WARNINGS: VIOLENCE AND MATURE CONTENT

Sunday, September 1st:

HOGWARTS:

Hogwarts was under new leadership.

Ever since the devastating death of everyone's most trusted headmaster Dumbledore, the ministry's fall and the notorious death-eater escape from Azkaban, Hogwarts was barely recognisable.

Fear wrecked students' hearts on their Journey to the once-happy school. The train ride was silent, excluding the brief whispers and the carriages which seemed more rocky and unstable. Muggleborns weren't safe. Which also meant by proxy, half-bloods were under scrutiny.

At first Professor McGonagall took Dumbeldore's place, but that was short-lived within the ministry - Voldemort - appointed Snape as headmaster. Alecto Carrow became the Deputy's head, and where ever she was, her bastard brother Amycus was never far.

Hogwarts was officially the place no one wanted to be. Uniforms turned back to uniforms. No jackets or extravagant scarves.

Students barely glanced at each other and instead glared at the Slytherin students, more especially the remaining 3 of Pureblood 5, who kept to themselves.

'They're to blame', they heard many whispers as they walked through the double doors of the great hall before taking their seats, 'It was Malfoy and Seramore, that's what mum said', 'damn the lot of them'.

Theo didn't take much notice of the whispers. He was used to them, despite how condemning they sounded. He exchanged a hard look with Blaise who then turned back to Daphne and Astoria, the latter appeared more irritated.

Pansy heart hammered in her chest as her eyes flickered over to the Ravenclaw table. Aurora graduated the previous year, but that's not who she was searching for. Luna. Her darling Luna wasn't there.

And he wasn't the only one that was missing, excluding Alana, Iziah and Zacharias - who had also graduated, the golden trio who hadn't been spotted since last month and Dean was nowhere in sight.

"Where is he?" Theo said quietly, catching Blaise's attention. He scoured the Gryffindor table, only to catch Seamus subtly shaking his head, holding back a glower.

Before Blaise could respond, Snape started his not-so-welcoming speech.

This was gonna be an exciting year.

Not... when was it ever?

***

"Pureblood Philosophy..." Blaise read his timetable aloud and sat between Daphne and Astoria.

"Now, I don't know what that is and frankly I don't care," Theo said, tossing his timetable away and pacing in front of them.

Astoria tried to calm him down, "Theo-"

"No, I haven't got the slightest clue where Dean is, do you?" he asked, glancing around where they sat before his eyes connected with the Parkinson witch, who was opposite them.

"No. Luna hasn't responded to my letter since she attended that Weasley wedding," Pansy held back a sob as she spoke.

She missed her girlfriend so much.

"They'll be alright," Astoria offered the pair a smile, which was quickly disregarded.

"Like Arty and Draco, you mean?" Theo didn't mean to snap, but he couldn't help it.

Astoria cast him a glare, "Don't start on me."

"Theo sit down, you're not helping anyone by pacing or being mean," Daphne instructed, not liking how he spoke to her sister.

"Sorry," the Nott wizard muttered, sitting down next to Pansy and glancing at his hands, missing the feeling of Dean's fingers laced with his.

"You're forgiven."

"It was that flipping muggle-born registration commission."

Theo's words earned confused looks. They all shuffled closer, aware they were all being watched. Despite the Slytherin being public enemy number 1, even a few of their housemates were sceptical of the group, especially since the Princess and Prince were missing.

Even Crabbe and Goyle pestered them but fortunately let it go and went to their dormitories, well at least before classes started tomorrow.

"What about it?" Blaise asked, squeezing his fiancé's hand as she laid her head on his shoulder.

Daphne had been very stressed, just like but she wasn't sleeping as much which worried him. It was his turn to be there for her, just like she did last year and the year before that.

Sighing, Theo started, "Dean saw me only a few times this summer, I always went to his, he never came to mine, because my dad being a you-know-what," he lowered his voice toward the end, but they all knew what he meant, "Dean never knew about his dad. Didn't know if he was a wizard or a muggle, so he couldn't prove his blood status. Now with the death eaters being around, he would be put on that registration."

