"And then there are those whom you meet, whom you hardly know, who say a word, a phrase, give you a minute, half an hour and change the course of your life."

Victor Hugo

Remus was worried. The message they had received three days ago had put him and Sirius in a strange mood. He didn't know what had happened. HQ compromised, do not respond, do not return, wait for signal. That was the message Helena had given them, since then they still hadn't had any more information, and they were worried. Surely something bad had happened to compromise the HQ. With all the safeguards around, Remus wondered how that was even possible, but it seemed that no one was willing to give him any information. Sirius wasn't holding back any more than he was, if anything had happened to James or Harry, Remus knew he wouldn't get over it, neither would he, they were his family, his brother and nephew, so he hoped with all his heart that nothing had happened to them.

It was already getting dark, and Sirius was stoking the fire that would keep them warm tonight. Remus' gaze fell on his companion, whose face was closed. Remus knew it was just a facade, to keep his busy look from breaking through his mask. A mask that Remus wished he didn't have to see anymore, especially if it was just the two of them, but it was Sirius' way of protecting himself, the bloody mask that all purebloods wore with pride, a mask that Remus hated. Feeling Remus' burning gaze on him, Sirius lifted his head and a faint smile graced his lips.

"Come here."

Sirius sighed but left his fire and moved closer to Remus.

"Talk to me. I'm not well either, but for Morgana's sake, please don't shut yourself off."

"I... I don't know what I'd do if James... or Harry... they're..."

At the same time, the communication book shook, a sign that a new message had been written. They both rushed towards it, and Remus was the first to grab it, he didn't often use his werewolf speed, but this was a sanity issue, he needed to know.

"Get ready."

"What do you think, should we pick up our stuff?"

"I think that's the best thing to do indeed."

They both silently put everything away in a small bag, Helena's undetectable extension spells really were a miracle, and waited for some sort of sign, one beside the other. It was dark and they couldn't see much, and the speed at which the thing in front of them came did not help. They collided, but before they could fall, the usual disapparate sensation set in. They landed hard on the ground, and looked around, though they could not see much because of the dark night.

"Helena? Is that you?"

"Shut up!"

She led them quickly down an alley, wand in hand, her senses alert, and when she was sure no one was there, she dashed off.

"Follow me, without making a sound. Run!"

The two marauders followed her and ran after her, trying to follow her as best they could through the darkness. Eventually they entered a building, which Sirius did not see, but which Remus recognised with his keen senses.

"Where are we?"

"The Shrieking Shack.

"What possessed you to come here like that? I thought we were being attacked by a vampire! You were going so fast!"

"I can't be a vampire you idiot! I'm a werewolf! I warned you, if you can't understand, too bad for you."

"Calm down. Helena, I can see you're on edge, and you, Sirius, don't get upset. What's happened?"

"I'd rather talk about it in the castle."

"Is..."

"In the castle, Black!"

Sirius fell silent immediately, she was seriously pissed off to call him Black in that tone. The further he went, the more frantic his heartbeat became. He had to know if James was okay. It was vital at this point. Unconsciously he sped up, but that was no problem as Remus and Helena did the same. They passed through the large doors and before they could look around, a brown-haired ball of energy rushed towards them. Sirius took his godson in with ease and gave him a long hug.

"Uncle Padfoot, I missed you, you know. Ouch, you hug me too hard, and Uncle Moony will be sad if he doesn't get a hug too."

Sirius agreed to give Harry to his companion and sat up, hoping to see James, but he was disappointed.

"Harry, where's your father?"

"Dad's with the adults, interviewing the students."

"Interviewing the students?"

"This is one of the many things we have to talk about. But don't worry, James is fine."

She led them to Dumbledore's office, which had become Minerva's, though the two marauders didn't know it yet. The silence was cut only by Harry's interventions as he told his godfather, still in Remus's arms, the latest things he had learned.

"Harry, dear, I know you're glad to see Sirius and Remus again, but the three of us have to talk, and it's not things you should hear."

"Is that why we left and are now living in the big castle?"

"Yes, that's right, but your godfather and uncle don't know what happened, I have to tell them. "

"All right, I'll go and see Neville if he wants to play with me."

"Don't forget to do your homework, you need to know the category one plants for tomorrow!"

Harry didn't answer, but his sigh spoke volumes. Remus and Sirius watched him go, amazed that they knew the castle, at least that well, without needing an adult to guide him. Maybe he had a tracking spell, so James wouldn't lose his way.

"We'll go upstairs if you don't mind, Minerva's waiting for us up there."

They walked up the stairs they had climbed so many times to get their braces, and saw Minerva sitting in an armchair in front of the desk, she stood up to greet them, looking relieved to see them.

"Mr Black, Mr Lupin, please sit down. "

"Professor, since it's been so long, I think you can call us by our first names."

"Well, in that case, my name is Minerva, I'm not your teacher after all."

"What's happened? Why is the whole Order at Hogwarts? What's all this about a compromised HQ?"

