A/N: I want to apologize for my (very long) absence here. Although, an apology really doesn't seem adequate. All I can say is thank you so very much for reading, reviewing, and leaving kudos. Your kind words mean so much to me! I hope you continue to read and enjoy as we (finally) come to the last few chapters of this fic.

/

/

/

/

"Hello dear," a male voice said as Andromeda and Theo stepped through the hearth and into a small yet markedly cozy sitting room.

After brushing the soot from his face and robes, Theo looked up to find a tall man with thinning light brown hair and a slightly rounded middle grinning at Andromeda.

As was her habit, Andromeda wasted no time.

"Ted, this is my student, Theodore Nott. Mister Nott, meet my husband, Ted."

"Theo. You can call me Theo. And it's nice to meet you, Ted" said Theo, his eyes scanning the softly lit room. Andromeda's eyes were doing much the same, as if looking for something— or someone.

"Pleasure to meet you too, Theo," Ted replied before giving his wife a knowing look. "Jane's upstairs in Dora's old room, 'Dromeda."

Theo refrained from smirking at hearing the nickname he thought he had coined himself, imagining the good laugh he'd have at the look on Draco's face when he found out.

"I thought it might be better if she had her own space—"

"The wards?" Andromeda interrupted, and Theo felt the worry in her voice.

"All set—"

"Good. Mungo's will be looking for her— I wouldn't be surprised if they come looking tonight."

Theo looked to Andromeda, his eyes wide.

"Wait—" he interrupted as realization dawned on him. "Are you saying—?"

"I staged my patient's escape and brought her into my home against protocol? Yes," Andromeda answered plainly. "I had no choice. They were about to close her case— permanently— and, worse than that, place her in solitary confinement."

"Wretched business, should be illegal," Ted mumbled as he eased into an overstuffed armchair.

"Is she that dangerous?" Theo questioned, looking between Andromeda and Ted and back again, thinking maybe he'd been wrong to come.

"Of course not. She's never demonstrated even a shred of aggression, and she's certainly never injured herself nor others… but as I mentioned before we left Hogwarts, St. Mungo's has undergone sweeping "reform," and practically overnight…" Andromeda explained darkly.

"Bloody hell," said Theo.

"Bloody hell, indeed," Ted echoed, running his hand over his tired, yet kind, eyes.

"I should check on her. Mister Nott— make yourself at home," Andromeda said, making her way toward the stairs. "We will discuss plans shortly," she added, no doubt noting his desire to follow.

Once Andromeda disappeared up the stairs, Theo again scanned the cozy sitting room— its lopsided brick hearth, the soft burgundy sofa covered in hand-knitted afghans, the shelves covered in books, plants, photographs, and knickknacks— he mused it was indeed a home, but it was a hilariously far cry from the house in which he grew up, the place, in truth, he'd hardly ever felt at home.

His eyes landed again on Ted, currently bent over a cluttered coffee table fumbling for his glasses.

This is the man who tore apart the sisterhood of one of the most ancient, powerful pureblood families? Theo observed with amusement.

"Can I get you something to drink, Theo?" Ted asked as he looked up, glasses in hand at last.

"Got any Ogden's?" replied Theo automatically.

Ted's laughter rang through the room. "Oh, to be seventeen again. You look about seventeen, anyway."

Theo nodded in affirmation.

"Tea will do, I think," replied Ted.

Theo nodded again, grinning, "Hot toddy?"

A teapot appeared on the coffee table, filling the room with the warming scent of Earl Grey.

Ted shook his head in amusement, "You're a clever one, aren't you? Andromeda's always brining 'round the clever ones."

"Hardly," replied Theo, quiet sure he'd sunk about a foot toward the floor as he took a seat in the middle of the obviously well-loved sofa. "I think I might be the baby in her patient's locket."

"Ah— curious," Ted replied as he poured the steaming liquid into a teacup. "Milk and sugar?"

Theo shook his head. "Just black, please."

