London, near the big ben.

A young man and woman walked besides the shores of the river themes. The golden light if the bussy city shone in the soft waves of the water, making it sparkel like thousands of golden diamants. Their arms were hooked into each other and they smiled, though the girl smiled more than the boy. They both wore a scarf with a different collor, the boy a green one and the girl a blue one.

Slytherin and Ravenclaw.

The two young wizzards were both in their final year of their school time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Only a bit more than a month to go before the new year starts, and like any other couple these two decided to spend their summer break together. The boy seemed absend minded, the wint blowing through his short black hair. He had been thinking about one thing for the entire night and he had to say it.

‘’Ceres’’ His voice speaking clear. The young man let go of Ceres her arm and stepped infront of her, a serious glint in his eye’s. ‘’I am sorry, but I do not think things will work out between us’’ He said, finally telling her what he wanted to tell her all long. Ceres stepped towards hi mand looked him straight in the eye. ‘’Levi, what do you mean? Is this a joke’’ Ceres said a bit angry, she knew that Levi liked to tease her. Levi however, stepped back form Ceres and looked at the water. ‘’I am truely sorry but honestly my parents are against it and I am not feeling like I used to feel like I was with you’’

Ceres, who had always had a short fuse, raised her voice as she unleashed her waterfall of words. ‘’Against it, AGAINST IT. Oh I see, there are still idiots who think like the old system, before he-who-shall-not-be-named was destroyed . Ahaha look at me I am Levi Mercury, my pureblood family is to good for a normal wizzard family like the Solar family’’ Ceres spat out and Levi looked saddened. He balded his fist before he put on a neuteral face. He folded his arms as his grinned. ‘’Yes, indeed. Now leave me alone, you muggle born. Mud-blood’’ He said spitting out his venemous words. He turned around and without a word he walked away, his frock coat moving in the wind. ‘’THATS ALL!’’ She shouted as a tear fell out of her blue eye.’’THATS ALL THERE WAS TO TWO YEARS. AND I AM NOT A MUGGLE BORN, IDIOT!’’ Ceres could not believe that there were still people, wizards who thought that way.

---

Ceres sat on her bed, her knees touched her chin and her arms were wrapped around her legs. Her cheeks were still sticky from the tears she had shed. Why had he left her like this, why not dump her in the beginning of the evening. Her moping and sadness had not dulled her sharp senses as sh noticed that the precence she had felt around her house the pas few night had reappeared again. Whoever it was, they started to apear ever since the weird snake like symbol was cast upon her left arm. Her right arm moved and slowly she traced her hand over the symbol. I t was weird and omnious, and Ceres had no idea what it could mean.

A blue light appeared outside her window and with a crashing sound it broke to a thousand pieces. As fast as lightning Ceres took a firm hold of her wand and pointe dit at the glass and the spell that followed it.

‘’Impervius’’ She chanted and the glass got repelled back. As the glass sharts were still falling to the ground A few figures clad in a pitch black cloak entered her house. Their faces hiddes by the hoods of their cloak. Ceres had no idea who these people where and what they wanted from her, but she was not planning to find out. One figure stepped forwards, his wand pointed at her heart. The wand was odly familliar, yet she could not see it very good in the darkness of the night. A light appeared at the tip as the man wispered an incantation. ‘’ Sectumsempra’’ She said making a slashing movement with her wand. The man fell down, clutching his shoulder as her sword cutting spell had taken effect. Making use of the confusion Ceres ran out of her room, thanking the gods that her parents and sister were out shopping in Diagon Ally. She ran down the stairs and slammed the front door open, … only to see more of the cloaked people standing. She trew the door back in its lock in a split second and rushed to the back door, her path was blocked there by other Cloaks. They had her surrounded. The group inced closer and closer tot he girl as he desperatly pointed her wand from Cloak to Cloak. They were like a pack of wolf, well organized and ready for the kill.

Slowly Ceres inced towards the fire place, and then an idea struck her mind. Besides the fireplace stood a bowl containing floo powder. Slowly but surely Ceres made her way towards the bowl and kicked it over, spreading the powder infront of the fireplace.

‘’Auror Office!’’ She said as the powder took activated.

‘’ Crucio ‘’ A womanly voice said as a thin white hand appeared from the black cloak. One of the three unforgivable curses was cast upon the girl, and pain hit every fiber of her body. Falling down on the ground Ceres knew that she had to get away. Her hand wiped the floo powder into the fireplace, barely able to move because of the pain coursing though her body. She managed to roll herself into the fire place and the floo powder took effect.

Accompanied with a lot of ashes, Ceres rolled onto the floor of the Auror office entrance hall. She moved uncontrollably on the ground as the curse was still in affect. One of her legs kicked something over that stood near their fireplace and it came falling down with a loud crash, alurting anyone that was nearby. Tears streamed down her face as they mixed with the black ashes, smuding her face.
‘’Help’’ was all she could manage to say. Someone had to help her.

Central London
2018, July 27th
3:18 pm

“Stop running now!”

Crixus flicked his wand in a circular motion, a red spell came out of the tip of his wand and traveled through the air and straight into the shield of the man in front of him. Crixus jumped over the trash can as it was thrown down into his path by the man he pursued. Raising his wand Crixus gritted his teeth as he blocked the curse deflecting into the building beside him, the bricks exploded harshly creating a gaping hole in its side. Crixus upped his running speed as he breathed quickly through his mouth and nose.

“Stop damn it! Your only making this worse on yourself!”

Crixus flicked his wand again simultaneously as three red bolts left his wand and went straight for the mans back. The man in front of him turned and came to a dead stop as he flourished his wand and block every single one of the bolts deflecting them away. With another flick of his wand a green curse left his wand, Crixus flew sideways and smacked the concrete as the killing curse soared above him disappearing into the disappearance. Looking up the man pointed his wand again and fired another green curse at Crixus, twisting his body he rolled sideways across the concrete as the spell smacked the road leaving black deep marks within it. Crixus rolled onto his stomach and swished his wand from on the ground just before the man pulled off another killing curse on him. The curse left his own wand striking the man dead center in the chest, he flew off his feet and bodily went through the air before smacking the ground hard head first, flipping over he hit his stomach and slid down the concrete leaving a small trail of blood. Crixus slowly got to his feet gritting his teeth in pain, he had skinned the living hell out of himself, blood was dripping down his side against his black shirt which had been burned through from sliding on the concrete.

Crixus approached the man cautiously, kicking the wand away he bent down and turned him over. The mans eye's looked up lifeless from the ground. Putting tow fingers to his artery in his neck there was no pulse he was dead. The curse hadn't killed him, but the large wound in his head from landing so hard seemed to be the culprit. Crixus groaned as he walked to the curve and sat down upon it. He could at least be thankful that this chase had taken place in a pretty abandoned piece of London, he did not have the patience at that moment to deal with muggle police men, that meant a shit ton of paperwork in the end, plus a written deposition to the Muggle Minster as well detailing the incident. Crixus pushed his hand into his pocket and removed a small coin from his pocket, he turned it in his hands three times and spoke.

“I need a recovery team, we got a dead DW, make it quick there are no civies but that doesn't mean it will stay that way.”

There was a rather loud snap to Crixus's left moments later, looking over two other Aurors had already appeared a small ways away from him, they both began flicking their wands, they were putting up the counter protection spells so that the area was kept invisible to any possible muggle who could happen across the scene.

“You all right Crixus, you look like you took a bid of a pounding, let me take a look.”

Crixus flinched as the Auror lifted his arm up looking at the skid mark that went down his side.

“Doesn't look too bad I can mend it for you in a cinch.”

Crixus kept his arm up as the Auror whom was known as Percius pointed his wand at his wound. There was a slight sting and then the pain was instantly relieved on Crixus's side. Standing up Crixus walked across the road with Percius whom examined the body on the ground himself.

“He didn't leave me much choice, I tried to keep him alive by hitting him with a knock back curse but the blasted landed him on his head and busted his skull open. What ever happened to the time when they would rather live then die in the end?”

“Yeah right, there was never a time when that was so Crixus, sad truth is these dark wizards would sooner die then end up in Azkaban. You can head home if you like me and Lucius can take care of the scene its fairly late.”

“Thanks Percius I will head back to the Ministry I might as well get a heads up on the paperwork, you sure your got it? I could do something before I go at least to lessen the burden.”

“Nah its okay brother me and Lucius will have this all processed in no time, besides Mr. Potter is probably curious about what happened out here.”

Crixus nodded as he took out his wand, raising his arm he felt phantom pain from the healed wound on his side, he knew it wasn't there but damn it sure felt like it was there. With a swish of his wand Crixus was squeezed through what felt like an electrical wire, the scenery quickly changed to a downtown bathroom, unlike during the day it was completely empty now, Crixus made his way inside as a lonely wizard made his way out to home.

“Tough day at the office Crix?”

“Same old same old Bill, evil wizard with a death wish.”

“Makes me glad I transferred to the underage magic division, I just deal with kids who can't resist showing muggles magic all day.”

Both of the men laughed lowly as they went their seperate ways, Crixus walked into the stall closing the door. Walking forward he stepped in the toilet, pulling the chain there was a flush, the scenery changed again as he entered the Ministry through one of the various gleaming fire places in a swirl of green fire like magic. Crixus made his way down the black gleaming marble of a floor, looking above he saw a huge moving banner of the current Minister of Magic looming above the main hall where the huge fountain lay. Moving to the elevator he climbed in grabbing one of the leather straps above as the elevator rushed off at a good speed. Reaching the Auror Division Crixus walked out into what would in five more hours be a bustling room full of people. Crixus made his way down to the end of the hall. Turning the corner Crixus walked the long hallway down to the end office which belong to Harry Potter.

Crixus knocked on the door, within a few moments he was called in as the door opened itself. Walking into the very large oval like office the door shut gently behind Crixus as he approached the large antique black desk and took a seat in front of it. Harry Potter sat behind the desk, his head was down at some paperwork in front of him, he adjusted his glass slightly before taking a quill and writing his name down on the piece of parchment and then flicked his wand sending it on its way out a small hole in the wall above the door. Looking up he smiled at Crixus and sat back in his chair, Crixus removed the sunglasses from his face setting them on the desk.

“Crixus I am glad your safe and sound and could make it here so promptly, please tell me what has transpired with your current assignment before we proceed to other business.”

“Dead. Intel was correct, the target dark wizard was exactly where our sources placed him. I infiltrated the location, a small duel erupted to which he fled out a side exit. We proceeded on foot through and the abandoned section of town, he refused to yield and then in desperation fired the killing curse at me. I tried to keep him alive but my spell knocked him off his feet and down onto his head killing him. I suffered minor injuries, Percius fixed me up. Aside from the paperwork thats in order this case can officially be closed.”

“Sad tidings but like any Wizard he made his choice when he tried to kill you. Assuming that there was no muggle's present during the battle we can avoid informing the Muggle Minister about the event. He had been rather peaked lately with all the muggle killings by this mysterious group that has arisen and I don't think he would take the news of a all out duel being witnessed by non magical folk.”

Crixus sat back in the chair grimacing at the aches in his body, it was too bad the wound was healed but not the other small affects of taking a nose dive into the concrete. Compared to pushing up daisies as the muggle say a little ache and pain was nothing.

“Thank you for your prompt report, now go home and get some rest, the paperwork can wait Crix. Consider that an order.”

Crixus opened his mouth to argue staying but he just smiled a little and picked up his sunglasses placing them back across his eyes.

