December 25, 1980
- He's so cute, I'm gonna eat him! Marlene was praising Harry, kissing his beautiful little jowls.
- He is, right? Lily was ecstatically agreeing with her on the subject of her son's cuteness.
- That's a relief, he's not as ugly as his father, I laughed.
- Yeah, nice try, Dorcas, since Harry's the perfect replica of James, Lily replied.
- Except the eyes, he got your incredibly awesome eyes, love, James said, while sticking his tongue out to me.
- He does, I agreed, smiling.
- What a crazy world to be born unto, though, Marlene sighed.
That was insane, all right. Lily's parents died a month ago, in a stupid car accident. Problem was, we weren't completely sure that the accident was legit. We were suspicious that maybe that was retribution from Voldemort's side. James and Lily had crossed his path two times already, and he never managed to get rid of them. He must be pretty pissed… The muggle authorities were clueless, immediately assuming that was an ordinary car crash… Marlene, as we were all, was tired with the incessant attacks and bad news…
- We'll protect and cherish you, little man, Marlene said to him. OUCH! He's pulling on my hair! OW! Harry, stop it! She laughed.
- Isn't he perfect? James laughed.
- I agree, Prongs, he clearly inherited our taste for mischief, Sirius said. Good boy!
Lily rolled her eyes at them, before she went to help Marlene, Harry still giggling while pulling her hair.
- What about you, Dorcas, planning to produce a tiny-Sirius?
- Well, as cute as that sounds, I'm planning to finish my Auror's training, first, I said, looking up at Sirius, who winked at me.
March 9th, 1981
I was running, like death was after me, in a clearing, painted golden by the sunset. It would have been quite a great vision if it wasn't in such a horrible moment.
We got a cue about a planned attack on the McKinnon's house, by one member of the order that was a double agent. I'm not naming him or her, because Dumbledore was the only one knowing about who it was. He was suspecting that there was a double agent on our side too, so he was being very careful… As soon as I learned about it, I ran out of our headquarters to disapparate as soon as I could. I heard the others running after me. Marlene was a member of the order too, everyone wanted to make sure that she was safe too… My heart was menacing to burst out of my ribcage… She'll be fine, I was trying to convince myself…
That's how I arrived in the golden clearing. Sirius appeared close to me, and pulled me to him as I was flabbergasted by the vision in front of me. The Dark Mark was floating in the sky on top of Marlene's family home. Sirius' hand briefly squeezed mine before he began to ran in direction of the house. I followed him, running next to Gideon Prewett. I thought about the fact that when we last met, with the girls, for our girl's night, Marlene told us that she was attracted to the golden-red hair Prewett twin. I wonder if she managed to seduce him… Merlin, she needed to be safe, please, tell me that she was safe… That she wasn't home when the attack occurred…
We arrived at the house, but before we could enter, the front door banged open and death eaters were there. I saw James quickly hiding behind a tree, pointing his wand at them. Since I was within the last people in the back, I griped Gideon's sleeve and pulled him to change direction with me.
- Let's try to go in by the back, I said, knowing that house well enough to know that we could entered by the door leading to the gardens.
- I'm following you, he said, clearly trying to keep his cool to be efficient.
We cut through a small wooded area and arrived in the garden. We passed in front of Marlene's mother precious rose's bush, before we arrived near the stairs leading to the back door. I put a finger on my mouth, signaling him to be quiet, then went up, as Gideon was covering my back. I opened the door and looked inside, there was no-one in sight, nor any noise. I entered, followed by Gideon. I cautiously crossed the corridor leading to the big living room. As soon as I turned to entered it, my heart stopped. They were there. All of them. All of their corpses. They were all dead. Forgetting all caution, I ran to Marlene's body. I fall on my knees, a complaint escaping my throat.
- Well, well, well, and what have we here? I heard at my right.
I raised a trembling hand, my wand in it, in the direction of the voice. It was a feminine voice, sounding like a mix between sexy and childish. That was weird. And disgusting.
- Those were friends of yours? She said, her wand pointing me, then turning her head when she saw Gideon coming to stand next to me.
There were two other death eaters behind her, too… We were outnumbered by one.
- You're gonna pay, for this… I groaned.
- You don't have it in you, doll, she mocked me. I don't think you do!
- Confringo! I attacked her first.
- Oh, she said, dodging it elegantly, already? I thought we were having a conversation?
- Crucio! A man standing behind her casted.
He missed, too.
- Oppugno! Gideon casted, trying to crash a marble bust unto one of the death eater.
- Petrificus totallus! I shouted, at the same time that the dreadful woman casted Crucio on me.
Before her unforgivable curse hit me, I saw that I got one of her acolyte down with my body-binding spell. The victory wasn't long, because an incredibly powerful pain made me fall on my back on the floor. I blacked out.
