some Alchemy to imbue the Armour Plating with the same copper alloy to reduce its resistance to magic." Lilith pulled the miniaturized tank out of her bag, placing it a safe distance away, removing the plates she had attached that stabilized the spells over the inherently magically resistant vehicle, before drawing her wand and dispelling the active spells. Lilith stowed away her wand as soon as the tank was back to its full size and weight, with Willow whistling as looked over the odd tint coloration to the outer surface. "Damn, that's a lot of copper. Are you sure it can take weapons fire?" Lilith smirked at her. "That depends if you people decide to give me the specs and a range where I can test the tank's main gun, both to shoot with and to determine the plating's current durability." As the woman climbed into the tank to inspect the interior, Lilith gestured towards Alexander. "Since I didn't have access to a round from the tank, I had to test my ideas on projectiles using a rifle. You gentlemen can inspect it for a second, while I set up the targets." Lilith smiled to herself as she finished placing a few wooden targets some distance away, hearing the men looking over the gun. Even the Trustees came up to inspect it with interest, the Army soldier speaking up first.

"What did you do to this thing? It certainly feels lighter and the rifling on the inside is shallower. Even the hammer is gone." Lilith chuckled. "Well, I did promise you all a fully remotely operated tank capable of firing an endless supply of ammunition. The rifle is a testbed for the firing mechanism. Though I suppose mechanism is the wrong word. Think you can hit the target, old man?" Alexander glared at Lilith but only half-heartedly. "No attempts to defy physics?" Lilith hummed to herself. "Maybe aim your shot a bit lower than the typical corrections would require. I think I exceeded the top speed by a little so it might travel further without gravity getting in the way." Nodding to himself, Alexander took the rifle and positioned the butt against his shoulder, lining up the iron sights of the barrel. To the surprise of everyone, there was no gunshot, no quickback and barely a sound. The only evidence that a shot had been fired was the hole sitting just above the center red circle on the selected target. Alexander blinked for a second, before the General that had been put in charge of the project went to inspect the rifle again. "That's… that's insane! That was absolute silence. How?" Lilith rubbed her right upper arm nervously. "I remembered reading about a French inventor developing the theory for what was called a railgun towards the end of the previous Great War. Since a working model using electromagnetism is currently limited by the technologies of the age, I thought that magic could compensate. It did. Though rather than magnetic rails, it's using spells designed to accelerate the conjured projectile throughout its journey down the barrel. The thinner rifling was to avoid some measure of deceleration from the friction, while also keeping its function as a stabilizer."

As the Army Trustee inspected the rifle and took a few practice shots at the target, his red hair being a few shades lighter than Lilith's while also cut short as was typical of servicemen, the General gave Lilith a smile. "We heard about the Jerry's trying to develop the same technology as part of their Wunderwaffe projects, though certainly not at this scale. You believe that with the right specifications and target range you will be able to refine this design for a tank's main cannon?" Lilith nodded as the engineer popped her head out of the tank. "Everything checks out sir, though I can't inspect the engine block." Lilith sighed, before looking to the General. "Both the engine and the rifle designs are dangerous in the wrong hands. I would be willing to allow the rifle to be replicated, as long as I can develop some safety features on it that would make it inoperable by unauthorized personnel, or even a degree of self-destruction. The engine for the tank already has those safety measures in place. Should the vehicle become incapacitated, the magical components would all be destroyed, keeping the secrets out of unfriendly hands." The General nodded. "A prudent measure, especially on something so groundbreaking. Very well. Willow, you can come down from there. If the test works out, you and the rest of the workers will need to set up an alternative production line for these units. Possibly at a separate facility." Willow nodded. "It should be easy enough with the right materials."

Lilith pulled out the tank's control pendant. "If it's with the right people, we could have our little contractors working at the same facility, adding the electrum and setting up the Alchemic process during construction. Anyways, I need one of the Trustees to test out the control system." The two men perked up as the General turned his attention towards Lilith. "Why them?" Lilith held out the locket. "The tank, like the rifle, needs magic to run. Unlike typical magical foci, however, the magic doesn't need to flow directly through the wielder's hand. If my theory is correct, those born with magic but without the ability to access it, like the trustees, should be able to use it just as well as a witch or wizard. As you may have noticed, they were able to fire the rifle just fine, so I am hoping my theory is proven right for the tank as well." The general rubbed his chin. "That certainly opens up our project's resource and personnel pool to a greater degree of the population. What do you say, Evans? You already went through the standard Armoured Training Regimen. Think you can handle this type of tank?" Lilith was glad that everyone else's eyes were on the Trustee with the Army uniform, as they would clearly have spotted her reaction to the name Evans. Looking the man over made Lilith's heartbeat grow wilder, as the red hair and green eyes matched those that she remembered seeing from a few photos that Hagrid had given to Lillian as a gift in her first year. The man came up to her, which caused Lilith to slam her Occlumency into place tightly, getting all her emotions under control. "Sure. So, what do I need to do?"

Getting a few drops of the man's blood to react with the medallion within the pendant, Lilith sealed the control mechanism and placed the leather strap over the man's head, securing the pendant against his chest. "Close your eyes and feel the connection within you. Try and take it easy, as the moment that your consciousness syncs up with the vehicle, you are likely to get it moving at the briefest thought." The man frowned, but nodded before closing his eyes. The moment he took a sharp inhale of breath, the tank a few feet away from the group lurched forward, startling everyone. "Take it easy. You should already know how to turn the vehicle using the treads. You should also feel how the turret can turn independently from the body. Don't get lost in the sensations and focus on the views provided by the ocular sensors." The man started breathing deeply as the tank turned and started moving around the warehouse, the only noise being produced by the tracks moving over the cement floor, the turret swinging wildly from left to right. The Trustee eventually smiled as he started taking the tank up to higher speeds, as the General approached him. "How are you doing, soldier?" Evans chuckled. "Feeling fantastic, sir. This thing responds like a dream!" Lilith smiled briefly. "Good to hear. Theoretically, you could drive this tank from the shores of Portugal all the way to the Black Sea, non-stop, though you may need to establish control rotations with other drivers. The tracks are a bit more responsive to physical impediments and the armour plating should eventually take a hit from the same modified cannon it will be carrying and survive, once I have all the information I need."

As Evans disconnected himself from the tank and took the pendatant off from around his neck, Lilith continued. "The learning curve should be easy enough to conquer for any impaired magicals to operate constructs like these. I could eventually try for something more automated, but I don't think the British Military wants to employ near sentient magical constructs as military personnel." The General nodded. "Agreed. Still, your proposal is hereby authorized and I will keep supervising the production and hopefully the future deployment of these units. We will get you access to the Lulworth Range as soon as you can take the specifications of the cannon's typical ordinance and successfully replicate it. Until then, excellent work, young lady. You have given us an essential piece to ending this war quickly. I can feel it." Lilith blushed under his praise. "Danke, General." As the General went to converse with Willow as to what machinery they would need to appropriate to establish an independent production line, Lilith watched as what she assumed could be Lillian's grandfather or great grandfather explained the sensation to his RAF colleague, as Alexander came up behind her, resting his hand on her shoulder. "You alright? I thought you would have been enthusiastic after getting their approval." Lilith lowered eyes. "Yeah, well, that Trustee… I think he is probably one of the few remaining magicals from the Evans family."

Alexander looked towards the trustees, looking over his own memories of the Evans family from before the last of its members sat at the Wizengamot a decade or two in the past, as well as the information that he had from Lilith's memories. "Huh, he might be Azalea's son. Word was that her family squibbed out. It's very possible that she approached the Crown and secured her son's future as a Trustee." Lilith clenched her fist. "Then why? Why did they forget? Why did Lily grow up unaware of her heritage?" Alexander sighed, rubbing her hair as a way of distracting her from the dark thoughts he knew lingered there. "The war, probably. He was clearly trained to be a Tank operator. Perhaps he took part in the coming invasion and died, his family's legacy left behind as his wife and child lived on in ignorance to his heritage." Lilith looked back towards the Trustee, both of who were approaching her and Alexander's position, and sighed. "Then I pray that my tanks help secure his future as well." As the dark haired Trustee rubbed Evan's red hair, he looked towards Lilith and smiled. "Are you planning on testing your talent on planes? I already had one bad date with a BF 109 squadron and I am not looking forward to a second one." Lilith and Alexander chuckled before a bronze owl flew down from the rafters and landed on Lilith's shoulder, to the utter surprise of the two Trustees. "Well, I am certainly thinking about it. If you two give me your mailing addresses, I can certainly keep you in the loop on both projects. I would also need to have a few private talks with the upper echelon of the Trustees."

As the RAF pilot dug into his pockets for a paper and pencil, Evans gave Lilith a measured look. "These projects of yours… They are being developed with squibs in mind. Why?" Lilith swallowed the lump in her throat, before pulling off her glove over her right arm, revealing the dark color rubber covering of her prosthetic underneath. "I haven't had the best luck with magic myself these last two years and it has cost me dearly. Every step since my magic was hampered in a near death experience, I have been trying to refine a means to bypass the limitations of the human body to channel magic. Because the moment we take those limitations away, the differences between magicals diminish further. I can't promise you that my work will free magicals with impediments such as yourselves from the bigotry of the world, but I can at least guarantee that your place in both worlds will be further secured. And perhaps I can make sure that everyone can protect themselves from whatever threats come their way, magical or not." Evans shrugged. "It will take more than tanks and rifles to do that." Lilith released the plates from her lower arm, having them hover in front of the soldier. She smiled as his eyes followed the floating pieces of enchanted metal. "True, but there is more to my work than just weapons of war and a mechanical owl. One day, I hope that my work will lead to much more. Now, out of curiosity… are you related to Azalea Evans by any chance?"

Bright light pierced through the west facing windows of the North Tower, as Tom pulled the curtains aside. Today was another meeting of the Council of Walpurgis and it promised to be an interesting one, as the members would be deciding on who would be approached in the coming year to replace those who were currently graduating. With Walburga eyeing and training for a position besides their Head of House in the Wizengamot, Cyngus had apparently been working on securing a position for himself at the Ministry in the Department of Commerce. The investments of the Black Family into Knockturn Alley's bazaar had been so profitable that there was already talk of placing the venture under the regulation of the Ministry, with Arcturus not being opposed to it, though he was still keen on keeping some measure of input into any decisions that the Ministry might employ without Wizengamot approval. With Arcturus being overworked and his oversight stretched out over too many facets of the Black Family's interests, Cygnus had volunteered to take up the position, allowing the Head of House to eventually reduce his workload even further. Apparently, much of Cygnus' year had been spent looking over texts on how the economics and business practices worked within the Magical World, with Pollux Black ensuring that his son would have all the knowledge he would need in order to apply for a position at the Ministry at the conclusion of the Hogwarts term.

The fact that Hogwarts itself had no actual class dealing with commerce or even the broad strokes of the Magical World's economy had been the reason as to why Cygnus had confided in Tom regarding his future plans. With the current Lord Slytherin being warmly welcomed by the extended Black family and having received many votes of confidence from the elders, as well as the possibility that he might one day be part of said extended family, the 7th year King of the Slytherin Court had felt confident enough to discuss his plans with Tom privately. Both had agreed that Hogwarts was definitely failing in providing a larger graduating force of merchants and business owners, as the existing businesses were essentially being passed down through generational lines, with everyone being forced to learn how to manage a store after graduating, and not everyone doing a good job of it. So Tom had been working on proposing a Business course be added to the curriculum, at NEWT level, with a focus not only on covering the basics of Magical Britain's economy, but also the ins and outs of maintaining a successful business. His Gringotts account manager, Lothbrok, had given the proposal his own blessing, even bringing it up to Director Ragnok. Goblins, after all, knew that more businesses meant more investments and more of their gold exchanging hands. In their eyes, a Hogwarts course for wandwavers that would eventually expand Goblin profits was a welcomed prospect.

Still, Tom knew that the proposal would hit some opposition. The current businesses essentially had a stranglehold over their services in Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and Edinburgh. Few would be keen to see their profits be diminished by a boom in similar stores popping up across Britain. But with Cygnus potentially entering the Department of Commerce and using his time there to study the impact that new businesses would have on the economy, they would be in a position to make a genuine effort to convince the Wizengamot and the Board of Governors of the positive effects that the proposal would have. Asking for the opinions and experiences of Myrtle, Pomona and the other members of the Council would help solidify an interest in the course, not to mention demonstrating the wide breadth of benefits it could provide to every corner of Magical Society. In fact, Tom intended to bring the report early to Headmaster Dippet, to get his own input as the Administrator of Hogwarts. So far, Dippet had been exceedingly supportive of the Council's proposals and was assisting them in providing Tom with the point of view of the Staff of Hogwarts. Merrythought had already given her opinions on the suggested changes to the Defence Course, most of which was at NEWT level, that would help refine the next generations understanding of what the Dark Arts were and how they were related to Magic as a whole.

As Tom was spreading out his papers over the table, making sure to have space for notes and revisions for each proposal, he heard the trap door opening up. One revision he hoped would eventually be implemented was the reconfiguration of the entrance into the Council Chamber, now that Dippet had cleared it for official student use. As he and Lilith tended to be the first people to arrive at the chamber, hearing the door opening wasn't anything new to Tom. Looking around to see who it was, he was instantly surprised by who had stepped out of the trapdoor. Though she had definitely seen him upon ascending the stairs, the configuration of the room had definitely caught Minerva McGonagall's attention, her eyes darting everywhere for a while, before focusing on Tom. He broke the silence first. "Can I help you with something?" Minerva raised an eyebrow at his choice of words, but otherwise remained composed, though Tom was certain that something seemed… off about her. "Pomona had been insistent that I entertained the possibility of joining your little club. She suggested that I should attend today's session." Tom thought for a second, as Pomona Sprout arrived as well. He could tell from her expression that she was unsure how he would respond. Licking his teeth briefly in thought, Tom responded. "You may stay for today. In fact, you might even be more comfortable in today's meeting, as Lilith's attention was required elsewhere."

Minerva blinked in surprise. "That's odd. Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her all day. Still… I suppose it's for the best right now. I was going to leave if I was going to be a bother." Tom shook his head. "You won't be, so long as you do your best to be respectful. The members of the Council are from all walks of life, all with a variety of opinions. Our hope is to find a consensus that everyone can agree upon as necessary and beneficial to the students, Hogwarts and Britain as a whole. You two can sit down wherever you like, though if you wish to bring anything before the Council, a seat at the table is recommended." As Minerva walked around, clearly trying to decide between the table or the couches, Pomona walked up to Tom. "Sorry about springing this on you at such short notice." Tom shook his head as he returned his attention to the papers. "It's fine. As you mentioned that you were attempting to convince her, I should have anticipated a spur of the moment decision. With Lilith busy, we did have an open seat anyway." Pomona frowned. "Is she… ok? Did she suffer another attack?" Tom turned to the Hufffepuff and smiled. "She is fine, though thanks for asking. As a Head of House, there are responsibilities that draw her out of the Castle at times, same as with me. She will hopefully be back by Breakfast tomorrow." Pomona relaxed a bit. "My parents have always lamented not being part of the Wizengamot, but it's not as easy as just sitting down and voicing your opinion, is it?" Tom chuckled to himself. "Nowhere near as easy as that."

With more members arriving, many looking at Minerva in curiosity, the meeting eventually started. "Alright, before we begin, I would like to announce that I spoke to Director Crouch regarding our proposal to improve upon the Hogwarts Defensive Magical Arts course. While he was hesitant to comment without seeing the entirety of the proposal in writing, he did find many of our suggestions to have merit and will be awaiting a written draft of the proposal to be delivered to him in the following months. As agreed during the last session, the draft has been submitted to both Professor Merrythought and Cadet Bones, who are writing their own notes and suggestions with regards to improvements or refining of certain ideas. I would like everyone here to provide their opinion regarding the revisions, before I request a vote on whether we should provide Director Crouch a copy of our revised draft." Tom tapped the two stacks of papers and then the table next to them, replicating them before passing them around. As Alphard started reading over the suggestions, he looked over the paper towards Tom, though he kept eyeing Minerva wearily. "As this was Lilith's proposal, shouldn't we wait for the next session for her to vote on it?" Tom shook his head. "Merrythought and Lilith both discussed the proposal in person, so she has already agreed to all of the Professor's suggestions. Manuel's input is unlikely to contradict anything from said revision, so she has already given her vote in support."

Cassandra looked over the papers provided by their council member currently training at the Academy. "Lily confirmed the same to me, before she was forced to leave for the day. Besides, based on this, the suggestions aren't anything that is unexpected. A greater focus on Physical Education, since none of the Cadets seem to have expected the high degree of physical exertion, a support for Walburga's suggestion of a NEWT level course concerning the laws of the Wizengamot and Ministry, and a more in depth discussion regarding curses and counter curses, as few if any of the trainees this year have any working knowledge of the Dark Arts, beyond what they learned from Defence, which is definitely better, according to the Academy Instructor, than last year's batch of applicants, but still below what the Academy would like to see. Based on the instructor, it currently takes between three to four years for a graduate of Hogwarts to make it through the Auror Academy's usual training program, whereas the Academy believes it should take two to three years, at most." Ignatius rubbed his chin. "This is on par with what my family has discussed regarding the situation at the DMLE. The level of training is very dependent and sometimes uneven, because of how poorly prepared all the Hogwarts Graduates are upon arrival. Even people like Manuel, with his father as Head Auror, can only prepare so much with the way that Hogwarts overwhelms a student with examinations, leaving physical training up to the student's discretion. Even those of us who play Quidditch can only train so much."

Minerva, for her part, spent quite some time reading the draft and notations, surprised by what she was seeing. The level of focus on individual changes to the curriculum, beginning during the third year and extending throughout the rest of the Defence program was certainly in depth. While the inclusion of a more thorough and in depth discussion regarding the Dark Arts bothered Minerva, the fact that the discussion was aimed at advising how to diminish the effects of the Dark Arts on likely practitioners and improving the understanding of the way they worked for Healers, Aurors and general population alike eased some of her concerns. The odd thing was that Minerva had been thinking about entering the Aurors after graduating. Seeing a Graduate of Manuel Bones caliber describing the difficulties that even he had within the academy was a sobering experience, making her second guess her choices. Dumbledore had suggested for her to pursue a career in education, possibly as a replacement for him in Transfiguration. Would that be any better? The documents went over how very little is handled by the Ministry regarding the greater education of the post Hogwarts population, all of whom have to finance and educate themselves on their own to reach the required level of Mastery needed to be a Hogwarts professor. Even that path seemed so much more difficult than Dumbledore suggested, and Minerva was only in her sixth year.

The meeting then veered into a discussion on the addition of new courses, from the previously discussed British and Ministry Law proposal, to Tom's suggestion for a Business course. The more Minerva thought about it, the more she realised that Hogwarts only seemed to prepare a student for the use of magic, not for any career paths. Her father had mentioned how Britain's schools only required students to study up to the age of 14. Not every family could afford to send their children to secondary school and many of the families like her father's begrudgingly allowed her to go, as most of the schools were being managed by the Church of England. While there, Minerva had learned some needlework and the bare minimum of cooking, reading, writing and calligraphy. Her father had already been contemplating what she would have been doing after her fourteenth birthday, when the Hogwarts letter arrived, effectively ending her time in elementary school, though now she knew that her father had again done so begrudgingly. Minerva remained silent, her thoughts going over everything the Council was discussing, even as her mind worked through everything she now knew to be true. Even in Magical Society, she was woefully unprepared for what came after Hogwarts. With everything going on with her parent's separation, Dumbledore's growing silence and now the information in her hands, she was left with one conclusion. She had no idea what to do with her life.

As the meeting neared its end, a whisper left Minerva's trembling lips. "Are we…are we really this unprepared upon graduation?" The table went quiet, before Abraxas, sitting behind her on the couch, sighed as he leaned back. "To a degree, yes. Children of Magical families from Old and Ancient Houses have less to worry about, as many have both invested their funds enough that even a five year delay after graduation hardly matters to their living situation. They obviously are either introduced into the family practice, business or trained in a craft that the family deems acceptable. Some are even appointed to Ministry positions, with barely any preparation, forced to learn on the job. Others, like Cygnus and Lucretia here, have dedicated either a year or more of their NEWT studies to what they believe to be a worthy venture, with their families support. As my family is heavily invested in a trading company between Britain and France, that is what I am expected to manage in a few years time, though only as soon as my father feels that he can no longer perform his duties." Pomona, sitting next to Minerva, lowered her head. "For typical magical families, we don't get a lot of choices. Either we work at small businesses like my mother's Herbology supply store or we find work with the businesses in the Magical Districts. Every other job requires years of extra study and training, with the Aurors being the only ones not charging fees to enter the Academy."

Minerva's hands scrunched up the conjured paper slightly as she fought the tears that threatened to escape her eyes. She had wanted to be an Auror. She knew she had some of the skills for it. And yet, if what she was reading was true, it would still take more studies and time. And that was assuming that the war ended before she was potentially drafted to be trained and deployed in Europe. Everyone sat quietly, watching her as she tried to reconcile what she wanted with what she knew was still ahead of her, before they started packing away their notes. As the chamber grew quiet, only Minerva, Pomona and Tom remained behind. "Do you understand now why I started this "club", as you put it? Even someone like me, while I can currently enjoy the fact that I now have some funds to see me through into old age without working, I still find myself feeling despondent. I don't wish to spend my life entirely devoted to the Wizengamot. This school is my family's legacy and finding out how poorly prepared we all are to live beyond the castle's walls? I couldn't accept it. I won't accept it. So I will use my family's name and wealth, and the help of everyone here, to secure my family's legacy even further, guaranteeing that every student that leaves Hogwarts does so better than they entered it, not only knowing how to use magic, but how it can enrich and better their lives in whatever profession they take."

He pulled the strap of his bag over his shoulder and stopped next to Minerva on his way out the door. "I doubt we will see eye to eye on many topics. I certainly doubt if we ever could see each other as friends, but I wouldn't be opposed for us to be acquaintances, looking not only to better ourselves but the world as we step into it. Whether you wish to do it as a member of the Council of Walpurgis or not… Well, that is up to you." As he was a few steps down the ladder, he heard her speak up again, though she refrained from looking him in the eye. "When's… when's the next meeting?" Tom refused to let his face break into a smile, even if he did so in his mind. "Watch for my owl. Everyone gets a notice a week or two ahead of time. If you would like a second opinion on what was discussed, check with Professor Merrythought, or Headmaster Dippet. Both are aware of the Council and are actively asked regarding our thoughts and proposals. See you in class, McGonagall. Sprout." Tom left the room, feeling better about himself. Getting McGonagall, a hardened skeptic of his, to recognize the reality of the world was definitely a step in the right direction. If he could convince even someone who was antagonistic against him of the logic and benefits of his proposals, then his future as a voice of reason in the Wizengamot seemed all the more certain. He could make Magical Britain better than how he found it. He just needed to be patient, with them and with himself.

"Here is the letter, Headmaster." Dippet hunched slightly to take the letter from the elf's hand. "Thank you, Hogsby. Have the other letters made their way to the Mailroom?" The head elf bobbed his head. "All letters, beside the one assigned as safe, have been held at the Mailroom. Bitsy and Kreavy are quite happy with the added responsibility. Though…" As Hogsby rubbed his hands nervously, Dippet knelt down in front of his old friend. "Come now, there is nothing to be ashamed of. What ails the elves with their new duties?" Hogsby looked up from his hands. "Though the owls and other birds delivering letters seem to be accepting of the inspections by the elves, both Lord Slytherin and Frau von Schwarzwald's birds refuse to have their letters inspected by magic. Bitsy and Kreavy don't know how to reason with them." Dippet stood back up and rubbed his chin. "I will have a word with Miss Von Schwarzwald. I believe the issue is that their owls are far more… loyal to their masters than the typical magical bird. I am sure the issue will be resolved soon. Thank you for bringing it up, Hogsby." The elf smiled at Dippet. "Of course, Headmaster. If you need anything, please call. Hogsby will be returning to the kitchen now." As the elf popped away, Dippet looked over the letter in his hand, breaking the envelope, as he entered the old trophy room.

"I am still against these new security measures, Headmaster. This is a severe breach of privacy." Dippet walked past Dumbledore, holding his glasses with his hand as the hidden text appeared before his eyes on the parchment. "Yes, you have said as much since the security measures were announced. And each time I will remind you that the letters are not being searched for what may or may not be written on them, but instead for dangerous magical enchantments. The safety of the students should be the staff's highest priority and with Grindelwald's saboteurs still lingering within Britain's shores freely, there is a need to be cautious. Hogwarts remains a target that they are unlikely to ignore for much longer, especially now that they are getting desperate. I won't be responsible for leaving the school vulnerable at such a dangerous time. Now, please, follow me. I want to see if you can sense the new additions to the wards and are able to identify how the chamber represents them in your mind." Dumbledore sighed, but followed closely behind the Headmaster, as the entrance to the Ward Chamber shifted to the side. After the wardstone brightened up and the enigmatic warding script filled the walls, Dumbledore placed his hands on the stone and closed his eyes. "What am I looking for exactly?"

Dippet hummed to himself, folding the letter and replacing it within the envelope. Lilith von Schwarzwald's interactions with the Carmarthen Trustees seemed to have gone well. Her tank design would soon be entering mass production at a factory composed of Dwarves, Goblins and Squibs, with it also producing all the materials she needed for her control mechanisms. Though he was concerned with her request for spending Saturdays out of the Castle to work refining her weapons projects, Dippet couldn't deny that the girl deserved the exception. Especially when the request was ratified by the Head Trustee and the King himself. The fact that even the Seelie Fae from the Sídhes had spoken well of the girl, who reminded them all too much of an Unseelie, was a good sign in Armando's mind, as they were well known for being adverse to their darker kin. Looking at his Deputy Headmaster, Dippet's smile faded slightly. "The new wards allow us to detect the Floo Terminals attached to the Head of Hogwarts Houses offices, as well the Hospital Wing and my office. They should all read as inactive currently, except for Professor Greengrass'. She is currently speaking through the terminal, as it was agreed upon." Dumbledore focused his mind and instantly found the sensation. While all the other Terminals felt cold, Greengrass' felt warm and he could even hear the crackling of fire, though nothing on the conversation being had through the magical flames. "It's a distinctive representation from the rest of the ward indicators. I shouldn't have a problem sensing if the Floo is being used through the wards."

Nodding to himself, Dippet reached out and touched the wardstone. "Good. Now, to verify if the other modifications are working as intended." Dumbledore opened his eyes and was about to ask, when he felt a huge weight pressed down across the entire castle's wards. Wheezing slightly from the shock, he looked at a clearly unconcerned Dippet. "Well, has the Floo Terminal been disconnected?" Dumbledore frowned but searched through his connection to the wards, finding no trace of sensation that the wards could interpret as being active. "I believe it has. I don't sense the distinction anymore." The weight over his mind lifted and Dippet pulled his hand away from the wardstone. "Then they are working as intended. The final modifications that will be sealing the new Mailroom access point upon demand will be integrated as soon as the wards for that chamber are finalized by Professor Bierley. I must say that, while the source of the changes to our security is a terrible one, it has certainly allowed our colleague to shine, developing these new ward schemes for Hogwarts. Bierley has certainly been enjoying the challenge." Dumbledore pulled his palm off from the wardstone, still feeling the echo of the wards in the back of his mind, as he massaged his hand. He watched as Dippet waved his outstretched hand and frowned as a blue, iridescent orb coalesced into the form of a tiny fairy. The winged creature flew up to her conjurer's face.

"Melia, my apologies for disrupting your chat through the Floo, but I can at least confirm that the wards are working as intended. Thank you for your assistance. I will see you at dinner, my dear." The ephemeral fairy giggled to herself before darting away to deliver the message as Dippet looked to a surprised Dumbledore. "Ah, my apologies, Albus. Merrythought taught me this interesting variant of the Patronus charm. Curiously, she learned it from Miss von Schwarzwald." Dumbledore frowned. "Curious indeed. I was not aware that the Patronus could be used that way, let alone that practitioners of the Dark Arts could even cast it." Dippet tugged on his own beard slightly, before exiting the chamber. "Apparently, it's actually an old invention, simply lost to time. The von Schwarzwald family records indicated that they acquired it from one Rowena of the Raven's Claw Coven. Mr Riddle himself found a copy of Ravenclaws' unique spells within his Ancestor's Chamber and was kind enough to show it to me. There are even volumes of Helga's Potion Experiments and Godric's Treatise on magical and non magical combat. He intends to donate copies of the texts from all four Founders as soon as they are translated to the school. Can you imagine? The lifes' work of the Founders in our hands to read? The notes they wrote as they refined their craft for future generations? It is truly extraordinary."

Dumbledore suppressed some of the surprise from showing on his face as he stepped out of the chanver, the wall and trophy case slipping into place behind him. "Well, that is certainly good news. I imagine that the initial copies will be reviewed by the DoM, before they are added to the Hogwarts Library? There is no telling what sort of Dark and Forbidden magics could be found within Slytherin's texts." Dippet chuckled to himself. "Oh, Albus. Yes, the Department of Mysteries will be reviewing the copies. Though I believe you will be pleasantly surprised when it comes out that the most violent and dangerous spells are found within Godric's works. I wouldn't be surprised if Helga herself had some Potions recipes that would also have to be censored. As much as you and others would like to believe otherwise, the Founders all had blood on their hands. In those days, there were very few magicals who had not fought in order to survive. Hogwarts was founded not just as a school, but as a sanctuary from the dangers of the wider world. And that is why I refuse to let the Castle be exposed. This thousand year old structure was built as a haven for the young and the persecuted. I will not have anyone twist this beacon of hope into a source of pain and despair. Now, I believe that we have a few requests for the Alchemy elective to be available for the next term. Will you be able to host it or shall I seek an alternative?"

The two discussed the possibilities for offering the course for the upcoming year, though Dumbledore was hesitant to do so. Sitting within his office, he tapped his fingers on the desk. While Dippet had been testing the Ward Stone, Dumbledore had been doing more than feeling for the mental representation of the new wards. He had hoped to find a weakness in the Castle's ward scheme that he could utilize. Unfortunately, the changes to the wards seem to have strengthened all the protections around the perimeter, even within the hidden passageways that led to Hogsmeade. Dippet himself had been keeping the wards in a partial state of lockdown throughout much of the year, since none of the students were allowed to leave the Castle's grounds. All means of entry were well and truly locked down behind the wards. Dumbledore sighed, knowing that there was no other choice. If he wanted the remainder of Grindelwald's saboteurs to strike at Hogwarts, he would have to destroy the Ward Stone. It was a shame that he would have to leave Hogwarts fully exposed for the attack to occur, but it was the only way to bring the Castle and the Wizengamot in line with his plans. There was just no other way. Sighing deeply, Albus began to write on a bit of parchment. He had delayed the attack on the Castle in the hopes that the Saboteurs and their actions would be enough to change the hearts and minds of the people against anything and everything Dark.

If Dippet and Riddle had their way, the images of the three Founders as paragons of intelligence, loyalty and courage would be stained irrevocably. For Dumbledore, it didn't matter if history had gotten it wrong. The narrative of the three Founders casting away the Dark Wizard Slytherin for his beliefs was one that was deeply important to Dumbledore's plans for the country. Like the devil and his fellow angels, he needed Slytherin to stand as a representation of evil, clear and recognizable, allowing for the same traits and ideals found in the students of said House to be considered by the population as dangerous. If the distinction between the paragons of Light and the Dark Lords and Ladies were to be muddled, the chances of reshaping the Wizengamot and Britain's Wizarding Society as a whole would diminish exponentially. Albus took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, as a few tears slid across his cheeks. Dippets words had made it clear that his window of opportunity was closing and fast. He needed the attack to be soon, before summer started and Riddle had the chance to meet with the DoM. At that point, there would be no coming back. Not only would Hogwarts need to be attacked, but the children who had already been exposed to Riddle and von Schwarzwald's twisted ideas would have to be sacrificed. Even the staff would have to be sacrificed, as seen by how easily Dippet had been warped by Riddle's words. For the good of Britain and Hogwarts, the school needed to fall. All so that Albus Dumbledore could rebuild it again, the right way.

Chapter 43: Heartfelt Gestures

"Cassie?" The young Ravenclaw blonde tried her best to clean her face as Lilith stepped into the Council Chamber. While the chamber itself was only ever used every two weeks or so for the meetings, it was essentially open for anyone to enter, though Hogsby and the other elves made sure to observe anyone who was inside of it for safety reasons. Lilith had been resting after spending another Saturday at the Carmarthen Production facility to go over the ways that the workers could apply her now refined cannon mechanism to the tanks coming out of the assembly line. The few weekends prior to this, she had been spent at the Lulworth Artillery Range with the man she now knew was Lillian's great grandfather, Admon Evans, the only child of Azalea Evans, the last Head of the Magical Evans family. The family itself was registered as Old within the Wizengamot, mainly because they were unable to integrate the titles of their predecessors, unlike the Potters, even though the family itself could be traced back centuries to other bloodlines, with Lilith being pleasantly surprised that they could potentially be descendants of the Serpens family. They simply were unable to claim the title as they were essentially descended from children born out of wedlock. The fact that the gift of the Seprens family never manifested itself in them probably didn't help matters either. Though it certainly made Alexander curious as to whether the Parselmouth trait awoke within Lillian by the remixing of the Peverell and Serpens inactive traits, or if Tom's soul fragment had been the actual activator when she had been made into an incomplete Horcrux.

Regardless of where Lilith got her ability to speak to snakes from, getting the chance to meet the Evans family had been a pleasant part of her working alongside Admon, who was present when she was initially perfecting the speed and impact of the conjured cannon rounds, before Lilith refined and streamlined the runic array the same way that she had for the ones used in her plates. While she would have loved to give the tanks greater variety in the types of conjured ammunition they would be firing, Evans convinced her that a round that could pierce armour plating and explode on the other side was more than enough. There was no need for her to get crazy with her designs. The man himself seemed to exemplify this mindset; direct and uncomplicated. Which made Lilith wonder if that could have been the reason as to why he died without inducting his fifteen year old son into the Carmarthen Trustees, leaving the Evans family essentially believing themselves to be muggles by the time that Lily and Petunia were born. Even though tanks offered their occupants a greater degree of protection usually not afforded to the infantry men, they were also big slow targets that the enemy tended to focus their fire on. Lilith hoped that her designs would make up for any deficiencies the original tanks had and keep Evans safe. She was very curious to see what Lily's life would be like, being born into a family that knew about magic from the very beginning.

Sadly, the Saturdays that she spent out of Hogwarts had definitely taken their toll on Lilith's energy stores. While her classes hadn't suffered from her exhaustion just yet, she had been unable to spend much time with the younger students during their weekend tutoring sessions, being forced to collapse into Tom's bed halfway through the day. Even her relationship with Tom had felt slightly distant for it, though Tom didn't seem to press her too much regarding her inability to spend her waking hours by his side outside of classes. Lilith wondered if simply having her as a bed partner was having a calming effect on him. It certainly seemed to have the same effect on her. She definitely loved waking up next him in the early morning. She had been planning to ask Tom out for a date today, which could lead to some much wanted physical intimacy from both, but that plan had been put on hold when Hogsby popped into the room and reported that Cassandra was in the Council Chamber, crying alone. Getting dressed and making her way up to the top of the North Tower, Lilith had been quietly preparing herself to help Cassandra deal with an unsettling vision. Luna had endured her fair share, mostly whenever she was near Neville or his fan club, as they tended to get into life threatening situations on a regular basis. As her friend tried to pull herself together, Lilith joined her on the couch and pulled her into a hug.

Cassandra froze for a second, probably expecting a vision to fill her mind, but relaxed as nothing was revealed to her. She rested her face against Lilith's shoulder and hugged her back. Caressing the blonde's hair gently, Lilith waited for all of the tenseness to flee from Cassie's body, before pulling her back a little to look her in the eyes. "You ok? Was it a vision?" Cassansra shook her head, before lowering her eyes, which were red from crying. "No, it's… it's nothing like that." Lilith relaxed a little. Debating fate, probability and free will were never her strong suits. "Then, what's wrong? Why were you crying?" Cassandra didn't raise her head. "I… asked someone out… for Valentine's Day." Lilith stilled for a second. While Valentine's day had its origin in Pre-Christian traditions, the Magicals of Britain only celebrated it when they intended to court someone not born into the society. A few Magical Families would adopt the practice themselves, but it would essentially be a private affair. That Cassandra, born into a deeply magical family, would say Valentine's Day and not Imbolc or Beltane, meant that she was attempting to court a first generation witch or wizard. Lilith closed her eyes, internally screaming after being forced to be involved in another discussion regarding courtships. She really wasn't fond of these discussions.

"Should I guess that the person you approached said no?" Cassandra's eyes grew misty and Lilith cursed herself. Maybe she had the Evans family bluntness in her too. It would explain a lot of Lillian's life choices now that she thought about it. For her part, Cassandra mustered some strength and nodded, her hands now resting on her skirt as the two pulled apart. Seeing Cassandra's face, Lilith handed her a handkerchief and waited as her friend cleaned herself off. After a few minutes, Cassandra, still fighting some sniffles, elaborated. "I… I took your advice to heart and asked her. I knew it was a long shot, that maybe fate would intervene since she was meant to die, so I was always scared, but I eventually built up the courage to ask her. We are already good friends and we like each other as is. I thought that maybe… maybe what we had could mean something more if we just tried. But she said no. That she didn't see me that way." Lilith pulled Cassandra against her shoulder and rubbed her hair in comfort. Neither of her lifetimes had much experience with romantic relationships, with her current relationship with Tom being one that was as much about self discovery as it was about finding a rhythm with a potential life partner. By Cassandra's description, though, Lilith had a good idea who she was referring to. She sighed. "I am sorry to hear that. Sadly, rejection is part of relationships, one no one wants to endure." Cassandra clenched her hands on Lilith's robes. "Did it… did it ever happen to you?"

Lilith thought for a second, knowing that Cassandra needed to find some comfort to ease her burden. While she had never been rejected, since she never pursued anyone in her previous lives, she could probably help ease her friend's pain by sharing one of her most painful chapters of her life. "No. But I… I broke up with someone that I loved dearly, because of a choice they made. As Lillian, I lived my years since my fourth Yuletide at Hogwarts in a relationship with Luna. Her first few years at school had been difficult too, with her childhood friend cutting her off and the Ravenclaws being unjustly cruel to her, especially so soon after her mother's passing. We bonded over our troubles and our shared desire for company and we grew from our friendship into something more. Then… then the war of our time started up again. At first, the Order and the Death Eaters focused on themselves, rebuilding their forces. They convinced my godfather to join the Order, something that drove a wedge between us. Then, as Lillian started her fifth year, the war found its way to Hogwarts. As the Ministry saw the Orders strengthening as a sign of the old man's growing ambition, they sent a teacher to the school to supplant him. Ordinarily I would have celebrated this with the other members of the Dark faction, but the horrible woman was only making our lives at Hogwarts more difficult, while also ruining our Magical Education. Our Head of Hogwarts House took matters into his own hands and gave the Slytherins remedial lessons in Defence. The Order, however, took a different approach."

Taking a deep breath to bury the rising tide of emotions, Lilith pressed on. "The other Heads of Hogwarts Houses, and the Headmaster himself, did nothing, but they encouraged the students to study on their own. Neville Longbottom, having been receiving advanced training for years, decided to open a secret club to pass on his lessons to the others." Cassandra noticed that Lilith's jaw had tensed up. "Luna… joined the club, didn't she?" Lilith nodded, tears fighting to break out from her eyes. "I told her to leave them alone. The club was a mistake, a bomb waiting to go off. Not only was it forbidden by the new Professor turned Inquisitor, but the lessons weren't anything special. I could have taught her the same. Everyone could have learned it through pairing up together, rather than gathering large groups in one central location. Sadly… Luna's childhood friend had approached her and asked her to join. Wanting that connection from her youth again, she ignored my warnings. Hell, she even tried to get me to join the group as well. After a short break for the Yuletide at the Black Townhouse, where my godbrother tried to convince me that things would be different, I agreed to join them for a session. Since this one was for learning the Patronus charm, I felt it was the only one worth my time." Raising her left hand up, Lilith focused on the same memory that she used the first time that she conjured a Patronus. It had surprised everyone in the Room of Requirement, mostly because she managed it on her second attempt, but mainly because of the form the Patronus took.

Cassandra's mood brightened considerably as the radiating joy from the winged serpent, even as the sight of tears on Lilith's cheeks saddened her. The snake tried to lick said tears off her face, as Lilith stared at it, well aware at how much harder it had been to use the original memory. "A Corporeal Patronus so early was apparently something none of the others had done. But the fact that it was a snake seemed to have settled everyone else's minds about me. I could see the disdain written on their faces. That lesson had been my first and last visit to the club. After that, things took a turn for the worse. The Ministry, being manipulated by the Death Eaters, struck against the old man, using the club as an excuse. They called it a group of child soldiers. It wasn't until Neville's grandmother had been taken hostage and held within the Ministry that their fears, their warmongering, bore fruit. Neville had his most loyal friends convince the others to join them in the rescue. Luna agreed to go and begged me to join her." Lilith clenched her jaw once more. "I knew… I knew that she saw something about the Ministry in a vision. That she saw me there. She felt that I had to be there." Lilith's hand over Cassandra's back clenched into a fist as she bit out the next few words. "And I could guess at what it would mean. I would have fought in the battle, recognized as having chosen a side. Something else could have happened, but my reputation could have been "saved." I would have been welcomed back, as a prodigal daughter."

Lilith mashed her teeth. "And I said no. I was no one's pawn. Not Neville's. Not Dumbledore's. Not Fates'. I had no need to return to the Light. I had everything I wanted and needed where I was. I begged her not to go. To stay. She was adamant that she had to be there. That we had both to be there. So I… I said something that probably sealed our fates. "If you go, then you go alone." I… I don't think I meant it as ending our relationship, but we both felt something shift as she pulled her hand back against her chest and walked away from Lillian. We were never the same after that. Neville lost his grandmother, I lost my godfather. Several of the students from "Dumbledore's Army" were badly injured but, thankfully, Luna wasn't one of them. The next school year… we were never the same. Luna tried her best to console me and we were still friends, but there was always something between us now. Lillian, for her part, delved deep into her Slytherin legacy and into the Dark Arts. It would be almost a whole year later when we got together again, though it was just the same as when we were children; together seeking comfort and company. After our first Beltane together, we drifted further apart again, though Luna and I were still the best of friends." Rubbing Cassandra's hair, Lilith took a deep breath. "Attraction and love aren't always what we want them to be. In fact, it hardly ever is. What you feel towards Myrtle might not ever become romantic, but you two can and should still try to be friends. That way what you saw in Myrtle worth falling in love with isn't really gone."

Cassandra pulled away slightly as the Patronus faded away. "So, even after what happened, you still loved her." Lilith nodded. "As a friend and the person who helped me understand what love could be. Beyond that… beyond that, I think the moment we first drifted apart ended any chance of what we had becoming permanent." Cassandra smiled slightly. "True, but you do realize what it is that you did, right? You defied fate. Sure, you did it again later when you came back, but to actually refuse fate like that? That is something very few people can ever truly do." Lilith sighed, rubbing her hair. "Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it." Cassandra shook her head. "Don't. What you did was a part of who you are. It led to the person that Lillian became that loved Luna and that eventually turned back time. It is a part of who you are now, as much as Lilith's memories are. If anything, what events may have come from your choice are now null and void, especially as with everything you are doing now. As for me… thank you for sharing your memories of my granddaughter with me." Lilith looked at her and noticed how Cassandra was cradling her hands against her heart. "Did you…" The young Ravenclaw nodded. "I don't know why. Maybe because they were a future that you lived in. Or maybe because of how meaningful she was to you. But as you spoke, I could see, even feel it all."

Lilith smiled briefly. "I am glad then, that she will live on in you too. Though I swear, you are going to hold her in your hands the day that she is born. I don't care if I have to rip Fate or Death apart, I won't let your descendants suffer as they once did." Cassandra's eyes flickered briefly, before she giggled. "Yeah, I definitely see you going that far. Still… Thank you, for everything." Lilith nodded. "No problem. If you need to chat anymore, I will be here. Just… leave fate out of it? Please?" Cassandra nodded, still smiling, before kissing her friend on the cheek and leaving the Council Chamber, with Tom entering just after, looking at Lilith's red eyes with concern. "Everything alright?" Lilith looked towards where Cassandra last was, before she descended the stairs. Like with Luna, the two Seers seemed to be a mix of maturity and naivety, born from the harsh truths revealed to them by the visions and the sheltered lives they lived amongst family. Of the two, Cassandra was clearly the more mature of the two, which Lilith hoped would serve her well as she would be forced to interact with her crush for the next few years. Where her friend would find love was, after all, still anyone's guess. Wherever it was, however, Lilith knew it would be worth it for Cassandra, as she pulled Tom into the seat next to her and rested her head against his shoulder. "I think it will be, in time." So far, it was definitely worth it for Lilith, even as she hesitated calling what existed between her and Tom as love. It was too soon for that… right?

"Ah! There it is! That's the treeline that was here the moment that the foreign lovers died over a thousand years ago." The older Tom Riddle looked out over the hill towards the treeline at the edge of the Albanian countryside. The woman's excitement at the prospect of uncovering evidence of the local legend was infectious, though it hardly served to move the young man's heart. The creation of his previous two Horcruxes had left Riddle feeling exhausted after every attempt, with his magic returning slowly over a long period of time. While he believed that eventually creating six Horcruxes would be the ideal goal for his soul's immortality, he was currently more than happy to settle for three phylacteries. It had taken him all of his seventh and final year at Hogwarts to obtain the last few secrets he could get from the Castle, including the location of the Room of Lost Things. Though Salazar Slytherin's portrait had proven to be less than helpful, Tom had gotten sufficient information regarding who could possibly know the location of Rowena's Lost Diadem from Salazar's written accounts about the theft and the subsequent disappearance of Helena Ravenclaw. The description of Helena written in the ancient texts allowed him to understand that her spirit had returned to the Castle, in the form of the Grey Lady.

After moments of conversations that placed all the skills he had acquired by observing Abraxas interacting with the girls of the Castle, Tom had finally managed to obtain the location of the missing Hogwarts Artefact. Except, the location was anything but easy to pinpoint. A thousand years of topographical changes, the destruction of villages from wars long since past, compounded by the recent end to the Second World War, made finding this hollowed out tree almost impossible. After spending months in the country, searching and failing to find the tree that Rowena spoke of, Tom had no other choice than to find some aid from the locals. The woman beside him, who was in her twenties, had studied her country's folklore for the last few years. She was the only person who recognized the story of Helena's death at the hands of the Bloody Baron, before he took his own life out of grief and madness. The woman had managed to narrow down the location to a village far in the northern reaches of the country, just on the borders of Montenegro. The longer that Tom remained within Albania, the more he knew that he needed to complete his search and leave soon. While the Second World War was over, whispers of the Soviet Union's intentions for the territories it "liberated" were beginning to turn into overt action. The elections of the local communists was already a sign that Albania's borders would soon be closed off to Western citizens.

