A/N ~ I'm impressed how you all are still here, especially with this fanfic's extremely long reading time.

Well, here it is- Y/N Scamander and the Deathly Hallows :)

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A month had passed and it was currently summer.

A couple married, a boy moved out, a girl giving her limited happy moments her best.

Summer had always been nice at Lupin Cottage.

And despite the current state of the world, with its most powerful wizard gone, attacks and raids occurring from every direction, there was at least some peace at Remus Lupin's home.

The fields of swaying grass surrounding the house, the conversations that took place between the walls.

Remus, now a godfather and a husband, seemed a lot more relaxed than usual.

Perhaps he was just putting up an example for his goddaughter, but at least it was benefitting to him as well.

Still, he looked ragged and tired, his hair greying. And he did have his down times.

Every time he arrived back home after a meeting at The Burrow, the new Order of the Phoenix headquarters, he looked grim.

The look was unmistakably stress.

Luckily enough, most of his time was spent back home with his wife and goddaughter.

Every other day a pie would be made, three paintings would be dried in the sun, some days, neighbors would hear thunderous laughter and off-key tunes from the cottage.

Y/N loved that of Remus and Tonks. They always made the world seem slightly brighter.

Some days Order members would come and join them for dinner, whether that be Sirius, Moody, Kingsley, or the Weasleys.

Even Rolf, who'd appear in their living room fireplace every now and then, sometimes with his girlfriend Luna, despite now having the old Scamander house as his own.

He was having a gap year, he had told them, looking after their returned creatures and helping the Order, before looking for a job or deciding to further his education.

Y/N heard he and Luna were planning to spend the upcoming Christmas together if circumstances allowed it.

Remus and Tonks didn't know, Rolf and Luna had no idea, but they all made Y/N smile more than anything.

Them and her best friends, of course.

Every day she'd pull out a foot-long parchment, tear it into three equal pieces, and address them to the three people she loved to death- Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

The four Gryffindors had been secretly planning their Horcrux hunt, exchanging letters between each other almost every day.

Y/N had told Remus and Tonks she was to go on a trip to help Harry with a mission Dumbledore had left him to complete.

She made sure not to specifying the Horcrux bit, and though it took days of persuading, they finally agreed.

"But only after you've turned seventeen," Remus had made clear.

Not a problem. They were planning to leave in September.

Y/N wasn't sure if Hermione had told her parents about their upcoming trip- she'd always reply with 'I've got this', whenever Y/N wrote to her, asking about it.

Y/N trusted Hermione with whatever the girl had planned to do.

Harry, as always, seemed like he'd rather be homeless than stay any longer at the Dursleys.

He still had the Trace, was still under his mother's protection charm.

He'd be rid of it and move out on his seventeenth birthday, apparently Mad-Eye Moody had a plan for that.

Then he'd go live with Sirius before starting the Horcrux hunt.

Number twelve Grimmauld Place had to be abandoned, unfortunately. Snape still had access to the place, so he and his Death Eater friends could break in any time.

Moody had set up enchantments and Protection Charms, but it was safer for Sirius to be staying elsewhere.

He had been living in Tonks' old townhouse in the middle of London, and Harry would be staying there with him until September.

Fidelius Charms were put up, homes of some Order members were made safe houses, with one Secret Keeper each, which typically was a member of the given household.

Y/N felt uneasy not knowing, truly, if Harry was safe or not, despite the evidence that was owled to her every day.

Voldemort was after him and no one knew where or when he'd pop up.

But Y/N often forgot... he was after her as well.

She'd find her mind randomly wandering back to the prophecy, every now and then, its words haunting her in Professor Trelawny's raspy voice.

'...either must die at the hand of the other- with the help of a soulmate, born to a well-known family, and is Gifted with powers- for neither can live while the other survives...'

She'd help Harry hunt down all of Voldermort's Horcruxes, and however it may occur, she'd be the reason for Voldermort's death.

Or it would be the other way around.

But no. That wouldn't happen. It couldn't possibly happen.

Ron, on the other hand, was the person she'd seen most out of the three. She was allowed to visit The Burrow, though only twice a week.

Ron had shown her his plan for the Horcrux hunt- he, the twins, and Mr Weasley had transformed the ghoul in their attic to look more human and let him wear Ron's pajamas.

"That'll be me," Ron had explained. "Me with spattergroit. The ghoul will come down and live in my bedroom once we'd left,"

Mrs Weasley had secretly told Y/N that Ron seemed a lot more cheerful when she was around.

Y/N didn't tell her that it was probably because he finally had someone to talk to other than Ginny or Pansy.

As far as Y/N can tell, Pansy was fitting in surprisingly well at the Burrow.

She looked ten times more comfortable than she did when they left King's Cross, a month ago.

Mrs Weasley seemed to adore her.

