Harry's letter came only a few days after he returned to Hogwarts and I was surprised to see how long it was. I stole a moment out to the garden despite it being so cold out since the Weasley's were still occupying my bedroom. Part of me was sorely tempted to return to the twins' flat, but that would break the promise I had made to myself and Harry to protect my father.

Harry went on, in as much covert detail as he could accomplish, about how Dumbledore still trusted Snape despite Harry's own conviction that Draco Malfoy had joined the ranks of the Death Eaters and was worried that Snape was helping him do his evil bidding.

I had given Harry my support with his Malfoy theory since the end of summer, knowing that evil did not stipulate age and that anyone was capable to make their own decisions for association. I remembered running into Flint on the night of the Quidditch World Cup and shivered at the memory of his threat against me and my family. But I also couldn't deny that Snape was the one who had saved me from Malfoy Manor, despite what anyone else believed. The only one who hadn't speculated about what I saw in fact was Dumbledore who remained silent on that particular topic.

I went on to read about how Harry was going to be starting Apparition training but I was interrupted by the sound of someone opening the front door.

"Oh, Marnie dear, can you run into town for the grocery list? Remus hasn't returned yet and Arthur is still at The Burrow," I looked up, not missing the catch in Mrs. Weasley's voice that always started whenever she brought up her home.

I also caught on that she hadn't even mentioned my father, both of us knowing that it was not even an option to send him into town anymore. I nodded, tucking the letter into my jacket before walking outside of the wards and apparated into town. I hoped I would be able to stretch my time since I felt that even though I enjoyed spending time with my father and Mrs. Weasley both, days spent staying put at home made me feel both futile and restless.

"Marnie is that you?" a man's voice called out once I had made my way into the market of Ottery St. Catchpole.

I looked over to see Mr. Diggory striding towards me, someone who I hadn't seen since the funeral for Cedric was held at the school. He looked a little leaner and had aged more in the last few years than I could remember. But he still had the same air about him that made most people slightly uncomfortable, but all I could do was smile despite myself. I had never really gotten along with Cedric's father and truthfully he had always made me feel awkward. But I also knew that Cedric had loved his father and respected him enough to know that he was harmless.

"Mr. Diggory, it's good to see you," I replied in earnest, feeling happier than I would have expected at seeing Amos Diggory.

I let him shake my hand and exchanged pleasantries before his expression turned petulant.

"I kept waiting for your resume to cross my desk, but I had to go and track it down myself after hearing it through the gossip circulation that you had applied for general hire instead of my department specifically. My Ced always told me you had a keen interest for Care of Magical Creatures and I haven't had any interest in my department from recent graduates. If you're interested I would still be willing to offer you an interview to be my assistant. The last one didn't last very long, something about how I'm too demanding or some such nonsense," Mr. Diggory started rambling but I could only stand there in mild shock.

Even though I had applied through the general hiring pool, I had to admit that Mr. Diggory's offer was enticing so I found myself setting up an appointment for next week. I wanted to gain the attention of anyone looking to collect me, but surprisingly enough Mr. Diggory was probably the only one who was going to be earnest in his desire to hire me as a competent employee rather than a political tool. I had been prepared to become a political pawn, but one nevertheless that was actually being steered by the Order instead of the Ministry. It was something I could do instead of being a tortured pawn for the Death Eaters. But this offered another option.

Mr. Diggory left shortly thereafter, giving me a look that said he wouldn't accept any excuse for cancellation. I remembered how forward Mr. Diggory had always been when I was friends and later when I was dating Cedric, but now it felt nostalgic and I knew that I could probably handle him a lot better than others.

I returned an hour later, apologising when both Mrs. Weasley and my father gave me expressions of worry. There was nothing more that I could do other than apologise since they would always worry and wonder until Voldemort himself was defeated.

I waited until dinner to give my family the news of the appointment I had set up with Amos Diggory. Mrs. Weasley dropped the ladle she was using to scoop the stew into each of our bowls. My father sighed, rubbing a hand over his face but held back what he truly wanted to say. Mr. Weasley was the most supportive, warning me how dangerous the Ministry had become but that any person fighting for the light was a welcomed asset nonetheless. I glanced over at Remus' vacant seat and hoped that he would be as supportive as always. I didn't doubt that he would be, especially since he was mostly running with werewolves these days. Death Eaters in business suits seemed far less dangerous than infiltrating the ones wearing wolf's clothing.

I ventured into Diagon Alley the next day, not receiving any more objections since it was apparent now that I would be re-entering into society on my own path from now on.

"Hare!" Fred's exclamation was both surprised and excited when he noticed my entrance into the store.

It was slightly less busy since the students had all returned to school from Christmas break but it was still the most crowded shop in the district. George was absent from the storefront but I figured he was in the back working on the owl orders since Fred had mentioned their mail service was their greatest source of business at the moment.

