Paula stared down at the ground, it was freezing, and she hadn't heard any sound of the fight in a long time.

"Not long now" The man guarding her yawned.

Paula ignored him; she didn't care about what he had to say at all. She hadn't stopped trying to free herself and that was where she was focusing all her attention. Sparks were shot up into the air and the man smiled.

"Means he is ready to go" The man stated. "Oh, by the way. Do you have a last request? You'll have time for one later, but some of your friends missed out on theirs. To quick a death, you can have theirs for them"

Tears welled up in her eyes and she looked away. The man moved and Paula didn't even bother to look up. He crouched infront of her and reached around to untie her from the tree. When that was done, he stood up and reached down to pull her to her feet. As he did, she saw his eyes suddenly go wide and then quickly close as he dropped to the ground. The rock that had hit him was bloody. Paula looked at it as Lyle came around a tree. He rushed over and untied her.

"Thank God, Lyle" Paula cried when he took the gag out of her mouth.

"Not yet, you and I are all that is left" Lyle stated and helped her climb onto Daisy.

"W-what? What happened" Paula asked.

"I tried to circle around, but the Death Eaters are everywere and I can't see anyone, it's too dark" Lyle answered.

They were all that was left? It was midnight, and everyone was dead? I couldn't be. It shouldn't be, yet it was. Lyle turned to Paula as they rode side by side, fighting against the pain and the bitter wind. Paula's breathing becomes hard and her vision blurs. She's lost too much blood to continue riding. She falls sideways, landing in the grass. Lyle stops his horse and dismounts next to her.

"I know it's hard but we have to get to the academy" Lyle states, pulling her to her feet.

"I can't, it hurts too much" Paula whimpers the high tone in her voice symbolizing her pain.

Lyle shakes his head. "Damnit, we can't just give up. We are all that is left! Don't you think we owe it to the others to survive?"

"But, what if they are still alive! What then" Paula barks, her voice rising in tempo.

"We-"

"Stop acting like team leader! Zalik and I are the oldest, but we let you play captain because you liked it! Now you're ready to abandon your team! What kind of a-"Paula lectures.

"Zalik is dead, Paula!" Lyle screams. "Foramier, Sandra and Trevor are missing, and Cota... he's gone"

Paula stops and looked up at him, not wanting anything he said to be true. She looks into his eyes though, and knows he is telling the truth.

"Y-you know. In the Muggle world we'd be either in collage or getting a job" Paula says, laughing slightly. "Cota, he'd be taking a year off from school, enjoying a relaxing vacation. Or entering freshman year at a collage"

"Yeah, I know" Lyle states. "I know" He helps her onto his horse and slides up behind her. "It's not fair, but we've been told our entire lives that with great power comes great responsibility"

Zippo takes off at a smooth lope and Daisy follows. Tanius spots them and rides to the left of Daisy, they form an arrow. The two horses protecting the riders and Zippo. Onto a rider trail they go, speeding forward as the two riders slowly drift into a forced sleep. The night is silent here, away from the chaos of earlier. Yet it still rings with the death cries of their fallen comrades. The clash of steel rings in their ears. The sound of a whipping chain and a thunderous cry mark Zalik's death. Sandra's battle call, Foramier's whisper that they were going to die, Trevor's angry howl and Cota's scream of anguish follow the two riders and the horses throw them selves forward, faster and faster. Hooves pounding. Breath forming a thick mist from their nostrils, yet soundlessly they go. Softly, smoothly. Towards the awaiting dawn.

**********

Lily and Kira arrive at the academy. Kira yawns and looks at Lily.

"How does Daddy get here so fast?" She asks, rubbing her tired eyes.

"He uses a portal, but you need a rider's badge to use it. I'm sorry that the ride took so long sweetie" Lily apologizes.

They both are tired, but unwilling to sleep as they dismount and stumble toward the gate. Kira looks back and the portal they came through closes. The last mile had been inside the portal. This one anybody could enter and Kira was glad. It was heavily guarded, but the guard knew Lily and let her through. Kira followed behind Lily as she walked through the halls. It was dark, yet Kira could see perfectly. Lily eventually stopped, unable to see anything in the moonless night. Therefore, Kira led the way. Determined to get her mom and unborn brother to the main building where Lily wanted to go. The wind blew past them creating a haunting sound that seemed to reach into their souls and freeze them. Lily could hear a strange, mocking laugh in her mind and she shivered. She lost sight of Kira suddenly and stumbled in the dark. She spun around and tried to see where she was, but she couldn't. She looked and in the distance, she saw a light. Lily ran toward the light, her only hope for sanctuary. She heard the clack of her shoes against the stone floor and immediately stopped as she saw two white, glowing eyes staring down on her. Her breath caught in her chest and she quickly reached for her wand. She was almost to the light. Lily turned and ran, the eyes followed her. She ran faster, the eyes sped up. Lily jumped into the lighted room and turned around. The eyes suddenly moved down ward and disappeared.

"Lumos!" Lily casted and pointed her wand at the place the eyes had been. Kira stares back at her, opening her eyes. It appears she tripped. Lily gasps and rushes to help her up, apologizing as she realized that it must have been Kira following her, trying to keep up. Lily shakes her head, all this was getting to her; yet, how did Kira's eyes glow.

"I'm sorry" Kira states, her voice scared.