“Good night Mr. Potter, if I may be so bold you try to get some rest too I am sure Mrs. Potter is missing you terribly.”

Harry nodded to Crixus waving him off, Crixus walked back into the empty Auror Office and made his way for the elevator. He however suddenly became frozen when he heard a something breaking in the distance and a low plea for help. Crixus swished his wand from the leather holder on his upper arm as he looked around silently in the darkened area. Crixus waved his wand as the tip lite up brightly illuminating the area around him.

“Hello? I swear on all that is right in this world if your all playing another prank your taking your lives in your hand..”

Crixus spoke half bemused thinking it just another joke to break through the long nights, however when he looked towards the elevator he realize there was a shadow hanging within the public floo entrance. He quickly dashed forward, he slid upon the ground as he approached realizing that there was woman half in and half out of the floo entrance.

“Hey are you okay? What are you doing here?”

Crixus touched his hand to the womans arm an felt a rather cold shockwave from the touch, that was a sign of the Crucio curse being used on her. Crixus pointed his wand at the young woman and swished it silently, he slowly moved it over her body.

“This should help you to feel better..”

Crixus reached into his pocket and removed the coin again and flipped it four times in his hand and spoke into it:

“Mr. Potter I need your assistance immediately, there is a young woman, around the age of twenty in the entrance floo network, request medical the Crucio curse has been used on her.”

Crixus reached back down and placed his hand on the side of the young womans head.

“Help is on the way just try to remain still the Crucio curse will take time to wear off completely.”

Crixus stood silently in the medical wing inside the Ministry, the young woman was inside still be attended too by the medical staff. Looking down at his hand there was a rather nasty burn mark from where he had touched the womans arm, whoever used Crucio on her was a rather nasty individual for that was no normal curse, this one was meant to hurt out of spite. Crixus looked beside himself as Mr. Potter stepped beside him.

“How is she?”

“Healer says she is stable and the pain should be subsiding from the curse, other then that I don't rightly know. This whole situation reeks of mystery so far and I don't like it. I don't know who used that curse on her but they were of a nasty sort I can tell you that much, it was strong and deviating too boot, I am surprised she is as well off as she was when I found her.”

“Let her rest for now, the answers will come.”

Crixus nodded as the Healers came out of the room and slipped down the hallway, Crixus slowly pushed open the door and entered. He walked silently up beside the bed, pulling a chair over quietly he sat down next to the woman. Patience was not one of his virtues and the moment she wanted to talk he was going to be waiting by.

Ceres felt the cold marble of the big black tiles on the ground pressing against her skin. She lay here all alone, who knows when those people would come after her. She was afraid and in unbearable pain. In what felt like an eternety to the young woman Finally some rushed footsteps could be heard. They aproached her, and a heavy male voice asked her what she was doing here.

‘slowly dying’ was the tought that crossed her mind. The intense pain convinced her that she had misheard the curse casted upon her and that the killing curse had hit her. She screamed in pain, wishing that if death was needed for the pain to stop, she would take it. She faintly noticed how the man laid his hand on her arm and quickly retreated it. What was he going to do? In the corner of her tear filled eye she saw how he moved his wand over her body, and the burning pain subsided for a bit. Her screamed died down tol oud wimpers of pain, resounding through the empty hall.

Words were spoken but they sounded like echo’s to her. She heard a few words and the word Potter, fell.’ Potter, like in Harry potter, the boy who lived’ Was the tought that crossed Ceres her mind. Again the man laid his hand on her body, this time he softly pressed against her temple and spoke to her, this time she heard him. Slowly Ceres nodded as she curled her body into a fetal position, pressing her hands against her chest. The was relieved as she heard the pain would go away, this small ray of light was all she needed for now.

Sooner thans he expected she was surrouned by people in white and the soothing voice that had talked to her dissapeared within the noises of the medics. Last thing she remembered is that her limp body got lifte onto a brancard. The lightnof the ceiling flashing by her.

---

Slowly Ceres inched her eye’s open, not enough to indicate that she was awake but just enough to look through her eyelashes. The events of the past night replayed themselfs in her head and the words of the crucio curse echoed in her head. With a loud gasp and a sudden moement, Ceres jerked her body upwards as she sat up straigt in the hospital bed. Shocked and in panic she looked around her and saw a man, compleatly dressed in black sitting besides her.

Black

Panicking even more Ceres searched desperatly for her wand but she could not find it.

‘’No!’’ She shouted and tried to crawl away. This resulted in her falling from the bed, from the opposite site of where the man sat. Unsteady on her legs Ceres ran away only to findt out that her legs felt like jelly to her, and she fell tot he ground again. Her body trembled as she remembered those cold and dripping with venom word, Crucio. She pressed herself to the ground, her long brown hair covering her face as the fear rushed through her veins, without her wand she was helpless. A sitting duck. Her left side was towarsd the man and her arm with the mark was clearly visable. She was still in pain, it took away her abilety to think with commen sense, all she knew was that she had to find her wand and get away from the people in black.

Crixus sat silently in the chair, his head was leaned back his eye's closed but he was not sleeping but merely thinking. Not as much of the woman before him but of other things that conflicted his mind. The darkness behind his eyelids seemed almost like a movie theater playing a film, the images flashing past him like film from a camera.

"Aren't you ever lonely?”

Crixus sat with his knee's to his chest, his back leaned against the old stone wall of the Hogwarts entrance hall. His eye's were trained on the ground, his arms and legs trained on his knee's. The question went through his mind as he thought about what answer he might give, but the truth was that there was no answer to the question because he did not know what anything else felt like. Crixus sat there for what seemed like forever staring at the floor before he finally looked up at Kate who had her eye's trained on his. She had that look in hers, the same look she had when she was trying to break through to him, get inside and try to help him. He knew already she would not easily give up, if at all so he would just have to answer the question.

“I don't know what it feels like to not be lonely Kate so I can not honestly answer your question. I am not like you, I am not popular, I am not outgoing, I am not loved by someone... I am just... me.”

Kate shook her head slowly indicating that she was not going to accept the same old answer he always gave when she tried to talk with him. She slid her back down the wall and sat next to him, she raised her arm and put it around his neck as she shook him, and tried to cheer him up, make him smile, do anything really. Crixus turned his head once again to meet her gaze before she spoke:

“Loves not all its cracked up to be Crixus, in a way I envy you for not knowing it. Love is very complicated and causes nothing but trouble. An you always worry about that special person and you go through everything with them knowing you can't take away their pain.”

Crixus looked at Kate she smiled her famous smile that had become one of her three top gestures which told you to stop moping a cheer the heck up before she bopped you on the head.

“From the way you describe it, it sounds like its not worth loving anybody. It just sounds like you go through more pain then you do if your just alone. But... it doesn't really matter for me anyways, I don't even... know what love would feel like none the less find it.”

Kate bopped him over the back of his head with her palm, he cringed at the shot which was direct and meant as a subtle wake up call. He looked away from her as he trained his eye's back on the ground listening to her speak again:

“You know what love is, we all do Crixus, we are all born knowing exactly what love is, you just have not given yourself the chance to see it. Love is many things at once, its a good feeling even if there is also bad. Its butterflies in your stomach, its that feeling deep inside that's warm and good, its... a feeling that you find when you least expect to find it. Its that one person you want to share your life with, to tell them all the little things deep down inside that your afraid to tell anyone else... even your best friend.”

Crixus felt a tear falling down his cheek as he didn't bother to wipe it away, he was tired, so very tired of not feeling like there was any reason to exist. A lot of people wanted money, or to be rich or famous... all he ever wanted was someone who saw him the same way he saw himself, deep on the inside.

“I am lonely Kate, I have always been that way, I sit here and watch the world pass by, I see people together with each other... I see the affection and I see the feelings they have for each other. An even more so it hurts to know that I can't feel it too. I don't know how to even begin to try, all I can ever see when I wake up each day is my past... a dark past that no one would understand. I see a bleak and desolate gray world that has no color. I walk through life just a virtual ghost, and no one ever see's me... you remain to be the only one who saw me in the darkness. You sacrifice so much more and getting nothing in return, and I don't understand even why you do this. I thought maybe it was love but I know its not because it still hurts deep down inside.”

Crixus wiped the tears from his cheeks as he felt a soft hand grab his chin, his head was turned sideways as his eye's meant Kate green orbs, she was smiling again.

“It is love silly just a different kind, its a love we all have when we find someone who needs us even if that person is not that one special person we spend our lives with. No one is destined to walk their entire life alone Crixus, not even someone like you. An if you want to know, I sacrifice for you because I choose too, I truly believe deep in my heart that one day your going to be very important to someone. That even if you don't know it your going to become that one special person to someone else, an they are going to need you just like you will need them. Regardless of who you are or what you have done, I will always stand by your side as long as you need me too and well... even if you don't.”

Kate elbowed him playfully in the side as he smiled a very small by sly smile. Kate grabbed at his arm as she got him too his feet and quickly dusted him off.

“Now! Seeming you chose to skip dinner again... I have convinced our lovely house elves in the kitchen to prepare you a late meal so you don't waste away. An this time your going to eat every bite or so help me ill bind you and force feed you.”

The thought lingered in his mind like a good smelling perfume did, it was a memory of both sadness and joy combined into one. Crixus felt himself sink in the chair as he crossed his arms, he head went sideways as the tendrils of sleep slowly started to invade his body the exhaustion catching up with him. Crixus was suddenly awake as he heard a loud scream right next to him, he sprung to his feet the wand was in his hand almost immediately as his eye's were doing three sixties trying to find the source of the scream. Crixus looked down to see the woman from before laying on the ground trying to move away from him, it was in that moment when she moved slightly to the left that he saw the mark upon her arm, his eye's widened upon seeing it... that was the mark of the mysterious faction they had been trying to locate without any success. The thoughts began to form in his head, things suddenly seemed to start making more sense, her arrival, the Crucio curse, the attack, she was targeted and she escaped... Crixus shook his head realizing all too late that he must have reminded her of the attackers and she was trying to flee him. Placing his wand away he quickly came to her side kneeling down.

"Hey.. Hey! Its okay your safe, your in the hospital wing of the Ministry, I work for the Auror Office, I am the one that found you earlier, your in no danger I assure you please calm down or your going to hurt yourself. Come on you need to get back in bed and rest.

Crixus bent down to pick her up hoping that she was not going to struggle, at this moment in her weakness she probably couldn't fight him off just yet either way. Hooking one arm under her legs and the other around her shoulders he picked her up from the floor and turned placing her back in the bed. Crixus glanced at the mark on her arm again, it moved silently like something was beneath the skin, there was no doubt it was the mark of forthcoming death. He wanted to let her rest but that mark changed everything, he needed to know what she saw because it was now possible her life was in danger. Looking at her spoke as gently as he could muster under the circumstances.

"Can you tell me what happened to you?"

''I wonder if Ceres will find my wand pretty'' Minthe said happy as she waved her wand around like she was already casting spells. ''Now, now Minthe, calm down. You cannot show you wand nor your magic to muggles, wait with waving your wand until you actually can perform a spell properly'' The man, clearly her father said as he laid his hand on the shoulder of Minthe. John was so very proud that his second daughter had gotten her inventation to become a student of Hogwards. Minthe was excited as well, would she be placed in Ravenclaw just like her sister. ‘’Leviosá, leviossaaa’’ Minthe said already practicing a spell all first years learned. Ofcourse she pronounced it the wrong way so no magic was used, nor seen. With a smile and her arms full of bags she insisted to carry herself Minthe opened the front gate to their home. The smile dissapeared from her face as she looked at the front door.

