It turned out, Aurora had not gotten away with her visit to Surrey as well as she had hoped. They lulled her into a false sense of security. Three days went by, it was almost election time, and she was feeling rather smug about it all.

Then, her dad returned home, they went to Grimmauld Place together, and Molly Weasley looked at her with a sternness to rival Professor McGonagall when she had been caught out of bed with Draco in first year.

"Good morning, Molly," she had said with a false chipperness, waltzing into the kitchen and hoping her heart wasn't hammering too loudly. "I haven't seen you in a while — how are you all enjoying it here?"

The five members of the Order gathered around the table stared at her in stony silence. She turned to her dad and put on an innocent, concerned frown. "Is there something wrong? Did something happen?"

"Sit down, Aurora," Remus said, bringing out his teacher voice for special effect. Her palms began to get sweaty.

"Dad?"

The corner of his lips twitched in such a way as indicated he was trying not to smile. "Go on. What's going on, Remus?"

"Oh, you know fine well what's going on," Molly Weasley said sternly, but she turned to Aurora, who noted her father's bewildered look. Did she believe he was involved, or to blame? "Mundungus here has told us all about your little trip the other day, young lady."

Oh, fuck.

"What trip? Diagon Alley? I'm allowed to go there, aren't I?" She looked to her father urgently, but his face had fallen in surprise. Clearly, he hadn't known what was about to come up, either. She wasn't sure if that was better or worse.

"Oh, Diagon Alley is fine!" Molly Weasley cried. "Apparently — though not for any of the rest of the children! No, it's before Diagon Alley that's the problem. Care to remind us where you went?"

"No?"

"Aurora," Remus sighed, "we know you went to visit Harry. Which you know you shouldn't have done. Mundungus here was very worried when he realised he'd lost track of Harry on watch."

Yeah, right. Mundungus, if anything, looked like he was looking forward to seeing someone else get a bollocking for misbehaviour from Molly Weasley. And her dad looked like he was trying not to laugh as he spoke the clearly rehearsed words. Traitor, she thought. He could have given her some warning.

"It's highly irresponsible of you," Molly told her. "Dumbledore has placed his trust in you, and you have disrespected him and everybody in the Order."

"I am allowed free will."

"You are not allowed to visit Harry and tell him about us!"

"I didn't! All I said was he shouldn't come and burst down my door and run away which he was threatening to do because he is so frustrated and miserable and I think, probably traumatised."

"Oh, well, I'm sure you'll understand if I find that hard to believe! For weeks you've been strutting around headquarters as if you own the place—"

"I do own the place!"

"—while my children are expected to sit back quietly and not do anything, because they're not allowed to tell Harry anything either, and you should be setting an example!"

"Your children do also have free will."

"Aurora," Remus interjected, "this isn't about free will."

"I didn't realise the Order and the Ministry were both authoritarian regimes now."

"I'm sure Aurora had good reason to visit Harry," her father said defensively, though he put a hand on her shoulder to try and quiet him. She shrugged it off, annoyed. "You can't just haul her in here for that — when Molly said she needed to talk to us, I thought it was about — well, not this."

Molly cut him a glare. "Oh, if you would like to discuss the other aspects of you and your daughter's behaviour, I would be happy—"

"Everybody in the Order has a code of secrecy we have to abide by," Remus said gently, hushing Molly. He was looking at Aurora with clear disappointment in his eyes. "Sirius, we thought it best if we could get the two of you in here together."

"You can tell he was a prefect," her father muttered under his breath, glaring at Remus. "You should've let me deal with this," he said, raising his voice. "Aurora had her reasons, didn't you?"

"Obviously," she said, rolling her eyes. "He's lonely and he said he was going to run off to my house. That would have been stupid of him and made things way worse than anything I could do."

Remus sighed, pinching his forehead. "I understand your frustration, Aurora, we all do, and we all want what's best for Harry. I understand why you did it, but you shouldn't have. It puts all of us at risk. What if a Death Eater had overheard?"

"I didn't say anything of significance," she protested. "I told him what he'd already figured out, and that I couldn't tell him anymore but hoped that I would be able to soon, and that he should come to the Assembly meeting after the election and that it might help our cause. That's it."

"You shouldn't have said anything to him at all!" Molly insisted. "You had no right to talk to him!"

"No right? I'm his friend!"

"Oh, are you now!"

"Molly." Aurora's dad's voice was grave. "Don't talk to her like that. This isn't about Aurora's relationship to Harry."

"Doesn't it bother you that she's betrayed the Order?"

"I haven't betrayed—"

"Aurora did something silly. She had her reasons. But she knows she did wrong. We don't need you to tell her that, again and again."

She absolutely did not. But her father looked at her expectantly, imploringly. "It was a bit reckless," she said reluctantly, anger and bitterness wrapping around her. "But I did it because no one else would, and someone had to talk to him or Merlin only knows what he would have done of his own accord, which I'm sure would have been ten times more catastrophic than anything I could do accidentally."

"Something makes me doubt the sincerity of your apology. You do realise you are still a child? What would you have done if you'd been put in danger, either of you?"

"I'm rather good at getting out of danger."

"Without magic? When the Ministry would certainly try to prosecute Harry if he was caught up in any sort of law-breaking?"

"Well. It was fine. I assessed the risk. Nothing had happened all summer."

"Something has to happen at some point!"

"All the more reason he should be gotten out of there!"

"I thought you didn't want to do that?"

