Chapter 38- Harry Potter I

"Lily, Lily, Lily!"

I come too and blink my eyes open and there staring down at me was Regulus Black.

I try and sit up, only to be pushed back down.

"It's just me. No one else is here." He didn't say this threateningly, but in a matter of comfort it seemed.

"What the-"

"I saw them on the stairs taunted about knocking you out and that you were all alone. I made up and excuse and got away from them. I've been trying to heal your gash."

I looked down and my first layer of robes was off, and I could see fresh skin pulling over the wound.

"Dittany?" I ask him.

He holds up the bottle. "I carry it every where."

I nod my head and slowly move to a sitting position. "Not that I am not grateful or anything but why are you saving me."

"I need you to do me a favor."

I raise my eye brow at him. "What sort of favor."

"Well actually it's more of a warning."

I glare at him. "Spit it out!"

"Harry is next!" He whispers.

I jump up to my feet and Regulus follows suit. "Is this a trap, why are you telling me this?!" I demand.

"I can't see Sirius lose the man he looks to as a father. And Katarina, and James and your and even Lupin and Pettigrew!" He runs a hand madly through his hair. "I can't see him lose another parent."

I tilt my head to the side slightly. "Why do you care?"

"Family is important. The most important thing." He answers.

"Regulus, I don't understand you do terrible things and then-"

"Would you believe me if I told you I only killed two people in my life?" He cuts me off.

"No."

He laughs. "No, I guess you wouldn't."

I don't join in. "That's not funny."

"No, it isn't." He sighs. "Lily please go warn everyone, go find Harry. Tell them you overheard them talking and then they tried to kill you."

"Won't they know it was you? Voldemort won't he-"
"Never underestimate the power of the mind." He says pointing to his head.

I knew exactly what he meant, and I wasn't surprised he had mastered it. Not many people could, but for someone like him, he would need it.

"I meant what I said, Family is everything." He steps towards me and wraps me in a hug. "Everything I do is for family, that is my motive. Not power, not eternal life, but family."

He releases me then. "Regulus are you okay?"

He smiles. "I am fine, but you should get going."

I nod my head. "Thank you, you always seem to be here when we need you."

He turns his back on me and looks out the window. "I have family on both sides." He says.

I meet his reflection in the window. "I'll tell Sirius you said hi."

His eyes crinkle at the corner. "Please do."

And then I turn on my heels and run out the door, it magically slams shut behind me as I hear the sound of shattering glass and a frustrated male scream. I block it from my mind as best as I can.

Reminding my self as I run to save my future father in law that Regulus had made his choice.

And he chose wrong.

XX

-Sirius' POV-

"Fuck!" I curse loudly as a jet of blue light zig zags towards Peter.

James wand whips forward the jet of light hits the shield with a loud crack.

"Nice one James!" Pete yells.

James only nods.

I search the room quickly, looking for Remus' sandy blonde hair or Lily's red. I didn't see either.

"Where are they?" I ask.

James brushes hair out of his eyes. "I have no idea."

I smirk at his glasses which have a large crack running down them and tap them lightly with my wand mending them.

"How long can this go on?" Peter asks leaning against the wall taking a break, his breaths were coming in short gasps. He was winded.

We all were.

"No idea."

"James!"

He whips around and a red haired girl barrels into him, squeezing him tightly around the middle.

Lily.

He pulls back and grips her shoulders. "Merlin where are you been? Is that blood?" He adds quickly.

I look down and see a slit in the side of her robes were red stained her skin.

She waves her hand quickly. "Never mind that. Dad is next! We have to find him."

James and I exchange a look. Lily's father was dead, it had to mean Harry but Lily has never called him dad. This was serious.

"Lily- what do you-"

"For Merlin's sake!" She yells cutting off Peter. "Dad is in trouble he is next, they are going to kill him! We have to go now!"

James grabs her arm as she moves to run away. "Lily could this be a trap? How do you know?"

She turns around and stares right past James and looks me dead in the eye. "Regulus says hi."

"Oh shit." James says then, speaking aloud what I could not.

This was no joke. Regulus would never lie about this.

James suddenly takes charge. "We need to split up now. Lily where is Remus?"

She shakes her head.

"Look for him as well on the way. Who ever finds dad, send your patrons and get him out immediately."

He looks around at each of us as we nod.

