Candles floating overhead in the Great Hall were always a welcome sight to Arcturus. As he hurried in through the vast doors still carrying his books from a late revision session on Potions, stomach grumbling, he took a moment to look up at the ceiling. The waxing moon was visibly giving out light as much as the candles were, illuminating clouds from behind as they drifted past the pockmarked disc.

"Arc!" Someone cannoned into his face. The boy stumbled backwards and nearly fell, but a strong hand caught his shoulder in time. He looked up into the face of a taller girl with olive skin and wavy hair and opened his mouth to greet her, but unfortunately she was on a roll.

"There you are!" She enveloped him in her black robe sleeves. "I thought about seeing you last night, but maybe you were too tired after the whole trip across the lake and everything. Congrats on getting into Ravenclaw!"

"Allie, I can't breathe," Arc's muffled voice came through her robes. He freed himself from the fabric. "What, are you jealous?" He stuck his tongue out at her. His sister laughed and playfully ruffled his hair.

"No, silly, I was just hoping the Hollingburys would see another of the family in Ravenclaw this year. Wouldn't do well if you ended up in Hufflepuff or Slytherin - or, heck, even Gryffindor like me!"

"And what if I did? I don't think the others are just as bad." Arcturus tugged on her sleeve as Alethea looked over her shoulder at the Gryffindor table. "We're standing in the way, don't you think we should move aside?"

"Oh, they're not, even if the Sorting Hat seems to boil the houses down to one or two traits," Alethea replied, moving aside to let two Hufflepuff students pass. "I really do think it's rather oversimplified, but maybe that's a little too complicated for you--"

"I'm the one in Ravenclaw, Allie, not you," Arcturus said smugly. It was his sister's turn to stick her tongue at him.

"How are you finding Hogwarts?" she asked. "Having fun? How are your lessons so far?"

"They're great, mum." Alethea playfully swiped him with her sleeve. "I love it! I read the books, but the classes are pretty fun! Well, except for History of Magic, but that's interesting without Professor Binns, honestly. And then Charms, oh that's so fun and cool, I didn't think we were doing actual spells--"[1]

"Flying?" Alethea suggested, grinning.

"Er..." Arcturus looked apprehensive. "I know you like Quidditch, Allie, but I don't really think flying's up to my fancy. How do you stay balanced on the frickin' broom?! And no don't bring up that 'you liked the toy broomstick' thing against me. Toy broomsticks are easy. Transfiguration's tough, but I think I'm gonna like it! And--"

"Okay, okay, hold on, I can sense a whole ten minutes of you talking in one go, and I'm definitely no seer." Alethea gestured to her table. "Why don't you sit with us so you can eat something and listen to us talk, too?"

"Can a Ravenclaw sit at the Gryffindor table?" Arcturus asked nervously. "Don't want points taken away or..."

"Arc. They won't take points away just because my kid brother's sitting at the Gryffindor table! Come on." Alethea took hold of her brother's hand and led him along to the table with the red and gold fixtures. Arcturus went along, protesting a little but eventually falling silent when he got to her seat. Her friends were all so pretty.

"Hey guys, mind moving aside?" she asked them, all looking curiously at the little boy with the blue-bronze striped tie.

"Who's that?" asked one of the girls. "Oh, no wait, don't tell me - is he your brother? Oh hey, welcome to Hogwarts! You're cute!"

"You talk about me to others?" Arcturus asked Alethea in surprise. "Why? I thought you said you guys find kids annoying."

"Because you're my brother, that's why." Alethea giggled at Arcturus' face. "Come on, sit with us! Have some food while you're at it." Her friends echoed her words, agreeing with her.

"Okay, but on one condition." Arcturus frowned. One of the girls started saying, "Wow, he's so serious--" but the others on either side of her shushed her into silence, while someone else on Alethea's side said, "Sure, go on."

"Don't call me cute."

"Okay," said one girl next to Alethea. "Sure! That's not a bother at all!" Another girl went, "I guess we can call you Arc, though?"

"Yeah, I'm okay with that," said Arcturus, somewhat relieved.