Ted reached across the coffee table to pass the cup to Theo. "Andromeda has been working with Jane for years," he explained.

"So that's her name—? Jane?" Theo asked, his heart falling a bit. He had no recollection of any family member named Jane— not that he had much of any information about his mother's side of the family.

"Well, that's the name she was given when she arrived a St. Mungo's all those years ago. Don't tell Andromeda I'm telling you all this by the way, she takes patient confidentiality quite seriously."

"And you don't?" Theo smirked.

"I've never taken any such oath. And there's an exception to every rule, don't you think?"

"At least one," Theo grinned, taking a long sip from his mug, deciding in that moment he not only approved of Ted Tonks, but was already beginning to like the man. "How many years has Jane been at St. Mungo's?"

"Oh— let's see…" Ted replied, leaning back into his chair, his eyes unfocused as he recalled memories long ago. "I think Dora might've been early on at school… must be about, oh, let's say, fifteen or sixteen years?"

"That's a long time to not know who you are," Theo mused.

And I can relate, he thought dryly, the mysteries of his family weighing on him more and more with every moment Jane remained unseen.

Ted nodded in reverence and they were silent for a time, both wizards considering just how much could change in oneyear, let alone sixteen.

"So, I see you're in Slytherin House," Ted mused aloud, gesturing to Theo's loosely knotted green and silver tie. "Same as 'Dromeda."

"Which house were you in?"

"Hufflepuff."

Theo nodded, unsurprised. Ted had an easy way about him, an instant likability that Theo had to admit seemed to be common among the badger house.

"Was a bit of a shocker to us both when we figured out we'd become friends… even bigger shock when we realized we fancied each other."

Theo instantly thought of Hermione and Draco and smiled.

"Seems like the two of you made it work."

"Work is the key word there—" Ted chuckled. "It certainly took a lot of work… the best things in life usually do… but I wouldn't change a thing of course," he continued, smiling as his eyes proudly scanned the family photos lining the mantel.

"Two of my friends have got a bit of a, er— thing— for one another… one's in Gryffindor and Muggleborn, and the other is in Slytherin and— um—" Theo hesitated.

"—pureblood?" Ted finished kindly.

Theo nodded.

"My mother was a Muggle, so I'm not unlike this tea you see— a bit of a blend," Ted added lightly. "But I admit your friends do sound not unlike 'Dromeda and I. I'm sure they're facing plenty of challenges… especially as it seems there's no way around this war…" Ted's voice lowered, his tone taking on a serious tone.

Theo averted his gaze into his teacup, musing the liquid was as dark and uncertain as the future.

"That Slytherin friend wouldn't happen to be Draco Malfoy, would it?"

"Is there such a thing as friend confidentiality?" asked Theo.

"Seems reasonable enough," Ted smirked. "Mum's the word."

"It's him all right. Bloke's in over his head."

Ted nodded resolutely, then looked over his shoulder as if to be sure Andromeda was not making her way back down the stairs.

"Don't tell 'Dromeda— she's already had enough trouble with relationships this year— but between you and me, Theo… she pretends to think of Draco as she would any other student— he's her nephew by blood, but I'm sure you already knew that, being Draco's friend—"

Theo nodded.

"—but she's never really stopped caring for her sister, Draco's mother, even after all the wretched ways they've treated one another… even after all these years."

"Families are complicated," Theo shrugged. His own family, however small, was no exception.

If you can call it that, Theo mused with a well-known apathy, aware that Sprock felt more like family than his own father. Father's more of a quartermaster.

"I'm not sure anything truer has ever been spoken," Ted agreed as he reached his cup across the table to toast it against Theo's.

Theo obliged, wondering what kind of life he'd have— what kind of person he'd be— if his father was more like Ted Tonks.

"Now is hardly the time for toasting, Ted," Andromeda's voice interrupting their toast as she reappeared in the sitting room. "Not until Theo's had a chance to see this locket, anyway."

Andromeda took a seat in an overstuffed chair beside her husband, pouring herself a cup of tea.

