───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Blair remained in her chair, frozen with shock and relief. She turned to Harry with a huge smile. "J-James!"

Harry grinned heartily. "We're fine, Aika. We are."

"Where's Dumbledore? Why'd he leave so early?" Blair said, looking around for the man.

Too happy to care, Harry shrugged and nudged her. The Wizengamot were all getting to their feet, talking, and gathering up their papers and packing them away. They stood up. As Blair looked around, she caught the eye of the toadlike witch, who was gazing at them so critically. 

Blair ignored her and looked at Fudge and Madam Bones, but Madam Bones was busy with her briefcase while Fudge seemed quite determined not to notice them. Harry tugged Blair's arm. They took a few tentative steps toward the exit and when nobody called them back, broke into a very fast walk. 

Harry and Blair took the last few steps at a run, wrenched open the door, and almost collided with Mr. Weasley, who was standing right outside, looking pale and apprehensive. "Dumbledore didn't say —"

"Cleared," Harry said, pulling the door closed behind him, "of all charges!"

Beaming, Mr. Weasley patted Harry on the shoulder and hugged Blair tight. "Blair, Harry, that's wonderful! Well, of course, they couldn't have found you guilty, not on the evidence, but even so, I can't pretend I wasn't —" But Mr. Weasley broke off, because the courtroom door had just opened again. The Wizengamot were filing out.

"Merlin's beard," said Mr. Weasley wonderingly, pulling Blair and Harry aside to let them all pass, "you were tried by the full court?"

"I think so," said Blair quietly. One or two of the passing wizards nodded to Blair and Harry as they passed and a few, including Madam Bones, said, "Morning, Arthur," to Mr. Weasley, but most averted their eyes.

Cornelius Fudge and the toadlike witch were almost the last to leave the dungeon. Fudge acted as though Mr. Weasley, Blair and Harry were part of the wall, but again, the witch glanced at Harry before staring at Blair with an unreadable gaze as she passed.

Last of all to pass was Percy. Like Fudge, he completely ignored his father, Blair and Harry. The lines around Mr. Weasley's mouth tightened slightly, but other than this he gave no sign that he had noticed his third son. "I'm going to take you straight back so you can tell the others the good news," he said, beckoning Blair and Harry forward. I'll drop you off on the way to that toilet in Bethnal Green. Come on..."

"So what will you have to do about the toilet?" Blair asked, grinning. Everything suddenly seemed five times funnier than usual. It was starting to sink in: They were cleared, they were going back to Hogwarts.

"Oh, it's a simple enough anti-jinx," said Mr. Weasley as they mounted the stairs, "but it's not so much having to repair the damage, it's more the attitude behind the vandalism, Blair, Harry. Muggle-baiting might strike some wizards as funny, but it's an expression of something much deeper and nastier, and I for one —"

Mr. Weasley broke off in mid-sentence. They had just reached the ninth-level corridor, and Cornelius Fudge was standing a few feet away from them, talking quietly to a tall man with sleek blond hair and a pointed, pale face. The second man turned at the sound of their footsteps. He too broke off in mid-conversation, his cold gray eyes narrowed and gazed upon Harry and Blair's faces.

"Well, well, well... Patronus Potter and Wild Wood," said Lucius Malfoy coolly. Blair felt herself freeze. She remembered that he was one of the Death Eaters, laughing, while her parents were killed. He was the one who brought them there. Blair glared at him fiercely and felt Harry's hand squeeze hers. She glanced at him and saw the same glare on his face.

"The Minister was just telling me about your lucky escape, Potter, Wood," drawled Mr. Malfoy. "Quite astonishing, the way you two continue to wriggle out of very tight holes... Snakelike, in fact..." Mr. Weasley gripped Harry and Blair's shoulders in warning. 

"Yeah," said Harry, "yeah, we're good at escaping..."

"You'd know all about being slippery, don't you, Mr. Malfoy?" Blair said coldly.

Lucius Malfoy glared at her before he raised his eyes to Mr. Weasley's face. "And Arthur Weasley too! What are you doing here, Arthur?"

"I work here," said Mr. Weasley shortly. Blair held back her laughter because Mr. Malfoy looked flustered for a moment before he hardened his face.

"Not here, surely?" said Mr. Malfoy, raising his eyebrows. "I thought you were up on the second floor... Don't you do something that involves sneaking Muggle artifacts home and bewitching them?"

"No," said Mr. Weasley curtly, his fingers now biting into their shoulders.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Harry asked Lucius Malfoy.

"I don't think private matters between myself and the Minister are any concern of yours, Potter," said Malfoy, smoothing the front of his robes. "Really, just because you and Wood are Dumbledore's favorite boy and girl, you must not expect the same indulgence from the rest of us... Shall we go up to your office, then, Minister?"

"Certainly," said Fudge, turning his back on Blair, Harry and Mr. Weasley. "This way, Lucius." They strode off together, talking in low voices. Mr. Weasley did not let go of their shoulders until they had disappeared into the lift.

