Fire. The fire around me was burning bright. I could barely see in the overwhelming brightness - I shaded my eyes. The heat and smoke was getting to me, filling my lungs.

I decided I hated fire.

I hurried up to the burning, wrecked house. How did the fire get there? Some flammable material, I suppose, had been there when the house was destroyed.

Were they alive? Was there any chance they were alive?

"Alice," I heard a voice from behind me grunt. I turned – my boss, Alastor Moody, of the Auror office, stared back at me.

"I-is it true?" I said hoarsely. "Are James and Lily really -"

Moody heaved a sigh. This is when I knew things would get bad. Moody didn't sigh unless something dark and sorrowful was at hand. "Yes. It's true."

I dry sob escaped from my mouth, but I barely heard it. I realized I had fallen to the ground. My husband, Frank, had come home late tonight and said something about an emergency at the Potter residence. Lily was my best friend, so I immediately hurried over, even though Frank called after me to stop. I thought I could handle it, whatever it was. I was wrong.

"Alice," said a new voice from above me. I recognized it dimly, but I couldn't make out the person. The figure crouched beside me. "Are you alright?"

Oh, it was Remus. Thank the Lord. "Remus," I sobbed into his shoulder. "Remus, they're gone."

"I know," Remus patted my shoulder reassuringly. "I know."

"W-what happened?"

"Voldemort came here tonight," Remus said casting a mournful look at the ground. "He m-murdered James and Lily. But Harry survived."

I looked up at him in wonder. "Harry survived? How?"

"I don't know," Remus shook his head. "No one does, not even Dumbledore."

"Is Harry still here?"

"No, they took him to Lily's sister's house," Remus sighed. "I tried to convince Dumbledore to revoke that decision – but he was quite adamant about Harry going there for some reason."

"But Petunia hates magic," I said. "Which means she'll hate Harry."

"I know," Remus sighed again. "Don't ask me how Dumbledore's mind works."

A thought occurred to me. "R-Remus? Sirius was the Secret-Keeper…"

I regretted saying it the second I did. Remus's face, if possible, became even further wounded. I realized we hadn't just lost James and Lily tonight – we'd lost Sirius as well. To Voldemort.

"They're looking for him," Remus said, his voice hollow. "Haven't found him yet. But Sirius would've thought of that. He always has a plan…"

"Oh, Remus," I cried even harder, leaning into his shoulder.

"Alice? Remus?" I turned my head to see that Frank had arrived. "Remus, did you tell her?"

Remus nodded, wiping a tear from his eye. "Yeah, I told her."

"I- I want to go home," I said, suddenly realizing that I was very tired. "I want to see Neville."

"Come on," Frank helped me to my feet. "Remus? Do you… need somewhere to stay?"

Remus shook his head. "I'm fine," he said, though he didn't sound fine in the slightest.

"You're not fine," Frank studied his face. "You lost two friends tonight – and another as well." Frank cocked his head. "Where is Peter, anyway?"

"Probably hasn't heard," Remus said, standing. "Maybe I'll stop by his flat and see if he's there."

Frank clapped a hand to his shoulder. "Good luck."

"To you as well," Remus nodded, and Disapparated into the night.

Frank gave me a sideways glance. "Ready?"

I glanced up at James and Lily's ruined house. The little sparks of flame in the pile by the door were still flickering embers. "Yes. Let's go."