The next morning had a very tired looking Holly and Ron sitting shoulder-to-shoulder. Sirius raised his eyebrow, sending a soft smile her way, and she tried to smile back. When she first stumbled from the broom-closet and into the kitchen, Holly was surprised to see most everyone seated for breakfast. Ron gestured with his chin and Holly had plopped down beside him after a moment's hesitation. He didn't meet her eye or talk to her, but did pass her the butter dish and pour a cup of Pumpkin Juice midway through the meal.

Sirius was all but laughing across the table from them. Remus came through the door halfway through the meal, informing Mrs. Weasley that Mr. Weasley had contacted him an hour before and was now reporting to Dumbledore after his night surveillance. Mrs. Weasley thanked him and piled a plate high with bacon, scrambled eggs, and hash. A tall, cold cup of milk appeared at his elbow. He had offered a tired greeting to the teenagers and politely began to eat, tilting his head to the side as Sirius whispered in his ear. Remus raised his eyebrows and glanced at Holly.

She glared at them both and sipped on her juice. Ron finished his second heaping plateful of hash before mumbling, "Talk with me? Upstairs?"

She nodded, eyeing her Godfather and then her friends. Hermione had her nose stuck in a thick tome, but Ginny was watching them curiously while shoveling eggs into her mouth. Holly mumbled, "Okay."

Ron left first. Holly finished her drink, sighed, and pushed away from the table. She dragged her feet upstairs and into the bedroom Ron had commandeered. The bed was a mess with blankets and sheets twisted at the foot. One pillow was on the floor and the other was incredibly wrinkled. He had a pair of dirty trainers by the door and a half-dozen books spread across the floor.

She frowned at them until he grumbled, "Hermione has me reading through these, looking for any clues with the Horcruxes."

"You must have been really bored to do that." Holly muttered.

Ron cracked a smile and nodded. "Yeah, I'm going mad with all the reading."

A moment passed and Holly shifted awkwardly. Ron said, "Sit on the bed. Sorry, but Hermione took the only chair in here and brought it to your bedroom."

Holly eased her way through the tomes and clothes on the floor. She sat on the edge of his bed and eyed him wearily. Ron paced and talked to the floor.

"I shouldn't have yelled like I did, but you have to admit what you told me is mad. I can't believe you think that about him. I mean, how in the hell did this happen? Are you sure you aren't under a spell? We can have Dumbledore check to make sure."

Holly hissed out a breath. "Stop it, Ron. There's no spell at play."

Ron whirled to face her, eyes wide and confused and feverish. He said, "Can you really sit there and wonder why I'm acting like this? Holly, none of this makes sense."

"I know," She snapped, "I know that. I expected you to act just like this and that's why I haven't told you. I wanted to, though."

"How?" Ron huffed, "How did you get to…this?"

"I don't know." She looked away from him and shrugged. There was a loud creak and Holly took a moment to take comfort in the familiar sounds of the old house moving. She whispered, "It just happened and I can't change it."

"Have you…?" Ron muttered awkwardly. "I mean…he isn't forcing you?"

"No, Ron." Holly sighed hollowly, "I was the one chasing after him."

"H-He's…" Ron trailed off before blurting hotly, "He's a teacher. For Merlin's sake, Holly, he's twice our age. He's a right git and he hates your family. Hell, he hates my family. I think the man hates everyone."

Holly groaned, "Ugh. You don't know him, Ron. You really don't. He isn't like that. He's not always a git. He can be kind and gentle."

"Kind and gentle?" Ron echoed faintly, eyes nearly bulging out of his head. There was another creak and a muffled groan. Ron turned to the sound behind him. That was when the door, which had been ajar, burst inward. Sirius barreled through the door with Remus stumbling after him, holding tightly to the man's wand hand.

"No, Sirius." He firmly grunted, "Stop this madness."

Despite looking as gentle as he did, Remus was heftier and stronger than Sirius. He wrestled the wand out of the man's hand and pushed him back a full step. Regardless of Remus's show of brute strength, it was Sirius that had Ron backing up in an attempt to bodily protect Holly. Ron darted to Holly's side as the older men wrestled.

Ron placed himself halfway in front of Holly's side as Sirius took a hard step forward. His gray eyes were blazing and rolling enough that they could see the white of his sockets. Holly gasped, "Sirius..."

