Fantasy +lumos; becoming the light+ (Closed)

[Sir Damien]

Weasley.

"Priiiick." Hunter was quick to flip off Cyrus just as he left. Deep down he knew that the guy was right, that Dru would understand if he just explained it, but she just never asked. It was the look on her face, the disgust, the hatred she had for marked ones. Hunter wasn't one by choice, yet it hurt all the same. And maybe he thought that she'd be better off? Deep down he believed that he was lesser than her, that someone out there would be able to give her a better life than him. He was just some idiot dragon catcher. She deserved the world.

As soon as his unlikely friend was gone Hunter tossed the newspaper on the coffee table with a heavy sigh. Kreacher would indeed push him down the stairs if he tried to help him again, but the thought of setting up the rooms for his clan was exhausting. He pushed himself to a seated position with a frustrated sigh, and just as he went to stand a small little creature was suddenly in his lap. "W-Whoa-- Jade?" His ginger brow arched curiously as large hands cupped the small niffler to pick her up. Wild squeaks came from her little snout and instantly Hunter could feel panic rising in his chest.

Now as much as he'd like to he couldn't speak niffler, or an beast language for that matter. He did understand the urgency of her squeaks. What was he to do though? It wasn't like he could go straight to the Malfoy manor. "Calm down there little one." The squeaking and whining subsided as the creature looked up at him with big watery eyes, like she was about to cry or something. "I'll find her. Okay? Just-- here." Hunter stood from the couch and deposited Jade into the breast pocket of his red and black plaid button up.

His mind instantly went to Fred and George. The two of them always had something up their sleeve, and if they could somehow get him inside the Malfoy manor he'd be able to find Dru and rescue her from whatever the hell was going on. "Hold on Jade." In a swirl of magic they were instantly standing right outside of the Burrows. Before he could even open the door it was flying open and Fred was immediately meeting Hunter in a familiar sense of panic. His heart dropped to his stomach, the small smile he had on his face to see his brother twisted with worry and concerned. "Where is she?"

Fred started rambling as they walked inside the house. How they found Dru in the field a bloody mess, how she fell unconscious. They carried her inside so that Molly could tend to her wounds and then took her up to Hunter's room to rest. Hunter had so many damned questions, none of which his brother had the answers to. When he asked the extent of her wounds, however, his brother fell silent. "You should really go see them for yourself." For a moment Hunter thought he'd vomit right then and there. Why wouldn't they tell him?

Jade squeaked as he made his way up the stairs to his room, just in time to run into Molly leaving said room. "Hunter dear she's still asleep. I don't know what happened, I can only speculate, but she's safe here. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you when she wakes." "Thanks mum." The two shared a sad smile, like the both of them knew just where Dru received her wounds. This was Hunter's fault. If he had just been honest with her, stopped her from going home then she'd of been safe.

Once Molly was gone Hunter slid inside the small homey room to see Dru asleep in his bed. She had a wound on her gorgeous perfect face and that alone was enough to fuel an unending rage in him, but as he looked down towards the foot of the bed he seen her leg propped up on a couple pillows. Half of her leg was freshly bandaged yet blood was already leaking through. The breath hitched in his chest as he fully processed his own speculations of the moment.

Dru didn't intend on coming here. She wanted to go somewhere else but something stopped her, and somehow in her apparation she ended up in the Burrows. Splinched. Red hot rage consumed him. His strong jaw clenched a couple times and his first instinct was to go to the manor and burn it down. It took everything in him to roughly grab the chair from the desk and pull it out and set it near the bed so he could take a seat. Gently he pulled Jade from the pocket and rested her next to Dru. "I'll make him pay Dru... No one gets away with doing this to you."

Maybe the mark could be used for good after all. If he joined the dark ones he could earn their trust, earn her fathers trust. And then he could kill the bastard and put an end to Dru's misery. Tears pricked at his eyes as he looked at her injured form. Quietly he unfolded the throw blanket at the foot of the bed and covered her body with it gingerly, doing everything he could not to wake her.

 

[Colt Voltage]

S. Longbottom

It wasn't until Delaney snatched the paper from his hands did Sebastian fully process what was happening. Adoption certificate. His dark eyes watched with furrowed brows as she dug further into the box, his brain working overtime to try and make some logical sense as to why Delaney would have a pure blooded name attached to her.

Greengrass's were one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. The Longbottom's, Gaunt's, Malfoy's, Hell even the Weasley's were on the list. They were a tried and true pure blooded family, and a name that Sebastian never in all of his life think that Delaney would be in any near relation to. Gran always had them believe that she was some common muggle born girl with an affinity for magic. It wouldn't have been the first muggle witch so he never really questioned it, not until now. Gran never lied to him-- not that he knew of. The woman was blunt, how could she have kept a secret like this all these years?

"Aquila?" His voice was calm yet inquisitive as he slid next to Delaney, his warm body leaning against hers gently to provide her some comfort. Steely eyes glanced over the paper once more to confirm that yeah, the father's name was burnt off. "I don't understand. The only reason a pure blooded woman would burn the fathers name off is if it was a muggle, or if--" His voice fell flat and his eyes widened. Everything in his head just clicked, like everything made complete sense all of a sudden. "You were the product of an affair with a married pure blooded man. He didn't want the world to know about you. That's the only reason that makes sense, right? A muggle father wouldn't be burning his name off, and Aquila loves her girls. She'd--" She'd of loved Delaney, but he bit his tongue. Delaney didn't need that, not right now.

To make matters worse, Delaney actively taught two of the Greengrass girls. Seb took a shaky breath and gently took the certificate to inspect it, turning it over a few times in attempts to see if there was any salvaging the fathers name. "There has to be a copy of this somewhere. The girls likely wouldn't know anything about this, and addressing Aquila is out of the question."

If only Gran was still alive. Seb had wanted to tell her about him and Delaney before she passed and that alone haunted him, but now this? Delaney was already bothered with her history, being abandoned, having no history of her life or herself. To find out like this had to be absolutely devastating. "Hey." Seb's index finger lifted her chin to pull her attention from the box to meet his gaze. "We'll figure this out. Okay? We have half our answers right now, now we just need to figure out the other half. Once we have the whole thing I can confront Aquila, see if she'd be willing to talk to us. I'm here with you. And no matter what just know you're my family, okay? And Neville's. No matter what you still have a family, and you always will."

With a reassuring smile he then leaned in to press his soft lips to her forehead for a long moment. "Is there anything else in the box that would give us clues?"

 

[ZombieBaee]

Druella “Dru” Malfoy

Consciousness came and went as the Weasley boys got Dru into the Burrow, Molly was instructing them and every so often Dru could make out her worried yet stern voice. At one point the rotund woman took advantage of a moment of consciousness for Dru and got her to gulp down some god awful concoction that tasted somehow of both black licorice and slug juice. According to Molly it would help with the pain and help her get some more peaceful rest. Apparently it did it’s job and then some because Dru was back out cold in a matter of seconds, out enough that the twins helped carry her up to Hunters room without her waking and out enough to have some scarily vivid dreams.