‘’Mother, father, did we not close the front door when we left?’’ She asked as her father pushed his daughter to the side and walked infront of them. His hand slipped into his jacket and dipped his wand out of one of the pockets. ‘’Maybe Ceres is home’’ Demi mentioned as she looked up to her daughters room. With a gasp she rushed to the side of her husband and tugged his sleeve. ‘’The window, look the window’’ She said an pointed to the shattered glass that was once the window of Ceres room. ‘’Stay back’’ He said and rushed inside his own house. It felt eery and dangerous in there, like dark magic had coursed through his family home.

‘’Ceres!’’ He shouted, but only silence awnsered his desperate call. He switched on the light, that still worked and looked around the living room. There was a huge mess infront of the fire place and floo power lay all over the ground. The moment John stepped towards the floo powder a pain struck his head as he fell to the ground. Dark magic, very dark and tainted magic had been used here.
Quickly John grabbed his pocked watch and opened it. He turned the arms of the clock to 2 O’clock and waited until he got someone of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement on the line. He hoped that one of his colleague’s was still awake.

‘’John, wazzap bruh. How can I help you tonigth’’ A cheery voice said. John sighed, of all the people to put on the night shift they choose this perticular person. ‘’Gullen, can you inform the Auror office that we have a case of dark magic being used at my own home, Rosehill 42, London. And file in a missing wizzard report. My daughter has been kidnapped or worse’’ John said hasted. He had hear rumours of this new organization, still nameless. They seemed to treath in the foodsteps of the death eaters, and if that was true.
‘’who, who, calm down man. Who of the two are missing, and dark magic? Are you sure?’’ Gullen said his tone of voice becoming a bit more serious.
‘’Ceres, and yes I am serious’’ John’s voice grew impacient. What if Ceres had been killed by that new group.

‘’Father, is Ceres in danger?’’ Minthe said while putting down her bags and looking around the room. The mess clearly shocked the eleven year old girl. ‘’Dear?’’ Demi asked, unsure of the situation. Just when John wanted to console his family Gullen called back through the pocked watch.
‘’Jo, I have informed the auror office. But listen tot his, according to Milsa, the nurse from the hospital wing of the Ministry a girl appeared from the floo network and was hit by a Crusio curse. She is right now in the care of the auror office. Doens’t your ceres have long brown hair and blue eye’s?’’ Gulled said and a ray of hope hit the desperate father. ‘’Roger, I will come over. If my daughter is there than I have to see that for my self and ask her what happened’’ John ended the conversation and closed the watch as he walked to the fireplace.’’ Lets go to the Ministry, there is a possebilety that Ceres is there’’ John grabbed some floo powder and trew it in the fire, before jumping through the thing, followed by Demi and Minthe. As fast as he could John ran towards the hospital wing.

Their path was obstructed by two aurors who stood guard infront of the wing.

‘’let us through, my daughter might be in there’’ His mouth spoke hasted as he tried to walk past the guards. He was stopped however in his tracks.

‘’No one is allowed inside without the appovel of mister Potter’’

---

Ceres stopped resisting the moment she recognized the voice that spoke to her. Silently she looked at the man as he carried her towards the bed she had just now tried to flee O so desperate. The man of last night made the turmoil in her head calm down for a bit as she clinged to his jacket. Leaning on her arms, Ceres sat up straight in the bed and looked at the man.

‘’I do not know’’ She said her voice trembling from the overuse of her damaged muscles. ‘’One moment I was sitting in my room and the next moment a curs was trown at me. My window was destroyed and several people wearing black cloaks entered my room’’ She said looking intot the eye’s of the man. The icy pale hand that had casted the crusio curs returned as a unwanted and painfull memorie that someone, no mutlible indiiduals had tried to kill her. Slowly she let her hand go over the cursed mark, trying to hide it from vieuw. ‘’I tried to fight but there were so many of them, I could only escape’’ Ceres explained more, trying to squeeze out every bit of information she could give the aurorer. She diggled her fingers into the matrass and felt the sheets between her fingers. She wanted Levi, she wanted him to hug her right no wand tell her that everything would be alright. It was but a far off dream for the heartbroken young witch. Wiping away her silent tears Ceres looked at the man once again, she had to admit that she found him quite handsome and had no idea why a man like him was at the auror office.

‘’Thank you’’ She said, trying to set her feet ont he ground. The attempt was futile but at least she had tried. ‘’You lifted the curse from my body, My name is Ceres. Ceres Solar, maybe you have heard of John Solar, he works at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement’’ She said with a faint smile before her eye’s widened.
‘’My family, maybe they also went after my family’’ Ceres panicked.

Crixus nodded silently as the news was rather grim, the way she described it they had come at it with little to no warning and they came in a group to ensure the job got done. But the question was why they had went after her at all, the group only went after muggles and if she was the daughter of John Solar then there would be no reason to go after her. An to go after the child of someone who worked in the Department themselves was rather gutsy which showed they had no fear either. Crixus messed with the sunglasses on his nose as these thoughts went through his head, there had to be something he was missing, that was entirely possible seeming this had all be so sudden.

"Stay calm Mrs. Solar I will have your family checked on immediately, I do know your father, not personally but I have often talked to him around the office, he is a great wizard I am sure he is fine. You were quite brave to make this far and under the Crucio curse, I can see that the strength your father possesses is also inside you as well."

Crixus smiled trying to lighten the moment for her, it was a weak attempt but he was not usually the one who spoke to people under such dire circumstances, that was the area of Harry Potter, he was the one with the silver tongue around the office. Crixus lifted his head up as he heard a commotion outside the ward, getting up he went to the door and looked into the hallway, down at the end John Solar was being detained by the two guarding Aurors. Good.. he was okay that was if nothing else a relief to him. Turning Crixus smiled at Ceres.

"Your family seems safe as can be Mrs. Solar they are here right now, I will go and inform the guards that they can be permitted through. My name is Crixus by the way, I have no last name.. long story so feel free to call me Mr. Crix or just Crix if you like either is fine."

Crixus nodded his head and walked out of the room, trodding down the hallway he came to the two stationed Aurors and walked between them.

"Mr. Solar it is good to see you safe, before you ask your daughter is safe and recuperating, my apologies for your being detained but we are trying to ensure that whoever did this does not try and do it again here. I can escort you to your daughter, but I request that under the circumstances that you give me your wands just in case."

John understood more then enough that he would not get through unless he followed the procedures, he had been there before so he knew better then anyone it was the only way. Both John and his wife produced their wands and handed them to Crixus, looking down at the young woman with them she was clutching a wand of her own.

"I will need your wand wand as well young miss, you will get it back I promise you we just want to ensure that Mrs. Solar remains safe, I will keep your wand protected myself and I am the best protection around."

The young woman smiled slightly as he directed his words towards her

she relinquished her wand but still a bit unwillingly. Crixus motioned his hand to the hall and had the family follow him through. Crixus lead them to their daughters room and motioned them inside. Turning he motioned for the two guards to approach.

"No on else enters unless given special permission by me or Mr. Potter, keep an eye on them just in case, keep your bases covered gentleman as the muggles like to say."

The men nodded their understanding, soon enough Crixus found himself in Harry Potters office again, the sun was just barely rising now and dawn was on the way, the night had gone so bloody fast. Harry Potter looked rather grim having heard the news of the curse mark on Ceres's shoulder, both knew what it meant.

"What are we going to do Mr.Potter we both know that mark means they will try again. An as far as we know they have a rather impressive rate of completing their tasks. Not to mention from what she told me they sent a task force practically to kill her, either they were expecting resistance from her father or they prefer to travel in large groups when they track their targets and murder them. I don't even understand why they would attack her to begin with, they only go after muggles so it doesn't even make sense."

Harry Potter signed as he put his head in his hands, that was never a good sign it meant he was going to reveal something he would rather not say but had no real choice.

"Understand that this stays within the walls of this office, no one is to know especially the family and specifically Ceres Solar herself. Only I and her immediate family are aware of this, but given the circumstances it is prudent you know. Ceres Solar is muggle born, her family was murdered during Voldemorts reign, they were just few of the causalities his death eaters amassed before the end of the second wizarding war. She was adopted by John Solar and his wife under the pretense that she not know of it, the reasons are not familiar to me and they are not my business or my concern. Obviously whoever targeted her knows this somehow, and this leads me to believe it had to be someone she or her family knew or trusted and that does not bode well. No one knew besides her adoptive parents and me."

Crixus was silent as he listened to Harry tell of Ceres and her past parents being mixed blood, well that piece of the puzzle was solved but much of it was still left out in the open and unsolved.

"So how do we proceed from this point, if she is in fact a target still which is a pretty good chain of reasoning that she is, she will need protection. She got lucky this time, but there is no telling if she will be as lucky is they try to kill her again."

"You are correct, it came close tonight and that we can not allow again. As it so happens this is her final year at Hogwarts, I will need to speak to her father but I believe we can work out a plan to keep her protected until we can put an end to this. Come with me."

Crixus nodded as he followed Harry back to the infirmary, he motioned silently from outside the room for John Solar, the man approached and came out closing the door behind him.

"John we need to talk, if you will accompany me to my office Crixus will remain here and keep an eye on things out here."

John nodded as they both disappeared around the corner, Crixus motioned his hand for the Auror beside the door to return to his post with the other Auror at the door way to the ward. He stood silently with his arms crossed behind his back, he was curious as to what plan Mr. Potter had, but he had a sinking feeling he would know soon enough and even more then he was probably going to be part of it. The Solar family was quite unaware of this but Crixus was the lead on this case involving this mysterious group of dark witches and wizards, it must have been fate that Ceres Solar popped out so suddenly and became quite possibly the break in this case that they had been looking for now for a month. Looking into the room he looked at Ceres, he did not envy the position she was in, he just hoped that whatever happened next that she would remain safe.

John was about to call Mister Potter to grant him acces to the infarmy when to doors that sepparated him from his daughter opened. A young man, clad in nothing but black cloths and sunglasses stepped out of the room and looked at the group that stood infront of him. He turned his head back and said something to a person inside before he made his way over to the Solar’s. To everyboy’s relive the man, whom John recognized as the young auror Crixus , told them that Ceres was behind the doors and unharmed. They were allowed inside but he did confiscated their wands. He an his wife gave them without hesitation, however Minthe was reluctand to give her newely acquired wand to the stranger infornt of her.

‘’Go on Minthe, you can give your wand to Mr. Crixus, he will keep it safe for you’’ Demi said encouraging her daughter. Minthe looked at the man before she laid her wand in his outstreched hand. The auror’s who had blocked the path to the entrance stepped aside and John walked, no almost ran into the room. ‘’Ceres’’ he said as he trew open the door, revealing his daughter, sitting in a bed.

---

Relieve washed over the body of the young woman when she heard the man, Mr, Crix tell her that her family was here and unharmed. Ceres smiled and a tear rolled down her cheek as Crix stepped outside the room and closed the door. The door opened after what felt like an eternity and in came her father, calling her name. Her mother and sister quickly followed.