Even getting to the village had required a bit of subterfuge with the aid of the folklorist, as the two pretended to be lovers. For Tom, pretend had been the appropriate word. While he had gotten some experience at Hogwarts in his final year, the last few months with the woman had been the most instructive. Practicing and using Legilimency on the muggle, he was perfectly able to become her ideal male. The woman had practically thrown herself at him by the end of the first two weeks, with Tom taking the opportunity to refine his Mind Arts at every opportunity, while also learning how to use physical intimacy as a means of control and manipulation. He wanted to be certain that if it ever came to it, he would be more than capable to perform adequately. The cover of lovers held, with the security forces letting them pass through easily enough, with just the most basic of mental manipulations. The trek up the mountains took just a bit longer, though it now seemed to have been worth the effort. The woman rushed forward towards the tree line, as Tom walked up behind her at a moderate pace, the Albanian Alps rising just over the treeline into the cloudy sky. As they neared the edge, the woman took out her notebook and looked at the mountains past the treeline. "That's Maja Jezercë. According to the legend, the young lady trekked up here from the Valbonë valley. A shepherd watched the altercation occur and the bodies were just a bit to the right of the main peak as seen from the valley. So that means the hollowed out tree should be close by. Maybe…"

As the woman searched the treeline, Tom drew his wand and waved it behind the woman's back, searching for anything magical in the vicinity. To his surprise, a bright burst of magical energy appeared before his eyes, just some distance into the treeline. "It would be odd if the treeline weren't to change at all. New seeds would drop and extend the trees further out, after. I believe this tree over here might be the one we are looking for." Tom approached the tree calmly as the woman followed his line of sight, before she rushed ahead of him. She inspected the outer layer of the clearly old, dried up tree. "These markings on the bark aren't from the local cultures, not even from before the Roman era. This must be it! The Lover's Tree! Who would have guessed that it would have survived for over a thousand years." As the woman proceeded to sketch out the markings of the tree, Tom walked around to the back, following the glow of magic that only he could see. He pointed his wand to the tree and gave it a sharp flick, cutting through the dessicated wood faster than any tool. With three more flicks, a square section of the bark fell out, revealing the hollowed out interior. "What are you doing? Do you have any idea how valuable this tree is?" Tom ignored the woman's protests as he pulled out a leather bag from within the interior of the trunk, before the material started degrading in his hands, revealing the treasure that he had been searching for. "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure." Tom smiled as he read the celtic inscription along the surface of the diadem, the blue gem gleaming with a magical inner light, as he held the silver colored headpiece in his hands. "What is that? The legends never said anything about a treasure associated with the lovers."

Tom hummed to himself. "Your legends never did, but the lovers had their own myth from within their homeland. The woman fled with this, before the man was ordered to locate both and bring them home safely. As you know, all they found here was death." Tom smiled to himself. "Of course, that will not be my fate. With this, my path to immortality is further assured. Though for that to happen, I will be needing your assistance, my dear." The woman seemed confused as he turned towards her, not registering the wand in his hand as a danger. "Immortality? How? By having your name engraved into the history books? Because with a treasure like that, I doubt they wouldn't want to immortalize you." Tom shook his head at her. "Unfortunately, my dear, no one must know that I found this. Not my people back home, nor the locals… not even you. I must say, though, that I am grateful for your help in finding the Diadem. In appreciation of your assistance, I will make sure that your death has value. You should feel honoured. My previous means to immortality were made using my own flesh and blood. Rather fitting, though, as this treasure is not mine by right of blood, it should be another's bloodline. Thank you and goodbye. Avada Kedavra!" The flash of green light filled the shadow created by the trees, before the woman's body collapsed onto the underbrush, her eyes devoid of any signs of life. Tom hummed to himself pleasantly as he took out his knife and started cutting into the woman's clothes, followed closely by her flesh. The moment the ritual was completed, Lord Voldemort felt his soul splinting once more, before doubling over in pain. He smirked to himself as the pain began to subside. "Three down, three more to go."

Lilith stretched out her hands, finding the rest of the bed empty, before she opened her eyes. Pulling the bed sheet against her body, her eyes adjusted to the dim light of a Slytherin Dorm Room, not finding the other occupant, until the door briefly opened. "Did I wake you?" Lilith shook her head as Tom entered, his wand raising the light levels of the room by lighting up the candles. If there was one thing that made Lilith want to leave Slytherin, it was the lack of windows for the dorms. Even the pale green light coming through the massive glass wall that looked out into the Black Lake wasn't enough to ease some of her yearning for a warm sunrise. Tom himself had also started to grow accustomed to the warmth of a pleasant sunrise, from his summers in Smethwick and Little Hangleton. At least they both took comfort in sharing the same bed, with the elves being kind enough to ignore how much time she spent sleeping elsewhere. Since all of her construct components and notes were tightly sealed in her shrunken chest, her own dorm room itself was only warded to maintain the illusion that she was there, though she only used it as a workshop. Snapping her shoulders in place, she watched as Tom sat next to her and presented with a box. "Happy Valentine's Day." Lilith blinked at him in surprise. While they had discussed Valentine's, what with Cassandra's mood still needing uplifting everyone once in a while since Myrtle's rejection, she hadn't expected him to offer her anything on this day. "What happened to waiting for Beltane?"

Tom shrugged, not letting his eyes linger on her own. "I still plan to ask you to spend a lovely day with me then, but with all the talk lately, I thought it would be nice to enjoy both." Lilith nodded, aware that there was more behind what Tom was doing, but leaving it be for now. She tilted her head and kissed his lips lovingly, noticing the way he flinched, before letting himself become swept up in the moment. Feeling him recovering some of the warmth that she knew had left his body, she broke off the kiss and held his face before hers. "Tom, what's wrong? I know that something is bothering you." Tom lowered his eyes, pulling his hands away from Lilith's waist. "There is nothing wrong. Can't I just do something nice for you every once in a while?" Lilith pressed her forehead against his. "You can, but there was no passion in your touch. It was cold, calculated. It wasn't you. I know it's hard, opening up to me about what's happening to you. Ever since the summer, when you realized the dreams were your memories from the future, you stopped writing in your Diary. Believe me, I have been checking every once in a while. You and I are the only people going through this, Tom. If we don't tell each other, who are we going to tell?" For a few brief moments, Lilith felt that Tom would retreat back into his shell again, hiding the reason behind his earlier detachment. She was ready to let him have some time to think over what had happened and would have asked him later, but finally he spoke up.

"Last night, I experienced a memory from … from Voldemort's time before he returned to Britain. He had gone to Albania, following clues left behind by the Grey Lady, Helena Ravenclaw, to her mother's diadem. He… manipulated a young woman who was studying the local myths of the region, who had some knowledge of the incident between Ravenclaw's daughter and the Bloody Baron. I… he took advantage of her youth, naivety and her ignorance of magic. He… raped her… just as my mother raped my father…" Tears ran down his cheeks as Lilith pulled his head against her chest. His trembling arms wrapped around her waist and Lilith resisted wincing from how tight his grip was. "He used her… over and over again, twisting her mind with Legilimency, so that he could better understand how to entice and manipulate female recruits to his cause. Then, with the diadem in his hands… he killed her…and used her as the catalyst for his Horcrux. His third Horcrux." Lilith ran her fingers gently over his head as Tom sobbed, trying her best to help ease his mind. She could understand his heartbreak. This was a version of him that had vowed to surpass his family's meager state, and even then, his mind slowly being warped by the creation of two Horcruxes and the heavy use of curses, had already repeated the same crime that led to his conception, before following it up by the same crime that his grandfather had probably committed many times over, with the death of all his rape victims and those of his son.

Tom, with better control over himself, pulled back and looked Lilith in her eyes. "He didn't even bother to remember her name. He deliberately kept it from his memories, because she was just some muggle. No different than a piece of cattle led to the slaughter. How could… how could I have been so heartless? How can you stand to hold me, to care for me, knowing what I became? Sure, I am a different person now, but that… that evil… It's still inside of me." Lilith smiled softly yet bitterly at him and caressed his cheek, removing a tear from it with her thumb. "Because that same evil lives inside all of us. No matter how pious, how virtuous we claim to be, that evil that treats others as disposable is part of the same selfish, selfagrandizing flaw that lives inside all sentients. After all, how couldn't we? We are predators, feeding on flesh. We wear the skin of the beasts we either cull or harvest. For centuries, women were thought of as nothing more than walking wombs, men of lesser standing or different tones of skin, faiths or homeland nothing more than free or cheap labor. Humanity, both magical and non-magical, has come a long way from the start of the Age of Enlightenment, but even now, as seen by the horrors the leaders of nations can inflict on others by their words and commands, it is proof that we are the same as we have always been. Violence is a part of all of us, for better or worse." Lilith pressed her forehead against Tom's and looked into his eyes. "How do I feel for you what I feel, you ask me again, with me knowing what became of you in a different time?"

She leaned over and kissed his cheek, caressing his hair gently. "Because in a different time, I could have been the same. The same hate, the same anger, whether aimed at the Order or at the Death Eaters, at Magicals or at non-magicals alike, would have still lived inside of Lillian's heart. But I made a choice. I turned away from the anger and the hate. I gave up on it, as I could tell, even then, that it was a poison, regardless of the label it would have worn. A sweet, irresistible poison that would have altered my very being no matter who the enemy was. So I chose to focus on myself, on being better. When I came back here, that choice has never stopped meaning something to me. And I know… that it means something to you." Pulling his hand away from her waist, she brought it up to her face and rubbed her cheek against his knuckles and fingers. "You have come a long way from the path that he took. And sure, even in the days to come, you may see echoes of the same actions and decisions he took, some vile and hateful, some thoughtful and effective. Choices that may still lie ahead of you. So, when the time comes, believe that you can do better than he did. That you can make the right decision, even if it is the same as his, for the right reasons. You say that he used this woman to manipulate others. Learn to treat others better, to guide through reason and kindness, not to manipulate through guile and hate. Inspire others to be better, rather than use their own vile natures to serve your own purposes. You can be better Tom. Better than Voldemort ever was. Not because you take a different path, but because the path you take can let you reach more people, to touch the lives of millions over decades, if not centuries to come. That's what I see in you."

Leaning over, Lilith planted a kiss on Tom's lips, letting her magic flow into him, free of intent or shape, letting it join him freely. His eyes briefly glowed blue as the magic settled into his body, a smile breaking across her face. "That is what I hope to see one day, as your partner, your friend… and, perhaps, as your wife." Tom's breathing was uneven as her words sunk in. There was so much expectation of a path that he too could see, a long and difficult one ahead of him. If he was honest with himself, it seemed to be a path far more difficult than the one that Voldemort himself took. There was so much that could go wrong, so many external factors that could ruin any chance of that vision coming true. And yet… he couldn't not envision it himself. It was a challenge. He knew that. A challenge that Lilith was bringing against him. And there wasn't a single part of Tom's mind, perhaps even his soul, that didn't want to accept that challenge. The stakes were high, but the rewards… the rewards were the realization of his every possible dream and more, without having to compromise at any point as his other self did. He looked into Lilith's eyes as a smile grew on his own. "I can see why Salazar likes you. You really are a Slytherin, using my own ambitions to guide me down a different path than what he once took." He rubbed her cheek with the back of his palm and watched as she leaned into it, her eyes glowing lightly in the low light as her smile turned into a smirk. "Well, you are the Lord Slytherin. I doubted that a Gryffindor-like appeal to propriety and nobility would have done anything except elicit a laugh from you."

Tom chuckled, feeling lighter, the memories of his twisted other self being pushed back and sealed, though never forgotten. He would try to be better. For Lilith, for his forefathers… and for the girl that he had warped into his tool and casted away so effortlessly. For all those poor souls that Voldemort had used to fulfill his grand and, with foresight, doomed ambitions, he would do his best to be a better person. The rest of the morning, he spent it with Lilith in their bed, eating the breakfast provided by Hogsby and later sampling some of the chocolates he had brought, their bodies almost always in contact, leaving Tom feeling grounded and comforted. Soon, however, the caressess became more than acts of comfort or gentleness. Her lips against his skin stoked a fire in his heart, one that he saw reflected in Lilith's own eyes. Clothes slowly came off each other, but not once did their hands stop touching each other. Soon, they were connected through their lips, as the desire in them turned from warmth comfort to desperate heat. The moment he was inside of her once again, the two had stared deep into each other's eyes. It had been almost a month since they had been intimate, but as his thrusts and her moans proved, it hadn't been from a lack of desire. If anything, his desire for Lilith, as she shuddered against his body after their mutual, primal release, only seemed to grow. Salazar's words from before they began their courtship rang in his ears. Love. He was certain now that he loved Lilith. Now… now if he could only bring himself to say it to her.

"You couldn't get one of your classmates to do this for you? Maybe Druella?" Lucretia tugged a bit on the cloth of the long skirt that she had Lilith wearing, before taking the needle out of her mouth and sowing on the embellishment just at Lilith's waist, making the unwilling model go perfectly still. "Well, I certainly could have asked my classmates, but with NEWTs coming up soon and the Professors doing their best to beat every last piece of information into our heads, none of my classmates were willing to lend a hand. As for Druella, she seemed to be busy with Cygnus, Abraxas and Alphard. Pretty sure they are hammering down their own version of a courtship agreement, like the one you and Riddle made. With Abraxas getting some practice as the future head of House Malfoy and Alphard keeping an eye on proceedings, I am sure that everything will be fine, but they need to handle this delicately, without interruptions. I had mentioned that she could have negotiated while I tailored the dress on her, but she didn't seem to find the idea appealing." Lilith closed her eyes as she felt the needle graze her undergarments before Lucretia offered a brief apology before continuing her work. "Yeah, I can't see why she wouldn't want to be stressed out over two things at the same time. So, I am guessing that I am going to be parading this dress in front of Professor Bierley?" Lucretia hummened an affirmative. "And the Enchantment course Examiner." Lilith sighed. "I supposed that is why you went for a more traditional dress from like a hundred years ago." Lucretia gave Lilith a slight glare. "It doesn't look that old."

Lilith looked down at her cousin. "You made me wear a bustle and a petticoat under the dress skirt. Yes, it bloody well is that old. I swear, you probably thought about adding a crinoline." Lucretia's blush and her hasty return to work made Lilith's jaw drop. "You have got to be kidding me. The dress you wore for New Years was perfect! Why couldn't you just use that one?" Lucretia grumbled. "Because the Examiner is definitely from the late 19th century and would not have approved. Besides, this works in my favor. More material, more embellishment means more thread work that can be enchanted. By the way, that dwarven copper that you use is perfect for holding a magical charge. My dress from that night was able to resist all forms of stains and temperatures. I never once worked up a sweat, even with Lakshmi badgering me the whole night about the magic involved." Lilith hummed to herself. "Good to hear. Though, was that with a certain physical activity tested as well? I highly doubt that your parents would have let you disappear for a second to enjoy a private moment with Ignatius." Lucretia poked Lilith with a needle, causing her cousin to yelp. "I will have you know that Ignatius was a perfect gentleman that night. He has really come a long way from the Quidditch obsessed boy he had been before." Lilith bit back a curse. "So you didn't wear the dress again for him in private, before… well before you were less inclined to care what either of you were wearing when you were back at Hogwarts?" Lucretia froze for a brief second before cursing under her breath. "I am going to strangle McLaggen. I should have known he couldn't keep his mouth shut."

After finishing sewing the top side of the embellishment of the skirt, she started on the lower side, allowing Lilith to visibly relax. "To be fair to the Head Boy, he was under the very persuasive ministrations of our dear Alphard, who was very discreet in his comments regarding your activities together. He made it clear that he wasn't going to be sharing your escapades with your parents, so long as you are being careful and not being coerced." Lucretia sighed, shaking her head. "Well, I suppose that's better than the alternative. And for the record, I was no more being coerced anymore than you and Tom were a few nights ago." Lilith blinked at her. "I don't know what you are talking about." Lucretia smirked up at her. "Of course not. You two certainly were sneaking a few caresseses here and there during the Prefect meeting. Your cheeks are, sadly for you dear cousin, too pale to hide a blush all that well, Occlumency or not." Lilith sighed. "Yeah, so I have noticed." Lucretia tugged on the cloth and shook her head, pulling the thread back and starting over. "Though I have to say that you two certainly seem to be doing better the last few weeks. Tom's less flustered around Alphard and Abraxas, who are always quick to tease and prod, while he is more at ease around me and the other girls. Even you haven't been as active in your admiration of the other lovely ladies that try their best to get his attention." Lilith shrugged, before getting tugged on her side by Lucretia as she adjusted the dress.

As Lucretia inspected her work, adjusting and then sowing the next part of the embellishment, she spoke up. "Have you two discussed plans for Beltane?" Lilith sighed, her eyes not seeing the mirror before her. "We haven't really discussed it. My medical treatment should be on the 21st of March and we aren't exactly sure if it will work as intended. I could wake up on Beltane the same way as the last two years here at Hogwarts. Until we are sure that the treatments are done…" Lucretia placed her needle and thread on top of her sewing kit, before standing up and pulling Lilith into a hug. "You will be fine, cousin. You will see. So make sure you take your time and plan for the special day with your man, alright?" Lilith sighed as she wrapped her arms around Lucretia. "If I don't…" Lucretia pulled back, raising her voice. "Lilith…" the redhead shook her head. "Please, listen. I will try to be positive and hope that the ritual works. But in case it doesn't, please, promise me you will look after Tom? The last few months have helped him out a bit but he still hasn't faced grief and loss. Not like we have. If I don't make it, he will need you… all of you to pull him through. Please…" Lucretia looked at Lilith, wanting to yell at her, but the sincerity in her eyes stilled her tongue. She sighed to herself, ruffling her dirty blonde hair. "I will, I promise. Not that it will matter, because you will pull through this. You will see." Lilith gave her cousin a sheepish smile before turning around as they started the long process of removing the dress, Lilith's mind still focused on what was to come within a few short weeks.

"Master." Alexander turned and looked towards the spectral figure behind him. "Let me guess. There was no sign of them?" The being, translucent with a barely defined body of a woman, bowed her head. "Our apologies. All properties inspected tonight were abandoned, with only two of them being occupied by rogue werewolf packs who, as far as the blood on their hands, are not responsible for the attacks you have us investigating." Alexander sighed and looked back over the sprawling landscape of the Welsh countryside that stretched out before him, as he stood at the observation tower within his family estate, before he turned back to look at the spectre. "Very well. I would have prefered to avoid violating anyone else's privacy, but if the saboteurs are hiding within the occupied estates of other magical families that are not known to be part of the movement, then we must expand our search. Gather the others at the Crypt. I will restore the energy you and the others have expended and designate new targets for you all to inspect." The entity bowed her head. "As you command, Master. We will await your arrival." The being then descended through the floor and vanished from sight, as Alexander inspected his watch, seeing the hands marking midnight as the seconds ticket by. He clicked his tongue in irritation.

Tomorrow was March 21st, the night that Lilith would undergo what he and her Healer hoped was the girl's final ritual. While he had been more than confident that his presence wasn't required in the previous instances, the ritual tonight had a higher chance of inflicting greater damage to her body, as it would attempt to synchronize the body and soul one last time. Reading up on previous incidents of possession and the attempts to stabilize them, Alexander knew that this one had the possibility of resulting in death if for some reason the process failed. The notes his predecessors had left behind concerning the similar incident that happened nearly twelve hundred years prior to Lilith hadn't been a source of much confidence. Usually, the Peverells were the type to kill individuals who cheated Death by transferring their soul from one body to the next. After all, that had been the initial purpose of a Horcrux. The use of objects as anchors had only been successfully attempted by Herpo the Foul, but even he was only adapting the forbidden knowledge that had been developed in Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Indian subcontinent centuries prior. Many of the Sorcerer Kings of their ancient civilizations sought to extend their rule by the transference of their souls into the bodies of others, with the unfortunate sacrifices often being their own children. It took the combined efforts of many magical societies to not only end these practices, but to also ensure that the knowledge of the procedure never found its way into dangerous hands.

Ironically, that same lost knowledge would possibly be one of the sure fire ways that Lilith could survive. The Black Family text demonstrated how later generations still pursued less than ethical ways to escape death, and ordinarily Alexander would never have dared to use its contents. But for Lilith, he was willing to make an exception. Making his way down into the Manor, Alexander passed by one of the oldest paintings in his possession, depicting a massive dead tree with a cloaked figure standing beside it. At the center of the tree, where the trunk was split open in an unnatural way, was the figure of a woman as she gazed back at the watcher, her steps unwavering as they took her into the light emanating from the aperture. He paused briefly to run his fingers over the canvas, his mind drawn into one of his oldest memories. Memories of mirth and companionship, tainted by the price of duty and loss. Pulling his hand away, Alexander continued down the stairs. Duty. That was the thing that it always fell to. His duty as a Peverell, the last of to hold the name. The duty that weighed on his very soul. A duty that was now being challenged by his feelings towards his ward. Lilith's life would soon rest in the balance. If Death were to claim her, would he put duty above his feelings as he and his wife had already done once before, or would he defy fate himself to save the life of one who had become so dear to him?

If Alexander was honest with himself, then he had no idea what choice he would make at the moment. Every instinct from his long life told him that duty must always come first. But what of his duty as a surrogate father figure to this girl? Was it greater than the responsibilities and oaths of his family that had endured for almost twelve hundred years? He shook his head, pushing his thoughts back into the recesses of his mind, as he made his way towards the basement, before finding himself before the solid black iron gates of the Peverell Crypt. His ancestors had once considered building a cemetary on the property, perhaps even a mausoleum. Eventually, however, with the family's propensity for encountering Necromancers and undead monstrosities, the architects decided that a Crypt, buried beneath the Estate and sealed by both magical and non-magical means to be nearly impregnable, was the safer option. Nobody wanted to see an enemy reanimating the corpses of family members to be used against the descendants. The measure also served another purpose, however, one that Alexander had used regularly. The Crypt was an excellent place for spirits and ghosts to return to after they completed their missions for him, as they found the resting place of the Peverells a comfortable location to recuperate after traveling across vast distances. It also kept the neighbors from asking questions as to why a place filled with the corpses of the dead seemed to glow with an unnatural white light every other night.

For the high density of the Death Magic of his family's predecessors and the decently large population of spirits definitely made what should have been a dark and foreboding place both bright and lively. The dead that retained much of their sentience chatted away with each other as Alexander opened the Crypt's vault-like door, before walking past them, allowing his magic to fill the chamber, aiding in the restoration of the magic that the gathered entities expended, as feeding from leylines was a slower process, hence why most spirits stayed at locations that already sat atop leylines, like Hogwarts. Alexander nodded his head at a few of his oldest acquaintances, before reaching the raised altar at the center of the Crypt, where the family usually rested the bodies of the recently deceased to be held in wake, before they were to be buried in a tomb. That particular ritual had gone unused for quite some time. Turning around to face the spirits, Alexander whistled loudly, getting everyone's attention. "Before I send you all out on missions, I would like to know if there are any odd happenings that I should know that are not a part of the ongoing search for these German Hexenmeister Saboteurs." The gathered spirits didn't seem to move, until a single entity hovered forward. "Master Peverell… the beasts that dwell in the shadows. They have been found gathering in the forests of Scotland. They have drawn ever closer to the Castle in the Mountains. And…"

Alexander frowned, finding the hesitation from the ghost unusual. "What is it, Tamlane? It is unusual for you to hesitate." The ghost lowered his head. "She… she has been seen… hanging near the castle. The beasts growl and snap at her, but she is unfazed. Her focus doesn't seem to ebb from Hogwarts." Alexander rubbed his chin. "I have never heard of the spectral hounds being so aggressive, especially towards her. They are not of her domain and while she may not be petty enough to kill them for the slight, they ordinarily would never dare to be so cavalier about their mortality." The ghost of Tamlane bowed his head. "And yet, they do. Perhaps they hear the echoes of the girl's pain in the Veil better than we can." Alexander looked towards the ghost. "What do you mean?" Interestingly enough, another being spoke up as he approached the altar. "Those of us at Hogwarts feel it at times, usually during the Solstices but heavily on Samhain. The previous one was the loudest we heard the girl's pain. It resonates in the Veil and echoes throughout the Void. Screams and whimpers, feelings of stubbornness and at times acceptance. The girl's connection to the Void has grown since entering the school." Alexander looked towards the Pale Rider, one of the few ghosts who was lucky enough that the spirit of his mount deigned to follow him into a deathless existence, but also one of the rare ghosts of Hogwarts who could leave the Castle at will. Alexander looked over the rest of the spirits.

"And the rest of you? Have you felt her presence as well?" Many nodded their heads, which made Alexander pensive. Was it the Hallows? With two of them in her possession, her connection to the Void was definitely greater than almost anyone else's. Was that what was drawing Death to her and not her deteriorating condition? Or was it a mix of both reasons? Either way, it wasn't necessarily a good thing. Death's interest was never without a price. Still, if her essence was leaking out and interacting with the Veil, then it would explain the growing spectral hound presence. Her family's connection to the schattenwolves of her region was well documented and Lilith had confirmed that the means to summon the creatures across vast distances was creating a tear in the Veil and letting the summoner's magic leak into it, like a scent that the wolves would seek out without question. If the hounds too were growing concerned enough with her well-being to even dare to attack "her", then Lilith's condition was graver than he had thought. Taking a deep breath, Alexander made up his mind. "Alright, these are my orders for tonight and tomorrow. Search every magical estate, particularly those closest to Hogwarts in Scotland. Avoid detection and search for any of the saboteurs who seek to harm Albion's magical children. Any information gathered is to be brought to the Pale Rider, who will await your reports within Hogsmeade. We will widen our search outwards if no locations pan out." The spirits of the deceased bowed their heads and scattered, the Pale Rider bowing deeply, along with his steed, before both vanished, as Alexander took one last look at one of the graves in the Crypt, before bowing his own head slightly and walking out. He had someone that needed him by their side and this time, he would be there for her.

Chapter 44: The Darkness Within

"The wellsprings of magic are not well understood, my dear Mara, even after millennia of study and observation. Entering them is like peeling away the very fabric of the world. Flesh, stone, air and even thought. These vital aspects of life on Earth become interwoven in the wellsprings. This allows them to serve a slightly different purpose. Legend has it that in the past, when the old priests held a stronger connection to the magic of the earth, when every corner of the world was saturated with energy, these wellsprings were used as conduits. From Egypt, to Mesoamerica, China, and even Australia, a mage could traverse the world so long as they knew the location of an exit point. Unfortunately, while the conduits existed across the planet, they were typically only used to travel from known regions, never to the other side of the world. But then, something happened. The collapse of the Old World, what some scholars dub the Age of Gods, saw these wellsprings dry up in places. Whole cities collapsed, islands left abandoned, as their sole means of contact with the outside world vanished. From the ashes of the old world, new ways of life flourished, as the civilizations returned to the rivers that kept them fed and the old truths turned to rumours, before dying out almost completely." A slightly younger Lilith sat with her father within his office, the walls covered in bookshelves that seemed to be bursting with books, tomes, rolled up parchments and folders. His desk, made of a dark brown wood, surprisingly, was well organized and almost always clear of clutter, with family pictures adorning the far edges. As it had barely been her fourteenth birthday a few weeks back, her father had deemed that she was ready to learn the secret of the family's greatest responsibility.

"But Vati, how do we know all this? We arrived late to the region." Nicholas nodded, his brown hair turning grey at his temples and above his ears. "That we did. But we were not the first to call this place home, were we?" Lilith blinked before a thought occurred to her. "The Hags." Nicholas smiled at her. "That's my girl. Yes, the Hags have been in the region for far longer than us. In fact, their oral traditions speak of a time before they were Hags. When they were but a witches coven that sought shelter and community in the hidden valleys of the Alps. The wellspring here was never the type that was used as a conduit for other civilizations. It was too far afield, with few resources nearby to merit setting up a colony. Aside from some inscriptions on the walls dating back to the Age of Gods, this wellspring sat relatively at peace, with the local witches drawing on its power. Then… something odd happened. The wellspring changed. What had once been a reservoir of pure, untouched magic, turned dark. The trees became warped, the animals fled the valley and the very air became thick with decay." Nicholas rubbed his hair. "The Hags do not know why their ancestors ignored the warning signs, but they did, and performed their usual rituals at the mouth of the cave. Where before the magic had healed their wounds and rejuvenated the elderly, the new dark magic bore into them, twisting and reshaping the witches until they became the very beings we know today. The same fate befell a wild pack of wolves that had sought shelter in the cave during a particularly harsh winter, leading to the appearance of the schattenwolves in the tales of the Valley."

Lilith frowned. "So whatever happened to the wellspring made it a source for the formation of Dark Creatures." Nicholas nodded. "When our ancestors encountered the Hags, we had initially deemed them to have suffered some form of curse, like the Transylvanian Vampires and or the Germanic Werewolves. And yet, they weren't showing signs of being cursed. The wellspring itself didn't indicate that it was cursed either. During this initial investigation, one of our kin was drawn into the cave and they too were warped. And yet, when they exited the cave, they had not become like the Hags. They were physically stronger, magically more powerful and would go on to live a longer life span, something not seen of those not born with Fae blood in their veins. From that day onward, our family decided to relocate here. To better learn the nature of the Cave's power and to isolate the effects of it on ourselves, lest it become clear that there was something… unusual about those that ventured into the valley." Lilith's eyes turned to the window, seeing in the distance the darker shade of leaves she knew belonged to the foliage around the Cave. "And did we learn something?" Nicholas sighed. "Yes and no. We believe that a consciousness exists within the wellspring. Whether it is an ancient god, a demon or some foreign entity, we are not certain. As you have experienced, it doesn't communicate through words, but through sensations. Oddly enough, however, it can understand us, but its replies are hard to interpret, though we did learn that it is changing the beings that it encounters deliberately."

The young redhead frowned. "But, why?" Nicholas shook his head. "Hard to say. Some of our family believe that it seeks to cull the population of humans that has spiralled out of control by breeding Dark Creatures that feast on humans. Others believe that it is a foreign entity to our world and that it seeks to reshape it and its inhabitants to a more agreeable state. One thing that we have determined with certainty, however, is that the entity doesn't reshape beings randomly. It takes what exists within the creatures it encounters and draws it out into the open. The schattenwolves are predators, always hungry, but eternally cautious. For a pack of wolves desperate for food and seeking shelter in a barren mountain valley, this would have been their state of being at the time of their change. For the Hags, the witches had become obsessed with living long lives and maintaining power over the other villages. Their change allowed them to do so, at the expense of other human beings, while also giving them the power to overwhelm any and all threats to their safety from common humans, something the coven had been dreading as the mountains were being explored by more and more militant forces. For us, however, we discovered a way to keep the effects upon our body to be minimal, but effective. Through meditation and a strong enough will, we can keep the change under control. The catch, however, is that there are times when one of our kin are tempted by the promise of power to allow themselves to be changed irrevocably. We have lost many of our family to the Cave because of their failings."

Lilith swallowed nervously, before Nicholas drew her chain closer to him, taking his daughter's hands into his own as he rested his forehead against hers. "Believe me, my little Mara, I would not ask you to attempt this trial without believing you to be ready. Your training with the Hags has strengthened your convictions and settled your fears. Your connection to the Schattenwolves surpasses that of any of our kin, possibly even that of our ancestors who developed the ritual to commune with them. Your heart is full of love and kindness, whilst your mind is willful and controlled. You are ready to face the Trial of the Cave and I am certain that it will not claim you. Ultimately, however, the choice is yours. But know this. The Trial is a necessity if one day you seek to wear the Head of Family ring. The Cave and our Family Magic has become almost one in the same. Without it, you can never truly be whole." Lilith nodded. In a few days time, she had ventured into the Cave under her father's watchful eyes. The Darkness that lingered there greeted her cheerfully, but no less hungry. As its magic reached deep inside of her, doubt began to grow in her heart. Is this what she truly wanted? Was she willing to allow herself to change to satisfy her family's traditions? As thoughts not of her own began to fill her mind with images of power and control, she felt tendrails reaching deep into her thoughts and panicked, slamming down her mental defences. The entity seemed to howl in her mind, its power suffusing her body, but Lilith refused to yield. Pain soon blossomed through every centimeter of skin, and over every inch of bone.

Unfortunately for the entity, Lilith had grown accustomed to pain while facing the Hags and playing with the Schattenwolves. Minutes turned to hours as the darkness sought to ever pierce her mind, seeking any possible weaknesses. The death of her grandmother almost allowed the creature to enter her mind as it caused her to relive the memory, but Lilith simply buried an already painful memory even deeper into her mind. Finally, after what felt like hours, the darkness released its grip on her and dropped her onto the floor of the cave, its consciousness retreating from her mind, leaving behind a sense of disappointment and even… sorrow. Nicholas had rushed out to his stumbling daughter the moment she stepped out of the cave. Over the coming days, it became clear that something had gone wrong with the trial. Her body was damaged in ways no previous family member had ever endured and her connection to the magic of the Cave was tenuous at best. Her father had never shown that the incident disappointed him, even after she told him everything that had happened. He simply kissed her or the head. "You were yourself throughout the Trial, as all of us have been. That it reacted differently to you is not your fault. You have nothing to be ashamed of, my dear. Rest now. Rest and get better." So Lilith rested, for months on end, her body and magic recovering slowly but surely. Until the moment when everything changed. Until the day that she died, ever wondering if she had made a mistake that day in the cave and if that mistake had cost her and her family everything.

Tears leaked from Lilith's eyes as Teresa ran her wand over her patirnt's body, all under the watch of Alexander and Tom, the latter of whom had never released Lilith's left hand from the moment that the ritual had started to take effect. He felt her muscles tensing several times and had watched as the red arcs of magic reappeared over her body, before settling down, same with the green arcs of magic. What had surprised him and the others watching was when black tendrils of magic seemed to scatter across her body, tearing into the muscles and skin, even breaking bone, before they retreated back beneath the flesh, leaving Teresa and Poppy to repair the damage. The Head Healer sighed in relief. "The injuries healed better than expected. The ritual seems to have done its job." Alexander scratched his chin. "To a degree. Her magics are as synchronized as they have ever been. However, it seems we were unable to determine that there was a third magical signature inside of her, we simply couldn't see it as it hid within her other magical signatures. The resonance may have stabilized the other two, but this third, unknown magic isn't responding to the ritual." Teresa sighed but nodded. "That would be my diagnosis as well. Unfortunately, I have no idea where that magic is coming from. There doesn't seem to be any trace of it on her currently, so it must be hidden somewhere deep inside of her." Tom looked towards Alexander, who shook his head. "I can't see it either, nor do I have any idea what it was. It has nothing to do with the Peverell bloodline."

A hoarse voice spoke up. "I know what it is." The three people looked towards Lilith as she tried to sit up on the bed, with Tom helping her out by placing pillows behind her back. "Take it easy. You had a rough reaction to the ritual." Alexander waited until Lilith seemed comfortable, before speaking up. "What was that third magical signature?" Lilith looked at everyone present, before looking at Teresa. "I know that it's not fair, but could you give us a moment? What I need to say is a family secret." Teresa nodded and left, as Alexander raised the heaviest privacy wards that Tom or Lilith had ever felt. "Well?" Lilith sighed, rubbing her hair which seemed to be lighter in color tonight. "There is a ritual that the von Schwarzwald family requires all of its Heirs to participate in to qualify as the Head of House. Lilith carried out the ritual but something went wrong. The magic went berserk, tearing into her body violently, before releasing her. Because she technically went through the trial and the ritual, with traces of the magic lingering in her system, Lilith was able to gain the Heir Ring and I was able to secure the Head of House Ring. Unfortunately, I think that the ritual had a Soul Magic element to it. The magic that lingered in the body doesn't recognize my soul as having completed the ritual and is constantly trying to remove my spirit, if not cause my death outright." Tom frowned. "This ritual… is it one that you can perform again? It might stabilize you completely."

Lilith rubbed her eyes, removing the traces of tears from her cheeks. "I am actually pretty certain that the ritual would completely settle my current state, as it has greater effects on the body of the initiated. The issue is that the ritual can only be performed at the von Schwarzwald Estate." Alexander muttered. "Great. My contacts confirm that the location is empty, but that Grindelwald has it under surveillance, at least to some degree. Beyond that, the Austrian Alps are still far behind enemy lines. Apparating there will take a massive surge of magic and the wards and sensors in Vienna will likely detect our arrival, same with portkeys. Even non-magicals means of transport would be suicide. The closest we could get you safely to would be to Zürich." Lilith thought for a second. Maybe there was one way in. One that Grindelwald would have no way of knowing how to counter. In fact, no one could. After squeezing Tom's hand to reassure him that she was alright, she looked up at her patron. "Alexander… I know that what I am about to ask is something that you as the Lord Peverell would never willingly share with anyone else, but I believe it's the safest and most direct method for us to achieve our goal. That being said… you wouldn't happen to know where a magical wellspring could be found within the borders of Albion?" The stunned look on Alexander's face would be one she would cherish forever, since almost all attempts at surprising the man had been failures.

Slowly, however, Alexander closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "That… explains far more than I could ever say." He opened his eyes, a faint blue light glowing from within them. "You understand, however, that those wellsprings are dangerous on their own, even before attempting to use them as conduits." Lilith nodded. "I know. In fact… the ritual involves the wellspring itself. And what lies inside of it." Alexander stared at Lilith deeply. "Then forget this being dangerous. What you are suggesting is suicide." Lilith swallowed the lump in her throat. "I know. I also know… that it's the only option I have left. The ritual we tried has almost completely stabilized my magics, except that the foreign one is unraveling what was done. Unless I go through the von Schwarzwald ritual, the magical backlash incidents will start up again. The war might not be over by the time the damage is beyond Teresa's ability to repair." Tom, sitting besides Lilith, sighed. "Wouldn't a cleansing ritual work? This is a foreign magical signature and those rituals tend to remove those from the bodies." Both Lilith and Alexander turned to the young man, who blushed slightly. "I did some research regarding healing spells. That and I have been spending too much time talking to Madam Prewett." Alexander chuckled as he looked towards Lilith. "Yes, I can imagine you were quite interested in finding any solutions that might keep Lilith safe. That said, a cleansing ritual in this case would be a terrible idea. Lilith's soul, or in this case Lillian's, is still technically a foreign element within Lilith's body. The ritual would practically exorcize her soul, killing her in the process."

Tom lowered his head, before Lilith rested hers on his shoulder. "Trust me, I wish it were a simple thing. But my condition has been a complicated matter from the beginning. However, if my plan works, I believe that it could settle all of my physical and magical issues in one fell swoop.'' Alexander muttered under his breath. "If you survive, that is." Lilith closed her eyes. "I know, but we don't have another choice." Tom ran his hand down Lilith back in a show of comfort as he focused his eyes on Alexander. "As much as I would like her to stay safe, I trust her judgement. If she believes there is no other way, then there isn't." Alexander looked at the two youngsters before sighing, rubbing the back of his head. "Very well. As it so happens, there is a wellspring under the Peverell family's watch." He looked towards Lilith, who was looking at him with a bit of hope in her eyes. "I should warn you, however, that just like your family's wellspring, this one has a ritual associated with it. It won't leave any magical traces on you, but going through the ritual is the only means of reaching the cave." Lilith blinked at him in surprise. "Wait, was this…" Alexander nodded. "The test to prove oneself worthy of being a Peverell Heir? Indeed. Though the conditions for the ring weren't completely tied to the location, one could become Heir throughout their lifetime and never know it. Like Lillian did before." Lilith sighed. "Well, I suppose if I did it once before, I can do it again." Alexander frowned. "We will certainly see. Let's check with Teresa to see if you are free to leave soon. No point in taking you to the wellspring if you can't survive the journey in the first place."

Tom held Lilith to his chest as they started their descent, the cool night air giving him some measure of comfort. While Madam Prewett had confirmed that Lilith's condition was far better than anticipated, she did state that her magic remained highly unstable, making travel via Portkey and Apparition dangerous for her and others involved. As there were no Floo network terminals near the location, Alexander brought the pair back to Peverell Manor through the Floo Network, where they mounted a pair of the Thestrals that had settled there, before taking to the skies. The herd at the back of the estate had been welcoming to both Tom and Lilith, though Lilith's condition seemed to concern them as well, as they refused to take flight with her as the sole rider. Tom, for his part, was happy with the result, as he could hold Lilith against his body as they traveled the short distance to the Welsh coastline. As the hooves of the creatures made landfall, he watched as Alexander dismounted from his Thestral, thanking it for the assistance and asking the two to stay until their purpose was completed. Tom, much to Lilith's partial irritation, dropped down onto the sandy ground first, before lifting his consort off the Thestral's saddle and setting her down on her feet next to him. The slight blush on her cheeks was easy enough to see in the cold night air. They had waited a full day in hopes that Lilith's condition would improve, before Alexander determined there was no further merit to waiting.

Lilith looked around but her vision had difficulty adjusting to the low light of the night, as the moon was but a thin waning crescent in the night sky. Her artificial eye, however, noticed an odd distortion over the water near their location. "Alexander, what is this place?" The Head of the Peverell family walked up to stand by her side, his eyes also focused on the disturbance. "Before the rise of Camelot, an ancient city once stood here, built on an island just offshore. Human history has almost no registry of it, but what legends preserve. During the height of the Pendragon Civil War, the city of Cantre'r Gwaelod, already declining, was besieged by King Arthur and his forces, as they had pledged loyalty to the High Priestess Morgana. When it became clear that Magic was strong here and that his forces could neither defend it nor occupy it without great cost, Arthur had Merlin destroy the city, sinking the ruins below the waves. Morgana Pendragon, after the fall of her brother, the death of her son and the imprisonment of Merlin within Avalon, took it upon herself to seal all the magical sites of Avalon that had fallen into ruin or had been abandoned. She strengthened Merlin's magic over the city, before applying another ward over the forest that had been spared the wrath of her former teacher's power. Though they had fought on opposite sides of the war, her bloodline and her own faith in the Knights of the Round Table allowed her to approach the survivors. Percival and his extended family, the Peverells, were given dominion over this land, to guard it from those seeking to abuse its power."

Tom frowned as looked out into an empty, dark sky, just barely seeing the water in the pale light. "So even after the Civil War, there were no hard feelings between the factions?" Alexander sighed. "For some, the war had been too costly and sure, there were hard feelings from those who were defeated. But those who knew Arthur, Morgana and Mordred knew that the war began out of love. Mordred, who had earned his place at the Round Table, only ever wished to receive his father's respect and recognition. When Arthur refused, Mordred sought to earn it by battle, as was the custom back then. By beating his father in combat, he had hoped to earn his respect and the right to succeed him. Sadly, the war became embroiled in other political conflicts, the Christian encroachment into Celtic lands being part of it. Both Merlin and Morgana agreed to protect all abandoned magical sites from further desecration, a task that Morgana carried out, until she too left for Avalon. What became of her afterwards is known only to the Fae, though they will not say. Now then." Alexander raised his hand before him and ran his magic through the family ring. The black gem glowed an eerie green light before the magic that had been placed over the site began to be peeled back. The water at the edge of the beach receded, revealing a thin path of sand and stone leading into the darkness, as green lights flickered into life in the air beside the road.

Alexander turned to Lilith. "You left everything but your wand behind, correct?" Lilith nodded as Tom spoke up. "Her wand barely works for her as is. Why are you denying her the use of her plates?" The elder Peverell steered his eyes towards Tom, giving him a sad look. "I understand how you feel, Tom. Truly. But what lies beyond this path demands that the only tool a person is to carry is their primary focus. Nothing more. In fact, quite a few of the family ventured here without their wands at all. The plates might be a part of who Lilith is now, but that will not aid her in this test before reaching the cave." Tom sighed, feeling defeated as Lilith walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. The two stared into each other's eyes, before they shared a brief kiss. Lilith smiled at him as she pulled away, though even he could see it was strained. "Will you wait for me here? I will try to be back soon." Tom nodded before kissing her forehead. "I will be here, until you return. And you will return. Understand?" Lilith chuckled at him, feeling her nerves eased slightly. "By your command, my Lord Slytherin." Giving Alexander one last nod, Lilith turned towards the path, swallowing her nerves, before walking calmly over soft and wet sand. As she drew further away from the shore, the very air seemed to turn heavy and all light faded. In the blink of an eye, Lilith seemed to vanish into the night, as Alexander rested his hand on Tom's shoulder. "Now… we wait."

Shaking away the feeling of disorientation, Lilith looked around, finding her surroundings very much unlike the Welsh shoreline she had just been at. The air was thick with the smell of trees and rot as a dark and seemingly endless forest stretched out before her. The ground itself was uneven, with thick twisting roots arching out into the air, before descending once more, the soil covered by a thick layer of dry leaves. What troubled Lilith, however, was the way the air felt. Or more specifically, the magic that surrounded her. It was cold, colder than any she had ever experienced, and seemed to press down into her. The Resurrection Stone itself felt like a lead weight in her head, its power seemingly made irrelevant. As she breathed out, she watched as her breathing became visible, even though she was sure it wasn't cold enough to be winter. Then the woods, which had been deadly silent from the moment she arrived, seemed to awaken as the sound of crunching dry leaves brough Lilith's attention towards her left, her wand held tightly in her grasp, it too feeling unnaturally heavy though oddly complacent. Which was a good thing as two bright green eyes, reminding her very much of the color of the killing curse, peered at her from a nearby bush before the creature rushed towards her. Aiming her wand at the beast, Lilith felt her magic drain quickly as a banisher launched the creature back into the dense woods, before she herself took off in a run, her eyes searching everywhere for the cave that was her way out.

Wherever she looked, she only found trees and deep shadows, before being attacked once more. With every strike, Lilith saw more of her attacker. Sleek black fur over taught muscles made her initially think it was some sort of canid, until the thick furry tail and the long, almost vampiric like fangs of the feline creature made Lilith realize that her family's innate ability would not serve her here. Four deep gashes along Lilith's left forearm tore a scream of pain from the young witch, before she unleashed a dark cutting curse at the creature point blank. To her horror, the curse did nothing to the feline, before it proceeded to knock Lilith onto the ground, its claws digging into her thighs. Screaming in pain, Lilith pressed her wand against the cat's neck. "Avada Kedavra." Then, as if the creature had been some conjuration, the weight upon her vanished. Winded from her run and feeling her wounds stinging as blood stained her hands, Lilith felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up again. Without hesitation, she used the killing curse again, causing another large creature to vanish, though she noted that it looked less feline in nature. And yet, within moments, the feeling of being watched would return again, as Lilith realized that nothing that she did would likely kill the lethal beasts that seemed to be everywhere all at once. Desperately trying to come up with a solution, Alexander's comments about how the test had to be completed before she could find the cave surfaced in her mind. Against an enemy that had no end insight, that was likely impossible. So if the test wasn't about beating the deadly creatures into submission, then what was it?

As the massive paws of the lion-like beast with what looked to be a scorpion-like tail descended silently into the ground before Lilith, those green eyes staring into hers without any emotion behind them, Lilith understood what it was that she needed to do. Taking deep, calming breaths, Lilith holstered her wand and stood still, her eyes never leaving the creature's. The two stared at each other for what felt like eternity as it approached her, it's face literally getting right before hers, the scent of decaying flesh escaping its maw as its breath covered Lilith's face, her life momentarily flashing before her eyes as she began to doubt her decision. Then what seemed like an eternity later, it simply seemed to fade away into the darkness, the dreadful feeling disappearing with it. Lilith released a deep breath as her knees gave out from under her. She closed her eyes, trying to maintain the same calm that had just saved her life, grunting as she stood back up again from the pain all over her body, before venturing deeper into the woods. There, in a section that she was certain that she had searched before, was a small, jagged rock, with a shallow cave that felt very much like the one that the von Schwarzwald family protected. Though Lilith's eyes were less focused on her shortcut to the Austrian Alps and more on the hooded figure that stood next to it. Lilith knew that figure all too well. She laughed bitterly. "I had a feeling… I might be seeing you here. Peverells and Death do seem to have an interesting relationship, after all. Did it all start here, or beyond the reach of these woods? Still, this is where a Peverell faces death and is supposed to conquer their fear of it, isn't it?" The entity didn't respond, as Lilith sighed, before she started hobbling towards the aperture.

Once she was right next to the figure, she looked towards the entity and it turned its head towards her, though no light or face was there to be seen in the darkness of the cloak. The young redhead frowned. "Why aren't you trying to stop me now? You've been after me ever since that Samhain night. I am injured and losing blood. So…why? Why aren't you trying to claim me now?" The figure's head seemed to incline itself to the right, which made Lilith wonder. "Or was I wrong. If you weren't there to claim me… were you there to warm me away? To get me to pull back on my magic before it killed me?" The figure nodded its head as Lilith felt everything she had ever thought about Death might have been wrong. "But… why?" Lilith saw no movement from the figure, leaving her unsure what to think of this entity and its unfathomable mind. Feeling her body getting too cold, Lilith decided that she had lingered here far too long and started walking into the cave. As she felt the magic starting to envelop her, she looked back towards the entrance and to the cloaked entity that stood there, watching her. Lilith smiled at her for a second. "Thank you, for giving me the chance to live. I am sure that we will meet again, some day." The final words from the Tale of the Three Brothers crossed her mind and Lilith's smile turned bittersweet. "Until then, see you around, old friend." As the magic started pulling her through and her eyes lost focus, Lilith felt an odd echo from within her mind, if not her very soul, as words seemed to register. Words spoken in a cold and yet strangely familiar voice in a language that she could never hope to speak and yet was able to understand just the same. "Some day."