"I can see you fitting in just nicely already," his sister said to him, smiling gently. "Come on, have something to eat and we'll have a chat."

---

"Hey Arc, yo!" Alethea vaulted over the back of the couch and landed bouncily right next to her brother, causing the cushions and the book in his hands to jump off. "Mum wants you in the kitchen!"

Arcturus shot her a look as he flipped back to the page he was on. "No, I want to read. What are you doing here? I thought you were doing your Auror thing."

"Day off, Arc, even I need to chill." Alethea stretched. "Also, hey, I heard you had Lockhart for Defence Against the Dark Arts? Heard Valentine's Day was a right hoot."

Arcturus pretended to throw the book at her, but right then their mother appeared behind him. "ARC! No throwing!"

"I wasn't--"

"Into the kitchen with you," Lydia said, as if he hadn't spoken. "Knowing how to cook an omelette is not enough."

"Aww mum." Arcturus pouted. "Why do I have to learn how to cook now? It's summer, I got plenty of days to learn."

"Your books will be here when you come back from the kitchen. Unfortunately your days of not having to worry about cooking your own meals don't have the same perpetuality!" Lydia's hands alighted on her hips. "Don't start with me."

"But...but I'm too young--" Arcturus protested, pulling himself up to make his defiance better seen by his mother. Alethea was still grinning, murmuring, "Circe's pigs, Arc, you're going up against mum--"

"No! You're twelve, and that's a perfectly suitable age for you to be learning how to cook for yourself!" Lydia gave him a scowl so emphatic that Arcturus shrank back and Alethea ducked below the back of the sofa. "To the kitchen with you, or I'll move you myself if I have to."

Their mother turned and strode back to the kitchen. After a moment's silence Alethea poked her head above the back of the sofa to make sure she was gone, and then looked at her brother. He was still looking slightly cowed.

"Shoo," she said. "At least you get to use your wand."

Arcturus hopped off the sofa. "Fine, fine, don't have to push me. But hey, stay around okay? I got something for you!" He gave her a defiant look and then scuttled off to the kitchen while she tried not to laugh at how adorable her little brother had looked.


When he came back, Alethea was reading a copy of Witch Weekly next to the fire. Arcturus sat down on the sofa next to her with his book. "Why do you keep reading that? It's such a silly magazine."

"That's why I keep reading it. You might think it's cheap entertainment, what with you and your big brains," Alethea gently bonked his head with the magazine, "but at the end of the day I like some shallow fun. Nothing wrong with that, right?" She sniffed. "Wow, you smell really strongly of garlic."

"Mum made me make garlic butter." Arcturus sniffed his hand. "Yeow, that is strong. No vampire will come after me now. Rawr!" He lifted his arms above his head, fingers curled into claw-like shapes as he pretended to lunge at his sister. Alethea laughed and gently fended him off with Witch Weekly.

"You said you had something for me," she said. "So, what is it? Oh hey, dad," she added, looking up as she realised their father was leaning against the doorway, watching the two of them with an fond smile.

"Hey dad. Yeah, I got something." Arcturus plunged a hand into his pocket, digging around with his bottom lip snugly stored under his upper teeth in effort. Father and daughter shared an amused look until Arcturus finally pulled out a small box covered in red velvet with gold glitter.

"Uh, I couldn't find any that was, like, gold like Gryffindor," he confessed, as his sister's eyes grew round at the sight of it. "It was pretty tough, and it wasn't cheap. You remember I was helping Grandpa with the garage sale? Yeah, he gave me quite a bit of money and I thought, well, you were gonna graduate, so, so...eheheh." The boy blushed as he held it out to her.

Alethea gently took the box from him. As soon as she did, Arcturus jumped off the sofa and hid behind an armchair. Mordecai chuckled softly, watching his daughter carefully open the box with some hesitation. She gasped at the sight of the contents. "No, Arc, you didn't have to... is this a graduation present?"

Arcturus peeked from behind the armchair. "It's enchanted to glow and warm up in the dark," he said, his voice muffled by the back of the chair. "So, like, when you're out on your Auror missions and all that, you...you won't be alone? I guess, kinda like that. And it's a good charm, not one of the cheap ones, well I hope." He ducked down behind the chair again.

