Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter ( I wish...), or Ron, or Hermione, or Snape, or... oh, well, you catch my drift...

Author's note: My first Harry Potter fanfic, please R&R!


Complications

The next couple of weeks were a bit of an anticlimax. Carden didn't seem up to anything and Harry's Occlumency advanced rapidly without any suspicious events, although Carden had closed herself off from him firmly. Harry didn't get to see anymore of her memories, even though he tried.

Quidditch season had started again and training went quite well. Ginny had been chosen a Chaser, along with a fourth year named Simon McMahon. Katie Bell was the third Chaser and Captain, Ron was still Keeper. Andrew Kirke had left the team so they were one Beater short. The auditions for a new one were particularly tricky, because everybody still had Fred and George close in mind. In the end a tall boy from Ginny's year was chosen. He had excellent aiming skills, but was immediately put on a strict training regime by Katie to grow some muscle power.

The week before term ended Harry, Ron, and Hermione were discussing their Christmas plans in the DADA classroom. Harry and Hermione had been invited at The Burrow and they had agreed to come. The rest of the class was still buzzing about Gryffindor's victory over Hufflepuff. Katie Bell had displayed a very new but capable team and was now the new hero in the Gryffindor common room.

Suddenly professor Carden rushed inside, looking very worried. She was clutching her left forearm.

"Class, I'm afraid I have to dismiss you early. Some unexpected business has come up. Happy Christmas and I'll see you after the holidays." And without further ado, she stepped outside again and hurried off.

Draco Malfoy narrowed his eyes maliciously at the empty doorway, but no one except Harry seemed to notice.

"Right, that was weird," Ron said out loud.

The Gryffindors and Slytherins got up, puzzled mumbling filling the class room.

"Did you see the way she was holding her arm?" Hermione whispered. "Doesn't it remind you of something?"

Harry remembered Snape pulling up his sleeve to show Fudge his left forearm and a sign on Wormtail's left forearm burnt black by Voldemort's finger.

"Hold on," he said. "Do you think it's the Mark?"

"Yes, obviously. V-Voldemort – oh, get a grip, Ron – must be up to something. No doubt he is summoning his Death Eaters. Let's see if we can find Snape, then we'll know for sure."

They set off in the direction of the dungeons and saw Carden enter the Potions class room. A second later the Potions master followed the DADA teacher out into the hallway. They were heading for the staircase. Ron, Harry and Hermione quickly followed and were bewildered when they saw the two teachers stop in front of the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Snape muttered the password and he disappeared through the doorway, Carden right behind him.

"What is going on?" Ron frowned.

"I don't know," Hermione answered, "but I don't think we'll find out here. Let's just pack our things."

Slowly they walked to the common room.


Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, and Mad-Eye Moody were waiting for them at the station. Mrs. Weasley was waving at them frantically and pulled them all in a tight hug.

"Jeez, mum, what is going on?" Ron demanded while he pulled away from George who was trying to imitate his mother, only with a pair of knuckles rubbing his brother's skull to dust involved.

"I am just glad you're all alright," Mrs. Weasley sighed.

"And why exactly wouldn't we be okay?" Ron asked, baffled by his mother's behaviour.

Moody turned his magical eye to him and said, "Nymphadora Tonks was attacked yesterday after she left work. Fortunately we had received a warning beforehand so we were there in time to rescue her."

"We'll be spending Christmas at Headquarters, so we can visit her in St.Mungo's."

Hermione said shocked, "Will she be all right?"

"Yes, she'll be up and about in a few days, but for the time being it's safer for you lot to stay at Headquarters."

Mrs. Weasley shot a reproving look at her son who had made the comment.

"What?" Fred reacted to his mother's glare. "You're going to have to come up with better excuses than that, mum, if you want to try and keep Order stuff from them."

"Come on," Moody growled. "Lupin's waiting by the car."

"Lupin's here?" Harry's spirit, darkened by the prospect of having to spend time in his godfather's house, lifted again when he saw professor Lupin, who greeted him with a firm handshake.

"So, are you two in the Order as well?" Harry asked George, who was sitting next to him in the magically enlarged car.

"Yeah, of course." George winked at Harry. "By the way, our shop is coming in really handy. We get loads of information just by listening to costumers."

They kept on chatting until they reached Headquarters. Moody got out first, his magical eye spinning nauseatingly fast. When he declared all was safe, the rest of them got out and collected their luggage from the trunk of the car. They walked to the front door quickly and walked inside very quietly. They managed to get their luggage upstairs without waking Mrs. Black and tiptoed to the kitchen, where Mrs. Weasley was preparing a meal for them.

Mr. Weasley and Lupin were talking to Fred and George. Mundungus Fletcher was taking a nap in a big chair and was snoring loudly, much to Mrs. Weasley's irritation.