"I do, but I wasn't going to kidnap him. That's a bit far, I'm not stupid."

"You could have fooled me!"

"Molly!" Both Sirius and Remus's voices cracked across the table. Mundungus leaned back, grinning to himself. Kingsley sighed and clasped his hands together on the table before him.

"Let's not let this get personal. Miss Black, you knew you were not to visit Harry Potter. You knew this was for his safety, and for that of the Order. We cannot have information leaking. You could not predict who might overhear you. You-Know-Who's followers have a lot of spies.

"Now, Dumbledore recognises that you felt you were in the right, and that Potter deserved to have someone visit. But that does not give you the right, as a member of a secret," he gave her a pointed look, "organisation, to go against the word of our leader, so explicitly and recklessly, and put everything we are trying to build at risk, as well as potentially compromising Potter's safety. The watch is in place for a reason. To protect Harry. Not to stop him from going anywhere or doing what he wants."

"I'm sure you would have let him come to me, of course."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you timed your visit to coincide with the change of watch, yes?" She pursed her lips, but nodded. "No doubt you thought that was clever. But, if in those precious moments where we thought Harry was safely in one area for the foreseeable future, he disappeared, he could easily have been hurt."

"But he was with me."

"Lady Black, I am sure you are a very talented witch, but you cannot expect to take on multiple Death Eaters, especially without the aid of magic, the use of which would have landed you in court, facing questioning as to why you were there, and what you discussed, and potentially compromised the security and secrecy of the entire Order."

That was the sentence that got through to her. Her stomach sank; the warmth drained from her cheeks, and she stared at Kingsley. Of course. She hadn't thought of that. She had considered her own intelligence and talent and capability. She hadn't thought to remember that people didn't really care about that, if they thought she had done wrong. Broken the law. She had looked at the stakes wrong.

"I…" She couldn't bring herself to admit that she didn't think. "I'm sorry."

Kingsley sighed. "That's as may be. You broke ranks, Black. Dumbledore does not know if he can trust you."

"Dumbledore and I have an agreement."

"This was not it."

Frustration burned her face. She looked to her father, who just gave her a grim smile. "I didn't want for anyone to be in danger, and nobody was."

"But they could have been. It is the principle that is the issue, Black. Everyone wants what's best for Harry Potter, whatever we believe that to be. But we are not individuals who happen to have similar goals, and sit around a kitchen table. We are a collective, a society. We have a hierarchy and structure and you, Miss Black, are not our leader. It is the agreement of everyone who joins the Order that they will abide by its rules."

"I'm not in the Order."

Molly Weasley made a strangled noise. Remus sighed. She didn't dare look at her father.

"You're as good as. It was our understanding that you wanted to be kept in the loop, informed of our activities and decisions. Albus Dumbledore has suggested a revision to your agreement. If you wish to act as if you are not in the Order, you can be kept out of the loop of information. You can be treated as the children upstairs, and you will still, as an accessory to the Order, have to toe the line of obedience."

"Dumbledore would kick me out? I gave him this place."

"And he is very grateful. But another headquarters can be found, if needs be. The security of the Order and its members is the priority. It always will be."

Remember your place, in other words. She swallowed bitter bile. For a moment, in anger, she considered snapping that the deal was off then; but she reminded herself there were other benefits for her. She had to learn about the curse on her, she needed protection from Bellatrix, she needed Dumbledore to teach her more.

So she swallowed her words and her fury.

"That will not be necessary. I am sorry. I only intended to help Harry. He was going to run off, or do something stupid of his own accord. This was just… Damage control."

"Even so," Kingsley said. "You cannot control everything, Lady Black. But, provided you assent to never do this again, and to having a closer eye kept on your activities — which I'm sure your father and cousin will be happy to assist with — Dumbledore is prepared to accept your apology, and hopes you can prove you are trustworthy again."

If Aurora looked at Molly Weasley's face, she was sure she would throttle her. She stared straight ahead, scraped her chair back and got to her feet.

"Thank you," she said in a strangled voice that was not her own. "I hope so too. If you're quite done, I'd like to go home now. I've missed my father."

When no one went to stop her, she strode from the room, hands shaking. She had fucked up, had miscalculated, and almost brought everything crashing down upon her. In a bid for more control, she had almost lost what little control she did had. The urge to throw up consumed her; she rushed up the stairs and down the corridor to the lavatory, and had just slammed the door behind her in time to kneel over the toilet bowl, trembling.

It was only a moment before her father burst in after her.

"Aurora, are you okay?"

"Get out!"

"Aurora, sweetheart—"

"Did you know they were going to do that?" She whirled around, glaring furiously at him. "Did you know they were all going to sit there and — and interrogate me and berate me and talk to me like I'm a child?"

"I... I knew Molly wanted to talk to us."

"And you didn't warn me?"

"I didn't have time, and I didn't know what was going to happen. I thought it was because she worked out in helping Fred and George set up a joke shop."

"You what? Never mind — did you hear her?"

"She did make some rather unnecessary comments."

"She thinks I'm a child! She's rude and — why don't any of them understand that I did the right thing? I'm trying to do the right thing, the kind thing, and no one appreciates it!"

"I appreciate it," her dad said, laying a hand on her shoulder. "And I'm sure Harry does too."

She pushed him away, stumbled to her feet and pushed past him, storming out into the hall and down towards the front door. She caught flashes of red hair hanging over the bannister of the upstairs landing, curious eyes watching, and she had to fight every instinct to throw something at them.

