Cygnus being 13 when he fathered Bellatrix, and it just being left at that, with no clarification of how such an odd event occurred, leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. It’s not a plothole per se, since it is possible, but he’s so young that if it really happened that way there should be a story behind it. Just laying down the timeline like that forces me to view it as mistake, which I really don’t like to do (canon is canon even if you don’t like it). But it’s so odd, JKR has admitted to being bad at math, and the fact that it isn’t really crucial to the series, has made it into one of the few things I straight up retcon.
𝒮𝒾𝓍𝓉𝒽 𝓎𝑒𝒶𝓇 (𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽𝓁𝓎 𝐻𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑜𝓌𝓈): Torture, Murder, War, Death CW
From the day the dementors stop the train to search for Harry and they arrive at an unrecognisable Hogwarts he knows he was right. He’s quieter on the train, again quite vague about his summer because once more he’s been at the Leaky Cauldron and if that got out his reputation would suffer so he keeps that card to himself.
And then of course they get to Hogwarts and there are Death Eaters everywhere, the first years who get sorted that year get jeered if they’re in any other house than Slytherin Fane mostly flies below the radar to start off with. Though of course that’s hard being a Savin and he gets made a prefect, they even offer him head boy the following year not that he’s interested.
But one dark arts lesson he passes he sees how they’re trying to make first years use curses on each other in duelling and he is not here for that.
Gryffindor is abuzz with whispers of what Harry Ron and Hermione are and what they might be doing and Fane seems to have lost his light and normal brightness and seems really sombre because he sort of believes he belongs in a prison for killing his brother.
𝐵𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓉𝓊𝓈 𝒸𝒽𝑒𝒸𝓀𝓈
Then a few days after they settle back in the blood status checks begin, “Stefan Savin… parents Alistair and Katerina Savin… your father was killed by Muggles, wasn’t he?”
“According to Mum, yes. I think the old bastard wandered out one day and couldn’t be arsed to come back”
He delays them and delays them so they can’t get around to asking other students, Faye is already worried because she’s a half-blood. The Snatchers will be going after her any minute but oddly enough they don’t.
That’s because Fane snuck into Snape’s office after getting his prefect status and altered Faye’s file along with a couple of others for people he was close to and listed their parentage to pureblood so when they took them in for questioning they never realised she was a half-blood. Snape almost caught Fane in the act he came up with some lie that he’s pretty sure Snape does not believe considering that man is a very good Legilimens after all.
Although so was Alexandra and growing up he had a fair bit of practise on how to avoid them if he didn’t want her to know everything, he had to brush up on Occlumency. Which is exactly what he did because he likes his privacy.
So while he can’t put Snape off the trail entirely, he at least confuses the matter sufficiently to avoid punishment and plays it as if he was helping the Death Eaters.
Although he does have a moment of yelling at Snape about how this was his bloody school too, this was his house, why is he letting it happen, WHY. And Snape just gives him an unreadable look, says, “I thought you said you were helping them too, Mr. Savin” and walks away.
And he just swallows and leaves, because for once he thinks it probably isn’t a great idea to piss off the headteacher even if he is a dick. Especially when he has loads of evil friends.
𝒱𝑜𝓁𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓉
One night they come back for more questions and take Fane to the dungeons. They want to give him some nice wine and no fucking way is he drinking that, it’s spiked with Veritaserum out the wazoo.
They want him to explain why Alistair Savin, scion of possibly the oldest and most respected pureblood family outside Slytherin himself, would up and leave his wife, children, vast fortune, and Sussex mansion.
“Your guess is as BLOODY good as mine.”
“It’s not hard, Mr Savin. Your father was killed by Muggles. Don’t you think they’re the ones you need to direct your anger at?”
“If I knew the truth maybe but I don’t so there’s no point in being angry. I’m not angry anymore.”
“Yes you are, Stefan.”
“You are a very angry young man. Don’t you think we can’t see that? The Dark Lord wants to meet you. Personally. It’s an honour you won’t refuse.”
And in a few more evenings, yes, Fane finds himself face to noseless face with He Who Must Not Be Named himself. Voldemort is all sleek charm and reminisce at first, saying how much Stefan reminds him of himself. “Just like you at school, but I was an orphan, cast out. You have every advantage of pureblood name and wealth and prestige, Stefan. You could be me and yet even greater.”
And Fane gives him a slanted little smile and says, “Correct me if I’m wrong, my lord, but aren’t you a half-blood?"
