Chapter Twenty One: The Unspeakable

Demetrius Castor stood by the window of his office, peering down at the coarse dark sand and beyond the rolling gentle waves as snow slightly fell as it had since he had arrived home. Although he stood in the quiet and calmness of his house, his mind was anything but serene. So there was a spy in the Order. For two days he had spent the majority of his free time pacing the very room he was standing in, unable to sleep. He burrowed through countless documents and the history of each and every member of the Order, and came up dry. There was nothing he could do about it. His talents lay in finishing a job that no one else would want. He was utterly talented with a wand, and ruthless when he needed to be. But cleverness, he lacked considerably. He had always relied on the intellectual capacity of others to see things he couldn't. Those people were now either dead or far from the chaos of the war. His mind flashed to Longstreet giving him a nod at the door and leaving him alone, the Locket sitting carelessly on his desk. He then thought about the night he had heard of the spy, and winced at the memory of him cursing probably the only man, save Professor Nathaniel Addams he trusted. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and took a deep breath. He suddenly felt a warm and small hand on his shoulder and he turned around slowly.

Standing behind him was the woman with flowing red hair and light blue eyes, a sad smile on her lips. She wore a simple white night gown that passed just below her knees.

'I woke up and you were gone,' she said looking up at him.

Castor nodded putting his eyes back to the window. They stood in contended silence for a moment until Castor turned and put his arms around her. She sank into him and buried her face into his chest. They stayed like that for what seemed to Castor to be forever, but he didn't mind as he lowered his head and closed his eyes, breathing in the intoxicating smell of her hair. Immediately, all the torment, his problems and the chaos that surrounded him vanished as he held her.

'I'm way in over my head, you know that?' he said after a while.

She smiled into his chest.

'I know,' she said. 'I'll never figure out why you decided to do this.'

'You know why, Kate,' he said flatly. 'You just don't like it.'

'I don't,' she said stepping back and freeing herself from his embrace. 'I love you Demetrius, but what you're doing isn't going to solve anything.'

Castor raised an eye to her.

'You think training Harry Potter and finding the Horcruxes, destroying Lord Voldemort once and for all won't solve anything?' he asked indignantly.

'That is not why you're doing this!' she said angrily. 'This isn't about Harry, this isn't about Dumbledore, it's not even about Voldemort. This is about you! It's about you getting what you want! It's always been about that.'

'It's not about what I want!' Castor snapped. 'It's about what was taken from me.'

'And you think killing He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will make it better?' she replied firmly. 'That killing him will make you happy?'

'I don't know,' Castor said, his temper rising. 'But killing Mundungus Fletcher sure made my day.'

Kate Loughren looked up horrified, fear laced in her eyes as she gazed into his cold blue glare.

'You killed him?' she whispered.

'Yea, I did,' Castor said bluntly. 'And he won't be last.'

'Demetrius –'

'Kate,' Castor said cutting her off. 'Enough.'

She didn't say anything for a minute, but simply looked at him in disbelief. She knew what he had done in the past. She knew that he was angry and was driven by revenge and obsession. She knew him better than anyone, even more than Addams or Sevagio. But she loved him. He was honest, brave, and loyal. Most importantly, although he had never once said it, she knew he loved her. He must have felt what she was thinking because the next instant he turned away from her and again looked out of the frosted window.

'It's not going to bring him back,' she whispered.

Castor looked back at her. A single tear was rolling down her face.

'It's not gonna bring your mother back.'

Castor's eyes flashed at her words but he refused to scream at her. He instead stared back at her with cool resolution.

'He took everything away from me Kate,' he said quietly. 'He took my mother, my father. He took Marcus from me.'

She nodded in acceptance. She took a few small steps forward and again wrapped her arms around him, silently crying into his chest.

'He's taken many away from us,' she sniffed, her voice cracking. 'I don't want him to take you away from me.'

'I know,' Castor said, his voice softening. 'But I'm not going to stop.'

'Demetrius,' she said looking up at him, tears now cascading from her soft eyes, 'I'm afraid.'

'We all are, Kate.'

'No,' she said. 'I'm afraid that you might…'

He looked down at her, and brushed away several tears with his thumb.

'What?'

She sniffed again.

'I'm afraid that your anger will turn you. That your hatred will change you. I know what you want, and I'd want it too if he killed my family, but how you seek retribution can destroy you.'

Castor was taken aback. She had never spoken to him like this. It was amazing they were together, really. They had met while he had been an Auror. He would never forget it for the rest of his life. How he had brought in the body of Daniel Seville. How he had been ordered to relinquish his wand until his trial. He had spent a miserable week at St. Mungo's hospital, having his wounds being treated by the same woman now in his arms. He never would have guessed in a million lifetimes that he would end up falling for her.

'Addams said the same thing to me,' he said slowly. 'Back at Hogwarts. He warned me that revenge would solve nothing.'

'He's right Demetrius,' she said. 'You should have listened to him. You know, for a change.'

That made him smile. She smiled back at him and went on tip-toe, placing a cool hand on the side of his face. She kissed him deeply, his hands snaking around her waist and pulling her as close as he could.

'You're right,' he said.

'As usual?' she said smirking up at him. 'You better get used to me being right and all. Once this war is over and we're married.'

'Whoa whoa,' he said smiling genuinely for what felt like the first time in his life. 'What's this marriage talk?'

'Yes,' she said laughing as she kissed him on the nose. 'As a good husband you'll need to learn how to listen and do what your wife says.'

'Oh Christ,' he said putting a hand over his face. 'Are you trying to make me run for the hills?'

'What?' she said putting her hands on her hips and smiling cheekily. 'You don't want to marry me?'

Castor surveyed her for a minute before taking a step forward and again wrapping his arms around her.

'I don't know,' he said grinning. 'Doesn't sound too terrible. I can't cook for shit, and it'll be nice to have a little wife in the kitchen.'

'Demetrius!' she said shocked but she swatted him on the arm playfully.

'And look how good looking our kids will be,' he said, his smile broadening. 'You're bloody gorgeous and I'm not terrible on the eyes.'

'So we're having kids now?' she said, her hands around his neck, playing with his hair.

