Hey guys-

Sorry for FUCKING DRAGGING. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter. No spice, but spice will come after this.

Without further adieu, I present to you...

D U R M S T R A N G 

amelie zabini

"Did you already send out the letter to your parents?" Lola asked quietly. 

I nodded yes as I reverted back to my book.

Lola, Narsa, Oliver and I were cooped up in the library killing time. 

Scarlett was feeling a little under the weather.

Zenith and Eleanor didn't attend their classes today. Zenith also stayed at her room last night, which is valid.

"What did you say to them?" Narsa questioned.

"I said 'Discipline your son' among other things. I told them what he did to Scarlett, and I pretty much shamed the fuck out of him-."

"Did you tell your parents that we-. That you, Zeno, and I... beat him?" 

I nodded yes.

I didn't really want to talk as much. Sitting among them made me feel guilty. 

Though I know it was all Zenith, it somehow feels like it reflects on me.

Ugh, why does he have to fuck everything up? I always knew he was the fucking black sheep out of all of us. 

While the three of them talked, it gave me time to compose myself; to reflect my thoughts.

"...Charlotte and I are getting closer..." Oliver whispered to us.

What happened between Scarlett and Zenith completely changes everything. A lot of things, if you may.

"....The red head, correct?" Narsa queried.

It would've worked if Zenith wasn't such a fucking bitch! I mean, bloody hell? Who raised him? Definitely not my mum. Definitely not my dad. Shit, I wonder what my parents will do.

Or worse - what Scarlett's parents will do.

No, scratch that - what Scarlett's dad will do.

"...I dropped the Ravenclaw, and I started seeing a year 7 Slytherin..." Narsa snickered.

I don't doubt that my mum will tell Lucille and Draco, though what if she doesn't?

Who will tell them then?

I don't see myself associating with Zenith after that; after what he did to one of our own. And of all people? Scarlett fucking Malfoy of all people? She's a bloody sweetheart! One of the nicest people on fucking planet earth and he hurts her?

As much as I love my brother, my morals are very important to me. 

Respecting women is one of them.

"Are you alright, Mel?" Narsa interrupted.

"I'm good," I respond nonchalantly. 

Narsa shrugs as she continues to talk about Merlin knows what.

Zoning in and out of the conversation, thoughts about Zenith grow. Thoughts about a lot of things, though I can't pinpoint the main one that's eating me alive.

What did Eleanor do to Lola?

Why is Zenith the way that he is?

How will things be from this point on?

I inattentively get up from my seat from the consistent growing thoughts.

"I-. I'm going to check up on Scarlett," I frantically state, "I'll see you guys during dinner?"

"Alright," Oliver responded.

I packed up my items and stuffed everything into my book bag; books, parchment, quill.

As I storm out the library, my thoughts consume me. 

Zenith. Eleanor. Scarlett. Zeno. Zenith. Eleanor. Scarlett. Zeno.

Zeno. Scarlett. Eleanor. Zenith. Zeno. Scarlett. Eleanor. Zenith.

Shut the fuck up, brain!

School has just begun and there's already so much shit on everyone's plate.

Passing through crowds, chatter, and chaos, I've managed to reach the Slytherin commons within the matter of minutes.

Now, speeding down to the corridors. The girls' dungeons' corridors.

Zenith. Eleanor. Scarlett. Zeno.

Eleanor.

Who are you, and why do you make everyone so... tense?

I unlock the door of my dorm and gently swing it open, only to see Scarlett nuzzled up in her sheets.

"Scar?" I say softly.

Scarlett jerks out of fright and softly giggles soon after realizing that it's just me.

She sits up on her bed and stretches; does a little yawn, too.

"You alright?" I ask.

She smiles and nods.

"Just a little tired, is all," Scarlett's raspy, yet soft, voice beams. "You?"

I sit on the edge of her bed and huff. 

"I just feel bad," I respond as I look down at the ground, "I'm sorry about all of thi-."

Scarlett scoots closer and pulls me into a hug; her comforting smell of lavender and strawberry wafts my senses.

"Don't say sorry. Don't. It's not your fault. I promise," Scarlett whispers softly.