"Why wasn't he waiting outside Fudge's office if they've got business to do together?" Blair burst out furiously. "What was he doing down here?"

"Trying to sneak down to the courtroom, if you ask me," said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely agitated as he glanced over his shoulder as though making sure they could not be overheard. "Trying to find out whether you'd been expelled or not. I'll leave a note for Dumbledore when I drop you off, he ought to know Malfoy's been talking to Fudge again."

"What private business have they got together anyway?" Harry asked.

"Gold, I expect," said Mr. Weasley angrily. "Malfoy's been giving generously to all sorts of things for years... Gets him in with the right people... then he can ask favors... delay laws he doesn't want passed... Oh, he's very well connected, Lucius Malfoy..." The lift arrived; it was empty except for a flock of memos that flapped around Mr. Weasley's head as he pressed the button for the Atrium and the doors clanged shut; he waved them away irritably.

"Mr. Weasley," said Harry slowly, "if Fudge is meeting Death Eaters like Malfoy, if he's seeing them alone, how do we know they haven't put the Imperius Curse on him?"

"Don't think it hadn't occurred to us, Harry," muttered Mr. Weasley. "But Dumbledore thinks Fudge is acting of his own accord at the moment — which, as Dumbledore says, is not a lot of comfort... Best not talk about it anymore just now..."

The doors slid open and they stepped out into the now almost deserted Atrium. Eric the security man was hidden behind his Daily Prophet again. They had walked straight past the golden fountain when Blair stopped. 

"Wait..." She took out her money bag and put in all her money into the pool at the statues' feet, just like she always did whenever she was at the ministry. She grinned as Harry did the same beside her. 

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"I knew it!" yelled Ron, punching the air. "You two always get away with stuff!"

"They were bound to clear you," said Hermione, who was smiling at them. "There was no case against you two, none at all..."

Blair smirked at her. "How about a hug, Granger? Or maybe a congratulatory kiss?" Hermione just rolled her eyes and chuckled at the girl.

"Everyone seems quite relieved, though, considering they all knew we'd get off," said Harry, smiling. 

Mrs. Weasley was wiping her face on her apron, and Fred, George, and Ginny were doing a kind of war dance to a chant that went "They got off, they got off, they got off —"

"That's enough, settle down!" shouted Mr. Weasley, though he too was smiling. "Listen, Sirius, Lucius Malfoy was at the Ministry —"

"What?" said Sirius sharply.

"They got off, they got off, they got off —"

"Be quiet, you three! Yes, we saw him talking to Fudge on level nine, then they went up to Fudge's office together. Dumbledore ought to know."

"Absolutely," said Sirius. "We'll tell him, don't worry."

"Well, I'd better get going, there's a vomiting toilet in Bethnal Green waiting for me. Molly, I'll be late, I'm covering for Tonks, but Kingsley might be dropping in for dinner —"

"They got off, they got off, they got off —"

"That's enough — Fred — George — Ginny!" said Mrs. Weasley, as Mr. Weasley left the kitchen. "Blair, Harry, dears, come and sit down, have some lunch, you hardly ate breakfast..."

Blair sat down beside Harry and smiled at the witch across her. She didn't care about the encounter with Lucius Malfoy anymore. Nothing could bring down her mood. She grinned at Harry, who immediately grinned back. They were fine. They were home.

"'Course, once Dumbledore turned up on your side, there was no way they were going to convict you," said Ron happily.

"Yeah, he swung it for us," said Harry. Blair's face fell slightly at the thought that Dumbledore didn't even talk to them. And as she thought this, the scar on her chest burned so badly that she started rubbing it. She exchanged glances with Harry, who clapped his hand to his scar. They had to talk later.

"What's up?" said Hermione, looking alarmed.

"Scar," Harry mumbled. "But it's nothing... It happens all the time now..."

"I'm just hungry," Blair lied. She didn't tell anyone else about the scar on her chest. Only Oliver, who was appalled at what his sister had to go through. None of the others had noticed a thing; all of them were now helping themselves to food while gloating over Blair and Harry's narrow escape; Fred, George, and Ginny were still singing.

Hermione was now looking at Blair, clearly not believing her, but before she could say anything, Ron said happily, "I bet Dumbledore turns up this evening to celebrate with us, you know."

"I don't think he'll be able to, Ron," said Mrs. Weasley, setting a huge plate of roast chicken down in front of Blair and Harry. "He's really very busy at the moment."

"THEY GOT OFF, THEY GOT OFF, THEY GOT OFF —"

"SHUT UP!" roared Mrs. Weasley.

After they had eaten, everyone retreated to their rooms... Well, everyone but Blair and Harry. They sat down in the living room while gazing at the stars through the small window, Blair was mindlessly stirring her cup of hot chocolate that had now turned cold. "Is this how you felt, Harry? When it had hurt?"

"Something's coming, Aika. Every time, my scar, well our scars will hurt, there's something coming."

