The Order was in a furor, without Dumbledore there to guide them, and Severus couldn't help but think that they deserved every bit of it. He also wished that he wasn't currently bearing the full brunt of it. The least the old man could have done was be here to ward them all off and shut them up for at least a few wonderful moments of peace. For some inexplicable reason, it seemed none of them trusted a man who regularly consorted with their sworn enemies. Funny, that.

"We have to go get her!" Molly Weasley shouted shrilly. "We can't leave her there!"

"As I said before," Severus said, doing his best to remain calm and emulate the headmaster, "we cannot move until-"

He was cut off by a loud shattering noise in the room directly above them. Arthur Weasley swore softly, patted his wife on the hand, and left the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. When the door briefly opened, they could hear the shouting voices of Mrs. Asari and her younger daughter, even if they couldn't make out a word of it over the cacophony the Granger family dog was making in response.

"Bloody woman," he heard Ashley Smith mutter under her breath.

"Dumbledore calls the shots," Moody said before Molly could start up again. "And he wants us to wait until-"

"We're not waiting any longer," Ashley said, her fingers drumming on the table in a manner that reminded Severus horribly of her ailing fiancé. "We're going tonight, and you're either with us or-"

"No," Severus said.

"No?" Molly repeated, her face flushed and furious.

"You will wait," Severus said. "Give me a few days to gather some intel, and-"

"No," Ashley and Molly said at the same time.

"Yes," Moody said, pounding a fist on the table. "Damn it, Dumbledore says to-"

"We have Fleur's information!" Molly said shrilly. "We know what the Death Eaters are up to! They're leaving tonight, and we should strike while-"

"While they are significantly stronger than we are," Severus finished for her. "Even with half our number leaving, they still outnumber us, and with the recent Azkaban escapees, their advantage has only grown. We must wait until a more opportune moment."

"And when is that, Severus?" Minerva asked, her dark green hat sitting on the table in front of her. "When Hazel is already dead?" She'd never seemed old, really, even with the streaks of gray in her hair. Now, though- she looked almost as aged as Dumbledore.

"The Dark Lord will not kill her," Severus said carefully. "He plans to-"

"To steal her body," Minerva finished with a scoff. "As if that is any better of a fate. We have a duty to protect her, Severus, and I, for one, do not plan on failing her again. We must go."

"I agree with Minerva," Pomona Sprout said, at least not sounding happy about it. "She's our student, Severus. How can we let a child remain in danger any longer?"

"By waiting," Severus said coolly. "She will not be there much longer, I promise you. I am only asking the time to-"

"We already decided to attack tonight," Ashley said. "We were all in agreement before the battle, and-"

"And matters have changed," Severus said. "The girl will be rescued, I promise you. I will see to it personally, provided I am given the time to come up with a suitable plan.

"You're going to sneak her out?" Charlie Weasley asked sharply, his inquisitive eyes studying Severus's face.

"If I can," Severus said."Lucius Malfoy is staying behind to ensure the girl is well guarded- from both us and his less scrupulous Death Eaters. The Dark Lord will not risk his new body while he negotiates with the Americans, nor to his own followers. We will wait until-"

"Until what?" Mrs. Weasley said, not looking up as her husband slipped back inside and retook his seat next to her ("Bloody woman," he muttered again, more subdued this time).

"Until a better situation arises," Severus said irritably. "A dozen of our own are dead or in St. Mungo's, after the Grangers, while the Dark Lord lost none, since the Ministry declined to prosecute those we took captive. An attack on the manor at this point in time would be suicide- for both us, and the captive."

"Captive?" Minerva said darkly. "She is more than that, Severus. She is still a child, and she must be horribly frightened and- and- we cannot leave her there- not with everything we've learned."

"The Dark Lord will be expecting an attack while he is gone," Severus said, this time a bit of sharpness entering his tone. "Their decreased numbers will mean nothing for our chances- not until our own are healed and returned. We must wait, until I find a way to smuggle her out on my own. We have no other option."

"You should go now," Ashley Smith said, "while the Death Eaters are confused and preparing to leave. That's the best time to-"

"Get myself killed," Severus said. "The Dark Lord has guards stationed outside the girl's quarters at every waking hour. I will not be able to slip inside until He is gone. We must wait."

"Sirius was right about you," Molly said suddenly, her hands shaking at her sides. "You're a coward. If we wait any longer, Lily- she'll be-"

"In no worse a situation than she currently is," Severus snapped. He stood up from his seat, breathing deeply through his nose to calm himself. "I must go. The Dark Lord has called a meeting. I am not required for it, as he believes I am readying myself for the upcoming school term, but allow me to attend it, and I will report back tonight- and, if things are as dire as you believe, then you will have my full support. I promise you."

