Aries moved faster than Scorpius could lift the wand. She didn't have her wand to use magic, so the girl launched her entire body onto the man- and a flash of fire reflecting off metal sent Scorpius's- Michael's- heart pounding in his chest. The beat roared in his ears as he watched. It was almost hard to tell what had happened, as she was so swift. One minute the man was about to speak- about to ask Aries what she was doing with the prisoner. And the next, Aries was lowering his body to the ground, having severed his vocal chords and coratid artery all in one swift movement of a knife.

She wiped the dagger off on her sleeve, and turns back to Scorpius. He aimed the wand at her now, feeling just a twinge of fear that she could just as easily do the same thing to him. Especially in this thin body with hardly any muscle. Aries shook her head and walked towards him. "You think magic is the only combat I'm trained in?"

"Combat? You mean assassination?"

"Anything I told him he would've told Selwyn. There would've been no way to get you out." Aries growled at him. "Who cares anyways? Selwyn has two more followers to take this guy's place. A dead body is easier to excuse than breaking you out."

Scorpius was just a little bit in shock. She just murdered this guy right in front of him. And he actually understood her explanation? He wasn't even in shock because of the murder. He was in shock that he was okay with it. Perhaps he even expected it. "Okay." He tells Aries instead of fighting from the moral ground he didn't have anyways.

"Okay?" She echoes.

"I didn't know him." He shrugged, lowering the wand and looking at the body a few feet away. Aries looked down at the body.

"I did." Her voice ached. "He may be a pig, but he didn't deserve this." Aries looked haunted, those empty eyes stared at them lifelessly. She turned back to him, putting her dagger back where it had been sheathed in her coat. "Let's go."

Scorpius was quiet, even though all he could think about was the way Aries looked back at that body. She recognized him. Knew him from being here with Selwyn. Perhaps someone she worked with closely. Did they eat lunch together? Swap stories? Or maybe she didn't like him at all, calling him a pig like that. Maybe they constantly argued over whatever Selwyn told them to do. Maybe the man hated her chaos and constantly looked for her weaknesses, a reason to take her place at Selwyn's side.

Aries didn't say anything other than leading them this way and that, avoiding large rooms, tucking them into uncomfortably close crevices of the castle as people walked by. All to save Michael- to save Scorpius. Aries drew them to a stop in the opening into a courtyard. There were at least four Zealots there, chatting amongst themselves.

The two of them hovered, unseen, in the opening. Aries turned to him. "Use your instinctual magic to get past them." She points across the courtyard to the doors. "Your wandless magic can blast those front doors open. After that, all you have to do is find your boyfriend and body. Then get the hell out of here." She faces him. They used hushed voices. But between the crashing waves and the loud talking of the zealots, it was unlikely anyone would hear them anyways.

"How can I do instinctual magic in Michael's body?" Scorpius gestures to himself, offering her wand back. He trusted she wasn't going to curse him- and considering they were clearly about to part ways, he had no other opportunity.

Aries took her wand, and her shoulders seemed to ease with tension. "Instinctual magic is the soul. It's not the physical. That barrier I took down was only on your conscience."

"Fine. Say I can do it." Scorpius looked over at the Zealots. "How is a rainstorm going to-"

"For a genius you can be real thick." Aries cut him off. "Create fog." He just looked at her like she'd grown antlers.

"How the hell am I supposed to do that?"

"You have elemental instinctual magic. Warm the air above the ground." She orders. Scorpius looked through the courtyard. The stone was cold. Fog was created through advection. Warmer air passing over cool surface air above the ground would create fog. But he'd never tried to warm the air before. He didn't know how. Aries sighs audibly. "Air is made of molecules. Heat comes from those molecules vibrating and moving faster. You can start a fire, so you can do this. Now focus."

Scorpius pressed a hand against the stone wall, and let out a slow breath to try to calm his racing heart. And he let all the negative emotions flow into him until that fire was in his veins. He stared over the stone ground, gauging how far he'd run to the doors. Michael's tired eyes and limbs shook at just the idea of having to run. The physical exhaustion that came from heavy magic would probably take him down. But what choice did he have? Aries couldn't go further- or she'd be caught.

