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Chapter Text

Lucifer’s favorite time of the day was dusk.

It was when the beautiful, angelic creature he called his daughter would eagerly drag him to her room and jump on her bed. She would then dive under the covers and watch while Lucifer would weave beautiful spells just for her.

Tonight was no different. He first conjured up golden hearts and ducks that danced around her head. He summoned a few orbs of soft glowing light next that tickled her cheeks and twinkled like fireflies in the darkness of her room. Once he judged that the prelude was good, he flicked his wand once more. A million glitter stars flashed above her head, seeming to laugh alongside her as she giggled and reached for them with fingers outstretched. Lucifer laughed as well, then picked her up and pointed his wand straight into the air.

A fountain of rainbows flowed from the tip, casting a kaleidoscope of jeweled tones all over her walls. These colors shone in his daughter's eyes, and her mouth fell open in awe. Without hesitation, she reached for the orbs and colors and stars, trying to capture them in her pudgy little hands.

Merlin’s beard, he was so happy.

“One more! One more!” Charlie said, hopping on her bottom with each word. “I want a princess spell!”

“A princess spell?” Lucifer asked. He flicked her nose, causing her to giggle and bat at his hand. “You’re already a princess, CharChar.”

She stuck out her tongue. “I want a spell that’ll help me keep the monsters away from you and Momma.”

A laugh bubbled up from Lucifer’s chest. He spun his wand between pale fingers. Who was he to deny this sweet child’s fantasy?

“Well… there is one spell that can kinda act as a protector. It can’t be with you permanently and it’s super hard to cast, but I think it fits the ticket.”

His kid was practically vibrating now, good Lord. Dimly, he wondered if it was a mistake letting her have an extra chocolate frog tonight. “Show me! Show me!”

Another spin of the wand through his fingers. “Okay, but you have to promise me that you’ll stay in bed for the rest of the night.”

“Deal! Now gimme! Gimme!”

The apple wood and thunderbird feather wand slowed its spins. “As you wish, Princess.” He pointed it at the ceiling. “Expecto-“

“Lucifer.”

The Patronus about to burst forth from his wand trembled and vanished into a tendril of silvery smoke. Lucifer blinked as he looked towards the door, Charlie making a small noise of protest. Framed in the doorway was Lilith, her fiery hair dancing around her in that way it did for all Veela. She smiled at him as she entered, though her eyes remained ice cold.

An invisible hand tightened around Lucifer’s lungs. A pit appeared in his stomach. Without a word, he dropped his wand. “… That time already?”

A hum. “Charlotte has school tomorrow. I don’t want her to be too sleepy for it. Do you?”

He exhaled. “N-no. No, you’re right, Lili. Sorry, I-“ he cleared his throat and stood, diverting his eyes as Charlie let out a small whine and grabbed his hand in hers.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” Lilith trilled, her smile growing even tighter. She waited patiently while Lucifer packed his belongings, her long violet fingernails tapping rhythmically against her pale arm. “Father and daughter bonding time is just so important, after all.”

“Can’t agree more,” Lucifer said, his voice cracking slightly as he looked over his shoulder. “Bye, CharChar. I’ll see you next week, okay?” Merlin’s beard, there were tears welling up in those big periwinkle eyes. The hand inside his chest squeezed even more. Pressure built up behind his own eyes, threatening to spill over. “I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I promise, I’ll see you next week.”

Lilith accompanied him all the way to the front door. Her smile dropped. Her hair seemed to swirl even more wildly now. Those lavender eyes remained as cold as they had been for the past two years.

“I think it’s best, actually, that you don’t come visit anymore,” she said lightly. Fury rose in Lucifer’s throat like bile, only to drop straight into the pit of his stomach as her words sank in.

“Lili, what do you mean?”

Lilith pursed her magenta lips. “Charlotte is almost four now. She hasn’t shown a lick of magical power. It very well could be because she doesn’t have any.”

No. No, it couldn’t be.

“She’s a Morningstar, Lilypad! And a half-veela to boot! There’s so much magic running in her that it’s probably gonna come out soon. I mean, plenty of half-bloods show a bit later.”

A pointed look. “Half-bloods. With one Muggle parent and one magical one.”

Oh.

“W-well, four’s pretty young to just assume she’s a squib, right? And I mean, even if she is, that doesn’t mean I’ll love her any less. I’m not like the others! The Morningstar Family isn’t-“

“Yes, I’ve heard you say that before,” Lilith interrupted, her tone icy. She shook her head, sending her flowing locks flying. “But Lucifer… Why do you always assume she wants a part in your world? Have you ever considered that maybe all of these pretty light and color circuses you’re putting on for her are giving her the wrong idea? Magic might be incredible, but it is still very human, Lucifer. And humans can and have done horrible things with magic.”

Lucifer’s protest died in his throat. She wasn’t wrong, of course; they had both lived through the darkest of times, when Exorcists roamed the streets and wizard and Muggles alike were subject to the whims of a horrible Dark Lord. Lucifer had been too young back then to join the fight until the very end; Lilith had joined early on, but the things she had seen were enough to make her never want to so much as lift her finger to do Veela magic again. It was completely understandable.

And it absolutely broke Lucifer’s heart.

Lilith’s lavender gaze softened just a touch, though her mouth remained cruel. “Luci. Think about it. The last thing our child needs is to be constantly reminded about what she lacks. She needs to grow up happy with herself. And how could she do that with her father constantly summoning light shows and filling her head with dreams she might never fulfill?” She tossed her head. “You understand, don’t you? You’ll be a constant reminder of everything she could never be.”

The pressure had reached fever pitch by now. Golden eyes trembled at the very thought. “But… what if I could just visit and leave my wand at Hogwarts? Leave everything there? Then maybe-“

“You already showed her magic, Lucifer. She’ll demand it again and again. And then she’ll question why she can’t do it,” Lilith shook her head. “No. It’s best that she forget about magic. Forget about you.”

How many times could a heart be shattered until there were no more pieces left to pick up?

“… Goodbye, Lili. Tell CharChar I’ll always love her.”

Chapter Text

There was absolutely no containing his shock and utter delight when he saw the list of incoming students. Of course, he had marked every single day on his calendar until when she would turn 11, that single hope of her magical powers just popping up being the one thing he held onto throughout all of these years. Lilith’s letters had given absolutely no indication that she had developed magic at all; rather, it seemed as though Charlie was heading the opposite direction, learning the sort of skills that Muggles took pride in like taking radios apart and the like.

It took everything he had at the start of term feast not to leap out of his seat and lift Charlie in his arms right then and there. It took even more restraint not to scream at the Sorting Hat to put her in his House as she climbed up onto the stool. The hat’s declaration of Hufflepuff was disappointing, but that was just fine. He was just so happy she was here!

He kept a close eye on Charlie throughout the entire feast, watching as she made friends with those around her… and then those at the next table. And the next. And the one all the way across the hall. She hadn’t changed a bit! Always making friends, always smiling, always finding the next amazing adventure to go on-

Oh, he should be paying attention. Well, that’s fine. The only thing he missed was the introduction of the latest in a long line of Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers. Apparently, what was special about this one was the fact that they had attended Ilvermony rather than Hogwarts as a kid. Something about bringing the melting pot of America to the cold reaches of Scotland. Had Lucifer been any younger, he would’ve raised an eyebrow, gossiped with the other teachers, maybe even stormed into Rosie’s office and demanded an explanation. But now? Who the fuck cares? He or she would just be gone in a year anyways. And then the Headmistress would have to find yet another warm body to occupy the obviously extremely cursed position. Just the usual Hogwarts cycle.

The start of term feast ended as per usual with the school song, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts. Then, with the first-years being ordered to follow their prefects to their new dormitories. Lucifer knew all too well just how lucky Hufflepuff House was to have Charlie with them. As much as he wished he could personally escort her up to Ravenclaw Tower and show her the whirling starry ceiling that he had always conjured in her youth, at least she was comfortable down there near the kitchens. Nothing like that drafty, fishy dungeon the Slytherins called home-

The Transfiguration professor paused for a moment as he walked towards the tower. There was someone else out in the hallway. He stood there, counting one, no two. Two pairs of little 11-year-old feet. It was only the first day and there were already first-years making trouble? Man, he didn’t remember it being like this back in his day.

It was easy enough to find them. First-years, especially magically talented ones, often thought they were being clever with a Shoe Silencing Charm or a Softening Charm to allow them to wander the halls. What they didn’t seem to understand, though, was that professors like Lucifer had by now been well-accustomed to the increasingly creative attempts to wander the castle at night. That one time he had been hit by a stray Tickling Charm had been really annoying, but he otherwise actually enjoyed the different ways students came up with to try to sneak around him and the other patrolling professors.

Briefly, his mind wandered over to where he had last seen Ozzie. Those two students should’ve had to pass him first before coming anywhere near Lucifer’s corridor. Did they somehow sneak past the guy without being seen? Or did they have some sort of Invisibility Cloak? Shit, what if Ozzie fell victim to yet another Dungbomb prank? It had taken their lovely Charms professor weeks to cast enough Cleaning Charms to scour the smell out of his hair.

Scowling at the thought of having to deal with another few months of Ozzie complaining about how no one would sit near him, Lucifer immediately made his way towards the noise. The gentle lilt of hushed voices reached his ears, causing the Head of Ravenclaw to pause for a moment to listen. Yes, definitely two first-years who had snuck out and were wandering the halls. He’d have to intercept and escort them back to their common rooms, stat.

He recognized his daughter’s golden locks right away, her lithe body bouncing eagerly as she practically vibrated her way through the walls. She was accompanied by a silver-haired girl who had been sorted into Gryffindor during the ceremony. Maggie, he believed her name was. Something like that. 

“Maybe we can find a broomstick closet to break into! Or maybe we’ll find something cool, like a dragon!” Charlie whisper-squealed as she dragged the silver-haired girl along by the hand. “Ooh, I hope if there’s a dragon there’s treasure!”

“Charlie, if we find a dragon, there’s no way it’ll let us have treasure,” the girl said. “It’ll eat us and spit us out first!”

His daughter’s smile was absolutely dazzling. God, why did he have to leave his camera in his room? He could make a damn collage out of moments like these. “But if we’re super duper nice to it, maybe it’ll share a bit!” Then, a waggle of her eyebrows. “And if it does attack, I know we’ll be safe because my best friend Vaggie is here and everyone knows Gryffindors don’t back down!”

“Shh, you’re gonna get us caught,” Vaggie said. Despite her words, her cheeks flushed a gentle pink. “Besides, I only know, like, two spells and both of them would probably destroy a wall so maybe it’s not the best idea to-“

“Ooh! Where do you think this goes?”

Oh, to have the energy of an 11-year-old Morningstar. Lucifer watched from the shadows as Charlie zoomed over to a staircase, watching with large, starry eyes as she followed it up and up and up. A quick look from Lucifer told him that this was the staircase that sometimes led to the Astronomy Tower, sometimes to the Divination Tower. It depended on the time of day, the thoughts of the person walking on it, what snack was served for tea that day, and whether or not the Astronomy and Care of Magical Creatures professors needed to have their monthly “stargazing time.”

He needed to put a stop to this. Lord knows what powers that be would have his head if he allowed his 11-year-old, newly-minted witch daughter to climb all the way up to the Astronomy Tower to do fuck-knows-what up there. Nevermind getting thrown from the tower balcony, Lilith would probably personally make sure the family (well, her and Charlie’s) owl, Eden, pecked out his eyes! As much as Lucifer wanted to let Charlie have fun, he needed those eyes.

He stepped out of the shadows into the moonlight, waiting patiently as the children slowly realized there was someone watching them. Vaggie noticed first, her single visible eye widening as she flinched and began tugging on Charlie’s robe. Charlie let out a small, annoyed noise as she looked back at her friend to admonish her, only for her eyes to widen when she saw the tall professor standing before them.

(Well, tall in the sense that 11-year-olds weren’t exactly tall in the first place - not that Lucifer was short, of course!)

Silence. Lucifer’s golden eyes passed between the two, noting Vaggie’s fear and Charlie’s… anger? Shock? Disappointment? He couldn’t even tell. 

A sharp pain seared through him at the sight of her expression. So much time had passed between the day he walked out of her life forever and now. His doe-eyed little girl had grown into a starry-eyed young lady with beautiful golden locks (his beautiful golden locks, thank you very much) tumbling down her back. Those eyes, which once looked at him with such happiness and wonder, were darker now, colored with a million different emotions. She knew who he was. He knew she knew who he was. 

The pain grew sharper.

“Hey there, you two.” He was a teacher. He had been trained to compartmentalize his thoughts. He could do this. It was no different than catching any other student. “Curfew’s been up for a while now. I know it’s your first night on campus and you wanna explore, but unless you both have a note from either a professor or the Headmistress, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to escort you two back to your Common Rooms.”

Vaggie broke out of her stupor. “Erm… sorry, Professor. We- I mean, I got lost on the way to my Common Room. My friend was just trying to help me get back!”

Awfully brave of her to so boldly lie in a professor’s face like that. Then again, Lucifer always did think that there was some nobility in making sure a friend didn’t get harmed. Normally, breaking curfew would result in a loss of house points and detention for the offending students, but the Transfiguration professor had already decided that he was going to let it go just this once. Not because his daughter was involved, of course! Well, okay, maybe a little.

“I’ll escort you back, Ms. Madrigal, don’t worry,” he said. He glanced once again at Charlie, who had by now grabbed a small handful of her robes and was bunching them up. She used to do that with her nightgowns whenever she was nervous. “And after I do that, I’ll escort Ms. Morningstar back as well.”

More robe bunching. A tiny, bell-like voice. “I… I can find my own way back, Professor.”

Something deep inside him tightened. Right. Lilith had wanted them to forget about each other. But Charlie definitely had magic now. Surely she would forgive him if he just looked out for their little girl while she was here, right? Hogwarts could be a large, scary place for students who weren’t familiar with it yet. And besides, better he caught her out here than one of the other teachers.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Morningstar. I’m sure you do, but if I don’t escort you back, I run the risk of you getting lost and I wouldn’t be doing my job.” Not to mention, that dick of a caretaker would probably eat his little girl alive… or worse. “Do you understand?”

A pause. Then, a tiny, hesitant nod. Okay. Okay, nods were a start. Maybe a nod today, then a smile tomorrow? And then after that- wait. No, bad Lucifer. Slow down.

“Alright then! Let’s head to Gryffindor Tower first, then to the kitchens. Follow me.”

The walk to Gryffindor Tower was a silent one, the girls obviously torn between wanting to comfort each other and wanting to remain quiet out of fear of the professor who caught them. The portraits in the halls - those that were still awake, at least - whispered to each other as they passed. No doubt, the especially gossipy ones had already caught on to the similarities between Lucifer and the little blonde first-year trailing behind him like a scared duckling. He ignored them, of course; his mission was to get them safely back to their Common Rooms.

They paused in front of the portrait acting as a door into the Common Room. Soon enough, it would be time to say goodbye to Vaggie. Lucifer smiled down at the girl as he paused in front of that staircase. “Alright, we’re here. Because it’s your first day, I’ll let things go. But if anyone catches you again, it’ll be docked points and detentions for both of you, alright? Do you know the password to get in?”

The silver-haired girl nodded. “Yes, Professor. It’s-“

A flash of black from the shadows, like a billowing cloak. A chill in the air. An ominous presence that heralded a dark and empty void. Lucifer’s eyes widened as his hand flew to the wand in his robes. A Dementor? Here? 

An image of Lilith on their wedding day flashed through his mind. “Expecto patronum!”

A tiny wisp of silver appeared from his wand, then quickly evaporated like a pathetic little puff of smoke. It just barely lit up the area around them. Still, it was enough to at least light up the intruder, and Lucifer realized with rather heavy embarrassment that what he had just shot a spell at was in fact not a horrible creature of decay.

The man who stood before them was tall, slim, and graceful, standing upright with his hands behind his back. Auburn hair crowned his head. Maroon eyes flashed menacingly, almost playfully from behind a pair of silver-rimmed spectacles. The smile on his face was dazzling, though a touch too wide. He had a very, very nice looking face, with statuesque cheekbones and a gentle ski-slope nose. Lucifer gulped as he put away his wand, trying not to get too distracted by… whoever was in front of him.

“My, my, what do we have here?” a Transatlantic accent, colored lightly by a hint of French-Creole, gently trilled from his mouth. The smile never left his face. “Two first-years out of bed? How strange. Last I checked, curfew is at sundown.”

A hand on his robe. Lucifer glanced down briefly at Charlie, who was now bunching up his robes in addition to hers. Her bright eyes stared up at the man towering over her, though there was no fear there. Instead, there was a strange, starry fascination, as though the man were the most interesting thing in the world.

Lucifer’s stomach twisted in annoyance.

“Yeah. That’s why I’m escorting them back,” Lucifer said. “No need to worry.”

“Oh, I’m not worried, Professor,” the man said, tilting his head. “Not about them, at least. If what I heard is correct, your hands are quite capable.” That smile never moved. It was fucking creepy. “But if I heard right, you didn’t dock any points from either house? I would hardly call that fair.”

Who did this asshole think he was?

“It’s their first night. I thought it was appropriate to just let them go this once.”

“Mm… your heart’s in the right place, I’m sure,” sarcasm dripped from the man’s every word. “But I’m afraid at least one of us needs to be responsible. Thirty points from Gryffindor and thirty from Hufflepuff. And three day’s detention for both of you!”

“What!?” Lucifer seethed. “Who the fu-“ Oh wait, children. “Who do you think you are!?”

Mirth flashed behind those red eyes. “Weren’t you paying attention during the feast, Professor? Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure you had much more important things dancing around your little mind.”

Lucifer paused, his mind racing. What… what was this guy on about? Paying attention at the start of term feast? Of course he was paying attention! His daughter was here at Hogwarts now, after all. He had been paying attention to every movement she made, every laugh she shared, every sparkle in her eye-

The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. Blue eyes narrowed as he exhaled slowly, though his shoulders remained tense. 

“You’re the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.”

“So the little professor was at least half paying attention,” the red-eyed wizard mused, his voice laced with an unsettling amusement. “You’re quite correct. I am the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher… and the Head of House Slytherin.”

…What? How the fuck did a guy from Ilvermony become Head of Slytherin? He hadn’t even attended the school! Was Rosie insane? Actually, scratch that. Of course she was out of her mind - they all were. It took absolute insanity to agree to become a Hogwarts professor. One could only teach so many 11-year-olds how to not accidentally murder each other with a stray Blasting Curse before it took a toll on the psyche. 

That all being said, this guy looked like he was scoring even higher than average on the “crazy wizard” rating scale.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The Head of Slytherin’s smile widened, stretching unnaturally across his face. “I’m afraid not. You can call me Alastor Boudreaux! Pleasure to be meeting you, sir, quite a pleasure.” He held out one hand, which Lucifer glared at for just a moment before taking it. “I must say, I’ve always wondered if there was a way to Transfigure a new height onto someone. Looking at you, it would seem like the answer is no!”

Did that fucker just wipe the hand Lucifer shook on his robes?

“It’s nice to meet you too.” No it fucking wasn’t but Lucifer wasn’t about to start punching a bitch in front of his kid. “I’m sure we’ll be working together frequently.” Preferably in the Forbidden Forest, where the only witnesses to any “accidental” jinxing would be the centaurs and maybe a stray unicorn.

That smile widened even more, the corners of Alastor’s eyes crinkling. “I’m sure we will. It truly is an honor to meet you, Professor Morningstar.”

Silence. At his side, he felt Charlie stiffen considerably. Fuck. He really hoped this Vaggie girl wasn’t a gossip. He had been hoping to spare Charlie the attention that often came from your class knowing you were a professor’s kid, at least for a little bit. Sure, he had never seen her do magic before, but he was certain she had to be good at it. She was a Morningstar, after all! But he wanted her amazing magic to be shown off on her own terms, not simply thought of as amazing because of the weight of her name.

“Ms. Madrigal, you may go back to bed,” Lucifer said, every word stilted. Vaggie didn’t need to be told twice. With a small wave to Charlie, she disappeared behind the portrait. “Ms. Morningst-“

Wait.

Where did Charlie go?

A laugh sounded behind him as he whirled around, blue eyes darting every which way in search for his daughter. Every nerve in his body, every fiber in his being screamed at him to run after her, catch her, make sure she was safe-

“I wouldn’t worry, Morningstar,” Alastor said. “You should trust her more. She likely knows where she’s going. And if she doesn’t… well, I’m sure there’s a nice little ghost or two wandering about.”

Anger shot through Lucifer like a red-hot knife. He whirled and stomped up to Alastor, reaching up and grabbing the other man by the neck of his robe. A spicy yet sweet scent floated off the other in that moment, almost making Lucifer stagger back. His head was spinning. It was like coming to a lovely home-cooked dinner after a long day at work.

(When was the last time Lilith had cooked for them?)

“You pompous piece of shit,” Lucifer snarled. “That’s my daughter you’re dismissing.”

More mirth behind those pretty red eyes. “Oh? Is the great Professor of Transfiguration saying that he doesn’t find Hogwarts safe enough to keep his precious daughter here?” That smile seemed to gleam even brighter now, sending an involuntary shiver down Lucifer’s spine. “Should we go speak to the Headmistress about this? Tighten security, perhaps? We wouldn’t want your dear little Charlie wandering outside her Common Room at night again if Hogwarts is so unsafe.”

This fucker.

“… No. She’ll be fine,” Lucifer said, using every single ounce of his training as a teacher not to punch this asshole’s face in. He released Alastor, taking a deep, shaking breath. Why was he getting so riled up? He hadn’t felt emotions this strong since before he and Lilith fell out. Hell, half the time he was holed up in his office, doing nothing except staring at the ceiling and wallowing in the empty pit of despair that leaving Charlie had created for him.

“Of course she will be, Professor!” Alastor said cheerfully. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few more corridors in my patrol. Do call me if you need any help patrolling your own.” Another flash of mirth. “Or need help reaching any high shelves.” And with that, he walked away.

“Don’t be too surprised if I’m calling you over to stick a Body-Bind Curse on you and toss you into the Black Lake instead,” Lucifer shot back. “You might have enough meat on your bones to be an appetizer for the Giant Squid.”

Once satisfied that he definitely had the last laugh, Lucifer turned and walked back towards his corridor. Millions of thoughts flew by him at once, ranging from concern that Charlie got lost on her way back to her Common Room and fierce anger over Alastor punishing her and her friend. Sure, it was definitely within his power and in the rulebook that it was the right thing to do, but come on! It was Professor Morningstar’s daughter and the first night at Hogwarts! Surely it could be forgiven, right?

He heard from a passing ghost that Charlie had indeed made it back safely. Well, at least that was one thing off his mind. Now he just had to get the new Head of Slytherin out of it. Much as he hated to admit it, Lucifer did go to bed at least mildly pissed that night, his last thought before bed a promise that he would never work with a man like Alastor Boudreaux even if he had to jump into the Giant Squid’s mouth to avoid doing so.

First-year Transfiguration was definitely one of the hardest classes in Hogwarts’ entire curriculum. Lucifer did his absolute best each time to really make sure he was teaching to drive the point home, even offering longer office hours than other teachers just so he could have multiple passes to go over the basics with the first-years. Still, as he walked around the classroom, he couldn’t help but feel a distinct sense of pride when he saw the tiny gleams of silver among the seemingly endless pile of matchsticks. They were only four months into the year and he was already beginning to see progress; it filled Lucifer with the sort of teacher’s pride that would be quite out of place anywhere else.

“Mr. Dust, if you keep trying to light your matchstick, that’ll be a week’s worth of detention for you,” Lucifer said as he passed by a desk shared by two boys. Dust, the student in question, put down his match with an extremely unsubtle roll of his eyes. His desk partner, Husk, took that exact moment to flick said match off his desk, causing Dust to protest. Lucifer ignored them and turned his attention to the young girl seated behind them.

“Ms. Niffty, please make sure you’re not using the entire supply of matchsticks. Leave enough for the rest of the class.”

Niffty, last name unknown, simply looked up at him and blinked her large eyes. Out of all the students in the room, she had struggled the least with turning matchsticks into needles, if the giant pile of gleaming silver needles next to her was anything to go by. In fact, if anything, she was struggling to turn them back.

“Okay, Professor Morningstar!” she chirped cheerfully as she waved her wand and turned yet another matchstick into a needle.

Lucifer sighed. “Ms. Niffty. Please work on changing at least twenty of those back.”

“You got it!”

He reached the very back of the room now, where on the first day of class, his daughter had all but run to. She had avoided his eye at the time, concentrating on cheerfully dragging Vaggie to this desk and sitting down behind it. Even now, she avoided looking at him completely as he approached, instead pointing her wand at her matchstick and sometimes tapping it. Of all the students in his class, Charlie was now the only one whose matchstick lacked even the tiniest glimmer of silver.

“Ms… Morningstar,” Lucifer said, causing Charlie to squeak and drop her wand. Wide, starry periwinkle eyes blinked up at her father, mouth held in a tiny, fearful frown. God, he hated this look on her. She had it on her whenever he so much as breathed in her general direction, which was unfortunately quite often. “Is there something you’re struggling with? Do you need any extra help? My office hours are open if-“

“N-nope! No, sir, no need! I’m good!” Charlie said cheerfully, though her eyes remained fearful. She picked up her wand and began poking her matchstick. “Here, lemme show you! And a one, and a two, and a-“

The stick caught fire. So did the pile next to it. Charlie squeaked as she waved her wand, clearly desperately trying to put it out. Lucifer blinked, mind distracted as he stared at it. He knew that wand very well: hornbeam and Veela hair core, nice and springy. He couldn’t believe Lilith actually kept that for her.

Oh, wait, his classroom was on fire.

“Aguamenti,” Lucifer said, a small spring of water shooting from his wand tip. Now that the matches were soaked, Lucifer waved his wand again, vanishing the water. The matches dried instantly.

Immediately, the apologies began.

“P-Professor, I’m so, so, so sorry! I didn’t mean to do it, promise! I’ll make it up to you. I-I’ll do extra homework. I’ll-“

“Charlie,” Lucifer said, smiling as he put a hand on her… desk. Right. He couldn’t touch her shoulder. “It’s alright. I know Veela core wands can be a bit temperamental. If you want to apologize, why don’t you come to my office hours later and we’ll go over some basics, okay? Last thing I want is for you to try practicing on your own and starting another fire.”

She sniffed, hesitation and nerves flitting all over her features. “I-I… okay. Okay, sure. I’ll come see you this afternoon.”

He almost jumped for joy.

Lucifer stared at the block of pinewood on his desk. It was rather nice looking, if a bit dusty. Maybe he should just go out and buy another one? But where would he get the time to do that between all of his duties? And he really, really would prefer spending his day off working on this latest project rather than just staring at wood. Then again, the wood was necessary for this project. And high-quality wood was important-

A knock on his door snapped the Head of Ravenclaw House from his thoughts. He set aside the wood and cleared his throat.

“Enter.”

The door opened, revealing golden hair and periwinkle eyes. Lucifer grinned as Charlie stepped into his office, large eyes taking in every inch. There were numerous portraits on his walls of all sorts of famous wizards, from Satanael the Strong to Belph the Relaxed. On the bookshelf in the corner of his room were rows upon rows of rubber ducks, a silly Muggle item that Lucifer had taken to collecting in the last seven years. A few of her childhood drawings were framed at the very top of the bookshelf; Lucifer’s favorite was, of course, the one of him riding a giant duck.

“Thank you for showing me the way, Professor Boudreaux!” Charlie chirped over her as she entered the room. 

What?

Alastor Boudreaux’s smile lit up his face even more as he tilted his head in her direction. “Not a problem at all, Ms. Morningstar. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful office hour with our dear Professor Morningstar here. Especially if he’s teaching you Transfiguration, not Charms!”

Don’t cuss in front of the kid. Don’t cuss in front of the kid. Don’t cuss in front of the kid.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Boudreaux?”

A touch of madness in those red eyes. “Nothing at all, Morningstar. I am simply referring to the… ah… absolutely pathetic excuse of a Patronus you tried to cast on me the night we met.”

Lucifer saw red. He was lucky there wasn't a quill in his hand, otherwise he would’ve snapped it. And Alastor was lucky he didn’t have his wand out or he’d suddenly find himself transfigured into a ferret or something. He took a deep breath. Exhale. He was not going to let this man get under his skin.

“I… I’m out of practice,” he said. “A-and maybe I just didn’t have a strong enough happy memory. Either way, shouldn’t you be - I don’t know - doing your own office hour? Or are you too busy hovering around like a Dementor to actually do your job?”

Alastor narrowed his eyes, smile never dropping. “Well. I’ll have you know that, in fact, I was holding office hours just now. Your daughter is such an excellent Defense Against the Dark Arts caster. Why, I’m so proud of her I could bust!”

Out of the corner of his eye, Charlie’s smile lit up her face. She seemed to preen under the other professor’s praise. Lucifer’s stomach twisted itself into knots at the sight. Out of all the goddamn teachers, why him?

Breathe.

“Thank you for escorting her here, Professor Boudreaux. I think it’s high time we both get to work now.”

A tilt of his head. “As you wish, Morningstar.” And then, he was gone.

Lucifer turned now to the little girl seated before him, her smile sliding off her face as soon as the DADA teacher left. She kicked her legs, bunching her robes in her hand. Those big starry eyes darted between him, the wood on his desk, and the pictures on the wall. 

The Head of Ravenclaw was first to speak. “So… how are you liking school?”

A pause. “… It’s good.”

“That’s good.”

More silence. Charlie bunched up her robes even tighter now, mouth trembling. Lucifer cleared his throat as he opened his desk and pulled out a box of matches.

“Transfiguration is a pretty complex branch of magic, so don’t think that you’re any less skilled than your classmates just because you’re having a little trouble with this first one,” Lucifer said. “I’ve had plenty of students who struggled with matches at first, but by the end of the year were so far ahead of their peers they were basically third-years.” He smiled gently. “So, don’t worry, I’ll make sure that you’re learning how to transfigure these in no time.”

Charlie blinked. “… Um, thank you.”

He rolled two matches out of the box and placed them on the table. Then, he pulled out his wand and gestured for Charlie to pull out her own. The hornbeam wand appeared again, the hand-carved apple leaves flashing beautifully in the light streaming from Lucifer’s window. 

It really was a work of art.

“Start by clearly visualizing your intent,” Lucifer said. “Close your eyes if you need to.”

Charlie did, brow furrowing as her grip tightened on her wand. It was shaking. With a small lick of his tongue, Lucifer gently reached out and touched the tip of the trembling wand.

“Hey, no need to be so nervous. Relax your grip.” He waited until she did so. “Good. Okay, now envision it clearly. The match is shrinking. It’s growing thinner. Silver is slowly covering it. And it’s getting pointier now. Pointier and pointier until it pricks you. Focus on that. How long is the needle? How pointy is the tip? How shiny is it?”

Charlie nodded. “I see it.”

“Excellent. Now, open your eyes and let’s practice the movement.” Lucifer demonstrated it with a quick, subtle downward sweep of his wand. “Take the transformation from the tip of the match to the point of the needle.”

Charlie copied the motion, though she went a little too quick. He corrected it, but now she was going at too much of a slant. Another correction, but now going at too little of a slant. More gentle corrections. Soon enough, she was replicating the movement of his wand perfectly.

“Alright, now I want you to do that movement over the match and focus on changing it bit by bit. Start at its head and focus on how you want to change wood into metal. Don’t stop focusing on it. Make sure you’re concentrating hard.”

She tried, only to come up with nothing. Then, she tried again. And again. And again. Each time, the little match stubbornly refused to give up its form. He could see her disappointment in the slump of her shoulders, the quiver of her mouth. It broke his heart to see it.

“Hey, don’t worry about it, kiddo. It just takes practice,” he said as Charlie tried to transfigure the needle for the eighth or ninth time. “You won’t get it on your first try. No one does! In fact-“

“B-but… But I’m a Morningstar,” Charlie whispered, tears springing to her eyes. “I… I have to be able to do this.”

Lucifer blinked. “I… I mean, yes. You are a Morningstar. But what does that have to do with this?”

One hand bunched up her robes. The one that held her wand trembled. “I-I… I have to be able to do magic. All kinds of magic.” A spark danced along the wand tip. Shit.

“CharChar-“

His desk was on fire now. The spark from Charlie’s wand had ignited the match, which caused Charlie to flinch back. The sudden movement caused the match to roll into the block of pinewood, immediately catching it aflame. Lucifer let out a small shout of surprise as he waved his own wand, sending a large jet of water to put out the flames. By the time they were gone, the rest of his desk was fine, but the block of pinewood was now charred to ash.

Oh well. He needed to get a new one anyways.

A tiny sob reached his ears. Lucifer whirled around, quickly moving from behind his desk as silvery tears ran down his daughter’s rosy cheeks. He reached out to hug her as he had always done seven years ago, but she recoiled, shoving him away. He stood there, mouth agape, unable to believe what had just happened. For her part, Charlie looked up at him through tears, sniffling and coughing.

“I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Dad! P-please don’t hate me anymore!”

And with that, she was gone, leaving her father standing there with an empty office and a horrible, unending pit in his chest.

Chapter Text

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

Alastor Boudreaux looked up from where he was reading some sort of journal and narrowed his eyes, smile never faltering. “Ah, Professor Morningstar. So good to see you.” He leaned back on the desk he sat on. “I bet you’re excited to be the tallest person in this room for once! At least until I stand up.”

Lucifer scowled. “What are you doing here? Rosie told me that she’d be the one helping me run Dueling Club today.”

Alastor closed his book with a snap. “Interesting. She told me that I would be working with her today.” He sneered. “It would be better that way. I wouldn’t need to adjust my aim so much.”

“God, you are such an asshole, you know that?”

A hum. “I don’t pretend to be otherwise, little professor.”

The rumble of metal against stone interrupted them. Lucifer blinked as he cast his gaze over to the mirrored wardrobe in the back of the room. It was clearly trembling and shaking violently. Someone had actually wrapped a chain around it. He raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Alastor, who shrugged.

“Rosie did mention that there was a Boggart here. It shouldn’t be a problem at all as long as it stays in the wardrobe. Our dear Caretaker should be able to dispose of it by tonight.”

“Why is there even one of those in here?” Lucifer asked. His scowl deepened when Alastor cocked his head, his grin turning shit-eating. “Isn’t it your literal job to help prevent these things from infesting the castle?”

“I would hardly call a single Boggart an infestation, Morningstar,” Alastor said, voice dripping with condescension. “Besides, it’s always useful to keep one of those around. They can come in handy for practicing defensive spells. For example, just the other day, your daughter was able to-”

“Wait. What the fuck? You sent Charlie up against one?” Lucifer asked, aghast. “She’s… she’s a second-year! You’re not supposed to introduce those things until she’s a third-year!”

Alastor hummed. “Morningstar, don’t tell me you’ve taken to ignoring Charlie’s accomplishments! What would the other students’ parents say?”

Lucifer narrowed his eyes. “...Of course I’ve been paying attention. She goes to my classes too.”

Alastor chuckled, a sound that caused something very unwelcome to pool at the base of Lucifer’s spine. “Then I’m sure you know that she’s top of her class in Defense Against the Dark Arts. She handles a Boggart with remarkable skill!”

Lucifer’s heart swelled with pride, only to be quickly tempered by a pang of frustration as the image of Charlie being the last in her class to turn a rat into a cup - one that was still covered in fur, had a nasty tail, and smelled awful - flashed through his mind. “...She’s… doing fine in Transfiguration.”

Mirth flashed behind those red eyes, Alastor’s grin simmering down to something far darker. “Is she now? That’s quite good. With a name as illustrious as yours, I was worried that you were being too hard on her.”

Lucifer stiffened, his jaw clenching as he watched the way the sunlight glinted off of Alastor’s silver-rimmed glasses, momentarily distracted by the subtle smirk playing on the other wizard’s lips. He swallowed, forcing himself to focus. “I’m not treating her differently than any other student.” 

Alastor’s grin softened slightly, losing some of its mocking edge. “And yet, that’s precisely where you’re mistaken, isn’t it? She’s not just any other student. She’s your daughter. The balance between fairness and favoritism is quite delicate, wouldn’t you say?” 

Before Lucifer could say anything else, the door opened behind him. The second-years were already filing in. Charlie was among them, chatting animatedly with her little friend, Vaggie, and surprisingly Angel Dust. Lucifer raised an eyebrow as the boy trailed into the room, hands in his pockets. Angel was a strong wizard with a strong penchant for Charms, but he never went out of his way to attend extracurricular activities. In fact, he was much more likely to be found in some dark corner of the castle, ready to play a prank on whatever unfortunate student would happen to be walking by.

It was usually Husk.

The group of students had by now finished filling the room, with Charlie and her friends taking up some spots on the opposite side of the dueling grounds. They chose to stand near where Alastor had decided to sit. Lucifer watched, irritation shooting through him as Charlie cheerfully waved at Alastor before asking him a question. This caused the DADA professor to laugh as he answered, earning him a laugh back from her. For a brief moment, she looked over towards Lucifer, her smile faltering ever so slightly as she began twisting her robes in her hands.

Ever since that small incident in his office during her first year, the two had little interaction beyond what was required during Transfiguration class. Things were… still icy. She still trembled and twisted her robes whenever she saw him. But at least she didn’t cry anymore, right? That had to count for something.

There was a distinct lack of Rosie among the gathered crowd. Ugh. Well, Lucifer wasn’t going to cancel Dueling Club just because he didn’t like the guy he was going to demonstrate with. Oh well. Maybe he could knock the DADA professor down a few pegs during their little demonstration duel.

“Let’s all settle down now,” Alastor said as he stood up from the desk. He joined Lucifer at the center of the room. “Professor Morningstar is a very busy man and doesn’t want to waste his time teaching silly things like dueling.”

Prick.

“Thanks for your concern, Professor Boudreaux, but I’m more than happy to be here,” Lucifer said, flashing a smile at the other. Then, he turned to the students. “Welcome to your first dueling lesson. Before you begin, it’s important to know the rules of dueling. First things first, you must issue the challenge.”

He turned to face Alastor now, doing his absolute best to look at nothing but the other man’s deep maroon gaze. Nevermind how distracting that mess of auburn hair or that strong jaw was. No. He needed to focus.

“Professor Boudreaux, I challenge you to a wizarding duel.”

The corners of those pretty maroon eyes crinkled. “I accept. Where and when will this duel take place?”

Lucifer raised his wand. “Here. And now.” He sneered. “Try to keep up, won’t you?”

Alastor’s eyes narrowed as he raised his own wand. Huh. That's hornbeam, 15 inches. He wondered what the core was. “Believe me, I’ll need to. If I don’t, all my spells might just sail right over your head.”

He and Alastor walked to opposite sides of the room, keeping their wands raised. Once they reached the two moon phases on the floor marking the proper distance for dueling, they turned around and bowed low. Or at least, Lucifer bowed low. Alastor barely bent at the waist. 

“Before you begin the duel, it’s always proper to bow to your opponent,” Lucifer said, eyes narrowing at the other man. “And Professor Boudreaux was so kind as to show us the absolute wrong way to bow. Thank you for being so thoughtful, Professor.”

One of Alastor’s eyes twitched. “The pleasure is all mine, my dear Professor Morningstar. Now, please pay attention, students. The next step of the duel is- Expelliarmus!”

Lucifer let out a very un-professor-like gasp as his wand flew out of his hand, landing with an unceremonious thud on the floor behind him. Before he could so much as react, another spell shot past his ear, causing his wand to sail away even further. 

Oh that motherfucker.

The Transfiguration professor dove for his wand, narrowly dodging the red beam of the Stunning Spell. As soon as the apple wood was in his hand once again, he jumped to his feet, blasting a Full Body-Bind Curse the other man’s way. Alastor’s eyes flashed dangerously as he quickly put up a Shield Charm, only to have to jump out of the way when Lucifer followed up with a Bat Bogey Hex.

For a few minutes, the two men exchanged spell after spell, the atmosphere around them growing more and more tense as each nonverbal blast was dodged, blocked, or reflected. Dust and smoke were starting to fill the arena, the tips of their wands glowing with vibrant, almost hypnotic light. The shadows shifted around them, playing across their faces like flickering candlelight. Alastor’s sharp cheekbones, angular jaw, and flashing red eyes were thrown into even greater relief here, a deadly yet beautiful creature that seemed to dance as he dodged and weaved between Lucifer’s spells.

Alastor took one step forward, eyes wild with manic glee. “Levicorpus!”

The flash of light was the only warning for the Dangling Jinx to come. Lucifer knew he was much too slow to dodge it, but that was fine - there was more than one way to dodge a spell. Without a second thought, he leaped forward, his entire body shrinking and elongating into a powerful, sinuous force. An albino death adder with golden markings around the eyes hit the dueling grounds hard before darting forward, brandishing sharp fangs. In the next second, he had once again transformed into a man, the Head of Ravenclaw sneering as he pointed his wand directly at Alastor’s chest, watching with glee as the man’s red eyes widened.

“Everte statum!”

His spell blasted the Head of House Slytherin back across the battlefield. Lucifer sneered in satisfaction as the other wizard sailed backwards, slamming hard against the wardrobe on the other side of the room. The students near it scattered, running to the opposite end. Only Charlie remained. In fact, she actually ran forward as though to check if Professor Boudreaux was alright. He fell to the ground with a groan as she approached, clutching his side. Suddenly, the chain holding the doors together came undone.

Oh fuck.

“Charlie!”

His daughter was standing directly in front of the wardrobe. Fuck. Lucifer ran forward and slid in front of her, chest tightening horribly as a terrifyingly cold and ominous chill crept through the air, icy tendrils curling around him like ghostly fingers. The entire world seemed to shudder under the weight of an impending darkness, a cold found only in the deepest of tombs. A palpable sense of dread entered his soul, wrapping around his heart and squeezing it for every drop of joy he had ever felt.

