Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Prolog In The Year 2022

Hydra Black stood on the stage, the rest of her band seated around her. The band consisted of a witch on fiddle, a goblin on guitar, an elf on drums and Hydra herself on lead vocals and enchanted keyboards.

Enchanted as in she programmed the thing with the song set and let it play itself so that she could dedicate all of her energy to her vocal performance and connecting with the audience. As the only half elf she knew of other than her twin brother, Loughness, she was extremely proud of having the most diverse band in the wizarding world. Even better, she'd done that without trying.

Each band member had just fallen into place, and only when the band was fully formed did it actually occur to them that they were a perfect poster band for the diversity rage. Granted that was mostly a Muggle thing, but these days, in Wizarding society it was more important than ever. With the 'plague' that had been loosed onto wizarding society, robbing most people of their magic, the new Minister had called for goblins, elves, even Acromantulas to come forward and take their rightful and equal place in wizarding society if they'd a mind to do so.

Of course most elves were literally unable to do so due to the fact they were rather enslaved at present, but the Minister had taken that into consideration. Being a former Slytherin, and having always believed the Ministry was too soft, she was ready and eager to make it better and stronger in order to keep the wizarding world safe. Wizarding Aurors along with those goblins and acromantulas who had already come forward to show an interest in bettering their situation, visited homes with elf slaves and 'encouraged' the masters to free them. Most of the elves were eager and grateful to leave their shackles of slavery when they were promised paid work at the Ministry.

"It is a new world we're building...as equals together! It's going to be a better brighter and stronger world for all of us as long as we DON'T STOP BELIEVING!" As Hydra called out the final few words to the audience, it was the band's cue to begin playing the music. Tonight she had a guest singer at her side for this single song in particular. He was her boyfriend, and though he terrified most others, Ballan made her heart race for an entirely different reason. The elf hailed from Germany, but that was the least of the reasons he was so different from other elves.

Several years back, he'd been rescued by Millicent Bulstrode (née) Adler's husband Wolfgang. Wolfgang had flat out bought him from a horrifically cruel master then freed him. While in the service of said master, however, Ballan had gotten himself a slightly mangled right leg and a drooping right eye from his years of abuse, but Hydra thought both only gave him character and made him look entirely bad ass in the best of ways.

Ballan hated singing, and he hated crowds, and he hated most people, but he loved Hydra, so had allowed her to rope him into this performance as it was a duet about a boy and girl from different walks of life connecting. The song wasn't just a song about love, though. It was an anthem of hope for everyone in all walks of life, a message for them to never stop believing. Right now in this time of change, Hydra felt it was something everyone needed to hear.

As she began to sing, Hydra felt the music sweeping her away as it always did. She was proud to have inherited her bardic gift for song from her human father. When she sang, music was like a wave of life-giving power and magic that she could ride much as one could ride the crest of a wave. As a swimmer moved through water, she moved through and inside of the music. It was glorious! When Ballan chimed in with his part, her heart leapt with pride. His clear strong tenner belied his nearly equally strong belief that he was no singer. Many in his place who didn't believe in themselves may have given a weak performance, but Ballan didn't do anything by halves which, in part, was what had initially drawn her to him.

She was beginning the second verse when it happened, seemingly striking out of nowhere! The spell slammed into her chest, knocking her off her feet! She stared at the ceiling of the Three Broomsticks in shock as the sound of a scream rang in her ears. Distantly she recognized the voice as belonging to Mag, the band's fiddler and other lead vocalist.

"Do something! Don't just let her die!"" Hydra didn't have to open her eyes to know the shouted words came from her twin brother.

Was she going to die? She hoped not. That would be no good at all. There was still so much she wanted to do. Loughness sounded terrified, though, and that wasn't at all like him. Who had attacked her, though and why? She'd never done anything to anyone.

"I won't do that unless I have to," Ballan replied. "Grindelwald is here tonight. Let him attend, and if he is unable, we'll go from there."

Ballan spoke to Loughness, who cursed under his breath. Hydra felt her eyes fluttering closed as her mind strove to escape the pain.

"Hydra, come on, keep your eyes open for me," Ballan said.

His voice was closer now. He was bending over her. Forcing her eyes open, she searched for his face, but Grindelwald's came into view instead and the blond looked worried. That wasn't good. The great Grindelwald could usually perform fantastic feats of magic without blinking after all, she thought in some dry amusement as she struggled not to panic.

"Ballan! Put up antiapparation blocks now! We're not letting anyone out of here!" The enraged scream came from Hydra's third cousin, Bellatrix. Even in spite of the fact that she was quite certain her ribs were broken, the fury in Bella's voice made Hydra give a small smile through the pain that gripped most of her upper body. The Lestranges would make whoever had done this wish their mummy never met their daddy.

"Already did," he called back. "It was a fucking elf. I felt the magic."

The enraged snarl in which Ballan delivered those last words made Hydra hope the elf in question got to live long enough for the Lestranges to torture answers out of him or her. She opened her mouth to tell Ballan not to kill said elf, but found herself laughing weakly instead. This was insane! Why would an elf attack her? Not only was she half elf, but she did more than most anyone to assist the newly freed elves to be everything they always should've been!

Chapter Text

Chapter 2,

In The Year 2015

Most children don't need to have their appearance altered before they head off to Hogwarts, but such wasn't the case for Hydra and Loughness Black. They were special. As a rule they were accustom to being Special in a more favorable light, so this particular case was a disconcerting turnaround. Generally witches, wizards and other magical races had to hide from the Muggles, but not from one another. Again such wasn't the case for Hydra and Loughness Black. Being half elf had its perks. It meant they had more powerful magic than ordinary witches and wizards. It also meant that, compared to them, witches and wizards were, in most cases, quite ordinary. As most elves were still slaves, Hydra and Loughness's parents didn't feel their children would be accepted, and as such didn't wish them to have an unpleasant time at school. It would hinder their learning, and no one wanted that. There was also the psychological damage risk. Throughout their early childhood, the two always felt very accepted, but they did have a close circle of friends and remained comfortably sheltered within it.

They played with Serpensortia Snape, daughter of Mag and Severus Snape, Wulfric Dumbledore, son of Bera Karkaroff Dumbledore and Albus Dumbledore, and Gornuk, a young nephew of Griphook, because Griphook was friends with the Snapes and Hydra and Loughness's own parents. Their friends accepted them just fine, but they'd all grown up together, and that obviously made it different. Remaining, for the most part, out of general society, Hydra and Loughness weren't particularly exposed to how wizarding kind as a whole would view the extremely unconventional relationship of their parents as well as how they, themselves, came into being. They grew up knowing that having both elf and wizard magic made them pureblood squared, and better than anyone else.

This didn't stop them from being kind to their friends, viewing them as equals in their own way. Gornuk had his own brand of special magic that wizards tended to fear, considering they stripped goblins of the right to bear wands. Wulfric and Sortia were both just magical humans, but they were very precocious and advanced, so not at all boring. Hydra and Loughness's parents weren't so confident that the other students at Hogwarts would be as advanced, however. They didn't feel that those students or even some of the professors would applaud the fact that Kreacher and Regulus Black had chosen to magically create children to continue the line of the most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Working with Albus Dumbledore as well as extremely skilled goblin healers, they'd transfigured a sperm into an egg.

Using a Muggle test tube method, this egg was combined with the sperm, ensuring that the resulting child would be half of Kreacher and half of Regulus. They paid a witch who happened to be the cousin of Albus's wife Bera Karkaroff, to carry their baby. Of course the child turned out to be twins, i.e Hydra and Loughness Black. For as long as both could remember they were told how wonderful, beautiful and intelligent they were. How much better than human wizards...more improved. So the fact strangers at Hogwarts may not feel the same was mildly jarring. Loughness reacted with a scathing attitude where Hydra felt more resentful. Resentful of the situation that made them at all freaks. The fact that elves, so much more powerful than wizards and witches were enslaved to them was baffling as well as enraging. Then there was the general prejudice when it came to the concept of two men having a child...and doing it with the help of magic to boot.

Such concepts were also likely to be viewed by the general magical masses as repugnant. This attitude was a far cry from how the twins were raised. Instead they were raised with the firm knowledge that pureblood was the only respectable blood to have when it came to magic. As they were made by two lines of pure blood magic, elf and pure blood wizard, they were, in fact better than pure bloods. They were pureblood squared. They heard the term first from the spirit of their grandmother Walburga. She made it clear that they were the future of the most ancient and noble house of Black.

They were tasked to raise the family name far above any of the other sacred twenty-eight by achieving greatness beyond any others. Loughness decided that he'd be a great Dark lord when he grew up, but Hydra had no idea what she wanted to do. Whatever it was, though, she planned for it to be grand! Before Apparating to King's Cross station, the twins stood together in front of the portrait of their grandparents to which their spirits had been linked by a necromancer. The life sized portrait hung in the library, allowing Orion and Walburga Black to always have a grounded connection to #12 Grimmauld place. Though they could stray from their frame to wander the entire manor at will, it was their anchor.

"How do we look," Hydra asked her grandparents nervously. "Is it super strange?" All day it had felt odd looking into a mirror. Last night before the twins went to bed, Kreacher had placed illusion on both so that none of their elf features showed. Their long noses and ears were still there, but appeared to the visual eye to be fully human instead. Their eyes were still blue, but no longer elf round in appearance. If Hydra touched her face, she still felt its familiar half elf and half human contours, but when she looked into the mirror, only a small human looked back at her. The experience was disconcertingly foreign. She liked the way she really looked. She was very pretty, and though still pretty after Kreacher's illusion, she didn't feel this unreal version of herself was nearly as striking. Nonetheless she grudgingly accepted the necessity if her parents thought it so important. At least sometimes they were wise, after all.

Orion chuckled. "To us, yes, but to those who have never seen you, you look quite human and nothing but human which to them won't be at all strange."

Loughness made a face. "Common," he complained. "We look common."

"Ah but some day you'll rise far above the rest, and they will all see you as far more than human...far more than them. They shall all envy you, and bow to you if they are wise," Walburga proclaimed. As she spoke, she drew herself up, bosom swelling with the fervor of the belief in her own words. She was beautiful with gleaming black hair and porcelain skin. Her slender proud visage struck awe and fear into the hearts of...anyone and everyone in whom she wished to strike emotion.

Hydra hoped to be at least a little like her some day. She at least had the gleaming black hair and porcelain skin, which she supposed was a start. Walburga's portrait in the front hall looked nothing like this, for at the end of her life when she'd had it made, she was old with grief and ill. Believing that Orion and Regulus were both dead, when in fact only Orion was, she had allowed her health to go and a disease of the liver claimed her life far too early. Anyone unaware that the portrait in the hall and the one in the library were of the same woman would never know.

"Make us proud, and we'll see you on the Christmas break," Orion said, smiling warmly at both Loughness and Hydra. Like Walburga he looked youthful in death, but he had died rather young at the hands of Voldemort in a freak accident aka murder attempt gone wrong. When Regulus learned what Voldemort had done to nearly kill Kreacher he'd gone to his father who had in turn gone to the Lestranges. Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan were nothing if not loyal, and family always came first. Though they were horrified and sickened to know that their precious Dark Lord who was to save them from Muggles was instead breaking up his soul while sacrificing his own in the process, they knew he must be stopped. As it turns out, if one has several Horcruxes, killing curses don't work on them as they should. When Orion, Regulus, Kreacher and the three Lestranges attacked Voldemort with the killing curse, he was able to turn it, causing it to strike Orion instead. Voldemort was able to read their minds, and he'd seen it coming so was ready. As a result, Orion was dead, leaving the others at their Dark Lord's mercy. As he wasn't at all merciful, that didn't end well. He'd chosen to apply the strategy of keeping one's enemies even closer than friends. As a reminder to himself, Voldemort allowed his once faithful followers to live with a few modifications. The Lestranges were compelled to worship him even more utterly than they already had. As for what had been done to Regulus and Kreacher, that was still a mystery that they could not remember.

"If you need to talk before then, write us and Kreacher or Regulus can read us your letters," Walburga said.

"And you shall dictate replies to them as well in case we need advice," Loughness asked.

"Of course!" she nodded.

"I hate having to pretend," Loughness complained.

"You aren't precisely pretending," Orion said. "You simply aren't telling the entire truth." It would literally hurt Loughness not to be able to brag to all the other students about why he was better than them, Hydra thought, trying not to smile.

"Your parents believed I would have a problem with your mixed blood. Did you know that," Walburga asked.

Hydra and Loughness exchanged a look. "But you're the one who said we're pureblood squared," Hydra objected.

Walburga nodded, smiling sagely. "Sometimes your parents are stupid, Dear. They're men, though, what can you expect?" Orion made a sound of objection and Walburga shot him a dark frown. "Do shut up, Orion." Her gentle smile returned as she gracefully turned back to face Hydra and Loughness. "I had an issue with your parents being gay. It complicated many things, and the fact I had no idea until I was dead was even more vexing. Had I been aware before everything went to hell and Regulus disappeared, I could've fixed things, but the men, Orion, Regulus and Kreacher, chose to keep things from me which got Orion killed and Regulus tainted." Hydra tried not to cringe at the scathing reference to her father's vampirism, the method in which he'd been able to avoid death at Voldemort's hands as well as in the lake of Inferi.

"I never had an issue with the concept of your mixed blood, because it makes you stronger and as a result, the blood of the most ancient and noble house of Black stronger. It's mixing with Muggles that dirties the blood. Mixing with weaker blood is the detraction, so how can mixing with more powerful blood present as anything other than an improvement?" She smiled once again at Hydra. "Remember, dear, men are stupid. Loughness, I expect you to be wiser than both of your parents and your grandfather as well."

Loughness bowed to Walburga with a hand over his heart. "I shall be, Grandmother," he vowed solemnly before flashing Orion a quick apologetic glance. Orion grinned sympathetically and Loughness returned the smile with a relieved one of his own.

"Loughness, Hydra, it's time to go!" The voice belonged to Filius Flitwick. He was taking them to the train station because Kreacher and Regulus wouldn't wake until sunset.

"Yes, Professor Flitwick," Hydra called. They'd have to get used to calling him Professor Flitwick instead of Filius, so may as well start now. Waving to her grandparents, Hydra turned to go, then remembered that she'd nearly left her salamander! Rather than an owl, toad, or cat, Loughness had decided that as Pure-blood squared children, he and Hydra required more unique magical pets. Salamanders weren't at all easy to obtain, though, so at first the Daddies had refused him. Loughness was good at throwing loud fits until it eventually boiled down to, give him what he wanted or kill him. So they had salamanders. The pretty things were slender and quick with skin like silk at a cool temperature. Often they remained coiled around Hydra and Loughness's wrists like bracelets. They'd decided to take them to Hogwarts that way. If anyone saw them at the train station, Muggles and wizards alike could assume they were very realistic jewelry. It was easy to have people believing what their minds would readily accept, after all.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Platform Nine and Three Quarters

"Why can't we just apparate to Hogwarts with you," Hydra complained as Filius stood with them on the platform. "It seems illogical for us to take that long ride when you're about to just apparate to Hogwarts," she pointed out reasonably.

The twins weren't much shorter than Filius, and Loughness idly wondered if anyone who happened to be watching would assume they were his children. All their elf features were hidden with Kreacher's illusion charm, after all.

The twins' long black hair could to some, look similar enough to Filius's own black locks though his was peppered with the white of late middle age or whatever. Loughness couldn't help a flash of resentment that his own parents couldn't be here like everyone else's.

Sure it was because the sunlight would kill them, but still. If they hadn't gotten involved with Voldemort and his stupid cause in the first place, they wouldn't have to be vampires. They would still be mortal and that would make them half normal parents.

The fact they were both men, leaving the twins with no mother figure, made them weird enough to Loughness's mind. It was the other half of why they weren't normal. Normal wasn't always as impressive so he didn't really care. It was just something to throw in their faces when he wasn't getting something he wanted, because it worked at least half of the time.

It was annoying that all the drama that had hurt his family in the past, long before he was born, had to do with Voldemort, because Voldemort wasn't impressive at all. From all accounts as well as the pensieve memories of the parents, their former 'Dark Lord' was weird and spooky. It honestly astounded Loughness that anyone had actually wanted to follow him, but Hydra had pointed out that if a person told you what you wanted to hear, it made them automatically look better. That didn't impress him either, but he did see it as relatively valid.

"Your parents want you to have the normal Hogwarts experience, and that involves the train," Filius told Hydra almost apologetically. "If you are allowed to cut corners, those that you have to experience instead may feel all the sharper."

Hydra sighed. "I suppose you're right," she admitted reluctantly.

For his part, Loughness didn't mind the prospect of riding the train. It served food after all, and he was still a growing boy.

"Hey! You're the Black twins, right?" The voice calling out from just behind them had a slight Spanish accent. Loughness and Hydra turned nearly as one to see a tall dark haired boy with a slender build and intelligent, dark brown eyes. "My brother asked me to look out for you two," he explained when Loughness nodded. "I'm Guillermo Valdez. Romeo's brother. Hi, Professor Flitwick!"

Only when he addressed Filius did Loughness notice that Guillermo wore Ravenclaw robes.

"Hello Guillermo. Did you have a nice summer," Filius asked, giving him a friendly smile.

Guillermo sighed. "It was alright... Boring though. I'm glad to get back to school."

Filius looked pleased as he reached up to clap the taller boy on the shoulder. "Good for you!"

Romeo Valdez was an Auror in Spain. He was a friend of Blaise Zabini, and the twins had met him a few times due to the fact their Daddy Kreacher worked with Blaise in his shop, Enchanted Odds. Before the twins were even born, Blaise had asked Kreacher to work with him on the enchanted items he crafted.

He was fascinated to see what elf and human magic combined could create and the two had made a ton of gold over the years. They made anything from sleep pillows to wearable charms that hid magic from being detected. Blaise often had after hours parties at his shop, and Regulus and Kreacher had met Romeo at one of them.

"Why don't you go to school in Spain," Hydra asked Guillermo curiously. "I'm Hydra Black, by the way, and this is my brother, Loughness."

"Like the monster but with an old fashioned spelling," Loughness bragged proudly. Though the Black family tended to name their children for stars and constellations, Kreacher had wished his son to carry the name of something strange, powerful and illusive, thus the Loch Ness monster with a more archaic spelling. The star tradition bit lay in his middle name, Aldebaran.

"It's great to meet you both," Guillermo enthused sincerely, eyes regarding the twins with open interest and curiosity. "I don't go to school in Spain because my brother really hates it. It's where he got hurt...you know, during Voldemort's day."

Hydra and Loughness exchanged a glance, because they hadn't known.

"We aren't aware," Hydra said politely.

"Oh sorry..." Guillermo shrugged. "Some of the teachers at the Spanish magic school, El Lobo it's called, were Death Eaters and they were performing dark magic on some of the students in order to feed more power to Voldemort... I don't know much because Romeo really hates to talk about it, but he refuses to allow me to attend there simply because the Death Eater professors or whatever they were called weren't discovered for so long. He said he will never feel that anyone is safe at that school, so it's been Hogwarts for me."

"And we're happy to have you," Filius told him warmly.

"Would the two of you like to sit with me on the train," Guillermo asked and the twins nodded.

Loughness enjoyed the security of having someone to board with rather than he and Hydra having to wing it alone in a completely new situation. They could handle it, of course, being superior to all others and such, but it was just that they'd never had to do anything completely alone before, always having had support from adults or fellow mates. Their friends attended school elsewhere for various reasons, though, and Flitwick, their current supporting adult, was about to abandon them.

"Well now that you've got company, I'll leave you to your trip," Filius said, reaching to gently squeeze the shoulder of each twin.

"Thank you for bringing us, Professor," Loughness said politely, pleased with himself for remembering not to call the small man Filius as he was so accustomed to doing.

He traveled in social circles with the parents from time to time, so he'd known the twins from birth. "It was no trouble at all, and I'll see you at the sorting," he said, giving a cheerful wave before apparating away.

Hydra sighed, staring wistfully after him. "See? That was so bloody much faster than the ride is going to be," she complained with a frown of frustration.

"Speaking of," Loughness said, turning to Guillermo. "Your summer was so dull that you're happy to return to school? Are the classes that great, because our Daddy Regulus never mentioned as much. The place really must have undergone a change."

Guillermo grinned. "Probably not. I just look forward to seeing girls again. The older ones are really hot...you know, their bodies are beginning to develop and..."

He moved his hands out from his chest to express the concept of breasts, and Loughness's round blue eyes widened in understanding. "Ah...Now that sounds more reasonable."

As both boys laughed happily together, Hydra sighed and rolled her eyes. "Pigs."

Guillermo made a shameless snorting sound, causing Loughness to double over with laughter.

"Are we ever going to board," Hydra asked and Guillermo nodded.

"Yes, m-lady and I'll even carry your trunk for you." He grinned over at Loughness as he scooped up the trunk that sat at Hydra's feet. "Your sister is no fun."

"Not at all," Loughness agreed, grinning back. "She's that well behaved one who never gets in trouble." He made a gagging sound and Hydra jabbed him in the ribs.

"What year are you, Guillermo," she asked.

"This is my second," he replied as he led the way forward.

"Have you a lot of friends," Hydra asked as they boarded the train.

"Ummm... Not really I suppose," Guillermo admitted perhaps a bit uncomfortably. "I just usually prefer reading to talking to people I suppose."

"Oh we understand that," Hydra assured. "We have a few friends, though, and they also love books so they're worthy. They also have interesting things to say."

"Now that is indeed rare," Guillermo said. He paused to poke his head into various compartments, but always withdrew and moved on. "I'm hoping to find us an empty one," he explained. "Are your friends starting at Hogwarts this year as well?"

"No," Hydra said disappointedly. "One is a goblin, so not allowed at Hogwarts for whatever reason. He learns at the school for goblins under Gringotts. I'd not have minded going there at all, but the daddies say we need to learn our human magic," she added, lowering her voice so that no one around them could easily hear. "At least there, we'd not have to pretend not to be who we are and hide our true appearance, though."

"I always wondered who taught elves their magic as well," Guillermo whispered back. "I mean they're never in school either. I understand that elves and goblins have different ways of doing things, though, so I guess it's not practical for them to attend with human wizards even if it does feel like segregation because of everything else."

Hydra nodded. "True enough and I never thought about it that way before. I like it."

Guillermo grinned. "Good. I'm glad I could say something right."

Hydra frowned at him. "I'm not that bad. It's perfectly normal for girls not to want to hear boys being pigs about them is all."

"Okay tell me about the other friends, then," Guillermo said.

"One attends Durmstrang, because his mum is the headmistress and his dad teaches Transfigurations there," Loughness said.

"Oh that's the Dumbledore kid who's dad decided to fake his death when he got tired of people not appreciating him, right? At least that's what my brother said," Guillermo whispered.

"Basically," Hydra agreed. "There were other reasons at first, but once Voldemort was dead, Albus said he just didn't see a point in going back when everyone always blamed him for everything, willingly believed every lie Skeeter spun and never appreciated that he was one of the few to make efforts to stop Voldemort. Who can blame him really."

Guillermo nodded. "I agree."

"Hydra! Loughness!"

Both turned at the sound of the voice.

"And that's our third and final friend, but what she's doing here is a mystery," Hydra said, waving happily to Serpensortia Snape.

Her large green eyes glittered with satisfaction as she approached, giving them a smile. "Who are you," she asked Guillermo...or more like demanded. That was just Sortia's way, though.

"Romeo's brother... How did you get to come? I thought they were making you attend Beauxbatons," Hydra said in an excited rush.

"I promised to get myself expelled if they didn't just allow me to claim to be a Snape cousin and attend with you two," Serpensortia said, lifting her head of long dark hair in open triumph.

Loughness grinned widely. "Ha! You took a page from my threaten and throw a fit book, and it worked."

"Indeed," Sortia agreed. "Why are you lot taking so long to settle into a compartment," she asked after Guillermo poked his head into yet another and withdrew it upon not finding it empty.

"Because he wants an empty one," Hydra explained.

"Which is better for private conversation," Loughness added.

"Exactly," Guillermo nodded.

"Ah is that all?" Sortia moved around the twins, unceremoniously pushing Guillermo out of the way as she entered the compartment just ahead of them. An instant later she let out a shrill scream. "Ew! There's a big bug right there on the wall! This place is nasty! Ew! Ug!"

They were all nearly trampled as four girls and a boy practically ran them over to exit the compartment. Loughness swore as one of their trunks struck his shoulder and Guillermo chuckled. "That was a good swear!"

Loughness grinned, rubbing at his smarting shoulder. "My grandmother Walburga knows the best swears and curses," he bragged. "She taught me well."

"Get in here while it's still empty," Sortia called.

"Fine," Hydra said with a resigned sigh. "We can just kill the bugs before we put our bags down."

"There are no bugs. I lied," Sortia said with a satisfied smirk.

Guillermo grinned. "You shall be sorted into Slytherin for sure," he told her.

"I'd better," Sortia replied as she plopped her trunk under the first seat and sat herself down.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: Hogwarts

"Well that was fun," Sortia said dryly as she flopped onto the seat furthest from the door of their newly won compartment.

Guillermo grinned at her as he shoved his trunks under his own seat. "You're definitely creative enough to be a Ravenclaw. I won't mind if you're sorted into my house."

"Glad to know," Sortia said. Her sarcastic tone said instead that she couldn't care less.

"Be nice, Sortia," Loughness suggested and she arched her dark brows at him.

"I was," she said sincerely. Turning back to Guillermo she added, "Both of my parents were in Slytherin, so I hope to be as well, though Ravenclaw wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

"Glad to know," Guillermo said, giving her earlier words and tone right back to her like a parrot.

This didn't go amiss and she gave a quick amused grin of appreciation.

Sortia had grown up with the twins because her parents were friends with theirs. Her Mum was a bard, meaning she had magic in her singing voice. The twins Daddy Regulus had discovered when away faking his own death long before they were born that he was a bard as well.

He told of being so miserable that it had to escape somewhere and he'd found that escape in song. There had been loads of drama around the faked death including Daddy Regulus thinking Daddy Kreacher wanted nothing to do with him due to wards placed on #12 Grimmauld place keeping Regulus's letters from reaching Kreacher.

The drama of their parents lives before they were born made both twins plan to live a drama free life no matter what!

"Do you have a lot of friends at school," Loughness asked Guillermo curiously.

The other boy shrugged. "I mean people are alright. I just prefer books. And I do feel personally connected, at least emotionally invested in the chests of several fifth and sixth year girls in Ravenclaw, Slytherin and a few in Hufflepuff if that counts."

"It counts," Loughness assured.

"What," Sortia demanded and Hydra firmly shook her head.

"Don't ask. Please do not ask!"

Loughness grinned. "I thought it would be pretty depressing not being allowed to go to Durmstrang with Wulfric, but I think you'll make Hogwarts a lot of fun," he told Guillermo.

Guillermo grinned back. "Good. It's great to have someone with whom to share personal interests."

Hydra sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Books," Guillermo insisted, pretending to look put upon and she rolled her eyes again.

The train ride passed pleasantly as the three got to know Guillermo. He shared that he had a bit of psychic talent when the conversation turned to particular individual abilities. Sortia's lay in potions and dueling while Loughness and Hydra were able to apparate around wards and do anything elves could though neither cared for cooking and cleaning.

"It's a waste of time and good energy," Hydra declared. "And it's insulting considering elves are stronger than wizards. I don't get how more of them don't see it that way. The idea of being made to clean for anyone makes me feel so demeaned."

Being forced to do so were witches and wizards ever to learn that she was half elf was her secret terror. Unfounded certainly so secret. She knew how silly it sounded, considering Daddy Kreacher was free, after all, but the fact so many elves weren't, made it a pressing concern.

Daddy Regulus had told them what to expect, so Hagrid and the boat ride presented no surprise. When they separated, Guillermo wished all three luck during the sorting and they thanked him.

"I'm a bit nervous," Sortia confided in a whisper as the three boarded the boat together, sticking close. "If I don't get into Slytherin..."

"As long as you get into Ravenclaw your parents won't mind," Hydra assured. "Same goes for ours," she added to Loughness.

Loughness shrugged. "I'm not worried about it. I know none of us shall end up in Gryffindor, after all."

And none of them did. Loughness and Sortia were sorted into Slytherin while Hydra ended up in Ravenclaw. Flitwick grinned proudly from ear to ear and Guillermo waved her over to sit with him.

"I'll look after you as a favor to your bro, my new best friend," he told her playfully.

"Don't you mean your new partner in perversion," she demanded and he chuckled.

"Same difference, isn't it?"

When the sorting ended, Flitwick, who as Deputy Headmaster had been in charge of it, put the stool and hat away before taking his place at the staff table while Headmistress Minerva McGonagall made her welcome speech.

"Boring," Guillermo whispered to Hydra before pulling a book from the sleeve of his house robe and beginning to read.

Hydra frowned in silent annoyance at herself for not having a book to read as well. Leaning closer to Guillermo, she began to read his along with him. It dealt with various methods of scrying and was really quite intriguing!

When the feast appeared on the tables Hydra and Loughness, unlike the other students, could sense the elf magic being used.

"Elves provide that food," Hydra told Guillermo as he tucked his book back up his sleeve.

"You can borrow it later if you like," he said of the book, already with his mouth full, having shoved a fork full of chicken into it with his other hand. "Elves are good cooks then," he added, finally commenting to her comment.

"Yes. We do everything better than wizards."

Guillermo smirked. "If that also counts for shagging, your brother will really be popular with the girls some day."

Hydra clutched at her head, causing Guillermo to laugh with glee that he'd gotten such a rise out of her.

"I don't see why the houses all have to eat together," he said, glancing regretfully over at Loughness and Sortia, who sat side by side at the Slytherin table.

Hydra nodded. "Also why isn't Ravenclaw's house animal a raven, while we're at the important questions of Hogwarts life? Having it be an eagle is rather stupid if you ask me. I think I'll ask Flitwick about it."

"Why," Guillermo smirked. "He didn't make it up."

"No, he didn't," Hydra agreed patiently. "Just I thought he might understand the logic behind it. Ravens would even be more suitable for the house's meaning. They're extremely smart, after all! As a talking bird, the raven represents prophecy and insight for many cultures. Eagles are already, at least in part, in the Gryffindor symbol as the Gryffin's head is an eagle."

"Yes! I am aware...of all that," Guillermo said dryly, causing Hydra to pretend to throw a bread roll at his head.

Chapter Text

Chapter 5: A Close-Knit Group

Hydra and Loughness sat with Guillermo and Sortia near the lake. It was already their second week at Hogwarts. After what Hydra had just said, the other three stared at her as if she'd literally grown three heads like her namesake. "Well," she pressed. "I only said that I think it's sort of sad that we'll probably never have close friends here."

Sortia blinked first. "But who cares? We're the best and we're all friends so who needs anyone else?"

"I mean I don't require the girls I shall shag someday to be close friends, so it's of no difference to me. I usually prefer books, remember? I just lucked out finding three other people I like enough to stop reading long enough to converse with them so I'm good," Guillermo chimed in.

"We have our goblin friends," Loughness reminded Hydra. "And we have Wolfy. We don't need them all here at school. They're our friends when we're back home." He frowned over at his twin in obvious annoyance. "I don't see why you're getting all unnecessarily gloomy."

"You don't get it," Hydra exclaimed. "None of you, and I don't see why. What I'm saying is that connecting with people is nice, even if it's only a few and our circle of friends probably won't get bigger. I realized that this past week. I watch the students around me in my house and I know that none of them will become close friends mostly because I can't get close to someone I shall always have to lie to. It really hit me how we're always going to have to lie!"

"About what," Guillermo asked. As he spoke he dug a box of assorted chocolates out of his school bag before replacing it on the ground at his side. "Anyone want one?"

Sortia reached to pluck a chocolate from the box, murmuring a 'thanks' before popping it into her mouth.

"About something as fundamentally important as who we are," Hydra replied. "We can't tell them we're half elf without risking far too much. It's why we must appear fully human. It's why our parents constructed this well crafted lie about how we're the children of Regulus and Echidna Black." Echidna was actually Kreacher transfigured into a human woman, but that was beside the point. Echidna was only a necessary ruse when they had to make public appearances, which was rare. That was a good thing because Kreacher kept forgetting himself and speaking in elf third person. "They're so certain we'll not get a fair shake or have an easy time if people know."

"They're probably right. People can be shitty," Guillermo said around a full mouth of two chocolates. He liked to combine flavors, meaning he always had to eat at least two at a time. "I don't mean this the wrong way, but why'd they have kids if they thought you'd have such an unfair shake at things?"

"You know, talking with your mouth so full, yet managing to make yourself perfectly understandable nonetheless is rather impressive," Sortia complimented thoughtfully and Guillermo grinned.

"Thanks!"

Hydra smirked in dry amusement, momentarily distracted, because Guillermo also managed to look pleased with himself with a full mouth too.

"They knew we'd be better," Loughness replied, not bothering to keep the pride from his voice. "They were right. We have what no one else does. We have elf and human magic, and that gives us an advantage. Our grandmother Walburga calls us Pureblood squared!" After a moment he added, nearly as an afterthought, "They also wanted heirs for House Black."

"Well that all makes sense, I guess," Guillermo said, nodding.

Hydra sighed, beginning to pull blades of grass up from the ground at her side, then tossing them into the lake.

"Feeding the ducks," Guillermo asked with an amused grin.

"Ravenclaw trick question," Hydra replied dully. "There are no ducks in the lake."

"Plus ducks probably don't eat grass," Sortia added.

"Does the squid eat grass," Loughness wondered.

Guillermo laughed. "Guess we're about to find out."

"If someone did find out, who knows what they'd do or how they'd treat us," Hydra said.

"Find out that we're feeding grass to the squid," Guillermo asked and Hydra punched him in the shoulder.

"No, silly. About Loughness and me being half elves!"

"No chocolate for you," Guillermo proclaimed, rubbing at his shoulder and she laughed.

"I didn't want any, so there."

"More for me, so there," he shot back, still grinning.

"We could always say they're lying," Sortia said.

"About the squid eating grass or the half elf thing," Guillermo wanted to know.

"Both," Sortia decided with a grin.

"How would anyone find out anyway," Loughness asked.

"If we ever liked someone enough to consider them a good friend and trust them with the information," Hydra explained. "I suppose I'm worried about the risk... And about our bad judgement if we were wrong about who we could trust," she admitted. Saying it out loud was a bit uncomfortable, but she knew that keeping it inside would be worse.

"That's just life," Guillermo said with a careless shrug. "We all screw up sometimes, and we just have to fix it no matter what it takes."

"You talking about killing someone," Sortia mock whispered, leaning toward him. "Because if you are, I know a potion or two for that and I'm down."

Guillermo laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."

"I'm proud of who I am, don't get me wrong," Hydra said, suddenly feeling that she needed to clarify that. "I'm never ashamed, no matter how anyone else may think of us. I do think we're better...more. But I don't want the negative interaction, you know if other people decide to be mean about it."

"No ego trouble, I see," Guillermo said dryly, his lips twitching. Glancing at Sortia he added, "Good to know she thinks she's better than us."

"Not like that," Hydra said, sighing and rolling her eyes at him.

"Hey they can do things we can't, and they're our friends," Sortia laughed. "I'm great with benefiting from that."

"And we'd always do anything you guys need," Loughness assured expansively.

"See," Guillermo said. "Combine all our talents and we're unstoppable. We're all the friends we need. Besides, I doubt anyone else could keep up, anyway."

Hydra smiled, actually finding the uplifting words comforting. Put that way, having a small close-knit group didn't seem at all bad.

"Hey, what's up?" The sudden voice speaking from above them caused her to jump. "You all looked like you were having so much fun, I wondered if there was room for one more."

The boy who stood above them had short wavy dark hair and wore Ravenclaw robes. Hydra thought he may be another first year, but couldn't remember his name.

"James, right," Guillermo asked and he nodded.

"Yeah, that's right."

"Want a chocolate?"

James smiled at Guillermo as he reached into the box the other Ravenclaw boy offered. "Sure, thanks! I'm hungry!"

"You may as well have a seat, then," Guillermo suggested.

"I bet I could put a charm on those chocolates to make them never run out," James said. "It's just a splitting charm combined with an enlargement charm, combined with a duplication charm. Then each fragment of chocolate grows into another and they multiply. Each time you lift one out of the box more take its place."

"So it's made out of that piece of chocolate and simply enlarges itself," Guillermo said excitedly.

"Yeah, that's it," James said, nodding happily that the other boy understood his thought process.

"Good, because I don't like the idea of transfiguring empty air," Guillermo said.

James nodded. "It's harder on the stomach that way, and that's no good. Some day I'm going to have a magical restaurant. All my food shall be magical. Each dish will do something."

"Do something," Hydra asked.

"Like one could make you happy, one could give you inspiration, one could be like only a spoonful and get you full if you are dieting."

Sortia chuckled. "You should make that one a dessert or something so whoever eats it feels as if they're being naughty while losing weight."

James grinned. "Good idea."

"You should come up with one that makes people want to shag," Loughness suggested eagerly.

"Yeah I think that one is called an Aphrodisiac," James said. "I think it'd be fun to make that one and give it to two people who hate each other," he added happily.

Loughness laughed. "You sure you aren't in Slytherin?"

Hydra found herself imagining how James would react to their secret. She couldn't help it. Perhaps he would never hang out with them again after today, but nonetheless she wondered how he would react, and if he would even care.

He plucked the box from Guillermo's lap and raised his brows. "So may I try my duplication idea?"

"Yeah, sure," Guillermo said eagerly. "I'd love to never run out of chocolate." He sighed. "It's too bad I already ate up some of the best flavors, though."

James nodded. "Yeah. Sadly I can do nothing about that. I'm good but not that good."

Chapter Text

Chapter 6, Time Passages

The next three years passed as uneventfully as years did when one was in school. As one was intended to do in school, one learned interesting things. For example, some classes that one expected to enjoy were dull and uninteresting while others that one did not expect to enjoy were fascinating. Others that one had no expectations of could go either way. Loughness's dislike and uncertainty of Herbology turned into a green thumb and vast fascination for magical plants and their uses.

Hydra expected to enjoy Astronomy more, but the subject bored her. Guillermo thrived in Divination, strengthening the psychic gift that he'd found unpredictable before beginning at Hogwarts. James and Hydra excelled in Charms as both expected to do while Sortia owned Potions. In general all their marks were high due to their steady study group that they always kept up over the years as a way to hold one another accountable and make sure assignments got done.

By the time they got a bit of excitement, they were all ready for it. It wasn't precisely about them or directly involving them, but one had to take their excitement where they could get it when they spent most of their time in school. Hydra and Loughness learned of it first. It was the summer between their third and forth year. The news that changed everything came in the form of an announcement from The Daddies. "We have some very important and secret news to share with the two of you. You shouldn't speak of this to anyone other than your current group of friends," Regulus said gravely one evening while they sat as a family reading in the library after dinner.

Loughness sighed. "Is this going to be boring," he groan asked.

Hydra scowled at her twin. "Don't be rude!"" Loughness merely scowled at her, but he didn't speak again, which was most likely how he'd decided not to be rude.

"Some day, it could be in two years or ten, the world as we know it is going to change for the better," Regulus said. "The concept began with a conversation between Griphook and your Daddy Kreacher and evolved into a plan between Griphook and Kereston to improve the wizarding world. It involves time and a great deal of careful planning, but eventually goblins, elves and even Acromantulas shall be productive members of society and even of the Ministry." Kereston was Daddy Kreacher's best friend. Though she worked in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes at the Ministry, she'd had her sites set on becoming Minister for Magic from the time she was a vexed and frightened young girl in Voldemort's second wizard war. She'd vowed even then to become Minister some day and as such to be far tougher on crime and criminals than any Minister before her. Because of how powerful the Ministry had allowed Voldemort to become through its own sheer negligence, she aimed for a far harsher justice system than was currently in place.

"Aren't goblins already in society what with the banking," Loughness asked.

"Well yes, but they aren't given the opportunity to do much else, and they aren't allowed to have wands, which is hardly fair," Regulus said.

"That is so true," Hydra said. "The reason they weren't allowed wands in the first place happened long before any current goblins were born. Punishing them for the sins of their fathers or grandfathers is insane." How long did goblins live anyway, she suddenly found herself wondering.

"Just so," Regulus agreed. "Which is precisely why things need to change. We don't want one race fighting or overthrowing the other, though. We want equality and improvement as a result. With all the strongest and most talented magical folk working together, we can have as much."

"That sounds exciting," Hydra said. The concept flooded her with a thrilling surge of optimism! It literally made her feel that anything could be possible. "But how are we going to do it," she asked.

"Yeah," Loughness nodded. "Because a lot of wizards and witches aren't going to be good with any of that at all. You know for various reasons from bigotry to false morality to the worst one of all, fear."

Regulus smiled proudly at Loughness. "You are such a smart and perceptive boy. I am proud of you, Loughness. Because sometimes I wondered if you were going to bother using that brain of yours or just put it to work on thoughtless activities."

"You mean looking at hot girls," Loughness asked with a grin.

"Rather," Regulus said dryly.

"While looking at hot girls is indeed inspiring, I am quite brilliant, I'll have you know," Loughness proclaimed.

Regulus chuckled. "I am well aware of that. I'm just glad to see that you are as well."

"As is Kreacher," Kreacher finally spoke up at last. "As for how Griphook's plan is to be accomplished, it will involve the removal of magic."

"Whose magic," Loughness asked.

"From where," Hydra asked nearly at the same time.

"From wizards and witches," Kreacher replied. A slight amused smile curved his lips, an indication to Hydra that he was in high spirits. If Daddy Kreacher felt at ease about this plan, he believed it would work out. As he could be quite cautious, this had to be a good sign. This caused her excitement to rise even more, because it probably meant that this thing was actually going to happen.

"How does it work," Loughness asked. "We aren't going to lose our magic, are we?"

"It works by means of a potion that when ingested strips magic away from a witch or wizard," Kreacher replied. "Hydra and Loughness shall be given the antidote before the potion is released into the water, so their magic shall remain intact."

"Sweet," Loughness said happily.

"That is a relief to know," Hydra said. She'd rather expected as much, else the Daddies wouldn't be so complacent about the whole thing, but it was nice to hear all the same. "When is this happening," she asked.

"When the potion is actually ready," Kreacher said. "It is still a work in progress at this point. Griphook's young nephew Grimlock is an extremely talented Potions Master, and he has been working on this Stripper Potion for years. He believes he is close to having completed the formula for it as well as its antidote, but close could still be years away as it is a tricky and complex thing he is crafting."

Hydra nodded because that sounded logical. "So when the potion is ready, how do they decide who gets it?"

"It's more a matter of who doesn't get it at first," Regulus said. "The antidote potion shall be given to everyone who we know is on our side. Those people will know what to expect. They shall be a part of the new order as it were. This involves the parents of all your friends including James. Guillermo's brother, in fact, is to be the new head Auror when all of this unfolds."

"Is he aware of this," Loughness asked.

Regulus laughed as if Loughness had just made a grand joke. "I should think so, yes."

"And James? We can tell him, then," Hydra asked.

Regulus nodded. "His parents probably already have, but yes, you can speak of it with him. Just make sure no one ever overhears you who isn't Sortia, James or Guillermo."

James had known that Hydra and Loughness were half elves nearly from the first day they'd become friends. Hydra didn't enjoy keeping secrets from someone she considered a friend, so she and Loughness had shared the knowledge of their parentage soon into the friendship. Hydra really liked James, so wanted to just get it over with and be done if he was going to be weird after knowing their secret.

Instead he was excited and thought it was simply brilliant. In true Ravenclaw fashion, he was eager to understand how having both sorts of magic worked for them. He wanted to know how it changed their spells and what they thought of the pros and cons of both wizard and elf abilities. Like Sortia, he treated their abilities with a sort of awed fascination where as Guillermo just treated them like anyone else's neat talents, in a super casual way.

Hydra rather liked both perspectives for different reasons, so was sure she had the most perfect group of friends anyone could have. It was just the right size too, not too small and not too large with each person bringing their own unique skills and outlooks to any situation. The fact that James's parents were involved in this was no true surprise, Hydra decided. They worked in importing and exporting gemstones for Gringotts bank. As this revolution was largely goblin driven, anyone who cast their lot with the goblins would be included in the benefits.

"Griphook has asked your Daddy Kreacher to work with the elves in all this as a sort of guide, or leader if you will," Regulus said. "This could mean that the two of you shall be serving in a similar capacity some day. As half elves, you shall serve as a grand example for human elf relations."

What, for shagging," Loughness asked incredulously and Daddy Regulus choked.

"No, Loughness! Just for how beautiful the unity can be between magical races. You and Hydra shall serve as an example for elf freedom and personal power that elves who are far too accustom to being slaves shall need."

"So I don't need to shag anyone then," Loughness clarified, expression vaguely disappointed.

"No, Loughness," Regulus sighed. "I assure you, that shall not be required."

"Gods, he and Guillermo are such dogs," Hydra groaned.

"Am not," Loughness defended himself.

"That is good to hear," Regulus told him sternly. "Because you are a literal prince of magical society as the heir to House Black, and you'd better behave like it at all times. Kreacher and I will not have this house shamed by any sort of miscreant behavior. We had Sirius. We don't need another like him."

Loughness cringed and lowered his head slightly. "Sorry. I didn't mean it. I was just joking around," he muttered. Daddy Regulus was usually the softer parent while Daddy Kreacher could be more temperamental, so seeing him stern and angry did encourage one's best behavior.

He gave Loughness a smile, and reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Loughness."

Brightening, Loughness smiled, straightening proudly under the praise. "No problem. I do deserve the best, and I shall always behave like it. I'm nothing like Sirius. I'm far better than that."

Regulus smiled again as Kreacher made a sound of wordless approval. "We know that, and we are glad to hear that you know that," Regulus told Loughness before pulling him into a quick hug.

From early childhood, Loughness had proclaimed many times over that he was going to be a great Dark Lord. Therefore when he descended into crassness with Guillermo, it sometimes had Hydra concerned for his future. What if he forgot all of his goals and just became a party boy? Seeing him getting serious about things with the parents soothed her concerns on that to a degree at least.

"So we'll know in advance before anything happens," Hydra asked and the Daddies nodded nearly as one.

"How is this everyone losing their magic thing going to work," Loughness asked. "I mean without riots in the streets and everyone literally losing their minds when they realize they can't do a single spell? It could get dangerous."

"That has been accounted for. Fear not," Kreacher said calmly. "The potion shall also cause people to have flu like symptoms. The narrative shall be that a plague has struck the wizarding world. One of the worst side effects of this plague is unfortunately the loss of magic. When this Stripper Potion is ready, the goblins shall be putting it into the water system.

It works faster when ingested, but it eventually works even when exposed to the skin. Even those who don't drink water do wash, so eventually it will spread to everyone. Kreacher thinks the eventually part is good because it will make it seem more logical. A plague that strikes magical society should not strike everyone down at once. Such a thing would appear more like a spell than a plague, so a gradual if rapid spread is best."

"And there is no cure," Hydra asked. "Won't that mean that we'll hardly have any witches and wizards left in Britain?"" She wasn't sure how she felt about that. It could be nice for making a new start, but eventually it would cost the wizarding race.

"Only until things are settled," Regulus said. "Gradually worthy wizards and witches shall find their magic returning, and then those we deem to be harmless. Only those who would pose an active threat to magical equality for all will never recover their magic."

"Ah," Hydra said, brightening. "I like that. It's fair."

Regulus nodded. "Griphook came up with the strategy. I really like the fact that he isn't trying to keep magic from humans permanently. It makes me trust him even more."

"Well I'm excited about all this," Hydra said, bouncing eagerly in her chair.

"It shall certainly be interesting living to see such a historical movement in our lifetime," Loughness said. His voice was filled with awe at the prospect. "And with Kereston as Minister, it's certain to succeed." He'd had a huge crush on Kereston from the time he'd begun to notice girls. That would've been extra weird what with Kereston being a few decades older than Loughness if she didn't look permanently eighteen.

She'd done some sort of magical link with Daddy Kreacher when he'd become a vampire that stopped her from aging. It worked on the premise that as a vampire, Daddy Kreacher did not age either. He'd wanted Kereston to remain with him as the trusted person who could handle things in the daylight hours when he no longer could. As such, he didn't want her aging and some day passing away. At least that was what he said, but Daddy Kreacher was just extremely attached to the few people he cared for and Hydra thought that was really sweet.

Kereston had moved into #12 Grimmauld Place long before Hydra and Loughness were born, to see to things that Regulus and Kreacher could not do during the daylight hours once they became vampires. That was the first major change to #12 Grimmauld Place. The next involved looking after the manor. Daddy Regulus had long since freed Daddy Kreacher, but the elf refused to give up caring for his home. Regulus wished to hire another elf and Kreacher refused. It took years for Regulus to wear Kreacher down. Finally Kreacher allowed other elves to take over. *Elves* because one elf apparently wasn't enough to do the work of one Kreacher.

When Daddy Regulus insisted that Daddy Kreacher stop caring for the house like a servant, Daddy Kreacher had decided that it would take four elves to fill his own shoes. So now days, Stormy, Ripper, Jazz and Piper attended to #12 Grimmauld Place and all its inhabitants. The elves had come from the Lestrange and Rosier households, and had been hand-picked by Cousin Bellatrix for Kreacher to choose from. She'd come with five, so the story went, and Kreacher had decided to keep four. Hydra thought that four elves was a bit excessive, but she wasn't about to mention that to Daddy Kreacher.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7, With Great Power, Comes Great Stress

The family was still in the library when Kereston finally got home from work. The little blonde entered the room looking drawn and tired. "Today was so fun," she drawled, flopping into a chair near Daddy Kreacher's own. She worked in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, and when there was a bigger than usual mess to deal with, it was not at all uncommon for her to arrive home from work far later than usual.

"I'm so tired, yet I still have to get up early tomorrow and go back in at the usual early hour. I don't think they care if we get sleep or food. They probably expect us to choose one or the other. After lunch today, a dragon decided to attempt to mate with a Muggle aircraft! And yes, I get how insane that sounds. IT was a baby dragon, and clearly not very smart yet. Fortunately no one was hurt. The air craft was just singed a bit, and had to be landed but the Muggle pilot, or whatever they call it, managed to take care of that without any hitches. It's nice when Muggles can actually come through," she concluded with a relieved sigh.

"The bloody Romanian Dragon Sanctuary needs to be more careful, though. You'd think they could keep a baby dragon contained, and if they can't, I fear what will happen next. If they let a big one escape, it's going to do more than try mating with Muggle aircraft. It'll be more interested in having it for lunch." The interesting thing about Daddy Kreacher and Kereston's friendship was that both talked quite a lot, yet still could patiently listen to one another. At times watching how this unfolded was an astonishing feat in itself that one could appreciate with open fascination.

"Kreacher is sorry," Daddy Kreacher said sincerely. "Did Kereston have dinner yet?"

She shook her head and sighed. "No. I just got in and wanted to decompress for a moment before putting anything into my stomach. We had to capture the baby dragon, repair the burn damage on the stupid aircraft without breaking how it works, which is so much harder than it should be, then restructure the memories of the Muggles on board so that they believe they had mechanical issues rather than dragon related issues. Restructuring memories is so much more of a headache than just Obliterate them, I swear! If the sun had set by the time we needed that done, I'd so have asked you two to come and vamp them into thinking what we wanted them to," Kereston told Kreacher and Regulus.

"The elves were holding back dinner for you," Loughness assured unnecessarily. Unnecessarily because this was always the case. "I'll go tell Stormy that you're home, though, and he can just bring it in here. You can catch us up on the day's events while you eat."

Kereston's expression brightened as she turned to Hydra's twin with a warm smile. "Oh thank you, Loughness. That's so sweet."

Loughness's face lit up as he bounded to his feet. "It's never a problem," he assured, then hurried from the room. Hydra kept from rolling her eyes and sighing with a supreme effort. Loughness was obsessed over Kereston from the time he'd started liking girls. That was around seven. If Kereston only knew, she'd probably feel weirded out, so Hydra kept it to herself out of respect for the blonde. Kereston was a very nice person and didn't deserve to feel creeped out by Hydra's overly horny brother. Gods, boys were gross!

"The Daddies told us that you're going to be Minister sooner than later," Hydra said. "I think the whole plan is very exciting. Congratulations."

Kereston smiled. "Thank you. I think it's exciting too. I just want to be a part of making things better. It's all I've ever wanted. At first, my focus was mainly on crime prevention and making the magical world safer. I wanted people like Voldemort and his lot to be killed rather than locked up so they could escape again. Then when I befriended Kreacher, I really got to see not only how powerful elves are, but how poorly they are treated by wizards too thick to see it." Hydra nodded. She was aware that Kereston's own family, though Pure-blood, had never owned a house elf, so other than briefly meeting the house elves of a few friends, Daddy Kreacher had been her first long term exposure to them. When Daddy Regulus had emerged from hiding just before Voldemort's death, his intention was to help behind the scenes as much as possible to bring the monster down.

He'd worked with other Dark wizards who stood against Voldemort, of which Kereston was one. She was between finishing Hogwarts and working at the Ministry at that time as it was during the summer. As Daddy Kreacher was always with Daddy Regulus, she'd met him at various meetings and the two found much to talk of, forming a natural connection that continued to grow into a close friendship over time.

"Through Kreacher and Mag, I was able to learn more of goblins as well, and I am truly honored that Griphook finds me worthy to work with," Kereston told Hydra. The Daddies had become friendly with Griphook because of Mag, who was Griphook's best friend. They'd gotten to know one another when Mag's fixation wit the magical properties of gemstones had her dealing with Gringotts to get the best of them for the magical jewelry and wands that she crafted. Mag was Serpensortia's mum, and also a close friend of Daddy Regulus. The two very much enjoyed playing music together, or jamming out as they called it.

Hydra loved listening to them, because their music made her feel like nothing else. While Daddy Regulus was away in hiding falsely believing that Daddy Kreacher did not want him, he'd channeled his misery through music, thus discovering his own bardic abilities. Hydra loved to sing and he believed she'd inherited his a Bardic gift. She hoped so. She hoped to touch people the way his and Mag's music touched her. What with school, she didn't have as much time to practice as she'd like, but each summer she dedicated herself to music as much as she could.

"Griphook couldn't find anyone better than you," Hydra told Kereston. "He knows you're going to make a grand Minister!"

"He could've found himself," Kereston said with a chuckle. "I'm sure he'd make a fine Minister, and he's older than I. Not old, just you know, not as young as I am."

"No humans will accept a goblin as Minister right now," Hydra said. "It's too soon."

"I don't believe that," Kereston said. "We're only going to leave the best of the best with magic at first, remember. The most decent and un-shitty. All of those on our side appreciate goblins for their unique and superior magic and willingness to set the past aside and build something better together."

"Well enough of those who will be without magic shall still manage to make things difficult even without spells to do so if a goblin is in power with everything else changing. Griphook is smart enough to know that. He chose well and you will do wonderfully." Loughness entered then carrying a tray for Kereston. "Where is Stormy," Hydra demanded. Seeing her brother carrying the tray jarred her in a way she couldn't quite explain.

"In the kitchen," Loughness replied, giving her an odd look. "I told him I'd bring Kereston's tray. I was coming back in here anyway. No reason for us both to do it." He turned an adoring smile to Kereston as he placed the tray on her lap. How did the little blonde not notice him drinking her in with his eyes, Hydra wondered, making a face. The tray held a bowl of chicken salad, a chicken sandwich and a chilled glass of pumpkin juice. The elves tended to make cold meals during the hot summer, which Hydra quite liked.

"Thanks, Loughness," Kereston said, giving him a warm smile that caused him to puff up all in the chest and shoulders. Hydra struggled not to sigh and nearly succeeded. Loughness had started training with Rodolphus Lestrange in body building when he was eight years old or so. Rod was really into that and Loughness had always wanted to be ripped. Considering both of the daddies were slender, he knew it wasn't going to happen naturally, so had asked Rod to help. Rod was amenable.

The Lestranges may terrify most people, but they were good to family. Well most family if they weren't blood traitors or whatever. They'd even kept Daddy Regulus and Daddy Kreacher's secret back in the day when they'd discovered that the two were a couple. Mainly to spite Sirius Black, who also knew, but still. Such a thing could've been enough to make the Lestranges turn against most people, but they loved the Daddies so had supported them if grudgingly, keeping their secret even from Grandmother Walburga.

Perhaps if they had told her, things would have been different. She believed they would've at any rate. She was certain that if they'd told her, she could've handled things far better when it all went south with Voldemort nearly killing Daddy Kreacher in The Black Lake to hide his Horcrux. As if Hydra thinking of their grandmother had summoned her, Walburga Black drifted quite literally into the room. "Good evening, Kereston," she said warmly. "Or good morning, rather. It's half past midnight. You must have had a dreadful day."

Kereston groaned, and nodded before taking another bite of her chicken sandwich. "It involved a young dragon and a Muggle aircraft," she said after swallowing her food.

Walburga snorted. "That's Muggles for you. Just imagine. When you become Minister, you won't just have one department to deal with. You shall have it all, and today shall feel like a cakewalk when you look back upon it. You may be thinking that sitting at a desk and running it all will be easier, but no." Though Walburga was a grandmother, she looked quite youthful. As a ghost, resummoned from the realm of spirit, she manifested in the way she saw herself. Her and grandfather Orion both saw themselves as they'd appeared in their prime, so it was now how they were eternally. At Walburga's dire words, Kereston cringed.

Chapter Text

Chapter 8, Master

Everyone sat chatting for a few more minutes before Kereston plead exhaustion and headed up to bed. Loughness glanced longingly after her, causing Hydra to shake her head. "What will you do if she's not interested in you when you're finally old enough to act upon your feelings," she wondered.

"It's me! I am hot and amazing! Of course she'll be interested," Loughness replied incredulously. "If not, I am patient. I can wait."

"On that note, I'm going up to bed as well," Hydra said, rising from her chair with a chuckle. She hugged both Daddies goodnight and waved to her twin before heading upstairs. Walburga trailed along behind her as she frequently did. Though she couldn't tuck her grandchildren in, it never stopped her from trying. "Do you think it will work, Grandmother," Hydra asked as she changed into her nightdress.

Walburga didn't have to ask what her granddaughter was talking about. "It should. With everyone on board who is on board, it truly should unless they do something monumentally stupid or overlook something painfully obvious. It's high time things changed. We're a century or so late for a large change if we're looking back on history for a pattern." She sighed, drifting toward Hydra's window to look out into the night. "Push back the curtains for me, will you child? You're dressed now and no one can see in regardless."

"Sure," Hydra said. Though Orion and Walburga practiced daily, they found moving things rather difficult. Now, after years of practice, they could finally manage small chess pieces, though it tired them out, especially if the game was a long one.

"So many things are possible that I never thought would come to pass," Walburga continued thoughtfully as Hydra crossed the room to her and pushed back the heavy silver colored curtain from her bedroom window. "I never thought to have another chance at life. Though Regulus worries this isn't enough of a life for us, it truly is, because it's better than we would've had if we'd remained on the other side." She chuckled. "I get to see my grandchildren grow up to change the world! What more could I ask for?"

"Well, perhaps to go out and actually see the world," Hydra suggested.

"While that would be nice, I get plenty of descriptions from you and Loughness, and that will do," Walburga said. She stood at the window with her back to the room, staring out into the night as Hydra brushed her hair. "I just wish we could make it illegal to breed with Muggles," she said. "Then this revolution would be perfect, with no risk of Muggles and Mud-bloods ruining it in the future. I did suggest as much to Kereston, before you tell me that I should," she added.

"The girl thinks such a law would be too difficult to uphold and that it would breed too much resentment with us dictating what people can and cannot do to that level." Walburga huffed a sigh. "Perhaps she's right, but I still like the idea. Leave idiots to their own minds, and they ruin everything, after all, because those minds are small and stupid."

"It is a good idea," Hydra said around a yawn. "Not weakening the magical races with Muggle blood would be nice, but as you know, Kereston is likely right as well. It's why I enjoy philosophy. Two people can be equally correct on the same topic when considering different aspects of it. It's truly fascinating!" Sortia's grandparents, Mag's parents, had the biggest personal library in the wizarding world, and in it, Hydra had discovered many fascinating books on philosophy.

Walburga sniffed. "One can be more correct than the other, but I understand the girl's predicament.

"Perhaps one day such considerations can be safely implemented," Hydra said as she slipped into bed. "Once everyone sees how much better things are and how much stronger we all are with magic staying pure and all the magical pure races working together, people will understand the danger to magic itself if we thin the blood with Muggle genetics. It won't have to be made a law if it's accepted when simply spread as a good idea. Some may still breed with Muggles, but far less I should think. Loughness and I shall serve as grand examples of the fact that other races can mix successfully with wizards and witches so it's not all about inbred wizards, but one can thin the blood while still keeping it magically pure and strong. It will still give you what you want without the risk made to what we've done that Kereston fears. It's just about patience and time."

"You are a wise child, Hydra. You remind me of a more relaxed version of myself," Walburga said proudly. Drifting across the room, she bent over her granddaughter's bed, brushing ghostly lips across Hydra's forehead. "Goodnight, Baby girl."

"Night, Grandma. Love you." Hydra snuggled into her blankets with another yawn as her eyes fluttered closed. She fell asleep feeling warm inside, because compliments from Walburga Black always made her feel more special than anything else in the world. Though she fell asleep happy, the dream that claimed her mind was anything but. She found herself in a strange manor that she had never seen before. She stood in front of a cold blonde woman with a thin hard face. Her eyes were severe and angry as she looked at Hydra. "You've risen far above yourself, Hydra. Now go and clean the kitchen."

Hydra opened her mouth to ask the woman if she'd lost her mind, but something else happened, twisting her vocal cords to speak the words, "Yes Master." Master? She attempted to speak again, to scream the word no, but instead of her denial, other words came out. "Yes Mistress. Hydra meant yes Mistress!" She turned and hurried toward a kitchen, feeling each step of her feet to be unwilling. She kept trying to scream, but no words would come from her open mouth.

"Hydra! Hydra! Stop it! You're screaming." She felt hands shaking her. At last she was able to scream, and scream she did, her voice tearing out of her to echo into the darkness. Suddenly the room flooded with light. The daddies, still dressed, stood in the doorway with matching expressions of alarm on their faces. Loughness was bent over the bed shaking her wearing only his sleep shorts and a dark scowl.

"NO," Hydra screamed again. "No, No, No I won't!" Though her mind was slowly beginning to realize that she was awake at home, safe in her bed at #12 Grimmauld Place, the words had to be said. The strange manor and the cold severe woman were both gone. It had only been a nightmare. Only a nightmare," she silently told herself as she struggled to still her roiling emotions.

"It was just a bad dream, baby," Daddy Regulus soothed, his light husky voice reiterating her own thoughts. As he spoke, he and daddy Kreacher crossed the room to the bed hand in hand. Both regarded her with expressions of concern.

"It was dreadful," Hydra said, and her voice shook. As she spoke, she noticed that she was still feeling unsettled and oddly frightened.

"Tell us. It will help." The voice came from Grandma Walburga. Hydra glanced over to see her floating in the doorway with grandfather at her side. Like the daddies, the two were holding hands and looking grave. She opened her mouth to complain about the two couples weirdly mirroring one another and how it was creepy. Instead the dream began pouring out of her in all of its horrific detail. "I hated not being able to say or do what I wanted. I know I was being forced to be a slave." She shot a sudden glare at her twin who was looking sleepy and bored. "It's your fault for carrying Kereston's stupid tray like a bloody servant! Stormy and the rest get paid to do it and you don't. I didn't like it. Not on top of the conversation we were having about everyone being free and working together. It's going to be hard for the elves, you know. All of it for so many reasons." Surely they all wanted... Needed to be free, but could they handle it?

"What," Loughness blinked at her, then regarded her as if she'd quite lost her mind. "You're being ridiculous. I'm no one's servant! I didn't see any reason to make Stormy bring it in like some sort of power trip when I was coming back myself. Besides, I like doing things for Kereston," Loughness huffed.

"Like a servant," Hydra demanded peevishly.

"No, like a boy who likes her, idiot," Loughness shot back.

"Valid point," Kreacher murmured. "Kreacher very much enjoys doing things for Master Regulus for the very same reason."

"Gross, but thanks for the support," Loughness drawled, making a face.

"And do stop with the Master Regulus," Regulus grumbled.

"Why," Kreacher demanded. "Kreacher finds it sexy." Loughness groaned, then made gagging noises. If Hydra wasn't quite certain that she was awake before, she most definitely was now. This topic between the daddies was not a new one, but it was always icky to hear about nonetheless. It did serve to convince Hydra that she was awake like nothing else could, though.

"Is that what it felt like, Daddy Kreacher? Constant force while you were screaming inside," Hydra asked, a lump of horror beginning to rise into her throat as her thoughts returned to the nightmare. She knew that daddy Kreacher was treated like family always, but daddy Regulus had freed him, so he'd obviously been a slave.

"Of course not," Grandmother Walburga snapped. "We were good to Kreacher. We loved him. He was family even before he and Regulus began their disgusting... before things changed between the two of them."

"I don't think they ever changed," Orion muttered. "They were always unnaturally close, it just became... physical."

Walburga shot him a glare. "Whatever, Orion. I don't care how, but it changed. Their relationship was oddly close but strictly platonic until it wasn't."

"True," Orion nodded.

"But that isn't what I was asking about," Hydra interrupted gently. Long ago, the grandparents had explained to she and Loughness that though they did not completely approve of the relationship between the daddies, it had nothing to do with how they felt about the twins themselves. The grandparents believed daddy Kreacher still could've have had his idea of creating children that were Pure-blood squared without being physical with daddy Regulus.

A woman had carried them, after all, so no physical interaction between the two was required. Though Hydra didn't mind her parents as a couple, she did understand that it was not the way of her grandparents. In spite of this, they were generally supportive of the daddies in their way, which allowed her not to mind their vague disapproval. Clearly it did not stop them from loving the daddies, and they weren't trying to break them up or anything, so she didn't care.

"Not usually," Kreacher spoke suddenly. "Kreacher loved taking care of his family. It was only when M... When Sirius Black gave him orders that it was somewhat as Hydra describes." Hydra hated Sirius Black anew for that. She'd always hated him for how he'd treated her parents and grandparents and cousins. Even though she was born long after he'd died she hated him loyally as did Loughness, but now she hated him even more for making her daddy Kreacher feel the horrific way she'd felt in that nightmare.

Chapter Text

Chapter 9, An Old Friend Comes To Call

When Hydra slept again, she did not dream. Eventually the rest had cleared out of her room the previous night save for the grandparents who sat with her until she fell asleep. Some may feel like a baby for that, but she was just grateful for their presence. When she woke in the morning, she could hear voices and laughter coming from Loughness's room next door. What was he doing? Sleepily she contemplated shouting for her brother to shut up, but then she recognized the other voice. It was one that she hadn't heard in far too long! It belonged to Wulfric Dumbledore.

Though a childhood friend, he was five years older than the twins, so was rather like a big brother of sorts to them as well as Sortia. To Loughness's envy, he'd attended school at Durmstrang because both of his parents worked there. The friends always spent time together in the summer, but when Wulfric graduated from Durmstrang, he no longer had the entire summer off. He attended a wizarding university and had a summer work internship that he shared with his girlfriend, Graven. They did security, warding homes, businesses, and anywhere else that magical folk wanted to pay to have warded. Wulfric and his girlfriend really enjoyed working together because they always learned something interesting from the process.

They enjoyed learning what goblin and wizard magic could do when combined and it was a constant experience of discovery. Wulfric had met his goblin girlfriend last year when she began posing as a human at his wizarding university. Griphook wanted a spy on the inside to gauge how students and professors thought when it came to elf freedom, goblin rights and all that. It helped those like he and Kereston who were in charge of the revolution to know who should get their magic back first or even who should not ever lose it at all. Graven was transfigured into a human girl when she met Wulfric Dumbledore, but as his family was aware of the revolution, he knew her secret though they'd never met. Hydra sprang from bed and dressed hurriedly, eager to see what Wulfric had been up to. She tapped on Loughness's door before pushing it open. "Good morning," she said before going to give Wulfric a hug. He was tall and lanky with his father's red hair, though worn quite short and his mother's dark eyes. "Hi, Stranger!"

Wulfric hugged her back, scooping her up so that her feet momentarily left the floor. "I've missed all of you lot so much! I would've brought Sortia along, but she's deep into some potions project thing with Severus." He set Hydra back onto her feet before giving her a worried look. "I hear you've been having very bad dreams."

"Just one," Hydra said.

"Yeah but you never wake up screaming like that," Loughness said. She gave her twin a look, and shrugged. Why was he so concerned now when he'd been literally bored the previous night directly after said dream. "I was wondering," Loughness continued. "The blonde woman you described in your dream. Do you know who she is? Like have you seen her before?" From the attentive look on Wulfric's face, he was just as curious about the answer as was Loughness.

"Not that I recall," Hydra said. She chuckled. "Perhaps it's just how I expect someone to look who would enslave me. Perhaps she's the female Lucy Malfoy."" The Lestranges often called Lucius Malfoy Lucy, sometimes even to his face. Of course he hated it. The tension faded from both boys expressions as they chuckled at Hydra's words.

"Well if you do see anyone who looks like her, let us know, just in case," Wulfric said.

Hydra looked between the two, and raised her brows. "You're thinking I'm prophetic now? Because I'm not. It was just a stress dream. I know enough psychology from Mag to understand exactly what it was." Sortia's mum was very fascinated by Muggle psychology and used it to understand people as well as to pull their strings as it were. "It probably started when Loughness and I were told we had to go to Hogwarts disguised as full humans, because elf issues. Hell it's enough to make anyone feel a bit insecure deep down in their subconscious! Then this uprising, though I do feel it is necessary. It just likely triggered the having to hide that I'm half elf business is all."

"Well you've got it all sorted, and that's good that you're so self aware. Mag will be proud," Wulfric said.

"Still, though," Loughness said. "You see that blonde bitch around, you say something." Wulfric nodded.

Hydra shook her head at them in exasperation, but she couldn't help smiling even as she did so. "Very well, I promise. So what else is new," she asked Wulfric. "And are we going down to breakfast or did you two already eat?"

"Wolfy got shagged," Loughness breathed. His round elf eyes were even rounder in awe as he spoke the words. "He's done it while she was a transfigured human as well as a goblin."

