—————L—————

He watched from the window of Ravenclaw Tower as the majority of the students left for the holidays. Among them were his sort-of friends from Hufflepuff, and he worried if they would end up like Jane, never to be seen again.

Leo sighed, leaving the common room to head to the Room of Requirement. He didn't need to be there, he was the headmaster's son, and therefore would be expected at the castle, but he wanted to be. It was where the students who didn't have parents to go home to were heading instead of to the trains. It's where he wanted to be.

"Would you like company for the walk?" Luna said beside him, and while she did startle him, he didn't show it.

"Company would be nice," he agreed, and was somewhat taken aback when she looped her arm through his. "You didn't go home to your father?'

"No," she said. "I'm not supposed to go home yet. If I try now, it might cause a problem, you see."

"Okay," Leo said, though he had no idea why or how Luna thought that. "At least this break will let me catch up on making potions," he said in way of conversation.

"Yes, though I must admit, it's quite lovely that we're going from pain relief to sleeping and calming draughts."

"In what way?" Leo asked, looking at this strange girl beside him.

"Because easing the mind and the soul is better than needing to ease the physical. Feeling calm and well rested means less people being reckless. And more people paying attention, which lessens the anger of the ... stricter professors."

"I suppose," he relented as they made their way up.

Luna had a slight smile on her face, and the more Leo glanced at it, the more intrigued he became. He and his father, they always remained expressionless. Yet here was Luna, who had a nearly perpetual smile, and there was no way she could always be happy. Was she Occluding, but in a different way? Or was it sort of like his mother used to tell his sister and Luna had just smiled so much her face froze that way?

It would be rude to ask, so he decided not to.

"Do you miss Rory?" she asked as they were nearing the seventh-floor stairway.

"Yes," he said without hesitation. "But I also know she's out there doing what she can."

"She is. I'm fairly sure Ronald would have left by now if she hadn't gone with them. At least this way, they'll stay together."

"How do you know he hasn't?" Leo asked, arching a brow.

Luna's smile merely ticked up, becoming more knowing than dreamy. It made the hairs on Leo's arms and neck stand on end.

They entered the Room of Requirement and looked around at the starkness of the room. There were so many less beds, the room much smaller. The only large thing that remained was the tree, while the room adjusted to accommodate the smaller population that would be there over the hols.

Theo Nott had gone home, but Blaise and Daphne remained. They were talking to Ginevra and Longbottom.

"Oh, are you all discussing how we should resume teaching defense after the holidays?" Luna asked, letting go of Leo's arm and skipping over to them. "I don't think we can do as well as Harry did, but it's worth a shot, I think."

"Theo mentioned these classes to us," Blaise acknowledged. "And since Weasley here showed us a corporeal Patronus, I'm inclined to believe that maybe Potter is a decent teacher."

"But are you willing to go against the Death Eaters if it comes down to a fight?" Longbottom asked.

Blaise scoffed. "The Carrows? We can overpower them."

"And the war?" Longbottom challenged. "Are you going to fight on our side or theirs?"

"You're asking us to go against our parents," Daphne said, hugging herself.

"Speak for yourself," Blaise replied in a bored way. "My father's long dead and my mother wants nothing to do with the Dark Lord and his minions. The only reason she has yet to dissolve her marriage to Theo's father is that she'll get nothing out of it."

"All right, fine. It's not like my parents are out there getting branded, either, but that's not the point. And it's not like it's only Slytherins who have parents supporting You-Know-Who. You're asking us to—"

"We're asking that you stand up and show them that you don't agree with their rhetoric," Ginevra cut Daphne off.

"Perhaps you don't need to fight if it comes to that," Leo said thoughtfully, and the rest of them finally looked at him, seeming to have forgotten he was there. "Aunt Poppy is the only trained medic at Hogwarts, and we already know she's constantly overrun with the worst cases, lately, those that are so homesick that they can't function. It's why we're doing so much of our own healing. But it's not enough." He frowned. "Muggles have battlefield medics during their wars. Someone there on the frontlines. They go out with the cover of the soldier to help where a soldier has fallen. Maybe we can teach people who want to stay out of the fight to heal. Or I could."

