Book II: Age of the Phoenix

Chapter XXIII: Seeking Answers

Music Theme: The Kids Are Alright - The Who

- No Flashback this chapter -

March 28, 1980 - Knockturn Alley...

The weeks to follow fell into a stalemate between the Order and the Death Eaters. Nobody was able to penetrate the walls of either Lestrange Manor or Marvin McKinnon's mind. Amelia Bones remotely worked on her Ministry business and reduce her office visits while Edgar quarentined in the home with his children and Lydia to keep them safe. Aurors, due to the new quarter laws, were taking up residence in wizarding homes across multiple counties so they could observe the high risk areas for Death Eater activity.

Everyone was anxious, and not only because of the war. A Blue Moon approached and it would be the first one this year Remus spent without the Marauder's aid. Blue Moon's were unpredictable. They could either be the calmest transformation ever experienced or the most deadly, but never anything in-between.

One Werewolf always hoped for the latter - Greyback, who awoke in Max Forrestor's flat on the late March morning hearing the clinking of someone in the kitchen. He groaned drunkinly as the hangover throbbed in his head then pushed himself up in the bed. He sniffed the air and smirked, regocnizing the scent. He clambored out of the bed and shoved through the doorway to look in the sitting room.

Sitting at the kitchen table, a newspaper in one hand and coffee in another was Max Forrestor.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Greyback grunted at the Death Eater who had been gone for weeks.

"I live here, darling. What's your excsuse?" Max quipped. "Don't you have some lovely, dirty, cave or something to hybernate in until moon time?"

"Get tired of your new girlfriend?" Greyback clapped back.

"Why, Fen!" He laughed. "You're jealous. Well don't worry dearest, the Delaney girl isn't my cup of tea. Still, it's been fun following her around."

"You still have it then?" Greyback stepped further into the room.

Max pulled back his coat to reveal Tabitha's wand tucked in his breast pocket, which Greyback started towards with determination. "Down boy."

"I need to satisfy myself, Max." He said through nashed teeth. "Every whore from here to Newburry knows me too well and slips away from me. It's a blue moon, and you've got Lupin's bitch right where I can find her. Let me have some fun."

"Contrary to your belief but I don't keep this wand as a dance card. I check in a couple times a week to ensure the vow is doing it's work. She's out of the picture. She will live a long, unhappy, hermit life to keep others protected from the vow, meanwhile her name lasts as long as it can. Then, Voldemort will have the real Guardian to protect his work."

"And that's where you've been? Trying to find the real one?"

"I already told you. I have found the real one. I just need proof. I can't risk exposing them until I'm sure. I've got to get my hands on the full prophecy somehow. One of them is a traitor. I already know one of them betrayed Delaney, but he thought he was helping her. That's not good enough."

"Then maybe we find ways to test them." He smiled and sat at the table with Max, snatching the coffee from the other's hand. "See which if them is more interested in protecting themselves than protecting the others. Then you mold them."

"A note from your werewolf breeding book?"

"Let's just say everyone is moldable. Some have to be broken first. Others are willing." He slurped his coffee and watched Max ponder it.

"Bring together all the possible contenders, test their allegiance, find the real Guardian..." He looked at Greyback. "That may just work. Help me set the trap?"

"It's why you came back, isn't it? For my help?"

"Perhaps... maybe I just missed you."

"It's good to be missed." He winked at his comrade and finished his drink.

Later that Night - Isle of Skye Safe House...

Lily and Marlene sat in the center of the master bedroom on the rug in front of the fireplaces. Stacks of spell books lay open around them along with lit candles. Lily flipped through the pages of one of the books and skimmed a page as Marlene waited patiently.

"Ok, try this one." Lily set the book down between them and pointed out one of the elemental spells.

"It's not going to work Lils. I haven't managed to control this since it happened in the Space Chamber."

"The space chamber is just a place where old magic rules apply. That doesn't mean we can practice it here. Besides, you said you've managed it a couple times since then."

Marlene simply nodded and reached for Lily's teacup. She held it in her hands and contemplated the spell in her mind, her wand set aside with only her thoughts to assist her. After a moment the teacup started to boil and she dropped it, the cup shattering on the floor."

"Mar!"

"Sorry!"

Lily scooped up the bits of broken porclean and waved her wand over the stained rug, "scourgify."

Marlene slumped her shoulders in defeat, "Fabian's right. I'll never be able to control it if I'm afraid of it."

"Why are you afraid of it, Mar? I think having elemental magic is absolutely wicked."

"Just something I've often wondered about our family. The fire at our castle, the destruction of that werewolf colony, Marvin's kidnapping, Dad's death. Destruction seems to follow us everywhere. We never manage to control our fates. Why would I invite even more untamable magic into the mix?"

"You know, Mar. I've always felt a little different too. My magic isn't exactly something that paralells to what we learned in school. I thought I'd prove Petunia wrong at school. There I wasn't a freak. But when I saw my magic was a little different than the rest, I realized maybe that wasn't going to be so easy to prove."

