Several Metres from the Whomping Willow...

((After the egyptian tomb.))

Ana fell backwards as the wall disappeared, and her back hit the grassy floor. Darien stayed still, with his arms around Diana, somehow managing to stay upright.
For once, Ana was speechless...well, almost.
"Well, Calista was innocent. But...that whole thing was slightly...depressing frankly."
She stood up, and brushed the dirt off her robes. "Now what are you lot going to do? Still going to sue your uncle's lover who happens to be pregnant with his child? Going to charge her for murdering him?" She folded her arms.
"Or are you going to explain this to your family and get them to leave the poor heartborken woman alone?"
She directed this question at Nick.

Amy looked over at Nick still unsure of how well he was reacting to all this.

"Nick?"

Nicolas landed on his back and stood up quietly.

When he was asked the questions he was quiet, almost pensive.

Diana took this as a sign and answered Ana's questions. "She is innocent. We need to tell them about what we saw. We need to go there immediately before anything - "

"No." Nicolas said softly but it was loud enough so Diana stopped talking. He avoided anyone's gaze. "I don't think we should interfer with this."

"What?!"
Darien released Diana and stepped forwards.
"After all you've seen? You little scab! Your uncle gave his life to save her, and you're willing to let his lover go to Azkaban!? Not to mention his child!"
His voice echoed pure anger. Ana stepped backwards slightly. Darien was going crazy...again.

Amy blinked and walked over to him.

'You can't be serious Nicolas.... they will tear her apart in there, she is probably feeling bad enough as it is. We can't let them sentence her for something she didn't do"

"It isn't up to us." Nicolas parried keeping his calm. "Besides, they'll let her have the child before she is fully incarcerated, it's protocol."

His manner was very dejected.

"I don't believe this Nick!" Diana said standing by Darien. "What the hell are you thinking? She is innocent! She didn't kill him!"

"She might as well have!" Nicolas lost some of his cool.

Diana was aghast. "What are you saying? We all saw what happened!

"Don't you see? She may not have killed him directly, but she might as well as gotten the spear and stab him herself. If it wasn't for her." Nicolas spat out calmly. "He'd still be alive."

"Nick it isn't like she asked for it to happen... If it had been up to her he would be alive...."

Amy moved closer to him and placed her hand on his arm, really his uncle just died and now he saw it happen, he was hardly being rational at the moment.

"But is wasn't up to her..... Nick please... I know it is painful.....but he died to save her. Are going to let it be for nothing?" she asked it softly, barely above whisper as she stood with in arms reach of Nick.

Darien glared at Nicolas with a mixture of anger, pain and disgust on his face.
"Well I am not going to stand by and let her sentance her to life! She didn't choose to survive...and I think I know how she'd feel."
He turned on his heel and stormed back into the castle.
Ana sighed and followed her brother, throwing a venomous glance at Nick as she left.

"You can go there and tell them if you want," Nicolas said. "I won't stop you... but I'm sorry, I can't."

Diana closed the several paces between her and Nicolas and slapped him across the face. "You are a jerk!" She shrieked and followed the Vaights into the Castle.

Amy stayed with Nick and sent a message to Aiden "Aiden go read a book or something, you still need to defense homework"

"Alright, I will stay out of the way"

Sighing Amy turned to Nick "You know if Diana hadn't slapped you I would have.... but I don't think you need both of us doing it..."

Steping in front of him so she could see his face she said.

"Those I can't bring myself to blame you for acting this way. Your uncle and you were close weren't you?" she asked in tending on draging his thoughs out, Perhaps help him make sence of them.

Nicolas nodded. "Yes... he was like an older brother to me."

Amy nodded

" I see Well I guess I can't blame you for blaming Calista then. If they hadn't been in love he might still be alive.... however how do you think your uncle would react if you he knew you going to let women he loved take the blame for his death?"

((Oh nice one. ))

"Well he wouldn't be dead if it wasn't for her!" Nicolas said vehemently.

He took a breath to calm himself down. He looked over at the horizon. "He used to get me out of trouble you know? There was this one time, I think I was 7 or 8... I stole his wand because I wanted to do magic already... anyway, I" Nicolas smiled remembering. "let's just say I sort of redecorated the manor."

"My father and my grandfather were furious. But he took the blame and said, 'I thought we needed some more pink around the house.'"

Amy smiled breifly.

"Well doesn't that show what kind of person he was then? getting those he loved out of trouble, very noble, perhaps he is the reason you were placed in Gryffindor."

Then her face went serious again.

"But who is to say if Calista hadn't been there he would still be alive? From the kind of person that he seemed to have been he would have saved any one he cared about" she placed her hand in his hand hoping he wouldn't mind the comfort.

He squeezed her hand. "I just... can't believe he's gone."

Amy squeezed his hand back "I know and it is alright, I am here for you to say your thoughts to, and I think your uncle is very much alive in you "

((Cheesy I know, just finshed watching the lion king while babysitting))

"Thanks." Nicolas said sincerly.

"They'll never accept it."

Amy blinked "who will never accept what?" she asked.

"The child. Our families, both of them, they'll never accept it." Nicolas said with detachment.

Amy nodded "I see, all the more reason we present what we know to the court. Without its mother where would it be in the world? Umwanted and left to fend for its self"

Amy looked out on the horizon.

"Ironic isn't it?"

Nicolas suddenly pulled his hand sharply away. "I see what you are doing! You're trying to guilt trip me!"

He backed away shortly. "It won't work. It's the Vaights fault that he died. And nothing you say can change that!"

Amy sighed her voice turned slightly steely.

"No I will not try to convince you it is not her fault as I can see it will be a waste of my time. I will however tell you the truth of what I see"

Amy advanced on him.

"Your uncle made a choice Nicolas, he chose to see beyond the blood feud and somehow managed to fall in love with Calista Vaight and she with him. Fine it was her fault he fell in love with her. But how would you feel.... honestly feel if say Diana or...... I died for you and someone acused you of killing us? How helpless would you feel?"

"That wouldn't happen," Nicolas said shaking his head. "Because you wouldn't sacrifice yourself for me."

Aiden snapped his head up at the comment he over heard. He saw Amy walk away afew steps from looking as if he had slapped her.

Aiden sighed "Wrong thing to say pale"

Walking over to Nick, Aiden spoke up "If she falls in love with you she will... even if it means our lives.... We will always be together Casillas we do not fear being apart from eachother. If she falls in love with you, fear of looseing you will haunt her, because it could happen."

"So," Nicolas said crossing his arms. "She'll sacrifice her life and yours just so she gets a clear conscience? That's a bit selfish, don't you think?"