Harry and Hermione arrived late to the Great Hall the following morning. The moment they entered, they felt that a strange, sombre mood had descended over the student body.

When they reached the Gryffindor table, they found that Luna, Susan, and Daphne were all huddled over Neville and Ginny. Harry knew at once that something had happened the previous night.

'What's going on?' Hermione demanded tensely when they reached their group.

Neville slid a copy of the Daily Prophet across the table without a word. Harry snatched it up at once.

AZKABAN SACKED

DEMENTORS IN FULL REVOLT, GUARDS MURDERED, 37 PRISONERS ESCAPED, SUSPECTED INVOLVEMENT FROM YOU-KNOW-WHO

Harry and Hermione shared a look. Her face was ashen and colourless, her lower lip was trembling slightly. Harry suspected that his own face much resembled hers. He took her hand under the table and squeezed tightly.

'Bellatrix Lestrange escaped,' Neville murmured. 'So did Rodolphus and Rabastan.'

'Rodolphus is a squib at least,' Ginny supplied, attempting to console him.

'I almost hope they attack me tomorrow,' Neville said through gritted teeth. 'I want nothing less than to rip Bellatrix apart, limb from limb. I know it's silly, but…'

'It's anything but silly, Neville,' Hermione rebutted firmly. 'We know what that…animal…did. If I were in your position, I would wand her head, too. And with the way you've improved, you'd be more than capable of standing up to her when the time comes.'

'Thanks,' Neville muttered. 'The dementors are the bigger issue, though, Gran says…they can't be killed…and they suck your soul out…'

'We can teach you the Patronus Charm,' Harry offered.

'That's seventh year material!'

Harry shrugged. 'I learned it in my third. Hermione learned in her fifth. I'm sure you're all more than capable of it, if your ability to cast other spells is any indication.'

'Still, it's supposed to be one of the hardest N.E.W.T. level spells to master!' Ginny said.

'Everything else you've mastered is probably just as hard or harder,' Harry pointed out. 'We'll try it tonight. I'm sure you guys can do it.'

That evening's meeting in the Room of Requirement was fraught with tension, in no small part caused by Daphne's account of what was happening in the Slytherin House.

'The entire House is split down the middle,' she said after she had charged through the doors, flushed in the face. 'There's a large group who's cheering on the Death Eaters. They literally threw a party in the Common Room at the news of what happened last night. Three guesses who those people are. The other half of the House either doesn't want anything to do with them or wants them sent to Azkaban. Battle lines are being drawn. I'd not be surprised if Slytherin has its own war soon.'

It was with that grim sentiment that practice on the Patronus Charm began that night. Unsurprisingly, the results were less than desirable. Though every one of the five had managed incorporeal 'shield' Patronuses by the end of the night, not one managed anything more than formless mist. Even Harry and Hermione's own casting seemed a little subdued. The stag and otter did not shine as brightly as they did the night they faced down Umbridge's dementors.

'It's okay,' Harry consoled everyone as they left, 'It took me weeks to finally get the spell down when I first learned it. You're already doing better than I was, especially considering what's happening…out there.'

It did not lift anyone's spirits very much, though. It did not even lift Harry's own. Thirty-seven free Death Eaters, a potential civil war in Slytherin, and Voldemort out there and freely killing were not conducive to a good mood.

It felt almost silly to be attending classes as normal with all that was happening in the wider magical world, but Harry and Hermione woke up the next morning and did just that. Their first lesson was Defence Against the Dark Arts with the Slytherins. When they walked into the classroom, Moody was already standing next to the chalkboard, leaning on his walking stick, and looking as surly as he was at the Welcoming Feast.

'Sit down,' he barked. The students, seeing the man's expression, all knew that this was not someone to be trifled with, and obeyed without a sound.

'As everyone knows by now, some foul Death Eater scum locked me in a trunk for all of last year,' Moody growled. 'Well, I'm back by special request from Dumbledore. You all know what's – who's – out there. You all need to learn to defend yourselves. Stand up and take out your wands.'

