"Dammit its cold," Michael muttered, rubbing his hands together.

"It's been cold for months," Sarah said, breathing warm air into her cupped hands. Her head was covered by a hood with black and tan fur along the edges, but it didn't seem to be helping her much.

"You know why I hate the cold?" Jeff asked, drawing in Sarah close to him for shared warmth. She smiled affectionately at him for the gesture.

"No, why?" Michael replied, readjusting his heavy coat in the hopes of added warmth.

"Because it's cold."

"I don't know why you're all complaining," Luna said brightly. "It's been so long since we've seen Harry and the others, it's going to be great!"

"Luna," Andromeda said painfully, snow thick in her brown hair, "you may have some eternal energy that burns inside you and keeps you warm, but the rest of us are close to freezing to death."
"I wonder…" Jeff said thoughtfully.

"Yeah?" Sarah prompted, nestling a little closer to him. Jeff responded by slipping his hand carefully under her jacket, pausing there a moment, apparently in deep thought.

"Yep," he said finally, removing his hand and leaving Sarah gawking at him, "it is officially colder than a Witch's teat here."

"Don't use my boobs as a weather reference!" Sarah said shrilly, pushing a disappointed looking Jeff away from her. She wrapped her arms protectively around her chest.

"Michael tried that on one of our first dates," Luna said casually to Sarah. "I wonder which of them stole that move from the other?"

"It was worth a shot, right?" Jeff grinned to Michael.
"Well…except we're a little outnumbered here," Michael pointed out, nodding as courteously as possible at the three women.

Michael, Jeff, Sarah, Andromeda, and Luna were all huddled together outside a small, abandoned shack in Scotland that was really more of a tiny cottage than anything else. The five of them had been sent there because they had gotten a lead no one could verify telling them that there might be evidence that could help them locate the still unknown spy. Michael was convinced this was simply a taunt by the spy, feeding them false information to force them out into these miserable conditions.

It was now December twenty-fourth, Christmas Eve, and Michael and the others had made plans to go join Harry, Ron, and Hermione at Ron's parents' for Christmas festivities once they had investigated the house. Andromeda had understandably declined the invitation in favor of spending the holiday with Tonks and Remus, as well as her own husband.

"Too bad about the mission though," Sarah said. "I was really hoping to find something here…."

"Did you actually expect to?" Jeff scoffed as a rush of cold air hit them. "In this deserted shack in the middle of nowhere? There's no real evidence there was even going to be anything here to begin with! I'm still waiting for Voldemort to pop out of the snow and attack us," he added, looking around suspiciously.

"We'd be ready if he did," Sarah said confidently, warming back up to her boyfriend. "We've got the two of us, plus Mr. and Mrs. Evilthwart here, and if that's not enough we're backed up by a woman so scary the gang of people too screwed up for Durmstrang paid her to go away."

"Except Mrs...Evilthwart?" Andromeda queried, "is pregnant and in no condition to fight anyone. But I don't think the Dark Lord would seek a fight with us here anyway. Too risky. As much as he wants to kill all us, we can't forget Harry remains his primary target. He might sacrifice even Draco for the chance to eliminate Harry, but for us…no, it wouldn't make sense."

"So we're not worth it to Voldemort?" Jeff fired up.

But Michael understood Andromeda's way of thinking, even if she did put it a little bluntly. Overall Voldemort was indeed more powerful than any of them, but this war wasn't just about a single person. Chess couldn't be won with a single piece. At that moment, even if it didn't always seem like it, Michael and his allies simply had more pieces than Voldemort did. Between he and his friends, the Aurors, the Order, and STRIKE, Voldemort was significantly outnumbered, if not overpowered. While Michael could comfortably count on himself, or Harry, or Andromeda, or Staffon, or even Kingsley or Tonks to accomplish a mission, Voldemort was limited to himself, Draco, and the small pool of Dark Wizards allotted by the Dorian League.

Voldemort was playing chess, and he was down a few pieces. He was too smart to risk losing his last knight or queen in the hopes of capturing a few rooks or a bishop.

