Fandom The Gathering of Death Eater Children

[Junko Natsumizaka]

"It is not like what you think," Elias replied quietly. "I am...I am.....I saw you at Azkaban and yet it was not you, then you suddenly changed your appearance into an angel...it was unexpected.." He laughed uncertainly.

He is confused, and understandably so. I assume even a day in that place has taken a toll on his ability to distinguish reality from. . . .never mind.

"...well never mind, I believed you when you told me that you are not angel but an odd witch.." Here he looked her into her eyes and smiled, the same lovingly smile he always used to share with her before, then he continued with an expressionless face: "Hopefully I'll get past this with time. It's have been a lot to me, all the humiliation and distress I faced with the trials and the short amount of time I spent at Azkaban. I do not know what could have become of me if you had not rescued me...." He paused.

"I understand." was all Luna could say. She was unsure of how to react properly to the look in his eyes.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke. "Anyway, I have a feeling that whenever we spend time together I get more closer to you...."

Such honesty. . . I am so confused. . . should I take the strong, colder reaction, or the closer, more understanding one? Times like this are difficult, as I can tell that having a heart would have made it a much easier decision.

"...I still love you but it is your choice if you want to love me in return or not and I respect your choices.." He finished.

Luna took a deep breath, not breaking eye contact. "It is times like this in which I wish I did still have my heart, as it would be easy to understand if I feel the same way you do. " she paused for a moment, quickly putting together another sentence. "However, I do know for sure, that when we talk, or play music. . . even that kiss.. . " her gaze was distant, as if she were reliving the memories. Inside, of course, she was laughing that he was buying it. "That I do feel something. . . like a small bit of light, inside a very dark place. . . seen and felt, but still faint. I have never felt that before. . . and even though I do not have a heart, I long to be with you, as much as possible. When we are together, I dread saying farewell. I do not wish for it to end. " she looked up at him, and he understood.

Meanwhile

Crystal looked out her window in her room at the manor, as she ate her portion. Luna is not at all like her father. I still cannot believe she is half as terrifying, yet more successful than He ever was. I do not know how she does it. She finished her meal, and washed for bed. Aislynn is so trendy and cool. . . not stuck up like Robert. I want to get to know her better. I wonder what she thinks of me. . . she thought as she drifted off.

Meanwhile

Robert picked a rose from one of the bushes, and removed the thorns. He did this a few times, making a bouquet of roses, which he placed in a conjured vase. He walked to Aislynn's room, and knocked on the door. When she opened it up, he bowed deeply, and spoke charmingly as he held up the flowers: "Good evening, Aislynn. These flowers are so lovely, the reminded me of your own beauty and grace. " he smiled as he handed them to her.

 

[Hikari Chan]

"It is times like this in which I wish I did still have my heart, as it would be easy to understand if I feel the same way you do. " Luna paused for a moment

Elias hold his breath as he waited for her to finish her speech.

"However, I do know for sure, that when we talk, or play music…even that kiss..." her gaze was distant, as if she were reliving the memories. "That I do feel something…like a small bit of light, inside a very dark place…seen and felt, but still faint. I have never felt that before…and even though I do not have a heart, I long to be with you, as much as possible. When we are together, I dread saying farewell. I do not wish for it to end.” she looked up at him, and he understood.

"...and it won't end..." He filled in. "...as long as you feel happy with me..." He smiled, feeling a little better than he had been doing since the terrible incidents.

Meanwhile

Aislinn had just finished her meal when there was a knock at her door.
Who the bloody hell is disturbing me again...? She thought as she opened the door with a grimace to find the last person she wished to see on earth.

Robert bowed deeply and spoke charmingly as he held up the flowers:

"Good evening, Aislynn. These flowers are so lovely, the reminded me of your own beauty and grace." he smiled as he handed them to her.

Huh? Lovely? Beauty? Grace…? she thought as she stared confusingly at the red roses. If he had not spoken my name, I would have thought that this fool might have hallucinated me as Luna...

"Uuuhh..." She stood there, still grimacing as she was wondering what kind of occasion it was during a usual day of the late April. My birthday is on the 22th December and the Valentine's day, which I actually detest, is on the 14th February...perhaps Robert is a little drunk?

They both stood there looking at each other for an awkward moment of silence during which Aislinn was wondering if she should humor Robert the same way as Luna humored Elias.

"ok..." She shrugged as she took the vase and tried not to slam the door in front of his face when she closed it. She brought the vase with her to the floor length mirror. When she looked in the mirror she was met by a girl with short messy hair, dressed in black ripped trousers and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a few opened buttons revealing all her tattoos. The red roses beside Aislinn made her image look like as someone was trying to pair two different colored socks.

"Bleewwhh..." She grimaced. I am not a flower type...I even hated herbology at school...what shall I do with this gaudy gift... She looked around in her room which was messy. The bed undone. The plate on the floor. Clothes here and there. Her manipulated muggle device was on her bedtime table. Hmm there's no room here for a gaudy vase with flowers...perhaps it would suit the dining table? Aislinn picked her wand and used it to cast a special spell at her door making it transparent, but only allowing her to view anyone who stood outside but the outsider could not see her. Robert was gone thus Aislinn took her chance and hurried down to the dining room.
She opened the doors and entered with the vase in her arms and was met by an unexpected view. Why the bloody hell didn't I use my special door spell before entering here... She thought as she stared at Luna and Elias who were eating in silence. They both looked at Aislinn unexpectedly as if she was an unwelcoming guest disturbing their romantic moment.

"Euhh hello lovebirds," Aislinn said without thinking. "A gift..."She hold up the vase with the red roses. "...from me to you to celebrate your reunion tonight..." She put the vase in front of them both at the dining table. She left them both in astonishment and surprise as she hurried out from the dining room, feeling very awkward, and closed the doors behind her. Merlin's beard, they'll surely think that I must be the weirdest girl on the earth... Aislinn thought as she closed her door, locked it and put up security barriers before she went to sleep.

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

"Uuuhh..." She stood there, still grimacing, and Robert wondered if he had done something wrong. Is she allergic? Perhaps I should have asked Crystal what she likes, so as to get a better gift.

An awkward moment passed, before Aislynn spoke. "ok.."

Robert stood there politely as she took the flowers, and closed the door. He remained there for a moment longer, before he heard Aislynn's grimace.

"Bleewwhh..."

"Flowers are not her cup of tea, then." Robert said quietly to himself, feeling foolish that he had thought of roses for someone who dressed like a Gothic punk with uneven hair. He walked away, thinking his next gift should be taking her to a store where they sold her type of clothing.

Meanwhile

"..and it won't end.." He filled in. "...as long as you feel happy with me.." He smiled.

"Thank you." Luna said, her sad eyes growing happier.

At that moment, Aislynn walked in, and Elias and Luna looked at her for a moment, unsure of what to do.

Luna was about to ask her if there was anything she needed, and offer a slice of pie in the cooling cupboard, when she spoke first.

"Euuhh hello lovebirds," Aislynn said awkwardly. "A gift...from me to you to celebrate your reunion tonight.." She put the vase in front of them both at the dining table, and left the room quickly.

"She must be stressed from the battle." Luna said mildly. They finished their dinner, then Luna offered Elias a slice of pie. She went into the kitchen, and cut the pie into eight slices, sending one to Crystal, Robert, Elias, herself, and Aislynn, though she left Aislynn's on the table by her door. Luna and Elias enjoyed the pie together, before she bid him goodnight as she went upstairs, and setting the dishes to do themselves.

Morning

Crystal woke up early, and was ready to go by seven. She dressed in her usual long black coat, which she never took off. It was really a cross between a long coat, and a robe, but she didn't care. She knocked on Aislynn's door, only once it had reached eight o' clock. "Good morning." she smiled. "I was thinking maybe we could hang out a bit in Knockturn Alley before tonight. Luna said it would be fine. " she assured her. I hope she agrees. I like her. . .she is laid back and honest. . .the polar opposite of Robert. I just hope she doesn't ask about my. . . coat. Everyone always does. . .even on school breaks, everyone used to laugh at my sense of style.

 

[Hikari Chan]

Aislinn had just finished dressing, in pure black muggle clothing as usual, and brushed her hair neatly, when there was a knock at her door. She sighed. If that's Robert, I'll pretend I’m sleeping... She thought as the used her door spell. Finding out that it was Crystal standing outside her room, she got relieved and opened the door.

"Morning," Aislinn grinned. She noticed that Crystal was elegant dressed in a long black coat. Aislinn on the contrary was dressed in a pair of black plain trousers without rips and holes, and a hooded sweater. She had already put on her hood. I hope Crystal does not mind muggle clothing or my kind of style... Aislinn thought as she remembered the argument about her manipulated muggle device, which she had with Rosa the night before the battle against Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Good morning." Crystal smiled. "I was thinking maybe we could hang out a bit in Knockturn Alley before tonight. Luna said it would be fine."

"Allright!" Aislinn replied smilingly. She closed the door behind her and picked up the slice of pie which Luna had left for her on a table outside her room. She devoured it with four equal bites.

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

Crystal smiled happily at Aislynn's enthusiastic reply. "Wonderful! There is a newer clothing store that I would love to try out!" she smiled. She watched as Aislynn ate her pie, having had hers last night. "Luna is such a wonderful chef." Crystal said. "I skipped cooking with magic on the premise that it was for silly girls that wanted to become the perfect wives. " They apparated away to Knockturn Alley, and Crystal led Aislynn to the new store.

As soon as Aislynn set eye on the store, she understood what kind of clothing they sold. The store was called Darkest Creatures, and in the window display were the loveliest Gothic skirts, dresses, coats, torn skirts, and tall boots. Crystal smiled toward Aislynn, and they entered the clothing store.

Meanwhile

Luna stood at the head of the long table, inside their Second Room of Requirement, addressing the death eaters gathered there.

Robert sat a few seat down from Luna, though Crystal's and Aislynn's seats were empty.

"As I said, the final plan for our battle shall be reviewed once more tonight." she said in her business like tone. "For those of you who weren't here this morning. "

Luna heard Avery issue a cough that sounded like 'Aislynn.'

"None of that." Luna said darkly toward Avery "They have already been told the plan, so they may do as they please. Now-" she addressed them all once again. "As I said last night, most of you, I am sure, are missing children, or else other loved ones." A murmur of agreement, and she continued. "As you can see, my locator potion worked well-" she gestured to the couple who had recently found their child. "So, if any of you will be needing any, please take some. " She placed a bag of small vials in the center of the table, for those who needed it. "Supplies are limited, and it is not exactly a simply recipe, but please make do with what you have. Each bottle contains enough for one usage. In addition, I am sure there are many of you who need healing potions, as a result of your stay in Azkaban. " She placed three bags of vials, one green, one red, and one light yellow. "The green is for malnutrition, the red is for physical ailments, and the yellow is for poor emotional status. Please note that the yellow does not make you happy, but allows you to think clearly enough to be able to cope with your less. . .favorable thoughts or memories. " She paused for a moment, long enough for everyone to issue their gratitude, then finished. "In conclusion, I am happy you can appreciate the difference between me and my father, from what you have heard, and what a few of you have actually experienced. I would like each of you to write your names on a piece of paper, so that I may properly understand my advantage in battle. Farewell." she said with a respectful bow. Before she left, she turned to Robert, using a mocking tone. "Robert?"

"Yes, mistress?"

"Next time you decide to. . . decorate-" she gestured to the room "Use your imagination. Unless you are attempting to make a fool of yourself."

 

[Hikari Chan]

"Wonderful! There is a newer clothing store that I would love to try out!" Crystal smiled.

"Cool..." Aislinn replied as soon as she had finished the slice of pie.

"Luna is such a wonderful chef. I skipped cooking with magic on the premise that it was for silly girls that wanted to become the perfect wives."

"I skipped the subject because I don't have the patience with cooking, and it was not popular among the Slytherin students hehe..." And I also had enough of Avery, Macnair and Nott who always bullied me.... Aislinn thought to herself.

They apparated away to Knockturn Alley, and Crystal led Aislynn to the new store, which was called Darkest Creatures.

"Woaahh!" Aislinn looked so overwhelmed at the displayed gorgeous clothes and boots

They smiled at each other, Aislinn almost biting her lower lip of excitement, as they entered the store.

They walked around among the clothes, Aislinn nearly touched every piece of clothing. She got stuck among black coats styled as dresses with rich lace along the sleeves, collars and hems.
I am sure that Vincent would love to see me dressed in this... Aislinn thought absentminded as she fingered on one of that kind of coat. She was smiling like a fool first and then her smile faltered when she suddenly realized what she truly had been thinking about. Huh...what the bloody hell...I do not love him...right.....As a human I will never be able to have a happy future with a vampire... she thought as she left the coats and looked at simple black silky dresses to distract herself with something else.

Aislinn lost the count of the time as she and Crystal browsed among the clothes, shoes and boots, trying out almost everything they find lovely. They commented and complimented cheerfully each other while looking at themselves in the mirrors in a grand fitting room which hold smaller fitting rooms for those who wanted to try on the clothes alone.

At last Aislinn bought some nice things, a silky dress with long sleeve and moderate neckline with leggings which were ripped like cobwebs, a pair of leather pants, a long-trailed coat, some boots and also the certain laced dress coat.

Meanwhile

Almost everyone had gathered around a long table, of which at the head of it the dark mistress stood. Both Elias and Aislinn were absent, each of them with different kind of reasons.

"As I said, the final plan for our battle shall be reviewed once more tonight." she said in her business-like tone. "For those of you who weren't here this morning."

Avery made a loud cough when he noticed that Aislinn was not present and wanted to show how alert he was by pointing out her absence. ...and she is supposed to be my superior.... He thought sarcastically but his naughty face faltered when the dark mistress gave him a dark look. He looked down at the table with the feeling of being defeated by Aislinn once again. Macnair noticed Avery's failed attempt to become the dark mistress' favorite deatheater. He sneered at Avery and then turned his fully attention towards the dark mistress, giving her his best charming looks as if he was trying to flatter her.

The dark mistress handed out small vials with different kind of potions. Everyone took what they needed with gratitude. This time no one took any potion locator, but everyone took each three different healing vials, the red, the green and the yellow which they all of course devoured all at once and felt much better than they had before. Lastly she handed them a parchment to where they wrote down their names in alphabetical order:

Lachlan Avery III
Flora Carrow
Hestia Carrow
Adela Dolohov
Alexis Dolohov
Andrew Dolohov
August Dolohov
Mary-Jane Gibbon
Endewyne Jugson
Lloyd Macnair
Ivan Mulciber III
Raymond Nott
Flynn Pyrites
Persephone Pyrites
Maximillian Rockwood
Vivienne Rockwood
Gareth Rowle
Claude Selwyn
Faeryn Travers
Melody Wilkes

Meanwhile

There was a grand commotion at the Ministry of Magic this morning. Alexander Shadowwalker seized the opportunity to use his charm by comforting the employees who had arrived in the morning to work but had been met by a horrible view of Potter's corpse in the atrium. Everyone was in deep chock. Mr. Shadowwalker was the only one who looked calm. As long my son is alive and free... He thought happily and carelessly as he went through every floor to check every room. He had literary let the dark mark to be at where it was at the fountain in the atrium. He made sure that every employee got a supply of warm food and calming potions before he cleared out the all the corpses in the building, gathering and covering them in the atrium. The headmistress professor McGonagall who had left Hogwarts in professor Longbottom’s care, arrived just in time when several volunteers, who had been encouraged by Mr. Shadowwalker, to ship out the corpses and bury them in the wizarding graveyard somewhere outside London. She was accompanied with some aurors when she arrived. She noticed the dark mark at the fountain and looked angrily at Mr. Shadowwalker, clearly wondering why the dark mark had not been removed. Her hand shook as she was fighting with taking out her wand to remove the dark mark.