"Well, James. We just have to be ready then. We'll fight like there's no tomorrow. We'll fight like we never had before."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Over the next few days, Blair could not help but notice that there was one person who did not seem happy that they would be returning to Hogwarts. Sirius was smiling and congratulating them at first, but he was moodier and surlier than before. 

While Harry, Hermione and Ron were scrubbing the moldy cupboard on the third floor, Blair took it upon herself to go to Sirius's mother's room. She knocked lightly on the door. "Uncle Padfoot?"

There was the light sound of footsteps before the door opened. Sirius smiled weakly, looking exhausted and messed up. "Hey, Little B."

Blair smiled before entering the room and closing the door. She bowed to Buckbeak and when Buckbeak bowed back, she walked over slowly and started stroking him. "What's wrong, Uncle Sirius? You can tell me."

Sirius stared at her before sighing and sitting down on the floor. "I-It's just, you know, Little Caelum. I'm stuck here. I can't do anything to help the Order. I feel lonely. I feel locked in. And is it bad that I wanted you and Harry to stay here with me?"

Blair frowned before going to sit beside Sirius and leaning her head against his shoulder. "It's not bad to think that you want us to stay with you, Uncle Sirius. Believe me, if we could, Harry and I would stay with you, but..."

"I know. You belong at Hogwarts." Sirius said moodily.

Blair lifted her head before giving him a tight hug. "It's just like you said, Uncle Sirius. The ones who love us never really leave us. You can always find them in here." She pointed to his heart.

Sirius smiled at her, this time, his smile was genuine. "Thank you, Little Caelum. You really know how to make things better. Oh, I have something to show you."

Sirius stood up and took something from the table. Blair saw that it was a very old photograph. "This is the Original Order of the Phoenix," Sirius said. Blair saw a small crowd of people, some waving and some looking back up at her.

"Is that Mister Alastor?" said Blair, pointing to a Moody with two eyes and an intact nose.

Sirius chuckled and nodded. "That's Dumbledore beside him, Dedalus Diggle on the other side... That's Marlene McKinnon, she was killed two weeks after this was taken, they got her whole family. That's Frank and Alice Longbottom —" 

Blair's eyes softened at the couple, looking so happy, unknowing of the tragic fate awaiting them. Alice Longbottom was the image of Neville and he probably had Frank Longbottom's personality. They never deserved what happened to them, and she started thinking how her fellow Prancers were doing, but she couldn't send a letter to them. She lightened up at the thought of seeing them again. At least, she and Harry were going back to Hogwarts.

"I was good friends with them, the poor lot," Sirius said grimly. "That's Emmeline, then Remmy." He stopped and smiled softly at the younger Lupin.

Blair grinned at him. "Calling him Remmy now, aren't we, Uncle Padfoot?"

Sirius rolled his eyes in amusement before continuing as the people shifted and revealed another line of people. "Benjy Fenwick, then Edgar Bones, brother of Amelia, there's Sturgis and Caradoc Dearborn. See, Hagrid looks exactly the same. You met Elphias, not sporting his hat now. Gideon and Fabian Prewett, it took five Death Eaters to kill them. They fought like heroes. Ah, move along."

The little people in the photograph jostled among themselves, and those hidden right at the back appeared at the forefront of the picture. "That's Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth. That's Dorcas Meadowes... me, when I still had short hair... and... the bastard Pettigrew. Look, here's James and Lily." 

Sirius stopped and Blair saw tears welling up in his eyes. Blair held his hand comfortingly while she looked at Harry's parents, smiling up at her. James looked exactly like Harry, but the eyes. The eyes were from Lily Potter. She smiled slightly. James and Lily were still here. In Harry, in Sirius and in her.

Blair looked to their left and gasped. "Mum and Dad." There were her parents. Her mother with her black hair and brown eyes and her father with his brown hair and grey eyes, but what she noticed the most was the warm smiles they had. It reminded Blair of their memories together.

"Blake and Olivia." Sirius said sadly. "I'm really sorry, Blair. I miss them too, and as your godfather, I promise that I will take care of you just as they took care of me. You, Oliver and Harry are the most important people to me."

Blair hugged him tight once more. "I know, Uncle Padfoot. I know. And you are important to us as well. We'll be your friends and godchildren, and we'll take care of you as well."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

On the very last day of the holidays, Blair woke up, groaning when she felt something hard hitting her arm. "What is it, Mione? I'm not yet done. I still have to finish my milkshake." She heard a man's cheerful laughter and opened one eye to see Buckbeak and Sirius towering over her, grinning. "Happy Birthday, Little B!"

Blair blinked a few times before burying her head into the pillow. "My birthday is on August 31st. It's still the 30th."

Sirius chuckled before lifting her up by the back of her shirt. Blair let out a yelp. "Okay, okay! I'm up!" Sirius let go of her and Blair pouted while running a hand through her hair. Then, she grinned and hugged Sirius. "Thank you, Uncle Padfoot."

"Come on, Caelum. We have a great day in store for you."

