August 12th, 1995

She was back in the arena.

The crowd was at her back, whispers, and murmurs filling the air in a rising symphony. White light flashed. The Triwizard Cup fell from Harry's stiff fingers, which immediately tightened again on Cedric's shirt.

Cedric's shirt, who was… dead.

But it wasn't Cedric lying there, dirt staining his frozen features.

That was red hair there.

Red hair matted with blood and grime.

A scream rose in her throat- or was she already screaming? The crowd around her flickered, nausea rising in her stomach. It was too much. Too much too fast.

The twins were beside her though. George grinning his usual grin, eyes sparkling with mirth, and Fred- Fred, who she had just seen, dead under Harry.

She blinked. It was Cedric again.

The fear rose like a snake, coiling faster and tighter around her. Pressing in harder. She wasn't getting enough air into her lungs.

Blink. Fred. Blink. Cedric. Fred. Cedric. Fred. Cedric. Fred-

Her vision blurred; arms wrapped around her tight. Tight tight tight. Caged her in an iron grip.

"You see, little sister? This is what happens to worthless Hufflepuffs."

She screamed again and-

Alyna hauls herself awake, sitting upright in bed. Warm and buttery summer sunlight drifts in through the small window above her. She rubs at her eyes, trying to wipe away the spreading stain of sleep.

Aside from the soft chirp of birds from outside, the apartment was quiet, and relief sluices its way through her. "Thank Merlin," Alyna slides from the bed, blinking away the lights and sounds of the nightmare.

She isn't a stranger to the nightmares, and this isn't the first time that she's woken up shivering and covered in a thin sheen of sweat. Sometimes, there's screaming that brings Remus running- and she's glad this wasn't one of those times.

The full moon had been a few days ago and, in the aftermath, the shadows under Remus' eyes are darker than before. Not that she minds. Spending the summer with Remus instead of in that stuffy orphanage was one of the best things to happen for her, even if it entails taking care of him a few days each month; making him food, and making sure he sleeps.

Getting dressed, Alyna slips her wand into the waistband of her jeans, tucks it under her shirt just in case. Starting breakfast is easy. She doesn't make anything too complex and the scent of eggs and toast is enough to rouse Remus from his own bedroom on the other side of the flat.

"Morning," Alyna smiles at him brightly.

Remus returns the smile and the greeting, looking more awake than he's been the past few days, and starts making himself tea. "Do you have anything planned for today?"

"Mrs. Harker asked me if I could walk her dogs again this morning, and invited me round for tea afterward," she plates the eggs, setting one serving in font of Remus before serving herself and joining him. "That's it really. I thought I might take a walk."

"Wherever you go, whatever you do, Alyna, promise me that you'll stay safe and be careful."

"I promise." Alyna picks up her fork to start eating, sipping her own tea, and asks curiously, "are you going out today?"

Spreading marmalade on a piece of toast, Remus takes a bite thoughtfully. "Yes. I should be back in time to get something ready for supper. Though, if you'd like," he gives her a warm smile. "I wouldn't mind the Chinese food you brought back last week."

The morning goes on easily. Remus bids her goodbye before he leaves for work- what he does, Alyna doesn't know the specifics of. All he's said about it is that its top-secret work for Dumbledore. After that, she'd stopped asking.

Alyna locks up the flat after leaving, tucking the key into her pocket. Leaning against the wall a little down the hall is a gentleman reading a newspaper. The angle of the page obscures his face, but she catches the barest headline about exploding toilets.

Mrs. Harker is an older lady who lives on the ground floor of the building, with her dog and two cats. Remus had connected her and Alyna, and Mrs. Harker offered her a summer job of walking her darling pet. It's something to do. Takes up her days and Alyna gets to explore the muggle side of London. See the city in a way she's never seen it before.

She follows her usual route through the city streets, breathing in the fresh air. She feels free- free. Out of her family's clutches. Out of Hogwarts. Free to be herself without being judges. Free to just be… a girl for once.

And she loves it.