‘’Father!’’ Ceres called as well as she tried to stand up from the bed. She managed to take a few steps before once again she collieded with the cold and hard floor. Ceres giggled as she brushed some hair out of her face.
‘’I feel like the jelly-leg curse was used on me’’ She said and her fater lifed her up. ‘’ Silly girl, you have never been able to silt still’’’ Hugged his daughter closely, the shock of thinking he had lost her still present in his body. John put her back in the bed and lifted the blanked over Ceres her legs’s. ‘’Now sit still or I will put a restaining spell on you’’ He joked and Minthe came closer. Ceres laughed as she saw her sister, she was pouting about something.

‘’What happened Minthe’’ Ceres asked and her sister began with her complaint.
‘’That weird man took my wand, I wished to show it to you’’ She said looking around the room in search for the strange man. Without doubt Minthe ment Crixus.
‘’I can look at your wand once we return home, I can teach you a spell that tidies up the house, seeing as it got wrecked’’ She joked and looked at her parents. ‘’ I am sorry I wrecked the house’’ Ceres apologized and her parents only smiled. ‘’We can fix that, what we cannot fix is your life if you had lost it’’ Demi said hugging her daughter.
‘’but you know sis, my wand is really pretty, just like yourse. It has dark wood and such I really wanna show it to you’’

Thanks to the happy chatter of Minthe about her wand Ceres recalled something. One of the wands form her attacked was odly familiar. The door to the infarmy opened a man with black hair and a pair of glasses entered, followed by Crixus.

‘’Ofcourse Mister Potter’’ John said as the man in glassed asked for their fater to follow him to his office. Both Ceres and Minthe widened their eye’s ‘’Potter, as in Harry Potter’’ Minthe wispered as their father left the room. Ceres looked at crixus and motioned him to come closer. ‘’Mother, Minthe do you think you can give us a moment. We need to talk for a bit’’ Ceres said as her mother sighed. She realized that her daughter did not wanted to involve them, thus possible endanger them, to much. ‘’Okay sweety, lets go Minthe, lets see if we can get you something to drink’’ Demi stood up fromt he chair she sat in and walked to the door. She stopped in her tracks and turned around. ‘’Sweety, shall I call Levi and ask him if he can come to here? I recon that after what happened tonight you want to see him’’ She said unaware of the fact that Ceres and Levi had broken up. ‘’No thanks mom, that won’t be neccesairy’’ She said sad and clenshed the sheet between her fingers.

Once her mother and sister had left the room Ceres turned her attention towards Crixus.
‘’Mr. Crix, I have forgotten to tell you one detail that might be a bit importand’’ She said looking him in the eye’s. ‘’One of the wands from my attackers felt…’’ She hesitated with her words before she spoke them ‘’Familliar, like I have seen it before. It belongs to one of the attackers I gravely wounded. He should have a huge cutting wound on his chest, it is sure to leave a scar for it is very hard to heal the wound that is inflicted by this spell’’

Crixus nodded his head silently when Ceres mentioned that she had wounded one of her attackers, and her mentioning the fact that she thought she recognized one of the attackers by their wand only confirmed that fact that someone she might have known was in on the attack, possibly the same one who came onto her blood heritage. Crixus reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a black bag that was roughly the size of a coin purse, opening it he reached his arm in, first his hand then his arm then he was shoulder deep in the bag searching for something. Upon finding what he was searching for he pulled his arm out to reveal Ceres's wand, placing the bag back in his pocket he removed his own wand and pointed it at Ceres's wand, with a swish he cast a spell to tell him what the last spell she used before arriving at the Ministry.

"Sectumsempra was your last spell used, interesting choice of spells I must admit, it is not a well known spell. That would have left a rather devastating wound. However I imagine that it has been healed by now, well that is if whoever you cast it on is still alive. With groups such as this, failure is not something that is tolerated, a lot of the time the failing witches or wizards are killed to show the rest what will happen if they too fail. Its a lot of speculation at this point but this information will help, the scar left from such a wound would be recognizable. Here I do not believe it is necessary to keep your wand from you any further"

Crixus handed Ceres her wand back, the sunglasses on his face shined for a moment as if enchanted and then returned to normal. He removed them silently as his eye's suddenly shifted colors from green to blue almost instantly, wiping the lenses on his glasses he placed them back on his nose and resumed his attention to Ceres.

"They would bade me not to tell you this but your probably still in danger, your father and Mr. Potter are discussing what is to happen next. Its not much in the long run but I am sorry this had to happen to you. With this said I do have one more question to ask, who is Levi? Normally I would not ask as is it not my business, but I am certain I saw you tense up at his name. Given what has happened I feel I should explore all avenues at this point dead end or not."

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"This is a mess Mr. Solar, I wish I didn't have to say this but your daughter has just become the first survivor of this mysterious faction of dark wizards. Having been in the mind of many dark wizards I feel that this in their eye's is a mistake that must quickly be rectified. Given the secrecy of their group, your daughter is a liability that can not be tolerate, and that is just a start for we still don't know why she was attacked to begin with. Trying to kill the daughter of one who works in Magical Law Enforcement is a bold move no matter the group. There is a plot here and unfortunately we are too blind to read into it.

Harry Potter sat behind his desk with his hands crossed in front of him, the trademark scar went across the side of his forehead, it was now more visible against his slowly receding hairline. John Solar didn't know it but Harry was reading him like a book, seeing the doubt, the anger inside him and the questioning looks of why this is happening. Maybe he had been in this life too long, but reading people was easier then taking a breath of air to him. Harry waited patiently his trademark look boring into John Solar's eye's, he did not know what to say.

"I have to keep my family safe Mr. Potter, I do not know why this is happening or who is truly doing it but my daughters safety is my number one priority. This is why I intend to travel away from London for awhile, I do not wish it but I can not risk leaving her in the path of certain danger. We will go somewhere secret and tell no one and let this pass."

"I am afraid that will not be a possible route Mr. Solar, I can not allow you or your daughter to flee London. If you like it or not she is the only survivor to date after being attacked by this group of dark wizards. It pains me to say this but your daughter has now become our best chance of finding this group and putting and end to them for good."

The look on John Solar's face was of disbelief and anger, it was expected but the man had worked in this department for many years he knew better then anyone what was being said was the truth. Although often times it is hard to see the truth beyond personal attachment.

"I won't do it, I won't use my own daughter and risk her life, I know what your suggesting and I will not let it happen. She has been through enough as it is. She should be worrying about her career, her future family, her life, not if someone is going to rip it all away from her for reasons in which she does not yet understand. If it was your child you would say the same thing and you know that Mr. Potter."

"Mr. Solar I do not have the luxury of personal attachment, my job is to protect the magical community and the muggle community from those that would destroy it. I can not weigh one life against countless others regardless of what I might or might not feel. I have watched her grow up just like you and I feel a personal responsibility to her safety like you do, but I can not afford to let that blind me to the truth. With that said I do not intend to throw her into the fire and see what happens either. I can not allow you to take her away, I would rather have you on board but if necessary I will make this an Auror matter specifically keeping you from being in the loop. Either you can listen to what I feel is the best course of action or you can leave now."

Harry Potter looked at the resentment in John Solar's eye's, he knew well enough that this matter was not left up to him or his family and he could either be with it or not be in it at all. It was a harsh reality to face but thus was the life of one in such harsh predicaments.

"What is your plan Mr. Potter and how much can you guarantee that my daughter will remain safe?"

"My plan is for your daughter to return to Hogwarts under the protection of one of my best Aurors, the young Mr. Crixus whom I believe you know. I am aware that she is in her final year at Hogwarts, and this is an opportunity which we can use to our advantage. We believe that someone your daughter or your family knew is part of this group, and it was them who let loose the facts of your daughters past and her real parents, we believe this is why she was targeted to begin with. Hogwarts is protected and heavily guarded, better then any other place in the world, especially so after Voldemorts defeat. I want to send her there with Mr. Crixus, it is my thinking that who ever went after your daughter tonight will try again. They have proven their bold and daring and I feel they will try again at Hogwarts but they will be at a disadvantage in such a protected place which places the ball in our court not theirs."

"I don't know Mr. Crixus at all, he is just a kid I pass in the Ministry now and again. He does not even look like he could protect himself fully none the less someone else. How is this suppose to be a good plan Mr. Potter, if they bypass Hogwarts protection somehow then he would be the one to stop them and I don't think he has the ability."

"Mr. Solar I would have Mr. Crixus be my personal bodyguard if a time ever arose that I needed one. There is much you do not know about him, a lot of it is kept secret from even the top Aurors in the division. He has special abilities which are beyond normal Aurors and this makes him incredibly valuable on details like this. It is why he is the lead on this group of dark wizards, I trust him with my own life as much as I would my own closest friends whom I have been through so much with. There are no guarantees Mr. Solar but I can tell you this, he will not let your daughter come to harm easily if at all, I ask that you trust my judgement on this."

Harry watched the man contemplate what was said, he did not like what he was hearing but often times it was not easy to accept such circumstances. John Solar sighed heavily as if feeling certain defeat on the subject and spoke:

"I will trust your judgement, you have never lead this Agency astray and you have never failed any of us in this time or the past. I only request that I be kept in the loop on this, give me that and I will agree with what you plan to do, I can't stop it but I can sure as hell make sure I can do whatever I can to keep her safe myself."

"Thank you Mr. Solar, please return to your daughter and tell her specifically that she will be returning to Hogwarts under the watchful eye of Mr. Crixus. Inform her however for her sake that it is merely a counter measure to ensure that she remain safe until this passes I do not wish to panic her."

‘’I recon the man is still alive, there was a whole goup of them. I guess around 12 people but it can be more, I did not see them that well enough in the darkness’’ Ceres said and gasphed relieved when she saw Crixus pull out her wand out of his magic coin purse. ‘’My wand! Thank you’’ She said happy as Ceres took the wand back into her hand. Feeling the familliar wood and engravings of Ivy on the handle the young witch felt her feeling of powerlessness leave her being. She could fight again.

Her gaze shifted upwards as she noticed that the sunglasses Crixus wore shined. He took them off finally revealing his face to Ceres. He was rather handsome but what stood out most where his eye’s. They were deep and clear, but most of all they seemed to change color infront of Ceres her eye’s. She looked at them, changing from green to blue. Though she found this to be intriguing Ceres decided not to mentioned it, though it must have been obvious she had seen them. Ceres found t a shame that the sunglasses got put back on his nose adn then a question came Ceres did not expected to hear from the auror. A stinging pain hit her heart as she tought about her ex-boyfriend. More than before Ceres clenshed the sheets between her fingers as she bolded her fists.

‘’Levi, he….’’ Ceres swallowed before she continued to speak. ‘’He was my boyfriend. We broke up the evening just before I got attacked’’ The young witch still felt hearbreak crashing into her heart like waves crashed onto rocks. A single tear came rolling out of the corner of her eye and she quickly wiped ita way, not wanting to cry infront of the young auror. ‘’I guess that for him dating a ravenclaw girl was below his bloodline’’ Ceres wispered, recalling that he had called her a mud blood. ‘’but I do not believe he is capable of killing anyone, so there is your dead end Mr.Crix’’ Ceres mumbled. The soft squeaking of the infarmy door got Ceres attention and in stepped her father. He walked to Her and Crixus. For a moment he laid his hand on the shoulder of Crixus , it was short lived as he quickly pulled away. ‘’First of all, thank you for saving my daughter. I am in your debt. Second of all Ceres, Crixus we have something to discuss. There is still a huge possibilety that this new group will come back to target you again Ceres’’ He fater began sitting down on the bed his daughter laid in. ‘’ But we still want you to finish your final year at Hogwards. Not only do you need to become a fully fledged witch, Hogwards is also a fortress on its own. You will be well protected there, but not without someone to guard you ofcourse’’ John looked at Crixus ‘’and this is where you come into the picture. Mister Potter and I have agreed to send Ceres back to school with one condition, you will go and protect her from the group that targets her. Any questions or complaint can be given to Mister Potter’’ John was finished with his explanation and helped Ceres out of her bed. The girls legs were still a bit unsteady as she took some steps. ‘’Are we going home Father?” Ceres asked as he father laughed. ‘’Ofcourse we are, this is a very scary place. You should see the minister of muggle afairs when magic has been used infront of muggles again. No one dares to enter here anymore’’ Her father joked and Ceres giggled.

