Chapter 42

Falling Strides

Hermione overslept that morning.

It was late, she could tell that. The Sun streaming through the open drapes hit the painting of one of Sirius' relations who had pulled out some form of sunglasses to protect itself from the glare, all while chundering about his relations placement of his portrait.

She was stiff when she rolled over and looked at her watch on the floor. There was no possible way she had slept in till eleven. She never slept in like that, she hadn't been able to sleep in like that till the end of the war-

But then she remembered her last two nights. Last night she, Harry and Ron had fled a wedding before the Death Eaters had come, only to face them in a dark alleyway in central London. The night before, Fred had broken up with her and she had strode through the moors of Devon to get her hair chopped and colored first thing in the morning. Her body had been operating on only 4 hours of sleep at most-it probably needed to sleep in, even if she didn't have time for it.

Hermione sat up and surveyed the room. Harry and Ron's blankets were scrunched up on the floor. She looked at the foot of her sofa and saw someone had arranged a small little plate with some fruit and an energy bar she had packed in her little purple bag, as if it was meant to be a breakfast in bed. A smile drawn on the corner of the napkin.

The Quaffle, every synonymous with her relationship to Ron, settled on her stomach.

She supposed she was fortunate they didn't know how deep her stores were in the purse. She could summon a pancake mix and make the guys a late brunch. And as soon as Kreature made his reappearance, Hermione was sure they'd be able to get some eggs and milk in the house and could have a proper breakfast tomorrow or the next day, again, all pending on Kreature.

But for now, the house was silent and still. She knew Harry and Ron wouldn't be foolish enough to go running outside, but that didn't stop her from walking towards the window and glancing out side.

There, across from Number 12 stood two men in Traveling cloaks, looking steadily at the doors of Grimmauld as though they waited for one of them to betray the location of the others.

They were under guard. They wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. At least, not until they were able to come up with a plan.

She walked back to the coach, flinging herself back to her blankets. With the locket influx, there wasn't anything demanding they push towards the Ministry. She wondered if Harry would press for Godric's Hollow? Perhaps if they went now, would Bathilda still be alive? Or maybe the boys would think it better to stay in London and travel out occasionally to different spots to gather clues and figure out what was really going on. Perhaps they could spend the war here, just apparting out for day trips. They'd have the safety of Grimmauld surround them as they tried to determine what they were supposed to do next.

Looking at her breakfast tray, Hermione brought her hand up to her eyes to run them while her other hand snaked up the back of her head, as though she was trying to grapple with an idea that wasn't there.

What do you do next? She asked herself. What in the world was she to do next?

Think Hermione. Think—

"What are you thinking?" a familiar voice seemed to echo in her head. She had to force herself not to smile at the phrase. Instead she tried to push her hand deeper into her eyes, as if doing so would provide a reset where the words never joined together.

But the words had done their job and opened the floodgates she had tried to seal yesterday. How she was furious at him for not letting her explain herself-explain the situation and everything it entailed. For him being judge and jury on their relationship, on her actions, the lot of it. She was frustrated and livid that he could jump to the conclusion that because they hadn't been together before-because he thought now he was supposed to die, obviously that meant she didn't really love him and had been faking it. That he thought that she was resigned to his death-

You stupid git, she swore under her breath, you stupid-

And then the fact he tried to save Scrimgeour. Her stomach turned but in full honesty, that shouldn't have surprise her. Fred was always trying to save people. But he knew too much about what was to happen now. She had the insane feeling that regardless of his patronus' promise last night, Fred Weasley was about to wield a permanent marker and scribble all over their timelines.

Terrible things would happen if you tried to rewrite a fixed point, Dumbledore had told her. She still wasn't entirely sure what was fixed and what was fluid, but she had a horrible feeling Fred would find out what Dumbledore meant sooner than later.

And despite it all, she wished she could be there for him when it did.

Because regardless of what he had said and regardless of how she felt in that moment, she knew they were better together. That if he was here, they'd be able to come with a plan of what they needed to do while splitting the energy bar. How no matter how bleak it was, he'd say something to give her hope and they'd leave the room closer to a victory.

She vainly hoped that soon he'd send another Patronus. Maybe with that motivation, that cheering she was so used to. But she knew he wouldn't. He didn't have anything else to say to her. She didn't want to believe that this was it for them. She didn't want to go on her merry way thinking that she wouldn't see him again till right before the Battle. That thought seemed to take the air from her lungs, just like when he broke up with her two days ago.