'I'm going to fire Stunning Spells at you,' Moody said gruffly. 'Yes, Brown, Stunning Spells. Real opponents won't be playing around with Expelliarmus. You are to not let my spell hit you. Avoid them or block them however you can. The first five to be hit get detention. On three. One, two – '

Moody had shot a Stunning Spell at Neville before he even said three. Neville, who Harry and Hermione had taught to expect trickery, was ready for it. He leapt out of the way effortlessly. Ron, who was standing behind him, was not so lucky. The red jet of light hit him right in the chest and he collapsed, unconscious.

'Constant vigilance!' Moody bellowed, 'Dark wizards do not play fair! Stupefy!'

The next Stunning Spell flew straight towards Dean Thomas, who, seeing Neville's example, jumped out of the way. The red jet of light hit the ground and sparked off harmlessly.

Seamus, however, was not so lucky. A Stunner caught him in the neck when his head was turned to look at Dean. He collapsed to the ground just like Ron.

Nott became the next victim. Too busy laughing at Seamus's misfortune, the Death Eater scion was hit with a Stunning Spell to the face as he was distracted. The Gryffindor side of the room roared in laughter.

Lavender was hit moments later. She was distracted between checking on Ron and giggling at Nott being taken down that she tripped over a fallen body and fell to the ground, where she was easily hit by a Stunner. Soon after, Moody claimed his fifth victim in Pansy Parkinson. She, like Nott, had been laughing at Lavender, and was hit by a Stunning Spell in the arm that she did not even see coming.

One by one, the rest fell. After five minutes, only Harry, Hermione, Neville, Daphne, and Dean were still standing. Neville and Daphne were alternating between dodging and shielding, covering each other just like Harry and Hermione had taught them. Dean, meanwhile, was jumping and sliding around the Stunners like they were just stray footballs.

A few minutes later, Dean was caught in the foot by a Stunning Spell that he did not quite manage to slide past. He rolled over onto his stomach on his momentum and stayed still. That left only four still standing.

'Whoever loses owes the other five Galleons, Longbottom!' Daphne called.

'Looks like I'll be five Galleons richer, Greengrass,' Neville taunted.

All four of them danced around Moody's spells for another two or three minutes. Harry could notice that Moody was tiring. He was putting more and more effort into keeping up the rate at which he was casting Stunning Spells. Harry too was growing out of breath as he kept up his dodging and shielding. He saw out of the corner of his eyes that Hermione's face was quite pink and flustered, and sweat was rolling in beads down her forehead.

A triumphant whoop came from Harry's right. Neville was pumping his fist. Daphne, it seemed, had finally gone down.

Neville's celebration was short-lived, however. Seconds later, Moody's Stunning Spell caught him off guard and nailed him on the left elbow. Neville did not even have time to process what was going on before he ended up on the ground, unconscious.

Harry and Hermione continued facing Moody for the next three or so minutes. They worked as a team, shielding each other and pulling one another out of the way of his spells. Moody could not land a single hit on them as a result. Finally, Moody lowered his wand.

'All right, Potter, Granger,' he said, panting. 'You win. You can fight, boy.'

Harry thought that he ought to be glad of the compliment, but he felt oddly suspicious. He did not put it past Moody to lower his guard as a 'final test'. His fingers remained tightly gripped around his own wand, waiting.

'Impressive dodging skills, Potter, Granger,' Moody was saying. 'Are those silently cast Shield Charms? I'm impressed that you know how to – '

Suddenly, a red jet of light issued from behind Moody's back. Harry, on guard for such a possibility, was more than ready for it. In one swift motion, he brought his wand up before him and cast a powerful Shield Charm in front of both himself and Hermione. The Stunner bounced harmlessly off the barrier.

Moody barked a laugh. 'Constant vigilance! Very good, Potter! Remember, dark wizards don't play fair! Now, help me revive your classmates.'

Harry, Hermione, and Moody went around the room and cast Reviving Spells on each of their classmates. 'I won, right?' Neville asked when he was brought back around.

'You lasted about five seconds longer than her,' Harry chortled. 'Moody got you with a Stunner when you turned your head to gloat. But yeah, you won. Come on, get up off the ground so you can collect your winnings.'

Harry pulled Neville up into his chair and moved on to Ron. Ron glared at him the moment his eyes opened.