His sister put the box down and dived behind the chair, surfacing with Arcturus' hands in hers. "No no no, don't hide, silly! I love it! Thank you so much!" She hugged him tight, almost lifting him from the floor. "Come on, watch me put it on! It isn't over until I've worn it!"

Ignoring their father hurriedly beckoning and whispering "Lydia! Get over here or you'll miss it!" in the background, Alethea put her brother down and ran back over to get the box. She opened it and retrieved the contents - a silver ring with a lion's head and mane, a ruby set into the forehead of the lion. As they watched, she easily slipped the ring onto her left forefinger until it reached the base.

The silver glimmered in the light of the fireplace before a shimmer ran across its surface. The ring began to shrink very quickly to fit Alethea's finger perfectly, almost as if it had been made for her. She held up her hand for all to see, admiring the ruby. Lydia, standing next to her husband with his arm around her waist, subtly waved her wand behind her back and all the lights in the room went out, including the fire. Arcturus yelped a little at the abrupt darkness.

In the midst of the evening darkness, a little red spark seemed to light up in the heart of the ruby. It grew and grew until the entire ruby was emitting a deep-seated, pure red glow that coloured the entire ring. Alethea's face, illuminated by the ring, was of absolute delight and happiness.

"Is it warm?" Arcturus asked tentatively.

"Yes!" Alethea gasped. "Oh, that's... it's perfect, I... I can't honestly think of anything else to say! It feels like, like, a cosy fire in my chest, like someone's with me!" She reached out and grabbed her brother, pulling him close to her. "Thank you so much, Arc, it's so pretty and useful and beautiful and everything! I won't ever take it off, I promise, not even when I go to bed."

"Ahaha yeah, okay good I'm glad you like it," Arcturus said a little breathlessly. "Can you... can you let go of me now? I can't...breathe..."

His sister let go of him hurriedly. The lights all came back on, with the fire springing back up in the hearth as if it had never been doused. Alethea looked up at their parents, eyes shining. "Did you know he did this?"

"He was talking about it for ages," Lydia said, smiling at her son. "About how he was worried you wouldn't like it, or if it would stop working while he was making sure it worked, or if you would even need such a thing in the first place."

"Aww, you didn't have to worry so much!" Alethea turned to find Arcturus blushing. "But I guess worrying is your thing, you silly." She ruffled his hair. "Thank you. Really. I'm going to wear this with pride and tell everyone who asks that my little brother got it for me."

"Oh, man, no, don't do that, that's just embarrassing now," Arcturus said, hiding his face behind his hands. They all laughed.

"All right, sorry to break this up but we haven't stopped celebrating your graduation yet." Lydia pried her husband's hand off her waist. "Dinner's ready, and what a dinner it is! Off we go, you two!"

---

When Arcturus entered the family room, Alethea was sitting on the couch with her legs under her, reading that week's edition of Witch Weekly. She looked around at him briefly. "Hey, welcome home from school, how were your exams?"

Then she looked back at him properly and almost jumped out of her seat. "Hey, are you the same height as me? No. That can't be!" She waved her hands at him dramatically. Arcturus gave her a half-amused, half-confused look, but said nothing.

"Allie, your brother's still growing," said Lydia, entering the room. Mordecai was still in the hallway hanging up his coat behind her. "Of course he'd be just as tall as you. He'll probably get taller, if I'm any judge."

"Aww." But Alethea was smiling as she threw her arms around her brother. "Really, how were your exams? I heard about the Chamber of Secrets being opened. I'm so glad you weren't caught by the basilisk, I know you would be way more bothered about missing your classes even though they cancelled the exams. But a basilisk! I would've given my eye teeth to see one in real life, they're so incredibly dangerous."

Arcturus smiled and shrugged, but didn't say anything. Alethea drew back slowly, her eyebrows gradually rising. "Uh...why aren't you saying anything? Lost your voice? Got a Mandrake leaf in your mouth?"

