After about an hour of walking around, it started to snow. I was cold and I pulled the collar of my cloak up to keep my neck warm. I looked over my shoulder constantly, not sure where Alessandro and Sirius were, but knew they were behind me somewhere. I trusted Sirius to come to my rescue, but I didn't trust Alessandro to save me or let Sirius save me. For all I knew he was the Death Eater responsible for all the murders and he was just that good to know how to mislead me and Moody. Listening to the atmosphere around me I could hear Muggle cars driving a few blocks over, there was a couple fighting in the apartment right next to me and something had shattered from their front room, beyond that there was nothing. My shoes crunched on the snow, which comforted me because I'd hear someone approaching me—but no one did. Frankly, I was getting tired of walking around in the cold night like this…maybe I was going about this wrong.

I turned around and began to head back in the direction I had just come. Sirius appeared across the street and approached me slowly, when he reached my side of the sidewalk he looked me up and down.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"I'm just tired of waiting," I shrugged and looked at him out of the corner of my eye. "Where is Ales?"

"In the alley," he pointed slightly to the alley across the street he had just appeared from. "Covering us."

I nodded my head. "I don't trust him."

I looked at Sirius as he put his hands in his pockets. He was looking at the ground, kicking up snow as we walked.

"I know you don't," I said. "I don't either…but right now he's all we have, and Dumbledore trust him."

"Dumbledore is human," said Sirius. "He can make mistakes."

I didn't say anything and held onto my collar like it was a security blanket.

"He's a good judge of character," I finally whispered.

Sirius shrugged looking over his shoulder towards the alley where Alessandro was hiding. He constantly looked over his shoulder—more then I did, and that really made me nervous.

"Are you ready to head back to the flat then?" he asked finally.

I wasn't. It bothered me that no one had come after me tonight—that meant that another girl was being beaten and stabbed to death for looking like me. I rubbed my hand over my face and sighed, brushing my hair with my fingers.

"I don't like it," I responded.

"I don't either, Cadence, but we can't wait out here all night," he said. "They would have come by now."

"They? You really think it was more then one?" I asked.

"I was just saying in general," he said quickly. "But it wouldn't surprise me if there was more then one sick bastard out there."

I nodded. "If we go that means they've already found someone, Sirius. They're torturing her and beating her right now."

"Cadence," he said stopping and holding my shoulders. "You'll find them, I know you will. You're a little scary when you're on a mission and you'll get the bastards that are doing this. And when you do they'll regret even thinking or planning of doing this to those girls."

"Sirius, I'm afraid if I do catch them I'll kill them."

Sirius frowned slightly. "They deserve it."

I nodded. I didn't say anything else because I didn't want to admit defeat. I didn't want to go home and sit while someone was dying. I couldn't handle that.

Sirius turned and waved to the alley. Alessandro appeared a few minutes later, trotting through the snow with his hands deep in his pockets. He met us across the street looking at us with raised eyebrows.

"We're going home," said Sirius wrapping his arm around me. "If they were going to attack her they would have by now."

Alessandro nodded his head and looked at me. "You're sure?"

I shrugged. "Don't really have a choice. Sirius is right. If they were going to attack they would have by now…just means they found someone. I'll go out tomorrow night."

Sirius and Alessandro didn't say anything to my comment. Sirius began to usher me back to the house and I followed his lead. When we arrived at the house I knocked on the door and Lily's voice greeted us on the other side.

"Where is your most recent tattoo?" asked Lily.

"Hip," I said.

"What is it of?"

"Black widow spider," I said.

Sirius looked at me with curious eyes.

"Sirius, what are James and I going to name our son?"

"Harry," Sirius said not taking his eyes off me. I couldn't help but smile. He was staring at me with dark curious eyes that I hadn't seen since we were in school. I felt my heart skip a beat as his lips spread in a small grin.

"Alessandro," Dumbledore's voice could be heard.

"Yes, Headmaster?"

"When did we meet?"

"Eight years ago in London at a conference on the magical transfiguration of humans," said Alessandro. I raised my eyebrows slightly with some surprise. Alessandro didn't strike me as much of the academic. The door opened and Lily allowed us into the house.

"How'd it go?" she asked.

"We didn't find anything," I whispered pulling off my cloak. Sirius caught it and took it from me. I smiled at him and he smiled in return. He hung my cloak and then his own. Alessandro didn't remove his, rather Dumbledore began to put his on.

"You were gone for almost two hours," Lily said with surprise. "How could you find nothing?"