'All right, Ron?' Harry sighed.

'Sure,' Ron grumbled. 'If Longbottom didn't jump out of the way like that…it's like he doesn't know what a Shield Charm is.'

Harry wanted to ask if Ron could even cast a Shield Charm – Neville definitely could – but bit it back. He was in no mood for a confrontation, especially not in the middle of a classroom.

Harry returned to his seat next to Hermione when the rest of the class had been revived and settled back in their chairs. Moody created a cannon-like sound with his wand and the class quickly silenced.

'Weasley! You were the first one hit,' he snarled. Ron jumped in his seat. 'You made multiple mistakes. What's one?'

Ron's face flushed in embarrassment. 'Uh…getting Stunned?'

'What led to you getting Stunned, Weasley?'

'Getting hit with the Stunning Spell?'

Moody looked like he wanted to slap Ron. 'What led you to getting hit with the Stunner?'

Ron had no answer to the question.

'You weren't prepared, Weasley!' Moody bellowed. 'You weren't ready to move when the Stunning Spell came flying at you!'

'You didn't count all the way to three!' Ron protested.

'Dark wizards don't count to three!' Moody shouted. 'Dark wizards curse you in the back from sneaky, slimy hiding spots! You must be prepared for every eventuality! Constant vigilance! Never assume you are safe, ever! Detention, Weasley. Tonight.'

Moody turned to Seamus. 'Finnigan! Your mistake?'

'I…I looked away, sir…I got distracted,' Seamus stammered, flushing.

Moody nodded approvingly. 'Very good, Finnegan! Five points to Gryffindor, no detention for you! You never look away from an opponent in battle! Situational awareness is paramount! Always be vigilant, always be on guard!'

'Nott, Parkinson!' Moody roared with an ugly sneer. The two Slytherins looked like they were about to soil themselves. 'Where did you cock up?'

Neither Slytherin opened their mouths. Both had a mixture of indignation and abject horror on their faces. 'Well?' Moody demanded.

'I didn't shield myself,' Nott answered, trying to put strength into his voice and failing miserably.

'I didn't shield myself,' Moody mimed derisively. 'Never use Shield Charms as your first defence! Always duck out of the way if you can! Shield Charms do not stop Unforgivables, and they take effort to cast! That will be detention, Nott, Parkinson. Tonight, with Weasley.'

Harry could not tell who looked less thrilled at that, Ron or Nott and Parkinson. Moody finally turned to Lavender.

'What did you do wrong, Brown?'

'I tripped,' Lavender replied in a tiny voice.

'And why did you trip, Brown?'

'B-Because I wasn't paying attention.'

'Good!' Moody cried. 'Never take your eyes away from the battle or the battlefield! Situational awareness can save your life! Five points to Gryffindor, no detention tonight.'

'Now, Potter and Granger, Longbottom and Greengrass did something right.' Harry flashed a surreptitious thumbs-up at Neville and Daphne while Hermione looked awfully pleased with herself to be receiving a teacher's praise. Old habits die hard.

'They fought as a team!' Moody lectured. 'When you're out there, defending against who-knows-what, you have to put trust in those who're watching your back! You fight alone, you die! Not even Dumbledore can watch every angle of approach! You shield and protect each other, take out threats as a team!'

'Now, Longbottom and Greengrass did well until they were distracted by a childish game,' Moody said. Daphne and Neville both blushed, shame faced. 'Keep your mind and eyes on the battle! Thirty points each to Gryffindor and Slytherin.'

'Now, Potter and Granger did not get distracted. Nor did they let their own guard down when their opponent appeared to be defeated. Never trust that a dark wizard is defeated unless they are dead! Very good work. Fifty points each to Gryffindor.'

At the end of class, everyone except for Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Daphne were given extra homework on proper defensive duelling techniques. The class, surprisingly, took it without too much grumbling, given everything that was happening outside the walls of Hogwarts.

'My Galleons, Daph,' Neville demanded the moment they stepped out of the classroom, holding his palm out.

Daphne rolled her eyes and dug into her pockets. She pulled out five gold coins and passed them to Neville, who accepted them smugly.

