All characters are property of JK Rowling and I do not make a profit from this story.

Beta: Roman's Sundial

Chapter Forty-Five: Another Battle

Jessica Ferguson – Present Day

November 26, 2000

"A trap?" repeated Molly, looking at Harry with a terrified glare.

"Hermione, Ron, start sending a message to every Order member that has a galleon; have them all meet outside of the Ministry. If we're lucky, we can-"

BOOM! There was a loud sound, and the entire Burrow shook. "Harry!" screamed George. "The backyard! We are being surrounded!" Everyone ran to the window and saw at least thirty people approaching the house with wands raised.

"Have the Order come here," Harry bellowed. "Now!" Jessica watched Ron and Hermione frantically send messages on their galleons, while the rest of the people in the house (minus Jessica) were pulling out their wands. "We need to hold them off until help gets here," Harry was telling the group.

"Jessica," said Ron. "Barricade you and Amelia in your room and do not come out until one of us comes and gets you." Jessica nodded, she didn't need telling twice. She ran upstairs and found Amelia curled up on her bed.

"Mummy, what was that noise?"

"It's okay, sweetie; everything will be okay." Jessica locked the door then pushed the dresser in front of it for good measure. She looked out of her bedroom window, but her room faced the side of the house so she couldn't really see anything. She felt the house shake again, and she went and hugged Amelia. "Shh, it's okay," she was saying to her daughter. "Everything is going to be alright."

"Lock the window!" Amelia was saying.

"I can't, sweetie, it doesn't lock."

"Lock the window!"

"Amelia, Mummy can't!" Suddenly, a bar appeared across the window.

"See? Ron did it for us!"

"How?" asked Amelia.

"He must have casted a spell from outside." The house started shaking for a second time, and Jessica shielded Amelia. "We need to get out of here," she whispered to herself. As if reading her mind, someone started to pound on her blocked door.

"Jessica!" came Ron's voice. "Open the door!" Relieved, Jessica pushed the dresser away and opened up.

"Thank goodness!" she said, seeing him.

"We need to get you both out of here, now!"

"What's going on?"

"It's Grindelwald and his followers," said Ron. "I don't have time to explain, I just need to get you both out of here." Jessica grabbed Amelia and started to follow Ron out of the room, his wand out in front, prepared to protect them. "You're going to go to the house of someone we trust," Ron said quietly, as he slowly made his way down the stairs, ensuring that no threat was hiding somewhere. "You're to go out the back and run to the next house; you'll see it atop the hill."

"You aren't coming with us?" Jessica asked surprised.

Ron shook his head. "I need to stay here and help, but I'll watch and make sure that you both make it safely. If I see anyone coming towards you, I'll stun them. But you need to keep running, do you understand? No matter what you hear or what you see, just keep running and don't stop until you get there!"

Jessica took a deep breath. "Okay." She knew she had to do whatever it took to protect her daughter, and she just had to trust that Ron would be okay.

"He knows that you're coming; I've already sent him a message with my galleon."

"But how will I know where to go?"

"It's the only other house in the area," he answered. "Just run in that direction," he said, pointing in the direction that he meant. "You'll recognize it when you see it; it looks like a giant rook."

She nodded and hugged Amelia tightly, prepared to run, when she saw a familiar face coming up towards them. "Nigel?" she said, bewildered.

"Head to the top of the house; you'll have a great vantage point there," she heard Ron say to Nigel, oblivious to the fact that Jessica had recognized him. Nigel took off up the stairs, and Ron turned back to Jessica. "You need to go, now!" Jessica headed to the back door and ran into Harry.

"Take this cloak," Harry said, throwing it over her and Amelia. "It will make you invisible."

"Now go, and remember, don't stop running!" said Ron.

"Stay safe!" she said to the pair of them, and then she ran. She ran as fast as she ever ran in her life. She hugged Amelia as tight as she could, kept her head bent, and ran as their lives depended on it. After a few moments, she saw in the distance the tall house that looked like a rook. She picked up her speed and ran for safety, all the while sounds of explosions were heard around her, as well as screams, and even laughter. Her legs her burning and she had barely any breath left, but still she ran. Finally, miraculously, she saw the silhouette of a man standing in front of the house. Forcing herself to keep going, she finally made it to the man, through the cloak off of her and Amelia, and collapsed from exhaustion inside his front door. It took the man several moments before following her inside and closing the door.

"Are you alright?" the man asked her.

Jessica nodded. "Water," she struggled to say. The man obliged, giving her a glass of water. She drank it fast while he spoke.

"I have put the Fidelius Charm around my house. Do you know what that is?" Jessica nodded. "Very good. I am secret-keeper, so the three of us will be safe here."

