As night turned to dawn, the members of the Order gathered in the hospital wing, around the body of Albus Dumbledore and Dobby the House Elf.

"I hesitate to ask such a thing, given what has just happened in regards to our colleague, Severus Snape," McGonagall began, spitting the hated name. "But, is there any among us who has any idea why A-Albus left the school last night? Where he went? And why on earth he did it in company of Dobby the house elf? What was it that was worth leaving this school defenseless - worth weakening himself for?"

"Weakening himself?" Remus asked, blinking at her as if through a haze. "What do you mean?"

McGonagall shared a look with Madame Pomfrey.

"I've found a very potent, very powerful mixture of potion in his system," Madam Pomfrey spoke quietly. "Highly toxic, poisonous - the ingredients I've identified already suggest there was also some sort of...hallucinogenic component to its effects. This was an extremely dark, debilitating potion. Meant to weaken whoever drank it, perhaps just shy to the point of death."

"He never said anything to me," Remus whispered, shaking his head and bowing it again. His blonde hair fell, and he put a hand over his face. "I wouldn't know...if he..."

"Anyone?" McGonagall asked, surveying the assembled Order members.

Moody sighed heavily, his lips twitching. He clacked his wooden leg on the floor, raised a hand. "Think everyone in the Order knows the value of confidential information - but I can say this only: Albus sent us a letter to be here last night, that he was leaving the school. And I'm well aware of why. Not something the rest of you should know yet."

"Is what he was doing related to what you and Tonks have been doing these past few months?" Remus asked quietly.

Everyone eyed Moody and Tonks together.

Tonks ducked her head, flushing. "It's- classified. Very classified...I really can't say...it could be the death of anyone who knows."

McGonagall blew hot air out her nostrils. She shook her head. "I do understand. Whatever mission Albus has had the pair of you on...I'll just say that I hope you succeed - and hope you don't end up falling to the same fate as Albus himself. We don't need to lose more friends...or more students."

"Don't think there's going to be any avoiding that," Moody replied. "But, thank you, Minerva." He nodded to her, and offered a frightening attempt at a smile. "We'll be as cautious and alert as we can be in these matters."

"I suppose, then, that this is also related to what he was doing last night...?" McGonagall reached into her robes, and withdrew a large, silver locket dangling on a chain. On its face was an ornate S. "Poppy and I found it...on his p-person."

Moody jerked upright, jumping to his feet with far more speed than anyone could have thought he possessed. His wand was out and pointing, and the locket tore free of McGonagall's hand, flying right to Moody. He waved his wand, encasing the locket in a small box, which he then stowed in his coat.

Everyone stared at him.

Moody took his seat again, giving a little snort as he put his wand away. "Sorry 'bout that - can't say, don't ask - but suffice it to say, it wouldn't be wise of anyone to even so much as touch a thing like that for too long. Not at all..."

"W-well, thank you," McGonagall stammered. "You are right, of course; I should have been more aware of any...possible curses or hexes placed on the item. There was also - this note hidden inside it." She pulled out a small piece of parchment, brandishing it. "I've already read it over, but if it's something not meant to be widely seen..." She flourished her wand, sending the parchment zooming over to Moody.

"No one's to mention the item to anyone outside this room - or the note," Moody said, after reading over the note furiously. He crumpled it up and tapped it with his wand, disintegrating it. "Complete operational secrecy! That's the way Albus wanted it, that's the way Tonks and I need it to be. Else we're all dead! Understand? Pretend you never even found the blasted thing on Albus's corpse!"

"Hey!" Tonks exclaimed. "I didn't even get to know what it said."

"I'll tell you later," Moody stated firmly, his eye jittering madly about the room. "When there aren't so many ears hanging about."

"As you say," Madam Pomfrey nodded briskly. "We won't tell a soul."

"Still got half a mind to memory wipe the lot of you..." Moody muttered to himself, entirely serious. "Not that that'd stop You-Know-Who; he's well damn known for breaking through memory charms."

