That night had been a blur that was hard to recall to memory. Prying Harry off of Dumbledore's body, much like Fred never let me do when he had seen Cedric's on the night of the third task. Letting Fred sit me down onto a hospital bed in the infirmary while Harry and Ginny recounted to everyone else that Dumbledore was dead and that Snape had betrayed us all. Fred, Harry, Ginny, and later Remus and Mrs. Weasley fretted over me while my vacant expression held. My mind was scattered in fragments from breaking earlier but all I felt was numbness instead of the crushing agony I had felt previously. I knew I wasn't putting anyone at ease, and there were many more important things to worry about than me, but Harry and especially Fred begged to differ. All I wanted to do was soothe Fred's anxiety, who watched his older brother out of the corner of his eye with worry. All I could do was raise my hand and let Fred lean into it in a moment of intimacy that I wish I could feel, but it seemed to be enough for Fred who somehow understood more about myself than I did in that moment.

This was the constant thought on my mind that had only turned to frustration before leading to the current impatience I felt now. I kept staring at the clock in the boardroom, long past having blanked out to the topic at hand. I knew it was probably important to pay attention since the meeting had been called to discuss the increase presence of dementors spotted in Muggle London, but my mind was wracked with nerves and apprehension. Mad-Eye had also prohibited me, and everyone else for that matter, from changing their routine. Today of all days was direly important to deter suspicion.

"Marnie, did you get all the notes?" Amos Diggory's voice cut through my racing thoughts.

I looked down at my half-written scrawl, feeling guilty that I would have to ask a favour to get more thorough notes from one of the other secretaries. Working as an under study to my ex's father had been nothing but awkward for the first several months, but I would be lying if I wasn't comforted by the few traits I could see of Cedric in him. It was an unspoken agreement that although Cedric's loss was still heavy, each of us felt the other provided a level of comfort to further deal with our loss. I had also found a way to ignore his more brash nature, and he no longer outwardly commented on my appearance like the first time he had when he crashed Harry's thirteenth birthday.

"I'll have the report given by Monday, sir," I replied, knowing I was true to my word even if I would have to call in a favour to do it.

"Right, well I'm off. Have a good weekend," Mr. Diggory packed his briefcase and nodded before heading out of the room.

I looked up at the clock, noticing Mr. Diggory was keeping to his routine of leaving an hour early for the weekend. I shook my head, hating how dutiful I usually was in keeping with the hours I put in. If I left early now, it would be the first time in my career for cutting it early for a weekend and people would ask questions.

"Bonnie, did you take any notes on the meeting?" I asked, catching a secretary who I often chatted with on tea breaks.

"Yea, do you need to borrow them?" she asked with a kind smile.

"If you don't mind? I seemed to have missed some of the finer points and Mr. Diggory wants a report by Monday."

Bonnie smiled more knowingly. "I noticed you looked a little spacey. But, as ever, you're determined to get the work done early."

I smiled back, feeling thankful for her generosity but annoyed that this was the very reason I couldn't dip out and ask for this favour Monday morning.

"I'll put it back on your desk by Monday morning," I promised before bowing my head slightly and walking back towards my small office.

It was very modest, with a door like a hotel room in the middle which connected to Amos Diggory's. The desk was small, set in the center with a small window showing the late afternoon sky. I looked again at the clock hanging on the wall, only to see three minutes had gone by.

I sighed heavily before shutting the door and forcing myself to write the report. I also knew Mad-Eye would ask about the meeting I was just in, so I would only earn one of his signature snarls if I didn't have anything to tell.

Dumbledore and Mad-Eye had been pleased to have an informant in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, especially since there has been lots of movement against Ministry sanction. Dementors have been the more prevalent issue since Fudge stepped down and finally admitted he didn't have control over the guards at Azkaban. However, there is also an ongoing investigation following Dolores Umbridge's formal complaint against centaurs, and even rumours of a giant spotted on the coast. Most nights were spent late at the office making sure my reports for both Mr. Diggory and the Order were thorough, meaning I didn't spend a lot of time at home anymore. It also meant that leaving early would be noticeably suspect; even on time was pushing it but that couldn't be helped today.

