Here is Chapter Eleven! Sorry these are getting posted so much slower, just been busy lately. Also I'm sad to be on the last book, and I know I'm going to be really sad when I get to the end again. So much sadness!

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I suppose it's just the romantic in me, but I always pictured love as almost a youth potion. Something that would breathe life into a person, life that they would reflect outward. Looking at Remus, who was grayer and tired as ever I found this idea to be very much at odds with that vision. The group assembled was a small and ragtag bunch. Molly Weasley was in attendance though her husband was unable. Tonk's parents were also there, watching solemnly. They hadn't been as opposed to the wedding as I would have guessed. If I had brought a werewolf home to my parents and announced my intention of marrying said werewolf... well they definitely would not have accepted that quietly. Yet as I looked at Andromeda Tonks I saw concern there, but I had a feeling she was more worried about what people would think about Tonks and less about Remus Lupin himself. Then again why wouldn't she be? Remus was a good man, an educated man, but mostly a good man. A man who had been trusted by Dumbledore and was trusted by so many who knew him. Yet, when I looked at him I just saw the same shabbiness, the same exhaustion, and more gray hair than ever before. My romantic ideals about love were definitely being challenged.

I think Louisa sensed it, it wouldn't surprise me. I felt her cool fingers grip my own and she leaned close to my shoulder, "Look closer Cedric."

I looked at her and felt a force swell up in my chest so great I thought it would explode from it, fortunately it didn't. Not for the first time in the last weeks I was captivated, her elegantly beautiful features were turned toward the couple who were exchanging vows. I couldn't tell you the barely detectable differences in them, the barely discernible changes in her expression that I had become so familiar with over the past years. I didn't know what exactly was different from her usual expression, but I could see that she was pleased. She was proud and she was hopeful. Those chocolate eyes were so warm, and filled with so much love as she watched her godfather marrying his bride that I started to feel it too. I started to believe again, in Remus and Tonks, in us, in Harry. If Luna Lovegood had been there she would have had a very good chance at getting me to believe in nargles.

"At him Cedric. His eyes..." Louisa caught me staring and I saw a faint pink blossom on her cheeks.

I smiled and turned back to examine his tired face. The lines were deeper than I had ever seen them and he was still rather scruffy. His stubble was glistening gray in the light of the room and his unkempt hair was of a similar shade. His dress robes were a step up from the usual, but still shabby an moth eaten. I saw it in his eyes though, the expression I knew must be in mine every time I looked at Louisa. One of hope, one of such adoration that it seemed like you would be bursting at the seams with it. The butterflies in my chest stirred again, fluttering around my ribcage like never before. Dumbledore had to have been right, love was much more powerful than anything else. I could feel it inside of me, I could feel it in my blood, in my hair follicles even. I was the best and most sincere version of myself because of it. Love had given me courage to stand up and fight, in both large and small ways. I could never remember feeling so happy, it was like I had been asleep and every time I looked at Louisa I woke up yet again.

"I... love you," I breathed and I saw her head turn to look at me out of the corner of my eye and I just smiled, "I love you. Louisa Randall Black Gaunt Riddle Whatever, I love you."

Now was the time to love wasn't it? At a wedding, when the world was at war. I had to love her now before I lost my chance altogether, and I had already wasted so much time being an idiot. Being oblivious. Years I had spent with her that should have been more than what they were, thinking back on them I regretted my ignorance. Then again, how could I have known? It hadn't been a sudden bolt of feeling, it had been a seed planted on that hillside on the way to the Quidditch World Cup. A seed watered and tended by her presence, it had grown so gently throughout my body and soul that I hadn't noticed it. I had been too busy being Cedric Diggory, too busy worrying about other things. Then I had kissed her and the seed and burst into bloom, forcing me to see it. I felt it's roots gripping me now, twisted around every bone in my body, every organ, every essence of me had been thoroughly possessed by it. I fell in love with her slowly and suddenly all at once.

