*Dedicated to Lavander Ice, for constant encourgement, and to Jay, Harvey, and Keith of my original short story for "playing" with Peter when he grew too frustrating. SILVERWARE TARNISH ALL THE WAY!! :-) Also dedicated to each and every reviewer. I admit I cursed you all into the third heavens for liking this and making me feel obliged to finish it. In the end, I now thank you for it. The ending was influenced by all of you, you wonderful lovely darlings. *smiling painfully*
Enough blabbing. I have a terrible habit of blabbing.
Disclaimer: The story that follows is built on situations based on characters, settings, and other literary elements created and owned by Ms. J.K. Rowling, her publisher and copyright holders. No Knuts or dollars or pounds is being made of this piece of fanfiction. It cannot be printed and/or for anything but strictly private entertainment purposes. This disclaimer applies to all chapters hereforth.
Serendipity
"Hold on to sixteen as long as you can,
Changes coming 'round real soon 'cause we're women and men."
(John "Cougar" Mellencamp, "Jack and Diane")
Chapter 1 - Sirius's Return
It was a dark night, and he lived up to his nickname by walking without a sound. Even the sharpest of eyes might not have noticed a large black dog making his way through Godric's Hollow the night of July 28th, 1993.
That suited Sirius Black just fine. As of the moment, for the first time in his life he most certainly did not want to be noticed.
But the dog whimpered slightly in pain as his feet hit the ground again. He had been racing towards Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry nonstop and constantly, and his stomach was growling in hunger and his feet were blistered and bleeding.
He was going to stop at a certain place for an hour or two - but no longer; he couldn't, couldn't, couldn't let Peter get to Hogwarts first. He had to be at the school the same day as Peter. Sirius wasn't quite sure how to stop Peter other than eating him, as he had so many other rats, but it was incredibly important for the one of two people in the whole world who knew the truth to be there. Goodness knew that Peter's knowledge of the truth didn't count for much.
How had Peter gone so badly astray? Sirius wondered. For the first time in years he was beginning to think sensibly and coherently - even after he had gotten out of Azkaban, he had been half-insane. All he could think of was James, Lily, and Harry. Now other thoughts were occurring to him.
Perhaps it had something to do with where he was going. He was going to Serendipity. It was the house of the "Godric Hollow Gang" was the handle given to a young group of men and women who had settled in Godric's Hollow or in it - Lily and James Potter, Sirius Black, Linda Fairchild, Remus Lupin, Morwin Hagley… and Peter Pettigrew. Sirius hated to admit it - but Peter had been one of them! They had trusted him, all seven of them and Samantha Orr and Annie Potter!
Sirius knew very well Peter had never been as gifted as the others. Lily, James, and Sirius were known as the brightest students at Hogwarts in all of that generation and as very talented, magically. Bella had been just as clever before being subjected to Bendall's Curse in her fourth year, and even afterwards had been strong enough to fight the curse well enough to be able to live a semi-normal life as long as the Dark Side was in power. Linda and Remus weren't known as child prodigies, but, ask Sirius, they were no pushovers and very bright. And even the flippant, carefree Sammy had been just as bright and clever, even if most of their teachers didn't agree.
But Peter… he hadn't been. Oh, he was excellent at Potions and even a decent flyer. Beyond that… Sirius remembered the countless nights they had spent helping Peter.
But we didn't mind, because we trusted him and he was one of us. We thought we were helping him. We probably only helped him with the smarts he needed to become a Death Eater.
Padfoot growled, and realized he had to change the subject of his thoughts from Peter. It was too upsetting. Sirius felt hot swoops of anger just as he thought the name.
Linda was so right about him. She was the only one who saw right through him.
Linda. Oh, Lin. Now, there was a thought that generally brought happiness. Sirius tried to push the scene where Linda and Remus had met with him briefly before he was sent to Azkaban out of his mind. He had relived Lin's words too many times over twelve years.
And they still hurt as much as the day they were spoken.
He tried to think of happy thoughts of Lin instead. There were many. But Azkaban seemed to have claimed them. So he thought of how Lin was doing now.
Harry's in good hands. Didn't we always call her 'Mother Linda'? Apart from James and Lily, Harry's in the best hands he could be, Sirius thought, unaware that this was very wrong. He was fairly certain as of now that Harry was being raised by capable, loving Lin, now in his third - oh, goodness, third - year of Hogwarts, nearing his thirteenth birthday. Birthday preparations - Sirius hated to think he had missed so much time in his godson's life, but he was comforted by thinking Harry was in the loving company of Lin and Rem and Bella and whatever friends he had picked up. Ricky Gondola and Mercy Mullen's children, perhaps, wouldn't that be something?