(“Get over here and die, blood traitor!”)

(“Lilith! Lilypad, we gotta go! We gotta go now!”)

The whisper of lost souls intertwined with mournful wails, an anguished symphony swimming through his mind. A skeletal hand with long, bony fingers gripped the edge of the wardrobe. The promise of a dark, bleak, horrible future approached at a rapid pace.

(“Luci… Luci, it hurts! It hurts! I can’t move!”)

(“Lily, hold on! Please, please, please! Hold on!”)

(“Kill me! Kill me, kill me, KILL ME!”)

Charlie’s birth. Yes, the sight of his beautiful, golden-haired, bright-eyed little girl held in his wife’s loving embrace. The way she reached out and gripped his fingers in a tiny, warm hand. He raised his wand. “Expecto patronu-“ 

(“It’s best that she forget about magic. Forget about you.”)

(“I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Dad! P-please don’t hate me anymore!”)

The silvery wisp at the end of his wand fizzled before it could even take form. The cold hand that held his soul crushed it even harder, freezing the Transfiguration professor in place. He stood there, staring down this horrible creature, wand trembling uselessly in his hand.

He was going to fail her.

The creature let out a deathly rattle, then glided forward, the temperature of the room instantly plummeting as it dashed towards him and Charlie. Its breath hissed in its chest, a deathly wheeze that seemed to echo through the room. Oppressive cold seemed to radiate from its very being as its skeletal hands stretched out towards the pair, clawing for any amount of happiness they had. 

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him, black robes and auburn hair billowing as he faced down the Dementor. Professor Alastor Boudreaux snarled as he threw one hand to the side to shield Lucifer and Charlie, using his other to raise that Hornbeam wand.

“Expecto patronum!”

From out of the tip burst a four-legged beast of some sort, which cantered quickly towards the Boggart-turned-Dementor. It slammed its head into the creature, causing it to trip and fall. Almost immediately, warmth flooded the room again, releasing the cold grip on Lucifer’s soul and allowing him to raise his own wand.

“Riddikulus!” 

The Dementor suddenly turned bright blue with a rubber duck pattern, as though Lucifer had thrown a kid’s blanket on top of it. Alastor let out a barking laugh before blasting the dark creature back into the wardrobe, the powerful chain wrapping around the object and once again trapping the Boggart inside. For a few moments, the two professors stood there panting, staring at the space the Boggart had once occupied. Then, as though waking up from a trance, Alastor shook his head and turned to face Lucifer.

“Ms. Morningstar needs to go to the Hospital Wing,” he said, posture stiff. There was a distinct sheen of sweat on his brow, his wand hand trembling ever so slightly. “She… She needs chocolate.”

For once, Lucifer agreed with the man. Without another word, he offered his own trembling hand to Charlie, the young girl still pale and shaken from her encounter with the Boggart. She blinked at the hand offered to her then looked over at Alastor, one hand once again starting to twist her robes.

“B-but… what about Professor Boudreaux?”

Lucifer swallowed and looked over at Alastor, who was examining the wardrobe. For a moment, sky blue met deep red. Then, Alastor gave him the slightest shake of his head. 

“He’s fine, Ms. Morningstar,” Lucifer said, using every ounce of his training as a teacher to keep his voice from trembling. “He’s a… very skilled wizard.” He turned to face Charlie fully now, a small smile on his face. “But this is your first encounter with a Dementor, right? It must’ve been horrible. We’ll need to get you to the hospital wing to make sure you’re okay.”

It took another long pause before Charlie reached out and hesitantly took his hand in hers. Then, without another word, he walked out with her hand-in-hand, past the whispers and stares of the other students. Over his shoulder, he heard Alastor force out a few jovial words, clearly telling the students that it was best they continue Dueling Club. He didn’t know how the man did it - one single Dementor encounter was enough to leave Lucifer drained for probably the next three days.

They walked to the Hospital Wing in silence, Charlie twisting her robe the entire way. When they finally made it there, the matron immediately rushed his daughter to the nearest bed. He walked over and sat at her bedside while she rushed around, snapping pieces off a bar of Honeydukes chocolate. Not wanting to be left out, Lucifer also conjured a mug and handed it to the young witch. Another wave of his wand filled it with warm, soothing hot chocolate with a touch of cinnamon, a drink that he always made sure that the House Elves kept well-stocked in the kitchen. This was the drink he would make her whenever she had nightmares. They would sit together and sip their drinks while he told her whimsical stories from The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

It seemed that Charlie remembered this drink well; her big periwinkle eyes lit up like stars the moment she smelled the sweet notes of chocolate and cinnamon emanating from the cup. Small, pale hands reached out and took the offered drink before she sat back and began sipping from it. Just like he had done all those years ago, Lucifer conjured up his own drink and leaned back. The sweet, rich hot chocolate danced across his tongue, chasing away the last of the Dementor’s chill. For a few moments, they sat there in companionable silence, sipping their hot chocolate and sharing the little piece of Honeydukes chocolate the matron had given them both.

Ever the teacher and father, Lucifer was first to break the silence. “You doing alright, kiddo?”

Charlie blinked and took a long sip of her drink. “…Yeah. I’m okay now.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah…” She looked down at her drink, then reached over and started nibbling on a bar of chocolate. “That was… really scary.” She paused. “Was that a real Dementor?”

Lucifer shook his head. “No. That was a Boggart. They’re dark creatures that can shapeshift to take on the form of the thing you fear the most. You’ll learn more about them next year.” He shifted in his chair slightly, playing with the rim of his mug. “I- Charlie. Did you… did you hear anything when that thing was in front of you? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but-“ the words “I’m your father” and “I love you” died on his lips. Was there another Dementor in this room? That cold, chilling hand was squeezing his soul once again.

Another sip. “… I… I heard Mom.” The voice was so tiny that Lucifer had to strain to hear her. Her large periwinkle eyes filled with tears. He leaned forward and put his mug on the bedside table, taking one of her hands. Unlike before, she didn’t recoil or push him away.

“What do you mean?”

She sniffled. “Mom… has a lotta nightmares. She screams a lot at night when she’s asleep. She always tells me she’s fine when I ask her, but she doesn’t sound fine. She keeps saying no and screaming and crying. She… sometimes, she screams for you, but then tells you to leave and-“

Her voice reached fever pitch, warbling with unshed tears. Lucifer placed his other hand on top of hers and squeezed tightly, his chest and stomach twisting. Yes, he knew about those nightmares. He had spent many a night up with Lilith, holding her and whispering to her while she sobbed and begged in her dreams. After they divorced, he had hoped that she would find solace and healing in her own way, but… well. It seemed like she hadn’t let go of her own demons yet.

“Your mom… suffered a lot before you were born,” Lucifer said. He gave her a tiny smile, then reached up and wiped her tears away with his thumb. “I’ve told you before, she was a fighter, right? Probably the bravest creature I’ve ever known. During the Great War, she was a spy for our side. I was still pretty fresh from Hogwarts so I didn’t know what I was doing. She’s the one that showed me the way. That showed me what true magic was all about. I’m only where I am today because of her.”

Another sniffle. A wipe of snot on the sleeve of her robe. Lucifer wrinkled his nose and conjured up some tissues, which she used to blow. She sounded like a baby elephant. So cute. “But… Mom hates using magic at home…”

A sudden, searing pain lanced through his chest, snatching his breath away. For a brief moment, the world became frozen again, the ghostly hand carefully winding its way around his heart. He took a deep breath and popped some chocolate into his mouth, willing the horrible feeling away. There was no Dementor here. He was not going to give in.

“She… hasn’t liked magic since the war. Magic hurt her very, very much. She wants more than anything to make sure it won’t hurt you either. So when you developed your magic a little bit late, she was fine with that. Much less things to hurt you.”

A long silence stretched between them as Charlie took in this information. From the tiny glint behind her periwinkle eyes, he could tell she was digesting it carefully. Uncomfortable in this sudden quietude, he reached out and popped another bit of Honeydukes chocolate into his mouth. The normally sweet, delicious treat turned to ash in his mouth. His stomach quivered. A wave of nausea rolled over him.

“Is… Is that why you never came home?” Charlie whispered. She was back to twisting her robe now. “You hated me… because I developed my magic so late?”

“No!” That came out much louder than he meant it to. Lucifer had actually shot up from his seat. He earned a sharp glare from the Hospital Wing’s matron as a result. Charlie shrank back into her bed in surprise. “No, I’m- sorry. I’m sorry.” He sat down and took a deep breath, praying that his hammering heart would just stop it already. “I never, ever hated you, Charlie. I could never. Merlin’s beard, is that what you’ve been thinking all this time?” 

The silvery tears were back in those periwinkle eyes now. She rubbed at her eyes with the tissues he had conjured up. Without thinking, Lucifer reached out and wrapped her in his arms, squeezing her tiny body as she shook and shook and shook with unspoken emotion. A warm wetness traveled down his own cheeks. Fuck. He was crying too.

“Y-you used to tell me that I’m a Morningstar,” she hiccuped. “Th-that there was strong magic in my b-blood. S-so when I d-didn’t get magic u-until I was t-ten, I thought-“ another hiccup. “I thought-!”

“I’m so sorry,” Lucifer said. He squeezed her even tighter as she turned and buried her face into his robe. The tissues were long forgotten now. “CharChar… kiddo…” Another squeeze. “I never hated you. I was never disappointed that you hadn’t developed your magic yet. Hell, even if you never did, I wouldn’t have cared. I’m-“ the words “I’m a blood traitor” died in his throat. No. He couldn’t tell her about that just yet. “I’m so proud of you. You’ve grown up into a bright, smart, amazing kid. You’re going to be an even better adult. Being a witch? That’s just a bonus.” He nuzzled her hair, then placed a few featherlight kisses on her temple. She giggled, her old childhood ticklishness coming back to light. “I’m sorry I didn’t come home. I… there were things I had to do. Something very important I had to protect. It hurt me every day to not come home to you… I can’t even imagine how much it hurt you.”

Charlie was outright bawling now, her tears soaking the front of his robes. She clung onto him like a lifeline, trying to speak in between hiccups and sobs. He held onto her, long fingers rubbing circles into her back. The chill had vanished now, to be replaced only by a deep, deep warmth - the warmth of a father’s love. A love he had denied his little girl for far too long.

After what felt like forever, Charlie pulled away, red rawness settling around her eyes. She looked up at him, bottom lip quivering, then smiled. It was the most beautiful thing Lucifer had ever seen. One hand reached out and pointed to the pocket where he had stowed his wand.

“Can you… do that thing again? Paint me a picture with magic?”

Who was he to deny her?

He started by bathing the space over her bed in a golden, ethereal glow. Then, he added miniature stars that danced playfully around her head, casting a warm radiance that transformed her world into a celestial haven. Her bedsheets came alive with animated images of roaring dragons, soaring phoenixes, and playful merpeople - whimsical fairy tales come alive. Wispy tendrils of magic swirled from his wand next as he painted first a cloudy canopy above her head, then a glorious night sky. The twinkling stars around her head leaped up and arranged themselves, making millions of constellations in a beautiful celestial ballet. He allowed it to linger for just a few moments more before he flicked his wand and the constellations froze in place, settling gently above his daughter’s head.

Those periwinkle eyes were shining now, a pair of twin stars twinkling just above his daughter’s rosie little cheeks. She reached up and touched a constellation, giggling as the star seemed to hug her finger. Then, she yawned and settled into the pillows, pulling her blanket up to her chin. 

Perhaps it was time for him to go.

As he got up to leave, a small hand reached out and stopped him. The tiny girl in bed smiled up at him, a new, unreadable spark behind her adorable gaze. A tiny smile played on her lips.

“Professor Boudreaux was really brave today, wasn’t he, Dad?”

His mind conjured up a vivid image of Alastor standing in front of them, one arm thrown out to protect Charlie. His robes billowed around him, maroon eyes sharp and stormy. The roughly-carved hornbeam wand was held aloft, steady in well-practiced hands. The light of his Patronus cast his dark skin in silver, highlighting his high cheekbones, ski-slope nose, and sharp jaw. He stood brave before the oncoming Dementor, a stubborn post weathering the force of a sweeping maelstrom.

Beautiful.

“… Yes. Yes, he was.”

A few days later, an owl landed in front of him while he was eating breakfast. He tossed a sickle into the carrier owl’s bag, then gently untied the package from its feet. The owl stole one of his pancakes before taking off, that little bastard. Lucifer made a mental note to write a complaint to the Owl Post later. More importantly, he checked his package. The block of pinewood was radiant in its simplicity, its surface a canvas of gold-hued grains. It seemed to emanate a warm, earthy fragrance that invited the touch and invaded the mind. His fingertips danced across intricate patterns of rings and knots etched on its surface, mind already racing on what he could use it to create. Now all he needed was to select a-

A heavy weight dropped into the chair next to him, snapping the Transfiguration professor from his thoughts. He looked up and, once again, sky blues met deep reds. He swallowed, suddenly feeling a bit… light-headed. Alastor Boudreaux smiled down at him, hair just a little bit more mussed than usual today. He had switched out his professor's robe for a well-fitted dress shirt, maroon vest, and matching bowtie. It was a… very distracting combination.

“Fancy seeing you here, Morningstar,” Alastor said, the corner of his smile widening just a bit. 

Lucifer coughed as he set his now cold pancakes aside, pocketing the pine wood block. “Um, yeah, hi. I literally eat breakfast here.”

“I’m well aware,” Alastor said with a small shrug. Then, he picked up a goblet, swirling it carefully. There was some sort of fruit juice in that goblet - a red one. It was creepy watching him sip it, kinda like watching a vampire drink blood or something. “I was actually hoping to run into you soon. I… have a proposition.”

“Does it have something to do with getting you out of that getup?” Lucifer asked before he could stop himself. At the other’s raised eyebrow, he coughed and gestured to Alastor’s outfit. “You’re outta uniform. I just figured you accidentally set your robes on fire or something and need to borrow another set.”

Alastor let out a low laugh and shook his head, placing the now empty goblet down. “Not at all! I simply felt like wearing something else today. I never was one to follow the rules quite as much.” Something dark and dangerous flashed behind those eyes, the smile turning into something sharp-toothed and mischievous. “Why? Do you like what you see, Morningstar?”

He wasn’t going to fucking answer that.

“What do you want from me?”

Alastor tilted his head and hummed, one slim finger tracing the mouth of the goblet. “I… have a proposition for you.”

Lucifer raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “You said that already. Are you going senile or are you just that forgetful?” He stuffed a pancake into his mouth and chewed slowly. “So… what kind of proposition? An Unbreakable Vow?”

A low snicker. “Of course not! What would I ever gain from your untimely demise?” Alastor shook his head. “No, just a small deal. A favor for a favor. It won’t hurt anyone, believe me.”

Lucifer narrowed his eyes. “I’m listening.”

That smile widened even more. “You’re an Animagus.” It wasn’t a question.

“I am.”

“I’d like you to teach me to become one as well.”

A beat of silence. Lucifer tilted his head as he regarded his co-worker, blue eyes searching the other’s face for any sign of malice, any hint that this could go wrong. Most wizards didn’t bother becoming Animagi, simply because the process was long, complicated, and risky with honestly little reward. The entire Morningstar family were Animagi and Lucifer was no exception; even he had found occasional use for his serpentine form. But for the everyday witch or wizard? There were plenty of more efficient ways to go about their day.

“Why in the name of Merlin’s wrinkly left nutsack would you want to become one?”

Alastor tilted his head now, a dangerous little glint behind those red eyes. “I’m a teacher, Morningstar. I’m always yearning to learn something new. Besides, your use of your Animagus form was, dare I say, quite brilliant in our duel. I’d like to make use of a form of my own.”

He really, really hoped Alastor would have a stupid Animagus form. Like a wombat or a slug or something. Yeah. Something totally not fierce and cool like how he looked when facing off against that Boggart-turned-Dementor.

“And what will you be doing for me in exchange?”

Again, a dangerous little glint flashed behind the other man’s maroon eyes. “You failed to cast a proper Patronus once again. I’ll give you private tutoring lessons so you can cast a much, much stronger one. I can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to cast a corporeal one, but…” he put a finger to his lips. “So long as you can at least cast a half-decent shield, you’ll be able to protect young Charlotte if she ever ends up in front of a Dementor again, won’t you?”

He hated this man. He hated the fact that he saw through his every little barrier, his every shield. He hated the way he knew exactly where his buttons were - and pressed them with glee. Silently, Alastor offered his hand, the grin on his face never faltering.

He should smack that hand away. Say something snarky. Maybe even drag Rosie over and have her discipline the guy somehow. Dammit, why couldn’t professors take away points from other Houses for things the Heads of said Houses did? It’d make his life so much easier.

But… well, it had been years since he could conjure any sort of Patronus. The last time he did was… shit, Charlie was four. The world was so much darker now. So much crueler. Every attempt he had at casting the damn thing since then had just resulted in pale whisps of smoke. 

Lucifer’s hand moved of its own accord, clasping Alastor’s in a firm grip. Warmth spread up his arm, causing his heart to pound and his head to swim. Alastor’s grin widened knowingly as they shook hands, crimson eyes glinting happily. 

“It’s a deal.”

He better not regret this later. 

Chapter Text

Lucifer looked at the snuffbox in front of him. Or, well, it was supposed to be a snuffbox, but it was still fuzzy. And mouse-shaped. And had a tail and whiskers. Oh, but the mouse was definitely a bit shinier than it was before they started! Progress!

Across from his desk, Charlie frowned at her attempt to transfigure and sighed, putting away her wand. She had just barely managed to transform a match into a (very, very, very) blunt needle towards the end of her first year and porcupine into a pin cushion (with the pins sticking out the wrong way) at the end of her second. Now that she had just crested her thirteenth birthday, it was time for her to start on more intermediate Transfiguration exercises. She spent numerous hours in Lucifer’s office, taking these small private tutoring lessons from him any chance she could. Honestly, part of him did wonder what the ethics were behind letting his daughter pass this much, but… well, he really didn’t have an excuse. He just didn’t want to see her crying into his robes ever again.

“Don’t worry about it, kiddo,” he said as he picked up the slightly shinier mouse and stuck it back in its cage. “You’ll get the hang of it eventually. Transforming any kind of living thing is tough. Warm-blooded, complex animals like mammals? Even tougher.” He flashed her an encouraging smile. “But I believe in you.”

Charlie gave him a small, hesitant smile. “Thanks, Dad… uh…” she dug around in her bag and pulled out a familiar looking piece of parchment. “So, I know I should’ve got this signed a long time ago, but… well, you know. Mom doesn’t wanna see anything that comes from school and you’ve been so busy-“

Lucifer held up a hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll sign it.” He grinned. “You gotta go hang out with Vaggie, right? I’d recommend Madam Puddifoot’s, but I don’t think that’s your guys’ style.”

The apples of Charlie’s cheeks turned a bright scarlet. “D-Dad…!”

He laughed. “Kidding, kidding! You two go wherever you want. Just do me a favor and don’t bring anything from Zonko’s into my class.” He signed the Hogsmeade permission slip in his usual loopy yet somewhat strangely aggressive style and handed it back to her, stowing the quill in its inkwell. “I might be your father, but I’m still a teacher. Last thing I want is for Transfiguration to become joke time for everyone. That’s what Defense Against the Dark Arts is for.”

“I’m sure I can find plenty of ways to ward off a Grindylow with a Dungbomb.”

Speak of the devil. The two Morningstars turned to see the Head of Slytherin House in the doorway, grinning widely. He leaned lazily against the frame, dressed in black robes trimmed with bottle green. It clashed rather nicely with his hair and eyes. He had traded his usual silver-rimmed spectacles for a pair of rectangular black ones today, somehow making him look even younger than he actually was. At the sight of him, Charlie perked up, a matching grin spreading over her face.

“Grindylows? Ooh! Are we learning about those next?” The excitement in her voice was palpable. Lucifer would be lying if he didn’t feel his own stomach twisting into knots at the sound of it. Sure, DADA was cool, but what about Transfiguration? They could turn teapots into tortoises for fuck’s sake!

Alastor sent her a small wink. “Not just Grindylows. Kappas and kelpies as well. We’ll be concentrating mostly on water demons this week before we move on to Hinkypunks and other things you’d find in a bog.”

Charlie let out a small squeal. “I can’t wait!”

“Sounds like you’re pretty excited about Defense Against the Dark Arts, huh?” Lucifer asked, leaning his head into his hand. The knot in his stomach twisted further, threatening to choke his insides. “And here I thought Transfiguration was supposed to be the most magical magic of all.”

Charlie’s smile dimmed somewhat, one hand coming up to play with her hair. “O-oh! I mean, don’t get me wrong! I love Transfiguration too! U-um… yeah! Owls into opera glasses and stuff like that-“

“Transfiguration is an incredibly difficult subject,” Alastor said. He reached over and placed a hand on Charlie’s shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. Lucifer was not watching the movement. He was not irritated at the sight of it. “As is Defense Against the Dark Arts. But Professor Morningstar, your daughter is a natural at it. I’ve never seen a student so consistently get such high marks in my short career as a DADA teacher.” Glee danced behind those maroon eyes as Charlie practically glowed with joy. “I would dare call her my most talented student!”

He was so lucky Lucifer didn’t like turning random people into ferrets in front of his kid.

“Here for the final step?” Lucifer asked when Charlie left, vanishing the cage on his desk. Alastor gave him a quick nod before reaching into the pocket of his robes.

“Yes. I also came to deliver a package. It fell into my couche couche this morning and made quite the mess.” He pulled out a tiny wrapped box and handed it over. “I hope it wasn’t damaged.”

Oh. Lucifer quickly undid the packaging and opened the box, checking carefully inside. Suspended in a reinforced glass prism was a small shard of a Horned Serpent horn, glowing a very faint blue. In the silence of his office, he could hear just the tiniest of hums emanating from the item. It was a beautiful little thing, filled with an ancient and wild sort of magic, a power that belonged both to music and nature. He had paid a very, very hefty price for this.

“Thanks. I can’t believe they just randomly delivered it to you,” Lucifer muttered as he put the box away in a locked drawer. He definitely needed to complain to the post now.

Alastor shrugged. “You weren’t at dinner today, which is quite unusual for you. I’ll admit, I almost set your soup on fire trying to keep it warm.”

Lucifer snorted. “More like trying to ruin it and my night.” 

“Mm… I don’t need to do that just to ruin your night. All I have to do is dangle you out the window with a jinx and let the Dementors come say hello." That last part was spat out with a heavy amount of venom, those dark red eyes narrowing as he glared at the fog just outside the window. 

In the wake of the first-ever escape from Azkaban, the very atmosphere of the castle had undergone a palpable transformation. Gone was the carefree laughter and playful banter that had made the corridors so vibrant and welcoming; now there was almost nothing but hushed whispers and wary glances exchanged between both students and staff. The mere mention of the escapee’s name was enough to send shivers down the spine of even the most hard-headed of Gryffindors, a stark reminder of the Dementors’ horribly chilling presence as they stalked the castle grounds.

The teachers had of course fought against the additional security measures that the Ministry had forcefully implemented throughout the castle. The Headmistress had gone so far as to burn the official letters that had come from the Ministry announcing their insistence that Dementors be allowed on the castle grounds. Lucifer himself had gone in and argued about the horrible beasts’ tendency to bring out the most deep-set of trauma in anyone in their vicinity, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Alastor was actually banned from any meeting with members of the Ministry after he had “accidentally” unleashed a Boggart that turned into a Dementor during a meeting. 

The once-bustling courtyards and quads lay silent and deserted as they passed, the students preferring now to remain indoors unless they were going to Hogsmeade. The Dementors’ chilling influence did so much more than silence the school; although classes proceeded as usual, the atmosphere within every classroom was tense and subdued. Students and teachers alike were having so much trouble focusing amidst the potential of a Dementor attack.

They passed Stolas first. The Astronomy teacher was walking alongside his partner, Blitzo. The Care of Magical Creatures teacher was trying (and rather spectacularly failing) to soothe a skittish-looking Niffler nestled in his arms by quietly cursing it out, the normally cheerful creature seemingly subdued by the oppressive atmosphere. As they passed, Stolas gave them a nod, the usual twinkle in his eyes now dimmed with worry.

Carmilla, Head of House Gryffindor, and Zestiel waved at them somberly as the two passed the Charms classroom. Evidently, it had been a joint lesson that day, as Zestiel was levitating a large stack of books, the cover of one clearly labeled Runic Charms: Ancient Ways to Keep Negativity at Bay. With a flick of his wand, Zestiel sent the books flying ahead of them, nearly hitting Valentino as he rounded the corner alongside Velvette and Vox, carrying an arm full of potted Mandrakes. Judging from the heavy cursing behind them, the trio were now arguing with Carmilla and Zestiel, as if professors facing off against each other wasn’t going to bring the school’s mood down even more.

As they passed the entrance to the dungeons, they could hear arguing voices echoing through the stone corridors. From the sound of things, Mammon was insisting that no more potion ingredients should be bought with the school’s budget and Bee, Tex, and Ozzie were arguing against him. Just as Lucifer paused to potentially go down there himself, Pentious’ voice broke through the rabble, declaring that he would personally fund all of the potion ingredients from now on.

Lucifer wished him and his Gringotts vault the best of luck. 

A dark blanket of storm clouds was already starting to roll in by the time they walked out of the castle. A chill swept across the grounds as they continued to walk, a constant, horrible reminder of the dark figures that now called Hogwarts their home. Just outside the castle walls, the Forbidden Forest seemed to hold its breath, ancient trees almost bowing to the freezing power of the Dementors that patrolled the grounds.

Without saying another word to each other, Lucifer and Alastor plunged into the depths of the forest, ignoring the way the fog clung to their robes and obscured the path before them.

The clearing they had chosen for their purposes appeared before them rather quickly. It had taken them a long, winding time to get there, but at least it pretty much guaranteed they wouldn’t be interrupted by anything except maybe a herd of centaurs. Not even the Gamekeeper could get to them without quite a bit of effort. Lucifer checked his watch, frowning when he realized they had about 30 minutes before the sun started to set. After that? Hopefully it was just a matter of time before the predicted lightning storm came.

“How’s our pet Boggart doing?” Lucifer asked as he began weaving spells around the clearing, the applewood and thunderbird feather wand humming quietly in his hand. Alastor snorted as he raised his own wand, carefully stepping through the fog as he too began weaving spells to ward off any living being that came too close to them.

“Wonderfully! I chat with it every night and read it a bedtime story. It shakes the wardrobe extra hard when I tell it to stop turning into a dog for me and turn into a chicken instead. No matter how well I lie to it, it doesn’t ever seem to believe that I’m afraid of chickens.”

“I’m pretty sure those things have innate lie detectors or some shit,” Lucifer said. “Besides, from the way you almost shit your pants the last time it turned into a dog for you, I think it has a pretty good idea of how to get in your head.”

Alastor’s brows furrowed into what Lucifer took to be his version of a scowl, despite the wide grin on his face. “That was a Grim, Morningstar.”

“Grim, dog, same shit,” Lucifer snarked. “Besides, do you really believe in that Divination shit?”

“…Ma was a Seer,” Alastor said quietly. He had frozen at this point, a small wisp of white gently flowing from his wand. His smile was gone. “A true one. Her Inner Eye was second to none.”

Guilt flooded his chest. “Shit, Al. I-“

Alastor shook his head, finishing his spell with a small flourish. The white wisp slowly floated towards the sky, joining the invisible dome of spells surrounding them. “No apologies needed, Professor Morningstar.” The smile was back, a tiny touch of darkness lurking at its corners. “She’s heard much worse things about her and Divination all the way up until the day she died.”

What was this weight he felt in his chest? It was… very strange, as though Alastor’s words had somehow managed to transfigure his heart into lead. Lucifer bit his bottom lip, eyes downcast. “I’m… sorry about your mom.”

Alastor hummed as he spun the hornbeam wand, tiny sparks flying from it. “That’s in the past now. There’s no magic in the world that could bring back the dead.” He paused, the tip of his wand humming lightly as he turned to regard Lucifer with a strange, unreadable emotion flashing behind his eyes. The corners of his smile rose even higher, so much that it had to be painful. “Believe me, I’ve tried. Besides, she was the one who gave me a fear of a silly ghost dog in the first place! Except it kept appearing alongside The Star whenever she read my future, which means the exact opposite of what The Grim is supposed to mean.” He hummed. “Maybe it means when I meet my horrible, untimely end, I’ll do so finally knowing what a Boggart tastes like? That sounds like an excellent way to go!”

Alright, no more lead in his chest now; now it was just some nasty-tasting bile. Lucifer gagged as he shot a glare Alastor’s way. “Why are you… What the fuck, Alastor? Why are you just… talking about eating dark magical creatures?”

The Head of Slytherin laughed. “Because it’s a hobby, Morningstar. It is my goal in life to collect at least one of every creature of the Dark Arts and sample them at least once. The world is too full of fine cuisine not to do that.”

“That is fucked up on so many levels,” Lucifer hissed, still gagging. Shit, why was this man so damn weird?

“Mm… well, suit yourself. I always did pin you as someone less than adventurous,” Alastor said cheerfully. Then, he looked up at the sky, taking note of the endless blanket of storm clouds above them but with no bit of lightning in sight. “How much longer until it all starts?”

As if to answer him, a low, ominous rumble sounded in the distance, echoing off of the surrounding hills and valleys. The wind picked up, whipping through the treetops and sending leaves swirling in chaotic patterns all around them. As the minutes passed, the sky grew increasingly turbulent, the dark clouds overhead swirling and churning like a tempestuous cauldron. The very air became charged with electricity as the two men looked up, watching with anticipation, counting down the seconds until-

A flash of lightning illuminated the sky, jagged streaks of white hot light breaking up the endless blanket of dark gray. Then, the low rumbling growl of thunder followed it. Lucifer forced himself to gaze at Alastor, who grinned back at him, dark eyes eager and almost manic with glee.

“Don’t just stand there, you fucking idiot! Get your potion!”

Alastor lifted his hornbeam wand and pointed it at the tree behind Lucifer’s head. “Accio phial!”

A tiny crystal phial flew from the hollow of the tree behind him, filled with a dark red liquid that looked horribly like blood. Lucifer felt his stomach turn as it landed in Alastor’s hand, the potion inside sloshing precariously against its topper. Without wasting another second, the other wizard then placed his wand-tip against his heart, speaking the words Lucifer had taught him until he could recite them in his sleep.

“Amato Amino Animato Animagus!”

He uncorked the potion and tipped it down his throat next, Lucifer watching the bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed it. Then, he began coughing, clutching his throat as he fell to his knees. Lucifer knew all too well what was happening now: pain. Searing, fiery, intense pain. The sort of pain that not even the Cruciatus curse could touch. This was the pain of a transformation, of a full-body Transfiguration that moved well beyond merely turning one thing into something else. It was the transformation of the physical into the spiritual, the melding of two hearts and two minds into one complete being. It was too late for the man to turn back now; he was either going to succeed here or something was going to go horribly wrong and he would be disfigured and deformed for life.

The air shimmered and crackled with energy as the boundaries between man and beast blurred and shifted. Alastor’s limbs began elongating and contorting, his robes and human form melting away to reveal sleek fur the color of burnished copper. As he threw his head back, a pair of buds upon his brow erupted in a cacophony of spiraling arcs and intricate curves, gleaming like molten gold in the lightning flashing above them. His hands and feet disappeared like mist, revealing a set of powerful ebony hooves. 

Lucifer’s jaw dropped in awe as the stag shook his head, as though trying to shake off the last vestiges of his human disguise to revel in the freedom and power of his new form. The only thing left of Alastor was the silvery markings around his eyes, simulating the silver glasses he almost always wore. He looked first at his wand on the ground, then up at Lucifer, large black eyes flashing as he gazed at the wizard.

There was something wrong.

“Alastor-“

The stag took off running, easily smashing through the magical barrier that he and Lucifer had worked so hard to put up. The Head of Ravenclaw watched in dismay as he disappeared deeper into the forest, heart hammering as he ran forward and knelt to pick up the other man’s wand. Hornbeam wood. 15 inches. Unyielding. And its core was… Thestral hair? He would need to ask about this later.

He remembered his brother’s words well: “Try to avoid panicking when you first transform. Otherwise, the animal mind may gain the ascendency.” It was one of the first things that he had been taught while learning to become an Animagus. If the witch or wizard who was to become an Animagus panicked, then it was more likely that the animal part of their mind would take over instead and they would end up doing something stupid. But that was the thing; why did Alastor panic? Lucifer had been here watching him, and there was no way that the man would just panic out of nowhere. 

A chill filled the air, freezing Lucifer to his very core. The pulsing of dark promises, the curdling of flesh, the chill of an empty tomb surrounded him as the dark creature approached him from behind. Lucifer turned, wand trembling, his feet all but fused to the floor. The specter that floated in front of him shouldn’t be here; they had specifically chosen this clearing because the Dementors never ventured this far. And yet, here it was, reaching out for him with a cold, skeletal hand.

The tall, horrifying creature swathed in robes as dark as night moved into the clearing, sapping every bit of warmth from the very air around him. With each flash of lightning, more and more of it lit up, its tattered robes billowing menacingly around its skeletal form. Lucifer swallowed and held up his wand, his mind desperately clinging onto the memory of seeing his daughter at Hogwarts. Of watching the joy on her face, the laughter on her lips as the Sorting Hat gave Hufflepuff House the honor of having her. With Charlie’s face in his mind, he raised his wand.

“Expecto patronum!”

What came from his wand was neither a silvery beast nor a wispy trail of smoke. Instead, it was a silvery wind, a beautiful luminescence that circled in front of him, creating a transparent shield. The approaching Dementor paused ever so slightly, its movements slowed by the spell before it. It stayed there for just a few seconds before the wind disappeared, once again allowing the horrible, mangling darkness to creep into Lucifer’s soul.

(“You filthy little blood traitor!”)

(“Shame of our house!”)

(“You call yourself a Morningstar!? Then pull out your wand and kill her already!”)

(“Mark my words, Lucifer! The day will come when I’ll rip everything you love from your cold, dead fingers! Starting with that filthy half-breed of yours!”)

Suddenly, a movement caught his eye - a flash of copper, a glimmer of ivory in the midst of the thundering storm. With a thunderous crash, a stag burst forth from the darkness, antlers gleaming like freshly forged steel as it charged headlong towards the Dementor. The dark creature seemed taken by surprise, floating back just a few feet as the stag let out a defiant snort and lowered his head, placing himself between Lucifer and the Dementor. For a brief moment, time stood still as the stag and the Dementor stared at each other. Lucifer looked up and saw a flash of lovely, mischievous red.

“Alastor,” Lucifer said, his voice thick with the chill the Dementor emanated. His hand shook as he reached out towards the beast and was answered with a very slight tip of the stag’s head, its powerful body crouching even lower as the Dementor continued to float there. “I have our wands. We gotta go. We gotta go now.” 

As soon as his fingertips touched the soft auburn fur, his human form dissolved. His muscles rippled and shifted beneath his skin, reshaping and reforming until he emerged with a long, powerful body. Sleek scales the color of freshly fallen snow covered him in an iridescent and pearly sheen. His mind shifted, emotions becoming… simpler. And all at once, the chill of the Dementor’s power all but disappeared, the dark creature’s influence much weaker now that he was in animal form.

He didn’t know whose idea it was, but it was as though the stag whose neck he was wrapped around read his mind. Immediately, Alastor turned tail and galloped towards the castle, ebony hooves nearly flying across the forest floor as they fled the Dementor. The horrible creature seemed a bit confused, as it simply floated there when Lucifer looked back, staring after them. He had once read somewhere that Dementors simply couldn’t comprehend animal emotions quite as well as they could human ones, often dismissing the emotions of Animagi in their animal forms as a human with waning sanity. Perhaps the rumors were true? He certainly hoped so - though he certainly didn’t think it was a good idea to teach students how to become Animagi simply to avoid the horrible influence of the Dementors.

Alastor chose one of the secret passageways into the castle, the one closest to his office. The door to the DADA teacher’s office flew off his hinges with a single strike of antlers on wood, flying past the desk and knocking down a large stack of papers that Alastor’s students had no doubt worked very hard on. The moment he felt the warmth of the roaring fireplace in his colleague’s office, Lucifer slipped off of his neck and transformed into a man once again, the two wands rolling out of his sleeves as he slumped against the wall with a low groan.

The red deer tapped his hooves as he regarded the Head of Ravenclaw, maroon eyes narrowing. Oh, right. His entire job was to teach Alastor how to change back. 

“You know, you really didn’t have to do that,” Lucifer muttered. The stag tilted his head quizzically. If the Head of Ravenclaw didn’t know any better, he could’ve sworn that Alastor was raising one of his eyebrows. “Get in between that thing and me, I mean. You could’ve easily gotten kissed.”

The stag snorted softly, as if to dismiss Lucifer’s concern. His maroon eyes held Lucifer’s blue gaze steadily. Like with any Animagus, there was an unusual, very human depth of intelligence in those eyes. It was a look that told Lucifer everything he needed to know: despite his stag form, Alastor was still in there. He was still in there and in control.

The Head of Ravenclaw sighed, his expression softening. “Don’t be so damn reckless next time. You might be a pro at casting your Patronus or whatever, but you can’t cast shit if you’re a deer. And… well, I can handle myself now, right? You made sure of that.”

The stag’s ears flicked, and he shifted his weight, clearly understanding but unable to respond. Already, Lucifer could see bits of black starting to crawl back into those red eyes - the animal mind threatening to take over once again. It would never do to have a deer loose in the castle. And what would everyone else say if said deer turned out to be their venerable DADA teacher? At best, Alastor would be made fun of for the rest of his teaching career. At worst? It could land him in Azkaban.

No one deserved Azkaban.

“Concentrate,” Lucifer whispered. Letting out a small sigh, two pale hands reached out and gently cupped the deer’s face, feeling the warmth of his fur against his skin. The deer let out a small grunt, red eyes widening at his touch. “Focus on visualizing yourself as clearly as you can. Start at the top of your head, then go down to your toes. Picture the exact size and shape of your eyes; they’re dark maroon if you need help with what color they are. Slow down your heartbeat. If you need help picturing human hands, focus on mine.” He tapped his fingers against the stag’s cheek to emphasize this. “You’re going from warm-blood to warm-blood so it should be a bit easier for you than it was for my first time. Just… focus. Focus on what makes you you.”

The stag’s breathing slowed, his eyes locked onto Lucifer’s with an almost human intensity. Lucifer swallowed, willing the gentle flutter in his chest to stop as warmth flooded through him. After a few moments, Alastor closed his eyes. His form rippled quietly, magic slowly pulsing in the air around them.

As Lucifer’s fingers gently stroked the stag’s fur, Alastor began to shimmer and blur. Slowly, ever so slowly, the auburn fur and ebony hooves receded. The majestic antlers faded into mist. The powerful muscles shifted and pulsed until human hands, arms, feet, and legs reappeared from them. With one last exhale, all traces of deer disappeared, leaving behind Alastor. Stupid, dark, tall, handsome Alastor. A smile appeared on the other wizard’s face. He opened his eyes, revealing deep pools of maroon.

Lucifer let out the breath he didn’t know he had been holding, his heart pounding as his hands lingered on Alastor’s cheeks. Then, the Head of Slytherin cleared his throat and Lucifer immediately removed his hands, immediately feeling the chill of the castle rush past them. Right. Holding your colleague’s face was not the right move here because… because he really wanted to punch that stupid grin off it. Yup. He best distract himself by handing over the hornbeam and Thestral hair core-

Shit.

Alastor had reached out for his wand at the same time. Their hands were touching. Now Lucifer’s stomach felt funny, like there was some sort of winged creature flapping around in it. He wanted to… throw up. Yeah, that’s right. Go find the nearest chamberpot and empty out whatever clearly wasn’t dead enough to be eaten today. And his face was growing warm too. Great. Just fucking perfect. Now he was getting a fever on top of an upset stomach.

Alastor was first to break the silence, quickly snatching his wand and pocketing it. “That… was quite the experience, Morningstar.” He flashed a bright smile. “How about some Butterbeer?”

Lucifer nodded numbly, watching as Alastor opened a nearby drawer and grabbed from their secret stash of Butterbeer and Honeydukes chocolate. Normally, these would be reserved specifically for whenever he was having Lucifer practice on their pet Boggart. But, well… he had faced off a real Dementor today. He had faced it and actually managed to halt it for a bit. That called for the literal biggest celebration ever.

Progress.

“Surprisingly, you didn’t utterly fail to cast a Patronus this time,” Alastor said cheerfully. He popped open his Butterbeer and took a sip before handing Lucifer a second one. “You were actually able to stop that thing for a few seconds. Next time you cast a Patronus, maybe focus on something other than your ex-wife and you’ll be able to slow it down for a full ten seconds!”

“Oh, ha-ha, fuck you,” Lucifer muttered without venom as he took the bottle of Butterbeer and clinked it against Alastor’s. The gentle taste of butterscotch danced along his taste buds, flooding him with warmth and comfort that steadied his hands a bit more. “I’ll have you know that I haven’t thought of her during our lessons since the cockroach incident.”

Alastor hummed as he sipped his own Butterbeer, smile turning wistful. “That was quite fun, I’ll have you know. Nothing like cockroaches crawling out of your Christmas pudding to make things more lively.”

Lucifer glared. “Never again. The Headmistress almost murdered me for that.”

“No need to be so dramatic, Morningstar. Rosie was just a bit upset is all. She found it entertaining too.”

Lucifer simply decided to make the most noncommittal noise he could think of as he sipped some more of his Butterbeer. Then, he snapped off a piece of chocolate and popped it into his mouth, handing the rest of the bar over to Alastor, who put it away and swapped it for a blood lollipop. Freaky wizard. Who actually enjoyed eating those things?