I wrap my arms around her as she hugs me tighter.

"Thank you for doing what you did," Scarlett says lowly, "For-."

"Beating his ass?" 

Scarlett chuckles softly.

"Yeah," she says, "For beating his ass."

Pulling away from one another's embrace, she falls back down onto her bed and sighs.

"Did you tell your parents about it...?" Scarlett asked

"I did... yeah-."

"Oh, fuck..." Scarlett muttered under her breath. She took a pillow and covered her face as she screamed into it. Pulling the pillow away from her face, she sighed. "I don't even plan on telling my parents, Mel."

"Yeah, I'm afraid of what your parents will do to mine-."

"I'm afraid of what my father will do to yours. My mum wouldn't hurt a fly even if she bloody wanted to-."

"Fucking hell," I say.

"Fucking hell indeed."

Silence.

"Did you have to tell your parents, though?" Scarlett queried.

"Yes, Scarlett. I had to. Zenith can't get away with that shit-."

"But you already taught him a lesson-."

"It's never going to be enough-."

"Everything's going to be so screwed-."

"He should've thought about that before he mentally and emotionally abused you, Scarlett!" I berated.

This made Scarlett's lip quiver and eyes pool.

"Oh, no. No, no, Scarlett-." I stammer as I scoot closer towards her, "I'm sorry-. I'm sorry for yelling at you."

I pulled her into an embrace as she cried once again.

Sniffles and sobbing right into my arms.

I kissed her head multiple times in attempt to comfort her.

I shouldn't have raised my voice.

I keep forgetting how sensitive Scarlett is.

"It's not you-. I promise. I just-. You and Zenith shout the same."

I rubbed her back as she wept a little more.

You and Zenith shout the same.

This poor girl is traumatized. And it's all because of my brother.

It's all because of my brother?

Fucking hell, Zenith. I expected more from you.

Scarlett and I absently laid down on her bed as she wept.

Running my fingers through her hair, caressing her cheek.

Her eyes were closed, though she was a crimson-red color; her nose and cheeks.

Lips and eyelids were swollen.

Poor Scarlett is exhausted.

Eventually, she'd fallen asleep with my arms around her.

You didn't deserve that, Scarlett Malfoy.

Zenith is going to pay one way or another.

He's no brother of mine.

He's no-.

Brother.

Of mine.

****

"Mel," a familiar voice boomed into my head. "Mel, wake up."

Fluttering my eyes open, I see Scarlett's arms and legs sprawled on top of me. Turning my head to the left, I see Zeno hovering over the both of us.

"What time is it?" I grog quietly, in attempt to avoid waking Scarlett up.

"8:42 PM," Zeno responds, "You and Scarlett missed dinner."

"Fuck," I mutter as I sit up.

Scarlett groans and turns over as she falls back asleep.

"And no one woke us up?" I remarked as I got up from the bed. I cupped Zeno's face as I gave him a kiss on the lips. "Good evening, by the way."

"Good evening," he responds, "You two seemed pretty exhausted. Narsa insisted that we leave you two."

"Oh," I respond lowly, "Where are they?"

"In my dorm," he responded. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too," I smiled.

He placed another kiss onto my lips.

A longer one, at that.

Which soon turned to a few more pecks.

His hand slithers behind my back, pulling me closer.

Lips part, tongues are swiping one another.

"If you're going to have sex, please do it outside," Scarlett mumbled into her pillow.

Zeno and I pulled away from our kiss as my face immediately warmed up.

"We weren't going-. I just kissed her-." Zeno stammered.

"It's okay, Zeno," Scarlett rambled, "I was only joking."

She turned to us and smiled weakly.

"I'm just glad you two are... happy and open about one another."

"Enough about us," Zeno beckoned as he sat at the edge of Scarlett's bed, bringing me with him as he sat me on his lap, "How are you feeling?"

"Like complete shit," Scarlett groaned, "But I'll be alright."

Zeno's arms wrapped around my waist as he huffed.

"I can beat him up again if you want me to-."

"No," Scarlett stated, "It's fine. He-. He got what he deserved."

"It'll never be enough, Scarlett-."

"I said he's fine," Scarlett responded sternly.

