Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. - Helen Keller

Goodbye, But Not Forever

September 1997

Adrian flipped the page of the book he was reading, not really reading. He had spent the morning lounging on the sofa, bored out of his mind. Since the Weasley wedding, the entire Order had been split up, though word was they were still using The Burrow as unofficial headquarters - members stopping by whenever they could risk it. So far it seemed the death eaters and by extension the Ministry were not aware of all the members or what they were up to. He had wanted to go but had received several messages not to as they couldn't be sure that word wouldn't get out about him being back in the country as all the Weasleys were under close watch.

It was better for him and Warrington to stick to their safe house. Stay on the move. Keep out of sight until they were needed. Out of everyone in the Order, there was more of a reason for the death eaters to come after them. They were former members of the pureblood circle, after all. Both of their parents friends of death eaters, both former and new.

So, the two spent their days staring out windows for any suspicious characters - there were never any - reading, answering the few letters they did get, all of them save Moira's passing through Sam. And in general feeling useless. The only joy Adrian did get was when Sam and Moira wrote. They were lifelines to the world outside whatever place they happened to call home for the week.

"Sam's sent another letter," Warrington said, walking into the living room. Adrian looked over and sat up, putting the book down on the table as he held his hand out for it. "Got some updates there… seems she and Oliver have been to some of the meetings…"

Adrian sighed as he read through it. Since he finally got word to her that he and Warrington were safe after the wedding - and gotten word that she and Oliver were now in hiding as well - they had kept up regular communication. She would write every few days, though not nearly as much as Moira.

The longer he was away from her, the harder it was getting to be apart. He wanted to see her but knew that it wouldn't be safe. All they had were the letters. Pages and pages of letters that flew back and forth as fast as they could write them.

"Seems she and Oliver are settled," Adrian said, tossing the letter on the table with a sigh.

"You know where they are?" Warrington asked.

"Got an idea, though she won't say directly," he said. "Safety and all. But she's got the next space ready for us." Cassius nodded as he sat down in a chair. "How's Fiona?"

"Haven't heard from her in a while," he said. Adrian frowned.

"Seriously?" he asked.

"Thought it better that we cut off contact," Cassius said. "Safer for her. And us, I suppose. Couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't be intercepted."

"Sorry, mate," he said.

"It'll be alright. Hopefully won't be too much longer," Cassius said. The two men were silent a few moments, each caught up in their own thoughts. They didn't know how long it would be. With the falling of the Ministry to the death eaters, there really was no telling. All they knew is that it was likely to get a lot worse before it got better.

A sudden tapping on the door interrupted the silence. Warrington was immediately up on his feet, pulling his wand out of his pocket.

"Bloody lot has found us again," he whispered.

"Hold it," Adrian said, standing and making his way towards the front door of the house with his wand out.

"Fucking death eaters could be at the door and you're telling me to wait?" Cassius hissed behind him. Adrian had a feeling that it wasn't death eaters. They would have set off a whole array of alarms.

No, this had to be someone else. Someone that knew them.

"Pretty sure death eaters would've just blown the door in," Adrian said softly. "You ever heard of a polite death eater?"

He stepped up to the door and looked through the peephole. He breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped back and pulled the door open. Moira grinned as she launched herself into his arms.

"Merlin, I've missed you," she said as he wrapped his arms around her. He couldn't help but smile even though he knew how dangerous it was for her to be there. He glanced around outside, shutting the door behind her.

Moira let go of her and looked over, seeing a shocked Cassius staring at the two.

"What are you doing here?" Adrian asked.

"I just… letters weren't enough," she said, looking up at him. "I had to see you." Adrian nodded, smiling down at her. He led her passed Warrington, back towards his room where they could have a relative amount of privacy.

"Moira, it's dangerous for you to be here," he said, frowning slightly as he looked down at her.

"I know, I know," she said, starting to pace slightly. "I know you told me to stay away, but I just… I miss you." Her eyes started filling with tears.

Immediately, Adrian grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

"God, I know," he said softly. "I've missed you like crazy. Letters… they aren't close to enough."