‘’I do not know if you are also needed at our home until she returns to Hogwards. Thta as well can be discussed with Mister Potter. But for tonight I am taking my little girl home’’

‘’Father’’ Ceres said, a bit embarrassed that she got called little girl.

Crixus realized his mistake the moment he put the glasses back on, he cursed himself silently for he never liked showing his eye's changing color... he was so used to it by now that he didn't think about it when the time came for it to occur. He said nothing as she spoke sadly as it was about the person named Levi being her boyfriend the evening before. Crixus nodded realizing that he had opened a still mending wound all the more, he merely nodded to agree with her but he did not quite share her opinion of a dead end. From experience the people who seemed the most helpless or docile were usually the ones who were the most dangerous. But that was a thought for another time, there no need to press further and upset her anymore then she must already have been feeling.

"My apologies but if I might say without going to far he is a fool to let someone so brave and beautiful go. Wounds heal in time, and so this one will too and you will be stronger for it. At least... thats what.. um.. someone I used to know said to me before."

Crixus became hesitant suddenly looking away from Ceres, he had said too much about things that were not to be talked about. Thankfully Mr. Solar came back in, not that the news got any better from that point. Listening silently to what Mr. Solar had to say Crixus's eyes became hard but it went unnoticed under the glasses upon his nose. He swallowed harder then intended as he spoke lowly toawrds Mr. Solar.

"Its um no problem Mr. Solar, I did not do much I just called the medical wing for her you know. I have to go discuss things with Mr. Potter I am sure he is already waiting for me to return."

Crixus spoke rather quickly but he needed to go at that moment, he needed to speak to Mr. Potter and now. Reaching into his inner jacket pocket he pulled the three wands he confiscated earlier. He absently handed them to Mr. Solar trying to remain calm and collected even though his head was now screaming.

"I will speak with Mr. Potter about what he wishes to do over the last couple days before the return to Hogwarts and I will personally drop by and inform you of his decision. The Aurors stationed outside the door will escort you out from here, my wishes to a speedy recovery."

Crixus quickly walked away, he wasted no time in reaching Harry Potters office, for with a swish of his wand he transported himself right to the door and walked in without knocking.

"Tell me you didn't tell Mr. Solar I was going to Hogwarts School to protect his daughter... anywhere else Mr. Potter, a house in the woods, a sinking ship in the middle of the sea, hell I would have taken a hole in the ground.."

Harry Potter sat silently behind the desk as Crixus spoke rather rashly towards his boss, there was heat behind the words but also a sense of dread at the same time. Mr. Potter raised a hand towards the seat in front of his desk, he said nothing about the outburst as Crixus slowly took the seat, waving his hand Mr. Potter closed the door to the office and looked at Crixus with that knowing look.

"I expected you would take the news like this Crixus but unfortunately choices were quite thin. You like me must do things that we wish not to do in the name of our duty, none of us are exempt from that."

"I do my job, I never ask for anything, I never complain, because it is an honor to serve the magical community to me and it means everything. The people here, you, Hermione, Ron, all of them mean a great deal to me. But there was ever only one thing in this world that I ever asked and that was that I would never be forced to step back in that school. You know my story, you know the memories, you saw them in the pensive, and you know why I can never stand to look upon that castle again."

"Crixus calm down. We all have bad memories associated with Hogwarts, most of us were there when Voldemort lay siege to the school. We all lost so much that day, friends, family, people we loved. But those memories do not give us an excuse not to do our jobs, its time that you made peace with that Crixus, it wasn't your fault. She needs protection and your the one I assigned to it, my reasons for it are my own unless I tell you otherwise."

"You speak so tripping about making peace with my demons, like its so easy just to let go of the things that plague your dreams at night and turn them to nightmares. Maybe I didn't suffer as much as you did at the hands of the dark lord back then, but I assure you my pain is quite real and I can't just find peace and let it all go like its just a memory lingering on the edge of an unsettled mind."

"Enough!"

Harry Potter stood up his demeanor changed from subtle to angry, Crixus became deathly silent as he gritted his teeth and bite his tongue at the same time looking down an angry scowl on his face. He was now like a scolded child again.

"I never said it would be easy Crixus, I did not make light of your pain nor did I downplay what you feel and what your going to feel upon your return. But damn it Crixus look at what its doing to you deep down, I am not so blind as the rest that I don't see it eating away at you second after second, day after day. You think those sunglasses hide your eye's an thus the soul beneath but I see beyond them Crixus, I see the man deep down and I see the darkness within your heart that you try to deny time and time again to yourself as you sit in that graveyard late at night. I once knew that darkness, that anger, it ate me away and in the end it almost became the words on top of my tombstone. I had to face my demons, the choice was stolen from me for my fate was not so kind and I was a better man for it after. But you can't keep running away from the things that hurt you the most, that is the very thing that makes witches and wizards become dark, when it becomes so overwhelming that the only way to relieve the pain is to cause it to others, and then as it goes on you lose yourself and you become just like those out there whom you fight everyday and you know how that ends."

Crixus's face was contorted in anger as Harry Potter retook his seat, he wanted to lash out at him, to scream at him, to lose his temper and just let it all out, but he didn't he held his tongue and his peace and said nothing.

"In six days you will be heading to Hogwarts to keep Mrs. Solar safe from harm so prepare yourself however you choose, I am relieving you of duty until then so use the time wisely. Its obvious to me that you need to compose yourself, go home, I will send a detail to watch after Mrs. Solar until the morning of her departure to Kings Crossing. Be at the Solars residence on that morning promptly at 6:00 a.m. Now go and cool off."

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Holloway Cemetery
12:03 am
September 1st 2022

Crixus wiped the leave away upon the small rectangle grave in front of him, the rain poured lightly on his head the true storm only in the distance. The wind seemed to push the leaves all around him, however he did not really notice much beside the markings upon the stone which fixed his gaze. It has been so long since he last been to visit the grave. The memories swirled around his head like a typhoon in the open sea, memories from a time past but still so fresh in the mind.

He had been their for hours sitting next to Kate's side not even for a moment leaving. Crixus swallowed hard as he held back his tears, reaching out his hand he attempted to put it on Aaron's back but he quickly turned and smacked Crixus's hand away, Crixus felt pain go through his body as Aaron turned on him, with one solid push he flew back as the world spun for a moment, he smashed into the ground as he was dazed from the pain.

“Don't you dare touch me you... you bastard! Its because of you that she died! Its because of you and your damn pathetic life! She always wanted so much to help you, even when I told her that you were not worth it! An what happened?! She ran out there to save your life when she should have just let you die!”

Crixus felt a well placed kick to his bruised up stomach, he quickly coughed up blood as two security enforcers rushed to his aid grabbing Aaron and stopping him doing anymore damage to him. A couple nurses approached him an helped him too his feet as Aaron was contained across the room, tears were streaming down Crixus cheeks now. The nurses sat him down as Aaron continued to rant from across the room:

“Your the one who deserved to die, not her! I hope you suffer for the rest of your life, so that you know how you robbed Kate of her life!”

Aaron was dragged out of the room, the nurses slowly checked him over before leaving to tend to other patients. Crixus sniffled as he slowly reached out his hand and took a hold of Kates, it was cold and lifeless as he could not longer hold back his tears, they fell hard as he buried his face in her shoulder, he shook with pain deep inside, he spoke in short gasps his breath shortened from the injuries:

“Im... so sorr..y Kate... he w..as. rig.ht I don't de..serve to liv..e you had.. so..mu.ch more to ..live for th...en me. I never... deser...ved your frien...dship, I know n..ow what you..meant when you... told me what it.. felt like to.. lose someone.. you..lo.ve. I just wi..sh you could.. have known jus...t ho..w much you.. meant to me and.. my life.”

Crixus became silent as a storm started outside, the wind blew hard as rain washed against the window, thunder cracked hard in the sky.

Crixus broke himself from the memory as he felt cold water splashing on his head and shoulders, looking up the storm had finally reach him. The clouds seemed to swirl above him like a dark vortex as thunder cracked loudly. Looking back down at the grave the tears on his cheeks were light yet covered by the hard rainfall.

“I said I would never go back but it seems fate has other things in store for me. I don't know exactly how it will feel to visit the place that holds so many memories for me, but perhaps it is for the better because I know that even with the years passed that I have never been able to find peace in your death. You were... a part of my past I hoped would never leave, but you did, and even though you passed from this life and my side I never forgot the words you spoke to me that day. I still don't know if I will ever find love or even if I know what it is but your words gave me the hope I needed to continue my life and to open my eye's to the beauty that exists in this world. I have made it far in this life even though I am still so young, I hope you will be with me as a I go back to Hogwarts, I need that strength now more then ever.”

Crixus stood up from the grave his body soaked from the rain, he found himself looking down at the grave as if transfixed upon it.

“I never forgave myself Kate, but I hope wherever you are now, that if your listening, that you know I tried. I have always hoped you knew that.”

Crixus turned away from the grave removing his wand from the holster on his wrist, with a flick there was a loud snap and the cemetery became empty as the rain poured down hard against the green countryside.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Solar Resident
5:55 a.m.
September 1st 2022

Crixus waited silently within the home that belonged to the Solars, it was actually quite a nice dwelling when he looked at it and it really did feel like home as opposed to the place where Crixus himself usually presided. He didn't know why Mr. Potter had requested him here so early, the train did not even leave until 11:00 and it wasn't so far a trip that it warranted such and early appearance. However after making a fool out of himself when he got angered the night this all began he decided that he would not question the logic and just be here when he was bade to be here. Looking down he sort of resented the clothing he was wearing, it had been many a moon when he actually wore anything but black. He was draw in muggle clothing which was at its best a pair of black hightops, a pair of faded dark dark cargos, a white shirt and an open zippered hoody. It was requested for all purposes of remaining inconspicuous at Hogwarts that he pose as a student so that his identity could be kept from the student population. The teachers would know but other then that no one was to be aware of his true identity.

Crixus sighed as he waited alone in the living room while the rest of the family went about whatever business they needed to do, from this point on he was the protection unit so he had to keep vigil at all time lest anything happened while he was there. It was going to be a long year and it was only the beginning but that he knew for sure.

It was early in the morning, the sun was barely rising in the sky. It still had traces of the night that had passed, within it, a dark sky and some stray stars twinkled above a horizon that was starting to turn red. The peacefull silence that accompanied this perfect picture got roughly disturbed by the sound of an alarm. Almost immediately the alarmclock got blastes into the wall as a wand had pointed at the helpless object. Still smoldering after the blast it had given up in it duty to wake up its owner. It has however succeed in his last call as his owner trew the blanked of her body and swinged her legs out of the bed. Ceres smiled as she realized what day it was again, the first day of her last year at Howards. She jumped out of bed and took a quick cold shower before she pulled on her School uniform. Leaving her wizard cloak behind Ceres silently sneaked down the stairs. She did not wished to wake her parents with her old tradition. She did this every year before the train left from platform 9 3/4. Her father had probably already left for work, though he would return to see his daughters off for the new year. Minthe was still asleep and her mother would not wake until at least half an houre later.

