Sara and George were what could only be considered the "power couple" of the school. She knew she'd heard people talking about them in the halls—whether good or bad, she never stopped to listen. George had people coming up to him a few times a week, asking if he was dating "that Roth girl."

"I wish you'd take these exams seriously," Sara said wistfully as they were heading toward the Room of Requirement.

"We're taking them as seriously as we feel is necessary," Fred shrugged.

"Which is not at all," Sara corrected.

"It won't matter how we did on our Defense Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T.s once we own a joke shop," George said.

"Still," she sighed.

They hadn't picked up a book to study since the previous term, and despite their reassurances, it was making Sara nervous. She'd never been able to simply not study for a test, regardless of how confident she felt for it. Of course, the twins did not share her philosophy of hard work, and she had accepted that about them. But that didn't mean she didn't have to push them a bit.

They joined the other members of the D.A. in the Room of Requirement, taking their seats on their cushions around the room and waiting. When Harry finally stood up, the room fell silent.

"So… Today we're gonna be starting with Patronuses."

The whole room was filled with an excited whisper. Harry had to raise his voice to be heard.

"I just need to be clear. It's going to be way different when you're facing a dementor in the dark. We're in a well-lit room, and there's really no danger here. You just have to remember—"

"Come on, Harry, we just need to know that we can do it!" Sara laughed.

"Alright, well partner up, we're going back to back, and one partner at a time," he said.

Sara paired up with Katie and stood back to back, facing a smiling George.

"Now, before you can even produce a Patronus," Harry added, "you have to think of a memory, the happiest memory you have. The best memory. Then, once you have that, while you're still concentrating on the memory, say 'Expecto Patronum.' Now, one partner at a time."

Katie went first. Sara could tell she was concentrating hard, and she imagined that her eyes were closed even though she couldn't see her. Then, she raised her wand and said "Expecto Patronum." A wisp of silver smoke erupted from her wand, and took shape into a lamb. It was only there for a moment before vanishing in a rush of silver smoke.

"Damn," she cursed.

"That's okay, that's really good," Harry said at her arm. "Sara, why don't you have a go."

Sara closed her eyes and searched for a memory. There were a few running through her mind, but one seemed to be most powerful at the time—the first time George had told her that he loved her. She opened her eyes and locked onto George's brown ones, still peering intently at her. She raised her wand, the memory still fresh in her mind, and said "Expecto Patronum." A sharp burst of light slid from the tip of her wand and dropped to the floor. It was a snake of enormous size, probably a python.

"Blimey," she murmured.

It slithered along the ground and began to coil around her feet. It looked up at her with milky, silver eyes and flicked its tongue.

"Sara, that's amazing!" Harry exclaimed.

"Thanks," she blushed.

He moved on to the twins, who were still staring at the snake now slithering onto Sara's shoulders.

"Fred, why don't you go next," Harry suggested.

Katie and Sara (and the snake, who was perched on her shoulders protectively) watched as Fred closed his eyes and screwed up his face in concentration. He raised his wand and muttered "Expecto Patronum." A flash of light, and then a monkey stood before him, dancing about. Sara doubled over and Katie fell on the floor laughing. It was perfect.

"I like him," Fred smirked as he sauntered up to Fred's side and sat down.

"A striking resemblance," Sara managed through her bout of laughter.

"How about you, George," Harry suggested, though laughing along with them.

George too closed his eyes and concentrated hard, searching for a memory. The first one to come to mind was his second kiss with Sara the day after Christmas, after she'd said she wanted to be his girlfriend. He raised his wand and said, "Expecto Patronum." The silver smoke that emerged from his wand tip took shape in the form of a raccoon.

"AWWWWW!" Katie and Sara both cooed.

"How is that thing better than mine?" Fred cried.

"It's so cute!" Sara exclaimed.

"They're not really supposed to be cute," Harry corrected. "They're supposed to protect you."

"They can be both!" Katie laughed.

Harry moved on to check on the others who still seemed to be struggling while Katie tried to get her lamb to last for longer than a few seconds. Sara's snake and George's raccoon were playing—something Sara didn't really think possible in a Patronus. Fred's was still by his side, scratching his head.

"I think he's neat," Fred shrugged.

"I like yours too, Freddie," Sara laughed.

Fred's Patronus suddenly vanished in a puff of smoke.

"What happened?" he asked.

"You stopped concentrating on it. Watch."

Sara lowered her wand and allowed her thoughts to wander. Her Patronus too vanished, leaving Fred's raccoon rolling on the floor alone.