"I don't want to talk to you here," she told her dad, glaring over her shoulder as she yanked the door open. "Everyone here annoys me."

"Right," he said with a sigh, and followed her out onto the street.

It perhaps was not the best idea; she was in her robes, and he in jeans, and it was a rather odd combination which she hoped would only imply that she was being escorted to a fancy dress party. Coming to her side, her father said, "For what it's worth, I think it was kind of badass to sneak out to Little Whinging. I only wish you'd have stolen my bike."

Aurora folded her arms and glared at him. "I didn't do it to be cool. Though you could've said something more helpful in there."

"I don't think Molly would've liked the badass argument."

"Don't even talk to me about her. Who does she think she is? Telling me what to do — it is my house! I don't care what she makes her kids do, it's my choice!"

"It was a bit reckless."

"You just said it was badass!"

"It was both."

Aurora let out a derisive laugh, storming on ahead and turning the corner. "Can we go home?"

"Course," her father said, grabbing her arm to halt her. "I'll Apparate us, just hold still. And try not to be too annoyed, it'll mess up the link."

She grabbed a hold of him and was whisked away; when they landed on the grass just outside of Arbrus Hill, she snatched her arm away and swallowed down her nausea, storming into the house. "Aurora, I'll talk to Molly, and explain things, if you want."

"She won't listen, none of them will. I — I know it might not have been the best thought-out idea ever, and what Kingsley said got to me but, what was I supposed to do?" She shoved open the door to the lounge and sank down onto a sofa, annoyed, staring at the ceiling. "I wouldn't do it again, but, it worked out okay. I didn't need to be spoken down to like that. Not by Molly. Even Remus! He did his disappointed teacher face."

"It was the same when he was a Prefect," her dad told her, crouching down beside the edge of the sofa. "I doubt he's as annoyed with you as he wants you to think."

"It was still annoying the way he spoke to me."

"Yup." He pressed his lips together in annoyance. "I know. God, I wish they'd just let me deal with it. I don't know what Molly's thinking."

"Probably that I'm a good-for-nothing little girl without a brain in her head."

"Well, I'm not sure that it, but—"

"She basically said that! And what's this about my 'behaviour' that she'd be happy to discuss? I've been perfectly well-behaved ever since they moved their stupid ginger heads in, but she wants to take over and rule everything and treat me like I'm one of her children! She spoke to me like she's in charge!"

"I know," her dad said. "And she has absolutely no right to do that. If it weren't for you being here right now, and me wanting to at least try and have a nice night, I'd be marching right back over there to tell her as such. No wonder her own kids don't want her getting involved in their lives."

"It just — I was only trying to do the right thing! Kingsley was right, though. But I don't mind Kingsley; Kingsley's decent, Molly Weasley is... A whole other breed of infuriating!"

"I know, Rory. For the record, I don't care what Molly says. I'm proud of you."

"You're proud of me?"

He nodded, grinning. "Like I said, it was pretty badass."

"Even though it could've turned out bad?"

"Well, it didn't," he said, shrugging. "I mean, maybe don't do it like that again — and for God's sake, you should know you can at least tell me — but you were just doing what you thought was right. I've done far worse at your age."

That was true. The knot of worry that had twisted at Kingsley's words loosened somewhat; now she just had anger about Molly Weasley remaining. "You don't reckon you could try that with Dumbledore could you?"

"Not sure he'd like the reminder of my personal failings."

"Fair enough." She sat up, folding her arms, and squinted at him suspiciously. "What did you think Molly wanted to talk to us about?"

"Ah." Her father flushed slightly, looking down. "Yeah, I was going to mention this to you when it became a bit more relevant, but... You know Fred and George were trying to develop their joke products. The sweets, that make your tongue swell and stuff?" She did vaguely recall Hermione mentioning it last year, mainly complaining. "Well, anyway, their long-term plan is to make it into a proper business, make a joke shop, but you know they don't exactly have the funds, and their mum'd never support them getting a loan for it."

"So you're loaning then the money?"

"I was considering it, that's all. I was planning on discussing it with you, nothing's set in stone. I think they're pretty brilliant, if you wanted to see some of their stuff I'm sure they'd be all too happy to show you. So long as you didn't tell Molly."

"Believe me, there's more chance of me paying a compliment to Snape." Her father snorted. "D'you really think there's money in it? For them and us — if you were to help them out?"

"Yeah," he said, "I really do, actually."

"Hm." Aurora pursed her lips, looking up again. "Maybe I'll talk to them about it, then."

"You won't regret it," her dad said with a wink. "Who knows, maybe they'll come up with something to help you sneak out and see your new best friend."

"He's still not my friend," Aurora muttered, but her dad grinned and ruffled her hair, before getting up and motioning for her to clear room for him on the sofa.

"Sure he isn't, kiddo. Now, how's about you tell me what else happened while I was gone? Ted fixed the dodgy stairs yet?"

"Dora fell into the stair twice yesterday, so, no. I think they could do with an extra pair of hands. Andromeda said we should have dinner round there tomorrow."

"Sounds perfect," he said. "How'd you feel about a flight this evening?"

Aurora grinned. "As long as you don't bring the bike out, that's fine by me."

-*

Dinner was as uncomfortable as it had ever been at the Tonkses. Aurora knew Dora knew about her sneaking off to see Harry, but she hadn't told her so herself yet; nor, it seemed, had she told her parents. She just kept giving her knowing looks across the table, infuriating, while the adults carried on chatting completely oblivious to the silent confrontation going on between the two girls. Eventually, when pudding was over, Dora convinced the adults to go and inspect the staircase, while she and Aurora cleared up. The instant the kitchen door closed safely behind them, Dora started, "So, I heard about your little escape plot."