"Did. you. eat. breakfast. yet," Hydra repeated slowly.

"Girls don't care about that sort of thing, Loughness," Wulfric said. His cheeks were scarlett, and Hydra was at least pleased that he had the grace to be embarrassed. The shagging must be what the two were talking so loudly about when she was woken by their voices. "No, we haven't eaten yet," Wulfric added. "I've only had coffee, figuring I'd eat here to be social. I feel weird sitting about while other people eat when I'm not eating."

"Does Graven feel weird if you talk about your shagging," Hydra wondered, arching her brows.

"I... I didn't bring it up," Wulfric sputtered, jerking a thumb at Loughness. "It was him. And I don't know how she feels about it."

"Alright," Hydra said, taking pity on him. "Let's go eat." The elves already had three plates waiting for them on the dining table and the delicious smell of breakfast that filled the room caused Hydra's stomach to rumble. Right away Wulfric helped himself to a cup of coffee before asking if the twins wanted some. They both nodded, so he filled the other two cups as well. Kereston was already gone to work and the daddies would be asleep until sunset, so the place was quiet. "Thanks," Hydra said, gratefully accepting her cup and adding several splashes of vanilla creamer from the bottle that stood beside the coffee pot.

"Stormy thinks the twins are too young for coffee. That was for Wulfric. There was a pot of tea for Hydra and Loughness." The elf's calm tone was nonetheless chastising and Hydra squirmed.

"Sorry, Stormy. It just helps me to get things done throughout the day." Though the elf was standing at the sideboard polishing the silver, she hadn't noticed him when they'd come in.

"Hydra is too young to require energy," Stormy complained.

"Loughness and I sort of had our sleep interrupted last night," she explained apologetically. "I hope I didn't wake any of you."

A look of surprise crossed the elf's face as he shook his head. "Hydra did not. What happened?"

Hydra squirmed in her chair. "Just a silly nightmare."

"Yeah, she woke us up screaming. Well hopefully not Kereston. She didn't comment at any rate," Loughness said.

"Kereston was very tired. Stormy would not be surprised if she could've slept through a hurricane last night," the elf commented gravely. "Stormy has known Hydra her whole life, and never once can he recall her having such dreadful dreams." His gaze was steady as it scrutinized her face as if searching for something.

Hydra nodded. "You're right." With a sigh, she recounted the dream again for Stormy, as it was what he seemed to want. She then explained what she firmly believed to be the psychological reasons behind why she'd had it. She left out the bit about Loughness carrying the tray, for fear Stormy may take it amiss. She didn't consider any of the four elves who worked at #12 Grimmauld Place to be slaves, for they were paid and well. Still she knew the subject could be a sensitive one so opted on the side of caution. This was probably unnecessary because none of the Grimmauld elves were particularly sensitive. Kreacher had likely seen to that, as none of them were particularly fond of him.

"Stormy is sorry that Hydra's mind is stressed," he said, laying a hand briefly on her shoulder. "If she ever needs to talk, she knows where Stormy is."

Hydra gave him an appreciative smile. "Thanks, Stormy." It was Stormy who'd taught Hydra and Loughness the elf magic that they hadn't wanted to learn because Daddy Kreacher made it so boring. Stormy was able to put the charms for cleaning and cooking that Kreacher insisted that they learn into a more useful perspective that the twins found far more palatable. For instance, Stormy told them that the same charm for boiling an egg could be used to cook a person's brain right in their skull. Similarly, a potato peeling charm could peel a person's skin off just as easily. That was Defense at its finest! Such simple yet fascinating methods of violence had the twins far more willing to learn the elf side of things that they'd previously held no interest in. Elf magic was stronger, but when daddy Kreacher only presented it to them for servile tasks, they hadn't found it appealing in the least.

Chapter Text

Chapter 10, This, That, and the Other

As usual, the twins had no trouble keeping busy all summer. Both spent several hours a day in the library, delving into the topics that fascinated them most. During the school year, there were those required subjects that limited their personal reading time, so they definitely took advantage of the summer for that. For years, the daddies had researched the matter of elf slavery, or rather the reason behind it. As the reason had occurred long ago, this appeared to be an impossible endeavor. Enjoying the challenge, the twins took it upon themselves to share in the effort, combing the same books the daddies had already explored to see if there may have been anything that their parents overlooked. Hydra was most intrigued by the Muggles calling house elves brownies, considering them to be part of the fae race.

When she half-playfully asked Daddy Kreacher if he felt like a fae, he frowned and grumbled that he simply felt like Kreacher. Hydra supposed that was fair enough, if amusing. She needed to learn more about the fae, then she could decide if she felt like one or not. Of course that involved more difficult research, but it passed the time. Having a puzzle to puzzle over kept the mind occupied in the library, but when they weren't reading, there were plenty of other summer activities to keep them occupied. Loughness spent several hours with Rodolphus Lestrange on the weekends working out.

This was a long standing thing that went back to when he was seven years old. He had come to Rodolphus asking for training in body-building, because he wanted to be big and ripped like Lestrange rather than thinly elegant like both of his parents. While Loughness was training his body, Hydra trained her voice. She practiced various songs that intrigued her, and even tried learning to accompany herself on the piano that the daddies had gotten for Dora long before the twins were born. Dora was the vampire who'd not only turned Daddy Regulus at his request so that he could survive Voldemort, but rescued him from that dreadful black lake of Inferi when he badly misjudged his own ability to escape on his own.

He'd stupidly sent Daddy Kreacher away to spare him a repeat of what he'd already undergone at Voldemort's hands, but in the process had foolishly placed himself in life-threatening danger. Everyone knew that Regulus had lost his mind a little over what had happened to Kreacher. To Hydra this did not make falling in love feel particularly appealing. She had no romantic interests, nor any interest in forming any. Loughness and Guillermo behaved like animals over girls, and the daddies were so clingy with one another that it just made the entire emotional process seem too unhinged.

Even Dora was all hung up on some git who'd turned her two-thousand years ago then kept stringing her along as the centuries passed. If even an ancient vampire could form unhealthy emotional attachments, Hydra didn't see why it was worth bothering over. She preferred music any day. Music was safe, but it was a river, even an ocean of emotion. It gave the emotion without the dysfunction. It was emotion that would never hurt or turn on one, and it only gave without taking. Her current favorite song into which she could pore her emotions was one by a Muggle band called the Beatles.

She'd heard Severus playing it more than once when visiting Sortia. It was called Let It Be, and though the singer sang about his mother, Mary, she substituted Daddy Regulus and Daddy Kreacher's names respectively in the lyrics. It was perfect for describing the role each parent played in her life, and truly began opening her to the ways in which music could provide expression and convey emotions with a magic that the spoken word simply couldn't do alone. The lines she sang for Kreacher completely described his place in her life with the words, /When I find myself in times of trouble, Daddy Kreacher comes to me speaking words of wisdom Let it be And in my hour of darkness he is standing right in front of me,/

The words for Daddy Regulus were equally as descriptive, saying, /I wake up to the sound of music, Daddy Regulus comes to me./

Kreacher was a comforting darkness in her life and as a vampire, he was of the dark. So was Daddy Regulus, but he was the original source of music for her and her literal Bardic inspiration and teacher. The fact that the song covered both of those aspects was amazing and magical.

She enjoyed the song's message about parents soothing the worries and concerns of their children and instilling a feeling of peace. When she was ready, the song would be presented to her parents as a thank you for all they'd done over the years. Being a bit of a perfectionist, she had no idea when she would be ready, so always practiced when the Daddies were sleeping. That way, their was no risk of them overhearing her efforts.

When the next school year began, she moved her vocal practices to the Ravenclaw common room. She allowed herself a song every forty-five minutes for a study break. Switching up the mental activity made things stick in her brain better, and she had it down to a literal science. Forty-five minutes on whatever subject she happened to be studying, then a fifteen minute break on something lighter like singing or solving a Transfiguration puzzle. She thought of her fourth year as her last truly easy year, for the fifth would involve dreaded OWLS. She had heard many a horror story about those from the parents of her friends and even Daddy Regulus. At least Hydra had her study group of friends to help, as they would all be going through it. Well all but Guillermo who, as a fifth year was going through it now, though as he didn't seem particularly moved, she tended to forget. Any time she asked him if he needed help studying anything, he'd just shake his head and say he had it under control. When he eventually did ask for her help, the topic was a surprise.

"This may seem weird, but I'm writing an essay for herbology about parental relationships between plants, you know and their kids," Guillermo explained. He, Hydra and James were in the Ravenclaw common room after dinner when he broached the topic.

"Shouldn't you ask Loughness then," Hydra asked. "I'm decent at Herbology but no more so than you. That's way more Loughness's thing."

"Well it's not that. It's you know, researching that made me think of you and Loughness and..." He broke off speaking to lift his hand to cast a privacy charm around the three friends. They sat in chairs clustered near the fire without anyone else too close, but the common room was far from empty. Once no one else could overhear, Guillermo continued. "Some plants get uprooted as babies and put in greenhouses near other plants with whom they form a relationship. Especially Mandrakes. So I was wondering, like without a Mum, how do you deal with the girl stuff? I mean without a girl to talk to. Do you ever want to talk to the lady who carried you?"

"Bera Karkaroff's cousin?" Hydra felt her eyes widening in surprise at the strange idea. "I mean if I saw her I'd say hi and thanks, but she's not our mum. We have literally none of her blood so no, we feel no connection."

"Okay, but what if you need to talk about yucky period stuff?"

James jerked his head away in embarrassment, cheeks flushing. Hydra sighed at Guillermo and rolled her eyes. What on earth did this have to do with plants? For a Ravenclaw, sometimes he just didn't bother to think things out. "Okay I have other women in my life to ask about anything I need. For one, I have Grandmother Walburga, who while a ghost, is still a lady ghost, and she was not always a ghost so she knows things. Then there is Kereston, who also lives with us. Neither of them need to be my mum to answer a few questions and neither has ever minded," Hydra explained. She spoke carefully as if Guillermo were thick, because right now, he was certainly acting the part.

"Oh," Guillermo said. He blinked a few times as he processed that, then nodded. "Well that makes sense. So do you think young Mandrakes just ask for screaming lessons from the plants nearest to them when they are sold and moved out of their parents greenhouse?"

"Um, Guillermo? Are you comparing me to a bloody Mandrake, because I'm not sure how I feel about that. It's probably brilliant, though, considering how cute yet deadly they are," Hydra decided.

Guillermo chuckled. "No, I am just trying to decide if magical plants have human characteristics, so unfortunately I compared you to a human. Sorry." He gave her an apologetic smile.

"But would cooking mandrakes into a soup give the wizard who eats it the ability to kill with a scream," James wondered excitedly. Hydra chuckled, because James always had a way to bring the topic back round to food.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11, Crucio

In what felt like a blink, Christmas was nearly upon them, and it was time for holiday shopping. Every year since starting at Hogwarts, Hydra's holiday shopping always had to wait until she was home for Christmas break. There was just no time to shop before then unless one did it in Hogsmeade, and that was just no way to find good surprises for the magical people on one's shopping list. Everyone went to Hogsmeade, so if one saw something they wanted while there, they simply bought it. Therefore finding them a gift from the place they went all the time was basically pointless. It was better to shop on the Muggle net with Millicent or in one of the wizarding malls in Germany. Wolfgang, the German half giant who Millicent had married before the twins were even born, was always willing to take them shopping. He excelled at finding the best places to buy rare and interesting magical items. Though Loughness often went along as well, this time he'd begged off, saying he'd already finished his shopping and wasn't in the mood for crowds.

James, Sortia and Guillermo had come to visit the twins for the day, and they were all eager to see wizarding malls in Germany. The day was long and magical, and as could be expected, full of shopping. They all bought themselves at least as many things as they'd gotten for everyone on their shopping lists combined. "Hey it's fine to Christmas shop for yourself," Millicent said with a laugh as they sat cooling their heals in the food court of the final mall they'd visited. Their chairs were surrounded by everyone's brightly colored shopping bags as they filled up on large delicious bowls of cheesy chili. "It means you'll for sure like what you get."

"Well if you judge by the size of my shopping bags, I was definitely a good boy this year," Guillermo quipped, grinning cheerfully over at Millicent. Everyone was full of delicious holiday mall food and tired out from shopping when they returned to #12 Grimmauld Place. James, Guillermo and Sortia went to put their bags down in the parlor while Hydra hurried hers upstairs to her room. When she rejoined her friends in the Parlor, Guillermo was in the process of wondering aloud where Loughness was.

"Let's check the library," Hydra said. "Should I ask Stormy to bring us some hot chocolate in there? He makes a fabulous gingerbread hot chocolate."

"I remember that one from last year," James said enthusiastically. "Sure, I'd love some."

"So would I if I weren't so full," Sortia said.

"I'm with Sortia, but James is never ever full," Guillermo said, jabbing the other boy in the ribs as he headed out of the room.

"I'll ring for Stormy once we're in the library," Hydra said. When they arrived, they found the library door closed. Hydra frowned. Usually when the door was closed, it meant that the daddies could be in there being improper aka disgusting. Currently, they were chatting with Millicent and Wolfgang in the parlor, though, so that couldn't be the case. Hydra opened the door and stepped inside to quite the shock.

"Crucio!" Loughness flew back across the room, nearly crashing into Hydra as he grunted in pain.

"Crucio," he growled in return.

A slender wild-haired woman clad in black dodged out of the way, smirking. "Try harder. I dodged aside from that far too easily. If you used your wand, you could direct it better."

"But elves don't need wands, and I am trying to make this elf shit stronger," Loughness said. "If I can learn to send several crucios to several enemies with rapid fire speed, it'll be far easier to manage without a wand."

"True," Hydra said thoughtfully. "What on earth are you and Bellatrix doing? Or rather why, because what is obvious."

"He wanted defense training," Bellatrix said flatly. "This is how I do it. He needs to learn how to handle the worst spells that anyone can throw at him."

"But wouldn't that be Avada Kedavra," James asked. "And you're Bellatrix Lestrange. Actually Bellatrix Lestrange, WOW."

"Very well, he needs to learn to handle almost all the worst spells that anyone can throw at him so that he can prevent those that could kill him," Bellatrix amended. "And thanks for reminding me of who I am, Kid. I do frequently get confused on that."

Noticing the open fear on the faces of Guillermo and Sortia, Hydra bit back a foul oath of the likes of which even Daddy Kreacher would've been proud. She'd entirely forgotten that Bellatrix was supposed to be dead."Um," she began carefully. "We need all of you not to mention this to anyone, please. Bella is working Shadow Ops with her family. It's legal and the Ministry knows, I swear, but it's all top secret. Loughness, why didn't you practice at hers," she demanded, giving her brother a frustrated glare.

"Because you weren't supposed to be back for hours yet," Loughness complained.

"I like it better here," Bellatrix added. "If shit breaks while spells are flying, it isn't mine." She smirked. "I have some very nice things, you know."

"Reasonable," James nodded sagely.

"I thought Molly Weasley killed you," Guillermo said. "I mean I don't know her or anything, but it was in the paper."

"In the paper before you were born," Bellatrix said, lip curling as she gave Guillermo an assessing look. She didn't appear to be much impressed by what she saw.

"Yeah, well I read old papers," Guillermo replied.

"Molly Weasley attempted to kill me with a spell I could've easily dodged," Bellatrix drawled. "I would've done too, had about ten Aurors not struck me from behind. They knocked me down a split second before her spell flew, and they gave her the credit for my demise. Even she believes it, the dumb cow. They wanted us Lestranges to work Shadow Ops for them but they knew bloody well that the gentle souls of society wouldn't rest easy with that, so they allowed the world to believe me dead and Roddy and Rabastan safely tucked back away in Azkaban to rot."

"The government just decided to hire you why," Guillermo asked, clearly fascinated.

"They knew they had failed at offing The Dark Lord on their own with Dumbledore's help. They became wise enough to understand that catching criminals demands help from the best Dark criminals, that clearly being us."

"Yeah but the government is thick. What made them wise up to that novel if logical concept," James asked.

Bella's lips twitched up into a slight smile as she nodded at him. "You're a sharp one. Regi vamped them a little into some common sense, because he didn't want to see us on the run or locked back up again. He had cause to know The Dark Lord was going down and he made certain the Aurors told us as much when they brought us in. Don't ever apparate someone after having them hit by approximately ten stunners by the by, unless you fancy them throwing up all over your carpet."

James snickered. "Thanks for the heads up. Good to know. And it's awesome you puked on the Ministry's carpet." Can we train too?"

At the question, Sortia and Guillermo exchanged a horrified look, each taking a step back.

"I'm not exactly into getting hurt," Guillermo said. "It's not my thing."

"Well learn how to not get hurt," Loughness shot back.

"By getting hurt," Guillermo demanded incredulously.

"Indeed." It was Bella who replied. "If you're in a battle, and someone hits you with something that you are too much of a baby to handle, you cave, scream, and get killed because while you are busy caving and screaming, your enemy will be taking advantage of that weakness to end you."

Her eyes narrowed as she regarded Sortia. "You look like your dad, but not as ugly."

"Same to you," Sortia shot back. Hydra knew for a fact that Sortia had never even seen a picture of Cygnus Black, but you'd never know it from the confident way in which she spoke her retort. Bellatrix chuckled. "So why'd you serve Voldemort," Sortia asked.

"Because we believed stupidly that he'd pick up where Grindelwald left off," Bellatrix said, looking suddenly tired.

"And the Horcruxes," Sortia asked.

"We had no idea until Regi told us when he returned," Bellatrix said.

"Were you okay with his making them," Guillermo clarified, and Sortia gave a slight nod.

Bella's lips tightened as she tossed her head. "Of bloody course not. None of us had any idea who he was. Now do you prats want to train or not?"

"I am very full from mall food, so likely not fast enough on my feet," Guillermo mused. "On the other hand, I could be forced into a battle when I am very full, so sure. Let's do it."

Chapter Text

Chapter 12, Stayin' Alive

"Oh I hurt all over," Hydra groaned, flopping into the nearest chair. It was two hours later, and Bellatrix had just called an end to their training session.

Sortia scowled down at herself as she silently worked at unraveling the binding charm that Bella had hit her with just as she'd called practice to a close. "Never relax until all your enemies are dead," Bellatrix said. "And learn how to get yourself out of a hex when your wand hand is tied or you're dead. Don't help her, Loughness," she added peevishly as he took a step toward Sortia.

"Sorry," Loughness told his friend before sagging into the chair nearest to his twin. "You hurt all over," he huffed, flicking an incredulous glance toward Hydra. "I've been at it for four hours longer than you lot."

"Oh come off it! It isn't as if I was Crucioing you for four hours, prat," Bellatrix told him as she settled onto the sofa. "We learned from the Longbottoms that the mind can't take it for that long, you know." At the mention of the people she and her family had broken and driven literally insane, her lips twitched in fond amusement as if speaking of a favorite memory, which clearly she was.

"Bella would never Crucio us for four hours as a method of training anyway," Hydra said. "Our enemies could and would definitely use other tactics so even if we could deflect and dodge that spell until the cows come home, something else would get us."

"When you're all less pathetic at wandless magic, I shall teach you how to protect in advance against the Imperius Curse. It involves a bit of Occlumency and Legilimency," Bellatrix said. "Loughness is already rather proficient at that, actually. We worked on that first, then some deflects. We'd only just begun on the Crucioing when you lot arrived."

"Man! You only hit me with it twice, and I still ache," James groaned. "And I know you weren't hitting me half as hard as you could."

"Correct," Bellatrix smirked. "But you did well with deflecting, so there is hope for you yet. And the way you Transfigured some of my hexes in mid air is quite advanced for a prat in his fourth year. It must be due to being a Ravenclaw."

James grinned, practically radiating pride at being complimented by Bellatrix Lestrange. "I think so, and thank you, Ma'am."

"Sometimes I can see things, you know before they happen," Guillermo admitted. "So when you praised me earlier for my quick responses, that's sort of why."

"Hey use what you've got," Bellatrix said. "I wish I had a bit of the seer gift. If I did, my family might have avoided a lot." She sighed.

"So why do you like to torture people," Guillermo asked. "I mean you seem proud of the Longbottoms."

"My family has personal reasons not to like Aurors," Bellatrix said darkly. "They can be very selectively good at solving crimes. You know, only the ones that interest them. My mother-in-law was killed in a supposed robbery when Lestrange Manor was broken into, but the Aurors never learned who did it. We never got justice for Esmay Lestrange and she was a good woman."

"Wow," Sortia breathed. "When was that?"

"Before the shit hit the fan in eighty," Bellatrix said, shrugging dismissively. Clearly she was uncomfortable with the painful topic. Sortia must have picked up on that, for she merely nodded and let it drop.

"So may we meet to practice again before I return to Hogwarts," Loughness asked Bella.

She scowled. "I hardly have time off from Shadow Ops, Prat. I want to enjoy my holidays." Ask someone else sometimes."

"But Grindelwald won't teach us," Loughness whined.

"Do you really think he's as good as his dad, though," James asked. Sortia rolled her eyes and he arched his brows at her. "What?"

"He is his bloody dad," Sortia muttered. When Hydra and Loughness gasped in horror, she tossed her head defiantly. "Well who cares? He knows every bloody thing else, doesn't he?"

"Does anyone bloody stay dead," Guillermo yelled. "Am I losing my bloody mind?"

"Who died, Prat," Bellatrix drawled. "As Grindelwald himself once said, great wizards aren't killed off so easily. Regulus, Grindelwald, Dumbledore, Snape, and myself are all among what today's lot truly need to categorize as greats. We aren't stupid and we aren't trying to die."

"But he had a baby with himself? What's it, he's got both parts or what," Guillermo asked, eyes round in horror.

Sortia snickered. "No! I just meant he is pretending to be Grindelwald's son, Grindelwald JR, to you know not tell people he didn't get offed by Voldemort, so he is his own kid. That's all I meant. You are so bloody weird sometimes, Guillermo!"

"Well how can we know it's not possible for those hermaphrodites to have kids with themselves," Guillermo huffed.

"Because it isn't," Sortia said flatly.

"Snape is correct on all counts," Bellatrix agreed.

"You calling me weird too," Guillermo asked.

Bellatrix nodded. "Yes."

"So Voldemort let Grindelwald live," James asked. "What? In order to help him? And how did that go down? Like did Grindelwald want to help him or what?"

"No, no," Hydra hurried to explain. "Nothing like that. Voldemort killed the old guy who Wolfgang and some other Dark wizards paid to take Grindelwald's place in Nurmengard. Voldemort believed he killed Grindelwald just like everyone else. I mean it wouldn't have been nearly so easy cause it's Grindelwald, but people believe what makes them rest easier at night."

"Yes, like Molly Mumma-bear Weasley actually having the skills to kill me," Bellatrix said. "If motherly rage was that powerful, Lily Potter would've offed the Dark Lord and survived it."

"Well there were the Horcruxes, but your general point still stands," Hydra said and Bellatrix gave her a grudging nod.

"True enough."

"Back to Grindelwald, though," James said, literally bouncing in his chair. "So how does he look so young? And when was he freed from prison, and how'd they get someone else to agree to just take his place?" And just WOW!"

"He looks so young because he was given a very Dark and illegal little known potion called The Draught Of Life," Hydra said. "Wolfgang's discovery of it was what gave him the idea to free Grindelwald from prison. He wanted a plan B in case Potter screwed up and didn't manage to kill Voldemort."

"And before you ask, Wolfgang knew about Potter because my dad told him," Sortia interjected. "Dad was working with the others in Wolfgang's group. Those being some Dark wizards who had never become Death Eaters and wanted to stand against Voldemort. Dad was a Death Eater, but one playing double agent, so they let him help."

"How much other shit do I not know," James demanded.

"I think that's all," Hydra said with a reassuring smile. "Don't be offended, though. These weren't our secrets, so we had no business telling them." She shot a glare at Sortia who scowled back.

"Grindelwald won't care. James is in this, so he'd find out eventually," she said. Hydra shrugged, because her friend was likely right.

"I won't tell anyone," James grumbled. "Relax. I haven't told anyone anything else have I?"

"No you haven't," Hydra soothed. "Back to answering your questions, though. The old guy who took Grindelwald's place was dying a slow death, and he wanted the money Wolfgang offered to his family if he died in Nurmengard for a cause rather than at home for nothing." As for when it happened, it was around the Christmas holidays in Ninety-seven, just a few months before Voldemort made his attack on Nurmengard. It was fortunate that Wolfgang acted when he did, though perhaps Grindelwald could've survived Voldemort's attack." Hydra shrugged. "It's good we'll never have to know."

"So what's he like," James asked. "All warm and fuzzy like Bellatrix here?" Bellatrix shot him a sneer and Loughness choke-snickered.

"Grindelwald is... unique," Hydra said thoughtfully. "He's friendly and jokes a lot. Careless in some ways, or rather carefree but he can switch it up in an instant when there is danger. He's very attached to his family, that being the Zabinis. He was practically a teenager when youthened back when he got out of prison, and when he got together with Blaise Zabini, the Zabini family literally adopted him."

"He's gotten soft and doesn't want to risk his precious ass going after the Muggles anymore," Bellatrix complained darkly. "I think prison got to him. I can't think of any other reason."

"I can," Loughness said, rolling his eyes. "It's called Zabini."

"He doesn't like Muggles," Guillermo said. "I know because he's friends with my elder brother," he explained to Bellatrix.

"I mean because of his relationship with Zabini, he's nested and gotten all soft," Loughness explained scathingly. "They can hate Muggles from their nest."

"He certainly refuses to teach anyone," Hydra said. "It's annoying because you know he knows stuff."

"He said he's not a good teacher, and has never taught anyone, though," Sortia said. "So I doubt that bit is about the nesting." She made a face. "I'm never going to nest."

"Me either," Hydra agreed fervently.

"That isn't the problem," Bellatrix said. "Rod and I are a supreme example of that. We've nested just fine and would still gladly go after the Muggles anytime Grindelwald wakes up and decides to finish this."

"Yeah, but that's because you're normal," Loughness said. "When I nest with Kereston some day, I'll still be a Great Dark Lord. But look at the Daddies. They nested and got soft. Then there is the constant shagging and let's not forget the drama if one of them gets upset or depressed or whatever. It's just when two blokes do it."

"You are so weird," Hydra told her twin with a shake of her head. "You talk about them, but you're really obsessive when it comes to Kereston and trust me it's no better; no more sane.

"Is," Loughness grumbled under his breath.

"Bored now," Sortia proclaimed with a sigh.

Bella's lips twitched. "Once again, I find myself agreeing with Snape."

(Dear Reader,

If you'd like more details about what happened with the Lestranges expanding on Bella's brief explanation in the previous chapter, you should check their book, Bad Romance, also uploaded here with our other stories. And if you'd like the full scoop on Grindelwald and the Dark group of wizards who freed him, check his story, In The Dark.)

Chapter Text

Chapter 13, A Mostly Slytherin Christmas

Christmas was always held at #12 Grimmauld Place so as not to leave Walburga and Orion out of the festivities. Things didn't get started until after the sun set so that the Daddies could be present. This meant everyone began arriving around four-thirty in the afternoon. Anyone who had other family obligations handled them on Christmas Eve or during the earlier part of Christmas day. The Lestranges always arrived first with Rodolphus's father Corvus, who was always invited. The Grandparents were always very pleased to see him, as he'd always been one of their best mates.

The elder Blacks, Bellatrix and Narcissa's parents, always came as well. Usually the Malfoys made an appearance and sometimes friends dropped in when they weren't occupied with their own family obligations. When Hydra and Loughness were very young, they simply were not able to wait to open their gifts until the evening. Such was too much torture to be born, so the Daddies were given a vampiric draught of wakefulness and all the gifts were brought into their bedroom where it was suitably dark.

Draught or no draught, it wasn't natural for vampires to be awake during the day, so both were quite out of it, but they always sat on the edge of their bed, giving dazed smiles as the twins eagerly opened their gifts. Now that Hydra and Loughness were older, they had a bit more self-control, so the Daddies were able to have their Christmas rest undisturbed until the evening. The only downside of the family gathering was that the twins were expected to entertain Scorpius Malfoy, to whom they had little to say. It wasn't just that he was two years younger. The twins and Sortia were five years younger than Wulfric, after all, and one year younger than Guillermo. They were more mature than Scorpius, though, which mattered.

Scorpius also ran with a Potter which was embarrassing to say the least. The Potters consorted with Weasleys, after all! Weasleys were out and proud Muggle lovers. Muggles would see all magic users dead if they had their way. Definitely not all Muggles, but enough to cause a life-threatening problem for sure, a point which Muggle-loving wizards like the Weasleys tended to stridently and stupidly ignore. Once a few Christmases ago, Scorpius had even confronted the twins on this saying, "I hardly see why you're so stuck up, being Half-bloods yourselves. One would expect that you'd both have a bit more sympathy."

Hydra had just nodded while Loughness sighed, wandering in disgust from the room, leaving it for her to deal with. "I understand that you don't see," she'd replied complacently. "There is a flaw in your line of reasoning. Our Half-blood is still half magic either way you swing it which means full magic when put together. Muggle blood weakens the magical bloodlines and ours only strengthens it.""

"But half of your blood is slave blood, so again you'd expect a bit of sympathy," Scorpius had argued.

"Oh I do sympathize with any enslaved elves," Hydra had assured him. "Muggles, however, aren't slaves to wizarding kind, and elves have never persecuted wizards as Muggles have. I do hate it when people ignore most facets of a situation in order to keep their annoying and harmful views." With that conclusion she'd swept from the room before she lost her temper with a house guest. Not that she would mind, considering she hadn't invited him, but the Daddies would complain when the Malfoys did.

Of course the Daddies agreed with their children on the matter, but that didn't mean they wanted to hear bitching about it. After that, the twins just tried harder to avoid interactions with Scorpius if others weren't around, because they were unable to avoid him entirely. That was one of the few drawbacks to family gatherings. There were always a few people there that you preferred weren't, but such was life. That particular year, Sortia dropped in with her parents, so the twins were fortified with no risk of being stuck alone with Scorpius. He was rather frightened of Sortia, so stuck close to his grandfather. Lucius doted on him in spite of his Potter-loving ways, so that worked out well for everyone. "Mum says it's rather fascinating how Daddy even has the Malfoys liking him," Sortia mused. She sat with Hydra and Loughness in the kitchen, watching as the four elves busied themselves with final Christmas dinner preparations. Though all three offered to help, the elves politely refused with only slight horror in their eyes.

"Daddy Regulus charms all the women without even trying, but I must say, Malfoys are even a bigger achievement, so I take my hat off to Severus," Hydra said with a chuckle.

"Daddy Regulus uses the gay look, and that wouldn't work on the Malfoys," Loughness said.

"The gay what," Sortia demanded. She glanced over at Loughness rather carefully as though he'd quite lost his mind.

"The gay look," Loughness repeated. Girls always want the guys who don't want them. It's a thing," he informed. "No man who wants another man wants a woman, so he gives that impression effortlessly. Seeing it as a challenge, for what ever reason, the girls all proceed to throw themselves at the disinterested man. I am trying to perfect the gay look so that I can use it to get any girl I want."

Sortia and Hydra both groaned. "Stormy, may we have some of your gingerbread hot coco," Hydra asked, striving hard for a coaxing tone. Stormy was unmoved, shaking his head as he arranged a platter of turkey.

"That is for after dinner. Hydra can have it then along with everyone else."

"But it's Christmas," Sortia tried.

"It will be Christmas after dinner as well," Stormy pointed out. He hastily turned away in a clear attempt to hide his amused smile. If only Scorpius could hear her being bossed about by Stormy, Hydra thought dryly. Elves who were slaves had to do what they were told, but the elves who worked at #12 Grimmauld Place were free to do what they wished, including denying her gingerbread deliciousness. She doubted that he knew much about elves when it came down to it. Most wizards didn't.

"Does Kreacher also have this supposed gay look," Sortia asked Loughness. "Gods, Loughness, you are so weird sometimes!"

"Very observant you mean, and thank you," Loughness replied smugly. "And not really. Daddy Kreacher uses the same suspicious glare on everyone who isn't Daddy Regulus, Kereston, Millicent, Blaise and sometimes the Lestranges."

Hydra chuckled, glad to be drawn from her annoyed thoughts about Scorpius bloody Malfoy.

"Wasn't it Blaise who first approached Kreacher about making items with him and Grindelwald in their shop? Is that why Kreacher likes him so much," Sortia asked and Loughness nodded.

"Yeah, he wanted to see what wizard and elf magic could do when combined. That's another bloke with the gay look," he said of Blaise.

"He doesn't look at anyone but Gellert, Loughness," Hydra said with a sigh.

Loughness nodded. "Exactly! He doesn't even look at the girls and they still swoon after him. That's some talent! It's taking ignoring them to an entirely new level. I'll probably never be that good," he lamented.

"That's a good thing, because if you are, they shall never guess that you're interested," Sortia told him.

Loughness shook his head. "You don't get how it works," he said dismissively.

"That's right, I'm only a girl, you know one of the individuals this gay look of yours is intended to attract."

"Not you, though, so it doesn't count," Loughness said. "You're just Sortia," he explained as if she were unaware.

Hydra and Sortia exchanged a long-suffering glance. Of course both knew that Loughness only meant that he and Sortia weren't into one another like that, so her opinion on the matter would not be the same, but he put it in such an idiot boy way that it was painful for the brain to digest.

"Well if I ever decide to like someone, Loughness, please do inform him that I am just Sortia so not a completely valid girl in case he's confused," she drawled dryly.

Loughness nodded. "Sure, sure, okay."

"Idiot," Hydra said, reaching over to smack him on the head.

"No fighting in the kitchen," Piper called. The elf sported a red Christmas sweater. He was the only of the four who'd bothered to put on anything particularly different for the holiday this year.

"Kay. Sorry," Hydra replied. "That means you can't retaliate," she murmured to Loughness.

"Everyone is here, so it's time to open gifts," Walburga called, floating into the kitchen. "You too, Stormy, so leave that Christmas pudding be for now. Besides, it looks perfect."

Hydra sprang up eagerly from her chair. She so loved this bit, as the Daddies and the Lestranges always gave the most amazing gifts! Likewise she was just as eager to see how everyone liked what she'd found for them while mall shopping. She always felt sad that the grandparents had to watch everyone opening gifts without partaking themselves, but they always insisted that being here with the family again after all that had happened was gift enough.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14, Parent Night

The next term began uneventfully. Near the end of February, Headmistress McGonagall announced a new addition to Hogwarts traditions in the form of a parent's night. It allowed the parents of all Hogwarts students to meet and mingle as well as to see how their children were doing in school. The first Parent Night was to be held on march eighteenth and invites were sent out to parents in late February. It was to be Parent Night instead of Parent Day because many parents worked during the day. With the function held at night, parents could dine with their children at Hogwarts and not have to miss work. Hydra and Loughness both thought it would be interesting to see how many parents were like their children, especially the annoying ones.

They already knew the parents of their friends, but it would be nice to see them, and being at school, it would present a novelty of sorts. "What are you going to do," Hydra asked Sortia. Their little group of five was sitting out beside the lake the evening of Headmistress McGonagall's announcement. "I mean what with your dad supposedly being dead and you supposedly being a Snape cousin and all."

Sortia shrugged. "Mum is coming. She won't like coming without Daddy, but she'll survive for a few hours." She grinned. "I'm sure she'll make up some excuse about why my dad couldn't make it. We've made up a name for him, he's Grym Snape." She giggled. "Isn't it perfect?"

Hydra nodded, watching in horrified fascination as James shoved three little tea cakes into his mouth at the same time just to impress Guillermo and Loughness.

"Hey if you were a girl that would be super hot," Guillermo said. I mean it means you can handle IT, you know?" Loughness guffawed gleefully and James splattered gobbets of cake all over Guillermo and Sortia, who happened to be in the line of fire.

"Disgusting," Sortia howled, dusting frantically at her Slytherin robes. "OOh now it's on my hands!"

"And it wasn't even a joke that you could appreciate," Hydra told her sympathetically. "That makes it even worse, because you didn't even get a bloody laugh out of it." She gestured to Sortia, performing a cleaning charm that took care of her robes as well as her hands.

Sortia let out a breath. "Thanks. I was so horrified that I didn't even think of reaching for my wand. Stupid of me." She shot James a dark glare.

"It's alright," Loughness said. "Elf magic cleans better than anything you could do anyway."

"Yeah," Guillermo said. "So would one of the half elves in the room kindly do the honors for this poor sticky lad?" He had his wand in his hand, but upon Loughness's words, hadn't bothered to use it.

Hydra sighed and gestured to him, working the cleaning charm once more. "I will in spite of the fact that we aren't in a room."

"Thanks," Guillermo told her warmly. "You're a peach."

"No, I'm an elf," Hydra bit out, then giggled at the idea of a half peach, half elf.

"What are your parents going to do at Parent Night," Sortia asked, glancing between Loughness and Hydra.

Loughness shrugged. "Probably just come together as always. It isn't odd to see them attached at the hip, after all. They won't have to say that Daddy Kreacher is our parent or anything. They'll probably just say that our fake Mum that we don't really have was busy or something." Hydra nodded her agreement, because that did sound like what the Daddies would do.

"And there you and I will be with our painfully normal parents," James said, grinning over at Guillermo who laughed.

"Yep. For sure, we'll never be as cool as those three."

"Okay I get Hydra and Loughness, but how is it cool that everyone believes my dad to be dead," Sortia wondered, shaking her head of long black hair in bafflement at James and Guillermo.

"Because it's cool," James said. "Like former Secret Agent man mysterious and all."

"He just didn't want to blow Albus's cover I think, and wanted to remain with him at Durmstrang," Sortia said with a shrug.

James grinned and began happily singing the old Muggle song, Secret Agent Man, that he'd quite likely heard from Severus's own record collection as the Potions Master was half Muggle. "So a half-elf and half-Muggle walk into a bar," Hydra drawled.

James stopped singing to regard her expectantly. "And," Guillermo asked when she didn't continue.

"I don't know," Hydra laughed. "I was hoping one of you had an idea.

"Is one a boy and one a girl," Loughness asked eagerly. The conversation deteriorated from there. The next few weeks passed without much thought given to Parents Night by the group of friends. When the event finally rolled around, Hydra wasn't prepared for her reaction to what happened at all. She wanted to arrive at the Great Hall a little early to see the set up, curious to see how it was all being arranged. Coming from the Ravenclaw common room, she walked with James and Guillermo.

The tables in the Great Hall were plenty large enough for the parents to sit with their children for the evening meal, and some already were. Hydra was shocked to see a slender pretty young woman with light brown hair that cascaded over her shoulders standing with her hand on Regulus's arm. The two waited near the Slytherin table. Both wore green, with Regulus in fine green and silver dress robes to show himself as a former Slytherin while the woman wore a slinky green evening dress and sharp stiletto heals with dark sunglasses to hide her round blue elf eyes. Daddy Kreacher had clearly opted to come as Echidna, the female persona he and Daddy Regulus once invented to play a joke on Severus and Mag.

They'd since adopted the guise for any time that Regulus needed to produce a wife. Apparently they considered tonight one of these times, Hydra thought, feeling the color draining from her face. She should've expected this, so why did it bother her so much? Well as they were both in green, standing at the Slytherin table, they'd likely sit with Loughness, so she may not even have to interact much. Hydra moved stiffly to her chair with James and Guillermo following. "I bet my parents will be late," James said. "They're always working late."

"Crap! Here mine come now," Guillermo said. "I'll be back. They'll want to drill me with twenty questions about everything to make sure I'm doing what I should and all that rubbish, so I am letting them get that out of their system before we start eating." He hurried away as James slid into his chair.

"What? Does he have strict Spanish parents or something," James wondered.

"His Mum is American," Hydra murmured back. "I don't think they're that strict." She was still staring in uncomfortable shock at her parents.

"What's happening," James hissed into her ear. "You look ill. Who's the hot woman with Regulus? And where's Kreacher? I had something to talk to him about." Hydra choked, then began to laugh. Upon starting, she found that she couldn't stop.

"Hydra! Do behave. People are staring." The breathy voice put Hydra vaguely in mind of a British Stevie Nicks, but it wasn't a British Stevie Nicks. It was Daddy Kreacher playing at being a woman because he and Daddy Regulus didn't want anyone to know about their half elf children. She turned, giving Echidna a dark glare.

"I was laughing, because James thinks you're hot," she snapped peevishly. Daddy Kreacher snickered.

"Sorry, Ma'am," James spluttered to Echidna before shooting a dark look at Hydra.

"Oh don't be," Hydra told him. "It's really quite funny. Later when I can explain why, you shall surely agree. Or perhaps not." She tittered again. It was all just too much in the worst, most upsetting of ways!

Echidna drew herself up and gave Hydra a hard look. It's effect was somewhat ruined by the dark sunglasses. "Hydra shall behave this instant," Echidna/Kreacher snapped.

"I knew she couldn't last," Hydra told James. "She can never speak normally, you see. It's always like an elf, because elves apparently raised her." Hydra rolled her eyes in open disgust. "At least it's the story they came up with to cover HER speech slip ups. This is Echidna Black, my mother."

James choked, staring at Kreacher in horror as the true implications of Hydra's words dawned on him. Hydra couldn't help smiling as she watched the horror blooming on James's face over saying that Kreacher was hot. Somehow this defused the moment, for Daddy Kreacher gave a chuckle as well as he slid into the seat on Hydra's other side.

"Regulus and I shall take turns sitting with you and Loughness," Kreacher/Echidna said carefully. Hydra could practically hear his struggle to remain in the proper tense. "We shall exchange places when the meal is half way over."

"Want to eat," Hydra asked. "The food is delicious and the Hogwarts elves are the best cooks ever. Far better than Daddy's silly elf Kreacher." Hurt then anger flickered over Kreacher's currently human, feminine face and Hydra felt satisfied. He'd hurt her by not acknowledging in any way, even by showing up as himself, that she was half elf, so a bit of turn about was only fair. Even though Kreacher could no longer eat, insults from anyone about his impeccable cooking would always get a reaction.

"Echidna already ate earlier," Echidna said. "The food here is not satisfactory. Indeed Dear Kreacher does cook far better. There is no accounting for Hydra's taste of late."

"Watch your tenses," James whispered, and Kreacher gave him a grateful if fleeting smile.

"James is a good boy... You are a good boy," Echidna corrected herself carefully.

"How'd you do that," James asked, face full of avid curiosity. He gestured to Echidna sitting in the chair, indicating the change from elf man to human woman.

Kreacher/Echidna smiled. "Transfiguration, of course. James should know that. He is a smart boy."

"Give up," Hydra told James before he could bother correcting Daddy Kreacher's tenses. "He'll try, then forget." Fortunately no other students were trying to interact with them. Their little group of friends tended to stick to themselves, so no one really bothered trying to mingle with them. Tonight that was definitely a blessing.

As Hydra and James ate, Echidna chatted with them, asking about their classes and such. As she did, her gaze traveled in open interest over the other parents. Her expression behind the sunglasses was speculative, and Hydra wondered if the Daddies were applying their vamp mind-reading skills to see which parents were likely to view the upcoming revolution with favor and which would not. "OOh I had an idea I wanted to share with you, Kr...Ur Miss Echidna," James said, leaning eagerly across Hydra to address Kreacher. "I thought of making study cookies to sell. You know, they'd be enhanced with charms for concentration and memory and perhaps mental expansion. Like a little nibble of Ravenclaw's Diadem or something. People love to snack when they study, so they can use my cookies to help them learn."

Echidna smiled, nodding. "That is a brilliant idea. James is... YOU are a very smart boy. Don't sell them cheap." The words were spoken carefully, as once again, Daddy Kreacher clearly considered each word as he spoke so that he may speak it correctly as a human would.

James's face broke into a proud grin, clearly overcome that Kreacher liked his idea. He'd adored Kreacher's cooking from the first time he'd come to visit Loughness and Hydra some years back over the holidays, and ever after he'd asked the elf questions about cooking. Kreacher, impressed with James's love of food and skill with charms, gladly answered, willingly sharing anything the boy wanted to learn. He approved of James's unique ideas when it came to combining food with enchantments. He called it art, and on that Hydra agreed. Just at present she was too angry and upset to appreciate the exchange.

"I'm not hungry," she said. "James, you can sit with my Mum. I... I can't." She didn't know what she'd planned to say, but tears were suddenly stinging at the back of her throat as she fled The Great Hall. She had to get out of there. That was all.

Chapter Text

Chapter 15, With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility

Once out of the Great Hall, Hydra just ran for a few seconds, not even knowing where she intended to go, just being glad to be out of there. As she ran the lump in her throat grew until tears began to spill down her face, shattering the inner pressure. Due to everyone being in the Great Hall, the corridor ahead of her was thankfully abandoned and silent. Needing to be alone with her upset, she headed for the Ravenclaw common room. There she could cry without being seen, and once she'd gotten the tears out of her system, she could finally sort herself out. She wasn't usually one to be upset like this, but now she was quite upset.

"Hydra!" The loud frantic whisper came from James. At the same time,she heard his hurried footsteps behind her. The hand that grasped her upper arm, thin fingers digging hard into her skin did not belong to James, though. Hydra turned to see Daddy Kreacher in his guise of Echidna glaring at her.

"Hydra did not need to cause a scene like that after all the effort Kreacher and Master Regulus have gone through!"

Hydra let out a hysterical laugh. "All the trouble YOU have gone through? You're posing as a human woman, clearly not okay with being gay or being a bloody elf, and still calling him master! And him just being your bloody puppet and letting you do anything you like." She hurled the words wrathfully at her father as James stood by with his mouth hanging open.

"He gives you charge of everything and yet you call him master and are still clearly uncomfortable with things as they are! Hell he can't even be his own master with the choices he's made." She'd pushed him too far. Kreacher's hand came up with lightning speed and cracked hard across Hydra's right cheek so that her head rocked back. She let out a cry of shock as tears spilled down her face. Neither parent had ever raised a hand to her before. Then again, she'd always been the good one before. "I'm not sorry," she sobbed. "You can hate what I say all you like, but it's still true!"

"No it most certainly is not," Kreacher bit out. "Hydra understands nothing. Kreacher is proud to be Kreacher. He is proud of all he has done, and he is proud of Master Regulus, and he is proud to be with him. He does not call him Master because he considers himself a slave. It's a... a personal private name that Kreacher has for..."

"Hell if it's some nasty sex thing, you shouldn't use it in front of others, then," Hydra snapped. "That's rubbish and I hate it. He hates it too, but again, you're in charge, and he knows no one can make you do anything you don't wish to so you get your way in all things. He's weak and if that's going to be the case, the least you can do is be the strong one and be in charge and not have secret shame and issues over it."

Kreacher sighed. "That is not the way it is and Hydra knows it. She is simply trying to be hurtful, but Kreacher is smart enough not to fall for that. He is unfortunately aware of psychology due to Magritte, and Master Regulus and the Lestranges."

"He's referring to the fact that the family is sort of in group therapy together with Sortia's Mum as their shrink. Mag is really into Muggle psychology so they asked her to shrink them or whatever," Hydra told James dully. Somehow he was still standing there. She thought it was amazing that he hadn't run back to the Great Hall to get away from the drama.

"Oh," James said.

"Hydra is hurt, so she is trying to hurt back, but she does not understand," Kreacher said. "She does not understand what elves face, and she does not understand that we are trying to protect her. She does not understand that not all elves are like those she has encountered in her life. Some are silly and foolish, having allowed slavery to change or perhaps even diminish them.

Those humans who have only seen those elves could hurt Master Regulus for being involved with Kreacher, because they would not understand why. They would find it disgusting to be with a nearly simple minded being no matter how strong its power was, but many elves are not like Dobby or half of those working in the Hogwarts kitchens. Many foolish wizards are unaware of this, though, and they would wrongfully think ill of dear Regulus. They could hurt Kreacher. They would believe them both to be... freaks, and then they would come for the children."

Hydra stared at her father as if he'd gone insane. Perhaps he had, she thought dully. "Does Daddy Regulus think this is the case," she wondered. "Or is he simply too weak to stand up to you."

"Hydra will stop being disrespectful this instant," Kreacher snapped. "Regulus has never taken the threat as seriously as Kreacher does, but he, like Hydra does not know the life of an enslaved elf."

"According to the grandparents, neither do you," Hydra snapped.

Kreacher's currently pretty human mouth tightened. "Kreacher has seen others. And Kreacher has had Sirius Black when the others were gone. Kreacher knows more than Hydra or Regulus or Hydra's grandparents."

"I hate feeling like we... That Loughness and I are wrong. Like you think something is wrong with us," Hydra sobbed, the upset suddenly returning at least three fold. Her father wasn't relenting, and he wasn't admitting what she knew was true. "You shouldn't have had us if you wanted to hide who we are. You raised us to be proud of our elf magic and to use it and to think of it as more and now you are hiding it," she wailed.

"Oh..." Kreacher reached to draw her into his arms, cradling her head on his shoulder as she wept out her upset. He rocked her as though she were a child, and hell perhaps she was. It was odd holding the woman's slender body and knowing it was Kreacher, but it moved like Kreacher, and spoke with Kreacher's tones and stroked her hair as Kreacher did, so Hydra just stopped thinking about it. "Hydra should stop doing this to herself," Kreacher murmured. "Kreacher does not intend for Hydra and Loughness to hide who they are forever. Just until it is safer, which should be relatively soon, considering."

"But you didn't know about all that is to come when you had us," Hydra pointed out. "You never mentioned hiding until we were ready to come to school here. Why did you have us just to hide us? I get you wanted heirs for house Black, but he didn't have to shag you in order to make us. It was a bloody test tube. So Daddy Regulus could've done the same with a witch," she pointed out. "What good is being Pure-blood squared if we have to hide it? You could've just made human children that could be free to be themselves. We may not be slaves, but we aren't free. Not really." And that was it. That was why she was so upset, she realized. Her feelings had instinctively known, but now her mind had the proper words to explain her raging upset.

"We did not want human children," Kreacher replied calmly. "We wanted children together. We wanted you. And though Kreacher is a bit ashamed to admit it, we did not think of the danger that our children would face being what they are until later. Kreacher is sorry, but he would never change a thing, for he loves Hydra and Loughness very much." Hydra heard his voice break at the end there which made her cry all the harder.

She felt sorry for making him cry, for hurting him, but she was hurt and she hated every aspect of this entire situation. "If anything happened to Hydra and Loughness, Kreacher could not live. Master Regulus could not live. We have gone through so very much already." The two clung together, sobbing in one another's arms until gradually their tears slowed, then dried. "I will try to understand," Hydra said. Her voice came out small and tired. That was alright, because it matched how she was feeling.

"Is everything alright?" Hydra and Kreacher whirled to see James's parents looking frazzled and worried.

"Sorry we're late," James's father said. "Although I somehow doubt either of you cared that much about it." Though he quipped, there was concern in his kind green eyes, so much like James's own.

"We were just having a family moment," Kreacher said. "Kreacher thinks it is fine now."

"Oh, Kreacher, it's you," James's mum said, giving a startled laugh. "Good one!"

"Yeah," James said. "For sure it was a good one. I said she was hot before I knew who she was. I'll never live that one down!"

And just like that things were alright again. James and his parents had smoothed things over simply being themselves, and Hydra would at least put some hard thought into what Kreacher had said. For now, though, it was time to go back and rejoin the rest in the Great Hall for Parent Night. Kreacher took Hydra's hand as they entered, and Hydra gave it a squeeze. "We should probably switch places now," Kreacher said, heading toward the Slytherin table. "Hydra shall wish to spend some time with Regulus and Echidna wishes to catch up with Loughness." When they approached, Regulus gave them a look of concern as he stood to meet them.

"Is everything alright," he asked, concern on his still youthful features. It was then that Hydra recalled her face. She surely had a red mark on her cheek. Kreacher shook his head, correctly reading her expression. "Kreacher covered it in illusion," he murmured, bending to speak into her ear. Hydra supposed that was an easy out, but she didn't care. She had said some dreadful things about Daddy Regulus and Daddy Kreacher, and she was at least starting to feel sorry about that. "It is fine now," Kreacher told Regulus. Giving Hydra's hand a final squeeze, he moved to stand at his partner's side. Hydra stared for a moment, unable to help herself. They made for a pretty young couple, but it didn't look right to her.

"Good," Regulus said, face relaxing. "I missed you," he added, slipping an arm around Kreacher/Echidna's waist.

"Echidna missed Regulus as well," Kreacher replied, momentarily resting his head on Regulus's shoulder. Both of their faces were so alight with love, that Hydra didn't see how Daddy Kreacher could be ashamed of anything. Perhaps she was wrong about that, but what did they expect her to think or feel under such circumstances?

"Where is Kreacher, then," Draco asked. He sat at the Slytherin table chatting with Harry Potter of all bloody people. Now that was weird. Hydra supposed with their children being such close friends, it was only logical, but still. A Potter! She tried to avoid even looking in their direction as Daddy Regulus turned to reply to the question.

"Kreacher has so many research projects going that he opted to stay home," Regulus said. "He supposed I could manage without him for a night." The two truly were never seen apart, so it was only normal that people should wonder. Did Draco not suspect who Echidna was, though? Likely not from the confused side eye he was giving her.

"Tell him I said Hi," Harry said. "I did always enjoy my interactions with Kreacher so. It's a shame he didn't come to visit with everyone." As he spoke, Harry Potter stared directly at Echidna who choked a little when the man spoke of enjoying their interactions, because he clearly hadn't.

After a moment, Kreacher's lips curved into a smile. "We shall make sure he knows," he promised and Regulus nodded.

"Well you just sit right down here and talk to me in his stead," Harry told Echidna cheerfully. "I'll just pretend you're him."

At that, Loughness burst out laughing as did Sortia, while Draco and Scorpius looked confused. Daddy Regulus had a fond spot for Harry Potter for returning #12 Grimmauld Place to him when he'd asked for it upon announcing himself to Harry as being alive and back after Voldemort's death. He'd given Harry any and all belongings of Sirius's in the manor and Harry had willingly returned everything else.

He was aware of Regulus and Kreacher's relationship as well. The only thing that had ever upset Regulus about Harry Potter was the way the boy admitted to simply dropping the Resurrection Stone in the bloody Forbidden Forest for anyone to find. This was clearly a stupidly dangerous thing to do because anyone, could literally be anyone! Regulus had gathered their group of friends including Kereston, the Lestranges, Grindelwald, Mag, Severus and Dumbledore to track the stone with Nifflers. Now it was back in Dumbledore's hands thanks to Daddy Regulus's ingenious ideas. Once more Hydra felt sorry for insulting his worth earlier when she'd been so very upset. Glancing over at Loughness, who was still grinning in amusement at the banter between Daddy Kreacher and Harry Potter, she wondered if he felt at all as she had earlier. Had he minded Kreacher unexpectedly showing up as Mummy Echidna?

"Come. Let us go and join James and Guillermo," Regulus said, taking Hydra's hand. "It shall be lovely to catch up with them as well as their parents." She nodded and they headed across to the Ravenclaw table. Regulus walked slowly, though, so that he had time to ask Hydra a question. "Are you sure everything is alright?"

Hydra hesitated, then shrugged. "I suppose it will be." She was certain that Daddy Kreacher would fill him in later, so it wouldn't be a secret. Would he tell Regulus the horrid things she had said? Perhaps not. "I do love you, no matter what," she said in a rush.

Regulus gave her a smile, though his blue eyes still held a tinge of concern. "You too, Sweetheart." As they approached the Ravenclaw table, James's and Guillermo's parents greeted Regulus warmly. Both were well into their meals and quite enjoying them. Hydra was glad the Daddies had switched places, because if anyone complimented the food that Kreacher definitely considered inferior, there would surely be drama.

Chapter Text

Chapter 16, The Dangers Of Power

Hydra remained quiet and introspective for the rest of the night which passed pleasantly enough. No one asked her what had happened the next day at breakfast, though they all kept giving her curious glances, especially Loughness. Well all except James, for he'd seen it all play out. He didn't treat her any differently, though, which was appreciated. Not that she knew how she expected him to treat her. She hadn't said anything too far out of line considering the situation, even if she was incorrect about what she'd said.

Unlike her vampiric fathers, she was no mind-reader, so only had their actions to go on when interpreting situations. As she ate breakfast at the Ravenclaw table with James and Guillermo, she found herself wondering what Daddy Kreacher had told Daddy Regulus about last night. If he'd told him everything, did she care? Was he hurt? Of course she cared if he was hurt, but did they care when the sorts of things like what they pulled last night hurt her? The entire situation still made her emotionally uncomfortable with a vague underlying feeling of distress that stuck with Hydra throughout the entire day. She felt Guillermo giving her curious looks at lunch, then Sortia and Loughness doing the same during classes, but both were wise enough not to ask, surely knowing that she couldn't get into it until their group could go somewhere private where there would be no chance of anyone else overhearing.

Of course this wasn't to be until after classes were over for the day. As soon as this was the case, Hydra, Loughness, James and Sortia met Guillermo outside of his final class, which was annoyingly Transfiguration. Annoyingly because now Hydra associated the act with Kreacher Transfiguring himself into Echidna. "Let's go to the lake," she said. "Cool, but I need to stop off and grab some snacks from the kitchen first," James said. "I'm hungry. And also I asked the elves to make us some comfort food. I promised them that I'd grab it when classes were over." Comfort food. James was touchingly understanding, but Hydra had no real appetite.

When she was still vaguely upset her stomach wasn't very interested in much. She kept this to herself, though, as the rest should get to enjoy their after school snacks and James was always hungry! She was content to listen to everyone else's chatter as they walked to the kitchens. Everyone else stood in a group in the Dining Hall while James went into the kitchen for the snacks. Soon James emerged with a basket of snacks, and then they were off to the lake. "I'm hungry," Guillermo said.

"It's been a long day of wondering what's up with Hydra and I really need to stress eat." Hydra's lips tugged into a slight smile in spite of the frustrating situation. When they reached the lake, the five settled onto the grass and James promptly opened the basket and began to pass out cloth napkins. "For spreading out over the lap like a plate. It's just sandwiches and such," he explained. Once the napkins were passed out, he placed the large wicker basket in easy reach of everyone. "Just help yourselves, cause I don't know what everyone wants... or really what's inside for that matter other than things that are easy to eat with the hands and sandwiches." Glancing down into the basket, Hydra saw a row of five bottles of butter beer. That was a sweet touch. Smiling she took one and passed the other four out to everyone else. "I wonder if the elves are free and paid and all that. It's so weird eating what they make and not knowing," she murmured.

"Would you stop eating if they were slaves," Guillermo asked and she scowled.

"No. If I stopped eating, I would starve. Hello."

"Untrue. You could go home and eat the cooking of your free elves then come back. You and Loughness could always Apparate in and out of here with your half-elf bad selves," Guillermo countered.

"I suppose I could, but then people would notice, which would draw unwanted attention to me, which would ruin the lie that I'm only a very short full blooded human, which would upset the Daddies, which would get me in trouble," she said glumly. Glumly, because the very statement, and the very conversation for that matter, too closely reflected the topic of displeasure from last night.

"Good points, I guess," Guillermo said. "So you'd just be stuck eating their food and not being able to free them."

Hydra nodded. "Speaking of," James said astutely, "Hydra, are you okay? I don't even know what to think. I mean I guess we're talking about it, right," he asked hastily.

Hydra chuckled weakly, because it would be a bit late now if they weren't, but James knew she'd share the situation with her other friends and her own brother, so it was all good. "Yeah, of course. And I guess I'm okay, though I still feel weird about the entire thing."

"For what it's worth, I never got the impression that Kreacher minded being gay or anything," James told her. "He always seemed very proud of being with Regulus and the life they have built together with you and Loughness. Just you know, for what it's worth that's my impression if that helps or anything."

"Excuse me, what," Sortia asked. "Kreacher seems great with everything he does." She chuckled. "One must admire that."

"Anyone else confused," Guillermo wondered in-between bites from a large sandwich that he held in both hands.

James reached into the basket, withdrawing a sandwich, then another. "That'll do for a start," He murmured half to himself.

Glancing over at Loughness Hydra asked, "How'd you like seeing MUMMY last night. I expected Kreacher myself." Her voice came out flat, and she realized she still wasn't over the shock of that. Having to express something externally showed her what she wasn't certain about when simply mulling it over internally in her own mind.

Loughness glanced up from his napkin which now held a sandwich and two pumpkin scones. Raising his brows slightly, he shrugged. "I was surprised at first, but I suppose it wasn't really that surprising considering who they are. I mean they're always being weird."

"So you didn't mind," Hydra asked, incredulous

"No," Loughness said.

"You didn't at all feel it was a slap in the face to who you are?"

"No," Loughness said again. "Nothing changed. They already want us hiding it, so they simply facilitated the thing they decided years ago." He grinned over at her. "You're over analyzing it. Stop Ravenclawing so much."

Hydra sighed. "I sort of went off on Daddy Kreacher last night and said some horrible things that may or may not be true."

"I don't think they're true for the record, and he hit her," James said, eyes widening slightly at the memory.

Loughness's jaw dropped. "Wo! They're usually hitting me over something, not Miss Perfect. Glad it isn't me for a change."

"Not a spanking," Hydra corrected. "And you haven't been spanked in years. He slapped me. I was rather upset at the time and crying and saying that he wasn't alright being gay and I may have called Daddy Regulus a puppet."

Sortia made a sound of dismay. Guillermo choked on his sandwich. "My parents would've killed me, so you're lucky you're still breathing," he said around his full mouth of food.

"I want you to know that I don't think it's easy for you, what they're asking," James told Hydra. He lowered his first sandwich and gravely turned to face her. "Just because I don't think what you said about either of them is accurate, I don't feel your feelings are invalid. I get it. I get what everyone is saying."

"Also spoken like a true Ravenclaw," Loughness said, smiling over at James. "At least unlike Hi-De-Ho, your Ravenclawing is more convenient. Thanks."

"Always happy to please," James said dryly, chuckling.

"Don't call me that," Hydra snapped and Loughness grinned.

"Hey it distracted you, didn't it?" She hated being called Hi-De-Ho, but she called him Nessy, and he hated that equally so it was an annoying sibling thing between them.

"So now what," Guillermo asked.

"I don't know," Hydra said. "I mean I still don't know how to feel. You are saying what you are saying," she said, nodding at James, and I appreciate it. Loughness doesn't mind for his reasons, which I also appreciate, but I need to sort myself out. I wonder what Daddy Kreacher told Daddy Regulus. I wonder if I'm in trouble, and what I should say. Should I apologize or explain or..." She tossed her hands into the air.

"I'd do nothing until you sort out how you really feel," Sortia suggested. "I often envy you and Loughness your awesome powers, but I can see how being half is hard too, and I'm sorry. It's a dratted double edged sword, isn't it?"

Hydra gave her friend a smile. "I love you, Sortia, and yes it most definitely is."

"I'd never trade it for anything, though," Loughness said, puffing himself up. "I love myself. I'm perfect."

"I agree," Hydra said. "That I'd not change it and that I prefer myself as I am, not that you're perfect," she hastened to clarify. "I appreciate human magic and of course the enhanced power and abilities of elf magic, and I'd not trade either for the world. I don't mean to be a whiny prat if it is coming off like that," she concluded apologetically.

Glancing at the basket she realized that perhaps only picking at her breakfast and lunch had made her hungry. Getting it out and hearing the perspectives of others had eased the knot in her stomach. She reached for a pumpkin scone and took a hungry bite. "James, you are amazing," she praised after chewing and swallowing. "How do you just know what people need? It's amazing."

James grinned, clearly pleased. "Well Dude! If it's about food and the joy and comfort it can bring, I got you covered!" After that, the conversation lightened and returned to normal topics. By the time the five friends headed back into the school as the sun set, Hydra was feeling better. That was until she saw Daddy Regulus standing on the path leading back up to Hogwarts Castle. His expression was grave and a bit sad. Hell. Hydra didn't know how to feel. She gave her brother a panicked look and he stepped up to her side. "I'll stay with you," he said. Hydra smiled at him as a surge of relief washed over her. It was kind of Loughness not to make her face her mess alone.

"Should we stay as well," James asked.

Hydra shook her head. "I want to say yes, because he likes all of you very much, but I suppose I should face the music. Using you lot as a buffer isn't right."

"You're sure," Guillermo asked and when she nodded the three walked into the castle, greeting Regulus as they passed him. Hydra and Loughness stopped walking, waiting for Regulus to approach. He did so slowly, smiling at them in greeting. That smile eased Hydra's tightening stomach a bit. Perhaps he wasn't angry then.

"Hi, Daddy," Loughness sang out.

"Hello, Baby-boy," Regulus greeted fondly, reaching out to tousle Loughness's shoulder-length black locks. "I came to speak with Hydra, but feel free to stay if she doesn't mind."

"She doesn't," Loughness said, and Hydra nodded, biting at her lower lip in discomfort.

"Kreacher mentioned that you were upset so I looked into his head later because he wasn't very forthcoming," Regulus told Hydra quietly. "What you said about me, it may be true. You are a wise child, and I still have a lot of work to do. Some of it is perhaps what I psychologically learned from the taint of that lake and the exposure to the Horcrux, but it is still harmful and my guilt is something that I still struggle against all too frequently."

As he spoke, his slender shoulders slumped slightly as if bowed under a weight. His blue gaze dropped to the black wing-tip shoes he wore before raising to meet hers with seeming difficulty. "What you said about Kreacher, though, it isn't true. He is the strongest person I shall ever know. He struggled against the elf curse just to be with me when he and I were first together. Allowing himself to desire me went against every instinct that that curse laid on him.

He felt he had no right to his own pleasures or his feelings of possessiveness toward me and he had to fight that. He did fight for me, so please never again say that he is not alright with who he is. That wasn't what last night was about at all." Daddy Regulus spoke in quiet even tones without raising his voice, but Hydra still felt like quite the heel. Before she could speak, he continued. "I do understand your perspective, and I hate that who you truly are must be kept secret. I hate that it bothers you so much, because I never like to see my babies hurting."

"I'm good," Loughness assured and Regulus chuckled.

"And I am glad. You are a rock, Loughness."

Grinning, Loughness flexed his muscles. "I know, right?"

Regulus chuckled again before returning a more somber gaze to Hydra. "It is only for now, though. I wish it was safe for you to be yourselves. You are both so wonderful and Kreacher and I are so very proud of you. He believes you could be at risk from some who would hate you for not only being a half-breed, but being conceived with such vast amounts of magic around you to allow it to happen. They would consider you an unnatural threat, Kreacher is certain. While I never felt so myself, I can't know that he is wrong, and it isn't worth the risk of your safety to find out, period."

"I know," Hydra said, suddenly feeling deflated and oddly empty inside. "I'm sorry about what I said, Daddy." Her chin trembled and she forcefully swallowed back tears.

"I know you are, Baby," Regulus said, reaching to draw her into an embrace.

"And you don't give yourself enough credit," Hydra told him. "You're strong too. You went through so much, yet you survived it and you're still here. You got the grandparents back and you are a wonderful father. Daddy Kreacher loves you very much, so you know you're special, because he doesn't like most people."

Regulus smiled. "Once again you are wise, and I appreciate your words. I need to be reminded of the obvious sometimes," he admitted softly. "I suppose I had better let the two of you go in to dinner, but please write us soon." Releasing Hydra he moved to hug Loughness. Both promised to write before the week was out. As they walked into the castle together, Hydra turned to look for Daddy Regulus, but he'd already Apparated away.

"It's all good now," Loughness said, dropping a reassuring hand onto her shoulder. She nodded, feeling a sudden sense of inner peace that said that he was right.

Chapter Text

Chapter 17, Growing Pains

That night, Hydra had the nightmare again. Thankfully she managed to wake without screaming down the entire Ravenclaw girl's dorm. She lay in bed, staring into the darkness with her heart pounding away in her chest. She struggled to ground herself, clinging to reality to escape the dream, but the feelings that came in its wake did not release their grip on her so easily. Losing her freedom was a horrifying concept. Being subject to another's will completely, even worse. The terror of being a slave, the utter helplessness of being compelled gripped her. To be a slave was the opposite of her privileged life.

Perhaps Daddy Kreacher had had it good, and some other elves did, but even if one had it good as a slave, they did not have the same life one had when they were free. As she lay in bed, struggling to feel like herself again, Hydra recalled the horror she'd felt when Daddy Regulus had answered her question of why he hadn't freed Daddy Kreacher sooner.

She'd asked this years ago when she was old enough to understand and to wonder, around the age of twelve. "I tried," he'd told her fervently. "I tried and he... well he had a melt down as they say these days. He was so distraught that I feared that it may kill him? You know, hurt his heart or something. The idea of losing him, or of even hurting him terrified me, so I stopped. I begged him to consider allowing me to free him, but he was certain that bad things would come of it if I did. He was certain, for some mad reason, that other wizards would dislike this and come to kill him. Likewise he was certain that I would be unable to protect him."

Granted Daddy Regulus had only been sixteen at that time, so Hydra understood that he was more limited. He was still in school at the time, and had no true power in the family as of yet. When everything had gone to hell, he wasn't there to free Daddy Kreacher. As soon as he returned, though, he'd attended to it, and enough had changed by then that Daddy Kreacher did not object. Hydra didn't claim to understand an elf's fear of freedom, but she knew that she would never understand the slave mentality.

How could she, after all? She supposed the Daddies had done the best they could with what they had. Turning over in bed, she pressed her face into the pillow and squeezed her eyes shut. The feeling of being enslaved in the dream likely felt different to those elves who, unlike her, were used to it. Perhaps they didn't hate it so much. Daddy Kreacher hadn't, after all. Not unless he was doing something he felt guilty about, that was. She suddenly remembered with a nearly jarring sharpness what Daddy Regulus had said about the struggles Daddy Kreacher went through just to be with him. She would have to ask Daddy Kreacher about that when she and Loughness got home for the summer. She wasn't sure why she so needed to understand this thing. Perhaps it was simply about facing her fear in hopes the blasted nightmare would go away for good.

She sighed as she turned over in bed once again. Focusing on her breath, she attempted to return to sleep, but it didn't work. In a way, she didn't mind. She didn't truly wish to return to sleep if it meant she could potentially have that dream again while it was still so fresh on her mind. She rose and dressed quietly when daylight finally began peaking around the edges of the window near her bed. She wasn't going to go back to sleep, so she may as well get up and do something productive.