I wonder how Lin's doing. And Moony. And Bella. Linda Fairchild, while a capable Auror, was also a famous singer. Probably she had found a husband by now…
*
Sirius leaned back against the chair on his veranda comfortably while Lin laughed. The moonlight silhouetted her dark hair and made her blue-green eyes even brighter. I can't believe they can call this woman plain. She's the most beautiful creature ever to walk the face of this earth.
There was a long, comfortable silence as both went through their thoughts. Sirius was supremely happy, and felt a little guilty for being so when Lily and James were in such danger. He was going to check in on Peter tonight, to see if he was all right - and to give him the good news.
Oh, yes, good news. He had fallen in love with Linda Lou Fairchild, and was delighted to find that over the last few weeks her resistance to his advances had disappeared. He had been so worried before that she was serious in her barely-concealed affection for Remus, but that was gone. She probably found out. About time. Lin seemed as content as himself, and Sirius was ready. It was time for another pair of lovebirds in the Godric Hollow Gang.
"Lin?" he said quietly, his voice more gentle than either of the two had ever heard it.
Sirius saw Lin made a quick, startled movement but didn't see that she had paled. He could sense, however, that she had figured out from his voice exactly what was happening.
"Lin, I love you. You know that."
Lin's face was impassive, but there was a glint in them when she looked back. "I love you too, Si," she said slowly, apparently about to say more.
Sirius waited a few seconds, but she didn't continue. He stood before her, reaching into his pocket in a very traditional present-the-ring-and-ask proposal. Whoever thought I would do it traditionally. Well, Lil and James did it the kinky way. Lin and I will do it ours. "Linda Lou Fairchild, will you marry me?"
Lin's face was still impassive, and as seconds passed by Sirius became acutely aware something was wrong. Somehow, he hadn't quite imagined she would say no. It was part of his young, invincible feeling; no one ever said no to Sirius Black.
"Sirius," she said suddenly, her voice choking. "I can't."
"Why?" asked Sirius, rather stupidly.
"I…I…" she turned away a moment. "Someone's a spy for Voldemort," she said, so lowly Sirius wasn't sure he heard right - but he had, and he knew it in his heart.
She thinks I'm the spy?
"Lin!" he burst out in high shock.
"No, Si," she said, and she was beginning to cry. "I - I don't really think you're doing it! But - but someone is!"
Sirius felt tears pricking his eyes, but he was suddenly angry.
"And - you're the Secret-Keeper, and… you know what the Aurors are saying; Jay and I don't believe it - but!"
Sirius almost told her about Peter right on the spot - but that was secret.
"What if I proved to you I wasn't?" he asked in an expressionless tone.
"Oh, don't!" cried Lin. "It's not just that, Si - I love you like a brother and I always have - but I don't love you like that!"
Sirius felt as someone had punched him. Linda grabbed her cloak.
"Lin? Don't go. I don't want you mad at me. Let's talk."
"Sirius, I can't talk with you."
Sirius felt really angry now. "Oh, but you will with Bella, I suppose? And you and Lily and James would be discussing this if you could? And you'll talk to Remus about anything?"
An odd light shone in Linda's eyes. "I would never go brandying this about, Sirius! You know that very well!"
"Go ahead," Sirius shot back. "Go, tell everyone. Find your counselor."
"Si, I only even suspected you because you were so intent on suspecting Rem," Lin said steadily, a hint of ice in her voice, "and I won't tell the 'everyone', thank you."
"Then who will you tell?" Sirius demanded, feeling as if his world had crashed.
"I'm going to go talk to the only person who has ever understood me!" Linda cried, running from the veranda.
Sirius stared at her, stupefied. He felt betrayed, somehow. He had never suspected… no female had ever refused him before… and so disappointed, he had loved Lin with all his heart and soul and everything there was to love… "He's not even a person!" he shouted at her angrily, forgetting every pact of secrecy he had made.
But Lin had Disapparated.
*
I can't believe I actually said that, Sirius thought in self-disgust. But that's how the whole thing started. I saw the whole time that Lin loved Rem, and it hurt. That's when I started thinking he was a Death Eater, just to console myself… and the theory grew on me, I guess. I started believing it in earnest.
And due to that stupidity, Sirius had been blind to Peter's doings and allowed Lily and James to die.
