"I've stressed this to you before Meghana, I need people on the inside. I need you to maintain your position in the Wizengamot" Dumbledore said as he surveyed me from the opposite side of his desk, over his interlocked fingers.

I resisted the urge to sigh. I had come to the Headmaster with my idea of resigning from my position at the Ministry after receiving a message from the Minister questioning my loyalty to the Ministry. I had brought this letter to show Dumbledore but he had merely glanced at it before laying it down in front of him.

"I know, I know" I said impatiently "but I honestly don't know how long I can keep this up - Cornelius is on my back every day" I sat back in my chair observing Dumbledore through narrowed eyes.

Dumbledore said nothing for a beat but glanced down at the letter. He gave a small sigh and looked up at me again "You aren't spending enough time there at the moment and Cornelius is noticing that. You need to keep up pretences"

"Not that it's much better here - with his little spy lurking around every corner making education her political agenda- " I was cut off by 3 sharp knocks on the door which then opened of its own accord. I turned around in my chair to see Minerva leading Harry and Ron inside. I frowned as I heard Dumbledore say from behind me "Oh, it's you, Professor McGonagall . . . and . . . ah."

Well, this was my cue to leave I thought as I got up out of the chair I was sitting in and sighed, this had been a huge waste of my time anyway but Dumbledore spoke sharply "Meghana - sit down" I turned to glance at him and saw his penetrating light-blue eyes fixed intently upon Minerva. My eyes went back to Harry who looked quite ill and Minerva who was looking at Dumbledore, her expression anxious. I did not sit down but decided I should stay.

"Professor Dumbledore, Potter has had a . . . well, a nightmare," said Minerva. "He says . . ."

"It wasn't a nightmare," said Harry quickly.

I followed Minerva's gaze to Harry. "Very well, then, Potter, you tell the headmaster about it."

"I . . . well, I was asleep. . . ." said Harry "But it wasn't an ordinary dream . . . it was real. . . . I saw it happen. . . ." He took a deep breath, "Ron's dad — Mr. Weasley — has been attacked by a giant snake."

The words seemed to reverberate in the air after he had said them, I looked from Harry to look at Dumbledore who was leaning back and staring at the ceiling. I turned back around and looked at Ron next who was looking from Harry to Dumbledore, white-faced and shocked.

I didn't know what to do with this information, I turned back to look at Dumbledore as he asked quietly "How did you see this?"

"Well . . . I don't know," said Harry, rather angrily "Inside my head, I suppose —"

"You misunderstand me," said Dumbledore, still in the same calm tone. "I mean . . . can you remember — er — where you were positioned as you watched this attack happen? Were you perhaps standing beside the victim, or else looking down on the scene from above?"

I frowned slightly and thought, that was an odd question.

"I was the snake," Harry said after a slight pause. "I saw it all from the snake's point of view. . . ."

I saw it all from the snake's point of view. I repeated Harry's words in my head. How was Harry seeing things from a snake's point of view?

Nobody else spoke for a moment, and then Dumbledore said in a sharper voice, "Is Arthur seriously injured?"

"Yes," said Harry emphatically.

Dumbledore was on his feet so quickly and addressed one of the old portraits hanging very near the ceiling.

"Everard?" he said sharply. "And you too, Dilys!"

Both portraits opened their eyes immediately.

"You were listening?" said Dumbledore.

The wizard nodded and the witch said, "Naturally."

"The man has red hair and glasses," said Dumbledore. "Everard, you will need to raise the alarm, make sure he is found by the right people —"

Both nodded and moved sideways out of their frames.

"Everard and Dilys were two of Hogwarts's most celebrated Heads," Dumbledore said, now sweeping around Harry, Ron, and Minerva and approaching Fawkes who was sleeping on his perch beside the door. "Their renown is such that both have portraits hanging in other important Wizarding institutions. As they are free to move between their portraits they can tell us what may be happening elsewhere. . . ."

"But Mr. Weasley could be anywhere!" said Harry.

"Please sit down, all of you," said Dumbledore, as though Harry had not spoken. "Everard and Dilys may not be back for several minutes. . . . Professor McGonagall, if you could draw up extra chairs . . ."

I watched as Minerva pulled her wand from the pocket of her dressing gown and waved it; three chairs appeared out of thin air next to me, I finally sat back down in the seat I had previously gotten out of. We all sat in silence, slightly turned in our chairs as we watched Dumbledore gently wake up Fawkes.