God bless your big heart, Scarlett, but Zenith surely doesn't deserve it.

I looked at Zeno as he shrugged. 

Suddenly, a pounding came from the door.

"I'll get it," I mumbled as I hopped off of Zeno's lap.

Opening the door, a prefect is standing tall with his hands in his pockets.

"Can I... help you?" I queried.

"Amelie Zabini, Scarlett Malfoy, and Lola Berkshire are being ordered to the Headmaster's office this instant," he mumbles as he peaks inside the room, "Xenophilius Berkshire, as well."

I gulp.

What the fuck is going on?

Zeno stands up and creeps behind me, holding on the door with his large hand.

"For what?" His deep voice beams.

"No clue, Xenophilius-."

"Don't-. Call me that. You know what to call me, Mr. Prefect, don't you?" 

The prefect gulps.

"Sorry, Zeno," he mumbles.

Scarlett gets up from her bed and slips on some slippers.

"Where are we needed?" Scarlett asks the prefect.

"Headmaster's office," he responded, "Come along."

I look up at Zeno as confusion is plastered onto his face,

It seems like the prefect is intimidated.

"Should we go get Lola?" I ask him.

"Lola isn't with us, Leo," Zeno states sternly, "Shouldn't we get her before we go?"

"Is she at your cousin's?" The prefect questioned.

"Oliver?"

"Yeah,"

"Yes, she is."

"Then she'll be there, too."

The three of us walked out the dorm as we followed 'Leo' the prefect down the corridors,

Zeno grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers.

I looked up at him as he's looking straight forward. Strands toppling over his serious face; a literal God and he just exists.

"So, Oliver is also getting called down?" Zeno asked.

"Do you always talk this much?" Leo beckoned.

Scarlett and I snorted, then cleared our throats as he looked at us.

Zeno gave my hand a short and tight squeeze as I winced.

As we walked through the Slytherin commons and out the moving stairs, we noticed Narsa, Lola, and Oliver on the other set of stairs.

"Oli!" Scarlett exclaims as she's waving her hand up high.

Oliver's attention diverts to us as a wide smile appears across his face.

He waves back at Scarlett as she giggles softly.

How could Zenith hurt such a pure soul?

We reach the end of the stairs as our little group merges with Lola, Oliver, and Narsa's. 

"Have any idea why we've been summoned?" Narsa asked as we all walked alongside one another, following the two prefects.

"No idea," Scarlett mumbled.

Then she gasped.

"Wait! Is it about Zenith? Fuck! What if he told on the three of you?" Scarlett panicked.

I rolled my eyes.

"I wish he would tell on me!" I snapped. "Fucking pussy wouldn't tell on me."

Zeno and Oliver chuckled as Zeno pulled me closer to him, swinging his arm around my neck.

After many minutes of walking and soft chatter among our group, we finally reached the Headmaster's office.

Headmaster Cargell; previously, it was Headmaster McGonagall, but God bless her soul.

"Enter here-."

"We know, Leo," Oliver bickered, "You can leave us alone, now."

The prefects gulped and walked away from intimidation.

"Why are you so mean to him?" Lola pestered as he lightly shoved Oliver.

"Because Leo has such a wuss-face," Zeno chuckled, "He's easy to push around-."

I smacked his chest as he winced. 

"That's not nice," I told him. 

Zeno rolled his eyes as he walked towards the trippy entrance.

Once we climbed up the stairs, we walked into the Headmaster's office.

"Headmaster Cargell?" Narsa announced, "We've been ordered to come here?"

"Fucking finally!" A familiar voice berated, echoing the Headmaster's office.

Immediately, Oliver, Scarlett, and Narsa all looked at each other.

"Is that Dad-."

"Ah! Glad you all made it," Professor Cargell blurted, "Your parents are here to um-. Come pick you up-."

Suddenly, my mum and Lucille appear in front of us. 

Immediately, I let Zeno's hand go and gulp.

"Where's Zenith?" My mum snaps. "Where the fuck is that imbecile?"

Draco comes from behind and scans all of us.

"Well? Are you going to answer her or not?" Draco yelled.

Lucille grabbed his arm in attempt to calm him down, but it clearly wasn't working.