"How is she?" Theo asked.

"A bit unsure, but calm. She seems glad to be out of St. Mungo's."

"Can't blame her," Ted interjected, and Theo smirked behind his cup of tea. The exchange was not lost on Andromeda, and she regarded her husband with a look Theo could tell was well-worn.

Ted responded with an effortful look of innocence. Theo noticed the corner of her mouth twitched before she turned to address him.

"Jane has agreed to let you see her locket."

Theo rose from his chair, as if to go upstairs. "I'm ready."

"You may resume your seat— I have the locket here. It's vital we act with utmost delicacy. Jane has come too far and experienced too much pain to be set back now."

"Sorry," mumbled Theo, a bit embarrassed at his display of enthusiasm.

"No apology required," replied Andromeda gently. "We need to be cautious, and act with empathy for Jane's position." She set her teacup down to retrieve the locket from her pocket. It shone brightly even in the low lamplight of the room.

"Finest silver I've ever seen," Ted interjected.

"I don't think that's silver," said Theo at once. "I think that might be Goblin-forged platinum." He recognized the locket shared the same luminescent quality as Draco's ring and Hermione's necklace.

Andromeda's expression revealed her surprise. "Goblin-made platinum… I believe you may be correct, Mister Nott— how did I not realize it before?"

"Like I've been reminding you since the day we met, dear— we're human, none of us is perfect," Ted said gently and Theo sensed Andromeda may be as much a perfectionist as Hermione.

"But Ted— this— Goblin-made platinum— it's so obvious. Like my mother's wedding ring. How blind I've been."

"May I see it?" Theo asked in a gentle tone he hoped masked his burning eagerness.

"Oh— yes, of course," Andromeda replied as if remembering the purpose of Theo's visit. She leaned across the coffee table to place the locket in his waiting hands.

The smooth platinum was cool in his palm as Theo examined the outside of the locket, tracing its fine filigree etchings with his fingertip. A shiver ran down his spine, as if the locket was somehow communicating with him, urging him to look inside.

Ted and Andromeda watched in silence.

Theo unwittingly held his breath as he unclasped the oval locket, fully expecting to see his own portrait staring back up at him; instead, a small portrait of a young woman with wavy dark brown hair greeted him. Clad in fine emerald green robes, a delicate smile graced her lips, but Theo could not look away from her familiar hazel eyes— eyes that were so much like his own.

Impossible, he thought, his heart racing.

"This isn't my portrait," he said quietly, his voice strained.

"Are you sure?" Andromeda asked tentatively, sensing something was amiss.

"Positive," he replied, displaying the open locket in his hand so Andromeda and Ted could see the woman's portrait within.

Ted's brow furrowed in confusion and Andromeda gasped, her teacup clattering to the floor.

"This is a portrait of my mother," said Theo.

/

/

/

/

/

"So let me just take a minute here to recap, Hermione, because I'm pretty sure I might be going mental."

Hermione bit her lit, arms crossed firmly against her chest as Ron stared at her with a determined sort of disbelief.

"Before Harry left with Dumbledore he came in here ranting about Trelawney's sherry bottles and Snape being the reason his parents are dead. Then he goes on to tell us something about Nott in the Room of Requirement, positive that he and Malfoy are definitely going to do something dangerous any time now…" Ron took a deep breath, but his tone left no room for interruption.

"So Harry gave us the map and the rest of his Felix Felicis and told us to share it if something happens… Merlin knows what he meant by something, like I'm some sort of Divination expert— then you disappear somewhere only to come back again to tell us that Harry was right, we really do need to drink Harry's Felix Felicis right now because you're absolutely bloody positive whatever Malfoy's planned is happening tonight?"

"Sounds about right to me," Neville replied, rolling up his sleeves as though he were about to repot some Mandrakes. "I'm ready."

"Just another lovely day at Hogwarts," Ginny added sarcastically.

"But you never said just how you know this," Ron said to Hermione, frowning. Everyone directed their gaze her way, each of their faces asking the same question.

