10

Chapter 10: Summer Hols

July 30th, 1992

"Neville!" Augusta screamed from the second floor as she slipped on her golden hoop earrings, "Get the door! I see that muggleborn friend of yours."

Neville, who was fretting nervously in the threshold immediately opened the door to the lovely summer air and waved sheepishly at Hermione.

She grinned and waved the portkey and gift in her hand as she approached in a knee-length lilac dress. Always punctual- it was only 2pm.

"Happy Birthday, Neville!" Hermione squealed, wrapping the boy in a politely loose hug. She proffered a rectangular purple bag and Neville took it with a nod of thanks, wondering what was beneath all that tissue paper. "You look dapper!" Hermione said, taking in the gray suit his Gran had forced to wear.

"Oh, thanks-"

"Is anyone else here?"

Neville smiled, "Er, no. But I wouldn't worry about it."

Suddenly, two more apparated onto the scene, landing in the field in the distance. The Longbottom Estate was fairly large, with two stories of expansive floors and a sizable yard in every direction.

"Oh look! It's Theo and Tracey!" Hermione cried, shaking Neville from his reverie. Tracey advanced in kitten heels and a soft blue blouse, with a black pleated skirt. But Hermione was already gazing at Theo. He had sprouted up over the summer and now came an inch or two above Hermione. He caught her gaze and smiled, wearing a grey t-shirt with black hemming and tan trousers. They each held a little bag which they promptly gave to Neville at the door.

"Neville, Happy Birthday." Tracey said formally, sticking her hand out. She didn't really know Neville that well, but knew that Draco was supposed to come later.

"Yeah, Happy Birthday." Theo said, but then winked at Hermione. She wasn't sure what to do. Wink back? Pretend she didn't see it? Her face did the talking for her by turning a lovely shade of tomato.

"So, um, welcome to my home, the Longbottom Estate." He led them into the threshold, a collection of antique paintings lining the walls, and then forward into the living room. To the right there was the dining room, and then the kitchen was beyond the dining room. The hall directly straight contained the staircase, as well as the loo, storage room, and Augusta's office.

The floors were wide and polished dark oak wood, as were the walls. The taste in décor was very artful: controlled, yet unique, with lots of grays, purples, golds, and reds.

"Very nice." Tracey said and peered into the kitchen where the knives were enchanted to chop some peaches, cantaloupe, watermelon, and dirigible plum fruit.

"Thanks, Tracey." Neville said.

"Neville! The door!" Augusta's voice came again.

Neville looked sheepishly at his friend's and acquaintances' surprised faces and offered them to sit on the light purple leather couches with a red wool blanket thrown over the top with golden thread woven within.

Theo and Tracey decided to sit together, and Hermione was left to stand awkwardly alone.

"Come on, Hermione." Theo said kindly, patting the seat beside him.

"Oh." Hermione hurried to the offered seat and then sat ramrod straight. Tracey chuckled and something told her that these two Slytherins were safe at least.

Neville was happy to be away from his guests for a bit. Perhaps they could make friends? His face was burning up and he wasn't sure why. He saw these kids everyday at school! Imagine, a simple thing as dressing up and arriving at one's house, and sitting in one's living room could make a bloke nervous.

He sighed and opened the bright red door with a gold handle and protective panel at the bottom (for scuffing shoes). Far out into the field he spotted not one, but a herd of red heads.

Fred and George Weasley led the proceedings with scarlet sparklers, dressed in stripped mahogany and orange sweaters and jeans. Merlin! How was he supposed to tell them apart?

Behind them came Ron, wearing a white shirt with a red hem, and faded jeans that frayed at the bottom. He stared up at the manor in awe, not even hiding the fact that he was gobsmacked. And even further...was the youngest Weasley, whose large eyes fixed upon him with her mouth slightly hanging open. Ginevra donned a frilly pink blouse and a plain gray skirt and large pink bow headband.

"Hey Neville!" Fred cried.

"Happy Birthday!" said George.

"See, we didn't-"

"Know what to get-"

"You, but hopefully-"

"With us three-"

"You'll find something-"

"That you can like-"

"Or love-"

They extinguished the sparklers as they made it to the doormat, and Ron peeked out between them.

