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"Rather prefer that tiny black dress," Ben smirked when he saw her around the corner from the Muggle club. "Ah, but I see you're wearing those boots again. Think the bouncer is going to let you in without a Confundus?"
"Just because I was kicked out last time for fighting?" Cliodhna arched an eyebrow at him. "Good thing you can confound him without a wand, eh?"
Ben pulled her in for a very long, very tight hug, "You okay?" Ben whispered into her hair, "Where have you been? Do you want to stay with us?" He pulled back slightly to peer into her eyes, "You look tired and you feel thin."
"Thanks," she muttered, suddenly very self-conscious of the dark bags under her eyes and the way her clothes hung maybe a little too loosely on her. "The boots without the heel are great," she shrugged and pointed to her toe to show off the boots, ignoring his other questions. "And what's wrong with this outfit?" She gestured at her ripped, acid wash jeans, the massive holes making her knees completely visible, a tight black tank top, and a long, wrinkled, red buffalo-plaid flannel tied around her waist. She left her hair its normal colors, pulling the bright white hair into a tight bun high on her head; it looked nearly orange under the dim streetlights.
"Did you steal that flannel off a massive bloke?" Ben shook his head, laughing at her. "Come on," he pulled her towards the club. "I'll do the honors of the Confundus," he winked at her, his voice low. There were more people in the queue this time because it was only midnight, but Cliodhna ignored their annoyed and frustrated shouts when she and Ben were allowed into the club.
"To drink?" Ben leaned in to ask her.
"Something strong and plain," she shouted back and slipped him a few Muggle pounds. When he handed her two whisky neats she arched an eyebrow and followed him to a table away from the dancefloor.
"Two for me?" Cliodhna chuckled when they sat down and Ben waved his hand around their heads as though it were a dance move. "You sayin' I'm a lush?"
"Are you?" Ben arched an eyebrow and took a sip of one of his brambles.
"Not yet," Cliodhna huffed and took a small sip of her whisky and reached her hand out to him. "I've missed you."
"I've bloody missed you too," Ben squeezed her hand and furrowed his brows. "Have you been sleeping?"
"Some," she acquiesced. "Not nearly enough."
"Do you not have enough money for food?" He watched her carefully, his golden eyes giving away his concern.
"I have plenty of money," she shook her head slightly. "I've got some for you, actually, if you need -"
"We're all right," Ben shook his head. "We've got plenty."
"I just don't always have the opportunity to get food is all," Cliodhna's eyes darted away, embarrassed. "I didn't realize it was noticeable."
Ben fidgeted slightly, feeling bad for making his sister uncomfortable, "We've been sneaking food to the school," he said softly. "You know he's Headmaster?"
"Yes," Cliodhna's eyes flashed as she glanced back at Ben. "Are Ginny and Neville and Luna safe there?"
"No safer there then out," Ben shook his head. "But at least there they know what they're up against."
Cliodhna's brows furrowed, "Which is?"
"The Carrow siblings," Ben nearly spat out. "They're teaching Muggle Studies and Defense Against the Dark Arts, which are, well. Not the same as they were before." Cliodhna nearly growled. "And they're in charge of punishing the students who step out of line."
"Which is who, exactly?"
"Everyone in the resistance. Everyone from the DA and more," Ben watched his sister closely. "Led by Ginny, Neville, and Luna."
Cliodhna felt her body sag as she leaned back against the soft cushion of her chair, feeling absolutely awful that she hadn't thought to help those who were at Hogwarts, hadn't thought to help anyone outside her own friends and family. "What can I do to help?"
"Continue to not get yourself captured," Ben grumbled, his voice thick.
"Benjy," she muttered softly, shaking her head. "I'm fine." Ben scoffed but she didn't let him argue. "I want to help a bit more directly than not being caught."
"We all do -"
"You are, Swiftie," Cliodhna retorted.
Ben's face broke into a wide smile, "Heard it then, have ya?"
"I saw Remus and Tonks," Cliodhna waved her hand at him before he could ask her for more details, "and they gave me a wireless. It's great, what you lot are doing."
"It's not much," Ben shrugged, looking a little embarrassed.
"Food to the students," Cliodhna ticked on her fingers, "a radio program to give people hope and updates on what's really happening." He met her eyes, "Seems like a lot to me."
"You should stay with us for a few days," he reached for her hand again. "We're at the safehouse the next few days," he explained. "Then we'll go to school and see Molly and Arthur for a day," he rolled his eyes when she opened her mouth to protest. "Neville was pretty badly bruised last time and the twins made more bruise paste for him and the others, and he did mention the younger ones are having a hard time sleeping."
Cliodhna bit her lip, "Giving them too much calming draught," she trailed off.
"Neville won't let them overdo it," Ben said to her gently.
"It would be nice to have a few days to brew some potions," she swirled her glass slightly. "And you could give them to the others when you see them?"
"If we see them, yes," Ben agreed, not wanting to get her hopes up; Cliodhna squeezed his hand.
"Anything from Jackie?" She asked, unable to keep the hope from her face.
"No," Ben shook his head but he straightened up in his seat slightly. "But I think no news is good news," he tilted his head slightly and smiled. "Busy learning the ropes and all that, I reckon."
She wanted to ask about Charlie, but knew that if he hadn't heard from Jack, the twins hadn't heard from Charlie either. Instead she took another small sip of her whisky, "I reckon a few days with you and the twins is as good an early birthday present as any."
Ben grinned and tossed back his second drink, "Then let's bloody get out of here, sister dear!"
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"As I live and breath -"
"If that isn't -"
"Could it be -"
"Quiet," Cliodhna couldn't roll her eyes (though she wanted to) as she blinked back tears and pulled the twins to her, arms around their shoulders as she let her head fall to George's shoulder as she hugged them tightly. "I've bloody missed you two."
"I'd demand to know who you are," George whispered in her ear. "But I trust my other-other half very well."
"You can't have more than one other half, Georgie," Fred scoffed in her other ear. "I've told him once and I'll tell him again, there's only two -"
"Shut it," Cliodhna laughed quietly as she shut her eyes tightly. "Let me enjoy this moment in peace, will you?"
"That's enough, come on," Ben patted her back. "Didn't shed any tears for me but she'll weep to see the pair of you," he glared at her when she blinked open her eyes but she saw that he was biting back a playful smile.
"Can't help that we're more fun -"
"Easier to miss," Fred agreed with his twin and squeezed Cliodhna's arm as they pulled away. "How are you, Quick?" He bent down to peer into her teary, hazel eyes.
"And what are you wearing?" George tugged at the massive flannel tied around her waist. "Did you steal this from Billy?"
Cliodhna couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of her throat and soon found herself needing to lean against Ben as she continued to giggle.
"The girl's finally gone mental," George shook her head.
"Absolutely lost it," Ben agreed dramatically and patted her head.
"Better sit her down and get her some food," Fred sighed as he extracted herself from Cliodhna's grip.
"She's too thin," George whispered to Ben as Fred led her into the small kitchen the three of them shared.
"I know," Ben frowned as he watched his sister; George wrapped his arm around his boyfriend and Ben leaned into his warm embrace. "I'm worried about her."
"We'll fatten her up," George kissed Ben's temple. "Get her some clothes that fit," he grinned as he looked back at Fred forcing Cliodhna into a chair at the kitchen table. "Make sure she's okay before she inevitably scampers off again."