"Hey, Georgie! Can you come out here, there is a beautiful woman who I must sweep off her feet and take out for lunch!" Fred proclaimed, causing me to roll my eyes at his theatrics.

I heard George before I saw him and smiled proudly at how obvious it was that George had my back.

"You better mean Marnie, you prat, because don't think I won't severely maim you if you hurt my best friend's feelings with your tomfoolery," George announced before entering into the storefront.

I beamed at him, earning a returned grin in return.

"Hey, why would you ever think it wasn't Marnie? I resent that insinuation!" Fred shouted back and drew his arm up to show his mock display of offense.

I looked between them and wished that the three of us could all grab lunch together instead of one of them having to stay behind to man the store. It felt like old times, George and I ganging up on Fred. George must have guessed what I was thinking since he smiled and spoke the words right out of my mind.

"Why don't I take Marnie out for lunch instead. You hog her too much as it is Freddie, she's my best friend, you know," George winked at me, earning another scowl from Fred.

"Actually, I came here looking to tell you something and I would rather I told you both at the same time," I admitted, watching the joking expressions disappear from their faces.

Even the jokesters were scared in this world and were made nervous, especially by me.

"What is it, Hare?" Fred's worried gaze found mine, searching my face for any clues.

I ended up telling both of them about Amos Diggory's offer and my previous application into the Ministry. To say the least, neither of them were very impressed with this decision. George didn't have anything productive to recollect about Cedric's father, remembering all too well the disconcerting things he used to say to me when we were younger, or his tactlessness for basic human interaction. Fred admonished about how I hadn't told them about my initial application and how I would for sure be followed and targeted from within the Ministry.

I let them vent, even helping a few customers while they disappeared into the backroom to be able to exhaust their tension without scaring off any of their patrons. By the time they came back out, they both looked defeated and I knew they had come around to the idea, most likely rationalized by George.

"This isn't exactly laying low Hare, but I shouldn't have expected that to last long anyways. You need to make your own stamp on the world and you've always supported our goals when no one else did," Fred proclaimed, giving me a much more mature answer than I had been expecting.

xx

But on the first day of work Fred showed up outside the Cottage as I was walking out to the end of the wards. He ended up accompanying me to where I needed to go in London and then reappeared once I returned home. I let him become overprotective, inviting him inside for dinner instead of shooing him away while I recounted how my first day at the Ministry went.

"And Amos treated you well?" my father asked for not the first time while I watched everyone else around the table lean in closer like my answer was going to change.

"After living at Malfoy Manor for two months, having to converse and work with Mr. Diggory is a cake walk," I replied, knowing this answer would prevent any further questions on the matter.

I knew it was harsh, but it was a reality I was willing to accept that happened to me. And I also thought that maybe it was a reality that my family also had to accept instead of continually being hurt by it. I hadn't broken down in months, even when the Burrow burned down, and I finally felt as if things were falling into some sort of normal, or as normal as wartime life could be.

And things continued in some sort of routine like this. The Burrow was rebuilt to the best that Mr. Weasley and others from the Order could manage, meaning that I finally got my bedroom back in late February. Before then I had used Remus' bedroom most nights since he still spent most of his time trying to uncover the movements of the London werewolf pack.

My nightmares also subsided most nights which I was relieved since I didn't want to worry the Weasleys with my late night panicked howls like Fred was so used to coaxing me out of. I found that being put to work, cataloguing magical creature patterns in Great Britain and learning all about the Ministry regulations on creature migration, breeding, and pet ownership was extremely interesting and occupied more of my mind so that I didn't feel so haunted all of the time.

On the first day of March I was asked by the twins to watch the store after work since they had an important business meeting about expanding their location. I happily agreed, ignoring my fatigue since I really wanted to make sure Fred and George made their appointment. I was so proud of the two of them and how far the business had expanded in less than a year.

The amount of customers was steady and by the time I flipped the open sign on the door to closed and latched the lock, I was ready to get off my feet. I was surprised that they weren't back yet but decided that despite my tiredness that I would make dinner.

After sweeping up and counting the till, I climbed the stairs and hoped that I could put something easy together for the three of us. Opening the fridge I set out to make bangers and mash but froze when I noticed some stray joke products on the table and dawned a wicked grin.

George had been describing the new concealable explosion packs, meant to give anyone a start if you put it under their pillow or in their rucksack. It wasn't dangerous, more focused on the noise and less on impact. I read the package since there was a demo printed out and smiled when I saw that there in fact was nothing poisonous if one were to put it into say— another's food. Once I took out the Pyrex platter of food, I dished out three portions and inserted some of the small pebbles carefully into each of theirs, to be activated at the touch of their forks impaling the soft explosive.