And there is just this horrible silence
Voldemort clearly was not expecting that, and the Death Eaters angrily reach for their wands, but he beckons them down. "Ah, so you are proud of your pureblood status,” Voldemort says at last, with a snaky little smile. “Many of the Savin’s are Parseltongues. We could well be related, you know. Both descended from ancient magical icons.”
As a matter of fact, Fane IS a Parseltongue. It’s not something he has ever told anyone though (as learned in his 1st year)
“Come now, my boy. Let me be the father to you that your unworthy real one never was. Mine was the same. Left me and my mother before I was born. I understand what it is like to hate your father. To want him gone. Perhaps you killed him yourself, Stefan. Who could blame you?”
And Fane is just silent at that because he has to measure his words here carefully
Because a wrong word here is dangerous but he isn’t afraid of Voldemort like most of the Death Eaters. Fane keeps a straight back and cool exterior and looks him straight in the eye and maybe even makes a few more snarky remarks. The Death Eaters keep looking at him eagerly, waiting for him to fall on his face and accept the honour, but he doesn’t and he doesn’t and he can sense them getting restless.
“Whatever happened to my father doesn’t define who I am.”
Voldemort also clearly doesn’t get why he wouldn’t “Your mother is very close to me, boy. She said so many promising things about you.”
“Mum chucked me out in fourth year, so it’s been awhile since she knew a damn thing. I’m not defined by my parents or their choices I am my own person.”
“Yes, because you wouldn’t come to my side with the rest of your family?” Voldemort cocks his head. “Such an enigma, aren’t you?”
“First accurate thing you’ve said, my lord.”
There’s another unhappy hiss. “My lord, don’t let him speak to you this way.” Voldemort raises a hand again. Fane merely folds his arms, obviously not deterred or backing down. Voldemort considers him for a long moment more. “You’re throwing your life away, like this. I know you like to punish people, Stefan. That’s what we do.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, we do. Cleanse society of its imperfections and rebuild it in a glorious – ”
“YOU MURDER THE INNOCENT!”
He gets a backhand over the face for being insolent, and the dungeon rings with it and Voldemort blinks. His face isn’t as charming now. It’s gone cold and flat and snakelike, eyes gleaming red. He looks at Fane, standing up with his face nearly the same, and the briefest flicker of fear might touch him.
Because it’s not everyday you get to repetitively snark the dark lord and live to tell the tale
Voldemort turns to the Death Eaters and says offhandedly, “Punish him.” And that’s what begins the torture.
The next day no one sees him, Rumours are floating everywhere he met the Dark Lord. Faye can’t find him the next day worries if he’s dead because she knows what Fane is like in the face of authority. Everyone is convinced he’s finally turned to their side. Faye and a few others who know him worry that they’ve done something terrible at which she isn’t wrong. But Fane has barely talked to her, in fact he’s trying desperately to pretend they don’t know each other, since their association will draw attention to her.
It’s the next day that she sees him all black and blue, and he has cuts and bruises all over his face. He is just sitting at the Ravenclaw table looking like hell and staring into space, he won’t look at her when she calls his name since she can’t help herself. Just looking lost in his own thoughts just focusing on his food
She tries to ask him what happens but he just brushes her off. Honestly he deliberately acts like a dick to get her to leave him alone and distance herself from him. Which shocks her because he has never acted this way with her before, whilst he doesn’t like to act that way he has to to keep her safe. He just gets up and limps away.
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝒶𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌𝓈
One time in class Faye probably said something or defended a kid and Amycus was going to cast crucio at her, Fane who was stood to the side minding his own just comes out of nowhere and BAM. HUGE EXPLOSION AND THE CARROWS BOTH GO FLYING. Fane is just left stood in front of a huge smoking crater.
Amycus probably got thrown out the window, they find him about three stories below on the courtyard part of the outer wall of the classroom just crumbles away with the force of the explosion. Madam Pomfrey probably could have healed him much faster and less painfully, but oh she takes her sweet time about it. Keeps him in the hospital wing as long as she possibly can At least a month if not more.
And Fane is just stood there with his wand breathing heavily, he just turns, looks at Faye to check she’s alright but before he can say anything death eaters swarm the classroom ask who did that and he steps forwards with a proud look on his face. They look at him and decide he clearly did and then announce fine, they’re going to punish the first years until someone talks.