"But your magic is beautiful, Lils. It's light magic, it's artistic and healing and everything magic should be."

"And yours is strong, not destructive. You will master this, Mar. You just can't be afraid of it."

"I'm afraid I can't do it."

"Of course you can. You just have to trust-"

"That's what I can't do! Lils, the year after dad died we all scattered. Marvin went to the Tonks, Angus apparently went to live with Gideo, who the hell knows where Attie is, and I stayed with Aunt Elspheth. We were too afraid to grieve together, to trust those emotions and the innermost parts of our souls to one another. Then we all regroup and decide to open up once more, as a family, only to find nothing but secrets and lies. Being vulnerable and trusting anyone, even myself, is something I fear I can't do anymore. Don't get me started on the vulnerability I had with Sirius only for him to smack me down."

"Have you considered talking to him about that? You talked things through with Angus. Maybe you should hear Sirius' side of things?"

"Sirius is being an ass now," Marlene grunted as Lily passed her a fresh teacup. "Although there's something about him..."

"Yea, I see the way you look at him." Lily smiled.

"Oi, not like that!" Marlene defended. "He's the only one who has managed to get this out of me... this power."

"What do you mean?"

"The first time something happened, we were on the Potter's porch. He'd just pissed me off and I stormed back in and a stone on the house cracked. I just thought it was an old place. Then the space chamber happened. Everything I did in there was to save him. There also was a time at our house that he got me to light the fireplace without a thought. All I thought of was how much he'd pissed me off."

"Piss you off? Or how much you liked him?"

Marlene looked up at Lily for only a moment before the cup started to boil over and Marlene quickly set it down on the floor.

Lily's suspicions were confirmed. "You still love him don't you?"

"I can't." She quickly answered. "He's hurt me too much."

"Hurt doesn't always take away our feelings for someone, Mar. It just causes us to pack it up and bury it deep inside where it can't hurt us."

"Like you did with Snape?" Marlene asked.

"This isn't about me," Lily responded bluntly.

"I know you cared about him as more than a friend, Lily. Not the same as I care for Sirius, I know. But you felt a sense of responsibility for him and he betrayed you."

"Yes, Sev was the closest thing I had to family at Hogwarts. I'd put my neck out for him on more than one occaision. Having someone you consider a kindred spirit absolutely betray you isn't something you're likely to come back from as easily..."

"Then you see why I can't allow my feelings about Sirius to go any further than they already have?"

"I understand, Marlene. It's hard for me to lecture about second chances when it looks like I didn't give Sev one. But you've got to remember, he changed. He went down a dark path I couldn't bring him back from. I've held onto hope for a long time that he was redeemable, but that becomes a wishful dream more and more every day. Sirius, on the other hand. He's not going down a dark path. He's just a little lost right now. He's stuck in his own way, just like James was once. I got Potter on the right track. Maybe you're what Sirius needs."

"Maybe..."

The door opened and the glasses covered face of James peered around the corner, "Password?"

"You're supposed to say a password to enter, nitwit. We're already in here."

"Wrong. The lads and I are a bit sour we weren't invited to druid magic club. So we've made a club in the hallyway out of protest. You're stuck in here if you don't know the password."

"Hmmm is it, 'Tu es asinus?" she smirked as she called him an ass in Latin.

"Close enough." He walked inside to deliver the real reason for his visit. "Ready for the meeting?"

"Blimey, is it that late already?" Lily checked her watch. "We've been up here for hours."

James stared at the tea set on the floor and muttered, "Going to snuff out old Voldy with tea time? Smart. Don't know why I didn't think of that."

"James," Lily gave him an unamused look.

"I know I know. Tu Es Asinus."

Back in Knockturn Alley...

Snape was the first to arrive at Borgin and Burkes. He kept the lights off as he shuffled around the room, contemplating the best way to locate a traitor within the Order, pondering how he'd keep his secrets safe from Voldemort without loosing his trust. He sat at the empty table in the back room and stared across it to a lone chair which Regulus usually claimed.

He thought through the questions the young boy had once asked...

"But surely our cause is more than just killing people?" He recalled Regulus saying.

"You can still respect the value of life and believe in our cause. Our goal isn't to kill everyone, it's to-"

"To what?" Regulus looked up. "Do you really even know?"

"To bring balance and keep power in the hands of those who can control it best."

If Snape thought about it long and hard enough, he'd find those who control it best were people like him who offer discretion, only fight with provoked, defends themselves instead of attack, and tries to avoid confrontation. He refused to think on it longer as the similarities between that and The Order of the Phoenix weren't lost on him.

"Well well," a voice pulled Snape from his thoughts. "Still showing up to class early to get a good seat, I see."

"Hello Barty," He called over his shoulder as he recognized Crouch's voice. "How's the Ministry?"

