The Ties That Bind

The Ties That Bind

Part 1, The First Rise

By Laura ([email protected])

Chapter 15: Casey's Battle

Timeline: A little over a week before the start of school.

"There is only one kind of love, but there are a thousand imitations."

~ Francois de La Rouchefoucauld ~

"One week."

Jessica nodded.

"I do not like it."

"Join the club, Case," Jessica sighed impatiently. "But it's what he wanted. We have to go with him sometimes. No way to go around that. As long as we can kind of see what he's doing, we can try and save lives."

"We should just tell Uncle Danny," Casey said grumpily.

"We can't. We tell him that we know who this Voldemort is and that he's got someone inside the Department, we have to make every single step - no matter how minute - just right or Uncle Danny, Andorra, and Riley are all dead. And then there's no guarantee I can keep you out of Azkaban as well.

"I don't want to go through this one more time, Case. We've got to stop believing that we will suddenly have help. It's just us, Case. It's just us."

Casey gave a deep sigh as, with a wave of his hand, his luggage was finished and packed. "He's going to try something during this week."

Jessica walked over to Casey and smacked him lightly on the head.

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They arrived at the Malfoy's first. Tom had the house elves bring their luggage to his place, but the Malfoy's were having a party. *Ick*, Jessica thought to herself but refrained from mentioning it to Tom.

"I don't like these things," Tom whispered to her, shocking Jessica. She knew he didn't care for them, but the fact that he whispered that to her was almost frightening. "But sometimes, to get what you want, you have to please people you don't all together like." He smiled at her, but instead of the wicked, 'I know what you're thinking' grin, it was just a warm, friendly smile.

When Tom walked away, Jessica and Casey exchanged a look.

*Something's rotten in Denmark*, Casey said. Jessica merely nodded at him.

They let the adults grab their drinks and do their thing while Casey and Jessica searched out for classmates, grabbing pumpkin juices on their journey. They found Salazar and his gang, Jim Jones included.

Casey groaned in dismay. *They got to him*, he said to Jessica.

Aloud, he said, "Hey, guys."

The group nodded a return greeting. Jessica glanced around a second longer before nodding to them.

"My brother," Salazar said, "is indisposed for the rest of the summer. He's gravely ill."

Jessica gave him a worried look. He smiled in delight.

She schooled her features and reprimanded herself. She had to get better at this. In only a split second of thought, she had a response. "Salazar, your mummy was asking for you over there," she said, looking into her pumpkin juice, "She needs her testicles back."

Jessica thought Gibson and Brigham were going to snort pumpkin juice out of their noses. Salazar turned beat red. Casey grinned at her like a proud little brother. It was only Jim who remained emotionless. He was taking a sip of pumpkin juice when Jessica looked at him and though their eyes met briefly over the top of his glass, he didn't act as though she had said something she shouldn't have.

Jessica spotted Rabastan over Jim's shoulder.

"I'm going to go speak to Rabastan, if you all do not mind." Jessica started towards her Quidditch mate and, upon noticing that Casey chose not to follow, she glanced back to ensure he was safe before heading towards Rabastan. To her dismay, Tom veered over to Rabastan at the same time. Tom had Rabastan's parents in tow.

"Hello, Jessica," Rabastan greeted. "Sir, Mother, Father," he greeted in the other direction.

"Rabastan," Mr. Lestrange said, "I was just telling Tom what a great Beater you are."

Rabastan smiled modestly. "No, no," he said.

Jessica grinned at him, nudging him playfully in the shoulder. "He's being modest, Sir," Jessica told Tom. "He really is a great player."

"I'm nothing compared to our Seeker," Rabastan said with a laugh.

"Rabastan," Tom said, grinning at the two almost like a proud parent, "Jessica is staying with me this week. Why don't you come over and play a few rounds of Quidditch with her sometime? I think I might like to join in too, if you are both willing to go easy on an old man."

Jessica paused a second in her act. It was enough for Tom to notice, she knew, but the Lestranges acted as though they didn't see anything.

Rabastan smiled at Tom. "You're not old, Sir," he said. "And I would be honored to merely play Quidditch at your home with Jessica. It would be awesome if you did join us though, Sir."

Tom nodded with an almost shy, modest smile. "And maybe even young Casey can join," he suggested after a moment's pause, glancing at Jessica. "Do you think he would be up to it?"

Jessica hesitated a second before she shook her head. "I don't think so. But it would depend on how he felt when we were going to play."

The two nodded and the group moved on to other topics, leaving Jessica to look around the chessboard of her life desperately to find where the black king had just moved. She was left without finding him. The only thing she knew was that he hadn't left the board yet.

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"I heard that your father held the Cruciatus on you so much that you have a terrible wound on your back. I actually have a similar one on my back."

They were on their way through Tom's modest manor. Tom had just shown Casey to his room and was now bringing her to her room. It was on the other side of the house on the second floor, a floor up from Casey. If Jessica were to bet, Tom's bedroom was nearer to her than Casey's was.

Tom's words surprised Jessica. She was still wondering what he was up to, but she replied quietly, "Who put yours there?"
He was silent for a time before he said, "Experience put it there, just as it happened to you. I didn't realize how badly Jeffery was treating the both of you and for that, I apologize. As much as I don't care for your uncle, I am glad that you are away from your father." He paused a moment before adding, "I wish you had said something to me. I would have put a swift stop to it."

"But I thought you were okay with hitting people in order to get what you want."

"But there is a line you should not cross. Plus, some violence does toughen one up. Think of Sirius Black for example. He could do with a few hits, couldn't he?" He smiled at her, and she smiled back. "It would toughen him up and teach him to give a little respect to others.

"But what your father did," he growled, shaking his head. "That was beyond the line. And your Uncle Jonathon standing by and not saying a word to me? I am glad he is out of the picture." He said with pure vehemence in his voice, surprising his goddaughter.

He came to a slow halt in front of one of the many doors and sighed. "Well, here is your room." Tom gave her one last look before saying, "Did you need someone to put the cream over the wound on your back?"
Jessica shook her head. "No, that's fine."

Tom nodded. "If you're sure..."

"I'm sure."

"Okay, then. Well, good night and sweet dreams, Jessica," he said before turning on his heel. Jessica stood there and watched him, knowing that he knew she was watching. Sure enough, he entered the room three doors down from her. She opened her own door then and walked into her room for the next week.

Wow. Her jaw literally dropped in awe as her eyes moved around the room. It was the room of a princess. It had a canopy bed with curtains that were see through but had glitters, like stars, and the room itself was blue, dark, dark blue, and looked like it had stars glittering on the ceiling. It was a beautiful room. Jessica liked the night. A clear night with stars. And that was what this room was. A clear night with stars.

