Ron stayed at Shell Cottage for just about three months. In that time I didn't talk much with him despite any burning questions I might have concerning Harry. I knew he still wouldn't tell me anything specific about Harry's mission, despite the betrayal we all thought Ron had committed. Bill wasn't much more understanding than I was, Fleur admitting to me one night that he had reprimanded Ron for abandoning the mission when the rest of us were all just trying to survive ourselves, waiting for any word that we were somehow winning.

The papers sure stifled that belief, each day printed with Harry's profile as front page news, listed as Undesirable Number One. The list of Undesirables also included all of the Weasleys and myself, along with all other members of the Order. The only news outlet not taken over by Voldemort and the Death Eaters was Potterwatch which was still being operated by Lee with whichever guest managed to make it to his toolshed that week. I had only managed to go once after my father died, moreso as a rendezvous with Fred who had just held me most of the time while I silently cried into his shoulder over the loss we both felt.

Since then I hadn't left Shell Cottage and opted only to listen to the broadcast instead of venturing out, Bill, Fleur and I would play the 'Guess the Password' game for every segment we could catch; Bill was the most successful out of all of us.

Ron decidedly left near his birthday. He was gone before I came out of my room for breakfast one morning and Bill and Fleur didn't say much about it other than the fact that he had finally come to his senses. Apparently Ron had mentioned something about hearing Hermione's voice in his pocket but that didn't make any sense to any of us. But since I still wore a magical necklace around my throat that had been allowing me to peer into my mother's memories since I was eleven years old, I didn't think he was mad either.

The only advice I had given Ron to pass along during the few conversations we had managed was not to say You Know Who's name, and to use his discretion when telling Harry about my father. I knew Harry deserved to know as soon as possible, but that didn't mean that he should necessarily be detracted from his mission by such an emotional blow. But then again there was no guarantee that he already didn't know, whether from an old Prophet edition they might be able to pick up or from one of Potterwatch's broadcasts since they still brought up my father sometimes on their segments. Remus had taken it very difficult and Fred talked about him enough that if Harry ever heard the broadcast he might find out anyway.

It had been months since my father was murdered and even longer since Harry had left. I felt like an overstayed guest at Shell Cottage, but Bill and Fleur never hinted that they felt the same way. I definitely gave them as much space as I could, which was easy enough since I spent most of my time tucked in the guest bedroom or outside by the ocean or in the garden. The reality was that there wasn't really anywhere else I could go since the twins were staying with their Auntie Muriel which was full up and Remus was staying with the Tonks' which was also packed.

The best course of action was also to limit travel since the Snatchers had increased their numbers and I didn't have that sort of death wish of wanting to run into them again. It made my stomach knot and my mind drift, keeping me to remain tucked away in this small corner of Britain.

However, one afternoon the three of us had a start by the sudden cries of a familiar voice.

I had thought maybe my mind was starting to crack again, letting the screams get through my fragile walls that I had managed to start rebuilding inside my head. But when Bill rose instantly to his feet where we all sat in the living room together, I ran by him and burst out the front door.

I kept running, past all the unexpected faces until I came up short only a few steps away from Harry. He was holding Dobby the house elf in his arms who was bleeding quite badly from his stomach where there was also a knife sticking out.

I knew even with my limited healing magizoological skills that there was nothing I could do for him. Silent tears automatically fell down my face as I fell harshly to my knees in the wet sand and rested one of my hands on Dobby's tiny shoulders while the other went to Harry's own. I didn't say anything, letting Dobby and Harry have this moment together while all I could do was watch and let it happen. I felt too numb to feel useless but the sting at another great loss didn't miss its mark.

I didn't know how long we knelt there, Harry crying over Dobby's unconscious form before I was startled by someone else putting a soft hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see, bewilderingly, that it was Luna standing beside me.

I would clue in later that her presence immediately meant that Harry and the others had gone to Malfoy Manor since I had been the one to announce her abduction back in September.

