“She resigned?” Leo asked aghast.

“Yes,” Paige groaned.

“In the middle of the term?”

“Yes, apparently she found true love and didn’t want to have to deal with unruly teenagers anymore. I’m pretty sure her problem were the unruly teenagers,” Paige snorted.

“But- in the middle of term? Couldn’t she have waited for the year to end?”

“No, obviously,” Paige said annoyed. “We have hire someone else,” she almost whined.

“But who?” Leo asked flustered.

“Actually,” Paige smiled. “I kind of have an idea.”

---

“Come again?”

“I did some digging and I found out you write under a penname for a few Wizarding magazines on Magical Creatures. And I’ve read some of your articles. I’ve noticed you don’t broach just the Magical Beings that deal with the Wizarding World but you also talk about the ones that are more connected to Wiccan Magic.”

“They’re all Magical Beings,” he shrugged.

“Exactly!” Leo smiled “And that point of view is why we thought you could give our students a more comprehensive view in our Magical Life class. I talked to Dumbledore and he only had good things to say about your time teaching there.”

“Yes, but what about my monthly problem?” Remus asked.

“Magic School is in another plane, we can open a door to your cottage so that that time of month you can come back home to transform,” Paige explained. “As a matter of fact you don’t actually have to board at the school if you don’t want to. Honestly, nowadays there are just a few cases of students that board so we only have a few teachers that live there.”

“I- I don’t- Won’t the parents mind? I mean the prejudice-“

“Look,” Leo said seriously. “I won’t lie to you. Had this been over a decade ago the parents might complain. At that time demons were at their height, attacking witches everywhere and anything that might have had a slight connection to Dark was repelled immediately. But since the Triad, demon activity has been very low. The Triad made a whole mess in the underworld and exterminated many of their own. Since, we have been able to have relative peace, not only our family but other witches too.”

“And we make a point of doing preemptive measures. Keeping an eye out and vanquishing whoever tries to reorganize them and mess with our peace,” Paige added and Leo smiled.

“The point is; most witches haven’t had to deal with demons in a long time. It’s all been theoretical, which has allowed us to educate not only the students but the parents in the differences between demons and magical creatures, and most assuredly the difference between a really dark magical creature and one that is considered dark because of prejudice. A werewolf is just that. I know that without the Wolfsbane, which by the way we can provide-“

“Albus has been providing me since before I taught at Hogwarts.”

“I know,” Leo smiled. “I’m just saying we can too. But my point is, that even though without it a werewolf can’t control his impulse one night a month, people like you take precautions to make sure they don’t hurt anyone. A werewolf that doesn’t even try, that deliberately sets out to hurt people, would do it even if he hadn’t been beaten. Would be a mortal, witch or wizard that would find a way to hurt people. What I’m trying to say, is that we managed to make our students and their parents realize that being a werewolf doesn’t make one dark.”

“Which is what I’ve always said,” Sirius nodded exasperated. “And which basically means Moony, you have no excuse to say no,” he grinned at his lover, happy for him to have a chance at teaching again. Remus had always loved it, ever since school when he tutored students. “Oh, come on Moony! You know you want to do it!”

Remus smiled biting his lips. Yes he did. And Magical Creatures, or Magical Life as Leo called it, was a subject that had always interested him for obvious reasons. Being one himself he had always wanted to understand not only what he was but what others were, so he wouldn’t make the same mistakes as the people who shunned him for ignorance. And along the way he fell in love with the subject. Defense Against the Dark Arts was something he had to learn well because of the times they lived in but this was his real passion. To be able to show young generations how the Magical balance worked, how all creatures contributed to them, even the ones that should be feared, was something he thrived on.

“Yes, okay. I’ll take the job,” he smiled.

“Great,” Paige smiled. “Or else I might have had to kill myself instead of facing a horde of students with free periods for lack of teacher.”

They all burst out laughing, Paige could be so dramatic.

---

“So! Hu, what do you intend to do?” Piper asked angrily as she paced Dumbledore’s office. Paige had appeared with some Magic School disaster right after the kids had left their rooms but Piper had not forgotten that little detail about what Chris had related earlier. Oh, no. And now she could do something.

“What do you expect me to do? Chris has not complained to me. How would I know?”

“He threatened to use a truth potion on a minor. That is illegal! I want Snape fired!” she yelled.

