Harry didn't think anyone was more horrified than he was.

In the face of the news, the invisible wall that had started to come down between them rose back up with a force. He didn't know how to talk to them. He knew the Exorcists were there because it was their job – in some fashion – but because of it, one of them now suffered a life-changing curse that would never go away. Not even long after this war was over.

It was one thing to die in the line of duty. It was another to suffer from a wound for the rest of your life.

Harry couldn't escape the guilt. He thought often of Lupin, who had never quite accepted the curse even after so many years. Of the way the man was treated by other people, the pains he went through, the uncertainty and self-distrust.

Hermione's coping mechanism seemed to be to avoid Kanda in any way she could. She left the room when he entered and deftly avoided acknowledging him in conversation. When the man wasn't around, Harry often caught her staring into space and chewing her lip.

Ron avoided more than just Kanda – he seemed to do his best to pretend none of the Exorcists were around if he could help it. When he couldn't, he interacted with obvious reluctance, as if he expected them to turn on Harry at any moment.

Yet the Exorcists themselves were… normal. Lavi kept joking and Allen was as polite as ever. Kanda's avoidance of them was really nothing more extreme than it had been before, and as far as Harry could tell, Kanda was always irritated and short-tempered.

Things became a little better after the first night – Mr. Weasley sent a Patronus to update them on events. Everything was okay, the Ministry was watching them, and whatever Harry and friends did, do not contact them. Hearing it from Mr. Weasley himself was one burden, at least, lifted from their shoulders.

During their dreary days of boredom and half-hearted planning, Harry made a discovery.

R.A.B – the person who took Voldemort's locket – was Regulus Arcturus Black, Sirius' brother. Harry's hope of finding the locket was dashed when Kreacher revealed that Mundungus Flecher had stolen it. Hearing the entire tale from the house elf – the cruel way Kreacher had been forced to drink the poison guarding the locket and left for dead afterwards – inspired a surge of kindness.

Harry gave him the fake locket to remember Regulus by. Kreacher underwent an entire attitude change, overcome with gratitude. He was more than willing to find Mundungus and bring him back when Harry asked, but he did not return that night.

He took to wandering and, for lack of a better word, snooping. He found half a letter from his mother to Sirius that filled him with bittersweet happiness. He missed them. He thought, briefly, about the tale of the Millennium Earl.

If he had approached Harry with the promise of returning any of his loved ones, would Harry have agreed?

#

He made frequent trips to the kitchen; he was sure that was where Kreacher would appear. He half expected to walk in one day to find them there already.

During one such check, Harry left the sitting room and entered the hall, only to freeze. Outside the front door came footsteps and the sound of the locks rolling open. He yanked his wand out, feeling like he'd received an electric shock, and pointed it towards the door.

The intruder wore a black cloak to hide their features. The door shut softly, and when the ghost of Dumbledore appeared in all its haunting glory, they calmly said, "It was not I who killed you, Albus."

Dumbledore turned to dust and disappeared. In the following dust cloud, he heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed.

"Don't move!" he yelled. He'd forgotten about the portrait of Mrs. Black and the curtains flew open. She screamed with an intensity he hadn't heard before, foregoing her insults and even understandable words for simple screams of rage. Ron, Hermione, and Allen came rushing out at the noise and Hermione sent the curtains closed with a swish of her wand.

When the dust settled, the stranger had one hand up in surrender. Kanda held his sword to their throat and Lavi had twisted the other arm behind their back. Harry hadn't seen either of them sweep by.

They looked at him for direction, and for the first time in years, Harry felt like he had some semblance of control.

"Hold on!" The stranger gasped out. "It's me, Remus!"

Kanda yanked back their hood to reveal Lupin's face, but weren't immediately mollified. They looked to Allen, who nodded.

"Sorry about that," Lavi said, not sounding apologetic as he released Lupin's arm.

"Don't be," Lupin said, rolling his shoulder and wincing.

But Harry wasn't entirely mollified either. "Prove it," he said. "Prove you're Remus Lupin."