Silent as the night she made her way through the dim lid living room when all of the suddeb she sensed a presence besides her. Still on her toes from the last event Ceres pulled her wand and pointed it at the person sitting on the sofa. To her relieve the person who sat there was familiar to her. Cerea sighed as she put her wand back in the sleeve of her stark white blouse.

"Bloody hell Mr.Crix Why did you not say a thing when I entered. Did father let you in this morning? " Ceres asked as she grabbed an apple and gave one to Crix as well. She sighed and took a bite all the while glancing at Crixus. Ceres had hoped that he wouldn't have been here this early. She really wished to honor her long tradition, but knowing Crixus it would not be allowed. Well he did not need to know of it, one time couldn't hurt.

" well I will be upstairs again, mentally preparing myself to enter Howards for one last time" Ceres lied as she walked back up the stairs. Her shoes in the hand. Once back in her room Ceres pulled on her shoes and opened her window. The cold and fresh morning air flowed into her room and Ceres inhaled it. She looked around her, no one was in sight. She could use magic. Pulling out her wand once again she pointed it at the Ivy growing underneath her window. The long veins moved towards her and Ceres reached her hand towards the dark green leaves. She grabbed them and jumped down. The veins did their work as they lowered her to the ground without sound.

With a soft thud her feet hit the grass of the lawn. Ducking down as to not stand in front of any windows, Ceres sneaked towards the garden fence and jumped over it. Finally feeling free and having some space for herself Ceres ran away from her house for her morning stroll through the neighborhood. It was something she always did, something like a goodby to the place she grew up in. Strolling past all the memories that were present here. Taking in the familiar sight before she would return to those Scottish hills, old castle walls, proud eagle screams and misty mountains that sang, beconing her to come out in the sky. Her walk took her towards the misty banks of the river Themes and walked on the shores, making sure not to slip on the wet rocks. A suprised voice could be heard behind her. ‘’Ceres’’ It called her name and the young witch turned around, seeing Levi standing infront of her. Hooked on his rigth arm was a beautifull golden blond girl who seemed to cling to him like she was his girlfriend. Taken aback by his sudden appearance Ceres took a step back.

‘’hey….Levi’’ She said, finding that the laces of her shoes had become very interesting to look at. Levi grinned as he saw her look down ‘’I can see you still walk around before the train leaves for Hogwards’’ He said and the girl giggled, as if she found his comment very funny. ‘’Levi, who is she. Is this the ravenclaw girl who dared to steal you from me before’’ the blond spoke with a heavy france accent. It almost sounded fake. ‘’Who is she?’’ Ceres asked hesitant, though she had gotten a pretty good idea from the way the girl behaved.
The girl laughed proud as she snickered at Ceres.’’ Who am I, who am I. I am Selene Ira, I have been his fianceé since we were born. Our families intende us’’ She said and Ceres opened her eye’s. She felt tears burning behind her eye’s, but she held them back. Levi was no longer worthy of her tears. ‘’So you never…’’ Ceres wispered these words and Levi sighed. Why did he sighed?

‘’Indeed, you were a pleasant past time’’ Something in his voice was just a bit different. Ceres could not put her finger on it, but it was there. What was he hiding? what happened?

Crixus ate the apple silently as he stood by near some structures the kept his appearance near the river concealed from view. He shook his head as the word mental preparation seemed almost to be funny in his mind. Ceres was not much for lieing, she might had been more careful with her excuse if she were aware that there were now several magical barriers surrounding her house, one in which was the barrier she set off upon leaving which alerted him to her departure in the first place. It was okay though, taking a walk was not a sin, however doing it while your life is threatened and alone none the less was quite irresponsible. An he had hoped for just a normal morning, like that ever actually happened though. He watched the interaction between Ceres and the other two people who approached her with subtle interest, as it turned out the man was Levi the before mentioned ex boyfriend, and the woman whom sounded like an over benefited rich girl was named Selene. Honestly Crixus felt sorry for Ceres, it was bad enough that your boyfriend dumps you but then approaches you with his new girl.. thats just a sick twist of fate. It wasn't like Crixus actually knew how that felt though, he had never had a real relationship in his life with any woman so it wasn't like he could say he knew exactly how she was feeling at that exact moment.. still it had to hurt none the less.

Crixus moved his eye's off the three by the bank of the river when he noticed a small movement that came from their left, Crixus lifted the sunglasses off his nose and above his eye's as he looked beyond them. Cocking his head he could see a shadow moving towards the group, cloaked in black but there none the less. Removing his wand he tossed the depleted apple core to the ground and moved out from the spot.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Filthy little mudblood... you won't leave alive this time."

The man spoke lowly as he inched his way towards the girl that he was bade to kill, he was more then annoyed by now as he had been forced to sit outside her house for days now waiting for any moment to strike out at her. He could not risk trying to do so while she remained inside the house because of the protection from the Auror office, he had waited days for the one moment when she did something idiotic and stupid like this and now she was going to pay for her insolence for surviving in the first place. All he had to do was close the distance between himself and her so he could get one good shot, he would not risk missing and scaring her back into the arms of her pathetic Auror bodyguards. No... he would not allow himself to be punished for failure like the others, he would sooner used the killing curse on himself then endure the wrath of the Dark Lord. The man stayed low to the ground as he snuck among the bigger trees to conceal his presence until the last second.

"Time to die you filthy half blood..."

The man spoke spitefully as if he was disgusted to even mention her at all, pointing his wand at her he sneered, as he went to move his wand he did not expect a hand to reach down and grab his wand hand. Turning his face in anger his nose was meant with a rather hard blow straight on the tip, almost instantly the man saw stars and his eye's blinked out, he felt himself roll sideways as he let out a yelp of pain from the searing blow. When his eye sight finally came back to him he was meant with the scene of three people staring at him, one of which he was suppose to kill. Climbing to his feet he realized he had not his wand to use now, pulling a large hooked knife from his robes he charged towards Ceres with the intent to gut her. When the spell hit him directly in the back, he felt a searing hot pain as he crashed to the ground not even ten feet from Ceres the knife flying away from him. The man breathed hard through the pain as he growled deeply more to himself then anything, he cursed himself for being so stupid to let his own guard down. When he heard the footsteps approach him he looked up weakly as the man who attacked him stood above him, his face was concealed by a large black hoody hiding his true identity, the figure shook his head before raising his foot, feeling a sharp pain in his head the man's eye's went black and he knew no more.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Crixus stood above the now unconscious would be assassin, he looked up towards Ceres, Levi and Selene silently, his face was completely concealed so that the other two would not be able to identify him later. Pointing his wand at the man on the ground a bottle of chains came out of the tip of his wand and wrapped around him like a bunch and snakes, his arms and legs were bound along with his shoulders to keep him secure until the Auror Unit arrived to take him in. Pulling the coin from his pocket Crixus flipped it four times to alert nearby Aurors for a detainment and transport unit.

"Wrap it up Mrs. Solar its not safe out here right now."

Crixus said nothing more as he would be more direct with her later, there was no point in making a big scene in front of her ex boyfriend and his new privileged girlfriend. There was loud snap from the right, almost like clockwork three Aurors appeared on the banks. Crixus walked up to them silently and spoke to them lowly out of ear shot, pointing at the unconscious man on the ground they nodded to him and with another snap they disappeared again. Crixus looked at Levi and Selene silently and spoke:

"You two leave. Now. Mrs. Solar if you would follow me.."

Crixus was rather short with Levi and Selene as he turned from them and motioned for Ceres to follow him.

‘’bloody hell, you frickers are back’’ Ceres said, her voice a sligth tremble as she noticed the asassin behind her. However in a flash the man laid on the ground, Crixus standing above him. Ceres could not believe her eye’s, and so could Levi and Selene, but for a whole other reason than Ceres. How in heavens name had Crixus found her. Francticly she searched around her clothes for a tracking charm or something alike. When she did not found a thing Ceres realized that there must have been some barriers casted around her house. By leaving the yard she must have activated one of them.

She had never really taken a walk on her own, her guard had been with her all along. And maybe it was good thing two, that he had followed her. She was not sure she would have the strenght to figth on of the cloaks again. Her hands were still trembling, remembering the last attack. Ceres saw a small handmovement in the corner of her eye and saw Levi nudging his wand back into his sleeve as well. Was he willing to protect her, even after they had broken up. Thats right, Ceres remembered. Levi was one of the best dualist of their year, One on One the cloak whould have not stood a change agaisnt Levi.

‘’Oh Levi, that was scary. Thanks for protecting me my love’’ Selene said ad took his cheek in her hand. Posessivly she kissed him, letting her hand roam though his black hair. Ceres watched petriefied as he as wel wrapped his arm around Selene’s lower back and pulled her close. He slowly broke away from the kiss and looked at Ceres, an emotion switching from hate to something unkown played in his green orbs. ‘’Have you been getting into fight lately Ceres?’’ He asked and Selene snickerd ‘’That the differenc in pedigree. You heard what that man called her, she’s a mud blood her kind deserves to…’’ Selene swallowed her words as she looked at the aurorer who stood behind Ceres.’’Anyway, shall we go. I do not wish to miss my first and final year at Hogwards’’ Selene said raising her nose. She looked very proud and seemed to glare daggers at Ceres. Now that the idiotic couple was out of the way Ceres turned towards Crixus.

‘’Thank you for saving me, again’’ She said walking to his side. She looked over her shoulder at Levi who walked away. Ceres finally felt her tears stream down her face. Finally she released all the pent up anger, frustration, sadness and fear she ahd felt for the past month. It had been a rollercoaster ride for the girl who before this all enjoyed a normal peacefull life. The young witch fell to her knees and sobbed, her tears dripping into her dark uniform. She remembered Crixus telling her that they had to move, because it was not safe anymore. Slowely she stood up and started walking, following her guardian to wherever he would take her.

---

The black and blond couple walked back over the streets to the hotel they and their family were staying. Levi was deep in tought about something and Selene did not liekt he fact that his attention was away from her.’’Say Levi, is that girl the reason why you insisted on taking a morning stroll. If so it is a good thing I went with you. You know it is impossible for you two to be together.’’ She said stopping them both with their walk. Levi walked away, towards the waters of the river and closed his eye’s for a moment.

‘’I know, my duty is to marry you and I will’’ His voice was clearly lost in tought as he spoke those words. For one reason he found it strange to see an auror besided Ceres, but he was glad that there was someone protecting her.

Crixus watched Ceres break down in front of him the moment Levi and Selene were out of earshot to witness it. When she fell to her knees he made no attempt to comfort her, not because he did not care but because what could he really do to ease her suffering? Crixus was used to protection details but never one whom was around the same age as he, and it was very rare that older wizards or witches show their emotions so willingly, it was a change for him. As he regained her composure slowly Crixus felt a longing to comfort the heartbroken woman, as he turned away he walked a short distance with her in tow, however after going a short distance he stopped and turned to face Ceres.

"Take my hand, there is somewhere I would like to take you."

