"What do you mean I can't come with?" Rowan asks, eyebrows scrunching together in confusion.

I roll my eyes, "Exactly that. You can't come with. I'm lucky that Dumbledore gave me permission to go to London to look for a place for us to live. In fact, I think the only reason he agreed is because you are a minor."

"But if I'm going to live there I should-"

"Stay behind and study for your OWLs like any other student your age," I say, cutting him off.

Rowan huffs, "You just don't want me to go with because you think I'll get in the way."

"No, I don't want you to go with because you need to study, it was hard enough to get permission for me to go, and I'm going to be the one paying for it, so I'm the one who gets to pick."

"So the Death Eaters and Voldemort have nothing to do with it?" he asks. When I don't answer he growls, "Damn it Ann! I'm not some little kid! I can fight!"

"You haven't been properly trained in fighting and if I do end up being caught up in a fight, I'm getting out of there as soon as possible. It doesn't make sense to get into a fight that you're going to lose," I say.

"And here I thought you were a Gryffindor," Rowan mutters, scowling at the table.

I pound the table with my fist, "DAMN IT ROWAN! This is not about being courageous enough! This is about being smart! If I manage to end up in a fight with Death Eaters while I'm out, do you honestly think that they're going to fight me one on one in a fair duel? No! They're going to all attack at once, and I do not need you to be there itching to fight if that happens! Because then not only would I have to worry about escaping, but I would also need to make sure that you didn't end up killed! And I would not be able to stand it if my brother died!"

Rowan blinks, but the scowl doesn't leave his face, "But wouldn't it be better to have two people with you? Just in case you were attacked?"

"You are not going with and that is final," I say, grabbing my jacket from where it is lying next to me and shrugging it on, "I expect to find you studying when I get back, and if you do anything terribly stupid, I will find out."

I can hear his grumbling as I leave the hall and the castle. My strides quickly cross the lawn of the castle until I'm at the gates. Once past the wards, I turn and apparate to Diagon Alley, knowing that it is the best way to get into muggle London without having to try to apparate to some random spot and hoping that no muggles are in the area. I leave the alley and walk along the streets, looking for the right address while my mind thinks about the end of school which is quickly arriving. It doesn't feel like it's been seven years.

I frown, seven years? Has it really been such a short time? It seems like yesterday when we all were crossing the lake to be sorted. Shaking myself from my thoughts, I manage to maneuver around a large framed man who had his arm around a rather boney blonde woman.

"Petunia, we're going to be late for our lunch date," he says.

"But I could have sworn that I've seen that woman before." I barely catch her reply as I move through the crowd. All the conversations around me just kind of bubble around me like a brook.

"We need how many yards of fabric by when?"

"Tommy, you can't have that toy! If you don't start behaving you won't have any biscuits after dinner."

"No, he really does fancy you."

'Come on Grimwood, get a hold of yourself. You need to find a flat by four this afternoon.' I mentally shake myself again before continuing to the address that I was given, hoping for the best.

~*~AG~*~

I return to Hogwarts that afternoon, tired, but triumphant. I'd finally managed to find a flat and it is, luckily enough, at close distance to the ministry and St. Mungos. I walk into the Entrance Hall and get ready to walk into the Great Hall when I hear my name shouted a moment before a body runs into me. Since I don't have the time to prepare, both Rowan and me end up sprawled on the ground.

"Hi. As much as I love his eager greeting, it doesn't do much for my breathing," I say, chuckling slightly.

Rowan buries his head in the crook of my neck much like he did as a kid, "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have been so pushy and mean before you left. I should have known that there was a good reason you didn't want me to come with. I love you and I'm sorry."

I blink, "I love you too, but what happened?"

"You didn't hear?" A quick glance tells me that Regulus, Sirius, Remus, and Peter are all watching. I shake my head.

"There was an attack in London earlier today. When we heard about it Rowan started freaking out and hasn't relaxed until now," Regulus says.

