Summary: Katie Bell has lost everything to the Death Eaters, including her promising Quidditch career. After the death of Oliver's parents, sister and brother-in-law, the two become the legal guardians of Oliver's young niece. But when Katie is offered a unique job from the Order of the Phoenix, she becomes more and more entwined with the war against Voldemort. Can she get out alive? Or will she die in the process?

---

I took a deep breath and walked through the door into the room I shared with Oliver. He was in a deep sleep and I felt bad for waking him, but I needed to make my confession before I lost my nerve.

“Oliver,” I whispered in his ear as I shook his arm lightly. “Ollie, wake up.”

Oliver opened his eyes with a groan and blinked at me blearily. “Kat, go away.”

“Oliver, get up. I have to talk to you.”

“Can’t it wait ‘til morning Kat?” Oliver moaned.

“No, Oliver, I should have told you weeks ago.”

This got his attention and he sat up, “What’s going on?”

I wanted nothing more than to tell him “never mind, go back to sleep,” but I knew it had to be done.

Taking a deep breath, I jumped right in, “Oliver, you know how I have this amazing new job at the Daily Prophet?”

Oliver looked at me in horror, “They didn’t make you do anything despicable to get such a good position, did they? I’ll kill those—”

“Oliver!” I cut him off and held my hand up. “They didn’t make me do anything ‘despicable’.”

“Oh, I’m going back to sleep then,” Oliver flopped back down on the pillows and closed his eyes.

“You’ll want to hear this.” I told him.

“Since I don’t have to Avada anybody for making you do despicable things, I don’t really care right now, Kat. Tell me later. I have training early tomorrow.”

“Oliver, I’m second in command for the Chain, part of the Order of the Phoenix.”

“WHAT!” Oliver sat straight up in bed as he roared the question at me. “Ha bloody ha, Katie. That’s really funny. Look how hard I’m laughing.”

“Do I look like I’m joking, Oliver? The Order is far from being something to joke about.”

Oliver’s eyes narrowed dangerously and he grabbed my arms, shaking me more and more as he spoke. “After everything that bloody Order has put this family through, you’ve up and joined it?! And you’re bloody second in command?! When were you planning on telling me this? When You-Know-Who showed up on our doorstep to murder the lot of us in our beds?”

“Would you let me explain?” I snapped, wrenching myself out of his grasp. “It wasn’t until today that I even thought about how dangerous this could be for you, Ali, and Leanne. The dinner party I went to tonight was an Order meeting. I was introduced as Ed’s second-in-command and I had to convince the lot of them that I was the best person for the job. It wasn’t until I was partway though my speech that I realized I needed to tell you now, before I get too far involved. I know it’s terribly dangerous, but it is something I have to do, Ol.”

“You could ruddy well get yourself blown to smithereens! You’ve endangered Ali, Katie. The whole lot of you are on suicide missions! There are Death Eaters at every turn and you can’t even see the majority of them coming! What in bloody hell were you thinking? Throwing your life away!”

I stood up, “I thought you might react badly, but I hoped you’d understand me even though I know you never understood Leslie. I heard you two arguing about the Order when I was still in St. Mungos and I know she tried to explain. I thought that maybe now that you were raising Ali you would understand, but I guess I was wrong.”

“You promised, Katie,” Oliver growled. “You promised me you wouldn’t get involved.”

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, “If I have to break that promise in order to best protect Ali’s future, then I will. This is what I can do to help in the war, to help Harry win. I’m not much good for anything else, my dueling skills are horrid.”

Oliver didn’t appreciate the touch of humor and glared at me. “Katherine Anne Bell, you can resign that position right now. I will not have Ali put in danger.”

I bit my lip and steadied myself, thinking I was going to start bawling any moment now. Surprisingly enough, I managed to hold it in, “I’m afraid I can’t resign, Oliver. I can, however, sever ties with you and Ali, if that’s what you want. I want you both safe, happy, and whole and it seems you feel the best way to do that is if I leave.”

Oliver’s eyes widened, “So that’s it, you’re choosing that bloody Order over me? Over Ali?”

“No, I’m choosing to do some good in this war instead of sitting around on my arse and complaining about it. I’m choosing to fight for a world for Ali to live in, a decent world where she doesn’t have to worry about her bloodline or her family being murdered in their sleep.”

“You could die. Katie, you’re getting involved in something bigger than you are!”

