DISCLAIMER

This is purely a work of fiction. None of the characters, places, items, or events that will be read is mine.

AS THE LAST PETAL FALLS

SUMARRY: Sirius Black's promise to his friend far outweighs his need for revenge, so he took his god-daughter out of the ruins of the Potter home and decided to build a life away from the Wizarding World. Iris Potter lived her life in Beacon Hills far away from the clutches of the wizards but that doesn't mean that the world she never knew won't come back for her, especially since she is in love with her best friend Scott McCall, a werewolf.

CHAPTER 1: AS THE ROSE WAS PLANTED

"No, no, no", Sirius sobbed as he saw his friend's body lying on the cold floor. Sirius felt as if the world started to slow down before coming to a pause. All that he sees is the corpse of his best friend, his brother, and the man who accepted him as part of his own family when Sirius' own family denied him.

This shouldn't have happened, none of this was supposed to happen. Prongs and his family was supposed to be safe, alive, just like what they were trying to do ever since the Potters have gone into hiding. If only he didn't change the plan. If only he accepted the role as Secret-Keeper then this wouldn't have happened.

Peter. The mere thought of that name makes him want to put all the Dark spells his family taught him to use. He really is a rat, nothing more than filth that should have been removed from this world a long time ago. James trusted Peter, he trusted Peter, and where did that lead them? To their utter demise.

The longer his thoughts linger on Peter Pettigrew, the stronger his anger and disgust for him grew. He was about to storm out of the ruined home of his friends when something managed to break through the wall of fury and despair that he unknowingly built upon himself.

It was a cry, a cry of an infant. With that sound, time seemed to start again and the world seem to be on the right track once more. He sprinted up to where his god-daughter's room was, all the while tripping on some of the wood and cement clattering the corridor but none of those matters, all that matters now is that in some way a part of his friends would be able to live on.

His god-daughter's room had its door blown from the hinges and the first thing he saw when he entered the room was his god-daughter, his little god-daughter, sitting up on her crib and crying while staring at her deceased mother.

His despair grew once more once he saw the body of Lily. He lost two good friends; strong, brave James who defended his family and home even when he knew that he was outmatched and pure, kind Lily who until her last breath shielded her daughter from harm even when the payment in doing so is her life.

He gazed at his god-daughter and how she cried her little lungs out while staring at her mother. He approached the crib and lifted the infant into his arm.

"It's just you and me now Iris," he said as he tried to sooth the wailing infant in his arms.

He stared solemnly at the body of Lily and silently bid his goodbye to her. He turned around and walk out of the ruins that was once the home of his friends. To think that what was once a home filled with laughter, love and joy is now nothing but a sorry excuse of what it once was, seemed so wrong in Sirius' eyes.

"I'll keep her safe, I promise that to you both" Sirius said as he stood outside the Potter home with Iris "She'll want for nothing, I'll make sure to raise her just the way you two would have done."

Sirius turned away from the scene and walked away not once looking back.

"Good bye, my friends."

And with a low crack in the air, they were gone.

The feeling of being sucked to a tube was a comfort for Sirius because even for a second he can forget the crippling agony that he just wants to let out, but now was not the time for that, there are more important things to be done.

He walked the muddy terrain whilst carrying Iris, who has tired herself crying and has fallen asleep. His movements were mechanical, if it wasn't for the fact that he knew the place he was going to by heart then he would have bumped on the tall posts littering the way.

He stopped on a decrepit old home and knocked on it twice. He heard a low sound of footsteps approaching the door before it opened, revealing the rather dishevelled appearance of his friend, Remus Lupin.

"Oh Padfoot! And Iris, I didn't know the two of you would be visiting." Remus said as he ushered the two in "I'm surprised you have her with you Padfoot, I thought Prongs and Lily wouldn't want her outside the Fidelius."

"They didn't know." Sirius replied lowly

"They didn't know?" Remus asked, his eyebrows rising at Sirius' answer "Merlin, Sirius! What would the two of them say once they found out; you know Iris is not safe outside her home!"

"They're gone Moony." Sirius said, looking into Remus' eyes for the first time since they came in "Peter betrayed us. You-Know-Who got to them."

Remus eyes widened in disbelief and his face paled drastically. He stumbled backwards and grabbed a nearby seat for support.