I hurriedly grab James shoulder as he moves to run away. "We'll find him mate."

He nods and takes off in the opposite direction. Lily stands next to me, talking a mile a minute as we walk. "He saved me, I was dying up there. And then he told me, he's not lying Sirius."

I nod and squeeze her hand. "I'll see you soon."

And then we part ways as well.

This place was huge, he could be absolutely any where. All around me duels were in full force, different color lights flying in all directions. I duck them as best as I can, trying to keep my head down so that I am not targeted and distracted by anyone. I sprint towards the spiral staircase behind the stage and take the stairs two at a time.

"Avada Kederva!" I hear a voice shout, before another laughs loudly.

"Please, you have to do better than that! I'm twice your age, I am far more skilled than you'll ever be!"

Dad.

I take off towards the room on the right and fly through the doorway. Harry stood in the center battling two death eaters, masked. I hadn't recognized either of their voices as the whip spells at him.

"Stupefy!" I shout, the spell misses, going just above the first ones head.

"Sirius!" Harry yells. "Where is James?"

"He's fine!" I shout back. "Harry we need to leave now!" I stick my hand out towards him and send a defensive smoke screen about the room.

"Sirius why-" I felt his hands in mine for only a second before he ripped from my grip.

"Fuck!" I yell loudly, two lights shot in the darkness and the screen dissolved.

I looked about the room and fell to my knees, a scream tore it's way from my throat, a scream so loud I didn't even know I could make.

Harry was on his back blood pouring out of every hole in his body, pooling around him. The blood expelling curse.

I crawled towards him quickly and leaned over him. I could hear the sound of someone choking in the background.

"Harry!" I cry, gripping his face in my hands.

"Son, it's okay." He says clearly, blood dripping down his lips. I wipe it off with my hand.

"You can't- James- I need to tell James you're here. He needs to say goodbye-"

"Sirius stop."

I swallow thickly and look into his dark eyes. "At least I am with one of my children in my last moments." A tear falls from my eyes. "You three have been an adventure. I would not change any of it for the world. You and Katarina walked into my heart at age 11 the same way James did the day he was born. It my be selfish to say, but I am so glad that your parents did not see the potential and the greatness I saw in you. Because then you would have never been in my life and that would have been a shame. You are my son, just as James is my son. I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Harry-"

"Listen." He interrupts, and raises a hand to cover mine. "Tell James I am so proud of the man he has grown to be. He has exceeded all of my expectations. I wanted so much to see him married. But tell him I will be there, Emily and I and Lily's parents. They won't see us but I promise to be there cheering him on. Give Lily all my love and tell her thank you for believing in James that way you and I both do."

I nod my head.

He coughs, blood squirting out on my robes, a few pieces fly onto my face.

"Tell Katarina to remember what we spoke about in the kitchen the other day. It is so important that she remember that. She loves you so much Sirius, you'll see. You two remind me so much of Emily and I. Sirius take the chain from around my neck."

I reach my hand under his robes and unhook the chain. Hanging from it, was a beautiful thin band covered in diamonds. It was Emily's wedding band.

"This was Emily's. I gave the engagement ring to James, because it was more Lily's style, but this ring is Kats. Give this to her on you're wedding day. I wore it every day on this chain since Christmas. Tell her, I love her so much. and James, he needs to know what you all meant to me."

I swallow the lump growing in my throat. The sound of choking grows louder. I whip my head around and see the death eater that killed him choking on the floor, clutching his throat. I growl deep in my throat and move to get up but Harry grabs my hand.

"He's dying Sirius. There is no need to avenge me. I avenged myself."

I take a deep breath and nod my head.

"I love you Dad."

He chuckles and I wipe a drooping blood leaking from his eye like a tear. "Dad." He repeats. "I don't that you ever called me that out loud." He smiles. "I love you too son."

He looks up at the ceiling the smile still on his lips. His eyes glaze over. "Emily." He calls. "Emily, I'm coming."

"Dad, no!" I call. "Please!"

His eyes snap back to me. "She's here Sirius. I need to go. Tell Remus that Lyall is here too and that we'll look after him."

"Dad!" He looks back up to the ceiling. "Dad!"

He took a shuddering breath and that was it. He was gone.

I put my arms around his shriveling body. Blood soaking my robes.