Slipping quietly out of her dorm, then out of the Ravenclaw common room, she headed to the Owlery. She'd decided to write Daddy Kreacher an apology letter. Thankfully the Owlery had quills and parchment there, because it was still relatively dark in her dorm room, which would make writing more annoying. Half elves may be special, but they couldn't see in the dark. Neither could full elves for that matter... Unless, of course, they were vampires like Daddy Kreacher. Sending letters from the Owlery was safer than risking sending them from her dorm where someone may see her using elf magic.

The Daddies had taught her and Loughness a pigeon charm to send letters directly home. It didn't work for sending other places thus the name of pigeon charm, but it was based around elf magic so far easier for elves or in the case of the twins, half elves to perform than for regular wizards. Hydra didn't want others to see her casting this charm, so the Owlery provided a safe place for her to cast it, and no one would find it odd that she'd gone to the Owlery to send a letter.

Hydra had chosen a bad time to visit the Owlery, as those birds remaining appeared to be getting ready to bed down for the day. Owls being nocturnal sought their sleep during the daylight hours. Those who brought the mail at breakfast, turned in for the day as soon as the mail was delivered. The owls currently in the Owlery, however, had no letters to deliver, thus no reason not to bed down as the sun rose. Hydra glanced around in open appreciation at the various species of owls seated on their perches and preening their feathers in readiness for sleep.

Seating herself at the small rustic square wood table in the corner of the Owlery for letter writing, she chose a quill and fresh sheet of parchment from the stack in the center of the table. For a moment she just stared at the blank page, the quill hovering above it as she searched for what to say. I'm sorry seemed too easy; too basic. Well she'd just write what was in her heart and hope it sufficed, she thought, trying not to feel nervous.

Dear Daddy Kreacher,

I am sorry. Sorry for not understanding what you went through, and sorry for being difficult. I love you very much. Daddy Regulus tried to explain more to us of what it was like for you, and I think it helped. Perhaps your fears have given me a few of my own, and perhaps that isn't a bad thing, at least at present. I honestly hope that you are incorrect about any dangers we could be facing from wizards, even if they do disapprove of you and Daddy Regulus, but as I cannot know this as of yet, I will be careful.

Love always,

your daughter,

Hydra

With the letter completed, she gestured to it, casting the homing charm and watching as it vanished. It would end up in the mail tray at #12 Grimmauld Place, and one of the other four elves would make sure Daddy Kreacher received it. She could've cast a privacy charm on it, but Stormy, Piper, Ripper and Jazz were like family and they always knew what was happening anyway. When she rose from her chair and left the Owlery, her heart was lighter. Rather than returning to the Ravenclaw common room to read, she opted for the library instead. There were so many more books in the library, after all! She happily lost herself among the stacks until Loughness came to fetch her for breakfast.

"How'd you know where I was," she asked, reluctantly lowering the book she was reading on location spells.

Loughness flashed a grin. "You're my twin! I know you a bit. Now come on. It's time to eat," he concluded briskly.

She nodded, rising and sliding the book back onto the shelf. "Thanks." She walked at his side, not speaking again until they exited the library. She was always a stickler for keeping the quiet rule when in there so as not to disturb others. Even if no one else happened to be present other than the old librarian, it was still a good habit to keep. "I wrote Daddy Kreacher to apologize," she said.

Loughness nodded, giving her a grateful look. "Cool. That means there won't be any drama when we get home for summer break."

"Drama is the last thing I want," she agreed. "Though it's not why I apologized."

"I know," Loughness said. "It's still nice when it benefits me, though."

"You're one to complain about drama with the parents when you're usually the one causing it," Hydra told him pointedly.

"I know," Loughness agreed, laughing. "I'm enough."

Chapter Text

Chapter 18, A Snake In The Grass

The summer passed peacefully. Loughness and Hydra spent a lot of time at Severus's apartment at Durmstrang hanging out with Sortia, and as Wulfric was there a lot, they had a chance to see all their favorite people. Graven even came with Wulfric a few times, and though she was nice enough, she didn't say much. Sometimes, she and Wulfric could be strange. Hydra supposed it was an older kid thing but still.

It felt at times the two of them, or at least Graven, left Hydra, Loughness and Sortia out of things. Like the one time Graven made a comment about being too high to follow the conversation. When Hydra asked what that meant, the goblin girl glared and told her that she was too young to know. When Hydra persisted with the others joining in, She and Wulfric adamantly refused to explain what 'high' meant in such a context. Not to mention Graven promised to skin them alive if they asked any adults. With that in mind, Hydra, Loughness and even Sortia decided that they were no longer interested. Goblins had impressive power, and though Hydra and Loughness could hold their own against one, they saw no reason to disrupt their little friend circle over something that didn't affect them.

"I'm sure we shall find out in a few years or so as we get older anyway," Hydra commented to Loughness and Sortia later, after Wulfric and Graven had gone.

"I suppose," Sortia drawled, shrugging. "You don't think it means that she is ill, do you?"

Loughness shook his head. "She's too hot to be ill! She has that nice pink glow in her cheeks, and did you check out her wrack?"

Sortia and Hydra exchanged a glance before Sortia sighed. "No, we did not, Loughness."

"And we don't care to as we aren't interested in girls," Hydra clarified, as her twin obviously required a bit of clarification. on the matter.

When their next Hogwarts year began, Hydra had no way of knowing how horrifying it would be. During Headmistress McGonagall's welcome speech, she introduced a new student. The girl had odd silvery blonde hair with strange blue tints in it. She looked nearly Graven's age. Hydra kept staring at her odd hair, as she'd never seen anything like it before. The girl's presence was jarring in a way Hydra couldn't quite put her finger on. She did find herself recalling her dream, though, and that cold blonde haired woman who made her be a slave. Even recalling the dream now, in The Great Hall of Hogwarts surrounded by so many students, still made her stomach clinch in horror that she could never quite shake off.

Headmistress McGonagall announced that this girl, Delphini Dolohov, was a transfer student who had previously been home schooled. She wished to graduate from a proper school, however, so was taking her seventh year at Hogwarts. "To spare her being sorted with the children, I sorted her when she visited the school last week," McGonagall said. "She is to be in Slytherin! Slytherin house, give your newest addition a warm welcome."

The girl approached the Slytherin table to a hearty round of hoots and applause from all the boys... Or rather most of them. She smiled flirtatiously as she took her seat among the other seventh years. Hydra did not miss the fact that Loughness was staring at the new girl in flat disinterest though she was old enough for him to have found her figure attractive. He must have felt Hydra looking at him, for he turned to meet her gaze, arching questioning brows. He must have read her expression earlier, she thought. She shrugged, then slowly gave her head a small shake. The woman in her dream hadn't had silver or blue in her hair, and nor was she as young as this girl. When everyone in the Great Hall began to eat and talk, Hydra realized she'd just been staring at the girl throughout the Headmistress's usual speech.

"I notice you weren't made Prefect," Guillermo said conversationally. "I wonder why. I mean you're clearly one of Flitwick's favorites."

"Same reason you weren't last year I suppose," Hydra said with a shrug. "Prefecting is a social thing, and we aren't exactly the social butterfly sorts. Not to mention we hang with Slytherins of dubious behavior," she added, flicking an amused glance to Sortia and Loughness.

"Yeah but so does James, and he's a Prefect," Guillermo said, pointing at the Prefect badge on James's Ravenclaw robe.

Hydra sighed. "Do you want to be a Prefect, Guillermo?"

"Oh hell no!" Guillermo shook his head firmly. "All that extra work? I think not. Sure it'd give me extra time with girls, but they likely wouldn't be impressed with me if I had to give them detentions and such. My point is just that James also hangs with the same Slytherins."

"Yes, but unlike me, he couldn't help Sortia out when she wants to pay someone back," Hydra said. She referred to her elf magic that was far more difficult to trace. She and Loughness had used it for a few nasty yet deserved pranks on a few Gryffindor prats who'd come after Sortia in the past. Filius knew as much, so he was surely playing it safe with the handing out of power. Or perhaps he just knew that those who weren't interested in being Prefects, should not be Prefects. "James is good with people," she said and Guillermo nodded.

"Yep and now he'll be able to help us out of a jam if anything inconvenient ever happens."

"Just make sure it doesn't," James groaned, finally deciding to take part in the conversation about him. "Being a Prefect doesn't make me God or anything. I can only do so much."

Guillermo nodded sagely. "Not god, got it."

James laughed, jabbing Guillermo in the ribs with an elbow as he reached to snatch the plum pudding cup from Guillermo that they were given for dessert. "You're not eating that, so I will," he announced."I think I better take my payment in advance for whatever trouble you, Loughness and Sortia cause over the next two years."

"Wise of you," Hydra said with a chuckle.

"Hey, we don't get into much trouble," Guillermo said indignantly. "There was that one time Sortia hexed Potter and Malfoy and the time I was snogging that Hufflepuff girl in the Hufflepuff girl's bath, but otherwise we've been exceptional."

James groaned. "Yes, but that isn't exceptional."

Hydra burst into laughter, glad to enjoy the insanity of her friends and forget about the new girl with the odd hair who probably had not been the one in her recurring nightmare. Perhaps she should've worried more, though. A week before that school year ended, two girls were found dead, killed by the venom of a poisonous serpent. The girls were in Gryffindor, and it was the fat lady's portrait who reported Delphini Dolohov for the murders.

She saw the girl turning into a serpent. When she was captured by the combined efforts of four professors, she was still a serpent, and a giant one at that. She only resumed her form to fight, but she was restrained by Professor Flitwick until the Aurors came to take her in. All the students had been put on lock down in the Great Hall during the rapid search of Hogwarts grounds for Delphini. Hydra was surprised that it was all over in nearly an hour after the bodies were discovered. Other than being relieved that the murders hadn't been in her own house or in Slytherin, she didn't feel much about it. Likely she was numb with shock, she told herself.

"Why kill Gryffindors, though," Loughness said. "I mean in particular."

"Why not," Sortia drawled. Though she played it off, her face was tight with fear, and her sallow complexion even whiter than usual with shock.

"Maybe they are more yummy when bitten," Guillermo suggested and James choked.

"Why must you ruin the sacred concept of food," he demanded before shoving another spoonful of breakfast eggs into his mouth. Though they were all roused an hour earlier than usual when the bodies were discovered, the elves had breakfast out to everyone in under five minutes. James may be as rattled and shocked as the rest of them, but he had no trouble stress eating. Not for the first time, Hydra wondered where he put it as he was thin as a rail.

"The Daddies are going to melt down when they hear this," Loughness said. "They shall pull us out of school for sure."

"I'm fine with homeschooling," Sortia said. "All our parents shall have kittens, as they rightly should! This place is clearly unsafe... At least for Gryffindors, but who knows who's next? I never liked or trusted that girl."

"Me neither, but why, though," Loughness wondered.

"You going to eat that?" James asked, gesturing to Loughness's thus far untouched plate of breakfast.

Loughness frowned. "Eventually I will. Leave it alone." Turning to Sortia he proceeded to answer her question. "I just thought her eyes looked empty. And for some reason I could not explain, she wasn't shaggable. She was too weird, and don't ask me to explain, because I can't," he said flatly. "She just set my bloody teeth on edge. That's all. I thought it was about Hydra's dream, but when she said Delphini wasn't the blonde woman, I didn't know what my issue was really about."

"Same," Hydra said. "I didn't like thinking about it much. Probably because it was a thing that I could not explain and that made my little Ravenclaw brain hurt." She forced a chuckle, attempting for some reason to lighten the mood. Seeking normality was... normal in a situation like this, wasn't it? "I also didn't like thinking about it because thinking about it made me feel weird. On edge like Loughness said."

Suddenly Loughness straightened in his chair. "Ooh maybe she made our magic on edge... You know, our special magic. Maybe her being a Maledictus sets you know, our special magic on edge? Annoys it somehow," Loughness said. Clearly he meant the elf half of their power. Hydra nodded. That was a very good thought.

"I think it was because their blood wasn't pure," Guillermo said suddenly. Sortia, James and Hydra gaped at him, silently trying to sort out whatever he was getting at.

"Who? What," Loughness asked, clearly as confused as everyone else.

"The murdered girls. I think both were Muggle-born," Guillermo said.

Hydra groaned. "Are we going to start this Voldemort shit again?" Hell Grindelwald never killed people for that. Even Dark wizards who believed Pure-bloods were superior didn't all need to kill lesser wizards and witches. Just Voldemort!"

Sortia made a face. "My parents say that some freaks actually still idolize him like some weird cult mentality thing. They're all mental."

"Why the hell are people trying to follow him even long after he's dead," Hydra exploded. "This is going to ruin all the work I did preparing for my owls! I just know it will. If Loughness is right and we're going home, how am I to take my OWLS!?"

"I can't believe I never had a vision about her," Guillermo complained glumly. "Some seer I am."

"Don't be hard on yourself, Bro," Loughness said sympathetically. "Her weird Maledictus magic likely disrupted your seer gift just as it did my and Hydra's you know, special type of magic."

Guillermo sighed. "Yeah, I guess so. That's so weird, though. And I still think any seer worth his salt would've had some sort of warning flash about her."

Loughness grinned. "You did, though. You didn't want to shag her anymore than I did. We'll always know now that when we don't want to shag a relatively pretty girl, it's because there is something seriously wrong with her."

Sortia and Hydra exchanged a long suffering look as they both sighed. "Am I the only one who cares about OWLS," Hydra demanded.

(Dear Reader)

This bit is a precursor to Cursed Child and we are of course going beyond that time period in this novel as most of this novel takes place after Bad romance (cursed Child part 2.) Though it may appear that we've changed Canon Delphini, we haven't. We've only expanded it.

If you haven't already, check out our story Bad Romance, mentioned above for reference. Even if you don't wish to read the part 2 to Cursed Child, going up to chapter twelve will clear up anything that may not seem canon. Chapter twelve explains a lot but you'll need the chapters before it for it to read clearly. Delphini is one scary construction.

Hydra and co are in Bad Romance as well, but you don't need it to follow this story. Though you really should read it, because it rules!)

Chapter Text

Chapter 19, From Bad To Cursed

The Daddies did make an appearance as expected less than an hour after sunset. Severus and Mag even came along with them. This was a true demonstration of the severity of the situation, considering the fact that Severus was supposed to be dead. Rather than visiting the school through ordinary channels via first announcing their presence to the Headmistress, Kreacher merely apparated everyone into Hogwarts. Then, he and Regulus used their vampiric mind-reading ability to locate the children who happened to be in the library.

Guillermo had scored a pass to the restricted section from a distracted Flitwick, so they were all attempting to self soothe with books. To her annoyance, Hydra's mind wouldn't allow her to focus on the tome of ancient magic she was attempting to read. It kept anxiously fretting over how she would be able to take her OWLS, and why Delphini had done what she'd done. When the door to the library opened, they all pensively looked in that direction, half rising from their seats. The fact that Hydra, Loughness, Guillermo, James and Sortia all had the exact same reaction showed how on edge they were. When Regulus, Kreacher, Mag and Severus came into view around the nearest shelf of books, all the teenagers fell back into their chairs with sighs of relief.

"Are you alright," Severus asked, rushing to crush Sortia in a tight hug.

"I was," Sortia wheezed. "Just now, though, I'm having a bit of trouble breathing. Daddy!" She lifted her hands, attempting to push at his shoulders.

"Sorry," Severus said, but didn't let her go. "That monster was in your house, Baby. She could've hurt you."

"Why," Sortia demanded flatly. "I never spoke to her."

"Me neither," Loughness, who was being squeezed by Regulus, added cheerfully. "I'm fine, Daddy," he added. "See how great I look? Not even a hair out of place."

Kreacher grasped Hydra's shoulders, looking hard into her eyes, clearly checking to see if she was also fine. She opened her mouth to ask about her OWLS, but he quickly embraced her so she sighed and simply hugged him back. Only then did she truly realize how unsafe she'd felt all day. With her father's arms around her, she felt as if nothing could harm her. Sighing she dropped her head onto Kreacher's shoulder and tightened her arms around him for several long seconds.

"She's claiming to be Voldemort's daughter," Mag informed after giving James and Guillermo a quick once-over. "I promised both of your parents to look in on you, so if there is anything you need, let us know," she added distractedly.

"She's who," Guillermo squawked. His eyes were wide with shock, and James, seated at his side looked equally stunned. For his part, Loughness looked skeptical. Sortia appeared unimpressed as per usual, and Hydra was supremely annoyed by the entire involvement of Voldemort in this madness. She was tired of Voldemort, and he'd been long dead before she was even bloody born!

"So Delphini never mentioned that to anyone," Regulus asked. He'd released Loughness and now stood at Kreacher's side, a worried expression on his youthful face.

"None of us ever dealt with her, or even spoke to her," Hydra replied.

"Odd that, but it's true. I don't know why, but though she wasn't frightening or anything, none of us had the desire to go anywhere near her. It's difficult to explain," James said thoughtfully. Everyone else nodded in silent agreement.

"But you never heard it passed around as a rumor either," Mag asked. "The bit about her being Voldemort's daughter? She never bragged or anything?" Sortia shook her head as Severus reluctantly released her.

"She never attempted to approach any of you," Regulus pressed. As he spoke, his blue gaze traveled piercingly around to each young face. When everyone shook their heads, he let out a sigh of relief. "It's a concern because enough of your families had negative dealings with Voldemort. Whether or not he is truly her father, if she believes he is, and knows anything of his history, she could very well have it out for anyone who she believes crossed him."

"Never mind that he crossed all of them first," Kreacher muttered darkly, slipping a hand into Regulus's. When Regulus's gaze dropped to him, more emotion shown there than Hydra generally saw from him in a week. When he looked at Daddy Kreacher it was as if his very soul rose up to fill his eyes as they looked into Kreacher's own. Hydra didn't know how to feel about that much feeling. It was beautiful and uncomfortable and... perhaps a little dangerous.

"I told you it's a weird Voldemort cult thing," Sortia reminded her friends darkly. "Wasn't I just saying that earlier?"

"You were saying that earlier," James agreed sagely. Turning to the adults, he asked, "What's being done about her, then?"

"She's secured in Azkaban," Severus said. "Personally I don't believe she's Voldemort's child. He was anything and everything but sexual. Not to mention he wasn't the sort to want a child. He didn't like sharing. If he had a child, he'd be the type to eat it directly."

Kreacher snickered appreciatively. "The Ministry is having to look into it, though," Mag said. "They can't afford to ignore such claims without an investigation."

"So with her locked away, does that mean that I can take my OWLS in peace," Hydra asked eagerly.

"Yes, but Kreacher and I are popping in nightly to check into the minds of anyone and everyone we please just to make sure no one is keeping her secrets," Regulus said. "We will be certain that you are all safe here." She mentioned that there are more Maledictus women, but none of them are here. It is being looked into though it may have nothing to do with any of us if they aren't at the school."

"How could she be Voldemort's daughter, though," Hydra asked. "He wasn't a Maledictus. He could just talk to snakes, right?"

Severus nodded. "Correct. If she is not his daughter, she could believe she is or wish to be because of the serpent connection in general. One can only speculate at this point though," he reminded.

"We will, of course keep the children informed as we receive news from Kereston," Kreacher promised.

Guillermo sighed, slumping back into his chair. "Man, but it's been a long day!"

"And OWLS haven't even begun yet," Hydra said. Everyone exchanged a glance, and for some reason, there were lots of rolled eyes.

"What does it mean that there are other Maledictus women," James asked, a worried frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Are they going to keep biting people and killing them?"

"Let us hope not," Mag shuddered. "Delphini seemed to refer to them as some tribe. A culture if you will. Perhaps living on an island. We only got a vague report earlier, and we will keep you updated as we learn more. For now, that bit seems to have nothing to do with us."

"Well that's a relief," James said. "We certainly wouldn't want it to get in the way of Hydra's OWLS."

"We all have Owls," Hydra pointed out. "Well all of us save for Guillermo." Being a year older, Guillermo had taken his OWLS last year. He'd hardly even studied for them which had horrified Hydra.

"Oh no," Loughness assured firmly. "They are *Your* OWLS! You care about them enough for everyone."

As it happened, Hydra scored perfectly on all of her OWLS which meant she was literally floating on cloud nine when term finally ended and they got to go home. Her bubble was burst quickly, though, upon arriving at #12 Grimmauld Place, because Kereston had news. Delphini did appear to be Voldemort's daughter due to the fact that she had enough power to escape from Azkaban!

"We shall be taking over soon, and when we do, we shall be handling it far better than this sorry excuse for a Ministry," Kereston ranted. The small blonde paced up and down the length of the troll skin rug as they all sat in the library. The rug stretched out along the length of the now cold hearth. Idly Hydra wondered if Kereston would pace a groove in it, as she showed no signs of stopping or even slowing her angry strides.

"Voldemort always had impressive powers," Regulus murmured. As he spoke, he stared distractedly past Kereston into the cold space where a fire would burn in the winter. "Everyone was so impressed with his strength, but I wonder if it came from splitting his soul. Such a dreadful act brings weakness to a person's spirit and mind, but perhaps it affords power in other areas." He shuddered. "This girl, though, We have no idea where she gets her powers."

"We'll have elves, goblins, wizards and Acromantulas to help bring her down, though, so hopefully it won't matter," Kereston said grimly.

"That's the spirit, Girl." Walburga Black spoke from where she hovered behind Hydra's chair. "You're going to need it." In spite of the grim words, Hydra found comfort in her grandmother's presence.

Chapter Text

Chapter 20, Mad About You!

Hydra Black had grown up never interested in romance. As a child, she frequently promised her daddies, to their unabashed joy, that she would forever remain single. Loughness's girl obsession combined with the obsessive relationship of her parents that often left them too busy with one another for their own children at times made Hydra disinterested in what she felt lust or romantic love did to a person's mental makeup. When all that changed it was with a suddenness that shook her to the core. As it turned out, that old adage about love striking when you weren't looking was absolutely, one hundred percent true!

She and Loughness were home for the summer for nearly a month when IT happened. They kept themselves busy reading and helping the grandparents to de clutter the attic. Ghosts could only manage so much decluttering when they couldn't really move objects. Though the Stripper Potion was loosed into the water system, things did not change over night. Until things settled, the daddies insisted the entire family lay low and keep out of sight. They did not wish any of them to be associated with any sudden unwanted changes. With the entire family shut away in #12 Grimmauld Place, no one could know that they hadn't been sick with the magical plague just like most everyone else, after all.

As a result, they had to depend on Kereston for reports on how things were progressing. She caught them up nightly when she came home from work at the Ministry. She didn't take over as Minister right away lest things appear too planned. Instead, those who stood with her and Griphook had to wait about and scramble to keep each department running while dozens of both high and low ranking Ministry employees missed work due to a strange and frightening malady that felt like the flu and stripped one of their magic.

Everyone hoped this was temporary as the healers at St. Mungos could find no direct cause, thus no direct solution. Then those healers fell sick as well. Some may have found it difficult not to feel sympathy for the panic rocking British wizarding society, but Hydra knew well that most of those people would not feel sympathy for enslaved elves or suppressed goblins. Those who did would eventually regain their magic, so no harm was truly done. After a few days of a flagging Ministry due to it hardly having any workers, Kereston was elected Minister by everyone remaining healthy and magical.

This was of course arranged in advance with a few other people also putting themselves forward and Kereston winning the vote. She moved quickly to put her new team into place once elected. The newly appointed Head Auror was Guillermo's older brother Romeo. He moved from Spain to take the job, and Guillermo was thrilled to be seeing more of his brother on a regular basis.

Gellert was now Kereston's chief adviser, which had him basically on call as needed, so free to remain at his shop most of the time. Any trust-worthy Aurors who remained from the old guard as it were, worked alongside the new goblin, elf and Acromantula Aurors that Kereston brought on. As she was quoted as saying in the Daily Prophet, "We need all the willing magical help we can get right now,and this presents a wonderful opportunity for various magical races to work together to survive this crisis."

The human Aurors trained the new goblins, elves and spiders, and from what Kereston said, they were integrating wonderfully. That was indeed heartening news. It meant that this may all actually work out. It meant that a better stronger wizarding society was in reach, and without having to bother going up against the Muggles as Grindelwald or even Voldemort had thought to do for reasons. Hydra even believed that, in time, magical folk could even roam the world freely without having to hide from Muggles. Not by coming out to them as it were, but by developing better masking charms so that the Muggles simply saw and noticed what they expected to and nothing more.

Perhaps this could be a project for her once she graduated. Being a part of changing the magical world for the better was an exciting prospect, after all. If all magical folk could move freely among Muggles, Muggles would no longer be a threat, thus no longer an issue. Though the concept was an exciting one, Hydra knew that the world needed to adjust to the new current change before reaching for more. This wouldn't stop her from exploring the options academically of how to bring such a thing into being, though. Excited by the concept of combining elf and human magics to craft ways to cast spells around Muggles that they would never notice, Hydra eagerly shared her thoughts with Loughness and the grandparents.

For the past week, the four had spent many long hours in the attic, decluttering and rearranging. Loughness and Hydra decluttered and rearranged while Walburga and Orion gave them instructions between long, rather amusing bouts of ghostly bickering. The bickering ranged from whose stupid idea it had been to keep this or buy that to whose great aunt it had once belonged. The grandparents bickered about the silliest things, but they both seemed to enjoy it and Hydra and Loughness always found it amusing.

When the twins settled onto a few dusty antique chairs for a rest as evening fell, Hydra shared her thoughts on working with others to devise masking spells and charms that could free magic users from the fear of Muggles without needing to rule over said Muggles to do so. "Because Kereston is right," she concluded her explanation. "There are far too many Muggles and their tech is disturbing. They can do a lot of damage with their... nuclear weapons, I believe it is called. We can't allow them to ruin the world, and trust me, they are stupid enough not to mind doing so in the slightest."

Everyone was silent for several seconds as each processed what she'd said. "Sounds wise," Loughness said at last. "I'm down to help you. We can work with Wolfy and Graven too. I bet her goblin magic would be useful. And we can bring Gornuk in too."

Hydra nodded, certain that Griphook's nephew would help if for no other reason than Muggle resentment. "You are such a brilliant child. Wiser than most," Walburga said warmly and Orion nodded.

"Indeed so," he agreed. "There is no need for Dark Lords to save us from the Muggles if we simply apply ourselves."

"Yeah, but I'm still gonna be a Dark Lord some day anyway," Loughness insisted. "Just because I can."

Orion chuckled. "That's fine."

"Let's finish up that corner where all the worst furniture is piled, and we'll be finished," Walburga said.

Bored with the attic for the time being, Hydra jumped eagerly to her feet. The faster they got this done, the faster they could go downstairs. She wanted to start making notes. She was already having thoughts on some spell combinations that would do well to mask visual signs of apparating. That was one of the things one could never risk around Muggles.

If they sorted how to do that, wizards would have far more freedom, and consequently, less resentment. For the next hour or so, Hydra and Loughness lifted piled furniture with feather charms, cleaned what the grandparents wanted to keep and carefully incinerated anything that Walburga or Orion felt had to go.

Incinerating unwanted furniture and other bits meant there was no trash for Stormy and co to have to deal with, after all. As they worked, Hydra's mind was on her future plans for hiding magic from Muggles so that wizards could still practice freely. Feeling inspired was exciting. It made her realize that she hadn't felt nearly so inspired in quite some time. Not since that project she'd done last year for extra credit on wand cores that involved the use of vampire fangs. Of course actually getting a vampire fang for a wand core was such a difficult prospect that her enthusiasm had quickly dampened, but the research on Dark wand cores that led to the intriguing properties of vampire fangs had been quite fascinating. As Hydra, Loughness and the grandparents approached the parlor, Hydra was eager to share her thoughts on how to get round the Muggles for the improvement of wizarding society with her parents.

"Okay, we're finished with the attic," she called out as she rushed into the room. Her parents weren't alone. Kereston's pet Acromantula, Reynaldo, was there, which was nothing new, but the goblin and elf were definitely knew. This didn't mean that Hydra did not recognize them, however. "Hi, new people," she added brightly.

Some weeks back, Daddy Regulus's maker, Dora, had agreed to turn a goblin and an elf into vampires for reasons. Her blood was stronger than that of Daddy Regulus or Daddy Kreacher because she was several thousand years older than both, so she was the clear choice for such an undertaking. Both goblins and elves were stronger magic users than any humans. Having at least one of each also possessing the mind reading, speed and strength of vampires could serve to protect this new wizarding society in many unique ways.

Such vampires could move fast to stop opposition as well as literally seeing it in the minds of detractors before anything came of it if they were vigilant. Of course they couldn't be everywhere all the time, but there were a few main key places that were important, and all of those places, The Ministry, Hogsmeade and the Alleys were small enough to be easily swept by patrolling vampires on the hunt for anyone causing trouble. As it happened, when Griphook asked the goblins as well as those free elves standing with the cause if any wanted to become a vampire for The Greater Good, only one of each was willing. Hydra hadn't given that news much thought after the Daddies had shared it, but now both the goblin and the elf sat in her parlor.

The goblin wore a slightly rumpled suit and the elf wore a tunic crusted in drying blood. That blood encrusted tunic was what clued Hydra into the fact that these two were *THE* goblin and elf vampires. The elf looked... tough. She'd never seen an elf who looked particularly tough. She supposed to those who did not know or love him, Daddy Kreacher may seem scary as hell, but this elf... This elf looked tough. His right eye drooped some and a scar ran across it. He held himself like a fighter who never fully relaxed.

For some reason the goblin found Hydra's greeting amusing, for he laughed. "That is precisely what the spider said," he observed.

"Hm," Hydra said thoughtfully. "Well, we do hang out a lot." True enough. They'd grown up riding on the Acromantula's back like he was a horse. Reynaldo was a beloved family friend, having come to live at #12 Grimmauld when Kereston did. Back then he was just a baby and Hydra and Loughness weren't even born.

"We got rid of a ton of things," Loughness informed. His hands were busy wiping attic dust from his shoulder-length black hair and clothes as he entered the room. He behaved casually, quite as if the most fascinating elf in the world wasn't sitting, covered in blood in their library.

"Hydra and Loughness, this is Greok and Ballan," Daddy Kreacher introduced. "Greok and Ballan, these are our twins." Greok was the goblin so Ballan was the tough looking fascinating intriguing elf, Hydra silently noted.

"But how did two blokes," Greok asked, speaking as best he could around his own mouth that hung open in astonishment at sight of the twins who clearly looked very much like Regulus and very much like Kreacher. Kreacher proudly explained the process while Hydra openly stared at Ballan.

As she stared, she found her tongue darting across dry lips. He was... he was unlike anything she'd ever seen before. Loughness was talking, and the Grandparents, but she didn't take any of it in. He was so... so beautiful. And he didn't even notice her. She attempted to catch his eye once and when he continued to look at Daddy Regulus who happened to be speaking at that moment, Hydra gave up. She felt her cheeks flushing, and hastily dropped her gaze to the thick mossy green carpet at her feet. She was unable to keep her gaze there for long, though. Ballan's intriguing form was just too tempting, and soon she was devouring him with her eyes once again.

Chapter Text

Heirs of House Black,

Chapter 21, So, What Had Happened Was...

Hydra found herself utterly tongue tied for the rest of Ballan and Greok's visit. It didn't really matter, though, because never had she felt so alive. Just looking at Ballan electrified her. She hadn't given thought to dating or love. Honestly she had not. As such, she likewise had never considered a preference for humans, elves or goblins. She supposed love was like that. It had been with her parents. You just loved who you loved no matter their race, or in the case of the daddies, their gender.

Loughness had complimented goblin girls as much as human ones, though he'd never mentioned elf girls for some reason. In his defense, they hadn't seen many. Only Mira, the servant of Mag's family, but while not old, Mira was certainly not of their generation thus not interesting for Loughness. She was like one of the parents.

Technically, Kereston should've been as well, but having that link to Daddy Kreacher which kept her from aging made her look eternally eighteen, as that was the age she was when the link was formed between vampire and witch. Even though she was twenty years older than Loughness, he considered her young, and Hydra supposed there was nothing wrong with that logic.

All these thoughts and more raced through her mind as she studied Ballan while everyone else chatted. Chatted about what, she had no idea. She didn't really care either. If any of it was important, Loughness would fill her in later. When Ballan and Greok left, they bid a general farewell to the room at large. At least Greok did, and Ballan silently nodded in agreement. He still didn't really seem to notice her, Hydra thought despondently. She would have to do something about that. When Daddy Kreacher showed them out, she noticed that Ballan's right leg dragged slightly as he walked, giving him a pronounced limp. His right eye drooped and his right leg dragged, creating a symmetry that clearly indicated some trauma having been done to the right side of his body. Though she was curious, Hydra didn't feel it detracted from his hotness one bit. In spite of the limp he moved like someone dangerous. Like a living weapon.

She waited until Daddy Kreacher returned from showing their guests out before turning in open frustration to her parents. "How do I get him to notice me?" She practically shouted the desperate words in her exasperation.

"Who," Loughness asked before either of the daddies could answer.

"Ballan, of course," Kreacher replied with a knowing smirk. As he spoke, he slid a brief glance to Daddy Regulus, who likewise did not appear to be in the least surprised by Hydra's words. The two sat together hand in hand on the love seat, looking far too smug about her revelation. So they'd noticed, she thought. Ballan had not, though. Neither had Loughness, but he was not relevant to this.

"What," Loughness demanded. "Why? He's ugly and hardly spoke." He gave Hydra a look of bafflement that she returned with a glare.

"He is not ugly! He looks tough. You can tell he's been through things, and he came out of them, Loughness! What the hell have you been through?"

Loughness sighed and rolled his eyes. "Stuff like this right here," he said in a long suffering tone.

"He has a German accent, and he speaks in first person. That's interesting," Hydra said, directing that observation to her parents.

Regulus nodded. "Indeed. Perhaps the first person human way of speaking comes from the language difference and how he learned English. Indeed Ballan is from Germany."

"I thought they had Kobolds, though," Hydra said.

Regulus nodded. "That's right. But Ballan's former Mistress's family was British. His parents were born here, but he was born in Germany when the family moved. He had a hard life full of a great deal of abuse." As he spoke that last bit, Regulus's youthful face shadowed with a grim sympathy that said more than words just how hard Ballan had had it.

"So his eye and the reason he limps was... that," Hydra asked and he nodded.

"Wolfgang and Millicent bought him from a dreadful master, and then freed him. I don't know much more than that, but it's left him not seeing much good in people. He seems to like us, though, and I know he shall love you when you are ready for him to."

Hydra's jaw dropped. She'd expected more strenuous objections from her parents considering the fact they were always pleased to say the least that she had no interest in dating. "You approve?" She couldn't help but ask unnecessarily.

Regulus exchanged a look with Kreacher and chuckled. "At least he is worthy. I know... we know he will always keep you safe, and you shall be good for him."

"But he doesn't even notice me," Hydra groaned.

"Put him in a web," Reynaldo giggled. Hydra had nearly forgotten the spider was there. He'd been so quiet after Greok and Ballan had departed.

"Yeah, that would do it," she said, grinning fondly over at the horse sized spider. He was curled in a tight giant ball on the troll skin rug near the fire. "You've been quiet," she observed. "Are you feeling alright?" He was usually chatty enough unless he was reading, and currently he held no book.

"Not emotionally," Reynaldo replied in his low raspy voice. "I'm upset about the concept of having to go to work with Kereston."

"Is she making you do that now," Hydra asked, surprised. Kereston may have bought the Acromantula as a pet just after graduating Hogwarts, but when he grew up, she never challenged the fact that he had a will of his own.

"No, but I'll do it anyway," Reynaldo said glumly. "She should have a body guard. I just hope I don't have to kill anyone. Ballan and Greok gave me ideas on how to avoid that and still protect Kereston, though, so I'm feeling a bit better. I approve of you dating Ballan, by the way. I like him, even if he doesn't hate cats."

Hydra chuckled, wondering if she dared to ask about that one. Before she could decide, Kereston entered looking tired and drained. "She attacked Gringotts today," she said with a sigh, flopping into the nearest chair.

"Delphini," Hydra asked. At the thought of that creepy girl, her stomach dropped along with her mood. Why couldn't the Ministry just catch her so she would no longer be an issue? Both daddies stared in open concern at Kereston and even Loughness looked alarmed. For his part, Reynaldo just gave a resigned sigh and stayed where he was.

Kereston nodded tiredly. "Yep. She had..." She let out a breath, shaking her head. "It's such a mind melt, it's difficult to even talk about! She had a group of people with her, her followers I guess. But that's not the issue."

"Were you there," Loughness demanded. "Are you alright?" Now rather than laughing at the caring concerned way that Loughness's eyes drank Kereston in, Hydra found herself wondering if Ballan would look at her like that some day. For now, though, like Ballan, Kereston didn't seem to notice. She gave Loughness a quick strained smile that did not reach her tired blue-gray eyes.

"Oh no I wasn't there, and I'm fine," she assured quickly. "I heard it from Romeo and Gellert when it was all over. They returned to the Ministry to report." She glanced to Kreacher and Regulus, giving a shudder. "Gellert and Romeo were both shook! You know not much gets to either of them, but they were shook. She... Delphini, she has powers that can't be identified."

Kreacher and Regulus exchanged a worried glance. "What sort of powers, Kreacher wonders," the elf murmured half to himself, half to Kereston and Regulus. Briefly, Hydra wondered if he recalled that she and Loughness were still there. Fortunately, Loughness didn't at all hesitate to remind him of their presence.

"She really didn't seem all that at Hogwarts," he muttered, unimpressed. "I mean there's the turning into a huge snake and killing people bit but we can all kill creatively when given the opportunity, I am sure."

Kereston glanced over at him, lips twitching in amusement, but her amusement faded quickly as she drew in a breath to answer Kreacher's question. "For one, she seems to know things that she should not, indicating some sort of seer ability. Even worse and more disturbing than that, though, she has an odd sort of mental magic. A grip on the mind, Blaise called it. She can hypnotize people, I suppose, but she can get into their heads and cause them to see things."

"See things?" Kreacher asked. His expression was a mix of baffled and concerned.

"Well, she made Bellatrix believe that she'd somehow gotten Rodolphus during the Gringotts attack, for example," Kereston replied.

"What were the Lestranges doing there," Regulus asked, clearly concerned. They were family so that was only to be expected. Though Hydra was curious, she wasn't worried for the Lestranges. They'd proven time and time again that they could hold their own against... most things. They were survivors if anyone was.

"The Lestranges were training along with Romeo's new Aurors when the call from Gringotts that Delphini was attacking came into the Ministry," Kereston explained. "Gellert was showing everyone a few things that Rodolphus wanted to learn in order to implement them for warding Azkaban. He's doing a grand job running it, by the way," she added

"Good," Regulus said, giving a pleased smile.

"Kreacher knew he would," Kreacher said happily. "It allows all of them to channel their aggressions, so they shall be certain to excel." Hydra was quite sure that the three Lestranges tormented prisoners on a daily basis. Idly she wondered if said prisoners thought that was better than Dementors or not. The Dementors were gone, but with the Lestranges in their place, it was Kereston's hope that people would be afraid to be locked up.

Blaise and Gellert had enchanted armor to tear the things apart. Kereston did not trust them after they were swayed by Voldemort, not to mention she, along with everyone else, felt the dreadful things should never have existed in the first place. They hadn't run Azkaban for decades, but they still skulked about, and were known to attack from time to time, so having them hunted down and torn apart certainly made the world a better place.

"Back to the Gringotts attack," Kereston resumed the story. "As the Lestranges were present when the call for help came from the bank, they went along to assist Gellert and the Aurors. According to Bellatrix, it looked as if Delphini had Rod and was about to kill him. Only Rod was standing behind Bellatrix at the time, a thing she was well aware of until the second Delphini grasped hold of her mind.

Whatever she does inside their heads is extremely dangerous, because it can cause people to react in ways they shouldn't. Bellatrix went all Bellatrix and tried to break ranks to go and attack Delphini in order to rescue Rod. From Rod's perspective, Bella goes wild eyed, staring at nothing, then breaks rank, shrieking and lunging toward Delphini and he has to grab her and yank her back to safety."

"Did Rod grabbing her snap Bella out of whatever Delphini did to her mind," Hydra asked and Kereston nodded.

"Thankfully, yes."

"But why Bellatrix," Loughness wondered. "I mean why not go for Grindelwald? He's clearly the leader to be reckoned with."

"Well, Delphini has bad blood with the Lestranges. Apparently after they rejected her when she tried to visit them at Azkaban," Kereston began and Loughness interrupted with a shouted, "What? She did what?"

"What he said," Hydra murmured. That was scary. The Lestranges weren't easily scared, but that was scary, considering Delphini's apparently unexplainable powers.

"Sorry. It's been a long few days," Kereston said, sighing as she ran a tired hand through her cork screw blonde curls. "See what had happened was... Delphini believed Bellatrix was her Mum for some reason."

Hydra choked and Loughness snickered. "How'd Rod feel about that?"

"None of the Lestranges were welcoming to her," Kereston replied dryly. "Also Bellatrix stabbed her in the chest a lot with that dagger she always carries about. The worrisome thing is it didn't kill the girl. I can't believe I forgot to tell you lot this, I truly need to get more sleep!"

"It's likely because you've come home late due to all the chaos happening and gone directly to bed. When you wake, Daddy Kreacher is asleep, and he's the one you remember to tell everything to," Hydra said. She didn't mind this because Kreacher and Kereston were best friends and she always went to him with things. Hydra never expected otherwise. She merely pointed it out as an explanation.

"Still I have been remiss," Kereston said with an apologetic sigh. "Sorry. I'll do better. At any rate, according to the Lestranges, while she was being stabbed by Bella, Delphini's eyes went all red and while blood is bubbling up from her lips, so does Voldemort's voice, chastising them for betraying him."

"So like clearly Bella isn't her Mum, but... who is it, do you think," Hydra wondered. For some reason, her mind had chosen to focus on that bit rather than freaking out over the fact that it appeared Voldemort had a Horcrux tucked away in that girl or thing... Whatever Delphini was.

"Millicent's theory is Nagini, and I mean it sounds good to me," Kereston said with a shrug. "She's got those snake abilities what with hypnotism and visions, because Gellert suspects her to be a seer. Combine all that with being a Maledictus, and Nagini feels right."

Hydra nodded. "So what? He shagged his snake? Exactly how did that work?" Loughness asked, expression incredulous.

At that, both the daddies looked aghast and made choking sounds before returning to looking more dead white than usual and clutching one another's hands. Hydra flashed a concerned look in their direction at their clearly shared state of upset. After all Voldemort had done to them as well as the risk he could pose, of course they were taking this hard. She knew that she probably should be as well, but it felt so unreal somehow.

Back to Delphini's disturbing mental abilities, though," Kereston said. The, mental mirage she pulled on Bellatrix- only lasted a moment, but what she did next to Blaise was far worse." She glanced at Loughness. "I think it ties in with what you said about Gellert being the one to attack. Getting at Gellert through Blaise appears to have been her goal. To all outward appearances, he was just standing calmly, but in his mind, several traumatic months passed. Delphini wove stories in his mind of horrific events including Gellert's death and the deaths of his own parents. Awful stories in which he was trapped!"

"Like some nightmare that goes on for ages," Hydra asked, and Kereston nodded. It was far worse than they'd suspected. Hydra glanced over at her twin to see Loughness frowning in concern, all traces of earlier Dark amusement when it came to Delphini gone from his face. Shivering, Hydra wrapped her arms around herself. The idea that that girl, or anyone for that matter, could simply reach into someone's mind and control their perceptions was beyond dreadful.

"It's even worse than that, though," Kereston said, and Hydra groaned.

"No! I don't want worse," she protested, but Kereston went on anyway.

"Gellert and Romeo were shook because of how inhuman she feels."

"Yeah, because she's a Maledictus," Loughness said. Romeo was a natural telepath, a rare magical ability for which he did not need Occlumency or Legilimency. He could easily practice what passed for both without using actual detectable magic. Gellert had no such powers, but he was a very strong seer. As both Gellert and Romeo's talents involved the mind, their respective abilities would surely sense something strange in the fact that Delphini was a Maledictus, especially if her mind was becoming more serpentine in nature.

"Not that," Kereston told Loughness with a small shake of her head. "Gellert has seen a Maledictus before and Romeo thinks her abilities are not common to others with this condition. They both described their experience as a fluctuating to the extreme when it came to their impressions of Delphini when in any way near her. She didn't let anyone too close during her attack on Gringotts, mind, but when they were as close as they could get, both experienced the same thing. Their perceptions drastically and rapidly switching back and forth between seeing that she was just a girl who could be easily defeated to the fact that she was a force far larger than any they had ever seen or could even define. They described these two opposite perceptions switching back and forth as rapidly as a light turning on and off."

"What does that mean," Hydra breathed. She shook her head in utter bafflement, unable to make head nor tails of such a thing. The conflict in perception probably made it more difficult to trust one's own instincts, but it had to mean more than that.

"Precisely," Kereston said with a sigh. "We have no idea what the hell that means other than a big headache for us at a time when enough is going on what with the restructuring of wizarding society."

"Do you think she chose now to do this due to the magical uprising," Hydra asked and Kereston shook her head.

"I would've thought that as well, because it seems logical, but she started before. She was messing about with the former Granger Minister and her lot earlier as it turns out, apparently just to see if she could. She wanted to know that she could infiltrate the government any time she liked. She used her mental mirages on them too, giving them waking dreams, or rather nightmares as she did to Blaise. She had them and even some of their children thinking she had some sort of Time Turner and alternate timelines or some such rubbish."

"But how,' Hydra breathed. "That's giving those waking nightmare things to several people at once!" As if what was done to Blaise or Bella alone wasn't alarming enough!

"That's just the thing bothering Gellert, Romeo and me along with everyone else," Kereston said, settling deeper into her chair with a dejected sigh. The Daddies exchanged a worried glance, and Loughness stared thoughtfully ahead of himself. Reynaldo curled up into an even tighter ball on the floor.

"Did she kill any Acromantulas," he wondered dejectedly.

"Oh no," Kereston assured. "All four of the Acromantula Aurors are fine. She didn't get any of us. Romeo and Gellert had excellent protective shields up. Gellert has taught all of the Aurors Protego Diabolica and they have it layered with other charms. The Gringotts goblins are all safe as well and they even got all the gold out before leaving the place to Delphini."

"So is the bank no longer in use then," Hydra asked, dismayed at the prospect. That was a little alarming considering that most people believed it to be the safest place on Earth, even above Hogwarts.

"I don't think so. Once she is gone, they'll return, reclaim it, up the defensive wards even more and all that."

"I hope they check carefully for any traps she's laid," Hydra said grimly.

"Of course they will," Loughness scoffed. "They're goblins. They invented paranoid and careful. That's one reason I like them so much."

Kereston chuckled. "It's one of many reasons I am glad to have them on our side."

"So what next," Hydra asked.

Nearly like Loughness, Kereston stared into space for several long seconds before turning a tired, overwhelmed gaze to Hydra. "We shall be working on a mix of things from gathering intel on her to draining her resources once we discover them to sorting creative ways to kill her. Because we have to kill her. Whatever she is, locking her up didn't work when the old regime did that, and it's not my thing anyway. I always said when the criminals are too despicable, just kill them so they can't ever escape to do it all again. No matter what, I am sticking by that."

"Good," Hydra said fervently. "It makes a safer world for all of us." Soon everyone but the daddies headed up to bed, including Kereston. It was late, and everyone who did not have to sleep the day away was more than tired. As Hydra closed the door of her own bedroom after bidding Loughness, Kereston and Reynaldo a good night, her mind was no longer on Ballan though it would return to him before long.

For the present, though, it was stunned by the concept of Delphini. Kereston didn't speak of her as human truly, so what could that mean? Apparently no one knew. As she climbed under her blankets, Hydra gave a disgusted shudder. What the hell had Voldemort done now? Apparently his evil could not end with his death. He'd planted a seed and it had grown. Likely he'd planned Delphini as a weapon he could use, so she was sure to be more dangerous than could be expected. Voldemort had not planned to die, considering all the Horcruxes, so he would've planned to use Delphini himself. As she hadn't grown up over night, his plans were long term. He must not have expected to go unchallenged forever, then. That was interesting, and on that thought, Hydra drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Chapter 22, A Weapon Of Mass Destruction

"Clean the window," The now all too familiar cold blonde woman commanded.

Hydra's heart was filled with a jumbled mix of stark terror and dread. "I won't!" She shouted in defiance. It didn't matter though, because she began to move toward the large floor to ceiling window as though she was a puppet on a string. She screamed, but was unable not to follow the order to clean the damned window!

Hands extending, she found herself working a cleaning charm that instantly removed all the dirt that clouded the glass. As she did, tears streamed down her face as she struggled against whatever gripped her. Letting out a strangled scream, she struggled to sit up in bed. In... her own bed! She was in her own safe room at #12 Grimmauld place. She let out a shuddering breath. It was just that blasted horrid dream again.

"I wish I'd stop having that," she grumbled darkly to her empty bedroom. At least it was daylight, and she hadn't brought the entire manor down again with her screams. Sighing she glanced at the clock on her bedside table. It was nearly time for breakfast, so she got up and hurriedly attired herself in a yellow summer dress of flowing silk. As she sat at her dressing table to comb her long dark hair, her thoughts returned to those on which she'd drifted off to sleep the previous night concerning Voldemort. She wasn't sure that it was better than thinking of her nightmare, but she hoped it may be more productive. Voldemort had killed his entire family, so it wasn't like him to make a child, but it was like him to make a weapon.

A weapon against what, though? Knowing this may help to understand Delphini's powers and abilities. When her hair was a gleaming mass of neatly combed tresses down her back, she rose and moved to her desk. She intended to write the Lestranges and invite them to breakfast so that she could share her thoughts in case they were useful. With quill in hand, and fresh parchment in front of her, she hesitated. What if the Lestranges were still too shook by seeing what was likely Voldemort's sentient Horcrux inside of Delphini?

Perhaps it wasn't kind to involve them even if they were somewhat experts on the monster being his closest followers for so long. She sighed, and wrote Grindelwald instead. If he wanted to ask the Lestranges anything after hearing her theory, that would be up to him. He'd likely be the one using any information they had anyway. And if her thoughts weren't useful to the current situation, Gellert would know as much and the Lestranges wouldn't have to put any unnecessary thought into Voldemort. Hydra kept her letter brief, asking if Grindelwald could come to breakfast to talk about Delphini, because she had thoughts she would like to share.

Once the note was sent, she wandered into the kitchen for some tea before breakfast. The four elves who worked at #12 Grimmauld place and also called it home, behaved normally, quite as if there wasn't a serpentine shadow literally hanging over the wizarding world. Stormy was busy making breakfast at the large stove, casual gestures nearly bored while Ripper set the table. Jazz and Piper stood about idly, helping as needed with anything that needed it. Watching the four so relaxed at their morning tasks brought Hydra's reoccurring nightmare sharply back to mind.

"Before you were free, if someone told you to do something, and you refused, what happened if you didn't bang your head," Hydra asked Ripper, who stood the closest to her when the thought occurred. "Were you like a puppet on strings, or..." She trailed off, shrugging.

Out of the corner of one eye, Hydra caught Stormy flashing her a concerned look from across the kitchen, but he remained silent. Ripper's round eyes widened even more in surprise as he blinked at her. "Ripper was never asked to do anything by the Lestrange family that he did not wish to do, so he never had cause to have such an experience," he said.

Ripper was the younger brother of Jackdaw, the elf who served Rodolphus's father. Hydra should've known that Ripper never would've been asked to do anything that he would feel the need to resist. The rest had come from various Lestrange households as well, even Piper, who was from France. She doubted that any of them would've demanded something the elves would've minded, but she glanced around at all of them. "Any of you," she asked. They all stared back. Their attention was already fully on her for the apparently odd question she'd put to Ripper. They all shook their heads. She sighed. "That's good. I'm glad," she said sincerely. "I don't know why I wanted to talk about it, I just..."

Stormy frowned. "Hydra had the nightmare again?"

She flushed, and nodded. "I hate it so much. I wish I could control my dreams so that I'd never have it again."

"It is just based on Hydra's fears," Stormy said gently. "Fears that shall never manifest into reality. Hydra is free and half human. Besides, Stormy has never heard of a free elf being enslaved or re-enslaved. It is likely impossible."

Hydra nodded. "My waking self is aware of that, but do send a memo to my dreaming mind." She chuckled and Stormy smiled.

"If only Stormy could," he said. "He certainly would."

"I just wish The Daddies had managed to discover how the elves were enslaved in the first place and why," she said. "I think answers would teach us a lot."

"It doesn't feel like slavery when one is where one wishes to be," Piper said in his thick French accent. "My family was always happy with the Lestranges. We wanted to be where we were."

Ripper nodded in agreement to Piper's words. "Ripper has seen other elves, that dead Dobby for example, who clearly were not happy where they were. The situation was vastly different for them, obviously. Ripper feels that elves like Dobby were more enslaved by having to be forced due to their mistreatment which caused them to dislike their families. As such that sort are more affected by whatever this curse on elves is about."

"Yes, but it could've turned for you if a member of the Lestrange family was the sort to mistreat elves," Hydra pointed out. "Daddy Kreacher's life was much like yours save for where Sirius Black was concerned."

"True." Ripper nodded. Before the conversation could continue the door chime rang.

"I'll get it," Hydra said. "I wrote Grindelwald, inviting him to breakfast so that I could speak to him about something I was thinking about Voldemort. In case it happens to matter for this Delphini situation." As she spoke, she hurried from the room.

"It may be Grindelwald, and it may be someone dangerous, sent from Delphini for all we know," Stormy said, hurrying after her. "Stormy shall open the door in case, but Hydra may come along." Hydra opened her mouth to sigh and complain playfully about Stormy's paranoia, but shut it again before anything escaped.

She knew that she probably hadn't started taking the threat Delphini posed seriously enough, and the girl could have it out for the Black family for obvious reasons. She stood just behind Stormy as he opened the door to Gellert Grindelwald and Blaise Zabini. They made a striking contrast to one another, standing close together in the doorway. Both were tall and thin.

Gellert was perhaps an inch shorter with blond curls spilling over his shoulders while Blaise's dark hair was cut short. Both were clean shaven with flawless skin, but Blaise's was dark while Gellert's was fair. Even their eyes were a contrast to one another. While they were both blue, where Gellert's danced with a lithe fiery interest, Blaise's were always ice cold and nearly bored. Their clothing was where the contrasting differences ended, though. They dressed alike in matching black robes and long dark gray dusters. The only time Hydra had seen them wearing anything else, was during the Christmas holidays when the two always sported matching holiday sweaters. "Do come in," Stormy said politely. As he spoke, the elf stepped to the side to allow the two wizards to enter.

"Thank you for coming," Hydra said.

"Of course." Gellert gave her a quick smile that she somehow found reassuring. Gellert was skilled and more than competent in the ways of war. Having him leading their defense made her feel far safer than if he weren't.

"Breakfast shall be served in under five minutes, if everyone would wait in the dining room," Stormy said. Hydra nodded and led the way, Blaise and Gellert following. Kereston was already seated at the table, hunched tiredly over a cup of coffee. At sight of Gellert, she sprang to her feet, a look of alarm on her face.

"What happened?"

"Nothing," Hydra assured quickly, flashing Kereston an apologetic look. "I just wanted to share a thought about Delphini, or rather Voldemort, with Gellert because I felt someone should know and I didn't want to bother the Lestranges after all they've gone through lately."

"That's sweet," Kereston said, resuming her seat with a sigh of relief. "These days there is always something dreadful happening, so I am literally overjoyed that nothing has happened yet today!"

"Nothing that we are aware of," Gellert corrected, flashing her a playful grin as he took a seat at the table to Kereston's right. Stormy was serving everyone full plates of bacon, eggs, potatoes and beans when Loughness came in.

"I was thinking about Delphini and what I know of Voldemort last night," Hydra said, getting directly to the reason she'd invited Gellert to breakfast. He was a busy man, after all, so he wouldn't have time for niceties with everything going on. As she spoke, he paused in the act of lifting a forkful of eggs to his mouth to give her an inquiring look, indicating that she had his full attention. "The fact that she believed Bellatrix to be her Mum got me to thinking... You know, because everyone says he wouldn't want to shag or have any sort of relationship. I'm thinking that probably even goes for his snake."

"Probably," Kereston murmured with a shudder. "One can hope. The idea of snake shagging is disgusting."

Loughness snickered and Hydra gave a strained smile, pushing food around her plate with her fork. She wasn't hungry, but knew she should probably put at least a little something on her stomach. Stress starving was no better than stress eating, after all.

"If he killed his own family, wizard and Muggle sides alike, he's clearly not interested in blood bonds or being loved," she continued. "He would not want a child for that or to share his power, for he does not strike me as the sort to want to share from what everyone has said."

Gellert nodded. "From all I've seen of Severus and your fathers memories of him, that sounds about right."

"So why did he want Delphini if indeed she is his? And if she wasn't created by shagging, she was created with magic somehow. But why?"

"The million Galleon question," Loughness quipped.

"While we can't know his plans, we can guess that if her powers are so difficult to fathom, she was intended for something big. He knew how long it would take her to be old enough to use these powers. I mean she didn't grow up over night, so he likely feared some sort of rebellion against him right about now if he won. He planned to win, so we should be thinking like him if he won," Hydra said.

"I'd rather never ever think like him at all for fear of wanting to crawl out of my own brain, but I get the point," Kereston said dryly.

"Agreed," Hydra said, giving her a quick smile before returning her attention to Gellert. "I believe she is a weapon rather than a daughter."

Gellert nodded. "Indeed. A weapon of mass destruction if she has her way. We have no idea what he believed he may be up against, but she definitely has her own plans."

Hydra nodded, a bit crest fallen that Gellert had already reached at least part of her conclusion. "I was just thinking that if we think of her as a weapon and then try to find out what she was made for, we can perhaps sort out more of the abilities she has."

Gellert frowned. "How are we supposed to figure out what Voldemort's insane mind intended her for? He trusted no one, and shared his secrets with no one. There were at least a few in my highest ranking circle whom I brought in on my decisions and concerns, but he...

"He was made of different stuff," Kereston inserted and Gellert nodded.

"Well I was hoping that if I brought the concept to your attention, it would give you some sort of... I don't know inspiration? Or perhaps you'll have a vision about her and if you are thinking of his plans, perhaps your seer ability will tell you something."

Gellert shrugged, then shook his head. "That is doubtful. It does not work in that way for me. I get what comes to me, and not what I specifically want or ask for, I am afraid.""

"Perhaps you could ask Mag to read her runes about it," Hydra said. "She's very skilled at divining with them as you surely know."

Gellert nodded. "Yes. That is a thought. It's a vague concept at this point, but she can at least try. It can't hurt."

Hydra's initial feeling of dejection deepened. She'd been so excited about her revelation last night, but it didn't seem to be of much practical use. "I'm sorry to have wasted your time," she told him apologetically. "Especially at a time like this."

Gellert smiled. "It's alright. I needed to eat breakfast. Home or here, it's all the same." He flashed a grin at Kereston. "And we know our Minister misses me if she doesn't see me every hour on the hour. Hydra was oddly soothed to see that Gellert and Kereston's easy banter wasn't dampened by Delphini. The two had quickly become good friends as soon as Wolfgang and co had freed Gellert from Nurmengard and he'd moved in with Blaise. Though Kereston had grown up with Blaise, she and Gellert had more common ground when it came to career and political interests. Rather than replying with her usual style of friendly jab, Kereston only gave Gellert a strained smile.

"I am very grateful to you and Blaise for being here. I know you never wanted to be a part of the Ministry, Blaise," she said, turning to give him the same strained smile. "I appreciate you stepping up to do your part right now."

Blaise shrugged. "Don't mention it. Of course when this little bitch is dead, we're so gone," he drawled.

Kereston chuckled. "Yes, I could never ask you to help out in any way at the Ministry if we weren't in the literal midst of a natural disaster."

Chapter Text

Chapter 23, Interesting Times

The next year passed in an odd mix of fluctuations between being stressed and being bored. Kereston called Albus and Severus back to run Hogwarts, because she didn't trust anyone else to keep the students safe against the likes of whatever Delphini was. By the time term began, Kereston had released an article to the Daily Prophet announcing that Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape lived and would return to Hogwarts to protect the students during these dark times. She explained that their choice to allow the world to believe them to be dead back in the late nineties was the best choice for them at the time, but they had done nothing illegal, and they were more than welcome back into British society.

For her part, Hydra certainly felt better knowing that they would be protecting Hogwarts when she and the rest went back. Likely it was the only reason Sortia was allowed to return. Though Delphini was clearly no longer a student, Severus likely wouldn't trust that she couldn't get back into the school without him and Albus there to make certain that she could not. Certainly James and Guillermo's parents would feel better with Albus in charge once again as well.

Though Hydra would not feel completely safe until Delphini was taken down for good, she did not believe that Hogwarts was unsafe now that Albus was in charge again. Kreacher sent Stormy and Piper to ride along with them on the train just in case, which Hydra found annoying as well as oddly reassuring. With Her, Loughness, Sortia, James, Guillermo, Stormy and Piper stuffed into their usual compartment it was a bit difficult to pretend as if things were normal even if one wished to do so. Stormy had brought food along, so James was in heaven.

"Do your parents think Delphini would really bust up the train to get to us," Guillermo asked, giving Hydra and Loughness a worried look. "I mean does she have that much of a hate hard-on for your family, then?"

At that James began to cough, chocking on a mouthful of Stormy's blueberry scone. Piper's lips twitched as he passed James over a cup of tea to wash it down.

"That is one way to put it," Stormy said, answering Guillermo. "At times, Stormy supposes paranoia could keep one alive." Hydra realized then, that she was glad Stormy had chosen to answer, because she truly had no idea how worried the daddies were about the situation. Of course they were as glad as anyone else that Severus and Albus had returned to Hogwarts, but they hadn't said much to her or Loughness about Delphini of late. Now she wondered if this was to keep them from being more frightened. What did Kreacher and Regulus say to one another when their twins weren't around, though? Were they stressed, frightened?

The idea of either of them feeling so over a girl was laughable, but was Delphini truly that? With this in mind, the idea of her parents being stressed and frightened, then having to hide this from their children seemed disconcertingly likely to Hydra. If the daddies were frightened, this was even more serious than she'd given it credit for. The daddies were powerful magic users and vampires, so it seemed that little should frighten them. She'd found Delphini concerning, but believed in the new Ministry's ability to eventually get rid of her without too many losses on their side. Gellert had carte blanche to do whatever he liked to get the job done, and he'd already proven himself long before even the daddies were born. He knew what he was doing. If he could turn the wizarding world on its ear, he could handle one Delphini, no matter what she was. That logic helped Hydra to rest easy at night on the matter. Now, though, thinking of the daddies being frightened caused a knot of fear to form in her own stomach that she didn't like one bit.

"So Loughness wrote me that you'd finally found someone," Guillermo sing-songed at Hydra. Relieved for the change of subject that got her out of her own suddenly fear filled head, Hydra turned to him and shrugged. "Well, what's he like," Guillermo pressed.

"And is he actually real," James wondered. "I mean I can't imagine the sort of individual who could win the heart of Hydra Black." He chuckled, eyes gleaming in clear anticipation.

"Are they serious," Sortia asked, expression doubtful.

"I did meet someone," Hydra said, glancing back and forth between her friends. "But we aren't dating or anything. In fact, he doesn't even know that I am interested."

"But why," Guillermo demanded.

"Because Delphini!" Hydra exclaimed. "I met him, then she attacked Gringotts, set the magical world on edge and..." She spread her hands. "Everyone has been dealing with that. Asking him to hang out and get to know one another just didn't seem like the thing to do considering.

"So what's he like," Sortia asked. "And has he got a name?"

Hydra sighed dreamily. "He is fascinating, thrilling, exciting. His name is Ballan, and he's an elf from Germany. Oh and he's a vampire."

Guillermo groaned. "Damn, Loughness! Your sister is gonna get to have hot vampire shagging, and you know vampire shagging is hot. They bite your neck and drink your blood, which apparently makes your shagging super intense. I read about it. All the lady vampires are super hot. Do you think your sister's man can find us hot lady vampires to shag? Like is there some vampire club he can get into to get us hot lady vampires, do you think?"

"He isn't my man yet." Hydra snapped her reminder before Loughness could answer. "And besides. I am quite certain he has better things to do than to look into getting girls for the two of you."

"Yeah, he's far more into killing," Loughness said without judgement.

Guillermo frowned, clearly not finding the prospect of killing nearly as promising as he found shagging.

"It was still a brilliant idea, though," Loughness said regretfully.

Hydra and Sortia exchanged a glance and an eye roll. Somehow that simple act made things feel normal again in spite of the fact they had elf body guards thanks to Delphini's crazy abilities making things all unsafe. Said elves returned to #12 Grimmauld Place once the five children were at Hogwarts. Things at the school, like everything else, were changed yet much the same.

Albus was now Headmaster once again and Severus was Deputy Headmaster. Former Headmistress McGonagall was teaching Transfiguration as she had once done. Severus was teaching potions. Professor Mcgonagall didn't seem thrilled with the decision of Severus as Deputy Headmaster if one could judge by the scowl on her face when Albus made the announcement at the feast. Though said decision was Kereston's and not Albus's, Dumbledore did not appear to be displeased with it.

As he explained that first day in the Great Hall during his speech, with this current danger, security had to be upped on all fronts, and Severus's dark arts and defense training made him best suited to the current requirements for a Deputy Head. Not that there seemed to be a safety issue considering that students weren't even allowed to go outside... Ever. No walks by the lake, no trips to the Forbidden Forest and to the displeasure of most of the school, no Quidditch.

Hydra's group didn't care for sports, so they weren't affected, but they were quite upset over the loss of weekend trips to Hogsmeade. In lieu of sports or weekend shopping, the professors provided the students of Hogwarts with extra defense training classes on the weekends from Severus and a dueling club run by Professor Flitwick. There was also a physical education class run by old Madam Hooch.

This was supposed to take the place of Quidditch, though everyone had to participate. Hydra hated Physical Education class. It involved a lot of aerobics and silly games of tag and other things that had them running about the halls of Hogwarts a great deal and getting sweaty. When she asked Albus why Physical Education couldn't just be for the Quidditch players, he expounded upon all the ways a healthy fit body contributed to a sharp and equally fit mind. "I believe that Physical Education was only overlooked at this school because it is a thing of Muggles. Muggles don't have everything wrong, though," he'd told her firmly. "Even after Delphini has been defeated, we are definitely keeping Physical Education as a part of Hogwarts curriculum for all students."

"Well if it's so very helpful for mental performance, don't you think the professors should do it as well," Hydra asked.

"Of course," Albus nodded. "That is a good idea. We can arrange that. An after school class for professors, and all of them can also participate on the weekends along with the students."

"So you shall be participating, I presume," Hydra said. "Because you truly need to be sharp if anyone does."

"Well... I don't think," Dumbledore floundered, and Hydra felt a smile of triumph spreading over her face.

"But if your physical health goes down, we are all at risk," she pressed. He wouldn't want to do it, so of course he would realize how wrong it was for the rest of them to do it as well. Then this particular madness could end!

"I am too old to go running about, but your point is taken, and I can most definitely increase my morning stretches so that I remain limber."

"And I'm too tired after classes to go running about," Hydra shot back. "Plus I hate being sweaty."

"Well if there ever comes an unfortunate time that you end up dueling Delphini, you are quite likely to become sweaty," Albus replied dryly and Hydra sighed, knowing she'd lost this one.

"I just wish the Ministry would hurry up and take her down," she said, not for the first time and certainly not for the last.

Sortia's mum Mag had taught Ancient Runes at Durmstrang, but as the subject was already being taught at Hogwarts by Professor Flitwick's wife Finna, Mag taught Care of Magical Creatures. Rather than complaining over the fact that both of her parents had quit their jobs at Durmstrang to be with her, Sortia was openly pleased.

Due to the *Plague* that had stripped so many of their magic, the student body was around a third its usual size. In a sense, this meant that everyone got a better education, as each student was often able to receive more personal attention. Hydra tried to focus on this benefit rather than the many restrictions that resulted in not being allowed to go outside.

When they were at last allowed to leave the school, it was for the winter break. All the Hogwarts professors accompanied the greatly reduced student body to King's Cross. Only half of said professors looked nervously around for Delphini or her followers. The others were grimly confident, though with wands at the ready. Hydra, Loughness, Sortia, James and Guillermo were flanked by Flitwick and Severus as they boarded the train. All the professors were riding the Hogwarts Express this year. With so few students, none were remaining at Hogwarts for the holidays. This freed all the professors to go home as well.

"I'm almost sad to be getting on the train," Guillermo said a bit mournfully. "I already miss the sweet fresh air."

"The cold winter air, you mean," Sortia said, shivering in spite of her heavy green cloak. "It looks about to snow."

"That's okay," Guillermo said. "It's fresh snow, falling from fresh air. I forgot what fresh air was like."

"Well you should be enjoying the sweet smell of safety," Flitwick told him tartly.

"Does safety have a smell," Guillermo asked, doubt clear in his tone

"Indeed," Severus drawled. "It does not smell of blood."

Chapter Text

Chapter 24, We're The Young Generation, And We've Got something To Say

Wulfric and Graven came to call at #12 Grimmauld Place the very next day. Holiday visits from friends during this time of year was normal, but nothing was to be normal about this particular visit, as it turned out. "How has it been at Hogwarts," Wulfric asked as he hugged Hydra in greeting. He clapped Loughness on the shoulder in a very manly way, as both clearly believed themselves too grown up and manly for hugs.

"It's alright save for the physical education," Hydra complained, making a face.

"I don't mind it," Loughness said. "Watching girls run is hot."

"You Would think that," Hydra said, rolling her eyes in disgust. To her gratification, Graven gave her an understanding smirk, rolling her eyes at Loughness as well.

"Damn right I would," Loughness enthused, clearly possessing no shame.

"And here I thought you'd appreciate it for the physical fitness aspect, considering you have been into body-building with Rodolphus for so long," Wulfric interjected.

"Yeah, that too," Loughness agreed, nodding. "It's all important."

"Oh gods," Hydra groaned. "What about you? What have you both been doing what with Delphini and all?"

"Helping Grindelwald, actually," Wulfric said. "He seems to think Graven and I may be instrumental in taking Delphini down. He believes that our abilities are most suitable for the methods that he thinks will work best against her."

