( chapter xxxiv. FOR WHAT YOU LOSE )

✦

         It was an instant change. The atmosphere, once trying to make up for the dreary year, was a mix between still and alive – dead and joyful. The students, once with smiles on their faces without cares (or pretending as if they didn't) now were quiet and tense. The Great Hall, once filled with the cheering and yelling of students – a pain that once made Calypso go mad when she first arrived – was deadly silent.

         She hated the silence even more.

         No one moved if they could. It was still, it was deadly, and at the top where Albus Dumbledore used to sit was Dolores Umbridge as her throne, a smirk just gracing her features. She looked like a queen of a kingdom that wanted to overthrow her but was unable due to their lack of power. They had no connections; the Ministry had taken over. Who would fight the Ministry and win? Not teenagers.

         The chatter there was had nothing to compare to what it had once been. The Slytherins – those apart of Dumbledore's special league that had caught Harry and taken him to Dumbledore's office just the previous night – were boastful. Proud, but they had always been so proud. It was infectious, even taking over Calypso more times than she cared to admit.

         Slytherins always held their heritage high, their pride a defining characteristic, and even Calypso could align with those traits. Even now, they reveled in the silence because they knew their ancestors would do the same. Had, or were continuing to do. Calypso wondered how someone could ever be so proud, but she thought better than to voice those thoughts. At least in the current stage of the school.

         Gryffindor was the quietest. All the cheer was gone, all the pride they had once held themselves locked away because their champion – Dumbledore, who had favored them with such a bias that should've never been allowed, was gone. Harry Potter, their hero, was quiet. Sullen. And there was no news of another meeting in sight, not in the current state of the school. Not when Umbridge would be watching them oh so closely. It was much too dangerous.

         "My dad's been parading the article," Birdie whispered to Calypso in a low voice. The girl sat beside her, Lee joining the Weasley twins, Kiara, and Maddox for dinner that night. Her voice was much too low for a normal wizard to hear, which was good considering the topic.

         "That's good," Calypso commented, "Any news of what the public thinks of it?"

         Birdie shook her head. "No, dad said that some people have come in and read it. Some didn't like it, but there hasn't been enough time to get the general reaction. Mum doesn't like it."

         "She doesn't?" Calypso asked, curious. Mrs. Bishop had always loved news, loved the truth, loved seeing justice prevail.

         "Yeah," Birdie nodded in confirmation, "She says it's not good for business to be showing it off, giving an alignment. Thinks it might come back to bite them in the ass one day, but who knows."

         Calypso nodded, feeling that odd gut instinct herself. It was only natural, to know that everything could change in one minute. One moment, you're alive and the next...you might not. Especially in these times. Calypso didn't fault the woman for having her reserves, she hadn't even thought about the lives of supporters when she was there. She hadn't thought about what would happen to those who oppose...

         Her thoughts were broken away from the topic as Dolores Umbridge took the stand which once Albus Dumbledore stood over, giving them grand speeches of unity and truth; not that anyone really listened to him. Even those who claimed to love his every action did not follow through with his requests to unite, leaving one poor house always in the cold...

         "Hem, hem," Umbridge said, gaining all their attention with a sick grin on her face, "By order of the Ministry of Magic: Dolores Jane Umbridge will replace Albus Dumbledore as the Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

         No one moved when she said it, already knowing it to be true through the whole day. Still, she stood over them with a smug on her face; a queen facing all her people, the peasants.

         "My first act as your new Headmistress is to form an Inquisitional Squad, led by Draco Malfoy. They will report directly to me about the goings on in the halls of this school," she motioned over to the Slytherin table where Draco showed himself with a proud look on his face.

         True to his Black nature, he was prideful. True to hers, she looked down on him.

         Calypso couldn't say she loved her cousin, as terrible as that sounded, but she didn't know him and what she did know was terrible. This act he put on; the pride...Calypso despised it more than anything. More than Dolores Umbridge herself. Yet, she could do nothing except watch and scowl at his pride.

         "Furthermore, our good caretaker, Mr. Filch, has requested we reinstate the 'old punishments'. I have decided that there is no reason we shouldn't."

         Filch, standing at the back of the hall, grinned so maniacally, pure happiness dripping over his features. It made Calypso want to shiver, but she refrained. She would not give anyone the satisfaction of seeing an ounce of weakness cover her; she was a Black, after all.

✦

        CALYPSO HAD BEEN walking in the hallway to her next class when it happened; when she was pulled into a corner with a small yelp that escaped her – sadly – and her eyes widened in only a little fear. She would never admit anything else and no one would ever know, so what did it matter?

         She was backed against a wall and got her hand on her wand, ready to attack (even though they were at school and Hogwarts was "a safe place") when she heard the captor say, "It's alright, Calypso, it's just me!"