'Might not be so bad,' he said winking. 'And if they are, we'll just ship them to boarding school.'

She laughed but then her gaze became somber as she looked up at him.

'So you want to marry me?' she asked.

Castor froze and the color in his face drained.

'Are you,' he muttered, 'Are you proposing?'

'No,' she said rolling her eyes. 'I'm just asking if you would want to marry me.'

Castor considered it for a moment then smirked.

'Big wedding?' he asked.

'Honeymoon,' she said humming the word.

'Get a house together,' he said looking back out at the ocean. 'Fresh start.'

'Have some kids,' she said smiling.

'And live in peace,' Castor finished as if he wanted nothing more.

'Something like that,' she said kissing him. 'So, you'll think about proposing to me?'

Castor looked down at her confused.

'Why do I have to propose to you?' he said.

'Because you're the man, sweetie,' she said smartly. 'The man proposes to the girl.'

'What a load of bull –'

'Demetrius,' she said cutting him off. 'If we're going to get married and have kids, you really need to learn to watch your language.'

'Kate,' he said loftily.

'And you're definitely going to quit smoking,' she said. 'No cigarettes in my house around my children, thank you very much.'

'Oh for God's sake,' he said but he was laughing. She snuggled up next to him.

'So you'll think about it?' she asked again.

Castor kissed her.

'Yea,' he said. 'I'll think about it. Merry Christmas Dr. Loughren.'

'Merry Christmas Professor Castor.'

'Kate,' Castor said, his hands on her shoulder, looking at her in the eye. 'Do me a favor?'

'Anything,' she said staring back.

'Don't call me that,' he said calmly. 'I really don't like that name.'

Kate looked at him for a minute, kissed him lightly, and nodded in understanding.

Ginny Weasley stepped out of the bathroom and returned to the sleeping boy, the covers up to his waist, exposing his lean toned upper body. She spent an additional minute appraising, smiling suggestively to no one. It was early morning, the sun peeking its way through the dark clouds, the rays glistening off the fresh powder like millions of diamonds. She stretched and yawned tiredly. She had tried to stay awake for him but had given up around three. She didn't even feel him lie down next to her, but as the sunlight brushed across her face and she stirred, she could feel his muscular arms around her petite body. She looked down at herself and grimaced, wondering how bad it would be to be caught yet again my Professor Castor, or worse, her mother in Harry's room, wearing one of his old shirts and very little of anything else. She then composed herself, remembering that her family would not arrive until late afternoon, and although Castor was, in her opinion, out of his mind with his training demands on Harry, the chances of making him run around the island on Christmas seemed improbable, even for him.

She ran a hand through her copper hair and began picking up her own clothes and folding them neatly on a nearby chair when she heard a snigger from the bed. She whirled around to see Harry awake, though looking exhausted, his eyes going over her with an approving grin.

'What?' she said trying not to smile.

'Nothing,' he said casually. 'Just admiring the view.'

'What a coincidence,' she said airily. 'I was just doing the same thing.'

'Pull up a chair,' Harry growled. 'I'm about to take a shower.'

'Oh really?' Ginny said crossing the threshold and falling on top of him, her shirt rising up a bit. 'I don't suppose you want some company?'

'Well,' Harry said kissing her. 'It is Christmas. That could be your present to me.'

'I think you're asking too much Mr. Potter,' she said but she didn't stop his hands moving underneath the shirt.

'Hey,' Harry said smiling against her lips. 'I got you a present too you know.'

'Which is?'

'Uh,' Harry stammered looking away. 'It's actually a broom service kit, but I didn't know at the time when I bought it that I was going to see you naked in the shower.'

'You presume way too much,' said Ginny but she trailed her fingers across Harry's bare chest.

'That's my shirt you're wearing,' Harry said pulling her firmly on top on him. 'You're practically naked without it. I can presume all I want.'

'Is that right?' said Ginny pulling her legs up and straddling up. 'Well, if you want it back.'

She straightened up and crossed her arms over her chest and gripped the shirt with both hands. She was about two seconds from pulling the shirt over her head when the bedroom door opened with a flourish.

'Good morning Harry,' Ron said jubilantly. 'Merry Christmas and OH MY GOD!'

Ron's jubilance vanished in a fraction of a second and replaced with one of nauseating horror and shock as his eyes took in the scene on the bed. Hermione walked into the room a moment later and she let out a squeak of surprise, and her hands flew to her mouth. Ginny and Harry both stared gaping at the look on Ron and Hermione's faces.

'OH GOD!' Ron said again and he dashed out of the room covering his eyes and making loud retching noises.

'Uh,' Harry said wishing Ginny would let go of the shirt, and stop looking like she was about to take it off.

Hermione opened her mouth to say something but no words came out.

'Er – Hermione,' Ginny said in a small voice. 'Could you give us a minute?'

Hermione closed her mouth dumbly and back peddled out of the room, closing the door after her. Ginny turned back to Harry with a look of astonishment. But Harry's face was buried in his hands.

'He's gonna kill me,' he groaned.

Ginny, to his surprise, giggled.

'Harry, you really need to learn to lock the door.'

Breakfast was nothing short of unbearable. Hermione's parents had returned from assessing the damage done of their home. Scott Granger had been in a testy mood upon returning but smiled warmly as his daughter hugged him when she had walked through the kitchen, carrying two large beautifully wrapped presents.

Mrs. Granger had paled in comparison to her husband's sour mood, and had even taken a liking to Dobby, once she had gotten over the fact that he wasn't anything to be scared of, and was, to her incredible surprise, extremely polite. Dobby, of course, had gone through the morning completely unfazed to the silent awkwardness surrounding the table while he made copious amounts of French toast with strawberries and cream. Harry did his best to ignore Ron glaring at him from across the table the entire time. Hermione shuffled her toast around her plate, giving Ron furtive glances of apprehension while Ginny herself ate her breakfast nonchalantly. Harry surmised that Ginny was taking the moment on the bed a lot better than he was because she was by now used to her older brother's reaction to anything involving a boy she was interested in. Castor had been the last to walk into the kitchen. It took him all but four seconds to register the guilty looks on Harry and Ginny's faces and the death glare from Ron. He rolled his eyes.

'For God's sake,' he muttered under his breath.

