This is the home of Ethan and Lights Lennox, two Ministry employees, and their children. The flat itself is unplottable, but feel free to come around for a chat. Although be careful of the kids - they're a little energetic at the best of times. One person, however, is definitely NOT allowed in - Lights' estranged, deranged and self-glorifying dad, Trystan Bones. If you see him, give him a kick from Lights.

Current Occupants
Ethan Lennox (EastonionNW)
Lights Lennox, née Salamander (Jezabel Black)
Ezekiel Lennox (Can be RPed by Easton or Jezabel)
Bellissa Lennox (Ditto)
Trystan Bones (Jezabel Black) (Post colour: Red - just so we know when it's from his point of view, not Lights')

Rooms
Living room
Kitchen
Bathroom
Bedrooms (Ethan and Lights', Zek and Bella's)
Balcony
Hall corridor
Large wardrobe in the hall (Ethan's tea-in-the-cupboard wardrobe)
(Hope that helps - I've actually designed a house plan, so I may upload that at some point if I can find it amidst all the clutter on my desk)

Scene: The kids have newfound abilities thanks to the experiments of a certain someone and their parents eventually discover the truth.

Lights got home from work too tired to do anything except fall onto the sofa in the living room and bury her head in the pillow. Her children, however, had other ideas. Ezekiel started running around like a headless chicken, waving the Muggle torch he'd gotten for his birthday from Lights' younger brothers about. Bellissa was chasing him, but froze whenever the light can near her, her big brown eyes wide. They were making enough noise to drive Lights completely insane.
"Be quiet!" she yelled, throwing the pillow at her son. Zek sidestepped it easily.
"What's the matter, Mummy?" he asked in a deceptively sweet voice.
"I've got a headache and I'm tired," said Lights shortly. "I don't need you and Bella acting like animals on top of that. Please, go and play quietly. Do some drawing or something. Just let me have a little peace." Where's Ethan when you need him? wondered Lights, reaching over to pick the pillow up off the floor and bury her face in it again. She wasn't feeling well at all.

With a swift shut of the door, Ethan Lennox entered the chaos. Folding up his blue Maintenance robes and tossing them into the large, otherwise empty wardrobe, he made his way down the hall and peeked into the living room. First things first: mental checklist of people. Bella, check... Ezekiel, check... Lights, check.

Ezekiel's footsteps were pounding on the floor, Bella in hot pursuit. Ethan sighed and pulled his wand, pointing it at Ezekiel, and said, "Petrificus Totalus!" Zek's legs snapped together and his momentum carried him forward, falling onto his face.
"Dad, no fair!" came the muffled complaint from Ezekiel.
"Your driving your Mum more insane than she already is. Relax, maybe?" Ethan countered.
"But Dad, I need a new way to have fun since you broke my broom!"
Ethan slapped a palm to his forehead. "You broke the broom, Zek. I told you to avoid brick walls, and you decided to go and play chicken with one. You're lucky I could fix your nose, imagine explaining that to a muggle healer..."

Ethan holstered his wand and moved over to sit on the couch between Lights' legs. "What is it this time?" he asked.

Lights gave a muffled laugh. "You make me sound like a whiner ..." she said into the pillow. She was sometimes, and it only got more frequent when she was pregnant. "Same old. Tummy, head, stress, baby, Cult, kids, Dad." Always her father, a niggling worry in the back of her head. Lights hated that he was always there, like a cold she couldn't quite get rid of. "Sometimes I just want to crawl into the wardrobe and give up on life in general," admitted Lights, dragging herself up into a sitting position and leaning her head on Ethan's shoulder.

Ezekiel was still lying on his face on the floor. Bella had crouched beside him, and was having fun poking him without fear of being poked back. Zek was muttering under his breath, his stiff body shaking slightly every time Bella poked him.
"Stop it already!" he finally exploded, visibly trying to get up. "Dad! Mum! Make Bella stop it!"
"Revenge," said Bella simply, now using her brother's back as a piano keyboard.

Putting an arm around Lights' shoulders, Ethan smiled and simply replied with a breathy, "Yeah..." as he rubbed his wife's arm. She had too much going on in her life, what with being pregnant on top of all the usual business they dealt with daily.