“My dear lady,” Dumbledore tried to appease her. “If I fire Severus I have to not only tell him but the Board of Governors why, and unless Chris makes the complaint himself, I would have to tell him that his mother did and then everyone would know.”

Piper’s eyes narrowed, “I don’t like your tone.”

Dumbledore sighed, “I will talk to Severus, I know I’ve let his childish behavior run amok. But it serves a purpose too. Every single student in this school knows he hates the Boy-Who-Lived.”

“Which means the Death Eater’s offspring relate it to them.”

“Yes, I can’t tell you why. I gave my word to Severus, but believe my word, he is on our side, and as much as he might threaten Chris, he will never touch a one of Chris’s hair to hurt him.”

“Because of Lily?” Piper asked. “Leo was her Whitelighter,” she said simply at Dumbledore’s shocked look. As the older man nodded she added. “How do you know he wouldn’t hurt Chris because he represents what Snape lost?”

“Because he gave me his word.”

“Oh, and that is worth a lot coming from an ex-Death Eater,” Piper snorted derisively.

“Believe me, Lily’s Potter death was not an outcome that Severus found acceptable.”

“So, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. He wants revenge.”

“And he is a Slytherin. He is our best chance at knowing Voldemort’s plans once he is back, because we know that sooner or later he will be, and I’m afraid that it is pointing to sooner,” Dumbledore said tiredly.

“Fine!” Piper snapped leaning over Dumbledore’s desk threateningly. “But if that bat touches one hair of my son’s body I will blow him up, bit by bit. And that is not a figure of speech.” she waved her hand in front of him. “Ask Hagrid’s door if you don’t believe me,” And with that she stalked out. And Dumbledore shook his head as she reminded him of another witch, the very same one Severus loved. Yes, the Halliwells had chosen Chris’s adoptive parents very well.

---

Things went south after that, Hermione started receiving hate mail and was even more decided to find out how Skeeter had found out about Wyatt. Even Mrs. Weasley seemed to have thought Hermione was playing both boys as, when her usual Easter toffee eggs came, Hermione’s was extra small while Chris’s and the one she had sent for Wyatt, which Wyatt had been pleasantly surprised by, had been extra large. Wyatt and Chris had made a point of floo calling the woman from their parents quarter’s to clear up any misunderstanding. The next morning Hermione received a full box of homemade fudge which helped her get over her annoyance at the letters.

Ron had been annoyed at Chris because Chris hadn’t told him the leprechaun’s gold he used to pay the Omniculars Chris had bought him at the World Cup disappeared. Chris had tried to tell him he hadn’t noticed but Ron had only been more upset about not having money.

“It’s a question of pride,” Leo had explained to him when they talked about it. “To be able to pay you for the omniculars made Ron feel better. I know you hadn’t realized but if you had would you have told him?”

Chris shook his head. He hadn’t minded buying the Omniculars for Ron.

“But you should have. Think of it this way. The other day, when Wyatt wanted to go flying again and Piper didn’t let him and he yelled at her you were shocked.”

“Of course, I mean. She’s a great mom and he yelled at her because of flying!” he looked aghast. The last Friday dinner Sirius and Remus had been there too because Leo wanted to know how Remus was fairing with his classes and Wyatt had asked Sirius about his flying motorcycle. Sirius had told him that Hagrid might have it. Wyatt had asked if he could ride it, after all he was 16 and he would be getting his driver’s license as soon as he got back to the US. Piper had blown a fuse and expressly forbidden him to ride any kind of motorcycle, much less a flying one. The shouting match that ensued had the guests wide eyed and the Halliwells, who had already been present to such matches, shaking their heads.

“Every child fights with their parents. It’s normal. But because you never had parents you don’t understand anyone taking them for granted. For Ron it’s money. He doesn’t have it, so he doesn’t take it for granted.”

“But I didn’t have it either before. I don’t take it for granted, I just don’t mind sharing with my friends,” Chris said seriously.

Leo smiled, “I know. And if Ron suddenly had some money he probably would have wanted to share it too. But Ron only met you after you had money. So he doesn’t see that, he just sees the fact that he doesn’t have any.”

Chris sighed, “This is all very confusing. How do you know so much?”

Leo chuckled, “Human emotions usually are. I could say that it was my years as a Whitelighter but it wasn’t. My family wasn’t starving, but they weren’t rich either. And every extra cent was saved for my education. I know how Ron feels. I felt that same way growing up. Now and even when I was fulfilling my dream of becoming a doctor I understood why they did it. If they hadn’t I wouldn’t have been able to study. But when I was younger, all I wanted was to not have to use second hand things, to be able to invite my friends to things as they did me.”