The two of them went down into the kitchen, and Blair was surprised when everyone was there. Greetings came around from everyone and Blair grinned and thanked them all. She felt shy when she came face to face with Hermione. Hermione smiled widely at her and pulled her into a hug. "Happy birthday, Blair."

Blair chuckled before squeezing Hermione and letting her go. "Thanks, Granger. You know, since it is my birthday, you don't mind making one of my wishes come true, don't you? Preferably a birthday kiss?"

Hermione rolled her eyes before smirking and muttering. "Let's see, Wood. Let's see."

Blair looked at her with wide eyes. "W-W-What? M-M-Mione..." 

They all chuckled at Blair's reaction before Mrs. Weasley clapped her hands. "Let's eat then." But Blair was still staring at Hermione until Harry tugged her arm and made her sit down. Blair was happy the whole time. They spent the whole morning, eating cake and messing around. She felt all the worries of all the nightmares disappear. Oliver sent the broom polish and letters that the Prancers sent. She frowned though when she read the short letter from Seamus. It was as if something was wrong with him.

She received a yellow jumper with a lion from Mrs. Weasley, a record of the Muggle band, the Beatles, from Mr. Weasley, a new bottle of her vanilla perfume from Ginny, a shirt with the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes logo (which she immediately hid from Mrs. Weasley) from the twins, a whole set of Chocolate Frogs from Ron and Harry, a warming blanket from Sirius and Remus and a little bracelet with a golden lion from Oliver. Hermione's gift was the one Blair loved the most. It was a little stone. If you turned it three times in your hand, you'd see a hologram of Hermione and Blair, hugging each other tight. It was the best gift from the best person.

In the afternoon, Harry was cleaning Hedwig's cage. Blair was lying in Harry's bed while turning the stone endlessly, watching the image of her and Hermione. Ron suddenly came in. 

"Booklists have arrived," Ron said, throwing Blair and Harry theirs. "About time, I thought they'd forgotten, they usually come much earlier than this..." Blair opened her letter: It contained two pieces of parchment, one the usual reminder that term started on the first of September, the other telling her which books she would need for the coming year.

"Only two new ones," Harry said, reading the list. "The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, by Miranda Goshawk and Defensive Magical Theory, by Wilbert Slinkhard." Crack. Fred and George Apparated right beside Blair, who sat up.

"We were just wondering who assigned the Slinkhard book," said Fred conversationally.

"Because it means Dumbledore's found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," said George. 

"And about time too," said Fred.

"What d'you mean?" Blair asked, now standing up while Harry jumped down from his chair.

"Well, we overheard Mum and Dad talking on the Extendable Ears a few weeks back," Fred told them, "and from what they were saying, Dumbledore was having real trouble finding anyone to do the job this year."

"Not surprising, is it, when you look at what's happened to the last four?" said George.

"One sacked, one dead," Blair started.

"One's been locked in his trunk, and the other removed his memory," continued Harry, counting them off on his fingers. "Yeah, I see what you mean."

"What's up with you, Ron?" asked Fred. Ron did not answer. Blair looked around. Ron was standing very still with his mouth slightly open, gaping at his letter from Hogwarts.

"What's the matter?" said Fred impatiently, moving around Ron to look over his shoulder at the parchment. 

Fred's mouth fell open too. "Prefect?" he said, staring incredulously at the letter. "Prefect?" Blair's eyes widened. Ron became prefect? George leapt forward, seized the envelope in Ron's other hand, and turned it upside down. Blair saw something scarlet and gold fall into George's palm.

"No way," said George in a hushed voice.

"There's been a mistake," said Fred, snatching the letter out of Ron's grasp and holding it up to the light as though checking for a watermark. "No one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect..." The twins' heads turned in unison and both of them stared at Harry.

"We thought you were a cert!" said Fred in a tone that suggested Harry had tricked them in some way.

"We thought Dumbledore was bound to pick you!" said George indignantly.

"Winning the Triwizard and everything!" said Fred. They turned to Blair with knowing smiles.

"Not a prefect, Little B?" said Fred teasingly.

George chuckled. "Would she be a prefect with all the detentions—"

"And the pranks—"

"And all the trouble?" They finished in unison.

Blair laughed at them. "I suppose all the mad stuff must've counted against me and Harry."

"Yeah," said Fred slowly. "Well, at least you two got their priorities right." He strode over to Blair Harry and clapped them on the backs while giving Ron a scathing look. "Prefect... ickle Ronnie the prefect..."

"Oh, Mum's going to be revolting," groaned George, thrusting the prefect badge back at Ron as though it might contaminate him. Ron, who still had not said a word, took the badge, stared at it for a moment, and then held it out to Blair as though asking mutely for confirmation that it was genuine. Harry took it.

Blair hugged Ron. "Congratulations, Ronald. We won't get into much detentions now with you as a Prefect." Ron managed a weak smile.

