Ever since my time spent in the dungeon at Malfoy Manor, the dreams inexplicably from my mother's memories were few and far between. No part of me really wanted to analyse the change since it was obviously connected to the trauma I experienced and it wasn't like I didn't have my own vault of terrifying nightmares to keep me awake at night.

But the night after Harry had broken into the Ministry, I was jolted awake by the terrifying yet familiar feeling of waking up from someone else's life.

My mind was quick to let go of the feelings of terror and dread, remembering only flashes of walking into foreign houses and finding muggles dead in their homes. Thankfully, my mind was getting better at repressing some unwanted images and I decided to let them fade from my memory.

It wasn't like I needed some sort of foreboding warning anymore to know that our current situation was dire or that we needed to be careful. Telling by the sun that was now peaking through my window, this was the first official day that I would be in hiding after Harry's stunt at the Ministry. We knew that it would only be putting us under more scrutiny than we had been before if I showed up for work now.

So, as per the planning the Order had done ahead of time, the Ministry did not have accurate information as to where I lived with my father. Officially in my work file, I lived with Fred above the store since it wasn't a secret where the twins lived and it would be a plausible coverup. And as for my father, officially, our cottage had been destroyed during the first Wizarding War which is something I only recently discovered when formulating our underground strategy with Remus and the others. Before his death, Mad-Eye had also made sure to keep the paper trail hidden of all the Order members which would hopefully be enough to keep us safe.

However, this also meant that the twins' shop finally shut down in lieu of what had happened yesterday and Fred's entire family were now all underground, the Burrow also abandon since Death Eaters were already familiar with its location.

Decidedly, with the dregs of my hazy nightmare vanishing, I got myself out of bed to fetch my robe and headed downstairs where my father had already started a fire. Winter was creeping into the Cottage and it didn't have very good insolation to begin with.

"Good morning, Marnie," my father greeted me as I made my way down the stairs and into the sitting room.

A teapot was already on the coffee table in front of my father who was sitting in his worn chair by the fire. The paper in his hands had Harry's face on the cover listed as Undesirable Number One. I stared at it from my seat on the couch, bringing my poured teacup to my lips while I contemplated just how bad our circumstances really were. Thankfully, this still meant that Harry was in hiding since the headline would have read very differently if he had been captured.

"Voldemort won't be happy until he has completely destroyed this family," I commented bitterly, my voice hollow as I set my tea down. I noticed my father's flinch at my use of Voldemort's name, but I was in the same belief as Harry that there was no use fearing the name. These days no one dared use it anymore, but I believed that since I had lived in the same house as the vile man for over a month that I deserved to name that fear instead of cowering behind it.

Without a sound of warning, the front door flew open behind me and my daze only lasted long enough for me to pull my wand from where I had set it down beside me on the couch. I never went anywhere without it now, knowing full well what it meant to be caught surprised without it. But having to use it in the cottage that had dozens of wards around it was still completely unexpected. I was only wearing a nightgown but that didn't matter when I watched two men I only recognised from their wanted posters entering through our front door.

I barely heard my father's favourite mug shatter behind me as he stood up to the intruders but was defenseless to do anything. I was forced to play defense, putting myself in between my father and the Death Eaters who I knew were snatchers, those who came to collect muggles and anyone else Voldemort wanted dead. Their names were irrelevant, how they got in through the wards was the more pressing concern in my whirling mind.

I remained quiet, mostly out of shock and forced concentration, while I cast shielding and disarming charms to try and stave off their attacks. My father wouldn't be able to do anything if one of them hit him and their attacks were much less forgiving.

"Fiendfyre!" one of them shouted, the curtains over the front window immediately catching fire. The Death Eater waved the end of his wand around like he didn't have much control of the curse he had just cast. The hellfire washed over the walls and I was defenseless to watch as the books on the shelves and the furniture in the front room quickly caught flame. No matter what water charms I cast, the fire only roared at an alarming rate.

"Marnie! Let's go!" my father pulled me by my right arm, leaving my left to keep its rhythm of spellcasting.

The front half of the cottage was already engulfed in the rapidly advancing fire by the time my father pulled me to the back door. I didn't even have time to be sad that my childhood home was disintegrating before my eyes. My father got us outside and across the backyard but we were still in the open when curses started firing at us before I could apparate.

I needed help and chanced a Patronus Charm to the Order, knowing it would find the closest member in proximity to the Cottage. But as I cast the hummingbird that flitted away in a burst of speed, a green curse cast towards us.

"Avada Kedavra!" the green light that had taken so many of the people I had loved away from me scorched across the yard like a ghostly arrow.

Cedric had been killed by Voldemort, Sirius had been murdered by Bellatrix, and now I was to die from such a fate. It was happening so quickly, the same fear firing in my body that I felt every time Bellatrix had used the Cruciatus curse against me. At least this one would be quick.

