The Phoenix Resistance

The person who returned Ambrosius to his family was a tired-looking man only a little older than Mia with prematurely graying light brown hair. He arrived on Silas Fortescue's doorstep at the end of March around mid-evening, dressed in ratty, second-hand robes, with Ambrosius on a leash at his side.

The sight of Ambrosius made both Jenie and Mia cry out in utter relief. Jenie almost immediately got down and flung her arms around the dog, her eyes overflowing with tears.

"Ambrosius! Oh, Ambrosius, thank Merlin -- thank all the stars in the sky you're -- !"

She burst full-on into sobs. Mia, however, could only watch the dog's face. Ambrosius's eyes were very black, blinking up at Jenie and the stranger and then Mia herself in turn. He looked confused by Jenie's emotion, but seemed to still sense these tears were happy -- his tail was wagging slowly at his side.

Mia felt her throat clench up.

It was just as she had feared. Ambrosius wasn't his full self, standing in front of them. He was a dog in both body and mind now...and even being with his family again would be unlikely to change that.

Even so...as Ambrosius's black eyes moved from Jenie to up at Mia, his tail wagged that little bit more. Almost hopeful.

Mia brought both of her hands up to her eyes, wiping the tears from them, as she got down on her knees to greet the greyhound.

"...Hello...Ambrosius." Her voice came out as a quiet croak.

She held out her hand to him. Ambrosius sniffed at her fingers curiously, before he tentatively stepped a little closer to sniff at her face. His nose poked Mia's cheek, making her laugh despite herself.

"Hi," she said again.

Ambrosius looked up at her blankly. Then, without any prompting, he licked Mia's cheek, right where his nose had poked.

In retrospect, Mia would've had difficulty explaining why...but that gesture was all it took. In an instant, she'd thrown her arms around Ambrosius too, embracing the dog fully and cuddling him close to her chest.

This dog was not her dad anymore. He could never be her dad: would never be him again. Ambrosius Flume had been her mentor, her role model: the man who taught her everything she knew about cooking and baking and inspired her to follow in his footsteps. The man who always gave the best advice and always knew just what to say to make Mia feel better.

This dog wasn't Ambrosius Flume: how could he be? But he was her dog. He was Ambrosius. And, Mia promised herself...she would protect him with her life: same as she would for any member of her family.

"The Flumes and I owe you a debt," Silas Fortescue addressed the stranger, holding out a hand to the younger man so he could shake it. "Thank you, Mr...?"

"Lupin," the man spoke in a very understated, familiar voice. "But please, don't call it a debt: I'm happy that I could help in this..."

Mia looked up at the man, her green eyes a bit wider in recognition. "Remus Lupin?"

"That is I."

Lupin looked a bit hesitant: likely concerned by what exactly Mia knew about him. Fortunately the Flumes gave him no reason to worry.

"Oh, Mr. Lupin, my grandson Olin only ever had nice things to say about you and your classes!" said Jenie. "He was so very disappointed when you left school...it's a dreadful thing, that your condition was exposed like that..."

Mia's lips twisted into a deep frown and her eyes narrowed even as she gave Ambrosius some ear scratches. "Hn, yeah...come to think of it, that was Snape's doing as well, wasn't it? A shame we didn't see that as an omen of how despicable of a man he turned out to be."

Lupin's eyes darkened at the mention of his old "associate" from the Order of the Phoenix, but he kept his composure and nodded respectfully. "You are very kind. And so is Olin: he was a pleasure to teach..."

He furtively glanced back over his shoulder. Something grimmer passed over his face before he spoke again.

"...I hate to ask this...but I'm afraid I have news of a more delicate sort as well. Could I burden you for a more private setting? Just briefly."

"It would be no burden at all, Mr. Lupin," said Silas. "I was just about to invite you in for a spot of supper."

"That is very kind of you...but I couldn't impose -- "

"I insist," Silas cut him off rather coolly.

"We insist!" Jenie said much more huffily. "Don't we, Mia, sweetheart?"

Mia got up from her place beside Ambrosius at last. "Of course. Any friend of my sister's is welcome at our table."

Both Jenie and Lupin looked at Mia in surprise as she smiled wryly.

"We have roast chicken and mash on the table and No-Melt Ice Cream in the wings," she said, her expression pointed as she crossed her arms. "Vanilla, chocolate, butterscotch...I think we might even have Raspberry Ripple if you like it, Romulus -- I mean, Remus."

Jenie gave a little start of delight at the mention of the host of Potterwatch's Pals of Potter segment. Lupin's eyes twinkled as he smiled, a touch of mischief dancing over his features.

"...Thank you...but chocolate sounds lovely. From what I've heard, you are a master when it comes to chocolate, Miss Flume."

~*~

Lupin, Jenie, Callie, and Silas talked over dinner about many things -- about Callie and Potterwatch, about Jacob and the fall-out of the Hogsmeade attack, about the lack of news about Harry Potter and where he might be now. All the while, Ambrosius the dog sat at Mia's feet, sniffing the food from below the table and eagerly awaiting any possible crumbs or scraps. (Jenie finally broke down and gave the greyhound some leftover chicken from her plate, to keep him from guilt-tripping her with puppy-dog eyes anymore.)

It was only once the group had finished eating their supper and ice cream that Lupin finally broke the other news he needed to tell the Flumes. News that, sadly, was much less happy than the return of Ambrosius.

"We'll be making the announcement on Potterwatch tomorrow evening...however, in the light of me already coming here to see you, I think it might be best to inform you prior." Lupin took a deep breath. "...Yesterday River received word from one of his contacts at the local mortuary that several bodies were positively identified as individuals who had previously gone into hiding from the Snatchers. One of those such bodies...was that of Dirk Cresswell."

There was a horrified intake of breath from around the table. Jenie's hands flew to her mouth; Silas closed his eyes and bowed his head.

"From the sound of things, his body arrived at the same time as a goblin named Gornuk and another wizard named Ted Tonks." A melancholy glint ran through Lupin's eyes before he closed them. "From what we've been able to determine, they were in hiding with two other fugitives -- a seventeen-year-old named Dean Thomas and another goblin named Griphook -- both of whom are now missing, but we hope somehow managed to escape. We aren't positive...but based on what we know about Dirk's character, and on just how many defensive wounds were on his body...it's likely that Dirk died protecting the others from the Snatchers' ambush."

Lupin opened his eyes, his face full of remorse and his voice very soft as he looked upon the Flumes.

"I'm truly sorry."

Mia reached out to take hold of her mother's shoulder and squeeze it without even looking at her. Her eyes were locked on her empty plate as she tried to comprehend this.

Dirk, dead...that brave, upright wizard: the man who'd fought off an Auror with his bare hands in lieu of a wand and escaped Azkaban with a stolen broom...the father of her nephews...gone...?

"...Tia," Mia said. Her head shot up and she stared at Lupin. "Have you told Tia?"

"Not yet," said Lupin. "But Ripple sent an urgent coded message to her safehouse as soon as she heard. She should receive it by tonight."

"Oh, my Tia..." Jenie cried quietly, her hands still covering her mouth as her head rocked back and forth miserably. "Oh, my poor baby and her boys -- dealing with this all on their own..."

Mia got up from her chair.

"I need to make a care package," she said rather tersely. "Mum, I'm sorry, but can you clean up the dishes? I have to get this to Cromwell quick if he's to get this to Tia before nightfall."

"Yes," Jenie said wetly. "Yes, of course..."

Ambrosius immediately followed Mia out of the room and toward the kitchen. As she left, she caught her mother apologizing to Lupin on her behalf.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lupin -- Mia is grateful, we both are; it's just -- "

"No need to explain. I'm glad your daughter has Jacob Cromwell in her corner. She could hardly find a fiercer friend."

~*~

Mia sent along a very long letter to Tia, written in Disappearing Ink and hidden under the label of a box holding a white chocolate mocha cake. She then made sure to drop it off at Jacob's house directly so he could then follow up via owl with Kaari Arcano (Mia helped Jacob with securing the transfigured ribbon note of explanation around the owl's neck, since he was still injured) and have him pick it up and deliver it to Ireland as soon as possible.

A few days later, Mia received a letter back from Tia, hidden in Vanishing Ink on a piece of paper folded up in the shape of a flower.