"Preserving his own pieces is more valuable to him than taking ours," Michael said out loud.

"I've been thinking the same thing for a while," Andromeda said, nodding approvingly. "He's got plenty of cannon fodder to keep the Ministry busy, but he doesn't have a lot of people who could go toe to toe with our elites. So…."

"So it's likely he's going to start looking for quality over quantity," Michael concluded.

"Hmmm…you're probably right," Andromeda muttered, her hand on her chin and mouth.

"Oh aren't you two just so cute?" Jeff teased, making Michael and Andromeda turn and glare at him at the same time.

"Babe," Sarah said quietly, "maybe you should try not to piss off those two while they're plotting. They're pretty good at plotting."

"I think it's nice," Luna said happily, smiling at Michael and Andromeda. "There's no such thing as too many friends."

Michael snorted, cold air visibly shooting out of his nose.

"In any case," he said, shaking his head, "I don't think we're going to find Voldemort or anything useful here."

"It does seem a little unlikely," Luna put in. Michael had almost talked her into not coming on this mission, as she was due to give birth in a very small number of months, but she had worked her usual magic and changed his mind. "But I think that's okay since it doesn't seem like the spy is having any more luck than we are."

What Luna was saying was oddly, and completely, true. The day that Michael and the others had arrived, all spy activity known to them had ceased. Granted missions still weren't going too well, with a newly powerful Draco Malfoy and an Elder Wand wielding Voldemort as the enemy, striking quickly and brutally to wipe out entire squads of STRIKE agents. In the last month Staffon had – at Luna's suggestion – completely retooled the organization of STRIKE groups, now sending agents out in groups of four rather than three. It had, if nothing else, dropped the number of total squad losses since then.

"I'm not so sure," Michael said quietly. "I don't think that this guy is done. I think he's just laying low for a bit, maybe until it looks like we've given up."

"So the plan's to give up then?" Sarah asked knowingly.

"Or at least make it look like we have," Jeff said shrewdly.

"I'll mention it to the General after Christmas," Michael shrugged. "Right now, I'm freezing some very important extremities off and I vote for getting over to Ron's and out of the cold."

"Sounds good," Luna agreed. "I don't know which I'm looking forward to more, seeing everyone or not shivering!"

"Time to go," Michael said quickly, shooting a concerned glance at Luna. "Let's all get back inside; I'll get a hold of STRIKE." They had been dropped off by a helicopter an hour or so ago, being that they were still forbidden – as everyone was – from Apparating within STRIKE headquarters.

They all hurried back inside, having found nothing more outside than in. Michael pulled out the new disc STRIKE had given him, which had received a few upgrades since he had left years ago.

"Shouldn't take more than a few minutes," Michael said. He slipped his disc back into his pocket and turned to face the others. He was met by Luna a mere foot from him, holding out a steaming mug to him.

"Here you go," she said dreamily. "Hot chocolate. There was some mix in a cupboard; I had it heating while we were outside."

"Oh, thanks," Michael said gratefully, taking the cup from her. "Not bad, I would have preferred evidence of a conspiracy though…."

He took a seat in a wooden chair he dragged away from a table and took another drink. His right leg bounced as he sat, rather from cold or agitation he didn't say.

"Oh well," Jeff shrugged. "I honestly think that this guy or guys might have seriously just called it quits. And…I think I'll be heading back to the Ministry after Christmas if your trap doesn't work."

He looked over at the stove as he spoke. Sarah was rubbing his arm as she sat next to him.

"That's not a bad idea," Michael said seriously.

"What?" Jeff said sharply, now turning to actually look at Michael. "I was expecting you to say that we should ride this out until it's done. Or at least that you didn't want to spread the team any further."

"I'm worried, Jeff, to be honest," Michael said, setting his mug down. Luna pulled over chair and sat down next to him, looking concerned.

"Why?"

"Well, I've heard some things since I started working with Staffon," Michael said. "Jeff, I'd be surprised if you haven't heard the rumors to, as you're working with the Captain of the Special Forces."