"Well then...is there anything else we need to address before we prepare him for the- the funeral?" McGonagall said softly.

Moody looked up at her a moment, thoughtful. "Dobby knew Harry Potter - helped the lad out of a few tough spots, if I heard it right. Might want to let him know..."

"Does anyone know where to find Harry?" Remus spoke. "It was my understanding that he's done such a good job of hiding himself that we all have...no idea at all about that," he went on, with a barest trace of a smile - and a hint of pride.

"Hmmm, well...there are a few places we've been monitoring, in case he goes back to what's familiar," Moody considered. "Got to assume the Death Eaters are doing the same, after all - wouldn't want Potter losing his head and getting himself caught. He's still a teenager, after all. Tonks and I can check some of those again, see if there's some sign of him. It would be better for the boy to hear about the events of last night through one of us, not from some article in the Prophet," he concluded quietly.

"Very well," McGonagall agreed. "We'll leave that to you - if you do find him, tell him...how much we all miss him. And that we are all...very proud of him."

Moody grunted in affirmation. "Got it."

"All you are is a fucking death magnet!" Daphne screamed. "Your parents died a year after you popped into their lives, and then Diggory, and then your godfather, and now my mum! Everyone who comes near you dies! How long before I'm dead too? Or Astoria? Or Daisy?!"

"Better stay away from me, then," Harry said, feeling strangely calm - or was that just numb.

Daphne stared at him, her lips trembling. She spun around and fled down the hall, stomping back up the stairs.

Harry blew a breath of relief, and sat himself back down on the couch.

He'd been expecting that to happen for hours - but only now, in the morning hours, had it finally happened. And now it was over with.

He thought he should have been angry with Daphne for what she had said. For how angry she was with him. But he couldn't bring himself to be. He just felt...numb, and sad. And guilty. He understood her feelings, he understood how she looked at him now.

She was right, wasn't she? Why should Harry be mad over that? Anyone who hung around with him...ended up dying. Because of him. Katie and Leanne were two others. Two that still...that hurt, that Harry just wished...

It was hardly a few hours later when Harry heard the front door of Grimmauld Place open, and footsteps entering the hall.

Harry gave Astoria a firm look, and she retreated with Daisy - her wand in her hand. He rushed out into the hallway, aiming his wand down it. "Who's there?" he called.

"It's us, Harry," came the familiar voice of Tonks.

"'It's us,'" came another voice - Moody. "As if the boy should just take our word on that?! Where's your sense, Nymphadora?!"

"Tonks? Moody?" Harry stared. "What are you doing here...? How did you even-"

"That's more like it," Moody said. "Question - observe."

"Oh, just come on already," Tonks said, starting forward. "Harry, we've got some bad news to- oof!"

She caught her foot on the coat rack and fell forward, sprawling.

Harry lowered his wand. That was definitely Tonks.

"Fine, fine, we'll skip it just this once, but only because this situation's damn urgent," Moody growled, stalking forward.

Harry led them into the sitting room, waving at Astoria. "It's okay - they're Aurors."

"And who's this?" Moody said, eyeing Astoria sharply.

Astoria stepped back, withering under that eye and clutching Daisy closer to herself.

"Astoria Greengrass," Harry answered. "Her and Daphne Greengrass are both staying here with me. Last night, we were attacked by Death Eaters - at- at their home. Their- their mother...she didn't make it out. We only barely did because of Kreacher."

Moody nodded, his gaze softening somewhat. "Sorry to hear that, girl."

"We're here because of similar news," Tonks sighed. "In fact, our news might be...related to yours," she went on carefully - and solemnly.

"Someone was attacked?" Harry said. "Someone we know?"

Tonks waved her wand to conjure two armchairs - she seated herself, as did Moody. She waited for Harry and Astoria (with Daisy in her lap) to sit down on the couch before speaking. "Dumbledore is dead...and Snape killed him."

Just as Tonks started speaking, Harry heard light footsteps, and saw Daphne standing in the entryway.

