"Alright, that's enough moping," Bella commanded, taking in the sight of her listless little girl. Draco had gone back to school and Aquila had made her displeasure known at the time. Now, though, two weeks later when she realised he truly wasn't coming back, she just looked devastated. "Let's have an Aquila and Mummy day."

"Doing what, Mummy?" Aquila checked, looking up at her mother with adoration, some of her despondency leaving her. Bella smiled, still not entirely sure how she'd gotten here but happy enough to go along with it.

"Mummy's going to teach you how to hunt."

"Hunt what?"

"We'll begin with some moving targets today and aim for Deer before the end of the month, I think," Bella mused. "Big enough to see and less violent than pigs. We'll work our way up to Uncle Corban teaching you how to use a bow and arrow. Maybe by Easter"

Cocking her head to the side, Aquila seemed to contemplate that. "Ok Mummy," she agreed.

"Good girl, go and get your knives."

Passing them on his way to meet Rabastan to discuss trials with Kingsley, Thorfinn did a double take before shaking his dead and very determinedly walking in the direction he was heading without looking at Bella lest he draw her attention.

With a satisfied smirk, Bella watched him go before turning on her heel and stalking up the stairs to ensure Aquila was properly attired. There would be no pink frills on this outing.

"Now," Bella commanded, taking in the sight of her tiny child, hair pulled back in two tight plaits, and a miniature version of her all black outfit. She had never seen something so adorable in her life. She flicked her wand at the targets she'd prepared, and they began to move slightly. "We'll begin with this before Mummy makes them move more. Do you remember how to stand?" Aquila immediately fell into position, pleasing her no end. "Now, you're aiming for one of the crosses."

Aquila hummed, squinting slightly before letting her knife loose. It hit just slightly to the right. "Good. Now, again."

They continued until she hit the crosses three times in a row and managed to pull her knives with fluid efficiency, throwing one after the other seamlessly, exactly like they'd been practising. She didn't hit the target every time, several knives needing to be summoned back from the bushes, but the basics were well in place. Bella had never been so proud.

"Oh my darling you are going to be deadly!" Bella cooed in delight.

"Like you Mummy?"

"Oh yes darling, like Mummy. Now, we'll practise again tomorrow."

Aquila grinned, accepting her mother's hand. "OK, Mummy."

Bella cocked her head, "And maybe once we're hunting real animals we'll begin training Pumpkin."

"I think she'd like that Mummy," Aquila agreed seriously. "She and Crooks brought Uncle Bast a duck and a mouse this morning. He didn't look pleased."

Bella let out a delighted cackle "Well Uncle Bast will have to get used to it."

"We've got it!" Rodolphus crowed, startling Corban and Remus.

"You've got a cure?"

"We've got as close as I think we're going to." he admitted, passing Remus the book to look over.

"Well." he murmured, "I'll go and speak to Minerva."

He nodded, "Any word from the goblins?"

"They have an opening to see Harry in a fortnight."

"Thank all the gods. I hate that he's here and growing more murderous by the day."

Remus winced, "Yes I try to forget that he's just upstairs."

"Quite. The elves are loving it. I never thought they'd be quite so bloodthirsty."

Corban snorted, "I don't think Narcissa's elves are quite the same as most others."

"Works in our favour," Rodolphus shrugged. "What's happening with Dumbledore?"

"We're meeting the Order to lay everything out next week. And then we'll discuss what Severus needs to do. I imagine we'll need another containment room.

"If I didn't think it would kill Severus I'd put them in together," Rodolphus muttered, before he sighed, "I'll ask Coley to set up the room next to his lordship then."

"Good idea. Lets hope they dont start working together to escape."

Rodophus froze before shaking his head, "The rooms will be silenced. We'll be fine. Now go and see Minerva. The sooner we have Madam Longbottom at least somewhat onside, the better."

Minerva eyed Augusta from behind her desk. "I appreciate it's a lot to take in."

"A lot to take in!" Augusta hissed, her face utterly furious. "You want me to allow them to walk free! They stole my son!"

"And now they have a way to bring him back." Minerva sighed, "Augusta, there is nothing I can say that will ever truly make what I am asking of you reasonable. However, their freedom is a condition of them giving us Voldemort. And so far, they have done exactly as promised and removed all active Death Eaters. You have to have noticed that there is something close to peace."

Augusta stilled, suddenly looking lost, her ever present grief all too apparent. "They tortured my son," she whispered.

"I know," Minerva agreed, "And we now know that they were not in their right minds. The Mark…it warped them. Truly, I will never ask you to be in the same room as them, but I almost wish you could see them. They are nothing at all like I expected."