"Oh good morning, professor McGonagall," Alexander greeted her as he pretended to be surprised over her sudden visit at the same time as he made sure that he stood in her way, literary not letting her to remove the dark mark. "Perhaps you should not leave Hogwarts during these times leaving the school vulnerable..." he said coldly and looked at her with look of that he would not hesitate to send her to Azkaban if anything happened to his daughter.

Professor McGonagall who was in deep chock and sadness did not know what to reply. She went over to the corpses and lifted carefully on the first covers. When she recognized the two deceased bodies of Potter and Granger-Weasley she could not take it anymore. She backed away and turned on her heels as she hurried back to Hogwarts. There's only one thing I can do...one thing for Harry Potter...

She interrupted both Lily, James Potter, Rose and Hugo Granger-Weasley during their lessons.

"Listen my dears, I do not have the time to explain what have happened, but you have to pack your trunks now!"

"But..." Lily started.

"Hurry, you will understand later, please!"

They did as they were bid and soon they stood in the entrance hall where four aurors accompanied them as well. "I'll send you an owl as soon as you all are safe overseas."

"I don't understand, professor, why do we have to leave Hogwarts all of sudden?" James objected questioningly.

"What about dad?" Lily was close to tears.

"What about the final exams?" Rose burst out.

"Please my dears, your parents want you both to be safe..." Professor McGonagall said as calmly as she could without revealing the fact that their parents were actually dead. "You'll travel to America at this moment, I have already sent express owls to Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and to the Magical Congress of the United States of America about the issue. Please trust me, my dears...and take a good care of you..." she hugged them all. "And James, take a good care of your sister and your cousins..." she hugged them again. She did not want to let them go but she knew she had no other choice....

"But I don't understand?" Lily sobbed. "What about auntie Hermione...?"

Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Magic everyone was back to work as usual and as if nothing had happened yesterday. Alexander Shadowwalker leaned back in the comfortable chair in the minister's office. Perhaps it was not bad at all that my son had to suffer in Azkaban a little. Fools, the remaining employees immediately encouraged me to become a minister... he thought triumphantly. I did not need to suggest myself...the only thing was to buy their trust hehehe...

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

Crystal and Aislynn gathered every item of clothing they wished to try on, and just as they were about to try them on, Crystal took off her coat, revealing her Gothic style. Long black boots which reached up to just below her knees, black tights with glittering black serpents entwined around her legs, a short purple skirt with chains hanging, and a black and purple corset top that wasn't too revealing. "I have never shown anyone what I actually like to wear." Crystal admitted "Ever since I was teased in school. . . But, when I met you, and saw your unique style, I knew we would get along." she winked. "And, I am so happy you accepted me as a friend. It feels so nice to have someone who wants nothing in return, and who I don't have to keep secrets from anymore." she smiled.

Crystal bought a long, Victorian style black dress, a black handkerchief skirt, a long sleeve top with one sleeve missing, and the other one long, with large holes that looked like they had been ripped. She also bought stocking that had long slits in them, like they had been cut with a knife, and a long coat similar to Aislynn's. "Nice choice." Crystal smiled with a thumbs-up once she saw Aislynn's selection. "I'll pay." she insisted. She opened her wallet, and Aislynn was surprised to see so many galleons hidden with an undetectable extension charm. "Stolen." she said proudly once they had left the store. Crystal set their bags to levitate behind them, so that they could be hands-free for her next treat. "From nobles and frivolous lords." she replied to Aislynn's expression. "They don't need it." she laughed as if she didn't take it seriously.

They went to an ice cream shop, which sold 100 flavors. They window shopped for a while, eating their ice cream.

"Robert is such a fraud." Crystal said, pulling a tissue from her pocket to stop her chocolate mint ice cream from dripping down her chin. "I saw him last night. I am sure he recited his same old speech. 'Elegance, beauty, roses'" she spoke, attempting to imitate his voice "He has tried the same thing on all the girls at school. Works most of the time, too. I don't get it how we can be so different from other girls. . . it's like we're a different species or something." she joked. "If I were you-" Crystal said seriously "I would burn the flowers. That' what I did. Right in front of him, in the great hall. Got detention for using magic inside the halls, but it was worth it just to see his disappointed face!" she laughed.

Meanwhile

Raven watched as McGonagall told the children to pack their things, and smiled. Tsk...Tsk...McGonagall. Is that the best you can do? Well, it is a good thing that Luna has me to watch the movements of every remaining member of the Potter Club. Revenge is so sweet! All of my father' words on it being a path to self-destruction! All just a ploy to scare me into obedience, the old fool. The children are probably too stubborn to even leave their precious castle of a school.

Meanwhile

"Minister?" Luna asked Robert uncertainly. "Are you certain?"
"The paper don't lie, Luna." he said, holding up the Daily Prophet, which had a moving photograph of Alexander.
"How convenient. A true opportunist." Luna praised. "I think I'll pay him a visit." she smiled.
"How could you possibly? You cannot just waltz in-"
"Eve Blackwood can."
"She exposed her identity to-"
"The conveniently dead heroes?"
"Her absence is convenient."
"Not unless she escaped torture by Luna Lestrange."



"Eve Blackwood!" one guard exclaimed, helping her up from the now blood-stained floor. "What happened?"

"I. . . " Luna said weakly "need to. . .talk with. . . the minister. . . please." she said before she passed out. Her chest was bleeding, a large bruise sat on her forehead, and her leg was fractured. She was fully conscious, but no one else knew that.

The guards foolishly carried her to the Minister' office, attracting much attention as they did so. "Minister! This woman claims to have urgent news for you!" one of the guards said.

Once Luna was placed on one of the long couches in his office, he asked for the guards to leave them alone. He enchanted the door so that no one could spy on them, and then raised a wand to heal her before she sat up straight and held her hand up.

"That won't be necessary." Luna said mildly as she waved her wand, and her body suddenly became normal. . . no more blood, no more injuries.

After Alexander Inquired About her 'Injuries'

"A complicated dark spell, which can give the illusion that someone is badly injured. It was popular in Germany when they needed to get a spy into a certain enemy building-" she gestured to the office. "I'm fine." she assured him. "Just wanted a word." she finished mildly, as if it was nothing. She took off her disguise, and bowed to him. "Good afternoon, Minister."

 

[Hikari Chan]

When Crystal took off her coat, revealing her gothic style, Aislinn tried to not stare as if she has never seen a human in her whole life.

"I have never shown anyone what I actually like to wear." Crystal admitted "Ever since I was teased in school. . . But, when I met you, and saw your unique style, I knew we would get along." she winked. "And, I am so happy you accepted me as a friend. It feels so nice to have someone who wants nothing in return, and who I don't have to keep secrets from anymore." she smiled.

"ehh hehehe..."Aislinn blushed as she laughed nervously. Am I really that unique? I am the clumsiest girl in the world... Aislinn looked at herself in the mirror and then glanced at Crystal. She is such a beauty...and I just look ordinary, I cannot believe that she had been teased....if Macnair, Avery and Nott used to compete how best they could bully me, they will on the contrary fight about Crystal...

"Nice choice." Crystal smiled with a thumbs-up. "I'll pay." she insisted.

"Uhmm...thanks..." Aislinn replied nervously and almost wished that she only had picked one product. If this had been Sherwood, I would have bought the entire store and had him paid for it..shamelessly...

Crystal opened her wallet, and Aislinn was surprised to see so many galleons hidden with an undetectable extension charm.

"Stolen." Crystal said proudly once they had left the store with their bags levitated behind them. "From nobles and frivolous lords." she explained and then laughed as if she didn't take it seriously "They don't need it."

Aislinn laughed as well.

They went to an ice cream shop, which sold 100 flavors.

Aislinn bought a licorice flavored ice cream which was covered with black jelly spiders.

"Robert is such a fraud." Crystal said, pulling a tissue from her pocket to stop her chocolate mint ice cream from dripping down her chin. "I saw him last night. I am sure he recited his same old speech. 'Elegance, beauty, roses'" she spoke, attempting to imitate his voice "He has tried the same thing on all the girls at school. Works most of the time, too. I don't get it how we can be so different from other girls…it's like we're a different species or something." she joked.

"Aha...yes that was exactly what he did to me. He told me that the red roses were so lovely that they reminded him about my beauty and grace..." Aislinn admitted and then she just laughed about the joke Crystal made. Aislinn was about to mention that she was actually a part vampire which perhaps made her different from other girls but bit her tongue. She had only told Luna about her true blood status and only Luna and Elias had met her cousin. I'll wait till the perfect moment to come...I do not feel ready yet to tell Crystal about my blood and family...

"If I were you-" Crystal said seriously, interrupting Aislinn in her thoughts. "I would burn the flowers. That' what I did. Right in front of him, in the great hall. Got detention for using magic inside the halls, but it was worth it just to see his disappointed face!" she laughed.

"Oh, I think I was too tired last night that I did something else with the roses," Aislinn laughed. "Though do not worry, I’m not a fool." She continued in a serious tone. "He is not the first man who is trying to flatter me with things and I never fall so easily for every man who is trying to buy my love, whatever the gift is. Men who is trying to get me with gifts disgusts me….”

Meanwhile

Alexander Shadowwalker was going through his new office, throwing away things which he did not need and filling in with things which was more of his use until the office looked more suitable for a Shadowwalker's taste than a Granger-Weasley's taste.

When he was done there was a knock at his door and the guards entered with Eve Blackwood which was badly injured. They placed her on the couches and he asked them to leave immediately.
Once they're alone he locked the door and enchanted the door so that no one could spy on them, and then raised a wand to heal her before she sat up straight and held her hand up to his surprise.

"Miss Lestrange?.."

"That won't be necessary." Luna said mildly as she waved her wand, and her body suddenly became normal. . . no more blood, no more injuries.

"Oh good Merlin! May you explain it please?" He asked surprisingly.

"A complicated dark spell, which can give the illusion that someone is badly injured. It was popular in Germany when they needed to get a spy into a certain enemy building-" she gestured to the office. "I'm fine." she assured him. "Just wanted a word." she finished mildly, as if it was nothing.

She took off her disguise and bowed to him. "Good afternoon, Minister."

"I see..." Alexander laughed with relief. "And good afternoon my dear, and please, no need to call me minister," He smiled fatherly towards her.

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

"First off, I would like to compliment you on taking advantage of this ideal opportunity. Second, thanks for leaving the Dark Mark statue in the atrium. Now, I do have news for you. Last night, we stormed the Ministry, but tonight we shall storm Hogwarts. Now-" Luna held up a reassuring hand, as she knew his thoughts had gone straight to Lily. "I want you to trust me, and understand that every child within that place will be safe. I will assign great numbers to protecting the children, for my interest is only in the professors and Aurors that plot against me. It is therefore my promise to you, that no harm will come to Lily, as my methods are recognizably different from my father's, so please, do not worry. "

Luna stood, and put on her disguise before cordially speaking "Thank you for your hospitality. Good day. . . Mr. Shadowwalker." she bowed her head at his name. She had hesitated between calling him 'Sir', or simply using his last name. Before she left, she gave Alexander a sideways glance "Oh, and if anyone asks, please tell them that I escaped torture by the Dark Heiress, which would give a suitable alibi as to where I was last night." she winked.

Meanwhile

"We should be getting back now." Crystal said. "We don't want to miss the plan for tonight." she smiled "Thanks for hanging out with me, Aislynn. I had a good time. " They returned to the manor, and went to their separate rooms to put their clothing away before Luna's speech. Crystal put on her new clothing, but put her long coat on over it, as she still was embarrassed.

Meanwhile

Raven hovered over Hogwarts, sitting on a cloud. She watched all of the professors, wondering which one she wanted to kill most. "They will all be dead soon." she sang happily "But I just wish I wasn't in charge of protecting worthless children." she sighed.



"Good evening, everyone." Luna said to the death eaters. Crystal, Aislynn, and Elias sat in their places. "We are here to go over the plan. I shall only go over it once, and then I shall answer questions."

Luna explained that no harm would come to the children, and that they would stay protected at all times. She went over the plan, in which all of them separated into three parts; each lead by Crystal, Luna, and Aislynn. Aislynn's part would be staying by the lake, until the attack call was given. Luna's part would be going in through the front gates, drawing everyone out, and pushing them toward the lake. Crystal's part would be staying outside the gates at all times, blocking any escape. She explained that a certain 'source' would both protect the children, and ensure that Hogwarts was not under the protection of a shield charm like the first time.

"Any questions at all?" Luna said once she had finished.

 

[Hikari Chan]

"First off, I would like to compliment you on taking advantage of this ideal opportunity. Second, thanks for leaving the Dark Mark statue in the atrium. Now, I do have news for you. Last night, we stormed the Ministry-" Luna spoke.

"I already know that..." He chuckled.

"-but tonight we shall storm Hogwarts..."

"Oh good gracious!"

Now-" Luna held up a reassuring hand. "I want you to trust me and understand that every child within that place will be safe. I will assign great numbers to protecting the children, for my interest is only in the professors and aurors that plot against me. It is therefore my promise to you, that no harm will come to Lily, as my methods are recognizably different from my father's, so please, do not worry."

"It is allright dear, I believe and trust you that my daughter will be safe. Of course, it was terrible when your father attacked Hogwarts twenty years ago, though I already know that you are quite different"

Luna stood, and put on her disguise before cordially speaking "Thank you for your hospitality. Good day... Mr. Shadowwalker." she bowed her head.

"Have a good day dear and good luck"

Before she left, she turned back and said: "Oh, and if anyone asks, please tell them that I escaped torture by the Dark Heiress, which would give a suitable alibi as to where I was last night." she winked.

"I'll do so, with all my please," He smiled.

Meanwhile

"We should be getting back now." Crystal said. "We don't want to miss the plan for tonight." she smiled "Thanks for hanging out with me, Aislynn. I had a good time."

"Mhmhm..." Aislinn mumbled as she finished her ice cream. "With all my pleasure hehe, it was really fun. I enjoyed it a lot."

They returned to the manor and went to their separate rooms to put their clothing away before Luna's speech. Aislinn put her bags in her closet but did not change her clothes. I'll change to something new to celebrate the victory after this battle...

"Any questions at all?" Luna asked once she had explained the plan.

"ehh..." Avery started because he wanted to ask how they would enter Hogwarts but Macnair, who was confident and bold, was quicker.

"Yes, my lady," He spoke with such charm as if he was speaking to Luna over a dinner. "My first question is; How will we enter Hogwarts unseen? as you mentioned, Miss Monroe..." He nodded towards Aislinn. ”...will be waiting by the lake until the attack call is given. It just crossed my mind that there's one possible entrance through the Shrieking Shack, but I fear that it could be protected like the gates, because Shrieking Shack is not really a secret at Hogwarts. So, the second possible entrance is through the forbidden forest...." here he sneered at Aislinn before he turned his attention towards Luna. "...which, I also, if I may suggest my opinions my lady, think is a better place to hide because the lake is exposed in comparison with the forbidden forest which I suppose to be unprotected.."

"...and full of mysterious and dangerous creatures," Aislinn filled in calmly as the forbidden forest was a harmless place and then she turned towards Luna and said with a wink: "You can count on me."

Elias remained silent and did not say anything as he listened carefully to everything. Lloyd, you are such a fool if you think you can treat Miss Monroe like you did back in our time at Hogwarts. If you only truly knew her...

Macnair almost got speechless but managed to gather his courage and asked once again:

"My second question is what shall we do with those who are trying to escape and the students who oppose us? I actually believe that none would try to escape but remain to defeat us and there is a chance that older students might oppose us as well. Our focus is on the professors and the aurors, so what shall we do to gain all the students trust to have them by our side. I do not doubt that the Slytherins will support us, but how shall we persuade the other houses without killing more than half of the students?"

"...euhmm...to which lead...I mean in which groups have you separated us?" Avery finally managed to ask.