"Happy Birthday, mate! Wow, is that your house? This is my little sister, Ginny." Ron said in a rush, still staring past Neville and into the richly decorated foyer.

"Oh-!" Ginny gasped as if not realizing they were at the door already. "Um, or Ginevra if you like, really." Her cheeks began to flame and the twins had to conceal their chuckles with a silencing charm.

"Gin-"

"Evra-!" They gasped.

"Oh, she's in it-"

"Good-!"

They cancelled the spell and Ron looked oddly between them. Ginny herself shot them a dirty look before stepping to the front and shaking the boy's clammy hands.

"Hello, Neville. They tell me you're the Boy-Who-Lived." Ginny said sweetly. "But you can be yourself around me, you know."

She handed him a handful of gifts that Neville had to cradle with both arms.

"Um, just go right ahead. Hermione, Tracey, and Theo are already here-"

Ginny swept past him leaving flowery perfume in her wake, and Fred and George chortled mercilessly.

"Don't mind her, Neville." Ron said, obviously not picking up what was really going on. "She's been talking about you nonstop. You'd think she'd stop after Harry..."

"Yeah, Neville, if she gets out of hand-"

"Just leave her-"

"To us-!" Fred finished with a clap.

"Er, thanks guys. Just follow me, I guess." Neville dumped the presents on the crystal cut table and reentered the salon.

Hermione, Theo, and Tracey sat on the edge of one couch, while Ginny sat stubbornly on the other. The rest of the red heads flocked to her, of course, and Neville sighed in relief when a (menial) conversation on quidditch ensued.

The fruit was cut and Neville set the platter out onto the glass topped coffee-table as Mrs. Augusta Longbottom descended proudly down the stairs. A stuffed vulture lay on her black hat, and her favorite bright red robes (to match her bright red handbag) were drawn about her with large golden buttons.

"Gran!" Neville cried as the guests turned to watch the thin and bony woman.

"Ah. Let me guess-" she said flatly, "-the Weasley's, the Slytherins, and the muggleborn."

"Gran!"

"Oh, it's nothing to be ashamed of, girl." Neville's gran continued in that authoritative voice. "Just a fact. It's wonderful that you can all be Neville's friends."

Her beady eyes that swept the room with distaste told differently. "Who are we missing?"

"Hasan, Draco, and-"

"Oh yes, and that blond child... Well how about we get those board games out while we wait?" Augusta said briskly, summoning Exploding Snap, wizard chess, Gobstones, and then she hummed. "You could get the broomsticks too if you want."

Ron's face lit up. "Really? I mean, er,..."

"Ronnikins-" George sang.

"Mind your manners!"

"Er, yeah, so should we wait for Hasan and Draco?" Neville asked the crowd.

"Well, I'm fine right where I am." Theo smirked, with a wink towards Hermione.

Tracey rolled her eyes, "Whatever is best for you, Birthday Boy."

"Er, right."

Ron deflated as the group began a large tournament of Exploding Snap. Neville had taken a seat next to Ginny, who was rather adamant that Neville sit by her. Augusta was busy in the kitchen, fixing the cake and making sure the icing was just right. She hardly knew any of Neville's new friends, but she did know that Dumbledore wanted him to invite the Weasley's. Really, Augusta saw nothing wrong with the redheads, but thought it odd that Dumbledore had made such a request. But Augusta was just so proud! Her Neville wasn't a squib! He was actually a celebrity! Harry Potter was still hailed as the only one to survive the killing curse, but her Neville was the one the prophecy referred to! The Daily Prophet said so and Dumbledore had even gotten the prophecy at the Ministry relabeled. Her son, Frank, and his wife, Alice, would have been so happy right now!

She wiped a tear from her eye and beamed down at the photo of Frank, Alice, and Neville. She wanted nothing more than to raise Neville to be the very best he could.

.oOo.

