CNGB: Thank you! Your review just made my day:) I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Hanalei: Thanks for reviewing! Yes, the end was painful for me to write:( but it was necessary. I didn't really mean for James to sound less mature, just that he didn't witness what happened at the Leaky Cauldron, so (like any other twelve-year-old kid, I'm assuming) he didn't really care about it much. But anyways – hope you like this next chapter!

RoseQuartz1: Thanks for the review! And yes, I think Kyra would totally be stoked over a fight:)

Friday

December 27th

2:30 p.m. – Peridot Manor

It was amazing how quickly the mood within Peridot Manor had shifted during that hour. Hardly anyone spoke; Kyra had finally ceased her excited yammering about the fight and opted for silence. Hugo and Lily played quietly off to the side, neither of them knowing what to say or do, and therefore kept out of the adults' way. The women mostly just cried; Mallory needed nearly a quarter of the hour to recover before she could pull herself together enough to quickly pack the few belongings she had. Ben merely sat in the corner, speaking to no one.

Harry, at the other side of the house, sat alone on the step he and Al had had their talk several nights ago, his elbows resting on his knees and his head down. No one, not even Ginny, knew he was here – and that was fine with him. Like during their years at Hogwarts, he still preferred to be alone when he was feeling upset.

Just as was thinking this, however, a door off to the side opened. Harry looked up, and saw Al standing on the threshold. Neither said anything for a few moments.

"How is she?" Harry finally asked, turning his gaze back to his shoes.

"She's hanging in there," Al walked over and sat down beside his dad. "She's packing right now."

Harry nodded, and silence fell. Al simply watched his father out of the corner of his eye.

After a minute or so, Harry sighed, lifting his head and absently fingering the scar on his forehead. "It's all my fault, Al." he said despondently, moving his hand up to run over his messy hair. He gave a humorless chuckle. "Typical, really… I try to help out a friend, and then…" he trailed off, unable to finish.

"If it wasn't for you, Ben and his mum would probably be dead right now. Or they'd be held captive by Aengus or something," Albus said seriously. "You probably saved their lives."

"Even so, look at what it cost them," Harry still stared at his shoes. "Mallory will probably never see her son again, and that is my fault."

"Stop it, you know that isn't true," Al said firmly. "McGonagall wouldn't let that happen."

"Professor McGonagall. And she might, we have no idea what's going to happen…"

"You're right – we don't know," Al affirmed. "Everything could still turn out to be okay, then, right?"

Harry was silent, his manner doubtful. Albus stood up.

"When you feel up to it, you should come into the parlor," he said. "The Auror'll be coming any minute now." Al turned and walked away without a second glance.

Harry's eyes stayed trained to the ground.

~/~

The Auror arrived at Peridot Manor at exactly 3 o'clock. He came by Floo Powder – this was requested by McGonagall, for Mallory still disliked Apparition. However, the young woman looked rightly horrified when she saw the parlor fireplace burst into green flames and the spinning figure of a man appear in the fire before her and the entire room of people.

After a moment, the man stepped out of the hearth: he was of large, muscular build, his hair cut short and as dark as Al's. He was very handsome, his attire being indistinguishable from a Muggle's: a crisp white button-down shirt rolled up to the elbows, dress slacks, and polished shoes. A silver badge was pinned to his breast pocket, and he glanced around the room for a second before smiling. Albus knew instinctively he was a good guy.

"Afternoon, all – so sorry to barge in on you. This is Peridot Manor, correct?" he asked the room at large.

"Yes, it is." Ginny approached the stranger, holding out her hand to shake. "Ginny Potter – pleased to meet you." Al noticed she didn't smile, and her eyes still looked a bit red.

"Richard Merton, Representative of the Auror Department from the Ministry of Magic," Richard shook Ginny's hand and indicated the badge pinned to his shirt. "I'm here to escort Mallory Staglovich…"

"Just 'Mallory', thanks," Mallory said quietly from the corner, and Richard looked over at her. She sat with Ben on one side and a suitcase at her other.