"You mean, Lily and James are-"

"They're dead, Remus."

Remus clumsily sat on the chair he was holding. He raised a shaking hand and ran it through his hair.

"Who else knows?" Remus finally asked

"I don't know, Moony, I just took Iris and left before any Death Eaters could come."

"And You-Know-Who?"

"No sight of him."

"Is he-"

"Dead?" Sirius interrupted "I don't think so, Iris is still alive Moony, and we both know that You-Know-Who doesn't leave loose ends."

"So he's still out there then." Remus said more to himself that Sirius

"Maybe, I don't know." Sirius said "Look I came here for help Moony."

"There is only so much I can do with my status Padfoot." Remus reminded Sirius

"You're the only one I know who can help me with this." Sirius said "I want to hide Iris in the muggle world."

"Are you crazy, Sirius?!" Remus exclaimed "Just who would take her in?! Petunia?! You know that she would rather take care of a leper than entertain any of our kind inside her home."

"Of course I'm not talking about Lily's sister, I'd sooner cut my hand off than give Iris to her."

"Then who would take care of her in the muggle world then" challenged Remus

"You're a half-blood right, Remus?" Sirius asked

"I hardly talk to my mother's side of the family, Sirius." Remus replied instantly

"But you talk to some of them?" Sirius pressed further

"Just one, look Sirius, even if I do have a way to communicate with them, we are hardly close enough for me to ask if they could take care of a baby for me." Remus argued "Besides, I don't think taking Iris to the muggle world would benefit her in the slightest."

"Please Remus, we both know You-Know-Who and his followers are still out there, and the only way to keep Iris away from them is to bring her to a world where even they would not enter." Sirius said "They think the muggles are so below them that they would never think of searching for her there and even if they do think of it they would not act on it since they think that they could eradicate the muggles easily."

"Look Sirius-"

"Remus, we promised to Lily and James that we would help them raise Iris, now the two of them are gone and we only have each other to rely on so please Remus, as your friend and brother please do this for both me and Iris." Sirius pleaded

Remus looked undecided and gazed at Sirius' face before glancing at Iris' slumbering form.

"Fine, come on, we need to look for a telephone booth."

Sirius let out a relieved sigh before offering a grateful smile towards his last remaining brother.

"Thank you, Remus."

Remus looked outside his home before gesturing for Sirius to follow him.

They walked for quite a while before they reached a telephone booth. Remus gestured for Sirius to just wait and stand outside the booth as he calls his relative.'

Remus did not have to wait long before his call was answered.

"Hello, this is Whittemore Law Office, how may I help you?"

"I would like to speak with Atty. David Whittemore please." Remus answered as he stared at Sirius who is carrying Iris standing outside the phone booth.

"Do you have an appointment with Atty. Whittemore?"

"Uhhm, no, not exactly, just tell him it's a relative of his."

"Very well, what name should I give him sir?"

"Tell him, it's Remus Lupin."

"Please wait for a while Mr. Lupin."

"Look at him, David, isn't he just precious!"

David Whittemore can't help but smile as he saw his wife gushing over their adopted son, Jackson. He loved his wife dearly and watching her eyes alight with joy as she played with their son made him love her even more.

He was downtrodden when they learned that they could not have a child of their own. All of those plans and dreams they had seemed to vanish right in front of their eyes. The two of them had always wanted to have at least two children, preferably a son and a daughter; a son that he can spoil and bond over sports with and a daughter that he can protect and dote on. The same goes for his wife, she wanted a son that he can fuss over and a daughter to dress up and talk about boys with.

That was why there was no doubt in his mind when he adopted Jackson, he may be adopted but never in his life would David and his wife make him feel like he is not biologically theirs.

His eyes gazed at his wife and son lovingly as Jackson drinks his milk while his wife tenderly caresses his cheek.

His musings were cut off as a sharp knock came from his door.

"Excuse me Atty. Whittemore?"

He heard his secretary say from behind the closed door.

"Yes?" David was a bit irritated that his family watching time was interrupted by something that would no doubt be headache inducing based on his past experiences.

"Sir, there is a Mr. Remus Lupin on the phone, should I patch it through?"

David's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he looked at his wife who shared the same look as him.