"I know you told me to stay away, but I just needed to see you," she said. He kissed her head.

"Come with us," he said softly. Moira looked up at him, her face filled with surprise.

"What?" she asked.

"Come into hiding with us," he said, brushing her hair out of her face. "You'll be safe and we'll… we can be together." Moira frowned.

"I can't," she said. Adrian sighed.

"It's not safe. The war is going to spread into muggle London. Well… it's already spread into muggle London," he said.

"I can't leave Ellie and Finn," she said. "And my parents… they're still in London."

"I thought they were leaving the country," he said, confused.

"They were, but they decided to stay since I refused to leave with them," she said. "They've found a place in this nice little suburb… I need to stay with them." Adrian nodded.

"I understand," he said. He was silent a few moments before meeting her eyes. "What if I found a way to get all of us out? Your parents too?" Moira frowned.

"But… I thought you came back to help," she said. "To fight."

"I did, but… you're more important to me," he said, cupping her cheek. "You'll always be more important to me. Than anything." Moira smiled sadly.

"And you're the most important thing to me," she said. "But I know that you need to be here. You wouldn't feel right leaving everyone behind to fight this war by themselves." Adrien chuckled softly.

"A lot of good I'm doing right now," he said.

"But you will," Moira said. "There's going to come a time when you will have to fight, and I know you'll be there."

"You know me too well," he said. The smile then disappeared. He knew what he had to say next. He didn't want to, but it was for the best if he was going to keep her safe. Cassius was right in a way - even just letters were too dangerous. It was going to get worse and if he wanted to stay ahead of the death eaters, he couldn't leave anything that would trace him to Moira or her to him.

"I know what you're going to say next," Moira said. "I know that you're moving soon to a new location. And that it's too dangerous for us to be seen together. To meet. Christ, even just sending letters…"

"Moira, I-"

"This is not forever," she said. "This war… it won't last forever… And I just need you to survive. So that we can be together. When it's over. You hear me, Adrian Pucey?" He nodded. Moira gave him a watery smile.

"Did you come all this way just to tell me goodbye?" he asked.

"Didn't feel right to do it through a letter," she said, sniffling. Adrian pulled her close again.

"How long can you stay?" he asked.

"Few hours," she replied.

"Are you hungry?"

Adrian swallowed the lump in his throat as he showed Moira out later that night. She smiled and kissed him one last time before turning away from him and making her way down the sidewalk, her shoulders starting to shake.

He shut the door and made his way back to the living room, where Warrington was seated, his arms crossed in front of him and a stern look on his face.

"You do realize how dangerous that was, don't you?" he said.

"Yea," Adrian replied, falling onto the sofa.

"She can't just show up like that," Cassius said. "Christ, what if she had set off one of the wards and we attacked her? What if someone followed her? What if one of the letters you sent telling her where we are was intercepted?"

"I know!" Adrian shouted, cutting of Cassius' rant. "God, I know! And she does too!"

"Then why, for the love of Merlin, did she show up?" he shouted.

"Because she wanted to say goodbye," Adrian said. Cassius just stared at him. "She's… we felt it best that we cut off communication. Until this is over." He stared down at his hands. "I don't want her to get hurt because of me. And she refuses to leave her parents. They stayed… She won't come into hiding with us, and she won't leave the country with me."

"You want to leave the country? Just after we got back?" Cassius asked.

"If it meant keeping her safe… and being with her… yea, I'd go," he said. Cassius sat up in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees.

"And here I thought you wanted to be some big war hero," he said, looking over at Adrian.

"She said I couldn't go because I would regret leaving everyone behind," Adrian replied with a soft laugh.

"You would. Oliver. Sam, the others. I know you wouldn't want to leave them here to fight while you ran," Cassius said. "Merlin, you even got me thinking it's the right thing to do."

"It is the right thing to do," Adrian said. "Just like cutting ties - for now, anyway - is the right thing to do."

"We both know that this can't last forever," Cassius said.

"Yea, but what if… what if we can't win this?" Adrian asked, looking over at him. "What happens then?" Cassius was silent a few moments.

