Challenge Number/Title: # 01 – A Small Ray of Hope
Date Posted: Jan. 12, 2013

Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Canon
Content Descriptors: Friendship
Characters: Lily and Sirius

Disclaimer: I, obviously, am not J.K Rowling and I will never be here. So, I don't own Sirus and Lily.

"You shouldn't be out here alone, Lily," he advises, before sitting down next to me. We don't say anything for a brief moment. He turns his head. "Why are you here? You should be sleeping right now." I don't answer him. He sighs. "Are you going to tell me why you're miles away from Potter Manor and sitting on this cliff by yourself at night?"

I look at him, carefully studying his piercing grey eyes. Sirius, James' best friend and brother in almost every way except blood. He has become a very good friend since the last year of Hogwarts, more so when I began dating James. A shiver runs through my body and I hug both of my knees. "I was just thinking."

He doesn't say anything, but I know he's waiting for an explanation.

"I'm scared," I softly whisper. It surprises me as I didn't plan on telling him what was bothering me. The breeze rushes toward us. It envelops us in cold before fleeing towards the unknown. The sky is still ebony, with sparkling stars and a hidden moon to guide the lost. The horizon of the ocean is barely visible. Its waves go back and forth. It crashes onto the sharp rocks below before returning to where it belongs.

And I wait. I wait for the dawn to come and shine its orange, purple, and yellow hues on me. I wait for Sirius to say something, anything. I wait for the unknown future.

I'm unable to look forward to another year in Hogwarts. There is no point, as I've graduated. Lily Evans, Head Girl and Muggleborn witch, is a full-fledge adult—an adult who is frightened about next month, her second mission from the Order. But a war has begun. It is the kind of war that requires blood to be shed and deaths of loved ones. It is the kind of war that I hate more than anything, but cannot escape participation because it is my war too. I'm fighting for my life, my family's life and for those who can't fight any longer.

"It'll be all right." He tries to convince me. There is conviction in his voice laced with a hint of fear and uncertainty. He understands. Sirius' life practically circles on his friends—James, Remus, Peter, the Order, and me. He understands that at any moment we can all die. Voldemort is picking off Order members one by one as well as innocent bystanders, the Muggles who are not aware and neutral witches and wizards.

"I know I'm not perfect, that I'll probably make mistakes. But-" I choke. A small sob is threatening to escape from my lips. Sirius understands. He puts my head on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around me. And even though he isn't James, I feel protected and loved. "I'm just so scared of not making a difference. I'm scared of having to see my friends die until there's no one left." I sniff. "We need to win this war, Sirius. People are dying left and right, for Merlin's sake. Children who are so pure…and I don't—"

He kisses my forehead, finally comprehending what brought this on tonight.

It happened a week ago. The Marauders and I, along with a few Order members such as Marlene McKinnon, the Prewett twins, and Dorcas Meadowes, were in Hogsmeade. We had caught four Death Eaters about three days prior, so celebration was in order. It had also been my first mission, along with the Marauders. We were thrilled and adrenaline was still in our systems. Our first mission had gone accordingly.

But not long after we entered Madam Rosmerta's pub, Benjy Fenwick, a fellow Order member, burst in. He was speaking in a low, rushed voice. There was an attack on Diagon Alley, about fifteen Death Eaters wreaking havoc. We grabbed our cloaks and immediately apparated.

The scene I saw was grotesque. Women were screaming and men were fighting. There were two children, younger than nine, being tortured right in front of their unconscious mum. I rushed towards them, dodging and returning spells while I ran. Sending them a protective charm, a battle ensued between me and the torturer. It was dark. It was chaotic.

My mind whirled. Were James and the others all right? How many have died tonight? How many will be seeing this scene replay as they try to sleep?

I tried to send offensive spells to the followers of Voldemort and defensive spells to those fighting against them. My eyes darted from each member of the Order, fighting their own small battles. The Death Eaters continued to attack us, destroying buildings and having more blood ib their hands. It was cruel. And I was determined to stop them somehow. So I fought.

We could've battled for only hours, feeling like it was days. Some disappeared; traveling the way a follower does leaving only shadows of their selves before vanishing. There were a couple stunned and will go to Azkaban. Serves them right.

Having only minor injuries, I stayed behind to help. Ministry officials had finally appeared and began to tally the people who died and were injured. Looking for a person by the name of Delilah, according to her sister, Dianne, what I found instead shattered my heart.

Her eyes were wide open, terrified of the horror. The platinum blonde hair, so similar to her sister, was fanned out, singed and dirty. She was on her side in a fetal position, while her arms, her right hand holding a light brown wand, were covering her abdomen. But she failed to try to protect herself. And her unborn. The lavender and pink floral dress emphasized her enormous stomach.

A mother and child. A baby who couldn't be born. He or she wasn't able to see and experience life. A mother who couldn't see or hold her child. She wasn't able to hear her baby's first laugh or first word. They were taken too soon. They didn't have enough time to truly live.

I broke down seeing their lifeless and mangled body.

"In a war, people are bound to die. That's just how it is, Flower."

I know. But what is the point of a war when it only brings suffering and pain? This pointless, raging war is only because of Voldemort. To him, people are nothing but pawns in his game for power and domination. He is merciless. For that, I will never be able to forgive him.

Light is beginning to crawl its way to the darkness now. A new day has come. And maybe, it will bring a small ray of hope—a hope to end this war once and for all.

Authoress' Note: Thank you very much to the PTB betas, Amy & Megan, for correcting all of my mistakes. Also, fyi, Potter Manor is not Lily & James' house in Godric Hollow. Can't wait for the second prompt!