But what I hadn't been aware of was my father moving from his position behind me. I didn't know he could move so fast to stand in front and absorb the green curse into his chest that was meant for me.

My father fell instantly to the ground with a heavy thud, the life already out of him by the time he crumpled. I fell just as heavily to my knees, no longer caring that the next one would hit me.

"Marnie, get up!" the voice that followed a sudden crack from apparition barely pulled me out of my plummeting fear.

Tears flooded my cheeks and I couldn't quite tell if the deafening cries I heard were coming from my lips or not. My father was pulled up into my arms and secured so tightly that I couldn't let go. I wouldn't leave him behind like Mad-Eye; needing to bring him along like Harry had done for Cedric during the Triwizard Tournament. But I also wasn't prepared to move from the damp spot barely far enough away from the roaring fire tearing down the last remains of the Cottage.

A hand wrapped around my arm insistently but I wouldn't look up or acknowledge whoever was there, friend or foe. I couldn't bring myself to care anymore. My father had only ever wanted us to be safe and I couldn't even do the same for him. I had always made him worry, I had always done whatever I felt was best despite his best efforts. Now he was dead, before I had even finished my morning tea. I had let my guard down and foolishly thought that the wards would hold. He was gone just as simply as I had watched Sirius die.

Somehow, the person behind me was able to apparate away with me still kneeling on the ground with my father pulled up into my lap. The sand beneath my knees was suddenly surprising but I still didn't look up at my surroundings.

Someone was crying nearby and another was crouching in front of me, trying to pry my fingers away from my father as gently as they could. When I caught a glimpse of red hair I finally looked up to see that Bill Weasley was crouching in front of me.

I hadn't known where my Patronus would go, but it must have found Fred's oldest brother first. I felt guiltier now that I had sent the warning when it seemed that only Bill had come alone. Of course he would have left Fleur behind, and if annoyance was high enough on my radar of emotions I probably would have felt it for Cedric's old teammate. But the crippling grief and anger were all I could feel aside from the cracking of my mind that threatened to pull me away from my sanity. I couldn't comprehend that my father had actually sacrificed himself so easily for me, even though of course it was something he would have done.

If the wards hadn't come down, we would still be sitting at home over the paper. We would have probably talked about Harry and worried over him. I might have even talked about the dream I had had, if I had felt vulnerable enough after talking about Harry or maybe my father would have seen it on my face.

Now I was soaking wet on a beach, holding his cold body in my arms and falling deeper and deeper into my mind.

"Marnie, I can't chance calling Fred here. I need you to come back for me," Bill's careful words were barely heard over the chaos of nothing in my ears.

I couldn't respond to his concern. He was the wrong Weasley and I couldn't organise my thoughts to react accordingly. The tears continued streaming down my face and the sobbing continued. I had let Harry down on my promise.

"Who eez Fred Weasley?" the question that broke through was so absurd that I looked over at the blonde with tears in her eyes to fix her an incredulous look.

"He's my boyfriend," I couldn't help replying, sobs still choking out before and after my reply.

"Yes he eez. And who eez George Weasley?" Fleur asked again, slowly bringing her hand down to cover over my own to bring it away from gripping onto my father.

My hand was shaking but some of it had to do with my anger at Fleur. "He's my best friend!"

I tried to rip my hand away to grip my father again but she was deceptively strong and kept her hold.

"Yes! You are doing so good. How about Ginny? Who eez Ginny?" Fleur asked, smiling softly even though her tears didn't abate.

She started standing slowly and with how she was holding onto me I was finally forced to let go of my father and stand up once she took a careful step backwards. Bill was quiet behind us but Fleur kept her careful gaze on me. It was like my periphery was fading but I still managed to glare at Fleur since she was keeping my attention.

"Ginny is Harry's girlfriend and Fred's sister," I replied, feeling the heaviness of my feet that followed after Fleur because I didn't have enough energy anymore to do anything else.

I stumbled quite a few times on our journey and Fleur had to warn me about the incline and then a set of stairs once I realised this must be her and Bill's house.

It wasn't until Fleur guided me inside that I realised what she had done. Somewhere, probably from Ginny whenever I woke up from a nightmare and the youngest redhead would whisper my grounding technique to get me to fall back asleep, I realised that Fleur must have heard us and caught on to what Ginny was doing. I had never really liked Fleur all that much, accepting her as Bill's wife just like I had when she was Cedric's competitor. But this was so considerate and whenever I stopped sobbing and feeling like my world had just caved in around me, I would have to remember to thank her.