Jessica ran a hand across the feather-filled bedspread on the bed. It was cool and smooth. And thick. She watched her hand sink into the bedspread as she thought about Tom.

He use to always try to control her every movement. He tried to get a reaction out of her, and he was over-pleased when he succeeded. That had pissed her off and again, and that was another reaction out of her that pleased him.

Jessica's brain was fighting with her. He was out there. He was within her grasp. She kept picturing his face. His grin.

Narcissa had said that she thought Tom was cute. He was. Jessica wasn't going to deny that. And many of the kids were jealous of her. They knew that she was Tom's pet. She was his goddaughter.

She should like that position. A guaranteed life. A life she knew...

NO! No. She had Casey to think of.

But he would be protected. She wouldn't have to fight anymore. Uncle Danny wouldn't die. Tom had once said so. He would make sure he and Riley and Andorra would stay safe, he had told. They would all stay safe. And Jessica knew that she could convince Lily...

NO!

"Mistress?" a house-elf asked, peaking in, startling Jessica out of her revere. It was a young one, Jessica saw, and a girl.

"Yes?" Jessica asked.

The house elf walked in, shy but curious, struggling to keep her eyes on the floor in front of her.

"I came to asks if you needs anything befores you goes to bed."

Jessica hesitated before shaking her head. "I don't need anything. Is my brother settled in his room?"

The house elf quickly nodded. "Yes, hes is. Baver...mys brother...is checkings ons him as we speaks."

Jessica smiled at the house elf. "What is your name?"

"Weverly," she said, her eyes meeting Jessica's but moving away immediately.

Weverly bowed. "If you needs nothings, Mistress, I wills takes my leaves."

Jessica nodded as the door shut.

It was the life of a princess. Being envied. Being feared. Being waited on.

And this room. Jessica looked around it again, her eyes staying on one particularly bright star, her hand pressing into the bed again.

And most of all, no more fighting. No more being alone...no more being alone...

Jessica changed into her pajamas - a dark blue silk top and bottom that had been made especially for her according to Tom's note in the drawer where her clothes should have been put - and laid on the bed, sinking into it practically. It was the most comfortable bed she had ever laid in. As she drifted off to sleep, only one sentence drifted through her thoughts.

No more being alone.

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Two nights later, it was a Tuesday night, and it found the siblings walking through the house and onto the front lawn.

"Meals fit for a king. Joking around with us. Being pissed off at Dad. Continually being worried about me. Asking if you're having problems with your back. Buying us presents. Talking to us about school. Talking to us about Severus. Talking to us about Jim Jones! Helping me repair my broom. Who the hell is this man we're staying with??"

Jessica shrugged. "I don't know, but I hope he stays around."

Casey shook his head, but Jessica didn't see it because she walked over to Rabastan. They had just left the house, Tom and Rabastan already there, to engage in a Quidditch game of sorts. Casey decided only to sit and watch, while the three played.

Casey was worried about Jessica. He was really worried about her. At first, she kept wondering what Tom was up to. Casey hadn't stopped wondering that, but Jessica had. She seemed to like the new Tom. She had let her guard down.

But it would be all right. Once this week was over, Jessica would be released from Tom's spell of charm and niceness. She wouldn't cross over to Tom's side in a week.

Casey's heart stopped in sudden doubt. He knew that Jessica was tired and not all that ready to return to fighting the verbal, mental, and emotional war that they waged with Tom. But after all Tom had done to them, surely she wouldn't even consider giving up the fight in a week's time of charm and niceness from Tom.

She wouldn't. Would she?

Casey shook his head, telling himself that it was a ridiculous thought.

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It was Wednesday night when Casey's bad feeling grew worse. He hadn't seen his sister since lunch. He had asked Tom to talk to her, and Tom came back with the message that she would meet up with Casey later on in the day. She hadn't met up with him at all. Casey asked a house elf, and the house elf said that 'Mistress Jessica' had left with the 'Master'. He trusted that if his sister hadn't talked with him or left him a message of some kind that she absolutely wasn't able to.

So, all afternoon and a better part of the evening, Casey traversed the house, ending up in the library. The library was a dream come true in Casey's opinion, causing the boy to smile at the irony that it was located in the house of his sworn enemy. For four hours, he looked at the books, taking some down to read a passage or two. By eight o'clock, his fears growing at the lack of return of his sister (as he was sure that when she returned she would search him out), Casey ended up at the other end of the library, staring at a large statue of Salazar Slytherin holding a snake. Casey looked hard at the statue, especially into the gem-studded eyes of the snake. He knew that he was looking at something important. He didn't know why he knew; he just knew.

Suddenly, he felt warm breath blow across his ear. Spinning around, he saw nothing. He worried for a moment that someone was near but hidden, and his eyes searched every crevice of the library, but he found no one.

Casey closed his eyes and took a deep breath, wondering if his worry for Jessica was making him crazy. When he took his deep breath through his nose though, he smelled wild flowers, which reminded him of his mother; the thought caused him to smile as his mind's eye remembered her.

And just as suddenly as he had felt the warm breath, Casey received an irresistible urge. He turned and laid a hand over the head of the snake.

"By the power of my Mighty Blood," he said, not even thinking, just letting his feelings guide him, "allow me passage beyond Salazar's guarded domain."

To his shock and surprise, the statue moved, turning around to reveal a bookshelf the quarter of the size of the ones in the room. It contained a lot of books which, upon Casey's closer inspection, were diaries.

And not just any diaries. They were Tom Riddle's diaries.

Casey moved towards them despite his fears, knowing that these diaries could hold secrets that could kill Tom. And his feelings continuing to guide him, he moved forward, his hand laying over one near the middle on the top shelf. He grabbed it and opened it randomly.

But before he could read, he heard a whisper that caused him to drop the book.

"Hurrys, Master Caseys. Master is backs."

Casey turned to see a young house elf. She was near the door, keeping a look out. When she turned back to Casey and saw that he was not moving, she told him to hurry up. Confused but not about to look a gift horse in the mouth, he turned back to the diary on the ground. It was open to a different page than the one that he had originally opened it to. Not knowing what possessed him but only that he should keep following his own instinctive feelings, Casey ripped out three pages, closed the diary, placed it back on the shelf, and stepped out of the way as the statue closed the secret shelf again. He stuffed the pages into his pocket and picked up the nearest book, *Animagi*.

"Casey, there you are."

Casey turned as casually as possible towards the voice. Tom Riddle stood in the doorway.

"Hi, Tom," Casey murmured, turning back to the book in his hands.