My dear Mia, My heart is broken in ways I can hardly explain. To know Dad is safe and home with you and Mum again is a blessing I can hardly put into words, and I should be so happy and relieved, and yet... Oh, Mia. Mia, I want to be strong. I need to be strong for the boys. Olin hasn't come out of his room since he heard the news, and Skylar...he threw all of his books across the room and smashed a glass, screaming about how he wants to hunt down every Snatcher alive, for what they did to his father. I don't know how to counsel them, I don't know how to support them, except to just show a brave face. But I can't. I feel like I'm dying inside -- I want to scream and cry and curse the entire world, and yet I can't. I can't because I don't know how. I don't know how to be that way...not when I know it would only hurt my boys more... Mia, I wish you were here with me. I wish so much that you were here: that Mum, Dad and Callie were here: that we were all together again at home, just like before. But I wish for you most of all. Because I want to believe so much that you might understand how I feel right now...and that you might know just what I need to hear. How do you stay strong for others even when your heart is broken? How do you keep fighting even when the person who made you feel like the woman you were meant to be is gone? Mia, my sister and dearest friend...please, help me be brave. Help me be strong. I love you so much. The boys and I love you all, and we miss you terribly. Your loving sister, Tia

Mia's heart felt like lead as she read her sister's words. She read it several times over in her room by herself, rubbing her eyes multiple times and taking very deep breaths. She even had to move from her desk and sit in bed with Ambrosius at her feet for a while before she even felt capable of responding.

When she finally did decide to write back, she rested Tia's letter next to her and reread her sister's words while writing a response on top of an old book Silas had lent her. Mia's letter was was quite long, full of comfort and reassurance and empathy -- but the most important words arguably was a paragraph Tia ultimately read a hundred times over, when she received the letter the next day inside a box of freshly baked chai pear scones.

This last year I tried to just bury myself in my work for the shop and for the resistance and power through: keep fighting Florean's fight and let everyone else think I was fine, so that maybe I could believe it too sometimes. The other day, though, I visited Cromwell at his flat, and we actually talked about Florean, as well as about his first love, Duncan Ashe. And even though Duncan Ashe died almost fifteen years ago now, Cromwell cried, talking about him. He cried while smiling, but even so, I could see Duncan's death was still painful. The loss still hurts him, no matter how much time has passed. And it made me think...I don't think the pain will ever truly go away. Because there'll always be regrets, what-if's, and paths not taken that make you remember just how much you wish they were still here. But maybe -- just maybe -- knowing that other people understand your pain and that they won't feel sad listening to you might make it a bit easier. Please, Tia, don't ever hesitate to write to me, or to talk to me. I will always read what you write, and I will always listen.

~*~

Mia had actually chosen to go to bed early that night. After having spent three whole days and nights making chocolate treats for both the shop and Hogwarts's Valentine's Day Feast, she was understandably drained. Her mother Jenie wholeheartedly encouraged this.

"You get on into bed right now, young lady," she scolded lightly, "before you gain any more wrinkles under your eyes."

Mia snorted through a dry smirk. "Aw, but I wanted to try to evoke the 'long-haired racoon' look -- you know, like Cromwell."

Jenie's mouth fell open as she put her hands on her hips with a disapproving huff. "Mia!"

"I'm kidding," Mia laughed.

She pulled at the string connected to the trapdoor to open it and bring down the ladder. She paused on the ladder, though, at the sound of a clack-clack-clack overhead. A few seconds later, a familiar bright-eyed greyhound appeared at the top of the landing.

Mia put on her best smile. "...Hi, Dad."

Ambrosius wagged his tail. Despite while a dog, his eyes were very bright. It was something that Mia clung to for dear life: that consciousness, even with his humanity quickly slipping away. The owner of Honeydukes hadn't been able to return to human form for nearly three days now, and yet his eyes were just as warm and aware as ever.

Ambrosius tilted his head, trying to look down into the shop and sniffing. He even licked his chops absently. Then, very tentatively, he turned to Mia and tapped the top rung of the ladder with his paw.

"You want to come downstairs?" asked Mia.

Ambrosius nodded.

He hasn't been in the shop in days now, Mia thought to herself. It's little wonder that he'd miss it.

Taking out her wand, Mia levitated Ambrosius down to the ground floor. When his feet met the ground, the greyhound gleefully circled Mia, his tail wagging.

"Stick close to Mum, okay?" Mia told him.

Ambrosius nodded, and without hesitation, he strode right beside Jenie sitting behind the counter, settling down on the floor between the legs of her stool. Jenie tried to scold him, but it came out halfhearted.

"Oh, Ambrosius...you do realize that sitting right under me like that will make it harder for me to get up and work, don't you?"

Ambrosius gave a rather doggy smile from his place on the floor. Jenie couldn't bite back her own smile, so she just sighed and shook her head.

"Well," she said, massaging her husband's shoulder blades lightly with her foot, "I suppose we're unlikely to have much business tonight anyhow..."

With a smile over her shoulder at her parents, Mia headed up the ladder into the house above the shop, pulling the ladder up behind her as she closed the trapdoor after her.

I should take Dad for a walk around town, she thought a bit guiltily. I'm sure he's probably been restless...cooped up here all day while Mum and I work...

She thought of Tia, Olin, and Skylar: of Callie and all those other poor people currently in hiding from the Death Eaters, in hiding places like the one in Jacob's flat. Did they feel that way too...trapped upstairs, out of sight, out of mind, while the world kept turning without them?

I'll bake some Cheering-Charmed peanut-butter brownies for Cromwell's tenants tomorrow, she decided. Dad can always eat some of the peanut butter while I work...peanut butter's okay for dogs, even if chocolate isn't.

She fell asleep calculating preparation time and contemplating which method she'd use to hide her message to Jacob inside her package. She kind of liked the thought of giving him a challenge.

~*~

Mia awoke abruptly when she suddenly had trouble breathing.

When she shot up in bed, she found herself surrounded not by the black of night, but by pulsing, blinding, burning hot orange light. One that, out of nowhere, actually lashed out at her, slamming her backward with a violent heat that knocked all the air out of her lungs.

"Ugh -- !"

Her alarmed choke dissolved into a hacking cough. Mia rolled backward over her bed -- the arms she'd thrown up subconsciously to defend herself were so numb she barely felt her sheets...

What was going on -- ?

She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her blurry vision. Her green eyes stung -- something was falling from the ceiling -- some kind of dry black snow --

Ash, her disoriented brain supplied. It was ash falling from the ceiling -- there was a fire --

"MIA! MIAAAA!"

Somewhere far away, Mia could hear her mother screaming. It was the wake-up call her half-conscious brain needed.

Mum's in trouble -- Dad's in -- !

Trying even harder to blink the ash out of her eyes, she buried her mouth in the crook of her arm, coughing loudly, and shoved her way across the bed to reach her wand on the side table. After some blindly feeling around with fingers that didn't even feel like her own, Mia managed to lay her hand on it. Good thing too, because mere seconds after she found her wand, the intense orange heat lashed out again, hotter this time and shrieking as it opened its fanged mouth --

Mia summoned a silent Shield Charm just in time to protect herself from the fiery manticore that clamped down on the foot of her bed.

Fiendfyre! Mia put together in alarm. This wasn't a normal fire -- it was Dark magic! That had to meant the Death Eaters were -- !

Scrambling to evade the flames that soon consumed the mattress and sheets, Mia stumbled across the room and into the hall. The house was so full of smoke she could hardly see -- and somewhere, far, far off, she could hear her father barking...her mother screaming...

The ladder, Mia's woozy, terrified brain urged her. Mum and Dad are downstairs, get to the ladder!

She raised her wand and pointed it at the smoke. With a silent Windy Spell, she pushed as much of it aside as she could, creating a path to the ladder.

Unfortunately for Mia, the heat was gaining on her. It had molted into more shapes now -- an dragon, a griffin, even a chimaera -- all of which were lunging, clawing and biting away at the walls after her. Mia couldn't even wait to climb down the ladder -- once the trapdoor was open, she had to blindly jump into the dark store below, just to evade the sharp jaws of the Fiendfyre dragon.

Cushioning her fall by casting a silent Softening Charm on the floor below, Mia shot up, her eyes wide and terrified as they darted around the empty store.

"MUM?! DAD!?"

CRACK!

Mia leapt out of the way just in time to escape the blackened ladder tumbling down from the ceiling with a SMASH.

"MIA! Cough -- cough -- MIA DEAR, OVER HERE!"

Mia's heart leapt. It was Madam Rosmerta!

Using the Windy Spell to blow away the smoke, Mia caught sight of the open front door, where the barmaid was standing with her wand up and her hand outstretched toward her. Unlike Mia, who was only in a T-shirt and pajama pants, she was fully dressed in a coat and scarf.

"Rosmerta!" Mia said urgently. "Mum and Dad -- !"

"They're outside, come on!"

Rosmerta grabbed Mia and ran with her out of the shop. Almost as soon as they made it outside Honeydukes, though, Rosmerta and Mia both had to throw up Shield Charms to block the assault of violent red and yellow spells blasted at them.