They know it’s him, and they’re about to curse more first years anyway, but then he lunges at them managing to take another one out before they all stupefy him at once. This brings him crashing down flat on his face probably breaks his nose and is left wheezing in a pool of his own blood. They levitate him out and there’s this trail of blood dripping after him leaving the others in stunned silence. Faye is left stood there but THEN SHE COMES TO HER SENSES AND TRIES TO COME AFTER THEM BUT IT’S TOO LATE AND HE@s GONE.
She doesn’t see him for a week this time, anyone caught talking about him in the hall is sent to detention to likewise be cursed. Fane becomes pretty ostracised from everyone - they all know he is a lightning rod for bad trouble.
Fane continues provoking the Death Eaters to give him punishments because he believes he deserves it. Getting crucioed over and over and over also in a way becoming a figure of fascination for the death eaters ‘teaching’. They keep trying to groom him to become a Death Eater even though it clearly isn’t working.
They’re like the pain can stop Stafan, just join us. Everyone can’t figure out why he won’t give in but it’s because he wants the punishment. “You’re a Savin, you’re a pureblood, you remind the Dark Lord of himself. The Dark Lord could make you his heir, Stefan.” And that blows up because all he can see is being called the heir of Slytherin in his first year and the way the students looked at him.
And he’s such a mess when people see him again.Anyone who tries to get him alone in a corridor to ask what’s going on gets blanked especially if they were close before. Mostly because the more trouble he causes and attention he draws to himself the less time the DE will spend hurting other students. It’s his own twisted self-inflicted punishment for murdering his brother.
McGonagall is clearly upset but doesn’t know what she CAN do, Fane keeps provoking them. "Miss Delacroix, I know you’re worried for your friend, but he is not in my House, I can’t reach him or protect him from the consequences of his own actions.“
He’s tortured to the point that his hand is shaking so much he can barely hold his wand steady and he doesn’t quite look human let alone walk straight. Any writing he does looks like a child’s scrawl in comparison to his normally fluid cursive.
One day in Transfiguration McGonagall just has him come to the front and then sends him into an alcove behind the blackboard. Just hides him there on some cushions instead of making him do the lesson and this happens for several weeks until he can at least get a respite in Transfiguration if nowhere else. But then the Death Eaters notice and promise McGonagall her students will be next if she doesn’t stop. And so the cycle begins again Fane sometimes can’t manage to turn up to some lessons.
Faye ends up being convinced that there’s really nothing she can do. He won’t talk to her or acknowledge her in any way, shape or form. "Come on Faye, he’s a self destructive mess. You can’t help him. I’m sure they’re doing terrible things, but everyone is suffering right now. Put him aside and help where you can.”
𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝑜 𝒾𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃𝓊𝑒𝓈
As the year goes on Fane seems to develop this almost steely exterior, his expression more serious and he’s walking straighter and far more determined down the corridors. Even after his torture sessions he doesn’t seem as badly affected as the year goes on. The Death Eaters aren’t getting as much pleasure out of it since he’s becoming immune to it. But they don’t dare kill him without Voldemort’s say-so, and Voldemort still seems to hope that enough punishment will get him to change his mind.
He starts acting up again after this, daring them to do their worst. McGonagall admires it even if she thinks he’s lost his marbles. He figures as long as they’re focusing on trying to control him, they overlook what the other students might be doing - such as sneaking off to the room of requirement for DA sessions and underground resistance.
Duelling classes where he dares the professor to duel him instead of other students “Or are you scared I’ll show you up?” And in most cases he does show them up if they take his bait
Filch has attempted to hang him by his thumbs in the dungeons at least twenty times and Fane just snarks at him the whole time and even Peeves is wary of provoking him, Fane has become the only actual living person he is scared of the Bloody Baron is the other, but he’s dead.
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒲𝒶𝓇
Fane joins up with people who stay and fight. Katerina and Bellatrix compete for biggest Voldemort fangirl title. The other Savin siblings have turned away from the Death Eater cause now but Katerina is still there 100%.
The last anyone saw of Fane he was facing down his mother amongst the rubble in the courtyard. Initially he was facing down Bellatrix but Bella was like,
“Kat prove your ultimate loyalty to our master and do what you have to.”
It’s just this moment of Fane and his mother facing each other and she’s like "son please, I don’t want to kill you, but you have to come with us.”
Whilst Fane is just "no… No I don’t” which Faye and people see as they’re fighting nearby, finally Kat realises he’s made his choice and draws her wand slowly and so does he at the same time. They just stand there facing each other waiting for the other to cast the first curse, because neither of them can quite bring themselves to do it and then Katerina sees her opportunity because Fane keeps moving to try to block attacks headed for Faye and aims one at Faye instead.
