Evie tried and failed to understand what had happened at The Leaky Cauldron. Nothing about the scene they had witnessed made sense. The man – Grey, they had called him – was working for Voldemort in some capacity, that much was clear, but he was no Death Eater. They obeyed their master with unquestioning, grovelling loyalty. No one would disobey an order from him unless they wished to court death. Grey was different. She guessed from his hostility to the Death Eaters that he did not work for Voldemort willingly. It was not uncommon for people to be forced into his service, but unless they wished to oppose him openly they hid their reluctance and misgivings behind a veil of absolute obedience.
Then there was his reaction to her. As the sister of the Boy Who Lived her face was well known but most people would not have recognised her from the glimpse he'd had, half hidden behind a door and swathed in shadow. His job, or so his warning suggested, was to bring her to harm but he had not revealed her, had in fact forced her to hide and complied with the Death Eaters to insure they wouldn't see her.
Tonks was just as mystified. Evie had hoped that she might recognise him from the Ministry but Tonks was certain she had never laid eyes on him before. Ask Sirius, she'd advised, and she would ask Remus. Although they were not of an age with Grey, Sirius and Remus were closer to his age then Evie and Tonks were. Perhaps they would know or remember something about him.
But when she arrived back at their house she found Sirius asleep in the garden. He had used what appeared to be all the pillows from their sofa to cushion the hard ground, and the air around him was unnaturally warm for night time. Although she couldn't see it, she was certain he had cast a charm to repel water. This was not the first time he had fallen asleep outdoors over the summer, and on one unfortunate occasion he had been jolted awake by a shower of rain.
She reached out to wake him but hesitated, fingers hovering over his arm. Sleeping like this, stretched out beneath the stars, was fast becoming one of his favourite things to do, and he wouldn't be able to keep it up for much longer. Summer would only last so long; it would be autumn before they knew it, and the colder weather would confine them to the house at night. Grey could wait until tomorrow night, she decided. She doubted he would show up at The Burrow to trouble her. Kissing Sirius lightly, she settled down at his side and quickly drifted off.
When she next woke it was to brilliant sunlight and the smell of toast. She groaned and turned her face into the pillow only to be rolled onto her back again. "Oh no you don't," said Sirius, his voice mock stern. "We only have an hour before we need to be at the Burrow."
"An hour?" she squeaked, jerking upright and narrowly avoiding crashing into him. "The wedding is in an hour?" She struggled to her feet, ignoring her body's protests. "I have grass in my hair and," she caught a whiff of her robes, "I smell like I spent the night in The Leaky Cauldron. It won't matter if I tell Molly I was working, she'll flay me if I show up smelling like a brewery."
"Relax," he said in an infuriatingly laid back tone. "I've already run you a bath and," he presented a plate of toast with a flourish, "made you breakfast."
She took the plate gratefully, eating the toast in swift bites as she hurried into the house. "Oo im-"
"What?" he interrupted, frowning.
She swallowed in a large gulp and tried again. "You're in an unusually good mood."
"Aren't weddings supposed to be happy occasions?"
"You weren't this cheerful when Tonks and Remus got married," she pointed out.
"Well I was best man then. Today I have all the cake and champagne and none of the responsibility."
Arriving at the bathroom, she thrust the empty plate into his waiting hands and all but tore her robe off. She washed and dressed in record time, grateful that she had chosen what to wear days ago. By the time she was ready Sirius was waiting for her at the door, handsome in a new set of dress robes.
"Ready?" she asked, hastily stuffing her wand into her handbag.
"Ready," he confirmed, suppressed laughter in his voice.
She grabbed his hand and all but ran through the door, Apparating them away the moment they stepped outside the barrier of the house's protective enchantments. They arrived on a grassy hill moments after a small group of witches and wizards who were being shepherded to The Burrow by Arthur Weasley. They hurried to catch up, slipping silently into the back of the group.
Inside, Molly greeted them with a swift, and rather distracted, kiss on the cheek. "Still so much to do!" she said, throwing an agitated look over her shoulder at the house. "Ginny needs help with her dress and I'd bet a bag of galleons that Ron is wearing odd socks."
"I could help Ginny," volunteered Evie.
"No, no, dear. Fleur has given very specific instructions. You go and join the other guests, and if you happen to see Fred and George tell them not to bother Fleur's friends."