"I guess I should have expected you to be in the library." There was a smile in his voice, but Casey didn't turn to see it.

"Your sister is going to attend a meeting with me tonight, and we'll be accompanied by Mrs. Snape. Some of her house elves came to bring her luggage as she will be staying here awhile. I just came to bid you farewell for I probably won't see you before bedtime."

"Where is my sister?" Casey asked more to the book than anything, but he glanced at Tom at the end of his question.

"She's downstairs with Rabastan. His parents are going to pick him up at the meeting."

Casey nodded, wondering why she didn't come up here. Even she could have finagled that, despite Tom.

"She's had quite a day," Tom said in answer to his unspoken question. Casey suddenly understood something, but it only left him more confused. "It will be her first meeting tonight, and that is very exciting. I believe that she can barely wait."

*Liar*, Casey thought. A fleeting thought after that one told him that he at least hoped Tom was lying.

Glancing around the library again, Tom smiled at Casey. "Stay in here as long as you like. It is a beautiful collection."

Casey rolled his eyes to Tom's back.

Once he was alone again, Casey noticed the house elf that had warned him to Tom's coming. She had stayed out of the way while Tom had been in here, almost hiding behind a chair. Once Tom left, she peaked her way out, but she was very careful to stay out of the way.

"I haven't seen you yet," Casey said. "What's your name?"
She nearly ran over to him. "Molby, Sirs. I'ms a house elf ofes the Snapeses, specifcallys Master Severus."

Casey grinned. "If your Severus' house elf, why did you come with Mrs. Snape?"
"Masters Severus askeded me to sneaks ins, Sirs. He hases a letters for Mistress Jessica."

Casey's grin only grew. "So Severus has a pal, sort of like Malf." To the house elf, he asked, "How did you know that my name is Casey?"
"Master Severus tolds me abouts you. Sayes that yous were smalls, hades glasses, and didn'ts looks like a Deathes Eater."
He chuckled. "That's a compliment, I suppose. Do you have the letter for Jessica with you?"
Molby nodded. Casey held out his hand. "Why don't you give it to me? I'll hand it over. Less conspicuous if you please."

She immediately handed the letter over and looked immensely relieved that the burden was off her small shoulders. "Master Severus sayes yous trustesworthy, Sir. So I trustes you."

Casey chuckled.

"Okay," he said. "You better get back with the other Snape house elves before anyone notices that you're missing. In the meantime, I'm going to grab something to read." Casey turned back to the bookshelf, placing *Animagi* back in its place, expecting the house elf to leave. He was surprised when he suddenly noticed a small house elf finger point to a volume on the shelf.

"My Master hases thats book. It ises his favorites, methinks."

*The Art of Legilimency*. Having never heard of Legilimency before, Casey picked the book up.

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The diaries, Molby, and Severus' letter long forgotten, Casey laid in bed, his eyes wide open as he stared at the dark ceiling. He was listening for Jessica and her return, knowing she would come to his room.

He had no idea how lost he was beginning to feel for he would not allow himself to consciously recognize the feeling. His entire life, it had been Jessica and Casey, not just Jessica and not just Casey, but Jessica *and* Casey. And now Tom was slowly and strategically stretching and breaking the weakest threads in the fabric that bound the siblings, Jessica's life-threads being much weaker and more susceptible to tear at the moment.

This wasn't like Jessica, to be in the same house and not be near or in contact with him on a regular basis, and Casey was beginning to fear that Tom had used the Imperious on her, or that she was possibly hurt or even dead.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Casey looked at his watch again. Since the candles next to his bed remained lit, their fires burning deep, he was able to see the rounded pocket watch that lay on the table next to his bed. Three a.m.

Casey got up with an angry sigh, put his slippers on, and slipped out of his room. Out of habit, he walked quietly, though he really didn't care if the whole house knew his mission. Neither Tom nor Jessica had spoken of the location of Jessica's bedroom, but in Casey's earlier journey through the house, he had discovered it. The only thing Jessica had said about it was that it was three doors away from Tom's. In Casey's earlier perusal, he had discovered something else about the room. It was connected to Tom's by a magical portal across from Jessica's bed. It had unnerved him because he could half imagine what Tom could use it for.

Not caring if and almost hoping that Tom was in there, Casey pushed open the door. He went to Jessica's bed, threw back the covers, and received a very cranky reception.

"Casey!" she half yelled, half growled.

"Get up," he growled back. She opened one eye and glared at him.

"Either go to hell or go to bed. I don't care, just get out of here."
"Where have you been?" he demanded.

"Out with Tom," she snarled, pulling her covers back up, pulling them over her head this time. They struggled a minute with the blanket, Jessica finally giving up.

"Where were you with Tom? What were you doing?"
"Different things. Let me go to bed, Casey," she whined. "I'm so tired."

Against his better judgment, Casey turned and made as though he was going to walk out of the room. He was only part way there when he stopped dead in his tracks. It was only then that he realized his mistake. On the way here, he had thought of the possibility that Tom was in the room, and how he honestly didn't care. In hindsight, he knew that the actions and words exchanged in this room were different than they would have been if Tom was there because, in Tom's presence, they were playing a game, a game whose rules had to be obeyed when all the players, friends and foes, were present. When their foe was not present, the 'friends' were naturally different around each other, allowing weaknesses and emotions to be spoken aloud and clearly shown, including if there were fights between the 'friends'. Naturally, you didn't want the foe to know if you were fighting with your friendlies. It showed a weakness, a weakness that the foe could easily exploit.

But since Casey hadn't seen Tom in the room when he had entered, he had allowed his aggravation for Jessica to show, to manifest itself into a fight. After all, since the foe was not present, the weaknesses of their side could show.

But the one thing Casey had forgotten was that he was a wizard that lived in a world of magic and Muggle fantasy, where unicorns existed and flying by broom was common.

And things such as Invisibility Cloaks were real. And were used.

Casey's eyes looked at the area in front of the magical portal, knowing now that he was not the only awake soul in this room. As he looked at the spot where he knew that Tom stood, he could almost feel the man smile.

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When Casey arrived downstairs the next morning, he found Tom alone at the breakfast table.

"Jessica's still asleep," Tom said by way of greeting. Casey looked at him a moment, watching him take a bite of eggs and chewing it slowly. The man merely stared back, his face and eyes unreadable.

Casey took a seat and remained quiet as a house elf put a plate in front of him. Sausages and eggs sunny side up. As a house elf set down a glass of orange juice, Casey realized that they just had put his favorite breakfast in front of him. Dad's house elves had spoken more about him to Tom than he had realized.

