—————A—————

Despite everything, she still couldn't sleep. Fred had drifted off, and she had stayed in bed for a while, breathing him in, trying not to make comparisons. But after a time, she rose, pulled his t-shirt over her head, the one left unshrunk, and replaced her knickers before sitting on the window seat.

Diagon Alley had yet to come alive and she was starting to wonder if it ever would. With the Ministry down, it might mean that those against the Death Eaters would have to shut down. And that was probably many, considering how many businesses were already gone.

But it wasn't the economics of the wizarding world that kept her up, and while Fred provided distraction and comfort, it couldn't last forever. She was worried and becoming increasingly so as the night went on.

"Rory?" Fred's drowsy voice said from the bed, and she looked over her shoulder to see him slowly get up.

"You don't happen to have anti-Patronus charms, do you?" she asked, chewing her lip.

"Not so lucky," he said, swinging his feet over the edge of the bed, reaching down for his pants before getting up. He moved toward her, squeezing into the seat by her feet. Fred copied her position, pulling his legs up, though he sat with his back to the window pane, and his legs were too long to rest his head on. "Worried?"

"A bit," she confessed. "Not that I would've wanted the interruption, but I thought we would have heard from someone by now."

"I won't lie to you and say that everyone's fine, they may not be."

"Good, because I'd have called you an idiot if you had," she retorted, leaning her head against the glass. "What are you two going to do now? With the shop?"

Fred shrugged. "Stay open until we can't, I suppose. Not like it's only jokes we got."

"And you're going to sell to Death Eater children?" she asked.

"Rory, I bloody hired a Death Eater's child. I slept with a Death Eater's daughter," he said with a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Point of pride, is it?" she asked him with a slight snap.

"No. I mean, yes, but... you know there's not a proper way to answer that, right?" he asked, and she had to smile at him. "My point is, while I know your dad's not really... you guys aren't. And they aren't their parents either. Look at Draco, at what he's done. He might love Harry, but that's his family he renounced, and that's before You-Know-Who came back."

"You have a point," she sighed. "But what are the chances that they're all going to have that same logic?"

"Low." Fred shrugged. "But it's not like everyone on the side of 'Light' is all sunshine and chocolate frogs. I mean, your dad has done some pretty nasty things, but he's good. I mean, he's an ear lopper but..."

"No one is purely good or evil, I get that bit. I'm just... it's Leo I'm worried about."

"And he knows all of our products, just as well as we do. If there's something used against him, he knows how to counter them." Fred reached forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're a better elder sibling than George or I ever was, but you don't have to worry about him, promise. And as for your parents—"

The sudden appearance of a bright silver lioness made Fred stop short. It almost seemed to glare at him before turning to Aurora and opening its mouth.

"Eyre Cottage, tomorrow, use the Floo. No Apparition. Spread the word to the Order," her father's voice instructed, and then his Patronus faded.

"Think he saw me in my pants?" Fred said as he leaned away from her.

"How the bloody hell am I supposed to spread the word to the Order? Not like I can cast a Patronus without drawing attention to myself."

"Why do you think I wonder if he saw me in my pants? Had to know you were still here, didn't he?"

"Yes, well, I'd like to think he knows I'm smart enough not to just go gallivanting once we were away from the Burrow," she replied. "Patronuses don't provide two-way communication."

"Well, not with only one Patronus." He smirked, summoning his wand. "Expecto Patronum," he said, easily calling forth the bright silver guardian.

"A ferret?" she laughed.

"Don't worry, I'm not planning on stealing your future husband from you. Ferrets are the mischief makers of the Weasel family. George has one, too." And then, after instructing it to pass along the message from her father, he frowned. "What's yours, anyway? I know you can do corporeal, you're too bloody smart and powerful not to."

"A squirrel," she replied.

"Really?" he asked. "Suppose Neville's is the same."

"I don't think he can produce a corporeal one," she replied, feeling only a bit uncomfortable with the mention of him. It was odd, after all, speaking of her former lover to her newer one. Or was it former former lover? Bloody hell, she had multiple lovers and that was off considering who she was. Probably had to be some sort of Snape family record to have more than one, considering how the looks tended to run, if not the personalities.

