Though Ignan was now a married man, settled and a Deputy Headmaster of a world-famous school, he knew the past was only a moment behind him. The choices of his extended family had crossed his path more than once now, and he could not bury his head in the sand however much Miranda might wish him to. These people had stood by him, and looked up to him as a protector and advisor. They might not know (or want to know, in Mira’s case) the details of his life but they knew enough.

It was why he dedicated time to rebuilding his strength and skills. Nearly dying, being kept alive by blood magic, put his mortality keenly in the front of his mind. The wand before the one in his fingertips now had ended more lives than he dared to count. This one had not. He had briefly rued Miranda asking him to end Lawrence Musgrave for the consequences it might entail with the Ministry. There were other ways to make someone suffer for their actions…

“Anything strange or out of place, anything at all, you go straight to Professor Storm. Don’t take chances.”
“You do as your father says,”
“I promise,” Feliks assured the grown-ups, “I don’t want anyone else to be hurt.”

“No-one else has to be.” The professor confirmed without a blink, discounting Layton from this statement. He lifted his pale gaze from the young wizard and looked to the others. “I think that will be all, Feliks.” He wasn’t leaving his office, however much he silently loved these family members.

“Sort these into alphabetical order and leave them on my classroom desk,” He handed the second year a stack of parchment essays. “Your fathers will be with you shortly.”

It would give them just enough time to consult on their next meeting and stall the boy long enough for his fathers to issue any emotional needs safely out of sight in the classroom below.

End