Harry was fine. It was a relief to finally make contact with them, seeing his face in the mirror where I yelled at him for not carrying the mirror closer to him and for making me worry. Once I'd calmed down, I made certain that they were all safe but when Harry began to tell me where they were, I told him not to. It was safer that way for now, pointing out that I had told them repeatedly that this could have been a possibility, being forced on the run, but at least I was confident they were more or less decently prepared for it. Ron had come off worse during the escape, splinching himself but Hermione had fixed him up and he seemed rather chipper. Better yet, they'd managed to get the locket. It was a relief, so I promised to keep my ear to the ground and seek out means to permanently destroy it, but in the meantime, they should keep their heads down and stay off the grid.
There was plenty to be getting on with even without worrying over the famous trio. Those who had managed to decode my messages in the Ministry were answering, appearing at the meeting place I had put into the message in order to talk and agreeing to help in whatever way they could. With great gladness I met with Percy, who upon seeing me, brought me into a quick and decisive hug as he trembled slightly, constantly pushing his glasses further up his nose from where they continually slipped down. "How're you doing Perce? It's been a while."
"Yes, too long Mia. I'm sorry, I've been quite the ignoramus. I got your message, quite ingenious really, though it took me a while to work it out, almost missed the meeting today." He said to me as he nervously glanced around so I assured him I had already set up protective spells, so no one would see or hear us even if he had been followed. He was completely safe. Now he relaxed, smiling at me a little more evenly. "Good, that's a relief. Tell me Mia, how is everyone? I don't dare talk to dad at the Ministry, I don't want them thinking I'm turning on them now since it'll only make complications…"
"Everyone is fine. You might not have heard, but Bill's wedding was attacked almost moments after the Ministry was overthrown. No one was hurt, though they burned a great deal and searched the house. I'm glad you've come here, Perce. Does this mean you're back on side now?" Nodding his head, Percy told me rather firmly that he was not daft and knew exactly what was going on at the Ministry, and the new regulations concerning muggle-borns was completely barbaric and he couldn't agree with it less. "Good. Then, can I presume that you are willing to help the Order?"
"I'm not sure how I can be of use, but I'll do my best."
"Perce, you're one of the secretaries to the Minister, you're likely to hear things that can prove invaluable to us. We're struggling enough as it is trying to keep ahead of them, getting people to safety and all, but even just a few minutes warning is enough to save a great many people." Smiling to him, I reached out and gripped his shoulder with all the confidence I could muster. "From Head Girl to Head Boy, I think we can conjure up some kind of scheme." He blinked at me.
"You were made Head Girl?"
"Sure was." He beamed at me, and in that moment I saw a little of the old Percy returning from underneath the many layers he had buried himself under in order to protect himself from suspicion. After talking a little more about what we were going to do, Percy then satisfied himself by asking all the questions he had had no choice but to bottle up inside about his family. He was especially worried for Ron and Ginny, but I assured him both were safe for the time being, before he then asked about the twins. They were currently still working at their joke shop, and Percy was impressed at how well they had done for themselves.
"They always were talented, I just never appreciated how effectively they used their abilities before now. I should never have told them to give up their fanciful ideas, they clearly knew exactly what they were doing." Percy regretted so I promised him that Fred and George would probably call him a prat but accept him back into the family even after everything, we just had to wait for the right moment. It was good, speaking to Percy again and becoming friendlier than we ever had done in all my years visiting his home. The sense of danger and troubles approaching caused a great many people to stand more resolute together, and Percy was no exception. He agreed to sending me secret messages and information from within the Ministry, which would prove to be invaluable in the coming days.
I had more allies now, which was better than I had hoped for, people from different departments passing out information in ways so secret and undetectable, that no one ever noticed as more and more started to join our side. It was another pleasant surprise when Cedric answered me back, Orion brining me his letter directly after I'd sent him to go scope the area out. He gave me a time and a place, somewhere out the way and when I arrived, he'd promptly put his arms around me in a fierce hug which I had not been expecting at all. "Well hello to you too."
"I can't believe it. It's been so long…I saw you at Dumbledore's funeral, but I didn't get the chance to talk to you then. You just completely dropped off the grid! All of my letters got returned and I had to write to your mother, but she could only tell me that you were unreachable for an entire year! What happened?" Handsomer still now that his face was losing the boyish edge of youth, Cedric grabbed my hand in order to make me sit down on a bench in a rather lovely country park as I twirled my wand and set up a protective perimeter around us so that no one would hear or see us.
