“We should finish him off.”
“The dark one wants him alive.”
Charun made a low growling noise as he gestured impatiently at the figure getting farther and farther away from them, “I do not care what he wants! He will make it to them if we let him get much further. How will that affect your plans?”
Vanth flicked her tongue out across her lips, moistening them in anticipation. “He is of no concern to me. I want to hurt those who were closest to him. The one who betrayed us all…”
“If we bring him to the dark one you shall be one step closer to that goal,” Charun reminded her. He looked straight ahead, following the motion in the bushes that was getting farther and farther away. He hoped that once she had fulfilled her need for vengeance she would see him standing there. As he always had and always would. Slightly behind her, ready to fight for her. He cursed the feelings he had for her. They were not the sort of feelings he should have for her.
~~~~~~~~~~
“Is everyone decent? Not that it really matters as Lena is the only one of you I haven’t seen without her shirt…” Nick poked his head into the girls’ locker room.
“Not since I was two!” Bridget protested as she stuck her tongue out at her brother, “and what about Dierna? It’s not like she’s ever been your girlfriend…”
Nick looked down sheepishly, avoiding looking at Dierna as he felt Serena studying them both.
“Considering how red both of you are… is there something I need to know?” Serena asked cautiously.
“Well…”
“It’s really a funny story, really,” Nick hesitantly met his girlfriend’s eye. “You see, I was helping Dierna with this potions… thing.”
“And it exploded all over me.”
“And the only thing I could do was strip her.”
“And then Dad showed up…” Dierna’s voice turned bitter and her face darkened noticeably.
Serena’s eyes widened, “would that encounter be the reason why you’re currently not speaking to him?” Although completely ignoring his existence was a better description. She squeezed her sister’s hand, “whatever he said, I’m sure he didn’t mean it.” She could only imagine what had been said, especially if both of them had been angry.
“Nothing really happened,” Dierna said darkly, “not that Dad believes that…”
“He’ll come around eventually.”
“So… are you really ok with this?”
Serena looked over to where Lena and Bridget were trying to push Nick back out the door, “I’m trying to be. I can’t help the fact that you and Nick are such good friends, and I know you were before, it’s just, it makes it difficult. But sometimes I have trouble approving of how close you are. But I trust you.”
“If it makes you feel better I told him how much better your tits are than mine.”
Serena smiled, “well there’s no denying the truth behind that.”
“Hmpf… at least Stefan hasn’t complained… yet.”
“That’s just because he’s too much of a gentleman.”
“So… are we ok?” Dierna asked. With the rift between her and their father she didn’t think she would be able to stand being at odds with Serena too.
Serena sighed, “I can’t promise that I won’t be jealous at times, but I shall strive to be understanding. You know I can’t stay mad at you, no matter how much I want to, so there’s no reason for me to get upset in the first place.”
“You’re a much better person than I am, I could never stay as calm as you do.”
Serena shrugged one shoulder as she adjusted her shin guards, “or maybe I’m just bottling up my rage to use against the Hufflepuffs.”
“No need, we’re going to slaughter them.”
“Are you ready yet?” Nick yelled as Lena and Bridget managed to shove him out the door.
“In a minute!” all four girls responded together.
~~~~~~~~~~
“Viviane, have you looked at these papers that Arthur got from Alim? Viviane… what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Viviane said quickly as she sorted the figs Mrs. Weasley had brought back from the market, but she didn’t really see what she was doing, just kept her hands moving quickly.
“I know you better than that.”
“Just a bit distracted I guess.”
“You’re lying,” Colin accused gently, his face clearly showing how hurt he was by that fact.
Viviane reluctantly raised her eyes to his, “it’s nothing, really. I would let you know if it was something important.”
“Everything that concerns you is important,” Colin said as he took her hands between his, “how about I take you out tonight and you tell me what it is that’s bothering you?”
“Not tonight Colin, I’m not feeling all that well, and I’ve got… I’ve got a lot of things to get done.”
Colin sighed, “fine, but know that I am here for you, never doubt that.”
~~~~~~~~~~
The crowd winced collectively as Serena hit a Bludger straight at the closely huddled trio of Hufflepuff chasers, catching their captain right in the chest. It turned into a cheer from the red and gold clad section of the spectators as the captain spiraled and missed the Quaffle, leaving Dierna wide open to grab it and pass it on to secure a goal.