The ceremony was wrapping up and she was just watching me wordlessly so I turned and smiled at her easily, raising a finger to my lips to let her know to be quiet. I didn't need her to say it back, I didn't need anything from her except that she let me love her. Thinking back to how self assured I had been before Louisa. I had thought I was truly happy, that I was the best I could be. How could I have know that being universally adored by all was next to meaningless? How could I have known how naive I was? How cowardly, even? I had entered the Triwizard Tournament because I had let everyone build me up, and despite all of my modesty I had let them convince me that I was the best thing at Hogwarts. Then I met her and spiraled into a free fall of self doubt. Yet I had come out anew, not unlike a phoenix. The old childlike version of myself had burned and I had come up from the ashes. I was gritty and scarred by memories and grief, by darkness and secrets, by the great burden of a war. Yet I was a better man, a man who deserved to be proud.

The ceremony had been a quick one and now as Louisa was over with Molly and Tonks talking in hushed and happy tones I stood to the side with Lupin. I felt the burden of love as well as the good. I was tethered to her now. Dependent on her, on her happiness. I needed her as much as I needed air, well, that was an exaggeration but love is often accompanied by hyperbole. I looked at Remus, he looked worried and I could understand why. Tonks has now attached to a werewolf, and I knew what that meant in our world. I didn't care and anyone who knew him wouldn't care, Louisa would punch anyone that did. Yet I knew what he must be feeling, that it was selfish of him to marry her, to give in to his happiness. I had seen these feelings mirrored in Louisa many times, even since we had become a couple. I could see it in the back of her mind, the notion that she was bad for me.

"You deserve to be happy Remus," I told him simply, "You both do."

I think he knew I didn't mean Tonks, because he looked at me now and said thoughtfully, "At what cost?"

I smiled, "I know what it's like to hold someone else above your own needs, and while I can't pretend to understand your predicament..." I paused to think, "I can speak on behalf of Tonks, from the others side of the relationship. If she feels for you the way I think she does, it is worth it. It isn't even a question, and it would be wrong of you to make the decision for her."

He heaved a great sigh, "It is selfish though, isn't it?"

Before I could think of a good reply Louisa had moved over to us, "What was that Lupin?" She smiled.

"I simply noted how selfish I'm being," He told her but managed a weary smile, "Marking her as an outcast."

"I think it's both." Louisa noted, "Love is both selfish and selfless simultaneously. Don't you think?"

He smiled at her, "You are your mother's daughter. I only knew her for a brief time, but she was a kind woman. Stubborn as they come, and occasionally impulsive which I guess is why she and Sirius got on so well." He noted sadly, "She was not a perfect woman, had a temper not unlike your own, but she would always admit to when she had done wrong. I was fond of her for it."

Louisa hugged him and I heard her tell him something softly, but I couldn't make out what it was. I figured it was private so I didn't ask her about it when we went back to the hideout that evening. Louisa hadn't wanted to go back to Grimmauld place, I couldn't blame her, the place was a wreck. So we stayed in a tent she had inherited from her mother, set up in the forest not far from the Burrow. I actually liked it quite a bit, the canvas ceiling added a softness to our situation and it was nice enough that it was basically a house by itself. I had insisted on staying, there was no way I was going to let her stay there alone, even with the protective spells around it.

A woman was crooning on the radio while I turned on the stove and set the kettle on it for tea. Mr and Mrs Weasley had offered to let us stay in their home, but Louisa didn't want to intrude. I didn't really either, plus, I almost felt like we were playing house. It was nice. Louisa opened the flap to her room and came out, she had changed back into her oversized jeans and tee shirt. She rolled her eyes at me and just went to sit at the small table.

"Stop looking at me like that Cedric," Louisa sighed, "This isn't a fairytale."

"What does that mean?" I laughed.

"It means this isn't exactly the happy ending. Soon we'll be moving Harry and... soon things are going to get so much worse." She shook her head.

