Erin sat at the table in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place working on the homework that the teachers were sending to her. Remus was homeschooling her. Dumbledore had deemed it unsafe for her to return to Hogwarts with Umbridge there. None of the kids had been happy about that, but they would see her at Christmas and Dumbledore thought she might be able to come back then after they set some precautions there. Umbridge was told she needed some time to heal still after almost dying the previous term. Kreacher was standing in front of her on the table. For Hagrid she was writing a parchment on the anatomy of House Elves. The old elf just stood there while she drew him wearing his uniform. He submitted to the slight probing of his long ears for the sketches Erin was doing of him. "They've been gone a week now." She said to Molly who was cleaning up after dinner.

"Yes, I suppose they have. I'm sure they're missing you, dear."

"I miss them a lot. I had Harry for such a short time this summer…but at least Dad isn't alone for awhile. I just worry about Harry with that awful Umbridge woman."

"I do too. I don't relish a meeting with her. And this is her one sheet of parchment of what she would like me to do." She pulled it out amongst the stacks the other teachers had sent, "Ahem. 'Please, read and copy out the chapters of 'Defense Against the Dark Arts: A Return to Basic Principles' and we will see you after Christmas when you have recuperated. Sincerely, Dolores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic and Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft of Wizardry'."

"She's not allowing the students to practice defensive spells." Molly sighed. "Arthur mentioned it. No one is too pleased about that seeing as we know what's going on and Fudge refuses to see it. What about the rest of your school work?"

"Professor Snape is setting on some advanced potion making and I will be sending them to him by owl in a package. He will grade me on the potions. McGonagall and Flitwick have sent me a list of spells to practice. They'll test me on them when I get back. Binns just told me the chapters I'll need to study. Hagrid trusts me to just do some papers on the creatures of my choosing. Trelawney sent me chapters and sent me a crystal ball and other things I can use to practice Divination. I have chapters and essays for Muggle Studies, Astronomy, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy. For Professor Sprout I'm raising some plants and keeping a daily journal for it."

"I'm sure that will keep you busy."

"I'll need to keep busy and I've roped Dad into helping me. He's agreed to teach me to duel…you never know when you'll need those skills."

"No, you don't." She sighed. "I worry about my children having to duel. We lost so much last time…"

"You lost almost your entire family."

"Yes, I did…I lost my brothers. I haven't thought about it in a long time. They were like Fred and George…twins, you know. Fabian and Gideon were always together. Always wanted to do everything together and they did. Gideon was married and had a daughter. You go to school with her. Her name is Felicity."

"Ravenclaw."

She nodded. "We don't see them much…haven't since Ron was little. Felicity was less than a year they were killed."

"It's hard growing up without a parent."

She nodded again. "I'm glad my children didn't have to go through that and I'm sorry you did and Harry did."

"I'm just glad I was able to get my father back. I should have had him this entire time."