"Um-. I-. I don't kno-." Scarlett stammered

"Speak up! All of you! Where is he?" my mum shouted once more.

"He could be in Eleanor's dorm," I respond frantically, "The Ravenclaw."

"Where's my parents?" Lola asked.

"They're back at home, love," Lucille responded softly, "They wanted us to bring you, too-."

"Why are you pulling us out of school?" Oliver queried.

"To... talk." Draco stated sternly.

He was clenching his fists.

This isn't going to end well...

"Yeah, well Draco-. Keep your fucking hands to yourself, because I'll handle my son-." My mum berated.

"How about you tell your son to keep his fucking hands to himself!" he shouted back.

Bloody hell, I'm going to literally die right here. 

"Dad, please-." Scarlett said lowly.

"Scar, let's go. Narsa, Oliver," Draco stammered.

Lucille followed him frantically as he grabbed ahold of Scarlett and Narsa.

"Zeno? Lola? Come with us, yeah?" Lucille queried softly.

Zeno looked at me and bit his lip nervously before following Lucille and Draco out the office.

"I'll meet you later, Onny," Lucille stated softly.

And so they left, leaving me and my Mum in the office. 

Mum's arms are crossed and she's giving me some sort of mean-mugging look.

"What did I do?" I pestered.

"Why are you assuming that I'm fucking mad at you?" Mum snapped.

"Well, you're giving me that look! Like I did something!"

"Did you?"

"No! I didn't do anything!"

"Then stop assum-."

Just then, Zenith appears behind us.

"What's...going on?" Zenith said lowly.

Instantly, my mum stormed at Zenith and started smacking his back, face, neck, head.

Professor Cargell tried to pull my mum off of him, but my mum shoved Professor away and continued.

"Bloody hell," Cargell muttered under his breath, "Can you all take this off the premises? Please?"

"Fucking hell, Mum!" Zenith shouted as he tried to block her hits.

"You think it's okay?! Hurting women's feelings like that? Who the fuck raised you, Zenith Zabini? Because I certainly didn't raise you to do that! Your father surely didn't raise you to do that-."

"Why are you even here!" he shouted.

"We're going back home for a little bit," I mumbled to him.

"I'm not fucking talking to you, snitch," Zenith spat.

Fuck no.

I stormed at him and started kicking and hitting him as he tried to block them, too.

My mum pulled me off of him as I flailed my arms in the air.

"You fucking bitch! What, you thought you were going to get away with hurting Scarlett, you little shit!" I snapped.

"Enough! Out my office!" Cargell shouted. "I want all the students back here by tomorrow morning!"

My mum rolled her eyes as she tugged the both of us out the office.

***

Upon arriving the Berkshire residence, my heart was beating fast.

Zenith was with my father back at home, while Scarlett was with her mum at the Malfoy residence.

I entered the Berkshire home; the smell of flowers and candle wax hit my nose- something about the Berkshire home always kept me grounded. It was comforting. I could rely on the Berkshires for comfort.

The living room was full ; Oliver, Narsa, Lola, and Zeno were all sitting on one long couch, Lorenzo was sitting on an armchair with Luna sitting on his thigh, while Draco was sitting across Lorenzo with a cup of bourbon. 

"Zenith is with Blaise," My mum said as she sat on an ottoman. I took a seat right next to her.

I immediately gazed at Zeno as his eyes meet with mine.

"Your husband better be talking to him-." Lorenzo bantered.

"I've already got it covered, Enzo," my mum snapped back, "You think I don't know my son did wrong? It's a shame to even call him my son after what he did!" 

"What even happened? I need the whole explanation, Mel," Draco asked me.

I bit my lip nervously and fiddled with my fingers inattentively.

"I-. I don't know the full story, but-. Zenith manipulated her and emotionally abused her-." I stammered.

As I spoke, my mum was shaking her head and Draco was gripping onto his glass a bit harder.

"Who knows the full story," Draco said flatly, though with frustration.

Silence.

I looked over at the long couch as the four remained silent.

"Well? You all have fucking mouths! Are any of you going to speak?" Draco shouted.