The hours slip by faster than Alyna realizes. From walking the dog, to tea, she wishes Mrs. Harker a goodbye and takes the stairs instead of the lift up the three flours. As she crosses the hall, she frowns. The gentleman from down the hall is still reading the paper. On the same page as earlier by the looks of it.

With a shiver, she realizes he's looking right at her.

It takes her three tries with the key to open the door, one hand ready to jump to her wand should he attack. She locks the door behind her quickly, heart pounding. What in Merlin's Beard. Is. Happening.

Alyna takes a breath. The fear is still there, bubbling under the surface of her skin, but shoulders it aside for now. She turns to the heavy sideboard on the wall and pulls it with all her strength in front of the door, nearly screaming when Remus apparates into the room behind her. "Bloody hell."

"Alyna, we have to go," there's a wild edge to his eyes. Desperation and worry to his tone that causes her to stand up taller. "Right now. We're being watched."

She blinks at him. "How did you-"

"Dumbledore." Remus flicks his wand in the direction of her bedroom, the small space that she'd claimed as hers for the summer, and her things start packing themselves. "He told me they knew where we were and were tailing us. He said I should move you somewhere safe. Safer."

"But-"

"Not now." Remus glances towards the door and Alyna thinks back to the man reading the paper and a shiver runs down her back. How many others had been there watching her, posing as other tenants? "We have to go." He grabs her trunk as it zooms out of the room, letting her catch Darin's cage herself. "Hold onto me."

A heavy sense of foreboding wraps around her, and she grabs Remus' arm right as a knock comes at the front door. They both turn to look at it and Alyna jumps when the sidebar gets thrown back with a bang. She gets the barest glimpse of two men before they're gone.

She shudders as her and Remus appear in a quiet square. It's different than the flat, where adrenaline had been running high. It's serene here… almost peaceful.

Remus passes her a scrap of parchment wordlessly, looking up at the row of houses across from them. "Read it, then think of what you've just read."

The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at

number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.

"Order of the Phoenix? Where- what is this place? Remus?" Alyna pulls the sleeves of her jumper down over her hands, looking up at the row of houses. A soft cry escapes her as it all shifts, reality altering the slightest bit to create a new doorway. A new house.

Remus ushers her up the stairs and into the house after a soft knock, "Inside, Alyna," he says, setting her trunk right inside the doorway. "Everything will be explained, I promise."

The house was dark.

Alyna shivers as she follows Remus inside, staying quiet as muffled voices trickle down the hall from behind a closed door. Remus signals for her to wait a moment as he steps forwards and opens it.

Warmth and light blooms, the voices coming clearer now and Alyna starts as she recognizes some. It couldn't be-

"She's here," Remus was saying to someone she couldn't see, "should I bring her in?"

"The meeting's nearly over, I think she-"

A loud pop startles both her and Remus and she nearly jumps out of her skin when a familiar face appears opposite her in the hall. The shock wears off quickly, happiness blooming in its stead. She runs at Fred- and this was Fred, not George. She could see the scar over his left eye faintly as she jumps into his arms, wrapping arms and legs around him. "Fred."

"Lyna," Fred laughs into a smile, eyes dancing. He rubs her back, hugging her tightly. "A little over-eager there aren't we?"

"I missed you, you dolt." Alyna hits his shoulder, shaking her head and frowns, brushing the hair from his eyes. "You need a haircut."

"Don't let mum hear, she's already threatened Bill's ponytail once. And I quite enjoy my beautifully luscious locks."

Someone cleared their throat from behind them.

A flush creeps its way up Alyna's neck and Fred lowers her to the ground, winking at Remus. He's happy he let her down as Mrs. Weasley steps out from behind Remus, no one besides George- and Remus, he supposes, know about their relationship. That they're… actually together. "Mum, Alyna. Lyna, my esteemed mother."

"Mrs. Weasley," Alyna smooths out her shirt, holding out a hand to shake Mrs. Weasley's hand, "it's wonderful to meet you."

