Remus was waiting for us outside the station, having not wanted to catch the attention of any milling students who might recognise him. The glaring letters he had received at the end of my fifth year came torrenting back to mind, making me feel fed up with the blatant prejudices of our current world.

Remus smiled at both me and Harry, but Mad-Eye's growl prevented him from embracing us. Instead, Remus stepped forward towards my father, leaving Tonks to grab my arm while Moody pulled Harry in rather unceremoniously. Then, without another word the six of us were transported to the front step of number twelve Grimmauld Place.

"I'm of age you know. I can apparate on my own," I muttered but Tonks shrugged with her ever present grin before we all pressed into the front hall.

Thankfully this time Tonks avoided kicking over the umbrella stand or tripping over her own feet so we avoided the typical blatantly prejudice shrieks from Sirius's mother's portrait. Instead I felt my father's hand press up against my back as he guided me with the others to the back kitchen. As we walked closer, the bustling of movement and voices reverberated from inside the closed room. Moody was the first one to enter followed single file by the rest of us. Harry and I had thankfully deposited our trunks at the foot of the staircase, because the kitchen was filled by most of the Weasley's and a few more Order members.

"Harry! Marnie!" Mrs. Weasley was the first one upon us, bringing both of us into a motherly embrace.

"Hi Mrs. Weasley," I mumbled into her shoulder, allowing her to keep holding onto us a little longer than usual.

"I'm so happy you got here alright. Dumbledore was worried you two might have trouble getting to the train on time," I let Mrs. Weasley's words confirm my suspicions that Umbridge had most likely been conspiring to use Harry and I as leverage to find out why the others left last night without any notice.

"Minerva said she had it handled," Moody grumbled back, seeming more confident that Harry and I would make it to London without issue.

In the line of embraces to follow, Fred and George were eagerly waiting behind their mother. As soon as Mrs. Weasley let both Harry and I go somewhat reluctantly, Fred pulled my arm so that I was squished together with our usual trio. I could feel the relief both of them felt, as I was sure they could feel my own relief in return. This Christmas could be held in celebration after all instead of the miserable tragedy we were all worried for only the night before.

George did oblige Fred however by leaving the embrace early so that it was just the two of us. Fred moved his arms so that I fit into his chest, breathing in the scent of gun powder and fresh mint. His warm body filled me with a sudden relief, letting myself finally be reassured that everything was alright, at least for the time being. His even breathing and heartbeat beneath his cozy sweater also calmed my own breathing until all the heaviness of my body became absorbed into his arms.

That is, until a familiar sound of someone clearing their throat caused Fred to jump back so that there was now a decent couple inches between us.

I gave Sirius a rueful smile in return, since I knew he had interrupted Fred and I mostly out of self-amusement rather than the embarrassment shown on my father and Remus's faces.

"It's good to see you Marnie," Sirius came forward with an elated smile.

I couldn't help returning the grin, letting his rejuvenated joy spark even more calm and ease inside me. Honestly, I had never seen Sirius this enthusiastic before, but his smile and demeanor reaffirmed his words that he was in fact happy to see me and Harry. He continued forward until he was pulling me into a fatherly embrace that I was used to from Remus.

Feeling this sudden sense of familial comfort briefly made me wonder if having three father figures somehow filled my void of growing up without a mother. Also, I wondered if it eased some of Harry's own suffering of being raised as an orphan. At the very least, discovering this new family of ours must have been a relief against Harry's previous understanding that Lily's sister was his only remaining family.

"Now that we're all here, we can start the Christmas celebrations!" Sirius exclaimed jovially, letting me go to busy himself beside Mrs. Weasley who seemed to be putting together our welcoming dinner.

I found a spot beside Ginny, allowing her to lay her head on shoulder as a show of comfort and exhaustion. I was sure the Weasleys hadn't gotten much sleep since they wouldn't have been able to sleep until news of their father's well-being and then they had gone with their mother today to visit him.

"Dad wants to see you and Harry tomorrow," Ginny said gently, keeping her head rested comfortably on my shoulder.

"Harry and I would love that," I replied earnestly, thinking that my own confirmation of Mr. Weasley's well-being would completely rid of my remaining unease.

Ginny and I then fell into a comfortable silence, watching the twins talking animatedly with Sirius and Harry who were sitting farther down the table. Mad-Eye and Tonks were even further down, talking mutedly with Remus, my father, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Dedalus Diggle. The last two men I only really knew by name, although Kingsley had made a point to share more meals with us during the summer. It really came down to the fact that I had been resolute in my grief during the summer, not participating in anything that didn't concern Harry returning from his wretched aunt's place or worrying whether he was going to be expelled for using underaged magic.