Drus formative years revolved around Death Eaters, most of her family was indoctrinated and their house was a headquarters for a lot of meetings. Her first year at school was the year the war got violet, the year Draco was born… it was the year she realized how wrong all of this was. Before Hogwarts her world was so small, she didn’t know anything outside of her family’s ideals and morals. Just a few weeks at Hogwarts and she realized how much bigger things were, how muggle born wizards and witches weren’t the enemy… how misguided her parents were. Her first letter about her muggle born friends was met with a sharp tongue from her father in response… telling her to stop being around that filth. It didn’t matter because soon after starting school her last name got more famous than she would have ever wanted and people began to avoid her naturally. Her dreams brought her flashes of all those times, of all her family members with their marks on their arms… of the types of people they were. Her aunt Bella… the woman who tried to train Dru to be the next best dark wizard in the family at the age of eleven and doing so by showing her how to torture and kill.

Then she saw Hunter. His smile. His warmth. How he took her to see the moon calves, how he saved her from her terrible at the ball… how he saved her in general. Hunter was the most amazing man she had ever met, he was brave and kind, he loved all sorts of creatures and understood the parts of her that made her different from her family… and when he shared his secret… Dru failed him. She remembered his face in the moment she drew her wand on him and that hurt more than any physical injury ever would. How could she have done that to him? It was so clear now that he was NOTHING like those people, they were terrible evil beings and he was so … good.

Suddenly a warmth enveloped her, one that made her mind calm and her body adjusted slightly in her sleep, her arms wrapping around the quilt and hugging it tightly. “Hunter?” Dru spoke so softly in her sleep, her voice a mixture of sadness and hopeful. Then a small few sniffles at her face followed by the pressure of a small body climbing across her torso to curl up between her and the wall made her eyes flutter open. Dru first glanced down at the furry face that was tucking itself into her arm and smiled gently. “Jade, you found me. Good girl.” Her voice was hoarse from her screaming, it made her sound like she had the worst cold of her life. A few moments later she felt the presence on the other side of her, then she caught the scent of leather and cinnamon and her heart began racing.

Dru twisted her head to the side and the instant she saw him tears began to slide down her cheeks in steady streams. “Hunter.” It was so natural how quickly she tried to sit up and move to him, only to be met with a sharp pain in her calf and the physical reminder of her injury. It didn’t matter, it wasn’t stopping her. Well not from at least using her hand. Her thin pale finger reached towards his hand where it sat on his knee, the first touch made her flinch slightly, honestly a part of her had thought he was a hallucination. “Hunter I’m so sorry.” Her hand rested over his, her fingers wrapping around his tightly as she stared into his eyes with icy resolve. “I- there’s no reason - I… how do I even explain myself. There’s no explanation! I am the absolute fucking worst and I walked away when you needed me the most. I hate that I did that to you. I ha-“ Dru paused to cough, her scratchy throat protesting at her increasing volume and urgency but she needed to say this. Right now she didn’t care about her injuries, she didn’t care that she was hurt and probably already being hunted down by her father. All Dru cared about was making sure Hunter knew she wasn’t scared of him, that she would be there for him forever and that she meant it this time, truly. This was the biggest road block she could ever imagine for them and she refused to let it have power over her. Hunter was the best thing that ever happened to her. “I love you Hunter Weasley, I love you more than the moon and the stars love the night. I love you more than I knew was even possible. I love you more than I fear them.” She swallowed the last part, her voice quieting to make sure it remained between them only. “And I won’t ever be able to express how truly sorry I am that I walked away… really. I understand if you hate me now, I understand if you can’t trust me again. But I needed you to know.”

 

[EclipseRosee]

Larkyn Gaunt

“I don’t need your protection Sapphira!” Larkyn yelled, shoving a hand through his hair in frustration as he looked over her troubled face. “What I need is for you to not add more fucking shit to worry about to my plate right now!” He watched her as she moved to grab the letter from where he had tossed it on the bed and his face twisted once more, it was an expression mixed between frustration and pure anxiety. “You think that because you can leisurely fly you can handle the real world out there?” He laughed curtly, turning away to gather the rest of his things for work before looking back at her. The glare that Sapphira gave him wasn’t lost on him, it stabbed him through the chest like a white hot dagger, but he refused to be bothered, he refused to show another person any sort of fucking weakness. Not when this shit keeps happening. Not when he keeps getting made into a fucking villain.

“It’s because of this!” Larkyn snapped, waving his hands up and down at her. She was perfectly painted, her hair pinned all in place and wearing an outfit that was gorgeous on her. “Sapphira you do not present as a woman built for violence, or adventure or fighting. You are kind and just and love to see the good in people and help them out of their darkness. The world that I work in does not have space for wanting to see the best in people. Once they are on our list there is no hope for them beyond capture and trial, there is no room for us to want to fix them. You have too big of a heart and too much hope in the world to do this job well.” Larkyn stared at her as he spoke, he was positive she would take this all as an insult but he didn’t mean it to be one. He LOVED how Sapphira viewed the world, he adored that despite the terrible shit that had been thrown her way she was still kind and gentle to those who may be misunderstood. Hell that was probably the only reason she put up with him in the first place, that willingness and patience with people. Being an auror would get her hurt and it would darken her view on society.

Larkyn softened but only slightly as her hand gripped his. His icy blue eyes searched her face for a long moment and just seeing how much she was begging him to be okay with this almost broke him… almost. His eyes hardened and his shoulders went stiff before he looked away towards the window. “Sapphira I am not asking you to sit around and do nothing all day, I’m asking you to find other ways to help. There’s plenty of other things that help the cause that aren’t actively out there tracking and fighting. If you don’t want anything secretarial we can figure it out but …” Larkyn sighed and looked back at her, his eyes rimmed with red but serious and unmoving. “I will not endorse you wanting to be an auror, if you go to this meeting and they decide to move forward with bringing you on… I will make it more than clear to my superiors that i will not work with you on any assignments and that I do not believe you are fit for the job.”

 

[KAYDEN]

Cyrus

After about a half an hour of trying to push pass the various staff members who came out to try and get Cyrus to sit down, he finally gave up and took a seat. The only thing that got through to him was the witch who made him realize that him distracting them would only make things worse for Loire in the end. They were no stranger to him just as Loire was no stranger to them, many of the times where she was rushed here… so was Cyrus and Larkyn. Dru as well although she handled this sort of thing as cool as a cucumber. Often times Cyrus forgot She was even there because he was so hellbent on getting back to sit with Loire. Honestly it was shocking that Larkyn never realized how madly in love Cyrus was with Loire back then…

In the time Loire was back there, Cyrus paced, he asked a thousand questions, sat, paced some more. There was no fucking way he could possibly sit still! Not until he saw that she was okay, that she was awake and breathing. His mind kept going back to how limp and light she felt in his arms, her skin has gone cold and he noticed when her frail hand lost the strength it had as it held onto his sleeve earlier. Cyrus was fucking terrified that she would die, or that she would be disabled even further than she already was from her childhood traumas. Loire already had enough health issues to deal with… it hurt his heart to think of her having to handle more.