"And you, my dear. Oh," she knocks aside Alyna's hand, pulling her into a hug instead. "Fred's told us so much about you. Remus too. Have you been feeding her?" Mrs. Weasley looks over her shoulder at Remus and tsks. "You're looking a little peaky. Supper will be soon, the meeting's just wrapping up. Someone will bring up your trunk later on- Fred, I've set up the room next to girls. Show Alyna where it is, would you?"

Alyna smiles as Fred agrees, ushering her up the stairs with a conspiratorial grin. "Harry, Ron, and Hermione are in there- golden three if you ask me. Ginny's somewhere around. Over there's your room, but George is-"

"Well hello there." As if on cue, George peeks down from the railing on the floor above, hair falling in his eyes. "So nice of you to join us here, Alyna."

"Did you both not cut your hair all summer?" Alyna says, tilting her head back to see him, "it's worse than last year- which is an honorable feat in itself."

"Why don't you come up here and do something about it love?"

"Oi!" Fred disapparates, appearing behind George and raises a brow. "That's my girlfriend there."

"Your girlfriend?" George blows Alyna a kiss as she comes up the steps. "Not for long, mate."

"Oh both of you stop it," Alyna shakes her head with a laugh and leans against the banister. "If you aren't careful, I'll abandon you both. Besides," her smile grows teasingly, "we all know that Hermione's the best-looking one here."

Fred and George look equally offended and Alyna laughs. Spending the summer with Remus, now with the Weasleys and the others… She feels lighter than she has in a long time. Feels as if she has a family again. One that she can call her own, chosen and handpicked by her.

One that accepts her, flaws and all.

August 24th, 1995

Alyna isn't sure what exactly dragged her from sleep, but she's glad it did. With one nightmare curling into another, it had been a rough night. Excellent way to start a birthday, isn't it?

She stretches, rolling over with all intents and purposes of falling asleep again, already dreaming of the warmth of her pillow and-

"Good morning beautiful."

"Bloody fuck-" She scrambles for the wand on her bedside table. As the sleep falls from her fully, the person sitting beside the bed comes into full focus and she glares at Fred. "What in Merlin's name are you doing here? Fred?!"

"Do you not want me to call you beautiful?" Fred watches her with a bemused expression, lounging in the overstuffed armchair tucked into the corner of the small room. "Would you prefer dearest? Nah, I sound like mum, now don't I?"

"Fred!" Alyna sits up, pulling the covers to her chin with a mad attempt to neaten her hair. "What are you doing here? In my- my room, now?"

He unpeels himself from the seat with feline grace, smoothing out the blankets and takes a seat across from her with a roguish grin, "Important day, of course. Wanted to make sure it started out all right."

"You…" her tired mind couldn't think of ay good curses as she slid back under the covers. "Why would you wake me up? The hour's ungodly."

"Funny you should ask," Fred says and leans back against the bedposts. "I wanted to give you your gift before everyone else started crowding you with things and well wishes. Boyfriend has priority after all."

"Yes," Alyna laughs, "you do."

Fred waves his wand, a parcel wrapped in brown paper floats down and lands in her lap. "Happy birthday Lyna."

It takes all of Alyna's self-restraint not to tear open the wrapping paper- not enchanted this time, so it doesn't try to wrap her hands up as birthday gifts, which is a relief. It took six different Releshio and Finite charms to force it to release her. That was an interesting day.

Alyna tears off the paper and gasps, eyes widening. A leather-bound copy of The Floriologist's Guide to Victorian Flowers (and assorted Magical Plants) winks back up at her.

"Fred, how-"

"Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies," he brushes his thumb over her knee, "you deserve the best."

She watches him, the emotion clogging in her throat. He was- this was- she hugs the book tightly to her chest and wraps her other arm around him, pulling him closer. "Thank you," she mumbles against his neck. "Thank you."

Fred smiles against her hair softly, "'course Lyna, anything for you."

They talk for a little longer until George bangs on the door and warns them that if they don't make it down to the kitchen now, he plans on letting everyone in the house know exactly what he thinks they're up to.

