Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the idea of Harry Potter or any of the money making forms of it.

A/N: Classes are insane this semester, but I managed to put this part together for you all. Hope you enjoy it. . . . I apologize now for causing any tears though.


- - - Book 4 — Part 3: According to Plan

Harry closed his eyes, just having finished speaking with Griphook.

The goblins were enraged. Not only had Rektik, the vault manager of the Lestranges, been taken, but other goblins, guards who had been near enough to attempt to stop a few attacks, were dead, and in an extremely horrible way.

They had been transformed into Inferi right before the eyes of their brethren, who then had to turn their blades to them.

With all of the kidnappings, Harry had not had time to really think on how they were occurring, because they had been happening right after another. Sure, he knew there had been casualties, but there had not been time to take in detailed reports of the attacks because soon after one occurred, there was another, and then all attention went into trying to prevent the next.

Ron, Greg, Vince, Ginny, and the twins were currently busy organizing the layout of the runes on their 'battle robes'. Really, the runes would be placed on all of their robes and any other clothing they felt appropriate, like undershirts or vests, but they were currently focusing on their 'heavy duty' robes of protection. Teddy would be getting a vest.

Harry lowered his mirror, which was still gently held in his hand. Ron, Vince, and Fred were in the room with him. The three 'G's' (Greg, Ginny, and George) were in another, like them, ready to cover for Draco and Neville. So far, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had let them be, probably assuming Neville currently needed friends with him, not overbearing adults trying to comfort him. And so, they had space.

Harry looked over at Ron, who was diligently stitching a small rune script onto a sleeve, an interesting sight to be honest, as Vince kept the fabric taut and still.

Stitching them on directly, as Hermione had learned, gave the network more stability and strength. It would provide structure for the 'flesh' of magic to take hold.

"We'll hear if anything happens, Harry," Fred said.

Harry nodded silently, knowing that, miles away, Dumbledore, Thorn, and the others were en route to the Riddle House, and, elsewhere, Griphook had just sent aid to the Bones' mansion. Hopefully their preemptive measures would be enough to hold back the coming death eaters and perhaps catch them by surprise while the rescue was carried out.

It was nerve-racking having to wait, but like everything, he did not have to wait long. . . .

O o O o O

Thorn and Viper appeared beside Dumbledore and the others, taking in the surreal perfection that was Little Hangleton. The fields were marvelous, and though having an old, slightly dingy feel, it would have been nice if not for the fact they knew what was taking refuge near there.

"On the hill," Dumbledore said, his form, like all of theirs, fading perfectly into the background, like a chameleon.

With their wands out, they formed two teams. With Thorn, there was Viper and Remus, while Mad-Eye, Sirius, and Snape were teamed with Dumbledore. For now, they would move together, but once inside, Thorn's team would focus their attention on evacuating those kidnapped while Dumbledore's team covered them.

"Like we planned," Dumbledore said as they headed up.

"Understood," Viper said, taking his position behind Thorn.

The sun was on the rise, being late morning, the area was well lit. Thorn and the others hoped the element of surprise would be their cover.

Coming to the back of the house, Dumbledore waved his wand, detecting a powerful ward. Having expected it, he looked to Mad-eye, who was to his right.

"Nasty trap waiting for the one who steps through the ward," he said gruffly. "Strange green flecks in the ward. Looks like tiny snakes slithering about. Parselmagic perhaps."

Going with that information, Dumbledore decided to try some parselmagic he had been learning from Salandra and in his readings while coupling it with his own vast knowledge of wards.

He lifted his hand and placed it a few inches from where he knew the ward was as he pointed his wand at the foundations of the house.

"It won't take long for Voldemort to realize what has happened once it does, probably sooner," Dumbledore said before muttering something under his breath, an old spell of some kind. "I'm afraid portkeying near the foundations of the house will be impossible after this, but I should be able to drop all of what he has laid here ward-wise because he has been the only one who has placed any protections. There are no overlapping magics like there are at Hogwarts, which is why she is so strong. She has had many casters. Here, there has only been one, so it is one caster versus one disenchanter. Ah, Riddle, you say trust is useless, but your trust of no one has made you vulnerable," he said as he closed his eyes, the others taking positions to cover him if need be.

They heard him begin, the magic in the air now gathering in intensity.

They held their breath, they themselves feeling the strain of combating magic all around them, and then it happened. In a gigantic whoosh and deep echoing BWOOM! light and branches of magic ripped across the ground and a dome of molten marble appeared over the house, encasing it for a split second before it vanished.