         She relaxed, giving Harry an incredulous look before whacking him in the arm. "What do you think you're doing? I could've hurt you if you hadn't yelled just in time!" she hissed at him, scanning over the smaller boy to see if there was anything wrong with him.

         Harry simply rolled his eyes and Calypso raised an eyebrow at that. She knew that he had been having an attitude problem for the past two years – had been on the receiving end of it before – but, Merlin, did she want to smack in the face sometimes because of it. The only thing stopping her was the fact that he was going through a lot in such a short period of time so it was warranted and the fact that her parents would probably be mad. So would Uncle Pads.

         After all, he did promise Uncle James and Aunt Lily that he would protect his godson as best he could. So, punching him in the face probably wasn't the best idea. Which is why she refrained even if it was so tempting sometimes.

         "I have to talk to you," Harry responded and still, a blank look was on her face.

         "And you had to pull me out of the hallway? You couldn't, I don't know, wait until tonight?" Calypso asked him, though she made no move to turn away and go to class. She was intrigued, after all.

         "It's important, I didn't want to wait until tonight," Harry told her and she straightened herself up, now concerned as a frown appeared on her face.

         "What? What's going on? What happened?" Calypso fired the questions out. Of course she was concerned for the boy, this was her uncle's godson and she had become quite close with him over the past year due to the D.A.

         Harry looked around, making sure there were no eyes watching them before leaning close, "It's about Hagrid – he has something."

         Calypso's frowned deepened. She would admit that she didn't know much about the groundskeeper of Hogwarts other than that he was part giant and was expelled from the school many years ago, long before her or her mother had been born. Oh, and that he had a love for animals – but everyone knew that. After that, the trail ran cold.

         "What do you mean?" Calypso inquired, "What does he have? Is it dangerous?"

         "It could be, but he says it's not," Harry answered before explaining further, "Apparently he has a brother. A giant brother, and he's hiding him in the Forbidden Forest."

         Her eyes widened at that as her mouth dropped open a little. "Does anyone else know? How did you even find out?"

         "He showed it to Hermione, Ron, and I. Wanted us to look after him just in case Umbridge sacks him," Harry said the last part in a bitter tone.

         Calypso thought about it before shrugging, "Seems probable, sadly. Umbridge doesn't like anyone that isn't a pureblooded wizard. Wants to get rid of everyone else."

         "So Hagrid's next..." Harry finished off with a trail before looking back up at her, "What about you? Since you're, you know..."

         "She wants to, already made that clear at the beginning of the year but she's not doing anything until I fuck up and give her a reason to expel me and tell everyone about my status," Calypso answered, "And I think she's afraid of my family."

         "Really?"

         Calypso nodded. "I don't blame her, she thinks that Uncle Pads murdered a dozen people just with one spell. And my mum's a lawyer – a really good one. If she did anything that wasn't legal, mum would go after her and she would lose everything. I think that's what's keeping her quiet."

         "Nice," Harry commented and Calypso grinned, feeling pride swell inside for her mother. Merlin, she loved the woman so much.

         Calypso then shook her head slightly, getting back to the original topic at hand. "Why are you telling me about Hagrid's brother?"

         Harry sighed, "I need help. I don't know what to do about him. I wanna help, but I don't think the three of us can do it, especially with the centaurs not liking us in their forest. I was hoping you could help."

         "Of course," she said automatically. There was no doubt about it in her mind; of course she would help. "He might be useful."

         The Potter boy frowned at her, "Don't think like that. He's a person – or, well, giant, but you know – not a tool."

         With a roll of her eyes, she then explained herself further, "I know that, but I'm saying that he could be useless. Giants are strong. And big. We might need that."

         "I still don't like it..."

         "Well, too bad. I'm involved and I'm going to be drafting up battle plans with him in mind now, you can't stop me," Calypso said before pausing and chuckling at the boy upon seeing his frightened face, "Oh, come on, I'm just joking. Well, I am serious about needing him. Another fighter can make all the difference, you know?"

         Harry thought about it for a second before slowly nodding his head, to which Calypso smiled brightly at him. "Everything good now, Harry?" she asked him, determined to still try and go to class with an excuse for her tardiness.

         He paused for another moment and she knew that the idea of going to class was out of the window. She cared to much to let him wave this off. Finally, catching his words, he said, "We had a meeting about our futures, because of the O.W.L.S – you know?"

         She did. Calypso dreaded taking them and was worrying the entire time and practically collapsed with joy when she had finished taking them. And she remembered the meeting she had with Professor McGonagall since she was the head of the Gryffindor house.

         It wasn't entirely useful to her since she planned on starting a career outside of the wizarding world, or at least going to university with muggles before deciding anything. With that, Professor McGonagall wasn't much of a help since her whole life had been based around magic and had never given much thought of attending a muggle university. That was alright, she knew that most wouldn't chose her path, just as she knew the unexpectedness that a Black would want to fully immerse themselves in the muggle culture.