The door banged open. Hermione came tearing into the room, her cheeks flushed and her hair flying. There was an envelope in her hand. "Did you — did you get — ?" She spotted the badge in Harry's hand and let out a shriek. "I knew it!" she said excitedly, brandishing her letter. "Me too, Harry, me too!"

"No," said Harry quickly, pushing the badge back into Ron's hand. "It's Ron, not me."

Hermione blinked for a few moments. "It — what?"

"Ron's prefect, not me," Harry said.

"Ron?" said Hermione, her jaw dropping. "But... are you sure? I mean —"  She turned red as Ron looked around at her with a defiant expression on his face. Blair had to hold back her laughter. 

"It's my name on the letter," he said.

"I..." said Hermione, looking thoroughly bewildered. "I... well... wow! Well done, Ron! That's really —"

"Unexpected," said George, nodding.

Blair chuckled lightly before bumping her shoulder with Harry, who looked a little down. "Well, at least, Harry and I won't have any pressure." Harry smiled slightly at her. 

The door behind Hermione opened a little wider and Mrs. Weasley backed into the room carrying a pile of freshly laundered robes. "Ginny said the booklists had come at last," she said, glancing around at all the envelopes as she made her way over to the bed and started sorting the robes into two piles.

"If you give them to me I'll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while you're packing. Ron, I'll have to get you more pajamas, these are at least six inches too short, I can't believe how fast you're growing... what color would you like?"

"Get him red and gold to match his badge," said George, smirking.

"Match his what?" said Mrs. Weasley absently, rolling up a pair of maroon socks and placing them on Ron's pile.

"His badge," said Fred, with the air of getting the worst over quickly. "His lovely shiny new prefect's badge."

Fred's words took a moment to penetrate Mrs. Weasley's preoccupation about pajamas. "His... but... Ron, you're not... ?" Ron held up his badge. Mrs. Weasley let out a shriek just like Hermione's. "I don't believe it! I don't believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!"

"What are Fred and I, next-door neighbors?" said George indignantly, as his mother pushed him aside and flung her arms around her youngest son.

"Wait until your father hears! Ron, I'm so proud of you, what wonderful news, you could end up Head Boy just like Bill and Percy, it's the first step! Oh, what a thing to happen in the middle of all this worry, I'm just thrilled, oh Ronnie —"

Fred and George were both making loud retching noises behind her back but Mrs. Weasley did not notice; arms tight around Ron's neck, she was kissing him all over his face, which had turned a brighter scarlet than his badge.

"Mum... don't... Mum, get a grip..." he muttered, trying to push her away.

She let go of him and said breathlessly, "Well, what will it be? We gave Percy an owl, but you've already got one, of course."

"W-what do you mean?" said Ron, looking as though he did not dare believe his ears.

"You've got to have a reward for this!" said Mrs. Weasley fondly. "How about a nice new set of dress robes?"

"We've already bought him some," said Fred sourly, who looked as though he sincerely regretted this generosity.

"Or a new cauldron, Charlie's old one's rusting through, or a new rat, you always liked Scabbers —"

"Mum," said Ron hopefully, "can I have a new broom?" Mrs. Weasley's face fell slightly; broomsticks were expensive.

"Not a really good one!" Ron hastened to add. "Just — just a new one for a change..."

Mrs. Weasley hesitated, then smiled. "Of course you can... Well, I'd better get going if I've got a broom to buy too. I'll see you all later... Little Ronnie, a prefect! And don't forget to pack your trunks... A prefect... Oh, I'm all of a dither!" She gave Ron yet another kiss on the cheek, sniffed loudly, and bustled from the room. Fred and George exchanged looks.

"You don't mind if we don't kiss you, do you, Ron?" said Fred in a falsely anxious voice.

"We could curtsy, if you like," said George.

"Oh, shut up," said Ron, scowling at them.

"Or what?" said Fred, an evil grin spreading across his face. "Going to put us in detention?"

"I'd love to see him try," sniggered George.

"He could if you don't watch out!" said Hermione angrily, at which Fred and George burst out laughing.

Ron muttered, "Drop it, Hermione."

"We're going to have to watch our step, George," said Fred, pretending to tremble, "with these two on our case..."

"Yeah, it looks like our law-breaking days are finally over," said George, shaking his head. And with another loud crack, the twins Disapparated.

"Those two!" said Hermione furiously, staring up at the ceiling, through which they could now hear Fred and George roaring with laughter in the room upstairs. "Don't pay any attention to them, Ron, they're only jealous!"

"I don't think they are," said Ron doubtfully, also looking up at the ceiling. "They've always said only prats become prefects..."

"Still," he added on a happier note, "they've never had new brooms! I wish I could go with Mum and choose... She'll never be able to afford a Nimbus, but there's the new Cleansweep out, that'd be great... Yeah, I think I'll go and tell her I like the Cleansweep, just so she knows..." He dashed from the room, leaving Blair, Harry and Hermione alone.