"We have to go now," Molly insisted. "Before You-Know-Who has the time to-"

"The Dark Lord already has her," Severus said impatiently. "He has been dosing the girl with frequent sleeping draughts, so that she is incapable of fighting him further. We will only have one opportunity to strike, and that is not now."

"But- but Fleur's-"

"The Dark Lord has already adapted to the girl's escape," Severus said grimly, knowing full-well it was his error in judgment. "There are guards posted all over. They will be on high alert from any attacks coming from the outside. We must wait." He should have known better than to trust Felix Felicis. All she had to do was leave, he thought. One dead Death Eater would have been reasonable- the Dark Lord would have been angry, but the person who made the mistake would have already paid the price. But Jorkins escaping, too?

Severus hoped, as he took a step towards the door, that they'd finally acquiesce. Didn't they understand that he had no intentions of leaving her in Malfoy Manor? He'd already had this discussion with the Headmaster almost every night since the girl was taken- she would be free, soon, if they would only just-

"We're not waiting!" Ashley said, slamming both palms on the table and utterly shattering Severus's tiny flame of hope. "We've had quite enough of that."

Severus took another deep breath. He would try again, a waste of time though it would be. He owed that to the girl's mother. "We cannot save the girl until-"

"Lily!" Ashley shouted at him. "Her name is Lily! At least say her name, if you're dooming her to die."

Severus took a deep breath to calm the boiling emotions and memories rising inside of him. Her fate would be far worse than death, you foolish woman, he thought.

"Lily will be safe," he said, the name tasting like bile on his tongue. "I must go. This discussion is over."

He only made it two steps, though, before the door to the kitchen swung open and six people entered. At the lead was Dumbledore, looking grim and tired. Behind were four blonde and exceptionally handsome people- Fleur was the only Delacour Severus recognized and knew, though. She had a girl half her size clinging tightly at her side, and she looked like a miniature clone of her older sister. She also couldn't stop beaming at her older sibling. Behind them, though, that was what made Severus stop in his tracks.

"Black," he growled.

Sirius still felt like he was dying, but, really, he wasn't that far off from it. His entire chest was covered with a large, awful, purple bruise, that never seemed to fade or shrink no matter how much time passed. Granted, it really hadn't been that long since the battle, but the healers of St. Mungo's should have been able to vanish the thing in seconds. What really made Sirius wish for death, though, was the deep agony that laid directly under the bruise. The healers told him when he woke that he was lucky to be alive, that the curse Voldemort (although they'd refused to believe he was behind it) hit him with should have made him rot from the inside out, and there should have been nothing the Healers could do other than ease his pain as he passed. That he wasn't going to pass away was nothing other than a complete miracle, they'd told him. It was just Lily's watches that had saved him- and those were currently resting inside his pocket, where his left hand currently was, clutching them as if they were all that was holding him upright.

In reality, that was the cane his right hand was gripped onto.

"Black."

"Snivellous," Sirius said, trying his best to smile as he hobbled forward a step. The git looked like a great, black bat, just as usual, but Sirius really didn't have the time or the patience to deal with him right now. Ashley was by his side in an instant, and she helped him into the seat nearest her own, towards the left end of the table, near Lupin and the Weasley parents. Dumbledore took the far end, at the head, and the Delacour parents went with him while Fleur crouched and pulled her sister into a great, big hug.

"What is this, Dumbledore?" Gunther Stranglehold said, scratching at the top of his bald head (it seemed he finally decided to come to terms with it, and shaved the whole thing, rather than let the thinning continue to disgrace him). "I thought children weren't allowed in the meetings? I'd've brought my own if I-"

"They are not," Dumbledore said, cutting him off quickly. "I have invited the Delacours here for a very important matter."

"And what is that, Albus?" McGonagall said sharply, still eyeing Fleur and Gabrielle.

"I have not told them the secret," Dumbledore said.

At first, there was quiet and confusion. It was Snivellous who spoke first.

"If they do not know the secret," he said slowly, "then how are they here?"

"An excellent question," Dumbledore said, nodding towards Sirius. "But, if you will notice, I said that I did not tell them, not that they do not know."

"But," Minerva started, "then how are they-"

"I'm the one who told them," Sirius said grimly, squeezing Ashley's hand as she threaded their fingers together.

"Oh, no," Flitwick said in a very squeaky voice.

"Precisely," Dumbledore said, nodding. "It seems inviting the Asaris into the household for their protection- or, perhaps, maybe even Fleur- has stretched the Fidelius Charm too thin. It is not broken, but we are now all secret keepers and, thus, can share the location of our headquarters with anyone we wish."