I opened my eyes, looked around, and remembered where I was. The bodies of Marlene's family were not far from me, then I got the horror vision of Gideon's body lying next to them, dead too.
- You finally woke up, sleepy bird? I heard over me.
I turned to look up and there she was. She had her mask and cloak removed. She was stunningly beautiful, her long curly raven black hair skimming my face as she was standing above me. Her skin was very pale, she got a very thick eyeliner line around her dark eyes, her lips the color of blood.
- Where are the others? I managed to ask.
- Oh they're playing with your stupid lot, she laughed. I stayed to play with you, she added, her hand caressing my cheek, giving me a disgusted shiver.
- Don't touch me! I spit at her.
- And what would you do, doll? Your hands are tied? She said, making me realise that she was right. I have a couple of questions for you, if you don't answer, I'll cut you, if you answer, well, in fact, I'll cut you either way, actually… She giggled madly.
She showed me a little ornate dagger, incrusted with black onyx. She raised it to my jaw and I felt a burning as she was cutting my skin with it. I gritted my teeth to avoid giving her the satisfaction of screaming from pain.
- You didn't even ask anything, idiot! I spat.
- I don't care, really, she rolled her eyes. Also, look, I have your wand!
She showed me my wand, that she was holding in her hands. She giggled a little, before she licked it in a very vulgar and insane way.
- So, there wasn't any place left with the other looneys in St-Mungos? That's why Voldemort recruited you? An act of charity? I stupidly mocked her.
- How dare you say his name? You unworthy little whore! She barked at me, her voice less childish, more rough, pointing her wand at my nose. Crucio! I heard her cast, before I lost it from the pain, again.
I screamed my lungs out, unable not to. Then, I heard a racket around me, and the pain ceased at once.
- YOU CRAZY BITCH, GET AWAY FROM HER! I heard.
- Oh, evening, cousin. Glad you're here, I could rip our family from dishonor once and for all, Crucio! I heard her cast.
- Miss, you moron! I heard Sirius mock her.
I was feeling sick, I was trying to move, but my body felt like it was made of pellet.
- Confringo! I heard her say.
Of course, I wasn't able to know what Sirius was casting, because he, as usual, was silent-casting. I managed to turn my head, and saw my wand on the floor, inches only out of my reach. I saw that Sirius managed to touch his cousin, she was smiling at him, before she touched the wound on her naked shoulder, then brought her bloody fingers to her lips, smiling madly. I was disgusted. Seeing that she was clearly mentally affected AND Sirius' cousin, I would bet that it was Bellatrix Lestrange… He talked to me about her, not in very kind words, I must add… I was getting back a little more control over my body, so I managed to scoot closer to my wand. I pointed it on Bellatrix.
- You're surrounded, looney, I said.
She turned back to me, then giggled. Sirius, still pointing his wand on her, came closer to pull me by the hand to help me get me up.
- Incarcero! I casted.
Thin ropes appeared all around Bellatrix body, binding her, her wand falling to the floor. As soon as she was bind, Sirius undid the rope binding my wrists. At that moment, we heard the front door bang open. We went to the corridor to see. It was Death eaters, I mean, loads of them.
- We need to get out! I urged Sirius, pulling him by his sleeve toward the back door, the enemies on our tracks.
We managed to miraculously get out unharmed from the house. We saw that there was no one left from the Order, so we disapparated immediately. As we arrived in front of the headquarter, Sirius took my face in his hands.
- Are you all right, Fury? He asked me.
- Ye-ah… I managed to say. Then I thought back to the loss I just got and fell my legs giving up under me from the pain. Marlene was gone…
March 12th, 1981
- I'm very sorry for your lost, Dorcas... Said Mr. Kurlick, my supervisor for my Auror formation. If you want to take some days off, it would be completely understandable...
- I'm fine, I said, like a robot.
I wasn't, though. The pain I felt inside was excruciating. Marlene's death was literally haunting me day and night. I was sleep-depraved, crying myself to sleep every night, then my brain spinning too-fast, giving me insomnia. What could've been done to prevent this? Sirius was annoying me by saying that nothing could have change that. We we're all dangerously exposed. We were fighting Death eaters for years, now. And since we were no cowards like them, we weren't wearing any mask. They know us. He's right. I know we have targets on our backs... All of us have. Always defying Voldemort and his crew. We got attacked multiples times, already, while doing simple things like running errands... But nonetheless... Our houses are supposed to be safe. They were supposed to be magically hidden. How could they have known where to find Marlene? Was Dumbledore's suspicions, right? Was there somebody in our team giving information to them? We were falling one after another these days...