Lilith had expected her trip through the conduit would be a decently smooth one. After all, the mages of the past had used these to travel across vast distances without issue. And yet, she found herself dropped onto the ground, the breath knocked out of her, just like the first time that Sirius had her use a Portkey. That one had deposited her onto the hard marble floors of Gringotts, the day that Sirius had designated her as the heir to his personal wealth and properties. So at least this method of travel was an improvement by the fact that she could currently feel grass against her cheek and hands as she pushed herself off the ground, until she realized that her right arm felt wrong. She stared at it, seeing flesh and blood where there should have been gears and rubber. Feeling the muscles under her fingers as she inspected her intact right hand, it took her a second to notice that the hair hanging just to the side of her eyes was different too. It was jet black. Feeling even more disoriented, she finally took a moment to look around her, finding herself in the familiar valley of the von Schwarzwald family estate. Except that the ruins looked wrong. Rather than the burnt, hollowed out ruins of her nightmares, these were covered in vegetation. The ground, once charred by cursed fire, looked almost the same as the grass outside, as Lilith found herself in the roofless area of the former reception hall. "This… this isn't right. What's going on?"

A voice giggled behind her. "A lot more than you had accounted for, it would seem. Isn't that right, Lillian. Or do you prefer Lily?" Turning around, she found her throat going dry. It was like looking into a mirror from three years ago. There, standing just at the broken gateway of the building, was a familiar redhead girl, her pale green eyes looking at her with a measure of curiosity and even mischief. Bringing her hand up to her face, it finally dawned on her. "Am I…?" Lilith giggled again. "Back in your old body?" It certainly seems that way." Lillian shook her head, her eyes looking around. "I don't understand… I should be in the conduit." Lilith smiled at her. "And you are. Odd things, these magical wellsprings. Sometimes they work as expected, and yet, sometimes, they end up having a mind of their own. The real world from where we are from… it's nothing to them. What dwells here is not affixed to anything we can term as real or imagined. It simply is." Lillian sighed. "Typical." Her eyes looked around once more. "These are the ruins of your home from when I was alive, aren't they?" Lilith's expression changed, as grief filled her eyes as she too looked around. "They are. In 1996, this was all that was left of our family. Happily forgotten by the outside world, our own flesh and blood being more than happy to let the name disappear into the mists of time." Lillian looked towards Lilith, before hanging her head. "This might still be the same future that awaits the von Schwarzwald family. Whether it is my failing here and now or sometime later, I might not be able to restore your family's legacy. Even if I did… it wouldn't be the same."

Lilith blinked at her. "Why not?" Lillian turned her head towards the young girl. "Because I am not you. I am just a selfish soul that snuck into your body. I took your name, your family's power and used them to fulfill my own goals." Lilith nodded in response. "All that is true, except for the fact that you never once betrayed who we were. You have lived every single moment honoring my memories, honoring our family's responsibilities and beliefs." She reached up and cupped Lilllian's cheek, forcing the two to look in each other's eyes. "At every turn, you could have taken a different path. You could have been free from our family's commitments and the burdens that come with the name, and yet you didn't. You chose us, in spite of every reason not to. That's why I am here, Lillian. To tell you the truth. A truth that you need to hear." Rubbing the raven haired girl's cheek lovingly, the young von Schwarzwald Heiress smiled at her. "And the truth is that I am very glad for all that you have done so far in my name. Even if there is still so much for you to do, even if you may somehow fail, we want you to know that we are very proud of what you have done and who you have become. That as far as we are concerned, no one else was better suited to carry on our name and legacy." Lillian blinked at her. "We?" Lilith gestured with her head towards Lillian's back, before the last of the Potter's turned around, her eyes going wide. There, standing just at the ruined doors of the interior of the house, bathed in the light of the setting sun as it turned everything a deep orange, were Nicholas and Grazyna von Schwarzwald, both of whom gave her a deep bow. Lilith walked around Lillian so that her back was to her parents, before pressing her forehead against Lillian's.

"There is a part of me that wishes that I could have been there with you, guiding you, helping you as you try so desperately to save the magical world from themselves. I would love to have had a sister like you." Lillian smiled at her. "I would have liked that as well." Lilith turned and walked towards her family, even as Lillian reached out towards her. "Wait! Please. You don't have to go! You can come back with me. You can live again. This world is yours, not mine. I… I could let you take my place. You could go back and be alive, as you should have been." Lilith turned around, her hands held behind her back as she shook her head, her curly red locks moving in a gentle breeze. "I am grateful for the offer, but I had my chance. Besides…" The young redheaded girl smiled at Lillian. "I am not really gone from the world, for I am alive within you. And because of the choice you made, I always will be." The girl then turned and ran to her parents, throwing herself into her father's arms. The three turned towards Lilith and waved at her as their ethereal forms faded, consumed by a bright light that forced Lillian to look away. By the time she could see again, they were gone as the sun began to set behind where they had once been, her eyes now seeing the familiar black rubber of her artificial arm. A warm wind swirled around the young woman, filled with the sound of a child giggling and of her parents laughing, as Lillian, back into her current physical form as Lilith, placed her left hand over her heart, feeling how warm her chest felt, tears threatening to escape her eyes.

After taking a moment to gather herself, Lilith walked through the ruins of the von Schwarzwald Estate before crossing into the treeline at the back of the house. Following the memories of her previous life, she soon found the region where the trees began to change. If anything, the scent of decay was even thicker now, as Lilith covered her nose and mouth. Walking past the corpses of humans, wolves and deer in different stages of decomposition, Lilith soon found the cave entrance. Her hackles rose as she felt the magic inside respond to her presence, black tendrils made of shadow leaking out into the surroundings, waiting for her to make a move. Resisting the urge to take a deep breath of the putrid air, Lilith squared her shoulders and ventured forward. At first, the sensation was hardly any different than from the Peverell Cave, before her vision was enveloped by an all consuming darkness. Then the darkness lingered as all sense motion ceased. Lilith felt herself being lifted as if by some unseen tide, her breath becoming desperate before this darkness entered her mouth. Her very skin began to burn as magic flooded her very being, even as she tried to keep her mind from becoming warped by the hunger that now seemed to seek refuge within her. Then the pain increased and her bones began to ache, as if some great force was trying to snap them all at once. Lilith struggled to keep her mind protected as the entity's rage began to build. She felt a tendrail wrap around her neck, causing her lungs to burn further and her mind to fail, as the memory of Lilith's first experience within the cave resurfaced yet again.

Back then she too had feared losing herself to the creature, becoming someone else. She had refused to yield and had nearly died for it. Deep within Lillian's soul, she knew there would be no nearly with her. She would die. As her mind began to fade, she saw the faces of all whom she loved. Sirius, with his scruffy beard, horrible jokes and even worse sense of self preservation. Cassandra and Myrtle, two Ravenclaws who would hopefully have more fulfilling lives than their counterparts, even as the young Seer looked to be just on the edge of tears by all the deaths that she could see coming. The Black family, all of whom were now set on a path that Lilith hoped would lead to love and loyalty for future generations to flourish under. Seeing Alexander and Tom in her mind made tears escape her eyes, as she reached out towards Tom. "Forgive me. I wasn't strong enough." As her thoughts began to fade, a sweet voice from a different lifetime filled Lilith's ears. "You are, Lillian. Deep down in your heart, I know you are. So please, believe in yourself. Even if your world is consumed by Darkness and all seems lost, just believe… in who you are." Feeling a brief kiss on her lips, Lilith struggled to open her eyes, before she was greeted by a blinding light, a female figure hanging just above her made entirely of golden radiance. There, in the sea of darkness that surrounded her, was the glowing image of her dearest friend, her usual smile for Lilith never once vanishing from her face, before the vision faded, as the world returned to darkness. Tears now escaped Lilith's eyes in full before she closed them.

Then, she did what no von Schwarzwald had done since they established their roots in the Austrian Alps. Taking a deep breath she thought one last time of Tom, before closing her eyes… and giving in. Fully opened to the Darkness that surrounded her, Lilith felt its essence touch every single aspect of her very being. Her fears, her insecurities, as well as her anger and hate. Everything that was her was left bare for the Darkness to find. As time passed, the pain that had assaulted every inch of her body vanished quickly, replaced by a deep cold that felt comforting, even as it left her yearning for warmth. Her breaths grew lighter and less labored, but it was her mind, if not her soul, where the Darkness seemed to coalesce. Her every memory, of both Lilith and Lilian, seemed to flash before her eyes, even as her mind felt light, almost dazed. Eventually, she felt like a body left adrift in a perfectly calm lake, though she knew she wasn't truly alone in the void. The entity of the cave was inside of her, feeling unusually content and even joyous, before she felt its consciousness slip out of her, leaving her body feeling empty. Taking a breath, she found herself able to breathe freely, her hands and feet feeling unusual, as if they were all new to her once more, not unlike the first time she had attached her artificial arm, which now felt even more connected to her body and mind. Finding herself standing on unsteady feet, which felt the roughness of the cave floor against her naked soles and toes, the young woman looked around at the solid stone walls, the air humming with untapped magic. Thinking of the two men that were still waiting for her to return, Lilith closed her eyes once more and thought of the conduit from which she came. The cavern's magic connected with hers and as the vision in her mind crystalized, and soon Lilith felt herself enveloped in energy once more.

Alexander watched as Tom tossed another stone into the water, the sense of helplessness that the young lord Slytherin felt not that far from what he himself was experiencing. Unlike with the ritual that Teresa had performed, this one prevented him from interfering in whatever was happening in the forest, if not the conduits themselves. As Lilith had hopefully discovered, the forest was more than simply a test of her survival instincts and skill with a wand. Had she taken her plates, her ability to discern the truth of what the test required would have taken too long, perhaps long enough for her to have perished from her wounds. That scenario had been one that had occurred several times in the Peverell family since the hidden forest became their means to test an heir's heart. Before that, the previous test had been an absolute disaster that left the family far weaker than the then Head would have wanted. Their duty to Albion had been held for centuries, since the time that Londinium was founded, when it was more of a trading post with the Celts in the early days of peace. When the peace was shattered after Boudica's failed rebellion and Rome decided that a permanent military force was needed to deal with Albion's native tribes who struggled to free themselves from foreign oppression, the Peverells of the time had to make the difficult decision to abandon Londinium for Wales, where the family seat would remain almost two thousand years later, as their loyalty was to the people who called Albion home, not the Roman invaders.

Back then the position of Head of the Family was usually one that was tested and recognized by the Druid Priest and Priestesses of the Isle of the Blessed. When their power diminished and neither Merlin nor Morgana were able to establish successors to their own roles as the Light and Dark Caretakers of Albion, the need to test the future Heads fell upon the family itself, hence the initial debacle and the later loses of the unworthy dying to a test their predecessor should have been better able to prepare them for. Alexander felt a bit of regret for not telling Lilith that the last people to pass through here had been Iolanthe Peverell and Hardwin Potter, Lillian's ancestors, both of whom survive the test, though Hardwin had a harder time with it. Looking towards Tom, Alexander wondered if he was capable of fulfilling it too, but ultimately decided that he couldn't. Skill and power wise, Tom and Lilith were very close to even, as both had a deeper reserve of magic than ordinary magicals, thanks to their more developed souls having been introduced to their younger bodies. Experience wise, he was technically her better as Alexander determined during a short duel in the previous summer, as his advanced age and training prior to the time displacement left him with some decent muscle memory. Lilith had the muscle memory of the von Schwarzwald family's training regimes, but her impared magical state for the last few years had diminished what skills the family had imparted on her.

Seeing the young man drawing his wand, Alexander sighed. Where Lilith had Tom beat, however, was in patience. "Don't." Tom turned to him. "It's been nearly an hour and we haven't seen nor heard a thing. She could be dying in there!" Alexander lowered his gaze. "Perhaps she is, but this test and the one after are for her alone. If you go in there, you will not find yourself in the same location as she is. The forest is more than merely a bunch of trees locked behind a powerful illusion. It is a natural maze that traps you and tests you against your greatest fears, if not death itself. No fire can consume it, no men can cut it down. It is, in a way, born anew whenever anyone ventures in it, before receding into some magical corner of the world until the next soul ventures forward. The Island itself will let us know if those who ventured within have died as it fades away from view once more." Tom looked back towards the narrow pathway leading into the darkness beyond. "So it's practically a death trap." Alexander chuckled. "In a way, though not quite. It was always used as a test, even before our family took stewardship over the land. Both by the local king of Cantre'r Gwaelod and by those of nearby territories, all done under the supervision of the Druids. Even the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur himself were tested here. The stories of Arthur and Percival facing the Questing Beast all originate here." Tom frowned, trying to remember what he had read of the Arthurian legend. "The beast said to be born from incest?"

Alexander shook his head. "That was a later addition, something to act as a portent of the dangers of Mordred and the fall of Camelot, tying it all to moral evils of Christianity. No, the Questing Beast is that which preys upon all who enter there, its shape and form born from the mind and fears of the intended victim. It is one of Death's creatures, one of the few that she ever shaped." Tom clenched his fist. "And you sent Lilith in there, knowing that Death herself was after her!" Alexander's lips straightened out as he stared at Tom. "Death is always close at hand, Tom. The two of you should know that better than most. The distinction here is that entering into the forest carries with it a binding magic of Death's own making. Surviving the Beast is something that Death herself respects. Even if the soul is teetering between life and death by one heartbeat, they will be spared and allowed to leave if they succeed." Tom blinked at him. "Why?" Alexander sighed, rubbing his Family ring. "Because that is the moment when the person is truly revealed. The masks that we build for ourselves fade away and all that is left is the soul itself. For that soul to endure despite being freed from their flesh, blood and hopes, is a miracle of human endurance. That is when Death will grant them the chance to leave. For it is not by cheating Death that one finds their lifespan extended, but by earning Death's approval. Though passing the test won't make her live any longer than she would have in the first place. That is not the point of the ritual."

Tom thought for a second, as he felt the rush of potentially extending his own life diminish after Alexander elaborated. "If it's not the body that changes, nor the soul… is it the mind?" Alexander smiled at him. "Indeed. How we perceive death, how we interact with deadly events every day of our lives, how we decide to live out every single moment as we expect death to claim us. That is what changes once the test is concluded." Tom sighed. "Then why tell me? Why not let me be tested as well?" Alexander approached him, resting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing it warmly. "Because a person's instincts play a part in this as well. Your instincts have been sharpened and shaped by your life experiences, as have hers. Based on what I know of both of you, she was ready for the test without needing to be told what it was about. You, on the other hand, would likely have perished within. The knowledge of what the test is about best serves you as a lesson told, not lived. So keep my words in your heart Tom." Looking over Tom's shoulder, Alexander squeezed his arm once more. "Especially as I am certain that you will be living the effects of the lesson for the foreseeable future, if she stays by your side." Looking in the direction that Alexander was facing, Tom initially only saw darkness, until a pale figure stepped out of the forest, walking on unsteady legs, trails of some form of black magic lingering around her as she stumbled towards them. Alexander held him at the edge of the water, until her feet brought her out of the walkway onto the wet sand, before she seemed to stumble, with Tom catching her in his arms.

With the traces of dark wisps of magic fading, Alexander waved his wand over her body as Tom wrapped his cloak over Lilith's naked form. "Is she…" Alexander sighed in relief. "Fully healed and stable. Her magic has been depleted heavily, which is no surprise considering what she had to go through, but I believe her soul is now fully synchronized to the body. We should take her back to Hogwarts and have Teresa's more experienced eye look her over, but I think her plan worked." Tom smiled, tears threatening to escape his eyes as he bent down and kissed her on the forehead. The sensation seemed to cause her to stir, before she opened her eyes, initially giving Tom a brief shock as her sclera had been black before they returned to their natural white, a soft smile growing on her face. "Hi. Looks… looks like I made it." Tom nodded. "You did." He then pulled her up and carried her towards the Thestrals as Alexander watched them with a smile on his face. A whisper in the back of his mind caused him to look behind him. There, in the entrance to the forest, was the cloaked figure that he knew had been stalking his ward. And yet, seeing her stand there as the magic of the wards returned to their sealed position, with the pathway disappearing beneath the waves, he could feel that the entity was appeased. It nodded at him, before turning around and vanishing with the forest, returning the coast to its near pristine state of darkness as Alexander turned around once more and made his way to the Thestrals. While the concerned part of him knew that Lilith and Death would likely never be far away from each other, at least now he knew she was ready for whatever came her way. And even if she wasn't, she wouldn't be facing it alone, not anymore.

Chapter 45: Feeling Whole

"I am so sorry, Cassie!" The blond Ravenclaw sighed as her friend apologized for the upteinth time. "It's fine, Myrtle. Getting some spillage from a Cauldron isn't anything that unusual in Potions." Myrtle was still visibly shaking as Teresa applied the ointment covered bandages to Cassandra's forearms and hands. "While a burn like this is still a serious injury, Miss Warren, Miss Moon is correct that this is a relatively easy one to treat. We have been dealing with these since the School's founding. It was fortunate that it was the Wound Cleaning Potion during its boiling stage and not a Draught of Living Death during its reaction to Sopophorous bean juice being added, as it would have left your housemate in a very deep coma." Myrtle started to shake out of sheer anxiety, while Cassandra tried to reassure her. "We can wear the gloves that Lilith provided us for when Professor Slughorn has us do the Draught from memory before the final exams, so please, just relax." Myrtle visibly improved, though it was only slightly, as Teresa finished bandaging Cassandra's hands. "There, that should do it. Just a dose of this pain reliever and you should be fine for the rest of the day, so long as you don't use your wand or a quill. Stop by here tonight to shower so that I can apply the replacement bandages and you can then spend a restful night in the Hospital Wing. By morning, the bandages will come off and you will be right as rain."

As Cassandra was about to ask if she could step out, the two young women heard Poppy Pomfrey as she stepped through a now open privacy curtain. "Miss von Schwarzwald, you must wait for Madam Prewett to give you a clean bill of health. You may be feeling perfectly fine now, but there is a reason she had you stay the night here. Now please, be patient." As she turned and found the two girls, she turned back to the bed that her patient was occupying. "Why don't you have a chat with your friends while the Madam finishes the paperwork for her current patient?" Getting a nod from the Chief Healer, who was busy filling out all the information on Cassandra's injuries and the treatment she was receiving, the two girls walked over and pulled the curtain aside. Both of them froze for a moment as their eyes found that their friend looked slightly different from what they remembered. Her hair had always been an oddity, as it was a deep red with curls, marked by black stripes that seemed to shift in size over the years, especially this last one. Now though, Lilith's hair looked almost metallic, with at times being the deep red they remember, but when no light touched it, it would seem to turn almost pitch black, especially from the loose hair that cascaded past Lilith's shoulders. Though she was currently seated, Cassandra was pretty sure her friend was a few inches taller, with wider shoulders. Her eyes, though, had Cassandra feeling odd. They were the same green she knew, with that odd internal light, and yet there seemed to be black streaks in them now, as if someone had carved grooves into the two bright emerald spheres in a circular pattern.

"... are the changes really that noticeable? I caught Tom staring at me when he brought me in last night, but you two seem to be making a bigger fuss over this… Cassie, what happened to your hands!?" As Myrtle started to explain, Lilith reached out and touched Cassandra's hand. The young Seer braced for the onslaught of pain and imagery that tended to engulf her when Lilith touched her, particularly after a recent magical backlash episode. Yet, when the slightly longer fingers on Lilith's left hand touched her injured hands, there was nothing. The pain, the visions… even the swirling storm of energy… it was all gone. Cassandra's silver eyes widened further. "Lily… is everything ok with you? You feel… different… very different." The redhead blinked at her, before she smiled, a smile that Cassandra had never seen on her friend with how wide and genuine it was. "Trust me Cassie, I feel fine. Better than… well, better than I have felt in a very long time. Now, what's this about Potions class? I need to go see Professor Slughorn soon and I haven't been studying my Potions text all that well." As Myrtle went over what had happened in the class, Lilith had pulled Cassandra down, having her sitting next to her on the bed, the Ravenclaw seer finding herself relaxing by the sensations of Lilith's pleasant and deeply calming quiet that was now her best friend's magic. It was a state of peace and comfortable intimacy that she hadn't felt… well, she wasn't sure if she had ever felt so comfortably at peace at any point in her life either, let alone in physical contact with another.

"Warren. Professor Greengrass sent me to fetch you. Moon has the day off from her injuries but you don't and you are already late for class." The young brunette panicked as she grabbed her bookbag, calling out "See you two at lunch!," before following the Ravenclaw Prefect out of the Hospital Wing. Teresa walked past the bed and smiled at her two patients. "Alright, Miss Moon, you are free to go, though remember to take it easy. If you feel too uncomfortable or the pain returns, just walk back here. I have informed your Professors for the rest of the day of your situation. Miss von Schwarzwald has the same permissions so if you two share a class, she can guide you back here herself once I send her on her way." As Cassandra got back on her feet, she felt Lilith pulling her forearm. Looking back, she watched as her friend seemed to struggle with something. "Cassie… I wanted you to know… I think I saw Luna again. And I am not talking about a vision or a dream. I think it was really her. I was in this… timeless realm of pure magic and she helped save me. So… if you are still worried about her not being born, just don't." Lilith smiled at her again, this time with some unshed tears in her eyes. "I know that she is waiting for her time. And, one day, you will get to meet her too. I promise you that. So please, live your life fully too, for her sake as much as your own." Cassandra blinked at Lilith for a few moments, taking in her words as her own eyes began to fill with tears. She left the Hospital Wing, the pain of her injured hands being nothing compared to the unbridled joy that had settled into her heart.

The noise of a small bell ringing filled the air as Lilith pushed the door to Ollivander's wand shop open, before stepping inside. The shop felt oddly quiet, though it wasn't unexpected considering it was still late March. And while the bulk of the new wands were sold in late July and early August, it wasn't unusual for the wand shops to see some traffic during the other months of the year, mostly for wand repair work and replacement, since a thin stick of wood had a very high chance at being broken at any moment in time. Of course, repairing a wand wasn't that expensive, but a full wand replacement was, which was why several of the lesser families and even a few muggleborns tended to either favor other wand shops or to even forgo getting a second custom wand at all because of the materials, since the Ministry and Hogwarts would only help finance the first custom wand, an investment that was still heavily debated in the Wizengamot for a variety of reasons. The high point of the expense being a wand's core, as there was a decently stable wood farming market, even in the magical community. The cores, however, were a lot harder to acquire, especially the common cores of Unicorn hair and Dragon's Heartstring. The populations for both magical creatures was severely diminished in the last century and the push for conservation made the materials that had once flooded the market dry up almost overnight. Sure, there were other materials, but they were harder to stabilize and usually had weaker results.

Lilith took a deep breath, before calling out. "Hello. Master Ollivander?" Hearing movement at the back of the store, Lilith waited patiently, before an older gentleman stepped out from the back room. "Hello, young lady. How may we be of service today?" Lilith rubbed the back of her neck, her hair currently tied in a braid. "My wand… might have had a bit of an accident and the wood needs replacing. I did manage to save the core… I think." The older gentleman called her over. "Seeing as I don't remember you walking into my shop, I imagine that my son sold the wand to you? Garrick, a customer of yours has dropped by." Lilith watched as a bob of wavy brown hair appeared from the back room door, followed by the younger gentleman as he rubbed a rag over his hands. "Ah, welcome back, Lady von Schwarzwald. Back to remake your wand?" Lilith chuckled a bit begrudgingly. "In a way. Is the feather still intact enough to be used?" Placing a wooden box before the two wandmakers, Lilith took a few steps back, as Garrick lifted the lid, inspecting the slightly cinched feather. "Hmmm. How unusual. I will say that the Phoenix tail feather is still intact enough to serve as a core. Odd, though, how the color seems to have changed, as there were no dark feathers streaks to the end and tip. Still, everything seems to be in order." The older Ollivander stepped away from the counter and opened several drawers on a seperate desk, pulling out slabs of wood from a variety of sources. "If I remember correctly, you made three wands with Phoenix feathers. Which of them was this one?"

Garrick stepped around the desk and started measuring Lilith once more, this time humming more to himself. "Hawthorne. The Yew wand was sold nearly seven years ago and the Holly one is still in the back." The older gentleman nodded, before placing woods before Lilith. "Very well, let us see if any of these react to you, my lady." Lilith nodded, before waving her hands over the blocks. The Hawthorne, Holly and Yew blocks all reacted to her magic, but they weren't anything like how she remembered when her wands accepted her fully. Vexed, the man replaced the tray filled with wood blocks with another, with Lilith pausing briefly over what she was certain was Elder wood. It gave her an odd feeling of deja vu and she realized that Alexander's wand was made of it. Still, the wood wasn't interacting well with her, though it was better than the previous three blocks, and none of the others gave her any sense of connection. Garrik looked over the selection of blocks. "Odd. We may have to look into our more unique woods. We usually only tinker with them but today we are definitely stumped." Lilith thought for a second. Maybe… "Would you happen to have Larch wood? Preferably from Germany or Austria." The old man rubbed his chin as Garrick went into the back of the shop. "We do have Larch, but it's mostly from here or from Canada, though I believe we have some samples from Europe. Many of the other wandsmiths favor using it for replacement wands, since the material is cheap and relatively stable, but I doubt it will synergize well with the Phoenix feather."

Lilith bit her lip as she waited, until the younger Ollivander showed her three wood blocks. She recognized that all were Larch and held her hand over them, with a single block almost jumping into her grip. Blinking at the surprise reaction from the wood, she watched as the older gentleman waved his hands over the block still in her grasp. "It seems you were right. This is Larch from the Austrian Alps. It suits you, though I am still concerned… Garrick, cut off a thin sheet of wood from this. Best to test these two components before we start carving." The young Ollivander nodded and took the wood to the back, whilst the elder replaced the trays where they came from. A few minutes passed before she heard the young man raise his voice in surprise. "Ahh! Well… It seems you were right, father. The feather burned right through the wood." The old man pulled off his glasses, rubbed them clean with a handkerchief, and replaced them as he took a closer look at Lilith. "It is rare for someone to have such materials for their wands. We do encounter odd combinations, like the Holly and Phoenix feather wand my son made, but for the materials to be at odds with each other. Hmmm." Lilith swallowed as the eyes of the old man seemed to do their best to pierce into her soul, before the back door opened, with Garrick bringing a bowl with him, his hands holding it almost reverently. "Perhaps a drop of blood used in the binding agent will do the trick. As we understand how cautious we must be with blood when used in magic rituals, we tend to do this part within view of our customers. Let them know we aren't storing any of it away for anything nefarious."

Nodding, Lilith drew one of her knives from her belt and made a thin but deep enough incision for blood to flow freely into the contents of the bowl. Using a bit of magic to seal the wound, she watched as the blood reacted quickly, making the dark drown substance turn almost pitch black, much to the surprise of both wandmakers. Lilith, however, felt her eyes drawn to the bowl. It looked to be made of stone, which meant it was likely a relic, with the edges and surface carved in runes. The odd part was that not only did she recognize the runes, but also the configuration. She had seen an identical bowl within Salzzar Slytherin's workshop. As Garrick started cutting the wood slab, before carving it into the base form of a wand, Lilith's eyes focused on his father. It wouldn't be unusual for wandmakers to use relics in their craft. At times, it was encouraged, as the older relics were imbued with a power all their own. But for the stone and runic language to both be identical to what Salazar had in the Chamber, it would have to mean that they received it from the same source. The Ollivanders were an Ancient family, but not Noble and were never part of the Wizengamot, as far as her memories could recall. They predated Hogwarts, but that bowl didn't seem to be made by a Latin Magical expert. At the same time, she couldn't recall an Ollivander ever being at Hogwarts. Surely they would have been excellent students and professors. So why did they avoid the Wizengamot and the Castle?

Lilith's mind returned to the bowl. It was definitely a Hogwarts Heirloom, made by the same person that made Salazar's. In that era, there were only two witchcraft practitioners capable of crafting such an object. Helga would have been more than capable of crafting her witchcraft instruments, but many of those were usually made of wood, with the exception of her cup, a chalice made of some rare metal and even that object was not entirely of her own making. In fact, according to Salazar, it had been a wedding gift from… Rowena. The top Enchantress at Hogwarts and the most capable person to not only create the bowls, but to have refined the art of wandmaking at a time when wands and staffs were fighting for dominance as the premier magical focus of Britain. Lilith swallowed briefly, before speaking. "That bowl must be a treasured family Heirloom. I imagine it has seen to the creation of every wand that has ever passed through the hands of an Ollivander." The old man nodded, pride clearly in his hands. "It is. For nearly a thousand years, it has served the needs of all our customers." Lilith started to smile. That placed it after the date Ollivander's was established, just around the age of the Founders. "Odd that it has a mix of Celtic, Futhark and even Fae inscriptions, since your family is known to be descended from the Romans that made Londinium. I take it that the Ollivanders were forced to flee the city after the Christian Conversion of the Empire?" The old man nodded, though he was now eyeing Lilith with a degree of wariness. "Indeed. When Hogwarts was founded, we soon became the primary providers of wands for its students, an honor we have maintained for centuries."

Humming in agreement, Lilith decided it was time to see if her guess was right. "And to receive an enchanted bowl from Rowena of the Raven's Claw Coven… that must have been quite the honour. Though aside from the other Founders, I believe her works usually were kept in the family. Then again, as a member of a coven, siring children with their warlocks wouldn't have been unexpected, though it would certainly make for some difficulties regarding the line of succession. Without Helena, there wouldn't have been anything keeping the descendants from claiming their Lady's legacy. So, why haven't you, Heir of Ravenclaw?" The man stared at her, a response clearly at the tip of his tongue, before Lilith looked towards the door that Garrick had disappeared into moments earlier. "Then again, seeing what the Gaunts did to Slytherin's legacy, perhaps you also feared a similar fate. Keeping the line hidden, with the family never setting foot in the Wizengamot or within Hogwarts, you could keep your secret from all, perfecting the craft that your Roman Ancestors dedicated themselves to, the craft that Rowena refined for you. I am more than happy to keep your secret to myself, though I believe you and your family should consider claiming your rightful legacy. Lord Slytherin will need all the help he can get from a fellow line of Founder Heirs to restore Hogwarts to its rightful path."

The head of the Ollivander family stared at her for a few more minutes, before sighing. "Perhaps, you may have a point. We hid ourselves among an established family to keep our heritage a secret, for the safety of our children and the magical gifts bestowed upon them." Lilith watched as the door opened as the younger Ollivander seemed to wipe clean his newly made wand. "Larch, thirteen and a half inches, flexible, with a phoenix feather for a core, stabilized by blood. A wand of hidden potential and great magical prowess, for a courageous soul. I still need to apply the polish, but best to be certain." Presenting Lilith the light colored wand, she took it by the grip. It was a relatively simple design, which was to be expected for the short time he spent on it. The moment her fingers touched the wood, she closed her eyes as the magic within her rushed to fill the foci. Somewhere in the distance she heard the cry of a phoenix, before her ears were filled with the sound of a strong gust of wind blowing through the forests of the von Schwarzwald estate. As she opened them, she watched as the wood began to shift in color, growing darker and looking almost charred, turning the once pale wood almost black, the grain taking on an almost red hue, reminiscent of her Hawthorn wand. The Ollivaders stared at the odd occurrence, before Lilith replaced the wand in the son's cloth covered hands. Placing the wand to his ear, the young man nodded. "Everything seems to be fine, as the wand clearly recognizes you as its true master. Perhaps the hidden potential has already been revealed and that was the source of the change."

The older Ollivander nodded, though his eyes were still on Lilith. "I would agree. It was fortunate you waited on the polish, as I doubt it would have survived that. Now why don't you go to the back and finish up so the young lady can return to her studies." Garrick nodded as he turned around. "Of course, of course. Hmmm. Perhaps it would be best to leave wands slightly unfinished. Yes, that might result in some more interesting and refined work. Hmm." As he vanished through the door, Lilith felt the man's eyes on her. "I imagine something similar occurred with the hawthorn wand, before you arrived here. You are quite the interesting witch, Lady von Schwarzwald." Lilith smiled at him. "Well, I have spent the last few years with Death as a near constant companion. I would be surprised if I had somehow turned out to be just another customer of yours." The man cracked a friendly smile. "Indeed. I hope you will keep what you uncovered a secret, as you stated." Lilith nodded. "I will, though I will be informing Lord Slytherin that the Heirs are very much alive and are just being cautious. In time, however, I hope you or your son approach him of your own accord. Hogwarts has changed much since the founding, and not all for the better. A more distant point of view, especially from a family who have been observing the wizarding world for a millennia, might be what Lord Slytherin needs when the time comes to restore Hogwarts to a proper path." The man sighed but nodded. "I will keep that in mind, my lady. Now, let's get you a proper wand care kit whilst my son completes his work."

"Confringo!" Lilith watched as the practice dummy exploded into a million pieces, before looking at her wand. After receiving it from Ollivander, she could readily admit that it felt perfect in her left hand. The magic that had for years now been tearing her apart was not only stable, but at her command once more. even her plates felt far more responsive to her, though she had to wait to test out if they were now any more resistant to attacks. As much as she wanted to be with Tom currently, especially as she was practicing magic within the Chamber of Secrets, that simply wasn't possible. Dippet had called him up earlier to go over his research on Parselmagic and a bit of original magic he was developing with him and the two still had another hour of discussion or practical exercises to go over. Seeing no point in just going over every single spell, jinx, hex or curse in her repertoire, Lilith rubbed Rene's snout before heading for Slytherin's Library. As she made for the bookshelf, she heard the portrait awaken. "Ahh. Dear child, how are you doing? My Heir said that you were on the mend, last time he was here." Lilith pulled out a spellbook and held it to her chest as she looked towards Salazar. "I am doing much better, thank you for asking, Salazar. After spending two days under observation, I thought it would be good to get some practice in. Now that I know my wand is working as it should, I wanted to try my hand at some new spells."

Salazar smiled at her and chuckled. "Ahh, that explains Rowena's book. She was always the most interested in developing new forms of spells, whether it was entirely new or a never utilized variant." Lilith opened the book in her hand and leafed through it. "I remember having read this when I was alive as Lillian and seeing a few spells that I simply couldn't perform. I want to try my hand at them now. Her Patronus Shield spell seems like it could be infinitely useful, if I can get the emotion and power it needs to activate. Oh, before I forget, I ran into the Heirs of Ravenclaw yesterday. Can't elaborate on who they are but they are alive and aware of their heritage, just… unmotivated to claim it currently." Salazar rubbed his chin. "A shame, what little I have here from Rowena's collection would hardly compare to her own journals. Perhaps she could have made your entire ordeal all the more comfortable… if she actually uncovered or developed something to address it." Lilith paused mid pageflip as Slytherin's words sunk in, before looking up. It was clear from the portrait's face that he had spoken more than he would have liked, which made Lilith's heart beat harder. She dropped the spellbook onto the desk and unlocked the Grimoire possessing the ritual that sent her and Tom into the past. Before, she had simply been interested in the components needed to activate the ritual: the carved inscriptions, the incantation and the activation sequence. Looking closely now, Lilith could see something she had missed the first time around. The handwriting. It was a bit rougher, but it looked similar enough, though Lilith noticed another person had written notes on the pages as well.

"Your dearest friend. It was Rowena wasn't it? More than that, you knew the consequences of the magic. You knew what it would do to me!" Salazar sighed, his face saddened both by what his future self had done and by echoes of what had come before. "Knew? No. We suspected. It tooks years for us to realize what it was that had happened. In fact, we had no clue that the magic had been used until Rowena handed us the book. And then… and then her beloved began to deteriorate. Like with you, their magics were at war with each other, tearing their flesh and body apart. Rowena did everything in her power to keep her wife alive. But in the end, it didn't matter. Her beloved Ash passed away, just after Helena's second birthday." Salazar rubbed his eyes as he cleared out his tears. "After reading the book, I began to wonder… if they had performed the spell. And for what reason. Then it came to me. How well prepared we were to face Herpo's forces, how easy it was for her to not only trap but trace an Inferi's link to its creator and the Horcrux. How she had developed the spells specifically designed to ward off the Dementors. Our defeat of Herpo the Foul had been an achievement in efficiency and planning. A miracle… born from the sacrifice of the soulbond between two souls… who probably lived through a very different set of circumstances, much as you and Tom once did." Lilith slammed the book on the table. "Even after learning all that, knowing full well that I would be going through the same consequences as Rowena's soulmate, a version of you still saw fit to send me back in time, trading one death for another. How… how could you even begin to justify doing that!?"

Salazar looked towards Lilith, seeing her eyes filling up with tears, realizing how much he had once meant to her. For he certainly doubted that what relationship they might have had once had would survive this. Still, he could understand why his other self did it. "I assume, because it traded certainty of death for an opportunity at life. A chance that my Heir could be redeemed and that you might somehow survive. It had been a thousand years. If the Heirs of Ravenclaw had come forward, then you might have found a refined means to repair the connection between your body and soul. If not them, then someone else would have, as the Black's certainly did with their grimoire. It was cold, cruel and calculated, but I want you to at least believe me when I say this, Lilith, that we did it out of love for you and for this family. I regret the pain that my other self inflicted upon you for the last few years of your life, but I will not regret the fact that his actions brought you and Tom here to me… nor the fact that you two have been brought together. Rowena and Ash clearly had a deeper relationship, that much was clear to me from the moment I met them. Ash herself was very much an old soul, a learned user of Greek spells and a capable Druid priestess. Looking back on everything now it is clear that she too had a different life before we met. But you two?... Your origins may have come from a similar path, lives that intersected several times over your lifetimes, but your potential was lost by time and circumstance. The ritual did more than undo the horrors of the world you lived in… it opened eyes to what could be. The companionship, attention, care and love that you feel for each other… it could never have been were it not for my otherself's decision. I will not apologize nor condemn what he did to you."

Lilith stared at him, clenching and unclenching her hand, before lowering her eyes. "I… am grateful… for the chance your future self gave me and Tom at a second life. I am grateful that it has given us both a means to not only live, but to find love in one another. That said… I will need some time… to make peace with the fact that I was manipulated into a position where death was a highly likely consequence of my actions. Had your other self told me, I might have hesitated. Had he revealed to me the truth, I might have considered other alternatives, including living my life as a fugitive for the rest of my days. Hell, I have placed my life in danger several times since I arrived here and in each one of those cases, I chose to endanger my life. It was my choice. And he… made that choice for me. He placed my life in danger without telling me! In my eyes… that was no better than what Dumbledore or Voldemort did in Lillian's time. So please, forgive me, my ancestor, but I…I need time to make peace with what he did before I return to you. For I fear I might destroy your portrait in a fit of rage… and I am no longer suited to restraining my emotions as I once was. If you excuse me." Refusing to look at the Portrait, Lilith grabbed Rowena's spellbook and left the library, as a grieving Salazar sighed to himself, rubbing his fingers against his pendant thoughtfully. After assuring Rene that she would be back and that her anger wasn't directed at her, Lilith waited for the vault door to be sealed shut before she screamed in pain and rage into the echoing vastness of the cave, the magic within her veins almost burning her skin as she doubled over and screamed again, her eyes filled with tears.

Dumbledore restlessly looked over the latest letters from his allies, sighing to himself as he watched his movement's strength floundering. Early on, his ability to influence others had been extremely limited. He was a well regarded teacher at Hogwarts and students of Gryffindor House, as well as a few from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, flocked to him. It wasn't hard to see why. With the exception of Horace Slughorn, he and Elphias Doge were among the youngest of the Professors assigned to one of the principle seven year courses that all students had to take to graduate. His skill and attention to detail in Transfiguration was unmatched, skills that he continuously improved as much as possible. Though if he was honest with himself, he was far more talented in Defence. When he graduated Hogwarts just before the dawn of the new century, he had been among the top students to ever be under Galatea Merrythought's instruction. Sure, he was capable in Charms as well, but Defence and the Dark Arts had fascinated him, especially after uncovering several books in the Restricted Section that had initially been part of the curriculum of Hogwarts, before the laws were changed after the Napoleonic Wars. Like any young man, he had scoffed at the ignorance of adults and had delved into the texts, learning of the powerful curses used by Dark Wizards and Witches in Britain's past.

This thirst for old knowledge had made him a close associate of Bathilda Bagshot, as his mother's death had forced him to take up the position of minder over his sister, keeping him from traveling the rest of Europe. The woman may not have been interested in the magics practiced by the past wizarding population, but her own passion for ancient history meant that she was uncommonly capable at locating spell books belonging to the less civilized age. Books that Dumbledore could then read through and explore while constrained to his family's home in Godric's Hollow. Through these texts he learned of ways to strengthen the Transfigurations to last longer, how to make curses attach themselves to objects in a way that the curse could then transfer from person to person through touch. He even uncovered accounts of the Elder Wand, how it traveled across all of Europe, reaping death and destruction wherever it went. It was his encounter with the Elder Wand's history that drew him to a young blonde man with the most beautiful heterochromatic eyes. Like Dumbledore, Grindelwald had one of the the top students of his year at the Durmstrang Institute, with exceptional talent for all the wanded disciplines, but especially in Defence and the Dark Arts, as Durmstrang had refused to abide by the ICW ban. As Bagshot's great nephew, the two were introduced when she received a massive trove of texts pertaining to the early thirteenth century. Gellert had arrived to review the texts with her and that was when Albus and him began their relationship.

At first, it wasn't anything unusual. He would leave Aberforth looking after Ariana and join Gellert in deciphering the old Anglo-Norman and Middle English texts, which fortunately retained the Latin magical phrases as written in the Latin script, which made translation a bit easier. Discussions over the effects of the old curses and hexes soon turned to matters of politics regarding them, and eventually into the wider philosophical debates that Albus Dumbledore had loved in his youth. From Darwinism to Creationism and their positions on magical traits, no subject was taboo for them and the debates became more impassioned and more satisfactory in their depth. Then, one day, everything changed. After a particularly heated debate on the merits and disadvantages of a possible Magical Uprising, Albus had allowed his anger to get the best of him and Gellert had sat him down, gently soothing his anger away. It had been far too long since he had thought about the torture of Allana at the hands of muggles and how his father had avenged her, only for the Ministry to punish him for meeting out justice against the people that destroyed his family. Under Gellert's calm voice and his soothing touch, Dumbledore had looked at the young man and had dared to kiss him. Though Gellert had been initially stunned, he soon leaned into the kiss. That night, he felt his anger towards the world melt away as the two boys explored a side of their lives that neither had even considered in their wildest dreams but found that they had desperately needed. And that is what those days felt like to the now older Dumbledore. A dream.

A dream that soon became a nightmare. With a deepened relationship, the two had dedicated themselves feverishly into their studies of the Dark Arts, uncovering a variant to the Imperius Curse that was far more subtle and difficult to trace, though harder to use on a wizard or witch. They had eagerly tested it on muggles in Godric's Hollow and found the effects to be utterly satisfying, watching as the unsuspecting fools made mockeries of themselves. With these new methods of influence discovered, their dream of a Wizarding World where the muggles were under the will of the Magical Population became all the more obtainable. As Gellert came closer to uncovering the most recent history of the Elder Wand, the possibilities seemed to be endless. With both preparing to leave Britain to seek out the Elder Wand, Aberforth attempted to stop them, begging Albus to stay behind to help with the care of their sister. The scene soon turned chaotic as wands were drawn in anger and spells were cast mindlessly. In all of the commotion, no one had noticed her walking down the stairs. It was only the sound of her still form striking the ground and tumbling the last of the steps to the floor that startled both Aberforth and Albus into action, as both rushed to their sister's side, finding her body cold and lifeless. Gellert fled that night and never darkened the doorstep of the Dumbledore household again, leaving a devastated Albus behind. That was the day that Albus Dumbledore realized how dangerous the Dark Arts were, as neither he nor Aberforth could remember what spells had been used. He had been so enamoured with the Dark Arts that he and Gellert had not even hesitated to use them on each other. He knew then they were a poison, and that they had no place in the Wizarding World.

Heartbroken in many ways, Dumbledore stumbled his way back to Hogwarts, where Armando granted him a position at the then Professor of Transfiguration's side, before he took over the position himself. His skill and talent in other fields back at Hogwarts had allowed him to encounter Nicholas Flamel during his time as a student, who had come to Hogwarts as a guest lecturer after a large enough group of students in Potions requested to study Alchemy. Many of his fellow students failed the course ultimately, but Albus had preserved, earning Nicholas respect and friendship. Eventually, through some tutoring, Albus began to offer the class of Alchemy to the most gifted students of Hogwarts. His mastery of the two courses, his brief though tumultuous times as Defence Professor during Merrythought's sabbatical, and his dedication to the education of the students earned him the position of Deputy Headmaster at Hogwarts. His old friend Nicholas, however, would prove himself invaluable when Gellert Grindelwald had made his way to France to further recruit Wizards to his cause, before he and his followers vanished back into what he now believed was Gellert's secret base somewhere in Central Europe. Before then, he had encouraged Newt Scamader's travels across the globe, in the hopes that his former student could uncover any trace of Gellert, who had briefly disappeared after committing several terrorist attacks across Europe. After his brief arrest in MACUSA and in the days after the Immolation of the Paris Necropolis, Dumbledore had decided that simply sitting on the sidelines wasn't enough. He needed to stop Grindelwald's darkness from spreading.

Initially only seeking to stop his wayward other half, Dumbledore had sought alliances within the Wizengamot. Henry Potter had initially been receptive of his advances, until Dumbledore had suggested building a clandestine force to counter Gellert's Hexenmeisters. The stalwart believer in the ICW and its Peacekeeper program rejected that idea and they never met again, forcing Dumbledoee to look elsewhere. Recruiting the Longbottoms and the Weasleys was far easier, as they had lost faith in the integrity of their society after Sirus Black turned against them after the marriage of two of the Black women into their families. It was in these interactions that Dumbledore realized that Gellert's war presented him with an opportunity. Napoleon's involvement of the Dark Families in his campaigns of conquest had resulted in the banning of the instruction of the Dark Arts at the ICW recognized schools of magic. With Gellert doing the same, Dumbledore could use the resentment and anger to his advantage, potentially outright banning all of the Dark Arts from existence. He had been seeding doubt in the minds of the younger students, gaining their support, particularly in the magical families with no representation in the Wizengamot, in the hopes of leading a movement that would see the governing body restructured in a way that would bring an end to the Dark Faction and to the Dark Arts they practiced. Now, all of his plans were in peril. All because of a young woman who had refused to die with her accursed family, with her now being poised to destroy everything he loved, just as Gellert had done before.

Lilith von Schwarzwald had looked to be on death's door just a few days ago, but two days after the Equinox, he had watched as she returned, seemingly healed and stable. When he had connected to the Hogwarts wards and focused on her, he had realized just how dangerous she was. Where before had been an unstable, mishmash of magical energies, now there was only a steady, almost throbbing black aura. He could almost feel the wards warping away from her, as if she was immune from their effects. Then, just a few days before, he had felt a sudden surge all along the Hogwarts wards, a surge that felt very much like her magic. It had felt as if the magic could have smothered everything around the perimeter of the Castle before it receded. Albus knew then there was no time to lose. Lilith von Schwarzwald had not only seemingly recovered, though he had yet to see her using a wand, but was potentially far more powerful of a witch, lacking only the ability to utilize her new power. He could no longer wait for the NEWTs examinations to begin. His allies had seemed slightly unenthusiastic as to the possibility of taking up arms themselves, as this would be the first true test of the Members of his Order, but there was simply no time to better prepare them. Knowing which of his allies were willing to answer his call, Dumbledore pulled out an envelope containing a letter that he had painstakingly forged.