"Unless you're keen on being hexed the first day of term," Alyna pulls the door open and winks at him, "I wouldn't. Remus taught me a few tricks over the summer."

"Did he?" George starts down the stairs, leading the way. "Wish our summer's been that eventful. Mum picked us up and moved here halfway through, then we spent most days cleaning. Place is filthy- but we have found a few things to help us… Expand our-"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Alyna jumps back into Fred.

She claps her hands over her mouth, eyes widening. There's a banner strung out over the long table, enchanted streamers curl and twist into shapes in the air. She wipes at the tears, frozen in the doorway.

"Oh come in, come in," Mrs. Weasley ushers her forward and Fred squeezes her shoulders in support. "It's not every day we get to celebrate here, especially in the circumstances. Happy birthday, my dear."

"This is all…" Ginny waves at her from across the table. Alyna doesn't know… She presses her fingernails into her palm to ground herself, keep her in the present. It's been years since she's celebrated her birthday properly, much less had a party. "Why?"

No one seems to understand the depth of her question besides Sirius, by the looks on their faces. Why do this? Waste hours of preparation on me? Spend hours baking and preparing for something that'll be gone within ten minutes. Why me?

Why do I deserve it?

"It's your birthday, Alyna," Remus pulls out a chair for her, "We wanted to celebrate it with you."

His words soften the blow of the party, the rapid beat of her heart. Soothes it and calms it down. Your worth is more than your Hogwarts House, be diligent to remember that.

Alyna sits, twisting her hands together under the table, hoping no one sees her anxieties as they skyrocket through the low-hanging ceiling. Breakfast is cheery, a birthday cake in place of the usual morning spread and gifts.

Apart from the book from Fred, which is firmly tucked away in her Hogwarts trunk, she receives a spelled traveling mug from Remus, a bag of sweets from the twins which she's sure are more than your everyday candies, and a pair of magical fingerless gloves from Mrs. Weasley and rest of the family.

After the meal, Harry and Hermione apologize for not having gifts, but she waves them off. She's… happy. Content. Even the faint burn of disappointment of her family isn't bringing her down.

Remus finds her after lunch studying the Black family tapestry, clasping his hands behind his back, "it's interesting, isn't it?"

"What is?" She glances at him puzzled.

"How so much prejudice is spawned by division and hate, even if the sorting at Hogwarts only shows only a sliver of the person," he adds a touch softer. He taps a burnt-out name. "See here, Andromeda Black. Daughter of one of the most elite pureblood families in the wizarding community. Sorted into Slytherin, and yet, she ended up falling for a muggle- Ted Tonks."

"Ted… Like the Auror, Nymphadora?"

Remus smiles and nods, "Andromeda is her mother. Take another, Sirius Black. A lone Gryffindor in a long line of Slytherins. One of the best men I know."

"He was with you at Hogwarts," Alyna brushes her fingers over his burnt-out name. "You and Harry's parents."

"He was, yes, and he wasn't the one who betrayed them," Remus says quietly, "he loved them and Harry very much. He still does."

"How do you know?"

"Sirius ran away from home at the age of sixteen. He'd had enough of their supremacist ideology. They hated him for being a Gryffindor, for having other views… He ran to Lily and James. They were closer than brothers, the two of them. He'd never hurt them, not in a hundred years."

Alyna looks down at her hands, turning the words over in her head. Her and Remus left the apartment in such a rush, he barely had the time to explain what was going on and where they were going… She'd drawn her wand on Sirius that first night at dinner. Now she understands the flicker of exhausted hurt that had shone in his eyes for a second. There and gone.

"I would say not in a thousand years, but who's counting?" There's a softness in Sirius' eyes as they land on Remus, a warmth that's reserved for very few people. 'Remus. Miss Wright."

"I'll leave you two alone." Remus squeezes Alyna's shoulder and steps out of the room.

"I should apologize," Alyna starts, tugging at a loose thread, "I should have-"

"Known I wasn't a mass murderer? It's a common mistake, with the Black name being dragged through the mud again by my dear old cousin," Sirius touches the name Bellatrix and shakes his head. "It's alright. Truly."