I looked again at the clock, only another two minutes had passed.

Bollocks.

The notes Bonnie had taken were as reliable as ever, and it seemed the meeting I hadn't payed attention to was indeed important. The dementors it seemed were attacking muggles at free will and the auror department was already spread too thin to make a noticeable difference to try and reign them in.

Just what he wants, to wear us out and move his forces in sparsely but steadily.

By the time I was finally finishing up the report, I looked up to see a paper plane fly from under the crack of my closed office door. I stood up briskly and caught it out of the air.

Marnie,

Molly and I are inviting you for dinner this evening. I am just wrapping up and can meet you in the lobby.

Arthur

This was the cue I was expecting so I promptly grabbed my report, Bonnie's papers, and my coat before locking the office behind me. Even though I wanted to rush down to meet Arthur, turning in both papers would be more in line with my regular behaviour.

I kept my pace even, forcing my feet to guide me at a normal pace. I exhaled thankfully when I looked out of the lift and saw Arthur already waiting for me. I hadn't wanted to wait for him since my nerves were already on sharp edge.

"Marnie, you ready?" Arthur's voice was easy but I could see the more serious insinuation in his eyes.

I nodded, not trusting I would sound as professional as Arthur. I knew Harry was like a son to the Weasley's, so tonight wasn't any easier to bare for them as it was for me. But, my recent history still kept me on edge and as Healer Poke repeatedly pointed out following my latest meltdown, I had PTSD. It hadn't gotten in the way of my work or more importantly any Order business since, so I had fought tooth and nail against my father, Remus and Molly to go on this mission. There was no way I wasn't going to get Harry with the others.

Arthur and I walked outside of the Ministry into one of the designated alleys that was always glamoured from public view. With a twist of my foot I was pulled through the void until arriving at the Burrow. Since Grimmauld Place was deemed unsafe after Dumbledore's death, the Order now mostly met at the Weasley's homestead. Sometimes dad held the meetings, but we all grew uneasy that something as defiant as the Order shouldn't invite retaliation against a house where my father couldn't readily defend himself.

"Molly, we're here!" Arthur called out affectionately once I followed him through the front door.

It usually warmed me hearing Molly and Arthur exchange pleasantries that easily showed how much in love they still were after the lifetime of raising seven children during two wars. I had labelled this more recent appearance of Voldemort a war ever since I was kidnapped last spring.

"Dad, is Marnie with you?" Fred called out instead of waiting for his mother to answer.

I heard him moving until he appeared out of the sitting room. He came over closer, bending down to kiss my cheek before taking my hand. I let him guide me into the sitting room where it looked like everyone was already assembled. I sat next to George who complacently put his hand on my arm. I didn't know if it was just a silent greeting or an act of nervousness of what we were about to do. I had put the twins through a lot recently, although neither of them would ever complain. Since I spent most nights with Fred now, when I wasn't at the Burrow or the rare occasion I fell asleep at my desk, they were privy to the night terrors. I felt guilty for putting them through so much, but I was too selfish knowing I hated sleeping away from Fred. Plus, the times Fred had appeared in the middle of the night at my father's request showed that me living with my father also had its issues.

Dad was here, sitting beside Remus and Tonks. Then followed Molly, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Bill, Fleur, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Arthur.

"Hi Marnie, it's good ter see ya," Hagrid greeted with his massive hand waving through the air from across the room.

Molly looked nervously as his hand narrowly missed the shelf of trinkets above him, but she kept silent on the matter. I only waved back but offered him a smile since I had really missed his company.

"Alright, we're all here," Mad-Eye Moody stepped forward with a signature clunk of his metal leg. "Potter doesn't know the plan's been changed so we will have to fill him in once we get there."

