Familiaris

La Luna: Chapter 7

"What are you going to do with me?" Nigel asked.

"Well I was thinking, just absorb the rest of you. What do you suggest?" Viviane drawled. "I doubt you want to live. I mean, after all, your brother is dead, and your parents abandoned you, and your girlfriend doesn't even like you. Don't trust Slytherins, it never turns out well in the end. But, I really didn't count on Cedric dying. I think it is an added bonus for the last two descendants of Helga to die on the same day."

Nigel felt his eyes sting and tears trickle down his pale face.

"Shut up about Cedric!" he shouted.

"Nigel, it happens. Brothers die!" Viviane exclaimed. "However, it is rather touching how you did get to know him in his final year of life."

"Stop it! STOP IT!" Nigel was sobbing.

Ginny sat petrified not sure what to do.

"Stand up," Viviane ordered him.

Nigel shook his head.

"Stand up!" she shouted and pulled him up by his arm. He felt a rush go through him. He swore he would faint. She leaned him against the wall.

"Pity to die all sniffly and weak. But that is what Hufflepuffs are," Viviane laughed. "Well, good bye Helga's heir."

Viviane reached towards Nigel's chest. Ginny with a last desperate attempt, ran over to help him. Viviane pushed her back with amazing force. Ginny, this time was knocked unconscious as her head banged into the stone wall. Viviane ripped opened Nigel's shirt and placed her hands on his chest. A burning pain went through him and an ear-piercing shriek escaped from his mouth. Swirls of golden light began to be absorbed into Viviane from Nigel's body, which began to violently convulse. At that very moment, as Hannah tried to coax her friends into looking for Nigel, the Hufflepuff common room began to shake as well. Portraits and candles fell off the mantle pieces. Everyone began to scream and tried to run, but the grounds shaking made it almost impossible to move without falling.

Nigel arched his back as the pain increased. His screams could be heard through the hall and eventually reached the Hufflepuffs ears. It was louder than any of their cries. Ernie looked up frightened by the shockingly loud scream that filled the room. Justin was cowering in the corner trying to help up Susan, who had fallen. The shaking became more violent and the room began to glow a golden hue. Hannah was distracted, as she crawled to her friends, by the light and didn't notice the mantle piece above her was giving way.

"I thought you didn't get earthquakes in the UK!" shouted Sally-Anne, who had made it to the doorway out of habit from living in California.

"We don't!" hollered Ernie.

"What is going on?" Susan cried.

A loud ripping noise came from behind Hannah. She turned and saw the mantle piece falling down towards her. No one had enough time to react as she screamed covering her head with her arms. The light intensified and everything stopped moving including the mantle piece. Every part of the house had frozen in time. The mantle piece hovered above Hannah. She looked up in shock and scurried away unharmed as all the light collected in the center of the room in a ball, then soared out. The mantle piece, then, crashed to the ground.

The light flew past confused students and teachers who heard the screams and penetrated into Nigel's dying body. Viviane got blasted away from him and his body soared up. His whole body glowed as it hovered above the floor and his hair stood up on end. His eyes narrowed in on Viviane as he raised his hand up high and began to chant in a language she couldn't understand. Viviane crawled below him as a golden staff began to appear in his hand. She stood up as a smile began to spread across her face.

"Don't Nigel!" screamed a voice distracting both Nigel and Viviane.

A purple blast soared down the hall and smashed Viviane into the wall. Footsteps were heard loudly thumping towards them and Corona appeared with Charlie Weasley next to her. Nigel continued to chant ignoring her.

"Don't! It's what she wants!" Corona screamed to him.

Nigel slowly lowered down his arm, the golden light vanished and he came plummeting down to the ground, but was luckily caught by Charlie. Viviane crawled quickly towards her crystal. Corona ran for it but Viviane got there first. Corona pointed her wand, but the crystal and Viviane disappeared before she could say anything.

"Damnit!" Corona spat looking around and noticed Ginny.

She ran to her, waved her hand over her face, and Ginny's eyes blinked opened.

"She's alright, Charleh," Corona sighed with relief.

"I can't say the same for this boy," mumbled Charlie hoisting up Nigel's body, which dangled in his arms like a rag doll. "We better get him to hospital."