“Cyrus? We can take you back now.” That was all he needed to hear before he jumped up from the seat he had been waiting in and rushed to the side of the woman who had been dealing with him for the last few hours. “So she’s awake?” There was no need for an answer because the moment the two of them made Their way through the double doors back towards the patient area he could hear Loire making demands of the staff. It shouldn’t have but it brought a wide grin to his face, honestly if she want yelling at them he would have been taken back to his worry and fear. Ordering around her doctors after a near death experience was exactly what he expected from her.

“Loire be nice.” Cyrus gave her a relieved smile, leaning in to brush his lips over her bruised cheek before sitting down in the chair besides her bed. She looked… awful for lack of a better term and he already could tell that the cast on her arm was going to totally piss the woman off for weeks. “They’re right you know, you should stay and make sure you’re all safe and healthy for a night or two.” Loire hated the hospital but… Cyrus knew this wasn’t a walk if off type of injury. She had looked fucking dead. The image flashed back in his mind and he felt a bit choked up as he leaned forward to brush a few stray locks of her stained hair from her face. Just a few hours ago it had been soaked in her blood… “It would make me feel better if you were given the full stamp of approval from the doctor Loire. I mean-“ Merlin he didn’t want to tell her she had looked dead when he found her but she fucking did! “I’ll stay here with you, right in this chair the whole time. I just want to make sure you’re okay- it was scary there when I found you. I know you’ve been through some shit before but Loire this was- this was insane. I’ve never seen anything like it and I don’t want to ever again. So please just stay so they can make sure you’re going to be okay?”

 

[Pax Pardus Hale]

Sapphira

Sapphira never made Larkyn into the villain. She always justified his actions, always saw the good deep down in what he said and did. Did she agree with some of his choices? Not entirely. But she loved him, she supported his choices, she put that man on a fucking pedestal. He never returned the favor. The auburn haired woman was pouring out her entire soul for him, revealing that she desperately wanted to do something to help protect him, yet he laughed at her. He made her feel small.

He blamed her looks, and above all? Larkyn didn't want to work with her. That was the nail in the coffin.

"All I do is add stress on your shoulders. Right?" Her usually cheerful tone was gone and left nothing but a wavering one that fought back tears. "I'll leave. You can get your sister back, your best friends. It's clear you don't need me, so you won't have to worry about me anymore." The tears won. Big tears spilled from her eyes and streamed down her cheek as her emerald looked away from him so she could stay strong. "I'm not just a pretty face, Larkyn. I kickbox back at home. Mountain climb, rock climb. I-I can do whatever I set my mind to. And if you don't want me to protect you then, fine. I couldn't protect Cedric but I'm going to help protect those kids."

Sapphira move to grab her gym bag and stuffed it full of some of her clothes from the closet. No tedious folding, no gingerly care with her outfits, she just wanted out. Her small form trembled as the tears silently flowed down her face. She lost Delaney, Seb, her family, and Cedric, and this pain was nothing like any of that. Her heart was literally shattered into bits to the point to move, and all she wanted to do was fall to her knees and sob loudly for days. "It sounds like you'll be better off without me. If I pass the interview then I'll do my best to keep out of your way."

Her slim frame turned and did everything she could to avoid meeting his gaze. "And if not then I guess I'll go home to the muggle world. So tell your boss what you have to, Larkyn." Sapphira moved to the living room to finish packing her things. It... wasn't like Larkyn would care at all. All he saw in her was a pretty face, right? He'd move on quick.

 

[Pax Pardus Hale]

Loire Gaunt.

In her head Loire had a whole speech worked out in her head. How to let Cyrus down gently in hopes he'd understand her position and why she had to do this. Yet the moment she heard that familiar voice of his her heart sank to her stomach, the lips on her battered cheek shattering her entire being. Her good hand gripped the side of the bed as she took a deep shaky inhale through her nose to keep her centered. Loire wanted to find safety in his arms, hold him, follow their dreams and move in together.

They were just that though, dreams. There was no beating the odds for them. Cyrus was the first muggle born she had ever got well acquainted with. During the war they were literally never permitted to speak to anyone outside of their circle. Yet when they met he didn't hate them, didn't see them as some stuck up pure bloods. Cyrus saw them. No... Cyrus saw her. Larkyn was a friendly popular guy, he had others to talk to. Loire was just some quiet bookish girl with resting bitch face. He always tried to make her smile, to laugh, he treated her like she was her own person. She fell hard and fast for him, and that love never faded.

It was also never meant to be and it was cruel of them to pretend otherwise.

"We can't continue this Cyrus." Loire refused to look at him, refused to look at anything but the cream colored hospital tile flooring. "I can't be what you want. I can't-" She couldn't lose him. Her hand gripped the sheet tighter, and tighter, and before long the sheet was ripping from her sharp nails. "My duty is to marry and produce pure blooded heirs. I'm to fill in for Larkyn and follow in my father's footsteps. I'm to--" Her voice cracked. What Loire was saying went against everything she wanted in life. She wanted a life away from pure blood expectation, a life with Cyrus. A family one day, maybe, but she didn't want her life focused around popping out kids.

It was clear she was either being coerced to say these things or that torture actually made her believe the bullshit her family drilled into her. A single tear slid down her right cheek and Loire went to wipe it away with her arm, wincing as she found that it was in a cast. Embarrassing. She just wanted to shift and run away. Without another word she pushed herself to her feet with a loud wince, her left hand hugging her stitched stomach and her small frame nearly doubled over from the pain.

"I-It was foolish of us to think that I could escape this life. If you see me on the other side of this war do me the favor and put me out of my misery, yeah? I'd rather be dead then be locked up in Azkaban."

 

[Sir Damien]

Weasley.

Dru had only been asleep for a few minutes while Hunter sat at her bedside, but in those few moments the ginger headed dragon rider had made his grand plan in his head. Get Dru to the Order, bail and join the Eaters. Kill her father. Killing had never been on Hunter's radar, it wasn't something in his blood. He was raised to be a good person, to solve things with words, but to see what he could do to his daughter? Unforgivable. This was the last time that man hurt her. And if Hunter died in the process, well...

At least Dru would be finally free like she wanted to. That's all he wanted for her.

"Hm?" All it took was for her to say his name and he was being pulled back into the room. He blinked a couple times and sat straight up in the creaking chair, his fists balling up a couple times in attempts to calm his nerves. "I-I'm here Dru. I'm here." It took everything in him to be comforting right now instead of caving to his anger. Dru sounded... rough. Like she had just screamed for hours on end and it shattered him, it made him solidify the plan in his head.

And then there were the goddamned tears. "Dru, I--" Hunter couldn't even get the words out before she was moving to sit up. It caused Hunter to scoot closer to her and shaking his head, his large warm hand gently touching her non injured leg. "Don't move too much, okay?" With a small encouraging smile he tried to reassure her that everything would be okay as he listened to her, his free hand moving to the hand on his knee and resting on top of it. It was clear Dru needed to get some things off her chest and he would listen to every thing she had to say... because he had a few things to say himself. 'Sorry I'm such an idiot', was the first one.

He sat there quietly while the hand on her thigh moved to grab the glass of water on the nightstand. "Here. Drink." Dru continued to talk and it caused his heart to ache, yet he continued to listen as he pointed the straw towards her mouth. She loved him... of course she did. She was willing to step outside of her comfort zone and move in with him, away from her family. They were going to start a life together and then he fucked it all up. He let her go to the manor, and he let her get hurt.

