A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Sooph, who is now following and reviewing this story. Sooph's reviews warmed my heart and led my fingers across the keyboards, giving me that swift kick of inspiration necessary to finish of the last few hundred words. Sooph, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I hope you continue to read and review as this journey goes forward! And all you other readers, I might dedicate a chapter to YOU if you review or alert, so get reviewing!

-J

Later that week, Morrighan was the proud recipient of three very excited letters from Hogwarts. Ron's detailed the victory of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and their acquiring of the Quidditch Cup. Ginny's and Harry's also detailed the excitement of the Quidditch Cup winning, but also the excitement about their first kiss, and the fact that they were suddenly and happily a couple. Ron was a bit less excited about the matter, but he was, as Harry put it, incredibly and surprisingly accepting of the whole thing.

"My little godson is all grown up," Sirius sighed. "Is this the one, Morrighan?"

For a moment, Morrighan debated whether or not to tell him. He promised not to say a word, and so she said, "Yeah, they end up together."

Sirius grinned, pumped his fist in the air and said, "I get a feisty redheaded goddaughter by marriage! Yes!"

Morrighan frowned as she laughed.

"Goddaughter-in-law? Is that how that works? You get to claim Ginny because she's going to marry Harry?"

Sirius frowned.

"No, Harry's your godson-in-law because you married me. Ginny's just by marriage."

"Are you sure it's not the other way around?"

"Nope."

Morrighan took every opportunity to laugh, knowing that even with five kids their opportunities to laugh were going to be fewer soon.

Over a month later, Morrighan received a letter from Dumbledore that made her feel sick.

Dear Morrighan,

I wanted to let you know that Harry and I are going to look for it tonight. I do not wish to know how it turns out. I have my thoughts and suspicions, and no matter what happens tonight I do understand that my time for watching over Harry is near its end. I ask that you continue to guide him down the path he must take.

Forgive me, but I also must beg of you not to interfere in these events at all. I don't think that you would, but if the thought has even crossed your mind, I want you to know that I would die sooner or later and if that night is tonight or next month, when I will have had my injury for a year, the day is very soon and there is nothing you can do about that.

Take care of Sirius. Take care of Harry. I trust that you will do what needs to be done as the days darken, but remember to take care of yourself, or I think things will change again, but for the worse.

-Albus

Morrighan clutched the letter tightly. She hadn't even thought of interfering, which showed what a terrible person she was. Or... or maybe it showed that she understood just how little good it would have done. As he said, even if she managed to save him that night, she wouldn't have managed it in the long run. He was already dying, and there was nothing they could do.

"Is that a letter?" Sirius asked, sitting down across from her.

"Um, yes," Morrighan said. "I, uh, got a letter from Albus."

"Albus?" Sirius said anxiously. "Something with the Order? Or about Harry? Is everything okay?"

Morrighan bit her lip. They were closing in on a time when Sirius was going to have to know more than everybody else, that he was going to have to help her and hide her and give her the tools to help Harry, guide Harry as Dumbledore had asked. With hesitation, she took his hand and said, "I need to tell you things, but I need you to swear to me, to make an Unbreakable Vow that you won't tell anyone else unless I give you permission."

"Not... not even Harry?" Sirius said, concerned.

"Especially not Harry," Morrighan said honestly. "I'm not saying I'll never give permission, but it's important that you do this, which is why I'm asking for the Unbreakable Vow. Sometimes you get worked up and you ignore the promises you've made. I don't want you to ignore this one, no matter what."

Sirius nodded, scooting closer to her, taking her hand, and saying, "Would you like me to take the Vow now?"

"Yeah," Morrighan said softly, trying to ignore how dizzy she felt, his lips so close to hers. "Will... will it hurt the girls?"

"No, I don't think so," Sirius said. "Not hurt them, anyway, but I can't promise it won't have any impact at all."

Morrighan nibbled on her lip, trying to decide if it was worth changing the pregnancy. Maybe she didn't have to tell him yet. Maybe she could wait for... September?

Could it really wait that long? Albus was about to die. Harry was going to be a mess. Remus and Tonks would be getting married soon. And then it wasn't long at all before Mad-Eye died, George lost an ear, and the Ministry fell. She would have to tell him something before the birth of their daughters, because she would have to go into hiding when the Muggle-born Registration came about, and that was before Hogwarts started up again.

"Sirius," she whispered, "I don't know if we can do the Vow. I... We don't know what it would do to the girls and I don't think we should..."

"Of course," Sirius said, nodding.

"But I need to tell you things," she sighed, "and I need to tell you now. And I'm scared, because you can't tell anyone. You have to promise!"

"I swear it," Sirius whispered, kissing her hands. "What is it that's got you so upset?"

She chewed on her lip for a moment before saying, "All this year, Harry's been learning Voldemort's secret. The reason he's not dead, the reason he could be brought back, is because he made horcruxes. He split his soul seven times and contained the pieces in important objects. Harry's already destroyed one by accident and Albus destroyed one over the summer. They've found what they think is another. They're going to get it tonight, and extra Order members are going to be protecting the castle while they're gone."