"I— I saw him, Malfoy, on the map. He was heading toward the Room of Requirement again… so I followed him," Hermione improvised.

"And?" Ron asked, his patience clearly growing thin. She looked away, biting her lip.

"And I heard him in there— celebrating… like he'd figured something out."

"We need to do something," Luna interjected, nodding fervently.

"Luna's right," Hermione agreed, unable to meet Ron's gaze. She could tell he knew she was withholding information, and she did not want to give him time to potentially figure out exactly what she was withholding. She felt as though 'Guilty' was written across her face.

"I think we should wait outside the Room of Requirement," said Ginny.

"Definitely," Neville agreed.

Something that felt too much like a vice around her lungs made it difficult for Hermione to breathe.

Fenrir Greyback… in the castle…

"No—" she blurted. "I think you should alert McGonagall first."

Luna nodded, "We'll split up. Ron and I will find her."

"But— but what about Flitwick, and the Aurors? Maybe Tonks is on duty…" Hermione added hurriedly, desperate to think of a way to put some space between her friends and who was about to come through the vanishing cabinet.

"Don't you think it's more important to keep close by Malfoy?" Ginny asked, a skeptical look on Ginny's face.

"I—" Hermione hesitated.

"We'll find Flitwick first, his office is on the way to the Room of Requirement anyway," Neville interjected.

This plan seemed to satisfy everyone, and Hermione could not argue with them without creating more suspicion. She was throwing her friends directly into the fire—

But they'll have help, she tried to rationalize with herself. And what other choice do we have?

"Take the map then," she urged, placing the map in Ginny's hand. "You'll need it to keep an eye on Malfoy if he comes out."

Ginny nodded.

"What will you do, Hermione?" Ron asked pointedly.

"I'll keep an eye on Snape, like Harry suggested," she answered. Her eyes traveled to the pocket of Ron's robes, where she knew he'd placed what little remained of Harry's Felix Felicis. "Ron, I think it's time."

Ron hesitated, as if he was working up the nerve to ask her something, but he merely shook his head and withdrew the small vial.

"Bottom's up," he said, bringing the vial to his lips. After swallowing his infinitesimal portion, he carefully passed it to Luna.

They all took their turn with Felix, ensuring no one consumed more than a drop or two. By the time the vial reached Hermione, she had to squint to see that any of the potion still remained.

The vestiges of silky golden liquid tingled warmly on her lips— she mused the effect was not altogether different from the sensation of Draco's kiss— and she rather suspected the feeling had little to do with the Felix Felicis he'd accepted just before.

"Hopefully luck's on our side tonight," Ginny said as Hermione tucked the empty vial into her robes.

"We have each other," Luna chimed. "That's better than luck."

They all gave Luna an appreciative look; Ron most of all. He looked as though he had to restrain himself from enveloping her in his lanky embrace.

"Let's use the D.A. coin as a distress signal," Neville said, ending the silence.

Hermione looked to him in surprise. "You still have your coin?"

"Of course," Luna said as she pulled her coin out from behind her ear.

Ginny procured her coin from her breast pocket, "We've kept them nearby, you know, in case of something like this."

Hermione smiled appreciatively at her friends— the people she'd all but neglected for most of the year, the friends she was now knowingly sending straight into danger. She wondered if this was what Harry felt like year after year, throwing himself in harm's way, even while knowing his friends would follow— and even though he was not here, she felt closer to him— more appreciative of his friendship, and of Ron, Ginny, Luna, and Neville's friendship— than she ever had before.

She hoped one day she would be able to explain what she'd done and why, and more importantly, she hoped they would forgive her.

Neville and Ginny headed toward the portrait hole with Luna close behind.

Hermione motioned to follow, but Ron stopped her.

"You can tell me what's really going on, Hermione…" he said gently. "Harry, he—"

"There's no time, Ron. Just—" Hermione's voice broke as she looked up into his searching eyes. "Just be careful."

/