Book III: Requiem of Ashes

Chapter V: Family Dynamics

Music Theme: Piece of My Heart - Big Brothers & The Holding Company

The Ministry of Magic - July 1978...

"Ladies and Gentleman! Your Auror class of 1978!" Dorcus Meadows had just introduced her two dozen selected recruits as they ushered their way into the chambers of the Wizengamout. The gallery was filled with proud family members and friends who came for the induction ceremonies. It was handled the same as any graduation, with each Auror being called by name to take their oath of allegiance to the Ministry and their dedication to good. Families would stand as their loved ones took the oath and went through the wand ceremony and pinning. Current Aurors filled the lower ring of the room where the jury usually sat for trials. All of them donned their brown robes and grins of pride at the new recruits.

Frank Longbottom scanned the lot of them from his place once he finished filing in with the others. Many of these Aurors had been his mentors during training and he couldn't wait to be seated alongside them a year from that day when his fiance Alice Crouch would take her own oath. His smile turned into a frown however as he noticed one Auror who didn't seem thrilled by the ceremony. In fact, she seemed depressed, and rightfully so, Frank thought. Elspeth McKinnon sat in the stands with a phased glare as if she wasn't even aware she was present. Frank assumed it was just grief plaguing her as her brother had been lost a few months prior to a gruesome fire at his home. But there was something more than greif on her face. It was something Frank couldn't pinpoint.

"Franklin Cornelius Job Longbottom," Called Dorcus Meadows.

Frank jumped slightly at the sound of his name and looked around to see it hadn't been the first time his named was called and the room was waiting on him. His eyes instantly lifted to the stands where his family sat. His Uncle and Aunt sat beside his mother who gave him a stern glance, suggesting he pay attention. Frank shot up and quickly moved to the stand.

"Present your wand," Dorcus motioned to Madeye beside her and Frank drew his wand and held it out to his future boss. "Do you swear your loyalty to the ministry and to the fight for good? Do you promise that this wand will be weld in accordance with our laws and to protect others, muggle or magical? Do you swear that should this wand ever strike down a life, it will be only for the protection of others against all evil. Do you swear to stand up against this darkness, even until your own dying breath. If so, say 'I Do'."

"I do," Frank muttered.

"Then shield your wand, Auror Frank Longbottom, and may you only have cause to draw it for the good of your community."

Dorcus beamed as he did so and Madeye stepped forward with a wink to pin his robe with the Auror emblem. The croud erupted with cheers and the Aurors stamped the floor to welcome their new brother. Frank grinned at them all but noticed Elspeth McKinnon stand and make her way to the door. Only Frank and Madeye noticed her through the comotion, but she swiftly took her exit.

The ceremony continued the same and families gathered in the halls once it was complete to take photographs with their new graduates. Frank waited with his fellow inductees, laughing together while they waited for their families.

"Saw your family up there, Longbottom," Chester Abbott said to his friend with a forced, but sincere smile. "Good of them to make it."

"It was," Frank said. "I saw your family up there too."

"My parents were there," he said bluntly.

"Ah," Frank frowned. "I see. They still haven't come around with your marriage yet?"

"Just because Clara is a muggle-born. They act like it doesn't bother them, but she's always uncomfortable at these sort of things. Stubborn woman... but that's why I married her." he grinned then shook it off. "Still. She and I will have a grand celebration tonight. And who knows," he reached forward and brushed the pin on Frank's lapel then polished his own. "We could be the start of ending the pureblood prejudice."

"And once we get Alice in our ranks then nothing's going to stop us," Frank smiled. He embraced his colleague and pat his back. "Congrats, Chester. You're going to be a grand Auror."

"As will you, Frank. I'll see you at work." He pat his friend on the arm then marched off to find his parents before heading home. Frank did the same. But as he rounded the corner, he spotted Madeye Moody having a harsh dialogue in the far corner of the rotunda with Elspeth McKinnon. Her body language suggested she'd been ambushed by the Auror and didn't volunteer for the conversation he was now initiating.

"I understand your grief, McKinnon, but it's time to decide. Hang up your wand, or press on!" Madeye scolded. "It's what Aurors must do."

"Aurors have to set aside emotion when it comes to work, Alastor. But this is a personal matter, not a work one," she hissed. "I can't just sit in there acting like the good old days are back when I know what happened to my brother was preventable."

"Your brother decided not to heed the words of Albus Dumbledore like the rest of us. He made the choice and he lived with the consequences."

"Ironic you use the word 'lived'," she said sternly.

That humbled Madeye's tone and he said, "I mean, we can't hold ourselves responsible. We were naive, all four of us. Dumbledore told us our ideas would one day be possible, but Atticus was impatient. Don't blame yourself for that."

Frank leaned in more to hear their words, but jumped out of his skin when he heard his mother's shrill voice, "Franklin." He looked back to see her approaching with his uncle and aunt beside her and Alice in tow. When he glanced back, Elspeth and Madeye took leave of one another at the realization they were in ear-shot.

Frank turned to face his family, his aunt and uncle beaming with pride, Alice with her usual sly grin, but his mother with her standard emotionless expression. "Stand up straight, Franklin." She brushed off his robes, "I named you Franklin, not Frankenstein."

"Yes, mother," he said as the woman then straightened his pin and gave a quick half smile at it before patting her son on the cheek then folding her hands in approval. Frank looked behind her to the relatives waiting. "Aunt Enid, Uncle Algie... thank you for being here. It means a lot."