"That's the Flume girl!" crowed one of the masked Death Eaters. "Let's make sure she really regrets defying the Dark Lord -- AHH!"

Ambrosius Flume, still in dog form, had run right at the Death Eater, barking loudly. The length of his sprint meant he was on top of the man within seconds, knocking him to the ground with his front paws. The Death Eater quickly masked his fear with anger.

"Get off me, you -- filthy ANIMAL!"

WHAM!

Jenie screamed as Ambrosius was blasted clean off his four legs and thrown across the street in a heap.

"NO!" Mia shouted.

Instead of the spell making him back down, though, it only served to make Ambrosius growl more as he eased himself up -- make his eyes go black, losing their consciousness --

His teeth bared, he leapt at the Death Eaters again, barking more aggressively than ever. The male Death Eater from before once again subconsciously shrank back as the second quickly dodged before the dog could bite him. The third, however, responded far more spitefully.

"Oh, you wanna play, doggie?" she taunted. "All right, then -- !"

She pointed her wand at the house still consumed with Fiendfyre and then slapped the air over Ambrosius's head. At once the Dark fire lurched off the building, lunging at the dog like a dozen shrieking Matagots --

"AMBROSIUS!" Jenie screamed.

With a yelp, the greyhound ran. Rather than his withdrawal ending things, though, the female Death Eater vindictively chased him, whipping the fire after him across the street. All the while, the scared, whining greyhound never tried to run toward Mia, Jenie, or anyone with wands to protect him; he never even looked at them, to make sure they were likewise safe. His eyes were black and devoid of light -- filled with nothing but animalistic fear --

Mia's heart clenched.

He'd lost himself -- he'd lost hold of himself again, his human mind wasn't there -- if she didn't do something quick, then Ambrosius might never -- !

Mia lost her head completely. She bolted out of Rosmerta's reach and ran forward, straight at the Death Eaters. She blasted silent spells at them, which the other two Death Eaters blocked. Mia's feet were poked and prodded by breaks in the cobblestones and her arms were twinging with pain, but she didn't care -- she had to get to her father -- !

Without hesitation, she barreled right at the Death Eaters, fighting them off single-handed. The first fought pretty well at first and even tried to hit her with a Killing Curse, only to get a Diffindo to the face so deep it cut right through his mask and into his face and then a full Body-Bind for his trouble. Mia then immediately got to work trying to get past the second, but he was a much better duelist. He immediately countered her silent Obscuro by burning the enchanted blindfold before it could reach him and even completely sidestepped the snake she'd conjured to attack him from behind without turning around.

...Almost as if he knew her moves before she made them...

The memory of Jacob sidestepping all her moves and then tying her up in bandages like a mummy at the Dueling Club in fifth year made Mia stiffen sharply.

Legilimency. This Death Eater's a Legilimens!

"Control yourself!" the second Death Eater bellowed at the female one over his shoulder, his cold voice instantly familiar as Severus Snape's. "Our orders were to deal with the Sweetshop, not torch the entire village -- "

"Maybe that'll teach whoever's been helping the Flumes break into the school not to help traitors!" sneered the witch, who Mia realized had to be Alecto. "Besides...I want to play with my new puppy!"

Alecto lashed out more Fiendfyre at Ambrosius, cutting him off before he could run up the street. The flames also snatched the roof of the nearby quill shop across the street -- Rosmerta, desperate to keep the fire from spreading, ran forward with her own wand raised, shooting silent Finite Incantantems and bursts of water to try and fail to suppress it.

The masked Death Eater who had to be Snape dodged both Mia's Stunning Spell and Conjuctivitis Curse before managing to catch her ankle with a silent spell that that yanked her upside-down into the air.

"AHH!"

The T-shirt Mia wore to bed flew up over her head

"Stop playing with your food!" Snape spat at Alecto.

With a Bombardment Spell strong enough to shake the whole block, he brought the wall of the quill shop. The move temporarily halted the Fiendfyre from spreading as it came crashing down; the bricks scattered, prompting Ambrosius to run away up off the street.

Mia's heart was in her throat. Dad!

Dodging both Snape and Alecto, Mia ran after him, ignoring both the pain in her arms and feet and her mother and Rosmerta's cries.

"Mia! Mia, Mia, come back!"

"Mia!"

"After her!" Snape barked at Alecto. "I'll finish things here!"

Mia could feel Alecto pursuing her -- she tried desperately to keep her father in view, but the black of night coupled with the over-brightness and smoke of the Fiendfyre made it difficult -- plus the greyhound's strides were so much longer and lighter than hers, it was like chasing an Olympic runner --

"DAD!" Mia tried to call the dog back. "DAD, COME HERE! COME -- ahh!"

She was thrown backward as the street was ripped out from under her. She fell in a heap on the ground, her twinging arms screaming with fresh pain, and her ankle collapsed out from under her with a crack.

"Augh!"

Mia scrambled onto her knees, her wand raised just in time to block Alecto's curse. The masked, hooded witch bore down on Mia, her wand raised.

"The Dark Lord wanted traitors like you to be taught a lesson," she taunted. "Let's see you try to block a Cruciatus Curse, sweetheart -- YAAHHH!"

Out of nowhere, Alecto was yanked up into the air by the back of her robes. She was then thrown about violently by the back of her robes, the way a child tossing around a stuffed bear, before she was hurtled headfirst into the closest lamppost, where she lay still.

Mia looked up. Jacob Cromwell had appeared out of nowhere, his long, messy dark curls in his scruffy face, which was contorted with rage upon Alecto. When he made eye contact with Mia, though, his rage vanished at once and he ran over.

"Hermia -- are you okay?"

Mia was so stunned all she could do was nod. She tried to stand, only for her broken ankle to collapse out from under her -- before she could fall completely back onto the ground, though, Jacob had thrown out his arms to catch her.

"I've got you!"

But Mia couldn't focus on that. Her head shot up and her eyes darted around, looking for some trace of a greyhound...but he wasn't there.

"Cromwell -- " Mia said, panicked. "My dad -- did you see where Dad went?"

Jacob was taken aback. "Mr. Flume? No...no, I...I didn't..."

Mia felt like her world was collapsing. Devastation racked her entire frame as she stared at the empty street, her eyes wide but barely able to comprehend it.

Her father was gone. Just like that, he was gone. He had run off while out of his mind, stuck as a dog, with no recollection of who he was or who his family was -- when the only thing that had ever brought Ambrosius back to his senses, all those years, was being around her and Jenie and their family in their shop --

But now there was no shop. Even if any part of Honeydukes could be saved, they'd still be unable to open for weeks, months -- maybe even a year, if at all, given the cost! And Ambrosius was now loose, completely alone and scared, with no identification or wand or anything else on him that would tell any human who found him who he was --

How would he ever make it home? How would he ever remember who he was? Would he...even be able to bounce back this time, like he had before...?

Despair fell over Mia like a flood. All she could feel was numb and cold. Even as Jacob steered her into the closest alley and beat back the Fiendfyre that had lashed across the house next to them and into the street, all she knew was grief. She was too distraught even to cry. All she could do was stare at the ground, her hands shaking even as one clenched over her wand.

At some point, likely ten minutes later, Mia recognized her mother's arms being thrown around her.

"Oh, Mia! Mia, thank Merlin -- !"

Her mother sobbed as she clung to her daughter, stroking her hair and rocking her like a baby. She didn't have a wand in her hands -- she must have lost it while escaping the initial blaze with Ambrosius.

A moment later Mia was conscious of Rosmerta's voice talking over them.

"Come on -- let's get out of here -- "

"But the Fiendfyre -- "

"Jacob said he'll handle it. There's more help on the way right now. My inn's the furthest up the road, it's the safest place for people to gather until we beat this back -- for right now, we need to get both you and Mia somewhere safe and get you a Healer for those burns..."

Burns -- had that been why her arms had been twinging with pain that whole time? Mia had been so high on adrenaline this whole time that she hadn't put it together...

With a surprising amount of strength, Rosmerta hoisted Mia up onto her back and carried her up the road.

"Conjure a strong Shield Charm around us with my wand, Jenie -- we've got a walk ahead of us, even with those Death Eater creeps having buggered off..."

~*~

It took over a dozen witches and wizards working together to keep the flames from spreading. The Fiendfyre only died when one particularly brave wizard with long, curly dark hair barreled straight into the Dark flames, determined to kill it at the source. He succeeded, but before Yaxley and the Hitwizards arrived at the scene, that man had mysteriously vanished. Even when Yaxley interrogated the villagers about who the man was (just for the completeness of his report, of course), all they would say for sure was that he wasn't from the village.