After several months of relative consistency at Shell Cottage, despite how much danger we were always in, the sudden appearance of Harry and the others jolted.

I ended up helping Harry dig Dobby's grave, on top of the hill beside my father because there wasn't any other more legitimate options for burial rites during the war, and neither of us said anything.

By the way Harry only looked miserably over at my father's grave once Dobby was put to rest, I knew that Ron must have told him once they reunited.

And despite embracing quietly up on the hill once our job was done, we didn't actually say anything to each other until it had grown dark.

Fleur had put together a meal for all of the new houseguests. Aside from Hermione, Ron and Luna, there was also Dean Thomas who was with them, along with a goblin named Griphook and Mr. Ollivander the wandmaker. It was a lot to take in, but I did my best to make myself useful and followed after Fleur attending to the injured. I insisted on giving up my bed to the old wandmaker while the goblin was put into Bill and Fleur's room for the time being.

Once Fleur had made her rounds and had given everyone a meal, I made my way to where Luna was resting in the third bedroom. She looked gaunt and malnourished, but otherwise had her same small smile when I entered. I didn't have any words to offer her, even though it was obvious she had suffered a similar fate as I had, and for far longer than I had been stuck there, so instead of offering any insignificant words, I crawled into bed beside her and let her reorient herself until she was tucked under my arm while my outside hand came to weave through her hair.

I lay on top of the covers while Luna was under them and stayed with her like that until I felt her breathing even out beside me. She fell asleep quicker than I predicted but then again this was probably the first time she had had a bed or human comfort in the last eight months. I bit back a shudder at such a realisation and held her closer.

I didn't know how much longer I laid there, subtly looking over Luna's sleeping form to make sure she wasn't so damaged. But I knew from experience that if she were to have any lingering injuries that they would be hidden beneath the surface. The pressure on the cracks in my own mind was reminder enough.

It was when a light knocking on the door caused me to look up and see Hermione that I realised she had probably been sent to come and get me, or at least check and see how Luna and I were doing. It had been such an exhausting day and I had only been one part of theirs.

I looked up at Hermione standing in the door, looking just as I had heard Bill describe her as earlier; like she had been tortured.

I knew it was true without her ever having to confirm it. I knew what it looked like in someone's eyes who had been put under the Cruciatus curse. Like Luna, I wouldn't pry or try and demand answers. I knew that Harry and Ron had been tight lipped as well, only demanding to speak to the wandmaker and goblin as soon as they were tucked into bed.

"Erm—Harry has asked that you come down," Hermione sounded uncertain in her whispered voice, obviously not wanting to wake up Luna.

I nodded before carefully extricating myself and rolling Luna over who stayed asleep. What I wasn't expecting was once I stepped out into the small hallway and closed the door behind me that Hermione latched herself onto me in a fierce embrace.

I could feel all of her fear and exhaustion and I had to remind myself how young we all were. Hermione was seventeen years old and I was almost too afraid to guess as to what had happened to her and the others since I last saw them in August. I let her hold on until she righted herself and took a step back. An understanding was in her eyes that I never wanted to see and it made my mind crack a little more harshly at the sight.

"It's good to see you, Marnie," Hermione finally said before she turned to lead me downstairs.

I still hadn't found my voice but I reached out to take her hand while she led me, squeezing her hand and feeling similar pressure in return.

I had always had respect for Hermione, having experienced many of the same things as me. We had both been petrified by the basilisk, we had both experienced constant bullying from the bigoted Slytherins, and now being tortured was an added share point. I kept my hand in hers until we reached the sitting room and joined Harry, Ron, Bill and Fleur. I did wonder where Dean was but I was sure that he was probably just as rundown as Luna and maybe he had taken another bed upstairs.

"Well, since Harry isn't letting us transport any of our new houseguests for the time being, we're over our maximum limit. Harry has already offered to set up the tent in the yard. Two can take the couches in here if you would prefer, but two of you will need to set up outside," Bill looked a little too exasperated to look apologetic about it, but I couldn't really blame him.