Jeff didn't look angry or even utter a curse at this mention of his brother, which showed exactly how far they had come in the last two few months. Of course, they still weren't acting like brothers; Michael liked the term 'armisticed acquaintances.' Jeff nodded somberly at Michael.

"That Voldemort's planning to make a move to take over the Ministry soon? Yeah, I've heard the rumors. On one hand I think he'd be insane to try it, with only him, Malfoy, some Dark creatures and a few newly recruited Death Eaters."

"But on the other hand," Andromeda said slowly, "it's still the Dark Lord. He's got a supposedly unbeatable wand, Draco's more powerful than I could ever have imagined, and he's succeeded with more reckless plans before. We can't let him or my nephew succeed."

"Losing the Ministry would be a huge blow," Michael said darkly. "Don't get me wrong, I still hate Scrimgeour, but I can't deny he's done a decent job with this war, given the enemy we're faced with. Better than Fudge at least," he added fairly.

Andromeda cringed at the name like so many others did at hearing Voldemort's spoken aloud.

"And it'd be awful to lose the Aurors," Luna put in. "Most of them are really very nice, not to mention extraordinary fighters. I interviewed a few for Dad when he put in the article in the Quibbler about the Second Stage of the Rotfang Conspiracy. One of them was the Auror who helped us in Diagon alley, Michael."

"You talked to Hutch?" Michael asked in surprise. "I had meant to go see him after all that business in the Alley, but I never really got around to it. Suppose it's a little late now…."

"Speaking of late," Sarah said. "Where's the helicopter? They didn't set down far from here; they should have been back by now."

"Weather's getting pretty bad," Jeff pointed out. "Something might have happened to them in flight, I don't think those things are meant to operate in this kind of temperature or wind."

"I doubt it," Michael said, shaking his head. Luna stood up beside him to peer out the window. "It's cold and windy, but those things are pretty reliable, according to Desmond. If a blizzard blew in though…."

"No, I think that's them," Luna said, pointing out the window.

"'Bout time," Michael muttered getting to his feet and heading to the door. Luna was right; the helicopter touched down a few seconds later in the snow. Desmond jumped out, his STRIKE armor coated in snow.

"Sorry about the wait," he apologized. "Sanders had to take a piss and was gone for ten minutes," he raised his voice and called back towards the helicopter. The pilot grinned at him inside and waved. Everyone quickly climbed inside and sat down, still shivering. Andromeda idled outside as everyone buckled in.

"Well, it's been a good few months," she said to all of them. "We may not have caught the spy, but we at least halted his activities."

"We all got a lot more powerful too," Sarah agreed.

"And fixed some broken relationships," Michael put in, slapping Jeff on the back.

"It's a shame Dora couldn't join us," Luna said as Jeff shoved Michael as far as the straps would allow him too.

"I would've liked her close too," Andromeda said ruefully. She sighed rather dramatically. "But her place is with the Aurors. They need her. Kingsley relies on her for some of his most important missions and I know she's still helping your two friends get accustomed to how things go."

Andromeda's face was warmed with a broad smile and her voice was filled with pride in her daughter.

"Now that we're detaching from STRIKE, what will you do?" Michael asked. Andromeda shrugged.

"I'm not sure. Maybe I'll drift, like you. From the Order, to the Aurors, to STRIKE…wherever I'm needed."
"Well consider yourself an honorary member of the legendary Wolf Pack," Jeff grinned, apparently under the impression he was giving Andromeda a grand compliment.

"The what now?" she asked blankly.

Jeff's face fell and Michael laughed. They so rarely used their Animagus forms these days it wasn't too insulting the name wasn't as renowned as it was. Plus, Michael was still coming to grips with the fact that every passing year made that name seem more and more childish.

"Andromeda," Michael said seriously. "Someday soon…I want that duel."

Andromeda raised her eyebrows. "And you'll have it…on a day."