"Do they find it?" Sirius breathed. "The horcrux?"

"Not really," Morrighan sighs. "They find a substitute. He'll find it in the fall. Somebody got there first, but died before he could destroy it."

"Who?" Sirius said eagerly.

Morrighan gave him a sad smile and said, "Your brother, actually."

Sirius blinked, his mouth working for a moment without sound. Finally, he swallowed hard and said, "Regulus? That's how he died? But I thought they killed him!"

"No," she said softly. "He had a change of heart and figured out the horcruxes somehow. He knew he'd die if he tried to get out, so he tried to take down a piece of Voldemort with him, but it didn't manage to get it destroyed."

"Where is it now?" he said eagerly.

"I can't tell you that yet," Morrighan said in a forced-calm voice. Did he understand there were so many things she needed to tell him and almost no time at all?

"So what do they do when they realize it's not the horcrux?" Sirius pressed, obviously fascinated that she was finally telling him what was going to happen.

"They don't for a bit," she admitted. "Not until tomorrow, when Harry checks."

He furrowed his brow.

"Why would they wait for tomorrow to check? Why wouldn't they destroy it tonight?"

Morrighan sighed heavily and said, "Because when they get to Hogsmeade tonight, the Dark Mark will appear over the Astronomy Tower. The person who's been trying to kill Dumbledore all year will finally succeed in getting Death Eaters into the castle and... Dumbledore's going to die."

Sirius's eyes widened and he just stared at her for a moment.

"Wh-what do you mean? Who kills him?"

"It's a bit more complicated than that," she insisted. "You see, when he was destroying the last horcrux he came across and rather nasty curse. Severus was able to contain it, but only able to buy him a year at the most. Since they already knew that Draco Malfoy had been ordered to kill Dumbledore or be killed himself, Dumbledore asked Severus to kill him, when the time was right, so that Severus could keep his role as a Death Eater and look out for Harry with no suspicion from the supporters of Voldemort."

"How can you be-"

"Sure?" Morrighan snapped, frowning. "Because I know the story better than anyone here. He doesn't want to do it, Sirius. He's terrified! But would you rather a scared boy do it and rip his soul in two?"

"I suppose not," Sirius sighed. "I trust you. So... so there's nothing you can do?" he whispered.

"No," Morrighan said sadly. "No, there's nothing. He'll die in a month or so whether I was able to stop this or not. There's no help for that curse beyond what's already been done. That was what the letter was reminding me of. That, and telling me that I need to guide Harry. That's where I really need your support and help, because things are changing fast."

"What changes?"

"Well," Morrighan sighed, "two weddings this summer, someone's going to die when we get Harry away from his aunt and uncle, the Ministry falls to Voldemort, Muggle-borns have to go into hiding or suffer severely, so I'm sorry, but we'll have to go back to Grimmauld place for the better part of this coming year." She paused and thought for a moment. "There's a taboo on Voldemort's name at one point, so we'll have to start calling him You-Know-Who once the Ministry falls. That's about it for now, but you can't tell anyone any of that, not even Harry. Actually, especially not Harry."

He frowned, running his fingers through his hair. His gray eyes searched her face for a moment and then he said in a strained voice, "You're asking an awful lot of me, love. It has to be this way? Every bit of it?"

"Yes," she breathed, horrified that her voice was shaking.

She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't. She'd spent too long crying over it in fiction. Now that it was real, she had to be strong. She had to.

But when Sirius's frown deepened, Morrighan broke down, sobbing. His face instantly softened and he pulled her close to him, cradling her body gently. He petted her, whispering, "It's all right. Everything's going to be fine. I won't say a word and I'll do whatever you ask. I had hoped," he added bitterly, "that we'd be able to get by without raising the girls in that awful place at all, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers." Morrighan tried desperately to calm herself as she cried into Sirius's chest. "I love you," he sighed. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," she choked through the sobs. "I'm going to cry a lot this year," she admitted, "but that doesn't mean it doesn't end well."

"Well, we're going to make sure it's not all tears," Sirius whispered, hugging her tightly. "I love you, Morrighan. I wish we didn't have to go back to Grimmauld Place, but I suppose we made a few beautiful memories there, didn't we?"

She gave a watery laugh, looking up at him through her tears and kissing his cheek.

"That we did," Morrighan agreed. "Do you think Kreacher will be all right with our kids? I mean, he's not going to leave Grimmauld Place happily, and I think it would terrify Winky..."

"I hadn't thought of that," Sirius sighed. "I suppose you're right. Well, I think you probably will know how to get Kreacher to be civil? I promise to do whatever you want where he's concerned. My childhood grudges against him really aren't worth something happening to my girls."

"Yes," Morrighan said faintly. "Sirius, I... I think we're going to be hearing from people soon. In a few hours, someone's going to want to tell us what's been happening at the school today. Can you make some tea? I'm feeling a bit faint. Are the girls sleeping?"