He reached out instinctively, feeling how the air moved in front of him. His eyebrows furrowed, trying to imagine that air heating instead of blowing off the ocean. Vibrating. Warming up. It seemed impossible and slow at first, but then a cloud of fog rolled over the stone walls like smoke. Conjured from a divine being to bring death. There was a startled noise from one of Selwyn's watch dogs as they saw the fog swirling.

"You're improving." Aries acknowledged. "I don't expect to see you again soon." She adds as he faces her.

"Thanks for not stabbing me in the back this time." Scorpius says. Aries's eyebrows raised.

"Wow. Is that real gratitude?"

"I know. I'm surprised myself. Must be Michael's body having an effect on me." Scorpius jokes, stepping into the fog that now blanketed the courtyard. "See you across the battlefield."

"I'll be there." Aries promised.

And then he took off to the doors. His legs burned from the excursion. "Bombarda Maxima." There was the sound of the doors exploding to fragments in front of him. Scorpius strained Michael's body, and heard yelling in front and behind him. Aries voice rising up over the others to order them to find the prisoner. Playing her part.

Flashes of magic illuminated the fog in front of him. He didn't turn back. The cold stung his skin, the grass whipped at his shins as he struggled up the hill. Still hearing the Zealots searching for him, trying to clear the fog. He kept focus, kept that air warming over the cold.

He nearly plowed into Michael and Albus because he couldn't see them. Both of them startled and then relaxed when they saw him. Wow, it was weird to see your body from someone else's. Scorpius shoved that aside, and the two boys took a few seconds to change back into their own bodies.

Scorpius rubbed his grey eyes, and looked Michael up and down. But he knew the state of Michael's body first hand. "Do you know where Andromeda Tonks lives?" Scorpius offers himself as a crutch for a very worn out and tired Michael, but addresses Albus.

"Yeah. I haven't been there often but... yeah." Albus nods.

—-

Albus tagged along as they apparated back to Oliver's. Oliver only took one glance at the state of Michael before offering food and a bath. Scorpius told him just the food, because they were all leaving right away. Michael seemed too tired to argue. His slouch seemed to drag his feet. Raven sent a curious gander in Albus's direction, but no one commented on the fact he'd arrived with Scorpius and Michael.

Even Orion said nothing and busied himself with helping Michael. Narcissa took Scorpius's face in her hands and made sure he wasn't injured. After a moment of fussing she scolded him. Loudly- for everyone and even Michael to hear. "How dare you put yourself at risk! If it weren't for that soul bond you'd have better off left that Greengrass boy to the sharks." Scorpius shook his head, and put his hands over hers.

"Grandmother, he's my family." He told her. Narcissa scowls at the use of the word. She looked at Albus and the lines in her face deepened.

"Still hanging with this Potter boy."

"Hello Mrs. Malfoy." Albus greets kindly, regardless of her cruelty. He'd met her before. His face falls as though remembering what's happened since they've seen one another last. "I'm sorry for your losses." Narcissa let's her face blank from any emotion, not about to let anything show about her grief over her husband and son.

Narcissa doesn't say anything else, and leaves down the hallway. Scorpius turns to Albus, but something on his face must've said enough because the Potter boy spoke first.

"You don't have to apologize. I already know." Albus looked around the living room, probably taking in Oliver's new place. Not that he'd ever been in the old one. "So you think Andromeda will take you guys in?"

"Andromeda?" Orion walked away from where Michael was inhaling the first meal he'd had in over a day. "As in, my grandmother Andromeda?" Scorpius nodded.

"We're going to try."

"You mean you're going to play on her emotions and then manipulate her into taking you all in?" Albus plops down on the couch. Orion watched his movements and then looked back at Scorpius for confirmation.

"Well I plan to be subtle about it." Scorpius admits.

"That's why you don't want Michael to clean up here, right?" Albus sees through the plan immediately. Scorpius groans. When he puts it like that it really does sound manipulative. To leave Michael looking dirty and injured from the dungeon so that Andromeda would feel bad about turning them away.

"If it means I get a bed to sleep on tonight instead of a stone floor, I'll even pretend my leg is broken." Michael chimed in from the living room, clearly already feeling better from the food. Scorpius's stomach growled in response.

"You have a problem with it, then say so." Scorpius tells Albus, putting hands on his hips. Albus leans against the couch and looks up at the ceiling.