"We will need," said Dumbledore very quietly to the bird, "a warning."

There was a flash of fire and the phoenix disappeared as Everard reappeared in his portrait, panting slightly.

"Dumbledore!"

"What news?" said Dumbledore at once.

"I yelled until someone came running," said Everard who was mopping his brow on the curtain behind him, "said I'd heard something moving downstairs — they weren't sure whether to believe me but went down to check — you know there are no portraits down there to watch from. Anyway, they carried him up a few minutes later. He doesn't look good, he's covered in blood, I ran along to Elfrida Cragg's portrait to get a good view as they left —"

"Good," said Dumbledore and I noticed Ron make a convulsive movement from the corner of my eye, "I take it Dilys will have seen him arrive, then —"

And moments later, the silver-ringletted witch had reappeared in her picture too; she sank into her armchair and said, "Yes, they've taken him to St. Mungo's, Dumbledore. . . . They carried him past under my portrait. . . . He looks bad. . . ."

"Thank you," said Dumbledore. He looked around at Minerva.

"Minerva, I need you to go and wake the other Weasley children."

"Of course. . . ." she said as she got up and moved swiftly to the door.

"And Dumbledore — what about Molly?" said Minerva, pausing at the door.

"That will be a job for Meghana once she has finished accompanying the children," said Dumbledore turning to look at me. "But Molly may already know . . . that excellent clock of hers . . ." I looked back at Dumbledore narrowing my eyes slightly, I didn't know what clock Dumbledore was referring to but thought it better than to ask at this point as he was now rummaging in a cupboard behind Harry and Ron.

He emerged carrying a blackened old kettle, which he placed carefully upon his desk. He raised his wand and murmured "Portus"; for a moment the kettle trembled, glowing with an odd blue light, then it quivered to rest, as solidly black as ever.

Dumbledore then marched over to another portrait, this time of a wizard with a pointed beard, wearing the Slytherin colours and was apparently sleeping so deeply that he could not hear Dumbledore's voice when he attempted to rouse him.

"Phineas. Phineas."

When he could not pretend any longer to be asleep; he gave a theatrical jerk and opened his eyes wide.

"Did someone call?"

"I need you to visit your other portrait again, Phineas," said Dumbledore. "I've got another message."

"Visit my other portrait?" said Phineas in a reedy voice, giving a long, fake yawn and I saw his eyes travelling around the room and focusing upon Harry. "Oh no, Dumbledore, I am too tired tonight. . . ."

"We are honour-bound to give service to the present Headmaster of Hogwarts!" cried the portrait of Armando Dippet. "Shame on you, Phineas!"

"Oh, very well," said Phineas, "though he may well have destroyed my picture by now, he's done away with most of the family —"

"Sirius knows not to destroy your portrait," said Dumbledore, "You are to give him the message that Arthur Weasley has been gravely injured and that his wife, children, and Harry Potter will be arriving at his house shortly accompanied by Meghana Megera. Do you understand?"

"Arthur Weasley, injured, wife and children and Harry Potter coming to stay, accompanied by … ah yes, the Ravenclaw blood traitor" recited Phineas. "Yes, yes very well. . . ."

I bit back the retort on my lips and frowned at Phineas who smiled down at me with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He then sloped away into the frame of the portrait and disappeared from view at the very moment that the study door opened again. Minerva ushered all three of the remaining Weasley students who looked dishevelled and shocked.

"Harry — what's going on?" asked Ginny, who looked frightened. "Professor McGonagall says you saw Dad hurt —"

"Your father has been injured in the course of his work for the Order of the Phoenix," said Dumbledore before Harry could speak. "He has been taken to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. I am sending you back to Sirius' house, which is much more convenient for the hospital than the Burrow. You will meet your mother there."

"How're we going?" asked Fred, looking shaken. "Floo powder?"

"No," said Dumbledore, "Floo powder is not safe at the moment, the Network is being watched. You will be taking a Portkey, Professor Megera will make sure you all get there safely." He indicated the old kettle lying innocently on his desk. "We are just waiting for Phineas Nigellus to report back. . . . I wish to be sure that the coast is clear before sending you —"

There was a flash of flame in the very middle of the office, leaving behind a single golden feather that floated gently to the floor.