And so Yaxley asked another source -- Alecto Carrow herself, who he found at Hogwarts school chugging down a bottle of Wiggenweld Potion to deal with a large black bruise covering her forehead and left eye.

"Not positive," she'd spat, "but it damn well looked like that bastard Cromwell. The male one."

"Jacob Cromwell?" Yaxley's eyes narrowed as his lips spread into a broad smirk. "Well, well, wouldn't that be rich...to arrest Jacob Cromwell for the destruction of Honeydukes..."

"Huh?" said Amycus with an offended frown that made him look more stupid than ever. "But he didn't destroy it, we d -- "

"That is not something you want to brag about, Amycus," Snape cut him off icily. "With loose lips like yours, it's little wonder that assistance rushed to the Flumes' side so quickly..."

The Headmaster looked at Yaxley out the side of his eye. "Jacob Cromwell has been a thorn in your side for a while now, Corban. I understand your inability to outsmart him gives you plenty of motive to rake him across the coals...but if you intend to frame Cromwell, you will need to have a rock-solid case. That is, if you want to prevent his sister from coming to his rescue."

Yaxley's eyes flashed with resentment. "Oh, that blood traitor won't be outsmarting me this time. If Cromwell ran headlong into Fiendfyre, then he undoubtedly sustained a lot of injuries -- ones that'd be damn near impossible to Heal quickly..."

He turned on his heel and headed for the door.

"Either I find him and expose him as the wizard who recklessly started the Fiendfyre that torched half of Hogsmeade and burned Honeydukes to the ground...or that little whelp has to go on the run to avoid me, and I can tear apart his Muggle flat until I find the proof I need to make him Undesirable Number Two."

Mia Flume did not hear about the danger her brother-in-law, sister, and nephews were in until three Hitwizards showed up in Honeydukes Sweetshop. The tallest of them -- a black-bearded wizard with a gravelly voice -- pushed his way right past the long line of customers so he could confront Mia behind the counter.

"Hermia Flume?" he demanded. Right off the bat, the man came across as aggressive: like a Doberman ready to bite if someone's hand got too close to its teeth.

Mia felt her shoulders come up beside her head defensively, her green eyes narrowing, as she stared up at the much taller man. "That's me. How may I help you?"

"I am Albert Runcorn, Senior member of the Hitwizard Unit," said the man tersely. "The Ministry requires your and your parents' testimony in an ongoing investigation."

Jenie, who'd just returned from the back carrying more Pumpkin Pasties, quickly put down the tray and rushed over to Mia's side.

"My father is ill," Mia said, and despite her nerves, she spoke assertively. "I'm afraid he's in no state to speak to anyone. If you're willing to wait just a few moments, however, Mum and I will be happy to speak to you...just as soon as we're done taking care of these last few customers -- "

But Runcorn wouldn't hear it. Before Mia could even finish speaking, he lashed out his arm with such violent force that several large glass jars full of lemon drops, bon-bons, and Toothflossing String Mints were flung off the counter and across the room.

SMASH.

Several people had to dodge the spray of sharp glass when the jars crashed into the walls and floors. Jenie grabbed her middle daughter's shoulder from behind, her eyes wide with panic behind her glasses.

"My job is more important than whatever sugary rubbish your dinky little shop concerns itself with," Runcorn whispered dangerously. He pointedly crushed one of the glass jars under his foot before shooting a hateful glare back over his shoulder at Mia. "I will get the information I want, one way or another. If you cooperate, then this process will be a lot less painful for all of you."

Mia took her mother's hand on her shoulder without looking at her, her eyes narrowing further upon Runcorn's face. Then, amazingly looking braver than ever, she turned to the customers in line.

"Valued customers, I apologize, but it seems we must temporarily close our shop," Mia said in a very loud, penetrating "Customer Service" voice. "Please take whatever goods are currently in your hands as an apology from the Flume family for the inconvenience, and we at Honeydukes hope to see you again soon."

The customers in line all exchanged anxious looks. A few immediately just took their free merchandise and left, while others lingered by the door, almost as if contemplating whether they should do something. One particularly sweet hostess from Madame Puddifoot's hesitated longer than the rest trying to catch Mia or Jenie's eye -- wanting silent confirmation from them that they'd be okay. Seeing the younger woman's concern, Mia gave her the most reassuring look she could and nodded to her, and the hostess headed out at last, dashing up off the street.

Once all the customers had left, Mia put the "CLOSED" sign up on the door and turned back to Runcorn. The man had never broken any kind of smile or smirk once: he had his arms crossed impatiently and he lorded over Mia with his superior height.

"Now then," he said sharply, "to business. Were you or were you not aware of Dirk Cresswell's Muggle ancestry?"

Both Jenie and Mia gave a start.

"Dirk?" said Jenie, her voice high and breathy in her throat with nerves. "You're investigating my son-in-law?"

"Answer the question, ma'am," Runcan said tersely. "Were you aware he's Muggle-born-and-bred?"

"Dirk is a wizard," Mia shot back. "He attended Hogwarts, same as my parents, sisters and I did."

"Only thanks to the magic he stole from a wizard or wizards unknown," said Runcorn. His teeth were bared as he got right up in Mia's face. "Now answer the question, before I completely lose my patience -- did you know your brother-in-law was a lying Mudblood who fabricated his family tree to hide his filthy bloodline?"

"No," said a very quiet, growling voice from the back of the room.

Mia, Jenie, and Runcorn all looked up. Clutching onto the ladder that led to the house upstairs with difficulty to try to stay upright was Ambrosius. He had a very tight knit night cap pulled down all the way over his head so as to obscure the ears that were now permanently stuck halfway between his dog and human forms, and he was dressed in a dressing gown and slippers, but his eyes were laser-focused on Runcorn with sharp awareness.

Both Jenie and Mia ran over to Ambrosius's side in alarm.

"Ambrosius, honey -- "

"Dad, you're in no state to -- !"

"This is the first we've heard any such thing, that Dirk fabricated anything," Ambrosius said in a very low, but very firm voice, his eyes staying on Runcorn as he wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulder. "My wife and I are law-abiding citizens, sir, and we've raised all our daughters to likewise respect the Ministry and its employees. Including my eldest, who is currently married to Dirk."

He flinched in pain when he tried and failed to take a step forward -- Mia could just barely see his knees twisting unnaturally under him and she quickly adjusted herself to both secure her hold on him and obscure his legs from Runcorn's view.

Runcorn looked at Ambrosius with both notable suspicion and condescension. "Doubtful, considering Hestia Cresswell and her two sons have evaded Ministry custody."

As Jenie, Ambrosius, and Mia all straightened up sharply at this, he whirled on his two subordinates, Runcorn whirled on his two subordinates.

"Search the shop and the upstairs!" he barked at them. "If you find the Cresswell woman or her children, arrest the lot of them!"

The witch and wizard nodded, before barreling off in different directions. The wizard shoved his way into the kitchen, and before long, multiple SMASHES echoed through the shop. Jenie gave a distraught yelp that made Mia whirl on Runcorn with righteous fury.

"What are you doing?! You're not going to find anyone inside jars of marmalade!"

She yanked out her wand, preparing to follow the Hitwizard into the kitchen to halt his destructive rampage, but both Ambrosius and Jenie grabbed onto her shoulders.

"Consider this your punishment for you and your family wasting my time," said Runcorn, his lip curling as he leered down at Mia. "Be glad it's only your merchandise suffering damage."

"Be aware, sir, that some of your superiors are among our customer base," Ambrosius said in a very quiet, but hard sort of voice. "I doubt you and your cohorts would love being responsible for Dolores Umbridge not receiving her weekly order of Pink Coconut Ice."

The witch who had just climbed the ladder stalled on the top-most rung, glancing back over her shoulder nervously. Even the noise in the kitchen had died down noticeably.

Runcorn's eyes flashed at Ambrosius before he angrily whirled on the other two Hitwizards.

"MOVE IT!"

The witch darted away upstairs and out of sight, and the kitchen noise resumed, though more quietly. Runcorn turned his focus back to Ambrosius -- he bore down on the older man with venom, prompting Mia and Jenie to flank Ambrosius all the more.

"If we find your blood-traitor daughter and her brats here, Flume, then the only place you'll be making sweets for anybody is in Azkaban prison," Runcorn snarled. "Do I make myself clear?"

Jenie was trembling visibly as she clutched at Ambrosius's arm with both of hers. Mia had shifted herself in front of her father like a human shield, holding Ambrosius's other arm to support him while glaring fiercely over her shoulder at Runcorn. Ambrosius himself had gone very quiet, his eyes burning with contempt. The lack of a response once again sparked Runcorn's temper -- within an instant, he'd lashed out, backhanding Mia across the face with his wand.