'What was that Professor Castor?' Hermione's mother asked quizzically.

'Nothing,' Castor mumbled clearing his throat and sitting down. 'Merry Christmas Dr. Granger. Dr. Granger,' he said nodding at Hermione's father.

'You as well sir,' he said taking the coffee pot and filling it up for Castor. 'What's on your agenda this lovely Christmas day?'

'Potter and I are going to the Ministry,' he said taking the cup and adding sugar. 'We're leaving right after breakfast and will be gone until dinner.'

'Really?' Hermione's mother asked. 'On Christmas?'

Castor nodded but gave a knowing look to Hermione who's eyes widened in realization.

'When are Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and everyone else arriving,' she said changing the subject very quickly.

'Around four,' Castor said draining his coffee and refilling it.

'Mum,' Hermione said. 'Ron and I have a picnic planned this afternoon.'

'That's nice dear,' her mother replied. 'Make sure to wear something warm though, it'll be cold out there.'

Hermione's father looked at her daughter then over to Ron who's ears were burning red, and his lips went thin.

'Dobby will be most happy to make you a lunch!' the house elf squeaked in a high voice. 'Whatever you'd like!'

'Thanks mate,' Ron said to the elf, trying to avoid Dr. Granger's glare. Apparently, he was a very protective father. 'I, er, got you some new socks for Christmas.'

'Dobby is very grateful!' said the elf. 'Dobby has said so many times sir, that Mr. Wheezy is a truly great wizard. He is most thoughtful to think of Dobby, and it is no wonders that he is Harry Potter's best friend and –'

'Well,' Castor said loudly standing up and cutting off the excited house elf. 'Potter and I must be getting along.'

'But you didn't eat anything Professor,' Hermione's mother said in a motherly way. 'Surely some toast before you leave.'

To Harry's astonishment as if it was perhaps the dumbest thing to be telling someone like Castor how to eat in his own house, Castor smiled her.

'Thanks for the concern, Dr. Granger,' he said, 'but I'll be fine. Let's go Potter.'

Harry leapt from his chair. He bent down to kiss Ginny good-bye but the look from Ron made him change his mind halfway and instead he gave her an awkward pat on the shoulder. She huffed, stood up in her seat, and planted a kiss on his lips, then rounded on her brother, daring him to say anything. Ron went scarlet, as did Hermione and her parents. Harry straightened up, trying to ignore the tingling sensation on his lips and followed Castor out of the kitchen and into the living room.

'Lucky I didn't eat anything,' Castor said through his teeth. 'I would have thrown it up.'

Harry and Professor Castor apparated to the Ministry of Magic Atrium, and Harry was not at all surprised to see so few people buzzing around. He and Castor quickly made their way through a series of passages that led of the Department of Mysteries. Although Harry was boiled over in excitement to finally be destroying the Cup of Hufflepuff along with the Locket, he began to feel very nervous. The last time he had been in the Department of Mysteries, he had nearly gotten he, along with several of his friends killed by Death Eaters. Lord Voldemort and Dumbledore had dueled after Harry saw Sirius fall through the veil.

Don't think about that Harry said to himself closing his eyes.

'This way,' Castor said turning a sharp corner. Harry took a deep breath and followed him.

They passed several corridors, Harry suddenly realizing just how few people worked on Christmas morning. They reached a staircase and started spiraling their way down it until the came to the beginning of a long and dark hallway. At the base of the stairs was a grizzled mangled looking wizard behind a desk with balding black hair and three yellow teeth. He coughed violently into his Ministry robes and looked up with two beetle black eyes at the pair of them.

'This hall is prohibited by any non-official member of the Department of Mysteries,' he said in a monotone voice, as if he had said it a thousand times before.

'I'm aware of that sir,' Castor said looking down at the man. 'We have an appointment with a Ms. Cobb.'

The ragged looking wizard peered at Castor then Harry who nervously flattened his bangs over his scar. The wizard then looked down at a leather bound ledger on the desk in front of him. He opened it, and carefully drew his fat chubby finger down a list of names.

'Ay,' he said. 'You're a bit early, but she's expecting you.'

Castor said nothing else as he passed him, Harry right behind as the two of them walked down the hallway. Castor turned right, then left, then right again, down several deserted corridors and stopped abruptly in front of a simple unmarked door. He turned and looked through the corner of his eye down the hall they had come. He took a deep calming breath and knocked.

There was silence from the other end, Harry feeling uneasy standing in the hallway with Castor who's hands were shaking slightly. Then a small voice came from beyond the door.

'Who is it?'

Harry caught Castor smirking, but it was gone the second he noticed Harry looking up at him.

'It's me,' he said coolly.

The door opened slowly and a pair of breathtaking hazel eyes peered through. The door swung open and Castor pushed Harry inside. Harry peered around the room. It looked like some sort of laboratory. Long metal tables lined the far walls. Dozens of vials, boxes, even a muggle microscope scattered across them. At the other side of the room was a desk, a file cabinet, stacks of notebooks and, to Harry's surprise, a computer which hummed softly. In the center of the room was a large stone cauldron simmering, green smoke lashing across the putrid looking ooze within. It was being heated by a purple fire which made no sound or even movement but basked the small room in a violet hue.

'Well hello stranger,' said a throaty feminine voice. As the door closed, Harry saw a witch standing behind it.

She was Castor's age, maybe a little older with long blonde hair and a marble-like face her skin looked so smooth and clean. She wasn't dressed in official looking robes, instead, a pink tank top cut dangerously low in the front and faded, worn out jeans. Harry noticed that she wasn't wearing shoes. He also noticed quite quickly that she was one of the sexiest looking women he'd even seen, and had, very round, firm looking breasts. The witch didn't notice Harry leering at her breasts. Her attention was on Castor who was giving her a look Harry had never seen him wear before.

'Demetrius,' she said in a light bounce-y voice. She leaned in, and Castor slightly turned his head to the side, the witch kissing him on the cheek rather than where she was intending to kiss him. She looked taken aback, but smiled prettily, showing perfect white teeth. Castor cleared his throat and flicked his eyes over to Harry.

