AN: Sorry about the whole splinching thing guys. Harry and Hermione were both splinched and Hermione was telling Ron to get the dittany (that she had gotten from Severus) that was in her bag. I am still up at the cabin but this week I'm working from a branch up here. The only time I get Internet is at work so I'll update as much as I can. Anything you recognize is JK Rowling's, anything you don't is mine.

Sirius POV

I sat on the couch next to Emily. She watched avidly as Remus and I played wizard's chess, her eyes as round as saucers. Not much had happened within the Order since we had sent the Veronas to Australia. But that had been two weeks ago.

Emily leaned against my side as Remus moved his rook. I smiled down at Emily, she was really beginning to grow on me. The first few nights she had been here she had woken everyone with her screams from her nightmares. She only seemed to calm down when I held her close to my side and sang softly to her. Since then I had moved her small bed into Hermione and my room. That way she could just climb in with me whenever she got scared.

"Check mate." I looked up and sighed. That was the third time in a row and Remus had beat me again. I flicked over my king and watch it roll off the board. Crookshanks darted out from under the couch and started to gnaw on the king's head.

"Could I play you?" Emily asked staring at Remus her eyes wide.

"Sure." Remus said leaning back against the couch an easy smile spreading across his face.

I stood up and went in search of my father and mother-in-law. The house was quiet except for Tonks' soft snoring in Ginny and Hermione's old room.

My throat clenched at the thought of my wife. I missed her so much. And I rarely felt her anymore. It had been so strange at first when I felt random flashes of emotions that weren't mine. But now I would give anything the slightest twinge that wasn't mine.

I looked into the room that Herman and Jean had been staying in but it was empty. Maybe they were in the kitchen. I silently made my way down the steps absently twisting my wedding ring around my finger.

"We can't keep her Jean." Herman said softly. I looked up at the kitchen door and frowned. Were Herman and Jean fighting?

"Why not?! She doesn't have parents!" Jean yelled. Were they talking about Emily? I was about to barge in when Herman spoke again.

"Have you seen the way Sirius looks at her? The way he cares for her? The way he tells Emily about Hermione? I think he wants to adopt that little girl."

Severus POV

I paced back and forth in front of Albus' desk. I would never be able to think of it as my desk.

"Severus you should really go down to the great hall for supper." Albus muttered his voice soft. I glared at the lat headmaster's portrait.

How was it that Dumbledore was able to drive me barking mad from beyond the grave?

"Albus, you don't have to see those students glaring at you because the believe you murdered the greatest wizard that ever lived!" I yelled finally losing my patience.

"Severus do you really believe that all of the death eaters believe your on Voldemort's side?" Albus yelled his eyes flashing.

"Why would they? I killed you for Merlin's sake." I said falling into the headmaster's chair.

Albus steepled his fingers a small frown on his face. "Not all of them will be able to see past your past Severus."

"Bellatrix." I muttered dropping my head into my hands. It was no secret how much she loathed me. Not only because the Dark Lord trusted me so explicitly but because I had begged for him to spare Lily's life. Lily. I ran my hands through my hair feeling the greasy strands that had never bothered me nor Lily.

"Fine I'll go to the great hall but if any of the students hex me they'll be put under the cruciatus curse." I muttered standing from the chair.

"We both know they won't, they respect you too much." I spun around my eyes wide with shock. "Or it may be because they're too afraid of you."

"I'd go with the second, Albus."

Neville POV

I sat at a table in the Room of Requirement making plans for the next D.A. meeting. The door suddenly slammed open and I jumped up my wand drawn. Hannah and Luna were leading Ginny in the room. Ginny's whole body was shaking with sobs.

"What happened?" I asked running over to them. Ginny recoiled away from me when I got close.

"Goyle attacked Ginny when she was heading to the library." Luna said as Hannah led Ginny to a couch that appeared.

"Please tell me he didn't ra-"

"No we stopped him in time but it was close." Luna said her eyes darting over to where Ginny was holding onto Hannah her whole body shaking. I rubbed my hands against my eyes and sighed.

"How far did he get?" I asked my voice rough.

"You don't want to know." Luna whispered her face pale. I took a deep breath trying to calm myself. Suddenly a loud splashing sound made me look up. Hannah had her hand wound around Ginny's hair as she threw up onto the floor. Her body shook as she vomited again tears streaming down her face.

"Harry will never want to marry me now!" Ginny sobbed brokenly scrubbing at her skin. "And I can never be clean..."

Ron POV

I held the horcrux tightly in my hand. A soft thrumming was all that answered. The horcrux was alive.

I stared at Harry and Hermione where they were talking softly their heads bowed together. They thought I was sleeping but I could barely stand the way I felt when I wore the bloody locket.

We had decided not to destroy the locket till Harry and Hermione had completely healed from the splinching incident that was my fault. My fault that my two closest friends had been hurt.

I watched as Harry smiled at Hermione and my hand twitched towards my wand. They were both cheating. I knew it. Whenever they thought I wasn't looking they would trade soft secretive smiles. And I hated it.

How could Harry do that to Ginny? And Sirius would be devastated if Hermione left him. If they kept up like this I would have to leave. I wouldn't be able to watch them throw their lives away for a fling.

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