Number twelve, Grimmauld Place was a lonely house. Diana wasn't yet used to the silence of being runaways, the only sounds coming from themselves, the lonely existence of four who have become so acquainted they are no longer each themselves. Just the four of them, stitched in the silence for two days, two days in which they were entirely Kreacher-less and entirely progress-less. At night, they all slept in the drawing room atop blankets and moth-eaten pillows, the silence much too loud and the darkness much to heavy. They all listened to each others breathing until it was just Diana who was awake, listing to the soft drizzle of rain outside and the quiet snoring of Ron.  

The next morning, as they all idly swallowed their measly breakfast supplied by Hermione, they all sat in a comfortable silence they had grown used too. Half way through their breakfast, though, the heavy, loud clicking of the front locks urged them to pull their wands out, their eyes glued to the door as the knob turned. The light streamed in, silhouetting the figure until the door closed, and the weary face of Remus Lupin stared back at them.

They did not lower their wands.

"I am Remus John Lupin, werewolf, sometimes known as Moony, one of the four creators of the Marauder's Map, married to Nymphadora Tonks, and I taught you how to produce a Patronus, Harry, which takes the form of a stag."

"Oh, all right," muttered Harry as they lowered their wands. Harry grinned and they hugged, slapping each other's back with affection.

"What's going on? Is everyone okay?" said Diana as Lupin made the rounds, hugging Hermione, then Ron, then finally Diana.

"Yes," he said, and they all settled themselves at the table. Hermione served him a small helping of breakfast. "But we're all being watched. There are a couple of Death Eater's in the square outside---"

"We know," said Diana. "They've been watching the house, but we've been careful."

Lupin nodded. "I had to Apparate very precisely on the top step outside the front door to be sure that they would not see me. They can't know you're in here or I'm sure they'd have more people out there; they're staking out everywhere that's got any connection to you, and I want to know what happened after you left the Burrow."

Ron conjured them each a glass and filled it with butterbeer, and they all began to drink.

"I'd have been here three days ago but I needed to shake off the Death Eater's tailing me," he added. "So, you came straight here after the wedding?"

"No," said Harry, "only after we ran into a couple of Death Eaters in a cafe on Tottenham Court Road."

Lupin slopped a large portion of his butterbeer onto his jacket, his eyes widening.

"What?"

They all explained what had happened, of the Death Eaters and the destroyed cafe and wiping their memories. By the end, Lupin was aghast.

"But how did he find you so quickly? It's impossible to track anyone who Apparates, unless you grab hold of them as they disappear!"

"And it doesn't seem likely that they were just strolling down Tottenham Court Road at the time, does it?" added Harry, taking another sip.

"We wondered," said Hermione tentatively, "whether Harry could have the Trace on him still?"

"Impossible," said Lupin, echoing Diana's initial reaction from that night. "Apart from anything else, they'd know for sure Harry was here if he still had the Trace on him, wouldn't they? But I can't see how they could have tracked you to Tottenham Court Road, that's worrying, really worrying."

Lupin looked concerned, and he made brief eye contact with Diana.

"Tell us what happened after we left," said Diana. "We haven't heard a thing since Ron's dad told us the family were safe."

"Well, Kingsley saved us," said Lupin. "Thanks to his warning most of the wedding guests were able to Disapparate before they arrived."

"Were they Death Eaters or Ministry people?" asked Hermione.

"A mixture, but to all intents and purposes they're the same thing now," he said. "There were about a dozen of them, but they didn't know you were there, Harry. Arthur heard a rumor that they tried to torture your whereabouts out of Scrimgeour before they killed him; if it's true, he didn't give you away."

Diana's stomach clenched, her eyes dropping to the table. All of their faces were a mixture of gratitude and shock about Scrimgeour's valiant last moment. She couldn't imagine the pain he had endured, only to be stopped when he told them what they wanted to hear. But he didn't. He kept silent for them, because he truly knew that they were so important.

"The Death Eaters searched the Burrow from top to bottom," Lupin went on. "They found the ghoul, but didn't want to get to close---and they tried interrogating those of us who remained for hours. They were trying ot get information on you all, but of course nobody apart from the Order knew that you had been there.

"At the same time that they were smashing up the wedding, more Death Eaters were forcing their way into into every Order-connected house in the country. No deaths," he added quickly when he saw their faces, "but they were rough. They burned down Dedalus Diggle's house, but as you know he wasn't there, and they used the Cruciatus Curse on Tonks's family. Again, trying to find out where you went after you visited them. They're all right---shaken, obviously, but otherwise okay."