Dumbledore swayed slightly, clearly having expended a great deal of magic as the evil ward dissolved like melted butter.

Remus was quick to stabilize Dumbledore, who looked as if he should have brought his phoenix cane. Sirius and the others glanced at one another, having thought that, when Dumbledore put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a . . . lemon drop?

Before anyone could raise an eyebrow, he transfigured it into a cane. Well, more like removed the charm that had made it into a lemon drop, as it was his very own phoenix cane. Oddly, he suddenly didn't look so weak.

Mad-Eye cleared his throat. "Hrph, let's go."

They quickly entered the back of the large house, Thorn immediately heading to where he knew the basement was, Viper and the others right behind him.

"DUMBLDORE!!! AVADA KEDAVRA!!!"

Dumbledore sidestepped, turning softly toward the enraged Dark Lord like he was a three year old having a tantrum and not a full grown wizard bent on killing him.

"Hello, Tom," Dumbledore said, Thorn's team already well on their way down the stairs.

O o O o O

Madam Bones was surprised to say the least when an entire division of goblins appeared on the border of her property.

Hurrying to the one who appeared to be the one in charge, she asked, putting it delicately, what the heck was going on. The head goblin quickly explained, telling her of the imminent attack on her and her property and that a rescue mission was currently underway for those who had recently been taken.

Understanding that there was very little time, she and Susan quickly bunkered down in their living room, letting the goblins get into positions on the property around house. With nothing else to do, she contacted Little John, who told her a little bit more of what was going on. With that, she decided it best to remain in the safety of her home while allowing the goblins to focus on thwarting the coming attack. After all, what better way to catch the death eaters by surprise?

Curses and bellowing roars suddenly echoed in from outside as the wards of her home blared in warning. Peering out the window, Amelia Bones couldn't help but gasp at what she was witnessing.

Inferi.

Goblin Inferi.

"Susan, floo to Hogwarts!" she shouted. "I'll be right behind you!"

Knowing better than to disobey her aunt, Susan ran toward the fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo as she turned back around. Her aunt was supposed to be right behind her!

"Aunty!" Susan called as the wards shuddered and creaked, the Inferi and death eaters battering them mercilessly.

"Now, Susan!" she ordered, just as the front door was blasted down, the onslaught of the attack too much for the protections of the home.

An ominous moan was all the warning they had before the ceiling collapsed, more than one death eater targeting load bearing walls as they advanced right behind Goblin Inferi.

CRASH!

It landed on Susan.

The next thing Susan saw was her aunt, wand in hand, banishing handfuls of Inferi surging through the doorway and into the dilapidated living room as she hurriedly backed her way to where Susan was.

Under the rubble, Susan pulled out her mirror, doing the only thing she could think of, her legs pinned under a support beam.

"Mage, help!"

O o O o O

Thorn, Viper, and Remus dashed down the stairs as fast as they could, quickly entering the dungeon. On either side of the wide hall were cells, barred and filthy, imprisoning at least three people in each.

Thorn hurried down, passing the other cells to stop at the last one, where Augusta was. Blasting the lock apart with a small bombarda, he went in, Viper and Remus taking care of the others.

"Madam," Thorn began, his deep voice almost making him jump. Neville had almost forgotten how much he changed as Thorn.

He heard her moan as another woman, who he quickly recognized as Madam Marshbanks, came to his side.

"He left in a hurry a little bit ago, young man. He had been questioning her," she said, her voice bearing a slight tremble.

Thorn looked up, taking in the old woman's state.

"Are you seriously hurt? Can you move out on your own?" he asked as he kneeled down to lift a barely conscious Augusta.

"I'm fine, just lead the way," she said.

Lifting up his Gran, Neville tried to assess her condition. He did not like that she was barely lucid, though her eyes opened slightly when he looked at her face.

"T—trap," she whispered, her eyes flicking over to Madam Marshbanks.

That was all the forewarning he had, and it had barely been enough.

"Stupify!" Thorn shouted, half dropping Augusta as he whipped out his wand and almost got Marshbanks-doppelganger.

He missed, for the seemingly old lady with a sinister smirk had a wand.

"Ah-ah-ah, no cursing old helpless women, now," she said, waving her finger at him.

"You're no helpless woman," Thorn said, still supporting Augusta slightly while trying to position her behind him and near the wall.

"You're right," she said, letting her glamour fall. "I'm not."

