Hello everyone! As one of you reminded me, this took two weeks instead of one, but I had a massive case of writer's block in that I had no idea how to end this (literally all of it had been written already). I'm going to try to post next weekend too, but after that I'm going to have to go back down to every 2 weeks, sorry guys!

A big thank you to ddia (I was literally just getting this beta'd as you reviewed), shanihi, Goodgurl, Princessss, One Smart Waffle, wiseguy123, Jade, xxxQueenxxx, lizyeh2000, Nikoo, Nik1804, amisam47, Guest, SecretFruits, Cae-Leigh Anne, Need this, Saum the Smol Teddyand VidereLux for reviewing! You guys are the best, and if I haven't answered you yet, then I'll get straight to that within the next 24h.

As usual, thank you so much VidereLux for always betaing my chapters on such short notice. I promise I'll be more on time next time (like we haven't all heard that before), or at least try.

And a very special thanks to Cheeky Slytherin Lass, for betaing this specific chapter at last minute! You rock :)

Without further ado, happy reading!

'Rodolphus.' The Dark Lord's lip curled into a sneer. 'I'm surprised that you showed your face today.'

'My Lord, forgive me, I…' Rodolphus stammered, prostrating himself on the floor. 'We were betrayed!'

'Betrayed by your own ineptitude, or so I understand,' Voldemort flicked his wand. 'Perhaps this shall refresh your memory as to what happens to our kind that falls into their hands.'

Rodolphus twitched, then started writhing on the floor, his limbs twisting unnaturally and a look of agony upon his face. To his credit, he did not scream. Those who screamed only suffered longer.

As Emma watched, she felt twinges of phantom pain responding to the scene before her. No, not phantom pain, she reminded herself. Though she suffered for less than a minute, she had still felt the touch of the Dark Lord's curse upon her skin. It is lucky that he believes that Regulus and I saved Rodolphus, and the identity of many of our kin.

Regulus himself had received a warm commendation. Not only had he kept a cool head in battle, he had also managed to keep his identity secret, something that Emma could no longer claim to be true for herself. She had suffered for lost prospects. Rodolphus was suffering for incompetence.

She heard a faint gasp to her right, and knew that it was Rabastan. He was lucky that the initial objective of his plan had been accomplished. He had been saved from the wand, this day, and the transgression of fearing for a family member was never punished if they were on the right side.

If Emma was honest with herself, she knew that none of them would be standing there if not for Antonin Dolohov's well placed curse. It would have been hard to kill either brother, had they been able to draw courage from one another.

Her eyes flickered to Bellatrix, who watched the scene impassionately. Emma suppressed a shudder. In her younger years at Hogwarts, she had admired the older witch. Now, she found her more terrifying than Voldemort himself, if only for her bloodthirst.

As Rodolphus's cries reverberated around the Lestrange manor, Emma closed her ears and her mind, focusing on her breathing. At least she still had that.

'James.'

A heavy weight pressed against James's shoulder, and he knew without turning that it was Alastor Moody, the Auror who would have trained him had he decided upon that path. In the end, both James and Sirius had agreed that they would do more good in this war if they were free to do what they wished with their time, but Moody still had hopes of James joining the Ministry's ranks once the war was over.

Once the war is over, James told himself. He had to believe that it would be, one day.

'Lad, I don't know how to say this diplomatically, so I'm just going to say it. Your sister is a Death Eater.'

James felt his heart sink. He knew that this day would come. In his heart, he had known that it would be after this evening's battle. He had heard the cries of his sister's name, heard Bellatrix taunting him before the Prewetts, and he knew that the Aurors were clever enough to pick up on that.

'I know,' he said. 'But she's not one of them, not really.'

He turned to face the grizzled Auror, wincing as he saw his face wrapped in bandages. Even now, James could tell that much of his nose was missing, and knowing Voldemort's followers, it would have been cursed off. But worse than Moody's nose were his eyes, filled with uncharacteristic pity.

