AN: It's been 6 months since an update. Guys, I'm sorry. I've been busy with writing original stories and lost the time and motivation to do this. But I've had a couple of lovely comments asking for more recently and they really do make the difference so here it is! (If you've completely forgotten whats going on I would suggest going 4 chapters back to the start of book 2)

It didn't take long for Edgar to change his mind about Lockhart. Lunch time on the second Friday back at school found Sebastian, Matt and Archie outside lying in the grass when Edgar approached.

He threw his bag down beside them. "I admit it. Lockhart has no idea what he's talking about."

"Welcome to the club," Archie said as Edgar carried on.

"I don't mind him reenacting his books. They're really interesting, but he said in class he'd been bitten by a wild doxy in Germany and he'd applied common antidote and was fine. That wouldn't have worked." Sebastian rolled his eyes. Of course the thing to make Edgar annoyed would be to do with healing. "The bite of wild doxies are much more dangerous. I saw a guy in St Mongo's who was bitten by one. He nearly died."

Archie nodded his agreement. "I was reading Marauding with Monsters the other day-"

"Why?" Sebastian couldn't help but cut him off.

"I thought there would be some useful things in amongst all the –" Archie waved his arms around, "other stuff. Didn't get far anyway. His solution to every creature was the knockback jinx. The knockback jinx!" Archie said incredulously. "And what kind of wizard thinks gnomes, horklumps and fire crabs count as monsters?"

Archie shook his head, but his mention of the knockback jinx had reminded Sebastian of something and he dug around in his bag for it.

"What are you looking for?" Matt asked.

"Wait a sec," Sebastian said as he flicked through the text book he'd put the list in to keep it safe. "Here it is."

He pulled out a folded piece of parchment and handed it over to Matt, who frowned slightly but took it. His eyes skimmed down the list of spells written on it.

Archie had spent the week slipping up to the second floor corridor at every opportunity to check if it was empty. They'd finally decided their classroom was still unused. Ready to be practiced in.

"I spent the whole time you were away this summer looking through every book at the manor," Sebastian said. "And I mean every book. All of those spells are completely harmless." Matt looked up at him, a small frown still on his face as if he didn't understand. "So you can practice with us, if you wanted to. We'd just use those spells, nothing else. We can learn them together. If you wanted to."

A beat of silence passed between them after he trailed off, Matt stared at him, and Sebastian could feel Archie's gaze flicking between the two of them. Matt had refused to practice after Archie had been stunned last year and neither brother had met up with Sebastian and Edgar to practice over the summer. He could feel how hard Archie was trying to stay still. But then Matt smiled, a small thing at first but it grew until he was grinning down at the parchment. Relief flooded Sebastian and the spell broke. Archie shuffled forward on his knees to look at the list over his brother's shoulder and Edgar leaned over too.

"That sneezing one was in my jinx book," Archie said, pointing at one of them.

"I found the giggling jinx in Hydrus' room, if you can believe that," Sebastian said. The others laughed, but it had been the wrong thing to say because Sebastian's thoughts were drawn to the other things he'd found in uncle Hydrus' room.

Spells that weren't so harmless. Books full of them, sitting on the wooden shelves next to Hydrus' wand. White aspen wood polished to a shine, just sitting there. It was a beautiful wand. Sebastian couldn't help but stare at it. How much pain had it caused? How many people had Hydrus tortured with it? How many had he killed with it?

It should have been snapped, should have been destroyed when Hydrus got sent to Azkaban for life. But he'd never had a trial. He hadn't needed one, and the Ministry couldn't snap a wand without a trial, so the wand had ended up back with his family, innocently sitting on a shelf next to enough evidence to have made the trial simple. Because the books and the wand hadn't been the only things there.

On the top shelf, too high for Sebastian to reach without magic, had been a memory box. Worn black leather encased a set of crystal vials. Sebastian had known what it was before he'd opened it. A dozen of them sat arranged around the pensive downstairs, each box securing crystal vials, each vial holding a swirling memory from someone in the family.

These were Hydrus'.