I shrugged, "I know, but we just came from a wedding. Soon we'll be going to another. Love is still present, and you love weddings. Cheer up."

She laughed and smiled at me, "You're such a Cedric Diggory."

"Thank you," I went back over as the kettle began to whistle, "Tea?"

"No, thanks." Louisa stood and moved over to the sofa to lean back into the cushions.

I just poured myself a cup and moved over to where she was stretched out, she lifted her feet up to let me sit down before letting them rest across my legs. I smiled, she was right, darkness was looming just outside the tent flap. I figured it was all the more reason to enjoy these moments, so similar to the ones shared back at Grimmauld place so long ago. Except better, because there was kissing. I would be lying if the danger hadn't made me consider marrying her on the spot. I knew there was a chance neither of us would see the end of this war. It wasn't something I really considered as a reality, but it was there, a worry in the back of my mind. I new Louisa would never go for it though, she wouldn't want to get married just because of the danger.

I settled a copy of the Daily Prophet on the arm of the sofa and flipped through it while I sipped my tea. It long before I felt her gaze on the side of my face and I smirked, "Stop looking at me like that."

"You're just ridiculous aren't you?" She replied simply, "I mean you have a little bend in your nose now but it's almost like it made you more attractive. The hair is nice now too. It used to be too perfect... you're ridiculous Diggory."

I set the tea on the table and grinned at her, "Yeah... I know."

She pulled the cushion from under her head and tossed it at my face gently, I caught it and laughed, "You're one to talk Black. Have you seen yourself lately?"

Louisa rolled her eyes and just sat up tugging me into a kiss by the collar of my shirt. Waves of warm happiness washed over me, and the scent of honey and lavender filled my senses. Then there was a loud cough at the entrance of the tent, I recognized the rough tone as belonging to Mad Eye, which means he could see us. We both had sense enough to blush faintly and Louisa swung her feet out of my lap quickly, but I wasn't too terribly embarrassed. Moody should just keep his magic eye to himself, kissing a beautiful girl was hardly something I was looking to hide.

Louisa just went over and opened the flap, "Hello Moody," she greeted, "Something the matter?"

"Plans for fetching Potter have changed. Pius Thicknesse has made it impossible to remove him in any way besides brooms or a muggle transportation." He said gruffly nodding in my direction as he stumbled inside the tent.

Louisa frowned at him, "Well, what's the new plan?"

Moody's eye spun around his socket like it was looking for anyone listening in and he glanced at me warily, "Maybe this isn't the best place to discuss it..."

"Moody, you can trust us both. Now tell me how we're planning to get Harry out of there." She crossed her arms defensively.

"All right, well the plan is to have eight Harry's all escorted by a member of the Order. We'll fly out of there on brooms, thestrals, and Sirius' motorcycle. The eight pairs will go to eight different safe locations where a portkey will be waiting to bring them to the Burrow." He told her begrudgingly, "We'll have a meeting to decide the pairings and who will take the potion. I think the better known members like myself and Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley, and Arthur should stay in our original forms."

"We'll be paired together," I said without hesitation.

"Yes, and Cedric is better known as a member of the Order so I'll be Harry." Louisa said simply, "Then it's decided on our end."

Mad Eye nodded curtly, "Always respected your decisiveness Black... Diggory," he nodded to me again before hobbling out of the tent once more.

"So... I guess he doesn't respect me?" I noted after the tent flap settled back behind him.

Louisa shrugged, "He's probably just jealous. I mean, we only let you into the Order to up our attractiveness levels."

"I understand completely."

I dismounted my broom as soon as my feet hit the ground on the Dursley's back yard. I glanced over at where Louisa was climbing out of Hagrid's sidecar looking windblown, she gave me an easy smile and glanced at Bill who was helping Fleur off of a thestral nearby. Then the back door burst open and Harry bounded out and was captured in Hermione's hug immediately. The greetings began and we all filed into the house while Moody started to explain the change in plans. Though he refused to go into detail until we were all safely inside. His paranoia didn't seem to dampen the mood though, everybody was so happy to see Harry again and he was clearly very eager to leave. Tonks gleefully announced her recent marriage to Harry and Kingsley explained why he was here instead of with the muggle minister.

