Clara stood in the kitchen rolling out the top crust to the dessert she was making. For the first time in ages, she was making an apple pie. She had used her magic to start dinner for Molly, but she always wanted to make her pies by hand. Her mother had always told her that the secret to making a good pie was to put in the effort. They didn't need magic for everything.

Arthur walked through the door and put his hat on a hook near the door. "Good evening."

"Hello, Mr. Weasley," Clara greeted, placing the crust on top of her pie. "Mrs. Weasley is hanging laundry I think."

"Smells good in here," he complimented.

"Nearly finished. I have a few sides ready to set on the table if you'd like to help."

Arthur obliged. He set out the dishes on the table as Clara placed her pie in the oven and wiped her hands on her apron. Molly walked into the kitchen and kissed Arthur hello.

"It looks wonderful, darling," Molly told Clara, an appreciative smile gracing her face.

Clara smiled in response as she taste tested what she had cooking in a pot on the stove.

All at once, Clara felt a force push her backwards that nearly sent her to the floor. She regained her balance and noted that all of the lights in the house had gone out.

She turned quickly to the Weasleys and found a glowing orb in the center of the room. Everyone's attention was captured.

"Lightning has struck," a voice explained. It sounded like Bill. "Pack up and come as soon as you can."

The orb disappeared nearly as quickly as it had arrived, the lights in the Burrow returning to their normal state.

Each person in the room looked at one another, their chests heaving up and down in surprise and newfound fear.

"Right," Arthur stated, breaking the silence. "I suppose it's time."

"Time..." Molly repeated. "I didn't think it'd happen. Not again..."

Clara walked over and squeezed Molly's hand. "We'll be alright. We need to finish this once and for all."

Molly looked into Clara's encouraging eyes as tears brimmed her own. She paced a hand on Clara's cheek as she let a smirk slip out. "Right, dear."

Clara smirked back as she gave Molly's hand one final squeeze. "I'll put all of this away. If you could, I have a change of clothes in a bag just inside my room door."

Molly nodded as she walked upstairs to get her own things as well as Clara's.

Clara proceeded to put some food into containers for them to eat once they got to their destination. All the while, her heart had begun to race faster and faster. It was hard to not think about what was going to happen in the next day or so. The phrase "lighting has struck" was meant to indicate that Harry had finally made it to Hogwarts, which meant that the war was finally upon them.

Her hands had started to tremble, Clara resting them on the edges of the sink as she let her head hang down. All these months away from her family and Fred had taken a drastic mental toll on her. To not know if anyone was safe scared her immensely. She didn't think she'd be able to fight if anyone she cared about was killed.

But maybe she just needed that fire to push harder and fight with more courage.

+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+

Walking through the newly made secret passage, Clara gazed at what the Room of Requirement had become. Seeing so many students with such pale expressions told her that they were nearly as scared as she was.

Molly and Arthur immediately rushed over to Ron who was sitting with Ginny on the opposite side of the room. They hugged their children tightly, soon joined by Bill and Fleur. Most of the Order was also there, Remus and Kingsley talking with some of the students while they all waited for the timing to be just right.

Clara had walked over to Hermione first and hugged her tightly. She received thanks for all of the potions she concocted before being released to see another familiar face.

She watched as Michael and Neville went around checking on the students and offering words of comfort. Her brother had to have grown at least another inch, his messy head of hair still as wild as ever. She noted the new injuries on his face, scared to see the extent of what had happened to him during his school year. Neville had explained how the Carrows chose to deal with students who didn't listen and it made Clara's stomach turn.

"He's a natural isn't he?"

Clara turned sharply and ran for the sound, nearly tackling Roman to the ground.

"When did you get here?" she uttered in almost a whisper.

"Not too long before yourself. Michael's been so busy that he hasn't noticed, though."

"You think I wouldn't notice if you walked into the room?"

Roman and Clara eased their grips to look at Michael who had a smug smirk on his face.

"I know everyone who comes in and out of this castle. Comes with the position."

"Is that what they taught you this year? Snarkiness?" Roman joked as he pulled his brother into the embrace.

"Amongst other things," Michael spoke into Roman's chest. "I'm glad to see you two."

Clara and Roman held their little sibling a little tighter as they shared a moment of calm.

Deep down, Michael had a feeling that both his brother and sister didn't think they'd see each other again. At Hogwarts, they knew that Michael would be safe no matter what. But with Roman running around and Clara trying to defend herself at the Burrow, they had a much higher chance of being killed during the past eight months or so.

"Michael, we need you over here for a second," Seamus called.

Michael pulled away from Roman and Clara. "Duty calls."