"So what, think he's on the run with the golden trio?" Pansy cautiously asked, quickly glancing around.

"Well he's not with Arty is he?" Theo quickly retracted his words, "Again, sorry."

"We'll sort this out," Blaise spoke up, scratching the back of his head, "we'll make sure they're alright somehow," his eyes darted between the distraught teens who half-heartedly nodded and rose from their leather seats.

"Night, you lot," Theo mumbled and was the first to leave.

Pansy shortly followed and mustered up a wave goodbye.

Astoria kissed her sister on the cheek, then gently patted Blaise on the shoulder and left the common room.

Turning to her fiancé after they were alone, Daphne studied him for a moment, eyeing his tense state. He had been acting a tad out of sorts since they'd arrived on the grounds and she didn't want to ask why until they were alone.

She was over the moon that he was slowly settling into his old skin, being more touchy-feely with her. She knew he would never be the same but that wasn't a problem for her, he was doing his best and that was enough.

"You know something don't you?" Her words caused his eyes to widen briefly.

He quickly hushed her, "I'll tell you tomorrow."

"Why not now?"

"You trust me don't you?" He raised an expectant brow.

"Of course I do."

"Then I'll tell you tomorrow."

She softly scoffed, "Fine, goodnight," she muttered, pecking his lips a few times.

"Night gorgeous."

***

Tuesday, September 3rd:

Tracing his fingers over the engraved spectre necklace, Blaise waited to feel any sign that his cousin or god brother was in danger. A jolt or an ache was usually what gave away if they were hurt or in pain, but nothing came. Praise Salazar, he did this every day and he did not doubt that Daphne and Theo did the same. They all hoped that the other two were safe.

Hearing footsteps approaching him he shoved the necklace back into his shirt and pushed his tie back into place, then snapped his head toward the direction the steps were coming from.

Merda, he shouldn't have been out of bed, he only wanted to go on a night stroll, despite knowing how dangerous it was. He just needed to clear his mind for a while.

Death Eaters were anywhere and everywhere.

"And what are you doing out of bed Zabini?" The voice sent a shiver down his spine.

Blaise went to speak, but the sound of a cackle pulled his lips to a close.

Amycus Carrow grinned down at the young wizard. With beady eyes and crooked teeth, Blaise didn't know whether to run or not.

Daphne is gonna kill me, "Apologies professor, a first-year got lost and I was showing them back to their common room."

"Then why are you still out then lad?" The chilling voice unnerved Blaise, "You're not a prefect. That was your cousin's job, I'm sure of it."

The mention of Artemis caused his jaw to clench and his teeth to ground.

"Helpfulnesses has always been a family trait," Blaise lied once again, despite trying not to laugh, "I didn't know it was a crime to be helpful."

Amycus reached for his robe, "Watch it, boy."

"And what is going on here?"

Snape's voice caught their attention.

A light elicited from his wand, illuminating the scene in front of him. He stood with Alecta by his side.

She was as slimy as her brother.

"Caught this one sneaking out of bed," Amycus hissed, tugging on Blaise's robe.

Blaise gulped, staring directly at Snape, "I wasn't sneaking-"

"Don't lie boy, you aren't good at it."

"Mr Zabini is one of our most astute students," with every word, Snape stepped closer, "It would be a pity to lose his favour," noting his argument wasn't as strong as he thought he added, "as well as the Dark Lord's" Amycus loosened his grip on Blaise' robe so he could pull away from the death eater, "I'll escort the boy back to the dungeon."

And with that, the Carrows eyed the headmaster in sustain before fading into the shadows of the mournful castle.

Snape's downcast eyes didn't leave the young wizard who coiled his fingers into his palm and whose lips twitched to ask something.