"Please don't tell Andromeda," Aurora groaned out.

"Oh, no chance! She's looking for any reason she can to haul all three of us away from anything to do with the Order. But, Jesus, Aurora, what were you thinking?"

"I've already had a lecture," Aurora snapped, "from Molly, and Remus, and Kingsley. I know it was stupid, but I also think the principle is right. I won't do it again, I don't need you to tell me not to, it's fine."

She turned to the sink and started furiously scrubbing at the casserole dish. Sometimes not being allowed to do magic had its uses; this was way more cathartic than simply waving her wand.

"I'm not going to lecture you," Dora sighed, "and I'm not telling Mum. Not because I don't think you deserve to get told off, but I reckon Molly Weasley's been harsh enough, and I don't want to stress my parents out even more. But, you can expect I'll warn them to keep a closer eye on you. That I'm worried about you, and you're frustrated and stressed and restless, and it isn't good for a fifteen year old girl to be alone so much." Aurora swallowed tightly, cheeks flaming. "Listen, Aurora, I think Dumbledore's in the wrong here. I think Harry should be told, and able to be with Sirius or the Weasleys, and I think this is hurting him. But this is about more than personal opinions of Dumbledore's choices, and your frustration at him not listening to you. That sucks, I get it. But the security of the Order is important and even if you say you didn't tell Harry anything dangerous, no one knows that for sure. Some members already have their concerns about their loyalties."

"But I — I'm at risk here too! I'm not going to run off to the Death Eaters!"

"I know that! But I know that because I've known you for four years, and I know you're a good kid. But this doesn't look good. We're all in this together, Aurora. If you want to be treated as an adult by the Order, if you want to be trusted, you have to earn that trust. It doesn't come just because you're a Lady, or because you've given Grimmauld to the Order."

"They can give me respect."

"They do. Dumbledore treats you like he does any of us."

"Molly Weasley doesn't."

"This isn't about Molly Weasley."

"She thinks I'm spoiled, and run riot, and she treats me like a child! I was trying to do a nice thing for Potter! I was trying to help! And she doesn't know anything about me! She's probably been poisoned by Ronald spouting rubbish, and just because I'm friends with Draco!"

"I know it's upsetting. I know you're angry. But, Aurora, sometimes, we need to put that aside. We need to be grown ups."

"I'm not immature, if that's what you're saying. And I don't want anyone to coddle me, or tell me what to do."

"You made a mistake. Everybody does. Now, you have to prove that you've learned from it, okay?"

"It wasn't a mistake, I knew exactly what I was doing."

"That doesn't mean it was the right thing to do. You're part of something bigger than yourself now, Aurora, and you chose that. There are some battles you should fight, and certain ways you should fight them. This wasn't it. The Order isn't personal. You can't act based on solely your own opinions when you are in a war, when you need to uphold the integrity of your organisation and the confidentiality of its members. Even if it's Harry. It's a basic rule, that you violated.

"No one is enjoying Harry being there, Aurora. I know Molly thinks it's safest but still doesn't think it's best for him mentally, but she trusts Dumbledore, and she trusts that Harry will be able to come to us soon. She's still frustrated, but she isn't going behind the back of the entire Order. Her children miss him and are worried about him and as a mother she has to deal with that, too. This is only going to make that worse."

"She was still horrible to me. She just wanted an excuse to have a go, because she doesn't like me."

"She does. She did. She's met you before, first time I did."

"Well, she doesn't like me now."

Dora sighed again, shaking her head. She placed her hand on Aurora's shoulder and squeezed it. "Win back her trust. Prove that you're better than what she thinks you are, yeah? Cause I know you're better than that. I know you didn't want to hurt anyone or put the Order in danger. Prove me right, yeah? And Remus, and your dad, and Moody, who believe it or not was actually fighting your corner the other night."

"Really?"

"He thinks it was stupid to take Harry away from watch, and you both could've landed in serious danger, but reckons you've got guts, and sometimes that's what's needed. Says you can't always act on the orders of the powerful. It's healthy to question your leaders."

"Moody said that?"

"The man who would happily have fistfought Crouch over legislation when Crouch was Head Auror? You were trying to do the right thing, everyone knows that. It just wasn't appropriate, or safe." Dora sighed, took the casserole dish from her, and waved her wand to clean it instantly.

Aurora glared at her. "I was enjoying washing that."

"Want me to muck it up again?"

"No."

Dora smirked. "You're cute, munchkin. You get what I'm saying, though?"

She nodded, staring at the sink. "Kingsley said similar, that on principle... Going behind the Order's back like that wasn't very sensible of me. It's war, right? It's bigger than me."

"Exactly." Dora ruffled her hair. "I knew you'd get it. You're a smart kid. And hey — everyone knows that. And if they don't, I'm sure I'll set them right."

"I just don't like not being able to do anything."

"I know. Being an Auror isn't all running about, vigilante shit, either. You'll get used to it. In the meantime, I'll see what I can do to make sure you and Harry can have a bit of a private chat after the Assembly convention."

"Really?"

"There are ways around rules, Aurora. Remember? Sometimes, you just have to use an adult's voice."