"I am a werewolf," Lupin said with complete confidence. "I'm sometimes known as Mooney, one of the four creators of the Marauders Map. I'm married to Nymphadora – usually known as Tonks – and I taught you to perform a Patronus, Harry, which takes the form of a stag."

Harry relaxed and lowed his wand. "Oh, alright. Had to check, didn't I?"

"Speaking as your ex-Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I quite agree." Lupin gave a look to the others. "You shouldn't lower your defenses so quickly."

"Oh, don't worry," Lavi said, patting Lupin's shoulder as he passed. "We didn't."

Kanda sheathed his sword and moved to a less crowded area.

"No signs of Severus, then?" Lupin said.

"We've seen some Death Eaters loitering outside, but not Snape." Harry shook his head. "No one's tried to come in."

They moved toward the kitchen to talk more comfortably.

"I did see them," Lupin said. "But they can't know you're here or else there would be more. They're staking out any place you have a connection with, Harry. There's a lot to tell you, but I want to know what happened after you left the burrow."

Hermione lit the grate with her wand as they took seats and settled. It might have been cozy if not for the lingering darkness.

"I'd have been here sooner, but I had to shake the Death Eater trailing me," Remus added. "Did you come here straight after the wedding?"

"No. We came here after we went to Tottenham Court Road and ran into a little trouble in a café," Harry said.

"What? What kind of trouble?"

"Death Eaters." Ron grimaced at the memory and couldn't seem to help glancing at Kanda. "But we're alright."

Lupin nodded thoughtfully. Hermione shifted restlessly, face twisting in guilt and worry, and barely lasted a few beats before she burst, "Greyback!"

Lupin looked at her sharply. She continued. "Greyback was there too. He led them. We made it, we weren't seriously hurt, but…"

"But what?"

"…But Kanda was bitten!" It came out in such a rush that it took a moment for everyone to dissect it. Kanda gave an impatient huff as Lupin spun to stare at him. He was practically an unemotional statue no matter how long Lupin stared, until finally Lupin looked away, covering his eyes with a hand.

"I admit I didn't expect much from you," he said softly. "But something like this…"

"Sir," Allen said hesitantly. "This disease – is it at all possible to be bitten but not contract it?"

"No. It's in the saliva, and once it enters your bloodstream, there's no hope for you. And there is no cure."

"Well…" Lavi rubbed his chin, looking into the distance. "Yu is a pretty weird guy. I wouldn't write him off entirely just yet."

"What do you know of magic?!" Lupin hissed, leaning forward on the table. "Of magical diseases or medicine?! There is no cure. There is no chance your friend isn't doomed. It's too late!"

"Save your breath," Kanda said roughly. "Be grateful and forget it."

"Forget it?! You don't understand!" Remus jumped to his feet. Allen and Lavi followed at almost the same time, and more slowly, the rest. "You will transform every full moon. You will become nothing more than a mindless beast – if you're not careful, you'll kill your very own friends and never care until you transform back. And then what?! You'll be this way for the rest of your life!"

"If they can't defend themselves from a 'mindless beast', they deserve to die," Kanda said. His words caused Lupin's face to contort in rage and grief, and Harry glanced over in his own shock. Neither Allen nor Lavi seemed surprised.

"Calm down, Remus," Harry said. "Why don't you tell us how everyone's been doing?"

At first, it didn't appear Remus would play along. He wobbled on the edge of his emotions until he suddenly sat with a huff. When he spoke again, his voice was raw.

"Kingsley's appearance and transformation threw everyone in a panic, but there weren't any fatal casualties. The Ministry came and searched the Burrow from top to bottom at the same time Death Eaters forced themselves into every Order-connected home in the country. They burned down Dedalus Diggle's house and used Cruciatus on Tonk's family; they're alright."

"How horrible," Hermione whispered.

"They got through all those protective charms?"

"What you've got to realize is that the Death Eaters have the full might of the Ministry on their side now, Harry." Lupin sighed softly, rubbing his temples.