Casey went into his breakfast as silent and docile as a lamb, and Tom left it that way for a time. When he finally spoke, it was so casual it was almost as if it weren't the man that had killed Casey's mother nearly six years before this moment.

"I noticed that your sister sleeps late often, as opposed to you who wakes up as early as you should on a school day."
Casey nodded silently.

"You two are as different as night and day."

Another silent nod.

"And she's much more talkative," Tom said with a smile.

But his smile was never returned.

Tom sighed. "Casey, I know we've had a rough going of it for a long time now, but your sister is warming up to me. She's forgiven me; why can't you?"

Casey's glass of orange juice exploded. Tom barely got out of the way of a shard as it flew past his ear.

Without blinking an eye at the incident, Casey turned to Tom. "I have a photographic memory, Sir. I know who and what you are. Don't ever expect me to forget it."

A house elf replaced the glass of orange juice.

"If you know who and what I am, Casey, and not like it as much as you appear to, why don't you speak of it to your Uncle Danny?"
His voice low and his eyes dark as they turned to Tom, Casey said, "You know very well why, Sir, but just remember this - there is only one of you. There's two of us."

Tom laughed as he raised his glass to the boy. His grin wicked, he said, "Let's just see how long it will remain that way."

Several shards of Tom's own glass lodged into his hand as it exploded as well. Tom's roar reverberated around the entire house but never woke the sleeping Jessica.

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"Master," Ignatius tried again. "I do not like this. These kids are trouble."

"I will decide who is trouble and who is not!" Tom screamed. The pain in his hand was almost unbearable. But he would not show it. That insolent little kid! He should beat him.

But he would not. Because Tom swore to have the one thing Allan Grindelwald did not. Patience. Gentle prodding. He needed Jessica Ziners and beating her little brother would not bode well with the sister. He still was working at separating the two.

"Master--" Ignatius made to try again. He was backhanded before Tom grabbed his jaw and brought his face close to his own.

"I will decide what you like and what you do not like. And you will like these kids."

Because, Tom said to himself, come Hell or high water, these kids would be his.

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Casey had the day alone again. He spent the morning reading the book he had retrieved from the library the night before. The book confirmed his fleeting suspicion from the day before and his constant suspicion from previous times. He had always felt that Tom was able to read their minds - and now Casey knew he was. He was surprised that he had never discovered Legilimency before; then he supposed that he was right about another thing. Father and Tom, though encouraging Casey's love of reading, believing that it would serve them in the long run, had carefully selected the material Casey had access to.

Casey made a mental note to ask Severus about Legilimency.

Lunch was a very placid affair. He saw Molby again and tried to invite her to lunch, but he terrified the poor elf more than anything, so he gave up quickly. Casey was able then to read a few more chapters while he slowly munched on his sandwich.

After lunch, Casey was going to go back to the library to look for another book on Legilimency or even Occlumency but on the way there, he remembered the items in his pocket. He had a habit of switching his pocket items from his dirty trousers to his clean trousers. He would barely look at the things until he figured he should clean his pockets out. And even though he hadn't taken conscious notice of it this morning, he had taken subconscious notice of it, notice that didn't register until his trek to the library had dislodged the memory of the night before, before his incident with Jessica and then with Tom this morning.

Tom's diary pages sat in his pocket!

Casey turned on his heel and went to his room. He buried himself under the covers, his wand in hand. He pulled the pages out, cast a light, and read:

*January 2, 1956

Jeffery was able to steal a few more diaries away from Madeline. She has no idea.

I read one of them this afternoon. There is, unfortunately, nothing new.

January 5, 1956

I read the last of the newly possessed diaries this morning. It was a wealth of information! It's most valuable item was on the Submission Hex, a hex cast by Madeline's Great-Grandmother. Its purpose was if a Mighty Blood was unable to perform their duty, they could submit their powers to someone else. This other person would have to use the Mighty Blood's body as a vessel, but the powers belonged to them.

According to the entry, it said that the one that would receive the powers was to say 'Submith' with their wand over the head of the Mighty Blood, then the Mighty Blood must say, 'I submit'.

Madeline is a heavy sleeper, so it would be little problem to cause her to say that while she is first waking up. The only problem is that the spell-maker suggests that the Mighty Blood has to feel very trusting (or submitting) towards the caster. It is to prevent this from happening under the Imperious. However, with the way Jeffery has been treating Madeline, I don't view this as much of a problem.*

Feeling sick, from both the heat under the blanket and his reading material, Casey pulled himself out from under the covers, sticking the papers back in his pocket as he did so. A house elf was waiting for him on the other side.

"Go away!" he yelled. The house elf ran away.

Casey sighed. Submission Hex. So this was what they had meant on Christmas Day when they had talked about Mom submitting to them. And this was what Tom was trying to do with Jessica.

He had wondered why Tom would need a way to Jessica's room, but now he knew.

He had needed her asleep to cast Submith over her head.

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It was that evening when Casey saw his sister again. She ate supper with him. Tom was absent. But when Jessica showed, Casey hadn't expected Tom.

The silence at the table was unusually awkward. In his entire life, Casey had never experienced a truly awkward silence with his sister. But, today, he wasn't surprised. It was the first time that he had seen her since the night before.

His head resting on his left hand, his elbow resting on the table, Casey played with his soup.

"How was the Death Eater meeting?" Casey finally asked when Jessica made no attempt at a conversation.

She started to say 'good' but managed to stop herself after the 'goo'. Her eyes glancing nervously at her brother, she mumbled instead, "It wasn't a Death Eater meeting."

Casey had read every single one of Uncle Danny's old Auror textbooks from cover to cover, and right now one of the lessons came back to bite him in the butt and forced his mouth shut for the moment. 'Always remember who the enemy is and is not. Never make enemies of your friends.'

Though acting like a twit right now, Jessica was still his friend.

"Has Tom continued his nice act?" Casey asked quietly.

She nodded. "Yeah. But I've been wondering about the act part. You see, I was thinking about this. I wonder if it was just an act to get Dad's money."

Casey stopped playing with his food, looking at his sister over the top of his glasses. "Oh, dear," he finally said, "You are serious, aren't you?"

"Casey..." she groaned.

"Oh, man; it's bigger than I thought it was. Not only are you serious, but you actually believe it."

Jessica fell back into silence, starting to play with her own soup.

In one pocket sat the pages from Tom's diary and in the other sat Severus' unopened letter. And they would remain there, Casey decided, until Jessica became herself again.

Casey glanced across the table again, at his sister's bent head. Her hair was the same color their mom's had been, a light brown. At that moment, Casey nearly reminded her of who Tom really was.