"All right, all right, we'll have time for a cozy catch-up later!" Moody bellowed into the room.

Louisa and Bill exchanged a smirk as Mad Eye started to explain the plan to Harry with an heir of gruff impatience that only he could manage. Bill and Louisa had gotten pretty close since the incident at Hogwarts. Fleur had of course told him all about the exchange that had gone on around his hospital bed. He had heard about how Louisa had been the one to rush to his aid in the corridor. Now they had a bond not unlike the one she had with the twins. Except I recognized the twins as not being a romantic threat, her familiar exchanges with Bill were making me a little uncomfortable. I knew it was wrong, that Bill had Fleur and Louisa wasn't thinking about him that way. Still, he was handsome, even with the scars on his face, I didn't like it. Fortunately the twins had moved over to start snickering jokes in her ear while Mad Eye ranted on. Then he got to the part of the plan I knew Harry would have an issue with.

"No!" Harry gasped at the sight of the polyjuice potion, "No way!"

"I told them you'd take it like this," Hermione said smugly.

"If you think I'm going to let seven people risk their lives - !" He started.

Ron rolled his eyes, " - because it's the first time for all of us."

"This is different, pretending to me -"

"Well none of us really fancy it, Harry," Fred noted, "Imagine if something went wrong and we were stuck as specky, scrawny gits forever."

"That could happen?" I eyed Louisa with concern, "I like the way you look..."

This earned me a glare from Harry and a stern elbow from Louisa as George chimed in, "Yeah, we like the way Louisa looks too."

"You can't do it if I don't cooperate, you need me to give you some hair." Harry declared stubbornly.

"Well, that's that plan scuppered," George shook his head regretfully, "Obviously there's no chance at all of us getting a bit of your hair if you don't cooperate."

"Yeah, fifteen of us against one bloke who's not allowed to use magic; we've got no chance," Fred agreed.

"Do we have a plan C? What plan are we on now? I've lost track," Louisa noted.

"Funny," Harry grumbled, "really amusing."

"If it has to come to force, then it will," Moody said gruffly and started to speak again but Louisa cut him off.

"Harry, everyone here is well aware of the risk. We are all overage and we can handle ourselves. If it's Cedric you're worried about don't, I've saved him enough times that it's basically second nature. He'll be fine." She grinned at him, "It could be fun! We'll look like twins!"

"Brilliant!" George shook his head.

"So will we!" Fred agreed with him.

Harry had to hold back a grin so Louisa kept talking, "I know you don't like it, but this is the way it's going to happen. Now if I have to overpower you and rip the hairs out myself then I will, but let's try to be civilized about this Harry."

She met his glare with a determined look I knew all too well, it the look I recognized as a sure fire sign that I was going to lose an argument. Then he seemed to deflate and ripped out a few strands of his hair, "Fine, here."

"All right, fake Potters line up over there," Moody instructed as the potion turned into a brilliant gold color.

Louisa, Fred, George, Ron, Hermione and Fleur shuffled over to the side. Mundungus was shoved forward to join them very reluctantly. Louisa and the twins seemed the least bothered by this whole thing and were eyeing the potion with amused expressions. They all took the potion at once, grimacing at the sensation. I had never experienced it myself, but it looked unpleasant. Their features bubbled and shifted surreally as I watched and soon seven Harry Potter's were standing in front of us. One wearing Louisa's Weird Sisters t-shirt.

Fred and George looked at each other, "Wow - we're identical!"

"I dunno though, I think I'm still better looking," Fred lifted the kettle to examine his reflection.

"Bah," Fleur exclaimed, "Bill, don't look at me - I'm 'ideous."

