—————A—————

Aurora and the boys took the remainder of the previous day to rest. Honestly, it was worth it, what with the elves that really only had Nan to look after. They were more than eager to cater to the quartet's every whim and wish. Aurora doubly so, as her mother wasn't around to purse her lips and frown, denying any and all want or need of help. But now that she had had a full night's sleep in a bed that she didn't have to share, in a space without a male, she had to get to work.

She wouldn't begrudge Draco's reluctance to come to the library as early as her. Aurora had no doubt that he was tucked in bed with Harry, relishing their time alone without Ron's hovering. And she supposed even Ron was enjoying the solitude.

But she hadn't been on the run as long as they had, so she didn't feel right waking them or disturbing them. They'd figured out where the locket was, maybe she could figure out a way to destroy it.

The library in Prince Manor was vast, much more so than Aurora remembered. It was little wonder that her father hadn't found whatever book Leo had stumbled upon. How long would it take her to comb through all of them? How long before the boys annoyed her grandmother so much that they would no longer be welcome?

She entered the room slowly, moving to the desk at the far end of the room, the one with the deep purple chair that her father favored whenever he came to do research. There was nothing there, the elves having long tidied up any parchments or books. She turned, facing the rows of floor-to-ceiling shelves, six in all, all quite wide, rolling ladders resting on either side of the double-sided cases.

Thousands of books. There were spells that could help her find some pertinent books, of course, but there was nothing that could filter out exactly what she wanted.

It would take her the better part of a month to go through all of it, and that was if the three boys helped her. Ronald wouldn't do it. Harry would, but not well. Draco would, but even so, a month wouldn't be enough.

There was the Felix Felicis. Two hours of luck to help them get through the war. Well, this was for the war, wasn't it? What was a drop or two to get that book faster?

With her heart pounding, Aurora pulled the vial out of her denims, uncorked it and stuck out her tongue. She carefully dripped two drops onto her tongue, quickly closed her mouth and swallowed as she replaced the cap.

Within seconds, she felt light, a bit fuzzy headed, and like she could do anything. Anything at all. And what she really wanted right now was to find the book her brother discovered.

Where did Leo like to hide? That dark little alcove tucked into the back corner, farthest from the door. She never understood it, Aurora had always preferred the lush reading chairs near the enchanted wall, but her brother was quirky.

She smiled, moving to Leo's not-so-secret spot where only a few floating candles offered light. She plopped down, feeling a silly pleasure from entering her brother's sacred sitting area as she looked around the room from his perspective. She even ducked down a bit for the full effect, trying to get herself down to his height.

It had the perfect view of their mother's favorite spot in the vast library: an old uncomfortable-looking set of armchairs on either side of a round table. She hated those chairs, the look of them, the way they had no give whatsoever. Yet she felt compelled to see if her memory of them was accurate.

She got close, seeing that the house-elves, per her mother's wishes, had left things the way they were. And there it was, on her mother's borrowed reading table: Magiks Moste Heinous .

"Well, that's an unsettling title," she said to herself as she sat down in one of the awful chairs. As she opened the book, she glanced at the pile, doing a double take at the next one.

Hogwarts: A History . It was a very old version, likely one of the very first editions. Aurora snorted, wondering how that particular copy had managed to stay in the Prince library. Nan must have charmed them so none of them could leave her possession, given the bibliophiles that ran in the family.

She returned her attention to Majiks Moste Heinous , flipping through the beginning, trying not to look at any of the illustrations for too long. She didn't particularly feel like reading every little thing and noticed that the magic of the potion was beginning to fade, so she flipped to the back of the book, then opened it to a page about a quarter away from the back.

.... would break away from the whole, sending itself into the object the caster/creator deems worthy of encasing it. It's recommended, of course, that once the soul is placed inside, that enchantments and protections are put in place to deter meddling with the Horcrux.