"It is Fawkes' warning," said Dumbledore, catching the feather as it fell. "Dolores must know you're out of your beds. . . . Minerva, go and head her off — tell her any story —"

Minerva was gone in seconds.

"He says he'll be delighted," said a bored voice behind Dumbledore. Phineas had reappeared in front of his Slytherin banner. "My great-great-grandson has always had odd taste in houseguests. . . ." His eyes lingered on me as I glanced at him quickly before pulling out my wand and walking over to the portkey beside Dumbledore. I picked it up with my free hand and looked at Harry and the Weasleys.

"Come here, then," I said. "And quickly . . ."

Harry and the others gathered around me at Dumbledore's desk.

"You have all used a Portkey before?" asked Dumbledore, as each of the Weasleys and Harry nodded and reached out to touch some part of the blackened kettle. "Good. On the count of three then . . . one . . . two . . . three."

I felt a powerful jerk behind my navel and the ground vanished from beneath my feet. I felt the others bumping into me as we all sped forward in a swirl of colours and a rush of wind, the kettle pulling us onward until my feet hit the ground hard and the kettle clattered to the ground. Somewhere close by a voice said, "Back again, Master's blood traitor wife with the Weasley brats, is it true their father's dying . . . ?"

"OUT!" roared a second voice.

I helped Harry scramble to his feet with my free hand as I took in the gloomy basement kitchen of number twelve, Grimmauld Place. The only sources of light were the fire and one guttering candle, which illuminated the remains of a solitary meal. Kreacher was disappearing through the door to the hall, looking back at us malevolently and Sirius was hurrying toward us, looking anxious. I noticed he was unshaven and still in his day clothes. He stretched out a hand to help Ginny up before he came to stand next to me. I noticed a slight smell of stale drink about him and I narrowed my eyes as I looked up at him wondering briefly if he was going stir-crazy. I quickly remembered why we were here and I looked around to make sure all the Weasley children had made it here safely.

"What's going on?" Sirius said. "Phineas Nigellus said Arthur's been badly injured —" he looked down at me and then to Harry as Fred said "Ask Harry,"

"Yeah, I want to hear this for myself," said George.

The twins and Ginny were staring at Harry and I heard Kreacher's footsteps stop on the stairs outside.

"It was —" Harry began. "I had a — a kind of — vision. . . ."

And he told us all that he had seen, but I noticed that he had altered the story so that it sounded as though he had watched from the sidelines as the snake attacked, rather than from the snake's point of view.

"We've got to go to St. Mungo's," said Ginny urgently. She looked around at her brothers; who were of course still in their pyjamas. "Sirius, can you lend us cloaks or anything — ?"

"Hang on, you can't go tearing off to St. Mungo's!" said Sirius.

" 'Course we can go to St. Mungo's if we want," said Fred stubbornly, "he's our dad!"

"And how are you going to explain how you knew Arthur was attacked before the hospital even let his wife know?"

"What does that matter?" said George hotly.

"It matters because we don't want to draw attention to the fact that Harry is having visions of things that are happening hundreds of miles away!" said Sirius angrily. "Have you any idea what the Ministry would make of that information?"

I saw that Fred and George looked as though they couldn't care less what the Ministry made of anything. I opened my mouth to interject but Ginny said, "Somebody else could have told us. . . . We could have heard it somewhere other than Harry. . . ."

"Like who?" said Sirius impatiently.

Sensing Sirius' temper rising and wanting to defuse this situation before it got nasty, I turned my attention to the twins and said calmly "Listen, your father has been hurt while on duty for the Order and the circumstances are strange enough without his children knowing about it seconds after it happened. You could seriously damage the Order's —"

"We don't care about the dumb Order!" Fred shouted at me and I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows.

"We're talking about our dad dying!" yelled George, also rounding on me.

"Your father knew what he was getting into, and he won't thank you for messing things up for the Order!" said Sirius angrily at the twins. "This is how it is — this is why you're not in the Order — you don't understand — there are things worth dying for!"

"Easy for you to say, stuck here!" bellowed Fred. "I don't see you risking your neck!"

