Grief

They arrived on a grassy slope just feet away from where The Burrow's garden was supposed to be. Although Evie knew the house was there she could not see it; it had been shrouded in at least a dozen different protective enchantments by prodigiously skilled witches and wizards. Sirius retained his grip on her arm and dragged her forwards, through the barrier that wouldn't allow anyone with the Dark Mark to pass. He let out an almost inaudible sigh of relief as The Burrow loomed into sight.

The front door flew open the moment his hand touched the gate. Two figures emerged in the doorway and walked quickly down the garden path. It was difficult to see their faces with their backs to the light that flooded from the house, but from their size and shape Evie guessed they were Remus and Kingsley. Her guess was confirmed when Remus's face loomed out of the darkness. He gripped her firmly by the shoulder with one hand, the other levelling his wand at her face. "We made something together in the attic of Grimmauld Place. What was it?" he demanded.

Beside them, Kingsley put a question to Sirius in the same low, urgent tone of voice. Although she knew that this was standard procedure, that everyone else arriving at The Burrow would have been questioned similarly, Evie couldn't help but shudder at the sight of her friend's face hardened in suspicion. There was an anger in Remus's eyes that was almost frightening. Her breath caught in her throat as she wondered what could have caused it. Had someone been hurt? "A-A garden," she managed to stammer in response.

Remus relaxed but did not release his grip on her shoulder. Instead he pulled her into a brief, rough hug. "Sorry," he murmured. "I had to check. You're the last ones to arrive, and you didn't come by portkey."

Kingsley lowered his wand, apparently satisfied that he was speaking to the real Sirius Black. "What happened to you two?"

"One of them knocked me out," said Sirius. "Evie had to land or fall. Did everyone make it?"

Remus and Kingsley exchanged a dark look, and Evie knew that her earlier fear was true; someone had been hurt. "Mundungus disapparated at the first sign of trouble," said Remus. "Mad Eye was hit by Voldemort."

"Is he…?" began Sirius, but let the question trail off. There was no need to ask whether he had been Stunned or injured by dark magic. When Voldemort levelled his wand at Mad Eye it would have been to kill. Evie uttered a little choking sob. She had never been close to him, but news of his death was the biggest shock she had received all night. It had never occurred to her that Mad Eye, the famed Auror, the man who had been injured and imprisoned but had always survived, could die. The only sign that Sirius had received the news with pain or surprise was a slight pulsing in his cheek as he clenched his jaw. There would be time for grief later; right now he had to know that Harry was safe. "Is anyone else hurt?" he asked.

"George," said Kingsley quietly.

"George?" repeated Evie in a whisper, her heart thumping. Since they had left Hogwarts and started their own business she had become good friends with the twins, and travelled to Diagon Alley at least once a week to chat and watch as they showed off their new stock. Their friendship had been much easier since Fred had realised that Sirius had no intention of abandoning Evie now his name was cleared. Although he and Sirius would never be the best of friends, they could at least get through a conversation without starting an argument.

"He's alive," Remus hurried to reassure her, "but hurt. Snape hit him with Sectumsempra and he's lost his ear. Molly has tried everything she can to heal him, but the wound is cursed."

Sirius swore under his breath while Evie forced her features to remain impassive. Severus's (or Snape, as she forced herself to call him now) betrayal still hurt. They'd had a tumultuous relationship, to say the least, and had hurt each other more than once. But he had comforted and helped her when she discovered her pregnancy, and later, consumed with the guilt of her baby's death, he had been the one to drag her out of her black depression. He had encouraged her to sit the exams that would qualify her to join the Ministry, and taught her how to make the potions she would be tested on. Thinking now of those caring gestures, of the quietly affectionate friendship they had built, made her feel nauseous. She couldn't stop herself from wondering whether he had been planning Dumbledore's death as she told him of her grief, whether he had gone straight from their private lessons to relay information to Voldemort.

Kingsley suggested that it was unwise to remain outside, and they silently followed him into The Burrow. They traipsed through the unusually quiet kitchen and into the living room, where everyone was crammed uncomfortably into sagging armchairs and sofas. Molly sat rigidly in her seat, craning to see behind Remus and Kingsley, and sagged with relief as Sirius and Evie came into sight, her eyes swimming with tears. It occurred to Evie that they had all been waiting, terrified, to discover whether the intruder in the garden was friend or foe, wondering whether they would emerge safe and whole into the house or whether one of them was bringing tidings of the other's death.

Searching the small crowd of faces, Evie found Harry. She scrutinised him carefully, looking for signs that he had been injured in the battle. When she raised her eyes to his she realised that he had been doing the same to her, and they shared a small grin before his gaze flicked to Sirius. He made his way immediately to his godson, followed by Arthur and Bill, who were asking what had delayed them, and Remus and Kingsley, wanting to hear the exact details of the fight. Evie hung back. Sirius would want to spare Harry the worst and wouldn't tell him how close they had come to death. She wasn't as adept at hiding her emotions, and knew the fear would show on her face.

