Tinsel and Traitors

A moment of silence reigned while the intruders seemed to wait and see what the party-goers would do. Those on the dance floor, Christian's headmaster included, were primed for a fight. Unfortunately, Keiran would probably have to do just that in the next moment or so. What Christian did not understand, however, was why they had hesitated at all after somehow finding their way inside. What did they want?

For someone hoping to help lead their generation into a sense of preparedness and safety, Christian apparently did not know very much about fighting.

Apollo turned, not even remotely surprised by Lily's appearance. What did matter, however, was that she supposedly had left, and now they were standing together again. Not great. But he took in what she said and nodded. His eyes drifted to his wand hand and he frowned. "I can't- I don't know what I was thinking. The Trace will-"

He blinked, tilted his head, and then furrowed his brow. The Trace.

"Lily, go find Ace, okay? And just- I'm going to do something very stupid, but you have to stay away."

He looked up and caught his father eying him warily. So Apollo just squared his shoulders and glared at Lily like he was supposed to. "I'll see you on the other side."

It wasn't a question and it wasn't him wanting her to say it back, per se. It was a request - nearly a demand - that she do as he asked. And once she finally did, he moved before anyone could notice what he was doing or the fact that he had not, in fact, tucked his wand away.

"Stupefy!"

"Apollo, no!"

Blaise was furious, and rightly so, because one of the mystery wizards had been knocked aside by the spell his son should definitely not have cast. And, just like that, Apollo was bolting back out the door and making his way to the library.

Kit's allies of sorts wasted no time, either, firing off as whoever was nearby. Keiran did his best to shield both himself and Kenna, but he had to believe that she could handle the ones he couldn't see if they aimed at her, because he simply couldn't do it all. Even if he hated admitting it.

And Christian was practically rushing Ace, his arm wrapping around her waist as he pulled her behind the Christmas tree. "Put that thing away. Apollo's in more trouble already than it's worth. Don't add your name to that list." When she refused, Christian reached both hands up to her face, forcing her to look at him rather than what was going on. Earnest and concerned didn't even begin to cover the look in his eyes. "Alice. They could expel you. They could break your wand. Don't. Think about the PA. We need you."

Caleb was so distracted by his intrigue, so reassured that he would be fine, that he momentarily forgot that the one person in the world that understood him was now at risk. Caleb did not often allow any expression on his face that revealed any sort of surprise or weakness, but concern tugged at his brow as he turned and scanned the hall for his sister, whom he had lost once the dancing took up again. He couldn’t find her and felt himself taking a step forward, breaking rank in his attempt to locate her, but a second later there was a touch at his elbow and he turned to see Camila taking her place alongside him. Her eyes were narrowed and her breathing calm.

“What now,” she said, her voice barely a murmur. That was when he noticed the tip of her wand, discreetly poking out from behind her hand. He blinked and looked forward.

He had no answer.

Lily met his gaze. They didn’t have to fight hand in hand, didn’t have to be attached at the hips. As long as she was nearby, she could feel like they were on the same side. She nodded, and quirked an eyebrow. “Be smart.”

She had barely begun to cross the room when he disobeyed her request.

Perhaps she should have demanded they fight hand in hand.

Strangely enough, two near-strangers were doing almost exactly that. Kenna had pulled her hand free from Keiran’s grasp and stepped back so she could feel his warmth against her, could be certain she was covered on one side. The Zabini boy broke the stale mate, and soon spells were flying. Kenna had settled more than a few pub fights, and could honestly claim to have literally thrown a man out the door, so she knew a thing or two about defending herself. Her shield charms interrupted the hexes and curses being thrown around indiscriminately, though she found herself hesitating to actually cut anyone down. The crowd was thinning as people fled for the exits, with only a few remaining where they were – a pair, man and woman, remarkably similar in face and stance, seemed rooted to the spot, watching the skirmish with almost scientific gazes.