"Enough of this, Padfoot." Remus snapped roughly, gripping his friend by the shoulders and giving him a good shake. "You're frightening them. Children, Sirius. Your goddaughter. Holly needs you to calm yourself."

Sirius was breathing raggedly as he slapped his forearm across Remus's chest. The echoing smack had Holly wincing. Sirius struggled out of Remus's grip and grabbed at his own hair. He bent over, inhaling deeply. He went still abruptly and straightened up to his full height. His face was shadowed, angular, and haunted. Holly was reminded of the Shrieking Shack. And of Severus. She knew this look, this hopelessness, because she had seen it on the Potions Master's face before.

"Who were the two of you speaking of?" Sirius croaked.

Holly swallowed heavily and shook her head. She felt the warmth of Ron beside her, elbow brushing hers. His body was trembling slightly and she wanted so badly to reach behind her, to touch Ron and assure they were both perfectly safe. She took a deep breath, watching Remus as he cut her with a sharp expression. His tawny eyes were urging her at the same time they were disappointed in her. And for the first time, Holly realized Remus knew.

"A man twice your age." Sirius growled and the sound echoed eerily like that of a canine. Holly shook her head again, tears burning just behind her lids. She did reach for Ron's hand now and despite how sweaty his palm was, her friend wrapped his fingers around her own. He squeezed tightly.

Holly whispered, "Don't worry about it, Sirius."

"Don't worry about it?" He echoed in a rasp, eyes glowing oddly. His body was trembling and his dominant hand was twitching as if he wanted to raise his wand, which was firmly in Remus's hand.

"You just…misunderstood." Ron offered tightly.

Sirius's eyes snapped to his and held Ron in his sights like prey. He growled, "You. I thought it was...You call yourself her best mate? You stood aside and allowed her to get involved with…with…"

He snarled loudly, "Who were you speaking of, Holly Lily Potter?"

Both jumped at the sheer volume of his voice. Holly stared him in the eyes and gasped, "Severus."

The bedroom became colder and stiller in only a moment. Sirius blinked and his face went blank. The shadows under his eyes stood out promptly. Remus was hovering, offering a long sigh. The sound triggered Sirius and he whirled around, shoving his friend back a full step. He barked, "You knew. The glances at him. Taking up for Snivullus during meetings. The whispered conversations with Dumbeldore. You knew all this time and you kept your mouth shut. Does James mean nothing to you? Does Holly mean nothing to you, Remus? Why did you not come to me? Why did you not speak to me, so I could have murdered the sonofabitch sooner?"

"Dumbledore made me swear, Sirius." Remus declared, "He swore me to secrecy and told me you finding out could ruin the entire outcome of the war."

"The war can go to hell and stay there!" Sirius snapped before whirling to face Holly and Ron. He shoved Ron back and took Holly by the shoulders while Remus quickly helped a stumbling Ron to his feet. Sirius paid neither of them a glance as he looked deeply into Holly's eyes. She had to force her neck back in order to properly see his face.

Sirius urgently whispered, "You must listen to me, Holly. The man you think you know is not real. He's cunning and slick. Whatever Snape has done or said to you is a lie. He's a spy and has been for his entire life. Even as a child, before your parents died, he was a slimy, sneaky boy. He looked out for himself first and foremost. He took any chance he could to hurt me and Remus and your father. He tore your Mum's heart out and humiliated her in public on more than one occasion. He called her a Mudblood, Holly. They were friends, you see, all throughout their childhood. And he tossed her out like trash to become a Death Eater. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?"

And suddenly Holly was hearing cold laughter and an echoing voice. First the mother and now the daughter. First the mother and now the daughter.

"H-He wouldn't…" She shook her head, closing her eyes.

"He isn't good, Holly." Sirius whispered, gently tucking hair behind her ear. "I need you to think and tell me if you have ever drunk anything in his presence when Dumbledore was not around. It might not have seemed like a potion. He could easily disguise an elixir in juice or tea."

"No." She choked and tried jerking out of his grasp. He let her go, but stayed hovering inches from her as if he might catch her should she topple over. She repeated loudly, "No. No. Severus isn't like that."

"You don't know Severus." Sirius insisted tightly. A manic look was shining in his eyes as he demanded, "Did he force himself on you?"

"No." She wiped at the wetness building in her eyes. She shook her head and exclaimed, "Severus has never made me do anything I don't want to do."

Sirius froze, chest vibrating and growling lowly. Remus cautioned, "Sirius. Think before you act. What will you do, truly kill a man in cold blood?"

