This chapter may have some slight inaccuracies. I'll try to keep it as true to the books/movies as possible, but this is fanfiction after all! Remember to review!
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"How is she?" Sirius asked as Gwen entered the sitting room.
"She's tough. She's going to be okay," Gwen assured everyone and the room seemed to sigh with relief. She had gone to visit Professor McGonagall at St. Mungo's after she had been hit with stunners to the chest. "I just don't understand how this woman is still allowed at the school after this..."
"Fucking Fudge," Tonks exclaimed with a huff. Gwen smiled at the sight of her and Remus sitting rather close together on the sofa.
"Hagrid's gone now too?" Remus asked Tonks. She had heard all about it from the older Aurors at work.
"Yep," Tonks said sadly. "Hagrid was so nice to me when I was at Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts's gone bonkers since Dumbledore's left," Moody growled, standing up. "I need a beer." He hobbled into the kitchen despite Remus's claims that the house was now devoid of alcoholic beverages.
"This Umbridge woman is bloody mad!" Sirius said, standing up, pacing the room. "I just wish I could do something! I would take her down right now if I was allowed out!" He kicked the coffee table angrily.
"Sirius, relax!" Gwen snapped.
"I won't!" He snapped right back. "My godson is at this school!"
"I know," Gwen said calmly. "But he'll be okay. Harry's strong."
"Umbridge can't break Harry, Sirius," Kingsley assured him. "The school year is nearly done anyway and things will be back to normal."
"He shouldn't have to be so at edge at Hogwarts! He shouldn't feel hated at Hogwarts!"
"He has Ron and Hermione and Ginny," Tonks assured him.
"And no Defense teacher lasts more than one year," Gwen said, looking at Lupin briefly.
There was a screech from upstairs that pierced Gwen's ears suddenly.
"That was Buckbeak," Sirius said, immediately becoming calm. He automatically rushed up the stairs.
Moody had found nothing in the kitchen and started complaining about not being able to calm down. Kingsley quickly changed the topic to the training of the new Aurors and about the latest fighting tactics being used in training. The three Aurors became enveloped in the conversation and Remus, who had fought last war, seemed interested as well.
But Gwen had never fought in a battle before. She had never had to think on her feet. That was what set her apart from the rest of the Order. They all had battle scars and war memories, while she had paper cuts. A little bored, she headed up the stairs to the attic to see how Sirius and Buckbeak were doing.
"What's wrong with him?" Gwen asked. Sirius was tending to Buckbeak's leg.
"Looks like someone's hurt him," Sirius muttered. "Probably that deranged elf."
"Let me help." She knelt down beside him, at the foot of the great beast who didn't seem powerful and mighty right now. He was lying down wearily in pain from the gash in his leg. Gwen took some bandages and started to help wrap the cloth around the wound.
"I like your ring," Sirius pointed out the little silver ring on Gwen's right finger. Instead of just a gem, there were two hands holding a diamond heart with a crown atop it. The heart faced outwards and the diamond shimmered in the afternoon light.
"Thank you," she said with a smile. "It's a Claddagh ring from Ireland."
"You're Irish? Hush Buckbeak!" The beast had begun to screech as Sirius tried to clean the rest of Buckbeak's scratches.
"I thought you would have guessed that with a name like O'Shea," she said snarkily.
"You don't have an accent," he pointed out.
The beast started to relax again as they finished bandaging the wounds. "I was raised in England. I don't think of myself as Irish."
"When I'm out of this dump, we ought to all go to Ireland," Sirius said with a wistful sigh. "Buckbeak and I went to Ireland last year, didn't we?" He stroked the beast's feathers softly and Buckbeak seemed to relax even more. "It was gorgeous. I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for Ireland."
"We'll go to Ireland," she assured him. She clipped the final bandage and admired her handiwork. "I ought to have been a Healer!" She grinned at Sirius and he offered her his arm.
"Come, my lady, we're off to the sitting room!" They ran down the stairs like the Weasley children used to do all summer, laughing and tripping over themselves joyfully. They reached the main floor and nearly bumped into a very nervous looking Snape.
"Snivellus!" Sirius hissed immediately. Gwen let go of Sirius's arm, knowing that she would most likely get thrown in the middle of a fist fight if she stayed too close.
"So you're here," Snape said quietly.
"Where else would I be?"
"Running around like a dog in plain sight!" Moody snapped, hobbling into the hall from the sitting room. The others followed behind him.
