When they returned to the dorms Scorpius fell asleep cuddling with Albus, not even bothering to care what anyone would think. He probably wouldn't have slept at all if he'd been alone. And it was a dreamless, blissful night. He blinked awake, grey eyes adjusting to see how the sun was just starting to come up, light barely spilling though the room. He realized he had to meet Aries this morning, and huffed softly. Scorpius's legs were entwined with Albus's, and his arms were in a relaxed hug. Albus's arms were pulled into himself, hands close to his face. Scorpius just watched him sleep for a few minutes.

Soaking in the quiet and warmth, the closeness to Albus. Who's features were more round when he was sleeping and his hair was pushed out of his face, in a rather untamed way. Eyelashes looked longer and darker in the morning too, half crescents that hid those pretty eyes. His hands were tucked into the long sleeve he'd fallen asleep in. A shirt that was a little bigger on him than it should be. Albus was in between men's sizes. So his shirts were either a little baggy, or way too baggy. The ones much larger were James's hand-me-downs. If he sized down, the shirts would be too tight.

The custom fit Scorpius had ordered for him based on measurements for Formal is what fit him best. But Albus was so accustomed to the larger fit that he felt it was too tight. Scorpius smiled at the memory, scanning Albus's sleepy face. How had he ended up with someone this perfect? Scorpius finally got out of bed, eyes looking around the room. It was Friday, so many students pushed the alarm to the last minute, trying to sleep in as much as possible since they were exhausted from the week.

Daniel was already out of bed and the dorms. Which wasn't surprising; he'd made a habit of avoiding any sort of conversation with Scorpius. And Scorpius didn't mind. He quickly dressed, tucking his phone and wand in his back pocket and making sure the Marauders Map was in his school bag before leaving.

The boy paused before leaving the Common room, eyes catching sight of the merpeople swimming by in the lake. Nothing but magic and glass separating the dungeon from those dark waters. This morning the sun was casting a glow though the water and windows, Scorpius couldn't help but stop to admire it. He didn't stop long, and found himself walking through the corridors quickly. There were students out and about, and he passed a group of mixed ravenclaw and hufflepuff girls on his way outside the castle. Aries had said to meet him by the lake.

He buttoned his black coat as he stepped into the brisk morning air. But it would be warming up soon; spring had cold days but during the afternoons it grew warm enough for just a tee shirt. He definitely didn't miss Quidditch practice in warm weather. The glaring sun turning his pale skin red. He squinted in the light, starting across the grass and down towards the tree line. But the boy didn't get halfway to the trees before something hits him from behind.

He cried out in shock, falling forward and barely catching his body with his arms. It had been magic. A stunning spell. His head swam, and he willed it into focus, letting his bag fall off his arm. Scorpius grabbed his wand and scrambled to his feet, turning to face who had blatantly attached him. What did he expect? Of course it was Daniel.

"Are you mad?" Scorpius snapped at him, raising his wand towards him, skin prickling with unease. Daniel shrugged.

"I was just announcing myself. Off to find Aries, are you?" Daniel's wand was raised as well. Long and of light colored wood. It almost reminded Scorpius of bone. An extension of his own hand. Scorpius let the pressure build in him, his wand not wavering as Daniel took a few steps closer. Still keeping good distance between them. Scorpius didn't reply to his taunt. "I know she's been training you." His voice was almost... amused. "Did you honestly think you'd help her?"

"I will help her." Scorpius sneered in return. "We don't have to do this, Daniel. You don't have to work with Selwyn."

"Why wouldn't I?" Daniel challenged, tilting his head softly, calculatingly. "He's going to make it a better world, Scorpius." His eyes seemed to brighten. Scorpius felt a sinking feeling in his gut. He actually believed this. "Where the Ministry isn't corrupt. Where people like us won't be discriminated against because of our blood."

"Just because I believe the Ministry is corrupt doesn't mean I'm going to follow a man who'd rather see the Minster of Magic dead than in charge." Scorpius's voice was hard.

"Mudbloods don't belong working in our government. It's because of them that we coexist with muggles." Daniel's words didn't even sound like him. The boy had been completely brainwashed into someone else's thinking. And how? Had the lack of love really been so detrimental to this boy, that he'd buy into this nonsense? Scorpius had no idea where to start persuading him.