Blair walked over to Hermione and smiled at her. "Congratulations, Granger. Perfect Prefect now, you are. You know what would make it more perfect?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You going out with me. What do you say?" Blair asked hopefully.

Hermione stared at her, cheeks flushed, before clearing her throat and leaning in so only the two of them could hear. "Well, can I use Herman?"

Blair's eyes widened before she nodded energetically. "Go on! Use him whenever. So does that mean you'll go out with me?"

Hermione smirked at her. "Clear your schedule, Wood." Blair's jaw dropped open as she watched Hermione talk to Harry shortly before leaving with a coy smile at Blair.

Harry walked over to her and waved a hand in front of her face. "Blair, you all right?"

"S-She just... she just-" Blair stuttered before smiling like an idiot. "Harry, this is going to be a great year."

Harry chuckled before turning to pack again. "Yeah, I guess."

Blair frowned. "Is there something wrong, James?"

Harry stopped packing and sat down on his bed, Blair sitting beside him. "It's just... I thought that I'd become prefect, you know. I thought it'd be me and you because we've been through so much. We play Quidditch, and you're one of the top students. It's been the two of us. Since first year. We faced Quirrell, we took on the basilisk, we got rid of the dementors, and..." He paused with a glance at Blair before continuing in a small voice. "We were in the graveyard that night. I-I'm sorry, Blair. I didn't mean to make you remember it. "

Harry looked at Blair and was surprised to see a soft smile on her face. Blair let out a sigh. "It's fine, Harry. I get you, I really do. We've been through so much together, but maybe... Maybe, Dumbledore is thinking about us, you know? We've been in the spotlight for too long. It's nice that the attention wouldn't be on us, right?"

Harry smiled at the thought. "Right."

"Also, I think that Professor Dumbledore isn't really in his right mind. He's... quite odd." Blair said cheekily and the two of them burst out into laughter.

Harry wrapped an arm around Blair. "Thank you, Aika."

"It's all fine, James." Blair said lightly, leaning her head against his shoulder. They soon heard Ron's footsteps on the stairs again. Harry stood up, straightened his glasses, and hitched a grin onto his face.

Ron bounded back through the door. "Just caught her!" he said happily. "She says she'll get the Cleansweep if she can."

"Cool," Harry said happily. "Listen — Ron — well done, mate."

The smile faded off Ron's face. "I never thought it would be me!" he said, shaking his head, "I thought it would be you!"

"Nah, I've caused too much trouble," Harry said.

"You deserve it, Ron. Our Ronniekins, a prefect!" Blair said, ruffling Ron's hair.

"Get off," said Ron smiling even wider now, "yeah, I suppose... Well, we'd better get our trunks packed, hadn't we?"

They packed the whole day and when they noticed Ron kept moving his prefect's badge around, Fred and George offered to attach it to his forehead. Blair thought it would look better on his buttocks. Scared, Ron wrapped it in his socks and locked it in his trunk.

Mrs. Weasley returned from Diagon Alley around six o'clock, laden with books and carrying a long package wrapped in thick brown paper that Ron took from her with a moan of longing. "Never mind unwrapping it now, people are arriving for dinner, I want you all downstairs," she said, but the moment she was out of sight Ron ripped off the paper in a frenzy and examined every inch of his new broom, an ecstatic expression on his face.

Down in the basement Mrs. Weasley had hung two scarlet banners over the heavily laden dinner table. The first read HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAIR while the second read CONGRATULATIONS RON AND HERMIONE — NEW PREFECTS.

"I thought we'd have a little party, not a sit-down dinner," she told Blair, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny as they entered the room. "Your father and Bill are on their way, Ron, I've sent them both owls and they're thrilled," she added, beaming. Fred rolled his eyes. 

Sirius, Lupin, Tonks, and Kingsley were already there and Moody stumped in shortly after Blair had got herself a butterbeer. They all greeted Blair a Happy Birthday.

"Oh, Alastor, I am glad you're here," said Mrs. Weasley brightly, as Mad-Eye shrugged off his traveling cloak. "We've been wanting to ask you for ages — could you have a look in the writing desk in the drawing room and tell us what's inside it? We haven't wanted to open it just in case it's something really nasty."

"No problem, Molly..." Moody's electric-blue eye swiveled upward and stared fixedly through the ceiling of the kitchen. "Drawing room..." he growled, as the pupil contracted. "Desk in the corner? Yeah, I see it... Yeah, it's a boggart... Want me to go up and get rid of it, Molly?"

"No, no, I'll do it myself later," beamed Mrs. Weasley. "You have your drink. We're having a little bit of a celebration, actually..." She gestured at the scarlet banner. "Fourth prefect in the family!" she said fondly, ruffling Ron's hair.

"Prefect, eh?" growled Moody, his normal eye on Ron and his magical eye swiveling around to gaze into Blair's eyes.

"Well, congratulations," said Moody, still glaring at Ron with his normal eye, "authority figures always attract trouble, but I suppose Dumbledore thinks you can withstand most major jinxes or he wouldn't have appointed you..." Ron looked startled.