"I don't like to think about it," he said. "I can't let myself think about it, to be honest. That… everything that's happened… Dumbledore dying. Moody dying. Everyone that's died… That it would have been for nothing in the end."

Adrian nodded, staring at his hands again.

"We have to keep thinking that we can win this," Cassius continued. "Else we are going to lose." Adrian was still silent. "And at the very least… we have to keep fighting for them. Moira. Fiona. All our friends. Hell, even our families."

Adrian sighed and then looked over at Cassius.

"Seems the Gryffs have rubbed off on you too," he said, a small smile appearing.

"No, mate. You did," Cassius said. He then pushed out of the chair.

"What are you doing?" Adrian asked.

"Going to get started packing," Cassius said. "Thinking we should bump up the move… just in case."

"Yea… that's not a bad idea…"

Sam sat on the patio one morning, one of Oliver's sweaters falling off one shoulder as she read through her mother's latest letter as she sipped her tea and the sunbeams bounced off the small waves on the loch. Sam had quickly set herself as a sort of post master. She alone knew the locations of all the safe houses and where everyone was, therefore spent a good amount of time passing on information and news.

For some in their system, she was the only link to whatever was happening in London and the Alley.

Sam put down the letter and glanced inside, seeing Oliver at the stove, hard at work on breakfast.

She couldn't help but smile to herself as she propped her chin on her hand and watched him. A small radio was playing a rock channel and he was humming, albeit out of tune, with the latest from a band called The Verve.

If it weren't for the letters and updates, she had almost tricked herself into thinking the two were on extended holiday, not hiding out. When she wasn't writing or passing on letters, or checking in on various safe house, they spent their days reading or watching television - when they could get a good signal. Or out on the loch when the weather permitted. With the end of September approaching, the air was growing colder in the mornings and nights and there were more cloudy days than those with sun. Soon the winter chill would settle in and they would be forced to stay indoors all the time. When the snow set it, it would be harder to leave the cottage at all even to head into town for supplies and groceries.

Sam made a mental note to pick up Christmas decorations before the roads got too bad. She wasn't sure she'd make it through the season without them. It was sure to be a dreary holiday regardless.

Sighing, she turned back to the letter, reading it through again just as an owl soared onto the porch and dropped a letter on the table before settling on the railing. It looked at her a moment before flying off.

She reached for it, ripping it open and looking through it, frowning.

"What's that? Hope it's not bad news," Oliver said, walking out with two plates of food.

"Nothing bad… Just Adrian and Cassius feel they should move sooner," she said.

"Is the next spot ready for them?" he asked. Sam hopped up and trotted back into the cottage, looking through a pile of papers on the coffee table. She found whatever she was searching for and walked back as Oliver sat down and grabbed a piece of bacon from his plate.

"Should be," she said. "Not a big issue."

"They say why? Someone after them?" he asked.

"No… just… Moira stopped by unexpectedly and they think it's safer for all of them if they moved on. Just in case," she said, putting the paper down and sitting down. "I'll pop over this afternoon to make sure."

"I'll go with you," Oliver said. Sam looked at him as though she was going to argue with him but stopped.

"Alright," she said. "Just need to check the wards and such. Make sure the key is left somewhere safe for them." Oliver nodded.

"Dunno how you manage all of this," he said. "'Specially while we're here."

"Gives me purpose," Sam replied. "Running the entire network of safe houses for the Order and such. Passing on information."

"And to think you used to find it boring," Oliver replied. Sam chuckled.

"Not all important jobs are dangerous," she said. "Though suppose in one way it puts an even bigger target on my back… should anyone find out…"

"No one will find out," he said.

"Wasn't worried," she replied before taking a bite of eggs.

"Course not," Oliver replied. "It'll be nice to get away for a bit. Starting to get a bit bored with seeing and doing the same thing day in and day out."

"Surely you'll have something to do soon," Sam said, marveling at the turn of events. In the past it was she who complained about doing nothing for the Order while Oliver went out. In the aftermath of the raid on the wedding and the coup at the Ministry, the Order seemed to be taking a rather long time to sort itself out and figure new plans. Either that or they were intentionally leaving Sam and Oliver out of the loop.