"They're onto us," he grumbled as he made his way around the room and turned up the lamps. "I can't step one foot outside father's office without someone asking me what department I'm heading to. It's that Bones woman, I know it. She's barely in her office and still manages to keep her eyes on me. My mother's been a help, using her contacts and influence with father to ensure suspicion stays off me. Then, of course, Mary's no help. I swear, she begged me for that job only to sit there day after day doing nothing but records keeping, scribing, setting appointments..."

"You mean, her actual job?"

Barty just glared at him blankly.

"How'd she manage to get involved with us anyway?"

"Strange business really. Padraig Mulciber would come to the office often to check in and you remember their history," he smirked. "We caught her listening to our plans once and I was going to take care of her, but was surprised when she said she'd like to help how she could. She said what happened between her and and Padraig in school showed her how powerful someone can be and she wanted that power too. So, I took a chance on her. She's been of great use to us, spying on Dumbledore and all."

"Why is that a 'strange business' though?"

"Because she was motivated to join out of her fear for Mulciber. She wanted my protection from him in exchange for our teamwork with the Dark Lord's cause. But now, she's joined at the hip with him. I can tell she hates it, yet he's got a hold on her somehow. It's odd. In addition to that, she's not been as helpful anymore. Now that the stakes are getting higher, she's starting to withhold more information from me. Saying, 'It's just for the Dark Lord to hear'."

"And does he? Do you know if she reports everything to him?"

Barty just shrugs and then smirked at his friend, "Gears are turning in that head of yours, Snape. I can see it. What's on your mind?"

"Well," a booming voice said upon entry to the room and the boys looked up to see Greyback sauntering in, with Max in tow. "Were I a betting man, I'd wager he's thinking of the best places to run and hide when the going inevitably gets tough."

"You're one to talk, Fenrir," Snape clapped back. "Clear your plans for the week with the impending moon you intend to hide from?" Snape then raised an eyebrow to Max, "To say nothing of this deserter."

"I had my own assignment, Snape," Max muttered with a shrug.

"Yes, we've heard. The quest for the Guardian."

"Yes. Paid a little visit to Vincent Crabbe and pulled more information from him. Meanwhile, the Delaney girl is safe and sound where we can find her."

"And when Voldemort discovers she's merely a scapegoat, and that you've no idea who the true guardian is, what will you do then?"

Max scowled," What makes you so sure she isn't?"

"Because why would you go to Crabbe with more questions if you were certain she is? Besides, Voldemort has entrusted information to me about the Guardian that nobody else knows. Maybe if you ask nicely I'll relay it to you."

"Which is?"

"The Guardian will be a Half-Blood, or at least that's what Lord Voldemort anticipates." Snape watched Max's demeanor shift. "What is it Forrestor? Job security just go down the tubes?"

"That can't be right," he scowled. "The one I had my eye on is a pureblood. Crabbe confirmed that."

"Or perhaps whoever you had your eye on isn't the one Voldemort seeks. Crabbe has been exiled from these ranks for a reason. He's a little fortune seeker, a medicore at best wizard, with no connections or resources that benefit us. His bloodline is his only claim to anything, but he messed up more times than Lestrange's patience would allow. His loyalty and respect for Voldemort is the only thing keeping him alive. We have to take all his 'suggestions' about the Guardian Prophecy with a grain of salt. He's been caught inflating the truth too many times before to be counted as trustworthy. Voldemort wants a half-blood. He's made that clear." Snape leaned back in his chair. "Don't be upset, Max. We make mistakes sometimes. Doesn't mean we are stupid. It just means there are those out there better and wiser than us."

"Why you pretentious little-"

Greyback set a hand on Max's shoulder but said nothing. A long pause fell over the room and everyone remained still as they waited for him to speak up.

"Something to add, Greyback?" Barty finally asked.

"If being a Half-blood is a requirement, then I've got a contender." He scowled at the possibility. "My mutt."

"You think someone who defies his wolf all this time would choose now to be a traitor to his friends?" Snape scoffed.

"Maybe, if the price is right." He looked to his comrade. "You said it yourself, Max. Bring together all the possible contenders and test their allegiance. Set the bait for them, something they can't live without, and see where their loyalties lie."

Later at Hogwarts...

The first hints of Spring were sprouting around Hogwarts as the Order assembled in the room of requirement. Peter, who had grown more and more nervous after the recent encounter with his mother, hovered near Sirius. His dependency on him had grown after their little trip to Saint Mungos, and now Peter was more Sirius' shadow than anything else.

With the recent attacks on the Bones family, the Order was growing with new recruits. Everyone seemed on edge, however. People spoke in whispers. Nobody touched the refreshments that Dumbledore continued to have set out in the corner in an attempt to make the meetings less ominous. Some people even darted glances around the room as rumors of these prophecies plagued them. Every time the door opened, its entrant was met with a cold, hesitant stare.

"Damn," Angus McKinnon said as he, Marvin and the Prewetts entered to the gazing eyes. "We've only just arrived. What could we have done already?"

"Want an itemized list?" Sirius grunted to himself.