"It's not your fault Kira, it's mine" Lily corrects. "I didn't know your eyes glowed"

Lily got to her feet and Kira followed. Trinidy was awake now and fluttering around, restlessly. Lily continues clacking down the indoor hall, keeping Kira in sight. Kira begins dragging her feet as sleep tries to wash over her. Trinidy tries to help by keeping Kira's attention, but it's hopeless. Kira shakes her head to keep herself awake, promising not to sleep untill she is with her entire family again. Lily's eyes burn as she walks. She turns and takes Kira's hand. They were both weary and needing rest. Trinidy sat in Kira's bag, watching everything and patting her friends arm every now and then in a comforting manner. Lily heard a familiar voice and smiled an excited smile at Kira.

"James!" Lily called and rushed down the hall with a bright smile on her face.

James looked up, was he hearing things? He slowly turned and let out a gasp as he saw Lily. She threw herself into his arms and hugged him. He returned the embrace and kissed her cheek.

"Daddy!" Kira cheered happily, as she hugged his leg.

"Lily, Kira" James smiled, deeply pleased to know that they were safe.

"I'm glad you are alright. I thought they'd have sent you all on a counter attack" Lily stated.

"... they- er- they... they changed the plan this time" James mumbled.

"So they sent the Aurors then, did they?" Lily asked.

"...No...They" James looked into Lily's eyes and then down at his small daughter, still hugging his leg and happy to be safe. "They sent the Gra-"

"Someone, please, help!" Cried a desperate voice, breaking slightly.

James looked over and his eyes widened, he ran forward, with Kira barely jumping back in time, and headed toward the voice. He ran out the door and across the yard. He slid to a stop infront of the horse as other members ran up to help the two people riding it. Then he saw two more horses, one had a strange dark figure on it's back. James rushed over and was appalled at the sight of the Death Eater. He signaled a guard over and the horse dropped the man onto the ground, snorting angrily and stomping its hove threateningly at the Death Eater. James looked back at Kira and Lily. Kira was peeking out from behind Lily and Lily was staring at the rider who was being carried to the hospital wing. The man who had been sitting behind her climbed off his horse and fell as his legs gave way. James began talking to him and pulling him up. When the man was standing, James helped him toward the hospital wing. Lily ran up to help him and Kira followed. Trinidy found herself alone and raced to catch up with Kira. They reach the hospital wing hallway.

"James, where is Cota?" Kira asked.

"...You...Knew Cota?" Lyle asks.

Kira nods happily.

Lyle's face saddens and tears reach his eyes as he stares at her. "He didn't make it" Lyle states, voice rough, and tired.

Kira stops dead in her tracks. Lily and James continue helping Lyle reach the hospital. Kira feels her legs get weak and struggles over to a chair. She collapses in the chair, shaking. Trinidy flys up, panting with exhaustion.

"Hey, K-"She stops as she notices the look on Kira's face. The look of misunderstanding and horror. Kira buries her head in her hands and folds her legs in close. Trinidy fly's closer and rests her hand on Kira's shoulder. Unable to do much for her friend. James came out a few minutes latter. Lily had stayed to help treat Lyle. James sat next to Kira. Trinidy smiled and said she'd go see how the other rider was doing.

"Kira?" James asked after a moment of barely tolerable silence.

Kira sniffed in response.

"Cota loved you dearly, as do I and as does Lily. We are a family. It's very hard to lose a family member and-"James stopped as he realized he was saying exactly what a book would tell him too. He shook his head and started again. "Here" He handed her the silver locket he had used on Nathaniel. "This is our family"

Kira looked at the locket and James opened it, showing her the picture.

"If you wear it, it shows you are part of this family-"

"But I'm not" Kira sniffed, wiping tears from her tired eyes. "I'm just some creature that was created in a lab. I-"

"No, this necklace is enchanted; only family can wear it. You can wear it because you are my daughter. Your Brother will get a locket like yours, only a bit more...guyish" James smiled. "Cota has a picture too. You see? We are connected in spirit"

Kira looked up at him and James smiled back at her. He put the necklace onto Kira and kissed the top of her head. Lily walked up and sat on the other side of Kira. Trinidy came back, reporting that the other rider was doing better, and sat in Kira's lap. Together they stayed, grieving each in their own way. Kira had seen on the television that the parents were always strong for the child. However, she found herself wanting to be strong for them. She slowly closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. Lily stroked her face, gently and finally looked up at James. He took off his cloak and draped it over Kira. James looked at his outfit. The outfit of a father, simply getting ready for the day. Yet his squire was dead, he wasn't even in uniform. Lily grabbed his hand and they both got up. Embracing in a tight hug and let tears flow freely. Kira let out silent sobs and Trinidy flew just above her. Nodding to Lily and James that she'd watch Kira. Lily smiled thankfully and put down her 'I'm a strong parent, nothing is wrong act' as did James. They simply stood there, shaken and angry. Lily could even feel a sadness inside her. Deeper then one would expect and yet, not her own sadness, but the baby's own. They were a family... strong together, yet different. They all needed each other. James pulled back after a long while.

"I-I have to go to the council room and see what has been decided" James stated. Lily collapsed into the chair next to Kira and nodded, feeling her daughter's movement and knowing she wasn't asleep. James's face contorted to a look of pain and he patted her head sympathetically, and then turned to leave. Lyle came through the doors at that time.

"Lets go" He said simply.

"But, you're hurt" James protested.

"If I'm ready enough to be sent on the mission" Lyle growled. "I'm ready enough to have my say about it"

James nods in agreement and leads the way. They both arrived at the council room and the question on everyone's mind was asked.

"Is there a chance that they survived?"