"I don't. I'll still take you where Andromeda lives." Albus relents. Scorpius turned to Orion, who suddenly looked really nervous.

"You've never met her." Scorpius addresses the Gryffindor. "Do you want to?"

"I don't know." Orion looks away from Scorpius and then glances back to Albus. It told Scorpius that whatever was about to come out of his mouth isn't the truth because Potter was here. "I can't wait." Scorpius frowned. Albus looked between them, like he was trying to deduce if anything had happened between them. The attention made Scorpius uncomfortable. It made Orion smug.

Scorpius would have to talk to Orion later. Now wasn't the time. "We'll leave in ten." He decided, raising his voice so that they could all hear him. Albus was about to protest since they'd just got there, but Oliver wandered over to say hi. Albus's face lit up when he saw the muggle boy. Oliver grinned in response. Scorpius left them to catch up, and joined Michael and Raven at the table.

Michael inhaled leftovers that Oliver had warmed for him. "I thought you'd leave me there." He tells Scorpius.

"I'm glad you have such faith in me." Scorpius snorts.

"I still hate body switching." Michael grimaced.

"It's come in useful twice now." Raven points out. "Maybe there's some other benefits to this soul bond thing."

"I'm not looking forward to finding out." Michael grumbles. Scorpius somewhat agreed with him. As it stood, the soul bond was more of a burden than it was worth. It rendered the other useless if one went down. Scorpius bites his lip in thought. They had no idea where to begin to break that bond. But in the meantime, it was worth it to train Michael. He may have graduated Hogwarts, but his offensive and defensive magic needed brushing up on. Scorpius recalled how quickly that cruciatus curse had brought him to the pavement outside of the Black house. Only because someone got to Michael.

He was the last of the Greengrass line. Perhaps he had some instinctual magic that Scorpius could trigger. Unfortunately, Scorpius had no idea how to take that wall down in his conscience. And it was too dangerous to go back to Aries so quickly. She'd risked enough today.

He'd have to go back to the manor. There had to be a book there that would help. The Malfoy Library rivaled Hogwarts for knowledge. Maybe he'd do that tonight. After settling in at Andromeda's and when the others were asleep.

"When we're at Andromeda's I'll begin training you." Scorpius decided aloud. Michael drank something from a mug, it looked like tea.

"I don't need training." His cousin protested. If Michael wasn't so tired, he probably would've given Scorpius a condescending glare.

"Voodoo isn't going to protect you from the killing curse." Scorpius points out. Michael rolls his eyes. "We're ahead of Selwyn. But if he kidnaps you again, I can't guarantee I'll be able to save you."

"Save the lecture for someone who cares." Michael was cold. Scorpius huffs in irritation.

"I'll train with you." Raven suggests. Scorpius rose an eyebrow as his twin.

"You can handle yourself."

"Yes, but you know a lot more than I do about it. You trained with Aries. You know the Dark Arts their using." She busies herself with tying her hair into a couple braids as she spoke. "And now that they are controlling Dementors..."

"Very well." Scorpius agrees. "I'll try to teach you Occlumency too. If I'm a Legillimen it means Daniel could be too. Even if he hasn't succeeded at it yet, I'm not underestimating him. He's the one who must be controlling the Dementors."

"Under Selwyn's orders." Orion sits down.

"Maybe." Scorpius corrects. "Daniel's a loose canon. We don't know what his motives are. Selwyn, he's transparent." Raven stood up.

"These aren't battles anymore." She finished her last braid. They were all quiet for a few moments. "I'll grab our bags and grandmother. Andromeda awaits."

—-

Albus leaves the group on the front porch of Andromeda's home. It was beautiful, judging from the outside. In a mostly muggle neighborhood. Narcissa looked nervous, standing behind the others. Like she was almost scared of seeing her sister again. Scorpius chewed on his bottom lip, taking a glance at Raven- who stood beside Michael. He knew she was on standby in case he collapsed.

Scorpius finally touched the knocker on the huge front door, and banged twice. He took a step back as the front door opened. Teddy Lupin answered. He graduated from Hogwarts a few years ago. Everyone loved him, and he was Head Boy of hufflepuff in school. His hair was blueberry, his eyes bright and matching. He was a Metamorphmagus; like his deceased mother Nymphadora Tonks. Skin was fair and pink toned. But all his features he could change at will if he wanted.