"The last battle didn't go as planned. Albus was hit by a deadly spell, he didn't survive."

At their shocked looks, the teacher let them digest the news for a few moments, before Hermione continued.

"I tried to save him, I really did, but there is no counter spell. And he was the secret keeper, so we all became one. And... Alice had stayed behind, I don't even know why she was alone by the way, it's against protocol, and the Death Eaters spotted the HQ, the Fidelius broke. Of course the HQ was still protected, that's what gave us time to clear it out, not too much of a rush, and then we burned the house down."

"What? But why?"

"They would eventually get in, and even though we made sure we took as much stuff as we could, there are things that can't be taken. We've lived in this house for almost six years, that's no mean feat, it's imprinted with all of our magic, our DNA. I don't think the Death Eaters know exactly what DNA is and how to use it properly, but we had to preserve our magical footprints, and fire is a sure way."

"And why come to Hogwarts? Why not a member of the Order?"

"Hogwarts was the last place, along with St. Mungo's, that was outside Riddle's power. And he wasn't attacking the castle because Dumbledore was there. Now he's just waiting for it. We're running all the students through veritaserum, to find out their intent. The majority of the muggleborns are evacuated with their families out of the country, the ones with the Dark Mark are just common slaves and don't teach us anything, so we send them back. We didn't all agree on what to do with them, but that's what was decided. Those who are wannabe Death Eaters, are also sent back, but those who are prisoners of their parents can stay, provided they take an inviolable oath not to reveal any information that would help you-know-who and the Death Eaters get into Hogwarts, or that would simply benefit them. Anyone who doesn't have a family stays, they don't have a choice, and we have to protect them. There are others who stay of course, but most families, whether pureblood, half-blood or even muggle-born, are asked to leave the country, especially those who will not help the Order."

The couple remained silent for a moment, as they realised how much had been organised in just three days. They now felt a bit useless, not having participated in all this organisation, but at least they had an excuse.

"What are we supposed to do now? What do you want us to do?"

"It's not for me to decide what you're going to do!"

"Helena, we're not idiots, there's a reason you brought us here, you could have told us all this through the book."

"I wasn't going to give out such information..."

"But that's the point of the book! You protected it, no one can read it but us, so there was no risk of someone stumbling across it. "

"That's true" sighed Hermione. "I don't want to risk anything happening to you. In the last few years, you've been around very little, you've barely been able to see Harry grow up, be with James and the other members of the Order. Your radio has been more than useful, Merlin knows that, you've saved thousands of people with it, but I think it's time you came back to us. We've briefly gone over the safeguards with Minerva, and we'll have to check of course, be careful, but I think you could do your broadcasts from the castle. It's not like the Death Eaters don't know where we are anyway."

"Really? No need to travel the length and breadth of the country? No more coming back every five months wondering if James will still be here next time? And stay here and keep the radio going? It's..."

"It's fine, it's nothing. How about we go and see James now, I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you."

Remus and Sirius got to their feet and just barely ran up the stairs, Hermione quickly beat them to it and led them to the Great Hall, no one paid any attention to them, and she headed to the back of the hall, where about ten people were crowded together, waiting their turn to talk to James, and find out what they were going to do. Sirius couldn't help but run when he spotted James.

"Prongs!"

James turned around suddenly and a genuine smile split his face when he saw his best friend, he rushed over to him and hugged him, holding back tears.

"I missed you so much Padfoot! And come here Moony, why are you staying away?" said the wizard before pulling his second best friend into a similar embrace. "I've missed you both so much. Harry too. Did you see him? He's been looking forward to seeing you too. He's been dying to talk to you about everything he's learned in the last few months."

It was clear that James had no desire to interview all those students, but he had promised to help, so he would keep his word, but that was without Helena.

"Go on James, I'll take care of them. You haven't seen them for a long time, it's normal."

"My saviour! Thanks a million, I owe you one."

And James, still euphoric to see his friends again, took Helena in his arms.

"Um... James, please let go. Save the hugs and other affection for these two."

Hermione watched them leave before sitting down opposite the person she was going to interview. The cases went by, all of them were in a different situation, but the majority wanted to leave the castle. She had two wannabe Death Eaters evicted immediately, four muggles-born send out of the country, and a few members of the Order would be picking up their parents the next day to join them in their new country. There were three half-bloods who wished to wait for their families' advice before making a decision, and three others who decided to leave Hogwarts, no longer feeling safe in the castle. Only one of the people she had interviewed wore the mark, but she had shamelessly revealed to her under veritaserum that it was not a choice, but that or death. Hermione discussed her options with her at length, before telling her that an unbreakable oath would be the only way she could stay at Hogwarts. This person had twenty-four days from the interview to make up their mind, not a lot of time, but more than she would normally have been given.

The last person of the evening arrived, well, it was nearly midnight after all, and Hermione had to go and wake him up, he had fallen asleep. He was quite a young boy, he couldn't have been more than eleven or twelve, and looked more than vulnerable asleep like that. She shook him gently, and her eyes met beautiful dark blue eyes.