Remus Lupin now that was one name he did not expect to hear. Remus Lupin was a distant cousin of his and the last time he saw the man was during his wedding and he gave his office's number to Remus after so he can call anytime he wanted. He saw the tired state of his relative and wanted to help but from the small amounts of time they spent with each other, he knew that the man was independent, a lone wolf to speak. He truly did not expect that the day would come that Remus would contact him.

"Patch him through."

"All right sir."

David waited for the tell-tale flash on his phone before pressing the loudspeaker button so that his wife could hear their conversation as well.

"Remus, I did not expect your call. How are you?" David greeted as his wife stood up with their son in her arms and approached him.

"Hello David, I wish I could say I'm good but I need your help, well you and your wife's help actually."

David heard the hesitant tone in Remus' voice and shared a confused look with his wife before answering.

"Why? What happened?" David asked

"I'll just get to the point then, I just learned that two of my friends died, murdered."

David's eyes took a professional gleam and he thanked his wife silently when she handed him his notebook.

"Want my help with the case?" David asked his pen already poised to write down the details that Remus would be able to give him.

"Wha- oh no, you got it wrong. We already have someone on the case."

"Then what do you need my help with?" David asked in confusion.

"Well, you see, my friends have a daughter and she has no one left. Her father is an only child and her mother's sister doesn't exactly have the ideal living situation for her neither do I for that matter."

"So you want us to take her in?" David asked, connecting the dots in Remus explanation.

"I know I'm asking for too much but I don't know who else I can ask."

David turned to his wife to ask for her opinion but one look at her and he already knew what their response would be.

"What's her name?" David asked Remus

"Her name's Iris, Iris Potter."

David glanced at his wife once again and he could clearly see the hope ad excitement shining through her eyes.

"When can we meet her?"

David released a small laugh when he saw his wife's wide smile.

Remus and Sirius are sitting inside a café with Iris being carried in Sirius' arms. It has been a week since they called the Whittemore family. They used that week to tie any loose ends that may tie Iris to the Wizarding World. Now all that was left was for Iris to meet her new family.

"Are you sure about this Sirius?" Remus asked Sirius "They're not here yet, we could still back out."

"No Remus, Iris deserves this." Sirius said "Iris deserves to be with a family who will treat her right, an environment that would nurture her. She doesn't need people who would just use her and she doesn't need a world where she would be used as a scapegoat."

"Are you sure?" Remus hesitantly asked

"Yes Remus, it's not like we're saying goodbye to her" Sirius replied

Before Remus could question Sirius further, a family of three entered their line of vision and both Sirius and Remus straightened in their seats as they prepared to greet Iris' new family.

"Remus" David greeted as he and his family neared them.

"David thanks again for doing this." Remus said as the couple took a seat.

"Trust me Remus; it is us who should be thanking you." David told Remus "And you must be Mr. Black."

"Yes," Sirius replied "thank you once again Mr. and Mrs. Whittemore, I would have taken her in but my situation is not ideal for a young girl to grow up in."

"We understand" Mrs. Whittemore replied "Can I hold her?"

Sirius and Remus shared one last look before Sirius answered her.

"Sure, she's your new daughter after all."

Mrs. Whittemore gave Jackson to David before she took little Iris into her arms. She looked at Iris' button nose, to her green eyes. She was enthralled as she watched the infant mutter nonsensical things before she turned to face her husband and son.

"Look Jackson, here's your baby sister." Mrs. Whittemore said as she positioned Iris so that Jackson can get a clear view of Iris.

David shifted his arms and watched as Jackson flailed his arms in excitement and leaned his body forward to look at the infant in his mother's arms. Mr. and Mrs. Whittemore shared a happy loving smile as they watch their son interact with her new sister.

Remus and Sirius watched as well as they see Iris belong in a family that was not James' or Lily's. It seemed wrong but they knew that this family was exactly what Iris needed.

That day, Iris Potter became Iris Whittemore. That day the British Wizarding World lost Iris Potter and Beacon Hills welcomed Iris Whittemore into their small town.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the long wait but for those of you who do not know, my country (Philippines) suffered greatly due to a very strong typhoon and the place where I live was part of those affected by it so my family and I had to start from scratch but now that we are somehow stable, I am back in the ff community. So please send your love my way by writing reviews, thanks!

P.S. I'm looking for a beta, please PM me if you're interested...