"Your snake is pretty cool," Fred admitted, throwing an arm around her shoulder.

"Thanks!" she replied cheerily.

Suddenly, the few Patronuses that had been conjured throughout the room disappeared. Dobby the house elf had run in, looking panic-stricken.

"Harry Potter, sir…" he squeaked. "Harry Potter, sir… Dobby has come to warn you… but the house-elves have been warned not to tell…"

Without warning, Dobby flew at the wall, smashing his head into it. Sara gasped, clasping her hand over her mouth. He bounced off of the wall due to the multitude of hats on top of his head.

"What's happened, Dobby?" Harry asked, grabbing him to prevent him from running at the wall again.

"Harry Potter… she… she…"

He began to punch himself repeatedly.

"Who's 'she,' Dobby?"

But Sara knew. The only "she" who could fill Dobby with such fear for their safety.

"Umbridge," she muttered at the same moment Harry had asked it.

"What about her? Dobby— she hasn't found out about this— about us— about the D.A.?" Harry asked in horror. "Is she coming?"

"Yes, Harry Potter, yes!" Dobby cried.

Harry turned to face all of them, each face full of horror.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? RUN!" he shouted.

Sara, Fred, and George all grabbed their bags and ran. They knew they wouldn't make it back to the dormitory in time—but that was through the normal corridors. Luckily, she was with the two people in the entire school who knew every secret passageway. The broke away from the pack and ran the other way, toward a hidden staircase that led straight to the first floor. They raced down the stairs and slipped under the tapestry. They appeared right in front of Professor McGonagall's office, and right in front of Professor McGonagall.

"What on earth are you three doing?" she asked, her hand clasped over her chest. Evidently, they had scared her.

"S-sorry… Professor…" Sara tried to catch her breath.

"Go in my office, now," she pushed the door open and pushed the three of them inside, but did not follow them in. "I will be back shortly."

She closed the door behind her and they could hear her shoes click along the floor. Sara took the seat in front of her desk, and Fred and George pulled up chairs on either side of her. They sat in silence for a while, not really knowing what to say.

"This is bad," Sara mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I hope everyone else got away alright," George said.

"We should've stayed back, made sure they were all okay," Sara worried.

"There wasn't anything we could do, and we would've been in even worse shit," Fred said.

"This is bad," she repeated.

It was a while before rhe door to her office flew open, and Professor McGonagall marched in, looking furious. She paced up and down in front of the three of them for a moment, as if trying to calm herself down. Finally she took a seat behind her desk and stared intently at them, her expression still angry, but less so.

"Explain," she commanded.

The three of them began to speak at once, very incoherently. Professor McGonagall raised her hand and silenced them.

"One at a time."

"We've… Well, we… Professor, Umbridge isn't teaching us how to defend ourselves, and we need to know how!" Sara exclaimed.

"We've been meeting in the Room of Requirement and taking lessons from Harry," Fred added.

"Someone must have snitched, it's the only way anyone could have known," George said.

"Yes, someone indeed," McGonagall huffed. "But that is beside the point. A list of names was discovered in the room, a list that will undoubtedly contain your names. Professor Dumbledore is gone, and—"

"GONE?" the three of them cried at the same time.

"Yes, gone. I expect her reign of terror is just beginning," McGonagall said darkly. "At any rate, she is under the assumption that tonight was the only meeting of your little group that has ever taken place. I expect this to remain the story. Now, if you two would wait just outside, I'd like to speak with Miss Roth for a moment."

The twins, though taken aback, complied immediately. They were actually quite surprised that they weren't being punished. They slipped out the door and waited just outside. Professor McGonagall sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger.

"Miss Roth, I simply must ask. You're a bright young girl. Why would you risk it all for something like this? I'm quite certain you know most of the magic that Mr. Potter is teaching you," she asked curiously, peering at Sara over her glasses.

Sara looked hesitantly away, then pulled the left sleeve of her robe up. The words were still etched legibly into her skin: "I must not act like a whore." McGonagall gasped and clapped her hand over her mouth.

"I needed to take a stand for what I think is right. I fully intend to join the order when I come of age, but for now, this is what I can do. She can't win. And it's not just about her. V-Voldemort is back. Whoever killed my mother will probably be coming after me next. I just need to know that I'm doing what I can to fight."

McGonagall stared at Sara for a moment before nodding gravely.

"I remember your mother. She was not in my house, but she was my student. The brightest of her year, and not afraid to speak her mind. Just like you, Miss Roth," McGonagall said knowingly.