"How bloody touching." I hear a mocking voice call. I sit up and rock back on my heels.

"Forgotten me have you? You shouldn't have counted me out."

I hadn't even noticed him, but there had been two death eaters when I walked in. How could I have forgotten. I was fucked.

I stood up quickly. Emily's ring clenched tightly in my fist.

"Stupefy!" He shouts, the jet of red light hit me squarely in the chest and then everything went black.

XX

-Katarina's POV-

I snuck in through the back door of the hotel. It had been two hours and five minutes since they left the house. I warned them I would come. I slipped my wand out of my sleeve and walked swiftly into the main ball room. Duels were going on all around me.

"Stupefy!" I yell loudly, effectively stunning the death eater Doc was dueling.

He whipped his head around and smiled. "Welcome back."

I smile too, looking around for my friends.

I saw Tom then in the corner of the room, dueling two death eaters. I ran two him as fast as I could ducking and weaving around jets of light.

"Impedimenta!" I shout, slowing on of them down and knocking them back.

"Kat!" Tom shouts, twirling his wand around and shooting a white jet of light at the death eater. "What are you doing here?"

"I gave them two hours. I couldn't wait any longer." I shout back, sending my death eater flying into the wall. His head cracked like the sound of a melon bursting open and he fell to the floor.

"No!" The death eater that Tom is dueling yells. It was a female voice, must be her husband. "Brother!"

"Ah, Amycus and Alecto Carrow."

Her mask falls to the floor. "Screw you, you bit-"

Tom stuns her mid sentence and then we turn and stare at each other.

He is breathing heavily, a bruise forming along his jaw.

"I can take care of myself." He says.

"I know." I tell him softly. "And you can take care of your family too and I will be there every step of the way. I swear I will love him or her so much and-"

He throws himself into my arms.

"I'm so sorry." I whisper into his shirt.

"Remus told me." He says into my hair. "I know Kat. We're all high strung right now. We'll all get better."

He pulls back and smiles at me. "Now go, go find your friends. I lost them the second we got here."

I kiss him on the cheek and turn towards the stage, locating a small staircase. I sprint up them. I get to the top and here a creak to the right. I walk slowly towards the room and see Sirius on the floor covered from head to toe in blood. I quickly make my way over to him stepping over a death eater whose hand was tight around his throat. His face was blue.

"He's dead."

I whip my head around and stop dead at the sight of the death eater behind me.

"I'm good at staying hidden. He didn't know I was in the room either." He smiles widely at me.

"Who are you." I growl out. "I know every death eater-"
"Ah yes, you're the spy girl. Katarina right?"

I sneer at him.

"He's dead, your precious Sirius Black is dead how does that make you feel?"

"Fuck you!" I yell shooting a jet of silver light at him, that looked like a bolt of lightening.

He laughs loudly and points his wand at Sirius' body. A bright purple light heads towards him and without thinking I dive at Sirius' body and fall on top of him. I wouldn't let them torture his dead body. I wouldn't- The curse hits me on the right side of my body and I collapse onto of him.

"Sirius." I whisper, then the pain took over and I was gone.

XX

I shot up quickly and huge gasp of air coming from my lungs. All I could see was white all around me. I knew I was in the hospital.

"Kat!"

I turn my head to left, Remus was there leaning forward his hands on my shoulders trying to push me down. I resisted.

"Sirius!" I shout. "Where is he, they said- Oh Merlin Remus they said he was dead!" I push his hands away from and rip the sheets off my bed standing up. My head spins and I clutch the railing.

"Kat, he's in the next room-"
"I have to see him! I tried to save his body, I covered him. I couldn't let them destroy him."

"Kat!" Remus yells grabbing me from behind as I move to walk out of the door. "He isn't dead."

My heart beats wildly in my chest.

"Not dead?" I manage to choke out.

"No, Kat he's fine but listen-"

I break from his grip again and sprint to the room to the left of mine and burst in the door. Sirius was sitting up in bed. James was by his side holding his hand tightly as Lily sat directly next to him on the bed, her head leaning on his shoulder.

"Sirius!"

They all whip their head towards the door.

"Kat!" He jolts Lily who sits up.

The words spill from my lips. "I love you."

Everyone is staring and I don't care. "He told me you were dead, that death eater and then he turned his wand on you and I couldn't let him harm your body. He wasn't going to have you! I jumped in front and took the curse for you!" I was breathing heavy. "I couldn't let them have you."