"Wouldn't have missed it for the world, Frank," Algie said. "Amos would be so proud."

"Is proud," his aunt quickly added at the mention of her brother-in-law.

There was a pregnant pause before Mrs. Longbottom spoke up, "I have dinner reservations for us at Cafe du Magie. We need to leave now if we're going to make it on time. Algie, get us a cab will you? I don't want to spend more time than I have to on the London Streets."

"Yes, Augusta," he said with a wink to Frank then offered his arm to his wife who took it and pat Frank on the shoulder as they passed. He smiled, but mostly because he felt Alice slip her arm into his and rest her chin on his shoulder. "Auror Franklin Longbottom. Got a good ring to it."

Frank blushed as the whisper of her voice in his ear but both Alice and he straightened like soldiers as Mrs. Longbottom turned back to them. "Alice, I hope you'll be joining us for dinner."

"Yes, Mrs. L. I wouldn't miss it."

"Good. I'll see you two outside. Franklin, please don't dawdle at hanging up your robes. It's not exactly an art form."

"Yes, Mother," he said then relaxed the moment she was gone. "I swear, you're the only person she allows to call her, Mrs. L."

"She likes me," Alice said. "I take great pride in that."

"Oh? More or less pride than being known as fiancé to the great Frank Longbottom?"

"Don't you mean, you're the fiancé of the Enchanting Alice Crouch?"

"Enchanting?" He looked at her with a smirk.

"Captivating?"

"Better..."

She leaned in and whispered in his ear, "intoxicating."

Frank flushed bright pink and felt his knees weaken. "All of the above."

She planted a kiss on his cheek then gave him a pull up the hall. "Come on. I've got a hunch the robes room is going to take you longer than your mother wishes."

"Let's hope so," he said with a cheeky grin then the two of them raced up the hall.

Belfast Ireland - September 7, 1980...

Lester Thomas was a nobody... according to the general population. He was barely noticed at school. Even his head of house, Flitwick, got his name wrong most of the time, despite granting him Head Boy status, calling him Mr. Tompkins most days. Those who did know him only knew him as "Les" or "Lester" and it was only the Ravenclaw Prefects and other Head Boys and Girls paid him any mind. He was a 'mud blood' to the Slytherins and a shadow amongst his peers save for a few.

Lester used his status as a shadow to his advantage though. He lived the life of a fugitive and vigilante for the cause against Voldemort. He was a 'Night Runner' - messengers with few connections who would not endanger any family if they were caught... or hold any value as a captive.

He leaned against the lamppost just outside a Belfast park to keep the Irish rain off his hat, pulled down over his eyes, the brim of which he peered under at the townhouse across the street. He was grateful for the Irish paying him no mind as he spied on it. Finally, he saw a window blind pulled up in the townhouse and a young woman peer out. He pulled a picture from his pocket and examined it. The woman was his target. When he glanced back up, he realized she'd spotted him. She looked terrified at the sight of him, despite him pulling up his hat to appear less menacing. Still, she pulled the drapes shut and dimmed the light in the house. Lester moved forward though. He dodged some cars passing and ran up to the door of the townhome, giving it a knock. She didn't answer. He knocked again. Still not a sound. Finally, he leaned on the door and muttered, somewhat loudly, "I can wait out here all day you know..."

Finally she opened the door, but only a crack. "What," her voice trembled. "What do you want?"

"I just have a message for you."

"I don't want it. Please go away." She began to shut the door but Lester slammed his hand against it, determined, but giving her a gentle glance. "You're Lucretia Hite, aren't you?"

She nodded.

"I'm Lester. I understand your fiancé is the prosecuting attorney for a case against three followers of you-know-who?" When she didn't answer he lowered his voice. "We know you've been threatened in order to get him to work in the Death Eater's favor. That's why I'm here. We think if we can get you somewhere safe, then he doesn't have to worry about fixing the trial.

"Why should I trust you?" She muttered.

"Because," Lester said, "It's the only option you've got right now." She didn't seem convinced so he added, "I'm one of the Night Runners. We get messages to people when Owls can't be trusted."

"So your message is from Marshall? My fiancé?"

"No," he shook his head. "It's from a couple by the name of Tonks. They relocate muggle-borns like us for safety. Given the situation your fiancé is under, I think it's best you go to them." He pulled the note drafted by Andromeda from his pocket and held it out to her. She stared at it a long while, so long that Lester felt the need to mutter "I promise you this isn't a trick. We just want to to help you and Marshall."

Lucretia glanced over her shoulder then leaned forward and said, "Please take that and go."

"Lucretia please..."

"Please leave," she said louder and slammed the door in his face, leaving him there, still offering the note to the solid door in front of him.

He glanced down at it and pocketed it before turning and descending the steps. Lester turned the collar of his coat up to shield his face and wandered back towards the park. He weaved through the sidewalks and glanced over his shoulder before ducking in between some tall rose topiaries. He shoved his hand into a particular spot of the greenery, wincing a bit at the thorns from the rose stems. He located the branch he was looking for and gave it a pull, triggering the rest of the bush to part like the Red Sea and form an arch. As soon as he entered the tunnel of vines, the bush entrance overgrew behind him and sealed up.