Crixus ended up grabbing her hand even though he had given her a choice, swishing his wand they were both squeezed through what felt like an electrical wire and then the scenery changed from a large flowing body of water to a huge country hillside adorned on all sides with tall grass and a few large trees dotting here and there. Both of them stood upon a hilltop overlooking a beautiful waterfall which cascaded into pool of sparkling clear water which was just catching the morning sun. Crixus slowly released Ceres's hand as he motioned for her silently to follow him. The two of them slowly made their way a short distance, Crixus slowly came to a stop as they stood upon another hill overlooking what appeared to be an area full of large nests.

"Look down."

As Ceres would look down she would be meant with the sight of several red beautiful birds, they would be tending to their nests and feeding their young that had hatched. Crixus silently sat on the edge and motioned for Ceres to sit beside him, dangling his feet over the edge of the hillside the sun was slowly making its way into the sky illuminating the blue with several shades of orange and yellows.

"I found this place a long time ago when I was but a child, I grew up around this area. I used to come up here a lot and watch the sun rise and to watch it set upon the Phoenix's below. This place is one of the only grounds left where the Phoenix Bird comes to nest, it is quite far from civilization and its location is only know by the select few who find it. I often like to come here when life is most trying. There are not many places in this world that are not tainted by darkness, as an Auror I was trained to walk in that darkness for the betterment of Wizard and Muggle kind a like. This place.. is a place of hope and a place of new life, a light in that darkness. When a Phoenix dies it bursts into flames and is then reborn in the ashes, life is very much like that I think. Our pain is like age, eventually that pain becomes overwhelming and we burst into flames, and through that pain we are reborn into something stronger again. The muggles say what does not kill us makes us stronger which is true, but all the strength in the world can not help us if we lose ourselves to the grief. Look."

Down below an older Phoenix walks a short distance away from the others, walking into one of the empty nests it suddenly bursts into flames and turns to ash. Moments later a baby Phoenix pops up through the ashes. A few other of the Phoenix go over to attend the new born Phoenix.

"Reborn again anew, the pain from its previous life gone. In time it will grow into a strong vibrant Phoenix and will tend to the others who are reborn and it will continue in and endless chain. I don't know what its like to feel the pain you feel, for I was always on my own, but I know it will pass and it will heal just like the darkness that has surrounded your life so suddenly will one day be filled with light again and the darkness will be gone. Nothing bad lasts forever, you just have to be strong and whether the storm the best you can. I can't tell you how this will end for I do not possess such insight, but I can tell you that I will protect you with my life for that is my vow as an Auror. We should probably return soon before someone thinks your missing, but I just thought that seeing this place might help you as it does me. When your ready take my hand and we will return to your house."

Without struggeling Ceres allowed Crixus to grab her hand. It felt strange to her, big and strong. She nodded slowly, indicating that she wnated to go, she was curios what the normally stoic Crixus wished to show her. Ceres got the feeling she got squeezed into something thin after he had moved his wand, preforming magic. Scared she closed her eye’s, placing a firm grip on the hand that Crixus had offered her. Once the motion, squeezing feeling had gone away, Ceres dared to look around and she was amazed by what she saw.

The scenery was amazing, such a beautifull place. She took a deep breath letting the scent of grass and water sooth her pained soul. She gave a small smile while holding her left arm. Her hand was ontop of the snake symbol. He first took her to see a beautifull waterfall crashing into the rocks below. The waterfall however could not compare to the sight he showed her next. Her curios and amazed eye’s took in the sight before her and a twinkel could been seen in her dark blue iris.

‘’Phoenix’’ She wispered and her eye’s shifted towards Crixus who was talking. ‘’It is indeed a beautifull place Mr. Crix. And please, do not worry. I do not intend to let myself wither away because one man dumped me this way. Its just right now I am having a hard time, I have had my heart broken and my life threathend at the same time. Not everyone posesses the nerves of steel you seem to posess’’ Ceres smiled through her tears. She quickly wiped them away using the sleeve of her uniform. When she turned around she seemed just a bit stronger than before.

‘’Mr. Crix. I will become much stronger. I want to be able to defend myself better against what is coming for me. Besides from defensing myself I would hate to see someone die for me, so please try to stay alive as well.’’ Ceres laid her hand in his and with a flash they were back in the livingroom, her mother just came down the stairs.

‘’Good morning Ceres, Mr Crixus’’ Demi wished them good morning and then left for the kitchen to make some coffee. You could say whatever you like about muggle’s but they could invent some dammed pretty usefull thing from time to time.
‘’Morning mother’’ Ceres wished back and a stumbling sound could be heard on the stairway. Down came Minthe, running and stumbling on the stairs.
‘’TO HOGWARDS WE GO!’’ She shouted and Ceres grimaced, her ears not really ready for so much sound abuse in the morning. Minthe jumped into the arms of Ceres. ‘’Ready little Mint. Lets see where the sorting hat places you’’ Ceres laughed at the ball of energy infront of her. ‘’Ravenclaw ofcourse. I wanna be with you’’
‘’I bet Hufflepuff’’ Ceres teased and Minthe started going on about not accepting any other house than Ravenclaw. ‘’Go find mom in the kitchen. I bet she has scones in the make this morning’’ Minthe did not have to hear that a second time as she rushed into the kitchen.

Ceres watched her little sister exit. ‘’Little oddball she is, I actually think she will become a fine witch at one point’’ Ceres said when she remembered she wanted to say something to Crixus before Minthe came in.

‘’Mr. Crix. You said something about always being alone. No one is truly alone, you just gotta make the efford tod are and lay the ties. Also for the next year you won’t be alone, seeing as we have to stay close to one another’’ Ceres said as she moved away from the couch she stood agaisnt and walked upstairs.

---

‘’And remember, please send a owl once a week please, you to Minthe’’ John said embracing his daughters. They were standing at Kings cross station’s platform Platform 9¾. The luggage was already on the train and the only thing the girls had with them was bag filled with snacks and the cage with their own owls. Ceres her owl was a hawk owl. A species of small owls that were very rare to come by. Nura, was the name of her owl. She had name dit after a monster from japanese folklore named, Nurarihyon. This perticular monster tends to intrude in owns house and eat and drink without the owners permission. That was exactly how Ceres and Nura met. He had flown into their home and had tried to eat her pet hamster.

Minthe’s owl was a screetch owl. This one was bought in the pet store but fitted nicely to her name. Minthe, the nimph from Greece folklore that fell for Hades, who’s symbol was a screetch owl. She liked the ear like feathers so she called her Mimi, staying in her sister tradition of giving the owl a japanese name.

‘’We will father, I will look after Minthe as well. Even if she ends up in another house’’ Ceres said as she gave her father a extra hug. Her mother gave Minthe a hug and after that one she gave one to Ceres as well ‘’Be carefull’’ Demi wispered

Meanwhile John had turned his attention to Crixus. ‘’I leave my daughter in you capable hands. If there is anything do not hesitate to call me. I have my pocketwach with me 24/7 so I will always respond. Futher, I wish you luck with trying to keep an eye on Ceres. That girl is like the wind, you will see soon enough what I mean with that’’ John said as he once again took his daughters in the arms. ‘’I love you two so much’’ He said and the sound of a steamflute could be heard. ‘’Go,go before you miss the train’’ Demi said as she ushered her daughters and Crixus into the train. Quickly Ceres and mitnhe rushed to their seats and popped their heads outside the window. Waving their hands as the Hogwards express came into motion.

‘’Good by, see you at the end of the year. That is a promise’’ Ceres yelled and waved.

Crixus smiled lowly to himself as Ceres's sister bounded down stairs excited about her very first year to Hogwarts, she was quite full of energy especially so early in the morning. Crixus was almost tired looking at her energy, he was not much of a morning person anymore then he was much of an early riser. Ceres turned towards him one last time before she left for the kitchen she spoke of his comment about being alone, merely nodding he said nothing more on the subject for there was nothing he could say that she might accept from him, even in distress she held more hope in herself then Crixus held onto. Sitting down on the nearby chair he waited silently for the time to pass by, for some reason Ceres saying that he would not be alone for a year because they would be together brought him an ounce of joy. He wanted her to be right about no one truly being alone, but she did not yet understand his past to know the truth about himself, and the chances were she may never know, for one thing he never did was talk of himself to others. Soon enough the minutes passed to hours and before long Crixus was standing on a loud platform full of young witches and wizards making their way onto the train for Hogwarts.

Crixus stood stoic and silent as he kept a watchful eye on the surroundings, he did not believe anything would happen on the platform that would be a bit too bold for any dark wizard but it was better safe then sorry either way. He watched the Solar family give their goodbyes as he felt a twinge in his chest. He would never admit it but he envied the relationship their family had, in fact he envied and relationship a family had with each other. He never had a mother nor a father so he would not know what such love must feel like, his earlier recollections were always of himself surviving from place to place, small villages throughout a plush country side, bits of food here and there and dark cellars in which he would find shelter in when the weather was least favorable. It was not an ideal life but it was his life none the less and he did not regret it nor did he feel sad from it... still he did wonder what having a family would be like. Turning his attention to Mr. Solar he spoke of Ceres and leaving her in his hands, and also that she was like the wind, if only he knew about the earlier incident however Crixus kept that to himself, there was no need to worry anyone.

"Don't worry Mr. Solar I will keep my eye's on her as much as possible and more. She will be safe with me I guarantee it."

The train whistle blew loudly signalling the leaving of the train, Crixus gave a Curtis nod to the Solar family and boarded the train behind Ceres and Minthe. Following them at a fast pace he entered the car as they leaned out of the window of the train and waved with the rest of the students to their parents on the platform. Soon enough the train was moving faster and the platform disappeared quickly being replaced by an ever green country on all sides. Crixus reached into his pocket and pulled out the black magically enhanced coin bag. Opening it he stuck his hand down inside, keeping his arm still something black suddenly started to exit the bag going up his arm, soon enough a black snake that resembled a Basilisk wrapped itself around the back of Crixus's neck resting its head on his arm. Its forked tongue flicked out a couple times as its eye's slowly closed and it seemed to float off into what seemed to be a peaceful slumber. Crixus reached his hand over and slowly petted the serpents head silently. The ride would be long so he might as well let Basil out for a while to get some fresh air.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"She is on her way to Hogwarts, it would seem that she was able to allude us again... this is becoming quite a spectacle to be sure. How is it that a witch with no magical talent has been able to avoid not only a group of witches and wizards but our trained assassin whom is now in the hands on the ministry. You do realize that the Dark Lord is not going to take this news with much enthusiasm. The list of failures is at its end Survius."

"You think I don't know that? My assassin may have failed but compared to a whole group failing it does not quite go together on the scale. Besides from what the reports indicated she was protected by some mysterious stranger whom dispatched my assassin within mere seconds, so we both know that means the Auror Office has stuck their nose in our business, but whats your excuse pervell"

Both of the wizards talked among themselves silently as they sat at the large wooden table which adorned the huge dining room which was nestled in among many ancient bookshelves aligned with many various items which one would mostly find in old mansions including Persian rugs, old portraits and various candlers which were darkened. Neither one of the men desired to be in this room, in fact neither one desired to be anywhere near the location of the room in which they sat but the choice was not theirs. They both knew better then most what failure would result in, both turned their heads shakily as the large wooden doors creaked open at the end of the room and a large figure clad in a tattered black robe slowly made its way into the room. It silently glided aside as another entered and took the opposite side. They were dementors, a vile creature that many a wizard feared, especially the ones who were under the control of another. The room became fiercely chilled before one last figure slowly made into the room. The figure was that of a person dressed in an elegant yet large cloak, their head was hooded and a black mask adorned their face.

