The doors of St. Mungo's were thrown open forcefully, a frantic Fred Weasley heading to the front desk to ask for information about Florence, a worried George trailing behind him. The healer was confused, looking through the charts and not finding anyone with the last name 'Price' admitted. Fred looked confused, convincing the healer to look again as he was sure that she was here. Nicolai had owled him, and told him to meet Florence in St. Mungo's, which sent his sanity down a spiral. The healer was just about to tell him again that there was no 'Florence Price' admitted in their records for the day when Nicolai came in to view, a puzzled look on her face at the sight of the Weasley twins, both red in the face.

"Did you... did you two run here?" she asked nonchalantly, before taking a sip from the coffee cup in her hands. Fred looked tense. "Only half a block. What room is Florence in?"

Nicolai blinked back at them, "She's not in a room."

George frowned, "But you asked us to come here and see her."

She shook her head, "No. I told you to meet her here. Florence is fine. No cuts, no broken bones. She just needs some company. Apparently that mission has dug up some more life-shattering revelations."

Fred sighed exasperatedly, "You didn't think to mention that first in your letter?!"

"We were worried sick!" George added

"I'm sorry. I forgot how dangerous that mission supposedly was when it wasn't. No death eater, whatsoever." Nicolai tilted her head to a direction, "She's sitting along that hallway. Julien and Sloan are there too."

Fred and George proceeded down the hallway, before seeing Florence and Julien on the waiting chairs, while Sloan was leaning against a wall. They approached the scene slowly, the three of them looking tense.

"Hello, love." Fred smiled at Florence, who launched herself off of her seat and in to her fiancé's arms, "I've missed you so much," she whispered into the crook of his neck, hugging him as though her life depended on it.

George greeted Julien and Sloan, "So Nicolai said there was some life-shattering revelation in there?"

Julien nodded, "We found Matthew Edgecomb. He is my Uncle Gabriel's best friend."

Sloan practically snarled at this, "He was. Before he decided to disgrace Gabriel and join the Death Eaters." George had never seen Sloan this mad before. Florence broke apart from her hug with Fred, handing him a folder, "They found my file in the same room where he was being held."

Fred frowned, "Why was it there?"

"He was going after her, obviously!" Sloan half yelled, taking the file from Fred, "It wasn't enough disgracing Gabriel apparently. Now he wanted to kill his child. The bastard." he started pacing, hands clenched in his side as he did so.

Shortly after, a Healer came out of the room, informing them that the patient was now conscious enough to receive visitors. Sloan stormed in to the room, rage boiling over. Julie and Florence followed suit, afraid of what he would do without supervision.

The man, Matthew, frowned at the sight of the older Price brother, "Sloan...?"

He laughed hollowly, "Long time no see, Edgecomb. Though I was hoping that we wouldn't cross paths again anymore. You traitorous fuck."

"Easy, Dad." Julien warned, making Matthew turn to him, a smile appearing on his face, "This one's yours and Kora's... Isn't it? He has her eyes-"

"You shut your mouth." Sloan seethed, "You can't talk to him, or look at him. Do you understand?"

Matthew ignored his remarks, "Still too hotheaded, I see. With how old we are, that must be bad for your blood pressure..."

"I don't have time for your games." Sloan snapped, chucking Florence's file at him, "You vile, dirty, scum of the earth. How dare you even think of going after my niece. After what you did to my brother?"

"Go after her?" he said, in disbelief, "Sloan I saved the girl! If not for me you would have just come back to find her lifeless body." Matthew said, "I don't know what kind of betrayal you think I did to Gabriel but I would never harm his daughter."

"Oh bullshit!" Sloan retorted, Florence looking at Matthew, her brows drawing together. She remembered the person in the Death Eater robes, who had saved her from being chased by other Death Eaters, only a few minutes before her encounter with Reagan Fawley. It took here only a few seconds to connect the dots, "T-that was you...?" she spoke up, Matthew and Sloan turning their heads to her, "The one who killed those three death eaters chasing me... That was you?"

He nodded, "I saw your file with one of the Senior Aurors, and I knew I had to find you if you were in that building. I had to protect you..." Matthew said, before beckoning her over, "Come closer, will you dear."

"The hell she will," Sloan interjected, only for Florence to give him a look, "Its fine, please."

"That's a better view." Matthew smiled, once Florence was closer to his bedside. "Look at you. You're a woman now... Last time I saw you, you were only as heavy as a Quaffle." he chuckled half-heartedly, before he held one of her hands, "You have your father's eyes, and your mother's... everything... Except maybe the hair. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you were growing up. That's part of the godfather description isn't it? I hope your parents at least told you about me?"

Florence shook her head, a disappointed look sweeping over Matthew's face. "I see... I understand why... No matter, I'm here now. I can tell you everything. And your parents too. I'm just wondering... how soon can I see Gabriel and Jane?"