”Expelliarmus!” The figure’s wand flew into her hand and she pocketed it, before glanced back to see how Keiran was faring. “Not quite the dance I was expecting,” she said, as she conjured another shield, sending a flash of red rebounding-

Lily ducked, and a stupefy fell shot over her head. Her eyes were scanning, and she could see Ace, who seemed to have transformed into the best form of herself. Chin raised, eyes set, shoulders squared. She raised her wand.

“Ace!”

A figure jumped into her path. Lily cursed to herself and immediately jumped into the duel with the man, hand moving quickly and tongue doling out spell after spell.

The wind was knocked out of Ace Longbottom when someone began dragging her away, stealing the thunder from what was about to be her first real duel. She spun around as soon as she could, realizing she had been corralled behind the tree by Christian. He was trying to tell her what to do, because he apparently had lost every memory of her ever, and she snapped, “There are people out there-“

But then.

Then.

His hands were on her face and the world slowed down. His hands were not covering her ears, and yet the sounds of the duel, just on the other side of this pillar of pine, had dulled to a low, indiscernible roar, as though they were fighting underwater. All she could hear was Christian’s words and the dull, resounding thudding of her heart, heavy in her chest. Where had he learned this trick, this way of melting reality around them and building a space that could only be shared by two?

She had never looked him so directly in the eye.

She had never been so close to him.

She had never noticed that his shampoo had a slight Jasmine scent.

He was right. She felt her breaths leaving her more heavily now, clearly upset that she was powerless to help. Her lips dipped downward, not into her usual scowl, but into a frustrated frown, her chin buckling because it wasn’t fair. Merlin, it wasn’t fair.

Suddenly a figure rounded the corner around the tree. Her hands shot up and grabbed his arms, pulling him towards her and then turning so he could face their aggressor with her. The second she realized who it was, however, she jerked her arms away from Christian and all of the anger returned.

Lily was out of breath, and there was a small cut on her elbow. “I need to apparate you guys out of here,” she said, looking between them. “I swear, I’ll come back for you the second I can. And I’ll try to get Apollo to go too.”

Katherine was watching the show, to some extent, but she was mostly watching Caleb. For a moment, she thought the clear-headed young man would panic. But Camila came up along him and seemed to settle him. Still, Katherine really needed him not to be injured. Stupid boy. She had warned him earlier. Said he'd need to pick a side. That moment, she decided, was now.

So she lifted her wand, and hexed him.

Not badly, of course, but enough to get his attention. And if he bothered to look around, he would find her there, safely tucked away with a lifted eyebrow.

As for Christian, he was utterly baffled by the expression that grew on Alice's face. It took him a moment to really register the fact, but he didn't think he had ever seen her like that before. How unnerving. His eyebrows pulled together and he zeroed in on that frown, deciding that even though he didn't like seeing it, it couldn't be helped. So one hand dropped to where her shoulder rounded out into her arm, and he tried to find something worth saying.

But that didn't matter, because she yanked him closer, sending his eyebrows up towards his hairline as he stumbled. Lily? Ace shoved him away and he stepped back properly, brushing himself off as if somehow, something could've gotten on him just by standing that close. As if. Unless one counted Ace's temper rubbing off on people, Christian didn't know what to think.

Lily's words tugged at his attention again, however, and he could only nod. But then she mentioned Apollo, and Christian had a thought. "The flat. Not the one at the shop, but Apollo's. We've rented out the- nevermind. Just, let's go."

So he stepped forward to reach out and let Lily take them, just as Keiran was forced to step back.

Doing his best not to step on Kenna's dress or foot or anything else, he somehow managed to smirk after her comment. "I'll make it up to you," he told her, half certain he wouldn't ever get the chance, given his general distaste for balls like this. Instead, he threw over his shoulder, "Drinks on me, sometime. But don't bring that French friend of yours. He's a buzzkill, I can tell."

And, against all odds, he didn't even stop to think that perhaps he shouldn't have suggested anything at all. He didn't wonder where it had come from, though Avery might have pointed out exactly which part of his life it had been drawn from, and instead just turned to throw another spell at his opponent.