Meanwhile

"Believe me when I say that the dark heiress has become more powerful..." Professor McGonagall exclaimed.

"But you have no proof. Did you even see her?" Professor Quinn, professor in potions and Slytherin's head of house, asked sarcastically.

"I. Saw. The. Dark. Mark. At. The. Ministry. Of. Magic." McGonagall replied with clenched teeth.
"And..." She slammed the table in the staff room as she placed a copy of the Daily Prophet with the front page facing upward. "This man who once was a deatheater has now become the minister...All these proves good enough that-"

"But you have not seen her. What if Mr. Shadowwalker has been plotting everything to become a minister?" Quinn objected.

"That is impossible..." Professor Longbottom said. "All the remaining aurors at the ministry and the minister and everyone who had been guarding the prisoners at Azkaban were killed in one night. This kind of horrible act is impossible to be carried through by one wizard. I rather believe that he must be associated with this dark heiress. Only a dark and powerful witch and wizard is able to commit such a crime. You were perhaps too young to remember, Quinn, but you know who-"

"Seriously, I don't get it when you all keep saying you know who or the one who must not be named, it makes me so confused, why can't you just chill and mention his name, Lord Voldemort or call him the late Dark Lord-"

"Miss Natasha Quinn!" McGonagall roared.

Quinn rolled her eyes nonchalantly even if almost everyone were staring at her shockingly, but she remained silent.

"As I was trying to tell you all, I fear that this dark heiress will attack Hogwarts-"

"Why should she attack this place?" Quinn asked calmly and carelessly as if McGonagall’s rage had not affected her at all.

"Because I believe she will do exactly like her father did!" McGonagall replied with a tired voice.

"And what did he do?"

"Seriously have you not read in the history books!"

"Excuse me, but history of magic was never my favorite subject. I only studied it to pass the exams.."

Professor McGonagall sighed as she explained what happened during the second wizarding war: "The first thing he did was infiltrating the Ministry of Magic and then he turned his attention towards Hogwarts. This dark heiress attacked the ministry last night and who has become the minister now? Of course, no one other than a filthy deatheater. Thus, I assume that she is plotting against Hogwarts...."

Professor Quinn yawned as if she did not care what happened at all.

"Therefore we need to prepare ourselves for a coming battle...."

"...whatever, I don't have the time to play silly imaginary games with you McGonagall.." Quinn spoke rudely and rose up to leave. "Don't you agree with me, Amelia?"

"Of course hahaha..." Professor Blake, professor in arithmancy, replied and rose up to leave with her colleague.

"And oh, by the way," Quinn turned once more towards McGonagall before leaving the staff room. "Mr. Shadowwalker is such a respectful man and a caring father. Did you even see when he was here to comfort his daughter when his son was imprisoned? I don't think he would sit in his new office at the ministry and smile carelessly in front of the camera if his daughter was in danger because of a coming battle.."

Several professors murmured in agreement and everyone left expect Hagrid and Professor Longbottom who both remained with the headmistress in the staff room.

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

Luna was about to answer Macnair when Aislynn did for her. "You can count on me."she winked.

Luna smiled evilly. You never fail to please me.

Macnair almost got speechless but managed to gather his courage and asked once again:

"My second question is what shall we do with those who are trying to escape and the students who oppose us? I actually believe that none would try to escape but remain to defeat us and there is a chance that older students might oppose us as well. Our focus is on the professors and the Aurors, so what shall we do to gain all the students trust to have them by our side. I do not doubt that the Slytherins will support us, but how shall we persuade the other houses without killing more than half of the students?"

"Simple. My source, as I have said, will keep them safe. Not only that, but also busy. Trust me, the students will not be a problem. As for anyone who is not a student, give them your worst." she said with a smile.

"...euhmm...to which lead...I mean in which groups have you separated us?" Avery finally managed to ask.

"I was planning to separate you based on your talents. "

Luna stood, and motioned for everyone else to follow. "For those of you who know smoke manipulation, as lots of the Dark Lord's followers did in the past, please stand over there-" she motioned to the back wall. "Those of you who are highly skilled at dueling, please stand there-" the left wall "And, those of you who know neither, stand at the right wall. Finally, in the event that you are well-versed in both, please remain seated until everyone else is done." Everyone got into position, and Luna continued.

"All of those well-versed in dueling will be on my team. " Luna announced, "For it will become useful. Those who are good at smoke manipulation will appear by the lake, with Aislynn. By then, I will have let down their shields, and you would have free-access. Finally, we have-" she turned to the people who knew neither dueling nor smoke manipulation."Crystal's team. Since you will not need to duel, you will be issuing mainly bombs and fire. Crystal herself is a professional at wandless fire conjuring. " she complimented.

She turned to the few people who knew how to use smoke, and duel, and saw Elias first. Place him on Aislynn's team, for she will need him much more. . . Place him on my team, and it will be clear to the others that I allow ...favoritism? Is he foolish enough to think it is a personal move to place him on any other team than mine? "Elias, you will be on Aislynn's team, for she will need you more, considering there are fewer on her team than mine. " she smiled, and discreetly touched her brooch.You understand it is more practical, than personal, Elias?

Meanwhile

Raven smiled as the professors argued, and thought of the confusion and uncertainty that the Dark Lord used to create.

"I am so very happy to be assisting the Dark Lady." she smiled.
"Dark Lady?" the angel from before asked.
"Sounds better than Dark Mistress. More elegant, yet still dark. . .just like her."
"Your father is worried about you, Raven! Why won't you abandon this lost cause? "
"Lost cause?!"
"Don't you realize it will end just as it ended with her father? He died here, why do you think she will be different?"
"Because, she had it planned differently from the beginning. Voldemort just rushed in, and killed one and all who opposed him! She has values, and plans to follow them to the end!"
"Is that what you believe?" a shadow crossed the angel's face.
"Values! The only reason she is choosing to kill the professors is because they will oppose her. You have no idea what she plans to do to you, do you Raven?" he asked, as if she was a silly angel who trusted everyone not to hurt her.
"Dispose of me, like the Dark Lord tried to when he failed?"
"Yes, Raven. "

Raven stood, and got so angry her wings unfolded on their own. "What lies, Alden! I have seen what she plans to do! She plans to treat me like-"

"A human? Is that what you want?" Alden said disgustedly.

"She plans to treat me like every other human that is loyal to her!" Raven pushed Alden off of the cloud, and he fell a few feet, before regaining his balance and flying back to her eye level.

"Mark my words, she will not treat you properly." Alden said.

Raven rolled her eyes when he flew off, she resumed her surveillance. He said the same thing about Voldemort. However, I saw Alden putting those ideas into the Dark Lord' mind. My father put him up to it, all so that I could come back to him, and his scriptures about morality and mercy! I won't have it. Luna will not fail!

 

[Hikari Chan]

"For those of you who know smoke manipulation, as lots of the Dark Lord's followers did in the past, please stand over there-" Luna said as she motioned to the back wall. "Those of you who are highly skilled at dueling, please stand there-" the left wall. "And, those of you who know neither, stand at the right wall. Finally, in the event that you are well-versed in both, please remain seated until everyone else is done."

Macnair, Avery III, Selwyn and August Dolohov walked over to the back wall. The Rockwoods and most of the deatheaters, Flora Carrow, Jugson, Flynn Pyrites, Rowle, Travers, Andrew Dolohov, Mulciber III, walked over to the left wall while the few who included Wilkes, Hestia Carrow, Gibbon, Nott, Adela and Alexis Dolohov walked over to the right wall. The ones who remained seated were Elias and Persephone Pyrites.

"All of those well-versed in duelling will be on my team." Luna announced, "For it will become useful. Those who are good at smoke manipulation will appear by the lake, with Aislynn. By then, I will have let down their shields, and you would have free-access. Finally, we have-" she turned to the people who knew neither duelling nor smoke manipulation." Crystal's team. Since you will not need to duel, you will be issuing mainly bombs and fire. Crystal herself is a professional at wand-less fire conjuring." she complimented.

She turned to the few people who knew how to use smoke, and duel, and saw Elias first.

"Elias, you will be on Aislynn's team, for she will need you more, considering there are fewer on her team than mine. " She smiled, and discreetly touched her brooch. You understand it is more practical, than personal, Elias?

"As you wish, my lady," he replied smilingly, bowing for her. While he walked over to the back wall he touched his brooch as well, which he wore under his cloak. Of course I understand, and I agree with you, she needs more members since there're few in her team...

"Then I'll also join the same team..." Persephone spoke as she rose up from her chair, referring to Aislinn's team. "..since the number of the members in Miss Monroe's team are still fewer than your team...unless if you wish me to be in another team?.." She finished as she strode to the back wall.

Meanwhile~ Staff Room Hogwarts

"They refuse to leave this place.."

"Of course, they are attached to it..where are they now?"

"In their dorms..and I don't know how to tell them about their parents' deaths..."

"We should actually try...I mean...it is better to tell them straight off..because the situation can become much worse if we don't tell them and they become chocked by reading it in the Daily Prophet.."

Meanwhile~Professor Quinn's office

"I still don't believe the old hag about the this whole story..." Professor Quinn spoke to her colleague professor Blake as she sipped red wine.

"Perhaps The Dark Lord has been resurrected from the death?"

"Merlin knows..." The both ladies looked at each other for a moment before Quinn lowered her voice to a whisper and continued: “but if...if it is true......I....."

" Yes?..."

"I would...I would propose to him and become the headmistress over this school tehehehe.."

"Oh good Merlin, you are so crazy hahahah.......and selfish, you can't have everything tsk tsk, you should share some with me..."

"The dark wizard is mine-"

"Fine, then let me have the headmistress position..."

"What if he makes me to the headmistress?"

"I don't think so, Natasha, I rather believe that he would become the headmaster..."

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

Luna nodded to Pyrites as she strode over to the back wall. "Very well. Now-" Luna did a quick mental head count for Aislynn's team, and Crystal's. "Here are your Portkeys. They have been marked since earlier today-" she began handing out keys "And will take you where you to your assigned areas. The gold-painted ones work for the lake, and the silver for just outside the boundaries of the gate. I understand that people who know how to use apparition and smoke manipulation have no need for Portkey, but they will be used in case any of those fail to work. Now-" she had finished passing them out, and turned to her team. "I want you to remain by my side, until I give you the signal to use these-" she handed them bronze-painted keys "Which will transport you to the tree surrounding the path to the lake, where you will shoot oncoming professors, or Aurors. I do not want any lethal spells used, is that understood?" she gave everyone a very serious glance, until they agreed a moment later.

"My methods are mine, however if you must know, I would like to be sure where they wish to place their allegiance before they are killed." She walked back to the front of the room, and addressed everyone. "Now, in the event that you become outnumbered, your Portkeys can also be used to make a quick exit. They are enchanted to be able to escape even the most secure areas. Thank you all for your loyal and braver service. You recall that after we battled the Ministry last night, I told you that we would not be celebrating, for we still had more to accomplish. I would like you to know that those of you who live through this battle. . . know that we will have won the war! After tonight, everything will change for the better, and we shall all enjoy everlasting freedom! Here's to victory!" she held her hand up. "Let us be off." she smiled, and everyone touched their Portkeys.

Meanwhile

"Any moment now, they should be arriving." Raven said as she watched every part of Hogwarts. "Good thing Luna had someone to mark her Portkeys for easy access." she smiled.

Aislynn's team appeared by the lake, and took out the few guards stationed there. Crystal's team appeared just outside the gates. "We will walk back a bit, so we are more discreet." she said, and led them to the trees a few hundred yards away from the gate. Once they were positioned, she pulled out two sets of Ominoculars, handing the second one to Hestia Carrow. " Help me keep watch. If they come out, we will step out from hiding and ambush them. "

Luna's team appeared a few yards past the gates, and began walking forward. The guards were already down, and Luna thought of Raven. "Are you ready?" she asked Crystal and Aislynn by using her crystal. Once they had replied, she smiled. She turned to her team. "Make yourselves invincible until further notice. Stand by and do nothing until I say the word: please, which shall be our signal. " Perfect. With everyone concealed, it looks as though they will think of it as an easy victory.

Once they were concealed, she raised her wand, and used the Sonorus charm. "Good evening, Hogwarts." Luna said evilly as her voice was magnified. "And what an evening it is. As I have guessed, you have been awaiting my arrival, anxious about a war similar to my Father's taking place at Hogwarts. I, on the other hand, only wish for a battle between the professors, and I, because I value the students here. However, it is a question of if you value them as well. If you do not wish to see students harmed, all professors and Aurors must exit the safety of Hogwarts, and battle me in the grounds. You have ten minutes, or else I will order my forces to kill the last captured Potter child. Time is of the essence!" she finished in a mocking tone. She removed the charm, changing her voice back to normal, before laughing a few wicked laughs. "Such fools should have never have left the children unguarded in the first place. As I said before, victory makes people do foolish things." Luna said, turning serious once more.

Crystal heard the message, as she was sure all of Hogsmead surely had. "A battle between the professors and herself? How comical that they would believe her. " she smirked.

As soon as the professors leave, I will protect those children. Now I realize that I am keeping them safe from interfering. . . not dying. Raven thought as she watched.

 

[Hikari Chan]

"Very well. Now here are your portkeys. They have been marked since earlier today-" Luna said, handing out keys "And will take you where you to your assigned areas. The gold-painted ones work for the lake, and the silver for just outside the boundaries of the gate. I understand that people who know how to use apparition and smoke manipulation have no need for portkey, but they will be used in case any of those fail to work. Now-" she had finished passing them out and turned to her team. "I want you to remain by my side, until I give you the signal to use these-" she handed them bronze-painted keys "Which will transport you to the tree surrounding the path to the lake, where you will shoot oncoming professors, or aurors. I do not want any lethal spells used, is that understood?" she gave everyone a very serious glance.

Several of the deatheaters exchanged looks with each other.

Earlier she said we could give our worst to anyone who was not a student and now she does not accept any lethal spells to be used...tsk, Macnair thought for himself but did not say anything aloud.

"Understood.." everyone agreed, though most of them looked a little confused and questioning at Luna.

"My methods are mine, " She said. "However, if you must know, I would like to be sure where they wish to place their allegiance before they are killed."

Makes sense now, but I still doubt this somehow....well, perhaps she will allow us to have fun with tormenting any professor or auror who oppose us.., Macnair thought.

Luna walked back to the front of the room and spoke to everyone at once. "Now, in the event that you become outnumbered, your portkeys can also be used to make a quick exit. They are enchanted to be able to escape even the most secure areas. Thank you all for your loyal and braver service. You recall that after we battled the Ministry last night, I told you that we would not be celebrating, for we still had more to accomplish. I would like you to know that those of you who live through this battle. . . know that we will have won the war! After tonight, everything will change for the better, and we shall all enjoy everlasting freedom! Here's to victory!" she held her hand up. "Let us be off." she smiled, and everyone touched their portkeys.

Aislinn appeared with her team by the lake just a few feet away from the three aurors who were positioned there. The aurors turned around as they heard Avery sneeze behind them, and they immediately fired spells towards the deatheaters. One of the spells hit Avery and caused him to fall down backwards in the lake. Aislinn, Macnair, Selwyn and August Dolohov evaporated in smoke and managed to escape the fired spells, confusing the aurors. Elias was safe since he was wearing his charm bracelet. He had visited the Goblin City this morning to have his broken charm bracelet mended thus it served him just in time for this battle and gave him the advantage in dueling two of the aurors as he covered Persephone's back, who was dueling the third auror. Those who were invisible because of their smoke manipulation stunned the three aurors and bound them with conjured ropes.

"What did I miss?" Avery looked around after he had managed to get out from the lake. He was dripping wet and used his wand to get dry.

Macnair rolled his eyes and Aislinn made a grimace as she tried to suppress her laugh.

