As the sultry heat of August began to wane, replaced by the cooler, crisper breezes hinting at autumn, Orion found himself organizing his expanded trunk with a sense of methodical anticipation.
He packed his third-year textbooks—heavy volumes on Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, and the inevitable, useless drivel required for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Since Lupin was probably teaching this year, he was not worried much anyway.
He paused, holding the smooth, unblemished surface of his Hawthorn wand, reflecting on the summer.
Revealing his Animagus form to his mother had been an incredibly calculated risk. The penalty for an unregistered Animagus was severe, and placing that knowledge in the hands of another person—even his own mother—was a vulnerability he rarely permitted himself.
But Orion was a pragmatic judge of character. He knew how to weigh a secret.
There are only two people in this world I trust with absolute, potentially ruinous truths, Orion mused, placing his wand in its dragon-hide holster. Mother, because her loyalty to me supersedes her loyalty to Father, the Ministry, or any dark ideology.
He thought of the afternoon by the pool, the quiet acceptance in Narcissa's eyes as she watched the swan glide across the water. She hadn't judged the danger; she had simply protected his privacy.
And the other...
Orion frowned slightly, a faint, puzzled smile touching his lips.
Luna.
He knew, instinctively, that she would probably sense the truth, in her own Luna-styled way. She would also, likely just offer the swan an apple and ask if the water was cold. It was a bizarre, illogical certainty, but Orion trusted it completely.
Whatever the reason, his circle of trust was infinitesimal, and he intended to keep it that way.
The serene, productive isolation of the summer officially ended on the eve of their departure for King's Cross.
Following dinner, Lucius summoned the family to his private study.
The room was heavy with the scent of old leather and tension. Lucius sat behind his desk, looking grim. Narcissa stood near the unlit fireplace, her expression guarded. Draco sat in one of the leather armchairs, looking nervously between his parents.
Orion took the remaining chair, his face a mask of polite attentiveness.
A moment later, the green flames of the Floo roared, and Professor Snape stepped out, his black robes snapping around his ankles. He offered a curt nod to Lucius and Narcissa, ignoring the boys entirely, and took a standing position near the bookshelves, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.
"I have convened this meeting," Lucius began, his voice lacking its usual, arrogant drawl, replacing it with a harsh, authoritative bark, "to discuss the stark reality of the coming academic year."
He leaned forward, steepling his fingers.
"As you are aware, the fugitive Sirius Black remains at large."
A low, visceral scowl twisted Snape's features at the mention of the name. His black eyes burned with a hatred so deep and venomous that it seemed to lower the temperature in the room. Orion noted the reaction, knowing the deep-seated, bitter history between the Potions Master and the escaped convict.
"Because the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is stretched perilously thin scouring the country," Lucius continued, his lip curling in profound distaste, "the Minister, in a staggering display of misguided, bureaucratic panic, has chosen to implement a radical security measure."
Lucius looked directly at his sons, his grey eyes piercing.
"Cornelius Fudge has ordered the placement of Dementors around the perimeter of Hogwarts, ostensibly for 'protection purposes'."
Draco gasped, the color draining entirely from his pale face. "Dementors? At the school? But... they're Azkaban guards! They're monsters!"
"They are necessary evils," Lucius corrected coldly. "But they are not something that can be reasoned with, negotiated with, or bribed. They operate purely on instinct and hunger. I do not care what goes on in the Minister's mind, nor do I care how Dumbledore intends to manage them. My concern is your safety."
He slammed a hand flat on the desk, the sound cracking like a whip.
"You will keep to the castle," Lucius ordered, his voice brooking absolutely no argument. "You will not go galivanting across the grounds after dark. You will not approach the perimeter. If a Dementor is sighted, you retreat immediately to your common room or seek out Severus."
Lucius gestured sharply toward the dark figure near the bookcases.
"In fact, Severus will be keeping a close eye on you both. If you misbehave, or if you intentionally place yourselves in harm's way, he has my full authorization to issue whatever detentions he deems necessary, and he will report your infractions directly to me."
Snape offered a slow, predatory nod, his gaze locking onto Orion for a fraction of a second longer than Draco. The unspoken warning was clear: Do not try your luck this year.
"Furthermore," Lucius sighed, pulling two crisp pieces of parchment from his desk drawer. "While I have signed your Hogsmeade permission forms—as is your right as third-year students—you will exercise extreme caution in the village."
He handed the forms across the desk. Draco snatched his eagerly, the prospect of Hogsmeade momentarily overriding his terror of Dementors. Orion took his form with a polite nod, tucking it away.
"Keep close to your friends," Lucius instructed, his tone darkening. "Do not wander off on your own. Because the Dementors are not the only threat."
Lucius leaned back, his expression turning grim.
"Black is still out there. And as I have told you before... he hates the Malfoy family. He hates our standing, our purity, and our influence. He is unstable, and he will not hesitate to attack if he sees an opportunity."
Orion nodded sagely, maintaining a look of absolute, filial obedience.
He is so incredibly wrong, Orion thought, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. Sirius Black doesn't give a damn about the Malfoy family right now. He's hunting a rat. But contradicting Father's persecution complex is not worth the headache.
"We understand, Father," Orion said aloud, his voice smooth and reassuring. "We will remain vigilant. Draco and I will stay within the secure zones, and we will not underestimate the threat."
Draco nodded vigorously, clearly terrified enough to actually follow the rules for once.
"See that you do," Lucius dismissed them with a wave of his hand. "Go pack the rest of your belongings. You leave early tomorrow."
The twins stood up and exited the study, leaving the adults to discuss the finer points of Ministry incompetence.
Orion returned to his bedroom, the heavy oak door clicking shut behind him. He walked over to his expanded trunk, ensuring Robin was safely ensconced in his rock-burrow, and cast a final, securing lock charm on the lid.
He changed into his pajamas, the cool silk a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the day.
As he climbed into his four-poster bed, he thought about the upcoming year. Dementors. A werewolf professor. An escaped convict. A rat in hiding.
"It's going to be a crowded year," Orion whispered to the empty room, a small, anticipating smile touching his lips.
He closed his eyes, the familiar hum of his magical core settling his thoughts. He wasn't afraid of the Dementors; he had his silver shield. He wasn't afraid of Sirius Black; he knew the man's true target.
"Filled with new opportunities for chaos," Orion murmured, drifting off to sleep.