You're a mess Hermione, she thought to herself, wiping away the water that was prickling her eyes. You need to put him in a box and put that box away. He doesn't love you. He doesn't love you anymore. It's over. It's time to soldier on. Harry needs you to soldier on.

But Hermione still wondered how he was doing this morning. How the Ministry's takeover was affecting the shop. If he was still having a hard time. If he was just as haunted by their words the last few days as she was.

He doesn't love you anymore.

A crash of dishes sounded from downstairs making her jump, pulling her out of her lament. The boys had found something to cook and that alarmed her in more ways than one. Unwrapping the energy bar, she broke off a bit, heading down stairs to see what all the commotion was about.

((*))

She could hear running water and what sounded like a struggle coming from the otherside of the kitchen door. Dumbledore's ashes had not stirred by the door, so Hermione assumed there wasn't an intruder waiting to claim her. Taking her wand, she threw open the door, muttering Immobulus half heartedly as she surveyed the scene.

The tabletop had been flipped over a random orange visible behind the dishes that she had heard fall from upstairs. Harry, Ron, and Kreature all looked at Hermione in their frozen state of a , clutching a frying pan stared at her while Kreature, with his arms outreached as though he had been trying to scratch out Ron's eyes, looked most aggrieved by her handiwork.

"What in heaven's name are you doing?" Hermione barked, again surveying the room to see the water noise was coming from the sink, the faucet having been blasted off in the struggle. "We don't have many places we can run off to, I would have thought you'd think better than blowing this place apart. You-" she barked, her wand pointing at Harry, "What the Hell are you doing?"

"We found who RAB is Hermione. Or we think we did," Harry said rather giddy despite the small trickle of a nosebleed she could see. "He was Sirius brother, you remember, Regulus? I was exploring the house and I found his room and-"

At this point Kreature tried with renewed strength to reach at Ron but the magic held, keeping him and Ron apart, at least for the moment.

"They have his locket," the elf moaned, "They have Master Regulus' locket-oh if Master only knew-if he knew how Kreature had failed him-"

Both Harry and Ron turned their gaze to the elf, "What do you mean?" Harry asked, " How did you fail him?"

Hermione waved her wand and the kitchen began to put itself back together. The faucet turned off and the flood it had left disappeared into a flower pot. The table turned itself right with the bowl of oranges, retrieved by one of the boys from the Purple Bag, sat in the middle. Hermione shook her head and set the teapot to boil as Kreature started his tale.

((*))

The Monday following the last of the Hogwarts Funerals, the Ministry rolled out the Commission for Reconciliation and Reunion.

The Commission had one key aim, provide answers to those that had survived the war. Answers of those who had gone missing and hadn't returned. Answers to why certain people had been targeted. Answers for why and how loved ones had been killed.

It was a firm fact that the Death Eaters would all be headed to Azkaban. The Ministry wasn't going to let many slip away as they had the last time. No get out of jail free cards. Not this time. So to sweeten the pot, and make sure the convicted participated, the Ministry offered certain concessions. A shortened jail sentence. Family Visitation. Commuted Sentences to other Wizarding Prisons that were in the process of being constructed.

Many, at times Hermione included, flocked to the courtrooms as Death Eaters came to recount their crimes. The Sessions would break after two hours so people could get up, stretch. Sometimes, pending who was spilling their sins, the rooms had to be rotated so the overflow could have a chance to sit in the chamber.

It wasn't only Death Eaters and Snatchers who came to Testify. Harry had, giving interview and speaking to some of things they had gone through on the hunt for Horcruxes. It wasn't a full testimony, but he spoke of the bewitchment and death of Bathilda Bagshot, and gave memory of Ted Tonks, Dirk Criswell, and the Goblins who had traveled with them, a simple act of solace for the widows left behind.

Hermione had chosen to give a private interview. For Ministry records only. She had decided not long after the battle that she was done living a public life. She wanted to regain a sense of a private life, if even for just a few years. Besides, a private interview allowed for more direct questions and Hermione supposed that perhaps if the Ministry knew what it wanted to know, it would leave her alone. For the briefest moments at least.

For the high profile cases like the Malfoys and Ron and Harry, the room had been breaking at its seams, groups rotated every two hours or so. Not near as many people arrived on a sunny Thursday in June though, when Kreature took the stand.

It was truly a landmark case. The Ministry allowing an Elf to give Testimony of events during a wizarding conflict. Some, at least in the Daily Prophet Opinion Articles, said that this was all Kingsley's doing, probably spurred on by the Elf's Participation in the Battle of Hogwarts and a desperate attempt for publicity as the Elf Rights Act prepared to come up to debate in the ministry. .