He knew that Aberforth would be furious with him, having used his son's name as a tool to communicate with the Hexenmeisters. Having been removed from their care in a temple in Bhutan, Aurelius' condition had deteriorated enough that he was now simply lying in bed, with Aberforth taking care of him as his body was devoured from the inside by the Obscurius. Of course, as far as Gellert knew, the young man was simply playing the part of a trojan horse, having been providing the Hexenmeisters with information that Dumbledore conveniently discussed with his brother just within earshot. Taking a deep breath, Albus whispered the name of the one thing keeping Aurelius alive. "Fawkes." The phoenix appeared before him in a flash of light, cawing at him with a bit of frustration. Dumbledore tied the letter to the begrudgingly docile creature, as a text that he had read in Bathilda's historical trove had revealed an effective means of binding a phoenix, though it could only be done by the family members of the creature's natural companion. Albus, while disappointed in Aurelius' initial affiliations with Gellert, was very grateful towards his nephew for bringing him Fawkes. Phoenixes were very much symbols associated with hope and light overcoming any adversity. The bird's presence alone had helped to seal the alliances of many of the old magical families, like the Longbottoms and the Pyrites, who practically worshiped those who had them as familiars. The creature's discomfort was a small price to pay to gain their unconditional support.

"Take it to Gellert Grindelwald and be quick in returning to your post at my nephew's side." The phoenix clicked at him before vanishing. Dumbledore sighed, both from the effort it took to contain the phoenix' stubborn will and from what he had just done. In a few days, the Castle would suffer its first attack in centuries, and he would have no choice but to sacrifice the lives of many of his colleagues. The loss of Armando Dippet by itself would be the biggest travesty, as his age and knowledge rivaled even that of the Flamels. Sadly, his compassion, the very reason Dumbledore had been allowed to become a professor at such a young age, was his greatest undoing. Allowing Lilith von Schwarzwald entry into the Castle had been a mistake he had hoped the Headmaster would have eventually corrected. Surely he could see and feel the darkness radiating from her now. And yet, the man had taken no action against her. He needed to be forced aside, as so many of the other professors, so that a generation of educators, freed from the traditions and the temptations of the Dark Arts could take their place. And if children like Tom Riddle and Lilith von Schwarzwald, as well as all the other Heirs and Heiresses of Dark magical families died, then the future he envisioned for Wizarding Britain, free from the Dark Arts, was just a few generations away. Like the phoenix, he would raise a better Britain from the ashes of the old, no matter the cost.

Lifting the trap door that led into the Council of Walpurgis Chamber as quietly as possible, Tom looked around, finding the person he was looking for staring out the large window, her hand rubbing Galatea's metallic feathers absentmindedly. He was pretty certain she sensed his presence by the way her shoulders momentarily tensed up, before she relaxed once more. It was something that he had come to love about Lilith. Rather than simply reacting quickly to everything, she took her time to let him or anyone else decide their own course of action before engaging them. He often wondered if there would be a day they could pass each other briefly without interacting at all, though Tom highly doubted it would ever come to that. Giving Galatea a gentle touch, Tom then wrapped his arms around Lilith's waist, feeling her body relax against him. The two stood quietly, looking through the open window, before Tom kissed her neck playfully. A soft shudder went down her body. "You ok? You have been distant these last few days." Lilith sighed, resting her head against Tom's shoulder. "Did you talk to Salazar?" Tom nodded. "I did. He was oddly out of sorts. For someone claiming to have no regrets about what his otherself did, he clearly feels responsible for the price the ritual inflicted on you." The two were quiet once again, before Tom lifted her hand and kissed the palm. "I, for one, am very glad that you undid time, and tied yourself up with my life. The person that stands here, with you, would be very different had you not been here."

"... I know. I don't regret the choice either. I just… I just wish he had trusted me enough to have given me the chance to decide for myself if I was willing to take on what was essentially a suicide mission." Tom didn't like thinking of her choice like that himself. "I think he was right, in giving us the chance and the hope that you could survive in this time period, rather than diminishing your hope with the certainty of death." Lilith was quiet before her voice responded barely above a whisper. "True. But it wouldn't have mattered. I had already accepted the possibility of dying before my time. Both before and within the Peverell trial, I had accepted death in my heart." Tom tensed for a second, before Lilith's arms wrapped themselves around his, her lips pressing gently into his neck. "Don't be afraid, that doesn't mean that I have given up on us. I haven't. I am just more comfortable with my own mortality than most people are. I think… I think it's part of what made me a possible Peverell Heir and Lady. It might have also been the reason as to why Death seemed so interested in me, beyond the fact that I was a wayward soul. Being just on the verge of dying constantly and always finding my way back to life. I think… I think she was looking after me, rather than stalking me." Tom sighed, feeling some of the tension leaving his body. "I swear, you Peverells will be the reason I age prematurely." Lilith laughed briefly before turning around and wrapping her arms around his neck. "You are one too, though very distantly related. Regardless, you tell Salazar that I have forgiven him. I just need time to let my feelings settle down properly. It's not as easy as it once was."

Nodding at her words, Tom stole a brief kiss from her lips. "I will tell him and Rene tomorrow. Speaking of difficulties, anything I should worry about with your renewed body?" Resting her head against his chest, Lilith briefly listened to Tom's heartbeat. "My senses seem to be sharper. I still need to readjust my arm a bit more, with me possibly needing a full replacement as some of the proportions are a bit more than I had designed as possible physical development on my part. I have been biting my lips a bit more than normal so I think my teeth are sharper and longer and my Occlumency needs to be remade entirely, though I don't know how well that will work in the long run." Turning her head to look into Tom's face, Lilith smiled at him. "My emotions are a bit harder to control, I think. Which is why I was keeping my distance from you. I was very tempted to pull you into a cupboard and have my way with you several times during the week." Tom chuckled. "I don't know. I think I would have been fine with that." Lilith licked his lips. "Even if I ended up giving birth to your child in nine months?" Tom's heart skipped a beat as Lilith explained. "When I got back, Teresa noticed that I had essentially been flushed clean of everything in my system. Vaccines, trace illnesses… even my monthly potion. While my cycle hasn't been proven to be regular or irregular yet, it was best to be careful. " Tom swallowed nervously. "Ahh. Then, that's why you stayed out of my room for the last week." Lilith nodded, before she leaned upwards, her lips brushing his ear. ~"I am protected now, if you were wondering. So… interested?"~

Laughing playfully as Tom pulled her into his arms, Lilith kissed his lips hungrily, absentmindedly sealing the wards to the Chamber. As he placed her on the nearest sofa, she raised herself up and sat on his lap, helping him to undress, her lips constantly kissing his, if her teeth were not busy nibbling at his neck. Her voice escaped her lips in gasps as Tom's hands began to wander beneath her clothes, finding all the points he knew would drive her wild with need and desire. Unable to hold back any further, her hands made short work of his pants before she pressed herself down, pulling him deep inside of her. The two of them took a moment to stare into each other's eyes after their bodies became one, before Lilith began to buck on his lap. Tom, for his part, yearned for more contact between them, tugging open her robe and shirt before pulling her bare chest against his own, his hands pressing Lilith down into himself, getting her voice to climb higher and higher, their need building quickly until both shuddered in mutual release. Lilith continued to pepper Tom's neck with kisses and playbites, before he pulled her off and proceeded to make love to her on the coach several more times, trying to sate their mutual and seemingly endless desire for each other. Under the pale light of candles strewn about the chamber, the two eventually lied down on the ground next to each other, scattered clothes littering the floor as their robes acted as blankets over their naked and sweaty bodies, the open window making the curtains dance in the breeze as the air grew cooler once more.

Tom caressed his lover's naked back gently as she started to snore ever so lightly. He had been initially worried about what Alexander had told him about the effects the trial would have on Lilith, though not the ones relating to her body. She had clearly aged into a type of happy medium between Lilith and Lillian's ages, her hair taking on further characteristics of the raven haired girl he remembered from his dreams as it seemed to have straightened out, though it still retained some curls. Her body was clearly fitter and still bore the scars of her two lives, but all were fully healed, even the one on her left hand. If anything, she seemed even more beautiful than he remembered. It was the changes to her personality that he truly had been concerned with. Would he still love the woman that stepped out just the same as the one that entered? That thought had been nagging at the back of his mind all week but now he knew, truly knew, there was nothing to worry about. Everything he loved about Lilith before the Trial was still there. If anything had changed, it was the hesitation that had lingered in her whenever they were intimate together, something he had noticed and worried over for months, had seemingly all but vanished. All throughout their love making, he could see and feel Lilith giving herself over to the moment and to their feelings for each other, never once restraining anything. Her eyes glowed the entire time, but the life in them seemed to shine even brighter still, her smile being full and pure. Tom himself smiled as he pulled Lilith to his side more, feeling her hand caress his chest on reflex. The Lilith that had stepped out of those deadly woods had been the one he loved, whole and very much alive. For that, Tom couldn't be any happier.

Chapter 46: Treason in the Highlands

"Gruppenführer Grindelwald, our forces are in position and ready to storm the entrances and the roof entryways. We await the collapse of the wards." Vinda looked over from her position across the Black Lake and towards the Castle resting against the mountainside. The building looked quiet and still, as was to be expected considering much of the student body and the staff should have been at the Hogwarts Great Hall for lunch. The moment they arrived on site, the curse breakers of the group found the wards to be greater than any they had ever encountered, even the ones back at the fortress. Had they not been informed about the planned dropping of the wards for maintenance, they wouldn't have dared to carry out a direct assault on such a heavily defended fortification. But with their Lord confirming the information from various sources and contacts within the British community, they had decided to take the risk and reposition themselves around the Castle. As a precaution, a small detachment of saboteurs and the few remaining local facilitators would be launching a simultaneous attack on the British Ministry of Magic, in the hopes that the DMLE would be more distracted by that operation. After all, Hogwarts defences were legendary. Vinda was betting on the British overconfidence in said defences to be their downfall. If the distrationary force was intercepted by the counter insurgency force that had been hunting them from the very beginning, then all the better.

Of course, her forces doubted they could capture all the current residents of the Castle. They had no one in the Floo Network Authority to lockdown the chimneys in the staff offices, so a few staff members and students could easily escape their grasp. The benefit of attacking during a meal was the fact that most of the students would be in one central location, not that far from one of the main entrances of the school. If they could smash through the Castle's physical defences, her Hexenmeisters would be poised with a surplus of hostages, more than enough to send a few out as corpses until their demands were met. Vinda smiled, glad that any agreement between them and the Wizengamot would be magically binding. Their experts on binding agreements had crafted the ultimatum in such a way that it would cripple the British Ministry of Magic whether they kept to the agreements' parameters or not. Either way, all they needed was to hold onto the Castle and the hostages long enough to force the British to capitulate. Looking over at the officer that addressed her, Vinda nodded. "Have everyone ready and make sure that we have sufficient men covering the paths from Hogsmeade and from the forest for any Aurors or unexpected guests. If we can't get the Castle's wards back up, we will have to raise our own quickly."

The officer saluted her. "Understood. We await your command." Vinda looked back towards the Castle and gripped her wand tightly. Taking the Castle was her and her forces' only means of survival. She had no illusions about what failure would bring. She did, however, smile at the fact that she might at least get to deal with her unfinished business. Ever since the little bitch of the von Schwarzwald Heiress had survived Vinda's killing curse, everything had been going wrong from her. While being cast out from the Rosier family and being taken in by her Lord wasn't that bad on its own, the pain and the inconvenience of the Maledictus that kept her out of action for nearly a year was an insult she couldn't simply let pass. The girl had already escaped her forces two more times, once unexpectedly from their strike against the Potter Heir and the Atrium, and again from Valerio's failed attack against the Heir of Slytherin. Everywhere her forces struck, that girl seemed to be there, ready to interfere with their plans. This time, however, there would be no doubt. Her forces would be on the lookout for the girl with the orders to kill her on sight. Vinda would love to be the one to ensure that the girl was dead once and for all, but she was needed to coordinate the assault. Her duty to her men and the mission came first, with vengeance only being a nice little bonus.

Watching as the seconds ticked by on her pocket watch, the mood of her soldiers grew tense as doubt began to gnaw at their minds. They knew the longer they waited, the more likely it was that the counter insurgency force would catch them unawares, blowing the element of surprise. Then, in the briefest of instances, everyone felt the air suddenly shift, the humming magic going deadly silent. The ward specialist attached to her force swept the area with their wands and then gave the all clear. Vinda smiled. "All soldiers, advance! Take the children hostage and execute the staff. And, of course, if you locate the selected targets, make sure that you contact me immediately." A chorus of "Jawohl!" filled the air as her Hexenmeisters rushed to the Castle's entrances, a few taking up positions both to seal up the points of entry against outside forces, as well as to cover the openings against anyone trying to flee. As the Hexenmeisters started hurling blasting curses at the main gates, Vinda felt as her people raised the temporary wards that would keep anyone within the compound from escaping via broom, portkey and apparition. The main gates shattered soon after as debris of wood, metal and stone was ejected in a massive explosion. As a few Hexenmeisters waded through the clouds of dust left behind by the explosion, bright flashes of red and green light filled the air, a few of them sailing past Vinda's position. "Gruppenführer! The staff are taking defensible positions outside of the Great Hall entrance!" Vinda growled. They responded quickly. It seemed that the reports on the Professors preparing for an attack by her forces were accurate. "Stand your ground and keep them occupied! Webber, you're with me. Let's see if we can push deeper through Stein's designated area." Vinda and her men rushed around the side of the Castle, her mind set. She would break through the defences and claim her freedom. The alternative was not even worth considering.

"Artemis!" Lilith hid a smile behind her hand as Alessia yelled at Orion's raven familiar, who had decided to steal one of the Italian's Nocci. Of course, Orion knew better than to send Artemis to prank the young Italian girl with no means to diffuse the situation. Which was why, as soon as Alessia was pushing herself up from her place at the Slytherin table, she noticed the small little box next to her plate. Artemis was, after all, a very fast bird and was more than happy to use her speed to trick the people trying to figure out what she was up to. The small black box was perfectly concealed by her plumage and Lililth had taught Orion how to put a timer on the shrinking spell to dissipate. The young brunette stared at Black Heir Apparent, who did his best puppy dog impression, before she sat back down and opened the package. Lilith smiled at the pleasant surprise on the girl's face as the small box was filled with cannolis and bombolones, both known Italian pastries. The girl sighed, before soundlessly saying thank you to Orion, who smiled back at her, with Artemis landing just beside the girl, who gently rubbed the known troublemaker's back, before digging into her meal after giving her master the Nocci. Orion gave Lilith a brief nod before he dug into his own meal, leaving the Nocci for later, which led to Tom sighing. "Do I want to even bother guessing as to who provided said box to Heir Black?"

Lilith turned to look at her boyfriend's calculating gaze, before smiling at him. as a privacy ward rose around them. "What? Is it wrong for me to help my cousin provide a lovely young girl a few gifts for her birthday? Besides, Alexander didn't mind at all helping me out. He took the challenge with great fervor, as he had yet to try his hand at either of the pastries I suggested." Tom shook his head as he took a bite out of his slice of apple pie. "So, do I have to ask?" Lilith eyed him out of the corner of her eye and took a sip of her drink. "That would depend entirely on you." Tom raised an eyebrow at the none answer. Then again, he had a feeling that she was simply letting him decide for himself what Beltane would mean to them. This upcoming Beltane would be the first the two of them could actually celebrate together, considering how Lilith's condition kept her bedridden for the previous ones. The fact that they were not just courting, but physically intimate made the actual day a lot more complicated. According to tradition, the couples would spend the day together, with certain rituals taking place at sunrise, noon, sunset and finally midnight. Depending on the rituals, the preparations and the intent, couples could technically become married by magic, having conceived a child or, if they were compatible, become bound to each other as soulmates.

The fact that Lilith had carried out the ritual that reversed time for the two of them carried with it two truths: they were definitely compatible as soulmates… and the bond that could have been raised between them was severed, supposedly for all time, the price for sending two souls into the past. Obviously, the first ritual was out of the question, as neither of them were ready for marriage, the second was even more unacceptable, as they were even less capable of being good parents at this moment in time. Knowing that the third ritual was pointless did take some of the anticipation out of Tom for the day, but perhaps… perhaps simply asking and performing ghe ritual would be enough. Not to create the bond that could never be, but to show the commitment he felt in his heart towards her. Though he was still undecided on what to do, Tom began to mentally compose his proposal to her so that they would spend Beltane together, when he felt the magic around him shudder and then subsequently collapse. He could see that everyone, including Lilith looked perplexed as to what had occured, but one look at the Headmaster's face was all Tom needed to see to know that what he had felt was the collapse of the Hogwarts wards. Dippet shot to his feet quickly and, without a gesture or an incantation, projected his voice across the entire Great Hall.

"Students! You are to all stand up and prepare to calmly travel through safety corridors that will soon appear at the closest walls to your tables. This is an emergency and I ask for everyone to remain calm. Professors Croaker, Greengrass and Bulstroude will be leading you all in single file to your destination. Prefects, you are to help the younger students stay calm and to follow instruction. Everyone else, you know your stations. Let there be no mistake, Hogwarts is currently under attack. For everyone's safety, please follow the instructions of the staff." As the students rose from their seats, with Lilith and Tom helping to gather the younger students together, something very troubling became instantly clear. Theodore Nott was the first to voice it as he approached Lilith, who was directing the younger Slitherin Prefects into what to do. "Tom! Abraxas and the other's aren't here." Sparing a look at a concerned Lilith, Tom nodded at Nott. "We will handle it. You are to stay with the younger students and make sure they get to safety. There, the doors are appearing." At Tom's prompting, everyone looked and watched as four doors grew out of the stone walls of the Great Hall, before they were opened by the Hogwarts elves. The Professors momentarily in charge of the student gathered them by House and sent the elder Prefects ahead, with the staff staying behind with their wands drawn.

Seeing the Headmaster approaching the main doors flanked by Professors Doge, Ross, Merrythought and Bierley, Tom had a feeling that he wouldn't be able to stay with the students. Lilith's face also made it clear that she was unlikely to be evacuated out either. The two of them approached the staff members as an explosion rang out as soon as Ross and Merrythought stepped out of the Great Hall, with Bierley quickly drawing ward arrays on the walls and doors of the chamber, to further reinforce them against attacks. Dippet watched the two students approach and gestured them to him. "As much as it pains me to say this, my Lord Slytherin, but I will be needing your assistance with the Ward Chamber. I have already sent Hogsby ahead to procure the replacement ward stones from the repository that Salazar informed us about, but even if the wards are successfully restored, the Chamber could remain under threat of further attacks as I have yet to identify the cause of the collapse. Your Parseltongue ability…" Tom sighed but nodded. "It would be the best way to seal the chamber from further sabotage. I understand that Headmaster. But still, I need to release Rene from the Chamber. She could turn this attack into a rout of the enemy forces." Dippet frowned, but was interrupted by Lilith. "Tom, the Castle needs you more by the Headmaster's side. I can get Rene out of the Chamber. And better yet, I can further protect her in case the Hexenmeisters have developed a countermeasure against her."

Turning to his girlfriend, Tom went over how she could access the chamber on her own. "The second floor bathroom?" Lilith paused for a second, as something else had been clearly on her mind as Tom looked towards Dippet, who sighed. "It only has a partial ward on it designed to prevent entry." He gave the young redhead a soft smirk. "Though I am certain that with your talents, the ward will fall quickly." Lilith smiled at him, but Tom felt he needed to be more certain. "Pandora." The magical construct flew down from the rafters of the Great Hall and landed on Lilith's shoulder. "Because the Chamber's connection to me went through the Hogwarts Wards, I can't open it from here while they are down. Place Pandora on the wardstone and I will unlock the system so that you can access all the hidden passageways through Parseltongue." Lilith pulled Tom down by his tie for a brief kiss, before smiling at him. "See you on the other side." Her words barely registered in his mind, before Lilith and Pandora suddenly apparated away with a loud crack, leaving the Professors and Tom momentarily stunned. A wide smile grew on Dippet's face. "Well… I suppose they are related after all. Ross, Bierley, you two are in charge here. I leave you all under Teresa's care, as Pomfrey will be with the students. Mr Riddle, let us be off to the Ward Chamber. While I would hope for it to be a quick matter, I suspect the chamber will be guarded by those responsible for disabling it. Let us be ready for a fight." Tom nodded as he followed after Dippet's retreating form via one of the secret passageways, his wand at the ready for whoever would stand in their way.

"Must you all be here?" Alphard gave Cygus an apologetic look as he and Abraxas were setting up a chessboard, with Lucretia working on a bit of embroidery, the black cloth in her hands swirling with golden designs. When Cygnus had asked Druella to have a private lunch outside of the Great Hall, the two of them had initially been looking forward to some privacy. Unfortunately for them, Alphard was very good at his job and made sure that Abraxas knew what was happening, which resulted in everyone but Orion tagging along. Druella sighed as she lowered her half-eaten sandwich. "I would have liked a bit of privacy too, but you heard Abraxas. My status is on shaky ground as is." Cygnus turned to her and lowered his eyes, though he raised them after he felt Druella's hand touching his. Abraxas smiled at the brief but meaningful touch. "Sorry Cygnus, but while she is now of age, she is under observation by the Ministry. If they were to ask us what has been going on in Druella's life, we just can't go up to them and say that you two kept disappearing all the time. It would reflect poorly on all of us and could be grounds for the Rosiers to request that she be placed under another family's care. Had Druella not been under my parents supervision and had instead been with the Blacks, she could have been forcefully relocated to a less understanding home due to the clear conflict of interest. One more likely to be under Rosier's influence." Druella shuddered slightly as Cygnus sighed. "Fine, fine. I suppose waiting a full year or more isn't too much to ask from us."

Alphard placed his hand on his chest and faigned to be suprised. "What's this? Has Cygnus Black actually matured? Lucretia, get a glass vile. I need to save this memory for posterity!" Cygnus glared at Alphard as both Lucretia and Abraxas chuckled, with Druella smiling as she gently touched her boyfriend's arm. "Easy there. He isn't entirely wrong and I must say… it is a very appealing trait." Cygnus' face shifted from embarassed to proud as he took Druella's hand and kissed it, leaving a satisfied Alphard shaking his head as Abraxas started the game. For Alphard, it had been a trying few weeks. Lilith's rough time with her illness and the sudden spotlight placed on the relationship between his cousin and Druella had tested his abilities to the extreme. It was clear that McNair, after spending a few months in suspension from the incident last year, was still observing the pair, possibly feeding information back to the Rosiers in the hopes they could reclaim their errant child by showing that her placement under the Malfoy's wasn't conductive to her upbringing. Thankfully, the Black family's decision to place her with the Malfoys had been the most effective means of keeping the remaining Rosier's unable to anything, as the Black's weren't using their political power to steal Druella for themselves. From what he could see, even Abraxas was satisfied with the results, the typically aloof Heir of the family taking his position as Druella's new older brother quite seriously. Lilith's suggestion had definitely been a boon to everyone involved, minus the Rosiers.

As a few pieces were shattered and cleared from the board, Alpard's thoughts turned to his distant cousin and what Cassiopeia had revealed to him about her. The way that Lilith treated everyone from Myrtle, Orion and even Riddle made a lot more sense to Alphard now that he knew she had lived in a later time period than her current one and had made her way back in time by some exceedingly dangerous magic. It also made her knowledge regarding his position, and Cassiopeia's by extension, as shadows of the Black Family all that more understandable. While everyone in the family had some vague notions as to what Cassiopeia was, they didn't see it as anything that was official. It was simply something that had been forced upon her by Sirius and that she was happy to continue doing under Arcturus. No one who wasn't an Heir or a Lord was supposed to know that this was a duty that members of the family had been carrying out since the family had been born in Rome. That Lilith's past life was that of the personal Heir of her time's Lord Apparent made her awareness of the shadows not entirely impossible. And to think that everything that the family had gone through these last few years had been to avoid their own path to self-destruction? If Tom Riddle wouldn't have minded, Alphard was sure to have given his cousin a crushing hug. Then again, until he was sure that she was truly well, Alphard would give up on that, as he wasn't interested in adding any further injuries to her.

"So, any plans for what you will be doing after your NEWTs?" Alphard hummed to himself as Abraxas shifted a pawn forward, before responding to his question. "Hard to say. With Lucretia thinking of working towards a profession, Cygnus there looking to enter the Ministry of Magic and Walburga well on her way to a Legal Profession, the family isn't exactly being too forceful with regards to me finding my own path through life. What about you? How are all the betrothal interviews going?" Abraxas made a disgusted face that Alphard was sure had more to do with the interviews than with the rook piece that Abraxas just lost. "Same old, same old. Still no sign of the future Lady Malfoy, let alone a fitting mistress. Though with Druella now in the picture and the chances of her and Cygnus having children soon, the pressure on me getting a wife has diminished greatly." Alphard nodded as he moved a pawn into a sacrificial position. "And with your father still capable of running the family business, I suppose that leaves you open to represent the family in the less official capacities. Would you mind if I were to tag along to all those parties you will likely get invited too? I am pretty good at spotting which drinks are spiked." Abraxas resisted taking the bait, though he kept eyeing the pawn as a possible move. "Spiked with potions or alcohol?" Alphard used his Queen to check Abraxas, revealing that the pawn he had moved was a feint to keep his opponent distracted. "Both."

As Abraxas rubbed his chin as he tried to determine the best way to escape the check without losing in the subsequent turns, Alphard felt something odd, his eyes looking up to the ceiling. Lucretia noticed the change in his attention and lowered her hands onto her lap. "What is it?" Alphard stood up quickly and approached the door, placing his hand against the wood. He frowned. "The wards around Hogwarts. I think they went down." As the others started standing up, Alphard tried to apparate, a skill that he had mastered a few years prior. Only to find that he couldn't, as there was definitely an anti-apparition ward in place, only that it wasn't coming from the Castle itself. "Cygnus, Abraxas, keep Druella behind you two. Lucretia, you're with me. I am pretty sure Hogwarts is under attack." The group drew their wands as Lucretia walked up to her cousin. "The Great Hall?" Alphard gently opened the door and peeked outside, not seeing anything in the corridor just yet, as Cygnus doused the candles. "Not sure. If I were a Hexenmeister, it would be my first target, meaning we could all get caught in the crossfire trying to reach the others. Same with the stairs leading to the upper floors and Dungeons." Looking back towards the others and seeing Druella on the verge of tears, Alphard tried to think of any other safe locations. "I suppose the Kitchens with the elves would be our best bet. They would be able to get us all to wherever the other students are being evacuated to." Abraxas frowned. "A sound plan, but you just said the stairs are dangerous to approach."

Going over the map of Hogwarts in his head, Alphard sighed. "There are two other paths down to the Dungeons that we can access. One is the stairs at the far tower, away from the Great Hall, the other would be the gate that leads to Professor Ross' shack. Both would likely be under watch or guarded." Lucretia pressed her ear to the door after Alphard had closed it. "As much as I would like to be with the others, us standing still would be the safer option, Alphard. We could spend the time building de… everyone move!" Acting on Instinct, Alphard pulled Lucretia into his arms and turned her away from the door as it was blasted open. Wincing from the splinters that jabbed into his neck and the sudden impact of his knees against the stone floor, Alphard was the first to raise a shield, blocking a pair of stunners that were cast from beyond the room's now ruined door. "Abraxas!" Passing the recovering Lucretia over to the Malfoy Heir, Alphard found himself staring at two Hexenmeisters in their black and red cloaks, their wands constantly trying to break down his shield as he switched between an Aegis and a conjured physical shield for the curses and shield pierces he couldn't defend against normally. From behind him, he felt the others gather together, before stunners, cutters and shield piercers raced past his side. The barrage was enough to take down one of the Hexenmeisters, while the other shielded himself and the opening, until several more Hexenmeisters entered the room.

Feeling overwhelmed and soon to be outnumbered, Alphard moved further back into the room and closer to his family. "Lu, Cy, rings." As his cousin and brother got ready behind him, he watched as a woman wearing a dress that matched the colors of the Hexenmeisters entered the room, the German magicals guarding her from his attempts at striking her down. She looked past Alphard's shoulder. "There you are, Druella dear. You have certainly made a lot of trouble for your family. Don't worry, as soon as we have dealt with these Blood Traitors, we will be cleaning up the mess you made." Alphard sent a few spells towards the Hexenmeisters guarding her, learning their routine, before dual casting a piercer curse with a stunner. The soldier raised the expected Aegis, completely neutralizing the stunner, but the piercer sailed right through the shield and into the man's heart. The woman was forced to raise her own shields to better guard herself as her heterochromatic eyes were now focused on him. "I see. So you are this generation's Cassiopeia. My cousin told me all about the sneaky little witch from their time at Hogwarts. Stein, Webber, you two focus on the others. I will deal with this child myself." Alphard swallowed as he considered his chances. By the way she addressed Druella and herself, then that meant this was the former Vinda Rosier.

While Cassiopeia had definately trained him well enough to best some Dark Wizards and Witches, Alphard was very certain that he was no match for individuals that distinguished themselves over several battles. Vinda Rosier was, unfortunately by Alphard's own calculation, just too skilled for him to take on directly. Appearing as if he was about to cast a wide area of effect spell, he watched as the attackers all raised up shields, before they were all suddenly blinded by his Lumos Solem. While not a particularly complicated spell, it did have its uses, especially against enemies that relied on their eyesight to cast. Pushing himself back towards his family that had placed themselves against one of the corners of the room for protection, Alphard drew a dagger from his wrist holster and sliced into his hand, before lowering the hand to the floor. "Now!" Cygnus and Lucretia, being behind Alphard and not having been as blinded by the sudden burst of bright sunlight, slammed their own bloody hands into the ground as well, before they each chanted the incantation, almost simultaneously. "Sanguinem Umbraculum!" The three black rings on their hands flashed red as a shield sprang to life between them and the attackers, the red colored magic stretching out and striking the walls, floor and ceiling, separating the two groups as curses struck the barrier repeatedly, to no avail. Even a Killing Curse from Vinda was blocked as one of the Hexenmeister waved his wand over the barrier.

"Our curses can't cut through this, my lady. It's the equivalent of an anchored ward barrier, like those seen at Dueling Tournaments, only far more powerful. Fiendfyre might do it but within the Castle's walls, the curse is likely to be unpredictable and we will have to hold it until the barrier collapses." Vinda growled. "I don't care how long it takes! Do it! The other's have been unable to take the Great Hall. Without hostages, our chances of holding out drop to nothing!" As the Hexenmeisters began to cast the Fiendfyre curse carefully against the shield, the three Black teens started breathing heavily as their magic was slowly being depleted. Lucretia was forced to disconnect herself from the shield, her trembling wand trained upon the Hexenmeisters just beyond the barrier, as Cyngus and Alphard held on for longer. Soon enough Cygnus collapsed from magical exhaustion, with Druella desperately trying to wake him up, as Abraxas touched Alphard's shoulder. "Alphard, that's enough. Please. Lucretia and I will…" The Malfoy Heir was swiftly cut off by the shadow to be. "The hell I will! I swore to protect this family and I will be damned if I failed them now. You, Druella and Lucretia can get ready but I am not dropping this shield until my last breath!" Abraxas was about to respond when two bright flashes of greenlight struck down the two Hexenmeisters flanking Vinda, causing the other three to cease attacking the shield and to turn around as well, as a familiar voice to the Slytherin students filled their ears. "A Black never ceases to protect their own, even in the face of Death. Don't worry, Alphard, I will take it from here."

"Headmaster! Stop!" Dippet, upon hearing Tom's warning, stopped moving as they had been making their way up to the Ward Chamber. Tom flicked his wand to the area immediately before them, which caused several rows of stones to glow a dull orange. While Lilith's artificial eye was better at catching magical traces, Tom's snake vision was still effective enough in detecting changes in the environment, magical or otherwise. With the wards down and with the Castle's usual cool temperature dropping even lower, small differences in surface heat, especially differences that were clearly intentional, were easy enough for Tom to see. Lilith's own interest in looking at magic through a more scientific perspective had allowed her to notice how recently placed curses, enchantments and wards tended to leave temperature variations, variations that Tom could catch easily enough. Dippet, looking towards the glowing sections of the floor and knowing what spell Tom had used to reveal them by his wand movement and the reaction they elicited, spoke up. "This isn't the work of the Hexenmeisters. They wouldn't bother with jinxes." As the Headmaster dispelled them, Tom noticed movement at the far back of the passageway and quickly raised a dueling shield, disrupting a stunner aimed his way. "I had hoped that we could have avoided a direct confrontation. It seems, however, that we will have to get involved. I don't suppose you would stand aside, would you, Armando?"

The elder gentleman surprised Tom by the low, almost animalistic growl that escaped his throat. "You have some nerve to ask that of me, Albus. I had no illusions as to who was responsible for the wards collapsing. And still you have the nerve to believe that I would let you endanger the lives of the students any further." The Transfiguration Professor approached them with his arms behind him as two men, that Tom recognized as the Lord Longbottom and the head of House Weasley, walked at his sides, their wands drawn and aimed at Tom and the Headmaster. Albus shook his head. "It is unfortunate, but sacrifices must be made for the Greater Good. And regardless, the Hexenmeisters won't be holding control of the Castle for long. My Order of the Phoenix will regain control over the building before the day is out." Tom kept his wand raised even as he focused on Lilith's gift to him, feeling the plates on his upper arm responding, readied in case they were needed. "And I suppose if the children of the Dark families were found to have been killed, then that is just a sad coincidence. So tell me, would you order these two to do it for you, or would you have the nerve to kill the children yourself?" The two wizards looked at each other, unsure what Tom was getting at, as Dumbledore's eyes darkened as they focused on Tom.

Moving his wand arm before him, Dumbledore aimed it directly at Tom. "I will do what's necessary. Clearly, I made a mistake when I allowed you to attend Hogwarts six years ago. Not only have you allowed yourself to be consumed by the Dark Arts, but you and Miss Schwarzwald have been spreading your poison to the other students. I simply can't allow you to continue. If the Hexenmeisters fail to deal with her, then I will handle that abomination as soon as I have dealt with you." Tom's nervousness at having to face Dumbledore when he wasn't anywhere near what Voldemort's capabilities had been at his prime evaporated instantly as a surge of rage flashed across his mind. He kept it under control, though he couldn't hide the venom in his voice. "I won't let you endanger anyone else in this Castle, and especially not her." Dippet stepped up a bit further, his own wand, which seemed to be shaped like a tree branch, aimed at Dumbledore. "Neither will I. My duty is to protect all of the students of Hogwarts and the Lord Slytherin and the Lady von Schwarzwald have demonstrated clearly that we erred when we allowed the Dark Arts ban to be put in place without a fight." Dumbledore looked towards Dippet, raising his wand higher. "The Dark Arts are a plague upon the Wizarding Community and those who practice it are nothing more than misguided fools that don't know any better. It must be purged from our world and we must teach the next generation to ignore its temptation. And I will make sure of it."

Dippet sighed. "I had hoped that you would have grown out of your fear for the Dark Arts. Dangerous they are, but only to the poorly trained. And I now can say that I am ashamed that I did nothing to prevent this situation from happening. I was wrong about you, Albus, and as with all of my former students, I decided to put my faith in you, that you would prove to be better than your worst instincts. Now… now I will do what is required of me as well." With not a sound nor a hint of movement, a flash of blue light raced across the distance between the two groups, the light knocking the read-headed man back down the corridor, his wand scattering across the ground, the body left unmoving. Dumbledore, who along with Lord Longbottom had raised durling shields quickly to guard against the spell, soon found himself on the receiving end of a deluge of spells as Dippet pressed the advantage, with Tom guarding his side, focusing his spells on the weaker of the two duelists. His fragmented memories and his own practice matches against both Lilith and Merrythought meant that he was skilled enough to cast silently, with a few hexes and curses not requiring wand motions, though he had trouble managing the spell chains, the integrity of his own offhand dueling shield and keeping his mind focused on the enemy ahead all at the same time. Because as much as he wanted to say that he was past the effects of Voldemort's memories, he knew that he wasn't.

This was made painfully clear as the anger and rage that Dumbledore's actions still raised in him as he relived the other Tom Riddle's life. Flashes of memories filled his mind, the sound of a yelling young man, begging Dumbledore and Dippet to allow him to remain at Hogwarts time after time, the incessant questions of the Deputy Headmaster who believed that he was responsible for all the petrifications that had been happening around the Castle. The sight of an older Dumbledore, sitting behind his desk, denying Tom's request to become the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Voldemort's last attempt at avoiding a less violent path to power. The thoughts of Voldemort's plans, his desire to warp the minds of the students to become his loyal lap dogs, all as he would seek to poison the other Professors to replace them with his newly christened Death Eaters, snapped Tom's mind from the hate that had tried to consume him. He suddenly became aware that Dippet was calling his name, checking if he was alright, as Tom found himself on the ground, as if he had been struck and pushed back. He could see that Dippet's concentration was strained as his shield took several hits, with small conjurations blocking the few hexes and curses that pierced through the shield. Tom allowed a different anger to fill his heart as he brought himself up. Anger directed at himself as it became clearer to him that Voldemort and Dumbledore had been exactly the same, looking to manipulate the young and impressionable to serve their own lust for power. He wanted, no, needed to be better than either of them.

Finding his concentration sharpened, Tom jumped to his feet and started whipping his wand around rapidly, unleashing a rapidfire barrage of hexes and curses. Longbottom's shield started failing under the assault until one of Tom's curses struck Longbottom on the shoulder, rendering his wand arm limp. The surprise on the man's face was quickly replaced with unconsciousness as Dippet's blue hex launched the now unconscious body back and away, before Tom raised shields to protect the Headmaster from Dumbledore's spells. Tom breathed heavily beside the older gentleman. "My apologies about earlier, Headmaster. I seem to have lost my head for a second." Dippet chuckled beside him. "Nothing to fret over, young man. You have been a most splendid dueling partner. By the Queen, I feel like I am a few centuries younger, meeting a most exceptional duelist and eventually a most dear friend. Remind me to tell you all about it later. Now then." As the spells diminished in intensity, it was clear to Tom that Dumbledore looked equal parts frustrated and exhausted, sweat covering his furrowed brow. Dippet's voice made Tom shiver at the power that reverberated from it, believing that the old man must have used some sort of command magic with his voice. "Albus, please, surrender." Tom could see his old enemy's eyes glaze over for a second before he shook his head. The blue eyes that had just a few minutes ago shown some measure of remorse were now filled with rage. "I see. So you are no different than the other Dark Wizards."

Whipping his wand around, Tom didn't recognize the spell that Dumbledore was casting, as Dippet cursed under his breath and raised a shield. The passageway was filled by a bright white light that forced Tom to cover his eyes. Once his sight adjusted slightly, he could see Dippet's shield buckling under the white flames that threatened to engulf them. When the shield collapsed, Dumbledore watched as the flames surged into the gap that his former teacher's shield had occupied, sighing to himself as he pulled the Phoenix Fire back, believing his spell to have done its work. Of all the spells that he had learned that used a caster's connection to the magical creature from which its name was derived, this one was one he hoped to avoid using, as it was exceedingly close to the Dark Arts. Still, it was worth it. As the flames faded, Dumbledore was preparing to awaken his collapsed companions, until he saw a familiar green bolt of light racing towards him. Transfiguring a shield was as easy to him as breathing, and he was grateful for that as he stared in stunned silence at the bright blue barrier that was wrapped around the two figures, with Tom breathing heavily, his right arm stretched out as five plates floated about. Albus couldn't believe it. "H… how?" Tom smiled at him. "Lilith… we may be apart from each other, but her talents are ever ready to come to my aid." Dumbledore growled, trying to recall what he had heard regarding the shields that Schwarzwald used at the Ministry Atrium. It had held back all curses, but had been withdrawn before…

"Very well." Deflecting a few more curses aimed his way, Dumbledore started wand movements that both Tom and Dippet knew all too well. The aging Headmaster raised his voice. "Albus, stop! Fiendfyre in the Castle is too dangerous! If it gets out of control…!" Having completed the wand movements, Dumbledore fixed his two enemies with a steady gaze. "If that is what it takes to rid this world of your disease, then so be it. A new school can be made to better serve the future of the Wizarding World. Ignis Monstrum!" Tom's heart seemed to stop but for a moment. If the cursed flames fed upon the magic that permeated the Castle's stone, even without the wards being active, they would spread across the entire structure, eventually covering everyone and everything in all consuming flames. Tom knew that the Room of Requirement could contain a Fiendfyre curse, but he wasn't sure if the reverse was true. After all, the Room needed the Castle to exist. If the Castle were to be destroyed, so too would the Room, not to mention everyone being protected within it. He briefly looked at Dippet, who nodded at him, placing his hand on Tom's shoulder. "It's up to you, Lord Slytherin. My magic is at your disposal, should you need it." Tom, taking a deep breath, looked towards the approaching flames, before raising his wand before his eyes, gathering his magic as he focused on the spell that he and Dippet had been developing together.

Parselmagic was, sadly, still too tainted by the use of Dark Wizards and Witches of Britain's past to be redeemed simply by Tom being a model wizard. He knew that he needed to bring something else to the table, something that could redeem Parselmouths in the eyes of the population. Dippet, having a talent for guiding students into creating new spells, had given him plenty of ideas, but none that had satisfied Tom's ambition. It wasn't until Lilith had given him a set of her defensive plates made using Parselscript that Tom knew what he wanted to do. To develop a means of protecting against the one curse that Lilith's shield couldn't counter, at least not yet. It had taken quite a bit of experimentation with Dippet using a weaker variant of Fiendfyre for him to practice on over months of attempts, testing a variety of phrases until finally the flames were extinguished. Dumbledore's fire was greater than anything that Tom had countered before, but failure here was simply not an option. "~Snake Guardian of Magic, devour the cursed flames~" A green burst of light exited Tom's wand and began to coil around the two wizards, the raw magical energy took a more defined and familiar form. The massive ethereal Basilisk roared as it dove into the cursed orange flames, its maw agape. Tom felt the strain on his magic as soon as his Guardian began to counter the flames, the spell and the curse becoming a battle of wills and magic as Dumbledore fed more of his own magic into the cursed fire.

For a brief moment Tom felt lightheaded as his magic reached its limit, before a sudden surge of a wild, untamed magic filled him, restoring much of what had been lost. Looking briefly towards the Headmaster, he found Dippet smiling at him, his appearance looking less elderly and more ethereal, reminding him of the Fae he and Lilith encountered in the Sídhe. Focusing on the new source of magic, Tom fed it into his spell, the Basilisk growing even brighter before it started devouring the flames in large bites, until the curse vanished entirely. The Basilisk returned to Tom's side, wrapping its body protectively around both Tom and Dippet, as Dumbledore struggled to stay on his feet, his magic greatly depleted. Dippet raised his wand to cast a spell, before everyone suddenly felt the wards of the Castle being restored. The Headmaster smiled and sighed in relief. "Excellent work, Hogsby." Dumbledore, exhausted and drained, looked towards Tom and his former colleague, before sighing in disappointment. "It seems the day is yours. Fawkes!" Both Tom and Dippet reacted quickly, casting what spells they could, but to no avail, as the burst of light from the phoenix caused their aim to be off the mark, before the creature cawed again, disappearing from the hallway, taking Dumbledore with him. The two lowered their wands as Hogsby popped in next to the Headmaster. "Hogwarts is as it should be, though a few uninvited guests remain in the Castle. What would you like us to do with those who are petrified and unconscious?" Tom smiled as he heard about the petrification victims, knowing that Rene was currently fulfilling the purpose Salazar had intended for her.

Dippet looked towards the unconscious forms down the hall and gestured towards them. "Search them and the others for any magical objects and confiscate them, before you and the other elves dump them into separate cells in the dungeons. I will contact the DMLE to deal with them as soon as the Castle is secure." He turned towards Tom as soon as Hogsby vanished. "We still have to reach the Ward Chamber to disconnect Albus from the Castle Wards. I hope you don't mind if you take up his duties temporarily. As the Lord to a Founder's House, I can bestow it upon you without you being part of the Staff or having the approval of the Board. After that, we need to make sure that the Hexenmeisters haven't compromised anything in the time that they have been within the perimeter. They may have left a means to sneak inside once more." Tom nodded, as he looked towards the ethereal Basilisk as it faded away. He briefly looked down the path they had passed through as Dippet followed his gaze. The Headmaster's eyes briefly lost focus before he smiled. "Both Rene and Miss Von Schwarzwald are fine, though the young lady seems to be dealing with a Hexenmeister. Believe in her, my Lord Slytherin, as she believed in you." Tom nodded as he followed the Headmaster to the Ward Chamber, his thoughts on Lilith and who she might be facing. If it was who he thought it was, then he hoped that Lilith would be alright. For a brief moment he felt as if her feelings flashed across his mind. He wasn't sure if he imagined it or not.

Lilith paused for a second before tapping Rene's scales along the back of her head. "Hold for a moment, girl. I need to take a closer look. Something isn't right here." Rene lowered her head as she hissed. As Tom and Dippet had been discussing what to do, Lilith had sensed something odd about the wards. Not the Hogwarts wards, as those had collapsed almost completely, but with the Hexenmeister wards that the attackers had set up to keep students from using magic to leave the Castle. While Hogwarts had similar wards, theirs also contained wards designed to impede apparition whilst within the school, so that students couldn't sneak away if they heard someone coming up on them after curfew. Obviously, since the Hexenmeister wards were raised over the property, rather than as part of the structure, they simply couldn't restrict apparitions that were contained within the area of effect. The only thing preventing staff members, Hexenmeisters, and students from apparating was a lack of knowledge of the school's internal structure, as well as the remaining magical traces that saturate the stones of the edifice. Unlike the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts' thousand years of existence within a nexus of ley lines, and having benefited from hundreds of thousands of students, meant that the ambient magic was just too much for most people to apparate through. What had surprised Lilith was how the magic of the Castle felt to her now.

From the moment she had walked through the Castle's main entrance since the night after the Equinox, she could feel that the magic around her felt… light. It was like she was running her hands through the surface of a still pond of water, the magic around her slipping off of her with relative ease. It wasn't that she was immune to magic. Teresa had confirmed that potions and spells still affected her. What seemed less effective on her were wards or environmental effects, magic that wasn't directed towards her. What was odder still, in her mind, was that she had experienced this feeling before and continued to do so often. It was the same way that magic tended to behave around her when wearing the Peverell Invisibility Cloak. When she asked Alexander what that meant, he explained that her going through the Peverell Family test might have made aspects of her Hallows more interconnected with her, allowing some of their traits to be used even without the object. Lilith had yet to try using the Stone in order to gaze into the Void, but she had found her ability to summon the Cloak into her grasp far easier. When he explained that the Cloak bypassed wards too, it made her wonder if perhaps she could apparate about, despite Hogwarts' Wards, but she hesitated doing that out of fear of revealing what was a highly valuable piece of information. With the wards down, Lilith thought to at least give it a try. When she apparated into the Chamber of Secrets, she knew that her theory was correct. She would have to ask Alexander for more help in developing her Apparition skills, especially silent Apparition.

With her test a success, she deposited a clearly suspicious Pandora on the Chamber Wardstone, giving the mechanical owl and her boyfriend that was staring at her through the connection to his construct a smile. "I will fill you in when I have the time. Watch over the nest, Pandora. Rene and I are going hunting for pests." The Basilisk… had been less enthusiastic about Lilith's suggestion. The redhead could see that the attempted murder of Myrtle, even under Blood Magic control, weighed heavily on the Ancient Guardian's mind. Renenutet warmed up to the idea more as Lilith reminded her that the goal was to focus on petrification, not killing. If any staff, ghosts, elves or students were caught in the Basilisk's gaze, it wouldn't result in Rene breaking her promise to Salazar. Taking her place attop Rene's back, Lilith then deployed her plates all around them both, making sure that Rene's spell resistant scales wouldn't be tested. She knew that she and Tom would feel far better keeping Rene safe, regardless of her own defences. With Galatea flying the corridors ahead of them under disillusionment, the trio were able to travel through the hallways without any difficulties, with every single Hexenmeister scouting party becoming petrified well before they could unleash any curses their way. Lilith had asked Rene to stop, however, when she noticed the Hexenmeisters had been dueling someone else, individuals that were clearly not staff members.