Her brother shook his head and gave her a sheepish look. When Alethea continued to just look confused, he opened his mouth hesitantly, nervously cast a look at their mother fussing about his luggage still in the hallway, and then looked back at her. The only effect this had on her was her expression growing even more bewildered.

"Don't laugh," he said, in the weirdest voice she'd ever heard. Alethea stared at him, and then felt the bubble of hilarity rise from her chest. She curled her lips, trying to keep her mouth straight, but too late. He was already glaring at her.

"Hey, look, I swear on my life I wasn't going to laugh, okay," she said, still trying to keep her mouth straight. "Hey, you're doing better than the guys in Gryffindor did, and not just because they were irritating people by singing badly. It'll pass in time, right? When did this start?"

"A week ago." Alethea really was finding it hard to suppress her mirth. Arcturus' voice was squeaking at the most opportune moments, and then sounding oddly deeper than usual the next. In between it just sounded husky. "I've had quite enough of being poked at about this."

"Yes, I can imagine." She looked around. "So, gonna start looking for the girls yet?"

Arcturus waved a finger at her. "Oh no. Ohhhh no don't you start. I had a sh-- crap Valentine's Day, with pink flowers everywhere and heart confetti rain and Lockhart's stupid dwarves interrupting my Transfiguration class--"

"Did you get one?!" Alethea asked excitedly.

"No." But Arcturus' answer, even with his breaking voice, was oddly twisted. Upon the sight of Alethea's sudden smirk, his face coloured. "Yes, damn you. But I don't know who sent it, it was anonymous! And a dwarf singing it to me does not make it any better!"

"Shush, I'm just asking. What did it say?" Alethea waggled her eyebrows. Arcturus looked like he was about to stuff her nose with his wand when Lydia poked her head back into the room.

"Allie, stop bothering him, he still needs to unpack." She looked at her son. "You, Arc, need to unpack. Get this upstairs right now and make sure everything's sorted, yes?"

"Have you seen the way he stores books, mum?" his sister asked. "He's better at it than me!"

"Yes, and it does not go amiss that sometimes you ask him to rearrange your entire room for you." The two of them immediately looked contrite. "You better be paying him well for it, is all I'm saying. Go. Shoo. Your father and I will be cooking dinner, and for once we'll be having dinner as a family before you go back to work on Monday, Allie."

Alethea pointed at her brother. "But he just came back--"

"Yes, and he'll be back til September! Up with you, Arc!"

---

Despite the events of the Triwizard Tournament that had taken place, Diagon Alley was still bustling with people before the start of the next Hogwarts year. Arcturus was at home with the crowds up to a certain extent, but he had just come from the Floo. It would take maybe a few hours before he started getting cranky.

Or perhaps maybe longer, because his sister had volunteered to come with him on her off-day to help him buy the books he needed for his fifth year. For some reason that he'd never managed to pinpoint[2] why he felt that way, but it helped him keep stable and not feel a little exposed and anxious. They headed down the alley together, people veering out of their way.

"I still think this - you being taller than me - is unfair," she said teasingly. "People are going to think you're my older brother now."

"Allie, you're about an inch shorter than me, it's not that much," Arcturus said, his hands tucked into his pockets. "Besides, you can just correct people. You're the kind of person who'd do that, though I'd have to ask you to refrain from getting mad about it."

"Ahaha it doesn't always feel polite." Alethea nudged him. "Where's your book list? What do you need for this year? Don't look at me like that, I've been away from Hogwarts long enough to not remember some of the textbooks."

"I think it's The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, and uh," Arcturus fished the neatly folded piece of parchment out of his pocket and unfolded it, "Defensive Magical Theory. I don't think anything else has changed, much?"

"Not Year with the Yeti, then?" Alethea suggested mischievously. Arcturus made as if to fan her away with the parchment in mock disgust; she laughed. "Wait, hold on, Defensive Magical Theory? That's a rubbish book! Why would they give that terrible piece of writing for Hogwarts? No, get Practical Defence Against the Dark Arts. I read through that book at work, it's really great."

"Why would you be reading schoolbooks at work, Allie?" Arcturus asked, genuinely mystified. "And hold up, I don't think I have that many galleons at hand right now. Apothecary summer job doesn't pay that well."