Sirius waved him off, then turned back to Snape. "You've finally gone mad, Snivelly."
"Potter has had a vision of you being tortured by the Dark Lord in the Department of Mysteries," Snape said quickly.
"What?" Remus asked absolutely shocked.
"How do you know?" Gwen asked, terrified. If Harry thought Sirius was there, then…
"He said, 'He's got Padfoot in the place where it's hidden'. If you cannot interpret that as anything else, then I suggest we act quickly."
"If Harry knew Occlumency, he would be fine!" Sirius yelled, breathing hard.
"If he was so eager to not learn-"
"If he had a competent teacher-"
"ENOUGH!" Tonks shouted over them, pushing her way over to them. "Where's Harry now?"
"I last saw him with Granger and Umbridge going to the Forbidden Forest," Snape explained. "I believe he has plans to go to the Ministry himself."
"Then we have to go," Kingsley said quickly. Gwen felt her heart start to beat rapidly. Go? To the Ministry to save Harry? What would await them there? She had never fought before! She started going over spells in her mind, quickly. Could she do silent spells? Should she ask for help? But she could not be seen as a stupid coward! She had to stand her ground. Maybe there wouldn't be a fight. Maybe it would all be fine.
"I will return to the Forbidden Forest to search for them," Snape announced as they all headed for the door. He stopped Sirius in his tracks. "Black, you must stay behind. When the Headmaster comes, he will need someone to explain the situation."
"Are you mad? My godson is in danger! There's no way I'm staying cooped up here while he's fighting Death Eaters!" Sirius barked. Death Eaters! Oh Merlin… Gwen felt a lump in her throat.
"We have no time for this!" Snape said. "I need to get to the Forest immediately." And with that, he went outside. Moody turned to face them all.
"We're going to pair up when we get to the Ministry. You have your partner's back, you hear? It'll be me and Kingsley, Remus and Tonks, and Gwendolyn and Sirius. Clear?" They nodded and Sirius nudged her and grinned. She smiled back nervously.
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They stood outside the door to the Department of Mysteries.
"We're going to go directly in," Moody instructed. "Surround the premises, then find your partner and whatever you do, protect the children."
"Are we sure they're in there?" Gwen whispered.
She was not ready to fight Death Eaters. There was no time to practice or study or learn. She had not had good Defense teachers in her years at Hogwarts. She kept listing spells in her mind, over and over again.
"We can never be too sure," Kingsley said.
"We have no time!" Moody snapped. "Ready? GO!"
The door flung open and the six Order members flew in, covered in what looked like white smoke. Gwen landed, wand at the ready. She looked around the room.
Death Eaters. She had never seen so many. She counted five teenagers… no, wait, six. Lucius Malfoy was holding Harry at the center of the room, in front of what looked like a white clouded veil.
She saw Sirius walk up to Lucius Malfoy and punch him in the face.
And all hell broke loose.
She heard a crack from behind her and dodged a green laser of light by an inch. She turned quickly. "STUPIFY!" she cried and the Death Eater flew back. Terrified, but pleased, she turned away, just as another Death Eater shot a spell at her. She dodged it and flung another Stunner at him. This time he repelled it speedily and sent another one at her.
"PROTEGO!" she shouted. Before he could shoot another one at her, she flew across to where Sirius was now fighting Lucius Malfoy full on. She stood back to back with him, her eye on Harry. A Death Eater shot a spell at her. "PROTEGO!" she shouted, but he sent another one. "EXPELLIARMUS!" She was panicking now. The Death Eater was sending out spells quicker than anything and she wasn't fast enough for them. Sirius shot a spell wordlessly over his back and it blasted the Death Eater back. It was as if he had been waiting to fight for all this time, as though it was effortless for him. She could almost feel the excitement and adrenaline radiating off of his sweaty body.
"Sirius!" She screamed. "I've never battled before!" She was about to cry when another spell went her way and she dodged it quickly.
"You're doing splendidly!" Sirius cheered. "Don't worry!"
There was a rumbling sound and thousands of glass prophecies started rolling into the room, shattering easily against the stones. Gwen looked behind her, where Lucius and Sirius were fighting. Lucius held the prophecy in his hand. Turning fully, she sent a Stunner straight to it and it shattered in his hands, leaving him absolutely dumbfounded. Gwen quickly turned back as another Death Eater sent a Stunner at her. She blocked it quickly and heard Sirius blast Lucius Malfoy away.