Blaise's attempts to question the newly appointed headmaster were cut short as he was quickly dragged through the halls, hastily and angrily enough to cause a light wind to blow out the dimly lit candles.

"You must know, sneaking out of your dormitory is one thing but lying to death eaters will cost your youthful skin," Snape spoke lowly, ignoring the grunts from the teen, "they will not hesitate to enforce regimes that neither you nor your peers are used to."

"I know."

"No, you don't," the headmaster didn't intend to make him flinch, though he wanted to inspire fear.

Purebloods might have superiority over the half-bloods and muggle-borns right now, but that didn't mean they were exempt from a good thumping.

Coming up to the painting where the Slytherin common room was located, Snape let the young wizard go.

"I just needed to know," Blaise breathed out in exhaustion.

"Know what, what could you possibly need to know at this time of night?"

"Are they alright headmaster? Are they safe I mean?"

The tone of Blaise's voice caught Snape off guard. The once mischievous and teasing boy was no more. It was evident that the years and foul resurfaced memories took a toll on him, rendering him more broken than he once was.

Promise me you'll look after them Severus, Opehlia's pleading echoed through his mind, they're just children, children we can't lose.

Blaise's shoulders slumped when he was met with silence, but just as he was about to turn around, a small nod sent him away, putting a small smile on his face.

They were okay. 

***

Thursday, September 5th:

"That's the second time Nevile has been jinxed by Carrow," Daphne whispered, as Blaise and Theo sat eating their breakfast.

The tables were scarce, numbers were dropping every day, whilst the students filled up the infirmary, but not for long. The death eaters preferred to see scars and bruises as they taught their lessons.

"Which one?" Blaise asked quietly. A tone that they all become familiar with. It kept their conversations as private as possible and their thoughts shielded.

Daphne shrugged, "The ugly one."

"They're both ugly," Blaise muttered, shooting her a playful look.

Theo's eyes drifted back and forth between their table and the almost empty Gryffindor one, "Seamus told me that they all might go into hiding," he said, turning to face the couple who sat opposite him.

Daphne couldn't help but snort, "Gosh Theo, you and your Gryffindors. The allergies disappeared then?"

"They disappeared a long time ago, just like Dean," he cuttingly replied.

"He's not far, you sap," Blaise said, rolling his eyes after putting down a bowl of porridge.

The sneer Theo was holding back was obvious, "Yes he is. Is he hiding in your bowl or under your robe? If he is, by all means, show me, oh wait you can't because he's not here is he?"

Blaise leaned closer, "Like I said he's not far."

Theo's face scrunched up at his best friend's crypticness, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"The bloody obvious," Blaise retorted, wiping his hands and standing, earning a confused look from the wizard, but a chuckle from his fiancé, who mirrored his actions, "let's go."

"Where?" Theo asked, following his lead.

"You'll see."

"Stop being so cryptic it's doing my head in."

"Yes, he has the ability to do that a lot. Pissing people off, stressing me out," Daphne listed, sending her fiancé a glare as they walked out the hall, slowly enough not to draw too much attention, but quickly to avoid any professors.

"You told her?" Blaise sighed, turning to a guilty-looked Theo, who threw his hands up in the air.

"Yes, I told her, I don't want to be smacked, do you?"

Daphne smacked their chests, drawing groans from them, "I am right here and I told you to stop sneaking out."

Blaise ignored her dark tone, even though it scared him, "Well what are we doing now?"

"Sneaking away together," Daphne reiterated with a sly grin, which amused Theo, "Doing it alone is stupid and we aren't stupid."

The boys couldn't disagree with that.

It took a while to get around the school. Even with their pureblood status, it wasn't easy. Fortunately Pansy, Vincent, Gregory and Astoria were in their own respected lessons, saving them from any questions on their whereabouts. Having a free period wasn't fun anymore. They actually had to look like they were busy and if they weren't they would be in trouble.

Big trouble.