"Perhaps you should have suited Miss Thorne's team better..." Elias commented, the right corner of his mouth twitching in a smirk. Aislinn could not hold it longer, she burst out laughing.

"ehum…shouldn't we conceal ourselves by the way?" Persephone pointed between her muffled laughs just when Aislinn received Luna's message through her emerald stone.

Melody appeared with Crystal's team just outside the gates. Melody looked nervously around as she clutched her wand tightly, wondering what she would do since she was only good with conjuring anything but fire. Perhaps conjuring tangling vines might become useful? She thought nervously.
"We will walk back a bit, so we are more discreet." Crystal said and led them to the trees a few hundred yards away from the gate. Melody positioned herself so she was behind them all and once everyone else were positioned, Crystal pulled out two sets of Ominoculars, handing the second one to Hestia Carrow. "Help me keep watch. If they come out, we will step out from hiding and ambush them."

Hestia nodded silently as she took the ominocular.

Professor McGonagall was picking in her food as she watched the students over the dinner. She noticed how happy the Potter's and Granger-Weasley's children were now because they had been allowed to stay with their friends at Hogwarts. She glanced annoyingly at professor Quinn and professor Blake who chattered and laughed to loudly than usual.

Lily was too loud and cheerful as she enjoyed the dinner with her friends to the fullest, celebrating that her brother had managed to escape Azkaban and that her father had become the minister, much to the headmistress' annoyance.

"Let's toast!!" She said as she raised her goblet just when suddenly a familiar voice was heard all over the great hall.

"GOOD EVENING, HOGWARTS"

"Huh?.." Lily lowered her hand. Everyone else were silence, looking confused at the headmistress who in return looked confused as well.

"AND WHAT AN EVENING IT IS. AS I HAVE GUESSED, YOU HAVE BEEN AWAITING MY ARRIVAL, ANXIOUS ABOUT A WAR SIMILAR TO MY FATHER'S TAKING PLACE AT HOGWARTS."

The headmistress and almost all of the professors rose up from their places with a chocking expression all over their faces. Professor Quinn and Blake exchanged surprising and confusing looks with each other as they remained in their seats.

"I, ON THE OTHER HAND, ONLY WISH FOR A BATTLE BETWEEN THE PROFESSORS, AND I, BECAUSE I VALUE THE STUDENTS HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS A QUESTION IF YOU VALUE THEM AS WELL."

Almost all of the students exchanged curious and surprising looks with each other’s. It was only the Potter's and the Weasley's children who were not looking happy at all.

"IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO SEE STUDENTS HARMED, ALL PROFESSORS AND AURORS MUST EXIT THE SAFETY OF HOGWARTS, AND BATTLE ME IN THE GROUNDS. YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES, OR ELSE I WILL ORDER MY FORCES TO KILL THE LAST CAPTURED POTTER CHILD. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!"

Rose Granger-Weasley and Scorpius Malfoy screamed Albus' name at the same time. Lily Potter started to cry. She rose up from her place and rushed towards the headmistress.

"Where's dad?" she sobbed. "Why is he not here to save us?"

The Slytherins were cheering, Lily was of course the loudest, while the other houses were unsure how to react. They looked suspiciously at the professors, waiting to see if they truly valued them or not.

Professor Quinn nudged Professor Blake and motioned her to follow her.

"SILENCE!" Professor McGonagall roared. "Where are you two going?"

Professor Quinn and professor Blake stopped in their tracks and turned around to face the headmistress.

"To the grounds, McGonagall. I. Value. My. Students." Professor Quinn replied calmly as she looked towards the Slytherins. "And I also value Albus Potter, even if he is a Potter..."

"That's just because he is in Slytherin, isn't it? because I don't think you value us others" Rose Granger-Weasley spoke boldly.

"Oh, getting a little too cocky, missy! Mind how you speak to me, I am your professor. Even if I favor my own house with pride I still value everyone." Professor Quinn spoke strictly and walked away. "Amelia?"

"Yes Natasha, I’m coming...hehe.."

"Should we not-"Professor Longbottom started but was interrupted by professor McGonagall.

"What if it is a trap?"

"What about Albus? Don't you value him or us?" Lily Potter sobbed, her eyes were already red of crying so much.

"Please go back to your table, dear," Professor McGonagall spoke sadly. "None of you is permitted to leave this place, understood?" She motioned to the remaining professors and aurors to follow her to the grounds. Professor Quinn and professor Blake were already there looking more firm than fearful as the headmistress, the aurors and rest of the professors joined them.

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

Luna looked into the distance and saw only a few teachers leave the castle, and was angry. I told them I wished to see all of them, but they are stubborn. Never mind. . . I will make them come.

As the professors walked to where Luna was, she addressed her invisible team. "Do not leave, do not make yourselves known, or visible. This is an order: Do not act until I have returned. I shall be only a moment. " she said sternly before leaving in a puff of smoke.

She appeared one minute later, with Albus Potter at wand point. His gaze was blank, but otherwise he was in decent condition. Luna held his arm behind his back, and her wand was noticeably directed toward him, so that she could make a point. The teachers finally came to where she was standing, and Luna was pleased to see that professor McGonagall nearly fainted. "Good evening, McGonagall." Luna said mockingly. "I thought it was clear that I wanted to see all of you fools at once? Do not underestimate me!" she fired a spell at him, and he doubled over in pain, falling to the floor and screaming in pain. "He will get more than burning jinxes if my demands are not met!" she said angrily. "I want all of you here!"

McGonagall hurried away, and Luna saw two other people following her. One of them, she knew was professor Quinn, for Lily had mentioned her once during conversation, and Luna had used her mirror to see her. The other, she did not recognize, but rolled her eyes at their lack of effort.

"Do they really think they can defeat the team that has killed more people in one night than Voldemort did with three mundane professors? I am growing more and more concerned for the sanity of these people. " she shook her head.

Meanwhile

Raven watched as only a few professors left, leaving too many inside. "Why can't I just kill them all in three minutes, Luna?" she asked sadly, though she was only talking to herself. "Well, I guess revenge isn't as sweet if it is not your own." she said after a minute. She stood, and raised her hand at the remaining professors, as well as the Aurors. "How about you put some effort in?" she asked. She threw thoughts into their heads about merely leaving the students under protection spells, and joining the fight. She reminded them of Luna's death toll so far, and furthermore that she had mentioned Albus Potter.

Meanwhile

"You can stand now, Severus." Luna smiled wickedly down to Albus Severus Potter.

"Did I do well enough?" he asked, with an equally wicked tone.

"Lovely. And the screaming was realistic. Who would have thought that Potter's child had joined our side? " she laughed. Now, will you hesitate when the call is given, I wonder. He is still part Potter, yet it was the Slytherin in him that decided to join me. Still, Severus Snape was on their so called 'Good Side', so my guard is far from down.

 

[Hikari Chan]

"Perhaps she...she...she wants us come closer? I mean we are a little far away from he..he...her..." one of the professors stuttered as he pointed towards a young lady who had brought a boy who all recognized as Albus Severus Potter. The professor and a few others hurried to where the two were standing. The rest of the professors including the headmistress hesitated first but then hurried to the same place as well. Professor Quinn and Blake were not paying any attention to anything and were just standing where they were, chattering carelessly about trivial matters.

"Value your students?!" an angry voice interrupted the both ladies in their conversation.

"We both walked out before you, McGonagall," Professor Quinn replied annoyingly.

The headmistress only shook her head. "You both need to come closer...she wants us all gathered over there..." She said as she turned on her heels expecting them both to follow her and they did since they had no other choice. McGonagall heard how the one sighed and the other yawned, both to loudly, behind her, much to her annoyance.

So this must be her, the lady, who killed so many in one night.....so young.. Professor Quinn thought as she gave the dark heiress curious glances. She looked around expecting to see her forces but was a little surprised when she no one around. She cannot be alone, can she?... Quinn thought confused when she saw that the three aurors, who had been guarding at the lake, were bound with ropes to a nearby three. She must be so powerful....Merlin's beard, she must be more powerful than her father...hehe, and I who thought he was still powerful to resurrect...

Elias watched as the professor walked out to the grounds to where Luna was standing with the third Potter child. At last...I have been waiting to see what she would do with the third one...what an excellent move Luna, so clever of you... He thought smilingly.

"Eeeuh...why do we have to sit here and wait?" Lily squirmed at her seat.

"To finish our meals of course.." Pegah replied as it was a usual day and nothing extraordinary had happened.

"I’m curious about what's going on outside in the grounds..." Lily stood up.

"Perhaps we shouldn't interfere?.."

"I’m not going to, I’m just going to watch, from where can I get the best view?"

"Well from the astronomy tower or the owlery tower?"

"Hey, you are not permitted to leave this place!" The prefects from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor blocked the way for Lily and her friends as they positioned themselves in front of closed the doors in the great hall. The Hufflepuff prefect joined them as well.

"We are still allowed to move inside the castle, aren't we? I need to visit the bathroom-"

"Not even that, the headmistress said we are not allowed to leave this place and she clearly meant the Great Hall."

"Merlin's beard, you are so dense..."

"Go back to your table..."

Lily sighed loudly and annoyingly.

"Just wait and see, the old hag will be gone for good and Miss Luna Lestrange will become the headmistress over this school, I would like to see your presuming face then.." Lily spoke wickedly as she walked back to the Slytherin table with her friends. Almost all the students looked shockingly at her while the Potters and Weasleys looked angrily.

Her friends stared at her with big round eyes.

"Eehh...."

"Did you just.....was that her....the..the voice's name?"

"Lily, what are you doing?"

Lily bowed down and creeped under the table.

"Lily?.."

"Where did she go?"

"Merlin's beard..I think she apparated away..."

Lily laughed triumphantly as she appeared in the owlery tower. She looked down to the grounds from one of the windows. The group of the teachers looked so small from her view.

"Leave Albus Potter and fight us," Professor McGonagall spoke to Luna when they all were standing in front of her. "If you truly value all the students of Hogwarts, then let him go because he is one of them as well.." She drew out her wand and all the professors and aurors, but professor Quinn, followed her example. Professor Blake was hesitating if she should join them or not and looked at her colleague...

"What are you two waiting for?" McGonagall said angrily, addressing both Quinn and Blake at the same time.

"And what I am supposed to do?" Quinn asked nonchalantly.

"To battle the dark heiress in order to protect all the students. "

"Am I obliged to?" Quinn smirked. McGonagall almost winced.

"..I mean...I also value my life..." Quinn said.

"Coward.." Longbottom said between clenched teeth. "You-"

"I am actually using my brain," Quinn spoke with a higher voice. "You might think you all have the advantages because she is alone, but you are actually underestimating her."

"She asked us all the professors and aurors to come and battle her in the grounds if we value our students, aren't you a professor? Don't you value the students, your own Slytherin students?"

Quinn ignored Longbottom and turned towards Luna: "You have been ordering us until now, so what is your next order?"

"You traitor," Longbottom pointed his wand angrily towards Quinn who responded by pointing her want at him in return.

"You do not wish to duel me, the mistress of dueling at Hogwarts, do you?" She smirked.

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

"Leave Albus Potter and fight us," Professor McGonnagall spoke."If you truly value all the students of Hogwarts, then let him go because he is one of them as well.."

"My thoughts exactly." Luna replied smilingly. "A moment." she disappeared in a puff of smoke, then reappeared a moment later without Severus.

"I am actually using my brain," Quinn spoke with a higher voice. "You might think you all have the advantages because she is alone, but you are actually underestimating her."

Hmm. It seems he is either cowardly, or wishes he was on a different side. I wonder if he will be working for me in the near future?

Quinn turned towards Luna: "You have been ordering us until now, so what is your next order?"

"Fight me all at once." Luna smiled, her dark eyes glittering maliciously.

"You traitor," Longbottom pointed his wand anger towards Quinn who responded by pointing her want at him in return.

"You do not wish to duel me, the mistress of dueling at Hogwarts, do you?" She smirked.

"Do you mind focusing on the enemy?" Luna asked curtly.

Everyone got ready to duel, and right before they began, Luna spoke. "No lethal spells, please." Luna said politely. It was clear only a second later that she had been addressing a third party, and by then it was too late. All of the death eaters on Luna's team became visible at the sound of the signal, shooting all manner of dark spells, none of which were remotely lethal. Luna was among them, and smiling as she saw the confusion and betrayal on their faces.

"This isn't a fair right!" Neville Longbottom yelled, lunging toward Luna.

"I never said that!" Luna laughed, not even moving as she lazily froze Neville. He fell flat on his face, and Luna pointed her wand at him again. Neville disappeared in a puff of green smoke. He appeared in Luna's old interrogation room, gagged and tightly bound to a chair, while his wand remained on the battle field. After twelve successful captures, though mostly of Aurors, Luna disappeared for a moment, reappearing in the Owelry tower. "Begin driving them to the lake! With only the strongest ones left, we must move quickly!" she ordered, so that only her death eaters could hear her. She quickly appeared on the battle field once more, and began dueling the person nearest to her: Mcgonagall.

"What- is your- purpose- for this?" McGonagall asked while fighting off several of Luna's freezing spells. "I can tell your only trying to subdue us!"

"So that I can torture you to my satisfaction, until you have no traitorous blood left to bleed!" Luna replied evilly, not pausing her speech whilst issuing several more sleeping spells.

"How cruel and cowardly! You cannot beat us with a fair fight, so you trick us instead!" she barked.

"Enough!" Luna yelled, finally managing to cast a silencing spell at McGonagall. "I can see why Severus Snape abhorred your presence!"

Everyone continued dueling, with only one more Auror prisoner. They drove them back, toward the lake, and then her team started disappearing, much to the delight of the professors.

After one professor attempted to negotiate with Luna...

"Don't try to lecture me into joining your filthy, traitorous ranks! I would rather die than live a second knowing I was on your side! Please!" Luna finished sarcastically. Again, the signal word got a reaction in proper time. Spells flew out from the trees all at once, bright as fireworks. Three professors were stunned in surprise, but McGonagall, Sinistra, Quinn, Blake, and six others reacted quickly. From behind, however, Aislynn's team began putting their work in. It was harder for the Aurors and professors to shield themselves from so many spells at once now, and Elias and Aislynn in particular were so powerful that, along with Luna, they put away six more of the remaining professors. Hagrid had been captured at the beginning of the ambush, and so had professor Flitwick. Luna used her wand to make her voice louder, and spoke evilly. "You now have three options." Luna smiled. "Submit. . . . continue fighting. . . . or flee like the fools that you are!"

 

[Hikari Chan]

I don't see so much from this view... Lily thought disappointed as she left the owlery tower and went to the astronomy tower. ...Perhaps omniculars might give me a better vision...

"Fight me all at once." Luna smiled, her dark eyes glittering maliciously. "No lethal spells, please."

And suddenly the deatheaters become visible behind Luna. Quinn's jaw almost dropped when she recognized almost all of them and first, she was unsure how to react. Well..I did not expect this...fighting the ones who once used to be my dear students.... She thought confused as she stood still for a moment. ..but well they have chosen this young girl's side and almost all their parents were deatheaters to her father in the past so I am not surprised.. She fended off all the spells easily as they were nothing but annoying flies and joined the dueling. hehe...perhaps I'll enjoy this, it was me who taught these young lads dueling after all. How much did they sharpen their skills after their graduation?..I'll be so disappointed if they cannot give their best in this dueling..

All of sudden the deatheaters disappeared much to the most of professors' delight. Quinn, on the other hand, looked surprised and a little disappointed.

"Look at the cowards," One of the professors' spoke triumphantly.

Quinn gave him a dark look. tsk...how dare he...calling my past students for cowards...

"Please, you have no other choice to give up this meaningless fight. Your mere followers just left you. Let's instead talk about matters in our staff room and see what we can do to come to an agreement," Another professor spoke.

"Don't try to lecture me into joining your filthy, traitorous ranks! I would rather die than live a second knowing I was on your side! Please!" Luna finished sarcastically.