Sebastian had opened the box up carefully. It was small, only meant to hold sixteen vials, but a seventeenth had been shoved inside it, lying on its side at the front of the box. He'd carried them down to the hidden room beneath the stairs that housed all the other memories. The box slid easily into a space beside the others around the pensive and he'd tipped the contents of that seventeenth vial in. The cloudy substance swirled around him until he stood in a dark room.

The familiarly of it had shocked him. The only light in the room blazed from the huge fireplace but it was enough to see clearly by. The wooden floorboards creaked as the Dark Lord walked forward, wand out, a handful of his most devoted followers watched from the walls. Hydrus, a wicked smile on his young face, had his eyes focused on the man in the centre who was trying his best to look brave as the Dark Lord approached him.

Sebastian had watched this memory a hundred times as a child, he'd found it in amongst the others by accident one day and returned to it again and again. He'd never wondered why it had been the only memory of Hydrus' he'd ever come across, never wondered where the rest of them were.

Sebastian recognised Snape in the room this time, standing around the edge, almost covered by darkness. But he still didn't recognise the man in the centre who bowed his head, bare arm offered out in front of him. Voldemort took it and pressed his wand into the pale skin. A cry of pain slipped out as the Dark Mark branded his skin, a red burn spread into the twin shapes of snake and skull. "Saavindaaaa." The Dark Lord's hiss of parseltongue brought it to life, turning the mark black as the snake wove around on the man's arm before falling still and returning to a livid red colour.

Sebastian remembered copying the hissing noise when he was little, again and again until he'd gotten it sounding exactly right. He still remembered it now. The idea of speaking to snakes had excited him as a kid until his mother had caught him watching the memory and taken it away. It sickened him now. Now he understood what the memory meant.

He'd thought his mother had destroyed the memory, but she'd just stored it away, locked in Hydrus' room where Sebastian couldn't find it.

Sebastian returned to the bedroom after that and looked through the rest of Hydrus' things, but he hadn't watched the rest of the memories. He didn't want to know what kind of memories his uncle would want to be remembered. They couldn't have been anything good if his mother had hidden them away for so long.

He'd spent the last of his holidays trying to forget about Hydrus and the memories. Archie and Matt had been staying with family in the south of France, and Durmstrang started earlier than Hogwarts, so even Loki had been gone. He'd only had Edgar to distract him. They'd spent the whole of the last week together, either at the manor, at Edgar's house in London or wandering around Diagon Alley together. It had worked, and he'd forgotten about the memories completely. Until that moment.

Sebastian focused back on the others, trying to pick up on what they were laughing about. They were still going down the list. Archie acting out what it would sound like if you had your tongue stuck to the top of your mouth by a jinx.

It sounded ridiculous, but Sebastian couldn't shake the memory. He wanted to pretend the practices were fun, something to keep them entertained between boring classes but they weren't. He scrubbed at his arm as if he could feel the snake on his skin.

But the way Matt kept glancing down at the list and smiling to himself as Archie made more of a fool of himself kept Sebastian from sliding too far into his worries. The future wasn't there yet. They had time.

The good weather held for flying club that evening. Draco, who everyone now knew was the new Slytherin seeker, was using his new position on the team to tell everyone he didn't need to practice with them as they changed. "I have official practice to go to now. No point flying with those who couldn't tell a broomstick from a twig."

Archie rolled his eyes and Sebastian could tell he was equal parts annoyed at Draco's gloating and ecstatic he wouldn't be there.

But the good weather didn't hold, and they woke on Saturday to rain lashing against the windows in the Great Hall.

Sebastian slipped up to the library for the first time that year. They'd agreed to practice tomorrow. Matt had insisted on getting all their homework out of the way first, and Sebastian wanted to check something he'd read about in a transfiguration book (which had been much easier to do last year when he had Augustus to ask).

Sebastian sat alone, confused and surrounded by a dozen different texts that all seemed to be saying opposite things when the twins found him there. He looked up from the book in his hands as they slipped silently into the seats across from him. He narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"We're so glad you asked," Fred said. He leaned his elbows on the table and ignored Sebastian's breath of laughter. "Would it be possible-"

"Hypothetically speaking," George interjected as if Fred had missed part of the script.