What could he even offer? With Selwyn he was given a purpose. A goal. And he was being told he was special. He was someone worth fighting for, with. And Scorpius had no connection with him. They had resentment, that's all. A horrible history between them of drama and hatred. Brothers fated to hate one another.

"Listen to yourself!" Scorpius yelled at him, gripping his wand hard. "We're the grandsons of Tom Riddle. He was a half-blood! We wouldn't exist if wizards didn't live side by side with muggles. They aren't the problem. Selwyn is deluded." He tries to reason with him, and a part of him knew it wasn't worth his breath.

"We have a chance to use our magic for good. If you're too coward to join us, then I'll take you dead." Those were his final words on the matter. Scorpius let the pressure build through his body. "Expelliarmus!"

"Protego!" Scorpius threw up a defense, and Daniel hissed in annoyance. "You could leave him-" Scorpius tried again, grasping at straws. "We could be brothers."

"It's far too late for that. You've made it clear you don't care for blood. You couldn't care less about your real family." Daniel's upper lip lifted, showing teeth in a growl. "I'd have thought after your grandmother joined us, you would've seen that we meant well." Scorpius deflated. Aries had told him Narcissa joined them, but he hadn't been notified about her whereabouts. Even his father hadn't said anything about her. "She underwent Selwyn's cruelty for three days before yielding, offering herself up. Making Selwyn promise that he wouldn't kill you." Daniel flicked his wand, and it caught Scorpius off guard, crashing him off his feet and onto his back. He gasped in surprise, sucking air back into his lungs. "But The Malfoy cow didn't say anything about me killing you." He grinned.

"You say that like I'm going to make it easy on you." Scorpius snapped, sitting up and aching. He set his palm open on the grass, and let that instinctual magic flood out. Fire crossed the field, acting as a sort of barrier between them. "You know then. You know that Selwyn will kill Cypress if I don't come with you."

"I know. And like you, I care not for our father." Daniel's eyes flicked across the flames. Heat coming off the controlled fire in waves. Grass burning. "Selwyn told me. I told Aries. She told you. But it doesn't matter. His fate was sealed regardless of if you joined us." His eyes didn't even look at Scorpius. Daniel waved his hand across the flames, and they slowly died and vanished.

"Crucio!" Scorpius sent the curse flying towards the brunette, getting to his feet. And it struck him, bringing the boy to his knees like it had once before. He felt that sweet sensation of power flooding his body, and instantly lowered his wand. Daniel's face was twisted into pain and it faded into rage. Scorpius probably would've tried to talk to him again, but he didn't get a chance. Darkness exploded around them.

Terror seized Scorpius as his sight is robbed from him. The sun disappeared. His palms dampened with sweat. Perhaps Aries was giving him a warning with that subtle example of hers. A warning for this. An empty blackness. He could hear yells from the castle, clearly this was real. Not inside his head like his dream. And other students- perhaps even professors- were seeing it. Crying out in shock and fear. How was he suppose to stop this? And he couldn't, because the next instant a curse hit him.

He screamed out, crippling agony shooting through him. Scorpius knew then why this curse drove people insane. Why there was no way Daniel would ever forgive him for that. It felt like skin was being flayed from his face, his back, his everything. Everywhere. It burned like ice, and felt like organs were collapsing into themselves. Pain like he'd never experienced before. Scorpius went back to his knees, leaning forward. His forehead hit the ground and he screamed in pain, not from the contact. From the curse ripping through him.

He couldn't even feel the temperature of the ground. Couldn't feel the grass tickling his skin. Because liquid fire coursed his veins. Tears streamed down his face, and he wondered- when would this end? Salty tears dampened his eyelashes together. Scorpius would do anything for it to stop. It was excruciating.

The air he pulled into his lungs burned like flames, and then choked like he was drowning. His stomach felt like a knife was being twisted into it. And if it wasn't for the fact he hadn't heard any bones crack, the boy would've guessed his bones were all broken- but his body ached throughout.

Scorpius's fingers dug into the earth, pulling up clumps of grass. Right when he wondered if this pain would, in fact, kill him- he was pulled into the air and tossed feet away, his head hit something hard as he landed. But the pain from the curse stopped, and as it ebbed away, he couldn't even feel the wound on his head. Scorpius heaved on the ground, blinking his eyes open- but it was still pitch black. He couldn't see anything. And he was sore. He was so tired. The toll it had taken on his body was nearly enough to keep him on the ground.