-*

Two days before the election, Aurora held what may have been her final — as well as first — audience with Carrick Bratt. It had taken considerable deliberation, but she had decided, in the end, to endorse his rival, Progressive candidate Oliver Reynolds. It was a matter of politics, not only because she knew her own position and popularity would be safer with Reynolds at her side, but because in endorsing him, she was also making good with the Progressive lords, whose alliance she wanted to develop going forwards.

They went over the work he had done for Cornwall over the past few years, and the pledges and legislation he was leaving in his wake, information to be handed over to his successor, whoever they may be. At the end, as he left the study in the manor where she had been hosting him — Andromeda and Ted waiting in the drawing room, having tea — she told him, "I hope you know that my endorsement of Reynolds is not a personal slight to you."

He gave her a faint smile. "It is politics, Lady Black. I quite understand. I just hope it works out for our people. Reynolds is a good man; the Moderate and Conservative candidates, less so. Reynolds is open-minded; but I'd watch out for Georgina Farley."

"The Moderate candidate?"

"She's very strict on the party line. I would hate to speak badly about an old colleague." Aurora withheld a laugh. "But I know that she might be difficult to work with. The Conservative's a newcomer, but regardless, I can see any of that party coming to odds with you."

Aurora smiled. "You may be right there. Whoever it is, I hope we work well together. And regardless of the result, I give you my thanks for all the work you've done, and well wishes for the future."

Bratt looked almost amused as he nodded and said, "Thank you, Lady Black. And might I advise you, one last time? There are whispers among our faction, that certain members of the Minister's Council would like to regulate admissions to the Assembly. Further restrictions, limitations, character judgments, and such things, and that they may be attempting similar drafts for the Wizengamot. It is a concern to us, and I think it might be to you, too."

She smiled thinly, stomach turning. "Yes." Aurora swallowed. "It certainly is. Thank you, Mister Bratt."

He bowed his head once more, as she ushered him out. "I hope we meet again, Lady Black. And I hope it is in a better world than the one we fear right now."

-*

The Cornwall seat went to Farley, in the end — a Moderate who had a worryingly close relationship with Cornelius Fudge, leaning far closer to the Conservative faction ideologically, but for the power that their own held. The official convention of the Assembly took place on the twentieth of July, when all its new members would be officially inaugurated. Dora and Kingsley had been conveniently placed on guard duty, keeping an eye on her and Potter. Dumbledore had reluctantly allowed them to make arrangements to come, on the grounds that stopping him would have complicated everything even further and proven largely pointless. They would have had to explain far more than they wanted to. Still, the guard wasn't just to keep him safe. It was to keep them from talking too much to each other.

Aurora had never witnessed the Assembly Confirmation before, though some peers did bring their heirs to the gallery to watch. Lucius Malfoy stared imperiously from above, as the members filed in. Potter was a few rows beneath her, looking anxious in the same bottle-green dress robes he had worn to the Yule Ball. Cecil Parkinson and his brothers all sat in identical violet robes upstairs; when Aurora caught his eye, she shivered. The Nott children and their mother were all still in France, but — despite not technically being required to sit — Lord Nott was in attendance, stone faced as ever as he spoke lowly with Carrow and Selwyn, dark gaze following the ceremony on the stone circle below them.

There was so much more ceremony involved with the elected members, something which Aurora found strange. She had never had to go through the ritual which they were subjected to, asking the magic of the chamber to recognise their right to sit. Her right was conveyed simply by the will of her predecessors, and bound in magical law.

Arcturus had told her, the last time this had happened, that it was dreadfully dull. At the time, she had been ten years old and never seen the inside of the Ministry, so thought it a great and mysterious place, full of excitement and unknown thrills. Now, she knew that he was right.

She sat in grass-green robes, stiff and nervous between Lords Patil and Avery. Patil, she thought was alright; though they had only spoken briefly, once, he was a Progressive, and his daughters she knew to be decent enough witches. Avery, on the other hand, had cast her a disdainful look at her entry, and never spoken to her since. That was probably for the best, though; she had nothing good to say to him, either.

The ceremony dragged on forever, especially since Farley was confirmed early on, and she had little interest in the others beyond the statistics. The result of the election had been an overwhelming majority for the Moderates, with the Conservatives as the second-largest party. It was a blow. Dumbledore himself had spoken to her about it, last time he had visited Grimmauld Place.

He was worried, and when the ceremony was over, Aurora realised he was right to be.

"While the Assembly is gathered," said the re-confirmed leader, Aloysius Vabsley, from his position beside a very smug-looking Cornelius Fudge, "we should like to take the opportunity to deal with a most pressing matter of business." On her left, Avery pressed forward, a curious smirk on his face. "For many years now, the position of Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot has been held by Albus Dumbledore." Her heart pounded. Dumbledore was not here, of course, having no interest in these matters. But his enemies were.

She caught the eye of Lord MacMillan, who returned her gaze with a grim shake of the head.

"Dumbledore's presence in our affairs — as an unelected figure, with no right to rule — has overgrown. He holds power which some may wish to challenge the Minister, and the time has come — as, perhaps, was inevitable — that he has overstepped his boundaries." She was not sure quite why Avery looked so excited, when Vabsley's words could be read as a challenge to all unelected Assembly figures. But they all knew that was not the case, that Vabsley had always been in favour of the hereditary members, because many of them had helped to keep him and Fudge in power. No, this was a challenge targeted only at Dumbledore. "Spreading lies, demanding that the Minister for Magic bend to his rule… These are not the actions of the wise man Dumbledore pretends to be, but of a would-be tyrant, clinging to power in his old age." As if half the members here weren't doing the same, and worse. Aurora's stomach churned. "And so, as an urgent bill, we propose Dumbledore's removal as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, effective immediately."