"Out into the great unknown," Ben lamented before reaching for George's hand and pulling him into the kitchen. "Now where is that midnight Sunday roast I was promised?" He asked Fred loudly and winked when Cliodhna's face broke into a wide grin.
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Cliodhna woke up with a jolt, her hands sparking as she tossed whatever was on top of her off, her head jerking around her as she got her bearings.
"Ow!" A male voice yelped when Cliodhna jumped up. "What was that - oi! Klee, it's me!"
Cliodhna stumbled back onto the couch as Fred pushed at her legs, "You're in our safehouse, will you put that lightning away?"
"Oh," Cliodhna put her hands to her face. "Oh, Fred, are you all right?" She leaned over to glance at him as he sat up and rubbed his head. "I didn't know where I was and there was something on me -"
"Yea, a blanket," Fred muttered and glared at her for a moment before his face softened. "We all fell asleep chatting," he explained. "And I put a blanket over you when I woke up."
"But then why are you on the floor and not in your bed?" Cliodhna tilted her head slightly at him.
"You're sitting on it," he arched an eyebrow at her before pushing himself up off the floor and reaching to open the thin curtains away from the window.
"Oh, Merlin, Fred, I'm sorry I should have slept on the -"
"Don't be silly," Fred chuckled. "We'll make the love birds split up tonight so you and Ben can have the bed. They can spare one night apart, surely."
Cliodhna bit her lip and followed him into the kitchen. "There's only one bedroom? I could have sworn -"
"Couch pulls out," Ben yawned as he walked out of the room off the short hall. "Technically two beds."
"We don't have much call for guests," George winked at Cliodhna as he followed Ben out to the kitchen. "Sausage and eggs all round?"
"Thanks," Cliodhna agreed. "You think I can take a shower before we eat?"
"Only if you agree to let me do some laundry for you," Ben poked her shoulder. "And to let me get you some clothes that actually fit you -"
"My clothes are -"
"Massive if they're anything like we saw last night," Fred muttered as he put the kettle on for tea.
"We'll see if we can shrink some of them, yea? Nothing new," Ben chided his sister and pushed her towards the small bathroom. "There's plenty of nice soaps and stuff in there, don't bother using what limited supplies you have, yea?"
"Yessir," Cliodhna mock saluted him before hurrying into the bathroom before her brother could swat at her.
"Make extra rashers for her, will ya?" Cliodhna heard Ben ask George as she slipped into the bathroom and she couldn't help the smile fall from her face as she turned the hot water on. She was grateful that her brother wanted to shovel food in her mouth and was grateful for the hot shower, but she hated being treated like she was helpless.
She stepped under the hot water and shut her eyes, letting the water drip down her bare body - Merlin, when was the last time she had a hot shower? A week? Two? The last bed and breakfast she stayed in only had an old bathtub, which was wonderful, but not nearly as comforting and refreshing as a shower.
She didn't let her mind wander as she washed the shampoo out of her hair and used the bar of soap along her body; she was safe for the moment and could let the soft sounds of the shower wrap around her.
For the moment.
"Thought you'd take a longer shower, to be honest," Ben was leaning his back against the wall across from the bathroom door and handed her some clothes.
"You thought I was going to stay in there all day, don't lie," Cliodhna retorted and shut the bathroom door back in his face as he laughed.
She tugged on the worn jeans - whose were these? the waist and thighs had clearly been expanded - and the thin jumper, tapping her wand at her hair. For all her magic prowess she still hadn't completely mastered wandless beauty charms. Who had time for them anyway?
"You need a haircut," Ben pushed off the wall when she opened the door again. "Looks better with a little life behind it," he flicked some of her hair that fell past her shoulders.
"Hot shower can do that," Cliodhna rolled her eyes.
"She doesn't care how lifeless her hair looks, does she?" Fred frowned at Ben and handed Cliodhna a steaming mug of tea.
"But could help her to get information from blokes, if it was a bit more alive, eh?" George pointed his spatula at his twin. "Pretty lass like her," he trailed off and glanced at Cliodhna. "If that's what you've been doin', of course."
Cliodhna pressed her lips together to keep from smiling as she sat down at the small kitchen table and blew on her tea, "Change my hair when I do that."
"See," Fred pointed out. "Doesn't matter what her real hair looks like day to day," he said triumphantly and sat down beside her. "Looks lovely though now, of course -"
"Of course," Cliodhna agreed solemnly. "Of course."
"The ends," Ben sighed dramatically and fingered her dried ends. "The color's completely bleached from the ends. Let me cut it?"
"With a wand," George chided him. "Benjy's not allowed near scissors -"
"Yes, with a wand," Ben stuck his tongue out at his boyfriend from behind his back and Cliodhna bit back a giggle. It was so good to see them acting normally. She blinked back tears as she felt something squeeze around her heart.
"Breaky is served," George put down a heaping plate of eggs, sausage, beans, and toast in front of Cliodhna as plates for the others floated slowly around the table. "Eat every last bite of it, Quick, or I will be incredibly offended."
"Incredibly," Fred whispered next to her.
Cliodhna ate in silence, doing her best not to shovel the food into her mouth the way she knew she had only a few hours before with the Sunday roast; the lads hadn't said anything, of course, but it must have been difficult to see someone so obviously hungry eat so much so quickly. It was a miracle she hadn't been sick. She listened to three of them chat about inconsequential things, the weather, the food Mrs. Weasley was always giving them when they saw her, as infrequent and random as it was.
Only when she swallowed her last bite of sausage and nodded at Fred for more tea, did she sit back in her chair and wait for them to address what was actually going on.
"You already know about the food runs we make to Hogsmeade," Ben said firmly. "We'll go again soon once we get food from the shops and from Molly."
"We don't see mum and dad often, don't worry," George interrupted to placate her. "They're in hiding as well, but," he glanced at Ben.
"Don't tell me where they are," Cliodhna shook her head, her voice rough. "It's better if I don't know," she swallowed. "Do tell them I'm okay, won't you?"
"Course," Fred squeezed her hand.
"Bill and Fleur are safe," George continued. "They helped mum and dad get out."
"And the Diggorys?" Cliodhna asked hesitantly.
"Cedric wouldn't leave hospital, so he's been living there -"
"Is it safe?"
"Safe enough," Ben shrugged. "It's separate from the Ministry, so He's not controlling it -"
"Yet," Fred mumbled. "His parents are still at their house, being watched."
"But they're still working," George added gently. "They're distanced enough from us."
"That highly-publicized argument you had with him helped," Ben eyed his sister warily but she met his stare and raised an eyebrow at him in challenge.
"And mum and dad?" Cliodhna asked, knowing they wouldn't have an answer for her.
"In hiding," Ben let out a breath. "At least I think so."
"That's what everyone's been made to believe, at least," George added, squeezing Ben's shoulder.
"But you know mum won't sit still," Cliodhna leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "At least dad's not at the Ministry anymore."
"Not since the break-in," Ben grumbled again and ran a hand through his shaggy, dark-golden hair. "You hear about that?"
"I did," Cliodhna said through her teeth.
"You haven't," Fred's ears pinked slightly and it reminded Cliodhna so much of Ron it made her eyes sting with unshed tears. "You haven't heard from Ron or anyone, have you?"