"That and he seems to think we have some connection to Gryffindor and the first goblin king," Graven drawled doubtfully. "Sometimes when he says weird shit like that, I think Grindelwald must be higher than I am."

Now that Hydra and Loughness were older, they knew what high meant, even if they never got high themselves. "What are you high on?" Hydra asked.

"Pain-killing potion," Graven said. "It numbs my inner rage and makes me able to handle humans without killing them." Her dark eyes softened as they rose to Wulfric's face. "He's different, of course, and you brats are alright, but most humans get on my every fucking nerve!"

Loughness grinned. "You're alright too. You're hot enough for me if Wolfy wasn't dating you," he complimented.

"I am about to hurt you, Black," Graven said. Loughness laughed gleefully, quite as if he were being complimented. "Fortunately you are different from your little friends," Graven added to Wulfric. "Speaking of, where's Guillermo. I was hoping he would take a look at us to, you know, see if he gets any of those psychic vibes about whether we can really help to take down Delphini." The thinly disguised worry on Graven's face made Hydra's stomach flip-flop. Seeing her own people in direct risk from Delphini made it more personal by far. It was scary. Graven should be scared! Hydra didn't blame her one bit.

"I can invite him over," Loughness said. "Want me to try to get him to come today even? Have you time to wait about for him?"

Graven nodded. "Yeah, we're here to see you for as long as you want us here today, so that works."

"I'll send him a howler inviting him over to see a hot girl, and I promise he'll be here within ten minutes," Loughness said, grinning at Graven. She swatted at him, but he easily evaded her swinging arm as he dashed from the room.

"He just says that shit to get a reaction from you, and you give it to him," Wulfric chuckled. "Leave her alone, Loughness," he added in a louder tone that was intended to carry to Loughness's ears. That pacified Graven, at least for the time being. For his part, Loughness didn't notice, having already dashed from the room.

"If Guillermo can't help, you could try Sortia's Mum," Hydra suggested. "Mag is great with the runes. If you have specific questions, she can find out a lot."

Graven nodded. "I don't have any as of yet, which is why I was hoping Guillermo would just see something useful, but if not, we can try Mag. Perhaps she can help us come up with some questions once we explain the situation."

"If she doesn't already know," Hydra said. "She's Grindelwald's shrink, after all, and who knows what they talk about in therapy.

Graven sputtered. "His what?"

"Yeah, it's some group therapy thing. It's like some prison or trauma recovery group thing. It's Gellert and the Lestranges and the Daddies for some reason. I mean they weren't in prison like the rest were, but they did have the Voldemort trauma."

Graven considered for a moment, then scowled. "Sounds like bullshit to me."

Hydra nodded. "Probably, but it isn't hurting them, so perhaps it will help."

Wulfric raised his brows, looking confused. "So when did this start? I haven't heard anything about it and I used to live with Mag and Severus, you know at Durmstrang until they abandoned us to return to Hogwarts."

"The Daddies told us about it in one of their update letters a few months back," Hydra said. "So recently enough. Mag has never mentioned it, but that's likely some therapist confidentiality thing.""

"So I thought she made wands and was some sort of bard," Graven said. "And she's also a therapist?"

"Not really," Hydra said, giving her head a slight shake. "She's just fascinated by Muggle psychology. She says one can use it for or against a person once you understand how their mind works. Daddy Regulus asked her to do group therapy because it's not really commonly done in the magical community unless you count the psych ward at St. Mungos, and none of them would want to go there." No one went there who wasn't far gone. That and Hydra was relatively certain that none of those in Mag's therapy group would trust any of their thoughts or feelings to strangers at St. Mungos or anywhere else.

"Why group therapy, I wonder," Wulfric said.

"Daddy Regulus said that he thought they may all open up more with one another's support than alone," Hydra explained. "Kereston wanted the Lestranges in therapy now that they have a more normal role in society, and I guess the others got into it with them for their own various reasons." She shrugged."Still sounds like bullshit," Graven said doubtfully. "I'll manage my own mind, thanks very much. Painkilling potion is my friend if my emotions ever become too pressing."

"You have emotions?" Wulfric gave her a smirk of amusement.

The goblin girl grinned back. "Rage is an emotion, Wulfric."

"AH," Wulfric replied sagely. "And here I went thinking it was just an integral part of the general goblin life force." At that, Graven's scowl cracked, becoming a grin as her eyes softened. Hydra could plainly see the love in her dark gaze as she looked at Wulfric Dumbledore. That love was reflected in the fond grin he gave her in reply. As Hydra studied them, she found herself wondering what it would be like to share such moments with Ballan.

Well they wouldn't share the same sorts of moments as much as create their own, because they were nothing like Wulfric and Graven, but still. Before her thoughts could progress further along those lines, Loughness returned with Stormy trailing behind carrying a tea tray. Guillermo brought up the rear. "That was fast," Graven said.

"I wasn't busy," Guillermo replied with a shrug. "I was supposed to hang with my big brother, but he's entirely occupied with the Delphini rubbish."

Graven nodded. "Yeah, that's what we wanted to talk to you about. We wanted to see if you'd sort of look at us or into us or however it works and see if you think we can really help against her like Grindelwald seems to think we can."

"Isn't he a seer as well," Guillermo asked. "I mean if he thinks so, I hardly see how I could tell you better. He's Grindelwald, after all. Which speaking of that, I'm surprised your dad lets you work with him," he said, turning to Wulfric. "I mean they never were on the same side of things, after all."

Wulfric shrugged. "It's the greater good." He smirked. "And right now everyone wants to stop Delphini, so Dad just has to suck it up."

Guillermo nodded as he sank into the nearest chair and accepted a cup of delightful smelling gingerbread tea from Stormy with a murmur of thanks. "Makes sense," he told Wulfric.

"As for you vs Grindelwald, you're still young, so we technically have no idea who's better," Graven told Guillermo. "But that isn't the point. Grindelwald works with other seers. There is this girl who works in his shop who reads tea leaves and he has her check for things all the time."

"Parvati her name is," Wulfric interjected.

"Then there is Mag, and he has frequently asked her to cast the runes for answers on specific situations as well," Graven continued. "So it isn't as if he would mind us asking you. If your viewings conflict, we'll let him know and it can be looked into. He isn't Voldemort. He doesn't mind other opinions and other findings of information added to his own."

"I know he isn't Voldemort," Guillermo said. "Of course he isn't. That isn't what I meant. I just don't think I'm better."

"You're different, though. That's why he works with other seers. Because each of them have different abilities to compliment his own," Wulfric said as he eagerly accepted a cup of the gingerbread tea from Stormy. "He can't just look for things. His visions come when they will and about what they will. He has no control over it."

"I don't either really," Guillermo said. "Often I am just looking at someone or something, and just suddenly get impressions or know things. Sometimes I can try to bring such a knowing on and it works and sometimes not." He sighed. "I'll try, though." He stared hard at Wulfric and Graven. "What do we want to know?" Having handed everyone a cup of tea, Stormy took one for himself and perched on the arm of Hydra's chair to listen in clear fascination.

"Well, for a start, are Wulfric and I really distantly related to Godric Gryffindor and the first goblin king," Graven asked.

Guillermo considered, then gave a slight nod. "Maybe. What else?"

"Can we do any good against Delphini," Wulfric asked and Guillermo nodded.

"Yeah. You can. I can't see how but you can. It's like a light flashed over both of you when you asked that, but not really a light, just... yeah, you can. Sorry, it's difficult to explain."

Graven swore. Her swear was a long impressive string of swear words that would've made Daddy Kreacher or Grandmother Walburga blush, but neither happened to be about to hear it much to Hydra's regret. She knew she'd never be able to recall half of what Graven had said to reconstruct it for them, after all.

"So you're not happy," Guillermo asked, perplexed.

"Rancid infected pig balls no I am not fucking happy," Graven said darkly. "It would've been far easier if we had nothing to do with this shit. Do you know he, Grindelwald, expects me to make some god damned sword that can kill a fucking Horcrux? He believes I can do this just because I may be distantly related to the first god damned goblin king according to him and now apparently you.

Apparently Gryffindor's sword, that we already have by the fucking way, isn't good enough. He wants a fucking new one for whatever head-fucked fucking reason! And though I have never exhibited the ability to craft magical items from metal, he has taken it into his god damned head that I can produce this fucker for him. Now he'll never believe that I can't! He'll push me to do it and the thing is, I really don't think I can! I don't know how!"

"Well... Have you tried?" Guillermo asked after a moment of hesitation.

"Of course I have not fucking tried! Didn't I just say that I don't know how," Graven demanded hotly. "And Grindelwald basically depending on me to somehow do it anyway is terrifying!"

"Sometimes we know how to do a thing without being aware that we know. Just try," Stormy told her quietly.

She shot him an incredulous look. "And if I try and think I got it right, and instead I got it wrong? If that happens, I could be responsible for shit going way bad on many levels."

Loughness chuckled. "No, Grindelwald will be responsible for that. It was his idea after all."

Chapter Text

Chapter 25, Waiting Is The Hardest Part

Wulfric and Graven came to visit several times over the holidays. Hydra had missed Wulfric even more than she'd known, and seeing him more often was wonderful. She made him promise to visit them at Hogwarts as well. "It should be simple enough with your dad running the place again," she'd pointed out and he'd agreed.

"Besides," Graven had added. "We may need more viewings from Guillermo before this shit is over."

When her parents did not mention Ballan and Greok coming to visit for the holidays, Hydra mentioned it to them. "What are Ballan and Greok doing for new years? I'm sure they have other plans for Christmas, but you should invite them to a new years party."

"Whose new years party, Kreacher wonders." The family was sitting in the library during this conversation. It was a day before Christmas eve. The daddies snuggled together in their favorite overstuffed armchair reading an old heavy tome about Krampus. Hydra was re-reading A Christmas carol for the fifteenth time, and Loughness and Kereston were seated across from one another, sharing the newspaper, each reading a section before passing it to the other. "You know that I am asking you to have a party and invite Ballan and Greok," Hydra chided, frowning over at Kreacher.

"Perhaps when Delphini is dead. It isn't safe until then."

"For me to get to know Ballan," Hydra demanded incredulously.

Kreacher sighed, giving Regulus a long suffering glance.

"What he means to say is that it isn't safe to drink as much as people shall wish to at a new years party while that thing is still alive," Regulus told Hydra. "Haven't you heard Rabastan complaining that Bella has him on a one drink limit at the moment and doesn't even really want him having that much? If even the Lestranges are keeping it sober, we're in a true situation!"

Hydra's lips twitched. "I sort of tune Rabastan and his antics out most of the time," she admitted.

Kreacher chuckled. "Kreacher is afraid that Bella shall likely always think of him as a child. She and Rodolphus were always the ones to look after him when we were all young."

"You grew up with them sort of, didn't you," Loughness asked, glancing up from the section of the Daily Prophet on which he was currently working. "Bella told me once how her and Rod's parents would make them play with you during family gatherings so that you didn't run to the kitchens and meddle in... whatever the grown up elves were trying to attend to." As he spoke, Loughness's blue eyes twinkled in good natured amusement.

Kreacher frowned. "Kreacher knew that he could improve vastly upon what any other elves did, and he was kept from doing so," he grumbled resentfully.

Kereston chuckled, glancing up as she passed over a section of newspaper to Loughness. "So you saw Bella and Rod when they were little?"

Kreacher shrugged. "Kreacher supposes. He can hardly recall it now. We were all the same to him, so not much has changed."

"Except Bella and Rod got way taller," Loughness quipped, grinning.

"So you don't remember them as looking like little kids," Hydra asked.

Kreacher's face scrunched into a frown as he shifted in the chair,adjusting the large book that he and Daddy Regulus held between them. "Kreacher supposes they had to have looked young, but he does not recall."

"Well vampires can't drink anyway," Hydra said, returning to her true topic of interest, that being Ballan. "I hardly see how it affects them if we're not drinking at our new years party."

Regulus sighed. "Because the party will have many non-vampires who shall want to drink."

"The party that we aren't having," Loughness queried, arching his brows and clearly struggling not to laugh.

Regulus nodded. "Precisely that one. You shall have plenty of time to get to know Ballan when things are safer, Hydra. Right now he's helping to ferret out Delphini's followers by scanning the minds of wizards and witches all over Britain and beyond so he and Greok are frequently out of town anyway."

"Fine," Hydra said, lifting her hands in defeat, disappointment settling over her like an unwanted wet blanket.

"You shall still have a fun new years, though," Loughness said brightly.

"Why," Hydra challenged. We can't have a party, remember?"

Loughness frowned. "Look, I was trying to cheer you up. You don't have to go ruining it with facts and complications!"

Hydra chuckled, mildly cheered in spite of everything. "Thanks, Nessy."

The rest of the winter break passed pleasantly enough. The new year was brought in with a delicious feast made by Stormy, Piper, Ripper and Jazz. The Daddies invited friends over to share it and they had a fun game night, providing the closest thing to a party that they could risk having under the circumstances.

Guillermo and James were there with their parents. Kereston's parents came as well, glad to have an opportunity to spend time with their daughter when they weren't all at work. Mr. and Mrs. Boxwood did some sort of desk work at the Ministry. They were the only Ministry employees present. Blaise and Gellert had been invited, but they were out of town with family in Italy.

Likewise for Guillermo's brother, Romeo, who was currently with his wife's family on a mini vacation. The get together was a pleasant distraction even if Hydra would've enjoyed it far more had Ballan been present. When the holiday was over and it was time to return to Hogwarts, things went back to normal.

Well normal for that strange year. No going outside and lots of dueling practice and dreadful physical education, but at least Hydra found her studies interesting. Now that OWLS were over, she was able to get into truly advanced subjects that she could really sink her teeth into. Charms and Transfiguration were both far more intriguing at higher levels. Basics bored her and she enjoyed complications, at least when it came to her magic.

Focusing on her studies made the rest of her sixth year pass quickly enough. Wulfric and Graven visited frequently on the weekends. Not because they required that many viewings from Guillermo, but because Gellert wanted Loughness trained up even more. Wulfric was unclear as to Gellert's plans, guessing that Gellert may be unclear too, but Loughness was a part of them.

Loughness's skills and abilities were just as important as those of Wulfric and Graven as far as Gellert was concerned. Though no one said that Hydra was being left out, the focus was definitely placed on Loughness. She knew that her heart wasn't in it when it came to direct dueling nearly as much as Loughness, so she wasn't bothered by this. She was more of the guard their backs sort, and that's what she planned to do. During one of their visits, Wulfric showed off his Animagus form. He'd learned it just to use against Delphini. It was a mongoose to go up against her snake, and it was huge. Wulfric was a mongoose the size of a dire wolf! He was quite impressive, Hydra had to admit. Gellert had plans concerning Wulfric's mongoose in place for taking Voldemort's daughter creation down, but she was being illusive. Delphini did a lot of hiding behind the scenes of her attacks, but Gellert and Blaise were making their own maneuvers to draw her out. Wulfric was unaware of the particulars, and Hydra supposed it didn't matter. As long as they knew what to do when the time was right, they would do it and all would be well because it had to be.

As it turned out, the reason Grindelwald wanted Graven to make a whole new sword was because he had a feeling it would get ruined in the killing of Delphini. He was right. Griphook would've been super pissy had the Gryffindor sword gotten destroyed after all the fuss that had been made over it for centuries, as Loughness so eloquently pointed out. Things finally came to a head in the middle of the night, when it was most inconvenient. It wasn't very glamorous or steeped in glory, but real life rarely is when it comes to war.

It was Piper and Ripper who came for them. Hydra woke to Ripper's hand on her shoulder as his voice hissed a 'shushhh," into her ear. "Hydra must hurry. She must dress herself without making a sound. She must be silent so as not to wake her dorm mates." His whisper was a soft butterfly brush across her ear, yet it sent adrenaline spiking through her as though he'd shouted.

She could feel the tension in the air as she nodded. It was finally happening. Numbly, heart racing, she did as she was told, scrambling for her shoes in the dark. She had to wear her school uniform, as any other clothes she could've chosen were buried in a trunk under her bed. If she were to get to them, she would have to risk waking dorm mates, which Ripper had rightfully warned against. She left off the robe, though.

Where ever they were going, a Ravenclaw robe should not be necessary. It was so dark! She nearly forgot her wand, but the thought of needing a Lumos whenever they got to where they were going, caused her to remember it, snatching it from under the edge of her mattress where she always kept it tucked at night. As soon as it was in her hand, Ripper grasped her wrist and Apparated them to the edge of Hogwarts grounds where they met Loughness and Piper. Before either Hydra or Loughness could ask a single question, Piper was speaking. "Grindelwald has sent us word. Delphini was at last spotted by one of his scrying devices during one of her attacks and they have cornered her. We shall take you there now. There is not a moment to be lost." When the elves Apparated them again, Hydra had no idea where they were, but wherever it was, it was mid morning. No need for that Lumos after all, but she would still certainly need her wand for whatever was to come.

Chapter Text

Chapter 26, The Final Death Of Evil

"Where are we?!" Hydra found that she had to shout to Ripper and Piper to be heard above the crowd. The street on which they stood was crowded with throngs of people; Wizards and Muggles alike or so it appeared at a glance.

"Washington D.C., where all the American Muggle Politics goes on," Piper shouted back.

"We're in America?" No wonder it was suddenly mid-morning. The bright sun in Hydra's eyes served to snap her to full wakefulness, which was a good thing considering the danger they were all surely in.

"What are we supposed to do," Loughness asked. Like Hydra, he stood at the ready, wand in hand.

"Ripper supposes we should find Grindelwald to discover that," Ripper said. As he spoke, he glanced about, for once looking more uncertain. Hydra could understand why. If he was here, Grindelwald was going to be hard to spot in this crowd. "We should at least be able to spot someone doing magic then we'll be able to eventually get an idea of what's going on," Hydra said.

"And if we can't, spot someone doing magic, because the crowd is so crowded, I am going to boycott the law that says we can't use magic around Muggles when it's super crowded," Loughness said.

"I don't think the Statute Of Secrecy is just for crowds, Loughness," Hydra said. "Meaning there is no separate law for crowds. There is no law that states, especially in crowds or anything." She continued to scan even as she bantered with her twin as their odd way of coping with the stress of whatever was about to unfold. Rather than seeing magic, she spotted a Muggle car speeding forward, off to the right of them. It got her attention because it was going rather fast even for a Muggle car.

Normally the Muggle cars didn't go so fast in the midst of a milling crowd. When she turned fully to focus on it, she saw that Bella was at the wheel. Hydra and the others watched the surreal scene unfold in horrified confused fascination. Bella's face broke into a wild laugh as she began running Muggles down, swerving to insure she hit them even when they attempted to flee, scrambling futilely over one another in their haste. Was that a goblin in the car at her side? "What? The? Hell?"

"Right," Loughness agreed. "What the hell indeed. I never thought I'd see Bella touching Muggle tech. She's using it to kill Muggles, though, so I suppose it's really her."

"Muggle tech," Ripper asked.

"Muggle technology, in this case that car," Loughness clarified. When they edged closer, they at last spotted Rodolphus and Rabastan. They were talking to a tall man with short dark hair, wide shoulders and Muggle clothes. "Yo, what's happening, aside from the obvious," Loughness asked, hurrying up to Rod.

"Those scrying devices that Gellert and Blaise made and planted in various Muggle and magical government buildings finally paid off. The Aurors were alerted by the one in the Muggle White House, that's it over there, that Delphini was present with some of her following. She appears to be stirring up the Muggles for something." As he spoke, Rodolphus jerked his chin in the direction of a large white manor like building. Hydra hadn't truly registered it earlier due to focusing on all the throngs of people and attempting to find Grindelwald among them. "Wulfric went mongoose and attacked her, but she eventually shifted forms again. She is still playing a slippery game. Bella decided to provide a distraction... You know by running Delphini's followers down."

"Because no one would expect her or most of us to muck about with a Muggle car, it is a distracting distraction indeed," Hydra said and Rodolphus nodded proudly.

"Precisely!"

"These two gentleman were just explaining to me what a Muggle was when you came up," The tall man with the wide shoulders said, giving everyone a bemused glance. His blue eyes widened when they landed on the two elves who stood with Hydra and Loughness. He took a slight step back. "Demons?"

"Nah, elves," Rabastan said. "And the little dude in your car with Bella is a goblin."

The man's face registered shock. That, along with his question about the elves clarified to Hydra clearly that he was, indeed, a Muggle. A Muggle who seemed to be keeping his head for the moment, which was a good thing.

"And Rod had to knock Lyra out because she lost it when she couldn't get into the car with Bella. The goblin, Goriandor his name is I think, has some sort of shield up and no one can Apparate in."

The voice that spoke had a heavy Australian accent. It was one that Hydra did not know. She turned to see a well built young man of average height with short soft looking brown curls and a nearly babyish rounded face. He was holding a young woman in his arms. She was clearly unconscious. Upon studying her for a moment, Hydra noticed that she looked a lot like Bella and a lot like Rod.

"Who," Loughness asked. He was staring at the girl with a startled look on his face that made Hydra quite certain that her face wore the same expression.

"Oh did Wulfric not tell you about your cousin Lyra," Rod asked. Hydra and Loughness shook their heads nearly in unison. "Turns out we had her and forgot her to keep her safe from the Dark Lord. We tucked her away with family in Australia," Rod said calmly. Did nothing ever rattle the man, Hydra wondered.

"You... Had a baby and forgot?"

Rod shrugged. "Sometimes that shit has to happen."

Loughness blinked. "Yeah... but no. Not with most people, I don't think it does."

Rod chuckled. Quickly enough, though, his amusement faded, leaving his expression grave and focused as his eyes tracked Bella's progress. She continued to rampage through the crowd running Muggles and magicals alike down in the car. "We were already becoming aware during those final few years that The Dark Lord was... not quite himself and as such that we could not quite depend on him to think in our own best interests. Even before we remembered what he'd done to us, we were beginning to become more frightened than devoted when it came to him. We hated it, but there it was. We told him we could get him more followers in Australia and we did, but we hid Bella's pregnancy while we were at it. Considering how he treated Draco, we knew he could and would hold any child of ours against us."

Hydra was struggling to process the fact that they had a cousin around their own age who wasn't Malfoy. "But you never told us," she accused.

"We just found out recently plus things have been hectic what with all this Delphini shit," Rodolphus growled. "What do you want from us? Besides, Lyra has been busy helping at the Ministry anyway. She had no time to meet her cousins while they were at school. Today you shall meet."

"The Ministry," Loughness asked. "What, is she some Auror?" Hydra understood the skepticism in his tone. One of the Blacks or Lestranges being an Auror was just a blasted weird concept.

That said, she was nearly relieved when Rodolphus shook his head. "No. Nothing like that. She was using what she learned in her Australian magic school to help them with defenses against Delphini though. Something odd about Auras."

"Aurors," Hydra asked and Rod chuckled, shaking his head.

"See? Told you it was weird. Auras. It's something weird about the energy field around all of us. Part of our soul or life force, supposedly."

"Yeah and she cleanses them and looks at them to know what a person is like," Rabastan said. "She tried to get us into it, but we just can't."

"We can't," Rodolphus agreed dully, his expression long-suffering. "It is too weird."

"Sounds it," Loughness said. "How long has this been going on? Why didn't the Daddies or Kereston tell us?"

"Only a week or so," Rod said. "I doubt they've had time."

Hydra nodded. "That is true. We haven't heard from anyone at home in at least a week and a half. That is until today." She nodded at the two elves, who stood quietly by, staring at the Muggle as he stared at them. Both parties seemed equally fascinated by the other's existence.

"So how did you find her if you forgot?" Loughness asked.

"Lyra found us," Rod said. "When we saw her face to face, the spell of forgetting was undone just as we set it to be when we cast it just before leaving her with Distant Lestrange cousins in Australia. She saw the article Bella posted about how we tried to kill The Dark L... Voldemort first."

Hydra did recall something about Bella posting that in the Daily Prophet so people wouldn't lose their minds entirely when the Lestranges walked about as free citizens once again. Kereston needed them running Azkaban and with Delphini striking at every large establishment, they often came to help the Aurors out as well. "Wow," she said, gazing at her unconscious cousin Lyra. Wow was about all one could say at such a time, after all. "When is she waking up," she wondered.

"When I feel like her waking up," Rodolphus said darkly. "Right now, I don't think she can behave." He glanced back toward the street, and Hydra felt herself doing the same. Only perhaps two minutes had passed, and Bella was still running down Muggles in the Muggle's car. By this time, Delphini's wizards were hurling spells at the moving vehicle, and Delphini's Muggles were shooting at it with their guns. The spells as well as the bullets were bouncing off so the goblin riding with Bella was doing his job.

A scream of fury caused Hydra's gaze to jerk to the left where a girl with oddly colored blueish blonde hair was standing. She wore a long form fitting green dress and a black cloak with the hood thrown back. Her hair streamed in the wind as her youthful face contorted in fury at having her spells blocked by the goblin riding with Bella. It was Delphini, but she looked different now. Not quite as human, and it wasn't just the oddly colored hair. It was something that Hydra couldn't quite put her finger on. Extending her hands toward the Muggle car as it continued to swerve from left to right, running her people down, Delphini cast a huge ball of fire. This the goblin apparently could not deflect, because it struck the car. The fireball seemed to be combined with wind because it swept the car off the ground upon impact. It was then that Hydra saw Wulfric slip up behind Delphini with the sword Graven had made for him at Gellert's behest held firmly in his right hand. Taking advantage of the distraction Bella provided, Wulfric drove the sword home hard, directly into Delphini's back. The girl fell forward as the sword began to literally smoke. Though she appeared to be dead, her fire was not. It engulfed the car.

Bella and the goblin wouldn't survive that. Alarm suddenly shot through Hydra. She opened her mouth to shout a spell of deflect out of reflex, but the words never left her lips. They were unnecessary. Before she could speak, Loughness Apparated from where he stood at Hydra's side. In an instant he was beside the car that held Bella and the goblin. Bella and the goblin were standing directly in front of Loughness with dazed expressions on their faces. The car made a whooshing sound as the fire completely devoured it. Loughness had gotten them out just in time. When Hydra glanced back, Bella was crying and embracing Loughness, who stoically hugged her back. Clearly Bella was feeling her own mortality at that moment, but just as clearly, Loughness hadn't been concerned, quite confident in his ability to rescue her and her goblin friend at the last minute.

"Um what just happened?" The question came from the Muggle whose car Delphini had just quite effectively helped Bella to finish ruining.

As everyone else was occupied with the aftermath of Delphini just getting killed Hydra turned to him with the best smile she could manage considering the current chaotic situation. "A very evil thing just got stabbed in the back with a magic sword." Her lips twitched at the shocked expression on his face. She had pretty much bet on her choice of wording causing that particular expression, after all. Still it was true and succinct.

She came to stand beside the Muggle, watching as Wulfric knelt in front of the now smoking corpse of Delphini. She saw him reach for Delphini's wrist, surely checking for her pulse. Graven stood protectively over him just in case Delphini somehow decided not to be dead. Wulfric grinned and straightened, waving the sword in the air. It's blade was charred and blackened in several places. "It's done! Loughness, come burn her like we planned!"

Rodolphus, Rabastan, and an Auror with short spiky blond hair had come to surround Bella and the goblin, so Loughness was able to break away to go attend to Delphini's body. During their defense training, Gellert decided that Wulfric would kill Delphini and then Loughness would burn the body. Gellert felt that Loughness's half and half magic would make the disposal of her remains even stronger and more final. Hydra watched, an oddly dazed yet triumphant feeling in her chest, as her brother strode over and casually burned Delphini's remains to ash with a glance. The body was no more in a matter of about three seconds.

With a gesture, Loughness created a breeze that carried the ash away as if Delphini had never been there. "It seems so easy, but it was so hard to corner her," she murmured, half to the Muggle and half to herself. "She really had everyone chasing their tails for at least a year, and she was dangerous in the worst of ways. The sort of way that gets a hold of one's mind. She was even controlling the Muggles."

"Not me," the man said. He didn't look overly impressed, and Hydra's lips twitched.

"No. Not you," she agreed.

Chapter Text

Chapter 27, The Return Of A King

"So sorry, I haven't asked your name! I'm Hydra Black, by the by." What with the current madness, Hydra had completely forgotten her manners.

The Muggle smiled. "Well hello there, Hydra. I am Arthur. Um..." He glanced in the direction of Rodolphus and co, who still surrounded Bellatrix and the goblin. "Rod seems to believe something strange." Hydra nodded. "Nothing new. It's just how the Lestranges are. A bit mad but good and loyal people if they like you."

"Well I feel a bit insane myself even saying it, but they seem to believe me to be King Arthur reborn or... the closest thing this world has, I believe were Rod's exact words." The man's face was apologetic and Hydra found herself giving him a reassuring smile.

"I'm sure if they believe this... there might be a good reason." Sometimes they have good reasons. Our friend Severus has been talking to Merlin and Nimue through some sort of crystal for years because of some future trouble that is supposed to be coming," she said. Even as she spoke, she realized that the future trouble was most likely Delphini! How had she not put that together before? Likely because Severus hadn't mentioned Merlin and Nimue for years. The communication was done mentally and often rather spotty, after all, so not entirely reliable. If they'd said something to indicate that this man was Arthur, though, perhaps he was.

"Why must he speak to them through a crystal, though," Arthur asked doubtfully. "Merlin and Nimue are real?"

"Reborn," Hydra said. "Not even Merlin can live that long! They're hiding in another world, but they can't remember why, apparently, so we don't know why either before you ask. It's all rather spotty if you ask me, and I've never spoken to them."

"So because of this, I am Arthur," the nice Muggle asked doubtfully.

Knowing how mad it all sounded, Hydra gave him a sympathetic smile as she shrugged. "Hm,"Hydra said. "Sounds like a good reason in potential."" Before she could dedicate the amount of thought to that that she'd like to, Arthur was asking her a lot of questions.

"What is going to happen now? Are we going to get in trouble for killing that woman, or rather standing by while that guy did it? Was she even a woman? The way the sword was smoking made me wonder if she was a robot instead, but then there's the magic and the elves and goblins, so... Do wizards all smoke and char sword blades when they die? Is everything in the world going to change now that goblins and elves are... out or whatever you want to call it?"

Hydra paused for a moment to collect her thoughts and then to mentally organize his questions into something she could answer without taking ten years to do so. "Well... Um... Delphini was special in the worst of ways. Not fully human if human at all. Created by a very dark wizard, and definitely part snake."

She couldn't help but shudder as she spoke those final words. "So no, magical folk don't smoke and char sword blades when stabbed as a rule. We just bleed a lot like everyone else does. I don't think anyone is getting into trouble for killing her, because she was evil and doing a lot of harm. The Ministry will surely clean it all up and make it look like something happened that the Muggles can handle. The Ministry shall also cover up the appearance of goblins and elves if anyone else happened to have noticed, because no, they aren't trying to come out to the Muggles. It never ends well. They've tried a few times over the centuries, and it's always been very bad."

"Ministry," Arthur asked. "What? Like something religious? Is this some sort of weird religious thing, because it doesn't really sound like it. And what do you mean bad, like the Salem witch trials? Only I've never heard of goblins and elves being mentioned, just witches."

Hydra smiled, then proceeded to explain as succinct a manner as possible all about the Ministry and Hogsmeade and the various things for which magic was used. Arthur listened with rapt attention, not interrupting even once. As she spoke, Rod wandered over once, gave a nod of approval, then headed back to Bellatrix. When Hydra glanced their way again, Kereston along with Gellert and Blaise had joined the little group. "Are you alright," Hydra asked Arthur. She was a little concerned, considering he hadn't spoken once since she'd concluded her explanation of magical society.

"I... Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just processing it all," Arthur said.

Hydra gave him a relieved smile. "Good! Good that you're okay, because I think they may be annoyed if I accidentally broke you."

Arthur chuckled. "No. I'm afraid it would take more than that."

"Good to know," Hydra said. "I'd like to say that nothing else will happen, but something tells me that things shall still be a bit unsettled for a while." Before she could get into explaining about the magical revolution that Delphini's attacks had sort of flowed down a bit, Loughness walked over with Kereston. "Meet our Minister For Magic," he told Arthur proudly.

He had a hand on Kereston's shoulder, and it was then that Hydra suddenly noticed how grown up her nearly seventeen-year-old twin was looking these days. Muscular and taller and a new hardness to his face, with all the child like softer lines having faded away quite without Hydra's noticing. Being half elf, they would never be super tall, but Loughness was nearly as tall as Kereston, who was rather short for a human at about 1.4986 meters.

"Ah, so that means you run things," Arthur observed, smiling politely at Kereston who smiled back as she nodded.

"It isn't at all fun of late, but I do my best." She looked suddenly tired, which made Hydra wonder if she'd even gotten any sleep at all. Considering this had happened in the middle of the night U.K. time, likely not.

"You look tired. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You've already been helping by explaining things to Arthur, and thank you," Kereston told her warmly. "Speaking of help, though, Rodolphus believes that you might be of help when it comes to dealing with the Muggle aspects of all this," Kereston said, directing the statement to a surprised looking Arthur.

"Well, of course if I can," he said. "Though Rodolphus seems to believe,"

"That you are the closest thing to King Arthur, yes," Kereston nodded.

"Is there any way that I could speak to Merlin and Nimue, then," Arthur asked."If so, perhaps they could give me some direction in all of this."

Hydra frowned."Well as magic has to be used to speak to them between the worlds, it may be difficult, considering you have none," she said apologetically

It was then that Bella and her group approached. The bloke with the baby face and soft curly brown hair still carried Bella and Rod's daughter Lyra. Idly Hydra wondered how long Rodolphus planned to keep her asleep. It was getting weird.

"There's the woman I allowed to destroy my car for some entirely unknown reason!" Arthur exclaimed.

The friendly smile on his face as he spoke was unsettling. Not because there was anything wrong with it, but because it made Bellatrix smile back. Bellatrix smiling sincerely at a Muggle was most definitely unsettling! Normally she got that mad gleam in her eye and her wand hand twitched at the mere mention of Muggles. "Hello there," she greeted Arthur. "Thank you for the use of your car. It was surprisingly enjoyable to drive."

"It's not a drive worth driving if it's not a Porsche," Arthur said fervently. "Sweetest most powerful car made, at least in modern times." He chuckled. "Though until you, I never thought of it as a weapon before. I can never unthink that now, but I won't use it in such a way."

"So are you a car salesman or something," Bellatrix asked and Arthur laughed. The sound was low, warm and oddly comforting.

"No. Not at all. I don't think I'd be good at selling much of anything. I joined the army to pay my way through school but ended up teaching martial arts. I have a studio in the next town over."

"Does he know he's the closest thing there is to the original King Arthur," Bellatrix asked Hydra.

"I explained that a bit, yes. He wants to talk to Merlin and Nimue, but I said I'm not sure that can be done without magic."

Rodolphus laughed. "A Muggle with requests we can't meet. He must be a king! Kings always make impossible demands, after all."

Chapter Text

Chapter 28, The Calm In The Storm

Albus arrived next, and things got a bit chaotic. Apparently he'd been helping elsewhere by ending a dragon that Delphini was using for something. The fact that one could make such a casual comment about Delphini and a dragon clearly illustrated the insane amount of power the girl had due to whatever Voldemort did to create her. Albus had handled the demise of this dragon with the assistance of elf and Acromantula Aurors. Now that it was all over, he just wanted to hug his son, and Hydra understood that.

It made her wish her parents were here to hug her. "Everyone to Auror Headquarters," Gellert ordered suddenly. "There is work to be done that cannot be done in Muggle territory and the longer we are standing around here, the more unwanted attention we shall draw. Rodolphus, bring Arthur along. Everyone link hands. I have a Portkey."

Everyone made a hasty chain of linked hands, and soon they were in the British Ministry of Magic standing in the middle of Auror Headquarters. "I'll put on the coffee," A young, pretty Auror with short spiky blond hair and a lilting Spanish accent called. That must be Romeo's wife, Hydra realized. T. Valdez was her name. Hydra had heard Guillermo speak of her often. He liked his sister-in-law very much, and now Hydra could see why. Coffee sounded amazing! "Can I help," she called, hurrying over.

It felt as if everyone was talking at once, and she found herself swaying slightly on her feet. It had been a long day, with very little sleep, no energy draft and now that Delphine was dead, it was all catching up to her. She knew if she didn't start moving and keep moving, she was quite likely to fall asleep on her feet. This would be embarrassing,and she could not have that. "Thanks," T. Valdez replied cheerfully. "There are four pots, so I'll get the two on this side of the room going,and you see to those on the other side. Every Auror was out there, so they'll all need some coffee!"

Hydra busied herself with the making then the drinking of said coffee. It helped, but not enough. As long as she kept moving, the coffee could fuel her, but if she sat or stood still for too long, she knew the lack of sleep would quickly catch up to her. Shaking herself, she glanced around for something to do. Kereston, Gellert and Romeo were talking to Arthur, and it appeared that he'd advised them to go with terrorism for what had just happened.

Kereston Apparated away to go and deal with the various magical and Muggle governments who would need to be made aware. Kereston's departure paved the way for Hydra's own next course of action. Her friends at Hogwarts would be worried, and they would be wanting updates. She'd attend to that and then return. "Going to tell Sortia and the rest what's happened," she called to her twin. He gave her a thumbs up, and she Apparated away.

Once on Hogwarts grounds, she sprinted toward the castle, arms pumping as her hair blew in the fresh spring breeze. Stretching her arms and legs felt good, and the rapid movement served to wake her up, at least for the time being. Not until entering the castle, and having to pause and wonder where she should look for everyone, did it occur to Hydra that she had no idea what time it was. From the look of the sky, it appeared to be early morning, perhaps just after breakfast.

Unfortunately, this meant that everyone would be in class. Would she lose points for not being in class? Well hell, she hoped not, because Albus wasn't in class either. Not that he had a class, being Headmaster, but still. She wasn't about to sit down in Transfigurations class while so much was still happening in Muggle Washington! No bloody way was that about to happen.

As her friends were all in class, she decided to report the news to her head of house instead. Filius would be after news as much as anyone, and he'd certainly fill James, Sortia and Guillermo in on things personally if she asked him to. Hydra tapped on the door before she entered the charms class. Flitwick was demonstrating a charm for keeping one's quill pen eternally sharp to a class of second years, but he stopped when he saw her enter. She approached and pitched her voice to a near whisper so as not to be overheard by the class. "I have news." She had no idea how much the Ministry would want people knowing. Of course the fact that Delphini was dead would be publicized and celebrated, but all the ins and outs of it including Bella running down a bunch of Muggles who Delphini apparently had working for her,may be something that should not be spread to the general public. Hydra didn't care about Muggles overly much in most cases, and these were on the wrong side. Muggle or not, she had no qualms about the enemy being taken down. Other softer souls may disagree, preferring to see magical and Muggle criminals alike taking up space and tax galleons in prison. She found this ridiculous. Flitwick's eyes widened and he nodded once, before turning to the class.

"Write me a page long essay on the various ways this charm can be applied. You shall be graded on the amount of uses you can find for it."

"But professor!" A red haired girl in Hufflepuff robes waved her hand desperately. "How many uses can one have for a quill pen! You write with it. That's all."

"Untrue," a small blond Gryffindor boy called out. "You could tickle someone with the feather!"

"Yes, but it doesn't need to be sharp for that," the Hufflepuff girl replied condescendingly.

"Hey but you could jab someone in the eye with it," a dark haired Slytherin girl said.

"Or in the throat," a Ravenclaw boy with frizzy red curls seated at her side called excitedly.

Hydra kept from laughing with difficulty as the impromptu discussion unfolded. Flitwick's lips twitched a few times, and when the final boy spoke, he shook his head, at last giving a small chuckle.

"While you are all thinking, which is good, you aren't thinking in the proper direction. I did not intend you to focus only on quills. I intended you to focus on what the charm does."

"Oh, like using it to sharpen other things," the dark haired Slytherin girl said.

He nodded. "Precisely. Though now that we've uncovered it, half the point has been given away," Flitwick complained.

"He said point, get it... Cause we're talking about sharpening?" The Ravenclaw boy with the frizzy hair snickered, jabbing the Slytherin at his side in the ribs with an elbow.

"Write your essays," Filius said. He gave the class an amused smile before turning toward the door, gesturing for Hydra to follow him out into the hall. As soon as the door to the charms class closed behind them, Flitwick spun his wand, causing the air to shimmer in blue around them for an instant. Hydra recognized the charm as a shield of silence with built in guards against the use of magical eaves dropping spells. "Well," he said, regarding Hydra expectantly.

"Everyone is fine and she's dead," Hydra said in a rush. Though she planned to give him all the details, she wanted to get the important bit that may have him most worried out of the way at once. He should at least be spared from worrying.

"Everyone is fine," Filius asked incredulously. "Grindelwald's shields are very good, but Delphini had a disconcerting way of unraveling magic. It was unlike anything I have ever seen!"

"Yes, well I don't really know for sure if every single Auror survived, but everyone that we know personally is fine. I didn't see any dead bodies. Gellert did take her skills into account,and had elves and goblins helping too, remember."

Filius nodded. "Yes, yes. It's just... so hard to believe it's all over at last." He blinked, then shook his head as if to clear it, wiping at his eyes. "Finally... Finally!"

She nodded and reached impulsively to give her head of house a hug. Flitwick hugged back hard, then stepped away. "Now I am beyond eager to hear every single detail! What happened?" Hydra told him everything. When she got to the bit where Bellatrix drove the Muggle car he nearly choked. His eyes grew round in fascination when she explained that many believed the Muggle who had given over said car was some representation of Arthur. "Fascinating," he breathed. "I shall be eager to meet him so that I can form my own opinion." When Hydra described how Wulfric had gotten Delphini from behind with a sword in the back, Flitwick let out a gleeful cheer, clapping his hands together ecstatically. "At last it is over!"

Hydra nodded grimly. Though he'd already expressed the sentiment earlier, she understood just how difficult it was to believe after this entire surreal, horrifying situation. "It is finally over. She is dead along with Whatever Voldemort made her for. Whatever it was, it shall never come to pass. We won. We finally won." Filius gave her a quick hug, thanking her for coming to share the news. "I must return to my class now, or they shall be running amuck if I am gone much longer, and all the houses shall lose points."

"Do tell Severus and my friends what happened, won't you?"

"Of course," Filius promised. "I'm sure Albus has at least written Severus that all is well by now, but I shall give him along with Sortia, Guillermo and James all the details that you have shared with me. I shall take them all aside at lunch."

"Thank you," Hydra said. Though she'd walked into the castle so as not to disrupt anything by simply Apparating in without even knowing what time it was, she Apparated out and back into Auror Headquarters. Everyone was still sorting what had to be done next, and it was a bit of general organized chaos. She found Albus and told him that she'd reported to Flitwick, who would report to everyone else. He was with Arthur and the Lestranges.

Her cousin Lyra was awake and as such, no longer being carried by her pretty boy boyfriend with the curly hair. She looked in such a dark mood that Hydra nearly decided not to introduce herself just yet, but after speaking to Albus, she couldn't resist touching Lyra's arm and giving her a slight smile. "Hi. I'm your cousin Hydra. Second cousin or something, I think, it all gets rather confusing.""

Lyra's dark look gave way to a warm smile, which changed the look of her jaw dramatically from belligerent to beautiful. "Hi! I met your brother while you were away." Her accent was as heavy on the Australian as her boyfriend's, which was expected considering she'd grown up there. Hearing a Lestrange sounding all Australian was a bit disconcerting for some reason. "I can't believe my bloody bio-parents kept me knocked out through all the interesting bits!" Lyra complained.

"Bio-parents?" Hydra couldn't help asking.

"Yeah, well the people who raised me are technically distant cousins, but they feel like my parents. I hardly know Rodolphus and Bellatrix, yet they demand that I call them Mum and Dad... So I call them Bio-Mum and Bio-Dad, you know, because they are my biological parents."

"She calls them that except when she forgets to," the pretty boy said, flashing an amused grin at Lyra. "After a few family heart to hearts, she's slipped more than once and just called them Mum and Dad."

"This is my boyfriend Cassius," Lyra said. "He's a total kiss-ass fan boy to my parents for some weird reason." She sighed, and gave her head of long dark hair a disgusted shake.

Hydra smiled politely, not really knowing what to say to that. "It's grand to have more young people in the family," she said.

"I know! I can't wait to get to know you and your brother as well," Lyra replied warmly. "With Delphini finally put out of our misery, we should finally have the opportunity for some much needed family bonding! Cassius and I were helping with fighting Delphini and her lot too, you know, so now we shall happily be at loose ends for a bit at least."

"I heard about what you do with the Auras or something," Hydra said. "But what does Cassius do?"

"I unlock things,"Cassius said cheerfully. "With magic!"

Hydra blinked, finding herself in a rare state of perplexed confusion. "What, like locks on doors or something?"

Cassius chuckled, shaking his head. "No, like spells, charms, hexes and the like."

Hydra felt her eyes widen! She'd never heard of anything like that before. "Fascinating," she breathed.

"Perhaps, but I hear you and your twin have some interesting tricks yourselves, being half elf and all,"Lyra said. Hydra blinked, running a hand across her face. She could feel her mixed features, Daddy Kreacher's nose, Daddy Regulus's cheeks, lips and chin. Her elf ears were bespelled to appear to the eye as human shaped ears. Even to Hydra's own eyes in the mirror, though if she touched them, they were as pointed and near bat like as any elf's ears ever were. Lyra surely saw the same small but perfectly human features that anyone else saw when looking at Hydra or Loughness, yet she still recalled that they were half elf. Even better, she recalled it with no judgement or distaste. "It is pretty sweet," she agreed with a grin.

"Your parents are... most unusual," Lyra said carefully. "It must have been interesting growing up with them." Cassius's lips twitched...

Hydra chuckled. "It definitely was that." The three talked for some time. The conversation flowed effortlessly from topic to topic. When Loughness and Rodolphus found them seated at a corner table in the back of Auror Headquarters with their third cups of coffee, several hours had passed. "We're heading home to Raven's Nest," Rodolphus informed. Raven's Nest was the name he and Bella had given to their manor. "Your parents are joining us there. Loughness went to Grimmauld at sunset to report to them so they would not worry. Now we're meeting at ours to continue sorting things in comfort."

"May I come along," Hydra asked. She wished to know what was happening next, and she wanted to see her parents.

"Of course," Rodolphus said. "We shall see you and Loughness at the Nest. Arthur is coming along with us." Hydra nodded, then Apparated to the stately front door of Raven's Nest manor. Though it was not far from downtown London, it still counted for the suburbs, set on a side street where the stately houses were a goodly distance apart from one another. There was a cloaking spell so that no one who may be watching from the street could notice people Apparating onto the porch as Hydra had just done.

When she rang the bell, the Lestrange house elf, Harold, opened it to her. He wore a long black tunic with ravens on, and sported a plague doctor mask because it strongly resembled the Lestrange family raven skull emblem. It served to hide the elf's face so one never knew what expression he had, but Hydra had gotten used to it so it was no longer disconcerting. The Lestranges had killed Harold's original master on one of their inside jobs for the Ministry a few years back. He'd asked to come and work for them as a result. Apparently he'd no love for his master who never treated him particularly well, but he did rather fancy the Lestranges even down to willingly wearing Bellatrix's weird idea of a suitable house elf uniform, plague doctor mask and all.

"Do come in," Harold said, holding the ornate oak front door open for Hydra. "Miss Hydra's parents are already in the library."

Hydra smiled and thanked Harold before heading in that direction. She heard Daddy Regulus speaking to Bella as she approached. Not wishing to interrupt, she stood quietly in the doorway, watching while everyone had their richly earned moment.

"And Bella, you crazy bitch!" Regulus reached across the reading table in the center of the library around which they were all gathered and dragged Bellatrix in for a tight hug. "You know absolutely nothing about Muggle cars! You could've gotten yourself killed, which would've been very inconsiderate to the rest of us. Loughness told me everything."

"Hey, I gave her all the basics in like...two seconds," Arthur interjected with a laugh. "She did great for what she was using it for. She didn't hit a single pole."

"That's Arthur, Dad," Loughness said excitedly.

"Hi there!" Arthur smiled at Regulus and Kreacher. "You are the first real vampires I have ever met. I was just beginning to adjust to the fact that elves, goblins, magic, and such are all real things, then Rabastan informs me that his weird cousins are vampires!"

"Rabastan Lestrange calling us weird is rather amazing," Regulus said with a chuckle. "It is an honor to meet you, Arthur." He bowed from the waist in an easy elegant gesture that said clearer than words that he also considered Arthur to be rather important as in The reborn Arthur!

"See, Dad? I told you it was probably really him," Loughness said. Regulus nodded, reaching to give Loughness a hug. "Indeed you did, son. And I can't say enough how proud I am of the part you played in all of this!"

Loughness looked as if he wanted to be uncomfortable with the hug but relaxed into Regulus's chest instead before hugging back hard. Apparently parental approval meant a lot no matter how cavalier he acted about it most of the time.

When Regulus at last released Loughness, Kreacher took his turn embracing his son. "Without Loughness's magic, Delphini may not have been fully destroyed for all we know. Kreacher finds it fitting that he and Master Regulus created that which took any final trace of Voldemort out for good, after what he did to us."

"As do I," Loughness said gravely. "I'd always take care of the fam, but now I've made my first step on the path to greatness!"

Bellatrix gave a snicker that she tried to pretend was a cough and Loughness grinned over at her.

"There's Hydra," Lyra called, and Hydra stepped into the room. "I was wondering where you'd got to. Come sit beside me. I saved you a seat."

Hydra smiled and headed over to her cousin, but daddy Regulus accosted her before she could get half way across the room. Hugging her, he swept her off her feet and spun her around. "Thank you for keeping yourself safe and helping out with Arthur, precious girl."

"I should've done more," Hydra muttered, feeling her cheeks flush. "I felt rather useless."

"Not at all," Regulus said firmly. "You were back up and we all have our strength. Playing within them and not forcing ourselves to be other than we should be is where our strengths are. You are a stabilizing force that we all need."

Hydra nodded, forcing herself to accept the compliment along with her father's words of wisdom as she embraced him in return.

Chapter Text

Chapter 29, Muggle Studies 101

"I think I'll return to the Ministry to wait on Kereston," Loughness said. "You know, in case she needs help with anything after speaking to the other governments. Everyone else has likely gone home, after all."

"Good thought," Hydra said, giving her twin an approving smile. Loughness was really becoming responsible.

"Not to mention it gives him more time with his crush," Bellatrix teased, poking Loughness in the shoulder with a finger. They both burst into laughter, and Hydra decided that she wasn't the only one who hadn't gotten nearly enough sleep. When Loughness left, everyone migrated into the dining room, because as Rabastan said, it just felt more soothing. Even though the worst was over, at least when it came to Delphini, a bit of soothing was still in order after such a day. Even when wars ended well, they were still wars, and war was always unpleasant, taking a toll on even the victors.

Harold made a pot of tea and when he placed it on the table, he joined the others to have a cup rather than retreating into the kitchen. The elf usually kept to himself, but even he wanted all the news of Delphini's end. Not to mention he had to be curious about Arthur. Hydra was quite certain that a Muggle had never ever graced the Lestranges home before, after all.

Rabastan caught Harold up on everything while everyone else listened. Somehow the elf managed to convey a sense of being impressed over Bellatrix's wild ride in Arthur's car even with his plague doctor mask hiding any expression. "Harold is sorry to have missed it," he said. Hydra detected a true note of sincerity in his slightly muffled tone.

Bellatrix grinned. "It would've been brilliant to have you along for back up."

"Next time," Harold promised with a smile in his voice.

"So is the plague doctor mask magical," Arthur wondered.

Rabastan smirked. "No. It just looks creepy as hell, don't you think?"

Arthur nodded in sage agreement. "It certainly does," he agreed. "And it matches your Gothic aesthetic," he added, glancing around the dining room. The dark wallpaper was covered in abstract raven designs, and the chandelier above them was heavy twisted iron and shimmering black crystal. Harold certainly fit in as he moved about pouring tea and setting out sandwiches and cakes. Rod snatched up a sandwich at once, clearly ravenous. Arthur took a sandwich as well, giving Harold a smile of appreciation.

"I'm not sure if magic food is better or if it's just because it's British food, but this is very good! Thank you, Harold."

"Arthur is welcome," Harold replied politely. "Harold has never eaten Muggle British food, so he cannot help to answer Arthur's question."

"None of us have," Bellatrix added.

"Some other wizards we know have tried Muggle food for various reasons and to various degrees, so the next time we're around any of them, I'll try to remember to bring it up," Rabastan said. "I should think wizarding food is better, though."

"I feel as if we're in Muggle studies," Hydra announced with a chuckle as she took a sandwich for herself. She hoped that eating would give her more strength and energy. Rabastan took one as well and two cakes. Regulus and Kreacher simply watched the others eat in that weird vampire way that plainly said food was now a foreign entity to which they could no longer relate.

"So to be clear, we are all gathered here to continue Arthur's magical education so that he can continue to help us with any future shit storms," Rabastan said.

"Where to start," Rodolphus mused, leaning thoughtfully back in his chair. "We have a lot to tell you," he said, regarding Arthur as he spoke. "It's a matter of where to start, though. With the things you may personally be interested in or the history of it all."

"I'd say history, as that shit always repeats," Arthur said dryly.

"Sounds right," Rabastan agreed with a grin.

And so they began by explaining the Muggle vs wizarding wars, so Arthur would understand why Muggles were awful and mostly needed to die. "So that's why Muggles are mostly evil and need to die," Bellatrix concluded.

Arthur frowned skeptically. "And you don't believe the wizards could've had a hand in any of the problems that led up to these wars? You don't think maybe the wizards used the magical power they held over…Muggles to their advantage?"

"Like how," Rabastan asked doubtfully.

"Well, let's say you really like my Porsche, and you just take it from me with magic because you can when I refuse to sell. Or maybe you don't even ask if I'll sell it because you can just take it from me with magic because I have no magic, so I can't very well stop you. People are fundamentally shitty for the most part, if we're being honest. Wizards are people so you know they played their part in the shitty behavior that went down between Muggles and wizards. Muggles is such a silly sounding word, by the way," he complained.

"Well, we didn't make it up," Rabastan assured. "It's been around forever."

"Perhaps wizards use a silly sounding word to belittle something they fear," Harold murmured, then flashed a look to Bellatrix and Rodolphus. The light glinted off the round glass goggles in his plague mask as he moved his head. "Harold is sorry," he said hastily.

Bellatrix blinked. "Sorry? What'd you do?"

"Harold just said..." the elf trailed off.

Bellatrix shrugged." As Rabastan pointed out, we didn't invent the word. Why would we care?"

Harold hesitated, then drew in a deep breath. "Just...Harold didn't mean that the three of you are frightened of Muggles. Just he thinks some wizards are, and perhaps the name was invented by people who needed to diminish that which they fear. Like the way the Muggles began calling magical, powerful beings the fair folk and little people to make them appear more harmless."

Hydra was impressed. Harold was insightful. The fact that he was concerned that the Lestranges would be displeased, clearly had nothing to do with his relationship with them, but more to do with what he expected of humans in general. This was likely due to his up-bringing. Sadly he likely shared a similar upbringing to many other elves. Had he truly been concerned that the Lestranges would take issue with him, he certainly would not have opened his mouth. He seemed too relaxed in their presence to truly fear them, but watching him provided a clear illustration to Hydra of just how hard elf habits were to break.

For his part, Arthur looked back and forth between Harold and the Lestranges with an expression of open fascination on his face. Hydra could not help regarding Arthur much in the same way. It was deeply fascinating having the opportunity to watch a Muggle's reactions to such deep wizarding issues.

"Why would wizards fear Muggles," Rabastan asked. "We have the magic, after all, and they aren't shit."

Harold shrugged. "Because they won the war," he said simply. "And the war after that and the one after that and..."

"We get your point," Bellatrix said through gritted teeth. Clearly she did not enjoy the pointed reminder.

"How did the Muggles keep winning, though," Arthur asked.

"By vastly outnumbering us," Rodolphus said. "Muggles breed like bugs while we take far longer to do so, for some reason."

"Ah," Arthur said. "That makes sense. If wizards outnumbered Muggles, or even had similar numbers, magic would win out for sure. Do you think it's something about magic in the genetics that makes it harder for you lot to breed?"

"Certainly, though precisely what is unknown," Rodolphus said. "Magic doesn't appear to show up in blood as a tangible phenomena. Instead it appears to be an advancement of the mind. It shouldn't interfere with breeding, yet it seems to do so anyway."

"That is odd," Arthur mused. "Well, apparently not even magic provides all the answers."

"Not all of them," Rabastan agreed with a sigh. "If it did, we'd have no trouble with the Muggles."

"You have trouble with one another too," Arthur pointed out. "Wasn't this Delphini person magic?" They all nodded, even Harold.

Bellatrix gave a happy sigh, a dreamy expression crossing her face. "It sounds so beautiful when you say 'wasn't' like that."

Arthur grinned. "Compliments will get you most places, m'lady."

"You're right. Humans are fundamentally evil, but we can stop the wizards faster than the Muggles, because again there are fewer of them," Rodolphus explained.

"What gives wizards more of a right to be evil than Muggles, though," Arthur pressed. "I mean, you all dislike Muggles basically because they won, right?"

The Lestranges exchanged a glance. "It gets more complicated than that but in part, sure," Rodolphus said.

"Well, what gives wizards more rights, especially if they keep losing," Arthur asked.

"Because we're better!" Bellatrix exclaimed, drawing herself up in her chair. "You know we are. We just brought you to our home in less than three seconds, and your airport thing would've taken far longer. Wizards are like diamonds, and Muggles are like common rocks on the ground, valueless and too plentiful to matter."

Arthur just stared at her blankly. Or was that disappointment on his face? Bellatrix seemed to take it as such, because she sighed, then glared. "Well, you're different, obviously."

"Why?"

"You already know why! Because you helped us. Because you're bloody Arthur."

Arthur shook his head. "I may not be. We don't really know. And so I helped you. What if other Muggles would've helped you?"

Bellatrix shook her head. "I doubt it. No one stopped their cars but you."

"Alright," Arthur said. "Fair enough. Most of them don't stop their cars for one another either."

"So they may be shittier than wizards," Rabastan said happily.

"Well, with them...us being far more plentiful, unfortunately, they have far more chances to be shittier if you do the math," Arthur said.

"There are fewer elves than there are wizards, yet elves are more powerful," Hydra spoke up quietly. "Just as wizards are more powerful than Muggles, elves are more powerful than wizards. It has a messed up symmetry, doesn't it? There is a stone more rare than a diamond, Bella. It's called Painite, and it's usually a pinkish to pinkish red, but it can come in brown and in some lights can even look green."

"Interesting," Bellatrix said.

"Hey, is that shit real," Rabastan asked. "I mean it sounds like it has the word pain in it, and you know how much we enjoy hurting people… So are you just fucking with us?"

Hydra laughed, shaking her head. "No. That's really the name of the stone. It's so rare that Mag doesn't even have any." She flashed a quick apologetic look to Arthur. "Mag is a friend who makes wands, among other things. Her wands are made of crystal and other stones and have twice the strength of the wooden wands most wizards and witches use."

"Why are wands necessary at all, if the magic is in you people, though," Arthur asked. It was fascinating to see how Muggles thought, especially the smart ones.

Hydra exchanged a grin with Regulus, who clearly shared her amusement. "We still have a lot to explain to you tonight," she told Arthur. "Harold, we may need coffee."

Chapter Text

Chapter 30, Mirror Mirror, On The Wall, Who Has The Purest Blood Of All?

The conversation strayed from history for a bit while everyone, save for Bella, explained wands versus wandless magic to Arthur, and how the wand chose the wizard unless Mag Snape made them one. For her part, Bella sat staring thoughtfully into space, allowing the conversation to flow around her.

It was finally Rod who returned to the topic of history, picking up with the founders of Hogwarts creating the school after the last wizarding versus Muggle war of their own time. He told of the Ilvermorny school in America as well since Arthur was American. Then he touched on Durmstrang and the other European schools.

"There are magic schools in most countries," he concluded.

"It's fascinating that there is so much hidden in plain sight," Arthur marveled. "I mean, I knew there were things that exist that I can't see, like ghosts. I just never considered magic to be one of those things. When... we Muggles read of magic or watch stories about it on TV, it's called fantasy, because it all seems so wonderful. It doesn't seem anything but dangerous right now, though the fast travel is really nice!"

"Magic is just a way of life for us, but the few times I've had to venture out and exist, even for a moment, like a Muggle, it most definitely seems wonderful," Bellatrix said. "It allows us to do things far easier and faster for one thing. For another, it allows us abilities that Muggles will never possess, such as invisibility."

"Too right," Rod agreed, nodding fervently.

"Invisibility," Arthur breathed. "Yeah, that is a good one."

"And life extension, all sorts of neat creatures, and preserving ancient books," Hydra was quick to add. "I could go on and on. For us all that is normal, but that's why Muggle life seems so horrifying."

"Fine, fine, magic is great," Arthur conceded with a chuckle. "Point taken. Just the bits where wizards even go after one another and other magical creatures made it look not so enticing for a minute."

"Why," Hydra asked. "Muggles do the same, as we've already established."

Arthur nodded. "Yes, but wizards have ways of doing it that I could never combat so I feel unsafe when I think on it for too long."

"Yeah," Rod agreed. "There is that. A good thing you have us to keep you safe, then."

Arthur grinned. "Too right."

Hydra picked up the history lesson by expounding on the various Dark Lords who'd risen to power over the centuries. "The last few were Grindelwald, who you met today, Voldemort, who we're about to get into, and Delphini I guess, who we just killed the hell out of."

"Spoken like a Slytherin, even if you are a Ravenclaw," Rabastan told Hydra with a pleased grin.

"I killed faster than my Slytherin brother when we did simulations in Defense class at Hogwarts," Hydra bragged proudly.

"Damn, we never got kill simulations in Defense class," Rabastan complained. Rodolphus and Bellatrix nodded in glum unison.

"School has become far more productive," Regulus said with a pleased smile. "After Voldemort, more of us parents on the board pushed for a bit more practical knowledge against serious threats."

"Good for you," Bellatrix said with a nod of approval.

"So all these Dark Lords want to stir shit up for one reason or other," Arthur asked.

"Some just wanted to gather a lot of power, but these latest three, yes," Hydra said. "Grindelwald, at least, really did intend to help wizarding kind, where Voldemort and his baby girl were just evil and messed up."

"Baby girl," Rabastan snickered in appreciation. "Some fucking baby girl."

Rod smirked. "To become a Dark Lord you have to be above the rest in more ways than one, or it won't work," he told Arthur. "In Grindelwald's case he's a genius, and stronger in most areas of magic than anyone else, but there are a few on his level, though he lacks his former ambitions."

"Yeah," Hydra enthused. "The great thing about him being around to help against Delphini is, like, it was a matter of who could out Dark Lord whom, and he is older with more experience so we lucked out."

"Hey, it was more than that," Rabastan said. "All of us helped, yourself included, young lady, and we're all very brilliant wizards, I'll have you know."

Hydra nodded. "That's very true. The cream of the crop of several generations was here to help Gellert, yet Delphini still gave us a hell of a struggle."

"We had lots of things in the bag that we never even got a chance to use," Rabastan grumbled. "Like the linking of wands that Regi never sorted how to do in time, and the finding home shit."

"Do not call me that, Rabastan. You know how much I hate it!" Regulus scowled at Rabastan who pointedly and smoothly ignored him. Hydra struggled to keep her lips from twitching. When Rabastan wasn't annoying, he really was funny! Likely Daddy Regulus did not wish for Arthur to mistakenly believe he would ever answer to Regi. Though she was curious about how and why they had intended to link their wands, another thought struck her.

"I'd not worry about that," she murmured in reply to Rabastan. A pensive frown suddenly crossed her face as she propped her arms on the heavy oak table. As she leaned forward, her long, black hair fell across one shoulder and Kreacher reached fondly over to push it back. She gave him a distracted smile that she knew hadn't reached her eyes due to the growing pit of dread suddenly making itself known in her stomach. "As was said earlier, everyone is inherently shitty so things won't remain peaceful for long. The wizards that don't have their magic are going to start some sort of trouble that we likely won't be able to predict, because who can predict crazy ever? And if we restore their magic, they'll start trouble in a different way for another reason. At least that one is more obvious."

"You mean the elves, Acromantulas, goblins, and such being given proper jobs and opportunities etc," Bellatrix asked, and Hydra nodded.

"Exactly. So any contingencies that you worked out with Grindelwald like linking wands that you didn't get to use against Delphini will likely still be needed. Nothing was wasted."

"I would prefer some wasted effort if it meant a break," Rabastan whined, and Bellatrix nodded in agreement.

"Indeed," she murmured.

"Why don't a lot of the wizards have their magic," Arthur asked.

"Because we decided to completely restructure the rubbish Ministry that never protected us against Voldemort," Regulus explained.

Taking turns, they told Arthur what Grindelwald had attempted to do, and how he'd failed, then explained Voldemort and his downfall. The Lestranges and Regulus freely divulged their part in everything, and Arthur didn't seem to think less of them for it.

"Everyone fucks up," he said. "You all got yourselves out of it, and you're okay. That's all that matters."

"I think they're even stronger for it," Hydra said, reaching to cover Kreacher and Regulus's hands briefly with hers, before glancing around to include the Lestranges. "And certainly wiser. Considering how you were raised, what were you all supposed to do? It was Voldemort's fault for being evil. You all were just trying to help someone that you believed to be another Grindelwald give wizards the rights you believed they deserved."

"That was just more understanding from the young generation than we usually give ourselves at times," Bellatrix said quietly, giving Hydra an appreciative, slightly tremulous smile.

"So after Voldemort's reign of terror, Kereston and some others began making plans for how to make a better Ministry for when this sort of thing happened again. Also just a better Ministry in general," Rabastan told Arthur. "They worked with the goblins to create a stripper potion that when taken removes the magic from a wizard or witch. This is because they knew many magic users would not accept the improvements they felt it was necessary to make.

"Thing is, though, without said improvements, shit will never change, and we'll never be safe even in our own nooks of the world. Fuck, if we can't be safe from the Muggles, we, at least, deserve to be safe from our own wizarding bullshit!

"Though goblins, elves, and spiders are in many ways better at structuring defenses than wizards, many still would not trust them to work alongside us. Granted goblins and wizards have had wars too, but it's the same as any wars, both have a side, and shit gets out of hand. The spiders were made by wizards from little ass spiders like tarantulas or whatever, and they've eaten wizards before, sure, but if they're given opportunities, the ones who are interested are totally willing to play nice. Now they only eat the criminals who have it coming. Aurors are now allowed to kill if they feel threatened, which is a great improvement on locking criminals up so they can break out to take a go at you again."

"It's true," Hydra said. "We took Delphini down way faster than the previous Ministries got Grindelwald or Voldemort. Not that I feel Grindelwald was wrong, mind you, but he still had several Ministries across the world chasing their tails for decades."

"So are these wizards who had their magic…stripped, ever getting it back," Arthur wanted to know.

"Most of them will, yes," Hydra replied. "Eventually and slowly, once our new order is firmly established, and they can see it's actually working out fine. Our victory against Delphini should go a long way toward proving this, at least, to the smart ones. It only took us a few years instead of a few decades."

"Hopefully they will see through our successful actions that magical divisions aren't working, and that the strength we have in unity is the way to go," Regulus said.

"This is a lot to take in," Arthur said, clutching at his head. He was grinning, though, so no one was truly concerned for the state of his mind. Though Hydra had given him a quick rundown earlier, they were going much more in depth now so that Arthur would have a clearer understanding of what he may be helping to deal with. "So the wizards don't like Muggles because they have no magic and were shitty to them. They don't like the goblins, and spiders, and probably elves, considering they made them slaves, because they have more magic and can potentially be shitty to them?"

"Didn't we decide earlier that it's basic human nature with everyone being fundamentally rubbish," Bellatrix asked and Arthur nodded.

"Yeah, I guess so. So your goal is away with the Muggles, but all magical races should unify? That's the message of your new order?"

Bellatrix grinned, shaking her head. "No. It's some of our personal messages, sure, and we're always going to feel that way, but many, our little Minister included, feel that Muggles are too plentiful and dangerous to do anything about. So we're back to leaving them alone and avoiding them."

"Yes, Kereston uses the term avoiding over hiding from, and we all like that a lot better," Hydra said brightly. "It's intent and energy. Everything has it, and avoiding something isn't as fear-filled as hiding from it."

"So back to Grindelwald, because I'll probably see him a lot, and so I want to understand him. He wanted to help wizards, and they weren't interested," Arthur asked.

"Some were, and some were too afraid to move forward… or rather move back to when Muggles knew of magic," Hydra said. "In some ways, he wanted to help Muggles too. He has psychic abilities and knew both Muggle world wars were coming. He wanted to stop them and was not allowed to do so."

"Stop them," Arthur asked. "By using magic?"

Hydra nodded. "Yes."

"Like a pissing contest of 'put your guns down because I have a spell for that,'" he asked and everyone laughed in appreciation.

"Yes," Hydra said. "Only now with Muggle technology so advanced, they have so many deadly weapons that unless done very carefully, we're not sure who would win, so it isn't worth the risk."

Arthur nodded. "So what gives some people magic and some not," he wondered.

"One would think genetics, but some Muggle-borns have it," Hydra said.

"Well, it could skip several generations and still be genetics," Arthur said. "Sucks I didn't get any if my family have any wizards way back in the blood lines."

"It has to get into the genetics, though," Bellatrix said thoughtfully. "So magic is in the genetics, but what put it there?" she continued. As she spoke her musings aloud, her gaze rested on Hydra. "If you ask me, it was probably humans breeding with goblins and elves long long ago. There were likely no Muggles or wizards, just humans, and humans had no magic. They weren't called Muggles as there were no wizards to call them anything.

No wizards at all until the humans began to breed with elves and goblins. Then they had half-breeds and those half-breeds had children and so on. If the half-breeds had children with other humans, over time they'd just look entirely human again. And yet the magic is still in the blood. So a human with magic breeds with another human with magic, then more and more wizards are born."

"Now that's a theory," Hydra exclaimed. "And a bloody good one too. I bet it's even true! You're very smart, Bella."

Bellatrix smiled proudly. "It is always pleasing to receive compliments, but especially so from a bloody Ravenclaw, even if it is only family. So... if I am correct, which I quite probably am, that means that the true purebloods are goblins and elves,' she said. "The ones who have been shit on the most by wizarding kind."