Draco sat on the couch, wearing a gray button-down shirt with black pants. He clutched Hasan's letter in one hand, and Neville's invitation, gift, and portkey in the other. It was about time Hasan mentioned the potion! After school, Hasan had received four doses of the Animagus potion, but Draco had admittedly not finished the preparation. To transform into another being while keeping your mind was so mechanically complicated that Draco was thankful Hasan had been there to help him. Plus, his godfather had visited a few times over the summer to assist him, before aiding his father on some project or other. So it was on July 30th, that Draco was finally ready to receive his Christmas gift.

"Father!" Draco yelled for the umpteenth time. Honestly, what was the man doing up there? Picking clothes? Dressing? Urgh! He was already ten minutes late! "Mother!"

"Give us a moment, Dragon!" Narcissa called from upstairs. A moment? He was late! Draco continued to brood over fashion conscious fathers before the man finally deigned to gift him with his presence.

Lucius was dressed in his usual black cloak as he descended the stairs with Narcissa on his arm. Narcissa wore a dark blue pea coat over a long gray dress, the couple together looking rather posh. And they were only the escort. Really? Did it take that much time to throw that together? Draco thought with a huff.

"The portkey, Draco." Lucius demanded, holding out his hand. Draco leapt off the couch and the three touched the activated portkey before whirling away to somewhere...

.oOo.

Hasan looked at the glass vials, wondering if Neville would find it as humorous as him that Professor Snape had inadvertently gifted him with Animagus abilities...perhaps he'd just tell him later then so that Neville wouldn't spit it out or anything.

Altair was out at the moment, doing some errands and trusting that Hasan could figure out how to work a portkey for himself. Merlin knew how many Altair himself had used over the years.

It was 2:15 now, and Hasan figured what he was wearing was probably the best he was going to get. He was in a light black jacket, over a white t-shirt and fitted gray jeans. As for his hair, he decided to just let it hang, as it was now to his waist. He had pondered the Blood Book and the Malfoy daggers, but hadn't pressed Altair because it obviously meant something very heavy for him. Hasan left both resting on the salon table, petted Tina good-bye and let Raven have some treats, before activating the portkey with a flick of his wand. Within seconds, he was sucked through a tunnel and spit back out again, landing gracefully on his feet. Longbottom Manor stood up in contrast with the lovely blue sky and Hasan smiled at the golden balloons by the door.

Mrs. Longbottom appeared in the entrance almost immediately and nodded tersely in greeting. It seemed that either no one was here (doubtful) or that Augusta had simply not alerted them of his presence. He continued to stride, taking his time across the large expanse of green, before a thud indicated the arrivals of more guests behind him

Hasan turned slightly, not so much seeing Malfoy as hearing him. 'Ow! Could've warned me!' Hasan wasn't expecting the entire family, and apparently neither was Augusta for she yelled so.

"I wasn't expecting you all to come." Her bright red wardrobe flashed brilliantly in the light as she whipped out her wand protectively and then stowed it rather deliberately in her handbag.

The Malfoy family approached, Draco mumbling in the lead, Lucius staring stonily ahead, and Narcissa smiling sweetly at all the world.

"Hello, Augusta. A pleasure." Narcissa said shortly, with that same saccharine grin. She held out her hand which Augusta shook harshly before turning to Hasan. "Good afternoon, Hasan."

Hasan stared back at her blankly before bowing in proper pureblood fashion.

"Hello."

Draco had stopped his complaints by now and grinned at the emotionless boy.

"Hasan!"

"Hello, Draco."

Augusta glanced at the boys with an unfathomable expression before glaring candidly at Lucius.

"Thank you for escorting him." she said icily.

But Lucius didn't rise to the bait. Actually, he didn't even recognize the bait. He too was occupied with the children. Lucius' pale eyes roved over the young Castell and his hands shook imperceptibly behind his back.

"Where are your parents dear?" Narcissa asked, tugging Lucius to her side.

"Parents weren't invited." Augusta muttered agitatedly.

Hasan tilted his head and let a soft smile seep onto his face.

"I don't know." Hasan replied evenly. This woman was going to have to be a lot more specific! Technically he didn't consider anyone his parents. Altair was classified as an adoptive father, and Lily and James were buried at Godric Hollow. Even then, he had only read that in a book, and books could have typos, misprints, or lies. Really, it was a rather difficult question.