"They must have already made their kill," I whispered with sadness. I was not happy at all that we had left the streets like that. I wasn't going to sleep tonight. "I'm going upstairs. Good night."

I walked away from the people in the foyer and headed up the stairs for the spare bedroom where Sirius and I had resided for the last couple of weeks now. I tore off my clothes, lost in my own depressing thoughts. The bedroom door opened and Sirius entered.

"Hey," he said as I sat on the bed in only a tank top and underwear. He couldn't take his eyes off me as I laid back on the bed, pulling the pillows against my body.

"Yes?" I asked awkwardly.

"Are you okay?"

"Yea, Sirius, I'm great," I said with sarcasm.

"Hey, you don't have to get snippy with me. I was asking out of concern."

"You were asking because you want to have sex," I said into the pillows. I regretted the comment as soon as I said it. I don't know if he heard me or not, but when I looked up from the pillows he wasn't standing before the bed anymore.

"I was asking because I'm worried about you," he said from the side of the bed. He sat down on it and pulled the pillow that I was hugging out of my arms, away from my face. He laid down next to me and pulled my body against his. "I don't want to lose you to this."

I looked at his eyes and knew he wasn't being honest. The only time Sirius ever had fear in his eyes was when he was afraid of losing me. There was no fear in his eyes. If he was really afraid of losing me he'd look at me with great fear. He kissed my forehead lightly and held me close, closing his eyes.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I know," I said, not really sure if I did know or not suddenly.

I rolled over in his arms and spooned against him. His hand relaxed on my lower stomach and he kissed my shoulders. I knew what he was trying to do and I appreciated it. Sirius always knew how to distract me from the horrors of the world around us. When we were in the bedroom we forgot everything else that was going on outside…we were the only thing that mattered, us and our love for each other. But that night, something was not right. The reason why sex was so good with Sirius was because he wasn't selfish or selfless. He let me do some of the work, and we together made it about us. He knew all of my triggers and switches, and he knew how to make something pleasurable for both of us—and I could do the same. But that night he was selfish. When he finished, he laid down, kissing me, and telling me that he loved me. I felt incomplete and very disappointed. Never had Sirius left me unsatisfied…and as I lay wide awake while he slept I realized that maybe he really didn't love me anymore…maybe he really didn't fear losing me…maybe I had already lost him.

I couldn't stand the feeling of incompletion. I got up out of the bed quietly and dressed, putting daggers in my boots and a holster on my hip. I held my wand in my hand as I crept down the steps. It was hard to leave the front door quietly, because it squeaked when pulled open too far. Once outside in the cold snowy morning air I felt freedom. I could breathe out there and think. I walked down the street, not really sure where I was going, but clenching my wand in my hand so tight my knuckles were white.

I felt like I was lost. Sirius and I had been so in love once, and suddenly we were just together to get by each day it seemed. We had apologized to each other only a few weeks ago about losing our way and wanting to be together…and now again I felt like he was only in it to be in it…

I took a seat on a park bench and stared out at the snow covered street. There were tears on my cheeks, but I didn't bother to wipe them off. Suddenly, Gabriel entered my mind and I missed him more then ever before. He would have held me as I cried, not caring why I was crying. He would have probably even kissed away my tears if I asked him. Why was he always the one I ran to? I looked up suddenly and felt like a knife had just entered my heart. Was I supposed to be with Gabriel all along…if Sirius was the one who made me cry? I shook my head. Gabriel had left me, abandoned me to fight alone and I could never forgive him for that. I don't care how much you love someone, you don't leave them in a time when they need you.

"And I need you, Gabriel," I sighed leaning back on the bench. "I need you."

"No, Cadence you don't. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"How do you know if I need you or not? You don't know my thoughts or feelings Gabriel—" I stopped dead and jumped off the bench, turning around to face the voice that had been behind me. I blinked with shock as Gabriel Quintin's handsome face stared at mine. I looked at him very closely. The last time I had seen Gabriel he was a figment of my imagination in Lily's backyard. I stepped around the bench slowly, hesitating as I moved.

"Gabriel?" I said with disbelief. My voice faltered as I moved to him. He put his hands in his coat pocket and stood very straight, staring at me in return.

"Yes, Cadence," he said.

"How do I know it's really you?" I asked with small tears in my eyes. If it was really him I was going to be so mad I'd probably sock him.

"Ask me anything you wish."

"What was the first thing I destroyed completely with my energy?" I asked.

"A classroom full of desks," he smiled with a nod. "I remember that clearly."