They ran down the halls and up stairs till they arrived in the hospital wing. Harry lay fast asleep in a bed. Ginny ran to her mother who was talking with Dumbledore.

"Mummy!" Ginny cried, tears streaking down her blood-speckled face.

Molly embraced her daughter and gasped noticing the trickles of blood coming down Ginny's forehead.

"It's N-Nigel," Ginny sobbed.

Ron and Hermione looked over. Hermione gripping tightly to a jar with a beetle in it. They all looked over at Charlie as he laid the brittle body of Nigel in a bed. Pomfrey was already checking his pulse and pupils. She hurried to her office to get herbs for him. Dumbledore turned to Arthur Weasley. "Get in touch with the Moons of Chester, as quickly as you can and get them here."

"How will I do that?" Arthur asked.

"I don't know, but from the looks of him, this may be their last night with their son," whispered Dumbledore looking far to upset to go into further detail.

Arthur nodded and quickly ran out.

"What happened?" Dumbledore asked Ginny after Arthur left, looking too tired to be shocked that another child was attacked.

Ginny tried to begin as her mother fussed over the wound on her head.

"It was Morgan Le Fae," Corona growled. "But she got away."

"But she's dead!" gasped Molly.

"Why did she attack Nigel?" Hermione asked.

Dumbledore silenced Corona by holding up his hand and escorted both Ron, Hermione, Molly and anyone else that wasn't Corona or Ginny from the room.

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked as Pomfrey finished pouring a potion down Nigel's throat and began to work on Ginny.

Dumbledore asked Ginny to tell him everything that happened. She did the best to her ability. Especially considering she couldn't understand half of it. Why was Nigel, Cedric's brother and the heir? Dumbledore listened stone-faced. When she was done, he frowned for a moment and pulled out his wand.

Dumbledore sighed facing Ginny, "Ginevra, I am sorry but I am sure once I explain to your parents why, that you will forgive me for what I am about to do."

Ginny looked up at the old wizard, suddenly frightened, as he pointed his wand to her.

"You know that Morgan attacked, but not sure why. Nigel is Cedric's brother and that is all," he sighed. "Obliviate!"

Ginny stood dumbfounded for a second then looked up at Dumbledore.

"Er, Professor, why am I here?" she asked.

"Nigel and you had an accident," Pomfrey said softly, then met Dumbledore's eyes disapprovingly.

Ginny's eyes grew wide and she looked over at Nigel asking frantically if he would be okay. Pomfrey was the only to answer piecrust promises that he would. Once Ginny was fixed up, she was led outside by Dumbledore, who explained a few things to Molly. She completely agreed with him. Ginny was safer not knowing. Corona sat next to Nigel as Dumbledore spoke with the Weasleys outside.

"He's gonna do that to yeh too," she sighed. "Yeh won't even remember I saved your arse, probably."

Corona began to laugh out loud. The door opened and Dumbledore reentered.

"Did you screw up Charleh too?" muttered Corona not facing Dumbledore.

"No," Dumbledore huffed. "But you know, as well as I, that little Regina knowing who an heir is is not going to make her any safer."

"Nothing will!" Corona snapped. "You making Nigel forget he is isn't going to save him. That is if he even survives long enough for you to mess with his memories. Did you have any idea Morgan was getting to Nigel?"

"I suppose she was brought by Crouch," Dumbledore huffed.

"Don't you ever listen!" shouted Corona, "I told yeh Moody wasn't right. And Mum was telling you for years something pretty messed up was going on with Eris and Pandora. Or did you just forget that whole nonsense!"

Both noticed Pomfrey watching them attentively.

"Corona," Dumbledore replied softly, "I have my reasons for what I do."

"Fine! Change the subject. Ignore the truth. You know very well Variana is next!"

"Corona!" shouted Dumbledore. "Enough!"

Corona flipped her hair and stomped out the door.

Dumbledore sat quietly looking at Harry Potter and Nigel Moon. His two heirs both lying helpless like the night Harry got his scar. He knew very well that Corona had every right to feel animosity towards him. He withheld the truth hoping it would make things easier on these children. Branded since birth to be extraordinary. If only Nigel would wake up, then maybe Dumbledore could feel some relief and reassurance that what he was doing was right. But Nigel was defying him and calling it quits. Dumbledore could feel it.