"Lestrange," Thorn spat.

"Ah, you know my name, but I am afraid I have not been acquainted with yours. You're a Custosae, I assume? I know you're not Viper. Thorn perhaps?"

"Perhaps," Thorn stated, knowing Bellatrix was stalling.

"My, my, they certainly know how to pick them, don't they? Are all Custosae strapping men like you? I've only seen Mage in photos, but he doesn't seem too bad either. Oh, well. You're all going to be dead sooner or later, such a pity though. Avada Kedavra!"

Thorn easily dodged the curse with Augusta, going fully out into the dungeon hall and ducking around the doorway against the wall.

Viper and Remus, who had hurriedly been getting the others out to Sirius on the ground floor as the others kept Voldemort occupied, were suddenly there.

"Get Madam Longbottom out! I'll hold her off!" Thorn shouted as Viper took hold of Augusta, Bellatrix stepping out of the cell.

Viper nodded before, with a grunt, he heaved Augusta over his shoulder, fireman style, and dashed to the stairs, an Energy Seed crushed between his teeth.

"A werewolf in your ranks? My, you are a rather boisterous group. How fortunate for me," she said as a gleaming silver dagger fell from her sleeve and into her left hand.

"Reducto!" Thorn shouted, blasting down part of the wall and ceiling and banishing it at her.

Vanishing it with her wand, she rushed forward, now cackling as she whipped her dagger about and flung cutting curses at them.

They retreated down the hall, all of the former prisoners nowhere in sight. From that, Thorn knew Viper had either popped out with them or had gotten them to Sirius who would lead them out of the house and portkey them away to safety.

"Alastor!" a pained shout came from above. They quickly recognized the voice as Dumbledore's.

Now on the stairs, Thorn looked back and up, trying to determine what was going on up there. He shouldn't have tried to look, for in that instant, Bellatrix advanced with more ferocity than ever before.

"AHHGH!" Remus gasped, blood filling the air as Bellatrix pulled back the knife for another go.

Thorn didn't think, he just reacted.

"Hogwarts!" he shouted, telling Teddy all he needed to know.

-POP-

Thorn, (Teddy in pocket), and Remus disappeared from the stairs, right before the crazed eyes of Bellatrix.

"NNOOOO!" she screeched, now tearing up the stairs in a rage.

O o O o O

Harry's mirror warmed in his hand and he quickly activated it and looked.

"Mage, help!" Susan cried. "Inferi!"

Harry quickly took in what he could see around her, forcing his eyes away from her frightened face. Goblin-Inferi were pouring in through the window not far behind her, debris all about, some probably on her. He could also make out Madam Bone's voice bellowing out fire curses somewhere out of view.

"I'm coming!" he shouted, dropping the mirror on the bed before yanking out a polyjuice-glamour pill. Casting the spells as fast as he could, the others quickly turned to see what the matter was.

"Harry—wha-?" Ron asked as Harry instantly morphed into Mage, his wand already tightly held in his right hand.

"It's Susan; they're trapped in the house. There's no time, the goblins have been turned into Inferi. I have to go."

"But—"

-POP-

O o O o O

Thorn landed on the infirmary floor with Remus. Thorn's large hands went for the man's throat, where blood was freely pouring.

"Oh, Merlin!" Pomfrey cried, already pulling out her wand and casting, blood now covering the floor under the two men.

O o O o O

Dumbledore backed out of the house, the others behind him as he deflected curse after curse from Voldemort and Bellatrix.

"You will die, old man!" Voldemort shouted, understandably angry.

"Someday, I suppose," Dumbledore softly agreed, stepping into the back garden. "But not today."

With that, Dumbledore and the others portkeyed away, to Hogwarts.

O o O o O

Mage landed in pandemonium, and instantly he was casting.

"Mage!" Bones shouted, not far from where the ceiling had landed and where Susan was clearly pinned. Susan was covering the window the best she could, but because she was pinned at an odd angle, she was having trouble.

Mage slammed back the Inferi with a powerful push of magic, safe for him to cast, before he flicked his wand to the grand table in the next room and slapped it over the window, muttering, 'Vinculum' as he did so.

"I've sealed the house, but even the foundation wards have cracked!" Bones told him. "The death eaters are going through the gaps!"

Mage looked around, seeing that the room was now more or less fully sealed off, at least for the moment. He thought about popping out with them, but didn't know if he would have trouble with that, considering it would mean using more magic to transport them with him. It would probably call for a surge of magic, and he couldn't risk that, at least an internal surge. . . .