Checking the robed figures, Lilith bit back a curse as a familiar emblem was present on a letter that they each had within their pockets. She looked up towards the still invisible owl now perched on Rene's head. "Galatea, sweep the corridors for any large groups of people. Keep a particular eye open for Albus Dumbledore and Vinda." After giving her magical construct a mental image of the Deputy Headmaster and the former Rosier, Lilith retook her position on Rene's back, before the two slithered further into the Castle. Having cleared much of the Dungeons and the first Floor, Lilith was about to have Rene make for the Great Hall and what she assumed was a still active battle scene, when Galatea's mental link opened up, revealing the location of Vinda. When Lilith saw that her cousins were there too, her heart practically went still. "Rene, the corridor to the right. Quickly!" Lowering her body against the scales of the large Basilisk, the two approached the group of Hexenmeisters, with Lilith throwing caution to the winds and opening her sight to look into the void. While she could still make out the contours of the Castle's passageways, she was also able to see the glowing essences of every living being in front of her and through the stone. Noticing that Alphard's was depleting rapidly as he sustained the family's strongest shield all on his own, Lilith dropped down from Rene's body and rushed through the slowly petrifying bodies of the Hexenmeisters posted outside the door, before she drew upon all the anger and hate she had towards the Hexenmeisters.

Twin beams of green slipped out from her wand and mechanic hand, striking two of the guards within her line of sight. She spared a glance at Alphard and gave the stunned young man a smile. "A Black never ceases to protect their own, even in the face of Death. Don't worry, Alphard, I will take it from here." Lilith then turned her attention towards Vinda and the two Hexenmeisters remaining in the room, all of whom turned their wands at her. Two curse chains raced towards her but were quickly countered by the shields created by her plates. Vinda gave her a toothy smile. "Ahh, so you didn't run and hide as you did within your family's home. It seems the little girl found herself a backbone after all." Lilith's eyes started to glow as her rage flared inside her chest. Sparing a glance behind her, Lilith hissed at Rene. ~"Patrol the corridors leading here. Make sure no Hexenmeister arrives. Ross knows the plan and Tom is with the Headmaster, so dull your sight if you see them approaching."~ After bowing her head, Rene slittered past the entrance of the chamber, before Lilith returned her attention to the Hexenmeisters. The two uniformed soldiers kept looking from Lilith to the shield where Alphard and those he guarded were. Clearly they were unsure who to target. Vinda, for her part, didn't seem interested in helping them either. "What's this? I didn't think there were any Parselmouth's in the von Schwarzwald family line. Our intelligence was also clear that you never left Austria until after we turned your home into kindling. Where would you have gotten that rare skill, I wonder?"

Lilith bared her teeth at Vinda, making the Hexenmeisters tense up. "Tell me, how close did the Maledictus come to killing you? I highly doubt that Gellert Grindelwald would have blood adopted you if another option was available to him. Let me guess, you must have been at death's door, your veins as black as night with every inch of your skin burning as if you had been bathed in acid by the time they brought you back to him. The traitorous Blood Mages must have been quite desperate to have to resort to diluting the blood in your body to save your pitiful life. That must have been such a surprise to hear. Your oh so precious "pure" blood was so toxic, you needed someone else's to stay alive. Tell me, what took longer to heal from? Your body from the curse or your ego?" Vinda whipped her wand out violently, unleashing a familiar red curse Lilith's way. Seeing her opportunity, Lilith dodged out of the way, letting the curse sail past her, before she rushed forward, raising a barrier between herself and Vinda. Getting within striking distance, Lilith waved her wand across the nearest Hexenmeister's body, making sure to cover his eyes, as the black tendrils of magic from her family's curse splattered across his form. Keeping his body between herself and the other Hexenmeisters as the man screamed in agony, Lilith was able to get next to Alphard's barrier, before disrupting curses sent in her direction by her plates.

Kicking the Hexenmeister, whose face was slowly being caved in as the curse ate away into his flesh and bones, towards Vinda, Lilith turned her focus onto the other, who had resorted to using fire to keep her from approaching him as she did to his companion. While Lilith was sure her shield's could survive the magical flames he was using, she wasn't eager to have him use Fiendfyre in a blind panic. Her defences and Alphard's weakened state wouldn't hold for long against that curse, especially as she had yet to successfully cast Rowena's spell. Instead, she felt for Galatea's presence and waited. As the Hexenmeister raised his wand to unleash another burst of flames, Galatea appeared seemingly from nowhere as the disillusionment spell collapsed, her metal talons cutting through the wizard's wand like butter. The construct then flipped away from a curse sent towards her by Vinda, before she flew out of the room, but not before her wing clipped the Hexenmeister's face, blinding the man as the razor sharp feathers struck just above his left eye. Seeing her chance, Lilith uses her offensive plates to keep Vinda busy behind her own dueling shield, as a bright green curse unleashed from her wand found its mark, killing the last loose end in the room. Recalling all of her plates back, Lilith positioned most of the plates behind herself, briefly looking over her shoulder towards Alphard, Lucretia and Cygnus. "You three can rest now. My shields will hold the line."

"The hell they will! Perrumpo Expugnatio Infernalis!" Lilith raised her defences quickly, only to feel as if someone had smashed a baseball bat against her head. The few plates held in front of her fizzled as they redirected the massive surge of energy away from the impact point, the barrier still holding up, though Lilith knew that it wasn't going to be able to take another hit like that. Acting on instinct as her mind was still trying to recover from the mental feedback that the siege engine curse inflicted upon her, Lilith found her way blocked by red flames, before green and red curses sailed through them. Dropping to the ground and avoiding both, Lilith's hand went to her boot before charging at Vinda again. The two traded even more spells, until they both felt a shift in the air around them. Lilith smiled as the Hogwarts wards snapped back to life, with Vinda's eyes turning manic. The desperate Witch unleashed a massive fireball against Lilith, blocking both their views, until a sharp pain erupted from her chest and upper arm. She groaned in pain as she tried to pull out the knives that were sticking through her black robes and into her flesh, managing to dislodge the one that struck her arm, until the pain in her chest surged, making Vinda's entire body spasm out of control. With the flames dying out, Lilith, still holding a knife in her right hand that crackled with red arches of magic, approached Vinda, a cruel smile growing on her face. "I believe that last time we were in this position, you said it was nothing personal. Well, I am afraid I can't say the same. Crucio!" The older woman screamed in pain again as red arcs of light were being emitted from the still lodged blade directly into her body.

With her left hand, Lilith dug her fingers into Vinda's hair before pulling hard, forcing the witch to look in her eyes. Lilith stared into the heterochromatic eyes but frowned as she watched them fade into Vinda's original amber eyes. The woman then began to scream as her veins turned black, the von Schwarzwald Head of House ring confirming that the Maledictus was active once more. Lilith clicked her tongue as she released Vinda from her grasp. "Well, it seems that Grindelwald isn't as stupid as I thought he was. I had intended to use your blood to place a Maledictus on him but it seems he wasn't as sure of your chances as you were. He must have been remotely viewing what was happening with the attack and decided to cut his losses." Vinda stared at her hands as the veins on them turned black, tears slipping from her eyes. "No…No! My lord! Please!" Lilith stared at the Witch. "What did you think was going to happen? Did you think he welcomed you into his family with open arms? Gellert Grindelwald sent you to kill so many of the families that disagreed with him. He holds no true love for Magicals, despite what he might claim. That man desires power over others and you… you were so eager, weren't you? So eager to kill for him so that he might share some of his power with you? So eager to please him at every turn. Did he call you darling, perhaps my dear, or even my love?" Vinda's eyes looked onto Lilith's, her tears running black now as they raced down her cheeks. Lilith, for a brief moment, pitied her. "Didn't he say the same to another? A young Aurelius Dumbledore, before he even knew that that was his name? Did you think that he meant it to you anymore than he meant it to him?"

Lilith could see as Vinda's mind finally understood. She had been used. What Lilith knew of Gellert Grindelwald had been what Rita Skeeter had managed to write for her book revealing the truth of Albus Dumbledore's life during Lillian's lifetime. There she had not only learned of Albus' youthful dalliance with the future Dark Lord that would plunge Europe into a magical war, but also about Aurelius Dumbledore, the young boy that Gellert had used as a tool to keep his former lover in check. While there were no records at the time as to what had happened to him beyond the fact that he was buried in the Dumbledore plots at Godric's Hollow cemetery, she could easily guess. In a lot of ways, he and Voldemort did the exact same thing. The Malfoys were perhaps the most obvious example of what would happen to "loyal" servants. After the destruction of the Diary, Voldemort promised to spare them from his wrath, so long as they succeeded in capturing Neville Longbottom and presenting him to the Dark Lord during his year-long manhunt. She had seen a glimpse as to what happened by seeing into Voldemort's mind that day, something she was sure he had done on purpose, as his thoughts came to her as clear as if he had spoken to her. He never intended to forgive them. He gave them false hope in order to draw out what little bit of use he could out of them, before he would have disposed of them. Grindelwald might not have relished in the suffering of his servants as Voldemort did, but they both used them and discarded them when their usefulness was at an end.

With the wards back into working order, Lilith knew that the Battle for Hogwarts was as good as over. She looked down at what was left of Vinda, the witch's mind falling apart as the Maledictus ran its course through her body, what fighting spirit had once resided in her now extinguished. "You took a little girl's world and destroyed it completely before her eyes, before bringing her life to an end… You can consider us even now." Pushing the decaying ruin of a body to the ground with her boot, Lilith took in a deep breath, settling all the pain and anger that had lingered inside of her from what was left of the young von Schwarzwald inside of her. "Thank you." Lilith snapped her head, looking around the room before the words she heard were followed by a familiar giggle. "Lilith… are you alright?" Looking back at her cousins, with Cygnus and Abraxas tending to an exhausted Alphard, Lilith looked into the deeply concerned eyes of Lucretia. Raising her left hand up, she looked at it. She had killed again. Five lives, all now ended because of her. Five lives… whose own hands had been not only stained in blood, but the blood of innocents, magical and non-magical alike, all now avenged. Lilith looked back at what remained of Vinda, before looking at Lucretia, giving her a reassuring smile. "I…I think I will be." As Lilith guided the students out of the room, she watched as Tom and the Headmaster turned the corner. She barely said his name before she found herself pulled against his chest, the warmth in her heart chasing away any lingering doubts. The Siege of Hogwarts over and they… they were both alright.

Chapter 47: Pressing Ever Forward

"Bloody hell. Look at this mess." Euphemia didn't bother correcting Wood as the two of them swept through the main entrance to the Castle, Shafiq walking behind them as well with his own wand drawn. The floor before them was a mess of body parts, corpses and streaks of blood as the three of them neared the doors to the Great Hall. Just outside of the chamber, they watched as the Chief Healer was wrapping bandages over Theseus Ross' right arm. He waved at them from his position. "What took you all so long? I mean, I had these punks handled, but if you wanted to get them back to the Ministry in one piece, you should have been here to take them down yourselves." Shafiq sighed, stowing his wand into his wrist holster. "We had an attack back in London that we had to deal with first, before we got word as to what was happening here. Besides, you could have used stunners, Ross." The former hunter raised an eyebrow at the dark skinned Head Auror. "You can't get bitten by a dying snake if there is no head left to bite you." Shafiq chuckled at hearing the old man speaking in Arabic. "Fair enough." He looked inside and watched as the place was still empty, with the exception of a few students, some crying together, while others were talking to the staff who were present. "Where are the rest of the children?" The Headmaster approached the Aurors, his usual robes left on the table, as he instead just wore just a dark blue shirt and matching set of pants that he tended to have underneath. "They are still within the Room of Requirement. Seeing the mess that Bierley, Ross and Merrythought left in the entryway, we thought it best to spare them several Mind Healer appointments. Those students here, minus the ones unconscious and receiving medical care at the infirmary, were witnesses to the attacks and we felt that you would like to interview them here first."

Shafiq gestured to Wood to come forward. "While the others are busy searching the Castle, you can start doing preliminary interviews here." As Wood moved to the nearest students while getting his dicta quill out, Shafiq turned towards the Headmaster. "How many casualties have your elves and the wards identified?" Dippet's expression turned sad, before he released a resigned sigh. "Three students as far as I am aware. As with most meals, we didn't require everyone to be at the Great Hall if they chose to spend the time studying or with their friends. When the wards collapsed, there was no way to be certain where every student was with the wards disabled. I had ordered the elves to apparate what wayward children there might have been, but a few were caught by the Hexenmeisters as they entered from multiple entrances. Those that died were killed as a means to terrify the others into compliance." Shafiq frowned. "Others? How did these other students escape the Hexenmeisters? And how did you manage to keep them at bay for so long? Sure, Professors Ross and Merrythought have the necessary experience and expertise, but to keep the entire school under your control during a full assault without the wards…" Dippet stroked his beard. "While it wasn't as effective as I would have preferred it, seeing as innocent children still died, we were fortunate that the Founder's Emergency Plan worked as well as it did. We will have to discuss changes with the Board regarding the safety of the Ward Chamber. Hmmm, maybe a back-up ward chamber that can activate should the main one fail for a brief moment. Something only the Headmaster and the Head of the Board have access to."

Euphemia, who had been busy writing down the names of the Professors that needed to be interviewed and was about to ask what children were deceased to contact their families, paused in her note taking. "Founder's Plan?" Dippet chuckled. "It was quite surprising, but it would seem that the Founder's knew what they were doing when they built a fortress designed to survive an attack, even from a magical threat. While the speed of the assault and the destruction of the wardstone prevented me from awakening the Stone Guards and the Shifting Corridors, the spontaneous evacuation routes created by the Room of Requirement allowed us to get all the students here and a few still in the Dorms to safety. The elves were, sadly, unable to reach those who had been quickly caught or whose location was unknown to them. Still, the Hexenmeisters that had been busy trying to take control of the Castle were simply unprepared for the speed of our response to the attack, not to mention Salazar's Guardian left quite a few intruders petrified. While Theseus'... proclivity was to eliminate all potential threats, I am sure a few petrified intruders can be successfully interrogated, once the appropriate Restorative Potion is provided." Shafiq did a double take having looked back towards the professors when Dippet mentioned petrification. "Wait… you released the Basilisk into the corridors?!" Dippet's eyes narrowed on the former Gryffindor student. "Kashif, Renenutet was selected by all the Founders to perform this very task and she did so splendidly. Every intruder in her path was petrified and relocated to the Dungeons for the DMLE to deal with safely. Had any students been caught in her magical sight, it would only have been a minor inconvenience to them."

A few Aurors arrived as the Head Auror apologized to the Headmaster for his outburst, though what the Auror reported had Shafiq confused. "Some of the Aurors checking the other entry points have found dead Hexenmeisters at various locations. As the bulk of your defences were here and you claim that the Basilisk was only using petrification, how do you explain their deaths?" Dippet sighed as he turned to his side, gesturing at a few of the students who seemed to be suffering from shock, their eyes looking everywhere for a perceived threat. "That would be the unknown intruder that followed the Hexenmeisters in. The students who had been captured and were to be used as hostages described a cloaked figure apparating behind the Hexenmeisters before killing them quickly. As soon as this figure vanished and the Hexenmeister threat was eliminated, the elves brought the children here for Teresa to attend to, while those suffering greater damage had to be successfully stabilized, before they were transferred to the Hospital Wing under Poppy's care and observation as soon as the wards were restored. As I never encountered this figure during the attack and they vanished after the wards were operating, I cannot offer any further information regarding them. The other Hexenmeister casualties that I am aware of were themselves the result of Miss von Schwarzwald's valiant efforts to safeguard the Black and Malfoy children who had been cornered by the fiends." The brunette Auror's quill tip snapped as soon as Lilith's name came up.

"Lilith!? Is she ok? Was she one of the students sent to the Hospital Wing?!" Euphemia's outburst surprised both the Head Auror and the Headmaster, though Dippet gave her a reassuring smile. "Lilith is fine, Euphemia. She and Mr Riddle were both integral parts of keeping the Castle secure and the students safe. As I am sure that you would like to verify this for yourself, do make your way to the internal courtyard. You will find the pair resting after their prolonged ordeals there." Shafiq nodded at Euphemia's unvoiced request before he watched her leave the Great Hall in the direction of the courtyard. "I had heard that Lady von Schwarzwald was favored by the Blacks. While the rumours of Dorea Black and Charlus Potter's nuptials has everyone unsure what to think, it would seem the Potters have another person they are deeply invested in." Dippet nodded. "So it would seem. Though I am afraid what I have to report will likely capture the attention of the Wizengamot to a far greater degree than two young adults finding love in the midst of war." Shafiq frowned as he looked at the Headmaster. "What do you mean?" Dippet sighed, taking his hat off his head and fidgeting with it. "I am afraid that the attack was facilitated by a former member of our staff. Albus Dumbledore destroyed the Hogwarts wardstone. The fact that the Hexenmeisters attacked within seconds of the collapse would indicate that he must have coordinated with them. I was able to confront Dumbledore and his accomplices with the aid of Mr Riddle, though sadly the traitor escaped via a phoenix."

Shafiq's gaze grew sharp as he looked at the Headmaster. "Are you certain of this Armando?" Dippet nodded as he replaced his hat on his head. "I have Lord Longbottom and Mr Weasley safely restrained in the dungeons. The unaffiliated intruders that were petrified along with the Hexenmeisters are all likely to be supporters of Dumbledore and his Anti-Dark movement." Shafoq cursed under his breath, before he looked towards his nearest Auror. "Wood! Find three other Aurors from Dark or Neutral Families and have them report to me immediately! I want the rest on standby until we can sort out any conflicts of interest." He then looked back to the Headmaster. "I don't suppose you would join me as I head down to Hogsmeade and check on Aberforth's situation? If Albus has sought refuge there…" Dippet shook his head. "I am afraid my duty is here, Head Auror. However, I doubt that Albus would seek shelter there. Still, you and your Aurors best be wary. You should also be prepared to escort a young man to St Mungos if you are vacating the Dumbledore properties. While not reported, Aberforth has been looking after a former Hexenmeister in his home… his long estranged son who is suffering from what I believe is a terminal illness. With Albus likely taking the phoenix with him, I doubt the young man will hold on for much longer." Shafiq rubbed his head and hissed. "Allah have mercy on me, this is going to be a shit storm. Can I at least use a Floo Terminal from Hogwarts to contact Crouch?" Dippet gestured to the nearest exit of the Great Hall. "Of course, please follow me."

A few corridors away, a winded Euphemia reached the edges of the Castle's internal courtyard, finding a very odd sight. Near the center of the courtyard's Armillary Sphere fountain and beneath the trunk of the large Oak Tree, the brunette spotted the massive length of the Basilisk's scaly form wrapped around it. However, a brief gap was left that exposed the trunk of the massive tree, where the Basilisk's tail and head both rested. Sitting upon the thick roots and resting against the massive trunk were a pair of familiar young students, the redhead lazily sprawled out on top of the young man, both of them with their eyes closed and breathing deeply. The apprehension that had gripped Euphemia's heart tightly from the moment she had been summoned to Hogwarts faded quickly, her spirit now filled with relief. Taking steady and unaggressive steps forward, Euphemia watched as the Basilisk's massive tongue darted out of its mouth, tasting the air. A singular yellow eye opened up to briefly look at the approaching form, before the creature closed it again, eliciting a short hiss. Euphemia was certain that the hiss was more than the snake letting out some air as both youths stirred, the young woman quickly taking her free flowing hair and tying it as the Auror approached them. She gave Lilith a genuine smile, though she couldn't help herself. "I hear you three had a busy day." Tom and Lilith looked at each other and both chuckled before the two of them turned to look at Euphemia, with Tom responding to her query. "You could say that." Looking towards her future granddaughter, Euphemia gave her a big smile. "Well, why don't you two tell me all about it."

The scent of eggs and cooked ham were enough to draw Alphard out of his very pleasant dream, before his ears registered that a tray was placed on the table next to him. He then frowned, thinking that his bedside table wasn't big enough to put a tray of food on and that the Dorm he shared with the Davis second born son wasn't close enough to his bed to make the noise that this one did. Opening his eyes, he flinched when the bright light shining through the window momentarily blinded him, before the curtain next to him was pulled open, revealing the face of Madam Prewett. "I see that you are awake, Mr Black. Do you mind if I look you over?" Alphard shook his head as Teresa scanned him, before she sighed. "Mr Black, I don't suppose you will be telling me what sort of spell that shield you raised with your family members was?" Alphard shook his head again and Teresa pulled up a clipboard and started writing. "Well, whatever it was has severely depleted the magic with your body and since yesterday, your magic has yet to fully recover. A good bit of food and plenty of rest should improve your recovery time, but as I can't be certain of the specifics of the Blood Magic Barrier that you used, I will have you stay in the Hospital Wing with me for observation. As your distant cousin miraculously avoided returning under my care, it seems only fair for you to now take up her usual bed. And yes, Mr Black, I am learned enough in Blood Magic to know the symptoms, though I will list your condition as the result of exhaustion from a form of family magic."

The Healer finished with the clipboard and placed it at the foot of the bed, before pulling the curtain aside. "He's all yours now. Make sure he eats everything on that tray. I will have a few potions ready in case anything happens." A soft chuckle filled the air. "Understood, ma'am." Sitting up, Alphard found himself looking at a particular sight. "I was pretty certain Lucretia or Lilith would have been the ones to bring me breakfast in bed." The young Malfoy Heir raised an eyebrow. "Not Riddle?" Alphard gave an exaggerated, dreamy sigh. "If only." Abraxas chuckled at his friend's theatrics. "Well, I can tell you that the rest of your family was here for most of the evening last night, looking after you. While I can't be certain, I believe our Austrian Terror was here during curfew, but that's only a guess. When everyone was seated at the Breakfast Feast and they all looked too tired to hold another shift, I volunteered." Alphard raised an eyebrow, his curly hair tousled after a long time asleep. "Really?" Abraxas nodded, moving the medical table with the tray of food over Alphard's legs. Finding his stomach grumbling, Alphard started eating his breakfast with less decorum than he usually showed, much to Abraxas amusement. "So, what have I missed?" The blonde young man waved his fingers. "A bit. The Aurors finished sweeping the Castle for anything the Hexenmeisters and the other intruders left behind and The Headmaster is arranging visiting hours for our families to check on our well being."

Alphard frowned. "What other intruders?" Abraxas sighed. "That was the big surprise at breakfast earlier. Apparently, Professor Dumbledore was the person who sabotaged the Castle's wards. The DMLE is investigating, but everyone seems certain he planned for the attack to occur. Well, everyone but his supporters who are doing everything they can to challenge the arrest warrant issued for him. The Wizengamot will be meeting tomorrow for an emergency session to have the official report read out before the Assembly. There aren't any planned votes, but there is a lot of expectation regarding possible interference from the Light Faction." Alphard swallowed his fork full of food before wiping his face. "With Speaker Potter, I doubt it will amount to anything. The most likely result will be the Chief Witch silencing or even removing the belligerent members from the Assembly." Abraxas smiled as he took a sip from his cup of tea. "That is the most reasonable outcome, I suppose." Sparing Alphard a few glances as his fellow Slytherin ate breakfast, the young Heir decided to ask. "Speaking about what happened yesterday… I never pegged you as the most… loyal member of the Black Family. Risking your life as you did, holding the shield up in the face of those Fiendfyre curses… You really surprised both me and Druella." Alphard paused for a second. "A few years ago… maybe I would have been less enthusiastic about my family."

Running his hair through his slightly tangled locks, Alphard sighed. "When Great Uncle Sirius was the Head of the family, there was little to motivate me, Walburga or even Cygnus to be anything other than arm ornamentation to the Heirs and Heiresses of other families. With Uncle Arcturus, that has all changed. Lucretia, who had always been headstrong and independent is relying more on us, Walburga has seemingly found a calling and even Cygnus is looking forward to his future. Everyone is so happy and driven now, with not one of them caring what my personal preferences are like so long as I am happy… I don't know… all that just drove me to do better with regard to their safety." He looked at Abraxas and smiled. "And with you and Druella possibly being part of our family's new future, how could I do anything but my absolute best to keep everyone safe?" Abraxas looked at his fellow classmate, letting his words sink in, before his face broke into a soft smile. "How indeed. My parents sent a letter asking that I offer you our deepest gratitude. For securing the safety of the Heir and the newest member of the family." Alphard blushed a little as he rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I… was just doing what was right by my family, but nevertheless, thank you." After Alphard finished his meal, he found Abraxas just looking at him curiously. "What?"

Abraxas shrugged. "Nothing. Just curious. In the six years that we have been classmates, I have seen you chasing after every other pretty boy in and out of Slytherin House, and if the rumours are to be believed you have left quite a few interested paramours slightly disappointed by you not pursuing a serious relationship. Without the threat of a less understanding Head of House, I am curious how you didn't follow in your sister's footsteps and found someone you might consider going steady with." Alphard shrugged. "As you said, I had plenty of short relationships, a few probably short enough to scandalize half the school." Abraxas raised an eyebrow at that statement as Alphard continued on. "But with most of them, it was simply them trying to understand what their own preferences were. For example, I can tell you that the young Diggory boy in Hufflepuff has no intention of ever finding another boy as a romantic partner, McLaggen found that he prefers women but isn't above indulging a short escapade with a male partner. As for those who have found certainty in their tastes and have asked for a more serious relationship… I wish them all the best, but that isn't me. At least, not at this moment." He looked at Abraxas and smiled softly. "It's a nice dream, to be sure, finding the right guy to court and eventually marry, but I just… haven't found that person for me yet." The young Malfoy looked at Alphard and crossed his legs.

"And yet, in your expanding list of interests, which somehow seem to include several Head Boys and a deeply committed Riddle…" Alphard chuckled nervously as Abraxas found that he quite enjoyed teasing his classmate. "... you have not once sought me out as a likely suitor. Why?" Alphard snapped his eyes to Abraxas, seeing that his acquaintance was being quite serious. Alphard rubbed his neck. "I mean… you are very far from not attractive. In fact, you have some of the most lovely eyes of any of the students in the school and physically you are very well off, but I just… what with all the marriage interviews and with how you never brought up being interested in men, I just didn't want to make either of us uncomfortable." Abraxas blinked at Alphard for a bit before he covered his mouth as he tried to resist laughing. Alphard looked even more perplexed. "Was I wrong?" Abraxas shook his head as he cleared out some tears from his eyes. "No, no, you weren't wrong that I never once expressed interest in men, because I hadn't nor had I given it much thought." Alphard lowered his eyes. "Ahh, then why ask me why I never pursued you?" He froze as he felt gentle and warm hands pulling his locks of hair to the side before he found himself very close to those light blue eyes, a soft smile on Abraxas lips. "Because if you had asked it of me then, I might have done this far sooner than today." The young Black's mind, for the first time since his Occlumency training, felt his emotions running rampant as his lips were locked against Abraxas, the two surprising each other with their eagerness and hidden desire.

Pulling away while breathing deeply, Alphard shook his head. "I… don't… how would we even make it work?! Your family has never… And you know, you know, how my eyes wander. And I am not ready to settle down…" Abraxas placed his finger on Alphard's lips, both their cheeks bright red. "All valid questions and concerns. We will have a lot to go over, but I think, more than anything, that the two of us would need to figure out if we even could make whatever this is work out. Now, I have never been the jealous type and I was very much raised in the possibility of having a wife and a mistress, something that I may have taught Riddle only to get Miss von Schwarzwald's anger directed towards me." Alphard chuckled. "Yeah, they might say one thing but those two are very much the same. If either of them ever welcome a third person into their lives, it will be a bloody miracle." Abraxas chuckled back. "True enough. Regardless, I have never been as hellbent on the idea of a singular romantic partner in my life, though I am curious if it would ever happen. So if you must continue this habit of going after pleasantly looking males, I might be able to tolerate it." The two shuddered as Abraxas leaned forward again. "But more than anything, I really do want to see what sort of relationship we could have. Interested?" Staring into those blue eyes for a few seconds longer, Alphard moved to claim those lips once more, with the Healers a few feet away shaking their heads at the two students before continuing to go over and completing the medical files from all the injuries that they tended to the previous day.

No one noticed as the Hospital Wing doors shifted ever so slightly before they were closed once again, the figure of Lilith appearing as she removed her Invisibility Cloak. Shaking her head, unsure of what to make of the unusual pairing and its future ramifications if it succeeded in lasting, she walked away from the doors and back to the Great Hall. "Oh, hey. How was he?" Lilith looked up as she watched Lucretia and Orion coming her way, having finished their own breakfasts, with Artemis perched on Orion's shoulder. "Oh, you mean Alphard? I think he will be just fine, though Madam Prewett will have him staying in the Hospital Wing until he is back to normal." Lucretia shook her head, her arms shaking slightly on her waist. "If I had held out longer…" Lilith rested her hand on her cousin's shoulder. "Then there would be two of you in the Hospital Wing right now. Your choice might not have been what you would have wanted it to be but it was the right one for everyone involved." Pulling Orion into a hug, Lilith kissed his cheek, getting the younger boy to blush out of embarrassment. "Alphard has always looked after all of us and now he needs time to recover. So how do you think he would feel if his choice left Orion here all on his own, at the mercy of every single vulture that would try to pry him away from his lovely Alessia." Orion's face went deep red as Artemis started cawing in a way that resembled laughter, as Lucretia found herself smiling. "True enough. Still, we should check on him." Lilith nodded as she released Orion, whispering something in his ear that seemed to ease his mind, before walking past Lucretia. "Be my guest. Just be careful, or you might catch Abraxas giving Alphard's tonsils a check up." It took Lucretia a second to register Lilith's, though by then the redhead had disappeared. She did hear Lucretia's reaction well enough, as did everyone within screaming distance. "WHAT?!"

"Obergruppenführer." Gellert turned his gaze away from the scattered reports from the front lines. He looked at the nervous courier. "Yes?" The man swallowed before handing him the latest report from Britain. Gellert would have enjoyed terrifying the man a bit more but his mood had been bad enough as it was. He didn't want to be seen as overly emotional, especially after word was reaching him of his puppet's own emotional instability. If the Hexenmeisters and his puppets in the German government were to survive, Gellert knew that he needed to remain calm and collected, despite what news would reach him. Not that anything out of the British Isles would be a surprise to him. After all, with how important the capture of Hogwarts was to the possible removal of British Aurors from the war effort, he had been watching his combatant's assault on the Castle through a scrying mirror. With how strong the inherent magic of the area was, he wasn't able to have his mirror's view wandering, so he wasn't able to spy on a certain Hogwarts Professor, as much as he wanted to. Instead, he focused his scrying on Vinda and her escort. He briefly watched as she oversaw the failed attempt to reach the Great Hall through the main entrance as his Hexenmeisters, some of the best trained magical military personnel in the Continent, were unable to get past a retired Auror, a retired Creature Hunter and the other staff members.

To then watch as his chief enforcer was then waylaid by a bunch of school children, before another not only dispatched her guards as if they were nothing more than a hindrance, but then humiliated her through the use of unusual magical objects, it had all been quite a depressing sight to him, though the information on these devices capabilities should hopefully prove fruitful to him. Grindelwald had heard from the initial attack on the British Ministry Atrium about these unusual magical objects being used as a defence against curses, including curses that could penetrate almost all shields, with the exception of those grounded by wards. He had dismissed these as nothing more than exaggerations born from the unexpected failure of dealing greater damage and killing the key figures in the crowd. Now he knew that those reports were not only very real, but they underplayed the effectiveness of the capabilities of the shields. To take the modified Siege Engine Curse that his Hexenmeisters developed to break into warded magical estates and survive it at such a range, with minimal consequences… it would seem that Gellert had seriously underestimated the young von Schwarzwald girl. She might not be the embodiment of Dark Arts mastery that her forefathers were portrayed in stories, but her intellect and resourcefulness were already proving themselves a thorn in his side. His emotions got the best of him after Vinda was so soundly defeated, though Grindelwald was aware enough to disown Vinda from his family, denying the protection his blood granted to her against the Maledictus. Better for her to die by the curse, than for him to risk the child using her blood to curse him as well.

Taking the report and dismissing the terrified courier, Grindelwald began to read and felt his anger rising. The news that the British had captured several of his Hexenmeisters was unexpected, though the method by which they were captured alive wasn't openingly discussed in the public hearing. They did, however, reveal that Gellert's suspicions regarding his old friend in Britain were spot on. According to the report, the DMLE is operating under the premise that Albus Dumbledore had been collaborating with Grindelwald behind the scenes, using the saboteurs as pawns to increase the support for his Anti-Dark coalition. Gellert smirked, glad to see that Albus hadn't changed much since they last met and that he was still as sly as ever, despite his amicable exterior. His smirk, however, turned into a frown as the report covered the appearance of Aberforth Dumbledore and his decision to turn in evidence against his brother, including his assertion that his brother had wrestled control of the phoenix away from Aurelius Dumbledore, who had now been relocated to St Mungos as his health had deteriorated without the phoenix there to sustain him with its tears. Gellert looked towards his desk, and the drawer where he kept all of the letters he had received from Aurelius. He had suspected that Albus was feeding Aurelius false information, if not information that Gellert's reaction to would benefit Albus' plans, but to learn that Aurelius was never in a state where he could actively write those letters, as he was always under the watch of his father… Gellert crumpled the papers in his hand before lighting it on fire.

"Well played, Albus. Well played." Tossing the now burning report into the nearest bin, Gellert focused his attention on the ongoing war effort. His inability to get Magical Britain, and possibly the British Armed Forces and that of its colonies, out of the war at a time when the Soviet Union continued to make inroads into the territories that the German Forces had already claimed was a huge set back, making the position of his muggle puppets and his marginal control over the continent less than stable. The Allied invasion of Italy had been successfully grounded to a halt, though most of it was thanks to the German forces sent to reinforce the floundering Italian military. Gellert started scribbling orders on a note. Once the Soviet Union reached the Carpathian Mountain Range, the German military could take on a more defensible position than the wide open spaces north of the Black Sea. The Germans had already begun work on fortifications along the English Channel and the Allies wouldn't dare to violate Spanish Sovereignty to invade Europe. So long as they could keep the Allies south of the Italian Alps, Europe could stay under Grindelwald's effective control. If forcing Britain to negotiate an end wasn't a viable option anymore, then he would have to settle with stalemating the Allies until they could no longer wage war. So long as he had Europe under his control, his plans for the future of the world were still viable.

The puppets in the Nazi Regime were already doing their best to kill what they themselves deem as undesirables. Gellert was more than happy to allow the atrocities to continue as they only served to cull the muggle population further, which was part of his initial decision to drag the world into another global war in the first place. With muggles dying in droves and the more stubborn magical families eliminated, Gellert could focus on raising a new generation of wizards and witches, dedicated to securing his vision of a new world order with the Muggles as nothing more than the servants they had always been destined to be. In a world at peace, his agents could spread beyond Europe's borders, inciting uprising in their colonial territories and the more politically unstable countries. With the nations of the world distracted by internal matters, Europe's shift into a symbol of a stable and safe governance would help increase their influence once again. All he needed to succeed was to keep the Allies from gaining any more ground. "Hans." One of his lieutenant's approached from beyond his war room. "Yes, my lord." Gellert handed him the paper he had written on. "These are the new orders for our forces. With Vinda's failure in Britain, we must focus our attention on retaining the majority of our gains in the Continent. Reinforce our forces in the north of France and have our Italian Allies prepare an organized retreat to the Alps. The remainder are to focus on strengthening our fortifications to the East." The man nodded and saluted. "Jawohl." Gellert sighed, rubbing his eyes, as he returned his attention to the map. He couldn't afford any more failures if he wanted to secure the future of the magical race for all time.

"You sure you wouldn't rather be at the Castle?" Lilith looked towards a clearly concerned Alexander as they waited within the hangar they used for Lilith's initial demonstration of the magically powered and operated tank, as the engineers finished checking that her latest addition was mounted securely. Based on a combination of her previously constructed offensive plate and her modified rifle barrel, the one being installed into the tanks's main cannon was far simpler in its design. Rather than the plate's convoluted incomplete magical sigils that could be rearranged to match a specific design, the mechanism for the tank's loader only had the highly detailed conjuration sigil that generates the projectile, as well as the triggers that activate the acceleration sigils along the barrel, before the projectile was launched out to meet its target. The factory that the trustees and the British Military had established along with the goblins of Gringotts had produced the tank they were currently installing the mechanism into, making today's test both of the weapon's capability against other armoured vehicles and the viability of the magically controllable tanks as produced in an assembly line. Lilith's foot was nervously tapping on the ground as she watched the engineers exiting the vehicle. "And you thought I was going to miss being here to watch the culmination of almost a year long project, because?"

Alexander sighed. "You killed multiple people just a few days ago. Last time that happened, you weren't anywhere near as stable." Lilith turned away from Alexander, watching as Admon Evans and his commanding officer, the General in charge of the project, moved towards them. Lilith was sure that the General had given her what her project was "officially" named but she relegated that knowledge to the unnecessary category. Everyone who worked on the project knew who she was and so far, she knew everyone in it too. "To be fair…I did have a moment of lucidity last night. Tom helped me move past it." Alexander raised an eyebrow and Lilith shoved his shoulder. "Not like that, you jerk. He held me as I went through everything." Alexander chuckled, glad that his insinuation got a slight smirk on Lilith's face. "Good to hear, as I doubted that Mr Riddle would have welcomed my involvement had you needed me to care for you as I did last time." Lilith blushed slightly, before sighing as she cast a privacy ward around both of them. "That said, something odd happened during the battle. After I took out Vinda… I could have sworn I heard the previous occupant of this body in my head. I haven't used the stone and everything tells me that it's only acting as my eye, but I somehow still heard something that should have been impossible." Alexander rubbed his chin. "Interesting. And you have also confirmed that you were able to apparate out of Hogwarts?"

Lilith nodded. "With and without the wards." She gave Alexander a weary look. "Look, when you discussed the Hallows to me, you mentioned that their powers would be more effective with two of them in my possession. However, after going through the Peverell test, I feel something… changing. Am I… becoming like…" Alexander sighed deeply, before looking at Lilith. "The test may have caused the relics to recognize you as worthy, hence why you are getting more power from both. I would advise you to be careful in regards to the stone, especially near ancient cemeteries. The veil for you was already thin as a Peverell. It will only ever grow thinner. Were you to get the wand to recognize you… who knows what might happen." Lilith glared at Alexander, believing that he knew exactly what would happen if she gained the Elder Wand. Seeing the General approaching, Lilith decided to save her inquiry into Alexander's true knowledge and capabilities later, as she dispelled the privacy ward. "Morning, sir. Ready to see how our tank compares?" The older gentleman smiled at her. "Aye, lass. Let's see what sort of beast you made for us." He gestured down the range at a selection of armour platings with targets painted on them. "Those are made to match the thickness in several tanks used by our enemy and our own forces. Our conventional tank will take a shot at all of them, after which your's will follow. Here."

With everyone wearing ear protection, they watched as the tank crew took the vehicle through its paces, blasting holes in the thinner sheets of armour, before denting the thicker ones. The general nodded as he took the ear protection off. "That's standard ordinance for you. Explosive and armour piercing would have different effects, but we are here to test a standard slug. Think you might be able to make either work with your system?" Lilith frowned, as Evans guided the modified tank into position. "Explosives would take a lot more research and development than I think I could manage. Recreating all the conditions correctly would probably take a Master of Conjuration, of which I haven't heard any person achieving that rank in centuries. Armour piercing, depending on the components, is a lot more possible." The General hummed to himself as Evans gave everyone the signal. "Fire in the hole!" Lilith smirked as there was almost no sound after the magic tank launched its ordinance, the barrel not needing to shift from recoil at all. Down the range, on a second plate established next to the ones already hit by the conventional tank, a hole suddenly appeared on the thinnest bit of armour as the sound of a large metal slug hitting the plate echoed in the air. As Evans moved the vehicle and fired again and again, it became clear that not only was the test proving that the tank was working, but that it excelled as a surreptitious mobile artillery platform. When it targeted the thicker plates, everyone watched as it cut through most, only getting stopped by the thickest plate, with a loud metallic thud echoing through the hangar. The General whistled in admiration. "Those rounds pierced through everything except battleship rated plates. Good lord, woman, that thing is a beauty,"

Lilith blushed as everyone present gave her a round of applause as Evans took the medallion off his head. "If it weren't for adjusting the sight and the fact that enemy units would be moving, I think I could fire the cannon at a higher rate of speed. It really does take a bit more concentration, but the fact that I can match a three to four man tank crew with a remotely operated machine is ridiculous." The other Trustee, that Lilith now knew to be a childhood friend of Evans, looked over at her. "Any progress on the flying units?" Lilith shook her head. "Not yet. I have two working models designed and tested, but they operate differently and I am unsure what control mechanism would be better for a pilot to have a better grasp of, especially as the one using a base military aircraft feels overly complicated to operate. Would you like to give my prototypes a try?" Alexander watched as Lilith guided the young aviator to the back of the hangar, before unshrinking her prototypes, a deep sigh escaping his lips. Back during the assault, his ghost contacts had been quick to warn him about what was happening at Hogwarts and how the Castle's wards had collapsed. Operating more on instinct than he ever remembered doing, Alexander quickly apparated to the scene, eliminating what Hexenmeister he could find. Of course, he knew there were going to be innocent casualties, regardless of everyone's best efforts. Life was never something so fair as to bring an end to monsters before they proved themselves to be worthy of the monicor, whether these monsters called themselves human or not. Even so, he had been more concerned about Lilith's wellbeing.

As part of their agreement, Lilith showed him the memory of her battle against Vinda and her guards. Clearly, Lilith's soul and body had reached the equilibrium that had evaded her for so long, having demonstrated a far better mastery of curses than even he had expected. Her attacks were brutal and efficient. At times, perhaps, even cruel. That had concerned Alexander greatly. Lilith was a kind soul, so seeing the way she eliminated Vinda had worried him that what she had experienced in the wellspring might have changed her. Until he realized that Lilith hadn't been acting out of anger, but vengeance. Vengeance for the soul of the little girl that had been stolen before her time, vengeance for all of the innocent souls that Vinda had stripped away from the world. He realized then that Tom had been right in his letter, expressing that Lilith hadn't been changed by her ordeal. Whatever magic the von Schwarzwald conduit had imbued her with wasn't guiding her towards a more violent path, it merely allowed what her condition had impeded from manifesting adequately. He watched as the pilot, after having used and tested the control medallions for both flight prototypes, gave Lilith his suggestions, focusing more on the design that replicated a conventional plane's performance and build, much to Lilith's clear frustration as that design was proving to be far too complex for her to decipher in the time they still had to prepare, Alexander decided it was best to let her come to terms with how far she is willing to go for the war all on her own. Over the last few years, she had grown and struggled with her desire to change events for the better, being consumed by guilt over her inability to save the millions of lives that were currently being lost over another devastating war. Until he saw a reason to be worried, he would let Lilith blaze her own path forward. Whether it would lead her down the same path he once walked, it would ultimately be her choice.

"Did you hear? The British Wizengamot will be having another emergency session within the month. Seems those elitists might actually be ready to kick a few of their members out to the curb, if not sending them directly to that godforsaken rock in the North Sea. Serves them right." Another wizard grunted as he placed his glass pint on the table. "Yeah, but who is to say they won't just fill their numbers with more elitist scum. There are lots of old families waiting to reclaim a seat they lost centuries ago because of one reason or another. I am telling you, there is no getting better when it comes to those pricks." The man who spoke earlier shook his head. "That's the thing. There was a suggestion during the initial announcement to open up some of the empty seats to elected representatives. And get this, it was suggested by the recently declared Lord Slytherin. Word is that he will be making a full declaration and proposal in the next session. Those bastards might finally be loosening up if even a member of the Dark Faction wants to add run of the mill witches and wizards to sit with the pretentious lots in London. Wonder if they will give us the credit for the idea." The other man laughed as he finished his pint. "After the mess that came with our Independence and the current Emergency, I doubt it." Taking out a few Irish pounds, the younger of the two placed them on the table, while the other looked surprised. "Heading out already? You hardly finished a bottle." The youngster shook his head. "Nah, my wife back home will have my head if I get splinched again. See you tomorrow at work."

The older gentleman sighed, waving away at his coworker, taking the notes from the table, before heading to the bar and paying for the drinks. A few chairs away, a silent observer lowered his hand from his ear, dispelling the eavesdropping spell he had cast to listen in on the other patrons of the "Clurichaun Watering Hole" in Dublin's Magical District. Having failed to collect his personal effects from Hogwarts after his hasty retreat, Albus had retrieved what was left in his family's home at Godric Hollow, the house having been relatively abandoned after Adriana's death. He then made his way to Belfast, before slipping quietly by foot into independent Ireland. He took a moment to rub his mustache before taking a sip of beer, feeling some of his tension easing. Albus had barely started working at Hogwarts when the end of the Great War seemed to have upended centuries of British rule over the neighboring island. While the Book of Names was restricted to the Isle of Britain, many magical families from Ireland had sent their children to study at Hogwarts, hoping to give them an edge over the locally taught children so that they could serve in the British Ministry's Irish Departments. When the violence began, the students and their magical families sought refuge in Scotland whilst the violence of the War of Independence spiraled out of control. The older wizards and witches who shared the same ideologies joined many of the local militias, fighting beside their muggle countrymen as surreptitiously as possible. Those same people would soon find themselves caught in a Civil War, with many families getting the worst possible news about their family members.

For Dumbledore, the success of Irish Independence gave him the chance to flee safely to a country that had no extradition treaty with the British Ministry, all with the barest use of magic, preventing the monitors from finding him. A few locally sourced magical materials shielded him from scrying, at least for now. Just in case, Dumbledore decided it was best to forgo the appearance he had cultivated at the Castle, cutting his long hair quite short and shaving away much of his beard, while making sure to leave a mustache that wouldn't look out of place in Ireland or, eventually, in Germany. Because while he was taking a necessary breather after his hasty flight from Britain, he now knew that he needed to reach Germany and face Grindelwald, before it was too late. Defeating his former lover had always been in Albus' considerations, particularly to secure a certain powerful artefact. Now, though, he needed to defeat Grindelwald to dispel the image that the Wizengamot was currently spreading, regarding his actions at Hogwarts and his leadership of the Anti-Dark Movement. By beating him and putting an end to the war Grindelwald had orchestrated, Albus could prove himself in the eyes of his supporters and those who have not taken a stand in the current unrest and return to Britain as a conquering hero, beyond the reach of those who would see him sent to Azkaban. Sure, he would still have to deal with both Dippet and Mr Riddle, as not only the witnesses to his actions, but as the primary threats to his political ascension, regardless of what he accomplished and, of course, he would also have to deal with Lilith von Schwarzwald as well, but that would all need to wait until the Elder Wand was in his possession. He couldn't take any further risks, after hearing of her defeat of several Hexenmeister saboteurs.

Speaking of saboteurs, Albus took a sip as he watched a man enter the pub, being welcomed to the bar by the waiters. He might have looked like a typical patron of the pub, but the last time that Albus had sat here, he had been able to briefly catch a suspicious conversation between him and another man, before privacy wards were raised. While he doubted this man was a Hexenmeister, he was certain he was a local spy and contact of Grindelwald's. While Ireland had kept itself out of the war as a neutral nation, despite the allies best attempts at changing the nation's stance, that didn't mean that the Germans, muggle or magical, were simply leaving them alone. Both had contacts and spies in the city, keeping tabs on the former British colony, listening for any signs that they might suddenly join the conflict. Of course, there were those who hoped to drag the Irish into the war on the side of the Axis powers, though that seemed less than likely with the current administration. Still, these Nazi sympathizers did provide Albus with the means to leave the British Islands without being noticed. While he would have liked to use Fawkes to travel anywhere freely, the phoenix was still bound to Aurelius, and was constantly trying to return to his master's side. The brief jump between Scotland and Northern Ireland had been the best Albus could manage from the bird after the jumps from Hogwarts to Godric's Hollow and elsewhere, before the magical creature started to fight his control. As much as it pained Albus, he had no choice but to keep Fawkes bound until Aurelius passed away. Only then could he assume mastery over it and break its spirit. Which meant he had to find other methods of escape, especially without drawing unnecessary attention or wait until Aurelius was no longer an issue.