Looking over his shoulder at the kids, Ethan smiled even wider. "Exactly, Bella. But never let it get to your head, otherwise bad things could happen."
"Like what, Dad?"
"Petrificus Totalus--" Bella's body stiffened like a board, and she fell over onto her back next to Zek. "--Because anything can happen. Now both of you, can you give us a moment?"
This time, it was Ezekiel who replied. "No, Dad, we can't because we can't move!"
A mischievous, childish grin came across Ethan's face. "Then shut up for a minute," he said, turning back to Lights.

Time for the probing question. "How's Naomi? Have you been to St. Mungo's to get her checked out?"

Lights swallowed. She'd dreaded that question, even though she knew it had to come at some point. Ethan cared about her and Naomi, of course he'd want to know she was safe. Lights couldn't look at him, so she closed her eyes and turned her head so her face was in his shoulder. She took a deep breath, opened her mouth, and realised she couldn't speak. So she started to cry instead. "I f-failed," she finally whispered through her tears. Somehow that was easier than saying 'your daughter is gone'. Naomi had been fragile already, and the second Cruciatus Curse and Lights' multiple animagus transformations had put too much strain on her.

Bella seemed confused. "What's she talking about, Dad?" she asked, staring at Lights' shaking body.
"Is Naomi okay?" demanded Ezekiel, quicker off the ball than his sister. He tried to get up again, but obviously failed. "Let me up!"

"You're not saying..." Ethan asked, severely shocked. It must be, though. Naomi was dead, before even being able to live. Ethan stood up and gently lay Lights' back down where she had been when he arrived. Flicking his wand at his kids, Ethan choked a Rennervate through his forming sobs. "Bella, Zek, sit on the couch please," Ethan said in his steadiest voice.

Once released, Ezekiel shot up, glad to be able to move again. Bella was quick to follow. "Why, dad? What's wrong?" asked Belle, curling up with her crying mum. Zek simply sat on the other side of the couch. "Dad, is Naomi okay?"

Ethan glanced at Lights before looking back at his two children, now almost four and a half years old each. "Your new little sister--" Ethan choked a sob, "--Naomi... She won't make it."

Hearing Ethan say it was worse than the Healer telling her. Lights hugged the pillow to her chest, still crying. She'd failed her family, both as a mother and wife. She'd failed to keep her baby safe. She'd recklessly exposed her to curses and Lights' own damned ability. It was her fault. That was the most tormenting blow.

Bella tried to hug her mother, but Lights pushed her away. The little girl looked hurt, and went over to grip onto Ethan instead. Ezekiel just looked shocked. "But ..." he stammered. "Mum said Naomi was okay. She said she'd make it. She'd just be a bit ... disabled."
"I'm sorry, sweetie," sobbed Lights, still not able to look at her family. "It's my fault, I'm so, so sorry ..."
Ezekiel's face darkened. Bella looked like she wanted to hug Lights, but was restraining herself. Lights curled up into a ball, one hand on her stomach, her hair covering her tear stained face.

Ethan hugged Bella tight, and looked directly at Ezekiel. "That was before... Your mom got hit by another curse. And... She also transformed. It isn't her fault, though. Remember that. It isn't your mom's fault," he said.

"But Dad..."
"I know, Zek. But we probably can't have another child. Your Mom's work is too dangerous."
"Then make her quit!" screeched Bella. She had been crying silently, pulling ever so slightly away from Ethan and towards Lights.
"I can't. It's her job, and she would never let me."
"I thought you were supposed to protect her, daddy," Ezekiel accused.

Ethan felt a sharp stab to the heart. He was. He had made a vow on it. And he was lucky he wasn't struck dead right then. "I try, I honestly do!" Ethan sobbed, "She's very tough, your mum!" He broke down, pulling Ezekiel into the hug and leaning in towards lights. He let go of the hug with one hand and grabbed Lights', refusing to let go.