         "Oh, how did it go?" Calypso asked conversationally even though she knew that it had to have gone terribly if Harry was going to talk to her about it. Really, she didn't know when they had formed this relationship, it was beginning to become almost siblingly – which was quite a shock for Calypso who had always been an only child. The closest sibling she had was Birdie, but even then it was different.

         "I want to be an Auror," Harry confessed to her and she needed. That seemed acceptable, something that Harry Potter would want – it also seemed to be the thing he was doing even now. "Umbridge said that she would never let me become one if it was the last thing she did."

         Calypso took a moment before shrugging. "That sounds like her," she agreed, "And it seems like something she could do."

         Harry looked defeated, obviously receiving an answer that he didn't want. Of course he wanted Calypso to build him up and ensure that he can be whatever he wants despite what Umbridge told him, but that wasn't the truth and Remelda had always taught her daughter a harsh truth was better than a lie.

         "Really? She could?" Harry asked with slumped shoulders.

         Her face softened and she moved closer, bringing him into a short hug to cheer him up before releasing him and nodding, looking into his eyes the whole time. Green, just as Lily's always were in the pictures.

         "She's important in the Ministry – has to be if Fudge appointed her to be at Hogwarts and granted her permission to be the Headmistress. He trusts her, which means they're close and that means her opinions have influence over him. Whatever she says, goes."

         Harry looked even more crushed. "So I'll never be an Auror then," he concluded with a pout.

         "I never said that. When the day comes – and if Fudge is still minister – he would be a fool to reject Harry Potter. Your name holds power, influence; so use it," Calypso told him, trying to inspire confidence in him again.

         That was another thing Remelda always told her. The influence of the Black name was still well known and feared – they were feared – and therefore they could use that power. Even if it was something terrible, they could use it. Always look at your advantages and build upon them, no matter what they might be.

         "But I don't want to be an Auror just because of Voldemort," Harry said defiantly.

         Calypso sighed, "It's a way to get your foot in the door, you'd be a fool not to use it."

         "I want to make my own name," Harry repeated.

         "And you can – you will. Your legacy is simply a tool on how to get there, it won't be what keeps you," Calypso said, "Come on, I understand. I've had a lot of things in life done just because of my last name. I don't like the connotation people have with it, but it gets things done so I use it. You can do the same."

         Harry didn't comment anything further on that, just nodding his head, and Calypso smiled at him again. Looking at her watch, she groaned internally because it was far too late to show up to class with a plausible excuse, so she decided to return to the Gryffindor tower as Harry went his own way. She hoped that he would be alright, but she didn't know, and she didn't ask. There was always time later for that.

✦

        MONTHS PASSED, AS they always did, and her sixth year at Hogwarts was dwindling down to an end with no more scares of detention or being expelled. The D.A. still ran smoothly, much more secretive now that they had developed a code to talk outside of the doors of the Room of Requirement. The students had learned how to produce a Patronus and many more spells that Calypso knew would be necessary for a fight.

         She hated to say 'when' they had to fight, but there was no 'if'. One day, everyone would become dark; no longer as innocent as they once were. They wouldn't be pretending, taking down a friend rather than an enemy and when her thoughts trailed there, she liked to distract herself. It made her feel so awfully guilty when she thought about that, knowing that she had helped teach them these spells; she had created murderers. Even if they were fighting for good.

         She hadn't heard much from 12 Grimmauld Place, though she hadn't expected to, and somewhere in this time Leo stopped writing to her as well. That was sad. Leo had always written her, one letter a month – sometimes two if he had more to say – and they were highlights that she truly missed during this dreary time.

         Of course, she had sent letters addressed to him. Asking about school, his life, why he stopped responding...but no response no matter how hard to tried to engage him in a conversation over mail.

         Birdie and Leo were over their initial honeymoon stage and started to include Calypso in their conversations again as they did before they began dating. It made her happier now that the only difference was the two of them holding hands and sometimes making lovesick eyes at each other. Cho and her began to talk more, the girl being happy that she was so close to being down with Hogwarts forever; leaving the school to start out in the world. Calypso was happy for her.

         Maddox Dean-Valance looked happier than she had all year, counting down the days until she left Hogwarts and the memories of her dead boyfriend behind. Calypso couldn't imagine the pain she was in, couldn't imagine how she could continue to attend Hogwarts that year in the wake of Cedric's death.

         But with the end of the year came exams and Calypso had been studying every day for them, a nervous wreck. She knew that she didn't have to stress as much as she did, she would do fine even with less studying because she had already gone over everything and quoting the book did nothing to help her, but she felt as if she did.

         While her family was loaded and she didn't need to do outstanding in school to have a good, secure life, she didn't want to depend on her family's money to pay for her life. She may have the money, but she did not have the guarantee of a career as many others with her fortune did. Her ancestors never had that problem, everything in their life had been planned before they had even been born; go to Hogwarts, work at the Ministry (or whatever career their parents seemed suitable), get married, have children, grow old, and die.