"That girl is... special," she had said one day, after Ginny and Pansy had run off to play Quidditch by the garden. "Ginny's never had a friend like her."

"I know," Y/N smiled.

"Not that you're not a good friend, Y/N dear," Mrs Weasley quickly said. "You and Hermione are like sisters to Ginny, but with Pansy- she's... different."

Y/N had pretended to scratch her nose to hide the grin she owned on her face.

Bill and Fleur had a cottage of their own by a beach in Cornwall but would move there after their wedding day, so they were both staying there as well.

So with The Burrow busy with living beings, the place was always loud and engaging every time Y/N visited.

Other than The Burrow, Y/N wasn't allowed anywhere else, Remus made that very clear.

She couldn't even visit any of the safe houses.

"I could be terribly wrong but I thought safe houses were supposed to be safe?" Y/N had tried to protest stubbornly.

"Not safe enough for you," Remus replied, gave her a kiss on the head, and quickly walked off to avoid any more complaints.

That was that. Y/N had no other choice.

Daily, if she wasn't doing something with Remus and Tonks, she'd take Caz the Pygmy Puff on her shoulder and circle around the fences of Lupin Cottage, weaving flower crowns and watering the vegetable patches.

She'd talk to Caz in such a way, as though the tiny creature spoke back every time.

"Look at that sunset, Caz," she would say. "Someone told me once they loved me like how I loved sunsets."

Despite Caz's puzzled looks and silent responses, Y/N would continue rambling all day.

If she got bored, she would write and owl letters to some other friends, if not Harry, Ron, or Hermione- Hagrid, Sebastian, Daphne, Neville, anyone, really.

At times when Remus and Tonks were gone to join a meeting, some trusted Aurors would be stationed at their house.

See, the entire Order knew about the prophecy and knew that if Voldemort had Y/N, he'd be one step closer to killing Harry.

Y/N still had lots of questions about the prophecy, and about Lily Potter's Sacrificial Protection.

"Not even the Killing Curse would kill him?" Y/N had asked Remus, one day while they were playing chess in the living room.

"Not if he still had Lily's charm," Remus replied, frowning, his eyes fixed on the chessboard. "Knight to E, four."

"But once he's over seventeen-?"

"The Killing Curse would affect him like any other person."

Y/N gulped, trying to find an excuse for the painful truth.

"But why would You-Know-Who need me if he could just- use the Killing Curse?" she went on. "The prophecy said I'd be part of it. It doesn't make sense."

"It's a prophecy, Y/N," Remus replied with a sigh. "Prophecies don't make sense. It's your turn."

Y/N had a feeling he wasn't so keen about the topic. Perhaps he didn't want her to worry- or worse, he didn't want to think about it, himself.

"Is it possible for prophecies to be... wrong?"

"Y/N, I know as much as you do, I swear. Now, let's play."

"But what if-"

"The chess pieces are waiting, kiddo."

"I know, I just thought that maybe-"

"Or I'll have Rolf come over to babysit you."

"Pawn to A, three."

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'Harry,

Hope your day was alright. I went to Ron's place today, Hermione just arrived there. I don't know if you've heard from her, but she just left home, bewitched her parents' memories. I don't know how she did it. She's a strong girl, Hermione.

Everyone else seemed fine. Fred and George were there, they purely enjoy pranking Pansy. Sirius was also there, he's excited to have you over next week. Fleur's ecstatic about the wedding. They all miss you a lot. I miss you a lot.

Keep it together for a few more days and stay out of trouble until they get you out of there. I'll see you really soon.

Love you (not),

Y/N.

P.S. Please give Bamboo some treats, I ran out yesterday and I think he's mad at me :)'

Harry laughed and shook his head, causing Hedwig and Bamboo to stare blankly at him with their owl-like owl eyes.

He reread the letter thrice more, running his index finger through Y/N's handwriting, before folding it neatly and adding it to the stack of letters Y/N had sent him all summer.

Bamboo the owl hooted impatiently by his windowsill. Harry looked at him, smiled, and gave him a generous amount of owl treats.

He then whipped out a piece of paper and his quill, sat down, and started to write to her.

Most of his days were spent in his bedroom, making no noise and pretending he didn't exist, daydreamings about Horcruxes, Voldemort, his friends, and her. Mainly her. Y/N.

Sometimes it would be thoughts of her that gave him that swooping feeling in his stomach- her lips, her smile, the soft cranberry scent of her hair, her laugh.

But sometimes it would be less positive thoughts. Thoughts he wanted to erase from himself.

He'd feel alarmed whenever he reminded himself that Voldemort wanted Y/N captured as much as he wanted Harry.

He knew his connection with Voldemort was strengthening every day.

He would get odd feelings, random flashes of anger, saw more and more visions that weren't his.

Sometimes they'd be short snippets, merely anything. Sometimes they were dream-like, long, and inescapable.