Harry met her gaze and beckoned her.

She narrowed her eyes at him, then threw up her hands and stalked in. She didn't say a word as she seated herself on the other side of Astoria.

This was what the first morning of July was going to be like, then?

It all seemed unreal to Harry, like a dream, even though it was daytime now.

"Snape killed him?" Harry muttered out. "At Hogwarts...just...like that?"

"He boasted about it to us all," Moody snarled.

"The Death Eaters attacked the school - they were roaming the halls," Tonks said softly. "Some students tried to fight. We were there, of course, to help too. We were chasing the Death Eaters, and we saw Snape arrive - we thought he would help us - but..." Tonks shook her head. "He helped them; he cleared them a path through us, and he was aiming to kill the whole time."

So Snape was really on the side of Voldemort.

What had that all been, then, that day when Harry had left Hogwarts - confronted the man about his worst acts? Had that all been an act? Pretending to realize Harry was right, that he was an awful human being, trying to make up for it in some way by advising Harry to escape and hide...to live happily with Daisy? And then, what was that about Harry having some piece of Voldemort's soul in him? Was that a lie, or...?

Dumbledore was dead, so Harry couldn't ask the Headmaster about it. But Snape had said Dumbledore knew, that that was why...

And Daisy's very life - Snape having brought her to Dumbledore, taken her out from under Voldemort's nose...had that all been part of the ruse, too? Had Voldemort let him do it? Agreed on it beforehand? Just a way to cement Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore, make him think he was trying to atone for nearly getting Harry killed as a baby?

Was that all it ever was to the man?

Just lies and deceit?

Harry had actually wanted to think, for a moment, that Snape possibly had something good in him, that he might have listened for once, realized he had to change his ways...

But he never had.

Of course not.

"Snape knows the Order was using this place as Headquarters - and he knows I own it now," Harry found himself saying, quite calmly.

"You want to keep using it?" Moody spoke. "With all the risks that entails, eh?"

"I won't just give it up - it's my home," Harry said quietly. "Sirius's home. The place he left for me. And Snape or not, it's still under the Fidelius, and that makes it one of the most well protected places in the world, doesn't it? I can't just give that up."

"Alright, then," Moody nodded. "Unfortunately, Snape's still in on the Secret, so he'll be able to come and go as he pleases - but if you're up for it, we could dismantle the Charm and put up a new one in its place. One solely for you - and current occupants," he added, glancing at Daphne and Astoria. "You can even make yourself the Secret-Keeper; Dumbledore tinkered with the spell over the past fifteen years, came up with an improved version he shared with us before he died. Though we never got the chance to try it out. Not until now. We can also see about putting up some extra, powerful enchantments and protections against the Death Eaters if they somehow find a way in past that - can't assume anything, with Voldemort. But the main defense will have to be you, Potter. And anyone else living here." He gave another look at the Greengrass sisters. "If you want to stay, you need to be prepared to defend it to your last breath."

"I'm prepared to," Harry said firmly.

"So are we," Daphne spoke. "Professor Snape is a Death Eater and a double agent scumbag? He can show his face here if he wants - we'll mess it up for him!" she said huskily, her eyes blazing.

Moody gave her a small nod. "You've got the spirit, lass - but be damn sure you can back it up with action."

"She definitely can," Harry assured, recalling their flight from the Greengrass home. "She was in the DA with me, you know - she trained with the rest of them. It was only a month, but...she's good."

"Hmmm." Moody seemed to accept this. "If you trust these two, then I won't question it."

"What's going to happen now?" Harry asked.

"We're all spreading out, getting safehouses set up," Moody went on. "The Order expects Voldemort to gain control of the Ministry sometime within the next several weeks. With Dumbledore out of the way, Snape fleeing after striking such a massive blow to us...we expect things to change in the world soon. And not for the better. Things for everyone are going to get worse, Potter. A lot worse. You might be shocked by the things you're going to hear and see. The best thing you can do is to keep hiding how you have been, stay safe, stay away from strangers. Trust only those you already know you can. And even then, keep a sharp eye."