What was, perhaps, strange about the attackers was that they didn't bother with masks. They had no reason to believe that some dark lord or other would show up to lead them as Keiran was convinced the Death Eaters did. In that, he almost conceded, they were a bit smarter. But this party was not necessarily the best place to show up and try their luck. The redhead in front of him looked like she was just going for a walk in the park. She didn't even look afraid of being injured, now that he really thought about it.

And she wasn't necessarily wrong. He'd been firing off weak spells, trying to keep them at bay until they decided to leave. Clearly, that was not working. Deciding he was going to grow very tired of this sort of thing, Keiran sent an almost lazy slicing charm at the woman's hand to force her to drop her wand. Then, with a sense of amusement about him, he sent two charms right after the other: The first, a jelly-legs jinx that he gave enough time to disorient her, then a full body-binding curse. A smirk on his face, he called her wand to him and turned his head to see how Kenna was doing.

Luke and Mesut had finally woken up to the realization that they should perhaps help. Mesut immediately looked around for Katherine, shocked when he saw Lily run past again. But then she was gone and it didn't matter. Where was Kit?

Luke sent a shot over his brother's shoulder, giving Mes a dirty look because he'd gotten distracted, and then spun around. Luke was the one who actually spotted Katherine. That absurdly extravagant dress, her complexion back to normal, she almost looked like pure fire standing there. He pulled Mesut in the other direction, deciding to ask questions after they'd settled the disaster they now found themselves in.

And there's Apollo. He'd made it to the library, and was casting any harmless spell he could think of. Time was against him, though, so he gave up and opened the floo. From there, he could only wait for someone to show up and yell at him about the Trace and underage magic and whatever else so he could tell them that it was a call for help. His parents would be furious. You know, if they weren't in St. Mungo's instead.

Caleb felt a sting on his arm and he spun around to see Katherine's face, quiet and calm amidst the chaos. Her gaze was for him and him alone, and something about that was beyond interesting.

It was thrilling.

He took a step back, watching as Camila as she carefully tried to directing the people around her to a safe exit. He stepped back again, finding himself now standing alongside Katherine. It's interesting," he said. "And not at all subtle. Which is a refreshing change." He paused and let out a sigh. "Still. I'm an Auror. As long as I'm here, I have to put a stop to it." And that was when he turned to look at her, stepping into her path to look her straight in the eyes, incredibly deliberate. "Satan's. Tomorrow night."

And he turned away and stepped forward in a seamless motion, grabbing his sister's wrist. He turned to give him a look, and his name was on her lips as a question when he turned and disappeared from the spot.

Lily's mind was still revolving around the other twin to really process what might have been going on with the other, but she hardly had the time. She wanted to get them out so that she could return for Apollo, absolutely certain he was getting himself into far deeper trouble than was necessary - a speciality of his, apparently. Ace gave Lily a look of distrust, never a surprise there, but the brunette reached out and grabbed both of their wrists, twisting on the spot.

There was an aggressive quiet after the battle at the Zabini estate. Apollo's living room looked remarkably normal, hardly changed from when she had helped him unpack all of his things. She released the wrists of the Hufflepuffs and looked at them, her face set to look determined rather than grave. "I'll be back. Stay here."

And she was gone. And Ace was pissed.

She crossed her arms and sighed, storming over to the window and looking out. It was killing her that she couldn't help. She wasn't sure she was speaking to Christian when she said, "There has to be something we can do."

Kenna knew that this was dangerous. The man she was duelling was throwing heavy-duty curses, and she was frustrating him by counteracting them with shields and blocks. She was working up a sweat, and was desperately wishing the dress code had allowed for jeans, but there was adrenaline pumping through her veins, heart racing and breath filling her lungs. She had enough sense to later deny that she felt so alive during the duel, knowing it would be in horrible taste to anyone injured.

