One quick sheath of the dagger and…

It was over. At least this Battle was. The Death Eaters wouldn't make another attempt in this area of Diagon Alley unless they could reclaim the corner shop again. Or, the shell of the shop. There wasn't much left.

Both Sides had been wounded badly with the Battle. The Death Eaters might not have gained ground but it wasn't as though The Order had enough Members left holed up in Diagon Alley to be able to fight back. If the Death Eaters managed to increase their numbers…

But, that wasn't a certainty. Not only because it was pessimistic (and Hell if you couldn't cling to something then you'd be killed soon enough) but all involved in the War knew that… Never knew what would be thrown at you.

Could never ascertain even what would happen the next day.

I glanced over at my Fighting Partner. The one who had slumped against the wall of the crumbling building once we had gained some distance between ourselves and the other Groups of Fighters… Couldn't show weakness, especially towards others who relied on you to be at your best when making a Stand against Death Eaters.

Then doubt would set in, and a Collective Groups of Fighters who didn't believe they could depend on each other to give the Group the best fighting chance… Those were the ones that were hit with rumours. The ones that were refused to be included in Missions until…

The number of Fighters left after all of these years had dwindled. No matter how hard The Order and all its World Wide Affiliates recruited, they couldn't make up the numbers that were killed. And so every Member…

Being the only two of our Kata (Group) currently Stationed in Diagon Alley earned us less room for such signs of weakness. Too many strangers and Allies who cared more for our Fighting abilities than for our emotional welfare. There was only the small hole in the wall that the two of us slept in that could be viewed as a place…where we could relax.

'Only one little report to fill out,' muttered my Fighting Partner, scrubbing his forehead (and the lumps of his grimy hair that fell over it) with his fist, 'to send off and then I can bloody well remind myself what this –sleep- thing is.'

I snorted in reply.

'So replying to our dear sister isn't on the agenda?' I said, stifling a yawn as my body informed me that it had definitely passed the three day limit I had imposed on myself over reasonable lack of rest.

When had I last slept anyway? This Battle with the Death Eaters had lasted a day and a half (there had been the fall of night), but before that… There had been that influx of Aurors, caught by the Scouts on the old entrance into Diagon Alley. The Leaky Cauldron had long ago stopped serving as a viable…point of entry.

'She's lifted her nose from those books in the library?' said my Fighting Partner, raising an eyebrow as he fought against his own yawn. 'Who pulled her out this time?'

I shrugged, before realising that the pulled muscle in my back had not been –helped- along in its' healing with the last Battle. It was twinging ever more now, and undoubtedly…

Hell, Healer Olivia wouldn't have improved her bed-side manner since the last time I had been under her care.

'Arrived two days ago,' I muttered, 'so whoever it was arrived at Hogwarts just before then.'

'Could be anyone then,' said my Fighting Partner, 'but they did bring news if she's writing to us.'

My lips twitched.

But hopefully, not any that would pull her hopes up. She didn't depend on much to get her through her days anymore, but there was certain information she could learn about that would…cause problems.

If someone began spreading another rumour that-

'It won't be That,' cut in my Fighting Partner's cool voice, though it was tempered by anger. 'If it was That then…'

He gave a shake of his head.

'Then it wouldn't only be our sister writing to us,' he added.

No, it wouldn't only be our sister who would be unable to contain their excitement and would have to write to them. There would also be the eldest…

A gentle hand on my shoulder. No pressure of course. My Fighting Partner knew how much damage I had done to it.

'We can read it now,' murmured his Fighting Partner.

The –to make me feel better- was unsaid, but implied. I always felt as though… not enough had been done to make sure that the ones hurt by Their Leaving… Once the rage had died down, the emptiness that had been left behind…

Too many lives ruined because of…

'Get it out,' said my Fighting Partner. 'No one is going to disturb us here.'

Reason why the two had slipped into this alley in the first place. Far enough into the Grounds Controlled by Order Members to ensure safety, but also one that barely fit the pair of them.

A bit too cosy for other Groups.