“What the actual fuck was a Dementor doing there anyways?” Lucifer asked. He ran one hand through his platinum locks, then picked up his wand from where it had fallen. “We’ve been going to that place every day for months to do your whole Animagus prep and that thing picked today of all days to appear?”

Alastor bit into the blood lollipop with a hard crunch. “Dementors are drawn to places where they can feed on intense emotions. Fear, despair, hopelessness… those are favored meals. But adrenaline is quite the nice appetizer for them as well. And, well…” he laughed. “The intense pain of a first Animagus transformation combined with their natural ability to heighten negative emotions was likely enough for at least one especially hungry one to come running to us.”

Lucifer blinked. Then, he looked back at his drink. “So that's why you ended up panicking? Because you saw the Dementor coming and didn’t bother warning me?”

Alastor shook his head. “Yes and no. I saw it coming, but that’s not why the animal part of my mind took over.” He hummed. “I felt fear because I saw it coming for you. And after I ran, I fought as ridiculously hard as I could to overcome my own instincts and come back. That’s when I saw you cast that Patronus. It was just enough for me to fully take over again.”

“So you’re saying I did a good job casting that thing?”

“Hmm… I’ll let you decide what I’m trying to say to you.”

He snorted. “I’ll take it.” Then, he glanced down at the hornbeam wand, which was now being carefully spun through Alastor’s long fingers. “I… have a question about the wand, actually.”

“And I might have an answer, depending on how quickly you can dodge the killing curse!”

He scowled. “Who gave you it? I doubt Ollivander or any other reputable wandmaker would sell anything with Thestral tail hair as a core.”

Maroon eyes lit up. “You could recognize my core?”

“I’m a wandmaker by hobby. Made Charlie’s wand and my own,” Lucifer said smugly. “Picked out the woods and cores, then carved them myself. But you haven’t answered my question.”

Alastor stopped spinning his wand to regard him with those dark red eyes. A strange emotion - something almost akin to excitement - flashed behind those glasses. “An old witch who lived in the bayou near my house gave it to me the night Ma died. This Thestral is the same one I saw that night. I didn’t know what it was at first. I thought it was the Grim Reaper trying to take her away, so I grabbed her wand and tried to fight it off. Ended up with a blast scar across my chest instead, but that might have been worth it! Now I can say I have a discount Deathstick!”

Lucifer rolled his eyes. “Careful who you say that to. Someone might mistake you for a Deathly Hallows wielder. Or worse, they might say you’re a walking bad luck magnet because of the wood and core combo and burn you at the stake or something.”

“That might actually be a welcome change,” he said. “It gets so cold and drafty here in the winter that sometimes I do wish I could just leap into a fire and burn it all away!”

Lucifer groaned and leaned against the wall. His eyelids were starting to grow heavy. God, when did he get so exhausted? It was like another Dementor had crawled in here and sapped away all his energy. “You are such a fucking weirdo, you know that?”

“I don’t pretend to be otherwise. Would you like to continue sleeping on the floor, or shall I escort you to your room, Professor?”

He found her fast asleep in the library.

Really, he knew he shouldn’t be snooping like this. But after Charlie had failed to show up to one of their nightly Transfiguration tutoring lessons, he set off immediately looking for her. She wasn’t anywhere in the Hufflepuff Common Room, kitchens, or Quidditch Field, meaning that there wasn’t many other places for Lucifer to look. That was when he decided to check the library, just in case, and found his daughter still dressed in her bright black and yellow Quidditch practice robes, platinum hair spread out all over the desk she was using, snoring a little as she laid on a book of some sort.

Ever since becoming Seeker of the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team, Charlie had been busier than ever. Likely as a direct result of that, her grades were starting to suffer just a bit. He could count on two hands the number of times she handed in a late or only 80% done essay on Transfiguration theory or straight up fell asleep in class. And her progress on turning an owl into an opera glass? Almost minimal. Sure, she at least was able to make it transparent, but it still moved, hooted, and looked like an owl. 

He… didn’t really know what to do at this point. Because as much as she was struggling in Transfiguration, she seemed to be excelling in her other classes. In fact, Alastor was telling him almost every day (not that he sought out the DADA teacher every day, of course) about how well she was progressing in his class. She had a near encyclopedic knowledge of dark creatures, was able to cast just about any hex, jinx, or curse after being taught it only once, and had apparently found so many tiny mistakes in the textbook the man had assigned for third-year DADA that he had decided to scrap it entirely and replace it with a book she had found that was much more accurate and informative. One look at the notes surrounding her confirmed all of this. Lucifer had never before seen such a beautifully detailed set of notes about memory modification charms and how to counter them.

But what was the book she was reading? Lucifer frowned as he reached for it. This didn’t look like any sort of school textbook. In fact, it looked more like a family tree of some sort. She wasn’t snooping into someone else’s genealogy, was she? Wizarding family genealogies were often complex and horribly dark messes. Worse, they were often boring. He really hoped this wasn’t some sort of dare.

The page she was sleeping on had a single name at the top: MORNINGSTAR.

Lucifer’s throat went dry.

“Of all the most ancient and noble wizarding families, very few are as revered and ancient as the Morningstar Family. It is rumored that their blood is imbued with incredibly powerful magicks, so powerful that all members of the Morningstar family are destined for greatness. Every member of the Morningstar family excels at both Transfiguration and the Dark Arts, reflected in the fact that every single child of the family line is trained at a young age to be an Animagus-“

“Dad…?”

Lucifer tore his blue eyes away from the page, meeting confused, sleepy periwinkle ones. He smiled at the young witch before putting down the book, leaning on the edge of the desk. “Hey, CharChar. You doing okay? When you didn’t come to our usual tutoring session, I got worried and-“

“Oh!” Periwinkle eyes widened as she began grabbing at the papers around her. “Merlin’s beard, I’m so sorry! Hold on, lemme grab my stuff, and-“

“Charlie! Charlie!” Lucifer laughed and gently placed his hand over an especially good drawing of a Grindylow. “Don’t worry about it. We can just take a break today, that’s fine.” His smile widened when she relaxed just a bit. “Resting’s a huge part of becoming a good Transfiguration learner too.”

She giggled. “That’s what I keep telling Vaggie, but, well, she keeps trying to power through her Charms homework anyways!” Then she settled back in her chair and glanced down at the open book. “I’m still sorry for missing our usual thing. I just… I got distracted by that.” She gestured to the book.

“The Morningstar Family Tree? Not the most exciting thing in the world. Sorry on behalf of whatever teacher assigned you that.”

“Oh! No one assigned me to read it! I was just… curious…” Charlie pursed her lips. “You and Mom never talked about your family, even though I hear all the time about how famous the Morningstar name is, so I just… I wanted to know.”

Lucifer let out a small sigh, reaching down and brushing his fingers over his mother’s portrait. One quick glance told him that this was the newer version of the family tree. The one that came out after Raphael had almost gleefully blasted his face off of all the existing ones in the house. Fucking prick. Not that he wanted to be on it anyways.

“What did you want to know, kiddo?” he asked. “I… don’t think you’ll be able to learn much from this one.”

“Well… I sorta did wanna know why you and Mom aren’t on it,” Charlie said. She gestured to the names of the other Morningstar brothers. “And who these guys are.”

Lucifer’s chest tightened as he stared at the names of his brothers: Jophiel, Gabriel, Azrael, Michael, Raphael, Chamuel, Zadkiel, and Uriel. The portraits associated with these names were all extremely beautiful and accurate. All of them had the trademark Morningstar blue eyes, hair in different shades of blonde, and high cheekbones. Behind their portraits was a light sketch of the animal they became when turning into their Animagus forms. Looking at them made pressure build up behind his eyes. Fuck, when was the last time he had seen them? Or even thought of them without crying?

“They’re… your uncles. My brothers,” Lucifer said quietly. He looked up at Charlie, trying his best to smile but fuck did it hurt. “I was the youngest Morningstar before you were born.”

A pause. “You’ve… never mentioned them.”

He sighed. “For good reason. Charlie, I-“ he swallowed. “I don’t know if I should even be telling you this-“

“Dad, I’m thirteen now! I’m practically of age!” She protested. “And at some point, I’m gonna have to find out who they are, right?”

She was right. She was right and bright and clever and- God. Why in the name of Merlin’s unshaven left eyebrow didn’t she end up in Ravenclaw, clever as she was?

“Your uncle Uriel… died during the war,” he said quietly. “Jophiel and Chamuel too. Towards the end, Zadkiel and Gabriel disappeared…” his voice trailed off. A dark chill was settling around the two of them now, almost as though he had summoned a Dementor simply from speaking with her. He swallowed, blinking back tears. Merlin’s beard, why did his heart feel so damn cold? Why were his hands shaking? Why-

Why did this hurt so much?

“Dad…” Charlie bit her lip, then placed both her hands on his. She was warm like Alastor, but in a different way. There was a gentleness behind her touch. A light in the darkness. The sort that needed to be preserved forever. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t-“

“Your uncles Azrael, Michael, and Raphael… went to Azkaban,” Lucifer whispered. Charlie went silent, periwinkles widening in horror. “As far as I know, they’re… they’re still there. And they’ll never hurt anyone again.” He exhaled a shaking breath. “I-I’m… I’m sorry, kiddo. I don’t think I can talk about this anymore.” He gave her a tiny, hesitant smile. “But… look. I’m not here, right? That’s because I didn’t agree with what my family thought was the greater good. I… I joined up with the good guys. The real good guys. I fought against the Dark Lord with your mom. We won. We won and gave you and your friends a peaceful world.”

Charlie went silent at that. Then, she reached out and gently pulled him into a hug. He blinked in surprise, then found himself hugging her back. No words were said between them. There was nothing that needed to be said. 

(“Samael Morningstar. For your service to the Wizarding World in the midst of this war, I hereby pardon you from the crimes the Morningstar family committed against Muggles and magical kind. You may walk from here a free wizard. We at the Ministry of Magic hereby thank you for your service.”)

Chapter Text

Charlie looked absolutely beautiful tonight. Lucifer actually had to pause for a moment to stare at her. She stood in the middle of the Hufflepuff Common Room, swathed in dress robes of deep crimson. Its bodice was adorned with intricate beading and sequins, reminiscent of twinkling stars and galaxies against a midnight sky. The flowing skirt cascaded down in many layers of delicate chiffon which swirled with every step she took. Billowing sleeves tapered to points at the wrists completed this ensemble, adding a dramatic flair to an already beautiful outfit. Whenever she moved, the golden thread glittered in the light above, revealing intricate patterns of crescent moons and shooting stars. She had styled her hair in loose curls that cascaded down her back, adorned with glittering gold and black hairpins. When she turned to smile at him, those periwinkle eyes sparkled like stars.

… Michael?

“Dad!” She floated over to him, skirts billowing around her. “You came!”

He grinned back. “Of course I came! Why the hell would I miss bringing my little girl to her first school dance?” He opened his arms while she threw herself into a hug, spinning her around. “God, you look amazing, CharChar.”

She giggled and curtsied. “Hope my date likes it too. Did you bring the thing?”

Lucifer reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out a thin gold bracelet and a golden hairpin. He had spent the entirety of the past three weeks turning an exciting dance into a teaching opportunity, as any good professor would do. Transfiguring plain gold bracelets or hairpins into custom corsages and boutonnieres was the perfect way to practice all sorts of spells, from Color-Changing to Transforming to even Vanishing spells. Lucifer had been very proud to see how his class progressed, and it certainly helped that many of them were more than a little excited for their first foray into a formal school dance.

“Which one do you wanna give her?” Lucifer asked as he pulled out his wand. “And what do you want it to look like? I can do super fancy if you want, or if you’re just looking for something simple, I can-“

“Dad,” Charlie put her hands on her hips. “First off, I want to give her a corsage. Two, this is supposed to be one made by me, right? So let me make it!”

He gave her a small smile. “Right, right… okay.” He handed over the bracelet and slipped the hairpin onto his lapel. Charlie had continued to struggle with Transfiguration even now. For the entire past three weeks, she had barely been able to make so much as a leaf appear on her practice bracelet, let alone a complicated arrangement of blooms. As much as he hated to do it, he actually had to fail her and assign remedial homework this time. Still, if Charlie wanted to Transfigure this just for her date, who was Lucifer to deny what she truly wanted?

Charlie cheerfully pulled out her wand. “Colovaria!”

Her tongue stuck out between her teeth as she moved her wand over the bracelet’s surface. Immediately, a memory flashed before him: Uriel used to do that whenever he was really trying to Transfigure something difficult. It wasn’t just that either - he saw echoes of Jophiel in the curve of his daughter’s cheek, of Raphael in the eager spark of her eyes. When the bracelet did nothing, Charlie’s shoulders slumped and her scarlet-painted lips curled into a frown; Chamuel did that, too, whenever things weren’t going his way. 

Ever so slowly, a silver tendril made its way across the bracelet, the gleaming gold shimmering and rippling like molten metal. Periwinkle eyes widened in joy. Soon enough, brilliant gold gave way to luminous silver, a tiny silver charm emerging from the bracelet’s clasp. When the transformation was done, Charlie grinned as she held up the simple silver bracelet with a blooming rose charm, the jewelry glinting in the light of the Hufflepuff fireplace. It was not a corsage, but… well, it was definitely very beautiful and so very Charlie.

She smiled just like Gabriel.

Lucifer let out a low whistle. “Now that’s a corsage I’d love to give a date, kiddo.”

She laughed. “You think so? I hope Vaggie likes it.” She clasped her hands over it, then looked up at her father. “Hey, Dad? Thanks for helping me get ready. I wish Mom could be here to see me too, but…” She trailed off, pursing her lips.

Zadkiel.

“Hey, kiddo, it’s okay…” Lucifer said gently. He placed both hands on her shoulders. “You mom’s… got her own demons to deal with. But I know if she saw you now, she’d be totally blown away. You look and feel so grown up now.”

She gave him a tiny smile. “I… I wish she could be here. Maybe being somewhere as safe as here might help her nightmares… even if she’s surrounded by magic again.” A small sigh. “They’re getting worse, Dad. The nightmares.”

Lucifer frowned. “They are?”

She nodded. “Nowadays, it takes a lot to wake her back up. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve had to go out and replace things she’d break in her sleep. She’s even had to have me restrain her so she doesn’t… well. So she doesn’t sleepwalk or anything like that.”

“…Do I need to go home?” Lucifer asked. A twist of guilt coiled in his gut. This was all his fault, wasn’t it? If he had just stepped in earlier. If he had opened his eyes before it was too late. If he had been brave enough to stop Azrael before-

“I… don’t think that’d make her happy, Dad,” Charlie said softly. She placed her hands on his and squeezed them. “But… can I ask you a question?”

“Anything, CharChar.”

“Every now and then, she’ll say some names. Sometimes it’s yours, but most of the time, she’s dropping one of your brothers’,” Charlie said. She tilted her head, a question shining behind her periwinkle eyes. “Did… Did they do something to her?”

(“You call yourself a Morningstar!? Then pull out your wand and kill her already!”)

(“Samael… what are you doing? Why did you protect her? She’s… She’s a Mudblood!”)

(“Get over here and die, blood traitor!”)

“They… hurt her very much.” The guilt coiling in his gut burned and quickly turned into a pit. “They believed in things that no witch or wizard should believe in. Blood purity, Wizard supremacy… those are the kinds of things our family supported. They were horrible people.”

A strange, dark flash appeared behind Charlie’s eye. “Were they horrible people? Or did they only know horrible values?”

He paused. “I-“

“Nevermind.” The strange look in her eye was gone. She was shaking her head, golden curls flying. “We shouldn’t be talking about this kind of stuff on the night of the Yule Ball! Besides, I need to put on my best face for Vaggie!” Without missing a beat, she stepped forward and slipped her hand around the crook of her father’s arm. “Let’s get going!”

The pit in his stomach hadn’t closed yet. Despite this, he forced a fond grin onto his face. “Um… right. Y-yeah! No frowns or whatever on Yule Ball night. We don’t want Durmstrang and Beauxbatons to think we’re boring!”

Vaggie was indeed waiting for them just outside the Great Hall, dressed in a beautiful set of black dress robes with a high neckline and adorned with intricate silver lace. The fabric shimmered as though it were inlaid with a million stars. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek updo today, with tendrils of silver curls framing her face in soft waves. It was held in place by a single silver hairpin shaped like a thorny rose. When she saw Charlie approaching, her eyes widened, a grin spreading over her face as her gaze slowly traced over his daughter’s form. 

Charlie let go of his arm and swept into a graceful curtsy before giggling and running forward. Lucifer watched as the two young women hugged and exchanged their corsages - Vaggie gifted his daughter with a beautifully Transfigured spider lily - before holding hands and walking into the Great Hall. He caught only a brief glimpse of the wintery beauty inside before the doors closed, leaving him alone in the Entrance Hall.

Well, he wasn’t sure what to do now. On one hand, he could go back to his office - he had stopped whittling that pinewood block to go escort his daughter, after all. He could definitely go back and finish the job. Maybe he’d be able to finish carving the entire thing before the night was over. Despite how appealing that thought was, something felt… off. No matter how much he thought about what sort of flair he’d like to carve on the shaft or the shape of the handle, he just couldn’t see the design he wanted in his mind’s eye. Everything was… cloudy. As though a Dementor had reached into his mind and sucked out whatever inspiration he had been carrying around earlier.

He could almost feel Azrael shaking his head at him now. Azrael, who had sat down and taught him all of the intricacies of choosing wand woods and cores. Azrael, who had screamed at him as Lucifer snapped his wand in half, the glow of the phoenix feather inside disappearing like it was never there. Azrael, who rotted away in Azkaban because of him.

He didn’t know when his feet started moving nor what direction he went. All he knew was that the next time he looked up, he found himself in the middle of the rose garden. Rosie had made extra sure to spruce it up in honor of the Yule Ball. Fairy lights fluttered above him twinkled amongst snow-covered trees, casting an ethereal glow over the numerous rose bushes lighting the path. Clusters of winter flowers burst forth from the snow-covered ground as he continued, their petals vibrant and glowing against the pristine white backdrop. 

He walked past numerous couples stealing kisses and quiet moments, quietly seeking out the most solitary corner of the place he could find. He needed to think. He needed to get this stupid pit of guilt out of his gut. He needed to-

Oh fuck him.

Alastor was wearing forest green robes today, tailored perfectly to his frame so that it gave him a towering, commanding silhouette. Silver accents and embellishments adorned the edges and cuffs which glittered and flashed with his every movement. The robes were fastened at the front with a silver clasp in the shape of a mighty stag, its eyes gleaming with tiny chips of emerald. He was seated on a stone bench, quite absorbed in a book. As Lucifer approached, he looked up and smiled, closing the book with a small snap, revealing the large black dog with gleaming eyes on its cover. 

Death Omens: What to Do When You Know the Worst is Coming.

Dark maroon eyes gleamed behind silver spectacles as Alastor gave him a once-over, smile slowly turning into a smirk. “You’re underdressed, Morningstar.”

Lucifer shrugged, silently begging his hammering heart to just fucking stop already. His face was already warm enough, thanks. “Wasn’t planning on attending. I was just gonna escort Charlie to the dance, then head upstairs and work.”

Alastor let out a small exhale as he pulled out his wand, twirling it between long fingers. “Must you always be working, Professor? I was told that tonight was meant for everyone to enjoy themselves with a bit of food and dancing. The Headmistress would be quite upset to hear that you were planning to work instead of dance.”

He scowled. “How’s she gonna find out? She’s busy doing whatever in the Great Hall, and last I checked, you aren’t a tattle.”

The corners of Alastor’s eyes crinkled. “Well, I simply can’t deny that, little professor! But I know for a fact she’ll ask me about you at our next teatime and I so hate lying to her. Last time I did, I was cleaning guano out of my robes for a week!”

Well, he had a point there. Rosie’s Bat-Bogey Hex was infamous for how effective it was. It was once rumored that the last person to be on the receiving end of it had spent a week in Saint Mungo’s mumbling about vampires that sparkled in the sun.

And, well, he certainly didn’t want to have to cling bat dung off his robes.

“Fine,” he relented begrudgingly, crossing his arms. “One dance. Oh, wait, I forgot…” He gestured to the garden around them. There was nothing but rose bushes and the occasional teenaged witch or wizard around them. “I… don’t have a dance partner or flowers to give to whomever I’m dancing with.”

The wand stopped twirling. “I see… Well, lucky for you, I just so happen to be in need of a dance partner as well. And as for your lack of flowers… we’ll just have to fix that as soon as possible, hm?” Then, without warning, the Head of Slytherin pointed his wand directly at Lucifer’s chest.

“Hey, what are you-“

He felt the soft shimmer of magic at the hairpin on his lapel. Then, there was a faint flicker of movement, like the gentle caress of a breeze. Glancing down, he watched with wide blue eyes as its slender form elongated and twisted, the metal blossoming like a delicate flower.

Vibrant cobalt petals unfurled from the hairpin’s base, their edges kissed with delicate touches of bronze. Beautiful green leaves appeared next, growing and twisting until a softly glowing stem took shape. When the transformation was done, he was left with a stunning masterpiece where a hairpin once sat.

Lucifer let out a small gasp as he reached for his lapel, pale fingers dancing along the boutonniere on his chest. When he looked up again, Alastor had stowed his wand away and was standing across from him. The Head of Slytherin bowed and offered his hand. 

“May I have this dance?”

He swallowed.

He was not nervous.

His heart was not racing.

This didn't mean anything.

He took Alastor’s hand. A slow melody filtered down to them from the Great Hall, carried on the delicate strings of an orchestra. As the beautiful symphony danced around them, the two wizards came together, their hands finding each other with a sense of familiarity that surprised him. They began to sway to the music, movements slow and deliberate as they drew closer together, slipping into synchrony with ease. Before long, Alastor’s hand slid to the small of Lucifer’s back, leading him as they navigated their little corner of the garden together.

Lucifer looked up at his dance partner, pulse quickening even more when blue met maroon. There was something dark, mischievous, and intense burning behind those eyes. It was… magnetic. Beautiful. 

There was something burning deep inside his chest. Every graceful turn, every thrilling twirl seemed to add fuel to it. It was growing stronger now, spreading through his veins. It was a sweet surrender, a tender inferno. 

The music was swelling now, a glorious crescendo that crested over them like a wave. Suddenly, everything was nothing, as though someone had cast a Vanishing Spell over the world around them. All he could think of now was warmth and wind and fire and Alastor.

The music paused. Alastor stilled mid-dip. Once again, blue eyes met maroon. For just a few seconds, this brief fleeting moment was suspended in time, a flash of a tender embrace locked in the gentle glow of the fairy lights above. Then, the music started again and they finished their dance with one last twirl. 

A crystalline silence settled between them as they stilled, looking into each other’s eyes. Alastor’s maroon gaze was… fragile. Gentle embers burned behind those eyes. They were dotted with the silvery sheen of the stars above them. His smile was soft, a strange little twist of affection dancing at its corners. Lucifer’s breath escaped him completely. The tiny pieces of his heart quivered and ached. His hand… it was so beautifully cozy and warm. Like home.  

What… was this? His head was swimming. He didn’t understand. He… couldn’t breathe-

The moment Lucifer’s hand left Alastor’s, the cold winter chill settled upon it. His face was absolutely burning. His heart raced. There was a tingle in his fingertips that just wouldn’t stop. When he looked back at his dance partner, Alastor was running a hand through his auburn hair, smile frozen in place, eyes far away. He… Fuck. He looked so damn beautiful.

“… Thanks for the dance.” Then Lucifer left without another word, black robes billowing around him as he disappeared down the halls, praying that the burn in his cheeks and the quiver in his heart would just go away before he did something stupid. 

The Dark Lord had returned. Lucifer’s pale hands trembled as he stared once again at the Daily Prophet before him. There was no mention of such a horrible event mentioned at all in any of its articles - just a single tiny little column calling anyone who reported his return a liar and attention-seeking fraud. He knew all too well the tactics being used here; keep the populace complacent. Lie to them. Ensure that panic doesn’t set in when really, everyone should be panicking right now. They needed to prepare for the absolute worst case scenario: that the Dark Lord wouldn’t just return, but return more powerful than ever before.

There were other rumors too. For the most part, Rosie had done a good job separating fact from fiction, but even she wasn’t perfect in this. The one that Lucifer was worried about most had come to them via owl while he and Alastor were out wading around the bayou near the Head of Slytherin’s childhood home: Azrael Morningstar had been broken out of Azkaban. 

Just the thought of it was enough to make Lucifer want to cry, vomit, and maybe burn down his office again. He hadn’t seen any of his three remaining brothers since he had sent them to Azkaban, and for good reason. They had sworn to destroy him and everything he loved. Now that the Dark Lord was back, it was a very real possibility that they would come for not just him, but Charlie. Charlie, his beautiful, brave, and strong half-Veela daughter.

(“Mark my words, Lucifer! The day will come when I’ll rip everything you love from your cold, dead fingers! Starting with that filthy half-breed of yours!”)

“You’re staring quite hard at the kindling today,” Alastor remarked, sending a red-eyed sneer towards the Prophet. “Did someone finally create a growth potion that worked on adult wizards?”

Lucifer rolled his eyes. “Are you just physically unable to talk to me without throwing a short joke my way?”

“I might be. It’s not often I can aim that low at someone,” the other wizard said with a smirk. He took a sip from his “Oh Deer!” mug and swilled it around his mouth. “Shall I comment on the fact that you were too busy staring at that rag to properly brew the tea instead, little professor?  I think bayou water would be less bitter than this.”

Lucifer scowled and took a sip of his tea, trying his absolute best to ignore just how bitter it was. Okay, so maybe he did steep it for a bit too long. So what? Alastor could just add sugar and cream to it and make it all better. “I can send you for a dip in the bayou, if you want. I’m sure there’s a gator or two lurking out there that would love venison for dinner.”

“And leave my poor mother’s old cabin defenseless except for a pint-sized wizard and his utterly pathetic Patronus? No, thank you,” he laughed. “I’d rather dear old Vox try using his frivolous picture boxes to defend this place instead. You just know he’d find some way to hook them all up so they fall into the bayou and shock whatever dark creature tries making their way in here.”

“…I’m thinking about Charlie,” Lucifer admitted as he balled up the newspaper and tossed it into the trash. “Before, I was so happy to see her at Hogwarts… and surprised her mom let her go. But now that the Dark Lord’s back, I’m not sure if I want her anywhere near the Wizarding World…”

Alastor paused, mug midway to his lips. He set it down and eyed Lucifer, smile unreadable. “Oh? The little professor is wondering if he should admit that his ex-wife is correct?”

He sighed. “The longer we’re working for the Order, the more likely it’ll be that us and our loved ones start getting targeted by Exorcists. I… Charlie’s all I have left. If I die in the line of duty, fine. I’ll die fighting with the Order for a world where she can stay safe. But Charlie? She doesn’t even know what she wants to do with her life yet. I just… I don’t want her to live in danger like this. Neither does Lilith. So-“

“So you’re going to push your wishes onto her,” Alastor said almost casually. Crimson eyes glinted behind those silver spectacles. “Make her leave her school where she’s always felt safe, her friends who she trusts more than anyone, and her own father who is one of the best, if not the absolute best, Transfiguration masters in the entire Wizarding World to… go live with a Veela who lives like a Muggle?”

He hesitated. “I mean, no, I of course would talk to her about it, but-“

“But you’re going to push her to leave, aren’t you?” Alastor asked. “You’ll tell her about all the little horror stories from the First Wizarding War in the hopes that she’ll pull a blanket over her head, burst into tears, then beg you to send her home on the next Hogwarts Express.” He shook his head. “At which point, do you truly think she’ll be safer among the Muggles than among fellow witches and wizards?”

“…” Lucifer remained silent at that, curling his hands into fists. Alastor really could read him like a book. Did he really wear so many thoughts on the sleeve of his robes?

“Tell me, Morningstar… what would you do once she’s out there? Try the Fidelius Charm, perhaps? Or send her and her mother on the run?” Alastor let out a barking laugh. “You and I both know neither of those will work. Even if you make yourself the Secret-Keeper, the moment you die, anyone you told the secret to will themselves become Keepers. And you never know if someone you tell will betray you. On top of that, if your ex-wife refuses to use her magic and your daughter isn't even out of school yet, who will be around to protect them if the worst should happen? You? You’ll likely be laying in a ditch somewhere or finding yourself on the receiving end of a Cruciatus Curse if it gets that far.”

“First off, fuck you,“ Lucifer snapped. “The only ditch you’ll find me in is the one I’ll dig to fling spells at Exorcists during an ambush. Second… I fucking hate you and the fact you have a point.”

“Of course I have a point,” Alastor concluded, kicking his feet up on the table as he glanced out at the humid New Orleans air outside. “Because at the end of the day, the most logical course of action would be to keep her at the most fortified magical castle in the world. And the best thing you can do for her is actually ask her what she wants to do. She has a rebellious streak just as long as yours seems to be.” He took a long sip from his mug. “If you try to force her to go home, she’ll likely run away within a week.”

Lucifer let out a small, defeated sigh. “Since when did you start giving parenting advice?”

The corners of Alastor’s eyes crinkled. “Since your daughter earned perfect marks on her end-of-year DADA exam.” He looked out the window and grinned. “If it weren’t for the fact that I would land in Azkaban for trying, I would have been tempted to bring her out here along with us so she could go study Grindylows in their natural habitat.”

They were out in New Orleans, chasing down a rumor of a dark creature being imported from the tropics. Apparently, some Exorcists were spotted nearby some weeks ago, but judging from the camp they had found the other day, they had vacated the area a long while ago. Strangely enough, No-Majs and wizards alike were still disappearing left and right despite the lack of Exorcists. That had led Rosie and the rest of the Order to one conclusion: the Exorcists had brought some sort of dark creature from the tropics and had released it to terrorize the city of New Orleans. As a renowned expert in dark creatures, Alastor had been called upon to find and potentially exterminate it. And Lucifer? Well, he figured that Alastor could use some Transfiguration backup or something like that so he decided to tag along. 

“So… do we have any plan aside from ‘wander the bayou until we get ambushed’?” Lucifer asked.

“Well, I plan on setting up a trap for a Hinkypunk at some point,” Alastor said cheerfully. He drained the rest of his mug of tea and began turning it in his hand. “I’m not quite sure how I’ll want to cook it, but I already have a spice rub prepared. Maybe before we leave the States, we can make a stop somewhere in the Appalachians. I’ve been wanting to try grilled Wampus.”

Lucifer blinked owlishly in response. “You… are such a fucked up asshole, you know that?”

Alastor’s smile widened. “I don’t pretend to be other-“ he paused, brows furrowing as he stared into his cup. 

“Uh… Al?” Lucifer snapped his fingers in front of the other man’s face, frowning when he received no reaction. “Earth to snake-shit-for-brains? You in there?”

Crimson eyes snapped up at him, a dark shadow passing over the normally open and cheerful face. “Sleep in my bed tonight.”

What?

“I’m sorry, what?”

Alastor furrowed his brow, smile unmoving. “Trade rooms with me. I want to sleep in your room tonight and you can sleep in mine.”

Well, that definitely wasn’t the weirdest shit he’d ever heard coming out of this guy’s mouth, but it was still damn weird.

“Um… no, fuck off? Why would I want to sleep among your creepy-ass Furby collection?”

“This is serious, Morningstar.”

“I can’t take you or your Furbies seriously, Boudreaux.”

Al’s smile dropped, brows furrowing further. Lucifer’s jaw dropped at the sight. Why… wasn’t he smiling? And what was with the look in his eye? There was the usual dark and creepy shadow, but no spark of mischief. No laughter. Just a heavy amount of annoyance and… fear? Panic? What the fuck was going on?

“Lucifer.” Alastor’s voice was low and dangerous, the promise of absolute devastation lacing his every word. “I do not ask this lightly. I am requesting that you stay in my room tonight while I take yours. If you refuse, then I’ll have no choice but to keep you in a Full Body-Bind Curse until the end of the night. And I would strongly prefer not wasting my breath on that. Do I make myself clear?”

Lucifer swallowed, fingers twitching lightly as they rested on the table. Fear churned in his stomach. It was as though all of the playfulness from earlier had disappeared, leaving only the deathly silence of the cabin and the quiet chirping of crickets outside. 

“Crystal.”

The smile was back now, as was the cheerful spark in his eye. “Wonderful! I’ll move my trunk into your room now!” He stood. “Don’t worry about your things - I’ll make sure they make it to my childhood room safely. Oh, and while you're in there, do be careful about the Furby organ. It’s an antique.” Then, he disappeared down the hall without another word, leaving his “Oh Deer!” mug just sitting on the table.

Bastard. Couldn’t he at least put it in the sink before he left? Lucifer sighed as he reached for the mug, glancing down at the tea leaves decorating the bottom of it. He had done well in Divination back when he was still in school, but hadn’t bothered taking the N.E.W.T.S. for it. Why bother? It was probably the kookiest branch of magic there was. 

Still, there was no denying there was something… weird about the leaves today. They had formed two shapes at the bottom of the cup. Lucifer squinted hard at them. A… beast? Some sort of beast. And… a five-pointed something. Kinda looked like a star. Well, fuck if he knew what any of that meant. He really should’ve paid more attention in school. Without a second thought, he dumped the leaves into the garbage and washed the mug. It was time for bed anyways.

He awoke with a sudden gasp, body jerking upright in bed as if propelled by some invisible force. The room was bathed in darkness, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon outside. He looked around, heart pounding furiously as his gaze fell upon the goddamned Furby organ at the side of the room. For a brief moment, he considered simply laying back in bed and falling back asleep, but for some reason, every nerve in his body was tingling with adrenaline and practically screaming at him to go to the room Alastor was staying in.

Stupid fucking Bambi-ass bastard with the creepy Furby obsession.

He pulled on his duck slippers and padded down the hall, hand slipping around his wand out of habit. He was… just gonna check on the guy. Make sure he didn’t pee his pants in his sleep or something stupid like that. Yeah. That’s all. He was a good, model wizard who always made sure his team members were okay, even if they were stupid tall, dark, and distracting assholes with playful smiles and mischievous eyes. He knocked first on the door before pushing it open, fully expecting to see his snoring colleague.

What he definitely didn’t expect to see was the inky black cloak hovering over the bed, its shroud-like form undulating with obvious predatory intent. It descended upon Alastor’s still form before either of them could react, drawing a panicked shout from the wizard before his voice was smothered completely. Lucifer watched in abject horror as Alastor struggled against the malevolent creature, long legs and arms desperately kicking and writhing as he tried to throw it off. A Dementor? No… this was different. Dementors didn’t suffocate their victims.

Adrenaline rushed through him as he pulled out his wand and pointed it at the Dementor-like creature. For a brief moment, his mind summoned an image of him watching with glee and pride as Charlie Transfigured the golden bracelet into a simple silvery corsage, as he escorted her to the Yule Ball, as he watched her walk hand-in-hand with Vaggie towards the beautiful wintery wonderland of the Great Hall-

“Expecto patronum!”

A radiant wind burst from the tip of his wand, rushing towards the creature as a million different tiny silver tendrils. The cloak-like thing seemed to shriek as it shrank back from the spell, writhing and twisting to get out of the way. As it did so, it revealed Alastor, whose crimson eyes flashed with wild fury as he yanked his wand out from under his pillow.

“Lucifer, open the trunk!”

He obeyed immediately, diving for the trunk that sat in the corner of the room and unlatching it in one fluid motion. Once it was open, a golden light started leaking out of it, the magical ladder that led to the enchanted chambers down below unfolding as though ready to welcome a new addition. With a snarl, Alastor lifted his wand and pointed it at the still-writhing creature.

“Expecto patronum!”

Alastor’s Patronus looked… different. What had once been a four-legged animal of some sort was now something very different. It didn’t even look like a four-legged beast at all, and it seemed to be much bigger than his previous one. Before Lucifer could study it closer, it charged at the creature and smashed into it, sending it straight towards the trunk. As soon as the black cloak hit the lid, the Transfiguration professor slammed it shut, trapping the creature inside. For a brief moment, he and Alastor looked at each other, panting. His heart was absolutely going a mile a minute right now. And it wasn’t just because Alastor looked strangely nice with his hair all mussed up.

The Head of Slytherin was the first to break the silence. “Are you alright, Morningstar?”

Lucifer blinked owlishly. “Um… shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

Alastor shook his head. “I don’t matter. Are you alright?”

He hesitated. “I’m… fine but, seriously, Al, don’t-… Don’t think you’re not important or whatever. You were the one being suffocated by… whatever that was.”

“A Lethifold,” Alastor said, one hand rising to his chest to catch his breath. Once he seemed to have recovered, he reached for his glasses and slid them on. “Otherwise known as a Living Shroud.” He paused. “They… come from the tropics. So I can only assume that this is the creature that Rosie and the Order wanted us to hunt down.” He shot Lucifer a wry smile. “Patronuses are one of the only defense mechanisms against them. How did you know to cast one?”

Lucifer felt his face grow warm. He dipped his head, running one hand through his platinum blonde hair. “I… erm… well, I thought it looked like a Dementor. Didn’t quack like one, but I didn’t know what else to do. Besides, it’s not like I could’ve shot a Stunning Spell or whatever at it, ‘cause it might also hit you.”

“I suppose I can see now why you belong in Ravenclaw,” Alastor mused. “You make up for your height with your cleverness.”

“And I can see why you belong in Slytherin,” Lucifer shot back. “You’re an asshole.”

“Horned Serpent, actually,” Alastor corrected. His grin widened when Lucifer blinked in confusion. “Weren’t you paying attention during the Welcome Feast, Morningstar? Rosie said specifically that I’m originally from Ilvermorny.”

A pause. “...Yeah, so I never did ask you this: how the fuck does a Horned Serpent from Ilvermorny become the Head of House Slytherin at Hogwarts?”

“By sharing Wampus Rat steaks and Banshee tear tea with the Headmistress, of course!” Alastor tilted his head, red eyes flashing. “But in case you’re wondering, I’m afraid that you don’t meet the minimum height requirement for Rosie’s tea times. Her tea table is made for people of at least average height.”

“Oh, gee, thanks, Al-asshole,” Lucifer rolled his eyes. “Have I called you that today yet?”

“You have, but I didn’t get to finish my counter,” Alastor grinned mischievously. “I don’t pretend to be otherwise.”

Lucifer grunted. “So… is this thing the reason why you wanted to sleep in my room tonight? So you could try to wrestle it on your own?”

Something unknowable flashed from behind those maroon eyes. One hand came up to card through burnt auburn locks. “…That was part of it, yes…” 

Lucifer grit his teeth, tension flowing through his jaw. “Why…? You… Shit, Al, you literally just tried to throw away your life for me. Do you have some kinda fucking weird death wish?”

Alastor hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor before meeting Lucifer’s again. “I… Well. I’m never one to back down from a challenge. Besides, you might’ve slowed me down if I allowed both of us to sleep here!”

Lucifer narrowed his eyes. “Uh-huh. Weren’t you just calling me ‘the great Transfiguration master of the Wizarding World’ or whatever earlier?”

Alastor tilted his head. “Well, greatest may have been a bit of an exaggeration. After all, for all your prowess, you still haven’t figured out how to transfigure yourself an extra few inches.” He hummed. “So, I suppose you could say that the other part of wanting to face this Lethifold alone was me tapping into Ma’s Inner Eye and seeing that you would’ve at best made a tiny appetizer for our dear cloaked friend.” He smirked, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Meaning that even if I hadn’t decided to protect you, it would still likely have tried to eat someone else.” 

“Wow, you really are an asshole and a beanpole,” Lucifer crossed his arms. Fine, if Alastor didn’t want to talk about whatever weird shit that just happened, then Lucifer would just leave him the fuck alone. Let him drown in the acid stomach of a Lethifold. It wasn’t his business anyways “You’re welcome for saving you, by the way. I’ll give you a punch card for the next one. Once you get your ass saved by me ten times, you get a free rubber duck from the Morningstar collection.”

The grin widened. “I’ll trade you for my favorite Furby.” Then, he looked towards the kitchen. “Want to grab the spice rub? I think it’s the perfect time to try some fried Lethifold bits as a midnight snack.”

Unable to help himself, Lucifer let out a laugh. “Sure, weirdo. Lemme make us some more tea too.”

Chapter Text

A dark dawn had descended upon Hogwarts. In the wake of the Ministry’s refusal to acknowledge the return of the Dark Lord, almost all of wizarding media had turned against the school overnight. Article after article printed in the press spoke about how far the once-reputable school had fallen, how its teachers were insane, how its Headmistress was senile. Using these claims as an excuse, the Minister had even forced Rosie’s exit from the castle, replacing her instead with a horrible woman who could only be called a Ministry plant. The teachers had revolted as best as they could, but there was only so much they could do; the threat of Azkaban hung over their heads like a specter of death and decay. 

Lucifer sighed as his thoughts turned once again to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He hadn’t seen Alastor’s smile at all this year. Well, he had, but it was the sort of smile that the Head of Slytherin had been forced to plaster on in the presence of this dark new age. It was nothing like the mischievous grin, the smug smirk, or the almost gentle smile that left Lucifer breathless, his face warm, and his heart racing. No, everything that made the man Alastor had been ripped away from him, leaving him a shell of the man that Lucifer knew so well.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was suffering the most out of all the subjects at Hogwarts. Out of sheer paranoia that Rosie was for some reason trying to raise the students into an army, Alastor had been forced to stop all practical lessons. This meant that everything, from his obstacle course exams to his trunk of magical creatures had been confiscated and replaced by dull, horribly written defense theory textbooks. The two of them knew all too well that this was no way to teach a growing witch or wizard - but what could they do? Disobedience meant Azkaban, and even Lucifer’s own rebel spirit still melted in the face of the Dementors.