Lights finally looked up. Her kids had a point. Quitting her job would mean she would be safe enough to have more children. Ezekiel and Bellissa were lucky to have survived having her as a parent. Naomi hadn't been so fortunate. Who would be next? she wondered. Ethan? Zek? Bella? Eleri, Reese or Ieuan? She was a danger to all of them.
Lights tried to pull away from Ethan, but his grip was too firm. He loved her, she knew that. He'd tried to protect her. She wished she hadn't made that Unbreakable Vow. If she got hurt, that might be taken as Ethan not protecting her, and that could kill him. Lights took out her wand.
"Let go," she said emotionlessly. "Just let go of me, Ethan."
Bella looked up at her mother, venom in her eyes. Ezekiel averted his eyes, his hurt very clear on his face. Lights stood up shakily, trying to walk away, but unable to because of Ethan.
Ethan was the only thing holding their family together at this point.

The difference in reaction between Zek and Bella startled Ethan a bit. He would never have thought he could see such deep anger in Bella's innocent brown eyes, or so much pain in Zek's lively green ones. Looking up at Loghts and pulling her in by the arm, a tight but still loving and gentile grip on her hand, Ethan simply said, "No. I will never let go. We can get through this. Even though we lost Naomi. Even though your dad... Nevermind, let's not talk about that now. But no matter what, we can get through anything. Whether it takes tea in the cupboard, or just holding each other, we can get through this. We're the Lennoxes. And we will always be the Lennoxes. But only together can we be strong, Lights."

Lights sat back down again, defeated. She put an arm around Ethan and hugged him, needing his comfort. "You're right," she said. She hadn't stopped hurting, but he was helping her through it.
Bella was biting her lip, struggling between wanting a hug and upholding her anger at her mum. Ezekiel silently wrapped his arms around Lights' waist.
"I'm sorry, Mum," he said quietly.
"Sweetie." Lights cupped her hand around Zek's cheek, making him look at her. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing. We're going to miss Naomi because Dad and I were wishing so hard for her. But we can't change what happened. I wish we could, but we can't. We might try again later, when my job isn't as dangerous anymore." And when Victor Hayashi is safely in Azkaban ... she wouldn't sleep well until Dean informed her of that fact.
"Why don't you quit your job?" demanded Bella, looking so much like Seren Salamander that Lights was almost nervous.
"Because I love it. Despite the risks, I love it. Maybe not the paperwork, but chasing down criminals, seeing my friends in the department, and helping people, which is what I want to do."

Lights was about to go on, when there was a knock at the door. She stiffened, glancing at Ethan. Were they expecting anyone? Ezekiel, however, jumped up. "I'll get it!" he shouted, running for the hall, Bella close at his heels. They opened the door.
"Hey kids," said Trystan Bones, smiling at the two little Lennoxes. "Are your parents home?"

Ethan shot up, wand at the ready. "Yes, we are!" he snapped, "What do you want, Bones? We have enough going on right now as it is!" Ethan's wand wasn't pointed at Trystan, but off to the side, ready at a moment's notice. Just in case he needed to duel somebody. He couldn't duel, though. Not in this state. Severely hoping it didn't come down to that, but not letting it show on his face, Ethan took a few steps closer to the man at the door.

Trystan smiled coolly at Ethan Lennox. Annoying little man. If Trystan had still been in Lights' life four years ago, he wouldn't have let her meet someone like Ethan, let alone marry him. "I simply want to talk," he said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. He walked into the living room to see his daughter on the sofa. "Lights," greeted Trystan warmly, coming over to her. She stood and backed away towards Ethan, looking scared. Trystan's smile slipped. Was she going to make this difficult? He fingered the wand in his pocket. He could just make them stay, make them listen ... but unnecessary, quite unnecessary, and it would scare the children ... "We have to take about your children," he said warmly.
Lights stared back at her dad stonily. "You have no right to come here," she said through gritted teeth. "Get out. Now." Trystan just raised an eyebrow.

Ethan hesitated for a moment. How do I handle this? I guess we should talk about the kids... he thought. "Lights, relax. If it's about our children, then I certainly want to know," he said, now turning back to Trystan, "So go on, then. What have you to say?" Ethan's wand was still out, but not aimed at Bones. He felt safer with it in his hands, though. He could stun Trystan first if he had to...

