Jenny's POV

I scattered the old photos across the bed, looking them all over. I found several of her with Meghan from when they were my age, one of her with a woman who must have been Mrs. Delacour, and an older couple behind them, their parents. My grandparents. I shuffled through them, finding more with her and some others. There was a photo of her and a rather pretty redheaded girl, who I assumed was Harry's mom. Then there was one of her, James, and Lily. It seemed as if James had jumped in at the last minute next to Lily, whose face turned sour as he squished next to her. Michelle's face had brightened significantly at the couple's escapade. I smiled, a warm feeling of comfort and longing rising in me as I saw clearly how close she was with them. In another world, one where they had lived, perhaps we could have been happy from the start. With no Voldemort, could that exist? Could James and Lily and Michelle and Sirius have lived happily? Could Harry and I have been neighbors- friends from the start?

I picked up a photo of Sirius and Michelle, spinning around happily, oblivious to the fact that their life would soon spiral downward. Or perhaps they did- maybe she knew all along. But as I looked into her eyes, I knew that no matter what she knew, she felt as if the only thing in the world was Sirius. I felt an intense yearning as I realized it would never happen. We would never be able to be with them again.

My mind wandered to Harry, wondering where he was right now. What he was doing. Was he on the trail of a horcrux? What would we do if we found one?

I thought of the horcruxes that I knew of. There was the diary, which Harry had destroyed with a basilisk fang second year. The ring, which I had…

Just then, I had an epiphany.

I had destroyed the horcrux in the ring with the Sword of Gryffindor. The sword was in a glass case in Dumbledore's office. It was then, I realized, that I had to retrieve it if we had any hope of destroying any more horcruxes.

/

I munched on a granola bar, I'm really getting sick of these. I'd been living off of them alone for days, but today was different. Today, I was going to execute my plan.

The Marauder's Map was one of the things I had kept in my pouch, thankfully. It was essential to my survival, today. Now that I'm of age, I can use magic without worrying about the trace. My plan was to apparate in, grab the sword, and get out as few complications as possible. Of course, if Harry were here, he'd try to stop me, seeing as I have no wand- but what choice do I have?

I took a deep breath, folding the Marauder's Map and slipping it in my pocket. I took one last fleeting look at my old home before spiraling into nothingness.

I reappeared in the Gryffindor common room, which looked rather dreary compared to how I remembered it. The fireplace had gone cold, not a single flickering ember in its wake.

"Jenny!" a familiar voice called out. I turned to see Ginny sprinting toward me, her arms instantly wrapping around me. "You're alright! Thank goodness-"

"Ginny," I said, ending the hug, "I need to get into Dumbledore's office"

"Technically it's Snape's, now"

"What?"

"Snape's been appointed headmaster. It happened soon after the Ministry fell, Voldemort wanted control of the school, sent over Snape and a couple of death eaters. They're like his bloody body-guards, I swear-"

"Jenny, what are you doing here?" Neville came over, sparking an idea.

"Please- I need your help," I said, "Neville, Ginny, I need to get into Du- Snape's office. It'll be dangerous, but-"

"If you need us, we'll be there," Ginny said, looking up at Neville, who smiled and nodded.

"Great," I said, "you two will have to hold off Alecto and Amycus Carrow while I get in the office"

"What do you need to do in the office?" Ginny asked.

"I've got to get the sword. I can't tell you why- it would put you in danger," I said, recalling the various ways death eaters could try to get answers out of you. It's best not to have them.

"It's been like a ruddy prison with Dumbledore gone and death eaters around. Just tell us what to do," Neville said, his face set with determination.

"Right, so, we're going to go down to the office, you two hold them off and I'll slip inside. When I'm done, I'll be apparating out, so after a minute or two, you guys can run for it," I reached into my pouch and pulled out a bit of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, "here- use this"

Thanks to the Marauder's map and my devious travels through the dark abandoned corridors, we got to the entrance of the headmaster's office without running into anyone, however, the two death eater siblings were patrolling the area.

When we were close to the door, Ginny dropped the powder and I made a run for it. The unmistakable sounds of a battle ensued as I climbed the stairs, blasting the office door open. I ran straight for the sword, already knowing where it was kept, as I'd seen it posted in its case before.

I stretched my arm toward the sword as I ran. "Diffindo!" The glass shattered, the sword exposed.

