Dinner was quiet that night. Ron and Hermione sat on either side of Harry, talking around him in the way they did when they realized he didn't want to be social.

They chose the Great Hall to eat in, and Harry wasn't sure why. There was something spooky about sitting there, at one edge of one table, looking out at empty seats and hearing their voices echo. The ceiling was a starry, clear night, though, and that was a nice touch.

He caught himself gazing at those stars more than once.

It was about a half hour into their meal that the doors to the Great Hall opened. Seamus peered in, and a smile touched his face. "Poddy told us you were here."

"Hey, Seamus, come on and-" Ron's cheerful greeting died when the open door revealed a second person, looking decidedly less happy to be there. "Oh."

"Thought we'd make a sort of dysfunctional family night of it." Seamus's voice was light. Quieter than he would have been days ago, Harry thought, and he frowned. His sudden concern was confirmed when Snape's presence proved to be necessary. Seamus moved slowly in, and Harry couldn't tell how much of his weight he was supporting himself. Snape walked with his arm around the smaller man's waist, his eyes burning over at the three spectators as if in dare.

Harry swallowed, wondering again what Malfoy'd been up to with Seamus all those days. He smiled faintly, though, and nodded at Snape.

Snape nodded back before his lip curled up and he took in the other two. "I can already tell this will be one badly digested dinner."

Ron tensed and opened his mouth.

Harry put a hand on his leg under the table and squeezed. "The sooner you sit and eat the sooner you can leave," he said simply.

Seamus smiled. He wasn't at his normal levels of exuberance, but there was nothing less than cheer in his reply. "Don't worry. He's just a bit grouchy."

"How can you tell?" Ron muttered.

The front doors opened as the odd couple drew slowly close, and Harry glanced over to see Remus coming in with his mysterious werewolf companion. "Hullo, everyone."

Harry smiled, glad for the distraction. "Did the house elves make some sort of announcement about us being here?"

"No, that was me." Snape, surprisingly, answered. "Sheer desperation, I assure you."

"Of course." Remus smiled at Snape with something like affection before his eyes went to Seamus. He looked back at Snape, a question in his eyes, and Snape grimaced in reply.

A whole silent conversation. Harry stared at Remus as he and his friend moved past Snape and Seamus, careful not to offer any assistance. Harry shook his head and went back to his meal. He felt like he was missing a lot of things. But what else was new?

"Professor Lupin. Dumbledore says you're staying on here next year." Hermione spoke to fill the silence once Seamus was safely in a chair and Snape was settled in beside him.

"It seems so. I've finally broken the curse. Two years in a row for the same teacher."

"Cheers to that. You're not even incompetent. I'm amazed he even brought you back last year."

"Ron!"

Ron shrugged, grinning. "Dumbledore's usually got bad taste in Dark Arts professors."

"Any chance you'll be returning too, Professor Snape?"

All eyes went to Snape, who sat between Seamus and Remus. He glared down the table, but didn't answer as fast as Harry had expected. "Doubtful. Whatever replacement has been found appears to be doing an adequate job."

"He should be. He's one of your old students," Remus mentioned.

"Which one?" Snape asked instantly.

"Jonathan Goldstein."

Snape looked thoughtful. "Ravenclaw. Good student. Young, though."

"He does well with the students. He's been made Head of Ravenclaw already."

"And who, might I ask, is acting as Head of Slytherin?"

Remus smiled faintly.

Snape stared at him. "You're kidding."

"There are no Slytherins on staff here. I offered."

Snape glared at him, but there wasn't true malice in it. Harry was amazed that he could tell that. "A Gryffindor werewolf, the head of my house. Bloody hell, perhaps I'd better talk to Albus after all."

Harry saw Seamus brighten at that. "You miss it. You know you do."

"Hardly." Snape's snort was sharp. "Some things about it, perhaps." He looked around, quick to change the subject. Those dark eyes landed on Harry himself. "Potter. Out of morbid curiosity, what are your plans once the Dark Lord is destroyed?"

Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione. He felt his cheeks heating up. "Well. I'm not exactly sure. I don't want to go on with the aurors."

To his surprise, Snape nodded his approval. "Brainless Ministry footsoldiers."

"Excuse me?" Ron's head whipped towards Snape.

Harry spoke up fast. "It's not that. We do good work. But I'm tired of fighting all the time. I want to know what a normal, uneventful life is like. "

"Get bored stiff in a week," Ron predicted darkly, his eyes still on Snape.

Harry shrugged. "Probably. I think the Ministry'd take me back, if that's the case."