The figure was silent as they made their way to the large chair at the head of the table, taking a seat the dementors each took a side beside them and stood still floating in the air. Neither of the men in the room had the gall to look up at the figure at the head of the table, in fact they were trying hard not to make any facial contact at all. They sat in dead silence for what seemed like forever before the figure at the head of the table spoke in a deep chilling voice.

"The girls lives... she goes to Hogwarts... you have failed me."

The voice was like a hiss of air, a deep hiss of air that felt like a cold chill down your back. Both of the men immediately stood up and put themselves on the floor like two scolded dogs and bowed on either side of the table, sweat was already trickling down the sides of their heads.

"Bring them to me now.."

The Dementors swirled into the air at a fast pace and went forward with a purpose, grabbing both men by their throats with a black cold hand they were lifted into the air and pulled straight to the figure at the front of the table, they were gasping for air as the Dementors slowly started to suck at them, stealing precious life from their bodies, feeding on the fear. The figure slowly removed their wand and pointed it at Pervell, with the smallest of movements a green curse left its tip and smashed straight into the exposed chest of the man. He was dead almost instantly, his body fell to the floor hard with a sick smack as the wand was moved to Survius. The Dementor as if one cue dropped him down to the floor and there was yet another sick smack as he yelled in pain from the hard stone beneath.

"One more chance Survius... the girl must die... If you fail me again then you shall receive not a merciful death like Pervell but you shall endure the kiss of the Dementor. You are not charged with our forces, lead them... kill her... I do not care how or for anymore excuses. Now go.."

Ceres and Minthe continued to wave until the station they left from was nothing more than a spot in the distance. Ceres took place in the cabin she, Minthe and Crixus sat in. Minthe quickly followed her sister into the cabin and closed the door. The young and energetic girl climbed in the couch opposite of where Crixus and Ceres sa tand looked out the window, taking in the green scenery. Ceres wanted to say something to Crixus but her attention got pulled towards a black, snake like being that was wrapped around the auror’s neck.

‘’Oh my, is that a basalisk? How come he is so small’’ Ceres asked as she reached her hand out towards the basalisk. However, she got second thoughts and pulled back her hand, she was not sure if the reptile would like to be petted, probably not, if it was like his master.
‘’Say Crixus when are you and Ceres going to tell mother and father that you are boyfriend and girlfriend?’’ Minthe asked, looking at her sister and the auror. Everyone in the family had agreed to let Minthe out of this all, they had told her that Crixus was a colleague of their father and that he would be around the hous much more than before because they were working on something. They did not wished tos care the young girl with tales of black cloaked assasins and cursed marks. It must have been weird to see her sister and the strange man together so often, and the very young witch had pulled her own conclusions.
‘’Minthe’’ Ceres said her head flaring red. That famous honesty of kids, really. ‘’Where did you get that idea?’’ Ceres asked still red, her voice a bit stuttering. It was unknow to Ceres why she reacted this way. ‘’You two always stick together. I thought it was like that’’ Minthe said and Ceres laughed akwardly. ‘’N…N..No, of..fcourse not. Crixus is a friend. Now here, go along and buy some Jelly Belly or something’’ The young witch pushed some money in the hand of her sister who happily ran of to search for the snack lady. Ceres pressed her hands ontop of her knees and looked down, using her long brown hair like a curtain to hide her face. Once she reappeared from behind her waterfall of brown Ceres laugehd akwardly at Crixus, ruffing her hand through her hair.

‘’I am sorry, my sister has a rich inmagination’’ Ceres apologized. For a while she looked outside the window. Her cheek pressed against the cold glass. ‘’Mr. Crix’’ She said, pulling herself away from the window. ‘’ I was thinking, it would be a bit weird of we would call eachother by our last names or with a mrs or mr infront of our names. So you can call me Ceres, and if it is alright with you I will call you Crix’’ her word came not so natural of her tongue. However, all of the sudden the train stopped and the lights started flikkering. The temperature seemed to drop rapidly, and grey clouds blocked the rays of helios from shining upon them. Minthe came running into the Cabin and dove into the arms of her sister. ‘’What is happening Sis’’ She said panicked as Ceres looked at Crixus, She guessed they were thinking the same thing. She had heard about them, she had even learned a charm against them, but never in her live had she seen them.

Dementors

Ceres pulled out her wand and saw the one thing that could terrify her at this point. A black cloaked person. He or she was sitting on a broom and watched as some ghostly figures made their way towards them.

‘’ Expecto Patronum’’ She chanted, without a second thought and blue shield like vortex appeared infront of them. The dementor that had tried to enter their cabin got chased away by the light and so did the cloaked man. They were gone as sudden as they had appeared.

‘’is everyone alright?’’ Ceres asked adn looked around the cabin, the lights went back on and the train continued his journy towards Hogwards.

‘’That was a subtile warning’’ The young witch said. She knew that the group would even try to break into Hogwards to get her.

"He is what you would call a miniature Basilisk, a long time ago even before Lord Voldemort Basilisks were thought of as creatures of power and they became symbols for the pure blood families. Mostly because snakes were the one animal in the world that could never be breeded with any other animal or in other words its blood could never be tainted. The Basilisk in particular is a snake as you may know grows to great sizes and in the world of Wizards is an incredibly deadly animal. A man whom no one really knew his name, created a miniature version of the Basilisk for pure blooded wizards who wished to carry their symbol of power to show their authority over those whom they deemed unfit to be wizards or witches or half bloods to put it lightly. This animal is actually not as much an animal as what in a civilized world would call a familiar, they do not require being fed nor do they ever die, they are very much immortal to time. That is why you will never see them very often, they are often passed from pure blood family to pure blood family and they are treasured as heirlooms so they are fiercely protected. This one in particular belonged to a Dark wizard whom lost their life when they chose death over capture, I adopted this little guy otherwise he would have been destroyed for if they do not possess an owner they can become quite violent, for reasons I am unsure of they do not like being alone. Basil is quite nice and he does not bite so don't be afraid of him, he has been my companion for three years now."

Crixus softly stroked the head of the serpent as Minthe suddenly posed a question that turned Ceres beat red, Crixus nearly became red himself as he slowly pulled the hoody over his face to hide any possible blushing. Crixus put his head down silently as he felt a burning in his cheeks. Crixus smiled to himself when Ceres stuttered as she spoke to her sister about him just being a friend, he didn't know why but it was quite cute. Crixus kept his head down as Ceres sent her younger sister out to buy something off the trolley, when he did look up she was hiding behind her long brown hair. He slowly pulled back the hood feeling the heat go down from his face, Ceres slowly emerged her face from her hair and laughed at the awkward situation. Crixus let out a small laugh of his own to try and draw the awkwardness away.

"Don't worry it happens, children can be quite brutally honest sometimes... all the time... everytime."

Crixus kept changing the word as Ceres looked out the window for awhile, Crixus kept an eye on the door, he didn't know why but he had a twisting feeling in his stomach. Maybe it was the fact that he had just blushed, he smiled again seeing Ceres blush made him want to smile, it was quite funny to see too. He looked back up silently while Ceres offered that they use each others first names from now on.

"Sure, it would probably be better from this point on too. No one is suppose to know I am.. well you know. An Mr. Crix would sound a bit too official."

Crixus became silent quickly as the lights on the train flickered and then shut off the train coming to a complete halt at the same time. Minthe came running back in as the temperature dipped rapidly, Crixus became suddenly tense as he looked at Ceres who mirrored his thoughts, but why? Crixus pulled his wand but was suddenly hit with a massive pain in his head, he dropped his wand out of his hand as the pain intensified, he opened his mouth to scream but nothing came out. All of a sudden he heard a very loud screaming rip into his ears as Basil hissed loudly against his neck. He covered face with his hands and squeezed his head as his vision blurred and he saw the cloaked figure of Dementors, almost immediately he felt something sucking the life away from him within seconds. The pain suddenly ended however in a flash of light as Ceres cast the Patronum charm driving the vile creatures away. Just like that the creatures were gone as if some bad dream and the lights flickered back on and the train came to life once again.

Ceres quickly asked around the car if everyone was all right, he barely heard her when she mentioned that this was merely a warning Crixus said nothing as he got up and stumbled forward and hit his hands and knee's clutching at his head, Basil slowly slithered off his shoulders and onto the floor as the pain in Crixus's head finally subsided fully. His eye sight fully returning Crixus saw his wand in front of him, grasping it between his fingers he stood back up to his feet as he realized he had just collapsed in front of Ceres and Minthe. He felt bloody embarrassed as he slowly bent down and allowed Basil to climb back onto his arm, looking at Ceres and Minthe he spoke:

"I will be back in a moment, I.. just need some air."

Crixus quickly walked into the hallway closing the door, crossing it he walked into the wall as he removed the sunglasses and wiped away the tears in his eye's concealing himself from possible onlookers with his hoody. For the briefest of moments he saw a face before his eye's, the eye's were cold and lifeless, gentle blue glazed over staring back at him accusingly. Those dementors.. were the nastiest dementors he had ever in his life encountered. Their attack was so quick and precise it was almost as if they had come directly at him from the moment they entered the train. What lasted only mere seconds was enough time for them to invade his mind and bring his worst memory out like venom from a wound. Crixus let himself breath slowly as he looked up, the hallway was fairly empty aside from the few stragglers who were probably not even aware of what just happened. The hallway was cloaked in nothing but gray, there was no color as he concentrated his eye's, the students in the hallways shimmered before him, tiny particles of light made up their beings instead of flesh and clothing their outline shaped by white light, replacing the sunglasses on his face they gleamed as the hallway of the train returned with all its colors, the students were now normal again. Leaning off the wall he breathed slowly again, leaning against the wall next to the compartment where Ceres and Minthe were he slowly let him recompose as Basil flicked his tongue against his cheek feeling his anguish. Crixus petted the snake gently on its scaled head letting the memory fade back into the darker recesses of his mind.

‘’Oh my god, what was that. Sis, what were those things’’ Minthe shouted as she looked outside the window, searching for the dementors. Ceres sat trembling on her seat. She had been lucky, and she realized that all to well. The group was warning her, they were going to coma after her even at Hogwards. Ceres did not wanted to give in to their game of mental endurance, but she knew at one point the fear would consume her. If that happened she would no longer be able to cast her patronus charm, for all her posetive feelings would have left her.

Feeling a bit insecure all of the sudden without her guardian around Ceres decided to take a look at Crixus. He probably had it th worst of all, seeing as the dementor had tried to take him for one reason or another. Taking a moment to compose herself Ceres stood up and opened the door, only to be greeted by the sight of Crixus sitting down on the floor. It seemed like he was trying to control his breath, the young witch felt guilty. The dementor har targeted him because the group was after her. Feeling somewhat responsible, and as well not wanting to leave him alone when he was like now, Ceres squatted down infornt of him. She watched him as he let his finger go over the scales of Basil. Ceres smiled as she saw the forked tongue of the little reptile go in and out of his mouth.

‘’Are you alright Crix?’’ Ceres asked, concern in her voice. She reached her hand towards Basil and petted him, touching a mini-basalisk for the first time in her life. ‘’Think of Basil here, isn’t he your friend. You have tot hink about something positive, as well as this…’’Ceres said as she rummaged through her bag. From out of her bag she dipped a bag of muggle candy called choco kisses. She unwrapped one and gave it to Crixus. ‘’Apparently Choclolate helps againt the nausious feeling Dementor can leave on your body. And I am sorry, I doubt you expected Dementors coming after me when you began this dangerous mission’’