Ron snorted, shaking his head to show what most of us were already thinking. "Harry's not going to like it."

"Harry will just be happy to finally be coming home to us," my father offered his more optimistic outlook.

The letters I had been writing back and forth with Harry would say otherwise, I knew he had been stewing in his own self-indulgent thoughts. I frowned knowing he was keeping his own plans out of his letters knowing deep down that Harry wasn't going to be around for long once we did bring him here.

Moody only turned his lips up into a snarl, already looking impatient by Harry's non-compliance when he wasn't even in the room.

"O'Hara, you know the plan?" Moody asked one final question but I was happy to finally be setting out for the mission.

I nodded affirmatively before Moody turned around to lead us all out. My father managed to cut through the group in the small room to catch me before I exited.

"I'll bring him home, dad," I said first before he could try and talk me out of it again, or even tell me his worries.

The truth was that I was already wound up tight and hearing my father's repeated concerns was only going to annoy me. Plus, Mundungus had conveniently decided not to show up so we would already be one man short if I backed out now.

"Right, I know you will," my father hugged me, deciding that this was the better thing to say.

Fred grabbed back onto my hand before leading us outside to join the others. Apparently Moody's job today had been to collect the necessary vehicles to transport us all back so all we had to do was apparate to number four Privet Drive. I nodded to everyone before one-by-one each of us apparated from the front garden of the Burrow. I felt the familiar pull of my navel before appearing in front of the house that on occasion during my adolescence I had pictured burning to the ground. After meeting Harry in my third year and discovering how his aunt and uncle had treated him was enough to make my blood boil. Then years later in the Order was when I finally learned about why Harry always had to go back to them; because of the blood magic having to do with Lily Potter sacrificing herself for Harry. My less logical mind pictured burning to the house down would allow Harry to be able to live at the cottage. But having Voldemort and his Death Eater lackies appear at my father's front stoop wasn't ideal. Plus, as Mad-Eye had repeatedly mentioned in recent Order meetings, Harry still had the trace until his birthday in a couple days.

"I hate this place," I muttered before following Mad-Eye's lead to the front door.

Fred squeezed my hand in response but none of us said anything. It didn't take long after Mad-Eye knocked his cane against the front door that Harry came to answer it. I had made my way so that I followed after Mad-Eye and Remus into the house. Mad-Eye pushed him in so we wouldn't all be so conspicuous but Remus allowed himself a brief embrace before stepping through into the front room. Harry was standing at the base of the staircase looking shocked by the sheer amount of Order members filing into his aunt's house.

"Harry!" I exclaimed despite my previous reservations to remain collected on this mission.

As we each made it clear in our letters, Harry and I had issue living apart for so long. Harry, always citing that I had been previously kidnapped right after Sirius' death, and me citing that he always had to live with his monstrous relatives right after horrible things happened to our family. I always counted myself lucky that Fred was so close with George, because I felt others would worry my fierce bond with Harry was chalked up to my recent diagnosis of PTSD. Fred instead didn't question the daily letters and insistence that I be a member of this mission.

I embraced Harry tightly, feeling his shock translate into relief that we were finally seeing each other in person.

"Alright, Marnie?" he asked, more in greeting than anything.

"Sorry, Harry," I replied, feeling his sudden shift of uncertainty with my sudden apology before I pulled a lock of his hair from his head.

"OW! What the hell was that, sibling rivalry?" Harry rubbed his hand on the back of his head, both of us having stepped back from each other.

"Did you get it, O'Hara?" Moody barked out his question.

I raised the tuft of Harry's hair and swiftly gave it to him.

"Alright, what is going on? Did I just get played?" Harry gave me a pointed look but I didn't waver since I knew Harry would never have given it up willingly.

"Hey Harry, guess what?" Tonks eagerly stepped over to Harry to give her own greeting.

"You got married, congratulations!" Harry replied, although I didn't miss the sad look in his eyes.