She let out a cackle at that, then the laughter became more intense until she was shrieking with hilarity. "Oh gods," she managed through her mirth. "Wizards and witches, myself included, were always so stuck on pureblood, and they had no true bloody idea where they'd likely come from! "At least I was always nice to you," she told Kreacher, wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes as she struggled to catch her breath. "And the goblins...I was nice to them too, so that's alright then." She chuckled again, clearly unable to keep her laughter down, though she was beginning to look pained. "Gods my sides hurt," she complained.

Rod grinned at her. "What? Is Kreacher king now?"

"Well, hopefully bloody not but his blood is purer than ours," Bellatrix said, then she burst into laughter again.

Chapter Text

Chapter 31, Dream On

With Delphini's demise, things returned to normal. Well as normal as things could be with most wizards and witches having no magic. For those still in possession of it, the world was only different rather than frightening and inconvenient. The magical world moved on, the cogs still turned. With Kereston making sure the new revamped Ministry had quickly hired goblins and elves to do the jobs that the now magicless witches and wizards once had, nothing really stopped happening.

Now that Delphini was dead, it was literally at last safe for everyone to simply sit back and adjust to the new shape that magical society was taking. Hydra enjoyed the last few months of term, because the school only had ten percent of the students it'd had before the uprising. This meant the education was better and more personalized. With fewer students, more time could be dedicated to each. Of course this had been the case while Delphini lived as well, but now one could focus better without always wondering what unexpected disaster might happen next. Nearly best of all, the stupid physical education was ended for the time being, though Albus threatened to bring it back in the fall. It was safe to be outside, and even to go to Hogsmeade for the weekends. Feeling safe allowed things to be normal, at least as far as Hydra was concerned. For her, normality was closely tied to safety. Being free to function as she ordinarily would made her feel safe. For nearly a year, Delphini had taken that away.

To her surprise, not everyone was feeling safer. Bellatrix made it no secret that she was still unsettled. Hydra understood why, but she couldn't bring herself to fret as much. Bella worried that the wizards and witches who had lost their magic would rebel soon in ways the newly formed Ministry might not expect. Perhaps Hydra relished her returned normality too much to allow herself to share Bella's concerns. Lyra wrote Hydra and Loughness often of news, so they kept well informed.

The Lestranges insisted that Arthur move to England so that he might help against whatever may come of the rebellion. All three Lestranges were certain that Arthur was needed and perhaps the only one who could help when it came to any Muggle matters or potential future Muggle involvement. Bellatrix was concerned that the magicless wizards and witches may turn to Muggle methods to improve their own ways of life. As most Muggle tools were destructive, Bellatrix was concerned over what upset witches and wizards would do with Muggle guns or explosives. Previously Delphini had provided a distraction to both sides, but now with her dead, the Ministry was focusing on protecting its own goals. Hydra didn't see what the worry was if magic was to be slowly returned to a large percentage of the magical population. Kereston had already spread the word by way of The Daily Prophet that a cure was being worked on, after all. Still, this did not ease Bellatrix's worries. It occurred to Hydra more than once, that perhaps the Lestranges were simply too accustomed to having something to fear, first with the trauma Voldemort eventually inflicted upon all or most of his own followers, then with the jarring emergence of Delphini.

At least Hydra truly hoped that was the case, because they all needed a little peace right now. The wizarding world needed peace to allow this new and certainly improved way of life to grow and flourish. Hydra did not discover the exact manner in which she wanted to be a part of that herself, until Mag suggested they start a band. There was about a month of term left when it happened. Everyone was having a study session in the Snape's sitting room. Often the common rooms weren't quiet enough to allow everyone to focus properly, so Sortia took full advantage of the fact that her parents taught at, so thus lived at the school. She never had qualms invading their space and dragging her four friends along. Mag was idly plucking old Irish tunes on her fiddle for a bit of background studying ambience during that particular study session in the Snape's sitting room. When she began playing a song that Hydra knew, she began humming along. "You and I should start a band next year," Mag told her. "Severus and I are returning to teach, at least until you have all graduated. It may be fun to perform here at the school. What do you think?"

Hydra blinked in surprise, lowering her Astronomy book. "Really? You want to start a band with me?"

Mag chuckled. "I think it would be fun. We could all use a bit of fun what with so much going on these days and..."

"What? You think Bella's right about whatever she's worried over," Loughness asked. What with Mag basically being the Lestranges shrink, surely Bellatrix had expressed her concerns during one of their sessions.

Mag's slender shoulders rose and fell in an eloquent shrug. "I may have checked the runes and they may have predicted a bit of trouble in the future. But don't ask me what, because they weren't clear on that. Only that it is a secret. The peorth rune was in all five of the castings that I did which means that there is some sort of hidden or secret knowledge involved." Mag's slight frown of concern caused Hydra's stomach to lurch. As a rule, Mag was very calm, an at times necessary counterpoint to Severus's frequent high-strung bitchiness.

Granted she was just as Dark, but far more mellow about it. She could tell you that there was a giant troll about to burst down the door as casually as she could say that the clock is off and needs to be reset. Very little rattled her. Voldemort had, according to the Daddies, but only because she knew that Severus was in danger. "We will sort out whatever trouble could be coming, when it comes," Mag assured calmly. "Until it does, though, and even after it does, we all need something to brighten our days. Music is a powerful force as you know, Hydra. It can uplift, and it can destroy. You have integrated your father's bardic gift, and I would love to be a part of teaching you how to use it. With music, you can bring joy, or you can help fight a war. You can move people unlike anything else can with your voice if you use it properly. It is a power."

Hydra nodded, feeling her excitement rising. "Of course I want to do it, and if you want to help train me, I'd be more than honored and grateful!"

Mag smiled. "Good. I think we will have a blast."

"Who else shall we invite to play with us?" Hydra asked.

Mag frowned thoughtfully. "I don't know, actually. I hadn't gotten that far. Have you any ideas?"

Hydra was opening her mouth to say that she hadn't any ideas at all, but before the words could come out, she realized that she had!

"What if we make it a sort of multiracial band," she asked excitedly. "I mean we've already got a human witch and a half-human half-elf, being you and me, so let's try to keep it going! I'll ask Graven if she can recommend any goblins who can play any sort of instrument! Guillermo can ask Romeo to ask his elf Aurors if they have any family who plays or sings! All the races working together could be good for like normalizing or supporting or you know." Hydra shrugged, knowing the concept she wanted, if not having the proper words to express it.

Mag smiled, nodding. "Yes I do, and that's a very good idea." After a moment, she added, "I can ask Griphook if he has any recommendations as well." Mag had become friendly with Griphook when she was a student at Hogwarts herself due to her love of gemstones. Gringotts imported them, and when Mag began making gemstone wands in her seventh year, Gringotts was nearly her second home.

"That would be great," Hydra said, giving her a warm smile. "Thanks!"

"Do most elves have time to learn to play anything, though," Loughness asked skeptically. "I mean they're always polishing the silver and shit." The dark look on his face as he spoke of polishing silver made Hydra's lips twitch. Surely her twin was recalling that rough patch in their early childhood when Daddy Kreacher had insisted they learn their elf magic by teaching them kitchen skills. Both Loughness and Hydra had resisted strongly, not enjoying the servile, enslavement associations. Both daddies had insisted that as their elf side was the most powerful, it was important to learn that magic. As Daddy Kreacher insisted on teaching by way of basic cleaning skills, Hydra and Loughness resisted heavily. At least, until Stormy explained calmly that one might boil a person's brain in their skull with the same spell used to boil an egg. Suddenly both children were a bit more intrigued.

"Loughness," Hydra said in a tone of clearly feigned patients. "There are several elf Aurors these days, as well as several elves employed at Gringotts, so I think enough of them are utilizing their skills for more than silver polishing."

"Yeah, but do they have time to learn to play an instrument," Loughness pressed speculatively, clearly unmoved by his sister's objections. "Because I certainly don't. How can I expect more of them than I expect of myself, their future Dark Lord?"

Mag's lips twitched, then she chuckled. "Future Dark Lord of the elves, now is it?"

"Of elves, of humans, of goblins, of whoever," Loughness said, waving a hand in an expansive gesture. Hydra sighed.

"What about Kereston," Sortia drawled, clearly bored.

"Oh she has nothing to worry about. I may be everyone's Dark Lord, but when she's ready for this, it's all hers," Loughness said, striking his chest with a fist.

Sortia choked.

"So I'll write Graven tonight," Hydra told Mag pointedly. She wanted the conversation off of her annoying brother and back onto music, after all. "And Guillermo, you'll write Romeo for me, right?"

"Sure," Guillermo said. "About what?" He lowered his Alchemy text book and reached toward the coffee table for a quill.

Mag cringed. "Do not write in that book, Guillermo!"

"Why," Guillermo demanded. "I paid for it."

"About asking his elf Aurors if they know anyone who can play an instrument!" Hydra reminded. "Aren't you listening?"

"Only a little," Guillermo admitted. "I'll write him tonight, though. No problem.

"Just because you own a book, there is no cause to ruin it," Mag objected, but it was too late. Guillermo was already jotting down a note in the margin of his Alchemy text.

"Thanks," Hydra said, giving him a smile. It occurred to her then that Greok's girlfriend Leaf may know some elves who played instruments too. As she was no Auror, Romeo would not know her, so Hydra would ask the daddies to write her. While they were at it, they could ask Greok if he knew any goblins who played instruments as well.

Perhaps that would finally give her an in to talk to Ballan. If Greok or Leaf had any connections, Hydra could ask to meet with them. Perhaps they would bring Ballan, and if not, she would ask them to do so next time! They could all be friends. She'd invite them to some social event or something, and this would be her in. She would at last get to know the enigmatic, fascinating, beautiful Ballan!

"I'm going to write Graven and the Daddies now," she said, leaping to her feet and practically flying from the room toward the Owlery. The thought of Ballan being connected to this new project in any way made her all the more eager for the band. After all, did passion and music not go hand in hand? Finally it felt as though she was at last waking up from the near stasis that Delphini had put everything in what with the school having been on lock down. With her death, everyone was finally able to relax, but now that part was over and it was time to truly thrive again. Hydra was already making set lists in her head as she hastily wrote her letters. The faster they were off, the faster she would get replies, so there was no time to waste.

Graven wrote back first, within the hour!

Sure, I think I can help. The bro from whom I get my high potion has a little brother with weird ass hair that I've seen strumming a guitar from time to time. Want me to ask him if he'd like to play in your weird ass band? I say weird ass cause it sounds like it's gonna be weird ass with humans, elves, goblins, and you in it. Weird keeps shit interesting, though. -

-Graven

Hydra couldn't help grinning as she read Graven's reply. It was almost terrifying to wonder what Graven could mean by weird ass hair, but now she was curious. Due to a bit of research in the restricted section, she and Loughness along with their friends finally knew what high was at least to a degree. Whoever Graven got her high potions from was likely some sort of Herbologist, apparently with a musician brother with weird ass hair.

She hastily wrote Graven back expressing interest as well as her thanks and asking when she could meet this goblin musician with weird hair. Graven promised to check into it and get back to her within the next few days. In their letter the next day, the Daddies promised the same when it came to Leaf and Greok. The Daddies were always a bit slower at responding to letters if it wasn't an emergency due to being caught up in one another. At least that's what she and Loughness both believed the reason to be.

Over the next few days, most of Hydra's thoughts were consumed with Ballan, though she did dedicate some consideration to what the new band might be like. She supposed it would depend on everyone's musical styles and how they all meshed together. It would be sad if she and Mag couldn't find any goblins or elves to play with or if they found some but couldn't connect or vibe with them. She really wanted this to work. Music was a fine art, though, and those who played it together had to mesh well or it would just end up dreadfully discordant with no life to it. It would be extremely disappointing if she and Mag could not find any elves or goblins with whom they connected musically, because the idea of a multiracial band was really exciting. Learning from one another would be amazing as would be the societal message they could send!

For far too long goblins, human magicals and elves were so separated by their cultures and lived experiences. It was more than time for a bit of harmony on many levels.

Chapter Text

Chapter 32, Greybo

"I may have found a drummer for us," Mag told Hydra excitedly. Everyone was once again gathered in the Snape's sitting room. Hydra and her friends were studying, while Mag and Severus read the newspaper that was split between them. Three days had passed since Mag asked Hydra to start a band.

"Really?" Hydra leaned forward in excitement. Graven was bringing the goblin with the weird hair to meet her and Mag tomorrow, but after that initial burst of good news, their band forming success had slowed a bit. Leaf was prompt in getting back to the Daddies, but she did not know anyone who played an instrument. Sadly neither did Greok. Both promised to come and see the band play when it was formed, though, and Hydra planned to insist that they bring Ballan.

"When I asked if he knew any elves or goblins who may be interested in our band, Griphook told me that an elf who works at Gringotts is always tapping beats throughout the work day. You know, on his desk." Mag chuckled. "Griphook thinks this elf has natural rhythm, and that he could easily learn the drums. He has promised to ask this elf if he would be interested in playing with us when he sees him at Gringotts tomorrow. If he is, we could perhaps meet with him in Hogsmeade this weekend. What do you think?"

Sounds great!" Hydra agreed eagerly. "If the goblin Graven knows is interested, we could invite him to meet us there as well. That would get all four of us together."

Mag nodded. "And we'd have a goblin and an elf, just as you wanted. It seems to be coming together nicely, you know as if it is meant to be." Hydra returned Mag's excited smile with one of her own. Mag's words had struck her. They were electrifying.

"This is going to be so great," she said. Her former doubts and concerns that she and Mag would not find any musicians with whom they connected were quickly fading in the face of things seemingly coming together.

"So is this goblin that Graven knows coming here tomorrow, or were you planning to sneak out of school?" Mag asked. Being half elf, Apparating off Hogwarts grounds presented no challenge, but Hydra saw no reason to sneak out if Albus would not mind a goblin or two popping over for a visit. As one of them was quite likely going to be his future daughter-in-law, she was sure he would not mind. That and Wulfric was likely coming along with Graven and like any parent, Albus was always happy for any opportunity to visit with his son.

"I told them to come here," Hydra told Mag. "I don't sneak out for no reason," she added with a slight frown.

"We're currently outnumbered by Slytherins," James reminded her with a laugh. "Don't hold it against them."

Mag and Severus were both former Slytherins, so always looked away if any of them broke the rules as long as no one was in danger.

"Well as they're coming to Hogwarts, you may as well entertain them here at ours," Mag said. "You and I can play with the goblin. Hopefully he will think to bring his instrument."

As it turned out, he did. Hydra was glad of it, because if a musician came to a potential audition without an instrument, she would have to wonder how serious he truly was. Graven introduced him as Greybo. He did not look at all like the neatly suited Gringotts goblins to whom Hydra was accustomed. Even Greok looked like one of them, because not long ago, he had been.

This Greybo wore black pants and a loose fitting long sleeved shirt that appeared to have been stitched out of several different pieces of cloth. Each had its own color and texture, leaving him with an interesting colorful collage of a patchwork shirt. What Graven had meant by 'weird ass hair' consisted of lots of tiny braids. The goblin's entire head of shoulder length black hair was set into these tiny braids. Hydra had never seen such hair before, but she supposed it looked interesting. Not until she heard a small clacking sound when the goblin moved his head did she notice that each braid sported several gemstone beads studded along its length. The stones appeared to be black obsidian and orange carnelian by her guess. "Halloween colors," she said without thinking.

He glanced in her direction, then shrugged. "I was more going for fiery night, but yeah, I guess it is.

"I like Halloween," Hydra said. "When we were kids, my brother and I would make our parents dress up with us to trick or treat. After I saw Lord Of The Rings,I made my daddy Kreacher be Gollum several years in a row while my twin and I were hobbits. It was epic."

Greybo snickered. "I bloody bet it was." He glanced at the fiddle in Mag's hands. "So we gonna jam?"

Mag nodded. "I suppose we should learn what you like to play first to see if we know any of your favorites."

"We can in time, but just start playing and I'll come in." Greybo grinned. "That'll impress you more as well as showing us if we have musical chemistry." As he glanced toward Hydra, another clacking sound came from his braids as the stones gently struck together. "What about you? Do you play?"

"Piano, but as that's too big to lug about, I'm just singing today."

He bobbed his head, causing his braids to click together again. "Fair enough."

Mag began to play the song Hydra had been singing along to when the idea for forming the band came up a few days ago. It was an old song about an equally old mad house called Bedlam. Mag loved telling the story of how she actually inadvertently traumatized younger Slytherins when she played it in the common room in her seventh year at Hogwarts. Never had she suspected simply practicing her bardic craft would terrify Slytherins of all people.

Mag began to sing and Hydra waited, joining in on the chorus. Greybo had caught the melody before then, though, so by the time Hydra was harmonizing with Mag, his guitar was also playing counterpoint to her fiddle. When the song ended, Greybo grinned. "I think I can work with this. That was fun."

"Want to do some more," Hydra asked.

"Sure," Greybo said.

"Of course," Mag chimed in brightly. "What's next?"

Hydra drew in a deep breath and began to sing quietly. "I can feel it comin' in the air tonight, oh Lord."" Mag gave a slight nod of recognition and began to play as Hydra continued to sing. Before long Greybo picked up the melody. It wasn't Phil Collins's version, but the three definitely made it their own in a good way. The guitar and fiddle wove a somber sound around Hydra's high voice. As she sang, she channeled all she knew of what Daddy Kreacher had suffered in that black lake at Voldemort's hands. When the song was over, Greybo lowered his guitar and gave a low whistle.

"So was that supposed to be extremely creepy?"

"Yeah," Hydra said, giving him a smile as she attempted to shake off the grip of the song. That was the way of being a bard, though. One had to feel the song, and become the situation the words told. "It was my daddy Kreacher's song to and about Voldemort."

"Shit," Greybo murmured. "Dark."

Hydra nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, what do you have to throw at us," Mag asked and Greybo shrugged.

"The thing is, I don't really sing. I like reggae beats. Do you girls know about reggae?"

Mag and Hydra exchanged a brief glance. Hydra could tell by the small twitch of Mag's lips that she'd enjoyed being called a girl. She certainly didn't look old enough to be Sortia's mum, that was for sure. Tall and willowy with long straight red hair tied back with a silver scarf, her face was still smooth and youthful, and her large green eyes were always thoughtfully observant. "Never heard of it myself," Hydra said. "But you could play something and I'd get the idea."

"I have read of it a little, but I am not truly familiar either, so I'd like to hear your style as well," Mag said. Soon both 'girls' were swaying and tapping their feet as Greybo played. Mag plucked her fiddle in time to the beat, keeping it simple for the moment. "You're definitely in if you're interested," she told Greybo once the song was over.

"We're interviewing an elf in Hogsmeade this weekend for drums, if you'd like to come," Hydra added.

"Yeah, drums would be good," Greybo nodded, a playful grin twitching up the corners of his lips. "What's up with the elf, goblin, human, half breed shtick, though? I mean I'm fine with it and all, but..." He shrugged. "I assume there is a method to the intentional seeming madness?"

Hydra nodded."Yes. We want to present a strength and a unity for all three races in these newly developing times."

"And nothing delivers a message more powerfully than music," Mag said.

Greybo nodded. "Alright. I'm down. So what do we know about this elf?" He asked curiously.

"We know that he has good rhythm according to Griphook," Mag replied with a chuckle. "He is one of the elves who were hired at Gringotts last year when so many wizards lost their magic, you know." Though all the goblins knew what had been done, tact was still a necessary habit to keep up appearances. Any slip of the tongue in the wrong company could run the risk of magicless witches and wizards overhearing things that they should not. "Apparently he enjoys playing the drums on his desk," Mag concluded.

"I figure we can meet at the Hog's Head and give him a table to work with," Hydra said, lips twitching in amusement. "If he's good and interested, I shall buy him a drum set."

Greybo gave a slow blink, looking an amusing mix of confused and concerned. "What if he could buy his own and then he's all offended and shit," he wondered.

Hydra's hand flew to her mouth as she let out a groan of horror. "Oh I didn't mean... I just meant if he doesn't already have one and we're wanting him in a band, I thought I could at least not expect him to,"

"To buy his own equipment," Greybo pressed gently.

Hydra could feel the heat in her cheeks. "I didn't mean... I only meant to help."

"I get that, but don't send him running the first day with your well-meaning girl weirdness. I think it's a human thing, because goblin girls are never well meaning."

Graven gave a pleased appreciative grin from where she sat on the Snape's sofa beside an openly amused Wulfric. Was it a human thing or an elf thing, or did humans and elves share the thing? Hydra found herself frantically wondering. She would have to ask Leaf. It would give them an excuse to socialize. Hydra did not know many elf women, after all. Perhaps only one, aside from Leaf, who she hardly knew at all.

An elf named Mira worked for Mag's family, but Hydra did not spend time around her unless visiting Sortia. She had nothing against Mira, but Daddy Kreacher had drama with her. Granted Daddy Kreacher tended to have frequent drama with people, but Mira was special. She had openly disapproved when he and Daddy Regulus came out to their friends upon Regulus's return to wizarding society. Daddy Kreacher had never gotten over that for some reason. The disapproval of an elf had really gotten to him, and Hydra did not quite understand why, considering he did not seem to truly like most elves and never, ever cared what people thought of him.

"So he buys his own drums, and if he wants in, we could go jam at my place if you all like," Hydra said, bringing the topic back to the matter at hand and hopefully away from her own embarrassment. She'd only intended to help. Hopefully this would not become a thing... Where she started feeling wrong about offering help if needed. If so, she'd just blame Greybo, she silently vowed, struggling not to cast a dark look at said goblin.

"Albus is going to allow us to just pop off to yours," Mag wondered. "Hogsmeade weekends do not involve visits to #12 Grimmauld Place, after all."

"Yeah, but I can Apparate us all to my manor super easily, and Aberforth may not want us rocking out in the Hog's Head. Besides, you're a Slytherin, so what do you care?"

"Hey, he may bloody love for us to rock out in the Hog's Head," Greybo protested. "It's providing him free entertainment for his customers, after all, plus gives us a free place to practice."

Hydra shrugged. "Fine. If he is willing, I see your points. If he is not, my family's manor is available and my piano is there." She sighed, realizing that she'd need to sort a way to get a piano into the bloody Hog's Head. A shrinking spell, then enlargement of a certain area of the bar to hold it, then another shrinking spell for the...

"You'll probably want to invest in a fancy keyboard for yourself," Greybo said, breaking through her train of thought. His lips twitched. "You could always use the galleons you were going to give our elf for his drums," he suggested.

Chapter Text

Chapter 33, Glimmer

The Hog's Head was busy, but such was always the case on Saturdays. Though it couldn't be helped, Hydra hoped they would all be able to hear one another over the general sounds of loud conversation and clinking glasses. Though they were on time, Griphook and the elf drummer were already there, standing near the door. The elf wore a Gringotts bank suit. Idly Hydra wondered what he would wear at shows if they all ended up playing together. Greybo had met her and Mag at Hogwarts as promised, and the three had gone to the Hog's Head together to meet up with Griphook and the elf. Griphook introduced him as Glimmer.

Hydra found the name interesting, so she asked about it directly after all introductions were made. "Do you know why your parents named you Glimmer? Mine named me Hydra because our family is mostly Slytherin, and the Hydra is an impressive multi headed sea serpent monster thing." She grinned. "I guess they thought they were giving me an advantage with such a powerful name, and I can't disagree. It is rather ironic that I ended up in Ravenclaw instead. It fits, though, because my cousins, the Lestranges, have their family crest as Corvus, which is a raven sitting on the back of the Hydra. So the raven on the back of the Hydra nicely fits my being in Ravenclaw house!"

She had just babbled, Hydra realized, shutting her mouth in horror. She hadn't wanted her curiosity to appear rude, so felt it only right to answer the same question that she was asking. Perhaps she hadn't gone on for as long as it seemed, she thought hopefully. She'd never had social anxiety before. This elf was one of her own people, so what was wrong? Bloody Greybo, that's what! Messing her head all up and making her fear she'd say something wrong.

The elf gave a small smile. "Glimmer's name is not nearly as interesting, he is afraid," he said apologetically. "His parents thought his eyes glimmered like emeralds when he was born, so they named him Glimmer, feeling that Emerald was more suited to a girl."

"But Glimmer isn't," Greybo demanded with a chuckle. Hydra frowned. He was worried about her insulting the elf, but hadn't he just done?

Glimmer shrugged. "They didn't think so. Glimmer has never met a girl named Glimmer, so he supposes he does not feel that his name is particularly feminine. He finds it to be simply descriptive."

"Well if anyone says it's a girl's name, just punch them real hard in the face," Greybo advised.

"It is magical, and probably unisex," Hydra said. "Though I have never met anyone named Glimmer, so for me, it's a boy's name now."

Glimmer nodded. "Glimmer agrees. He thinks of his name as a light in the dark. Like something always helping him to find his way when he needs it."

"I like that," Hydra said.

"It has power in it as do all names," Mag agreed with a nod.

"Well let's make some magic music, then," Greybo said with an eager grin. The three settled down at a nearby table while Griphook stood by watching with an expression of mild discomfort on his face. The goblin clearly did not feel at ease in a group of chill musicians. "Want to get everyone a drink," Hydra asked, passing over a few galleons that she dug from her small black leather shoulder bag. "Of course get whatever you want for yourself as well. It's just you looked uncomfortable standing there," she continued hastily.

"I wasn't trying to turn you into our waiter or anything. I thought you'd feel more at ease with a drink, so it seemed right to buy you one as you're here to help us out." She shot a dark glare at Greybo as she spoke. All her confidence in well meaning intentions toward men was nearly shattered thanks to his bullshit. Griphook rolled his eyes but took the galleons and wandered up to the bar to speak to Aberforth.

"Glimmer notices that Mr. Griphook did not ask what each of us would like to drink, so he suspects it will be interesting. He recommends we all sip with caution."

Hydra chuckled, deciding that she liked the elf.

"Start singing something, and we'll all chime in," Mag told Hydra. After a moment of hasty thought, Hydra settled on a song called Price Tag that she liked quite a lot. To her mind it represented what they wanted for their band. To bring people together with the joy of music rather than trying to make it all about the money. It also had the sort of beat that Greybo may enjoy playing. Glancing around at the three faces watching her expectantly, she drew in a deep breath, then sing songed, "Glimmer, Greybo and Mag... You ready?" They all nodded, and she began to sing.

Soon Glimmer picked up the rhythm and began tapping a complex catchy beat on the table. Greybo began to strum his guitar and Mag made the fiddle hum along. When she sang the chorus for the second time, the three were able to sing it with her, and near the end of the song, she glanced around to see many denizens of the Hog's Head on their feet dancing. When it was over, the room burst into applause. To her horror, Hydra felt her eyes filling with tears. She was so touched and overjoyed that their first attempt had actually had magic in it that people could feel. "You're a bloody genius, Mag," she choked out. Mag laughed, glancing away shyly, but Hydra grabbed her in a quick hug before doing the same to a squirming blushing Greybo then a grinning Glimmer.

"That really worked out," the elf said in wonder. "Glimmer has never played with other people before. That was wonderful! He hopes that we can do it again."

"Play something else," A hag shouted from the far corner of the bar.

"Have your drinks first," Griphook said, floating a crystal goblet toward each of them. He held one in his right hand and looked far more relaxed for it, which made Hydra wonder what was in it. She sniffed hers carefully as she plucked it from the air. "What's in this?"

"Sip it and see," Griphook said, flashing an evil smile.

"Smells like Firewhisky," Greybo said, then downed half of his without even coughing. Hydra had never had Firewhisky before so sipped hers carefully, somehow managing not to cough, though it was difficult. Mag did the same and Glimmer frowned at Griphook before tossing his back. As in the entire thing. Hydra gaped."Um, you want another?" she asked.

Glimmer considered. "Perhaps after we play another song. Glimmer does not wish to make mistakes. He shall buy the next round when it is time."

"Thanks," Greybo said. "Wanna try an instrumental this time?" The others nodded, so he began to play the song he'd shown to Hydra and Mag during their initial meeting. Hydra was happy to sit back and listen until she sorted her own keyboard situation, so she settled back in her chair to do just that while sipping at her Firewhisky. The three had a natural understanding of how to follow one another musically, and watching them made her confident that this was going to be a good thing for a long time. She listened and sipped, sipped and listened, and by the time the song was over, her own glass was nearly half empty. Even more people were on their feet dancing this time, and Hydra added her own hardy applause. Glimmer then rose to order the next round of drinks.

"Better hurry up," Hydra said, poking Mag in the side with a finger. "Everyone is ahead of you." Mag made a face at the glass then took several quick sips, making a face after each one.

"Why couldn't you at least order something that tasted good," she demanded darkly of Griphook who only shrugged. Most people wouldn't dare to snap at Griphook, so the friendship between he and Mag was obvious considering she only got mostly ignored instead of hexed, Hydra thought in dry amusement.

"Thanks for the elf," Greybo told Griphook. "He is great." He glanced around to Mag and Hydra. "We are keeping him, right? Because I want to keep him."

"Yeah, we're keeping him," Hydra giggled, finally finishing off her first glass. "Hurry up, Mag!"

Soon Glimmer was back, floating drinks to each person as Griphook had done.

"Thanks," Hydra said, happily snatching her glass. She was warm, floaty and all was right with the world.

"Not one single hot girl in here, though," Greybo grumbled."Rock stars are supposed to get loads of hot girls, but how bout when none are here?"

Glimmer snickered, nodding. Mag and Hydra exchanged a glance. "We aren't going to be offended," Hydra announced.

"Well you don't shit where you eat," Greybo said. "It's clear that the two of you don't count."

"And I'm married," Mag said, obviously trying not to laugh.

"And I plan to be taken soon," Hydra said, thinking dreamily of Ballan.

Greybo glanced over at Glimmer and shrugged. "Weird. Girls can be so weird.

"Perhaps he wonders how Hydra plans to be taken, because that does sound passing strange," Glimmer said.

"I have plans of who I want to take me," Hydra said, then giggled before taking another sip of her drink. "You know, I was going to buy your drums for you if you want to join our new little band," she told Glimmer. "But Greybo said that wasn't okay and that you have your own money. I just meant to be nice, as it's us who want the band in the first place, but he said you'd be insulted, so I hope that no free drums is fine with you." So it was true that strong drink loosened the tongue and gave one courage, she thought happily.

Glimmer's eyes widened. "Well... Actually, Glimmer would not have minded getting free drums if it is no inconvenience. He has just moved into his own flat and the deposit and first month's rent has strapped him. He would not feel at all insulted. Griphook was allowing him to live in a borrowed room on the lowest level of Gringotts, but he is so happy to have his own place that the expenditures were well worth it. He was not expecting to be noticed for his musical interests, so had no money set aside for drums."

"Ha," Hydra said, tossing a look of triumph at Greybo as her self-confidence was suddenly restored. So niceness wasn't dead after all.

"Another song," a portly balding wizard called. He banged enthusiastically on the bar and everyone sitting at the bar around him began to shout, "Song! Song! "Song!"

"Let's do the creepy one you sang yesterday," Greybo called to Hydra. He had to raise his voice to be heard over the din.

"But that one isn't as good for dancing," Hydra called back.

Greybo shrugged. "We need to see how different sorts of songs affect our audience. They will need more mellow numbers in between, so they can rest from the dancing, after all. Besides, if they don't like it, we just won't play it again less it's Halloween or something."

"What are we doing," Glimmer called, clearly confused and unable to hear them over the patrons shouting for more music.

"ALRIGHT," Greybo called, waving his arms for attention. Everyone got quiet, and Hydra began to sing In The Air Tonight. Greybo and Mag were even better today now that both knew what to expect, and the riffs they played were far more complicated and haunting even than that first time. Mag's fiddle wove a complex pattern around Greybo's relentlessly spooky guitar chords.

Glimmer's table tapping rhythms added a hypnotic depth. Even without real drums, their little band sounded great. With real drums, they would be bloody amazing. Hydra vowed to get them today before returning to Hogwarts. Hopefully Greybo would know where to go for them, because she certainly did not. "I think we need to go drunk drum shopping after we're done here," she said with a tipsy giggle once the applause had finally died down. As it turned out, the Hog's Head denizens enjoyed being creeped out as much as they liked to dance.

"Play another," Someone called out.

"Wait," Aberforth shouted out from behind the bar. He hurried over to their table with a grimy wizard hat in one hand that he plopped down on the floor beside Griphook's chair. "You all want them playing, better get to tipping," he shouted at his customers.

"Well I think that answers the question of him allowing us to play here," Greybo stage whispered.

Chapter Text

Chapter 34, It's All In The Way You Spinet

As it happened, drunk drum shopping was a bit of a bonding experience. It was also lots of fun. Greybo attempted to talk Hydra into getting herself a keyboard, but she stuck to her preference for a piano.

"But you have to keep shrinking it down or expanding the room," Greybo groaned. "Eventually you'll break the fucker that way." As he spoke, he took a swig from the bottle of Firewhisky he'd bought off Aberforth before they all left the Hog's Head to go drunk drum shopping.

"I will make it work," Hydra said.

"Glimmer will help," Glimmer said. Distractedly he took the bottle that Greybo offered, frowning down at it. "Glimmer is to drink without a glass?"

"Don't be a pussy! My mouth is clean and I did not drool into the damned bottle," Greybo half shouted, laughing as he spoke.

Glimmer sighed and shrugged, swigging from the bottle. He held it up in the vague direction of Hydra and Mag who both shook their heads. The four stood in the middle of Musical Me, the shop in Hogsmeade that sold instruments that Hydra had somehow never noticed before.

"That's because it's only there when you need it, like the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts," Mag had quipped in playful sarcasm when Hydra expressed as much. The fact that Hydra had actually believed her for an instant showed just how drunk she was. That was Griphook's fault! He was the one to start them drinking Firewhisky, after all, and at such an early hour too.

He'd cut out when the others decided to go drunk drum shopping, though. That made sense, because Griphook would never ever be known for his ability to turn into a social butterfly. Mag wasn't much more social, but as the social activity involved music, she was willing to tag along. "Okay well we need to at least look into buying you a little baby piano if you won't be logical and use a bloody keyboard," Greybo said. "If you keep using magic on the piano you have at home, your parents will have kittens if it eventually breaks. Considering who you are, it's likely some old family heirloom."

"I don't think it is, actually, but your point is still valid," Hydra said. She suddenly found herself grinning uncontrollably at the goblin. He cared far too much about this keyboard piano situation. That meant he was totally in the band and sticking around. And she'd just bought Glimmer a very pricey fancy new drum set so he better not be going anywhere either. She'd allowed him to choose the set, as he was the one having to use it, and the damned elf had expensive taste. This was a thing Hydra definitely respected. That and knowing what one wanted. She watched in amused silence as Greybo dragged her toward a cluster of pianos in the right corner of the store, Mag and Glimmer trailing after. "What about this little one here. It's even got a padded bench. Why don't you sit down and try it out?"

"Yes," Glimmer said. "Glimmer has yet to hear Hydra play, after all."

"Greybo likewise has not heard Hydra play," the goblin added with a grin.

"Hardly my fault," Hydra said, settling down onto the small padded bench, which was actually quite comfortable. She'd never been this drunk before, so she hoped she could play drunk. Drawing in a deep breath, she placed her hands on the keys and began to play Let It Be. When she started singing, Glimmer and Greybo began to clap in time. "Yeah, she's buyin' it," Greybo predicted happily. "Sounds sweet." And it did. Though the piano was small, the sound was still full enough to satisfy, and Hydra was pleased.

"She's called a spinet. Sweet little beauty, isn't she?" The voice came from just behind Hydra. She turned to see the wizard who owned the shop standing beside Mag. He was tall with wide strong shoulders and a cascade of bushy blonde hair with a beard to match. He wore gray robes and had thoughtful blue eyes that looked intelligent. Hydra appreciated that he gave customers the space to look around without hoovering, yet knew when to step in, in order to provide useful information as well. "I think she likes you," he said, giving Hydra a warm smile. "And I'm not just saying that to sell her."

Perhaps it was the Firewhisky, but Hydra already felt a deep sentimental connection to this little piano. "I love her. I'm buying her. Though I think I have to pop home really quick and get some more gold." She'd spent most of what she had with her on Glimmer's shiny new drum set.

The wizard nodded. "She'll still be here."

"As will we," Greybo said, waving her off. "Oh and bring snacks if you can. This Firewhisky is making me hungry!"

"Are you asking me, as a house elf, to bring you food," Hydra demanded, looking down her Kreacher like nose at Greybo in mock affront. She was paying him back for making things all unnecessarily complicated when it came to offering to buy Glimmer his bloody drums.

"No," Greybo retorted. "I am asking you as my cool band sis to bring me some damn food because you are going home and all homes have snacks."

Hydra sighed, then laughed. The goblin was un-needleable it seemed. She caught the confused expression on the face of the blond wizard who owned Musical Me as she turned away. Only then did she recall that her full human illusion guise was still in place. He must have found her house elf comment to be rather odd, what with being quite unable to see her half elf features. Oh well, some things couldn't be helped and he'd likely had stranger folk in his shop.

"Fine. I will bring food," she said, then apparated away. Only then did she realize that she had broken school rules and gone home just as Mag had been concerned would happen. Damn! Well she hadn't planned to buy a bloody piano, though perhaps she should have. Albus probably wouldn't mind. Sighing she sprinted down the hall toward the library where the family emergency safe lived behind a book shelf in a hollow nook. Only when she reached the library door did she realize in some horror that she'd nearly burst in without knocking.

The daddies weren't expecting her home, so she very easily could have walked in on something quite inappropriate and horrifying that she never wanted to see. "Hi, Daddies! Hydra is home to grab some gold for..." As she spoke another horrifying fact struck her. She'd just drunk-Apparated home! That was dangerous. She groaned, just as the library door opened to an excited Kreacher on the other side.

"Good. Hydra is home!" He embraced her jubilantly. Why did she have to be drunk for this? What was going on? Idly she wondered if she needed another drink for whatever it was. Daddy Kreacher appeared to be happy, though, so everything must be alright. "Kreacher found a discrepancy on an old map. The discrepancy was in an old forest. One map made it far smaller than it was on an even older map, and, well to make a long story short, Kreacher believes he has discovered something very important." He squeezed Hydra's shoulders in his excitement.

"He and Master Regulus traveled there with Blaise Zabini and Gellert Grindelwald. Kreacher wanted to take them in case Gellert Grindelwald might have any visions which could provide more information. Alas he did not. At any rate, we believe that Kreacher has discovered an elf woods. A forest touched by elf magic so deeply that Kreacher can feel it emanating from every tree and even from the ground.

Well he is not fully certain if the ground is emanating, but perhaps it is. The trees certainly are, though. They are also petrified, though Kreacher is uncertain if the petrification is due to age or some sort of magic. Kreacher has no way to tell. He was about to go to Hogwarts for Hydra and Loughness, because he would like them to see this most special of forests, so he finds it a perfect coincidence that Hydra has come home at this very moment!"

"Are you sober," she asked carefully.

Kreacher frowned. "Of course Kreacher is sober. Does Hydra believe him to be imagining things?"

She shook her head. "No. I was just hoping you could Apparate me back to the music store because I stupidly drunk-Apparated here due to sort of forgetting that I was drunk."

"You what?" The exclamation came from Daddy Regulus who joined Daddy Kreacher in the doorway of the library as he spoke.

"I also need snacks," Hydra continued. "Doesn't matter what kind of snacks. I have a feeling that Greybo and Glimmer will eat anything."

"Who," Daddy Regulus asked carefully.

"We found a Goblin to play guitar in our new band thanks to Graven, and Griphook found an elf to play the drums for us," Hydra explained. "I need snacks."

Kreacher sighed. "Kreacher will go and see what Stormy has. Wait here." He brushed past Hydra and hurried off down the hall toward the kitchen. Left alone with Daddy Regulus's look of disapproval, Hydra was glad to be too drunk to be ashamed or concerned over potential consequences.

"It is Griphook's fault,"she muttered. "He got the drinks." She left out the part that she'd apparently annoyed him when asking him to get the drinks because he was not doing anything else in particular. It was a bloody reasonable request. Had she just been sitting about while he and other goblins counted their gold, she would not have at all minded going for drinks, after all. "Do you and Daddy Kreacher know where the music store is," she asked. Daddy Regulus gave a tight nod without verbally replying. His expression was grim, and that could not be a good thing. Hydra sighed, wondering if it would be too much to hope they would simply appreciate that she was usually the good one and let this slide.

"Is Loughness with you," Regulus asked after several long seconds of silence. Was she being drunk-paranoid, or had her father just vamped out and read her mind? If he had, though, he should not need to ask where Loughness was. Then again she had not been thinking of where Loughness was. "Hydra?"

She shook her head. "He is at Hogwarts."

"Very well. After we get you back to the music store, we can all go there to get him before visiting the petrified forest."

Though Hydra hated to miss the rest of the hang out with her new band, she very much wanted to see this petrified forest that apparently had lots of elf magic in it for some as of yet unknown reason. Before long Kreacher hurried back into the room with an old picnic basket over one arm and a frown on his face. The grandparents were floating behind him and Hydra wondered if he'd told them that she was drunk. Would they care? This was entirely new territory.

"If only we could see this forest," Walburga lamented. "Usually I do not mind being stuck here, in the home of my fathers, but sometimes I miss being able to see the world." She shot a glare at Regulus. "And before you start in wondering if we wish to cross over, no. Crossing over would not allow us to see the bloody mysterious forest either." Hydra was relieved that her grandparents were lamenting their lack of travel capability rather than her drunken condition.

"I promise to give you all the details," she told them with a smile. She hoped that it did not look like a drunk smile. Could a smile look drunk?

"That's a good dear," Walburga said, smiling at Hydra fondly.

"Let us go, then," Kreacher said, reaching for Hydra's arm with his free hand. Regulus placed his hand on Kreacher's shoulder and they were off.

Chapter Text

Chapter 35, The Elf Woods

"Ooh snacks!" Greybo reached hungrily for the picnic basket that hung over Kreacher's arm. "Hi, Hydra's dad. Thanks for the snacks!" Then seeming to realize what he'd just said, he jerked his head toward Hydra. "Um why did you bring your dads?" As he spoke, the goblin was already riffling through the basket of snacks that he'd relieved Kreacher of. Coming up with a sandwich, he eagerly unwrapped it. After studying the basket for a moment, Glimmer followed Greybo's lead, tearing into a package of chocolate biscuits.

"Because," Hydra began, then glanced about the store. Only the bemused owner stood with them and there were currently no other customers. They did not know the owner, though. He still had his magic, so perhaps someone thought he was trust worthy, but this elf woods was special and new. As such Hydra had no idea who should be knowing about it and who should not. Was it elf business or everyone's? "I'll tell you later." She knew that it would be fine for Mag to know, and surely the same went for the rest of her band mates.

Being an elf, Glimmer should know about the elf woods and it shouldn't hurt for a goblin to know either. So she should be able to fill them all in later. "We have a family thing happening, so we need to go to Hogwarts to get my brother," she explained. "The rest of you should totally keep bonding. I brought snacks as you can see, so enjoy them. I totally wish I could stay, but I can't miss this family thing." She was truly almost as eager to hang out with her new band as she was to see the elf woods. Connecting with people through music was unlike anything else, and the four of them had connected. While she hated for the night with them to end, she wanted to see the petrified forest that Daddy Kreacher had found.

"It probably is not so wise to eat here around so many pricey instruments, so we could just all go along to Hogwarts, I suppose," Mag said. She was eying the basket nearly as hungrily as were Greybo and Glimmer.

"Oh eat here by all means," the shop owner encouraged. "If you drop food on it, you buy it, but I am completely open to making more gold off you lot tonight."

"Glimmer bets you are, but it's off to Hogwarts with us. Thank you for the kind assistance," Glimmer said hastily before Apparating everyone as well as his drums and Hydra's little piano into the Hogwarts Great Hall.

"How did you know where Hogwarts was," Greybo asked.

Glimmer gave him an incredulous look. "Everyone knows where Hogwarts is! Besides, Glimmer's sister's husband used to work here."

"And what, he just up and quit," Greybo asked.

Glimmer shrugged. "Yes. They got married and she could not leave the family for whom mine was working at the time, so he became a house husband, looking after their children."

"A house elf house husband," Greybo snickered. "That's fucking funny, at least in my current state."

"While you were gone, we started discussing where we could practice," Mag told Hydra. She seated herself at the nearest table, which happened to be Ravenclaw. "In the end we were between yours because it's so large, and Hogwarts for the same reason." Following Mag's lead, Greybo settled down at the Ravenclaw table across from her. He set the picnic basket down in the center of said table with a thump.

"There. Now everyone can reach it," he said as Glimmer seated himself beside Mag. "I will probably come to practice stoned, though, which the headmaster may not like," the goblin warned. "So it may be better at Hydra's."

"Then again, Hydra and I can't always leave school at the drop of a hat," Mag interjected. "So there may be times that you shall have to remain unstoned for practice. Albus likely would not appreciate it otherwise."

"Why not switch back and forth between the two as needed," Glimmer suggested.

"Where are we keeping the instruments," Hydra asked, beginning to feel mildly dazed by the current chaos.

"I am going to get Loughness," Regulus said. Bending he kissed Kreacher's cheek, then hurried out of the Great Hall.

"I will speak to Albus about allowing us to use one of the spare rooms here at school at least for the next month until school is out," Mag said. "Then we could move everything to #12 Grimmauld Place for the summer, and take it from there. Perhaps if we practice hard, we could even play some gigs this summer." Glancing to Kreacher she asked, "Is it alright if we play at yours during the summer? I figured you'd not mind, considering Regulus and I used to jam there all the time before things got so busy for everyone."

Kreacher nodded distractedly. "Fine, fine. That is fine," he murmured. His thoughts were clearly on something other than their band practice situation. Hydra did not have to be the mind reader her vampiric fathers were to know it was the elf woods.

"Fantastic," Mag said, giving him a warm smile as she reached into the picnic basket, extracting an apple. Hydra appreciated her for not asking what was going on. Mag was ever tactful and perceptive.

"Glimmer wonders if he should take his new drums with him in order to learn his way around them before our next practice," Glimmer mused. "His flat is small, but he can fit them in somewhere. He can place a silencing charm up when he practices so as not to bother his neighbors."

"Good idea," Hydra said.

"These drums have so many sounds and pitches for Glimmer to play with," the elf said excitedly. "Far more than any table or desk." Loughness Apparated in with Daddy Regulus then, so Hydra moved to Kreacher's side, readying herself to depart. Loughness's eyes were nearly feverish with excitement as he nodded a greeting to Hydra's band mates and murmured a quick 'hello.'

"This is my brother, Loughness. Loughness, our drummer Glimmer, and our guitarist Greybo."

Glimmer and Greybo greeted Hydra's twin with half full mouths, and Loughness grinned in amusement.

"I heard you drunk-Apparated," Loughness accused, cuffing Hydra playfully on the shoulder. "Do not be stupid."

Had she been sober, Hydra knew she would've blushed due to shame and embarrassment. She was too drunk to feel either. She frowned at her parents, before nodding at her twin. "I know. I am sorry." I was just caught up in the moment, but you are right."

"It was lovely meeting everyone," Kreacher said, nodding at Greybo and Glimmer. Then he Apparated his family to the elf woods. The air was still and odorless. Outside of time was the way Hydra's mind wanted to explain it, though she knew it wasn't true. She, Loughness, Kreacher and Regulus stood together surrounded by stone trees. Some towered above them while others were mere stumps no higher than Hydra's knee. Their colors ranged from green to brown to red and yellow. The ground was covered in dirt and rocks, some large and some tiny, but there was no grass.

"Wow," Loughness murmured. His eyes were wide with a stunned fascination that Hydra had never seen on his face before. Suddenly she felt entirely sober. She would not be Apparating on her own for the rest of the day, just in case, but her head was entirely clear. It felt as though everything was in slow motion. She knew this was just her perception, because when she moved her hand in front of her face, the gesture had the exact speed behind it that she intended it to have. "How big is this place," Loughness asked. His voice was full of quiet awe.

"We are in the center," Daddy Regulus said. "We can walk for about five minutes in any direction before we encounter normal trees."

"And normal weather," Daddy Kreacher added." At last, Hydra glanced up at the night sky, expecting it to look oddly gray for some reason. Gray just seemed like the best fit for the place's lack of weather and its cloak of odd stillness. The moon and stars appeared as they always did, though. Whatever spell lay on this place, did not reach so high that it could affect the sky. No weather magic had truly been cast then, likely as not. "It appears as if some sort of preservation shield was cast over this place," she mused, ever analytical.

"If so, how did the trees age enough to petrify, then," Loughness asked doubtfully.

"Perhaps they were petrified already," Hydra mused. Kreacher watched their exchange with silent interest, as if he was eager to see what conclusions they would draw. "The ground is barren, but it doesn't feel dead," Hydra observed. Loughness nodded in silent agreement as he moved to rest his hand on the trunk of the nearest tree.

"It feels alive too," he murmured. "Not like ordinary wood, but, but like stone. Like one of the stones Mag enhanced for a wand or for jewelry," he realized.

"Makes sense," Hydra said. She moved to stand in front of another tree, laying both of her palms flat on its wide stone cold trunk. Breathing in deeply, she closed her eyes, allowing her senses to sink into the tree as she breathed out. "It feels old and powerful and..." Was sad the right word? Not precisely. "Perhaps it is glad that we have come home." She wasn't quite certain what she even meant, but the words felt right. She turned to look at Daddy Kreacher, who gave her an approving smile. "What else do you sense about this place," she asked.

"Kreacher is not yet certain. He feels that it requires further study."

"I want to bring Ballan here," Hydra said, speaking through a rush of sudden excitement at the very idea. "Don't tell him about it, because I wish to."

She watched her parents exchange a glance.

"And when does Hydra plan to do this, Kreacher wonders? He was unaware that Hydra and Ballan socialized."

"We don't yet, as you very well know. I was hoping that you would help me with that. Invite him over or something when Loughness and I are finished with term. It will be soon, after all."

"Why are we inviting him over if not to tell him of this place," Daddy Regulus asked, raising one brow too calmly at his daughter.

"We could have a party. A mixer, you know with elves and goblins and humans! The social version of what our new government is doing," Hydra said. She was positively thrilled by her new brilliant idea. "I wanted the party before, but you said no, because Delphini, and now she is dead."

Regulus chuckled. "Right you are, and that she is. We can have the mixer. I am more than glad to facilitate such a thing."

Kreacher nodded. "As is Kreacher," he said, giving Hydra a warm smile. "Kreacher is proud of Hydra's initiative. He knows that it is not entirely self serving. Is she able to help with the inviting of other elves and goblins?"

Hydra nodded eagerly. "Of course." For his part, Loughness was moving about, touching various random petrified trees and even the earth, entirely unconcerned with the current conversation.

Chapter Text

Chapter 36, A Place To Belong

It wasn't that Loughness Black felt that he didn't belong before entering the elf woods, but now that he had, everything was different. He'd come to a place that was truly his. His because it felt familiar and powerful and great, all qualities with which he strongly resonated. His parents and grandparents had raised him to know that he was great, and thus should do great things. He had never felt this to be a burden. Instead, he didn't object to the responsibility, eager and willing to rise to the challenge. In the ancient petrified forest, he truly felt in his element. For this reason, he frequently left Hogwarts after classes were done for the day during those final few weeks to visit the place.

It was often in his thoughts, as if calling to him. It was a call he was more than willing to answer. It never felt in any way forced or wrong, just necessary and right. When he visited, he would wander from tree to tree, placing his hands on their trunks and reveling in the majestic energy of each. If he had to put the experience into words, it was as if the elf woods was a giant powerful wand, just begging for him to wield it. Mag's wands emanated power unlike any wooden wand could, and these petrified trees felt much the same, though magnified to the extreme.

Walking among them felt so good that he did not even mind not knowing how to use the place or what to use it for. That would all come in time, when it was time. Until then, he would enjoy the forest for just being what it was. He would enjoy the feelings of expansiveness and power that it gave him. It took him a few days to think of showing the place to Kereston as Hydra planned to do with Ballan. The reason it took him a few days was simple. Hydra's desire to bring Ballan to the elf woods was logical. He was an elf and every elf, at least those they were certain could be trusted, should see the place. Wanting Kereston to see it came from a different place. As Minister she should be aware of whatever potential he ended up discovering in these woods. More than that, though, it was his, and he wanted to share it with her.

He felt amazing when he was among the petrified trees that seemed to radiate elf magic, and he felt most alive when he was near her, so combining the two was also most definitely an intriguing prospect. When he'd helped with Delphini, she had leaned on him for support, truly treating him as an equal. She'd never talked down to him, but she had been there as he grew up, as much as she was home. She worked a great deal. Her job was her life, so she was not at home often. She had long days and early mornings so it wasn't as if she'd raised him or anything simply because she'd lived in his manor. More than once Hydra had voiced doubts that Kereston would ever be able to see him as the man he wished her to see due to having watched him grow up.

He wasn't worried, though, and that was all that mattered. He was confident that his power would speak for itself when he was ready to make his move. That and his accomplishments. Helping to end Delphini had only been the first of many things he intended to achieve. He was Pure-blood squared, after all. He had the power to do great things, and he intended to. He'd grown up knowing that he was special. Not doing great things would be an insult to both of his most pure of bloodlines. Due to her familiar link with Daddy Kreacher, Kereston had not aged since she was eighteen. As a result, no one could claim she was robbing the cradle when Loughness finally won her. Her bond with Kreacher was supposed to allow her to live as long as he did, for vampires often needed assistance with those things that required handling during the daylight hours. When Kreacher had asked this of Kereston, Stormy and the others were not yet living at #12 Grimmauld Place, and Hydra and Loughness did not yet exist. They had not even been thought of yet, considering that Regulus and Kreacher never expected to have children for obvious reasons.

Loughness invited Kereston to the elf woods the first weekend after the daddies had shown he and Hydra the place. He Apparated home from Hogsmeade, leaving Hydra there to meet up and have lunch with her band while Guillermo, Sortia and James went shopping. As he expected, he found Kereston reading in the library with Reynaldo curled up with his own book beside her chair. "Hi," Loughness said, grinning fondly at the spider before redirecting his gaze to Kereston, who had risen to her feet with a look of surprised concern on her face.

"Is everything alright?" She wore loose comfortable looking gray slacks with a matching pullover top. The outfit was casual, and the fabric looked as if it would be soft to the touch. Kereston was stunning enough to look good in anything, and the casual outfit only served to enhance that in Loughness's eyes.

"Sorry, no, everything is fine," he said in a rush. Of course it was logical for her to be concerned. As term wasn't quite over, he would not be expected home. He should've considered that, but he was far too focused on his elf woods as well as his need to show it to Kereston. At his reassurance, she gave a sigh of relief, sinking back into her chair.

"He looked too calm for anything to be wrong," the spider commented, turning the page of the book he held with one sinuous front leg. "Pay attention, Kereston."

Kereston chuckled. "Got it."

"I wanted to show you something," Loughness told her. "Something very important."

"Alright," she said, placing her book on a low table close to her chair before turning to him.

"I shall have to Apparate us," he said." Nodding, she stood. He hurried over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder before Apparating them both directly into the center of the petrified forest. As always when in this place, he was awash in feelings of magical expansion and a deep peace. For an instant he even forgot to look at Kereston, his gaze instead hungrily devouring his stately stone trees. His. It wasn't that he'd taken the forest over. It just felt like part of him. He would not object to other elves calling it theirs as well if they felt the same deep connection here.

Kereston's small sound of awe drew his focus back to her, and he smiled. He'd known she would be impressed by the sheer magical grandeur, and she was. Her small delicate features were alight with wonder as she turned to study the area from all sides. "I wasn't sure if the Daddies had a chance to tell you about the place yet what with your varying schedules, but I felt you should see it."

"Yes," Kereston responded vaguely, her focus still clearly on her surroundings. "Kreacher was very excited about it. He was going to show me some time this weekend, but I'm glad you did it first." Loughness felt his heart leap. She preferred to come here with him above all others! His feelings dropped as quickly as they'd risen when she continued, however. "Kreacher has so much to do, and now it's one less thing for him to bother with." So it was to time manage for everyone that she was glad he'd come to bring her here, not because she would prefer to be here with him. "Loughness? What's wrong?" The concern in her voice was something at least. He forced a smile, shrugging.

"Sorry, I just get so easily distracted by this place." True enough even if not true in that particular instance. "It feels... unlike anything else I have ever experienced. I thought you should know. In case whatever this place does or is for can be useful if any sort of trouble comes."

"Trouble of the sort Bellatrix is concerned about," Kereston asked. "I mean I don't disagree with her logic even if I hope we can prevent it."

Loughness nodded. "I'm all up for preventing it but if not, I am prepared to act."

"And you can use this forest?" Kereston asked.

"I am sure of it," Loughness said. "Though I am still working on precisely how to do so."

"I suppose knowing what problem we will be up against would help with that," Kereston said with a slight smile and Loughness chuckled.

"Indeed, but I should be able to find several uses for this place. To be honest, I've been more just adjusting to it right now, drinking it in and learning its vibrations. Perhaps once I have done so for long enough, I will instinctual know what it is for."

Kereston's gray-blue eyes narrowed in thought.

"You think it was created for something?"

"Perhaps so," Loughness replied. As he spoke, he idly rested one hand on a waist high tree stump, drawing an odd sort of magical sustenance from the lined stone that he had never realized he actually needed. "That or something happened here, some great magic that turned these trees to stone, petrifying them without the need of actual time. If I can learn what that was, it still may guide me to how to use the place now. I feel that why the place is petrified matters as much as what we elves used it for in the long ago."

Kereston nodded. "Makes sense."

"I wonder if a basilisk came through. It would be one explanation of the petrification."

"Can a basilisk petrify inanimate objects, though," Kereston wondered. "Then again wood is alive, isn't it?"

Loughness nodded. "Precisely. I was thinking of asking Grindelwald if he knows of any spells I can work to learn if the petrification of these trees happened over time naturally or by magic. It shall provide a starting point."

"Good idea," Kereston agreed. "Gellert certainly thinks outside the box, so he would be the one to ask." Like Loughness had, she reached out to place a small hand against a near by tree. She had chosen a taller one with arching branches that spread overhead. One looked nearly like a half moon as it arched above them, and that moon branch was where she placed her hand. "I love the way it is stone, yet still has the tree lines and rings on it that gives it the quality of wood. It's an alchemy of both, retaining wood and stone properties in tandem. I wonder what sort of wands and or jewelry Mag could craft out of such wood. Of course I would never suggest she cut into any of these," she added hastily.

"I might, though," Loughness said, liking the idea very much. "With her unique affinity for stones, Mag would be a great one to help study something as unusual as this forest.""

"She is not a fan of wood wands, considering that her crystal ones are twice as strong," Kereston said. "But these trees are so unusual that they should interest her regardless."

"Yes. They are wood that is now stone, so she should appreciate them for the marvel they are. And if she wishes to ad crystal to enhance them, that would probably make for an even stronger magical outcome." The more Loughness thought of the potential, the more he liked it. "She is with Hydra today doing band things. I may track them down and speak to her about it today."

Kereston smiled. "That sounds brilliant. I'm excited to know the outcome, so do keep me updated!"

"Of course," Loughness said, more than willing for any excuse to write Kereston.

"Thanks for showing me this place," Kereston said, allowing her hand to fall from the curved branch above her head. "Let's never cut that one. It's so pretty."

"Agreed," Loughness said. "It would be a shame to make any of the branches into wands from that particular tree even if they would make great wands. The tree looks too grand with them spreading overhead to take them away. I think Mag shall be able to tell which trees are willing to give any parts of themselves up, and which are not. If she is unable for some reason, I have enough of a connection with this place to assist." With that, he took Kereston's hand and Apparated them back home. Once more they stood in the library, aka the most wonderful place on earth. "I will write Gellert about meeting me in the forest as soon as term is over," Loughness said.

"You're graduating," Kereston said with a little chuckle. "On one hand, that seems odd, but on the other, it seems just as odd that you are still a student after all you have accomplished."

"Especially considering that Daddy Regulus dropped out in his sixth year. I considered doing so, but thought, why not just finish and take some extra alchemy and advanced Herbology while at Hogwarts."

Kereston nodded, resuming her seat and picking up her book. "I did the same. I figured the more interesting classes I could cram into my head the better for whatever may come up in life even if my job did not require them."

"How was the forest," Reynaldo asked without lowering his book.

Kereston gave him a surprised look. "How did you know where we went?"

The spider sighed and gave her the side eye out of all eight eyes. "Because! What else would Loughness care about enough to come and show you at this precise time?"

"He has excellent skills of deduction," Loughness complimented. "I'd better get back to Hogsmeade if I wish to track down Mag."

Chapter Text

Chapter 37, Home Is Where The Heart Is

It was when Loughness was writing Gellert that he decided to write Flitwick as well. He had a sudden urge to know his fellow half-breed's take on the elf woods. He had truly bonded with Flitwick when the Charms Master trained him up for the fight against Delphini. The secret few people knew about Filius Flitwick was that he was half leprechaun. As such, his understanding of magic had a particular uniqueness that Loughness could appreciate as a fellow half-breed.

Gellert Grindelwald was one of the few human magic users who could see magic with an outside the box eye akin to that of a half-breed. In the end, though, Flitwick could teach him from a perspective that no one else could, half-breed to half-breed, and this gave them a bit of a bond that neither had with anyone else.

His notes to Grindelwald and Flitwick were similar, asking both of them to meet him here at #12 Grimmauld Place so that they could run some tests in the Elf Woods. Flitwick's note was a bit longer, as Loughness had to explain what precisely the Elf Woods was. He concluded by asking the Charms professor not to tell anyone of the place other than his wife. Flitwick was married to a druid, and Loughness knew that if any full-blooded human would appreciate the forest properly, it would be her.

He sent the letters off via the family's grumpy owl, narrowly avoiding having his finger's nipped. Hopefully Flitwick and Grindelwald would be able to come at once, considering that it was Saturday so both shouldn't have to be anywhere in particular. Fortunately his hope was a valid one, for both men showed up within the next fifteen minutes. Gellert was first to arrive. While they waited for Flitwick, Loughness explained to the blond wizard what he wanted to look for in way of the trees petrifying naturally via the aging process, or through magical means. "I should be able to manage something," Gellert said thoughtfully. "Surely with Flitwick's assistance if not without it."

"It would appear that he is coming, else he would've written by now to say otherwise," Loughness said.

"Very good," Gellert said. He flashed a sudden smile. "In truth I look forward to being a part of this. It is the most unique magical experience I have had in quite some time, and you know how much I like a good challenge."

"Delphini not unique enough for you," Loughness asked dryly, grinning back.

Grindelwald tossed back his hair and laughed. "Touche! What I meant was a pleasant unique challenge."

Loughness laughed. "Got it. Though in some ways, I found helping to rid the world of Delphini rather pleasant as well as unique. Satisfying even." When his eyes met those of Grindelwald, he saw the understanding reflected there. Though the two were very different in some ways, they recognized and respected the Dark Lord in one another. Gellert had been the first to hand Loughness the responsibility of an adult, seeing that he was ready and perhaps along with Wulfric Dumbledore, the only capable one to do what needed to be done when it came to Delphini.

Then again, Grindelwald had begun his own path to greatness at a similar age, when kicked out of Durmstrang at the age of seventeen. Gellert recognized and appreciated Loughness's unique abilities as well as his skill in executing those abilities. Loughness also planned to own the Elder wand some day just because, and he had never made this a secret to Grindelwald. Daddy Regulus was certain the thing had three Horcruxes in it, one belonging to each Peverell brother, but Loughness felt that bending them to his will would be an interesting challenge.

It would be the second or perhaps third marker on his path to being the greatest Dark Lord the wizarding world had ever known. The faint sound of the door chime made Loughness give a sudden eager smile."He's here! That's got to be Flitwick. I'll get it," he called out, raising his voice so that he could be heard wherever the four elves of #12 Grimmauld Place happened to be. Gellert followed him to the stately front door, and as expected, Flitwick was waiting outside.

"You'd better return home with the details if there are any to report," Walburga called out from somewhere deeper inside the manor.

Loughness grinned. The grandparents always seemed to know what was going on even if they weren't in the room when said things were being arranged. "Yes, Grandmother," he called back before Gellert closed the front door. All things involving bloodlines and unusual parentage aside, he had quite the unique life, Loughness thought. Who else could claim ghostly grandparents as common place, after all?

"Sorry I'm late," Flitwick said a little breathlessly. His sharp black eyes were dancing with excitement and Loughness smiled. In cases of magical study like this, sharing the excitement with one's fellows made the work all the more special. The more great minds that were involved, also served as an indication that great things would happen as well. "I just had to find out my broom, you know in case I need to fly up and investigate any possible wards placed at the level just above the highest trees. Such occurred to me when you mentioned the fascinating lack of weather of this forest in your note, Loughness. I also wish to see how simple magic works when performed in this forest."

"Good thought," Loughness said. "I assumed it would all be permissible considering I could easily Apparate in and out, but I know better than to assume. If you're both ready, I shall Apparate us there now." When both men agreed that they were indeed ready, Loughness put a hand on each of their shoulders and they were off.

Once again the all encompassing feeling of wholeness, home and a warm familiarity surrounded Loughness when he was once again in his forest. Flitwick let out a soft sound of admiration. "Your description, though a good one, could never prepare one for the majestic uniqueness of this place. It is, quite unlike anything I have ever seen or even read of before!" Loughness just nodded silently in understanding. Flitwick began to slowly walk about, from time to time reverently pausing to touch a tree trunk before continuing on.

"I am going to try a few spells to detect enchantments on the trees in particular," Gellert said. The blond spoke quietly as if not wishing to disturb the forest, a thing Loughness also understood. Leaving Gellert to his work, Loughness began to walk among the trees. Eventually he would check on the progress of the other two men, but he knew well that hovering over one's shoulder wasn't the way to give them space to sort things out. As he gave Grindelwald and Flitwick their space to study the forest, Loughness thoughtfully moved between the various trees. Each of his steps was guided by a growing awareness that not every tree was entirely equal to another. Though all were filled with a comparatively similar form of magic, the ones in his immediate vicinity were not quite what he was looking for without even realizing it.

Even the most advanced forms of Herbology at Hogwarts failed to prepare him for this unusual exercise in magical awareness. It was only fair, for the subject was directed at full blooded human wizards and witches. It did not take into account the various magics of half-breeds, elves or goblins in general. As goblins and elves had their magic far more closely rooted in nature than did most human wizards, Loughness felt a Herbology professor that was not human would better serve the subject. Still he at least got the foundations he needed out of it. But the things they did not teach him, which he rather picked indirectly by operating the more complicated charms taught by Filius Flitwick, that kind of thinking was what proved more useful now.

It wasn't about the charms themselves of course, it was about understanding what lacked in a magic spell. The principles that were not taught in a linear fashion, but were necessary to connect the missing dots, between lists of ingredients and their potentially unusual applications. And now he was able to use that kind of indirect awareness of magic that did not require him to perform any spells, be they of location or transformation, but to simply feel the subtler magical facts presented to his senses, and where they led him. By now he began to understand that what his magical senses were looking for was a kind of center to the forest. A focal point around which the magic was grounded.

If one of his school friends were to ask him how he knew which trees he was looking for and how they differed from the ones he found first, he would not have been able to describe it in a way they would understand. Still the difference in the magical potency was considerable.

And when he finally reached the right clearing, he recognized it at once. It hummed with power, even if he were one of only a few to feel that magical melody. He paused for several long seconds just to take it all in, allowing himself to acclimatize to the shift as it were. Only once he had, did he notice the truly strange thing. There were other presences in the clearing as well. Though he could not see any animals or magical creatures, he could feel a few of them right in front of the center of the elf woods. The space that formed the clearing was where these impressions of foreign creatures were quite strong.

The impressions they left behind near the trees spoke volumes to his senses. He could sense them without seeing them. This was going to be another extremely difficult thing to describe to anyone else, for it did not clearly make sense to his own mind even if it did to his magic. His magic was what felt these odd creatures, after all. Somehow it even allowed him to know what they looked like! One was a kind of segmented creature with a sharp barbed tail. It may have been a guardian of sorts, even if it were currently absent. He would need to warn his friends and daddies about it, in case it was dangerous. The magical impression it left was significant.

Another was a small furry one, but he could feel less from its magical impression, not enough to tell what it was about.

And then stranger still, on the ground, without ever touching it, Loughness could feel a kind of summoning circle. It was very old, but still strong enough to be felt. Its particular magic made him shiver, though if in fear or anticipation, he was as of yet uncertain.

Pursing his lips, the half elf could readily admit to that being one of his magical limitations. He was not able to feel enough from that magical impression. It could either be because the form of magic used for the circle was foreign to him, or perhaps its old age erased some of its essential properties, but he found it to be peculiar nonetheless, and made a note to ask both Grindelwald and Flitwick about it, in case one or the other had encountered something like what he felt in the past.

Both were far older, and he could appreciate the experience and judgment of accomplished wizards with more years under their belt. He would learn from them, and take that knowledge to do great things. If they had no knowledge to offer in this particular matter, he would forge ahead on his own. "Loughness?" The sudden voice along with the sudden hand on his shoulder caused Loughness to start and whirl around.

"Shit! You scared me. Can you see that? He turned back, shooting out a finger to point into the center of the summoning circle. "I can't tell if this was to summon those odd creatures whose impressions I can clearly sense, or if it was for something else."

Without replying, Flitwick walked slowly toward the circle, hands outstretched, a near scowl of concentration on his face. He stopped just before stepping inside the circle, indicating to Loughness that he could see it or at least sense it. "I do not feel it being connected to the two guardian creatures," Flitwick said after some time. At that, Loughness felt his shoulders relaxing in relief that the Charms Master had also sensed the strange forest creatures. Idly he wondered if they would be formed of petrified stone as well, and the idea made him want to laugh. "I do see that this circle is somehow tied to the stillness and lack of weather in this place, though."

"Yes," Loughness said, feeling daft for not noticing this obvious fact before. He'd just taken the lack of weather as an integral part of the forest, but of course it originated from somewhere. "Surely the circle does more than that, though."

Filius nodded, still without turning away from the circle. "Yes, but I am unable to detect what."