"You live in France, right?" Draco asked.

Hasan nodded. "Yes."

"Then your parents are at home then?" Narcissa probed. Really? He had to go through the home thing again? Well, it didn't matter, did it, if he considered Castell Estate his home. Altair wasn't there anyway.

Lucius, over in his brain, was doing some rapid thinking too. Could he, himself, be so transparent as to ask about his family?

Hasan shook his head to the previous question. Narcissa sighed and looked apologetically at her husband. Lucius too was ready to bang his head against something, hard. It was just so infuriating! The boy was obviously telling the truth! Lucius didn't know exactly what he was searching for within the boy's answers. No, he couldn't lie to himself. Lucius Malfoy needed to know. Needed to know who this man was with brown hair and blue eyes, and knew he had something to do with this boy, Hasan. Severus was surprisingly unhelpful, saying he had never known a man like that in his life. But Lucius had the distinct feeling that Severus was lying. But why was that?

Well, wouldn't that be bloody lovely to know!

"Who takes care of you, b- Hasan?" Lucius demanded in a borderline threatening voice.

And amazingly, wonders of all wonders, Hasan answered.

"My mentor." Hasan's eyes narrowed in a way of saying that he couldn't and would not reveal his name. Narcissa didn't know what crazy project Lucius was working on now, but she certainly knew she didn't want to upset Draco's friend! Least of all in front of Augusta Longbottom! "It seems you're curious, Mr. Malfoy." Hasan observed lightly. "I'll be sure to tell him."

"It's a 'him?'" Lucius blurted. Hasan raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, that's really lovely that you have such a good relationship with your...mentor!" Narcissa gushed, steering a frozen Lucius back the way they came. "And have fun, Hasan, Dragon!"

The two apparated away with a 'pop' leaving Draco and Hasan alone with a very confused and irritated Augusta Longbottom.

"Well get in."

.oOo.

"I'm not sure of anything anymore!" McGonagall yelled to the staff. "How could we just condemn a man to death? What proof did we have? What trial?"

"There didn't need to be a trial! There were witnesses!" Albus protested sadly, cowering behind his desk in his chair. "Pettigrew was dead for all we knew..."

"Yes! Exactly how you wish Harry Potter was dead!" Minerva cried. "I know that you're raising that Longbottom boy to be your perfect savior, but Harry isn't dead! I refuse to believe it!"

"Minerva, if we could please stay on topic—?" Snape sneered. "I'm sure we're all just dying to hear about Potter, but there is no way I'm allowing that wolf to teach here!"

"Oh come on, Severus!" Poppy pleaded. "Now that Sirius is free, Remus has come out of hiding! How Pettigrew could have been living as a rat for thirteen years is beyond me! But he was caught going to someone, somewhere yesterday and the best guess is that it was You-Know-Who!"

"Which is why we need Harry Potter!" Minerva roared.

"Which is why we need a competent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!" Snape hissed at the same time.

"Minerva, Severus," Albus said plaintively, "Lockhart was a mistake. I admit it now. Now, especially since his farce has been uncovered-"

"Like yours will!" Minerva interrupted.

"Minerva, please!" Albus silenced her with a hand. "Lockhart had been searching for the Potter boy in the Himalayas and had run into a family of Vampires. After his death, investigations were made on the several complaints filed against him and the whole thing was unearthed! As long as those files were hidden, I had no way of knowing-"

"It's called checking up, Albus!" Minerva said bitterly.

"Shh, dear. Let him finish." Poppy chided. "Besides, I want to hear his next great plan to tell Augusta and survive."

"As I was saying, Remus Lupin has always been on the side of the Light, and he's a most able defense instructor. I know how much you want the position, Severus, but Remus will be a much better teacher for the kids than Lockhart!" Albus explained.

"Has it ever occurred to you that I earned the title of Potions Master because I enjoy potions? I have no doubt the wolf can teach the students more than Lockhart. I'm only wondering if he won't change a few before-"

"Severus, that's enough!" Albus ordered. He sighed and stroked his beard. So much had happened during the summer months. So much...Voldemort was back, but hell if Dumbledore could say that. The Ministry was straining to comply with the Longbottom mission as it was! (He suspected that early articles were being written for when the whole plot uncovered itself.)