Moody chuckled, both eyes now looking at Blair. "Little B, you made me lose the bet."

Blair scoffed lightly before smiling. "Mister Alastor, you should know that even if I turned prefect, I'd send the badge back. Besides, my love deserves it more." She turned to wink at Hermione, who blushed deeply.

Blair then turned to Tonks. "Hey, Dora. I saw Zoey the other day."

Tonks suddenly went deep crimson and so did her hair. "R-R-Really? What did she say? Did she mention me?"

Blair smirked at her before nudging Harry. "What did she say again, Harry?"

Harry grinned at Tonks. "She said she's waiting for you to ask her out or else, she'd go out and ask someone called Bathilda instead."

Tonks looked horrified, but she couldn't say anymore because Mr. Weasley and Bill soon arrived with Mundungus. She glared at Blair. "This isn't over." Blair just stuck her tongue out at her.

"Well, I think a toast is in order," said Mr. Weasley, when everyone had a drink. He raised his goblet. "To Ron and Hermione, the new Gryffindor prefects! And to Blair for turning 15!" Blair, Ron and Hermione beamed as everyone drank to them and then applauded.

"I was never a prefect myself," said Tonks brightly from behind Blair as everybody moved toward the table to help themselves to food. "My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary qualities."

"Like what?" said Ginny, who was choosing a baked potato.

"Like the ability to behave myself," said Tonks.

"Or the ability to ask someone out," said Blair teasingly as she moved away from Tonks, who was trying to hit her. Ginny laughed; Hermione suddenly choked on her butterbeer.

"What about you, Sirius?" Ginny asked, thumping Hermione on the back.

Sirius, who was right beside Harry, let out his usual barklike laugh. "No one would have made me a prefect, I spent too much time in detention with James and Blake. Remmy was the good boy, he got the badge."

"I think Dumbledore might have hoped that I would be able to exercise some control over my best friends," said Lupin. "I need scarcely say that I failed dismally."

Blair grinned before leaning in and whispering to Sirius. "Oh, Uncle Sirius. I bet that I can get Hermione out on a date before you and Remus get together at the end of the night."

Sirius smirked before whispering back. "It's a deal, Little B." 

Harry, who was right in between them, snorted. Blair snapped her head towards him and chuckled. "Snorting, are you, James? You just haven't fallen in love yet." Blair sighed dramatically. "When you grow of age and find the person you will love with all your heart, I'll be the one snorting then."

Harry just rolled his eyes and stood up while Sirius laughed loudly. Blair looked around while sipping her milkshake. Blair's eyes turned to Hermione, who was talking to Lupin. Blair chuckled slightly as she watched her, passionately ranting about S.P.E.W. and what they could do for the house-elves. Hermione glanced at her, and Blair winked before looking around again.

Ron was talking about his new broom, Mrs. Weasley and Bill were arguing about his long hair. Fred, George and Harry were talking to Mundungus. Blair rolled her eyes when Fred and George winked at her. They'd tell her about it later anyways. Then, she remembered what they told her the other night. They hadn't told Mr. and Mrs. Weasley yet about their plans because of everything that had been happening. Blair told the twins to tell them at the right time, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would understand.

She heard Lupin and Kingsley's conversation about Dumbledore not making her and Harry prefects before she walked away and caught Sirius's eye. She smirked before running over to Hermione. Hermione looked up at her, surprised. "Blair? What are you doing here?"

Blair ran a hand through her hair before smiling nervously. "Hey, Mione. Can I ask you something?"

Hermione nodded and wondered why Blair was so nervous. "Go on."

Blair was about to speak when Sirius shouted from across the room. "I win, Little Caelum!"

Blair groaned before turning around to see Sirius unashamedly kissing a red Lupin on the lips. Everyone around the table clapped and cheered for them. Blair took a deep breath as she turned to Hermione, who was looking at her with a raised eyebrow. "Mione? Would you like to go out on a date with me?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed red as teases and cheers came from all around, but she felt her heart soften at how Blair was looking like a little kid, fiddling with her fingers and shutting her eyes tight.

"When?"

Blair's eyes fluttered open. "W-What?"

Hermione let out a soft laugh before standing up and leaning in and... kissing Blair on the cheek. The people around them cheered. "It's a yes, Blair." She smiled cheekily at the red and gaping Blair before turning around with a huge smile and talking to Ginny and Tonks.

Blair was still gaping at Hermione when Mrs. Weasley yawned widely. "Well, I think I'll sort out that boggart before I turn in... Arthur, I don't want this lot up too late, all right? 'Night, Blair, dear." She left the kitchen. Blair snapped out of her daze.

"You all right, Little B?" grunted Moody.

Blair blushed once more. "Y-Yeah." Moody grinned at her as Blair went up the stairs with an unerasable grin on her face, but as she approached the first landing, she heard noises. Someone was sobbing in the drawing room.