This time spells flew out from the trees all at once, bright as fireworks. The two professors who had been speaking with such confidence and another one was stunned in surprise, while the others reacted quickly and moved towards the lake where Aislinn and her team appeared.

Quinn stopped in her tracks when she got eye-contact with one of her past students, the fellow Shadowwalker. She grabbed her colleague by her arm. Blake almost lost her balance when she was stopped by Quinn. They both remained behind while the others rushed forwards. Quinn made a quick mental count of the deatheaters. They are only seven and are being attacked by eight professors, tsk tsk, that's not fair... She thought and stunned Sinistra from behind without any further hesitation. Now this make it much fair, I believe heheh... She thought as she met Blake's questioning yet smirking look.

Quinn started to cheer on Elias and Blake joined her gladly.

Elias' face went red like a bright tomato.

"Still Quinn's favorite boy," Avery teased as he fought alongside his friend.

Aislinn heard the comment and she made the ugliest grimace as she tried to suppress her laugh.

McGonagall turned towards and looked at them both with such fury and anger and disappointment that she did not know if she should keep fighting the deatheaters or the two professors who seemed to have betrayed her.
This of course gave the deatheaters the opportunity to take down the six other professors easily, since Elias could duel two at once leaving four others professor to the mercy of six deatheaters.

"You now have three options." Luna smiled. "Submit…. continue fighting… or flee like the fools that you are!"

McGonagall who refused to flee or submit, lunged herself towards the young dark heiress.

Finally,... Lily thought when she found one omnicular in the astronomy classroom. She walked over to the owlery tower but was disappointed when she found the grounds empty. What the bloody hell, I missed the fun...

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

Luna laughed as she disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving McGonagall to nearly fall to the ground. She appeared two feet behind her, and they began dueling once more. "You amuse me, with your pitiful attempts to attack me!" Luna laughed as she dodged McGonagal's Levicorpus spell, along with a freezing spell and a disarming spell.

They dueled for a while longer, Luna not using dark magic, or smoke manipulation merely to keep the professor busy. Luna smiled at the thought of the other two professors joining her to fight. They can clearly see which side will be the victorious one, so why can't you? she stared at McGonagall as two of the four remaining professors went down.

They went on, until finally someone shot a stunning spell at McGonagall's back. She turned to thank whomever it was who had been.

Meanwhile

Raven watched as the battle went on, while putting thoughts into the students' minds that it would be dangerous to leave the Great Hall. With the exception of Lily, whom she merely watched, just in case. Useless children! I wish I could massacre them all. . .. except for the Slytherins who probably will grow up to be of use to Luna.

Meanwhile

Crystal watched as the fighting went on, first the beginning, then the second ambush. As it became clear that the 'good side' was losing, many Aurors abandoned their posts, running for the gates in an attempt to disparate in fear. She turned to Hestia and smiled. "Let's kill off those Aurors. Luna gave us permission to harm anyone but a professor. Let' get moving!"

As they approached the gates, Crystal's team waited with their wands drawn. "As soon as they come out, shoot them! Fire is my favorite, so let's watch them burn!" Her wand was tucked into her pocket, because she was the only person in Luna's force that could conjure fire without a wand.

"Excuse me?" Melody asked. "Forgive me, but I am . . . I cannot conjure fire, even with a good wand. "

"Never mind." Crystal said. "What can you do that will help us?"

"I can conjure vines." she replied uncertainly.

"Lovely! When they try to flee, drag them to the ground so they can struggle in agony. That really is lovely!" she smiled.

The Aurors were just outside the gate now, and were about to apparate when they were shot, all at once, with fire spells. They screamed in pain, running in every which-way, and failing to use their wands because they were burning as well. Melody used her wand to keep them in place, and their screams grew louder, filling the night with the sounds of their torment. Crystal laughed as she used her hands to enlarge the fire eating away at them, and soon there was nothing left but ashes. "Rot in hell, you traitors!" she smiled. "Well done, everyone!" she turned to her team. "Let's go assist Luna. " she said while using her Ominoculars to see the battle. "I can see she almost has it wrapped up."

 

[Hikari Chan]

When Aislinn and her team had gathered the defeated professors and conjured ropes to tie them, one of the professors, Sinistra, became quickly conscious and looked up at the smirking professor Quinn in astonishment.

"Miss Quinn, please-" Sinistra started as she thought that her colleague had managed to defeat all the deatheaters due to her professional dueling skills but then she looked around and noticed that the deatheaters were still standing on their feet looking down at her. "You...you...you betrayed us..." Sinistra spitted. "You-"

"Silence!" Quinn silenced Sinistra with the silencing spell. "I was protecting my dear past students..." She smirked as she put her left arm around Macnair's shoulder and her right arm around Avery's shoulder. "Most of them were orphans when they started their first year at Hogwarts and I was their only comfort. No matter who their parents were or who they have become, they will always be dear to me, even if-" Quinn looked at Aislinn and then at Avery and Macnair. "-even if you two liked to tease little Monroe a lot heheh....Anyway-" Quinn turned her attention towards Sinistra who was looking very sick and continued: "I value my students.." Then she turned towards to where McGonagall were dueling with the dark heiress and watched amusingly. Elias rushed forward to assist Luna but was stopped by Quinn who held out her arm in front of him: "McGonagall is mine" She shoot some burning jinxes alternating it with icing jinxes making the old witch to jump around until she stunned her from behind.

The dark heiress turned towards her to thank her and soon the rest of the deatheaters accompanied them. The ones who had turned invisible in the beginning of the battle appeared behind Luna and more deatheaters entered the grounds from the gates.

"I’m starving..." Nott blurted out.

"Then let's all have a nice supper together tonight at the castle," Quinn smiled.

Before everyone agreed, Vivienne nudged her husband and spoke to him quietly.

"Do not worry, darling," Rockwood smiled towards her and then looked at Aislinn: "Miss Monroe! May I ask you a favor, please?"

"What?!" Aislinn was hoping in vain that he would not ask her to bring him his son whom he had left in safety at Luna's manor before the battle.

"To bring my son? since you are so good with smoke apparition and it seems much safer to use than usual apparition or portkeys."

"Why the bloody hell it has to be me? That annoying baby hates me-" Aislinn almost wanted to cry. Vivienne looked shockingly at her, clearly not accepting Aislinn calling her sweet baby boy for annoying. "Why don't you ask him? This walking angel on the earth who almost every girl seems to be enchanted by. I don't doubt that babies and children will like him too." Aislinn swung her right arm towards Elias in attempt to point at him but slapped him hard at his chest by mistake. "Ehmm sorry.." She apologized to him.

"It's fine," Elias replied quietly as he shrugged awkwardly. His face was red of embarrassment and he avoided to look at anyone. "I'll bring him safely mate, don't worry," He assured Rockwood before evaporating in smoke.

"Well..." Quinn chuckled. "First I prefer to get rid of those-" She nodded in disgust towards the captured professors, aurors and McGonagall as if they were nothing but mere garbage bags "Then we'll have supper," She finished smilingly, clasping her hands.

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

"Thank you, Miss Quinn." Luna bowed her head, then turned to the rest of them. "Thank you all. Victory is ours thanks to your loyalty and hard work. We may now relax, as I told you we would when all of the obstacles preventing our peace were cleared. "

"I'm starving.." Nott blurted out.

Luna was about to offer a feast back at her manor when professor Quinn stepped in.

"Then let's all have a nice supper together tonight at the castle," she smiled.

Before everyone agreed, Vivienne nudged her husband and spoke to him quietly.

Luna tastefully looked away as the awkwardness passed between Aislynn and Elias and the couple. She would have offered to help, but a leader could not do such mundane tasks for subordinates. If I volunteer, who knows what else they will wish of me.

"Well.." Quinn chuckled. "First I prefer to get rid of those-" She nodded in disgust towards the prisoners. "Then we'll have supper," She finished smilingly, clasping her hands.

"Done."Luna smiled, waving her hand. Before anyone could react, thick purple smoke surrounded the prisoners, and it cleared a second later, sweeping the professors away.

A questioning look, and she replied: "They are now at my manor. We shall have our fun later. Those who choose to defy us will only be tortured to death." she smirked.

As the group made their way toward the castle, Luna hung back. She remained by the lake, part of which glowed a ghostly white in the moonlight.

I didn't think it would be so hard to go back in there. she thought sadly as she at by the lake.

"What' the matter? Did you not just claim victory?" Crystal asked, concerned.

"I have a past with this school, Crystal. Now, though, I am finding it nearly impossible to step back inside. . . It is a past I am not proud of, and I have shared it with nobody, on account that everyone here, fighting alongside me tonight, knew me. . . met me. . . once before. " she looked at Crystal's confused look. "Even you have met me, but I erased everyone's memories. That is why I cannot go back. " she stood up, clearly saying that the conversation was over.

"How could you have gone to school when you aren't even eighteen, yet?" Crystal asked.

"Let's just say that I wish to discuss it no further, so please think up a feasible excuse for my lack of. . . " she trailed off, thinking of the great castle that had been home to her once.

"I will, don't worry." Crystal put a friendly hand to her shoulder. "And, when you're ready, you can tell me everything. I know you will, once you can trust me." Crystal winked, then turned and walked away.

Luna sat back down, and looked out at the lake once more.

 

[Hikari Chan]

Once they entered the castle professor Quinn turned towards the crowd.

"Hmm..let's see you are more than twenty...Amelia, there's room for everyone in the staff room isn't there?"

"Of course, there is," professor Blake replied.

"Well then, if you take them to the staff room please, I'll take care of the students-" Quinn suggested and in that same moment Lily slid down the banister and discovered the crowd in the Entrance Hall.

"What are you doing outside the Great Hall? You were not supposed to leave until we returned."

"I’m sorry professor, but-"

"No buts, who more left the Great Hall?"

"No one but me, I think."

Lily Potter were still crying when professor Blake entered the Great Hall. All the students looked up in surprise when they only saw one professor entering with one student.

The Ravenclaw prefect looked up in astonishment when he recognized the girl who earlier had tried to leave the Great Hall. Lily smirked towards him as she sat down.

"Where's the headmistress?" Rose Granger-Weasley cried out.

"Where's the other professors?" a Hufflepuff student asked and soon many of the students started to talk at the same time.

"Silence!" Professor Quinn spoke when she once had positioned herself at the podium and the students' mumbling voices ceased. "Let me explain for you, but first-" She looked at everyone, at every face of the students, meeting their questioning looks calmly before continuing: "Did anyone else besides-" She looked at Lily. "-Miss Lily Shadowwalker leave this place?"

All the students remained silent.

"I'll take it as a no then," Quinn continued when no one replied. "And it seems that you all are here..." She looked once more at Lily and spoke: "Detention at my office tomorrow evening."

Lily's smile faltered. Pegah tried not to laugh while Clarissa who avoided to look at them both put a comforting arm around Lily's shoulders.

"Well.." Quinn cleared her throat before continuing. "Unfortunately, many of the professors could not come to an agreement with the Dark Lord's daughter, thus-"

"What are you just saying?" Rose Granger-Weasley blurted out. "What is the meaning of this? The professors are defeated, aren't they? Why do you speak of him as if you were a deatheater?-"

"Silence!" Quinn spoke calmly but there was a dangerous tone in her voice. "If you or anyone else here interrupt me once more, you'll get a detention, understood?" She did not wait for them to reply her and took their silence as an agreement.

"I was neither a deatheater nor were my parents associated with the dark lord." She rolled up her sleeves to prove her words to the students since she had not the dark mark. "I was only fifteen years old and an ordinary student at this school during the second wizarding war. Anyway, as I said before I got interrupted, most of the professors could not come to an agreement with his daughter and they have therefor left this place. There's an old dispute between them because of what happened in the past. I and professor Blake are the only one who is in charge of you and this school at this moment, because we both were neutral students during the second wizarding war and therefor this dark mistress had nothing to discuss with us," She paused and let her words to sink in before she continued: "I have currently stepped in as the headmistress while professor Blake will take over as the Slytherin's head of house and be the assistant principal temporarily. Of course, she will continue as professor in arithmancy as usual but since many of the professors are absent during the circumstances, I have sent express owls to suitable people who will substitute as professors and staff here at Hogwarts. Therefor we will have new professors tomorrow as we continue our classes because it would be such a waste if classes got cancelled because of the incidents and I don't think you all would like to stay over for summer classes. And if you have any questions or issues, we'll discuss them tomorrow morning" Quinn smiled innocently before bidding the students goodnight.

"I know it is late, already eleven o'clock and you all are tired and need to rest, but since you kicked out almost all the professors you are hereby obliged to substitute as professors from now on heheh," Quinn spoke to the deatheaters who were gathered in the staff room.

"But-" Vivienne started but closed her mouth when Quinn held up her hand.

"I understand you have a little one to take care of, but do not worry. I'll assign the classes to the best suitable ones."

Aislinn slurped her pumpkin juice loudly as she glared at Quinn, clearly not happy about becoming a professor.

Quinn gave her former student an annoying look before continuing:
"Professor Blake will continue as professor in Arithmancy and take over as Slytherin's head of house and assistant principal. Professor Binn who is a ghost and teaches History of Magic will be a little difficult to get rid of and replace, thus he will remain as a professor. And I will be the one who teaches apparition. Thus the following remaining subjects are:
Astronomy
Charms
Defense against the dark arts and dark arts
Flying
Herbology
Muggle studies
Potions
Transfiguration
Alchemy
Dueling
Care of Magical creatures
Cooking with magic
Divination
Study of Ancient Runes
Ancient studies
Magic in art
Postmortem studies
Magical theory
Wizarding Law
MagiPsychology
Wizarding Literature
Healing & Medicinal Magic
Wizarding Economics & Necessities

Since McGonagall is gone for good, I’ve done one change to these classes by adding dark arts. I used to teach dark arts to a few students in secret, though now it has become an official part of defense against the dark arts." Quinn paused and handed out a parchment and a quill.
"Please write down your names and your former house on this parchment to make it easier for me to assign the classes for you."

When Elias scribbled down his name and house on the parchment he looked around and noticed suddenly that Luna was not among them.

When everyone had written down their names and former houses, Quinn took a quick look at it before continuing:

"Miss Persephone Pyrites, your former house was Slytherin, which classes do you prefer to take?"

"Divination and MagiPsychology, please"

"Mr. Elias Shadowwalker, your former house was Slytherin, you'll take care of the dueling classes, if you have no objections. Miss Aislinn Monroe, former house Slytherin, which class or classes-"

"I'll pass.."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, I am serious, I would only fail as a professor, trust me, I have no patience with children..."

"Well then, Mr. Claude Selwyn, former house Slytherin?"

"Defense against the dark arts and dark arts, please."

"Mr. Lloyd Macnair, former house Slytherin?"

"Care of Magical creatures, please"

"Mr. August Dolohov, former house Slytherin?"

"Study of Ancient Runes, please?"

"Mr. Lachlan Avery III, former house Slytherin?"

"Alchemy, please"

"Mr. Maximillian Rockwood, former house Slytherin?"

"Flying and astronomy, please."

"Miss Flora Carrow, former house Slytherin?"

"Healing & Medicinal Magic, please."

"Endewyne Jugson, former house Ravenclaw, do you mind becoming Ravenclaw's head of house and professor in charms?"

"Yes, I actually prefer to teach Ancient studies instead please,"

"Well then...Mr. Flynn Pyrites, former house Gryffindor, do you mind becoming Gryffindor's head of house and professor in Transfiguration?"

"Not at all."

"Great, Mr. Gareth Rowle, former house Slytherin?"

"I can take the muggle studies,"

"Allright, Miss Faeryn Travers, former house Ravenclaw?"

"I can take charms and be the head of house please."

"Great, Mr. Andrew Dolohov, former house Slytherin?"