"Thank you, ma'am," Sara tried to smile.

"Watch yourself around her," McGonagall warned.

"I will."

"I'll walk you three back to your common room," she said standing up.

Fred and George were leaning against the wall outside. They stepped up on either side of Sara and followed McGonagall up the corridor. She didn't speak until they'd reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Things are changing. Be careful," she advised before turning on her heel and walking back to her office.

They stepped into the common room to see numerous pairs of eyes on them. It seemed like the entirety of the D.A. was sitting up in the Gryffindor common room, though Sara knew that wasn't true.

"Thank goodness!" Hermione exclaimed. "We were so worried she'd gotten you."

"Is everyone else here?" Sara asked.

"Yeah," Harry mumbled. "But Dumbledore's—"

"Gone, yeah, we heard," Sara said, leaning against the back of the couch.

"McGonagall told us," George added.

"She probably saved our hides too, dragged us into her office," Fred said, plopping down next to Angelina.

"I can't believe that stupid Marietta," Ron grumbled.

"Marietta Edgecombe?" Sara asked incredulously. "She was the snitch?"

"Yep, boils and all," Harry replied grimly.

"Well, I'm just waiting for the shit to hit the fan now," Sara muttered. "It's going to happen."

And happen it did. The next morning, Educational Decree Number Twenty-Eight was passed, declaring Dolores Umbridge as the new Head of Hogwarts. Along with that, the new Inquisitorial Squad had taken to docking points of anyone they didn't like—Sara heard that Montague had shouted at Colin Creevey for getting too close to him on his way down to breakfast. But Fred and George were not going to take it in stride. That morning, they approached Sara at the breakfast table with identical smirks on their face.

"What are you planning?" she asked, not looking up from the book she was reading.

"With Dumbledore gone—" Fred started.

"—we think Umbridge might need some reminding of her place," George added.

"Her head's getting a little too big for her own good."

"If I were you, I wouldn't wander too far during lunch. Maybe get to the Great Hall as fast as you can," George suggested.

She wanted to reprimand, but her new hatred for Umbridge prevented her from doing so. Instead, she just shook her head and smiled.

"Don't get caught," she warned.

Sara tackled her double Herbology and Arithmancy lessons with renewed interest. Professor Sprout was keen to hand out points for anything that could be considered helpful—Sara received points for passing Katie a trowel. After Arithmancy, Sara quickly made her way into the Great Hall, taking a seat as close to the door as she could. Fred and George were nowhere in sight. Hermione and Ron entered without Harry and took a seat across from Sara. She was just about to take a bite of her sandwich when a great BOOM! rattled the ceiling. Sara, Ron, and Hermione were the first ones to the door of the Great Hall.

It was quite a spectacle, actually. Fireworks were booming throughout the Entrance Hall, and not a small amount either. A massive dragon weaved its way through the corridors, spitting fireworks from its mouth. Rockets similar to the smaller one that they'd showed Sara the year before were vaulting through the air, trailing colors behind them. There were Catherine wheels everywhere, spinning out of control. Sparklers were spewing profanity onto the air itself, and firecrackers were echoing off the walls, reverberating through the school. Filch and Umbridge were staring at them on the stairs, quite horrified. She tried to stun one of them, but it merely exploded and came after her.

"Brilliant," Sara smiled, admiring the fireworks with an awed expression.

Umbridge could not have enjoyed her first day as Headmistress, trying to suppress the fireworks throughout the school. They spent their entire double Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson reliving their favorite fireworks, as Umbridge had showed up only long enough to tell them to read before running off. That night, Fred and George were honored in the common room. Sara found herself in the center of the crowd, George's arm thrown over her shoulder.

"Those were amazing!"

"Where can I get me some of those?"

"I heard Umbridge tried to vanish some and couldn't get away from them for five minutes!"

"Bloody brilliant!"

"They were wonderful fireworks," Hermione said with a smile.

"Thanks!" George looked taken aback. "Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-Bangs. Only thing is, we used our whole stock, we're going to have to start again from scratch now…"

"It was worth it, though!" Fred shouted over the crowd of people clambering to place their orders with him. "If you want to add your name to the waiting list, Hermione, it's five Galleons for your Basic Blaze box and twenty for the Deflagration Deluxe…"

Eventually, the crowd thinned out and most people wandered off to bed. Sara, Fred, and George were lounging on one of the couches, watching out the window as a few fireworks were now soaring across the grounds. One of the Catherine wheels had collided with a rocket and produced glittering pink sparks. The embers were dying, leaving the room cast in a dim glow. It was past midnight now, but they were past the point of caring.