"Thank you," said Jessica, finally catching her breath. "I'm Jessica, and this is my daughter Amelia."

"Ronald told me. My name is Xenophilius Lovegood." There was a loud bang coming from outside, and Amelia grabbed Jessica's leg. "We should go upstairs," said Xenophilius. "I don't think we will hear much up there." He pointed towards a spiral staircase, and Jessica and Amelia made their way up. As they made their way up however, Jessica stopped when she noticed a painting of a familiar face staring at her from the ceiling.

"Ron?" she said out loud.

"That is my daughter's room," Xenophilius answered, noticing where Jessica was looking. "She has painted a mural of her friends."

Jessica turned back to the mural and recognized others, like Harry, Ginny, and – Jessica gasped. "Nigel!"

Xenophilius followed her gaze. "I do not know all of their names, but I do think his name starts with an N, yes. This way, please," he said, indicating to a room off to the side. Jessica entered a cozy little room full of comfy arm chairs. She sat down on one across from Xenophilius, and pulled Amelia onto her lap. They sat in an awkward silence for awhile, until Jessica finally broke it.

"You have a nice house," she said.

Xenophilius nodded. "It was much nicer before the rebuild, but I still like it."

"Your house was rebuilt?"

"Oh yes. A few years ago, Mr. Potter and his friends blew it up! I have forgiven them of course, since they saved my Luna, but it would be nice if Ms. Granger stopped saying that it was due to an Erumpent horn! I do not understand how a fully aged witch cannot identify the horn of a Crumpled-Horned Snorkack when she sees one!"

Attempting to understand what he had just said to her, Jessica chose to ask about his daughter. "What happened to Luna?"

"She was taken by You-Know-Who's followers, but was saved by Mr. Potter and his friends, and she went on to fight at the battle of Hogwarts. She was quite successful, too; she had a hand in helping Mr. Potter take down You-Know-Who himself."

"Where is Luna now?"

"Over there," answered Xenophilius, turning his head in the direction of the Burrow. "I wish that she were here instead, but that's my Luna. She is very committed to her causes, see. She's part of the Order of the Phoenix as well."

"Good for her!" said Jessica, and she meant it, too. She looked down and noticed that Amelia had fallen asleep on her lap.

"You can lay her in Luna's bed," said Xenophilius, looking at Amelia. Jessica nodded and carried her daughter upstairs. She laid her down on Luna's bed and looked up at the painting of Nigel. It was very ironic to her that for the first time in Amelia's life, she would be watched over by her father. Trying to push Nigel from her mind, (for the moment, at least), she made her way back to the room where Xenophilius was, and joined him at the window where he was watching the battle. Not much could be seen from their distance, other than flashes of red and green light, and the sounds of loud booms and a few screams.

"Do you think they will be alright?" Jessica asked.

"I cannot say," Xenophilius answered truthfully. "But the Order of the Phoenix has been successful in recent years, so one could only hope that they would be successful once more."

"And," Jessica hesitated before continuing. "And if they aren't?"

"Then once the commotion dies down and all of the evil wizards have gone, I will remove the Fidelius Charm and take you and your daughter back to a muggle area." With that, Xenophilius left the room and left Jessica staring out of the window, wondering if she was going to lose any of the wonderful Weasleys, and, with a pang in her chest, Nigel.

Hermione Granger - Present Day

November 26, 2000

Hermione had barely made it out of the front door of the Burrow when she had to throw up her first defensive spell. She had been one of the first ones out of the house, hoping to stop the intruders in the yard, but she wasn't successful. She found herself continuously throwing spells around the property, thinking of every spell she had ever learned. From Defense Against the Dark Arts, from Harry through Dumbledore's Army, from spells she had read in books, even from spells taught to her through other Order of the Phoenix members, there was just no stopping the oncoming attack. It did not take long for the Order to arrive, and she watched as Tonks took on what looked like McNair the executioner. She was just about to look away when she saw Fenrir Greyback quietly approaching Tonks. "Protego!" Hermione yelled, putting a shield in front of Tonks and stopping Greyback from succeeding. Greyback had already caused enough trouble for the Lupin family, like hell she was going to let him cause some more. Satisfied that Tonks was safe from Greyback, she turned to her left and saw Kingsley battling two hooded men. "Protego!" she yelled again, as she saw a third one sneak up behind him. In front of her, Molly was fighting a witch that Hermione didn't recognize, but they were right in the open that Hermione feared Molly would be attack by another. "Protego!" she yelled for the third time, protecting yet another one of her team. She wasn't the best at stunning spells and she knew it, so she decided that she would use her skills of defensive spells, and protect her team while they tried and take down the rest. She felt someone run up behind her and she quickly turned, but breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that it was just Ron. "Is everyone alright?" she asked him.