But, per their previous agreement, he did not speak aloud of it. The day Mom had died they had agreed to not speak aloud of it unless it was completely necessary, like when Riley had asked them questions about it.

After all, Jessica wouldn't forget what Tom had done to their mother.

Would she?

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After supper, Casey went back to his room and pulled the covers over his head once more. Underneath, using his wand for light, Casey pulled Severus' letter out of its envelope. He read it.

*Dear Jessica,

Yes, I heard about the Department's verdict. My father had told me that he thought you would go free, and he is never wrong.

I agree with your uncle. You should stop swearing. It is unbecoming of a lady.*

Casey snorted in laughter.

*And no, I cannot believe that you are actually trying to obey an adult. You should try that at school. You might get through a week without detention then.

Do enjoy living with your uncle for you won't be able to do so beyond Hogwarts.

I will see you at school, Jessica.

Cheers,

Severus*

Casey sighed as he folded the letter back up and stuffed it back into his pocket, for the first time beginning to fear that Severus might actually be right on this.

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The next night, Tom took Jessica to the Black's for a late dinner. Fortunately, this Black family did not claim Sirius as a brother or son but as a cousin and a nephew when they only had to in public, which they managed to make as minimal of an occurrence as possible.

Belisma Black and her husband - Sirius's uncle - were both there, along with Narcissa and Bellatrix. Bellatrix was crooning over Tom without trying to make it too obvious, while Narcissa and Jessica sat, somewhat separated, talking about the boys and everybody else at school.

"Lucius' hair is so beautiful though."

"I like black hair better," Jessica replied. "Like Rabastan's or even..." she glanced at Bellatrix. Narcissa recognized the wicked gleam in Jessica's eyes with a twinge of nervousness. Coughing in a bad attempt to cover up what she was about to say, she said, "Or even Rodolophus."

She drew the attention of Bellatrix and the three adults at the other end of the table. She grinned and waved back, knowing they heard her. The parents looked uncertain of how to respond while Bellatrix rolled her eyes and Tom grinned in amusement.

Rolling her own eyes at Jessica, Narcissa moved on. "Or Severus," she added to Jessica's list.

Jessica reluctantly agreed. "Or Severus."

"Can I tell you a secret?" Narcissa asked with a giggle, leaning closer. Jessica grinned and nodded. "I also think Simon Bogut is also kind of cute."

"The Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain?" Jessica asked in quiet surprise.

Narcissa nodded with a huge smile.

Jessica giggled. "For being blonde, he is kind of cute," she agreed.

Both girls went into renewed giggles.

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After dinner, they returned to Tom's house. When Jessica was done washing up for bed, a house elf informed her that Tom wanted to see her in the library. When she entered the library a few minutes later, dressed in her silk pajamas, Tom was leaning against the mantel of the fireplace looking into the flames of the fire, holding a drink filled with an amber liquid.

She had to cough to get his attention. He turned to her with a smile. "Hello, Jessica. I was wondering...did you enjoy your evening with the Blacks?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I did."

"It looked like you and Narcissa were having a good time."

Barely suppressing a giggle at the memory, Jessica nodded. "Yeah, we had a very good time."

Tom gave her a soft smile. "It's nice to see you smile again, Jessica. And it was nice to hear you giggle at dinner tonight."

Jessica's grin grew bigger, and she felt happier than she had in a long time. She nodded at Tom before bidding him a good night and started to leave but stopped at the doorway. When she remained silent for a time, Tom asked, "What is it, Jessica?"

She turned and hesitated a minute before saying, "Can I ask you a question, Tom?"
He slowly nodded.

Again, she hesitated, but finally asked the question that had been burning on her brain since she had found out about it from Narcissa earlier today, "What was it like to grow up in an orphanage?"

Tom's face became stony for a minute before he asked quietly, "Who told you that I grew up in an orphanage?"
"Narcissa told me. I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have asked." Jessica's quick get-away was halted when Tom spoke again.

"No. It's okay that you asked."

She turned back to Tom, who broke eye contact with her almost immediately. "It was...it wasn't the best place, but I survived." He smiled up at her, though she could tell it was forced. "Just like you survived."

In response, she looked down, saying quietly, "Tom, you said that you would kill Daniel, Andorra, and Riley."

He was silent so long, that she was forced to finally look back up at him. He was looking thoughtfully at her, but, strangely, the look was almost comforting. His voice was soft when he answered her. "They could always remain safe, you know?"

Looking at him for a long time, Jessica nodded. "Yes. I think I understand now. Just a step away from me," she whispered, looking at the distance between herself and Tom. "Right?"
Tom nodded. "Right."

She sighed.

"Do you get picked on at school, Jessica? For being who you are? For being as powerful as you are?"

Surprised at the question, Jessica slowly nodded.

"By who?"
"Narcissa's cousin, Sirius Black." After a moment's hesitation, she smiled slightly. "Just a step away, right? He wouldn't pick on me then. He wouldn't be able to pick on me..." The implications of that statement were left unsaid.

Tom nodded. "Just a step away."

When Jessica left to go back to her room, the compassion and kind smile fell from Tom Riddle's face almost instantaneously and was replaced by the grin of a thief that was just about to break a Gringotts bank vault.

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In his entire life, Casey had had one wish for his sister, but now that that wish was granted, Casey didn't want it anymore. This morning, his sister had greeted him with a light-hearted smile. His entire life, he had waited for that light-hearted smile with her green eyes and an ease to her shoulders, and this morning, he was greeted to his face with it.

And it scared him to the tips of his toes.

But Casey did not show his fear. Tom was present, and he refused to allow Tom to know of the depth of his fear. Tom had been right. There were two of them against him - but for how long? How long did Casey have?

"Hey, Case," Jessica said. "We're going to Knockturn Alley today, and Tom said that tomorrow, he's going to bring us to Molly's. She'll bring us to get our books for school."

"Yes, I wrote to her yesterday. I received a return owl this morning," Tom added as the three sat down for breakfast. "She agreed to take you to Diagon Alley."

Casey nodded mutely. After a few minutes of silence, Casey asked, "Why are you going to Knockturn Alley?"

Jessica looked at Tom and the two exchanged a look before Jessica answered, "Tom heard about my interest in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He thought that investigating the Dark Arts instead of just investigating the defense against them would help me learn a lot more about the subject and its in-int...."

"Intricacies," Tom supplied.

Casey only nodded, very aware that Tom was watching him very closely. After another moment of silence, he said, "You are up early, Jessica." He put a big bite of egg into his mouth.

"Tom woke me up so that we can get to Knockturn Alley and back before lunch."