"Truly?" Alyna asks, and when Sirius nods, she falls into her thoughts, exhaling. "My parents- they disowned me two years ago because I was sorted into the wrong house. Hufflepuff instead of Gryffindor."

Sirius turns to watch her, an understanding of what she's been through flickering in his eyes. Not sympathy, not pity. Understanding. And that look in itself was refreshing, relieving. Sirius taps the tapestry with a knuckle, looking up at it. "The best lesson Hogwarts ever taught me, was that family is found, not made, and from the looks of it- you've found your family here."

"Thank you, Sirius," a smile creeps its way into her words, "I-"

"There you are!" Fred pokes his head into the room, tsking at her. "Been looking for you all over, birthday girl. Did you really think hiding away was the way to go?"

Alyna sighs fondly, feeling the same warmth she saw in Sirius' eyes in her own. "You could've shouted."

"And woken his bloody mother?" Fred nods towards Sirius, who watches in amusement. "Are you joking? I'd rather go a round with the Whomping Willow."

"I wouldn't advise it." Sirius chuckles. "I've done it and was sent to the Hospital Wing for two weeks."

"Wicked." He grins and motions Alyna over. "You mind if I steal Lyna from you?"

Sirius shakes his head. "Not at all. Go ahead."

Alyna sends him a smile over her shoulder as she follows Fred out and down the hall into the drawing room. "What is it?"

"What's what?"

"What'd you need me for?"

"Oh, that." Fred drops onto the couch, coughing as a cloud of dust rises up. "Thought you'd like to spend some time with me."

"With you? Alone?" Mirth twinkles in Alyna's eyes and she steps closer to him. "And what sort of nefarious plans do you have now that we're alone?"

Fred looks up at her, hair falling out of his face and smirks, "something specific in mind, beautiful?"

With a tap to his ankle, Alyna nudges Fred's legs apart. Standing between them, she brushes his hair out of his face and leans down. Lower. She feels his breath catch, sees his pupils dilate. His hands find her waist, fingers tightening their grip on her. She smiles. They're close enough now that she can feel the heat coming off of him. Feel the pulse under his skin. Her lips brush the air over his and she turns her head, murmuring low in his ear. "Dance with me."

"D-Dance with you?" Fred swallows, fingers flexing. "To what music?"

"There's a song I heard over the summer on the radio. It made me think of you." Alyna takes a step back and pulls him up. She's aware he's watching her every move as she leads him to the middle of the room. "It's called 'Waterloo' by this muggle band ABBA."

"Muggle music?"

"Yes Fred," Alyna grins at him. "Muggle music."

"Gonna kill me, woman," Fred murmurs against her hair and reaches over to tap the ancient looking radio. It takes a few tries, but he manages to get it. The song starts, upbeat and bright, flooding the air and space between them.

Alyna mouths the words, singing along with the widest smile Fred's seen on her in a while. The music is engulfing, and the two of them dance. They aren't any good, spinning and twirling around the dusty old carpet and laughing all the while.

"And how could I ever refuse, I feel like I win when I lose…" The radio croons as they dance, leading each other through ridiculous steps. "Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted too."

Fred spins Alyna out, then back into his arms. They end up flush against each other, toe to toe, and chest to chest. It's Fred's turn to act coy, carefully backing Alyna up against one of the dark-paneled bookcases as the song plays on around them.

"Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you."

The world narrows down to the two of them. Warmth spreads from their every point of contact, blinding and overwhelming. "What did you say to me before, Lyna? Did I want to dance with you? If you'll have it," Fred leans down and murmurs the words against her lips, "I can think of something a little sweeter."

"Oh, oh Waterloo, finally facing my Waterloo."

Alyna presses a hand to his chest, fingers curling in the material of his shirt. She tugs him closer, closer against her. Fred has a hand next to her head and the bookcase rocks when she kisses him properly, smiling. "Yes."

"Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you."