"Then I'll borrow you a couple of galleons. It can't be that expensive, otherwise no Hogwarts student or their parents would afford it." Alethea navigated her way around a group of witches pouring out of Rosa Lee Teabag.

Arcturus folded the parchment and put it back into his pocket. "I'll pay you back as soon as I can, then. So, Flourish and Blotts first? You still haven't answered my question about reading schoolbooks at work."

"I was bored of doing paperwork, okay. The Auror Corps don't mind what you do so long as you get things done." The two of them stepped into the bookshop with some difficulty, as it was teeming with people. "And it so happened someone bought a copy of Defensive Magical Theory for their kid and brought it to work so we could all have a laugh at it. Then someone else recommended Practical Defence and lent me the book, and I think it was much more interesting than Defensive Magical Theory. Even if it's not used, it'll be better for your head."

"Exactly what do you mean by that?" Arcturus asked, half-distracted as he pulled down a copy of The Standard Book of Spells Grade 5 from the shelf.

"I mean, Arcturus Hollingbury, your damn head is so passionate in the search for stimulating material to read that you'll find Practical Defence fascinating, if not a challenge." Alethea fished out a few galleons from a small pouch in her pocket as Arcturus located the shelf where copies of Defensive Magical Theory were arranged. "Here, that should cover the extra."

"Thanks, Allie." Arcturus took a step back to try and find Practical Defence Against the Dark Arts. Alethea wrapped one arm around his elbow and dragged him to another shelf wordlessly, where he found the book. As he went over to the counter to pay, she slipped outside and waited for him.

When her brother finally emerged, holding his books above the heads of the other shoppers, she waved at him from the shop front opposite. He managed to squeeze through the crowd. "It's getting worse, I'm not really liking this," he said.

"Arc, look, it's nice weather for late summer. You should get out more." Seeing his annoyed face, she added, "I'll treat you to some ice cream, how's that? There we go, smile, you look happier. Always don't forget to smile, hm?" She reached up and gave him a pat on the cheek. "Little brother."

"Hey." Arcturus chuckled.

"So what it'll be? The usual Flortescue's? Oh goodness, look at all the people sitting there." Alethea frowned. "I was hoping to just spend some time sitting outside the parlour."

"We can still walk, and honestly I'd rather get away from this crowd. Maybe find somewhere else to sit?" Arcturus shrugged. "Anywhere away from the main street, that's all I want. I'll wait for you outside."

She was back very quickly with two cones, one with orange marmalade and the other butterbeer. "Sorry, raspberry and vanilla is out. Fortescue said he couldn't make more at the moment, he was really busy and it was so popular he couldn't keep up."

"That's fine, butterbeer's my second favourite." He caught the look his sister gave him. "No, really! I love butterbeer, I'm okay with this." His sister watched him take a bite out of his, before doing the same to hers.

"Hey, you've got some on your nose," Arcturus said. When Alethea raised a hand to her nose in trepidation, he gently poked her hand onto her nose and laughed. "Fell for that again."

"Oh you--!" She elbowed him; he sidled away from her, laughing. "I'll make you pay for yours, I swear! Come on, let's head away from here, it's really busy now."

Away from the main street the crowds were indeed less thick. The turning down to Knockturn Alley was devoid of people; Arcturus and Alethea carefully stuck to the other side of the street and Alethea wrapped her arm protectively around her brother's.

They headed past a booth selling copies of the Daily Prophet. Arcturus looked at the headlines as they passed; he usually did that to see if there was anything interesting. The loud block text was still the same as before: Harry was delusional, Dumbledore was ridiculous, et cetera et cetera, nothing new.

He was about to stop and see if there was anything else, but suddenly Alethea pulled him away. In shock he said nothing until they were quite far from the newsstand.

"What did you do that for?" he asked her.

She looked up at him, thought admittedly that wasn't much of an 'up' to begin with. "Do you really believe what the Prophet says?"

Arcturus looked around them. There weren't that many people, but he abruptly felt a little wary. "Uh...no, not really," he said, dropping his voice to a level almost inaudible except to Alethea. "I...kinda feel Harry was right, to be honest."