"No! It's bloody well not enough, Albus! We sentenced Black to death!" Minerva cried out again. "Maybe if you kept a better eye on your students...ALL your students, kids like Tom Riddle, Peter Pettigrew, and Harry Potter wouldn't have fallen through the cracks!"

"How was anyone supposed to know that Tom Riddle would grow up to become Lord Voldemort? I wasn't even headmaster then. Second, I am highly aware of all the animagi in the school! James Potter was a stag! Sirius is a dog!"

Snape tried his best not to snort. Well done, Dumbledore, you've really got your eye on things, haven't you? While the headmaster was defending himself from all sorts of attacks by the mediwitch and the Transfiguration professor, Snape was wondering why Pettigrew had blown his cover. Surely the Dark Lord was not ready to rise once more? Right after the incident with the stone? Severus shuddered at the prospect of a newly revived Dark Lord, and quickly excused himself from the redundant arguments.

Lucius had called him once again and Snape had to be at the Manor in less than ten minutes.

.oOo.

After a wonderfully fun afternoon playing a simplified version of quidditch, in which everyone was a seeker, and the kids were split into two teams, the children retired to the dining room, where Augusta had laid out some hors d'oeuvres. Draco and Hasan were seated side by side, with Neville on Hasan's left. Next to Neville sat Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Hermione, Theo, and Tracey next to Draco.

"Wow, Neville! You were a natural!" Ginny gushed, referring to the fact that Neville had managed to stay on his broom.

"A vast improvement." Draco chuckled.

"The same could be said for you." Hasan whispered, and Draco had the sense to look sheepish.

"Oh, it's alright, Draco." Tracey reassured him. "Your first year spunk let us appreciate Hasan more!"

The table laughed quietly, despite Ginny being wholly ignorant, and the twins being privy to a rushed version told by a very emotional Hermione Granger, in the common room later that very day.

"I wish I could have seen it," Neville said with a chuckle. "It seems so out of character for Hasan to be aggressive..." he paused and clamped his mouth shut, "Er, then again."

"You're thinking of the Philosopher's Stone, aren't you?" Theo asked quietly. "If you don't mind, what really happened?"

"Er." Neville said.

"Well, Neville, Hasan, Draco, and myself went up to the third floor corridor and..." Hermione rattled off details that no one could believe she remembered such as the slanting hallways with damp green moss, and the color of the potions, and the size of the chess board. Finally, she got to the stone. "...but then, there was only enough for two of us, you know." She looked helplessly at Neville for aid, who looked at Hasan.

"Well, what happened, Hasan?" Draco asked.

"Neville fought the Dark Lord."

Neville blinked, "What?"

"Oh, man! That's-" Fred said with a gasp.

"Insane, Neville!" George finished, plopping a handful of grapes in his mouth.

"With swords? Did you have a wizard's duel? Did he try and Avada you?" Theo asked in awe.

"They fought with words." Hasan supplied as Neville glubbed like a fish. "The dark lord was charming with his words, though his head was quite ugly."

"I've heard he's got no nose." Fred said.

"Well, he had two this time." Neville giggled nervously. "He was on the back of Quirrell." Neville explained.

George wrinkled his nose. "Well, that explains the god awful smell."

"And that gaudy turban." Tracey said in disgust.

"That could also have been all the time he spent with trolls." Hermione observed eagerly. "He let that one in on Halloween, remember?"

The group continued to chat, when the doorbell sounded richly like chimes.

"Oh!" Neville said and hastily went to get up.

"Please, I'll get it." Hasan spoke up smoothly.

"Oh, um, alright." Neville agreed, sliding back down.

The conversation resumed as Hasan took his time walking to the door. The bell sounded again as he passed the gift table, and the most peculiar feeling came over him. He turned towards the presents, and let his instinct control his body. He was his body's toy, and much as that confused him. His hands reached out, and his eyes landed on the oddest looking book before he realized he was holding it.