While he wasn't a member of the British Ministry of Magic, Albus knew from his contacts within it that the sensors and wards that identified magical travel in and out of the British Isles were still active all over Ireland, despite their status as independent countries. While the Irish resented the continued magical oversight, they understood that it was taking time for them to establish the equipment and magical infrastructure in Dublin needed to take control over their territory's magical security. The neutral stance of the government during the Emergency was giving them the peace of mind needed to do that without having to muster up a fighting force to fight in another European war. If he wanted to avoid the eyes of the British Ministry and being hunted wherever he went by the ICW peacekeepers, he needed to leave through the blindspots that spies favored. Which meant finding the right spies for him to "acquire" the necessary information from. As the suspected sympathizer or spy looked his way, Albus used his natural talent for Legilimency to slip into the man's mind briefly, just grazing his surface thoughts. He was able to find the telltale signs of a potion induced mental occlusion, but their design made them ineffective in informing the wizard of brief and insignificant brushes across his mental scape. What little Dumbledore gleamed suggested he wasn't his ticket across the channel, but he could lead him to someone that was. He kept his distance, listening to the man speak, while looking for anything that could help him in the long run without drawing suspicion. He had a feeling it would be far harder to leave the British Isles than he initially thought.

Chapter 48: Hard Choices

"All those against stripping the titles and votes of all parties involved in the attack on Hogwarts, say nay." A few voices spoke up from the remaining membership of the Wizengamot, but they were clearly just a few disgruntled members from the Light and Dark factions. Chief Witch Fawley looked around and saw that none of the Speakers, who were standing at their podiums, raised their voice in an attempt to challenge the measure. Getting the all clear, she raised her voice. "All those in favor, say aye." A resounding and nearly deafening chorus of "Aye!" filled the air, before Fawley struck the gavel against her desk. "The Ayes have it. As of this moment, all those charged with conspiracy and collusion to take unlawful control of Hogwarts Castle, not to mention the hundreds of charges of child endangerment, as well conspiracy to lend aid to an enemy of the British Ministry of Magic and of the Government of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, are hereby stripped of their titles as Noble Houses and their rights to hold a Seat and Vote within this Assembly. Matter adjourned. Any motions that the members wish to bring forward to the Assembly before this Emergency Session is concluded?" A voice from the Light Faction yelled from his Seat. "The matter of the now vacant seats needs to be addressed. As it stands, the Dark and those Dark aligned almost have enough votes to rule by decree. the Wizengamot cannot be allowed to function like this!"

Fawley struck the gavel and called for order as the chamber broke into murmurs, before Arcturus requested to address the Wizengamot. Once silence was restored, Lord Black spoke up. "While I am certain there are many in my faction that would love to pass laws with little to no opposition, I agree that the current situation is likely to only further divide our people at a time when we are currently at war with forces that would very much like us to waste our attention on ourselves. As such, I would like to call Tom Riddle, Lord of House Slytherin, to speak before the Assembly to elaborate on his proposal from the last session. Lord Slytherin." The Wizengamot went quiet as they watched a 17 year old young man take the Speaker's Podium, with Lord Black taking a few steps back. Tom, dressed in his suit from his first session, took a deep breath. "Fellow Lord and Ladies, members of the Wizengamot. In the last session, as those who acted against the wellbeing of the students of Hogwarts were judged and found guilty of crimes against the citizens of Magical Britain, the matter of the empty seats was brought up and I made the suggestion, as the possibility of placing these seats with Proxies was deemed too ineffective a punishment, that the Seats be opened to being occupied by elected officials who are to represent the many magical families who have no representation within this legislative body."

Tom took a moment to let his words sink in, his eyes taking in the fact that the entire chamber was looking at him. He allowed himself to feel the moment fully, his pride reveling in the fact that so many were hanging off his every word. "As we are currently at a time of war, and we have yet to establish the precedent and rules that are to govern the elections of these representatives, I suggest that we allow interim representatives from the major Magical communities to take up the missing Seats. These interim representatives can serve as a test of the proposal, allowing the Wizengamot to get used to the possibility of members of our communities who would ordinarily not be invited, due to their families not having the necessary wealth nor support from the faction memberships, to be welcomed into this august body. As soon as the war is concluded and we have time and personnel to establish a system of elections, the interim seats could then be opened to those elected by our fellow citizens. Times are changing. Enemies from beyond our shores and within our borders threaten the very future of our community, seaking to place our descendants under the control of individuals who care not about our magical legacy, individuality or sense of justice. The very Aurors who defend our streets, the shopkeepers that keep our families well dressed, the farmers who keep our stomachs filled and the Healers who care for us when we are at our most vulnerable. We already trust these people to take care of our everyday needs. I believe it is time we trust them to sit by our side, to speak what needs to be heard, so that our community can reach the next century, the next millennium, safe in the knowledge that we will not only endure, but thrive by working together."

Taking a glass of water offered to him by Lord Black, Tom took one last look at everyone in the chamber. "The decision to open our doors to our fellow witches and wizards will ultimately fall to all of us. Let us make this choice, the right choice, together. Thank you, Lord Black, Chief Witch Fawley. Members of the Wizengamot." Taking a drink, Tom took his seat next to Lord Malfoy, the older blonde gentleman nodding at him in approval, as the silence in the chamber was broken by clapping coming from every faction, even from the visitor's gallery, until the Chief Witch got them all under control once more. "Lord Potter, the floor is yours now." Henry nodded, before he looked towards Tom, catching his eye. "It is a rare thing, to find myself so moved by the words of a fellow member of this Assembly, particularly someone who has been amongst us for such a short amount of time. I cannot begin to express the disappointment that filled me from the previous session, when I watched as men who studied with me at Hogwarts, whose children graduated at the same time as mine did, were charged with threatening the very future of our people, the very government they have helped to shape in these last few decades." Shaking his head, Henry looked around, turning around to look at his own faction. "Acting on beliefs that I am certain many amongst my faction still harbour to some degree, with no regard for the lives those beliefs would ruin should they be followed to their ultimate conclusion. It sickened me. It made me question what future awaited my children and grandchildren."

Henry then looked around and focused his eyes on Tom once more, before smiling. "And today, the pain I felt then has lessened as I heard the very future of our country offer us a path to bettering ourselves, to improve the very makeup of our Wizengamot and to hopefully heal the wounds that have been inflicted upon our community by coming together in our greatest time of need. As Speaker for the Light, I give Lord Slytherin's suggestion my full support and will offer myself to assist in the drafting of the proposal to be presented during the next session to be voted on by the Assembly." Lord Bones gestured to the Chief Witch, who gave him a nod, before he spoke up. "As Speaker for the Neutrals, I give my full support to the suggestion and volunteer myself as well." Looking towards his own faction, Lord Black could see disappointment in some of their faces, after possibly spending the last few weeks since the last session expecting their majority to be uncontested, but most of them nodded in silent consent, before he took his position on the Podium. "It goes without saying that I also support Lord Slytherin's suggestion and will be helping to draft the proposal." Chief Witch Fawley looked at the three Speakers, stunned by their words and support for a measure that just a few years ago would have been unpopular, before addressing the Chamber, awe clearly heard in her voice. "Very well. With the support of the Speakers, I hereby schedule for our next session the presentation of the proposal in written form for review, amendment and possible ratification, barring any delays. Any other suggestions or proposals for today's session?"

Getting nothing from the Speakers and the rest of the Wizengamot, Chief Witch Fawley struck the gavel onto her desk. "Then I hereby declare this session concluded. A fair day to all present here today. Aurors, you may open the doors." Standing up, Tom buttoned up his jacket, before following Lord Black to the exit, shaking hands with the Lord and Ladies of the Dark Faction, all congratulating him on his suggestion and speech. As they reached the entrance, Tom found Lord Potter, flanked by a slightly younger woman and by Lord Bones. The woman came up to him and shook his hands, as her features recalled a memory from his past life, her identity clear within Tom's mind. "Lady McKinnon." The woman smiled at him. "I take it my daughter, Euphemia, has made quite the impression. When she and Henry here vouched for you, I was quite curious to see what sort of young man you were for myself. I can honestly say that I am pleasantly surprised, Mr Riddle. The House of Slytherin and the Wizengamot are fortunate to have you." Tom swallowed the lump in his throat, trying desperately to bury the memories of Voldemort and his Death Eaters eviscerating the McKinnons into the farthest recesses of his mind. "I am grateful for the vote of confidence, my Lady. I look forward to working with you in future sessions." The woman gave him a genuine smile, her brown eyes as warm as her daughter's. "As do I. Now, if you all would excuse me, my daughters are waiting for me to serve tea back home." As the press asked questions, the Speakers managed to keep their attention away from Tom as Euphemia, having noticed his stiffening posture, led the young man away to the Neutral Chambers.

"You alright?" Tom took a deep breath after sitting down in one of the chairs of the Neutral Chamber as Alexander knelt down next to him. "I… sorry, I just need to settle down some unwelcome memories." The Head of the Peverell family rested his hand on the young man's shoulder. "Take your time and know that you should be very proud of yourself today." As Tom nodded, the other people present sealed the Chamber, as Euphemia checked on her father-in-law, since he and the previous Lord Longbottom had been childhood friends, and the events of the last few days had taken their toll. When the man's son, Fabian, not only broke with his father's positions upon his ascension to Lordship, but decided to join Dumbledore's madness, it had hit the Potter Patriarch unexpectedly hard. When he attempted to use his family's political and financial power to shield himself and the other members of the Order of the Phoenix from the charges, Henry had heard enough. Before the entire Wizengamot, he had produced the oath of Alliance for the Preservation of Albion, and tried to compel Fabian Longbottom to speak the truth. His subsequent lie about how the Order of the Phoenix had no intention to occupy Hogwarts triggered the article of non-compliance, resulting in his House being declared as Oathbreakers. The entire chamber looked on in horror as Lord Longbottom's house ring melted painfully into his hand, signifying not only the Lord's inability to pass on the ring to his current Heir Apparent, but also the dissolution of the House as a recognized magical family.

Needless to say, the other members of the Order of the Phoenix, such as Head of House Weasley, confessed to everything that Dumbledore had revealed to them, even corroborating Dippet's testimony regarding Dumbledore's unvoiced plans. The extended family members who had no idea that their cousins, sons and husbands had been formed into an illegal paramilitary force expelled many of those found guilty from their Houses, leaving them with no political or financial power to contest their sentences. Azkaban saw the delivery of over a dozen active members of the Order to serve at very least five year sentences, while a few so-called reservists were also banned from ever holding any position within the Ministry of Magic, with their children being subject to increased scrutiny, in case their parents saw fit to pass on their ideals. Henry Potter, with Madam McKinnon acting at times as his aide, was forced to have several in person discussions with the other signatories of the Oath of Allegiance, making sure that they all knew the full text of the oath and their responsibilities to each other and to Albion, regardless of what name the island was now under. A few families like the Diggorys and Weasleys were unhappy about the agreement, but as inheritors of the Houses that swore the oaths, they would have to either abandon their inherited rights and privileges, or live with the oaths. A few like Theseus Ross and Leonard Spencer-Moon took the news with the sort of pride that Henry would have wished from the now destitute and imprisoned former Lord Longbottom, vowing to ever stand in defence of Albion and by the side of the other Families.

Despite the support of the Blacks, McKinnons and Prewetts, as well that of Fleamont and Euphemia, the very fact that a man he had almost considered to be another son had not only taken part in an attempted takeover of Hogwarts Castle, but had even refused to own up to it when he was caught, had brought Henry to tears. He knew what calling the oath would mean if any of the named Houses dared to refuse to comply with its stipulations. He knew that and still had hoped that his best friend's son would be wiser, but Henry had been proven wrong. The other members of the Longbottom family would be forced to seek aid from their spouses' families, which was probably going to be quite difficult for Hardfang Longbottom, the Heir Apparent having been named as a reservist, and his wife, Callidora, as she had made no attempts to reconcile with the Blacks. At least Fabian's young wife, Augusta, would have no trouble with getting help from the Croakers, though Henry was sure that upon Fabian's release, he would struggle having to depend on others, after having been the head of a once proud and influential family. Even Charlus' letters stating that he and Dorea had been temporarily posted to Switzerland to help with some attempted incursions by the Hexenmeisters into the neutral state wasn't enough to wholly lift Henry's spirits after the trials, at least until just recently. The Potter patriarch, after taking a seat, placed his hand over Euphemia's and squeezed it. "I am feeling better Euphemia. After all these trials, meetings and emergency sessions, I can finally get some much needed rest." The Auror raised an eyebrow. "After you just volunteered to help write the proposed legislation?" Henry chuckled with surprising merriment. "I am sure Lord Black would like to take the lead and then he can bring the draft to me and Edward to go over it." Arcturus, standing close to Riddle, looked towards Henry. "Sure, as if I don't have enough on my plate already."

Looking at everyone gathered, Tom felt his wayward emotions settling back down, though he had a feeling a few other people he could eventually encounter could elicit a similar reaction from him. He lowered his eyes, feeling disappointment in himself. Tom believed he had moved past this. That he had freed himself from the sins of his futureself. and yet, everywhere he looked, he would likely always find something that would remind him of his great failure, his great shame. He found his chin being raised up, his eyes looking into Alexander's briefly. "You have no reason to feel any shame over what was. Today, you proved that you could surpass what became of that man. You spoke from the heart, logically and with pride in your words. There was no hate, no fear, no drive to manipulate. You are not that man. Instead, you are who you have chosen to become. So let go of that shame, young man, and rejoice in your accomplishments of late." Tom gave him a brief smile. "Thank you, Alexander. Though I hope you understand that I might get distracted like this every once in a while." Alexander nodded. "I understand. It's up to you if you wish to continue discussing your proposal today or if you would like to return to Hogwarts." While the thought of finding Lilith and spending the rest of his day by her side lessened the weight in his heart, he knew he still had more to do before returning to Hogwarts. "Again, thank you but I wish to see this through."

Alexander nodded before standing up and doing a slow sweep of the room, with Cassiopeia keeping an eye on him as Arcturus spoke up. "Very well, now that the proposal has received wide support and while the specifics will be ironed out later, we need to go over potential interim representatives. Thoughts?" Henry rubbed his chin. "They would have to be fairly well known and regarded by the general population, or otherwise represent an important sector of Magical Britain that feels underrepresented." Tom spoke up. "Lilith and I had a brief discussion and she suggested that perhaps Master Ollivander or his son could take a Seat, representing the traders and artisans of Diagon Alley." Cassiopeia chuckled. "That little hellion knows what she is doing. The Ollivanders are a pillar of our society, with their wands and wisdom being legendary. As a typically apolitical family, they would likely never take up a seat via election, but they might be convinced to take the interim position." Henry smiled. "I agree. Gervaise has been delegating much of his business to his son, Garrick. He would be less likely to be opposed to taking a temporary position in a time of crisis." Arcturus wrote the name down. "Very well, anyone else?" Euphemia thought for a second. "What about Fionn Lovegood. The family have been in Devon for at least half a century, and their Irish roots are said to be longer, if they ever bother to reveal their original surname. They might be odd but they are a generous sort. If everything goes well, Fionn might get elected properly afterwards."

Tom smiled briefly, before Alexander spoke up. "Their family has strong ties to the followers of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fae, at least from what my contacts have discovered of their origins. There are other Fae blood families that would welcome their selection, not to mention that it sends a positive message to the Irish immigrants that decided to remain in Britain after Ireland's Independence." Tom nodded, before looking towards Arcturus. "Speaking of immigrants, we should consider seeking immigrants from Asia as well. This last century saw a surge of immigration from the Indian Subcontinent, as well as the Chinese territories. I would suggest the Patils, but I am unsure if the Head of the family here would welcome it. He seemed to be the type to focus more on his family, rather than bothering with politics." Euphemia snapped her fingers as Alexander finally stopped moving about the room. "The Chang family. One of the eldest son's is a junior Auror who recently graduated from the academy." Cassiopeia hummed to herself. "The family arrived as merchants, transporting magical goods by sea from Hong Kong and Shanghai before eventually arriving on our shores. They also have a fantastic tea business." Everyone looked towards Cassiopeia, who blushed. "What? It is damn good tea. They are also quite dependable. While most merchants dealt in Opium, the Changs kept their supply of it low and usually only catered to other Chinese immigrants. They followed through when the British restricted it to medical use, and have steered clear of the smuggling operations other merchants were infamous for."

Arcturus nodded as he finished writing in his notes. "Very well. I think these will do for now. I am sure Bones will like to offer his own." Before Arcturus could store away his notebook, Tom spoke up. "We should also consider filling in the Seats made vacant by the Rosier, Travers and McNair families. They were all dismissed in a similar fashion and it would make the measure more favorable to our own people." Arcturus looked towards the young Lord Slytherin and raised an eyebrow. "Am I to assume you have a few individuals you would like to nominate?" Tom rubbed the back of his neck. "Lilith and I discussed it more than the other families, since she felt strongly about possibly reaching out to members of the Magical community who are often ignored in their entirety. Lilith proposed approaching Elder Teta, of the London Hag Coven, to take up a seat." The room went quiet for a second as everyone looked incredulously at Tom, before Arcturus rubbed the back of his head. "Because of my funding of the Knockturn Alley Bazaar, I have met the Elder of the Coven. She is… far more reasonable than most Hags have any right of being, seeing as to how poorly their population has been treated." Cassiopeia looked towards Tom. "Let me guess, the Hellion suggested that we have a werewolf take a seat too." Tom frowned. "We aren't exactly sure as to the current density of the werewolf population in Britain, so it wasn't one of our picks. The persons that were suggested, however, were a representative of Gringotts… and Mr Warren, a minister from Parliament."

Cassiopeia covered her face as Henry hummed in thought. "Young Lilith has a point. The Goblins have a large population and are often treated as a separate nation within our borders. Hearing their opinions on investments and possible revisions to the Treaties could make for a beneficial appointment." He looked towards Alexander, who shrugged. "They would welcome it as far as I am aware and their honesty and straightforward approach to matters could help reframe certain matters." Cassiopeia muttered under her breath. "The next session will definitely go down in history. Still, I have to say that appointing a Muggle to a Seat will not be approved. The Wizengamot is a place for magicals." Tom raised his voice. "And the first generation magicals, whom you all call muggleborns? Are they not part of our world? Do their families get exempted simply because they can't use magic?" The room fell quiet as Tom stood up. "In my previous life… our society was torn apart over the issue of inclusion for these children into our world. The Dark… had been so radicalized to hate them that… they… I…" Tom took a deep breath. "The person that I became created a government not unlike that of Hitler's in Germany. Any one not a Pureblood was registered, fired from their jobs, brought before a scham of a trial… and convicted of stealing magic. Imprisonment, torture, death. That was what awaited them all."

Breathing erratically as Tom fought to contain the flashing of memories before his eyes, he looked at everyone present. "This… blight upon our world wasn't born from Dark Faction politics or Traditionalists rewriting history. It was born from the prejudices currently ingrained within our very society. The Ministry assisting in the protection and repair of non-magical homes, residences and factories has helped to bridge the gap. We have to do the rest. We need to hear their voices among our halls. I am suggesting we start with an interim representative, before we consider the possibility of an exchange of representatives between the Wizengamot and Parliament, so that neither side is truly blind to the actions of the other." Everyone looked at Tom with clear surprise, before Alexander, who no one saw move, placed his hand against Tom's back in a show of support, before looking towards Arcturus and Henry. "He's right. The Council of Wizards was born to aid the Crown towards harmony between the magical and non-magical population. The Wizengamot and the ICW, for all the good they have done, have created a divide than can and has given rise to bigotry and hate. If we want to make sure that Grindelwald's Madness ends here, we need to take the necessary steps to correct our mistakes. Before it's too late." Henry took a deep breath, before looking at Arcturus. "It would seem… there is a lot more for all of us to do." Arcturus sighed. "So it would seem."

As the meeting came to an end, everyone started dispersing, until only Alexander and Tom were left, the two apparating silently to the outskirts of Hogsmeade. As both looked towards the Castle and made their way to the gates, Alexander gave the quiet young man a glance. "So, aside from discussing politics, have you and Lilith talked about Beltane?" Tom snapped out of his thoughts for a second, his mind having been going over everything from earlier, before Alexander's words registered. "We discussed it briefly, but she left it mostly to my discretion. Why?" Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Really? Well, that is interesting. Dippet mentioned that he was hoping to convince the Board to celebrate the day a bit more in line with the old ways, to ease some of the tension from the attack. There would be lessons on the history, the traditions and the magical aspects of the celebrations. Now that Lilith is fully herself, you two could finally celebrate it adequately. Of course, I am in no way advocating that you two start trying to have children, but the binding ritual would still be enjoyable on its own." Tom looked towards Alexander with surprise as his steps slowed. "But… the ritual that Lillian performed…" Alexander nodded. "Of course, it would be unlikely for the two of you to be connected as soulmates, but the ritual is still a very intimate process that all committed couples should try." Tom watched as Alexander rubbed a wooden ring on his right hand. "My wife and I considered it a worthwhile tradition, one we repeated yearly… before…"

Tom lowered his gaze. There was a part of him that wanted to ask Alexander about his wife and children. He had mentioned them before in passing, but he almost never elaborated on what happened with them and how he ended up being the last Peverell. Still, there was something that haunted Tom's own feelings, something forced him at times to restrain his own actions with Lilith. "It must be hard then, every Beltane that passes, since the time that your wife hasn't been with you." Alexander sensed the question behind Tom's statement. "It does. It's a pain that doesn't really go away. And there are days… when I just wish that I had never met her. But those moments are few and far in between and the happy memories linger more than the loneliness, especially now, with you and Lilith in my life." Tom raised his eyes and saw Alexander smiling at him, before he rested his hand on Tom's shoulder. "I am very grateful to have gotten the chance to have met you this time around, Tom, and I am very proud to call you family, no matter how distant. As for your unspoken question, I would say that you should follow your heart and enjoy Beltane how you two decide to. Regardless of what happens, I am sure neither of you will regret spending the day celebrating what you have together now and what may yet come in the years to come." He used his strength to push Tom towards the castle and waved at him. "Now go. There is a lovely lady waiting for you to return to her side and the exhaustion of today will be better treated in wonderful company."

As Alexander silently vanished before his eyes, Tom shook his head, though a smile lingered on his face. As he made his way through the grounds and into the the castle, many students from several houses approached him, having heard that he would be speaking before the assembly, though he respectfully declined to go over what would surely be printed in the Daily Prophet and covered by the letters from the parents that sat in the Wizengamot. Instead, he made his way to the Chamber of Secrets, finding a certain redhead struggling with an odd spherical contraption, her flying constructs left by the wayside, indicating to Tom that she had run into a problem that she had been struggling with for hours, before she diverted her attention to another project. He had a feeling she was aware of his presence, but he lingered by the back of the chamber as she rubbed a cloth across the surface of what he could guess was a spherical polygon, a graver held in her mouth as she inspected her work. When she seemed to reach another impasse, she dropped her tools onto the desk, before Tom's arms wrapped around her chest from behind. "I am back." Lilith seemed to melt into his arms, whatever was eating away at her mind being set aside like her tools, as her hands caressed Tom's arms lovingly, her lips finding his cheek as she kissed him lightly. "Welcome back." The two slipped into Tom's dorm room with barely a word, before snuggling together on the bed, each finding the rest that their respectives days demanded from them in each other's company.

The Great Hall grew silent as Armando Dippet, dressed in bright yellow robes that to discerning eyes looked like interwoven flower petals and vines, took to the speaker stand. All along the Hall were wreaths of bright yellow flowers and interwoven green vines. The tables themselves had been replaced with long desks arranged in several circles, all of them surrounding bonfires that were yet unlit. This year's Beltane had taken the entire castle by surprise as the Headmaster had declared that after surviving such a vicious attack and betrayal, as well as mourning for the lives that were lost in the event, Hogwarts needed a celebration to cheer everyone up. While the Board had originally balked at having Beltane celebrated by youngsters, Dippet's carefully prepared plans for the festivities won them over, with the staff happily agreeing to modify their curriculum to explain how each course was connected to Beltane. An oddly eloquent Binns spoke of the history of the day, from the early practices of the Celts and their Druid directed festivities, to the names of the gods associated with the mating rituals. Professor Bierley demonstrated to the students he variants of Celtic and Futhark runes that were typically drawn on the bodies of the participants and how each distinct configuration was designed to hopefully have the intended result, whether it was the conception arrays that were designed to boost fertility and virility, or the more ethereal and mythical soul binding ritual.

While Tom was grateful for Bierley's lesson, as well as Horace's lesson on the potion ingredients and components that would eventually result in the paste used as body paint for the rituals, he had already learned and prepared everything to celebrate the day with Lilith as his consort. The two had slept together in a conjured bed of his own design within Salazar's Chamber the night before, with Hogsby surreptitiously decorating the room whilst they slept. The look of surprise and the smile on Lilith's face as she awoke by his side, the room and bed covered in yellow petals, made Tom's heart soar, and that was before they had stripped down and drawn the adequate runes and sigils on each other at the crack of dawn. Throughout the day, the ink remained on their person safely hidden under their clothes and robes, the material feeding off from their magics, before new sigils were added at the moment the sun was straight overhead. Where the morning had been only filled with gentle caresses, the finishing touches of the noon emblems ended with Tom and Lilith kissing deeply, though both did their best not to meld their bodies together, so as not to trigger the ritual early. They, as well as a few others, had waited for most of the day, their bodies throbbing and in Lilith's case arching with magical build up, before Dippet gathered them all for dinner, a bit earlier and a few minutes before sunset.

The Headmaster's deep booming voice raced across the Hall, filled with an energy none of the students ever remembered feeling from the centuries old gentleman. "I would like everyone to listen closely now. On this fine evening of Beltane, many of the older students will be taking part in rituals that are by their very nature intimate. Some will celebrate it, as is tradition, before the eyes of their fellow practitioners. As we have many children here that are under age, these public rituals will be taking place in the privacy of the Castle's central courtyard, where a great bonfire has been prepared. The ceremony itself will be presided over by Madam Prewett, just in case any injuries occur, or should the participants be in need of her services regarding… intimately acquired injuries." A few people chuckled at Dippet's choice of words before he continued. "For those too young to participate or observe the intimate rituals, we will have a lighting ceremony here of the bonfires, the singing of traditional hymns and prayers to the gods of the Old Religion, as well as some displays of the fire protection spells for those interested in the ritual cleansing by fire who wish to try their hand at walking through the flames, with Healer Pomfrey remaining in the Hall to care for those brave enough to test the fires without the aid of magic. Those who practice other faiths and choose not to take part in the traditions may observe or, if they so wish, return to their Common Room and Dorms soon. Professors Merrythought, Ross, Slughorn and Doge have all volunteered to escort students throughout the evening. And so, let the festivities… begin!"

The large bonfire at the center of the Great Hall, on queue, quickly ignited with roaring yellow flames before settling down, with the Prefects for every house lighting torches from it to be used to light the other bonfires. As Madam Prewett lit her own torch to carry with her as she led the older students towards the central courtyard, Tom, having checked that all the predominantly Slytherin bonfires were lit, as students were encouraged to intermingle with those of their year groups from other houses, took the still lit torch with him, before approaching Lilith from behind. He saw the same scene repeated by a few other couples, including Lucretia and Ignatius, much to his surprise, as well as the eyebrow raising sight of Abraxas stepping out of the Great Hall, with a not a somewhat subtle Alphard swiftly on his heels. He watched as Lilith checked on Orion and Alessia, both of whom were sitting relatively close together, the dancing shadows of the flames barely showing their hands held together at their side, before bidding the others a pleasant night. As she turned around, her face broke into a smile as Tom presented his arm to her. He and a few other couples were seen escorting each other down the corridor, with Merrythought and several ghosts making sure that everyone was safe as they approached the Slytherin Common Rooms. Lilith and Tom, however, bypassed the Common Room and slipped into the Slytherin chamber, where a small bonfire had been set a safe distance from a pile of blankets, pillows and furs.

With Salazar and Rene both back inside the closed interior chamber behind the mouth of the sculpture, Tom lit the bonfire, his eyes then glued to Lilith's figure as she stripped before him of her clothes. He raised an eyebrow slightly at the change in coloration of the sigils marking her body, but the hum of magic radiating off of her was definitely in keeping with what Bierley described. Her deft fingers then tugged at his clothes, stripping him down, her green eyes never once looking anywhere but into his, desire clearly building in both of them as Tom found his physical excitement almost rigidly painful. The more tortuous part of the ritual was the painting of the final sigils, the soft touch of the brushes against the skin raising each other's sensitivity. As soon as the final sigil was drawn over each other's heart, the air around them began to crackle with magic, neither daring to move even as every fiber in their being demanded them to touch. Then, as the sun vanished over the horizon, the energy of the world shifted, with Tom finally getting some sense as to what had caused Lilith's adverse magical reactions for nearly three years, as it felt as if a tidal wave of magic crashed into him, both spilling around him and filling him to the brim. Now, however, his girlfriend seemed to feel a different reaction, as her eyes darkened, her body lowering itself down onto the soft mattress, before she beckoned him to approach her with her outstretched hand. "I am yours." Those words, an echo of the words he had uttered to her the first night they were intimate, drove all other thoughts out of Tom's mind. There was only Lilith and the need to claim her as his.

There was barely any teasing between them as the two became a tangle of limbs and sweating bodies, the heat from the bonfire and the sigils on their skin making their skin almost feverish. Tom drove himself deep into Lilith, her fingers almost digging into the skin of his back, her lips leaving marks along his neck and up towards his ear. Sweat and primal words slipped from her lips for him alone to hear, driving both of them to higher and higher levels of arousal and desire. The first release surprised them both with its ferocity, as Lilith's legs instinctually wrapped tightly around Tom's waist. But even with the need momentarily lessened, it surged once more, with Tom pressing Lilith deeper into the mattress, their skins so tightly pressed they might as well have been a single entity. Over and over the need to claim each other drove them to higher and higher peaks, with Lilith even taking the lead part way through, her bucking form driving Tom's mind feverish with lust, his hands caressing every inch of her exposed skin, the paint on both their skins kept intact by the magic of the ritual itself. Then, as if drawing on their last ounces of energy, Tom raised himself up, holding her against his seated form as he too sought one final release. The gutteral sounds from both their throats was followed by a flashing white and golden light, before the Chamber plunged into shadows, the bonfire extinguished as the ritual was completed. The two lovers collapsed into each other, the paint gone from their bodies as the cooling air and exhaustion drew them into deep slumber.

Entering the Great Hall the morning after Beltane, Lilith blinked for a moment out of confusion. Sure, the decorations from the festivities were gone and the long tables were once more in place. That was pretty normal considering the Elves work ethic. What surprised Lilith was seeing the students scattered about on the different tables, regardless of which houses they were in. Ever since her arrival and friendship with Cassandra and Myrtle, the divide between the houses had been slipping, but today? It was as if almost everyone was on a table that wasn't that of their respective house. Tom, who was stretching out his shoulder, stopped by her side and clearly noticed the same thing. "Huh, it seems the Beltane was more successful than we had even predicted. It's an odd sight but also… comforting." Lilith's face went from confused to a soft smile. If there had ever been a childish dream that Lillian had once entertained that early year at Hogwarts, it was that she, as a Slytherin, would have been welcomed at any of the Hogwarts tables. That her first attempt at friendship wouldn't have been rendered moot by the fact that she wore a green tie and they wore a red one. Tom rubbed her back comfortingly as tears threatened to leak from her eyes. "You ok?" Lilith rubbed her eyes clean, before smiling at her boyfriend. "Yeah, I'm alright. Just thinking how something like this should be common… and how old man Dumbles would have absolutely hated it." Tom smiled at that. "That he would have. Come on, let's sit down before the meal gets replaced by dessert."

Seeing space next to Cassandra, the two of them joined her on the Ravenclaw table, with the blonde munching away on a toast covered in marmalade. As the two sat down, Cassandra looked at them both before doing a double take, her mouth falling open slightly. Seeing this reaction on her friend made Lilith feel a bit nervous, as she started serving her plate. "Cassie, is everything alright?" The blonde Seer blinked before she seemed to come back into full awareness. "Oh… Oh, yes, I am quite fine and everything is alright, really." Lilith gave her friend a curious look, but seeing that she seemed happy with whatever it was that she saw, decided it was better to let her friend keep her own counsel for now. "So, did we miss anything?" Cassie gestured towards the Slytherin Table, with Abraxas looking mighty pleased with himself, before directing Lilith's gaze towards the Gryffindor Table, where both Alphard and Lucretia were having a seemingly civil conversation with Ignatius Prewett. Lilith, blinked for a moment. "Huh. Sounds like Auntie Melania might be having a word with Lucretia and Alphard about their intentions." Tom hummed to himself. "Better them than me." Lilith giggled before nudging his shoulder. "It wasn't that bad." Tom sighed. "No, it wasn't. Though I imagine that I will have a less pleasant experience if I ever propose." Lilith looked towards Tom, her heart fluttering a little, but he seemed to leave the subject alone and she wasn't going to broach it if he wasn't.

Fortunately for her, any thought about Tom proposing to her ceased as the elves started delivering the letters to the students, with a letter with a particular seal on it sitting atop the pile of Lilith's mail. Lilith lifted and held it in both of her hands, before using her letter opener to draw a bit of her blood from her finger. Once the bloodstained blade slipped under the seal, the magic protecting the letter was released. Tom watched what Lilith was doing with a curious expression on his face, but remained silent as Lilith read through her letter in silence. She quickly folded the paper up and stored it back into the envelope, stashing away all her letters into her robe's inner pocket, her eyes staring at her plate until Tom nudged her. "Lilith?" The redhead snapped out of her thoughts, but simply tapped her lips, before digging into her meal faster than usual, though not in a way that was obscene. For her part, Lilith was freaking out internally. She had received a summons from Durin, King of the Dwarven Kingdom under the Alps. From the moment she had started buying materials for her constructs from the Dwarves, she knew that the typically isolated kingdom would be keeping an eye on her and her work. While the materials were rather mundane separately, Lilith was sure that Dwarven engineers and craftsmen had guessed as to what her constructs could look like. Which was why she had briefly wondered if they would question her intentions. No questions came and now… now the letter mentioned a negotiation to further business opportunities.

While Dwarves weren't as insistent about how they phrase things like the Goblins, they were known to be severely blunt in their conversations to the point of being insulting. The way the letter was worded, however, made it clear that the Dwarves were not overly worried about her intentions, but might even be willing to play a bigger role in her constructs. While the development of the new tanks required little to no specialized construction, the same couldn't be said about her attempts at replicating her work with aircraft. Other than sticking a fully mechanical human analog in the cockpit of a modified fighter or bomber, getting a war plane to operate as well as the pilots hoped for just wasn't working out for her. If the Dwarves craft smiths were, however, able to redesign her parameters for an avian flight construct like Galatea and Pandora, she could potentially get the advantage they needed to get approval for special operations in European territory. As she was about to dig into dessert, however, one thing became clear in Lilith's mind. What she had in mind would wreck Dwarven neutrality in the current conflict and plunge the Nation Under the Mountain into war with Grindelwald. Is that why she was being summoned? Because King Durin had realized the implications of her constructs and wanted an in person discussion regarding the entire situation? If it was… then that meant she needed more than just a business plan to offer the Dwarven King. She needed a war plan, but perhaps more importantly, she needed to convince the Dwarves that they had a future business opportunity after the war. Lilith sighed, rubbing her head. She had a lot to plan for and only two months to come up with a solution everyone would be happy with. She could feel a migraine setting in already. Great.

"Do you think there is any truth to the rumours that the DMLE will be recruiting seventh year students, if not training them outright to fight in the war?" Tom looked away from a clearly preoccupied Lilith as Ignatius Prewett's words registered. The recent meeting of the Council of Walpurgis had started well enough as the seventh years, such as Lucretia, were preparing to take their NEWT exams in a few days. With the graduation the year prior and the current numbers potentially dropping again, the existing membership had voted on whether to allow younger students in. Ultimately, the first to join up were Orion and Alessia, with the two promising to do their best to get more of their classmates from other houses to consider joining. Among those being considered were the young Patil twins that had been rescued during Tom's time at Smethwick, as well the youngest member of the Bones family, who would be approached by his older brother and Pomona to gauge his interest. Minerva McGonagall and Ignatius Prewett would both jointly ask around in the Gryffindor Common Room, though they expected it to be a hard sell to a House that had so heavily favored Dumbledore aa a teacher and a confidant.

Both of their Gryffindor Prefects had brought up in the first Council meeting after the attack how several of the students were in clear denial as to the accusations leveled against Albus Dumbledore. Despite the Headmaster being the target of Dumbledore's aggression, they, like most of their parents, vehemently refused to accept the facts as presented by the DMLE, all of which were corroborated by the memories of the Headmaster and even one of the assailants. Even Ignatius' own younger cousins, who had idolized Dumbledore, refused to accept what their family members were saying, leaving the Heir of the family feeling dejected, though Lucretia had been more than happy to help lift his spirits. While Tom had initially dismissed the possibility of Ignatius and Lucretia getting together, he could now see how their relationship could work. Ignatius was looser with his sense of propriety and his love for sports like Quidditch, though he yearned to prove himself worthy of leading the massive family that Madam Prewett's elder brother struggled with. Lucretia, herself a bit of a rebel against tradition, was staunchly independent, yet knew just how to behave when the time called for her to be proper, with her desire to help others even extending to Ignatius. Both toed the line between what was expected of them and what they sought to accomplish, with the possibility that they could help correct each other's deficiencies. When Ignatius managed to show his more serious side, it had somehow been enough for Lucretia to relax around him. While Tom had no desire to pry into their private life, the two seemed inseparable since Beltane. Then again, they weren't the only ones.

On the furthest back sofa were the two latest lovebirds in the group. While Alphard and Abraxas did their best to hide their relationship from the rest of the school, the two had no such qualms about their display of affections in front of their friends, much to Pomona and Minerva's reservations, though the two had been warming up to the relationship between the boys, particularly as it was made clear how both were growing more open from it. Well, Alphard made the appearance that he was opening up. Tom could tell the Black family oddball was for the most in control of his faculties, only slipping when he felt safe and comfortable and even then it was for a brief moment of vulnerability. Since Lilith found the relationship between the young men amusing, and Tom couldn't disagree, he simply allowed the two to do as they wished, so long as they were discreet. He already had the naked forms of two women beside Lilith in his mind, so he didn't need to add two men in the throws of passion to the list of memories he would happily get obliviated if he could. Of course, Alphard proved that even with his lips attached to Abraxas neck, the young man was still as perceptive as ever. "You can unclench, Ignatius. That rumour is, unfortunately, a bit of misinformation being passed around to rile up the students and the parents." Minerva looked towards the pair of boys on the sofa, blushing a bit at the sight. "A rumour like this would have to come from something substantial. Otherwise, why would it be so widespread?"

"You are right that it has a grain of truth attached to it but the full premis is incorrect. From what I have heard, the measure Director Crouch wishes to implement is that the students willing to participate are given Auror training while at Hogwarts. The purpose is to have a reservist group of Aurors ready to go at a moment's notice, in case the veterans still left at the DMLE are forced to be sent out to the new warfront. The Normandy invasion has thrown everyone for a loop and the ICW Peacekeepers are spread thin as they are. MACUSA's agents have been assisting with the invasion since they had been part of the decoy operation, but it would be unfair to expect them to take up the full brunt of the invasion's magical support. The goal of the rumour is to keep the DMLE's resources tied up in Great Britain, thereby giving the German Hexenmeisters more room to breathe." As everyone at the table digested Lilith's insight, Tom eyed her, noticing that even as she highlighted the most likely reason for the rumour's existence, her attention was still elsewhere. With the meeting adjourned and everyone beginning to scatter, Tom talked briefly with Pomona about her prospects for future council members, before only he and Lilith were left alone. He approached her as she stared out the window, his arms wrapping around her waist. "Care to share what's on your mind?" Lilith sighed before allowing herself to rest her back against Tom's chest. "You remember that letter I got from the Dwarves?"

Tom nodded. "You mentioned it, if only briefly. Something about a possible joint business venture?" Lilith sighed, casting a heavy ward over the room, followed by a sweep, only talking once she was sure there was nothing of concern. "It's very likely that it could lead to a joint military venture, if I can be convincing enough. I sent a few basic schematics to them as a gesture of goodwill, as I am planning to answer the summons in person after school concludes for the year." Tom thought for a second. "Getting the Dwarves to join the war effort would certainly be a boon. But I don't see why that would have you so distracted." Lilith rubbed his hand with hers, her eyes still looking out the window. "The summons is in Switzerland so I would be traveling to a place that is a short distance away from my home. As I contemplated going there, I also became aware… that I could stay there and fight." Tom tensed up as Lilith turned to look at him, raising her artificial hand to caress his cheek. "I… with everyone now safe at Hogwarts and the war nearing its final stages, it just…it doesn't feel right that I am here, safe, while the monsters that destroyed my family are repeating those same atrocities everywhere on the continent. Sure, I don't expect to be a force multiplier, but I could get the Allies access to the Austrian Alps, negotiate with the Hags. Hell, I could maybe get the military to deploy the new division that we are arming to Switzerland and cut through the south of Germany, reducing their military's ability to resist Allied forces as they try to cut into enemy territory. I just… I can't just stay here anymore, not seeing this war to its conclusion."

Leaning into her touch, no longer bothered by the hand not being her flesh and blood, Tom looked into her eyes. "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? You have saved the Blacks from the extremists. You have spared Hogwarts from Dumbledore's machinations, stabilized the Wizengamot where there is no chance that the Factions will collapse. You saved me, Lilith, from myself and have set me on the path that I had always dreamed of. The future is as secure as we can make it. Why go to war now?" Lilith wrapped her arms around Tom's chest, resting her ear against him, listening to his beating heart. "Because I think it is wrong to be complacent. Sure, Magical Britain is secure now and the war is finally turning against the Axis forces with the landings on Normandy. But what if everything we have done, all the changes we have made have consequences we can't foresee? What if Dumbledore joins Grindelwald? What if Nazi Germany survives this war, condemning the innocents they have kidnapped, displaced and tortured across the continent to their fates? I can't…I can't take that chance. I need to be there, Tom, to make sure that this war has the end it needs to reach." Tom rubbed Lilith's red hair lovingly. "You're right, we need to make certain that everything that has changed is for the better." Lilith loomed up into Tom's blue eyes, seeing steely determination. "We?" Tom smiled at her. "We. If you are taking part in this way, then you won't be doing it alone." Lilith swallowed any words she could have said to keep Tom in Britain. Instead, she allowed herself to be held in his arms as warmth filled her body. She wasn't alone. It was something that Lilith needed to keep remembering going forward.

Chapter 49: Venturing into the Continent

Lilith felt her legs shaking as the Portkey dropped her onto the ground, the sensation of passing through some extensive warding being less than pleasant, as she was assisted by one of the wizards at the Zurich Portkey arrival center. "Easy, Fraülein. The wards tend to leave arrivals disorientated." Lilith muttered under her breath in German. "If this is what an official portkey feels like, my condolences to the families of the fools trying to pass into your country illegally for their sheer stupidity. And that is Frau, to you, Officer. Ow, my head." The man chuckled as he led her to a seat, before offering her a drink. Lilith held her finger with her Family's Ring against the clear glass and watched it flashed blue, before drinking from it as the guard gave her a knowing look before speaking in German. "Good to see you taking security as seriously as we do. Once you have regained control over your balance, we will begin the interview and check your credentials." Lilith nodded, finishing her drink, before standing up and handing the glass to the smiling officer, who dispelled the conjuration. The man led her into a side chamber, where he checked her passport and citizenship papers, as well as her summons to the Dwarven Bank, a sight that made the man give Lilith a more curious and respectful look. For Lilith, this wasn't a surprise. Switzerland owed a lot to the Dwarven Kingdom under the Alps, the name itself being different in every culture, just as the region's name had changed over the millennia.

Of the three Great Dawrven Kingdoms of Europe, the two others being in the Caucasus Range and the Scandinavian Peninsula, this one was the most well known and yet mysterious. Aside from its bank building that stood as the façade into their territory, the Dwarven Kingdom itself was only ever seen by the great allies of its people or by its own citizens, hence why it was regarded as one of the safest locations in all of Continental Europe. Getting an in person summons from their leadership was a high honor, one the Swiss Magical Community knew better than to challenge. Then again, even the non-magical community wouldn't dare either, though they simply knew not to mess with what they knew as the Mons Silvius International Bank, named after the Matterhorn mountain, the bank itself said to hold vast quantities of gold for well over a thousand years, though the magical community knew that the Dwarven Kingdom has had an above ground outpost in what would eventually become Zürich for nearly two thousand years. Seeing that everything was in order, the Immigration Officer signed her passport and stamped it, before returning all her documentation to Lilith. "Very well, please be on the lookout for suspicious activity and for possible flyovers by military aircraft that could result in injury or worse. Neutral we may be, but being in the center of a warzone is still dangerous. Regardless, we hope you enjoy your stay and that your business is fruitful. Welcome to Zürich." Wishing the officer a fine day, Lilith walked out of the Portkey Arrival Terminal and into the streets of the Zürich Regio Magicis, one of the oldest continuously populated magical communities in Europe.

To say that the Regio Magicis was a hodgepodge of historical proportions would be an understatement. From Celtic Magical Ruins preserved in honor of the first inhabitants that traded with the Dwarves, to the now greyish Roman cement buildings belonging to the oldest standing structures, from the more medieval looking shops, to the Gothic inspired Swiss Ministry of Magic building where the local representatives gathered, the streets of Magical Switzerland combined time and cultures as if the entire region had been spliced together by some great magical experiment involving space time manipulation. Lilith could already feel her headache returning, when a man spoke to her. "Are you in need of an escort?" Lilith sighed, before turning towards the source of the voice, before swallowing her less than friendly response. "... That depends… Do I get a ringside seat on the day that Dorea decides to practice surgery on you for whatever bit of Potter mischief earns you her ire?" Charlus shuddered. "Believe me, I will do everything in my power to avoid that fate. Now, before you ask, I am here on behalf of the ICW. They received a request from the Dwarven Kingdom for someone to act as your escort. Since I was relatively free helping to resupply the fresher forces assisting the French Resistance in their continued efforts to sabotage the German Occupying Force as the Allies continue to push out of Normandy, I was able to secure this honor for myself." Lilith sighed, rubbing her red hair, before gesturing at the large Roman structure sitting just at the edge of the nearby mountain, its walls and ceiling lying flush against the natural and sharply inclined stone.

Charlus fell into step beside her as they traveled along the slightly populated street, both watching out for anyone giving them undo attention. "So, what's the situation here?" Charlus rubbed his messy black hair, his clothes those of an ICW Auror, rather than the military uniform he wore as Peacekeeper. While Switzerland was neutral in the conflict, which meant that the ICW could still operate within its borders as a member nation, it was better to avoid drawing attention to oneself. The Hexenmeisters, having been recognized as a belligerent force by the Swiss Magical Council, had been barred from entry into the Swiss territories, though the possibility of spies remained. "Same as ever. Overhead flights have continued by Allied forces, especially now with the diminished capabilities of the Luftwaffe, but even that is no guarantee of safety. Even along the mountainous borders, the Hexenmeisters still periodically cross over through the passes, along with regular German forces, most hunting for escaping refugees. There are a few refugee camps in the mountains, particularly close to Lake Constance, where they tend to cross over from the German and Austrian borders. The Swiss Armed Forces and their Magical Defence Force try to keep the Germans from following the Refugees, but there are a few instances where the enemy forces cross the border for a few minutes before retreating as the Defence Force starts responding." Lilith frowned as they neared the Dwarven Bank. "You said refugees have been staying in camps near the lake. Are there any Kabbalist Elders there?" Charlus rubbed his chin in thought. "Not sure. We haven't talked to them all that much. The Swiss Magical Council went to the camps to get a record of who was there but that is all that I know."

