"I Don't Need You"

December 1970, 2 months later

Christian hadn't responded to Merritt when he received the letter about Serenity's chaotic behaviour. Instead, he had waited for her on platform 9 3/4 where he met his cousin for the first time and, in turn, his second cousin.

There was something so surreal about seeing Phillip wearing Gryffindor robes that made his heart clench. He looked so much like Anton. Of course, not exactly considering Anton had died at the meer age of nine, but the resemblance was undeniable. While he shook the fifteen-year-old's hand, he wondered whether to ask for a photograph to show Lucia. In the end, it wasn't necessary. Merritt, in her giddy glory, flashed him the photograph the trolley lady had kindly taken for them.

Despite Chadwick's disapproval, Christian's various scoldings along with his siblings (aside from Dara) had eventually scored Merritt her old room back and- in the absence of Serenity- she had the room to herself.

The two of them joined Lucia, Irene and Dara as the others took their time exiting the train. Erin was the first to poke her head out of the door. She glanced around, smoothing down her hair before grinning at her mother and making her way over. Irene, having stared at her daughter the entire time, took Erin's face in her hands and wiped her thumb over the smudge of her lip gloss next to her lip. She tuts.

"Have you been kissing the boys?"

"Mum!" Erin tries to pull away but is pulled into a bone crushing hug, her face is pressed flush against Irene's chest and her protests are muffled.

"Mum! Mum! Uncle Chris!" Cormac, Winston and Dexter all came tumbling out of the doorway like a circus clown act, the three of them piling on top of each other as they hit the platform before scrambling to their feet and charging up to Lucia, Dara and Christian. The twins buckle over, catching their breath while Dexter holds up a finger for them to wait a minute. Merritt and Erin share an amused grin and wait for one of them to say something. Dexter finally swallows harshly and makes direct eye contact with Christian. "Serenity's a death eater."

The group fell silent. Dara, gasping, grabbed the twins close to her, much to their disdain, which left Dexter to stand alone in front of them. Christian's mouth fell open, then closed, then opened again.

"What?" Irene, in shock, reeled backwards. She looks between her daughter and then back to her nephew. "Did you know?" Erin nodded, fidgeting with the zip on her jacket and avoiding eye contact with anyone.

"I tried to tell you but you," she sighs and motions to her mother's chest, "You crushed my face, Ma."

Irene's apology faded into the background as Christian removed his arm from Merritt's shoulders and began to push his way down the platform. He could see the unmistakably pale hair of a Malfoy from the other side of the platform and, before he could clear his head or calm his erratic heart, he was storming up to the tallest teenager he had ever met. Abraxas noticed him as he approached and laughed.

"Rier! How are you?" Christian simply ignored the man, as well as the two other ministry officials he worked alongside and fisted Lucius' jacket. Although the action was ever-so-slightly rough, he forced a smile onto his face. He strained to make it appear friendly, but the way Lucius looked helplessly at his father, who had turned his back on the two, spoke differently. Out of the corner of his eye, Christian saw Lucius raise his wand.

"Put it away, son, you know who I am. Where is my daughter?" Lucius smirked.

"How would I know?" Christian grabbed a fistful of the teenager's shirt with his free hand. The light in his eyes darkened, the steely look on his face immediately reminding Lucius of Serenity. But this time those eyes were caused by him, and they were the eyes of her Father- a much more advanced and potentially dangerous man. Christian shook Lucius slightly.

"Don't make me ask again." Raising his hands up by his head, Lucius nodded further down the platform.

"Saying goodbye to her family," he immediately knew he needed to elaborate. Serenity's capabilities didn't come from nowhere, and she was raised by this man, the thought of what he was capable of if he ever lost controlled truly made Lucius fear for his life, and he knew his father wouldn't come to his rescue. "She's visiting Malfoy Manor for a few days." Christian let go, the light brightening in his eyes. He smoothed out the shoulders on Lucius's jacket and quirked his lip at him.

"Thank you, sorry about that."

Excusing himself, Christian finds his way to where Serenity was standing with Julia and Lakita. The dread on her face was painfully evident as she noticed her father approaching. He feigns civility with Julia as they exchange pleasantries. Lakita shakes his hand, addressing him as Mr Rier; the exchange left him with a sudden emptiness and discomfort. He nods his head, clears his throat and takes back his hand.

"Serenity, can I have a word?" She crosses her arms, tugging at the sleeves on her oversized grey jumper- the Slytherin emblem informing him who exactly it had belonged to.

"I don't know, can you?" With a sigh, Christian approaches Serenity and begins to lead her to a less crowded area of the platform. She doesn't speak as they pass by other witches and wizards, giving them odd looks, she simply rolls her eyes and drags her feet.

Christian turns around, keeping her back to the crowd and pulls up her sleeve.

"Are you insane?" He hisses, pointing at the dark mark on her arms. Serenity wasn't sure how to react. Sure, her natural instinct to her dad being angry was to feel ashamed, or embarrassed for being caught out. But this had improved her life, if anything, she was happy with it... Looking down at her feet, she fidgeted under his intense stare. "Do you know what will happen if the ministry find out you're one of them? As soon as you graduate your seventh year they'll arrest you for conspiracy." He shook her arm, trying to get her to look up at him. "This is a death sentence!" A beat of silence passes between them, and he sighs, pulling her sleeve down again. "I get that you're angry with me, Ren. But you're still my daughter and you're sixteen years old. I hardly know you anymore." As soon as he lets go of her arm, she pulls the sleeves over her hands and wraps her arms across her chest. A single tear rolls down her cheek.

Christian's face drops as she begins to cry. She looked so much smaller now. Her hair hung across her face, the jumper swallowing her up and the tears making her cheeks red. Suddenly she was a baby again- his baby. Encasing her in his arms, he bows his head to rest on hers as he squeezes her tight. It had been so long since they had been together, since she had shown weakness to him and, now, it broke his heart.

"Is it that Malfoy boy?" She pulls away, pulling her hand out from the sleeve to wipe her nose.

"What?"

"Did he pressure you into joining them?" Serenity's mouth dropped open at the sudden accusation. She couldn't believe her ears. "All Malfoys are the same, they're snakes for a reason honey." She shook her head, tearing away from his hold. "Just say the word and I'll make sure he leaves you alone. I never have liked him."

"How dare you?" She blurts out, silencing him. "How dare you say such things? Lucius was there for me when you weren't, when you should have been. It's been him for four years and will be him for another four, and another four after that. Where will you be? With our so-called family. A family that cannot accept those that are different, a family with rules and expectations. That's not my family. My family supports me, encourages me and accepts me. You," she pokes his chest, "are not my family." She turns to leave him, holding back the tears in her eyes.

"I won't be there to protect you when the ministry comes knocking!" She turns around, her arms spread wide and her head shaking. As she walks into the crowd, the witches and wizards are pushed aside without her so much as touching them.

"That sounds like a you problem."