"Dumbledore gave me a task, it meant I had to travel a lot and I was out of the country. I couldn't send you any letters or I could have been tracked down, Ced. I'm really sorry to just run off like that, but I'm glad you came here today. It's good to see you." He smiled at me then, his greyish eyes soft and rather open as we sat facing one another, our heads bowed in close as to keep our voices down to a rather intimate whisper. "I'm guessing you're aware of what's going on?"
"More or less, the muggle-borns being rounded up was a major clue. Some of my friends had to go into hiding because of it, I'm not sure if you knew them…"
"Eustace Drummond and his sister Elisa, as well as the entire Leighton family. I know. I'm the one who got them out." This took Cedric by surprise so I explained that there were people who were helping muggle-borns escape interrogation and imprisonment by taking them to safe houses before then getting them out of the country. Cedric was amazed and also relieved to know that his friends were okay, giving me a slightly shaky smile.
"I was worried…that's good. I'm glad they're alright. So you've been orchestrating everything?"
"Not exactly, I just help out. I'm only telling you this because I know you're the trustworthy sort. Quite honestly, my association are short on allies and we could use with more help, but people are afraid of stepping up in case they get targeted next. We're trying to act quietly, under the radar until we have a firmer foundation to fight back directly against the Death Eaters and old Voldy-Moldy. I've been working hard on that, communications is my forte." I said to him and Cedric nodded his head in understanding.
"Well, I don't know how much help I'll be, but if there's something I can do then you can count me in. I don't like what's been going on, it's just wrong. My father agrees but he won't do anything about it, but I expect if he were to be shown that there's more people fighting against You-Know-Who than just a handful of people, he might be tempted to join. He won't let me go at it alone, in any case, and my mother would join in a heartbeat. You have the Diggory family on side, you can be certain of that, Mia." Expressing my gratitude, I smiled to him and reached out in order to squeeze his hand. Putting the nastier topics aside, I then asked him how he'd been getting along and found that he had indeed gone into work as a healer, and was now studying at St Mungo's to further his education. He loved the work, being apprenticed to a Senior Healer and did a great deal of aftercare which allowed him to talk to the patients. He found it rewarding and fulfilling, making me chuckle smoothly.
"You really don't have any flaws or vices, do you? You're smart, good looking, have a perfect personality, and you're a Healer. It's a wonder some girl hasn't snapped you up yet." I joked with him, making Cedric flush modestly and insist that he had plenty of traits that were less than desirable.
"Besides, I'm just waiting for the perfect girl for me to appear and decide that I'm the one she wants." He said to me so I arched an eyebrow at him.
"Perfect girl huh? So you're a romantic. I bet you believe that there's only one right person in the whole world for each individual, am I right?" He smiled at me then, cracking a grin at me.
"Nothing wrong with that. Besides, maybe I've already found the perfect girl but she's just too oblivious to notice that I find her funny and attractive." The hint went straight over my head.
"Well then next time you see her, give her a kick and tell her straight that you like her. Saves you two dancing around each other with uncertainty." Lifting my head, I looked around and checked the time before making a face. "I don't have a lot of time left, I'm kind of on a schedule. If I'm not back on time, then not only do I get in trouble, but my parents will panic and think I've been captured or something." I explained to him apologetically but Cedric assured me that he understood.
"I want to help, Mia. What can I do?" Smiling, I passed him a blank piece of parchment and told him to keep it on him at all times.
"A message will appear for you in a couple of days. I'll arrange a meeting with one of the senior members so that we can see what you can do to help. You've got to be serious about this though, it's likely you might have to put your studies on hold, and if you get caught…it might be a one way trip to Azkaban, or worse. This isn't something you should jump into without really knowing what you're getting into. When the message appears, it'll be your choice whether you answer it, I won't think less of you if you feel that you need to protect your family." I told him as I pushed the blank piece of parchment across to him and Cedric quickly took it from me, our fingers brushing.
"I'll be there." He vowed sincerely, earning me another smile. At that moment my charm chimed at me, telling me that our time was up so I gave Cedric a quick hug and even kissed his cheek lightly.
"I'm glad I got to see you again Ced. Hopefully I'll see you soon." Then I disapparated, heading back to our base of operations where I confidently beamed and told Moody we had another possible ally, though he was as suspicious and apprehensive as always about it, demanding to know everything about Cedric so that he could do a proper background check on him, so I begrudgingly complied. A couple of weeks had passed since the Ministry break in and we had been rather successful in rounding up the muggle-borns ourselves and getting them to safety. This also meant that it had been a couple weeks since I'd last seen Harry and the others face to face, however when I heard my mirror calling to me one evening, I was instantly awake and snatched it up. "Ron?"
