Serenity | 1

THIRTY

"I Don't Need You"

December 1970, 2 months later

Christian hadn't responded to Merritt when he received the letter about Serenity's chaotic behaviour. Instead, he had waited for her on platform 9 3/4 where he met his cousin for the first time and, in turn, his second cousin.

There was something so surreal about seeing Phillip wearing Gryffindor robes that made his heart clench. He looked so much like Anton. Of course, not exactly considering Anton had died at the meer age of nine, but the resemblance was undeniable. While he shook the fifteen-year-old's hand, he wondered whether to ask for a photograph to show Lucia. In the end, it wasn't necessary. Merritt, in her giddy glory, flashed him the photograph the trolley lady had kindly taken for them.

Despite Chadwick's disapproval, Christian's various scoldings along with his siblings (aside from Dara) had eventually scored Merritt her old room back and- in the absence of Serenity- she had the room to herself.

The two of them joined Lucia, Irene and Dara as the others took their time exiting the train. Erin was the first to poke her head out of the door. She glanced around, smoothing down her hair before grinning at her mother and making her way over. Irene, having stared at her daughter the entire time, took Erin's face in her hands and wiped her thumb over the smudge of her lip gloss next to her lip. She tuts.

"Have you been kissing the boys?"

"Mum!" Erin tries to pull away but is pulled into a bone crushing hug, her face is pressed flush against Irene's chest and her protests are muffled.

"Mum! Mum! Uncle Chris!" Cormac, Winston and Dexter all came tumbling out of the doorway like a circus clown act, the three of them piling on top of each other as they hit the platform before scrambling to their feet and charging up to Lucia, Dara and Christian. The twins buckle over, catching their breath while Dexter holds up a finger for them to wait a minute. Merritt and Erin share an amused grin and wait for one of them to say something. Dexter finally swallows harshly and makes direct eye contact with Christian. "Serenity's a death eater."

The group fell silent. Dara, gasping, grabbed the twins close to her, much to their disdain, which left Dexter to stand alone in front of them. Christian's mouth fell open, then closed, then opened again.

"What?" Irene, in shock, reeled backwards. She looks between her daughter and then back to her nephew. "Did you know?" Erin nodded, fidgeting with the zip on her jacket and avoiding eye contact with anyone.

"I tried to tell you but you," she sighs and motions to her mother's chest, "You crushed my face, Ma."

Irene's apology faded into the background as Christian removed his arm from Merritt's shoulders and began to push his way down the platform. He could see the unmistakably pale hair of a Malfoy from the other side of the platform and, before he could clear his head or calm his erratic heart, he was storming up to the tallest teenager he had ever met. Abraxas noticed him as he approached and laughed.

"Rier! How are you?" Christian simply ignored the man, as well as the two other ministry officials he worked alongside and fisted Lucius' jacket. Although the action was ever-so-slightly rough, he forced a smile onto his face. He strained to make it appear friendly, but the way Lucius looked helplessly at his father, who had turned his back on the two, spoke differently. Out of the corner of his eye, Christian saw Lucius raise his wand.

"Put it away, son, you know who I am. Where is my daughter?" Lucius smirked.

"How would I know?" Christian grabbed a fistful of the teenager's shirt with his free hand. The light in his eyes darkened, the steely look on his face immediately reminding Lucius of Serenity. But this time those eyes were caused by him, and they were the eyes of her Father- a much more advanced and potentially dangerous man. Christian shook Lucius slightly.