I got a couple super acidic reviews on my only other story I've posted, one of which was deleted but I think it's the same person... Anyway! I'm a little downcast about it but I refuse to let it knock me down - so instead of moping, I'm updating both stories today. I went on a writing frenzy and got this edited, which means...we only have five chapters and the epilogue left after this! I'm going to bawl my eyes out when I'm finished. This chapter...oh man, a LOT happens. Obviously we're moving into Hallows now, so there's plenty of setup for the events to come. We are approaching the end, lovelies! I hope you enjoy this more than the reviewers for my FMA story liked their last chapter, hah!

The day of Bill and Fleur's wedding dawned foggy and a bit wet, but it cleared up within an hour and soon enough the skies shone a beautiful blue, perfect for a wedding. Eli busied herself aiding Mrs. Weasley and trying to keep her from losing her head—a difficult task in and of itself—until finally, finally, it was time for the ceremony. There had been an interruption earlier in the day, when the Minister of Magic himself showed up, but he'd only been there to deal with Dumbledore's will, as the late Headmaster had left Harry, Ron, and Hermione bequests in his will. Not entirely surprising, though Eli thought the day he'd chosen to handle things was a bit rude. She didn't think for one moment that wasn't planned.

Despite a few snags, largely caused by the twins' desire to 'lighten the mood,' as they claimed, the ceremony went off beautifully. Eli pretended very staunchly she wasn't moved to tears. Afterwards, the chairs were rearranged to clear space for a dance floor, and tables were conjured in the marquee as well. Leaving the others to cause some mischief, Eli settled at a table near the edge and merely people-watched, enjoying the moment of peace.

Soon enough, though, her father stepped out of the crowd and sat beside her, looking perhaps a bit…lighter than he had before. "I spoke to Harry," he began, giving her a sideways look. "We've asked him to be godfather."

Eli grinned. "That's perfect."

"But…" Remus took her hand and visibly drew himself up. "Dora and I…in the event that something happens to us…"

Immediately her smile fell. "Don't talk like that-"

"It's a fact of the world we live in, I'm afraid," he murmured gently. "And we would rather have our baby's future secured than leave it up to chance. Which is why she and I discussed it in the first place. And we…should something occur…would very much want you and George to look after our child, if you'd be willing."

Eli felt like her heart had dropped right to her shoes. "Dad—I…but if you…"

A hand rested on her shoulder, nearly making her jump in fright. "We'll do it, Remus," George told him, voice steady. "Just…probably don't emphasize to your daughter why you're asking, yeah?"

"Of course we would," Eli blurted, finally getting over her momentary lapse and clenching down on Remus's hand. "That's not even a question, that's going to be my—my little brother or sister, I'd never let them grow up without…" She shook herself and brought her other hand up to rest atop George's, endlessly grateful he'd shown up at exactly the right moment. "Yes, dad. Absolutely, unequivocally, yes."

Remus smiled sheepishly, a bit chagrinned. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound so morose. We only want to have everything covered—I…" Lowering his voice, he admitted, "I did try to convince Dora to sit out missions for a while… Not that I got anywhere, naturally."

George laughed at that. "You actually thought you'd convince her? You'd have more luck convincing a troll not to carry its club."

"Fair point." Rising to his feet, Remus pressed a kiss atop Eli's head and told them, "I'd better get back to her—she's got it in her head one of the witches out on the dance floor is eyeing me the wrong way."

"If you need us to hex someone, just let us know," Eli half-teased.

He groaned and passed a hand over his face. "You are definitely a Marauder's daughter. No, I don't need you to hex anyone, Eli. But if Dora asks, you can tell her I was absolutely with you the entire time I was away."

"Cross my heart," George snickered, with a smirk that promised no such thing.

Remus eyed him knowingly—but then apparently decided it wasn't worth it, and merely smiled and walked away.

"He's right about one thing," George commented lightly, tugging at one of Eli's curls. "You're definitely a Marauder's daughter. I love that mischievous streak. It's funny, though… Your dad can be so stoic, it can be hard to see him as one of the Marauders."

"I think it was easier to see in Sirius," she admitted, with a touch of melancholy. "My dad… When James and Lily Potter were murdered, he ended up alone, lost virtually all his friends in one night. I think it'd be difficult not to lose some of that lightheartedness." Eli looked across the dance floor, to where Remus had joined back up with Tonks and the two were talking quietly, entirely in their own world. "It's better now, though. He seems much lighter. And god, you should've heard all the stories, Padfoot—Sirius told me so much more that Christmas we all stayed there, dad likes to pretend he wasn't involved but he was a Marauder, through and through…"

"It explains a lot, though." He smirked and tapped her nose.