Draco's shouting made Narsa and Lola jumpy. I, as well. We've never actually seen Draco this angry before.

I hope to never see him this angry again, really.

"Scarlett told me that they've been shagging since year 5-."

"Shagging?!" Draco, my mum, and Lorenzo snarled in unison.

"Did I fucking hear that right?" Draco pestered.

"I-. I mean yeah-." Oliver stammered.

"Fuck's sake," Narsa muttered under her breath and she ran her hand down her face.

Zeno looked around the room in attempt to ease the tension brewing in the room.

This was fucking weird; all of this was fucking weird.

"And since then he's been manipulating her into thinking that he really loves her, though he turns around and shags other people-."

"That is-. He is not my son. No. I can't fucking believe this-." My mum stammered. She bounced her leg up and down as her eyes started watering.

Oh, mum. 

I wrap my arm around her and pull her closer to me.

I can't believe it either, Mum. Trust me.

Suddenly, my father comes into the house.

He wipes his shoes onto the welcome mat before completely entering.

My dad walks towards mum and I and places a kiss on my head.

"Hi, love," he said softly.

I shot a smile at him before diverting my attention back to the crowd.

"Onyx," he said sternly, "Come. We need to talk about something with him."

My mum got up and sighed. 

"I apologize on behalf of my son, Draco," my father said, "Trust me, he's going to be discipl-."

"I fucking hope so," Draco interrupted as he took another swig of his bourbon.

I glanced at my father in hopes that he doesn't pop off.

"Very well," he muttered, as my mum and him walked out the home.

That left me alone on the ottoman while the Malfoys and Berkshires observed one another.

Zeno got up from the couch across me and inched closer, then sitting right next to me.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly.

I nod yes.

He kissed my forehead in front of literally everyone as my heart fluttered and dropped at the same time.

My throat tightened and my face immediately warmed up.

I glanced at his mum and she gulped.

Lorenzo observed the both of us as Luna leaned towards his ear and started whispering.

"Don't worry," Zeno whispered to me, "My parents will be fine about it."

"I haven't even told my parents about us, Zeno," I responded quietly.

"Do you plan on telling them?"

"Obviously," I beckoned, "Just not right now."

Zeno huffed.

"So, Mel," Lorenzo blurted, "How do you feel about all of this?"

"I don't think my feelings matter right now-."

"Sure it does, love," he assured, "The pressure is real, I suppose?"

"I don't plan on associating with Zenith. What he did is really unforgivable-."

"Sure it is," Lorenzo responded, "You live and you learn-."

"I sure as hell am never forgiving that son of a bitch," Draco snarled.

"And why is that?" Lorenzo jeered back.

Zeno shifted in his seat uncomfortably, as well as Oliver, Lola, and Narsa across us.

"They're about to argue," Zeno said lowly.

Luna got up from Lorenzo lap immediately and took a seat where Zeno was once sitting.

"Oh, dear," Luna sighed.

"So you're telling me that you'd forgive that son of a fucking bitch after he hurt my daughter?" Draco raised his voice.

"I wouldn't forgive him. Of course I wouldn't. But Amelie is his twin. She's bound to forgive him sometime-."

I actually wouldn't.

"I fucking hope she doesn't! He hurt my little girl-."

"Draco, I really wouldn't be talking," Lorenzo snapped.

"Fuck," Zeno said lowly. 

Silence emitted the room.

"And... what's that supposed to mean?"

Lorenzo scoffed.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Lorenzo responded lowly. "Are you forgetting the whole manipulation with you and Lucille back in schoo-."

Draco immediately dropped his bourbon and launched himself at Lorenzo, when suddenly Narsa, Lola, and Oliver stood up and grabbed him in attempt to stop him from hurting Lorenzo.

Lorenzo stood up and huffed with his fists clenched.

"You little fucking bitch!" Draco shouted.

"Dad-. Just-. Sit down-." Narsa mumbled as she held him back.

Zeno stood up in preparation for whatever was bound to happen next.

Luna stood in front of Lorenzo in hopes that a fight wouldn't break out.

"This is fucking crazy," I said to myself.

The tension soon withered when my mum and dad came back.

All our heads turned to the entrance of the door.

