Author's Note: Sorry about my not posting for a LONG time… we had tons of school stuff and life happened and… well, you know. Anyway, I believe I left off with Ron asking Hermione out, Lupin and Tonks together, and Aide being slightly more moody. If not, that's what was supposed to happen. Hope you like it!

Harry sat at the table in the dark kitchen. Alone. His hands were wrapped around a mug of cold chocolate, since the heat had already left it hours ago. The kitchen was unusually cold for summertime. Especially August.

Harry was just thinking of what had happened over the summer when someone knocked on the doorframe. He whipped around to see Lupin casually leaning against the ancient wall.

"Mind if I come in, Harry?" Lupin asked quietly. Harry shook his head and his former professor sat down across from him. Lupin had been unusually quiet lately, Harry thought to himself. But then, who wouldn't be, after all that had happened?

Ron and Hermione were officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Everyone had expected it, so no one really spent time gushing over it. Chrys seemed to have a crush on Ginny, and she seemed to have a crush on him, so they were expected to start going out any day now. Bane and Jules were still steady, although nobody had really understood how they could date their cousin and not feel sick. Aide had to explain that Roxanne and Remus weren't actually brother and sister, that Roxanne was adopted by Remus' family, and that Roxanne really did know who her real parents are, but had chosen not to tell her children. Harry was still confused over that part. Plus there was the fact that Remus had officially married Tonks. That was over a month ago now. It wasn't a large ceremony – just a few friends (all of the Order) and a bit of food.

Aide and her family, along with Scott and Julianna, had seemed to be doing fine in the ancient house of the Black family in the beginning. But now something was wrong. Aide was moody all the time and avoided everyone. Bane was even more quiet than usual, simply sitting and staring at a wall. Chrys seemed even more temperamental than his siblings. He never wanted to hear anyone talk about Sirius or fathers. He often sat outside on the curb before the house, staring at the cobblestones beneath his feet. Roxanne was silent most days. At Order meetings, she excused herself early and was found hours later in her room, her eyes red and puffy.

Julianna and Scott, like their cousins, were not as friendly as they usually were. They did seem a bit happier than the others, however. Harry supposed it was because they finally got to see their father and now-mother. If he got to see his father after years of not, he would be happy too. No one could blame the twins for being cheerful.

Harry considered all this as he stared at Lupin's face, which seemed to have lost some age after he was officially Tonks' husband. As he stared at his old professor, who was gazing fixedly at his mug of tea, a shattering sound filled the house. Lupin looked up immediately, made eye contact with Harry, and ran upstairs towards Aide's room. Harry followed, hot on his heels.

Lupin stopped at Aide's door. He held a finger to his mouth, staring pointedly at Harry. Another shattering sound came from the other side of the door. Lupin waited a moment, then swung the door open. A mug came flying at his head, missing by inches and shattering against the wall.

"Go away!" screamed Aidrienne, her face red with fury. She grabbed a bowl this time and threw it, hard as she could, at Lupin's worried face. He ducked, and the bowl narrowly missed his head. He muttered something under his breath and stood up.

"Aidrienne," he began calmly, but Aide cut him off.

"GET OUT!" she screamed again. This time, she didn't attempt to throw anything material. Blue sparks shot out of her fingers and sped toward Lupin. He held a hand up and the sparks bounced back, hitting Aide in the stomach. She gasped, winded, and fell back onto the bed, sobbing. Lupin smoothed his hair and slowly walked over to her, whispering soothingly. He sat down on the edge of her bed.

"What's wrong, Aide?" he said, petting her dark hair gently. She mumbled something, but her face was in the pillow, so Harry was hard-pressed to hear it. Lupin screwed his face up in concentration to understand, then nodded and looked at Harry.

"Would you get that letter that's on the dresser, please, Harry?" he said quietly. Harry nodded and walked over to the oak dresser. On top of it was an official looking envelope from the Ministry. He grabbed the letter and walked back to Lupin. Remus took the letter, smiled, and whispered, "Thanks, Harry." He opened the letter and read for a moment, Aide's sniffling echoing throughout the room.

Lupin's calm face had suddenly turned stony. He looked furious. "How can they do this?" he hissed, his voice tight. Aide mumbled again.

"That's what I was upset about," Harry heard her say into the pillow. "They have no right to do that!" Lupin patted her on the back.

"It's alright, Aide. Dumbledore'll help." Harry could tell he was trying to calm his niece, but it wasn't helping. Aide just laughed.

"Dumbledore?" she asked, still laughing slightly. "He can't help us now. The Ministry's gone too far. I'm going tonight." Lupin's eyes narrowed as he looked at Aide, who had turned herself over to face him.

"You are not going tonight or ever," Lupin said coldly. Aide smirked.

"I'm going tonight. And that's final."