'Gambling, Longbottom?' Ron's superior voice came from behind them. All four wheeled around to see Ron and Lavender, clinging to each other as usual and wearing triumphant expressions on their faces.

Neville looked like he was at a loss for what to say. 'I was just paying him back for some potions ingredients,' Daphne lied, saving him.

'That would explain the look on Longbottom's face, I'm sure,' Ron said with a smirk.

'Wouldn't you look happy if you got you money back?'

'Longbottom looked smug, not happy, Greengrass,' Lavender crooned. 'What'll the punishment be, Won-Won?'

Ron looked almost pensive for a moment. 'I think detention tonight with Moody'll teach them not to gamble, Lav-Lav. All four of them for good measure.'

Harry wanted to cringe at the whole exchange. He turned to look at Hermione and she looked like she wanted to excuse herself to go and vomit.

'Have you forgotten already that I'm also a Prefect, who, I'd add, might actually deserve the position?' Daphne asked coldly. 'You can't give detentions or deduct points from other Prefects, Weasley, Brown. And I'm reversing the detentions you gave to the others.'

Ron scowled. 'You're abusing your powers!'

'One of us is abusing their powers, but it's certainly not me.'

'Don't you have your own snakes to bother?' Ron spat. 'Why do you have to be involved in our business? I'm the Gryffindor Prefect. These are Gryffindors.'

'Prefects are responsible for the entire school, bubblehead,' Daphne replied, her voice getting even icier. 'Since you never bothered to open the Prefect handbook…well…I'll just let you know now.'

Ron sneered. 'You think you're so high and mighty and superior to everyone?'

Daphne shook her head. 'No, I don't think I'm superior to everyone, because I'm not. You, however…I'll let you answer that question yourself. Come on, we have Potions.'

Potions was less of a depressing affair these days than it was the previous year. Snape's ire had long since shifted away from Harry and Hermione and onto Ron and certain Slytherins. It seemed that the summer did not abate the Potions Master's hatred of Ron, but only increased it.

'I think we should separate you and Brown, should we not, Weasley?' Snape asked silkily. Ron made the idiot mistake of shaking his head. 'No? Well, Weasley, I'm the teacher here. You will be with Parkinson. Brown, you will be with Nott.'

Harry got Hermione back as a partner and Neville and Daphne were paired. He was rather glad of this change. It was not that he did not like Daphne, but everything was easier and far more enjoyable with Hermione. Their Draught of Peace was finished in record time and they spent the rest of the class talking with the other two, who had managed to finish five minutes after them with their help.

Ron was having far more trouble, however. He and Parkinson were too busy sneering and sniping at each other to focus on their brewing. As a result, the caterpillar that they were supposed to cut ended up smashed under the side of their knife.

'That'll be another fifteen points each from Gryffindor and Slytherin, Weasley, Parkinson,' Snape said with a glare of hatred. 'I expect nothing less from you, Weasley, the boy who cannot even brew a basic Sleeping Draught when you do not have far more knowledgeable wizards guiding you through every step.'

Harry could not bring himself to feel too sorry for Ron, even if he was being used as Snape's verbal punching bag. Just like Snape, Harry still had the Amortentia incident fresh in his mind. Ron's countless episodes of neglect and abuse of power as a Prefect in less than a week did not ingratiate him in Harry's eyes, either.

On two different occasions, Ron had given first-years nightmares by telling them scary tall tales about horrifying magical creatures that usually ended up with him swooping in and saving the day. Harry and Hermione had forgone the telling-off and instead tried to console the terrified eleven-year-olds. To make things worse, Ron seemed to be collecting items that he confiscated and keeping them for himself. Harry had already spotted several fanged frisbees and a package of dungbombs hidden under his bed.

That was not even considering the arbitrary detentions that he had been handing out for 'looking at me the wrong way' or 'interrupting me giving Lav-Lav a morning kiss' or even 'supporting the Tornadoes'. Susan and Daphne had done their best to reverse them and Ginny had a massive shouting match with her brother when he tried to give Dean detention for kissing her, but several students had already met Filch as punishment for committing Ron's made-up 'crimes'.