"Constant vigilance - yeah, I know," Harry nodded. "Don't worry, we won't be leaving here unless we have to. Otherwise, we can send Kreacher out, or we can use my cloak."

"Good. We should also teach you how to send messages with your Patronus - something else handy Albus came up with."

Harry nodded. "Okay. Teach me."

Between that and the Fidelius, he thought he would really have his hands full with mastering new spells here.

Moody and Tonks exchanged glances. Deep looks.

"Listen, lad...there's...something else you should be made aware of," Moody spoke slowly, almost gently.

That, more than anything, scared Harry.

"What...?" he asked. "What else has happened?"

"There were more casualties at Hogwarts than just Albus," Moody sighed.

"Ron - Hermione - Ginny? Who-" Harry started instantly, his stomach twisting.

"Keep a good hold on Daisy, would you?" Moody interrupted, nodding at Astoria. "It's going to be a real shock."

"Moody, who is it?!" Harry demanded.

"Luna Lovegood. Neville Longbottom. Millicent Bulstrode - among others. And witnesses reported seeing the Death Eaters make off with Ronald and Ginevra Weasley," Moody said, rote and toneless. "And then there's the loss of a house elf - Dobby, I'm told his name was. And lastly, there's the fact that not hours afterward, Hermione Granger up and disappeared as well. Though, the Death Eaters were long driven from the castle by then, so we can only assume she did the smart thing, like you, and went to ground."

Daphne shot to her feet, drawing her wand. She looked wildly around herself, her breath quickening - then she lashed out with her wand toward a table of animated chimera figurines, and a jet of light burst out. It struck the table, blowing it apart (and sending all the little figurines flying about).

"HEY! Don't ruin my godfather's stuff-" Harry started angrily.

"Shove it up your arse, Harry - and not in the fun way!" Daphne choked. She turned on her heel and bolted from the room, rapid footsteps and many sobs carrying down the hall.

As quick as it had come, Harry's anger was gone. He just felt cold again.

He understood her. He knew.

Dobby...? Neville? Millicent? Luna? All- all dead? And Ron and Ginny were captured...?

"All you are is a fucking death magnet! Everyone who comes near you dies!"

She was right...

More right than ever.

Moody sighed. "Listen, lad, I know this isn't the best time, but...I've got something I want to share with you. It has to be kept an absolute secret."

Harry tried his best to refocus. At least it was something to distract him from this feeling in his chest. "Err, okay..."

Moody drew out a small box, flipping the lid open and reaching inside. A long chain, a silver locket with an S on it. It was the size of an egg.

"What is that?" Harry asked. "A locket?" Why did it look really familiar?

There was a great clattering noise, and then Kreacher was rushing into the sitting room. His large eyes fixed on Moody - on the locket. He looked horrified. Then he ran at Moody, full tilt, and lunged for the locket! "Filthy blood traitors stealing from Kreacher! Stealing from Master Regulus, interfering with his last orders! Kreacher won't- let them! Kreacher must destroy it, for Master Regulus-!"

"Kreacher stop!" Harry yelled, jumping to his feet. "What are you doing?!"

Kreacher froze, falling back from Moody onto the floor. He was struggling with himself, arms around himself, as if forcibly holding himself back. His eyes were still fixed on the locket with utter desperation.

Moody stood, gazing down at the elf with his wand out. "What was that, eh? Master Regulus - what'd the fool of a boy order you to do again?"

Harry stared wildly between Moody and Kreacher.

"Ask him, Harry, please," Moody spoke quickly.

"Err...Kreacher...why do you want to destroy the locket so badly? What's all this about a Master Regulus? That's Sirius's brother, isn't it?"

Kreacher stared at him, pushing himself up. He looked panicked. Distraught. He was crying.

"Kreacher- look just- tell us at your own pace, okay?" Harry said quietly. "Sit down, try to- get yourself under control?"

