The Virtue of Decision

He walked quietly down the dark hallway towards the billiard room, very much not looking forward to a conversation with Lucius Malfoy. The door to the room stood slightly ajar as soft candlelight and voices drifted out into the hallway. He paused for a moment, not wanting to interrupt mid-conversation.

"We have a little...problem to take care of tonight," Lucius' voice was calm, but hinted at held back excitement.

"And what might that be?" Alonzo asked, his question followed by the sharp crack of billiard balls.

"The Launces."

Curio's heart seemed to stop mid-beat, his breath catching in his throat.

"What about them?" Alonzo prodded as he lined up another shot.

"Well, it seems Juno has gone and broken the werewolf code of conduct," he smirked. "Quite fortunate for us really...takes care of him with out incriminating us..."

"Just get to the point Lucius," Alonzo sighed. "Enough of this bloody cryptic run around."

Lucius pursed his lips in annoyance. "His wife Alonzo. She could very well have the amulet..."

"Juno never had the amulet Lucius," Alonzo insisted, straightening up to his full height. "It was a bluff."

"Was it?" Lucius snapped angrily. "Can you prove that Nym? Have you been to Juno's home? Have you seen for yourself?"

"They can't have it," Alonzo replied frustrated. "The Amulet of Aevum is a myth."

"It's not a myth!" Timon growled, pushing himself roughly to his feet. "I've seen it with me own eyes Alonzo...the amulet exists, and we can't let it linger in the hands of the enemy."

"And what do you suppose we do Timon?" Alonzo sneered. "Break in there and attack a woman and her baby?"

"No," Lucius straightened his collar. "We'll kill them," his voice was eerily calm, as though he was merely commenting on the weather.

"You can't be serious Lucius," Alonzo murmured, shaking his head slightly at the thought.

"I'm always serious Nym," he glowered in reply. "Isabella Launce is as much of a threat as her husband," he straightened his back again, smirking slightly. "We could make her death look self-inflicted."

Alonzo sighed, his voice filled with doubt. "And what reason would she have for killing herself?"

"Her husband is about to be executed, her baby is now a monster," he smiled icily. "What reason does she have to go on?"

Timon snickered, rubbing his hands together. "We could burn the place to the ground."

Alonzo shook his head again. "We'll be caught; they'll trace it back to us."

"They won't," Lucius insisted. "Our tracks are covered...you didn't think you're the only one of us on the inside of the law enforcement division?"

"Of course not," Alonzo sighed. "But you have to think about this rationally Lucius," Alonzo insisted. "We can't go around making such dramatic displays..."

"They are the enemy!" Lucius slammed his hand down onto the billiard table, his eyes glowing angrily. "Our numbers are growing everyday Nym, and if you're not with us, you're against us."

The room hung heavy with awkward silence. "You know where my loyalties lie Malfoy," Alonzo said icily, his eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm merely being cautious."

Timon snorted. "Cautious looks an awful lot like fear."

"I'd have to agree with Timon on this one," Lucius said with a smirk.

Gritting his teeth angrily Alonzo shook his head. "When did you plan on taking this little adventure?" he asked in defeat.

Lucius smiled. "Tonight."

Curio straightened up with a start, his eyes wide in surprise. His heart raced, unable to focus on the muffled words within the billiard room. The familiar feeling of dread clawed its way back into his chest; as he wished with every fiber of his being he had not just overheard the conversation. Backing up on unsteady feet he stumbled into a small table beside the wall, managing to catch the vase that had sat upon it as it tumbled to the floor.

Cursing louder than he had intended, Curio leaned over to straighten the table and place the vase carefully on its perch. "Have a little too much to drink tonight lad?"

Curio straightened with a start, composing his features before turning to face the inquisitive voice. "No sir...just tripped over the carpet."

Timon nodded solemnly in response, Lucius and Alonzo equally stone-faced on either side of him.

"What were you doing out here Curio?" Alonzo asked quietly, his words laced with suspicion.