"Tom Marvolo Riddle." Hasan said before starting. "Voldemort's name is Tom." It seemed too weird to be a coincidence, and then, the name itself was so outlandish that Hasan believed it was a code. Perhaps an anagram? Hasan enjoyed puzzles very much, perhaps he's solve it later.

The bell sounded. Should he take it? It didn't belong, for what idiot got someone a diary already named? And misnamed at that? Neville certainly didn't need to read the horror that was Tom Riddle's innermost thoughts! Then how had it got here- ah! It lay beside Draco's gift, and come to think of it, Lucius had had his hands behind his back...Lucius was dangerous man, a follower of Lord Voldemort, Altair had told him. It fit. It made sense. Almost. Why would the master give his servant his diary? Hasan flicked the book open, eager for answers...blank. Well that was just lovely. That settled it: this was dark.

Hasan had no qualms shrinking the diary and slipping it into his pocket, and then slapping an innocent smile on his face and opening the door.

.oOo.

Malfoy Manor was the same as ever. A small herd of albino peacocks, an ominous gate that could probably lock you in, and a dashing little manor that hosted the Dark Lord's more important meetings. A charming house, indeed.

Severus strode up to the door, cloak billowing behind him, and knocked. The door creaked open of its own accord, and Snape let himself in.

"Lucius? Narcissa?" Snape began to get that panic that he knew something was wrong but was too far away to do much about it. "Lu-"

Suddenly, a young house-elf apparated into the room wearing an old pillowcase.

"Master Snape, sir, they Malfoy's have gone to be taking Draco to his party."

"Ah, yes, the Longbottom party." Snape sneered as he made himself home on the couch. He was easily Lucius' best friend, a man living on the fringes of distinctive black and white, much like Snape. "Thank you, Dobby."

"Oh, yes, Dobby is most welcome to be helping Master Snape, sir." with a snap of his fingers, the house-elf vanished, leaving Snape pleasantly alone in what was practically the most dangerous house in Britain. The suspense only lasted for another minute, for Lucius and Narcissa presently entered the manor, chatting rather loudly.

"-you so interested in Hasan?" Narcissa asked. "You need to tell me, Lucius! I need to know!"

"'Cissa! I don't know! We gave him the dagger! Doesn't that warrant innocent curiosity!"

"You practically interrogated him!"

"You helped!"

"I didn't want you to look like a fool!" Narcissa cried, before catching sight of Severus. He noticed that her blue eyes were moist with worry, and her posture was terribly shaken. "Excuse me." The Malfoy matriarch quickly exited the room, running up the stairs and slamming the door to her chambers. Lucius faced Severus with a scowl.

"You know Hasan Castell. You're his head of house." Lucius said slowly. The bag under his eyes were most prominent now, and his tone was weary.

"Yes, as I am for all the Slytherins."

"Then you must know who his father is." Lucius said, and quickly cast a silencing charm around them. "I don't know why. Narcissa cannot know! But this has got to do with him!"

Snape stared. "I have no clue who the boy's father could be."

"Severus-!"

"Lucius, believe me. The boy has been adopted. The only way I have access to the records is if we alert Dumbledore and we can't have that!"

Lucius sighed deeply. "Why can't I remember the name? I must have gone to school with him, must have been in Slytherin..."

Severus was torn. He could hardly rat out Altair, but seeing Lucius like this was terrible. His hair was in disarray, his face lined with all the wrinkles of his age.

"Perhaps, perhaps you are remembering a man who died..." Severus suggested lightly.

"Died-?" Lucius repeated, head popping up. "Who? Tell me who! Tell me the name!" He was on his feet, eyes flashing wildly before coming to his senses and falling down dejectedly.

Snape winced. "Altair Castell."

"Altair..." Lucius trailed off, eyes going misty...he was searching, searching his memory for what, he could not recall.

"He was in your year...he had brown hair and blue eyes."

Lucius gaped and sagged in his chair. "You bastard. You knew. You knew from the moment I opened my mouth, didn't you?"

"He's dead!" Severus protested sharply. "He's absolutely dead! The Dark Lord killed him when he refused his service!"