And according to Susan, Ron and Lavender were not so much clearing out the broom closets during their patrols than partaking in the use of them, sometimes for an hour or more on end.

It did not surprise Harry one bit, then, when Susan recounted that Cho – the Head Girl – was nearly tearing her hair out by the end of the meeting the previous night.

'Prefects should lead by example, should they not?' Snape drawled sadistically near the end of class. 'Yet your potions deserve less than a "T", Weasley, Brown. You will be writing a sixteen-inch essay on the proper brewing of the Draught of Peace, due Monday. If you do not brew a perfect potion by then, you will both be in danger of failing this term.'

Ron stormed out of the room the second the bell rang, a livid expression on his face. Harry and Hermione simply exchanged an exasperated but unsurprised look.


Sirius dashed out of the Wizengamot courtroom, Remus in close pursuit. Peter had been sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss not five minutes ago. Not even Dumbledore's ridiculous belief of 'giving everyone a second chance' was enough to save him from losing his soul for his multitude of crimes.

Really, his fate was sealed when he testified that he was directly responsible for Voldemort's resurrection.

Perhaps he was thinking a little like Albus, but Sirius had genuinely hoped that Peter would show even a morsel of remorse when he faced his fate. It would not have saved Peter from the dementors, but Sirius hoped that he might find it in his conscience – whatever was left of it, anyway – to show some remorse for leading James and Lily to their deaths. Just like two days ago, however, Peter was unrepentant to the very end.

Now with the news of the mass breakout from Azkaban, the dementors prowling the country, and the Ministry's attempts to track the Death Eaters yielding little result, things were getting even worse. At least Kingsley's administration, being not a week old, had escaped blame for the Azkaban breakout, with public opinion firmly pinning the fault on Fudge for not removing the dementors in time and reinforcing Azkaban sufficiently.

Sirius needed to head back to the Tonks'. It would only be a matter of time before Bellatrix found out about Cissy's defection and came after them. Sirius remembered the fiend's rabid obsession with 'pruning' her family tree. The fact that baby Nymphadora was right in the line of fire did not help Sirius's nerves. Perhaps it would be best to bring the entire family to Grimmauld Place, where they would at least be behind a Fidelius. He had enough rooms to house them all and a house elf to take care of the housekeeping. Kreacher had managed to remove Mother's portrait, and Cissy was reformed enough, in Sirius's opinion, that it would not be an issue anyway.

He reached the Floos in the Atrium. 'Moony, coming?'

Remus shook his head. 'I have a meeting with Amelia. With the war going on like this, I think I could be more useful doing something for the Aurors than sitting around sipping Firewhiskey.'

Sirius nodded. Secretly, he thought that Moony had another, Nymphadora-shaped motive in volunteering to help the Aurors. He did not voice it, though. He was unsure of whether to support his friend or to act protectively towards his baby cousin.

'You will be around for dinner, though?' Sirius asked instead.

Remus shrugged. 'Maybe if the meeting doesn't go on for too long. Friday's the full moon. I'll see how I feel.'

'Use your Patronus, then,' Sirius said. He threw a pinch of Floo Powder into the fireplace, spoke his destination, and stepped through to the Tonks'.

'Sirius!' Andie cried when she saw him arrive. 'How did it go?'

'Pettigrew got the Kiss,' he replied grimly, 'Just as we expected.'

Andie set down her book and handed him a cup of tea. 'Any news on…you know?'

'Azkaban?' Andie nodded. 'No, nothing. Even with the massively stepped-up Auror force, Amelia's still stretched to the limits. And incidentally, we need to talk. Are Cissy, Ted, and Nymphadora home?'

'Cissy is,' Andromeda replied. 'Ted just got home from work. Dora…Dora's unpredictable. Especially at a time like this.'

'This is urgent,' Sirius said. 'Let Dora know what we talk about, but this can't wait.'

Ten minutes later, Sirius had gathered the rest of the family in the kitchen. He stirred his tea, contemplating how to have this difficult discussion.

He decided to be blunt. 'You all know what happened Monday night.' Three collective nods from around the table.

'And you know who's among the escapees.'

'Bella,' Cissy breathed.