"They promise it will bring them back?"

"To the best of their knowledge they believe it will." Minerva agreed.

"And if they show an ounce…"

"If they dare regress Augusta, I will end them myself." Minerva interrupted grimly.

"Very well," she murmured finally, swallowing harshly. "But Minerva. I do not ever want to see their faces as long as I live."

"Understood." she nodded, "I'll have them teach Remus and I the spell. We'll meet you at St Mungo's as soon as we are sure we are proficient.

Augusta nodded once, her face still belying her unease.

Sirius stalked into Grimmauld place, allowing his rage to sink into him. He'd been so very careful, so very controlled, refusing to think about all the things Dumbledore had known and kept from them, things that put Harry at risk. At his side, he knew Remus was doing the same. Andy, Ted and Dora followed behind them, Minerva and Kingsley were already in the room.

"Ah good, we're all here now." Albus looked out at the Order with a serene smile that Sirius desperately wanted to curse off his face.

"Kreacher," he commanded lowly, "Lock the doors."

Kreacher's eyes lit with malicious glee, "Yes Blood-traitor Master." he agreed quickly.

"Sirius?" Albus frowned.

"It's my house, you see," Sirius shrugged, leaning back in his chair indolently.

"I am aware," Albus agreed slowly.

"Stupid of you," Sirius mused. "To not factor it in when choosing somewhere."

"What's going on?" Alastor barked.

"That is indeed the question, isn't it?" Sirius mused.

"Get on with it Mutt, some of us have other places to be," Severus grumbled.

"Teaching, Severus? Don't pretend you don't loath it." Andromeda chided.

He rolled his eyes in response, replying stiffly, "I promised Miss Lestrange I'd visit to begin her potions lessons. She is not coping well with Draco's absence."

Andromeda's face softened, "I know," she sighed, "I've been attempting to convince my sister that she cannot just have the child working on her hunting skills. Ted offered to take her to the cinema."

Dora snorted loudly, "And she threatened to curse him."

"Ah but she didn't," Andromeda replied smoothly, "Progress, no?"

Rolling her eyes, Dora scoffed derisively. "I might see if Bella will allow me to take her for ice cream," Remus mused, cutting over whatever Dora had been about to reply.

"Or," Minerva interjected with exasperation, "one of us could take her to Hogwarts and let her see her cousin!"

"We could do that." Remus agreed with a faintly surprised look. "Harry would love to see her too."

"Who in the name of Merlin are you talking about!" Molly demanded, almost deafening them with her volume.

"My niece," Andromeda informed her primly.

"You don't have a niece!"

"I do now. Aquila, delightful little thing, if worryingly competent with a knife for a three year old."

"They're going to let Corban teach her how to use a bow and arrow at some point shortly." Kingsley interjected with a flash of mischief.

"Merlin preserve us," Severus muttered, "I pity the wizard she ends up contracted to. The boy'll have to sleep with one eye open."

"Or girl." Sirius pointed out, "Don't be shoehorning her into a relationship she might not want."

"Miss Granger, to my knowledge, liked wizards," Severus returned pointedly.

"Fair point," Sirius conceded.

"Miss Granger." Molly gasped, "Hermione….you know where she is?"

"My sister adopted her."

"Narcissa?" Molly hedged.

"Not quite." Sirius' grin was vicious. "Bella and Dolph adopted her."

"No." Molly stared at him in horror, her face turning grey. It was a look mirrored around the room.

"Yes. She is so spoiled I'm surprised she has not yet demanded the Ministry as a gift.

Minerva snorted, "There is still time."

"Still time!" Molly's tone was ear-splittingly shrill. "Bellatrix Lestrange has Hermione!"

"We know," Andromeda agreed, "We've seen her."

"Then we must of course get her back." Albus interjected.

"No."

The room stilled when Minerva spoke.

"Pardon?" Albus' tone was light even if faintly disbelieving.

"I said no," she repeated. "That child is adored, indulged and thoroughly attached to her new family. And you will not interfere."

"The hell we will not!" Alastor growled.

"Sit down!" Minerva barked in response when he stood. "You are, as bloody always, operating with a fraction of the facts and none of the context. So you will sit your cantankerous backside back down on that seat Alastor Moody or Merlin help me I will make you!"

Looking stunned as he automatically compiled, Alastor stared at her in shock, leaving both Sirius and Severus snickering like children, the Weasley twins sharing confused, concerned looks before turning to their professor.

"Professor…has someone checked you for curses…."

"Good idea, Mr Weasely," Albus agreed swiftly.