'Sonia,' he said, 'this is Harry Potter. Potter, this is Sonia Cobb. She's an Unspeakable for the Department of Mysteries so you haven't met her.'

Sonia Cobb walked forward and shook Harry's hand vigorously.

'It's such a pleasure to meet you Harry,' she said, her hand feeling soft and warm around his. Harry smiled nervously back.

'You too,' he heard himself say. 'You're, you're an Unspeakable?'

Sarah smiled.

'Probably not what you were expecting, I guess,' she said affably, looking down at her herself. 'I work alone, you know, so I can dress pretty casually.'

She laughed.

'I can work naked around here and no one would know.'

Harry looked down at her breasts again which were caked in sweat from the heat of the room.

'Cool,' he mumbled but immediately went red in embarrassment.

Castor rolled his eyes.

'So,' Harry said meekly, 'how do you know Professor Castor?'

Sonia gave Castor an expecting look. Castor tried to ignore it. Harry looked between Castor and her then remembered what Longstreet had said to him at Malfoy Manor.

'Sonia Cobb huh? You gonna put another shot into her Demy?'

'Around,' Castor said shortly.

There was a tense moment between the three of them until Sonia looked excitedly at Castor.

'Did you bring them?' she asked.

Castor took off his coat and pulled out a square box. He opened it, and carefully placed the cup and the locket on the table.

'Incredible,' Sonia said looking down at them.

'How do we destroy them?' Harry asked.

Sonia and Castor exchanged glances, an unsaid message passing between them.

'Have you decided?' she asked him.

Castor nodded.

'Yea, tell him,' he said. 'He's got a right to know.'

'Know what?' Harry asked perplexed.

'Harry,' Sonia said sitting next to him at the table. 'You're mother was an Unspeakable.'

The silence in the room was so complete Harry could make out the thumping of his heart.

'My mother?' he said uncertainly.

'Yes Harry,' Sonia said placing her hand over his.

Harry's eyes darted to Castor who shook his head.

'Then,' Harry said. 'I don't understand.'

'I'll explain,' she said. 'Your mother was a very bright witch, from what I've been told by those that knew her, and her old research proves it to the tilt.'

'Her research?' Harry asked now utterly lost.

Sonia nodded.

'Your mother found out that You Know Who had split his soul. She knew about Horcruxes. Now, although she didn't know nor did anyone know for that matter how many times his soul was severed, she nonetheless began work on a theory on how to destroy them. She, along with her partner who was another Unspeakable and friend from school spent many months trying to figure out a formula that could work.'

'I still don't understand,' Harry said. 'I destroyed the Riddle Diary with a Basillix's fang, and Dumbledore destroyed one, but I don't know how he did it.'

'Potter,' said Castor making Harry jump. He had forgotten that he was in the room. 'Basillixs were believed to have died out hundreds of years ago. It's a good bet that you killed the last one. Furthermore, Dumbledore didn't tell anyone how he destroyed the ring either. That's one of many secrets he took to the grave with him.'

'The point is,' Sonia said cutting Castor off. 'Is that at the time when your mother and her partner were working on this theory, there was no known way to destroy a Horcrux.'

Harry nodded feeling strange. His mother, who had sacrificed herself to save his life had been an Unspeakable, had learned about the Horcrux and was trying to find a way to destroy them.

'How did she find out about the Horcrux?' he asked.

'Nobody knows, Harry,' Sonia said. 'At least, if someone does, they're not saying anything.'

'Maybe she told Dumbledore how to destroy them,' Harry suggested.

'No,' said Sonia. 'She didn't tell anyone. Not even your father knew what she was doing. But somehow the Dark Lord discovered your mother and her partner's intentions and experiments. At the time of your mother's work, the war was at its climax, and there were many spies within the Ministry, even in this Department itself.'

'But why wouldn't my mother tell anyone what she was working on?' Harry asked.

'For two very important reasons Harry,' Sonia continued. 'One, she believed at the time that no one, not even You Know Who was aware of what she was doing. She thought if her research reached the ears of the Dark Lord, it would put her, her partner, and everyone close to them in serious jeopardy. The second and more practical reason is that if any of her work was discovered outside the Department, she'd be thrown out. You know that an Unspeakable are exactly that, they don't speak.'

Harry understood but then he began to protest.

'But you're telling us,' he said staring at her. 'What will happen to you?'

'Harry,' she said smiling. 'The Minister has given you and Professor Castor special privileges to see me.'

'Why?' Harry asked. 'And how would he know about the Horcruxes?'

'Enough,' Castor said sharply. 'We'll discuss that later.'

'So Harry,' Sonia said. 'I was contacted by Albus Dumbledore a year ago. He told me about the Horcruxes, and if I could start working on a means of destroying them. You could imagine his surprise, along with mine when I found in our archives that none other than Lily Potter had been doing just that nearly two decades ago.'

'Working on it?' Harry said. 'You mean, you mean she never finished.'

'She never got the chance,' Castor said. 'She believed the formula she and her partner had created would work; however, they never got hold of a Horcrux to test it.'

Sonia smiled sadly at Harry then stood up. She crossed the room to the desk and retrieved a stack of old manila files that had faded over the years. She placed them on the table.

'This was your mother's research,' she said. 'The last data of entry was dated October 14th, only a week before she went into hiding.'

'Harry,' she went on, 'I think it's only fitting that you're here to finish your mother's work. Provided that is,' she said turning to Castor, 'that your Professor has somehow produced a vial of the Draught of Life, which coincidentally is the only part of Lily Potter's formula that we don't have.'

Castor smiled and pulled out a small vial of a deep crimson liquid. Both Sonia Cobb and Harry looked at him like they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

'How?' Harry asked shocked.

Castor smirked.

'The Elixir of Life wasn't the only thing Tasky had in his collection.'

'Tasky?' Harry said, his voice sounding strange to him. 'You found him?'

'No I didn't,' Castor growled. 'Riley Sevagio had a very interesting conversation with him last night.'

Harry didn't have to ask the question if Ivan Tasky was dead.

He already knew.

But then another question clunked in Harry's mind and he rounded on Sonia.

'Wait,' he said looking up at her. 'What about my mom's partner. Didn't he continue the work? Is that how you got all this information?'