"Dumbledore," Hestia Jones said, "this isn't good. How did this even happen?"

"I was talking to Rufus Scrimgeour again," Sirius said, wincing when he tried to lean forward and a stab of pain shot through his chest. "Made the mistake of mentioning headquarters, and, well- he heard it."

"Scrimgeour?" Kingsley said, leaning forward, now, too. "He knows?"

"He does," Dumbledore said, nodding again. "But, I do not believe it is an issue. Sirius, if you would."

"He was questioning me about the battle again," Sirius said, scratching at his aching chest. "He believes us- that Voldemort is back."

There was a tremendous wave of relief and cheer that went through the gathered Order members, then, but it was quickly snuffed out by Dumbledore raising his hand.

"Continue, Sirius," he said more grimly.

"He won't help us, though," Sirius said, grimacing at another wave of pain. "He can't- not until the Ministry at large recognizes that Voldemort is back. If he tried, Fudge would just replace him with somebody that he trusts, and we'd be even worse off."

"Still," Kingsley said, leaning back in his chair, now, dark eyes still studying Sirius. "If Scrimgeour told you this, it's a good sign. What else did he say?"

"Well, he gave me a list of names, for starters," Sirius said, reaching into his robes and withdrawing the paper. "Retired aurors, those Fudge sacked a few weeks ago- people we can trust to fight with us, without rubbing heads with the Ministry. Plus- he might have said that, if a certain manor happened to alert the Ministry that it was under attack, say, he'd be more than willing to delay any action."

"Meaning?" Snivellous asked.

"Meaning that we've got two hours, once the battle begins," Kingsley said on Sirius's behalf. "That's the longest he'll be able to buy us."

"Two hours," Sirius said, nodding his agreement. "If we move fast, we should be able to go tonight."

"No," Snivellous said sharply.

"Listen, you tremendous prat," Sirius said, "I've had it with you. We're going, whether we have your-"

"Patience, Sirius," Dumbledore said, calmly raising a hand before he could really get going. "Hazel will be rescued in good time. A couple more days, while we prepare our attack, will make no difference."

Sirius happened to disagree. Every second she spent in there made a world of difference. He wanted her home. He wanted her safe.

He just wanted to see her smile again.

Sirius locked eyes with Fleur Delacour. She nodded, and he nodded back. It was time. He opened his mouth, ready to start the argument all over again, no matter how long it took. Nobody noticed when the Delacours stepped out of the room- just as they hadn't noticed that not a one of the dour had spoken during the meeting.

"This is rubbish," Fred muttered, a thin wire held up to his ear.

"They can't just leave her in there," George agreed, his head leaned towards the same Extendable Ear.

Hermione held hers tighter as they listened in. She couldn't remember ever hating Snape as much as she did at this very moment- and that was certainly an accomplishment for that complete and utter git.

"We should go," Ron muttered at her side. "We could get her out."

"No, we couldn't," Hermione said back.

"We could!" Ginny said, sounding thoroughly excited. "All we'd have to do is-"

"Well, you're not going," Fred said.

"What? But I'm-"

"A fourth year," George said. "Sorry, Gin, but only people who have taken their OWLs should go on-"

"Come off it," Ron said, raising his voice slightly. "You're not leaving me."

"You get off," Fred said. "We've already broken into one manor to rescue someone, and we can do it again, all on our own."

"And I've done way more," Ron countered angrily. "I went with her to get the Stone, I went into the bloody Chamber with her, and I caught Pettigrew when-"

"And then you went and kept a prophecy to yourself and got her kidnapped," George said, pointing at his twin. "We're going, and that's that."

"Piss off," Ron said, his face a bright red. "I was- was only-"

"I'm going," Ginny said, crossing her arms, her wire dangling from her fingertips.

"Not a chance. You're-"

"Shut up!" Fred hissed, and then, with a strong yank, he pulled back his Extendable Ear in one solid motion. Hermione followed suit, as did Ron and Ginny, and then the entire group jumped up into motion. Fred and George took the couch, right in front of the fireplace, while Ginny sat on the bottom step of the staircase. Hermione and Ron moved to the center of the sitting room, on the carpet, where there was a chessboard already set up for them to pretend with. Ron even moved a piece.

"Check," he said, smirking. Hermione got the impression that he'd been waiting for precisely this moment. She was just moving her king out of danger when the Order members who'd just left the meeting rounded the corner.

Only, it wasn't any Order members: it was the Delacours.