"I'm sorry," Fred said after the silence lingered too long. "Gin told us why he left, but... but it can't be ... easy. And you're probably hoping he'll come to his senses."

"Neville's made it perfectly clear that the reason we parted ways will not change for him."

"And what are you going to do next year?" Fred asked. "Because, Rory, I'm scared for you."

"Why?"

He blinked at her. "Aurora... you're going in there with a target on your back, from both sides."

"And you don't worry about Leo?'

"No! The kid was sorted into Ravenclaw, which is at least a somewhat neutral house. Add the fact that he has your dad's sense of humor, he's too bloody smart for his age, and he has not made any truly obvious alignments, he could get through Hogwarts with his head down. You have another two years, two years in which no one can ever really protect you. I'm bloody terrified of what might happen to you."

"Me too," she said softly. "And I don't know what I'm going to do, how I'm going to play it. Dad will probably have some insight he can share tomorrow. And I can't do anything about it until I have a bigger picture."

"Too true, that," Fred sighed, leaning his head back. "It's still late. Or early, 'suppose. Can probably get some sleep now that you don't have to worry about your dad so much."

"Maybe," she agreed, rising from the ledge and heading to the bed. She pulled back the covers and climbed in, burrowing a bit under the covers. She stilled when she saw Fred watching her. "What?"

"Just... remembering. Taking in the details."

"The details?"

He shrugged. "It's one night, right? And, well, not like we're promised a tomorrow, what with all that's going on. Just... you're in my bed. You're wearing my shirt. And I won't say anything else that's running through my head, 'cause I understand. It's a night and that's all this is supposed to be. But bloody hell if I don't have a running stream of variations on how lucky I am right now."

She smirked. "If you get over here, you might just get luckier."

His eyebrows nearly touched his hairline. "Seriously?"

"Well, you know, there's a war on and all that rot." She shrugged nonchalantly, not feeling that way in the least. "And... and it's not meaningless to me. One night or not, I wouldn't be doing this with just any bloke."

"Always good to know," Fred said as he got off the ledge. "Imagine how awkward it woulda been if you were with Draco or Harry when we had to flee."

"Well, I certainly wouldn't be waiting for them to come back to bed," she said, and Fred all but dived toward her as she laughed.

—————L—————

Leonidas didn't understand a lot of things when it came to people. Social interaction had always been difficult, having been well above his standard age group in school most of his life. He had a hard time making friends and romantic situations were well beyond his comprehension.

He understood his parents loved one another and that that love was romantic. He understood that it was something many people strive for and hoped to obtain during their life, but he doubted he would be among them. And no, it had nothing to do with girls and the ridiculous notion of 'cooties,' whatever those were supposed to be. It wasn't that he had an interest in boys, at least not one that he noticed. He just wasn't sure if it was something he wanted. And if it was, it would be like that of his parents: strong, ever-lasting, the one and only time it would ever happen.

It was something he knew Aurora couldn't say she had. Not truly. After Fred left her, she was courted by that Longbottom numpty. And, well, he heard how that went. No one really thinks much of him being around when they talk, so he already knew the story of what happened simply by listening when no one thought he was.

Therefore, there was a small part of him that wasn't too surprised at finding his sister in Fred's bedroom.

What did surprise him was her borrowed pajamas on the floor next to Fred's, and how he was quite certain that, under all those blankets and limbs, they were naked. Which meant, logically, that they engaged in...

A hand covered his eyes and he was yanked out of the bedroom with surprising strength from a man who claimed to be too tired to retrieve their siblings.

They were clear of the doorway when George moved as quietly as possible, shutting the door, and looking nearly as pale as he had when he lost his ear and a large portion of his blood.

"Right. Right," he said running his hand over his head, reaching to pull at his ear and coming up short when there was no appendage to latch on to. "Right, so, er, we don't tell anyone about this."

"But... but doesn't that mean they're courting again? Shouldn't the others know?" Leo asked.