Murmurs flew round the chamber and the gallery above. Aurora felt she should have expected this, should have anticipated it, but even with Fudge's anger and the Prophet's bile, she had thought that the general mood was still in favour of Dumbledore, that the Ministry would not think it in their interests to actually remove him. That had been a mistake, she knew now, as she looked upwards and saw the sneering glee of Lucius Malfoy, when she gazed around her and saw the shock of Lady Caradas, the indignation of Lord MacMillan, the smugness of Lord Rosier. Her gut curled.

"The Assembly will be dispersed for fifteen minutes to allow discussion, and return for a debate, before a vote." Then Vabsley banged a gavel upon the plinth before him and the place descended into chaos.

Patil motioned for Aurora to come with him, towards MacMillan, and she followed him hastily, hardly knowing what to think. They should have been briefed on this before now, though she was sure the Ministry was going to use the excuse that the Assembly had been in recess. There were not enough regulations on this sort of thing, as far as she knew, but Aurora hoped someone else had enough legal knowledge to make a convincing technical argument.

Potter caught her eye and gravitated towards her, eyes wide. "What are they thinking?" he hissed, when he reached her. Patil's gaze slid curiously towards them. "They can't get rid of Dumbledore! He's — well, he's Dumbledore!"

She fixed him with a flat look. Even now, he was defensive of the headmaster. She could not understand it. Still, she did agree with his sentiment that removing Dumbledore was not the best thing for the country, if only because she could see that Fudge's intentions were self-serving. With Dumbledore out of the way, he would have more power in appointing his replacement on the Wizengamot, and considering how he and the Prophet had been trying to suppress any and all stories about the Dark Lord's return, she felt it was only a matter of time before legal means were used as a tool in that suppression.

"They can do whatever we fail to stop them from doing," she told him. As much as she had her quarrels with Dumbledore, she had no problem with the position he currently held, or the fact that she might be in a position to influence him in it. They were allies, even if reluctantly, and she would much rather have him in her corner than Fudge.

"Well, how? D'you think many people'll support Vabsley?"

"Considering he now has a massive majority, and the Conservatives are mostly anti-Dumbledore too? I think it's highly likely, especially in the circumstances we've been presented with." Potter stalled, and she turned around. Patil gave them a strange look but continued on, down to where MacMillan and Abbott were gathering their faction about them.

"But, I thought everyone loved Dumbledore."

She stared at him for a long moment. "Potter, I thought you said you'd been getting the Daily Prophet."

"I have. What's that got to do with anything?"

She pinched her brow. "Let's just say, there have been more than a few comments made on Dumbledore's actions and words this past month or so. I thought you'd been keeping up, but never mind. The long and short of it is, people think Dumbledore wants Fudge's position and the two of you are making this whole thing up about… You-Know-Who."

Potter's eyes widened and his cheeks reddened. "But we're not!" he said, too loudly, and Aurora shushed him; a few people had turned around, and she didn't like the looks in their eyes.

"I know," she whispered, "but people are stupid. Now, come on. MacMillan's looking at me — he's very much a supporter of Dumbledore, he won't let this stand."

She took his arm and hurried him away, before their isolation could draw too much attention. The group around MacMillan was a furious rabble, demanding to know if anyone had been briefed — they had not — and what they could do to get back a the Moderates for their underhandedness. Aurora and Harry faded into the group somewhat, among all the fury and the swirling desire to fight what Fudge was attempting so blatantly.

"It's a disgrace!" MacMillan declared. "They cannot be allowed to get away with this! After all the man has done! Merlin knows Fudge would never have clung to power for so long had Dumbledore not supported him, defended his image!"

"Unfortunately," said Raon Oliver, "I do not think Cornelius particularly cares."

"But we cannot be sure of Dumbledore's innocence," Abbott said, protesting. Scrutinising eyes turned to him, the Progressives' most recent defector from the Moderates. "I like the man as much as anyone else, but surely, anyone with power may be necessarily constrained, when needs be."

"And you think needs be now?" MacMillan asked, whirling on Abbott with anger in his eyes. "I do not believe Albus Dumbledore a liar."

"Nor do I," Abbott said hastily, "but, well, we must wonder… If perhaps he is convinced of his own words. Determined that he is needed more than he is."

"We have all met the man," Patil said coldly, "on many occasions. He is most aligned with our cause, he is far wiser than the Minister or, I daresay, anyone on his official council. We cannot let him lose his position. He has done so much to help reform from inside the Wizengamot, from a position we cannot hold."

"We must take a united stance," Vaisey said. "Whatever our personal opinions of Dumbledore, we cannot deny that he is critical to our own cause. The Moderates want everyone to fall under Fudge's rule. We must resist."

"Resist only for the sake of resistance?" asked Lord Stebbins, eyebrow arched.

"Yes," said Arum Keith, with a hard look in his eye. "When our resistance determines our abilities, our political power?"

Stebbins looked away, jaw tight.

"Are we agreed?" Vaisey asked, and one by one, they nodded. When Aurora dared to glance at Potter, she saw the furious glint in his eyes. That was a dangerous look, she knew.

"We must decide speakers," MacMillan said, with an anxious glance towards the Moderates clustered around Aloysius Vabsley, and Lord Greengrass. "They will grant us two, maybe three — Gilbert will speak, of course." The elected Progressives were just nearby, ready to join them. "Either Vaisey or I, and someone else."