"I am Kreature of the Most Noble House Pot-tah," the gnarly voice began. He was sitting on three magic encyclopedia that had been stacked on the chair so he would overlook the guard rails. "I previously served in the Hogwarts kitchens and before that to the Most Noble House of Black."

Hermione could remember how stern he looked sitting on those books. His face still set in its wrinkles and its glare as though everyone in the room was someone his mistress would have spoken ill of.

He spoke of the Horcrux exchange, how Master Regulus had learned the Dark Lord's secret and tried his best to thwart it in anyway he could. That had been the closest he had come to break down in the courtroom. Hermione had been proud. She almost stood up, thinking that was that. But then the gnarled voice muttered, "That was the last war. I can tell you about the next."

Kreature then leaned forward from his chair, staring them all down.

"One day last May, Kreature was summoned to Headmaster Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster said it would soon become important to keep an eye on Master Harry, to be there to help him if he asked for it. Kreature didn't want to. Kreature didn't care for Master Harry. Kreature thought he was the filth of blood traitors, that he couldn't be trusted. Professor Dumbledore also summoned Dobby the Free Elf and asked the same, that he keep an eye on Master Harry. Dobby said he would. And keep an eye on Kreature as well-" at this point his expression was one of annoyance, "-and he did. Dobby did."

He then launched into a retelling of the few weeks they spent together at Grimmauld Place. How Harry had summoned him and how he had told the same story of Master Regulus to Master Harry. How once Kreature had the locket, he had searched high and low for Mundungus Fletcher. How he had brought Fletcher to Harry for questions related to the Horcrux and how, once the filth of the thief was out of his house he went to work taking care of Master and his friends.

"Then one day Master Harry left with his friends. Kreature wasn't sure where they were going, but Master Harry had said they'd be back for Supper. So Kreature made a meal and waited. Just as I was taking the Treacle Tart out of the oven Kreature heard noises and thunderings from the front door. The next thing Kreature knew, strange men were barging through the door and the dusty Dumbledore wailed. Kreature didn't want them to know who was there, or they'd ask if he knew where Master Harry was. A House Elf keeps his Master's Secrets. So Kreature performed a disillusionment charm and watched as they searched the house."

The interviewer, who sat at a table across from Kreature asked, ever so gently, "Did they find anything Kreature?"

"Master and his friends had left out drawings of the Ministry. Blue prints from when they had gone before. The men knew they had come to the Ministry but didn't know why. Not long after they had found these drawings, they took them and left. Keature didn't want them returning to my Master's house so I put a sealing charm on all the doors and windows so they wouldn't be able to get in again. After that, I left for Hogwarts to wait through the war with the others."

There wasn't anything really new or mind boggling from Kreature's testimony. Not until the very end, or so Hermione thought. The interviewer asked of Dobby, saying not many people knew him, was there anything he'd like to say about the elf.

Kreature sat on the books and puckered his lips as though he had tasted something very sour. Then he released them and looked down to the ground, His voice softer as he spoke. "Dobby was a very peculiar Elf," he said carefully, as though he was weighing his words against his own thoughts "Very peculiar. But good. Dobby was a Good Free Elf."

"When the lights began to go out at Hogwarts-when it became clear the Bad Witches and Wizards were in control, Dobby organized the Kitchen House elves to get to work," Kreature said simply. "Many of the students, particularly the younger ones, began to skip meals. They were afraid of the Carrows grabbing them for their sport. So, we began making sandwiches. Huge sandwiches. And we'd tuck them in the Dormitories when we went to clean them so they'd still have something to eat.

"Why do you think he did that Kreature?" the interviewer asked.

"The small ones need to become the strong ones, Dobby said" Kreature wheezed leaning back into the chair, his face stoic, "We all did."

Now Hermione stood, her memories of Kreature's testimony still reeling before as he finished his tale of Regulus Black and the stolen locket.

"So Dung had it last," Ron swore, looking at Harry and Hermione with irritation, "It could be anywhere. We might as well start looking through Muggle Second Hand Stores or costume shops-"

"He would have known it was valuable, he probably sold it to some Pureblood. Someone who'd believe it was a trinket with magical properties," Hermione tried, "Or maybe it got nicked from him-"

"Maybe he lost it?" Ron countered.

"Either way we don't know where it is," Harry interrupted, "We know who had it last but as he's dead-"

"I don't think the thief is dead," croaked Kreature, "There's been mublings and murmurs of someone wandering through Knockturn Alley, someone like Fletcher."

"But he died-he died with Mad Eye," Harry started looking at Hermione and Ron, "Didn't he?"