"Yes, they're sleeping, and yes, I'll go make the tea," Sirius said gently, kissing her forehead and taking off for the kitchen. Morrighan stared at the coffee table, wringing her hands anxiously.

Almost the very moment Sirius handed her the tea, there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Sirius murmured.

Morrighan could feel her stomach tying in knots as the voices at the door spoke anxiously. They grew closer and she was able to pick out Remus and Tonks.

"Morrighan!" Tonks squealed, rushing happily to Morrighan's side and hugging her. "We're back together! You were right!"

Remus raised his eyebrows.

"You told her we'd be back together?" he asked. "I thought you were following strict, self-imposed rules not to reveal future events."

"Not in so many words," Morrighan assured him sheepishly. "But I did tell her that things would work out all right, and if that's how she took it than she's very good at reading between the lines, or she was just incredibly hopeful."

Remus sighed, sitting down beside Tonks and wrapping his arm around her affectionately, just as Sirius did the same thing to Morrighan on her other side.

"I just wish I knew nothing was going to happen to her because of me," Remus said softly, pressing his face against Tonks's neck. "I know you're not going to tell me, but it still makes me uneasy."

Morrighan bit her lip. Could she honestly say that Tonks's death wasn't because of Remus? She didn't go to the battle because of him, she disregarded his pleading and her responsibilities to her child and went into the battle because she was a Black, because she couldn't stand sitting safely while people she loved were in the thick of things.

Morrighan didn't blame her for it, certainly, but she thought hard and decided there wasn't really any blame for Remus, either.

"No," she said softly. "Nothing is going to happen to her because of you. Don't beat yourself up over your decision, Remus. It's the right one. When people who care about you and are generally right about things all say you ought to do something, it's probably a good idea to listen, after all."

He smiled a little, wrapping both arms around Tonks and hugging her tightly.

"Don't tell the others yet, but we've been talking about getting married," he whispered, looking so happy that he'd made the right choice.

"That's a great idea," Sirius said earnestly. "Big wedding, or something small?"

"Small," Tonks said quickly. "Small and quiet, just a few people. My parents, probably, and you guys. With the war and with Bellatrix out for me, it's probably best if we keep things as quiet as possible."

"I agree," Morrighan said with a sad smile. "It would still be wonderful, though."

"You could have it here," Sirius said with a smile. "That way the girls could be there. I know Andy would love to see the girls."

"Oh, Mum and Dad haven't shut up about it since I told them you procreated!" Tonks said with a laugh. "I'm not sure if they're happy or concerned! I know Mum can't wait to meet Morrighan, can't imagine why anyone as wonderful as I say she is would want anything to do with you."

"Well, he got me pregnant and there was no going back when I found out there were three of them," Morrighan teased, and Sirius spluttered indignantly. "I'm joking, darling," she said with a laugh, patting his head condescendingly and making him pout.

"Actually, I think having it here would be great, if that's all right with Morrighan," Remus said softly.

"I think it's a wonderful idea!" Morrighan said excitedly. "Two weddings this summer. Oh, Molly's going to be upset if she can't come to yours, but I suppose she'll understand with the war and all."

"I expect you're right," Tonks laughed. "Anyway, she'll be quite busy enough with Bill and Fleur. She's really pretty much planning the whole thing, you know, her and Fleur. And Fleur's a bit..."

"Demanding?" Morrighan offered with a smirk. "Yeah, but you know Molly. She'll rise to the occasion. It'll be a beautiful wedding."

She said nothing of the Death Eaters sort of crashing the reception, but the wedding itself would be beautiful.

Morrighan told Sirius to make tea and the four of them sat on the sofa, sipping their tea and cuddling with their significant other. Morrighan just basked in the way Sirius held her, feeling the relief of having told him many of the things that had been troubling her, although not all. He'd taken it surprisingly well, but he'd grown so much from the childlike-man getting drunk so that he could have an easier time talking to her. He was still himself, and still a bit like a child, but he'd matured immensely by necessity alone. She wondered if it would be enough in the year to come.

She then looked over at Remus and Tonks, so happy in their long overdue acceptance of their love. They would be married soon, and then she would be pregnant not long after. Not even a year later, they would be dead. Morrighan tried hard not to shiver, picturing their dead bodies side by side on the floor of the Great Hall in the midst of the dead, dying, and injured. They would be just two more casualties of war at that moment, but Morrighan would be crying for them all the way across the country.

"We should be leaving you two alone to sleep," Tonks said finally when all the tea was gone. "You've got Morrighan's health and the girls to take care of."

"That's the worst euphemism for you two wanting to shag each other's brains out that I've ever heard," Sirius teased, and the way both of them blushed made Morrighan and Sirius howl with laughter.

They said their goodbyes and Sirius hugged Morrighan a little bit tighter as they watched Remus and Tonks Disapparate outside the window.

Everything was about to change again.