I had told him how Remus and Tonks eloped, with only my father there as the witness. I had been at work so I hadn't been able to go, and I felt Remus was giving into the idea of settling down with Tonks under several stipulations. Maybe keeping his previous family separate for the time being was a part of that as well. I knew that since Voldemort's known return, tolerance was at an all time low for werewolves and the like. I had purposely misplaced a document for a proposal seeking a registry of werewolves that crossed my desk a few months ago. I was also happy that Mr. Diggory seemed to accept it when I told him I hadn't seen such a document and never asked about it again.

"Yes, yes. Happy reunion later," Mad-Eye barked, losing his non-existent patience to keep rolling on with the plan.

"So, what's going on, then? I assume it has to do with Polyjuice if Marnie took my hair," Harry gave me another pointed look but I ignored him.

"We had to come up with a plan to get you out without detection," Mad-Eye self-appointed himself to go over the plan. "We have several safe points already set up including the Burrow, Molly's aunt Muriel's, Tonks's parents, my place, etc."

I could see Harry's mind turning over while his frown deepened. I knew he wasn't going to like the next bit.

"So, is everyone here as a guard? It seems pretty conspicuous," Harry commented, but then he knew that didn't account for the Polyjuice Potion.

"No, fourteen is not a good number for a guard. Seven members have offered to become a Potter look-alike. Seven Harry's, seven guards, seven locations."

Harry's expression turned on a dime. "No, absolutely not!"

"I knew he wouldn't like it," Hermione commented but Harry's glare was still pointed at me before turning it to the others in the room.

"Everyone here is of age Potter, and the plan is already set," Moody gave him an appraising look that eventually caused Harry to stand down.

"Alright, everyone who is turning into Potter, come over here," Moody ordered before passing out seven phials of Polyjuice Potion.

"Oh, you look much better to drink than Crabbe and Goyle," Hermione said which made me uncomfortable and earned a despairing look from Ron.

I accepted the phial given to me and downed the liquid while blocking the thought provided by Hermione that I was somehow drinking my adopted brother. Unlike them, I had also never drank Polyjuice before so the experience was unexpected. I could feel my arms and legs grow heavier with toned muscles while my abdomen rose up a few inches. The most disorienting occurrence though was the sudden loss of my eyesight.

"Bloody hell, Harry, your eyesight is terrible!" Ron commented exasperatedly.

"We're identical!" Fred and George also cheekily commented somewhere on the other side of the room.

"I've got clothes to change into over here, and pairs of glasses," I heard Moody's voice call out so I followed his voice until a pair of glasses was shoved into my hands.

I looked down, figuring my white blouse and black dress pants didn't look very in character, especially now that they were more snugly fitting and a little short-lengthed.

"Alright Ron, you're with Tonks," Moody started partnering us all up.

Those who were tasked as protectors already knew their given destinations and modes of transportation.

"Hermione is with Kingsley. Fred, you're with Arthur."

Now that I had the glasses on and had changed into a pair of denims and a sweater, I watched Fred wanting to quip back to Moody, probably about being George when he obviously wasn't. But one look from me told him that this was one time I was asking him not to be the comic relief. It was weird to see Fred gaze back at me sweetly while looking like Harry so I turned to hide my shudder.

"I'll take Fleur on the thestral since she doesn't really like flying on a broom," Bill explained more sincerely than I thought she deserved.

I didn't dislike Fleur as much as Molly and Ginny, or at least not for the same reasons. While they thought she looked down on the Weasley family, which I hadn't ruled out yet, I was still fed up with her seeming so weak when she had been chosen as champion for the Triwizard Tournament. While I had thought Cedric was just as worthy as me to carry the mantel for Hogwarts, Fleur didn't set a good example being the only female when it seemed she was being thwarted by fear at every turn.

"That leaves Marnie with Remus and I'll take the other twin," Moody listed off.

"So, that means you're with me Harry," Hagrid stepped forward with a meaningful smile.

"We figure they'll think I have Harry if we get cut off," Moody explained gruffly and we all tensed at the thought of being attacked during the journey.