She laughed at Keiran's comments. "Deal!" But it did remind her to check on Remy, which she could hardly do with this fool in front of her. "Oh, Merlin. Fine- bombarda!" The ground beneath him burst and he was sent flying, giving her a chance to look around for Remy, who was laughing wildly as he whipped his wand to and fro, deep in a fast-paced duel with two men. There was someone who wouldn't have the sensitivity later not to brag.

"Typical," she muttered, but another man was stepping into her path and she yelled, "Tarantallegra!" sending his feet dancing. She glanced back in time to see Keiran turning to look at her and she shrugged. "Seemed fitting he should be dancing. Hang on - stupefy!" Her wand whipped past his shoulder, stunning another attacker who had running their way.

Lily landed in the ballroom and looked around, immediately shooting disarming spells as she moved throughout the room. Where was he? She had done what he had asked, and now it was her turn to make a request, and he needed to leave. She glanced towards the Zabini's, and could see a woman raising his wand behind Daphne's back.

She sliced the air and a slash appeared across the attacker's leg, causing him to stumble. Blaise heard the noise and turned, freeing Lily to turn back to the fray, when she heard the sounds of further apparations.

Merlin, not more.

But it wasn't more attackers.

Claire Bishop landed alongside Jack Dyllan of all people. Their faces were near matching looks of shock, having both been in the office, expressing shared feelings of frustration at the quiet of their jobs, when the call came in that there was underage magic occurring in the Zabini mansion. This, however, was a little more than underage magic.

"We need back up," the blonde said, immediately sending out her patronus to her patrol. Jack had more of a mind to stop the problem before they even needed anyone. She lifted her wand and a loud boom sounded, and Jack's voice rose above the noise. "Alright, motherf*ckers, put your wands down."

If it was her intention to draw fire her way, she certainly succeeded, and the two women burst into action, and it was a credit to their Ministry training at how well they held their own.

It gave Lily the chance she needed, and she ran through the hall, having realized Apollo was nowhere to be seen, and slid into the corridor. "Apollo!" she called, choosing a direction and hurrying down, calling out to him.

Katherine's smile took a long time to form. Long enough that he might not have seen the whole thing, but the interest behind her eyes would certainly be enough to tell him that she agreed. Satan's indeed.

And as Christian, Lily and Ace landed in Apollo's flat, he determined that neither of the girls knew he had never been there before. But it was better to just settle in and let Ace vent and whatever else she was going to get up to.

"Maybe you should write to the Prophet again," Christian suggested sarcastically, dropping onto Apollo's couch. "'Cause that went so well last time. I mean, the adults around here don't really give a shit about anything until it's attacking them at their Christmas party."

He had never really been one to curse, but now felt like a viable time to sneak that in. And somehow, he doubted Ace would disagree with his commentary. Looking over at her, he sighed heavily. "Tonight? ... I'm not sure there's much we can do. Except prepare for the new semester and for building the PA."

Keiran's smirk was one for ages, really. Maybe even the record books, if we're speaking metaphorically. Still, he leaned to the side to watch the spell fly past him before giving her a grateful nod. "Thanks."

Apollo didn't know what to say, really, when the two women burst through the fireplace and into the manor's library. "I'm sorry, I had to get your attention," he began. But it didn't matter. Because all manner of screaming, magic and whatever else was happening behind him. And then someone darted past the doorway as they ran for the exit. "Um."

Apparently his involvement in this was irrelevant, which he was thrilled about. Because when they made their way into the ballroom, he was able to stay behind. And while Keiran looked up sharply at Jack's voice, earning him a cut across his upper arm, Apollo peered out into the hallway. Oh, look. There went Lily. Deciding to be cheeky just because he could, he turned on the spot and landed directly in front of her as she rushed down the corridor.

So maybe he hadn't thought that through.

Ace knew three things about Christian Zabini.

One. Christian had the ability to choose the option she never could. Part of her knew that he was frustrated to leave as well. After all, he had a lot more to lose. Her brother and parents weren’t still being fired at, and his were. And yet, he had convinced her to leave. She couldn’t understand his ability to choose the option that removed them from the solution, especially when it felt so personal. To be fair, Ace had a tendency to take things personally, regardless of whether or not she had any justification to. But these had been strangers who had interrupted their private mission to start hurting them. And Ace knew it wasn’t true, but she felt like their attackers knew she couldn’t do anything to stop it. It was a paranoid thought, but it was how Ace worked through her fear. Channel it into anger.