Kreacher looked at him with wide eyes. But he obeyed, sitting himself down and muttering to himself, rocking himself. It was a...disturbing and sad sight.

Then, he began to speak.

And he told them.

About Voldemort, about Regulus, about a cave, a locket - about Kreacher coming back to his Master. About returning to the cave with Regulus, replacing the locket with a fake. About Regulus's death in an attempt to defeat the Dark Lord...

"All this ruddy time, and you were right here..." Moody whispered, eyeing the elf far differently now than a minute ago. "Where's the real locket now, Kreacher? Where-" He stopped, growled, looked to Harry.

"Uhm...Kreacher..." Harry started. He knelt down with the elf, looking him in the eye. He didn't think he could have ever seen the elf different, either. But somehow- now- it seemed so- "Please, we need to know where the real locket is. I need to be able to...destroy it. Like he wanted. We just want to- carry out Regulus's last wishes. His last order. We want to- honor his memory. Please?"

Kreacher gulped, he choked, he stared at Harry. Then he shook his head and started bawling. "Kreacher lost it, Kreacher lost it - all this time alone - that thieving wizard came and stole it, and Kreacher couldn't stop him!"

"What?" Harry exclaimed. "What thieving wizard?!"

"Mundungus Fletcher!" Kreacher howled furiously. "That wizard came here many times, stole many things from Master - stole the locket!"

"Mundungus has a-" Tonks started, only to cut herself off.

Harry eyed her. She looked about to laugh, incredulous - disbelieving. About something. Whatever this was. His curiosity wanted to urge him to ask. But...if it was something so dangerous, so closely tied to Voldemort...

Harry didn't need that.

Daisy didn't need that.

There was only one question Harry would allow himself to ask.

"Why show this to me in the first place?" Harry asked Moody. "What's it got to do with me? If you're trying to be so secretive about it."

"Just wanted to know how you'd react," Moody said gruffly. "Didn't expect it to lead to such a large breakthrough...lucky we did, though, eh?"

"Yeah." Harry looked down at Kreacher. "Hey, Moody, if this one's just a fake - if Regulus made it - then could Kreacher have it back? He...it deserves to be with him. He was his Master after all. And- he needs something to remember him by."

Moody gazed at Harry, shocked. Then he nodded, offering out the locket. "Guess there's no harm if it's a duplicate, aye. Do with it what you want."

Harry offered the locket to Kreacher, trying to smile at him. "Here. For Regulus."

Kreacher took it from him, looked him in the eye, and then started crying again.

Harry thought they were tears of joy this time, though.

The month of July was as peaceful and normal as could be in Grimmauld Place.

The people living there were...as normal as they could be.

There was a lot of crying, a lot of yelling - much as Harry tried to avoid it - and a lot of noise in general.

But Harry thought it was the quietest moments between these times that were the worst of all.

All he had then were...terrors, worries and thoughts. The worst kinds.

But day after day, week after week, somehow, progress was made in a few areas.

And things were...good. Stable, at least. They could smile, a few laughs were had, and...it was almost...normal.

Almost happy.

And at least in the early days, Harry had had his lessons with Moody to keep him busy (when he wasn't dealing with Daisy, of course).

And Kreacher was really different now; he was practically skipping about, cleaning the place with vigor and even cooking meals for them all! And he'd taken to actually trying to care for Daisy like...well, like she was a Black. Harry didn't want to go that far, so he'd given Kreacher an order to stop trying with that. He wore the fake locket proudly on his chest.

After two weeks of intense studying and practice, the new Fidelius was put up, and Harry was made Secret-Keeper.

He spent the rest of his time getting the hang of Patronus messages - and spending time with Daisy, and Daphne and Astoria of course.

Daphne did apologize for the things she had hurled at him, and...things improved there. They had an actual conversation, that...still involved a lot of crying, but it was better than the shouting matches.

Something of a breakthrough, Harry thought.

Things were getting better for all of them.

Until August the second.

The day after Daisy's first birthday - the happiest day.