"Hey Mia." He greeted, sounding rather miserable and sour. "Listen, if I give you our location, could you bring us something to eat? I'm starving and we haven't been able to gather much the last couple of days." I stared at him blankly, hardly able to believe it.
"Ron, you do realise that you're only supposed to contact me in emergencies right?" Looking puzzled, Ron confirmed that he did indeed know that. "And in your mind, a food shortage is an emergency?! Unbelievable! How could you be so reckless? So stupid! You can't give away your position when anyone might be listening? What if my side was unsafe? What if I'm someone impersonating Mia without you knowing and you just went and told her where you three were over food?"
"Well, you're telling at me, so you're definitely Mia."
"That's not the point!" Outraged, I demanded that Ron let me talk to Harry and Hermione and a few seconds later, they were crowded together and squished in so closely that I could only see parts of their faces. Harry's left eye, Hermione's brow and Ron's chin. Hermione was now also berating Ron for taking the mirror out of her bag whilst she and Harry had been collecting firewood for a fire, but before she could ramble on for too long, I asked them if they were truly in need of supplies, to which I saw her cheek blush.
"Well…in all honesty…yes. We're all hungry, and none of us can transfigure food very well and we daren't risk going into any towns in case we're seen, and usually they're being patrolled by Dementors so we don't get too close…" She trailed off, so with a sigh I asked her to give me their location in code so that I could come and find them. Perking up, she immediately rushed to go fetch her ancient runes book and gave me the code for me to work out, taking a few minutes before I had it in my head.
"Alright. Sit tight. I'll be there shortly." Cutting off the connection to the mirror, I promptly left my own hiding place with Fawkes and Orion in order to gather food as well as some warmer clothes for everyone since autumn this year was rather frigid. Packing up everything I thought they'd need, as well as extra rations of foodstuffs that would keep for a good long while, I appeared at the spot Hermione had given me and looked around, seeing nothing there. Then Harry stuck out his arm through the barrier, wand raised and shouted out a question for me to prove my identity before I was then allowed inside. "You guys, honestly. Alright here we go. Ron, you can snack on that whilst dinner's cooking. Hermione, if you could get a fire going and Harry, you can get the cauldron and pans out."
They all beamed and leaped on me to hug me, eagerly taking the large bags full of food from my arms as I rolled my eyes and quipped at them to start helping. Soon enough I had a good soup cooking whilst Ron hungrily tore his way through several packets of crisps and practically inhaled the dried beef strips then looked around hopefully for more. "We've hit a wall, we don't know what to do with the Horcrux and don't know where to start looking for the next." Harry was telling me as I stirred the pot with a ladle being directed by my finger, absently circling it around as I listened. "We were hoping you would bring some news with you."
"I've got nothing about Horcruxes I'm afraid, but I can tell you about everyone on the outside." I offered and Ron immediately perked up about it. "Your family is fine, Ron. Arthur and Molly are keeping their heads down, Fred and George are carrying on with their business though they send through supplies to the Order to help us out whenever they can – don't worry Ron, their place is just as safe as Hogwarts since I've put protective spells on it – and Bill is living out of the way with Fleur. Charlie is still in Romania, though he contacts us every now and again to check in. Ginny is at Hogwarts of course, and I've placed someone on the inside to keep me updated on the goings on in there."
"Who?" Hermione asked me eagerly as I sipped on an herbal tea I'd concocted for them all, ginger and honey with a touch of lemongrass to help keep away the chill.
"Kreacher."
"Kreacher." All of them sounded disbelieving, Hermione telling me it was hardly fair for me to send him back there to act as a spy whilst Harry believed that Kreacher wasn't exactly the most trustworthy person to put so close to Snape of all people.
"I trust Kreacher. He and I really reached a breakthrough in our relationship these past couple of weeks. He seems myself as his one true mistress, so he does anything I ask him to. Besides, I offered him the choice to refuse the mission, but he insisted that he would be glad to do it. He's been keeping an eye on everyone's movements on the inside, which is incredibly useful. I've been able to glean some information about Snape and the Carrow siblings – who are horrible, by the way – as well as keep track of everyone from the DA. He's doing a great job, even Dobby has been helping out after he realised what Kreacher was up to."
"I should have known Dobby would want to help." Harry was unable to hold back his smile, making me chuckle in agreement.