"What year? What year?" Lucius demanded, wringing out his hands in a decidedly unMalfoylike fashion.

"The same year, goddammit, Lucius!" Severus shouted. "It's just a coincidence!" Shit! Shit! Shit!

"Severus! Seven whole years of my life were ripped from me! I can't recall a single thing! If he's truly dead, I've no hope to recover them! Do you understand me? I've finally figured out why I can't remember and I have absolutely no way of fixing it!"

His chest heaved and Severus just stared. His friend was falling apart, over that idiot, Altair Castell. What had happened? Why had it happened? They weren't even friends that Severus could recall...Narcissa.

"Excuse me, Lucius."

.oOo.

Hasan opened the red front door to find a pretty young girl, most likely Ginny's age, but without the obnoxious adoration of the manor or the prospect of seeing the Boy-Who-Lived. Her eyes were silvery, like Draco's, but not sharp at all. On the contrary, rather soft. Her lips were slight and pink, and she had on a black dress with silver star earrings that glinted out from behind her soft blonde hair. This must have been an old connection…

"Hello." Hasan said, his mouth going dry. There was an emotion, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Hello, Hasan Castell." she replied dreamily. "I'm Luna Lovegood. Am I late?"

"You know my name." Hasan stated blankly.

"Yes, I know many names." Luna smiled, warmth in her eyes. Hasan looked at her oddly. Did she know? Like the sorting hat knew? Like the letter and Ollivander and his wand knew? "Don't worry, I love secrets." she said, and handed him her gift.

"No, you're right on time." Hasan breathed. "It's lovely to meet you, Luna."

She nodded and stepped inside at his universal gesture of enter. She smelled faintly of gardenia...

When they entered the dining room, Ginny frowned at the new arrival and Neville seemed to want to melt into the floor.

"Why are you wearing black?" Hermione inquired the burning question, with a pointed glance. Hasan had been wondering too, but was too polite to care.

"Oh! It's good luck to wear black on birthdays!" She smiled at all the other occupants who were also wearing the morbid shade, and tilted her head. "Happy Birthday, Neville."

At that moment, Augusta made her entrance with dinner, chicken pot pie, salad, steak, potatoes, bread & butter, triangular sandwiches...before conjuring a seat for Luna. The blonde moved it to sit next to Hasan and Neville, and the two kindly shifted over for her.

"What a lovely dinner," Tracey complimented to Neville. "Your Gran is quite the cook. We have house-elves to do our cooking for us."

"House-elves?" Hermione asked blankly.

"Oh, yes. They're um, they are these elves, short with big ears and eyes, and they do chores and things..." Tracey explained tentatively.

"You mean slaves!" she shrieked, looking at the girl in horror.

"Well, er, I'm not sure that they're the same." Tracey said quietly, "They like the work."

"Calm down, Hermione. All the pureblood families have at least a dozen." Draco drawled from his end of the table. Her eyes seemed to bug out of her head.

"A...dozen?" she squeaked.

"At least." Draco clarified.

"You've never heard of house-elves?" Theo wondered.

"'Course not, she's a muggleborn!" Ron sneered.

Hermione blinked away angry tears, wondering how her ignorance could lead Ron to be so mean...maybe because he wasn't invited to go with them to the stone...or maybe she should study more?

"R-ron." Neville mumbled. He really didn't want to deal with a disagreement.

"Yeah, Ickle Ronnikings, mind-"

"Your manners!" Fred and George chorused.

"It's not my fault she was raised in a muggle family!" Ron protested, shoving more food onto his plate.

"Shh, it's okay, Hermione." Theo soothed, but she had already run to the bathroom. Luna watched after her sadly. Hasan shrugged.

The rest of dinner was eaten in silence, frequent dagger-glare hybrids sent Ron's way from Theo, and some remark about Neville's house, hair, or superb flying from Ginny. Eventually, Hermione came around, but she was quiet as a mouse.

"Cake and presents!" Ginny declared happily, and the presents were opened right at the table. Mostly it was books, on politics, plants, animals, plants, quidditch, flowers...eventually he made it down to Hasan's gift, and by this time, most of the kids had gone to stare at the cake. He reached forward, but Hasan stopped him with a slight shake of his head.