They started to sift through the bags of clothing, being very immodest as they changed. Clearly no one seemed to think that they needed to hide Harry's half naked body. Louisa finished zipping up a jacket and she fixed her glasses. I knew it was her because she kept winking at me, which was extremely unnerving. They gathered their fake owls and Louisa collected Harry's Firebolt. I didn't like this, it was common knowledge that Harry owned a Firebolt and they would expect him to be on broomstick. Louisa seemed pretty confident about this decision though. Now I was getting really nervous about her being Harry, maybe I should have insisted. It would make more sense for me to be there, I was older, I had been a teacher, and a member of the Order longer than she had been. I still worried though as we all made our way back into the back garden of number 4 Privet Drive.

We mounted our brooms, motorbikes, and thestrals in our assigned pairs and waited for the signal to lift off. I kicked off the same time as Louisa, and I assumed everyone else but my focus was mainly on her. We rose up and I couldn't push away a feeling of dread as we all moved higher into the quiet sky. Then suddenly we were surrounded, all dark hooded figures, nearly thirty of them were all around us. That's when all hell broke loose. The sky was suddenly full of shrieks and bright bursts of green light, I felt magic crackling in the air around me.

"Go!" I shouted and we zoomed forward, out of the chaos for a brief moment before several Death Eaters caught up with us.

A killing curse shot past my head as I flew and I turned to fire back quickly, "Stupefy!"

"Impedimenta!" Louisa shouted from close to my left.

I couldn't tell if our spells hit home, I was just focusing on staying in the air and close to Louisa. She seemed to be doing her best to convince our pursuers that she was the real Harry Potter, flying with the expert touch of a quidditch player. I was surprised, I had still never played quidditch with her, and I thought she wasn't really that into playing it. I knew she enjoyed flying but this was still surprising. I followed suit I had been a seeker and team captain after all, I could keep up with her. She was good, but she certainly wasn't the best I'd ever seen. A flash of green narrowly missed her as she steered her broom out of the line of fire.

A short distance below us I saw Lupin an the fake Harry that I knew must be George being chased by their own group. One aimed his wand at George and I recognized that monotonous voice as it cast, "Sectumsempra!"

George cried out in pain and I saw a flash of blood and slumped in his broom. I saw Lupin scrambling to keep him in the air and I raised my wand, though not sure what I could do. Then I heard Louisa shouting, except I didn't understand what she was saying, it sounded more like hissing than anything. Snape and the Death Eater that had been bearing down on the pair turned around at the sound and started for us with their wands drawn and aimed to fire.

"Impedimenta!" I dodged a curse from a Death Eater.

"Protego!" Louisa deflected a curse from Snape.

A stream of fire shot from another Death Eater's wand and I tried to roll on my broom to avoid it when I felt the flaming pain across the side of my face. I grunted but straightened, struggling to see through the thick blood that was dripping over my eyebrow and into my right eye as I flew.

"Stupefy!" I bellowed at the one who had injured me and I saw him tumbled off of his broom, limp as a rag doll.

"Sectumsempra!"

Louisa shouted in pain and fire erupted from her wand, filling the sky with bright golden light and illuminating the look of surprise on Snape's face as it rushed toward him. I watched her sag on her broom, she was holding on, but the let shoulder and arm of his jacket was growing dark with blood. My heart jumped into my chest and I reached to steady her on her broom quickly. The Death Eaters that had been chasing us seemed to have vanished completely, I'm sure it was due to some ominous reason but I couldn't help but feel relieved.

We descended onto the dark and silent lawn at my parents' home and she stumbled as soon as her feet touched the ground. I paused to look up at the sky, I knew the protective spells would hold, but I had to look and make sure no one had managed to get through. Then I turned and pulled her up off of the ground, she was still a fake Harry, so that was strange. Yet she still smelled the same, honey and lavender not mixed with the coppery scent of blood. I grabbed the broomsticks and we hurried toward the door.

