Disclaimer: This work is based on the J.K. Rowling's World of Harry Potter. Everything you recognize belongs to her.

Maerna arrived at the Ministry of Magic toilets a bit past 9 o'clock the next morning. She deposited the funny gold coin that Arthur had given her and reappeared in the Ministry's Atrium. Besides the method of entry, not much had changed since she had been there two weeks prior. The place was crawling with various people coming and going, so it was rather easy to disappear. She stopped by her wanted poster and studied it for a moment. She moved her hand ever so slightly. Long black hair and too much makeup had replaced the short, brunette hair of Meg Darcy. A few extra glamour charms and no one realized she was the same woman.

She quietly moved toward the lifts. She saw Arthur Weasley, with a disgusting look on his face as he exited the lift. She stood on her tippy-toes to see the man to whom Arthur had obviously just been talking The lift door closed before she could get any more than a quick glimpse into it. He was tall, with a full beard. Whatever Arthur said to him seemed to have shaken the man up a bit.

Maerna weaved in and out of the crowds until she finally came in front of the golden gates of the lifts. She quickly stepped on and pressed the button for level ten. It seemed to take forever to get there for the lift stopped at every level as people got on and off. She was alone again when she finally reached the bottom most level.

She rounded the corner to see that same tall, bearded man make an announcement to a group of about twenty people. "It has been decided that you should all go home and go into hiding with your families. Go abroad if you can. Just get well away from the Ministry. That's the -er-new official position. Now if you all would just follow the Patronuses, you'll be able to leave from the Atrium."1 Maerna backed up into the lift as a glowing otter and stag led the group in with her.

Maerna stared at these people. They must be the muggleborns who had come for their interrogations but why was this ministry man man telling them to hide? It didn't make any sense and it was obvious that they people were just as confused as her. However they were grabbing at what they knew was their last hope and desperately obeying the mysterious man from the ministry.

Around them, the Atrium was in chaos. A wizard was sealing off fireplaces as quickly as possible.. "Not good," Maerna thought. I don't want to be caught in here. Suddenly the ministry man announced that his group needed to get through the fireplaces. The crowds parted and the group slipped through. Maerna slipped in with the group and soon found herself up a fireplace and into the toilets again. The group tumbled out of the stalls and staggered into the hall way, switching to runs as soon as their shocked legs allowed them. Right behind them, more muggleborns poured from the stalls. Behind her was a scuffling sound as a man said, "Let go. I'm not your husband, you've got to go home." He yanked away from her just as two more people popped up from the toilet. "Let's go!" the ministry man yelled as Yaxley appeared. Maerna aimed her wand at Yaxley but before she could curse him, Yaxley, the ministry man and the two others apparated away.

Maerna stared at the group of twenty people standing in front of her. She wasn't sure exactly what happened but she was sure the MInistry would be here soon. She clapped her hands to get their attention. "How many of you are muggleborn?" Still dazed nine of them raised their hands. Maerna nodded, "and the rest of you?"

"Family of them," one man said.

"Okay," Maerna took a deep breath. "It appears that ministry man wants you all to go abroad. I can help you with that. Give me your names and I'll have someone pick you up at home within 30 minutes. If you want to take your chance with the Ministry, then stay here."

No one moved. They just stared at her until one lady started screaming, "What about my children? My husband? I can't leave without them." All of the sudden a man in blue robes came bursting out of one of the toilets. "Reg!" the hysterical woman screamed and threw her arms around him.

"Well," Maerna muttered, "One problem solved. Only a million more to go."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Maerna stared at the clock hanging on the wall above the sink. It was not even noon yet and she was already exhausted. The Weasley brothers, Jak, and Remus came to her rescue. Just two hours ago, nine muggleborns and their families were waiting for their prejudicial tribunal deep in the bowels of the ministry. Now they were sitting in the Conductor's headquarters waiting for their portkeys to send them out of the country. "Two minutes," she said aloud to anyone who cared to listen.

Everyone gathered around the four portkeys. Maerna waved good-bye as the portkeys began to glow blue, but none of them were looking at her. Their mouths hung open as a glowing deer cantered in through a window. Its feet touched the floor just as the portkeys pulled the refugees away.

Maerna turned around and the deer's message sent chills up her spine. "Maerna, they are tracking you. Get out now," came a deep voice. The voice sounded strange as if the person didn't want it recognized.

"Who's Maerna?" asked George, but Remus was already moving.

"How are they tracking us?" he asked. Remus looked around the space for a clue to who or what was the traitor.

Maerna shrugged and began inventorying the room herself for possible tracers., "I don't know but don't take anything that has been here less than 48 hours. Chances are it's something that we've acquired recently. Go!"

Maerna moved to the hidden cupboard and grabbed the remaining portkeys while the twins shrank down the potions. Remus was obliterating items as fast as his wand could wave Suddenly, Remus froze, His wolf ears picked up the pop of apparition. "They're here," He whispered. "Let's go." He grabbed Maerna by the hand. As the others apparated out, Remus twirled his wand around his head and flames came out, encircling Maerna and himself. The last vision Maerna had was a sea of white masks and out stretched wands approaching the the wall of rabid flames. Then she was pulled into that pinpoint of space and time.

They landed in a small clearing. Bill was next to them. Jak, George and Fred were nearby. Bill immediately started grabbing the items they took with them and checking for trace spells but didn't find any. "I hope we didn't leave anything connected to us back there," said Fred.

Remus shook his head. "We've always been very careful with what we had at headquarters. If there was anything, hopefully the fiendfyre will take care of it. "

"Who gave us the warning?" George asked, "Without it, we never would have made it."

Remus nodded his head but otherwise ignored George's question. Instead, he watched Maerna wander around the small clearing. He came up and put his arm around Maerna's shoulder. She leaned into him, "That was so close."

"Yes, it was," Remus agreed. "You know Lily's patronus was a deer but, of course, that wasn't her voice, but you know that don't you, Maerna"

Maerna shrugged. "There are but so many animals in the world. Statistically, some people will have the same animal."

"Hhhhmmmm, try again" he replied but didn't push any more. "I still hate him, but I can't deny that he loves you. He must. Look at the chance he just took for you. If his master discovers who helped us. his agony will be unbelievable."

Maerna just shook her head, settled into the crook of Remus's arm and began to sob. She wasn't sure if it was from relief or fear; she just sobbed. It was only one minute past noon.

1-Direct quote from J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 13, page 264. American Edition.