With George on the back of Moody's broom, I swallowed my fear loudly down my throat.

"Alright, let's set off," Moody ordered, not letting the panic rise enough to question the plan that was too far rolling to turn back.

"You alright on the back of a broom?" Remus asked kindly and I nodded in return.

"Dad requested it was you, didn't he?" I asked although I already knew the answer.

"We both care about you, Marnie," Remus's words were sincere and presented more than he was necessarily saying out loud.

I nodded again before climbing on the back of Remus's broom. As we waited for Moody's order, I looked at each of the Harry's in tow. My eyes shifted from Hermione to Ron to George. I lingered longer on Fred, who saluted in response. His smile seemed more to put me at ease, but his anxiety didn't go unnoticed. I skipped over Fleur next and stared at the real Harry until Moody started counting down.

"Three, two, ONE!"

Remus kicked off and I secured my hands around his waist. The weather was brisk with the wind licking it's cold dampness across my face, I figured this was going to be an unpleasant ride but I would rather be here than waiting at the Burrow with my father, Molly and Ginny.

Remus took us up to the cloud cover but his immediate jolt demonstrated that his years of experience still superseded my own reflexes. I looked over Remus's shoulder with my wand already poised to see that a horde of Death Eaters were already waiting for us. Remus expertly steered us zigzaggedly through the throng with his wand already casting spells towards the enemies. I matched his speed, thwarting off the advancing Death Eaters behind us. I cursed my eyes, not understanding how Harry relied so heavily on his glasses to see. The masked faces around us blurred from speed as they shot in an out of my blurry periphery. I managed to land several spells, keeping them off our tail but it was all I could do to manage. I realised I was the target here since I looked like my brother, but that didn't really bother me. I would rather them think all of us were Harry than figure out the real one.

The appearance of my old Potion's Master had me almost teetering off of the back of the broom when I watched his well-aimed curse floated right over Mad-Eye's shoulder only to hit the side of George's face. It was sickening to see Snape attack the person who he most presumed to be the real Harry and my scream continued on when Voldemort himself appeared and aimed a green coloured curse at the duo. It was absorbed right into Mad-Eye's chest who swivelled into it before their broom crashed to the ground.

I didn't know if I was being too erratic to even stay in the air, but Remus relented against my panicking and swiftly bolted downwards to where Mad-Eye had landed. We knew our cover was already broken, and I was surprised that Remus was risking my safety to follow my inherent request, but of course we weren't leaving George behind. I stifled my growing sob but wouldn't let Remus near George as most of my rational faded away. Once again I was proving to Remus that I was no good on a mission. But instead, I swallowed heavily and heaved George up so that I somehow balanced his fading semi-conscious body onto my shoulder. But because I was struggling under his weight, Remus couldn't apparate with Mad-Eye as well, so opted to help me take George instead before we were for sure struck down from our vulnerable position. Since I still had my wand in my hand I was able to send a counter-curse once Remus had George balanced. The next moment we apparated, choosing The Burrow instead of whichever safehouse we had been headed for since we needed to get George to safety right away.

"Marnie!" Ginny called out when she ran towards us through the front yard of the newly rebuilt Burrow.

She stopped short in her pursuit however when she laid eyes on her brother. I gathered him back over my shoulder and helped as best I could to get him inside. Ginny led the way, her eyes not leaving her brother even as we stayed behind her.

"Ohhh! What happened, my poor boy. Lay him down, here on the sofa!" Mrs. Weasley was instantly frantic and fretting over George.

Once George was laying down, I felt myself go breathless and the crackling ache in my throat from when I had screamed out to George as he fell from the sky. I hadn't known where he was injured before, only that he was bleeding quite profusely once Remus and I got to him. Now it was obvious that George had been hit in the ear—because he no longer had one. Mrs. Weasley held a medicinal cloth to the side of his face as I bowed my head to try and stave off the cracks in my mind that were happening in quick succession. I was losing myself quicker than before, and I felt pathetic for not being able to stay and care for my best friend like I wanted.