"And risk our necks to heal someone stupid enough to get hit?" Blaise countered.

"They're less likely to get hit if they're trained," Ginny noted.

"We fought Death Eaters at the Ministry," Longbottom reminded them. "And I think the only reason we needed backup was because so many of us got hurt. And oddly enough, it wasn't because we were hit by spells. The only one who had legitimate spell damage was Draco. Everyone else just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time."

"I wanted to be a Healer, anyway," Daphne said thoughtfully.

"So, when everyone returns, we'll split into two groups: fighting or healing," Longbottom said, nodding his head as if his word was final.

"I think maybe there should be an age cap," Ginevra said thoughtfully.

"And what do you think it should be?" Leo asked. "Because I would be the second-year teaching healing spells, so it would be quite unfair to those my own age—"

"No active participation," Blaise said. "They can watch, practice if invited, but they cannot actively train. Wherever the war ends up taking place, anyone not of age will not be allowed to participate, I think we all know that."

"I can concede to that," Leo said.

"Can you?" Blaise smirked, and Leo rolled his eyes.

With the plans set, they fell into a comfortable, companionable silence. Blaise played chess against Leo, the girls had a conversation Leo couldn't have cared less about, and Longbottom stared into the fire wistfully. Leo could only guess who he was thinking about, given the time of year, and he felt bad for the bloke.

But he would never, ever admit it.

—————H—————

"Please?" she asked, hands folded in front of her, eyes wide and pleading.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "And what about this?" he said, placing his hand on the little round bump beneath Hermione's robes.

"A bulky winter cloak will cover it," she assured. "It's just... well, I... please? You need to be here anyway."

He sighed, that heavy sort of sigh just before he was about to give in to her. So, Hermione waited, careful not to say anything, merely looking as pitiful as possible.

"Fine," he relented, and she clapped. "Just be sure to go there and back, no more than fifteen minutes. Any longer and I'll worry that you chose to stay with them, which I do not need on top of everything else."

"Thank you," she said, kissing him hard on the lips, a promise of further thanks to be had later, and then grabbed the basket resting on the table beside them. "Fifteen minutes and I'll be back."

"I'm timing you."

She grinned, withdrew her wand, and tapped a ring on her right finger as she said, "Aurora."

—————A—————

The crack of Apparition made her, Draco, and Ron scramble out of the tent, but when there were no shouts, they relaxed.

Aurora's heart jumped into her throat and tears pricked her eyes as she saw Harry wrapped up in her mother's embrace. She moved across the distance in record speed, arriving in time for her mother to let go of Harry and hug her.

Her mother's arms wrapped tightly around her, squeezing her more than she'd felt in years.

"My darling girl," she heard her mother say before she leaned back, switching from hugging Aurora to cupping her face with both hands. She smiled. "You don't look too bad for being on the run."

"It helps that we haven't been in a tent the whole time," Draco mused, and Aurora let her mother hug Draco, then Ron.

"Yes, you all look quite well, no sign of anyone trying to kill the others, always a bonus."

"No signs," Harry taunted. "But that doesn't mean it hasn't nearly happened once or twice."

"Oh, I don't doubt that at all," Hermione replied with a grin.

"Not that I don't love seeing you, but why are you here?" Aurora asked, seeing the basket on the ground a foot or two away.

Her mother looked at it, her grin changing to something soft. "We've had some contact with Molly, Cissy, and Sirius...It's Christmas. We couldn't let you all go without Christmas."

"Seriously?" Ron asked, smiling. "My parents? You heard from them?"

"In a way." Hermione nodded. "Your mother has gone with Bill and Fleur; your dad is out trying to find any resistance while on the run. I'm not sure where any of your brothers are."

"We heard the twins earlier on Potterwatch," Draco said.

"Well, there is that," she agreed, then turned back at Aurora. "Your father only gave me fifteen minutes and I'm afraid if I stay too long, I may just not want to leave."

"All right," Aurora said, stepping toward her mother and hugging her again, relishing in the embrace once more before her mother startled, then pulled back abruptly. "Mum?"