         The chain of command had been broken with her mother and uncles before her. The one who disgraced the family by accepting – and rejoicing – his Gryffindor title, being disowned so young. The next to fraternize with the enemy after the death of her younger brother, and the last doing the simple act of dying. Or, well, faking his death.

         Her Uncle Pads worked at a tattoo shop before his time in Azkaban and Remelda had gone to university while raising her daughter, even attending law school and becoming an outstanding lawyer. Still, with a child to care for. The only who hadn't gone off the path to have a successful (even if it was short-lived) career was Regulus, but that was only because everyone thought he was dead and revealing himself was a danger. Although, Calypso had heard that Regulus did have a job working at a diner for many months when he was younger and living in Hawaii...he always did love Hawaii.

         But others were not as happy, especially Gryffindors after the hospitalization of Professor McGonagall. It happened when they were taking Hagrid away, just as Harry had assumed, and somehow in the mix McGonagall just stunned in the chest three times but was miraculously still alive and recovering.

         Calypso was lounging around the Gryffindor common room because she didn't have an exam that day – thankfully – as she stared up at the ceiling when her uncle walked out, sitting down on the chair opposite to her. "Nice day, right?"

         She shot up instantly, looking over at her uncle who had kept his beard shaven with wide eyes. "You can't be here! Not like this! What if someone comes in and sees you?" she hissed at him, going up to whack him in the arm. "Cat, now!"

         Regulus rolled his eyes at his niece, waving off her concerns. "No one's coming, the exam's still going on. We're fine – I'm fine. And if someone does happen to walk in, I'll immediately transform back into Ginger."

         Calypso frowned at him, giving her uncle a suspicious look. "I'm not sure if I trust that. Wait, scratch that, I definitely don't trust that."

         The older man simply gave her an exasperated look. "Oh, come on, I am reliable – I am! You can trust me!"

         She didn't say anything, just pursed her lips which was enough for her uncle to sigh and collapse back in the chair. "Let it go just this once, alright? I just want to lounge around in a comfy chair – as a human – and talk to my niece who has been too busy for me lately."

         "Needy much?" she commented with an eye roll. Though, if she were being honest, it was more fond than anything.

         Regulus didn't seem to have any shame as he nodded his head, owning up to the comment. "I am. I'm cut off from the rest of my family and I'm a cat most of the time, limiting my conversations, so excuse me for wanting the attention of my most beloved niece."

         "I'm your only niece, Uncle Regulus," Calypso pointed out. She received a grin as a response.

         "Which means you're my favorite – and, I guess, my least favorite at the same time. Whatever, semantics," Regulus waved the thought off, "How have exams been?"

         Calypso groaned and he laughed at her. She threw him a glare. "They're the worst, the bane of my existence! I had my DADA one yesterday and it made no sense – not that her class made sense."

         He snorted, though he knew just the kind of person Umbridge was. "How dramatic, just like Sirius," he said, reminiscing for a moment about the days before when Sirius had been more careful; more himself and not just a shell.

         "What can I say? It runs in the family," Calypso shrugged, a smile tugging at her lips.

         Regulus hummed, looking at her for a moment, studying her features for a second. She looked so much like Remelda, that much was obvious, and held her heart as well. She truly was a Black, but she was more than that; she was also a Lupin. Regulus knew that if she had that last name she would still carry it with the same pride she held the Black name – probably even more. Not that he could blame her.

         "So it does," he commented lowly, in a daze more than anything before he snapped himself out of it and gave her a friendly smile. She gave him one right back.

         Before anything else could be said, the portrait flung open and Calypso stood up quickly as she cast a look at her uncle who was already transforming back into Ginger. She saw Harry with a deranged look on his face, his friends trailing after him. Dread pooled in her stomach.

         "What's going on?" she asked, moving to greet them. Her heart was already pounding her chest; something wasn't right.

         "Voldemort – he has Sirius!" Harry exclaimed and she felt all of the color in her face drain. Frozen, she stared with her mouth agape.

         "What?" she uttered out, the only thing that could past from her lips. It felt like her heart stopped – probably did for a moment – before beating rapidly again.

         "Sirius – I saw him! I saw it; in the Department of Mysteries!" Harry told her.

         She broke out of her frozen spell, swallowing before asking, "How can you be sure? What do you mean you saw him?"

         Harry shook his head, "I have a connection with Voldemort – we share visions. It was how I knew that Ron's dad had been attacked. And I saw Sirius – he was running, Voldemort has him."

         Calypso looked back at the cat that was once perched in the chair. She knew there was concern in his eyes and he was worried for his brother as much as she was worried for him. She looked back at them. "We need to be sure before we do anything," she decided.