Taking in the stress in all of them, and the fact that I can still feel Rowan shaking while he holds onto me, I make a swift decision. Poking Rowan, I get him to get off of me and then stand up. Throwing my arm over his shoulders, I smile a bit and motion for the others to follow me. As we walk through the halls to the doors that lead to the dungeons, Lily and James, who had been on a quick patrol, join us. Our group is oddly silent, but it doesn't feel forced. I think we've all learned how to appreciate being in each other's presence without feeling the need to speak, an appreciation influenced by the looming war no doubt. And I realise that no matter what, these are the people I trust the most. If I had to pick anyone to fight with, it would be these seven people right here. Giving a small smile, I tickle the pear and step into the kitchens.

"Hows can Hemlock helps young Misters and Mistresses?" a house elf asks.

Sirius blinks, "Hemlock? You're a new elf aren't you?"

Hemlock nods.

"Why's you're name Hemlock, isn't that a bit odd for an elf?" Lily asks.

"Hemlock's old Masters named Hemlock, Hemlock doesn't know why old Masters picked what they picked," Hemlock says.

"Ok then," I say, "Hemlock, could you set up a small table off to the side for all of us to use? We're a little too shaken to eat with the majority of the school right now."

Hemlock nods, his ears flapping back and forth, "Yes Miss! Right away Miss!"

A moment later and a circular table was sitting in an alcove with some of the food that is offered at dinner on it. We all take our seats. I almost want to hit whoever allowed James and Sirius to sit next to each other, but Lily is next to James, so that ought to curb any pesky behavior from them. I smile and nudge Rowan, who's to my right and motion to his peas and then to Regulus, who is across from him. He nods and starts flicking them across the table. Meanwhile, I do the same thing to Sirius, who is across from me, with some cut carrots. Remus, who is to my left, almost protests until he gets hit in the nose with a lima bean. His amber eyes narrow as he looks across the table to a madly grinning James. Soon the six of us have broken into a food fight while Lily and Peter just sigh in resignation and cast shield charms around themselves.

I manage to turn my head and avoid getting mashed potato in my face, though it does land in my hair. Laughing, I fling some right back at Regulus, laughing harder when he ducks and it hits his brother instead. And as this chaos swarms around us, I can't help but be proud that they're all laughing and happy again. Even if it's only for a little bit. Even if I know that the moment we step out of this castle that we're going to be strongly reminded about the war that wagers. This is enough. For right now, this is enough.

Mischief Managed

AN/ Well here it is, the end of Breaking Glass, and the end of my Glass series. I do have a sort of follow up series that I could publish, but I don't know if I will. Quick note to my Eternal Livingroom fans, I have not forgotten you, and am working on the sequal, which will be titled The Eternal War.

Ok, so since this chapter is the end and amazingly short, here's some random facts about this story. If you want, you can run away screaming now, though thank you for reading and please leave a final review!

Facts:
1) Ann was supposed to die before the end of seventh year. She was going to die protecting a bunch of kids in a Hogsmead attack and Tessa was going to be the one to kill her.
2) Rowan was originally going to be a Gryffindor.
3) Tessa wasn't going to exsist.
4) I have not forgotten the Guardians arc from Crystalline Glass. I'll give a virtual cookie for anyone who can correctly guess who the Guardians are.
5) Though Ann is good as swordsmanship, she cannot dance to save her life and hates heels with a passion.
6) I originally had Sirius/Remus as a ship, but changed my mind after a bit. It was about the same time that I decided that Ann would never turn to magically making dresses to earn extra money.
7) In one of the summer chapters I was going to have a scene of Sirius being locked in his room playing guitar and being a rather serious Sirius.
8) I picked Annalisa because I couldn't decide between them (Anna or Lisa), but that's rather moot point seeing as that she's mostly called Ann.
9) If she'd been on the Quidditch team, Ann would have played as Beater.
10) Sirius was originally going to place Tessa and Bellatrix in chicken suits when the four way fight took place at the beginning of this story.
11) Sirius and Ann immediatly became Aurors after Hogwarts and did their mentorship with Mad-Eye. James played proQuidditch for six months before the League was disbanded. After that he took up working for the Order full time. Lily earned a mastery in Charms and worked for a Charms development company. Remus earned a mastery in Defense Against the Dark Arts and didn't have stable work, except for his volunteering for the Order. Peter found work with a company that did research in History.
12) Sirius ended up moving in with Ann and Rowan in their flat because his flat had been attacked by the Death Eaters.

Again, thank you for reading Breaking Glass, and please leave a last review.