Another casual nod and Casey was looking back at his breakfast. He looked up at Tom. "Maybe sometime you could take me to Knockturn Alley. That would actually be kind of cool. But not today. I've just discovered your library. I don't want to leave it yet."

Tom, who had been about to take a drink of orange juice, paused, the glass nearly pressed to his lips. He was looking at Casey, his face frozen. On Jessica's chessboard, the biggest pawn of Jessica's had just made a very unexpected move, catching the other side off-guard. But suddenly he smiled. "Maybe another time, Casey."

His face never cracking a grin, Casey returned Tom's look evenly. "Yes, another time."

Tom chuckled.

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Jessica laughed at Tom's bad joke about the hand that Jessica was looking at in Borgin & Burkes. "I don't think so."

Tom grinned.

"Hello, Sir." The two looked over to see Ignatius and Lucius Malfoy enter the store. It was Ignatius who had spoken.

"Hello, Ignatius," Tom said over his shoulder, bringing Jessica over to another item to explain it to her.

"Hi, Lucius," Jessica whispered before following Tom. He nodded coolly at her.

"You two don't appear to be getting on well," Tom commented quietly when the Malfoys were out of earshot.

"He's still sore about my getting Seeker and him not."

Tom chuckled. "Well, the better player won, according to Rabastan."

"You appear to talk to Rabastan a lot...for his being a kid and all."

"I talk to you a lot as well."
"Well, I know why you talk to me a lot."

Tom chuckled, avoiding the question by starting into the next item. They were interrupted again a few minutes later by an annoying voice Jessica could have gone until school without hearing.

"Hello, Master." It was Salazar Snape. Jessica turned to the voice half-hoping to see Severus and was delighted when her half-hopes came true. Severus stood a few steps behind his brother. She grinned at Severus, who nodded, almost shyly, at her.

Tom looked at Salazar blankly for a moment before glancing back at his brother. "Severus," he greeted, almost warmly, surprising both Jessica and Severus.

"Hello, Master," he replied quietly.

"What are you doing in Knockturn Alley today?" Jessica questioned, looking just at Severus, but Salazar answered.

"We're suppose to meet Mother here. She's getting some ingredients for a new potion." The last was said with a smile towards Tom. Apparently, Salazar thought that the fact that his mother was making a new potion would impress Tom, but Salazar thought wrong.

"Severus, would you like to join Jessica and myself? We're doing some investigation on Dark Arts. Apparently, that's Jessica's favorite subject in school."
Severus looked nervous, but one look at Jessica had him nodding. "Yes, Sir. I actually quite like that subject as well."

"Great. Um..." Tom looked uncertainly at Severus' brother. "If you could tell your mother that your brother is with me?"
Jessica had to give Salazar credit for the attempt at a face lack of horror, though he was quite unsuccessful. He nodded mutely before turning on his heel to leave.

Once the trio was alone, Tom re-started his explanation on their current item and its uses. For hours, Severus, Jessica, and Tom went from store to store, Tom teaching the two kids about all kinds of Dark Arts. Suddenly, it was 1:30 in the afternoon, surprising the kids, who had felt only an hour of the time pass.

Tom offered to take Severus home. They used a Portkey just outside the Leaky Cauldron, in the side alley, to take them to the village near the magically hidden manor of the Snapes. They walked up to the manor, Jessica and Severus going on and on about the Dark Arts lessons they had received this morning, Tom interjecting occasionally. By the time they had reached the manor, they were still in high spirits. That was shot to Hell when they were greeted in the foyer by Rebella Snape. Though oozing with charm for Tom, even Jessica caught the looks she tossed her son, and they were nothing short of vicious. When Jessica and Tom left, she was worried.

"Is everything okay?" Tom asked, now always seeming to know when she was worried.

She shook her head. "I'm worried about Severus."

"Do you want me to check in on him?"

"Would you?" she asked excitedly, relief in her voice.

Tom nodded. "Sure. Anything for you."

She smiled.

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Later that day, late afternoon to be precise, Casey was once again prowling the halls of Tom's home. It was a nice home, too large for a single Auror but bought with his earnings as a for-hire before he worked for the Ministry.

While wandering, Casey found himself back in the library. And once again, he found himself opening the secret shelf and staring at Tom's diaries. Continuing to let his feelings guide him, now sure he was not alone but being guided by a spirit he sincerely believed to be his own mother, Casey reached out, randomly took another diary, and opened it to the middle.

*May 30, 1943

Dumbledore knows. That meddling twit knows. He is watching me. Every move I make, he is watching me. I would kill him, but, if I did, the entirety of the Ministry would be on me. But it is not as Madeline says - I am not afraid of him!

June 5, 1943

I will kill him. It will be spectacular. Everyone will see it, and it will hurt everyone. But I cannot kill him now. I must wait until everyone is afraid of me, including Dumbledore. His death will be sweeter when everyone knows who did it. And then I will get away with it.*

"Are they interesting?"
Casey spun around. Tom was standing almost directly behind him. Casey was frozen with fear. Tom didn't look mad, but he didn't look happy either. Casey worked hard and unfroze himself, turning stiffly on his heel. He returned the book before ordering the shelf closed. He walked past Tom, towards the door.

"Are they interesting?" the man asked again. Casey turned to see Tom still facing the closed shelf.

"Not really," he replied. He saw Tom's back stiffen slightly.

"You're not really a good liar, Casey."

"Am I not? Are you sure?" Casey could barely make his responses for his heart was pounding so hard in fear. He rarely faced Tom alone, and when he did, he was never one to respond to Tom as Jessica usually would.

And now Casey knew he was right before, that night so long ago as he had sat next to his sister in the Hospital Ward, Tom's threatening letter in her hands, Casey's legs unusable.

Casey was no longer a mere pawn in Tom's game.

Tom turned, uncrossing his arms as he did so.

"Are you sure you want to go down this path?" he asked Casey quietly.

"I've never had a choice about my path, Lord Voldemort. What?" Casey asked with a grin. "Now that you've made this bed, are you afraid to lie in it?"

"If the bed ever bothers me, I remake it. And I have, only just recently." Tom grinned.

Casey ground his teeth, causing Tom's grin to widen.

Casey turned and left, his heart still pounding.

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Casey needed to see Jessica. Ever since he had run into Tom in the library, Casey had needed to see her. It was past supper. He couldn't find her in the dining room. He didn't find her in her bedroom. He didn't even find her in Tom's bedroom, and he refused to acknowledge why he even looked in there.

He started back towards the dining room and ended up running into Jessica in the sitting room just before the dining room. She was looking at a book. Glancing up as Casey entered, she smiled. "Look at this, Casey."