"Wizarding law!"

"Mr. Ivan Mulciber III, former house Slytherin?"

"Potions, please."

"Miss Melody Wilkes, former house Hufflepuff, do you mind becoming Hufflepuff's head of house and professor in Herbology?"

"Not at all."

"Great, Miss Hestia Carrow, former house Slytherin?"

"Wizarding Economics & Necessities and Magical trade and commerce, please."

"Miss Mary-Jane Gibbon, former house Hufflepuff?"

"Wizarding literature and cooking with magic, please."

"Mr. Raymond Nott, former house Slytherin?"

"Post mortem studies,"

"Miss Adela Dolohov, former house Ravenclaw?"

“Magic in art please."

"Mr. Alexis Dolohov, former house Slytherin?"

"Magical Theory."

"And Miss Crystal Thorne, even if I have no subjects left for you, I can always do a change in this list, if there's any subject you wish to teach. We may talk about it tomorrow, because this is only temporarily if the Dark Lord’s daughter has other plans and the time is already past midnight. I'll see you tomorrow morning in the Great Hall. Good night."

"Miss Thorne?" Elias spoke quietly to Crystal as soon as they all walked out from the staff room. "Where's Luna?"

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

Crystal looked at Elias, sizing him up.

"She isn't feeling her best. She seemed very sad, and didn't want anyone to know. However, since only someone who truly cared for her-" she nodded toward Aislynn from behind "Would notice she was missing, I will tell you. Luna is by the lake. " she smiled.

Luna sat by the lake, looking into its deep waters. She was so distracted with her thoughts that she didn't notice Elias walking up behind her. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped slightly.

"I'm fine." she said defensively. "I do not wish to. . . " she trailed off, once again becoming distracted.

She turned to him, and spoke softly. "Since it is you, whom I have already shared a large secret, I will share this with you. The thing that is painful and disturbing for me right now. My past. Meet me in the headmaster' office. I will be there momentarily. " she turned, and went back to her manor in a puff of smoke. "Memories." she said to herself. She went to her bedroom quickly, and pulled out a bottle of her memories.

"I know they were disturbing, because I wrote myself a note explaining it. The reason I have not shown anyone is because I have never owned a Pensieve. "
She appeared in the headmaster's office, holding the vial of memories, which swirled eerily. "My memories." she explained, summoning the Pensieve. "I have not had the pleasure of sharing them." she spoke bitterly.

She turned to him, quite serious, and gave him a piercing glance. "Understand that I have not shown anyone these memories. They are so personal. . . hence harmful should they fall into the wrong hands. Now-" she extended her hand, her gaze shifting to a distant one. "Let us take a walk down memory lane."

She poured the contents of the vial into the Pensieve, slowly and gingerly, as if she was afraid they may disappear if she wasn't careful.

They entered together, and appeared on an overcast day, in front of an orphanage.

“My old home.” She said as she pointed to the peeling letters that read ‘Thompson’s Orphanage’. “Rather cliche-” She said with a sigh “That I was brought to one, just as my Father had. ”

They neared the gate, and saw children playing hopscotch. . . clearly Muggles. Three eight-year-old girls were alternating turns, playing happily.

The third girl had finished her turn, and turned to what could only be described as a younger Luna, for she had long black hair in a messy braid, and the same eyes.

"It's your turn, Aria!" the girl said happily. She had strawberry blonde hair, grey eyes flecked with blue, and a happy, heart-shaped face.

A confused look from Elias and Luna explained. "I had no knowledge of my real name, just the name that was given to me. That young girl was my only friend, named Cadence."

"I can't." the younger Luna said embarrassed. "I'll just trip and fall again, then everyone will laugh."

"No, we won't." Cadence shot the others pointed looks "And just relax, Aria, it's not ballet." she smiled.

The younger Luna stood up, and did the first few steps correctly. However, once she reached the five, she tripped.

Cadence didn't laugh, but ran forward to help her up. The other girl had to try very hard to stifle their laughs as Luna was helped inside.

"She's so clumsy!" the first girl exclaimed loudly, not waiting for Luna to be out of earshot.
"Now her knee is bleeding, the stupid girl. " the second said.
"She's never going to get adopted by falling all the time!" she first girl said.

The older Luna shook her head, and the memory faded as another took its place.

Luna and Cadence were in their bedroom; a meagerly ornamented room, with only two beds and a nightlight. Thin bed sheets and curtains, and a hideously pink floral pattern.

"You're really leaving?" younger Luna asked sadly.
"Yes, and I am so sorry you weren't chosen to be taken as well." Cadence said compassionately.
"I can't say I don't want you to leave, but I do hope you like your new life, with your new parents." Luna said.
"I will never forget you, Luna." Cadence smiled as she hugged Luna goodbye."And, I told the other girls about the teasing. They promised to stop." she finished with a promising smile.
"Good bye, Cadence."
"Good bye, Luna."

"Every time there was a visitor at the orphanage, " the present-day Luna explained "I was passed with a judging eye. . . those eyes of every parent, who would choose any girl but me. I was nine in this memory. . . I remember because the next day I celebrated my tenth on my own. "

The memory faded, to Luna sitting alone in her room, staring out the window with tears in her eyes.

"I missed Cadence more than every that day. . . on my birthdays she used to sneak out to the nearest Bakery, and ask for a cookie. She would sneak back in while I covered for her, and we would split whatever meager gift she returned with. She was always sticking up for me, and cheering me up. "

The memory cleared, and showed the office of the head matron of the orphanage, speaking to a young couple, dressed in fine dark clothing, in the typical British fashion.

"You would like to adopt a girl?" the matron asked.
"Yes. We found that we wanted a lovely, elegant girl of our own." the mother said. She spoke so politely, and gently, that you would never guess her true thoughts.
"We would like to see all of them, and then make our choice." the father said.
"Of course." the matron said.

They all stood, and running footsteps could be heard, along with a few thumps.

Outside, the younger Luna was running back to her bedroom, clearly having been eavesdropping. It was also clear that she was stumbling and falling as she ran. Elias made to run after her, but Luna held out a hand to stop him.
"We will follow the parents instead. It is far less tiring." Luna said politely, though it was clear she wasn't looking forward to seeing what would happen next.

"Who was that?" the mother asked gently.
"Aria. She is quite clumsy and impolite, so you surely-" the matron began.
"May we see her?" the mother asked.
"But-"
"Don't worry. Any faults she has will disappear once she comes home with us. We realized that perhaps having two perfect boys wasn't what we wanted. Perhaps someone whom we can change to suit us will be better." the mother said.
"What she means is, our boys were wonderful from the beginning, so we look forward to the challenge of raising a girl who has known nothing of manners or musical appreciation.“ the father said.

The parents made their way up the staircase, led by the matron, and soon they were at Luna's bedroom door, which was clearly locked.

"Just a moment." the matron pleaded. "She always does this when we have visitors. It started when she was nine, and began to think no one wanted her. "
"You didn't bother to correct her?" the mother asked, offended.
"How could I? When every parent that wanted to adopt her would see her tripping and falling everywhere, and- "she reached her hand to knock on the door, but the mother stopped her.
"Allow me." she said, her face saying that the thought the head matron foolish.
"Excuse me, Aria." she began gently "Do you think you could open the door? We would like to get to know you better. "
"Why should I?" Luna's muffle voice asked. You could head she had been crying from the thickness of her voice.
"We will do this alone." the father spoke to the matron, and she walked away.
The mother twisted the door handle, and the door opened easily. She came in to find Luna sprawled out on her bed, surrounded by a few balled-up tissues. Once Luna realized what had happened, she sat up immediately.
"How did you-"
"Open the door?" the mother finished gently. "Just a trick a friend taught me. " she smiled.
"What's your name?" the father said gently, sitting on the bed next to Luna's: Cadence's.
"Aria." Luna spoke shyly. "No one's asked me my name, or asked to see me before." she said.
"We want to adopt you, Aria." the mother said. "Would you like that? We would take you home, and teach you all sorts of new things, like music and dancing and give you nice clothes as well."
"That all sounds lovely, doesn't it?" the father smiled when Luna was too surprised to answer.
"Yes, but why do you want me? " Luna asked, still too confused at why her clumsy and foolish self was chosen among the other girls.
"Because we can tell you are different. " the mother smiled, putting a warm hand on Luna's shoulder.
The memory cleared , and formed into a lavishly large mansion, five-times the size of Luna's. A richly-decorated carriage made its way easily across the paved roads, the horses’ hooves making clicking sounds as their golden horseshoes hit the road. Servants opened large gates as the carriage approached the entrance. It parked near a set of polished walnut wooden doors, and the father got out first. He helped Luna and his wife out, and Luna became infatuated with the scenery. Gardens and waterfalls, towering trees. . . and then there was the mansion itself. Luna gazed around in awe at the vast expanses of the grounds and mansion, intimidated.

“It’s all right, darling.” The mother said gently. “You’ll get used to it soon.”
“Come along, Aria, let’s show you around.” The father took Luna’s hand, and led her up the stairs to the entrance. Once they reached the doors, the father knocked on the door with the gold knocker, and the doors opened easily, like magic. Inside was a spacious foyer, with a crystal chandelier and polished floors. Black walnut furniture, and large, sparkling windows gave it a very posh look, and plants hung from the walls in pots. A closer look, and it appeared that they had been flowers, but their buds had been cut off.
“Isn’t it lovely?” the mother asked.
“Why not come into the dining room, so we can introduce ourselves properly over lunch, Aria?” the father asked.
“She must change out of those awful clothes first. ”the mother smiled. “Come, let’s find you something you like.”

The memory changed again, and it showed the dining room. Luna was dressed better now, with her hair in a much neater braid, and an elegant black dress. She wasn’t eating very politely, but rather hungrily.
“I’ve never tasted food this great!” Luna smiled, with a bit of food around her mouth.
“Darling, please wipe your mouth.” The mother smiled. She and her husband had been eating with proper manners.
“Sorry.”
“Now that you’ve gotten comfortable, let’s share our names. My name is Evelyn, and this-” she gestured smilingly to her husband “Is Lucifer. ”
Luna stopped eating, and stared uncomfortably at Evelyn.
“Lucifer? You are joking, right?” she waited for a reply, but got none.
“Names are a way of expressing who we are.” Lucifer said. “I hope we haven’t scared you.”
“Just a bit.” Luna said, though it was clear that she was very scared.
Suddenly, something heavy and glass broke in the foyer. The laughter of boys was heard as well.
“That must be Alastair and Cerberus. ” Evelyn smiled. “Fencing again.”
“Fencing? Inside the house? Cerberus?” Luna asked, too surprised to make a complete sentence.
“Calm down, dear.” Lucifer smiled. “We won’t bite you.” he joked.
“Good afternoon, father.” A handsome boy with slick jet-black hair, entered, smiling as he spoke. He was around fifteen, and wore a Victorian – style outfit, with a black undershirt, and a red vest with a gothic pattern. He was holding a fencing sword.
“My apologies, father, but I have broken another vase.”
His tone was far from apologetic, and he was clearly more amused than anything.

“Who’s vase was it, Alastair?” the father asked casually.
“Aunt Valerie’s.”
“Oh, good.” The mother said, relieved. “I was meaning to throw that one out soon. Thank you for handling that for us. Do have the servants clean it up, darling.”
“Yes mother. Who’s this? “Alastair spoke interestedly as he eyed Luna.
“She is your new sister.” Lucifer spoke smilingly.
“Lovely to meet you.” Alastair had come over to Luna’s side of the table, and kissed her hand. “Miss. . . ”He paused, waiting for her to finish.
“Aria.” Luna said awkwardly.
“Who said something about a sister?” another handsome young boy, around seventeen, came in looking left out. He wore similar clothing to Alastair, except he had chosen gold and white rather than black and red.
“Mother and father have chosen a sister for us, Cerberus!” Alastair exclaimed happily.
“Can we show her around the house?” Alastair smiled.
“Of course. Have fun.” Evelyn smiled, seeing as how Luna had already finished.

The memory disappeared, and Luna spoke while it was forming again.
“The family was quite kind to me for the first week after my arrival. They showed me around, gave me lovely clothes, and fed me gourmet food. They showed me such kindness, that I would never have guessed they were hiding atrocious secrets from me. They were mostly normal, except for their names and the decapitated flowers. ”

It showed a lovely night, and the entire family was out in the garden by a lovely waterfall. An angel with black wings, sculpted to perfection, with water spraying out of a star she held. Everyone had an instrument: Lucifer with a grand piano, Evelyn with a harp, Cerberus with a flute, and Alastair with a violin. Luna sat on a chair near Alastair, and watched the family play lovely and enchanting music. Then they took a break, and a servant brought them all refreshments: wine for the adults and ice water for the children.
“Soon, you’ll be able to play an instrument, right Aria? Alastair asked interestedly.
“I. . . ” Luna began, clearly embarrassed.
“Everyone’s been trying to teach you to play the instrument that each of us play.” Cerberus explained. “Except for you, Alastair.”
“I’ve been busy.” He said excusably.
“Piano is certainly not her forte.” Lucifer smiled with a sigh.
“And the harp doesn’t sit well with her at all.” Evelyn added.
“Give her a flute, and she could be called the polar opposite of the Pied Piper.” Cerberus laughed.
“Why not let her try the violin?” Alastair asked gently.
It was clear from the looks that Luna and Alastair shared that Luna liked him. . . even felt comfortable with him.
“I would probably play so badly that I would burn your ears off.” Luna said sadly.
“Nonsense.” Alastair smiled. “Besides, they’ll always grow back, right?” he laughed, and so did Luna.
Evelyn smiled at Lucifer, and then all eyes were on Luna. She stood, bracing herself for the worst.
“I’ll just apologize in advance. “Luna sighed as she picked up the violin. She put it to her chin, imitating Alastair, and began.

The first few notes were not bad, but then it became visible that she stopped feeling self-conscious, and began to physically feel the notes. After a moment, it was some of the most lovely music anyone had heard, and they sat watching in admiration.

“I never knew that if I simply relaxed it would all work out, and that some things must be felt with your heart, rather than done with your mind. ” the present day Luna said. She looked at Evelyn and Lucifer, and noticed that they were whispering to each other. She left Elias where he was, and walked over to eavesdrop.

“I told you it was a lovely idea.” Evelyn smiled.
“That friend of yours makes the best liquid luck in Britain.” Lucifer smiled.
“She thinks that this loveliness is a result of her concentration, and more importantly, our love and care. “
Present day Luna stepped back, shocked.
“Never mind.” She said quickly.
I always thought that I discovered my talent for playing music because I had relaxed and felt it.
Luna finished, and everyone clapped.
“Now, off to bed, Aria, and lessons with Alastair tomorrow.”
“I don’t need lessons.” Luna smiled.
“Of course you do. ”Evelyn smiled encouragingly. “Remember: practice makes more than perfect.”
“What is more than perfect? “Luna asked.
“Magnificence.” Alastair smiled as he took Luna’s hand gently to lead her back to her room.

“I can’t believe that even after all of your instructions, I still cannot even find my way to my own bedroom, let alone dance without crushing your feet.” Luna said, embarrassed as ever.
“Don’t worry.” Alastair smiled charmingly. “I was much worse. At least you are already starting to grasp using more. . . elegant wording faster than me, and clearly you are a professional at table etiquette as well. ” he smiled.
“Thank you. You always seem to make me feel better. I am so appreciative of all of you treating me so nicely. ” Luna smiled.
“You are most welcome. Goodnight.” Alastair smiled with a bow. He gesture to her bedroom door.
“Goodnight.”

The seconds ticked by, and Luna was unable to sleep. She got out of bed, and put her slippers on. She lit a lamp, and left to explore the mansion.

Elias and Luna followed her through several corridors, and finally Luna stopped to listen to something very faint. A girl was crying, and young Luna changed directions to follow the sound.