"Keep them back and don't try to leave this immediate room," Mage said as he raised his wand to his finger.

This would work. It had to. For the main source of the magic would be from his blood, not his center.

He sliced his finger, a large drop quickly falling from it to plop heavily onto the carpet. Bones and Susan worriedly looked at each other, though not for exactly the same reasons, as Mage kneeled down, placing his left hand, his finger still dripping blood, on the floor for stability. He then placed the end of his wand in the drop of blood.

Mage recited the spell needed to form the Golden Ward.

The air stilled and golden light rushed from the wand's tip, racing to every corner of the room and beyond. Seeping out through the holes in the walls and the makeshift barriers he and Bones had placed to block off Inferi and death eaters, the magic bled into the very foundation of the house.

Mage looked down, his eyes widening slightly as he felt something more tingle around his left hand. His blood, still coming from the deep cut on his finger, was glowing brightly, taking on a golden shine before he could make out even more. Green.

In a glorious mix of color and sheen, the power from the shed blood suddenly pulsed even more violently, as if angered by something. How odd. However, before Mage could truly contemplate this, a sound like no other penetrated the walls.

Piercing, unrelenting, hate-filled cries.

But not long after they had come, they suddenly fell silent.

Mage continued kneeling, realizing for the first time that he was breathing heavily and was sweating profusely.

He looked back down at his blood, watching the magic slowly dim within, though the magic it had produced was still powerful outside itself.

"What . . . was that?" Susan asked.

"A ward of some kind, I would assume," Bones said, looking to Mage. Mage didn't confirm or deny this, as his face was still angled toward the floor. Seeing she wasn't going to get a response, she focused her attention to Susan and gently lifted the debris with her wand. Glancing up, she found the area above coated in the golden ward that was also covering the floor and walls. Evidently, they were protected on all sides.

What an amazing feat of magic.

After putting the fallen portion of ceiling aside, she thankfully found that Susan was not seriously harmed as she hugged her, helping her sit up.

"Are the Inferi still out there?" Susan asked while casting a concerned glance toward Mage.

Bones followed her gaze, only now truly looking at the man who had just saved their lives.

She quietly stared, taking in the man's appearance, posture, and position.

This was Mage, the man who had taken Voldemort head on, saved Hogwarts from a likely defeat, created the Custosae and became one of Dumbledore's most beloved friends. This was the new legend that had shaken the Wizarding World to its core. This was the man who had lit a new fire under the Wizengamot.

And he was kneeling in her living room with his hand covered in his blood, his wand now gently held by his right, the tip visibly red.

Was he alright? He seemed to be recovering from whatever he had done. How had he known to come? She could have sworn she had heard Susan call out his name, but how had Susan. . . ?

"You also have a mirror," she whispered, glancing at her niece.

Susan looked up, her eyes a little uneasy before she nodded.

"I gave it to her," Mage said, finally looking up while silently healing the stubborn bleeding cut before cleaning up his blood from the floor and his hand. "And although another taught her how to use it, I personally selected her to have one of her own use for such a time as today. I hope you will not be upset with her for not telling you about this arrangement. I had thought it best for her to tell no one outside the Custosae."

"I see. Well, after what has just happened, I can't really express any displeasure in her having received the mirror without my knowledge," Bones said, slowly standing as Mage made his way to a fallen chair to prop it back up. "Thank you; I've noticed you have impeccable timing."

"I simply come as soon as I can," he answered as he eased himself onto the wobbly chair.

Bones nodded, pressing her lips together as she continued looking at him. She appeared as if she was going to say something else, but then cautiously approached one of the windows to look through a narrow opening shaded in faint gold.

"The Inferi . . . they're gone!" she said, surprised, before immediately gathering that they must have been the source of the cries they had previously heard.

"They disappeared?" Susan asked.

"The goblins are not inferi anymore, though I'm afraid they are still dead," she said, looking back through the crack. "I think I also see some death ea—"

Looking back to the room, she suddenly cut herself off, for in that instant, a flaming pillar of fire materialized right beside Mage before solidifying into a hooded, medium-build man with a red goatee, Fawkes on his shoulder. She could see that the man was completely bald, despite the hood, and was younger than Mage the moment he spoke.

"Mage!" the man exclaimed, relief plain in his voice as he fell to a knee and embraced Mage without any hesitation.