Once the soul fragment is placed within the object, it will remain as a tether to the world of the living, ensuring death will be avoided at all costs, so long as the object holding the soul fragment is not destroyed beyond repair.

"Beyond repair," she said aloud. "Yet basic spells.... But then, even most spells, the damage done could be repaired."

"Talking to yourself?" Nan's voice startled Aurora, and she closed the book, setting it aside. "Just like your mother, you are. Can't keep a thought to yourself."

"I can keep plenty to myself."

"I thought there was supposed to be at least another one more academically inclined," Nan commented, looking at the books.

Aurora shrugged. "He is, but since this is the first time any of them has had any real privacy in months, I can't begrudge him wanting to be with his boyfriend."

"Yes, I did figure that out fairly quickly. Sad, really, considering the ludicrous setup his father made with yours. I do hope now that things are so muddled, you two are no longer betrothed?"

Aurora tilted her head. "We never officially ended it. Though us dating other people is probably enough. Considering when our 'betrothal' took place, I was already seeing someone, I doubt it stuck."

"A Weasley," Nan said, drawing the name out in a way that made Aurora homesick for her father. "I do hope he's better than that ill-mannered troll currently eating enough food for three in my dining room. With his mouth open, no less."

"Much better," Aurora said, feeling her cheeks warm.

She felt Nan's eyes on her, and she took a deep breath, chewing her lip and trying to keep her face neutral.

"You love him," Nan said simply.

"I might," Aurora said to the books.

"Good," she said, and Aurora frowned at her. Nan was still looking at the books. "Love is something this family has always lacked. I was thankful when your father met your mother. That girl from across the river thought herself too good for him, and I don't think Severus would have ever willingly seen it if someone more suited to him hadn't come into his life."

"The girl across the river? Lily Evans?" she wagered. Her nan hummed in agreement. "That's Harry's mother."

"I'd wondered," she said, nodding.

They sat quietly together for a moment, and Aurora looked at the Hogwarts: A History sitting on the top of the stack.

"Stay a day or two," Nan said. "A week if you'd like. I know it can't be for the whole war, but you all looked wretched yesterday. Take some time to not worry about being spotted or hunted, rest, come up with a plan, and then set back out."

"Thank you, Nan," Aurora said, watching her grandmother rise from her chair.

"No thanks needed, Rory," she said, looking down at her granddaughter with as close to an affectionate smile that Eileen Prince could muster. "I didn't always get to do right by your father, and by the time I had means to, it wasn't possible for him to benefit. I will always help you and Leonidas in whatever ways I can." And with that, she swept from the room.

Aurora watched her leave before sighing, picking up Majiks Moste Heinous once more before setting it down. It didn't really offer anything more, only solid proof that they had to find a way to render any and all magic inert, as well as destroy the receptacle. Which, of course, made her stomach churn as she realized that meant Harry might have to....

She picked up Hogwarts: A History and began to flip through it, using it as a distraction from her not-so-pleasant thoughts.

What intrigued her and kept her reading was the fact that this book was not at all like the one her mother had forced her to read. In fact, it went much more in-depth on the ancient history of the castle. Things like stories of the founders and their families that would have been taken out in favor of newer information as the centuries advanced.

She shifted through the pages until she got to Ravenclaw, then avidly read the stories there. She nearly dropped the book when she saw the painted depiction of Helena Ravenclaw with her mother and brothers.

"Oh, bloody hell!" she said, shifting in her chair and scrambling to pull her wand from her back pocket. She had to take a few deep breaths to clear her mind so she could properly articulate the information to her parents.

There was someone at Hogwarts that might be able to shed a bit more light on the diadem, that might know where it was. And by the magic of the castle, she would have no choice but to answer her father's questions.

The Grey Lady was a ghost in the castle. She was Helena.

—————S—————

"Severus," Voldemort greeted after all the perfunctory bowing and hem kissing was done, and Severus couldn't help but notice that he'd finally gotten the hissing under control. He'd have congratulated him on overcoming such a speech impediment but thought it would be best not to. "You come here with the Carrows and leave the school unattended?"