A loud crash came from the direction of the kitchen. Molly whipped around with a groan of exasperation and, wand already in hand, rushed into the house. Evie hoped that the source of the noise managed to flee before Molly got there, and the smirk Sirius wore told her he was thinking the same thing. They made their way to the sound of voices, Evie's head swivelling to take in the garden. It was neater than she had ever seen it, hardly an unruly gnome in sight. She suspected that everyone at The Burrow had been roped into making it so presentable.
A red haired young man, probably another Weasley relative, met them at the entrance of the marquee. He smiled broadly at them and said, "I'm glad to see you two."
She smiled politely as she frantically wracked her memory, trying to figure out how this stranger knew her. Sirius, greeting the man warmly, seemed to know him. Then she remembered: as an extra precaution, Harry would be attending the wedding disguised as someone else. "Hello Ha -! Oh, er, Barny. Can I have a word with you?"
His face clouded but he nodded and followed her away from the marquee, leaving Sirius to be ushered in by Fred and George. Behind her she heard Sirius say, "Your mum wants you to stop bothering the girls."
"We're not bothering," said George, affronted.
"Charming is the word," supplied Fred.
"I don't need to charm, heroically losing an ear in battle makes me automatically interesting and irresistible."
"Keep dreaming," snorted Fred. "The only thing it does is make all your hats lopsided."
Their voices faded as Evie drew Harry further away. "I can't tell you what I'm going to do," said Harry the moment they were out of earshot.
"I wouldn't ask," she said immediately. "Sirius and Remus said Dumbledore told you not to tell anyone." She would probably regret this moment later, after Harry had left The Burrow and she drove herself mad imagining what kind of danger he was putting himself in, but she knew it was no good interrogating him. Harry hated secrets; if he thought keeping this one was necessary it must be important. "And I'm not going to tell you to be careful because," she smiled wryly, "I know you won't be. I just wanted to tell you that we're always here if you need help. No questions asked."
His smile was relieved. She wondered whether he was grateful for her offer or because she hadn't tried to drag any information from him. They shared a brief but warm hug before Fred stuck his head out of the marquee and hissed, "Oi, you two! Mum will go mad if she finds out you're not in your seats yet."
"We should do what he says," said Harry. "Mrs Weasley is frightening when it comes to the wedding."
Grinning at each other, they headed to the marquee at a half run and followed Fred to their seats. Evie settled in the chair next to Sirius's while Harry continued up the aisle to a seat close to the front. "What was all that about with Barny?" murmured Sirius. "You weren't trying to get him to tell you what he's planning to do, were you?"
"Of course not," she whispered back, slightly offended that he would think so. "I just wanted to make sure he knows that - " She fell silent abruptly as music filled the marquee. She nudged him slightly and nodded to the entrance where Fleur stood, even more breathtakingly beautiful than usual. By the time she reached Bill, Molly and Mrs Delacour had dissolved into floods of tears and Hagrid was fumbling his handkerchief from his pocket.
During the ceremony Evie's eyes were drawn inexorably to Sirius. The weeks after the battle at the Ministry had been a black time for both of them, but as they began to emerge from it he had undergone a change that was both physical and mental. The atmosphere of Grimmauld Place had always oppressed him. He carried the memories of his miserable childhood like a weight on his shoulders. Free of the place, able to walk among other wizards as an innocent man, his entire bearing had changed. His step was lighter and he laughed more readily. The freedom to leave his house when he pleased, to carry out important, useful work for the Order, had gone a long way to eradicating Azkaban's mark from his face. The effect of his years of imprisonment would never truly be erased but she saw more and more of the handsome, laughing man from old photographs.
Thinking about the change in him led her thoughts to an unhappy possibility. They were in almost as much danger as Harry. With the exception of Ron and Hermione, they were closer to him than anyone else and Voldemort knew it. Capturing either one of them would be an enormous victory because Harry would almost certainly attempt to rescue them. If things got much worse they would have to think about going into hiding. How would Sirius cope with yet another confinement?
She shook her head as if she could physically rid herself of the unpleasant thought. Instead of dwelling on what could happen she tugged lightly on Sirius's hand and, when he looked down, tiptoed to give him a brief but tender kiss. He raised his eyebrows, clearly wanting to know what had inspired that, but she just smiled and turned her attention back to Bill and Fleur.
The wizard performing the ceremony announced the couple bonded and there was a wave of applause. With a wave of his wand he transformed the marquee for the night's eating and dancing. After fighting their way through a sea of well wishers, Bill and Fleur made it to the dance floor for the first dance, followed shortly by both sets of parents. When other couples began to join them, Sirius turned to Evie and said, "Shall we give it a go?"