He gave an exhausted sigh as he pulled his hat off, traveling through the underground passages used by the night runners and leading towards a meeting place where a handful of members rested. Some were playing cards. Some were resting on the floor and against the walls using their hats and raincoats as makeshift beds. Nobody knew much of each other's back stories. Each kept to themselves, only sharing their names. They partly did it to remain as anonymous as possible, but also assumed that it would make things easier if the war took them. One man, didn't seem to get the memo however, as he attempted to bond the group through a round of poker. He'd picked up a variant of the game called 'Texas Hold'em' during his travel in the states and was dominating the rest of the night runners with every deal of the cards.

"Caradoc," Lester called to the poker player. The man in question looked like a modern-day viking. He has a red beard and curly hair, his muscles were large and he had the stature to match. His clothing reminded everyone of a cross between a Scottish Highlander and an American Cowboy. His bright blue eyes met Lester's who lifted the note in the air.

"I'm out lads," Caradoc said and cast his cards down which was met with a sigh of relief from the competitors. He walked up to Lester, towering over the young man, and picked up the note and turned it over in his hands.

"Why do you encourage them, Dearborn?" Lester muttered to his comrade and nodded to the group of young men at the table. "We all are marked for death anyway. Why make it harder by bonding?"

"Thomas," Caradoc gasped. "I thought you have a wife and kid to get home to! Don't be so defeated yet."

"They wouldn't even remember me. I had to alter her memory and my kid wasn't even born before I left. I don't even know if it's a boy or a girl."

Caradoc rest a hand on the young man's shoulder. "We'll get you home," he said in his soft but gruff Scottish accent. "I promise." He held up the note between his fingers. "Are you sure it was her?"

"It was her alright. She seemed scared. I tried to tell her she was in danger and she didn't care."

"How did the house look? Any sign someone had been there?"

"She wouldn't even let me in."

"What?" Caradoc looked to him.

"She wouldn't open the door more than a crack and when she saw the note she slammed the door shut."

Caradoc sighed and contemplated, "She wasn't alone."

"So the Death Eaters have gotten to her first then," Lester muttered. "I should have forced my way in."

"Probably Dark Aurors. Her captors would just convince us they are security from the ministry. They're going to hold her to make sure Fawley complies."

"Then what to we do? They'll hurt her if Marshall prosecutes," Lester said nervously. "The trial was rescheduled to be in just a few days."

"I know. And Dumbledore assures me it must go to plan. This trial has to be the exposure to Voldemort and his followers we need to get the ministry on our side and people's heads out of the sand."

"So what do we do?"

"We leave the shadows. We go for help," he sighed. "I'll go to Dumbledore."

"Maybe I should do it, mate," Lester said. "No offense, but you're the most conspicuous of us all."

Caradoc laughed at that. "I know it. But that's why it has to be me. See, you joined the Night Runners to help others. I did it to hide. It's time I stop hiding. I need to face Dumbledore for a couple reasons. To warn him about Lucretia Hite's dangerous situation... and to accept a long overdue invitation"

"Invitation?" Lester asked.

Caradoc nodded, "Yes... to the Order of the Pheonix."

McKinnon Castle - September 8th, 1980...

Marlene's dreams were vivid these days, as the stress of everything weighed her down. She dreamt of a beautiful garden, the singing of the fayes, a warm embrace of someone she knew to be family, and some of the most beautiful magic. There didn't seem to be much order or visual to the dream. It was like a colidiscope of sounds and songs, and yet somehow it felt more like a memory than anything else in her life.

"Save her..." a soft male voice whispered in her dream. "I beg of you, to save her..."

Suddenly she heard the wail of her mother and jolted awake, sitting a moment in absolute stillness and listening in order to be sure the scream came from the dream and not the room down the hall. When there was no more noise she calmed, relaxed her muscles, and rubbed her eyes. But the moment she removed her hands from them and looked around her room, she jumped. Marvin was towering over the bed. He had been so still and silent, watching her sleep, a dazed look in his eye. The eeriness didn't seem to phase her however as she sighed and whispered, "Not again... Marvin? Marvin go back to bed."

"Where are they?" He muttered to her.

Marlene sighed and climbed out of bed. "Come on, big brother." She shuffled over to the sleepwalking youth and gently took his hand. It had become routine. Narcissa must have used the evening hours to work overtime on her blood charm, whispering to Marvin during his most vulnerable hours of sleep and turning him into a minion on the search for The Chosen One. Each night, he'd locate a member of the order in the castle, ask them the whereabouts of the Potters or Longbottoms, and would be gently escorted back to sleep by whomever he was interrogating.

Tonight however, as Marlene touched him, he pulled her away and shoved her. "Answer me!" He shouted.

Marlene let out a small yelp and stumbled backward, her hand waiving across the room. Each candle ignited and illuminated the space as her wand flew from the nightstand into her hand like the Norse god summoning his faithful hammer. She slashed the air with it and a gust of wind blasted through the windows, blowing open the shutters and sending the curtains whipping forward, one of which smacked Marvin across the face and woke him.

He shook his head like a dog, pressed his palm to the side of his head, smacking it a couple times as if trying to knock out the voices in his head, then looked around the room until he spotted his sister. "Marlene!" He rushed to help her up. "You ok?"