"Yeah, I think so too." Alethea looked over her shoulder. Her voice was just as low as his. "Ministry's really onto this, saying everything's fine over and over. If anything that just makes me more likely to distrust anything the Ministry says."

"What else can the Ministry do, though? I honestly don't think there's anything else? People trust Dumbledore, and Harry...well, Harry's a trouble magnet, but I don't think it's his fault."

"Yeah well..." Alethea huddled up against her brother. Arcturus looked worried; it was usually Alethea who was more confident about protection. "...I've heard talk of something going down at Hogwarts. I don't know what, but please make sure you keep safe, okay? You're going to do OWLs this year. Whatever you do, please don't do anything stupid that gets you expelled or into trouble. Keep your head down and don't be a hero."

"You know me, Allie," Arcturus said, smiling a little despite the clear concern in her voice. "I won't get into trouble as best as I can, that's the least I'm interested in."

"Haha, okay, good." She stopped huddling up against him. "Let's go back now, shall we?"

---

The house hadn't ever looked this welcoming before. Alethea smiled despite her tiredness as she opened the gate, knowing that the charm on it would give away her presence long before she made it to the front door.

As she reached their doorstep, picking up the Daily Prophet lying uncollected indicating Mordecai wasn't back yet, the door opened for her. "Hey Allie," Arcturus said, standing aside to let her through. "Good day at work?"

"Ugh, I could tell you a thousand things about work today, but I won't." Alethea entered and slipped her shoes off. "Not just because of confidentiality either. I know you were thinking of joining the Ministry, but don't ever work as an Auror please."

"Aw, I was thinking of that." Arcturus shut the door and took the newspaper from his sister. "Mum's out and Dad isn't back from work yet, so I cooked us dinner. Hopefully the portion I left is enough for you."

"Aha, thank you Arc." She threw one arm around her brother and gave him a quick hug before releasing him and pulling off her coat. "Happy that you learned how to cook, huh?"

"Still gotta work on it. Mum just taught me the basics, I'll have to work on it more myself to get better." Arcturus helped her take her coat off and hung it up for her. "Go eat, I'll be in the living room reading the paper."

Alethea opened her mouth to answer, but she was interrupted by a small rustling sound coming from the family room. "What was that?" she asked. "That better not be Doxies."

"Ah! I better go stop him." Arcturus hurried into the family room, leaving Alethea to mouth "What the?" She followed him just in time to see him drag a paper bag out from under the coffee table. The paper bag was moving as if there was something exploring its contents.

"Dad got him for me while you were abroad." Arcturus gently tugged at the paper bag. "Present for doing so well in my OWLs. Come on, out you."

"What is it?" Alethea said, unsure of whether to take over from her brother just in case it was dangerous. He seemed entirely in control of it, though.

"Him? He's a kneazle." As he spoke, the paper bag finally emptied its contents onto the rug - a furry little kneazle kitten that was simply orange and white fluff with a pair of big blue eyes and an equally large pair of ears. He stared up at the two of them with his wall-eyed look, before mewing and whipping his plumed tail around as if in protest about having been vacated from his paper bag.

Alethea let out a high-pitched squeal; Arcturus plugged his ears with his fingers as he winced. "Hera's hair, he's so cute! Oh, look at him! His tiny paws and nose and - and everything! His furry face! Look at his stripes and did you pick him?"

"Yeah, I did," said Arcturus, gingerly removing his fingers from his ears, and then absently wiping his fingers on his hoodie. "We went to Magical Menagerie yesterday. He was having such a bad time with the cages, he really didn't like being cooped up in there and basically yelled at me until I said yes. That tiny mew is just a farce."

Alethea knelt down and reached out for the kitten. He sniffed her fingers before nibbling on them, and then bounding into her hands. Arcturus laughed as she lifted the kitten up to eye level. "He likes you, that's fast."

"Is he your new familiar? What about Quill?" Quill was the barn owl Arcturus had brought to Hogwarts at his first year and was now roosting in his bedroom. "Does that mean this kneazle replaces him?"