Chris nodded. He would try to keep that in mind when dealing with the issue again. Or maybe he’d just sit Ron down and explain to him how Chris liked sharing with Ron not because he wanted to flaunt his money, but because before Ron he had not only never had money to share but no one to share it with. He nodded to himself, yes. That would be better. It was about time he explained to Ron that for Chris, Ron was the richest person he knew, because he had what Chris had always wanted, a loving family. He smiled at Leo.

“Thanks,” he said and bit his lip thinking if he should add the dad. He had been wanting for a while but he didn’t know if Leo and Piper would appreciate it. So he didn’t.

---

Chris was walking back with the other Champions from the Quidditch pitch where Bagman had explained to them about the Third Task when he heard a noise and turned back abruptly.

“What was that?”

The others stopped and looked backwards too.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Fleur said taking her wand out.

Chris had and he had also started specifically sensing for others as he had been taught by his Aunts, both with his Empathy and Whitelighter senses. There was someone in the woods, it was familiar, he had sensed this person before but didn’t know who it was. It had to be before his bind was broken. The emotions coming from whoever was there were a jumble, there was fear guilt, urgency and then it would mute and an eerie calmness would happen just to be replaced by the jumble again. One look at Olivia told him she had felt it too.

“I think someone better call a teacher,” Olivia said firmly.

Chris turned around and cried “Expecto Patronum” and his bright Patronus went galloping away.

He looked at the others and shrugged, “I asked Remus to teach me how he used it to send messages. He did it once with me.”

“That was a corporeal Patronus!” Victor Krum gasped.

“Er-yeah-so? I bet you can do it too,” Chris said awkwardly turning his attention back to the bushes.

“No I can’t! And I’m seventeen!”

“Er- uhm, okay- movement in the woods! Focus!” Chris tried to change the subject which was aided by the fact that a figure tumbled out of the woods.

“Mr. Crouch!” Cedric cried running forward.

“CEDRIC!” Olivia cried pulling him back. “We don’t know if it’s really him. He could be glamouring!”

Mr. Crouch looked wild. His hair in disarray, his face scratched and unshaven, his clothes ripped and bloody. He moved forward and grabbed Chris by his robes. Chris, who had lowered his wand at seeing someone known, took an involuntary step back but Crouch didn’t let go.

“Dumbledore…horrible…son…Harry Potter.”

“Mr. Crouch,” Chris tried to explain. “It’s me, Harry Potter. I’ve already called Dumbledore.”

“Stupid thing…Dumbledore…son…who are you?”

“Harry, Harry Potter…Mr. Crouch. You’ve met me. You’ve met all of us,” Chris repeated nervously looking up and silently asking the others for help.

“Vat is vrong vith him?” Krum asked.

“His emotions are a mess,” Olivia said. “We better take him inside.”

Chris agreed with her, his emotions were a mess, but as soon as she finished saying that the eerie calm washed over Mr. Crouch and he stood up and started talking to someone none of them could see.

“Thank you, Weatherby, and when you’ve done that I would like a cup of tea. My wife and son will be arriving shortly, we are attending a concert-“

“’E is crazy,” Fleur whispered. “I think ‘e thinks ‘e is talking to ‘is secretary.”

“Harry! Cedric!” Dumbledore’s voice came booming from the darkness and Chris felt relieved as he saw Dumbledore approaching with Mad-Eye Moody and Snape. “What is happening?”

“It’s Mr. Crouch Professor. I don’t think he is well,” Cedric said stepping to the side so Dumbledore could get to Crouch. The four students watched as the teachers approached.

“Bartemius,” Dumbledore said firmly. “What happened to you?”

“Yes, my son received twelve O.W.Ls, most satisfactory, yes, thank you,” Mr. Crouch kept talking to the air.

“Bartemius,” Dumbledore said firmly again shaking the man with one hand. That seemed to bring Crouch out of his stupor and he grabbed Dumbledore’s robe.

“He’s coming back…got to tell Dumbledore.”

“Bartemius, it’s me, Albus.”

“My son…Harry Potter,” he continued and suddenly straightened, “Yes, Weatherby, thank you, we need to talk to-“ and who he needed to talk they couldn’t hear because Moody sent a stunner to the man that made him drop on the spot.

“Alastor!” Dumbledore chided.