"Nobody said we'd have to fight a whole government," Lavi said with a frown.

"Nobody said we'd have to deal with akuma either," Ron said coldly.

"Here," Lupin interrupted. "This is how they're covering up. You would've found out sooner or later."

He pulled out a newspaper and handed it to Harry. The front page held a big bold title, 'Wanted for questioning about the death of Albus Dumbledore', just over a picture of himself. He set it aside without reading the full article; he knew what it would say.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Lupin told him sincerely.

"So Death Eaters have taken over the Daily Prophet now?" Hermione said furiously. She received a nod, and she rubbed her eyes too hard. Allen looked over her shoulder and politely asked if he could see the newspaper. She handed it over without a second thought.

"Surely people realize what's going on?" he said.

"Why should they? It was all quite smooth; The official version of Scrimgeour's murder is that he resigned. He's been replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is under the Imperious curse."

Lavi whistled lowly. "I'm going to assume by the name alone that that isn't good. I guess the world really is against you; wouldn't want to trade places."

"Gee, thanks."

"It's not the whole world. There are still people willing to protect Harry," Lupin said firmly. "Less now, I suppose, now that the Ministry has confused people with the accusation of Dumbledore's murder. But there's the Order of the Phoenix; and you are still here, aren't you?"

"Not to be rude," Allen said, handing the paper to Lavi. "But the only reason we were allowed to step in was for the Innocence. Komui says the Vatican is paying very close attention to this mission – I think the only reason three whole Exorcists were assigned here was because we aren't exactly their favorites. Apparently, they don't think well of wizards."

"Are you in some kind of trouble?" Hermione said, folding her arms. "They're willing to put you in danger just because they don't like you?"

Their hesitation to answer made Harry suspicious. It was Lavi who shrugged and said, "Let's just say the guys up top don't think much of Exorcists. We're just tools – means to an end. In fact, after this mission, it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't like Exorcists because Innocence does have some resemblance to magic."

"Allen made it sound like they didn't like you three in particular."

"The beansprout is always getting himself in trouble. It's a little deeper every time," Kanda said with a snort.

"And everyone knows you're not loyal to the Vatican!" Allen snapped. "And that's not even getting into your horrible personality."

"Neither are you." Kanda shrugged. "You don't care about the order or the Vatican; you care about the people. And the akuma." He made it sound like an insult, sneering. "If the Order fell, would it even matter? As long as we can destroy akuma, it doesn't matter who sits in the church."

Allen scowled but didn't argue.

"And you?" Hermione looked at Lavi. "If Allen breaks rules and Kanda is unpredictable, why don't they like you?"

"Me?" Lavi pointed to himself with a grin. "Well, they didn't have much of a choice but to send me. Who else would keep these two in check?"

Harry wasn't convinced. Lavi wasn't excluded by Allen, and there was just something about him that Harry found… lacking. But Lavi was clearly not going to offer it and the other two didn't look inclined to either.

"Is there anything else, Remus?" he said.

Remus told them about how the Ministry was making school attendance to Hogwarts for all magical kids mandatory, and about how they were making Muggle-borns register. Apparently, they believed that if a Muggle-born couldn't prove they had a magical ancestor, then they were believed to have stolen their magic – and how they'd managed to do that, Harry didn't know.

He felt for all the children who wouldn't see the real Hogwarts this year.

Then, Lupin said, "I'll understand if you can't confirm this, Harry, but the Order is under the impression that Dumbledore left you a mission."

"He did," Harry said. "Ron and Hermione are in on it and are coming with me… and so is Allen, Lavi, and Kanda."

It would be suicide to leave them out. They'd already proven several times that, Muggle or not, they were dead useful. And he just couldn't guarantee his, Hermione, or Ron's safety if they ran into more akuma.

"Can you confide in me what the mission is?"

"If Dumbledore didn't tell you, I don't think I can, Remus. I'm sorry."