"Dru... I love you more than life itself." A genuine smile tugged at his lips and tears began to well in the corner of his eyes. "I'm sorry. Okay? I... I wanted to tell you. I was scared. It was--" The deep voice cracked for a moment as a lone tear slid down pale cheek. The back of his hand quickly wiped it away and he shook his head quickly. "You deserve to know. How I was out tracking one morning and everything went black. How I woke up to unimaginable pain, to a couple hooded Eaters laughing at me. Weasel. Blood traitor. Muggle lover. The mockery was endless as the crucio'ed me days on end. I -- I thought they were going to kill me." A shudder breath slipped out and his body shivered at the thought. A flash of pain shot across his eyes in an instant before he blinked it away and shook his head.

"A week had gone by. They gave me an option to live, or die. I had my siblings, my parents. I loved my life. So I chose to live, and they chose to give me a mark that would ruin me. So I abandoned everything. For years I abandoned my entire family. A-And then I met you. Then I fell in love with you and that was the best thing in my whole life. It was also the scariest. I-I wanted to be completely honest with you, completely candid, but I was so fucking scared of losing you. I-I froze when you found out, and..." Hunter let out a long exhale before flashing her another gentle smile. "So-- there's no forgiving you, because I never held anything against you. If anything I should ask for forgiveness for being such a dumbass."

 

[KAYDEN]

Cyrus

Loire was alive, she was alive and moving and breathing. It just kept repeating itself over and over in his head as he tried to force out the image of her lying so broken on the ground in front of her family’s estate. He pulled back from her and looked over her face and gave her a bright smile for a moment until it turned sour… “Loire what’s that face for?” She looked so serious, so downtrodden… Cyrus supposed that wasn’t too strange considering what she had gone through but it wasn’t like her to be so stoic. Well, at least not with him. Not like this.

The next words she said were ones he thought he would never hear from her mouth. They had come so far at this point, they had jumped over all of their hurdles and finally became a couple. Now she wanted to be done? Already? It felt like someone had stabbed Cyrus in the check with a knife made of ice. He continued to listen to her words, to the bullshit that he knew full well she didn’t actually believe. Not once did he interrupt her as he watched, her pale hands clutching the sheets and her eyes staring holes through the flooring below them.

“Oh fuck your duty.” It escaped his lips with a scoff, his body leaning forward in the chair he had pulled to her bedside until he was able to grasp her face between his hands and gently force her to look him in the eye. “Loire you are everything I want just as you are. Your duty is bullshit, your family is bullshit and both you and Larkyn know it. Pure blooded heirs, do you even hear yourself Loire?” She pulled away from him and stood with a wince that made Cyrus’ anger bubble up in his chest.

“Will you stop!” Cyrus stood, moving to block her path again and gaining looks from a few of the other patients around them. “You’re not fighting on their side Loire, you’re not walking away from this. I’m not letting you. Even if you decide you don’t want me, can’t be with me… it would kill me but I still wouldn’t let you go back to that house. Back to them.” He said the last few words with so much venom that a chill ran down Cyrus’ spine. “I will lock you up in Azkaban myself if it’ll keep you from this plan of yours.”

Then a plan of his own chimed into his head like a lightbulb going off.

Cyrus gently took her free hand and leaned forward to press his forehead to hers. “Just, take some more time to think this through please. For me. I can take you somewhere safe to heal a bit more and think.” They couldn’t apparate into Grimmauld place nor out of St Mungos but as soon as he could get her outside he would apparate the two of them as close to the townhouse as he could. Then once they were there, he’d find a way to lock her in if he had to until he could talk some fucking sense into her.

 

[ZombieBaee]

Druella “Dru” Malfoy

Hunter wasn’t flinching away from her, he wasn’t pushing her away, he wasn’t looking at her like she was the worst person in the world. Hunter was watching her with care and touching her gently, just that was enough to nearly reduce Dru to tears. She wouldn’t blame him if her hated her but she wasn’t sure if her heart could have handled having him look at her with any hint of disdain. Her steel toned eyes followed his hand as he reached for water and while she appreciated the offer, she ignored it until she was done getting all of the words off her chest. When she was finally done she did finally take the cup and take a long drink before setting it back on the side table and returning her attention to him.

Then Hunter said that he loved her and Dru felt her heart nearly explode in her chest. A small sob escaped her lips as she released a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding in. How had she almost let this go? She was in one of the rockiest and most uncertain times of her life yet just hearing him say he loved her made Dru feel like she was glowing. “No, no Hunter don’t apologize.”

Dru pushed herself up on her arms, cringing a little as her leg moved against the mattress but she needed to sit up and engage in his story. His story that absolutely shattered her heart, she was so upset and angry for him that for a few long moments Dru didn’t even know what to say, what to do. “I told my mom about you.” It just kind of came out, she wasn’t really sure why that was where her mind decided to start but it was. Hunter probably wouldn’t be thrilled to learn that Dru had spoken to the wife of a known death eater about him and his mark but… what she had told Dru gave her some peace of mind and she hoped it could for him as well. “I know it doesn’t change what happened to you, or make it any better. Hearing what they did to you makes me want to kill someone, truly. But my mother made a good point to me when I was struggling with all of this, that you couldn’t have gotten that mark by your own free will. That someone did this to you. You aren’t them Hunter, you didn’t want this and you don’t believe in their message. You don’t bear their mark, you bear a scar with a really really shitty history and culture.” Dru reached over and took his hand, lacing her fingers through his carefully. “I’m sorry I never asked, I’m sorry that I even thought that you might have been… I don’t even know. I know you, I know your heart. I’m just sorry I didn’t trust it.”

“I’ll never run away from you again. No matter what.” Dru leaned forward and rested her forehead against his, closing her eyes and taking in a few long breaths. “We will find a way to be away from all of that darkness, if Potter really is correct about… him… being back, there’s going to come a time where we both end up roped back into that darkness and I won’t let us fall into it. Hunter you are the thing that saved me, I love you so very much and I don’t want to lose our future.” Dru opened her eyes as a few tears slid down her cheeks, her lips spreading into a thin smile that pulled at the wound on her cheek. “Even if you are truly a dork.”

 

[EclipseRosee]

Larkyn Gaunt

“You know what Sapphira, I’m sorry it’s not enough for you that I gave up everything for you. That I walked away from my family and friends. That I ruined relationships. That I now have people looking at me like a fucking monster because of how this all went down.” Larkyn growled, looking over at her with pressed lips and silvery eyes. The whites rimmed with red as he fought the tears that tried to break him. She was worth all of it and he knew it but his sense of self was already waning to thin that the idea of also giving up his true and only place he was fully himself, sharing it with her and the risks that it entailed… it completely broke his mind. The shredding of his already fragile sense of self combating with the terror he had for Sapphira being in this world all the time.. it was too much. “We moved from the places I know to come to London for you, why not also give up the last thing that truly is mine.”