Humming to herself, Lilith filed that information away in her mind, before straightening up her clothes as she stood before the bank's two stone doors. The stone doors each displayed half an image, one depicting the first King Of the Dwarven Kingdom, Durin, resting his hands on a bloody axe planted in the ground, the fields behind him displaying a scene of battle, with a vast army fighting over the bodies of the dead. The second door showed the other half of Durin, his arms resting on a scepter, with the background displaying his kin constructing weapons, jewels and tools, the half complete shape of the bank's facade in the background clear to see. Showing the summons to the armed guards, Lilith waited before the gate as the doors opened a small gap before she was asked to enter. She turned to Charlus then. "The summons was for me, so I am afraid you will have to wait here." Charlus looked like he was about to protest when the Dwarf guards both slammed their long War Axes hilts on the ground. Getting the message loud and clear, he stepped back, as Lilith walked through the stone doors. Inside, she was greeted to an impresive sight, as the lobby itself was brightly lit, pure white light descending from a circular opening in the roof, glass panes ringing the circle and striking a large crystal chandelier in the center. A dwarf wearing leather clothes that still somehow made him look like he was wearing a business suit stepped forward to greet her. "Ahh, Frau von Schwarzwald. Allow me to formally welcome you to our beloved home. Your family have always been generous and faithful clients of ours, so it was with a heavy heart when news reached us of their passing. Please, follow me."

Walking past a small security checkpoint leading to the rows of accountant tables and down a few short steps, Lilith was bid to wait. As she waited, another Dwarf came and stood beside her on the rectangular recess at the far back. "A fine day to you, my lady. Tell me, what did you make of the images depicted on our front doors?" Lilith looked at the dwarf, slipping a loose lock of red hair behind her ear. "The duality and cycle of the world: a never ending war waged over the sacrifices of the dead and the ever unfinished work to build a better world through the devotion and hardwork of the living." The elder dwarf smiled at her through his well groomed beard before extending a hand towards her, his fingers tough and calloused as Lilith shook it. "Well said, Frau von Schwarzwald. It would seem that my predictions regarding your character were correct. Send us down." At the pull of some hidden lever, the floor beneath Lilith began to descend, the platform lowering the two of them down, deep into the mountain. Seeing the crystal lights passing overhead, Lilith turned her gaze back at the stout figure before her. "King Durin, of the Endless Line, I presume. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." The dwarven royal kissed her knuckles, an odd display of respect from the usually reserved race. "The pleasure is mine. You have made quite a few of my finest craftsmen work diligently in the pursuit of unusual goals. Metal that flexes like paper, light as a feather and able to hold a charge of magic. We had never had a need for such a material and yet you not only requested large quantities of it, but apparently made some very intricately designed constructs with the supplies." Lilith rubbed the back of her head. "Yeah, I hope it hasn't caused too much trouble here for you."

Durin laughed wholeheartedly, as the elevator slowed down in its descent, before it began moving horizontally. "Trouble? Oh no, not in the sense you believe. No, what you have started is a shift in our industry that hasn't been seen in nearly half a millennium. A shift that could reshape our world in new and unexpected ways. And down here… change doesn't come easily." Lilith looked in the direction where the Dwarf King was gesturing to, having felt and seen the chasm of lava that their elevator had just passed over some very thin tracks, her throat going dry. The sight before her was like something out of a dream. Several hundreds of feet above her head was a cave's concave roof filled with glowing gems that she believed would look like a starry night sky if they were all blinking softly, but they weren't. Instead they all seemed to be emitting a soft blue light that filled the chamber, with an even brighter orb of white light set within it, with Lilith certain that it currently matched the exact position of the sun over their heads. Around the concave roof were tall stone pillars that covered the rest of the open space, keeping the weight of the mountain above from crashing down over the city. And it was a city. Not by the measures of the modern world with tall skyscrapers and distinct skyline, of course, but in the sheer number of homes that stretched out in ever increasing circles, with rivers and canals of water glistening in the light. Lilith could see waterfalls crashing into the sides of the city, filling out the canals, with what she could only guess was a combination of glacial or even lake water, coming in from some place high above. "Not many surface dwellers get to see this sight, Frau von Schwarzwald. Welcome to Durinarx. At least, that would be the closest to the translation to English from our tongue."

Lilith nodded as the elevator reached its destination, just before a massive gate that was currently open, with the guards checking the King and Lilith before letting them pass. The streets of the outer city were filled with people and supplies, sliding along moving tracks that reminded Lilith of conveyor belts, with the ones for dwarves moving slow enough that the passengers could just disembark and go on to their next destination. The larger, heavy duty tracks carried a variety of materials, all with their own unique destination, with the tracks disengaging to leave the larger supply drops in front of their delivery destination, before being retrieved as the next set of moving tracks travel across the same line. The city and its people seemed to be in an eternal state of movement, as Lilith followed King Durin and his guards, who had linked up with him from the city's gate, as they made their way to the industrial sector. Stepping into a large smithy or metalworking factory, she watched as large automatons moved the larger pieces of set metal about, removing them from large molds to be transported elsewhere. Seeing Durin's eyes turned to her, Lilith moved closer to the nearest mechanical behemoth, its frame not that dissimilar from that of a Dwarf, only on a larger scale. Instantly, she could feel the difference between them and her constructs. These creations had been made with simpler magical arrays, their energy supplied by the layline the city sat in, their behaviour driven by simple instructions, but not by being remotely operated. They were delicate enough not to smash their lifted objects down as they lowered them to the ground, but none were being redirected elsewhere to do other tasks. "They are like the transport tracks outside."

The King sighed, before nodding. "That they are. For every task we give them, the array needs to be altered, but with a lack of awareness beyond the distance that needs to be traveled and the need to be gentle with the transportation, our automatons are not that different from trolls. We have heard of your constructs and their unique properties. In fact, one delivered your response to our summons prior to your arrival, possibly as a demonstration of its effectiveness to our agents, as well as to have it flying around in Zürich's skies for security purposes prior to your portkey." Lilith blushed a little, knowing that her intentions had been well predicted, though the King only seemed impressed with her decisions. Gesturing towards the back of the facility, the small group of Dwarves and Lilith passed through a well locked steel gate into a dark warehouse, before the crystals that were the source of the light were activated. Letting her eyes adjust to the momentarily blinding light, Lilith found herself looking at constructs, designed in emulation of dragons, set up in two opposing rows, with another row of them filling out a higher section on both sides of the chamber. The King stopped next to her. "Our smiths were able to replicate some of the work that went into your creations, but not all. The magical conduits and core are all missing. We were hoping… to negotiate with you. To either provide us with the means to build the cores ourselves, or for you to produce the cores that will go into these creations of ours."

Inspecting the metallic maws of a nearby construct, as well and its dimensions and materials, Lilith frowned. "These are heavy. You intend to use them as guards for your kingdoms, don't you? The equivalent of a reverse siege engine, blocking out the tunnels leading into your home?" The Dwarf King nodded, his hand stroking his rich brown beard. "Indeed, though, we can see other benefits. Guardians for treasure vaults that need little maintenance and even training units for our warriors to prepare them against the threats of real dragons. The possibilities are there, we just lack the control mechanism necessary to make it work." Lilith looked to the Dragon constructs, her mind spinning with possibilities. She had considered this proposal before, being aware of the treatment of dragons by Magical Banks, including Gringotts of London. Freeing the creatures is something that she would love to accomplish, though at the same time… she didn't want to set the wrong precedent. Pandora and Galatea might be seen as just mere mechanical constructs by those that know them, but they were as close to sentient life forms as possible without somehow granting them a soul of their own. Doing the same for these dragons would be beneficial in so many ways, but if she wasn't careful, she could end up creating a new caste of enslaved creatures. She didn't want to do that. She could strip away the Pseudo-Familiar Bond elements from a possible core, after all there was plenty of ambient magic here, and just leave them with the tether she had developed for the remotely operated weapons. That would leave the behavioural components as the only mechanism that would make the dragons somewhat lifelike. That could work.

That said, if she took this assignment, her desire to take part in the liberation of her home from Grindelwald would have to be delayed again! But if she did, she could get more resources that would be beneficial to the war effort. After all, her attempts at developing a remote control aircraft using available aircraft designs had hit a snag with the human interface. If she could refine what the Dwarves started here and apply it to her work, she might not be able to provide Britain with a remotely operated air force, but she was certain that the possible constructs could lead to air superiority and reconnaissance missions that would be nearly instantaneous applied anywhere on Continental Europe. Then again, the level of production needed to make even one of these machines would far exceed the current production facilities of Britain. Turning to the Dwarf King, Lilith spoke up. "I am willing to provide the appropriate magical core for your constructs, though I hope you can understand why I am so hesitant to just share this knowledge." Gesturing at the constructs around her, Lilith continued. "Aside from the financial considerations, there are also the ethical concerns. When I created my constructs, it was with the thought that they could be more than mere automatons. They would be as close to living creatures as was possible. If we are to come to an agreement, it must include restrictions on how far development can go in the design and complexity of magical cores. I refuse to be the person responsible for creating a new sentient race, only for them to be bound in servitude. I am willing to assist in your work, now and in the decades to come, but only as long as we make sure that our creations are never abused."

Durin was deep in thought. "I too would hesitate for such results. I would be happy to apply restrictions on what our smiths develop, especially if you intend for this to be a long term partnership." Lilith sighed. "I would like a long term partnership as well. I am willing to develop a magical core to operate these constructs, if your people are willing to join the war effort against Grindelwald. As a bonus, I am willing to help you design constructs of a similar size that can fly in the air under their own power, operated in a remote manner. This will not only strengthen your people's defensive capabilities, but Switzerland's as well. I can't guarantee that the flying variants will breathe fire, but they can be a counter to enemy air superiority. The lack of offensive capabilities might even be better if you intend to maintain a level of neutrality in future conflicts." The Dwarven King rubbed his beard. "Assisting you in the war will not be easy, though there is incentive, with all of the branches of our banks being destroyed by the Hexenmeisters, and the flying units would be well received by our non-magical government." Lilith rubbed her chin, thinking how best to draw them in. Maybe… "We know that Grindelwald has a fortress somewhere in the Alps. I believe your assistance could be limited… to an underground assault. No one would know of your part if you choose to not mention it. The goal would be for you to assault their forces from below, as well as destroy any secret passages that could be used to escape. If the flying units are made by then, we would only ask for their deployment to prevent escape via brooms, or attack by enemy aircraft."

Taking a moment to speak to the smiths and his adviser, Lilith ran her fingers over the surface of the dragon constructs wistfully. She would love to build one of these to replace the familiar she never had but she simply couldn't bring herself to do that. That said, if she wanted to understand the thin line between a sentient construct and a non-sentient one, the only way she could do that would be to bite the bullet and attempt it herself. Charlus' words from earlier flashed through her mind. If there were Kabbalists here in Switzerland, they could possibly help her understand the process behind creating sentient magical constructs. Their golems were, after all, infamous for having a life of their own. With their help, she could not only achieve her dream, but also secure the future of Artificer development everywhere, keeping it from being abused to create slaves or means to cheat death. Durin returned, followed by what Lilith assumed was his ruling council. He stretched out his hand to her. "We are willing to repay Grindelwald's attacks on our people with one of our own. Besides that, we agree to your terms regarding the establishment of limitations for the development of constructs to be used as workers so that they never reach the level of sentience that would bring shame to our beloved kingdom. We know the plight of the oppressed and refuse to inflict such a fate unto others. Do we have an accord?" Lilith took his hand and shook it. "We can hammer all the details in a written document, but based on what has been discussed, then I will say that we do have an accord."

"You are planning to WHAT?" Lilith sighed, having expected this outburst from the Potter Heir as soon as she brought it up. They had made their way towards Lake Constance, passing by a few other refugee camps along the way, none of which had a magical population. After going for several hours of negotiations with King Durin, covering the finer details in the agreement, including provisions to allow the Goblin Nations to build and develop their own construct units with a base magical control system that Lilith would be developing for the dragons and the automatons, the later being a request by the King, Lilith had been eager to get a breath of fresh air. The section for the Goblins, of course, was conditional on their part. Each of the individual Goblin Nations would have to agree to an ICW mediated cessation in the use of endangered living magical creatures in their vaults and communities security systems, as well as the implementation of Creature Treatment Agreements that would be approved by all involved factions, with only the smallest of exceptions, with restrictions, for creatures designated as livestock, pests and threats by all involved parties, and a few cultural loopholes that would be narrowed down during the negotiation process. The Dwarven Kingdoms would be leading the negotiations with the Goblins while the ICW was busy reclaiming Europe from Grindelwald's Hexenmeisters, though Lilith had gotten a concession that the Dwarves and Goblins, if they agreed, could be called in to take part in certain military operations. Alexander had narrowed down the location of the Nurmengard Fortress and Lilith knew it was going to take a massive, coordinated effort to break through its defences and to keep the enemies from escaping it too easily. It was why Lilith had bothered to involve Charlus in her plans in the first place. She just hoped that she wouldn't regret it.

"I have a plan that is taking shape in order to take every single Hexenmeister that decides to call their hidden fortress home prisoner, if they don't die defending it, and it involves my deployment into Occupied Austria, along with a unit of British soldiers from the Carmarthen Trustees, and we will probably need ICW Peacekeeper support. Do you think your superiors would be willing to join in on the operation?" Walking gingerly along the uneven ground, the two made their way to an outcropping of rocks that, according to the Dwarves and ICW Representative, was the hiding place for all the displaced magical refugees that had crossed into Swiss territory, many being chased by Hexenmeisters intent on slaughtering them all. The Swiss Aurors would usually chase the Hexenmeisters away after they were detected casting curses within Switzerland, though due to the loss of the legitimate magical governments for all of the occupied territories, with the exception of the French Ministry of Magic splinter group that formed their government in exile operating out of the ICW provisional headquarters in MACUSA, these refugees weren't able to go through standard immigration procedures. Registered with the Swiss Magical Immigration Office, the refugees were often just provided with a few enchanted tents, cooking supplies and unused tracks of land for them to set up temporary abodes, whilst the ICW tried to come up with a solution to the refugee crisis the war had created. For those that had been lost behind enemy lines… there was almost nothing their families could do but to hold their memories of their loved ones close to their hearts. Having lost her own family, Lilith knew that for all intensive purposes, these refugees were just like her, only stuck with nowhere to go. This was part of the reason she was here.

Charlus, exhibiting some of the behaviour that Sirius often described Lillian's father as having, started to speak his thoughts. "Well, sure, such an operation would be absolutely invaluable and ultimately necessary in order to bring this war to an end. It would also be incredibly dangerous. Which is why YOU ARE NOT TAKING PART IN IT!" Lilith paused midstep, before she turned to look at her escort, arcs of a familiar red curse snapping across her right arm, her Austrian accent bleeding through more than usual. "Care to repeat that, Herr Potter? I could have sworn I heard a condescending tone in those words that will not, in any shape or form, dictate what I do WITH MY BLOODY LIFE!" Charles swallowed nervously, briefly reminded that while Lillian wasn't related to the Blacks… Lilith definitely was. As he did his best to restrain the part of his mind that wanted to keep his brother's granddaughter safe, an explosion some distance away drew both of their attention. Lilith, burying her rage for later, shifted her eyes to see through Galatea's, who was scouting from high up in the sky, disillusioned from sight. Through her eyes, the redhead was able to spot a group of people being chased by another. While there were some curses being hurled by both sides, she could tell one group was better organized and was more aggressive, as they pursued the fleeing people through marshy terrain that was leading into open fields and scattered forests. Lilith bit back a curse. "Hexenmeisters. They have chased refugees into Swiss territory again and are trying to eliminate them before they get to safety. Come on, soldier."

After a less than dignified curse slipped through Charlus lips, Lilith apparated them to a position just to the side of the attack, placing them within the bushes, before she started hurling black streaks of magic out across the field. The moment one of her curses struck a Hexenmeister, the man's screams drew the attention of everyone present. On the one hand, it distracted the attackers, on the other, some of the refugees turned to look, losing precious time by the distraction. A few of the brave souls that had been fighting back against the attackers took the initiative, holding out their closed fist as curses raced towards the German mages. With Charlus now joining the fight, while under his Invisibility Cloak and moving about the treeline to make it seem that there were more reinforcements, Lilith decided not to question why she could see through it, before focusing fully on the Hexenmeisters and their deteriorating formation. When she saw the lead witch using familiar wand movements, she instinctively apparated herself in between the witch and her intended targets, before focusing. While she had never used this spell against its intended curse, she had no other choice in the face of the Hexenmeisters using Fiendfyre as a last ditch effort to kill as many people as possible. She couldn't let that happen. Drawing on the feelings of companionship, comfort and what she knew to be love from the moment that Tom held her, accepting her decision to fight and not letting her suffer alone, Lilith allowed all of that to fill up her entire being. As the wind swirled around her, Lilith mimicked the same swirling motion with her wand tip downwards twice before switching it upwards. "Patronum Aegis!"

Had it been night, Charlus would have sworn everyone would have been blinded by the sudden surge of pure white light, before the air itself seemed to crackle. A massive wall of fire he had faced many times over was being held back by a gigantic snake's body, its ethereal form not struggling against the curse. He watched as the head sitting just above Lilith's form took a quick look at the flames before the wings behind it flared open. The winged serpent rushed forward against the flames and then Charlus realized what the serpent intended, and just how powerful Lilith truly was. As its massive form smashed headlong into the flames, the inferno was launched backwards towards its caster, the Hexenmeister being consumed almost instantly, before the others tried to protect themselves, to no avail. The furthest German mages were seen apparating away, as the flames were washed away in a white tide, the ground leaving blackened streaks and a few small embers in the wake of the curse's depletion. Looking back at Lilith, he could see her looking up at the great serpent as its positive energy filled the area around her, easing the pain of all those near, including the Potter Heir. Keeping his wand down and aimed at the ground, he approached the group of refugees, even as apparitions filled the air around them with loud pops. The sight of the ethereal snake stunned many of the Swiss Aurors upon arrival, as the creature finally bowed its upper body one last time, before dissipating. The trickle of energy from the spell looked to Charlus like a small meteor shower, the lights fading away harmlessly as they touched the ground, leaving Lilith, breathing deeply and clearly drained, standing with a soft look on her face. Charlus smiled a little as he approached her. "Tell you what, teach us how to do that spell and we will escort you into the Gates of Hell itself. Never have I ever seen anything like it."

Lilith, her face still flushed from the exertion, gave Charlus a crooked smile. "You are not getting my forgiveness that easily, soldier. Dorea and I will be having a very long discussion about how far I can punish you before she gets mad at me." Charlus shuddered, before digging into his pocket for his ID as the Swiss Aurors approached them. Lilith, for her part, checked on the refugees who were huddling together, the few that fought back circling them protectively. Their clothes were tattered and their faces covered in grime and mud, but then again, prolonged journeys across the borders on the run from hunting parties wouldn't give much time for people to be conscious of hygiene. Lilith gave the eldest of the men a smile, seeing the amount of rings on his fingers, a few glowing slightly with a spell ready to cast, before speaking French. She had a feeling that her native German wouldn't go over well. "You can draw in the magic from your rings, warrior of the Roma. You and your fellow refugees are safe now." The man blinked at her before seeing the arrival of Swiss Healers, who were approaching the group with a few Aurors in tow, while Charlus briefed the lead Auror on the scene. He relaxed his hands before exhaling deeply, his body succumbing to exhaustion. "I… we have been running for so long. My family… just barely avoided getting caught and sent to a camp by the Germans because of my magic. We linked up with other families just before crossing the border, but the Hexenmeisters… they were waiting for us. We lost so many on the riverbanks."

Charlus approached with the Aurors, resting his hand on her shoulder. "Lilith." The redhead sighed, but nodded, as the Swiss Aurors and Healers began to take care of the remaining refugees. The two of them walked along with the law enforcement officers, who were clearly perplexed about her use of a spell that countered the Fiendfyre curse, but with the adequate memories provided, Charlus credentials and the witness testimonies of the refugees, both of them were allowed to go on their way with the others to the nearby refugee camp, under escort from the Aurors. When they approached the hastily built campsite, several elders of the Roma refugees came forward and spoke to the Aurors and the recent arrivals, before these were welcomed into the camps. Many of the locals seemed to recognize the recent arrivals as they were quickly swarmed, being looked after by those that had made the trip long before them. The camps themselves seemed to be divided in two, with a large campground set up in the center of a small valley ringed by jagged rocks, the tents made of delicate and intricate handcrafted cloth reminiscent of the clothes favored by the Roma. The camp itself had several divisions, possibly from the variety of Roma that escaped from so many different countries and traditions. Lilith herself hadn't heard much about her family's interactions with the nomadic and magical members of the community, besides their exceptional talents for thread magic and enchantment, though she did know that their customs were very unique among the Magical cultures, and even from their own kin from across the continent.

On the far side of the camp, up again the rock, were several caves, more than likely magical in origin, where the other refugees that had taken to living here, most clearly electing to remain safe within the stone, though a few tents and cauldrons filled with food were scattered near the entrances. Approaching the bigger entrance, a group of men and women took notice of her and Charlus, before they gathered together, drawing out staffs. Unlike the staffs Lilith and Lillian had grown up reading about from their family's books and fantasy fiction, these were closer in size to scepters, about half the length of a person. And, like the Roma's rings, Lilith could feel the magic beginning to surge in them. It was an odd experience, being close to so many alternative forms of magical foci. The rings felt weaker and more restrictive, as if they could only be used for certain spells, though she imagined those could be cast at a far higher speed than most other magicals could manage. With these staff users, the spells felt denser, stronger in effect, but slower to build up and unleash. Oddly… her artificial arm felt like it was a better conductor for magic and spells, though it probably couldn't sustain one like these could. Wanting to diffuse the tension, Lilith pulled out her wand slowly, before resting it on the ground, with her gesturing for Charlus to stay further back. Her gesture eased their apprehension, as a young woman approached her. "Who are you? Why are you here?" The woman in brown robes spoke in a very clear French accent, which meant that she had retreated here after the invasion. Running through all of her lesson's with Professor Bierley, as well as her own studies, she managed to respond in pasable, if broken, Hebrew. "I am a mage that has studied what I could of Kabbalist mysticism. I come here to complete my training with the proper elders, in exchange for providing your people a better means to wage war against Grindelwald and the Nazi Butchers."

Charlus sat back and watched as Lilith interacted with the Roma and Jewish refugees that had banded together in this hidden recess of the Swiss countryside. While the two magical cultures, like many others, had spent centuries essentially ignoring each other while at peace, the Nazi Invasions of France, Poland, and much of the Balkans forced many of these same people to put aside their differences and work together. And while their experiences were the exception, it didn't make the success of these refugees any less impressive. The Roma families, having traveled much through the rough countryside, had a better understanding of the hidden valleys and passes they could take to avoid detection from the Germans in their search for sanctuary, eventually even adjusting to the dangers posed by the reconnaissance flights of the Luftwaffe over the territory, forcing them to travel mostly by night. Those lucky enough to have Kabbalists with them found the trek even safer, as the Jewish Magicals were experts in geomancy, shaping the ground and stone around them to not only conceal their tracks, but to also hide their camps during the day. They told many a horror tale of other refugees running over their hiding spot without being aware, only for them to be followed and gunned down by the Nazi death squads. A few people were saved by some gifted Kabbalists who could pull them under the earth before the Germans were aware of their presence, but sadly these were the lucky ones.

Though the Kabbalists true talents lie in the creation of golems. Made from earth, clay or even stone, these human analogs could be made to be exceedingly realistic from even feet away, though their stiffer movements and superhuman strength would easily give them away. The Kabbalists had for much of the war been forced to create these golems to use them as diversions, sending them in view of the enemy in the opposite direction of the refugee caravans, hoping to save as many lives as possible. Many of the locals were very grateful for this during their crossing over the marshes, rivers and streams connected to Lake Constance, where the Golems drew enemy fire safely away as the refugees escaped through terrain unsuited for illusionary magical concealment. Of course, not everyone was so fortunate. The non-magical refugees weren't always lucky to have a Kabbalist there to aid them in the crossing, resulting in many being riddled with bullets in the water. Their bloated bodies would be found days, if not weeks later. Charlus had seen much of the barbarity of the Hexenmeisters and their German military counterparts first hand in his long deployment in France, trying a few times to liberate prisoner columns being driven into the German territories. Sadly, whenever he and the Resistance killed Nazi soldiers and liberated their prisoners, the Germans would just slaughter a bunch of French innocents not involved in the Resistance. The Peacekeepers and the French saboteurs had been forced to leave the prisoner convoys to go unimpeded, to avoid depleting their own forces, injuring more civilians and to focus their strength elsewhere, just in time for the Normandy Landing to give the people of Europe the spark of hope they needed that the long nightmare could soon be over. The scars, however, would stick with all of them, that Charlus was certain of.

Those dark thoughts however seemed to pale in the presence of Lilith among the refugees. Sure, she had been spared their prolonged suffering, but her genuine curiosity about their cultures and magical tradition rekindled a fire in all of the refugees' hearts. Her Austrian accent that tended to bleed through at times clearly bothered many at first, but her clear respect for their beliefs did much to ease their trepidation, as the two of them waited for the Kabbalist Elders to summon her. In that time, she interacted with the Roma, trading lessons in enchantments and metalwork, debating the effects that certain combinations of magical creature materials, gems and precious metals had on the overall end result. She had even joined the women's section of the camp, helping them with food preparation and taking care of the children, something that the kids thoroughly enjoyed as she kept practicing the use of Patronus based magic. Charlus had taken part in a few of these lessons, as well as the Roma Elders and Warriors, with a few Jewish mages listening in and taking notes as she demonstrated the use of the Patronus Charm and the Barrier that she had used to counter the Fiendfyre curse. For the night and day that they had lingered in the refugee camp, a place filled by survivors of the worst atrocities one human can inflict upon another, had been filled with laughter and comradery, with Lilith never far from being at the center of it. Though that's not to say that she had it easy. There were elders in the Roma camp who were weary of the young woman named after a demon, particularly regarding the way her magic felt. For the more pragmatic members of the makeshift community, these concerns vanished under Lilith's kindness and her genuine desire to help and learn from them.

"Peacekeeper Potter. The elders have come to a decision. Please bring Frau von Schwarzwald along." Nodding at the female Kabbalist from earlier, Charlus managed to get Lilith's attention and as soon as she offered her condolences and goodbyes to the Roma refugees, joined him as they were led into the tunnels favored by the Jewish survivors. The tunnels themselves were round along the walls, as if some great worm had eaten its way through the soft clay, earth and stone that comprised the jagged outcropping, with other tunnel entrances leading away. A few of these had wooden doors, though most had basic cloth curtains allowing for some measure of privacy. He could see that the Kabbalists had enough of a grasp of spatial magic that many of these chambers were like Wizarding tents, being far larger on the inside than what would normally be believed. He imagined this helped in keeping the larger Jewish community here not only safe but comfortable, with conditions being what they were. Seeing the way they lived, however, strengthened the resolution in his heart to put pressure on the ICW regarding reparations for the victims of the war, as well helping them rebuild their lives in homes and communities of decent construction. While this might be a wartime measure, seeing a young woman looking after infants in a home carved out of a cave with only the barest of necessities being met sickened him. These people deserved better and he knew his higher ups could do more, if they weren't distracted by the war.

"In here." Bowing respectfully, the two of them slipped past a curtain seemingly made from the same material as the Kabbalist cloaks. The room they were in was simple in its construction, and it wouldn't surprise Lilith nor Charlus that it had been built specifically for this meeting, with the interior being made of a spherical recess. At the center were four small benches made of hardened clay, the seats themselves left bare, with one occupied by what Lilith hoped was an Elder willing to speak to them. She placed her right hand over her heart and bowed her head out of respect. "We are grateful for the chance to speak to you in such difficult times. May we join you?" The old man with a thick gray beard looked away from the orange fire that burned at the center of the chamber and up to her, his face taking on a soft smile, before he gestured at the seats opposite him. "Please, it has been some time that I had had a chance to speak on academic matters, even more so with strangers respectful enough to wait a full day and night. My fellow Elders were unwilling to grant your request based on your name and provenance, but I am not as narrow minded." After removing her cloak and placing it on the clay bench before sitting on it, with Charlus following suite, Lilith spoke up. "I suppose the idea of Jewish faithfuls speaking to one named after a demoness from their sacred texts is rather unappealing, as I hope my family has not gained that much infamy among a community with which we never had any conflicts with." The old man chuckled. "Some of us are sadly that superstitious, including some of our youth." His eyes fell on the woman standing guard behind Lilith and Charlus, who lowered her head. "But I am aware of the naming conventions of the von Schwarzwalds and am curious as to what you have to offer us, as well as what you seek. Ah, where are my manners? My name is Ira Loew, an Elder from Bohemia."

Lilith blinked at him, recognizing the name Loew. She also switched to German in her excitement. "Wait… Loew? As in Jadah Loew ben Bezalel of Prague? Are you a descendant of his?" The old man laughed merrily and switched to German himself, much to Charlus' relief. He had very little understanding of Hebrew and his translation charm was having a hard time keeping up. "I see my family's notoriety has not abbaited. I am not a male descendant through the male line, though he is very much an ancestor of mine and has been a major part of my life. So, I take it that what you seek is our knowledge in golem crafting, Frau von Schwarzwald?" Lilith nodded. "It is. I have always been interested in the stories of mages breathing life into the lifeless and I have pursued a variety of alternatives from my own upbringing, but there are elements that still elude me, as well as a question as to the role that Soul Magic plays in your practices and beliefs surrounding the creation of your craft." The old man raised his hand towards the woman in the back, speaking to her in Hebrew. "Peace, Shamira. The young woman carries not the marks of a befouled soul." Charlus lossemed his grip on his wand as the woman lowered her staff. Returning his attention to Lilith, he switched back to German. "You have clearly studied some of our works." Lilith lowered her eyes. "... Only Solomon ibn Gabirol's "Fons Vitae", the complete version, where he discusses the importance of the Soul in the manifestation of a true golem, but he never goes over the process for their creation. I think his own Kabbalist texts were kept among his students or heirs and therefore unavailable to outsiders. I am also aware that his beliefs weren't shared by the wider Jewish community but I am unsure as to the Kabbalists themselves."

Ira leaned back a little, humming to himself. "I see. So you have studied what little of our practices can be found by none Kabbalists and wish to pursue the fundamentals of our most sacred craft. Tell me, young Lilith, do you believe in a god?" Lilith was silent for a bit, getting her thoughts in order. "I know there are entities older and more powerful than what stories remain in humanity's collective memory. I believe that these entities use their power to shape the world around themselves in a way they deem desirable, with humans either being pawns or inconsequential to them. Whether there is some great creator is beyond our grasp, and even the beings that have left intangible evidence of their existence on the world are likely to be forever unknowable to our limited existence. It is up to each one of us to decide whether we believe that there is more to this world beyond what we can experience in life and to decide for ourselves how best we must act should we be judged by a will at the end of our own lifespan." Charlus saw that the answer didn't sit well with their guard, but Ira seemed pleased by it. "You said you know that there are great powers. How?" Lilith had a bittersweet smile on her face. "I have been at the edge of death for the last three years and in that time I have seen Death herself near me. I have been afraid, angry and even… resigned in the face of her persistence. And yet I am still here. By my will, the aid of those closest to me and by her own mercy, I can be here, today, speaking to you now. I know there is more than Death with dominion over aspects of the world. Whether they lend a hand or act against humanity is unknown to me but it is irrelevant. I will follow my own path for as far as I can go."

Looking over the young woman before him, Ira saw the light in her eyes, one that shined through despite the shadow that seemed to loom over her, though not in a threatening manner. He closed his eyes and wondered what that was. It wasn't anything like he had ever experienced before. Not death, not a curse and certainly not a demon. The more he looked at her the more he realized that the shadow was a part of her, something foreign but that together with the soul made her whole. He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "Very well. And the payment you wish to offer in exchange for my instruction?" Charlus was only able to hear the guard say something that was translated into "grandpa," before Lilith answered him. "My own knowledge in hopes that you can create golems that are not self-aware and can be remotely directed by a mage miles away. From what I can understand, the creation of a single golem takes a lot out of the mage who breathes life into them. My constructs can be made quickly and deployed along lines of attack. You and the refugees here can be better protected, sentries placed on the border almost indefinitely to safeguard the arrival of other escapees and even… wage war against the very people who have sought out the end to everything you embody. In fact, I am putting together a unit to infiltrate German Occupied Territory with the intention of waging war against the Hexenmeisters. My offer stands, regardless of whether or not your people decide to join the conflict as an active participant. I am simply informing you of my intention as a courtesy and path for your people to bring justice against those who have taken so much from you."

The Elder of the tribe was silent for a bit before the guard behind Lilith spoke up. "The others would advise caution, Saba. We know nothing of her beyond what she has demonstrated with the Roma and the rumours of her family. We do not know if she could even fulfill her end of the bargain." Having anticipated that she needed to demonstrate proof of what she was capable of, Lilith mentally summoned Galatea, who had been anchored to the roof of the hallway just outside the chamber. The old man looked amused at the less than dignified noise his granddaughter made when the curtain was thrown over her, before a reappearing Galatea landed on Lilith's exposed arm, hooting at the elder warmly. The old man reached out and sensed the magic within the owl. "Well, well, aren't you a curious thing? Truly a remarkable display of magical enchantment. So close, so very close to possessing a soul, but I believe your maker intended to steer clear of making a mistake born of her own limitations. Still, this construct of yours is something we ourselves have never managed on our own." Lilith played with Galatea's beak as the old man leaned back away from the fire at his feet. "This one here is a bit more advanced than what I have in mind to offer you, but she is a prime example of my skills as a witch. So, what is your decision, Elder Loew. Do we have an agreement?" The man smiled at her as he held out his hand. "I cannot say whether or not my fellows will agree to join your war effort currently, but I personally have no qualms in accepting you as a student of our ways and a learner of yours. It is a deal. And that includes you too Shamira. What she has to offer we must all learn if it means keeping our people safe." Charlus chuckled as she watched the guard sag her shoulders, whilst Lilith shook Ira's hand. It would seem they would have to linger here for a while longer.

"Just relax, Mr Riddle. The tests won't be too much of a bother if you sit still." Taking deep breaths, Tom settled his nerves as Teresa began to do a check on his health. While she had done general checks on him every start of term and after both the duel in the Chamber of Secrets and the Battle for Hogwarts, she had never checked him to see if his soul had been damaged, as there was never any need as Soul Magic damage is rather rare. Now, after Alexander's recommendation and in Lord Peverell's presence, the Hogwarts Healer was doing just that. His distant relation had arrived with Tom at Hogwarts, both getting a look at the extensive checks being performed by the Department of Mysteries on the countryside just outside of the Hogwarts wards, while Dippet and Bierley worked overtime to develop a backup system to the Hogwarts Wards should the stone be damaged once more. Tom had been kind enough to bring the portrait of Salazar Slyrherin into the Ward Stone Chamber, much to the surprise of the Runes and Enchanting Professor. The Ravenclaw Graduate had been asking questions non-stop, leaving Salazar in a reminiscent mood, before the three got to work on the addition of the backup ward system, whilst the current Lord Slytherin made his way to the Hospital Wing. Alexander had been silent for the most part, disillusioned at his side for the most part in a way that reminded the young Lord of Lilith's presence while under the Peverell Invisibility Cloak.

Thoughts of Lilith brought with them the usual mix of trepidation and comfort that was common after her decision to travel to Switzerland in the middle of the war, especially now as the Western Front had opened up with the Allied invasion of Normandy. Her last letter sent through the Goblin Branch located in the neutral country to Gringotts in London informed him that she would have to extend her stay as she was working with the Kabbalists to strengthen their defences while also expanding her own knowledge of the typically isolated magical community. Voldemort himself had failed to learn much about the Kabbalists in his own studies on Continental Europe and the fact that the Hexenmeisters had singled them along with the Roma and Imperial Russian Exiles for execution, erasing their unique contributions and understandings of magic that wasn't part of Latin based Wizardry, had made gathering information from either culture practically impossible. Lilith had also sent a letter to Alexander, who spent several days in a conference with the Gringotts leadership, days that Tom spent back in Dover with his grandfather. The old estate had successfully been reconstructed, though much of its contents were definitely lost. What had been rebuilt, however, had far exceeded anyone's imagination, thanks to Tom's eidetic mind. Sure, not everything was exactly as it once was. Thomas mentioned how some of the canes that had been reconstructed were heavier or thicker in dimensions and Madelie commented that some of the curtains were less opaque and of lighter colors, but all in all the reconstruction had been a success. The tears of joy on Thomas' eyes when he saw that his wife's portrait and pictures had been successfully replicated had filled up Tom's heart with a deep warmth that had helped to ease the anxiety he felt whilst Lilith was away.

"And… that is all. you may sit up now, Mr Riddle." As Tom got up from the bed, Alexander stepped closer, looking over Teresa's notes. "Well?" The Healer sat back against the backrest of her chair. "There are signs of fragmentation, as you expected, but its effects on the connection between it and the body are of a lesser degree than the damage to Lilith's. What's more, there is a real sign of healing going on in the soul, the energy becoming less jagged and more stable. In this case, a few more years should see him restored to full health, allowing his magic to reach its peak without issue." Tom cleared his throat. "And if there was a need for my soul to be at that stage in the next few months, is there a way that could be achieved?" Teresa's frown made Tom cringe a little. "And what could you possibly be planning that would require you to be at your best before your soul has time to heal properly?" Tom tugged on the collar of his white dress shirt awkwardly. "Lilith intends to join the war effort in Europe in the near future, though her recent letters suggest that the timetable has been delayed for reasons I can't get into." Teresa turned to Alexander, who raised his arms in defeat. "I tried my best to dissuade her, but you know how stubborn she is. Her instincts have also been right for the most part. If she feels she needs to be in the war, there might be more to it than just a matter of pride from a young woman looking for revenge. As for repairing the damage to his soul in time, I believe this might work."

Healer Prewett looked through the offered papers bound in strings, the pages yellowed by time. "It's similar to Lilith's synchronization ritual, but there are some odd elements here that translate as… emotional requirements?" Looking towards Alexander, the Healer then turned to look at the young Mr Riddle. "Lilith's condition was the result of a foreign soul inhabiting a new body, but this… this suggests that the soul was intentionally damaged and must be mended by the very person that damaged it in the first place. That would suggest these are the symptoms of a Hor…" Alexander raised his voice loudly, to the surprise of the two other people in the Hospital Wing. "Enough. What was done before by a less stable mind can be undone with remorse and understanding, things that I believe Mr Riddle is capable of. We shouldn't judge him for another's sins. Now, do you believe the potion's aspect of the ritual is accurate in its possible effects?" Teresa didn't like the way that Alexander had cut her off but the sight of Riddle's dejected face made her realize that regardless of the source of the damage, she had a patient here in need of her expertise. Looking over the ingredients and the intended effects, Teresa answered. "Possibly. I would personally get Horace to look this over and offer his own opinion on if any of the processes need to be modified to increase the potion's effectiveness. There may be issues when it comes to translations and ingredients behaving differently than what the texts say."

Alexander looked towards Tom. "It's up to you. I was already going to provide another copy of the manuscript to Fleamont Potter so that he too could evaluate and prepare the potion. Having two Potions Masters of their calibers working on such a difficult brew at the same time is better than trusting in chance that the first batch of the potion will turn out as intended." Tom ran his hand through his short brown hair and nodded. "It's alright. I trusted Professor Slughorn before and it was reciprocated. I feel we can do it again with this." Teresa finished writing her notes. "Other than this issue, you are in fine physical condition, Mr Riddle, better than many of your peers. Try and avoid ruining that by doing anything too reckless. And if you can drag Lilith back from doing the same, all the better." Tom gave her a bemused smile. "I will do my best for both of us, but no promises. She is more than capable of slipping through my grasp easily enough." Teresa shook her head. "Then I suggest you make it more enticing for her to remain in it. Now, if you two will excuse me, I need to find Horace. You two know the way out." Slipping into his robes, Alexander watched as the Healer left the Hospital Wing, before turning to look at Tom. "I don't mind her knowing what your future self did, but I want you to keep in mind the fact that you and Voldemort are not the same. You may be suffering now because of his mistakes, but his sins aren't yours." Tom lowered his eyes. "I wish it was that easy to just… convince myself." Alexander rested his hand in a reassuring gesture on Tom's shoulder. "It may not be easy, but it is the truth… and one day, you will see it too." Tom sighed, looking out the window into the overcast sky above, as beams of light break through the clouds. "One day."

Walking around the grooves carved in the earth before her, Lilith took out her notes and looked them over. It had been over a week since she had arrived at the Refugee Camp and began her studies under Elder Loew, as the two endeavoured to bring their unique skills together. Though to be fair, the first few days were mostly spent with the old man demonstrating the runic and ritual components that were part of making golems. As an outsider, Lilith could now understand the reasons as to why the Kabbalists never allowed for the instructions to be passed along to others. The creation of a true golem was a labour of love and a deeply personal and spiritual experience for these people, the rituals comprising mostly of the shaping of the clay into the intended form through the Kabbalist's own hands all the while they prayed for protection and deliverance from their god, Yahweh, though she learned that, like their non-magical counterparts, they use other terms to refer to their god, as a show of respect to him, with Lilith having only seen the name in it's written form as part of the runic inscriptions. These runes used aramaic script and were drawn in an oval around the shaped body of the inactive golem. It took a few days for Lilith to fully understand all of the written components and she was surprised by what she found. While much of the written texts were ritualistic in nature, only certain sections of the array reacted and interacted with the magic. The spacing created by the longer inscriptions simply served as a way to map out where all the important components needed to be, almost as if the inventors were readapting the ritual from a more complex design. While Shamira, who had performed the creation of the Golem, looked mildly offended by Lilith's comments, Ira had been thoroughly intrigued by her observations.

When not assisting her grandfather in the more practical applications of golem making, the young woman had been helping to train Charlus in the use of Geomancy, though he clearly seemed to be struggling with it. As a subset of Transfiguration and some form of Transmutation, Geomancy was a magical skill that the ICW Peacekeeper saw as exceptionally useful and had been able to barter with the Kabbalists to be trained in what was a less spiritual subject. In exchange, Charlus gave the Protectors of the Jewish community his own understanding of Hexenmeister formations, teaching the Jewish Magicals how the Hexenmeister operated as units and not only providing them with the Peacekeeper strategies and tactics designed to counteract their opponents formations, but even helped develop their own unique style, which involved the erection of earthen barriers to cut off the attacking forces from each other. The fact that the earth would survive Fiendfyre to a degree made the strategies sound even as a defence, though he took notice that the ability to reform the cursed earth after being heated by Fiendfyre had been greatly diminished and the Protectors took that warning to heart. Charlus had also been keeping himself occupied by speaking with the Roma and had some success in getting them some degree of recognition from the ICW representatives. This was thanks to his observations regarding their ring crafting and threadcraft, which he noted could be useful to the war effort. In exchange for monetary compensation, the Roma began to produce Rings of Healing with silver provided by the Goblins, which was bought and paid for out of Lilith and Charlus' accounts. They also produced some enchanted robes that, while not capable of resisting a curse, were still effective in helping with concealment and temperature control.

It was a source of great frustration with both Charlus and Lilith that it took their intervention and the Roma's application of their craft for the ICW to stop ignoring a member of the European magical population and actually recognising them as deserving of financial assistance. The Swiss themselves had been more than happy to officially grant them immigration permits on the basis that they continue their craftsmanship, with the local government and ICW soon providing the materials themselves, while also negotiating for land allocation with the elders. The community that had formed and developed through the horrors of the German oppression would finally have a place to call their own. While displeased with how long it took, Lilith was at least glad that something so meaningful had come from her visit. Sadly, she was having a harder time getting the same help for the Jewish refugees. Geomancy might be an exceptional talent that would and could revolutionize the underground scene of the Swiss Alps, but neither the Goblins nor the Dwarves were interested in employing them as part of their labour forces, and the rest of the magical community didn't want to either, out of fear of angering the two exceptionally territorial and wealthy communities that made Magical Switzerland and other mountainous regions economic powerhouses for over two thousand years. Combining that with the fact that the Kabbalists treated their magic as an extension of their faith, meaning that their desire to educate others was limited to their own families and community, left them in a deeply difficult situation. As Lilith finished applying the last of her alterations to the runic array around the roughly constructed golem, she sat back, wiping the sweat from her forehead, leaving a thin track of mud on her skin.

Digging out a gem from her pocket, she placed it on the chest of the golem, where the Kabbalist's final inscription would have usually gone. Her modifications to the array included the removal of the superfluous text, instead finding the base design of a hexagram and the drawing of a circle around it worked just as well for highlighting the important sections that would have a reaction with the array, meaning that the original designers had definitely used the geometric figure as part of the original design, with later generations building the more elaborate ritual on top of it, possibly to further deepen the emotional component. For her intended construct, there was no need for emotional investment on the caster's part. Seeing everything in order, Lilith shifted her attention to Ira and his granddaughter, with the other Elders and guardians watching from around the edges of the chamber. She stepped to the side. "It's all yours now. See what you make of it." Her instructor for a week walked past her and reached down, placing his hand over the gemstone attached to the golem's chest. "By my will and my essence, I command you to take form and rise." Everyone one watched with bated breath as the gem glowed for a second, before the array lit up in a bright red light. The clay of the figure grew more defined and human-like as it began to sit up from its position, before it stood at the center of the array, as the golem moved its arms as if testing the reactions of its fingers, mimicking Ira's own movements.

As soon as he had the golem approach the rest of the elders and had it kneel, he clapped his hands together. "It's working! There is no sense of a second consciousness and the amount of magic it took to raise it was barely anything worth mentioning." The younger guardians began to talk excitedly amongst themselves, particularly those that had been developing offensive strategies to use with the new golems more effectively, as Ida gave the golem instructions before disconnecting himself from active control. Lilith smiled as the Golem took a box filled with cloaks and started handing them out to everyone present, before it surprised everyone by taking a swing at one of the guardians. The young man blocked the blow physically, grunting from the impact, before knocking back the clay construct a few feet. "Hey, what was that for?" Ira chuckled. "That was for trying to steal a kiss from my granddaughter without asking me for permission, David." The group of protectors laughed as the youngsters involved blushed respectively. Lilith waved her wand around the golem, nodding as her scans all matched what she had expected from an automated construct, before taking a few steps back. "Everything seems to be in order. Ready for the last test, Elder Loew?" Giving Lilith his assurances, Lilith flicked her wand up and blasted the construct with a Reducto. Pieces of clay scattered everywhere, with some of the Guardians drawing their staffs on instinct. Lilith's eyes, however, were on Ira, whose face took on a faraway expression, before he regained focus with a bittersweet smile on his face.

"The connection getting severed is noticeable, but not as jarring as losing one of our own golems. There is no backlash to speak of, let alone the echoes that used to reverberate in our souls when we lost one of our own. The construct is as Lady von Schwarzwald claimed it would be." A loud roar filled the room as the Guardians cheered, as the Elders conferred amongst themselves, before finally Ira approached Lilith. "While our agreement was made as an exchange of magical expertise, your contributions to our community have been recognized as invaluable to our future security and the possibility of seeking justice against our mutual enemy. It is with the consensus of the council that I name you as an ally to the Kabbalist cause. The choice to join the war will not be easy, but know that thanks to you, we now have a greater chance at avenging our loved ones without condemning our people to extinction. May Elohim watch over you, Frau von Schwarzwald, in your just war against the enemy of all free peoples of Europe." Taking Ira's offered hand, Lilith kept mostly quiet, as the rest of the Elders, who had initially dismissed her because of her name, thanked her for her contributions. In the camps of both the Roma and Jewish refugees, a festive mood took hold, with the children laughing and the adults feasting, as the sun began to set over the mountains. Lilith had remained subdued in her celebration, something that didn't escape Charlus' eye, as he followed her up the nearest hilltop, from which they could see the glistening waters of Lake Constance, its surface bathed in reds and oranges as it were alight in flames.