By the time Mrs. Weasley served and cleared up dinner, I realised just how tired I was feeling, along with Harry and the rest of the Weasley's.

"I think it calls for an early night, don't you think?" my father announced, looking between Harry and I with concern before he scanned more thoughtfully over the others.

I was all too happy to oblige his suggestion so I only nodded and made to follow Ginny up to the room we had shared this summer with Hermione.

"Marnie. Harry, can I have a minute?" my father asked, catching us before we made our way with heavy feet upstairs.

Although we were both visibly tired, we wouldn't deny my father a moment since he had been uncharacteristically silent on the subject of all what had happened. I was sure Dumbledore and the others must have filled everyone in by now on what transpired, so honestly he was probably more in the loop than we were. But I was convinced this was more out of paternal concern than Order strategizing.

This was further confirmed when dad led us to the drawing room instead of keeping us in the kitchen which seemed to be the room designated for both celebrating and strategizing. When we came to the drawing room I chose one of the more comfortable looking sitting chairs which emitted a cloud of dust when I sat down. Despite all our days of cleaning during the summer, it seemed this house as destined to be clung in dust and stuffy air. However, the once constricting sense I felt over the summer now washed over a new sense of familiarity and contentment. Seeing Sirius and the others looking more at ease than in the summer, and my own mourning not as blindingly acute, made me appreciate it more.

Harry chose the other chair beside mine while dad took the love seat across. His eyes were scrunched with concern but this was contradicted by his gentle smile. I didn't know which of dad's emotions was going to come through in this conversation, but in this moment I held my father in high esteem for the particular cards he had been given. Leaving our unpleasant past out of it, my father was right now a squib joined in the Order against the darkest wizard ever to be seen in Britain, for the second time in his life. The first time had taken his wife and best friends away from him, and now he was responsible for raising his daughter alone who had already suffered a terrible loss and also a boy who he had all but adopted.

"I just wanted to see how you two are dealing with everything. It has definitely been an eventful twenty-four hours and I know you two feel like you've been left in the dark," my father let his comment fill up between us.

I already knew Harry was on edge, but my father's comment seemed to tip him off before he could collect himself in his usual brood.

"I just can't stop feeling like I attacked Mr. Weasley. Marnie told me that I'm not capable of doing that, but I can't shake the feeling that I was looking through the eyes of that snake," Harry's tone was even more frantic than when he had told me his confession.

I figured going over it again and again from this morning must have escalated his level of anxiety to newer heights.

My father offered Harry a gentle smile, watching him unfold onto his own fears before leaning forward to ease them away.

"Well, your sister is right Harry, you are not capable of something so wicked," he let that sink into Harry's mind, telling him offhandedly that he considered Harry as his own despite all of our mixed backgrounds, and second that he supported the notion Harry was good at heart. "And I do have a suggestion to ease your mind since I'm sure you're going to believe me as much as you did with Marnie's reassurances. Why don't you go and talk to Ginny about it?"

"Ginny?" Harry sounded perplexed at this suggestion but I only shook my head at myself, annoyed I hadn't thought of it before.

"Yes, well she was possessed by You Know Who wasn't she? If anyone, I'm sure she will have the most success getting through to you."

Harry finally looked more relieved than I had seen him in a while, even before this whole near miss with Mr. Weasley.

"I want to let you two get to bed, and I'm sure you might talk to Ginny before hand. But I want to clear the air here. As far as I am concerned, you two are always my top priority and as such, my part in the Order is to do what I can to support you. Harry, you more so than Marnie, are inexplicably at the center of all this and so there is always speculation, even in the Order." My father sighed, showing a sudden air of frustration before he collected himself and let it slide. "There has been mention of you being possessed since we know you're not a Seer and there are very few other explanations at this point. But, I am certain you are not possessed Harry, which I am sure Ginny will confirm for you. Which brings me to my next point, that Dumbledore finally told us very recently that you experience dreams as well Marnie."

My father's face looked hurt, like he didn't like learning of something so significant from within the Order instead of me coming to him personally.

"Erm—yea I've gotten them for a while now actually," I figured being honest was the least I owed my father at this point.

"Yes, Dumbledore said as much. Moody and the others are very keen to talk to you about it, but I told them to put it off for at least a night which Remus and Molly agreed."