Lights gritted her teeth. "Ethan, I don't want him anywhere near me ever again." Trystan laughed.
"Come now Lights, I thought a favourite saying of your mother's was 'let's put the past behind us'?"
Lights stiffened even more, if that were possible. "Don't you dare ..." she hissed. Trystan had struck a bad chord there.
He seemed to realised it, because he changed the subject from their family ties. "Lights, Ethan, I believe I mentioned to you, a few months ago, my intentions to enhance your children's magical powers?" He paused. "You delicately referred to it as 'experiments'? Well, I'm proud to say that those enhancements seemed to have worked. Your children are now animagi!" He looked at the couple like he was expecting applause at the very least.
Lights was dumbstruck. Her already pale face had turned white. She gripped Ethan's hand, breathing unevenly. He'd done what? She just couldn't believe it.

Ethan's breath caught in his throat. It wasn't like he was on the verge of figuring it out when his kids started acting more and more like animals... "Did it hurt them?" he asked. That was his first worry. And, in all honesty, if Trystan hadn't tortured their children to get the same effects, being an animagus seemed pretty cool.

Ezekiel jumped in. "Nope, didn't hurt. I'm an Eagle!" he said proudly. Belle was quick to follow up. "I'm, like, a deer or something. I don't really know," she added onto Zek's statement. Ethan got almost as rigid as Lights, but he didn't want Trystan gone quite yet. The man seemed to know what he was doing. "Can they control their transformations? Because this is going to drastically change my parenting style..."

Lights was still unable to speak. She was just staring at her dad like she couldn't quite believe it. Trystan felt a stab of annoyance. She'd seen this coming, hadn't she? But Ethan's reaction was pleasing. Maybe he'd enjoy a few enhancements as well ... But this was not the time. Trystan nodded at Ethan's question.
"We've been working on it. At first they needed a lot of help, more than Lights needed, but that was probably because they're a lot younger than she was. The process was quicker and less painful because I had a solid method to work off. The first time took five years. This time it took six months." He turned to his grandchildren. "Show them, kids."

Ezekiel nodded and closed his eyes, screwing up his face in concentration. After a minute, Trystan asked, "Need some help, Zek?" The little boy shook his head. A few minutes later, Ezekiel was gone. In his place was a small eagle. The eagle leapt into the air, spreading its wings to fly over to Ethan and land on his shoulder.
Trystan checked his watch. "Two minutes, twenty-six seconds. A ten second improvement. Well done, Zek." The eagle squawked happily.
"My turn, my turn!" Bella closed her eyes, then opened one. "Watch me!" she commanded, then closed the eye again and concentrated. She let out a small yelp as she transformed. In her place was a little brown fawn. The baby deer walked over to Lights, sniffing her hand.
"Two minutes forty-one seconds. Getting better every time, Belle." Trystan looked at Lights. "Why don't you join them?" he asked gently. "You can ask them whatever you like, and I won't be able to understand. I can guarantee they'll tell you what I did. It was painless, Lights. I assure you."
"Sorry If I don't believe you," snapped Lights. She knelt down to stroke her daughter's soft fur, tears forming in her eyes. She didn't want Trystan or Ethan to see them though.

Ethan sighed heavily as the truth of the matter sank in. He was naturally curious, yes, but these were his children, and this had been done without parental consent. He wasn't about to strike down Mr. Bones then and there, though. He needed to know more.
"Here, Zek," he said, cueing his son to come back to him. He needed the comfort. To his relief, he received it as the small talons perched gently on his shoulder. "Trystan," he started again, "Do their animal ages match up to their human ages?" He was looking down at Bella the fawn now, trying to ignore Lights' tears for the moment. Of course he saw them. He always saw them. "And I think I don't have any more questions. I can ask the kids. Now I'm requesting that you politely leave us." Now wasn't the time to start a duel.