"Phoenix? What are you doing here?" Mage asked, returning the hug.

"What am I doing here?! What kind of question is that? Mage, you just upped and left! — For good reason of course, but you didn't even take your mirror! What if you needed help?!" Phoenix shouted, jabbing his finger onto Mage's chest.

"I would have used Madam Bones' or her niece's," Mage answered calmly as Phoenix spotted the sweat gathering on Mage's brow. Phoenix's eyebrows rose in concern. "I'm fine," Mage added.

"I'm sure," Phoenix stated before Fawkes gave a slight chirp. "I am not," Phoenix said, though not to any human in the room. "Fine, call me whatever you want. Flashy chicken."

Fawkes gave a disgruntled squawk, flying to Mage and landing on his shoulder.

Susan held back a smile while Bones raised a confused eyebrow. Mage smirked, imagining what Fawkes had said to Ron as Fawkes began combing through his hair with his beak and gave a soft trill.

"Oh," Phoenix said, his eyebrows going up.

Evidently, Fawkes had said something to him.

"We should get back to base. Long Beard just sent a brief 'feeling' to Fawkes, letting him know that they are on their way to Hogwarts right now," Phoenix said, earning another confused glance from Madame Bones.

"Alright, let's go," Mage said, raising himself up from the chair. "Madam Bones, may I suggest you and young Susan go with Fawkes to Hogwarts? You can tell them what has happened here. Phoenix and I need to get back to our base once we have a moment with the goblins."

"Certainly, Mage," she said, Susan beside her. "I wouldn't mind Madam Pomfrey taking a better look at Susan."

"Very good," Mage said as Phoenix turned to Fawkes.

"We'll be fine, Fawkes, we have another mode of transportation, and no, it's not the one you're thinking of," Phoenix said. "I wouldn't let Mage do that after what he's just done here."

Fawkes gave a nod of approval and a slight glare at Mage, as if daring him to say something to counter Phoenix.

"Don't worry, Fawkes. I think I'm thinking the same thing as Phoenix here," Mage said assuredly.

With that, Fawkes flew to Madame Bones, Susan taking the offered tail feather along with her aunt, and they disappeared in a column of flame.

"You really alright?" Phoenix asked as soon as they were gone.

"Yeah, it wasn't as tiring as it was the first time," Mage said with a nod, slowly making his way to the front door.

"Do you think that is a good idea?" Phoenix asked, his wand at the ready.

"There's nothing out there that is a threat any longer," Mage said, opening the door as he attempted to prepare himself.

The sight that greeted him was a dark one. There were bodies everywhere, ally and otherwise.

There were well over two dozen dead goblins and over three dozen crumpled death eaters.

"Good Merlin. . . ." Phoenix breathed.

"The gold and green light killed them," a goblin said stepping out of seemingly nowhere to Mage's right.

He was accompanied by four others. More goblins arrived soon after.

"Just in time. If the light hadn't surfaced, we would all have been lost," the one beside the first said, looking up at Mage in clear respect.

"Mage, you must return to your base. Something has happened," a very familiar voice said.

Mage turned, finding Rook appearing as grim and as sad as death.

"Here, I believe this will be helpful," he added, handing him a piece of cloth. "I will take care of things here. Say 'home' to go."

Mage gripped the silk cloth as Phoenix instinctively took hold of Mage's shoulder.

Mage met Rook's solemn eyes.

"Everything has a price," Rook said. "We have accepted it. You must as well."

"I'm sorry," Mage whispered, before murmuring, "home."

He and Phoenix disappeared, going back to Grimmauld Place.

O o O o O

Neville slipped away as Thorn as soon as he was able, returning to Grimmauld Place with a heavy heart.

Augusta would live, they had saved her, but at a price.

Was a life worth a life? How could one measure such a thing?

"Neville?" George asked as he appeared back in the room as himself.

Neville slowly turned, the look in his eyes the only evidence of having been in a battle.

George paled. "Did . . . ?"

"Gran is at Hogwarts; she's going to be okay, but. . . ." He closed his eyes, his throat betraying him. "There was noth—" He was unable to properly choke back the sob.

With that, Fred and the others joined them in the room.

"What happened?" Fred asked.

Neville shook his head, trying to find the words, but then was interrupted by a quiet whoosh.

Ron and Harry appeared before them. Harry shook his head in slight confusion, blinking away the dizziness before their arrival was followed by a soft pop.

Draco, his disguise also having melted upon arrival, was now beside Harry.