Outside Corona sat with the Weasleys, not saying a word. It was an odd sight for them to see her quiet. Ginny was back in her room getting over a severe headache.

"Cory?" asked Hermione, "hasn't Morgan Le Fae been dead for centuries?"

"Not technically," chuckled Corona with a sneer. "Rowena and her had a little tiff back when and Morgan was trapped in a crystal. She can never die or do magic because of the crystal. But, she can absorb other's energy in attempts to break free. Don't let Dumbledore know I told you lot or yeh might get yer memory stolen."

"Cory that isn't fair," Molly snapped.

"Yeah, take his side!" Corona shouted.

Molly looked away.

"How do you know so much about Morgan Le Fae?" Hermione asked.

"Bedtime stories," Corona chortled, amused with a joke that only she could get.

Hermione blinked a few times waiting for Corona to embellish on what she meant, but she continued laughing.

"Anything else?" Hermione asked anxiously.

Corona sighed, "Yeah, everything is Morgan's fault."

"What?" Hermione asked.

Corona got up with a smile and walked of leaving Hermione completely confused. Why geniuses had to be so odd was beyond her. Charlie looked down the hall as Corona strolled away. Bill met his brother's eyes and nodded his head towards Corona. Charlie nodded and ran after her, almost crashing into the two Muggles with his father.

The door to the hospital door swung open as Arthur let in Joanne and Morty, then quickly left to see his daughter.

"Where is he?" Joanne cried. "What happened?"

"He's in a coma-like state," mumbled Pomfrey who was seated next to Nigel.

Joanne ran over to Nigel pushing Pomfrey out of the way. When she saw him she gasped in terror and cupped her mouth. Nigel lips were dry and cracked, his face was sunken and white, and his cheekbones could be easily made out. His hands and neck were frail and bony.

Joanne whirled around screaming, "What the hell happened to him!" Her eyes settled on Dumbledore. "What sort of school is this to let a boy get to this state? Tell me Albus! I don't want to hear anymore nonsense and lies. None of these 'coincidental actions of last year'. This was a deliberate attack on my son's life! You said he'd be safe here!"

Dumbledore walked over and spoke softly, "I know."

"Look at him Albus! Is this what your people consider protection! LOOK AT HIM!"

Joanne screams turned into sobs and her body began to shake.

"He was targeted, but survived," Dumbledore began and Joanne scoffed. "It's nearly impossible for a child of his age to have survived an attack from a sorceress as powerful as Morgan."

"Why my baby?"

"Because he is special."

"You think I don't know that?" she snapped.

"You have to grasp what this means," he continued. "He is destined to protect one of the most powerful magical artifacts ever. He can't be safe. But the boy is stronger than he lets on."

"I don't care!" shrieked Joanne. "I don't care about artifacts or what not!"

"Joanne-" Morty began but was cut off.

"NO!" shrieked Joanne. "Listen to me, I have done everything by your book," her eyes went from Dumbledore to Morty, "Letting him come here. All because of what Saffron said. But, I've had enough. He isn't safe here! For God's sake, I heard another child died here just a few hours ago!"

"It was Cedric Diggory," Dumbledore said gravely.

Joanne gasped, "What?"

"Oh my God," mumbled Morty sitting down, his brown hair hanging in his eyes, "Did Nigel know who he was?"

"According to his friend, Ginny Weasley, yes. That is why I fear he hasn't awoken."

"What do you mean?" Joanne asked taking Nigel's limp hand in hers.

"A child as strong as he would have been awake for a while now. He doesn't want to wake up."

"Why?" she gasped and turned towards Nigel, "Please baby, wake up."

"What does this Morgan want with him?" Morty asked.

"Nigel is one of three blockades between her and The Green Flame Torch, which is capable of great power."

"But, he's just a little boy," sobbed Joanne.

"He's very important and until The Heir of Gryffindor is awoken Nigel must guard this torch until then."

"He doesn't have to do anything!"

"It's his destiny!" Dumbledore snapped, suddenly loosing his patience.

"Bullocks!"

"Please Mrs. Moon," Dumbledore sighed, recollecting himself. "Morgan was trying to make him show his true self before he had matured. She knew this would happen."

"Why him? Why not your super boy, Potter, or whatever his name is," growled Joanne.