"I saw Remus and Tonks," she put a hand on his arm. "He saw them before they broke-in to the Ministry."
"Yea," Fred nodded, his eyes flashing to her quickly. "We've seen him too," he shrugged slightly. "He's good about checking in with everyone he can."
"We'd know if they weren't okay," Cliodhna said gently.
"Right," Fred agreed, his eyes drawn to the table, staring intently at his fork.
"I think it's time for Benjamin to show you what he can do, Klee," George stood up from the table. "And time for Fred and I to prepare some space for you to brew some potions."
Cliodhna saw the brief but grateful look Fred shot to his twin before Cliodhna could open her mouth to argue that perhaps she should start brewing first. "Come on," Ben grabbed her hand.
"Where?" Cliodhna tried to argue. "We can't do this inside -"
"He does every other day," George called out after them with a chuckle.
"You shouldn't be practicing inside," Cliodhna's mouth fell open. "That's dangerous!"
"More dangerous than being seen outside?" Ben rolled his eyes at her and pulled her into his and George's bedroom. He stood in the middle of the room and with the snap of his fingers the door closed, the walls and ceiling shimmered with thick waves of pale blue, and the windows were covered by thick slabs of wood that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He grinned at his sister, "Maybe I should have left you out in the hall to see just how impressive this all is," he gestured around the room.
Cliodhna tilted her head, "Wards?"
"They can't hear anything we do in here," Ben sat down on the edge of the bed. "Anything we do won't even remotely damage the room or the house. And yes," he smirked at her. "I've tried a lot of things. No lightning from me yet," he shrugged. "But I've been practicing dueling wordlessly rather well and I'm getting better at it without a wand."
"Wand on your person?" Cliodhna stood in front of him, her arms crossed.
"Yea," he nodded. "The other day I could Accio the paper with my wand across the room."
"Not bad," Cliodhna agreed, both her eyebrows raised in surprise. "What else can you do?"
It turned out that Ben could do more than he had the day before when Cliodhna was in the room with him, something they were quietly discussing when they left the bedroom sometime later. They both fell silent when they reached the kitchen where Fred and George had set up a smaller table with a cauldron for Cliodhna.
"Ben going to be able to send lightning out of his fingertips soon?" George asked with a smirk as he wrapped his arm around Ben's shoulder. "Should I start wearing protective gear?"
"I told you it's unlikely," Ben rolled his eyes. "Seems like a Klee-only skill."
Cliodhna thought that was incorrect, but didn't want to worry them; maybe unknown, destructive magic like her own was only first possible when losing complete control of their emotions. Ben caught her eye and shook his head at her; he hadn't told Fred and George about their excursion to the stones.
Cliodhna began to brew while Fred, George, and Ben sat on the long couch to talk quietly: about the next time Lee would host the radio show, when they could run out to get a paper, and when they thought they'd be able to go to Hogsmeade again.
"You haven't heard from Charlie, have you? I know you haven't heard from Jack," Cliodhna glanced at them.
"Owls aren't safe," Fred shrugged.
"No news is good news," George agreed and Cliodhna nodded, biting her lip. Her mind was on Jack and what he could do now since visiting the stones, but the three men on the couch rather thought her mind was on the other Dragon Keeper.
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"Haven't slept next to anyone in a great while," Cliodhna confessed quietly to Ben as they each lay on their sides in the bed Ben and George shared.
She had put up a fight, arguing that she preferred the pullout, but Fred was adamant that he not share a bed with her. "Don't need rumors startin' up about us, Quick," he said gravely. "Won't be good once everything settles down." She rather thought he meant for Hermione, but couldn't help but hope that he meant Charle too.
"Not in a bed, that is," Ben tapped her nose playfully. "I seem to recall you and Charlie -"
"Ages ago," she argued in a hushed voice. "At least it feels like it was," she closed her eyes for a moment before meeting Ben's gold eyes again; even in the dark of the bedroom they seemed to glow.
"Are you safe from Snatchers?" He whispered quickly, "I mean, you're using all sorts of wards and not going to any Wizarding towns and -"
"Ben," she covered his mouth with her hand. "I'm being careful."
"Your Undesirable Number 3," his words were muffled behind her hand.
"I know," she pulled her hand away slowly. "I'm aware."
"I worry -"
"I worry about you too," she rolled her eyes at him and pushed on his shoulder so he rolled onto his back. "Are you being careful of Snatchers?"
"Yes," he stared up at the ceiling. "I make the twins take a sip of Polyjuice when they go out for errands or I make sure their hair isn't red."
"And your hair?"
"It's longer, if you haven't noticed," he rolled his head to look at her. "And I always wear a baseball cap."
"How very Muggle of you," she snorted softly before poking his shoulder again. "Don't run out of Polyjuice Potion."
"Fred is rather adept at brewing it," Ben rolled back on to his side and smiled at her. "I rather think Hermione would be impressed."
They were silent for a moment before Cliodhna asked gently, "You and George?"
"I bloody love the daft idiot, missing ear and all," Ben whispered wistfully and Cliodhna blinked back tears at how happy he sounded.
"Disgusting," she teased playfully and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Not even sick of him yet," Ben continued and tucked some of the bright white hair behind Cliodhna's ear. "Despite being around each other constantly."
"I expect war does that," she whispered softly and watched as Ben swallowed.
"Even when I'm with him I worry about," he licked his lips as though he struggled with his words. "About what would happen if -"
Cliodhna found his hand and squeezed it, "Not on our watch, eh?" She met his eyes and Ben took courage in her steely gaze and nodded.
Later, as Cliodhna stared at the ceiling, still holding Ben's hand as he snored gently next to her, she was grateful that her brother was with someone he loved and cared about so deeply. She hoped that one day, when this was all over, he would be the first openly gay Quidditch player like he hoped to be before the war started, and he and George could live happily forever, three ears between them. And she wanted that same happiness for all her friends and family. She bit her lip as she frowned up at the ceiling, letting silent tears slip from her eyes hoping that she'd live long enough to see all those happy endings.
She no longer thought about a happy ending for herself, despite what Remus and the centaurs had said; she was in a dark place and she didn't know how to get out of it.
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"It's only been two days," Ben held her hands tightly. "You can stay longer -"
"Not when you've got so much going on," she squeezed his hands back. "Lee will want one of you to do the show soon, it's already been a while. And the students need supplies. You said so yourself."
"You can come with us -"
"No, I can't," Cliodhna's face fell. She couldn't go with them.
"If you do want to go," Ben lowered his voice. "You can go to -"
"Don't tell me," Cliodhna cut him off; she wanted to know, of course, but knew it was safer if she didn't.
"You're safe from Occlumency, remember?" Ben snapped at her before catching himself.
"But not from torture," she reminded him and pulled him in for a long hug.
"Christmas?" Fred asked from behind her. "We'd love to see you for Christmas -"
"Maybe," Cliodhna patted Ben on the shoulder and pulled away to hug Fred. "Be safe, will you?"
"You too, Quick," he hugged her tightly. "Don't do anything -"
"Rash, I know," she chuckled.
"I was going to say don't do anything I wouldn't do," Fred huffed as he pulled away, "bit more lenient, innit?"
She nudged his shoulder before George pulled her in for a tight hug as well, "I'll keep pushing Ben to see how far his abilities go," he whispered into her ear. "Help him control whatever it may be he can do."