A man, begging for mercy... faces of loyal Death Eaters... Y/N... a dead innocent woman... Nagini the snake...Y/N...

'Dear Niff... It's normal back here.' he wrote. 'The Dursleys are ignoring me most of the time, I don't know if I should be concerned or thrilled. They're supposed to be moved to a safe house in two days. Daedalus and Podmore will be dealing with that.'

Can't wait to get the hell out of here. I want to give you the biggest hug ever. A week to go.

Love you very much (not),

Harry.

P.S. Bamboo enjoyed the treats.'

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A few days later, Y/N found herself huddled on the squashy armchair in their living room, going through some books she thought might be helpful for their Horcrux hunt.

"Do you think we'll need Hogwarts: A History?" Y/N asked Casserole thoughtfully. The puffskein huffed sleepily. "I think so, too."

"Hey, Y/N,"

Y/N looked up from her pile of books and beamed as Remus walked into the living room, followed closely by Tonks, whose hair was hot pink.

"Evening," She said happily.

"Wotcher," Tonks saluted.

"So... what're you doing?" Remus asked.

"Somersaulting," Y/N replied, holding up one of her books.

"Very witty," Remus smiled.

"How was the meeting?" Y/N asked. "Was Sirius there?"

"Yeah, he was," said Tonks. She threw a very quick look at Remus, as if she was nudging him with her eyes.

"Look, Y/N, about the meeting..." Remus cleared his throat.

Y/N just noticed he and Tonks weren't taking their seats. In fact, they were standing a distance away and both were dressed up in their work robes.

"Something's off," Y/N said, now furrowing her eyebrows. Remus' smile subdued and Tonks blew her lips softly. "Wait- are you pregnant?"

"What?" Tonks and Remus exclaimed, looking up in her direction in sync.

"Well, are you?" Y/N asked enthusiastically.

"No! Why would you think that?" Remus half laughed.

"Well, you could've," said Y/N, with slight disappointment. "Well then what's up?"

Tonks took a deep breath.

"Plan's changed," she said seriously, "we're getting Harry out of there today."

"What?" Y/N frowned, shutting her book with a loud clap. "Today? But he's still sixteen- he's still got the trace- Lily's charm-"

"Circumstances, Y/N," Remus cut her off. "We suspect the Death Eaters might know about the original plan, so Mundungus came up with a new- impressive-  one."

"Mundungus?" Y/N almost laughed. "Mundungus Fletcher, the guy that makes money off stolen things?"

"We know, we know," Tonks said understandingly, "but Mad-Eye thinks it's a good idea. We think it's a good idea." Remus nodded in agreement.

Y/N looked between them solemnly. It wasn't her place to object or interfere with any of these people.

"OK," she said, nodding, "That's not too bad news- you two scared me with those looks. So how many people are going?"

"Thirteen."

"Thirteen?" Y/N gaped. She was expecting two, or perhaps three at most. "Why do you need thirteen people? You trying to fill a bus or something?"

"Seven Potters," said Remus.

"Thank you, I completely understand the plan now," Y/N said grimly. "I'm lost."

"That's the plan." Tonks said cheerfully. "We'll have six others take the Polyjuice Potion, turn into Harry, and the other seven will accompany each Harry to a safe house, then they'll take a portkey to The Burrow."

"And these thirteen people are all committed Order members?" She asked.

Remus and Tonks glanced at each other again.

"Yes," said Remus. "Order members... plus Ron and Hermione."

Y/N did a double-take.

"Before you say anything-" Remus said loudly. Y/N shut her mouth bitterly. "-they're all of age. You're not. You can't do magic yet, therefore, you won't be able to defend yourself if anything happens."

"You'll be at the Burrow," Tonks said quickly, "and you know that place, you won't be alone! Molly will be there, Ginny, Pansy-"

"Fine," Y/N said cooly.

"Hmm?" Remus looked extremely taken aback.

"I said fine," Y/N repeated bitterly. "No point in arguing, I'll just waste your time. So when are you leaving then?"

"Er- now," said Remus, still looking pleasantly puzzled. "You have no objections? I mean- don't- but you're not upset you have to stay behind?"

"Negative," Y/N said firmly.

"Alright then," said Remus brightly, "Are you ready? To go to the Burrow?"

"I guess?" Y/N said hesitantly, scrambling to her feet and grabbing Caz from her shoulder.

"You'll be staying there for the rest of summer, Y/N," said Tonks. "Another plan change- Harry'll be staying there as well. My old house would be risky, even with Sirius."

"OK," Y/N's mind spun with all the sudden changes. "I just need to pack-"

Tonks waved her wand swiftly and two bags popped out of mid-air and dropped onto the rug in front of her.

They were the two bags Y/N had been packing for their Horcrux hunt for the past month, along with Bamboo, sleeping in his cage.