Hermione didn't know the youngest's name, but she looked just like the older sister whose side she was currently clinging to. Mr. Delacour had a darker shade of blond and a thick moustache adorning his upper lip that it seemed he couldn't keep pulling at. Mrs. Delacour, Hermione tried her best not to look at because she was certain she wouldn't be able to stop looking if she did. Fleur had a tired, wasted look to her face, with her cheeks much thinner than they'd been just a few months ago. Even despite that, though, she was still the second most beautiful person Hermione had ever seen.

She wasn't going to think about the most beautiful person, who was currently sitting in some room, doused with potions and surrounded by enemies.

The Delacours huddled together briefly, speaking in a rapid French that Hermione was too far away to hear. Fleur hugged both of her parents, kissed her little sister on the cheeks, and then strode forward, leaving them near the front door.

"'ello," she said in English, her accent still thick and her eyes sweeping the people in the room. "We do not 'ave much time."

"Hello, Fleur," Hermione said, when nobody else did. "Time for what?"

"Sirius," she said, dragging out the vowels far too long, "is buying us time. 'e says zat our Professor Moody will not look for us so long as 'e is in there. 'e is under ze impression zat 'e is being watched."

"We're not following you, mate," George said.

"Yeah," Fred added. "What's Sirius got to do with anything? What's he being watched for?"

"Ze Order will not rescue 'er," Fleur said, and they all knew who she was talking about. "If they will not, then Sirius thinks it is time we 'ave an Order of our own. And, since, 'e can not go 'imself, it is up to us to go in 'is stead."

"What are you-"

Fleur pulled a small, brown journal from her robes, holding it up to the light and shaking it back and forth.

"I grabbed zis when I escaped," she said, smiling slightly. "It Is ze journal of one Draco Malfoy, and 'e 'ad quite a bit to say. I know exactly where they are keeping Lily, and I know 'ow to break 'er free. Who is coming with me?"

"Coming with you?" Ron asked. "What's it say?"

"She is up on ze top floor," Fleur said. "In ze attic, where zis Lord Voldemort sleeps. She is kept under ze 'Sleeping Beauty,' it says."

"Sleeping Beauty?" Ginny asked, her brow furrowed.

"I know that one!" Hermione said before she could stop herself. "It's a poison, invented by a French Muggleborn witch in the 1300s! It puts somebody into a deep, catatonic sleep, until it either wears off, or- err-"

"Or what?" Ron asked.

"Or until somebody the person loves kisses them," Hermione finished, her cheeks going hot, her mind fully aware of how everybody was currently looking at her. She probably should have kept her mouth shut, but she could feel the babbling coming up on her. "Err- You-Know-Who probably picked it because- because he doesn't believe in love, so he thought there was no cure. But- but- err-"

"Then you understand your role in zis," Fleur said, moving her gaze to Fred and George. "Ze two of you are-"

"I can't!" Hermione said.

"You can," Fleur said, eyes moving back. "I will be needed in ze battle, and I am told you are ze only one who 'as a Trace Blocker, as well as Lily's cloak. You will 'ead to ze attic, and you will wait for our signal. Ze two of you are-"

"Fleur, really," Hermione said, "we can't just- I mean- you just broke out! You really want to go back?"

"No," Fleur said immediately, finally tucking the journal away. "But I promised Lily I would not leave without 'er. I must go back, if I am to keep zat promise."

"But-"

"I 'ave 'ad quite enough of seeing zat girl be miserable," Fleur said sharply. "I 'ave 'ad enough of seeing 'er be in pain," and, this time, Hermione saw Fleur's family in the hallway, nodding along in agreement, her mother and father beaming with pride. "I would 'ave fixed it myself, if Barty Crouch 'ad not interrupted us at 'ogsmeade. I would do it now, as well, but we will need a distraction if we are to get Lily out of there. You must go. I am thinking zat she will like you more than me, anyway."

"But-"

"Enough!" Fleur snapped, pushing some errant hair back behind her head. "You will. You are a witch, no? It is time to show a bit of courage, 'ermione. Lily would not 'ave 'esitated to do ze same for you, I am 'earing."

Hermione felt her face flush again. Lily would have gone for her immediately, rules and danger be damned, the instant she heard Hermione was in danger- or anyone, for that matter. And here she was, too scared to even consider doing the same.

"I'll go," Ron said suddenly. "I'll free Lily."

"It must be a different kind of love," Fleur said with a sly smile. "You will not work for 'er."

"Then I'll just carry her out," Ron said with a shrug. "We'll just wait for her to wake up."

"Per'aps," Fleur said slowly, eyes still on Hermione.

"I'll go," she said quietly, turning her gaze down to the chessboard. "I'll- I'll do it."