Richard stared at her for a moment before smiling slightly, his handsome features becoming more distinct. "Of course, Mallory."

"Would you…" Ginny cleared her throat, still looking close to tears. "Would you like to stay for tea, Mr. Merton? Or perhaps for dinner?"

"Oh, please call me Richard. And that's very generous of you, Mrs. Potter," Richard said kindly. "But I am on a tight schedule, otherwise I would be delighted…"

"When are you leaving?" Ben asked from his mother's side. He looked pale, and Mallory gently placed her hand on his arm.

"We must leave the premises by quarter after three, and arrive at the predetermined destination no later than three twenty-six. We shall receive instructions from there," Richard said, orders he had clearly learned by heart.

"And where is 'there'?" Ben demanded, getting to his feet. Ginny drew in a breath, and Al stood up too, ready to act if there was trouble. Kyra, James, Ron, and Hermione just watched the proceedings with wide eyes.

Richard looked at Ben for a moment before answering in a kind voice: "That information must remain anonymous, Benjamin, for the safety of everyone in this house –"

"How do you know my name?" Ben shot back angrily, taking an accusing step forward. Richard looked surprised, and Al and Mallory quickly moved to stop him.

"Ben," Mallory grasped her son by the elbows and turned him so he faced her. "Calm yourself. Everything is going to be okay…"

"But he can't even tell me where you're going!" Ben shouted, tears of anger and heartbreak in his eyes. "You're leaving with this stranger… and I can't even know… I can't – he's not… You're going, and…"

He was beginning to ramble; Albus had never seen his friend so distraught. Mallory pulled him into her arms, and Ben's blathering ceased as he broke down and cried into her shoulder.

The rest of the room was silent as they watched the two embrace – no one knew what to say or do. Richard stood a respectful distance from them, his hands folded. Ginny cried silently from beside the fireplace, and James, who was nearby, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Kyra stared at her shoes, glancing up occasionally to look at Ben or exchange a solemn glance with Al. Ron and Hermione, who had made their children and Lily stay upstairs, were standing beside the door, their expressions grave. Mallory, to Al's surprise, was the only adult not crying.

The parlor door suddenly opened, and everyone looked up; Ben and Mallory finally broke apart to see who had arrived. Harry stood on the threshold, glancing uncomfortably around at all the faces turned to his. He took a step inside, turned toward Mallory, and cleared his throat slightly:

"Mallory, I…"

Before he could apologize for anything, however, Mallory had gotten to her feet and hurried across the room, throwing her arms around him in an embrace, as if to say thank you. Harry stood there, shocked for a moment, before hugging her back. He smiled lightly as he held her, and Al couldn't help but smile too.

For the next five minutes or so, Mallory moved around the room to say goodbye to everyone; through hugs and tears, everyone said their farewells. Ginny cried possibly the hardest, and Mallory, still refusing to shed any more tears, held her the longest. Finally, after they broke apart, it was time for her to take her leave.

"Say goodbye to Rose, Hugo, and Lily for me," Mallory said to Ginny and Hermione, and, through tears, they nodded.

Mallory looked at Richard, who had been watching her; he nodded and stepped forward, picking up her suitcase. They moved together toward the fireplace, but Mallory suddenly stopped.

"Wait."

The young woman quickly turned and walked over to her son, who was sitting in her vacated seat. Ben watched with bloodshot eyes as she knelt down before him, and pulled something out of her coat pocket.

It was the white flower Lily had given her days ago, as fresh as it had been the day she plucked it from the ground. Mallory handed it to him, and Ben slowly took it, looking from the flower to his mother. She smiled.

"For luck," she whispered, and leaned forward to kiss him on the forehead.

~/~

Richard instructed Mallory on how to travel by Floo powder, and even offered to go first so she could see how it was done. Mallory refused, and therefore Richard helped her step into the fireplace so she could be first to depart. Mallory looked at everyone in the room before she, with trembling fingers, took a pinch of Floo powder and disappeared in a whirl of green flames. Richard said farewell to them all, and even offered a small salute to Harry, before stepping into the fire after Mallory.