Without missing a beat Curio straighten the collar of his robe calmly. "Mr. Malfoy asked me to join you later," he raised his eyebrows wistfully, straining to maintain a neutral tone. "It is later, isn't it father?"

"Ah yes," Lucius broke in, a forced look of pleasantness stretched across his pale face. "You'll have to forgive me Curio, but we'll have to have our little talk another time," he pursed his lips. "Something has...come up that requires my immediate attention."

Curio nodded stiffly in acknowledgment.

Lucius turned slightly. "Thank you for the dinner Alonzo," he nodded before striding quickly down the hallway, Timon close on his heels.

"I have to be leaving as well..." Curio's words were cut short as Alonzo gripped his arm tightly, his eyes wide with suspicion.

"What were you doing out here? What did you hear?" he demanded in a hushed voice, his grip tightening on his son's arm.

"I told you...Lucius asked to speak with me," he insisted, trying in desperation to keep a look of indignation on his face. "I didn't hear anything," he added. "And why would I care about what you and your cohorts discuss over billiards?"

Alonzo glared slightly, clearing not convinced, but let his grip falter none the less. "You should care Curio, you should," he muttered, straightening his collar in an attempt to regain his usual calm air. "I am quite aware that you think rather little of me," he tugged gently on his sleeves. "And of the company I keep," his eyes fell briefly on his son. "But I do what I must to survive Curio," he straightened his gaze, clearing his throat slightly. "It may not be the easiest decision to make, but it is the right one. The winning one," he eyed him yet again. "War is never glorious for the losers Curio. Remember that the next time you look down your nose at me," he sneered, stalking off down the hallway, leaving Curio starring after him.

"It does not appear to be your night Master Curio," a voice stated calmly from behind him.

Curio turned around sharply, his eyes falling upon Edmund, who stood half concealed by shadow. "As good as any other night," he replied quietly, unsettled by Edmund's presence in a way he never had been before.

"Shall I have Snug ready your room for the night?" he asked, his voice still frighteningly even.

"No, that won't be necessary," Curio replied quickly. "I...I have some things to finish...back at the office," he shifted slightly under the pressure of Edmund's unwavering gaze.

"Oh," he replied quietly. "Well then I shall see you soon I'm sure."

Curio nodded slightly, his gaze focused on the shadows that fluttered like raven's wings across Edmund's steely expression. "Yes. Soon," he nodded once more as he turned to make his way down the hallway and out of the manor. He kept his stride steady, his expression calm, but was unable to slow the rapid beating of his heart.

The rain fell down from the sky in large angry droplets; pelting the already soaked ground with tiny, watery fists. Puddles the size of small ponds sprawled out across the winding dirt path, flowing freely under uprooted trees, and hugging the smooth surface of scattered rocks. He ran half-blind through the torrent of rain and wind that slapped ice-cold water into his eyes mockingly, cursing as he stumbled on uneven ground. The cold bit at his exposed skin, stinging away his thoughts of doubt as he scrambled through the dense foliage out into the familiar clearing; where the Launce's cottage stood like a fortress against the storm.

Nearly slipping on the crumbling steps he scrambled his way up towards the door; pounding loudly on the carved surface. The warm light escaping from the small windows flickered briefly, but no other sign of life could be seen.

"Open up!" he cried, gulping in mouthfuls of air, as the run had left him out of breath.

The door creaked open, and a pair of untrusting eyes peered out through the small crack. "What do you want?" she demanded icily.

"Look...we don't have time for this," he gasped, desperately trying to catch his breath. "You're in danger."

She didn't move from behind the door. "What are you talking about?"

He glanced over his shoulder nervously. "Just let me in."

Her voice grew angry. "You are in no position to be telling me what to do," she spat as she attempted to close the door

"I'm trying to save your life miss," he said through gritted teeth, as he shoved the door open, sending her stumbling backwards.

"Get out of my house!" she demanded, pointing angrily at the door, which now lay open, swaying on its hinges.

