"Take to Dumbledore." Lily suggested, staring at Sirius who was holding a lavender colored vial of potion. There was very little left, suggesting he rest of it went onto Hollow's face.
"I don't know." He blinked. "I don't make the plans, I just make them work."
"What's up?" Hollow sat down, her hair pulled into two long braids. She wore a simple gray dress.
"James wants me to kiss Minnie." Sirius lied, shoving the vial into his pockets.
"Jamie," Hollow laughed, curling her fingers around Sirius' when he grabbed her hand. "That's gross."
"Eh, he could make a couple sickles off it."
Breakfast went as usual, Hollow and James insulting each other until she left early for classes. "I do know one person." Lily spoke.
"Oh god no." James lips stretched down.
"That slimy git? You trust him?" Sirius shook a fork at her, dislodging potato onto Remus' plate.
"He's not like them! He would help me. He's better at potions than Slughorn and Dumbledore combined."
"Hollow was better." James spat, hazel eyes full of anger.
"Hollow's blind James. Snape really is our best help. You said you'd do anything to stop her from being afraid, I guess you meant anything except getting over yourself."
Everyone stared after the sheet of red hair. Sirius glanced to Remus, who gave him a sad look and pulled his bag over his shoulder and followed Lily to their morning arithmetic class.
"James-"
"Give it to Lily. Tell her to have Snape look at it."
Sirius was taken aback by James' response.
He numbly stood and chased after the pair. "Here." He thrust the vial into her hands and walked away.
...oOo...oOo...oOo...
Parents were being killed, students were leaving Hogwarts. Wizarding families were leaving for different continents. Sirius sat back in his bed, Hollow asleep on his chest, her legs entwined with his own. "I don't get it." James fumed, his eyes scanning the paper. "Why are these people so messed up? It's just lineage. I don't get it."
"Me either mate," he stroked the silky strands of the girl's hair, "but these are the kind of people that would rather me date Reggy than Hollow."
"Ugh," James sighed and leaned his head against the desk chair. "I hate this."
"So, are you going on that mission?"
"Stopping a bunch of death eaters in their tracks? Is that a question Paddy?"
"I wasn't sure, with Lily and finals, and everything." Sirius looked down at Hollow, her had was curled around the collar of his shirt. "Sometimes, mate, I get scared that I'm never going to have this again."
"Are you suggesting those inbred fucks actually stand a chance against us?" James gave him a good impression of bravery before the worry skidded across his face.
"You know, I don't know." Sirius sighed and hugged Hollow a little tighter, relaxing against the feeling of breath. "I just don't want to lose anyone I love."
"I know mate, me either."
...oOo...oOo...oOo...
Instead of finals, Sirius was packing a book bag. As was James and Remus. They were to take their remaining finals when they returned from their mission. He watched Remus pack a sweater into his bag before looking up at the rest of the Marauders. "Is unicorn hair a neutral or decided base?"
"It's a light base, man." He spoke as Remus sighed in relief.
"Thank Merlin." Sirius found himself wondering about the paper portions of his tests as well, frequently asking questions and sighing or cursing their answers. He was relieved to find Remus doing the same.
Amidst boxers and sweaters, Sirius packed his favorite book, Muggle Magicians - which included his muggle hero: Harry Houdini, a tiny cube that turned into his tent, treats from Honeydukes, his lucky knife, and his mirror to talk to James with. He figured he could transfigure anything else he needed.
Packed, he made way down to Hagrid's cabin alongside of Hollow, Remus, Peter, and James. Lily was already there, Alice, Frank, Marlene, Dumbledore, Hagrid, and McGonagall were there as well. Dumbledore looked surprised, but happy, and McGonagall looked weepy.
James held hands with Lily as they stood together in the now crammed cabin. "Five of you will be leaving today, stopping a small group of death eaters before they can congregate to join the others. As I have said, the performance part of your finals will be performed when you return. You all have received your instructions?"
Sirius nodded alongside his friends. "I can't believe how you five have grown up." McGonagall smiled, wrapping her arms around Hollow in a gesture that filled Sirius with some sort of shock.
"I'll be worried about you every minute." Lily cried, she was forced to stay behind, both Head Students couldn't be out during finals, a fact that made Lily terribly upset, but comforted James.
"Lily," Sirius dug through his bag, handing the mirror to her. "Now, I need this back, so don't be gross, but you can get ahold of James with it." He hugged her tightly, "Please have Snape working on that while we're gone."
"Don't be afraid if I'm not there when you are, it can be difficult to time these things."
"Are those what I think they are?" McGonagall's sweet spell was broken. "Two way mirrors! I should have known, after all these years, no wonder how detention was so often disrupted!"
"Love you Minnie!" Sirius planted a kiss on the witch's cheek, sending a blush there.
"Be careful boys, and girl." She spoke as they grabbed an old piece of rope. Sirius wrapped his free hand around Hollow's waist as they began to spin.
They landed in the woods. Sirius blinked and helped Hollow and Peter to their feet. "Well, here we are."
"Here we are." James agreed and they all set out until they found the location disclosed for their campsite. They each took turns on setting up protective boundries. Then, they pitched their tents.
The death eaters would be travelling through the woods in the morning, and they simply had to catch them and bid them for a group of Aurors to pick up. Hollow hummed quietly inside their tent, making a large pot of tea. He sat on his bed and watched her.
He had a smaller tent sent to him by his Uncle, but it was cozy. It held a stove, a table with two seats, a queen sized bed, and a couch.
James had a fire going outside, hidden from view by their charms, Sirius came to sit by the fire as Hollow handed out large mugs of tea. "Did Hagrid help you pack?" Remus laughed.