“I had been looking for a library that night.” Luna said to Elias. “But I found the one thing that made everything change. ”

A few hallways down, and the crying grew slightly louder.

Luna pushed open a heavy wooden door, using all of her weight. She managed to open it barely enough to squeeze inside. Luna raised her wand, and the door opened enough for her and Elias to enter as well. Inside, young Luna held her lantern high, and peered all over. She followed the sound once more, and it lead her to a book, which she pulled gently from the shelf. It was a small, black, leather bound volume, with an iridescent Dark Mark on the cover. She opened it near the end to reveal a moving picture of a woman crying; Bellatrix. Luna nearly dropped the book, equally scared and intrigued. Luna gingerly held out a finger, and touched the image. Shockingly, her finger slid through the page, and entered the picture. She quickly drew her hand back, then closed the book. She took a few deep breaths, then opened to the very first page, where lovely writing was shown.

Open me, and enter the room,
On the second page in this volume.
Although you may see your past,
These memories will not be your last.
Enter at your own risk.
”A book that could show you your past, but not your future, by entering it? I couldn’t put it down. “ present day Luna said.
Young Luna turned to the second page, where a picture of a room full of doors lay. She put a finger to the page, and it slid in. Gradually, she reached inside, until her whole arm was in the picture. She grasped the nearest door handle, and gasped. She took a deep breath, stepped into the book.

Their surroundings changed, but not before they saw her lantern fall and crash on the floor, making a very loud noise.
They stood in the round room of many doors, neither baring any resemblance to the last. Black letters labeled each door: Unborn, year one, year two, etc. Vibrantly colored doors represented every year of life, while years that had not yet occurred were faded considerably. Luna went to the ‘Unborn’ door, and opened it. All of them entered, and Luna explained as they floated, rather than fell through, the mystical space. It was like a sky that had every color imaginable worked in, forming whimsical swirls everywhere.
“It shows all memories pertaining to the person, and nothing more.”
They landed in the garden of a mansion, and followed Luna to the entrance of the mansion. A couple was standing on the steps, and young Luna stealthily hid in the bushes. Present Luna made little attempt to hide, as she knew it was pointless.
“Did you enjoy this evening?” Voldemort asked the woman, whom he held hands with.
“It was lovely.” Bellatrix answered dreamily. “All that blood spilt, all those Muggles killed. . . pity the Ministry refuses to share our view.”
“Don’t you worry about the Ministry.” Voldemort smiled as he walked her inside. “They will be taken care of soon enough. ”
Young Luna followed them in, careful to step quietly.
“Now-” Bellatrix smiled evilly, holding up a bottle of expensive wine. “What would you like to try first? The wine. . . or me?”
“You never fail to seduce me.” Voldemort smiled, carrying her in his arms, off to their bedroom.
Young Luna followed them, but present Luna spoke before anything else happened.
“I made that mistake already. Let’s spare ourselves the nausea. ”

The memory changed, and it showed young Luna witnessing another memory.

Voldemort was pacing back and forth, and Bellatrix was clutching her belly. A small mound was forming there; clearly she was pregnant.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“We cannot have a child! Not now. . . now that I have already taken over the Ministry! ” he exclaimed, as if Bellatrix had chosen to have a child.
“Wouldn’t it be nice, though, to have an heir?”
“What if it is a girl? How then, would we raise an heir?”
“If it is a girl, then she will, no doubt, turn out just like her mother. ”
“We will try to hasten our pace. Perhaps we can finish this war before the child is born.”
Another change of scenery, this time it was during the battle of Hogwarts, in the Forbidden Forest as Voldemort was awaiting Harry.
“That’s it.” Voldemort smiled as Bellatrix screamed in pain. She was going into labor. “Our Dark Heiress will be here soon. ”
“Not in the middle of the war!” Bellatrix pleaded, as if it was optional.
“Go home, Bella. Assure Rudolphus once more that it is none other than his daughter, and to take good care of her. ”
“All right. ” Bella reluctantly agreed.
“As if.” Rudolphus said to himself as he hid behind a tree, listening to them. “This whole time, she was fooling me. I will play along, then get rid of this burden of a child. Fool me once…” he said as he disappeared, to get home before Bella did.
Voldemort stood in the middle of the clearing, and sighed. He remained there for a good half-hour, then began doubting himself.
“I may never see my daughter if I don’t live through this. I wonder what kind of lady she will turn out to-”
But his thoughts were interrupted by Harry appearing in the clearing, sheading his invisibility cloak. Bella was once again at his side, and his confidence had returned as well.
Young Luna then witnessed the end of the Battle of Hogwarts, and then Alastair appeared by her side as Voldemort died.
“Alastair!” Young Luna exclaimed.
“Aria! What are you doing in this book, when there are others we could have ventured into?”
“I wanted to see my past. . . ” she looked at her father, who was dead.
“About that . . . we were meaning to show you, when the time was right.”
“That’s all right. I understand. ” Luna smiled. “It’s too bad it doesn’t show the future.”
“Not really. Seeing the future could be more harmful than you imagine.” Alastair smiled as he took Luna’s hand as he made to leave the book.
“How did you find me?”
“You left the lamp to crash in the library. Not the stealthiest move.” He joked.
“How will we leave?”
“The book mentions a key, that will guide you out. You should have read more before diving in. You made the same mistakes I did, before Evelyn rescued me.”
He held up the ornate silver key, and a matching door appeared. He unlocked it, and held the door open for Luna.
They all exited, and found themselves back in the library.
“Luna?” Alastair asked politely.
“Yes?”
“Please. . .never share any information you’ve learned from going in there with anyone.”
“Why n-”
“Please just promise, before mother and father see us.”
“All right. . . I promise.”
“Thank you.”

The next memory showed the family gathered in the parlor, but Luna was nowhere to be found. A breath-taking view of the sunset could be seen through the large windows. Evelyn and Lucifer sat up straight in separate chairs, Cerberus lay sprawled lazily on a couch, and Alastair stood by the window, with a distant look on her face.
“I am quite overjoyed that we are the parents of the Dark Heiress.” Evelyn smiled.
“She believed us when we told her that we were her real parents.” Lucifer said. Their polite tones had vanished, to be replaced by greedy ones.
“I don’t see what’s so special about her.” Cerberus said. “She is just useless and naïve.”
“Don’t say that.” Alastair said defensively. “After this past year, she has mastered her table manners and dancing lessons, as well as her handwriting and grammar. Not to mention her elegance and music-”
“Really, Alastair? It would seem that you have taken quite a liking to that girl.” Cerberus spoke mockingly.
“Just that I don’t think she is worthless.” He had spoken all of this without even turning to face them, as if he was deeply disappointed in them.
“Oh, Alastair!” Lucifer exclaimed. “You act as if we have been sadistic and abusive to the girl. ”
“Lies are wicked things.” Alastair spoke quietly. “No one should be subjected to them.”
“I don’t think of them as that bad.” Cerberus said. “We gave her such good education; she doesn’t even need to attend Hogwarts. We only want to keep her in their possession so that when she finds out who she really is, she will think of us as family, and allow us to share in her victories.. ”
“After all, who wouldn’t want to support their loving and supportive family?” Evelyn smiled.
They went on laughing at how naïve Luna was, while Alastair excused himself politely. He made his way to Luna’s room, and knocked gently at her door.
“May I enter, Aria?”
“Of course.” Luna said when she recognized his voice.
“We need to talk, and it is urgent.” Alastair said, gesturing for Luna to put the book she had been reading down.
He began by thanking her for pretending to believe Evelyn and Lucifer when they told her that they were her real parents, rather than say she knew her true parents. He went on to explain about their plan, that Luna was a witch, and all about Hogwarts. He didn’t, however, tell her just how awful her parents were.
“Thank you so much for telling me!” Luna smiled as she embraced Alastair.
“You have to leave now. I will take you to King’s Cross station, and ensure your safe passage to Hogwarts, Aria. ”
Luna thanked him several times as she quickly, yet neatly, packed her suitcase with her things.
“Don’t worry. I will send all of your necessary supplies to you tomorrow morning, so you can assume your classes. I’ve already prepared a letter for the school, from me, explaining why you haven’t . . . attended for the past few. . . months. ”
The memory changed, and it showed young Luna boarding the Hogwarts express, along with the other students that were returning after the Easter break. Alastair waved to her as the train doors closed. Behind him, Evelyn and Lucifer appeared, fuming.
“Please, get off that train immediately! “Lucifer pleaded once he eyed Luna.
“Don’t leave us, darling, we only wanted what was best for you. “Evelyn said.
Luna made no attempt to move as the train began sliding out of the station.
The parents turned on Alastair, and Evelyn slapped him very hard.
“How dare you! “she yelled.
“You will be severely punished! “Lucifer yelled as he grabbed his hand, and before Luna could see more, the train turned and they were out of eyeshot.
The next memory was in the great hall, and McGonagall was making an announcement with Luna at her side.
“Please give a warm welcome to Miss Luna Lestrange.”
No one except the Slytherins clapped at the sound of her name, and present-day Luna explained to Elias that McGonagall had used magic to uncover her true name, and that she had given Luna the last name of Lestrange rather than Riddle due to respect for her Father’s wishes . . . and a fair amount of Luna’s pleading.
The professors clapped, and the rest of the students reluctantly followed.
“Due to her unusual circumstance, we shall sort her now since she has missed our formal ceremony. “And with that, she summoned the Sorting Hat. Within seconds, she was announced a Slytherin, much to the joy of the other Slytherins. She took her place at their table, and although she was out of place in her elegant black dress, she felt like she was truly at home. . .although Alastair’s fate still haunted her.
“The next morning-” present-day Luna explained “My school supplies arrived, along with a letter from Alastair explaining that he had escaped to Japan, and would meet me there when I finished school. Until then, he promised a weekly letter. ”
The memory now showed Luna performing a very good levitating charm on her first try.
“For the first week, everything went rather well. I was a quiet, socially distant A student, and although there where whispers, no one said anything to me. Then, things started changing…”
Young Luna sat at the same place in the lake that Elias had seen her at earlier, when three older girls ambushed her. The leader was a Slytherin, and was flanked by two Gryffindors.
“Good afternoon, Missy. ”
“Good afternoon.” Luna said politely, though it was clear she wanted them to leave.
“Tell us, Lestrange, are you planning to kill half of us once you get older?” one of the Gryffindors asked.
“Going to fill these halls with gallons of blood, are we?” the Slytherin asked.
“No!” Luna said, offended. “I would never-”
“You want us to believe that? You liar! We saw your book!” the Slytherin yelled, and he held up the book that showed people their past. The Dark Mark on the cover glittered accusingly.
“Give that back! You don’t know what that is!” Luna pleaded, but the others only laughed.
“Evil spells! Wicked jinxes!” one of the Gryffindors yelled.
“Let’s punish her for her wickedness!”
“Please! I’ve done nothing wrong!” Luna begged.
“Really?” the Slytherin asked mockingly. She bent down and whispered in Luna’s ear. “Then how come we saw you talking to that snake the other day?”
Luna’s eyes widened, for she thought that that moment when she had met Nagini had been a secret.
“Let the vital punishment games begin!” the Slytherin smiled. She raised her wand, and shot a burning jinx at Luna. She screamed in pain, and a few heads turned, though no one tried to help her.
“Does anyone have any objections to helping this wicked girl?” the Slytherin asked.
No one spoke. . .no one moved. . . even the boys who were older and should have known better. With no prefects in sight, Luna was truly alone.
“Well then.” The girl smiled. She raised her wand and sent a burst of boiling water at Luna, showering her with pain.
“Please!” she screamed. “Someone help me!”
She didn’t want to fight back, she didn’t want to prove that she was as bad as that.
“No one wants to help you, you snake! Diffindo!” and with that, she had cut her school robes open, revealing everything, including her intimate parts.
Luna reached for her wand whilst rude laughter and crude joked were heard, and was about to conjure a towel before she was disarmed. In the distance, professors were running to help, but they weren’t quick enough.
“No!’ she screamed. Vines pinned her to the ground, and she wanted more than ever to have known wandless magic.
At least three more spouts of boiling hot water were issued before help finally came. By then Luna was nearly unconscious, and McGonagall’s screams could be heard while a professor covered her in a cool blanket and levitated her to the Hospital Wing.
“Detention is too good for you! Severe punishment! Expulsion! When I’m finished with you-”
And the memory cleared once more.
Luna walked through the halls, looking around fifteen. People laughed as she passed, and throughout her classes, the teachers still looked at her differently, no matter how well she performed.
“After that incident, the students guilty of that crime were vindicated. Their parents ensured that. For-“ present-day Luna spoke sadly “No one would side with the ‘Heiress of the Serpents’ as I was called. Everyone, even the professors, looked at me differently once the book and Nagini was made public. They did, however, fail to keep the book properly protected. After my fifth year, I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t live with the fact that, no matter where I went, I would always be looked at as disgusting and evil. So, I took out my heart, because emotions were weakness. I took Nagini, and everyone else’s memories concerning myself. The students, and professors...even the people in Hogsmead that had heard word of the ‘incident’. And I traveled to Japan, and finished schooling there after learning Japanese, then learned Cooking with Magic. Then, with my brother’s encouragement-” they were back in the present-day Headmistress’s office “I came here to change everything...”
She was so emotionally exhausted that she fainted, tears still in her eyes.

 

[Hikari Chan]

Elias met Crystal's eyes when she replied him.

"She isn't feeling her best. She seemed very sad and didn't want anyone to know."

Elias' heart skipped a beat, wondering why Luna would feel sad after she had won another battle.

"However," Crystal continued. "since only someone who truly cared for her-" she nodded toward Aislinn from behind "Would notice she was missing, I will tell you. Luna is by the lake." she smiled.

"Thank you, miss Thorne," Elias nodded thankfully towards Crystal and then walked out from the castle, not looking at anyone else. He tried to walk calmly without running and he had to use all his might and force to walk as if he was not in hurry. I have been enduring a couple of hours in the staff room without knowing where Luna is...if only miss Monroe had brought Max's child instead I would have not missed what happened afterwards, seriously…and Professor Quinn gladly employed me as a professor for dueling without even allowing me to have my own choices, tsk...the hell with the classes tomorrow. If Luna is not feeling well, Quinn can find another substitute for dueling...

When Elias finally neared the lake, he saw her. She was sitting by the lake, looking into its deep waters. He stood still for a while looking at her before he gained some courage and approached her from behind quietly. He had no intention for scaring her and gently placed his hand on her shoulder, yet she jumped slightly.

"I am sorry if I scared you, dear....I.." He looked anxiously at her.

"I'm fine." she said defensively. "I do not wish to…" she trailed off, once again becoming distracted.

"My dear...knowing that you are not feeling well is eating away my heart. Why are you so sad that you did not enter the castle despite your victory but remained here by the lake?"

She turned to him and spoke softly. "Since it is you, whom I have already shared a large secret, I will share this with you. The thing that is painful and disturbing for me right now. My past. Meet me in the headmaster' office. I will be there momentarily. " She turned and disappeared in a pouf of smoke. Elias who was startled over this, not knowing of what to think or even giving himself the time to ponder, apparated immediately to the headmaster's office. He took a quick walk around in the rooms, checking and locking the nearby doors so that none would disturb him and Luna. He could hear Professor Quinn snoring loudly from one of the closed doors as he wondered why Luna chose to share her memories with him at this place of all the other places.

A moment later Luna appeared in the office, holding the vial of memories, which swirled eerily. "My memories." she explained, summoning the pensieve. "I have not had the pleasure of sharing them." she spoke bitterly.

Elias looked pale and remained silent, already almost fearing her unknown memories. He was unsure if he wanted to see them or not. He had to force himself to remain in the office and not running out. I cannot see her sad, if I want to make her happy I have to stay by her side and...and...view her memories with her...