"We never found his body mate," Ron shrugged, "Suppose he somehow did survive. Wouldn't be surprised if he thought it best to keep a low profile. Probably didn't expect a warm reception from the Order if he revealed he had survived and Mad Eye hadn't."

Harry looked at Hermione. Honestly the idea seemed far fetched. Besides, hadn't she heard from Ginny that they had retrieved an arm they had presumed to be Dung's? And if he had survived-if he was armless because of her and had survived, that was just another name on the list of people who'd have been better off if Hermione had let time run its course.

"It's far fetched Harry, but Ron's right. It is possible, " she said against her better judgement, but she could see that Harry needed to believe it was possible. If Fletcher was alive, and if Kreature could find him, she supposed they'd be able to get things back on track-find out about the locket and begin their hunt for horcruxes-

"Please Master," Kreature creaked, his voice having the shadow of hope, "Can I go have a look?"

"Yes Kreature," Harry said, his voice sure of itself for the first time that morning, "Go find Mundungus Fletcher. And bring him here."

((*))

A week after the Wedding, Fred was sitting on a train in an itchy sweater with an oxford collar, as he and nine others fidgeted with their rucksacks.

It was early on a Saturday Morning and he had come to witness the first mass run on the Weasley Wheezes Wandering Wallets. In the seats beside him sat Colin and Dennis Creevey, Dennis sleeping on his older brother's shoulder, his head bobbing as the train sped on. Across from him, sitting next to Justin, were two Hufflepuff girls, Jennifer and Kaitlyn something or other, and a boy named John, also from Hufflepuff. Terry Boot sat on Fred's other side trying to have small talk with Dean Thomas while both boys still looked uncertain of what exactly was going on.

These were their guinea pigs. Fred knew the Creevys would be hard sells, but he also knew that they needed to go. That Colin, in particular, needed to go. Dean and Terry both only agreed to come when the Muggleborn Registration report came out. As for the three little Hufflepuffs, Justin had stressed to them how important vital it was for them to leave and they were in Essex before Fred had time to prepare their rooms.

Justin already had Susan and Hannah going through the House Lists they had brainstormed, trying to think who they'd transport next. Fred was still hopeful that once they got the kids out they'd be able to start shuttling the adults out, he wanted to see for himself how this trip went and then he'd get to work with Bill and his dad slowly getting Muggleborns at Gringotts and the Ministry to France or the States.

"We should get to Dover in ten minutes," Justin explained, looking down at his watch. "And once we do-"

"B-Line for the Ferry," Fred responded, "The Catalonia?"

"Something like that," Justin shrugged, "Dennis and Colin both said they have their real passports-do you still want them to run with the ones from the shop?"

Fred nodded, turning his head to look at the sleeping blond brothers, "Yeah, just so we're sure they work, Terry and Dean also have their own passports, they're tucked at the bottom of their bags just in case as well."

Fred supposed that many of the Muggleborns would have passports, at least the younger ones. It was the older ones, Ted Tonks and his generation, Fred supposed, that would require the books to be made.

It's all a part of the test run, Fred told himself. They were trying to get everything down to the details, from the passport to their mock school uniforms. Fred and George had fashioned these uniforms to make it look like it was a private school going on an expedition across the channel. The matching school bags held their trunks that had been shrunk down with spells modifying their weight. All of the kids had spent the previous night at Granger House where they had been briefed over the trip and their photos had been taken for their passports.

"These cards will work?" Terry Booth asked, looking at the credit card suspiciously, "How is this legal?"

"Considering the Ministry is trying to do a Registration Commission that could land you in Azkaban, we decided to overlook legalities," George had said as a matter of fact, " But, if you'd rather we take the legal approach-"

No one seemed to question what they were doing after that.

"Are they really going to send Muggleborns to Azkaban?" The Hufflepuff named Jennifer had asked, "The Daily Prophet just said they were doing a survey over the growth of the Muggleborn Population in Britain?"

"The Ministry's not quite what it used to be," Fred had explained. "I know the Prophet made it sound like Scrimgeour had quit for health reasons, but some of us think it may have been something more sinister than that."

The little Puff didn't ask questions after that.

Truth be told, Fred didn't know exactly what would come of the Registration Commission. Hermione hadn't included too many details on this point, other than the name "Cattermoles, Sept. 1" Scribbled in the corner, whatever that meant. Muggleborns had one more week to complete the survey and submit it to the Ministry. After that point, they'd have to sit in an interview-just as Pius Thicknesse had said at the wedding-but Fred didn't know what the result of those interviews would be.

