Author's Note: I've had this idea for a while and finally decided to write it down. This is going to go from 1960 to the present, and will explain how seven individuals are intertwined to help shape the world they live in and what will happen before they reach the same fate they are all destined to reach, though they will reach it at different times.

I know the first few chapters might be slow, but they will explain why the characters are the way they are and what has shaped them into their beliefs - just please bear with me. This is my first attempt at a multi-chaptered story that I have written on my own (And unlike most stories that are abandoned because authors run out of ideas for the Marauders' years at Hogwarts, I have a lot of ideas, though I might skip some years. I'm not sure yet).

Please bear with me!

And of course, I do not own Harry Potter, though I do own the OCs and Egam, which you will soon be clear of what that is.

To those who are waiting for an update on What If? - The Afterlife, I am working on it, but I have no time to work on it consistantly. I promise an update by this weekend. PLEASE bear with me (I'm posting this because I had it written down prior to The Afterlife).

Thanks very much!

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Chapter One:

The Tragedy

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Marcus Adams yawned widely as he stretched in his chair. Having had a rough day at work, all Marcus wanted now was to have a goblet of fire whiskey with his wife and fall asleep by the fire. Though it would be the end of a rough day, there was one thing, however, he couldn't shake from his already occupied mind.

"Jane," he called sleepily, "when do you reckon we should pick up Jessie?"

Jane Adams, a pretty woman with long jet-black hair and hazel eyes, glanced up from setting the table. "Soon, I expect," she said, setting down a goblet and glancing at a clock on the far wall. It had twelve hands but no numbers and planets moved around it. "Eight twenty-five," she murmured, stepping away from the table and turning to her husband, her hand straying absentmindedly to her belly, which was bulging slightly.

Marcus noticed this and smiled. "You're worried."

Jane frowned, her brow furrowing slightly. "They say a dark power is rising," she said softly. "Are we right to bring another child into this world?"

Marcus watched his wife fret for a moment before he stood, approached her and put his arms around her. Marcus was concerned about his wife, for she had been worrying more than was healthy for anyone, especially a pregnant woman.

"Of course, Jane," he murmured, kissing the top of her dark head. "Just because some lunatic is on the loose-"

"-gathering more followers by the day," Jane finished, looking worriedly up at her husband.

Marcus met his wife's eyes and did not speak at first.

"Perhaps we should ask your brother if Jessica can stay the night," he said at last. "With you fretting like this, it will put her on edge. She may be a year old, but children know when their parents are worried. Jessie will never get to sleep."

Spotting the wide-eyed look in his wife's eyes, Marcus sighed and said, "She's safe Jane, don't worry."

"I don't believe she will be safe anywhere," Jane argued. "Even at the Potters'."

Marcus sighed. "Jane," he said seriously, "Joe and Sarah will take care of her for us. She's spent the night there before; tonight will be no different."

"Marcus-" Jane began but a noise in the house made them both freeze.

A loud howl echoed in the large house.

No, several howls.

"Werewolves!" Marcus hissed, glancing at his wand, which was lying on the coffee table.

"Accio wand!" Jane gasped, pointing her own at Marcus' wand.

As the wand flew towards them, the door to the sitting room crashed open as it was knocked off its hinges.

Jane screamed as the nearest wolf leapt at them, its jaws wide open, ready to kill.

"IMPEDIMENTA!" Marcus roared, pointing his wand at the wolf. The spell hit the wolf and it fell to the ground dazed. It didn't last long, however. With a shake of its head, the wolf began to snarl and stalk towards them, its fellows behind him. Marcus went white. Damn. Curses and jinxes ricocheted off of werewolves. How could he be so stupid?

"Jane, floo to your brother's house," He said hoarsely, pulling his wife behind him. "Quickly!"

"Not without you!" Jane squeaked, grabbing onto his arm. "Marcus-"

"You are with child!" Marcus shouted, pushing her away and trying to keep the wolves at bay, shooting hex after hex at them. "Think about Jessica! Jane, please! Go!"