"-for someone to make the effects of a potion stop quickly but without making it less effective?"

Sebastian watched them for a moment, his mind ran over what they meant. He put down his book more than willing to switch to the safety of potions. "Theoretically speaking?" he said mimicking them. "Yes."

They didn't react to the joke.

"So, yes?" George said, pressing him.

Sebastian made a face at the simple question. "You'd have to find an ingredient with a short life that would bind with all the other ingredients in the potion without changing any of their interactions." It was a very complicated piece of potioneering, but the twins didn't seem to be listening to how difficult it was.

"So, yes," Fred repeated with a grin, making it a statement rather than a question.

"It's not that simple," Sebastian said. "If the ingredient doesn't bind all of them equally, then, at best, it would stop the potion from working and, at worst, it would bind certain ingredients in a way that would make them poisonous and possibly kill the drinker." The grins the twins shared at his confirmation faltered.

"So," Sebastian said, sitting back and watching them, "theoretically, yes."

George coughed. "So, how would someone find what ingredient to add without killing the drinker? 'Cause that doesn't sound fun."

"I don't know. You know I'm a second year, right?" he asked the twins. "We've only just started looking at the basic healing properties of common ingredients." Much to Sebastian's annoyance. But then he supposed helping Astoria practice over the years gave him an unfair advantage and an unfair amount of boredom in lessons even if Snape kept throwing imaginary bludgers at him. (The questions were easy enough to answer but the things Snape chucked in Sebastian's cauldron for him to fix where more stressful).

"What you're talking about is NEWT level theory. Why don't you ask your brother? He is doing NEWT level potions, right?"

"Percy?" The twins both laughed off the suggestion.

"He is your brother."

"That's debateable," Fred said before George waved it off. "We can't ask him."

"And I suppose you can't ask Professor Snape either? Him being the potions master?"

"And head of Slytherin."

"And a git," Fred added passionately, but then his face changed. "But you could."

"I could?" Sebastian said. "No, thanks." As far as he was concerned, that was the end of the conversation, and he looked back down at his book, but Fred and George just sat there, watching him expectantly. The silence dragged until Sebastian was forced to look up. "No, really," he said. "No way. I'm not about to ask him a very specific question so you can figure out how to do a prank. I'd rather not get the blame. He's already told me not to get in trouble this year."

"It's not for a prank," Fred said.

Sebastian raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

"Not really," George said."well, not any time soon."

"No," Sebastian said again. "Ask your brother." But the twins grimaced. "You'll have to research it yourself then. Good luck with that, it won't be on a list somewhere, but the good news is Hogwarts has a really big library."

Fred opened his mouth to say something but shut up at a nudge from George, who was looking away from the table. Sebastian leaned forward to see who he was looking at. Hermione stood in the aisle, her arms full of books, obviously caught making her way to their table. She took a step backwards as if to turn around, but George stood with a wink in Sebastian's direction. "We'll leave you two to be alone."

Fred paused before following his brother away from the table. "If you do happen to ask Snape-"

"I won't."

"But if you do-"

"No."

Fred exaggerated a heavy sigh and slapped Hermione on the back as he passed, almost making her drop the books in her arms.

Once they were gone, Hermione approached, sliding her books onto the edge of the table where there was some space. "What did they want?"

"Help with a prank," Sebastian said. He moved his transfiguration books into a pile, and caught the expression Hermione pulled.

"You shouldn't-"

"Did it sound like I said yes?" he asked before she could finish.

"No, sorry. Are you meeting anyone?"

"Not until after lunch."

"Oh? Who?" Hermione's voice was controlled. He could tell she was trying not to seem too interested in the question as she sorted through the books she had.

"I said I'd meet Malfoy and some of the others to do our Potions homework."

Hermione's lips thinned, but she didn't say anything as she picked up her first book.

"He called me a Mudblood, you know," she said quietly.

"Yeah." Sebastian winced and said, "I heard about that."