Snape muttered something under his breath. Harry glanced over to see a strange hardness on Snape's face, and a worried look on Seamus's as he looked at his companion.

He decided not to ask. "Anyway. I thought I might travel a little. See places besides London and Hogwarts. I've never been anywhere, really. Not without being on the hunt the entire time, anyway."

"What?" Ron turned back to him. "Not only are you deserting us at work, you're going to leave London too?"

"Ron." Hermione's voice was soft. "It's his decision."

"Don't Ron me, Hermione! Bloody hell! I'm not allowed to have a bloody opinion about things! This is Harry we're talking about! We've been together forever, and he's going to leave! I know it's his sodding decision, but that doesn't mean I have to like it!"

"Ron"

"Excuse me..." The door opened yet again, and Harry tried to feel amused at Percy Weasley looking in, uncertainty on his face.

"Oh...Merlin's wrinkled white bloody balls." Ron stood up, pushing back from the table. "I'm not hungry anymore."

Harry stood up, surprised. "Ron, come on."

Ron glared at him. "Leave me alone, Harry. Let me get used to the feeling." He turned and stormed away from the table. He passed Percy in the doorway without even a look.

Percy watched him go, that odd look in his eyes that he'd had sitting at the fire with Harry.

"Percy...come on in." Remus spoke quietly. "Have you had dinner?"

"Well. No. But I was just..." Percy hesitated, glancing at Harry, before moving to the table to the seat Ron had left.

Harry hesitated, but sat back down slowly. He turned to Hermione, seeing the shocked, confused look on her face. He reached for her arm and squeezed gently, but couldn't help feeling the same way. He knew Ron was upset, but he hadn't expected outright hostility.

"Is everyone done throwing tantrums?" came Snape's deceptively mild voice.

Harry glared at him, in no mood to handle his charm tonight. "You always threw the biggest. You tell us."

Snape raised an eyebrow and the corner of his mouth twitched up.

Harry shook his head and looked away, towards the front doors to the Great Hall.

"So, Harry. Tomorrow's the big day, is it?"

Harry turned to Dom, frowning. "Yes. It is." He glanced at Remus, though, and didn't voice his next words.

To his surprise, someone did it for him. "Have someone you're keeping up to date on events, do you?" Snape, sounding just as mild as before but somehow...poisonous.

Dom and Remus both looked sharply at Snape. "What's that again, mate?"

Snape looked past them at Harry, eyebrows raised.

Harry frowned and nodded. There really wasn't anyone else it could be.

"It seems to me," Snape went on after getting Harry's confirmation, "that there are those outside these walls with a great deal of knowledge about what happens inside."

"Severus, hold on just a moment."

"No, Remus. I can appreciate your position, but let's face facts. He was one of too few who could have led Death Eaters to the Dark Lord's cell. He fooled Albus, and he fooled you, but that doesn't change the facts. If it wasn't him it was someone else at this table, or the child who just ran out in a huff. Which would you suspect?"

"The Ministry is still considering him their top suspect," Percy added quickly. He dropped his eyes when Dom's gaze swung to him.

Remus glanced around, but looked back at Snape without answering, and without looking at the man sitting beside him. "I don't appreciate this."

"Nor did I appreciate having my property destroyed, or losing something dear to me." Snape's arm shifted under the table, and Harry thought he must be touching Seamus somewhere. Holding his hand. It barely surprised him at this point. "Someone fed Malfoy information. Someone told him about Seamus, and the only ones who know he is still alive are in this room, or in the Order."

Remus shook his head.

Harry spoke softly, barely raising his voice. "Poddy."

The house elf appeared, as timely as ever. "Harry Potter sir! What Poddy is doing for you?"

"Tell me. There are house elves taking care of each of us, aren't there?" Harry hadn't seen any in the dorms, but Hermione had mentioned resenting the presence in her and Ron's rooms every day, slaving away. And Poddy seemed to personally tend to Snape and Seamus.

"Of course, sir. Albus Dumbledore likes his guests to be cared for."

"Wait just a bloody minute, mate."

Harry didn't look back at Dom. "Who is taking care of him?" He motioned back towards the werewolf.

Poddy snapped a finger instantly, and another elf appeared. Small and in a tattered shirt that meant he belonged to no families, or Hogwarts itself, Harry had seen him before. He had been the one to tell them about Dom appearing in the school, he thought. "This is being Renny, sir."

There was the scratch of a heavy wooden chair being pushed back. "Right. This is bloody ridiculous."

"Dom." That was Remus. Harry looked over. His godfather looked as calm as ever. "Let them play this out. They will whether we protest or not."