"AHHH!"

Mia fell back, clutching her cheek -- it was bleeding. Both Ambrosius and Jenie reacted with panic.

"Sweetheart!" cried Jenie as she rushed over.

"Do I make myself clear?!" Runcorn repeated more loudly.

Ambrosius had flinched in response to the volume and was white as a sheet seeing Mia bleeding. When he whirled on Runcorn, his eyes grew dark, losing awareness -- becoming more dog-like and less human --

"Dad!"

What shot Ambrosius back to Earth was Mia calling to him. He looked at his daughter, seeing her anxiety, and he remembered himself. He couldn't afford to transform now -- couldn't let Runcorn find out --

And so with a lot of difficulty, he swallowed back his feelings as best he could before looking back up at Runcorn, his expression overflowing with hatred.

"...Yes."

He said it through bared teeth, but Runcorn accepted it. Knowing he'd made his point, the wrathful Ministry employee took on a much more arrogant posture as he strutted about the shop, kicking over several shelves as he too "helped" with the search.

~*~

After a grueling half-hour, the shop had been fully ransacked and the Hitwizards had left to look elsewhere for Tia, Olin, and Skylar. On his way out, Runcorn warned Ambrosius that if he caught wind the Flumes were involved in any other "anti-Ministry activity," he would take great pleasure in administering proper justice to them. Only once they'd finally left did Mia leave Ambrosius to comfort her poor crying mother and inspect the damage.

"It's all right, my sugar butterfly," said Ambrosius as he steered Jenie to sit on the bottom-most rung of the upstairs ladder with him. "We can close the shop for a day and take our time rebuilding our stock tomorrow -- "

"A day?!" sobbed Jenie. "A day?! Ambrosius, it'd take weeks to get things back to where they were, with just Mia and me working!"

"You don't have to do it all by yourselves -- I can -- "

"Not with your hands being paws most of the day now!" Jenie cut him off, her shoulders quaking with even harder sobs. "All our pastries -- all our handmade goods, ruined...and now Dirk's been arrested -- branded a criminal -- !"

"No one worthwhile will believe Dirk's done anything wrong, Jenie," Ambrosius said softly.

" -- and Tia, Olin, and Skylar are missing -- on the run from the Ministry -- !"

DING-ALING-ALING!

The bell on the door gave a rattle as someone pushed their way in. Mia immediately dropped the broken pitcher of milk she'd picked up and ran into the room, ready to confront whoever had entered.

Imagine Mia's surprise, therefore, she saw it was her youngest sister, Callie, who immediately ran over, bent down, and threw both of her arms around her parents. And right behind her in the doorframe, his white Aspen and blackthorn wands both out as he scanned the shop, was Jacob Cromwell. When he caught sight of Mia, Jacob's pale face seemed to relax ever-so-slightly and his eyes lit up in relief.

"Mum, Dad!" choked Callie. She was crying almost as hard as Jenie was, her bespectacled eyes very wide on Mia when she reentered the room. "Oh, Mia, it's horrible -- Dirk's been -- !"

"We know," Ambrosius cut her off gently.

"Runcorn told us," Mia growled under her breath.

She immediately turned to Jacob as he approached.

"Cromwell," she said urgently, "Runcorn said my sister escaped custody -- "

"She did," said Jacob.

He glanced over his shoulder at the front door and walls. He glanced back at Mia, to see she'd raised her wand, but he smiled cheekily and shook his head.

"Actually," he said, "hold off on deadening any sound. I think it's best I just show you."

He extended a hand to the sobbing Jenie Flume, making her start so much that her tears still in her eyes.

"Come on," Jacob whispered gently, "they'll want to see you."

All of the Flumes excluding Callie were taken aback.

"'They' -- ?" Jenie breathed, hardly daring to believe it.

"Cromwell," Mia said anxiously, "my dad, he -- " She looked at Ambrosius anxiously, before her voice dropped several decibels. "...He's ill. He can't Apparate safely."

Jacob blinked in surprise. He turned to Ambrosius, taking stock of his spindly, backwards knees for the first time. The candymaker had bowed his head in visible shame, to the point that his snout was already growing a bit longer.

All of the Flumes seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for Jacob to say something. Whatever negative or even dismissive reaction Mia had been imagining, though, Jacob didn't give it. Instead his skull-like blue eyes shone with understanding.

"I see...the curse has almost taken full effect, so your magic's weaker and your transformations are triggered more easily..." he murmured. His face then broke into a brighter smile. "Don't worry! I once Side-Along-Apparated a wizard with a blood malediction across several small islands, while he was stuck in fox form! I think I can manage Side-Along-Apparating with you, if you fully transform! So long as you don't mind me carrying you. And all the windows are covered where we're going -- no chance of anyone seeing you..."

Ambrosius was startled by the brightness of Jacob's expression. He looked from Ambrosius to Jenie, still smiling fully.

"Come on," he said again, more encouragingly. "I'll take your wife first, and you right behind."

Ambrosius's snout actually seemed to withdraw as he too beamed up at Jacob, his eyes filling with tears.

"...Thank you."

~*~

With four CRACK's back and forth, Jacob transported Jenie, Ambrosius, Callie, and Mia to his tiny flat in London. The space was noticeably messy, with dozens of open books and papers scattered all over the place and overflowing bookshelves and drawers, but it was also oddly eclectic in its decor. There were three rugs overlapping each other in the main space: one psychedelic gold, white, and brown, one crimson and geometric, and the last moss green and tufted like swamp mold. A colorfully painted clay skull served as a paperweight, while a Russian nesting doll was perched on the windowsill, just underneath a hanging suncatcher shaped like a crow. A blue-black-and-bronze patchwork quilt was folded neatly on top of the old-fashioned radio, with a light blue record player balanced on top of it. There were a lot of random things mounted on the walls, from a scroll decorated with Japanese kanji, to a brass elephant decorated with colorful stones, to a Venetian mask with a red swirl streaked across it. Most of all, though, there were framed photos of Jacob with multiple other people: some Mia recognized (like Duncan Ashe, Olivia Green, Filius Flitwick, Horace Slughorn, and Madam Rosmerta) and others she could guess (like Jacob's mother and sister -- they were in the most pictures).

When the Flumes first arrived, they were tricked into believing no one was there but them and Jacob. But when Jacob went over to the closest bookcase, rapping the side with his knuckle in a distinctive pattern ("Mamma Mia -- here I go again," he sang under his breath in rhythm to his knocks), there was an eager knock in return ("my, my -- how can I resist ya?" Jacob echoed after it). Jacob then took one specific book off the bottom-most shelf, shrank it, and slid the smaller book into a small hole on the side of the shelf, turning it like a key.

CLACK.

With the lightest of pulls, the whole bookshelf swung open like a whole door into a very small space, about the size of a child's bedroom. There was an enchanted skylight in the ceiling to bring in some light, a bed and some armchairs -- and leaping right out of the room into the main flat were twelve-year-old Skylar and sixteen-year-old Olin.

"Gran! Pops, you're here!"

"Aunt Mia?!"

"Aunt Callie, you're all here!"

Both Ambrosius and Jenie immediately opened their arms so that Skylar could run into them. Mia and Olin met half-way, with Mia taking hold of both of his shoulders.

"Are you all right?" she asked him at once.

Olin nodded, trying to look brave despite the paleness of his face. "Well, we're...yeah."

He glanced back over his shoulder, back into the little room. Mia looked up, to see her older sister Tia still sitting in the armchair.

Her auburn hair was a mess, as if she'd been thrown through a cyclone on the way here. She was shaking terribly, holding nothing except her usual handbag in her lap with both hands. Worst of all, though, was her face, which despite being full of relief, was very pale and streaked with the remnants of her usual makeup.

She tried hard to smile at the sight of her sisters and parents.

"Mia," she whispered. "Callie, Mum, Dad -- thank goodness -- "

Even with this, though, her lip was trembling. Her own jaw clenching, Mia moved past Olin, striding right over to her sister, and seized hold of her, yanking her into her arms. Only in her sister's arms did Tia bury her face in her shoulder and completely break down, her hands clinging onto the back of Mia's shirt as she fully burst into tears.

"Oh, Mia -- " Tia's voice was such a tear-soaked mumble it was barely discernible. "Mia, they took Dirk -- they took Dirk while he was at work, and -- and they trashed our house -- we had to leave everything, I -- "

"Shhhh," Mia tried to soothe her. She stroked her sister's short hair and rubbed her back as she whispered just as lowly back to her, "I know...I know..."