"Later." Hasan whispered, and pointed to the book on Animagi.

The two rose and joined the others at the table, all looking at the large white frosted cake with the large golden letters: "BWL (and underneath it) Neville Longbottom"

Neville's face turned bright red and he stared at his Gran in horror.

"Oh, isn't it simply lovely?" Ginny gushed, goggling at the initials.

Draco shrugged and looked for Hasan in the crowd.

"Hasan? When do you want to-?"

"When only three remain." Hasan replied cryptically, and turned his attention back towards the lighting of the candles. The song of Happy Birthday began and ended, as Augusta took great pleasure in slicing the cake into generous pieces. Hasan was eyeing the knife in apprehension, knowing that he never wanted to meet Augusta Longbottom in battle. Not only could she simply wave her wand to cut the cake, but she reveled in the swinging of the blade...

.oOo.

Severus left Lucius to cradle his worn out mind, and had come upstairs to give Narcissa a little chat.

"Who is it?" Narcissa asked, wrenching open the door with a choked sob. Oh, dear. Crying women were really not Severus' forte... "Oh, Sev. H-how are you?"

"Fine, Narcissa...but Lucius is not." Narcissa nodded sadly and offered Snape a seat in a plush black chair. She herself took up residence on the bed.

"I know!" she wailed. "But I don't know what to do! He won't tell me what's wrong! He's just so obsessed with Hasan!"

Which reminded him.

"He gave the boy the dagger..." Severus breathed. There were only three per family, per generation really, and the giving of one was practically unheard of. For the Malfoy's doubly so.

"Yes." Narcissa nodded. "Yes, Draco's taking a liking to Hasan C-castell."

"Ah, I see." Snape murmured after a moment. "And what is it exactly that you know about Mr. Castell that Lucius does not?"

She glanced up at him with bloodshot eyes, before coming to a resolution.

"Everything."

"Elaborate."

The blonde gave a shudder and sighed. "I don't know much of anything really, but...before my marriage to Lucius, did you know, he used to have a f-friend?"

Snape nodded slowly, his understanding, but not his recollection. Lucius, having another friend? That Snape didn't know about?

"Well...h-he, no one knew anything about him! And then he died, disappeared."

"Who?" Snape demanded, though he already knew the answer. "Who?"

"Altair Castell."

Oh, how did Altair manage to get himself into these sorts of things?

"Did you ever meet him?" Snape queried.

"No, no, no one ever did." Narcissa sighed. "We never talked about him, ever...but, there were rumors that he didn't want to be in the Dark Lord's service. He was never heard of since."

Snape knew this much. The man had been desperate to escape...had been desperate enough to die. But there was something else. Why was Lucius involved? Why was Lucius suffering from memory blanks seven years long?

"There's something else. Tell me." Snape hissed. She shook her head, tears streaming down. "This is about your husband!" Snape roared. "He is tearing himself apart right now because he can't remember! No one knows! And if you can help him- save him, and you're so close! Goddammit Narcissa!"

"Altair...he." she seemed to be struggling through the words. "He contacted me one day, many years ago, before Draco was born...before the wedding."

Everything went still.

"He-" Narcissa collapsed in tears, "He said Lucius was safe now. That he could serve the Dark Lord faithfully. But he took the memories...He said never to mention him again, or the seven years they had worked together. I-I was stunned. And...and I don't know what to do."

Snape , too, was gaping. Altair had supposedly protected Lucius from what? Obviously the Dark Lord, his mind supplied. But why? What had been so terrible to make the man want to leave? Turncoat? What had they been working on?

And oh so conveniently, Altair had disappeared from Snape's radar too. Raven couldn't be found. Altair didn't show. He was gone.

Severus looked at the broken woman before him and shut his eyes. Narcissa couldn't do anything but tear her own self up with guilt. She needed to be strong, for Draco, for Lucius...and the Dark Lord when he returned. There could be no cracks, no seams or splinters. No emotion. No guilt.

"Obliviate."

No recollection.