"The Death Eaters got through all those protective charms?" asked Harry.

"The Death Eaters now have near-complete control over the Ministry," said Diana. "They have the entire power of the British Ministry backing them, allowing to break all rules and regulations at will. With their power now, our protections we'd created stand no chance."

"And are they bothering to give an excuse for torturing Harry's whereabouts out of people?" asked Hermione, a sharp edge to her voice.

"Well," said Lupin, but he hesitated, pulling a folded issue of the Daily Prophet from his jacket.

WANTED FOR QUESTIONING ABOUT THE DEATHS OF ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

Ron and Hermione gave gasps of outrage and Harry slammed the paper onto the table, pushing it away. Diana clenched her jaw, the veins in her neck pulsing in restraint.

"I'm so sorry," Lupin said.

"So Death Eaters have taken over the Daily Prophet too?" asked Hermione furiously.

Lupin nodded.

"But surely people realize what's going on?"

"The coup has been smooth and virtually silent," said Lupin. The official version of Scrimgeour's murder is that he resigned; he has been replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is under the Imperious Curse."

"What about the Quibbler?" asked Diana, setting her glass onto the table.

"Xeno's been vocal, of course," said Lupin, "but recklessly. So far, he's been in the clear, but who knows what'll happen. I know he has a decent reach with the Quibbler, so he's been able to communicate the truth with some."

"What about the Quibbler?" asked Ron.

"The Quibbler, owned by Xenophilius Lovegood, is known to speak freely and honestly about the happenings in the Wizarding world," said Lupin. "And, most specifically, things that the Daily Prophet tends to glance over.

"Now, thanks to the Quibbler and other passage of rumors, many people have deduced what has truly happened: There has been such a dramatic change in Ministry policy in the last few days, and many are whispering that Voldemort must be behind it. However, that is the point: they whisper. They daren't confide in each other, not knowing whom to trust; they are scared to speak out in  case their suspicions are true and their families are targeted. Yes, Voldemort is playing a very clever game. Declaring himself might have provoked open rebellion: Remaining masked has created confusion, uncertainty, and fear."

"And this dramatic change in Ministry policy," said Harry, "involves warning the Wizarding world against me instead of Voldemort."

"That's certainly part of it," said Lupin, "and it's a masterstroke. Now that Dumbledore is dead, you---the Boy Who Lived---were sure to be the symbol and rallying point for any resistance to Voldemort. But by suggesting that you had a hand in the old hero's death, Voldemort has not only set a price upon your head, but sown doubt and fear amongst many who would have defended you.

"Meanwhile, the Ministry has started moving against Muggle-borns."

Lupin pointed to the Daily Prophet.

"Look at page two."

Hermione fervently turned the pages of the paper until she reached the second page.

"'Muggle-born Registry,'" she read aloud. "'The Ministry of Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called 'Muggle-borns,' the better to understand how they came to possess magical secrets.

"'Recent research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when Wizards reproduce. Where no proven Wizarding ancestry exists, therefore, the so-called Muggle-born is likely to have obtained magical power by theft or force.

"'The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers of magical power, and to this end has issued an invitation to every so-called Muggle-born to present themselves for interview by the newly-appointed Muggle-born Registration Commission.'"

"People won't let this happen," said Ron.

"It is happening, Ron," said Lupin. "Nevertheless, unless you can prove that you have at least one close Wizarding relative, you are now deemed to have obtained your magical power illegally and must suffer the punishment."

Ron glanced at Hermione, then said, "What if purebloods and half-bloods swear a Muggle-born's part of their family? I'll tell everyone Hermione's my cousin---"

Hermione covered Ron's hand with hers and squeezed it. Diana smiled lightly. 

"Thank you, Ron, but I couldn't let you---"

"You won't have a choice," said Ron fiercely. "I'll teach you my family tree so you can answer questions."

Hermione gave a shaky laugh, and Diana added, "either way, I won't let them take you." She looked back at Lupin, changing the subject. "What's Voldemort planning for Hogwarts?"

"Attendance is now compulsory for every young witch and wizard," he replied. "That was announced yesterday. It's a change, because it was never obligatory before. Of course, nearly every witch and wizard in Britain has been educated at Hogwarts, but their parents had the right to teach them at home or send them abroad if they preferred. This way, Voldemort will have the whole Wizarding population under his eye from a young age. and it's also another way of wedding out Muggle-borns, because students must be given Blood Status---meaning that they have proven to the Ministry that they are of Wizard descent---before they are allowed to attend."

Diana blazed, her face growing hot with anger.

"It's. . .it's. . ." Harry muttered, struggling to find the right word.