"Right, why are we here?" Asked Theo in a hushed whisper as they ended up in front of the wall that guarded Mente Striae.

Since they discovered that part of the Astronomy tower was destroyed and then restored, the group were worried that people would find their private room. They knew Artemis destroyed it, plus the whispers around Hogwarts confirmed that as well.

Daphne placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "So we can put your mind at ease."

"Piccolo guerriero," Blaise muttered after placing his hand on the blank wall, whilst the other two kept an eye out.

Before Theo could question the bubbling look on Daphne's face, they were shoved into the room without hesitation.

The door was sealed shut and their bodies were embraced with a calm sensation.

"You're an arse for that," the Nott wizard nudged his friend, "right, now can you tell me-" he cut himself off when he turned on his heel and came across the one person that could warm his heart and make it beat out of its chest. "Dean?" He whispered.

"Teddy."

Dean's hoarse voice wasn't the only thing different about him, his eyes were weary and skin tight. His clothes were clearly someone else's; looser and not well-fitted. He looked like he went through hell and back or battled with some cornish pixies or Hungarian horntails.

Nevertheless, he still held out his arms for when he and Theo collided in the middle of the room.

Blaise and Daphne stood back with adoring wide smiles.

Theo didn't want to let go, he simply couldn't, fearing it wasn't real and just a fragment of his mental mind.

Over the next couple of minutes, they all sat around the table on the far right that wasn't coated with plants.

"H-how?" Theo questioned, confused as to how his boyfriend was sitting next to him.

Dean smiled, "I wrote to Blaise a couple of days before I stopped writing to you. Sorry about that I know you were going through it."

"Depressed more like," Daphne said, innocently smiling after receiving a small scowl, from Theo.

"I didn't know what to do. At first, I was with Harry, Ron and Hermoine, but I couldn't keep up with them for long so I had to get away."

"What were they doing?" Daphne asked and Theo nodded, also curious to know.

"Trying to locate Horcruxes, to destroy them so they can defeat you-know-who," Dean continued to explain.

"Oh shit," Daphne gasped.

"Dumbledore sent Harry on some mission to destroy them, the only problem was, he didn't offer much guidance before he you know...died."

Blaise snorted, "No surprise there."

"Dumbledore wasn't much help."

"He never was," Blaise commented, receiving nods from the Slytherins who were aware of what he did to Ezekiel, "In all honestly I'm convinced Dumbledore and Voldemort used to date."

Receiving a smack to the chest from his fiancé and a brief chuckle from Theo, he rolled his eyes.

Dean tried his best to hold back his smirk, "They're grasping at straws, but I know they will get it done."

"If not you will never leave this place," Blaise grunted at the kick Theo gave him, "I didn't mean it like that," he sent an apologetic to Dean who nodded understandably, "As much as I hate to say it, those annoying little twits will get it done," he hissed when another kick was sent his way, "do you want me to have limbs or not?" he snapped at the couple who grinned at each other.

Daphne leaned forward, after placing a kiss on Blaise's cheek, "What else happened? How did  you get in here?"

Theo reached for his boyfriend's hand, calming his nerves as he told the rest of his traumatic adventure.

"The snatchers almost caught me," Dean confessed.

"What?!" Theo screeched, making them all wince.

"They scratched me up and left me for dead."

"Again what?!" Theo eyed the wizard in detail, trying to see any visible injury, but he couldn't find one, and neither could Daphne.

The pair exchanged a look, which the others caught, provoking Dean to share more of his journey.

"Blaise got to me and smuggled me on the Hogwarts Express."

Theo gawked, "You what? When?"

Daphne groaned, "Just shut up."

Dean squeezed Theo's shaking hand, before Blaise explained, "I used the bedazzling hex. Luckily it's for both people and objects so when those death eaters called me out and asked about the last spell I used I just showed them some sweets I wanted to sneak into the Hogwarts. Yeah, I know it was a shitty lie but it got your boy toy in didn't it?"