September 2nd, 1995

"And who, pray tell," Professor Umbridge says sweetly, voice dripping with poison and honey as she steps closer to Harry in their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, "would want to attack children such as yourselves?"

"Let's think, oh I don't know," Harry's knuckles turn white, voice echoing in the silenced classroom. "Maybe… Voldemort?"

The effect is instantaneous. Alyna stiffens at the name, knowing most of her other classmates do the same. Two rows back, Ernie nearly falls out of his chair. Despite that, every student is watching the words volley between Harry and Professor Umbridge as if it's a Quidditch match.

"Now, let me make this quite plain," Professor Umbridge turns away from Harry to address the entire class, a wave of cold descending. Icy calm and poise filling her words. "You have been told that a certain dark wizard is at large once again. This. Is. A. Lie."

Harry's eyes flash, temper rising in a spark of heat. "It's not a lie. I saw him. I fought him."

"Detention, Mr. Potter."

So you're saying that Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord?"

A pin could drop, and it would sound as deafening as the school bell. Alyna recoils at the mention of Cedric's name, a flash of nightmare painted reality flickering in her mind's eyes. She could tell her housemates were just as affected. Hannah was pale as a ghost as she watches what would happen next wordlessly.

Professor Umbridge chooses her words carefully, making her way back to the blackboard. "Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident.

"It was murder. Voldemort killed-"

"Enough!" Professor Umbridge whirls around like the crack of a whip. Her grip on her wand is tight enough that it's in fear of snapping in two. It takes her a moment to recollect herself, voice going back to that sickly sweet place. "Enough. Come here, Mr. Potter."

The class held its breath as Professor Umbridge pulls out a pale pink scroll and picks up a quill at her desk. Harry kicks his chair aside and makes his way to the front, crossing his arm while he waits for her to finish. The scratching of her quill fills up the entire room, fitting itself into every crack and crevice in the stone.

"Take this to Professor McGonagall, dear," Professor Umbridge taps the parchment to seal it and holds it out to Harry expectantly. Harry fixes her with a look and takes the scroll without another word, grabbing his bag on his way out.

"Well," she continues once the door closes as if nothing happened. As if half the class isn't still processing what happened. "Is there anyone else who has something to say?"

A beat of silence. A beat of quiet that's enough for the whispers to start, murmurs that die when Alyna raises her hand.

Professor Umbridge releases a sigh and nods, "Yes, Miss…"

"Wright." Alyna swallows as everyone's eyes land on her but pushes aside the anxiety that claws its way up her throat at the encouraging nod from Hermione and Susan. "You-Know-Who kill-killed Cedric. No one else could've. Whatever the Ministry's reasons are for ignoring-"

"Detention as well Miss Wright, and fifteen points from Hufflepuff. Now," Professor Umbridge says frigidly, waving her wand back towards the board. "Back to your reading and there will be no need to talk."

By the end of class, Alyna's head throbs, the text blurring before her eyes. She packs up her things quickly, falling into step beside Hannah on one side, Hermione and Ron trying to catch up with her on the other.

"That was really brave of you," Hannah shoulders her bag more securely as they squeeze past a group of first-years making their way into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. "Standing up for Harry like that."

Alyna shrugs and groans when she sees that somehow, the group of first-years has managed to block the entire hallway, filing into the classroom in a single file line. "Harry's a friend of mine, and I believe him, unlike what the Prophet's been saying, that he should be in a-"

She stops, freezing mid-sentence, and turns away.

There, right there, is her sister Mary all dressed in her Gryffindor robes. Alyna knew her sister had been sorted into Gryffindor House at the sorting ceremony. Had felt the weight slide smoothly into place as the applause exploded from the crimson and gold table. Even though Fred and George promised to 'keep an eye on her'- which coming from them could mean a variety of things- she still feels her tongue dissolve into ash. Any words that are meant to come out evaporating into nothing. She was nothing.

Mary is excited for her first year, starting in September. I'm sure she won't disappoint.

"Alyna?" Hannah touches her friend's arm lightly, concern flooding her words. "You okay?"