"There's something you're not telling me," Sara said suddenly.

Both of the twins looked over at her and saw her staring resolutely out the window. Finally, Fred sighed heavily.

"We… We got the shop, Sara," he said.

"And the first month of rent is free too," George added.

"That's great," she said, her expression unchanging. "But that's not it."

"Well…" Fred tried, but he realized he couldn't say it.

"It's nothing," George said. "We're not doing it."

"George—"

"No, I said it's nothing," he stopped him.

"He told us that if we want it, we'll need to be in there before the month is up," Fred said quietly.

The information settled over Sara, and she knew that they'd known about this for a while.

"So… What does this mean?" she asked, still staring out the window.

"It doesn't mean anything, we're not doing it. We'll find another place," George said hastily.

"George, mate, come on—" Fred tried.

"I said we'll find another place."

"No you won't," Sara said sternly, turning finally to look at him. "This is what you've dreamed of your whole life. You're not going to find another place."

George stared at her in awe. In the dim light, he could see the tears trailing down her cheeks. He opened his mouth to protest, but Fred beat him to it.

"Are you gonna miss us?" Fred asked.

"Oh, Fred," Sara exclaimed, turning to him and throwing her arms around him.

She began to cry into his shoulder, and he looked taken aback.

"Hey, I-I'm sorry!" he exclaimed.

"Stop it," she sniffled. "I never act like a girl around you two, but we cry sometimes. Get over it."

Fred chuckled and rubbed her back. It was true, Sara was usually so strong around them, sometimes they forgot she did girly things too.

"It's not like it's goodbye or anything," Fred said, laying his head against hers. "We're not going anywhere far."

"I know," she rubbed her eyes.

"I'll let you two speak your peace," he leaned over and kissed her cheek before heading off to the dormitory.

Sara and George sat on the couch in silence for a while. The fireworks were still zooming around the grounds, lighting up the sky with every color imaginable. Sara leaned over and tucked herself under George's arm.

"Why would you want to give up your dream just like that?" she asked.

"Because… Because I don't want to leave you," he replied quietly.

"You can't get away from me that easily," she chided.

She laced her fingers with his, and he noticed for the first time just how small her hands were, and yet how perfectly they seemed to fit in his own. The way her body felt nestled into his was perfect. Everything about her…

"Perfect," he mumbled.

"What?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Perfect," he repeated. "You're perfect. And I love you."

"I love you too," she said.

She leaned up and captured his lips, and his free hand reached down to cup her cheek. There were fresh tears sliding down her cheeks, and he wiped them away with his thumb. He rested his forehead against hers, and she sighed heavily.

"If I told you that I didn't want you go, would you stay?" she asked.

"In a heartbeat," he replied.

"Just checking," she smiled.

They spent the next week inseparable. She was neglecting her homework to spend extra time with him. Still, no one really suspected anything. They assumed it was just because of the break. She was also finishing up their finances and setting aside money for the rent. It was Sunday night and they were packing up their trunks when Sara stumbled into their room, her arms full. She dropped everything onto George's bed.

"What's all this now?" Fred asked, taking a seat on his own.

"This," she said, holding up a bag, "is the rent money. Use it on nothing else, lest you be kicked out of your building. This is enough for four months after your first free one. This," she held up another one, "is for what your loan does not pay for, and to start paying it back. And this," she held up a third bag, "is for food. Don't waste it. This," she held up the final bag, "is the slight bit of extra that you have, for whatever needs might come up. If you don't need it, put it in the loan bag."

"What are we going to do without you?" Fred asked.

"Hopefully, you last the first month," she laughed.

"So little faith in us," George said, pulling her against him.

She laid her head on his chest and felt the tears welling up in her eyes again. She'd done such a good job holding them in, but it was getting harder now. She wouldn't see them for at least two months. She hadn't gone more than a few days without seeing them since she'd gone to Grimmauld Place. These boys were her life at Hogwarts.

"It's going to be so b-boring here without you!" she burst into tears.

"Hey, hey!" Fred exclaimed, running over and patting her back.

"We'll write you, all the time," George vowed, running his fingers through her hair.

"Yeah, like Umbridge will let your letters through after tomorrow," she laughed through her tears.

"We'll write them in code. Like, you need to read the first letter of every word to get the message," George suggested.

"And they'll be from raccoon and monkey. If Umbridge reads them, she'll have no idea, but you will," Fred chuckled.