Cliodhna's eyes glistened as she looked up into George's eyes, "You're a good sort, George."
"Someone's gotta keep an eye on 'im, eh?" He clucked her under the chin and smiled down at her. "Do come try to see us before Christmas, will you? And send us a Patronus once in a while so we know you're okay."
"Course," Cliodhna agreed easily and let Ben walk her to the door, pulling her in for another tight hug. "Happy birthday."
"Happy birthday," Ben echoed her and watched as she walked out the door into the dead of night.
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Cliodhna spent her birthday hiking around with a few brave Muggles near the Uffington White Horse, a prehistoric hill figure. She felt no magic there, for which she was grateful. Not everything old had to have magic.
The weather was dreary and soggy and without the use of magic it was hard to not get her boots stuck in the mud, but the difficulty walking made her feel alive; the excursion was welcome.
Earlier in the day than she had anticipated, it got dark and even the small group of Muggles she saw at the end of the hike around the Horse were muttering about the strange weather. "Not normal for this time of year," one of them muttered as they ran to their car, no one was paying any attention to the young woman in a long, well-worn, dusty blue raincoat.
Cliodhna walked down the road towards an old pub she had seen earlier, hoping to treat herself to a warm meal and a pint of lager before she found a nice grove of trees to sleep under.
In the rain.
On her birthday.
She pushed open the door of the pub and glanced around at the patrons before pulling back her hood and stepping gingerly into the small, dimly lit pub. "Sit by the fire, dearie," an older woman motioned to a small table by the roaring fireplace. "Yer as wet as a drowned rat," the woman hurried over and wiped down the table. "Do you want me to hang -"
"No, that's all right," Cliodhna said too quickly but flashed the woman a smile. "They'll be fine by the fire."
The woman nodded, "What can I get ye?"
"A pint of lager and whatever you recommend for food," Cliodhna hoped her smile looked better than it felt. It had only been a few days since she'd seen Ben, had she already forgotten how to speak and smile at people?
"Beef stew and a loaf o' fresh bread it is," the woman smiled and hurried away to the kitchen, calling to the other man behind the counter for a pint of lager.
Cliodhna tried not to watch the handful of other patrons too closely as she hung her coat near the fire; she contemplated taking her boots off to let her socks dry, but she was nervous to be shoeless in case she had to run -
When no one was looking she wiggled her fingers for a drying and warming charm on her boots and socks before angling her feet towards the fire. She couldn't see the door from her seat, which was frustrating, but if she sat up perfectly straight she could see a dingy reflection of the door in an old, vintage lager sign hanging behind the bar, which would have to do.
"Here ya are, love," the woman set down her lager on the table. "The stew will be along in a minute," her pale blue eyes flashed quickly across Cliodhna's face and hair, which she had let Ben cut to nearly right below her chin. "Ruddy day to see the horse," she offered politely.
"How," Cliodhna started, her brows furrowing.
"I know everyone in the village," the woman's lips parted into a wide smile. "Everyone's either been comin' here since they was born, or come to see the horse." She nodded at her hair, "No one here's got hair like that."
Cliodhna reached for it automatically, "Dyed it," she shrugged.
"You lot in uni always doin' wild things to your hair," the woman clucked. "The name's Bev."
"Agnes," Cliodhna said quickly, flashing another unsure smile. Worried that she was going to ask her more personal questions that she really did not have the mental capacity to improve at the moment, she asked, "When's the best time to see the horse? Season, I mean."
"Now's usually not so bad if you don't mind the cold," Bev glanced at the window. "But you see, it's barely 4 and it's nearly as dark as night out there," she shook her head. "Somethin's been wrong since the season's turned -"
"Before that," an old man said from the bar, clearly having eavesdropped. "Before summer was even over -"
"Don't mind him," Bev said to Cliodhna with a wink. "He'll argue with anything you say, watch." She turned her head to the old man and said, "No, Carl, it was before summer was even over -"
"Was only a few days ago, Bev! Somethin's not right - remember the weather of '80? Absolutely dreadful winter we had -"
Cliodhna bit her lip to keep from smiling when Bev turned her head to roll her eyes at Cliodhna, even as her blood ran cold. "Summer of '81 was worse," Bev said to Carl. "Then everything was fine again that winter, back to normal," she shivered slightly. "It was an awful year. Felt like you could never get warm." Cliodhna watched as Bev's eyes seemed to glaze over as she stared into the fire for a moment; Cliodhna tilted her head slightly to watch her, unsure what to do when Bev seemingly snapped out of her daze. "Anything else I can get you before your stew comes out?"
"I'm alright, thanks," Cliodhna nodded. "Unless you've got an extra paper lying around?"
"And what's a young thing like you readin' the paper for?" Bev chuckled. "I'll have a look, see what's been left behind, shall I?"
Cliodhna's gaze snapped to Carl who she felt watching her, but his eyes darted away as soon as she caught him, his ruddy cheeks turning even redder in embarrassment. Cliodhna took a long sip of her lager, her gaze in the sign reflection and fingered the chain of her necklace for a moment, wishing her brothers were there with her.
Happy 19, she thought to herself as she blinked back tears. It was the first time they'd been separated on their birthday, and although she knew it wouldn't be their last, it hurt just the same.
"Here we are, love," Bev put a crock of beef stew on the table, a huge chunk of bread on a plate next to it, and a wrinkled, folded up local paper. She eyed Cliodhna's half-drunk pint, "Another?"
"Oh, thanks," Cliodhna agreed, glancing up at the woman.
"I'll get ya more bread," she patted her arm gently. "You look like you could use it."
"Thanks," Cliodhna's voice was soft. Bev reminded her so much of Mrs. Weasley, that Cliodhna had to actively resist hugging the woman tightly and never letting go.
"Course, dearie," she smiled at her kindly. "And maybe some to go, eh?"
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Having run out of places she knew she could Apparate to, Cliodhna found herself taking trains and buses (she absolutely loathed the buses as it was easier to sleep on trains) late at night or as early in the morning as she could manage to the bigger city centers she'd never been to and walk and hike to parks and forests she could then Apparate to later. It was exhausting, but her short hair (easier to Transfigure into different colors when there was less of it) and her 'new' clothes made it easier to blend into groups on trains and buses. She'd often spend half a day in a city center, getting a bite to eat, looking over newspapers, stepping foot near the Cliffs of Dover or the Forest of Dean, or the Cotswolds, and then traversing across the country again to a new city. She had to admit it was easier to strike up a conversation at a pub with an unsuspecting older man when her hair wasn't as long and ratty as it had been and when she was wearing flannels that she was no longer swimming in. They rarely had more information than a rumor or two that someone had 'gone missing' and that the weather was bad, but it was a relief to get some Muggle news outside of a paper.
She only listened to her wireless at night when she was camped under a tree or inside an abandoned barn when it was easier to set up wards outside of a Muggle establishment, but she always seemed to miss Potterwatch. She did not want to listen to the lies the Wizarding Wireless Network was spewing about Harry, but one night before she could turn it off she heard her own name.