"Boys!" Marlene left her conversation with Emmeline Vance to rush to her brothers, but it was noticeable that her embrace of Angus was a bit awkward and rushed compared to Marvin's. "How was your mission?"

"Not bad," Angus shrugged and spoke in a whisper. "We managed to stop some of Voldemort's ranks that were closing in on the Podmore family."

"Good. Any need to relocate them?"

"Yes," Marvin said. "They have publicly spoken out against Voldemort many times and are too exposed in a Wizarding community."

"Don't worry, McKinnon." Gideon spoke up. "Your brother is a professional in relocating and hiding wanted families."

The boys noticed Marlene refused to look at Gideon as she directly addressed Marvin, "But you've had your own mission, to work with Edgar to unlock the secrets of the Lestrange home. How do you also manage relocation of Purebloods?"

"Well... we haven't exactly relocated all of them yet," he snickered then stepped aside to reveal the door.

"Potter?" A young voice was heard in the door and as James turned he spotted Sturgis Podmore, a recent graduate of Hufflepuff house and still as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as the day he started school. He shoved past Fabian who he'd entered with but gotten distracted admiring the Room of Requirement too much to be noticed. He grabbed James by the hand and shook it with such fervor that James feared his wrist would break. "Sturgis! You probably don't remember me, but I was a big fan of your Quidditch game. Best player I've ever seen."

"Oi!" Angus snapped and Gideon chuckled and rest a comforting hand on Angus' shoulder and said, "He just means best Seeker."

"Yes best Seeker. And Best Chaser too! Best player Gryffindor has had for a while," Sturgis added and now Gideon pulled his hand away and grumbled, "Ok, yea, rude..."

Oh, um, thanks Sturgis. I remember you. What are you doing here?"

"Well, Prewett recruited me. I've been seeing things, Potter. Bad things. Things that warn of darker times to come. I had to do what I can to help." The boy spoke a mile a minute.

"Ok ok," James finally pried his hand away. "Good to have you. Why don't you, um... sit down."

Sturgis rushed to the table and sat as if he'd earn a prize by being the first seated while Gideon and Angus instantly sat on either side of him and began rattling off their Quidditch accomplishments, chalking a lot of his disregard for their time as Beaters as a result of the age gap. Meanwhile James, Lily and Sirius moved closer to Dumbledore who had been standing quietly at the refreshment table, deep in thought.

"Well?" the old man asked.

"Sturgis is a kid, sir. He's only been graduated a few months."

"And you haven't?"

"Sir, the kid's going to be murdered," Sirius grunted. "The Prewetts and McKinnons were supposed to relocate the Podmore family. Not also recruit their son."

"I entrusted recruitment to the Prewetts becaue they recognize what people bring to a team. Strugis has passion and a desire for good. He's hard working, trustworthy and loyal."

"Ok," Sirius grumbled, "You can't just chatter off the Hufflepuff motto and think that qualifies him."

"And what qualifies you, Sirius?" Dumbledore gave him a look.

"Professor..." James muttered stunned.

"What qualifies any of you, if youth is the only factor that matters?"

"Well... you told me people appreciate my leadership. You said I was selected by peers to lead the faction."

"I told you that appointment by peers make the best leaders, I never told you who did the actual appointing. Had it been up to Alastor, for example, you'd never have so much as crossed the threshold to the Hogshead."

"Well, Moody's a veteran, an Auror. He knew me as a kid. I get that, but I've won him over-"

"And Benjy worried for your safety. He, being such close friends with your parents, preferred you stay out of the fight for their sake."

"Well that's my concern with Podmore too. He's young-"

"Emeline Vance thought you to be too immature for a faction of your own. She originally feared you'd be too reckless and showboaty."

James scowled, "Well no offense, but Emmie Vance has a broom-sized stick up her-"

"Sir," Lily cut James off and said, "Who did advocate for us to join?"

"A couple of the old guard, like Dorcas Meadows, supported my idea of The Order to be filled with younger members. We knew you'd be more resilient, more passionate, more trustworthy than the rest. It was she who recruited Alice and Frank Longbottom. While I immediately thought of you to join the Order, James, there were many who thought you weren't ready."

"Then why am I here?" James snapped, his pride bruised.

"Frank Longbottom insisted you were ready. Although only a year older than you, he knew age was just a number. What was it he said," Dumbledore ponders then quotes, "The Order will only work if we have a team that gives it a fighting chance. Without people like James Potter, that chance is gone."

James just stood stunned and could feel Lily's intense smirk beside him as he glanced across the room to Frank who chattered away with Alastor and Alice.

"Sturgis is young, James. But it's people like him, with his passion to better this world, people like yourself, that will make us succeed."

Dumbledore shuffled away and pat Sirius on the shoulder who clenched his jaw shut, tempted to mock James' for his indebtedness to Longbottom but also surprised to discover there had to be a discussion of his friend's involvement at all.

"You, ok?" Lily asked.

"Longbottom? I've been such an ass to him..."

"We're in this fight together, James. It's time to tuck jealousy and ego away."

