Quidditch Pitch

'So? I bet she'd be the same if it was me, or any other Death Eater for the matter. The good guys don't let people change, and this doesnt jsut apply to your sister.'

"I'd convince her if it was you," I mumble, frowning. "She'd believe me." At a normal volume, I say, "They've all suffered at the hands of the Death Eaters. It won't be easy for them to welcome any of them."

'Who's to say the Death Eaters haven't suffered because of what the good guys do? I mean, Death was put in Azkaban and River got completely torn up about it, it almost ruined her.' it was the exact reason Lukas remained neutral, he just didn't see good and evil.

"They wouldn't be in there without a reason. Even I know that."

'Perhaps if they weren't treated like trash in the first place they wouldn't have turned to being criminals.' this was certainly the case with Crouch.

"Not the good guys' fault." I frown. "They'd be willing to help if they'd let them. Hell, maybe even Phoenix would let it go if she had evidence that Crouch had really changed."

The kitsune simply raised his arms in an exasperated gesture. 'This is the problem. Everyone just shoves blame onto the other party, and it becomes a negative feedback loop with no start or end. People become evil through abuse by the "good" people, so they don't allow these "good" people to help them.'

"But there's no way either side would be willing to give up," I finish.

'Yup, which is why i planted my ass in the middle.' he announced his lack of allegiance with ease, almost indifferent.

"I've been on both sides," I admit, gesturing at my left forearm. "But now I'm kinda lingering on Phoenix's."

'yeah, you gotta be with the people you love at the end of the day. In your case, it's your family.' he didn't blame her at all for her decision, it was entirely logical.

"Phoenix needs me. And I need her," I add, a tad reluctantly. "We teach each other, I guess."

'That's what family's for.' his smile was a tad wistful, but nothing close to fond or understanding. 'I know you love her.'

I huff a laugh. "Yeah, I do. Didn't until about a year ago, but I do."

'All siblings hate each other at some point.' Lukas saw nothing wrong with it. 'Even Bryn and his family.'

I squeeze my eyes shut. "I didn't just hate her. God, Lukas, I was taught to despise her. I didn't grow up with her. The... the Death Eater who took me taught me that she was wrong, that she shouldn't exist."

'Did you even know you were sisters back then though?' he asked. 'it's just nurture over nature.'

"Yeah, I knew," I say quietly. This is the one thing that really gets to me; I tuck my face into Lukas' shoulder. "He told me I was, I dunno, the rightful sister or whatever. That I deserved to live and she didn't, or whatever."

He threaded his fingers through her hair, trying to reassure her. 'but you don't believe that anymore, that's what's important, right?'

"Yeah, I guess." I sigh, adding in a quiet voice, "I wanted to kill her."

'Again, i don't blame you. You didn't understand back then, you only had his word to go on.'

"Needless to say, worst time ever."

'Can't argue with that.' he murmured, kissing her hair quickly. 'You're protecting her though, you're making up for your mistakes.'

"Yeah," I concede. "She deserves it, she didn't do anything wrong." I laugh quietly. "Me and Phoenix are a right pair, aren't we? One kidnapped, one werewolf-ed."

'One dating a mad scientist, the other dating a kitsune. Yup, you're pretty exceptional.' he agreed, laughing. 'In a good way, obviously.'