Aquila gasped as Dudley tore at her shirt, the buttons flying in every which direction. Angelina was gone for a few hours, giving them plenty of time-
"You can fix that, right?" Dudley murmured, before his lips were upon hers once more and they were barely breathing as they grabbed at each other, their hands a frenzy in an effort to shed themselves of their clothing. "Cuz I'm not buying you a new one."
She snorted, struggling to get his belt off. "Why do you even wear this thing?"
"Because my pants are loose-" He pulled the belt off in a smooth attempt and then began to undo the many buttons on her jeans - she had bought them in a Muggle fashion magazine. She didn't think they were designed for efficient pants taking off. "Bloody hell!"
"These are three hundred dollar jeans," she warned before he even attempted to try to submit them to the same fate as her shirt. As she attempted the unbuttoning process, a sharp clap sounded and Aquila shriekd at the dark skinned teen standing in the doorway of her closet.
"Again?" Angelina sighed. "This is the third time this week-"
"Then don't keep apparating when you think we're in the middle of something," Aquila snapped. She groaned and fell back on her bed. "All I want to do is have sex with my boyfriend. Why is that so difficult? You're a horrible roommate."
"Wait, roommate?" Dudley asked. "I thought she was just visiting-"
"Nope, roommate," Angelina grinned as Aquila reached for her shirt, muttering a reparo, the buttons mending themselves back together. Once it was mended, Aquila threw the shirt on and flopped back onto the bed dramatically. "Because apparently her mum's gone a bit dark. . . The Order's taking precautions."
"Wait, what?" Dudley asked, his tone incredulous as he glanced at Aquila. "Your mum's gone dark?"
"Potentially," Aquila said after a moment. "She's been frequenting Death Eater headquarters and the Order thinks a few extra eyes on you guys would be good, especially since the war is escalating much quicker than expected-"
"What does that mean?"
"People are dying and the world's pretty much choas," Angelina summed up.
"Didn't we have a talk about luck a few weeks ago?" Aquila demanded. "As in, you don't break my lucky streak-"
"Luck doesn't always mean getting lucky," Angelina quipped. She sat down on the edge of the bed as Aquila began to rebutton her pants, sitting up. Dudley flushed slightly at the barb and cleared his throat. Embarrassed? Oh, Angelina was going to have a field day with that. "I'm glad you've discovered the wonderland of each other's bodies, but... this is serious."
"So when you say extra eyes-"
"She means me, my gloriously handsome boyfriend, and resident werewolf and Auror are going to be keeping guard pretty much twenty-four seven on this dingy little town."
"Werewolf?" Dudley asked cautiously.
"He was my Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in school," Aquila told him. "He's probably the most brilliant man I know -" Aquila glanced at Angelina unsure. "I thought he and Tonks were in charge of watching over the Longbottom residence?"
"Potter's more important," Angelina shrugged. "They'll probably have Hestia and Mudungus on duty for them now."
"Oh, yeah, because Mudungus was real effective when he was on watch here," Aquila muttered.
"Wait... Sorry, I'm confused," Dudley said quietly.
"Mudungus Fletcher was supposed to be watching over Privet Drive when the dementors attacked us last summer," Aquila explained. "He wasn't here because apparently he found a really good deal for his stolen goods. He's a thief and a bargainer."
"So, I'm on guard duty while Aquila's gone, because my team doesn't have a super strict schedule, if I make it," Angelina grinned. "So, any and all concerns for your safety should bipass Euryale and go straight to either me, Remus, or Tonks."
Aquila got out of the bed, passing him a small item. "This will be a portkey for the three of you - which will notify them of danger. The password is 'Nando' and it will activate for all three of you. It will also take you to your safe house, which I can't tell you the location of, but she's family and she will keep you safe. Potter... won't be able to go on the portkey with you guys. He's too stubborn, first of all, and the guards are in charge of taking him to another safe house."
He raised an eyebrow but accepted the matchbox, sticking it in his shorts pocket and giving a small sigh. "It sounds like we're in danger - and not the kind that's easily fixed."
"Of course you're in danger. You're Potter's cousin. And who does the Dark Lord want to kill most out of everyone? Potter," Angelina said simply. Aquila sighed again, shaking her head as Dudley seemed slightly freaked out. "So... you can blame Potter for the extra protection. He decided he wanted to survive the Killing Curse."
Aquila threw Angelina another glare before pulling on some shoes. "Want to go to the park, Dudley?"
"Er, is it safe? Because you two have just been talking about how it's not safe."
"You wouldn't be in my home if it wasn't safe for you to be even outside," Aquila said simply. "It's safe."
"For now," Angelina finished.
"Thank you, Angelina, for your valuable input," Aquila said sarcastically. She grabbed Dudley's hand. "Let's go."