Idiot. Lin's right, you were the real traitor. You betrayed Lily and James by making Peter Secret-Keeper; you betrayed Remus for suspecting him and betrayed everyone else for making them believe it was him; you betrayed Harry, your godson, by orphaning him; you betrayed just about every person in all of Britain…
You betrayed Rose by killing her before she even got a chance to live…
Padfoot's eyes started tearing again. Rose, Lily's unborn daughter. She had only been a month or so pregnant when they had both died. Sirius cursed himself again.
And, of course, right after Lin left you went to check on Peter, and found the little rat…
Sirius sighed. Everything came back to Peter, didn't it? Peter had it worked out quite cleverly. Peter was the one who had got everyone to suspect everyone else; it worked quite nicely, didn't it?
Linda had already suspected Peter since the day they first met, so Peter quite cleverly got Sirius to suspect Remus. And you were such a prat you made it easy. In turn, Peter knew that Lin would be so angry that her Rem was suspected that she, of course, would suspect Sirius. Meanwhile, Bella, who had quite obviously been smitten with Sirius, would refuse to believe he was the spy and in turn suspect Linda. Lily would never believe her best friend was the spy and therefore keep on eye on Bella.
James, of course, was so trusting of everyone that he suspected nobody until the last few days. But Peter had known Sirius would have enough influence on his "other half" that James, while he refused to suspect Remus, at least thought about it enough that Peter was safe from James's suspicion. Remus, naturally, began to get very suspicious of Sirius, but Peter knew that no one would take Remus's word for it even if he did discover what Peter was going, so Peter didn't have to bother manipulating him all that much.
And the seven of us, the best and brightest, bought it hook, lock, and sinker.
Trying to stop thinking of Peter again, Sirius concentrated on Remus. It was easy to predict what Lin and Bella were doing. It was harder to guess at Remus's whereabouts.
It had to get easier on him after Voldemort left; he didn't have to wear that stupid ID-Pin anymore. No one could tell just by glancing at him anymore. And he has Bella and Lin helping him, I suppose. I think. I hope. I really hope, 'cause if he's starving somewhere it's my fault. Again. And again. It's always been my fault. But he can do it, I know he can.
*
It was the summer before their third year, and Sirius was very, very anxious. For one, he thought he would die if he went too much longer without seeing James, his "brother", and without starting another school year of laughing, troublemaking, fighting, and just plain being with Remus, Peter, Linda, Lily, Sammy, and Bella. Another year of talking with all of them and Mercy, Nicholas, Ricky, Livvy, the Sage twins, Gus, Carl… everyone. Even going back to getting into wars with Snape, Avery, and Wilkes. It was worth it.
For two, he was staying at the Leaky Cauldron with Mother, Elsie, and Father.
Sirius prayed that his father would not meet up with any of his friends. He wouldn't soon forget last Christmas. He knew he was a horrible disappointment to Arisuis Black, and his choice in friends was no better. A hated Potter, a disgraceful Fairchild, a disgraceful Stillman-Orr, two Mudbloods, and a werewolf. Yeah, a pretty choicy group. Father hadn't any real protests about Peter, luckily, and it was an ironic fact that would haunt Sirius for years to come.
Sirius had seen James and Remus at the Leaky Cauldron but chose to avoid them, as he was right by his father's side. Now, however, he had free reign but no sight of them or anyone else. He sighed in exasperation. Downright depressing. He checked out the Alley's joke shop, figuring that was a natural spot for most of them, but no luck.
It was near Malkim's Robes that he found Peter and his overprotective Muggle mother. Shaking Mrs. Pettigrew off, the two of them talked their tongues off trying to catch up on almost two months of not being together constantly. Peter, apparently, had been on vacation in the States, and Sirius was eager to hear of it. America was another of the many things Father didn't like, and it seemed as if the more Arisuis Black hated a thing the more his son clung to it.
"Where're the others?" asked Sirius at last. As much as he liked Peter, the sooner there was more company, the better. Sirius, by nature, was not a patient person and his other friends kept him captivated far longer.
"I saw Linda, but, er," Peter began. Sirius knew what he meant. Linda had never really liked Peter. "She was with a brown-haired woman. Is that her aunt?"
"We'll have to ask," replied Sirius. "And - finally! Jay, Rem!"
James and Remus, who had apparently just gotten into the Alley from the looks of the direction they had been walking in, bounded over excitedly. Everyone carefully avoided the subject of their brief glimpses of each other in the Leaky Cauldron and instead focused on catching up, and, more importantly, planning.