I sat down at the table and checked my watch, worried now that it was nearing eleven and I hadn't heard from either of them yet. Sitting in front of my own meal, waiting despite the fact that it was getting cold, I felt myself nod off in my seat.

BANG

I jolted awake to see Fred standing as if he were just about to nudge me awake while George was sitting across from me with a fork in his hand and at least half of his plate of food splattered onto his face.

"Right," George replied regrettably, looking down at himself to see the damage and then pointing an annoyed stare in my direction.

I was still startled and waiting for my heartrate to come back down as I heard Fred start into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. But this didn't prevent him from announcing why they had been so late coming home "Our brother was poisoned, that's why we were late."

I gasped, bringing my hands to my mouth in shock and also to try to physically stifle the laughter that had transferred from Fred's sudden outburst. His reaction was not at all appropriate for the news he had just delivered and yet I felt as if it were contagious, my own inappropriate smile creeping behind my shielding hands.

"He's fine. Harry actually was the one to save him," George reassured, giving Fred an appraising look who hadn't let up on his incessant laughter.

"Is he alright? How was he poison— Fred stop laughing!" I reprimanded, feeling dread build up inside me.

But I was exhausted from the day and couldn't help the giggles escape my lips as I watched Fred bend over in hilarity.

"I can't help it! Today felt like one of the worst days, sitting at Ron's sickbed. But he's fine and we come home—" he cut himself off with another outburst of laughter before inhaling to continue. "Hare pulls her first prank in over a year and neither of us saw it coming! I am just so in love with you."

Fred's beaming smile was the last straw, causing me to double over in my own laughter and embarrassment. At least for the time being it seemed like Ron was alright and I would ask my burning questions about him and Harry once we settled down. But in this moment I felt weightless under Fred's laughter. That was until George cleared his throat and rolled his eyes half-heartedly, although not without a smile of his own.

"Alright, well I'm going to go wash off this food and thankfully Posy fed us while we were at the school. She also sent us with a care package which I'm tempted not to give you now, but I'm too tired to give my retribution," George smirked tiredly before setting down a take-away box onto the table before disappearing into the bathroom.

Xx

The next morning, George went to open the store, giving us a suggestive grin while Fred offered to make breakfast. It was still early, an hour before I needed to head into work. While I sat down at the counter to observe Fred making breakfast I looked up to see three owls pecking at the flat's window. Two of them I recognised, Hedwig and Pigwidgeon, but the third one was a large, tawny barn owl that I guessed was one of the ones employed by the Ministry since it was not uncommon to receive morning memos from Mr. Diggory outlining whatever he wanted that day before I even stepped foot into the office.

I grabbed a piece of bacon off the plate, much to the chagrin of Fred but offered it to the three owls to fight over once I had taken all of three letters and re-shut the window to avoid a draft.

Der Marry Me,

Frd & Gerg telled me that u have a gnu jub. I am sew hoppy for you. You take my hard on and make it sour.

Bust,

Roonil Wazlib

Fred peered over my shoulder and started laughing incessantly. If it hadn't been for Ron's appalling spelling and questionable content, or who I thought was Ron since it was my best guess, then I would have thought he would have taken this a lot less lightly.

"It must be that Spell Checking quill Ron bought from the store," Fred mused before setting off to go finish breakfast.

I smiled, deciding to put the letter up on the fridge before setting up the kettle to make our morning tea.

The next letter I received was far less amusing.

M,

I was successful in fulfilling the task given to me. I was also told that being the C.O. does not mean I have to follow it like a curse to my death. I am setting down this path because I am still alive while others died because of me. You were taken and I can't forgive that or the fact that the champion was murdered or that Snuffles is gone or how my parents sacrificed themselves. The path is darker than we could have ever imagined but I will keep our family safe. It will all end with me.

H

I stared at the letter and wiped away the few tears that had escaped in my heightened panic. I pieced together that Harry's reference to him being the Chosen One was the prophecy and that he was choosing to go face-to-face with Voldemort instead of doing it just because it was what the prophecy instructed. I figured that this is what Dumbledore had been prepping my brother to do, to become the true rival of Voldemort and to lift the Wizarding World out of this darkness. But all I could feel was burning frustration that these thoughts were filling his sixteen-year-old mind. I also couldn't deny his references to Cedric, Sirius, Lily and James.

This obviously prompted the third letter which I ripped the seal on before reading the brief scrawl while my anger boiled through me.

Dearest Marnie,

I humbly ask that you stop off at my office tomorrow evening when it is suitable to you.

Sincerely,

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore

I knew it was to explain the hero complex from Harry's own letter. I knew it was to reassure me of whatever was coming, like I had some right to be in the know over anyone else. I didn't know how I had landed in such a position, but I wasn't going to question it if it was going to supply me with the answers I craved.