Did Fred think they'd all get sent to Azkaban? No, that didn't make any sense. It'd be too visible, the rest of the magical community would revolt. They wouldn't stand for it.

But did he think the Ministry would do something sinister?

He had seen the notices at Gringotts over the summer and spent the last three months with Hermione planning doomsday scenarios. He didn't think this would be the kind of interview that resulted in a job placement or internship. Fred thought it'd be something more sinister than that.

The train lurched into the stration. Fred tapped both the Creevy boys on the shoulders waking them up as the rest of their party detrained. It was a brief stroll down a hill where they would board the ferry. Fred pulled out a small bag, turning behind him where the kids had lined up.

"If any of you lot get sea sick, I've got the right side of a puking pastille for you," he said, handing the bag to Dean who quickly grabbed one before passing it on.

"Oi, Fred," Dean asked, speeding up to catch Fred's strides, " How long are we going to have to be at Beauxbatons?"

"For the duration, I think" Fred answered, "At least till old Moldywarts is gone."

Dean's eyebrows furrowed " What if we decide we want to come back?"

Fred turned to look at him unimpressed, "Dean, it wouldn't be safe. It'd be a damn near suicide mission coming back here as a muggleborn."

"But you said yourself last night, you don't know if we'll end up at Azkaban or not," Dean pressed, "Why can't we just go back to school? We'll be save nine months out of the year and honestly aside from that year there was a snake in the pipes, the only person who's ever come close to dying at school was Harry."

Fred had the growing urge to smack Dean upside the head.

"Just give it some time," Fred said, opening the door to the Ferry Wharf, "But give it some time in France."

The tickets were purchased and the kids all walked the gangplank to the small little Ferry called Cataolina. After twenty more minutes, once more passengers had gotten on, Fred took a seat on the benches and watched as the White Cliffs of Dover began to disappear in the distance.

We've got them out, he whispered to the coast line as they drifted out to sea; Hermione, we've got them out.

((*))

When they docked in Calais, Fred was greeted by a tall, slender woman who had full rosy cheeks and a happy face. Charlie had said Penny Haywood was one of the friendliest, most well liked witches of his year and Fred could believe that straight away.

As he walked up to her, Penny drew open her arms and embraced him, kissing both cheeks. "I haven't seen you since you were that first year promising to blow up a lavatory," she smiled, playfully tapping his shoulder, "Did you ever get around to it?".

"To be fair, didn't you and Charlie's friend think there was a Cursed Fault tucked in a bathroom?" Fred asked sluggishly trying to remember her.

Penny rolled her eyes and shrugged, "Its possible. We had a thing for the vaults when we were at school that's for sure. Ah!" she said, turning and seeing the kids behind Fred, "Wonderful, I'm glad your all here, please follow me and we'll get in the car home.

They reached Penny's aged VW Bus and climbed in, quickly realizing it had more than one expandable charm on it.

"Every now and then Beatrice my sister likes to drive to Strasburg and pick up some plants at the Herbologist Gatherings," Penny said as they all buckled in and headed down the road, "You'd be surprised how many plants you can pack in a car like this."

"Is Beatrice at the house?" Justin asked from the second bench.

"No, she's down in Bordeaux for work," she said simply, "Bea works for the French Ministry of Magic. Lead Herbologist for the Ministry's Medical Wing, helps regulate magical plants and fungi used at the hospitals."

"Really likes her plants doesn't she?" Terry asked sarcastically.

"Bea had a traumatic experience at school," Penny said simply, "It's left her to where she prefers plants over people sometimes. But don't worry, she's excited to have you guys come stay with us," Penny smiled, looking at the anxious faces on the rows behind her. "Besides, she's been traveling quite a bit for work, so you'll only see her every now and again before you're off to Beauxbatons."

They weaved with relative ease down the windy roads and country paths before they reached the small town of Watten. There, on the out skirts of the city center in a Very tall but very thin sliver of a townhouse, Penny parked the car and they all spilt on to the curb.

"This is it," she said with a smile, waving her wand and unlocking the door, "Apres vous," she beamed and opened the door for all of them to file through.

The house was more spacious than it looked from the outside. Again, Fred thought, probably thanks to a few extendable charms.

"Alright, there are two bedrooms upstairs ready for you know. Boys, up on your left, Girls on your right, just like Hogwarts," Penny said with a smile, "Towels are in the hallway next to the bathroom. If you'd like to get settled I'll get something started for lunch and we can explore the village after that."

The kids rallied up the stairs, leaving Justin, Fred and Penny in the kitchen as pots and pans and pasta went to work behind them.