It had been more in passing really. They'd all laughed at the story of Ron's curse backfiring and making himself eat slugs last weekend, but he had heard that's what had started it.

"But you're still going to meet him after lunch," she said, eyes on her book. It wasn't a question just a statement. "Because you're friends with him." Another statement. There was no anger in her voice just a look that Sebastian only knew hid her hurt because of how much time they'd spent talking last year.

"I'm going to be sharing a dorm with him for the next six years, Hermione. I'm not going to start an argument with him about something that won't change anything."

She didn't look up, just nodded like it didn't matter to her and started reading. It took a while to settle into the comfortable silence they normally had when sitting in the library. He hated the way Draco acted sometimes. Hated that even after the war there were still people who believed all that dung. But there were, and Sebastian had already made the choice to keep his family safe. He knew what standing up to the Malfoys of the world would do. Getting involved had only ever got everyone he knew killed.

...

When Sebastian left the library, it was lunch time. He hadn't meant to spend the whole morning there, but he'd finally made some progress with his transfiguration and one thing had led him onto the next until he was unaware of the time. He was surprised Archie hadn't come to find him to complain but he still made it to the Great Hall for the start of lunch.

Archie already sat chatting to Rory, only giving a nod of acknowledgement when Sebastian arrived. Unfortunately his absence hadn't gone unnoticed by all.

"Where were you?" Draco asked as Sebastian sat down beside him.

"Library."

"Alone?"

Sebastian frowned at the question. "Yes, alone. Why?"

"You should be more careful," Draco said his voice level and off hand, "with the people you choose to hang out with."

"I was alone, Draco." If Draco had known he'd been with Hermione, he'd have had a stronger reaction. And besides, Sebastian was getting rather fed up of people telling him who he should and shouldn't be friends with. He let the annoyance bleed into his words. "Unless I shouldn't hang out with myself."

Archie snorted but Draco's eyes narrowed. "Blood-traitors," he hissed. "Half-bloods-" Archie tensed, but Draco didn't look at him. He was looking past him to the table beyond. "Hufflepuffs."

Confusion flicked through Sebastian and he followed Draco's gaze, not sure what friendship he was suppose to be defending this time until he saw who Draco was looking at: Edgar.

Sebastian took a slow breath. He wasn't sure if he wanted to roll his eyes or groan, but he did neither, instead he focused on the piece of toast he was buttering to give him a moment to think and wondered whether his father had actually enjoyed the politics that came with being head of the DMLE when he'd been alive.

Archie, however, didn't resist the urge to roll his eyes. "They're friends, Malfoy. If you weren't so annoying, you might understand what that meant."

Draco's eyes narrowed, his mouth opening to make an equally cruel retort.

"Astoria wants Mother's old seat on the board at St Mongo's," Sebastian said, stopping whatever Draco had been about to say. Sebastian didn't turn towards them, but he could feel them both watch him as he put the toast down and took a drink from his goblet. "She'll do it, of course," he said, speaking to his napkin, "but she wants to be the youngest ever appointed."

He looked back at them. Archie was lost, but Draco waited for the explanation. "The more friends she has in that place, the quicker she'll get it. Both of Edgar's parents are Senior Healers at St Mongo's." Understanding dawned on Archie's face, and he frowned down at his food. "And right now, there's no one they would rather see appointed to the board. I'm sure your father would agree, having friends in high places is a smart move. Ask him about it, if you like."

"I don't need to ask him about it," Draco snapped, but his face was thoughtful. Sebastian thought it was the end of the conversation, but Draco spoke again, his words careful and measured. "I think you should be more careful what it looks like. You're a Slytherin. You wouldn't want people to question-"

"Am I sitting at the Hufflepuff table, Draco?" he asked. "I know what I'm doing."

Draco watched him for a moment longer before shrugging and going back to his food.

It wasn't much later when Draco got up. "I'll see you in the library," he said, and then he was gone, his plate still half full, giving Crabbe and Goyle no chance at following.

Sebastian carried on eating until Archie turned around. "When did Edgar leave?"