James gives her hand a squeeze before lifting it to his lips to kiss her fingers. "I bet they didn't need a discussion about recruiting you. Would you have joined without me?"

"Of course."

"Oi." James dropped her hand.

"The cause is important, James. I wouldn't abandon it to spare your feelings, no matter how much I love you."

"Well I understand that, but would it kill you to lie and spare my feelings now? Besides, I had no problem refusing to join without-" His dorky smile vanished as he recalled Sirius standing right behind him.

"You can say it, James," Sirius said. "I won't be surprised. I'm a Black, after all. I bet a great many people refused to let me in. If the only reason I'm here is because you refused to join without me, then just add it to the list of reasons I'm better off because you're my friend." He gave him a soft smile and Peter, still in earshot, pondered what qualified him to be here or if he was also one of James' contingency recruits.

A hush fell over the room as the doors clattered. Everyone beamed with joy and relief as Edgar Bones entered with Amelia. Everyone broke into applause. There had been two more adbuction attempts on the Bones family since the night Marvin and Fabian visited their home, all failed in their efforts as the Bones family remained one of the strongest. Amelia had to take a leave of absence from the work as one of those attempts was made right outside the Ministry on her commute home.

Edgar just shook his head, "Thank you, all, but the only reason I'm standing here is due to the quick thinking of our Aurors," he motioned to Alastor Moody.

"I know that," Alastor grunted from his seat with a sly grin. "I'm clapping for Amy. Took on three Death Eaters herself in that London alley while you need a whole squadron to protect your sorry ass."

"Always the classy one, Madeye," Bones snapped as he took his seat.

"It wasn't that big of a deal," Amelia said. "They sent the weaker of their followers after me. I swear, it's their underestimation of women's strength and magic that will loose them this war."

Marlene instantly clocked Lily smiling at her as they both heard this statement.

"We also had the help of Alice's patronus," Fabian said. "She warned us of the first attack in York."

"My Patronus?" Alice asked. "I didn't send you one."

"It's a swan, right?"

"Yes. A white swan. What kind did you see?"

"I don't know," Fabian shrugged. "I didn't realize there was a difference."

"A black swan," Marvin whispered under his breath.

"Something you'd like to add to the discussion, McKinnon?" Madeye said.

Marvin looked up, not realizing he'd spoken. "I think that Patronus belonged to Narcissa Malfoy."

"Why would she warn to warn Edgar about the attack?" Moody asked.

"Not Edgar... me."

"But how did she know you were there?"

"Goyle had been spying on the street," Fabian said. "He probably saw Marvin and I before he went to get Crouch and Malfoy."

"If Narcissa did this to protect Marvin then it could be seen as treason if the Death Eaters find out," Lily said. "She won't be safe."

"Correct," Dumbledore replied. "Depending on why she protects Marvin."

"Well, what reason could their be other than her having a sense of loyalty to him?" Gideon asked.

"Edgar," Dumbledore turned to Bones. "Did you discover the burried memories in your sessions with Marvin."

Edgar stammered, "No, well, he um... I-"

"I won't go back," Marvin snapped.

"Marv," Angus spoke up, "Why? You were making progress and we have to find a way into that castle. People are trapped in there."

"We weren't getting into the memories that matter. Edgar was pulling out every little secret I'd burried."

"What secrets could you have?" Angus asked.

"Oh that's rich coming from you," Marvin clapped back. He seldom allowed his temper to escalate but months of silence were getting to him.

"Sir," Lily said, "Marlene and I have been working on druid spells. Maybe we can find a way with the help of ligelimency to see what's burried there."

"I don't want my sister in my head!" He took the stone from his pocket that Edgar had sent home with him in an attempt to continue their work and smacked it on the table.

"What's that?" Peter asked as Marvin stormed out.

"And where does he think he's going?" Angus sighed.

"It's sort of a dream catcher," Edgar said to Peter. "It captures suppressed memories and locks them in there."

"Brilliant," Sirius James scooped it up and stared at it. "Maybe this can pull the memory of the Guardian prophecy from your head, Wormtail. We can finally get some answers."

"Oh... yea."

Sirius watched his friends face shift. He thought of what Marvin said, about all the wrong memories being pulled out. He considered all Peter had kept concealed about his mother. Sirius just reached forward and grabbed the stone from James' hand. "I don't know if that's a good idea mate."

Everyone couldn't help but stare at Sirius, including Peter, in shock.

"Black." Marlene grunted. "Don't be an eejit. We've got to know what that prophecy says."

"I... It's ok, Padfoot." Peter grabbed the stone from him and pocketed it. "It's what we are here for, right? Answers?"

"But what about your-" he whispered but Peter cut him off.

"Ed, can I take it home with me tonight? See what we can get from it?"

"Of course, Pettigrew."

"There is still a chance that only Peter will be able to hear the words, so whatever you do, don't break it this time." Dumbledore cautioned.

"Of course..." he nodded nervously. "Time for answers."