Michael rolled his eyes. He had taken Staffon's advice and had indeed invited Andromeda to participate in a friendly duel months ago, but she had turned him down, claiming she was too rusty. Michael had scoffed at that and presented Peru as evidence, but she staunchly continued to claim she wasn't yet back up to speed and refused point blank to challenge him until she was back at her peak.

That had Michael both a little nervous and very excited.

"Michael, I'd be careful about any 'friendly duels' you join in," Sarah said warningly. "The last two you attempted nearly got you murdered by a teacher, and married, respectively."

Michael didn't laugh at that comment the way Luna and Jeff and even the STRIKE agents did; he and Andromeda were too busy sizing each other up.

Luna looked back and forth between her husband and the woman who had cared so dearly for her mother. She sighed.

"If I agree to duel the winner, can we get out of the cold?"

Everyone laughed at that. Michael rolled his neck.

"All right, all right, we'll put it on hold until after the babies come. We can have our pissing contest later, but for now, let's get somewhere warm."

Andromeda couldn't help but chuckle at the group of much younger Witches and Wizards and raised a hand in farewell, her gaze ending up upon Luna before she silently vanished, the act as gentle and unassuming as if a breeze had simply carried her away.

The helicopter began its takeoff, bearing east.

"So we're taking you back to base?" Desmond confirmed.

"Yeah, we need our possessions, unfortunately…then it's off to the Burrow, near Luna's old house. Here." He pulled out a piece of paper on which he had written down the location Ron had replied with in a letter and read it off to Desmond, who repeated it to the pilot.

"Speaking of that," Luna said happily, "thanks for agreeing to spend Christmas with my dad. I think he really likes having us around."

"It may take a little while," Desmond said, turning back to the others.

"There's something I need you to tell Staffon for me," Michael said to Desmond, taking advantage of the time. "I don't think he's on base right now and I don't really feel like looking for him if he is. But I don't want to chance giving him the message in any way except face to face, so I'll just need you to pass along a bit of it."

Desmond and the other man looked at him interestedly. As did Luna, Jeff, and Sarah. "I need you to tell General Staffon – and no one else – that I've done it. I've found it."

"Found what?" Desmond asked in confusion. Michael shook his head.

"I'm sorry Desmond, but I can't talk to anyone but the General about this. He'll know what I mean. Tell him to meet me at Stonehenge at midnight the day after Christmas. Can I count on you?"

"Yeah, sure, I'll make sure he gets the message."

"Excellent," Michael said, reclining in his seat. He called up to the pilot. "Now, what does a man like Alfred Sanders do for Christmas?"


Michael and the others jumped out of the helicopter around an hour later, not far from the Burrow, but outside the protective enchantments. They waved goodbye to Desmond and Sanders, the two pleasant STRIKE agents, and as a group reveled in the fact that they were slightly sad to see them go.

The second the helicopter disappeared into the gray, dismal skies, Jeff and Sarah rounded on Michael. Luna looked curious, but not angry as the others did.

"What the hell?" Jeff demanded angrily, actually giving Michael a little shove. He stumbled backwards in the snow, but didn't fall.

"Yeah!" Sarah snarled at him. "What's wrong with you? Why the hell wouldn't you tell us you found one? The one!"

"Because I haven't," Michael said, obviously trying hard to keep his composure.

"You – wait, what?" Jeff said, very confused.

"I haven't found one of the Seven," Michael repeated clearly. "I should probably hurry and make sure Staffon knows not to actually go…though it might not hurt to have him around…."

"So," Luna said, her brow furrowed, "are you saying you think one of the agents in the helicopter is the spy?"

"I'm not ruling out anyone…" Michael muttered darkly. "Something about those two…I just don't trust them. But it's an easy test. If either shows up at Stonehenge at midnight to eavesdrop on me and the General, he's the spy. If not, I just Apparate back home to Luna."

"But what makes you think it's him?" Sarah asked.

"I don't know," Michael shrugged. "I've just got one of those feelings. It's probably nothing, but the sooner we catch this guy the sooner we get back to our normal lives. Well," he corrected himself, "we can get back to our lives. Normal probably isn't the best word."