Loughness approached slowly, and like Flitwick, extended his own hands toward the circle. He felt such an odd sense of being drawn yet oddly terrified at the same time. "It's as if I wish to run into it yet away from it all at once," he admitted.

"Best step away for now, then," Flitwick said, and they both did just that. "Let's go find Gellert," the Charms Master suggested. Loughness nodded his agreement, not exactly displeased to be leaving the summoning circle behind. "I was able to perform spells here with no problem." Filius spoke quietly as they walked. "The make up of this place is truly fascinating. The dome around it is what keeps outside weather out, but equally as important, it keeps some magic in according to the detection I ran."

They found Gellert with his palms pressed to the trunk of one of the hugest trees in the forest. It was not the tallest, but it was likely the largest in circumference. Loughness bet it was as wide around as five giants were long. The blond's eyes were closed in concentration, but they opened as Flitwick and Loughness drew close. "I have found no direct enchantments to petrify the wood here," he said.

"Nor did I," Flitwick agreed. "It is either natural, or the magic that this place is made of sped up the petrifying process while it slowed everything else."

"I'm betting on the later," Loughness said, and the other two men nodded in agreement.

Chapter Text

Chapter 38, Protections

As it appeared that they'd discovered all they would for the moment, leaving enough for them to chew on to develop future ideas of exploration, Loughness thanked the two men and everyone went their separate ways. Gellert and Filius were able to Apparate out of the Elf Woods on their own steam, so though the place was in general difficult to locate, it did not have wards similar to Hogwarts that only elves could get around.

That intrigued Loughness, as he'd rather expected the opposite, considering the amount of purely elf magic permeating the place. Next he headed to Hogsmeade to hunt down Hydra and her band so that he could talk to Mag. Due to her ground breaking work with gemstone magic, he was eager for her personal take on the Elf Woods and was ready to show it to her that very day if she was willing.

Hydra and the rest of her band were still at the Hog's Head, but they were no longer having lunch. This only stood to reason, considering several hours had passed since Loughness parted ways with them earlier. He could hear the band's music before he even pushed the door open. The harmonious sound of drums, guitar, fiddle and piano blended amazingly well together, considering the band was so knew. The song was bouncy and lilting to a point that Loughness just bet all the evening patrons of the Hog's Head were on their feet dancing.

As he pushed open the door, Hydra's voice swept the room, flowing out into the darkening street. "Give me all your true hate, and I'll translate it in our bed, into never seen passion That's why I am so mad about you!" As he stepped into the room, pushing the door shut behind him, Hydra drew out the words 'mad about you' several more times until the sentiment turned into a demented singing scream that Mag's fiddle perfectly matched. Loughness felt his eyes going wide, because this was a new one for his often reserved sister.

She leaned over her little piano, banging out jazz like cords that clattered sharply against the tappings of Glimmer's drums. It was only then that he noticed to whom she was singing. Leaf, Greok and Ballan sat at a corner table, and Hydra was pointedly singing directly at the mildly disfigured elf. Today he wasn't covered in blood, so he must not have fed yet, Loughness observed. Ballan watched Hydra with a mildly bemused expression while Greok and Leaf swayed together to the music, arms around one another.

Studying the German elf, Loughness still couldn't understand what Hydra saw in him, but if she thought to make any sort of move using music, it would appear that she would have to try harder. Not to mention the song itself was weird. Then again Ballan was himself an odd one, so perhaps it fit. At least Kereston was normal. And smart. And interesting. Thoughts of the pretty blond had him smiling to himself and nearly forgetting why he'd come to the Hog's Head in the first place. The song ended, and the band stood.

It appeared they were finished playing for the day, for Greybo and Glimmer headed up to the bar. The black Fedora hat Glimmer carried was over half full of coins. Hydra walked over to talk to Ballan, Greok, and Leaf. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes bright. One could have supposed this was due to the exertion of her performance, but the obvious way her gaze was riveted on Ballan stated otherwise. With a bemused shake of his head, Loughness turned to look for Mag. The willowy red-head stood beside the bar stool on which she'd sat to play, gleaming fiddle held loosely in her right hand, its case at her feet. She watched Greybo and Glimmer ordering drinks with their tip money, a slight smile of amusement curving her lips. "Mag," Loughness called, waving as he headed over to her. "I have something remarkable to show you if you've time to come and see it before you return to Hogwarts."

"The petrified elf forest," she asked, turning to him eagerly. He grinned.

"That's it. I wanted to see what you thought of making something out of some bits of the wood, providing any of the trees are willing to give any up. I was hoping you could help figure that bit out as well, as you're used to talking to stones and knowing what they want."

Mag's large green eyes flashed in excitement. "Really? I would love to. I wasn't expecting you all to allow any of those trees to be cut, so the thought didn't even occur to me, but it does sound quite the fascinating project!"

"Mag! Hydra! What you drinkin'," Greybo called out from where he stood at the bar.

"None for me today, thanks," Mag called back.

"Me neither," Hydra replied without turning from her conversation.

"I have been eager to see the forest from the moment Hydra told us about it at lunch," Mag said, returning her focus to Loughness. She glanced over at the girl in question who was currently speaking animatedly to Ballan, Greok and Leaf. From the riveted way they were all focused on what she was saying, Loughness bet she was telling them about the forest. "I was going to see if she'd take me to see it once we were through here, but she appears to be busy," Mag concluded with a chuckle.

"Well it's good I've time, then," Loughness said with a grin. It was nice how well things fell into place when they were supposed to, he thought as he and Mag headed for the door of the Hog's Head. "Off we go," he said once they were outside. Placing a hand on Mag's arm, he Side-Apparated her into the forest.

"Oh," she said softly, turning in a slow circle to drink the place in. It wasn't so much that Loughness loved showing this place to people. Rather it was showing it to the people who would most appreciate it that he loved. Bringing anyone here who could or would not see how special it was would just never do. "I've never seen anything even close to this." Mag's hushed tones were nearly swallowed up by the heavy silence that always seemed to drape the forest like a protective blanket.

"Oh and there are some sort of creatures that live here as well, but they weren't here earlier today." Loughness recalled how much Mag enjoyed magical creatures, so thought to share that interesting bit of information as well. He explained how he had sensed how they looked without actually seeing them when he stood in the center of the place.

"They're guardians I think, but whatever type of creatures they are, I've never seen them before. One is small and furry, though certainly dangerous in spite of its likely cuteness. The other is far larger, segmented and scaled with a barbed tail. Perhaps the tail has poison in it, but of that I am not certain. It is merely a speculation, or perhaps an instinct." He shrugged. "All of this is so new to me. I don't even know how I sensed them save for the fact that elves are probably so attune to this place for an important reason that I hope to soon discover."

"Are you certain these animals are still alive and solid? Or do you think they could be actual guardian spirits?"

That was something Loughness hadn't considered. They'd left such a strong impression that he was certain they were solid and close, but this did not have to be the case and guardian spirits made just as much sense. "I don't know. I assumed they were still alive because the forest preserved them, but if they are spirits, this could be why I only sensed them rather than actually seeing them. And as I have no idea what they are, if they were prehistoric, or at least super ancient, this could explain their rare appearance."

"The magic laid on this place is fascinating," Mag said. "The fact that it is invisible until entered, even to wizards, is amazing."

Loughness nodded. "Daddy Kreacher may not have even found it without his vampiric attunement to things." Vampires could hear and see sounds and colors that no one else could because their senses were so heightened. Over time, Daddy Kreacher had learned to more deeply feel forms of hidden magic that otherwise went unnoticed as well, at least when he was really looking for it. With he and Daddy Regulus still trying to learn the origins of elf enslavement and their original bond or connection to humans, they were both always looking.

"Which trees were you thinking of taking stone from," Mag asked. As she spoke, she placed her hand reverently on the nearest trunk and closed her eyes, presumably to more fully take in its energy.

"I was hoping you could help me decide," Loughness said. "If you are to be working with it, your opinion matters."

"Sure," Mag nodded. "This one may be willing." The tree was rotund but not nearly as tall as many that towered above them. A bit off it wouldn't go too amiss.

"That feels right," Loughness agreed.

"What are you thinking to do with the stone once we have some harvested," Mag asked.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I hadn't gotten that far yet. Maybe wands?"

Mag touched the tree again, slowly shaking her head. "I think perhaps protective talismans to be worn may serve better. I feel such would be especially protective for elves, but perhaps for their allies as well."

"Okay," Loughness agreed readily. "How many do we need?"

"As many as the trees will give up. If we take a few pieces from the trees who are willing, rather than a lot from just one, their donations can be spread out and each tree won't have to give up that much." Loughness nodded, liking the sound of that.

"How are we cutting the pieces off," he asked. As he spoke, he studied the tree that Mag felt would be willing to give of itself. It was mostly a tall trunk with no spreading branches, so thin slabs would have to be cut from various places on the trunk.

"Can you use magic to cut it," Mag wondered."I've seen elves slice food with charms. Would such slicing charms work on the tree?"

Loughness frowned. "Perhaps but as the magic of these trees is so different, I'm not sure that I want to risk it."

"I get my stones cut by goblins," Mag said. "We could ask Graven to meet us here and help. She is out of town today, but I think she is supposed to return next week. I could write and ask her if you like."

"That would be great. Thank you," Loughness said.

"And thank you for including me in this," Mag replied with a warm smile. "It is a true honor, Loughness."

Loughness shrugged, feeling oddly embarrassed. "I suppose it should be, but you are the stone witch as I see it, so I wouldn't think this a fitting job for anyone else. Of course you should keep a piece for yourself. For you and everyone in your family. If anyone needs protection, it's surely everyone close to us as much as it's the elves themselves."

A grim look of foreboding crossed Mag's face as she gave a small shiver. "Yes. I am certain that you are right," she said quietly. "I do not have clear answers even from my rune castings, but they have indicated an ancient power that has no love for elves, and I doubt it is dead."

"And you think the Daddies set it off many lives ago?" Mag believed in reincarnation, and though Loughness had no particular memories of his own, he had no reason not to believe.

"If they did not start it, they at least made it worse," Mag said with a sigh. "They have had such dreadful misfortune that they appear cursed. But I can't know, truly. We do know that the elf enslavement certainly was never natural or kind, though and that is bad enough on its own." The WestCraven house elf, Mira, had always been free and a part of the family, so speaking of the topic to Mag never felt uncomfortable.

"It is all weird," Loughness agreed. It bothered Hydra far more, but for him slavery was not a state he could relate to personally. Though his sister could not either, her imagination was just better. Or perhaps her bardic gift simply opened something inside of her that allowed her to relate. With that in mind, Loughness was glad not to be a bard. There were some things one just did not want opened. There were some things one did not wish to relate too or to understand too closely. "Should we get back to Hogwarts," he asked, and Mag nodded.

"We do have a few more weeks to serve of our time there," she said with a small smile. She, Severus and Albus had made it no secret that once Sortia and the twins graduated, they were finished as well. They'd only returned for them, after all, to keep them safe during the dark times of Delphini.

Albus was well ready to retire and Mag and Severus, though too young for that, had other avenues of interest that they wished to pursue. Severus had some potions he wanted to perfect before putting them on the market, and Mag's work with stones always took up a great deal of her time. For his part, Loughness was ready to be free of school. Guillermo had graduated last year and was nearly ready to open his own book shop in Diagon Alley. Loughness was itching to do his own thing as well, even if that thing had not taken full direction yet.

Chapter Text

Chapter 39, A Leaf In The Forest

"So what is the name of your band," Leaf asked eagerly.

Hydra shrugged, shaking her head. "We're still working on it. It needs to be right. To truly fit what we are and what we represent, so coming up with a suitable name is harder than it probably sounds. If any of you ever get any ideas, feel free to share, because we haven't settled on a single thing yet. We want something that expresses the unity of magical races."

"How about trail mix," Greok suggested thoughtfully and Leaf giggled.

"Please don't," she begged Hydra, peering up at her with wide blue eyes full of mirth.

"I think we can avoid that one, yes," Hydra assured with a chuckle. Though Hydra had not had a drop of spirits to drink, she felt positively giddy as she stood chatting with Ballan, Leaf and Greok after the band's little Hog's Head concert. Though she'd mentioned to Leaf the previous day in a note that the band may be practicing at the Hog's Head, she hadn't truly expected them to show up. It was one of their first practices, not a real concert, after all.

She hadn't even posed the news as an invitation, merely mentioning that it was one of the places they practiced because Aberforth's patrons seemed to enjoy the music. Having an audience when they tried fresh songs was a great way of knowing what people wanted to hear as Greybo had pointed out last week when their first jam session at the Hog's Head went over so surprisingly well. Of course it didn't hurt that the band had two bards, even if one, Hydra, was only in training as it were.

Bard in training or not, she'd poured herself heart and soul into her song to Ballan, but she wasn't sure if he'd understood her intention or even noticed that she had one. If she had read his face right, he'd seemed mildly confused when she was directly singing to him, and that was not the reaction she'd expected. What the hell was confusing about professing her need for him in all his dangerous glory?

The song, Mad About You by Hooverphonic, had shocked her because of how very perfectly it described her feelings for the edgy elf. She didn't know what to do with his confusion over her singing directly to him, though. She'd planned to invite him to the Elf Forest and make it a romantic thing, but now that felt a bit awkward to say the least. She'd wanted him for too long to just give up, however. Leaf had expressed an interest in the forest, though,and even Greok was curious. So she would use the opportunity and take them all to see the petrified trees that radiated elf magic. Her hope was that Leaf and Greok would eventually leave her alone with Ballan, but considering his lack of response to her attentions thus far, they were not likely to know that they should. She had a plan for that, though. She'd just explain the situation to Leaf and get her girl help on the matter.

"I want to stop off at the ladies before we go," Hydra said. "Want to come with, Leaf?" She hoped the elf would agree, because if not, she'd have to come up with a reason and make it a thing, all unnecessarily complicated, and who wanted that? When Leaf nodded and rose from her stool beside Greok, Hydra let out an inner sigh of relief. Leaf wore a cute summer frock covered in flowers and dainty little sandals. She wore a simple thin silver cuff bracelet adorned with a yellow stone on her left wrist and no other jewelry.

Hydra would have felt plain in such, but Leaf looked beautiful. "Lucky vampires! They never have to stop off at the loo," Leaf said, planting a fond kiss on Greok's cheek before skipping off to the ladies at Hydra's side. Hydra envied her the easy affection with her goblin, and kept herself from glancing back at Ballan with a concerted effort. At least he was interested in the Elf Forest, if not her song. As soon as the two were inside the lavatory with the door shut behind them, Hydra moved over to the mirror above the single sink.

It stood off to the left of the row of wooden stalls, in an ornate silver frame covered in abstractly depicted grinning skulls with green gems set into their foreheads. Mag had commented more than once how much nicer the Hog's Head had become after Aberforth's daughter found him and began helping him out with the place. Ariana Dumbledore was a Necromancer who had grown up in Germany or Albania or somewhere similar. Her Dark taste showed in the decor. This was the only version of the Hog's Head Hydra had ever known, and she was unable to picture it without its Gothic flair. Staring into the mirror, she worked a charm on her long black hair to smooth it from the rigours of the earlier performance.

She wore a long flowing purple silk dress cinched in at the waist to hopefully accentuate her slender figure. Around her neck she wore a large round sapphire set in ornate silver along the edges, and from her ears hung long shimmering silver and diamond earrings that brushed her shoulders. In spite of their length, they were quite light weight, so comfortable to wear. She loved the way they sparkled and caught the light with the slightest shift of her head. "Hydra is so pretty," Leaf said wistfully, nearly causing Hydra to start.

She gave a soft chuckle as, satisfied with her appearance, she turned from the mirror. "Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you earlier."

Leaf flushed. "Leaf envies Hydra's pretty hair," the elf said, reaching out to gently touch the black tresses that hung over Hydra's shoulder. "Leaf sometimes worries that Greok would prefer girls with hair."

Hydra shook her head. "I wouldn't. His attention seems to always be on you. Unlike Ballan, who had no idea what I was trying to say to him earlier!" She heard the exasperated frustration in her own voice, and it felt so good to get it out to someone that it was an actual tangible relief in her chest.

Leaf squealed. "Oh Leaf hoped that she was correct in thinking that Hydra has an interest in Ballan! How wonderful!" She skipped in place for a moment before heading to one of the stalls. "He is a strange sort, truly, but he has never harmed Leaf, so she supposes that he is not evil. Her Greok trusts him and cares for him a great deal, which also goes a long way in Leaf's book, because Leaf loves and trusts Greok very much. More than anyone else. Everyone deserves love, and Ballan is so alone. He prefers to be, but Leaf does not believe it is good for him."

"Neither does Hydra," Hydra said, moving into another stall. "I mean he shouldn't be with just anyone, of course, because that's probably worse than being alone, but I know I'm right for him. He fascinates and thrills me, and that has to mean something. We are drawn to what and who we are drawn to for a reason. I feel Ballan the way I feel music, and music is right for me, so so is he."

"That sounds smart," Leaf said. Hydra could hear the elf washing her hands at the sink as she spoke. "I'm glad you think so," she said, meaning it. "I hoped you'd help me out, girl to girl."

Leaf squealed again. "Really? How!"

Hydra grinned as she headed out to wash her own hands, pleased that Leaf was so willing to help. "Can you and Greok leave us alone in the forest after you have both had your fill of seeing it?"

Leaf squealed again, clapping her small hands and spinning in a circle. "Oh yes! This is so exciting! And fun! Leaf wonders what Millicent would think about it. Millicent is her other human friend. Hydra is a human friend and an elf friend, Leaf thinks. Aside from Ballan, Hydra is Leaf's only elf friend as well, though she is not sure that Ballan is truly her friend because he may not think of himself as such." She frowned thoughtfully into the mirror for a second before turning to smile at Hydra. "Are we ready to go, then?"

Hydra was drying her hands under the magical wind tunnel beside the sink that activated when one held their hands under the silver hurricane symbol on the wall just beside the mirror. Surely another touch of Ariana's as she doubted Aberforth would've ever considered such a thing. She drew in a deep breath, then let it out as she nodded. "Yes. Let's go. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the forest!"

Leaf bit her lip. "Leaf does not know that she will have any. She is not like Kreacher or Regulus. They have such wise fascinating thoughts on such things, but Leaf just listens and takes it all in and thinks about it. She likes the thoughts concerning elf history and origins, but she has none of her own to contribute thus far. She just does not wish to disappoint Hydra."

"Of course you won't," Hydra reassured quickly. "You are a wonderful friend and I appreciate you just for being yourself. If you or any elf does get impressions, or have any thoughts, though, I am always interested in hearing them as are my parents and brother."

Leaf nodded. "Well if Leaf happens to have any, she promises to share. We should go find the boys now before they decide to start drinking the patrons."

Hydra's eyes widened as she gave an incredulous laugh. "Would they?"

Leaf giggled. "Probably not, but let us not take chances!" When the two returned to the bar, Ballan and Greok were still where they'd left them, seated on their respective bar stools and chatting quietly to one another.

"We were wondering if you'd both fallen in," Greok quipped, grinning at Leaf as he reached to slip an arm around her waist to draw her close. Ballan rolled his eyes at the romantic gesture and turned away. For her part, Leaf was moved in a more positive way, leaning into Greok and snuggling her head against his shoulder.

"Are we going now," Ballan asked, shifting on his stool.

"Yes," Hydra said. "I am so excited for you all to see it."

Ballan rose wordlessly, not looking particularly excited. Hydra opened her mouth to ask if he was excited, but closed it again before any words could escape. If he said that he was not excited, she would have no idea what to say in return, so it was probably best not to ask. The fact that he made her nervous and uncertain was more of a thrill than a deterrent, though.

"Leaf is very excited to see something so connected to her people," Leaf said eagerly as she and Greok rose.

Suddenly Hydra knew what to say. Reaching out, she placed her hands lightly on Ballan's shoulders, meeting his eyes as she smiled. To her shock, his shoulders stiffened under her hands, and she got the distinct impression that he was struggling not to pull away. "It is amazing. Unlike anything you or I have ever seen, and I can't wait for your thoughts on it. I am still shocked that it exists, honestly," she said. Making statements was less risky than asking questions at this point, or so it felt to her at any rate. She dropped her hands from Ballan's shoulders as he gave her an uncertain look.

"Of course I am intrigued to see this forest, but I have no idea if I shall make anything of it that you have not. You or your fathers." Ballan's removed tone and German accent drew her in ways she could not explain. She also liked the way he spoke as humans did as a result of the different language around which he'd grown up. It was just one more thing that always caused him to stand out. People listened to him even if such was not his particular goal.

Hydra shrugged. "I do not know about my parents, but I haven't made anything of it yet. It is special, and it has secrets for us. That's all I know." Everyone respected the Daddies to the utmost, but to Hydra, they were just her fathers. She was used to them, so while she respected them, she couldn't relate to the awe that others seemed to feel.

"Well come and let's go and see it," Leaf said excitedly. "Leaf can't wait!" Showing the forest to others was as exciting as being shown it herself for the first time, and Hydra smiled, nodding in agreement. She lead the way outside, the others following. Ballan was directly behind her while Leaf and Greok brought up the rear, closing the door to the Hog's Head behind them. Hydra hadn't even looked around for her band mates, so in the moment was she.

They could take care of themselves, though. She was busy relishing the feel of Ballan at her back. Her anticipation at showing these three the Elf Woods was palpable. "Everyone grab hands and I'll get us there," she said, a slight tremor of excitement in her voice. Leaf grasped her hand, Greok's hand already in her grip. Hydra reached out, more than happy to have an excuse to hold hands with Ballan, if only for an instant. His grip was dry and firm, just as she'd expected it would be. One second they stood holding hands in a chain outside the Hog's Head and in the next, they were surrounded by the sudden stillness of the Elf Woods. Rather than releasing her hand when they arrived as she'd expected him to do, Ballan's grip tightened as he made a low sound of awe.

"Huge fucking trees," Greok marveled.

"Leaf cannot see," the elf said.

The last and first time Hydra had come here, it was also at night, but with her fathers and the place was already lit. Currently she could see the giant trees as shadows around her but little more. Of course the two vampires could see much better. "Sorry," she told Leaf hastily. "I've never been here without my parents and they already had it lit." She cast a charm of light that quickly bathed the forest in a warm glow. Her spell spread light far more widely than a wizarding Lumos charm, and for once she found herself shamelessly relishing the perks of having elf magic.

"Leaf was not sure if it was safe to cast magic," the elf said. "What a place."

Hydra had assumed it was safe to cast magic, else her parents would've said, but the thought was a logical one.

"I do wonder why Kreacher and Regulus did not bring us here earlier, though," Ballan said. "Are you certain that they do not mind us being here? Perhaps they only intended it for family."

The concern in his voice caused Hydra a sudden stab of guilt. "Oh I'm sure they would've, but I asked them to allow me to do it instead."

He turned to her with a puzzled look. "But why?"

"Because I wanted to get to know all of you better. You are all closer to my age than theirs, and I wanted to be friends," Hydra replied honestly. That was part of her reason, after all.

"Leaf loves that," Leaf said happily. "And she loves this forest too. May she touch the trees?"

"Of course," Hydra said. "Do anything you like."

"Come on, Greok," Leaf said, tugging him by the hand while extending her other to touch various trees as she past them. "They feel so strong and powerful! It's so amazing!"

Ballan watched the other elf with a bemused expression before chuckling and shaking his head as he turned back to Hydra. She found herself staring distractedly into his eyes. From the expectant way he regarded her, she realized that he'd been speaking, and she'd completely missed it.

Chapter Text

Chapter 40, God knows, I'm getting it wrong?But who the hell cares when you're gettin' it on

"Sorry, what?" Hydra asked, blinking as she tore her gaze from Ballan's.

Ballan gave her a slight frown. "I asked what your family plans to do with this place anyway."

"I don't know. They don't know. We are just trying to figure it out at this point. What it is, why it is, what it was intended for, and what we can use it for now. What do you think we should do with it," she wondered. Stepping closer, she took his wrists and placed both of his hands on the nearest towering tree. "Do you feel it? What do you feel?"

He laughed. "I ask you one question and get, what fifteen in return?"

Hydra grinned. "I wasn't counting." After a moment of consideration she added, "I did answer yours before I asked any, though, and I think I only asked three, which is a magic number."

He blinked, turning to her with another laugh. "What the hell do magic numbers have to do with it?"

She shrugged, grinning back. "Nothing really. It is just a random fact." This was easier. She'd somehow gotten him relaxed and laughing! She could hardly believe it. "And though I answered your question, you did not answer any of mine," she accused, jabbing him with a finger simply for an excuse to touch him.

He still stood with his hands pressed to the tree where she had placed them. It was several seconds before he answered, and when he did, his words came out slow and thoughtful. "I do not know what should be done with this place yet either. If I have thoughts, you shall be the second to know, directly after myself. Yes I do feel IT, and no, I do not know what IT is that I feel. There. All three of your questions are answered. Are you satisfied?"

She grinned. "Yep. For now."

"You're hard to satisfy?" He asked, glancing over at her inquisitively before smiling.

Was he teasing? She didn't know, but the look in his eyes as he regarded her with such amusement made her breath catch. "I don't know," she managed. "Probably not. I did not used to think I was. No I am not," she decided. Her head was spinning. Or was it the forest?

He chuckled. "I did not intend for that to be such a difficult or complicated question." His expression suddenly became more shuttered, and just a little withdrawn, though she somehow got the impression that it wasn't personal. "Then again, I am unaccustomed to conversation of a general and normal nature, so I would not actually know, I suppose."

"No! The question was fine. It was me," she hastened to reassure. "I'm quite sure I'm not normal."

He gave a short mirthless laugh. "Who of us is? Me? You? Greok? Your parents? Wolfgang and Millicent who were kind enough to see my suffering and free me when no one else would? That crazy little Minister who always feels the need to chat me up? Ah wait, Leaf is probably somewhat normal. She is at least afraid of me, and once she was frightened of Greok. Wise considering what we are."

"I am not afraid of you," Hydra said quietly. "Why should I be? Granted I am certain that you are dangerous, and unwise to anger, but I do not plan on earning your wrath, so I feel I have nothing to fear."

Ballan shrugged, clearly unmoved by her lack of fear. He turned away from the tree, bending to study the ground before placing his hands against its flat surface. "You have nothing to fear from me, so you are correct. You were raised not to fear, unlike Leaf who was raised a slave."

"So were you, but you aren't afraid of anything." She did not bother to keep the admiration from her voice. "What do you feel?"

"It is powerful, though not quite in the same way as the trees," Ballan replied thoughtfully, after only a second of hesitation in which he likely considered his words. "Nothing grows here, as the ground is as petrified as the trees, but strong magic was laid here, and it is still strong. The ground did grow these trees long ago, and I think it remembers. I am not afraid because I was pushed too far for that. Clearly Leaf was not. She is far too gentle for that."

Of course Hydra wanted very much to ask him how he was pushed. She wanted to hear every detail of his life story, but she knew how rude asking would be, so she did not. He wasn't likely to tell her at this point anyway. She turned her attention instead to the topic of the Elf Woods, sighing in exasperation. "I felt the same thing from the ground, so I agree with you, but I was hoping different elves would sense different things."

Ballan's lips twitched as he straightened. "I am sorry to disappoint, but at least you're in bad company." He walked over to a waist high tree stump and sat himself upon it, legs dangling. Only then did Hydra notice the tall leather boots he wore. They looked soft, which surely made it easier to walk with silent vampiric stealth. "Perhaps Leaf will sense something that you and I have not."

"Or Greok," Hydra said. "Unless my parents have brought Griphook here, Greok may be the first goblin to see these woods. I am eager for his thoughts as well.

Ballan nodded. "His observations could be interesting. He is a bright observant sort for the most part, but don't tell him I said so or I will deny it."

Hydra chuckled as she stepped closer to lean against Ballan's tree. "That sounds like me and Loughness. Greok is like a brother to you, yes?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. At least a friend. I do not know about brothers, never having one. He has a sister, though." He scowled darkly. "She won't even talk to him, because he became a vampire. For some reason that is beyond me, this disgusts and infuriates her. It really hurts him, but he doesn't say much about it. I shouldn't have said anything. It's this stupid talking to people business," he grumbled, scowl deepening to a ferocious level. "I'm no good at it, and actually prefer not to do it if I can help it."

"Why," Hydra asked. "I swear not to mention it to him, and I keep my word."

He nodded. "Thank you. He did not say not to mention it, but I probably should not have anyway. At least I assume so. Hell I don't know!" He gave a sigh of clear frustration clinching his fists in his lap, then slowly releasing them. "And I don't like talking to people, because I usually have nothing to say. That chatty Minister does not seem to understand, for example, that we come from different worlds and therefore have nothing to say to each other. Small talk is ridiculous and a little insane if you ask me."

Hydra chuckled. "I never considered it that way before, but you're right. Kereston, though. She's not bad."

"I did not say she was bad. Just that she and I have nothing to say to one another."

Hydra's lips twitched. "You'd be surprised. She was dragged into helping Grindelwald kill someone once. Granted Picquery deserved it from what I've heard, but still. And she's gotta be some kind of special to be best friends with Daddy Kreacher and Grindelwald."

Ballan shrugged. "So she helped to kill one person. I kill ten or more a night on a slow night just to soothe my inner hatred and rage at humans."

"That wasn't what I meant," Hydra murmured distractedly. "I just meant she's not easily shaken. It isn't about kill count." Trouble is your middle name, but in the end you're not so bad. Hydra had looked directly into his eyes and sung those words, yet somehow he'd managed not to understand. Likewise he had not understood the line, Give me all your true hate, and I'll translate it in your bed. How much more clear could one be?

"You are bothered by that much killing?" Ballan asked.

Hydra blinked in surprise. "No. Why?"

"Because you were just staring at me with this strange look on your face." He shrugged, giving her a dry amused smile. His eyes held a mix of discomfort and challenge that she found moving as hell.

"It wasn't about the killing. It was about the fact that I used a song to tell you that I find all that about you appealing, and that I can work with it to..."

But he stood suddenly, feet slamming onto the ground, and she broke off, eyes widening in startled surprise.

"Have you lost your mind, Little Hydra," he asked quietly.

"I... I don't think so," she managed. Why was it suddenly so difficult to breathe in the best, most exciting of ways?

"You know nothing of what I am. You could not handle me, and you should not. I am no good for you. No good for anyone, and I do not wish to be. I enjoy being alone. So do not sing anymore songs to me, please. I suppose I should appreciate the thought, so thank you and all that, but you have no idea who I am."

Hydra scowled, stepping closer. "I see more of you than you think. Sure I don't know all the details, though I would love to. It's rude to ask, though, so I was waiting on that. But in general, what you just said, you are wrong." Taking the final step that was required for what she wished to do next, she slipped her arms around him and kissed him hard. He made a sound of surprise against her mouth that turned into a near growl of desire as his body pressed hard into hers.

This was what she'd wanted. Everything she'd wanted! And now she finally had it. A responding sound of need came from her as she tightened her arms around him, leaning deeper into the kiss. The hard toned lines of his slender body had hers silently screaming for more. Their mouths devoured one another's for several long passionate seconds. It was Ballan who tore his mouth away first, breath coming out ragged as he leaned into her.

"You are trying to get me killed," he managed gruffly after several seconds. "Your parents are going to kill me."

Hydra chuckled. "They approve. Don't worry."

"They what? You have told them? What have you told them?" She laughed again. She was unable to tell if he was curious or panicked. Rather than answering, she kissed him again, this time more slowly, exploring rather than devouring. His body relaxed as he responded, leaning into her as she leaned into him. Eventually she slowly began to allow her hands to explore him, drifting up his arms, over his shoulders and across his back.

She'd understood from their earlier interactions that he was not immediately comfortable with touch, so she moved slowly and carefully, feeling for any sign that he may be tensing up. Hesitantly he reciprocated instead, hands running through her hair before drawing her more tightly against him. Her rising need was akin to a hunger, and she needed more. Stepping back, she gently tugged him onto the ground. "I am never going to change," he told her, drawing back to peer hard into her eyes. "If you think you are going to change me with this, Little Hydra, you are not. You must know this."

Hydra smiled. "Good. I like you just as you are. Changing you would be pointless. Then it would no longer be you." Taking his face into her hands, she kissed him again. Sighing against her mouth, he finally surrendered to his urges and hers as well. When his body pressed full length against hers on the ground, Hydra arched against him with an animalistic need that she reveled in. After several minutes of increasingly heated kisses they somehow got one another's clothes off.

Her body was engulfed by a fever, and she couldn't have him inside of her fast enough. Once he was, it only hurt for an instant and even that instant felt good in its way. Throwing her head back, she moaned as they thrust together. Only at the feel of his fangs scraping against her throat, did she realize that throwing back her head like that must have seemed like an invitation. She hadn't intended it, but nor did she mind. She'd heard more than once that vampires came with an added bonus, after all. His bite felt more odd than painful, then it felt amazing. Eventually they lay together on the ground, staring up at the stars, Hydra's head pillowed on Ballan's outstretched arm. "Why don't you mind," he asked after some time.

"Mind what," Hydra replied reluctantly, unwilling to give up the peace and utter contented tranquility of the moment.

"The killing."

She frowned. "Why should I? I should think you have good reason, and you aren't killing anyone I care about." He chuckled.

"No, Little Hydra. I am not."

Now that her mind was bestirred, she noticed it. They were looking up at the stars! Previously, whatever shield surrounded these woods kept one from seeing the stars. One simply looked up into an expanse of nothing. One would have to levitate or fly up and past the barrier around this place to see the stars. "Ballan? You can see the stars too, right?"

"Yeah, sure. Aren't they supposed to be here," he quipped. Then he realized before she could reply. "Wait, but they weren't earlier. The shield around this place was blocking them along with any external breezes or temperature shifts. Is that not right? Why this place doesn't even have the usual smells on the night air."

Hydra nodded against his arm before slowly, reluctantly sitting up. "Yes, that's right. And now we can see the stars."

"The smells, breezes and temperature shifts are still gone though," Ballan observed. The two found their clothes and got dressed, both moving slowly and thoughtfully as they cast frequent glances at the sky. "I suppose as the rest is still the same, we didn't break the shields around the place," Hydra said. "At least not completely."

Were they going to get in trouble over this? How would they know not to shag here? Hadn't the Daddies shagged here yet? While the thought of her parents shagging was always disturbing, it was also difficult to believe that they'd been able to control themselves here when they came to investigate it alone.

"Look," Ballan said suddenly. Hydra glanced up to see the stars slowly vanishing. There was no darkening as if a curtain had been pulled. Instead the stars just seemed to fade one by one, then in greater numbers until the sky was blank and colorless again. The shield had obviously just replaced itself overhead. "So do you think shagging did it? Or intense passion in general," Hydra asked. As always her Ravenclaw mind was at the forefront, ever a comfort to her as it worked to sort things out.

Chapter Text

Chapter 41, Connections

"Perhaps Greok and Leaf worked some sort of magic elsewhere in the forest that caused the brief anomaly," Ballan speculated.

"I'd like that," Hydra said. "Then we wouldn't have to go to my parents and tell them what happened."

"You said they were aware," Ballan said, glancing away pensively.

Hydra grinned. "I said they were aware of my feelings for you and that I planned to have you. They approved of that. They were not aware that I planned to have you here, now, like this. It shall just be embarrassing having to explain it to them. Not that Loughness and I haven't walked in on enough compromising positions, mind you," she grumbled. Ballan's eyes widened and he choked. "Not actual shagging," Hydra assured with a sigh. "They were even still dressed, but nonetheless. Seeing Daddy Kreacher wrapped around Daddy Regulus like some barnacle is enough to honestly give one nightmares."

Ballan snickered. "We should look for Greok and Leaf," he said, rising to his feet and taking Hydra's hand.

"They may still be here. It is a large forest, after all. But if they aren't, don't be surprised," Hydra said. "I asked Leaf to help a girl out earlier."

"To what?" Ballan paused to give her an odd look, before continuing to walk through the trees.

"I told her I wished to be alone with you. She was supportive." She chuckled, remembering Leaf's unbridled glee. It had been contagious, strengthening Hydra's own resolve in the matter.

"So they know we were," Ballan spluttered.

"They know, or at least Leaf knows that I wanted to be alone with you. I did not mention my hopes for intense physical gratification." Hydra paused to pull Ballan into her arms for a sound kiss that he enthusiastically returned before they began to walk again. "Why? Were you wanting to keep it a secret," Hydra teased. Considering that he knew that her parents knew, there were no secrets on the matter.

"Well no, but there is not hiding a thing, and then there is telling everyone before Ballan is aware."

Hydra giggled. "Only my school friends, and there are only three of those, my parents and my brother. Oh and Mag knows and Wulfric and probably Severus, but I don't know, and maybe Graven."

"Graven?" Ballan stopped walking, and turned to stare at Hydra. "Graven is Greok's sister's name."

"OOH," Hydra said. She didn't think there was more than one goblin named Graven. It just did not seem likely. "Wow. I mean she's kind of rough around the edges and all, but she's a good sort, trustworthy and very talented. Did you know she made the sword that killed Delphini? Grindelwald was the one who insisted that he thought she could, but she did it!"

Ballan nodded. "Yes, I knew. It is her, then."

"Have you met?"

Ballan shook his head. "Greok experienced her refusing to speak to him when they were both with their family on the holidays, and I refused to be present though he did repeatedly invite me." He made a face. "I do not hate myself, nor do I inflict self torture, so there was no way that was going to happen."

"Does this mean you will refuse to spend the holidays with me," Hydra asked. "Because if you do, I shall have to get creative."

Ballan cringed. "I can only imagine. Then again, perhaps I should better not."

"Does that mean we're good for the holidays, then," Hydra pressed.

"You are aware that it would make me extremely uncomfortable," he warned, and she kissed him before they began to walk again. Several seconds passed before another thought struck her.

"Graven always seemed to like my daddies as much as she likes anyone. Daddy Kreacher helped her transfigure to look human that first year she was spying and met Wulfric!"

"What?" Ballan was clearly confused. Hydra was giving too much information and complicating the matter due to thinking aloud. "Nothing. All that doesn't matter. It's just to say that Graven did not seem to mind vampires when she was taking help from Daddy Kreacher or hanging out at my manor." She scowled. "I suppose I'm hurt. And angry."

"It may not be about vampires so much as her brother being one," Ballan suggested. "Hell I don't know. I would say that I don't understand goblins, but I don't really understand anyone, and nor do I particularly care to. Avoiding social entanglements made that far easier," he grumbled.

"They aren't at all bad as long as you're selective," Hydra told him. "I used to think I wanted more friends, but I've come to see that a choice few are better and more than enough when it's the right people. Speaking of, we aren't going to wander this entire forest looking for them, are we?"

Ballan shook his head. "I've been mentally searching for Greok, or signs of life in general, and am coming up with nothing. I suggest we try the flat I share with Greok next."

Hydra's heart gave a leap. She was about to learn where Ballan lived! "Sure," she said casually. Ballan took her hand and Apparated. It was an odd magical adjustment, leaving the forest behind, like Hydra could feel the air tightening as it settled around her skin. That wasn't quite right, but she had no better way of describing it. They stood in the middle of a small sitting room. Greok sprawled in one of the room's two armchairs. Hydra could hear the sounds of someone who she presumed to be Leaf, rustling about in the kitchen.

"Well hello," Greok greeted pleasantly. He wore an expression of quizzical amusement that made Hydra certain that Leaf had told him. She hadn't asked her not to, so she didn't mind.

"Did either of you perform any sort of magic in the forest," Ballan asked.

Greok arched his brows, shifting slightly in the chair. "Does Apparating out count?" Ballan shook his head. "Then no.""

"Why," Leaf called. "And would Hydra like some tea?"

"Sure," Hydra replied. "Thank you. And because..." Telling Leaf would not be a problem, but speaking of it in front of Greok felt suddenly uncomfortable and embarrassing. "Because we could see the stars for a brief time, so we wondered what could have caused it."

"The temperature did not change, so the shield did not truly open, but the stars did become visible until they gradually faded again," Ballan said. There, Hydra thought, sliding a glance in his direction. They'd managed to explain the situation without getting into the shagging.

"So what were Hydra and Ballan doing when the stars came out," Leaf asked, skipping in with a small China cup of tea in each hand.

"We were," Ballan said carefully.

"OOh, Greok," Leaf squealed before bursting into giggles as she thrust a tea cup at Hydra. Greok straightened fully in his chair to turn the full force of his pleased grin on Ballan. Ballan scowled back. As Greok's grin widened, Ballan's scowl deepened.

"Why don't you have a seat, Hydra," Leaf invited, shooting a pointed look at Greok as if gently attempting to remind him of his manners.

"Thanks," Hydra said, glancing around and only finding the other armchair that she presumed to be Ballan's. Taking his hand, she walked over to the chair. Pushing him down into it, she perched on his lap before taking a sip of her tea. It was green tea laced with honey and nutmeg. "This is quite good," she told Leaf.

"Thank you," Leaf replied with a pleased smile as she perched on the arm of Greok's chair before sipping from her own cup.

"So what now," Ballan asked Hydra.

She sighed. "I guess we have to talk to my parents. We can begin by asking if they have ever seen the stars come out in the forest, then go from there depending on their answer."

"This is going to be an uncomfortable conversation to say the least," Ballan said. "And I haven't even fed yet."

"It probably will be quite embarrassing," Hydra had to agree. "Perhaps they will already be aware of whatever the stars are doing, though, and then we won't have to go into it. One can hope. If you'd like to go and feed, I can wait for you here."

He nodded. "Sounds good. Thanks. I won't take long."

Greok stood. "I'll go with you. I haven't fed yet either. At that, Leaf's face brightened. Clearly she was eager to have all the details from Hydra, and with Ballan and Greok off getting dinner, she would get her chance. Hydra rose to her feet so that Ballan could get out of the chair. Leaf waited until the door had shut behind the two vampires before whispering, "Tell me everything!"

Hydra's cheeks heated in embarrassment, but, she knew were she in Leaf's shoes, she would've been just as curious. "It was amazing!" Leaf squealed. "And before anything happened I even got him talking and laughing. I'm not really sure how that bit happened, because I didn't even try," Hydra admitted. "He has many sides to him really. He's tough and dangerous, but also funny and smart, and uncertain socially. I suppose I knew most of that already, but experiencing it in action was magic fire! I just want to spend more time with him, but I have to return to stupid Hogwarts eventually," she realized.

"Leaf is happy that Ballan was smart enough to see that he should not reject Hydra. She thought it would work out, because Hydra is so pretty and smart, but with Ballan, one never knows."

"He is so very exciting," Hydra couldn't help but gush. "All that raw power and anger and toughness turned on me for other things was just as wild and intoxicating as I knew it would be."

It was Leaf's turn to blush as she hid her face behind her cup of tea. "Did he hurt Hydra at all?"

"Oh no," Hydra assured. "I never thought he would. It's about switching modes. If he's in kill mode, it isn't about someone he would not wish to hurt or kill. Other forms of physical contact allow that energy to be channeled in different ways is all. He was very intense, just as I'd hoped he would be, but he did not hurt me at all." She sighed happily.

"Leaf thinks she would find such intensity frightening nonetheless, so she is glad that her Greok is not quite so... intense." The little elf paused to sip daintily at her tea before asking, "Is Hydra worried for the defenses of the forest?"

Hydra considered for a moment, then slowly shook her head. "I could be wrong, but currently no. I did not feel any changes. It was a strange anomaly, but perhaps it is somehow a natural reaction to... to what we were doing, though I have no idea why. I felt no alarms go off, and the shields still appeared to be in place. As I truly know nothing of the construction of the forest or the reasoning behind it, though, I cannot know for sure. Hopefully my parents will be able to help shed more light on the situation."

Though approaching them about it if she had to mention the fact that she'd been shagging in the Elf Wood was going to be severely embarrassing, she thought with an inner sigh.

"Leaf would be interested to know whatever Hydra ends up finding out," Leaf said.

Hydra nodded. "Of course. I will write you with any updates on the situation." What did you think of the forest anyway? Sorry, with so much going on, I forgot to ask."

Leaf's face broke into a smile, and her round blue eyes shown with wonder. "It was so big! And important! And powerful! It really made Leaf feel how powerful elves once were." She ducked her head, a small flush creeping over her cheeks. "Well we still are, but so many have forgotten, including Leaf herself at times, she supposes."

"Not forgotten, but been made to forget," Hydra corrected gently. She sighed. "I don't even know if it is even forgetting as much as not being allowed to think of it in the proper way due to the blasted slave curse." And how are they going to overcome a curse if they aren't even aware of it? Most elves don't even know that it is a curse, and I bet some would not believe it if they did. This could be due to the very manner in which the curse operates, or it could be the simple psychology of being suppressed for centuries. At any rate, I hope that more elves open their eyes to what we once were and what we should be again when they see the forest."

"Yes," Leaf murmured. "Leaf hopes her people can grow strong again. With this new freedom, it sickens her to look back and see what we had to endure for so long. Many more elves than we know likely had it harder like Ballan. They were not all as fortunate as Kreacher or Leaf."

Hydra nodded. "It angers me to know what Ballan suffered, more so than I can even put into words," she admitted. "I grew up around elves who were treated well and allowed their own freedom of expression. I saw the Lestrange family elves, and Mira, my friend Sortia's family elf, and though each was different in personality, they were all respected by the families with whom they live.

I don't know Grindelwald's elf, but I hear him speak of Bramble plenty, and that elf is far more in charge of things than Grindelwald himself." She chuckled. "Bramble is the Zabini elf," she clarified and Leaf nodded in silent understanding. "I would like to get some elves together, you know into a social group or something," Hydra said suddenly. "Does that sound too odd?""

"Not at all," Leaf said brightly. "Leaf does not know many elves herself, so she thinks it is a lovely idea."

"I mean people can come too if they want," Hydra added. "I don't want it to become segregated. Just because it's for elves, I don't want it to seem that others aren't welcome. Unless we end up doing something just for elf magic that humans or goblins wouldn't understand or something, but that would be different. Just if elves are shy to come alone, but would come with a human or goblin friend or something, allowing whoever wants to come might make things less awkward or forced or you know weird," Hydra concluded.

Leaf nodded. "That makes sense. Leaf thinks that Hydra is wise."

Hydra smiled. "Thanks. Sometimes I think so too, then at others, I am not so sure." She shrugged. "Which is normal, I suppose."

"Are we certain that it is a curse that made the elves slaves," Leaf asked hesitantly.

"Not entirely, but it makes the most sense, and my parents have done a lot of research on the matter," Hydra said. "So much information and elf history is just gone, which is a worrying indication on its own. That and the mere fact that no one so much more powerful than wizards as are elves would serve willingly."

"That makes sense," Leaf said. The door to the flat burst open then, and Ballan and Greok hurried inside. "Ballan is not covered in blood," Leaf marveled.

"I said I wouldn't take long, didn't I," Ballan said.

"Well you were gone a bit longer than expected to be honest," Leaf said, gazing questioningly at Greok.

Greok shrugged. "You know, we had to have bro talk."

"He mostly talked. As in asking too many questions," Ballan said gruffly. "Ready to go," he asked as he approached Hydra's chair. It was then that the idea struck her.

"How do you feel about avoiding the awkward conversation with my parents by having my brother talk to them for us? I could write and ask him to meet us here. We could explain the situation."

Ballan gave her an incredulous look. "He would do that for us?"

"I don't see why not," Hydra said excitedly. If Loughness had any reservations, she was more than willing to bribe him.

"Very well then," Ballan said, a grin flickering over his face. "I'm all up for avoiding embarrassment and discomfort today."

"Great," Hydra said excitedly. "What's this address?"

"Gringotts, fifteenth floor," Greok said. "But just tell him we'll meet him outside if he is coming over else he'll get lost. They always get lost. The first time Ballan came here without me, he got lost."

Chapter Text

Chapter 42, Anything For A Bro

Loughness was studying late into the night in the Slytherin common room when Hydra's Howler came. He'd decided rather last minute to prepare a bit for N.E.W.T.s. As Sortia had decided to prepare several months ago, she was still in the common room as well, studying at his side. Hydra's Howler was short and to the point.

/"Meet me at Gringotts now if you can. I'm okay. Thanks in advance, Bro."/

"Do you want me to go with you," Sortia asked, lowering her Alchemy text book.

Loughness shrugged. "You can if you want, but she doesn't sound stressed so there is no particular need if you'd rather continue cramming."

Sortia bit her lip as she clearly struggled to decide. "I suppose I'll stay here. I could stand a study break, but the parents may be vexed if I sneak out." She scowled. "They mind the strangest things! If I Crucio a Prat that had it coming, they don't mind, but if I do it in Herbology class because said prat was harassing me for two hours straight, they mind."

Loughness chuckled. That had been one of the Potter brats their very first year at Hogwarts. Albus put a tracker on Sortia's wand after that which allowed The Headmaster to see every spell she cast. He'd had to cover for her because she'd actually cast an unforgivable curse. Loughness didn't see why that particular one was so unforgivable right up there with one of those for killing, but who could understand the weird and often backward laws of the government.

Albus had covered for Sortia, claiming that she'd merely cast a bellyache charm on the Potter brat. It certainly hadn't ended there, though. Albus had been furious. He'd put the tracker on Sortia's wand so that if she ever tried anything like that again, or anything at all that he had a problem with, he'd know. As a result, Loughness or Hydra had to punish anyone who Sortia developed a problem with so that it could not be traced. She had always been one to appreciate them for their superior elf blood, though, so they never minded helping a friend out.

"If it's anything worthy, I'll come back and get you. How's that," Loughness offered as he rose to his feet.

Sortia brightened. "That sounds good. If I risk trouble, it should be worthy. Thanks."

"Sure," Loughness said. "Watch my books for me until I get back, will you?" Sortia nodded and he Apparated out of Hogwarts as only elves could do. An instant later, he was standing in front of Gringotts, shivering in the chilly May night air. "Thank you, Loughness," Hydra said warmly from just behind him. He turned to see her standing with Ballan.

"Sure?" He arched inquiring brows, waiting for her to tell him exactly what this was all about.

"I know it's late and I appreciate you, really I do," she said. "Let's go inside and we'll explain everything." When he nodded, she grasped his arm and Ballan side-Apparated them into a small flat. Leaf and Greok sat together in an arm chair, but Leaf got to her feet when they arrived. "Would Loughness like some tea," she asked.

"It is very good tea," Hydra said.

"Well I suppose I have got to try it then," Loughness chuckled. "Thanks, Leaf."

"Of course," the little elf sang out before hurrying into the kitchen. The flat was so small that Loughness could see the nook of a kitchen's outline off to the left of him as Leaf moved about readying the tea. Hydra wasted no time in explaining the situation and Loughness listened thoughtfully without interrupting. When Leaf returned with a small cup of tea in one hand, Ballan gestured toward the room's other armchair.

"You can sit there. If you're about to potentially do me a huge favor, the least I can do is provide a seat for you to have your tea."

Loughness grinned, taking the cup then the seat in that order. The tea really was good.

"So you want me to try to shag in the forest and see if I can make the stars come out," he asked. "I mean I wasn't going to ask Kereston out this early, but I suppose for you two, I could speed up the process," he told Hydra and Ballan.

Hydra choked. "No. That wasn't what we called you here for, Loughness," she managed after a moment. "We wondered if you'd share the situation with the daddies and see if they have perhaps had a similar experience, and if not, what they make of it. We were going to go and talk to them, but the discomfort was presenting a bit of a challenge for us both so I thought of you."

"Oh. Sure I can do that," Loughness said. "Shall I return and tell you what they said?"

"That would be great," Hydra said. "And thank you, Loughness." She crossed the room and bent to hug him, careful not to dislodge the little china tea cup from his hand.

"It's no problem," Loughness said, feeling a little embarrassed at all the attention in this particular situation.

"I will really owe you one," Ballan told him sincerely.

"Anything for a bro," Loughness said with a grin. He drained the rest of his tea and stood, passing the cup back to Leaf. "That really was great tea!"

The little elf flushed. "Thank you."

"I'll be back," Loughness said, then Apparated out of Greok's flat and into the front hall of #12 Grimmauld Place. "Daddies," he bellowed. "I need to talk to you!" So if you're being nasty or anything, you'll need to stop!"

"Gods, Loughness," Regulus called back. "We're in the library."

"What ever is wrong with that child?" Loughness heard Kreacher mutter as he entered the library.

"Hi," he said, ignoring the comment as he crossed to the fire to ward off the night chill. "Hydra has some news that she asked me to deliver. But first-" he turned to regard his parents. "Have you seen the stars while in the Elf woods?"

Regulus and Kreacher sat curled together in a large armchair. Kreacher was sprawled across Regulus's lap and they held a large tome, each supporting one half of the book with a hand. They exchanged a glance before Kreacher shook his head. "Why," Regulus asked. "What has happened."

Loughness grinned. "Rather astute of you indeed, for something has happened. You see, Hydra and Ballan were shagging in the forest. It was all her doing, I am sure. Afterward, they noticed that they could see the stars. The lack of wind or temperature remained unchanged though, so the shift was only visual. In around five minutes, the stars gradually faded, and now all is completely back to normal."

"She has done this too soon," Kreacher murmured, expression dismayed. "She should not be growing up quite yet."

"From my understanding Daddy Regulus was sixteen when you and he discovered your romantic connection," Loughness said carefully, making a disgusted face when he finished speaking.

"That was us," Kreacher huffed. "It is different for girls."

Loughness disagreed, but simply expressed this fact with quietly raised brows. "What do you think the stars thing means," he asked, attempting to bring the focus back to where it belonged.

"We cannot know," Regulus said. "But we shall investigate."

"How," Loughness asked.

"By learning if it's about our family or anyone shagging or any elves shagging I suppose," Regulus said with a sigh. "It is going to be embarrassing to ask humans and elves to shag in the forest for us to see what happens," he lamented. "That and we don't even know any elf couples."

"Ripper's parents are still alive," Loughness said. "They work for Corvus's brother if memory serves."

"Brilliant," Regulus said. "I'll ask Bella and Rod to enjoy a bit of private time in the forest to see if the stars show themselves. While I'm at it, I'll ask Rod to speak to Ripper's parents about assisting us in this as well."

"Good," Loughness said with a chuckle. "Because something tells me that Ripper would not want to ask them. It simply isn't a conversation one wishes to have with one's parents. Trust me, I'd know."

"Well thank you for telling us, Loughness," Regulus said. "Kreacher and I should pay the place a visit right now to learn if the stars would shine for us. For all we know, it could just be about Hydra and Ballan."

Loughness made a face, well aware that his parents were about to go shag in the forest. "Just send a note and let us know what the end result was and what's next," Loughness said before Apparating back to Greok's flat.

"Told them. They're off to shag in the forest." He made a face.

"Were they angry?" Ballan asked a bit worriedly.

Loughness shook his head. "Nah." He made a face. "They're off to shag in the forest now with updates to arrive soon I assume."

Hydra groaned. "Eu. Thanks, Nessy." She sat with Ballan in one of the two armchairs while Greok sat in the other.

"Glad to help, Hi-De-Ho," he replied dryly.

"We need to get more chairs," Leaf sang out from the kitchen. "For now, why don't you transfigure the coffee table into one, Greok?"

Loughness held up a hand as he shook his head. "It's alright," he told Greok quickly. "I've got to get back to Hogwarts. I've decided to bother studying for N.E.W.T.S."

Hydra's face fell. "I should return and do that too. And I will at sun rise."

Loughness grinned happily. "Cool. Go ahead and cost your house points. More for mine."

Hydra always hated doing anything that would cost Ravenclaw any points, so he found this new, quietly rule breaking Hydra to be rather amusing.

"We aren't babies anymore, Loughness. We are legal adults, and tonight I could not care less about house points. Besides, if I lose any, I can always do something to win them back. We've only a few more weeks left, and I am so ready to be done."

That he could agree with. "Alright." He gave her a brief smile before turning to the others. "See you later, then." Raising his voice slightly to be heard more clearly in the kitchen he called, "Bye, Leaf. Nice seeing you again."

"Thanks again," Ballan said, rising to clap him on the shoulder.

"Sure," Loughness said. "And the Daddies really are fine with you and Hydra. Of course they're upset that it happened so soon, because it means they must come to terms with the hard fact that their baby girl is an adult and doing adult things an entire year after Daddy Regulus started."

"I hope you brought that up," Hydra said and Loughness chuckled.

"I did." See you all later." Waving, he Apparated back into the Slytherin common room to catch Sortia up on all she'd missed before returning to his own studies. He was about to turn in and grab a few much needed hours of sleep when the note arrived from Hydra in the form of another howler.

/"Loughness! I just realized something interesting that may or may not be relevant to the stars coming out in the forest. Ballan is twenty-six. He is nine years older than me, which is the same amount of years between Daddy Regulus and Daddy Kreacher. Now I am not saying that means anything, and I am not saying that it does not. I am saying that it sort of gave me an eerie feeling, though."/

Chapter Text

Chapter 43, Trouble Is My Middle Name, But In The End I'm Not So Bad

"SO!" Greok said cheerfully. "Should we play cards or something or should we split up for our couples alone time now?"" The self-satisfied look on the goblin's face as he regarded him with amusement dancing in his black eyes made Ballan scowl. Greok was simply loving this too much.

"It's so nice that we can double date now and do fun things like cards," Greok's little elf girlfriend gushed. "Miss Dora has many board games she has shown Leaf. Leaf is sure we could borrow some. Leaf particularly enjoys one called Clue! It is all about solving a murder."

Ballan smirked. "That one is easy. I can already tell you it was me or Greok. And cards are boring." While Leaf had turned out to be far braver than Ballan had initially given her credit for, she was far too well-meaning, which tended to make his brain itch.

"Board games can be fun, but he's right about the cards," Hydra agreed apologetically. Ballan shot her a grateful look as Leaf and Greok exchanged a silent glance of mock horror.

"Well as we currently have no board games, Leaf thinks perhaps we should separate for our private time."

"Sounds hot... I mean wise," Greok said, tossing her a smirk as her cheeks heated crimson.

"Please!" Ballan groaned. "Not in front of the children." Hydra chuckled as Greok and Leaf left with their arms around one another's waists.

"Good night," Leaf sang out. "And Hydra, it's so nice to have you around. Now Leaf won't be the only nonvampire who is on the wrong schedule." She giggled.

It hit Hydra then that though she would have to be on the 'right' schedule for two more weeks, after that, all bets were off, and she likely would end up quite nocturnal. Playing in a band plus dating a vampire nearly made that a certainty. Ah well, she reasoned. She'd always liked the night, so it should be an easy adjustment. Ballan could easily read these thoughts without trying as well as most of her other thoughts if she focused on them for longer than a second or two.

Though it may make for an embarrassing and uncomfortable conversation, he should probably mention that to her. He wasn't trying to invade her privacy or head space, but when she focused so intently on him, and she did so often, it was nearly as if she shouted into his head. Not that he particularly minded, because though it was strange it was equally intriguing. If he didn't find her so captivating, her admiration of him could actually be infuriating, but as he was drawn to her, it was disconcertingly baffling instead.

"Thank you," she called back to Leaf. "Goodnight."

Ballan did not speak until they heard Greok's bedroom door close with a quiet click. "Well," he said a bit awkwardly."Is there anything you need? Food or something?" Looking after guests as a slave was something he knew well, but looking after his own was something entirely new. He'd never had guests before.

Hydra knew she should be hungry, as she hadn't eaten since lunch, but she wasn't. She shrugged. "I ate earlier. I'm good for now. If I get hungry, I'll just pop home and grab something from the kitchen."

"If you're sure," Ballan said. "I did take a bit of blood earlier," he reminded her pointedly. "And that is supposed to weaken people, so I thought perhaps you should eat something to regain your strength." She found the gruff hesitancy in his voice and demeanor endearing. Hydra knew that he was not accustomed to trying to consider someone else in such a way. Ballan chuckled. "I have never left anyone alive before from whom I have taken blood unless we are counting Dora." When a vampire was turned, they had to drink from their maker after said maker drained them nearly to death.

Ballan was a strong vampire because he and Greok were turned by Regulus's maker rather than he or Kreacher. Dora was over two-thousand years old and as such her blood was strong. Any of her fledglings were stronger than those turned by younger vampires as a result.

"Not only that," Hydra teased. "But I have a feeling that you don't shag those from whom you drink blood either." She chuckled and Ballan snorted."Now that's a horrifying picture. You should see some of the people I've killed. Not at all pretty." Placing his hands on her waist, Ballan turned her around on his lap to better peer into her face. Somehow the sight got him distracted enough to lose track of his thoughts and kiss her. The kiss was deep and a little hard, though not quite rough. Hydra sighed, leaning into him. She appreciated the natural way he moved even if it was not gentle, and this served to make him more at ease with touching her. "Never killed pretty people?" She wondered when he at last drew back.

"You are pretty, Little Hydra. I have never thought of anyone else in such a way."

Hydra blinked in surprise. "Really? You've never thought of another girl as pretty?""

Ballan shrugged, giving a dry chuckle. "I don't think about others much. I do not relate to them."

"But you relate to me," Hydra murmured thoughtfully. As she spoke, she placed her hands on his forearms. Odd was the knowledge of how she relished the feel of him under her hands. "I tried not to notice you, actually," he found himself admitting honestly. "You were so pretty. It was dangerous. I was more comfortable pretending that you didn't exist." Honestly he had never thought of it like that until speaking of it aloud, but it did not make the words any less true. "You were not in my league, and that was just fine with me."

She leaned closer, brushing her lips across his. He could hear her heart racing at his nearness and his own heart responded along with other body parts. "You are the only man in my league, actually," she said before kissing him. That was when the conversation stopped. At least the bit that involved words. Their hands roamed freely over one another's bodies, getting to know unexplored territory, as their mouths devoured each other with a rising hunger.

Eventually the fact that they were still wearing clothing became a pressing inconvenience and Ballan stood with Hydra in his arms. He certainly didn't want Greok's little girlfriend to come out of his room for a drink of water or something and catch them going at it in the armchair. "I apologize in advance for the unremarkable state of my bedroom," he said as he carried Hydra in that direction. "And what I mean by this is I sleep in a coffin rather than a bed. The good news is that it is a human sized coffin, so we shall have plenty of room to do other things in it."

Hydra giggled against his shoulder. "I never thought of a coffin as erotic before, but I'm completely open to changing my mind," she said.

"As am I," he agreed. He entered his darkened room, pausing to kick the door shut before approaching his coffin. Dora had provided him and Greok with matching ones on their first night as newly turned vampires. It was the only item in the sparse chamber aside from the wardrobe that held his few tunics. He was an elf of few needs and saw no need to change that. He opened the coffin's lid with a spell and gently lowered Hydra to the plush red velvet inner lining. The way her long black hair looked as it fanned out across the red caused him to catch his breath in appreciation. Gods, but she was beautiful!

The mix of human and elf that made her what she was, was at the same time foreign and familiar in a way he found more than tantalizing. Hair was prettier than no hair, he decided. He'd never found Leaf particularly attractive, or any other elves for that matter. He had never fancied humans either, but Hydra was something else entirely. She was elf but with hair and that odd mix of human elf features that made her nearly other worldly in his eyes. So unapproachable until now. Now her hair fanned across the red velvet of his coffin called to him to approach at once.

The fact that the velvet lining was red was useful to hide blood stains. Dora was ever practical, a thing Ballan could always appreciate considering he'd fallen asleep more than once in a blood spattered tunic. He'd never expected to have anyone else in his personal sleeping space, so it would have been surreal had he not had other things so strongly on his mind. His new and insatiable hunger for this girl had nothing to do with blood. He had allowed himself to go wild when becoming a vampire. To live every violent fantasy against humans that he'd ever had and then some. Now he wanted to go wild on Little Hydra in an entirely non-violent way and he was fully prepared to indulge himself because of how much she clearly wanted him to do so. Suddenly he found himself recalling the words of the song she'd sung to him at the Hog's Head about giving her all his true hate that she would translate into never seen passion in their bed.

Several hours later, they lay tangled together, pleasantly exhausted. "I like the coffin," Hydra murmured sleepily and Ballan chuckled. Sitting up, he reached for the blanket that was crumpled at the far end of the coffin at their feet. Dragging it over them, he allowed his body to snuggle into hers as it strangely wanted to do. Hydra gave a contented sigh as she trailed a hand across his chest. "You are just as I thought you would be," she said dreamily as her eyes drifted closed.

The sun was rising, so Ballan's own eyes followed suit. "I had no idea what to expect from you, but you are quite unlike anyone I have ever known," he said. He knew things were changing for him when he was disappointed to find himself alone upon waking in the evening. He knew she had to return to her Hogwarts,but the odd feeling of loneliness that struck him upon waking without her warmth at his side was not logical. He sighed, reaching around on the floor for the tunic he'd discarded the previous night. Not until he was dressed did he notice the folded note Hydra had left in the coffin.

<Ballan, I hate leaving, but I will see you as soon as I am able. Write me if you feel like it. I am trying not to be weird and clingy, but I find myself missing you already. You look cute when you sleep by the way.>

Ballan snorted, then continued reading.

<Could you ask Greok and Leaf to have their private time there tonight? Have them write The Daddies with the results, or Leaf can write me. Either way is fine. It will be interesting to see if the forest responds to all elves or just my family. I am sorry for all this weirdness, and that you and I are in the middle of it. It is rather embarrassing, but I suppose we have to figure out what it means. If there is to be weirdness, I am glad that it is with you.

Yours,

Hydra>

Those last words made Ballan smile. He found himself folding the note and tucking it into the bottom of his wardrobe for whatever reason. As he left the room to deliver the message to Leaf and Greok, he realized that he was ravenous. He would certainly be depleting the number of Muggles on the streets tonight. The flat was empty aside from himself, so he left a note on the kitchen counter near the tea pot where Leaf was sure to find it, suggesting that the two shag in the elf woods asap and report to Kreacher and Regulus if the stars came out for them. As Ballan wrote, he couldn't help grinning at the unbidden mental image of Leaf's flushed face when she read it.

As he left the flat to embark on his evening hunt, he replayed Hydra's letter over in his mind. It was more than passing strange to find himself in the midst of this Elf Woods thing, but it did not feel as unnatural as he may have expected it to. In fact, it almost felt natural, nice even.

Chapter Text

Chapter 44, Where Beginnings And Endings Meet

Showing up at Hogwarts for breakfast directly after napping in Ballan's coffin was a rather novel experience and one Hydra had not particularly expected to have. She supposed she had not expected to end up with Ballan in an overnight capacity until she had graduated Hogwarts. She had not thought it out, though, and sometimes these things just happened and when they did, one had to go with them. It was about grabbing life by the horns and going for the ride as it were. Being of age made one more tempted to live even if one had not graduated from school yet. That was what Hydra told Sortia at breakfast. The Slytherin held a pumpkin pastie in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other as she stood interrogation style behind Hydra's chair at the Ravenclaw table.

"It's just so odd, because you're usually the reserved one," Sortia marveled. "Are you aware that your hair is extremely mussed?" She asked dryly. "I don't think I've ever seen you with a hair out of place."

"It's the quiet ones you gotta watch out for don't ya know," James commented to Sortia around a full mouth of scrambled egg. He was seated beside Hydra as usual, and as usual equally dividing his focus between his food and the conversation his friends were having. More than once, Hydra had wondered how he managed to stay so wiry thin and eat like he did.

"Apparently," Sortia drawled. "So what's this Ballan like anyway?"

Hydra sighed dreamily."He was everything I knew he would be. It was amazing."

Sortia made a face and James guffawed.

"One day you'll find a bloke to go all Gaga over, Sortia," he said and Sortia shook her head, making another face.

"I dislike people too much to want to get too up close and touchy with any of them," she drawled.

"Guillermo swears you have knives up there anyway,"James snickered, then ducked as if expecting a hex. Guillermo had graduated the previous year, and not having him about felt weird. Today, though, Hydra was grateful for it, as she was certain his comments regarding her and Ballan would be uncomfortable and embarrassing.

"I shall have to speak to Professor Flitwick about making up whatever house points I probably cost our house by being out all night," Hydra told James, smoothly changing the subject before Sortia hexed him into next week.

"Actually, Loughness spoke to Filius last night, so you're good," Sortia said. "He said that you were helping deal with discoveries in the Elf Woods. Of course he left out the fact that you were also shagging your new vampire boyfriend." Sortia waggled her brows expressively and Hydra laughed.

"I owe Loughness big time. He helped out with Elf Woods things himself."

"Yes, I heard," Sortia said.

"I didn't yet though," James said before shoving half a wedge of toast into his mouth. "So dish!"

"Loughness can later," Sortia said. "It was his thing, so he would tell it better. It's a lot of elf stuff we probably can't help with anyway, but I like to be aware just in case." James nodded sagely. Hydra noticed that they'd all gotten more lax about making elf comments. With Delphini dead and school about to end for good, hiding didn't seem to really matter. Especially with elves free and beginning to take their place in society. "You did not answer my question, Hydra," Sortia said. "I asked what Ballan is like, not about yucky personal stuff. Let's talk about his personality, shall we?"

"Well he's," Hydra paused as she struggled for words. "He is brutal and violent when he hunts because he dislikes people. He seems to work out his aggression that way, and I guess it works for him. He's tough, and though he's had a hard life, he is not broken and he is no victim."

"A hard life," James asked before slurping his pumpkin juice.

Hydra shrugged. "It's his personal stuff that I'd rather not get into, but he was beaten up a lot by his former master."

"People are so evil sometimes," Sortia said. "People like that really do deserve a special place in hell. I hate bullies."

Hydra nodded. "He's funny, though, and smart, but he isn't comfortable around most people. And by people I mean elves, goblins, humans, whatever." She shrugged.

"Well he doesn't sound much like you," Sortia observed. "It's nearly time for class, James. Better hurry and shove the rest of that heaping plate down your gullet." Her lips twitched and James grinned.

"Right! I might starve before lunch if I don't."

"Sortia, do you think you can get me some energy potion from Severus before class," Hydra asked plaintively. "I gave myself an hour long sleep charm when the sun rose and that's all I've had."

"Sure, if you Apparate me to the dungeons. I don't have the time or inclination to go dashing about hoping I make it back in time not to be late for class."

"Of course," Hydra said hastily. She realized then fully how tired she was not to have suggested as much herself. "Sorry. We'll duck into that side corridor just outside The Great Hall, and no one shall see me Apparating us. Come on."

