First of all my apologies. It has been far far too long since i last updated this story and for all those who have been reading, i am sorry. I have had a very busy last few months with hospital trips and going from on job to another. Been keeping me very busy. But hopefully i can update on a slightly more regular basis. We have a lot to get through in this story.

Please enjoy the latest chapter

:)

July 27th 1997

The air stung it was so cold. Tucking her hands inside her coat she desperately tried to keep warm. It may have been summer but with the sun gone, and sitting above the clouds, it was freezing.
Clinging to her broomstick, she looked over to Sirius who hovered a few metres away. Sofia stared down to the clouds in anticipation. Tonight had been the night chosen to take Harry from Privet Drive to the Burrow. Sirius had wanted to be one of those to go to the house but he was needed in the air, in case something happened.
"Come on" Sirius mumbled.
"Relax, nothing is going to happen" Sofia answered, but as soon as she did, she got an eerie feeling on the back of her neck, shivers creeping down her spine. Looking across the sky, it was then that she saw them, flooding the sky. Calling out a warning, she pulled her wand from her pocket, turning on her broomstick just as they came down upon them.
They flew from every angle, scattering the Auror's who had come to provide protection to Harry. The screams and shouts echoed through the darkness. Sofia had to get a message to Moody and the others, but first, she had to get rid of the Death Eater hot on her tail.
Flying as fast as her broomstick would go, Sofia weaved through the other Aurors, flying through a dense rain cloud, coming out soaking wet. Glancing over her shoulder she saw he was still there. Flicking her wand she sent a jet of red sparks flying at him, hearing only a shout but he was gone. It was then that she saw the bike, Hagrid's giant form sat upon Sirius' motorbike. She knew harry, the real Harry would be with Hagrid.
Looking at everyone else, all the others pretending to be Harry as they battled the Death Eaters. Sofia turned just at the right time as green sparks skimmed her ear. Feeling a tingling sensation through her body to her fingers. Seeing out of the corner of her eye, Hagrid disappeared with Harry, but they were followed. How could they have known he was the real Harry? Hearing more shouts in the chaos, Sofia saw then the body tumbling, falling through the sky to the ground.
"Mad-Eye," Sofia spoke to herself before quickly ducking another spell. She couldn't just sit around.

Finding Sirius who had just taken down a Death Eater, the man falling through the clouds just as she reached Sirius.
"Sirius," Sofia watched as he turned to her, a deep cut just above his ear. "We have to go, Mad-Eye's dead, Hagrid got Harry away, we have to get to the Burrow." Sofia took hold of his arm, bringing Sirius back into the moment.
"Harry" Sirius muttered before nodding.
Turning on their brooms, they both quickly made their way to the Burrow. Flying through the cold air with only one purpose, get back to the Burrow to make sure harry was safe.

July 29th 1997. The Black Cottage.

When a knock sounded at the door, Sofia was the first to answer it. She knew who it would be, otherwise she would have been much more cautious and certainly would not have left her wand on the living room table.
Reaching the door she opened it and beamed a smile to see Remus and Tonks. Remus looking al little worse for wear which was usual but he had a rare smile on his face.
"Come in, you two," Sofia greeted them, stepping aside from the doorway.
"Hey Sofia," Tonks hugged Sofia quickly before entering the living room. Closing the door she followed the couple, watching them sit beside each other.
"Let me get you a drink," Sofia gestured with her hand and four mugs appeared on the coffee table.
"Thank you Sofe," Remus lifted a mug to his lips and sipped the warm liquid.
"Is Sirius in?" Tonks asked.
"I'm always in." Sirius appeared in the doorway. The trio turning to him as he sauntered to his armchair, falling backwards onto it. "So, what do you two want?"
"Charming Sirius..." Sofia looked to her husband, shaking her head as she perched on the arm of the chair.
"Actually, we have some news," Remus spoke up, Sofia noticed him fiddling with his hands, clearly nervous.
"Everything okay?" Sofia sat up straight, concerned.
"Everything is fine, more than fine," Tonks grinned, glancing to Remus before looking back to herself and Sirius. "We're going to have a baby. Tonks was almost jubilant, Remus lesser so, clearly.
"You're shitting me!" Sirius shouted rather bluntly. Jumping up from the chair, he pulled Remus onto his feet and tightly into his arms. "You sly wolf Moony!" He clapped Remus on the back.
"Oh congratulations Tonks," Sofia hugged Tonks, so happy for them. They both deserved so much happiness after everything. "About time some good came out of this war." Sofia pulled back from Tonks and hugged Remus. "It will be one very lucky baby. So many people to love it."
"Oh I hope so," Tonks smiled, hand resting on her stomach.
Sofia felt Sirius step up behind her, a hand on her waist as he pressed his lips to her temple. She was so happy for them, but it did sting that they had something that herself and Sirius had been trying so hard to get. But if Tonks and Remus had the chance of the slightest of happiness, she would never want anything to get in the way of that.