Sebastian stopped, fork halfway to his mouth as he looked over to where Edgar had been sitting. They scanned the Hufflepuff table, but he wasn't there. Sebastian looked over to where Draco strode purposefully towards the doors. "Dammit!" Sebastian dropped his fork and scrambled to his feet. Archie followed suit, but Sebastian shook his head. "You stay here," he said, grabbing his bag. They were already drawing attention to themselves. "You being there won't help."

Archie watched him for a moment but nodded and sat back down between Rory and Daphne, who watched them curiously.

Sebastian walked quickly but he didn't run. He still hoped he and Archie had jumped to the wrong conclusion, but by the time he reached the doors, a crowd of students had formed in the entrance hall. Sebastian wove his way through the loose circle, Draco's white-blond hair at the centre of it.

He was close enough to hear Draco's voice ringing out. "...imagine being in Hufflepuff. I think I'd leave-"

It was mainly Slytherins in the crowd and Sebastian's heart sank. Only Ernie stood behind Edgar.

Sebastian passed behind someone as laughter rang out, then a grunt and a thud, and when Sebastian finally reached the front, Edgar was on the floor in the middle of the circle. He'd been shoved to the ground, but Draco had his wand held loosely by his side. A tripping jinx then.

Ernie went to help Edgar up, but Draco moved his wand ever so slightly. It still pointed at the floor, but the threat was there. Ernie hesitated, not wanting to turn his back on Draco or make himself defenceless by not having his hands free.

"Scared, Hufflepuff?" Draco sneered.

Ernie might have been, but Edgar wasn't. He'd gotten his wand in his hand. His fingers white around the hilt. Sebastian knew that one twitch from Draco's wand hand and Edgar would act. The last thing Sebastian needed was to deal with Draco after he'd been embarrassed in front of the whole school, and Sebastian had no doubt after all their practice that Edgar could take an unsuspecting Draco if he needed to.

"Draco," Sebastian stepped into the circle as if it wasn't there. He felt all the attention turn to him but he ignored it, and forced himself not to look around, not to look towards where Edgar was as he stepped towards Draco. "Have you finished playing? I thought we were going to the library."

Draco watched him, calculating his moves before he smiled. "I think I've made my point," he said. He turned, ready to walk away together when a commotion parted the crowd. Lockhart pushed through the students. He didn't stop until he stood dead centre in the circle between them.

"Well, what has happened here?"

"Nothing, sir," Sebastian said first. "Edgar just tripped."

Lockhart swung around, his eyes landing on Edgar. "Well, that's a bit embarrassing," he said as loudly as he could, "but not to fear. Nothing that can't be fixed." He swept over to Edgar and pulled him to his feet.

No one else spoke up, and the crowd started to disperse, there wouldn't be a show. Sebastian had robbed Edgar of the victory. He tried to catch Edgar's eye, but Edgar's full attention was on whatever Lockhart was saying to him. The teacher brushed at Edgar's shoulders, the blush on his face could have put him in Gryffindor.

Instead, Ernie caught his gaze. Hatred blazed in his stare, and Sebastian looked away. The circle was gone. Only a handful of people hung around in groups, and Sebastian could see through them easily to where Archie stood beside the doors. He looked as if he'd been there a while. He'd followed in case he was needed but had stayed back. Hermione was nearby too. The look of disappointment on her face made Sebastian turn away. What was he supposed to have done?

Draco walked with a swagger as they headed up the stairs, as if everything had gone according to plan. And Sebastian supposed it had. He'd tested Sebastian to see if he'd pick Slytherin first, and not just that, Sebastian had picked Draco over Edgar in front of what had to be at least a quarter of the school. Sebastian sighed, he hoped it would be the end of Draco's posturing for now.

He could find Edgar later and apologise. They had the whole of the next day to practice in the second floor classroom. He could make it up to him. Not that he'd need to, Edgar would understand what he'd done. Even if the rest of the school didn't.

It's a bit of a filler but the next chapter brings us to Halloween where everything starts happening. As always, thank you to anyone who has followed or faved the story. Comments really do make a huge difference.