Casey walked to her tensely and looked over her shoulder. It was a picture that had Jessica grinning. In it, there was a group of people walking in a dazed like state. Casey recognized the picture. He had seen an identical one in one of his own books. They were Inferi, people brought back from the dead and controlled by one person and usually used for an army. They were the bodies but not the real people.

"Inferi. They are brought back from the dead..." Jessica trailed off, and then snorted. "Ah, look who I'm talking to. Of course, you know what they are. They seem really cool, don't they? They'll be useful in the coming war."
"Useful for whom?" Casey asked darkly. "Our side or Voldemort's?"
"Tom's, silly."

Casey hit the book from Jessica's hands, and it went flying across the room. "Silly?!" Casey yelled in rage. "What the Hell is going on with you, Jessica?!"

She looked confused. "Whatdaya do that for?"

"Because you're being an idiot! If Voldemort used Inferi, Mom would be among them. He would use Mom's body!"
"No, he wouldn't," she said, her voice becoming angry. "I know he wouldn't."

Casey advanced on her, pointing his finger at her, getting dangerously close to poking her eye out. "No. He would. If there is one thing we've learned in life, it's that Tom despises his enemies enough that he would torture them to death, but he hates those standing in the way of his greatness much more, enough to torture them then to desecrate them in their grave.

"But discussing Inferi is not why I was looking for you. Tom has you, and I want you back!"
"What are you talking about, Casey?" she backed away from him, becoming aggravated when he merely followed her.

"Tom Riddle is Lord Voldemort, thief, liar, abuser, and murderer. He took Mom's life, and he took our lives before we ever started living them. Tom doesn't want you for you - he wants you for the Mighty Blood that flows through your veins!"
"But--"

"I don't care what you say Tom will and won't do! Our entire lives, he's been after the blood in your veins, and he has no reason to change that now. But he does have reason to treat you differently than he ever has. Dad isn't here to run interference. Uncle Danny has us, and he's unwittingly now a player in Lord Voldemort's game. Danny has a stronger influence on us than ever, and Tom's running scared."

"Tom's not running--!"

"He is running scared!"

"No, he's not! Because I already told him I would stay with him."

Casey's whole world shifted on its axis.

"Casey, it's okay. Don't you see? It'll only get better from here. Uncle Danny, Riley, and Andorra will be fine! They all will be. And we won't have to fight anymore. No more fighting the battle. No more just *us*. Tom's with us now. He'll make it alright. Everything will be alright with him. We won't be alone anymore," Jessica explained.

If she didn't look so sincere, Casey would have thought she was pulling an act on him. If he hadn't lived the past few days with her and with his growing fear, he would still be trying to convince himself that this was an act.

Casey remembered one time he had thought that his greatest fear would be Tom killing Jessica.

He was wrong.

It was this. This was his greatest fear, staring him in the face, so massive he hadn't accepted it until this very moment.

Jessica grabbed a hold of his shoulders. Casey didn't even try to get loose. He knew his only chance to keep his sister was to not break a physical bond with her.

"Jessica, this isn't you," Casey said slowly, his voice steady and strong despite the fear pounding his heart. "Tom won't protect us. Once we're in and he's sure of it, Uncle Danny's dead. Lily's dead. James's dead. They're all dead."

"He said I can kill Sirius. That will be my first official murder."

Casey wasn't sure he just heard that right. She sounded...happy about it.

Casey had almost died twice at his own father's hands. Casey had watched his mother die slowly while he could do nothing about it. Casey had been beat on a regular basis. Casey had watched his own sister want to hand over her life to a life of living with Dementors until she drove herself completely crazy. But Casey was sure he had never felt what he was feeling right now.

There was an icy cold fear that was freezing his blood, his veins, his heart...his body. And there was a desperation that was screaming in his mind, loud and high-pitched enough that he thought dogs could hear it. It was drowning out his own thoughts.

Jessica was staring at him, her eyes hazel, her mouth grinning, and the most relaxed he had ever seen her in his whole life.

Casey knew that he had to get a hold of himself. Her entire life, Jessica had done everything she knew to save his life, even when he hadn't needed it. She wanted to give *him* a chance at a life beyond Voldemort. A life beyond their fate, their destiny to protect a building they otherwise wouldn't care about.

Casey took a deep breath. It wasn't until this moment that he realized that while he had wanted Jessica to let *him* take care of her for once, now that the chance was here... His entire life he had been the one she had leaned on while protecting him. As long as she thought she was protecting him - even if the roles were actually reversed - life was alright. It was as it had always been. But this time, the roles were more than reversed. Jessica wasn't the alone she claimed in her own mind anymore. She was *actually* alone. She stood on one side, and Casey stood on the other.

Casey knew that Tom was near. He was always near, ready to leap on them.

Tom fought this battle with Jessica. Always with Jessica. But now Jessica was the pawn.

And it was Casey's turn to be the chess player.

Casey entwined his arms with Jessica and gripped her shoulders. His grip was tight enough to make her wince, but he wasn't about to let go.

"Jessica, Tom murdered our mom. He tied her to a table and tortured her to death and made us watch. Dad only soaked your shirt in Mama's blood at Tom's urging, and it was Tom's idea to make you lie there while it lay on your face."

"That was a mistake. Tom said so."

Casey swallowed the lump of fearful desperation that tried to climb his throat.

"Jessica, when you were six years old, Tom made you watch while first Dad then he raped Mom. He told you when Mom was done and when she was gone, you were going to take her place. He will rape you." Casey's voice was slow, each word precisely pronounced and booked no room for interruption.

"Tom lies. He promised you and me that Mama would be alright, but he killed her. He murdered her. And he didn't do it nicely. He gave her the Cruciatus Curse. We watched it."

Jessica shook her head. "Tom wouldn't rape me. And Mom wanted them to have sex with her. Tom told me."

Casey fought to control himself. He didn't know what to do. How could he convince her...how could he find Jessica in this mess Tom had created...

"Jessica, I know you don't like Sirius, but could you murder him? Could you actually murder him? What did he do to you?"

"He annoys me," Jessica said, a bit angrily. "That's why I would murder him."

"Jessica!" Casey was angry and almost let go of her shoulders but caught himself just in time. His fingers were biting into her shoulders, and she struggled against him, but he didn't let go.

"You hated yourself after you murdered Father, and you did that to save a life!"
"Tom told me that was your fault! Dad was a good man!"
Casey acted without thought. His hands grabbed Jessica's face and pressed her forehead to his. In a last ditch effort, Casey did the one thing he never wanted to do again in his life. In his vivid, photographic memory, Casey relived his worst memories, going through each detail, even the absolute worst parts. The whole time, he tapped into his and his sister's mental connection and made sure she saw what he was reliving, praying that she couldn't or wouldn't break the connection.