"A sickle for your thoughts?" Lilith's eyes remained fixed on the lake, or more precisely, the region that rose up to the southeast of its shores. "I am but one apparition away from standing in the home that was stolen from me." Charlus sighed. "Believe me, I understand, and if it means anything, I can see now that you are an amazingly talented witch capable of taking care of herself. But out there? That's war. Even the most gifted of Magicals would falter when facing the might of the Hexsnmeister forces, let alone taking on Grindelwald while he still has the Elder Wand in his possession." He grumbled to himself. "From the moment those artefacts were made, they have been nothing but a bloody curse. Sure, the cloak is effective and if you and I used ours, we could probably get far into Grindelwald's territory, but there is no way we could take his fortress with just the two of us. Hell, I don't think even a Master of Death could do it, not that anyone could claim the title. And even if they could, facing an expert duelist like Grindelwald while he wields the Elder Wand? That is practically suicide." The two were quiet for a moment, before Charlus rubbed his own messy hair. "Do you think Alexander might know of a way to replicate the Elder Wand? I mean, how hard could it be? With a bunch of those in our hands, we could even the playing field and even take the advantage in this godforsaken war." Lilith gave Charlus a sideways glance. "I think that if making the Elder Wand were that easy, Alexander would have done it by now."

Remembering the way his wand reacted to her touch three years ago when they first met, and recalling the way elder wood reacted to her in Ollivander's shop, Lilith speculated. "Besides, you are assuming the wand and the Hallows are what make one a Master of Death." Charlus blinked at Lilith. "Of course I think that. That is what can be inferred from the story. To best Death, one needs all three." Lilith rubbed her fingers, feeling the words and recalling the story. "I don't think even a wielder of the Hallows can beat Death. As for having Alexander make a new Elder Wand, I believe the tale is more clear on that. It is not the wand that is special, but the one who made it." Charlus frowned. "Antioch?" Lilith shook her head. "No, the brothers received the Hallows, meaning they had to have predated them. Thinking logically, there had to have been a great craftsman that shaped the Hallows into being. I think… I think what makes the Hallows special is not that they were so powerful, but that they were made by a Master of Death, possibly by sacrificing aspects of their power into them. Only a Master of Death in there prime could recreate them." Charlus huffed in frustration. "If that's true, then we don't have a chance against Grindelwald and the Elder Wand. You said it yourself, you can't beat Death." Lilith nodded. "I did say that. And I also recall that Alexander said that the Hallows can't be used fully by a non-Peverell, and even then, Grindelwald could never become a Master of Death. He isn't all powerful. And neither are his forces. Soon, we will make that perfectly clear."

Charlus looked back towards the refugee camp. "Dwarves, Goblins, Kabbalists, Peacemakers and Trustees. You really think all of them together can take Grindelwald down for good?" Lilith's eyes returned to the horizon that was her home. "If we do it right, I think we can do more than any of us, including myself, could ever have conceived possible. If we all stand together against…" Lilith paused for a second, enough that it made Chatlus concerned enough to get in front of her. "What is it?" Lilith's eyes were lost, looking at some far distant sight in her mind, before she looked into Charlus' brown eyes. She drew her wand and after a few failed attempts managed to conjure a raven, before settling down to write on a bit of parchment, as Charlus looked on in confusion. "What are you doing?" Lilith finished writing her note, rolling it up into a cylinder, before tying it to the conjured raven's leg. "If we are going to win this, we will need to make one more alliance before we can begin to prepare in earnest. If they agree, and I am very hopeful that they will, we will have everything we will need to best the Hexenmeisters, no matter what they throw at us." As the raven took flight and headed towards the Austrian border, Charlus eyes followed the dark figure in the sky for as far as he could. "And how do you expect to defeat the wielder of the Death Stick?" Lilith walked up and stood next to him, her eyes once more fixed on home. "By not being afraid of him. And besides…" A cold feeling in her chest responded to her errant thoughts as a bittersweet smile grew on her face. "There are other powers at work in the world. Whether or not they can stand up to the power of a Hallow in the hand of just another wizard… that we will have to see for ourselves."

Chapter 50: The Anxious Silence Back Home

"Please, Mr Riddle, sit down and join us. It has been a long time since a Founder's Heir sat amongst the Faculty of Hogwarts and whilst you are yet a student, I think your point of view may be just what we need here, after Dumbledore's betrayal." Headmaster Dippet's words made the other gathered Professors a bit uncomfortable, especially Elphias Doge. The Charms Professor and Head of Hufflepuff House had been one of Dumbledore's closes friends in the faculty and tended to defer to his judgment, but after being investigated by the DMLE, it came to light that Dumbledore hadn't sought to involve him in the current iteration of his so called Order of the Phoenix because he was concerned over Doge's soft nature, the man being known for not being overly interested in disciplining his students for rule breaking. He had confessed to the other Order members that he feared that, if it came down to a fight, Doge would be unable to raise his wand against the other staff members. Instead, he was supposed to help Dumbledore with restoring Hogwarts after the attack, if the plan had been successful. This left the young professor deeply ashamed of his association with Dumbledore, especially when a list of students that Dumbledore wanted to see dead was shown to him, which not only included several Hufflepuffs from prominent families, but some of Doge's own extended family members. The news practically sucked the life out of the young professor, whose remaining classes of Charms until the end of term had been devoid of his usual enthusiasm.

As Tom sat down, wearing his more formal clothes which consisted of a deep green coat, black vest and dress pants, and a black tie with silver highlights, a tie clip bearing the family crest being the only ornament that displayed his status, beyond his Head of Family ring on his finger, he could see how the last few months affected each of the professors differently. With Dumbledore gone, there had been a need to select a new Head of Gryffindor House. The staff had all agreed that Theseus Ross deserved the role, despite his age. His stalwart defence of the Great Hall had kept the Hexenmeisters from doing untold horrors to the students and while he was not entirely popular with the students, he was still well respected and known for discipline, drinking habits aside. The focus then went to select a new Deputy, with Tom having held onto the position throughout the remainder of term, as the Board of Governors had to deal with their own ranks being diminished by the DMLE investigation into the Order of the Phoenix. They had barely elected their latest member into the Board by the time the school term had ended. Part of the reason for today's Staff meeting was for the selection of the Deputy candidate so that the Board could certify the selection by the time the new term was in session in September. Looking around the room, Tom had an idea as to who the Headmaster would nominate first, though he, like everyone else, was surprised with how Dippet went about it.

After everyone was seated, Dippet clasped his hands before him as he looked at everyone present. "Now, it is usually up to the Headmaster and the Board to select the Deputy themselves, but in this case I felt that a vote of confidence on the part of the staff is required. Several years ago, I made the decision to place Albus Dumbledore in the role, primarily as my previous choice retired. After the disaster that was Phineas Black's decision to select me as his Deputy just as he decided to retire, I had felt that a younger staff member would have better served in the position, so as to ensure a degree of continuity in the managing of the Castle and for the individual to become used to the responsibilities of a Headmaster of Hogwarts whilst in their prime. Clearly, my ability to gauge a person's character on my own was faulty as I had hoped that the responsibilities would have tempered Albus' less pleasant qualities. Again, I was mistaken. So, in order to avoid another mistake on my part, I hereby leave the door open to you all for nominations. In the end, I would like the decision to be left to a vote from all of us. Now, who wants to start?" As the room fell into quiet thought, Merrythought leaned back. "Well, it sure as hell better not be me nor Theseus here. Neither of us are likely to be able to take the strain of the job and while I have another ten years in me on the job, it probably won't be more than that. Theseus is just a given as a bad choice."

With said professor giving his colleague a toast from his flask, showing that there were no hard feelings about the assessment, the next person to speak was Slughorn. "If I may be so bold, I would also like for myself and Elphias to be ruled out. We are both rather young, and while that might make us suitable for a long career, it doesn't make us all that prepared for the task. Also, I believe Elphias' low record regarding disciplinary action would show him to be further unsuitable at this moment, as a Deputy needs to be ready to be firm in the application of the Hogwarts Charter." Doge nodded, his eyes still on the table. "I concur. I will endeavour to be a better Head of Hufflepuff House in the coming years and to be more involved with my students. Tripling that responsibility to cover the whole of Hogwarts wouldn't be all that conductive, in my opinion." Looking at the other staff members, neither Croaker nor Binns were suited for the role, and Madams Bulstrude and Prewett were needed to be at their stations throughout much of the day, already handling a great deal of paperwork. Bulstrode dismissed the chance herself. "I like reading and writing and my disciplinary record in the Library speaks for itself, but the position needs not only the experience of a Professor that manages a course, but also the respect and trust of the students. I have neither of those." So, all eyes fell on the two women at the back, both looking a bit nervous and unsure as to the possibility of taking the position of Deputy.

"Ellena, Melia. Anything you would like to say? Based on the traits and prerequisites suggested by everyone, that leaves the two of you as the most likely candidates." Professor Bierley started to fiddle with her long sleeves, before Tom decided to speak. "As a student of the school, I can agree that both Professors Bierley and Greengrass would be the ones best suited for the position. They have held their posts for a longer duration of time and are well liked by their students. That said… Professor Bierley has yet to handle students in a manner out of academics. As Head of Ravenclaw, Professor Greengrass has a better understanding of the responsibilities tied to looking after the children, as well as discipline. Combine that with the fact that her schedule is more relaxed with only a single course, even if it is one that teaches all seven years of students, rather than Bierley's already heavy workload as Professor of Runes and Enchantment…" Dippet nodded in agreement, before Melania interjected. "If I am to take the job, it won't be as both Head of Ravenclaw and Deputy. I can do one but not both while teaching Herbology." Dippet looked towards Bierley, smiling at the witch. "What say you, Ellena? Would you like to get some experience as a Head of Hogwarts House in Melia's stead?" Seeing everyone looking at her expectantly, the typically reserved witch sighed. "If it spares me from the other job, then sure." Melia cursed under her breath. "Great, I was hoping you would have said no. Thanks for nothing."

Theseus chuckled as he lowered his flask. "Well then, shall we put it to a vote?" To no one's surprise, Melia Greengrass was elected unanimously as the Faculty's choice for Deputy Headmistress. Dippet then turned to the last remaining staff problems. "Now, we are also missing professors for Transfiguration and Alchemy. The Board is willing to drop the Alchemy elective if no candidate is submitted for review. Any ideas?" Melia rubbed her chin. "Is there anyone that has a Transfiguration Mastery in Great Britain as of this time?" Everyone looked towards Dippet, who had seen most of the population graduate from Hogwarts in the last century. He stroked his beard. "As of right now, I am discarding those currently serving sentences in Azkaban… so I believe only Henry Potter holds the title of Transfiguration Master. Charlus Potter was close to completing it during his training as an Auror but the war drew his attention elsewhere." Tom was silent for a moment. "You could ask but I believe Lord Potter would refuse. He was already looking to retire from the Wizengamot and the ICW and only remained to take up the role of Speaker while the conflict endured. Heir Potter is steadfast in his belief that his place is on the front lines as of this moment and is unlikely to request being discharged while there is need for soldiers. You might get him to show up for lectures, but that is the extent that he will commit to returning for any duration of time to Britain."

The looks he got from the staff made Tom blush slightly. "As a man who is also courting a member of the Black Family, the two of us have had some interactions and with the proposed legislation from a few months back, I have been spending plenty of time with Lord Potter as well." Merrythought smiled. "I agree with Lord Slytherin regarding getting those two to take up the post. As of right now, there is no one else capable in Britain. So, do we look outside our borders?" Dippet tapped his lips. "I am not aware of many who are outside of our shores who could take up the roles. I would have to send a letter to Ilvermorny and ask… all though… hmm." Dippet looked towards his Potions Master. "Tell me, Horace, are there any students interested in taking up Alchemy as a profession?" Slughorn gave it some thought. "Of the top of my head, I am not aware of any right now, though I could ask. Why?" Dippet lowered his hands onto the table. "While our options for a permanent professor in either Transfiguration or Alchemy are limited right now, I believe a viable solution would be to find students willing to take up an apprenticeship in the Castle for the two disciplines under temporary staff members. Like with Poppy here, they can assist with the education of the students until they are certified with a Mastery, after which they can be elected to take on the permanent position." Melia nodded. "A sound strategy, though that still leaves us with two vacancies and the task of finding adequate students to take the positions of apprentices."

Tom rubbed his chin, remembering a certain witch from his memories of Voldemort. "It might be a bit precipitated, but I believe that Minerva McGonagall might be a suitable candidate for the Transfiguration apprenticeship. She has walked away from Dumbledore's shadow but she does still remain the top student in Transfiguration." Dippet watched as Ross' attention came into full focus as soon as his granddaughter was mentioned. The man was definitely consistent. "After covering the Transfiguration course for the remainder of the previous term, I would have to agree with the statement, though she was… reticent in her displays of transfiguration of late. As for Alchemy… I will speak with my hopeful temporary choices and see if they would be willing to not only provide an expedited version of the course, but also to help identify possible prodigies that would be worth taking under their wing, if they don't have a recommendation of their own. For now, I believe that will be all until our next meeting, when I hope to have better news to share besides the Board's certification of Melia as my Deputy Headmistress." The sarcastic "oh joy" that came from the Herbology professor caused the others to chuckle, before they broke off into groups. Dippet was a bit worried when he saw both Healers and Professor Slughorn speaking to young Mr Riddle, but he would leave it up to them to inform him of anything requiring his attention. Instead, he began preparing a letter he would be sending to some colleagues from across the Channel. As the war had left Beauxbatons in a limbo of occupation and possible liberation, some of the staff had elected to go into hiding. If he could convince them to take the jobs, it would solve his staff shortage…. and possibly give them some much needed rest from living under the shadow of war for so long. Though then again, from their point of view, it would probably feel like the blink of an eye.

"It's so good to finally be able to walk the streets without feeling like everyone is looking out for trouble. Gods, it was so suffocating, especially after the bastards started blaming the Dark Faction Families for it. You wouldn't believe the looks I kept getting while walking the streets almost a year ago. Now look at them all." Tom lowered his cup of tea, before looking across the street of Diagon Alley. He found it odd, being in the Alley without Lilith by his side. Ever since their summer before fifth year, they had been to the Alley together the entire time, going from storefront to storefront to collect the necessary supplies before returning to Hogwarts. This year, with Lilith still in Switzerland and the Hogwarts letters still being a few days away from arriving, Tom had found himself dragged out of the Black Family's Townhouse after he had spent much of the morning in the parlor with all three Speakers from the Wizengamot, as well as two unexpected guests: Minister for Magic Spencer-Moon and Parliament Minister Warren. While not officially part of the Wizengamot as he was elected by them to handle the executive functions of the Ministry of Magic, it was decided that he should be involved with the proposed legislation for the future elections to fill the open seats with representatives, as it would be the Ministry itself which would have to set up a Department to set up elections. Having gone through the process of being elected to a government position himself, Minister Warren had been asked to help in setting up the structure of such a department, and the best way to get the representatives to not only be nominated, but to have reach within the community.

The next Wizengamot session would be the one where the proposed legislation would be presented to the Assembly and there was a strong incentive from all of the gathered members of the Magical Community to get the wording right, so as to avoid the implementation of amendments, which could disrupt provisions and delay the ratification and implementation of the measure. William Warren was also there to get a crash course in Wizengamot politics and divisions, so as to be better prepared to serve as an interim Representative. Other than him, the three Speakers had each approached the other considered interim representatives individually, gauging their interests. Henry Potter had spoken with the Elder Ollivander, who while reticent at first, had accepted the offer as it was a temporary position. With Lady Prewett acting as intermediary, he had also managed to speak to the Head Doctor at St Mungos, who pointed their attention towards one of the oldest nurses in the building, the soon to be retiring head of the Long Term Residents Ward. The witch was known for her calming presence and steel-like patience that was invaluable when handling witches and wizards who were either mentally unstable or simply not as intune with their surroundings. She happily agreed to represent the Hospital and all Healers for the interim. With the DMLE Director and Head Auror being members of the Assembly, there had been no need to pursue a representative from the Aurors, though Speaker Bones did reach out to both the Lovegood and Chang families, finding both willing to take the interim position, with the Head of House Chang interested in pursuing the elected position after the war.

Lord Black for his part was given the unenviable position to offer an interim seat to the Elder of the London Hag Coven. Elder Teta had been initially incredulous regarding the offer, but she and Lord Black had been building a business relationship since Lilith introduced them to each other. That and odd letter delivered by raven to the Head of the Coven convinced her to accept, though she stated that she would seek a younger member to replace her when the position became elective. The Goblins had also been reluctant, but Alexander Peverell had done an incredible job negotiating with them to the point that the Director Ragnok appointed his closest aid to take the seat. A few other interim representatives had been interviewed by the speakers, including individuals from the magical communities of Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and Hogsmeade, so as to have all the major population centers covered via representation. While the process of writing down the legislature was tedious, Tom found his time in the parlor very… interesting. In a room filled with the Speakers of the three major Magical Factions of the Wizengamot, the Minister of Magic and a non-magical member of Parliament, there were hardly any tense moments between them. Everyone knew why they were there and just how important the measure was to get it right. Rather than heated debates, there were suggestions thrown about amicably, especially with who would be doing the tallying, the vote certifications, the composition of the soon to be created Department of Elections and Referendums and the necessary screening process for all its members.

What had started soon after breakfast had carried on well past midday, with Cassiopeia entering the lounge and dragging Tom out of it, almost at wand point. When she brought him before Lucretia preparing to headout, he had a feeling that Lilith was responsible for this intervention. He had been right, as the two witches dragged him through Diagon and Knockturn Alley, asking his opinion on everything from clothing to jewelry and even furniture. It took him a while to realize that he had begun to relax around both of them, which had probably been Lilith's intention, as Lucretia's direct nature didn't require too much for Tom to decipher, while Cassiopeia's ever watchful stance made him feel safe from everyone. Well, everyone but her. She was still very much a terrifying witch and he could see why his other self steered clear of her during the war. Following said witch's gaze, he could very well see what she meant concerning change in the attitude of the people of Diagon Alley. While there were still less people milling about than what he was used to, the ever present fear that had gripped the Alley after the first few sabotages performed by the Hexenmeisters had all but vanished, with only the memories of the attacks leading up to the battle of Hogwarts haunting people's eyes. "It is good to see the fear and paranoia retreat from the general population. Hopefully once the war is over, that will help drown out what remains." He then looked towards Cassiopeia, who was wearing her black long sleeve dress, despite the unusually balmy weather that had made Tom switch to simply wearing a dress shirt. Even the ties felt stifling in the heat of summer.

"So, aside from giving me a respite to satisfy Lilith's request out of you, what are we out here looking for? I noticed that Lucretia kept looking at buildings without any store fronts on them." Cassiopeia gave him a smile that sent an unpleasant shiver down his spine. "You know our little hellion so well. She had a feeling you would be interested in overlooking every single line of text for the proposal. Which, of course, you will still be able to do as soon as you get back to Grimmauld, but even that analytical mind of yours needs a measure of rest. I know that better than most." Tom saw the slight shift of her face. Lilith had hinted that Cassiopeia had a far more important role in the Black family besides being a source of absolute terror for those seeking to take advantage of the family. It never occurred to him that the responsibility would be a burden on her. With the way the family had shifted since the ousting of Sirius as the Lord, her job must have been made all the more complicated. He lowered his cup to the table of the outside cafe they had taken a break in. "I am grateful for assistance and if you were to need something from me, just ask." Cassiopeia's purple eyes locked onto his and Tom held her gaze, even loosening his Occlumency a bit. The shock on Cassiopeia's face had been there but for an instance, before it was replaced with a wicked smile. "Careful what you offer, young man. You might regret it someday." Tom shook his head. "If my relationship with Lilith grows into a marriage, I am well aware that I will have certain responsibilities towards the Black family. Nothing wrong with taking them up now, rather than later." Cassiopeia leaned back, her posture more relaxed now. "Fair enough."

She looked across the street to "Twilfitt and Tattings," where Lucretia had entered a few minutes earlier, before sipping on her own tea. "As for why we are here, it's entirely regarding the Black Family's responsibilities to one of our own. Melania would have liked to have brought Lucretia out here, but her duties as Lady Black required that she stay at the Townhouse, managing everything while there are important guests present." Tom followed her eyes to the store and understood to a degree. Lucretia had gone through a lot of trouble to enchant his green tie during the last few months before school ended, a "gift" she had called it. The silver trimmings on the tie had been enchanted to prevent it from closing too tightly around his neck, a decent safety measure, while the enchantments also included protection from wear and tear and immunity to all charms except the more overpowered flames and cleaning spells. He had a feeling that she was aware that the tie had been a gift he received from Lilith, so that was probably her way of showing support for their relationship in a personal way. "An interview?" Cassiopeia nodded. "That and a showing of some of her personal work. While there are plenty of magical seamstresses, true thread witches are quite rare, most getting pulled into the Department of Mysteries for their hidden projects. Lucretia has no such ambition and is more interested in selling her work for a profit. If she gets an internship here, followed by a full paying job, it will go a long way of expanding her name and products among the population." Tom hummed appreciatively as Lucretia stepped out of the store, clearly ridding the after effects of a nervous conversation.

Once she was calm enough after drinking some water and taking a seat, she smiled. "They gave me the internship! They said that if my work is up to their standards, I can start working by the middle of August." After getting congratulations from both, including a sideways hug from her aunt, they started walking the streets of Diagon and Horizont Alley, before stepping into Knockturn. Lucretia kept looking at empty buildings, before Tom realized there were notes attached to some of the doors, displaying whether the properties were up for sale or rent. As she was further away, Tom got close enough to Cassiopeia before casting a privacy ward. "Is she looking for an apartment? Wouldn't it be better for her to remain at the Townhouse?" Cassiopeia looked at him before looking towards her "niece" as she found an apartment for rent notice sitting above an empty storefront. "Sure, it would be cheaper and she knows it's an option, but Lucretia has always been more independent than most. She loves her parents and they love her deeply in return but she has made it clear that she wants to pursue this mostly on her own. The mostly being because they will cover some of her early expenditures until she has a stable income. Her inheritance will be sizable, but her focus for now is on finding her footing in the world. Of course, we wouldn't be Blacks if we didn't make sure she was safely established in a way that she could pursue her career to her own satisfaction."

Finding her choice of words odd, Tom was about to ask what she meant, when Lucretia returned, looking a bit disheartened. "This appartement here was perfect! After paying the rent for it and getting a full time job, I could have rented the downstairs store and started my own business. But the owner said that someone already got a contract for rental and eventual purchase of both!" Tom was about to comfort the young brunette before Cassiopeia lifted Lucretia's shin up. Digging into her pocket, the older Black witch handed over a stack of parchment, a smile on her face. "My dear, you have nothing to worry about." Lucretia frowned before reading the papers. She started looking from the page to the address of the building, before her jaw dropped. "But…how… I never…" Cassiopeia chuckled. "You sell your parents short, my dear. As soon as you showed interest in being a thread witch, they started looking for a possible location for your own personal store. They both felt this was the place you would like best and negotiated a deal with the owner. You have five years of rent payments to cover and once the five years are covered, one last major payment will transfer ownership of the apartment and the shop to you. Of course, if you choose to look for another job, then the contract gets voided, the current owner gets a cancellation fee and that's it. It's all there, you just have to sign the part that lists you as the rentee and hand the duplicate over to the owner back there." Lucretia seemed to struggle with controlling her emotions for a second before she wiped her eyes clear of tears. As soon as she signed the documents, they duplicated and she went to deliver the owner's copy as Cassiopeia folded the other one.

"This is what it means to be a Black, Lord Slytherin." Tom gave a sideway glance at Cassiopeia though he was still looking in Lucretia's direction. "You make sure they are taken care of." Cassiopeia shook her head. "No, it's more than that. We don't just look after our family, we make sure they have everything they need to fulfill their own ambitions. My brother Pollux joined a Realtor company, helping witches and wizards in finding secluded locations for their homes, while also buying muggle properties nearby. He started as an intern too, but Phineas, the Lord Black of the time, invested heavily in the business, increasing the amount of properties they had ownership of. Soon enough, Pollux became a senior partner and with Phineas' financial support, he became the majority shareholder. Now he runs the realtor agency and a vacation home rental agency. As the Magical Families dwindled and those that survived found their own vacation homes to be too much to handle with maintenance and taxation and inheritances, Pollux would offer them deals, where he would buy the properties but rent them out to the original owners for set days of the year, if they so wanted. He practically owns all the major vacation homes on Fara Island up north, renting them out to locals and foreigners alike. And while the war has put a moratorium on his business, he is confident that people will be interested in it once the war is over. Phineas did the same for his grandchildren, Arctutus' brother and sister, renting the Black Chateau in France to them, where they took what started as a private vineyard and made it a full business operation, buying up the lands next to the Black property so that they could expand if that was their wish."

Tom nodded. "I see. Rather than giving them what they want, you have the family members work towards their goals, all the while investing in them, guaranteeing that if they see their careers through to the end, they can be self-reliant, in control of their own sources of income. And if they don't manage it, the investments still end up serving the family. With Polux, even if he never took ownership, the majority shares would keep the business stable in Black family hands and the Chateau gained more property that could have been used for growing anything that would fill the families own needs, like potions materials." Cassiopeia nodded back. "With this place, since owning a piece of property here isn't all that valuable of a commodity, Arcturus was willing to let it slide, when compared to keeping the property if Lucretia decided against making her own business here. Still, knowing her, she won't stop until she has all of Magical Britain eating out of her palm just to buy the best enchanted clothes on the open market." She then looked towards Tom. "With Lilith, I can't even begin to guess as to what her endgame is. Sure, she could open an Artificer shop and revolutionize the market of enchanted items. Or she could start up a school fully dedicated to spreading the talent everywhere. Or she could do neither and simply get into politics, same as you. The Black family has no idea what we can do to safeguard her future ambitions. Which is why that responsibility will fall to you." Tom raised his hand and placed it over his heart. "I already promised her that I would follow wherever she went. Believe me, whatever her ambitions will be, I will be there to support her, just as she will be there to support me."

Cassiopeia sighed, before running her hand over her braided hair. "Just… make sure that she has a long, happy life. After what she went through as Lillian, she deserves that much." With Lucretia back, the three of them returned to the Black Townhouse. Seeing the typically reserved Lucretia hugging her parents tearfully made Tom's heart ache, before he returned to the lounge. He found that only Lord Potter remained, the older wizard sitting down as he read through letters, before he spotted Tom at the entryway. He pointed at a stack of papers on the nearby table. "Your copy, my Lord Slytherin. We have a few more get-togethers planned to correct any errors but we are very confident that the proposal meets all of our established criteria. Minister Warren left quite satisfied with the work we all did today. I can now say that I am looking forward to having him on the Wizengamot." Tom chuckled. "I am sure it will cause quite the stir." Henry shook his head as he leaned back. "I am sure it will and the Assembly will be all the better for it. The legislation itself will hopefully open up our people's future to brighter possibilities." Tom took the papers and sat down, going over every last word. Lord Potter was right. The moment this legislation was submitted and passed, it would reshape the future of the Wizengamot, hopefully for the better. A future that he could be proud of being a part of, placing down the foundations for a world he and Lilith could thrive in together. And, fate and Lilith willing, a world where their children could be proud of their family's role in securing them and all other British Magicals a better future.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Lilith sighed, but nodded, her eyes adjusting to the light filtering through the thick groves of trees dotting the landscape at the base of Vilan, a mountain in the east of Switzerland, just south of the Austrian border. Aside from the few local villages, Alpin lodges, and logging sites, this region was sparsely populated even during peacetime. With an eye out for potential German incursions, Switzerland was constantly sending out air and ground patrols along the borders, but so far no one had crossed over with the intention to invade, only harassing fleeing refugees. Lilith had no trouble understanding why the Hags chose this location. "We are close to their territorial limits. Usually, the coven stays within their boundaries, but for the purpose of meeting us, they were willing to cross the border." Charlus pulled his Peacekeeper trench coat tighter over his chest. "Right, but won't the Germans in Vienna detect them crossing the border? Or even the Swiss?" Lilith ran her hand over the nearby trees, finding the area strangely reminiscent of her previous lifetime's home in the Schwarzwald Estate, as her senses struggled to catch every noise in the mostly silent forest. "It might surprise you, but the Hags are exceptionally gifted in the use of group magic. This lets them affect larger areas, essentially creating weather phenomena that can blind the sensors of the Magical Ministries. Combine that with their natural agility and small numbers, and you have a hard to pin down force. Trust me, they will be here. In fact…"

Feeling the temperature around them shifting, with the wind picking up speed, just as the last of the birds and insects went silent, left Lilith with a smile on her face. "They are already here. Remember, keep your wand down. They are my family's allies. We are safe in their presence." Charlus' hand itched to grab his wand regardless, especially when he spotted swift shadows moving through the forest. Soon, the shadows stepped into the area around them where an isolated light crystal was keeping the darkness at bay, without drawing the interest of anyone on the lookout for unwanted travelers. The crystal was one of the ones that Lilith always carried in case her plates needed maintenance, while the spell had been one that the Roma had taught them in thanks for their help, it being one of the reasons they were able to move about the countryside without drawing too much attention. The moment the Hags were close enough for the light to touch them, Charlus found himself sucking in a deep breath. In London, Hags wore the robes that most witches favored, long flowing cloth covering everything but their gaunt arms and faces. These Hags, however, wore pelts and leather straps tightly across their wiry bodies, taut muscles peeking through the cracks in the material. Even the magic around him felt unlike anything he haf ever encountered in Knockturn Alley: wild, cold and suffocating in the way it wrapped around him. It took him a moment to realize that Lilith had lowered him to the ground, the sound of her voice drowned out by something he couldn't quite place, his breathing having been so rapid that he had been hyperventilating.

"Take it easy, Charlus. Breath deeply and build up your magic inside of you, like when you are preparing to cast a Patronus. The feeling will pass." Mute from whatever it was that had affected him so much, Charlus nodded, before Lilith stood up, her attention now fixed on the figure stepping out of the shadows into the low light from her crystal. Her heart ached unexpectedly at the sight of the Hag Mistress. The Hag Coven had their own unique hierarchy in that the eldest Hags held great power, but the ultimate authority, particularly in the more warlike Covens of the Wilds, rested with the Mistress, the strongest of the Hags and, if somewhat advanced in age, the mother of many of the younger warriors. The one that stood before her was the same Mistress she had sparred with years earlier, the wounds from said battle still etched in her body. Lilith bowed her head slightly and spoke in their Shtokavian tongue. "Mistress Imriška. I am glad to see that you and your Coven answered my message. Is your mother Grella well?" The Hag Mistress walked closer to Lilith, sniffing her. "You have changed, Little Mara. The loss of blood and home have sharpened you into a warrior. And yet, I feel something more. The scent of the wellspring covers you completely." Lilith lowered her head further. "I ventured once into the cave and feared losing myself. Another me, tempered by loss, ventured once more and trusted in who she wanted to be. I am what walked out." The Hag stared at her with bright red eyes, before raising a hand towards Lilith's cheeks, her sharp claws extended.

Charlus tried to object but the hissing from the Hags behind him stilled his tongue, as the razor sharp nail carved a shallow trail over Lilith's left cheek, drawing blood. The Mistress smelled the blood staining her nail before tasting it, her eyes widening for a moment. "You are definitely more than the little Mara we knew, but still her. You have come to reclaim the lands of the family?" Lilith wiped away her cheek, healing the cut with her magic, before responding. "I am, though the enemy is more prepared than we are currently. I am seeking those who, like me, wish to free the continent from the bloodstained hands of the treacherous Hexenmeisters and their Master, but if it is to be done, it must be done with the end in sight. I am amassing a force prepared specifically for this task. I know the enemy haunts mountains near our home, but not exactly where. Magic shields it from sight or scrying." The Mistress of the coven stepped back, before crossing her arms over her chest. "We know of their claim. Strong are the magics that guard the mountain they besmirch, strong to deny us entry, but not strong enough to hide themselves from our minds." Lilith sighed in relief a little. "Imri, will the Coven assist in the reclaiming of my family's lands and the subsequent war against our common foe?" The Hag gave her a toothy smile. "The Coven will indeed, as these warriors of magic steal and slaughter our prospective mates and hunt our kin. Their blood must run down the valleys to the far rivers to be washed clean of the sins they have perpetuated. This we desire and are willing to aid you with, Mara." Placing her heart over her chest, Lilith bowed her head. "You honor me, Mistress. May the ties between our families grow ever stronger in the blood of our enemies."

As the Hags relaxed, a curious one sniffed Charlus, who had finally managed to keep himself up, before hissing. "This one smells strong. Would the Mara of the Black Forest object if I mate with him?" Lilith blushed a little at the bluntness of the Hags, before looking towards her Greatuncle. "The Hag behind you is interested in mating with you and conceiving a daughter. Do you think that Dorea would be fine with that?" Looking at said Hag made Charlus swallow nervously. "Since every time a woman bats her eyes at me earns me a slap to the back of the head, I would say, she would most definitely mind." Lilith giggled, before responding to Imri's child. "The wizard has promised himself to a witch that doesn't share. My apologies." The Hag hissed in a disappointed tone, before leaving Charlus be, as he approached Lilith. "So, will they help us?" Lilith nodded as she pulled out a map of her family's estate and the surrounding villages, before casting a translation spell so that Charlus could understand. "So far, it would seem that we will be ready to strike in the winter after the Solstice. As we prepare our forces to be transported to the Estate, what can you tell me of the enemy's actions there?" The Mistress sat on one of three seats before a table that Charlus conjured, before she pointed out a few areas on the map Lilith provided. "The enemy has set magic in these points and it covers much of the ruins. They would seem to be expecting your return. We can untangle their weaves, but it must be before your arrival, to forestall any enemies with greater numbers." Lilith took note of the locations the Mistress pointed towards. "Any scouts lingering?" The hag shook her head, her long white hair braided as a warrior of the coven, the braid swaying with the movement. "Only the bones and clothes of the dead. The Shadow Wolves have slaughtered all who dared enter."

That bit of news lightened Lilith's heart. She wondered if her pup was not only alive but fully grown by now. Focusing her attention on the moment, she took down all the information concerning the observation outposts positioned along the Alpine Ranges leading further east into Austria, before Imriška circled the north facing side of the Wetterstein mountain Range. Lilith could see the ego in Grindelwald's choice of location, placing his castle close to Munich, overlooking much of the German Heartland, but still removed enough from it that the locals wouldn't stumble upon the wards constantly. The geography of the area would likely pose a problem, but with the extensive breadth of the alliances she was cultivating, Lilith believed that a well planned siege could be organized enough to keep the Hexenmeisters trapped. Rolling the map away and slipping it into a pocket in her robes, Lilith waited for the Hags to begin preparations to leave. The air grew dense with magic again as the stars of the night sky were covered in thick clouds. As wind began to tousle everyone's hair, the Hag Mistress turned to look at Lilith one last time. "We always believed you were capable of great things, when you were but a little Mara. We await any messages from you and will be happy to see your return to the Estate, as the Lady of the Mountain. May the Darkness cloak your advance until the enemy feels your breath against their neck." Charlus shivered at the Hags words and tone, before a gust of wind blinded him. By the time he opened his eyes, they were gone. Lilith lowered the hand she had raised to shield her eyes, before turning to Charlus. "Ready to go home?"

"It seems your intel was right. There are a few locations scattered about Germany that are warded enough to block even ghosts from entering, but my scouts say these are the strongest they have ever felt." Tom frowned at the way that Alexander worded that statement, as the two of them reviewed Lilith's map of the Alpine region while she finished writing a few letters. Her return had clearly weighed heavy on her, as she wanted to stay and fight, even as she knew that her expertise was needed elsewhere. Tom could readily admit that he was surprised with how well Lilith had done. The Goblins had entered into a tentative alliance with the Dwarves with regards to mutual security. With Gringotts assisting the British Military with Lilith's special program and the ICW Peacekeepers having a tentative alliance with the Dwarves, the coalition that she had started building a year prior was now far more extensive. They all hoped that it would be deployed to Europe once the preparations were ready and that their hard work would pay off. Particularly Lilith's, who had dark circles under her eyes. She had been received by the Potters upon her return, with Charlus coming along, apparently under orders from the ICW. Lilith's unusual alliances had gotten the International governing body interested enough to redeploy some of its forces, especially now that the German Military was simultaneously trying to push back against the Allies on both fronts, as well as reinforcing their own borders. If Lilith's planned alliance was able to disrupt the enemies defences, the ICW wanted to be ready to inform the Allies so they could capitalize on it.

Once she sealed all her letters and placed them aside for Galatea to deliver, she reapproached the dining room table and took a seat, looking over the maps on the desk, with several locations circled on them. "What do you think? Decoys or hidden military installations that Grindelwald wants to keep secret no matter what the cost?" Alexander crossed his arms. "The latter. Grindelwald plays the long game and is fond of faints, but never to this extent. These locations mean something to him and my contacts only stumbled upon them by accident. It isn't everyday that a ghost or spirit can't travel through wards set by man." Tom looked at the location, trying to recall something from Voldemort's life. He had been afraid of ghosts snooping on his activities too, which was why he avoided taking Hogwarts as his base of operations during his reign over Magical Britain. He had initially feared ghosts being able to travel across distances, but all the lore said that was impossible. "Alexander, it was my understanding that Ghosts were trapped, either to their graves, a significant location of theirs in life or to their death site. How are they acting as scouts for you?" Alexander looked between the two of his distant relations, noticing that Lilith didn't seem surprised. He smiled, supposing that she had discovered some of the truth regarding his talents. "Your understanding is sound, at least, with regards to most magicals. The ability to command the dead is something only Death itself can do. That said, ghosts and spirits can travel and move if their magical source isn't their tether. The ones acting on my behalf are tethered to me."

Tom narrowed his eyes. "Is this some Dark Magic that can be taught or something exclusive to the Peverells?" Alexander sighed before straightening up his back, his hand running through his hair. "The magic is currently tied to the Head of the Peverell family. Whether it will remain so after my passing is beyond me. It is also tied to the Hallows themselves, which is the very reason the ghosts I sent out can't penetrate the wards." Lilith thought as much. "The Elder Wand. Grindelwald raised the wards of his fortress and these other sites using the wand." Alexander nodded. "The Wand is the only thing that can seal out the dead from a building. No other spell or ritual can match that, save the will of Death herself." Tom rubbed his chin. Voldemort had once possessed the wand and yet he was defeated. Longbottom claimed that he had never truly commanded the wand. That it was he, who had bested Draco Malfoy, Dumbledore's killer, who had its allegiance. "You told me of their existence as a whole, but what makes the Hallows unique? What is the extent of their power?" Alexander thought for a moment. "The Deathly Hallows were born from the earthly manifestation of Death's power, embodied into three objects. A wand that grants the owner victory over all things, living or dead, a stone that commands even the dead to rise and a cloak that shields you from harm, even by death itself. Of course, their true extent is limited on their own and in the hands of one not of the bloodline, but the power remains. That said, each Hallow seems to have a nature of their own that only a true Master can supplant."

Looking towards Lilith, Alexander continued. "The Cloak, by its very nature, seeks to protect its owner. In the hands of most, it is but an Invisibility Cloak. In the hands of a Peverell deemed worthy, it can shield you from environmental magic and all forms of detection. The Stone cannot raise the dead accidentally, as the user's will must be used to pry open the Veil and to call into the Void, but because of its power, the Stone lingers in between the worlds, its essence leaking into the owner. Worn by the weak hearted, it can bring them an early grave of their own making." Looking towards Tom now, Alexander held out his hand. "The Wand, however, constantly yearns to be in its Master's hand. Trouble is, it can only recognize someone as their master if the person remains undefeated. To lose is to be weak and only the strongest may own the wand." Lilith had remembered hearing the story of the Three Brothers from Luna, before reading it herself. Something always struck her as odd about the wand. "Is it because it lacks loyalty to its wielders because they are weak, or is it because they are not Death. If these objects are the physical manifestations of Death's power, then the tool that only Death should possess would probably only be satisfied in Death's Hand. On the one hand it is an excellent security measure, as the owner would fear losing it. On the other… the owner could be driven to new heights of barbarity to guarantee that no other mage could take it from them." Alexander sighed. "Indeed. In the hands of a capable mage, it can best all who face them. In the hands of a madman… well, the Black Death is the result of such a thing. A natural plague enhanced by one who stole the Elder Wand to be hyper lethal, slaughtering half the population of Europe, before the wand was claimed by another."

Lilith's nails dug into the table. "Grindelwald is not that desperate yet. He still wants to make humans his workhorses. If he was ever to seek to kill everyone…" Tom finished her thought. "It would be the end of all life. I see now why defeating Grindelwald must be the end game. He's practically carrying a nuclear weapon on his person at all times and he doesn't know how to truly use it." Looking over the documents and maps, Tom looked up to meet Alexander's eyes. "But if the wards are impenetrable, how do we breach them?" Alexander looked towards Lilith. "This one here has developed a means to overload the wards themselves, using their very design and structure as a weakness to be exploited. The method was initially designed to breach temporary wards, but it could be deployed against grounded wards." Lilith rubbed her chin, before looking to Alexander. "I need you to make properties with ever increasingly more powerful wards. I can make the piercers and see if several of them breaking in from multiple angles can overload a grounded ward. After I have a talk with the General running our operation about a viable encirclement strategy in the region, we can start developing a plan for a fast and overwhelming siege." Tom tapped the map. "What of these hidden sites?" Alexander took out a piece of parchment. "If they go down, Grindelwald will know something is up. We will have to hit them all at once. I will have my scouts get a better grasp of the sites and their terrain, then go to Charlus and have the ICW handle them with more of Lilith's ward breaches, if not have them wait for the moment the Elder Wand changes hands. Speaking about Charlus…"

Alexander pointed his fountain pen to both Lilith and Tom. "He was summoned to oversee the training of the new recruits from the recent Academy graduates in tactics and combat that they could see if deployed in Europe. The two of you have some experience with duels but not magical and conventional warfare. If you want to go and take part in this bloody war and be there to end Grindelwald's threat permanently, then I want you both to train and get yourselves into combat readiness. A half a year is a short span of time but you two will have to manage it. I am not a fan of seeing you two go into the war but I respect you both to make this decision on your own. Now, for the sake of your families, please, take the time to train yourselves to better survive. I have already buried my wife and children. I will not bury you. Understood?" Lilith frowned. "We could get away with joining the academy drills in the summer, but I don't see how we could keep it up at the school. Even if we try to train each other, we are only so capable." Alexander crossed his arms over his chest. "True enough, which is why I and another person will handle your training at Hogwarts for the rest of the year's term. We just need an excuse to get in the Castle without drawing too much attention." Tom, thinking back to his staff meetings with Dippet, smiled as an idea formed in his head. "It might not be as subtle as you are used to, but I have an idea that might give us exactly what we need."

"Aim… Fire!" Down the length of the barrel, Lilith saw as a black dot appeared on the target, just to the left of the center of mass. The drill sergeant walked past her back, his voice raised again. "Aim… Fire!" Lilith's next shot hit a bit to the right, meaning she had over-corrected. On and on the shooting practice continued for everyone along the shooting range, most of the trainees wearing army fatigues, with Lilith wearing a black set of robes provided to her by the ICW, as Charlus' official support and the Peacekeepers decision to back her coalition, though they were all concerned about her desire to be in the frontlines, hence the valuable piece of equipment they sent her way. Taking Alexander's instructions to heart, she was able to get the General behind what was now being called the "Carmarthen Irregulars," in honor of the Special Operations Executive, who had been tasked with training the magically impaired recruits. While a good chunk of them had previous military training, such as Admon Evans and his friend with their time as a tank operator and fighter pilot, most had been regular civilians in the magical side of British Society, doing the mundane but important jobs of farming, cleaning and warehouse management. One even looked like Argus Filch, though he looked relatively young and went by another name, which made Lilith smile a little as the grumpy caretaker didn't trouble her overly much after Lillian's first year, the one time she had been in detention over the stupid incident that cost her her dragon familiar. Then again, the fact that he, even as a magically impaired wizard, had a familiar of his own and recognized the symptoms that she exhibited after losing Norberta, probably helped to earn her some degree of pity from him, a rare thing considering how much he tormented the other students, particularly the Gryffindor Trio.

"Weapons down. And switch." Lilith lowered her modified rifle onto the table before taking the conventional Lee-Enfield rifle, before everyone started shooting again, the difference between her modified variant being obvious as shots rang out as soon as the sergeant ordered them to fire. The heavier rifle's recoil on her shoulder was a bother and it kept screwing over her aim, but eventually she got the last shots to group at the center of the target. They then switched to using a German produced Karabiner 98k. The point of using the two conventional weapons was two fold. On the one hand, it was possible that their forces would be unable to use their specialized weapons and needed to learn how to use conventional rifles. On the other, Lilith had finished developing the authorization registry system for the rifles. Rather than having each rifle locked down to the individual soldiers that possessed them, she had managed to use a central device to act as the repository for all the blood samples, similarly to how a Maledictus singled out a bloodline. In this case, it was a targeted benign Maledictus that allowed the members of the Carmarthen Irregulars the ability to operate her enhanced weapons. There was a part of her that had her curious about whether such a system could be implemented to allow regular non-magical humans the ability to use magical equipments… but Lilith was already fully aware that her creation would lead to a upheaval in magical society over the reintegration of so called "Squibs." She decided that she needed to focus on one massive, world changing event at a time, and for now that was the war.

As she sat the weapons down and started to do maintenance on them as was required in the training, her mind couldn't help but wander into the future she was building with her creations. A future very unlike the one she had lived in, as was evident by the sight of young Martin Warren using one of her simplified shields. The floating disk flew about him as his eyes stared at it in wonder, a net designed to catch butterflies in his hand, to see which was faster, his commands to it to move or his arms swinging the net. She had barely been back a few days in Britain when she had been invited to the Warren household, where Myrtle's mother, Elizabeth, was serving everyone tea, when the radio came alive with the news that the German military had abandoned the city of Paris, after the population rose in revolt with the aid of the French Resistance and the Free France army, with Allied vehicles sweeping into the city to fortify it. Minister Warren had looked to the radio, sighing in relief. "It took almost two months after the landinge to liberate Paris. With forces moving in from the South and the Vichy government crumbling, it will hopefully be just a matter of time before France is free." Lilith kept her mouth shut as a wave of celebration swept through London and the rest of Britain with the news. Many people were hoping for the cessation of hostilities as soon as Hitler's forces were forced back behind German borders, and she was certain that there were many Germans who wished for the same. She also knew that the Allied governments wouldn't accept that. Not after everything they had suffered to liberate so much of Europe. Germany would be invaded and, in a lot of ways, that would be the real beginning of the war. When everyone was fighting to the bitter end.

"Miss von Schwarzwald." Lilith slipped out of her memories and looked towards the sergeant. "Yes, sir?" He gestured to her target down the range. "Excellent grouping. Your aim has vastly improved over the last few weeks. Any news from your companion? He missed today's training session." Lilith blushed a little out of embarrassment. "He sends his apologies but a piece of legislation is being passed in the Wizengamot and he wants to oversee the final draft's composition. Once it's done, you will be seeing us here every weekend. you have our word on that." The older man shook his head before lighting a cigarette. "Trust me, the SOE knows the frustrations of political leadership in military matters, better than most since we take orders directly from the top officials. Still, the two of you have made excellent progress. Your ICW handlers and our own trainers will be evaluating you prior to deployment, so don't get too comfortable." Taking a deep pull from the cigarette, the sergeant turned to the rest of the line of trainees. "You have two minutes to finish fiddling with your rifles before I want you all marching out in line giving me four laps around the entire base! I want to see you all sweat! Trust me, you all will be sweating gallons off when you have enemy shells raining over your heads so get used to it!" Lilith finished cleaning her rifles before handing them over to the quartermaster, who nodded at her work, before she got in the line with the other trainees waiting for the order to leave. This wasn't what she had planned for the start of her last year at Hogwarts, but if it meant she could bring this war to a more secure end, then she would take it. They had been lucky so far, with the way things had gone in their favor, but luck always ran out. For the war to end, Grindelwald had to be defeated. And Lilith would make sure it happened, one way or another.