As she held her sister and best friend as tightly as she could, Mia overheard Jenie, Ambrosius, and Callie talking to Jacob.

"Jacob, you dear boy -- how can we ever thank you?"

"We owe you so much."

"Nah, you don't -- Tia's Hermia and Callie's sister, I wanted to help! I'm just glad I could..."

"How did you know Tia and the boys were in trouble? Did Carewyn tell you?"

"Pip tipped me off, yeah. She saw Dirk's name on a list of arrests and contacted me as quick as she could. I won't be able to keep them here long-term -- this room's too small to be any kind of permanent hiding place, especially for more than one person..."

Mia caught Jacob's eye when he looked at her and Tia.

"But I've already reached out to Kaari Arcano, and he'll be sending a friend by soon to help me transport you and your boys to another safehouse," he told Tia. "One a bit bigger and comfier than my little discount motel room."

Tia tried to choke back the worst of her tears before she raised her head. When she'd managed to compose herself, she gave Jacob a grateful nod next to Mia's shoulder.

"What about Dad?" piped up Skylar. "We can't leave Dad behind!"

Olin took hold of his younger brother's shoulders as he glanced at his mother for a response.

"They'll be taking Dirk to Azkaban," Callie said to Jacob anxiously. "Will you and Carewyn be able to get him out? Help him escape too?"

"We didn't have to," said Jacob. "He's already escaped."

Everyone in the room looked up in delight, but they faltered seeing how grim Jacob's face was.

"On his way to Azkaban, Dirk overpowered the man holding him -- John Dawlish, from the sound of things, snatched his broomstick, and flew away. All without a wand. Admittedly Dawlish was probably under the Imperius Curse, making him a bit slower on the uptake, but still -- pretty bad-ass on Dirk's end. The problem is that now that Dirk's on the run on his own, we have no idea where he is or how to locate him."

The Flumes all shared looks amongst themselves. Seeing Tia's devastated face, Jacob brought a hand up to touch her shoulder and offered her a smile.

"But don't worry -- Kar and his lot are good at finding people on the run and helping them stay safe. And even if Dirk gets recaptured, Pip will let me know right away and we'll smuggle him out again. And even if all that fails...well, it sounds like your husband is a bloke that anyone would be foolish to cross."

Tia choked through her own weak attempt at a smile. Olin and Skylar's faces both burst into relieved smiles.

"Thank you, Mr. Cromwell," Olin murmured.

"Yeah, thank you," echoed Skylar.

Jacob offered a weak smirk. "You're welcome. Just don't ever call me 'Mr. Cromwell' again, it makes me feel like a old man! Cripes!"

~*~

Not long later, Jenie, Callie and Mia bid Tia goodbye, with promises to stay in touch through Jacob. Sadly Ambrosius had transformed again, and so was unable to verbally say goodbye to his daughter and grandsons, but he still licked their faces a lot. Jacob had had to hoist Ambrosius fully into his arms before Apparating back to Honeydukes: fortunately he was strong enough that carrying a full-grown greyhound wasn't too much for him to manage.

Mia was the last Flume Jacob Apparated back, and she pulled him aside briefly.

"You and your sister are going to try breaking people out of the Ministry of Magic, aren't you?" she said. "Not just Dirk, but others too. Get them to safehouses, like the one Kaari Arcano knows about."

Jacob shrugged. "Yeah, that's the plan. As many as we can."

Mia nodded. "I'll send food. For your tenants. Sure, this room of yours isn't big," she indicated the bookcase room with her hand, "but it's like you said, it's like a motel room. People will need a place to rest and recover, before going elsewhere...and well, some sweets can take the edge of that. Especially ones infused with Wiggenweld potions and Murtlap essence."

Jacob was surprised by this, but only briefly: his face quickly burst into a big grin.

"Aw, hell yeah!" he cheered. "More free healing treats, courtesy of the Sovereign of Sweets herself, Hermia Flume!"

"The treats would be for your tenants, not you," Mia said dully, "so don’t gorge yourself. Only if you're hurt yourself."

Jacob only grinned wider as he saluted. "Yes, ma'am!"

"And now we turn over the mike to a consummate professional -- the newest addition to our program, the lovely and talented Miss Raspberry Ripple. Ripple?"

"Thanks for the hand-off, River...

"Hello, wotcher, good evening, Potterwatchers! I'm Raspberry Ripple, or just Ripple, hosting a special Christmas broadcast of Help in Hiding -- the part of our program where we can share useful advice and hopeful stories that can be a bright star in the midst of the Chief Death Eater's recent snowstorm. Just as a reminder, don't say the bloke's name out loud -- the Ministry's Taboo on it is still strong."

"Stronger than the stench on most Snatchers, for sure."

"(laughs) Yes! Too true, Rapier!"

"Now there, you see, River? Ripple can remember my name on-air. What's your excuse?"

"Moving right along...I've assembled a lovely list of names you can use in place of the Chief Death Eater's name, courtesy of a good friend of mine. Ahem -- 'Moldy Shorts'; 'Old Morty'; 'Oldie-Voldie'; 'The Dork Lord'; 'Grindelwald Junior'; 'That Insecure Loser'...and, thanks to the genius of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, 'U-No-Poo.'"

"Ah -- always a classic."

"Don't forget Baldymort."

"(laughs) Tentacula, you are a riot: you really are. Ahem. But yes -- moving on to our top story tonight...

"Madam Puddifoot and her elf business partner Dewey have set up a food delivery system for families hiding in the Scottish Highlands. Packages of basic necessities like bread, cheese, and dried fruit are dropped off in the caves outside Hogsmeade village, specifically in the one with an opening shaped like a pear, every Tuesday morning and night. Please, for the sake of your fellows in hiding, only take one package for each group per day. Dewey has said he will be monitoring food package pick-up to ensure safety and supply.

"For those of you positioned in the Whitechapel area, our friends in the Phoenix Resistance have sent word that the Lone Star Tavern is now offering transport out of Britain. If you are Muggle-born and either are fluent in French or have family or contacts in France, follow up at the bar with the bartender wearing a tie pin shaped like a lightning bolt. Ask for the French 75. Remember, friends: it's not running away from your troubles if it's running to freedom. In freedom, we can all make the choice to live, and to fight.

"Are you having trouble keeping yourself and your clothes clean while living in hiding or even on the run? An anonymous contributor to Potterwatch -- herself a stay-at-home mother of two boys, currently hiding in Ireland -- has sent me a list of recommendations to help our loyal listeners. Firstly, the Scouring Charm Scourgify is great ateliminating mold and dirt. If dealing with any more magical stains, such as creature venom, Skurge is your friend. And for blood, grease, or other more gross liquid stains, fall back on Tergeo for siphoning off the excess. Don't discount Muggle remedies too! Lemon juice does wonders in breaking down stains and brightening white clothing. Crack some eggs into a bottle, seal it, and shake it well enough to beat the yolk, and you have a makeshift shampoo. Even a mixture of hot water and Muggle baking soda can be used to clean both clothes and yourself! As much as the danger of our World may make things like staying clean seem insignificant, our anonymous contributor wants to remind our listeners that good hygiene and keeping up some level of routine can do wonders for your mental health.

"And to close us out...a heartwarming story connecting Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with the neighboring town of Hogsmeade. In the light of the Carrows' reign of terror, where more violent punishments are being enacted and NEWT-level classes are purportedly being taught to use the Cruciatus Curse on younger students, Honeydukes Sweetshop has quietly stepped up to offer support. With help from the student group Dumbledore's Army and the house elves within the Hogwarts kitchens, Honeydukes has successfully smuggled a total of fifty batches of cupcakes into Hogwarts in the last month, many infused with healing draughts and magical chocolate to at least partially combat student injuries. We at Potterwatch send all of our love and gratitude to Ambrosius, Jenie, and Mia Flume for their kindness and courage. Keep up your wonderful efforts -- I can't wait to walk back through the door to Honeydukes and buy a fresh Cauldron Cake when this War is finally over.

"Until next time...keep your head up, a smile on, and your hand on that dial."

~*~

As fate would have it, all of Callie's family heard her broadcast that night.

In Ireland, Tia listened to her youngest sister from the comfort of an old armchair with Skylar sitting on the chair's right arm next to her, and she squeezed Olin's hand tight when her contribution was read.

Beside a riverbank in Wales, Dirk Cresswell shivered next to a campfire with fellow fugitives Dean Thomas and Griphook the goblin. When he recognized Callie's voice on the radio they'd nicked, he leapt out of his seat to turn the broadcast up, his pale, bearded features stretched almost painfully with the size of his wide eyes and smile.