"Of course, I am. Are you?" She said with an irritated sigh as the two of them sat down on the edge of the bed. Marvin simply nodded. He had such large dark circles under his eyes from so many nights of trying to stay awake. The exhaustion was clear on his face as he stared into the middle of the room. Marlene slipped a hand into his and he looked back at her. Marlene whispered, "Do you think... she can hear us? Narcissa, I mean."

"I don't know. Lydia Bones said she could hear her voice, clear as day, in my mind. But I couldn't hear it. I hope she can't hear us. Nothing like being living, breathing two-way radio."

"Even if we did say something she could hear, the Potter's and Longbottom's have used charms to hide. She wouldn't be able to find them unless their secret keeper spilled the beans. And we have blood charms on this castle. Only a family member can get in."

"I guess," Marvin whispered, still tense, but when he felt his sister rest her head on his shoulder he softened. "Mam's going to start asking questions soon enough... she always knew when we were hiding things."

"I hope she finds out," Marlene whispered. "I'm tired of secrets, Marvin."

"I am too," he muttered.

"But sometimes I feel like when we try to uncover the truth, it just leads to more questions." She pulled her head away and looked up at him. "Speaking of secrets... Has Atticus shared anything with you about his life?"

"A bit," Marvin muttered. He reflected on the recent reunion with the eldest McKinnon boy. After his surprise return home, he'd shared a few explanations about his work with the Werewolf sanctuary, that he'd met a young werewolf woman with two girls of her own, fallen in love, and started their work together to form a haven for Werewolves to come. There was little else he shared, but his three siblings still felt bitterness for his nonchalant return. "He said the reason he'd stayed away was because he didn't want to worry with us with his new work with werewolves."

"What utter shite," Marlene grumbled.

Marvin chuckled at her typical response, "I know it is." He thought, "No, there has to be more to it then that. There are still so many questions. How did he meet the werewolf woman? How are they legally married? What's all this about working with werewolves? I'll find out. I promise. Until then we will just have to play Brady Bunch when he comes to visit, for Mam's sake."

"For Mam's sake," she whispered. "I had a dream about her, I think?"

"You think?" Marvin turned his head slightly and she looked up at him."

"I heard her cry. In my dream. It was so soft and distant. And I think I heard dad's voice. He was begging someone to save me."

Marlene simply shrugged and glanced at her brother, ready for the typical 'it was just a dream' response. When none came however, she met his gaze. His eyes were more than tired now... they were sad. Marlene had felt for some time that her brother was harboring a secret and with every silent moment that passed between them, she started wondering if she had anything to do with it.

Marvin opened his mouth as if to say something, but covered his mouth with the back of his knuckles to cover a yawn.

"Come on," Marlene said with a smile, grabbing his arm and pulling him up. "Let's get you back to bed."

"And lock me in this time, will you? I won't get out. I had Angus lock my wand in father's safe."

"Fine," she said. "But don't blame me if we decide to leave you in there to get all the breakfast to ourselves," she smirked.

"Actually," Marvin gave her a look to suggest he had juicy gossip and then said, "Ang is skipping breakfast this morning. Going to have coffee with a particular gentleman."

"Gideon?" Marlene asked and when Marvin smiled back in response, she nodded her head. "Good. I'm glad. Still hate that he hid the relationship from us and that he's still hiding it from Mum, but I want him to be happy."

They reached Marvin's door and Marlene wrapped her arms around her brother's neck. He stiffened a bit, not trusting his own body this close to a loved one. Finally he forfeited and embraced her in return. "Goodnight Mar."

"Goodnight, other Mar," she chuckled which earned her a bit of a squeeze then Marvin set her down. When he closed the door, Marlene did as he'd requested and secured the lock. It broke her heart as she walked away to hear the doorknob jiggle with Marvin testing to ensure he was secure in his room.

"If I even get my hands on that blonde, vicious witch-" but Marlene was unable to finish her thought as she noticed the glimmer of light radiating up the spiral staircase. She cautiously tip-toed toward it and stayed close to the stone wall, following it down. Marlene didn't notice, but as her anxiety rose, so did bits of broken stone which had crumbled to the floor. Each bit of rock levitated behind her like a tiny troop, ready to fire. She reached the base of the stairs and saw the main corridor door open and the hall lights on. The crackle of the study fireplace could be heard and she neared it. Lanterns around the corridor dimmed as if the very element of fire wished to hide her shadow. She listened carefully and peered around the corner into the room.

Her young aunt was sitting on the floor, legs crossed, surrounded by towers of books and positioned in front of the fireplace. Some books flew off the shelves and passed in front of her eyes, allowing her a glance before she shook her head and dismissed them. The books she had no interest in would return to their place on the shelves, while those she required were stacked beside her. She also had massive stacks of papers and letters, notebooks Marlene had never seen before, and a photo album. Marlene knew every inch of her father's study, especially post-renovation, and didn't recognize the pile of items beside her aunt.

She stepped back to stay hidden by the entryway wall as Elspeth stood up, walked back to the desk, and rest her hand upon it. She muttered an incantation and Marlene watched in aw as her father's marble desk made a cracking sound and a compartment opened on the side. Elspeth seemed unphased at the secret door and walked over to it, picking up some letters from the drawer and flipping through the. She found one she was looking for and approached the fire, then tossed it inside.

Anxious to stop her, Marlene entered and said, "What are you doing?"

Elspeth jumped and stared at Marlene just as the bits of stone behind her fell to the floor and the lantern returned to their former strength. "Marlene! What are you doing up this early?"