He let his eyes flit around quickly one last time, taking in who was currently 'at court,' for they were in the Malfoys' ballroom, standing in front of a throne. Lucius was there, of course, and Nott Senior, the two off to the side. Yaxley was there, given that it was the weekend. Bellatrix was on the floor to the right of the throne, sitting with her head against the arm of the gilded chair.

"My Lord, I have asked Mistress Nikola to oversee the caste, as I hope our meeting here this evening will not take terribly long. She understands how things are meant to be handled at Hogwarts, and I know she will not disappoint me."

"And why, my loyal servant, have you asked for a meeting with me this evening?"

Severus took an imperceptible deep breath, knowing he would have to play this very, very carefully.

"My Lord, they have been disobeying me, and your word and I felt, after months of this going on, that I should bring my grievances to you."

"And how is this so?" Voldemort asked, red eyes narrowing.

"My Lord, Snape is—" Alecto tried to speak, but was silenced by the sharp snap of the Dark Lord's eyes to her.

When Voldemort turned back to Severus, he shrugged. "This is, I'm afraid, a prime example of the sort of disrespect I see from Amycus and Alecto. I stated, very clearly, and before you, my Lord, that I wished to oversee all punishments and assign all detentions. A firm hand is needed, of course, to ensure that those who believe in my predecessor's foolish notions do not believe they are capable of rebelling. But that sort of order cannot be had when students, purebloods even, are being dragged from one class to another to be used as an example or a practice dummy for lessons in Dark Arts. I believe you once said that education is important, and I'm afraid if even those children of your loyal followers, your supporters, fear going to class and being at the end of a magic lash because they have yet to build up their magical abilities—"

He stopped immediately when Voldemort raised his hand. The snake-faced monster ran his finger over what might have been his lips, looking pensively at Severus. He waited, prepared, for the burst of Legilimency.

He was surprised, then, when those sharp eyes turned to Amycus and watched as the wizard's knees buckled under the intrusion. The Dark Lord then turned his attention to Alecto, who gave a slight yelp of pain and surprise, but stood more firmly than her brother.

The Dark Lord smirked as he turned back to Severus. "It is as you say, Severus, they are disobeying our agreement. Amusingly, it would seem Alecto has dark intentions for your lover."

Severus did nothing more than arch a brow, appearing entirely indifferent. It made Voldemort laugh.

"Indeed, you are more concerned with the school, are you not? I have seen those who continually rise up are being punished, perhaps not as severely. And yet... yet there are not as many uprisings as I thought there would be. Apparently the old fool's reach did not extend beyond his Gryffindors."

"No, my Lord, I do not believe it did. Which is precisely why I do not wish to sway those who are not against us away from us."

"Indeed, Severus," Voldemort agreed, nodding. "But there must be retribution against those who disobey."

"Might I make a suggestion, my Lord?" he offered. He blinked rapidly, going through the idea, seeing the merits of it. He very nearly had his cover slip as the Dark Lord ripped into his mind unexpectedly, and he focused solely on the idea.

As the Dark Lord withdrew from Severus' mind, he giggled, then cackled, then outright guffawed in childish wonder, shaking his head at Severus with pride.

"My Lord?" Bellatrix asked, who had stayed oddly quiet during the meeting.

"It is an utterly wonderful idea, Severus. Do you know what he suggests?" he asked the few Death Eaters in attendance, all remaining silent. "He believes we should torture the parents to keep the children in line. Isn't it wonderful? Show them that being a blood traitor will only hurt those who taught them these ridiculous notions. That until they fall in line with our new regime, those they ... love ... will suffer for them."

Bellatrix smiled a large twisted smile as she clapped her hands like a little girl told that Christmas had come early. Well, he supposed, for her it would. Because who else would be sent to oversee the torture?