"But my clothes-"

"In the small bag," Tonks grinned proudly, pointing to a small pull-string tied to one of the bigger bags. "Expanding Charm."

"Thanks, Tonks, you're the best." Y/N gave her a grateful smile and went over to pick up her bags. "OK... now I'm ready... I think."

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After each giving Y/N a hug and a kiss on the forehead, Remus and Tonks left The Burrow, along with some members of the Order, Ron, and Hermione.

They were traveling to Privet Drive by brooms, thestrals, and Sirius' flying motorbike.

"They'll be alright, dear," Mrs Weasley assured Y/N, after everyone had left. "The Death Eaters won't know about the change of plans."

Y/N nodded, though she couldn't shake the feeling of weariness she had away.

"Come sit here with us," Ginny called, from somewhere in front of their fireplace, where she and Pansy sat on the knitted rug, playing Exploding Snap.

At least there was something to distract Y/N from her worries.

She got up from the dining table and approached Ginny and Pansy with a smile.

"Hey," she greeted them, as she sat down.

"You look terrible," Pansy acknowledged, looking up.

"I'm flattered, Pansy, thanks," Y/N grumbled.

"Just meant your expression," Pansy said quickly. "Why, they didn't let you go?"

"No, I'm still sixteen," Y/N sighed. "Did they let you go?"

"Yeah, but I didn't volunteer," said Pansy, shrugging, "I don't know what's got you all mad, but I'm not ready to risk my life for Potter."

"Understandable," said Y/N, smiling weakly.

"Exploding Snap?" Ginny offered her.

"Sure," Y/N shrugged, and Ginny happily handed out the Exploding Snap cards. "So what've you two been doing this whole time?"

"Hmph, nothing much," Pansy yawned, accepting Ginny's cards. "play board games, listen to Bowie, talk, or- Miss Ginny the Pretty's favourite- forcing me to play Quidditch."

"I don't force you," Ginny defended with a scoff, grinning, "I ask you nicely,"

"Knowing perfectly well I cannot stand staying in with your brothers," Pansy pointed out.

"But most of the time, my brothers play with us," Ginny reminded her.

"Your father then," Pansy said grimly. "He's nice and all but I'm not interested in rubber ducks."

"Oh, but flying isn't that horrible," Ginny smirked, nudging Pansy's arm. "You love playing Weasley Quidditch."

"No, no, I like watching you... guys play," said Pansy.

"If you say so," Ginny crossed her arms. "But you know what they say- you are what you like watching."

"I have never heard that phrase before," Pansy laughed, then turned to Y/N. "Is she like this with you as well?"

"No, she isn't," Y/N said, with a warm smile, "she isn't like this with anyone."

As Pansy busied herself with straightening her pile of cards, Y/N glanced up and met Ginny's eyes, and they both knew.

"You know, sometimes I forget just how absurd this is," Pansy commented.

"Exploding Snap?"

"No, this-" Pansy gestured around the room. "I'm living with the Weasleys, playing Exploding Snap with their awful but dashing daughter and their famous friend, while some secret organization goes on a life-threatening mission to retrieve Harry Potter."

"When you put it like that, it is pretty absurd." Y/N grinned.

"Is it pleasantly absurd?" Ginny questioned, almost challengingly.

Pansy looked up at the redhead and stared at her thoughtfully as if the criteria all depended on her.

"Yes, I'd say so," she said swiftly and returned her gaze to the cards. "Now... who's starting?"

They played for a few rounds, talking over the game about anything they could think of, while Y/N frequently glanced at the door.

Minutes passed, peaceful minutes, then an hour.

Ginny and pansy talked a little more about their Quidditch games, how annoying Ron was, and laughed, as they told Y/N how Fred and George replaced Sirius' cereal with dog food that one time he came over.

"It's all fun until it's you," Y/N laughed, shaking her head. "Where is Sirius, by the way?"

"He's at home," said Ginny, "Tonks' old house. He was a little upset about the plan change, that Harry isn't allowed to stay with him anymore."

Y/N sighed, easily visualizing Sirius stubbornly storming away from an Order meeting after hearing the news.

Suddenly, there was some movement by the door, and the three of them turned, to see Mrs Weasley bursting into the living room.

She looked a lot paler than usual, and in her left hand was an old tin can.

"Everything alright, Mum?" Ginny asked slowly, frowning at her mother.

"This- this was supposed to be Ron and Tonks' portkey," Mrs Weasley sputtered, holding up the can. "from Aunt Muriel's house- they were supposed to- it came back without them."

"What? How come?" Ginny exclaimed, standing up. "Tonight was perfectly planned."

"No, no, no, this isn't happening," Y/N set down her cards and quickly scrambled to her feet. "Are you sure it's not just some- litter?"

She went over to Mrs Weasley and took the can from her hand, though there was no way she could tell if it had been used as a portkey or not.