Clara nodded as she watched her brother jog to the other side of the room. For a moment, she felt a feeling of pride wash over her. Michael had grown up so much, part of her sad that he had to do it so quickly. But this suited him: being a leader and helping others. His kind heart and his bravery was showing – he was a Gryffindor through and through.

"You been okay?" Roman asked, his gaze matching his sister's as he watched Michael help other students.

"I've been better. You?"

Roman shrugged. "Ran into Griffin a few times–"

"–He'll be here...won't he? And Mum too..."

The two shared a look of concern. Before they could continue, though, their attention was caught by the portrait hole opening once again with a new group of people.

Immediately Clara raced for the opening, seeing her favorite red head step into the room.

Fred dropped his bag as a large smile grew on his face. He gathered Clara in his arms and lifted her off the ground, the two spinning in a circle before he set her back on the floor. Burying his face in Clara's neck, he could feel relief wash over him. She was safe.

"I got worried when we didn't hear from you," Clara mumbled.

"We were on the run for a while. But we're nearly finished."

Clara pulled away and looked up into Fred's eyes. She missed how calm they made her feel, while at the same time making her insides fly around in chaos. His smile made her problems fade away. Memories of their last night together flooded through her mind as she kissed him with as much passion as she could muster.

"Alright, that's enough," Roman teased.

Clara just waved her arm as if to shoo him off as Fred took her face in his hands.

+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+

Fred and George stood outside as they watched the protective barrier form around Hogwarts.

"You okay, Freddie?" George asked.

"Yeah," Fred answered, his gaze still fixed on the dome above their heads.

George nudged him with a smile, trying to coax his brother out of the nervousness that laced his response. "Me too."

Clara walked out and tapped George on the shoulder. "Mind if I talk to your brother for a bit?"

George smirked as he leaned down to give Clara a hug. He then walked inside to talk to his father about what they were up against.

Clara stood next to Fred, following his gaze to the dome. "Rather impressive, isn't it?"

He nodded. "How long do you think it'll last?"

"I bet 45 minutes. Roman thinks it'll be 30 and Mikey thinks an hour."

"Always the optimist, Mikey is," Fred chuckled.

"No idea where he gets it from," Clara laughed.

She felt Fred's arm wrap around her as she turned her body into him. Resting her head on his shoulder, she could sense his uneasiness.

"We'll be okay," she told him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Clara looked up at Fred, finding that his gaze was already on her.

"I know we will."

"And everyone else will be okay as well."

Fred nodded, seeming a little less convinced of the latter.

Clara tip toed to kiss Fred briefly. "So what do you want to do once all this is over and we can enjoy the rest of our lives together?"

Fred looked out over the grounds as he thought about their future. "Well, for one thing, I definitely want to taste your famous apple pie again."

"I thought that after your proved to me you could bake, you would have been baking for Lee and George this whole time."

He shook his head. "Nothing compares to your cooking."

"Well aside from that."

Clara saw a twinkle in Fred's eye as he looked over her features.

"I want to spend another perfect evening with you."

She smiled as he leaned down to kiss her again.

"I want to star gaze with you – make even more constellations to last our lifetimes."

Another kiss.

"I want to wake up with you every single morning."

One more kiss.

"Marry me."

Clara leaned back before Fred swooped in for another kiss. "Are you being serious, Fred Weasley, or are you joking around?"

He laughed. "I would never joke around about something so serious...or would I?"

Fred quickly received a light hit on the shoulder as he and Clara shared a chuckle.

"At least think about it."

Clara raised an eyebrow. "Freddie, we haven't even spent any real time as a couple. What if we get a month into this and we start to hate each other?"

Fred let out the heartiest laugh Clara had heard in some time. "And you said I'm the funny one?"

She rolled her eyes with a smirk. "I'm serious Fred!"

He held her closer as he looked deeply into her eyes. "I will never hate you. And I don't think you'll ever hate me. I'm too cute."

Clara didn't think it was possible for her to give a bigger eye roll. "Fred Weasley, what am I going to do with you?"

"Marry me."

She sighed as she smiled. "Know this Fred Weasley – my answer to you will always be yes. But let's wait until we're not in mortal danger to make these decisions."

"As long as your answer doesn't change, I'm happy."

He leaned down and gave Clara one last passionate kiss. His fingers nestled themselves in Clara's dark hair, her hands running up his back and up to his shoulders. When their lips parted, their foreheads remained together, taking in each other as if it would be the last time.

"I'll see you later," Clara whispered.

"Of course."

In unison, they both said to each other – it hopes that it wouldn't be the last time – "I love you."

+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+

Clara jogged downstairs in time to see Roman and Michael talking to each other.