She had been so messy with eating a piece of cake, but delighting in it. She had enjoyed the decorations Harry had tasked Kreacher with getting from a muggle store, invisible and unseen. She had loved her new stuffed animals and toys, as well. She had even seemed to like the gift wrappings - given that she had tried to eat it and all.

That wonderful, happy, good day, where everyone had smiled and laughed and...things had closer to good and normal than ever. You could almost forget...

There had even been an extra special surprise, both wondrous, and bound to cause endless future dread and headaches.

"Ba!" Daisy cried, toddling forward with her arms out. She stumbled, fell - picked herself up and kept going! Chasing the big, round ball of bright blue.

Daphne flicked her wand, sending the ball rolling a few more feet away.

Daisy stopped, staring at Daphne. Her face scrunched up. She looked at the ball - back at Daphne - and back again. She fell forward and crawled toward the ball, part way, before standing again and walking the rest of the way.

Again, Daphne used her wand to move the ball just out of reach.

Daisy stopped again, looked at her. Incredulity - annoyance! "Ba!" She asserted. She stepped toward the ball, reaching her arms out again.

Daphne raised her wand, a snicker rising in her throat; the ball began to slowly roll away again.

"Ba!" Daisy cried, adamant.

The ball stopped in its tracks, and suddenly shot backwards, rolling right into Daisy! She fell atop it, arms going around it. She fell sideways and pushed herself up. She looked right at Daphne, and she giggled.

Oh boy, Harry thought. Things with her were definitely going to get a lot more challenging. But, in all honesty, he was more than a little relieved to see this display out of her! It wasn't as if he had had any question whatsoever about whether or not the daughter of Voldemort would turn out to be anything but an extremely powerful witch...it was just that he had gotten more and more anxious as time had gone on and Daisy hadn't shown signs of magic. Most newborn mages were supposed to, the books said. Though, Natalia...had also said Astoria hadn't shown signs of magic until she was three. That had eased Harry's worries a little - though they had still remained.

But now...

Now they could fully be banished, done away with.

Daisy was magic (not that it would have ever mattered to Harry if she wasn't).

Daphne cocked a grin, and gave her wand a swish to move the ball again.

"Ba!" Daisy cried, stretching out her arms again. And again, the ball came back to her quite speedily. She hugged it again, bursting into giggles. Daphne laughed, too.

Daphne threw a look at Harry, that grin still there. "Get ready to have your hands full with this one!"

Harry had grinned back. "Yeah."

You could almost forget...

But the day after that amazing birthday, after Daisy's display of magic...a Patronus had materialized inside Grimmauld Place, and a familiar voice spoke to them. And they all had to remember.

"Scrimgeour dead. Ministry has fallen."

Was it horrible luck, or fate that Harry had decided to settle on August 1st as being Daisy's birthday?

One of the best days in recent memory...followed by one of the worst.

And there was still no sign of Ron or Hermione - no word. A whole month now, and Harry didn't even know if Ron was okay!

Harry had thought it over for weeks now; surely they would have known to check Grimmauld Place. But with the new Fidelius in place, they would have no way of seeing it, no way of getting in. If Ron and Ginny had escaped the Death Eaters, if the Order had rescued them, if Hermione wasn't caught as well...

So many if's. So little information. No way to know!

Harry just had to hope he'd catch them standing outside one day, as absurd as it was.

To think he had to watch out the front window for his missing best friends, hoping they would just show up like nothing was wrong.

But that was...one of the things he wanted most in his life right about now.

He just wanted his best friends. He wanted to see them, talk to them, hug them again...know they were safe and okay...

He felt like crying again, with the frustration and helplessness of it all.

Voldemort had won.

He'd taken the Ministry.

And Harry didn't doubt that, soon enough, he would take Hogwarts as well. All his worst fears about it becoming a sick Dark Arts school for churning out new Death Eaters were going to come true.

And there was nothing he could do about it.

He just...had to focus on his home, his little world.

On his Daisy.