Briar York stared up at Grimmauld Place, waiting patiently as the building had begun to shake- revealing number 12. She had only been here twice, both for major meetings she had been ordered to attend.
Despite still being a student of Hogwarts, Briar had been permitted under certain circumstances- and after promising a seething Mrs. Weasley that Briar wouldn't say a word to any of the Weasley children- to join the Order of the Phoenix. Her father, an esteemed Auror, whom she had worked under during her own training, had protested the idea of her joining- but being a legal adult had its perks.

At the door into Headquarters, Briar had remembered not to knock or ring the doorbell- prior to Mrs. Weasley's instructions- and opened the door only enough for her to slip through. Her relief to be in a secure building was short-lived- when a small body had hurled itself at her, croaking out obscene words and accusations.

"Filthy, vile beast! Desecrating the sanctuary of the Noble House of Black!" whatever it was had a tight grip on her hair, and was beating her down with its fists. Briar was screeching, trying to extract it from her scalp. "Filthy bloodsucker, come to feast on Kreacher's Mistress! Kreacher will protect his Mistress!"

The sound of footsteps and more shouting filled the hall- dusted curtains flew open, the hall was filled immediately with a horrible, toe-curling scream.

"Kreacher!"

"Flesh as pale as the moon it stalks under! Reeking of death-"

"Get off me!"

"Blood traitors and mudbloods- spoiling the Noble House of Black!-"

"Someone shut that picture up! - Kreacher, stop at once!"

The house was suddenly filled with abrupt silence as curtains were jammed closed, and the House Elf in her hair clattered to the ground, paralysed by a direct order.
Briar was panting from her struggle, hair amuck and eyes wide. She gave a hesitant smile, "Hey, everyone."

Briar was seated with a hot mug of coffee in the kitchen; Mrs. Weasley was kind enough to fish out a comb and repair Briar's distraught hair.
"How did Harry's relocation turn out?" Briar questioned, flinching as Mrs. Weasley tugged on a particularly painful knot.

"It was flawless," Sirius replied, sounding almost bitter. "Although I wish Dumbledore had let me go instead of Remus."

Briar gave him a bland look, "You can't exactly go marching into a Muggle complex with a ten grand bounty on your head."

Sirius scowled, crossing his arms, "I could have easily gone in disguise; I'm going stir crazy in here!"

Briar gave a hefty sigh, thanking Mrs. Weasley, and draining her cup. "I don't know what I should tell you, Sirius." She murmured.

Sirius dropped his arms, "Give me permission to leave this-"

"No." she stood abruptly, "I can't risk it- your too important to both Harry and-"

"-We thought we heard your musical tones.-""-although it certainly has been a while."

Briar swivelled from where she stood, her heart throbbed almost painfully. A grin stretched over her face, matching Fred and George Weasley's. Within seconds arms were around her with a loud 'pop' sound. Briar laughed, squeezing them both tight, "Passed your apparition test then?"

"With flying colors," said Fred, a handsome grin on his face. Briar chuckled, "I'm glad; I failed at least twice before passing." She looked thoughtful, "I lost at least ten inches of hair the first time I tried."
George tugged on a wavy strand- her hair had once been to her mid-back, but now rested slightly past her shoulders. "I thought it looked shorter- certainly less thick as well." George mused.

Fred snorted, "Since when were you so keen on hair?"
George sniffed indignantly, brushing back his own well-groomed locks. "Since always, it's why I'm the better looking twin."

Briar shook her head, grinning. She was always fond of their little exchanges- but she had things to discuss. "Fred, George." She called their attention, "I've missed you quite a bit, but you're going to have to scatter. I have to make a report for the Order."

Fred have an angry cry, "Not you too! You're not even out of school yet!" Briar shrugged, "Special circumstances; I am a qualified Auror, and an adult. I'm an asset to the Order whether you consider it valid or not."

Fred shot George a disgruntled look, which George shared- they glanced at her once more before turning on the spot and disapparating. A pop somewhere upstairs told her they were still in the house.
Briar sighed, her frame sinking in sorrow. Mrs. Weasley touched her shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile, "Don't worry about it, dear. I'm sure they'll come around; I'll help you write up the report if you'd like."

Briar gave Mrs. Weasley a weak smile, "Thanks, I appreciate it." She tossed a look over at Sirius, who had sunk low in his chair, nursing a fizzing drink of what looked to be firewhiskey. "Don't get hammered now, I've got word on the manhunt for the notorious Sirius Black."

Briar gave a mighty yawn as she sat up, blinking tiredly.- In a flash she drew her wand and glared blindly around the room. She dropped her tense shoulders, exhaling in relief as she remembered she was in a safe place.

Briar rubbed her face, staring at her tired expression in a cracked mirror. The last she had remembered was writing up a report on trailing Lucius Malfoy, with little results.
"I must've passed out, I couldn't remember the last time I slept," she muttered to her reflection, which had yawned back at her. Someone must've moved her to a bedroom; the unfamiliar surroundings had triggered a defensive reaction. "I'm getting as bad as Mad-Eye." She grumbled.