"As far as I know," he replied. "Jessica and Amelia have been evacuated and they're safe. Stupefy!" he yelled, aiming his wand at someone in the near distance. A flash of green shot above them, and they both ducked as it hit the house and debris started to fall on them.

"Protego!" Hermione yelled, putting up a shield in front of her and Ron. There were spells being shot down from an upstairs window, and Hermione turned to go inside and stop them, but Ron grabbed her arm.

"It's just Neville, it's okay. Nobody has made it into the house." Hermione nodded in understanding, casting a protective charm in front of Hagrid, who was rushing towards them.

"Hagrid!" Hermione cried, when he was within earshot. "What are you doing here? You can't use magic!"

"Like hell I can't!" he replied, aiming his pink umbrella at a hooded wizard, sending him six feet into the air. "Where's Arthur?" asked Hagrid. "They musta tortured him to get him to reveal the location!"

"He must still be at the Ministry," said Ron, throwing three stunning spells, and missing, at Rookwood.

"I didn't see him," said Luna, joining the group and their conversation. "I was on duty there and he wasn't to be seen."

"He must be hiding then," said Ron, aiming another spell. "Oi, is that Corban Yaxley? George said he killed him at Hogwarts!"

"We shouldn't stand together like this," Hermione said. "We make for an easy target!"

"I'll go join Neville," replied Luna, heading inside the Burrow.

"I'll go this way, then," said Hagrid, heading to the side of the yard.

"Be careful, Hagrid!" Hermione called to him.

"Don' worry 'bout me, Hermione; it'll take a lot more than a stunnin' spell ter bring me down!"

"Have you seen Grindelwald?" Ron asked her, when it was just the two of them left.

"No, I wonder if he's even – wait! Is that him there?"

"I'm going," said Ron, aiming his wand and heading towards Grindelwald.

"Ron, wait!" said Hermione, pulling him back.

"Hermione, this is war! You take out the leader, you end the war! I'm going!"

"Ron, wait!"

"Hermione!"

"No, seriously! Look, he's retreating!" Hermione and Ron watched as Grindelwald started to leave the property, informing his followers to do the same.

"Why is he leaving?" asked Ron.

"Who cares! Let them go; we need to check on our team."

Harry Potter – Present Day

November 26, 2000

"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled, reaching out and grabbing the wand that was flying towards him. Harry didn't recognize the man that he had disarmed, but he knew he was one of Grindelwald's followers and that was good enough for Harry. He was about to cast a spell to tie the man up so that he could question him afterwards, when the man smiled at him and pulled out another wand. Before Harry could react, however, the man disapparated. Harry looked around to find his next opponent, but nobody was to be seen. He realized that his recent duel had led him to the backyard, so he decided to go through the Burrow to the front, and hope to take someone out by surprise. He entered the back door quietly and had his wand out, tiptoeing through the house in case an enemy had hidden in there. As he made his way through the sitting room, he thought he had heard a noise and so he inched his way quietly along the wall, peering through the dark room, hoping to get a glimpse of whoever it was. Not paying attention to the ground, however, Harry's foot stepped on what fell like a spoon, and he slipped and fell onto the ground, with his left leg bending to the side in an awkward angle. "Argh!" he groaned, as he tried to move his leg. There was no denying it; he had broken it. From his difficult position on the floor, he managed to aim his wand in front of him, and prepared for any intruder that may walk into the room.

"Oh, Potter, it's you!" came the voice of Minerva McGonagall, as she walked into the room, her wand pointed at him. "Are you alright?"

"I broke my leg," Harry said. "But don't worry about me; go an help the others."

"The fight is over, Potter; they have retreated."

"What?" As Harry forced himself to sit up, he saw Molly, George, Angelina, Ron, Hermione, and, thankfully, Ginny walk into the room. "Ginny!" he cried, breathing a sigh of relief.

"I'm alright, what about you?"

"Fine, just a broken leg."

"You need to get to St. Mungo's to mend it," prompted Molly.

Harry shook his head. "They'll be busy with more serious injuries. If it's alright with you, er, Minerva," Harry said awkwardly. She would always be Professor McGonagall to him. "Can I just go to Hogwarts and have Madam Pomfrey mend it?"

"Of course, Potter," she replied.

Harry nodded his thanks. "So, they retreated?"

"It seems like it," said Molly. "Although we are unsure as to why, but it is better this way. The rest of the Order is mending to our injured as we speak."

"Any word on Dad?" asked Ginny.

"Luna said he wasn't at the Ministry," said Ron.

