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Chapter forty nine- Meeting Fred and George.
-Xeomara's POV-
I finally felt like I was getting back on track, sure it had only been a week since the attack, a week since I lost my best friend, and a week since I've been home but I felt more like the old me. Sirius on the other hand was taking Jade's dead badly, sometimes I feel like he couldn't even talk to me. He spent most of his time talking to James, and sometimes even Lily but she barely could get anything out of him. I've yet to hear from Remus and I'm not all that surprised he's probably busy up to his ankles in work. He's going to hate it there, I know he is. Frank and I tried stopping him; I wish I would have tried harder, because now he won't ever be the same. None of us have been back to work yet and we've still be living at James' and Lily's, and trust me; none of us were ready to go yet. Lily was taking the death badly as well; James had to force her up every morning. James was hiding something from me; I wasn't sure what it was yet but every time I tried to read him he blocked it off.
I blink my eyes open and reach for Sirius but find that he wasn't next to me. I frown and look at the time realizing it was a little past 1. I still couldn't get used to sleeping at night, so Frank and I's night time teas were still going on. I sit up and walk down stairs still in my pajamas. Frank was lounged out on the couch, sleeping. I wall past him rolling my eyes and push the swinging door and walk into the kitchen. Lily and James were seated at the table eating lunch, and Alice was making something.
"Finally up?" Alice asks handing me a cup of coffee. I smile in thanks and sit down.
"You really should start sleeping at night." Jimmy tells me with a firm glance.
"Yeah… about that-" I look around and notice I haven't seen Sirius. "Where's Sirius?" Lily bites her lip and looks down. "Where is he?"
"France."
"Excuse me?" Clearly I must have misheard.
"He's in France." Lily repeats. My heart sinks and I start breathing heavily.
"Why?" I ask, feeling my blood boiling. "What the hell is my husband doing in France?" They all exchanged glances. "ANSWER ME!"
"He-"
"Xeomara are you okay?" Frank asks bursting through the door.
"Sirius is in France."
"What?"
"Lily told me Sirius is in France and I don't know why." I tell him. He places his hands comfortingly on my shoulders.
"He said he needed to work a few things out." James answers.
"Work a few things out.." I say in an off handed tone.
"Yes."
"And is he just staying for the night visiting Remus and Peter-"
"He was hired as an auror for the French Ministry." Lily cuts in. My eyes widen. "He took the job, Zee, I'm so sorry."
"He took the job." I say angrily.
"Look Maurie, Jade's death hit him pretty hard. They were really close and I think he needs some time away from here. He's been thinking about it since Remus and Peter took the job, and then I'm guessing he decided last night and well he was packed this morning and then he left."
"He didn't say good bye. I didn't even- Wait." I say realizing something. "You knew?" James bites his lip. "Of course, it makes sense. That's what you've been hiding all week."
"I wanted to tell you Maurie it's just that-"
"You said he has things he needs to deal with, do those things include me?" I interrupt.
"Of course not!" James says but for some reason I'm just not too sure. I stand up angrily pushing Frank's hands off my shoulders, take of the ring Sirius gave me and slam it down on the table.
"I'm leaving." Ignoring the protests, I turn on the spot and apparate to the one place outside of James' that I felt comfortable.
I walk up to the burrow, and knock on the door.
"Who is it?" I feel tears welling up in my eyes.
"Molly it's me." I say my voice thick. Immediately the door is pulled open, and Molly grabs my arm and pulls me in. She sits me down at the large table and puts a cup of tea in front of me.
"What's happened?" I wipe a hand across my face as more tears slide down.
"Sirius left." She looks startled.
"What?"
"He went to France this morning, after being hired over there for auror. He didn't even say good bye! He didn't even tell me he was considering it!" She reaches across the table and grabs my hand. "I don't know what I did wrong! I just came back and he leaves!"
"Honey, you didn't do anything. From what I heard he was real shaken up about Jade. He probably just needed some time away." I shake my head.
"I just can't-"
"Xeomara?" I turn towards the sound of Arthur's and allow him to pull me into a hug. "What's the matter?" He asks joining us at the table.
"Sirius got a job in France and he took it without telling me, he even left without saying good bye." He frowns.
"He'll come back."
"Zee!" I smile through my tears as two small bodies launch themselves at me.