"Marcus-"

"GO!" Marcus bellowed, "Go Jane, and don't look back!" He shot a jet of silver light at one of the wolves, making it howl in agony and rage.

The other wolves balked slightly and then began to snarl menacingly.

Blinking back tears of fright, Jane rushed to the fireplace behind them and grabbed the floo powder with trembling hands. She hesitated, glancing at Marcus in time to see a wolf jump on him, knocking him to the ground.

"JANE!" Marcus screamed a moment before the wolf ripped out his throat.

The jar slipped from Jane's hands and crashed to the floor, the powder spreading all over the floor. Her wide eyes were fixed on her husband's body, which lie under the wolf. She raised her shocked eyes to the wolves, who were now advancing on her. She trembled, knowing she and her unborn baby were going to die. "Jessie..." she whimpered as the wolves jumped on her.

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Joe Potter glanced at his watch and then up at his wife, who had just entered the room.

"Sarah, it is almost nine o'clock," he said, glancing at his niece and son, who had both fallen asleep on their play mat.

Sarah Potter frowned and crossed her arms. "Jane didn't tell you what time she is supposed to pick Jessica up?"

Joe shook his head. "No, she didn't, but I assumed it would be before eight-thirty."

"Why before eight-thirty?"

"That's the time Jane puts Jessica to bed."

Sarah looked down at her niece, her brow furrowed slightly. "You don't think anything has happened to them, do you?" she asked quietly, looking up into her husband's face.

"You sound like Jane," Joe laughed, leaning back in his chair slightly.

When Sarah didn't smile, Joe frowned.

"Sarah, you think something happened to them?"

Sarah shrugged.

"Like what?"

"Well, your sister is about four months along, isn't she?" Sarah began hesitantly, gazing into Joe's eyes worriedly. "You don't think anything happened to the baby...?"

Joe smiled and wrapped Sarah in his arms. "You worry too much dear," he murmured, looking down at her. "Mark and Jane probably came home late from their errands and thought we would look after Jess."

"I wish they would have contacted us and asked us to watch her for the night if that's the case." Sarah sighed, leaning into her husband.

The couple stood there for a moment, watching the babies sleep. Their son, James, clenched his little fist and shoved it into his mouth. He whined slightly, stirring, then fell back asleep.

Sarah laughed quietly, pulling away from Joe. "Let's put the children to bed then." She smiled as she bent down to pick up Jessica. "We can contact your sister in the morning."

Joe nodded as Sarah left the room, taking Jessica into the downstairs guest room. He gently picked up his son, who stirred again. The boy's hazel eyes focused on his father and a smile split across his face. Joe smiled down at his son. "Hey Jamie," he murmured, grinning as James reached up and grabbed a fistful of his father's hair. "You should go to sleep, its late," he told his son quietly. As though James understood what his father said, the child blinked sleepily and closed his eyes, his fist unfurling and sliding down his father's shoulder. Joe carried James to his room and lay him down in his crib. This time, the boy didn't stir, but slept on.

After making sure James had a blanket securely over him, Joe quietly exited the room, smiling tiredly. To him, moments like that made him proud to be a father. He couldn't, and didn't want to, get rid of the image in his mind of James coming out of his sleep to give his father a huge smile which, Joe thought, was a baby's way of saying "I love you" to their parent.

"Joe?"

Joe looked down the stairs, still smiling, distracted from his thoughts. Sarah stood at the bottom of the stairwell, looking concerned.

"Joe, Albus is here."

Joe's smile faded. "Albus? Albus Dumbledore?"

Sarah nodded. "He is in the sitting room. He says he needs to speak with us - urgent news."

Joe's stomach dropped. The happy, peaceful feeling he had felt a moment ago evaporated. Quickly, he joined his wife downstairs, his heart beginning to beat frantically against his chest.