"He has a slightly different path to follow," sighed Dumbledore looking at the bed next to Nigel's

Joanne noticed this and looked over at Harry. "Is that Potter?"

"Yes."

"What did you do to him?" she snapped.

"He is just sleeping. He was there when Cedric was killed."

"Where are his parents?" Joanne asked.

"They're dead."

Joanne didn't say anymore, trying to not cry more and faced Nigel. The door opened and in walked Professor McGonagall. "Mrs. Diggory wonders if she could come in and see Nigel."

"No!" shouted Joanne.

"But, Joanne, he's her son!" replied Morty.

"I don't care. If she loves him so much, why did she never bother to seek him out for 14 years."

"You know why!" shouted Morty.

"I'm sorry, but she can grieve her son out there, while I grieve mine in here."

"For God's sake, Joanne. Stop being so stubborn!" hollered Morty. "He is her son! She has been through so much. She can't lose both in one night! Let her see him!"

Joanne's glassy eyes were fixed onto Morty's.

"Fine, but I'm not leaving," she answered.

Dumbledore nodded to McGonagall, who stepped back out, then returned with Mrs. Diggory. She walked in her eyes puffy and red. She looked around the room and met Morty's big brown eyes. She began to walk out again, but he stood up and welcomed her in. Saffron kept walking towards Nigel and saw Joanne, tight lipped, sitting next to Dumbledore ignoring Saffron's eyes. Saffron then saw Nigel. He looked dead apart from the spastic wheezing coming from his nose. She cupped her mouth and backed off sobbing.

"I've lost both of them," she mumbled.

"Don't let him hear you say that," spat Joanne.

Saffron winced from the reprimand. She slowly walked to Nigel's side and reached for his hand, but hesitated. It was so frail and bony she feared it would break from her touch.

"I am so sorry, baby," Saffron whimpered. "It's all my fault."

Morty walked over to her and took her hand. "It's no one's fault."

He softly placed her hand onto Nigel's. Golden light seeped from their fingertips and engulfed Nigel suddenly and disappeared. Joanne gasped and everyone looked at Nigel who looked perfectly healthy again. His skin was peach and his body lean and strong. Mortimer looked over at Saffron in astonishment.

"Did you do that?" he asked.

She shook her head as Dumbledore came to their side. "Who better to renew his life, then the by ones who gave it to him in the first place."

Mortimer met Saffron's blue eyes, then his wife's. He was distracted then by a noise. He looked down and Nigel was stirring a bit and slowly opened his eyes.

"Dad?" he mumbled.

"Yes," Morty answered, his eyes glassy.

Nigel looked around. "Mum!"

Both Joanne and Mrs. Diggory answered. Nigel looked from one woman to the other, feeling some animosity.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," said Joanne softly. "We are all just happy that you are better now."

Nigel nodded, then sat up. "What about Ginny?"

"She's fine," Dumbledore replied. "Now I am going to leave you all, for I feel that there are things that need to be explained."

Dumbledore turned and walked out of the hospital wing.

"Explain what?" Nigel asked.

Mortimer sucked his teeth, "I don't know why I never told you. Well, actually, yes I do. How do you explain to an eight-year-old why he has been without parents for so long?"

"It's all right. I know Saffron is my birth mother," Nigel replied.

"You do?" Mortimer gasped.

"Ced told me," Nigel whispered.

"I see. But, your father. I never told you about him."

Joanne walked over and took Mortimer and Nigel hands in hers.

"Ever wonder why your name was Nigel Demetrius Winthrope Moon the Third. A bit of an odd name for someone adopted," Mortimer began.

"I guess," Nigel shrugged.

"Well the truth is, you aren't adopted. That is your real name."

"What?" Nigel gasped.

"I named you after your father with my maiden surname," Saffron mumbled, "in hopes that he could find you. I was forced to put you in the orphanage without telling anyone, because of the scandal I caused."

Nigel took his hand back. His eyes were watering.

"Then Morty is my . . . he's my real dad?"

Nigel Mortimer Moon II nodded his head and a few of his brown strands of hair fell into his big brown eyes.

"Why did you leave me?" Nigel sobbed. "Why didn't you look for me?"

Saffron saw a black mist flutter around Nigel and she froze.