WHICH JUST SETS HIM OFF. HE LOSES HIS SHIT AND THEY SAY KATERINA IS POWERFUL BUT THEN FANE JUST DRAWS THIS ENORMOUS SUM OF ENERGY which has built up over the last year with all this torture he’s endured.
And the spells he’s seen casting… well some of them no one has ever seen before and it’s just them going hammer and tongs.
𝒫𝑜𝓈𝓉-𝒷𝒶𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒
Nobody knows if Harry is alive or dead, he’s already gone to the forbidden forest. Afterwards some people try to find Fane but nobody has seen his body, nobody knows where he is, nobody knows if HE’S alive or dead, the rumours start a few years later.
Everyone is convinced he must have gone dark but Faye isn’t, she prays they’re at least true that he’s alive.
Either way Fane vanishes off the face of the earth and everyone is convinced he met some sticky end somewhere. Either this or people are convinced he became a dark wizard and rumours are he ended up in Azkaban for killing people. Not that anyone can say specifically since no one can get there to check easily.
Ironically, not all the rumours were wrong.
Fane ultimately vanishes for 15 years before he turns back up in London much to everyone’s surprise.
𝒜𝓏𝓀𝒶𝒷𝒶𝓃
Katerina Savin is in Azkaban because her son put her there and because he chose not to kill her. No one actually knew how she ended up there, just that one day she was dropped off bound in a load of powerful spells. How anyone got that close to Azkaban is unknown but because of Fane’s developed semi-immunity to Dementors that’s how he did it.
Fane didn’t know that Dolohov killed Remus when he was first there, he went fairly soon after the end of the battle when the scars of his torture were raw. But because Dolohov was so interested in breaking him, he took a particular interest. So shortly after the war he just spent several nights going through the cells of Death Eaters, took his time with each
“Ask me for another Crucio. Ask for it. ASK FOR IT!"
Getting back everything they did to him. He enjoys punishing this Death Eater for what he did, making him pay, getting revenge and there was no one to reel him back at this point and he turned into a bit of a monster and loose canon
Remus was killed by Dolohov right, who was then defeated by Flitwick but his fate was unknown. What if he ended up being put in Azkaban. And after finding out Fane is so furious and full of bottled rage that he feels like prison isn’t a decent enough punishment for what he did to Remus. Fane’s reputation as a dark wizard kind of surged because if he’s immune to dementors what if he went there to confront Dolohov in his cell and no one knew how it happened because no one can get onto or off of Azkaban with the dementors. And there were rumours about this dark wizard in Knockturn Alley who did go to Azkaban, survived, escaped and was now living here. It sort of made him infamous to both light and dark wizards.
And then he went back after he discovered what Dolohov did and this time was when they find him dead in his cell appearing to have bashed his own head in. Nobody knows if Fane was even there because obviously no one else can or will go to Azkaban so it’s just rumours.
He's working in the Leaky Cauldron he's cleaning down a table and notices someone at a table. Vaguely recognises them and after a moment realises who it is - it's Lupin and he isn't sure whether he should just let him be or approach him, but ends up going over to refill Lupin's cup and HE'S SO SURPRISED TO SEE FANE.
''Stefan Savin?!!"
"Yeah" and his eyes just flicker downwards but a marginal nod is earned in confirmation. Lupin is doing Order work by now and hence can't tell Fanewhat he's up to. Fane thinks he doesn't trust him anymore when the truth is Lupin just can't.
"What are you doing here Fane?"
And Fane won't tell him either "You don't tell me, why should I tell you?”
"Fane, I --"
"Oh no, Professor, I understand." He gives Lupin a tight little smile and moves on down the bar. Lupin keeps trying to talk to him after that but he just whisks around the tables cleverly avoiding him.
Lupin might as well be trying to talk to the wall. And that is why Fane doesn't know until years later that Lupin was killed and he finds out of course that Lupin was an order member, realises that's why he couldn't talk to him. He just beats himself up over it like crazy because that was how he left this one good relationship and positive influence on his life. Fane had a glimpse of Lupin at the battle and knew he was there but didn't go over and say anything because he figured Lupin had quit on him too like everyone.
𝐹𝒾𝒻𝓉𝒽 𝓎𝑒𝒶𝓇 (𝐻𝒶𝓁𝒻-𝒷𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒):
Working over summer to earn money to keep himself afloat is why when he gets back to Hogwarts for the start of fifth year, he officially looks nothing like the bright-eyed boy who started and you can BET Slughorn is also trying to recruit the crap out of him. Slughorn adores him.