But he couldn’t leave Charlie unprotected. New castle rules be damned, he wasn’t going to let his baby girl face the new, paranoid Wizarding World alone if Merlin-fucking-forbid it ever came to that. If no one else, he needed to make sure that she survived. That she grew into the witch she was always meant to be. If Charlie could keep improving her already nearly perfect skills in Defense Against the Dark Arts, then she would have the tools necessary to protect herself, Vaggie, Husk, and Dust. He needed to keep teaching her.

And Alastor had agreed.

All it took was a simple distraction. Lucifer “accidentally” Transfigured a piece of parchment into a bayou that took up half the main staircase one night. While that Ministry bitch screamed and spittled at him, Alastor smuggled the wardrobe and their pet Boggart out of the castle and into the Forbidden Forest. It was here where they brought Charlie for her first of many lessons: how to cast curses and jinxes with expert precision, how to best duel to protect herself and her friends, and of course, how to cast a Patronus.

Today’s lesson was doing just that. Charlie had grown rapidly during her lessons, mastering spells at a speed that left even Alastor impressed. During the last lesson with the Boggart, Lucifer swore up and down that her Patronus had a shape. The grin she gave him was beautiful - almost as beautiful as that other smile he was missing so much.

“Alohomora!”

It was the seventh time today that incantation rang out across the Forbidden Forest. Alastor was now teaching both of them how to cast multiple Patronuses in quick succession. Lucifer let out an exhale, his lungs burning as he turned to face the Boggart yet again. Just like before, he saw the skeletal hand first. The icy cold of despair filled the air. His heart seized in his chest as he looked up at the empty black void where the Dementor’s face should be. Lucifer’s wand hand trembled as he grit his teeth, desperately forcing his mind to ignore Lilith’s screams echoing in his ears. Merlin’s beard, he was so fucking tired-

Don’t focus on that. Focus on Charlie. Charlie finally turning an owl into an opera glass. Charlie’s slowly emerging Patronus. Charlie’s entire face lighting up with joy whenever she was getting praised by-

Alastor.

Alastor’s smile.

Alastor standing next to the wardrobe, far enough back so the Boggart wouldn’t turn on him. Alastor sitting on a window sill reading a book of recipes for vampires. Alastor cackling in silent glee as he snuck past the ornery old bitch of a Headmistress while levitating their pet Boggart’s wardrobe. Alastor happily wading in Lucifer’s magical bayou searching for a snack to eat. 

“Expecto patronum!”

A radiant light burst forth from the tip of his wand, coalescing into a shimmering silver barrier that enveloped him and Charlie in its protective embrace. The shield pulsed with a soft, ethereal light as it held its position. Three seconds passed. Then five. Ten. Fifteen. Blue eyes widened as he stared at the Dementor frozen in its tracks, clearly trying to push its way through the radiant light but unable to do so. Lucifer tilted his head and looked over at Alastor just past his shield, watching as the Head of Slytherin’s face morphed from wide-eyed surprise to a dazzling smile. His real smile. The smile Lucifer had missed so much. He leaned against a nearby tree and tilted his head ever so slightly in acknowledgement - refusing to bow until the very end, it seemed.

“Expecto patronum!”

The voice that spoke the incantation was high and clear, eager but clearly exhausted. Lucifer watched from the corner of his eye as Charlie stepped forward, golden bangs plastered against her brow. She was panting, her wand hand trembling. A wisp of silvery smoke joined Lucifer’s shield and disappeared. Her shoulders slumped, but she bit her lip.

“Expecto patronum!”

Again, there was that wisp of silvery smoke, but it stayed for just a bit longer now. Charlie let out a low growl as she took another step forward, desperately pointing her wand at the dark creature.

“Expecto patronum!”

Her voice broke. Only the tiniest trail of smoke came out of her wand now. Her lips were trembling. She was panting. Her periwinkle eyes were wide with fear, desperation, and a touch of despair. Lucifer turned his attention back to Alastor, who was pulling his wand out. One pale hand came up, palm out in the universal sign to stop. The DADA professor paused, brow furrowing, smile confused. A moment of silence passed between them. Then, Alastor stowed his wand. He gave Lucifer another tiny tilt of his head.

“CharChar!” Lucifer said, tearing his eyes away from Alastor. That action alone was enough to make his shield waver. The silver started to fade into faint whisps. The Dementor was pushing closer to them. Cold despair crept into his chest again, battling against the fading warmth of the Patronus in front of him. “Take my hand and try again!” He shot her a grin, watching as those periwinkles snapped to him, his daughter even paler than usual as she, too, desperately battled Lilith’s screams echoing in her head. “C’mon, kiddo! Let’s fuck this stupid thing!”

A pause. A beat of silence. Then, a flash of determination. Charlie’s slim hand found Lucifer’s own, the young witch whirling on the Dementor as the last bits of Lucifer’s shield began to fade. Cold, raw despair began flooding his soul, bringing with it the echoes of Lilith’s screams. Once again, a skeletal hand reached out towards them, a deathly rattle filled the air. The hand holding his squeezed hard as Charlie lifted her wand. Hornbeam and Veela hair core. 14 inches. Nice and springy.

“Expecto patronum!”

The Patronus emerged from the tip of her wand, its form radiant and ethereal. Lucifer watched wide-eyed as it used four legs to leap over his rapidly fading shield with an eager wag of its tail. With a silent joyous bark, the golden retriever bounded forward, its steps light and graceful. As Lucifer’s shield disappeared, it charged at the Dementor and slammed into it, sending it careening back into the wardrobe. Alastor slammed it shut with a wave of his wand, once again trapping the dark creature inside. 

For a moment, the three of them stood there - two panting Morningstars, one silent Boudreaux. His legs were wobbling. Shit, did he get hit by a Jelly-Legs Curse? It would be just like Alastor to hit them with that while he was distracted. A beat of silence passed. Then, a few more. Then, he heard a laugh behind him.

“It’s ‘let’s fuck up this stupid thing,’ Dad.”

He blinked. “Wait… what did I say?”

“I don’t recommend doing that with a Dementor,” Alastor said cheerfully. He waved his wand and easily chained the wardrobe back up, the Boggart rattling it in protest. He quickly silenced it with a charm before walking over. “They only have one-”

“Al!” Lucifer immediately slapped his hands over Charlie’s ears, causing her to wince. “She’s fifteen! Don’t you dare corrupt her!”

A loud snort. “You have clearly never bothered to get to know her friends better. If you’re worried about your daughter’s imminent corruption, I would have a word with Mr. Dust.”

“You are such an asshole!”

“I don’t pretend to be otherwise.”

“What do Dementors only have one of?” Charlie asked, pushing her father’s hands away. “If it’s an adult thing, it’s fine! I’m practically of age now.”

“They only have one cloak, Charlie dear,” Alastor said, red eyes gleaming deviously. “If we burn away the cloak, the Dementor will run away in embarrassment and try to kill a Lethifold to make it into a new cloak.”

Charlie blinked. “Is… Is that really a thing?”

“You don’t believe me? I’m wounded, my dear,” Alastor said. Then, he gestured to Lucifer, a wide grin on his face. “Why don’t we ask your dear father? Ravenclaws are by far the most intelligent witches and wizards here. He’ll surely have an answer.”

He was going to turn this smiling bastard into a banana slug one of these days.

“Speaking of Dementors, what are we doing talking about them when we can be talking about your Patronus?” Lucifer asked, immediately turning to take both of his daughter’s hands. “That was incredible, CharChar! You’re amazing!”

Charlie flushed. “O-oh! It was nothing, really! Well, I mean, all I had to do was think of going to the Yule Ball with Vaggie and-”

“You produced a fully corporeal Patronus after just a few months of practice,” Alastor said. He fixed Charlie with a truly dazzling grin and reached out to ruffle her hair. “I would hardly call that nothing.”

She flushed even more. “I-I mean… I had an amazing teacher.” She let out a small wheeze, then dropped one of Lucifer’s hands so she could take one of Alastor’s. A beautiful smile spread over her face as she gave both of them a tight squeeze. “Two amazing teachers.”

Lucifer felt his face grow warm, and it wasn’t just because of the praise. He let out a small cough and dropped Charlie’s hand, scratching the back of his head. “Heh… well, what can I say? You’re one amazing kid, Charlie.” Then, he cleared his throat. “But you’re behind on your Transfiguration homework. We better head back to the castle. That O.W.L. isn’t gonna write itself, you know.”

Charlie stuck out her tongue and crossed her arms. “You’re so boring, Dad! This is why Al’s ahead of you in the Professor Popularity Contest. You’re a good teacher, but all you think about is work.”

He blinked. “... There’s a Professor Popularity Contest?” Then, another blink. “Did you just call Professor Boudreaux by his first name?”

Alastor smirked. “There are all different kinds of contests! Just a tiny spot of joy that the ornery old bitch hasn’t banned yet.”

“You didn’t answer my other question.”

“Not answering it is much more entertaining.”

“…So what contest am I winning at?”

Alastor and Charlie exchanged a look. She let out a small giggle. Alastor’s smile simply widened. After a moment, Charlie managed to calm down enough to speak again.

“Most Grabbable Waist.”

…What?

“Why would anyone wanna grab my waist?”

“Why wouldn’t anyone want to do that?” Alastor asked. He put one hand on Charlie’s shoulder and started steering her away towards the castle, a faint dusting of pink on his cheeks. “You are just the perfect size to throw at other people during a duel.”

Yup, he was going to turn this guy into a banana slug and a ferret before this year was over. A banana ferret. A sluget. Something like that.

“Wait!” Charlie stopped, a knowing grin lighting up her features. “Don’t forget the other category you’re both winning in!”

Alastor’s red eyes narrowed. “Charlotte. I don’t think your father wants to waste his time hearing anymore-“

“Oh no, please, go on!” Lucifer said, his grin going sardonic. If Al clearly wanted to hide it, then it was definitely because the guy was too proud to admit there was a large possibility that if they were tied for something, Lucifer would eventually come out on top. “What else are we winning in?”

“Cutest Couple!”

…

…

……….

……………………………………………

Oh, his brain was rebooting. By the time he was at least somewhat functional again, Alastor was all but dragging Charlie back to the castle, the teenage witch laughing the entire way.

“Oh, c’mon! It’s not a big deal!” she said happily. “It’s just for fun! Literally everyone saw you two dancing at the Yule Ball, you know, so people are just enjoying the rumors!”

“Miss Morningstar. You’re supposed to be coming back from detention with me,” Alastor said through gritted teeth. “Kindly look like you’ve had a horrible time, please.” 

Lucifer looked after them, fully prepared to head back to his office and start working on his newest little wand project again… as soon as he could unglue his feet from the ground.

There were very, very few things he regretted in his lifetime. Well… okay, that was a fucking lie. He regretted a ton of things. He regretted marrying Lilith and having Charlie so young. He regretted not stepping forward and stopping his family earlier, before they unleashed untold horrors on anything that didn’t have the word “wizard” attached somewhere. He even regretted that one time he had Transfigured Alastor’s favorite crystal ball into a yapping dog for an hour - the man refused to talk to him for an entire week and, well, Lucifer just liked to have some routine, okay? Listening to Alastor’s nonstop height jokes and his musings about what Dementors would taste like if flash-frozen then served over sushi rice might just be the highlight of his week, second only to Charlie coming to office hours. 

One thing he didn’t regret, though? Shielding Charlie from the horrors of the Morningstar family. She was only 15, after all. How could a 15-year-old possibly process the things that his brothers had done in the name of the Dark Lord? How could she possibly understand the intricacies of wizard and non-wizard relations and what about them angered their family so much? How could she even begin to comprehend what it meant for her to be not just a half-blood, but a half-breed. His mind reeled from even thinking about that horrible slur, but in a horribly messed up way, it was true. Regardless of what word his brothers or their fellow Exorcists would use against Charlie, they were going to try to kill her either way.

This was why, when Charlie breached the question of the sordid family history with him one day, he almost immediately diverted her attention. This happened time and time again, and each time he would either find some way to change the subject or simply invent a reason for him to be too busy. After all, he was even more of an adult wizard now and a returning member of the Order - he had so many duties to attend to, and least of all was inflicting trauma on his daughter for describing the acts her uncles did to her mother and so many other non-wizards over the years. Yes, it was best that she be kept ignorant of the family history and simply think of them as bad people. It was so much easier that way.

Of course, no amount of redirecting her could stop her from trying to find her own answers. The Head of Ravenclaw soon found that his daughter was coming to their lessons less and less. Even Alastor, whose brilliant smile had returned alongside Rosie’s reinstatement, was growing concerned. When she wasn’t going to Quidditch practice, attending classes, or hanging out with Vaggie and her friends, she was spending an excessive amount of time in the library pouring over decades upon decades of Morningstar family literature. Shit, he really hoped she wasn’t putting too much stock into the pure-blood supremacy dotted all over the texts; he really wasn’t ready to explain the horrible nuances of any of that.

He was just about to grant the pinewood wand its core one dark evening when Alastor literally blasted his office door off its hinges. Before he could snap at the man for being such a fucking drama queen, one look in those maroon eyes immediately took that thought away. Alastor was afraid. Without missing a beat, Lucifer stored the glowing Horned Serpent horn in his desk and looked up at his colleague with a frown.

“What is it?”

“It’s Charlie,” Alastor breathed. “Our dear little witch seems to have gone missing. Do you have any idea where she could be?”

Lucifer frowned, his mind racing as he processed Alastor’s words. Where could she have gone? Hogsmeade? No, she had permission to go there and Lucifer always made sure to give her enough money to buy whatever she wanted there. Home? No, there were constant Ministry patrols at the gate and train station. Any runaway witch or wizard would be caught immediately. Somewhere in the castle? No, Husk and Dust knew the whole thing like the back of their hands. If Charlie was hidden in a secret room or corridor, they would be able to tell the professors where she was right away. Besides, Charlie wasn’t the type to just up and run off without a very, very good reason. No, wherever Charlie went, it was because she needed to-

Fuck.

“What’s the fastest way to get to Hogsmeade?” Lucifer asked as he turned and immediately followed Alastor down the hall. “I think that’s the closest point where we can Apparate.”

“We can use one of the secret passageways,” Alastor replied. They all but flew down the steps and ran out of the entrance hall, receiving curious looks from students as they passed. “But I’m not sure where the anti-Apparition spell ends down there.”

“So… deer hooves it is?”

“Deer hooves it is.”

The moment they were sure no one was watching them, they hid in the shadows of the castle and transformed. In the next second, the copper-colored stag with the pale death adder wrapped around his neck was dashing down the hill towards Hogsmeade, trading the warm embrace of the castle for the snowy landscape of the village. On any other day, Lucifer would’ve loved to stop and take a look around. Maybe grab a pint of Butterbeer from the Three Broomsticks. Or drag Alastor into Madam Puddifoot’s and watch the man burst into flames or something at the sight of the garishly cute decor and disgustingly sweet couples. But they had no time for that - they needed to get to Charlie as soon as possible.

The moment Alastor’s hooves crossed the border between Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, they transformed into men again in the darkness of a nearby building. Without missing a beat, Lucifer grabbed the other man’s (warm, soft, strong) hand and turned, Apparating them with a tiny pop. When they appeared again, it took everything Lucifer had in him not to vomit then and there.

The Morningstar Estate stood in the heart of the countryside, surrounded by overgrown thickets and gnarled trees. Its once ornate architecture had been ravaged by time, now shrouded in shadows and decay. The wind howled mournfully through broken windows as decaying ivy lashed against the crumbling walls. Their rapid footsteps echoed loudly as they entered, their wands casting flickering beams of light to illuminate the path before them.

One glance down at the ground told him that there had indeed been another living being here very, very recently. They were small and dainty, clearly the steps of someone who really, really, really shouldn’t be there. 

“It stinks of dark magic here,” Alastor said quietly. He closed his eyes and sniffed the air. “Decay too. This place is a perfect breeding ground for Dementors.”

A shot of panic ran through him. Fear clenched his heart in a vice. “I swear to Merlin’s sweaty left nipple, if she’s in danger in any way, I’m going to cast so many Unforgivable Curses tonight you’re gonna have to drag me to Azkaban.”

“I’ll be there with you,” Alastor said. Maroon eyes narrowed as he scanned the foyer, then widened when he saw the little footprints heading off to one of the side rooms. “Maybe if we share a cell, we can split the Dementors between us.”

“Like hell I'm sharing a toilet with you, Boudreaux,” Lucifer said. Despite his light tone, worry laced through every word. The footprints were heading towards what he knew to be the grand ballroom. “You probably shit out Grindylow bricks or something with what you like to eat.”

Alastor merely smiled before opening the door to the grand ballroom, raising his wand high to allow the light to brighten it up further. Lucifer bit his lip as he cast his gaze over the room. Its once magnificent chandeliers were now reduced to twisted metal and shattered glass. The echoes of laughter and music that once filled the room were now replaced by a haunting silence that seemed to reverberate through the very walls. With every step he took, Lucifer found himself growing closer and closer to the black mark in the center of the room, a quiet reminder of the night when he turned his back at last on his family’s legacy. It was honestly remarkable how in the intervening years, these marks had never faded. Maybe some higher power was punishing him for how slow he was to act?

“Dad? Al?”

Charlie.

Lucifer’s head snapped immediately in the direction of that voice, relief washing over him the moment sky blue met gentle periwinkle. He half-ran over to her, pulling his dear, sweet, foolish, naive, safe, living, breathing daughter into a hug. She had sprouted up quite a bit throughout the year and now stood a few inches taller than him. Dammit. He was really enjoying not being the shortest Morningstar for a bit.

“Dad!” Charlie gasped out, small hands coming up to shove him away. “Choking! Me!”

He let go of her, now placing his hands on her shoulders. He gave her the sternest look he could muster, though the sheer amount of relief flooding through him made that very, very, very difficult. God, he should be punishing her or something, right? At least grounding her. Maybe taking away her broom. Wait a minute, was that how she got here in the first place? A quick glance to the side told him that, yes, she did just yank her Firebolt out of the broom closet just to fly here, breaking a billion other Hogwarts rules in the process. Fuck. She really was his daughter, wasn’t she?

“Charlie, do you have any idea how stupid this is?” Lucifer asked. He carded a hand through his hair, heart racing at the mere thought of being here. “Flying out on your own to a crumbling and dilapidated manor and not saying a word to anyone? What if there was someone else here? You could’ve been killed or worse-”

“Expelled?” Alastor “helpfully” supplied with the biggest shit-eating grin possible. 

He was going to strip this man and feed him to a Dementor later.

“No! Tortured and killed!”

Charlie smiled sheepishly at him. “D-Dad, please. I know, okay? I know this was totally stupid. I know I really, really, really shouldn’t have done this. But…” she gestured to the wall behind her. “I needed to see it - the good, and all the bad - for myself.”

The enormous family tree mural slid into his attention at that point, causing his insides to twist. This “illustrious” lineage of theirs was depicted as many, many, many branches all coming from a large gnarled black trunk. Everyone was depicted with a non-moving portrait, their Animagus form, and their birth and death dates. Anyone who had failed to achieve a proper Animagus form or had betrayed the family in some way had simply been burnt off - it was Raphael’s favorite pastime.

Lucifer removed his hands from his daughter’s shoulders and took a step back, searching her face. She stood before him, gaze determined, eyes blazing. What happened to the shy, crying girl from years before? Where did his bubbly little princess go? Who was this beautiful, determined witch who stood before him now?

Inhale. 

Exhale. 

“I never wanted you to hear any of this,” he said quietly. “Or come anywhere near this place. I… you need to stay safe, CharChar.”

Her frown deepened. “For a Ravenclaw, you sure like making sure I stay ignorant.” Her periwinkle gaze turned towards the mural. “If I’m going to grow up and be better than them, then I need to know what they did. If I’m gonna help mom, then I need to know what they did to her.” 

A sharp pain appeared in his chest. He let out a shaky breath. He really did have to do this, didn’t he? If he didn’t, she would find some way to just do this again. Or go to an even darker, more dangerous place in search for answers. “I’m sorry. I-I… Don’t say I didn’t warn you, okay?”

She nodded. He inhaled again and looked over to where Alastor stood. The other wizard simply leaned against a nearby pillar and raised an eyebrow. Clearly, Charlie wasn’t the only one curious about Lucifer’s dark family history.

“Uriel was the oldest,” Lucifer said. He walked over and pointed to his eldest brother’s portrait, tracing the yellow gaze of his owl Animagus. “And he was a Hat Stall. Apparently, the thing really wanted to put him in Ravenclaw instead… but Mom told him to make sure he went into Slytherin. So he followed his duty.” The laugh he let out was low and bitter.

“He was the best at capturing people. He knew a million different ways to disarm, then bind someone. His favorite way to do it was a few Stunning Spells to the chest, but he wasn’t above just chopping off limbs either. When he captured your mom, he went for a Full Body-Bind Curse plus Levitation...” he trailed off, throat tightening. Then, he moved towards the next two portraits.

“This is-”

“Wait,” Charlie said. She frowned up at Uriel. “Why did he do that?”

“It’s a show of power, my dear,” Alastor said. His face had darkened considerably, maroon eyes so bright they were nearly glowing. “The Stunning Spell renders the target unconscious… a Full Body-Bind Curse merely paralyzes them. Your mother would have been conscious the entire time.”

Charlie’s eyes widened in horror. Lucifer grimaced and forced himself to turn away from the sight. He couldn’t stop telling the story now. “Michael and Raphael - they’re in Azkaban - are twins. They both specialized in pyro stuff. Raphael could blast anything he pointed his wand at. Michael had the best control over Fiendfyre out of any Dark Wizard. Honestly, I think he was even better than the Dark Lord at it. Mom was so proud of them. She made sure they practiced on local Muggles as much as they could.” 

“Is… Is that why Mom has so many marks?”

He paused for a moment to trace their matching Siamese Cat forms. Then, he shook his head and moved on. “Yeah. That and because Chamuel here liked to just straight up use knives. Dad trained him specially to use them.” He tapped his brother’s mountain lion form as he spoke his name. “But not all scars are physical. There’s a ton of mental ones too. That’s what Jophiel and Gabriel excelled in.” He tapped a swan and an eagle respectively. “Cruciatus Curse and Imperius Curse. Those were what they were good at. Mom and Dad loved to make sure they were getting lots of practice too.” He sighed. “There’s… a reason why your mom’s so good at resisting those two now.”

Alastor made a strange noise that sounded like a half strangled growl. Lucifer paused to shoot him a questioning look, only to freeze under that sharp gaze, a shiver running down his spine. There was an odd flash of anger in those red eyes, anger and hate. After five years of almost constantly hanging out with the guy, he knew Alastor well enough by now to know that he was downright murderous right now. Even more so than usual.

“Zadkiel liked to wait until the end to jump in,” Lucifer said quietly. He shifted his gaze back to the mural, one hand passed over the grinning black vulture with apprehension. “So the Killing Curse was his big thing. Mom used to call him her little Horcrux… because I’m pretty sure his soul was so fragmented that he barely had one left.

“And Az…” Now he stood in front of Azrael’s portrait, his hand trembling as he traced the large black dog. “Az liked to make Inferi.” The word fell from his lips like poison, burning his throat. “He was Mom and Dad’s favorite. Any Dark Wizard could learn to do the things my other brothers did, but him? He could make armies of creatures that didn’t know fear or pain. And he really liked it when he could turn loved ones against each other. Made things extra delicious for him.”

A beat of silence. He looked over at Charlie, who stared at him with wide eyes. She had grown so pale she was gaunt now. Frozen. Corpselike were it not for the slow rise and fall of her chest. Under his gaze, she blinked and swallowed. Her mouth trembled. Her hands twisted in her robes.

“And… what about Samael?” she whispered. Lucifer looked up sharply. “I ran into his name in some of the older books. You’ve never mentioned him.”

“...Samael was the youngest. Just like his brothers, he grew up listening nonstop to pure-blood fanatical ideals. He believed in them. He thought Muggles and non-human magical beings alike were inferior and made to be ruled by wizard-kind. He resented having to hide. When he grew up, the family discovered that he was very, very good at Transfiguration. Even better than the usual Morningstar wizard. His parents were so excited about that. They called him gifted. They sent him to Hogwarts so he could hone that gift in the name of the Dark Lord.”

Charlie blinked slowly. Then, she looked at the family tree. There was a burn mark where Samael Morningstar’s portrait once sat. “But… he’s not on the mural?”

Lucifer smiled. “When he went to Hogwarts, he was a Hat Stall too. He begged to be Sorted into Slytherin just like everyone else in his family, but the Hat had other ideas. He hated it at first. But then, he started making friends: a girl named Eve and a boy named Adam. Eve was a Muggle-born, and Adam was a half-blood. He looked down on them in everything until one day… Adam and Eve saved his life. Samael had insulted a herd of centaurs. He would have - should have - been killed for that, but Eve stepped in. Her spellwork was brilliant. She distracted the centaurs while Adam flew him out of the Forbidden Forest on his broom.

“Samael’s heart started changing on that day. He began reading more into what it meant to have magical blood. He started talking more with people who had different ideals from him. By the time he graduated from Hogwarts, he had broken out of whatever spell his family ideals had cast on him.”

“He sounds amazing! But… you still haven’t explained why he’s not on the mural.”

Lucifer sighed. “It was the day after he graduated from Hogwarts. Samael decided once and for all that he couldn’t stand behind the family’s ideals any longer. He wanted to break free of it all. He came to realize that all he and his brothers had ever known were the Morningstar pureblood ideals. But now that he knew better, maybe he could convince his brothers to join the side of good too?”

He laughed. “It was a silly dream, but… he tried. He tried to tell them over dinner how wrong things were, how much better it was to consider living as equals to the Muggles and magical creatures of the world, not as their rulers. It didn’t go over well. He barely made it out of here alive. When he escaped, he ran to Adam’s place and hid. Eventually, the three of them joined the Order. They fought against the Dark Lord… against Samael’s brothers. And at the end? Samael went before the Wizengamot and sent Azrael, Raphael, and Michael to Azkaban. The rest of his brothers and both his parents lie in shallow graves around the country. They believed in the Dark Lord until the bitter end.”

“What happened to Samael after that?”

Alastor broke his silence. “He changed his name. Took on a new identity and left behind the name Samael forever.” He looked up and met Lucifer’s gaze, smile soft, eyes gentle. Lucifer let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding. “He chose the name Lucifer instead. The man who defied his own family took on the name of the original rebel. It’s poetic, really.”

Charlie’s eyes widened. She quickly looked between Lucifer and Alastor, as though trying to see if one of them was pulling her leg. When neither man moved, she turned to the mural, staring in shock at the spot where Samael’s portrait once stood. One slim hand reached out and traced the faint outline of a death adder surrounding the now burnt portrait. “And… What happened to Adam and Eve?”

Another wan smile crossed Lucifer’s face. As he closed his eyes, he could almost hear their voices, the sound of their laughter echoing gently in his mind. “The First Wizarding War was long, kiddo. Many lives were lost. Lots of witches and wizards died like heroes fighting the Dark Lord. Those two… they went down fighting for a world they believed in. They didn’t have a single regret.”

A silence fell over the small group. Charlie’s face quickly became strained and gaunt as she processed the information. She sat down on the floor and crossed her legs. One hand twisted in her robes, the other ran through her golden hair. Then, she looked over at Lucifer, mouth tight, eyes wide with sorrow.

“I… I’m so sorry your brothers were lost.”

Lucifer shook his head. “Don’t be. They made their choice. They learned those terrible skills and used them to do horrible things.”

A pause.

“...Hogwarts didn’t teach them how to do any of that,” Charlie said quietly. Then, without another word, she stood and picked up her broom. Tiny alabaster hands clutched at the handle as she turned to face the two professors. “I’m… I’m ready to go home.”

They didn’t need any further instruction. Lucifer walked over and wrapped his arm around Charlie, pulling out his wand. He turned to Alastor, expecting the man to pull out his own wand. Which, yes, he did but then he walked over and wrapped one arm around Lucifer’s waist. Heat flooded his cheeks immediately. Lucifer swallowed, then stowed his wand away, using his free arm to pull Charlie closer. How… practical of Alastor. Yes, he needed the extra arm to make sure Charlie didn’t slip away. She hadn’t Apparated before, after all.

A quiet pop echoed throughout the rotting manor as the three of them disappeared.

Chapter Text

Lucifer groaned as he trudged into his office, absolutely exhausted from his busy day. He slumped into his seat by the fire and ran one hand through his disheveled hair. Blue eyes shifted to glance at the clock hanging above him. Three till midnight. He was slightly early. Now all he needed to do was sit and wait for his name to get called from the flames. He didn’t mind waiting. After all, she had kept him waiting for more than 12 years.

“Lucifer Morningstar.”

The voice that came from his fireplace flowed like a gentle stream, a haunting and melancholy melody. There was a strange beauty to it, a delicate harmony that a long time ago had captivated Lucifer’s heart and drew him into the depths of her sorrow. The Head of Ravenclaw watched quietly as the flames coalesced and formed the image of a beautiful woman with piercing eyes, delicate features, and long hair that flowed around her as though borne on an invisible wind. It was a mesmerizing sight, one that captured his attention completely and left him both captivated and entranced.

She was still just as beautiful as the day he said goodbye to her forever.

For a few moments, they simply stared at each other, the weight of their history hanging heavily between them. The flames crackled quietly, spreading a gentle warmth throughout the room that did nothing to lift the icy distance that had long settled between them. After what felt like an eternity, Lilith pursed her lips and averted her gaze, twisting one of her flowing locks in one hand. Almost immediately, Lucifer lifted his hand again and- wait. He just touched his hair. Shit, he was going back to old habits, wasn’t he? He and Lilith tended to touch their hair whenever things got tense. It had actually earned them quite a bit of teasing during the previous war. “Lucifer… it’s been a while.”

He hesitated. “...Twelve years. I’d say that’s a hell of a lot more than a while.”

“I see you still have that silly picture hanging up.”

He glanced briefly at the childish drawing of him riding a giant duck. Charlie had given it to him the day before he left. For the longest time, it had been his last memory of his little girl. “Why wouldn’t I? CharChar was talented even back then.”

A tiny smile lit up Lilith’s face. “Mm… she was, wasn’t she? She insisted on using Muggle crayons to make that one. You were so confused, but I…” The corners of her mouth turned upward. “I was so proud of her.”

A beat of silence. Then, Lucifer let out a sigh. “You really were hoping she’d turn out to be non-magical, weren’t you?”

The Veela pursed her lips and averted her gaze. “Can you blame me? You remember what happened. You saw me on that day.” She shuddered, her perfect brow knitting into a frown. Lucifer could almost see the way she was rubbing her arms, hidden under a long-sleeved knit sweater. She had begun wearing those constantly after that horrible day to hide the burn marks Raphael and Michael had “anointed” her with. “I wanted to keep her as far away as possible from all of it. I wanted to protect her. I… wanted her to stay safe.”

Inhale.

Exhale.

“You wanted to keep her safe so badly… that you made sure I stayed away for seven years? Me? Lilith, I don’t know if you’ve looked in a mirror lately, but between the two of us, I’m-”

“You’re what, Lucifer?” Lilith asked. The musical tilt was gone from her voice, a dark and dangerous undercurrent lacing through her every word. Cold fury flashed behind her eyes. “More human than I am?”

He hesitated. “I… That’s not what I meant, Lilypad.”

“Except you and I both know that’s what you were thinking,” Lilith said simply. She ran another hand through her flowing hair. That habit again. “But it doesn’t matter. Even after you left, she never forgot about you or the magical world. I did everything I could to discourage magic, but she ended up developing it right when she turned ten.” Her gaze shifted once again to meet Lucifer’s, mouth curling into a frown. “I… was quite reluctant to let her go to that castle. And that’s why I asked to speak with you tonight. With the Dark Lord’s return, I think it’s time we talk about sending her home.”

A cold hand clenched down on Lucifer’s heart. He pulled out his wand, toying with it a little as he considered her words. He remembered having a very similar talk years ago. But he wasn’t in his office then - he was in a little cabin out on the edge of a bayou, sharing a pot of tea and a laugh. A strange, warm feeling flooded his chest at the memory. Lately, his thoughts wandered quite a lot to that little trip to the cabin, where cheesy radio tunes and wild red eyes helped him forget for just a second how horrible things had become since the Dark Lord’s return.

Where was Alastor now?

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said after a brief pause. “Hogwarts is probably the safest place in the country-”

“Don’t give me that, Lucifer,” Lilith snapped. She rubbed her temples and let out a small sigh. “You and I both know that once he gains enough power, Hogwarts will be the first place he attacks. It has the highest concentration of Order members and some of the most powerful wizards of our time all housed there. If he can take you or any of your colleagues out, he’ll be able to shut down all exits out of the school. Charlie will certainly be targeted either first or second… She’s half of me, after all.”

She had a point there. She almost always had a point. Lucifer sighed and curled his hand into a fist, resisting the urge to once again run it through his fucking hair. “Lilith, I hear you. I do. But she won’t be any safer out there with you. You don’t use magic and, on top of that, you’ve heard, haven’t you? Michael and Raphael are out of Azkaban now too. If you think they’ll leave you alone just because you think they’re gonna come after me first, then you have another thing coming-”

“All the better reason to send Charlie to hide, then. If they do go after you first, it’ll give us time to flee. If they try to come after me first, then I’ll be able to move and hide faster. We can go to Bulgaria or France… somewhere they can’t reach us.”

God, why didn’t she get it!? It wasn’t like Hogwarts was wide open and prone to attack! Lucifer let out a low, frustrated groan as he slumped back in his chair, casting his sky-blue gaze toward the ceiling. This was getting nowhere fast. It was clear that neither of them was going to budge on their stances, and that they both thought they knew what was best for her. What was he going to do? What could he possibly say to her that would just make her realize he was right?

“Charlie doesn’t want to go to Bulgaria or France.”

“Charlie doesn’t want to die either. She’s still a child.”

“She’s almost of age!”

“Do you trust a 16-year-old to make good choices? At her age, the Muggles are barely learning how to drive.”

“I made the right choices, didn’t I? I joined the Order!”

“And nearly died doing so! Several times! As I said before, Charlie doesn’t have a death wish.”

“Well I fucking doubt she wants to just uproot herself and head to another fucking country to-“

“Hey, how about you two ask me what I want?”

Lucifer’s head snapped immediately to his door, brows knitting when he saw his golden-haired daughter framed in the doorway. She was dressed in her bright yellow Quidditch robes, clearly breaking a million castle rules by sneaking out of her dorm after curfew to practice catching Snitches in the dark. Lucifer let out a sigh at the sight of her; he really should be sticking her into detention one of these days.

“Charlie…” Lucifer said as she entered the room, blue eyes quickly darting over to his ex-wife’s image in the fire. Lilith looked affronted, her perfect brow knitting into a deep frown as she regarded their daughter with a mixture of anger and worry. “What are you doing up?”

“Vaggie and I were feeding Razzle and Dazzle,” Charlie said. She turned towards her mother, her face softening slightly at the sight of the Veela wreathed in flame. “They’re a pair of baby unicorns we found when we snuck out of bed last week. I think even you would love them, Mom.”

Lilith bit her bottom lip at her daughter’s words. “You’ve… been sneaking out of bed? And your father’s been allowing you to?”

Well, that was a fucking wrong statement if he’s ever heard one. “Can’t allow something I don’t know about, Lilypad.” He shifted his gaze towards his daughter. “And you… You should know better. You know you’re not allowed out of the castle without an escort, especially now! Who knows what the Dark Lord could-”

“Dad, Mom.” Charlie brushed her bangs out of her face as she knelt in front of the fire, angling her body so she was facing them both. “I hear you both. I do. I know you want to keep me safe-”

“Yes, we do,” Lilith said. Her fireplace image leaned forward slightly, eyes flashing. “Which is why we were just discussing the best way to do so. If you come home with me, I’ll pack our things and we’ll leave quietly-”

“Oh, fuck no you don’t,” Lucifer snapped. “She’s staying right here at Hogwarts. You said so yourself, we’ve got some of the best wizards and witches of this age here, so-”

“Dad! Mom!” Lucifer and Lilith stopped glaring at each other long enough to snap their gaze back to their daughter. Charlie’s hands had curled into fists now, shoulders tensed, chest heaving. When she looked up, periwinkle blues trembled as she spoke. “You’re doing that thing again… That same thing you did when I was four. You’re trying to make decisions for me without talking and listening to me first. I couldn’t do anything about that then… but I can say something now. A-and thanks to Dad telling me about our family history, I know enough now to make a smart decision. So when I come of age, I’m…” she swallowed. “I’m joining the Order. And I’m gonna work to try to redeem Exorcists.”

…What?

A beat of silence stretched into an eternity. Lucifer suddenly became keenly aware of his pulse racing. A small coil of anxiety twisted in his chest like a vine. She hadn’t brought up anything about their family history since her impromptu flight to the Morningstar estate. Alastor had given her a month’s worth of detention for that stunt. After that, she had once again turned into the endlessly curious, loyal, smiling witch that seemed to light up every room. She had even improved enough in her Transfiguration to earn an Acceptable on her O.W.L.S. Lucifer had genuinely believed that perhaps she had shoved their family history to the back of her mind, the sordid details too horrible for her to process. He should’ve known better; Charlie was not the sort to simply repress a bad memory.

But… redeeming Exorcists? That would require her to do something other than knock them out and cart them away to Azkaban. She would have to talk with them. Sit across from them and listen to their mad ramblings about blood purity and wizarding supremacy. Maybe even touch them to offer some measure of comfort or whatever. And what if they were violent? What if they attacked her? Fear gripped him like a vice, its icy fingers tightening around his soul. They would punish her for daring to exist.

(“Mark my words, Lucifer! The day will come when I’ll rip everything you love from your cold, dead fingers! Starting with that filthy half-breed of yours!”)

“Charlie,” Lilith’s voice was flat, hard. Her hair flowed dangerously around her. Her facial features had sharpened considerably, the beginnings of her harpy-like form playing at the edge of her eyes and mouth. “That is a foolish thought. Who put that into your head?”

Charlie’s jaw tightened. “No one, I-”

“No, your mom’s right,” Lucifer said, the vice in his chest tightening with every breath. “Who the fuck gave you that idea?” If it was Alastor, he was definitely going to end up as Dementor food once Lucifer was done with him.

Charlie was balling her robes in her grip now, her chest rising with every shaking breath. “I told you. No one did. This idea is all mine.” She looked up sharply, determination flashing behind her gaze. “If the Order is going to fight the Dark Lord head-on, then I’m going to fight in my own way. I’m going to give the Exorcists - their children especially - a second chance at life.”

“A second chance?” Lilith asked. She shook her head, throwing her sharp features into greater relief. “Exorcists are violent and ignorant. They are psychopaths who believe only in blood purity and wizard supremacy. They will punish you for your mere existence. Believe me…” her gaze went downward, no doubt looking at the places where her numerous scars lay hidden under many layers of clothing. Her lip curled. “It happened to me.”

“Mom… I’m so sorry… but if they would just listen to-”

“Charlie, you don’t understand,” Lucifer snapped. He lifted one trembling hand and carded it through his hair, the memory of a disastrous dinner flashing before him. Whizzing spells, furious expressions, and broken plates filled his vision. The stench of burning flesh filled his nose. “Blood purists never listen. They didn’t listen to me… they won’t listen to you.”

“You don’t know that!”

“We do!” Lilith and Lucifer snapped in unison - the first time they had done so in years. They briefly glanced at each other, then back at Charlie. 

She was standing now, periwinkle eyes ablaze with fury. Her mouth was pulled back into a snarl. Her hair whipped around her like a storm, a result of her Veela blood. Like her mother, her features had sharpened as well, her never-before-seen harpy-like form threatening to rip its way to the surface. Yellow sparks danced at her fingertips, causing Lucifer’s eyes to widen in alarm. Wait. Wandless magic? How the fuck was she capable of doing that at only sixteen? Behind him, the wand he had been working on for so many years hummed a low, dangerous note - its Horned Serpent horn core vibrating in response to impending danger.

Then, just as quickly as this terrifying new form appeared, it was gone, Charlie smoothing down her hair as her face softened. The yellow sparks were no longer dancing at her fingertips, but her hands still glowed ever so slightly. Behind him, the wand stopped vibrating. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then exhaled before opening them again.

“I don’t need you two to protect me from them,” she said quietly. Her gaze shifted between them, then she shook her head. “I… know that a ton of them are already too far gone. My uncles - the ones still alive, I mean - are definitely among them. I’m not stupid enough to think I can help everyone. But what about the children? The ones who are my age? The ones who grew up like you and my uncles, Dad?”

Lucifer swallowed, alabaster fingers tightening on the arm of his chair. He closed his eyes. “What do you mean, CharChar?”

She took a deep breath. “I mean the ones who grew up listening to nothing but that. I mean, when I was small, you used to tell me all the time about how hard you and Mom fought against the Dark Lord. You showed me that wizards and witches weren’t above any other being, Muggle or otherwise! But not everyone had parents like that. A lot of Exorcists’ kids grow up hearing about nothing but blood purity ideals and then when they get the chance to come to places like Hogwarts, where they can learn more about the other beings in our world, they keep getting dragged back home and brainwashed with blood purity ideas again. Hogwarts didn’t teach them these things, right? It was their parents, who were taught by their parents who were taught by theirs… It's an endless cycle. It makes sure that, no matter what, the Dark Lord and other crazy people who believe in that stuff always have another generation that thinks blood purity is a good thing.”

Lilith spoke now, her voice wound tight. “That might be true, but-”

“But what, Mom? I shouldn’t try to fight for a better world? I shouldn’t give others the chance that you and Dad gave me? I shouldn’t try to fight for my dreams, even though you and Dad fought so hard for yours?”

