Children of Sin

Chapter 43

"She's going to help Harry," Lily breathed a sigh of relief, "she's strong. She'll keep him safe."

"And hopefully they'll kick You-Know-Who's ass," Marlene nudged Lily playfully.

"I just hope they'll all be okay," Remus sighed, "and not get involved with overly risky behavior."

"Keep a close eye," Dumbledore whispered to Minerva, "we'll need this information for when we return."

"As much as I don't want you to go," Leopold said after a few moments of silence, "I can't stop you." He grabbed her hand, taking it in his. "Just promise me that you'll stay alive. Promise me that you'll come back. Promise me that our son won't be an orphan."

"I promise," Larissa swore, her eyes fierce with determination, "I'm going to start packing. I'll leave as soon as the boys return. Make sure they stay safe and in school while I'm gone. I plan to cast a fidelius charm on the boys' identities. That should keep anyone from telling the death eaters who they are."

"Are you sure you're not being a little paranoid?" Leopold called out as his wife bounded up the stairs.

"I'm not being paranoid," Larissa disagreed, "I'm being cautious. There's a stark difference."

"How certain are you that we can hold your child?" Rodolphus asked his younger brother, clearly worried that Layla would escape.

"I don't think we can," Rabastan responded bluntly. "The us of the future don't know a single thing about Layla. She can use wandless magic, has an animagus form for disguise, and isn't restricted by binds and wards. Once she has a minute to breathe and gather her magic, I'm sure she'll be gone. I can't even blame our future selves for underestimating her; it would be ridiculous to presume Layla was capable of much of anything once her wand was gone."

"Let's hope she escapes before the Dark Lord is informed," Rodolphus trembled slightly, "I don't want to experience his wrath."

Rodolphus was sort of happy to hear that the triplets were his brother's children. Although his brother hadn't procreated in a very pureblood-like manner, he'd still procreated. He could carry on the family name where Rodolphus couldn't. Rabastan had never quite fit the model of a typical pureblood anyhow. He was fanatically loyal to their cause, but he'd always been a mischievous one. Rodolphus knew that deep down, Rabastan would far prefer to spend his days living his life, trying to get a rise out of all the people around him. However, the war their lord had called for came first. Once the muggles and mudbloods were gone, Rabastan would have all the time he could want to indulge in his playful side. Sure, Larissa Greengrass's apparent involvement in the second war was concerning, he'd seen her immense power, but Rodolphus had full faith in the Dark Lord. He was immensely powerful as well, far more than Larissa Greengrass could dream of.

"I want to come with," Victor insisted as his mother prepared to leave two days later, his sunken cheeks and dark eyebags showing the lack of sleep he'd had since he'd heard what happened to his sister. "I won't let you go off on your own, Maman."

"I am far more capable than you are," Larissa sighed. When Damian and Victor returned and found out that she'd planned to go hunting, they'd insisted on joining her. It's not that Larissa wasn't sure of their talents, they were very capable. She simply didn't want her children in harm's way when they didn't need to be.

"You are literally planning on going with Harry Potter," Victor gave her a deadpanned look, "are you saying the children you've personally instructed are less skilled than Harry Potter?"

"That's not what I'm saying at all," Larissa explained calmly, "Harry Potter doesn't get to choose whether or not he fights. He is, unfortunately, fated in this war. There are things that drag him unwillingly into the heart of this battle. There are things that bind him to the fate of this war that are far too taboo for me to dare say with my mouth. I wish that that child wouldn't be involved, but there is nothing I can do about that. I will not be the mother that recklessly and needlessly drags her children into a battlefield. I will call you hopefully at least once a week. Please study hard. When Layla returns, I beg that you take care of her physically and emotionally."