Eli raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh?"

"Like how much you loved helping us out with all our pranks at school. You were a complete natural, so it only makes sense that you're related to that lot."

"Thanks," she muttered dryly. "'That lot.'"

George laughed brightly, merely amused by her tone rather than bothered. "Oh, you know what I mean, love." The music changed, and he grinned, rising and offering her a hand. "Come on. Dance with me?"

"Why are you always asking me to dance?" she muttered. "I'm not a dancer." Yet she let him take her anyway, trailing him between tables all the way to the dance floor.

Because it was George—and she could scarcely say no to him, after all—Eli let him keep her out for three whole songs before all but dragging him back off, laughing as he begged her to stay. "No, it's not happening," she told him firmly. "Just because I can dance doesn't mean I enjoy doing it around a whole mess of people."

George wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her back to their table with a shake of his head. "One of these days I'll get you to really let loose—like in Hamley's."

She wrinkled her nose at him. "That was a one-time thing."

"We'll see."

Eli sidestepped their table and slid out of George's arm as she spotted Harry lingering near the edge of the tent, looking a bit uncomfortable and out of place. "So, dad said he talked to you," she began softly, moving to stand beside him. "Asked you to be godfather. I think it's a good choice, if my opinion matters at all, you know."

"You think so?" he asked in a low voice. "Since I'm going off after the wedding and all?"

"Dad's not an idiot, he knows you've got your own plans," Eli sighed. "And I know for sure, but I still think he's right. You understand how important family is, Harry. If something happens, George and I will watch over that child, but you…" She touched his shoulder lightly. "You know the things a child might miss, when he and I just don't. Even though I was raised by muggles who weren't actually my parents, they still were there for me when I was little, I didn't go through the same thing. And we both know Mrs. Weasley is pretty much the greatest mum of all time. I think dad was completely right in his choice."

Harry smiled up at her reluctantly. "Thanks, Eli." Then, with a faint smirk, he added, "You're really serious about this whole…should've-been-family thing, aren't you?"

"Damn right I am."

She was going to say something else, she really was—there were so many things she still wanted to say to him—but the whole party fell eerily silent, and Eli was distracted searching for the source. She spotted it just as George rushed to her side and gripped her arm tightly.

A Patronus.

But not just any Patronus, no. The unmistakable lynx form of Kingsley Shacklebolt's.

Eli couldn't tear her eyes away as it opened its mouth and began to speak in an ethereal, ringing voice. "The Ministry has fallen," it intoned. "The Minister of Magic is dead. They are coming."

Chaos erupted. Eli felt George ripped away from her arm as he plunged into the chaos, either going to fight or being jostled away by the crowd, she wasn't sure. But she found herself grabbing onto Harry's shoulder and locking her fingers down to keep him from being dragged away too. With all the strength she could muster, she yanked Harry with her along the edge of the marquee until she could see familiar people amid the panicking guests—her father and Tonks, back to back, wands raised; Mr. Weasley spinning on the spot, searching for attackers; Mrs. Weasley yelling for Ginny—and there, Hermione among the crowd, looking panicked.

Eli shoved past a screaming guest and forced Harry at Hermione. She knew what had to be done, they all did. As soon as Hermione had got her hand closed round Harry's, she began shouting for Ron, searching for him among the throng.

Mercifully, Ron burst through a terrified couple and reached them, panting hard.

"Go!" Remus shouted, appearing at Eli's shoulder nearly out of nowhere. "Harry, go, get out of here! All of you!"

Hermione acted first, giving a single brief nod before clenching onto the boys' arms and spinning on the spot. In an instant, the three vanished, Disapparating—hopefully to somewhere safe.

Eli had already begun looking for George when her dad gripped her arm and pulled her round to face him. "Eli, listen to me! You must find Ginny and get her out of here—and go somewhere safe, both of you!"

"Why?" she demanded. "I'll take Ginny but I'm not leaving everyone here!"

He shook his head fiercely. "You are our only Healer, do you understand? If something happens to you and anyone is injured…"

Fuck.

He was right, he was right and she absolutely hated it. Eli ground her teeth but nodded all the same, recognizing the importance of it all. If somebody was injured today and she was incapacitated or worse… That could literally be the difference between life and death for that person. It was her duty to get out safely, no matter how badly she wanted to stay and fight.