'She was forced into it,' James explained, feeling the need to justify his sister's actions as much as possible. If possible, Moody's face softened further. James hated it.

'That may be,' Moody grunted. 'But she's one of them now, and there's no turning back from that kind of life. Most of the time, it's kill or be killed in this war.'

'But she's not like the others,' James protested, feeling inadequate.

He opened his mouth to explain everything, but it snapped shut of his own accord. He would not betray his sister's trust. He had made a promise, and intended to keep it, for better or for worse. He knew that Dumbledore would welcome Emma into his ranks, that the Order would find her a safe place, but she trusted none of them. And if James revealed her secret, she would no longer trust him.

Not to mention the spy.

'That's what they all say, laddie,' Moody's hand pressed down, once, twice, before he took it away. 'But in the end, their actions are all the same.'

'Shouldn't you be trying to find the spy?' James asked, a little aggressively.

If there was no spy, then perhaps Emma would allow him to share her information. As it was, he feared more for his sister's life if she came here, than where she currently stayed. At least at Grimmauld Place neither Ministry nor Death Eater could touch her, and she had reassured him that her friends were as loyal as his own.

Moody recognised the attempt to change the subject, and began to list suspects. But the look the Auror sent his way told James that he hadn't yet heard the end of this.

'I'm expendable now,' Emma whispered to Regulus as they entered Grimmauld Place, careful not to disturb Walburga, who had dozed off by the fire in the living room. 'The Dark Lord recognises that he no longer needs me for infiltration and I will be sent on scouting missions with Rabastan and Dolohov.'

'There are worse people to be paired with,' Regulus replied solemnly as they crept up the stairs. He closed the door of his room quietly, the hinges making the barest of sounds. 'We will just have to be faster. I will still be able to research Tom Riddle.'

'I do not want you venturing out alone,' Emma said worriedly, touching a hand to his cheek. 'Britain is becoming a dangerous place for everyone. What if you meet a stray Inferi? I hear the Dark Lord has created too many to control efficiently.'

'Then I shall burn it,' Regulus smiled. 'Think of it this way; you will have more information to give James, and I will do what I do best - finding out secrets.'

But he couldn't hide his worried tone.

Emma was about to respond, to share more of the worries that overflowed her mind, but just then the fire in the grate turned green. Sharing a look, Regulus and Emma both drew their wands. The Fidelius Charm protected them from unwanted visitors, but someone could still Floo Call if they so wished. Emma only hoped it was not James. Then her brother would be viewed as the Order's traitor, and the last person she cared about would be snatched from the net of safety.

The last person Emma had expected to see was Rabastan, his face worried. For half a second, Emma thought that Rodolphus had been killed by the Dark Lord, but that was not Voldemort's style. He would have held Rodolphus's body up for all to see.

'Emma, I need your help,' Rabastan said, his face as pale as ever. 'It's Lucinda. I… I don't know what to do.'

When everyone had finally left Godric's Hollow to their respective homes, James gave a sigh of relief, throwing himself into an armchair. He would have to warn Emma, but somehow he knew that she would already have been informed. The spy would see to that.

It all comes down to the bloody spies, James thought angrily, then immediately felt a wave of guilt. Emma was a spy, and so was Regulus. If it hadn't been for them, Marlene would be dead. Most probably, Robert and Malcolm's children would be dead.

The soft sound of the cushion sinking into the sofa alerted James to the fact that he was no longer alone. He turned his head, not bothering to sit up straight. He was too tired for that. Of course, it was Sirius, his head fallen back against the back of the sofa like a rag doll, his arms splayed out.

'I'm so tired, I could sleep into the next century without noticing,' Sirius complained exaggeratedly.

James snorted. It was an ungainly noise, and it jolted his body in a way that he was glad Lily was not there to see.

'No you couldn't, Padfoot,' he replied teasingly. 'You'd be too hungry.'