Trystan nodded. "I believe so. It's like Lights was; when she was a child, her animagus form was a labrador puppy. It grew with her. When Bella grows up, she'll be a fully grown doe. When Zek grows up, he'll be a fully grown eagle." Trystan obviously pretended not to hear Ethan's last request and turned to Lights. "Now I've pretty much perfected the method, I'd like to try it with your baby, before she's born. It may be better for her, if it can be done right."
Lights' face turned stony. She looked up at her dad, her eyes flashing, her tearstained cheeks red. "Naomi's not coming," she said, her voice slightly thick from crying. "I l-lost her. We lost her."
Trystan's face fell. "Oh Lights ... I'm sorry." He stepped forward and placed a hand on Lights' shoulder. She immediately went on the offensive, slapping his hand away and standing up.
"Don't think this changes anything," she hissed. "Just because my kids think you're God-given doesn't mean I'll forget what you did to me."
"Gave you a better life?"
"Torture. Abuse. Depriving me of a mother."
Trystan's face darkened. "You worked it out then," he said quietly. "Yes, I killed Seren. She stopped me from seeing my own children. I did what I had to."
Lights looked murderous. "Crucio!" she screamed furiously. Trystan yelled in pain and collapsed as the curse hit him. "A taste of my pain," she snarled. "A taste of what you put me through."
Trystan was yelling, Bella had transformed back into a girl and was crying, and Ezekiel was squawking in panic. It was crazy.

Wait, what?! Ethan had never thought that Trystan had killed Lights' mom, but considering what the man had done, Ethan didn't put it past him to kill. Of course, in Ethan's moment of hesitation, Lights took the initiative. "Lights, stop! Incarcerous!" Ethan called out, sending the ropes not towards his wife, but his writhing father-in-law. He didn't want that man free when Lights released him; Trystan would probably kill her! But then again, Lights could kill Trystan right then...

"Bella, Zek, go to your room, now!" Ethan said with a definite urgency to his voice. As his kids nodded and obeyed, securely closing the door behind them, Ethan turned his wand on Trystan again. "Lights, stop it! You want to be better than him, don't you?!"

"I want him to die!" screamed Lights. She looked crazy - her hair almost standing on end, her eyes flashing, her whole body shaking. "I want him to go back to being dead! I want him to bring my mother back!" Her voice broke on the last sentence. She'd been through too much that night, and this was the last straw.
Lights dropped her wand. It clattered on the floor and rolled away, coming to a stop near the bound Trystan Bones.
Trystan was looking as murderous as his daughter was. He gritted his teeth, glaring at Lights. "If I had my wand ..." he snarled. "You'd have joined Seren by now, my girl. Along with your husband and children." He wriggled furiously. "Let me go!"

"Accio wands!" Ethan growled, summoning both Lights and Trystan's wands over to his feet. No way Mr. Bones was getting anywhere near them. "I know, Lights. He deserves it." But the next thing Trystan said was what threw Ethan over the edge. A death threat to him was one thing, but his wife and kids were much too far. "Sectumsempra!" he screamed, his wand aimed directly at Trystan's chest.

Trystan yelled as the curse hit him. His eyes widened, staring at Lights and Ethan, and he gasped for air as blood filled his lungs. "Lights ..." he choked. "Don't ..." She didn't move. Trystan's eyes flicked from her face to Ezekiel and Bella's, who were peering around the door. "Help ..." he pleaded, before slumping.
Famous last words.
Lights stared at her dad's body like she couldn't quite believe it was really there, he had really gone. Her eyes travelled up to Ethan's face. He'd actually done it; he'd killed Trystan. So why wasn't Lights jumping for joy?
Ezekiel and Bellissa certainly weren't. Bella let out a scream and ran for Trystan's body. Lights caught her mid-way, pulling her close and away from the body. Ezekiel looked from his grandpa to his dad, realising that Ethan was the only one with a wand. His face went from shock to horror to loathing in about a second.

Ethan could only watch as the scene unfolded. Trystan Bones bled out right in the entrance hall of his flat, his children inevitably peeked out of the room, Ezekiel looked upon him with apparent hatred. Meanwhile, Ethan's face was solemn. What have I done? he thought, pausing to let it all come over him. I killed him. I did it. And I'm going to have to fix things...

"Evanesco," he said quietly, causing Trystan's body to simply dissolve into nothingness. "Scourgify," he added, cleaning up the blood that was on the wood floor. That was it. No more Trystan Bones. Ethan had no parting words. But Ezekiel did.

"How could you? How could you, Ethan?" he said, tears streaming down his cheeks, before turning and slamming the door behind him. The distinct click of the lock was the only sound heard besides the wails of Bellissa and the muffled cried from Zek's room. Ethan put his wand away and walked over to Lights. "I'm sorry. He threatened my family." It was all Ethan really had to say. His children wouldn't be warming up to him any time soon...