"Please," she begged him, wrapping her arms around him as tight as she could, "please keep yourself safe, dad."

He nodded and kissed her forehead. "I will. Now go, Eli, find Ginny and get out of here!"

She lost track of him immediately as he rushed back into the chaos, right as the marquee roof shredded above them—Death Eaters soared down in plumes of black smoke, wands out, sending hexes and curses the moment they landed. Eli flung herself down, dodging one, and belatedly pulled her own wand out. She stayed low then, ducking under tables and behind decorations as she searched for Ginny. Remus was right, there was a job to be done here, and she was damn well going to do it.

Finally, Eli found Ginny between the twins, both fighting to protect her—while the girl was holding her own just fine. It was no secret that Ginny was a great fighter, she could probably handle herself, but she was definitely everyone's priority at that point.

Eli lunged past a fleeing partygoer and got one hand around Ginny's wrist. The girl pulled back sharply, realizing Eli's plan, but she couldn't get free. George gave Eli a single firm nod, and she closed her eyes—and turned on the spot.

"No!" Ginny shrieked, as they reappeared. "We can't just leave them there, Eli!"

"We have to," Eli told her firmly. "I don't like it either, okay? My dad's back there, George is back there, almost everyone we bloody well care about is still there but I have a duty! I need to be able to be the Order's Healer and I can't do that if I'm injured myself!"

Ginny glared at her, eyes bright with anger. "Then take me back!"

"What would your parents say?" Eli demanded. She was being harsh and she knew it, but she was angry and upset and terrified and a hundred thousand things, and she did not have the space to deal with Ginny's overwhelming desire to put herself in danger. "What would the twins say?! Goddammit, Ginny, Simon is still back there somewhere too! Don't you think I'm bloody terrified right now? But I can't go back!"

"We should be there fighting!" Ginny argued furiously. "That's my family back there, Eli!"

"They're my family too!" Eli snarled. "Stop being such a damned reckless Gryffindor for a moment and think! What would happen to us if we went back, huh? How exactly are we going to reenter that fight now that we'd be going in disoriented? Harry and the others got away, once the Death Eaters figure out their prey's gone they'll go searching for them instead. We jut have to wait it out."

Ginny moved to argue back, opened her mouth—but then pressed her lips together tightly and nodded. "Fine," she ground out. "Just—fine."

Eli sighed and put her wand away, now that the girl was calming down a bit, and tried to get her breath back. She didn't much like arguing, that was a much more…Gryffindor thing to do than she usually preferred. But she supposed that was a bit of her dad coming through.

Dad… Please be safe…

"So…" Ginny sighed and looked round, confused. "Where are we, anyway?"

"My dad's cottage," Eli told her. "He'll be cross I brought you here, but I didn't know where else to go, in the moment. Hardly anybody knows where it is, it's in a muggle forest anyway, so… I figured no Death Eaters would come looking round here." She hoped Remus would forgive her—it was the only place she could think of on short notice. The second thought she'd had was Eoropaidh, but that was nonsense and completely exposed, besides. At least here there were a few protective spells in place.

The redhead furrowed her brow. "He lives here? It seems…kind of…dreary, doesn't it?"

Eli bristled—but then softened, realizing who she was talking to. Ginny wasn't commenting on it being a bit rundown, well-worn… She was talking about the lack of creature comforts, the fact that there weren't any of the usual homey touches—family photos, rugs, knickknacks, just…anything. Her dad's cottage was conspicuously bare. "I think it's very telling, really," she murmured.

"I'm sorry I got so cross with you," Ginny sighed, looking rueful and genuinely apologetic. "I just…hate being dragged away like that. I'd so much rather be useful."

"You are useful. You were doing a great job, honestly. I just…knew it was the best thing to do." Eli crossed to sit on the couch, and thankfully Ginny sat beside her, seeming to have calmed down by now. "If it makes you feel any better, I think I'd trust you more than anybody else to help me if someone does get injured. You're very good under pressure. So if something happens…"

Ginny bobbed her head quickly. "I'll help. Promise." She twisted her mouth up, sinking back into the couch a bit further. "But…how will we know when it's safe to go back? If they don't know where we are…"

"Oh, George or my dad will figure it out," Eli dismissed. "I'll send word if we don't hear from them by sundown, too."

"So we've just…got to wait here?"

She nodded solemnly. "That's the way it has to be."