"You had pissed me off, of course you'd remember it," I said crossing my arms over my chest. I was still unsure if Gabriel was really right in front of me…after all of this time it seemed so silly that he would come now, when I was depressed and sitting in the snow. Why hadn't he come before?

"Because you didn't need me then, and you still don't. I won't be staying long," he said.

"What?"

He laughed. "I came to tell you that you can trust Alessandro, Cadence."

"You came all the way from Italy just to tell me that? Why not write a letter?"

"How'd you know I was in Italy?"

"I'm not stupid, I figured it out."

Gabriel nodded his head and approached me. I took a step back into the bench out of reflex. Gabriel paused at my behavior, staring at me with raised eyebrows.

"Still don't believe I am who I say?"

I looked him in the eye and saw that they were the same glowing blue that I had last seen. His eyes never changed color for anything but me anymore. It broke my heart when Anita and his daughter died causing his eyes to stay a pale green color, but last spring when we escaped my Father, Gabriel's eyes had changed color for me. They had changed to a stunning shade of sapphire blue and remained that way since.

"I can hardly trust anyone, Gabriel," I sighed. "Even Sirius feels like a stranger to me."

"Is that why you're out here crying that you need me, because Sirius is being a bloody prick?"

He sounded annoyed with me, or even angry. Perhaps he felt like I was using him…the thought had crossed my mind a few times. I had chased Gabriel away because I took advantage of his feelings for me.

I didn't know what to say to Gabriel, so I just glared at him.

"I take that as a yes," he said stepping around the bench and sitting down.

"Why are you so bitter?" I asked sitting next to him.

"I'm not," he shrugged. "I've just been busy and coming out here to wipe your tears away is a waste of my time to be frank."

"You didn't have to come," I retorted.

"No," he shook his head. "I did." He didn't elaborate on this comment and grew silent. I didn't say anything either, I was too many things to say anything. I was happy to see him, angry that he had come back just out of the blue like it wasn't a big deal that he had been gone for so long. He turned his head and looked at me. "It's been a long time."

"Yea," I nodded with annoyance. "That's why I'm a little confused as to why you came here now."

"I told you, I came here to tell you about Alessandro."

"I met him weeks ago and frankly I trust him enough to let him help us," I said. "Beyond that I have no interest. You didn't come here to tell me about Alessandro."

He didn't say anything and his silence only annoyed me more. I wanted him to admit that he missed me and that's why he had come back, even if he wasn't staying. He had come back to see me.

"I hate you so much," I finally said, breaking the silence, and shaking my head.

"I'm starting to think that's they only way you'll ever feel about me," he smirked. "And that when you say it you mean to say something else entirely."

I turned my whole body to face him on the park bench. Was he actually opening the conversation to the topic that I had been dying to talk to him about for almost two years now? Last time we had talked about his feelings for me was on Sirius' birthday (which seems inappropriate now looking back on it) just before we had been kidnapped….and that was nearly two years ago. Really, there wasn't much talking about Gabriel's feelings. As soon as they were mentioned he changed the subject and stepped out of the house where he then was stunned and we were kidnapped. If he had just talked about his feelings we never would have been kidnapped then…

"I don't speak in riddles like you do, Gabriel," I said.

He laughed out loud, which offended me slightly. But I suppose I was used to him laughing at me like that. He still thought I was some silly girl who was madly in love with him and another man.

"I don't think you're a silly girl anymore Cadence," he said. "Doesn't stop you from acting like one though from time to time."

This time it was going to be me that changed the subject. I didn't want to talk to Gabriel about our personal lives when we were angry like this. We were both saying things that we'd regret later.

"How is Alessandro supposed to help me find the Death Eaters that are killing the women who look like me?" I asked.

Gabriel shrugged. "He wanted to help; I knew he'd do more then me."

"Why?"

"You'll listen to his advice," said Gabriel looking at me very seriously. "You won't listen to mine anymore."

"You haven't given me the chance to listen because you left. You've been gone for almost two years now…I wonder why I wouldn't listen to you," I said harshly. Gabriel ignored the cut at him and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked at me from the corner of his eye.

"Aren't you freezing?" he asked looking at the baggy sweater I was wearing. I had crossed my arms over my chest and tucked my hands between my arms and breast to keep them warm. I don't know why I had left with out my cloak. Maybe I was too caught up in my thoughts. I hadn't even felt the cold until Gabriel asked me if I was cold. I didn't answer him. He stood up off the bench and pulled off his thick winter cloak. I made to speak, objecting but he put his finger to my lips hushing me.