"Charlie, Bill!" I say hugging them and ruffling their red hair. "How's my two favorite boys?"
"Tired." Bill says frowning.
"And why's that?" I ask rubbing the tears off my cheeks, looking into their bright blue eyes.
"The babies won't stop crying!" Charlie complains. I smile widely.
"Are they sleeping?" I ask Molly.
"Yes, but would you like to see them? I nod quickly and hurriedly follow Molly up the stairs and into the bedroom on the right. There was a large wooden crib in the middle, I walked over to it and looked down at the tiny red haired babies sleeping on their stomachs. I marvel over the little sounds of breathing and how tiny they were.
"Oh Molly!" I say happily. "They're beautiful." She picks up one of the boys carefully and gestures towards me.
"Would you like to hold him?"
"I don't know Molly, I've never really held a kid and well-"
"None sense, you'll be fine. Meet George." She says handing me the baby. He feels like and soft in my arms and immediately curls up to me. He starts squirming a bit.
"He's moving." I say amazed, brushing his forehead softly. He blinks open his little chocolate brown eyes, and squeezes my finger with his little hand. I look up at Molly with adoration written all over my face.
"Perfect isn't he?"
"He's really is beautiful." I say looking back down and kissing his forehead. "I've never held a baby before; actually I've never even known anyone who's had a baby." She smiles.
"Would you like to meet Fred?" I nod, and Molly replaces the baby in my arms with the baby who was lying in the crib. When she handed me Fred he was already awake staring at me with those big brown eyes.
"Hello Fred, I'm Xeomara." I say softly. "I'm going to teach you the ropes kid, just you wait. You and Georgie, will be playing pranks in no time." Molly chuckles and rolls her eyes from where she was rocking George gently. "This is really amazing." I remark never wanting to let him go.
"Did you not want kids?" Molly asks curiously.
"Well, I mean I've thought about it and I did want kids, but I've just never really wanted a baby more than I've wanted one now. It really wasn't on my top priority list." She nods.
"We can take them down stairs if you'd like." The rest of the day I spent playing with the boys, it was really relaxing and kept my mind off of things. At about 5, I laid down on the couch while Molly started making dinner. I had George securely in one arm and Fred in the other, Charlie and Bill were on the floor already asleep. I listened carefully to the little sounds that the babies made until I drifted off to sleep.
-James' POV-
"She's been gone for three hours!" I say pacing throughout the living room.
"James, she needed to cool off I'm sure she's fine." Alice says from where Lily, Frank, and her were sitting on the couch.
"She could be hurt, I mean she was really upset what if she did something really stupid?" Lily rolls her eyes.
"Exactly James, she was upset. Her husband left her James." I frown and bite my lip.
"He didn't leave her." My eyes met hers and the green eyes that I loved so much pierced mine.
"He did and you know it."
"Why?" Franks asks angrily. "Why did he leave her? What did he tell you James?"
"He said that he needed to get away, that he couldn't handle anything right now."
"So he left her?"
"I think-" Lily starts. "I think he was trying to distance himself from her because he's scared he'll lose her too."
"That's stupid!" Alice explodes. "That's so bloody stupid! The next time I see him I'm going to hex him into oblivion.
"Not if I don't get to him first." Frank mutters. I smile at how protective Frank had gotten of Maurie.
"Is he staying with Peter and Remus?" I nod my head.
"They bought them a bigger flat." Lily nods her head.
"I think I'm gonna go look for her." I tell them.
"James maybe you shouldn't-"
"Lily, I know my sister."
"Yes, James I know but still-"
"Lily I'm going." With a crack I apparate to Hogwarts. She always liked visiting Dumbledore maybe she went there. I walk up the familiar staircase to the headmasters office and knock politely on the door, not caring that he could be with a student.
"Enter." I walk in and close the door behind me. Dumbledore raised his eye brows.
"James?" I give a faint smile.
"Has Zee been here?"
"I haven't seen Xeomara since the funeral, what happened?"
"Well, Sirius left this morning."
"And he didn't say good bye?" Albus guesses. I nod.
"He didn't even tell her."
"She must have been very upset about this. The love of her life leaving her." I nod.
"She's been gone for almost four hours now, and well I- you know how I get." He smiles.
"How could I forget, you get nervous if she's out of your sight for a few minutes." I smile sheepishly.