"I didn't know what happened to you," Morty appealed. "Saffron couldn't tell me for she didn't even know what orphanage it was. I looked everywhere for you and finally found you when you were already eight."

"But why didn't you let Morty have me if I was such a scandal?" Nigel mumbled glaring at Saffron.

His eyes went black for a moment and she had no voice. She forced the words through her mouth, growing more frightened of her own son.

"Because of my dreams," she whispered. "I-I am a seer and I knew that if you did live with your father, he wouldn't have fulfilled his dreams."

A figure was beginning to form next to Nigel. It was the silhouette of a young man. She knew who it was. She had to explain quickly before it took hold of Nigel forever.

"Had Morty raised you," she babbled out frantically, "Y-you would have been taught to hate wizards and you would have became just like You-Know-Who, only this time persecuting all purebloods!"

Nigel blinked and let out a snicker. The figure dissipated a bit.

"You can't be serious," Nigel smirked.

Saffron didn't smile or smirk. "I am deadly serious."

Nigel met her eyes and to her relief the figure was only but a faint outline now. Then the door to the hospital opened. Nigel looked to who entered, and to Saffron's horror the figure floated back, this time in color. She slowly turned her head and Amos stood glaring at her.

"Come Saffron," he snapped. "I want you out of here, now!"

Saffron looked back at Nigel as the figure was growing more vibrant by the second. Her body was shaking as the figure now had Nigel's face, only darker, angrier and a little older.

"N-no," she squeaked.

Amos stood in shock with his mouth hanging open.

"I can't leave," she said in a hushed voice.

"He is not our son!" Amos shouted.

"B-but he's ours!" Morty snapped back.

"You have some nerve Moon!" Amos growled.

Saffron looked at her son as he was pulling himself out of the hospital bed. He was standing next to the figure. It had a large gold breastplate with a badger engraved on it and a long black cape. It was smirking maliciously at Amos. Saffron rushed over to Nigel who was about to step through the figure. Nigel stopped moving, as Saffron stood frightened in front of him.

"Just leave Amos," she mumbled not looking back. "I will meet you outside later."

"Saffron!"

"Just GO!" she shouted. She jumped. Scared by her own voice, as if she had never heard it before.

Nigel stepped back and sat on the bed gawking at her. She looked to the side and the figure met her eyes and began to laugh.

"Go away!" she screamed at the figure.

Amos walked back to the door furious, but not knowing what else to do, left. The figure began to fade away.

"I don't expect you to forgive me," Saffron quickly said to Nigel. "I just want you to know that I never stopped loving you and always thought about you and I just am glad you got to know Ced."

Nigel blinked a few times and nodded as the figure vanished.

"Nigel?" his father whispered. "Do you hate us?"

Nigel looked around and settled his eyes on his birth mother. He had never seen anyone suffering as much as her. He slowly reached out to her and touched her hand.

"Cedric was a great friend," he whispered.

Saffron began to laugh while still crying, "Yes he was."

Nigel let her hold his hand and looked over at Joanne and Morty.

"I don't hate you," he said softly.

Morty looked ready to cry and Joanne embraced Nigel.

"Oh, baby we love you so much," she whispered.

"I know," he whispered. "I know."

Severus walked into his office, that night. He wasn't sure he was ready to do what Dumbledore wanted. But, he had to protect his niece. He sat in his chair, but was jolted back up by the sound of someone banging on his door.

"Severus!" screamed a woman's voice.

He stood up perplexed and walked slowly to the door.

"Please let me in!" the woman screamed.

"Imogen?" he gasped and opened the door. "What on earth are you doing here?"

Imogen ran in grabbing her brother's collar. "Where's Lily? Where's my daughter?"

"Immie," Snape sighed taking her hands, "she's fine."

"But the mark, it's showing!" she screamed.

Snape huffed and closed the door.

"I know," he sighed escorting her to a seat. "He is back."

"I have to get Lily!" Imogen said panicked. "We have to leave now!"

"Imogen," Snape huffed, "she isn't safer anywhere else. You can't keep running."

"I have to get her," she whimpered. "I have to!"

She shook and bent over bellowing a cough. Snape rubbed her back as she gasped for breath and coughed loudly again like a seal.

"You have to calm down," he whispered. "Sit."