"I thought you'd say that." Lupin looked visibly disappointed. "But I might still be of use to you. You know me, Harry, and what I could do. I could help you. With protection-" here, he glanced at the exorcists, "-or anything else. You wouldn't need to tell me what you were doing."

It was tempting. For all that he'd acknowledged the Exorcists as useful, they knew very little about magic. Remus was experienced and smart; he would know things even Hermione wouldn't.

And Harry didn't want to leave him behind. He wanted Remus' familiarity, the comfort of his presence. He was a reminder of what Harry was fighting for.

But he would unbalance them. There were three Exorcists, and three wizards. And Dumbledore must have kept his mission from the Order for a reason.

"What about Tonks?" Hermione said.

"What about her?"

"Well, you're married!" she exclaimed. "How does she feel about that?"

"Tonks will be perfectly safe. She'll be at her parent's house."

That didn't ring right. Lupin sounded cold and Tonks – Harry knew Tonks. She'd demand to be on the battlefield with every other Order member. Why would she agree to stay home?

"Is everything alright?" she questioned tentatively. "You know… with…?"

"Everything is fine, thank you," he told her pointedly. She blushed in embarrassment. Nevertheless, after a few moments of silence, he spoke as if forcing himself, "Tonks is going to have a baby."

"How wonderful!" Hermione squealed.

"Congratulations," Harry added as Ron nodded enthusiastically. Harry thought he saw Lavi and Allen exchange a look; the kind where they knew something that he did not.

"So what do you say? Will you accept my offer?"

Harry hesitated again. "Just to be clear: You want to leave Tonks at her parent's house and come away with us?"

"She'll be safe there, they'll look after her. I'm sure James would have wanted me to stick with you, Harry."

"I'm not. I'm pretty sure my father would have wanted to know why you aren't sticking with your own kid, actually," he said flatly.

Lupin paled. It was if the temperature dropped.

"You don't understand," Lupin said, ignoring Kanda's scoff.

"Then explain."

"I made a grave mistake marrying Tonks. I did it against my better judgment, and I've regretted it ever since."

"I see. So you're going to dump her and the kid and come run off with us?"

Lupin jumped to his feet, his chair overturning. For the first time, Harry saw the wolf in him. Kanda was immediately behind the werewolf, but Lupin didn't seem to notice.

"Whenever you have seen me, it was amongst the Order, or Hogwarts! You have no idea how the Wizarding world sees people like me! When they know what I am, they can barely talk to me! Her own parents are disgusted by our marriage! I've made her an outcast, and the child-"

When he grabbed at his own hair, Lavi stepped up near Ron and Hermione, who seemed slightly reassured by his presence. Allen stood back, frowning but otherwise relaxed.

"My kind don't usually breed!" Lupin shouted. "It will be like me, I know it, and how can I forgive myself when I knew the risks and did it anyway? And even if, by some miracle, it is not like me, it will be a million times better off without a father to be ashamed of!"

"How could any child be ashamed of you, Remus?" Hermione cried, tears gathering.

"I don't know, Hermione, I'd be pretty ashamed," Harry said, eyes narrowed. Lupin paled– he appeared as if somebody had hit him. "My father died trying to protect my mother and me, and you think he'd tell you to abandon your kid and go adventuring with us?"

"How dare you?" Remus shook. "This is not about – about personal glory – how could you – how dare you suggest such a thing?"

"Really? You know, I never would have guessed; the man who taught me to fight Dementors – a coward."

Harry hadn't known the man could draw his wand so fast. It was out before he could reach for his own. He saw a flurry of black, and then a loud bang. He was thrown back into a pair of solid arms. He knew instinctively that it was Allen; the Exorcist was the only one behind him a moment ago. He heard struggling, and then in his ear,

"It may be none of my business, but I think you went too far," Allen whispered.

"You're right, it's not any of your business!" Harry snapped as he was gently pushed back onto his feet. Kanda restrained Remus by the arms.

"Let him go!" Hermione cried. "Remus, please!"