August 1st 1997

Sirius huffed, pulling the tie from around his neck, four attempts and he still couldn't get the damn thing straight. Tossing it to the floor he shook his head.
"Come here," Sofia's soothing voice caused him to turn, only to freeze as he stared at her.

There, standing in front of him, was a sight that took the air from his lungs. As she rose to her feet, picking up the tie, he could not move. Wearing a light blue dress that clung to her waist and flowed gracefully to the floor. The jewelled lace straps over her shoulders, hair tied up, Sirius knew nothing about fashion or hair but Sofia looked amazing, yet she managed it with such ease.
"What are you staring at?" Sofia asked standing in front of Sirius.
"I er..." Stumbling over his words "You look...you look amazing." Sirius gazed at her. Sofia chuckled, lifting his collar and wrapping his tie around his neck.
"Thank you, honey."
Sirius watched Sofia's smile, her eyes on his tie as she fastened it. "You never cease to amaze me, all these years and you still..wow."
Sofia smiled, fastening his tie, making sure it was straight. "And you Sirius, my beautiful man...I am just thankful you are alive."
"Me? It was you I nearly lost," Sirius spoke, the memories of that moment flooding back.
"But you didn't," Sofia said, "Now come on, we can't be late." Kissing his lips they both finished getting ready. They had a wedding to get to.

Entering the tent, Sofia took everything in. The beautiful table decorations, all the food laid out. The ceremony had been a grand one, and if she knew the Weasleys, the reception would be the same.
Finding her name at the table, she sat, Sirius beside her, stretching his hand out to the goblet in front of him which filled as he brought the cup to his lips. Magic was a wondrous thing, even to her.

Watching the happy couple enter the tent she smiled, the light that could enter such a dark time could never be forgotten. The tenderness of Bill towards Fleur was so loving. Sofia looked at Sirius, that was how he had been like, in the beginning, he still could be now, but the years in Azkaban ripped him apart, that softness faded. The love she had for him however, that never left. Catching Sirius' eye, he flashed his teeth in a smile, taking her hand and kissing it. He was still that cheeky lad he was in school.
Glancing over his shoulder, Sofia saw the twins, clearly up to something by the way they were huddled in whispers. She had to laugh, that was something she never had with her siblings, that close bond.

"It's here!" Daniel ran into the living room, envelope waving in his hand. "Mum! Dad!" The young eleven year old boy beamed with excitement as he tan to his parents. His birthday had finally arrived, and after spending four hours sat by the front door, so had his letter.
Hogwarts, the school every witch and wizard in the UK dreamt to attend.
Finding his parents in the kitchen, he sprung onto the work top, his father quickly having to move the plates to stop them from toppling onto the floor.
"Well, open it up then," Daniel's father told him as he watched his eldest son rip open the envelope and fold out the parchment.
"Dear Mr McGregor, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress." Daniel finished and grinned. "Can we go today and get my books? Please?" He asked looking from his father to his mother.
"We'll see," His mother stated as she plated up breakfast for the family.
"Can I go to Hogwarts too, mum?" a small voice came from the doorway. Daniel looked towards the voice and snarled.
"You can't go!" He shouted, jumping from the work top and towards his sister, "You're too young, besides, Hogwarts don't like people who can't control their magic...so you'll never get in," Daniel spat and pushed past his sister causing her to stumble and fall to the floor.
Looking sadly at her feet, tears welling, a hand came down in front of her. Slowly looking up, she found her father's eyes and warm smile.
"Ignore your brother Sofia, it can take time to control your magic," Her father spoke as Sofia took his hand and rose to her feet.
"But Daniel knew how to," Sofia chimed.
"Not all the time, sweetheart. Do you remember how many times your father had to fix the dining room table?" Her mother asked and Sofia nodded. "Well, your brother was not always so keen to eat his veg, so he took it out on the table."
Sofia sniggered.
"That's the smile I want to see. Now don't worry about Daniel, if he says anything else, this is what you do,-"
"Antony don't you dare!" Sofia's mother snapped and her father smiled.
"Tell you later," Antony whispered to Sofia who giggled and ran out of the kitchen.
"You are a terrible influence Antony McGregor."
"You love this terrible influence though," Antony walked up behind his wife, slipping his arms around her waist.
"I have to question that sometimes," She smiled turning around to face Antony.
"Oh you break my heart Mary-Anne McGregor," Antony smiled and pressed his lips to hers.
"Cheeky" Mary-Anne spoke and giggled.

Sofia smiled as she sat on the floor in front of her two year old sister Lucy, hearing her happy parents in the background. Glad they weren't disappointed in her in being unable to fully control her magic.

