"Favourite Grandchild"

The letter had reached Serenity within a day. She had been exchanging gifts with Lucius after they woke up in time for lunch. The Malfoys' house-elf, Dobby, had made them sandwiches and a bowl of assorted fruits. To Serenity's surprise, the sandwiches seemed to be efficiently squashed, which made her wonder what else the elf heard last night. The owl that had flown through the window was undeniably the Rier owl and the handwriting was easily recognisable as Merritt's. For the time being, however, she tucked the letter away with the present her father had sent.

Finishing her sandwich, she nodded and waved her hand as she waited to swallow the mouthful.

"Okay," she pauses for a moment, thinking, "favourite charm?" Lucius leans back, wiggling his toes in the thick socks she had charmed to keep his feet toasty. He leans his head back in thought, the sunlight catching the pale blonde of his hair where it hung close to his elbows.

"Um, colloshoo." Lowering her eyebrows and eating a grape, glancing around momentarily, she misses his smirks. Then, whispering the spell under her breath, she gasps and looks up at him with wide eyes.

"That's the stickfast hex! I said charm." His laughter echoes around the room, and she tosses a grape over to him. "Shut up," she crosses her arms with a pout, waiting for him to calm down. Nodding, he hiccoughs around his final few giggles and directs his gaze to her.

"Alright, fine. Favourite subject and why?" It was his turn to eat while she inevitably gave him a misdirected answer.

"Transfiguration," she smiled, "it's the only subject I struggle with because I actually have to use my wand- I can't fake it. Human transfiguration is the best, although I haven't quite mastered it yet. I did manage to give a first year Gryffindor antlers at one point because he was picking on a first year Slytherin. The Gryffindor and his mates soon scurried away and I've been trying to catch the Slytherin kid for a while now, but he always manages to slip away... makes me wonder if it's something to do with all of the grease in his hair." She scrunches up her nose momentarily, remembering a moment where light had reflected off of the boy's head one time. Part of her wondered if he ever washed his hair. Lucius, however, was grinning silently as he watched her reminisce.

"You know you don't have to master every spell right?" She leans forward to rest her arms on the coffee table.

"Yeah, I do. What's the point in learning something if you can't use it to its full potential. It makes no sense." As she shook her head, her eyes kept catching the small box and the envelope by the Christmas tree. She hadn't spoken to Merritt much, but their conversation about her mother still made her skin crawl. By a force greater than her own, Serenity snatched up the letter and tore through the wax seal of the Riers and scanned over the letter before reading it again carefully.

'Serenity, I don't know how long it will take for you to get this but I hope it's very soon.

Dad, Haley and I are staying in the back guest house on the estate. Aunt Lucia invited us and used concealment and protection charms to hide us from Great Grandfather and Aunt Dara. I was planning to write to you tomorrow to wish you merry Christmas but this is urgent.

I do hope your Christmas is merry but I have just witnessed the most terrifying thing. I don't believe I will sleep at all until we return to Haley's cottage.

You see, I left the house last night and snuck up to the house- the downstairs study was lit up and the light was casting some curious shadows, so I had to see what was going on. I looked through the window and the room must have been soundproofed because I could hardly hear what they were saying, if at all. But what I saw was horrible. Merlin, Serenity, you have to help.

Great Grandfather has the dark mark... the same that your Slytherin friends have- why are you friends with them?

The idea of his affiliation with the people who have killed muggles and torment muggle-borns at school scares me. It chills me to my absolute core, and I am terrified for everyone. For Erin, and Dexter, Cormac and Winston. Aunt Lucia and Aunt Irene... Grandma and Granddad. I'm so scared for them. Please help, I know you can. I know you will.

Love, your sister, Merritt.'

Folding the note up, the distress on Serenity's face alarmed Lucius. He reached across the table to hold her hand.

"'Ren? What's wrong, love?" He sounded miles away as she looked down at their hands. The arm of her jumper was revealing the end of her dark mark, a constant reminder of the commitment she had made not too long ago to a man who seemed to know more about her than she did. Merritt's comment, 'why are you friends with them?', the truth was, she was one of them now. Despite the amount of concealment charms she used to hide it, or even her attempts to transfigure her arm to be rid of, it couldn't change who she was now. But at the end of the day, the mark didn't control her. She had sworn loyalty to a man a decade or so older than her, not to her friends, or her family... so who could stop her from doing what she knew was right when he wasn't around? She looked up at Lucius, her gaze was dark and glimmering, with something malicious and terrifying. The Serenity he hated to fear was staring him dead in the eye. "What-"

"I'll be back." She held her hand out and her wand flew to join her and, upon grasping it, she apparated from the premises leaving Lucius perplexed despite his toasty toes.

*

She appeared in front of the replica of the fountain at the Ministry of Magic in the familiar circular driveway that was the entrance to the Rier estate. This was the closest the anti-apparition charm would allow her to be which knocked the wind out of her momentarily. She hadn't been here in six years and, yet, she could still navigate the main building with her eyes closed. But this was not the time for reminiscing.

With her gaze focused on seeking out her oldest living relative, she marched up the steps and walked into the entryway as the doors swung open with a bang.

"What the-!" To her right, Dexter was watching her with wide eyes, cradling a jar containing what looked to be a potion of sorts. On any other day she would ask what was in the jar, but today she had one mission. "Serenity?" His stares were ignored as she glanced around at the four connecting corridors before up the stairs in front of her.

At the top of the staircase, Erin came running down from the right wing and skidded to a halt upon seeing her cousin. The instant fear that came with Serenity suddenly advancing the staircase made her drop her wand but, within an instant, she figured out the cause of the brunette's visit. Upon coming face to face, Erin finally managed to compose herself and grinned giddily.