Marvin roamed the corridors that surrounded the courtyard to clear his head. He gazed at the spot him and Narcissa often met and wondered what compelled her to send that patronus. If she still cared for him, then why would she allow her sister and brother in law to abuse him so? He stayed in the shadows, best he could, and tried to remember anything that could help him find answers.

He heard someone approaching and quickly turned to see Remus wandered up the path. "What are you doing out here?" He whispered.

"Needed some space. Why aren't you taking the passages?"

"Last few times I passed through Hogsmede, I ran into bad company," he grumbled at the memory of Greyback's confrontation.

"Well come on. Meeting will start soon. I better go in. I sort of threw a tantrum and stormed out. Maybe if you go back in with me it will be less awkward."

"Don't be so sure," Remus said as the two started back towards the Room of Requirement. "Awkwardness seems to follow me everywhere I go."

They walked in silence a long while before Marvin said, "Never got the chance to say I'm sorry about, Delaney. Being torn apart from someone you care about stings worse than anyone can understand."

"Thanks." He tensed. "I just wish I knew if she was ok."

"I'm sure she's just fine, mate."

"But you aren't sure, are you? None of us are sure of anything these days."

"Preaching to the choir," he signed and realized this conversation could only go down hill if they continued so they walked side-by-side in silence until hearing someone shuffling in the halls. "Must be Filch," Marvin said and held up his hand to make Remus wait. He hurried to the corner of the hallway and heard a familiar voice curse. Peering around the corner he smiled and said, "Pssst. Proffessor. " He signaled to Remus that the coast was clear and both of them rounded the corner to find Theseus Scammander there, slowly making his way to the Room of Requirement.

When Theseus turned, however, his right side from top of his head to his hip seemed frozen. He was hunched a bit like Quasimodo and his smile only crossed half his face. "Boys."

Their faces fell to shock. "Sir... what happened to you?" Marvin asked.

"Is this why you've been missing meetings?" Remus added.

"Dumbledore didn't want to worry you. But I can't sit like a bump on a log anymore," he muttered. His words were slurred as his petrified cheek refused to budge. "I've been spending the last few weeks getting my strength built back up. Didn't want you kids to see me in that ghastly wheelchair like an old fool."

At that, Marvin hurried to him and pulled Theseus' arm over his shoulders. "We got you, Professor."

"Just lean on us."

"I don't need your shoulders, boys. I can manage."

"You've carried plenty on your shoulders for some time, sir. Let us do our part and offer you ours now."

Later...

The meeting ended and a sad silence was over the room. The weight of their circumstances had returned to them upon seeing Theseus' condition. Everyone had their assignments and dismissed, some staying behind a bit to practice their defensive spells. The Marauders gathered together in an attempt to convince Remus to stay put for the rest of the week with them, just until the Blue Moon passed. But he wouldn't hear it. The McKinnons attempted to coax Marlene home, but she declined it as well, fully resolved to continue her work with Lily on unlocking her druid magic.

Fabian and Gideon hung back a bit, Fabian gazing at the door, when his brother spoke up. "Madeye can't even look at Scammander. I think the sight of him is too much even for him who has seen it all."

"Then what's Marlene's excuse with you?" Fabian asked over his shoulder.

"I know," he sighed. "She didn't even acknowledge me when we got here. Probably hates me."

"Don't worry, brother. I don't think it's about you. I think she's mad at Angus more than anything."

"Then why hold me responsible? I wanted to tell you two about us long ago."

Fabian now turned to face his brother. "I don't know mate. But it probably has nothing to do with you."

Gideon saw his brother glance back at the door again and finally said, "What are you looking for?"

"Mary. She didn't show."

"Dumbledore said she's got a conflict tonight. Don't know what could be so important to miss the meeting though."

"I do," Fabian whispered, knowing it likely meant a Death Eater meeting was currently in the works. "Emmie?" Fabian called to Emmeline Vance who had gathered her things to pass. She was the same age as Gideon, a permanent scowl on her face. She was the epitome of a stick in the mud, never wanting to do anything fun or reckless. She was, however, the most talented witch in her year and a fierce defiant of Voldemort's followers. She simply raised an eyebrow to Gideon rather than asking what he needed and he said, "What's Mary's big conflict tonight?"

"Am I her mother or something?" She replied bluntly as she donned her plain brown plaid poncho to leave.

"We just figured you'd know since she's staying with you."

"With me?" She grunted. "Why? She's got a family."

"She said she was staying with you to keep her family out of all of this." Fabian said, a hint of anxiety rising in his voice.

"Well unless she's sneaking in after dark and and out before sunrise, she's not staying with me. I've got a studio apartment off Pica-dilly. There's hardly room for me, let-alone a guest."

Fabian wondered why Mary would lie about her accommodations to him when suddenly, certain things Mary had said over the year came crashing back to him.

If I told you what keeps me up at night, you'd feel sorry for me... I don't want that of you.

I wish I could stay with you, Fabe. You make me feel so safe... but it's not my choice.