Instead she sought out Fred and George, seated, unusually, in the quietest corner of the room. Her eyes were drawn immediately to the gaping hole where George's ear had once been. The wound had been cleaned, but the collar of his shirt was stained with rusty streaks of blood. He attempted to smile as he saw her approach but it looked more like a grimace of pain in his pale and drawn face.

"It's shocking," said Fred, shaking his head sadly as he made room for her on the sofa.

"What is?" she asked, sitting down. Her eyes flicked again to George, but she doubted that Fred would talk about his injury directly. It was the twins' way to joke about everything, even something as serious as this.

"You and Sirius waltzing in here an hour late," explained Fred.

"You're stealing my limelight," said George gravely.

Evie felt her lips twitch. "It is very inconsiderate of us, but you'll have more than enough attention soon. I'm sure you're figuring out some kind of marketing plan to turn this to your advantage."

"Well, we have been toying with a few ideas," said Fred eagerly. "We were thinking of something along the lines of a hat that makes your ears fall off. It'd make an excellent party trick and it's an original excuse for not handing in homework."

The small group around Harry seemed to have reached some sort of decision while they had been talking. Bill, Remus and Sirius were going back out to search for Mad Eye. There was no hope of finding him alive, but they would rather run the risk of being hurt or captured than leave his body to the Death Eaters. No one was especially happy about the idea, particularly Tonks, Fleur and Molly, but when Bill pointed out the alternative of leaving his body for his murderers no one protested. Harry tried to leave with them, fearful that by remaining in The Burrow he was putting its inhabitants in danger, but was shouted down by everyone in the room insisting that he stay.

After the search party left a strange mood descended upon those who stayed behind. There was no longer a reason for everyone to remain together, but no one seemed quite sure what to do or where to go. After promising Harry that they would see him soon, Kingsley and Hagrid departed for their homes. Harry, Ron and Hermione disappeared into the garden while Fleur hovered near the window, peering anxiously up into the dark sky. Ginny took up a position next to her shaken parents, appearing to want to offer comfort rather than receive it.

Fred turned to Evie. "Tea?" he asked quietly. It was the standard Weasley solution to every sort of situation: make a cup of tea. Evie nodded and followed him into the kitchen, where they boiled the kettle and dragged enough chipped cups out of the cupboard for everyone.

Evie checked that the door of the kitchen was firmly closed before asking, "How are you feeling?"

He jerked his shoulders noncommittally and said nothing for such a long time that Evie began to think she wouldn't receive an answer. Finally he said, "To tell you the truth, I'm nervous. After Dumbledore died Mad Eye took over the Order. Now he's gone too. I know we still have Kingsley, but I'm starting to wonder what will happen if… If they get him, too. There are only so many of us."

She wanted to ask him how he felt about George, but knew better than to push him if he wasn't offering the information freely. She had no wish to force him to recall images of his brother lying unconscious, his face drenched in blood. "As long as we're careful, we'll be safe," she said reassuringly, although she didn't truly believe her own words.

"'Constant vigilance'," quoted Fred softly. "It didn't seem to help Mad Eye."

"It wasn't a lack of vigilance that killed Mad Eye," she said. "If Mundungus hadn't disapparated, Mad Eye might still be alive."

In the low light Fred's eyes glittered with anger. Despite his mother's disapproval, he and George had been friends with Mad Eye and he had supplied the more difficult to find ingredients for their products. Although they knew he wasn't the most reliable of men, his display of cowardice and betrayal tonight must have come as a shock.

They returned to the living room, hovering trays crammed precariously with cups in front of them. When everyone had been presented with a cup of steaming tea, Evie realised that there was one left over. Frowning, she looked around the room. "Where's Tonks?" she asked the person closest to her.

"She left a few minutes ago," said Ginny. "I think she's in the garden."

Taking the remaining cup, Evie went in search of her friend. She found her leaning against the outside wall, arms crossed protectively over her chest as she blinked back tears. Evie cursed herself for not going to her sooner. She had been closer to Mad Eye than any of them, and while she must be upset over his death she was probably also terrified that Remus would be hurt while he was attempting to recover his body.

Before she had the chance to comfort her, before she could even open her mouth, Tonks turned to her and said, "I'm glad it's you. I know I should tell Remus first, but you told me before Sirius and I'm not completely sure yet, anyway."

Frowning, Evie set the cup to one side. "What should you tell Remus?" she asked, although she thought that she might already know.

Tonks gave her a sad smile. "I think I'm pregnant."

"That's wonderful news!" said Evie, moving forwards to embrace her friend. Tonks returned the hug half heartedly.

"Is it?" she asked. "If I am pregnant, the baby could grow up without a father."

"Remus will come back," said Evie soothingly. "Sirius will look after him."

Again came the sad smile, and a grief in her eyes that Evie had never seen before. "That not what I meant," said Tonks quietly, and turned her attention back to the sky. Evie wondered what Tonks had meant, but something prevented her from questioning her further. Tonks would tell her when the time was right, and, as with Fred, she didn't wish to force her to recall anything painful. Instead she remained silently at her side, joining her in a watchful vigil.