"Kat if I was dead-"

"I love you. I thought you were dead and I'm not afraid to say it anymore. I want you in every way possible. I want to marry you and have your babies. I want you so bad it hurts." His eyes lock with mine.

"You don't know." He says suddenly.

"I tried to tell her." Remus says from behind me. I hadn't even noticed he followed me.

Lily's eyes fill with tears.

"What don't I know?" I ask quietly.

I watch as James stands up slowly, taking his hand out of Sirius' grip.

"What don't I know?" I demand again when no one speaks.

"Dad's-" I didn't even have to hear the rest of what Sirius was going to say. I could tell by all of their faces.

I screamed loudly and felt my knees buckle. James lunged forward and caught me in his arms before I could fall.

"No!" I fought against his hold trying to get away. "No! Where is he? I need to see him!"

"You can't love. You can't." James says, holding on to me tightly.

I punched at his chest. "Where is he?!"

"Kat it- it-"

"It was the blood expelling curse." Lily says quietly when James cannot finish.

My body goes limp in James' arms. He squeezes me tightly to him, I could hear Lily crying from where Sirius was.

"How- who saw him?" I ask what felt like hours later when I was able to speak.

James pulled away from me and led me over to the bed. I sat on the edge right by Sirius' feet.

"I was there." Sirius says quietly. "I was with him when he died."

And then he started talking, about how Lily was saved by Regulus and he told her that Harry was next and that we had to find him. He told that they had split up and Sirius found him and tried to direct a distraction to get him out of there but when the smoke cleared he saw him on the ground. Sirius' face cracks and he begins to cry.

"James he said he is so proud of the man you've become and that he is so glad you and Lily found each other." Lily lays her head on James' chest and he rubs a hand up and down her arms. "Katarina he told me to tell you to remember the conversation that you had the other day that it was so important. He said we reminded him of he and Emily."

"I took his advice already." I mumbled quietly, my eyes on his.

He nods his head.

"What did he say to you Sirius?" James asks him, his eyes staring at his face.

"He told me that he knew this would sound selfish but he didn't care. He said he was glad that my parents never treated me as a son because than I wouldn't have been in his life and that would have been a shame. He told me he loved me. He called me son."

James grabbed his hand. "You were his son Sirius. He loved you so much. He loved us all."

"He told me we were his greatest adventure." Sirius says. "At the end he said he saw Emily, and Lyall."

Remus sucks in a deep breath.

"He said he watch out for him Rem, that they would all be together again." Remus' eyes fill up with tears at he mention of his father.

"He was the only one left out of all of his friends." James says quietly. "He's home now."

I nod my head and tears fall down my cheeks. "He's home."

XX

Sirius' and I were released a few hours later after the healers came in for a check up. Sirius was only stunned and I was hit with a curse similar to a stunning spell, that puts you in a painful sleep. The set of ribs on the right side of my body still had a twinge of pain but it was nothing compared to the pain in my chest that Dad created when he left us. There wasn't even a body. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly.

"Did you mean it?"

I open my eyes and look to the left where Sirius lay next to me in my- our bed. "Mean what?"

"The things you said at the hospital before-"

I smile at him and reach out to place my hand on his cheek. "I love you so much. I always knew I did. That was never the problem. I felt terrified. I wasn't made to love. My parent-" I stop and shake my head. "It's no excuse, just know that I love you and I'm sorry I took advantage of you."

He smiles, his grey eyes lighting up. "I love you too."

"I won't ever leave you." I sit up on my knees and stare into his eyes. "When I thought you were dead, my heart just stopped. I couldn't imagine a world without you in it."

He shakes his head. "I'm sorry you thought that- I can't imagine what that would have felt like. Even when you were gone all those weeks, I knew you were still alive. I was mad as hell at you." I smile slightly. "But I never doubted it."

"Dad wanted this." I say to him. "He wanted us all together and happy."

Sirius nods his head. "We all just need some time Kitty, but we will be happy."
"At least we're all together." I say.

"We'll always be together." He says back. "All of us."

I throw my arms around him tightly. We stayed like that until our breaths even out and we both fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning I was still in his arms and I couldn't help but wonder, why it hadn't been like this all along.