"Yes, he popped up in front of me one morning when Kreacher was scheduled to bring me a report, both of them fighting and tumbling around like children. He insisted that he be allowed to help too, telling me that if it was to help his dear friend Harry Potter, he would do anything." Hermione was now smiling too and even Ron looked a little better, though he was constantly glancing at the soup as if willing it to be cooked faster. "Anyway, everyone's alright. The Carrow siblings are tyrants, even worse than Umbridge which is unbelievable in itself, and from what I hear our friends have stood up to them on more than one occasion but were punished instead. Brutally, in fact. I'm planning to try and get through to them somehow and ask if they need help. I've forbidden both Kreacher and Dobby to approach them directly, just in case they're caught. I don't want anyone being found out and be put in danger."
"That's good, I'm glad they have someone watching over them. I must admit I have been worried." Hermione sighed deeply was I waved my wand to bring four bowls out from her purse and had them hover by the cauldron where the ladle then began to pour soup into all of them, bringing them over once they were full. It was then that I noticed something glinting around Ron's neck, making me look at him curiously and ask what it was. When he tugged up the chain and showed me the locket, I completely lost my cool.
"Take it off! Take it off now!" So alarmed by my sudden outburst, Ron hurriedly wrenched it off his neck and dropped it onto the table where I snatched it up, looking it over carefully before rounding on the three of them. "How could you be so foolish! This is a Horcrux! Part of a very dark man's soul is locked away in here, and you lot are carrying it around over your heart?! Don't ever wear it again!"
"We have to, we can't leave it lying around. Besides, we're not getting possessed by it because we can all remember everything we've done. It's not like what happened to Ginny." Harry argued with me but I shook my head, taking a couple of deep breaths to calm down.
"You don't understand, Horcruxes may be different, but they essentially work the same way. They'll slowly steal into you and work their way in, make you feel as isolated and miserable as the severed piece of soul inside it. Carrying it near your heart is even worse, because you're giving it direct access! Even when you're sleeping…especially while you're sleeping, it'll work itself into you. Ron, that's probably why you've been in such a foul mood." He flushed a bright pink and had the courtesy to look slightly guilty and pointedly didn't touch the soup in front of him despite the fact I could still hear his stomach growling. "You read the books Hermione, you should have known about this."
"I thought that it would be fine if we all shared it around. We swap every twelve hours so that no one's carrying it all the time." She told me meekly so I exhaled.
"Don't wear it anymore. If you have to carry it around with you, put it in your pocket or something. Trust me, you won't lose something like this easily, not when you're all so hyperaware of it. Just…just leave it off, will you promise me?" Promising that they wouldn't wear the locket anymore, I encouraged everyone to eat since they were all clearly starving and with full bellies, their attitudes immediately improved. I stayed with them for the rest of the evening, even taking the watch in the night so that they could all get a decent amount of rest before I had to leave in the morning.
They packed up so that they would leave the same time as me and I made sure that they at least had enough food to get them through the week and assured Hermione that as long as she was careful, she could apparate to some shop in a muggle town without much worry of being detected, so long as it was somewhere far away from their actual location. "No one really pays much attention to the muggles themselves at the moment, and they definitely won't expect you to just walk into a supermarket to buy groceries. Just make sure you wear some of Fred and George's disguises and you'll be fine. Whilst you're on the run, it's important that you all keep yourselves well fed, especially in the winter. You'll need warmth and energy."
"Thank you for this, Mia. I know you have a lot of things to be doing rather than running around after us." Hermione apologised but I assured her it was no trouble and I was overdue a check up anyway. Hugging Ron next, I told him to keep his chin up and try not to be so grouchy, giving him a grin before I then turned to Harry. He looked a thousand times happier since my visit and information about everyone we cared about, including my dad and Remus, who I was glad to tell him had gone back to Tonks and had taken to reading up childcare books and continually asked my dad for advice on things. It was good to know he was doing better, though I only knew this through my dad as our paths were yet to actually cross.
"I'll carry on trying to find more Horcruxes for you, as well as a way to destroy them. You said that old Voldy-Moldy liked valuable possessions of magical historical importance? Well…that memory you told me about with the Hufflepuff cup, I'll start with that. Try and track it down. Same with Rowena Ravenclaw, see if she had a particular object associated with her. If he found them both, then I'd bet you anything he turned them into Horcruxes. I'll contact you once I have something, but please. Don't call for me unless someone is literally dying." I looked pointedly at Ron who once again flushed, but looked happier now that he could use both arms since I'd fixed the one he'd splinched. "Love you all, take care now." With a final grin and blowing them all a kiss, I disapparated on the spot in order to get back to work, having a whole load more to now deal with.