"Hello?" Blair said. There was no answer but the sobbing continued. She climbed the remaining stairs two at a time, walked across the landing, and opened the drawing-room door. Someone was cowering against the dark wall, her wand in her hand, her whole body shaking with sobs. 

Sprawled on the dusty old carpet in a patch of moonlight, clearly dead, was Ron. Blair felt all air vanish from her lungs — Ron dead, no, it couldn't be — But wait a moment, it couldn't be — Ron was downstairs —

"Mrs. Weasley?" Blair croaked.

"R-r-riddikulus!'' Mrs. Weasley sobbed, pointing her shaking wand at Ron's body.

Crack. Ron's body turned into Bill's, spread-eagled on his back, his eyes wide open and empty. Mrs. Weasley sobbed harder than ever. "R-riddikulus!" she sobbed again. Crack. Mr. Weasley's body replaced Bill's, his glasses askew, a trickle of blood running down his face. 

"No!" Mrs. Weasley moaned. "No... riddikulus! Riddikulus! RIDDIKULUS! RIDIKKULUS!" Crack. Dead twins. Crack. Dead Percy. Crack. Dead Harry. Crack. Dead Blair... Blair couldn't take it anymore. She went in front of Mrs. Weasley, and her body turned into Blake and Olivia's. "Riddikulus!" Her parents' bodies turned into a gust of smoke and vanished.

"What's going on?" Lupin had come running into the room, closely followed by Sirius, with Moody stumping along behind them. Lupin looked from Mrs. Weasley to Blair.

"Oh — oh — oh!" gulped Mrs. Weasley, and she broke into a storm of crying, her face in her hands.

Blair walked over to her, trying to shake out the memory of Blake and Olivia's bodies, the night of the third task, invading her thoughts once more. "Mrs. Weasley..." Next second she was sobbing her heart out on Blair's shoulder.

"Mrs. Weasley, it was just a boggart," Blair said soothingly, patting her on the head. "Just a stupid boggart..."

"I see you all d-d-dead all the time!" Mrs. Weasley moaned into her shoulder. "All the t-t-time! I d-d-dream about it..."

Sirius held onto Lupin's hand tight while Moody was nodding gravely at Blair. "Quick thinking, Little B." Blair smiled back weakly, the sight of her dead body and all the dead bodies of the Weasleys, Hermione and Harry coming into her head.

Mrs. Weasley lifted her head, gulping and mopping her eyes frantically. "D-d-don't tell Arthur. I d-d-don't want him to know... Being silly..." Lupin handed her a handkerchief and she blew her nose.

"Blair, I'm so sorry, what must you think of me?" she said shakily. "Not even able to get rid of a boggart..."

"Don't be stupid," said Blair, smiling reassuringly.

"I'm just s-s-so worried," she said, tears spilling out of her eyes again. "Half the f-f-family's in the Order, it'll b-b-be a miracle if we all come through this... and P-P-Percy's not talking to us... What if something d-d-dreadful happens and we had never m-m-made up? And what's going to happen if Arthur and I get killed, who's g-g-going to look after Ron and Ginny?"

"Molly, that's enough," said Lupin firmly. "This isn't like last time. The Order is better prepared, we've got a head start, we know what Voldemort's up to —" Mrs. Weasley gave a little squeak of fright at the sound of the name.

"Oh, Molly, come on, it's about time you got used to hearing it — look, I can't promise no one's going to get hurt, nobody can promise that, but we're much better off than we were last time, you weren't in the Order then, you don't understand, last time we were outnumbered twenty to one by the Death Eaters and they were picking us off one by one..." Blair remembered the photograph and frowned. So many lives, all in the name of the greater good.

"Don't worry about Percy," said Sirius abruptly. "He'll come round. It's a matter of time before Voldemort moves into the open; once he does, the whole Ministry's going to be begging us to forgive them. And I'm not sure I'll be accepting their apology," he added bitterly.

"And as for who's going to look after Ron and Ginny if you and Arthur died," said Lupin, smiling slightly, "what do you think we'd do, let them starve? Siri and I will be here for them."

Mrs. Weasley smiled tremulously. "Being silly," she muttered again, mopping her eyes.

Later, Blair had a frown when she came into her, Harry and Ron's room, not feeling like going down with the others anymore. She thought of the Original Order of the Phoenix, not knowing that they'd be meeting tragic fates, as they smiled up at the camera. She thought of the boggart, the corpses of each Weasley, Harry, Hermione and her. Then, the scar on her chest seared with pain again.

"Cut it out," she said firmly, rubbing the scar as the pain receded again.

"First sign of madness, talking to your own head," said a sly voice from the empty picture on the wall. Blair ignored it and lay down on Harry's bed, trying to remove the thoughts of dead bodies in her mind. Her mood lightened slightly when she remembered that Hermione was finally going on a date with her. After 2 years of pining, Blair finally had a chance, and she wasn't going to waste it.

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Sorry for the long wait, everyone! I hope you're all doing well. Have a great day and until the next update :))

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