Promise me, if something happens to me that you'll ignore anything people say. I want to be your Mary... the one who was untouched by the world.

He thought back to what he'd told Gideon on the rooftop as they spied on the hodded figure in the ally below beside Mulciber who he now knew to be Mary, 'Mulciber doesn't have girlfriends... he has victims.'

"He has her," Fabian said softly.

"What? Who has her?" Gideon asked.

"I can't say yet until I'm sure, Gid. I can't betray her like that, not after what she's been through. You head back to the McKinnon's. I'm going to see if I can find her."

"Fabe-"

"Please... If Angus was in trouble what would you do?"

"I'd go after him," Gideon whispered and nodded. "Go on. Be careful. If you aren't back in one hour, I'm coming to find you."

Fabian departed without another word, walking past the Marauders who continued their efforts to keep Remus with them.

"Moony," Sirius said. "You're not seriously going to face the blue moon alone are you?"

"Blue moons are known to be unpredictable, Sirius. The potion may not work this week. Besides, I predict lots of young werewolves will be targeted that night."

"Why do you talk about this place as if you've been there before and know these people. It's only been a couple weeks. They aren't your family."

James notice Remus exchange a look with Lily who stayed quiet. All Remus said was, "Sometimes time doesn't matter... when you care about someone."

Sirius took that as more pointed than intended, and moved away from the conversation.

"He thinks you're talking about Tabitha again," Peter said on behalf of Sirius.

"What if I am?" He grunted and clenched his fist.

"We'll find a way to bring her back, Remus." Lily said. "Wherever she is."

Dublin, Ireland...

After the vow was forced on her, Tabitha journeyed to Dublin, to hide in the chaos of the ongoing troubles the Muggles were facing at the time. A few times, Tabitha tried to get messages to Olivander, offering her services in acquiring wand cores so that he could create unregistered wands for pureblood families to use without their magic being traced. Contacting the Wizarding world without magic was easier said than done though and her efforts came to an end one day, when Tabitha went to pay her bill at a local pub and the bartender said the bill had been settled by a gentlemen who'd only just left. A note on the bill reading, "Sorry I missed you. - M. Forrester."

Over the weeks, she would see him lurking in doorways, walking past her, tipping his hat from across the street. Each time was the realization that he still had her wand somewhere safe so he could track her. Many times she contemplated setting a trap and ambushing him to steal her wand back, but his visits were always too unpredictable.

What's more, Greyback's scent hadn't lied. She was pregnant. For months she told herself she was only stressed, her vomitting had been a result of anxiety and the weight gain was nothing but a result of becomeing more sedentary. Now there was a tiny bump on her stomach that she hid easily with her oversized sweaters, but the days would get warm soon and the bump would become harder to hide.

Tabitha was in her hostel room, working on the 20th draft of a letter to Remus. She'd often start one, telling him he had a child on the way, only to tear it up at the panic of what it would do to him. She still had no idea if the potion worked or not during the moon. She recalled his panic when he discovered Lily's pregnancy. Would the alarm of his own child on the way send him spiraling.

A knock at the door awoke Tabitha form her thoughts. She picked up a book from the nightstand to be her weapon and slowly made her way to the door.

"W-who is it?"

No answer came. Inhaling a deep breath, Tabitha unlocked the door, swung it wide open and brought the book down, only to stop millimeters before landing a blow on the visitor who stood wide-eyed and confused.

"Tabby?"

"Glenn!" Her former travel companion was there, still looking at the book alarmed.

"Expecting someone else?" The young muggle asked.

"It's... really you?

"Who... else would it be?" he asked concerned.

"You're right. Of course. Hi," she pulled him into the room, closed and locked the door before turning to face him, keeping her distance.

"Tabby..."

"Show me your arm first."

"Wow." He blinked, "Not what I thought you'd say. I imagined this reunion and never expect those words to be involved. Bloody random if you ask-

"Glenn," was all she could muster and he noticed the exhaustion on her face. He did as she asked, keeping his eyes on her as he rolled up his sleeves. Tabitha stepped forward and ran her hands down them. He was real. Dennis had been fake, a spy, a Death Eater, but Glenn had been real. She looked up into the concerned eyes of the only friend she'd encountered for months and wrapped him in a tight hug, "Oh, Glenn. I'm thrilled to see you."

"Tabby, where the hell did you go?" He asked as he gave her a squeeze, still a bit unsettled from the strange interaction.

"How'd you find me?" she asked ignoring his question and pulling out of the hug.

He stared with mouth open at how casually she was treating what he considered to be a miraculous reunion, but he shook it off and answered. "I saw you at the pub downstairs last night and... followed you. I was going to approach you, but couldn't face you so I got a room and waited until I mustered the courage to confront you."

"Face me?" She was taken aback. "What is their to 'face'? We're friends."