"We've made the decision to send-." my mum glanced at me with worrisome, "Zenith to Durmstrang Institute."

"You're fucking joking," I said to myself once more.

Oliver, Narsa, and Lola let go of Draco as he huffed.

"Good," Draco spat, "It's where he fucking belongs-."

"You know, Draco, as much as I dislike my own flesh and blood right now, I really don't want to hear your fucking bickering. I know exactly what to do regarding the whole situation, so please keep your narky comments to yourself," my mum seethed through her teeth.

I gulped.

I glanced over at Zeno while he glanced at me back.

"It's going to be okay," he mouthed.

"So are we done here?" Lorenzo interrupted, "We have to send off the kids back to school in the wee-morning. Zenith is getting sent to Durmstrang. Problem solved? Does that sound alright with you, Draco?"

"It doesn't matter what Draco thinks. Zenith is my responsibility," my father beckoned back.

Silence.

"How's Scarlett?" My mum asked softly.

"No clue," Draco responded, "She's with Lucille."

Silence.

"I apologize on behalf of my son's actions, Draco," My mum pestered.

Silence.

"It's not your fault, Onny," Draco mumbled under his breath. "Fucker's got a mind of his own. He just doesn't know how to use it."

Silence.

"I'm going to head off, now," Draco said as he stood up from the arm chair. He patted his button up and pants down and adjusted his tie. "Narsa? Oli? You coming with or are you sleeping over here at the Berkshire's?"

"Can I stay with Lola?" Narsa asked softly.

"Alright," Draco responded.

"Can you tell Scarlett to come here, too?" Lola queried.

"If she's up for it," Draco sighed. 

Draco and Oliver walked together, exiting the home.

Before completely leaving, Draco turned around.

"Good night to you all," Draco mumbled.

And so they left.

Luna and Lorenzo sighed.

"Mel? Are you sleeping over here, too?" Luna asked me softly.

I looked over at my parents.

"You can if  you want," My mum responded.

I looked back at Luna.

"I guess I am," I said.

I looked at the girls as they smiled a subtle smile.

Then I looked up at Zeno and he smirked.

Oh, bloody hell.

"We'll get going now," My mum stated, "We've all had a long day, haven't we?"

I got up from the ottoman and walked towards my parents.

The both of them pulled me into an embrace as each parent placed a kiss on my cheeks.

"You behave, alright?" My father said quietly.

I softly chuckled and nodded yes.

Pulling away from their embrace, my mum and dad waved and smiled at Luna and Lorenzo.

"Good night," my father said.

"Good night!" Luna responded cheerfully.

As they exited the home, everyone sighed.

I turned around as Lorenzo and Luna cleaned up a little bit around the living room.

"Do you kids want anything to eat before you all head up to bed?" Lorenzo asked us.

"I'm alright," I responded.

"I already ate," Lola added.

"So did I," Zeno said.

"I'm not hungry," Narsa blurted.

"If you insist," Lorenzo mumbled as he made his way towards the kitchen with Luna.

Once we were all left alone in the living room, Lola sighed.

"Sorry about your brother, Mel-." Lola deemed.

"Gross. Don't apologize about it. He deserves to go to that shit show of a school," I bantered,

Narsa softly chuckled.

"Are you sleeping in my room or Zeno's?" Lola joked.

"Obviously your room-."

"She's sleeping in mine," Zeno interrupted.

I looked up at him and gulped.

"Well, you better hope Mum doesn't fucking catch you," Lola snickered.

"She won't," Zeno retorted, "Not with Muffliato."

I groaned as Narsa fake-gagged.

"Zeno," I uttered, "Relax-."

"Oh, I am relaxed," he said softly, "Or at least I will be pretty soon."

"Gross gross gross," Lola bickered.

The four of us walked up the stairs as we passed by family portraits and hanging crystals and herbs.

Lola and Narsa walked into Lola's room, as Zeno pulled me towards his.

"I have to get-. I have to borrow clothes from-."

"Shh," said Zeno, "You can always borrow mine."

****

SEE YOU ON THE NEXT CHAPTER. SPICE SPICE SPICE?????

D I S C U S S I O N

Baby Zeno