Sirius had been about to mention the news he had heard about the Orrs when he glanced at Remus and stopped in surprise.
"Sirius?" James called.
"Rem, what happened?" demanded Sirius.
Sirius saw Remus's eyes widen an instant before shaking his head. "Nothing."
"Nice try. What happened to your face?"
Peter examined the right side of Remus's face as well. Sirius was used to seeing his friend scarred from clawing at himself during transformations, but this wasn't the work of a wolf. A nasty bruise, although faint, circled around Remus's eye and a nearly healed gash came from the bridge of his nose to his jaw. Worse was a shiny burn that covered his entire cheek. He was also moving his left arm awkwardly.
"Transformation," Remus replied lightly.
"Yeah. You burned yourself, I'm sure."
"Rem, you promised you'd talk about it," said James.
"I will," Remus answered, looking uncomfortable, "just not here, okay?"
Sirius took his wrist and dragged all three of them into a dark, deserted space between two shops. "Here," he said sternly. "What happened?"
"Sirius," scolded James.
Sirius's eyes adjusted to the darkness and he saw that Remus had turned his face away from him.
"Come on, Rem. We're your friends. And if you think anything that happened will change that, you're dead wrong."
"Fridany. It was where Mum and I were living. The villagers found out about me - Mum was too weak to use Muting Charms and they heard me. The next afternoon they burst into the house and ordered us out."
"With torches?" Sirius demanded pointedly.
"Yes, they did have torches. One of them accidentally burned me."
"Your arm?"
"It got broken in the struggle. I don't think we healed it properly."
"And the bruises and cuts?"
Remus paused. "They beat us."
Sirius had stared at his gentle, quiet friend with barely concealed horror. It didn't make sense at all to Sirius.
*
And if they did that to a twelve-year-old, they probably wouldn't hesitate to do it to an adult, Sirius thought wearily, trying to ignore the pain in his paws. That had been the first of many times Sirius had witnessed the prejudice, and it never failed to make him furious. He and James would be downright livid, while Remus tried to calm them down and pleaded with them to forget about it.
"Let it go," he would mumble miserably when Sirius and James had been ready to break all underage wizardry laws while in Diagon Alley in their seventh-year by hexing a clerk who had taken one look at Rem's ID-Pin and started dropping very hurtful remarks. "I'd rather not make the trouble."
"You shouldn't let them say that to you, Remus!" James would reply. James, thought Sirius. He saw injustice and wouldn't rest until it was fixed.
"Great idea," Remus had replied dully. That was the summer of our seventh year. We were all a bit depressed and melancholy. "We'll have them arrested, shall we? James, who d'you think's going to listen? And think of it this way, they'll never change their opinion to me if I'm rude straight back."
Thinking of it, Sirius realized he was getting nearly as angry as when he thought of Peter and decided to change the subject again.
I wonder how Morwin's doing. Did Freddy Figg marry her? She might even be dead; the curse might have killed her. She's certainly pretty ill right now, although, knowing her, she might be able to think coherently, which, come to think of it, was more than I could say the past twelve years. Of course, it's my fault she's like that, anyway…
*
It was the Exhibition. Sirius was about as excited as he had been in his life. Was it really the Exhibition? It seemed impossible that he, Sirius Black, along with James, Morwin, and Lily, had been chosen.
The Exhibition was a special event for older Hogwarts students, usually for fifth, sixth, and seventh years, reserved for times when the Dark Side was in power. It was a day of tips and strategies on dueling for the selected students from some pretty important witches and wizards, but most important, it was The Duels, when each student got paired off with an excellent and usually well-known adult witch or wizard. The students generally always lost, but it was exciting just the same.
Just to heighten Sirius's opinion of himself, there was also the small fact that six fourth-years had been chosen at all. But he, James, Lily, and Morwin were already known for their very above-average marks, Severus Snape was rumored to be excellent with curses, and the sponsors of the event felt that the well-known students were needed and convinced Dumbledore to chose six fourth-years as well. The six were Sirius Black, Lily Evans, Morgana Hagley, Mercy Mullen - a very pretty and very clever Ravenclaw friend of theirs -, James Potter, and, (unfortunately, Sirius's eyes), Severus Snape.
"Er, just so everyone knows, I'm scared to death," announced Morwin cheerfully.
James, Lily, Sirius, and Mercy laughed at her calmness at the fact. Morwin, in fact, was generally a nervous and fidgety person.
"If it makes you feel better, I am, too. I think I might die along with you," Lily suggested.