Larkyn clenched his fists over and over as he watched her, the tears falling down her face made him want to move to her and comfort her but he couldn’t. He was just so angry. That’s all he was lately, just anger and frustration, even if his brain could make sense of things logically his rage always seemed to win out. “I didn’t fucking kill him Sapphira ! Why don’t keep throwing that in my face like I don’t already feel terrible enough for not doing my job. You keep bringing up how you failed to protect people but no one every fucking asked you to so just stop!” He yelled after her as she moved out to the living room and after a few moments of blinding rage he stalked out after her.

Larkyn didn’t know what came over him when she mentioned leaving but his vision went red and suddenly he had grabbed her bag and whipped it to the corner of the room roughly. “So things get hard and you bail? I’m not the perfect prince of a man you wanted, it’s not easy to be with me and you give up? Wow Saph.” He scoffed, shoving a hand through his now tossled white locks and smirking wryly. “I thought you loved me but I guess I was wrong.”

 

[Pax Pardus Hale]

Sapphira.

This wasn't fair, none of it was. Sapphira knew that Larkyn was just terrified of losing her, he was hurt, he was lashing out. But how long was Sapphira just supposed to sit on the sidelines and do nothing? Even if he didn't want to be her partner-- it hurt like all hell, but to threaten the only thing that was giving her hope right now? It felt out of line, discouraging. They were both adults, they should be able to pursue whatever dream they had and support each other. And right now this was the only thing that made sense for her to do.

"I never wanted you to give up everyone. I've pushed and pushed for you to make up with Loire and your friends, all I get is rejection. You don't want me to throw a party and reach out, you won't invite them over. I understand you're mad at them Larkyn but you have to make up with them eventually, whether I'm here or not." Sapphira busied herself collecting a few things that she'd need for a few night. She wasn't quite sure how long it'd be until they made up, or even if they'd make up... the thought made tears sting in those pretty green orbs. Losing him was like losing the piece of herself that made her feel whole.

However, those thoughts instantly disappeared the moment her bag was ripped from her hands. It was like everything inside of her went silent; no anxiety, no sadness, no pain. She turned to stare at him with the most broken look on her face, her tears disappearing and leaving glossy eyes. How was this the same man she loved? Who made her feel so happy?

"I never asked for a prince, Larkyn. I asked for you." Sapph took a shaky breath and felt her slim fingers push back some of those copper bangs of hers. "I-I still want you. You and all your smart and protective ways. Even that overly stubborn side of you that's just too damned afraid to lose me." There was no smile on her face, she didn't even know how he could be smiling in this damned moment. "I love you so much Larkyn. This isn't like you. I thought some space would help us, but maybe we could talk to someone, to get an outside perspective. How about Loire or Cyrus?"

For a moment she looked to the bag in the corner and felt almost sick to her stomach. She could take the bag and leave, get some peace of mind, or she could stay and hopefully bring Larkyn back to his senses. No one else was going to help him. "You're right. I'm sorry I tried to leave. Can we take a breath please?" Sapphira took a step closer to him and moved her hands to smooth out a wrinkle on his shirt. With a small awkward smile she looked up at him, hoping that seeing her smile would help calm him down. No tears, no yelling. "I'm not trying to take your identity from you or anything, and I'm not blaming you at all, love. These last few months have been really hard on us both. Let's not take it out on each other."

 

[Pax Pardus Hale]

Loire Gaunt.

Why were boys so dumb? Couldn't he see why she was doing this? Loire wasn't afraid for her life, she was afraid for his. She would've endured so much worse torture even death if it came down to just her life. But threatening Cyrus, he was her one weakness. Surely he knew that right? Loire wanted to reassure him how much she loved him, how much she fucking hated doing this, but she wouldn't have the strength to walk away after that.

Pale blues watched him with a stern expression as he moved to block her path. She almost preferred living the rest of her life in Azkaban over a minute more with her family, but that wasn't the deal. Marry, serve, obey, and Cyrus ad Larkyn would be left unharmed. Before she could argue him, however, he was leaning close to her again and making her pale face heat up to a rosy tint. Her better senses were telling her to pull from him and refuse his offer, but instincts had her leaning against his forehead in turn, her free hand giving his a small squeeze in return.

"I'll rest there for a few days Cyrus. For you... After that you know I have to go back." Her eyes begged him to understand her situation, to accept it, but she knew it was a futile effort. The least she could do was give him a few days after all that hell he went though saving her. A small sigh slipped past her lips and she leaned up to affectionately brush her nose against his. It killed her to cause him any pain, Cyrus deserved nothing but good things and all Loire ever did was hurt him. He'd be better off without her in the long run.

She wanted to kiss him or comfort him in some sort of way, instead she peeled herself away from him and walked out the door. She walked at a much slower paced than normal as every step hurt her aching body. Yet, Loire was always fierce and stubborn, she'd be damned if she let anyone know just how bad she hurt. Eventually the battered woman stepped outside of St Mungo's, her cast arm held close to her as her attention went to Cyrus. "They broke my wand. So I'll have to rely on you for transportation."

 

[Sir Damien]

Weasley.

There was a brief silence between the two of them after he finished his spiel that felt like eternity. When he told Cyrus he didn't feel this fear weighing on his heart; Cyrus rejecting him was likely possible, but it wouldn't break his heart and crush his soul. Dru was the one person he cared desperately about her opinion. So when the first thing she said was she told her mother about him he instantly wanted to throw up the breakfast Cyrus guilted him into eating. The two of them had broke up and weren't on exactly the best of terms, and he could only assume her mother already had some nasty preconceptions about him because he was a Weasley.

Much to his shock it seemed her mother completely understood his situation. Hunter was still a kid when the first war broke out, there was no way he would've gotten this on his own accord-- especially considering who his family was. That... wasn't even something he thought to tell Dru when it all came out. He knew her reaction to the mark and he panicked, he pushed her away before he could even try to pull her back in. Even Cyrus told him all he had to do was go back to her and explain, Hunter just could never find it in him. What if she still rejected him? He couldn't handle it twice.

He never once thought about just how comforting she would be because he didn't think he was worthy of it. But her words, those hit home. The mark, the curse that was forced upon him, it was scar. Tears burned in his eyes as he never even took a second to think of it like that, his heart exploding in a fit of happiness over those sweet words of her. "C-Come on now, don't you go apologizing too. Your reaction was completely valid." His free hand that wasn't laced together with hers wiped away a stray tear before it got to the fuzzy ginger beard covering the bottom half of his face.

The space between them closed as her forehead pressed to hers and he didn't bother protesting, not that he wanted to. A relieved sigh brushed against her lips as he leaned forwards to her so she didn't strain so much. Her words were everything he needed to hear, and while he appreciated them more than anything deep down inside he felt such an overwhelming guilt. When the time came Hunter was going to answer the call and kill every single one of them. Or, at the least he was going to kill her father. The wound on her cheek, her foot... he wouldn't rest easy until that man was six feet under.

Everything else they could tackle together, but this was something he needed to do on his own.

"I love you too Dru. We'e-- We'll have that future. I promise. Let's just... get past this part, yeah?" His free hand cupped the back of her had, cradling the most precious thing in his entire life. He looked up at her with the gentlest of smiles. He loved this woman, he would do anything for her. Speaking of... "You're coming with me. Okay? I- Not to the apartment right now. We'll go there eventually but right now I need to know you're safe. Cyrus has me staying at this safehouse right now, your father won't be able to find it."