Again, silence fell at her words. Bile rose in Lucifer’s throat as a storm blew around in his head. She… had a point. He couldn’t remember a single time within his home when his parents and brothers weren’t hammering pureblood supremacy ideals in his head. It was only after entering Hogwarts and exiting his home forever where Adam and Eve helped him shed the cloak of Samael Morningstar piece by piece. By the time he graduated, he had already decided to join the Order. He had already decided that he was going to help build a better Wizarding World.

Maybe it was Adam’s and Eve’s spirits sticking those ideals in Charlie’s head. It sounded like something they would do. Adam would’ve also given her the idea to sneak out at night and practice catching Snitches, the Gryffindor having done so himself many, many times. And Eve? Eve would’ve been so happy and proud to see that Charlie was fulfilling the ideals of their shared House: teaching the lot and treating them just the same.

“You both fought for your dreams so the Wizarding World could be safe from the Dark Lord,” Charlie said quietly. She took a deep breath, then looked Lucifer right in the eye. “You both fought… so I could chase my dreams in a safer world. So, let me chase them. Let me fight so that even if only one child of a blood purist family listens, they’ll be able to chase their own dreams, not their parents’ and not the Dark Lord’s.”

“You… sound like Adam,” Lucifer said quietly. He cast his gaze over to Lilith, who bit her bottom lip. “Reckless asshole. Always talked about fighting for what he wanted.”

Lilith let out a small, tinkling laugh, her features softening as she once again twirled her hair between her elegant fingers. “I think she sounds more like Eve. Talking about dreams and how everyone deserves to chase them.”

“I think I sound more like me,” Charlie said. She crossed her arms. “Someone you can’t keep in a castle or a countryside cabin just because you wanna try to keep me safe.”

When Lucifer looked up again, he saw Charlie standing before him. Just Charlie. Not Adam’s reckless grin and lopsided nose. Not Eve’s starry eyes and wind-blown hair. Hell, he couldn’t even see much of himself or Lilith in the girl either. All he saw now was a young woman, a determined young witch growing into her own; not an extension of him or Lilith who needed to stay locked up in these castle walls or somewhere in the Bulgarian countryside. She was a dreamer, through and through.

It was still a foolish, reckless idea. She could easily be hurt by it. But even if they stood against her, she would just keep chasing this dream anyways. Her unwavering resolve meant that the only way to ensure her safety was to offer support, and to intervene if things went awry. Otherwise? She was a witch in her own right, capable of charting her own path in life.

Emotion rose within him like a tidal wave, currents of fear, despair, and pride threatening to overwhelm him. Pressure built behind his eyes, threatening to spill at any moment. How had he missed this? When did his daughter grow from a shy, crying girl into a young woman determined to seek out her dreams? He had seen tiny shades of that throughout her years here, but… well, it didn’t matter now. All that mattered was the simple fact that he was so damn proud of the young witch before him and the dreams she was going to chase.

He rose to his feet before his mind could comprehend what had happened. Charlie grinned in response and ran forward, enveloping him in a tight, wordless hug. She now stood a full head above him. Shit. He really was the one who got the short end of the stick, wasn’t he?

“Charlie…” The two of them turned to Lilith, watching as the Veela gently wiped tears from her fiery eyes. The embers of Lucifer’s fireplace were slowly dying out, a quiet signal that she was nearly ready to leave. “I… can’t believe how much Hogwarts has helped you grow.” A small, sad smile lit up her elegant features. “Take care of your father for me, darling. And stay safe… please. Don’t let what happened to me happen to you as well. Raphael and Michael are still out there…” She shivered. “And Azrael… he’s the most unhinged of them all. Don’t let him near you. Please.”

“Mom… I will,” Charlie let go of Lucifer now and knelt so she was eye-level with the flames. “I promise. I love you and Dad so much, and I know you’re both gonna worry for me no matter what. I won’t let all your fighting go to waste. I’ll make my dream come true and stay safe. Also… don’t worry about Dad.” She looked over her shoulder, a teasing gleam in her eye. “He has someone looking out for him already and the guy’s pretty territorial. I don’t wanna make Al jealous.”

Heat flooded Lucifer’s cheeks at those words, his blue-eyed gaze immediately diverting to the cabinet where he kept the new pinewood wand. “I-I can take care of myself. Al’s just… a giant weirdo who eats dried Acromantula eggs for a snack.”

Lilith let out a low chuckle, then turned back to face Charlie. “Alright then. Keep yourself and Vaggie safe. Let your father sort out his relationship with the Acromantula-eater. I love you, my little apple blossom.” Then, she disappeared without another word, the embers of his fireplace fading with her in a tiny wisp of smoke.

“So… tell me again where you’re going?”

Alastor’s office was a mess, but what Hogwarts professor’s wasn’t? He was pretty sure that if there was a mess contest, his office would beat Alastor’s, and Bee’s office would beat all of theirs. Seriously, wasn’t the Potions Master aware that there was a storage closet for all her stuff? She didn’t have to leave it all just sitting out.

Alastor glanced up from where he was levitating socks into his trunk, maroon eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and something far more mischievous. A smirk crested over his face. “I’m heading back to America for a few months,” he said, tossing a few books into the trunk with a wave of his wand. Lucifer followed them with his gaze, shuddering slightly when he saw the titles. Okay, seriously, who the fuck just casually had a recipe book for Flobberworms just lying around? “Some old… let’s say associates of mine at Ilvermorny tipped me off to something crucial for the Order.”

Lucifer raised an eyebrow as he pressed himself against Alastor’s door frame, trying to keep his voice calm despite the prickling concern creeping into his chest. “Something crucial, huh? Must be pretty damn important if you’re just gonna up and leave Hogwarts for so long.”

“It is,” Alastor replied, a small dark edge to his voice. “I’m hunting for something that could very well change everything for our side. It’ll help us get our plans in order.”

Lucifer snorted despite himself, but soon schooled his features and crossed his arms. Sky-blue eyes followed Alastor’s movements around the room, watching as Alastor opened his snack cabinet and used his wand to toss a few bags of Acromantula eggs, Mandrake roots, smoked Bundiman, and Clabbert jerky into his trunk. Despite the turning of his stomach, Lucifer couldn’t help but feel a sense of melancholy as he watched the items disappear into the trunk. He hated how much he was going to miss Alastor’s weird fucking diet. 

“And you’re not gonna tell me what it is?”

Alastor chuckled, a warm, musical sound, and shook his head. “Not yet, I’m afraid. The fewer people that know about this, the better. I’m quite surprised that the Headmistress allowed me to let you know at all. She’s usually quite the secretive gal.” He tilted his head, a slightly smug smile gracing his features. “Then again, she also trusted me with this little trip. She’ll bite my head off - the one that I actually use, at least - if I come back empty-handed!”

Now that most of his snack cabinet had been emptied out and almost everything on his desk had either been packed away or removed, Alastor’s office seemed strangely bare. Something deep in Lucifer’s chest ached at the sight. He had grown so used to their routine, their banter, their shared moments. The castle would feel so much emptier without Alastor there to light it up with his stupid, dazzling, annoying smile. 

Lucifer swallowed. “...You know, you don’t have to go all the way to America just to avoid grading your students’ essays.”

For a few moments, Alastor said nothing. Then, slowly, a grin spread across Alastor’s face. He closed his trunk with a wave of his wand and turned to face Lucifer fully now. The Head of Ravenclaw’s breath stilled as he watched the golden light of the late afternoon sun bounce off Alastor’s auburn locks, casting long shadows and highlighting the sharp angles of his face. 

He was beautiful in this moment, just like all of the other moments Lucifer had spent with him. 

“I knew it,” Alastor said, smug triumph lacing his words. “You’re going to miss me, Morningstar.”

Lucifer scoffed, pushing off from the door frame and walking into the room. “Please. Don’t fucking flatter yourself, Boudreaux. I’m just worried you’ll forget how to teach properly by the time you get back.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll help me catch up in no time,” Alastor teased, stepping closer to Lucifer. For a brief moment, neither man said anything, the air humming with an unspoken something that set Lucifer's nerves on edge. Without really thinking about it, Lucifer inhaled, savoring the faint, earthy scent that always clung to Alastor, mingling with the soft fragrance of aged parchment and a brand new book.

When Lucifer met his gaze, there was a softness in those maroon eyes that Alastor only ever seemed to reserve for when he was talking about his Ma. His heart hammered in his chest, a tempest swirling with a mixture of reluctance and… something else. Something that he wasn’t quite ready to name yet. 

“Just…” Lucifer sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Just be careful, alright? You and your weird ass death wish from that time with the Lethifold scare me.”

Alastor remained silent for just a bit longer, maroon eyes searching his face. Lucifer’s hand twitched, something inside him daring him to reach out, to close the distance between them. There was an intensity to Alastor’s gaze that spoke volumes of everything that they were… and a few things beyond just that. Lucifer bit his lip as he stuffed his hand into his pocket, gripping onto his wand. Sure, he might accidentally set his entire lower half on fire again and destroy any chance he had of riding a broomstick ever again, but at least it’d prevent him from doing anything stupid.

“...I will, Lucifer,” Alastor said softly. He levitated the entire trunk now with a wave of his wand and gave Lucifer a small, almost reluctant smile. After they exited the office, one slim hand reached out and gently squeezed Lucifer’s shoulder. “I’ll be back before you know it. And when I return, I promise, I’ll be sure to share all of my new snacks with you!”

Lucifer nodded, his throat tightening as he managed a small smile. “I’m holding you to that. If I’m not shitting bricks from whatever you bring home for me, then I’m personally gonna feed you to the Giant Squid.”

Alastor’s grip lingered for a moment. Then, he pulled back, a grin lighting up his features. “I’ll make sure to not disappoint you. In the meantime, do make sure you don’t disappoint me by not raising Charlie properly.” He turned and started down the hall. “I’ll never forgive you if she forgets how to cast a Jelly-Legs Curse and a Pimple Jinx at the same time.”

“Seeya, Al,” Lucifer said quietly, one hand coming up to touch the cold spot where Alastor’s hand had rested only moments before. The ghost of the touch lingered on his shoulder, a quiet reminder of the warmth that the Order and America were robbing from the castle. “Please… come back safe.”

The weeks that followed seemed to stretch on endlessly. Days blurred into one another, marked by the monotonous rhythm of teaching, grading, and dodging badly aimed Dungbombs. Somewhere in between the hustle and bustle of living his daily life, Lucifer found that his steps often led him past the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. He would be lying if he said that his heart didn’t tighten with a pang of disappointment every time he looked in and saw Pentious, the substitute professor, standing where Alastor should be. The whole castle felt so different without him - less vibrant, less alive.

By day, Lucifer continued his lessons as though nothing had changed, desperately throwing himself into his work to mask the distinct lack of Alastor his routine now had. Charlie, bright as ever, continued to excel in DADA, even with the absence of her… well, he didn’t want to call Alastor her favorite teacher because everyone knew that her favorite teacher was Lucifer, right? Right. 

Despite her great accomplishments in the subject, however, she continued to struggle in Transfiguration, her frustration often mirrored in the new lines of worry that had begun appearing on Lucifer’s face. He had decided to start taking extra hours to help her, offering encouragement and guidance, but strangely enough, his mind frequently wandered back to Alastor. What was he doing right now? Was he safe? Was he coming home soon?

Was he thinking of them?

By night, Lucifer often found himself sitting at his desk, torn between staring at the cabinet where the newly made wand was being stored and toying with the Remembrall Alastor had gotten him during their last Christmas. The Head of Slytherin had laughed as he pressed its wrapped box into Lucifer’s hands, insisting that it would “help him remember how to be an actual good parent.” 

(Lucifer had, of course, presented Alastor with a big plate of Unicorn hair covered in marinara sauce that same Christmas. Nearly getting gored by a Unicorn in the Forbidden Forest for stalking it while it got its tail hair stuck on branches was a terrible time. But the look of utter disgust on Alastor’s face made it worth it.)

Everything changed one crisp winter morning. Lucifer was, as usual, sitting at the staff table in Hogwarts’ Great Hall, mind drifting as he picked at the stack of pancakes in front of him. Ever since Alastor left, everything tasted off… ashy, to be exact. It was actually pretty strange - the House Elves had claimed that they hadn’t changed the recipe at all, and even when they changed it just for him, it still tasted just as bitter as before. 

Lucifer groaned as he once again pushed the pancakes away, choosing instead to eat a handful of also ashy-tasting grapes. Mammon had recently poked him and said something about how Lucifer was rapidly losing weight, something that Charlie was also worried about. Lucifer shoved the grapes into his mouth, then leaned back and rubbed his temples. Maybe he was coming down with something. He should go see if Bee could whip something up for him.

Then, Vox’ sharp voice shattered the morning quiet like a thunderclap.

“That fucker’s back!” 

Lucifer looked up sharply, his gaze drawn to the Muggle Studies professor currently stabbing his fork into a very thick-cut steak. Could that even be called breakfast at this point? It might as well be all three meals judging from the size of it. Lucifer watched in morbid fascination as Vox tore a chunk off the steak and started chewing, one eye twitching as he glared at Alastor’s empty seat.

Valentino, the Herbology professor, looked up from where he was sipping on what looked like spiked Pumpkin Juice and raised one well-manicured eyebrow. “I think you were the only one who thought he was gone for good.”

Vox snarled. “It’s been seven weeks!”

Lucifer’s jaw dropped. Seven weeks!? No fucking way it had been that long already. The Head of Ravenclaw’s mind raced as he quickly went over all the time that had passed with Alastor gone. His eyes widened when he finally counted up the number of months. Shit. Fucking shit. It had been seven weeks. Seven weeks of no laughter, no weird ass snacks, and, above all, no Alastor.

“Sounds like you’re still pissed about that time with the Boggart,” Velvette said cheerfully, snapping her gum as she sent a sneer Vox’ way. “What’s wrong, baby? Don’t like how it told the whole school that you’re afraid of a lil’ swim in the ocean?” She cackled and shook her head, sending pigtails flying. “Besides, I don’t see ‘im back in his chair today. With how much you keep talking ‘bout ‘im, are you sure you’re not just hallucinatin’, Vox?”

“Um, fuck you,” Vox snapped, taking another large bite of his steak. “I definitely fucking saw his creepy, lanky ass sneaking out of the Divination Tower last night. Bet he’s trying to sneak some kinda contraband in here.”  

What the fuck was that idiot doing sneaking around the Divination Tower? More importantly, why hadn’t Ozzie said anything? Or better yet, why hadn’t Rosie said anything? Sure, she was usually closer to Alastor than Lucifer, but she still at least updated the teachers whenever one of their number was back from a mission. Lucifer’s mind raced as he pushed himself away from the staff table, leaving behind the unfinished plate of bitter-tasting food. If Alastor was sneaking around places and not coming to see him, that couldn’t be good. 

He passed by Alastor’s classroom first and peeked in, half-expecting to see the Head of Slytherin’s tall form in there. But the room was empty, save for the dust motes dancing in the morning light. Lucifer’s steps quickened as he headed to Alastor’s rooms in the teachers’ quarter next, stopping before the wooden door with a large scorch mark that signaled it was Alastor’s room. Lucifer’s knuckles rapped sharply against the wood, the sound echoing in the silent corridor. But there was no answer.

His brow furrowing with worry, Lucifer tried the handle, finding it locked. He stood there for a moment, uncertainty gnawing at him. Every nerve in his body was screaming at him to pull out his wand and cast an Unlocking Charm. Surely wanting to see an idiot after a seven-month absence was a good enough excuse, right? 

A hundred questions flooded his mind. Where was Alastor? Had something happened to him? Why didn’t he say a word when he came back? Why hadn’t he sought Lucifer out, even just to say hello?

Why was Lucifer so damn worried about the man?

“Dad!”

Three pairs of footsteps were coming down the hall towards him. Lucifer turned just in time to see Charlie, Niffty, and Vaggie approaching him, their faces laced with worry. Niffty especially seemed more fidgety than usual, her hands clenching and unclenching quickly around her wand as her large eyes flitted around the corridor. Lucifer paused and waited for them to catch up, his chest tightening at the sight of their faces. 

“What’s going on?”

“Dad,” Charlie said, her voice quivering as she stopped in front of him. One hand twisted into her robes. “I-it’s Alastor! I-I… I mean, we-”

“We saw Professor Boudreaux coming out of the Divination Classroom,” Vaggie said grimly. She looked him straight in the eye, her jaw tensed. “He… He didn’t look good, sir.”

Well, fucking shit. Lucifer exhaled slowly, willing his quivering nerves to calm down. “Okay… sounds like I’ll need to investigate that. Do you know where he went after?”

“His office,” Niffty tittered nervously. She looked up at him, then her gaze slid over to Vaggie, then Charlie, then back to Lucifer. She spun her wand in her hands. “His eyes looked super weird. Like he was drunk but wasn’t having fun.”

Inhale.

Exhale.

“I’ll find him,” he said, using all of his training as a professor to keep his voice firm. “Don’t worry too much, okay? I’m sure it’s just him being a weirdo, as usual.” He forced a smile on his face, so big and bright that the corners of his mouth ached. Fuck, how did Alastor do this all day, every day? “Head to your classes. I’ll handle this.”

The trio nodded as Lucifer set off again, his steps quickening as he approached Alastor’s office door. At first glance, it was a rather nondescript door, no different than any other enchanted door found in the castle. But the danger of it wasn’t its appearance; rather, it was the sheer amount of security hexes on this thing. Lucifer didn’t know who or what taught Alastor how to apply these things, but what he did know was that they were damn effective. 

The applewood wand grew warm in his hand as he silently undid every enchantment and spell placed upon it. Did the guy seriously place a Toenail-Growing Hex on this thing? The fuck was that gonna do? Make whatever evil little school kid who tried to break in die of embarrassment?

It took him forever, but eventually, his wand gave him a clean bill of magic on the door. Lucifer huffed as he waved his wand again, the nonverbal magical energy shimmering around him. The door clicked open easily and Lucifer stepped inside, squinting slightly at the oily darkness before him. 

Alastor’s office was pitch black, the darkness so thick it seemed to suffocate any semblance of light. There was no sunlight, no stars, not even the tiniest flicker of candle flame - only a void that seemed to have swallowed everything in its path. As Lucifer walked deeper into the darkness, his entire body tensed as a palpable sense of malevolence permeated every corner of the room. It was as if some horrible, malicious spirit had taken root within the place, twisting and warping the once vibrant atmosphere into something cold, sinister, and disgustingly cruel.

“Lumos,” Lucifer whispered as he flicked then held up his wand. Its tip glowed brightly but did nothing to pierce the inky darkness before him. He looked around, blue eyes scanning the deep black void for something, anything that could tell him what was going on. False cheer rose in his voice when he spoke again. “Al? Hey, uh… if you’re alive here, can you… I dunno, make some duck noises or deer noises or something?”

Silence - the kind that bore down and amplified his growing dread - was all that answered him. Lucifer swallowed hard as he forced himself to venture deeper into the darkness. With every hesitant step, his heart pounded like a drum, each beat seeming to echo louder and louder in the silence. There was something very, very wrong here. Alastor’s office wasn’t this big - and if it was, then Lucifer was going to drag a dog in here and make it chase the man out before claiming it as his own. Ha! That’ll show Alastor not to… to-

Merlin’s congested right sinus, where was he?

Every creak of the floorboards beneath his feet sent a jolt of terror coursing through his veins. Every shadow seemed to writhe and twist, mocking him as he plunged in further into the oppressive cold. His dread and worry grew with each step, his mind conjuring up all sorts of horrible possibilities. What if Alastor was in danger? Or worse, hurt? Or even worse than that? The idea of losing Alastor was unbearable; it made his chest ache with an intensity he had never felt before, not even when he watched Adam and Eve hold hands and lock eyes with the Dark Lord for the last time-

“Hey, this isn’t funny, Al!” he shouted into the abyss, cursing himself for allowing his voice to shake. “If you dropped some Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder just to fuck with me, can you please just let me know? Charlie and Niffty are worried, and-”

He was worried. He was so fucking worried. He was so fucking worried that his voice caught in his throat and he froze, the oppressive silence crushing him from all sides. His wand hand rose even higher, desperately willing his spell to pierce the darkness. But all it did was flicker like a candle flame, bowing to the malevolent presence that had taken root around him.

“Al!” he called out, his voice cracking as he strained his eyes against the dark, seeking any hint, any clue that might lead him to Alastor. The thought of the man’s smile, the way his eyes crinkled with mischief, the way he laughed uproariously whenever he messed around with Vox’ Muggle artifacts, spurred him on.

Fuck, he couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing that smile again.

“Please, if you’re here, say something. Anything. I need-”

“It’s still there, Lucifer,” Alastor’s voice pierced the darkness, sounding exhausted. There was no smile in his voice, no trace of laughter, not even the smallest spark of mischief. “The Grim. I can still See it, I-“

“Really? Even though you’re trying so hard to keep us safe? Are you even putting in effort at this point?” 

Lucifer whirled at the sound of that voice - his voice. It sent a sharp chill straight into his heart. He looked around, chest heaving as his breath came in quick pants. His wand grew warm in his hand, the light flickering slightly before dying. Lucifer cursed as he tried to light it again, only for it to flicker and die every time. The oppressive blackness truly had swallowed the light now. How long before it swallowed him - swallowed Alastor - too?

“I-I… I’ll keep trying. I can do this, Starlight. I just need more-“

“Time?” Lucifer’s voice let out a low, bitter laugh. “We don’t have time anymore, Boudreaux. You’re failing Charlie. Failing me.”

Starlight…? Since when- why-how

Who the fuck was ‘Starlight’?

Well, first things first… there was something horrible in here and he wasn’t about to let it out. Glancing over at the veil of darkness over his shoulder, Lucifer flicked his wand, sighing in relief as he heard the office door shut behind him and lock with a satisfying clunk. For good measure, he applied a quick Sticking Charm as well. If shit got messy in here, he had to make sure the students stayed out of the way. It was for their own damn good.

Once he was sure that no one would interrupt his alone time with the idiot that, for some reason, Charlie kept calling his best friend, he turned to the darkness again, straining his ears for the voices. He could just barely hear the lilt of his own whisper over the oppressive silence. It was coming from… there!

He ran towards the source of the noise, bile rising in his throat as the malevolent darkness seemed to press upon him even more. The floor beneath his feet felt uneven, and he stumbled, catching himself just in time. As he continued running, he became somewhat aware of the office’s new layout knocking over God-knows-what on the way towards Alastor’s voice. Off in the distance, he could see something casting a dim, sinister light. His heart leaped up into his throat as he closed the gap between them. 

Alastor was seated behind his desk, the glow of the crystal ball in front of him casting deep shadows against his dark features. He looked… horrible. Pale and gaunt. Corpse-like. Like he had been doing nothing for fuck-knows-how-long but just sitting there staring at the deep bank of mist and fog that swirled around inside the orb in front of him. Off to the side, Lucifer noticed teacups - all with tiny piles of soggy, cold tea leaves at their bottoms. And standing at Alastor’s side…

It was him.

The Lucifer that stood before him was his exact mirror image but not at the same time. He was… angelic, yet perverse, divine yet infernal. His entire form exuded a twisted beauty, with features more refined and ethereal than Lucifer’s own. The copy’s eyes were pools of molten gold, radiating an otherworldly gleam that seemed to pierce through to the very soul. Yet within them lurked a cruel intelligence, a darkness that whispered of unfathomable malice. Lucifer's own blue eyes widened in horror as he stared at his hellishly angelic doppelgänger, a chill creeping down his spine at the grotesque reflection before him.

For once, the Ravenclaw’s mind went blank. But if Lucifer was nothing else, he was a fucking war veteran, meaning that even in the toughest of times, he could at least always rely on his instincts. And if hanging around with Adam had taught him anything, it was to never try riding a broom upside down while drunk and that it was usually better to stun first, ask questions later.

And like fuck he was going to let Alastor end up like either Adam or Eve.

“Stupefy!” 

Lucifer’s spell bounced off a barrier of some sort, the doppelganger’s smile only widening as he tilted his head. The shimmering remnants of a powerful Shield Charm hung in the air for just a moment before disappearing again. Undeterred, he hurled even more hexes, jinxes, and curses at the twisted reflection of himself, slowly picking away at the charm.

“Expulso! Confringo! Ducklifors!”

Each spell dissipated against the shield, the darkness around them seeming to thicken with every failed attempt. His reflection’s smile grew sharper, more sinister. He ran a hand over Alastor’s arm, leaning in to whisper in the wizard’s ear. “Why aren’t you able to do this? Are you going to just let us die? You and I both know that The Grim is the worst kind of death omen there is, Alastor. Your Ma knew that too. Is that what your plan is? You’re going to just sit there and wait until the Dark Lord gets us?”

“Al, who the fuck is this?” Lucifer demanded, whirling on the man as his wand hand trembled slightly. His copy’s golden eyes narrowed, a long forked tongue sticking out of the grotesque doppelgänger’s mouth. “And why does he look like me?”

Alastor looked up sharply at the sound of his voice, red eyes flashing like hot coals as he stared at Lucifer. It was as if he saw him and didn’t, all at once. Those eyes… They were cloudy. Unfocused. Like the same unfathomable darkness that had swallowed his office had also seeped into Alastor’s very soul. Lucifer swallowed as he looked into them, desperately searching for something, anything that told him his… his - fuck, he had to think about that later - was still somewhere in there. But there was nothing. No flicker of recognition, no trace of humanity. Just an abyssal void that threatened to consume everything it touched… then, a tiny spark of fear.

"The Grim..." Alastor's voice quivered with an unsettling intensity. One trembling hand reached up, pointing the hornbeam wand directly at Lucifer's face. The Transfiguration professor's breath caught in his throat, his heart hammering with thick, suffocating anxiety. His fingers tightened around his wand handle, knuckles white with tension. "I-I... I can still protect you both, Starlight-"

The copy grinned. “Prove it, then. Kill it.”

Well, shit.

“Stupefy!”

“Fuck!” Lucifer dropped to the floor immediately, bile rising in his throat as the spell sailed over him and hit the wall behind him. The castle walls seemed to reverberate as the spell connected with it, causing the ancient stones to groan and quake. Lucifer stumbled to his feet, his mind racing with panic as he whirled to face Alastor’s hazy red eyes. “Al, no! It’s me! You’re not seeing clearly! It’s me! You have to-”

“Expulso!”

Again, Lucifer barely managed to dodge, the spell grazing his shoulder and sending a jolt of pain through his body. It slammed into an object not far away from them, causing explosions to rock the room. Whirling, he turned his gaze on the doppelgänger again, casting another few hexes its way, one of them finally managing to shatter the Shield Charm as it bounced off into the darkness. To his horror, Alastor flicked his wand and reignited the spell, the doppelgänger’s golden eyes widening happily as Lucifer had to dodge his own spells.

“You’re failing again, Alastor,” Lucifer’s voice echoed across the room, bouncing off the walls with malevolent glee. “You can’t even kill a big black dog. You’re failing us. Just like you failed your ma.”

The grating sound of a chair being pushed back echoed through the office, setting Lucifer's nerves on edge. He tensed as heavy footsteps reverberated across the floor, signaling Alastor's approach. With a quick intake of breath, Lucifer whirled, his wand held tightly in front of him, his heart pounding with apprehension. Blue eyes darted over to meet cloudy maroon ones, Lucifer gulping as Alastor raised his wand again.

“Sectumsempra!”

He deflected the spell with a quick flick of his wand, sending it straight towards his copy. The fucker yawned when Alastor deflected the spell yet again, sticking out his forked tongue with a wink. Then, the damn thing turned back to Alastor, resting his chin in his hands.

“Alastor, listen to me!” Lucifer shouted, his voice cracking with desperation as he flicked his wrist and conjured a swarm of birds, sending them to attack the devilish copy, who simply hummed as Alastor set the birds on fire. The stench of burnt feathers filled the air, mingling horribly with the scent of magnolias that always permeated Alastor’s office. “You know me! You know I’d never fucking hurt you! That piece of shit over there’s just manipulating you. You have to see through this!”

Alastor’s wand wavered, a flicker of doubt crossing his face before his eyes clouded over once more. “I-I… have to protect them… I have to protect you…”

“Protect me by what? Fucking slicing my legs off? You already said I’m short enough, right?” Lucifer asked, yelping as another few spells sailed over his head. His heart pounded as he deflected the next few spells at the clone, snarling when that little shit just tilted its head and smiled even more. “Fuck! Look, don’t listen to him, alright? That thing isn’t me! C’mon, this isn’t you! You’re stronger than this!”

“Are you, though?” the copy asked, giggling behind his hand. “Are you really strong enough, Al? Look at the thing. The Grim’s still alive, isn’t it?” He sneered. “Your fear’s making you weak, Alastor. Why haven’t you just flung a Killing Curse? You know how to cast one. You know it’ll end everything. C’mon, Alastor… what’s a little bit of a split soul if it means protecting the ones you love…?”

“Shut the fuck up!” Lucifer roared, his fury flaring like wildfire. He took a step forward, wand trembling as he attempted to transfigure the desk beneath the doppelganger, only for it to groan and creak uselessly. “You don’t know anything about him!” Then, he turned to Alastor, still frozen with his wand hand trembling. “Al, please! You can’t do this! C’mon, did all of your growth go to your height? Please, I know you have a brain up there somewhere, you just need to-”

“Why are you still listening to that thing growl and drool?” the clone huffed. “The longer it’s alive, the more horrible our deaths are gonna be, right? How much are you willing to let us suffer?”

“Alastor, look at me,” Lucifer said, his voice softening as pure, raw, unfiltered emotion crept in. The tension that had settled in his gut quietly uncoiled just a touch as Alastor’s hazy red eyes turned to meet his sky-blue ones, holding their gaze with the sort of intensity that they hadn’t held before. “I’m not The Grim. I’m real. Whatever’s happening in that head of yours isn’t. You need to fight it. You need to see past it. Isn’t that what you Seers are known for? Seeing what those of us without the Inner Eye can’t?” His voice broke. “Alastor, please, I-”

“Remember what happened to dear old Ma after you saw The Grim the first time?” The copy interrupted, tilting his head coyly. “She’s at the bottom of a bayou now, no thanks to you… and oh, wait, I forgot. You dragged her body outta there, right? Isn’t that how little baby Allie got expelled from Ilvermorny…?”

…What…?

Those cloudy red eyes flashed in unspoken fury as the Head of Slytherin tried again and again, flinging spell after spell at Lucifer in an attempt to do fuck-knows-what. With each successive attempt, the Head of Slytherin hurled spells with increasing ferocity, the air crackling with the raw power of their magic. The room reverberated with the echoing clang of their clashes. On and on the two wizards dueled, exchanging spells while Lucifer’s copy sat on his desk, giggling and kicking his feet in unmitigated glee.

He couldn’t keep doing this. One of these spells was eventually going to hit. After that? Alastor might wake up and see what was left of him and his soul would be all fragmented and- fuck. He couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t do that to Alastor. He couldn’t do that to his… his…

Fuck, was there a word for a best friend but also kinda-sorta-maybe not?

Lucifer’s mind raced as he deflected yet another jinx, going through the file of thousands of spells, jinxes, and curses that lived in his head. Was this the Imperius Curse? It was possible, but it didn’t explain the weird copy of him. Maybe some sort of weird side effect from eating too many Lethifold entrails or something? Well, again, that didn’t explain why there was a literal clone of him here. A dark object? Okay, that was more plausible. And come to think of it, Alastor was doing a lot of weird missions for the Order lately…

Alastor’s spell whizzed past him, narrowly missing his shoulder by a hair's breadth. Anticipation gripped Lucifer's chest as he braced for the next onslaught, knowing he couldn't evade it in time. Yet, as the hex hurtled towards him, his instincts kicked in, guiding him through his transformation. In the blink of an eye, he shed his human form, morphing into an albino death adder. With seamless agility, he retook his human shape just as swiftly, his mouth set into a hard line as he pressed his wand firmly against Alastor's chest.

“Everte statum!”

Alastor sailed across the room, slamming into the wall with a sickening crunch. He slid down, breath ragged, one hand coming up to grip at his side. In an instant, Lucifer’s copy was at the other man’s side. Slim alabaster fingers danced over the Head of Slytherin’s chest as the copy smiled up at him with the sweetness of a spider luring in its prey. “Failing again? Don’t you think it’s time we stop, Al?” The clone tilted his head slightly, golden eyes flashing. “You and I see The Grim. This means I’m going to die, aren’t I? I’m going to die very soon.”

“No!” Alastor snarled as he struggled to his feet, gripping the wall behind him. Lucifer ran towards them, his rapid footsteps echoing across the floorboards. He hurled yet another hex, only for Alastor to desperately lash out with his wand, sending it sailing to another part of the room. “I can… I can still-”

“Still do what? Stop The Grim? The literal worst death omen to get?” Copy Lucifer sneered. “Please. I’ve been watching you trying and failing for who-knows-how-long now. Then again, I should’ve expected this. You couldn’t save your own mother. What makes you think you can save me?”

“Hey! Can we please stop listening to this asshole here?” Lucifer asked as he stopped in front of the two, once again pointing his wand at his copy. “He’s got more bullshit pouring out of his mouth than the Minister of Magic!”

“You won’t save me, Al,” the clone said. Delicate, porcelain hands were now tracing over Alastor’s face, caressing his cheeks, his neck, his collarbones. White-hot fury rose within Lucifer as the copy sent a coy look over his shoulder. “But that’s fine. You can just join me instead.”

A beat of silence. Lucifer snarled as he reared back his wand, hurling yet another hex directly at the clone. It bounced off Alastor’s Shield Charm, the doppelganger’s smile widening as he now rose to his toes, wrapping both arms around Alastor’s neck. 

“Think about it. What’s the point of living? Without me and Charlie, what do you have?”

“Will you fucking shut up already?!” Lucifer snarled, voice trembling with desperation and fury as he first glared at the clone, then turned to look at Alastor. “Al, listen to me! That thing’s fucking lying to you. You have so much more to live and fight for!” His voice cracked as he continued. “Do you really think I would’ve saved your sorry ass from that damn Lethifold if I didn’t think you did!?”

Alastor’s eyes flickered, a hint of recognition just beginning to pierce through the fog. The clone’s grip tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pulled Alastor’s lapels closer to him. “Are you really just going to listen to that thing? It’s a Grim, Alastor. Its entire job is to manipulate you straight to your death. You might be failing to kill it, but that doesn’t mean you’ll fail completely.” That pale hand continued to run across Alastor’s neck, causing Lucifer’s stomach to coil and writhe in fury.

“Hey! Eyes over here, Boudreaux,” Lucifer snapped, sending his copy a withering glare. “How about this? Remember that night with the fucking Lethifold? You swapped beds with me. You knew the risk. You knew it could kill you, but you didn’t care. You did it because you were willing to give up your life for mine! But you know what? In the end, we fucking fought it off together. We were stronger together. And if for some godforsaken reason I’m dead, then you still have so much more! Charlie, Rosie, all the students here… Hell, I’m pretty fucking sure you’d even protect fucking Vox if-”

The doppelganger threw his arms around Alastor’s neck now, leaning in so close that Lucifer could see the way his breath gently blew across those auburn locks. Alastor stared down at the copy with wide red eyes, frozen to his spot as the cruel, twisted thing leaned in. Lucifer let out a loud snarl as he threw out another few spells, only to have them bounce off the Shield Charm again. The darkness seemed to curl around him even more now, pressing upon his shoulders, stealing his breath away. His feet were so damn heavy. It was as though something was keeping him glued to the spot. He couldn’t move, couldn’t run, could barely even fucking speak. The copy’s smirk only widened in response, those gold eyes glowing in malevolent glee. 

“You’re so tired, aren’t you, Al? You need a break, right?” Copy Lucifer tilted his head, the corners of his golden eyes crinkling as he gently traced Alastor’s jaw. “Don’t you wanna see dear old Ma again?”

The color drained from Alastor’s face, leaving it even more ashen than before as the words hung in the air. He stared at the copy, his mind clearly struggling to comprehend the words just said. "I-I-”

Now those porcelain fingers were tracing Alastor’s arm - the same one attached to the hand that held the hornbeam wand. “And you know what? She misses you so much.” The hornbeam seemed to glow and flicker in the light emanating off Copy Lucifer. “But you should let her tell you that.”

That pale, spider-like hand had grabbed Alastor’s wrist now. It was guiding that wand under his chin. Those hazy red eyes didn’t respond at all - it was as though the darkness had completely swallowed the mischievous spark Lucifer had come to cherish so much. The Slytherin’s grip tightened on his wand handle. He inhaled sharply. His lips parted. 

“I-I… See you soon, Starlight.”

No.

(“That’s when I saw you cast that Patronus. It was just enough for me to fully take over again.”)

Terror rose in him like the tide, horror coursing through his veins like icy tendrils. His heart clenched with an agony unlike any he felt before. He raised his wand again, hands trembling, mind racing. He needed to do something. If he didn’t, he was going to lose the only soul in the world who could match him wit for wit, spell for spell. He couldn’t do that. Not when there was still so much he needed to say, so much they still needed to do. His thoughts whirled around memories of late-night conversations, the warmth of Alastor’s laughter, the way he patiently guided Charlie through every spell he taught, the brilliant spark in his eye.

The fear of losing Alastor tore at his heart. With every beat, his desperation grew. He couldn’t lose this wizard. This professor. This infuriating man who had become his confant, his rival, his best friend, his-

…

He couldn’t let the darkness take him. Not now. Not ever.

Tears blurred his eyes. His lungs burned. His soul twisted in agony. A million thoughts flooded his mind - laughter over a shared pot of tea, a mischievous grin while they popped Acromantula eggs in their mouths for a dare, a warm hand grasping his while they spun under a starlit sky. Lucifer took a deep breath as he anchored upon these memories, creating a lifeline that teetered him toward the edge of salvation. 

“Expecto patronum!”

First came an ethereal mist, swirling and coalescing into a radiant burst of light. The shapeless, magnificent Patronus surged forward from the tip of his wand and charged with an otherworldly grace, streaking towards the two figures with dazzling speed. It collided with them in a brilliant cascade of silver, illuminating the entire room. Alastor gasped as he wrenched his wand away from his chin. He looked first at the copy, then over at Lucifer with those beautiful, dark, clear crimson eyes-

“Everte statum!”

Copy Lucifer's agonized scream pierced the air as he was flung backward, his body colliding with bone-crushing force against a massive object lurking in the shadows. A sickening crunch echoed through the office, the elegant whorls of Alastor’s desk now twisted and contorted in the ghastly illumination cast by the creature's eerie glow. Upon it, a mirror flashed silver in the shadows of the crystal ball, that same malevolent energy dancing around its reflective surface. Lucifer whirled and pointed his wand at his copy now, gritting his teeth as the strange creature opened his eyes.

For a fleeting moment, their gazes locked. Then, the creature morphed into a figure of nightmarish beauty. Now a copy of Alastor emerged from the shadows, his eyes ablaze with a malevolent gold hue that seemed to pulse with infernal power. His predatory grin dripped with malice, his every movement exuding an aura of twisted elegance that sent shivers down Lucifer's spine. As the figure turned towards him and reached out for him, Lucifer paused, his wand trembling. He was staring into the eyes of his own damnation, temptation made flesh. 

And all he wanted was to fall with him into the bowels of Hell itself. 

“Starlight-“

Suddenly, a dark, cloaked figure appeared in front of him, robes billowing, auburn hair wild, crimson eyes flashing with unbridled fury.

“Pestis incendium!”

Fiendfyre.

That was the incantation for summoning Fiendfyre. 

First, there was a tiny spark. Then, a swirling vortex of flames erupted from the tip of his wand, writhing and coiling like a serpent as it consumed the very air around it. Tiny dragons and salamanders danced in the flames, their eyes gleaming with dark malevolence as they cantered toward the screaming creature in front of them. Lucifer whirled around and watched as Michael - no. As Alastor directed the fire with a flick of his wrist, sending it hurtling toward the glowing mirror that sat atop his desk. 

The office echoed with the unworldly screams of the creature that had taken Alastor’s form, his colleague’s handsome and twisted face contorting violently as the inferno consumed him. Bile rose in Lucifer’s throat as he stood there and did nothing, his feet completely glued to the ground. Then, he looked away. Unlike before, no one could force him to look. No threat of the Cruciatus Curse hanging over his head. No fear of failure hanging over his soul.  

Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each moment dragging on as if caught in the grasp of eternity. Gradually, he sensed the searing heat of the fire begin to wane, its infernal fury diminishing until it faded completely. Hesitantly, he cast one look over towards Alastor’s desk. The mirror atop it was smoking, black sludge dripping from a singed crack down its middle. Under his watch, it emitted one final, anguished wail, a plaintive cry that echoed into the void before fading into silence. Then, in the blink of an eye, they were in Alastor’s office again - his normal-sized office. The one with random dark creature body parts littered all over the shelves, horrible-sounding cookbooks on every surface, and for some reason, a crown made of Glow Bugs that had been gifted to him by Niffty.

A hush settled over the office now, broken only by the sounds of the two wizards’ heavy, ragged breaths. Lucifer closed his eyes, desperately willing his heart to stop hammering long enough for him to say something to the man who had just… just fucking used Fiendfyre of all things to burn up some sort of dark magical mirror. It was such a Michael move that… that… no. He couldn’t think of Michael, shouldn’t think of Michael now. Alastor was… different. He didn’t use Fiendfyre to burn others. He was using it to… to…

God, he wanted to fucking puke.

“S-Starlight,” Alastor was in front of him now, gripping both his shoulders so tightly Lucifer was certain he was going to be bruised tomorrow. “A-are… Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

Lucifer looked up at him. Color was slowly beginning to creep back into Alastor’s face. Just a little color. Not enough to make the corpse-like features go away completely, but enough to… well, bring just a bit of life back. Just a bit. 