“I wish she’d gain a little weight, she looks like a stray Bludger would snap her in two,” Morgan fretted as she watched Dierna swerve at the last second to avoid being knocked from her broom.
“At least she has the speed to keep out of their way,” Severus tried to reassure her, although he knew it was most likely useless.
“Olivia, stay where I can see you,” Morgan turned away from the game briefly to call Olivia back from where she was running back and forth two rows behind them in the virtually empty box.
Olivia scampered down and squeezed herself in between Severus and Morgan on the bench, “I’m cold.”
Severus absently wrapped an arm around her as he continued to watch the game, “it should be over soon.” He watched as little Bridget Wood took off down the field, “there, over and a Gryffindor victory,” he stood as Bridget took a victory lap around the field, clutching the struggling Snitch in her fist, held above her head.
“Can I go to the Halloween feast tonight?” Olivia asked, clinging to Morgan’s hand, as they made their way back towards the school.
“No,” Severus promptly responded.
“Look, there are the girls,” Morgan quickly said before any arguments could be made, she released Olivia’s hand so that the girl could sprint over to her sisters.
“You won!” Olivia declared as she bounced between the twins. Nick finally swung her up on his back to keep her still.
“You gonna play Quidditch someday?” Nick asked as he made sure she wasn’t going to fall off.
“Yeah.”
“Excellent game girls,” Morgan said as she reached them, embracing both her daughters. “I know I’m not supposed to show preference either way, but I can’t help myself. You crushed them, and I’m glad.”
“You played well,” Severus agreed, but remained much unbiased in his observation.
“Thanks Dad,” Serena recognized it for the praise that it was. Dierna turned her back on him and ducked into the locker room to change. “Maybe if you told her you didn’t mean it…” Serena started, but didn’t like the look she was getting, “or you could not and continue to enjoy her stony silence.”
Severus’ senses, highly tuned due to his work with potions and years as a spy, let him notice the change before anyone else, “Serena, get your sister, I want you both up in your Common Room immediately. Mr. Wood, make sure they go straight there, and take Olivia with you.”
“Sev, what is it?” Morgan took his arm.
Severus led her several steps away, so that they were out of earshot, “look at the forest.”
Morgan looked, and frowned, not knowing what she was looking for. And the she saw it, the birds were scattering above the trees, and she caught the dull roar of one of the dragons.
“See if you can get the students to move a bit quicker,” Severus commanded.
“Do you think it’s an attack?”
“Not necessarily, but it still may not be safe. Go back to the castle Morgan. I will be there shortly.” He made sure she was on her way before striding towards the Forbidden Forest. He met Alberto halfway there. “What is it?”
“Someone broke through the defenses, he’s lucky the dragons didn’t get him first, it would have finished him off.”
“Did you see any others?”
“No, but we’re still searching the forest.”
“Make sure you search the skies as well, Voldemort may well have sent spies with wings.”
“We’ll do that as well,” Alberto said, looking uncharacteristically nervous. “We better hurry, Zach is not handling this breach well. If he isn’t already dead he may well kill him before we get there. Although I have to say I’m confused, I could have sworn he was dead already.”
“Things are not always as they seem, especially in times of war.”
“You already know who…?”
“Yes, I have been made aware of it.” Severus was able to maintain a façade of near indifference. Although he did not feel any of the panic that was apparent in the dragon handlers as they approached where Zach was knelt, wand trained on an unmoving figure, his anxiousness increased. Had Eric been right? He desperately hoped so.
“He hasn’t moved yet,” Zach informed him as he kept his wand carefully aimed, he wasn’t taking any chances. Not now, and not with this person, if it was really who it seemed to be, in their clutches. “What should we do with him? Should I bind him?”
“There does not seem to be much need,” Severus pointed out, “besides, he is not an enemy, he is on our side.” He ignored their cries of disbelief and rage as he knelt on the ground.
“Didn’t Kalliope slit his throat months ago?” Alberto asked in confusion.
Severus flipped the body over and pushed the matted, blood-stained, white-blond hair out of the way as he rested his fingers against the pale, exposed, throat. Unlike last time, Draco Malfoy had a pulse, “he is still alive, for now.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
