Looking up, I saw the same woman who had saved me in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, now pacing toward us from the staircase, slightly limping.

Sirius jumped to his feet angrily at her sight. "You're supposed to be resting! Who said you could get out of bed!?"

"I did," said the woman with authority. "Now sit your dramatic arse back down, Black. And give me your hand. I'll heal it for you."

Sirius grinned as the woman reached us and so he sat down on the couch. "If you want to hold my hand, you can just say so. You don't have to make excuses."

The woman gave him a look, which was enough to shut him up. She then turned to look at me worriedly. "You okay, Lexi? You're not hurt, are you?"

I shook my head lightly, feeling slightly different. I must've transformed back to myself again. I watched as she drew out her wand and started healing Sirius's wounded hand.

       "How's Harry?" she asked urgently. "And Remus?"

Sirius looked back at me, as if he wanted to hear me say it again just to make sure.

"They're both fine," I reassured them.

"What happened?" she asked, looking between the two of us anxiously.

"We were ambushed," Sirius answered grimly. I saw the color drain from the woman's face as she stared at us. "They knew we were moving Harry tonight. We were betrayed. Didn't you know of their plan?"

"No, I wasn't able to go undercover as one of the people in his inner circle this time," she said regretfully. "They don't trust anyone as easily after what happened last time."

I wanted to ask what she meant, but at the exact moment, the kettle started slightly shaking. So taking the opportunity, I briskly turned to face the woman again.

"I wanted to thank you," I told her as Sirius got to his feet, "for saving me from Greyback."

"Don't mention it. Besides, one sassy werewolf is enough for the gang. We didn't need another one." She grinned, making me laugh.

       "We better get going. The Portkey will leave in a minute," said Sirius as walked toward the Portkey, me following him right behind. We both got a hold of the Portkey as it started shaking furiously.

        Sirius then turned to face the woman with a smile, saying, "I'll see you in a few hours."

By one last look at her, I felt like I was being sucked into nothingness, feeling the world spinning to my eyes until our feet hit the ground as we got to the yard outside the Burrow.

At the voice of our Portkey arriving, Mrs. Weasley and Harry ran out of the hourse toward us, followed by Ginny and Hagrid.

But the next moment, we saw Lupin run out of the house toward us, drawing out his wand and pointing it at Sirius.

"Where did we practice performing a Patronus charm?" said Lupin coldly.

"At Hogwarts, fourth floor," Sirius answered, his wand raised as well. "In the secret passageway behind the mirror."

Lupin lowered his wand, panting slightly and still looking shook. Mrs. Weasley sighed in relief when she saw we were all right and Harry ran forward to hug Sirius.

"Who's been back?" Sirius asked as they pulled away.

"Kingsley and Hermione," said Lupin. "George took a curse to the ear. By Snape. But he'll be fine."

At the name, I saw a murderous look flash through Sirius's eyes, his teeth gritting together and his hands turning into fists, his knuckles going white.

But I passed them quickly, making a run for the house, finding George laying unconscious on the sofa with a bloody bandage around his head.

My eyes filled up with tears as I watched him. But I reminded myself that he would be all right. Though seeing him motionless and blood-covered, I couldn't help but think of Fred.

So I shook my head and briskly looked away, no longer being able to hold back my tears. I went outside, awaiting the others as we kept our glance at the sky.

My heart jolted as soon as Fred appeared along with Mr. Weasley. With one glance at me, Fred suddenly ran toward me and flung his arms around me.

"Thank God, you're all right," he whispered.

"George's inside," said Lupin, looking sorrowful. "He's — he has been hurt. But he'll be fine."

By those words, both Mr. Weasley and Fred went pale, running toward the house and entering the living room where George was laying and the rest of us followed them.

Mr. Weasley dropped to his knees beside George. But Fred seemed to be lost for words as he gaped over the back of the sofa at his twin's wound as if he could not believe what he was seeing.

"How do you feel, Georgie?" whispered Fred as he got to his brother. George stirred at his presence.

George's fingers then groped for the side of his head. "Saintlike," he murmured.

"What's wrong with him?" croaked Fred, looking terrified. "Is his mind affected?"

"Saintlike," repeated George, opening his eyes and looking up at his brother. "You see... I'm holy. Holey, Fred, geddit?"

Fred smiled. "With the whole wide world of ear-related humor before you, you go for I'm holey? Pathetic!"

"Ah well," said George, grinning at his tear-soaked mother. "You'll be able to tell us apart now, anyway, Mum." He then looked around. "Hi, Harry — you are Harry, right?"

"Yeah, I am," said Harry, moving closer to the sofa.

"Well, at least we got you back okay," said George. "Why aren't Ron and Bill huddled round my sickbed?"

"They're not back yet, George," said Mrs. Weasley. George's grin faded.

At that moment, I thought to myself that now that everyone was back to safety, it wouldn't hurt to tell them the truth to stop them from worrying. It was the least I could, to save them from unnecessary suffering.

"Bill and Ron and Fleur will be fine," I said, then turning to Lupin and adding, "and so will Tonks."

They all looked relieved, smiling once more as they gave me look that I knew was full of gratefulness which warmed my heart, telling me many unsaid words.

But nonetheless we all went back to the yard, pacing around as we awaited the rest impatiently.

"It's them!" Hermione suddenly shouted, pointing at the sky. Tonks and Ron landed in a long skid on a broom.

"Remus!" Tonks cried as she staggered off the broom into Lupin's arms. His face was set and white. He seemed unable to speak.

       Ron tripped dazedly toward Harry and Hermione. "You're okay," he mumbled, before Hermione flew at him and hugged him tightly.

        "Ron was great," said Tonks warmly, pulling away from Lupin. "Wonderful. Stunned one of the Death Eaters, straight to the head, and when you're aiming at a moving target from a flying broom —"

       "You did?" said Hermione, gazing up at Ron with her arms still around his neck.

       "Always the tone of surprise," he said, breaking free. "Are we the last back?"

       "No," said Ginny, "we're still waiting for Bill and Fleur and Mad- Eye and Mundungus. I'm going to tell Mum and Dad you're okay, Ron." She ran back inside.

        "So what kept you? What happened?" Lupin sounded almost angry at Tonks.

      "Bellatrix," said Tonks. "She wants me quite as much as she wants Harry, Remus, she tried very hard to kill me. I just wish I'd got her. I owe Bellatrix."

       "I'm going to have to get back to Downing Street, I should have been there an hour ago," said Kingsley finally, after a last sweeping gaze at the sky. "Let me know when they're back."

       Lupin nodded. With a wave to the others, Kingsley walked away into the darkness toward the gate. We heard the faintest pop as Kingsley Disapparated just beyond the Burrow's boundaries.

       Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came racing down the back steps, Ginny behind them. Both parents hugged Ron before turning to Lupin and Tonks.

      "Thank you," said Mrs. Weasley, "for our sons."

       "Don't be silly, Molly," said Tonks at once.

      "How's George?" asked Lupin.

      "What's wrong with him?" piped up Ron.

      "He's lost —"

       But the end of Mrs. Weasley's sentence was drowned in an outcry. A thestral had just landed a few feet from us. Bill and Fleur slid from its back, windswept but unhurt.

        "Bill! Thank God, thank God —"
Mrs. Weasley ran forward to hug him.

       I knew that this was the moment. Bill was going to announce Mad-Eye's death.

       But he didn't.

       Instead, just a few moments later, we heard a crash nearby and when we turned, we saw Alastor Moody limping forward as he growled, saying, "If I get my hands on that Mundungus, I'm going to strangle him to death!"