"Good," Fleur said, nodding satisfactorily and turning back to Fred and George. "Ze two of you are of age, no?"

"Yes," Fred and George said together.

"Then you will be coming with me," Fleur said, pushing back that hair again. "We will be creating a distraction, while we wait for 'ermione to do 'er job."

"I'll grab the flash pellets," Fred said, hopping to his feet.

"And I'll grab the bursting birthers," George said, doing the same. Hermione did not want to know what those particular items were.

"Wait," Fleur said before they could get too far. "There is one more thing. Three will not be enough- is there anyone else who would come with us?"

"I will," Ron said immediately.

"Us, too," Ginny said, gesturing to Sae next to her.

"No," Fleur said, waving a hand dismissively. "You are too young."

"That's not fair, Hermione's going!" Ginny said.

Fleur held up a single hand. "It Is not a matter of courage," she said. "But of just zat- age. We only 'ave one Trace Blocker, and 'ermione will be needing it."

"Can't we make more?" Ron asked.

"Maybe," Hermione said, awkwardly rubbing her arm as she felt more words budding to the surface. "Err- Lily and I had one, before, and we copied down all the runes and what not on it. Only- only we never got around to actually building any extras, or even figuring out what spells were on it that fueled them. If we had more time, I could figure it out, but-"

"We 'ave no time," Fleur said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "We attack in two 'ours. We must use zis chance well- who else will come with us?"

"Your parents aren't coming?" Ginny asked, eyeing her family still standing in the hall.

"They know what I plan," Fleur said. "But they 'ave another job. They are expected back 'ere, after they return Gabrielle and myself to our 'iding place. They will be noticed if they come with us. We must bring others, instead."

"Bill and Charlie might," Ron said slowly.

"Charlie would," Ginny agreed. "He's not even in the meeting, he's sleeping back at the Burrow."

"And zis Bill?" Fleur asked, clearing her throat slightly before saying, "'e is ze 'andsome one in ze meeting?"

"Yeah, he won't be able to come," Fred said, glancing right over the handsome part. "Could invite Katie, she's been writing to us all the time about Quidditch."

"And Lily," George added. "We think she wants to get back together with her. She'll come, if we ask."

"Katie's under age, Ron," Hermione said quickly, a little huff of hot air escaping her nose.

"So, we can just give her the cloak and blocker," Fred said. "She's a year above you, she can-"

"I'm going, thank you," Hermione said, hopping straight to her feet and prodding her own chest with a finger. "We can invite Cedric, instead."

"Cedric?" Fred and George said, exchanging a glance.

"Why that prick?" George said.

"He's a member of S.P.E.W.," Hermione said with a scoff. "Plus, he kept threatening to give people detention when we get back to school when they wouldn't shut up about Lily's trial on the train, remember?"

"Maybe," Fred said reluctantly. "But how are we supposed to get him?"

"I'll go!" Sae said, raising her hand. "He's sharing a flat with Dai, I can just pretend to be visiting him. He might come, too, if Cedric can talk him into it."

"Go, now," Fleur said quickly. "I will send you ze meeting place later. 'ermione, you should get ready, too. You two, I 'ave a job for you, too."

"Us?" Ginny and Ron said, looking at each other awkwardly.

"You," Fleur said, pointing at Ginny, "are to go wake zis Charlie, so zat he is ready for our attack. And, you," she added, pointing at Ron, "are to go alert Viktor Krum."

"Krum?" Ron said, his mouth falling over. "He- I- Krum?"

"'e is staying in London," Fleur said. "I ran into 'im on ze way back from ze Ministry, when they would not listen to me about Voldemort. 'e wants to 'elp. I will give you 'is 'otel. 'ermione- I believe I told you to ready yourself."

"But-"

"Go! We do not 'ave ze time!"

Hermione went, running after Fred and George on her way upstairs. Lily's Invisibility Cloak was just where she'd left it- bundled up under her bed, with the Trace Blocker carefully stored inside. She slid the cold, bronze bracelet over her wrist, stuffed the cloak under her shirt, and then moved to her school trunk to dig out her wand. That, she shoved in her back pocket. She was one her way back to the door, to head downstairs and wait for the rest of Fleur's orders, when something else caught her eye on Lily's desk. She closed the door again, gently so nobody would hear, and then wandered over to it, lifting the light piece of wood gently between two fingers. She still had no idea where Lily had gotten an extra wand, nor why she'd neglected to mention it. But Hermione knew one thing for certain.

She would want it when she woke up.

"We're coming, Lily," she whispered to the wand. "Just hang in there a bit longer."

She spun it between her fingers, and then tucked it in her back pocket, right next to her own wand.