"He put a set of mugs and plates in my bag. A couple other things for cooking too." She smiled, her face soft in the fire-light.
"Anyone hungry?" James asked, pulling a couple packages from his pockets. "I was too uh-busy to get dinner."
"Busy, huh?" Sirius laughed, grabbing a package from James. "Busy with Lily?"
"Like you and Hollow weren't. Figures why your stomach's growling." Remus laughed as Hollow blushed and fumbled to snatch one from James. When they all had their own small, brown box, no bigger than Sirius' fist, thy watched for James' instructions.
"You just untie them and put it in a bowl of water."
"I have bowls!" Hollow laughed and dug five bowls from her bag.
"And viola!" Sirius stared down at his bowl as it filled itself with hash potatoes and sausage. "McGonagall gave them to me. There's enough for about six months, so eat up." James smiled as everyone dug into their dinner.
It was actually nice, Sirius found, sitting around the fire with his friends, telling stories as the sky melted into night. "Up at seven. Capture at nine." James said, heading to his tent.
"I almost forgot." Hollow whispered, taking a sip of her tea.
"Yeah?" Sirius helped her to her feet, wiping a smudge of dirt fom her nose.
"Yeah." She sighed as he zipped their tent up.
"Let's get some rest." He grabbed her by the waist and slung her into bed, he was greeted by an eager kiss, followed by more and more until his breath was hard and he was wrapped up in her.
"How about we get some rest after?" Hollow's cheeky smile pulled a chuckle from his chest.
"Mhm," he agreed, returning his lips to the fever of hers.
...oOo...oOo...oOo...
Sweetness engulfed his nostrils as he opened his eyes. Hollow was still asleep, and it took him a while to remember why he wasn't surrounded by red and gold. "Hollow, baby," he gave her a slight shake.
"Go 'way." She grunted, pulling the cover over her head. Checking the clock, he found the time to be five in the morning. He sighed and decided the two hours might make a difference for her, and went to sit by the fire.
"Hey Paddy," James grinned.
"What are you so chipper about?"
"Oh, just wondering what the squeaking from your tent was last night?"
"Just a mouse." Sirius shook his head at James' ruckus laughter.
"Just a mouse, he says. Hungry? Probably after last nigh-oo." Sirius cut him off with an elbow to the stomach, taking a package and opening it as James laughed.
"Wha time i' it?" A blanket approached them. "Can I sleep?"
"Moony, you scared me." James laughed at the blanket.
"Why'm I awake?"
"I don't know, but you're breaking my heart." Remus sat down, his blanket dropping enough to reveal a messy head, Sirius wondered if James was taking note on the style.
Peter stumbled out an hour later, wordlessly asking for food. At seven on the dot, a tiny figure all but crawled out of the tent. "Look at that mess." James howled, Hollow was wearing the big, baggy pajamas she always wore, her hair was in every direction it could be, and her hand was rubbing her stomach.
"Jamsie, gimme." The boy dumped a package into her pale hand, smiling as she grumbled and sat down.
"You guys ready for today?" Peter asked, his eyes darting around the surrounding woods.
"In five minutes." Hollow grumbled, digging her way through the breakfast.
Sirius gripped his wand as they prepared, unsure, exactly, how they were supposed to prepare. "Sirius, go set some traps." James began delivering orders, a relief for Sirius.
"Hollow, go warm up your magic with Peter by the fire. I want you feeling comfortable when you go in."
Sirius hummed as he ventured out of their safety bubble. The bird call hit him harshly, the sound of the woods had been vastly muted by the shields and charms. About one hundred yards from where they planned to intercept the death eaters, Sirius laid a series of fail safe charms.
He sprinted back to camp, realizing that his watch marked 8:58 am. James was waiting with a grin when he came back. Remus' face was tough, and Peter's looked ill. Hollow seemed rather calm as she stepped barefoot into the unprotected woods. "Let's do this!" Sirius whispered, smiling with James.
Hollow's hand found his as he pressed his lips against hers.
...oOo...oOo...oOo...
Sirius was certain they had been tipped off. Fifteen death eaters swarmed around them as they worked through them. James' back was stuck to his, Sirius could feel his friend sweating as he fired relentless counter curses and hexes into the black swarm.
"Nice one James!" He cheered as roots sprang up and bound a death eater to the ground.
A heavy tingling in his leg confirmed he had been hit by something, but it didn't seem to be causing him too much immediate trouble. From the corner of his eye he caught sight of Hollow dancing forwards across the woods. Spells came fluidly from her wand, with the grace of a ballerina she cut through the enemy, leaving them stunned, bound, and immobile.
"Sirius!" Remus's voice cut his ears. Black braced his back against James who stiffened at the cry. His stomach ripped. Bending over in pain, he stared foggily up towards the black cloaks. The death eaters were down to four, he could vaguely hear Remus screaming at him.
Strong arms grabbed Hollow, pulling her off her feet and into the chest of James. Remus exploded in the dirt next to him, his head was lifted off the ground, his body pulled from the heavy water. "SIRIUS! WHAT'S WRONG WITH SIRIUS?!" Hollow's shrill voice cut through the fog. But James held her closer to him. They were running away, only he wasn't running.
He saw the crackle behind him as the remaining death eaters fell into his trap, an explosion of purple and they were trapped in binding chains and vines.
"SIRIUS!" Hollow's voice hit him again, it was loud but slow, a groan escaped him as he tucked his head into something solid, something familiar. His head hit the water and he closed his eyes in the dark.