'The Ministry wants to remind everyone how dangerous Cliodhna Quick is, as she remains at large. She is a danger to society, and was to blame for the destruction of the Ministry building itself, along with Harry Potter, two years ago, a crime for which she still has not denied nor paid for. The Ministry cannot confirm that she is even a witch as she seems to wield too much power, the likes of which has not been seen before. If you see her, a short woman with long dark-blonde hair, do not approach her, but instead call for help. There is a reward for finding her and calling for help. The Ministry -'
Cliodhna switched it off with disgust and threw the radio against the back of the stone wall she was sitting against, her breathing harsh. "How dare," she fumed quietly before she placed her head in between her knees and took a deep breath. After several very long, very deep breaths, she waved her hand and the pieces of the radio flew back together and back towards her; she dropped it in her small bag without another thought and stood up.
She was too angry to sleep, now. She'd been traveling nonstop for a week and a half and she felt like she had enough places that she could Apparate to - and then run to safety from there. She was finally ready to visit Wiltshire again. Middle of the night seemed like the perfect time to go.
She didn't know what she would find at Wiltshire besides residuals of dark magic like she had seen before, but it was worth a try. Maybe she'd get lucky and see a Death Eater walk on to the property, or maybe Snape would be visiting and she could finally -
She clenched her fists and without another thought Apparated away to Wiltshire.
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She'd been in and around Wiltshire for three nights (she spent her days sleeping in different adjacent counties) before she saw anyone. She caught a glimpse of a leg emerging from where she could feel the outer ward was before it disappeared with the loud CRACK! of Apparition.
The next night she touched the outer ward, or what she thought was the outer ward, but it was something else entirely. She wasn't sure what it was, but it clearly meant that Death Eaters could Apparate within the line and were completely invisible to those outside the line. How many Death Eaters had she missed simply because she was playing it safe outside the line?
Cliodhna camped in the woods of Wiltshire that day to conserve her energy; she was going through the line tonight to see what she was missing.
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She covered her face and hair in mud, wore only black and brown clothes and a dark woolen hat to tuck her hair up into in order to blend into the night air and dark woods behind her, as she figured - it'd be what she would have done - that the line would destroy all magical disguises. But she knew that Voldemort wouldn't have thought of Muggle disguises or defenses. She hadn't had time to buy Muggle hair dye, and couldn't bring herself to dye it so permanently anyway, and if her hair did fall out of her beanie, well no one except the Order knew her hair was half white now.
The outer line that made Death Eaters invisible shimmered against her clothes but she felt nothing as she passed through, her eyes wide as she looked around and stepped quietly on the damp grass; she didn't dare magically silence her steps in case that set off some sort of alarm set to track unknown magical signatures (again, something she would have done). The air inside the fake outer line was absolutely still and it set Cliodhna's teeth on edge; the slight breeze she had felt before was gone, the normal sound of a forest at night was gone, the buzzing of distant Muggle street lights was gone. It was as if everything had stopped moving so Cliodhna stilled too, her knees bent, her body crouched slightly, ready to burst into a sprint at the first sign of trouble.
Nothing moved but after a long moment of staring Cliodhna saw a shimmer not five feet ahead of her. The actual ward, she knew, around Malfoy Manor. She took a small step towards it, and suddenly she could feel the ward and the dark magic that was embedded into it practically hummed with power. Cliodhna had the sudden urge to tear it to shreds with whatever electrical power she could muster, but she knew she couldn't do that tonight. Tonight was about reconnaissance. She wanted to know how many Death Eaters were here, how they got in and out, if this was the only ward, and what she could do to destroy them all.
There were no hedges or trees to hide behind now that she was so close to the Manor, but it didn't matter as she didn't plan on staying long and wanted to blend into the shadows as much as possible. She walked slowly backwards towards the fake-ward and crouched down as low as possible and waited, pulling out the pair of Muggle binoculars she had bought at a local birding enthusiasts' store and adjusted them so she could see into whatever windows of the Manor she could see.
The Death Eaters hadn't thought about using Muggle objects to spy on them and Cliodhna couldn't help the small smirk that threatened to overtake her face as she saw Lucius Malfoy, his hair for once unkempt, with his head bowed as he seemed to listen to someone berate him in an upper window. She saw several other people she didn't recognize without their masks in the other windows around the Manor, but she didn't see the people she really wanted to see and destroy: Voldemort, Bellatrix, or Snape. They could have been on the back of the house, but that was behind a large stone wall that Cliodhna had no plan to approach.
When her legs were nearly going to start cramping and no one seemed as though they were going to leave the Manor as they all seemed to disappear away from the open windows, Cliodhna approached the ward slowly again, the low humming noise growing louder the closer she got to it. It had stopped shimmering and now just seemed to vibrate as it became clearer and more solid the closer she got. She raised a hand and slowly placed her hand on the ward, watching the Manor to see if any lights suddenly went on or if someone ran out of the house to kill her.
Nothing happened except thin tendrils of black magic started to snake out of the wall of magic, looking as if they wanted to wrap around her hand. Clenching her jaw tightly she put her other hand on the ward and summoning her power, her uncontrollable electricity, she poured it through her hands. The black tendrils snapped back into the wall and Cliodhna felt, at least in the spot where her hands were, the magic of the ward slowly retreating. To where, she wasn't sure, but it felt like it was dying, like she was slowly removing the life force of the ward. After what could have only been a minute, she tore her hands away, breathing heavily, exhausted.
She glanced at the Manor. Nothing happened. The wall of magic looked the same as it had been before, but Cliodhna could tell the humming and the vibrations of magic near where her hands had been was less powerful than it had been before.
She looked down at her hands and grinned even though she felt ready to pass out. She could slowly begin to dismantle the wards around Malfoy Manor, a little bit at a time.
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Cliodhna spent the rest of October and all of November slowly tearing away at the ward around Malfoy Manor, being careful to never let her visits become a pattern. By the end of November she could keep her hands and power on the dark magic of the ward for 10 minutes without needing to rest.
Even without seeing or hearing from her friends and family, she felt better than she had previously because she finally felt like she had a purpose. She never saw Voldemort or Bellatrix through the windows of the Manor, but she could feel when he was there. He was almost always there.
She knew she could step through the ward, but she still wasn't sure what would happen once she crossed that boundary: would they be alerted to her presence? The centaur had said she couldn't be caught and she would need days of rest before she'd be ready to step through and face the Death Eaters and -
A twig snapped somewhere in the wood around her and Cliodhna crouched lower to the ground, her eyes darting to her left where she thought the sound came from; there was nothing there. She was still far outside the perimeter of Malfoy Manor, and she hadn't covered her face in mud yet, anyone could see -
She twisted her wrist slightly to try to bolster the Disillusionment Charm around her and held her breath when she heard another twig snap, this time to her right.
Her eyes had long adjusted to the dark of the wood, but clearly hadn't for whoever was making a racket when she heard their heavy footsteps snap another twig. It wasn't a Death Eater, at least she didn't think so, because this person wasn't wearing their stupid masks, but it wasn't a Muggle either, considering this person was holding a wand out in front of them.
"I told you there'd be no one out here so close to the -"
"Shhhh," a second person snapped at the first and Cliodhna's eyes flickered, looking around for the first. "I can smell someone -"
"Smells like shite," the first one man grumbled and leaned over slightly to look behind a tree, giving Cliodhna a clear view of the second person walking directly behind the first.
Snatchers.