"Point your wand at me you absurd old coot and I will shove it so far up your left nostril you'll be able to channel your magic via thought!"

At that, Kingsley and Ted lost their battle and howled. "Let's never let Minerva and Narcissa collude," Remus muttered quietly to Dora. She shuddered violently.

"God's no."

"They'd have order and decorum and all of us in line," Andromeda countered with a hint of a smile before pitching her voice louder. "Do you intend to listen to any of us or are we going to be forced to make you? We will…but I really do not have the energy unless it's imperative. We've been rather alarmingly busy of late."

"I think we're all a little…confused." Arthur offered hesitantly.

"Understandable," Kingsley agreed briskly, still wiping tears from his face.

"Which is why listening would presumably be beneficial, no?" Minerva interjected snarkily.

He nodded warily, his eyes darting around the room, "Anyone lifts a wand in here and you'll be automatically bound," Sirius offered lightly, nodding his head towards Kreacher.

There was a beat of stillness that Kingsley took full advantage of. "We have Tom Riddle contained and all of the active Death Eaters are either in Azkaban or dead."

A loud bang interrupted the swelling of noise at that pronouncement. "Be quiet!" Andromeda demanded, waiting until they all settled back down.

"Bellatrix is not in Azkaban." Molly pointed out.

"No." she agreed, "My sister is…sane-ish and instrumental in the capture and neutering of Death Eaters. Antonin Dolohov for example." Molly froze, "He's dead. He…suffered rather a lot beforehand."

"Good," Molly growled.

Andromeda's answering smile was sinister, "Quite. Greyback too. Which brings us to the real reason we're here." She turned to look at Sirius, who finally allowed his control to unspool and the rage to show on his face.

"My godson," he growled, his eyes on Albus. "Care to explain Horcruxes, Headmaster?"

"Horcruxes?" Alastor frowned as Albus paled.

"Indeed. Apparently our esteemed leader was aware that Tom made several and didn't see fit to share it. They're gone by the way in case you were curious. All bar one."

"What exactly is a horcrux?" Emmeline Vance hedged.

"Abominable magic," Amelia Bones hissed, her face pale. "Soul anchors brought into being using the vilest magic there is. It makes a person immortal."

"Quite," Andromeda nodded, "and as my cousin said we've or well, my sisters and their band of reformed lunatics, have dealt with them. All bar one."

"When were you going to tell us, Albus?" Sirius' voice was soft and dangerous. "Or were you just planning to send my godson off on a suicide mission?"

"Well I….Miss Granger and…"

"Miss Granger is as good as dead." Sirius hissed before he paused, "I had wondered if it was your doing but clearly not."

"What suicide mission?" Molly interrupted sharply.

"Turns out dear old Albie here was talking Harry through Tom's life. I assume to lead him to the conclusion about the horcruxes. Afterwards, I assume he was meant to find and destroy the rest."

"He's a child!" Molly wailed.

"He's also a living horcrux." Andromeda spoke leaving deafening silence in her wake.

"Hes..hes a what?" Amelia looked sickened.

"Living horcrux. Albus was aware."

He flinched when the entire Order turned to look at him.

"I…was…that is to say, I devised a way that perhaps young Harry could rid himself of his extra piece."

"How?" Andromeda inquired deceptively politely.

"Well…I imagine that a confrontation with Tom will…kill off a living entity which would remove it. An avada exorcises the soul in a body…"

"You imagine," Sirius repeated dangerously. "You imagine…what if it's Harry's soul that is killed off? What if we have two bodies hosting Tom's soul rather than one? What if he doesn't use an avada?"

"Well I…."

"Well you…" he mocked, flicking his wand and sending Albus careening heavily into the wall.

"Don't kill him!" Severus barked.

"Not yet," Sirius agreed. "You get the final blow. I haven't forgotten."

"What?" Arthur demanded.

"Albus is dying," Minerva cut in briskly, gesturing to his now visible hand. "Withering curse. He had intended for Severus to murder him and didn't see fit to tell us. Thought it would cement him in Tom's ranks and save Draco Malfoy from having to do it on threat of his mothers murder."

"Is that true?" Alastor demanded, standing to loom over Albus' still prone form.

"It is…Severus' loyalty had to be indisputable."

"Without letting any of us know?" Alastor growled.

"If it had gotten out…"

"No!" Amelia cut him off. "Just no!"

"Kreacher?" Sirius muttered quietly while they were distracted by their rage. With a sinister little grin that he had definitely learned from Coley, Kreacher appeared next to the fallen headmaster, whisking him away to his new lodgings right next door to Tom.