Chapter Sixty-Eight
Hogwarts, May 1st 1998
This was not the Hogwarts Silas remembered. As he ran through the halls in search of his son, he remembered. He remembered being young, and confused, in love and in woe – he had become a person here, had arrived ready to begin his life. He saw Molly and Arthur, Inesa – the people he loved, had met in these halls. What if he lost them here as well?
The Lacroix family had arrived at the Hogshead together, and Silas had nodded solemnly at Aberforth Dumbledore, opened the portrait of Arianna and climbed with his family through the passageway to his old home, a magical place he knew he would fight fiercely to protect. However, his first priority was his youngest child.
They had found Arthur and Molly in the Room of Requirement with a dozen scraggly teens – Silas could hardly believe it. Molly was trying to convince Ginny to stay, but of course she was arguing to participate – she was Molly's daughter, after all.
Harry had entered the room, and Inesa and Silas had gone over to him hurriedly, "Harry, I got your message." Silas viewed the look of relief on the boy's face, and he pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry, I just – your mother would be beside herself." He smiled a little shyly, but Harry did not look annoyed by the affection.
"No, no – it's okay." His shoulders were slumped, and he looked exhausted.
"Harry, have you seen Magnus?" Inesa asked, wringing her hands with worry.
"I haven't," he admitted, "But I'm sure he's fine, the students were all getting evacuated, they're meeting in the Great Hall."
Inesa nodded, still looking worried. "We have to find Magnus before we do anything else."
"Of course," agreed Silas, and he had gripped Harry's shoulder. "Be careful, Harry – do not be rash now, follow your instincts but just...I want to see you in the light of day, all right?"
Harry swallowed and nodded, and Silas waved to Lupin – who looked happy even in the brewing of a battle, and slipped out the door with Inesa. Before they ran, he held out his hand; smiling tearfully, Inesa took it and together they ran off, hands joined. Now, running hand in hand through the same halls they had started their life together in, Silas was afraid. They reached the Great Hall, and he searched for Magnus' dark mop of curls, still gripping Inesa's hand tightly.
"There!" gasped Inesa, and she dropped his hand to race at their son; he spotted them seconds later, and let his tiny mother cling to him. "Thank goodness you're safe." She cried, releasing her grip only slightly.
"I'm okay Mam," he smiled at Silas and let him hug him. The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall was dark and scattered with stars, and below it the four long House tables were lined with disheveled students, some in traveling cloaks, others in dressing gowns. Here and there shone the pearly white figures of the school ghosts. Every eye, living and dead, was fixed upon Professor McGonagall, who was speaking from the raised platform at the top of the Hall. Behind her stood the remaining teachers, including the palomino centaur, Firenze, and the members of the Order of the Phoenix who had arrived to fight.
". . . evacuation will be overseen by Mr. Filch and Madam Pomfrey. Prefects, when I give the word, you will organize your House and take your charges, in an orderly fashion, to the evacuation point."
Many of the students looked petrified. A boy stood up at the Hufflepuff table and shouted, "And what if we want to stay and fight?"
"You are not fighting," said Inesa sternly to Magnus.
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The Years of Riddle
Fanfiction"From a very young age he realized it was good to have someone to vouch for you, to believe you were good - especially if you enjoyed doing bad things." Tom Riddle couldn't love. There was no changing that, but was it possible for someone to love...
