"But…my lord…there was nothing we could do…the spell…"

"Do you think I care about your petty excuses? I wanted that information, and you were tasked with getting it….you FAILED me Marie…" At the sound of his voice she recoiled slightly, but she couldn't help a feeling of infatuation…the authority he wielded, the power of death at his fingertips; it sent shudders up her spine.

"Yes my lord….I've failed you…but the link is still alive! If you will but spare me for a little while, long enough for him to leave their precious hideout, I can lead you straight to him, and to the other members…no one else could gain such information." She saw the turn in his eyes…the snake retracted the venomous look, and the tone he used now was more delicate….the anger still hovered in the back of Voldemort's throat, but he had restrained it just a hint, if only to please his own love for control.

"You do have a point, Marie Mohre…until he immerges, stay out of my sight. You may consult with one of my more CAPABLE followers." She slid from the room, taking one final glance back at her Dark Lord before closing the door behind her. In the empty hallway, she couldn't help but smile.

"I never thought I'd say this but….I can't wait to see you again Nathan."

As Dumbledore left the room, Nathan was tempted to run after him….he couldn't rationally explain why, but there was something comforting about the presence of his old headmaster. He pushed the childish notion out of his aching mind…he hadn't had a real father when he was young, he certainly didn't need one now. Now Nathan was left with the beginnings of a hangover and completely alone…how completely different the world could be in just a day…

"I need to sleep." Rubbing his head groggily, the former Auror made to stand and tipped over, the alcohol hitting him in full force now and blurring his vision to the point where the hallway seemed at least a football field away. Struggling to get up, he felt his arms begin to buckle and let himself drop back to the ground, mouth hanging open as he rolled himself on his side; that way if he were to vomit during his sleep he wouldn't drown in his own throw up.

"A most dishonorable way to go…" he stammered, closing his eyes and letting sleep overtake him.

"Nathan…Nathan…are you awake?" Having to shield his eyes against the bright light, the former Auror had to fight the queezy feeling in his stomach, swallowing it down as he recognized the voice of Hermoine Granger.

"Do you want a cup of coffee or anything? You look terrible." If he could have done so, the hung over wizard might have laughed…but currently his entire body hurt, from the night of drinking and the previous days battle….his aging body was not recovering as well as it once had….

"I hate coffee….and before you think about tea I hate that too…" Nathan couldn't keep the grumbling tone out of his voice….she was trying to help, but it was still too early in the morning as far as he was concerned. If he could have seen her face, her defiant look would have been a reminder of the one who was still missing him back home…

"I'm sorry I don't know what you DO like, but you don't have to be RUDE about it!" she snapped back at him, completely unaware of the circumstances. As far as she knew, he had simply gone out on a binge.

"No apologies necessary Miss Granger…but if you could help me up into that chair, I'd appreciate it." Taking her slender arm for support, the aching wizard pulled himself up into the same piece of furniture he had fallen into the night before, the same place where he had talked to Dumbledore and come face to face with a heavy decision…

"If I may ask, why were you laying on the floor? There are plenty of beds…""Because I didn't go to sleep, I passed out. When you get older, you'll discover its an art form to manage to pass out on the floor and not with your head in a toilet." Watching a moment of shock cross the witch's young face, the quick reversion back to her disapproving look had to near a world record.

"Coffee is a supposed remedy for hangovers, but its been proven that it doesn't actually help scientifically. Since you've obviously been in this situation before, what do you suggest to help you out of this condition?"

"Well normally it'd be time or more liquor…but since I have to be leaving soon…""You're leaving?" There was some measure of disappointment in her voice, and Nathan had to wonder whether this was some schoolgirl crush or genuine friendship. Studying her closely, the still inebriated wizard saw that this was harmless concern, and thought bitterly about how paranoid the world had made him.

"Not until sometime tonight. I have to let this wear off first." Pushing himself up from the chair with surprising strength, Nathan let the world spin a little before looking down into Hermoine's brown eyes and using them to focus.

"Another mission for the Order?" Taking a second, the wizard debated whether he should tell her anything at all…but he decided a little information might seethe her boiling curiosity.

Shaking his head "no" slowly(as to avoid the sharp pain he could almost guarantee to strike him) the new Order member began to stagger towards the kitchen and nearly pitched over an ottoman, a quick, reflexive grab by Hermoine the only thing keeping him vertical. Waiting for him to regain his equilibrium, the bushy haired young witch began her questioning anew.

"Well if it isn't for the Order then what…"

"Its personal Hermoine. Extremely personal." Beginning to feel his body start to unwind, Nathan hesitantly walked through the hallway to the kitchen, being thankful the only people to be seen was a young, red-haired boy and Sirius.

"Good to see you've finally rejoined the living." Black remarked, Nathan grunting in reply and falling into a chair beside him, Hermoine nearly leaping after him after it appeared he was literally falling.

"Not by choice I assure you." Taking his wand out and sitting it on the table, Nathan thought carefully about what he wanted to eat before deciding against the whole idea entirely. It was still too early.

"So what's with the empty kitchen?" Looking at Sirius and hoping for a change of subject, the beleaguered man instead was answered by the young man in front of him.

"Well, it is 2 o clock in the afternoon." Checking the clock hanging on the wall, Nathan was dumbfounded.