'She Harry,' said Sonia. 'Lily Potter's partner was a girl she had known at Hogwarts, and unfortunately she –'

Sonia broke off and looked down at the floor. Harry was stunned to see her eyes glistening with tears.

'What?' Harry pressed.

'She was killed,' Sonia said wiping her eyes. 'She was found dead in her house the morning after You Know Who lost his powers.'

Harry felt a jolt in his chest and he looked stunned.

'She was killed the same night as my parents?' Harry asked.

'Sadly yes,' Sonia said. 'The Ministry concluded after the investigation that You Know Who found out she had been working on the same theory with your mother, and was tracked down and killed for her work. However, her and your mother's work was kept here in our archives which I found after Dumbledore's request. This was of course after he had found out about the Horcruxes.'

'What was her name?' Harry said. 'My mother's partner.'

Sonia looked at him for a minute then sighed.

'Her name is Elizabeth Albin,' she said.

Harry opened his mouth in disbelief but closed it immediately. He looked over at Castor whose face was blank, and his eyes calm, but Harry could notice that he was clenching his jaw very tightly. Harry couldn't believe what he had just heard. A picture of the same witch, who had been working with his own mother as an Unspeakable, who happened to have been killed the same night as James and Lily Potter, was in the bedroom of Professor Castor. Harry couldn't help himself, he had to ask.

'Professor,' he said as calmly as he could. 'Did you know her?'

Castor looked back at Harry for a long moment before finally nodding his head in confirmation.

'Yes I did Potter,' he said. 'Elizabeth Albin was my mother.'

Sonia Cobb gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. Harry stared at Castor, who was looking back at him gravely.

'My mother was working with yours Potter,' he said. 'She was killed by Death Eaters because of her work, among a few other things.'

'What other things?' Harry asked.

'None of your damn business, Potter,' Castor said standing up. 'I was four when she was killed, and barely remember her. I didn't know who my mother really was until much later in my life. Professor Addams was the one to tell me when he came to the foster home I was living in when I was eleven. He told me I was a wizard, told me about my parents, who were both dead by that time, and that I was to attend Balmorhea.'

'I guess that's why I became an Auror,' Castor said looking around the room, avoiding both Sonia and Harry's eyes. 'I wanted to stop people like the ones who had killed my mother.'

Harry said nothing. It made perfect sense now that he realized it that Elizabeth Albin was Castor's mother, he simply needed to hear it from Castor himself to confirm it. But for Harry the discovery that Albin was in fact the mother of Demetrius Castor, it only opened up more questions, all of which Harry had no intention of asking.

'Are you,' Harry said. 'Are you helping me because of what happened to her?'

Castor looked at him, his eyes narrowing.

'It's one the reasons,' Castor said. 'But it's not the reason.'

Castor sighed loudly and turned his attention back to Sonia Cobb who was looking up at Castor as if he were a ghost.

'You never told me,' she said harshly. 'I've been working on this research for over a year, we have spent countless nights together, and you never told me!'

Castor glared at her. He much rather would have preferred Harry hadn't just heard that.

'Sonia,' Castor said impatiently, 'who my mother was and what she did has nothing to do with our past relationship. If it had, I would have told you.'

'I can't believe this!' she said angrily waving off Castor's declaration. 'You should have told me!'

'It wouldn't have made any difference,' Castor said still staring at her.

'It would have to me!' Sonia said, her nostrils flaring. 'Why didn't you tell me?'

Castor looked at her and smirked.

'You're not the only person who doesn't speak for a reason,' he said in a cold voice looking down at the small vial in his hand. 'And my past is not the issue here. You wanna be mad at me, then take a number and get in line. Right now, we got work to do Ms. Cobb.'

Sonia continued to glare at him angrily. To Harry, she looked like she wanted nothing more but to slap him as hard as she could, but Castor walked forward and delicately placed the vial into her shaking hand.

'Right then,' Castor said who leant against the wall and crossed his arms. 'Now's the time to pray this works.'

Hermione refused to hold Ron's hand as they walked across the cobblestone driveway over the first snow covered dune. The last thing she wanted was her father to watch them like a hawk. Once over the dune, they backtracked around the opposite wing of the house. They opened the door at the other end, and crossed into the downstairs parlor, careful to be as quiet as possible. Quickly taking a handful of floo powder each, they stowed the large picnic basket in the broom cupboard then said in turn, 'Ministry of Magic, Washington.'

Ron followed Hermione, finding himself a few moments later in a large room with marble columns and parquet floors. Ron looked out towering gothic style windows outside to see what looked like an enormous stone needle over a hundred feet high, surrounded by dozens of flags of red and white stripes whipping in the cold wind and falling snow.

'Ron,' whispered Hermione harshly. 'We need to move.'

Ron looked back at her then around the room. It looked completely deserted save a handful of formal dressed Ministry officials surveying him and Hermione questionably.

'Right,' Ron said walking across the room and down a hallway that was marked:

AUROR DEPARTMENT

Ron and Hermione walked briskly down the hallway, passing a few wizards in robes of dark midnight blue. The hallway opened up to another large room, that, at a closer look, was a rotunda with dozens of marble columns and zooming pieces of parchment shaped like elementary paper airplanes.

Directly in front of them stood a massive wooden desk where three witches wearing pointy hats and half moon spectacles sat briskly holding quills and jotting down into large leather bound books.

'And I thought one McGonagall was scary,' Ron muttered.

'Ron,' Hermione hissed. 'This is no time for jokes, we need to get those files.'

'Right,' Ron said looking around as if there would magically appear a huge arrow pointing down at exactly what they were looking for.

'May I help you?' said a crisp voice from behind the counter. One of the witches was peering at Ron with arched eyebrows.

'Yea,' Ron said. 'I mean, yes, I'm looking for something.'

'Are you with our Department?' the witch asked, not changing the expression on her face.

'Well, no,' Ron said and he dug his hand into his pocket. 'I'm here on official Ministry business from Great Britain.'

'That so?' the witch said, the two other witches beginning to take interest in Ron standing in front on them.