"Oh no!" Sofia stared at the pieces of pottery spread around her feet. She had been playing with Lucy when she suddenly shot a jet of white light towards a vase. Smashing it to pieces as it fell onto the floor. Her mother's favourite ornament, a family heirloom, now in pieces. What would she do?
Quickly gathering the broken pieces she ran to her room. In a panic, laying all the pieces on the carpet, Sofia hunted in her cupboards for some glue.
Once finding some, she set down in front of all the pieces and set about trying to glue the pottery back together.
An hour later, Sofia, deep in concentration, has stuck everything back together, it wasn't perfect, far from it. It may have fit but not all of it was in the right place. But she froze when she heard footsteps on the stairs. Heavy footsteps that could only be her father's. Just when things couldn't get worse.
Staring at the door, the handle slowly turned with a creak. Opening, Sofia stared as her father walked into her bedroom. Stopping when he saw her on the floor.
"What are you doing?" He asked her, hand still on the door.
"Please don't be angry, I didn't mean to, I didn't," Sofia pleaded, tears trickling down her cheeks. Before he could even reply, Sofia shot to her feet, pushing past his legs and ran out of the house. Leave her bewildered father to kneel down and discover the broken ornament that Sofia had pain painstakingly glued back together.

"Antony, that ornament is nearly 200 years old, it has been in this family for-"
"It can be fixed, don't worry," Antony tried to calm his wife as she continued in her hysterics. After discovering the broken vase she had been furious. Especially when Antony tried to hide the fact it had been caused by Sofia.
"She needs to control herself, if she doesn't-"
"What. What Mary-Anne? She's seven, who could control their magic at that age?" Antony moved to his wife, taking her hand, calming her. "She will, there are things more important then a broken piece of pottery" He whispered.

In the living room, Sofia huddled in the corner, holding her knees to her chest, trying not to cry as her parents argued.

"Sofe," A hushed voice came from the doorway catching her attention and she looked at her brother. "Come with me." Reluctantly, Sofia rose from the floor and joined Daniel.

"What?" Sofia asked but Daniel grasped her hand and led her up the stairs and into his room, closing the door behind him. Glancing around his room she noted all the Quidditch posters, the players from the Chudley Cannons whizzing around the pictures. "What do you want?" Sofia asked again, turning to her brother.
"I want to help you, we can't have you destroying the house can we?" Daniel smiled.
"They will get rid of me," Sofia muttered sitting on Daniel's bed.
"Rubbish, now come on, let's help you learn to control your magic." Daniel said.
"Why would you help me? You don't like me," Sofia mumbled, fiddling with her fingers as she stared at the floor.
"Don't like you? Sofe, you are my sister, we are family, and family stick together. No matter what," Sitting beside Sofia, Daniel put his arm around her shoulders. Looking at him she finally smiled. Her brother was alright sometimes.

"Sofe?" Sofia looked up from the table to see a hand in front of her, looking further up to see Sirius gazing down to her. "Care to dance"?
Sofia watched the smile grow on his face and she chuckled, taking his hand she stood, letting him lead her to the dance floor.

Spinning on the dance floor, flowing to the rhythm of the music, falling into Sirius' arms as they laughed happily, it was then it all began.
Turning around, there was a scream and they saw the patronus of Kinglsey Shacklebolt. Stepping closer, still holding Sirius' hand she listened.
"The Ministry has fallen, Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming," Kingsley's deep voice stated.
Mass panic erupted amongst the guests. Looking at Sirius as those around them started to disaparate.
"Harry! Get out of here!" Sirius shouted, turning to Harry who tonight looked like another member of the Weasley family to disguise from anyone else.
Harry ran to Hermione and Ron, seeing them quickly disappear as the Death Eaters arrived, ducking sharply to avoid being struck.
Standing beside Arthur and Molly, the Death Eaters slowly approached them menacingly.
"Where is he?" A rough voice spoke from under a black hood. "Where is Potter?"
"Not here," Sirius hissed.
"Sirius" Sofia whispered as she stood beside him, not wanting Sirius to rise to them.
"Scrimgeour is dead, we have taken over the Ministry, it is over for you. Are you so willing to die for the boy?" The Death Eaters spoke.
"Yes" Sirius said without hesitation.
"We all are," Sofia added, stepping forwards and standing tall, she was not afraid of them.
A snarl came form the hood and he turned to the others.
"Burn it," He said and with a laughter, the Death Eaters vanished. Sirius took a breath and turned to the others.
"Burn what?" Molly asked once they were alone. Sofia however felt a strange tingle in her spine. Looking at Sirius she quickly apparated away. Landing quickly on her feet, instantly feeling the intense heat and almost blinding light.

There, in front of her, stood her home. Now engulfed in flames.
Feeling a presence beside her, she stood by her husband as they watched their home fall in what was only the beginning of this battle.