"Pretty sure litter doesn't randomly appear out of thin air in my yard, dear," said Mrs Weasley.

"They had a plan," Y/N said faintly. "There's no way the Death Eaters could've found out, right? Right?"

She shoved the tin in front of Ginny's puzzled face.

"We can't be sure," Mrs Weasley said in a hushed voice. "It could be a misunderstanding."

Though the mother tried to sound comforting, Y/N could tell by her expression she was also growing worried.

"Who's supposed to arrive after Ron and Tonks?" asked Pansy, frowning thoughtfully.

"The plan was for Arthur and Fred to be second," said Mrs Wealsey, "Their portkey should be arriving any minute now,"

Mutually agreeing, they all rushed out of the door without another word to each other.

Y/N stepped out into the yard, where it was pitch black and chilled with the evening breeze. Still, the air was silent.

They waited by the front door, staring intensely into nothingness in silence.

After a few impatiently waited long minutes, there was a pop in the middle of the field, and an ancient shoe appeared out of the air, spinning rapidly, before dropping to the grass.

Mr Weasley and Fred were nowhere to be seen.

Mrs Weasley let out a worried sob and turned back around and rushed into the house, with Ginny following behind to console her.

"What does this mean?" Pansy whispered over Y/N's shoulder.

"Either the Death Eaters are extremely tactical, or-" Y/N paused, really wishing it'd be the first option. "Or someone from our side ratted us out."

They returned back into the house, in the living room, where Mrs Weasley sat miserably, holding onto her daughter's hand.

Y/N and Pansy took a seat on the floral patterned sofa and the four stayed still and silent.

Silent seconds flew by, then minutes. Half an hour passed, still no sign of anything or anyone.

Pansy occasionally shot Y/N curious questions, which Y/N happily answered to distract herself from the suspense.

Then, after almost an hour of purely waiting, a loud crack echoed from the back door.

Mrs Weasley and Ginny were so startled they both screamed. Y/N was already dashing out of the room, Pansy quickly hurrying behind her.

Y/N knew portkeys only made cracking sounds when they brought people with them.

With so much relief she could cry, Y/N pushed open the back door and ran into the yard.

There, visibly, stood Hagrid, panting heavily, his hair and beard bushier than ever, and right beside him was Harry, looking pale and startled.

Y/N sighed loudly and ran across the field to Harry, not caring if it was the real Harry or someone else- she was simply glad they were alright.

She jumped into Harry's arms and right away, she knew it was the real Harry.

No one else would hug her back the way he did.

Y/N heard Mrs Weasley approaching Hagrid and interrogating him with questions, as she was rocked backward by Harry's strong embrace.

With Y/N tucked to his chest, all Harry could think of was her heartbeats, her shallow breaths, and that familiar scent of cranberry.

He reminded himself to thank Remus and Tonks after, for not letting her tag along the journey. If they make it back, that is.

Moments of relieved silence passed, and they finally pulled away from each other.

"You alright?" Y/N asked Harry faintly.

"I am now," Harry managed out, his voice sounding unsteady, as tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

Someone quietly wolf-whistled behind them and they both turned.

Pansy was standing a few yards away, her arms crossed, an awkward smirk plastered on her face.

"And I tried to break that up," she sniggered.

Y/N grinned and rolled her eyes, then turned back to Harry.

"Where are the others?" she questioned.

Harry's smile dropped instantly and his face paled even more.

"You mean no one's arrived yet?" He asked numbly.

The answer was clearly etched on Y/N's face.

"Oh, Harry, dear, thank goodness you're all right!" Mrs Weasley came over and Y/N backed away slightly, as she pulled him into a motherly hug.

Harry didn't felt like he deserved her embrace at all.

"The Death Eaters were waiting for us," He told her, "We were surrounded the moment we took off- they knew it was tonight. Four of them chased us, and then Voldemort caught up with us-"

Y/N could hear the self-justifying note in his voice, the plea for her to understand why he did not know what had happened to her sons.

"Hagrid has told me, dear, not to worry," Mrs Weasley patted his cheek, giving him a warm smile.

"Haven't go' any brandy, have yeh, Molly?" asked Hagrid a little shakily, "Fer medicinal purposes?"

She could have summoned it by magic, but as she hurried back toward the crooked house, Y/N knew that she wanted to hide her face.

"Ron and Tonks should have been back first, but they missed their Portkey," Ginny explained to Harry and Hagrid, "Dad and Fred were supposed to be second but they missed theirs too."

Mrs Weasley reappeared carrying a bottle of brandy, which she handed to Hagrid.

He uncorked it and drank it straight down in one.

"Mrs Weasley!" shouted Pansy, pointing to a spot several feet away.

A blue light had appeared in the darkness, growing bigger and bigger, then, with a crack, Remus and George appeared, spinning and then falling.