"Do you want to reschedule the interview for tomorrow? It's late, you should be asleep by now."

"I'll be fine, thank you, as long as it's done tonight, right?"

"Yes, you're right, the sooner it's done, the sooner you'll be free to go home."

"This is my home. I can't go home. My family is dead."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so insensitive, my name is Helena Grace."

"Raphaël Brocklehurst."

"Do you know the principle of this veritaserum?"

The young wizard shook his head, and Hermione explained.

"It's an improved version, which allows people who resist the normal version to be questioned, but still be sure they're telling the truth. It's not as mechanical as the other one, it's not something that's forced or how can I explain it to you... If we ask you a question, with the normal version, you can answer it, and the answer will come out of your lips, that's why it's very important to know how to ask the right questions, but with this one, the feelings come into play, it's more like the person is telling a story, with details. Do you understand the difference?"

"I think I do. And I'm going to have to be interviewed with this? I understand that it's important with the Death Eaters and to know information about people, but how can you trust your friends, your allies if you force them to swallow this stuff."

"All the members of the Order of the Phoenix, do you know what that is?" At the boy's nod, she continued, "have gone under there. It was a mandatory condition for joining the organisation. To make sure there were no spies trying to get in."

"I don't mind you giving me this, but could I tell you what I want to tell you, without being under this thing. It's important to me, and I don't want a potion to tell my story for me."

"It's against the rules, but you seem sincere to me. It depends on your answers I guess."

"Thank you, ma'am. You don't know what it means to me to..."

"Calm down. First, call me Helena. If you do stay here, we're going to run into each other a lot, I'm not a teacher, so don't think of me as one."

She gave him a few drops of the potion, and began to ask him the usual questions.

"Your name?"

"Raphaël Brocklehurst."

"Date of birth?"

"May the 2nd, 1973."

She was right, he was eleven years old. He must have been in first year.

"Do you bear the mark of darkness?"

"No, I do not."

"What do you think of you-know-who's ideas? "

"It's all nonsense. I don't understand why so many people follow him. Killing all the muggles doesn't make them stronger, in fact it's the other way round. Purebloods are not more powerful than half-bloods or muggles, as we can see here. It's not because you have a lot of wizards in your family that you will be able to do great things. On the contrary. If there are too many purebloods, it means inbreeding, and therefore potential diseases, so in the end, purebloods are idiots."

"One can tell that you have a strong opinion on the matter. So you'll never join you-know-who?"

"He killed my whole family."

"Well, last question, I don't think there's any point, but it's for your records, they want you to fill them in so you don't forget who's at Hogwarts and who isn't. Your blood status?"

"Half-blood."

"Right, I'm going to give you the antidote that will free you from the potion and you can tell me what you want, okay?"

Raphaël nodded and opened his mouth, before hurriedly swallowing the antidote.

"What do you want to know?"

"What you want to tell me. Your story, your motivations, your dreams..."

"My name is Raphaël, I had an older sister and an older brother, but they're both dead, killed by the Death Eaters. Well, maybe I should start at the beginning. My parents were old when they had me. My sister was twenty-two when I was born, and my brother twenty. They died of dragon pox when I was six, and it was my sister who got my custody. But she worked a lot, and I was often on my own, it's not a big deal, I was used to not really being looked after. I could cook, wash myself, read, so I managed. And my brother also looked after me, but he also worked... But it was with him that I learned to play chess, that I started to do magic. Then he met Hannah, and he started to leave me alone more and more too. Then he got married, and he had Mandy. She's my niece. Then you-know-who took over, and they wanted to leave the country. They were going to go once, then my sister was going to come back for me, but they were attacked with a whole group of people, nobody survived. That's why I want to fight! I want you-know-who to die, because he killed my family. As much as I loved them, I wasn't very close to them, but they were my family."

Hermione could see that the young wizard was trying to hold back his tears, not to cry in public, even though there weren't many people left in the room. She stood up, walked around the table and knelt down beside the child. She opened her arms to him, and he looked at her for a moment, not knowing how to act.

"No one has ever held me" he murmured in a small voice.

"Well, let me be the first."

She hugged him, and the wizard wrapped his arms around her waist, tears now flowing, he sobbed but no longer held back. The woman wasn't judging him, wasn't rejecting him, and it felt good. No one had ever hugged him like this, his brother ruffled his hair, his sister patted him on the back, his friends, who had all left Hogwarts, were not the most tactile. This was the first hug he'd ever received, it was almost maternal.

He cried for a long time, moaning that he was alone, just another abandoned war orphan, and Hermione comforted him as best she could. She was touched by the child's distress, because that's all he was, a child. She let him cling to her jumper, let him cry out his pain, without interrupting, comforting him, as a mother would.

Neither of them knew it yet, they had only just met, but fate would bring them together more often. He didn't know it yet, but this embrace was the beginning of the accomplishement of a prophecy.