Alyna blinks, turning her head away from the Gryffindors. From Mary and everything she represents, the family who threw her out. "Yeah- yeah. I'm good. We have Potions next, don't we?

Her golden mask, adorned with vintage lace and silver filigree, slides back into place over her eyes and nose. To protect her. To shut out the hurt and pain.

To keep her alive and breathing.

December 25th, 1995

Merry Christmas Fred!

Professor McGonagall let me know that you're dad's all right. I've been asking her to give me any updates she has, and it's wonderful that he'll be back in time for the holidays! How are you doing with everything though? I'm sending you lots and lots of hugs and kisses.

Hopefully, you'll be back here soon so I can give them to you in person.

I thought you all would like a quiet Christmas all together, especially after what happened, and since I've got no where else to go, I'm staying at Hogwarts this year for the holidays. It's nice though… Peeves has been pelting Professor Umbridge non-stop with snowballs. No one else, not even Dumbledore, has actually done anything to help her. I don't pity her. She deserves it.

I'm saving your Christmas present until you get back to Hogwarts. I don't want anything to happen to it on the way to you, so… come back soon!

I miss you very much.

Alyna

P.S. Give your mum a hug from me. The jumper was exactly what I needed, with the new snowdrift that's come in overnight!

March 23rd, 1996

"To create a Patronus, you have to focus on one strong memory," Harry looks around the Room of Requirement at them all. "Dementors are made of fear, so you have to be stronger. A Patronus can only protect you as long as you're focused, yeah?" He waits for everyone to nod and waves for them to start. "I'll be roaming and helping anyone who needs it."

Everyone immediately spreads out, taking up various positions in the room, and cries of 'Expecto Patronum' ring out. Silver vapor trails from most wands. It takes a few tries, but soon enough, shapes and animals burst from wand tips, illuminating faces, and smiles.

Alyna tightens her grip on her wand, taking a breath, and tries to focus on a happy memory. The time she went sledding with Andrew behind their parents back and he had gone right into a tree, losing three teeth in the process. Mary's glee when Alyna helped her build a fort in their shared bedroom.

As soon as the memories come to the front of her mind, they dissolve into ashes and dust.

Waste of parchment is what I think.

Bumping into Mary yesterday in the hall was the straw that broke the camel's back. The venom in her eyes, a near fear and she spat out, "Get away from me, you freak. Go away!" The words shouldn't have hurt as much as they did. As much as they still do.

She wipes her eyes on her sleeve and tries again. Her gaze lands on Fred and George, the excitement in their features. The way they mimic each other subconsciously, filling in each other's blanks. Patching up the cracks with barely a thought.

She lost that. She lost that.

Heaviness spreads through her, weighing her down. The silver vapor that trails from her wand darkens until it fades away. If there was a dementor here she would be completely defenseless.

Alyna tries to pull up another memory. Fred flying right beside the Hufflepuff stands during a Quidditch match to blow her a kiss. Hannah's laughter when they opened their Christmas gifts together. Feeling loved, cherished… It crumbles again under the weight of her despair. The hopelessness that numbs her veins.

A magpie sails past her on an invisible current, circling around her head in slow, banking circles. "What's wrong?" Fred waves his wand to dispel the Patronus and grins at her. "Your Patronus a little shy? Nothing wrong with that, you know. Lots of good men and women are shy. Do Umbridge a bloody good thing if she'd hide her face occasionally."

"I-yeah, sure." Alyna rubs her eyes and glances up at him. "It's a little difficult."

Fred's gaze softens, holding out a hand. "Let me help you. I'm nothing if not a gentleman, aren't I?"

"And they say chivalry is dead," Alyna says, managing a faint smile as Fred steps closer. "You put Nearly Headless Nick to shame."

"Flirty, I like it." He grins, wrapping an arm around her waist from behind. Fred covers her hand with his, breath tickling her neck as he whispers softly, "focus on a good memory. Know it's hard, but you can do it. With me, yeah?"