Sirius nodded. 'And you know Bella's position within Voldemort's ranks, and her beliefs towards segments of the family that…espouse views different from her own.'

'Damn it, Sirius. If you mean "that are not sadistic blood bigots", then say "that are not sadistic blood bigots",' Andie snapped.

'Point taken,' Sirius conceded. 'Anyway, we know Bella holds…sway…over Voldemort. I assume that word will get to her soon about Cissy's…reformation…and Andie marrying a muggle-born.'

'You're saying that we're not safe where we are,' Andie concluded logically.

Sirius nodded. 'That's exactly what I'm saying. The wards here are strong, sure, but we're still facing Voldemort. Rumour has it that he's weakened, but we can't be sure.'

'So what do you propose?'

'Two solutions, actually,' Sirius replied. 'One, we Fidelius Charm this house. Two, we move everyone to Grimmauld Place, which has a Fidelius Charm of its own. Remus Lupin is the secret keeper there.'

'And what do you suggest?' Ted asked.

'Grimmauld Place,' Sirius answered firmly. 'You'll be better protected, since the Death Eaters won't know where exactly you are. You'll also have a false trail to your whereabouts in the form of this house. If the Death Eaters want to track you down, then they'll come here first. They'll find an empty house, which will just frustrate and prolong their search.'

'What about work?'

'Ted, we're talking about keeping your family safe against Voldemort! Now's not the time to think about work,' Sirius said angrily. 'As for money, there's no reason to be worried. We've got all the contents of the Black Vaults to support ourselves. I cut off Bella's access to them long ago, so we're safe on the financial side of things.'

'What if they track our Floo?' Andie pointed out. 'Dora can't just skive off work. What if someone finds out that she's been going in and out of the Ministry through the Floo at Grimmauld Place? Then they'll know where we are.'

'That won't help them get through the Fidelius,' Sirius answered. 'Floos are tracked through serial numbers, not direct addresses. The secret is safe with Moony. Besides, if it's really a worry, then we can set up a one-way Floo connection from Grimmauld Place to this house, and Dora can Floo to work via your fireplace here.'

'What about the other option? Use a Fidelius Charm on this house?'

Sirius sighed. 'It'll keep you safe…but you'll be as good as imprisoned here. Once the Death Eaters find out that we have this place under Fidelius, they'll be stationing guards outside at all times. Bella will make sure of it, I'm certain. They'll put up apparition-blocking jinxes so you can't get out that way. They can't shut off the Floo without someone in the Ministry, but if they do, then you'll be as good as under siege. At Grimmauld Place, at least, we have some advantage of anonymity and a direct connection to both the Minister and Amelia Bones.'

'I say we go,' Ted said finally. 'I think Sirius is right. It's the best option we have.'

'I think we should go, too,' Cissy spoke up. 'You remember how Bella is, Andie. We won't be safe here if she comes looking for us.'

Andromeda sighed. 'All right. We'll move. We have to let Dora know tonight. When should we vacate by, Sirius?'

'As soon as possible,' Sirius replied. 'The Death Eaters have been out for a little more than a day. It must take them some time to get organized, but never underestimate Voldemort. We should have this house empty by Friday.'

'I can put up some spells before we leave,' Cissy offered. 'They're pretty dark mind-altering curses from Lucius's library, but I think I can make it so that if Bella or anyone else comes knocking, their minds will be irreversibly modified to think that we're still here and we fought them off. The Dark Lord is arrogant and cannot accept defeat. This will only tie up more of his resources and time.'

'Good thinking, Cissy,' Sirius praised, rising from the table. 'Start packing, then, everyone. I'll go back and get Grimmauld Place ready for you.'


A/N: So…this story just passed 2000 followers, which is honestly so many times more followers than I thought it would get. Thank you to all of you who continue reading and commenting. Your kind words, praise, and oftentimes constructive criticism have been both heartwarming and helpful. I hope that you will enjoy the last twelve chapters of the story and like it enough to check out my other works. Additionally, a special thank you to maschl and W H Rutledge, who have helped me so much in their capacities as alpha/beta for this story, and who continue to contribute their talents to my ongoing projects.