"Good, I thought I would have missed you two." She immediately captured Michael in an embrace. "You be safe."

"If you don't strangle me with your hug first, I'll try to be," Michael joked.

Clara shook her head as she pulled out of the hug and rested her hands on Michael's shoulders. "Look...the young boy's gone."

Michael smiled at his sister. "The old woman is still here."

"I swear you spend way too much time with Fred and George, Mikey."

"Hey it's only fair since you turned me bald."

"You made my hair into a rainbow!"

"What in the hell did I miss after I left?" Roman asked, laughing at his siblings.

Clara shook her head again as she pulled Roman into a hug. "We'll explain once all this is over."

Roman nodded. He kissed Clara on the top of her head before looking down at her. "You keep out of trouble."

"I'll try my best."

Roman turned to Michael, immediately wrapping his arm around his neck and rubbing Michael's head with his fist.

"Let me go!"

"How can you defend yourself if you can't even get out of a noogie?" Roman laughed.

Clara appreciated the two of them for making such a light situation of what was to come.

After Michael got out of Roman's grasp, two shared a handshake followed by a tight embrace. When they pulled away, they locked eyes. Their gazes conveyed so much more than either of them could put into words.

"I'll see you both later," Michael sighed, looking from sibling to sibling.

They nodded.

"I love you both," Clara said.

+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+

Clara didn't know how her body was keeping up with the constant spell casting and running that she was doing. She was supposed to be stationed near the astronomy tower, but the plans changed when the dungeons had been overrun and they needed more people throughout the castle.

The number of Death Eaters was overwhelming. There was a pang of anger and sadness that kept nagging at Clara as she watched students fall to the Death Eaters' spells. It wasn't the students' faults – it really wasn't anyone's faults. The situation was just terrible. Now so many families wouldn't get to see their children exit the Hogwarts Express once all of this was over.

"Confringo!" Clara yelled at a Death Eater she saw across the corridor. She didn't stop to see the aftermath, hearing the screams of pain coming from the woman that was trying to attack a group of third years.

"Look, my darling daughter trying to fight for the common good."

Clara puffed imaginary steam out of her nose as she turned to where the voice had come from. "'Darling daughter'?"

"You're right – it didn't sound convincing even to me."

Clara rolled to the right as her mother sent a curse in her direction.

"Too scared to fight your mother?" she heard Ms. Caxton call out.

Clara didn't want to respond. She didn't feel like her mother deserved a response. She defended herself against another attack before standing up once again.

"That's fine. Don't speak. We both know I'll kill you now. I'm quite sure Griffin is taking care of Roman. Then there'll be no one left to defend little Mikey."

"Don't – You – Dare."

Her mother bore a toothy grin that sent chills down Clara' spine. It told her that her mother wouldn't hesitate to kill her baby. She wouldn't hesitate to spill the blood of the son she had cherished most.

The rest was a blur. Clara and her mother were sending curse after curse to one another. They danced around the room as sparks flew from their wands. Her mother seemed to be enjoying every moment, her laugh echoing through Clara's head.

"You're weak! Just give up already!"

Ms. Caxton cackled to herself, but suddenly felt her body grow rigid. She looked around and was confused as she fell forward onto the floor. A foot kicked her over so that she was now facing the ceiling as well as the culprit that had attacked her.

"I'm not weak," Clara hissed. "I am my father's daughter."

With one last curse, Clara stared her mother in the eyes until she was sure the life had left them. It would, to this day, be the darkest moment that Clara could remember putting herself in. Not many people could say that they murdered their mother, and she hoped that no one else ever would.

At least she knew that her brothers would be safe from whatever tortures her mother would have wanted to put them through.

Clara collected her mind as she made her way into the main hall. As she took inventory of who was there, she was relieved to see Fred and George with Percy. They were attacking a few Death Eaters and had just sent their final spells. For the first time, she saw the twins being civil with Percy, smiles on everyone's faces.

She caught Fred's eye when she arrived, his smile only getting brighter. He started to jog towards her, but suddenly things changed.

"FRED!" a loud voice boomed.

Before Clara knew what had happened, she felt herself being knocked back a few feet to the ground. Her head pounded as pieces of debris flew past her face. She could feel the blood dripping down as deep breaths filled her lungs. Adrenaline raced through her veins. Attempting to sit up only made her head hurt more.

"ROCKWOOD!" she heard another man yell. This time it sounded like Percy.

As she gained her bearings, she saw that a large part of the hall had been destroyed. Marble and stone were strewn everywhere, adults and students helping each other up from positions similar to Clara's. When she looked around, her heart dropped.

Fred. Where was Fred?