Marlene raced to the fireplace, her wand still in hand, and levitated the letter from the fire.

"Mar, don't!" Elspeth tried to stop her but the flaming note fell upon the rug and Elspeth launched her foot forward to stamp out the flames. "Are you on something? Want to start another fire do ye?"

"Why are you burning father's letters?" Marlene asked in a hurt tone.

"They aren't your father's letters. They're mine. Ones I wrote."

"Why are you burning them? How did you even know those secret drawers were there."

"It was my father's desk before it was my brother's. We used to break into those compartments all the time. These letters are my business, Marlene. Now go to bed," Elspeth said in an assertive tone.

"You can't boss me around. You're not my mother, Aunt Elsie."

Marlene regretted the statement the moment she said it as she saw the hurt expression on the young woman who had been a big part of their family. She backed down as Elspeth tucked there letters further under her arm to hide them. "Maybe not," Elspeth said. "But I'm the closest thing to your father you have left. Now go to bed."

Marlene didn't argue. She was beginning to accept the fate of so many secrets under this roof, so much so that she felt like a stranger in it. She just nodded and hung her head low, but mostly just to read the ember covered letter as she passed. All she could make out as she stepped over the smoldering note was a few words. 'The Night-Runners'.

The vigilante group was well known by name but its members were anonymous. They'd only been organized over the last year or so to help the war effort, so how were they mentioned in a note that was likely years older? More importantly, what nefarious thing had they done to Aunt Elspeth to prompt the burning of a letter that spoke of them. Or worse... what nefarious thing had Aunt Elspeth done to them?

Later that day at Benjy Fenwick's home...

Morning's at Benjy Fenwick's tended to be unpredictable. Sometimes they started with Alice awaking from a traumatic dream and screaming for her dead friend Mary, but today was a peaceful yet somber day of her wallowing in exhaustion and anxiety.

Alice sat in a rocking chair in the upstairs bedroom and cradled her son carefully but didn't look at him. She gazed out the window to the London rooftops with a numb expression. She barely responded to the breakfast tray beside her rattling as Frank picked it up. She'd not touched it, but it had turned cold and he would return it to Benjy's kitchen. Neville slept soundly in his mothers arms, his tiny hand clutching her shirt. Not a sound was heard in the flat until she said, "We could move..." Frank froze. He didn't even turn to face her. She'd barely spoken all morning. He waited and she continued. "We could leave this all behind and live a muggle life... where Neville won't be touched."

Frank set down the tray on the bed and walked to the front of the rocking chair to stand in front of his wife. He tucked his hands in his pockets and sighed out, "We could..."

Now she glanced up at him. "But you won't..."

Frank kneeled in front of her, resting a hand on knee. He looked into her eyes and spoke softly. "Alice, I'll go wherever it takes to get you feeling safe again. I wouldn't want to leave my work behind but I'd do it to get you back. It doesn't matter though."

"Why not?" She asked finally putting an ounce of inflection in her tone as she looked at him.

He rubbed her knee gently and smiled, "Because the woman I married would never leave behind people who need her."

"Neville needs me," she said with a bite to it.

"He needs his mother. This paranoid version of you isn't his mother, Alice."

"People change, Franklin!" She snapped as tears filled her eyes and Frank recognized it as an another oncoming fit of postpartum psychosis. Her breathing became rapid and Neville stirred.

"Shhhh," He reached up and cradled her head and she pressed her cheek into it, calming instantly at his touch. "It's ok. It's ok," he whispered.

"Promise me you won't go to the trial. I already lost my best friend. I can't lose you too."

Frank thought carefully of his words and said, "I promise I won't make you go."

Alice became distracted as Neville stirred and cooed and for a moment, her smile crossed her face. In that single moment, Frank could see the fierce and fiery woman he'd married, the one always filled with joy and resilience, was still in there. He just had to find a way to get her out. He heard the jingle of keys in the downstairs lock and assumed Benjy had returned home from his mission for Dumbledore. Frank stood, kissed the top of Alice's head, and left her to rock Neville. He grabbed the tea tray once more and descended the townhouse steps, reaching the bottom just as the door opened and Benjy stepped in.

"Hey mate," he sighed. "She's better today, but she's still so scared. I don't know..." his words trailed off as Benjy gave an apologetic look, stepped aside, and allowed an older woman to enter the room.

"Mother..." Frank stammered.

Augusta Longbottom was in her late middle-age years and her sour expression showed it. Her brown hair had steaks of grey but were hidden under the most hideous hat. Her son, Frank, was the spitting image of her other than his curled hair that he got from his father. She smacked Benjy with her red handbag that he quickly took and set on the hook along with her hat and coat. She did a quick scan of the room and barely gave her son a look before saying, "Franklin Cornelius, close your mouth or the owls will think you're a Gargoyle and nest in it." She walked past him and started up the steps.

"Mother," he began to chase her, tray still in hand. "You can't be here!" he turned and stepped toward Benjy only to turn once more and call to her, "She can't be here. You can't be here!" He looked back to Benjy who finally relieved him of the tray. Frank rang his hands nervously and looked up the steps. "She is in danger here. How could you do this?" His friend simply grinned innocently. "You didn't," Frank huffed. "Dumbledore did, didn't he? She was your mission this morning."

"Well Dumbledore knew you wouldn't ask her to come." Benjy walked towards the kitchen, "He assured me it was of the utmost importance she come to help Alice.