"Remus!" Y/N hurried forwards to hug him but froze mid-way. She knew immediately that there was something wrong.

Remus was supporting George, who was unconscious and whose face was covered in blood.

Pansy screamed. Harry ran forward and seized George's legs and helped Remus carried him into the house and through the kitchen to the living room, where they laid him on the sofa.

The others quickly followed behind.

As the lamplight fell across George's head, Ginny and Pansy gasped and Y/N's heart practically dropped.

One of George's ears was missing. The side of his head and neck were drenched in shockingly scarlet blood.

Suddenly, out of absolutely nowhere, Remus seized Harry by the upper arm and dragged him roughly back into the kitchen, and slammed him against the wall.

"Hey!" Y/N yelled in alarm, hurrying after them. "Remus, let go of him!"

"Le' go of Harry!" Hagrid chimed in, from the previous room. Remus ignored them.

"What creature sat in the corner the first time that Harry Potter visited my office at Hogwarts?" he said, giving Harry a small shake. "Answer me!"

"A- a grindylow in a tank, wasn't it?" Harry blabbered, looking utterly confused.

Remus heaved a sigh and released Harry, then fell back against a kitchen cupboard.

"What was that about?" Y/N snapped, whirling at her godfather.

"I'm sorry, Harry, but I had to check," said Remus tersely. "We've been betrayed. Voldemort knew that you were being moved tonight. You might have been an impostor."

"So why aren' you checkin' me?" asked Hagrid, trying to fit himself through the kitchen door.

"You're half-giant," said Remus, looking up at Hagrid. "The Polyjuice Potion is designed for human use only."

"No, I don't think anyone betrayed us," said Harry.

"Harry, you could be naive sometimes-"

"Voldemort only caught up with me toward the end," Harry said confidently. "he didn't know which one I was in the beginning."

"Voldemort caught up with you?" said Y/N sharply. "Did he recognized you? But how? What had you done?"

"I..." Harry looked slightly guilty. "I saw Stan Shunpike... you know, the bloke who was the conductor on the Knight Bus? And I tried to Disarm him instead of-"

Remus groaned, looking aghast, and Y/N didn't know if she wanted to laugh or yell or hug him.

"Well, he doesn't know what he's doing, does he?" Harry defended. "He must be Imperiused!"

"Harry, the time for Disarming is past!" Remus said with a tinge of pity. "These people are trying to capture and kill you! At least Stun if you aren't prepared to kill!"

"If I Stunned him and he'd fallen, he'd have died the same as if I'd used Avada Kedavra!" said Harry, red in the face.

"Forgive me, but it was a very unusual move," Remus said harshly.

"So you think I should have killed Stan Shunpike?" said Harry angrily.

"Of course not," said Remus, "Expelliarmus is a useful spell, Harry, but the Death Eaters seem to think it is your signature move, and I urge you not to let it become so!"

He was making Harry feel idiotic, Y/N knew, so she cleared her throat and asked Hagrid, who finally succeeding in squeezing through the door,

"So which safe house did you go to?"

"Andromeda and Ted Tonks," said Hagrid, glad she'd changed the subject. "Ther a nice lot. Fixed Harry's broken bones an' all-"

Suddenly, there was a scuffling from outside. Remus whirled around immediately and dived for the back door.

Harry and Y/N leapt over Hagrid's legs and sprinted into the yard.

Two figures had appeared in the yard, and as Y/N ran toward them, she realized they were Hermione, now returning to her normal appearance, and Kingsley.

Hermione flung herself into Y/N and Harry's arms, but Kingsley showed no pleasure at the sight of any of them.

Over Hermione's shoulder, Y/N saw him raise his wand and point it at Remus' chest.

"The last words Albus Dumbledore spoke to the pair of us!" he demanded.

"'Harry is the best hope we have. Trust him,'" said Remus calmly.

Kingsley turned his wand on Harry, but Lupin said, "It's him, I've checked!"

"All right, all right!" said Kingsley, stowing his wand back beneath his cloak, "But somebody betrayed us! They knew- they knew it was tonight!"

"So it seems," replied Remus.

"Who else is back?" Kingsley asked in exasperation.

"Only Harry, Hagrid, George, and me."

Hermione stifled a little groan behind her hand.

"Are you alright?" Y/N asked Hermione worriedly. "What happened back there?"

"We- we saw You-Know-Who," Hermione squeaked. "he joined the chase halfway through but vanished pretty quickly. Y/N, he can-"

"Fly," supplied Harry. "I saw him too, he came after Hagrid and me."

"So that's why he left- to follow you!" said Kingsley, "But what made him change targets?"

"Harry behaved a little too kindly to Stan Shunpike," said Remus.

Kingsley let out a sigh but didn't push further.

"What happened to you, Remus? Where's George?" he asked.