Hunter slid the hand from behind her head and rested against her cheek so he could plant a long affirming kiss on her lips. They were back together stronger than before and Hunter was going to protect her at all costs. Before long he pulled away and gave her an almost cocky grin. "We'll get you new clothes. Whatever you need. Just, you and Jade are never going back to that house again." With that said he stood to his full height and reached out his hand for Jade to climb aboard, running up his arm and tucking herself into the breast pocket of her shirt like he belonged there. "You ready?"

Apparating probably wouldn't of been her first mode of transportation at this point of time, but it wasn't like she was going to be walking anytime soon.

 

[EclipseRosee]

Larkyn Gaunt

This was it, this was the last thing that finally broke the person that Larkyn knew he was, the person he wanted to be and the person he fought so fucking hard to become. There was no more fighting off the demons anymore, he didn't have the strength. He crumbled to the floor as sobs began to roll from his body, his arms moving around his body to clutch onto his own shirt in some attempt to calm himself down. Everything fucking hurt. It wasn't that he was mad at them, he wasn't mad at anyone aside from himself. He was absolutely shattered that they didn't want to try and love the person he was behind the mask. That they wanted him to accept their new horizons but had called him a traitor and Sapphira a whore. It was impossible to let that soft person out anymore, the person who believed in destiny and real love. That person got him in too much trouble and being this... complete monster fractured his heart.

Larkyn tried to listen as Sapphira talked but his mind was going at the speed of light, pieces of words came through and he struggled to piece together the sentences in the midst of his climbing panic attack. "I can't lose anything else. If I lose you I have nothing that keeps me tethered to this earth and I'm already hanging on by a string Sapph." He choked out the words as she leaned down to face him, her hand against his shirt felt like pure fire. "Please just don't go. Please." He begged her, his breaths finally slowing and his hands unclenching from his sides. "I don't want to be like this. I don't know how to stop it. I don't know how to think clearly anymore. I don't know how to breathe when I feel like the water is up to my eyes. I'm absolutely drowning and I've lost my ability to swim."

With a small movement forward Larkyn was on his knees with his arms wrapped tightly around Sapphira's middle, his face buried in her hair. He never wanted to make her scared, make her cry or hurt her. But Larkyn knew one thing, he refused to lose her. He would keep her safe even if it meant destroying himself in the process... he just had to find out how to make sure that happened without making her feel like this ever again.

 

[ZombieBaee]

Druella "Dru" Malfoy

Dru watched his eyes from inches away as he spoke, her heart felt so warm and full in her chest, it made a small part of her want to reach over and punch him for making her feel like such a loser. But for once Dru told that spicy side of herself to calm down and just let herself be soft for a moment. "Anywhere." Her words were barely a whisper in response to the safe house as Hunter's lips pressed to hers in a kiss that consumed her fully. For a few blissful moments all of her pain went away and she melted into him, this man that she loved so so much.
Hunter fucking Weasley.

When Hunter pulled back and smiled at her Dru couldn't help but smirk herself, her eyes rolling before she moved her hands down the sides of his face and through his beard. "I don't need new clothes, I just need you. And Jade." She paused for a minute and watched him as he stood up, "Well and maybe for you to shave that scratchy thing. The mountain man thing is working for you but NOT working for my skin." Her eyes glanced down at her own body and she shuddered slightly at the state of herself, she was in his old worn pajamas and her hair was an unkept mess. "Okay on second thought I take back what I said about the clothes. But the sentimate stands. The only IMPORTANT thing, is you guys." Dru grinned as she watched Jade shuffle from her spot on the bed to happily find her spot in Hunter's pocket. Man-stealer.

You ready? The question felt so much heavier than he intended it. "Yes." It was such a simple answer but Dru meant it in so many ways than just leaving the house right now. She meant that she was ready for everything, she was ready to love him fully and completely, she was ready to move forward, ready to face whatever came at them head on. Dru knew now that there was nothing in this world that could hurt her more than walking away from Hunter again and that made her fear fade away so easily. "No floo then I presume?" The idea of apparating was a bit terrifying as of late but she trusted Hunter to get them there unharmed, though he may have to literally drag her there on this damn leg. "Well, help me up then big guy."

 

[ZombieBaee]

Delaney Wilson

Delaney didn't know how to feel, she had a family out there but they truly didn't want her. As a child she had always dreamed about what happened to her parents, she assumed they had died, to her that was the only thing that had made sense. That thought had always made her a bit sad but this was heartbreaking. It wasn't that they had passed on and couldn't keep her, it was that they just didn't want to keep her. Delaney was some tossed aside bastard child, she had to be, that's what everything in this box led to right? Her eyes lifted from the papers as Seb placed his finger against her chin and tilted her towards him. Her watery brown eyes watched his face as he spoke and without warning she moved to lean against him, her head falling against his shoulder and her thin arm wrapping around his waist as they sat on the floor. Seb was right, he and Neville were her family, Gran was her family even though she had hurt Delaney more often than family should. Maybe the woman was trying to hide this truth from ever reaching her... from hurting her like this.

"I don't want to look at it anymore right now." Delaney sniffled a little as her forehead pressed against the warm skin of his neck. "We still have so much stuff to get done right? I mean we came over here to pack up and clean, not for me to have a mental breakdown." She laughed curtly at herself as she finally raised her head and wiped her nose with the back of her sleeve. She was sure she looked a mess, she knew her eyes and nose had to be red and her cheeks tear stained.

"Let's just pack it up to take back to the house okay?" Delaney wanted to look more just not now, not sitting against the cold floor of a cold home. Sitting in this place that once held so much life was hard enough without this added to it. P

 

[Sir Damien]

Weasley.

There was no hesitation as Hunter scooped Dru up into those strong arms of his. Despite his lack of motivation to eat or exercise, more or less anything, he still had the same muscles underneath those 'mountain man' clothes of his. Just like that he held her close to his chest and swirling magic surrounded them, transporting them directly outside the Order house. The house they would call home sweet home for the next week.

...Or, home sweet headache.

The first two days were great. It didn't matter where they were, Dru was home. Was she in the small bedroom that Hunter had to himself? Yes, but they were together. she was safe. He tended to every want, wish, or need of hers despite her constant attempts to get him to relax. He would carry her everywhere despite Sirius finding them a crutch for her to use; to the couch to socialize, the shower, bed, whatever she needed. Hunter had never been happier!

Then the family moved in. Correction, HIS family moved in. If it was any other family they wouldn't have been so involved in his business, but his mother? She was everywhere, constantly offering them snacks or baked goods or a full blown meal... okay, that part was nice. The twins heckled him on his girlfriend (they should take a page from his book and get girlfriends), Ginny was always correcting him and telling him he was doing something wrong be it wrapping Dru's wound to making tea. He had no clue how Dru enjoyed the whole family being there.

On top of all that Hunter was figuring out his master plan. How he'd lie to the Death Eaters, how he needed to make sure that Dru was safe, secure, and permanently away from her father. He wanted to keep her away from her brother too, he could only assume that Draco had followed in the family steps, but he wouldn't take away her sibling. Not yet, not until he gave Hunter a reason to cut him off. Losing a father was already pain enough.