Ten minutes later, she sat beside Sortia in first period Defense Against The Dark Arts, feeling quite alert thanks to Severus's Pepper-Up Potion. She remained energized throughout the day, only waning when studying for her N.E.W.T.S after dinner that evening. Idly she wondered if she should write Ballan, then decided against it. She had nothing to say, as nothing interesting was going on. She did not wish to be one of those annoying clingy girls. Did she miss him a bit and would it be fun to hang out with him? Sure, but that wasn't practical until she graduated.

Then she would have all the time in the world to explore their relationship and practice with her band. For now, though, she would focus on N.E.W.T.S and only write to Ballan when she had any news about the situation with the Elf Woods. Of course at various moments throughout the next several days, her mind would interrupt itself in whatever it was doing to wonder idly if Ballan was thinking about her and if so what he was thinking precisely.

N.E.W.T.S weren't difficult as it happened, but truly she hadn't expected them to be. Of course the exams could've had surprise twist questions, but Hydra studied all the time and had high marks as a result, so felt ready for anything that any exam could throw her way when it came to her favorite subjects. At this point in her education, being free to choose her classes, her favorite subjects were all she chose to study. If she hadn't learned to like or appreciate a class by her sixth year, she saw no point in continuing to burden her mind with it. Unlike Loughness, she'd never liked Care Of Magical Creatures or Herbology. Her marks were always high in both, but she never enjoyed them. The next few weeks passed quickly, even though she spent most of the time studying. As she'd suspected, the N.E.W.T.S weren't even hard, so she need not have bothered. Ah well, it had been something to do.

To her shock, Ballan showed up at her graduation, sitting a little stiffly between Daddy Kreacher and Graven who had come with Wulfric to support Hydra, Loughness and Sortia. Guillermo was there as well, sitting beside the three Lestranges. His presence was a pleasant surprise. He'd written Loughness about traveling with his parents, so it was touching that he'd still returned from his travels for his friends graduation. A final unexpected moment of sentiment hit her as she walked across the stage to take her diploma from Albus.

It was the last time. The last time for anything at Hogwarts. Though she'd longed for this day so that she could finally be free to be an adult, facing Dumbledore in front of everyone had her choked up. He must have caught the feelings of the moment, for as he handed her the crisp sheet of parchment with a proud smile, he reached with his free arm to pull her close in a hug. "There's my favorite Ravenclaw," he murmured to her. "You have such a bright future ahead of you, Hydra. Hogwarts has been lucky to have you." Tears sprang to her eyes as she clung to him for a moment like a child. Such was all too easy, for she'd known the wise old headmaster her entire life. "I think I'm a little frightened," she choked out.

"The elf forest," he asked, and she gave a small nod. It was the concept of beginning life in general, though until that moment she had felt no fear over that in the least. It was mostly the unknowns of the Elf Woods that could be potentially dangerous. "We shall all sort it out," he reassured, before they stepped apart. Then it was Loughness's turn, and Hydra watched her brother take his diploma from Albus with a proud grin on her face that she just couldn't contain. Loughness wore a similar expression as Albus clapped him on the shoulder. Hydra was equally proud as she and her brother watched James and Sortia get their diplomas. Last year they'd all attended Guillermo's graduation, but it hadn't truly felt real. Albus whispered something to Sortia when it was her turn and she laughed. "What'd he say," Hydra asked when she joined them.

"That he finally took the tracker off my wand," Sortia grumped, but she was still smiling as she wiped at her eyes. Hydra understood well the mixed jumble of emotions her friend was feeling. She supposed graduation just brought that out. It was a huge stepping stone from careless youth into adulthood. When the final student, a Ravenclaw named Atticus Young, got his diploma from Albus, the entire seventh year body crossed the stage for a final time, and then it was into the boats for their ride across the lake.

"It's like dying," Sortia commented as she, Loughness, James and Hydra settled into a boat together.

"I thought you were gonna say that it's like the train compartment," James said. "Because it's always just us. Gods, Sortia, you're weird." He chuckled, gazing fondly over at her as he did.

Sortia shrugged. "No. It is like the cycle of life because we come in on the boats as first years and then leave in the boats as seventh years who have just graduated."

"Okay but the cycle of life is not the same as death," Loughness said.

"Tell that to a phoenix," Sortia said with a toss of her dark hair. Hydra smiled to herself, supposing that indulging in a bit of philosophy was the perfect way to leave school forever. The boats reached the other side of the lake quickly, and students began to embark, joining family and friends on the shore who had come to see them graduate. With that, the ceremony was at last over. "There is a party at the Hog's Head," Wulfric said as Hydra, Loughness, Sortia and James joined him, Graven and Guillermo. "Dad is so happy to be done here that he'll probably even get on with Aberforth for a minute," he added dryly. "You lot looked great, by the way!"

"Yeah," Graven agreed, looking bored. It was then that Hydra noticed that Ballan was not with them. What with so many things going on at once, and all the throngs of people, she had lost track of him. Glancing around hurriedly, she spotted him standing between her parents and still looking rather uncomfortable. She opened her mouth to tell him that there would be a party, but then realized that these would not be reassuring words. Ballan would hate a party!

He could not eat or drink, at least not without causing Aberforth Dumbledore some major problems, and he would not enjoy being surrounded by people he hardly knew. Not even if she shared her joke about Aberforth not being happy if he turned some of the Hog's Head customers into refreshments. She couldn't just skip out on the party, though. Should she tell him that they would catch up later that night and that if he did not wish to come, it was alright? Yes, that would probably be the kind thing to do, but what if it made him feel unwanted? Oh hell, but this was complicated!"Well, Girly, you're finished here! Are you ready for the big bad world?" Bellatrix's hand came down on Hydra's shoulder as the older witch spoke from behind her.

Hydra turned toward her and smiled. "Bella! It was so nice that you three made it."

"Of course we would. We're family," Bellatrix said dismissively. "Lyra extends her apologies for not coming. She's down with some sort of flu, and trust me, you don't want it. I've kept well away from her myself. She looks and sounds like death warmed over."

"Doesn't she live with you?"

Bella smirked. "It's a big manor, remember? Plenty big enough to avoid one's daughter when one wishes. She's complaining that Roddy and I aren't fussing over her, but we sent the goblin healers to attend and trust me they're expensive. They gave her meds and something to keep her sleeping through it and something for hydration. It cost us two-thousand Galleons, but is she grateful?" She shook her head, answering her own question with the gesture.

"Well I hope she feels better soon," Hydra said. "Send her our 'get well soon' wishes. I'll get her a card tomorrow."

"I'm sure she will like that," Bellatrix said dryly. "She enjoys such silly wastes of sentiment." Her face suddenly grew somber. "At times, I am almost beginning to feel that she stopped hating us for our choices that left her growing up in Australia."

"Did she not have a good life there with Rodolphus's cousins," Hydra asked, surprised.

"She did and she loves them nearly like her parents," Bella said. "Still, this does not stop her having resentment issues with us for making the mistake of following Voldemort." She shrugged. "We missed the teenage years, so perhaps she is simply making certain that we get them anyway." She glanced away. "Enough of that. It is your day. I just wanted to explain why she wasn't here. Let's go get drunk at the Hog's Head, shall we?"

That brought Hydra's thoughts back to Ballan. How was he going to do that? Suddenly she wondered if Bella might have some advice. "I," she began awkwardly. "I wonder if it would be too uncomfortable for my boyfriend at the Hog's Head? I want him to be there, but I don't want to be selfish. If he'd be miserable, I don't want that. I know he will have party anxiety because he doesn't like to be around a lot of people."

Bellatrix followed her gaze to Ballan, and smirked. "Yes, Regi did say you and he were an item now. Interesting! Why won't he enjoy the party? I hate most people, but I can enjoy a good party. Just force a lot of Firewhisky down a Muggle's throat, have your boyfriend feed from said Muggle, and he'll be as drunk as the rest of us. We've done that for Regi and Kreacher before, and it works fine."

Hydra brightened. "I shall suggest that to him. Thank you, Bella." She chuckled. "Now that you mention it, I do vaguely remember them being tipsy at a few Christmas parties and you saying you'd helped them out. I suppose I thought you meant you donated blood after getting drunk."

Bella chuckled. "No. I only did that after taking magic mushrooms. Something like that only requires a little blood for them to share in the experience. To be drunk, though, vampires need far more so it is more like dinner than a few sips from a wrist. If it's just the magic mushrooms, Rodolphus and I are always glad to help out, though."

It was nearly surreal standing here as other students met with their families to depart Hogwarts forever and talking about giving vampires blood so that they could get drunk or trip mushrooms. Things were never normal with the Lestranges, though, and Hydra supposed that was alright. Not normal was sometimes a good thing. Most of the time in her experience it was a good thing.

She and Loughness certainly weren't normal, after all. There were no other half elves running about. Though some surely existed somewhere, she had never met one. "Come on, then," Bellatrix said. "Let us get this show on the road. I shall help you to convince your new boyfriend to come along by assuring him that he will not be the craziest motherfucker in the room if he parties at the Hog's Head tonight." Hydra drew in a deep breath, then laughed. Either Ballan would run the other way, or Bellatrix would set him at ease. As it happened, neither was the case. He simply stared at Bellatrix skeptically, then shrugged. "Fine."

"Roddy and Rabastan and I are happy to funnel Firewhisky down the throats of a few homeless Muggles for you. Get good and drunk then people are far less annoying."

"I am aware," Ballan said.

"Hydra's band is playing too, so there will be dancing. I'm sure Mag can sing some and carry things while the two of you dance," she added, turning to Hydra.

Hydra was not aware that her band was playing. How had Mag not thought to mention as much? "Congratulations for graduating or whatever it is that one is supposed to say," Ballan told Hydra awkwardly.

Hydra grinned, reaching to hug him. "I have no idea what one is supposed to say, but thank you. I am so glad you're here, though I honestly did not expect it." She kissed his cheek and he flushed, though her embrace had seemed to calm him as his stiff posture relaxed.

"Alright, everyone," Bellatrix yelled. "To the Hog's Head."

Chapter Text

Chapter 45, Life Is Just A Party

The pop music playing from somewhere in the ceiling of the Hog's Head caused Hydra's feet to tap to the beat. It had a definite eighties' feel. Mag or Severus must have seen to the music, she reasoned. Severus made no secret of the fact that he adored eighties music. Hydra did not know this particular song, but it was quite catchy. The singer was female, with a smooth, young sounding voice. She sang about life being a party, while encouraging everyone to step into the spot light. That sounded good to her. To Hydra's surprise the Hog's Head was empty save for their group. Their group consisted of the three Lestranges, Ballan, The Daddies, Loughness, James, Sortia, Guillermo, Wulfric, Graven, Severus, Mag, Albus and Filius. Though Aberforth was no where in sight, the bar was already lined with frothy cream colored shots in glittering black crystal glasses, clearly Ariana's gothic touch. Albus plucked one up and sniffed carefully. "Yummm," he said happily. "Buttercream rum." With that, he tossed it back and replaced the glass on the bar before snatching up another... in each hand! Hydra had only seen Albus drink like that when extremely stressed, but now he was nearly giddy instead. "Dad paid Aberforth to reserve the bar just for all of us tonight," Wulfric said. "So food and drinks are on the house, or rather Dad already paid a flat party fee."

"That's sweet," Hydra smiled at Albus.

"Yeah, very cool. Thanks," Loughness chimed in.

He wants to celebrate his retirement," Wulfric said glumly before Albus could reply. He nodded happily in agreement as he reached for two more shots, having already finished the others.

"Is that a bad thing," Sortia asked.

"We can celebrate Severus and Mag's early retirement as well," Albus said. I'm not greedy. I can share the retirement celebration."

"It will probably be bad eventually." Wulfric ignored his father's comment, only focusing on answering Sortia's. "With all that time on his hands, he will be far more inclined to fret over me and whatever I am doing."

"Which is not a bad thing," Albus told him.

"We aren't specifically retiring," Severus interjected. "Just retiring from teaching. Mag has the band, and I have some potions ideas I have not had time to truly expand."

"So we may have any drinks we want?" Guillermo asked eagerly.

"And there is food," James asked. "Cause I'm hungry!"

"Of course you are," Sortia said with a chuckle.

"Yep, just go up to the bar and order what you want," Wulfric said.

"Speaking of, I promised to get Hydra's new boyfriend drunk, so let us go and see to that," Bellatrix said, glancing at Rodolphus and Rabastan who flanked her on either side. Rabastan wore an eager grin, obviously looking forward to helping to ensure there were a few less Muggles in the world.

"We shall come and get you when your dinner courses are all properly drunk," Rodolphus told Ballan who currently stood beside Hydra. His posture was rigid and his expression was equally so. He'd dawned a clean non-bloody tunic for the occasion, which Hydra found oddly touching. He looked just as handsome in clean freshly pressed clothes as he always did in his blood spattered attire. Perhaps the blood spattered attire was slightly sexier,but he was still dashing no matter what he wore. Perhaps he looked more relaxed and confident in his killing clothes, though. "We shall leave them out in back of the bar so you can enjoy your drinks without anyone noticing."

"Thank you," Ballan said, nodding stiffly at Rodolphus, clearly uncomfortable with the interaction. Having others do things for him was not something to which he was accustomed or comfortable. He always hunted for himself, but Hydra knew as well as Bellatrix did that disliking social interactions and dealing with people as he did, Ballan would hate the process of actually getting the Muggles to drink before he killed them.

"As the tab is already paid for, I'll just get a few bottles of Firewhisky to take along," Rabastan said, striding up to the bar. No one was currently behind it so he called out, "Hello!"

"Kreacher, you should come along with us," Bellatrix said or rather commanded in typical Bella style. "We can compel Muggles easy enough, but if you vamp them, it's less detectable. Kereston's Ministry is far more likely to look the other way, but I don't like to push it."

Kreacher gave Bella a pleased smile. "That is a wise idea. Good Bella," he praised.

She sighed. "Just come on." She strode toward the door without looking back. Kreacher followed along with Rodolphus while Rabastan still waited at the bar for his Firewhisky requirements. Soon it was Ariana rather than Aberforth who hurried down stairs to serve them. Rabastan gave her a flirtatious wink. "I'm helping to get a nice vampire elf drunk, so I will need three bottles of Firewhisky, please."

Ariana blinked once, then shrugged, reaching up to a shelf just over her head. She had ignored Rabastan's flirting, Hydra noted in mild amusement. Taking down three bottles one after the other, she pushed them across the counter toward Rabastan. The fire orange of the amber glass bottles glinted in the dim light, and Hydra noticed Ballan idly studying them with a speculative expression on his face.

Rabastan scooped them up and tucked them away into the long sweeping black duster he wore. "Many thanks," he told Ariana with another wink before hurrying after Bella, Rod and Kreacher.

"Why are they doing this," Ballan asked Hydra in a low murmur when the door to the Hog's Head had swung shut behind them.

The question made her smile. "Because though they are Dark and twisted, they're nice to those they care about just as you are," she teased, bending to kiss the tip of his nose. This caused him to scowl, and her smile widened. "Thanks for coming, by the way," she added in a near whisper so as not to be over heard. The last thing she wanted to do was embarrass Ballan by putting him on the social spot as it were. "It was a pleasant surprise to see you with everyone else when I went to get my diploma. Ballan shrugged, but gave her a pleased grin.

"They did not even ask me to go," Regulus grumbled, frowning at the closed door to the Hog's Head that the others had just passed through. It was indeed rare that he separated from Kreacher's side even for a moment.

"That's because they know that you don't like tormenting Muggles," Loughness said. "And they won't want to spend time looking for someone bad. They'll just grab whoever looks annoying to them or something." This explanation did not serve to make Regulus look any happier about the matter, but as it was likely true, he made no objection.

"Let's get this party going with Butterbeer Firewhisky for everyone," Albus said, smiling at Ariana. Turning to everyone else he added, "I ordered it especially for this party. It tastes so much better than regular Firewhisky and clearly it is far stronger than Butterbeer."

Wulfric groaned. "My dad is going to get super drunk in front of my woman and all of my friends."

"Bloody right he is," Albus said happily. "He has waited to retire for a very long time. He is at long last free of the boil on his butt that is Hogwarts! It can now be someone else's problem." He had to be drunk already from all those shots to have actually called Hogwarts the boil on his... Hydra was struggling to process this nearly dream like display of Albus's humanity, and apparently she wasn't the only one.

Wulfrick spluttered, choked, then laughed, shaking his head at his father. "Okay, but stop talking about yourself in third person," he said. "It's super weirding me out."

"Is anyone else coming," Loughness asked as Ariana pushed glasses across the counter for everyone except Regulus and Ballan, of course. They all settled onto bar stools and reached for their drinks nearly as one.

"Kereston is supposed to show up at some point after she gets off work," Regulus said. Loughness brightened as if he'd just been given the best news he'd heard all week.

"And my wife is supposed to get here a bit later as well," Filius said.

"And Bera will be here as soon as she's able to leave Durmstrang for the evening," Albus chimed in.

Wulfric groaned again. "I have to party with both of my parents?"

"You know it," Albus said cheerfully. Wulfric sighed and Albus took another deep gulp from his cup before turning to Severus, and clapping him on the shoulder with a look of joyful triumph on his face. "We did it. We returned and protected the children and now it's over! We are free, Severus!"

Severus chuckled. "It does feel nice." Though he was far more low key about the entire thing than was Albus, he did not at all look displeased to be leaving Hogwarts. This was no surprise to Hydra, because Severus had never liked teaching. He did not like people or dealing with them, and surely the younger they were the worse it was for him and his lack of social graces. Of course he never claimed to have any, and this never made Hydra think ill of him. Severus may be a snarky git, but he was loyal, and if he liked you, and you could avoid annoying him, you would not be on the wrong end of his snark. He had always been a part of Hydra and Loughness's lives and clearly liked them, so his lack of people skills was more a point of amusement.

"You all don't have to be so happy about leaving," Filius snapped, glaring balefully from Severus to Albus to Mag. "I'm sure I won't enjoy your replacements at Hogwarts nearly as much as I enjoyed working with the three of you. You are friends, and this is a sad moment for me. I am losing some of my favorite students at the same time as my dear friends, so the least you could do is not to be so bloody happy about it," he huffed.

"We are sorry," Mag told him, giving him a sympathetic smile.

"No we aren't," Albus said. "No one said you have to stay around there, Filius. You could leave at any time."

Flitwick frowned, shifting slightly on his bar stool. "Finna and I feel that we should stay a little longer. Until things are settled with this new and improved situation, and until we know more about these Elf Woods. Someone should keep an eye on Hogwarts. It is a great source of power, and we don't want it in the wrong hands, do we?"

Finna was Filius's wife, and the only old school Druid Hydra had ever met. Just after Voldemort's demise, she returned from some venture she'd gone on to protect the forests way back in the nineteen-fifties. Upon her return, she substituted for the Carrows, then the very next year, began teaching Ancient Runes.

"Well the two of you shall at least have one another," Hydra told him, trying for a cheerful tone. "And that is good of you to stay behind at Hogwarts for a bit. If you need any help, if there is anything elf magic could assist with, you've only to ask and Loughness and I are on it."

"Of course,"Loughness agreed readily. It was then that Hydra *felt* someone's eyes on them. She glanced up to see a gaunt, mildly unwell looking man with long silver hair and piercing green eyes standing just behind Ariana's shoulder at the bar. For some reason of which she was entirely uncertain, Hydra started at the sight of him. He gazed from Flitwick to Loughness, to Ballan and then back to her. Something told her he had done this a few times. His gaze was intense and it made her want to shift away. She opened her mouth to ask who he was, nervously reaching for her drink as she did, but he spoke in a lilting voice before she could. Even his accent was strange. Like some mix of modern and old or middle English...

"If any of ye crave a bite to eat, I have just made a large vat of wild boar stew. Any party should have food as well as drink, I reckon." Even as he spoke, his eyes seemed to devour Hydra, Loughness, Ballan and Flitwick as if each of them was a fascinating book that he found himself eager to read. Once again, Hydra opened her mouth to ask the man who he was, but found herself needing to down a large portion of her drink first for some reason.

Ballan shifted at her side, and spoke first. "How? That is, how?" Hydra turned her gaze to him, incredulous to see the tough elf dumbstruck as he stared at the strange gaunt man. She had never seen Ballan speechless except when it came to her, but this was entirely different. What was he asking the man anyway? How what? Shouldn't it be who instead? As in who are you? Also perhaps why, as in why was he staring at them like that?

The man cleared his throat, suddenly, was it uncomfortable? This was really getting odd. On that note, Hydra downed the rest of her drink. "Ye are a strong one in the mental arts, Master Elf," he told Ballan, a clear note of respect in his voice as he inclined his head toward the elf. "I should have shielded my mind better, mayhaps, though I was not thinking of anything telling to my knowledge." That last bit he murmured as if half to himself.

"You were thinking about elves and leprechauns, and of the fascinating magic that comes out of humans breeding with them," Ballan explained. "Surely in the cases of those three," he concluded, nodding at Hydra, Loughness and Filius.

The silver haired gaunt stranger nodded back. "Yes. Indeed so. And this told you what?" His gaze was piercing as well as curious as he studied Ballan with an even greater intensity than before.

Ballan shrugged, leaning against the bar rather than sitting on the stool at Hydra's side. "That I wondered who you were to notice such things." It was then that Hydra recalled that the human disguise illusions hadn't been lifted from her or Loughness yet. She really should speak to Daddy Kreacher about sorting that. Her thoughts were jerked from that topic as Ballan continued, however. "Whoever you are, you aren't supposed to be here. Well, clearly you are, but that returns us to how?" The gaunt silver haired man leaned across the bar to study Ballan with open fascination and admiration in his sharp green eyes, and Hydra found herself holding her breath.

"My how first," he said. "How did you see that I am not supposed to be here?"

Ballan blinked. "Do you really want me to say it out loud? In front of everyone?"

Mr. Silver Hair glanced around, then slowly nodded. "Everyone here is to be trusted, it would seem." Ariana gave a slight nod.

"By the way, I may appear to be drinking myself under the bar, but I am paying attention," Albus said carefully.

"Good to know," Flitwick murmured.

Ballan and the stranger did not appear to notice any reactions of those around them."Well, I saw glimpses in your mind," Ballan said. "Not words but fleeting images of elves and even a leprechaun that you once knew. They were all dressed far differently than anything that I have ever seen. It would also appear that there were far more castles about in your day. It seemed far older, and you are not a vampire. So how is it that someone who should be centuries dead is here now?"

"Because I was dead, and a very nice Necromancer spilled a lot of worthless Muggle blood to resurrect me."

Ariana sighed, dropping the polishing cloth onto the bar that she'd been using to wipe it down. "That would be me. I do wish you hadn't mentioned the bit about spilling Muggle blood in front of Uncle Albus. Everyone, meet Salazar Slytherin. My husband. He is apparently ready to come out of hiding."

"At least to a few people," Salazar Slytherin clarified hastily.

"At least to a few people,"Ariana repeated, a slight twitch to her lips.

"These shall be even darker times that we face, I fear, than those of the Delphini creature."

"And why didn't you help us with her," Regulus demanded, more curiously than angrily, Hydra noted in some surprise.

Slytherin, if that was who he truly was, sighed. "Because I was too weak. I may live, but I have never regained my full physical strength. Even the most powerful of Necromancers can only do so much. I tire easily and though I can still work strong magic, it drains and exhausts me far more rapidly than I like to admit. Mr. Grindelwald was doing well, so I saw no reason to get in his way.

"Is he aware of you," Regulus asked, a frown of annoyance still tight around the corners of his mouth.

"I do not see why he would be," Slytherin answered mildly. "The two of us have never met."

"He doesn't set foot in here, Dad," Loughness reminded. "You know, due to his hating Aberforth and Aberforth hating him."

Hydra sat silently, still attempting to process. She supposed she was currently in a distant sort of shock. The man had just said he was Salazar Slytherin.

"Who," Ballan murmured, leaning close to her."

"Founder of Slytherin house at Hogwarts. A powerful Dark wizard who is not a fan of Muggle-borns attending a wizarding school."

"Ah," Ballan nodded. He did not look nearly as impressed or shocked as she felt, but why should he? When Hydra opened her mouth, the first thing she said to Salazar Slytherin was perhaps the dumbest thing she could've said.

"But you don't look in the least like your chocolate frog card!"

He scowled. "Indeed I do not. Fat and bald was how that card portrayed me. Well trust me, Godric was far more for the extra plates of food than was I, I'll have you know. Propaganda it was. I died first and he made certain I was remembered as more unattractive than he as his final, got you, or I won, or however they say it these days. He was a petty bastard and I am embarrassed to have ever been his friend."

"Yeah, and he was a dick to goblins," Graven drawled, polishing off the final shot to leave a row of empty crystal glasses lined up on the bar. Even as she chuckled at Graven's comment, Hydra's mind still reeled with shock. She kept expecting Ariana Dumbledore to burst into laughter, proclaiming that she'd just pranked them all but good. Salazar Slytherin could not really be alive again? She downed the rest of her drink and pushed her goblet across to Ariana, who had just finished refilling all the shot glasses. As she watched, Ariana absent-mindedly refilled the glass while watching Salazar out of the corner of one eye with a mildly worried expression on her face. Salazar leaned on the bar, suddenly looking tired and drained. "You should rest," Ariana said, and he shook his head.

"Not yet. I am fine." Smiling, he turned back to the others. "I shall bring out the pot of soup now and some bowls," he said. It truly struck Hydra then that they were about to eat food cooked by Salazar Slytherin. She glanced around at the others, knowing that everyone aside from Ballan had to be as stunned as she. Wulfric's eye was the first she caught. 'Wow," he mouthed silently at her and she nodded.

"So you cook, then," she said to Salazar. Could her contributions get any more stupid? Mortified that she could not think of something better to say through her complete and utter shock, Hydra had to struggle not to hide under the bar.

Salazar smiled. "A big kettle and lots of ingredients, it's truly just making a potion," he told her and she nodded dumbly. It was then that she noticed that Ariana had refilled her drink. Eagerly she reached for it and tossed half of it back, hoping it would sharpen her wit along with loosening her tongue. At least her next question was better. "Why did you call Ballan Master Elf?" Something about the phrase seemed proper as well as pleasantly old fashioned, but it drew her curiosity.

"Because in my day elves were revered, not enslaved," Salazar said. "When Ariana first summoned my spirit, it was to ask questions on the topic of the enslavement of elves. Thee art likely aware that she was hired by thy parents to seek information on that very thing from those dead souls who may have knowledge."

When Hydra nodded, he continued. His speech was a mix of old and new, showing his moderate integration into these modern times. "When I wouldst not provide her with information of something that had clearly taken place after my time, she and I continued to converse as I had questions of her about what the future had become. She summoned me more than once, and the two of us struck up a friendship that quickly turned into deeper feelings for one another. When she asked me if I would wish to live again wouldst she manage it, I was of course eager. To have an opportunity to start anew, to have a new bloodline clean and free of the twistedness that spawned Voldemort, and with a fascinating beautiful woman like Ariana was more than I could resist."

"We have yet to have a child, but we are still actively trying," Ariana said, blushing slightly as she smiled fondly at Salazar who slipped a possessive arm around her.

"So how long have you been alive again," Regulus asked Salazar, but it was Ariana who answered.

"I resurrected him less than a year after the first time I summoned him."

"So that ghostly basilisk my parents saw was his," Regulus asked.

Ariana flushed. "I did not consider that they would see him. Your parents are so... so... themselves that I honestly have a difficult time recalling that they are dead." She sighed.

"My parents bullied poor Ariana until she grounded them to our manor against her better judgement,"Regulus explained to everyone else, who exchanged knowing amused smirks and glances all around. Anyone who knew Walburga Black, even in the slightest had no problem believing this.

"The basilisk was buried with Salazar, but did not respond to the blood sacrifice," Ariana explained.

Salazar frowned. "I can no longer see him, so my dear pet is now hers," he lamented.

"That is usually what happens," Albus slurred carefully as he reached for another shot. "You get married and most of your things get taken over. Bera is extremely pretty, though, so it's worth it."

"Eu," Wulfric groaned miserably.

Just then Greybo and Glimmer entered carrying instruments. Glimmer had Hydra's miniature piano floating behind him. It was then that Hydra recalled someone commenting that their band was supposed to play for the party. She was to play for Salazar Slytherin? For an instant she was terrified until she recalled that he'd likely heard all the other times they'd played even if she'd been unaware.

Chapter Text

Chapter 46, Necromancer

Ballan moved to sit near Regulus as Hydra's band began to play, seemingly more at ease by being near another vampire. Regulus gave him a reassuring smile, glad to keep him company, but at present thoroughly distracted. Though Salazar Slytherin was currently out of sight, having moved back into the kitchen of the Hog's Head, Regulus Black found himself staring at the bar where the Hogwarts founder had stood talking to them. "I still can't believe it's real," he called to Albus over the music.

Albus gave a bemused smile, shrugging. "It is a strange world in which we live, my boy. A strange world full of wonders that can still surprise me even at my age. Perhaps the world needs someone like Slytherin right now. I can only hope so after all the blood she has spilled. Of course I cannot condone such, but there is nothing to be done for it now." He sighed.

"She does not appear to be after bringing anyone else back from the dead, and having her in Azkaban will solve nothing. No one ever cares what I think or feel about morality anyway," Albus complained darkly. "Just like others, I am certain that Ariana felt it was for the greater good." His lip curled momentarily, and Regulus did not need to look into the former Headmaster's head to guess that he was thinking of Gellert Grindelwald. Grindelwald had saved them from Delphini, though, so he had something right as far as Regulus was concerned. Not to mention he was a personal friend if a bit annoying at times.

Regulus wasn't going to pretend to care about the spilled blood of Muggles, for surely Salazar's life was worth more than that of most Muggles. With only his bones remaining, he supposed it only stood to reason that Ariana would have had to expel a great deal of magic to restore life to bones and spirit so long dead. Slytherin's clear physical weakness was a bit disconcerting, but the fact that he even lived again at all was honestly quite the marvel.

"You tell your parents that I won't be doing that for them, so they are not even to bother asking." Regulus nearly started at the sound of Ariana Dumbledore's voice hissing into his ear. For all his heightened vampiric senses, he hadn't even heard her approaching. Granted his focus had been elsewhere. Salazar Slytherin being alive again provided plenty of distraction for even him. "No amount of gold or bullying shall change my mind. Salazar is a secret. Were the wrong people to learn of it, things would get out of control fast. If your parents were to suddenly return from the bloody dead people would actually recognize them where no one will even know who Salazar is. Do we understand one another?"

Regulus nodded as he slowly turned to face her. "Indeed we do. The thought had not even occurred to me, though perhaps it would have occurred to my parents. I am no fool, Ariana. I understand that it would be too unsafe to return everyone to life who wishes to be returned. Were too many people to learn of Salazar, some could attempt to strong arm you into resurrecting others, and that could lead to a lot of trouble for you here as well as beyond the veil."

Ariana's face softened as she gave him a smile. "Thank you for understanding, Regulus. I could be facing Azkaban for resurrecting Salazar were the wrong people to learn of it. And I don't mean your Minister. I mean other powerful people who may be threatened by Salazar's power or mine. He wishes to live a quiet life here. He does not wish to repeat his past deeds in any shape or form. No starting a magic school, and no warring against the Muggles. He just wishes to enjoy his second chance at life and begin his family line a new."

"And how shall you do that if you are not planning to announce that he is who he is?" Regulus wondered.

Ariana gave a fleeting smile. "We plan to simply claim Salazar to be a descendant of Slytherin. Trust me after Voldemort, everyone will be more than pleased that another has turned up. It is fortunate that Godric played such a nasty trick with his chocolate frog card, because now no one truly knows how Salazar really looks." Regulus nodded. It appeared they had everything well thought out, but that was no surprise.

"How do he and Aberforth get on," he asked with a small amused twitch of his lips.

Ariana chuckled, lifting her slender shoulders in a small shrug. "As well as can be expected, which is not very well most days," she admitted. "They are two very different men, and to be honest, i often feel caught in the middle." She dropped her voice on that bit to a quiet murmur that no one other than a vampire could've heard over the loud music.

The band was currently playing an old number called School's Out, and Albus Dumbledore was actually up on his feet dancing almost like a happy child. "Father is of course unhappy with what I had to do in order to have Salazar here with us again, but I had to, Regulus." Her bright green eyes were intense as she leaned toward him. Regulus simply nodded as no words seemed to be required. "We have a connection, Regulus. You know you would do anything to keep Kreacher close to you." He nodded again. She gave a short laugh but the expression did not touch her eyes. "Leave it to me to fall for someone a thousand years dead."

"Them's the breaks of being a Necromancer, I suppose," Regulus quipped, and this time the smile did touch her eyes. He got the impression that his support meant something to her. Considering the mistakes he'd made, this was a bit disconcerting, if touching for all that. Before either could say more on the matter, the door to the Hog's Head swung open, letting in Kreacher and the three Lestranges.

"Excuse me," Regulus said, rising and giving her a parting smile. "I'd better fill them in on everything. Of course they will keep your secret, considering they'd be the first to understand your choice. They have a low opinion of Muggles and a high opinion of Slytherin."

She nodded and headed back to the bar. Regulus turned to tell Ballan that his food was outside, and couldn't help smiling at the focused expression on the elf's face as he watched Hydra happily banging out rock chords on her little piano while Mag and Greybo sang, 'School's Out Forever!" "Your food is out back," Regulus called to him and Ballan nodded, rising reluctantly to attend to his dining needs.

Pausing he turned to the Lestranges and Kreacher. "Thanks," he called, lifting a hand before turning toward the bar's back door.

"Sure," Rodolphus called back, giving Ballan a friendly grin as he lifted a large blocky hand in response. As Ballan went to enjoy his dinner, Regulus approached Kreacher and the Lestranges. Before he could speak,the scent of savory stew suddenly wafted through the room. He knew he would have greatly relished such a scent were he still mortal and able to enjoy that type of food. As he was not, it caused him to feel a bit ill.

"Damn, that smells good," Rod enthused. "I'm going to go eat." He pushed past Regulus before he could say that he had news. Bellatrix and Rabastan hurried after Rodolphus, looking nearly as eager as he did for a bowl of whatever it was that they were smelling.

"I have something to tell you that you are never going to believe," Regulus told Kreacher. "And I missed you! It felt as if you were gone for ages." Reaching out he embraced the elf who enthusiastically returned the gesture.

"Kreacher missed Master Regulus as well. What news has he to tell, Kreacher wonders?" Leaning into Regulus's side, he tilted his head curiously, peering up so that their eyes met. For an instant, Regulus was distracted by the way the bright light spilling from the shiny crystal chandeliers that Ariana had installed in the Hog's Head spilled over Kreacher's face, causing the soft skin of his cheeks to nearly seem to glow. When Regulus had first returned home, Kreacher was haggard and aged by grief and lack of self care, but after a few years of good eating, he had filled out nicely and the glow of health had returned to him. Regulus had insisted that Kreacher see to his health before becoming a vampire, else he would be trapped in his former emaciated state of grief for eternity.

"I do not know how to say it, so I shall just say it. Salazar Slytherin is alive! Ariana resurrected him back when she summoned his spirit to ask him about the elves for us before the children were even born. He is actually living and working here. He made the food the Lestranges are about to eat!"

Kreacher simply stared for several seconds before chuckling happily. "That was a good one! Master Regulus is quite funny."

Regulus frowned. "Are you drunk?" He wasn't one to have Kreacher on, after all. Practical jokes were more the Lestranges' style or Gellerts.

Kreacher grinned. "Perhaps a little. He had to make certain that Ballan's food was drunk enough and flavored properly, after all. And besides, it is a party. Kreacher's babies did it! They are all grown up now, leaving Master Regulus and Kreacher free to do as they like whenever they wish. We could travel and," Kreacher slipped his arms around him as the torrent of words spilled forth, causing Regulus to smile.

"I am not having you on, though."

Kreacher blinked, for an instant silent as he contemplated. "But how could Ariana Dumbledore possibly manage to Resurrect someone as old as Slytherin? Is Master Regulus saying that Slytherin is some sort of zombie?" He stared up at Regulus as dawning shock began to show on his face.

Regulus shook his head. "Not at all a zombie, but he does look... weak... perhaps a little ill, or as if he is recovering from an illness. He is rather thin, not at all like his chocolate frog card," he warned.

Kreacher's lips twisted up into an ironic grin. "Well after he has been dead for several centuries, the fat would be gone, so of course not.""No!" Regulus laughed. "I mean he looks entirely different. Facial structure. Hair. That is he has hair. He said that Godric Gryffindor spread around fake portraits as a final jab when Salazar died first. I suppose it worked out as no one shall recognize him now."

"Kreacher supposes not," the elf agreed. "So how did Ariana manage it?"

Regulus quickly explained how she'd sacrificed many Muggles in order to have enough blood to work the magic to resurrect someone as long dead as Slytherin to full life, or as much life as he technically had. "He is weakened on many levels now," he concluded. "It's one reason he did not help with Delphini, his belief in Gellert's ability to handle it being the other."

"Kreacher must see him," the elf said eagerly, round blue eyes wide with fascination now that he was completely certain that Regulus was not having him on. "Ariana must be even more powerful of a Necromancer than we first assumed."

Regulus nodded. They had always been aware of the fact that Ariana Dumbledore was an extremely powerful Necromancer. She had demonstrated her top notch skills more than once in recalling Regulus's parents from beyond the veil and binding them to #12 Grimmauld Place, summoning Kreacher's parents back for a few visits, and assisting them to have the twins by revitalizing vampiric sperm. The Dumbledore family was full of powerful magic users, so Ariana's abilities were no true surprise, though they continued to impress.

"Come and sit with us, Freaks," Bellatrix called out imperiously.

"Always so sweet is our Bella," Regulus said with a chuckle. He glanced over to see her waving at them from where she sat at the bar with the other two Lestranges. Each had a large steaming bowl of Salazar's stew before them along with a glass of some strong drink or other. "Come on. Let's go tell them about Salazar. I can't wait to see their reactions." He smiled.

Salazar was the hero of all Slytherins. The Lestranges fanboy/girled out over Gellert Grindelwald. They were completely going to lose their shit upon discovering that Salazar Slytherin lived and that they could actually speak to him. Kreacher grinned and took Regulus's hand to approach the Lestranges, equally as eager to see their reactions. "You will never guess who made that stew," Regulus said, perching on a stool beside Bellatrix. He scooped Kreacher up and sat him on his lap. A lot of people were up dancing to the music, so there were plenty of places to sit, but Regulus and Kreacher often shared a seat simply because they enjoyed a good cuddle.

"Aberforth," Rodolphus replied. "He's the cook around here." He glanced over at Regulus as if he believed him to have gone daft.

Regulus smirked. "No. Not Ariana either. You will never believe who made it."

"Well just tell us, then," Bellatrix snapped.

"It's not something you are going to believe," Regulus warned. "Salazar Slytherin." He allowed himself a pleased smile as all three Lestranges gaped at him in shock.

"Bullshit," Rabastan drawled.

"Kreacher thought the same," the elf said. "But Rabastan should know that Master Regulus isn't one for playing jokes as a rule." Regulus told of how Ariana had resurrected Salazar as they all listened in rapt attention. "Before you all get your hopes up for some new shiny Muggle rebellion, he isn't interested," Regulus concluded. "He just wishes to live a quiet life and give his blood line a new start by having children with Ariana, though they haven't managed a child yet."

"Son of a bitch," Rabastan swore unhappily. "Just like Grindelwald, he doesn't want to better the world because he's bloody nesting. Hell Bella and Rod can nest and still do their part to fight the good fight, so what gives?"

Bellatrix tossed her cloud of black hair, nodding smugly. "We know, right?"

"Yep," Rodolphus agreed as he scraped up the last bite of stew from the bottom of his bowl.

"They simply learned what did not work, and they are attempting to adjust," Regulus said. Bellatrix made a derisive sound. "Well hopefully they can help if the shit hits the fan with the elves," she said after polishing off her drink and waving Ariana over for another.

"When do we get to meet your man," she asked the red head eagerly.

"I'm glad that people are here who understand how amazing he is," Ariana said warmly. Her German accent was a little thicker than usual, showing a charming slip of control when she spoke of Salazar. Regulus knew that he and Kreacher were more than obvious with their fondness for one another, so he could always relate to the same in others. "He is resting now, but he never stays down for long, so I am sure he will be out soon."

"Well when he's up and about, do tell him that his biggest fans are here, and that he makes the best stew ever," Rodolphus said. "I am quite certain that I could eat an entire pot of it."

Ariana chuckled."How about another bowl for a start?"

Rodolphus grinned happily. "Excellent!" He downed the rest of his drink and pushed the glass across to Ariana along with his bowl.

"What about you two," she asked, arching a brow first at Bellatrix, then Rabastan."More food?"

"No, just the drink, thanks," Bellatrix said."If I ate like this one, I would be as big as a manor!" She playfully nudged Rodolphus in the ribs and he grinned, slipping an arm around her shoulders.

"I'm full, thanks," Rabastan said."But it was amazing."

"Of bloody course it was," Rodolphus said enthusiastically. "Salazar Bloody Slytherin made it, didn't he?" The door to the Hog's Head opened then and Finna Flitwick strolled in, dressed for the evening in flowing green dress robes with her long red hair streaming down her back, a small crown of oak leaves atop it, Druid style.

Her gaze swept the room, and she made a beeline for Filius, a warm smile on her face. She was tall and ethereal, often commanding attention that she did not usually want with her very presence. Filius placed his drink on the bar, then reached his hands out to her in welcome. The band began to play Star of the County Down. It was a song Filius often sang to his wife, and his eyes lit up as he spun her into a dance.

Chapter Text

Chapter 47, Clearing The Air

Greybo belted out Star Of The County Down while Flitwick spun his wife in a dance in the center of the floor of the Hog's Head. Hydra played her piano and swayed to the beat, smiling fondly at two of her favorite former professors. It was only when the song ended that Hydra glanced around at everyone else. Her eyes lit first on Ballan and she gave him a warm smile when their gazes met. He smiled back, before dropping his gaze in clear discomfort. She felt a stab of guilt for playing when she'd intended to remain at his side for the entire evening to assuage his social discomforts as much as possible. She had not been made aware that they were playing tonight, and hadn't even had a moment to complain to the rest of the band about that fact. Normally, she would never need them to check in to see if she was down for a gig, even at her graduation party, but Ballan made things different. "Let's take a break," she called out to the others.

"Sounds great," Greybo said. "I need a drink. Come on, Glimmer! Let's get you too drunk to play them drums properly," he said, dragging the elf toward the bar by one arm.

"Someone bring the eighties music back then," Graven called. "We were dancing."

Mag nodded and flicked her wand toward the ceiling before placing her fiddle in its case and going to join Severus at the bar. Hydra approached Ballan, an apology for accidentally abandoning him on her lips when he leaned close to speak into her ear.

"So should we ask Greok's sister what her issue is now that we actually have her hear?"

"Oh!" Hydra's hand flew to her mouth as she realized that she'd completely forgotten to do that what with so much going on. There was everything with the Elf Woods, then preparing for her N.E.W.T.s and graduation. "Yes, let's," she said quickly. Taking Ballan's hand, she hurried toward Graven and Wulfric, who were dancing beside the bar to a song about partying all the time. "Graven? We were wondering... I mean I was..." Clearly Hydra was not exactly certain how to start this conversation."Could we perhaps talk outside?" The last thing she wanted was for the Daddies to over hear and have their feelings hurt if Graven had some deep hatred for vampires that they were completely unaware of.

Graven sighed and shrugged. "Sure. Whatever." Taking Wulfric's hand she led the way outside. The four stopped just outside the Hog's Head with the closed door to the bar at their backs. "What's this about," Graven asked.

"Um... Vampires I suppose," Hydra said. This was difficult because she liked Graven, and was truly taken aback at hearing that she had issues with Greok becoming a vampire. "I thought you liked my parents." The words just came spilling out, and of course she sounded stupid or childish or naive or perhaps all of it! Swearing mentally in self disgust was all she could do about it, though, as said words were out now.

"What?" Graven gave her a genuinely surprised stare. "I like them fine. In fact I like them finer than most other adults. What's this about?"

"Greok," Hydra said. "Ballan mentioned that you have issues with him for becoming a vampire and I was shocked because I thought you were fine with my parents."

"Yeah, well that's different. Your parents have nothing to do with my issue with Greok. Having a vampire in the family is completely different from having vampire adults in my life helping with shit or whatever. I don't think badly of your parents, but they're not personal to me. The fact they drink blood and shit is whatever, because neither of them is my big brother." As she spoke, Graven's voice rose until she was nearly shouting at the end.

"He just did that without talking to me. He changed everything for the entire family!" She was really shouting now, but Hydra knew that she was not shouting at them so it was not upsetting in the same way as if Graven had gotten angry that she'd asked. It was sad that Graven's family had this issue, though. Rather than interrupting even to be comforting, Hydra just allowed Graven to speak as she obviously had a lot to say. A quick glance at Wulfric's impassive expression told her that he'd heard this before so it was no surprise to him.

Ballan only looked mildly curious. The family dynamic was likely a novelty to him. It brought to mind starkly for Hydra what a different world he came from. "It's so fucking weird on the holidays now, knowing he can't eat his favorite food anymore and that it probably even seems disgusting to him now! He's not even the same, because he can't do normal things anymore. He can't be about during the day, and he drinks blood and he can't even have children. He was supposed to do that and if our family line is to continue in any way now, I'm stuck doing it." Graven glared ahead of herself, not meeting any of their eyes as she angrily ranted.

"I don't mind having kids eventually," Wulfric told her.

"I know, but now it's a thing we have to do, and that makes it different," Graven said. "Besides, that's not it mostly. It's mostly everything else." She had stopped yelling and her tone was more sullen. Hydra found herself wondering how she would feel if Loughness were to become a vampire. Especially if their parents weren't. She wouldn't know much about vampires or what to expect, and it would be odd. "I get it," she said. "If I hadn't grown up with vampires in the family, it would probably be weird if Loughness became one."

"It's nice that Greok cares so much about helping to make things more equal for goblins, which was why he chose to do it, but it's just weird," Graven said.

"He is still the same, though," Ballan told her. "He may see things differently and experience some things differently, but he is still the same brother you knew. People change. Not always by becoming vampires. Sometimes it is by living and learning. I bet you did not think you would ever date a human, for example. Just from what I know of goblins, it does not seem like something that would be in your plans." Ballan was clearly trying not to smile. Hydra refrained from chuckling, so as not to ruin his efforts.

Graven laughed, lifting her hands in mock surrender. "That is very true. I didn't even like this human at first. He was annoying." She grinned over at Wulfric. "He refused to fuck off no matter how many times I demanded that he do so. He kept rocking my high by threatening to take me to a healer."

"Because she wouldn't get up off the sofa at Durmstrang, and I worried she'd taken too much of whatever she'd taken."

"You know it's always my pain killing potion that I use to get high!" Graven shot back.

"Yes, but I did not know that at the time." Wulfric countered. "For all I knew, you could've overdosed, and I couldn't just leave you to it. You weren't very happy at Durmstrang."

Graven huffed. "I hated playing spy for the rebellion and you know it. Even if I am down with the concept, I am not the girl to do anything that requires a people person sort of personality. I hated being stuck at a stupid wizard school, even if it was for Dark magic. Goblins have better Dark magic anyway." So I stayed high to quell my rage at the fact I was unfairly stuck there in that bullshit," she told Ballan.

"My friend Galia wanted to go to fucking Hogwarts so bad for some reason. I never understood that. But it should've been her picked for that shit, not me when I didn't even want it." She made a face. "Griphook said that's why I'd be better for the job because I didn't want it so I wouldn't be trying too hard in a way that would get me caught out." She sighed."If he was smart, he'd have worried about me fucking some annoying human prat up while I was forced to pretend to be one of them."

"Daddy Kreacher was the one who transfigured her to look human," Hydra explained. "I just thought it would be weird if you hated him for being a vampire and we never knew," she told Graven quietly. "So I had to ask. I get it now, though. Sorry about all that with your brother."

Graven shrugged, but nodded, giving Hydra what could almost pass for a smile. "I have gotten to know him a bit due to him living with Ballan, though, and he seems quite nice," Hydra continued carefully.

Graven shrugged again. "Good. I'm glad he's not trying to tear your throat out."

Hydra chuckled. "Not at all."

Graven flicked a look to Ballan. "He wasn't a killer. Not like you. He never indicated a desire to be, and... And I want to dislike you and say you changed him, but you can't do that. I know it's the vampirism that did that." Her tone was flat and tired. "I actually never had an issue with you, even if you aren't the sort of best friend I ever pictured my older brother having. He was serious and quiet before you. He'd laugh and joke sometimes, but... But he wasn't a killer and did not have the violence in him that I do."

Ballan's lips gave a slight twitch. "Are you a killer, then? I did not notice that aspect of you."

Graven made a disgusted sound. "I've only been tempted when extremely enraged, and then I suppose I might have lost a little control. Normally shit just isn't worth it."

Ballan nodded, looking satisfied. "I thought so."

"The time she is referring to happened at Durmstrang. Some fifth year bloke annoyed her and she nearly strangled him to death with a tree branch before I interceded," Wulfric said, clearly trying not to look amused. "I should've done sooner, but I was frankly fascinated by the goblin control over nature magic. She controlled that tree without even touching it, and I couldn't even tell what spell she was doing."

Graven grinned as she leaned into Wulfric's side. "I think your magic is hot too, Dumbledore," she said softly.

Wulfric blushed, grinning. "Thank you. I mean I'm not my dad, so that's always pleasant to hear."

"Greok was the one who insisted on the friendship," Ballan told Graven, bringing the topic back to the subject that had brought them all outside into the chilly night air. "And he is your brother. What ever the reasons you think you're angry, he has the same feelings inside when it comes to humans, goblins, the state of the world. Likely to a lesser degree, but it is there."

He grinned indolently over at her. "But mostly, he kills for practice, and yes it was my suggestion, but he was smart enough to see the wisdom in my way of thinking. We became vampires for the mental and physical improvements. We shall not gain those improvements without practicing. As we must eat, hunting allows us the practice we need. Learning to manipulate the minds of humans while we sustain ourselves brings it all together."

Graven sighed, nodding grudgingly. "Alright. I get it when you put it like that."

"He may have put it thusly himself had you bothered to talk to him," Ballan pointed out a bit sharply.

"Well I'm not into that expressing feelings and unnecessary communication shit, in case you didn't notice," Graven retorted with equal or greater sharpness.

"A thing I could admire did it not hurt my friend," Ballan said.

Graven chuckled. "Good. I am glad you are loyal to Greok, because he deserves it. And I just might talk to him when I calm down in a year or so thanks to you. So thanks. Now I am going back inside before I sober up too much." Taking Wulfric's hand, she turned and headed back into the Hog's Head. As the door opened, the sound of eighties dance music floated out into the night. Wulfric gave Hydra and Ballan a pleased smile over one shoulder as if he believed them to have just done something good.

Hydra smiled back, relieved that everything had gone so well and that Graven did not harbor a secret hatred or disgust for The Daddies. When the door shut behind Wulfric and Graven, Hydra turned to Ballan and threw her arms around him. "You did wonderfully! You single-handedly worked things out for Graven and Greok. Now she understands more about why he may have seemed to have changed in a way she can properly process all because of you."

Ballan sighed. "It must have been the drink that made me more talkative. I usually drink alone, or rather I drank alone. I haven't had a drink in nearly two years. I only needed one when things got really bad with my former master, and that only once the bastard was asleep or he'd have done me in for it." As he spoke, he seemed to shrink in on himself, and Hydra found herself suddenly having to fight against the urge to tear said former master apart with her literal hands.

The level of violence that she had inside for that man shook her to the core, because until that moment, she truly did not know she had such in her. It was tempest causing earthquake level violent rage! It was a little frightening. "Well you do well when you drink with others," she said, forcing the words out to shift her own mental gears.

The bastard wasn't here for her to kill, after all, and the rage level he inspired was literally becoming a discomfort. That and she meant what she said. Drinking seemed to help Ballan socially, at least in small groups. Sober, he may not have cared to bother addressing Graven on the matter of Greok unless she'd said something way out of line. Ballan shrugged, expression doubtful. "If you say so. Shall we go back inside? I mean I'd completely prefer to just be alone with you, but I understand that this is one of those social things that matter to everyone but me."

Hydra smiled. "It hasn't been that bad, has it?"

He shrugged. "It could have been worse."

"Well let's just go back in for a little, then you and I can go," she promised, more than willing to have alone time with Ballan sooner than later. "I have missed you, after all," she said. She was unable to resist stepping closer and slipping her arms around him, kissing him soundly. He responded with a hunger that caused a fire to start up in her lower belly. "We could just go now," she managed when she had to come up for air.

"I am sure we can stick it out a little longer to please the masses," he replied gruffly before taking her hand and gently tugging her toward the door of the Hog's Head.

Chapter Text

Chapter 48, What Am I Doing Here?

Ballan regretted his choice to be a good sport and talk Hydra into remaining at the party around the instant he entered the Hog's Head. It was full of people who's minds and general existence pressed in upon him, forming a wave of constant discomfort. Normally when he was in any sort of crowd, some of them were about to become food, which was a far more comfortable situation. He'd only actually attended a few social functions since meeting Wolfgang, Regulus and Kreacher. He had disliked each one, finding the necessary interactions that came along with them extremely uncomfortable. Not because the people weren't nice to him, but perhaps because they were, in their way. All Dark wizards and witches, sure, but he had no room to talk. They clearly intended him no harm and probably would have even pissed on him were he on fire.

He did not know what to do or say around them for all that, though, because he could never relate to them, and in truth he did not wish to. The gap between them was too wide. He would've said the same of Hydra until she'd literally flung herself at him. Though she appeared sane and steady, a brilliant charm of a star in the sky that anyone had to notice, she was mad enough to find him interesting. This was something he still struggled to process at times. "I want to get a drink," she called to him over the loud dance music. Her hand was still in his, and it felt nice. It was also reassuring in this throng, giving him a small sense of belonging even if he did not particularly want or need it. He nodded and walked with her up to the bar.

"Are you going to play again," he asked, and she shrugged. "I'd rather not. I had no idea they were going to play earlier. I am sorry about that."

He gave a slight dismissive shake of his head. "You are in a band. You will be playing. It is expected. Besides, your music is not unpleasant."

She chuckled. "Thanks." Leaning over the bar, she called her drink order to the red haired necromancer. "Butterrum Firewhisky, please!" Though the drink would taste like utter shit now that he was a vampire, it did sound good. He was quite certain that he would've enjoyed it in his mortal days. The Necromancer made short work of filling a glass for Hydra and sliding it across the bar with a quick smile. Thanking her, Hydra took it and turned to survey the room. Ballan followed her gaze to Loughness, who was dancing with the little Blonde Minister, leaning in to talk to her and looking at her as though she was the only person in the world. It was clear that for him, she was.

"Does she even know," he asked, finding himself oddly amused at the situation.

"Oh no way," Hydra replied. "I just hope it ends up alright for him when he finally makes his move. I mean it turned out so well for me, I will feel dreadful if he doesn't get the same happy ending."

Ballan laughed. God, but he must still be drunk, because that was the funniest thing he'd herd in ages! Perhaps ever! The idea of him being anyone's happy ending was just hilarious. "Sorry, but I'm far more accustom to being someone's nightmare," he managed after a minute, and Hydra grinned.

"That's alright." Her gaze returned to her brother, as the smile slipped from her face.

"You are thinking of Graven?" He asked because he was not rude enough to look.

"I... Yes. I was thinking of how odd it would be to feel separated from Loughness. If our parent's weren't vampires and he just suddenly decided to become one, I suppose I would feel separated from him, as though he had become other. Graven and Greok aren't twins, but I bet she felt that to some degree."

Ballan did not comment because he could not relate. Fortunately that was alright with Hydra, which he appreciated greatly. He had no need for social platitudes or pretenses to understand something that he, as an only child with no ties, could not. Of course if he did feel such a need, he would never stick around, because why? As Hydra made him feel far too damned at ease, here he bloody was, though. He slipped an arm around her as he leaned his back against the bar. "Graven will talk to him eventually. Then it should sort itself, when she sees that he's still Greok."

"Don't you think she spoke to him at all over those uncomfortable holidays that she mentioned," Hydra wondered. Ballan shook his head. "I happen to know for a fact that she did not, because Greok was hurt by her blatant snubbing of him at every turn."

"Oh," she said in a small voice. "I'm equally sorry for him, then. While I can relate to her upset if I put myself in her place, I would hate to know I hurt Loughness."

Ballan nodded, glancing heavenward. "People are complicated. That is one of the many reasons I am pleased to only be closely acquainted with a few of them."

Rather than telling him how wrong such a sentiment was, Hydra only chuckled. He was at last allowing himself to believe that she truly did understand just who he was and that she was not about to try to change that person. She even liked him, precisely for who he was, which made him concerned over her good judgement or potential lack there of. The music shifted from artificial sounding dance to something with a harder, rough edge that made his ears perk up. The singer's voice was rough as well, but seemed to still somehow glide sinuously over the music.

"Roddy! Our song!" The drunken gleeful shriek had come from Bellatrix Lestrange, the so-called mad witch. Truly Ballan didn't find her madder than anyone else, and probably less mad than many. Lunging from her bar stool, she grasped her husband's slab of an arm and dragged him into the center of the floor for a dance. The singer proclaimed the object of his affection to be poison running through his veins, and Ballan chuckled. They considered poison romantic. While he did not particularly relate. he could appreciate someone twisted enough to embrace such concepts.

As the two Lestranges swayed together to the oddly powerful music, Ballan looked on idly. Perhaps it was due to the drink, but before long he nearly felt mesmerized. "Music is very powerful," Hydra said. "Don't you see it? Can't you feel it?" Well aware that she did not need to raise her voice over said music for vampiric ears to pick up her words, she spoke quietly. Ballan took several seconds to consider the question before responding. Did he? *trouble is your middle name, but in the end you're not so bad. Can't someone tell me if it's wrong to be so mad about you!* Those were the impassioned words she'd sung to him weeks before that had baffled him. Only later had he understood, but this understanding had only taken place because he wasn't able to forget the words. The bouncy lilting tune kept them stuck in his head.

"Yes," he answered simply, and Hydra smiled almost in triumph. He wasn't sure he liked that look on her face. When she spoke again, he knew he was correct. "Good, because I really want you to sing with me!" Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned close.

"No." He said flatly. He could not sing. "I cannot sing." He hadn't a musical bone in his body. "I do not have a musical bone in my body. Not even a tendon," he assured a little desperately. "Besides, I don't like music."

"Yes you do," she retorted. "You like that Alice Cooper song that's playing, and you like the songs I've sung to you."

He scowled. "That may be. I like them as much as I like anything, which is only slightly, but that does not indicate in the slightest that I could actually sing."

"You can," Hydra said.

He scowled. "How can you know that? You are insane, I think. I do not mind the insanity in itself, but, I am not singing!"

Hydra laughed. "I only want you to sing one song with me. A duet. I think it would be amazing to show the unity between elves and humans. It is perfect for our band's image, and it is just what elves, humans and goblins need to see right now!"

Ballan shook his head. "It would be embarrassing for us all, trust me."

She leaned close, brushing her lips across his in a way that had his lower regions waking up. "I do trust you. And now it's time for you to trust me. Let's open up your musical side. It's magic, and you want magic," she coaxed. "Trust me. And if I am wrong, only the band will know. You don't' have to sing it in front of anyone else if you don't like how it turns out. I only want you to try."

He groaned. "Why must you be all reasonable and shit! I really don't want to sing!"

She grinned. "Great. I'll show you the song the next time we are together, because I don't have it with me now, and I assume we're going directly to yours when we leave here, right?"

He sighed. "Yes." If she wanted to go home with him, no way was he telling her no, after all. He scowled darkly at the Lestranges as they danced, wondering if Bellatrix could make her husband sing. Probably so. The song ended and the two returned to the bar, smiling a bit madly at one another in a way that was most likely intended to be romantic. They clearly weren't stable, and that was alright. They made him feel nearly comfortable, which was admittedly a feat all on its own.

Hydra suddenly downed the remainder of her drink before smiling happily over at him. "I am drinking to the fact that you have agreed to sing with me!" Sliding the glass back across the bar she called, "May I have another of the same, please, Ariana?"

The Necromancer smiled and refilled Hydra's glass. "Why do I need to sing with you in an elf human unity song," Ballan demanded suddenly. "You are both elf and human, so you can just handle it all."

Hydra chuckled. "Because it is, at least in part, a love song. Okay?"

"Oh hell no," Ballan growled. "No way am I singing sappy love songs."

Hydra sipped at her drink, clearly unconcerned."It isn't sappy. It is rock with some really sweet piano melodies that I look very forward to playing."

"I don't think I actually agreed to sing it, though," Ballan said. He could not be that drunk, could he?

"You basically did," Hydra informed, still smiling as she downed her drink.

Chapter Text

Chapter 49, Are you the wine that will give me a headache in the morning Or just a dark blue landmine that will explode without a decent warning?

"What are you laughing at," Ballan asked as they left the bar near two in the morning. Hydra hung off his arm, chuckling happily and quite drunk.

"I am laughing about a few things, actually," she said. "The first is how mortified Wulfric looked about the fact that his drunk parents were making out on a bar stool! Poor Wulfric, but his face was so funny. I would have more sympathy, but my parents are tacky like that around us as a matter of course, so I have become numb to it." Ballan made a noncommittal sound as they headed down the sidewalk. "The other reason is just because I am so happy to have gotten you."

Ballan laughed. "Like I am some sort of prize."

"But you are! And it's wonderful. You are just as thrilling as I knew you would be. You are smart and fascinating and dangerous, but loyal, which is equally as important."

"You like danger, do you," Ballan asked, stopping in his tracks to turn to Hydra and brush his lips ever so slightly across hers, causing her breath to catch. She was no longer laughing.

"Yes," she said, speaking in a near whisper due to the sudden tightening of her throat in anticipation.

"Is it that I kill with such rampant abandon?" There was a note of genuine curiosity in his voice.

"Yes. But the interesting personality is a big part of it as well."

"But you do not wish to kill.""

"No, not usually."

"Not usually? What does that mean?" Now his tone held a note of mild concern.

"Nothing. At least nothing I want to talk about now," Hydra mumbled. She didn't wish to attempt explaining the near debilitating rage she'd felt regarding Ballan's former master. He may feel embarrassed, and she did not wish to cause him any discomfort.

Though she could not see his face, the doubt was clear in his tone. "Very well, I suppose."

"Why were we walking," she asked, curious.

"Just to sober up a little before Apparating," Ballan said, catching Hydra in his arms. "I wished to ensure we both made it to the flat in one piece." He kissed her as he Apparated them into Greok's sitting room. Wow! He'd Apparated while kissing! Hydra was impressed, because she was quite certain that she would never have the focus to accomplish that when kissing Ballan. He was the most talented amazing elf ever, and she was way drunk. Leaf and Greok were curled up on the couch together listening to music and snacking on crisps. "Wait, you got a couch," Hydra said with a smile of greeting.

"You're drunk," Greok said happily. "Both of you. While we're stating the obvious and all that."

"We thought it was time to make a few home improvements," Leaf told Hydra, returning her smile. "It's wonderful that more people are coming over, and they should have a comfortable place to sit. Leaf is so excited that our social circle is growing!" She lifted her hands to briefly cover her face, a shy gesture that Hydra found endearing. "Leaf never had friends before she began working for Miss Dora. This new job has given her a whole new life! She never wished for more than Greok, for he is everything, but having Hydra and Loughness and everyone else about is very fun." Greok did not look quite as enthused, but he was a goblin, if a laid back one. They never were precisely social creatures by nature, though some were more or less so than others. Ballan must have been thinking along similar lines, for he suddenly pointed an accusing finger at Greok and laughed.

"You wanted to be friends with me, and look how many legs grew from that monster of a bad idea? Now there is more furniture, socializing, Elf Woods intrigue, the list goes on and on." Greok slumped into the new sofa with an expression of exaggerated defeat on his face while Ballan chortled happily. The moment felt somehow iconic, and Hydra was unable to stop grinning.

"On that note, I am going to bed to sulk," Greok said.

Leaf giggled as she sprang to her feet. "Greok shall hardly be sulking," she teased with a wink, causing the goblin to blush.

"They're going to make me puke," Ballan complained to Hydra as the two left the room hand in hand. Crossing the room, he entered the kitchen. "Want another drink? It's your graduation night, after all."

Hydra shrugged. She felt plenty drunk, but then again, he was right. It was her graduation night. "Sure. Do you want me to make it?" She took a step toward the kitchen, but Ballan sighed and shook his head as he headed for a row of cabinets above the sink.

"Even though I am a vampire who no longer needs such things these days, I still recall how to make a blasted drink," he grumbled.

Hydra watched on in amusement as he made two drinks, mixing deftly from several bottles. When he approached her with a crystal goblet in each hand, she retreated to the sofa before taking one. "Thanks. Why are there two? Just wondering and all." She was suddenly struggling not to laugh.

"Because!" Ballan said. "I wanted to toast to your success. Graduation for human wizards means the start of your life as you step into the world or whatever, so we are drinking to your success in any and all endeavors." He gave a sudden grin. "Or rather you are drinking both of these, because we both know that I can't, but as I forgot to toast you at the bar, we're doing it now."

Hydra smiled, touched. "I'm glad you forgot. This is more romantic anyway, with just the two of us here."

"Don't make me regret my impulsive sentiment," Ballan said, cringing and giving her a look of horror.

"Very well," Hydra said. For a moment silence hung over the room as Ballan stared thoughtfully from her to the glass he held in his hand. Seating himself on the sofa beside her he cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. "To you, and to today's success and to many more to come. May your life be all that you wish it to be, Little Hydra." With that, he clinked his glass to hers. The solemn tone in his voice wrenched something inside of her that she had never noticed being there before, and suddenly she wished very much to cry or throw her arms around him. Knowing that he was not likely to appreciate either, she tossed back her drink instead. Then she reached for the one in his hand. The impressed look on his face when she downed both in less than fifteen seconds made it well worth it.

"Cheers," she said, proud of herself for not coughing. The drinks were delicious, consisting of an intriguing blend of cinnamon, vanilla and pineapple, but they were extremely strong. "You make good drinks." Placing the glasses on the nearby coffee table, was that new too? she slipped her arms around him. "The drinks you make remind me of you, strong and delicious," she shared before kissing him hungrily. His very nearness made her insides go wild, and she was eager to give into their every whim.

"Whatever you say, strange girl," Ballan told her with a chuckle as he stood, scooping her into his arms.

"Yes, let's go to bed, please," she said enthusiastically.

"Should I get an actual bed, do you think," Ballan asked in between impassioned kisses as he paused to kick the door to his bedroom shut. "Is the coffin uncomfortable or anything?"

"No reason for a bed," Hydra said. "It's fine."If you ever decide you want a bed, feel free, just not on my account." She was tugging at his clothes as soon as he'd placed her onto the mattress inside said coffin. Their hands were everywhere on one another as he came down on top of her, and each touch made the rising desire between them sweeter and more deliciously out of control. She hardly recognized the sound that tore from her when he drove inside, such an odd mix of relief and need did it hold.

They thrust rampantly against one another as their bodies sought even more pleasure. They twisted and turned like a hurricane with Hydra then on top, then Ballan, then Hydra again. His hands stroked her everywhere as she rode him. When his fangs pierced a sensitive nipple, she threw her head back, a cry of ecstasy tearing from her throat. With a final growl, he thrust upward, spilling his release into her before they fell back together. The room spun pleasantly as Hydra's eyes slid closed.

Then Ballan ruined it by wriggling from under her. She made a sound off protest, but he was already gone. In an instant, he was back, lifting her to sit up with a firm arm under her back. She opened her mouth to ask what in the hell, but he held a glass of water to her lips. "Drink to re hydrate yourself or you will wish very badly to die tomorrow. Trust me, I've been there before in the bad old days so I learned." Hydra drank the water, certain that he would not let her alone until she did. Knowing that he was right, she was grateful, even if she wanted very much to just pass out in peace.

"Thank you," she said once the glass was empty. Falling back with a sigh, she closed her eyes and he left to put the glass away. When he returned, she reached for him as he slid in beside her. Tossing an arm across her, he drew her close. "The sun shall be rising soon," he commented. "I hope you did not have anything important to do in the early morning hours."

She chuckled without opening her eyes. "Not at all." Several minutes of easy silence ensued, and she was nearly asleep when he spoke again.

"Are you ever going to tell me," he asked quietly. "It seems that you know a great deal about me, and though you may seem to be a bit of an open if baffling book, this has me curious."

"Tell you what?" She was confused and wanting to continue her journey to sleep.

"You do not usually wish to kill means that sometimes you do. Why?"

Oh that. Hydra sighed. "I could kill your former master is all. I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable saying so but I could really get into killing him."

Ballan did not speak for several long seconds, and Hydra had time to wonder if she should not have answered. At least he hadn't looked into her mind to satisfy his curiosity, but perhaps it would've been easier if he had?

"I... Well that is perhaps the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." His voice was so quiet that she nearly had to strain to hear it.

"Good," she said with a relieved sigh. "I haven't upset you."

He kissed her with a tenderness that suddenly had her lower belly tightening as tears sprang to her eyes. "Not at all," Little Hydra," he murmured. before kissing her again. Soon soft and tender became needful as their mouths delved into one another. When he slid inside of her again, she was a wash in a desire that consumed as it melted. It was everything.

When she woke, she was aware that it was day even though the room was still dark out of necessity. An angry Cornish Pixie struck the inside of her skull right behind the eyes with a tiny and very sharp chisel. Rolling over with a groan, she wondered what she'd ever done to that Pixie! For several minutes, she huddled against Ballan's inert form, attempting to go back to sleep in order to escape the pain.

The pain was not interested in her escaping it, however. Eventually she dragged herself up and out of the coffin before fumbling about on the floor for her discarded clothing. Her head jabbed and throbbed as she slipped on her underthings, then her dress robe, stockings and pointed black ballet flats. As she knew she was unable to Apparate safely from the room due to the agony going on in her head, she closed the lid to Ballan's coffin to keep any light from escaping when she opened the door to the bedroom. The flat was quiet, but the smell of tea wafted from the kitchen, causing Hydra's nose to perk up in interest. When she entered, Leaf was briskly wiping down the stove.

"Good afternoon," she murmured. She had spoken quietly! The girl was a genius. Hydra was certain that any sound much above a whisper would cause her aching head to shatter.