I could see he was relieved to see his brother and the others, but four more unexpected guests in the little cottage they called home was taxing for anyone.

"I'll go out," I finally spoke up, the first words I could remember saying since this afternoon when Harry and the others appeared out of thin air.

I saw several eyes look at me hesitantly, Harry and Bill among them, but we weren't in a position to object so finally several just nodded in agreement.

"I'll go out, too, you two can take the couches and keep warm," Harry immediately added with a look that cut off Hermione and Ron's objections.

I could tell that possibly at this point the three of them might experience separation anxiety but they respected that Harry and I needed to catch up.

With the plan in place, no one outside of the Golden Trio knowing exactly what that entailed, the rest of us set into motion to set up for the night.

I saw Harry take a small beaded bag from Hermione with care before he turned to me and motioned to come outside.

It was cold with the chilled ocean air blowing up at us, but neither of us complained while I watched Harry take out the Weasley's magically modified tent out of the deceptively small bag. With a few flicks of his wand, like he was well practiced at setting up camp, the tent was erected along the back side of the cottage away from the ocean for the most shelter from the whipping winds.

I followed him inside while he set the bag down on a small table beside the bunk bed.

It was when he finally turned to look back at me standing in the entryway that his confidence and composure finally fell all the way off.

The anguish and fear set into his features were blatant and I also could see how much sorrow and anger he felt. In response, I walked forward until he was right in front of me and then wrapped my arms around him into a tight grip.

He felt thinner in my grasp, the years of effort my father and Mrs. Weasley tried to bulk him up a bit diminished in the last several months.

I could feel the loss seeping through him and building up between us. It wasn't true, but it did feel like we were the only ones left in our family and Dobby's recent sacrifice was still sharp and stinging. It was several minutes before we pulled apart, our damp shoulders ignored, before we both took a seat beside each other on the bottom bunk.

Harry leaned over to rest his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together in front of him. He looked haggard and exhausted and it pinched my mind to see him looking so rundown, but I didn't say anything. I let Harry break the silence first.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there," Harry murmured finally, not having to clarify what he meant.

My mind pulled out the well-visited memories of the morning my father was murdered. I could hear the front door open, could feel the adrenaline spike as I cast defensive spells before my father reached forward and grabbed me to take our escape out the back door. I remember feeling the heat of the unfathomable fire that tore down our family home and then of course the green light that was meant to take my life but took my father away instead.

"We were both glad you weren't," I replied after a moment, knowing my father never would have wanted Harry to be there.

As guilty as I felt, I didn't know how else it could have played out, but there had been at least three of them and even Bill hadn't been able to do anything else other than make a tactical retreat. I couldn't have bared anyone else getting hurt or worse and I knew all my father would care about is that Harry had managed to stay alive.

Harry brought his forehead down to his hands without agreeing or disagreeing with me.

"I'm glad his resting place is somewhere so tranquil. At least we could give him that," Harry whispered without moving.

It wasn't completely clear on who he meant, but I figured he probably was referring to both my father and Dobby. I couldn't forget about how we had lost Mad-Eye and hadn't been able to give him a proper burial. At that, I swallowed the lump in my throat and was thankful that hadn't been the case for the other two.

"I take it you can't stay long," I stated, knowing from the seriousness of how Harry had been acting this afternoon that they must be in the middle of chasing some sort of lead.

This brought Harry to move and look up at me. He looked guilty but I couldn't blame him for his part in all of this. I reached over and took one of his hands in mine before squeezing it. This made Harry exhale loudly in exhaustion.

Harry shook his head before replying. "We're not finished yet. I need you to wait a little longer."

I could hear the regret in his voice and knew that this time Harry might find it more difficult to leave me behind. I liked is just as much to be left behind but I knew it had to be like this and that even though my father was gone that that didn't change the mission.

"I've missed you," I said out loud even though it could have gone unsaid.