He appeared just as emotionally broken as Neville, only slightly more collected.

He turned to Neville. "There was nothing you could have done."

Perhaps that had not been the best thing to say at that moment, for Neville lost the last bit of composure he had had.

Ginny stepped up and embraced him, very confused but instinctively knowing that was the only thing any of them could do for him.

Harry and the others were at a loss, and so, they looked to Draco, who was more composed.

Draco closed his eyes for a long moment with a deep breath before looking back to Harry, his eyes holding a grim shadow.

O o O o O

The funeral took place later that week. It was a fairly large funeral, despite how small and simple most knew he would have wished, however, it was a rather pleasant funeral. Or at least as nice as any funeral can be. The Minister and many from the Wizengamot were present, as well as all of the Amici, and (although very few knew) all of the Custosae.

When Hermione was told, she convinced her parents to allow her to go and stay with Susan Bones to attend the funeral. She would also stay for the rest of the summer until school started.

Neville barely managed to keep himself together enough to prevent people from becoming concerned with his behavior. Most believed it was because he felt horrible that his Gran had survived when others hadn't.

The news of the battle at Madame Bones' place was dwarfed by the rescue mission at the Riddle House. Those who participated with Dumbledore and Thorn were proclaimed heroes and those rescued were forever grateful. Dumbledore was certain it had something to do with Mage and the Goblins wanting to keep what had taken place at the Bones' mansion quiet.

Mad-Eye Moody was awarded Order of Merlin second class for saving Dumbledore's life (at the cost of his ear and arm), while many of the others were awarded Order of Merlin Third Class for participating in the mission.

Only one had been awarded Order of Merlin First Class.

That medal was currently resting on the white casket guarded by four Goblin Honor Guards.

Harry closed his eyes, Sirius standing stoically beside him. Harry had caught Sirius crying the previous night, not long after talking with Neville in the next room. He let him grieve, knowing that was the only thing he could do for him.

Some people didn't know what to make of Harry's behavior, Harry noticed. He was sad, certainly, but not exactly devastated, or at least not as much as many would have thought he would have been. The truth was, after coming to terms with Voldemort's memories some time ago (having witnessed death countless times within them), and the previous battles he had participated in and even orchestrated (including the last one he was in), something had happened to him. Something deep within him had come about. He honestly didn't know if it was good or bad, perhaps it was both. He understood that death and loss was a part of war, and that what they were in now was just that. A terrible war.

Dumbledore had come to visit him and Sirus a day after it had all happened. It was clear to Harry that Dumbledore had expected more of a reaction from Harry, but already having had more time to come to terms with it than most and being who he was, he simply bowed his head in solemn thanks when Dumbledore gave him his genuine condolences. Harry hoped he wasn't seriously worrying Dumbledore, it was just . . . how was he supposed to react?

He knew what the risk was in that mission just as much as those who had gone did, and even though he was still technically a child, it didn't change the fact he understood this and had accepted it. Sometimes all one could do was to take it as it came. Allowing it to tear you down near or beyond the point of no return was dangerous.

Harry wasn't ignoring his feelings or issues. Quite the opposite in fact. He had cried when Draco had first told him, at first blaming himself in agreeing with Dumbledore to carry out the rescue, but then he quickly came back to himself. There were no guarantees in war. Barely anything ever went according to plan, and before most any war ended there were losses. It was not a pretty or happy thing, let alone glorious. War was dirty, painful, merciless and never picky.

Anyone could die.

And, like himself, Neville now knew this.

The days before the funeral had been hard on them all, but understandably more so for Neville. It took some time before he was convinced Harry wasn't upset with him and that there was nothing he could have done differently. What he had been able to do was more than most anyone else could say possible for themselves.

Harry looked to his right, finding Draco, Greg, Ron, and the rest of the Weasleys. Would they survive this? Would he? Harry shook himself, looking to his left to find Vince, Neville, Luna, Susan, and Hermione. Were they ready if one of them didn't?

Sirius gave his shoulder a squeeze as the casket began lowering into the ground, Dumbledore casting something over the casket, having made the Order of Merlin Medal imbed itself in the tombstone above the inscription.

Remus John Lupin

A Loyal and Fierce Friend

March 10th, 1960 – August 13th, 1994

The sun was setting before anyone left.


A/N: Well, there it is. Feel free to share your thoughts ^^ (or tears and sad/angry cries....;_; )

Next part: Culture Shock