Though Tonks had written recently that she and Remus hoped to stop by with updates as well as to catch up. Perhaps they would have some sort of assignment for Oliver.

"It's not so bad," Oliver said, smiling at her. "I enjoy the time with you. Just… hoping there's something more to do with… everything as it is…"

Sam nodded, watching as another owl flew up, delivering a package from Alicia. It was sure to include the latest editions of The Prophet and Witch Weekly, along with Lucy's unofficial newspaper with the real story behind whatever what was in the news. Each package usually brought more dire news on that front. Though Lucy had an entertaining way about dispensing it. She'd have a good basis for a long writing career once this was all over.

"And here is the daily bummer report," she said dryly reaching for it as the owl flew off. None of them every stuck around long.

"Not nearly as depressing as Potterwatch," Oliver said with a sigh.

"Best we can do is to stay focused. Keep working. Trying to make a difference," she said, starting to pull the paper off the package. There were letters from Alicia, Lauren, Aiden and Trevor as well as The Prophet, Witch Weekly and Lucy's newspaper. "Though I think I'll put this off until after breakfast at least."

"I was thinking… maybe we could chance a trip to the cinema tomorrow," Oliver said, causing Sam to raise an eyebrow at him.

"What's this? Oliver Wood being reckless?" she asked, a small smile appearing.

"Suppose you're right… We've run through all the movies that we've rented," he said with a sigh. "Might be safer if I go in to rent more rather than spend that much time out of the cottage."

"Woodsie," Sam said, reaching over to grab his hand. "Surely it wouldn't hurt to try it this once…"

"You think?" he asked.

"Just need to disguise ourselves. And perhaps not tell dad. He'd likely swoop in and pack us off to Siberia," she said, returning to her breakfast. Oliver nodded, seeming a bit more cheerful at the idea of getting out of the cottage for a bit longer than their usual shopping trips. "What were you thinking about seeing?"

"Well, picked up the paper when I went shopping yesterday, seems there are a few we could choose from," he said. "Depends on if you want to see something action or comedy."

"Comedy," Sam said immediately. "I'd rather laugh than jump at gunshots and explosions."

"Yea, suppose that's a bit better," he said, smiling at her. "Just like old times."

"Yea, just like old times…"

I now have only three chapters of this story left to complete – only one of them has no writing done at all. Can't believe I'm coming to another ending. This is by far the longest one I've written – set to be 47 chapters unless I end up breaking the last two into more. They are essentially part 1 and part 2 of the Battle of Hogwarts and pretty action-heavy, not to mention there's a lot I'm trying to squeeze into them. So good chance the last chapter could be split up into two. And well, I have the ending written, but I kind of feel like there needs to be a bit… more. So, we'll see… Even if I don't split them up, I might add another chapter, depending on how re-writes/editing goes – I ended up removing a plot point from several chapters before, so have yet to see how that will affect that last chapter.

But yea - for now I'm just focusing on getting this one finished, then my Twilight and Merlin stories. I'm not allowed to start anything new until all three of these are completed writing-wise... Christ, I even printed out a flipping spreadsheet today with all the chapters that have been completed and posted on the three just so I can keep up with them... Learned that I am NOT original with chapter titles...

cjconner326 – Hahaha! Imagine if I did that… not only is it a time jump, it's a universe jump as Iris Evans doesn't even exist in this one. The heads would be exploding left and right if Pixie Wood made an appearance. Though I did just watch Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse for the first time the other day, so… But yea, ultimately, no. Not gonna happen. But don't worry. I plan to revisit that universe hopefully soon. I've had a couple ideas pop up for one-shots, just haven't had time to write them down or flesh them out. Not to mention, I've been away long enough that I'm starting to get a bit curious… What would Daisy and Will's kids be like? Hell, what would Daisy and Will be like as parents? Not to mention, someone commented it would be fun to read a parody of "Father of the Bride 2," which I think would be flipping hilarious – Oliver Wood facing a surprise baby AND Pix's first grandkid at the same time? Comedy gold!

Thanks for reading and following!