Kanda let Lupin go with a small shove; Lupin spun and stuck his face near Kanda's, hissing, "Just see what you've gotten yourself into. This will be you someday – and you'll regret it then, I bet."

"Unlikely," Kanda said, ignoring the man when Lupin swept from the room.

"Harry! How could you?" Hermione wailed when the front door slammed shut.

"It was easy," Harry said.

"You shouldn't have said that stuff to Lupin," Ron told him.

"He had it coming. Parents should never leave their kids alone unless – unless they've got no choice."

That Lupin had been willing – had asked – filled him with rage. What if Lupin died and never came back? He made it sound as if that was what he wanted, and Harry just wanted to break something. How dare he use Harry's mission as an excuse, as an escape-

"I agree," Allen said, surprising him. "I lost my father, Mana. I know how it feels. Lupin was being irresponsible and cruel."

Harry distantly realized that it was the first time he'd ever heard any of the Exorcists give any personal information that didn't relate to their jobs – even when Allen told Harry about his master, it was in relation to the golem he used for work. And he'd never asked, had he? He had just kind of assumed they didn't have lives, but they were people. They had families.

"But there are always two sides to a story," Allen said. "Nothing is ever easy, and it's almost never the same as it first appears. I don't know Lupin like you do, but I think there is more to the story."

Harry squeezed his eyes shut until his rage had cooled. "I shouldn't have called him a coward."

"No, you shouldn't have," Ron said.

"But he's still acting like one."

"All the same…" Hermione whispered, glancing at Allen.

"Let's take a breather," Lavi said. "Emotions are high. Everyone's getting a little stir crazy, stuck in this house. I think we all just need a little 'me' time."

"And where would we find some of that?" Harry mumbled.

Lavi gave a tight grin. "Well, I plan on finding some in a nice, hot shower. Enter at your own risk."

#

Awhile later, Harry sat with Ron and Hermione. The Exorcists had each gone off on their own.

"I think they're probably right," Hermione said. "These close quarters aren't doing anyone any favors."

"We can't leave without a plan," Harry said with a sigh, slumping in his seat. "We just can't risk it."

When Ron didn't chime in, they looked to find him with a far-away expression.

"Something wrong, Ron?"

"Just thinking," he said. When they continued to stare, he scowled. "I'm serious. I'm just thinking."

"About the Exorcists?" Hermione leaned forward with startlingly fierce curiosity.

"I just don't understand them! They're Muggles, right? But they're nothing like Muggles!" Ron burst out. "Have you seen the way they move? It's not natural! They've told us all this stuff about the akuma, and a little about their Order, but it still feels like they're keeping a bunch of secrets."

"I mean, was it just me, or did it sound like Walker was hinting that they were in a lot of trouble?" he continued, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "To the point their bosses don't care if they die? Or, at least, are the most expendable? And Lavi – what was with him? He wouldn't give a straight answer."

"They're not obligated to give us their life stories," Hermione said. "Their Order sounds a little cruel… I mean, they recruit children. Is it really surprising if they're not on good terms after that?"

"But how do they get to be – like they are?" Ron ran a hand through his hair. "I've never seen people move like them. We still don't know what Innocence really is. And why it's named like that. Is it why they recruit children? They're supposed to be 'innocent'?"

That was a troubling thought.

"I have a hard time imagining they still are, though," Harry said with a wince, recalling in particular the very moment Kanda had cut off Fred's arm.

"They've helped us," Ron said. "But I don't trust them. I think they'll abandon us the minute their bosses decide it's not worth it – they've already said they don't like us."

"Not so long as there's Innocence on the line," Hermione said. "Wherever it is…"

Unless they knew exactly where it was and was just waiting for a chance to get it. A chill went through Harry; they seemed like good people… but were they really on the same side?

"We just have to be careful," Hermione said. "We need them. And right now, they need us. I don't believe they'll abandon us the first chance they get."

They looked at Harry, who gave a small nod. What choice did they have?

A shout came from the kitchen, followed by shuffling and Allen yelling, "The house elf is back and – oof – he brought company!"