"I'll do it," Potter said immediately, before Aurora could stop him.

The group all turned to stare at him. Not only was he not officially a Progressive anyway — neither of them were — but he was a fourteen year old boy, and an annoying one, at that.

"No," Aurora said as politely as she could, earning her a rude glare. "You're too closely tied to Dumbledore at the moment. You'll only inflame the issue."

"But I can—"

"Lady Black is right," said Lord Vaisey, looking at her interestedly, "and at any rate, we should put forth a more experienced member." Potter's cheeks blazed, but at Aurora's sharp look, he held his tongue. "Keith, perhaps, or Gilbert may put someone forth."

As if on cue, the other group of Progressives began to make their way over, and Vaisey went to greet them, wringing his hands anxiously. Lord MacMillan stepped closer to Aurora as chatter broke out again, and he said in her ear, "You will vote with us, Lady Black?"

"Indeed I will," she told him. "On this issue."

He gave a faint smile. "Thank you. And your friend, Potter?"

"Oh, yes," she said, with a short laugh, "yes, Potter's Dumbledore's man."

"Glad to hear it," MacMillan said, clapping her on the shoulder. "It's good to have younger folk in here, give us a bit perspective. Now, if you'll excuse me — Vaisey!"

And he hurried away, leaving the two of them nervous at the side.

In the end, their votes hardly mattered. The overwhelming majority voted with Vabsley, after a rather insubstantial debate which had felt more like they were arguing with a brick wall. The most exciting it got was one of the Direct Democrats arguing that all unelected positions, including that of the Chief Warlock, should be done away with, and that was booed down from many corners — for of course, this was only an issue with Dumbledore, for the moment. It still set a dangerous precedent; as though they had rushed through the idea very hastily, with little respect for the repercussions. They'd didn't even have a good idea for Dumbledore's replacement yet, though Aurora was sure it would be either Fudge or one of his minions. They weren't going to go so far as to actually have a fair election on the Wizengamot head; now, they only stipulated the new chief would be an elected member of the assembly, but appointed by Fudge, as though a mere council minister. And not even all the council ministers did have to be elected to be appointed by Fudge, anyway. The whole thing was a farce.

Rage boiled through Aurora as she made her way down the steps towards Potter, who was lurking just sight of Dora and Kingsley. The two Aurors would be distracted by the throng of people and by the news, and were no doubt thinking of how they would discuss it with the Order. Aurora managed to catch up to Potter before either noticed, and slipped away to one of the little meeting rooms just off the corridor.

"I can't believe this," Potter said furiously as the door closed behind them, "I dont get it!"

"People are easily led," Aurora said scathingly, folding her arm. "They're idiots, and they grasp at power in even worse ways than they accuse Dumbledore of doing."

"Did you see Lucius Malfoy's face?" Harry asked, whirling around. "Smug git."

"Quite."

"You said the Prophet's been saying stuff about him all month? Why? Do they think he's trying to angle for power?"

"Precisely," Aurora told him, shaking her head. Footsteps got heavier outside the door; they only had a minute or so to get away with chatting. "Because Fudge is paranoid and everyone dreads another war. That's why—" She stopped herself. "Why he won't act, and he doesn't want Dumbledore to act. He'd rather hush it all up, hush up any problems which might threaten his job. So, this is all a way to discredit Dumbledore, and it feeds itself. And now, he has removed him from power, trying to eliminate his threat and influence. Mark my words, Potter, he'll come for Hogwarts next."

"You think?"

She gave a grim nod. "There is a great power in education. Through it, one may shape the minds of the next generation. And when your whole country relies primarily on just one secondary educational institution, well, it's a bit of a design flaw anyway, but it makes all the power concentrated there highly desirable."

Potter frowned at her, then paced around, glancing back at the door. "Do you think he knows already? When will they tell him? I mean, maybe he already knew it was a possibility, but… It's pretty harsh, isn't it?" Aurora nodded. Potter slumped back and ran a hand through his hair.

"D'you think he'll do anything about it?"

"I'm not sure there's anything he can do, that won't make the situation worse. Not in the short term, anyway. Of course, if Fudge was proven wrong about the Dark Lord, Dumbledore would immediately win back public support. But I don't know how we could do that. And it would probably mean the situation deteriorating into all-out war anyway, so, I'm not sure it's exactly better."

She shook her head and checked the time on her watch. "Come on, if we slip through this passage here we should come back out by the door. Say we got lost if anyone asks."

"How d'you know your way about?"

She shrugged. "Someone left a map of the Ministry building out the other day. I wasn't supposed to see it."

"Why did someone have a map of the Ministry?"

"Bugger if I know. And even if I knew I couldn't say. Come on."

She slipped through the other door with Potter behind her, and through a narrow passage which brought them back into the Assembly Room, near the door where Dora was standing, watching Abraxas Malfoy and Lord Rosier with disdain. They both barely spared her a second glance, beyond their initial haughty glare.

"Hello, Dora," Aurora said cheerfully as they passed. "This place is confusing — we almost got lost. Is my dad in the lobby yet, do you know?"

Dora nodded stiffly, still watching Malfoy and Rosier. Harry followed her gaze with a look of confusion, and Aurora gave him him a look that said she'd tell him later. "He's upstairs. Though I should warn you, Rita Skeeter's out there, too."