—

Just before sundown, when Eli was about ready to drift off to sleep right there on the sofa, there was a crack—and she jolted awake immediately, leaping to her feet with her hands already digging for her Healer's bag.

"S'all right, Eli," Simon told her gently, crossing the room to grip her forearms. "Everyone's all right. No injuries."

"Not even me," Tonks snorted. "Though your dad thought I should come by and get checked out anyway."

Eli let out a breath, trying to calm herself down. Everyone was all right, nobody had been hurt, she had nothing to panic about… And yet… "So…dad's okay? And George? Fred? Everybody's fine, you swear it?"

Simon grinned at her ruefully. "Promise."

"How'd you know where to find us?" Ginny asked curiously, with a yawn. She'd fallen asleep herself.

"Oh, George said this was the first place you'd go," Simon explained, waving his hand dismissively. "Remus didn't think so, but honestly, I thought George had the right idea, so we thought we'd try here first. Then it took a moment because he didn't trust the twins not to give up the location of his house, so I had to offer, and then convince him I wouldn't go telling Fred…"

She crossed her arms at him. "And you won't, right?"

"C'mon, Eli, you know me better than that."

Well…she did, but she also knew Fred quite well too. "You had better not give in when he asks," she sighed. "We'd better get back, though, otherwise I think George and my dad might collectively lose their minds."

Tonks smirked. "I'd pay good money to see that."

Since there were no injuries, the clean-up party was in decent spirits when they got back. Eli and Remus were able to confirm that Harry, Ron, and Hermione escaped—as they should've done—and that at least put everyone's minds at ease that the Death Eaters hadn't gotten what they wanted that day. For the moment, that was enough. Eli, Simon, and the twins all went home that night feeling cautiously optimistic purely since they knew, somewhere, there was a fight raging against Voldemort, and it was just the start.

But the next morning…everything changed.

Eli stood utterly still in the kitchen at the Burrow, listening to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's argument about Ginny going back to school. The world had changed inutterably overnight—Rufus Scrimgeour had been murdered, that much they knew…but he'd been replaced by a man named Pius Thicknesse, who was undoubtedly working with the Death Eaters, if he wasn't one himself. Snape had been named Headmaster of Hogwarts…and for all children of the proper age in Britain, attendance had been made mandatory. The requirement left no doubts as to what sort of education they'd be receiving. And with Snape's own history… It was no wonder they were at a loss as to what to do.

She knew the answer, though. It was all dreadfully, painfully simple, and every fibre of her wished it weren't true.

"I'll look after her," she told the room quietly.

Mrs. Weasley turned to her in shock. "You—oh, but Eliana…"

"I'm going back, after all," Eli pointed out. She could hardly raise her voice above a whisper. "I've already gotten my summons in the post today."

"Like hell you are," Remus practically snarled, detatching himself from the far wall and striding towards her. "You know exactly what sort of school he'll be running, Eli. It's far too dangerous, and considering your-"

"Considering my what?" she hissed. "My parentage? Blood status? The company I keep? It's not about that, dad. Snape asked me back, and he'd damn well be smarter than sending me a letter if he was going to do anything to me. He was my head of house for seven years, he knows what motivates me, how I think, the way I'll handle things, all of it. If this were a trap, just a ploy to get me there, he'd set it far better than this."

He still looked completely furious. "How do you know that? Eli, you know our history, he could just as easily be luring you there just to—to…" But his voice broke and he cut himself off, going very pale in the face.

Eli sighed and shook her head. She couldn't stay upset with him, not for long, and especially not in a situation like this. "Because…he's a Slytherin. We're just craftier than that."

Mr. Weasley gave her a worried look. "Then why would he want you there, Eli? What reason could he possibly have for summoning you back when he knows your allegiance?"

"That's just it," she murmured. "He knows how I feel about all this—so he knows I'd stay for the students. It hardly matters if I'm spying or not, it's no secret what's happening at the school, especially with the Ministry taken over… They won't be pretending things are normal, so they won't be worried about word getting out from inside. He wants me there because…because…" Eli shut her eyes a moment, her heart pounding behind her ribs. "Because nothing would stop me from helping the kids there. No deaths, all serious injuries healed… I'd be the only real spy the Order can insert, so he knows you can't afford not to send me back. And… If it came to it, I'd be a valuable hostage for them."

She swore her dad might faint as she said that.

"All the more reason not to send you," Mrs. Weasley told her firmly, shaking her head. "If you know it's a trap, you can't just—go walking straight into it!"