I watched as the little colour remaining in Sirius' face drained from it. He looked as though he would like to hit Fred, and I put my free arm out lightly, resting my hand on Sirius' arm just in case he was about to strike at Fred. I took in a breath and said as composedly as I could manage. "I know it's hard," I looked around at the Weasleys one by one "but we've all got to act as though we don't know anything yet. I will go and inform your mother now, but you've got to stay here at least until you hear from her, all right?"

Fred and George still looked mutinous. Ginny, however, took a few steps over to the nearest chair and sank into it. Harry looked at Ron, who made a funny movement somewhere between a nod and shrug, and they sat down too. The twins glared at Sirius and me for another minute, then took seats on either side of Ginny.

"That's right," said Sirius encouragingly, "come on, let's all . . . Let's all have a drink while we're waiting. Accio Butterbeer!" He raised his wand as he spoke and half a dozen bottles came flying toward them out of the pantry, skidded along the table, scattering the debris of Sirius' meal, and stopped neatly in front of each of them.

I turned away from the Weasleys and Harry, squeezed Sirius' arm where my hand was still touching him - an unspoken way of pleading with him to keep his temper - and proceeded to walk out of the kitchen to apparate to The Burrow to tell Molly the grim news.

I arrived at the front gate just outside The Burrow's boundaries. There were no lights at the house but I had already expected that. The only thing I could hear were the bugs and the breeze running through the tall grass opposite the house. I took in a breath of the cool fresh air and looked around just to check that I was alone, automatically remembering my Auror training always check your surroundings and proceeded to knock on the front door loudly. A few moments passed and an exhausted-looking Molly hesitantly opened the door and peered around the crack. When she realised who it was she opened the door wide looking confused "Meghana, what are you doing here?"

I swallowed and said as I quickly stepped inside "Molly, I'm so sorry to disturb you - it's Arthur - he's been hurt while on guard duty and taken to St Mungo's."

"Wait, what?" said Molly, her eyes growing wide, "Is he ok? What happened?"

"I know he is alive. But it appears that he was attacked by a snake," I said reaching out and touching her arm emphatically.

"A snake? I don't understand." Molly said panic lacing her voice.

"Well…Harry had a - a kind of … vision? He saw Arthur being attacked by a snake." I answered lamely. Molly looked perplexed and looked around as though she was looking for something to help.

"I need to go to St Mungo's," Molly said finally.

"Yes, of course, go to him, Dumbledore has taken care of the rest," I said softly.

"What about the children?" Molly asked as she took a cloak off a hook on the wall and turned back to me.

"They're with Sirius, they're waiting to hear from you," I replied watching as Molly put on her cloak inside out.

"Thank you, Meg," Molly said looking around again as though she had forgotten something, her eyes full of tears. My heart ached for her and I reached out to take her hand.

"Molly, let me take you to St Mungo's," I said kindly.

Molly, who was now looking very pale and concerned, opened her mouth to speak but unable to form words, nodded and gripped my hand tightly.

Minutes later, I shut the front door of The Burrow and walked Molly just outside the front gate and disapparated us to the front of St Mungo's.

It had been over an hour since the Healers had taken Arthur into the room I was sitting outside of. I couldn't get the image of Arthur's lifeless body covered in blood out of my head. Or the memory of holding Molly as her legs nearly gave out at the sight of her husband. I couldn't blame her, I couldn't imagine what Molly was going through right now … my mind creating imaginary scenarios in which it was Sirius lying bleeding and helpless as his life ebbed away.

"Meg?" came Molly's voice from beside me "Meg, are you ok?"

I turned to face Molly who was still pale, but looking hopeful.

"Molly, how is he?" I asked at once.

"He's stable now, he is resting. I'm going to stay for a few more hours." Molly said.

I nodded and managed a small smile as I stood up "I'm so glad he is ok"

Molly nodded and asked quietly "Will you give the children a message for me?"

"Yes, of course," I said as Molly quickly scribbled down a note and handed it to me.

"Are you going to be ok?" I asked, peering into Molly's face and frowning slightly.

"Yes, yes, Bill is on his way. I can't thank you enough Meg" Molly said standing up and giving me a tight hug. I awkwardly patted her back, not used to human contact and told her I would see her soon and turned to leave. The freezing morning air hit my face as I stepped outside and a shiver went down my spine. I turned on the spot and apparated back to the doorstep of Grimmauld Place.

"Meg!" said Sirius at once as I entered the kitchen. He stood up from the table as everyone else looked around at me expectantly.