Aurora's heart sank. The reporter had been conspicuously quiet this summer, but Aurora got the feeling she was just working up to something big. "Great," she said with a strained smile. "I suppose she's lucky I can't hex anyone in the summer."

There was a flicker of a smile on Dora's face, as she jerked her head and signalled for them to go on. "Tonks hates the Malfoys too, then?" Harry asked as soon as they were out of earshot. "And the other one — Rosier, right?"

"The Malfoys are Andromeda's in-laws, remember. They don't exactly get along. And the Rosiers are Andromeda and Narcissa's mother's family. They really don't get on."

"Cause Ted's a muggleborn?"

"Obviously."

"I hate that they're even here. Why should people like that get to make decisions? And they're old."

"Dumbledore's older than anyone on the Assembly. Just about, anyway. I think Lord Etton might be older. Now, shut up and pretend you don't know me."

"What?"

"Skeeter."

"I'm pretty sure she knows—"

"Harry! Harry Potter!" Skeeter's screech broke over the rest of the wave of reporters, all shoving mics and quills in people's faces. "A comment on the judgment on Dumbledore's removal from the Wizengamot?"

"Yeah, a comment. It's an absolute shit—"

"No comment," Aurora said loudly, shoving him out of the way. "Good day to you."

"Ah, Lady Black. How are your relations with the Hogwarts Headmaster?"

"No comment." She made to walk away, but Skeeter followed them, lurching over the heads of her fellow journalists to do so.

"You must have something to say. Bright young woman like yourself? What do you think happened to Igor Karkaroff?" Her stomach twisted. When she glanced at Potter, he looked like he'd been slapped. There was a look of triumph on Skeeter's face. "Mr Potter? Have you been unwell? You look rather pale. Peaky. Is the scrutiny of your mentor getting to you? Have you been struggling, mentally — do you remember the night the Triwizard Tournament ended?"

"I don't—"

"Leave them alone," said a firm voice from behind. A moment later, Lord MacMillan had shoved in front of them. "Miss Skeeter. My daughter loves your Witch Weekly articles. I believe I owe half her lipgloss collection to your recommendations. What would you like to know?"

He gave Aurora a sideways glance that said, Go, as Skeeter, excited by a more willing participant and by the flattery, latched onto him. Aurora wasted no time, hauling Potter with her up the stairs, to find Sirius, yet at the same time thinking — if she were to give a statement, what could she allow herself and Potter to say?

-*

Dumbledore was already at Grimmauld Place when she returned home, her and her father having quickly dropped Harry off in some back alley of Little Whinging and handed the watch over to Emmeline Vance. Everyone had gathered in the kitchen, it seemed, including the children. She gave them only a fleeting, reassuring smile as she breezed in, headed towards the headmaster. Her father followed behind her, still not having been given more details than Dumbledore being kicked out of his position, and surely ruminating on his godson's obvious misery.

"They've removed you from the Wizengamot," she told Dumbledore curtly, "which I presume is the reason you're here?"

Dumbledore's eyes glimmered. "Indeed, Lady Black. Though, I can't say I'm too distraught over it. So long as my face remains on the chocolate frog cards, I will be happy with my lot."

What a stupid thing to say, she thought. Enough to make some around the table laugh, but not her. She saw it for the deflection it was — so, it seemed, did Hestia and Remus — but did not want to call it out.

"You can take some solace in the knowledge that I voted against the removal," she said, and he gave an amused laugh. "As did Potter, and all of the Progressive faction."

"But, of course," Dumbledore said, nodding his head, "it was nowhere near enough, was it?"

"No," she agreed. "It was not."

"Ah, well." Dumbledore spread his arms wide. "Cornelius has made his decision. We must maintain our work, yes? Those inside the Ministry must be more careful, though. I don't like the precedent this sets."

"Nor I," said Kingsley's deep voice. "I will have to talk to Scrimgeour about this in the morning, get his perspective and see if there is anything to be done with it."

"I can't imagine my office'll be too pleased," said Arthur Weasley, and Aurora took the turn in conversation as an opportunity to slip into the open seat next to Remus, with her father following an taking the seat on her other side.

"How was it?" Remus asked her in a low voice, and she shrugged.

"As expected, I suppose. I don't like my new elected partner. Lord Abbott caused a bit of a stir, MacMillan and Vaisey aren't happy with him. Potter's angry and mixed up and at a loss. I really do think we should bring him home."

"Me too," her dad said, fixing his gaze upon Dumbledore, who was giving orders to Kingsley and Arthur. "I just wish we could convince him."

"We shouldn't have to."

"With the Order…"

"I know," Aurora sighed. "I got the lecture the first time."

"Second, really."

"Thank you, Remus. I should have known Dumbledore'd act like this. Potter just wants to know. It's driving him mad, being stuck there."

Neither man said anything. Dumbledore was already assuring everyone that he was fine with the result, the Weasley children were ranting about how unfair Fudge was, and Hermione Granger watching Aurora with curiosity. Wondering about Potter, she was sure. Though it reminded her; she should tell Hermione about Skeeter. She would want to know. They still had to do something about her.

"I'll try and convince Dumbledore by Harry's birthday," her dad said. "We can't have him stuck there. Even if he says he's alright."

"He isn't," Aurora agreed. "And this is of no use to anyone, except to sate Dumbledore's fear."

"I know," her father said, looking over. The Headmaster was already making to leave: Aurora wondered just how rattled he was. "Thing is, we've all got a lot to fear at the moment. I just think — Harry shouldn't have another thing to be upset about right now."