Children of Sin

Chapter 39

"This has been a fun day," Victor said as he laid down on the ground. He and his friends had just biked for an hour before sitting down for a picnic.

"It has," Lèon agreed, "it's nice to be able to let loose. This year is going to be our last year before the exams. We need to take advantage of that."

"I can't believe Hogwarts does exams in fifth year," Ray scoffed, "it's pointless. Why have an extra year between the exams? Just gives more time for theories and spells to slip out of your brain. Besides, you need the information once you get older, not while you're a teenager with your biggest problem being dating."

"You're right," Victor agreed, before a sad expression donned his face, "especially this year. With a whole war on the horizon, it's not going to be easy."

"You believe that there's a war?" Felicia asked, surprised, "I've never taken you to be the superstitious and conspiratorial type."

"It's not a joke, Felicia," Victor's harsh eyes flashed, "what reason is there not to believe what Potter said? There is never a reason for any sane person to declare that a madman was on the loose again. Why the entire world is so set on disagreeing is beyond me. They've become so complacent with peace that they'd rather prolong it for the moment rather than fight to ensure it lasts."

"Seems that there's a lot of trouble in the future," Lily bit her lip, "I hope that they can deal with it for good this time."

"So do I," Mary sighed, "why must people fight? Can't we all get along?"

"There's no perfect answer to that Ms. McDonald," Minerva shook her head,
"different philosophies come to suggest an answer, but, in the end, no one can truly answer that question. It's just something that we come to live with over life."

Mary digested the wise words of her professor. She was right; there was no use mulling over such things. There was no answer. It just was.

Regulus, while the people around him sat in quiet or debated morality, came to a startling realization. He recognized that gaze, those stormy eyes that left no room for mercy. He, in that moment, knew good and well who the father of the triplets was. He kept quiet; there was no need for him to share this information. He'd seem foolish if, by any chance, he was wrong. Better keep it to himself.

"Come on," Felicia rolled her eyes, "you truly believe that he's back? Why should we? Potter wanted to be more relevant so he's piggy-backing off the only thing that he's known for."

"I think you're wrong," Lèon faced Felicia, eyes challenging her to disagree. "What use does it have for him to pretend the madman who killed his parents is back? How do we even know the guy died in the first place? In context of the resurrection of the Dark Lord, the events of the last few months perfectly align. Potter was put in the tournament in order that they could kidnap him from the school. The tournament was rigged to help him because the death eaters were trying to get to him. Finally, he was probably needed in some ritual to bring the Dark Lord back; after all, his initial defeat came at the hands of the Potters."

"Still," Felicia insisted, "why would England deny it if it really happened? They have no reason to. You've read the newspapers; the kid is hallucinating. Victor said no sane man would pretend that this guy came back; clearly he's not a sane man."

"That article was written by the same person who made a huge deal out of Victor Krum and Hermione Granger," Ray pointed out, "why on Earth would anyone consider it credible? For Charlemagne's sake, Skeeter is a tabloid writer; why would you trust a word out of her writing? Besides, one of, if not, the greatest wizards of all time is supporting this. We've met Dumblefore before; he's not insane like they're saying. Personally, I just think that the minister is terrified about what having the Dark Lord reemerge would do for his image."