"It's fine," she replied, her hand nearly touching her stomach and stopping. "I have to go. Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas," Aurora said, echoed by the boys as Ron took the basket and took it into the tent.

Aurora lingered outside, watching her mother step back and Disapparate.

Once inside, the heavenly smell of Hogwarts cooking filled the tent, and the boys were loudly appreciating the various things packed inside the basket. And not just food, it seemed there were gifts as well.

"Presents, Aurora!" Ron exclaimed as if she couldn't see, but then again, she supposed after so many months without a touch of home, they were bound to be excited about everything.

"Harry," she said as she sat down between Ron and Draco on the floor. "Did you notice anything different about my mum?"

Harry frowned as he was part way through opening something that looked like a sweater. "I don't know, why?"

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head.

She started opening the gifts with her name, despite the smell from the basket being far more appealing. A Weasley sweater was the biggest package. She'd never had one before, and a glance at Draco's stuff told her he had one, too. Harry, she knew, had been receiving one since his first year at Hogwarts. Hers was burgundy, with a dark yellow A in the middle. Draco's, she saw, was green with a grey D. Next was a package from her parents, which turned out to be a wand holster, styled so she could merely flick her arm out to the side and her wand would slide into her palm. Infinitely better than keeping it in her back pocket. The longer she looked at it, though, the more she realized the quality of it. Her initials were finely stitched into the leather, which felt butter soft to the touch. She rolled up her sleeves, glancing at the boys, who were also fawning over the simple gifts from their parents, then put the holster on her arm.

It disappeared.

She could still feel it against her skin, but it was invisible to the eye. She grabbed her arm with her other hand and was struck with the disorienting sensation of feeling it but not seeing it. She removed her wand from her back pocket to hover it near her exposed arm, wondering how she was going to holster it on something she couldn't see. The problem was solved for her when her wand moved as though summoned, disappearing somewhere along her arm.

Aurora looked back at the box, seeing the tiny slip of parchment on the bottom.

So you're never unarmed.

Her father's writing, which made her wonder what other sort of enchantments it had.

"Draco?" she said, drawing his attention away from the fine robes he was holding. "Disarm me."

"What?" he asked, frowning severely.

"Please?"

"What are you on about?"

"Just do it," she huffed, rolling her eyes.

He withdrew his wand. " Expelliarmus ."

She felt her arm burn, though not painfully, just before her wand started to pull from its holster. It was nearly out of her reach when she managed to snatch it, then with a flick of her wrist, it was back in place, a light cooling sensation dancing on her skin when it returned.

"It's all defensive," Harry said, sounding nearly disappointed. "Our gifts from our parents, it's all... defensive." When the others looked at him, Harry continued, "Rory's ... whatever."

"Holster," she supplied.

"Holster," he repeated, waving his hand at her bare arm. "It keeps her wand on her. Ron, you got a hip version. Draco's robes, he said they were similar to his father's, charmed for battle. Sirius sent me these boots. He said in the note that they were dragonhide, which is... well, it's defensive, isn't it? It's all gifts for battle."

"Think of the times, Potter," Draco said.

"Yeah, I get it," Harry snapped. "It's just... it's Christmas, isn't it? And no, it's not the best situation and all, but I would've... I would've thought...." He shook his head. "Can't even be properly merry."

Aurora sighed, sympathizing.

"I want to go to Godric's Hollow," Harry said, loud in the silence of their tent. "I want to see where my parents are."

"Potter, you must be daft," Draco started to say, but Harry shook his head.

"I wanna see them. I just... I have to. I have Sirius and it's great, but you lot all got something from your parents, and it's all this stuff that will help us with the war, and it's just got me thinking. I lost my parents to this war, I might lose you, too, all because I was marked. I want to go there, I just want to see them. And if this is the last time—"

"Don't talk like that!" Ron and Draco said in unison, though where the former said it pleadingly, adding a "mate" on the end, Draco very nearly shouted.

"I want to go to them. At least once," Harry finished, unperturbed. "You don't have to come."