'Yes,' Ron said, deepening his voice slightly. 'As you can see I am –'

'Incredibly late,' said a voice from behind him and the next instant he felt a large heavy hand pound down on his shoulder. Ron wheeled around and saw a tall muscular wizard with grey eyes and short platinum blonde hair. Ron immediately let go of the Auror badge we was just about to show to the witch.

'It's okay Louise,' the wizard said still looking at Ron. 'Mr. Weasley is here to see me. And it appears he's brought his secretary to handle the files. Ms. Granger isn't it?'

Hermione looked down at the outstretched hand and shook it.

'That's correct Mr. Davenport,' she said, and she let out a breath of relief as Sarah's cousin gave her a small wink.

'Call me Kirk,' he said leading them away from the front desk, 'you'll be needing those files, I imagine.'

Davenport took them past a series of desks and down a flight of stairs to where another hallway began. He walked five doors down, nodding at a co-worker who waved at him.

'Working Christmas Kirk?' the wizard said. 'They don't pay you enough to work Christmas.'

'Such as it is, Del,' he said back before opening an office door and ushering Ron and Hermione inside.

'Thanks for that,' Ron said once Davenport had shut the door. 'I thought I was cooked back there.'

'Yea,' he said, his voice going cold instantly. 'Lucky for you two Sarah's my favorite cousin, and I hate Demetrius Castor with a goddamn passion.'

'What?' Hermione said. 'You know him?'

'At school,' Davenport explained. 'We were always at each other's throats. Hated each other since day one, all the way through training.'

'You knew him in the Auror training?' Ron asked.

'Of course I did,' he answered. 'We were the only two in our year to make it to the Auror program, until he was dismissed a couple years ago.'

He walked over to what was probably his desk. On top was a large cardboard box with a lid that read, 'VED Results: Demetrius Castor.'

'There you go,' flicking his hand at it. 'You got everything you need. School records, background checks, family history, and even one or two memories if by chance you got a Pensieve. Nobody has needed this shit since he left, so I don't see the problem if you guys needed it. Sarah told me it's for Harry Potter, that true?'

'Yes,' Hermione said ignoring Ron who gaped at her. 'Professor Castor is our teacher at Hogwarts.'

'Yea,' Davenport said. 'Heard about that. You poor miserable students. Having a guy like that teaching you.'

'Hang on,' Ron said abruptly. 'What did you say? Castor was dismissed from the Auror Department?'

'Yea, so,' Davenport said. 'That's common knowledge.'

'He was dismissed?'

'Yea, Weasley,' he said agitatedly. 'Dismissed. Fired. Let go. Shit canned.'

'But why?' Hermione said.

Davenport waved his hand again. He looked to be extremely put out.

'Look, its Christmas,' he said. 'I got a new wife at home so as much as I like reminiscing about Demy fucking Castor I would much like to be sipping whiskey watching the Charlie Brown Christmas Special while enjoying my wife's cooking, so if you'll excuse me.'

He picked up a few envelopes from the In box on his desk, took one look at them, snorted, and tossed them in the trash bin.

'You can use my fireplace,' he said. 'It will give you a quick exit.'

He indicated the small fireplace in the corner of the room, threw on a large black leather jacket and opened the door.

'By the way,' he said sticking his head back into the room and glaring at Ron and Hermione, 'This never fucking happened.'

With that, he closed the door, and was gone.

'EUREKA!' Sonia Cobb shouted as the cauldron made a long hissing sound and in an instant turned a dark charcoal grey.

'It works!' she said jumping on the spot, unable to contain her glee. She went around the cauldron and hugged Castor, momentarily forgetting that she was furious with him. She then turned and kissed Harry on the cheek and threw her arms around her. Harry felt his face get hot as he awkwardly put his arms around her.

'I can't believe it!' she said leaning back, smiling at Harry and gripping his shoulders tightly. 'It works! Your mother was right!'

She turned around and peered into the cauldron. It was no longer bubbling or hissing. She went to one of the metal tables and produced from it a pair of very long tongs. She hastily put on dragon hide gloves, and lowered the tongs into the cauldron. A moment later, she pulled them out again. At the end was the Cup of Hufflepuff, looking exactly as it had when Harry had first seen it, albeit covered in slimy grey ooze.

Sarah excitedly placed the cup back on the metal table, practically sprinted for her desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a ball pin hammer. Her eyes then darted to Harry and her face broke into a smile.

'Harry,' she said trying to contain herself, 'why don't you do the honors.'

She passed the hammer to him and nodded at the cup. Harry stood there for a minute, and glanced over at Castor who was looking back at him with fierce blue eyes, rolling a cigarette between his fingers so fast his arm was starting to shake.

Harry looked at the cup and walked forward hesitantly. He gripped the hammer firmly in his hand, raised it high above his head, and with all the strength he had, swung it crashing down on the cup.

SMASH!

The hammer went through the cup with ease, shards of what was left exploded in every direction.

'HA!' Sonia screamed in triumph.

Harry whirled his head to see Sonia Cobb pumping her fists into the air, then at Castor who let out a huge breath that he must have been holding and screwed the cigarette into his lips, lighting it with the end of his wand.

'Thank God for that,' he said blowing out a cloud of smoke.

'Did I?' Harry started. 'Did I just destroy the Horcrux?'

To his astonishment, Sonia began to laugh.

'No,' she said breathlessly. 'No Harry. What you just destroyed is a very valuable relic belonging to Helga Hufflepuff. The potion destroyed the Horcrux.'

'What?' Harry said looking down at the remains of the obliterated cup on the table. 'Then, then why did you make me do that?'

Sonia shrugged, still chuckling.

'I just wanted to make absolutely sure it worked. It felt good though I bet.'

Harry stared at her as if she had gone insane, but she was too busy rushing back over to the desk and picking up the Locket, gleefully saying over and over again, 'it works, it works, it works.' Her mouth broke into a wide smile, and her eyes gleamed with pure success.

'Okay,' she said trying to calm down holding the locket up to her face. 'This one's next.'

Harry put down the hammer.

Twenty minutes later Harry said goodbye to Sonia who had kissed him again. She didn't kiss Castor goodbye but instead gave him a cold hard look.

'Let me know when you find the others,' she said and slammed the door in his face.