George stammered, "Well, er, Leo. You see... when two people... when there are urges...."

"I know the mechanics," Leo deadpanned. "I read up on it after Mum explained where children came from. I also understand that, socially, it's considered prudent to wait until marriage. Or at the very least, engagement."

"Well, that's not the modern way of thinking," George retorted. "Just, come on, shuffle off and don't tell anyone."

"Shouldn't I have a firm discussion with him about the frailty of my sister's heart and his soiling her good name with his actions?" Leo said thoughtfully as they headed back to the kitchen. It seemed sound, really. If Fred was going to be doing that with his sister and not even promise her marriage, shouldn't he, the male Snape at the ready, be the one to scold him?

"No. Definitely not. Remember that Rory's a witch and she can take care of herself. And never, ever breathe a word of that to anyone."

"Right," Leo said, though he really didn't understand why. It was intercourse and apparently, not something that had a prerequisite one must obtain before engaging in it. So, if it was a perfectly normal biological function, why did it have to be kept secret?

Just as he was about to ask, he heard George mumble, "Bloody idiot, going to get something worse than an ear lopped off if Snape ever catches wind."

Oh, right. That. Leo smiled, climbed up onto the barstool at the island and waited for George to get his cauldron corn cereal for him.

—————H—————

"Is this the official new meeting place for the Order?" Sirius asked as he came through the Floo, Draco and Harry just behind him. "Because I must say, I don't mind not having everyone in my kitchen."

"Our cottage has been cut off from the Ministry and made unplottable after Hermione's 'death,'" Severus replied, his eyes never leaving the fireplace. "It's the safest place for all of us."

Hermione watched the boys looking around the living room, Draco glancing up the stairs, a question in their eyes evident even if neither dared voice it: where was Rory?

She had received the Patronus from one of the twins quite late on the first, before Severus had returned from his Death Eater work. The children were with the twins and they were safe and as secure as could be. But that didn't mean Severus didn't worry.

The Floo flared again and Molly and Arthur came through, followed by Ronald and Ginny. Severus tensed, and his disappointment was evident. The green flames flared once more and Severus nearly bolted toward it, catching himself just as he shifted, as one of the twins came through. The twin stepped aside, and then Leo came through, the sight of him making Hermione's heart swell. Aurora came next, and then the other twin, missing an ear now, apparently. Severus grimaced, looking at his feet, the relief of seeing his children gone after seeing the results of his accidental strike.

"Fred! Your ear!" Molly cried.

"What about it?" the twin with both ears said, reaching up and feeling his lobes. He looked at Aurora. "Did I put one on crooked this morning?"

"Oh, stop, you," Molly said, smacking Fred's arm before moving to George. "What happened?"

"Oh, this? Thought it might be a bit fun, get an earring like Charlie. Except, well, didn't take, you see. Whole ear came right off. Nothing to be done for it."

"Look on the bright side," Fred chimed in as the Floo flared again. "You'll always be able to tell us apart."

"Excuse me Messiers Weasley," Minerva said as she stepped around them, heading toward Hermione. "And how are you holding up, dear?"

"Lonely, could be better. Thank you for the books and shortbreads, though. It was actually a rather bright spot in my week."

"Well, we need to do what we must," Minerva said, squeezing her arm. "I will confess, not having Albus berate us for not returning promptly to the school to prepare for the new term had me a bit misty-eyed for a moment on the first. It didn't last long, but just enough to remind me how much things have changed."

"And we'll discuss those changes in a moment," Severus said as he came up to the witches, placing a hand on Minerva's shoulder. "I believe nearly everyone is here now, we should make sure everyone's comfortable. It's going to be a discussion no one wants to hear."

—————H—————

"It can't be worse than it already is," Remus said once the Order was settled into the expanded library. "Harry is already gracing the front page of the Prophet as Undesirable Number One."

"So, going to school would be a bad idea, then," Harry said with a mirthless smile, glancing at Draco as the blond placed his hand on Harry's shoulder from where he was perched on the arm of Harry's chair.