I stood up and fell to the back of the room. I met Ginny's gaze as she hovered by the front door waiting for the rest of her—our—family to come back. Her look was far too knowing than I was comfortable with, but neither one of us said anything before I turned to walk out of the room towards the stairs. My father might have been sitting beside me when I was beside George, but he was now somewhere in the flurry of waiting for the others to come back. It was the perfect time to try and leave unnoticed.

There was one thought pushing me towards not wanting to be here, more so than fearing that not everyone would come back since I already knew about Mad-Eye. No, it was Fred's reaction to George that I didn't have the courage to see right now. I was too devastated about it myself and my mind was retracting into the sharp horror that I couldn't stave off any longer. I retreated up the stairs, hoping that next time for sure, I would be able to save the ones I loved.

XXX

Fred of course had been devastated and temporarily shocked at the side of his brother who looked like he had only just escaped his untimely death. Marnie's absence also went starkly noticed, but Joss had abated his fear when he reassured that she had in fact arrived safely with George on her shoulder. Of course she would get him out safely even if it hadn't been part of her mission. Fred would forever be indebted to her, even though he had been already. Damn he loved that girl more than words could ever express for him. But then there was only one reason why she wasn't here now.

"Shit, she's having one of her episodes," Fred cursed under his breath.

"She's been a little better," Ginny offered, seeing Harry's eyes turn into a pained expression.

Ginny had been the only one to notice Marnie's hasty retreat upstairs. She even noticed Joss's head turn to survey the room and was surprised that he hadn't noticed her prolonged absence until now. But then everyone had been trying to decide who was the traitor amongst them and then relieved Harry was here only to be hurt over George's injury and Mad-Eye's death. It had been what Marnie wanted, to suffer silently to not add any burden to the situation. Ginny resolved to smack some sense into her later.

"I'll go," Harry stated, placing his hand on Fred's shoulder knowingly.

He didn't want Fred to feel guilty since George looked awful and he knew he couldn't leave his side. Harry also didn't want Fred to think he was the only support Marnie had when Harry hadn't been able to be there for her much since her abduction which he hated himself for.

Harry exited the room looking over his shoulder before he ascended the stairs to the first landing. He didn't bother knocking on Ginny's door even though he couldn't hear anything. Harry frowned, knowing Marnie must have casted a Silencing Charm on the door to avoid gaining attention. Thankfully, she hadn't thought to lock it so Harry eased the door open to find Marnie crouched down in front of Ginny's bed.

"I—I ju—I just need a minute," Marnie stuttered through her laboured breathing. "Don't worry—"

Harry walked forward before crouching down in front of her. Harry had witnessed several of Marnie's attacks the previous summer and of course the one the night Dumbledore died, but he had kept asking her about them in the letters he sent as well. When they weren't allowed to talk about Order business, Harry and Marnie filled their letters with more candid explanations of their thoughts and emotions. While Harry wasn't one to readily express himself outside of his quick temper, Joss had told him maybe Marnie would open up with a give-and-take sort of exchange. Unsurprisingly, Joss was right as always, since Marnie would express her struggling process to heal when Harry would offer his expressions of grief over Sirius and Dumbledore.

Harry enveloped his arms over Marnie without speaking since Marnie usually tried to talk back whenever someone did, which always worked her up even more. Marnie only stayed rigid in his arms before allowing herself to be comforted. Harry ran his hand methodically up and down her back to try and provide a rhythm for her breathing. Fred had told her Marnie usually responded well to grounding techniques with a soft amount of applied pressure. Harry hated how it wasn't him telling others how to comfort Marnie from her fits, but that hadn't been possible with their current set-up. He only pushed down his rising guilt when he thought of how he was going to take his bags and leave tonight to avoid any more trouble than he had already caused. He was the reason she was ultimately like this—and it made him feel more useless than all the other reasons put together.