"I don't really know what I can tell them, but I'll answer any of their questions."

My father pursed his lips and nodded, deciding that he shouldn't bring up such a heavy topic when I must look utterly exhausted and this was the first time we had really talked since I left for school. I wanted to show my father how much better I had gotten, but this look probably wasn't showing it.

"Alright, well I am always here for you two, same as Remus and now Sirius. We all want what's best for you, so don't keep us in the dark so much," my father smiled through his pained eyes which only made me get up and envelope him into a reassuring hug.

When I stepped back, I saw Harry standing looking awkward. This didn't faze my father who extended his hand like a handshake for Harry to accept. Harry took it rather awkwardly, but immediately my father gently pulled him into an embrace, one Harry accepted gratefully as I watched his shoulders relax.

When I exited the room a moment later, I waved both Harry and my father goodnight. Harry seemed to be put at ease since he decided to talk to Ginny in the morning instead. This ended up being a good call since Ginny already had the lights out when I snuck in, deposited my clothes onto the floor until I was just in a t-shirt and boxer cut shorts and fell onto my bed. Again, a cloud of dust emitted, something I could smell more than see, but that didn't stop me from burrowing under the covers and falling asleep only moments after my head found the pillow.

XX

Hermione arrived Christmas Eve, after apparently a lot of convincing on her part to join her friends instead of staying with her parents. I felt sympathy for her that her parents couldn't be brought into this mismatch family, but it was probably best all things considered. I also couldn't blame her for wanting to see Mr. Weasley herself since we couldn't really tell her anything in a letter.

"Need help with those?" I asked that afternoon after Hermione and I helped Mrs. Weasley clean up after breakfast.

Mrs. Weasley was already busy on putting together dinner for this evening's feast, something that seemed much more dangerous to get caught in the crossfire of so Hermione and I made our polite but hasty retreat.

Sirius turned around just to give me a warm, welcoming smile.

"Didn't think you were much of one for Christmas decorating, since you decided to become as broody as Harry," Sirius's smirk was meant to be provoking so I gave him a rueful smile in return.

"I just wanted to make sure you weren't doing it wrong," I smirked back but Sirius was even better at banter than the twins.

"Don't worry, I made sure to carefully place mistletoe in strategic, semi-private nooks throughout the house," his expression was more like a challenge, showing his victory when I felt my blush appear suddenly and deeply.

"Didn't think you would be one to encourage teenaged trysts, especially remembering the last time you broke me and my boyfriend apart by growling like a bloody Grimm," I replied, remembering the time Sirius happened upon Cedric and I in Hogsmeade before I knew he was an animagus let alone wrongfully accused.

"Right, well I will admit that despite everything, that boy rubbed me the wrong way. Ron did conveniently fill me in though on your newest relationship and I have to say Fred is a man after my own heart."

I was taken aback by Sirius's approval of my new relationship but of course he kept the mood light.

"That doesn't mean I won't be keeping an eye on him either," Sirius's grin was suggestive but held a more serious note that I knew not to take lightly.

"I'll keep that in mind, but for right now I'll help you with the tinsel," I replied, eyeing the large mound of shimmery strands mounded behind him on the coffee table.

Sirius returned with a gleeful smile before we set to work covering all of the respectable surfaces in the house with ornaments meant to spread the Christmas cheer. I knew that both Sirius and I had been rather moody lately, known even for sudden outbursts of frustration and annoyance, but it seemed Christmas had lightened us both considerably to the point where our family was willing to stop walking on egg shells around us.

The next morning was filled with even more excitement. Sirius was nearly flitting around after we finished breakfast and exchanged gifts. The Weasleys plus Harry and I were sporting new sweaters, mine being the obligatory orange to match my eyes. My dad had pitched in with Sirius and Remus to give me a very heavy and ornate book called Spotting Britain's Dark Creatures and the Appropriate Counter Defences. I was all too eager to curl up in the drawing room to start reading it with Harry's assortment of chocolates and sweets he had given me. I knew some of them weren't sold at Honeydukes so I wondered if maybe he had asked Dobby and Posy for help since the collection was quite substantial. My answer was received when I allowed myself to try one of the carrot cupcakes and saw the frosting was drawn in a slightly messy heart shape. I smiled at the join effort and the thought that I would put a preserving charm on them so I could spend more days holed up studying than going down for every meal. Despite the twins laissez faire attitude on their studies, I was feeling the pressure of our NEWT year same as all our other friends.