         Harry let out an angry noise. "We don't have time! He could be dead by now!"

         "I know that! I know!" Calypso yelled back at him, "But we need to be completely sure, I want a more reliable source than your visions! We need to get in contact with my mum."

         "How can we? They banned communication through fire and we can't exactly Apparate there," Ron interjected.

         Calypso calculated it in her mind before saying, "Umbridge's office – if we get into there, we can contact my mum. We just have to distract her."

         "Fred and George are already on it – said they were looking to leave anyway," Hermione informed her and she nodded.

         "Then let's go, if Harry's right, we don't have a lot of time," she said and all of them – including the cat – left the Gryffindor tower in pursuit of the wicked lady's office.

         They snuck around, the cat leading them, getting into the office where they locked the door and went to the fire. "12 Grimmauld Place!" Calypso said and she stuck her face in the fire.

         Instantly, she saw the kitchen of the place her mother had once called home. "Hello?" she called out, "Anyone there? Uncle Pads? Mum?"

         There was no answer for a minute before she saw Leo, looking at her with a perplexed look. "Cal? What's going on? What are you doing? Why is your head in the fire?"

         "We don't have time for this," Calypso told him, "Have you seen Uncle Pads lately?"

         Leo frowned before shaking his head and that's when she felt her heart drop. "No, he doesn't come out of his too much. I've only spoken to him maybe two times before – what's going on?"

         "Is it possible he could've been taken?" she asked her cousin.

         "I don't think so – well, I don't know, he did go out a night or two ago with some of the other Order members," Leo told her, "But I don't think he was taken – again, why?"

         "Is he here?" she asked him carefully.

         His frowned deepened. "No...but –"

         She never got the chance to hear the last part of the sentence before her head was pulled out of the fire and she saw Umbridge standing over her, pulling at her hair viciously. She raised her wand to fight but before she could say anything, Umbridge yelled, "Accio wand!" and it was gone for her hand.

         "Who were you trying to contact?" Umbridge asked her as she shoved the girl down into the chair beside Harry.

         "It's none of your business!" Harry practically roared at her but Calypso was silent. Sirius wasn't there; he was missing. He was there in the Department of Mysteries; he was taken. He was going to die.

         Umbridge turned away from them, looking at her cousin. "Draco, would you fetch Professor Snape, please?"

         Draco nodded and left the room. Umbridge turned back to them with a sickeningly smile. "Very well, Potter. I have been patient enough with you."

         Snape entered the room with Draco by his side. "You wished to see me?" he inquired in a slow draw.

         "I have just caught Black trying to communicate with someone in my fire with Potter here as watch. I need some Veritaserum. Truth serum," Umbridge ordered.

         "Well, it appears that I cannot help you," Snape informed him and Calypso almost wanted to snort even though she still abhorred Snape, "I have none."

         Harry went to yell something after Snape, who was planning on leaving, but Calypso snatched him arm and held it in a bruising grip; he kept quiet in return. Once Snape was out of the office, Umbridge huffed. "We've played nicely, Potter, Black! You leave me no choice!"

         She raised her wand at them, obviously ready to whatever it took to get the truth out of them. "You could have saved me a lot of trouble if those Dementors I sent to your house had finished you off!"

         "You sent the Dementors?" Harry questioned her, his own enraged look on his face.

         "Of course I did!" Umbridge admitted in a yell, "Someone had to act!" She even tried to justify her actions.

         Then, she pointed her wand directly at his chest. "CRUCIO!" Harry thrashed around in his seat and Calypso looked at him with wide eyes, wanting to scream out, wanting to attack but not able to move at all...

         "No! Please, stop!" Hermione cried in place of both of them.

         Umbridge turned to her, looking pleased. "Well, well."

         "Hermione no!" Harry yelled at his friend but she only looked back at him, a sad look on her face.

         "We have to tell her, Harry..."

         "I would rather die!" Harry cut her off, a betrayed look on his face.

         "Shut up, Potter!" Umbridge yelled at him, "Now talk, you silly girl! Who were you talking to?"

         Hermione gulped. "We were trying to find Professor Dumbledore. We had to tell him..."

         "Tell him?" Umbridge prompted.

         "That it's ready. The weapon," Hermione finished with a dark look on her face.

         Calypso could almost breath a breathe of relief, knowing that Hermione was lying. She had a plan to get them out, they would be able to save her uncle.

         "You and Mr. Potter will take me to it," Umbridge decided, looking at the others in the office and her Inquisition Squad, "Make sure none of the others escape."

         Draco protested but she silenced him quickly. Once they were gone, Calypso stood up since no one had been holding her before. There was a dark look incasing her own features; she had to save her uncle, nothing would stand in her way. There was simply no mercy for those caught in the crossfire.