Frank followed him and lowered his voice as if his mother had the ears of a bat, "You don't understand, Benj. She's not the nurturing type. She's so serious. She doesn't fuss or comfort, she lectures and pushes. Surely that can't be what Alice needs."

Benjy set down the tray and levitated the dishes back to their designated spaces in his well-organized kitchen, grabbing one of the scones from the plate as it passed. "All I know is that we've been comforting and nurturing Alice for weeks and she's gotten no better. Maybe a hard push is what she needs. Your mother isn't mean is she? She didn't say anything rude to me during our journey." He took a bite of the scone then fed the other half to his Bulgarian Bite Flower on the windowsill.

"No, she's not rude," he sighed. "My mother is a wonderful woman. She's just... I don't know if she's the right person for Alice right now."

"Dumbledore assured me that your Mum has experience in areas such as this."

"W-what?" Frank blinked.

"He said she knows what to do to treat Alice's psychosis and bring her out of it."

Frank was stunned as he reflected. "I... didn't think he knew..."

"About what mate?" Benjy turned and leaned on the counter with his usual, sincere expression.

"About my father..."

Benjy paused a moment, then turned and reached into his cabinet where he fetched a couple glasses and bottle of gin. Frank didn't need instruction when Benjy went for the gin, he just took his seat at the table while Benjy poured. "You never talk about your Dad in the present tense," Benjy said. "I always assumed he was gone..."

"In a way he is... sometimes," Frank said. "He has Alzheimers. We discovered it early enough in his life and thanks to magic we were able to preserve some of his memories to help with treatment, but it's been a bloody brutal experience. It's so hard to watch someone you love shrink away like that."

"So... he doesn't know you at all?" Benjy asked as he joined Frank and passed him a glass.

"Some days he does, others he doesn't. Seeing Alice like this... it's reminded me why I stopped going home. It was too painful." He reached up and fiddled with the glass, tapping it instead of drinking the gin, and considered his words. "He didn't even know us last fall when we went home to tell them we were expecting a baby. He asked Alice who the father was," Frank forced a chuckle but frowned. "It was the worst pain I think I've ever felt in my life. I'd rather face Voldemort again than look in my father's eyes and hear him say 'do I know you' one more time," he muttered and finally lifted the glass and took a swig of the gin.

"I'm so sorry, Frank," Benjy whispered. He reached across the table to him and clasped his wrist.

"He's never forgot Mother though. Maybe she won't let him." He frowned, "I should be so bloody ashamed. Abandoning Mum like that and yet here she is to help us. I guess even the great and famous Auror Frank Longbottom has his weaknesses right?"

"We all have our weaknesses," Benjy said and nodded to the glass of gin beside him with a twinkle in his eye. "The real question, is what are you going to do to defeat that weakness?

Frank looked his friend in the eye and smiled. He stood up, thanked him for the gin, and hurried to the second floor where his mother was exiting the bedroom with a hamper of laundry in her arms.

She spotted Frank and said, "Franklin, Alice is going to need a warm bath. Nothing fruity or bubbly with a bunch of nonsense. Just a nice, practical bath with some good Irish soap. I assume Benjy has what we need." She hands him the hamper. "Take this downstairs and have the house elf get started on it."

"He doesn't have a house-elf, Mother."

"Oh," she blinked. "Well there is no problem with that. I can wash them by hand. Alice needs all clean sheets."

"I'll wash them," he said. "Mother-"

But she cut him off and looked around. "Now where does he keep his linens? Oh. We also are changing Neville's room. She needs to sleep separate from the baby for a few hours. Complete isolation from him. I'll sit with him in case he stirs but she needs true sleep."

"No need to move Neville. Benjy won't mind Alice sleeping in his room for a while. Mother," he tried again but the woman started to the stairs and blew him off.

"I better see what he has in his pantry. She needs a good, strong meal. She's losing many calories through nursing which is why she's tired, so she needs plenty of carbohydrates."

"Mum," Frank called and she finally stopped before descending the steps and glanced at him. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you for being here. I know it's hard... with Dad."

"Oh," she said. "Don't worry about your father, Franklin. He's at memory treatment for the day and we have a live-in nurse now who will ensure he gets dinner. I will need to get back no later than-"

"Mother," Frank snapped then gave her a look. The woman never could take praise or gratitude in stride.

"You're welcome," she reluctantly said with a shrug. Frank grinned at her and they met each other's gaze a long while before Augusta crossed the landing and reached for the hamper he was holding.

"I know," he chuckled. "Separate the whites from the colors."

But all she did, was take the hamper, set it down, and wrap her son in her arms. Frank stood stiffly for a moment as he tried to remember the last time his mother hugged him. His father had always been the affectionate one. Augusta never saw the need for mushy behavior. Still, he wrapped his arms around his mother and hugged her back. "Neville's a beautiful boy, Franklin. Just beautiful." When she was done, she stepped back, brushed his shoulders to smooth his shirt and went, "Well then." She turned and resumed her duties as Frank smiled at the image of the woman who had kept his family afloat for so long and still took that responsibility very seriously.

Meanwhile at the Prewitt's London flat...