"Joe?" Sarah's beautiful blue eyes were full of fear. "Joe, you don't think...?"

Unwilling to let her finish that thought, Joe reached for her hand, a hard look in his eyes. He shook his head to tell her without words to be quiet, and led the way into the sitting room, gripping Sarah's hand tightly.

"Albus?" Joe asked, coming to a halt in the doorway to the sitting room.

The auburn-haired wizard smiled gently. "Hello Joseph. I am very glad to find you well this evening."

"And you as well, Albus." Joe said, gripping Sarah's hand more tightly as the couple sat down on the couch.

"Would you like anything to eat or drink, Albus?" Sarah asked, making to stand, but Albus held up a hand.

"No thank you Sarah. I am here on serious business."

The Transfiguration teacher of Hogwarts eyed the nervous couple for a moment. Finally, Albus' eyes rested on Joe.

"Joe," he began gently, "I am afraid I have some grave news."

"Is it about my sister?" Joe asked quickly, his voice cracking slightly, his heart beginning to beat even more fiercely against his chest. He felt Sarah link her arm with his.

Albus nodded. "This evening at eight twenty-seven, there was an attack on the Adams' home."

Joe tensed and he heard Sarah gasp. Joe's eyes hardened on his old Transfiguration teacher. "What happened?" he asked quietly, his voice surprisingly calm.

"I am afraid that it was a werewolf attack, Joe."

Sarah squeaked, clapping a hand over her mouth. "B-but werewolves don't just attack at random!"

"It is my belief that the werewolves were sent by an outside source."

"Werewolves?" Joe repeated, feeling as though the world had turned to ice. There were werewolves? As in more than one wolf? As chills ran sharply down his spine, he felt his wife's grip on his arm tighten and knew Sarah must have been thinking the same.

Joe fixed Albus with an almost stern look. "They're dead, aren't they?" He asked in a quiet voice, most unlike his own.

Albus nodded sadly, peering at them over his half-moon spectacles.

Sarah gave a small sob and buried her face into Joe's arm.

Joe closed his eyes, feeling emotion rise in his chest, which felt tight. As his throat constricted he felt his body shake slightly from the shock of the news that had just befallen them.

Jane.

His baby sister was dead because of those monsters...

He opened his eyes, which burned at the corners and took a deep breath. "Thank you for telling us, Albus," he managed at last.

Albus sighed. "I hate to be the bearer of terrible news, but I thought it would be best for you to hear it before reading it in the Daily Prophet tomorrow."

"What - what about Jessica?" Sarah looked up, her face blotchy and tear-streaked.

Joe closed his eyes again as Albus's gaze fell on him.

The wolves had come close... so close to wiping out the whole family...

"We'll raise her." Joe said quietly, opening his eyes. His gaze fell on Albus, who was blurred because of the tears obscuring his vision. "We're her godparents. Sarah and I will keep her safe."

Albus stood slowly. "Please, do not rise," he said gently as the Potters made to stand. "This is a grave matter that has occurred in your family; I must ask both of you to rest. I must leave now and alert the Ministry that you will be raising the child." He smiled sadly at them and left through the front door. The quietly closing door sounded like a slam in the stillness.

"Joe..." Sarah sobbed, burying her face into her hands. "Oh, Joe..." Joe gathered her in his arms, feeling tears running down his own cheeks.

From this moment, he hated werewolves. He would forbid James and Jessica from befriending a werewolf, even though he always taught tolerance to any human or creature. Werewolves had killed his sister and her husband and their unborn child. Joe vowed to make sure that he would protect his family from any more harm from those beasts that prowled at the full moon, no matter what.

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Liked it? Hated it? Am I a terrible multi-chapter writer by myself or should I stick to self-written one-shots?

Constructive criticism is appreciated!

This will probably be updated much more slowly than The Afterlife, but will be posted as, I guess, a filler for updating.

A/N: Yes, 'befallen' is a word. I looked it up via