         Some of the Slytherins on the squad raised their wands but before anything could happen, a silent spell took over them and they fell to the ground. Calypso's head immediately snapped over to her uncle who was standing tall with his wand in his hand.

         "Well don't just stand there," he told all of them, "We have to go!"

         And they didn't. Calypso ran alongside her uncle, determined to save her other one. As they were going out of the castle, they were stopped by Maia.

         "Why is Regulus here?" she asked them, getting up from her spot just outside the castle doors. "What if he's caught?"

         "Sirius has been taken," Calypso told her, "Come with us to save him?"

         Maia said nothing else but nodded, and they were off again. They got near the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest just in time for Harry and Hermione to walk out. Calypso's shoulders did not relax even though she felt relief to find them alive.

         "So, how do we get to the Ministry?" Ron asked the group, tossing Harry's and Hermione's wands to them.

         "I'd imagine we should fly," Hermione suggested.

         "We've got no brooms," Harry reminded her.

         Luna, who Calypso hadn't even really noticed before – she hadn't noticed a lot of the people who were in the office, too transfixed on what was really happening before her eyes. "There are other ways to fly," Luna told them, "I mean, they can fly, and they're very good at finding places you need to go."

         She looked onward inside the forest and even Harry frowned, seemingly looking at something else the others couldn't see. "What are those?"

         "What are what?" Ron asked, taking the question from her lips. Then, he turned to her uncle, "And who are you?"

         "Regulus Black," he answered. He didn't offer anything else and no one else asked any questions, they could be answered later.

         "There's nothing there, Harry," Hermione said, bringing them back on track.

         "Yes, there is. They're Thestrals. You can't see them unless you've seen someone die," Luna told them, though there was not a tone of sadness found in her words.

         Neville, who hadn't said a word, spoke up, "I can see them too."

         Compassion for the younger boy flooded Calypso quickly and Harry clasped his hands together. "All right, then. Get on one, and we'll be off."

         "And what about those of us who can't see them?" Ron asked.

         Luna went over to them. "I'll show you," which was how Calypso ended up riding one with her uncle in front of her.

         It didn't take long to get to the Ministry, much shorter than Calypso thought it would be. But that was a good thing, she supposed. They got off and went into a telephone booth.

         "Never again..." Ron muttered.

         "What now, Harry?" Ginny asked the boy, ignoring her older brother.

         The Ministry of Magic was completely empty and dark. Calypso muttered a quick "Lumos" to have light. The sight of the place made her shiver but, as always, she stilled herself.

         They went into one of the lifts, going down before stopping. "Department of Mysteries," the female voice in the lift told them. The door opened and they piled out. Calypso stayed close to her uncle, not wanting to admit that she was scared but knowing that she was.

         "Where is everyone?" Harry asked in a low whisper.

         "The Ministry closed a half-hour ago. I expect they all went home," Ginny told them, having experience since her father was a Ministry.

         Calypso swallowed, not even looking down when Maia interlocked their hands together. She would never admit that she needed that comfort as well.

         Harry nodded grimly at the information Ginny told him. "That's how Voldemort got in unnoticed."

         There was nothing else as they walked down, going down a hallway. "This is it. Come on," Harry told them and they continued down the hallway. Harry tried the handle on the door at the end and it swung open. "Stay close," he told them.

         Blue-flamed candles surrounded the door. After everyone was in, the door swung close with an echoing bang. "Now where?" Ginny asked.

         Harry just frowned, looking around with a confused expression. "I don't understand. In my dreams, the doors weren't identical."

         Hermione looked back at the group before saying, "Well, let's try a few."

         Harry nodded. "Yeah. I'll know the way when I see it."

         They try the first door, stepping in as Harry called out when he heard the whispers. They were enchanting, Calypso had to admit. Harry moved closer to it, leading them to a veil with a wispy blue tint. Calypso hated the reaction she got at the sight of it.

         "There are people in here," Luna told them, breaking the silence.

         "What do you mean, people?" Ron asked her, looking around but not seeing any other figure.

         Hermione, though, didn't waste any time, already feeling too uneasy. "Harry, I think we should leave." Then, she pulled him away and they walked out of the room.

         When they were out, Hermione drew an X over it as a mark. They tried the next door but it wouldn't budge. "Whatever's in there, the Ministry sure doesn't want anyone getting to it," he said before they moved on, going to the next door which opened.

         Immediately, Harry's eyes sparked with recognition. "This is it! Come on!" they rushed through the room as Harry said again, "This is it. This is where Sirius is!"

         Another door which he opened, going through without looking back. They all followed him. "He's in here somewhere," Harry told them.

         Calypso paused, looking around at all the shelves holding orbs on them. Dozens of shelves, going as far as the eye could see, all glowing gold. But there was no one else in the room, no one besides those in their group.

         "I don't think Sirius is here," Hermione told him gently.