She turned to him, quite serious, and gave him a piercing glance which he met without moving an inch or twisting his expression. "Understand that I have not shown anyone these memories. They are so personal. . . hence harmful should they fall into the wrong hands."

He nodded silently, still feeling impotent to speak any word.

"Now-" she extended her hand, her gaze shifting to a distant one. "Let us take a walk down memory lane."

He watched as she poured the contents of the vial into the pensieve, slowly and gingerly, as if she was afraid, they may disappear if she wasn't careful.

They entered together, and appeared on an overcast day, in front of an orphanage.

“My old home.” Luna said as she pointed to the peeling letters that read ‘Thompson’s Orphanage’. “Rather cliché-” She said with a sigh “That I was brought to one, just as my Father had.”

Elias caressed her cheek gently to comfort her as they neared the gate, and saw children playing hopscotch, clearly muggles. Three eight-year-old girls were alternating turns, playing happily. Elias eyes widened when he recognized the third girl as Luna. She had long black hair in a messy braid, and the same green eyes.

"It's your turn, Aria!" another girl talked to the younger Luna happily.

Elias looked confusingly at Luna and she explained. "I had no knowledge of my real name, just the name that was given to me. That young girl was my only friend, named Cadence."

He remained silent as he watched the little Luna tripping and falling as she attempted to play. Her friend running forward for her help. The other girls laughing at and scolding her for being so clumsy. Then the memory changed, and Elias was now standing in a bedroom watching sadly Cadence taking farewell of little Luna, his heart skipping a beat for every minute of their separation. He glanced carefully at the present Luna beside him, wondering if she ever met her childhood friend again after this separation.

"Every time there was a visitor at the orphanage," Luna explained "I was passed with a judging eye. . . those eyes of every parent, who would choose any girl but me. I was nine in this memory. . . I remember because the next day I celebrated my tenth on my own."

What was I doing back then?... Elias suddenly thought when he listened silently to Luna. I was already seventeen, experienced the yule ball…perhaps already graduated....or perhaps celebrating my eighteen birthday with my family at home...while she celebrated her tenth on her own...

The memory faded once again and this time a little Luna was sitting alone in her room, staring out the window with tears in her eyes. Elias also had tears in his eyes, already from the first part of the memories and he was trying to cope with not to cry. Stay strong you fool, how are you going comfort her after you have watched these memories with her if you are such a weakling... he thought while he listened to Luna's story.

The memory cleared, and they stood outside an office where little Luna was eavesdropping.
"You would like to adopt a girl?" the matron asked.
"Yes. We found that we wanted a lovely, elegant girl of our own." a woman replied gently and politely.
"We would like to see all of them, and then make our choice." a man spoke.
"Of course." the matron said.
The sounds of moving chairs and footsteps behind the door made the little Luna to run away. She was stumbling and falling as she ran. Elias suddenly forget that he was inside a memory and made to run after the girl to her help, when the present Luna held out a hand to stop him, bringing him back to his senses.

"We will follow the parents instead. It is far less tiring." Luna said politely.

"Of course..." Elias replied absentminded, feeling very foolish yet he could not help to look back at the girl.

They followed inside to the same bedroom in where Luna had taken farewell of Cadence in a previous memory and continued to watch. Elias frowned at this. Could...could Luna's clumsiness be the reason that she was a witch? As children, witches and wizards, are usually clumsy or happen to do magic by mistake. I was an exception of course, different child, to normal for being a wizard child or perhaps too weird...when a stranger saw me back then, he or she must have thought I was either a muggle or a squib because I was too far normal than any child in a wizard family...well then this family must be special...Then I do not doubt them to be magical if they could tell that Luna was different from the other girls....

The memory cleared once more and formed into a lavishly large mansion. But the beauty of this manor meant nothing anymore when Elias discovered the plants with their buds cut off. It gave him a bad feeling and he wished that he was anywhere else but this place. Once again, the memory changed, and it showed the dining room. Little Luna was looking very elegant and neatly dressed. She wasn’t eating very politely, but rather hungrily and Elias found it rather cute and charming.

“I’ve never tasted food this great!” She smiled, with a bit of food around her mouth. Elias smiled sadly as he watched, unaware of his tears that had found their way out from the corner of his eyes and a few slid down his cheek silently. Then he suddenly froze when he heard the names of the family. Oh, good Merlin... he thought as the father presented himself as Lucifer and then one of his sons as Cerberus.

The memory disappeared, and Luna spoke while it was forming again.
“The family was quite kind to me for the first week after my arrival. They showed me around, gave me lovely clothes, and fed me gourmet food. They showed me such kindness, that I would never have guessed they were hiding atrocious secrets from me. They were mostly normal, except for their names and the decapitated flowers.”

This time the memory showed a lovely night, and the entire family was out in the garden by a lovely waterfall where an angel with black wings stood. The angel reminded Elias about Raven, expect that this one was made out of stone. He shuddered at the thought of the angel who he had encountered earlier and tried to not think about her but focusing on the scene in front of him. Everyone in the family expect little Luna had an instrument each, playing lovely music. He almost held his breath when she was about to play violin. Will she really play so bad? It is so unbelievable. The Luna I know is different from the girl in her memory...

The first few notes were not bad and after a moment, it was some of the loveliest music anyone had heard. "You actually did well, surprisingly well for playing a violin the first time..." Elias commented quietly as he watched the past Luna admiringly.

“I never knew that if I simply relaxed it would all work out, and that some things must be felt with your heart, rather than done with your mind. ” the present Luna said and then left his side to eavesdrop at Evelyn and Lucifer who were whispering. Elias frowned when he saw Luna's chocked expression.

"Never mind," She said quickly.

Elias opened his mouth to speak but closed it immediately.

What does she mean? I have so much to ask her about, there are things that I still don't understand, perhaps everything will make sense when I have seen everything... He thought as he watched Alastair leading little Luna to her bedroom, bidding her goodnight. But she did not fall asleep and left her bed to explore the mansion. Elias and Luna followed her through several corridors following a faint sound of a girl who was crying.

“I had been looking for a library that night.” Luna said to Elias. “But I found the one thing that made everything change.”

Elias eyes widened when he recognized the crying woman in a book which the past Luna was holding in her hands.

“A book that could show you your past, but not your future, by entering it. I couldn’t put it down.” present day Luna explained, and her past self-entered the book. They followed inside as well and went through time and space until they landed in the garden of a manor and walked up to the entrance where Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange were standing and holding hands at the steps. Oh, good Merlin... Elias thought, feeling the color rise to his cheeks. ..Of all the doors Luna could have chosen when she entered the book in the past, she chose the unborn door....does she....does she knows what this means.....well I do not blame her, she were only an innocent child back then and she knew nothing about this....

“Now-” Bellatrix smiled evilly, holding up a bottle of expensive wine. “What would you like to try first? The wine. . . or me?”
“You never fail to seduce me.” Voldemort smiled, carrying her in his arms, off to their bedroom.

Elias was trying to distract himself by looking at the decorations indoors, hoping awkwardly that he won't need to watch what next would happen. He wondered what Luna would think about him if he closed his eyes if they followed her past self as he remained still and almost hold his breath at where they stood. Then the present Luna spoke: “I made that mistake already. Let’s spare ourselves the nausea.”

Thank goodness... Elias thought, feeling relieved that they did not need to follow her past anymore in this part of the memories.

The memories changed and Elias watched the second wizarding war and the end of the battle from different times and perspectives than he had witnessed as a child. The one of the few experiences I had was the dark mark... He thought as shuddered at the memory of the dark mark being burned and incarnated in his left forearm.

They went back to the library together with Luna's past self and Alastair and the next memory showed the family gathered in the parlor, but the past Luna was nowhere to be found. Elias frowned, wondering how it was possible to view memories of other family members when Luna had not been present in this part. Of course...she might have stolen part of their memories... he thought.

Elias almost wanted to throw up because of the family's greediness. Tsk...they disgust me, they decided to raise her as their own daughter because of who she truly was for their own account...I wonder what it would have become of Luna if she had not a great brother like Alastair... he thought as they moved forward in her memories, from the moment Alastair revealed the truth to Luna, when she boarded the Hogwarts express for the first time and until the moment when they were in the Great Hall. Elias glanced over the tables and recognized a fifteen-year-old Miss Monroe who applauded cheerfully when the headmistress presented Luna and she was sorted in Slytherin.
He also recognized Miss Pyrites who was seventeen years old and her one-year younger brother who to the contrary to his sister was in in Gryffindor. Miss Travers, Miss Jugson and Miss Dolohov were sitting beside Sherwood at the Ravenclaw table. Elias also recognized Miss Wilkes who was twelve years old and her mind somewhere else while the Dolohov brothers looked curiously at Luna when sat down at the Slytherin table.

If I had remained as a teaching assistant for dueling at Hogwarts instead, Merlin's beard why did I choose to teach English at Beauxbatons... Elias thought a little regretful over his past choice.

The sceneries changed and Luna explained everything as they moved forward in the memories. Elias watched as the first year and second year pass by for Luna at Hogwarts. He watched as Luna performed a very good levitating charm on her first try. During her third year, his little sister started her first year at Hogwarts. He watched as Lily was sorted into Slytherin and as Miss Monroe and several other seventeen-year-old students applied for the Triwizard competition. How the goblet of fire spit up her name and the Slytherin table roared as they applauded. Miss Monroe wearing a black ripped dress with lace and high knee-length boots much to the professors' dismay as she swirled around with a Durmstrang fellow at the yule ball. Miss Monroe winning the Triwizardment cup for Hogwarts.

Now I understand, some things make sense now…More than a half year ago, the night before the battle against Bellatrix Lestrange, when Luna asked me why I did not see Monroe for who she really was, I did not understand what she was talking about back then. Now I understand that Luna must have referred to this time when Miss Monroe had matured and was not the child I used to knew, not the childish little girl who my friends used to tease...a time that I did not witness myself because I was a professor at Beauxbatons....now I understand...

The memories changed and they were back at the same place at the lake where a young Luna was sitting and three older students, one Slytherin and two Gryffindors, who seemed to be in their sixth year, approached her. He forced himself to watch the scene of where Luna was ambushed and harassed by them. He was feeling sick over their deeds, feeling such shame that a Slytherin had decide to torment another Slytherin. Lachlan, Lloyd and Ray used to tease Miss Monroe back in our time, but that was nothing...nothing in comparison to these horrible deeds... Elias thought as he watched terrified. His heart was aching painfully as he heard Luna screaming for help, not even trying to defend herself and the other students, cowards they were, did not dare to interfere to help her, and all he could do was standing and watching a memory. It is a memory, Elias, a memory, Luna is here beside you, alive and standing at her both feet. This is only a memory and it will be over soon, the worst will be over soon... he thought, trying to calm down himself but inside he was boiling of fury, his right hand shaking as he tried not to draw out his wand, reminding himself over and over again that he was watching a memory and that he should not allow the emotions to take over his mind. If Luna have went through this, I'll go through this memory with her, no matter how much it is killing me inside... He looked away as the Slytherin student cut Luna's school robes open, revealing everything. Oh, good Merlin, when will this end... He thought sickly as he heard the rude laughter and crude jokes. He looked behind him and noticed that the professors were on their way, but they were slowly and didn't reach to Luna until she was nearly unconscious.

And the memory cleared once more, this time showing a fifteen-year-old Luna walking through the halls. The majority of the students laughed at her as she passed. Most of the professors looked at her differently no matter how well she performed. Professor Quinn was, as usual, very severe during her classes and seized the opportunity to take of points from the other houses if she heard or saw any of the students trying to tease or laugh at Miss Lestrange.

"Twenty points off Gryffindor and twenty points off Hufflepuff! And detention at my office at nine o’clock this evening!" She bellowed during one potion class. She eyed her Slytherin students severely and looked at them with the - you dare to lose any point to your house- face and they remained silent.

"two-hundred points off Hufflepuff, two-hundred-forty points off Gryffindor and three-hundred-twenty points off Ravenclaw!" She bellowed another time as she discovered how many the students were laughing at Luna, taking twenty points off each student after she had made a mental count of them in the second floor.

“After that incident, the students guilty of that crime were vindicated. Their parents ensured that. For- “present-day Luna spoke sadly “No one would side with the ‘Heiress of the Serpents’ as I was called. Everyone, even the professors, looked at me differently once the book and Nagini was made public. They did, however, fail to keep the book properly protected. After my fifth year, I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t live with the fact that, no matter where I went, I would always be looked at as disgusting and evil. So, I took out my heart, because emotions were weakness. I took Nagini, and everyone else’s memories concerning myself. The students, and professors...even the people in Hogsmeade that had heard word of the ‘incident’. And I traveled to Japan, and finished schooling there after learning Japanese, then learned Cooking with Magic. Then, with my brother’s encouragement-” they were back in the present-day Headmistress’s office “I came here to change everything...”

Luna was so emotionally exhausted that she fainted, tears still in her eyes. Elias caught her in his arms and left a short note at the headmistress desk, to let her know that he won't be able to attend tomorrow morning. He left out the reasons. Let Quinn think whatever she wants, I won't come back to this place not when Luna is in this terrible condition or without her...by time I'll make a good excuse to why I was absent... He thought as he grabbed the penseive and apparated away.

Elias appeared with Luna in a small house which was located close to the sea. It was one of his parents' properties, a place where they used to spend sometimes during the summer when they wanted to stay at the beach for the holidays. The house consisted of three bedrooms, a bathroom, a parlor and a dining room and kitchen. Elias had chosen this place for Luna tonight in hope that a place in solitude, away from Hogwarts and instead close to the sea would comfort her and make her feel better. He put her down gently in the bed in one of the bedrooms, took of her shoes which he placed beside the penseive at the floor and covered her with a blanket.

"Please take your time and rest well my dear. We'll talk tomorrow," He spoke softly, wiped her tears and kissed her forehead gently. As soon as he had walked out calmly from the bedroom and closed the door quietly behind him, he rushed to the bathroom where he threw up the supper he had eaten earlier this evening. His tears were flowing down his cheeks. He brushed his teeth and washed his face and eyes, but no matter how much his washed he could not stop his flowing tears. He went to the parlor and noticed that the time was a couple of hours past midnight, but he could not fall asleep, not after what Luna had shared with him. He sat down heavily and rested his forehead against his palm as he continued to cry silently until he had no more tears to weep.

 

[Junko Natsumizaka]

Luna awoke five hours later, and found the bathroom to shower. She got dressed in her earlier attire, and gazed out of a wide window. The rolling waves made soothing, lovely sounds as the horizon showed signs of approaching dawn. Luna let out a deep sign, feeling as peaceful as possible after the previous events.

Raven magically opened the window, and flew in to land beside her. “Good morning, Luna.” She greeted formally with a bow.

“Good morning, Raven.” Luna said, her face emotionless.

“I have carried out your tasks without flaw. All was done as you ordered. What are your next instructions? ” she asked eagerly.

“I wish for you to find someone whom I have not met in years. The young girl from my past named Cadence from my old orphanage. Look into records, and find her post haste.” Luna said.

“How should I approach her?” Raven asked, interested.

“As a friend of mine, who is looking to find a girl who used to be friends with Aria Thompson, who, as you know, was named after the orphanage.”

“Of course.” Raven bowed again, extended her wings, and flew out the window, closing it respectfully before departing.

Luna then joined Elias in the sitting room, and greeted him politely. “Good early morning, Elias. ” she sat in a chair opposite him, and saw that his eyes were red and dry, as if he had been crying. She conjured a glass of water for him, and one for herself. At first, she wasn’t sure of what to say. Clearly, he would know the reason for her not crying at least half as much as he was. She was also sure that he would have numerous questions for her, so she decided to simply ask him. “I am certain you have questions that need answering.” She paused, then took a deeper sign than she should have. “Please, ask whatever you heed necessary, and I shall most certainly answer with honesty.”