"He lost an ear," said Remus.

"lost an-?" repeated Hermione in a high voice.

"Snape's work," said Lupin.

"Snape?" shouted Y/N, anger suddenly sprouting in her chest. "You didn't say-"

"He lost his hood during the chase," said Remus. "He used Sectumsempra."

Silence fell between the five of them as they looked up at the sky.

The stars stared back, unblinking, indifferent, mocking.

Where was Ron? Y/N thought desperately. Where was Tonks, or Fleur? Mr Weasley, Fred, Mad-Eye, Mundungus?

"Someone, give us a hand!" called Hagrid hoarsely from the door, in which he was stuck again.

Glad of something to do, Y/N and Harry went over and pulled Hagrid free from the door frame.

They then walked through the empty kitchen and back into the sitting room to report the new arrivals.

Mrs Weasley, Ginny, and Pansy were still tending to George.

His bleeding has stopped, but Y/N saw clearly, a clean gaping hole where George's ear had been.

"I can't make it grow back," Mrs Weasley whispered, "not when it's been removed by Dark Magic. But at least... he's alive."

"Yeah," said Harry. "Thank Merlin."

"Did I hear someone else in the yard?" Ginny asked.

"Hermione and Kingsley," said Y/N. "thank Merlin,"

Harry looked down at her and they caught each other's gaze.

Harry wanted to hug her again, kiss her, hold on to her. He did not even care much that Mrs Weasley, Ginny, and Pansy were there.

Before he could act on the impulse, however, there was a great crash from the kitchen.

"I'll prove who I am, Kingsley, after I've seen my son, now back off if you know what's good for you!"

Y/N had never heard Mr Weasley shout like that before.

He burst into the living room, his face gleaming with sweat, Fred right behind him, both pale but uninjured.

"Arthur!" sobbed Mrs Weasley. "Oh thank goodness!"

"How is he?" Mr Weasley dropped to his knees beside George.

For the first time since Y/N had known him, Fred seemed to be lost for words.

He gaped at his twin's wound as if he could not believe what he was seeing and kneeled down beside his father.

Perhaps roused by the sound of Fred and their father's arrival, George stirred.

"How do you feel, Georgie?" whispered Fred.

George's fingers groped for the side of his head.

"Saintlike," he murmured.

"Come again?" croaked Fred. "Is his mind affected?"

"Saintlike," repeated George, opening his eyes and looking up at his brother. "I'm holy. Holey, Fred, get it?"

"Pathetic," Fred slowly grinned. "With the whole wide world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey?"

"I'm still better looking than you," said George, grinning.

"You'll be able to tell us apart now, anyway, Mum." He let out a sigh. "And Harry- you are Harry, right?"

He looked over his twin's shoulder.

"Yeah, I am," said Harry, moving closer to the sofa.

"Well, at least we got you back okay," said George. "Why aren't Ron and Bill huddled round my sickbed?"

"They're not back yet, George," said Mrs Weasley. George's grin faded.

Harry glanced at Y/N and slowly roamed for her hand. Once their fingers intertwined, they headed back outside. Ginny and Pansy followed.

"Ron and Tonks should be back by now," Ginny said in a low voice. "They didn't have a long journey. Auntie Muriel's not that far from here."

Harry said nothing. He had been trying to keep fear at bay, but it seemed to crawl all over his skin now, throbbing in his chest, clogging his throat.

As they walked down the back steps into the dark yard, Y/N squeezed his hand gently.

It amazed Harry sometimes how well she knew him, how she knew exactly what to do.

In the yard, Kingsley was pacing backward and forward, glancing up at the sky.

Hagrid, Hermione, and Lupin stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing upward in silence.

None of them looked around when Harry, Y/N, Pansy, and Ginny joined their silent vigil.

The minutes stretched into what might as well have been years.

The slightest breath of wind made them all jump and turn, in the hope that one of the missing Order members might leap appear.

And then, after ages of waiting, a broom materialized directly above them and streaked toward the ground.

"It's them!" screamed Hermione.

Tonks landed in a long skid that sent earth and pebbles everywhere.

"Remus!" Tonks cried as she staggered off the broom and into Remus' arms.

His face was set and white, as he let out a long breath and hugged his wife tight, his eyes closed.

Ron tripped dazedly from the broom and Hermione immediately darted at him, just as his face turned from Harry back to his own.

She pulled off his glasses, threw them aside and they crushed each other with relieving hugs.

Y/N and Harry let the two have a few seconds before joining in.

Despite whatever anyone might say, the four were most relieved now that they knew, between themselves, they were all unharmed.

They finally broke free from each other and exchanged faint smiles.

"Ron was great," said Tonks warmly, relinquishing her hold on Remus and giving Y/N a hug. "Wonderful. Stunned one of the Death Eaters, straight to the head, from a flying broom."