Her eyes darted to the sky as they walked down towards the playground, her expression promising that if anyone crossed their path they wouldn't live long. And she sat herself down in a swing, exhaling slightly in an effort to get rid of the frustration.
"I take it things are starting to... take a turn for the worst, then?" Dudley asked.
"Not really," Aquila admitted. "He's just getting stronger - people are joining him like wildfire, offering their support to him and... funding him. The Order is based entirely off of volunteers. We try to do good because we don't want to die, not because we're paid for it. And..." She sighed. "It's just... not a good place right now. But it's no safer than the Muggle world at this point. He's not focusing his attacks on just one world. Mostly main cities... that propane explosion in London last week? He did that."
"A whole block exploded," Dudley frowned.
"Precisely."
And so they swung in silence, Dudley absorbing the severity of the situation. "Theo Nott's having a party this weekend... I suppose it would be a bad idea to go?"
"I don't trust him," she said quietly. "His father is a notorious Death Eater in the inner circle. And while he claims to get away from all that, he could be corrupted at any time."
"So, stay away from him, your mum, and anyone else?"
"Not at the moment," she laughed. "Just them."
"Okay." He swallowed. "Are we ever going to talk about when you're leaving?"
"Not right now," Aquila said quietly. "But yes, we will. I just... want some peace for the next few weeks."
"You leave in two," Dudley pointed out.
"I know," she said with a sigh. "I'm just... trying to put off the conversation as long as possible."
He reached for her hand and they slowed from a swing to gently rocking back and forth. "So... we'll put it off." She gave a small smile, but it was tired, as though she was tired of running. Her gaze fell to the sand under her feet. "What do you say to going to London for the day tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow's Saturday," she reminded him with a sigh. "I have practice all day."
"Sunday?"
She gave him a small smile. "Sure."
His grip on her hand tightened and all of the worry she felt for the war melted at it - because it was secure, it was safe. "We'll be okay, right?"
She hoped so. She really did. "Yeah," she said quietly. "We'll be okay."
The London trip consisted of running through crowds in order to get to the next place, giggling when they would knock into people. She relaxed on Millenium Bridge, her breath lifting in her chest as she stared out into the Thames, much like the last time they had been in London - Christmas break.
"So, I'll see you after trials next year?" he asked.
"Yeah, and hopefully just in time for the European Cup," she said brightly. "If you want to go to it, then, that is." She bit her lip, glancing down at the water. "I don't think-" Her head lifted suddenly as she heard a whooshing sound and her eyes caught the Black plumes of smoke in the air. Death Eaters. She grabbed Dudley's hand, pulling him quickly.
"What are we-"
"Run," she said seriously and then the bridge was wobbling. She wished she had her broom - something to get them out of here. She grabbed his arm and began running, pushing past the Muggles around her that began to panic. She saw an old woman trip. "Run to the car!" she shouted to Dudley. "I'll meet you there!" She let go of him in a leap of faith and approached the elderly woman, grabbing her and hefting her up and began to run, dragging the woman along with her, the walker forgotten. She wouldn't have survived with it anyway.
She pushed her feet faster, but knew she couldn't go too fast with the old woman. And as the bridge began to crash into the water, Aquila knew they would just barely make it. And then they pushed over the edge just as the bridge gave out from underneath them and the old woman was grabbed by a stranger, held up as Aquila breathed heavily, looking around wildly for someone - Dudley.
A quick glance over the Thames told her that the Death Eaters were gone, so Aquila ran through the crowd, trying to find him. If the Death Eaters had him- A car came to a halt in front of her and she was relieved to find Dudley and she hopped inside, staring above them. "Drive home. As quickly as possible."
"What was that?"
"Death Eaters," she said, on alert. "I'm going to climb in back and cast a patronus so no one else sees me-" She climbed over the armrest and center console, before landing in the back seat and pointed over his shoulder. "Go straight and take the alley to the next street."
He did as requested and Aquila squeezed her eyes shut, thinking of a memory. Of Dudley. Of Quidditch. Anything. "Expecto Patronum."
A silvery eagle escaped her wand, gliding out of the tip and resting on the headrest of the passenger seat. "This is Aquila. It looks like two bridges are out in London. Currently en-route to Privet Drive. Send Aurors and Order members - Multiple Muggle casualties. I have to get Dudley out."
She climbed back into the passenger seat, glancing out the mirror every once in a while. It was only about twenty minutes, on a good day, but now traffic was insane. Everyone was getting out of the city. "People didn't get off the bridge?"
"No," Aquila said quietly. "Not those in the middle. Too late for them." She bit her lip. "I'm sorry... I should never have... This was foolish, getting so close to the danger."