Fleur and Bill were gracious hosts and I knew that despite their insistence that all the other hideouts were full of Order members that I could have easily been accommodated elsewhere. I knew Fred had advocated to bring me to their Aunt Muriel's and maybe being near by two best friends could have helped in some way. Or even to the Tonks' to help look out for when the baby came. From my calculations that must only be in the next couple days. But I almost wondered if there had been some agreement that I was unaware of. Whether Bill felt some unwarranted responsibility over me since he had come to my saviour, or whether the Weasley's thought that the tranquility of Shell Cottage could keep me more grounded than moving to another environment. I hadn't had the energy to ask past the simple explanation that Bill had given me and was relieved now that Harry was here that I had stayed.

"I've missed you, too, Marnie. But I can't regret leaving you behind," Harry admitted, seeming like he was trying to convince himself just as he was to me.

I knew it hadn't been easy to be separated like this and couldn't imagine how alone he must have felt being on the run this long.

"I'll always be here when you need me," I replied with a more determined look that Harry accepted with a sad smile.

After that we stayed sitting on the bottom bunk for several more hours, talking almost like we could pretend we were back in Gryffindor common room and not like the weight of the wizarding world was bearing down on us.

It was chilly but the tent was successful enough in keeping to wind out. I had one of Mrs. Weasley's orange sweaters on and Harry was wearing a similar blue one. We didn't talk about anything important after that, a temporary relief since everyone else always wanted to be so serious all the time. The war never afforded us such reprieve so we allowed ourselves to feel it just for the night.

I felt my eyes start to droop well past when the sun had set and Harry noticed when there was a lull just a little too long in the conversation.

"You stay here, Mar. I'll take the top bunk," Harry managed a genuine smile before he finally rose to his feet and proceeded to climb up to the top bunk.

If I let myself believe that maybe we were living years in the past, I would have wished it that Harry and I had bunks like this growing up instead of the two twin beds we had slept in. But the deep exhaustion weighed heavily on my mind and after a murmured goodnight was exchanged, I fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning I was roused by a gentle hand and looked up to see Hermione looking careful yet fondly over me.

I felt slightly better rested than I had since coming to Shell Cottage and relished in the brief relief I felt at seeing Hermione and knowing that Harry was still in the bunk above me. We had slept in our sweaters and day clothes, not caring for the discomfort since it hadn't hindered our rest. I was sure Harry was probably used to living without such comforts by this point.

"Fleur has breakfast on the table," Hermione announced softly and I nodded.

Harry was already descending down the ladder and he put his hand on my shoulder in another show of brotherly affection before we followed a moment later out of the tent behind Hermione. Once we made it to the cottage we both went to clean up a bit before joining everyone around the small table. It reminded me of my many meals around the Weasley table since there were far more people sitting around than were meant to be accommodated. Ron, Luna, Bill, Dean and Fleur were already sitting and inched closer together when Harry and I sat down and joined them.

Bill tried to coax more details out of Harry but not with as much fervour as yesterday. Fleur disappeared at one point to go and feed Mr. Ollivander and Griphook who were still bedridden while we finished up.

Bill then got up once everyone was finished eating and I helped the others clean up. Several minutes later Bill came down supporting Mr. Ollivander who was looking very frail but with a smile on his face regardless. He shared some kind words with Luna before Bill announced that he was going to transport him to his aunt's place.

Bill looked at me with a questioning gaze, one I knew meant he was asking if I would care to come along to see Fred.

Despite how tempting that was, I turned my gaze over to where Harry was standing with Ron and shook my head in reply. I knew they would be leaving soon and I didn't want to waste whatever time I had with my brother.

Bill walked Mr. Ollivander outside and left the rest of us behind. Harry gave me a meaningful look before he disappeared upstairs with Hermione and Ron, no doubt to speak with Griphook. I knew somehow the goblin was a part of their developing scheme and bit down my own curiosity to put my trust in Harry.

Bill returned a few minutes later, giving a report that everyone else was doing fine.