"Sirius, help!" she shouted. Sirius threw the Death Eater she was fighting back with a flick of his wand.
"I got you, Gwennie, don't worry!" he shouted over the noise.
A spell came flying towards them and Harry blocked quickly. "Nice one, James!" Sirius shouted. Harry and Gwen glanced at each other.
There was an ear piercing scream and Gwen turned. Tonks was fighting Bellatrix Lestrange and was obviously losing. Nobody was near Sirius or Gwen.
"Sirius, we have to help her!" Gwen shouted, directing Sirius's attention to the fight. Sirius shot a spell at her just as Bellatrix blasted Tonks back. "TONKS!" Gwen screamed. She ran to the limp body across the room, dodging Stunners as she went.
She slapped her in the face a few times, but she would not wake up. She noticed that Tonks had hit her head when she fell, as there was blood on her scalp. Gwen felt the panic start to rise in her. "Oh Merlin, Tonks," she whispered, terrified. She noticed there was a pile of fallen bricks and she picked up her friend. She dashed over to the pile and hid Tonks behind it, disillusioning her. It was the best she could do. She flew back over to Sirius, who was in an intense battle with Bellatrix Lestrange. Gwen had her wand at the ready when Bellatrix sent a Stunner at her direction.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" she heard Bellatrix scream. As Gwen was flying backwards in the air, she saw the green light flash against Sirius's almost smiling face.
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Gwen woke up, feeling an aching pain in her head. She felt the cold floor beneath her and suddenly woke up with a jerk. Panic settled in immediately when she saw the fight was still happening. She shakily got to her feet, her body in absolute turmoil. She ran to the center, looking around, when she heard a scream from the next room.
That was when she saw him for the first time. She had ran to the sound of the shout and she realized it had been from him. He was paler than any human being she had seen before. Was he even human? His red eyes glowed like a demon and he seemed almost…. Reptilian. His eyes locked with hers. It all happened so fast. He suddenly whisked himself away in a cloud of black and suddenly the fighting in the Department of Mysteries halted. She looked around. Most of the Death Eaters were gone and the ones that remained seemed paralyzed.
She walked cautiously into the room where he had been and there was Harry with Dumbledore, both panting from exhaustion. She got down on her knees, realizing how much her ankle was hurting. She saw Remus, Kingsley, and Moody walk in and she hurriedly gestured Remus over.
"Tonks," she croaked. "She's behind the pile of bricks. She's passed out." He nodded and ran back into the other room. Gwen laid down on the floor. She heard other people come into the room, but she heard nothing. She felt her mind go absolutely blank and all she could hear was the constant buzzing in her ear.
She felt someone shake her. "Gwendolyn." Kingsley's deep voice rang into her silence and she sat up slowly. "Come on. We're going to Hogwarts."
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Madame Pomfrey insisted that Gwen stay in bed while she tended to the slight wound on her head.
"You're very lucky," the nurse kept saying. "Surviving your first battle with a scratch." Gwen was in a daze. It was as though her mind had gone blank.
Kingsley and Moody were sitting in the Hospital Wing in two chairs. Four of the six children were all in beds beside Gwendolyn. Ron was asleep, but Hermione and Ginny were murmuring softly. The blonde girl called Luna was in a chair next to the boy named Neville, looking out the window. Neville was in bed and he was unable to speak, to his displeasure.
"Where's Tonks?" Gwen whispered finally, her thoughts finally gathering.
"At St. Mungo's," Kingsley said softly. He seemed to be waiting for something, oddly enough. Gwen wasn't sure what it was.
"Is she okay?" she said, suddenly coughing fitfully. Madame Pomfrey rushed over to her with some water. "Thank you," Gwen croaked, drinking it.
"She's fine," Moody said. "She's a tough one, that Tonks. Got some nerve." Gwen would have smiled.
"Is Professor Lupin with her?" Ginny asked. Gwen looked at Ginny, who seemed rather flustered from the battle. She felt immensely proud of the girl, fighting like that. If it had terrified Gwen, she could have only imagined how Ginny had felt. She suddenly remembered Bill and how she and Ginny had not spoken since before Bill and Gwen broke up. It wasn't intentional- Ginny had been at school. But Gwen couldn't help wondering what her relationship with Ginny Weasley would be like now.
"Yes," Kingsley responded.
"Where's Harry?" asked Gwen.
"With Professor Dumbledore," Hermione responded. "He isn't taking it very well."