"I'll do it as well," volunteered James. "And if we could somehow kill Rem off, Trelawney would have made a correct prediction for once!"
Sirius snickered. Sibyll Trelawney, unfortunately, was a frequent visitor at Black Manor. "Yeah, that'll happen. And I'll end up in Azkaban, just like Zambia's always predicting. Oh, sorry, she doesn't teach Divination, does she?"
"I wasn't even aware she taught," joked Mercy.
Everyone laughed again; Professor Grace Zambia wasn't popular at all with students or staff. "That's not really fair, you know," Morwin put in hesitantly. "She's really a decent teacher; it isn't her job to be nice. And Mercy, she's Head of your House! You of all people shouldn't be talking of her!"
"That doesn't make her any better. 'Fact, makes her worse, 'cause I've got to put up with her more," grinned Mercy.
Sirius grinned back - my, but was Mercy calming on the nerves? He was just wishing Lin had been here to calm him down, but looking at the pretty Ravenclaw fourth-year next to him made his longing for his serene friend lessen.
Sirius knew exactly what Linda, Remus, Peter, and Sammy were doing right now. They had taken over one of the dorms and were sprawled on the floor, talking and pretending to argue about pointless subjects. Lin, at some point, would remind them of Bella's suggestion to get some homework done while "Blotter" was away. No one would listen. Then Lin would order them to get some work done. Remus, to humor her, would start writing something and finish perhaps a paragraph of an essay. Peter would be pretending to work while really doing a crossword puzzle or playing chess with their roommate, Mundungus Fletcher. Sammy would be ignoring the order completely and would be reading a novel or painting her nails. Linda and Peter would soon get into a real fight, and then Sammy would pitch in. Remus would take the opportunity to put away his Transfiguration or Arthimancy away and suddenly suggest some wonderful prank that would a) distract Lin from Peter and b) would cause Sirius to be extremely jealous and/or angry when he came back and heard what he had missed and c) would become a running joke for about three years.
Sirius smiled. Perhaps he knew his friends too well. That was, if he said so himself, a pretty accurate picture.
He scanned the stands of the large room. Father was there; Sirius shrank back. He spotted the Potters and waved happily. He then looked for Lola, Remus's mother. Sirius had written Lola the second he learned he was going to the Exhibition and Lola, who was like a second mother to him, had promised to be there if possible.
All the parents here are important Ministry officials. I bet they looked at Lola pretty askance. Snobs.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you The Duels!" came a sudden magnified voice.
"This round is between Hogwarts Student Representatives, Fourth-Years - Sirius Black, Lillian Evans, Linda Fairchild, Morgana Hagley, Mercy Mullen, James Potter, and Severus Snape!"
James, who loved being the center of attention, was in his element, blowing kisses to the applauding crowd. Lily, on the other hand, looked pale, and Bella looked downright ill.
"Didn't know Davey Gudgeon was commentating. 'Morgana'?" teased Sirius.
Morwin had enough spirit left to say: "Shut up, Sirius."
"They have all been numbered and will be referred to during the duels by their numbers," continued the commentator. "And now, their opponents - HR1 will be dueling Mr. Sagacious Kirk. HR2 will be dueling Mrs. Gloria Brent."
Sirius eyes Mrs. Gloria Brent. Well, he had faced her niece and nephews plenty of times during Quidditch.
"HR3 will be dueling Mr. Alastor Moody."
"All right!" whispered Sirius joyfully. "Snape doesn't stand a chance!"
"HR4 will be dueling Mr. Edward Dayton."
Mercy smiled hesitantly. It was better than Moody.
"HR5 will be dueling Miss Freda Williams."
"Piece of cake," James smiled confidentially.
"And HR6 will be dueling Miss Ginifer Cato."
"Ginifer Cato!" gasped Morwin in horror. "Oh, no, I can't!"
"Sure you can, Morwin, you're good enough," said James bracingly.
"Not the best witch in all of France!"
"Oh, Morwin, you're so lucky! I'd die for that chance!" said Lily excitedly.
"Switch numbers," Sirius suggested, nodding to the wooden numbers on a chain around their necks. "Morwin, you'll get Kirk. He's easy."
"I don't break rules like you, Si," Morwin shot back uneasily.
Sirius yawned. "Sure. Then forget nice, easy Kirk and instead face Gin Cato, only the most talented witch in Europe -"
"Let's switch!" Morwin amended quickly. Lily, grinning happily, did so, just in time, as the doubles were being called. Jennifer Cato's double was a Patricia Millry, the commentator announced at that moment.