Now that the weird veil-like thing behind his gaze had disappeared, he could see the tiniest spark of humanity behind the utter exhaustion and fear. He swallowed, then nodded, his brow twitching slightly as he tried to focus on something, anything other than Alastor’s breath blowing over his face.

“What the fuck was that thing?” Lucifer asked after a beat of silence. “What the fuck was it talking about? You were expelled from Ilvermorny? Why did you use fucking Fiendfyre to destroy it?” A pause. “A-and… And ‘Starlight’...?”

"That was a Horcrux," Alastor murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, causing Lucifer to stiffen instinctively. Though the concept had brushed against the edges of his consciousness in his studies, it was something he had always strived to avoid delving into deeply. Horcruxes were the stuff of dark legends, whispered tales of forbidden magic that should rightfully remain shrouded in obscurity. They represented a line that no respectable wizard should ever cross, a forbidden knowledge that threatened to corrupt the very essence of magic itself.

“They tend to come with very strong protections to keep the piece of the soul housed within it safe. In this case, I think it was some sort of enchantment that would convince you to slay your loved ones, then yourself. I… underestimated it. I should’ve been able to take care of it on my own, but…” He swallowed. “It belonged to the Dark Lord. Its enchantments were so much more powerful than I’ve ever experienced before. Fiendfyre is one of the only ways to destroy it.”

A twisted concoction of fury and fear rose in Lucifer’s chest. He reached up and grabbed Alastor’s lapels, bringing the man even closer. The sharp scent of chicory and pine reached his nose, sending his head spinning. Fuck. He really, really needed to work on figuring out how big his personal space bubble was. “You… You saw bullshit in the soggy tea leaves again, didn’t you? That’s why you let that thing sit around? Why you didn’t ask me for help?”

Alastor’s face twisted with some unknowable emotion at that, his grip slackening as he gently removed Lucifer’s hands, then straightened. “I… wanted to make sure that you and Charlie would be safe if I tried to destroy it here. I thought that if I just read one batch of tea leaves, then I could do it. But… well,” he let out a low, bitter laugh. “This Horcrux operated on obsessions. It read them, amplified them, then manifested them. It saw my obsession over The Grim especially and decided to prey on it… after that, I kept reading tea leaves and crystal-gazing, trying desperately to find a way to avert your death. In reality, I suppose you can say I was falling more and more under its influence… until I couldn’t see what was real and what wasn’t.”

Inhale.

Exhale.

“You… God, you fucking scared me,” Lucifer said. He let out a loud, almost hysterical laugh as he ran one hand through his platinum locks. “I… Al, I thought I was going to fucking lose you back there. You had your fucking wand under your chin for fuck’s sake.”

A strange look almost akin to guilt flickered behind Alastor’s eyes. “I know. I’m… well. I know now to not let my tea leaf obsession cloud my own judgment.” He exhaled through his nose. “I… don’t know what would’ve happened had you not come looking for me.” He flashed a wide, dazzling smile. “For all your pathetic lack of height, you make up for it in usefulness. I owe you my life yet again, Morningstar.”

Height insults. It was always the height insults with Alastor, wasn’t it? Despite the slight bristle somewhere deep in his mind, Lucifer found that he simply couldn’t summon the ability to care right now. His exhaustion really was starting to drown him now - he really could use a pick-me-up. Like a cup of tea… or an entire bottle of firewhiskey.

Lucifer sank into one of the chairs across from Alastor’s desk, carefully maneuvering it out of the way of the black sludge that was now dripping to the floor. “First off, fuck you. Second, you didn’t answer my question about Ilvermorny,” he continued, his voice a mix of irritation and concern. “Care to explain that or are you just gonna make me drag my ass to America to ask your friends over there?”

Alastor hesitated, the weight of Lucifer’s questions clearly sitting heavily on his shoulders. His eyes darted to the shelf behind Lucifer, then the window, then the dark corners of the room - all to avoid Lucifer’s gaze. Slowly, he too sank into one of the chairs, exhaustion evident in his every movement. Without a word, Lucifer flicked his wand, the snack cabinet behind him opening. He frowned at the labeled bags that flew out of it and floated in front of them: dried Griffin spleen, spiced Manticore loin, and deep-fried… Wrackspurt? Wait, what?

Completely undeterred by the absolute nastiness in front of him, Alastor reached up and grabbed the bag of dried Griffin spleen, ripping a piece off with his teeth and closing his eyes, clearly savoring the flavor. Lucifer’s stomach turned as he leaned back and conjured some cups before summoning a few Butterbeers and Alastor’s secret bottle of extra-alcoholic firewhiskey from another drawer. Another swish of his wand caused the firewhiskey to pop itself open and pour into the cups.

“...It was a long time ago,” Alastor began, his voice barely above a whisper. He reached for the spiced Manticore now, twisting the meat between his fingers. “Ma had been long dead, but… I was desperate. She had been everything to me. When she died, I couldn’t accept it… so, during the summer of my sixth year, I… tried to bring her back.” His eyes flickered as he recalled the events, pain twisting through his handsome features. “I… unleashed an Inferius on the school instead.” His voice cracked, a slow, pained smile twisting over his face. “Interestingly enough, American wizarding laws are more forgiving of juveniles who practice dark magic… I was allowed to keep my wand… but not allowed to re-enter the school.”

Lucifer listened intently, his irritation giving way to… to understanding. Fuck, how long had it been since he last practiced the Dark Arts? He could almost trace the tendrils of memories back to his childhood, before he entered Hogwarts, when his natural curiosity and his family’s maniacal fanaticism led him to explore forbidden knowledge. He remembered the allure of power, the dark whispers that promised him salvation. A way for him to finally enter the world and show how strong he was as a wizard.

Lucifer exhaled. He reached out with one pale, trembling hand and touched Alastor’s hand. Tiny sparks danced up his body as their fingers threaded through each other’s. Alastor’s touch was… lukewarm. Sweaty. Still trembling. As though sensing this, Alastor picked up one of the cups and downed the firewhiskey in one gulp. Lucifer did as well. 

It did nothing to stop the trembling, but it certainly made their hands warmer.

“...You were just a kid, Al,” Lucifer said. “A desperate kid trying to cope with loss. We’ve all done stupid shit… we’ve all done things we regret.”

Alastor let out a low, bitter laugh and shook his head, red eyes flicking up to meet sky-blues. “I’ve failed far too many times, Morningstar. I failed to protect her, to bring her back… and then I nearly failed to protect you. Twice. There’s no making up for that, I’m afraid.”

Lucifer frowned. “We need to talk about that. You… Why do you keep thinking your life doesn’t matter? This isn’t the first time you tried to do something stupid alone. The whole thing with the Lethifold… and then today… fuck, Al, why didn’t you at least tell me you were home? Shit, do you have any idea how many rooms I had to fucking run to trying to find you? And then, even though you were dealing with a highly dangerous magical artifact, you didn’t even think about calling me-”

“I’ve told you, I couldn’t allow it to ever have the chance to harm you or Charlie,” Alastor interrupted. “Your tea leaves showed The Grim-”

“And my pancakes this morning showed me a smiley face,” Lucifer hissed. “But you don’t see me fucking smiling, do you?”

Alastor went silent at that. His gaze flickered briefly to the empty fireplace before returning to Lucifer. He sighed heavily, the weight of the Horcrux still lingering in his eyes. “...No. And I am sorry about that.” The corners of his mouth quirked up just a touch. “I’ll send a pygmy owl to deliver a politely worded letter to you over breakfast next time I return from a horribly perilous adventure. I’ll make sure you bring snacks and a masseuse with you.”

A beat of silence. A sigh. Lucifer released Alastor’s hand and leaned back, already feeling the cold of the room against where Alastor’s touch once lingered.

“…You already know what else I’m about to say, don’t you?” Lucifer asked. Despite the utter exhaustion lacing every word, he felt the corners of his mouth upturn ever so slightly. 

“Put aside my pride next time and ask you for help?” Alastor guessed. His tiny smile was starting to widen into a playful grin. “Next time I try to kill you, aim a bit lower so the spells don’t sail over your head?”

“You are such an asshole,” Lucifer muttered. Despite the bite in his words, there was not a drop of venom to be found - he was too exhausted to summon any. “I meant to say we have, like, a billion tea and firewhiskey days to make up for, and don’t you fucking dare miss next week’s after everything you put me through.”

Alastor laughed, mischief dancing around his words. “I don’t pretend to be otherwise.”

Chapter Text

The Dark Lord was coming. It was only a matter of time before it happened. When Rosie made the call to arms, it was almost unbearable how thick the tension in the air was. A palpable sense of anxiety had settled over the thick castle walls, heightened by the creeping dread that could only come with death's slow march. As soon as the underaged students were sent away to safety, the remaining defenders busied themselves by fortifying their beloved home, bracing for the inevitable confrontation.

Lucifer and Alastor stood just outside the main castle gates, flanking their Headmistress. Their gazes were fixed on the bridge leading to the main entrance. Lucifer swallowed hard, heart suivering in his throat. Anxiety coiling tight in his stomach. Next to him, Rosie pursed her lips as she studied the darkness of the world beyond, pale blue eyes scanning for any sign of her adversary. Then, she heaved a heavy sigh and turned to Lucifer with a silent nod.

Lucifer turned his attention to the castle behind him. His blue eyes swept over the suits of armor lining the Entrance Hall, a sense of anticipation coursing through him. He raised his applewood wand high, heart hammering as a strange thrill tinged with excitement coursed through his veins.

He had always wanted to use this spell.

“Piertotum locomotor!”

A deafening crack reverberated through the castle halls, followed by the ominous rumble of metal and stone. In an instant, the once-still statues and suits of armor sprang to life with a thunderous roar. As one, they descended from their pedestals, heavy footsteps echoing through the grand halls as htey walked towards the bridge.

The three professors stood in silence, watching with tight, solemn expressions as the army of statues marched past them. Among the knights and warriors were towering giants and fearsome dragons, roaring and gnashing their stone teeth as they moved. The stony legion marched grimly towards the castle bridge, ready and desperate to defend their home.

"We can't hold the Dark Lord off forever," Alastor murmured, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of noise. Despite his words, he was grinning at the numerous statues thundering past them. "Once he breaks through our defenses, we'll all meet very uncomfortable fates."

Lucifer flashed a smirk at the remark. "Scared of a bunch of whiny blood supremacists, Boudreaux?"

The other wizard responded with a sardonic grin. “Of course not! There are few things more entertaining than witnessing a group of wayward wizards struggle to accomplish something meaningful, only to fail spectacularly.” He gestured to the bridge with his wand. “If I’m to fail with them, I’ll at least eviscerate every single Exorcist I see first.”

“Come now, you two, have a little faith!” Rosie chimed in cheerfully. “We have some of the best witches and wizards of this age attending this school. Who knows? Maybe someone will ‘accidentally’ mispronounce an incantation and make it Unforgivable. I’m sure the Ministry will turn a blind eye just that once.”

“Should I be worried about the state of your soul, Rosie, dear?” Alastor quipped, raising an eyebrow in mock concern.

Rosie only winked before pressing the tip of her wand to her throat. Out of the corner of his eye, Lucifer saw Alastor stiffen considerably, his wand hand trembling as those red eyes locked on the wand just under their Headmistress’ chin. He shot the man a small smile, watching as a tiny amount of tension gently rolled off of Alastor’s shoulders. The Head of Slytherin let out a low sigh, then turned once again to face the bridge.

“Hogwarts is threatened!” Rosie’s magically amplified voice echoed across the school grounds, sending a shiver down Lucifer’s spine. “Man the boundaries! Protect us! Do your duty to our school!” Then, she removed her wand tip and shot them both a wide grin. “There we go! Hopefully that was motivating enough. If not, well, I’m sure we can get your lovely daughter to say something with more pizazz. Now, if you two will excuse me, I have a shield I need to contribute to.”

After Rosie left, Alastor pointed his wand towards the sky, red eyes narrowed, grin wide and just a touch too creepy. “Protego maxima.” A white light shot out from the tip of his wand, bursting in the sky like a firework. “Fianto duri. Repello inimicum.” The light coalesced and joined hundreds of other lights from around the school grounds. The two men watched as these lights formed a radiant shield that descended slowly over the school, encasing it in a transparent bubble. 

For a few moments, the two men stood in silence, their eyes fixed on the transparent shield rippling gently in the wind. Lucifer scanned the area ahead, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as he tightened his grip on his wand. This was the moment they had all been dreading - if the Dark Lord wasn't defeated tonight, they would all meet a grim fate: him, Alastor, Rosie, Charlie... everyone.

“You’ll be facing your last three brothers tonight, Morningstar,” Alastor said. The silence between them shattered like glass, leaving a quiet sense of anxiety lingering in the air. “Are you prepared to face them?”

Lucifer let out a weary sigh. "No. But it doesn’t matter. They'll come for me either way," he admitted, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Did you check our tea leaves?"

Alastor stiffened, his smile tense. "I... I did. They haven't changed," he confessed, his fingers absently flipping his wand between them. "Always the same image. One Grim, one Star." He swallowed hard. "But... I know that if I try to prevent you or Charlie from participating tonight, you'd ensure I regret it for the rest of my afterlife."

“Heh. You’re finally learning. Not as stupid as you seem after all, huh?” Lucifer asked. He looked back over the bridge. “I don’t give a shit what a pile of soggy tea leaves say, but… If I’m dying today, I hope it’ll be doing something cool. Not falling over the balconies or whatever. That’d be embarrassing.” He tilted his head. “But for you, I hope you drown in the Black Lake. Maybe die trying to get yourself out of the Giant Squid’s mouth.”

They shared a laugh before once again descending into a brief stretch of silence. He shifted his weight, fidgeting with his wand before meeting Alastor's gaze. The intensity in those crimson eyes was undeniable - beautiful, deep, and filled with some sort of emotion that Lucifer couldn’t name. Alastor seemed to hesitate for just a second, then reached out, brushing a stray lock of Lucifer’s hair behind his ear.

“And if you do make it through tonight?” he asked. “What will you do then? Will you change your name again?”

Lucifer let out a low, bitter laugh. “Nah… I’m kinda attached to Lucifer as a name.”

“What about your other one? Morningstar?”

He raised an eyebrow. “I mean… yeah, it’d be nice to get away from the horrible family history, but…” He shrugged. “Morningstar’s the only name I can take, so-”

“It’s not the only one,” Alastor said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lucifer blinked. “What do you-”

A sudden commotion outside the shield interrupted their conversation. The sound of pounding footsteps and muffled shouts echoed through the air. Alastor and Lucifer exchanged a wary glance, then immediately turned their attention to the source of the noise. The darkness beyond the foot of the bridge was moving now, revealing a horde of what looked like Snatchers charging towards the protective barrier.

With a thunderous crash, several Snatchers collided with the shimmering shield, their figures dissolving upon impact. Lucifer's breath caught in his throat, a surge of hope momentarily flooding his veins at the sight. Could they actually win?

The hope was short-lived. A deafening crack split the air, drawing his blue-eyed gaze upwards to a crimson beam of magic that struck the barrier with devastating force. Sparks erupted in every direction as the Dark Lord's power bore down on them like a vice, the air crackling with malevolent energy. Before their eyes, a large silver crack snaked across the shield, spreading like fractures in glass until the entire barrier shattered, its shimmering remains raining down upon them like starlight.

No.

The shield shattered. Lucifer's heart sank like a stone in his chest. With the barrier breached, chaos erupted as giants clashed with the animated statues on the bridge, their colossal forms creating seismic tremors with every blow. Meanwhile, the Snatchers regrouped, their sinister figures charging forward once more. Off in the distance, more explosions and screams filled the air. Other parts of Hogwarts had been breached.

The two wizards turned and ran back into the castle. The heavy doors of the castle slammed behind them, Alastor weaving powerful hexes and jinxes to further delay any Snatcher or Exorcist foolish enough to try the front door. As they turned around to start running again, they heard a thunderous roar followed by the sickening crack of wood - no doubt, a giant had managed to fight its way past the suits of armor and was now trying to break the doors.

“Hurry up, babe!” Lucifer looked up just in time to see Angel Dust’s Quidditch robe-clad form flying above him, the seventh-year grinning wildly. “That bridge ain’t gonna blow itself!”

“You forgot your explosives!” Husk shouted back as he too flew above their heads. 

“Time to fight the ultimate bad boy!” Niffty crowed cheerfully as she flew past, her arms filled with needles of varying shapes and sizes.

While the three students disappeared out some nearby windows, Alastor blasted open the door to a nearby classroom with his wand. Lucifer ducked under his arm in a single fluid motion, waving his wand at the desks in the room. 

“Charge!”

In a whirlwind of activity, the desks in the classroom suddenly sprang to life, galloping out of the room and thundering towards the Entrance Hall. As the giant breached the doors, the desks attacked, launching a relentless assault of wood and school supplies that brought the colossal beast crashing to the ground. Meanwhile, Exorcists and Snatchers flooded into the castle, their spells casting streaks of light through the air. Students, Order members, and teachers alike poured out from their hiding places now, desperate to defend their home.

Alastor and Lucifer passed the ancient runes meticulously laid by Zestiel near the Grand Staircase, triggering a brilliant emerald glow that erupted into a searing wall of flames. Amidst the chaos, Carmilla and her daughters launched a relentless barrage of charms, hexes, and jinxes from above. Their combined assault created a swirling maelstrom of dust and magic that enveloped their foes in disarray. As they left the scene, Lucifer whirled and quickly transfigured the staircase into a slick ramp of ice, sending some of their enemies crashing down to the ground.

They ran under the battlements next, continuing to hurl hexes and jinxes over their shoulders at the oncoming horde of dark followers. At Lucifer’s signal, Alastor reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of rubber ducks. They transformed into huge birds of prey with a quick wave of his wand, immediately whirling on their advancing foes and dive-bombing them with deadly precision. Then, with a swift glance upwards, Alastor sent a burst of red sparks from his wand towards the clocktower, revealing Velvette's twisted grin amidst the crimson glow. The Alchemy teacher's maniacal laughter echoed as she overturned vats of a potent universal solvent, causing Exorcists and Snatchers caught in its path to dissolve into the ground or each other, leaving nothing but twisted remnants in their wake.

Those fortunate enough to survive her acidic deluge found themselves at the mercy of Val’s Devil’s Snare and Venomous Tentaculas on one end of the battlements while Vox levitated and hurled Muggle televisions down like volleyballs at the other end, scattering chaos and confusion among the enemy ranks.

“Practical and stylish for once, Vox!” Alastor shouted over his shoulder as he ran. “Perhaps you should consider destroying those frivolous Muggle picture boxes more often!”

“Shut your fucking mouth, Alastor!” Vox snapped as he waved his wand and summoned a barrage of what the Muggles called “remote controls” out the window to smash against the heads of a few trolls. “You and the rest of this school owe me a thousand galleons for this shit!”

“Talk to Mammon! He’ll do fancy wizard math and get back to you on that one!” Lucifer shouted back. Then, he grabbed Alastor’s arm and all but dragged him away before the Head of Slytherin could think of a retort.

“Where is Mammon anyways?” Alastor asked, almost casually hurling a hex out the window without bothering to check his aim. Naturally, it hit an Exorcist square in the face, causing their masked foe to collapse to the ground screaming and flailing while vomiting up banana slugs. “I could use a little Arithmancy right now to calculate how many slugs that one will vomit out!”

"Evacuating the students," Lucifer replied. "He, Stolas, and Moxxie will head back as soon as that’s all done!"

Arriving at their designated spot - the suspension bridge - Lucifer and his colleague wasted no time. With precision, they unleashed hexes and curses upon the foes below, sending giants, Exorcists, and Snatchers scrambling in all directions. Alastor grinned wildly as he twirled his wand, sending more rubber ducks-turned-birds of prey flying down to attack. Down below, the Black Lake gleamed, its waters seeming to wink at them as explosions lit up its mirrored surface.

Amidst the fray, Lucifer narrowly avoided a barrage of potions launched by Bee, the Potionsmaster and Head of Hufflepuff, who soared overhead with gleeful laughter. Tex, the Quidditch coach and Flying teacher, followed suit, adding to the chaos with explosions of colorful potions hurled from his bag. When Tex began throwing pieces of parchment into the air, Lucifer quickly transfigured them into heavy steel anvils and bowling balls, sending them careening to the ground below and meeting enemy skulls with sickening cracks.

As the Head of Ravenclaw focused on the chaotic battle unfolding below, a sudden, gut-wrenching realization struck him like a lightning bolt. Before he could react, a dark figure materialized behind him. Lucifer's heart pounded as he whirled around to face his assailant, only to find himself staring into the gaunt, grim, deep blue eyes of a familiar foe. Platinum blonde hair framed a once-handsome face, now twisted and ravaged by the horrors of Azkaban. A large, mottled scar streaked across his throat, the direct result of Adam misfiring a spell that had absolutely destroyed his vocal cords. Michael Morningstar sneered as he raised his wand, pointing it directly at Lucifer's chest.

No incantation escaped Michael's mouth. Despite this, his pale blue eyes gleamed with malice as he unleashed a torrent of fireballs from the tip of his wand. In a flash of instinct, Lucifer transformed into his Animagus form, narrowly evading the fiery onslaught that erupted towards him.

Meanwhile, Alastor reacted with lightning reflexes, his own flaming spell roaring to life in response. The air crackled with magic as the two wizards dueled. Flames danced and twisted in a deadly ballet. The ground beneath them trembled and cracked, the bridge groaning in protest. The air itself shimmered with the intense heat dancing all around them.

If Michael was here, then-

No.

Lucifer quickly slithered past Alastor’s feet, transforming into a man just in time to deflect the explosive spell that had been aimed for his colleague’s head. Raphael’s face - like Michael’s - was gaunt and corpselike, twisted in absolute fury. Before Lucifer could register what was happening, his brother fired off another round of explosive curses.

Lucifer swiftly dodged Raphael's explosive spell, his heart pounding as he faced his enraged brother. Raphael's eyes gleamed with unchecked malice as he unleashed another volley of curses. Lucifer reacted instinctively, conjuring a shield of shimmering magic with a flick of his wrist. Raphael’s attacks bounced off it easily, then the Transfiguration professor retaliated with countercurses of his own.

"Long time no see, Samael," Raphael hissed, his voice dripping with venom. Lucifer's jaw clenched at the sound of that name. He raised his wand, ready to unleash his next spell, when Raphael's words cut through him like a knife. "Still hanging out with Mudbloods and half-breeds, little blood traitor?"

"You really let yourself go, Raph," Lucifer taunted, his voice laced with thinly veiled contempt as he deftly deflected each of his brother's curses. The air crackled with magic as their duel intensified, sparks flying in every direction. Behind him, the continued barrage of spells between Alastor and Michael added to the chaotic symphony of battle. “What’s wrong? Azkaban food not good enough for you?”

The corners of Raphael's lips twisted into a sneer, his eyes narrowing with malicious intent. "Still as arrogant as ever, little runt," he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "You always did think you were better than the rest of us." He hummed as he almost casually sent a few more spells Lucifer’s way with a single flick of his wand. “Funny enough, no matter how runty, you were always very bad at looking down.”

Raphael's spell hit its mark. The ground beneath Lucifer's feet exploded in a shower of debris. With a startled cry, Lucifer felt himself falling, his heart pounding in his chest as he struggled to regain his footing. He caught sight of Alastor's wide-eyed expression, the realization dawning on both of them simultaneously. Then, with a sickening lurch, the ground disappeared beneath him, and he was plummeting toward the courtyard below.

"STARLIGHT!"

Alastor's voice echoed in his ears as he fell, and for a moment, the ever-present pit in Lucifer’s stomach widened as he realized that, soon enough, he was going to smash his head against the hard stone below. But then, Alastor appeared beside him, his arm outstretched as he caught Lucifer in a protective embrace. They pointed their wands downwards as they shouted the incantation together.

“Arresto momentum!”

They landed in the courtyard below, the spell cushioning their landing just enough so it only jarred their bones. Panting, the two wizards stumbled to their feet, still locked in their embrace. Lucifer looked up at the other wizard, heart fluttering, unable to stop himself from smiling as Alastor grinned back, and-

A deafening roar filled the air as a great fiery snake appeared on the remnants of the bridge. Fiendfyre. The flames engulfed the structure, sending it crumbling into the abyss below. Then, the snake surged towards them, baring its fangs as it charged at the fighters in the courtyard.

“Someone get water!” one of the students shouted. “Summon it from the Black Lake or something!”

“Fuck that, let’s get outta here!” another replied. “There ain’t no way we’re putting that out with lake water!”

Chaos erupted around them as the Hogwarts defenders screamed in terror, scrambling to evade the serpent’s fiery fangs. Exorcists and Snatchers alike were consumed by the flames, their cries lost in the roar of the inferno. The serpent coiled its enormous body around the courtyard, its flaming body closing in on all sides. There was no escape-

(“... he was very, very good at Transfiguration. Even better than the usual Morningstar wizard.”)

(“... one of the best if not the absolute best Transfiguration masters in the entire Wizarding World…”)

Inhale.

Exhale.

He unwound his arm from Alastor’s waist and stepped out of their embrace, ice cold fear crawling through his veins despite the heat radiating off the snake. He stepped in front of Alastor. His heart pounded in his chest. He raised both arms, the tip of his wand trembling as he steadied himself and focused on the snake. Blue eyes locked onto the fiery serpent as it reared back, baring its red-hot fangs. Then, he gritted his teeth and cast his spell, channeling every fiber of his magical power into reshaping the creature before him. 

"Mutatio ignis!"

The serpent froze, then let out a piercing, crackling roar. It writhed in pain, as though its very core was being twisted against its will. Then, starting from its base, its form began to unravel, quickly shifting from a controlled inferno to a swirling mass of fire. Slowly, inexorably, the flaming serpent transformed into a smoldering blaze, no longer possessing the lethal intent that had threatened to consume them. The serpent let out one last scream of pain and fury before it softened into crackling embers as the transfiguration took hold. 

With a quick flick of his wand, Lucifer sent the flames soaring upward, redirecting the entire blaze towards the night sky. For a brief moment, the heavens lit up with hues of orange and gold, nearly swallowing the backdrop of stars. But then, the flames dissipated into the cool night air, leaving behind only wisps of smoke and the linger scent of burning magic. The courtyard around them lay in a smoldering ruin, the battle continuing to rage around them. 

“Are you okay?” Lucifer asked immediately, sweat pouring down his brow as he turned to Alastor, gripping his wand even tighter. Alastor gave him a wordless nod, then looked back up at the night sky, red eyes scanning the stars. Groaning in frustration, the Head of Ravenclaw reached out and grabbed both of the man’s shoulders. “Hey, I need big boy words here!”

“...I’m fine,” Alastor said quietly, his gaze snapping from the sky to Lucifer’s in an instant. “Quite fine.”

Okay, good. He was fine. So now Lucifer had God’s or whoever’s full permission to be pissed at the guy.

“What the fuck was that?” Lucifer snapped. Alastor was staring at the sky again, clearly distracted. “You jumped off the fucking bridge after me!? Are you trying to get your ass killed?”

“You transfigured Fiendfyre,” Alastor murmured. “It’s supposed to be impossible, and yet you did it.” He took off his glasses, polished them on his robes, then put them back on and looked at the sky again, as though he could somehow detect the remnants of that serpent floating around. “You… You transfigured Fiendfyre.”

“Yeah, thanks and all that, but can we please talk about your weird fucking death wish? It’s scaring me, Al,” Lucifer said, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I get it. You’re all freaked out and paranoid about The Grim. But do you have any idea how stupid that is? This is like the third time you’ve tried to throw away your life for me just to prove the damn thing wrong, and-”

“Is that what you think I’m doing?” Alastor interrupted, his voice sharp. Behind those silver-rimmed glasses, red eyes flashed with an unreadable emotion. “Risking my life to try to prove a death omen wrong?”

“Well, I don’t see why the fuck else you’d do all this! I mean, have you taken a look at yourself? You’re the idiot who tried to provoke me on the literal night we met just ‘cause you were bored! You’re the guy who eats fucking Basilisk egg omelette with Mandrake filling or whatever for fun! You’re-”

“You misunderstand,” Alastor interrupted, his voice cracking. Lucifer paused in his rant and gaped at him, shocked at the sudden shift in the wizard’s tone. “I already lost Ma to that omen…” He exhaled shakily. “I can’t lose you, too.”

Lucifer blinked, his heart seizing at Alastor's words. Without thinking, he took a step forward, his hand reaching up instinctively to touch the other wizard’s face. The contact felt strangely comforting, just so very right.

“Al-”

A bone-chilling cold swept over them, sending shivers down their spines. The stench of death and decay hang in the air, nearly suffocating them. Then, the horrible death rattles of a hundred souls in torment echoed around them. The two wizards looked up in horror, eyes widening as what seemed like hundreds of billowing cloaks glided across the sky, all moving towards the adjacent courtyard where flashes of silver lit up the night. 

Charlie was stationed there.

They were going after Charlie.

(“Mark my words, Lucifer! The day will come when I’ll rip everything you love from your cold, dead fingers! Starting with that filthy half-breed of yours!”)

The two wizards exchanged glances, then spoke in unison. “Deer hooves.” 

One moment, they were two human wizards, reaching out to grasp each other’s hands. Then, they were a stag and a snake, galloping towards the flashes of silver, barely shaking off the crushing weight of the Dementors’ power. As soon as Alastor’s ebony hooves hit unscorched stone, he wasted no time in bolting towards the furthest corner, where Charlie and Vaggie stood back to back blasting off Patronus after Patronus. Vaggie’s wasn’t fully formed yet, but she was casting beautiful shield after shield, doing her best to keep the Dementors at bay. Meanwhile, Charlie’s golden retriever Patronus darted around them, valiantly warding off the encroaching darkness, but it was a losing battle. For every Dementor they repelled, another three took its place.

The two of them turned into wizards again as soon as they reached the girls, Charlie barely able to let out a small cry of surprise, the despair induced by the Dementors slowly creeping into her. Indeed, as Lucifer turned to face the oncoming swarm, he too felt the ice-cold despair swirling deep in his soul. A million voices began crying out at once - Lilith screaming to be saved, Eve sobbing as knives dug into her skin, Adam begging for death, Alastor whispering that he would see Lucifer soon-

Charlie’s golden retriever flickered feebly and faded. Vaggie’s shield disappeared in a tiny whisper of smoke. Alastor lifted his wand but froze, red eyes wide, wand hand trembling. A tiny silver wisp came out of the end of his wand but disappeared just as quickly. Lucifer’s own wand felt like lead in his hand, the despair spreading out of his soul like ice, freezing him in his place.

He was going to lose them.

He was going to lose Charlie.

He was going to lose Alastor.

He was going to lose everything.

(A tall, dark form. Flashing red eyes. A smile that could light up the night.

“Alastor Boudreaux! Pleasure to be meeting you, sir, quite a pleasure.”)

(Hair like woven sunshine. Stars gleaming in periwinkle eyes. A smile that could light up his soul.

“Professor Boudreaux was really brave today, wasn’t he, Dad?”)

(A mirthful laugh. Warm Butterbeer curling on his tongue. A hail of chocolate.

“That’s when I saw you cast that Patronus. It was just enough for me to fully take over again.”)

(A flower blooming on his lapel. Beautiful music wafting through the air. A gentle hand offered to him.

“May I have this dance, Lucifer?”)

(A strong arm wrapped around his waist. Soft, warm fur brushing against his scales. Jokes cracked in the middle of an ancient, rotting estate.

“The man who defied his own family took on the name of the original rebel. It’s poetic, really.”)

(A young woman standing tall and firm. Periwinkle eyes narrowed in determination. Golden sparks dancing at slim, calloused fingertips.

“I think I sound more like me. Someone you can’t keep in a castle or a countryside cabin just because you wanna try to keep me safe.”)

(A warm, protective embrace. A stray lock of hair brushed behind his ear. A normally mischievous voice cracking with unspoken emotion.

“I can’t lose you, too.”)

He raised his wand.

“EXPECTO PATRONUM!”

A silvery mist began to swirl around him, bathing him in a radiant glow. A sense of anticipation crackled in the air, tingling against his skin like electricity. Silvery tendrils danced around him with ethereal grace, weaving intricate patterns and gently caressing his face. With each graceful movement, the mist seemed to coalesce, its form twisting and shifting as though trying to decide just what sort of form it would take today.

For a brief moment, everything stilled. It was as though the mist was teetering on the edge of uncertainty ready to disappear again in a moment. Then, with a surge of magical energy, it solidified, taking shape before Lucifer’s eyes.

A beautiful figure emerged, its form towering and majestic. It was the outline of a great four-legged beast, its antlers stretching towards the heavens with regal grace. It gleamed with an otherworldly radiance that bathed the surrounding darkness in a soft, silvery glow. Lucifer gazed in awe at the silver stag in front of him, warmth flooding through his core and chasing away the icy tendrils of fear that had gripped his soul only moments before. Then, it pawed the ground and charged at the oncoming swarm of Dementors. They scattered like wind, cloaks swirling wildly as they avoided the Patronus.

It still wasn’t enough. There were too many Dementors. Once again, fear and chill coiled deep within him as the Dementors began to close in again, as the stag cantered a perimeter around them, doing its best to provide protection on all sides but unable to do it alone-

“Expecto patronum!”

A cheerful golden retriever jumped into the fray, tongue lolling out as it silently chased the Dementors around them. It joined the stag in its charge, widening the perimeter around them and sending a few more Dementors away. Charlie let out a loud squeal at the sight, her Patronus’ tail wagging in response. From out of the corner of his eye, Lucifer watched as Alastor stood tall again, as the spark returned to his eye, as the smile once again lit up his face. He lifted his hornbeam wand and pointed it directly at the Dementors before them.

“Expecto patronum!”

Silver light burst from the tip of his wand, rivaling the brilliance of the morning sun. From out of this light flew an enormous serpentine body, its form twisting and turning with fluid grace. Its scales shimmered like liquid silver as it seemed to dance in the air, borne by a pair of beautiful feathered wings. It sliced through the air like a blade, charging at the remaining Dementors without any hesitation, causing them to scatter in every direction. Once those horrible beasts were gone, it coiled around the little group, allowing warmth and joy to flood back into them. With a silent, triumphant cry, the Occamy vanished in a puff of silver mist, the stag and golden retriever disappearing alongside it.

The silence that enveloped them was dense, almost suffocating. It seemed to muffle even the faintest of sounds, leaving only the echo of their ragged breaths to fill the void. Each moment stretched on, taut with tension, as if time itself had slowed to a standstill in the wake of the extraordinary display of magic.

Vaggie moved first. She walked over and pulled Charlie into a tight embrace. His daughter let out an exhale that seemed to carry the weight of the world, tears glistening in her eyes. She embraced Vaggie back, giggling a little as the young witch kissed each tear away. Then, Charlie pulled herself away from Vaggie and launched herself forward, enveloping the two wizards in a tight, bone-crushing hug. Automatically, Lucifer’s arms wrapped around both her and Alastor, squeezing back. Despite the happy moment, however, blue eyes remained trained on the shadows at the edge of the courtyard.

It wasn’t over.

Next to him, Alastor stiffened, red eyes widening in alarm. Following his gaze, Lucifer's heart skipped a beat at the sight that greeted them. Standing at the entrance to the courtyard loomed a massive black dog, its mouth curled back into a tooth-laden snarl. For a brief moment, Lucifer’s mind immediately leaped to Alastor’s tea leaves, his heart seizing as the omen of death glared at him. But then, he saw the slight tinge of violet deep in those dark canine eyes.

Azrael.

A pair of mangy platinum blonde Siamese cats appeared and flanked Azrael on either side, thin tails sweeping low to the ground as the three beasts approached. Lucifer broke apart from the hug and turned to face the three Exorcists, exhaustion dancing at the edge of his perception. Beside him, Alastor raised his wand, its tip already taking on a menacing red glow. Just beyond Lucifer’s brothers, the shadows of the world beyond the courtyard began to dance. No, not dance… shamble. Crawl. 

Thousands of deathly white men, women, and children emerged from seemingly nowhere, reaching out for them with bony, icy hands. Sunken, sightless eyes fixed on them with a fierce, unsettling hunger. Bits of flesh peeled off them and fell to the ground below. Behind them, Charlie, Vaggie, and a few other defenders screamed as they flung a barrage of spells at the shambling horde. A few fell, but many more continued onwards.

A fearless, relentless, merciless army of the dead.

Inferi.

The black dog let out a deafening snarl. Then, it lunged, yellowed teeth gleaming menacingly in the moonlight as it snapped with ferocious intent. At the same time, the Inferi charged as well, shrunken hands clawing for living flesh as sunken, empty eyes almost glowed with a perverse sense of purpose. And at the front of this horrible, sickening army of the undead? 

A Muggle-born girl with tangled brown hair, her once vibrant hazel eyes now clouded with death and decay.

A half-blood boy with a crooked nose and a grin that had once lit up the entire Quidditch pitch, the bottom half of his jaw missing in a grotesque mockery of the laughter that once graced his lips.  

Horror rose in Lucifer’s throat like bile. Waves of revulsion, sorrow, and guilt washed over him. His wand trembled. His stomach churned. Adam and Eve had been twisted and distorted by this foul magic. They were now perverted, warped shells of the two friends he owed everything to. How could he have let things come to this? How could he have failed to protect them, to save them from this fate?

Every fiber of his being screamed for him to surrender, to drop his wand and let the Inferi be his punishment for his own arrogance. The despair was overwhelming, clawing at his soul, desperate to drag him down into the same murky waters where he lost Adam and Eve for good. But then, through the fog of his mind, a knife-sharp voice he had grown to cherish over the course of seven long, beautiful years cut through it like a blade.

“Depulso!” Alastor shouted. His Banishing Charm sent Azrael stumbling backward, buying them just enough time to spring towards the entrance of the castle. Adrenaline coursed through Lucifer’s veins as he turned around, watching as the black dog snarled and turned once again into a man, the two cats following suit. In the blink of an eye, Raphael sneered and lifted his wand, casting his own spell directly at Alastor’s hand.

The Hornbeam wand exploded in a shower of sparks, wooden fragments scattering like shrapnel. Alastor hissed in pain as he instinctively recoiled, small rivulets of blood dripping down his wrist. But there was no time to lick his wounds; the army of Inferi was quickly approaching. Their footsteps echoed against the stone walls as the four wizards raced to safety.

As they reached the threshold of the castle, Charlie abruptly halted, her gaze cold as steel. With a swift flick of her wand, she conjured water, directing it to surge into the courtyard where the Inferi and three wizards continued their relentless advance. Vaggie mirrored her, her own deluge joining Charlie’s until the courtyard was completely flooded. It was as though the Black Lake had finally managed to breach the castle, the courtyard’s previously stony surface now a gleaming watery mirror. 

But they weren’t finished yet. Wind whipped around her as Charlie flicked her wand once more, golden magic sparking around its tip and at her fingers as she weaved her spell. As her wand descended, the clear surface of the water transformed into an inky black abyss. With each passing moment, it became more viscous, more slick as it pooled and congealed around the advancing mob. The acrid stench of oil filled the air. The Inferi stumbled and slipped in their tracks. Then, with a smirk, Vaggie unleashed a burst of fiery magic, igniting the oil in a blazing inferno that engulfed the courtyard completely.

Lucifer pressed onwards down the corridor. The air was thick with the horrible stench of burning flesh. He couldn’t look back. Didn’t want to look back. What use would that be? Adam and Eve were dead. They were dead and now their bodies were sick, twisted servants of the Dark Lord. They wouldn’t want him to look back. Wouldn’t want him to despair. Wouldn’t want him to watch them die a second time.

“Where are we going?” Alastor asked. Behind him, the two girls veered off towards the Great Hall, following Husk, Niffty, and Dust as they flew by on their brooms. “I’m sure you’re aware by now that most of the fighting is in the Great Hall.”

Lucifer shook his head. “You don’t have a wand anymore. Like fuck I’m gonna just let you fulfill your weird death wish!”

“I assure you, I am perfectly capable of wandless magic,” Alastor said. They were running up the staircase towards Ravenclaw Tower now, Lucifer flinging spells in every direction towards the Exorcists down below. From an even higher alcove, Ozzie’s laughter echoed like wild thunder as he threw crystal balls from his bag and served them like tennis balls down at their foes. “If you truly think I’ll simply let you lock me up in your office, then you’re only proving my theory correct: the only thing lower than your height is your IQ.”

Lucifer snorted. “And the only thing bigger than you is your ego. Luckily for you, I don’t like the idea of taking our best defense against the Dark Lord out of battle.” They were at his office now, the heavy door having been blown aside some time earlier in the battle. Thankfully, it looked like the cabinet where he kept his newest creation remained untouched. 

He dashed over to the cabinet, slim fingers trembling in anticipation as he opened it and retrieved the wand he had tirelessly crafted over the past seven years. Pinewood with Horned Serpent horn core. 16 inches. Unyielding. It shimmered with an ethereal glow, its surface polished to perfection. The design Lucifer had carved over its shaft evoked the antlers of a majestic beast - timeless, beautiful, and noble. As Alastor approached behind him, the wand let out a low musical note, almost pulsing with anticipation. Without another word, Alastor reached out and grasped the hand-carved handle.

From the moment Alastor’s fingertips brushed against the wand, a powerful surge of energy pulsed through the room. Power crackled all around them, thrumming with an intensity that left him breathless. Magic surged and swirled, seeming to respond to the other wizard’s touch with a fervor that bordered on reverence. 

The wand seemed to come alive in the Head of Slytherin’s hand. Its form shimmered as its core began to sing, a quiet symphony to celebrate meeting its destined master at last. A whirlwind of energy swept through the room, creating a rush of magic that seemed to rush them towards a new precipice, a new potential. 