But perfect for just two of a Kata scattered across the United Kingdom. It was the only good point to the Kata not being together.

At least they were all in the same country.

At one time…they hadn't been. His brother's reaction to his Loss had made him disappear. Run away from Hogwarts and… Merlin, it had three months before he had been tracked down. Nearly would have escaped again, only…

Bundled all of them together, kept them there until…

The end result hadn't been… what I had been hoping for. I hadn't wanted either of them out of my sight until I was sure that they were not just on the Road to Recovery, but were quite up there. But, I'd been over-ruled and…

'Hey,' whispered my Fighting Partner, gently touching my arm. 'Reading the letter will help. With everything. And dear brother of mine, you really need to sleep.'

He gave a wave with his other arm.

'Food,' he added, before leaning in to sniff my neck, 'and a wash…can come later.'

Couldn't fight against the twitch of my mouth. He was worse off than me in the smell department. He had slipped and fell in the remains of something as we had ducked behind one of The Order's barriers. But…

He did have a point.

Knowing what was in our sister's letter would ease my mind enough that I could…

'Along with the report back to the Elders,' said my Fighting Partner. 'We've got hardly anything different to report than anyone else, so I'm sure we can get a sleep in beforehand.'

I snorted.

Hardly something the Elders would agree with. The passing of information was one of their priorities. One that dominated over everything else. And usually I would agree, as that was what kept The Order and their Affiliates safe. But…

But I needed to look after myself first this time.

Slipping my hand into my waistband to pull out the little pouch hidden there, I carefully untied the string to tug out the carefully folded letter. I had already sent back the owl (undoubtedly this had pissed off my sister for not receiving instant mail back) to give me less to worry about. Didn't want her owl annoying me as that stupid thing had the no concept of self-preservation.

There was a reason why it had under the care of Magical Creature Specialists numerous times.

And first glance proved… that the owl's owner was just as bad.

23rd September 2002

Dear TweedleDee and TweedleDum,

If I receive one more little present from either of you I'll… What part of I'm not interested in these little trinkets you keep finding in Diagon Alley do you not understand? I don't care if they are Muggle and will brighten up my Living Quarters. I have enough nonsense shit in there already, because you're not the only one who finds it all amusing-

Well, if that was her first point of attack against them then maybe…? Maybe the news wasn't that bad. Maybe it wasn't something to be worried about.

-When Sirius returned, he very kindly brought back a little treasure box. Exactly what he thought I could possibly put in there, I don't know.

Yes. Yes. I know. Remus has already pulled me aside. Told me how Sirius feels that he needs to overcompensate when it comes to me. But handing over my latest present before disappearing again…

I hate it when Sirius is up to something, especially when even Remus doesn't know. Finding Sirius in the library the next day, waist deep in books doesn't help matters. He wouldn't even let me sit near him. He went and secreted himself away in the far corners-

I swore.

No, there was something to be troubled about. Not something new, this wasn't the first time that Sirius had been keeping something from everyone else, including Remus, but when Sirius fell back into that kind of nature…

Hell, it could be anything.

The last time Sirius had tried to hide himself from everyone else, he had taken to haunting the dungeons of all places until my eldest brother had returned to Hogwarts and…

I gave a slight shake of my head.

Last time, Sirius had come across information that… Merlin, they still didn't know who had written all those papers on the early movements of the Death Eaters. All had been compiled together even before the Second War had been Declared and had been…typed.

Who had had a typewriter in Hogwarts?

But Sirius had grabbed all the information those reports had provided, double-checked everything against the numerous logs kept in the Hogwarts library for safe-keeping and spoken to many people, and kept at it until…

No one was exactly sure how Remus had convinced Sirius to not spend nearly every minute of his life on it. How Remus had managed to lead Sirius onto other projects and now those papers…

Sirius only paid attention to it now…during his actual spare time.

What if-?

-Remus isn't the only one who has had words with Sirius. McGonegall cornered him quick enough and threatened him with Detention. Told him it would be the entire Great Hall if he didn't spend more time with everyone else. That has brought him out more, but still…

He's going to be sent out again in another couple of days. I think the Elders hope that pulling him away from his resources that he loses himself in will keep him from starting it all over again, but… I highly doubt that.