Jeff and Sarah were having none of his attempt at a joke.

"You do know we're coming right?" Jeff said rather threateningly.

"To Stonehenge with you," Sarah nodded.

"Of course you're not," Michael said simply. He turned his back on them, and Luna, understanding what he needed, followed merrily, taking his hand in hers. Jeff and Sarah, however, did not share Luna's mild disposition or her insight into Michael's mind.

Sarah jogged along to catch up to them, but Jeff, still indignant, hurried past them and skidded to a stop to face Michael, who sighed loudly and stopped walking.

"What?" he asked irritably. Michael hated the cold, and was longing for the warmth of the dwelling mere yards from them.

"What do you think?" Jeff demanded. "Why the hell can't me and Sarah come?"

"Because," Luna said patiently, for Michael didn't look very patient anymore, "if you and Sarah show up he'll know that Michael is planning something. It just has to be Michael, because that's what he told him would happen. Now I'm getting inside, if you don't mind."

And with that Luna strode right past Jeff, and into the Weasley's front lawn, the air around her momentarily shimmering as the protective wards allowed her inside. Michael smirked at Jeff, and then followed Luna up to the Burrow.

"He's stupid…and right," Sarah sighed, grabbing Jeff's arm and crunching up through the snow as well, dragging him along with her.

Michael rapped his knuckles on the door as Jeff and Sarah caught up with them. They waited a few seconds, then the door flew open, Fred and George Weasley standing in the threshold.

"You poor, poor souls," Fred said without any other greeting, grinning.

"…what the hell do you mean?" Michael asked after an uncomfortable pause. He had heard enough from Ron about his brothers to be extra cautious around them.

"You'll see in a few months," George grinned at them. "I do pity you."

"You lot seem all right, even if you do share your unexplainable fondness for our brother," Fred said, patting Luna on the arm. She smiled unconcernedly back at him, placing a hand on her bulging belly. "Really though you too, congratulations. But…we're also sorry. So very, very sorry."

But through the apology, he and George were grinning hugely and mischievously. Luna actually looked a little frightened at their giddiness.

"For…what?" Michael asked slowly, frowning.

"Hermione told us," George said, his smirk growing somehow wider. "Twins boys. Twins, you poor fools."

"You're never meeting them," Michael said without a moment of hesitation. His body temperature had dropped even further than it had been as he suffered in that near blizzard. The horror of the twins' statement was causing him as much panic as any meeting with Voldemort.

"And what's more," Fred went on, almost laughing now, "is that our parents are pretty mild mannered and a bit boring, if we're being honest. Now you two!" he said grandly. "You two are something else! Fighting teachers, kissing girls, sneaking out under Dumbledore's nose…."

"Your kids are going to put us to shame," George said, shaking his head.

"The discount we'll be giving them at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes won't help either," Fred added.

"Well, the Healer tells us it's unlikely our boys will be identical, so at least that avenue of tricks is closed to them," Luna said knowingly.

"Ah, but that's the best one!" Fred said, disappointed. "You'll miss all the fun of mixing up their names a few times when they're babies. I'm still convinced I'm the real George."

"But for now I expect you'd like to get out of the cold and see everyone else," George said as Michael and the others laughed at Fred's remark, stepping aside and bowing them in.

"I know someone they'll want to see," snickered Fred.

"What's Ron done?" Jeff asked exasperatedly.

"You'll see," George said temptingly, leading them into the den, where Harry, Ron, Hermione, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Bill, and Fleur Delacour, sat, talking happily.

"Ron!" Fred called loudly as they entered the room. "Turn around!"

"What?" Ron muttered, swiveling in his feet to face the six who had just joined them. Michael stood completely still for a moment, then buried his face in his hands. While he was able to hold back laughter, Jeff was not able to share his tact. Sarah sighed, but Luna simply observed, with legitimate excitement,

"Oh look, Ronald tried to grow a beard!"