"I know," Lupin said quietly

Lupin hesitated.

"I'll understand if you can't confirm this, Harry, but the Order is under the impression that Dumbledore left you a mission."

"He did," Harry replied after a moment, meeting Diana's eyes, "and Ron and Hermione are in on it and they're coming with us."

"Can you confide in me what the mission is?"

Diana and Harry looked at his prematurely lined face, his thick, grey hair.

"We can't do that, Remus," said Diana evenly.

"I thought you'd say that," he said, looking disappointed. "But I might still be of some use to you. You know what I am and what I can do. I could come with you to provide protection. There would be no need to tell me exactly what you were up to."

Diana hesitated. Hermione, however was puzzled.

"But what about Tonks?"

"What about her?" said Lupin.

"Well," said Hermione, frowning, "you're married! How does she feel about you going away with us?"

"Tonks will be perfectly safe," said Lupin. "She'll be at her parents' house."

The way Lupin spoke, it struck Diana as odd. It was almost cold, impassive, as if he wasn't as concerned about his family's well-being as he should be.

"With all due respect, Remus," she began tightly, "this is not an issue of Tonks' safety; this is an issue of your duty to her as her husband, or, apparently, lack there of."

Lupin clenched his jaw, his eyes steely as they stared at each other.

"Remus," said Harry tentatively, "is everything all right. . . you know. . . between you and--="

"Everything is fine, thank you," Lupin said pointedly. He paused, tense, then added, "Tonks is going to have a baby."

Hermione clapped and said, "Oh, how wonderful!"

Diana furrowed her eyebrows, sharpening her gaze.

Harry and Ron congratulated him, but Diana stayed silent.

"So. . . do you accept my offer?" asked Lupin. "I cannot believe Dumbledore would have disapproved, he appointed me your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, after all. And I must tell you that I believe that we are facing magic many of us have never encountered or imagine."

"So," said Diana pointedly after a pause, "so, what you're saying is that you are going to abandon your wife and your unborn child, apparently without hesitation, to help on a mission that you had not been authorized to assist with?"

His eyes blazed, his jaw ticking, and he glared at her.

"You have no right---"

"Actually, Remus, I do," Diana countered, sitting straight, folding her hands idly on the table. "If you were  meant to help us on this mission, Dumbledore simply would've told you to. But he, evidently, did not, and now that he's dead we have no way of asking him."

"Tonks will be perfectly safe with her parents," Lupin pushed angrily. "You have no authority over me, Diana, and Harry, I'm sure James would have wanted me to stick with you---"

Diana stood, her chair scratching loudly as it was violently pushed back. 

"Do not try to guilt Harry into a decision like that!" she said loudly, her hands balled at her sides, each muscle rigid.

"Look," he said hastily to calm her, "I made a mistake. I made a mistake marrying Tonks---"

"So, you're just going to dump Tonks and her kid to come run off with us?" asked Harry heatedly.

Lupin now sprang to his feet, and Diana stood her ground.

"Don't you understand what I've done to my wife and unborn child? I should never have married her, I've made her an outcast!"

"Get over yourself, Remus!" snapped Diana, her eyes fiery. "Do you truly think you're the only father to pass on unfortunate traits? Do you truly think your child doesn't deserve to live if they're anything like you? Think about everyone else with a fucked up childhood, Lupin. What the hell do you think I've had to deal with?"

He was silent, dumbstruck at her words, his eyes softening slightly. He opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off.

"My father is Voldemort," she said, dangerously low. "So if you're trying to debate who's been dealt the worst hand, you don't stand a goddamn chance."

After many moments of shocked silence, he busied himself with buttoning his coat and settling his hat on his head.

 "You've made your decision clear."

Without another glance toward them, he strode out of the kitchen and down the hall.

"Wait---Remus!"

Hermione's attempts wielded no success, for the front door creaked open and then clicked shut, and through the door they heard him Disapparate with a large crack.

It was silent, for none of them knew what to say.

"You were right," Harry said finally, turning his gaze from the door to Diana. "He's a coward."

They dispersed, and Diana headed to the drawing room, dropping heavily onto the couch and setting her head in her hands.

She thought of Lupin's unborn child, and how he would be born with such pain. But she thought of what great parents he would have growing up, and hopefully living in a world rid of all of this darkness. Diana thought about how he would never know who she was.

She hoped they would tell the kid about her. About the brave, pained girl, beautiful with a mind that contained entire worlds, the daughter of Voldemort. The one slain at the hands of her father just so her friends could live. She hoped they'd keep her alive through stories even after she's gone.