"Well I guess I should be going." I start turning towards the door.
"James, there is a spot on the right corner of my office where you can apparate." I smile in thanks.
"See you Monday." He nods as I turn on the spot and arrive at godric's hallow. I scan the cemetery hoping to see her along the people visiting their families. I walk through the kissing gates and to my parent's grave. I was sure she'd be here. I stare at the engravings on the headstone.
"Hi mum, hi dad." I say sadly. "Things have been really messed up lately. Everything is out of control." I knew I wasn't going to get an answer back, I shrugged and walked on. When I realized she wasn't at Regulus' grave or Jade's I apparated the Molly's remembering that she always found comfort in the burrow. I walk up to brilliant house and knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
"Hi Molly, it's James." The door's pulled open and Molly ushers me inside. I hug her tightly and kiss her cheek in greeting.
"Hello James! It's good to see you."
"You as well."
"I suspect you're looking for Zee?" I nod eagerly. "Come on." She says and turns to walk towards the living room. "When I left she was playing with the-" She stops dead and I step into the room beside her. Molly has a fond smile on her face. I turn towards the couch and see Zee sleeping peacefully with the twins wrapped tightly in her arms, Bill and Charlie, were on the floor right beside the couch. I smile at the sight, as Molly and I walk back into the kitchen.
"Well she was playing with them." She says with a smile, then frowns. "She's really upset James."
"I know Molly-"
"She came over here crying her eyes out." Molly shakes her head. "He should never have left her."
"Of course he shouldn't have." We both whip our heads around to see a sleepy looking Zee with both of the babies in her arms. I immediately jump up and take one out of her arms and holding it tightly to my chest smiling as I do.
"Say Hi to Fred James." She tells me.
"Hello Fred, I'm James." I say as he plays with my fingers. "They're- it's amazing!"
"Now you sound just like Zee." Molly says fondly setting the table for dinner.
"Molly I'm-" Arthur says walking in and then stops when he see's us. "Hello James! Feeling better Xeomara?" She shrugs her shoulders and leans down to kiss George's head.
"Are you ready to go home?" I ask looking at her. She nods and Molly takes the baby off her hands while Arthur takes Fred.
"Thank you so much Molly, tell the boys I said good bye. I'll come back soon." She says leaning forward to kiss her cheek.
"You better, come anytime you need me." She smiles and kisses Arthur good bye.
"I'll see you Monday."
"Good bye!" They call as we walk out the door. I take her hand so I know she's coming home with me and turn on the spot.
We arrive with a pop in our living room. Lily, Alice, and Frank had not moved from the spot.
"Where were you?" Lily snaps looking at Zee.
"Molly's?" She says as if it were a question.
"You left four hours ago without word of where you were going!"
"Sorry." Maurie mumbles. Lily's face softens and she pulls Zee into a hug.
"No I'm sorry, I'm just stressed out."
"It's fine Lils, why don't you get some sleep you look tired." She nods and kisses me long and hard before returning upstairs.
"I'm going back to work tomorrow." Zee announces.
"I think I am as well." Frank adds. Alice bites her lip.
"I don't know if I'm ready." Frank pats her hand.
"It's okay, Alice." She smiles tearfully and leans her head on his shoulder.
"Who's going to be your partner James?" Frank asks, Maurie tenses.
"Moody."
"You're working with Moody?" I nod.
"Wow." Maurie comments.
"I know." It gets quiet again as we all just sit there, Maurie squirms uncomfortably.
"I think I'll go make some dinner."
-Xeomara's POV-
I arrive at the ministry and to the auror's offices by 8 the next morning.
"Little Black!" Moody comments as I walk in. "I didn't know you were coming in today." I give him a small smile and sit down at my desk.
"Yeah, Frank should be coming in soon as well. I needed to get my mind off of things, and what better way to do that then capture some death eaters?"
"Very true, what about Potter, Little Potter, and Little Longbottom?"
"I'm not sure about James, but Lily and Alice? They're still really upset."
"Understandable." He starts looking through papers and hands me two files. "While you've been, these particular death eater's have been doing a lot of damage. We want to capture them. I've been looking for this one," He says gesturing towards the first file. "for four months." I open the first file and see the name Igor Karkaroff. There was a long list of people he's killed in the last month and half muggles and muggle-borns alike. I read down the list and stop at the one name.