"Well, that's good to hear," said Angelina. "It means that their plan to ambush him didn't work."

"I wonder if the clock would tell me, although, I'm sure all of our names are at mortal peril right now," sighed Molly.

"The clock won't tell you," said Harry, grunting as he tried to adjust his leg to a more comfortable position. "It's been smashed; someone must have fought in here."

"Really?" Molly frowned. "The house doesn't look like it has been attacked."

"Harry," said Hermione slowly, approaching the clock. "The clock isn't broken; everyone's hand is there, grouped together at mortal peril."

"What? But that's how I broke my leg; I slipped on one of the arms." Harry slid his way towards the couch, where the arm that he had slipped on got pushed underneath. Reaching for it, Harry pulled out the arm and turned it so that everyone could read the name on it: Arthur.

"When… When Freddie… He… He… Died," stammered George, slowly putting his hand down his shirt and pulling something out from around his neck. "I f-found this… It was on the f-floor…" He removed his hand to reveal Fred's hand from the magical clock.

"No!" gasped Molly. "No! Arthur! ARTHUR!" Ginny rushed to her mother and put her arms around her. Dazed due to the information that he was processing, Harry nor anyone else didn't hear anyone walk in through the front door. They didn't see them raise their wand, and they didn't hear them cast a spell. All that he saw was a flash of green light, and Ginny and Molly were on the ground.

Sirius Black – The Past

October 31, 1981

Sirius had another swig from the bottle in front of him. It was only three o'clock in the afternoon and yet he was already drunk. He pulled out the letter that he had received from his mother just two days prior, and read it once more.

Sirius,

You are to arrive at our house at five o'clock in the evening on the thirty-first of October to prepare for your wedding that will take place at six o'clock of the same day. You are to attend, Sirius, or you will lose your friends, and I can assure you, it will be a most painful death.

His mother didn't sign the letter, but it was all too obvious who it was from. He took yet another swig. He originally had no intentions of marrying Iris, but his concern for James, Lily, Harry, and their unborn baby had him second guessing his decision. Since Wormtail was secret-keeper, however, his mother would never be able to get to them. If they were safe from Voldemort himself, then they were safe from Walburga Black. But did he really want to put them in more danger than they were already in? Voldemort would eventually fall and they would be able to lift the Fidelius Charm and be vulnerable, and Sirius knew all too well that his mother would stop at nothing to take them down if he refused. Would it really be so bad to marry the wench? He would still do as he pleases, regardless if he was married. The purpose of his marriage, of course, was to give the Black name an heir, but he would be sure that he would never succeed in doing so. He would sleep with the wench, (sex was sex, after all), but he would secretly cast the contraceptive charms each time. His mother would never forgive him for being infertile, as he would claim that he was, but what did he care what she thought? He had already been disowned by them before, and he preferred it that way anyway. He looked at his watch: four o'clock; an hour early, his mother would be pleased. Finishing the last bit of firewhiskey in the bottle, Sirius apparated to the court just outside of number 12 Grimmauld Place. Sighing, he took one step forward, but stopped abruptly when he saw an owl flying towards him. He reached out for the letter and recognized immediately the hurried scribble of James Potter.

Padfoot,

Wormtail just left here but something is up. He's acting extremely weird – more so than usual. Can you please go and check on him? It's urgent. I don't know why, but I feel like he's getting cold feet about the whole situation.

Prongs

Without hesitating, Sirius turned around and apparated to the Pettigrew house. It probably was Wormtail being a paranoid rat as always, but Sirius needed to snap him out of it; James, Lily, and Harry's life depended on it. When he arrived at the Pettigrew house, he noticed that all the lights were off. Clearly, not even Peter's parents were home. Sirius disapparated again and headed towards known places that Peter frequented. He looked down at his watch again after arriving at the third place: quarter after four. He disapparated again and continued his search for Peter. He had less than forty-five minutes to get to his parent's house, otherwise the Potter family would be in much more danger than they already were in.

Author's Notes: I will not discuss this chapter with you all, as I do not want to give anything away! Take what you will from it!

To reply to reviews: " 315" I am so glad that I can help you through your long shifts at work; thank you for reading! To "Keither Serenity" a few of your questions have been answered in this chapter, but in terms of Neville and Jessica, now that she has seen him at the Burrow and knows that he knows Ron, everything will be coming out! The Wedding Knot will be seen a lot in this story, so you'll learn more and more about it as we go on... In terms of Sirius, you'll find out who "Iris Dartmouth" is, and plenty of other stuff, too! As for Harry's sister, I can't say much on that right now, but there is going to be plenty on her in this story!

Hope you all have enjoyed this chapter; see you at the next one! As always, thanks!