"As long as we don't dance anywhere near Tonks. I like my toes as they are: unbroken."
As they headed to the dance floor a stage whisper caught her attention. She turned her head to see an old woman staring at her with wide eyes, her mouth curved in a delighted smile. "There goes the Potter girl, her thighs are far too plump. And that's Black, looking as if he just got out of Azkaban yesterday. What they get up to is a scandal, a scandal. Haven't you heard about it, dear?" she asked a bemused looking witch sitting nearby. "I'll tell you all about it..."
At another time the comment would have provoked anger from Sirius, but the happy atmosphere and the fact that the old woman seemed to be roundly abusing everyone who passed her table prevented it. Instead he just looked at Evie and rolled his eyes, smirking, before tugging her gently onto the dance floor. "Well I think you look very handsome," she assured him when they were out of earshot.
"And I think your thighs are perfect."
At that moment Fred passed, one of Fleur's friends on his arm. Evie knew by the twitch in his cheek that he had heard Sirius's comment, and she was surprised when no joke came. He was, she guessed, trying to make a good impression but the effort of restraining himself seemed to be causing him physical pain.
As the day wore on it seemed like she danced with everyone. Fred and George claimed her several times, spinning her in elaborate turns and dipping her dramatically. Finally, when her sides began to ache with laughter, she threw up her hands and refused to let either one pull her out onto the dance floor again. She did, however, convince Harry to join her in an awkward shuffle. She sought out Ginny and Hermione for a fast number and they were joined by a friend of theirs from Hogwarts, Luna. When the music slowed and people formed into couples she had to hide her smile at the furtive glances Ron threw Hermione.
Exhausted but happy, she retreated to sit with Sirius. He held out a glass of cool champagne as she collapsed into the seat next to his. She took it gratefully and raised her free hand to lightly brush his cheek. He caught it and pressed a kiss into her palm, then another on her wrist and then, grinning wolfishly, he grazed his teeth over the sensitive skin there. He murmured something but she was too focused on the shivers running pleasantly up her arm to pay attention.
"Did you say something?" she asked absently.
"I said," he began in an offhand tone, "this marriage thing seems to be popular."
"Well Bill and Fleur seem to be enjoying it," she said, looking over to where the couple were gazing at each other with the kind of lovesick expression that would make the other Weasley offspring gag.
"Tonks and Remus, too." He paused, stroking her fingers, before continuing, "Have you ever heard the saying that good things come in threes?"
"What does that-?" She stopped abruptly and turned to face him, taking in his intent expression. "Are you-? Is this what I think it is?"
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth while his eyes widened innocently. "I don't know. What do you think it is?"
"A unique, and rather unromantic, way of asking me to marry you."
"Well I had to find something to do with this," he said casually, uncovering the part of her hand that had been concealed by his long fingers. Somehow, either by magic or stealth, he had managed to slip a ring onto her finger. She stared at it in blank shock. It was beautiful, at its centre an emerald that matched the shade of her eyes. Sirius grinned smugly, clearly pleased with himself.
She cleared her throat and, in what she hoped was a neutral tone, said, "Feeling confident, are we?"
"Confidence is part of my charm." His voice was light but his eyes were serious, fixed on her face while he waited for an answer. She thought she could detect a flicker of apprehension.
"I suppose I can't keep the ring if I say no?"
"I'm afraid we come as a package."
She heaved a loud sigh as if greatly put upon. "In that case, I'll have to say yes."
Somehow she was no longer sitting in her chair but on Sirius's lap, and he was pulling her into a deep kiss. After a moment he pulled away but maintained his hold around her waist. "You're sure?" he asked.
"Yes. But," she said quickly as he leaned in for another kiss, "I have a condition."
"I'd wrangle a dragon if you'd like." He frowned. "Although I probably shouldn't be giving you ideas."
She snorted. "Nothing like that. I just want to wait for a while, until Harry can be there openly. I want him to walk me down the aisle as him, not as some long lost relative. And we can't tell anyone about this until tomorrow; this is Bill and Fleur's day."
"Agreed," he said, and started to pull her into the kiss he had been denied moments ago. Before he could, a loud and pointed cough behind them made them jerk apart. They turned to see Tonks and Remus staring at them, both of them wearing expressions caught between exasperation and amusement.
"We're the newlyweds here, you know," said Tonks. "We can't have you upstaging us."