"I'll be honest, I'm looking forward to having the kids here," Penny said, looking up the stairs and listening to the thumps of feet overhead, "Bea's been out a lot for work, it'll be good to have more people in here."

"And you're sure you're alright keeping an eye on them until Madam Maxine calls for them?" Fred asked.

"Of course," Penny started looking at first Justin and then Fred, " I've worked with Olympe as a fill in for their potions master when the permanent one was out on maternity last year; as soon as I hear from her I'll get the kids to Beauxbatons as quick as I can."

"Thank you," Fred said, pausing for a moment, "And-I know Charlie said you've been abroad for a while, but it might not be a bad idea to put extra wards and protection up while your helping us. The situation back home-"

"Charlie filled me in," Penny said, straightening herself up as she did, "I'll tell you the same thing I told Charlie. You don't have to be in Gryffindor House to be brave," she said with a smile, " I'll put the wards up, but I'm not afraid of them. I won't let fear of the Dark Arts dictate my pursuit of life. You keep the kids coming and we'll keep making it work."

Fred noted how Justin's face beamed with Penny's words. Fred nodded and said with a smile, "Just let me know if you start seeing shady characters or things outside the norm," he counseled, "If the Death Eaters find out what we're doing, I can't have them find you. We'll need to keep you and the kids safe."

"I'll let you know if anything comes out of the ordinary," Penny said waving her wand as the spice rack came out and started making its own sauce, "But we'll be fine Fred, don't worry about us. We'll be fine."

((*))

When Fred made it back to the shop that night he was practically skipping up the back steps to their shop. Seven kids had made it out. Of those seven was one who Fred knew had been on Hermione's list. He was down right giddy in knowing their plan had worked, their uniforms had worked, and Colin Creevey would not be dying in May as previously thought.

He turned the knob over and emerged into the workshop where he could hear voices. There, sitting at the workbench was George and a red face Remus.

"Did I miss anything?" Fred asked cautiously. He could count on one hand the amount of times he had seen Remus mad and none of them had been good, "I can leave if-"

"No, no that's not necessary," Remus growled, leaning against the counter. "I should be leaving-I need to go-"

But Remus didn't finish where he was needed.

An awkward silence bubbled up between the three, which was only broken when George asked, "How did the passports go today? Any issues?"

"None whatsoever," Fred beamed, "I met Penny and she'll be great-we shouldn't have any problem getting the kids to France. And Penny was more than happy to get the kids settled and taken care of once they got there. I think it'll work out splendidly."

"Very nice," George smiled, clapping his brother on the back while Remus leaned against the desk, still brooding and glaring at the distant space between him and the floor.

"Remus, are you ok?" Fred asked, concern growing as his mentor showed no reaction to the passports trial run. "Do you need-"

" I am fine," he seethed, getting up and headed towards the door, "Have a good night," he said, his voice anything but friendly, as he disappeared through the back door.

Fred turned to George, "What the hell was that about?"

George looked at the door and then his brother. He waved his wand and fixed a second cone to the wall, one that they had been tinkering with, a Cone of Silence that would mess with any trackers or bugs the ministry had placed on them or the shop.

"You have my attention," Fred said as the mild hum sounded from the cone, " What's gone wrong?"

"Remus talked to Harry earlier today," George started before quickly being cut off by his brother.

"Wait, he saw them-he knows where they-how are they?" Fred asked, his words coming quickly and running together, "Where did they go?"

George rolled his eyes impatiently, "He wouldn't tell me that Fred, and even if he had, you know we're not to go find them." his brother said sternly, "All he told me is he found them, and he offered to join them, kind of serve as a protector, advisor, third party just watching more or less and Harry shot him down. Rather emphatically."

Fred nearly took a step back. He had done the same, made the same offer to Hermione all those months ago, but she had always found a way to change the subject, or tell him directly that the shop and George would need him more.

It hadn't helped, but he knew then what he knew now-this was something only the three of them would be able to work out, anyone else would just be dead weight.

"Well, can't say I'm surprised," Fred said, looking up from his feet to his brother's face, "Tonks has to be right pleased about that right? Doubt she was looking forward to him going off the grid with a bunch of kids."

Now George looked away. In a manner that made Fred feel uncomfortable. "What's wrong with Tonks Georgie?"

"She's pregnant Fred," George said simply, looking up to face him. "She's pregnant and Remus is freaking out thinking she's been impregnated with a beast baby."