“I was dragged into this war unwillingly last year and then again with the deaths of your family. I’m not about to let that happen again. This time I walk willingly into the war because I’ve realized that some things are worth dying for.”

Oliver winced at the echo of Leslie’s words. “Out then!” He bellowed. “I want you out of this house right now!”

I nodded crisply at him, “As you wish.”

And I was out the door, out of the house even, before I could process what had happened. I had nowhere to go. It was the middle of the night. I couldn’t go to my parents or brother because I didn’t want them asking questions. I couldn’t tell them I was in the Order. What I needed was to go to someone in the Order, someone that I loved and that would comfort me. Or, to be more specific, I needed to go to twin someones.

I spun in a circle and reappeared in the street in front of the Burrow. I knew Mrs. Weasley would be under a lot of stress because of Bill and Fleur’s wedding and the fact that they were planning to move Harry into the Burrow pretty soon, but I also knew that she would make me a cup of tea and give me a good hug anytime I needed either.

And so, I waved my wand and sent my message by Patronus into the Burrow saying, “I know it’s late, but I’ll explain. I’m heading up your garden path now, please let me in.” In another minute, a concerned looking Fred and George were ushering me inside, Mrs. Weasley hovering behind them.

“I told Ed he shouldn’t introduce you to the entire Order,” Mrs. Weasley fretted later that night after I had calmed down and we had begun discussing the whole thing at length. “Especially after what happened to your predecessor. If I had known it was your safety and the safety of your family that was at stake I would have put my foot down. It’s simply too dangerous for the entire Order to know who you are.”

“No, Mrs. Weasley,” I took another sip of my tea, “I think it’s good that they know who I am. Sure, it puts me at greater risk, but it also lifts their spirits knowing that they have someone in place to assume command if anything should happen to Ed. After the death of Dumbledore, I think it’s great that they can see we’ll be more prepared. The death of so great a wizard shook us all, and I think that more people are beginning to see that this war isn’t a laughing matter. Any one of us could be next, and those higher up are at greater risk. It’d be a huge blow if we lost Ed, but at least now we have someone ready to take up the position if need be.”

Mrs. Weasley sighed, “You’re right, dear. Oh, how I wish that you didn’t have to grow up so fast.”

I shrugged, “At least your sons’ talents in the mischief department have been put to good use. I have them to thank for my new job.”

Fred and George looked at each other in astonishment.

“What d’you mean?” Fred asked.

“Yeah, I don’t remember making any recommendations,” George furrowed his eyebrows.

“One of Ed’s original arguments for picking me was that I had run with the Weasley twins at Hogwarts. It was highly amusing to see that actually benefit me for once,” I laughed and they joined in.

“You still have to go into the Daily Prophet, don’t you, Katie?” Mrs. Weasley asked, taking my empty teacup.

“Yeah, so I’d better get to sleep,” I stood up. Fred and George hopped up as well.

“You’ll be with Ginny in her room,” Mrs. Weasley paused for a moment, “Katie, I know you have more than enough on your plate at the moment, but you and Ginny have always gotten along magnificently.”

“What’s up, Mrs. Weasley?” I asked kindly, knowing I would do anything this woman asked of me to the best of my ability.

“Well, Ginny, she’s been a tad mopey since she got back from Hogwarts. I was hoping maybe you could cheer her up. She’s always thought you were a laugh and she trusts you.”

“Of course, Mrs. Weasley,” I smiled at the motherly woman. “Of course I’ll try and cheer her up.”

Mrs. Weasley threw her arms around me in a huge hug, “Thank you, Katie! You’re always welcome here, you know that.”

I grinned at the twins before heading upstairs with a last goodnight.

---

AN/ Okie dokes, so, here's the chapter. Don't hate me!!!! It was crucial to the plot line, you've got to understand that. I'm not saying that it'll all be perfectly all right in the end, but this ISN'T the end, so mayhaps it will be.

Oh, and by the way, Deathly Hallows was absolutely amazing. Although I wasn't a huge fan of the last chapter, just because it seemed a little too 'happily ever after' after the ravages of the war that had been the predominate mood throughout the book. I dunno, whatev. I'm not JKR, so I really have no say in it. She doesn't consult me on these things. But no more on DH, because I don't want to ruin anything for anyone who has yet to finish! Shoot me a message if you want to discuss it later!!

Love From,

MotherCrumpet

oh, and by the way... I LOVE REVIEWERS!!!!!!