"At least that only leaves about 8 hours til nightfall….should be long enough for me to recover."

"I don't mean to be rude but….who are you exactly?"

"Nathan Pierce. You?" Fighting the temptation to lay his head down on the table for fear of falling asleep there, Nathan's normally heavy-lidded eyes looked almost closed as he gazed up.

"Ron Weasley." Extending his hand, Nathan noticed the firm grip…

He had to have had brothers

Chuckling, Nathan turned back to Sirius, who was noticeably grimmer than he had been last night.

"So what's wrong?"

"We had a discussion this morning and apparently I've been asked to stay here. Some of the Death Eaters who escaped recognized me and had the Ministry raise my alert level. They don't know for sure where I am, but the alert level has been raised and now its been decided I should stay here until things calm down…' The disappointment in his voice was evident, 'and that, when you leave, I won't be able to come with you."

Nathan made to protest this decision, but there was too much wisdom for even he to rebel against. And, at the end of the day, it was better for Sirius to be stuck in his parent's house than in his former cell in Azkaban.

"Well, if I find a good fight I'll send you a message. You're one of the best duelists I've ever crossed wands with." Clapping his old friend on the back, Nathan decided he didn't much care to stay awake anymore, letting his head slowly droop down onto the table as restful sleep began to overtake him. Feeling a sharp shake on his broad shoulders, Nathan groggily stammered;

"What's wrong?"

"You can't just FALL ASLEEP on the kitchen table. Its rather improper…."

"Have it your way madam." Rising , Nathan nearly tripped over Hermoine as he cursed his dulled reflexes and began to head up the stairs.

"Are you going to sleep?" she called after him, the groggy wizard mumbling back.

"No…" Before heading on his way.

As the hours slowly ticked by, he wandered like a restless soul through the Noble and Most ancient house of Black….noticing the portraits and the many prized possessions….things he didn't care to have but found could speed up his departure if he pondered them long enough. Bypassing several more red-haired youngsters(two boys and a girl), the wizard wondered how many children they could possibly have….one had always seemed too much a bother for the former Auror.

"I wonder if there will be any more portraits hung upon these walls…."

"I doubt it." Sirius had apparently taken to the same trek as his comrade, leading him to the room where the Black family tree was painted upon the wall.

"I'm sure I'll be the last of the Blacks…though if I had my way, I'd tear this place down brick by brick and build a new house…."

"You can tear down buildings Sirius, but you can't tear down the memories that haunt you from them." As a note of silence fell between the pair, Nathan thought back to his own childhood home, and how, with the exception of his mother, he would not return there unless dragged, kicking and hexing, by no less than a hundred Aurors.

"Its true….do you have plans for children some day? I know you used to be violently opposed to it…."

"Nothings changed on that front. Its seems we are the last of our houses old friend." Turning, Nathan decided to go check on the time….this being his 30th trip to do so, as Sirius spoke over his shoulder to him.

"I don't know about you, but I won't be dying anytime soon."

"With all my heart I hope you live forever." Sirius was taken back by the rare sincerity in Nathan's voice. Turning to see if he was merely being teased as was the former Auror's want to do, all the ex-prisoner could see was the defeated slump in the shoulders of his fellow Order member.

"It's 9:30.…but couldn't you just look out a window to see if it's the right time or not?" Dismissing Ron's logical reasoning with a wave of his hand, Nathan hoped the young lad didn't think he was cross…after all, he seemed genial enough. Striding to the end of the kitchen, content with a full belly, Nathan bowed to the assembled group settling in the kitchen after a well-cooked meal.

"I'm afraid I will have to bid you adieu'." Leaning backwards out of the doorframe, Nathan heard the chorus of goodbyes and noticed a young, spirited, proper voice in particular was not among them. Heading to the door, the former Auror pulled up short. His senses really were deserting him, as the presence at the door of that certain voice had gone unnoticed.

"I wish I could help you…I…I heard about your brother, Franklin…." The frustration and sadness in her voice almost dragged Nathan back to his depression, but he steeled himself against it. Setting his shoulders, he struggled on…

"Well Miss Granger, I was just thinking about that. You're a knowledgeable young witch; you wouldn't happen to have heard anything regarding the whereabouts of a Reno Roberts?"

"Actually, there WAS a report in the Daily Prophet. He has been taken to a holding facility while the Ministry "sorts him out" before trial. It's completely unfair and considering all he's done…"

"Hermoine…as much as I would love to hear your dissertation on the trial policies of the Ministry of Magic, I'm slightly more interested in the location of that holding facility." Watching a bit of the air deflate out of her as she skipped out on a speech she may have been preparing for hours.

"The exact location wasn't revealed, but in my research I would have to support the idea that he's being kept must be in the Ministry as he hasn't been taken to Azkaban yet. I don't understand why you need to leave so soon…." Nodding his thanks, Nathan extended his hand, shaking hers firmly before making for the door.

"Will you at least try to stay safe?" As the former Auror gripped the doorknob, he turned back to catch a last look, and allowed a just a hint of a smirk to lighten up his face.

"Nope." With that parting remark, he slid through the doorway, closing the door behind him and disapparating almost immediately.

He had a date with the Ministry.