"You came! Quick, he's finishing his lunch." Grabbing her sleeve with one hand and picking up her wand with the other, she waved for Dexter to find Merritt.

The two girls stormed into the dining room where Reglin, Marjorie and Chadwick were all finishing their meals in silence. Upon seeing her Great-Grandfather, Serenity pointed her wand at him.

"Get up!" Marjorie turned in her seat to see who had entered the room. She instantly stood from her chair along with Reglin, the two of them shocked to see their Granddaughter entering their home in such a manner after years. With a wave of her hand, Serenity pushed the two of them back into their chairs and, despite their struggles, they could not stand back up again.

Chadwick was sneering at her, as he had the day she left.

"What are you doing, foolish child?" She stepped closer, jabbing her wand at the air.

"Standing up to you like I should have years ago instead of running away." Chadwick, now standing from his chair, suddenly became aware of Dexter running into the room with Merritt, the two of them joining Erin. He scowled as Christian came running in as well, followed by Lucia quickly protesting and Irene wandering after them. The room was soon growing crowded and appeared to be primarily disgruntled with him.

"I think," he began slowly, making eye contact with all of his grandchildren, "you should all take a seat." With a wave of his hand, everyone was sat in their designated seats and incapable of standing. That is, everyone except for Serenity. She stood her ground, having repelled his spell and earning his full, angered, attention. "What are you doing here, with your tricks and toys. I have no doubt Dumbledore repressed your wandless abilities, the old fool."

"You're one to talk," she spat, circling away from the doorway. Soon enough, Dara was in the room, screaming at Serenity obscenities no witch or wizard should hear. Rolling her eyes, Serenity pointed her wand at Dara and said, "Langlock." Suddenly, Dara was rendered speechless as her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. Chadwick, upon seeing her certainty when casting the jinx he lowered his eyebrows and watched as her wand flew across the room.

"If your intention is to duel, little Serenity, then we shall do so without toys." Nodding, attempting to crack her knuckles with a few measly pops, she glances over at her sister and smirks.

"My intention is to free my family of your tyranny." Almost instantly he thrust his hand towards her, a ball of green magic flew towards her, and she swiftly dodged it. The next spell he threw was red, which she caught and volleyed back. This happened a few more times, with her being hit when he had conjured birds to attack her. She had cowered away from their sharp claws and rough beaks. She could feel her skin breaking as they raked at her, she yelled out, and they promptly popped, scattering feathers like confetti.

Chadwick raised his hand and, as he released the spell, he felt it fade. He tried to move his arm, but it did not move. Every limb was frozen in place. The panic in his eyes at this revelation brought a shine to the darkness that shrouded Serenity's vision.

"Oh dear," she circled him, smirking, "it doesn't feel great, does it? Being stuck, feeling helpless. Hopeless. Savour it." She stood in front of him, crossing her arms. "It'll be the last thing you feel if I have anything to say about it." Suddenly, his arm broke free of the enchantment and snatched out at her. She reeled back and, as he stumbled towards her, she summoned her wand and pointed it, yelling 'colloshoo!' as her back hit the window. She ducked to the side, and he was suddenly falling forwards, his feet stuck to the ground doing nothing to assist his lack of balance.

She watched in shock, hearing only Dara's strained screams as the window smashed upon impact. There was a sickening crack as his ankles seemed to crack, and he folded down on the broken glass. There were varying noises of fear and shock in the room as blood seeped in through the window as rain did when it puddled on the curved windowsill. Chadwick was undoubtedly dead.

"Stickfast hex," Serenity murmured, looking down at her wand and no longer transfixed by hatred. It was perfectly harmless, the wand had not deemed such a spell to be wicked else it would not have been cast. And yet, she had undoubtedly done a wicked act. Turning to face the table where her family was stuck their seats, she was met with varying degrees of horror. Marjorie had her eyes shut, as did Erin. Reglin's white shirt was splattered with blood where his back was turned to the scene. Beside him, Lucia and Irene were breathing heavily, tears rolling down Irene's cheeks. Dexter was crying, he sobbed and shook his head as Merritt was whispering to him while occasionally looking up at Serenity with curious eyes. Christian seemed to sag. He appeared deflated, defeated.

Suddenly, they all became aware that they could stand now... not that they wanted to anymore. Merritt was the first to rise. She squeezed Dexter's shoulders as she passed by and circled around Dara, who was wailing like a banshee. Her legs shook as she approached Serenity. Blood seeped from a scratch on her forehead and Merritt searched her face for a moment, trying to find the sister she had asked for help from. Then, she reached down and wrapped her hand around Serenity's left wrist.

She raised the arm closer, squinting at the torn fabric where her dark mark was now visible. The two shared a silent conversation, unaware that Christian had also approached them. He did not look at the mark on her arm.

"I owe you an apology..." Serenity grit her teeth and shook her head at him.

"I didn't do it for you." And, pulling her arm out of Merritt's grasp, she apparated back to Malfoy Manor.

Having to open the gate herself, and walk the driveway, she knocked on the front door. Wiping away another trickle of blood that threatened to spill into her eye, her shoulders sagged when the door opened. Upon seeing the house elf, Dobby, she stiffened slightly. Nodding to him, she entered the manor and searched for Lucius. He stepped out into the corridor and rushed up to her, he cupped her face and looked over her wounds.

"What happened?" Tears fell freely and her chest heaved, yet she did not scowl or even look sad.

"I just murdered my Great Grandfather." Yes, that was the word. Serenity Rier was a murderer.