"Stop. Right. There." A slow dangerous voice spoke behind me. I slowed to a stop, turning cautiously to face Severus Snape. I was so close… the sword just barely in reach…

But I couldn't get it without Snape having the opening to hex me, so I took initiative and shot a curse at him.

He seemed a bit surprised, even impressed, at my wandless magic. I knew, however, that if it was my wandless magic against his with a wand, especially, I was at a disadvantage.

Just then, Amycus burst through the door. I knew I was going to be overthrown if I stayed any longer, so I made a break for it and reached for the sword.

"No! Not that sword!" Snape shouted as I leapt at it. All at once, my fingers came in contact with the cool metal of the sword, a tug pulled me back from behind the navel, and darkness swept over me. I realized immediately that Amycus had intercepted me, his form swirling through nothingness with mine. I bypassed my old house, trying to shake him off partway but ended up landing with a crash in Grimuald Place.

I found myself on the kitchen floor, and dove behind the counters to avoid spells. I scooted to the corner before he managed to climb to his feet.

"Petrificus Totalus!" A sound thump shook the floor as his body fell to the ground.

I dared not move. Who had cast that spell? I crawled forward a bit, the frozen form of Amycus coming into view. Behind him stood his attacker. My eyes slowly rose until I met his eyes-

/

Harry's POV

A ruckus came from the kitchen, and I jumped to investigate, my wand at the ready. I found a death eater, one of the siblings that had chased Jenny and I last year, scrambling to his feet on the tile.

"Petrificus Totalus!" I shouted, his body suddenly going rigid, falling to the floor like dead wood.

What had he been doing here? How did he get in? Why was he on the floor?

I slowly stepped forward, looking down at him as if it would somehow answer my question.

"Harry!" I turned to see Jenny leap up from behind the counter, her clothes rumpled and her hair disheveled, as if she'd just been in a brawl.

"Jenny!" my face lit up as she ran toward me. I opened my arms, wrapping them around her, "you're alive!"

Ron and Hermione, who had followed me to the disturbance, ran into the kitchen and took in the scene.

"Jenny!" Hermione cried. I let go of her so they could hug.

"Blimey! Have you been on your own this whole time?" Ron said as he took his turn hugging her. I wish I could go over there and take her back, feeling as if I needed to feel her body against mine, reassuring me that she was actually here.

"Always the tone of surprise," she laughed, "I had no choice"

"What happened after we left? Where did you go after the Burrow?" Hermione asked.

"The battle didn't last long, most of the guests disapparated and they overtook us pretty quickly. They took our wands, and when no one would give up any information, they started-" she stopped, as if editing what she was saying, "interrogating us"

I wasn't fooled for one second. I assumed the worst.

"I was first," she continued, "they had my wand, they figured out who I was. I had to get out," her eyes started welling up. I swept across the room, instantly by her side.

"They're alright," Ron said, "Dad sent his patronus. He said the family was alright"

Jenny took a deep breath and sported a watery smile before continuing, "I went to one of my old houses where my mom and I stayed. I camped out there for a few days, 'til I was of age, then I went to Hogwarts-" her eyes shot open and she suddenly turned and searched the room ravenously.

"What? What is it?" I asked, suddenly alert.

"No! I just had it! How could- he must have-" she rambled on, searching the floor behind the cabinets. "It's gone!"

"What's gone?" Ron asked.

"The Sword of Gryffindor! I snuck into Hogwarts to get it, but then I ran into Snape and-" I felt my blood boil at the name, "he must have taken it as I was apparating." She stood still, then, as we all weighed what had happened. The only tool we knew could destroy horcruxes was in Hogwarts. Jenny had gotten it, if only for a moment-

"I can go back-"

"No," I said immediately, "it's too dangerous- they'd see you coming. Besides, they've probably moved it by now…"

"What are we going to do with him, then?" Ron said, walking up to the death eater. "Kill him? He wouldn't think twice about doing the same to us"

"No, we'll wipe his memory, but we have to leave Grimuald Place after that. We can't come back," Jenny said, her face hard, as if she were thinking of something with great intensity, as she looked down at her attacker. She bent down and picked up his wand.

"My wand was taken at the Burrow," she explained, aiming the wand at Amycus as she rose to her feet. "Obliviate"