Her mind raced; she couldn't Apparate away without them hearing and who knew if they'd stick around here waiting for her to come back and she couldn't attack them without knowing if they were alone. But she also ran the risk of the Snatchers seeing her before she could use the element of surprise against her.
"I don't know why you wouldn't let the others come with us -"
"They're too loud and they'd scare the filthy mudbloods off, you know that," the second man snapped back.
Well that was easy, Cliodhna mused and without revealing her face or saying a word, their heads knocked together and thick ropes tied them together. Without much of a thought, she grabbed their wands from their limp grips and tucked them into her bag. Cliodhna then levitated them and dumped them right outside the fake-ward of Malfoy Manor as an early Christmas gift.
She left Malfoy Manor angry that she wouldn't return anytime soon.
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She was sitting on the beach late one night in the middle of December when she got Ben's Patronus asking her to meet.
They didn't go inside the club this time, nor did they stay in the alley to talk, and instead Ben took her directly to his safehouse.
"What's -" Cliodhna began to ask, her voice betraying the concern she felt bubbling up, when her eyes landed on Ron and she felt a tingle of fear creep up her spine, electricity jumping around her fingers.
"Hey, whoa," Ron raised his hands in fear, his blue eyes wide. "It's me, I swear -"
"Prove it," Cliodhna hissed, unable to help the vitriol that simmered in those words.
"You told Harry and Hermione and I what the Sorting Hat said to you when you were a hatstall and you," the words tumbled out of his mouth, his eyes still wide with fear as they stayed locked on her fingers still crackling menacingly with electricity.
"Ron," she breathed and lowered her hands before she pulled him in for a hug, letting out a huff of air when he tried to jerk away, afraid of the electricity.
"We'd already proved it was him, ya know," Ben huffed from beside her. "You didn't bother to do it with the twins -"
"Because you brought me here and I knew it was you," she shoved him playfully, her other arm still tight around Ron. "But," she pulled back slightly to peer up at the tall, lanky boy. "Why are you here? Where's Hermione and Harry," Cliodhna felt another rush of fear and panic. "Are they all right are -"
"Ron ran away," Fred's voice practically dripped with ice and Cliodhna turned her head to look at Fred; she'd never heard him speak like that before.
"Ron?" Cliodhna tilted her head at him when he didn't move to correct his older brother.
"I," Ron's face crumpled with obvious disdain for himself. "I ran away."
"Why?" Cliodhna's voice was flat as she tried to control the competing emotions threatening to erupt from her at any moment. Fear for Harry and Hermione, anger at Ron for running away -
"I was sick with worry about everyone, about my family, and Harry didn't - doesn't - have a plan, or any more information about Dumbledore about what we're meant to find and that thing made me so angry and jealous and," he carded a hand through his hair, his eyes on his shoes as he took a shuddering breath.
"They are your family too, you prat," George muttered.
"I've tried to go back, I have, but I can't find them," Ron looked up at her, pleadingly. "Nearly as soon as I left I tried to go back, but the wards," he trailed off.
"Instead he's been hanging around with mum or with Bill," Fred spat. "Hardly what I call looking for them -"
"You have no idea how good Hermione's wards are," Ron argued, "it's impossible!"
"And you don't know where they'd go?" Fred scoffed. "Come off it, you're afraid -"
"Of course I'm afraid," Ron roared at his brother, breathing heavily.
Cliodhna chanced a glance at Ben who stared at her openly for a moment. "I wouldn't be able to find them either," she said quietly to her brother with a shake of her head.
Ben let out a breath, "I was hoping you'd say you think I could, but I don't think I could either."
"We'd have to stumble upon it somehow," Cliodhna said sadly.
"And you have no idea where they'd go next? Or at all?" Ben glanced at Ron.
"We didn't have a plan, we were just," his shoulders slumped. "We just kept moving."
Cliodhna could tell there was a lot Ron was holding back, and even when he was trying to explain why he left them he barely let any true secrets escape. She wondered what he meant by 'thing' but knew it was unwise to ask. What 'thing' could make you angry and jealous? She felt another shiver of fear crawl up her spine.
Cliodhna knew that discussing wards wasn't the only reason Ben brought her to the safehouse and so she put a hand on Ron's shoulder and squeezed, "You'll find them, Ron."
"What if they hate me?" He asked her, his voice quiet and Cliodhna could see the real fear in his eyes that his best friends, his family, could possibly hate him.
"They don't," she said truthfully. "And they won't," she squeezed his shoulder again and turned to the others. "Now, is there any food to spare? I haven't had a good hot meal in a few days."
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"Fred's been at his throat for hours," Ben whispered to her as she sat next to him on the couch as the twins cleaned up from dinner in the kitchen and Ron took a shower. "We needed someone who would either be angrier than Fred or would calm them both down."
Cliodhna bit back a laugh and nudged him, "You wanted me to be angrier? And what, instill fear into Fred?"
Ben wiggled his fingers at her, "A little of this would scare them both into submission I reckon."
She shoved him harder this time.
"No rough housing in the house, dear," George called sweetly from the kitchen and winked at them.
"Which dear, dear?" Cliodhna called back playfully.
"Will you remind Fred that Hermione and Harry are fine without Ron and that Ron will find them again?" Ben whispered to her.
"You don't think he will," she accused him. "You finally getting a bit cynical in your old age?"
Ben rolled his eyes, "You agreed it would be impossible -"
"Not impossible," Cliodhna stopped him. "Unlikely for us, but I bet Ron will find them." She frowned slightly, "He needs to find them, doesn't he?" Her brows furrowed, "If they would just touch their trinkets," she trailed off. "But I can't keep Ron with me until then."
"Not unless you both stayed here through Christmas -"
"Fred will kill him," Cliodhna muttered. "And that's too long for me to stay -"
"It's barely two weeks," Ben argued.
"Benjy," she whispered so softly that Ben slipped his arm around her shoulders and tucked her head under his chin.
"Sorry," he squeezed her tighty.
"He'll find them on his own," Cliodhna said again, slightly more determined. "I know he will."
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"You broke into the Ministry," Cliodhna whispered to Ron the first night when they were sleeping in the main room together. Ben and George didn't like to sleep separately if they could help it and Fred could not yet stomach the thought of being near Ron for too long.
"Yea," Ron mumbled, his blue eyes wide in the dark of the room. "Nearly caught us, even with your Polyjuice Potion."
"Worth it?"
"I reckon it was, yea," Ron's voice cracked slightly. Cliodhna could tell he wanted to tell her more, but knew he wouldn't.
"I wish I could help you more," Cliodhna confessed after a long moment of silence. "We're all traveling around -"
"We've got ways to contact you," Ron fumbled. "Well, they do and I do."
"I'm out in the woods a good amount," she hedged. "I've got some good places to hide out, if you wanted to know them."
"Hermione's got good places too," Ron shrugged and rolled onto his back and took a deep breath. "I didn't think it would be so much camping."
"Hmm," Cliodhna agreed. "An awful lot, eh?" She pushed him slightly and Ron let out a huff of air.
"You think Fred will forgive me?" Ron's voice was small and it broke Cliodhna's heart. She reached out her hand to offer to him.
"Course he will," she smiled slightly into the darkness. "He's angry he can't protect her. He's not mad at you."
"You reckon?" Ron sounded hopeful.