"I can look after myself," Eli argued back. "And that's just what they're thinking, I'm not going to be anybody's hostage. I had the advantage of sneaking round the castle for five years with the Marauder's Map, I know all the hidden passages and ways out. Snape doesn't, so the Death Eaters won't either."

"This is ridiculous," Fred griped, giving her an incredulous look. "Why would you want to go back there, Eli? With everything that's going on?"

But it was George who answered, with a light touch on his twin's arm. "Name the first ten people you can think of who are still going to be at Hogwarts this year," he murmured. "That's why." Looking rather weary, he crossed the room and rested his hands on Eli's shoulders, staring right into her eyes like he could see down to her soul. "You've got a complex, love, did you know that?"

Eli rolled her eyes. "Thanks."

"I understand, though," he pressed on. "You want to keep everyone safe. And I bet even Remus can't tell you that you're wrong to think they'd be safer with you there."

Though he still looked ghostly white, her dad managed to nod weakly. "I—I'm afraid George is right, Molly. She… Having Eli there would…undoubtedly be far better for the students." He glanced sideways at her, then added, "And… Knowing the back passages and secret exits… If something were to go wrong…"

"I could evacuate the students," Eli agreed quickly. He understood! He knew exactly what she was getting at! "I'll teach Ginny everything I know, and she can help me spread the word to other students we trust. We'll be able to get them all out if something goes badly."

"We had Dumbledore's Army seventh year," Simon pointed out as he stepped to Fred's side, glancing up at him a bit nervously. "Everyone who was part of that would help, I bet."

Mrs. Weasley pressed her hands to her face. "I can't believe you're considering this."

Yet it seemed at that point they'd convinced Mr. Weasley too, for he put his arm around her shoulders and sighed, "I don't think it's much safer out here, Molly. At least at Hogwarts they'll be trying to point the kids in a direction, rather than just…" He cut himself off. "And we've got the blood status to keep Ginny safe, at least."

"I won't let anything happen to her," Eli swore quickly. "I promise."

And though Mrs. Weasley protested again, it was weak and halfhearted—the decision had already been made.

—

For the first time since graduating, Eli went to Kings Cross to see everybody off, though she would have to Apparate to Hogsmeade right after and end up on a pretty tight schedule. She wanted to give Ginny a couple last-minute suggestions for secrecy and planning—and reassure Mr. and Mrs. Weasley she'd be waiting at the train station in Hogsmeade with Hagrid. A familiar face to help all the kids feel safer…and make sure they understood not everyone at Hogwarts was in league with Voldemort.

The twins went as well, standing nearly a head taller than most of the students and cutting rather imposing figures as they watched over Ginny. And most surprisingly, despite his usual reclusiveness, Remus had come along to the station. Eli had no doubts about why—he was there for her.

He stood to one side while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley fawned over Ginny, looking anxious and uncomfortable even though the manner on the platform was too chaotic for anybody to really notice him. Eli had to smile at the sight, though, just glad to see him out and about for once. He spent far too much time sequestered in his cottage. "Dad, hey," she murmured, moving to his side and taking his arm. "It'll be all right, you know."

"Will it?" he asked her softly, with a shake of his head. "This time… I'm afraid I'm not quite certain of the same thing."

Eli squeezed down on his arm gently. "Do you trust me?"

Her dad looked down at her in astonishment, blinking like he couldn't fathom the question. "Of course I do."

"Then…trust me to handle this," she murmured. "Please, dad. I know how awful this is, and I know how difficult it is to just…have that kind of faith, but… I know I can handle it."

"I trust you, Eli, of course I trust you." Remus turned to her and found it in himself to smile, to reach up and take her face between his hands. "But I can't help but worry… My daughter is going right into the hornet's nest and I won't be there to look after you. It isn't easy."

"If it's too much, if I can't handle it…" Eli sighed heavily. "I'll grab Ginny and the others and get everyone out. But it won't be too much. I know it."

He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Be careful, love. Please."

"I will be, I promise. Careful as I can be." Even with the fear, the stress of the situation she was putting herself into—Eli felt warm from head to toe. Remus didn't even have to try very hard to be a good father, he just loved so fiercely that it came naturally to him. And she knew it was natural, because when he did try too hard he came off a bit more awkward and uncertain, like he was afraid at any moment she'd scorn him and turn away. He was going to be a wonderful dad to his and Tonks's baby, when the time came.