Rapes, beatings, forcing Mom to beg on her hands and knees, making her do things that, to this day, Casey still didn't understand. Tom doing the same things as Father, forcing Mom to do even worse things. Tom's pushing Dad to do things, directing his every movement like he was a puppeteer and Dad was his best puppet.

And then they reached the torture before Mom's death. Every moment. Every single moment. There was more than the bloody t-shirt. There was a part that Casey knew Jessica had forgotten, had forgotten on purpose. Tom instructed Dad to put a wand to Casey, randomly calling the Killing Curse and missing, randomly calling the Cruciatus Curse and not missing. Jessica screamed and screamed for them to stop - Tom to stop doing it to Mom, and Dad to stop doing it to Casey. Her screams were topped by Mom's screaming and occasionally by Casey's humming to drown out the scene. And Tom told Jessica there was only one way that her brother was going to survive this encounter. If she finished off Mom. Tom held her, having her hold his wand, instructing her how to do it, his lips close to her ear, randomly placing kisses there. Jessica screaming and bawling, Casey screaming and bawling, blood everywhere, hurting so bad he thought he was going to die. And Mom was screaming too, but her screams were silenced now, silenced by the very magic that defined their existence. Jessica screamed the curse once, and the curse flew out.

And Mom was dead. And it was Tom's fault. And Jessica's promises to Mom's dead body as the two had sat alone in Mom's lab.

"I will never join him," Jessica whispered, her voice as harsh now as it was on the dead she had made the promise to Mom's body.

Casey blinked his eyes open. His face was wet from tears he hadn't realized he had been shedding. He pulled his head a fraction from Jessica's to look her straight in the eyes, but her eyes were closed. Her face was wet too.

"I'm tired," she whispered after a second. She was still crying, and her eyes were still closed.

Casey nodded. "I know," he whispered back.

"Why did I forget?"

"Because you're tired. You forget why because you're tired. We're going to Molly's tomorrow. Then Hogwarts afterward. We'll have fun this year, even with everyone in Slytherin. And then at Christmas, we're going back to Uncle Danny. And a break. Even with Maria, it's a break. It's Uncle Danny and Riley and Andorra."

"And then we start again," Jessica said on a sigh, her eyes still closed. "It gets harder each time."

"Only because he's putting a lot more pressure on each time. Just think, each time, we get better at beating it."

"Casey, I want to be 13."

"And I want to be 12. But we were never meant to be 13 and 12. We are the Mighty Blood and the brother of the Mighty Blood. We'll get our dues later. After we kill Tom Marvolo Riddle and Lord Voldemort."

"You are more adventurous than I thought, young Casey."

Casey spun to see Tom enter the room.

The man smiled at him. "I always thought that Jeffery was underestimating you, and I was right. Jessica, may I talk to your brother alone?"
Before Jessica could answer, Casey held up a hand. "It'll be fine, Jess. Go."

Jessica looked at her brother for a moment before starting out the door. She stopped though by Tom and looked at him. She didn't say anything and neither did he. She left.

Tom smiled at Casey. "You were right about one thing, Mr. Ziners. I will keep trying harder." Tom walked up and kneeled to Casey's height. He put his hands on Casey's shoulders and then pressed their faces together so that their noses touched.

"There are two sides coming up in the war."

"My side or death," Casey responded, finishing the quote. It was something that Grindelwald had been quoted as saying in The Daily Prophet and now stood in many a book on the subjects of Dark Arts and Grindelwald.

His hands tightened on Casey's shoulders so much that the boy couldn't hide his wince. "You are only alive because of your sister. Don't forget that."

When Casey didn't respond, Tom smiled and let go of Casey's shoulders.

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The next day, Jessica and Casey ate breakfast alone. Afterwards, they were greeted in the foyer by their luggage and by Tom. He stood tall and looming, his arms crossed.

"The house elves informed me that you liked the pajamas, Jessica, so I had them included in your luggage," he said, his voice low.

"Thank you," Jessica said quietly.

"Will you be taking us to Molly's?" Casey asked.

Tom nodded. "Yes. Molly would probably hunt me down otherwise." His voice was slightly humored, and, for a moment, it was like it had been the day before, but this time, Jessica was wary. Not angry but wary. She just wanted to leave. The sooner to the safety of the Weasleys the better.

"Shall we depart?" Tom asked in the next second as though he hadn't noticed any relapse into a previous relationship, making Jessica curious as to whether any of it had actually been sincere on his part.

Both children nodded.

After Tom sent their luggage off to the Burrow, the three left his nice house. It took about thirty minutes to arrive to the dilapidated home that was such a contrast to their recent lodgings.

After Tom knocked, Molly opened the door, her whole body ready and tense. Jessica could see Arthur inside, his wand in his hand in what was suppose to be at a natural position. For half a second, Jessica wondered if they could possibly know the man at their door, but she knew that they didn't. They just passingly wondered if he had possessed the same allegiances their father had, following this Grindelwald hopeful that went by the name Voldemort. They had no idea that that man stood at their doorstep, and that he would put Grindelwald far in his own shadow.

"Hello, Molly," Tom said. "Arthur." Mr. Weasley nodded his head politely. It was Tom's smile that made Jessica realize something. It was a Friday. Why wasn't Mr. Weasley at work? "Have the day off?" Tom asked, putting Jessica's thoughts into words.

Arthur nodded. "Thought I'd take the day off to spend with the kids because of what happened."

Tom smiled, pleased with what he thought was an effective lie on Arthur's part. "Good idea." He turned to Molly. "Well, I better go now that I've got the children in your capable hands, Molly." He grinned at Mrs. Weasley, who gave a tentative smile back.

Once Jessica and Casey were safely in the Weasley kitchen, Molly looked them over as though she wondered if they were about to sprout tentacles.

"You look well-fed," she murmured. "And without bruises."

"We're okay, Molly," Casey said with a laugh.

"Now that we're here, we're okay," Jessica added, with a smile.

Suddenly, Casey's nose twitched in a gesture of smelling. "Is that lunch?" he asked hopefully.

Molly and Arthur both chuckled, settling the kids at the table. Though it hadn't been lunch, Molly fixed them with quick snack.

By the time they left for Diagon Alley that afternoon, both kids were smiling easily, and Molly was very glad at something their enigmatic, odd, and frightening godfather had done - he had given them over to Molly and Arthur for a short bit before they returned to school, which was a whole different battle, one that included classes and homework and the beginnings of puberty.

To be continued...