He grabbed her cloak from the hook beside the door, shoving it into her arms. "I will...and you're coming with me," he shook water from his hair, shivering slightly. "Now get your son and let's go, we don't have much time; they're coming."

She clutched the cloak tightly in trembling hands, casting a glance at the open door. "Who's coming?" she asked quietly, all the color slowly draining from her face.

He stood staring at her, water dripping into tiny puddles on the polished wooden floor. "Your...your husband is a supporter of Dumbledore..."

"Of course he is, and so am I," she interrupted. "What does that have..."

"He had something, or knew something Mrs. Launce, something that's drawn the attention of...of people who aren't supporters of the same cause," he cast his eyes downward.

"Death eaters?" she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "You led Death eaters here?" she hissed, suddenly springing into action as she scurried around the cottage, gathering things in her arms.

"What? No," he walked further into the cottage. "I...I overheard some of them talking...they're coming here tonight, soon; we have to leave."

"I should have known," she muttered, throwing back the lid of a trunk roughly. "I was a fool to trust you. I should have known you would do something like this."

"Like what? Try to save your life? Well I'm sorry! In the future I'll just let you die!" he yelled angrily.

"Save my life? You led them here! You told them where we were hiding and led them here to kill us!" she yelled back, crawling to her feet to face him.

"If I had wanted them to kill you, why would I warn you that they were coming?"

She paused, her mouth open to reply but no words made their way past her lips.

"What's wrong? Can't think of anything else to accuse me of?" he sneered. "I'm surprised you haven't..."

"Shut up," she murmured, her eyes wide in fright, looking not at him, but beyond, out at the inky black of the night. "They're here."

Her words hung like a phantom on the air, drifting past the open door out into the unending blackness of the night.

"How do you know?" Curio asked in a tentative whisper, staring out into the night; unable to spot anyone in the clearing.

She blinked, pulling her gaze away from the night. "Their torches," her eyes rolling slightly towards the back of her head, as she murmured barely above a whisper. "Can't you see them?" she suddenly bolted for the door, slamming it shut. "Grab Juno, he's in his bassinette," she ordered, moving quickly as though just awoken from a dream.

Curio scanned the cottage with his eyes, searching for the baby.

"He's by the window," she hissed, as she hurried around the room, gathering things into her arms. "Wrap him in a blanket; I don't want him catching a cold."

Curio sprang to action, hurrying towards the window. "All right little guy, we need to get going," he said quietly, wrapping the baby gently in a wool blanket.

"We'll leave through the trap door," Isabella called from across the room. "It's in front of the fireplace; under the rug."

Curio nodded, lifting Juno into his arms. Straightening his back he briefly scanned the clearing outside. "Mrs. Launce," he said meekly.

"What? Can't you find the door?" she snapped irritated.

"I think we should leave now," he replied evenly, his eyes glued to the tree line, where a dozen hooded figures were beginning to emerge from the forest. They held torches against the dense night, glowing brightly with licking green flames; seemingly untouched by the steady rainfall.

"What?" she pulled her gaze up, eye widening at the ever growing glare of green flame. She crossed the distance between them in an instant. "Get down!" she hissed, pulling roughly on his sleeve.

He fell to his knees, careful not to shake Juno, who clung frightened to the front of Curio's robes. They crouched together in silence, their eyes wide and unblinking; waiting for the attack they knew was inevitable. A whistle, like that of a far off train, slowly pierced the night air, steadily growing louder by the second.

"Run for the trap door!" Isabella yelled over the now deafening noise.

They sprang to their feet, dashing for the fireplace. Isabella threw back the rug that covered the trap door. "Help me with the door!" she yelled, just as the whistling came to an abrupt stop.

The silence that followed crushed down on them with more force than the previous noise. "What the..." she breathed in confusion as the sound of splintering lumber over head was followed quickly by a glare of green light, as a fireball ripped savagely through the thatch and timber of the roof.

"Help me with the door!" she yelled again, coughing as a billowing wave of smoke fell like a curtain across the air.

They heaved the door open, just as the whistling began once more.