"You are making Bill and Fleur look restrained by comparison," added Remus gravely.
"If you can bear to be parted, may I borrow my cousin for a dance?" asked Tonks.
Evie felt Sirius's thighs tense beneath her and knew he was worrying about what would happen to his toes if he agreed. Grinning wickedly, she hopped off his lap and dragged him to his feet. "Of course he won't deny you a dance," she said, pushing him firmly in Tonks's direction.
"Brilliant!" said Tonks, taking his arm and steering him towards the dance floor. Sirius glowered over his shoulder at Evie, his look silently promising that she would suffer for this later.
"Well, Evie," said Remus after they had gone. "Shall we dance or just be wallflowers together?"
She smiled up at him, taking his proffered arm. "I'd love to dance."
Once they were amongst the other couples, however, his smile faded and his eyes took on a faraway look. Staring up at him, she wondered whether Tonks had spoken to him about her worries. "Remus..." she began falteringly, unsure whether broaching the topic with him was the right thing to do. "You know how much I love you and Tonks, don't you? You're as much my family as Harry."
He smiled with a distracted air. "Yes, Evie, I know."
She hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. She didn't want to betray Tonks's trust by relaying everything she had confided in her to Remus, but neither could she stand by silently when something was clearly wrong. "I'm worried about you. You seem unhappy."
"I'm fine."
"You don't look it," she said bluntly.
"Everyone is morose at the moment. With Dumbledore and Mad-Eye-"
"It's not that," she interrupted, voice firm. "You're right, all of us are grieving and worried, but no one looks as unhappy as you."
For a moment she thought he would continue to deny it. Then he seemed to sag and he suddenly looked unspeakably weary. "What if it's like me?" he whispered.
"What if what's like you?" she asked, and when Remus regarded her with exasperation she realised what he referred to. "Oh, the baby. What if it's loyal, caring, intelligent? I couldn't imagine anything better."
"That is exactly what Lily would have said."
"Smart woman."
"She was. But her affection for her friends could blind her. Evie," he said desperately, "the rest of the world doesn't see me as you do. To them I'm little more than a monster." He lowered his voice. "Do you think any of these people," he let go of her hand briefly to gesture at the dancing couples surrounding them, "would be so comfortable standing next to me if they knew that I'm a – what I really am?"
"What you really are, Remus, is one of the best people I know," she said fiercely. "One of the bravest, most selfless-"
He uttered a strangled laugh. "Selfless? How can you say that after what I've inflicted on Tonks, on an innocent child?"
She felt a flicker of annoyance for how little credit Remus was giving his wife. Tonks was a grown woman, not just a competent witch but an auror. He couldn't inflict anything on her if he tried. Evie opened her mouth to tell him this but before she could speak she caught sight of a silver light streaking through the air. It settled on the floor and resolved itself into the shape of a lynx. When it began to speak, it was with Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice.
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
There was a shimmering moment of silence. Then, almost as one, people began to scream. Amongst the frightened cries Evie could hear people shout protective enchantments. Members of the Order immediately sprang into action, casting shield charms around those too frozen with fear to do it themselves and ordering them to Apparate away. All this happened in the few seconds in took for the Death Eaters to arrive in their midst. People began to panic in earnest and in the sudden surge of movement she was separated from Remus. She groped for his hand but the jostling of the crowd had already swept her too far away.
She looked frantically around for those she loved but their faces were hidden in the sea of strangers surrounding her. Hope that they had already Apparated to safety warred with the awful knowledge that the Death Eaters would target them before anyone else.
Then, miraculously, there was a break in the crowd and she caught a glimpse of Sirius. His wand was raised high, his eyes scanning the faces of the people around him. She cried out to him and somehow, over the shouted curses and counter curses, he heard her. Their eyes met and his widened, his mouth shaping words of warning she couldn't hear. Before he could do more than whip his wand around to her, a hand descended on her wrist with bruising force. She tried to raise her wand to defend herself but her assailant jerked her sharply, knocking her off balance and sending her careering into his chest.
She looked up into a Death Eater's mask and, although his face was hidden from view, she knew he was staring down at her with a vicious, victorious smile. As she struggled, trying to snatch her hand away, his arms clamped around her in an impossibly tight grip. "Evie!" Sirius roared, and she could hear him struggling through the crowd to reach her. "Ev-!" But his voice suddenly disappeared as the Death Eater turned on the spot, Apparating her away from the Burrow and her friends.