Dinner was a silent affair. No one wanted to say a word. Everyone had heard Aide's screaming and all were worried about her. After dinner, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny walked quietly into the den. Aide, Bane, Chrys, Jules, and Scott were already there.

"Don't worry," Aide was saying. "They won't catch us."

"But what if they do, Aide?" Julianna asked, her voice shaking slightly with nervousness.

"They won't. Anyway, I'll be the one doing dangerous stuff, not you guys." Aide turned as Ron stepped on a creaky board. "Oh, hey guys!" she said, a false smile covering her face. "What's up?"

"Just wanted to rest for a little bit," Harry said coolly. He sat down on the couch and leaned back, still watching Aide. She shifted uncomfortably and stood up.

"Well, we best get going," she said briskly. Bane and Chrys stood, but Julianna and Scott did not move.

"We're not going, Aide," Jules said quietly. Aide breathed in sharply, but continued to walk out of the room.

"Fine,"she said as she walked to the doorway. As she walked out, Aide ran smack into Lupin.

"Oh, hi, Uncle Remus," she squeaked. "How're you?"

"Where are you going, Aide?" he muttered.

"Nowhere in particular," she said airily. As he stared down at her, she stared back. Then, just as he started to speak, she yelled, "RUN!"

Bane and Chrys took off like shots and flew out of the room. Aide turned and ran to the front door. Remus took off after them, but too late. The door slammed shut as he hit it with an amazing force. With an "Oomph," Remus slid to the floor, holding his head in his hand. Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran to him as Ginny ran to fetch her mother.

"Professor, are you alright?" Hermione squealed. He nodded, though slowly. Mrs. Weasley came flying into the passage.

"Oh Remus!" she cried, kneeling next to him. "What happened?"

"Get Roxanne," he said, sounding stuffy. His nose had begun to bleed slightly. "They're going to the Ministry. We have to stop them."

Mrs. Weasley looked shocked, then scared. She began to scream for the Order members to hurry and come to the hallway. Everyone came and, after Remus had explained where the Black children were off to, stood, looking as shocked as Mrs. Weasley. Roxanne took charge.

"Everyone get your coats," she said, her voice staying firm and cool. "We've got to get them before Bella does."

As the Order members rushed to get their coats and wands, Harry and the others stood by Lupin.

"We're going with you," Harry said firmly. Lupin looked at him.

"No you're not, Harry," he said, his voice just as firm. "You don't know what's going to happen. You are not coming with us."

"Remus," said Roxanne, her arm gently touching his. "It's probably more dangerous to leave them here. No one will be here. They might as well." Remus looked at her and sighed.

"Fine," he said. "But bring your wands. We don't know if you'll need them."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were crouching in the shadows of the Department of Mysteries. How they had gotten in, no one knew. All they saw was Remus whisper something into the door and it opened. Now the Order was searching each aisle for the Black children.

Remus came up to the trio and Ginny. "Have you seen anything?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

Harry shook his head. "Nothing at all," he confessed. Remus' brow furrowed, and he tensed. Harry watched him carefully. His ear was turned away from them, as though he was listening intently.

Then, as suddenly as he had appeared, Remus whispered, "Wait here!" and ran to the other side of the room.

Harry tried to listen, but he heard nothing. Then, very quietly, he heard something. A whisper.

"There she is!" Then, "Get her!"

A scuffle broke out. Suddenly, noise was everywhere. Harry ducked with the others and they froze in the shadows. In front of them, clear as day, was Bellatrix Lestrange and Aide.

Aide's sneer was exactly like Sirius', and her eyes were the same as his had been when he had fought Bella. Aide was holding her wand out and screaming. Bella sent a spell her way, Harry was sure Aide was going to die, there was no mistaking that green light… But then, and Harry couldn't understand how she did this, Aide reached out and grabbed the spell out of midair. She held it, glanced at it, and threw it back at Bella. Bella ducked, then started to send another spell Aide's way, but something stopped her.

A man, tall and lean, stood in front of Aide, his wand out. He muttered something and Bella froze, her eyes wide in terror. She fell with a thud to the ground. The Deatheaters that had been fighting the Order members dispersed, leaving Bella where she lay. Harry was gaping at the man. Who could have inflicted enough terror in Bella to have stopped her long enough to spell her? The man turned to face Harry. Harry gasped as he saw the man's face. His godfather was alive once more.

Author's Note: Wow! That was intense, eh? Well, it was supposed to come out as more of a sword-like battle, but somehow it just didn't. Sorry. Anyway, there you have it! A slight wrap-up of the summer, but it was boring anyway. Next chapter (whenever I get around to posting it) will tell how Sirius returned (cause I will tell you he's back for real) and how Aide grabbed that Avada Kedavra spell (the explanation in itself might take the whole chapter!). Hope you liked it! Please R&R!