"Are we?" He shrugged and stepped away. "You abandoned us, Tabitha. The group fell apart after that." He burried his hands in his pockets frustrated. "After you left without a word, Dennis stayed behind to wait for you while Madalein and I caught the train to Austria, but when he didn't come back we assumed you two had tired of us. Madalein didn't feel comfortable traveling alone with me so she went back to the States. I've been on my own since."

"Glenn I'm so sorry."

"So what, you ran off with Dennis?"

A reluctant "Ha!" came out of her mouth.

"Then what?"

"Dennis... is gone. He isn't the man we thought he was. Anyway, I went home."

"That's it?" His eyebrows raised as if he didn't believe that was the full reason. "Tabitha, our country is going through a war. Do you think I wouldn't understand if you wanted to leave traveling to come back to Ireland and be with your friends and family?"

"Well that's just it..."

He stopped his rambling and gave his full attention to her. "What is?"

Tabitha turned and paced around the room, trying to find a way to get rid of Glenn that would assure a safe distance from her without hurting or rejecting him. "I want to tell you. I just... I fear it will be a bit of shock."

"We've traveled most of Europe together and seen it all. Not much else to shock me."

"In this world perhaps..."

Glenn tilted his head confused but before Tabitha could continue she heard a familiar pop outside. Looking through the window into the alley, she saw a figure in the shadows. Utter panic ensued inside her when she saw another appear beside him - taller and darker. "I've stayed here too long. Glenn you have to go!"

"No," He approached her and she pushed him gently away from the window. "You're scared of something. What did you see out there?" Any attempt he made to peer out was stopped by Tabitha.

"Glenn please just pretend you never met me!"

"Never met you?! Tabitha, you're my friend. Please just let me help you. Tell me what is going on." She pushed him to the door but he leaned against it to keep it shut. Grabbing her by the shoulders he forced her to look him in the eye. "Listen Delaney. You're not telling me something. Fine. I don't need reasons to protect the people I care about. Now... what do you need?"

She looked him in the eye and hesitated. She took a deep breath and whispered, "I need to get somewhere safe."

"Then let's go." He picked up her bag and lead the way out with a tight grip on her hand.

Down in the street, the two of them ran. Glenn, not sure what he was running from, held her hand. "Just tell me one thing? Did you commit a crime? Are we running from the law?"

"Of course not!"

"Do you owe someone money? Did you insult the royals?"

"Glenn!"

"Well I don't know, time's like these an Irish bloke can get arrested for anything!" He pulled her down a narrow ally between some shops, lined with shipping crates and scaffolding. "Here. We are ok here."

Tabitha panted heavily trying to catch her breath and nodded. "Maybe so..."

Suddenly the scaffolding beside them came crashing down. Glenn went to wrap Tabitha in a protective hold but she turned to cover him as much as possible. The dust from the falling debris filled the air and choked them. Glenn and Tabitha lost each other in the haze.

"Glenn?" Tabitha coughed. "You there?"

"I'm here!" He coughed out "Give me your hand."

Tabitha reached forward, found the hand in the cloud of dust and grasped it. Just as she did, her coughs turned into a gasp. The touch of the hand sent horror through her soul. She was yanked by the wrist and her body hurled forward and slammed into the chest of Fenrir Greyback who used his other hand to grab her by the neck.

"Miss me?" He took a long whiff of the air and laughed, "Ooooo smells like someone has a bun in the oven after all. Is it mine?"

The dust was fading. One could only see a couple meters distance away. Tabitha struggled as Greyback kept his grip on her neck and spun her around to face his companion, Max, who had been following him. "You couldn't stay hidden forever, Delaney. Not when I have this." He revealed her wand in his coat pocket and she tried fighting off Greyback more.

Just then, a Tarzan-like shout rang out from the dust. Glenn, with a bit of broken pipe from the scaffolding leaped from the shadows and swung fiercely at Max.

In a single swish motion, however, Max had drawn his wand and flicked it toward Glenn, "incarserous." Glenn was bound mid-air before coming to the ground with a thud. He didn't even try to detangle himself as he still wasn't sure what had just happened. His jaw dropped and he looked at the wand in Max's hand in disbelief. "So..." Max laughed "Demoted from Werewolf to Muggle have we? Shame, Tabitha. I know from personal experience Werewolves are the top teir of companions."

Greyback let out a chuckle and rolled his eyes. He leaned down to whisper in Tabitha's ear. "If my pup wasn't doing it for you Tabitha, all you had to do was tell me. I can show you what real animals we can be." She did her best to jerk her head away and his took a long whiff of her hair. "I know dear, I know. You miss him. And trust us, he misses you. Lucky for him, we are going to arrange a little reunion."

"What? What have you done with him?"

"She speaks!" Max clasped his hands together. "For a moment there, Delaney, I thought you'd been alone so long you'd forgotten how to form words."

"I swear if you hurt Remus I'll-" she was forced to stop when Max flicked her own wand at her with a silencing charm.

"We haven't done anything to him, Tabitha. Not yet." He stepped forward and clutched her wrist, pulling her claddagh ring off with the other. "But you my dear... are the key to getting him to help us."