Kid, you've got no idea.

Nothing would ever be simple for the Krum family; or anyone they were associated with.

Elijah was one of the first to admit that Cecilia was by far the biggest failure they’d experienced in the longest while; and the blame he rested solely upon his father and uncle’s shoulders. That said, she’d never been one of the most level headed of people but he attributed the catalyst of her downfall to the death of her mother; something none of them had really gotten over. Then the virtual abandonment by their father... it was clear as day why Cecilia had ended up the way she had. Elijah was just glad of his friends, of the stability they and their family brought him. Without them, perhaps his life would have spiralled as hers had; or continued to. Certainly, it had never been more out of control than when Kitty had died and it hadn’t really been the same since, not really.

The smoky den that was Eli’s was a welcome sight as Elijah trudged down through the rain sodden shopping district. His cloak was pulled tightly around him and the spell he had cast only just keeping the rain off of his head. Nothing could withstand the might of the howling winds that whipped through Diagon Alley and into Knockturn, as though they were summoned by black magic. It ripped through Elijah’s body and clung deep into his bones, an uncompromising chill that not even the warmth of the restaurant could shake; though by Merlin did it try.

The heat that encompassed Elijah when he entered the restaurant was stifling and he shirked his cloak with ease, lifting it through into his office before waiting out the rest of the evening until closing time. It was then that the best conversations could be listened to, spoken by drunks well fed and watered and in no hurry to get home.

As it was, Elijah had his own conversation waiting for him and took a bottle of Firewhisky from the bar; two glasses in his other hand. He then made his way over to Nick whose life was in turmoil over his dear sister.

Elijah sat down opposite the Gryffindor and poured him a glass of Firewhisky before sitting back in the arm chair. Elijah poured himself a glass too and held it against his neck, waiting for Nick to begin.

The boy/man Nick had accepted the glass of firewhiskey and drank maybe just about half of the warming alcoholic drink. Alcohol was always there to help Nick when he was down. He wondered if Elijah would speak first or if he should. Elijah was always like a brother to him. No matter what was going on, Elijah was there to help Nick. After all Elijah was in a situation sort of like Nick's not to long ago.

After how Cecilia Krum had made Nick feel worthless he became a different person. Nick had taken a custom to drinking more. He had also nearly killed his adopted daughter Quelyn. This meeting would help Nick a lot, physically and emotionally.

The silence was killing Nick. Nothing was worse than alcohol and silence. So Nick decided to break it. "Thanks for meeting me here" were the words Nick chose to say at this time.

Elijah smiled placidly. He had a lot of time for Nick and it was never more clear now that he chose to side with the boy as opposed to his sister.

What Nick had done was foolish and though Elijah had condemned him for it at first, Cecilia's intolerance for sense had truly opened Elijah up to the boy's way of thinking.

Taking a long glug of the Firewhisky, Elijah took a moment to consider his thoughts before he dared to speak. He considered also what he had done for Cecilia. He'd put roots down. She would continue to tear them up, he knew, regardless of anything he endeavoured to do.

"Nick it is my pleasure," Elijah offered finally before reaching forward to put the Firewhisky down on the table. "And I'm all ears, lad. Trust me. I know what it is like to have difficult women in your life. You're going to preach to the converted: they're evil."

Elijah chuckled before adding, "You've not had the best of times, have you?"

"No I have not" Nick said with a hint of amusement. It was time for Nick to stop stalling and cut right to the point.

"Well your niece Mollie, as you know probably, is my child. It was a mistake and I wasn't even conscious. Well before we found out I was the father. Your sister put me through Hell. She cheated on me with another guy. She never tried to help me out. She was also constantly putting me down. But I loved her." Nick began in a rather slow way of speech so he could take it all in. He didn't want to even say 'Cecilia' rather, he sticked to saying 'your sister'. Her name just made Nick think of all the bad memories and he began to hate.

"Well now is not the case. I don't love your sister, nor do I want to be with her. But I do love Mollie" Nick finished the rest of his firewhiskey then he poured himself some more. "Well she isn't going to let me be around Mollie. I was hoping if maybe we could work a custody thing out. Maybe she gets Mollie for the weekdays and I get her on weekends. Something like that" Nick suggested.

After taking another sip of the firewhiskey he began again.

"Also. Every time I think of they way she treated me and how I may not get to see Mollie, I get angry. I go around and try to pick fights. Elijah I almost killed my adopted daughter out of anger and spite of your sister" he finished. Nick had explained everything to Elijah.

Getting ready for whatever Elijah had to say, Nick finished off his second glass of firewhiskey.

Nick was going to come out of it much rosier than Elijah ever would've done with Chase and Kitty. But Nick was trying not to hate; unlike Elijah who had learned that to hate was his only method of dealing with it; but as ever, he suffered for it.

Regardless, the boy had a good plan and Elijah applauded him for that, albeit mentally. Granted, Elijah did not approve of the broken home in which Mollie would grow up but he was beginning to wonder whether or not it would be a better idea to get her out and away from Cecilia for a while; it certainly seemed as though Nick had a better head on his shoulders than her mother did.

"Cecilia's got issues; it's a Krum curse more than it is a blessing. I can't say it isn't abnormal; I can only apologise. But I have to ask, is two days really enough? You have as much right to see the child as Cecilia - perhaps more so."