'That is true,' Sirius agreed, and they lapsed into an easy silence.

James's mind turned back to his previous train of thoughts. Sirius didn't know that Regulus had saved all of those people. Sirius probably thought that his brother being a Death Eater was a confirmed fact now, especially since he knew Emma was. James wondered why his best friend hadn't told Dumbledore about the tattoo he had seen on his brother's arm. Does Sirius still have hope for his little brother? Would he listen to me if I told him the truth? I can't believe Sirius being the spy!

Just as he had made up his mind to tell Sirius something, anything, to repair his relationship with his estranged brother, Lily walked in.

'James, what are you doing lying in that armchair?' she asked, folding her arms. She attempted to look menacing, but she was too tired to manage the true fire that usually burned in her eyes.

'Lily!' James exclaimed, sitting up straight. 'I thought you were going back to your parents'?'

'Yes,' she replied, pursing her lips. 'But you were supposed to be coming too. Remember? Petunia and that ghastly Vernon's engagement lunch? We're supposed to meet Mum and Dad at my house, and then all ride over there together, since neither of us can drive.'

James smacked his hand to his head. Sirius chuckled.

'Man, I do not envy you,' he said, getting up. 'I'm off to bed. Wake me up when you get back.'

'Do we have to go?' James asked, looking at his girlfriend beseechingly.

Lily sighed where once she might have yelled. The war was making them all grow up quickly, James noted. She crossed the room to perch on the edge of of his armchair, resting a hand in his messy hair.

'Look, I know you hate him and think me a fool for still trying with my sister. But I promised my parents we would be there, and I don't want them thinking that we're blowing them off.'

That's right, James thought. They don't know about the war. He lifted himself out of the chair with an exaggerated groan.

'Fine,' he said in a long-suffering tone. 'But I'm warning you, I'm only agreeing for those Muggle desserts. Give me ten minutes to shower.'

'Thank you,' Lily called after him.

James just grunted as he climbed the stairs. The things I do for love, he thought, glancing wistfully at his bed through the open doorway on his way to the shower.

Emma and Regulus shared a look.

'Where are you?' Emma asked, as Regulus went to find their coats.

'We'll meet you at your apartment in Diagon Alley,' Rabastan replied. 'Lucy… she needs to be away from all of this.'

'Okay,' Emma replied with a nod.

She searched for something else to say, but she wasn't sure there was anything she could say. In any case, Rabastan's head had disappeared, so it was too late. With one last worried sigh, she followed Regulus downstairs, barely ten minutes after they got back.

When they arrived at the flat in Diagon Alley, it was already open. Rabastan must have used the spare key she had given him for emergencies. Drawing strength from one last look at Regulus's calm face, Emma twisted the doorknob and entered.

Rabastan and Lucinda were already there, on the sofa. He had his arms wrapped around her, and she was still in her coat, shivering. But she wasn't shivering. It was still warm outside, and Emma's flat was on the top floor, soaking in the heat from the roof.

Quickly, she went to boil the kettle. Tea always calms Lucinda when she's upset, Emma thought, though the idea that tea could solve her brother's death was such a ridiculous notion in itself that Emma felt hysterical laughter bubble up in her throat. Recognising it for what it was, she gulped. That won't help anyone.

Suddenly, she felt Regulus's presence by her side, his arm reaching past her head for the tea bags. She didn't have to turn around to know what he would have to say. She should be comforting her friend, not idly making tea.

Seizing her guilty courage with two hands, Emma turned around, nearly marching to the sofa. Upon arrival, though, her steps faltered. Tentatively, she sat down on Lucinda's other side.

'Lucinda?' she asked gently. She couldn't ask her if she was all right. She imagined losing James. It would be like someone cutting off her right arm. 'Do you want me to light a fire?'

It would be swelteringly hot, but maybe the heat would be what Lucinda needed right now.

'They're gone,' Lucinda said, her mouth twisted into some mockery of a smile. 'They're all gone.'