It was not the best of compromises, but he could send a warning to those in danger, for he knew the Carrows would be watching him more closely now. Especially after this.

"You would like that, wouldn't you, my dear Bella?" the Dark Lord asked as he reached over to stroke Bellatrix's chin.

"Yes, my Lord," she said in a husky voice that made Severus want to shiver in revulsion.

"Then you may practice on our dear Amycus and Alecto; they need to be reminded of their place." He then turned to the offending siblings. "You do not get to question those of higher rank than you." He then turned to Severus and stood, which Severus knew did not bode well for him. "I regret, despite your wonderful idea and your excellent job running the school, you will need to be punished as well. This matter should never have come to me; you must be firmer with those in your employ."

Well, it had been a while since he had had his nerves shot to hell, he supposed. Severus mentally prepared, nodding. "For your displeasure, my Lord, I deserve it."

The Cruciatus came swiftly, and maybe it was because he was so submissive, but it didn't seem as bad. Oh, it still hurt to high heaven, and if he didn't have a stronger sense of will, he might have screamed in agony. When it was over minutes later, he was breathless and twitching, but otherwise functioning. The same couldn't be said for his colleagues under Bellatrix's wand.

"It pains me to do this," the Dark Lord said before sitting on his throne. "Return to the school, relieve your lover of her burden. I'm afraid your professors will not be back quite so soon."

Severus stood on shaky feet, bowing unsteadily before turning and walking slowly out of the doors so he could Apparate.

He landed in his rooms, and Apparition unfortunately made lose control of his bladder. A quick flick of his hand had the mess cleaned and gone before Hermione entered.

"That well?" she said fretfully as she knelt down and helped him up, guiding him to the loo.

"The Carrows are still there and they are being dealt with by Bella. All in all, it went terrifically," he said, grunting in pain as he sat down on the closed toilet lid while Hermione ran a bath for him, pouring his muscle relaxant into the water and then his Cruciatus aid. When she had set everything out, he added, "We're going to need to warn the Weasleys to run. Augusta. Maybe Lovegood's father, the Finnegans."

"Why?"

He stood, grunting and groaning. He began to work on the buttons of his frock coat despite the tremors. "You might want to sit down, love. I may have done something a bit... reprehensible."

—————A—————

The snow had stuck a bit, but that was fine. The tent was well-crafted, warm, and dry. They were able to build a fire outside, the wood damp and perhaps a bit too smoky, but the wards took care of it being seen. Not like they really needed it much during the day, anyway. They used warming charms and blankets to keep the chill at bay while they kept watch. The fire at night was for light, something Aurora still childishly needed despite everything she'd faced in the last couple years.

Brave Gryffindor indeed.

But if she were honest with herself, it wasn't all that long ago that the simple fire wouldn't be enough, especially in the woods at night, with only a quarter moon.

She stared up at it now, thinking of her parents, Leo, her friends at Hogwarts, and the others on the run. It had been a few days since she'd heard from her parents, a thanks for the information she'd passed along and a note to be careful. She was sure they were okay, but despite being with the boys, she still felt incredibly lonely.

Shaking off the feeling, she took a sip of her tea, setting aside the tin mug before she reached for the wireless and fiddled with the dials. When she got to the odd rhythmic static that usually heralded a broadcast, she withdrew her wand from her pocket and tapped it. "Granger," she said, and the static slowly turned into voices.

"...Muggle-borns not in the Ministry's clutches have had the common sense to flee," Lee said as Aurora set the wireless down, angled in such a way that the boys inside the tent might catch snippets of it.

"Yes, much smarter than those who actually went and turned themselves in for interrogation," Fred said, and Aurora smiled. "Not that we don't applaud their brave attempts at getting them to see reason, but the Pink Toad was never known for her intelligence."

"That's for sure," Lee said. "And now we go over to Romulus, who's here with us this evening to share some important news with us all. Romulus?"