"Uh, I don't think Hogwarts would let him in," said Arcturus, watching the kneazle kitten find his way slowly back into the bag. "Remember they said only owl, cat and toad? I don't think they'd allow a kneazle, aggressive as they are. Look, he's already attacking the bag. The licence is also under Dad right now, since I'm not old enough to own him yet."

"Ah, that's true." They watched the kitten wriggle his way back into the paper bag. "Have you given him a name?"

"I was trying to figure one out before I heard the gate charm go off." Arcturus watched the paper bag get bumped around. "Look at him go, making the bag rustle like that."

"He's very enthusiastic about the bag," Alethea said in an amused tone. "I'm surprised he hasn't started tearing it up yet."

"I think he likes the sound of the rustling. He tore the edges a bit but then backed off and just started batting it about inside. Rustle all the time." Arcturus paused. "I might as well call him that."

"Rustle?" Alethea looked at her brother, and then looked back down at the moving bag. "Yeah, I agree. So is he sleeping with you or--?"

"Mum would rather he not sleep with me, but I have to keep an eye on him." Arcturus began to gently remove the kitten from the bag again. "He's going to be an active ball of energy and fur. Good thing I've got the whole of summer to get used to taking care of him. Come on out, Rustle." There was a protesting mew from inside the bag as he turned the bag around.

Suddenly Alethea's hand landed on his, causing him to jump. She pulled it up by the wrist, but he took his hand away. Judging by the dark look on her face, he knew she'd seen anyway.

"Did Umbridge do that to you?" she asked. When Arcturus nodded, she swore. "Absolutely foul woman. I heard about everything."

"Uh...you're not...mad at me for, you know, joining the Army?" he asked her tentatively as he pulled his hoodie sleeve over the back of his hand. She shook her head.

"Why should I? You were learning something to protect yourself, and the stupid textbooks aren't enough. They won't be." She grabbed his hand again and pushed aside the sleeve. Even though Arcturus had managed to get his hands on some murtlap essence, the marks were still there. Her brother watched her examine the gouges, the dark look on her face deepening a little more.

"They'll go soon enough, it's not as deep as some of the others have," he said, eventually pulling his hand away. She let him. "I'm not telling Mum and Dad, they've got enough to worry about. Dad especially, he's been super stressed about everything of late."

"I'm not surprised." Alethea pulled herself up onto the sofa. "There's been so much going on at the Ministry now that Voldemort's back. We're on high alert, possibly been contacting international help - but I'm not sure if we're going to get it. I don't know. There's so much going on of late, and I just really hope you guys will be safe." She sighed.

"Hey." Arcturus got off the floor and joined her on the sofa, putting an arm around her shoulders. "It'll be fine, right? Ministry's got it under control."

Alethea didn't answer, just stared at the floor. Her brother gave her an apprehensive look and opened his mouth to ask her further, but then Alethea looked up at him. Arcturus was taken aback at the haunted, scared look in her eyes, enough to shut his mouth.

"Promise me you'll be safe, Arc," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Please. I want all of you to be safe, okay? I can defend myself well enough, but you, and Mum, and Dad...I don't want to lose you guys, or, or, not even Rustle, but of all people I really don't want to lose you guys."

Arcturus stared at her, into the frightened look. There was...something that she seemed to know, something that he was starting to worry about. But there was also something that told him he wasn't going to enjoy knowing what it was. That he was safer not knowing about it for now.

Instead, he wrapped his arms around her. "I promise I'll be safe," he said quietly. "We'll take care of each other. Even Rustle will take care of me. I swear on it, Allie."

"But...what if I can't protect you--" Her arms had gone around him. He pulled her closer and exhaled, rubbing her back soothingly. As much as he didn't want to think about it, he couldn't deny that he didn't want to lose her either. They'd spent years together, it would hurt to lose each other.

"You don't have to, okay? Don't stress yourself out. We can look ourselves just fine." He closed his eyes. "Everything will be fine."

1.	People have expressed confusion at this. What Arc meant was that he had expected practicals to take place in a separate area, not directly in the classroom.
2.	Eventually he did, but he has preferred not to say.