After dinner they went to St. Mungo's for a short visit. Tonks was feeling fine, she said, that son of a hag that had cursed her had just caught her by surprise. She would be out in two days.

"So, is Charlie coming over for Christmas?" Tonks asked innocently. Fred and George's faces simultaneously split into a devilish grin.

"He should arrive tomorrow," Mr. Weasley said smiling.

Fred and George were singing something under their breath that sounded a lot like 'Tonks and Charlie sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes l…'

"Oh, sod it, you two," Ginny scolded them with a stern look. "Grow up."

"No thank you, we don't think we will," Fred said politely.

"But we appreciate the suggestion," George added.

"Be sure, we'll keep it in mind, Miss," Fred continued.

"If you have any further suggestions, please let us know."

Ginny rolled her eyes, while Tonks was fidgeting with her sheets, looking flushed. Harry grinned.

"Bill is also coming," Mrs. Weasley told Tonks, "and he's bringing Fleur with him. She joined the Order a few months ago."

"Niamh will like that," Arthur Weasley said. "She'll have someone to speak French with. She has been complaining it's slipping so fast."

Harry sat upright in his chair. "Niamh? You mean professor Carden? Is she coming over too? But she is…"

"She is in the Order too, Potter, didn't you know?" Moody growled.

"Nobody tells us anything around here; of course we don't know." Ron looked angry and slightly confused. Niamh 'seemed-nice-teacher-but-turned-out-Slytherin-with-nasty-dark-past' Carden was in the Order?

But where did she get that Mark? Harry didn't know what to make of it. Could it still be all a trick on her part? He noticed Hermione was musing on the same thing.

The group chatted for another half hour and left.

"See you tomorrow, Tonks," Fred said, while George was making kissing sounds. "Don't worry, we'll bring Charlie for you. I'm sure he'll tell you how much he has missed you." Laughing he ducked away from a chocolate Tonks threw at his head.

On their way to the elevator, Harry asked Ginny, "Are they seeing each other?"

"Well, they don't see a lot of each other, because Charlie is still working in Romania, but sparks are flying all over the place whenever he is here." Ginny sounded very content.

"And I caught them snogging last summer," George added. "That sort of was an indication too."

"George!" his mother exclaimed. "Language!"

"You're right, mum, it wasn't snogging. It was more like making out."

Harry and Ron tried to hide their laughter as Mrs. Weasley told her son off.

Only a few minutes after they had returned from St. Mungo's the doorbell rang. A loud howling came from the entrance hall while Mrs. Weasley hurried to the door. A minute later professor Carden came into the kitchen.

"Well, she certainly hasn't changed," she said with a glance at the kitchen door and the hallway behind it. "Bit louder though." With a pained expression Carden rubbed her ear. Then she looked at Lupin and said, "Hi, Remus."

"Hello, Niamh. I'm glad you came back."

With a quivering smile she looked at him, walked over to him, and flung her arms around him. Lupin hugged her back. Harry's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"Merlin, it's so strange to be here," Carden said softly. She looked around the kitchen shaking her head slightly in disbelief.

"How long have you known about - " Lupin asked tentatively.

"Not long, but we'll talk about it later," Carden answered. She turned to the others in the kitchen en greeted them.

"Where is Molly?" Arthur Weasley asked while he shook Carden's hand.

"Oh, she and Charlie are still trying to soothe Mrs. Black. The old hag started screaming even louder when she saw me, so I headed out here. It's good to see you, Arthur."

"You too, but did you say Charlie is already here? I thought he would arrive tomorrow."

"That was his plan, he said, but he was in a tremendous hurry to get here. We met on the way here. Something about Nymphadora being attacked - would that be Andromeda's daughter?"

"Yes, the one who was attacked yesterday. She and my son are - "

Fred opened his mouth for no doubt another improper comment, but Mr. Weasley cut him off. "That will do, Fred."

Fred sulked.

"Ah, I understand," Carden smiled.

"Niamh, would you like something to eat?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"Yes, Molly, that would be lovely. Let me help you."

"No, no, you must be exhausted. Find yourself a seat. Do you want something as well, Charlie?"

Charlie nodded. He seemed very worried about Tonks.

"Charlie, Tonks is fine. We just came back from a visit and she'll be out by Monday," Ginny said softly.

Her brother gave her a tiny smile. "It's just the fact that she got attacked and I wasn't there to do anything about it." He looked at Carden. "Thanks for the warning."

Carden shrugged. "At least that thing is good for something. Besides, it was Severus who found out what they were up to. I can't exactly walk up to them and ask what the plan is, can I?"

Lupin laughed softly. "Still, I would like to see their faces if you did just that."

Carden grinned slowly. "It would certainly be interesting."