He seems more down to earth in fifth year, a lot more grounded than he was before.
Which is why having to kill Erich at the end of this year becomes such a tragedy, because for once he seemed to almost be settling but at the end of it Dumbledore dies and everything blows up. This is the year that he and Faye come SO CLOSE to actually dating, they spend more than one Hogsmeade weekend together.
Sometimes Fane is just like "I'm going for a butterbeer, fancy coming?" And sometimes when they're down at the Three Broomsticks he's sat by the window looking out of it and sometimes during their conversations he sometimes just sort of zones into his own world for a few moments. He seems more contemplative Faye asking him about his summer, what he got up to because she was worried about where he was and what he was doing. He's always pretty vague, mostly talks about what he did rather than where he stayed, tells her about the things he saw in London. He makes it sound rather fun and adventurous and he seems to be all right, but then, Fane always does at least mostly. He's just gotten good at convincing everyone he's fine.
And once or twice Faye sees Erich giving her evil looks from down the Slytherin table but doesn't think much of it, Fane’s little brother seems a bit unpleasant to say the least, fine that's his problem, he'll hopefully grow out of it.
Fane sometimes going to the Slug Club, inviting Faye along and to the Christmas party when it happens, and yes of all people the Muggle Studies professor is the only adult Fane can confide in. Slughorn isn't entirely sure what Faye’s prestige is, but Fane likes her so he doesn't say anything. Surprisingly Fane actually quite enjoys the meetings when they happen because it gives him a chance to just relax and socialise and just talk about interesting subjects with other knowledgeable students.
Fane does wonder if old Horace would be so free with the dinner invitations if he knew that he was a disinherited and disowned Savin living at the Leaky Cauldron and bussing tables for a few sickles.
He just seems overall more happy in fifth year especially around her - his smiles seem more genuine, seem to reach his eyes which despite being more grounded look brighter and maybe even radiant every now and then especially when he's around her.
Faye is used to people asking her if she and Fane are dating by now. She doesn't quite know what they are since they have never talked about it or even acknowledged it in any way.
It doesn’t really even occur to Fane to consider it as a 'thing' he just knows that with Faye he feels comfortable and most at ease and he's happy with that. Probably because he worries on the down low that if he made it serious it would just be another thing to be taken away from him. After all everything else so far he's loved or cared for he's lost or had ripped away. If comfortable conversation and friendship with Faye keeps her safe and around in his life it doesn't really occur to him to really progress it to anything more.
He'll make playful and teasing passes at Faye though what with Cedric gone he doesn't really have much competition in the heartthrob department except with some of the other guys but he’s not fussed about that all that much. Compliments her and finds it amusing if he can get her to blush. Even Snape rolls his eyes at any mention of whatever girls are fighting over Fane now
"Yes, well, try not to be dosed with any love potion, I hear last time Mr. Weasley barely escaped with his life"
Fane just chuckles at that because there have been a few close calls, Faye has begun to discover twists of jealousy in her stomach every time she sees Fane with other people, though. She knows they would have to have The Talk if she said anything, though. She just wants to go somewhere else and pretend it doesn't exist whenever she sees him flirting with whoever he's dallying with now. She's glad he's happy but it still eats and eats at her.
He also doesn't brag as much in fifth year, mostly just works on his studies.
𝐻𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝑔𝓈𝓉
It is literally three days before the end of the year, before Erich, before Dumbledore, that Faye finally screws up the courage to ask him if they can talk, she has finally decided that she knows what she wants and she wants to give it a try.
And Fane’s a bit hesitant when she brings it up, but he goes with her and they sit down to talk. She stammers a bit and finally asks if he has ever considered that they might be, well, more than friends and he's just staring at her and she thinks this is a total disaster. But he seems almost speechless and... awed, almost. He doesn't seem to hate the idea, at least, and they totally end up kissing and end up breathless.
AND IT ALL FINALLY SEEMS TO WORK OUT.
Of course three days later is when it all goes utterly to hell. :))))))))))
Erich finds Malfoy up to something and tells him he wants to help because he’s fed up of Fane ignoring him and wants to get back at him. Especially since he’s put the pieces together and can see how Fane flirts and makes eyes at this unremarkable little Slytherin half blood leading to Faye just becoming the target for his jealousy. Malfoy isn't really into help from a lowly kid but he also has no allies and knows the Savin’s are fellow Death Eaters. So he agrees.