"He was going to leave her?" Fred asked. He felt gutted. He had always liked Remus. He looked up to him in so many ways. Especially this last year as he had helped them with the wallets and dropping pamphlets. But this-this revelation seemed to set it all arry. It was a stark contrast against the man who seemed to always be there when they needed him the most-it sounded nothing like Remus Lupin at all.

"He's been part werewolf since he was five Fred, I think he's terrified what this could mean for Tonks and the baby," George tried. George always seemed to believe in the good of people. Always giving them the benefit of the doubt-so long as they were friends and not Death Eaters. "After all, it's not like this is common, werewolves having kids and all. He's probably right to worry about something like this."

"No I get that-but he was just going to leave them?" Fred asked, his mind trying to imagine what Remus could be thinking. If Fred had left George, or if he had-well you did, He realized in a deep panic that spread acid up his throat, You did leave Hermione. In the dark next to a mill pond. Crying.

"Never Mind," Fred stopped, cutting off George's answer before he could give it. "He's going to fix this right? He and Tonks aren't going to split up?"

Out of the corner of Fred's eye he could see Hermione standing next to his work desk. Her hair was still long. She was wearing the earth green shawl his mother kept next to the door. Her eyes gleaming as her face looked like she had just been dealt a blow. Like he had dealt her a blow.

"I think he's going to try and give her space-in his own twisted way, I think Remus figures distance is best in this scenario, the little prick."

His imagined Hermione looked at him with those sad brown eyes had become so familiar to him. They seemed glued to his face, as though she was waiting for him to knock her down again, another accusation, another heartache, another abandonment.

"No he needs to back to her he-he shouldn't leave her long. She'll start thinking that aren't true."

You don't love me, that's what she had said at the wedding when they danced. That he didn't love her. But he had never said that. He had said a lot of things, that he was hurt. That he was betrayed. That they needed to end things. But he never said he didn't love her.

But that's what she heard.

That's what she believed.

And even in the confusion that had been the last two weeks, that was the one thing he couldn't convince himself was true.

He was upset. He was betrayed. But he still cared for her. He still wanted her to come home. He wanted this to end quickly so they could fix it all. He wanted to be able to tell her he loved her and hoped she believe it. And maybe then, they'd have their second chance. Maybe then she could forgive him and this nightmare mirage of her staring at him in the shop would go away.

"That's what I told him. I think he's going to lie low for a little bit but hopefully he'll head back soon. In the meantime, Tonks is with her parent's which is probably a good thing considering the Muggleborn Commission-"

"Right, the commission," Fred said, turning again to face the mirage by his work desk but she was gone.

She's gone Freddie, he told himself, as George lifted the cone of silence and headed back to his work bench. She's gone and you aren't going to see her again. Not for a long while.

"Would you like something to eat? I was going to go up to the kitchen and get a snack," Fred asked.

"Nah, I'm alright. Just hurry down we need to get to work on that Defense Order for McGonagall," George started but Fred was gone before he finished his thought.

He thundered up the stairs and skipped the kitchen, headed straight to his room. He stomped his foot on the corner of a floor board and it opened to his compartment. He bent down and quickly pulled open the book, skipping months and months into the future towards the end-towards March or April.

And then he found it, the note he knew he'd find. In her nicer handwriting, Hermione had scribbled the line, 1 April 1998-Edward Remus "Teddy" Lupin born in Bristol, Remus and Tonks both pleased and doing well. Baby is well and appears to take after Tonks, his hair color changing shortly after birth.

Fred collapsed on the edge of his bed and looked at the words a few more times. A little boy. Lupin was going to have a little boy who changed his hair color like his mum. Lupin and Tonks were going to be together and be parents. All was going to be well.

Or is it? Fred thought again before flipping to the last pages of the book, the ones where his name had been put on the doomed to die.

There, a few people below him, there were listed Remus and Tonks Lupin.

Fred slammed the book shut and put it back in the hide away. No, he thought as he headed back down stairs, No, Teddy Lupin would not become an orphan. Not on Fred Weasley's watch.

((*))

It was the end of an even longer day for Hermione.

While Kreature had left the moment Harry had told him too, the Elf must have made an appearance that night as they slept for when Hermione awoke the next morning the fridge was filled with eggs, milk, cheese and different smoked meats. They had taken the treasures and made a nice little feast that left them lethargic the rest of the day and into the night. They had stayed up later chatting, coming up with theories and plans and wondering all the while if Kreature really would be able to find Dung.

But that had been three nights ago. Tonight the house stood still. Hours before, Remus had come and made his offer to join the three of them. Hours before, Harry had more or less ran the only mentor Hermione felt they had left out of the house,calling him a coward before the door could slam shut.