"He's killed Barty's brother?" I ask in surprise.
"That's what got him essentially on the most wanted list." I nod my head and grab the other file. Amycus and Alecto Carrow.
"The Carrow's?" He nods. I start reading the long list of crimes they committed. "These people make me sick."
"Little Black?" I look up and stair into Moody's eyes.
"Yes?" I say a little put off.
"Nevermind." I glance at him nervously but let it go.
"Are there any leads?" I say pointing to the files.
"Karkaroff was said to last be seen in Stoatshead Hill, and the Carrow's? They were last seen in France after the ministry almost fell." I nod.
"We should get started." I say standing up.
"Today?" I nod my head.
"I guess we could." He says eyeing my curiously. I turn around and walk towards the back door and into a large room filled with supplies we could need. I grab three invisibility cloaks, poly juice potion, bag filled with hair, extra wands, a tent, and three knives. When I walk back to the office's Frank was there talking to Moody.
"Hey partner." I say to Frank as I enter, handing out the knives, the extra wands, and the cloak. I grab my knife and stick it in the back of my pants and cover it with my shirt, before packing a bag filled with the supplies and put a shrinking charm on it shoving it in my front pocket.
"Moody filled me in." Frank says as we walk through the ministry and towards the elevator, I push the button and we start sliding down.
"Who are we going for first?" I ask Moody quietly.
"Let's start with Karkaroff first and then once the other three get back to work we can split up." I nod my head. We exit the elevator and head towards the front doors and walking out.
"Stoatshead Hill, where have I heard that before?" I stop and think carefully and then it hits me.
"It's right near Molly's house!" I say in a panic.
"I'm sure they're fine Little Black. Let's go." I exchange looks with both of them and turn on the spot. I arrive on top of a little hill, with Moody and Frank next to me.
"Moody!" I stare at the figure out of breath that was running at full speed.
"Diggery?" I say in shock. I haven't seen him since we graduated. He came at a full stop in front of us with blood caked on the left side of his face.
"What happened?" Moody barks.
"The man, the one they've been looking for. He attacked out house, my wife, my son!" He pants out.
"Who?!" I ask sharply.
"Long black hair, goatee., gangly looking bad teeth sounded like a Bulgarian accent."
"Karkaroff." Frank snarls.
"Are they okay?" I ask, he nods. "Take them and yourself to St. Mungos, ask for Hestia, she'll heal you up.
"Which way did he go?" Moody questions.
"Straight through that forest, I was chasing him but someone, another death eater got in front of me." Moody turns around at the new information.
"Who?"
"I didn't see his face but he apparated after Karkaroff got away!" I nod my head.
"We have to go, be careful." Frank, Moody, and I start sprinting through the forest at top speed. We casted charms looking for human presence.
"Maybe we should split up?" I ask, after we've been running for twenty minutes without nothing.
"I'm not sure."
"Look, we've been pretty loud and there is one of him and three of us, I'm sure he's heard us. We need to be more discreet." Moody thinks it over for a second before nodding.
"Cloaks on, I want you to scream loudly if you see him. I'll go continue north, Black go west, Longbottom go east."
"Be careful." Frank says squeezing my hand. Without answering I slip the cloak on and start sprinting the opposite way. I start getting lost in the forest running every which way. I stop after an about 3 hours of looking breathing heavily when I see a flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye.
"On the right!" I hear Moody scream. I turn to my right and point my wand at the tree.
"Reducto!" The tree blows apart revealing Karkaroff, getting up from where the blow had him falling back.
"Igor Karkaroff, you are under arrest." I state pointing my wand at him.
"I Haff no intention of being taken!" He yells shooting a curse at me, I fly back into the tree spitting hair out of my mouth.
"Black hurry!" Moody yells from in front of me, and I see him chasing Karkaroff, suddenly Frank is there beside me helping me up.
"Come on." I grab his hand and we start running after them, shooting curses as quickly as we could. I watch as Karkaroff turns around brandishing is wand and twirling it quickly, suddenly a fire erupts through the trees, separating us from him.
"We lost him." Moody says as approach him.
"That slippery bastard." I say with a glare. We take out our wands and extinguish the fire with our wands.