Then he leaned in close, right beside her ear, and murmured, "I haven't found…the right moment to tell you, with everything else that's been happening, but…" His fingers tightened on her shirt, almost imperceptibly. "It worked, Eli. Your potion worked."

She jerked away from him in shock, her heart beating hard and fast in her chest. "It—are you joking? It worked? Dad, why didn't you tell me, I could've—I mean—oh my god."

"I thought you might like the boost just before you go," Remus explained cautiously. "I know you, Eli, and I know you're putting all that on hold while you go back to Hogwarts, but I… I did want you to know." He drew a hand through his hair, looking about as frazzled as she felt. "Honestly, I haven't known how to process it myself, so it's taken me a bit to really come round to the concept. But you did it. You actually did it."

He didn't sound like he'd doubted her—but it was still so bloody astonishing to hear that she'd actually managed to modify the Wolfsbane potion, the community's impossible alteration, widely thought of as a lost cause. And Eli had done it.

"I'll send you more," she told him quickly. "For the next full moon. All right? I promise I will. And it's cheaper now, so you can't even argue it, and I still need to make sure I've got it practiced and everything."

For once, he didn't even argue with her. He just smiled and nodded, pulling her back into his arms and holding her fiercely tight.

Over his shoulder, Eli spotted George eyeing her, curious. 'Did it work?' he mouthed, clearly not wanting to interrupt the moment. It was sweet, actually.

'It did,' she mouthed back.

George grinned and leaned over to Fred to update him, and then Simon, all three shooting her matching excited looks. For just a moment, Eli felt hopeful about the future, rather than terrified—she had something to keep her pressing on, now. Something beyond herself, her own bubble… Now she had to make it through to the other side to enact change, real change for the lycanthropic community.

But first she had to survive the year.

—

Eli met the students at Hogsmeade with Hagrid nearby, her wand in her hand but tucked beneath her robes. She was glad to see Ginny, Neville, and Luna all taking charge of a sort, looking after the first years and keeping track of everybody. So the DA would be prevalent that year, at least among the student body—and a good thing, too. Eli had already been up to the castle and seen Death Eaters strolling the corridors like they owned the ruddy place.

And Snape…

'But she's that ruddy werewolf's daughter!'

'I told you, Miss Lupin is not to be harmed. Don't you think her allies would do anything to ensure her safety? Besides… She knows better than to risk endangering the students. She'll behave herself.'

Eli had been right. She was a valuable hostage, if the situation merited it—and her compliance was assured with well-placed threats and suggestions. It was exactly what she'd expected. And yet…

'Why are you protecting me? Why the hell would you care?'

'I meant only what I said. You're far too valuable for the Order to risk your life.'

'But you know why I'm here, you know damn well that I'm going to fight for the students, for muggle-borns and anybody your bloody Death Eaters target. I'm a liability. You've known me for almost nine years now, you know exactly how I am. So what exactly is your play here?'

'Don't presume you're so special to me. I'm merely seizing an opportunity you've so graciously handed me.'

Snape had defended her to Alecto Carrow, one of the new Death Eater professors. Muggle Studies, she taught. Eli could imagine exactly the sort of curriculum somebody with that much cruelty in her eyes would provide. But Snape had ensured her safety—he'd named her as a hostage, of course, but she'd expected that and he knew she was sharp enough to expect it. So what was his play? Something wasn't adding up, she just hadn't had the time to think it through yet. But she would. She'd figure out exactly what he was doing—and find out how to stop him, to stop all of them.

Hagrid took the first years to the boats, exchanging a brief, firm nod with Eli, while she led the others up the hill. A couple Death Eaters were waiting by the carriages, wands out, searching students and leering the whole time. Neville had already pulled Eli aside and told her Death Eaters had come aboard the train searching for Harry earlier, which was stupid, in her opinion. They'd played their hand too early. The kids knew they could make them scramble to and fro by whispering Harry in the hallways.

It was good fodder to keep a general sense of dissent alive for the year, at least.

Eli hitched a ride on a random carriage, holding on where a footman might, just to keep an eye on everyone for the journey up. Once at the castle, the students were shuffled in and all but stuffed into their seats at the four tables—first years were sorted quickly, without ceremony, and Eli got a decent feel for how the year would go. It wasn't about pretending things were normal, no, they weren't interested in that. It was all about fear-mongering, for the students who might fight back—and indoctrination, for those who hadn't developed an opinion or had, and supported the cause.