         Ron ventured a little away from the group, point at one of the orbs and calling out, "Harry, have you seen this?" Harry looked at him, "Er...it's got your name on it."

         Harry went over to it, looking at the engraving before reaching out. "What's my name doing here?" he questioned.

         "Don't touch it, Harry!" Regulus yelled, stopping him, "You don't know what that is, you don't know the danger that comes from taking it."

         It was then that the puzzle pieces fell into place; the prophecy. The weapon. This was Voldemort's weapon; this was a trap. Sirius wasn't here, they were led her because Voldemort needs the prophecy – that prophecy.

         She took a step back, looking at her uncle who had the same expression as hers. They had been played. "Harry..." she called out to him, "Please, don't. We have to leave right now or else something bad is going to happen."

         Harry gave her a bewildered look. "But we need to find Sirius! We can't leave him here to die! And – And maybe this will help."

         "No, please, something bad is going to happen if you take it," Calypso pleaded with them, "Let's go!"

         But it was too late, he reached his arm out and took it off the shelf, looking at it. That was when they appeared from the shadows.

         "I warned you before that one day you would come to a sticky end, Potter," Lucius Potter announced his presence.

         Her heart stopped again and she looked at her cousin, then her uncle. It was too late; it was too late to save them, it was too late to save Regulus. Everyone knew he was alive, they would surely be after him soon enough.

         "Where's Sirius?" Harry questioned them, even though they were encircled by Death Eaters now.

         They laughed – of course they laughed; their plan worked. "We don't have him, if that's what you mean."

         Harry looked stunned, even though Calypso had already warned him of that. "You never did, did you? It was all just a trick!" Harry yelled at them.

         "The Dark Lord knows your weakness for heroics, Potter. All it took was a little nudge to get you here. Your stubbornness to do it yourself would take care of any warnings others tried to give you," he cast a look at Calypso and Regulus before reaching his hand out, palm up, "Now give me the prophecy."

         "What prophecy?" Harry asked them, but Calypso already knew; it was his. It was his and Voldemort's and how their stories would end. Who would win and who would lose.

         Lucius pointed at the orb. "That prophecy. Now hand it over or we'll have to use wands on you."

         Harry simply raised his wand as did the others. Calypso would not be afraid to fight them; this was fighting the intended future for her mother and uncles, this was fighting the intended future for her. "Go ahead."

         Lucius gave him a cold look. "Very brave of you, Potter. Or are you foolish?" he inquired.

         "Come and find out!" Harry gauged him, though he doesn't move.

         "Really, Potter. You expect to defeat all of us with your little school friends and a man who never even finished his own education? Now hand it over, and they won't have to die here," Lucius told him.

         Bellatrix – yet another Black family member and cousin to Calypso – stepped forward with an annoyed look on her face. "I haven't escape from Azkaban for this!" She raised her wand but Lucius lowered it.

         "No! If the prophecy is smashed –" Lucius started, revealing enough information to make Calypso smirk. That's what they had to do.

         "Take the youngest girl. We'll see how committed Potter is as we torture her," Bellatrix commanded of the other Death Eaters.

         Harry stood in front of Ginny protectively. "You even try to take her and I'll smash this thing," and thank Merlin Harry understand that smashing the prophecy was their best option to keep it out of Voldemort's grasp. He even tossed it casually up in the air. "So, what kind of prophecy are we talking about here?"

         "Surely you jest, Potter?" Bellatrix asked, though there was a hint of worry at the sight of Harry just tossing it up in the air – one wrong move and they would all be punished by the man they followed.

         "Not really," Harry shrugged nonchalantly, "How come Voldemort wants it?"

         "You dare to speak the Dark Lord's name?" Lucius hissed at him.

         "Who, Voldemort? Oh, yeah, I dare. Voldemort, Voldemort, Voldemort –"

         "Silence!" Bellatrix bellowed, "How dare you utter that name from your half-blood mouth!"

         "Hey, did you know Voldemort's a half-blood too?" Harry causally mentioned but Calypso stilled, knowing that saying that was a mistake.

         Bellatrix raised her wand again, but just as before, Lucius stopped her. "Control yourself, Bellatrix!"

         "What's so special about this prophecy anyway?" Harry asked them and Bellatrix shrieked with laughter.

         "You mean Dumbledore never told you the reason you bear that scar was hidden here?" Lucius asked with a smirk on his face.

         Harry looked utterly betrayed. "What?"

         They laughed at him. "So that's what took you so long. We wondered."

         "But why did he need me to take it?" Harry asked.

         "Only a person for whom the prophecy was made can remove it from its self, Potter, and the Dark Lord certainly couldn't get it himself," Lucius answered, as if entertaining the boy.

         Harry grew angry, "So he used me to do his dirty work, did he?"

         "Precisely, Potter."

         That was all it took, Harry shouted "NOW!" and all of them fired at the shelves, hitting the Death Eaters before Harry yelled out again "RUN!"