"You damn well better believe I will be going with you," Draco snapped. "I'm not going to let my boyfriend risk his neck to Snatchers who are probably waiting for you there."

"If not the Death Eaters themselves," Harry added with a weak smirk.

"You're worried about us dying, yet it's you that's going to be the death of me," Draco grumbled as he got up. "You lot coming?" he asked Rory and Ron.

Ron looked longingly at his cauldron cakes and bag of homemade toffee.

"I'm staying here," Aurora said firmly. "For one, who knows if we're going to get any more visitors, welcome or otherwise. And second, if you guys don't come back, someone with communication to the... more practiced members of the Order should stay to inform them of your disappearance."

"Wise," Draco said, turning to stare at Ron.

He appeared startled, looking between Harry, Aurora, the cakes, Draco, and the cakes. "I'll stay here and watch Rory's back," he said, which made Draco roll his eyes before he stomped out.

Harry rose. "We won't be long."

"Be safe," she answered, and Harry nodded as he followed Draco out. A moment later, there was the crack of Apparition, and they were gone. "Should probably go out and take over the watch."

"'Ere," Ron said, already starting to stuff his mouth full. "Got your name on it. Thought it was mine, bag and all. Only saw 'Ro' at first. Then I tried to open it and got a bit of shock."

Aurora took the bag from Ron, already feeling it was candy. Frowning, she opened the bag and peered inside. After a glance at the contents, she checked the handwriting. She smiled, snorted, then went out to do watch and enjoy her treat: a bag of jelly slugs with all the yellow ones removed.

Crack !

"Get the bloody hell off me!" Harry raged.

"I saved your life, you ungrateful prat!" Draco shouted back. "He was there. He was outside the house, and if I hadn't stayed so bleeding close to you, that snake might have had you!"

"You didn't need to drag me away over your shoulder!" Harry retorted.

Draco scoffed. "I did so! Otherwise, you'd have been stupid and actually tried to fight it!"

"The snake is a Horcrux!"

"That we have no way of killing!"

"How hard could it be? It's a snake!"

"Oh, bloody hell, Potter. Fine, go back, get yourself killed. Lose us this war and make everything we all gave up pointless. Go on, go be a Gryffindor and get yourself killed."

"Oi," Aurora said, startling them both out of their tense fighting positions. "I'm a Gryffindor. I don't do stupid things."

Draco nearly laughed. "Don't get me started."

"Oh? Go on, start your list. I'm sure I have a counter to most of it," she replied calmly, crossing her arms. She very nearly smiled in satisfaction as Draco turned back to Harry.

"You can't take risks, not like that, not yet," he said much more gently than before, and Aurora thought she could see him shaking in the low light.

Harry seemed torn between wanting to fight and wanting to comfort him, and Aurora took that as her cue to head back inside the tent. On her way, she flicked her wrist, summoning her wand to her hand, and then tapped her watch.

If you hear anything, Harry and Draco are back and safe. If not, nothing happened. Either way, know I wasn't involved.

—————S—————

Severus snorted as he read the message on the pocket watch, shaking his head. Insomnia had kept him up long after Hermione had gone to bed, which allowed him to feel the warmth of his Protean Charm relaying a message.

His wife had been chaotic in her emotions upon her return from seeing Aurora and the young men. She missed her child; seeing Aurora filled Hermione with both joy and heartache. She'd been crying because she missed their eldest when she'd suddenly declared their unborn kicked her for the first time. She then promptly sighed, huffed, and declared she was going to bed. And there went Hermione into their quarters, and he was left awake. He already knew sleep was fruitless, his mind racing, wondering if or when the Dark Lord was going to call him.

Yet it was not the searing burn in his mark that told him it was finally time for his Yuletide greeting, but rather the cold dread of feeling a very malevolent presence approach his wards. Wards set to admit those who have or control the Dark Mark, as he had little option otherwise.

He moved quickly. Mentally asking the castle to seal off his chambers from the headmaster's office, while allowing Hermione an exit into the Room of Requirement. And as he mentally conversed with the castle, he tossed aside his book and moved to the Floo. The castle, listening as it was, lit the flames green for him, and he stepped through without hesitation.