Alyna nods, focusing on his warmth, his presence. That she's not alone. That family is found, not born. She waves her wand, "Expecto Patronum!" Silver vapor bursts from the tip and her frustration builds, the hate that laps at her knees rising. "I can't do it."

"Yes you can," Fred says and squeezes her hand, starting to sing in her ear. "Waterloo, I was defeated you won the war. Waterloo, promise to love me forever more."

A smile tugs at her lips, small and quiet. The familiar melody rises through her, remembering her birthday. The laughter. The hope and light that had been present. She'd been wanted then. Loved. Alyna takes another breath, holding onto the memory, and lets it fill her senses. Painting it in her mind's eyes until it becomes real. "Expecto Patronum!"

A wolf bursts from the tip of her wand.

It's not corporeal like his was. Not fully-fledged. More of a ball of light that's vaguely reminiscent of a shape, vapor given form, but it's there.

It's there. And that's enough.

Alyna spins, not caring that it fades as she loses focus and hugs Fred tightly, pressing her face to his shoulder. Fred tucks her close, running a hand down her back. "Knew you could do it. Had it in you all along, just needed a little nudge."

"Thank you," Alyna's voice is muffled and thick. "Thank you, Fred."

"You did it yourself, Lyna." Fred smiles against her hair. "You did it yourself."

April 13th, 1996

Alyna blinks at Fred and George, setting her quill down in the grass. "You're- what?"

"We're leaving Hogwarts," Fred says. "Haven't told anyone yet really beside you and Lee."

"It's a decision that's been a long time in the making. Thought it through and everything- really, we only came back this year to do a sweep of our target demographic," George reassures her, rolling onto his stomach, "And because mum would blow a gasket. Probably still will."

Alyna studies both twins and closes her book carefully. She sets it aside. There's a tremor in her hands, one that she hides easily from their eyes. The twins have been there for her since the beginning, since that fateful night on the Astronomy Tower. They've made sure she was smiling, laughing. Made sure she wasn't alone on the hard days. That an endless supply of chocolate and sweets always made it to her when she needed it. She loves Fred with all her heart, and George… He's become a brother to her. Now, two years later, she can't imagine Hogwarts without them.

"You're leaving Hogwarts to open a joke shop."

Fred and George exchange a look and nod in unison. "That's what we said, yeah. We've rented premises in Diagon Alley."

"You two bothering idiots," Alyna shifts forward to pull them both into a tight hug. "I'm going to miss you."

"Aww, don't cry tears for us yet, we're still here love," George presses a kiss to her hair, grinning. "Besides, we both know it's Freddy you'll miss more than me. Don't think I don't know what you two get up to at night."

"Oi, that's my girlfriend you're talking to!" Fred shoves his brother aside, brushing his thumb over Alyna's blush, and leans down to kiss her. He ignores George's sound of dramatic disgust as they kiss. "I'll write every day. Maybe include some merchandise free of charge."

"Oh Fred Weasley," Alyna pulls back to smile at him, laughter in her voice. "You spoil me."

Fred bumps their foreheads together and laces his fingers with Alyna's. "Only the best for my girl."

George sighs loudly at their side, rolling his eyes. "Now, if you two lovebirds are finished, we have our darling professor's farewell gift to finish planning out."

Alyna's eyes twinkle, leaning into Fred's side. "Give her hell, boys."

I think this is the longest chapter I've ever written for a fanfiction... Wow. I LOVE IT THOUGH SO MUCH.

I've had the Waterloo scene in my head for ages (ask any of my friends, it's all I've been ranting about). This chapter was so much fun to write. Most of it was also written between the hours of 11pm and 1am on a writing sprint. We love the late-night writing sprints here.

Can I just cry for a moment over Fred and George, please? They have the same Patronus, a magpie. BUT DID YOU KNOW that there's a saying (it's part of a nursery rhyme) in the UK about magpies that says: "One for sorrow, two for joy." I'M GOING TO GO SOB IN A CORNER NOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I love you all very much, and I hope that your day/night is going well!

Liz