Dom gaped at him, looking astonished, but held up his hands and glared silently at Harry.

Harry turned to the second house elf. "Alright. Renny,do you mind if Iask you a couple of questions?"

Renny nodded, staring around at the table full of humans with huge round eyes.

Percy pushed his chair back. "Perhaps I should..."

"What? Don't want to wait before running back to report my guilt?" Dom's voice was hard.

"Stay, Percy." Remus's voice was quiet. "One way or the other, someone from the Ministry should hear this."

Harry ignored them all. "Renny?"

Poddy nudged Renny on the arm.

"Renny is not minding!" His voice came out a higher squeak than even Winky's had been. His bony fingers wrung his shirt.

"You're taking care of Dom, right?"

A nod of that large head threatened to send him tumbling forward. "Yes, sir! Renny is taking very good care of him."

"Has he asked your help in contacting anyone outside these walls?"

Renny blinked eyes that seemed somehow to jut out even more. "No, Harry Potter. He is not asking anything like that."

Dom smirked faintly, hands dropping.

Renny's wide eyes went to him, then back.

Harry frowned. Renny wasn't tied to anyone, so he wouldn't lie. But he was so sure...how else would Dom get messages out? He wouldn't dare take the trip to the owlery, and Remus would have noticed if he had sent any communications out.

He frowned across the table at Snape.

Snape stared at the house elf, eyes narrowed. "He hasn't been speaking to anyone over the floo? He hasn't been in communication with one single other person?"

"Only people who is sitting right here," Renny answered, half-stammering. His fingers were threatening to shred the shirt.

Snape sat up suddenly, bringing out his wand.

Renny squeaked in alarm and cowered back, but Poddy stopped him with a wide hand on his back. "They is not harming house elves, Renny."

Renny stared as if hypnotised as Snape raised his wand.

"Finite incantatum," Snape directed at the elf. Or, more specifically...

To the elf's tattered shirt.

The fabric shifted, and Renny's hands flew from it in horror. Before their eyes the shirt morphed and transformed quickly into a tea towel.

Snape stood up, moving around the table and crouching in front of the elf. "Which family do you serve?"

Renny shook his head, skin turning a mottled pink. "Renny is not telling, sir!"

Poddy stared at the other elf, shocked. "Renny is lying to us! To Albus Dumbledore, who is always taking us in and giving us work. Renny is a bad house elf!"

"Renny is not telling! Renny is talking only to those with the Mark! Renny is being ordered!"

Snape sneered, triumphant, and pushed his sleeve up. He revealed his damaged but still recognizable Mark to the elf. "I asked you a question!"

Renny swallowed audibly. He looked from the Mark to Snape's face, and his shoulders slumped. "Renny is serving the Malfoys, sir. Renny is their new house elf since they is losing their last one. Renny is a good house elf, not like Dobby. Renny does as he's told."

At the name Malfoy, Snape straightened. He glowered down at the elf, who had to crane his face straight up to see him. "And he has been sending and receiving messages, hasn't he? Young Master Malfoy."

Renny nodded. "Renny is sorry to be lying before. Renny is doing what he is ordered."

"Wait a-"

Snape cut off Dom with a slice of his hand. "And where did you get those messages you sent him? Who told you about us?"

Renny hesitated.

"Speak!" Snape roared.

Harry's skin pricked. He stared at the house elf, and at Poddy looking so horrified behind him.

Renny's hand came up, pointing with a waver down the table.

But not at Dom.

Percy stood up instantly, so pale his freckles stood out sharply.

Harry shook his head instantly. "No."

Renny nodded, his ears flattening against his head. "Master Malfoy says for Renny to be keeping eyes open and to find Percy Weasley when he is coming to the school. They is talking about many things, sir. I is taking the messages."

"He's lying." Percy spoke faintly.

Renny shook his head violently. "Master Malfoy says to always be speaking truth to Marked ones."

Snape turned to Percy then. He looked caught off guard himself, but after a moment a wry smirk touched his face. "He set you up, Weasley. He knew we would find out sooner or later. That I would find out."

"It's a lie," came the soft, strangely dull protest.

"No it isn't. You just didn't think ahead. You're still a blood traitor and you always will be, no matter how much you may despise your family. You can never make up for your blood, Percy. That should have been obvious."

"If Percy says it's not true..." Hermione was white-faced, and Harry knew suddenly she was thinking of Ron. His heart sank. Bloody hell, Ron would be devestated.

Percy sank down in his chair and fell quiet.