"Fred was disappointed but he seemed to understand, as much as Fred ever shows understanding that is," Bill exclaimed with a sort of rueful smile.

I nodded and offered a small smile in return because I knew this separation was making Fred more nervous than he usually was whenever it came to me. There was nothing comforting I could offer him and he knew that, so we did what we could and it spoke more to me of Fred's silent faith that showed we would make it through this. Sometimes it showed just how much Fred loved me that he left me to make my own decisions rather than pressing on as my white night like he had done in the past.

Bill passed along another message from Ginny that she said hello once Harry returned downstairs. Other than looking a little guilty at that, he looked determined and I knew that he would be leaving sooner rather than later, maybe even within the day. But a sounding of someone at the door abruptly stopped anyone from saying anything further. Bill hesitantly went to the door and asked who it was.

My heart leaped when I heard that it was Remus, sounding far more excited than I had heard anyone sound in months. Once Bill affirmed that it was in fact Remus, he opened the door and let him inside where he proceeded to walk into the room with a sort of whimsy I never would have thought possible.

"Dora had the baby! We named him Ted Remus Lupin, Ted after Dora's father," Remus exclaimed proudly, causing the room to rise in spirit at such wonderful news.

I beamed at Remus, meeting his eye as he looked between Harry and I while everyone else peppered him with questions about his son.

"Harry, Marnie. We're making you godparents for Teddy," Remus beamed proudly, causing both Harry and I to gape at him in shock.

Harry stuttered, refuting his own eligibility for the responsibility. Tears burned the rims of my eyes without spilling over, caught between joy and unease. How could I ever be tasked with such an important duty.

"Of course we're sure! Dora and I agree that there's no one better. Dora actually requested you, Marnie. Saying that she would love the daughter I raised to be such a part of Teddy's life," Remus replied fondly, bringing my tears to spill down my face.

I rushed forward and Remus enveloped me in a sturdy embrace while Harry closed in behind me, all three of us feeling our family reunion and the loss of my father in such a declaration.

Remus didn't stay much longer after that, making his rounds to the other Order hideouts to give out his announcement. It was bittersweet to see him go and with that, even with the realisation that I was now a godmother, the mood turned to the task at hand.

Bill warned Harry about making dealings with goblins, giving a short history lesson on goblin-wizarding relationships and how any agreement Harry made with Griphook would probably be double handed.

But the afternoon grew starkly worse when I followed Harry and the other two out to the beach where I found out that they had a brew of Polyjuice Potion stashed in that beaded sack of theirs, where Harry had taken out the tent the night prior; it had since been packed away.

Harry looked weary that I was even out there with them, but there was a silent understanding between us that I wouldn't leave their side until they made their leave.

Hermione, despite her altered appearance, was standing on the beach transformed into one Bellatrix Lestrange. The image was enough to make the pressure increase in my mind to almost breaking capacity, but I forced myself to stay grounded while Harry ventured over and took my hand in his.

I couldn't force my gaze away however from the curved wand in Hermione's transformed hand. I was so familiar with it and the three others standing around were very aware of that fact as well.

"This wand… it feels like her. It tortured Neville's parents and Marnie's mother. It tortured you, Marnie," Hermione was close to tears at that comment and I didn't stifle the shiver in my veins.

It was almost enough to plunge me over into the darkness of the chaos in my mind but I made myself step forward instead until I was right in front of Hermione. I stared into her foreign black eyes, the same eyes that had looked down at me for months with amusement, anger, and craze and found none of that same mania.

I couldn't bring myself to be able to speak but I embraced Hermione instead, feeling her fear and hesitation while she embraced me in kind.

We were interrupted finally when Griphook exited the cottage and joined our party, signalling Harry's immediate departure. I watched as the group of four huddled together and three of them disappear under Harry's invisibility cloak. I was left only to watch Bellatrix's doppelganger collect herself for a final moment before all of them disappeared with a crack into the dimming night.