Hermione's heart warmed and tightened at the sight. The two looked so utterly contrasting: Harry with his messy dark hair, his casual Muggle clothes; Draco with his immaculate locks and finely tailored oxford and slacks. How far they had come from the antagonism between them. And then her heart twisted in a strange way as she remembered that might have been twenty odd years ago for her, but their animosity was only squashed a mere four years ago.

"You'll be expected to," Severus replied. "The Prophet will announce that school attendance will be mandatory for all purebloods and half-bloods."

"What about Muggle-borns?" Leo asked in a small voice, and Hermione saw that despite her son's stoic express, there was genuine fear in his eyes.

Severus looked as his son and hesitated, trying to find the right words when there were none.

"They're true then," Alastor said. "The rumors."

"I'm afraid so." Severus nodded. "Muggle-borns are meant to report and register, have an inquiry, and will most likely be sent to Azkaban."

"My dad!" Tonks said, eyes wide.

"You don't have to worry about him," Remus said, gripping her shoulders from behind the sofa where he stood. "You need to worry about something else now," he said, and Tonks unconsciously placed her hand on her abdomen as she nodded.

Sirius watched them. "Congratulations are in order, then?" he said, and the couple startled and blushed.

"It's early days, still," Remus replied, shifting uncomfortably.

Sirius turned to Severus. "So, we don't need to worry terribly about the Muggle-born factor, as the only one we'd be worried about graduated already, but what about Harry? What do you think we should do? I suspect, of course, that keeping him home is the worst thing we could do, but it's not like you can protect him, either."

"I'm not suicidal, no," Severus replied. "I would have to be the utter worst I've ever been, especially to Potter, and that's implying he even makes it through the doors."

"Maybe we ought to focus on those Horcruxes," Alastor said. "'Stead of sending Potter to school as a lamb for slaughter, maybe he can find the other Horcruxes. He's had to live with one. Not like we're much farther along in figuring out what they are, are we?"

"Actually, we have a bit of a clue," Harry said thoughtfully.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, frowning as Harry reached into his pocket.

He pulled out a pendant on a chain, showing it off to the room. "Slytherin's locket. A fake, anyway. A really good replica. But there was a note inside."

"From Regulus," Sirius replied solemnly. "He tried to stop him. Which led to his death."

"A cautionary tale for us all," Severus agreed.

"While I agree we need to find out more about the Horcruxes if we want to stop him, we were discussing the school and its students. What should we do about Harry? Should we really send him off to hunt for those things?" Minerva asked.

"No offense, Professor, but I'd rather take my chances out there than walk into the school all gift-wrapped." Harry smirked.

"Yes, but alone?" she countered. "If it's mandatory for the students—"

Draco interrupted her with a snort.

When the room looked at him, he rolled his eyes. "Potter can barely function on his own, he doesn't have the wit necessary to outsmart the Dark Lord."

"Thanks, Malfoy," Harry said to his beau.

"I'm being honest," Draco retorted. "And still am when I say that I fully intend to go with you."

"Me too," Ron said.

"Oh no you're not!" Molly stood abruptly, pointing a finger at her youngest son where he sat on the floor.

"He might be safer, Molly," Severus said, earning a wrathful look from the Weasley matriarch. He shrugged. "I'll be Headmaster but I still need to play a part. I will most likely have some say on who we hire for Potions, that's where an Order spy will come into play. But there'll be Death Eaters in the school. Either as professors or as patrol. And they will be harsh, there will be zero tolerance for anyone who opposes the Dark Lord. One small bit of defiance and anyone, regardless of their parentage, will be punished. I'll try to make sure that I am the one doling out punishment to prevent the worst, but I don't expect that whomever is placed there will follow my orders to the letter. Especially when they have to deal with blood traitors and known friends of Undesirable Number One."

"But they can't!" Molly protested feebly. "Out there on their own? Severus, they... they can't take care of themselves!"

"We can manage, Mum," Ginny said.

"You're most certainly not going out there!" Molly snapped. Ginny opened her mouth to reply, but George spoke up first.

"You'll have the Trace on ya, Gin. Still have another full year of it."