And upstairs of Honeydukes, Mia sat with her mother Jenie on the sofa, Ambrosius in dog form resting his head in her lap as they listened to her younger sister's report together.

Even though the Flumes were separated by the Second Wizarding War, hearing Callie's optimistic broadcast was a beacon in the dark for both Tia and Mia: a metaphorical mug of hot cocoa on that freezing, quiet Christmas night.

Even while being hundreds of miles apart...Mia felt like her sisters' spirits were right there beside her -- cheering her on in a way that they never had before. And that filled her up with a courage she could hardly fathom.

“Hey I’m back.” She greeted him with a wave of her hands. “Where’s Edgar and Alaric?”

“They are in the cellar working on the enchantments on the barrel door.” He replied, putting his broom down and wandering over to give her a kiss. “So how are Charlie and Asri getting on?”

“It’s like Charlie never left. They already have it up and running. Asri is excited to live in Paris because he was a baby when we moved away.” She smiled as she signed but then it faded and she signed more hesitantly, “I just hope the war doesn’t reach them.”

Henry quickly wrapped his arms around her, smiling gently as the residual smell of yeast and sugar reached his nose. “I can’t promise you they will be ok. However I can promise you I will try my best to protect them, including you. I love you.”

Sniffing and wiping away tears that have gathered in her eyes she smiled back, “Not if I protect you first. I love you too.”

Devon perked up suddenly, “I have something to show you. You’ll need your coat.”

Paris, France - 11:30 AM

After getting his coat and changing the time on the portkey, they apparated into the store room of the bakery, the smell of bread hitting them immediately.

“Meet me out in the car. We are taking Charlie’s, here’s the keys. There’s something I have to grab first.” She signed and handed him the keys before disappearing in the back.

Five minutes later Devon reappeared, exiting the bakery and shoving something in the trunk of the car and then jumping into the passenger seat.

“So where are we off to? Or is that a surprise?”

“You bet. Turn left up there” She replied with a wink, pointing down the street.

Following Devon’s occasional directions, Henry drove down Paris streets until finally coming to the edge of the city, the high urban buildings being replaced by more and more trees. Eventually Devon told him to pull over in front of a small cottage overgrown with vines and foliage.

“This was our house. When my mom was still alive.” She signed as she got out of the car, answering Henry’s question before he could make it.

“Come on, we aren’t there yet!” She added as she grabbed his hand after retrieving a large basket from the trunk.

The two of them walked around the house towards the back and then entered the dense forest. Bright green leaves gently rustled in the wind. Only Henry heard the cracking of sticks beneath their feet and the chirp of birds above.

Within minutes they emerged into a clearing. In the center laid a huge flat rock next to a small stream that slowly flowed over mossy stones. Upon the rock was a knit blanket made of deep red, orange, and brown.

Henry laughed brightly as they walked over and sat down on the blanket, Devon producing containers of food from the basket and laying them out. The last thing she pulled out was a large cardboard box which she instead handed to Henry. Opening it up, his eyes met an elegantly frosted cake topped with a mixture of fruits, obviously a product of the Marlowe Bakery.

“Happy Birthday, my love”

The hours passed by as they drank champagne and enjoyed a picnic under the noon day sun of Paris.

“If only this had been here twenty years ago,” he said, his eyes fixed on the large wooden climbing frame that had been crafted to look like a pirate ship. “Just imagine the trouble you could have gotten into here.”

“Do you really want to imagine that?” Artemis asked him.

“No, but I cannot help it. You might have to bring your new niece here one day.”

“Depends which niece you mean, Kingsley. The blood relative or the one I’ve actually met,” Artemis raised her eyebrows knowingly, before grinning. “But I might do. It’s a good ship, after all.”

“I prefer a longboat myself.”

“You sound like Kaari bloody Arcano.”

“Ah. How is our favourite Norseman?”

“As infuriating to work with as ever,” said Artemis, with a wry smile. “But we are nearly done closing down on the smuggling ring.”

“And then?”

“Onto the next thing, I suppose.”

“Of course,” Kingsley inclined his head. “Artemis Hexley: saving the world, one creature at a time.”

“There are worse ways to spend my time. I mean, it beats being an Auror.”

“Or a politician?”

“Exactly,” Artemis half-laughed, and although Kingsley also chuckled, Artemis could see that his attention had drifted from their conversation. He was watching a young woman around her own age leading a toddler towards a swing. Artemis frowned. “That’s her?”

“That’s her.”

“Right,” Artemis swallowed. “And she knows I’m coming, doesn’t she?”

“She does,” Kingsley raised an eyebrow at her. “Perhaps you should not keep her waiting.”

“No. No, you’re right. Thank you for coming with me, Kingsley.”

“I would go with you anywhere, you know that. Now, go. Talk to her.”

Artemis took a deep breath before walking away from Kingsley and towards the woman, who was now pushing her dark-haired child on the swing. Now that she was closer, Artemis found that she recognised the woman from some of the many court proceedings she had attended in the year following the end of the war. She cleared her throat, and the woman looked at her.

“Mrs Briarwood?”

“Yes,” said the woman, a reserved look in her brown eyes. “Mrs Hexley?”

“No. Well, yes. But it’s Miss Hexley. Artemis.”

“María.”

“Thank you for agreeing to meet me, María.”

“You’re very welcome,” María said, her voice carrying a gentle accent that Artemis immediately recognised as being from the south of Spain. “Though I do not know why you wanted to meet me.”

“Well, I just wanted to apologise,” Artemis told her. “For… Well, you know what I did.” María nodded, and Artemis looked her in the eye and said, “I’m sorry.”

María frowned. “Why?”

“What?”

“Why are you sorry?”

“Because of your husband.”

“My husband,” María laughed quietly and coolly. “The Death Eater. I was at the trials, I know what he did. I know the circumstances in which you killed him. He was not a good person.”

“But you loved him,” said Artemis, not realising until she’d said the words out loud that it was not a question. María sighed.

“Yes. I loved him,” she said, with a sad sort of smile. “I did not realise, of course, that he was not such a good person. I knew what sort of reputation he had, but it was just a reputation. Or so I thought, anyway. After we were married, I started to see how he… And then, the war broke it, and the Death Eaters were there, in the shop and the house. Cain said it was just business at first, but as time went on, he became one of them. By then it was too late, we were married, and I was pregnant, and scared.”

“Scared of what? Of him?”

“Yes, but not in the way you think. Cain was never violent, not with me, anyway. He loved me. I believed it then, and I believe it now. That is what scared me, losing that belief. Not just for my own sake, but for his, too. I still am scared of that for his sake.”

At first, Artemis assumed that María was still talking about her late husband, but the woman’s eyes were fixed on the child in the swing. A little boy, barely a toddler, with dark curls and round hazel eyes that were fixed unwaveringly on Artemis.

Artemis looked from the little boy to his mother, and told her, “Look, María. I really want to help you.”

“Help me?”

“Yeah. Give you some money and stuff.”

“I don’t need your money.”

“I thought you’d say that. But it’s my fault that-”

“I don’t want your money.”

“Yes, I know, but listen,” Artemis’ eyes widened, and she spoke quickly so that María couldn’t interrupt her again. “I know what it is like, having family who’ve done bad things. I know what it’s like having that reputation hanging over you, because I’ve been through it. And I’ve seen what it’s like for families who are poor, and how much harder everything is, and knowing that I’m the reason that someone might go through that…” She sighed before continuing, “If it weren’t for me, you’d still have a husband and your child would still have a father. And you might have two lots of money coming in, at least.”

“Or I would have a husband in prison.”

“Maybe. Yeah, probably. But that’s not the point, is it? Cain wasn’t a good person, but that’s not your fault. You shouldn’t have to be punished for the things he thought or did, and neither should…” Artemis’ eyes settled on the little boy in the swing once more. “Um, what’s his name?”

“Dante.”

“Oh. That’s a nice name,” said Artemis, not sure what other response she could give. She pulled an envelope from her pocket and pushed it into María’s hand. “I know you don’t want charity, but that’s not what this is. It’s just… I’m trying to do the right thing, to make things right. That’s all. So, just take my address, and think about it. The offer is there whenever you change your mind. If you change your mind.”

María’s expression was still sceptical, but she pocketed the envelope. Artemis nodded at both her and little Dante before backing away and returning to Kingsley, still waiting for her outside the playground.

“And?” he asked her. “How did it go?”

“About as well as I’d expected.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“It’s neither, really,” Artemis shrugged. “It’s just one of those things, I guess.”

“And what did she say to your offer?”

“She wasn’t too interested.”