"The boy's in love with her," Cliodhna smiled ruefully. "And he hasn't admitted it yet -"
"Gross," Ron let out a genuine laugh this time. "My best friend and my brother -"
"And your best friend and your sister -"
"Don't remind me," Ron laughed again and squeezed Cliodhna's hand. "Thanks for not being angry with me."
"If you want to talk about it," Cliodhna offered. "I know you can't, but I can help -"
"It's bad," is all Ron would say. "And I'm worried about Harry."
Cliodhna stared at the ceiling, not sure what to say.
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After several harshly whispered conversations with Cliodhna, Fred finally calmed down enough to speak civilly to Ron, but it was obvious that even then Ron didn't want to overstay his welcome at the safehouse. The night before he was going to leave and go see Bill and Fleur again, Cliodhna whispered into the dark, "Did you ever figure out what Dumbledore's gifts to the three of you were for?"
She wondered if Ron had fallen asleep as the moments stretched on before he whispered back, "No. It just seems to capture and produce small balls of light."
"With Dumbledore it's always more than one simple thing though, innit?" Cliodhna yawned and turned on her side, finally falling asleep.
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Cliodhna stayed an extra day after Ron, only to keep Ben from whining more than he already was about missing Christmas. "You can send me a Patronus," she finally relented, but he still wasn't satisfied.
"Can't we just meet at the club Christmas Eve Eve -"
"Not a thing," she muttered.
"And you can spend the holiday itself with us -"
"She can't promise anything, it's in 10 days," George put his arm around Ben and squeezed his shoulder. "And pestering her isn't going to help."
Ben frowned but pressed his lips together tightly.
Cliodhna reached over and took Ben's hands, "I'll send you a Patronus, yea? If not Christmas Eve, maybe New Year."
Ben squeezed her hands, "Yea," he acquiesced. "Okay."
"In the meantime," she tilted her head slightly and met George's eyes for a moment before she looked to Ben again. "Want to practice your wards?"
"Yea," Ben let a small smile tug at his lips. "Sounds good."
George nodded at Cliodhna and she nodded back, both of them grateful.
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Cliodhna spent the early morning hours of Christmas Eve outside Malfoy Manor. Having been away from the Manor for so long, she was able to blast through the ward for 15 minutes before the tendrils of dark magic began to make her feel tired. She Apparated to the Cotswolds and set up "camp" along a creek under massive, ancient trees. She thought about sending Ben a Patronus when she woke up so that she could spend Christmas Eve with him and the twins, maybe see if they could send a Patronus to their parents, but she was more exhausted than she thought she'd be and fell asleep instantly, not waking up until she felt the unmistakable jolt that came from someone touching their trinket and thinking of her.
Cliodhna sat up and without waving her hand all of her belongings swarmed around her and into her bag and she Apparated away, thinking of Harry and Hermione.
She landed on her feet in a dark, deserted, destroyed, empty home. No one was here.
Harry and Hermione were gone.
There had been a struggle, obviously, and when Cliodhna sniffed the air, she knew there was a decaying body (or two) somewhere nearby. She walked slowly along the creaking hallway, peering into rooms of the house in the dark until she reached the room where the real fighting must have taken place: broken floorboards and hex marks on the walls.
Not for the first time Cliodhna was furious that she couldn't get in contact with anyone who she'd given trinkets to, she needed to know that Harry and Hermione were safe, that they'd made it out of this house without being harmed.
She left the house and pulled her black beanie down her head, she walked around what she soon realized was Godric's Hollow. She'd been here over the summer, hoping to find some clue about where the Death Eaters were hiding. She saw the three sets of footprints that led into this house and frowned at them - had Ron finally made it back to Harry and Hermione? Or had someone led them into the house only to then try to harm them?
Hurrying around a corner and after several attempts, Cliodhna quietly sent her Patronus, hoping it would find Harry and Hermione wherever they were. "Came where you were, are you safe?"
She waited a few minutes, hoping to get a reply, leaning against an obviously abandoned home as the snow continued to fall softly around her.
'Safe', Hermione's otter found her a few minutes later and Cliodhna let out a deep breath before she sent a Patronus to Ben. She suddenly felt the need for a friendly hug.
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"I sent a Patronus to mum and one to dad," Ben confessed after he brought her to the safehouse. "They're together but said it's not safe to meet."
"I figured as much," Cliodhna admitted and smiled up at George when he handed her a mug of hot chocolate.
"Cedric sent us a Patronus the other day too, actually," George said as he sat down next to Ben, forcing Cliodhna to sit closer to Fred on the couch. "He wants to see us, but isn't sure he can get away from St. Mungo's and make it back."
"Fair dues," Cliodhna admitted.
"But he knows how to get here -"
"That's," Cliodhna started, ready to reprimand them all.
"It's our safehouse," Fred reminded her. "He won't come if he's being followed."
"What made you change your mind to come see us?" Ben nudged her gently.
"It's Christmas, innit?" Cliodhna did her best to smile genuinely and hide her panic over Hermione and Harry.
"You're in for a treat," George grinned. "Christmas brunch tomorrow, with proper food -"
"And drinks," Fred added with a matching grin.
"And no matter what you say," Ben poked her arm. "You're staying the night."
Cliodhna rolled her eyes, "Fine, fine," she leaned her head on Ben's arm. "If I absolutely must."
"You must," Fred nudged her. "That's all we want for a gift -"
"Your presence is present enough."
Ben and Cliodhna both groaned.
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Cliodhna sat up from her bed - a pillow she'd Transfigured into a low cot next to the couch Fred was snoring on - with a jolt, her eyes wide as she glanced around the room, her fingers itching with the need to protect everyone in the house with her electricity. There was something wrong, but she didn't know what and she briefly wondered if something had come through the wards. Ben and the twins had fortified the wards she had originally put up on the safehouse, and with Ben's new power he only enhanced the wards even more. She let the blanket fall off her as she stood and she looked to Ben who had come out of the bedroom he shared with George.
"Cedric's here," Ben nodded at her hands. "But keep those out until we know for sure. Although I only feel one person." He didn't need to explain to her what he meant.
George followed him out of the bedroom and nudged Fred awake while Ben and Cliodhna went to the door.
"Who's there," Ben called out through the door.
"It's Cedric, Ben." The sound of Cedric's voice, something she hadn't heard in so long, made Cliodhna's eyes suddenly line with tears. "You told me you fancied lads almost immediately after you told Jack and Klee."
Ben rolled his eyes and opened the door to yank Cedric in, "You tryna start a fight between me and my boyfriend?" He shut the door quickly and pulled Cedric in for a tight hug. "You absolute wanker."
Cedric's eyes were closed as he hugged Ben back, "You're supposed to say something that only I would know -"
"You came to my house," Ben loosened his arms and shoved Cedric playfully.
Cedric laughed and his grey eyes landed on Cliodhna, the electricity faint but still visible on her fingertips. "Klee," his voice betrayed the fear he tried to hide on his face.
"Aren't you going to make sure it's me?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, but her wide hazel eyes gave away how emotional she was to see him.
Cedric glanced down at her hands again, "I think that's proof enough." She looked down at her hands, embarrassed, and only when the electricity was gone did Cedric wrap his arms around her.
He was still scared of her.
That was Cliodhna's first thought as she slowly hugged him back.