Remus is trying to convince the Elders to let him accompany Sirius, but the Elders want him going out on a Task with Bill. I don't know what, no one will tell me.

Probably to make sure that I don't start asking to be allowed to do Tasks outside of Hogwarts again.

All Missions at the moment are short-term. The Elders are hoping that everyone will be finished by the time the next Hogwarts Meeting is. So I'm expecting both of you back at Hogwarts in a week's time.

If all goes well, I think Kingsley will be heading your way. He's currently bouncing from one Base to the other (his current health has caused him to be made into a Messenger until he finally recovers) but he'll be picking you up so that all three of you can arrive for the Meeting together. Not sure of the sense of this, but the Elders want it that way.

But that doesn't mean you can pass on –certain items- to him. He and the rest of the older Fighters do not –help- to cause mischief-

I snorted.

Kingsley was one of our main suppliers, distributers and appreciators of the special items myself and my Fighting Partner picked up on our travels. We were hardly contributing or encouraging to Kingsley's own tendency to encourage such behaviour. Our sister on the other hand…

She was nasty enough with her punishments. She might not prank anyone but her attention to detail when she wanted to threaten someone…was second to none.

Anyone with half a brain did not want to get on her bad side.

And in her mind, her attempts were for a good reason. Anyone else's…

Rarely.

Unless she believed it was the best method to make someone pay.

-The Elders are in a bad enough humour as it because of Sirius and of the latest news about the Major Battle. Don't give them even more reason to be pissed off at our Kata.

I'll talk to you soon.

Be safe.

I love you.

Ginny-

Keeping her safe left his sister in close proximity to the Elders. The ones who remained in Hogwarts for the most part didn't travel often, and with the added bonus as the Elders were inclined to put it, of Members of The Order being troublemakers…

Anger seemed to have become their usual staple behaviour.

Combine his sister's annoyance at being kept at Hogwarts for her own good, the never-ending temper of the Elders about the antics of their Kata and of course, I couldn't forget the actual damn War…

Ginny was more liable to be given Detention than the rest of the Kata, simply because of the close quarters.

My Fighting Partner suddenly snorting cut me from my thoughts.

'I have a feeling that she might have bumped into someone or something that the Elders aren't happy about,' he said, cocking his head.

Hell, if she had it wouldn't have been a pretty sight. There were quite a few Groups that Ginny did not get along with, not counting the Idiot and his Lapdogs and of course several organizations. She never held back when she was faced with any of them and the Elders…

The Elders had gone as far as to Ban both Sides from seeing each other. If Ginny saw any of them walk onto the Grounds of Hogwarts, she was expected to disappear and not exchange a word with them.

It was the same for the other Group.

Of course, this rarely went to plan. None from that Side ever seemed to realise that the Elders had done this to try and stop them from being wounded. They just…

So, one of them would say something and Ginny wouldn't be able to keep herself from retaliating. And then moments later… The Group was wounded, Ginny was shrieking and the Elders not only got a headache but also had to untangle yet another mess.

Sometimes I would almost swear that if Ginny wasn't a Healer specifically Stationed at Hogwarts for a reason, the Elders would be sending her as far away from any potential –argument starters- as possible.

'Fuck,' added my Fighting Partner, 'I've got an even better feeling that it's probably someone who Percy has to deal with… Ginny's going to have to procure a very good present to make up for him having to deal with that.'

I stared at him.

'Why do you think it's one of the True Wizards?' I said.

My Fighting Partner barked out a laugh.

'Because she knows that if she hurt the Idiot or any of his Lapdogs,' he said, 'or any of the Groups that she has problems with, we'd be perfectly fine with that. So, she'd tell us that she had gotten into another fight with them. One of the True Wizards though…'

He shook his head.

'Any arguments with them make it harder for Percy to deal with them,' my Fighting Party added. 'She knows she shouldn't. So when she does…it's only a hint. So… I think she has.'