That horrible day at Marlene's, the Prewett twins died. Gideon, who was with me in the house, and Fabian got hit in the back as he was running out to disparate back at the headquarter. The Order of the phoenix was getting less and less crowded... And at the same time, the remaining members were getting more and more paranoid, always watching our backs for an attack.
- Are you certain? Because... Mr. Kurlick insisted.
I sighed. I was nearly finished with Auror formation and I wanted to drown myself in work, to try to focus myself on that goal, something I was still able to control in my life...
March 13th, 1981
- It's bad, Sirius, everything is bad right now. I just say that I may reconsider certain things, for the moment.
- What are you saying? That we shouldn't have kids? He asked.
- I'm not saying ever, we're only 21 for Merlin's sake! There's no rush! Don't you see? Everyone's dying around us? Don't you understand? We're next, Sirius! I shouted to him.
He stayed muted, standing in front of me. I turned on my heels and went to my bedroom, closing the door behind me. I sat on the edge of my bed, hid my face behind my hands and started to sob. It was true, I was feeling like there were bear traps all around me, and I was blindly walking in the dark, wishing that I would not put a foot in one. I was tired, so tired, to lose the people around me. It looks like Voldemort was right that night when we met in that Coffee shop. He was on the winning side. We were on the losing one... My insomnia was getting on my moral...
I heard the door opened and I turned to look at Sirius. He came to sit at my side, and saying nothing, just hold me tight for a while.
- I'm not stupid, I know it's bad. But tell me what will we gain by losing hope? We need to believe that things will get better, Fury. We owe it to Harry, of all people, who never chose to come to life in that fuck-up war. And I understand you wanting to postpone the kids. But I would like to make a counteroffer.
- Hm? I simply answered, looking up at him.
- You know, I gave it some thoughts, lately... He began, getting up from the bed and beginning to pace in front of me.
- Those dangerous times, you know... And also, if anything would happen to me, I wouldn't want you to be left with nothing and...
- Sirius? What the hell are you blabbering about? I asked him.
He didn't look like he heard me.
- I know we laughed about it before, and I know it's cheesy, but rationally, there's some advantages to it in situations like the one we're living...
- You're literally making no sense, I said.
He just continued pacing and blabbering, not listening to me or bothering to answer me.
- Nothing grand, I'm thinking, my house, couple of friends, food and booze, and...
I stood up and went to block him on his path by putting myself in his track and I took him by the shoulders.
- Would you, please, explain to me what's going on in that fantasist head of yours? I laughed.
He always was good to make me forget about my gloomy mood. He grinned at me.
- Sure. How about we get married? He asked.
April 30th, 1981
- Allright, so, now, you blokes say your vows, and I'm to judge if it's any good, and decide then if I'll marry you, James said.
I facepalmed.
- Didn't I told you that to choose him as celebrant would be a bad idea? I said to Sirius, who was looking amused by his friend's ridiculous prestation as the celebrant to our wedding.
- I think she's unprepared, mate, James mocked me to Sirius.
- I think you're right. Afraid, Meadowes? Because my vows are awesome, he winked at me.
I rolled my eyes at him, before I just plainly hit him with my white Calla Lily's bouquet (that was Mary's gift, coming from her parents' greenhouse, that and the white roses of the wedding arc).
- My vows are spectacular, thank you very much, I replied.
- Lady's first, then, he gestured me to go on.
- All right, then... I said, taking the paper Lily was giving me.
We were in Sirius' living room. The couches and armchairs had been pushed against the walls to make space to our very little and intimate wedding ceremony. There was a white-roses arc in front of the fireplace, where we were standing right now, with James as the more ridiculous celebrant in history, then there were seven chairs facing us. First, there was my close family, aka, my dad and my gran, then my friends, Lily, with turbulent baby Harry on her knees, finding all of this very boring and trying to escape every minute, Mary and her husband Thomas, Remus and Peter. We made it quite simple, everyone brought something to eat and to drink and we made a buffet out of it.
I looked at my soon-to-be-husband. He was very elegant in his white shirt and black tie, even if he chose casual black jeans to go with it. Jeans with holes in it, I might add. And black and white muggle converse shoes. But he always was a rebel, wasn't he? That's partially why I love him that much. Also, I wasn't that much better, I was wearing my mom's cream-colored dress, the last piece of cloth she lends me before... Before she was gone. I wasn't wearing any jewels, except for my Fury pendant, and I was barefoot. My hair was up, Lily did it for me earlier, that and the make-up. I felt another sting through my heart at the thought that Marlene wasn't the one that did it. That she never again would be. I shook my head slightly to go away from those depressing thoughts and focus on my vows.