"Kirk's double is a Darcius Millry," Lily pointed to a girl only several years older than herself, in the late teens, near Sagacious Kirk. "Any relation?"
Sirius shrugged.
"And now I present Hogwarts Representative Number One!" said the commentator happily. Sirius winked at Morwin and everyone but Snape whispered good lucks and you'll-do-its.
"And the opponent, from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Sagacious Kirk!" roared the commentator.
"And remember, all, this is not a life or death battle. When one witch or wizard is unable to send another spell, the duel is over. HR1 and Mr. Kirk bow… and begin!"
For one brief moment, everything looked to be going fine. Morwin sent a Stunner, which Kirk blocked, and then Kirk sent a hex that Morwin deflected skillfully.
Then everything happened at once.
Kirk roared a spell, and Sirius could tell from the dark sparks shooting out of it that it was not a good curse. There was a collective gasp, and Morwin screamed.
"Now, that's a forbidden spell!" was the last word of commentating heard.
Darcius Millry, the young witch who was Kirk's double, leapt to her feet. "We should have known!" she shouted shrilly, and then sent six spells in rapid succession to Kirk. He deflected most and avoided one, and suddenly shouted "Avada Kederva - you meddlesome girl, you nearly ruined it!"
Morwin appeared frozen, standing before Kirk. There were suddenly spells and curses being thrown at Kirk from teachers and observers. The fifth, sixth, and seventh years behind Sirius were talking excitedly and worriedly.
"Stay where you are!" ordered Professor McGonagall, drawing her wand. All the adults were trying to pin Kirk, but in the confusion Sirius couldn't see.
Morwin suddenly collapsed and fell to the floor. Sirius stared at her numbly for a moment before he noticed that James was dodging spells and running to the floor to collect their friend before she was injured. Coming to his senses, Sirius ran after him and helped James lift the unconscious Morwin.
"He's working for You-Know-Who!"
"The girl!"
"Stupefy!"
"McGonagall, don't, you fool!"
"Darcius! No, oh no!"
"What was that he just used?"
"Patty - !"
"She's got him!"
"What was that he used before he fell?"
"That was Kapykoae!"
"Here, Gloria was hit with Crutaoius…"
"There must be more ready to strike!"
It was a panic; Sirius's mind only registered some of the voices and shouts he heard. James was leading the way to a hallway, which was empty and quiet compared to the panicked hall. Sirius's arms were beginning to hurt; Morwin wasn't fat but she was awfully heavy. Where's a wolf's strength when you need it?
Sirius felt as if he were passing out and barely noticed when James led him and Lily into a small side closet. James knocked off all the cleaning supplies off a small table - looks like Father when he's having a fit… -- and he and Sirius managed to lift Morwin onto it.
"Is she - dead?" Lily asked softly, her green eyes moist.
"No," gasped James. "No, but… but… where's Lola and her Refrudula magic when you need it?"
Sirius slumped to the floor. He had been hit with something; there was no other reason he was falling apart like this.
"If Lin or Rem were here…" he mumbled.
"They're not," James reminded him.
"Lily is," Sirius said. "She can do it very well." His words sounded slow and sluggish.
"I know," said Lily. "Listen, you've got to trust me - can you give me your hands, please? I've got to do a Life's Circle."
"A what!" exclaimed James.
"Lily, you can't!" cried Sirius. "Even Lola can't do that properly! And if you do it wrong, you'll d -"
Lily turned to him sharply, emerald eyes intense. "Listen, this is my fault. I switched numbers with Morwin. That curse - it was meant for me, don't you see? They thought Morwin was Lily Evans, and they tried to kill her. Kirk was a death agent for Voldemort; he'd do anything even if it meant he would die. But if Morwin dies, it's my fault. I've got to do anything I can."
Sirius was shocked into pausing a moment, but then nodded. "Okay," he said weakly, offering his hand.
Lily smiled at him. "Thank you. James?"
Sirius expected to feel something as Lily drew from what little power he had left, but he didn't. If only Lola was here, and she could have been if it wasn't for those Ministry idiots…
"I need calm thoughts, Siri," said Lily.
Sirius concentrated on walking around the lake with Linda.
"That's better."
Sirius's eyes were closed a few moments, but when he opened them he saw Lily surrounded by beams of white light, her face scrunched up as she fought for control over the light, directing it to the unconscious auburn-haired girl on the table.
And then Sirius passed out.
*