Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Twenty Five

But Delilah couldn't help but think of those dreadful months she was kept at his manor, being tortured. He physically had nothing to do with it, she knew that, but his own son and grandson; Lucius and Draco, just stood by and watched as she was treated like an animal. And his damned portrait. Hanging up on the wall, above the bloody scene that was her near demise, stared onward apathetic to her screams.

She knew Abraxas would be a death eater, one of the first. But it was so difficult to comprehend because the Abraxas she knew now seemed incapable. But he was, he'd already done something dreadful. But there and now, she saw regret and remorse. What could've changed? What made him into a monster? He was the man to raise Lucius, after all.

The most painful thing was that she couldn't help. She couldn't help any of them.

Clearing her throat, Delilah stepped away from the mantle and smoothed down her skirt. "Meet in the Room of Requirement tonight at eleven, Abraxas knows where it is."

The boys watched her go with looks of concern yet slight relief. They never realized how much Delilah had actually impacted them both as a group and individually. She was a heaven sent in a hell bent environment.

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Pacing a few times in front of a wall, Pyrrhus' mouth went slightly slack as a door started to appear from stone in front of Abraxas. "Seven years I've been here and no one has bothered to tell me this existed?" He glared at Abraxas but let out a small yelp as Elio pushed him forward.

"What would've you used it for? A snogging cupboard?" Cain snickered and quickly jumped to the side, avoiding a hand flying his way.

Their laughter slowly fell away as they entered the room. It was a wide expanse with high ceilings and large windows, letting a pale blue light filter into the room. There were a multitude of dummies lining the walls that were used to practice magic on, as well as a few mats laid out incase anyone got knocked back.

Towards the back of the room were three people, standing in front of a large mirror with numerous clippings adhered.

"Quite the space you've got here." Elio called out and grinned as Delilah whirled around. She gave them a small smile and her eyes flickered around the room. When she asked for a safe place to practice, the room had modeled itself after the area they had used for Dumbledore's Army.

"Right, now that everyone's here," Aleksander clapped his hands together, sending an echo bouncing off the walls. "Here's the plan-"

"Do you think if I asked for a liquor cupboard it'd just appear?" Pyrrhus muttered, eyes dancing around the room curiously. Aleksander was about to start again, but a delighted laugh left the raven haired boy's lips as a full on bar appeared on the far left wall.

He turned to his friends but cleared his throat when he saw the look they were giving him. "Now is not the time for your drinking habits, Lestrange," Tom spoke dryly, making Pyrrhus settle his features and straighten his back. "Right, yes. Sorry. Continue."

Aleksander looked at him for a moment before cracking a small smile. "Anyway, here's the main basis of the plan. After we return from France, we'll need to get into the Ministry no later than nine in the morning. Now simply getting into the atrium won't be difficult, but getting past basic security and getting to the lift is something else entirely. A group of seven teens isn't exactly subtle. Which is why only two of us can go down to the level right above the Department of Mysteries. Which is where my brother will be waiting."

He ignored the two sets of eyes burning into the side of his head. Delilah and Tom's gaze shot towards him the moment he said only two could go down. No that wouldn't do at all, for both of their plans. "Why can't we just go down in intervals, surely that would be discreet enough."