"Hi," she said just as softly. The Pixies in her head twitched a warning.

"Woulds Hydra like some tea," Leaf asked. When Hydra nodded, Leaf smiled. "Leaf also made toast. It shall settle Hydra's stomach. Reaching for the toaster, she gestured with her other hand for Hydra to sit at the small table. "Leaf went out when she woke a bit ago and picked up a hangover potion for Hydra if she would like it."

"Leaf is a saint," Hydra proclaimed with a bit too much feeling, because the Pixies began to angrily punch the sides of her head.

Leaf smiled as Hydra carefully seated herself at the table. "What are friends for?"

"For someone who never had friends until recently, you make a great one," Hydra said softly. The Pixies did not let up their punching of the inside of her head, but at least their rage did not grow. When Leaf presented the opened bottle of potion on a small tray along with the tea and toast, Hydra's hand shook slightly as she lifted it. Downing it quickly, she washed it down with a swallow of warm tea. The potion's flavor of ginger was not unpleasant, but the tea was somehow more soothing. Leaf joined her at the table with her own tea and toast.

"Did Hydra and Ballan have a nice night," she asked, eyes sparkling.

The elf was so charming that Hydra couldn't help but smile in spite of her demonic headache. "We had an amazing time." She was surprised by how fast the potion kicked in. Even as the words left her lips, the headache was fading. In another second, the Pixies were gone, quite as if they'd never been there. "Perhaps the Muggles are so dreadful because they don't have a hangover potion," she realized suddenly, and Leaf chuckled.

Chapter Text

Chapter 50, Don't Stop Believing!

Ballan woke that evening in mid thought, his heart already full of an unpleasant mix of alarm and dread. *could not sing. He had agreed to sing with her? Had he agreed to sing with her? He had never said the words, but she seemed to have somehow understood that he had agreed to sing with her. He could not sing! Just because she'd agreed that he could back out if it was truly bad, and just because he had accused her of being reasonable, did not mean he had agreed! Why did females think so extremely differently?*

He rolled over with a groan, before at last deciding to take note of his surroundings. As usual the flat was mostly quiet. Though Greok often waited for Ballan so that they could hunt dinner together, the goblin was gone. Leaf seemed to be out as well, as there were no small sounds of her moving about. She was likely serving Dora. That was good. He was far too uncomfortable being left alone with the other elf. She was a disconcerting mix of timid and bullying, which made his skin crawl. He rose with a sigh and cast his gaze about for last night's clothes.

They weren't bloody, so could stand to be worn again. His underthings lay beside the coffin and his tunic and boots were half way across the room. The reason for that made his lips curve into a smile in spite of himself. He'd never craved those fires of passion to which others seemed to be enslaved, but now that he had them, he did find them quite pleasant.

As he dressed, his gaze lit on the wall clock hanging near the door. His eyes widened as he processed that he'd woken an hour later than usual! That was surely why Greok hadn't waited around for him. He must have been quite drunk to sleep through sunset. Oddly he wasn't as hungry as he should've been, but that was certain to change when he got outside and caught scent of the hot blooded masses. Once he'd had to serve them or hide from them and now they were food! Somehow that thrill hadn't gotten old, he thought with a satisfied smirk as he crossed to the door and headed out of the room. She was seated on the new sofa with a book in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. She was so quiet, her mind so clearly occupied by the book that he hadn't even felt her in the flat.

"What's that?" He asked nodding at the book as she glanced up, that silken hair falling across one fine boned cheek.

"It's a book on spell crafting, but it's goblin magic. I've never seen this one before." She frowned. "The way they think is... difficult at times, because it's like a different language that I should find easier to understand but I don't. I mean the literal language is English, but..."

"I understand," Ballan said, giving a slight smile. "I've seen that book before if it's Greoks."

She nodded."Yes, he let me borrow it when I asked for something to read."

"You didn't have to wait about," he said, a bit defensively. If she had better things to do, he certainly did not want to be the one holding her up or keeping her bored while he slept.

"Oh I don't. I just always need something to read," she assured hastily, and he felt himself relaxing.

"It's because they're unnecessarily complicated," he said, returning to the topic of the book, and goblin magic. "On some matters their spells are convoluted, and they don't need to be. Personally, I think it's just to keep others from understanding," he concluded drily.

"That makes sense," she said, nodding.

"I'm going to have dinner," he said. "Ur... Can I bring you anything?" He supposed he could stop and grab something from the Hog's Head or something.

"Oh, no thanks. Leaf already made food for us earlier."

He gave a slight smile. "Good. I'll be back soon. Then we'll sort what to do for the rest of the evening."

She smiled back before returning her gaze to the book of confounding goblin magic. Sounds great." He left, closing the front door behind him before allowing himself to be swallowed by the night. The sounds of the city rushed to meet him as he moved with vampiric speed toward the center of town where all the people were. If it had been anyone other than Hydra, the concept of a guest waiting back at the flat would've made him extremely uncomfortable, but for some inexplicable reason, he felt at ease with her presence. He was not even tempted to loiter over finding a meal. He caught the mind of an angry violent man down a side street to the left, and decided that one would be his dinner.

Other nights, he could've had more than one, just to revel in the fact that he could kill several simply for the pure enjoyment of it, but he had better things to do today. Sending the man a mental suggestion that he wanted to step into the nearest back alley, Ballan followed him into it. "Angry are you," he said with a laugh. "I feel it. I relate." Jumping at the man's throat, he drove his fangs home.

"Hey, what the fuck?" The man screamed, hands attempting to throw Ballan off. Chuckling as best he could while drinking, he wound his arms and legs around the man to keep his food from escaping. The man punched Ballan in the side, and Ballan lifted a fist to slam him in the head. The man fell, but he was big and strong so the blood loss wasn't getting to him yet. Ballan hadn't hypnotized him, so he was still free to fight. Many vampires did not enjoy the struggle, so made their food submissive, but with men like this, Ballan relished the struggle as much as anything else.

"What the fuck are you," the man screamed out as his panic rose. This only made the blood taste sweeter. Of course Ballan did not reply. Allowing the man's imagination to fill in the blanks was more fun. The man came to the conclusion that Ballan was a demon. He could live with that and even take it as a compliment. They rolled about on the ground, punching one another, the man kicking and clawing while Ballan drank from his throat like it was a bottle. At last, the man grew too weak to struggle, and Ballan drank faster, ending him. Climbing off the man's chest, he gave his side a final kick before walking away without looking back.

One more dead bastard in an alley. One down, millions to go, but not tonight. He headed back home, sticking to the shadows, thoroughly satisfied with his kill. As he went, his mind returned to the singing nightmare situation in which he'd somehow gotten himself stuck. How in the fuck was he getting out of this one? When he entered the flat, Hydra looked up from Greok's book with a smile. "Not as much blood as I expected, but your tunic is a bit dirty," she observed playfully.

"I got a big angry one that wanted to fight," Ballan said, grinning happily.

Hydra placed her book on the coffee table and rose with a fluid grace that had his eyes on her slender yet shapely body and flowing black hair. "There are other ways to release aggression, if you've got any left," she said. Her voice glided over the words in a way that caused his nether regions to twitch.

"I thought my aggression was all spent for the moment, but apparently my body has other ideas," he observed, crossing the room to draw her close. Sighing, she sank against him as he slid his hands gently through her hair. It smelled like strawberries. Such pretty hair. This hair, a thing of humans or goblins, still blended so charmingly with her elven features. Though a half breed, she looked natural. All flowing curves and soft angles that seemed perfectly matched...

And then she was kissing him and he wasn't thinking anymore. Soon they were in his bedroom, the door firmly shut behind them. Their clothes came off as speedily as they had yesterday. This he could get used to, he thought distantly, still a bit shocked with himself. Afterward, they lay tangled together in his coffin in companionable silence for several moments. Her nearness gave him a deep inner peace at times that he had no desire to put into words even to himself. Eventually his mind began to think in words again, and they were unpleasant words. Finally he spoke. "I don't want to sing."

"But you have to," she insisted in a coaxing tone that told him that he'd as good as lost the battle. "It will truly make an impact for all the elves struggling to find a place in the world. It will give them the hope and confidence that they so badly need. You and I can give them hope for all the things they never had before. They are still learning, and they need... I don't know someone to encourage them. Someone that they can look at and see that it's all possible." She'd probably said all of that the last time he'd lost this argument, but they had both been drunk. The sober version of the discussion wasn't going better at all for him, Ballan thought with a sigh. "You have seen me, right? I doubt the sight of me is going to give any of them hope."

"Ballan, you are beautiful!" The raw insistence in Hydra's tone caused him to freeze. "I look at you and see someone who made it out of hell. I see a fighter, and so will all of the other elves who need what you have to offer!" "I really do not want to," he said dully.

"Why?" She truly sounded baffled, and he chuckled.

"Not everyone enjoys singing and performing, Little Hydra," he half teased.

"But it is such a power charge. Reaching out with your talents to that many people. You would like it. I know you would."

"Yes, perhaps if I had a talent, I could enjoy such a rush, but I haven't the talent as I keep assuring you."

"I think you'll find that you do," Hydra said. "Remember if you try and it's dreadful, we'll drop the entire thing and never speak of it again. I swear."

Ballan sighed. There she went with the reasonable rubbish again. Rather than replying, he kissed her instead. Much more could've come of that kiss had Greok not banged on the bedroom door. "What," Ballan growled.

"Want to come play cards," Greok asked.

Ballan sighed. "No, but we'll do it anyway."

"We will?" Hydra asked, a small smile curving her lips. "I thought we didn't like cards."

"We don't, but I thought you would want to be social."

She kissed him hard before reluctantly rising from the coffin like a proper vampire's girlfriend. "You're right. We should," she said. "Greok really likes you."

Ballan snorted as he sat up. "You and he are both a bit confused for that." She merely chuckled, slipping back into her clothes and working a quick cleaning charm on herself and a smoothing charm on her hair and flowing dress. When she was done, she did not at all appear to have rolled about with him in his coffin. He performed a cleaning charm on himself, but left his clothes messy, because he liked them that way and so did she. They headed out to join Greok and Leaf and the cards. As expected the card game wasn't the most stimulating thing in the world, but it didn't kill him.

It all came to a head the next day when Hydra informed him that he would finally be hearing the song she'd chosen for their duet. She'd Apparated home during the day while he slept in order to get more clothes and check in with her parents. A letter from Greybo was waiting for her, announcing a band practice at eight that night at the Hog's Head. "I wrote Mag, asking her to bring the song to practice, so I can show it to you tonight," she concluded excitedly. "The bar is closed due to Aberforth and Ariana both being down with some sort of stomach bug so no one will hear you sing."

Idly Ballan considered asking her to see if the Lestranges would be willing to come and get him drunk again, but decided against it. While he may have an easier time actually singing a bloody song if less inhibited, he was also likely to sound even worse for it. That meant even more embarrassment, so with that in mind, he opted for sober. At least he had plenty of time to feed beforehand, so he could take it out on a hapless Muggle or three, and a wizard too if they gave off the vibe that they needed to be killed. He promised to meet Hydra at the Hog's Head, telling her to go on ahead of him so that she could settle in with the band without having to fret over his comfort level. Her concern over his social discomforts hadn't gone unnoticed at her graduation and the party after. While this was touching, he did not feel that her fretting over him would make him relax any faster.

"Alright, if that's what you want,"Hydra agreed. "And Ballan, I really do appreciate you doing this." Leaning toward him, she brushed her lips softly across his in a way that caused his breath to catch.

"Do I have a choice?" he growled. She chuckled before Apparating away. Rather than doing the same, he stalked out the front door of the flat just so that he could slam the door behind himself. For some insane reason, though, he was grinning just a little. He lost himself in the hunt, allowing himself to be late a bit intentionally. He needed to be fully satiated to ride out the stress of proving to his bloody girlfriend and her entire band that he could not sing.

He'd let her go ahead of him, so her practice would not suffer. There was always the tiniest of tiny chances that if he arrived late enough, they'd have changed their minds about wanting him to sing. Perhaps the elf who played the drums would have given the song a whirl by the time Ballan showed up. Or the goblin with the odd braids. He and Hydra could sing a duet together and still properly illustrate the unity of magical races. Either of them at least had some musical talent, so could certainly do better than he would. He Apparated into the Hog's Head around nine-thirty. The band was practicing a song on which Mag was singing lead vocals. Ballan attempted to sit in the very back of the bar, hoping to hide for as long as possible, but Hydra stopped playing her piano and hurried over to him. "Hold on a moment!" she called to the rest of the band. "I want to give Ballan the song to listen to!"

"Hi, Boyfriend," Greybo called out, lifting a hand from his guitar's strings to wave at Ballan.

Ballan felt his face heating. Just bloody wonderful! He was blushing like an idiot. Had he ever been so uncomfortable? Probably never, he concluded. Hydra kissed his cheek before placing earmuffs over his ears.

"I thought you'd like listening to the song in headphones first," she explained. He opened his mouth to ask what the hell headphones were, but a piano began playing through the earmuffs. Apparently these weren't earmuffs. They were headphones. He would have liked to think about that a bit longer, but a man with a high clear tenor voice was singing, so he supposed he'd better pay attention.

As he listened, Ballan began to understand to a degree why Hydra wanted this particular song. It spoke of a boy and a girl with very different lives encountering one another as both sought something new. It then continued to speak of the observations of a performer, in this case Hydra. He must have gotten a bit lost in the song, for his eyes had closed. He assumed that Hydra had returned to practicing with the band, but when he opened his eyes after the song ended, she stood in front of him, attentively watching his face. When she spoke, her words tumbled out in a rush. "Did you like it? What did you think?"

He considered for several moments before speaking. "It is powerful."

A happy smile broke over her face. "I knew you'd appreciate it! I should've listened to it with you to explain which of us will sing what parts, but I wanted you to have the full headphones experience with the song to just take it all in. We'll end up dividing both verses then singing the chorus together."

He felt his stomach drop. Suddenly the fact that he was really going to have to try to sing a song was becoming far too real, far too fast. "Why don't you just have Greybo or..." What the fuck was the drummer elf's name! "Glimmer? sing it with you," he wondered desperately. "It's a great song, but either of them would be sure to do it far more justice than I ever could."

"Because you are my boyfriend, and the song is about romance and unity so I want you to do it. Plus I feel you would enjoy doing it and I want to share music with you, and I just want you to be a part of this! Are those enough reasons?" Though clearly exasperated, Hydra was smiling at him. He sighed, but could not resist smiling back just a little even if it did hurt his face. This was absolutely going to be dreadful!

"Let's listen to it out loud a few times, then we'll go over our parts," Hydra said. She plucked the headphones from Ballan's ears as she spoke. "You got the speaker, Greybo?"

"Yeah," the goblin replied. Reaching into a green canvas bag at his feet, he pulled out a larger single headphone thing, but apparently it was the speaker. It did not speak, but it played the song that Ballan had just listened to. It played it loudly enough to fill the room, and everyone sat listening attentively, each learning their bits. Greybo strummed his guitar from time to time and Mag idly tapped her fiddle as she frowned in open concentration over the notes of the lead guitar. When the song was over, Ballan asked, "Where the hell is South Detroit?""

Hydra shrugged. "Somewhere in America, I think. I don't think it's real, though."

"America?" Greybo gave her an incredulous look, and she laughed.

"No! South Detroit. Now let's play it again." On the second play, Hydra stood close, murmuring to Ballan after each few lines, "That's me, and now that's you, and that bit we sing together." On the third, fourth and fifth play, Ballan went over the lines that he was to sing in his mind as the man on the speaker thing sang them. When instead of a sixth play, Hydra asked, "Are you ready to give it a try?" Ballan swallowed with difficulty and forced himself to nod. This was going to be so, so bad. May as well get it over with.

Hydra walked across the room to sit at her piano, and he came to stand beside her. He nearly dashed from the damned bar when she began to play the opening cords of the song. Then her clear high voice began to sing about being a small town girl, living in a lonely world and taking a midnight train going anywhere. He was dizzy. Was he about to pass the hell out?

Could vampires even bloody do that? If so that was going to be extremely embarrassing. Hydra turned her head to smile at him as she played, and their eyes met. The piano played another ripple of cords, and he knew he was supposed to sing. He wasn't going to sing. He couldn't do this! A smooth clear strong voice followed Hydra's singing about a city boy and... and it was him. It didn't sound dreadful and it was him! How in the hell was he doing this? He and Hydra looked into one another's eyes and sang to one another, and that made it easier.

Chapter Text

Chapter 51, Let's Hear It For The Elf

The room was silent for several beats when the song ended, then Greybo tossed down his guitar and began to clap! "Hydra's boyfriend did a great job!" he cheered. "The two of you sounded great together. Bro, we've got to drag you into doing some more songs! Glimmer isn't into singing"

"Nope," Glimmer agreed without so much as a second of hesitation. Hydra felt herself grinning from ear to ear. The words *I told you so* were on her lips as she turned to Ballan, but the expression on his face froze her into silence. He looked absolutely horror struck. "Perhaps you should not have said that, Greybo," she said, not bothering to hide her concern."You know, the bit about getting him to sing more songs. I was just going to say we should totally do Don't Stop Believing at our live performance here tomorrow because it turned out so well, but now you've probably gone and made him change his mind."

"I'd love to, but it would feel too much like breaking my word to you," Ballan told her with a sigh before shooting a glare in Greybo's direction. "I better just get it over with. But no more songs. Just that one whenever you need it done and no more." "You could tell the Lestranges that I may need a drink, though," he added after a second of thought.

"I'm on it," Hydra said with a chuckle. She wondered if having the vampiric equivalent of a few drinks would serve to lower Ballan's inhibitions enough to allow him to actually enjoy the magic of his own voice. Just as she had suspected it would, it held power, gliding like steely satin over the notes of the Journey song.

"May I go now," he asked, expression strained and a bit miserable. "I assume you shall be practicing for a bit, and the more I am exposed, the worse my stage fright shall become, I am certain."

"Let me get this straight," Greybo said, lips twitching. "You can walk around covered in the blood of your dinner or sworn enemies or whatever, but singing a little song, technically just half of a song considering that it's a duet, has you terrified?"

Ballan considered for a moment, then shrugged. "More disgruntled and uncomfortable than terrified, but I do find it more difficult than killing if that's what you're getting at," he replied sheepishly.

Greybo grinned. "Just checking."

Mag shifted in her seat, a thoughtful look on her face as she regarded Ballan. Hydra knew the former Slytherin enough to surmise that she was being cunning about something. What, she had no idea, but it likely had to do with Ballan and singing in some capacity. She did not dare to ask at present, not wanting to push Ballan while she was ahead. She was definitely one to appreciate a good thing as well as a victory. Whatever Mag had in mind would play itself out in good time. "I think I'll go back home and leave you to your practice," Ballan told Hydra. "See you later." He rose and kissed her on the cheek, causing her belly to flip and flutter and her mind to literally forget what it had been thinking, if indeed she had been thinking anything at all.

"Okay," she managed, turning to meet his gaze. He was so hot, and she was so lucky! She watched him leave silently relishing the way he moved. The slight drag in his leg was barely evident, but it somehow served to make him look even more dangerous in a way that she couldn't quite put into words. Perhaps it was that if anyone believed that it made him weaker and thus attempted to attack, they would so live to regret it, if only for a moment. During that single moment, though, they would be so very full of regret. She admired the fact that he was strong enough to be that elf with his entire being where so many others would've broken.

"So are we going to practice that money song now," Glimmer asked. "I've finally got the drum part right that comes just after Greybo's rap. Been working on it all week. It's trickier than it sounds."

"Nah it sounds plenty tricky, but we knew you could do it," Greybo told the elf with a grin. The money song in question was about loving music for itself, rather than caring for the money to be made from it. It was about just enjoying the moment and feeling happier for it. So many people focused on things like looks and social standing when the real magic was right in the heart of the music, and that was the word that they all wanted to spread,and the word on which they all bonded as a band.

They practiced for three hours, but they flew by so fast that Hydra was shocked when Glimmer glanced at his watch and commented on the time. She popped home to grab fresh clothes, and write the Lestranges about Ballan's request for their assistance when it came to being drunk for tomorrow night's performance. She also invited them to said performance and included Lyra in the invitation. With that done, she returned to Ballan's. Leaf and Greok were playing cards in the front room when she arrived.

"He's in his room sulking," Greok proclaimed before she could ask.

"Hi," Leaf added brightly.

"We're coming to see your show tomorrow," Greok continued before Hydra could speak. "I gotta hear ya boy sing. I can't believe you got him to agree to sing!"

Hydra grinned. "He is really good. You are going to be impressed."

"Oh I don't doubt it," Greok said.

"We're excited," Leaf said, bouncing a little in her seat, her eyes sparkling.

"So am I,"Hydra said warmly. "I better go see what he's up to." She gave the couple a little wave as she headed down the hall toward Ballan's room. She tapped on the closed door before opening it and stepping inside. "Hi," she called cheerfully, tossing the duffel bag she'd packed into a corner.

"I have plenty of room in the wardrobe. At least put your things away," Ballan said flatly without looking up from the book he was reading. He sat in his coffin, his back leaning against the open lid. The room had no chair, so it was the only place to sit. Ballan clearly opted for little furniture, for if he'd wanted more, he could've had it. Vampires never went without money, considering they killed people who had it on the daily so could freely take it for their own uses. The room was filled with a soft light, and idly she wondered if it was for her benefit, considering that he didn't need a light to read.

"I..." She hadn't wanted to presume, but his inviting her to put her things in his wardrobe felt pleasantly serious. It did not signify a wedding, but it was truly more than she had dared to hope for so soon. She was well aware that Ballan may need a bit of nudging, but she was just as equally aware that she had nudged him enough for now. Rather than making a fuss she only smiled as she headed toward her bag. "Thanks." He only gave a wordless grunt in return, gaze returning to his book. "So, you're upset with me about the fact that you have a great voice," she wondered, lips twitching as she opened the wardrobe door. The small creaking sound it gave was the only response. "So you don't want to talk about it. Very well. After I put these clothes away we can just do something more fun," Hydra said reasonably and Ballan chuckled.

"I do not like singing, though the song is a good one. Apparently I didn't ruin it, so I shall have to sing it for this cause of yours. Because it is not a bad one. If elves take encouragement from this, I am glad of it. I just wish someone else was in my place is all."

Hydra turned to him with a mock pout. "Another bloke singing the part of my boyfriend? I would not feel comfortable with that."

"Don't hold his hand," Ballan suggested. "I don't think I would like you holding another's hand anyway." The expression on his face made Hydra's lips twitch in amusement. The slight indignant frown he wore indicated that this was the first time he'd ever considered the possibility of such happening, and he did not like it. That was satisfying.

"I don't have to hold anyone's hand while I sing, but it is a song for a couple, and I want you to sing it with me," Hydra said.

"And I shall, but I don't have to like it," Ballan replied with a heavy sigh.

As they talked, Hydra had put her few things away. After placing her now empty duffel bag in the bottom of the wardrobe, she approached Ballan. Bending because he was still seated, she ran her hands over his shoulders, silently appreciating the lean muscle there and that it was all hers."Well, in that case, it is good that there are other things that you like." He glanced up, gaze hungrily taking her in as he placed the book on the floor at his side.

Over an hour later, they lay tangled together in Ballan's open coffin. Eventually Ballan was the first to speak. "What are your parents going to do about the Elf Woods?"

"I don't know," Hydra replied thoughtfully. "I haven't spoken much to them of late. There was the end of school to deal with, exams and such, and then the band and you, so I haven't had time to think about it." She frowned. "Which isn't like me really. I am interested in it, after all. If I did not have you and the band, I'd probably be obsessed over it." She chuckled. "Well not obsessed, but it may be a favorite spot for me to research. I enjoy spending time with you and playing with the band, though. I should find a way to do it all. It's just about time management. Would you be interested in researching the place with me?"

"Sure, I suppose," Ballan said slowly. "If you think I would be of any use, that is, because I am not so sure. If it is somehow connected to your family, perhaps it isn't something I could connect too deeply enough to be of any real help.""

I don't think my family are the only ones who can study the place," Hydra objected. "And if we do have some sort of connection to it, which it seems we might, if I am with you, perhaps that will help the place respond favorably to whatever you try to do or study while we are there. I don't know any more about it than you, after all. It's all a study, really." She chuckled. As a now former Ravenclaw, that was her favorite sort of thing to sink her figurative teeth into. "A good puzzle or research project is my favorite mental sport." She kissed him. "And you, along with music, are my favorite physical sports."

He groaned. "Why the hell did you have to mention music just when I was beginning to feel better?"

"Oh I'm sorry," she said sincerely, then chuckled. "I promise, you will be wonderful tomorrow night. Don't worry about it. After the concert we can go to the Elf Woods if you like," she coaxed.

"I won't want to after that," he replied darkly. "Perhaps the next day, though."

"Fine, day after tomorrow it is. After you hunt, we'll go straight there and see what we can figure out about the place," Hydra agreed readily.

"Should we bring Loughness along or do you think it may turn romantic again?" She grinned, nudging him in the side at the memory of how they'd caused the place to wake up the last time they were there. "If you want to see the stars there again, I am totally up for that."

"I would never object, but we should probably try to see what else it does, as we are already aware of that particular feature," Ballan replied. "Invite Loughness if you like." After a moment he added, "He has been surprisingly friendly for someone I saw right away as a protective brother type."

Hydra chuckled. "He truly has. As it turns out, he trusts my judgement." she grinned. "I think it's honestly because I wasn't interested in anyone until I saw you. Then I became supremely interested. Loughness was always girl crazy, but I was never interested in anyone. I wondered if it was because he had enough interest for both of us, not to mention my parents have ever been obsessed with one another in sort of... unhealthy ways. I suppose I just didn't want the drama for myself."

"Unhealthy?" Ballan asked, his lithe body shifting against hers in the darkness as he changed position.

"They were dangerously, I don't know, devoted to one another long before Loughness and I were even born. It's partially why everything went so sideways with Voldemort in the worst way possible. That sort of thing combined with Loughness's deep level of girl crazy made love and passion feel rather unappealing."

"I never fancied I would have such interests myself, so I can understand your feelings," Ballan replied. "It all just seemed so foreign and unnecessary. Not to mention I couldn't ever imagine being able to stand someone around for long enough to bother. I was surprised and a bit unsettled to actually enjoy conversing with you, among other things." He chuckled.

"And because I know it isn't personal I don't mind that at all," Hydra said cheerfully. When I saw you the very first time, something came alive in me. That thing that I suppose normal people have when it comes to attraction, but that I never missed or expected to have. You were so tough and blood spattered and unlike anyone, yet on our side and not a danger to me."

"I am probably a danger to everyone, self included," Ballan sighed. "I truly would warn you off if I thought it would do any good, and if I believed I would not miss you." He drew her close then, covering her mouth with his in a slow smoldering passionate kiss that caused her toes to curl. A few hours later, she fell into an exhausted sleep against his chest. When he woke, she was certain the sun had risen even though the room was pitch dark, because Ballan lay inert as all vampires did when the sun was up.

She slipped out from under his limp arm and kissed his cheek before fumbling about in the dark for her clothes which were in an almost neat pile near the coffin. As she dressed, she happily sang Let's Hear It For The Boy, a Muggle pop song by an equally Muggle singer named Deniece Williams. She'd heard the song many times when Sortia's Grandmother Eileen played her favorite eighties music on the radio. Sometimes during the summer months, the parents would go out of town, and she kept Sortia, Loughness and Hydra at hers. Once she was dressed, Hydra Apparated from the room in search of coffee

"It's already on the dining table," Leaf sang out as Hydra appeared in the flat's small sitting room.

"What is," she asked.

"Your coffee, of course," Leaf replied with a giggle. Was the elf a mind reader or a saint, Hydra wondered gratefully as she headed into the kitchen. "After I have coffee I need to get ready for tonight," she said.

"Hydra isn't wearing yesterday's clothes again, then," Leaf teased and Hydra tossed a mock scowl over her shoulder at the elf.

"No. I brought some clothes over last night. Several outfits and a few other things that I may need while I am here."

"Ooh is Hydra moving in," Leaf asked.

"Of course not," Hydra replied quickly. "Just making it easier for me to go back and forth between here and my family's manor at Grimmauld. Hopefully soon Ballan shall also be comfortable crashing at mine too so that we can make it a bit more even."

"Hm," Leaf replied with a noncommittal shrug as she settled down at the small dining table across from Hydra. "So what is Hydra wearing tonight?"

"Tonight I am wearing a silvery long form fitting dress and my long dangle silver earrings. They nearly brush my shoulders, but they're super light weight and they swing as I move, catching the light. I thought all that would look great under the light show Glimmer has planned. He's using that glorious elf magic to make the performances pretty."

"That does sound lovely," Leaf said, clapping her hands in gleeful excitement. "Hydra's outfit and the lights! Glimmer shall provide a wonderful example to other elves when it comes to elf productivity outside of the kitchen. Of course Leaf does as well, working for a vampire and all, but what she does is more low key and it is far less likely for other elves to actually notice." Leaf giggled a little self-consciously. "Speaking of that, though, how are elves actually going to be made aware that you have a band anyway?"

"Good question,"Hydra said. "It isn't as if many of them get out and about, but we are counting on those who do to help with word of mouth. And Greybo has made flyers which he has put up all over Hogsmeade and any other place magical folk frequent including Gringotts and the two alleys. Now that we finally have a band name, we can advertise!"

"A band name? You do? You never said," Leaf squealed. "What is it?"

Mag and Greybo came up with it yesterday at practice, and Glimmer and I agreed. It's Grimm."

"But why," Leaf asked, clearly perplexed. "You make everyone dance. Why call yourselves grim?"

"It's with an extra M. Like the wizarding blokes who wrote down all the fairy tales. Because goblins and elves as well as witches and wizards are all believed to be in fairy tales."

"Oh," Leaf said. "Leaf rather likes that."

Hydra smiled. "So do I. Mag has always been so great at putting names to things, and Greybo has such a sharp wit. Those two work well together. I can't wait until they co-write their first original song."

"Leaf is very proud of what you have all done so far, and she is so excited to be close to the action!" The little elf's look of excited adoration made Hydra blush.

"Thanks. We need people like you around." She straightened in her chair as an idea suddenly struck. "Say, do you think you and Greok could eventually find more elves and goblins to bring to the shows?"

Leaf's forehead wrinkled in thought as she frowned. "Leaf does not know many elves, but she can bring her parents and sister and she will speak to Greok about bringing other elves from the bank and goblins too."

Hydra smiled. "Thanks. Do you think you can get them to come tonight?"

Leaf nodded before springing eagerly to her feet. "Yes, but she'd better get busy on it right away!"

"Wonderful. I would like more people to hear Ballan sing. I think it would be good for him to see that people really enjoy it." Hydra hoped that Greybo and Glimmer had gotten the flyers up in time for people to see them before the show began later that night. At least the Hog's Head was always busy, so even if a lot of elves weren't there, there would be a good crowd.

Chapter Text

Chapter 52, Gotta Take Chances

"What's that?" Hydra nodded at a large bag that James held. It was so large that it filled her friend's arms!

"They're euphoric cakes," James replied happily. "Single serve individual squares! Aberforth is stocking them for dessert. It should make him sell a ton more drinks. The better people feel the more they want to drink... Probably. Anyway, he will pay me if they sell."

Hydra frowned. "Make him pay you now!" She protested.

James shrugged. "It's alright. I know they will sell, so I'm not worried about it. He'll pay me for these and beg for more."

His complacent tone made Hydra smile. He should be confident. She was proud of him. "Not to mention you'll have the opportunity to impress Slytherin." She had told James about meeting Salazar because he was in their circle and was party to all her secrets. He would be about enough to see Slytherin for himself. She was sure that Ariana wouldn't mind her saying something to someone in their trusted friends group. No one got into that group who could not keep a secret, after all.

"I didn't even think of that," James said, drawing out each word in his dawning excitement. His eyes were eager and bright as he glanced around, clearly hoping for a glimpse of the famed founder, but Slytherin was no where in sight. "Here, have a free cake!" He extended the bag, and Hydra reluctantly shook her head. "I can't risk my voice. I always have to be careful of what I eat before performing," she explained.

"Did you see how many people are out there," James asked, a hint of awe in his tone. Hydra turned from where they stood together at the bar to survey the rest of the room. It was then that her heart dropped into her feet. Three minutes before, the room had been half full and now it was packed! Packed as in there were no empty seats which left people standing, and people were still pushing through the door. She let out a small sound that was half terror half awe before reaching into the bag of cakes that James was still extending to her. Each small square was wrapped in waxed paper, and Hydra lifted one carefully in shaking fingers.

"Thanks. It smells very good." And it did, though she couldn't quite place what the heavenly scent put her in mind of. Childhood happiness spent among the elves of her own kitchen perhaps? She drew in a deep sniff, holding the cake close to her face before finally giving up on placing what it put her in mind of, and taking a bite.

"Dark chocolate, vanilla, coconut, a hint of peanut butter and well being," James said with a satisfied grin. "Is it good?"

Hydra nodded vigorously, because her mouth was full of heavenly fluffy cake topped by a delightfully thick glaze. It really was just a hint of peanut butter, but that hint tantalized the tongue, and left one wanting for more. Sighing in resignation, she reached for another.

"Ah, gonna get out of control with happiness, are you?" James chuckled. "I'd stop after the second one, or you may just start screaming with glee instead of singing!"

Hydra laughed. "Would that really happen?"

"Probably," James replied sagely.

Only distracted by her friend for a moment, Hydra's eyes wandered back to the room overflowing with people and her stomach gave a terrified lurch. "I may start screaming with fear now!" There were goblins, elves, and people. More goblins and elves than she had expected to see, most dressed as Aurors or in Gringotts bank suits.

Even the four Grimmauld elves were there with her parents. The Lestranges had come, but they'd gone back out with Ballan to help get him drunk as promised. They'd brought Lyra and their elf, Harold. He wore his black robe and plague doctor mask that fit in so well with the Lestrange family's raven esthetic. The two stood talking with Regulus and Kreacher. Hydra was going to be performing in front of the elves she'd grown up around as well as strangers who had walked away from a life of enslavement to work as Aurors at the Ministry or as Bankers at Gringotts. "I am terrified," she managed to James. Her voice came out high and constricted with panic.

"But aren't you happy too?" James asked a little worriedly.

"Oddly I am!" she marveled. "How weird."

"Not weird at all." He insisted. "My cake is working."

Nodding, Hydra hastily ate the second small, delightful square, feeling the knot in her stomach ease as she did. "It will be fine," she assured herself and James nodded.

"Bloody right it will be." She smiled, suddenly giving him a quick hug. "I'm so glad you didn't find yourself too busy to socialize now that we're out of school," she said.

"I never would," James insisted. "And you knew I'd be here tonight, even if I hadn't decided to turn the opportunity into a business venture!"

Hydra chuckled, her attention drawn to the door where someone tall was jostling goblins and wizards out of his way. "It's Guillermo," she called happily.

"Yeah, he said he was bringing his whole family," James said. From the muffled sound of his voice, he was talking with a full mouth again. Hydra glanced incredulously over to see him polishing off a square of his own cake.

"You brought that to sell!"

"It's okay. If I eat my own stuff, it proves I stand behind it," he assured.

"But Aberforth didn't see you eating it," she pointed out, struggling not to laugh at the ridiculousness of their current conversation.

James paused to consider as a proper former Ravenclaw does. "This is true. You could tell him you saw me eat it, though. Beats having a drink, but I can't tell Aberforth that because you know, he wouldn't like that considering he sells drinks and all."

Hydra nodded. "What happens if one does both?"

James considered, then grinned. "Let's find out."

"Hey," Guillermo called exuberantly as he struggled to approach through the tight throng. "It feels like ages since we've all hung together, but it's only been what? A month or so?"

"People get busy with life," James said somberly, the corners of his lips twitching. Guillermo snickered. "Here, have a cake," James encouraged. "You can tell Aberforth how awesome it is."

"Cool." Guillermo reached into the bag and took one of the little heavenly cake squares. "What's this batch do?"

"It's euphoric," James said. "Hydra and I are gonna mix it with a drink as an experiment."

"Sounds very Ravenclaw of you," Guillermo said approvingly. "I'm in." The three headed up to the bar together where James presented the bag of cakes to Aberforth before they ordered their drinks. "Let's all get cinnamon Firewhisky," Guillermo suggested.

"Sounds delicious," Hydra said. "You have good taste."

"I know," Guillermo said modestly and James laughed. When they all had their drinks in hand, Guillermo raised his glass. "To James. Our little entrepreneur! So proud of you for starting the magical food thing so soon after graduation! I took a year to screw around first, quite literally."

Hydra made a face, picturing Guillermo shagging half the witches in Europe while on his travels over the past year. She was grinning when she clinked her glass to James's, though. "I am so proud of you," she said. "Guillermo is right. You wasted no time, and that is amazing!" "Ah thanks," James said, grinning while managing to look embarrassed at the same time. "But Hydra, you already had your band even before graduation, so you got started even sooner."

"Perhaps, but I had three other people helping me," Hydra said.

"This is true," Guillermo agreed. "Still, you're both making me feel useless for not getting my book shop going yet." He sighed. "Perhaps I'm afraid of failure," he admitted, then downed half of his glass of cinnamon Firewhisky.

"You can't fail," James insisted. "If you hit any hitches, we'll find a way to help."

"Yes," Hydra agreed. "With us on your team, you're sure to succeed." She grinned, suddenly feeling sentimental and extremely fortunate. "We've all got such a great support system. I love you guys." Impulsively she drained her Firewhisky and placed her glass on the bar, freeing her hands so that she could slip an arm around each, giving them a quick hug. "Ravenclaws unite!"

"Ravenclaws!" James yelled.

Guillermo laughed. "You two lightweights are already drunk."

"It's actually the combo of my Euphoric cake with the drink," James observed thoughtfully. He grinned. "I like it."

"Me too,"Hydra agreed fervently. "It should definitely go a long way toward preventing hangovers if one needs to drink less to have the same experience." Their Ravenclaw geek out fest was interrupted when Greybo called to Hydra from the stage where the rest of the band was busy setting up.

"We're ready!"

For a few minutes, Hydra had forgotten to be terrified. "You're gonna do great," Guillermo said, squeezing her shoulder. "Come on, James. Let's go stand near the stage so we can get the full effect." Hydra smiled a thanks at her friends. Drawing in a deep steadying breath, she headed on suddenly shaky legs toward the stage, glancing around for Ballan as she did.

If he wasn't here yet, they could just arrange the set list to perform Don't Stop Believing later on in the show. According to the current set list, it was supposed to be the third song, so there was still time for him to show up without the band having to make adjustments. Either way, the band was flexible enough to roll with it. Mag's fiddle began the first tension filled notes of the opening song, Chances, as Hydra stepped up onto the stage. Glimmer's drums followed with a near ecstatic beat and it was on.

The show was on! It was really happening! Hydra couldn't decide if she felt overly calm or frozen in stark terror. She only had a little piano work in this song and it wasn't at the beginning, so she had time to settle herself without having to rush. The song was an eighties lesser known single by a Swedish band called Roxette. Mag was singing lead on this one with Greybo as backing vocals.

Hydra had wanted Mag to open, because this band wasn't just about elves and goblins. It was about everyone. Wizards and witches were just as important to this movement as anyone else. It was the band's goal to keep things even so that it would not appear as a political statement of dominant parties switching places, because that was not what equality and working together was all about. As she crossed the stage, Mag began to sing, and Hydra was glad that the witch was going first for an entirely different reason. She was good. The song was charged, and electric, its fast beat getting everyone to move even if there was hardly any room in the packed Hog's Head.

"Take on me Like the river will lead the water to the sea Take on me, take your chances on me!" As Mag sang, she stood and walked to the edge of the stage standing in front of Severus, who stood watching her with a riveted intense expression on his face. Mag's bow tore across the gleaming mahogany fiddle she held across her body as the song's tension built.

For a moment, Hydra was nearly as riveted as Severus, momentarily forgetting herself and becoming lost in the music. With a slight start, she recalled herself and the fact that she was a part of this amazing band. It was nearly time for her piano bit to come in, so she hurried over to her spinet. Hydra finally spotted Ballan as she settled onto her stool. He stood against the wall to the right of the stage with the three Lestranges.

They all had pleasant enough expressions, which made Hydra assume that all four were drunk. The Lestranges drinking while watching Ballan hunt was likely story worthy, and she was almost sad that she'd missed it. She'd wanted to catch up with James more, though, and she wasn't certain that she could watch a vampire hunting even if it was only a bad wizard or Muggle that said vampire ended. Ballan did not tend to discriminate, though. It just wasn't his way.

The song reached the instrumental bridge bit where her piano had to come in, so Hydra had to stop thinking about death and vampires to focus on the music. Finally she was free to devote all of her attention to just that. With Ballan close, she would not have to worry about getting him on stage when it was time for their song. As she played, she smiled and met his gaze, wanting him to know she'd noticed him there.

He returned her smile with what she could only call a fond one in return. The Lestranges must have gotten him really drunk, she thought with a chuckle. Bellatrix grabbed Rodolphus and began moving to the music as much as possible in the crowded conditions. Ballan and Rabastan stood stoically by, neither seeming inclined to even sway to the beat. Rabastan's gaze darted nervously about as he muttered something to Ballan who only gave a brief response.

When Mag's song ended, the room nearly shook with whoops and applause! The next song was Greybo's, a fun to play bouncy reggae number about music. She'd expected her nervousness to surge again as it ended, because she and Ballan were up next, but an odd excited calm settled over her instead. It was certainly due to James's Euphoric cakes! It had to be!

"I would like to introduce a special guest for this next song," she called out. "He's the best bravest elf I've ever known, and he's come a long way as have we all! Together it is our hope to encourage each and every one of you to never stop believing in possibilities for yourselves and for anything you want!" To her relief, Ballan approached the stage as she spoke, and when she began to play the opening chords of the song, he was standing at her side. The lyrics came out effortlessly as she and Ballan had their back and forth before their voices began soaring together.

She turned to look into his eyes, singing to him. He leaned into her in response, placing a hand on her shoulder as she played with the rest of the band. Though she wondered how the audience was responding to their song, she couldn't take her eyes away from Ballan. It was still so thrilling that he was actually here with her, and that she'd actually gotten him to sing! It felt exhilarating and right performing with him, powerful and amazing!

They sounded wonderful together if she did say so herself. As Mag's fiddle solo began, Hydra's piano keeping a steady rhythm along with Greybo's guitar and Glimmer's drums, Ballan's gaze moved over the audience. He seemed to be sweeping the bar with his eyes, studying each person or perhaps searching for something. Though she was curious, Hydra could not give it her full concentration while caught up in the music.

Later after the show, when they were somewhere quiet where they could talk, she would ask him about that. Mag's fiddle hit a crescendo, providing the cue for her and Ballan to begin singing the chorus again. As the song concluded, he grinned and threw his arms into the air. "To elf freedom, and to the humans and goblins who stand with us!" he called out to the roaring crowd. Everyone was on their feet, and Hydra noticed so many elves present, even more than she'd noticed before.

Now that the song had gone off without a hitch, she was elated, so oddly more calm in her mind. Rather than going back into the crowd, Ballan plopped down onto the floor beside Hydra's piano stool as Greybo started the next song. It was a toe tapper about the joys of ingesting Merlin's Cap mushrooms.

Hydra only had a few simple cords to play to pull her weight in this particular tune, so it gave her time to look around. When she glanced toward her parents, her attention was caught by all four of the elves who worked at #12 Grimmauld. Stormy stood with a huge proud grin on his face, and when he saw her looking, he lifted a hand to wave enthusiastically. Ripper was more reserved, but did give her a small grin. Jazz and Piper were busy dancing to the music.

Piper danced alone but Jazz was twirling some elf girl who wore Auror robes as well as he could in such a crowd. This likely meant toes were being stepped on, Hydra thought with a chuckle. If the crowd was going to be this big from now on, they'd have to find a larger place to play. Of course they would still play at the Hog's Head as well, considering it had given them their start not to mention a place to practice before their start, but the more places they played, the more people they would reach. Idly she wondered if the Forbidden Forest might be an option. It was plenty big enough for dancing, after all. Those denizens who called it home may respond well to music, if it didn't annoy them to a dangerous level instead. Perhaps it would be a scholarly Ravenclaw worthy venture to find out.

Chapter Text

Chapter 53, Euphoria

While Loughness had most definitely taken advantage of Hydra's concert as an opportunity to sort of go out with Kereston, he did truly wish to support his sister's band. He liked what she was doing for the elves, and that Ballan was stepping up to help. Wanting to do his own part to assist his sister in her worthy endeavors, Loughness went to the Ministry the day before Hydra's band was to play at the Hog's head to ask Kereston to spread the word of the concert, especially among her elf and goblin Aurors.

He took that opportunity to ask her to attend said concert with him. Of course she was happy to spread the word, loving what Hydra's band was doing for the unity of all races. She accepted Loughness's invite, but he had the sneaking suspicion that she did so casually, not understanding that more was behind it than two friends supporting united races and Hydra's band. Of course this was to be expected, and Loughness was plenty patient. He would take it slow and do things properly until he had Kereston for his own.

If this date was more of an outing of supporting a cause, well he could work with that for now. They met at Grimmauld, because Kereston wanted to go home and get ready to go out rather than just leaving in her work clothes directly from the Ministry. Personally Loughness would not have cared if she'd gone in her work clothes, because Kereston looked beautiful in anything. He did understand her not wishing to draw attention to herself as the Minister, though. Loughness always prided himself on dressing well, so did not go out of his way to dress particularly more well than usual.

Having a flair for medieval attire, considering the fashion classic and suitable to his short stocky body type, he sported a dark green tunic and matching leggings with nearly knee high green suede boots. Their texture was not only comfortable, but allowed him to walk in near silence. His thick black hair brushed his shoulders and curled under just at the ends. He regarded himself in the glass of the full length mirror in his bedroom, and gave a slight smile of pride.

He was satisfied with the reflection that looked back at him. When he went downstairs to meet Kereston, she was waiting for him. Unlike other girls who took ages to primp, Kereston was rather no nonsense about such things, and so never took ages to get herself ready to go out. She wore a simple silvery gray dress made of a soft looking wool. It was loose enough to be comfortable while the simple curves cut into its design flattered Kereston's slender compact figure. Loughness jerked his head away in case he was staring.

"We match," Kereston said with a chuckle. "I'm silver and you are green, so together we make Slytherin!" As they were both former Slytherins, of course this was quite fitting.

"So we do," he said giving a pleased smile as she linked her arm through his. Her blonde ringlets spilled down her back, neatly combed and requiring nothing more. The only adornment she wore was a simple clear quartz wand point about her neck on a black cord. It was one of Mag's. Kereston felt that wearing a wand made it more difficult to disarm her, and as Minister, one wanted to be as difficult to disarm as possible.

"You can Side-Apparate me," she told him. "Elves Apparate so much better than anyone else." She turned to him suddenly, giving an enthusiastic smile. "Isn't it grand that you and Hydra inherited Kreacher's abilities with full strength instead of just half?""

Loughness nodded. "It really is," he agreed fervently. "I mean half would be better than nothing and still have made us stronger than ordinary wizards, but still, I'm pleased that we got the full strength of both sides." Like Grandma says, it truly does make us Pure-blood squared!"

"Did I hear my name?" The spirit of Walburga Black floated grandly toward them as they stood together near the front door. Her spectral head was held high, quite as if she still owned the place, which she basically did. She continued speaking before either could reply. "Do tell Hydra how proud her grandfather and I are of her. Her band shall have to play a show on the Lawn of #12 Grimmauld so that Orion and I might hear them. Of course we shall have to put up wards of silence and invisibility so none of the Filthy Muggles in neighboring houses are aware, but that should be simple enough to manage."

Mainly because she was not going to be the one managing it, Loughness couldn't help but think dryly. It was a bit more complicated on short notice than not, and he would likely be placing the wards in question. He could, though, and he did have a soft spot as big as the world for his grandmother Walburga. "Of course we will do that, Gran. And I shall pass the message on to Hydra."

"You two look wonderful," Walburga said warmly. After both gave their thanks, Loughness slipped an arm around Kereston and Apparated them just outside of The Hog's Head. Reluctantly, he released his grip on her waist once they were there. Pushing the door open, he held it for her to enter first, which she did with a quick smile of thanks at him over her shoulder. The place was already packed.

"Looks like a good number of everyone showed up," Kereston called, speaking more loudly than usual to be heard over the boisterous chatter. The pleased tone in her voice matched the smile on her face as she glanced around in satisfaction at the elves and goblins crowded in among the witches and wizards. Loughness nodded, thinking that if the band impressed, they had a good fan base gathered here that would continue to attend their shows. The concept of spreading unity with music definitely suited Hydra's style and gave a worthy outlet to her strong feelings on equality.

"Hey, over here!" The voice belonged to Guillermo, and Loughness turned to see him standing near the side of the stage with James. He felt a pleased smile spreading over his face at sight of his friends. "Let's go stand with them," he told Kereston, bending close so that she could hear him over the noise of everyone chattering as the band began to play. Kereston nodded and Loughness took her hand so as not to lose her in the throng as he carefully inched through the press of bodies both tall and small to join his friends.

"You guys want a cake," James shouted.

Kereston and Loughness exchanged a confused glance. "Cake?" Kereston shouted back.

"It'll make you feel real good," James said in some sort of fake foreign accent that Loughness could not precisely place, likely because it was fake. "It's Euphoric cake," he clarified before Kereston or Loughness could ask. "I brought some for Aberforth to sell. Hydra, Guillermo and I have already had some. We have even experimented by mixing them with drinks, but that was Guillermo's idea and I haven't decided if I personally recommend it or not."

"I am an adventurer," Guillermo proclaimed with a modest grin. "Want me to grab you two some drinks?"

Kereston and Loughness exchanged a glance, before both shook their heads.

"I probably need to keep my eyes sharp in case there is any trouble," Loughness decided.

Kereston nodded, giving him a small smile. "Sadly we can't afford to fully relax yet. That and it's a week night, so for me, there is work tomorrow for which I would rather not be hung over." It did not bother Loughness in the slightest that a life with Kereston would involve much work before they ever had an opportunity for play, because he expected as much for himself considering the current situation as well as his own personal goals for power. Perhaps he had something to prove, being Pure-blood squared, but he had it to prove not only for himself, but for the elves and wizards who would stand with him. Unified they were more, and he would prove that by being more than any other Dark Lord before him.

"You almost look happy at the prospect of work," Guillermo observed with a chuckle.

Loughness shrugged. "It's part of the awesomeness that is being me."

James laughed. "It's always nice to be in a circle of friends with their egos intact." Loughness opened his mouth to agree, when his gaze fell on Kereston watching Mag sing. The band had opened the show with a powerful up tempo dance rock song with a definite nineteen-eighties vibe. Mag stood at the edge of the stage in long flowing green dress robes with a silver scarf in her long red hair, a clear ode to her former Hogwarts house of Slytherin. Her large green eyes were focused on Severus's face as she sang, and he stood before her, clearly as riveted as any fan could ever be.

They'd been married for longer than Loughness had lived and yet they still had that deep enthralled sort of love. Loughness wanted that with Kereston so deeply that it made his heart twist. He wanted it for years and decades and beyond, and he was more certain of that than of anything else. Kereston had such an intensely thoughtful expression on her face as she watched them, that he wondered if she was thinking that she wanted the same with someone. He hoped that it was him, but if it wasn't, he was certain that he could change that and he would. The words Mag sang caught his ear, because yes, he felt precisely the same for Kereston.

"There's a night when you close your eyes around a dream that shines like the sun. Everyone knows it's beautiful, tell me why you wanna dream it alone?" Mag sang. Perhaps the Euphoric cake was getting to him, because Loughness dared to reach out and place a hand on Kereston's shoulder. When she turned to him and smiled into his eyes with her lovely bluish gray ones, he opened his mouth to tell her... to tell her something, but she spoke first.

"I swear it's still hard to believe she actually got him!" She laughed. "I mean that's Severus. Hating everyone and the world Severus, but she had her eye on him for ages, and was certain she'd have him, and it is still shocking that she got what she wanted." That sounded familiar, Loughness thought dryly. Kereston was going on, so he didn't have to say anything, which in this case was a relief. "I mean it's not her, it's him. It's just difficult to picture him warming up to anyone. I mean they do have a lot in common but still." She chuckled again. "I suppose there is someone for everyone, but seeing him with that look of love and niceness and gods forbid is that lust? In his eyes is just bizarre!"

"Like yeah, that's one word for it," James quipped, making a face. "So are you two going to try my Euphoric cakes or not? I get you on the no drinking, but are you caking?"

Kereston chuckled, glancing to Loughness. "Want to? I'm game if you are. I'm rather curious."

Loughness had faith in James's ability to make any sort of food into any sort of charm that he wanted. "I'm open to feeling Euphoric," he said with a chuckle. "Let's see what you've got," he added, turning to James.

Grinning, James dug into a pocket of the dark blue duster he wore, producing two neatly wrapped squares of cake. He passed one to Loughness and one to Kereston, watching expectantly as they opened them.

"It smells like heaven," Kereston groaned appreciatively before taking a careful bite. "Tastes like it too! What are you going to do to keep people from over eating these? Like what happens if one gets too Euphoric? Have you even experimented?" Kereston was asking all the interesting questions, leaving Loughness free to just eat the cake, which he did. It was a blend of delicious flavors that were so well unified that it was difficult to sort one from another. The effects hit him even sooner than expected in the form of a rush of happiness and well-being.

"I don't know what would happen if someone got too happy, to be honest," James admitted. As he spoke, Kereston continued to eat her cake. "I didn't exactly want to try it myself in case the results were unpleasant, but for the same reason, I didn't want to ask someone else to try it either. So I added a spell to the recipe that creates a feeling of fullness after two cakes and a feeling of nausea if a person eats a third, so they'll just end up throwing up if they persist."

"That's a genius idea to prevent overdose," Kereston said. She chuckled. "Too much Euphoria and a person could lose their mind or something for all we know. They could jump for joy off a tall building or something."

"Jesus," Guillermo shouted, eyes flying wide in shock.

"Damn, I didn't think of the jumping aspect," James said.

Kereston shrugged. "Either way I figured as a former Ravenclaw that you'd have it sorted. I was just curious about how you'd managed it." I am feeling amazing, by the way! This was a literally genius idea!"

"It really was," Loughness agreed. "I only have the best in my social circle, though, and James was always worthy."

James grinned, clearly pleased. "Thanks, guys." He bounced a little on his toes, grin widening. "I can now say that my products were endorsed by the Minister herself!"

"You certainly can," Kereston agreed. "I feel amazing! I haven't felt this laid back and happy in such a long time."

"Well I'm happy to have done that for you, Minister," James said in a tone of mock gravity that his pleased grin promptly ruined.

Kereston sighed. "Don't remind me! All I wanted to do was to fix things, to make a better stronger government so that atrocities like Voldemort wouldn't happen again without being eradicated swiftly, and since taking office, I have only had shit show after shit show. First the madness that was Delphini, and now whatever is probably going to happen with everyone losing their literal minds over not having magic and other races having power for a change."

"Have you been putting out the word of a cure in progress to keep people mellow and hopeful,"Loughness asked.

Kereston nodded."Yes, but so many people are a dangerous combination of stupid and impatient so you know it could still end badly." She frowned suddenly, giving her head a vigorous shake."No! I don't want to think about it tonight. I want to be happy tonight!"

"Fair enough," Guillermo said with an understanding smile.

Ballan joined Hydra and addressed the audience then, which drew all four of their gazes to the stage. They'd come to support Hydra and her boyfriend performing together for human and elf unity, so the conversation fell still as they all listened to the song with rapt attention.

"He can sing," Kereston breathed. "He's good!"

"But he's hating every minute of it," Loughness said. "He really didn't want to do it."

"Really?" Kereston gave him an incredulous look before quickly returning her attention to the stage.

"I know this song," Guillermo called, raising his voice to be heard over the music. "My Mum used to play it all the time!" He began swaying to the beat, singing along with Hydra and Ballan as he tossed his hands jubilantly into the air. Others were dancing too and Loughness grinned, because it seemed to be going over quite well. He was proud of his sister. Not to mention, her band was truly talented! His toes were tapping to the beat, if only mentally due to the restrictions of movement because of overcrowding in a small space. He'd have asked Kereston to dance, but the place was so packed that moving without bumping into others would be nearly impossible. As that did not feel at all romantic, he opted to wait for a better opportunity.

"That cake and drink combo is really hitting him," Kereston observed of Guillermo with an amused grin.

Loughness nodded. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, and that was nice. It was nice just being out with Kereston and listening to good music, even if the room was over packed. The general sense of well being brought on by the Euphoric treat made him feel as if everything would be alright in the end. "Good job on the cake, mate," He called to James who grinned happily as he bobbed his head in acknowledgement.

Feeling utterly content,Loughness leaned his back against the wall as Kereston did the same at his side. He was with the girl he loved, even if not yet *involved with* her yet. Things were going well in general for everyone, and even if they still had to figure out what the elf woods was for, they would sort it in time. It was rather nice to have a bit of a magical mystery to solve. Something to tantalize the brain was nice, and when he figured it out, the ancient forest would serve as his power base. It was time that the elves had a Dark Lord, and equally time the witches and wizards had one who actually succeeded. The goblins could follow him too. One day the goblins would produce a Dark Lord of their own, but until then, he was there for them, ready to give them the equality they deserved.

"What are you thinking about," James asked and Loughness smiled.

"Goblin Dark Lords."

"Why?" James asked. The band was between songs so he could speak normally without having to shout over the music.

"Why not?" Loughness asked, arching a brow in his friend's direction while he tried not to laugh. This Euphoric cake was amazing.

"Agreed," Kereston chimed in. "It beats worrying about the next calamity to come, after all."

Chapter Text

Chapter 54, The Power Of Alice Cooper

"So do we go now," Ballan asked eagerly. The show had just drawn to a close and Mag and Greybo were putting their respective instruments into cases. Hydra's and Glimmer's were too large for that, so both were just basking in the post show afterglow, which was what one did when waiting to Apparate their instruments back to #12 Grimmauld.

"We should probably mingle with the elves and goblins who showed up to see us," Hydra mused and Glimmer nodded.

"That is what I was afraid of," Ballan said. "See, any good impression you feel I made by singing that song with you, shall vanish on the instant if I actually have to talk to anyone."

"Why," Greybo asked, glancing over at Ballan where the elf still sat on the stage beside Hydra's small piano bench.

"You aren't shitty or anything."

Ballan let out a short sharp laugh. "I suppose some might disagree, but they are no longer among the living, so they can't count. I am not made for small talk. I do not relate to others at best."

"I mean you're fuckin' talking to me now," Greybo pointed out, chuckling.

"Why are your eyes red," Ballan asked.

"Because he's high," Glimmer replied. Glimmer's eyes were not red.

"What of it?" Greybo demanded, an amused smirk on his face.

"Just wondering," Ballan said. His expression stiffened in a way Hydra had never seen before as he glanced away. It was curious, because she did not get the impression that he had a problem with Greybo smoking whatever it was that he was smoking. It had to do with something else, and as he hadn't spoken up about it, she assumed it wasn't something he wished to speak of in general company. She would ask him later and if he wished to share, he would.

"Want some," Greybo asked. "I can roll up something and we can take a walk out back if you like. I bet vamps can get high just like anyone else. I mean I get you can't eat food or whatever, but this is just breathing in smoke."

"They probably can, but I'm good, thanks," Ballan said. "The Lestranges got me tipsy and that's all I needed."

"Cool." Greybo shrugged. "You ever decide to try it out, I'm your guy, so feel free to ask any time. It really loosens up the mind to let the creativity grow, and it keeps you mellow and relaxed."

Ballan chuckled. "I doubt I would know what to do with myself were I mellow and relaxed. The idea is foreign."

Before anyone could comment, a few goblin children wandered up.

"That's great music," A little boy said excitedly.

"Thank you," Mag said, smiling warmly at him.

Another little boy pointed at Ballan. "I saw you downtown once. You had blood all over you! Were you hurt?"

Ballan smiled. "No. I had just hurt someone else to death. Probably a few someones."

"OH KAY!" Greybo said loudly. "I now see exactly why you are not made for small talk, Ballan. Many apologies."

The little boy's eyes had gone as wide as saucers at Ballan's words and he did not even look at Greybo. "How did you do it?"

"I'm a vampire," Ballan said. "I had them for dinner."

"Ooh!" The little boy drew out the word. "I think that's posh."

The girl beside him giggled. "You don't know what posh means," she accused.

"Yes I do," the little boy snapped. "It means fancy or high class or something. Now shove off or my new vampire friend will eat you."

Ballan chuckled."I don't eat children, but I admire you for the thought."

"Stop bothering the nice rock band and get over here, you little shits!" The imperious shout came from a teenage goblin girl who appeared to be babysitting the children judging by her next statement. "If your parents discover that I took you out, we're all in for it, so we have to go!"

"Bye!" the children sang the word out nearly in a chorus, skipping away as they waved at Ballan.

"They did not care about the rock band, just one of its members," Greybo quipped.

"I am not a member," Ballan insisted, looking horrified.

"Okay, honorary member! What Ever," Greybo enunciated.

"Oh Ballan! Speaking of that, I want to show you a song," Mag said excitedly as she snapped her fiddle case shut. "If you and Hydra would just pop with me to mine, it shall only take five minutes." She glanced around at the rest of the band. "In fact, Glimmer and Greybo should come along as well. If Ballan likes it as much as I think he shall, and wishes to perform it as our guest sometimes, we all need to learn it. I know he'll be back to sing Don't Stop Believing with Hydra, so I thought one more may be fun, and once he hears it, I am certain he will agree." The red head flashed a wicked smile at the horrified looking Ballan.

"I strongly resisted singing one song, and now this one believes I am willing to take on another?"

"I understand how unlikely you feel it is, but once you hear this one, you shall certainly change your mind," Mag said confidently. "It was truly written for you, even if the singer was unaware of that fact." She chuckled.

"God damn it! Now I am curious," Ballan snarled. "I will listen to it, but I won't sing it on stage. I dislike performing."

"Perhaps, but you like helping your people," Greok said. "It helps them to see elves like you out there doing artistic things. It lets them know they can do it or anything else they set their minds to. That is what you want, right?" Ballan scowled.

Mag chuckled. "This particular song isn't helping anyone but Ballan. I really think he will love it though." She stood, slipping the strap of her fiddle case over one shoulder. "Hydra can side Apparate Ballan as she knows where I live. I shall Side-Apparate Glimmer. Severus, you can side-Apparate Greok, please."

"Ah... Certainly," Severus said. The former potions master looked momentarily startled to be roped into this, and Hydra struggled not to laugh. He did live there too so how was he going to avoid it? "See you at yours then," Hydra told Mag. Hastily rising from her piano, she reached down to where Ballan was still slumped onto the floor. Grasping his arm, she tugged, grinning at him.

"I'm coming," he groaned.

"Thanks for being here tonight, everyone," Hydra called. "We love you all, and we shall see you again soon!" As she spoke, she used her free hand to wave to her parents and friends before Apparating out. She and Ballan stood on the front porch of WestCraven manor where Mag and Severus lived. "I am not particularly fond of any social events, but especially not those where I have to go into the homes of people I hardly know," Ballan grumbled resentfully.

"You know Mag, and you've met Severus and Sortia a few times. Mag's parents may not even be awake, but if they are, Heather and Raislen are the best. Really! You know anyone I deal with is accepting, so don't worry," Hydra attempted to soothe. Even as she spoke, she idly wondered where Sortia was. She hadn't seen her friend in a few weeks. Things were so busy, she'd hardly noticed, and she didn't like that. Didn't like the idea of life distancing her from those she loved best. That was silly, though. She saw Mag all the time, so would not lose track of Sortia!

Ballan chuckled, giving his head a slight shake. "What you call accepting is, treating you like everyone else and even appreciating the fact that you are half elf. I call accepting, those who aren't bothered by me tearing the throats of random strangers several times a night and loving it. Those versions of accepting are a bit different. You don't ask as much of people."

Hydra shrugged, but before she could formulate a reply in her tipsy state, Severus arrived with Greok. Giving them a brief nod, he set to unlocking the door of the manor. "Why didn't you knock?" He asked Hydra, shooting her an annoyed frown over his shoulder in the darkness that was only illuminated by the light of his wand. "Mira would have let you in."

"Because Mira is probably sleeping," Hydra replied reasonably and Severus nodded.

"There is that." Mira was the WestCraven's house elf. Free for as long as Hydra had known her, she dressed in a multitude of colorful silk scarves. While she had always been kind to Hydra and Loughness, it was no secret that she and Daddy Kreacher did not get on. Mira had been scandalized by the relationship of a house elf and a human, and had made no secret of it according to Daddy Kreacher who spoke of her often and resentfully. The sound of a crack announcing the arrival of Mag and Glimmer broke into Hydra's thoughts.

"Here we are," Mag said. "I can't wait for you to hear this song, Ballan! You will totally lose your shit over it." Hydra giggled. Mag was generally more reserved, but Aberforth always gave them free drinks for playing, as the music always drew in quite the crowd. The band intended to get their money's worth, and as such made sure to drink enough so that they were no longer at all thirsty as it were.

"Mag has a nice home," Glimmer complimented, glancing around as they all headed inside. The stately manor had an old fashioned classic style like many wizarding homes of wealth and taste, but it was built for comfort and to be lived in, which made it feel homey.

"I grew up here, so I am rather used to it, but it is nice, thank you," Mag replied.

"No matter how long I live here, I shall always be in awe of this library," Severus intoned reverently.

"They have the biggest library in the wizarding world," Hydra explained with a grin. "So if you're ever researching something rare or tricky, this is the place to be."

"It's been a passion of my family's for centuries," Mag said with a chuckle. "I do love books, so I am pleased. Does anyone want a drink? A snack? My family's elf is sleeping and I won't wake her, but we can all go into the kitchen and figure it out."

"I wasn't hungry until you mentioned food, but now I could eat," Greybo said. Mag led the way down a long dim hall to the large gleaming kitchen. She and Severus hastily threw together a large snack platter of cold chicken, fresh vegetables, cheese, and thick slices of black bread with butter on. Greybo and Glimmer made tea while Hydra and Ballan stood by awkwardly. The kitchen was plenty large enough for everyone, but there was only so much room to actually help do anything.

"This is so nice," Hydra realized suddenly. "Just hanging out with all of you without practicing. I love practicing, don't get me wrong, but it's nice to just hang out. You are all my friends, and it's nice to just take the time to be friends." Perhaps it was the drinks or the influence of James's Euphoric cake but she was suddenly feeling super sentimental.

"Speaking of friends, you do realize we just left all of your friends and family back at the bar," Severus said dryly.

"I know," Mag groaned. "I am so rubbish at social things! I truly intended to just pop here and show Ballan this amazing song, but then I thought, well if he likes it as I know he will, the band had better hear it. Then now that we're here, I couldn't just not offer everyone something to drink and eat, so it's turned into a bigger thing." She lifted one slender hand to gesture expansively and Severus shrugged.

"You know that I am the last person to care about social niceties. I am just pointing something out that mildly amuses me."

"Well they are all still having fun at the Hog's Head," Greybo said. They took the food and tea into the parlor. Severus arranged it on the mahogany wood coffee table in the middle of the room while Glimmer poured out cups of orange spice tea for all who could drink it, meaning everyone save for Ballan. Mag paused to snatch a piece of chicken from the snack platter before hurrying from the room, presumably to get the song that she wanted to show Ballan. "It shall only take a moment," she called over her shoulder.

"Which is what she said fifteen minutes ago," Ballan smirked. Hydra could see the amusement dancing in his eyes, though, and it was clear that he did not really mind. After snatching some bread and cheese from the snack tray, she took his hand, and led him over to one of the room's two dark green and extremely comfortable sofas. Settling herself beside him, she idly wondered what sort of song Mag would think screamed Ballan.

"Food is always so good when one is drunk," Glimmer exclaimed around a full mouth of the chicken sandwich that he'd just thrown together. "Glimmer was never drunk before. He only saw humans drinking and never thought much about the effects," the elf mused.

"Well think about it with your mouth closed while you're eating, how about it," Greybo requested with a snicker.

"He's right, though," Ballan mused. "It is odd, the feeling of being on the other side of things. I have seen many humans being social, but sitting here among friends is far different from watching others being social. To be quite honest, I am more comfortable tearing the throats out of worthless humans to have my dinner than I am being social."

"I can get behind that," Severus murmured with a small amused smirk. He sat in an armchair beside the snack table, nibbling on cheese and bits of chicken. Mag hurried back into the room carrying an oval contraption that always reminded Hydra of an odd space age sort of egg every time she saw it. Part of it was metal and part was plastic. She'd seen it often as Mag and Severus used it to play music. They called it a boombox, but she never understood why, as it completely failed to produce a booming sound. Instead it just played music. It was a Muggle thing that Mag knew of because of Severus. Placing it on the table beside the snack tray the red haired witch pressed a button, watching Ballan with an eager smile on her face.

"The song is called Dangerous Tonight and it is sung by a wizard living among the muggles. Though his real name is Vincent, his stage name is Alice Cooper," Mag said as the first strains of music began to play. Ballan studied the odd contraption with rapt attention as the song played. As usual, Mag's acute understanding of psychology had her spot on in her song choice.

The song portrayed a persona embracing a dark and reckless side. The lyrics suggested a disregard for rules and a willingness to indulge in risky behaviors. The speaker identified as a "flesh fanatic psychopath" capable of causing pain and reveling in it. The song's atmosphere is tense and exciting, capturing a sense of danger and the thrill of crossing boundaries. The repeated phrase "Dangerous Tonight" emphasized the temporary nature of this persona, suggesting a heightened state for one night only. Overall, the song explored themes of rebellion, self-destructive tendencies, and the allure of living on the edge. It was perfect for Ballan, and judging by the smile on the dangerous elf's face, he knew it.

"I especially love the line, "I'm dangerous like a razorback," he said, clearly relishing each word.

Mag chuckled. "Would you like to hear it again?"

Ballan's smile widened. "Yes please."

"Will you sing it at some of our shows," Mag asked, her slender hand hoovering over the play button of her 'boom box'.

Ballan chuckled. "Why not?"

Hydra struggled to keep her jaw from hitting the floor. How had Mag done it?