Angus was already on his third cup of coffee at Gideon and Fabian's flat and reclined on the sofa by the fireplace. He looked around the room, so inviting with the morning light streaming in, a charm on the ceiling that made it look like an every-sunny sky, and well organized books and quidditch posters along the walls. It made him forget the war for a moment. Who knows, he thought, maybe this time next year he'd be curled up on that very couch, reminiscing over how they'd won the war and defeated Voldemort.

Gideon entered the living room with another French press full of coffee and set it down on the side table by Angus. He pat the boy on the head and walked towards his fireplace to levitate another log onto it. He set his wand atop the mantle and leaned on it a bit. "So," he said. "Where were we before you started crying for fresh coffee?"

"I think I was about to tell you how good your ass looks in those jeans," Angus said then hid his smirk with a sip of his coffee.

Gideon turned to face him with a bashful smile. "Anyway... How are things with Atticus Óg back home?"

"Bloody strange," Angus said with an exhausted grunt. "He doesn't stay there because he's got the new family of his. But he comes a few times a week to make appearances with Mam."

"Why wouldn't he just move his family to the castle?"

"I don't know. I assume for the same reason he hid them from us in the first place. When he comes for dinner we don't talk about much. All of us just stay quiet while he acts like it's old times again. He came back into our lives because he heard we were involved in the War and I guess he wants to make sure we're ok, but to act like he didn't just walk out on us for the last two years is bizarre."

"And he still hasn't said why he stayed away or lied about his whereabouts?"

"We assume it's because of dad's Prejudice against werewolves. Sounds like he met this girl, Samari he said her name is, and they fell in love. She has two kids, both girls, that he fell for as well and has been their second father practically. But Dad's gone... why wouldn't he just come home and tell us."

"Same reason you didn't tell your family about us after your Dad died," Gideon shrugged.

"Oh, now don't you turn on me too," Angus smirked

"I'm just saying, when you have an... unconventional relationship... it can be scary to tell people about it."

Angus contemplated it and just said, "Maybe. And perhaps I would accept that excuse if it weren't for..."

"Weren't for what?" Gideon asked as he watched his boyfriend's eyes trail off in thought.

Angus refocused on him and said. "Aunt Elsie. She barely even looks at him when he's over. And when they do speak it's just whispers to themselves. I wonder if she knows more about him than we realize. Or vice versa. Atticus always was good at keeping secrets."

"A secret about what though?"

"I don't know. But it feels like that's all my family is made of these days," he sighed. "He seems really troubled about Marlene's powers. The other night, we were talking about them at dinner and he changed the subject quickly. Then Dad came up in conversation. We were reminiscing about the old days and Mam said something about his time working at the Ministry and Angus just shot up from the table and said he couldn't stay for dessert and had to get home. Sometimes I wonder if the only reason he comes to dinner is to make sure whatever secret he's keeping isn't getting discovered in his absence."

"Brothers," Gideon sighed and walked to the sofa. He pat Angus' foot and the Irish lad lifted his feet so Gideon could sit down and then rest Angus feet back on his lap. "Just when you think you've figured them out... they change."

The two considered it a long while. It had been weeks since either of them had seen Fabian or gotten a letter from him. They knew Molly Wealsey was doing her best to get Fabian to come to sense, but if she couldn't convince him then nobody could, not even Gideon.

"So... you going to the trial?" Gideon asked.

"You mean the trap?" Angus sighed. "Atticus doesn't want me to go, so naturally I have to out of spite."

Gideon smiled at that. "Dumbledore is still trying to get Fabian to go, but I'll eat my wand if he actually does after all this time."

Just then a knock sounded at the door and Gideon and Angus glanced at each other shocked. The knock didn't come again, but instead a flash of a charm was heard and the deadbolt to the door unlocked. Both boys sprung up from the couch as the door to the apartment swung open, ready to fight, but when their visitor came inside they relaxed.

"Fabian..." Gideon whispered in surprise.

His brother stood there with a soft smile and nodded towards Angus, "Already replaced me as a roommate I see."

Angus just smiled and walked over to the mantle. He picked up Gideon's wand from where he'd set it, walked back to his side, and held it out to him. "Bon Appetite."

Later at the Safe House...

Lily sat in the window seat of the master bedroom which overlooked the rainy fields outside the warehouse. She pressed her head against the window as rain trickled down the frame. Had she payed more attention, she'd have noticed the water droplets magically avoiding her shillohette to keep the window against her head as dry and warm as possible. She fiddled with a note in her hand from Dumbledore which read...

"I have an assignment only you can complete..."

It didn't give any other details, nor did it say when or where to meet. Still, she clutched the note as if knowing it would upset James. As if on cue, she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder, followed by a peck on her cheek. "What's that?" He whispered over her shoulder then set beside her on the window seat.

"It's a note from Albus. He wants me to complete a mission... alone," she gave him a look.

James scoffed. "Well you can't do that." His smile faded at her expression and he said, "You are going to do that..."

"His instructions are clear." She nodded to the note and James snatched it, gave it a passing glance, then tossed it away. "That doesn't mean you have to go alone. It just means you need to be one of the people to complete the mission. I'll get my coat." He stood and started for the door.

"James, I didn't ask you to come."

"I know," he muttered. "You don't have to ask me. I'm just coming."

She shot out of the seat and crossed her arms. "So I'm just to be bossed around by you then, am I?"

"Until Voldemort isn't searching for you and our kid, then yes."

"Need I remind you, you're the one walking into a bloody trap by attending the trial this week!" She said.