         They went all different directions. Calypso stayed with her family but when a Death Eater found them as they were escaping, diving to miss the shattered glass of another shelf being shot at, she was separated from them.

         Calypso got herself up and continued to run, not worrying about her isolation from the rest of the group. They would be fine, she assured herself, just as she would be alright. She could take care of herself, she could fight them off. She would fight them off.

         She got off to the side of another room, lowering herself and hiding as she heard the murmur of other Death Eaters. It was then that she heard a familiar voice. "Demetri, long time no see."

         It was her mother. Remelda was there; the Order was there! They were alright – they were saved! She breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to come out of hiding immediately, but refrained, just peeking out to see her mother there with a raised wand, looking at a Death Eater she identified as Demetri.

         "Remelda," the man greeted back lowly, "How lovely to see you here, and how lovely it will be to end your life."

         "Well, then I see you have a track record for killing those you were supposed to marry – even did," Remelda said, "It was obvious to tell that you were Nancy's murderer."

         "My wife did not obey and I punished her correctly," Demetri, "Just as I would have done if it had been you."

         "Charming," Remelda said back to him, "Well, thankfully, I got to see my child grow up."

         "Thankfully, I didn't have to raise an abomination," Demetri snarled back and it was then that it clicked for her; the twins – this was their father. This was the murderer of their mother.

         "We have differing opinions on what an abomination is then," Remelda said before shooting a spell at him.

         Demetri responded with yelling his own spell, one that Calypso remembered from when she was five. "AVADA KADAVRA!"

         Calypso's breath hitched as she watched her mother fall to the ground. She wanted to cry because she knew it was the end, this was it. Her mother wasn't going to stand back up with a laugh, she wasn't going to fight anymore.

         She wasn't going to cook Calypso breakfast every again. She wasn't going to see her off for her last year at Hogwarts, she wasn't going to welcome her home when she finished said year. They weren't going to celebrate Christmas together ever again. She wasn't going to see her daughter have her own family, see what happens after Hogwarts.

         And her murderer didn't care; he had no mercy for her. After reveling in his kill, he stalked off, leaving Calypso crawl out from her hiding place and lean over her mother's dead body.

         The eyes were open, the warm brown they had always been, the skin was paler than usual and her skin was becoming colder. Calypso let out a cry, tears streaming down her face now. "Mum, no!" she cried, shaking her, "Please, no! Please, please, please!"

         But it was no use. No 'I love you's' ever going to be exchanged again. Because Remelda Walburga Black – for a time, Lupin – was dead. And her daughter had witnessed it.

         She mourned, crying over her mother's dead body before coming back into the moment. It wasn't safe, it was the middle of a fight and someone could find her and hurt her. She had to find the others. Calypso wiped the tears away from her eyes even though more were coming out. Her heart clenched, everything was in pain; her mother was gone.

         The persons she loved most in the world, the person she most admired and aspired to be...was dead. Her mother was dead.

         She went back through the rooms, going back in where she found the back of her Uncle Regulus. She saw Sirius, standing near the foot of the platform where the veil was, questioning, "Is that the best you've got, cousin?"

         People were fighting but there was a focal point on him. Bellatrix sent another spell and he went sideways, stumbling before gaining his balance again and sending a spell back at Bellatrix and sending her to the ground where another Order member taken hold of her.

         Sirius laughed and joined them, all of the Death Eaters in the hands of Order members. Even her father was holding one of them. It was over, it was over. Dumbledore was near Harry and Aurors arrived to take the Death Eaters away. It was all a blur, everything was blur and she couldn't think. Her mother was dead – her mother was dead.

         They were accounting for each other when Sirius asked the question. "Where's Remelda?" he looked around at everyone else but no one knew. Remus was frowning and Nymphadora and Nadia both looked concern. Sirius and Regulus especially. Maia was looking around for her and that was when Calypso took a step forward.

         "I didn't save her," she choked out, tears streaming down her face again as she crumbled to the ground. Her mother was dead and she did nothing to save her – she didn't save her own mother. She didn't...

         Arms wrapped around her. She couldn't make out who it was through the tears but she held onto them tightly as she cried. It was a sad day; Remelda Black had died.

authors note
...i'm sorry. i hate this chapter too. seriously i cried writing remelda's death because i love her so much. i've had the idea of broken crown since 2016, had the idea for lone wolf and this chapter since 2017. this has been a long time coming y'all and i'm sorry that it has to end this way but that's just how it is.

rest in peace remelda, sorry that i'm so cruel that it had to end this way. you deserved so much better and i'm sorry that i failed to give you that. even my friend agrees that you deserve to live forever after everything that's happened to you.

on another note, sorry that this chapter is so long. i had so much to fit and it just ended up being 8000 words. but, saying this, i am proud of myself for writing this long of a chapter so...