"Who were they looking for? Us?" Dudley asked. "Are mum and dad okay?"
"I don't know, Dudley," Aquila snapped. "I'm just as clueless as you are. The Order had no idea this was going to happen - or I wouldn't have let you come to London." She ran her hands through her hair, the stress mounting. "Merlin, I'm such a horrible protector. I should have seen the signs!"
"No, you're not," Dudley insisted. "We were just having a fun day and that happened-"
"But I should never have put you in a situation where you could be in danger," Aquila countered. "It was stupid of me. God-"
"I probably would have gone to London anyway," Dudley shrugged. "I had to pick up that special food mum needed for dinner this week." She sighed, shaking her head and when they reached Privet Drive a half hour later, Remus and Tonks were at his front door, apprehensive. Remus's wand was at her throat as she approached the door.
"Why was the Whomping Willow planted on the grounds?"
"To hide your passage to the Shrieking Shack," Aquila countered. She grabbed Dudley's arm, as Remus let her pass. "Get inside," she said firmly. She glanced at the sky before Remus and Tonks followed her.
Petunia was white as a sheet as she clutched a pillow to her, staring at the television. When she heard Dudley enter the living room, she rose and hugged him tightly. "Oh! My boy!"
"How close were you?" Remus demanded.
"We were on the bridge," Aquila stated. She moved towards their emergency radio, turning the dials until it hit the magical frequencies, and then cast her wand for the password. "We were towards the edge, so we weren't as close to the middle-" The Order radio began to blare, cutting off whatever the reporter on the television was saying.
"Multiple Muggle casualties! We are unsure if this was a planned attack, but it seems as though the Death Eaters struck with precision, hoping to cause as Many Muggle casualties as possible. Current body count is near forty three, but is steadily rising as Aurors are helping Muggle authorities find bodies." Aquila stepped back, sitting on the arm of the couch as Petunia turned down the television. "This just in, it is reported that Millenium Bridge was the main target, but due to panic, the attack quickly followed up with Brockdale Bridge."
"Oh my God," Petunia murmured. Vernon quickly began pouring scotch. Remus peeked through the curtains of the residence, glancing at the skies out front.
"Magical signatures report that Fenrir Greyback was the leader of this attack."
"Did Greyback take anyone?" Aquila demanded. "Any children that we know of?"
"We don't have a missing report yet," Tonk said regretfully. "We suspect a few, as per his usual attacks."
"Children?" Petunia whispered.
"Who's this Greyback guy?" Dudley asked.
"He's a werewolf," Remus answered. "A ... very notorious werewolf for how he treats his victims. When I was six, he stormed into my home and changed me, killing my family. He was sent to our prison shortly afterwards, where he's been for nearly twenty five years... until his escape last summer - where he has kidnapped many children and..."
"He devours them," Aquila said quietly. "Eats them. Or... or worse... he will change them and raise them to be apart of his pack... a child army."
"That's... horrible," Petunia murmured, sinking down into her chair. Aquila agreed. She bit her lip, glancing towards the radio. It just kept discussing the report.
"We advise all listeners to stay in their homes, to keep your wards in tact and to ensure that-"
"Where's Harry?" Aquila said suddenly, glancing around.
"He's in his room," Vernon said with a mumble.
Tonks met Aquila's eyes before heading up the stairs towards the boy's room. "He doesn't know?" Aquila asked. "He hasn't been down?"
"No," Petunia said quietly. "Should he have been?"
Tonks came down the stairs, nodding. "He's on his way down."
They heard Potter's footsteps and he came into the room, almost battle ready. "What's going on?" he asked.
"Take a look," Tonks said, gesturing to the TV. It was pointless to say that Potter was angry. His hero complex wanted to go out there and end it, to just find Voldemort and get rid of him for good, but Remus talked him out of it, saying that it would do no one any good if he got himself killed.
It would definitely not do any good.
"I'll... I'll make dinner," Petunia said after a few moments of staring at the television. "Are the rest of you staying?"
"I think it would be safer if we did," Remus said after a moment. "We don't mean to impose-"
"But our safety, yes," Petunia finished. "I'll set some extra place settings, then." The woman moved towards the kitchen, and Aquila moved to join her, but Petunia waved her away. "Relax out there." Aquila didn't need to be told twice. She settled into the couch, listening to the Order radio while also watching the Muggle news... Her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced at Dudley, who seemed to be slightly in shock to have been so close. "I'm making grilled chicken. Is that a problem for anyone?"
"No, Mrs. Dursley," Tonks said quietly. Her own gaze was on the television, as though in pain. Aquila knew he was getting bolder. It would only be a matter of time before he was confident enough to attack Privet Drive.