"Or as crazy!" the mirror cackled back.

"Good morning," Briar greeted, stepping down into the kitchen having showered and changed into new clothes.
"It's noon actually," Sirius corrected her; he was sorting through what looked to be a photo album.

Briar wasn't surprised, although she had expected to sleep longer. "What do you have there?" she peeked over his shoulder, waving her wand to charm the kettle into making coffee.

"Old school photos," Sirius thumbed through pictures, "I found it when I was sorting around my old bedroom."
Briar raised an interested brow, "Can I see?" She took the album and flicked to a random photo, snorting at a Fourth Year Sirius. "Nice hair," she commented.
Sirius flicked her ear, "Still better than yours."

Briar flicked him back, skimming through the remaining photos, stopping at a familiar face. She eyed the photo greedily, although she tried to make it seem as if she wasn't too desperate. "That's your mum," Sirius told her unnecessarily.
Briar brought a finger to touch her mother's grinning face. She had seen photos of her mother before, but she had never seen the resemblance. Sirius stroked the photo with his thumb, smiling nostalgically and turning his eyes to her face, "You're exactly like Celeste, in both looks and personality."
The woman in the picture certainly did have wild blonde hair, and sharp blue eyes- although her face was much sharper, and her brows were creased in a permanent surprise. She was laughing in the photo, swatting a young Remus in the arm from under a youthful Sirius's arm.

Suddenly, Briar snapped shut the album, startling Sirius. "Yeah," she cast a glare at the album, "I know."

With a mug of coffee in her hand, she left a bewildered Sirius downstairs in the kitchen.
She was brooding, anger alight in her eyes. She glared into a hallway mirror. Certainly she looked like her mother-but she wasn't exactly like her… Right?

A pop on either side of her caused her to jump in fright, her hand instinctively reached for her wand-
"Bloody hell, Briar. You're just up?" Fred exclaimed, wrapping his hand around her wrist and tugging her into the draw room. Mrs. Weasley, Harry, Hermione and Ronald were all dampening a kicking curtain with some sort of spray.
Briar snagged a rag from an arm chair and tied it over her nose and mouth, stunning a doxy with her wand as it flew at her.

"Nice one," George commented, pocketing the doxy slyly. Briar rose a brow- noting that both Fred and George's pockets were bulging rather suspiciously.

"Good, you're finally up." Mrs. Weasley halted her attack, moping her brow. "Why don't you take over for me and I'll go make some sandwiches?"
Briar accepted the spray, and resumed the attack until the curtains were quite still, and two large buckets were filled to the brim with doxies.

It had been a while since she had done household chores- Briar shivered at the state her old home must be in.
Fred and George sidled up to her, elbowing her sides. "So what's it like in the Order,-""-and how long have you been serving?"

Briar eyed them warily, but replied nonetheless, "Busy- and I joined of the school year last year-. " She shot a look at a suddenly attentive Harry, and lowered her voice, "When that Diggory boy was killed, I decided to join- I'm rather thankful for my early birthday."

George eyed her with interest, "What did your father say?"
Briar pretended to be very interested in adjusting the nozzle on the spray can. "He- uh…" she looked almost saddened, but swallowed harshly putting on a brave face. "Rurik said that if I chose to partake in defying the Ministry, he would no longer accept me as his daughter."

The twins fell silent- unsure what to say and how to comfort her. Briar gave a hearty shrug, masking her face with a carefree grin. "It doesn't matter much anyways, I'm used supporting myself and I-"

"Oh shut up," Surprisingly, it was Hermione who spoke. Obviously, despite their low murmurs, the entire room heard every word that they had exchanged.
Briar's brows furrowed with insult, "Pardon me?"

Hermione merely continued to wipe the dust off of a rattling desk, "You're not alone when it comes to support, you know. You have the entire Order, as well as us. You'll be perfectly accompanied I think you'll find."

Briar broke out into a grin, "Why thanks, Granger."
Hermione merely sniffed indignantly, turning back to her cleaning.

"Sandwiches!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, pushing the door open with her foot as she hovered a large tray of cake and sandwiches above her head with her wand. Briar started over, helping Mrs. Weasley fit out trays and had begun to eat herself.

"Harry, dear. Come eat before all of it is gone," Mrs. Weasley called. Reluctantly, Harry strode over. Taking a plate and biting in.
"Oh, and Harry, wash your hair tonight. I'll iron out your nice jeans and shirt."
Harry nodded, thanking her.

Briar snapped her fingers, "Ah, that reminds me. I'll be overseeing you as an escort to the Ministry."

Harry looked over at her in mild confusion, "I thought I was going with Mr. Weasley."
"Oh you are," she assured him. "But I'll be providing you with extra security, Dumbledore's orders of course."
Harry turned his eyes down to his half-eaten sandwich, "You're well in the Order, then?"
Briar nodded, her eyes suddenly starry. "I believe what you say is true, Harry. Lord Voldemort is back."

I HAVE RETURNED WITH THE SEQUEL!

I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!

-AL