"Between the death eaters and the dementors it was flat-out impossible but we made it work," Dean shot a grateful look to his friend, which was returned.

"Until Dean realized that one of his scratches wasn't healing."

Theo gulped as he listened, turning back to his boyfriend, panicking at the thought of him in pain or potentially bleeding out.

"A minor gash on my forehead that turned major," Dean revealed, tracing his fingers over the phantom scar, sometimes he could swear he still felt the pain, "Blaise used the last of the vampire blood his dad gave him."

Another grateful look was sent to the Zabini wizard, who smiled in response.

"Yeah it was the last of it, but you're safe in here, so it's alright," Blaise spoke softly, "I doubt we will need it, not with Mr bravery over here."

Everyone laughed and for them, it was the first time in a while.

"Is that why you've been sneaking out?" Blaise looked toward his witch after hearing her question.

Blaise coyly smiled, "Just make sure he wasn't dead."

Theo choked up, amazed at his best friend's efforts, "Mate..."

Blaise quickly raised his hands, "No need to thank me, just shag him when he's better because I don't need him to injure himself again."

"Shut up," Theo groaned, ignoring Daphne's giggling and Dean's bashful smile, "we've only got an hour before someone comes looking for us."

Daphne clasped her hands together, "Well I suppose we make the most of it."

They all start to relax, Dean and Theo stayed put, meanwhile, Daphne and Blaise sat on bean bags only a few yards away.

Dean was overwhelmed by the feelings the room made him feel. Even after Blaise brought him there, he couldn't believe that it was a part of the castle. 'The ghosts' was what most of his friends called the most popular Slytherins and it was now clear this was where they disappeared to. He remembered when Harry mentioned something about it during their 6th year but he didn't take much notice of it. But now, it was truly amazing.

Having spent a couple of days in there alone, he couldn't help but explore. He was respectful, not wanting to touch anything too valuable or personal, instead, he felt he could only gaze upon the pretty sights, the plants, the paintings, the initials inscribed on the 'wall of ghosts', so many ghosts, he was in awe.

It wasn't long until Daphne brought them some hot chocolate; their favourite drink, before retiring back where she belonged with Blaise, who opened his arms and let her sink between his legs with a book.

"I've missed you," Dean whispered to the boy who couldn't look away.

Theo smirked, "I bet you have, cooped up in here with everything and anything you could ask for."

"I suppose, but not you."

The reddening of Theo's cheeks caused him to look away, despite the warm feeling spreading in his chest.

"Aww," Daphne almost teared up, after hearing their moment, until Theo flipped her off, much to her chagrin.

"Mind your business Daph," Theo said with a groan, though, the blush was very much evident on his cheeks.

"This is my business, we could get caught if they find him," Daphne sassed, then quickly shot Dean an apologetic look, "and I mean that with no malice Dean."

"Love you too," the Thomas wizard mused, making Blaise snicker.

The hands on the clock were speeding up and only minutes remained of their brief time of bliss. Blaise smiled at the book Daphne held up to him, Grimm brothers, reminding him of 1st year and all they were missing out on. Muggle games, muggle television, chess which he played with his uncle Ezekiel all those years ago, things from home, his family and their new addition; Itri.

Everything was so far out of their reach that it hurt.

Theo shuffled closer as humanly possible to Dean, like a guard, ready for someone to attack.

He wouldn't let the wizard slip through his fingers again.

But he did let his eyes wander, around the room that they hadn't visited in a few months, not since the two other core members of their group departed and went into hiding. Everything looked the same, regardless of the change of leadership and looming presence creeping over them at every waking moment, it was surprising he could still eat and sleep.

Dean watched as Theo's face scrunched up in curiosity and rose from his chair, slowly.

His pale hands itched at the white envelope resting on the Seramore box in the corner of the room.

Familiar handwriting caught his eye.

"Teddy. What is it?" Dean's voice caught the engaged couple's attention.