She knew he didn't mean it. After the war, when they were preparing for Remus' and Tonks funeral Harry had confessed he wished he hadn't called him a coward. Saying that he knew he needed to leave. That he needed to go back to Tonks-but again wishing he had never accused the man of cowardice.

Hermione looked to where Harry sat next to the fireplace, a soft glow softening his features. She knew he was right, that he had done the right thing. But Hermione Granger would be the very first to tell anyone that asked, the right thing wasn't always the easiest thing.

Ron had fallen asleep after dinner on the sofa. She supposed in a few minutes she'd make an excuse to go through the Black Family Library again, see if there was anything she had missed they could take with them when the left, but it was just another distraction from sitting, and waiting and sitting some more.

"I did the right thing, right Hermione?" Harry asked, pulling her from her thoughts. "With Remus I mean. I did the right thing tell him to go back to Tonks."

"I may not have used the words you did," Hermione said with a smile as she sat up and walked behind his chair, resting her hand comforting on his shoulder, "But you did the right thing Harry. And I'm sure Tonks would thank you for it."

Harry rested his hand on hers for a minute and she just stood there, in that little pocket of time. Ron shuffled in his sleep, rolling to face towards the two of them.

"Is it bad I wish he could have come? That Dumbledore had filled him in on the secret?" Harry asked in a voice tiner than a whisper.

"No," Hermione sighed, shaking her head, " I think if we had it our way, a lot of people would have been filled in on what we're trying to do. I know-" I know I would have told Fred, she nearly said. But she stopped herself. Even if she had told Fred, she doubted it would have made any difference in the end.

"I know I have people I'd have wanted to tell if I could. And Remus Lupin would be one of them," Hermione said simply.

Harry nodded, removing his hand from her own. The clock chimed 8 in the evening. She supposed she could challenge Harry to Wizard's Chess and they could make it through the next hour before they tucked into bed. Perhaps in the morning the melancholy spell would be broken and they could come up with a plan that would get them going.

Suddenly, there was a rustle coming from outside the door. A loud snap followed by a thump that jarred Ron from his sleep. Looking alarmed, he grabbed at his wand, looking at Hermione and Harry who had done the same. The door was thrown open and there, with a triumphant look on his face, stood Kreature, dragging a knocked out wizard behind him.

" I found him Master Harry," Kreature grinned, dropping the collar of Mundungus Fletcher and stepping away for Dung to look at him, "I found him."

Hermione raced over and looked down. It was without a doubt this was Mundungus, although he had the makings of a black eye under his unruly black hair. It looked diritier and more tussled than it had before. From what Hermione could see, Dung's appearance was nothing as it had before. He had never been what Hermione would categorize as neat, but he had always been a little bit more put together than he currently appeared.

What was most alarming though was what Harry and Ron where now gasping at. Where Dung's right arm would normally have been was a stump, just below his elbow, the skin still red and irritated as though it had never healed right. .

"How did that happen?" Harry asked, looking from the arm to Dung's face, "Hermione-"

"He must have gotten splinched when he fled the Battle," Hermione answered plainly, "Survival instincts can be strong-sometimes our magic can propel us to get through jinxes-"

But even she was unconvinced with that answer.

Suddenly Dung's eyes flew open and he looked grizzly at the three of them. "Why'd you send that bleed elf after me boy? Isn't it enough I gave me arm for you, want to take my eye too?"

"Let's go down to the kitchen," Hermione said, "we can sit around the table and figure it out."

Hermione tried not to notice Kreature crack a smile and she wondered if he'd be wielding a pan again.

AN:

I've had the majority of this chapter for the last few weeks and we finally hit a slow spell at work to polish it up...

The Wallets were my favorite part of this to be honest. If you haven't picked up on it already I love adding in little bits from "Hogwarts A Mystery" with this story. Expect to see that in coming chapters. Also, (and alas), I was looking at my outline and the next chapter has potential for being longer. I'm going abroad mid March and will try and update before I head out to Scotland.

If I stick to the outline, this story will be done in the coming year. I already have ideas for a project after this and I'll probably test the waters with you all at a later time. I found an old draft I had worked on before starting FTT when I was traveling at Christmas and I can't shake it from my head. Again, more details in coming months. Gotta finish this baby before we start a new one.

Next Chapter we'll see some paths crossing yet again as Harry, Ron and Hermione head to the Ministry of Magic. Meanwhile, Fred is retracing steps and trying to fill in the missing gaps as he continues to save those on Hermione's list.

Mayhem, Chaos and Romance will ensue.

Until next time,

KH