"You did?" said Hermione, gazing up at Ron with her arms still around his neck.

"Always the tone of surprise," Ron said a little grumpily, breaking free. "Are we the last back?"

"No," said Ginny, from behind them, "we're still waiting for Bill and Fleur and Mad-Eye and Mundungus. I'm going to tell Mum and Dad you're okay, Ron."

She ran back inside, leaving Pansy standing awkwardly in front of them, glancing between Ron and the grass in front of her.

"Glad you're alright, Weasley," she finally mumbled. Ron blinked at her blankly, not sure what to say, then nodded.

"Thanks," he mumbled back, and she turned on her heel and disappeared back into the house after Ginny.

Perhaps it was the time spent together in the same house that made them have at least some sort of odd familial bond.

"So what kept you? What happened?" Remus sounded almost angry at Tonks.

"Bellatrix," said Tonks. "She wants me quite as much as she wants Harry. She tried very hard to kill me. I just wish I'd got her- but we definitely injured Rodolphus, her husband..."

"We got to Aunt Muriel and she was fussing about how we missed the portkey," said Ron grimly.

A muscle was jumping in Remus' jaw. He nodded, but seemed unable to say anything else.

"So what happened to you lot?" Tonks asked, turning to Harry, Hermione, and Kingsley.

They recounted the stories of their own journeys, but all the time continued the absence of Bill, Fleur, Mad-Eye, and Mundungus.

Just as Kingsley and Hermione finished off their side of the story, Mr And Mrs Weasley came racing down the back steps, Ginny behind them.

Both parents hugged Ron before turning to Remus and Tonks.

"Thank you," said Mrs Weasley, "for our sons."

"Don't be silly, Molly," said Tonks at once.

"How's George?" asked Lupin.

"What's wrong with him?" piped up Ron.

"He's lost-"

But the end of Mrs Weasley's sentence was drowned in a general outcry.

A thestral had just soared into sight and landed a few feet from them.

Bill and Fleur slid from its back, windswept but unhurt, and strode towards them quickly.

"Bill! Thank Merlin, thank Merlin-"

Mrs Weasley ran forward, but the hug Bill bestowed upon her was perfunctory.

"Mad-Eye's dead." He announced in a low voice, stopping before all of them.

Nobody spoke, nobody moved.

Y/N felt as though something inside her was falling, falling through the earth, leaving her forever.

"We saw it," Bill continued. Fleur nodded, tear tracks glittering on her cheeks. "It happened just after we broke out of the circle. Mad-Eye and Dung were close by us, and- Voldemort appeared."

Fleur shuddered and Y/N put an arm around her comfortingly.

"He could fly. Dung panicked, Mad-Eye tried to stop him, but he Disapparated. Voldemort's curse hit Mad-Eye full in the face, and he fell..."

A chill was sent down Y/N's spine as she tried to push away the picture of Moody's falling lifeless body.

"We could do nothing," Fleur wept, "about twenty of them were chasing us, we could do nothing."

"Of course you couldn't have done anything," said Remus.

They all stood looking at each other.

Mad-Eye dead- it could not be... Mad-Eye, so tough, so brave, the consummate survivor.

At last, it seemed to dawn on everyone that there was no point in waiting in the yard anymore.

In silence, they followed Mr And Mrs Weasley back into the Burrow, and into the living room, where Fred and George were laughing together.

"What's wrong?" said Fred at once, scanning their faces as they entered, "What's happened? Who's-?"

"Mad-Eye," said Mr Weasley, "Dead."

The twins' grins turned to grimaces of shock.

Nobody seemed to know what to do.

Tonks was crying silently into a handkerchief: She had been close to Mad-Eye, his favorite and his protégée at the Ministry of Magic.

Hagrid had pulled the tablecloth up to dab away his tears

Bill walked over to the sideboard and pulled out a bottle of firewhisky and some glasses, then poured the sizzling drink into fifteen of them.

"Here," he said, and with a wave of his wand, he sent full glasses soaring through the room to each of them. "Mad-Eye,"

"Mad-Eye," they all said, and drank.

"Mad-Eye," echoed Hagrid, a little late, with a hiccup.

The firewhisky seared Y/N's throat, but she didn't care.

She was drowned with the sense of unreality, numbness, the harsh realization.

Now that they'd lost someone, so close, so brave, so dear- it would only get worse.

She was suddenly grateful for the previous month she'd spent, isolated and warm, though sometimes bored, there were no deaths. She was protected.

They were all protected, just kids, just adults that wanted the best for the world.

But that was before. That was long gone...

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

A/N ~ There was a lot of running back and forth this chapter, but I've always liked the book version of this scene.

Rolf and Sirius'll be there next chapter, I unfortunately couldn't fit them in this one :/

Hope you all are having a nice summer<3

-ScribblingQuills