"Uhh B, have you looked around the room since you came back?" Theo questioned, nearing closer to the box.

"No," the Zabini wizard answered, motioning his fiancé to stand up along with him.

Theo chuckled and lifted the letter, "Explains why you haven't seen the letter Temi left you then."

"What?!" the others exclaimed.

"She must've left it before the end of the year," Theo remarked, smirking at the cleverness of his friend. He came back to the table, just in time for the others to join them.

"Did you lot not come back after they left?" Dean asked, standing up as Blaise took the letter and rapidly opened it.

Daphne and Theo shook their heads, answering the question.

Dean glanced down at the letter, "What does it say?"

Blaise narrowed his eyes onto the writing, rereading it a few times, then aloud, "Transfigure a fireplace."

"Is that all?" Daphne didn't want to believe that was all it said. She quickly took the latter then huffed, before passing it to Theo, who showed his boyfriend.

Dean noticed the dejected look on their faces, believing Artemis would write them much more than just that.

Blaise took out his wand, stepping around the table with them all following, "This will be easy."

"Just like when Draco was turned into a ferret," Theo quipped earning a few giggles in return.

"But there isn't a spell for transfiguring a fireplace, conjuring tamed or cursed fire, yes, but not a fireplace," Daphne stressed, halting Blaise's movements.

"Summoning charm works for objects."

"And does a fireplace not seem a little too big to you?" Daphne sarcastically smiled, making Theo roll his eyes.

"Tamed fire it is then," Blaise suggested to calm the pair.

"I can't believe we don't have a fireplace," Theo murmured, putting a small smile on his boyfriend's face, "A summoning spell would still work," he added, making Daphne flip him off.

"Incendio," a shrug of light coursed out of Blaise's wand, after they all took a step back, watching the fire appear in the air, "well it's certainly tame."

"A makeshift fireplace," Theo joked, but all their smiles died down once it expanded ever so slightly.

They took an even bigger step back when they saw something through the fire.

"Great, just great what is that?" Theo whined when the flicker flames spat out a parchment.

"Put it out, put it out now," Dean blurted out.

"Augamenti," Blaise waved his wand, conjuring the water that put out the growing flame and splashed onto the ground.

"Bloody hell."

"A letter leads to a fire that leads to another letter," Theo groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, not noticing the blonde reaching to touch what spat out of the fire.

"Careful," Blaise hissed, worried that she'd burn herself.

"It's alright, the water made it cold," Daphne reassured him as she unfolded the note, revealing the words to the group, words that they simply couldn't understand.

"That's not Italian right?" Theo murmured to Blaise after reading the squiggles on the page.

"No you idiot, it's not Italian," the Zabini wizard said, rolling his eyes.

"There's something else," Dean pointed out, "Turn it over."

p.s.

It's parseltongue you idiots.

The group smiled at the insult, then read the rest.

We love you and miss you all. Make sure to keep this and yourselves safe.

"She's brilliant," Dean noted,

Daphne grinned, "She really is."

"And that means she has a plan," Blaise added.

"The revolution is starting up again," Theo teased, "maybe the year is looking up."

"Don't speak too soon Theodorus, we have to survive what's lurking outside first," Blaise reminded them, nodding to the clock, "times up."

"I suppose it's too late to make a toast for the year right?"

"I think so T, I think so."

And back into the darkness, they go.

***

a/n:

dean had a bigger part to play in deathly hallows and I'm pissed we didn't get to see that. he was supposedly on the run with the golden trio, which i added to the story. since we saw him with seamus and that lot in that room hiding out, not in his uniform he definitely was on the run or just changed, nevertheless i changed how he got into the school. hiding out in mente striae was the best option and was the first gryffindor to ever enter the room.

i know, i wanted it to be a strikcly pureblood 5 room, but i had to make an exception for my boy dean. 

you'll see more of artemis' plan throughout the story and more of daphne, blaise, theo and dean in school and what happened during this time.

sorry for the late update.