"Amos, they're here!" I heard mom shouting and the kitchen door opened, her silhouette was illuminated against the bright doorframe. I couldn't see her expression but I'm sure it was wide eyed and frightened at the sight of us.

Dad appeared at her side, "Come inside quickly!"

We were ushered into the warm kitchen and were left blinking at the sudden light. I looked at Louisa, Harry's features were twisted in pain and she had lost her glasses at some point. The broomsticks hit the floor with a clatter at the sight of blood soaking into the fabric of her clothes and dripping from her left fingertips onto the floor. Leaving a bright ruby red trail behind us as we moved into the parlor.

"He hit her with something, I think it's bad," I told them breathlessly, wiping at the blood that matted my left eyelashes, "I'm fine."

"Harry, really can't see," Louisa noted and dad helped me lower her onto the sofa, "It's sad."

I chuckled, "I can't really talk," I caught my reflection in the mirror hanging behind the couch, I had a deep cut above my left eyebrow that curved down onto my cheek, it looked bad and stung like you wouldn't believe but I knew it would heal all right.

"Still got both eyes?" She asked while mom started to inspect her wounds, deep slashes had formed along her left collarbone and down her left arm.

"Yep."

"Hope it doesn't scar, I've already told you I can't stand scars."

"I think it's quite dashing, maybe I'll keep it," I sat on the arm of the sofa and grinned at her, I just wanted to keep her talking while mom tried to fix her up.

"Maybe you'd have a shot with Fleur. She likes scars, apparently."

"My dream come true."

As we spoke I saw her features slowly start to shift back into her original form. Harry was lanky but now his clothes hung off of her as she shrunk back into her slender form. Her hair grew out again and her eyes filled back with the chocolatey coloring I knew. Dad was at my side, dabbing at the cut fussily. I insisted I was fine several more times before mom finished bandaging Louisa's slashes as best she could.

"The port key will be leaving soon, son," Dad checked the clock.

I nodded and moved to help Louisa up, she looked pale and tired but I knew she would be okay. We could get her better help at the Burrow, for the first time I remembered that it was uncertain if everyone would show up back the Burrow, not after the ambush. We stood and looked at the silver fork that was sitting on the end table while dad checked his watch again.

"An ambush?" He asked again, "Are you sure it's safe to go back to..."

"We'll be fine," I insisted, "You two need to get rid of the evidence we were here. Be careful. Take care of yourselves. I don't know when I'll be able to get in touch again."

Dad cast an almost accusing look at Louisa and I just reached forward to touch the handle of the fork next to her slender fingers. It glowed blue and the hook caught me in my abdomen and jerked me forward. My feet hit the ground in the garden outside the burrow. There was a great ruckus coming from inside and some shouting, we moved into the door where Kingsley looked up quickly.

"Cedric what was did Sirius say when you inducted into the Order?" He asked quickly.

"He wasn't there, he was looking after Buckbeak, Kreacher had a lot to say though," I said simply, "Is someone else hurt?"

"George lost an ear," Hermione said, looking rather faint and she gasped at the sight of us.

"Louisa!"

"Snape got her with something..." I said and let her sit down into a chair.

Lupin moved over to examine the wounds, "They are deep and they might scar, but I think they'll heal okay."

"Super."

"Hey Lou, Lou..." George craned his neck from the couch where he was sprawled, "I lost an ear."

"You always have to one up me don't you Georgie?" Louisa grinned at him, "Show off."

"Snape got you too?" Harry was eyeing her bloodstained clothes nervously.

"Yeah, after she drew him away from George and Lupin," I noted tiredly and glanced around, I knew that Ron and Tonks should have gotten back already.

"Voldemort was there," Harry noted while every Weasley in the room was positively glowing at Louisa, once again the savior of one of their children, "And Stan Shunpike."

"What happened?" She asked sharply and sat up.

"They figured out it was me." Harry said.

"How - ?"