Two. Christian also had a bad habit of being right when she least wanted him to. Whether it came to handling other students, or correcting her on her history notes, or telling her there was nothing she could do, no matter how much she wanted to help. Because he hadn’t just been able to make the right decision, but she couldn’t even be mad at him because she knew he was right.

Still, there was almost a venom in his sarcasm, and even though Ace was staring out the window, chewing on her bottom lip, she felt a pang of gratitude within her. Because if she had to be pissed off, it was somewhat comforting to know she was with someone who was just as frustrated.

Three. Christian Zabini understood even when nobody else did.

So Ace took a deep breath, because this time last year, she didn’t even have a friend to rely on. She shook the feeling of helplessness from her shoulders and turned, her eyes scanning the flat. She found what she was looking for and crossed towards an end table, grabbing a pen and a notepad. She turned on her heel and walked over to the couch, plopping next to him and setting the notepad and pen on the coffee table, leaning forward. “Okay. Things we can do, even if we can’t tonight.”

Claire and Jack were vastly different fighters. Claire moved quickly and methodically, each movement sharp and controlled. She barely moved, adjusting only to fix her aim and dodge spells, and she casually interrupted a slew of spells to quickly escort lines of people. Jack, on the other hand, was all over the room, her fists working just as hard as her wand. Her voice was loud and her movements wild, but it was helping scatter and deter the attackers.

Kenna was glad to see her best friend’s sister, having always liked Jack despite her few encounters with her. She glanced back in time to see a jet of light headed Keiran’s way. “Keiran!” she said, reaching out to grab his wrist.

Lily felt strange, being on this side of the skirmish, but she knew she would be useless until she knew Apollo was safe. Her heart was thundering, trying to keep herself calm, certain he would be fine and there would be no horrible surprises.

She got that last part half right.

Suddenly someone was in front of her, and she let out a cry of surprise. But in that millisecond before impact, she realized who it was and fastened her arms around him, twisting…

And because she had a feeling he was going to be a prat and argue otherwise, she made the decision for them, and turned on her heel, apparating them directly into his room.

For a moment, Keiran attempted to figure out what spell it was that Kenna had pointed out. Not like it mattered, of course. He couldn't very well determine it based off of color alone. Too many shared that hue. At least it wasn't the verdigris of death. He almost didn't do anything at all. He didn't want to deflect whatever it was onto someone else, unless it was an 'enemy,' as they had silently labeled themselves. Neither did he want to side-step and watch it tumble into whoever was behind him. Which, of course, was Kenna.

So, no. That wouldn't do. How was he supposed to get drinks with her if that happened?

Suddenly, the choice was ripped from him. In a single breath, he had run through too many thoughts to do anything at all, but someone else had acted. Keiran's focus whipped around to see the Zabini patriarch with his wand pointed at him and Kenna. And either the man knew a charm that Keiran did not - which was fair, given his less keen interest in the subject - or he was extremely lucky. Because it deflected right back at their attacker. And Keiran had never been so grateful for the ability to breathe.

Sucking in a gulp of air as the other man collapsed on the floor, he had to swallow before he could look to Blaise and give him a grateful nod. Perhaps being Headmaster had its perks, but Keiran would argue that it probably had something to do with family loyalties he didn't know about. But Merlin help them if these people thought he would ever show up to one of these things again. Yeah right.

Kenna's hand was what he reached for when he moved next, forgoing the whole wrist-cuff thing they had been doing. Pulling her along with him, he made his way to the table full of glasses and plates that they had left not too long ago. "I just need a minute. Can you cover me?"

So as Tobias ran into the room to join his colleagues, Keiran got to work. He transfigured anything he could manage into a flock of birds, and by the time he was finished, they were circling over head. Daphne would not like it if they made a mess, but it was a bit too late for that. Having a large number of distractions, couldn't hurt anything.