Imogen sat down, her eyes glassy and pink.

"I feel so trapped," she sighed.

Snape stayed quiet. Imogen took a few deep breaths thinking, then, turned to her brother.

"The Malfoys know she's here!" she shouted. "Now what? I told you putting her with Draco was stupid! You have practically delivered her to Voldemort!"

"Imogen!" Snape bellowed, "think before you speak. The last thing Lucius would ever do to Lily would be to hurt her!"

"But, he'll take her away!" Imogen sobbed. "He knows where she is now!"

"No he won't," Snape sighed. "Voldemort wants Lily to come to him. He won't accept her against her will. Then all his plans would be ruined. I don't think she will, anytime soon, be voluntarily going to support him. Lucius knows this. She is safest around the Malfoys because they won't allow any harm to come to her. They will make sure she isn't taken by any other stupid Death Eater looking for glory in finding Variana."

Imogen shook her head, looking away.

"How can you trust them?" she hissed.

"I know how they work," he sighed. "Even Barty, who hated her more then any of them, didn't lay a hand on her. They aren't stupid enough to force her."

"But what about Draco?" Imogen spat. "I hear he is just like his father. You want Lily to bond with that? He will follow in Lucius' footsteps!"

Severus' temper had peaked and he gripped his sister's shoulder and pulled the robe down to expose the back.

"From the looks of this," he hissed pinching her shoulder, "you did once too!"

Imogen glared at her brother and smacked his hand away.

"Go to hell!" she screamed.

"I already have," Snape sneered.

Nigel walked down the hall like a zombie. His eyes barely blinked and he didn't speak to anyone. School was ending the next day, but still he hadn't told anyone what had happened to him. Ginny had stopped by to see how he was, but he just mumbled he was fine and went to sleep. He slept a lot. He stayed in bed till around lunch refusing to go to class. He didn't care. He arrived at his common room and entered. Sally and his friends sat on the sofa talking with, to his amazement, Lilah. They all looked over at him, worried. He came over silently and sat next to her.

"Where have you been?" Lilah asked softly.

"Nowhere," he sighed.

"Please, Nigel," Sally squeaked. "You have to talk to someone."

"I don't have to do anything!" he yelled.

Sally-Anne's eyes filled with tears. Nigel frowned, went over and hugged her.

"Sorry," he muttered.

Sally-Anne nodded wiping her face. He looked at his friends, all worried and scared. He gave out his hand to Lilah. She took it as he helped her up and headed to his room with her. They walked in. Lilah didn't know what he was going to do. Kiss her. Scream. He was so unstable. She walked around not sure what to say. She wasn't good at this comforting thing. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, his face buried in her neck and hair. He held her not saying anything.

"Nigel?" she whispered.

"Don't go away," he mumbled.

"What?" she asked, trying to turn to face him, but he wouldn't let her.

"Promise never to leave me," he said softly, his voice cracking.

Lilah knew she should say yes. But, she was a little annoyed. She didn't have to stay with him forever. But being logical and truthful wasn't what he wanted to hear right then.

"I'm not going anywhere," she sighed.

He moved his face to rest against the side of hers. She could feel his warm breath brushing against her ear.

"I love you," he whispered.

Lilah held her breath. This wasn't happening. Why was he doing this to her? It was unfair. She couldn't ever turn him away now. He was suffering and she had to oblige him. She pulled away and looked at his face.

"You do?" she whispered.

"Yes."

Lilah frowned and looked down. She didn't want to lie. She didn't want to pretend. But, she had to.

"I love you too," she sighed, glancing up at him.

Nigel embraced her. "Say it again."

Lilah rolled her eyes without him seeing and sighed, "I love you."

He squeezed her tight.

"N-Nigel," she muttered, "maybe you should talk to Perks or whomever. You are acting like I am going to die tomorrow."

Nigel stepped back facing her. His eyes became misty. He tried to speak but only chocked sobs came from his mouth and he hugged Lilah again.

"Oh God," she said softly, as if this was not happening.