"No!" Hermione faced him, and the auror in her took over where the confused girl was failing. "It'll be looked into, Percy. If there's no truth to it, you won't be"

"Don't bother," came the clipped answer. "Professor Snape is right. I'm sure Malfoy will be more than happy to hand over letters in my writing."

"Merlin, Percy." The auror faded again, and Hermione just stared. "Why?"

Percy's eyes, for some reason, went to Snape. "I was promised none of my family would be hurt if I cooperated."

Snape shook his head in disgust.

"Then they made you-"

"No. That was just one of my conditions." Percy looked back at her. "Leave it. Just take me in, or I will go myself. It's not as if I have much of a life to lose."

"But...why?"

Percy shrugged. "Because I was tired of being alone."

Hermione's face twisted at that, and anger appeared in her eyes. She stood up, and her wand was in her hand in an instant. "Right. Then let's go."

Percy moved without protest or hesitation. His eyes caught on Snape as Hermione led him around the table, and he frowned. "I knew you could handle them. I didn't realise they would go after Seamus. You have my apologies."

"As worthless as they are," Snape replied acidly.

Percy smiled tightly. "Indeed."

The door shut behind them. "Should someone..."

Harry glanced at Remus and shook his head. "Hermione can more than handle him." He sat back down slowly. To have sat and talked with Percy, tried to understand him. It was a blow, and more because he never had a clue.

His eyes fell on Remus and a now seated but stiff-backed Dom. He sighed. There was one thing he was wrong about, anyway. He met Remus's eyes.

Remus just shook his head with a faint smile. He understood. Of course he did. He would have wanted to know. And it did seem suspicious.

When Harry looked back at Dom, the werewolf's eyes were on him. He glared back. "Anyone ever tell you lot that you're paranoid?"

Harry blinked. He nearly laughed.

Remus did, a soft chuckle. He leaned in to Dom and put a hand possessively on his leg. "You'll get used to it."

"Bloody hell, Remus. Maybe. Soon as it's not me they're directing it at."

"Which will be as soon as death and mayhem doesn't follow you whereever you go," Snape snapped. "Now what are we going to do about this creature?" His eyes lit on Renny.

There was an odd sounding hiss in response, and guttural words spoken in a completely foreign language.

Renny cowered, his eyes shutting and his entire body slumping.

Harry traced those odd words back to Poddy, who was directing a gaze and a finger at Renny.

"Is not to be worrying, Mr. Snape," Poddy said, sounding oddly raspy. "The house elves is taking care of him. We is keeping you safe."

Snape straightened at that, looking satisfied. "Then tomorrow goes as planned. They should still not be expecting it. Potter, you will do it right this time."

Harry nodded, determined. Worry and doubtwere bad. Malfoy making his presence known was bad. Voldemort's strength returning, worse. But with traitors appearing from within their own circle, Harry knew things would only get worse and worse.

Voldemort had to die. This had to bloody well end.

He drew in a breath, looking away as Poddy marched towards the motionless Renny. He looked past Dom, who was glowering his distrust of them but with something like humour in his eyes as Remus continued to pacify him. Two empty chairs: Ron out there somewhere angry. Hermione, on her way to have Percy imprisoned. Seamus, who was too quiet, too still, and obviously not well after his time with Malfoy. Snape, who had to deal with knowing his lover was going to die, who had to wrestle with his past and try to make some sort of future. Remus, who had lost so many people, who had been so pale and sick with the thought, however brief, that his new friend might have betrayed him.

And Harry himself. He could feel sorry for himself, fighting all his life though he was hardly built for it. Trying to be a good person, trying to put an end to this nightmare the world around him had been suffering since before he was born.

Tomorrow. It had to end tomorrow. These were good people, suffering in their own ways worse and worse. They were growing frayed, tired. They deserved peace. All of them.

He had the power to give it to them. He just had to get it right.

"Oy. Remus. Give it a rest. It's not like I'm not used to it. Anyway, it's a sodding good thing you did suspect me, since that elf was the one taking care of me. Nice little circumstance, that."

Harry glanced back. Dom was grinning now at Remus, who smiled back. Harry saw their arms angling together under the table and out of his sight, and he smiled. If Dom wasn't a bad guy, maybe he would be be alright for Remus. Maybe Remus deserved that as well as peace.

He thought about Hermione, there by herself, and Seamus and Snape. Together but for how long?

Love. Strongest emotion there was, apparently. The source for all the greatest magic. The ties that bound all of the around that table, in odd and unique ways. Tomorrow he would feel it for Tom Riddle. Maybe the day after tomorrow he could find it for himself.