"Let's head back." Moody tells us after we clear the fire.
"Right the dammed report." He says as we walk in the office cleaning the ash off our robes. I nod my head and join Frank as we sit down and start writing a detailed report on what happened.
"Mad-Eye?" I call out after I finish.
"What Little Black?"
"Did you get the report on the attack of Diggery's home?" I watch as he rubs a hand across his face.
"Yes, you two might as well head home. We'll get a fresh start tomorrow; I'll let you know if anything happens." I nod my head, as I place the things back in the room and exit the office with Frank. He glances at his watch.
"Long day." He comments.
"What time is it?" I ask rubbing my temples as we step off the elevator.
"Around eight." I let out a low whistle.
"Damn."
About three minutes later we're walking through the front door of James' house. Only James was sitting in the living room.
"Where are Lily and Alice?" James looks up.
"Sleeping." I nod my head.
"Long day?"
"We've been chasing Karkaroff through the forest."
"Still haven't caught him yet?" James says shaking his head.
"No, the damn bastard is too quick." I comment. "And I had him too- Uh!" Frank pats my shoulder.
"Don't beat yourself up. We'll get him."
"What happened?" James asks as we sit down.
"Well we split up after awhile and I guess Moody saw him because he was screaming at me to follow him and he entered where Zee was. Moody called out that he was on the right and she blew up the tree he was sitting behind causing him to fly backwards. She had him and getting ready to tie him up when he shot a hex that made her slam into a tree. I helped her up and we chased after him but he set the ground on fire separating us, and he got away." Frank finishes.
"Damn." I rub the bump on my head. "You can't get everyone Zee." He says with a shrug. I scowl at him.
"You up for work tomorrow?" Franks asks him.
"Yeah, I think it's time. You looking for him tomorrow?"
"Every day until we catch him." I reply. James barks out a laugh.
"Alright well-" He stops when we hear a tap on our window.
"James that's Moony's owl!" I say excitedly. He walks over and lets it, then joining us on the couch again.
"It's addressed to all of us." James says as he opens the letter. "It says:
Prongs, Stripes, Lily, Frank, and Alice,
I just wanted to write the let you know Peter and I are okay. We've had a pretty hectic week trying to reform the ministry. I'm working over here in the department of law enforcement, along with Peter. It's only been about a week but nothing much but a few minor attacks have happened. It seems that many of the death eaters started heading home. We ran into the Carrow's last night, and I remember that they were on the wanted list right now, so I thought I'd let you know. Padfoot arrived this morning he seemed a little down. He doesn't know I'm writing this obviously because I'm sure he'd probably hit me but he cried all morning, I mean all morning. He told me that he didn't say good bye to you Zee and I'm sorry he didn't. It was foolish and stupid of him but I think he's just got a lot going on right now. And I'm sorry too Zee, I just needed to get away. I knew something bad most have happened to you here and that you wanted to protect me but I need to be here. I don't want to argue with you because well, if something bad happened and the last thing we did was argue….well that wouldn't be good. James, Frank, be the man of the house and make sure you watch after Lily and Zee. I'll murder you if you don't. I know you're probably wondering how I'm doing, since my fiancé just died a week ago. I'm going to be honest; I've been keeping myself busy. Wormtail says I've been keeping myself too busy but I need some sort of distraction. Maybe I'll try and come home one weekend soon or you all could come visit me here. Gaspard has been really nice about the werewolf situation saying any friend of Xeomara couldn't be bad. I guess he really does have a thing for you. To be honest some sick part of me wants Padfoot to meet him really bad, I think it will be amusing. I'm really sorry I left all of you. I miss you all a lot. I want you all to be careful and do your best to stay as safe as possible. I'll owl you when we can meet up, it may not be for awhile though. I love you all.
Love always,
Remus.
p.s. Wormy noticed I was writing this and told me to send his love."
"Moony with his long was letters." I say as James finishes.
"Well at least their okay so far, maybe the worst is gone over there." Frank says hopefully. We sit quietly for a minute.
"Okay tell me the truth, what are me and Sirius right now? Are we still together or are we broken up?" James and Frank exchange nervous glances.
"I'm sure he just needed to get away." Frank says nervously.
"Yes, but how am I going to know!" I say putting my head in my hands.
"If he writes to you, you'll know." James says simply.