Gwen was about to ask what Hermione was talking about when it hit her like the pile of bricks she had hid Tonks behind.
Sirius was dead.
Sirius had been killed by Bellatrix Lestrange in front of her.
She could have saved him.
"Oh Merlin…" Gwen whispered, feeling the tears suddenly well up in her eyes.
"Miss O'Shea, you need to relax!" Madame Pomfrey hissed but Gwen didn't listen. She broke into sobs.
Sirius was gone! Killed right before her eyes! The world seemed to disappear and she stuffed her face into her pillow as she blocked out everything. She felt people touching her, talking to her, but they weren't really there. They didn't matter. Sirius was dead. One of her best friends in the universe. Dead. Her partner she had sworn to keep safe. Dead. Gone.
She started heaving and she leapt up and ran to the bathroom, despite Madame Pomfrey's shouts. She locked the door and flung herself over the toilet. She heaved, but nothing came out. She sobbed in despair and sunk to the floor, staring at the ceiling. The tears streamed down to the floor and she felt herself completely let go.
She wasn't sure how long it was before the tears finally subsided, leaving an empty ache in her heart. She felt insane, but perhaps thinking she was insane made her sane. She got up slowly, her head spinning.
She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and breathed. Composing herself, she entered the Hospital Wing. Harry was back and Ron was waking up. Remus was standing by the door. All eyes were on her as she entered the room. Harry locked eyes with her and she immediately went over to him. Harry hugged her tightly and they stayed like that as Harry clung to her. She thought he was going to rip her sleeve off with how tightly he gripped her. "It's gonna be okay, Harry," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Harry didn't say anything, but shook slightly in her arms. She let go of him and looked at him and gave a sad smile. Then she looked at the clock.
"I have to go," she said suddenly.
"Where are you going?" Remus asked.
"There's something I need to do," she said softly, her voice nearly cracking. "For Sirius."
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HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS
By Gwendolyn O'Shea
In a brief statement Friday night, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned to this country and is active once more. "It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord- well, you know who I mean- is alive and among us again," said Fudge, looking tired and flustered as he addressed reporters. "It is with almost equal regret that we report the mass revolt of the Dementors of Azkaban, who have shown themselves averse to continuing in the Ministry's employ. We believe that the dementors are currently taking direction from Lord- Thingy. We urge the magical population to remain vigilant. The Ministry is currently publishing guides to elementary home and personal defence that will be delivered free to all wizarding homes within the coming month."
The Minister's statement was met with dismay and alarm from the wizarding community, which as recently as last Wednesday was receiving Ministry assurances that there was "no truth whatsoever in these persistent rumours that You-Know-Who is operating amongst us once more." Details of the events that led to the Ministry turnaround are still hazy, though it is believed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and a select band of followers (known as Death Eaters) gained entry to the Ministry of Magic itself on Thursday evening. Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, reinstated member of the International Confederation of Wizards and reinstated Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, was unavailable for comment last night. He has insisted for a year that You-Know-Who was not dead, as was widely hoped and believed, but recruiting followers once more for a fresh attempt to seize power. Meanwhile the Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter, who was unavailable for comment as well, remains at Hogwarts School in what the Prophet has been assured the utmost protection.
A series of arrests have been made since what has been dubbed the Battle of the Ministry, including that of Lucius Malfoy, who until his arrest was viewed as a very prominent and respectable Ministry worker. All members of society previously accused of Death Eater activity will be brought in for questioning, according to a Ministry worker who would like to go anonymous.
Despite the presence of Death Eaters and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, there was only one casualty at the Ministry Friday night. Sirius Black, now confirmed innocent in the murders of the twelve Muggles and the murder of Peter Pettigrew, was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange while fighting against the Death Eaters. It has been rumored that he will be given Order of the Merlin, First Class in honor of his sacrifice.
Tonks looked up from reading the article and smiled lopsidedly at Gwen. She was still dizzy and a bit more uncoordinated than usual. "Are you finally top dog?"
"I think so," Gwen said softly. She took back the paper and looked fondly at Sirius's name, her heart still aching. "I hope this does him justice. They want me to write a whole special on him later this month. It'll be my best project."
The two girls sat quietly Tonks's hospital room, nothing being heard but the bustling of the nurses and Healers in the corridor. "I feel like it's my fault," Tonks croaked.
"Me too," Gwen whispered. She took her friend's hand. Tonks's hair was brown now, which Gwen was sure she had never seen before. And she cried.
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End of Book I