The boy was losing it. She led him to his bed to sit down and he curled up against her. He nestled his face in her chest and she eventually was holding him like a baby. She rocked back and forth telling him it was going to be okay. He gripped onto her shirt and for no reason began to tell her everything. About Cedric and Morgan. Or at least what he could remember. She didn't know what to say. She lay down next to him as he continued his tale. He had stopped sobbing now. He reached for her hand and eventually fell asleep from crying. Lilah couldn't leave; he held her hand so tightly and ended up spending the night in his bed.

Lilah sat down for breakfast on her last day as a fourth year. Since the tragedy of the Triwizard Tournament, the atmosphere of the school was dark and melancholy. Her mind kept lingering back to the Dark Mark. Whenever she thought of it she felt ill. She would have to hide it from her mother, who would probably pack up her things and move her to Siberia if she knew. Lilah didn't even know her mother had hurried to the school a few nights before to do just that. Things were going to be a little different now that Voldemort was back.

She sighed and tried to think of happy things in life instead of impending doom. Her mind wandered to the concert. Blaise had agreed to go and she sent one ticket to Athena. She was instructed, by Xenia, to give Harry as many tickets as he wanted, which she did. Nigel was also going, as well as all the Hufflepuffs. Lilah didn't want to invite any of them, they weren't the nicest of people, but if she snubbed them Nigel would probably burst into tears again.

She pouted. Now, she felt like she couldn't break up with him, ever. It would be quite ill timed. She had never seen him cry before. It gave her an uneasy feeling. Like she should fix him. She didn't know what to do or say. She never cared about anyone enough to be so devastated about their death like that. She looked over at the Hufflepuffs. Nigel had his physique and skin tone again, but there was something missing in his eyes. He was dead inside. She couldn't bear to channel him. The sight of him sobbing like a baby the night before was enough. He was such a burden. She sighed at her selfishness in disgust.

Blaise looked over to her and smiled softly. "You alright, Lil?"

"I'll be okay," she sighed.

Blaise took her hand. She felt instant safety from his touch. The early feelings, of lust and wanting, had dwindled into something new. She didn't really notice what they meant to each other until that night when Cedric died. Blaise was her best friend. She thought suddenly, as he squeezed her hand, that maybe she could relate to Nigel a bit. He had found his big brother and now she had too, in a way. Her eyes stung thinking of what it would feel like for Blaise to suddenly be gone. She quickly brushed that thought away. She didn't want to think about it.

A hooting noise appeared from above and the owls swooped in with the post. Boo soared down to Lilah dropping a letter on her plate. She then swooped around and landed, to Lilah's surprise, on Blaise's shoulder. He winced from the owl's claws but didn't shoo it off. Boo hooted again, nipped at Blaise's hair, then flew away. Lilah giggled as she opened the letter.

"What was that about?" Blaise asked.

"I think she likes you," Lilah smirked.

She unfolded the letter, which was from Xenia. Only one line was written on it and attached was a clipping from a magazine. The letter read:

The media are so funny! When you visit this summer, which you will, you can meet the three of us!

Love,

Xenia.

Lilah looked at the clipping and squealed with delight.

"What?" Blaise asked.

"It's Xenia's baby!" Lilah giggled, showing him the clipping of Xenia, happily holding a baby girl with large turquoise eyes, named Natalya. Curled up at her feet was a black dog wagging his tail.

"Did you read what it says?" Blaise smirked.

"No," Lilah replied.

Blaise took the clipping and read, "Xenia has no comment as to who the father is. However, according to many sources, she has been seen around an old school friend by the name of Remus Lupin. The main guess is that he is."

Lilah's jaw dropped.

"Professor Lupin?" Blaise laughed out.

"It's not him," Lilah sighed taking back the clipping.

"How do you know?" Blaise smirked.

"Feminine intuition," she giggled

Nigel pulled his trunk down the hallway of the Hogwarts Express. The atmosphere was tense and everyone, he felt, was watching him. He found a compartment for him and his friends. He sat quietly staring out the window. Hannah and Sally-Anne tried to get him to talk but still, he would just shrug or give short replies.

"I'll be right back," Nigel sighed as the train's whistle blew to announce its preparation for departure.

He walked back down the hall not quite sure where he was going. He couldn't handle being around the Hufflepuffs. He didn't really know why.

"Oi, Mini-C!" called Mortichai.

Nigel turned and saw Mortichai and Nila sticking their head out waving. He walked over.

"Hi," he said softly.