Strategically, as the teachers got up to leave, Eli managed to pass McGonagall and give her a nod, and a brief clasp of the hands in support—and when she stepped away, there was a small, folded bit of parchment still in her hand. Eli pretended not to notice.

Her own house was given preference, allowed to linger in the Great Hall while the other three were herded off to their dormitories immediately following dinner. Eli headed towards the teachers' lodgings until she lost her tail—one of the new Death Eaters, someone she didn't recognize—and then took a back passage and ducked out of sight, immediately slipping the parchment back out of her pocket and looking at it.

-Canis Major-

The password for Gryffindor tower. She was sure of it. Eli felt a grin curl her lips up, despite the tension gripping her chest, for it was the constellation in which the star Sirius existed. McGonagall had quite a spine.

Eli climbed up to the tower and spoke the password to a very uncharacteristically nervous Fat Lady—who swung open and allowed her in, nearly clipping her ankles as she slid through the portrait hole in her eagerness to be closed again. Not that Eli could fault her for the caution, considering the presence of Death Eaters in the castle.

"See, I told you she'd come," Ginny announced, prodding a finger into Neville's arm.

He grinned wearily. "I didn't know how you'd get the password," he explained to Eli with an apologetic shrug.

"Oh, McGonagall gave it to me. It's all espionage and secret handshakes now," Eli dismissed easily. "So, obviously things are…pretty rough. It's no secret that I'm with the Order, since Snape knows all about that, but nobody's going to risk harming me and inciting them to act—but it still means you lot need to be careful coming to me."

"I don't think that'll be a problem," Neville sighed. "They're already threatening bodily harm. And I heard someone threatening Madame Pomfrey earlier, so it might be safer to come to you."

Eli nodded. "I figured it might be something like that. So I made up a couple things for you all to keep on hand." She reached into her expanded Healer's bag and pulled out another, smaller bag with a few vials and jars inside. "I've labeled all of it already—it's just basic first aid, really, nothing fancy, but it'll be good in a tight spot."

Ginny took the bag and immediately went to hide it in a spot the twins must've showed her—a hidden compartment in the floor, beneath a loose stone. "But what are we going to do?" she asked, rising from her knees and dusting her hands off. "We can't just sit here, we've got to fight back."

"Dumbledore's Army would be a good start," Neville suggested. A couple of ther students picked their heads up at that, looking eager—the Gryffindors would always be ready for a fight.

"There aren't many of us left at school," Eli pointed out, "but it's a good stepping stone, definitely. You two need to round up everybody who's willing to push back and get them on the same page as us. Make sure they all know to come to me for help, too." She dropped onto the nearest armchair and sighed, staring into the fire as she considered it. "We need…a sort of network of students, from every house, working against the Death Eaters."

"Problem is," Neville began slowly, "we only knew you in Slytherin, Eli. And the Hufflepuffs in the DA have all graduated or drifted apart from us."

Eli met his gaze steadily. "I think I can help with that."

"Really?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't get along with anybody else in your house."

"Not at first, no…" Eli smirked, mostly to herself. "But I know one girl who's absolutely brilliant. And her best friend's a Hufflepuff. I'll reach out to her, I know she'll help us—she helped get a lot of first years out when Death Eaters attacked the school last year. She's a year below you, Ginny, but I promise, she's the right person for this."

Ginny shrugged. "I don't care how old she is, long as she'll help us."

"Who is it, Eli?" Neville asked curiously.

"Her name's Nancy Clements. Best friends since first year with Ada Greenbrier, that's the Hufflepuff I mentioned. With those two, we'll have people in every house working against the Death Eaters."

To Eli's surprise, Ginny's eyes lit up. "I know Ada. She's on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, one of the first really good female Beaters their team's had in a long time."

"I'll find an excuse to talk to Nancy as soon as I can, and we'll get going on this." Eli gave the two the firmest, most authoritative look she could muster. "But until we have the means to get a little more traction, I don't want you doing anything too serious, all right? We need to be careful. I promised just about everybody that if it got too bad, I'd get you all out, so don't make me do that in the first week, please?"

Ginny nodded. "We'll be careful," she swore.

Eli really wanted to press her, but she knew Ginny—that was the best she was going to get, honestly. So she left them at that point, heading down from the tower and going straight for the Headmaster's office. Snape's office now. Feeling a little bold, Eli burst right in without knocking, not even surprised when he didn't bother looking up from whatever he was writing.