Neither said anything as they released the other and Cedric let George and then Fred hug him and pull him into the kitchen.
"I know it's bloody late," Cedric was saying, embarrassed. "I didn't mean to frighten you, but it was the only time I knew I could get away without much fuss."
Ben tilted his head to Cliodhna as she continued to stand near the door. "You okay?"
She blinked and glanced up at her brother, "Yea, course." She attempted a smile and Ben wrapped his arm around her shoulder, clearly not believing her.
Cliodhna let them all talk about St. Mungo's and the resistance inside Hogwarts, sipping her hot chocolate (with several splashes of Bailey's that Fred had discovered at the liquor store the week before) and trying not to stare too long at Cedric. He had changed, of course. He was 20 now, and working and living at St. Mungo's. He looked paler than she remembered - did he ever go outside? He seemed thinner too, although not as obviously as she did, probably because he wasn't playing Quidditch. The bags under his grey eyes somehow made him look even more handsome despite showing just how tired he was. He looked haunted. Somehow even more haunted now than when he nearly died. She wondered, briefly, what horrors he had seen at St. Mungo's.
Cliodhna tried not to stare at him too long and consciously sipped at her hot chocolate whenever she felt his grey eyes on her.
"You're safe?" Cedric's voice cut through the brief silence and Cliodhna glanced up. "I mean, you've been okay? You haven't run into any trouble?"
"Despite being Undesirable #3?" Cliodhna's attempt at humor fell flat when Cedric just continued to stare at her and her lips turned downward. "Yea, I'm all right." She tilted her head slightly to watch him closely. "Have you?"
"Safe as can be in St. Mungo's," he answered quickly and Cliodhna knew he wasn't telling the full truth. "Food's not great, but can't complain otherwise."
Cliodhna hummed in agreement and attempted a weak smile, disappointed at their lackluster conversation. They'd done so well at Bill and Fleur's wedding only months before and now?
Now they were in the middle of a war and he was scared of her.
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Breakfast was better. The twins and Ben did most of the talking, and having food and the occasional drink to occupy her mouth was helpful. There was no talk of the resistance or of the world outside, and instead they tooled around with new products and ideas for the twins' store when it would open up again. It didn't feel like Christmas, per se, but it was nice to be in the company of the twins and Ben, and it was nice to see a genuine smile from Cedric.
Later in the afternoon, Cedric sidled up to Cliodhna on the couch. "Some of my patients ask about you, you know."
"Hmm?" Cliodhna's brain felt rather fuzzy from the exhausting day they'd had.
"Some of the long-term patients," he stared at the near-empty mug in his hand; he'd stopped drinking hours ago and was sipping tea before he had to head back to St. Mungo's. "They ask if the rumors are true -"
"That I'm a menace?" Cliodhna's voice was harsh.
"If you're strong," he corrected her firmly and she turned her head to see his eyes on her again. Those clear, grey eyes she had spent so many weeks and years staring into as friends, as partners, bore into her soul. "If you are going to help save us."
Cliodhna opened her mouth, but she wasn't sure how to respond. "Save us?"
"And I always tell them," he said softly, "that you are the strongest person I know. Not just magically," he cleared his throat and tore his eyes away from her face again. "And that gives them hope."
"Hope," she repeated, dumbfounded.
He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it, his mouth pulling into a sad smile. "You give me hope too, Klee. All those days I'm stuck inside, I know that you're out there, figuring out how to help us."
She felt the tears prickle at the corner of her eyes, but Cedric stood up and said loud enough for the others to hear, "It's time I head out, I reckon."
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Cliodhna was spending the day in Cardiff, reading newspapers and eavesdropping on people in museums and stores, when she felt Ron touch his knickknack. Her heart sank and without another thought she ran out of the pub she had just wandered into and looked for an alley she could Apparate from, when she felt Hermione touch her own knickknack. He must have found her, he must have -
She Apparated outside a cylindrical house in a field that looked not unlike the field near her childhood home. She didn't dwell on the familiar landscape, however, and let her electricity gather at her fingertips as she looked around for Hermione, Harry, and Ron, crouching where she stood among the tall, dead grass. She heard the two Death Eaters before she saw them flying around the house, their faces void of the silver mask the Death Eaters wore in the Department of Mysteries. She crouched lower, ready to strike at them before others arrived when there was a sudden explosion from the top of the house.
Cliodhna leapt up from her crouching position and she saw the Death Eaters laughing as they opened the front door of the house, seemingly unharried by the explosion. She couldn't hear what they called out to the owner of the house and she ran quietly up behind them, wondering where in Merlin's name the others were. Were they harmed by the explosion? Would they be able to get out?
"No, no, I beg you!" A voice called out from the now open front door from an unseen man as the Death Eaters had gone inside and were clearly harming the man. "It really is Potter! Really!"
Cliodhna felt entirely too warm, the electricity becoming unmanageable at her fingertips, itching to be released at all of them - any of them - for betraying Harry, for wanting to hurt Harry. Without thinking, she climbed the front steps of the house and called out in a low, menacing tone, "Why settle for a fake Potter sighting when you can have a real mutant sighting?"
The Death Eaters swung around but before she could even see their faces, she unleashed her electricity just enough to make them twitch and fall to the ground unconscious. She raised a hand to the third man, the one who owned the house, had called the Death Eaters, to quiet him and keep him still while she twisted her hand and ropes wrapped around the Death Eaters, forcing them to sit up back to back, their heads drooping over their chests.
Cliodhna finally glanced at the man, "And who are you?"
"It's Luna's dad," Harry said from the stairwell and Cliodhna almost sagged in relief at the sight of the three of them. Instead, she kept her hand directed towards the blonde man so he could see the small shocks of electricity at her fingertips, ready.
"You've gotten better at that," Harry tilted his head at her.
"We don't have time for this," Hermione hissed. "We need to get out before they send more or before the house collapses entirely."
"What about him?" Cliodhna nearly snarled at the blonde man. "He betrayed you."
"They've got Luna," Hermione descended the steps. "We've got to leave something for them to know we were here -"
"They saw me," Cliodhna jerked her head at the Death Eaters. "I'm happy to leave a parting gift for you," she tilted her head to the blonde man. "A scorched bit of earth outside? Maybe my name in the dirt?"
"Klee," Harry frowned at her and she turned back to her friend.
"You've got to get out of here," she nodded at them. "I can stay and -"
"We're all going," Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him towards the front door before there was a CRACK! of Apparition outside the house.
"Go," Cliodhna hissed at them and stalked towards the door. "I'll let them see me and then I'll leave. Maybe they'll give you your daughter back," she grumbled.
"It has to do with the Deathly Hallows," Harry grabbed her arm and squeezed tightly, his green eyes wild when she looked up at him. "Ask your mum, but I know it has to do with -"
"Harry," Hermione's face was wary as she grabbed the back of his shirt and without any warning, turned her wand towards the blonde man and yelled, "Oblivate!"
"The Deathly Hallows," Harry whispered again as he released Cliodhna's arm. "They're real and -" but before he could finish, they were gone with a loud CRACK! just as two Death Eaters hurried up the stairs of the house calling for their brothers-in-arms.
"Hullo, boys," Cliodhna turned towards the door and let her electricity shoot out of her, throwing them down the stairs and to the ground before she turned on her feet and was gone from the house with a CRACK! of her own.
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