Hence why Hunter had left their bedroom so early this morning. He had to catch Sirius before everyone got up and go over his master plan. Dru had a home here and that wouldn't change when Hunter left for the Eaters; and should he live, he'd feed information to Sirius. It'd be a secret where the man went, he'd make sure that Dru was safe... that's all he could ask for.

"Goooood morning!" Hunter walked into the room with an obnoxiously positive attitude. He wore a familiar red flannel button up, familiar black socks, though there was one thing different this morning. The ginger beard that he had kept all week long was now gone, leaving nothing but the pale smooth skin in all of its glory. He sat down a tray of tea and freshly made breakfast on the small table near the window before making his way over to her to plant a warm kiss on Dru's forehead. "How'd you sleep? Got any big plans for the day?" The tall man spoke with a small smirk knowing damn well she didn't have anything planned.

 

[Pax Pardus Hale]

Loire Gaunt.

Over the next week Loire spent most of the days sleeping in their room. The times she were awake she spent with Cyrus, picking at food whenever he made her eat, and was far more quiet than she was usually. There was a tension between the two of them that was palpable; Cyrus didn't want her to leave and had no intentions on letting her go back to the manor, and Loire knew she had to sooner rather than later. But... he picked out this place for them. He wanted her to recover a little before she left... it was the least she could do to stay.

It wasn't that she wanted to leave and he knew that. There was a war coming though and Loire couldn't be at Cyrus's side the whole time. If she was with the Death Eaters though her father promised to not kill him and she'd be able to keep an eye on the eaters. She'd be able to protect Cyrus, Larkyn, she could kill her father and Voldemort, or she would die trying. It was the least she could do for the people she loved the most.

"I told you that I have to leave." Loire didn't bother looking up from the suitcase as she finished packing her bag. It was the only suitcase of hers that actually made it to the apartment so she had been living out of it, not unpacking it like Cyrus insisted she did. Packing was going a bit slower than normal since the frail woman still had her one arm in the cast, so it was a bit messy as she stacked her black clothes on top of other black clothes. She had been here for a week, her father ordered her to return as soon as she was able to. Today was the first day she didn't sleep twelve to sixteen hours so, time to go.

After folding the suitcase lid over the black luggage it made a zipping noise as she secured it, her hand gripping the handle and pulling it off of the bed with a pained groan. Truly she was still in no condition to be doing anything, but this was Loire we were talking about. Stubborn until the very end.

"I need you to take me back to the manor." The small woman looked up at him with those bright blue eyes of hers and a small, sad smile tugged on her lips. All of the physical wounds had healed up save for the arm and stomach wounds, of which she still refused to let Cyrus see. "I really don't have a choice Cyrus. He's threatening you and Larkyn and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if either of you got hurt. You know I wouldn't be leaving otherwise, right?"

 

[Pax Pardus Hale]

Sapphira

There were two different directions Sapphira could have gone; be true to herself and follow the Auror footsteps, leave the apartment and figure out things with Larkyn once they had some breathing room, or stay and help Larkyn. She didn't want to leave him, far from it. And to see him so broken... it shattered her. All the animosity between the two faded away. Sapphira put down her bags and immediately returned to help comfort Larkyn and pick up the pieces of the sobbing man. In their apartment, in the place that was slowly feeling like a prison more than anything.

She was suffocating, but for now Sapphira swallowed all that down. She put on her best face, her prettiest smile, Sapphira became the most supportive girlfriend she could. Her days became taking care of Larkyn and doing the best to make sure he felt loved, to make sure he knew that he always had someone rooting for him. She had written letters to Cyrus, to Loire, even Dru! There were no responses, but she wanted everyone to squash this. From tea to movies, taking daytime naps together, to even the one board game they had Sapphira made sure that Larkyn and her were always doing something. And for the week it felt like they were making some progress.

...only, they weren't. They hadn't discussed her Auror plans once, and Sapphira was so distracted she didn't even notice. Larkyn took time off of work and everything for them to work on things and while things felt much better it was only a temporary fix.

Sapphira had woke up early to make croissants from scratch and brew some tea from their last remaining tea bags. Now that she thought about it they were running low on just about everything. So while the croissants cooled she made a list of everything they needed before making her way into the bedroom, sliding on a pair of black jeans and a white button up blouse. "Larkyn, honey~" With a singsongy tune the copper haired woman moved to where her boyfriend was resting, her lips landing sweetly on his cheek. "I have to run to the market. Tea is ready and I made some croissants. I'll be back soon."

And with that she was quickly moving to the door, the skip in her step back she was feeling so good. Tin fingers slipped her black purse strap over her shoulder and she made her move to leave the apartment.

...Or, she tried to leave. As soon as her fingertips met the door there was a literal shock to her. It was strong enough to instantly pull her hand back and to her chest. Confusion flooded her and her brows narrowed with concern, all the while her heart pounded loudly in her chest and ears. What the hell just happened? Once more she attempted to open the door to meet the same shock, this time one that made her jump back a step or two. "Larkyn I think our door has been hexed!"

 

[EclipseRosee]

Larkyn Gaunt

How in the hell was he supposed to come back from this? From this utterly pathetic excuse of a person that he was currently being? Larkyn was once so charismatic and headstrong but life had just whipped him around like a rag doll and instead of rising to the challenge he fell apart. Clearly it had driven the man crazy to the point of growing so paranoid he placed a protective hex on the apartment to keep everyone out, but also Sapphira in. Was it downright creepy and over stepping, yes probably… but Larkyn meant it when he said he couldn’t watch her get hurt. All his life he watched his sister and mother get hurt by their father and other members of their family and friends. If The Dark Lord really was on the rise once more… Larkyn knew how bad that would be for witches like Sapphira.

The past week Larkyn had taken time off work to stay at home and hopefully keep Sapphiras mind off the auror subject, or the fact that she was unable to leave the house. Thankfully it seemed that she hadn’t noticed that last bit yet and Larkyn took most of the week to simply rest and try his best to get control of his mind once more. However now as he sat in his armchair near their window, reading the newspaper and watching the street below, he heard Sapphira say something from the other room. Then the sound of her footsteps neared him and it wasn’t until Sapphira was right besides him that he realized what was happening.

“Wait Sapphira! I can run. No need for you to go, you’ve been working around the apartment all day my love.” Larkyn scambled to get out of his chair and chase after her with a swear under his breath. By the time he caught up she was looking at the door with wide eyes and Larkyn instantly knew he had been caught. His brain started working in hyper speed to come up with an explanation for the doorknob, something he probably should have done before this moment, and he was coming up blank due to the panic rising in his throat. “Oh I’m sure it’s not hexed Saph, probably just some static energy or something? Let me try.” Larkyn gently pushed passed her to reach for the door and placed his hand against the metal, grunting a bit as he tried to pretend he wasn’t affected by the shock. “See? Nothing. But listen, really I can go Sapph. Just write me a list of what you need and I’ll run fast and be right back.”

Larkyn swiftly moved from the door, shaking out his hand a bit as he moved to grab the parchment and pen from the side of their fridge. “Whatever you need babe, and I can even stop at the little candy store down the block to get some of those new sweets you’ve wanted to try to bring home.”