I was surprised however when George also handed me a sack full of goodies, most I recognised as the products him and Fred had perfected. I wasn't thrilled about the break in our pact of no gifts since I hadn't bought anything to give to either of the twins but George brushed off my worries with ease. It was Fred however who sent my nerves flying when he gave me a suggestive look telling me he was eager to collect the gift he had previously suggested.

I was thankfully spared the intimate Christmas kiss however when Mrs. Weasley announced we would be heading to the hospital to see Mr. Weasley again. I figured I would also stop in to see my mother once we arrived and then deadpanned that Fred and George might want to come along as well.

This thought nagged at the back of my mind; my private nature showing through even though I had confessed most of my secrets at this point to the twins. Obviously they already knew about my mother, but I had never actually pictured them ever meeting her. Everyone else was upbeat and excited as we followed Mad-Eye Moody in his off kilter bowler's hat and Tonks with her fuchsia hair. However, my mild panic didn't go unnoticed by Fred who beat me to the punch with even confessing my anxiety.

"Hare, I was thinking. If it's alright, can we go and visit your mother?" Fred's comment was heard by most of the group as we made our way towards Mr. Weasley's room.

"That sounds like a nice idea," my father exclaimed, smiling his assent towards th situation that I no longer felt I had a choice in denying. "Why don't you and Fred go see if your mother is up for visitors and I can stop by with Harry and anybody else who wants to see her afterwards?"

"Right, okay."

Fred didn't let my trepidation get him down, but instead grabbed onto my hand and walked back towards the lift. George and a few others waved us off before we disappeared around the corner and they continued on to Mr. Weasley's room. The time in the lift and short walk to my mother's door allowed my nerves to summit, so I was only brought back when I heard Fred's soft voice beside me.

"You look a lot like her."

I smiled despite all the nerves, because like Harry was used to hearing that he looked like his father with his mother's eyes, I was the epitome of my mother. Fred allowed himself to be patient while we waited for my mother to notice she had visitors before we entered the room.

I didn't want Fred to have to witness one of her rare fits, so I let my mother decide if she was up for visitors or not. However, this was easily decided when she looked up with a large smile and waved at us with both hands. She remained silent as ever but her greeting was warm nonetheless.

"You can talk if you want, but she usually doesn't say much," I warned Fred, ever the conversationalist.

But Fred took everything in stride, allowing himself to pull up the chair my father usually sat in and let my mother show him some of the Christmas cards that sat on her table. I had no idea who they would be from, but then thought it was probably a project carried out by the hospital volunteers.

"Hey mum, this is Fred Weasley," I introduced him, watching as my mother only smiled at this information.

If Fred was nervous, he didn't show it as we spent the next hour in light conversation with the extension for my mother to say anything if she felt like it. Part of me was waiting for her to recognise Fred for his uncles, but that was futile since she never recognised me or my father as her own family. Remus and Harry had never stirred up any recognition either. So Fred was only another reminder that my mother would never get her mind back, but somehow I felt it reassuring that he was here anyways. It actually wasn't until I heard a soft knock on the door and looked up to see Harry and dad looking thoughtful that Fred and I retreated to go and see his father.

"She's in really good spirits today," I told my father who nodded and then let Harry lead in Hermione, Ron, Ginny and George into the room.

Dad stayed in the door to survey but smiled when my mother lit up at all the company in her room.

Fred and I continued back towards the lift. I let him comfortably take my hand even as we stood waiting for the lift to arrive.

"Thank-you for introducing me. I know you're very protective of her, same as your father and Harry," I could hear the sincerity in his voice and the sympathy in his eyes that looked thoughtfully back at me.

Without meaning to, I stepped forward and brought my hands to both sides of Fred's face. I had so many things I wanted to admit to him, to convey how important the moment had been. This was the most private part of my life and now it seemed like he knew everything. I watched his eyes steadily as I closed the distance between us, only closing my eyes at the very last second. When my lips touched his, it was chaste but meaningful. His lips were soft and warm and only a little parted. I leaned forward even more, tasting his minty breath as I let my lips part only slightly to breathe him in for myself. The moment felt intense but my hands remained only on his face while his stayed at his sides, most likely out of surprise. When I finally pulled away at the sound of the lift I smiled at the sight of Fred's blazing cheeks and breathless expression. It wasn't the deep, passionate snog Fred had obviously been hoping for, but it still left me breathless and warm all the same.

"Happy Christmas Fred," I said softly, stepping into the lift with him.

"Happy Christmas love."