While Christian began listing off students they could try to reach out to and a variety of places they could meet, to keep things at least a little bit low-key, Apollo let out an involuntary shout of surprise. Just as a curse started to follow it, they disappeared and landed in his room -- at the flat? His foot settled on her dress and sent him stumbling backwards against the foot of his bed as he tried to keep from making things worse.

But, still. The flat. That wasn't-- He didn't have a floo. "What-? Lily. Why did you-"

"Apollo?"

His eyes darted from her to the door and back. "Christian? What have you done? My parents-- my mum. They're-- I--"

Kenna's movement wasn't what saved him. She didn't know much about this pureblood stuff, didn't know anything beyond the prejudices her brother spouted so often. According to Rory McBain, every pureblood was spurred onward by self interest and a loathing for one another. Kenna wouldn't doubt (and she later was not disappointed) that Rory would claim this attack was premeditated, a show of force, a way of claiming power. It took an unsettled mind to make such unsettling claims, however, and Kenna was finding even the seeds of those prejudices she had entertained were being challenged as Blaise Zabini, the pureblood of the hour, turned his protection onto them, a pair of misfits if there ever were.

Suddenly, Keiran had her by the hand, properly this time, and she spun on her heel, following him closely, marveling that she hadn't tripped in her shoes yet, grateful to have gone with a slight heel. She wasn't sure what was going on in Keiran's head, but his tone was serious and his eyes were on hers, and he needed her help. She nodded, features set stoically as she turned to view the scene before them. The shawl slipped from her shoulders as she lifted her wand, conjuring a shield charm before deflecting another spell. Her eyes darted between the chaos and Keiran, constantly moving and swerving to keep the curses at bay. A small explosion knocked marble into her face, causing a peppering of scratches across her temple as soot coated her hair.

When she caught a glimpse of it later, she'd find the look quite fetching.

"Good to see you, Acker!" Claire called above the din, shooting a look the man's way. She spun around in time to see Jack's back turn against a rising attacker. The attacker was quickly bound in ropes and the redhead would never know of her mistake, busy now on a pair who were fighting particularly viciously. The look of concentration on Dyllan's face could have been confused for a thrilled look of satisfaction if one didn't know better than to think a Ministry employee could actually enjoy such chaos.

Kenna felt something flutter past her and turned back to see a huge hawk soaring over her head, dive bombing one of the attackers. She grinned widely. "That's brilliant!"

The ground beneath their feet, the familiar smell of Apollo, the quiet of the flat. She wanted to hold him, she wanted to reach out and kiss him, she wanted to continue where they left off.

But she knew the danger of taking a step towards him. She was lucky he had fallen away, and there was a strange look of vulnerability on her face, true apology and the deepest promise of her love all wrapped in one locked gaze. "I told you I'd protect them," she said. She offered him a smile, his smile. "I love you. And I'll be back."

She turned on her heel, quickly clasping her hands across her chest so he could not reach out and catch her arms, and she knew she had succeeded when she landed smack in the middle of the mess.

"Lily?"

Lily glanced towards Jack Dyllan, that redheaded thorn in her side, sweat gathered on her brow as her wand arm moved rapidly between two assailants, and Lily stepped forward, training her wand on one, carefully sending a stream hexes after the nearest one, her back angled towards the redhead as they naturally fell into formation.

"What'd you do to piss this lot off?" Jack growled between hexes, her attacker slowing.

Lily shrugged. "Exist?"

Jack barked a laugh and managed to finally bind her attacker, quickly turning on Lily's opponent. She was unconscious within moments and Jack was clapping a hand on Lily's shoulder, telling her to get out of there, but Lily was turning on the spot, eyes searching.

Blaise was really something to watch. She could see where Apollo got his stance and gaze, something naturally regal in him. Daphne held a bit of Christian's softness and she was clearly searching, a bit desperately, for her boys.