"Can I help you, Miss Lupin?" he asked dully.

She gritted her teeth. "Am I to understand that my workload will be…considerably bigger this year? I've heard a few rumors."

He glanced up for just a half-second. "It would seem that way, yes."

"Then I'd like permission to recruit a student assistant."

That made Snape look up at her sharply, eyes narrowed, like he was trying to guess her intentions. "And why exactly would you need that?"

"I'm the only Healer in this castle who can prepare all her own potions," Eli shot back. "And if I'm going through more of them, then I'll need a little help keeping up with everything. I'll get all the information I need from Slughorn, I just need your permission to do it." This was a gamble—there was no guarantee she could get the right alibi from Slughorn, but if it worked…

Snape scoffed and waved his hand dismissively. "I don't care what you do."

"Excellent." Eli bit back the retort she wanted to throw at him—something like I don't care if you keep breathing—and left, this time going right for Slughorn's office, where the man could usually be found at all hours. He wasn't much for his actual quarters, she'd found.

When she knocked on the door, Slughorn opened it with his wand out first—but relief flooded him the moment he saw her. "Miss Lupin! Forgive me, I thought you were…well…"

"I know," she told him quickly. "I wanted to have a word with you, actually. Can I come in?"

"Yes, yes, of course, come in," he urged, stepping aside and letting her pass. She noted, as he closed the door behind her, that he'd added about six locks to the door, not to mention the protective enchantments she could sense coming from it. Slughorn was taking no chances, it seemed. "What can I do for you?"

Eli didn't waste any time with pleasantries. "I was wondering who you thought was showing real proficiency in last year's Potions class. I'm hunting for a student assistant since, well, I assume this year I'll have my hands full with far more injuries than normal. Maybe a Slytherin, someone I already know?"

"Hm…" He paced across the room as he considered that, reaching for a glass of some kind of amber alcohol that had been left on the edge of his desk. "Well, I would say Miss Nancy Clements from Slytherin has been showing some real promise… She's still young, mind you, but she reminds me a bit of yourself, just between us. And I doubt she'd say no to the extra work, either, she's very bright, you see. And determined."

Just like I thought.

"Nancy Clements… Yes, the name sounds familiar," Eli mused as though she didn't already know the girl. "I'll speak with her tomorrow then, see if she's willing to help."

So her alibi was set. Now she just had to catch Nancy after schedules were handed out and convince her to help—not that she figured that would be too difficult, honestly, the girl had been eager enough when Death Eaters attacked the first time. Eli wasn't an idiot, she knew that most of the Slytherins she'd had trouble with had either graduated or were simply cronies of Draco Malfoy, especially nowadays with Slughorn as head of Slytherin and plenty of younger students with different views filling in the house. More and more they were becoming like her, like Nancy, and not like Malfoy or Marcus Flint or any of them.

The next morning, Eli loitered near the doors of the Great Hall until she spotted Nancy Clements on her way out—the brunette was flanked to either side by Ada Greenbrier, auburn-haired and as tall and athletic as before; and a girl Eli didn't recognize, with a Ravenclaw blue scarf slung round her neck.

"Eli!" Nancy waved and jogged over to her, grinning brightly. "See, Ada, I told you she'd still be around."

Ada huffed and muttered, "I just thought, you know, for safety's sake…"

"That's why I'm still here," Eli told her in a lower voice, smirking. "And actually, in the same vein, I was looking to talk to you for a moment, Nancy. Professor Slughorn directed me your way."

She lifted an eyebrow. "He did? What for?"

"An assistant." Eli didn't see any reason to lie about it—and with students passing around them, likely overhearing, she was just creating a stronger alibi for them both. It was perfect. "I think my workload is going to be quite different this year, so I was looking for somebody to help me keep all my healing potions stocked up. I know you've got OWLs this year, so you'll be pretty busy, but…"

"I'll do it," Nancy blurted, eyes alight and wide. "I dunno why me, but I'll help you, Eli."

Eli had figured she'd say yes, but it was still nice to actually hear it. "Excellent. When's your first free period? We can meet up in the hospital wing to discuss the details."

She furrowed her brow and stared down at her schedule thoughtfully. "Er…noon, it seems like."

"Perfect. I'll see you then." Eli squeezed her shoulder, offered a smile to the other two girls, and then hurried off down the hall. Lingering would only draw unwanted attention to them all, something she absolutely had to avoid if this plan was going to work. For now, she'd bide her time until noon and see what Nancy said then.