Despite all the media flashing Scorpius in the papers lately, he smiled when he sees him. "Hey." He glances back at the others, and that goofy grin slowly fades. Andromeda and Teddy never attended Malfoy parties. And other than formal events that Scorpius would go to with his mother, he hadn't really talked much to either of them aside from chit chat. And that was over two years ago.

"I'm looking for your grandmother? Andromeda?" Scorpius prompts. "We're unexpected." He acknowledges by way of apologizing. Teddy nods, taps the doorframe with his hand.

"I'll go get her. You mind waiting?" He left the door open as he retreated into the house. Scorpius didn't move to walk inside, figuring as much respect he could show, would go a long way.

"So that's my cousin." Orion murmurs. Scorpius looked at him.

"Remus Lupin and Nymphadora's son." He nodded.

"Is he straight?" Orion whispered with a joking grin. Scorpius gave a laugh.

Andromeda comes to the door with Teddy beside her. "Scorpius Malfoy. It's been a long time since seeing you." She greets, just as warmly as Teddy had greeted him. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm actually going to ask if we could stay here awhile." Scorpius shifts in his feet, gesturing to those behind him. Andromeda looks at the others, pausing briefly on Orion- like he reminded her of someone. He should- they were all related. Then she sees her sister. Narcissa steps up, and Scorpius could see her hands shaking.

"Dromeda." Narcissa greets. The similarities between them were uncanny. They definitely were sisters, and their old ages hadn't been able to hide that. Everyone watched quietly, wondering how this reunion was going to play out. Andromeda regarded Narcissa carefully, and then finally pulled her in for a hug.

"Of course you all can stay." She finally says when she pulls away, only looking at her sister. Teddy beams, and gestures for them all to come inside. "Oh dear, what happened to you my boy?" Andromeda wonders as Michael staggers inside.

"Some pure-blood supremacist locked me up in a creepy sex dungeon." Michael responds. Raven covers her mouth to keep from laughing. Andromeda's eyebrows rose, but she only told Teddy to start some tea.

Scorpius waited until everyone else was inside before peering to the street they'd come from. No one was in sight.

The house was big enough that it reminded Scorpius of the House of Black. It didn't look as ancient, but it was still just as beautiful. Narcissa and Andromeda disappeared somewhere, presumably to talk and catch up. Scorpius doubted it was all going to be hugs and smiles. Teddy lead them upstairs and pointed out some guest rooms they could use and the bathrooms. Michael took it upon himself to go clean up, giving a quiet thanks in Teddy's direction. Raven set the bags down in a room, and Teddy continued to give a tour.

When he was done, he faced them. "I read about what's been going on."

"The papers only cover half of it." Scorpius informed him. "The half that gets people to read." Teddy smiles at him.

"It's an interesting thing you showed up today."

"Why's that?" Scorpius asks, following Teddy back downstairs. Orion and Raven in tow.

"Andromeda and I got an invitation to a meeting in three weeks." Teddy begins. "People are talking about a Ministry Reform. And the heart of those rumors is from Argulus Selwyn. The Ministry is hunting him. He's using it to his advantage."

"How?"

"The Minister of Magic, Granger-Weasley, made a call to let him out of Azkaban because he showed potential for rehabilitation." Scorpius remembered. The way that Cypress looked at the Daily Prophet all those months ago in the Black house, speaking words of caution. "From what I hear in Diagon Alley, he's using that as an example. That the Ministry is weakened by muggle-borns, corrupt." Scorpius couldn't say he didn't agree. He's never had an optimistic attitude towards the Ministry of Magic. But he didn't believe it was the muggleborns that did it. "They let him out, and now they are trying to find him. Because he's actually speaking out against him."

"He's done a lot worse than just speak against the Ministry." Raven added in. Teddy nods.

"That's why the Aurors are hunting him. But it's made little difference. In three weeks he's holding a meeting. He's trying to raise more followers. That's what we were invited to."

Scorpius's eyebrows furrowed. "He's using old tactics."

"What do you mean?" Orion wonders.

"In the first wizarding war Grindelwald raised support through public speeches." Scorpius considered this a moment. "Grindelwald used people as weapons too." Teddy lead them into a room. It looked like a study, but one look at the walls and anyone could tell it had become more than that. Papers were pinned up, statistics of the last wars printed