"I don't have a choice in that matter," he said and raised his voice. "Malfoy made it clear, according to Dumbledore, that the purebloods of the order are to attend. If we don't then they'll find ways to push the trial and it's essential we get those testimonies."

"Those testimonies are a bloody Trojan horse, if you ask me."

"Which is why we will have Dumbledore and Madeye and all the aurors there. It's our one chance to prove to the Ministry that Voldemort is real, Lily. We have to do what we can."

She scooped the note up off the floor and waved it in his face. "Well, I have to do what I can."

He swatted the parchment away and grumbled, "That's different."

"How? How can you put yourself at risk for the sake of the greater good but I can't?"

"Because you're a girl," James blurted out.

Lily's jaw dropped and James could have sworn he heard a disappointed and drawn out whistle from downstairs where the others were listening, likely from Sirius.

"Lily I-"

"How... dare you, James Potter."

"I know, I-"

"Ever since we got bloody married you've started acting like your old self again."

"Don't say that."

"Ever since we faced Voldemort you've gotten worse."

"I know!"

"I'm my own person you know. Or do you forget that I used to stand up to bullies just fine myself and defend others from people like that."

"People like me, you mean," he scowled.

"I was speaking for myself, but if you want to have a moment of self-remorse then that's on you, James," she grunted. She turned to the dresser and grabbed her wand from atop it, giving the air an angry slash and levitating her hat and raincoat from the hook which levitated towards her.

James retaliated by drawing his own wand and flicking it at the door. It slammed and locked and he heard Sirius' distant voice shout, "My money's on Evans!"

"So you're locking me in an ivory tower, now? Will Kip be up shortly with my bread and water? Will you at least let me out to nurse Harry? Or should I just call him your son, since you want to pretend this is the 18th bloody century where women don't speak or go out in public, just nurse the baby and get beaten with a stick-"

"Will you shut up!?" He snapped.

"Ooo, Yes master, James." She grumbled as she tucked her ginger bangs into her cap. "Anything else I can do to serve you, my lord?"

"Don't call me that!" He said with a harsher and more urgent cut to his tone. Lily looked at his reflection in the mirror and instantly regret the use of the phrase they'd commonly heard from Death Eaters when referencing Voldemort. Still, her anger was too hot and her pride too bruised to apologize so she simply stayed quiet as James went on through gritted teeth. "I'm not trying to bully you. I'm not trying to keep you locked up. But Voldemort is after our son. Because of my cousin sending that book with Harry's birthday, he's a target now."

"And it's my responsibility to keep him alive. I know. Parenting is a one person job, apparently."

"For the love of all that is good and holy, Evans, will you let me finish!" He stormed over to her, grabbed her by the arm and whipped her around to face him. They were nose to nose, each with a look of contempt they had often given one another during school. "Do you have any idea how it felt to see you in Snivillus' grasp that time at the Ministry? Do you know the panic I went through when I saw how close you came to being seen by Voldemort? You and Harry are my bloody world Lily. I can't risk loosing you. I don't want to let you out of my bloody sight but I know there will be times I have to and that's tearing my guts out enough as it is to think about. Please don't throw fuel on the fire by charging head first into chaos."

Lily's sharp look softened. She rest a hand on James' cheek and he felt and instant calm wash over him. Her flushed cheeks returned to their normal peach color and she rest her forehead against his. "I charged head first into chaos the day I kissed you under that tree at school."

James smirked at that.

"But James..."

"No," he whispered. "No buts..."

"But just because I'm a woman, or a wife, or a mother, doesn't mean I can't still enact change. If anything, it means I'm stronger now. I have so much more to fight for. You can't always protect me. But we must work together to protect Harry. Sometimes, that means doing the individual tasks we've been called to do."

James opened his eyes and gazed into the green pools of her's. "I know all of that. You're the strongest woman I know. That makes it worse sometimes, because I know you won't retreat when you face danger."

"Would you?" She asked.

"Of course not. I'm no coward," he said defensively.

"Just because I'm a woman, doesn't mean retreating is any less cowardly. We're Gryffindor's James. We're stubborn."

"I know that. I'm sorry, I've been keeping you cooped up here."

"And I'm sorry I've been so bloody impulsive. I promise I'll be careful on this mission."

James reached to her neck and cradled it, planting a kiss on her then whispering, "Do you have to go now?"

"No," she said with a smirk.

He ran his hands through her ginger locks and grinned through another kiss then said, "good."

"Any particular reason you need me to stay... other than just to keep me here for safety?" But even as she asked it, James kissed her neck.

"I have some ideas that actually make your staying here quite dangerous."

Lily just rolled her eyes as James' reached up and removed her cap then moved to pull her rain coat off. "I have to get Harry from his nap soon."

"Let Padfoot do it," he whispered gruffly as he pulled her blouse gently to lift the shirt from it's tucked place in her jeans.

"That's the last time you can say his name until we're done."

James gave her a coy look as he pulled her backwards with him towards their bed. He gave a simple, "Yes, Mistress Potter," and Lily wiped the smirk from his face with a kiss before they topped onto the bed.

A/n: Sorry for the delay. I was hoping to give people time to read and review but so such luck. I guess that means you like where the story is going so I guess it's full steam ahead. :) I've enjoyed introducing more Order members and exploring their lives.

Also, I'm keeping a list of each music theme, so much PM me if you want a full list of all the songs for your playlist :)