Elijah considered his words carefully before continuing.

"I can hurry things through the system and I can certainly get you more days or flip the custody so you have weekdays instead. Cecilia needs to straighten her life out before she starts influencing a child. In fact, I have to say I'm tempted to take the girl as my ward; if only to give her a somewhat stable start in life."

Granted, he hadn't thought of that little titbit until that moment but to Elijah, it seemed like a darn good idea.

"I think perhaps we all need to take a step back and perhaps go on a holiday," Elijah joked before smiling easily. "We all make mistakes. Take solace in the fact that you did not succeed in her murder, otherwise I might be talking to you through bars, hm?"

"What is important now is that we try to put in place something to protect your daughter, my niece. I am not wholly convinced leaving her with schoolchildren is a good idea - please do not take offence - but you are a child still, no one to be raising children despite your obvious experience."

"I'm ok with whatever is sorted out as long as I get to see my child. If you don't think she should get the majority of the days then I'm ok with that. If what would be best for Mollie would for you to have custody, as long as I'm allowed to see her, that sounds like an excellent plan. But as much as I think a child should have their mother, I don't think Cecilia is responsible enough to be a parent. She is still being haunted of Felix and her mind isn't in the right place." He said seriously. Cecilia was not in the right mindset, but all Nick wanted was to see his daughter.

He drank some more firewhiskey after refilling his glass.

"As for protection. If I can get full custody. You can set her up in something for her mind, like classes. You can come by every day or weekend or so and check on everything. I would also like a job within the Ministry, or a good paying job here. A job where I can support a family" he suggested.

Elijah sat back in his chair, attempting but not wholly succeeding in stomaching his concern. They were both so young, too young.

“I was in your position once,” He began, studying his glass with a wistful expression on his face. “I lost my little girl. Lost her because I gave up on her mother. Lost her because her mother couldn’t look after her; couldn’t protect her. I don’t blame her mother. Not entirely anyway,” A small smile crept onto his lips, one that bore an ingrained bitterness that Elijah could not quite be rid of. “I didn’t get over it, either. I couldn’t protect my little girl from her mother. She couldn’t protect her daughter from herself. I lost both of them in the end.”

Elijah sighed heavily and swallowed the Firewhisky in a mouthful before reaching forward to pour another few fingers into both his and Nick’s glasses.

“Cecilia is my dependant and I need to protect her. I need to protect her daughter from her and I need to protect Cecilia from herself. She needs time to heal and I do think that Mollie will help her with that.” Elijah swallowed, considering his words. “But what I worry about is whether she will learn to live as a mother as opposed to a human being and herself first. Do you see what I mean?” Elijah took another mouthful of Firewhisky and continued to stare at the glass.

“She needs to face her fears. Face Felix.” Elijah swallowed, remembering his own last encounter with Barker. “But I don’t want to do that to her.”

The ideas were slowly forming in Elijah’s mind. Part of him worried he didn’t have the authority but he didn’t worry, didn’t care. She was his sister and her daughter his niece. He had to look after them.

“I’m taking Cecilia from school. She can be tutored. What I will do is have Mollie as my ward and introduce Cecilia slowly to the combined idea of motherhood and her own life; with emphasis on straightening out the latter first.” Elijah swallowed another mouthful of Firewhisky before looking at Nick. “You’re a cheeky bugger aren’t you?” Elijah chuckled. “I can get you a job, kid. What do you fancy? Department of Law and Enforcement or the darling Department of Fluffies? Were you any good at Care of Magical Creatures?”

Nick listened to Elijah's story. It kinda sounded somewhat like Nick's story. "Cecilia doesn't want me remotely around Mollie. She doesn't trust me. I honestly don't know why." He began quietly. Cecilia had changed him drastically. Nick was once a happy person. He always was able to see the positive in things. Then Nick remembered about Raphael. "I'm not sure if you know this, but she did cheat on me. I don't need Mollie around that." Nick explained.

But he did agree that Mollie may help Cecilia grow up. "I dunno Elijah. Mollie shouldn't make her grow up. She should just know how to act." Nick said coldly. It was clear that Nick hated Cecilia from the way he talked about her.

"I was thinking maybe the department for magical games and sports, there is an opening I hear." He explained.

It was going to be a struggle, Elijah realised grimly. Nothing was going to be easy. If anything, Cecilia and Mollie were going to be more of a handful combined than the former had ever been for Elijah; but he had to try, he had to try and get Cecilia to grow as a person and be adult about things. She couldn’t be a child forever, not when she had to raise one as well.

“Cecilia’s young, Nick. You both are. You need to remember that.” Elijah replied carefully. “She is not perfect and neither are you. You’ll both make mistakes but you can’t damn her forever because of it.” Having another swig of Firewhisky, Elijah studied Nick and found the boy that was so desperately trying to be the man; much like himself not too long ago. “Give her time. She’ll grow. You’ll see.”

Elijah quirked an eyebrow and chuckled before nodding briefly. “I’ll ask around, kid, and I’ll let you know. Now, I think we’ve both had enough to drink. Can you get home alright or do you want to bunk upstairs?”