Lily didn't know what she was going to say, but she hurried towards the pair. Perhaps she wouldn't have to say anything. Just get close enough to keep them safe.

"Poor things," Keiran commented vaguely, moving to stand next to Kenna. "They'll get to be heroes and have to go back to being a cup."

Passing her a bemused look, he strode towards Jack to join in. And Katherine just watched them as the smirk drawn out by Caleb started to fall into a frown. This was not going as it should have. What had they done to let the Aurors in? She hadn't seen anyone leave, and the Zabinis were still-. Oh, but they weren't all there anymore. Hm.

Apollo's glower was enough to make Christian step out of the way and move back to the couch beside Ace. But he said nothing, and Christian didn't ask when Apollo passed again to go back into his room. The look he didn't give them was almost worse than the one he could have. So Christian moved closer to look at the list she'd jotted down. It was one he imagined he would never get away from now that they'd made it. Ace Longbottom was not one to drop such things - and now he had agreed to help. But he had finally conceded that her anxiety and offensive stance were both entirely valid.

When Lily approached the heads of the Zabini family, Daphne was squinting at the hawks as they flew overhead and plummeted down towards the unwanted guests. But Blaise turned his attention on Lily. The proud, domineering look on his stern face would have frightened most people, but he wasn't sure what to make of the young Potter. He looked ready to say something when a loud whistle sounded throughout the room.

A few more hexes and curses went flying, but the intruders began disapparating, one by one, until the lot of them were gone. Even the man whose spell had hit him instead of Keiran - he had been taken away as well. Keiran froze, wand in the air to lead his hawks. Tobias barely stopped himself from firing a spell at a party-goer who had been behind his opponent. When he looked around, the stock-still blonde in the red dress was gone.

And then, of course, there were the Zabinis still in the ballroom. Both turned, quite slowly, to narrow their eyes at Lily. Daphne, who had been looking for the boys, somehow knew that Christian would be with Apollo. And Blaise was not naive enough to think that she would ask the right version of the question. So he did it himself, his tone a dark warning.

"Where did they go?"

Kenna smirked at Keiran's words, feeling like it was wholly inappropriate to be enjoying the moment as much as they were. Truth be told, though, the banter was keeping her mind sharp, her morale up. "Maybe we can keep one," she said, feeling a sharp sting across her shoulder. She jerked backwards and saw a fresh gash across the curve of her shoulder. All things considered, she supposed a single injury to the multiple hits she hand landed was fair enough.

Keiran headed towards Jack and Kenna turned, eyes searching for another opponent and she stepped into his path, ignoring the pain in her shoulder as she tried to land a stunning spell.

Ace glanced uncertainly over towards Christian at the addition of his brother. Their list was nearly complete and she had never felt self-assured around the more troublesome brother, who was now severely annoyed at his abandonment. Her own frustration solved, Ace glanced after Apollo and turned to look at Christian, who was now busying himself with her work when, she knew, there was someone else who needed him.

When he finally looked at her, her mouth had begun to tip open. But, even before he could ask, she shook her head. "Never mind. I think you should take up the bulk of recruiting, people like you better. I'll keep doing the digging into the Dark Followers and find some new spells..."

Lily had hoped neither Zabini would notice her, but Blaise's eyes fell on her, and she noticed that he had that same quality of freezing time and space, but there was something certainly less comforting about his ability. Still, Lily could hardly be bothered to fear him now, now that he knew her as a former distraction to his son. Besides, she doubted she would ever earn his approval, and it made it much easier to approach him with this knowledge.

Suddenly, a loud whistle called the entire room to attention, Lily included. Across the room. Kenna was flinching as her opponent disapparated, and Jack was swiping at the air, cursing loudly as her own target disappeared. The Ministry officials immediately convened to try and figure out if there was anything that could be done immediately.

Lily slowly turned back to the Zabinis, with no distraction now to pull her away. They were both staring at her, picking her apart, and she stared right on back, refusing to be afraid of anyone who demanded her fear.

"Apollo's flat. They're both okay."