"Raccoon and monkey… They're just perfect," Sara laughed.

Fred stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Trapped," Fred and George said at the same time.

She laughed, a real laugh, through her tears. Because they didn't know it, but right here was where she always wanted to be.

Sara woke up the next day feeling a mingled sense of excitement and dread—it was highly unpleasant. Today was the last day. It was like losing a part of herself. But they were counting on her, and she would never let down. She got up and showered, trying to convince herself it was just a normal day. However, when she saw the bracelet George had given her for Christmas sitting on her dresser, she burst into tears.

She was completely collected when she approached the Gryffindor table for breakfast, taking her usual seat between Fred and George.

"Before dinner then?" she asked casually.

"Yeah, this will really get her too," Fred laughed.

"Not going to tell me, then?" she said, taking some bacon.

"It's probably better if you don't know," George said.

"Can you do this?" Fred asked seriously.

"You think I'd pass up a chance to give her back exactly what she's given us?" Sara smirked.

She could barely contain herself through Potions and Transfiguration that morning. She sought out Professor Vector at lunch and told her that she wouldn't be able to make it to class that day. Miraculously, she asked no questions and told Sara that she wasn't worried, winked, and returned to her lunch. It was as if she knew something was going to happen—but no, that was impossible. She struggled through Ancient Runes and a particularly boring Charms lesson. Finally, when Professor Flitwick released them, she ran back to Gryffindor Tower and up to the boys' room. Their beds were neatly made, their trunks packed up at the ends of their beds—just as she'd asked. Lee's belongings were the only things left out of place. Sara sat down on George's bed and took a deep breath. The room smelled of gunpowder and the distinctive spell she recognized as belonging to them. She would miss that smell. She realized she was crying again, but she didn't try to stop the tears. This was not the end. That was how she kept herself going with the plan. She swiped the tears from her eyes, shook her head, and pointed her wand at their trunks. She muttered "Levitum Masstum." The trunks did not change in their appearance, but she knew it had worked. When she leaned down and lifted one up, it felt lighter than her book bag. She pointed at them again and said "Locomotor Trunks." They lifted off the ground and followed her down the stairs and out of the common room. They followed her all the way to the top of the marble staircase that led into the entrance hall. She lowered her wand and they fell to the floor lightly. She took a seat on top of them and waited. The large clock struck five, and the hall was soon filled with students heading down to dinner. Then, she heard it.

"Get them, get them!" Umbridge's voice screeched.

The twins appeared at the bottom of the stairs and were quickly surrounded by the Inquisitorial Squad. Umbridge, apparently completely oblivious to Sara's presence, passed her by and hobbled down the stairs. Filch was right at her heels. She muttered something to him, and he raced back up and disappeared around the corner. The throng of students was growing more numerous, crowding around the twins expectantly. However, they looked calmer than ever, rather confident for two people who'd just been cornered. Filch returned a few moments later, clutching something tightly, and with a look of mirth on his face that disgustingly distorted his features.

"So," Umbridge jeered in triumph. "So… you think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a swamp, do you?"

"Pretty amusing, yeah," Fred laughed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You two are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school," she said, pointing down at the twins with one of her stubby fingers.

"You know what?" Fred said, turning to his twin. "I don't think we are. George, I think we've outgrown full-time education."

"Yeah, I've been feeling that way myself," George agreed.

"Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?" Fred asked.

"Definitely."

They raised their wands up and together shouted, "Accio Brooms!" There was a loud crash from far away, and their broomsticks suddenly zoomed into their outstretched hands. One of them still had its chains. Sara stood up and took a trunk in each hand.

"We won't be seeing you," Fred jeered as he mounted his broomstick.

"Yeah, don't bother to keep in touch," quipped George, doing the same.

"If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley—Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Our new premises!" Fred shouted.

"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat," George added, nodding at Umbridge.

"STOP THEM!" she shrieked, tottering down the stairs.

They kicked off from the ground and soared up the staircase. Fred grabbed his trunk from Sara and planted a swift kiss on her cheek, but when George took his he kissed her full on the mouth. Sara waved her wand and the oak front doors opened. The twins soared into the air, amidst the applause and cheers of the Hogwarts students.

"Give her hell from us, Peeves!" Fred shouted.

The poltergeist pulled off his hat and raised his hand to his head in a salute to the twins. Taking a bow on their broomsticks, they sailed off out the doors. Sara watched as the two boys she cared about most in the world left to start their own life, a life she desperately hoped she could be a part of.