She led me to a small bedroom upstairs with two twin beds inside. I knew her and Bill would have questions for me but that didn't seem to be her priority anymore. Instead she sat me down and then disappeared until she came back with a fresh pair of pyjamas which must be hers. They were slightly too big but I didn't complain and even let her braid my hair while we sat in relative silence. We were both crying and didn't have much energy for anything else but I figured she must be too concerned to leave me alone with my grief.

xx

Over the next few weeks, life was excruciating. I spent most of my time alone in my room with both Fleur and Bill checking in on me frequently. The grief never subsided but my restlessness did kick in. It got so bad that I usually walked around the grounds that were describably beautiful at the end of the ocean. I tended to the non-existent gardens by finding some winter ferns to take care of and started taking notes of all the creatures nearby because it was what I was used to when working. I even started fishing which was often used for dinner because I needed to do something. But whenever something was too difficult, I tucked myself away in the tiny bedroom and screamed until the fragments in my mind broke behind a silencing charm.

One wintery afternoon I was rereading one of the books Fleur had leant me for the tenth time at least, too bored to do nothing and too exhausted to find something else to do. I felt a slight level of elation when I heard a soft knock on the door and invited either Fleur or Bill to distract me, if only for a moment. I was slightly surprised to see it was Bill since Fleur was usually the one to come talk to me or call me down to help with meals.

"Erm Marnie, there's actually someone here who wants to see you," Bill said before I deadpanned since I hadn't heard anyone arrive and was hopeful about the possibility of who it could be.

I stood up and nodded, allowing for Bill to step into the room before I laid eyes on Ron who followed him in.

"Ron!" I sprinted towards the younger brother and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, squeezing him tightly.

"You're safe. Thank Merlin you're safe! Where's Harry and Hermione?" I stepped back to look over his shoulder and didn't miss the embarrassed looking frown cross his face.

My chest immediately felt like it was going to give out and Ron must have seen my instant terror.

"They're fine, Marnie! They're ok… it's just," Ron's face kept turning until it matched the maroon coloured sweater he was wearing. "I sort of left them."

I stood there, finally having caught my breath but my previous anxiety was being quickly replaced by a wave of fury. Bill stood a little off to the side, obviously already having heard this and looking displeased at his younger brother. But he knew his family was safe, and the little family I had left was now down to one who was still off on whatever crusade Dumbledore had sent him on.

"Harry—he's still out there? And you left him?" my voice was even but my fists clenched at my sides.

I watched Ron nervously tug at his shirt collar.

The next moment, before either of the men could figure out what was happening, Ron had bats flying out of his nose in rapid procession.

"Bloody hell!" Ron instantly started freaking out and Bill clued in enough to perform the counter charm.

"Well, that was probably the best case scenario," Bill muttered to himself but kept his gaze on me while Ron collected himself. "Why don't we all go sit downstairs?"

I figured Bill didn't really trust me alone with his youngest brother, not that I really trusted myself when I was this angry. I had always had a soft spot for Ron, not agreeing with what Fred and George usually said about him. But now my frustration roiled that Harry had asked Ron to go along with him while asking for me to stay behind. Harry was already so vulnerable and Ron had turned his back on him for reasons I would never find good enough.

Bill sat silently in a chair once we filed into the sitting room and Fleur went to fix some tea in the kitchen. Ron rubbed his nose but didn't say anything, looking increasingly nervous under my stare.

"So, erm—why aren't you at the cottage then?" Ron tried for polite conversation but I scoffed cruelly back at him, that he dared to let this be his first question.

I knew I should collect myself but I still couldn't forgive Ron who was now bringing up such a sensitive topic.

"The Death Eaters destroyed it and killed my father. Bill arrived just in time to get me to safety without being followed," I replied in an icy tone, feeling my mind pinch at the corners since those words were no easier to say after weeks of being at Shell Cottage.

Ron's eyes widened in horror before he bowed his head in what looked like might be shame. It was several moments later that I realised he was crying. I allowed him a moment to collect himself since I could see the guilt in his eyes when he met my gaze again.

"I'm a bloody git. I told Harry—fuck I yelled at Harry that he didn't understand, that he didn't have a family to worry about so he wouldn't understand how scared I was all the time," my eyes widened at his confession and I decided I had heard enough.

I stood at once and no one objected. It was only once I was at the door that I turned back and gave a withering look to Ron. "You better find a way to get back because you're right Ron. Harry's family has dwindled down to only me and I am telling you I cannot live without my brother."

Without waiting to see Ron's reaction, I turned my back and walked back up the stairs before Fleur came out of the kitchen. I refused dinner that night and stared vacantly out the window at the winter landscape, wondering where Harry was and wishing for his safety. Before I fell asleep I cast a Silencing Charm since I knew I would get night terrors and still wanted to be left alone. I just hoped the screaming didn't break the fragile shards of my mind.