'We're here,' Emma said, laying a hand on Lucinda's arm. It was immediately thrown off.

'They left me here,' Lucinda said, turning to face Emma. Her smile faltered, the corners of her lips turning down into a grimace. 'They don't even care about me now that he's gone.'

Emma's eyes flickered to Rabastan in confusion. Who are they? But that was a mistake. Lucinda rose to her feet, nearly scratching Rabastan as she pushed him away.

'You don't need to have secret conversations behind my back, okay?' the blonde said angrily. 'I know what you're thinking. Poor Lucinda, she's so fragile. Poor Lucinda, she doesn't understand. Poor Lucinda, she's good for nothing.'

By this time her voice had risen to a shriek. To mark her point, she grabbed the small table and threw it with surprising strength at the fireplace. A tile cracked.

'Well, I'm not an idiot!' she said again, storming to the fireplace, taking the framed photos one by one and smashing them on the floor. 'I know that no one wants me here! I know I'm a burden. I wish I had died instead of him!'

'Lucinda, where is this coming from?' Emma asked, nonplussed. She half turned to look at Rabastan before catching herself, and forcing herself to watch the blonde. 'Who are they?'

'My parents, of course,' Lucinda shouted, stamping her feet. She took off one shoe and threw it at the wall. When it made a satisfying slapping noise, she took the other one off and did the same, punctuating each sentence with a thrown object. 'I come home,' thump, 'to find them packed,' crash, 'and telling me they're moving,' she ripped open her coat, 'to bloody France,' she threw the coat to the floor, 'because there's nothing left for them here,' she took off her wizard's watch, throwing it to the floor, 'and oh! Your brother is dead.'

She made as if to stamp on the watch, but Rabastan intervened, grabbing ahold of her and pulling her back. As if on cue, Lucinda burst into tears, sobbing into Rabastan's chest as she heaved huge gulps of air. His hand rose to her head, as if to stroke her hair, but instead simply rested it there, as if to remind her of his presence.

Regulus chose that moment to arrive with the tea, wordlessly taking Lucinda's hands and pressing them against the warm cup until she took it. He glanced back at Emma as he retreated, crouching on the sofa as if he was too worried to sit down.

'Nobody wanted Evan to die,' Emma said as Lucinda's sobs died down to hiccups, the scene replaying in her mind on repeat. 'But that doesn't mean that they wanted you to either, Lucy. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but his was a noble death. He died fighting, never giving up even when they gave him the opportunity to.'

'No death is noble,' Lucinda replied, the anger back in her voice. 'He chose the coward's way out, the selfish way out. It's easy to die for something, letting everyone else deal with your death.'

'Hey,' Rabastan murmured, guiding Lucinda to sit down. 'You don't mean that.'

'Yes, I do,' she snapped, her tone derisive. 'My whole family is cowardly. Look at my parents, running as soon as things get bad. Look at me, sitting cosily by the fire whilst everyone else fights for what they believe in.'

'We're your family,' Rabastan countered immediately. 'And none of us think you're a coward. You're the cleverest one here.'

Unspoken was the war weariness that shrouded them all, weighing all the heavier as more friends joined the ranks of the deceased. Emma knew that even Rabastan was starting to think that the conflict would never end, that both sides would continue to fight until every witch and wizard lay still in their grave.

'He's right,' Emma said quietly, coming over to sit on Lucinda's other side. 'And to prove it, here. This is the key to my flat. I don't use it much anymore, and it deserves someone who can appreciate it. You're what's keeping us together, Lucy. You take care of us when we get back, keep us updated on how the others are doing even if we're sent to the other side of the country. Without you, we would be lost.'

Lucinda sniffed, looking at the small silver key in the palm of her hand. Her teary blue eyes locked onto Emma's, then moved to look at Regulus and Rabastan in turn. She squeezed Rabastan's arm, pulling him closer, before her gaze flitted back to Emma.

'Thank you.'