Soon enough, the whirlwind died. The crackling energy of the room dipped down gently into a quietly blazing ember. Yet in spite of this, the potential still hung in the air, golden sparks dancing at the tip of the new wand as Alastor spun it in his hand. He was grinning, as usual. But somehow even more beautifully now. As though a piece of his soul had somehow been found and he was made whole again.

“Now this is a weapon worthy of a wizard. Did you make this for me?” Alastor asked. He pointed it at the door, fixing it in an instant with a flick of his wrist.

Lucifer rolled his eyes. Typical arrogant Slytherin. “Wands choose wizards, asshole. And for some Merlin-forsaken reason, it chose you instead of me or Charlie.” He sighed and pulled out his own wand, the applewood humming happily in his hand. “Maybe it’s defective or something. If you don’t like it, I’ll just make it into kindling.”

Red eyes flashed with just a hint of mischief. “And waste a masterpiece? Absolutely not! Think of all the Manticore steaks I’ll taste with this!”

“I fucking hate you, so much,” Lucifer groaned. Naturally, there wasn’t a single drop of venom in his voice. “Have I told you that? Like, I have invasive thoughts every single day about either tying you up and feeding you to the squid or just straight up dragging you to Azkaban and seeing how good those Dementors taste after they suck out your soul.”

“Your Patronus says otherwise,” Alastor said casually. “Now then, shall we finally make our way to the Great Hall or does the little professor need a nap and a bedtime story first?”

Well, now that Alastor mentioned it, yes. He did need a nap. He needed a nap, a book, a cup of darjeeling, and a warm day out by the lakeside. Oh, and he needed to say shit to this guy. Lots of shit. The kind of shit he probably should’ve said before they started battling for their lives.

Shit, guess this meant that he really needed to make sure this smiling idiot survived the battle.

They turned around and all but flew back down the corridors, flinging spells, jinxes, and hexes with gusto. They passed Ozzie again on the way down, the Divination teacher having now switched to hurling pots of boiling water at the enemies down below. His partner, Fizz the Poltergeist, joined the fray as well, gleefully dropping firecrackers and Dungbombs from his bag. Lucifer waved his wand at the staircases in front of them, lining them up perfectly and allowing the two to hop on the stair rails and slide down with a wave of their wands.

When they hopped off on the ground floor, Lucifer quickly cast a Shield Charm over their heads as Val and several students flew by on brooms and wearing earmuffs, carrying pots of Mandrakes and Devil’s Snare under their arms. The moment some of the Devil’s Snare bounced off the shield, Alastor grinned and sent them flying to a nearby group of Exorcists, the black tentacle-like arms of the Devil’s Snare immediately striking for them.

They rounded the corner next, casting more Shield Charms as Bee and Tex threw down more potions from above, many Exorcists almost immediately falling asleep from the fumes of the Draught of the Living Death. Husk and Angel soon followed, the seventh-years raining down hundreds of Bat-Bogey Hexes and explosive spells, sending the Dark Lord’s forces scattering like bugs. Then, Vox ran past them, cocking what looked like a pair of large Muggle guns and peppering the oncoming horde of Exorcists with bullets. Meanwhile, Zestiel and Carmilla emerged from a hidden passageway, quickly transfiguring various bits of debris and fallen statue pieces into attack dogs and birds of prey that attacked their foes with gusto.

They passed Charlie and Vaggie next, the two witches standing back to back and firing off powerful hexes at the Exorcists trying to approach them from either side of the corridor. Charlie gave them a wide grin as they ran past, then flashed a thumbs-up. While she was distracted, Vaggie took over for both ends of the corridor, unleashing a barrage of charms that left the very air around them crackling with powerful magic. Off to the side, Niffty cackled with glee as she waved her wand, activating powerful needle traps that dug into legs and sides, allowing for her allies’ to attack their foes while they remained stuck in the needle traps.

The sound of galloping hooves filled the air as they neared the Entrance Hall, followed by the twang of hundreds of bows. The herd of centaurs from the Forbidden Forest thundered into battle, clashing with the Acromantulas descending from the castle walls. Pincers clashed with hooves while the cries of Thestrals and Hippogriffs echoed from above. Alastor grabbed Lucifer’s arm and dragged him to the side, the two of them narrowly avoiding a Hippogriff’s powerful talons as Blitzo swooped low, casting spells with reckless abandon. Behind him, Pentious leaped off the Hippogriff and opened a large trunk he was carrying with a wave of his wand, unleashing hundreds of creatures into the fray.

“Hey wait, isn’t that your trunk?” Lucifer asked as they passed, the Transfiguration professor quickly casting a Patronus to keep the Lethifold off of him.

“If it is, I’ll make sure to feed him to our pet Boggart and eat it!” Alastor said cheerfully. He aimed a few curses over his shoulder, then sent a few more Exorcists flying out of the windows with a wave of his wand. “Perhaps now I’ll finally find out what they taste like!”

They were indeed in the Entrance Hall now, just outside the doors of the Great Hall. Lucifer turned to glare at the closed doors. The Dark Lord was probably inside. If he could just get in, then maybe-

“Avada kedavra!”

The Killing Curse flew past his ear, barely missing him by an inch. Heart hammering, Lucifer whirled around and faced the three wizards rushing towards him. Raphael was grinning in manic glee. Michael snarled in silence. Azrael simply stared, his eyes wide with malevolent intensity as he lifted his new wand - Elder and dragon heartstring, 13 inches, brittle - ready to cast the spell again.

“Don’t hog all the fun now, darlings!”

Rosie leaped into the fray, grin wide and sharp-toothed as she unleashed a torrent of spells. With a wave of her wand, she sent Michael hurtling through the air, his expression twisted in disbelief as he crashed to the ground. Undeterred, Lucifer’s brother scrambled to his feet, his thin mouth curled back into a sneer as he hurled fiery curses at Rosie with desperate fervor. But the Headmistress was relentless, her wild laughter ringing out as she deftly countered each attack. She launched her infamous Bat-Bogey Hex next, Michael barely managing to deflect it away before she continued to press her attack, flinging what seemed like a hundred spells in quick succession. The ground beneath their feet cracked and smoked as they dueled, bolts of light flying around every which way in a dazzling display of magical power.

Meanwhile, Alastor grinned recklessly as he brandished his new wand like a sword, the pinewood letting out a low, ominous hum. With deadly grace, he whirled to face Raphael, unleashing a barrage of spells in a thunderous hail of magic. The air became thick with explosions as the two faced each other, fighting with a ferocity that bordered on insanity. With a mad gleam in his eye, Alastor quickly cast a Banishing Charm, sending Raphael flying directly into the path of Michael’s fireballs. The DADA professor sneered as he chased after his opponent, the sizzle and stench of burning flesh hanging in the air.

That left him and Azrael. Azrael, the brother who had taught him how to make wands. Azrael, the brother who had promised him as children that once he mastered necromancy, he would find a way for all of them to live forever so the Morningstar pure blood ideals never died. Azrael, who screamed at Lucifer and swore that the moment he got out of Azkaban, he would come for Charlie and everything he loved.

“Avada kedavra!”

Again, Lucifer dodged. Again, the spell barely missed him. Lucifer grit his teeth as he raised his applewood wand, sending a flurry of spells Azrael’s way. The second-youngest Morningstar brother sneered, eyes ablaze with contempt as he deflected Lucifer’s spell with ease, returning fire with a ferocity that matched his own. Dust and debris exploded around them as they dueled, Azrael’s voice slicing through the air like a knife.

“You’re disgusting, Lucifer!” Azrael shouted. He hurled another few spells above Lucifer’s head, sending down a cascade of debris that Lucifer quickly transformed into harmless rubber ducks. “How dare you betray your own blood! Whatever happened to continuing our family’s legacy? Of purifying our magical blood above all?” He sneered. “You believed in it so much when we were little, Luci. What happened? Was it because of what’s-their-names? Adam and Eve? Was it because you fell in love with that disgusting Veela?”

“Keep their names out of your dirty fucking mouth!” Lucifer snapped. He pulled off his tie and transfigured it into a snake, sending it towards Azrael with a wave of his wand. His brother responded by slashing his wand, causing the snake to explode in a hail of red. “You don’t deserve to know their names! They taught me better. They gave me a second chance to live a better life!”

Azrael let out a high-pitched laugh. He transfigured the bits of snake guts into spiders, sending them charging towards Lucifer. “A better life? Look at yourself! You’re the last son of a near-dead family, your daughter is a disgusting half-breed, and your two little friends died fighting for your so-called better life.” He sneered. “Did you like the little present I brought you? I hope you did. If only your little half-breed spawn didn’t throw a tantrum and burn them all up. I would’ve loved to see them eviscerate her.”

Lucifer snarled and waved his wand, transfiguring the spiders into snuff boxes. “Her name is Charlie. And she’s the best goddamn Defense Against the Dark Arts practitioner of her age!”

Again, another bark of laughter. “The best? We’ll see. Once I’m done with you, I’ll reanimate you and send you after her.” A few more green bolts were thrown Lucifer’s way, causing him to dive for the ground. He rolled to the side, groaning, then leaped to his feet. Behind him, more explosions and crackling fire split the air as the other two duels continued. “We’ll see how good Charlie is at defense then, won’t we?”

“Leave my fucking kid alone!” Lucifer fired off another furious barrage. “And keep her name out of your disgusting fucking mouth!”

Azrael laughed. “What’s wrong, blood traitor? Are you upset I’m about to make you destroy your half-breed? Don’t you worry. I’ll make sure that once she’s killed, you’ll make an excellent servant to the Dark Lord after that.”

He had heard all of this before, hadn’t he? Dark Lord this. Half-breed that. Blood traitor and scoundrel and blood purity blah, blah, blah. It had come from his parents first. No, actually, he had first heard it from his great-grandparents and his grandparents. Then his parents. Then his brothers. And then his own mouth. Nothing but nonstop rants about how blood purity should be kept above all, how the Dark Lord had the right idea with the whole wizard supremacy thing, how if Samael Morningstar dared to question their ideals again, he would meet a fate worse than death…

Didn’t this shit ever get old? There surely had to be something beyond blood supremacy and the Dark Lord that he could still seize upon - a tiny bit of humanity in the sea of fanatical ideals. But the more Lucifer thought about it, the more he realized that’s exactly what the Morningstar Family and so many others had stamped out in their quest to preserve a line of thinking that was at best an echo of generations long passed: humanity. Love. Dreams. A sense of free will that would allow them to choose their own paths in life.

…Did he actually feel bad now?

“Az… Mom and Dad are dead,” Lucifer said. He deflected yet another spell, his wand humming in his hand as magical energy crackled around him. “You understand that, right? You can’t get any of their praise anymore.” He jerked his head back to avoid yet another spell, an explosion sounding behind him. “But that means they also can’t hurt you anymore.”

“Are you really trying to talk me down, Luci?” Azrael asked. “Me? Sectumsempra!” He slashed his wand through the air. 

Lucifer let out a sharp yelp as his chest split open, blood pooling swiftly across the front of his robes. He staggered and fell backwards, landing on the cold, unforgiving stone floor. His pulse rose, agony seizing him in relentless waves. Each breath was a struggle against the burning ache, a desperate fight against the darkness threatening to consume him. Trembling pale fingers clutched at his chest, slick with sweat and the horribly chilling warmth of his own blood. He coughed, bringing up even more red.

His vision swam, fingers trembling in a feeble attempt to staunch the bleeding. The battle was so quiet now, the noises drowned out in the thunder of his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. Dimly, he noted a dark shape looming over him, twin violet stars gleaming with unbridled madness as they stared down at him. 

Whoever said dying was painless was a fucking liar and deserved to burn in Hell.

Azrael’s voice pierced the encroaching darkness, dripping with disdain. “You’re fucking delusional.”

Lucifer’s response was a rasping breath, his voice strained yet defiant. “Oh… you really shouldn’t have done that.” He gritted his teeth, watching as his vision steadied itself, as he willed the darkness to be pushed back even further. He grinned despite the searing pain lancing through him. Fuck, it hurt. “You really, really should’ve just stood down.”

Azrael sneered and pointed his wand right at Lucifer’s face, its tip already starting to glow green. “And why is that, little Luci?”

“Because… My partner’s an idiot with a weird-ass death wish.”

The Horned Serpent wand began humming a low, ominous note reverberating through the air like a banshee’s wail. Rushing wind swirled around Alastor with almost sentient fury as he walked, whipping his robes and tousling his hair in a frenzy. Crackling arcs of magic danced in his wake, illuminating the Entrance Hall with bursts of violent red hues. His fury swelled around them like a tempest, the very air seeming to spark with the intensity of his rage. Lucifer raised his eyes to meet Alastor’s gaze, only to find those beautiful red eyes ablaze with a ferocity that sent shivers down his spine. Gone was the usual mischievous smirk, replaced by an expression of pure, unbridled wrath. 

In the midst of this maelstrom, Alastor raised his wand, his features cast in shadow by the magic swirling around him. Only his eyes remained visible, glowing with a fierce intensity that somehow was even more dangerous than the storm brewing around him. With a flick of his wrist, he pointed the pinewood wand at the sky, those powerful arcs of crimson magic coalescing around him before spreading out with a powerful burst. 

The very foundations of Hogwarts seemed to tremble in response. A dark wave rose behind him, the waters of the Black Lake responding to his command as they swelled with unnatural force. With a flick of his wand, this wave formed into tendrils of dark water that coiled and writhed with otherworldly fluidity. Then, they surged forward with relentless force, lashing out at Azrael with the speed and precision of a serpent’s strike. Azrael snarled and transformed, his black dog form leaping forward with yellow fangs bared. At the same time, Michael ducked yet another Bat-Bogey Hex and waved his wand, Fiendfyre crackling to life behind him. 

Alastor’s laughter lit up the Entrance Hall. Rosie whirled, then dashed over to Lucifer, grabbing him by his shoulders and yanking him to safety. The Headmistress and Transfiguration master watched in awe as one of those black water tendrils quickly intercepted the hound, smashing him against the nearest wall with a sickening crunch. At the same time, six more flew from Alastor’s back and intercepted the Fiendfyre, the twisted shapes of mythical beasts shrieking as the black waters struck them with truly inhuman force, destroying many of them in bursts of bright steam.

But he wasn’t done. The Slytherin’s wand moved like a conductor’s baton, forming even more tendrils. These dived through the corridors with lethal speed, the screams of Exorcists ringing out in response. Now Alastor was grinning maniacally, red eyes ablaze as his powerful tendrils captured enemies, crushed them, slammed them against walls, or threw them out windows. He was a force of nature, his power unmatched. It was a dark reminder to all: the child that had summoned an Inferius was all grown up now. Grown up enough to have someone else to guard and protect. The Exorcists had hurt that someone. And because of that, nothing would save them from his wrath. 

“Are you sure he’s the one with the weird death wish?” Rosie shouted over the cacophony as she knelt beside Lucifer, sparks of gentle pink magic flying from her wand. She frowned at the sight of the blood on his chest. “Vulnera sanentur.” Immediately, the pain flooded out of him as, slowly yet surely, his wounds began to knit shut. “He could’ve accidentally drowned us with all of those, you know.”

Lucifer grinned ruefully as he shakily stood and looked over at Alastor, watching as the red-eyed wizard easily intercepted a hail of explosive spells with one of his watery tendrils before directing it to wrap Raphael like a vice. With a wicked sneer, the Head of Slytherin pointed his wand, forcibly shoving the Exorcist right into the path of Michael’s Fiendfyre. Shrieks of pain and the sickening sizzle of flesh filled the air, as Michael desperately tried to put out his fire. Before he could do so, an entire horde of black water tendrils surrounded his head, choking off any air in his lungs. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Azrael shift back to a man again, snarling as he raised his wand. 

“Avada-”

“Expelliarmus!”

Azrael’s wand went flying, spinning straight towards Lucifer. The Head of Ravenclaw caught it, then threw it at Alastor. The Head of Slytherin flashed a toothy white grin before one of his tendrils caught it, crushing the wood and dragon heartstring core in a shower of golden sparks. Then, he snarled and grabbed the final Morningstar standing, slowly lifting him into the air. His gaze flicked over to Lucifer for just a second, a silent question flickering behind those maroon eyes. At Lucifer’s nod, the Head of Slytherin’s shoulders relaxed considerably, his grin softening just a bit at the corners. Then, he lowered his wand.

The maelstrom faded. The wave slowly died down. The waters of the Black Lake slowly seeped away, Alastor’s tendrils disappearing into the waters beneath the castle. The DADA teacher seemed almost disappointed as he watched them go - Lucifer made a mental note to maybe stop threatening him with the Giant Squid later… or do it more often. He wasn’t sure how the squid felt about parts of its ceiling getting ripped out from above it for the sake of defeating Exorcists.

“Well, I’ll need a nice, relaxing cup of Erkling blood after this!” Alastor said cheerfully. “Would you care to join me, Rosie?”

“Ooh! If you warm it up for me, sure!” Rosie grinned, clapping her hands. She gave her wand a twirl, magical ropes flying out of it to tie up the two remaining living Morningstars. “I have some lovely Tebo belly-wrapped dates we can eat with it!” 

While Alastor and Rosie talked, Lucifer looked over to where his brothers lay, disarmed and tied up. The Fiendfyre had burnt Raphael so badly that he was nothing more than a charred skeleton now. Meanwhile, Michael’s deep blue eyes were wide and empty, the Exorcist rocking back and forth, lips moving in silent ramblings. It was as though whatever he had seen while drowning in the black waters had somehow sent him spiraling even further into madness. 

Azrael continued to glare up at him as he approached, his face twisted in agony. Alastor hadn’t exactly been gentle with his brother’s body, and Lucifer was sure there were more than a few broken bones in there. It was nothing that a bit of Skele-Gro wouldn’t fix.

“Well then, little brother?” Azrael asked. “Will you kill me now?”

Lucifer frowned. “Why in the name of Merlin’s half-blind left eyeball would I do that?” He knelt until he was eye-level with his brother, mouth pulled into a deep frown.

Azrael snarled. “Because you’re a blood traitor? Because as long as I’m alive, you and your disgusting half-breed will never rest? Because once I break out of Azkaban again, I will rejoin the Dark Lord and-”

Lucifer tuned out the rant with a small sigh. Really, how did he manage to get out okay after being submitted to the same horrible fanatical ideals as his brothers? Did it have something to do with him going into Ravenclaw? Probably, but that couldn’t just be it. Surely House Slytherin couldn’t be all bad like this, right? 

Blue eyes shifted slightly to look at Alastor, almost as though the man had a magnet attached to him. Alastor’s maroon gaze met his, the smile gleaming deep in those eyes. In that instant, Lucifer felt a surge of warmth in his chest, his heart quickening at the sight. A soft smile graced Alastor's lips, and in that moment, Lucifer was lost. Lost in the depths of those crimson eyes, lost in the allure of his presence, lost in the undeniable connection that bound them together.

No, Slytherin wasn’t that bad at all.

He could end Azrael’s life with a flick of his wand. The guy was asking for it, after all. And he had certainly done enough to deserve it. But in that moment, Lucifer saw beyond the hatred and resentment, recognizing the brokenness that lay within his brother's soul. A brokenness that his own daughter was striving to fix.

“...Nah,” Lucifer said. “I’ll let you taste some mercy. It’s the least you deserve.”

“GET BACK HERE, LUCIFER! I’LL-”

He heard nothing else. 

A thunderous roar erupted from the Great Hall, echoing through the corridors of Hogwarts with a near-deafening intensity. It was a sound that reverberated with triumph, with victory, with hope. It was a beautiful symphony, a celebration of a reign of terror ended at last.

Adrenaline coursed through his veins. His heart pounded with a mixture of exhilaration and relief. They won. They won. Everything they had worked for, every sacrifice, every single person they had lost along the way… none of those had been in vain.

It was over.

His gaze instinctively sought out Alastor’s, almost as though some magnetic pull were drawing them together. Rosie gave them a sly, close-lipped smile then disappeared into the Great Hall, her departure barely registering in Lucifer’s mind. When he moved closer to the taller wizard, it was as though time itself had slowed to a crawl. He drank up every detail of Alastor’s presence - the way his eyes flashed with unchecked playfulness, the curve of his lips as they broke into a triumphant smile, the way that auburn hair had been tousled by wind. 

Finally, they stood face to face, the thrum of the celebration fading into the background. Alastor reached out and once again gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind Lucifer’s ear. Then, it descended, coming to rest gently against his cheek. Lucifer’s pulse raced. His breath quickened. Something inside him pressed around his heart like a vice.

He closed the distance. Fire burned all throughout his veins as fierce longing took over, defying all logic and reason. It urged him forward, heart pounding like a drumbeat in the silence of the hall. He grabbed Alastor’s collar and pulled him in for a desperate, tender kiss, the other professor letting out a strangled half-squeak. He closed his eyes. Alastor tasted like strawberries. Strawberries and a hint of smoked paprika. The fresh scent of a summer breeze swirled around him. After a single, fragile moment of stillness, he felt warm hands wrap around his waist and pull him close, deepening their connection.

This was surrender.

This was beautiful.

This was everything.

He found Charlie seated at the furthest end of the Hufflepuff table, surrounded by her closest friends. Vaggie, ever indulgent, had dived into her secret stash of Honeydukes sweets and the group was tearing into it with unbridled enthusiasm. Niffty sat on the table, kicking her small legs as she eagerly stuffed an entire chocolate bar down her gullet. She squealed in glee when Angel tried to wipe the chocolate from her mouth. A second later, Husk ran up to the group with an arm full of firewhiskey, loud cheers ringing throughout the Great Hall as he and Angel started doing shots.

Lucifer watched as Charlie leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Vaggie’s lips, giggling as they pulled apart. Vaggie gently reached up and brushed some hair from the other witch’s face, Charlie’s already rosy cheeks reddening even more at the touch. She looked away and for a brief second, gentle periwinkles met endless sky-blues. Charlie smiled at him and lifted her hand, giving him a wave. He waved back. Then, he turned and walked out of the Great Hall.

He would tell her just how proud he was of her later.

Lucifer spotted Alastor standing amidst the charred remnants of the suspension bridge, his gaze fixed on the bustling activity below where students and Order members worked diligently to clean up the courtyard. A small smile tugged at Lucifer's lips as he approached, his heart warming at the sight of his… well. He didn’t really have a word for just what Alastor was to him yet.

As Alastor caught sight of him, his grin widened, but there was a softness in his maroon eyes that hinted at something else. The corners of his mouth curved into a shy expression, a rare vulnerability that Lucifer wanted to lock up in a chest and keep to himself forever. 

Wordlessly, Lucifer joined him, their shoulders brushing together as they both turned to survey the scene below. The air was heavy with the scent of smoke and the sound of distant chatter, but amidst it all, a quiet, companionable silence settled between them.

For a moment, Lucifer relished in the tranquility of their shared presence, the unspoken understanding that bound them together. But as the seconds stretched into minutes, he found himself growing… restless. Theirs was hardly a quiet relationship, after all.

Clearing his throat, Lucifer cast a sideways glance at Alastor. "So… things are kinda too quiet right now. Got any weird cravings for dark magical creatures you’d like to gross me out with or shall we continue to bask in the serene ambiance of burnt fucking bridges?"

Alastor laughed, toying with the wand in his hands as he continued to gaze at the courtyard below. “No cravings, I’m afraid. Or perhaps it’s a good thing. I don’t know if you would kiss me again if I tell you about what I ate before the battle.”

“What did you eat?”

“Just some fried Lethifold entrails,” Alastor said cheerfully. Lucifer groaned, drawing a laugh from the other man’s lips. “The spice rub you made for them was quite nice.”

“You know what? You’re fucking right. No more kisses for you until you get yourself a normal-ass diet.”

They shared a laugh, then silence fell again. Something nervous hung between them. The air was thick with unspoken words, charged with unexplored emotion. The seconds ticked by with an almost palpable sense of anticipation. 

“...How long?” Lucifer’s question cut through the silence, the casual tone of his voice belying the rapid beat of his heart. He turned to face the Head of Slytherin, his slim fingers idly picking at the loose threads on his robe sleeve, a nervous energy humming beneath his skin.

“I suppose… since our dance… or perhaps since even before that.” He fidgeted with his new wand, the Horned Serpent horn core gently humming a low, nervous tune. It was almost charming how the normally perfectly composed professor stumbled clumsily over the words with uncharacteristic awkwardness. “My Patronus changed just after you helped me become an Animagus. At first, I was quite perplexed, but-” He let out a rueful laugh. “I suppose almost losing you to a Dementor while I couldn’t use my human mind was enough of an emotional upheaval to unbury some truths.” He turned to face Lucifer, tilting his head slightly. “And what about you, little professor? How long have you known?”

Maybe he should’ve been sorted into some other House after all. Or maybe Alastor should’ve been re-sorted. Maybe they both should’ve just been shoved into some sort of Hogwarts remedial class for idiot wizards. 

The Head of Ravenclaw exhaled sharply, eyes downcast. “I… I think I kinda always knew… I was just never smart enough to find the right words.”

Alastor’s smile took on a slightly sardonic edge. “Do you have them now?”

“I might…”

“And just what are they?”

Lucifer narrowed his eyes. “It’s Ravenclaw House tradition to make the person trying to enter the Common Room and learn our secrets answer the question. So, if anything, I should be asking you what the right words are.”

Alastor’s left eye twitched slightly, his smile pulling tight. “It’s Slytherin House tradition to watch our opponent from the grass before we strike. I’m afraid that means I won’t be saying anything until I have confirmation that the pretty little eagle won’t rip my eyes out with his talons if I say the wrong thing.”

“Oh, fuck you! That’s just your stupid snake pride talking.”

“And this is simply you overthinking, as you eagles seem to thrive in doing.”

“Well, how about I stick my wand straight up your ass and transfigure the answer outta you then?”

“You’ll have to reach it first, little professor.” Alastor sneered as he lifted his wand, tapping it lightly against the tip of Lucifer’s nose. “I’m afraid you’ve come up quite short in that department.”

“Hey, careful with that!” Lucifer said, batting the wand away with one hand. “You could take out my nose with that thing!”

“And ruin a single inch of that pretty face? Never.”

As the playful exchange came to an end, yet another moment of quiet lingered between them. Lucifer shifted uncomfortably as he sensed the change in atmosphere. God, was this what it was going to be like from now on? The two of them just… having quiet moments? Quiet moments where all they did was enjoy each other’s presence?

…

…

Okay, so maybe that wasn’t as bad of a thing as he thought it was. 

“...Shall we cut another deal?” Alastor asked. “Our previous one came to an end today. You’ve finally learned how to cast a proper corporeal Patronus.” Despite the lightness in his tone, there was just the slightest hint of something else underlying the other wizard’s words. Something almost… melancholy.

Pale fingers once again began plucking at the loose threads of his sleeves. Damn. At this rate, he was going to need to ask Rosie for new custom robes. “Depends. Are you gonna try to get me to eat a Basilisk eyeball or something?”

“Of course not. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find one?” Alastor rolled his eyes. “Why would I give you a delicacy that I haven’t tasted myself yet? That’s wasteful!” Then, he stowed his wand, leaning slightly so he was resting against the bridge. “No, the deal I’m offering is much tastier. A favor for a favor. I’ll answer any question of your choosing - even the one about the correct words to say. In exchange, you’ll continue our conversation from before the battle and celebrate this new Wizarding World era by changing your name to one of my choosing… if you want to, of course.”

… Well that was only the fourth or so weirdest thing that’s been said to him today.

“What is it?” He paused. “I swear to Merlin’s wrinkly left asscheek, Al, if this is another short joke, I’ll-“

“Boudreaux.”

…

“What…?”

“I… think if you wish to discard the name Morningstar once and for all, Boudreaux would be an excellent replacement.” Alastor was definitely turning red now, maroon eyes concentrated anywhere but on Lucifer. 

…

Oh.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”

Alastor snapped his gaze to meet Lucifer’s. “Starli- Professor Morningstar, I-“

Pale fingers tangled into burnt auburn hair, pulling Alastor’s face closer. Their second kiss was gentler than the first, softer, less fire and more… warmth. And yet, it was somehow just as beautiful, just as sweet, just as wonderfully addicting. Alastor's low groan reverberated against Lucifer's lips as he deepened the kiss, his hands finding purchase on the smaller wizard's waist and pressing him against the wall of the bridge. Lucifer pulled himself even closer, eagerly reciprocating as he savored the taste and texture of his lover’s lips, the crevices of his mouth, even the sharp tang of his tongue. Once again, he found himself in the midst of the sweetest of all surrenders, the desperate, beautiful dance of two lovers nearly lost in each other’s embrace.

They pulled apart for air, panting, their faces flushed bright red. Dimly, he noted that Alastor’s glasses were lopsided, his smile softened at the edges and goofier than he had ever seen it. He stared at the other wizard, desperately burning this image into his mind. God, he wanted a moving portrait of this. He wanted to stick that portrait under his pillow and stare at it before bed every single night for the rest of his life.

It took a few more moments but, eventually, his brain had to work again. Wit beyond measure, after all. And he had to let his greatest treasure know exactly what he thought of everything said earlier.

“Taking your last name… that’s an Unbreakable Vow, you know,” Lucifer said. Alastor blinked, the spark returning to his eye as he too seemed to recover from his brain getting fried. “You gotta at least take me to dinner first before we make one.”

Alastor let out a small exhale that turned into a laugh. He adjusted his glasses, then let out a small cough. “Shall I treat you to a bit of brown-butter sous vide Dementor then?”

Lucifer rolled his eyes. “A normal dinner, Al.”

The smile widened. “How dull of you. Such a typical Ravenclaw.” He sighed. “Very well. When our duties are done for today, let’s take the Express back to London. There’s an excellent restaurant that serves perfectly normal, boring Southern Indian cuisine. I suppose that will have to do.”

“You’re such an asshole, you know that?” There was not a single drop of venom in his voice.

Alastor laughed. “I don’t pretend to be otherwise.” Then, he tangled one hand in Lucifer’s hair, bending low so his warm breath gently brushed against his ear. “I love you, Starlight. I’ll always love you. Even after we become stars ourselves.”

He… liked that laugh. No. He really, really, really liked that laugh. Like-liked. Loved. He loved that laugh. He loved that smile. He loved those eyes. He loved Alastor. Unable to help himself, Lucifer leaned in and kissed him again, pulling a gentle groan from between their locked lips.

“I love you, too.”

Chapter Text

Lucifer’s favorite time of day was dawn.

It was when Hogwarts was quiet, blanketed in a tranquil silence that seemed to leave even the Forbidden Forest wrapped in an ethereal stillness. He would get out of bed, grab a warm cup of tea, and walk out to his balcony to bask in the soft golden glow of first morning light. Every inch of the castle, from the soaring turrets to the still waters of the Black Lake seemed to welcome the new day.

Lucifer leaned against the doorway, darjeeling dancing over his taste buds. As seemed to be its favorite pastime in the early mornings, his mind began to wander. By now, Charlie and Vaggie were probably waking up, donning their robes, grabbing their broomsticks, and ready to start the day.

The Dark Lord’s corpse had barely grown cold before Rosie had everyone going back to classes, the Headmistress absolutely insistent on making sure that the Battle of Hogwarts was not used as an excuse to skip out on the rest of school. Indeed, Lucifer had found himself more than once having to either conjure up a tent or make his students learn how to transfigure leafy canopies into simple wooden structures to keep out the rain. Alastor, mad wizard that he was, had actually used the castle being broken as an opportunity to take his students on numerous field trips. The amount of kids who came home having tasted Lethifold entrails for the first time was downright disturbing.

Charlie and her friends had, of course, taken all of this in stride. After fighting in the war, they had pretty much gained all the experience necessary to one day join the Auror Office. In fact, he had heard that his daughter and Vaggie both already had offers on the table. Husk had apparently decided to instead team up with Angel to open their own magical bar over in Diagon Alley, and Niffty… well, no one really knew what she was going to do upon graduation, but whatever it was, there was no denying that when it came to anything shiny and sharp, her Transfiguration skills were unmatched by anyone else in her generation.

His daughter had grown into such a beautiful and vibrant young witch. It made Lucifer’s chest ache just thinking about how many years he had lost with her before she finally stepped foot into Hogwarts. He thought back to those dark, dark times when he would sit in his office all alone, playing with his decorative hourglass. Back then, he always wondered if he was skilled and stupid enough to turn it into a Time-Turner. Lucifer could never get the time he lost back, but that didn’t matter now. For some reason, that deep dark pit in his heart and stomach were okay with chewing on that fact.

The sun’s rays gently brushed the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Lucifer blinked as he realized what time it was. He picked up the apple wood and thunderbird feather wand he had so lovingly crafted by hand.

(Heat pooled in his stomach as nimble fingers tangled through wild auburn locks. Powdered sugar and lovely chicory danced on his tongue. Flashing red eyes, statuesque cheekbones, and a smile with the promise of something dark, dangerous, and sinful-)

The silver stag gently bumped its warm, wispy head against Lucifer’s palm. It seemed to smile at him too, as though assuring him it was ready for the journey ahead. He leaned in close and whispered so only he and his Patronus could hear.

“Good morning, Apple Pie. Hope you have a good day at school. Make sure you eat a good breakfast today… Because if you think I’m going to go easy on you just ‘cause I’m your father, you have another thing coming. We’re going to crush you.” He paused. “I’m kidding. Mostly. Anyways, miss you a ton. Say hi to Vaggie for me. Love you, kiddo.”

“Mm… are you sending Charlie a message or just muttering to yourself again?”

Lucifer turned around, smile lighting up his face at the sight of the man before him. Alastor wore only a pair of trousers as he walked outside, scratching the back of his neck. Those silver-rimmed glasses sat askew on his face. His auburn hair was an absolute mess, a bedhead so ridiculous that he looked as though he had large deer ears jutting from the top of his head. He stretched, giving Lucifer a very, very nice view of the way his chest muscles undulated with the movement. 

God, how could one wizard be so damned beautiful?

“Just sending a message to Charlie,” Lucifer said cheerfully. “The usual stuff. Do you want to add anything to it before Bambi goes?”

Alastor raised an eyebrow. “The usual? I know for a fact I heard you threatening to crush her. She’s a witch, Starlight, not a Grindylow. You need to tell her that she’ll be eviscerated today!”

“I mean, I can probably edit the message-”

Alastor laughed as he walked over, slotting his hands against the gentle curves of Lucifer’s hips. “Worry not, Starlight. I’m sure she’ll get the message. To be honest, I’m surprised she hasn’t sent one to you yet.”

Bambi galloped away. Lucifer grinned, watching as the silvery stag disappeared towards the lower floors of the castle. It would take quite a while to reach Charlie, but that was alright; maybe she’d be able to have breakfast while listening to his message. Hopefully, the entire damn Great Hall would be able to hear it.

For a few moments, the two of them stood there in silence, watching as the sun crested over the Forbidden Forest and cast its gentle glow all over the castle grounds. Off in the distance, a rooster crowed from the Gamekeeper’s hut. Lucifer sighed as he picked up his teacup again, only to notice with a touch of sadness that it was empty now.

Without missing a beat, a wand appeared from behind him and tapped the cup, filling it to the brim. Pinewood with Horned Serpent horn core, sixteen inches. Unyielding. Lucifer closed his eyes and breathed in the floral, honeyed aroma of darjeeling and the earthy, pine-fresh scent of the man next to him.

“Enjoying the sunrise, little professor?” Alastor asked. Lucifer turned around for a moment to flick the other man’s nose. 

“I was until you walked out. Now your head’s blocking it.” 

A laugh. “Fine, fine. Next time, I’ll bring a chair. Maybe you’ll feel better when you’re the tallest person on the balcony.”

“Asshole.”

“I don’t pretend to be otherwise. That said… the little professor has a mouth on him today,” Alastor mused. “As a teacher, I’ll need to discipline him. Accio teacup!”

The beautifully hot darjeeling tea flew out of his hand. Alastor snatched it before it could spill, then tipped all of the contents into his mouth. Lucifer made a noise of protest, rushing up to the other wizard and wrapping his arms around the Head of Slytherin’s neck. “Hey! I was actually enjoying that! Give it back!”

Alastor smirked as he swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing. “What was that now? Sorry, you’ll need to speak up. It’s hard to hear all the way down there.” He turned the cup three times in his hands, smiling as he glanced down at it.

“Well? What do you See?”

“A pile of soggy tea leaves.”

Before Lucifer could speak anymore, he was cut off completely with those soft, gentle lips pressing against his. Involuntarily, he closed his eyes, heart racing as tiny notes of caramelized apricots, spiced apples, and honey fluttered across his tongue. Alastor’s arms wrapped around his waist and lifted him up in the air, deepening the kiss and pulling a laugh from between their pressed lips.

The sun was fully out now, bathing the entire castle in an iridescent golden glow. Out in the hallways, he could already hear people moving around, magic sparking, even the gentle glide of ghosts. But none of that mattered to him now. The only thing that mattered was Alastor. Alastor’s arms around his waist. Alastor’s lips on his own. Alastor’s heart beating against his chest.

“I love you,” he said breathlessly when they broke apart for air, laughing as the other man grew red. “God, I love you so much.”

A laugh. “God isn’t here, Starlight. It’s just me. And…” he pressed their foreheads together. “I love you, too.” 

Of course, their little moment of peace didn’t last. Because for some godforsaken reason, Alastor had taken pity on a shrieking owl about a month ago and had brought her in. And for some additional godforsaken reason, said shrieking owl seemed to think that the more she shrieked, the more entertained they were. Which, yes, Alastor was entertained, but Lucifer? Fuck no he wasn’t. He was going to string Mimzy up by the talons one of these days.

Still, after her usual little chorus of shrieks and earning a treat from his partner, Mimzy dropped a small package in Alastor’s hands before winging away. Lucifer raised an eyebrow as Alastor opened the package, carefully lifting the lid of the box to inspect its contents. From the bright smile on his face, it was clear that he had been waiting for this one for quite a while.

“Did you finally get your hands on a Basilisk eyeball?” Lucifer asked, coming up from behind and wrapping his arms around the man’s waist.

“Unfortunately, I’m told that it’s illegal to breed them in this part of the country,” Alastor mused. He turned around and showed the contents of the box: a single gold, walnut-sized sphere seated in a bed of silk. “But I suppose this is still good news. The new Snitch came in just in time. After those Snatchers destroyed the school supply, Rosie had me order as many as possible so we could have at least one for today’s festivities.”

“What? Using your wand to toss walnuts at my face wasn’t fun enough for you?”

His partner smirked. “Don’t get me wrong, Star. It was quite entertaining. But I would like to keep my job and I’m told that flinging walnuts at children falls somewhere closer on the scale to child endangerment than allowed. Then again…” he hummed. “Perhaps I could make an argument that since most of those children are bigger than you, the only child I’m truly endangering is Niffty!”

“Ugh. Every fucking time I think you’re gonna say something romantic, you always ruin it with a short joke.” Lucifer rolled his eyes, his words lacking any sort of venom. “Anyways, I better get going. Tex probably wants to go over game strategies or something before we crush the students.”

“Of course. We wouldn’t want their inevitable failure to be an immediate one, after all,” Alastor laughed. “It would be much more entertaining for everyone to watch them nearly win, only to have all their hopes and dreams crushed at the last second!” Then, he turned and offered Lucifer the box. “Would you like to kiss it for good luck before you go? It’s not every day you see a brand new Snitch still in its box, after all.”

Well, Lucifer would’ve been a fool to deny that. With a small smirk forming on his lips, he leaned down and pressed his lips to the cold, hard metal in the box. Then, he raised himself on his tiptoes and pressed a kiss to the warm, soft lips of the man towering above him, once again pulling a laugh from his partner.

“See you on the pitch, Treble Clef.”

A warm summer’s day greeted the Professors of Hogwarts as they walked towards the field. In front of him, Tex inhaled deeply, flexing his yellow and black clad muscles as he began going through his usual stretch routine. Nearby, Bee chugged the rest of her ice-cold pumpkin juice before vanishing the container, shooting the rest of the team a wide grin. She and Tex were coordinating their accessories today, a single tiny vial of glowing gold something hanging from her right ear while a very similar looking black earring hung from Tex’ left.

“Woo! We haven’t had a student team this good since like… when we were students here,” Bee said cheerfully. “Good to see you back in the old robes, Lu. Too bad the color’s still off.”

Lucifer smirked, quickly adjusting the buckles of his blue and bronze robes. “I think the only off-colors here are you two. I mean, yellow and black? You look like fucking bees.”

“If we’re fuckin’ bees, what does that make you? A buzz kill?” Tex laughed. Then, he waved over the rest of the professor team. “Yo! Hurry up, stragglers! These kids ain’t about to crush themselves!”

Velvette snapped her gum as she walked over, her beater’s bat draped almost casually across her green and silver clad shoulders. Her fellow Beater, Blitzo, strode up to them looking even more irritated than normal. From what Lucifer saw during breakfast, Tex had all but wrestled the guy’s custom-made spiked bat from his grip, forcing him to use the school-approved one for today. Then, Alastor had used a quick Body Dangling Charm to make sure that all of the hidden weapons literally fell out of the Care of Magical Creatures teacher before they could make it onto the pitch. All-in-all, it made for a very irritated Blitzo.

Next to come up to them was Pentious, gold goggles already low over his eyes. He had somehow managed to set fire to his own Quidditch robes the night before, meaning he now had to wear some rather ill-fitting red and gold ones that looked like they hadn’t seen an iron in literal centuries. They were weirdly old-fashioned looking and had a ton of shiny metal bits, which hopefully meant that whatever Chasers were heading his way would be too blinded by the metal to aim properly. 

Finally, Carmilla walked up to them, clad in beautifully fitted robes of red and gold. She had decided to pull her silver hair into a pair of tight buns today, decorated with glittering ruby hairpins. She frowned disapprovingly as Velvette snapped her gum and blew a large pink bubble but said nothing. The last time she and Velvette had gotten into a fight on the Quidditch pitch, it took about three days for Rosie and Lucifer to make the grass look somewhat newish again.

