3:30pm
Silence echoed through the vast emptiness of the Schlagenweit home as light from the setting sun slid steadily down the parlor wall.  It was only half past three, but night was already chasing away the last vestiges of daylight.  Sasha sat at the edge of the couch, waiting in silence, until the quiet crunch of gravel under tires broke the silence and Sasha pushed himself to his feet.  He watched the black sedan pull up to the front door and two suited men get out and approach the door.  It had taken remarkably little effort to convince Mr Avery and Hartwell to meet him on Christmas Eve; the Schlagenweit name still had the ability to call businessmen to heel, even when borne by a bastard son. 

Of course, they didn’t know he wasn't Gerhard's legitimate son.  The only ones in the muggle world who’d known were dead.  Gerhard had been careful to keep that secret well-concealed.   

”Good news, Mr. Schlagenweit,” Avery said, launching straight into business after the formalities had been observed.  Money might beckon them out on Christmas Eve but the promise of holidays with their families would ensure the meeting was as efficient as possible.  The two family trust lawyers led the way into the kitchen where Sasha poured them both a cup of tea.

Hartwell set his briefcase on the counter and pulled out several files.  ”We’ve had several offers come through, already.  The buyers understand the circumstances and we’ll be able to finalize and officiate the property sale in February.  One investor and one celebrity looking for a vacation home."

Sasha slid the files closer and looked over the paperwork.  Both buyers had made initial offers under the selling price, as would be expected.  However, competition between them had brought the most recent bids to several thousand over. 

An investment or a vacation home.  Even with as much animosity as he held towards the place, the idea of the house being turned into either felt wrong.  Felt like running away.  Felt like he was still hiding from his father.  Slowly, Sasha shook his head, sliding the files back to Hartwell.

“I’m sorry.  I know you’ve been working hard on this and I appreciate that.  But, I’ve changed my mind.  I’m not selling.”  He watched Avery and Hartwell exchange glances. 

”We can understand why this is difficult,” Avery offered.  ”Are you sure you’re not just-“  Avery clearly appeared to be fishing for the right word.  ”Reacting to recent losses?  In this housing market, it might not be wise to turn down offers that are already on the table.”

Sasha shook his head, biting back a retort to the ‘recent loss’ comment.  They didn’t care about Jacoba’s death.  They’d never even known her, beyond Gerhard’s clear instructions to keep her away from the family’s inheritance.  “I’ve been giving this a lot of thought.  I don’t want the property transferring to someone else’s hands.  You can send them my condolences, but I won’t be signing any papers.” 

Another glance was exchanged between the two lawyers.  ”Maybe you should give it some time.  Nothing can happen until February, so why not-“

“I’m not selling.”  Sasha cut Hartwell off and shook his head.  “I won’t change my mind.  Thank you for your efforts, but please remove the property from the market."

11:30
It was Christmas Eve, but only the second Christmas Eve he’d ever spent in this house.  And, it would be the last.  Every Christmas holiday of his childhood had been spent with his grandparents at the Waldgraf estate in Germany and he’d never had much cause to complain.  Creating warm, memorable family experiences had never been a strength of his parents and they’d done their best to keep Christmas a pious affair.  It had been Oma Kat who, against their father’s wishes, had brought warmth and festivities to the winter holiday. 

Two year ago had been the exception.  Sasha’s suspension, abduction and ‘coming out’ as a wizard had forced a drastic change in plans.  Christmas Eve had found the Schlagenweits still in Rickmansworth.  This time, two years ago, the house had been abuzz with activity.  Gerhard was still in a towering rage after finding a flamboyant Malvivicus in his stable.[1]   His sister, Anna, had been tactfully keeping her distance and casting accusatory glances in Sasha’s direction.  His mother had been helping Sasha pack. 

Now, the house lay in empty, quiet shadows.  The fire that crackled in the parlor’s fireplace was the only source of light, its dancing flame sent tendrils of warm light licking up the walls and left the corridors to be swallowed in darkness.  There was no trace of the mayhem of that Christmas Eve and all evidence of the tragedy the next morning had been scrubbed and swept away.   

Sasha left his cell phone on the mantel, turned his back on the fireplace and ignored the ghostly faces in the shadows as he picked his way through the darkness to the kitchen.  They insisted muggles couldn’t come back as ghosts, but that didn’t help Sasha shake the feeling they were ever-present.  Staring at him from the shadows with accusatory, vengeful eyes. 

The Ravenclaw fetched a package of spaghetti from the cupboard and set it on the counter before placing a pot of water on the stove.  A flash of light erupted around the bottom of the pot as the pilot light snapped and sparked and the burner caught.  Calmly, Sasha turned and crossed the kitchen and flipped the light switch for the overhead kitchen lights.  He returned to the stove and leaned against the center island as he waited. 

It took several minutes for the acrid smell of smoke to reach his nostrils and several more before the first tongues of flame from the mouse-chewed electrical wires in the wall reached the holes in the electrical outlet.  Sasha turned his back on the stove and the kitchen and left through the front door, leaving it wide open behind him.  Once the flames had established access to air, the fire began to spread quickly and, within minutes, had engulfed the entire downstairs. 

He couldn’t sell the house anymore than he could live in it, again, but this property had been his home, just as much as it had been his father’s.  Even as the house had been a source of unpleasant memories, the old barn that stood behind him had represented his place in the world.  The barn had been his home.  He wasn’t going to let the man, or his memory, chase him away.  Nor would he let the resentment of ghosts drive him off.  He needed to be rid of Gerhard and to find his own path.  The Schlagenweit name would be buried with Jacoba; the Schlagenweit estate would end in flames. 

Sasha would wipe the slate clean and rebuild and make the property, and his life, his own.  Distance and a few protective charms would keep the barn safe from the flames and it would serve as the cornerstone for building.  The apartment above the stables would suit him just fine until he could break ground in the spring. 

1.	Crime lord Kronos Malvivicus paid a visit to the Schlagenweit Estate on Christmas Eve, 2008, several hours before Death Eater Manfred Ashford invaded the home.