Castor didn't say anything as the two of them passed the old wizard with missing teeth and made their way back towards the Atrium. Harry's mind was swimming as they walked in silence. He wanted to know more about Castor's mother. He wanted to ask him if there had been a coincidence that they had been killed the same night. Most importantly, he wanted to know how Castor's father had been killed. Had he been an Auror like his son? Had he met the same fate as his wife? But Harry would rather pick a fight with Norbert the dragon before asking Castor that question. As they reached the Atrium, there are was a flash of bright light.

Harry looked up to see that the Atrium was no longer empty but stacked wall to wall with photographers, journalists, ministry officials, and much worse –

'Harry my boy!' came a voice from the center of the crowd.

Harry groaned as Rufus Scrimgeour appeared from no where and the next second he had his arm draped over Harry's shoulder, smiling broadly as dozens of photographers flashed with their cameras.

'Big smile there Harry,' Rufus said waving a hand. 'It's Christmas after all!'

Harry turned his head, looking for Castor. His eyes came to an impossible sight as he saw him leaning against a marble column, his arms crossed, merely viewing the circus in front of him without a care in the world.

'Harry,' squeaked an excited reporter clutching a small notebook. 'What can you tell us about Demetrius Castor?'

'Is he a good teacher at Hogwarts?' asked another.

'What do you think about the Minister of Magic's work in stopping You Know Who?'

'Can you tell us about Professor Nathanial Addams?

'Harry, give us a quote.'

Harry wheeled in all directions but every where he turned he came face to face with another reporter as Scrimgeour grasped his shoulder tightly, continuing to smile.

'Yes, yes,' he was saying. 'We are very fortunate to have Professor Castor had Hogwarts. It was in fact my idea that he should teach there.'

'Is that so Minister?' said a reporter scribbling down frantically on his notebook.

Harry had heard enough. He squeezed out of Scrimgeour's grip and passed through the sea of cameras and reporters and stopped directly in front of Castor.

'What is going on?' he hissed angrily at Castor.

Castor, who the last time he had brought Harry to the Ministry had nearly punched the Minister for questioning him, merely shrugged.

'Just giving you a minute with your adoring public,' he said, but he didn't smile. However, Harry did noticed he wasn't joking either.

'Why are you letting them do this?' Harry said as more and more photos were being taken, now of him and Castor talking.

Before Castor could answer, there was a loud roar over the crowd. Nearly half turned and saw Robert Jackson, the Auror who Harry had seen at Malfoy Manor sprint through the crowd and literally grabbed the front robes of the Minister.

'DEATH EATERS!' he screamed at Scrimgeour. 'Attack in Diagon Alley!'

Scrimgeour's smiled evaporated like smoke and pushed Jackson quickly off him. He pulled out his wand amidst the panic consuming the Atrium and pointed it at his throat, amplifying it.

'All Aurors and any able bodied wizards to Diagon Alley,' he shouted. 'Follow my lead!'

With a pop, he was gone, followed by several dozen more. Harry turned frantically to Castor who was taking off his coat and handing it swiftly to Harry.

'Get back to the house,' he said pulling out his wand. 'Keep everyone there.'

'What?' Harry said dropping the coat at his feet and pulling out his own wand. 'No! I'm going with you, I want to fight!'

'No,' Castor said shortly. 'You go back. We'll handle this.'

'But Professor,' Harry started but he was silenced as Castor raised his wand and pointed it at Harry's throat.

'Potter,' he said warningly, 'for once do what I fucking tell you.'

The next instant, he too was gone.

Screams and unintelligible shouts were coming from everywhere. It was utter chaos, and Harry was left forgotten standing in the Atrium. He gritted his teeth, picked up Castor's jacket, and with a whirl of his wand, was back at Inis Clove.

'Ginnny sweetheart, give me a hand with this,' said Mrs. Weasley holding up a long white table linen.

Ginny Weasley put the knife back on the cutting board where she had been slicing apples and took the other end of the table cloth and moved towards the table. Her mother and father and two older brothers Charlie and Bill had arrived at Inis Clove an hour ago and were preparing for a large Christmas dinner. Hermione was with her parents in the drawing room exchanging gifts and enjoying some private time. Ron was in a frivolous argument with his father, who flat out refused to allow him to drink, owing partly to his drunken behavior at Bill and Fleur's wedding. She was about to spread the cloth over the large mahogany table when the door blasted open and Harry came sprinting through it. She knew immediately something was wrong.

'Harry,' Mrs. Weasley said. 'What is it?'

Harry gulped and wiped the sweat off his forehead.

'Death Eaters,' he panted. 'They're attacking Diagon Alley.'

Everyone stopped and looked at him, all except Mr. Weasley who had already pulled out his wand and was marching towards the front door.

'Wait,' said Harry blocking his way. 'Professor Castor told us to stay.'

'Bugger him and what he says!' roared Mr. Weasley, his face purple with rage. 'My sons are there!'

'Mr. Weasley,' said Harry but Ron's father swatted him out of the way with one long arm and opened the door, but stopped dead in his tracks.

Standing on the doorstep were Fred and George, holding up a limp figure between them.

'Out of the way Dad!' Fred said crossing the threshold diagonally in order to squeeze him, his twin and the unconscious Demetrius Castor through.

'Oh my!' Mrs. Weasley said rushing forward. 'Put him on the sofa, gently now.'

The twins obeyed, placing Castor easily on the couch. Harry, along with the rest of the Weasley's circled around him. Hermione came bursting out of the drawing room, hr parents right behind her looking scared. Harry bit back the nauseating sight as he saw that Castor's entire right arm was soaked in blood.

'He had a nasty fall,' George was saying who had a cut on his forehead. 'Death Eater got him with a Diffindo Curse. He practically apparated right in front of it. He didn't have a chance. I thought it took his arm off for a second.'

'Move George,' shouted Mrs. Weasley who tore off the sleeve on Castor's shirt. 'He's bleeding bad. Ginny, go upstairs and get the medical kit from the bathroom. Arthur, in the kitchen get me hot water and several towels.'

'What happened Fred?' said Bill looking pale.

'Came out of nowhere,' Fred said, his voice hollow. 'One minute we were closing up the shop and about to head over, the next, bang!'