"Harry disarmed Stan Shunpike instead of using a more effective means..." Lupin sounded a little bitter at that.

Louisa rolled her eyes, "Come off it Remus. Let's not get on to Harry for behaving honorably. That's the whole point isn't it? We're good and they're bad, let's not fault him for acting in a way that reflects that."

Lupin sighed and nodded, just shifted to look at her wounds again, "What you did was risky too Louisa. Speaking parseltongue... I'm surprised he didn't come after you."

"That was the idea wasn't it?" She grimaced as he peeled back one of the bloodied bandages.

I tensed at that, "What? To get yourself killed?"

Everyone was soon outside to greet any newcomers. I slid into the chair beside Louisa and let her toss her legs over my knees her head lying against my shoulder in exhaustion. Molly was now fussing over us about as much as she had over George when he had first appeared.

"Oh you poor dear," She tutted, "Snape... if I ever see him again..." she shook her head and trailed off dangerously.

"Thank goodness for you Louisa," Arthur smiled, "Always around when our boys are in a tight spot it seems."

Ron and Tonks were not back and recounting what had happened to them when a thestral carrying Bill and Fleur landed in the yard and caused everyone get extremely relieved and excited. Then the news that Mad Eye was dead. This was a huge shock, I had thought he was basically invincible. Then again, I had thought that Dumbledore was even more so. Now they were both dead as evidenced by the stricken looks on Bill and Fleur's faces. I just held Louisa close at my side and listened, feeling the great weight of loss settle in my chest. We toasted to Mad Eye and I sat sipping on my glass of firewhiskey while Harry started to act in his typical noble manner. I was starting to get annoyed with it.

"Harry!" Louisa cut through the argument, "You're here, and you're staying here if I have to tie your scrawny self down to that chair."

He looked at her, his eyes flickering to her bloodied clothes with a guilty expression, "We all made this choice. You need to stop acting like you forced us into it."

"Yeah, Louisa forced me into it," I supplied.

"Helpful, Cedric," She rolled her eyes but grinned at me.

Harry shook his head and stormed outside, then Louisa turned to Lupin, "Stop it Remus. It is good that Harry can still trust people. I also believe that no one in this room gave up our plan. Maybe Mundungus, but he's a coward."

"You need to be more careful as well, you can't go around speaking parseltongue or..." He started to scold.

"Or people will find out I'm his granddaughter?" She shook her head tiredly, "I did what I needed to in order to help keep you alive. You're welcome. I'd do it again."

"You take after your father too, reckless and impulsive..." Remus shook his head before he went out with Bill to get Mad Eye's body.

Tonks just came to refill Louisa's glass, "Thank you," she told her softly.

Louisa nodded and soon we got up, starting outside to where we had moved our tent earlier that day. We had felt it was better to have it within the boundaries of the Burrow, yet there wasn't an abundance of space inside the house itself for everyone to stay comfortable. So we were within and without at the same time. I was happy for it, I knew she would be able to rest better in the quiet of our tent. Hermione came in and helped Louisa change and cleanse her wounds in her room. When she left I went into take her a glass of water. She didn't look as badly hurt with all of the blood washed away, she was still pale and tired but I knew she would be fine. Louisa sipped on her glass of water and I touched the edge of a fresh bandage. I clenched my jaw angrily at the thought of Snape. It was his fault again that she was hurt, his fault that Dumbledore was dead.

Louisa was looking at me with a small smile, "I'm fine Cedric. Let's just get some rest. I hope your face looks better in the morning, otherwise I'll have to replace you."

I chuckled and laid down next to her, sharing a bed wasn't typical, but tonight I needed to know that someone was alive next to me. I figured she needed the same, she didn't object to it in any case. I flicked my wand to dim the lights and settled back against the pillows. I focused on her breathing next to me, it so comforting to know that she was alive. Her breathing slowed and steadied into that of someone falling asleep and it was only then that I let myself drift off into unpleasant dreams.