“He was raving. We better take him up to the Hospital Wing where Poppy can sort him out and we can find out what he wanted.”

“Yes, right. You’re right. We were getting nowhere,” Dumbledore nodded and with a flourish of his wand he conjured a stretcher under Crouch and levitated him.

“Children, please go back to your respective dorms. We will take over. Thank you for your help. Ten points to Hufflepuff and Gryffindor and I will be thanking your respective Heads.”

With that the teachers left carrying the unconscious man. Going back to his dorm was the last thing in Chris’s mind. He wanted to tell his parents what he just saw. He had planned on ditching Olivia and Cedric once they started heading towards the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw dorms but unfortunately Olivia seemed to think the same as him since she didn’t head to the Ravenclaw dorm but to the staff wing. Chris sighed and headed to the dorm. He’d at least tell Ron, Hermione and Wyatt and then call Sirius and Remus with the two-way-mirror.

---

“I don’t understand what happened,” Sirius asked exasperated.

“Neither do I Sirius,” Dumbledore said tired. He had arrived at the Halliwell’s quarters to post them on the news and found that they already had been warned about Mr. Crouch’s appearance by Olivia who,  taking her duty to protect Chris seriously, had gone to warn the Halliwells that whatever Crouch was raving about had to do with Harry Potter. Chris had warned Sirius and Remus and they in turn had entered in contact with Piper and Leo, who had called Phoebe and Paige. What they hadn’t known was what happened afterwards. Dumbledore, Moody and Snape had taken Crouch to a private room in the Hospital Wing reserved for when teachers were ill, so they could have privacy. They had locked him inside and Dumbledore had left his two of his most trusted Order Members to guard the door while he went to fetch Poppy. When they returned they found Barty Crouch dead. With a diagnostic charm Poppy surmised he was poisoned but only more thorough tests could determine how and with what he was poisoned.

“But who could have poisoned him?” Paige asked.

“I don’t know. Poppy still has to determine if he had already been poisoned or it happened while I was talking to him. She offered to work with the medical examiner. So we could be kept appraised. But he can’t have been poisoned then. We took him to a private room in the Hospital Wing and Alastor and Severus were guarding the door.”

Sirius started to grumble but Dumbledore glared at him, “And I assure you Severus did not poison him. He was never alone with Crouch. Alastor was with him the whole time if you don’t trust me, trust that Alastor does not trust Severus either.”

“Yeah, well. All we know is that now Crouch is dead and we don’t know what he wanted to warn you about,” Sirius huffed.

“We also know he was under the Imperious Curse,” Remus sighed rubbing his temple. “It’s the only explanation for what Olivia and Chris felt from Crouch. He must have been fighting it.”

“Which means he could have been the one to put Chris’s name in the goblet,” Piper nodded. “And the real culprit might have never even set foot in the castle.”

“Bartemius kept mentioning his son,” Dumbledore said tapping his nose pensively.

“He’s dead,” Sirius shrugged. “I saw the Dementors burry him myself from my cell. Crouch didn’t even come to see him. He had brought his dying wife before to visit her son once. But when he died he didn’t even spare a thought to recovering the body.”

“His dying wife came to see her son?” Paige asked. “Why didn’t she recover the body?”

Sirius shrugged.

“I think she died before him,” Remus frowned. “I remember reading in the paper. Private funeral. Just Crouch.”

“So how do you know they buried Crouch Jr? Dementors can’t see,” Piper said. “How do you know it wasn’t his mother?”

“What? Piper-“ Leo snorted.

“No, I mean it. If I was dying and one of the boys was in a place like Azkaban, guilty or not I’d do what I could to get them out. Just the other day Chris told us about Polyjuice Potion, and we’ve glamoured ourselves a hundred times. How do you know she didn’t switch with her son and Crouch Jr. is roaming free without anyone knowing? He wouldn’t be the first Death Eater to fake his death,” Piper said looking pointedly at Sirius.

“But Crouch would never risk his job like that,” Sirius tried arguing.

“He had already lost his position. And if there was one thing he did love almost as much as his job was his wife,” Dumbledore pondered. “I’ve known them since they were students here and were dating. Bartemius would have done anything she asked of him, as long as he could do it quietly.”

“And Crouch Jr. would be in the best position to Imperius his father,” Phoebe nodded. “Well, that’s just great!” she huffed, “Too bad we don’t know where he is.”

Everyone nodded grimly.