Florence and Sloan shared a look, before looking to Matthew, Sloan now slightly, "Are you joking?"

"For Merlin's sake, Sloan. I just want to see him. If he's busy, I don't mind waiting at all." Matthew turned to Florence, "Please, tell your father to come see me. So I can finally explain all those years that I wasn't around..."

Florence's brows drew together, studying his facial expressions. The look of longing was authentic, and apparently was his oblivion. She shook her head, "You really don't know, do you?"

This made Matthew frown, "Know what...?"

"Matthew..." Florence started slowly, "Matthew, my father's been dead for almost sixteen years."

He shook his head rapidly, in an obvious state of denial, "No he's not." Matthew laughed hollowly, tears now brimming in his eyes, "Gabriel can't be dead. He... he can't be. I-I made sure of it. It was part of the deal..."

Sloan frowned, "What deal?"

"I made a deal, with them," Matthew said, his skin now white as sheet from the news he had received, "They said they wouldn't harm my family, and Gabriel... my brother... he's..." a sob escaped his lips, "He can't be."

"He died on the night Sirius Black was captured." Sloan said, "They killed him. Left him lifeless at the entrance of the Ministry. They killed him. The same people you had joined--"

"I only did it to protect him!" Matthew said, tears now cascading down his face, "They promised his protection if I pledged my loyalty to them. I did their bidding, for years, because I believed somehow some good was coming out of it. I thought I was protecting the people that I love."

"You know better than to trust them." Sloan snapped, "They killed my brother, all those years ago. How could you not have known!?"

"They kept him in the dark, so he could continue being loyal to them, maybe," Julien spoke up, "They couldn't possibly keep him around if he knows that Uncle Gabriel died."

"I'm sorry they didn't tell you," Florence consoled, Matthew now sobbing in to the palm of his hands, "You had every right to be able to mourn your best friend."

"T-They killed him... Gabriel... I... where's Jane? I need to talk to her...."

Florence felt a pang of pain in her chest at the mention of her mother, making her bow solemnly, more tears brimming in Matthew's eyes as he saw her facial expression, "Did she... with Gabriel...?"

She shook her head, "She died last year. She lost her life for the Order."

"I'm so sorry, my dear." He said, clutching her hand once more, "I swear to you, I will do everything I can to bring your parents to justice. They were my dearest friends, back in the day. Losing them hurts me in ways I cannot express... I can't imagine the pain you must feel...."

Sloan crossed his arms over his chest, "Does that mean you'll be willing to talk?"

Matthew nodded, "I will give my full cooperation to the Ministry."

"He needs time to recover," Florence told Sloan, "He's been tortured pretty badly."

"Why did they leave you there?" Sloan asked, still skeptical of the man, and also the fact that he seemed to have been conveniently left behind. Surely the Death Eaters weren't stupid enough to essentially fork over someone with valuable information.

"They didn't like how I saved Florence, last year." He replied, "I killed the Rosier brothers to save her. They've been torturing me since then. Leaving me wasn't part of their plan but they were in a hurry to leave that they forgot me."

"So they have other people?" Sloan pressed on, "As captives? Who else do they have?"

"He can answer that when he's had more rest, Sloan..." Florence interjected, "Please. Its been a tiering day for all of us."

"Fine," he gave in, "You'll have 24/7 surveillance outside your room and outside the building of St. Mungo's... so don't even think of trying anything." he threatened, Matthew nodding solemnly, "I'll be back tomorrow with Robards to discuss a meeting with the Minister." Sloan then turned to Florence, "You on the other hand, should go home with Fred and George. Get some rest yourself."

"Will you give me updates?"

"Yes... I will..." he said, after a few beats of hesitation.

"Okay," Florence nodded, "Thank you... And Matthew?" she turned to him with a small smile, "It was nice meeting you. I'm looking forward to talking to you some more."

"Likewise, dear."

Florence left the room, closing the door behind her carefully. Fred and George were seated on the waiting chairs, looking bored as ever. They instantly bolted upright at the sight of Florence, "What happened?" George asked promptly, as she sat down with them, "Another very complicated tale of another person in my parents' past whom I never got to know..." she explained vaguely.

"He's not another uncle is he?" Fred asked, looking contemplative, "Because your mum's brothers died in a fire, while your dad only has Sloan...right?"

"Right." she confirmed, "He's my godfather. My dad's best friend."

"Interesting." They said simultaneously, making Florence chuckle.

"But how'd he become a Death Eater?"

This made her sigh, putting a hand on Fred's knee, "You know I would love to explain everything after a nice long nap..." she said, "Come on, let's get home. I'll explain everything when I wake up from that said nap."

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a.n: hello! Sorry this update took awhile. I got caught up in school things so....

-Denise