“Alright, everyone! We’re almost ready to begin!”

Lucifer looked up, grinning as Rosie flew down from above on her Cleansweep XVII, grinning from ear to ear. She wore black robes today with the Hogwarts crest embroidered on her back. Her hair was wound tightly in a silver bun, nearly hidden under a large black sun hat. “As soon as you hear Alastor start the broadcast, we’ll go through the usual motions! I take it that you’ve chosen your captain?”

“Well, technically, I’m the captain, but I’m not about to let a chance like this go to waste,” Tex said. He walked up and plopped one large hand down on Lucifer’s back, causing a low wheeze to escape the smaller man’s lips. “This little guy should get the chance to shake hands with his own kid. Seeker versus Seeker, you read me?”

Rosie’s grin widened. “Of course I read you, dear! Alright, Lucifer. As soon as things get started, I just need you to fly down to meet me in the middle of the pitch. Young Charlie will be there as well. All you have to do is shake her hand… without crushing it! She needs it to catch the Snitch, after all.”

Lucifer laughed. “I’ll let her have her fun. But there’s no way in hell I’m letting her beat us out there.”

“That’s the spirit! Now, I wonder where Alastor is-”

“Salutations!” Alastor’s voice sounded like it was coming over a microphone of some sort, rather than being magically amplified. Was he actually using Muggle equipment? “Good to be back on the air! I know it’s been quite a while since I’ve had to do one of these things, but I assure you, I’m quite sure that I’ll be able to handle this. If not, you can send your complaints to me via graffiti! I hear the Transfiguration or Muggle Studies classrooms are the perfect places to send me those messages!”

The thunderous roar of students answered him, something that Lucifer would never quite understand. Okay, yeah, sure, his partner was awesome. He was academically brilliant, great at practical lessons, and could make literally anyone laugh with an old-timey pun. But what about Lucifer? Wasn’t Transfiguration supposed to be an awesome subject? Where else could you transform a tortoise into a teapot!?

“Keep your stupid fu-... silly shenanigans outta my classroom,” Vox said irritably. Unlike Alastor, it was quite clear that his voice was being magically amplified. “And stop stealing my stuff! If you break any of that today, I’m gonna make sure your weird snack cabinet gets set on fire before the end of the week!”

“Did you hear that, ladies, gentlemen, and non-binaries? Our dear Professor Vox seems to think that he can just walk into my office without knocking and steal my snacks!” Alastor said cheerfully. “As a teacher, I should warn all of you that my dear Professor Morningstar placed quite the nice set of hexes on that cabinet. Anyone who tries to touch it without my express permission might find themselves a bit pimplier than when they first entered the room!”

“Are you serious right now? Bringing him in before we’re even announcing the student teams?”

“Oh, you’re quite right! I nearly forgot myself there. Listening to you prattle on about Muggle picture boxes all day must have dulled my wit. Anyways! Let’s welcome the united student team! Let’s start with our lovely Chasers: Vaggie Madrigal, Lute Manning, and Emily Narayan!”

With each name that Alastor dropped, one of the student Chasers flew out, black robes billowing around her. As per school tradition, the students wore black robes embroidered with the Hogwarts crest for the final Quidditch match against the teachers. It was supposed to be symbolic, to show the world that even though there were four houses, they were united under the banner of one school. It was a nice, somewhat cheesy sentiment.

“Did any of you actually hear any of that?” Vox asked over the roar of the students. He let out a low groan before clearing his throat. “Next up we have your democratically elected student Beaters! Please welcome Angel Dust and Niffty… erm… Just Niffty I guess.”

“Oh, and what is this? Is that a giant needle she’s holding?” Alastor asked cheerfully. “My, my, I wonder who let her bring that onto the pitch? It looks quite wicked too. I don’t suppose stabbing is against the Quidditch rules?”

“Um, what? Of course it is! Why the f-... why the heck would it not be?”

“I don’t see you with the official rule book in front of you, so all I have to go off of is this one that I found under Professor Morningstar’s desk! Did you know, dear students, that he uses books as makeshift desk legs? Do you think it’s because he wants to disrespect the most valuable tools of learning we have here at Hogwarts, or is he simply too used to being unable to see over his own desk that he has to do it even as a teacher? We’ll take a vote and announce the results at the end of the match!”

Fuck. He knew he should’ve just repaired his desk when he got a chance. Now Alastor was never going to let it down and he had somehow managed to find a book full of old Quidditch rules, meaning that bedtime was going to be full of him making snide remarks about archaic sports rules, again. Lucifer had just barely finished dealing with his partner’s little rules-of-cricket phase.

“Merlin’s beard! Can you stop talking about your boyfriend for ten seconds!? We’re not even done with the student team yet!” Vox seethed. “Alright, Husk Washington is your keeper and Charlie Morningstar’s your Captain and Seeker. Now let’s get to the teachers.”

A loud chorus of boos resounded all over the Quidditch pitch, nearly drowning the two commentators out as they announced first Carmilla, Bee, and Tex as Chasers, then the two Beaters Blitzo and Velvette. Pentious gave Lucifer a stiff salute as he fell onto his broomstick and flew out into the pitch, leaving the Head of Ravenclaw standing alone. While squinting at the field, he just barely caught the pale gold glimmer of Charlie’s hair as she landed in front of Rosie at the center of the field. The rest of the team floated just above her, ready to pounce on the Quaffle. 

“And last but not least, it is my greatest pleasure to introduce the teachers’ Seeker, Captain, and the man who will assign you all extra Transfiguration theory homework if he loses today, Lucifer Morningstar!”

Well, that was his cue. Lucifer mounted his own Firebolt and kicked into the sky, the broomstick obeying him with well-practiced ease as he did one lap around the field, pale hand coming up in a wave. Naturally, all of the students booed him quite loudly - even his own damn House - until he landed in front of his daughter, who gave him a wide grin.

“Ready for some fun, Dad?” Charlie asked as she offered her hand.

Lucifer grinned back and took it, giving her a firm shake. “As I’ll ever be. Just don’t go crying to Al when you lose, okay, kiddo?”

The corners of those periwinkle eyes crinkled. “We might just surprise you!”

Rosie smiled at the two of them, then opened the trunk in front of her with a wave of her wand. The two Bludgers shot out of the trunk like cannonballs the moment Rosie undid their chains, immediately flying towards either end of the pitch. The Snitch flew out next, darting quickly between the two Morningstars before disappearing towards the sky in a tiny gleam of gold. Father and daughter exchanged one last grin before they kicked up into the air, hovering with the rest of their team. Then, Rosie raised the Quaffle in the air.

“I want a nice, clean match from all of you! And that especially means you two, Blitzo and Velvette! No nasty surprises!”

The second Rosie tossed the Quaffle into the air, Carmilla charged, banking left and flying directly towards Lute and Vaggie before they could so much as move, causing them to scatter to try to get out of her way. In the same breath, Bee laughed as she scooped up the Quaffle and sped towards Husk, who leaped desperately for the leftmost ring. Unfortunately, he wasn’t fast enough - the Head of Hufflepuff all but slammed the Quaffle through the hoop before flying away, laughing all the while. 

“That’s 10-0 to the Professors!” Alastor said cheerfully, to the boos of hundreds of students. “Alas, it seems like we’ve all failed to teach you students anything! Professor Carmine was quite the diversionary Chaser back in the day. She was an absolute asset for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team in ancient times!”

“Ancient? What are you on about now?” Vox asked. “You’re barely younger than she is!”

Emily grabbed the ball next as it fell, speeding towards Pentious with all her might. She swerved nimbly past one of Velvette’s Bludgers, then feinted for the right before swiftly passing the Quaffle to Vaggie on the left, quickly scoring a win for the students. A roar went up from the stands, one that only grew louder when Tex took up the Quaffle next, only to be sent nearly reeling off his broom as a well-timed Bludger from Angel slammed into his stomach, causing him to drop the Quaffle straight back into Emily’s hands. Again, the Chaser grinned as she shot straight up, easily tossing the Quaffle through the middle hoop as Pentious dove too far down to try to catch her.

Meanwhile, Lucifer circled the field, blue eyes searching for any glint of gold. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Charlie doing the same, her face pursed into that cute little pout she used to wear whenever things weren’t going her way. It was a shame that it was so bright outside - yes, it would make it a bit easier to spot the Snitch, but it also meant that any bit of gold watch or jewelry would also confuse the two Seekers. Unfortunately, there were quite a few Gryffindors in the stand today who felt the need to wear their school colors in different subtle ways.

“70-40 to the students!” Despite the cheeriness in his tone, Alastor was starting to sound quite disappointed. “Perhaps youth shall trump experience after all in this match? Have the children finally outgrown the teachers? Or perhaps Professor Morningstar is bringing the average height of the team down so much that our dear seventh-years are essentially playing against first-years? Stay tuned to find out!”

“This isn’t a radio show, Boudreaux. What the actual f-”

Lucifer shot past Charlie, nearly knocking her off her broom as he pulled into a dive. Startled, his daughter followed suit, almost too easily taking the feint. As he neared the dirt, he pulled up again, shooting off to the other end of the field. Unfortunately, Charlie hadn’t been trailing him closely enough to actually eat said dirt, but she still looked rattled nonetheless. Around them, the students booed and cursed his name, likely because none of them wanted any extra Transfiguration homework as Alastor had so kindly threatened on his behalf.

Angel and Niffty proved to be extremely effective student Beaters, tossing so many Bludgers their Chasers’ way that Lucifer was quite sure Tex was going to be black and blue underneath his robes after all of this. In addition, Vaggie and Lute seemed to have put aside their childhood rivalry long enough to work together, easily passing the Quaffle between them and Emily to score round after round of points. Husk was also more than capable of blocking the professors, smirking as he blocked way more Quaffles than he let through.

Shit. Maybe it was time that they all started taking this seriously. At this rate, they were actually going to lose. And they had a reputation to keep up, dammit! There was nothing worse than losing to a bunch of students - they would never be taken seriously in the classroom again!

“Vox, dear, I think you need to work on your commentating,” Alastor said. “All you do is describe the match. What about the flair? The flavors in between? For example, look at Morningstar up there. Seekers are chosen for their speed and aerodynamic ability, so to have someone as small as him playing Seeker is quite the intelligent move on Tex’-”

“Alright, that’s it! Where’s my wand so I can silence this idiot!?”

While the two commentators began exchanging spells, Lucifer turned around and cut towards the student Chasers’ formation, easily scattering them. Niffty tried to retaliate by striking a Bludger towards him, but he quickly weaved past it and shot towards Blitzo, the iron ball hot on his broomstick’s tail. Blitzo let out a loud war cry as he quickly slammed his bat into the Bludger, sending it careening towards Husk. The younger wizard only had a second to react as he dodged out of the way, only to allow Carmilla to score. It was now 70-50 to the students - still a gap, but at least it was starting to close.

Then, a rush of wind. A flash of gold. And then there was a black shape barreling past him, flattened against her broom as those periwinkle eyes locked onto a bright little spot hovering near the teachers’ rings.

Oh fuck no.

Lucifer flattened himself against his broom and took off as well, easily weaving past yet another bludger as he slowly but surely gained on his daughter’s form. The Snitch fluttered near the goalposts for only a few seconds more before it darted upwards, forcing the two Seekers to yank their broom handles up to rise as far as they could. Before they could get too far though, the Snitch disappeared, darting off to God-knows-where.

“What’s this, folks? It looks like our favorite father and daughter duo have seen the Snitch! They’re heading towards the heavens right now! This is the one and only time I wish we could get one of those silly flying machines that the Muggles are so fond of. Makes me wonder-”

“About why you can’t just shut up and describe the match instead of doing whatever this is?” Vox interrupted. “Yeah, I think we’re all wondering that. Also, they’re called drones and they’re awesome. So stop making fun of them!”

Lucifer paused, gritting his teeth as he once again hovered over the ground, desperately searching the field for the little gold ball. Charlie, for her part, was circling the perimeter, golden hair flowing wildly around her as she too searched for the little object that would end the match. Students and teachers alike were clearly becoming exhausted now, Tex having taken so many Bludgers that he was probably more bruise than man, and lord knows how the other Chasers were doing with such well-aimed Bludgers all around…

“My, my! We have quite eager students today!” Alastor said over the roar of the students as Vaggie scored yet another goal for them. “Madrigal scores! We’re now sitting at a clean 220-80! Color me absolutely shocked! Who knew we had such talented Quidditch players among us?”

“Bee with the Quaffle and she’s headed for the other side,” Vox said, now seeming to decide that ignoring his colleague was the best course of action. “She’s gaining - dodges a Bludger hit by Angel- and now-”

“Why don’t we teach the students something, Vox?” Alastor asked. Lucifer could almost feel the heavy glare Vox was leveling at the other wizard right now. And where was that goddamned Snitch!? “Something about a little-known trivia fact about Snitches!”

“What the- no! We have to be commentating on the match, not whatever weird stuff you’re trying to pull with-”

“Did you know that Snitches have something called Flesh Memory?” Alastor asked. For once, the stadium had gone quiet, as though the students were listening to a lesson. God dammit, why couldn’t he ever have students listen to him like this? “The Snitch essentially remembers the first person that touched it so we could confirm who captured the Snitch first during a Quidditch match. It’s a rather neat trick and the reason why Snitches are normally handled with gloves prior to any match.”

“What in the name of Merlin’s saggy right nostril does this have to do with-”

“Oh, but it has a small bonus as well!” Alastor continued. “You see, Flesh Memory can also be used to ensure that only the person who touched the Snitch first could receive the message inscribed on it or the item inside the Snitch. Makes it a very useful little secret holder!”

Lucifer blinked, stopping his search just for a second to look in Alastor’s direction. His lover was wearing robes of cobalt today, inlaid with bronze stitching. It… was actually kinda a weird color on him. Like he was trying to impersonate a Ravenclaw. Still, the smile on his face was absolutely dazzling even from his high vantage point - and for some reason, the old-fashioned microphone he held in front of his face seemed to fit his image rather well. But wait, what was that about Flesh Memories and secrets?

…Wait a minute.

Didn’t he fucking kiss the damn Snitch before the match?

Realization hit him like a lightning bolt. Now he was really searching for the damn thing, blue eyes scanning practically the whole field. It had to be somewhere, right? There was no way a Snitch could get that far. Plus, it’d be fucking embarrassing for Charlie to catch it before him - he didn’t need anyone but Alastor knowing that he had kissed that ball before the match today. What if it somehow mistook her flesh for his and opened up? He’d probably die, honest-

There.

The Snitch darted across the pitch with lightning speed, its wings fluttering frantically as though it knew its freedom would soon come to an end. Lucifer grit his teeth as he bent low over the handle of his broom, urging it towards the bright flash of gold. Not too far away, he saw Charlie do the same, practically kicking her own broom into high gear as she did so.

The crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and shouts as the two Morningstar Seekers converged, both of them clearly ready to end things once and for all. The Snitch veered sharply to the left, Lucifer mirroring his broomstick with lightning-fast reflexes. With a simple twist of his broomstick handle, he leaned into the turn with precision. Wind whipped through his hair as he closed the distance between himself and the Snitch, Charlie following close behind.

Then, the Snitch dove, heading straight towards the commentator’s box. Lucifer’s heart nearly stilled as he braked in midair, then dove as well, angling his broomstick in a steep descent as he hurtled towards the little gold ball at breakneck speed. Time seemed to stand still as he closed that final gap, his fingers mere inches away from the fluttering Snitch. Then, his fingers closed around it in triumph, the Head of Ravenclaw slipping forward off his broom, the momentum taking him straight into-

Alastor’s arms closed around him as both of them went down, the Slytherin’s back meeting the floor of the box with a loud thump. Maroon eyes met sky-blue in a moment of shared surprise, silent joy dancing in them as Alastor’s grin widened even more. Warmth blossomed in Lucifer’s chest at the sight, then he laughed, keeping his fingers tight around the fluttering Snitch as he leaned in and stole a kiss, thankful that the raised wall around the commentator’s box hid this from view. The other man was wearing some sort of cologne that gave him a pine-fresh and spice-sharp scent; the sort that sent his heart racing. 

Next to them, Vox’s eye roll was palpable. “Morningstar senior catches the Snitch! That’s a 220-230 win for the teachers!”

“A last-minute win? You seem to enjoy pulling those off, Starlight,” Alastor said quietly, smirking when the students in the stands booed even louder now. 

“I wasn’t gonna just let the kids win, are you kidding me? We have, like, a 100-year win streak going for us right now and like Hell I’m gonna be the idiot that breaks it,” Lucifer said. He tossed the Snitch in his hand, watching as its wings fluttered just a little bit before it landed back in his palm. “What’s in here anyways? Acromantula eggs? A dung bomb? The corpse of that weird-ass red cat you saw the other day?”

Red eyes glinted mischievously. “Heavens, no! How would I even fit that thing in there? No, Starlight, just a little something to help us whenever you decide to finally cash in on our deal.”

Oh.

He shook the snitch, grinning as he heard the two items rattling within. Without a word, he slipped the Snitch into his pocket. “Thanks. Maybe you aren’t such an asshole after-”

“Will you two please just go get a fucking room already!?” Vox snapped. He reached up and rubbed his temples. “Literally, I am not fucking drunk enough for-”

“...Vox,” Alastor’s grin had tightened considerably, his wand humming lowly in his pocket. “Your sloppiness made you forget that your Amplifying Charm is still in use.” Lucifer rolled off of him with a small squeak as the Head of Slytherin rose, red eyes flashing dangerously. “Which means everyone heard what you just said.”

Vox blinked, horror slowly dawning on him as he took a few steps back from Alastor’s tall, sneering form. “... Fuuuuu-”

“You have three seconds.”

Lucifer had never seen a man fly off so quickly.

…

Wait a minute.

“Did he just steal my fucking Firebolt!?”

By the time the End-of-Term Feast was over, the moon had risen, bathing Hogwarts’ soaring turrets and majestic spires in a gentle silvery glow. The sky had transformed into a whirling tapestry of endless constellations and sparkling stars. The castle itself seemed to come alive as the seventh-year students stepped out of the Great Hall, enchanted lanterns in hand, flames flickering gently in the breeze.

When Charlie and Vaggie both pulled him into a tight hug, Lucifer only allowed himself a few tears. Just a few. It would never do for the younger students to see their Transfiguration professor crying, after all, even if it was because his daughter was about to leave the school forever and start on her journey of redeeming Exorcist children alongside the Auror Office. Professor Boudreaux, of course, denied ever having the ability to cry, even if the edges of his smile trembled and quaked with barely held back emotion. The two professors stepped back and watched their daughter leave the Great Hall, taking with her a lifetime of some of the happiest memories they had ever formed.

From their vantage point sitting on a small hill in the Forbidden Forest, Lucifer and Alastor watched as the seventh-years finished their last-minute celebrations in the Entrance Hall before walking to the Black Lake. The boats were already waiting for them when they stepped onto the shores. The very air seemed to hum with quiet excitement and anticipation as the graduating students boarded the boats, the water lapping gently at the hulls as whispered conversations and laughter filled the air. Lucifer found himself staring quite intently as Charlie hopped in first, then helped Vaggie in, the girls grasping each other’s hands quite tightly as they exchanged identical grins. Then, they sat down, the boat rocking just a little bit threateningly, sending ripples across the tranquil waters.

Rosie appeared now, clad in beautiful black robes with pale pink lining. Pale silver and gold threading lined her sleeves, glittering brightly even when she was so far away. She lifted her enchanted lantern and said a speech to the assembled seventh-years, one that the two of them were too far away to hear. They had heard it a million times already anyways; Rosie always talked about their years in school, how much they’ve learned, and how much she liked their moxie. She would then go into everything they accomplished over the past year, talk about how united they were as a school, then say goodbye and walk into the empty boat at the front of the pack. It was a lovely, peaceful end to a beautiful seven years together.

“You know, they may come looking for us soon,” Alastor said. He was wearing forest green robes today, silver threads winding through his sleeves like serpents. He tapped his wand against his knee, almost casually making a small bouquet of roses pop out of it, which he offered to the wizard sitting next to him. “This group seems to be particularly fond of taking pictures.”

“You’ll probably blow up the camera before they can get to us,” Lucifer said. He opened up their picnic basket with a wave of his wand, grinning when he saw the contents. For once, his partner had actually packed normal-ass pumpkin juice. Good. “I don’t really get what you have against pictures. You do know that we’ll be taking a ton of them eventually, right?”

Alastor grimaced. “I will allow for one. Just one. It’ll be on the day we close our deal. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with seeing me live.” He smirked. “This face was made for teaching and Quidditch commentating, I’m afraid.”

“I’d call you an asshole, except I already know what you’re gonna say to me when I do,” Lucifer said. He repositioned himself so he was now laying in his partner’s lap, Alastor grinning down at him through his silver spectacles. They had met the wrong end of one of Blitzo’s Blast-Ended Skrewts the other day, so they were a bit bent out of shape. Neither of them had time to fix that quite yet. 

“You won’t be able to see a thing from down there,” Alastor said. He looked up to check and see if the seventh-years had started sailing down the lake yet. From the look in his eye, they hadn’t. “We don’t want you to miss young Charlie’s graduation, do we?”

“Eh, just let me know when she’s about to get here. Those boats are too damn slow anyways.”

A mischievous glint appeared in the other wizard’s eye. “Oh? Shall I create a whirlpool or typhoon in the middle of the lake then?” He spun the pinewood wand experimentally, the Horned Serpent core humming a quiet, almost mischievous musical note. “I’m sure it’ll make for quite a lot of entertainment.”

Lucifer snorted. “Go ahead. Just don’t ask me to help you clean guano from your robes after Rosie does the Bat-Bogey thing on you again.”

His partner narrowed his eyes. “Need I remind you that it was both of us who experienced the wrong end of that hex? And that it was your fault in the first place that we were even in such a position?”

“Um, hey, fuck you. You’re the one who didn’t cast any soundproofing charms on our room before starting things.”

“Starlight. How do you expect me to say anything when you had me under complete control?”

“I dunno! You’re the one that’s supposed to know how the damn spell works! I’m just supposed to know it’s illegal.”

“For a Ravenclaw, you have a poor sense of curiosity about these things.”

“That’s because half of the shit that gets you going is fucking illegal, Al!”

They shared a laugh at that, the mischievous spark never fading from Alastor’s eye. With a swift motion, he leaned down and stole a kiss, lips grazing Lucifer’s with a teasing nip before pulling away. Heat flooded the Head of Ravenclaw’s stomach and cheeks, the wizard sitting up abruptly once he heard the sound of the boats slicing through the water, breaking the tiny moment of intimacy.

When he squinted at the boats, he almost immediately picked out Charlie’s sitting near the front. Bathed in the soft glow of the enchanted lantern, she looked absolutely radiant, the shadows dancing across her face in an almost reverent celebration. She was holding Vaggie’s hand, the two witches leaning close to each other as they took in the tranquil stillness of the night, silently celebrating the journey of their past seven years. A lump appeared in Lucifer’s throat at the sight; just another reminder of how much his daughter had grown.

For a few moments, they sat in companionable silence, watching the boats glide by. Then, Alastor and Lucifer moved, their wands spinning in their hands with well-practiced grace. Together, they whispered the incantation.

“Expecto Patronum.”

The silver stag and Occamy materialized immediately, gliding and bouncing across the surface of the water, causing it to shimmer beautifully. Charlie looked up in surprise and joy as the two Patronuses greeted her, giggling while Bambi nuzzled her and the Occamy gently wound around her boat. Vaggie reached out and touched the Occamy’s head, the silver creature almost seeming to smile at her touch. As the boats continued to move past their position, the pair of witches looked up and caught the two professors’ eyes. Charlie’s grin widened as she and Vaggie lifted their hands to wave at them, the two wizards waving back. Eventually, the boats sailed to the opposite end of the lake, the Occamy and stag disappearing once the two witches’ feet touched the distant shoreline.

As Lucifer watched Charlie and Vaggie's figures fade into the distance, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. Seven years had passed in the blink of an eye, filled with almost nothing but joy, laughter, and… well, okay, the occasional sense of impending doom while everything and everyone you loved was constantly under threat of some genocidal maniac. But unlike before when he had to separate from Charlie when she was a child, there was a sense of… peace going through him now. No longer was she the little girl who sat on his knees and tried to catch his woven enchantments in pale, pudgy palms. Now she was a young woman, an Auror, ready to help redeem Exorcist children and give them a second chance at pursuing their dreams. Neither of them were leaving the other alone anymore.

He wasn’t alone anymore.

Turning to Alastor, Lucifer felt a warmth spread through him as he cuddled close to his partner. There was so much he had discovered about the man throughout their years together - how Alastor would rather have an extra helping of meat than dessert, how his eye twitched whenever he was annoyed, and how he preferred to eat finger foods with a knife and fork like some sort of psychopath. At the same time, there were lots of things Lucifer didn’t know; like whether or not the guy believed in Nargles or if he had ever tried to speak in Parseltongue. Thankfully, now that there was at least one less blood purist maniac in the world, they finally had time to discover those things about each other.

Well, he could start with learning one small thing, at least.

"So... Your Patronus," Lucifer began, his voice soft with curiosity. Alastor turned to him, tilting his head slightly with just the slightest uptilt of the corners of his mouth. He pulled Lucifer close until they were practically entwined, their gazes locked in a tender embrace. “You’ve been able to cast corporeal ones from the start. What memories have you been focusing on?”

Alastor let out a low whistle, his arms wrapping securely around Lucifer as he leaned in, their faces mere inches apart. "Are you really expecting the answer to be a memory involving you, little professor?" he teased, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Because I would be lying if I said it was you every time."

Lucifer chuckled softly, the warmth of Alastor's breath sending shivers down his spine. “Please. You and I both know we hated each other the first two years. Like I said, I still have intrusive thoughts of tying you up and feeding you to the Giant Squid… except now I’ll do you the favor of knocking you out first.”

Alastor rolled his eyes playfully. "My, what an honor to be knocked out by the Head of House Ravenclaw," he quipped, a smirk playing at his lips. "I wonder which book you'll try to use to do it. You ought to be careful, Starlight. Trying to heave a heavy enough book with those little arms of yours might just snap them in two!"

“Hey, first off, fuck you. Second, it’s called Wingardium Leviosa. Ever hear of it? Third-”

“You’ve mispronounced it.”

Lucifer blinked. “What?”

The smirk widened. “It’s LeviOsa, not LevioSA.”

“Why you-”

Alastor let out a small, very un-Alastor-like squeak as Lucifer tackled him to the ground, unable to stop himself from laughing. As they playfully grappled with each other, the picnic basket slid off to the side, sending their food and drinks in all directions. Lucifer didn’t care about the mess, though; he was too busy stealing kisses in between bouts of laughter, tangling his hand in wild auburn locks and knocking silver glasses askew. Their laughter mingled with the soft rustle of the evening breeze, sending his heart hammering.

When they finally paused for breath, their faces flushed and their breath coming in short pants, Alastor reached up to brush a stray lock of platinum blonde hair out of Lucifer's face, his touch leaving a trail of warmth in its wake. Their eyes met, and in that moment, Lucifer felt a rush of affection for the man beneath him.

"To answer your question," Alastor began softly, his voice filled with a quiet reverence, "At first, I usually focused on my childhood memories. Ma was a wonderful lady... I think she would've loved you. Not more than me, of course," he added with a teasing grin, "but enough to want to stuff you full with her cooking anytime she could. She used to take me out for fresh-made beignets whenever it was too hot for us to practice crystal-gazing."

Lucifer fell silent at that, quietly listening to the melodic cadence of Alastor's voice. Just what kind of woman was Ma to have been able to raise a man like Alastor? A powerful wizard who also, for some strange reason, couldn’t help but want to just… eat Acromantula eggs. A guy who was simultaneously both creepy and loveable all the same.

“The first memory featuring you I used was just after our dance at the Yule Ball,” Alastor continued. “Cliche, perhaps, but some moments are simply unforgettable. Even though you were severely underdressed and needed a good shave and bath, you were still quite remarkable that night. From your pretty face to your calloused hands, you captivated me in ways I couldn't explain. I was quite enchanted, indeed.” 

Lucifer flushed at that. “You weren’t so bad yourself.” Alastor took the compliment with a small laugh.

"As for today’s Patronus? You woke up today looking like death," Alastor continued, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. " I take some responsibility for your lack of sleep last night, but not all of it. You looked like if you didn’t get your tea soon, you’d bite my head off… and yet, you had this look in your eye that moved past all the exhaustion.” His gaze softened as he reached out to brush another stray lock of hair from Lucifer's face, his touch igniting a spark of warmth that danced between them like a flickering flame. “Contentment is a wonderful look on you, Starlight."

They lay in silence again, the night air filled with the quiet symphony of their breaths and the distant twinkling of stars. Lucifer traced nonsensical patterns over his partner's chest, feeling the rise and fall of Alastor's breath beneath his fingertips. When he looked up, he found Alastor's red eyes gleaming with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

"I will trade a question for a question," Alastor said, his voice low and husky. "What will you do now, Starlight? Your daughter has graduated. You still have plenty of duties as a professor, but the summer term is about to start. And now we have no duties for the Order… none that are emergent anyways. So, what will you do?"

Lucifer hummed softly, his mind turning to thoughts of the future. What was he supposed to do now? Sure, he should probably spin some sort of poetry about cleaning up after the war, or maybe go on a rant about how the Ministry of Magic needed to figure out what to do with Azkaban soon, because like hell he was going to just sit around and let his brothers escape again. But all of that was business. Boring business. Stressful business. He needed a vacation.

“...You know… I heard Beauxbatons thinks our school is trash,” Lucifer said playfully. “Maybe you and I should go pay them a visit.”

Alastor raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of incredulity and amusement. "Professor Morningstar, are you truly suggesting we go to school during the summer?" he teased, though his eyes sparkled with mischief. "That sounds like the least entertaining thing you could have thought of - short of assigning me Transfiguration theory homework."

Lucifer chuckled, the sound light and carefree. "We don't have to spend the whole summer there," he countered. "I heard France is real nice too."

Alastor hummed, his gaze softening as he considered the idea. "France does sound quite nice... as does Spain, Germany, Austria... the whole rest of the continent, really."

“So… how does a Europe adventure thing sound?”

A smile tugged at the corners of Alastor's lips. "It would make me pleased as punch," he admitted. "Though I will warn you, I do expect us to eat Pygmy Kraken au vin at some point. And I expect you to continue showering me with affection afterwards."

Lucifer rolled his eyes affectionately, laughter bubbling up from deep within him. "Fine," he agreed, his heart swelling with love for the man beside him. "But I swear to Merlin, Alastor, if you trick me into eating Squonk intestines again, I'm gonna transfigure you into a banana slug."

Alastor said nothing in reply. Instead, he reached up and pulled Lucifer close, silencing him with a tender kiss. Lucifer let out a little indignant squeak before melting into his partner's embrace, his heart overflowing with a million different emotions: joy, gratitude, excitement, love. God, so much love.

He was happy now. Wildly, joyously, deliriously happy. 

...

(Take that, depression!)

Chapter Text

Alastor’s favorite time of day was evening.

Back home, it was when the sounds of nature came alive with the gentle rustle of Spanish moss swaying in the breeze and a chorus of cicadas and crickets serenading the evening. It was when he and Ma would take their boat out on the bayou with a colorful magical lantern hanging off the bow glowing in a hundred different colors. They would drift lazily along, listening to quiet jazz as they breathed in the subtle fragrance of magnolia blossoms mingling with the sweetness of wild jasmine and the earthy aroma of damp soil.

At Hogwarts, it was when the soft glow of moonlight bathed its grounds, the air becoming alive with the gentle rustle of leaves. He would return home from a long day of teaching, open up a bag of Grindylow jerky, and walk out on his balcony to enjoy the gentle hoots coming from the Owlery as the beautiful birds took flight to hunt for the evening. The stars would twinkle overhead, casting their light upon the tranquil waters of the Black Lake, transforming Hogwarts into a sanctuary of peace amongst the chaos of the day.

Evening was also when he did his best reflecting - on his memories, on his students, on his Inner Eye, and of course, on the wizard - no, the angel - who had fallen into his life and changed him in ways he never thought possible. Lucifer Morningstar. The man who shone like a beacon in the darkest night. The wizard who lit a spark that stoked a fire that ignited an inferno that blazed throughout Alastor whenever he so much as breathed in the other professor’s direction.

Their first meeting had been tense, as had their second and third and fourth and so many others. Alastor couldn’t help it - something inside him just felt the desperate need to ensure Lucifer stayed at his side, even when he pressed on the man’s buttons and targeted his weakness like he had done with so many others before. He hated the way Lucifer’s very presence plucked and twisted at his sense of self-control, making him think and move and speak in ways he otherwise never would. Part of the antagonism was the need to keep the Head of Ravenclaw at an arm’s length, if only to preserve the remaining threads of his sanity.

Oh, but Lucifer was the flame to Alastor’s moth, and he had found himself flying back every single time. There was something about him that had made the Head of Slytherin want to possess everything about him, to drag him into the dungeons and show him all the ways he had all but shattered Alastor’s self-control. And when those lovely, angelic features lit up in the silvery light of the Patronus, emphasizing wine stem-like bones and beautifully starry eyes? No amount of self-control would ever be able to tear Alastor’s eyes away.

It was on one of these reflective little evenings that Alastor found himself crystal-gazing. Ever since the end of the Second Wizarding War, he had found himself needing to exercise his Inner Eye much less. The deathly omens that had plagued him his whole life had stopped appearing, now replaced by almost sickeningly sweet ones - stars, flowers, moons, even a pair of intertwined circles, whatever that meant. It was nice, but a bit boring if he had to be honest. 

For once, he was happy to be bored by his Inner Eye.

A flash of silver appeared deep in the fog of his crystal ball. Alastor frowned as he leaned a bit closer, red eyes narrowing as he tried to focus on it. It was… a bit vague. Definitely had a shape of some sort, but it was hard to tell what exactly it was. There was definitely a pair of eyes. A snout. A pair of long, branching antlers-

He looked up, coming face to face with the silver stag. He blinked. “Bambi?”

The silver stag tilted its head, then turned around and began walking out of his office. It cast a brief look over his shoulder, an obvious indication for him to follow. Alastor’s brow furrowed as he stood and set aside his crystal ball. No message for him? Just an order to follow? Just what was Lucifer up to now?

Alastor followed the silver stag through the corridors of Hogwarts. The usual hustle and bustle of students and teachers had long since faded away, leaving behind a tranquil silence that seemed to fill every nook and cranny of the ancient stone walls. The soft glow of torchlight flickered along the passageways, casting shadows that danced across the stone floors. The stag led him down the staircase, through the Entrance Hall, then all the way to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. 

Well this was interesting. Why was Lucifer leading him here? What was he planning? And why the Forbidden Forest, not anywhere else in the castle or on the grounds? Alastor turned to Bambi and raised an eyebrow, only for the Patronus to look back at him as though offended he had stopped moving. Then, it began walking again, clearly determined to lead him somewhere deeper in the forest.

Well, it was only natural that he trusted Lucifer, after all.

As he emerged from the shadows of the forest, Alastor found himself standing in a clearing, a hidden gem nestled amidst the towering trees. Its verdant carpet of moss and ferns was bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. Delicate starlight lilies lined the perimeter, illuminating the darkness of the forest with their luminescent petals. Down the middle of the clearing were two rows of moonbeam orchids, the flowers shimmering with silvery iridescence as they formed a beautiful, simple path. At the center of the clearing stood a wooden arch adorned with garlands of ivy and delicate fairy lights that danced upon the breeze.

Lucifer Morningstar stood before this arch, dressed in robes of midnight blue. Delicate threads of silver embroidery traced sinuous patterns along the edges of his cloak, where hints of tiny emeralds glittered like stars. Upon those platinum locks rested a circlet of polished silver, adorned with a single sapphire that casted a halo of celestial radiance around his brow. Sky-blue eyes twinkled in joy at his approach, those rosy cheeks somehow becoming even lovelier as they gazed at each other in silence.

How was it possible that one man could outshine every star in the sky?

“You’re underdressed, Boudreaux,” Lucifer said as he approached, a smile gracing his features. 

Alastor let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding. “I do apologize. I wasn’t informed that today was a special occasion.”

“Well, we’ll just have to fix that, won’t we?” Lucifer asked. Then, he held up his wand. “Multicorfors.”

Anticipation and potential crackled in the air, magic shimmered all around him. Alastor watched as the fabric of his robes shimmered and rippled like water, as its form and substance bowed before the spell being woven upon them. Threads of emerald green wove themselves into the fabric, followed by traces of bronze threading. This beautiful embroidery dotted all along the edges of his cloak, forming images that invoked wheeling galaxies and a sky full of endless constellations. A weight landed on his head - since when was Lucifer able to just conjure up circlets just like that?

Rosie - wait, had she been there the entire time? - smiled at both of them as she stepped forward. Out of the corner of his eye, Alastor saw Vaggie and Charlie step out from the shadow of the trees. He and Lucifer joined their hands. Lucifer’s were smaller than his. They were calloused from years of dueling and teaching. And yet they were the warmest, most beautiful hands Alastor had ever held.

“We’re gathered here today to celebrate love and magic,” Rosie said. “A union of two souls drawn together by the threads of fate. Throughout their journeys together, Lucifer and Alastor have found love in its purest form, one that knows no boundaries and transcends the confines of space and time. They have proven time and time again that love is a force that can move mountains, part seas, and light the darkest night. May their union be blessed by the stars and protected by the ones who love them above all else. Now… shall we hear their vows?”  

“Alastor… you’ve been at my side through all these years together, as my greatest rival, my closest colleague, my best friend, my partner, and as of today, my husband. You were with me through all my failures, stood behind me when I faced all my fears, and showed me that true strength comes from both honoring the past and facing the future. You showed me that the place my heart belongs is by your side, for the rest of our lives. Today, I’ll make three unbreakable vows. First, I vow to learn from you, challenge you, and support you every step of the way. Second, I vow to be the wand in your hand and the wind at your back no matter where you go. And third…” Those beautiful alabaster hands squeezed his as blue eyes held his maroon ones, filled to the brim with joy.  “I vow to love you forever, even when the magic burns out of our souls at the end of the world.”

A lump appeared in his throat. He swallowed, desperately trying to force it down. His voice shook as he spoke. Damn. He wasn’t used to just… losing control like this. ”Lucifer… Your hands are those of creation. You shaped my wand, my soul, and my heart into that of a better man. You stood by me when I faced my own demons and never wavered in your fierce protectiveness of those you loved, all while striving towards your dreams. I solemnly swear that from this day forward, you will never face this world alone. We’ll stand together against any challenge or adventure that comes our way. I will cherish every single moment with you, laugh with you, and ensure that every day, I will make you as happy as you were the day I told you that I loved you for the first time. I swear that I shall forever love and support the man you are now, the one you’ll be tomorrow, and the person you dream of becoming. Your soul will never be alone ever again - I will continue loving you even when we must kiss this world goodbye.”

If Lucifer had been angelic before, he looked downright celestial now. Alastor once again found that his own breath had been completely stolen away, his every thought and every heartbeat consumed by the man before him. It was a strange, heated sense of possessiveness that had by now grown into an inferno. Lucifer was his. Forever.

“Do you, Lucifer Morningstar, take Alastor Boudreaux as your husband to have and to hold until your souls reunite in the world beyond?”

“I do.”

“And do you, Alastor Boudreaux, take Lucifer Morningstar as your husband to have and to hold until your souls reunite in the world beyond?”

“I do.”

“Then… I pronounce you bonded for life,” Rosie said. She turned now to Charlie and Vaggie, who grinned and pulled out their wands. A shower of silver stars fell over them, dancing across their entwined hands. After a few moments, the stars formed a chain, winding around them in the shape of infinity. Then, they disappeared in a flash of light, leaving behind a pair of matching gold rings - the same ones that Alastor had hidden in that Snitch so long ago. 

Alastor wasted no time after that. He pulled Lucifer up, lifting him from the ground as he pressed a kiss to those beautiful lips, groaning as caramel apples and cinnamon bloomed across his tongue. Pale, calloused hands wrapped around him as Lucifer groaned and deepened the kiss, the sweet promise of devotion, loyalty, and eternity humming around them. They laughed as they broke the kiss, still holding each other, breaths quick, hearts hammering in sync. For a few moments, they just stared at each other, silently celebrating the endless path that they would now walk together. Forever.

“Ladies… I am pleased to present for the first time Professor and Professor Boudreaux!”

“That’s gonna become so confusing next year,” Lucifer - his husband - mused as they walked down the path illuminated by moonbeam orchids. The silvery light highlighted the gentle lines of his face even more, emphasizing rose-petal lips and equally rosy cheeks.

“I’m sure most of the students will figure it out,” Alastor said. He moved his hand to cover the one that Lucifer had placed in the crook of his arm. Warmth flooded through him, dancing around the fluttering in his stomach and chest. “The Ravenclaws for certain. The Hufflepuffs would be too polite not to go along with it. I’ll ensure my House will know the difference as well. But…” he smirked. “No guarantees that the Gryffindors will have enough substance between their ears to understand the difference.”

“Heh. Well, Professor Boudreaux. As promised, I took your name. So now you gotta answer one question for me.”

“And what can this teacher answer for you, Professor Boudreaux?”

Those precious sky blues twinkled as he looked up at Alastor, tears the color of the stars pooling in his eyes. “Will you stay with me?”

Alastor leaned down and kissed him again - a single fleeting moment stretched into an eternity. When they pulled apart, Lucifer was even more flushed, the goofiest, giddiest, most dazzling smile lighting up his face. Alastor laughed and touched their foreheads together, pulling his husband close with a gentle pressure on the small of his back. “Until the very end.”