"Yes." He snarled, heading for the door swiftly. Holly darted forward, following him down the stairs with Remus and Ron on their heels. Remus was tall, but Ron was now taller and his legs were longer. He darted ahead of Remus, despite the loud protests. He called out, "Mum! Ward the door!"

Sirius was at the door, slashing his wand like it was a mighty sword. There was a sharp noise like metal against metal and then the yellow Ward shimmered once, falling and disappearing like silk into the floorboards. Remus cast a Patronus and the big, hulking wolf tore out of the house, jumping through the door smoothly. Mrs. Weasley came barreling out of the kitchen, firmly casting a Shield Charm around Ginny and Hermione, who tried running into the cramped hallway as well.

Mrs. Weasley took in the struggling between Remus and Sirius, the former had tackled the latter to the floor. Both were grunting and hollering swear words. Mrs. Weasley threw up another Shield Charm around Ron, who was struggling to hold Holly's shoulders as she yelled repeatedly, "Stop! Stop fighting! Stop it!"

"What is the meaning of this?" Mrs. Weasley hollered, flicking her wand and sending the heavy kitchen door shut. There was a loud yelp and a muffled, angry swear word from Ginny. Mrs. Weasley waved her wand and a Patronus went immediately bursting down the corridor, sliding right over the angry men.

"Sirius and Remus are brawling. I need muscle here now." She grumbled before stepping forward briskly. She tore her eyes away from the men and firmly said, "Take Holly upstairs, Ronald. I will be up shortly."

Ron shook his head, holding tightly to Holly's struggling form. He said, "I'm not leaving you alone with them, Mum. We wait for Dad together."

Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes and sent a jet of blue sparks, squarely hitting Sirius in the shoulder. The two men struggled for a moment more. Sirius jolted, grunted, and fell still as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Remus jumped off of him, pushing Sirius's wand back into the pocket of his trousers, and stood up with a wince. His bottom lip was split, dripping blood and already twice its usual size. There was a cut above his left eyebrow and a trickle of blood oozing out of his nostrils. He was breathing harshly when the front door burst open. Mr. Weasley and Bill ran into the corridor, the former nearly tripping over Sirius's unconscious form while the latter was nimble enough to jump over the body.

They both surveyed the scene; Mrs. Weasley angry, Remus bleeding, and Ron holding Holly tightly while she sobbed, curled into his chest. Mr. Weasley said, "Good gracious. What's happening here? Molly? Remus?"

Bill Conjured a cloth and soaked it with water before handing it to Remus. The man offered a raspy word of thanks before moping at his face. Mrs. Weasley shrilly stated, "I would like to know the same. I hear Ron shouting, sounding scared out of his wits, and find both Remus and Sirius tumbling on the floor. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Remus, brawling like school-boys in front of children."

"He was trying to leave." Remus panted, "Wanted to go to Hogwarts to find Snape. If he is spotted, he's a dead man, Molly. I had to stop him however I could."

While Mrs. Weasley eyed Remus suspiciously, lips pressed tightly together, Mr. Weasley looked to his youngest boy. Mr. Weasley asked, "Are you okay, son?"

"Yes." Ron grimly said, holding one hand around Holly's shoulder and the other around her waist. He muttered, "Holly might need a Calming Draught."

"H-H-He hates me." Holly stuttered and choked, pushing her face harder into Ron's shoulder. She said, "I want to go to the castle. To Dumbledore."

"You can't leave, dear." Mr. Weasley kindly said, "Perhaps a Draught and a nap will help you? I'm sure all this stress set Sirius off. He can speak with you when he comes to."

Holly peeked a glance at Sirius's pale form on the floor and winced. She watched blankly as Bill offered and then began Healing all of Remus's injuries. After a moment, Mrs. Weasley stepped forward and firmly said, "Head upstairs, loves. I will send Hermione and Ginny up with snacks."

"No. Sirius. He doesn't need to stay on the floor." Holly began protesting in a scratchy voice, but was cut off quickly with a pat to her shoulder and a firm look directed at Ron by Mrs. Weasley. Irritated and so tired, Holly allowed Ron to half-pull and half-carry her up the stairs. Remus called up, "I will speak with him. For now, we will give him a Sleeping Draft. Rest easy, Holly."

"And you?" She asked, swollen eyes glancing back down the stairs to the landing below. Remus offered a somber expression. He said, "I will stay for now."