 

[EclipseRosee]

Larkyn Gaunt

How in the hell was he supposed to come back from this? From this utterly pathetic excuse of a person that he was currently being? Larkyn was once so charismatic and headstrong but life had just whipped him around like a rag doll and instead of rising to the challenge he fell apart. Clearly it had driven the man crazy to the point of growing so paranoid he placed a protective hex on the apartment to keep everyone out, but also Sapphira in. Was it downright creepy and over stepping, yes probably… but Larkyn meant it when he said he couldn’t watch her get hurt. All his life he watched his sister and mother get hurt by their father and other members of their family and friends. If The Dark Lord really was on the rise once more… Larkyn knew how bad that would be for witches like Sapphira.

The past week Larkyn had taken time off work to stay at home and hopefully keep Sapphiras mind off the auror subject, or the fact that she was unable to leave the house. Thankfully it seemed that she hadn’t noticed that last bit yet and Larkyn took most of the week to simply rest and try his best to get control of his mind once more. However now as he sat in his armchair near their window, reading the newspaper and watching the street below, he heard Sapphira say something from the other room. Then the sound of her footsteps neared him and it wasn’t until Sapphira was right besides him that he realized what was happening.

“Wait Sapphira! I can run. No need for you to go, you’ve been working around the apartment all day my love.” Larkyn scambled to get out of his chair and chase after her with a swear under his breath. By the time he caught up she was looking at the door with wide eyes and Larkyn instantly knew he had been caught. His brain started working in hyper speed to come up with an explanation for the doorknob, something he probably should have done before this moment, and he was coming up blank due to the panic rising in his throat. “Oh I’m sure it’s not hexed Saph, probably just some static energy or something? Let me try.”

 

[KAYDEN]

Cyrus

Loire “had” to go back, at least that was what she said and what Cyrus allowed her to believe he agreed with. Unbeknownst to her however, he felt like that was a total load of horse shit and there was no way in hell he was ever letting her step back foot in that manor again, if she did it would be over his dead body. Loire could had him if she wanted, she could leave him or be mad until they died but as long as Cyrus was able to keep her safe from those monsters he would be okay with it. So that was what he did, he took her away from that place and took her to the headquarters for the Order. It was an old townhouse that was part of the Black family that had laid abandoned for ages now, hidden right in the heart of London amidst muggle homes and only found by secret entrance. The home was warded as well as Azkaban itself and Cyrus felt confident that not only Loire but all of them would be safe there with Sirius and the rest of the order.

So if Loire refused to stay put in the nice apartment he had found for them? He would take her to the townhouse with him so he and everyone else could keep watch over her. Cyrus couldn’t stay in the apartment around the clock to keep her from fleeing anymore and clearly she wasn’t listening to reason. If Cyrus had to lock her up like a prisoner to keep her from doing something stupid, he fucking would. “Loire stop! This is insanity. You can’t go back there? Why would you?” He watched with a grimace as she packed, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the door. It pained him to watch her struggle and not help her but there was no way he was going to make this process go any faster, if there was anyway to convince her to listen to reason before he had to become the bad guy he would.

Although it didn’t seem to be working because soon enough she was looking up at him with those sad doe eyes, asking him to take her back. “No.” Cyrus said it casually, shrugging his shoulders before reaching out both hands to cup her face gently. “Loire what kind of man would I be if I willingly took you back to that place ? To those people who hurt you that way? You’re still not even fully healed!” He let out an exasperated sigh and let his forehead rest against hers lightly. “I like to think you love me because of who I am, and I wouldn’t be me if I just packed you up to send you off to death. But if you don’t want to stay here, I’ll find a compromise okay? And don’t say no. I don’t care that your asshole of a father is threatening me and you know damn well your brother can handle himself just fine. It’s literally his job to take care of wizards like your father.”

Then without warning he reached into his pocket and presented a silver bracelet with a few small dangling charms, a little black cat, a diamond and a red heart. Cyrus moved swiftly to clasp it around Loires wrist and the moment that he did the clasp itself disappeared and an aura of magic shrouded the bracelet. “Or we could not compromise and I could do this.” Cyrus shot her a scared look that screamed he was sorry but not really before grabbing her suitcase in one hand and hers in the other before they were spinning through space itself, apparating to the small alleyway besides the townhouse. He hated that it had come to this but this was better than locking her up in the apartment by herself right?

Cyrus led her towards the sunlit sidewalk and once they were there turned to face the townhomes, discreetly pulling out his wand and flicking it whilst speaking an incantation under his breath that caused the brick to begin to shake and grow until suddenly there was a fully new townhome in the middle that the two of them walked into. “Guys! We’re here, is anyone home?” He shouted into the large and dark home before letting the door shut behind them, pushing her suitcase towards Kreacher as the house elf appeared. “Please take care of this for Miss Gaunt.” He could tell the thing wanted to spit at him as usual for being mixed blood but the mention of the Gaunt last name had caught him off guard so instead he grumbled and disappeared upstairs with the luggage. “Sorry to kidnap you Loire but I felt like there was no other choice.” The bracelet around her wrist was charmed to not let the wearer out of the townhouse and it had to be removed by him or anyone else who knew the counter charm, which was only Hunter. “But trust me, this place is safe for us all. And Hunter and I are trying to reach Larkyn to get him and Sapphira here.”

 

[ZombieBaee]

Druella “Dru” Malfoy

Dru was fairly certain that she had died back in her altercation with her father, there was no other explanation for how she had ended up in her own strange version of heaven. Sure she was hurt but she was spending every day waking up next to Hunter, she was with him every moment and whenever she wasn’t she had family around her. Real family. The Weasleys had accepted her with arms open and Dru couldn’t have been happier, plus her actual Uncle was here… though that was a hard pill for her to swallow at first. She had never believed all the stories about her uncle Sirius but even so it was strange to see him in the flesh. Dru wasn’t naive enough to believe things would be this lovely forever, they all couldn’t just hide in the shadows while the world outside fell to shit no matter how tempting that may be. The home they were staying with, his great grandmothers old home, was the headquarters for a growing and rebuilding group of people who planned to fight against Voldemort and his return. Dru wanted to be a part of that more than anything, it lit a fire in her that she hadn’t felt in a long time and between that and finding Hunter… it felt like she was finally on the path to the life she had dreamed of. Even though she had never really known it.

“Morning.” Dru said softly, smiling brightly from where she sat at the vanity brushing her hair. The small room was definitely not what she was used to but it had everything she could possibly need in a bedroom. This wasn’t like the manor where she spent every moment she could locked away from everyone, here she liked being out and socializing with them all. “Oh! Your face!” Dru cheered a bit as she caught a full look at him without the beard, her hands gently holding the sides of his face as she turned him side to side to inspect him. “Not saying the beard wasn’t handsome but I am so happy to have you back in your original form.” She stretched her neck to plant a quick kiss to his lips before moving away from him to finish getting dressed for the day. Her leg was still bandaged in places now but not so badly that she couldn’t walk or wear normal clothes so today she opted for a plain grey sweater and some jeans. Everything here was so much simpler and more comfortable and Dru couldn’t believe how much she loved it.

“No pla-“ Downstairs she head Cyrus’ voice ring out and her eyes went a bit wide, “Did he just say we?”