'Dozens of them!' George said his eyes scanning in each person. 'All in masks. We ran back into the shop and held 'em off until the Aurors came. Scrimgeour was there. He was dueling three of them at once. I've never seen anything like it.'

'We were about to make a break for it when we saw him,' Fred said gesturing to Castor. 'We cleared a path and got to him before Malfoy could finish him off.'

'Malfoy?' Harry said. 'Draco Malfoy was there?'

'Lucius,' Fred said and he flopped down on the chair looking sheet white.

'That can't be,' Mr. Weasley said. 'Lucius Malfoy is in Azkaban.'

'Well, he's not anymore,' shouted George hysterically. 'We was there! We saw him!'

At that moment Castor made a strangling cough and opened his eyes. He shut them quickly then tried to sit up.

'No!' he screamed but Mrs. Weasley and Bill pushed him back down on the couch.

'It's alright Professor,' Mrs. Weasley shouted, her hand firmly on his chest. 'You're safe. You're fine!'

'Malfoy!' he screamed again, trying to break free. 'Damnit, LET ME GO!'

'Professor,' Mrs. Weasley shouted back. 'You're hurt badly, you need to calm down. Charlie, help us!'

Charlie Weasley, who could by now bench press a hippogriff, strode forward and grabbed Castor roughly by his good shoulder and pressed him back on the couch.

'Calm down!' he said in a commanding tone. 'It's over.'

Demetrius Castor writhed against Charlie and Bill but he was no match in his condition. His breathing became lighter and soon he was slack against their hold, blood staining his couch and the towels Mrs. Weasley was now wrapping tightly around his arm.

'Is it still going on?' Mr. Weasley said rounding on George who looked like he might collapse.

'I don't think so,' George said. 'A lot of the Death Eaters bailed when the Aurors showed up.'

'He needs to go to St. Mungo's,' Mrs. Weasley said looking up at her husband.

BANG!

Everyone in the room jumped a foot in the air and turned to see a redheaded witch fly through the door. She was wearing muggle hospital scrubs, and holding a small black medical bag in her hand, her face was wide with fear.

'Where he is?' she said sprinting into the room and letting out a horrifying gasp as she took in the sight of Castor who looked back at her, his eyes half closed.

'Oh God,' she said pushing Dr. Granger out of the way and kneeling next to Mrs. Weasley. 'How bad is it?'

Mrs. Weasley looked astonishingly at the witch before regaining herself.

'It,' she stammered. 'It was the Diffindo Curse.'

The redhead witch pulled the towel away from Castor's shoulder and looked at the gash underneath. She didn't grimace, but quickly pulled open her bag and took out several vials. She uncorked one and placed it to Castor's lips.

'Drink,' she said. Castor looked at her, his face now chalk white, his head bobbing from side to side.

'Kate,' he wheezed.

'Drink it,' she said again, her voice hard. 'Try not to be stubborn for a change.'

Castor opened his mouth slightly and she poured the contents of the vial down his throat. She uncorked several more vials and repeated the process.

'Lie him down,' she said to no one in particular, but Charlie and Bill both complied quickly.

She then completely ripped off Castor's shirt, and pulled out her wand. She then made a long intricate motion and swept the tip of her wand over Castor's shoulder, muttering a long complicated spell under her breath. Instantaneously, the gash in Castor's shoulder made a low simmering sound and the wound began to heal. She then grabbed a fresh towel from Mrs. Weasley and wiped the blood off his face, arm and along the side of his chest. She took a deep breath and turned to Harry.

'What happened?' she said looking fiercely at him. 'I heard there was an attack.'

Harry blanched at her glare but told her. The witch huffed angrily.

'He shouldn't have gone!' she said looking back down at Castor angrily. 'That's not his job!'

'Um,' Harry said looking at the witch. 'Thank you for coming and helping with him, but who the hell are you?'

The witch took the empty vials, put them back in her bag and stood up pushing the hair out of her face.

'I'm Kate Loughren,' she said wiping the blood off her hands onto the front of her scrubs. 'I'm a mediwizard at St. Mungo's.'

'But how did you come to be here Dr. Loughren?' said Mr. Weasley looking back from her to Castor who lay on the couch motionless.

At this, she blushed slightly and looked down at Castor then back to Mr. Weasley.

'Demetrius and I,' she said, 'we have a relationship.'

Everyone in the room seemed to have blushed at this. She looked at Harry then knelt down next to Castor, placing a cool hand on his forehead. Harry, Ron and Hermione all exchanged looks of realization. So this was the woman Hermione had overheard Sevagio and Castor talk about. She was with Castor. Harry suddenly understood why Castor wouldn't let Sonia Cobb kiss him.

'Demetrius,' she said into his ear. 'Can you hear me.'

There was silence for a minute before Castor slowly opened his eye and looked at her.

'Kate,' he said hoarsely. 'Let me up.'

'No,' she said placing her hand on him. 'You should stay where you are.'

Castor grunted and heaved himself into a sitting position. He looked at his arm then back at Kate who's eyes were shiny with tears, looking petrified. Castor looked at her then around the room to see everyone watching him. He looked at Harry, then the twins, then back to the girl in front of him.

'Fuck,' he said.

'Professor,' Harry said. 'What the hell is going on?'

Castor slowly rubbed the back of his head and winced in pain.

'Who did this to you?' Harry said taking a step forward.

Castor's eyes went firm and he gritted his teeth.

'Malfoy,' he growled. 'Goddamn fucking Malfoy!'

Mrs. Weasley and Hermione's mother blanched at his choice of words.

'But he's in Azkaban!' said Ginny, not wanting to believe it.

'There's been a breakout,' Castor said, unblinking his eyes and looking straight forward. 'He's out, along with the rest of them.'

'No,' Kate said putting a hand to her mouth. 'It's not possible.'

Castor stirred and slowly stood up, Bill grapping him under the arm and helping him to his feet. Castor swayed on the spot but righting himself. He took a few tentative steps forward, breathing heavily then stopped, looking at each one of them in turn.

'Demetrius,' Kate said cautiously.

Castor rounded on her, his eyes blaring with anger, his jaw clenched and his shoulders rising and falling in mixed rage.

'Sweetheart,' he said quietly, 'I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch.'