The younger people around the table all looked confused. Carden, who noticed it, explained, "I used to spy for the Order. I got in Voldemort's ranks pretty far – I even became a Death Eater -- but... er..." A shadow fleeted across her face for a second, but she blinked and said somewhat apologetic, "That's how I got the Mark."

"But -- but wouldn't V-Voldemort try to kill you if he knew you worked for the Order?" Hermione asked very softly, not sure whether she should ask this.

Professor Carden hesitated for a moment. "Of course he would." Her voice suddenly sounded very flat and detached and Carden seemed to be staring at something in the distance.

Lupin quickly interjected, "Molly, what is that you're making? It smells deliciously."

The conversation switched to Mrs. Weasley's excellent cooking skills, but Harry kept looking at Carden unrevealing face. Feeling cold inside, he thought she must have still been very young when she started her dangerous profession. His parents' age, only a few years older than he was now.


The next morning, Harry and Ron went downstairs for breakfast, when they heard voices in the salon.

"When did you find out about him?" Lupin asked.

"It was only after I got back to London. I had cut myself off thoroughly from the wizarding world after -- Well, anyway, Dumbledore told me what had happened the last three years. I didn't even know he had escaped," Carden said in a strangled voice.

Harry frowned. This was about Sirius.

"I feel so guilty, Remus."

"Don't. None of us knew what really had happened that night. We all thought Sirius was the Secret Keeper."

"So it was Peter all along?"

"Yes." Lupin spoke very softly. "Apart from James and Lily, you do realize what -- "

"Yeah, of course I do," Carden hissed furiously. "It's not something you forget easily."

Harry and Ron looked at each other. Did Wormtail have even more to answer for?

"And now it's all too late," Carden said with a hint of despair. "I can't believe we'll never have the chance to talk things through. If only I had come back sooner, but no, leave it to me to ignore the signs and the mark on my arm." She fell silent for a while.

"Remus, what happened that night?" Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

Lupin sighed. "We were in the Department of Mysteries, because Harry had been lured there by Voldemort. He flew to London on Thestrals, can you believe it?"

Carden chuckled. "Talk about apples and trees."

"Anyway, when we got there, Harry and his friends had been fighting off Death Eaters for quite some time and they had retreated to the Department of Mysteries when we came in. Sirius was duelling with Bellatrix and you know how he gets, he was taunting her recklessly. She cast a Stunning Spell that hit him right in the chest and he fell through the Archway. Behind the veil."

Carden gasped in horror. "Oh God, I didn't know."

"Harry was devastated. Sirius was the closest thing to a father he had. He still doesn't look quite alright."

This was getting a bit too close for comfort, so Harry beckoned Ron to follow him into the kitchen. Harry thought about Carden, she seemed to have been close friends with Sirius and Lupin. Maybe even with his father.

A few minutes later Lupin and Carden also entered the kitchen. Carden looked a bit pale and Remus was even quieter than usual. Order members started to drop in for breakfast, chatting with each other. Carden stared broodingly at her plate.

That afternoon they went to St.Mungo's for another visit, which wasn't particularly interesting, since Tonks was in deep conversation with Charlie the whole time and paid no attention to anyone else.


The next day, after Mr. Weasley had left for work, Carden walked over to Harry. "Can I have a word with you, Harry?"

"Sure, professor." Together they left the kitchen.

"There are some things I think you should know," Carden said carefully. Harry looked at her curiously.

"Haven't you ever wondered who your godmother is?"

"No, I haven't actually. No one ever told me, so I just thought I didn't have one." Harry glanced at Carden, who was trying very hard to look casual.

"Hold on, do you mean -- are you my godmother?" Harry asked incredulously. She nodded.

"But where have you been all those years?"

"I lived in France for over 15 years. I left the wizarding world after Voldemort disappeared. I can't tell you how sorry I am I wasn't there for you, but certain things had happened, so I just couldn't -- I couldn't come back."

"Things like what?" Harry asked, thinking about 11 years in Little Whinging and what could possibly justify leaving him there.

"Well, let's just say my work for the Order did not go well," Carden said dryly, "after which I left for France to be of use there. It was too dangerous for me to stay here. And I decided not to return after Voldemort's fall, because I -- I believed Sirius to be responsible for not only the death of two of my dearest friends, but also for being the reason I had to flee to France. I despised anything that had to do with wizards, because Sirius was…" Her voice faltered.

"He was what?" Harry pressed.

Carden pulled herself together. "I loved him."

Harry stopped dead. "WHAT?"

Carden smiled weakly. "Very much, in fact."

Harry stared incredulously at his professor. "Are you sure? Sirius never mentioned you. Ever. Did he love you?"

Carden's smile widened. "Oh, he did." Seeing Harry's frown, she said, "Let me start at the beginning."