"Here, a message from your mother," I said as I thrust the letter into George's hand, who ripped it open and read aloud: "Dad is still alive. I am still at St Mungo's. Stay where you are. I will send the news as soon as I can. Mum."

George looked around the table at his siblings.

"Still alive . . ." he said slowly. "But that makes it sound . . ." He trailed off as Fred grabbed the note and read it silently.

I didn't speak straight away, instead turning from the table and conjuring a Patronas to send a message to Dumbledore that Molly was at St Mungo's and that everyone else was safe. Only once the silver fox had jumped over the table and out the kitchen window I turned to the table once again.

"He's in the best place he can be and your mother is with him. I'm sure she'll send more news as soon as she can" I said softly, looking around at each Weasley again.

When none of them answered me, I walked along to the end of the table and sat next to Sirius who sat back down as I did. I stared at the unopened bottle of Butterbeer that he had placed in front of me, thinking hard. Now that I had time to think, I was trying to decipher the vision that Harry had had. What did it mean? But more importantly, how did he see it in the first place? This had to be something to do with Voldemort, but how did this all fit together?

I vaguely noticed that Fred fell into a doze, his head lolling sideways onto his shoulder. Ginny was curled like a cat on her chair, but her eyes were open and Ron was sitting with his head in his hands, his face hidden.

"Megs" Sirius said in a low voice and grabbed my hand lightly, I looked up at him and he beckoned with his head to the doorway. We both got up from the table so the Weasleys and Harry were out of earshot. "This vision-" he started in the same low voice.

I put up my hand to interrupt him and hurriedly whispered "Sirius, listen, I know he didn't mention this before but, Harry said he saw it from the snake's point of view."

Sirius frowned at me and looked confused "As if he was inside the snake's head?"

"Yes, I was there when he told Dumbledore" I replied.

"What did Dumbledore say?" Sirius whispered.

"Nothing, of course," I rolled my eyes "but having visions like that surely isn't normal and I don't understand what it means - I've never heard of anything like this before," I whispered quickly looking up at Sirius who looked over at the table and looked back at me. He looked like he was doing some quick thinking.

"Me neither" he eventually said quietly. Then after a beat said in the same hushed voice "We'll discuss it with Dumbledore when he is here next, I'm sure there is an explanation."

I nodded and sighed slightly. Sirius cupped his hand around my cheek and said softly "Try not to worry too much about it right now" He peered into my face for a beat "- will you stay-"

But before Sirius could finish, the kitchen door swung open and Molly entered, still extremely pale, but when her children all turned to look at her, Fred, Ron and Harry half rising from their chairs, she gave a warm smile.

"He's going to be all right," she said, her voice weak with tiredness. "He's sleeping. We can all go and see him later. Bill's sitting with him now; he's going to take the morning off work."

I gave Sirius' palm a small kiss before his hand dropped and grabbed mine and we walked back over to the table hand in hand. Fred had fallen back into his chair with his hands over his face. George and Ginny were hugging Molly and Ron gave a very shaky laugh and downed the rest of his Butterbeer in one.

"Breakfast!" said Sirius loudly and joyfully letting go of my hand. "Where's that accursed house-elf? Kreacher! KREACHER!"

But Kreacher did not answer the summons.

"Oh, forget it, then," muttered Sirius, counting the people in front of him. "So, it's breakfast for — let's see — eight . . . bacon and eggs, I think, and some tea, and toast — "

Molly let Harry out of a hug and turned to Sirius and I to thank us for looking after her children through the night. Sirius said he was very pleased to have been able to help, and hoped they would all stay here as long as Arthur was in hospital.

"Oh, Sirius, I'm so grateful . . . they think he'll be there a little while and it would be wonderful to be nearer . . . of course, that might mean we're here for Christmas."

"The more the merrier!" said Sirius with such obvious sincerity that Molly beamed at him, threw on an apron and began to help with breakfast. He suddenly looked happier than I had seen him in a long while and I couldn't help but smile as his handsome face lit up. I suddenly longed to wrap my arms around him and share his joy, but now was not the time. Or place. He turned to grin at me as Harry muttered from behind him.

"Sirius - Can I have a quick word? Er — now?"

Sirius glanced at me and gave me a look that said we would discuss this later on and followed Harry into the dark pantry.