“That does not surprise me.”

“No, me neither. But I’ve let her know where to write to if she does reconsider it.”

“She might not, you know.”

“I do know. But it was still worth trying. And maybe she will. Hopefully she will.”

Kingsley bowed his head. “Hopefully.”

He and Artemis turned away from the playground and towards the Serpentine lake, where the sunlight reflected on the still water and white feathers of the swans preening themselves on the banks. Before they were out of sight completely, Artemis cast one final look back over her shoulder at the widow and her son. The little boy was now being held on his mother’s hip, her arms embracing him and their faces close together as they spoke to one another, loving smiles playing on their lips and crinkling the corners of their eyes. The very sight of it made Artemis smile herself.

Shaking the sudden feeling of melancholy, Mina passed the magical barrier and made her way up the gravelled driveway to the Pendleton Estate. Her parents and grandparents would undoubtedly be making the most of the weather and enjoy the shade somewhere in the spacious gardens, but the one she actually wanted to see Mina found in the conversatory, just like she had expected. 

Carolyn Pendleton was sitting in a cushioned wicker chair by the open glass doors, looking at the sunny gardens outside. A single lock of her hair - once as blonde Mina’s but now greyed by age - had fallen from her otherwise immaculate updo and was stirring gently in the summer breeze. When she heard Mina approach, a brief smile flickered over her face.

“Welcome, child,” she said and extended her hand, indicating for Mina to sit down in the chair facing her. “You’ve come home, at last.”

Mina sat across from her great-grandmother, wringing her hands in her lap in silence. Carolyn raised an inquisitive eyebrow; like always, she didn’t care to waste time on pleasantries.

“What is it that you want to tell me?” 

Her voice wasn’t sharp by any means, but Mina startled nonetheless. Sensing her distress, Carolyn’s demeanour softened. “Don’t be frightened, älskling. Speak your mind.”

Mina swallowed and took a deep breath. “It’s about the apothecary,” she said miserably and hung her head, “it got burned down. It’s all gone.”

“But I know that,” Carolyn said with mild impatience in her voice. “It was in the Daily Prophet weeks ago. You didn’t need to come here and tell me.”

“No, of course,” Mina hurried to say, “but I figured I should tell you personally. That I’m sorry, I mean. I’m sorry I let it happen and that I couldn’t stop it and that I just vanished instead of having the guts to come here and tell you and…” 

When Mina saw her great-grandmother’s eyebrows rise higher and higher at her gush of words, she immediately fell silent. “What I want to say is, I’m sorry,” she repeated in a very small voice.

Carolyn looked at Mina for a long moment before she turned her head to the side. Mina followed her gaze to the red-and-white amaryllis flower sitting on the side table next to Carolyn’s chair. She had to think about Ava but quickly pushed the thought aside as Carolyn extended her hand and gently touched the soft petals. 

“Worth isn’t defined by size or impact,” she said softly and laid her hand beneath the blossom, raising it slightly so that the sunlight was shining down on it, “it’s defined by what it means to the ones remembering it. What it leaves behind.”

Her words were meant to comfort Mina, but instead they made her conscience even heavier. “The shop was what you’re been leaving behind but because of me it’s gone. Everything is burned to ash, all your work, your recipes, everything. You trusted me to keep them safe and I didn’t. You must be so disappointed in me.”

Carolyn frowned, making Mina sink deeper into her seat. “What are you talking about? They were just some ancient scraps of parchment, nothing more.” She tapped her finger against her temple and smirked. “They’re all still up here. If you really think I have forgotten them, I would indeed be disappointed in you.”

Confused, Mina blinked. “But the shop… it was your legacy.”

Carolyn dismissed her with an impatient flick of her hand. “The shop was the bane of your great-grandfather’s life until we tore it down and built it anew. Don’t you see it, älskling?” she added and the wrinkles around her eyes deepened as she smiled at Mina. “The shop has never been my legacy. You are.” 

Mina froze and stared at the woman she had admired her entire life. 

“Me?” she whispered with a shaky voice.

“None of my children ever matched my talent. Some came close, but you were the first to understand what it truly means to be a potioneer. That’s why I put my trust in you.” Carolyn reached out and covered Mina’s hand with hers, the emerald ring she always wore on her left hand flashing in the sunflight. “My path has led to you. And now it is time for you to go and follow your own.”

Diagon Alley, London - July 1998, 1.00 pm

Slowly but surely, normality had begun to creep back into everyone’s lives and the streets of Diagon Alley were as crowded as they always were during the summer break. There were still building sites and abandoned shops, but their number was growing less with every passing day.

The latest business to reopen had been the new ice cream shop on the main street.  Every seat inside and outside of Madam Isabella’s Ice Cream Emporium was filled and the queue lining up for a sweet refreshment was the longest Mina had ever seen. She walked past it, however; she had no time to stop for a treat. 

Amongst the people enjoying the warm weather were the familiar faces of Ellie Hopper and her husband. When they spotted her, the three of them shared a brief nod of recognition. None of them was quite ready to deal with everything that had happened just yet; Mina wasn’t sure, if she ever would be. 

She left the bustling main street and walked down the alley towards the ruins of her old home; only that they weren’t ruins anymore. The charred remains of Pendleton’s Potions & Apothecary had been removed and a new building was standing in its place - shiny, clean and ready for a new occupant. The first pieces of equipment were arriving today and Mina watched as they were being carried into the new shop.

“You have a strange taste in furniture,” the familiar voice of Kaari Arcano suddenly sounded behind her. Mina turned and saw him leaning casually against a wrought-iron lantern post. He walked over to her and inspected a particularly large cage that was being levitated inside with an amused gleam in his eyes. “Or is there something I ought to know about you?”

Mina rolled her eyes at him. “You could do with being locked up for a week or two. But obviously this stuff isn’t for me. It’s for the new shop.”

Kaari raised his eyebrows. “Strange decor for a potions shop.”

“I never said it was going to be my shop,” Mina smiled. “A magical menagerie is moving in,” she clarified when she saw Kaari’s astounded look.

“You’re not reopening then?”

“No,” Mina said and shook her head, the ends of her hair brushing over her bare shoulders; she’d let it grow out since the end of the war. “I don’t think that’s a life I can go back to. It’s time to leave the beaten paths.”

“What are you going to do then?”

Mina shrugged. “I don’t know yet. See where the road will take me.” A smile played around her lips as she watched the new shop sign being hoisted up above the entrance. “There’s more to life than living other people’s dreams. Somewhere out there is my own calling, I just need to go and find it.”

“Well, if your calling should happen to take you to the most superior part of Scandinavia, let me know,” Kaari grinned and tried to nudge her with his elbow, but Mina sidestepped him with a laugh.

“What would you be doing in Sweden?” 

Kaari chuckled. “I mean it. If you’re ever around Fossan or Skalafell, just say the word. You’re always going to have a place in my home.”

“Are you going to clean beforehand?”

“Maybe superficially.”

“That’s as good as it gets, I guess.” 

Mina let Kaari draw her into a tight hug before he stepped back, raising a hand in goodbye and walking away. She looked up to the sky and smiled to herself as she saw the almost invisible shape of Ryoko glide across the sky until he, too, was gone.

The North Sea - August 1998, 6.30 am

Standing on the prow of the ship, Mina gripped the railing tightly as it ploughed through the dark waves of the North Sea. Ahead of her the first rays of a new day were painting the rocks and wooden houses of the Swedish coast in a fiery golden colour that made her heart beat faster in her chest. 

Shortly after she had said goodbye to Kaari, Mina had left first London and then England behind. Saying goodbye to her family for an indefinite amount of time had been difficult, but deep inside, Mina knew it had been the right thing to do. 

Considering that Ava had almost met her demise during the Battle of Hogwarts, leaving her had been the hardest choice for Mina to make. She was far from being recovered - mentally and physically - and Mina had offered to stay more than one time, but Ava hadn’t wanted her to. Both of them had to find a place of their own in this shining new world. 

Six months ago she would never have dreamed that she’d be standing on a ship, the spray in her face and the wind whipping at her hair, her heart fluttering at the thought of everything that was lying ahead of her. She had been caged by the rigid and uneventful life she had made herself believe she’d wanted. But if the war had taught her anything, it was that nothing was certain. When death was coming to take you, it didn’t ask whether or not there were still things left to be done. 

There was more to life than what she’d known and now she was on her way to a bright, new future all of her own. 

She was more than an heiress to her name. More than potions. More than traditions.

She was more. 

And somewhere out there her future was waiting, and the path that was meant for her. 

Mina could feel it in her bones.

This was where her road had led. Where she was supposed to be, right here, right now.