"Don't," he said wrapping the cloak around me. He leaned down and kissed my forehead then took a seat next to me. I could only stare at him as I pulled the cloak around me. Why was it that when Gabriel was around I could feel again?

"I know you don't understand why I left, Cadence, but you said you respected it."

"I respected it because I believed you were going to come back," I said. "It's been two years, Gabriel! James and Lily are having a baby! Voldemort is still growing stronger, there is more chaos now then ever before, and you are hiding from it!"

"You're acting like I've been sitting on a beach in Italy tanning all this time."

"You do look more tan," I snapped with frustration.

It was true too. He was darker skinned. His hair was shorter but he kept that five o'clock shadow that made him look dark and mysterious. His eyes were deep, despite not changing color, and showed some sign of life. His frame and body were well defined and sexy. I'm not going to lie…he looked as good as he did when I had first met him. I honestly thought that Gabriel would never grow old or look bad. He looked good when he looked bad…that said a lot.

Gabriel caught me off guard when he took my chin and leaned forward, kissing me square on the mouth. It was a passionate, meaningful kiss that I couldn't pull out of despite everything inside of me screaming to do so.

He pulled away slowly and planted smaller kisses on my lips. Why did he do this to me? And why was I so weak to him? Why didn't I punch him in the face because I had a boyfriend, who I loved and wanted to spend the rest of my life with? Why?

"I never meant to make you feel abandoned," he whispered kissing my ear softly. I was crying and I didn't even know when the tears had started to fall. I pulled farther away from him, moving down the bench a little. He sat up straight and frowned at me.

"I'm sorry Gabriel," I whispered wiping my cheeks and not looking him in the eye.

"Me too," he said with a nod.

We sat in silence for awhile, both of us thinking what we should say or do next. I felt like that was the final say on the matter. No matter what happened from now on, Gabriel and I weren't going to ever be involved more then just friends or partners. We had been so careful before, but when we were kidnapped two years ago my Father had exploited Gabriel's love for me and I realized, even though I would never admit it, how much I loved him. I would die for him—just as I would die for Sirius. I never thought in my life that I would be capable of loving two men, but I did…what made me stay with Sirius in the end is that I could never betray him like I had been betrayed so many times before. I couldn't and wouldn't hurt Sirius like that because I loved him. Whatever Gabriel and I had ended that night on that park bench as the snow fell around us.

He stood up after the awkward silence and motioned for me to get up.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said. "I'll walk you home before I leave for Italy. And stay at home, Cadence."

I glared at him. He thought he had authority over me, like I was a child.

"I want you to stay home because you're incredibly stupid for coming out here alone when women are being murdered left and right."

"You just can't help insulting me, can you?" I asked as he ushered me up the street slowly. Our feet crunched in the snow, leaving tracks. I looked over our shoulder to make sure we weren't being followed and frowned slightly. Where Gabriel had been standing when I first saw him was where his tracks started—in the middle of the sidewalk, clean unmarked snow around it. He had Apparated right there and I hadn't even heard him.

"You make it easy to insult you, my dear."

"If you loved me you wouldn't."

"If I wanted you to think I loved you I wouldn't."

"So you insult me so I don't think you love me?"

Gabriel nodded his head and I looked at him like he was stupid. I dropped the subject as we approached the last park bench before the block where the Potter's flat was. I don't know why there weren't park benches on Lily's block and she always said how much it annoyed her. She couldn't sit on the sidewalk in front of her house and watch the Muggles go by. I didn't understand why she cared so much…

On that last park bench was a bundle of something, from far away it just looked like a bag or bunched up clothes, but as we grew closer I realized it was a person. I held onto Gabriel's arm and pointed to the bench. He followed my gesture and pulled out his wand, keeping it tucked against his side, hidden from view.

"It could just be a bum," he whispered to me.

"They weren't there when I came down here," I said in return. He nodded and kept his eyes on the person. We neared the bench and I saw the person's hand hanging off the side, like they were sleeping. Their flesh was blue and as I stared at it I saw red running down the fingers. I tore away from Gabriel, who called out after me, and dashed to the side of the bench. I knelt down and pulled the cloak that was on top of the person back. I sighed in shock and sat back in the snow, covering my mouth. It was a woman with long curly brown hair and green eyes. She was dead. Her face had a few bruises on it, along with her arm and neck. The blood from her stab wound had rolled down her pale arm and fingers as it hung over the edge of the bench, dying the snow below the bench pinkish red—the arm was tattooed with the Dark Mark.