"It's a bit odd still calling you that," Mortichai said gravely.

"I don't mind," Nigel sighed, and truly meant it.

"If you say so. Come to think of it, I don't even know your real name," Mortichai chuckled

"Nigel," he said softly.

Nila smiled endearingly up at him form where she sat. "You know, you do look a lot like Cedric. Curious."

Nigel just smiled.

"Well, nice knowing you," Mortichai sighed and shook his hand.

Nigel nodded and turned back and headed back the way he was going before. He came across a compartment and it was slightly opened.

"I don't want to talk about it," Cho huffed from inside.

"Alright," Kalinda sighed.

Nigel stood in his place, listening.

"I miss his jokes," Cho suddenly whimpered.

Nigel frowned and slowly opened the compartment door. Kalinda was holding Cho's hand and they both looked up at Nigel, their eyes watering.

"Hi Mini-C," Kalinda sighed.

"Er," Nigel mumbled wishing to say something to cheer them up. But what?

"Yes?" Kalinda sighed.

"I . . . er . . . was wondering if you've seen my mind?" Nigel asked straight-faced. "I seem to have lost my mind."

The girls stared and Nigel wondered if he had just done something really stupid. Then, Cho cracked a smile and began to laugh.

"No?" he asked, instantly smiling back.

Cho shook her head giggling. Kalinda looked a little confused.

"Well if you do, tell me," he smirked and turned to leave.

"Sure, Mini-C," Cho chuckled.

Nigel closed the compartment door behind him with a satisfied grin and went back to his friends.

Nigel got into the black Jaguar. Joanne and Maggie purposely hadn't arrived to pick him up, so that he could ride home alone with his father.

"So, you know Joanne still doesn't want you to return to Hogwarts," Morty sighed.

"I know," muttered Nigel.

"She'll see though," Morty continued as he turned the car out onto the street. "She'll realize it is what you have to do. That is, if you want to go back."

"I do," Nigel said. "It's the only place I feel normal. All those years at the orphanage or even in primary school, I never had friends. No one talked to me. No one liked me. People made the cross every time I walked by. I didn't like being feared or hated. When I came here and met Sally-Anne, it was like I had met myself. She never really had friends 'cause she did weird things too. For the first time I had a real friend."

"Alright," sighed Morty. "But, please be more careful. Don't just trust anyone or anything."

"Yes, dad."

"I mean it!"

"I know," Nigel sighed.

Nigel watched the houses rush by. He was returning to the Muggle world. A world apparently he would have been willing to kill wizards for.

"Dad, would you really have raised me to be some evil wizard hater?" smirked Nigel.

"Listen, Saffron knows her stuff. And when I was younger, believe it or not, I was a very angry young man. I blamed the wizarding people for ruining everything. I even turned on your mother."

"What do you mean?"

Morty took a deep breath and continued, "I met her thinking she was just a girl. She met me at a party of a friend's and I was only about 19. I didn't see her for a long time after that, and suddenly, out of nowhere, there she was at my doorstep, with her husband and three year old son, and newborn baby, which she said was mine. My parents were furious. I denied it at first, but you look too much like me. I was stubborn and spoiled and didn't want to have anything to do with it. I didn't want to help her at all. Amos put you somewhere and I couldn't ever find out and I didn't want to. But, then I met Joanne and she straightened me out. She didn't take my shit. Sorry, but she wouldn't stand for my attitude. You know her."

Nigel nodded with a smirk.

"And so, I finally got my act together and figured out that I had made a huge mistake in never caring about you, or Saffron, and started to look for you. It took me years, but as if by miracle, on September 28th I was reading the newspaper and found an article about a certain orphanage, with a certain child, whom people called a gift from God. He had special abilities and people were flocking to St Andrews to see him."

Nigel winced. "I hated that time. Everyone thought I was some prophet or something."

"That's how I found you and I only wish I had found you earlier."

Nigel stayed quiet for a while then turned to his father. "Things happen for a reason sometimes, I think. But, no matter. I didn't grow up to be this horrible person like Saffron said. You must have found me at the right time for you and me. And I became friends with Ced at the right time. When he was the happiest, I suppose."

Morty smiled down at Nigel, but still looked sad.

"You're a good boy," he said his voice cracking, and patted Nigel on the head.