Get up. Scorpius urged himself, and raised a hand up to his head, seeing the red streak come away on his fingers. Blood. And according to the fact he could see double of his hands- probably a concussion. "Fuck me." He groans, head pounding. Aries was right- Daniel was a lot more than Scorpius was expecting. He won't be making that mistake again. He focused hard, making his head pound worse. Scorpius gritted his teeth, focusing harder. And then he heard it. The crack of thunder above them. Looks like that pain came in handy when emotion fueled magic.

Scorpius struggled to keep a hold on that magic inside of him, especially with the brain injury. Channel. Where was Aries? She couldn't lend a hand? The answer was no. No, she couldn't intervene or it would break her vow to Selwyn. But she had promised she'd stay out of it, maybe even try and talk reason into Daniel. Scorpius wondered how long Daniel had used the curse on him, because his body was reacting like it had been ages.

Darkness. It was all darkness. He couldn't see the storm clouds, or the sun. He could hardly see the grass. Scorpius finally made it to his knees, and then up on his shaky feet. His head spinning in one direction and the other, expecting Daniel to come out of the darkness somewhere. Or maybe Aries.

"Daniel!" Scorpius shouts into the blackness, his throat feeling hoarse. "Accio Wand." The summoning spell returned his wand to his hand, from wherever it had fallen onto the ground when he was cursed. "Daniel!" Where was he? Why didn't he reply?

He felt the rain before he saw it, falling from a black sky. Wetting his hair and cheeks. The realization he'd let the control go pricked anxiety within him. He sought out that leash for the instinctual magic in his mind, struggling to find it. He tried to calm his racing heart and terror-seized muscles, relax them and coax the magic to himself instead. And it snapped into place, into one person- himself. And the rain stopped; he was in control.

"Salazar!" Aries's voice breaking though the darkness felt like hope. Scorpius felt relief immediately. But it was premature, because as he turned towards the voice, Daniel appeared through the abyss.

"Sounds like she's looking for you. It's nice. That you two became friends." His wand was pointed at Scorpius, and they mirrored one another. "You've got a little blood there." Daniel gestures to his own eyebrow. Scorpius lifted his free hand to his face, and saw more blood. His double vision wasn't getting worse, but it wasn't helping either. There were two Daniel's. Several feet away. And he was- he was smirking?

"Neat trick. With the nothingness." Scorpius gestures around them. "Is that all you have? Tricks up your sleeve? Practicing to be a clown, Danny?" Scorpius saw the spell coming before Daniel could cast it this time, and countered. "Depulso!" The charm sent Daniel flying backwards through the air, and grey eyes followed as his wand flew out of his hand. Hopefully, hopefully that would slow him down a bit. As Daniel hit the ground, the blackness is sucked back into him, and the sky comes into view. The castle stands against the darkening clouds.

The sun was gone, Scorpius's instinctual magic covered the sky for as far as one could see in rolling grey. A flash of lighting and rumbling thunder would slap above them. Grey eyes narrowed, finding the dark ones of Daniel, determined and fixed on his brother. Scorpius spared a glance behind him to the tree line. Where was Aries? Had he imagined her voice?

"I'm tired of games." Daniel hissed, standing back up and shaking off the hit like it was nothing. Scorpius looked him up and down. Just like that? He couldn't help but be a little impressed. Even if Daniel was aching, he didn't show it. He looked in better health than Scorpius, who was holding his side in pain. "Unless you plan on killing me, you may as well just come along."

"What? Have I grown on you?" Scorpius snorts, a lame attempt at humor. He winced in pain. Daniel rose an eyebrow in amusement.

"Neat trick." He sends the words right back at Scorpius, gesturing to the storming clouds.

"Baubillious!" He threw all he had into the charm, and somehow it connected the storm. Lightning sprang from the clouds and downwards in a blinding flash so hot Scorpius felt it from feet away. And it hit Daniel. It must've hurt because the boy let out a loud yelp as he was struck. Scorpius lowered his wand as the lightning disappeared. Daniel fell onto his back, and didn't move. A sick sense of relief flooded Scorpius when the possibility of him being dead floated though his thoughts. You don't want him dead. Scorpius corrected himself, and slowly walked forward.