Fane happened upon them by pure chance, he couldn’t sleep that night they snuck into the castle and ended up going to walk the corridors. Which is when he came across the death eaters sneaking in, immediately his thoughts went to finding Faye and making sure she’s okay because he’s worried, all hell is starting to break loose, Death Eaters are in the castle and someone is screaming about Dumbledore on the astronomy tower.
Fane finds Faye just as Erich was pulling out his wand and pointing it at her - Erich’s small but he is powerful and talented and gets good marks and Fane knows in an instant that this isn't just a Jelly Legs Jinx. He hears the first yell of Avada Kedavra before he’s there but it doesn't quite work because you have to MEAN an unforgivable curse and Erich is still 14 but he's gearing up for a second go and Faye hasn't even seen him.
Fane doesn't even have to think about it, seeing the weak spark of green at the tip of Erich’s wand directed at Faye-- it's enough for him to literally just cast the curse. He doesn't even know if he says the words aloud, just that his wand is burning green and then Erich is crumpled on the floor among the chaos and his body is all Fane can see. Hence, why he feels so guilty and acts so weird the days after because how was it so easy to kill his own brother? Something must be wrong with him.
He feels sick afterwards it's part of the reason Faye doesn't see him, he ends up stumbling to an empty courtyard where he just empties his stomach because he can't believe what he's just done and he's literally shaking and clammy. And nobody notices because Dumbledore is dead and Voldemort was in Hogwarts and ultimately, everyone just figures Erich was killed by a Death Eater. Faye tries to find Fane to tell him she's sorry about his brother and he just looks at her wildly and bolts.
She notices he looks quite ill the next few days, maybe even weeks and Fane definitely goes into the forbidden forest all the time to think.
𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓇
That summer is when the Ministry falls and Voldemort and the Carrows and Snape take over Hogwarts, so when they come back it is literally to a prison.
Faye can't reach Fane at all that summer, she sends him an owl every few days at first but he never answers and she figures she sounds desperate so she stops.
He spends the summer at the Leaky Cauldron again working to get by but this time he doesn’t explore London except for going to that little cafe every now and then. Tom by now has just made up a room especially for him at the Leaky cauldron and lets him have it in return for the work he does.
He almost didn't go back to Hogwarts but the Death Eaters were already out rounding up truants, but he knows Faye and other people he cares about will be there and after how things were left between them he feels bad. There’s no way he can leave her in that place by herself with no one to look out for her, Faye can hold her own, he knows but this is not the same school they grew up in. And he has a feeling about what Hogwarts is about to turn into.
Explaining why he spends the summer practising his magic in the Leaky Cauldron and building up his strength because he knows he's going to need it when he goes back to Hogwarts. And he does need it.
He develops some of his more powerful spells in that summer, perfects them and decides to keep them quiet unless they're direly needed.
Fane even starts working on wandless magic, because anything he can use to his own benefit is useful.
He wants to tell Faye to run away but doesn't know how to reach her in a way that wouldn't be tracked. Especially after the news of the Ministry falling but he also knows the Snatchers would pounce on her if she tried to go anyway.
What is the timeline of the Potters' murder and the Longbottoms' torture? Which was first? Was Lily grieving over Alice's mind on Halloween? Were Frank and Alice lured into a false sense of security after Voldemort's disappearance? I NEED TO KNOW
I love all the HP characters you mentioned =D and funnily enough my all time favorite is Andromeda, which does alarm most people who don't obsessively over analyze their fandoms like we do :) So just wanted to recommend the fic 'A Keen Observer' by DeepDownSlytherin which I consider to be my personal andromeda- bellatrix cannon. The timeline is off but if you can ignore that you'll love it!
OH MY GOD I LOVE THAT FIC SO SO SO MUCH! ”A Keen Observer” is one of my favorite fics of all time; it’s just so wonderful and creates such a realistic and gripping portrait of how these three sisters ended up taking such wildly divergent paths. You’re right that the timeline doesn’t match up with JKR’s, but I can forgive it because it was written before the Black family three was published (and because the Black family tree doesn’t quite match up with the books — how is it that Snape hung out with the Lestranges (a married couple) in Hogwarts if Bella was born in 1951 (so the latest that she attended Hogwarts was 1963-70) and Snape didn’t arrive at Hogwarts until 1971?), and I actually prefer her/his timeline, anyway. :)