As he got nearer, he could see that the boy was shaking, trembling. "Salazar!" Aries voice carried across the grass. It begun to rain again, pouring down fat droplets that soaked into Scorpius's dirty clothes. Grass and dirt turned to mud. He looked towards the trees, where he'd heard the voice come from. He could see two dark figures. One of them presumably Aries.

They were walking towards him, Aries much closer than whoever was following her. Perhaps a professor- someone wanting to see what had happened. Where the blackness had come from. Scorpius felt that adrenaline start to fade from his body, and the real pain start to sink in. Aries walked up, and looked Scorpius up and down in the rain. She turned to Daniel, and crouched beside him, muttering a soft spell under her breath. He narrowed his eyes, taking a couple steps back as Daniel coughed, and struggled to his feet.

Daniel's eyes glanced back to the other person with Aries, while Scorpius turned to her. Before he could say anything his wand is ripped from his hand with the disarming spell, flying out of his grip and into Daniel's. "Thank you Aries." He tells the girl, seeming to quickly recover.

"What's going on?" He finds his words.

"Scorpius." A familiar voice touched his ears. Scorpius turns, and his grey eyes meet dark ones. The dark ones of Cypress Black. He looked horrible. Like he'd been kept in a dark dungeon for months. And perhaps he had. And there was an alarming pull in his gut. He was condemning this man to die. How had he gotten here? Selwyn? No, the deatheater wouldn't have gotten a hundred kilometers within the castle.

"Cypress." Scorpius found those old eyes, the tattered hair, the clothes he was in were filthy. And his hands were covered in blood and dirt. There were no visible chains. Nothing holding him here. But Scorpius knew there had to be something that kept him. Perhaps the Imperius Curse, enslaved to someone else's will.

"Isn't it obvious? If you don't come with us, he'll die here. Now." Daniel's voice was loud, louder than needed. Drawing attention back to him. He'd watch him die. Scorpius wanted to roll his eyes- of course. Because condemning him to death wasn't bad enough. Aries just stood there quietly, and she didn't reach out with her mind to talk to Scorpius. Reassure him. There was silence. He couldn't detect even a glimmer of emotion on her features.

"I'm going to make a leap." Scorpius grimaced, and it hurt to do so. "There was no choice, was there? Selwyn wants me alive. Doesn't he?" His eyes bore into Daniel's. And the boy shifted under the gaze. But he wasn't going to give anything away. "You won't kill me. You're banking on the fact I won't let our father die, aren't you? That's gutsy."

"I have nothing left to loose. It doesn't matter if you come or not. If you don't, Cypress will die. And next week, maybe it will be Raven. Maybe it will be Albus." Daniel shrugs innocently. "There's not a shortage of people you love, is there?" Love makes you weak. Scorpius felt rage burning in him, and the wind picked up speed, blasting raindrops against them. "And week after week, you'll watch people die. And then, when you have nothing left to live for, you'll join us. And if you don't, Selwyn will lock you up until you've had a change of heart. Like that Malfoy cow you call grandma." Daniel's words were a sneer.

Scorpius took a few steps to the right, and Daniel raised his wand to point at him. He found himself standing between Cypress and Daniel, still holding his aching gut. "You underestimate my determination. I'll never join you or your cult. So kindly, fuck off." Scorpius snaps, honestly calling their bluff at this point. If Daniel won't kill him- then what makes him think that Cypress is really at risk? Selwyn isn't stupid enough to loose his leverage, he wouldn't be okay with Cypress's death.

And clearly, Cypress hadn't broken under the pressure. He'd been treated horribly, and probably had more injuries Scorpius could see. Daniel shook his head, almost in disappointment and disbelief. Scorpius's stomach was in knots, he wondered if he'd ever be able to hold food down again after this. He was terrified. His arms trembled. And his knees felt weak. This entire thing was a gamble. But what was he meant to do? Fight Daniel eternally?

Scorpius looked back at Cypress, who's eyes met his own. "I'm sorry." Cypress croaks. And it was all there. Everything was conveyed with those words. He was apologizing for everything. Recognizing everything that had happened because of his decision. To send his sons away. To let them grow up not knowing who they were. To now be the reason why Selwyn