- Sirius Black. I thought about what I could say about you. When we first met, in the train, that first day, I was clumsy and stressed, and one moment, our eyes met, and it made me feel... As if I was free-falling from the sky. Then, as I was clearly... Distracted... I just knocked unto someone and fell. When I looked back at you, wishing from all my heart that you didn't saw me fall, you were gazing at me, with that stupid, wicked, irresistible crooked smile, and you turned on your heels and left. I felt stupid, and I was pissed. But as soon as I got out of the train, I was already trying to spot you out from the crowd... Then I got to know you, as a fellow Gryffindor, and within the years, and decided that you were a douche bag.
- You did? Sirius asked me, smirking.
- Oh yeah, it's true! Mary shouted. She told us that many times.
- Thing is, I never really thought that. You always intrigued me. The boy who was supposed to be a Slytherin, from an old and reputed pure-blood family, whose passion was to hang-out with his mischievous friends. I admitted being in love with you during our final year at Hogwarts. But you know what? I think I was in love with you right from the start. That cocky crooked smile of yours, seeing me make a fool of myself, that was it, for me. I knew already that I was going to stupidly fall for you, that day.
I made a small pause, our gaze locked together.
- Here's what I love about you. I love that you're always challenging me, even if it drives me crazy, sometimes. I love that you're as much an idiotic reckless as I am. I love the incredibly inspiring friendship you share with James, Remus and Peter. I love that you have the immense power to make me feel instantly better, when I'm feeling depressed... I love those small attention you have for me, like the habit to write messages to me on the page of a novel while I'm reading it, or when I get back from a too-long day to find a candle-lit bubbly bath with a glass of Goblin wine to go with... Oh, I won't lie, sometimes, you can get on my nerves, or downright piss me off, but, mostly, you're pretty agreeable to live with, Sirius Black. I love you so much, and I hope that this stupid war would come to an end, so we could have tiny replicas of you to annoy us all day long...
He kissed me pretty enthusiastically when I finished.
- All right, that was quite acceptable, said James.
- Shut up, James, I said, nudging him.
- I remember that first day we met too, Fury, Sirius began. But I didn't think anything of it, because I wasn't at a good place, when I was eleven. I was a lost kid, who didn't know the first thing about love. And even when Remus, here, put your name on that stupid out-of-reach's list, I didn't understand why that was annoying me. But it did, annoyed me. Then, you join the team, and we got to spend more time together. I was fascinated by the way you never let me get the last word, you had a wonderful sense of repartee and a nasty sassiness, that I found very attractive. Hell, you were attractive too. I was trying to lamely convince myself that I wasn't falling for you. But how not to? You're clever, funny, sexy as hell, especially naked... Sorry, Mr. Meadowes! He said, looking at my dad.
- I'll let this one slit, he answered, laughing.
- I guess what I'm trying to say, here, tonight, is that I love you, Dorcas Meadowes, for better, for worse, we'll continue to fight together, side by side, and you know what? I'm not hoping for a happy ending, because this, here... I already got it. You are my happy ending, Fury...
- I love you so much, I said, kissing him.
- All right, all right, have some restrain, you two! James laughed. Lily-flower? He asked.
Lily got up, Harry in her arms, and came to us, opening her hand on our rings. We exchanged them and turned to James.
- Well, what's the next step, again? James asked, frowning.
- I think that's the moment where I'm to crash a bottle unto something? Sirius said.
- No, mate, that's when you baptise a boat. No, I think it's the moment to cut a ribbon?
- We're not inaugurating something, Prongs, Sirius said.
- Okay, guys? I began.
- Oh, I know! I need to carry her in my arms to get through the threshold? Sirius asked, not listening to me.
- No, I mean, it's supposed to be later, but even so... I mean, you already kind of live together and sleep together, so I hardly think that's necessary, still sorry, Mr. Meadowes! James grinned at my dad.
My dad didn't even answer, just rolled his eyes to oblivion.
- Guys? I persisted.
- Is that the part where... James began.
- JAMES POTTER! WOULD YOU BLOODY STOP FOOLING AROUND AND MARRY THEM ALREADY? Lily shouted.
The boys stopped messing around and looked her way.
- Thanks, Red, I was about to just disapparate away from those morons, I laughed.
- Well, actually, there's an anti-apparition's protection, remember? Sirius frowned at me.
- She's a little dumb, right? Didn't you say minutes ago that she was clever? James frowned at Sirius.
- All right, blokes, I know what's the next step is, I'm to murder the both of you! I said.
- All right, pal, you're marrying a psychopath, then? James asked Sirius.
- Everyone has flaws, right? Sirius nodded.
- This wedding's cancelled, I'm out, I said.
- Relax, Meadowes, we're only joking, James laughed.
- I hate you both, I said, coming back.
- Oh no, you love us both. Especially this fine gal, here, James said, taking my hands and putting them in Sirius'. Hereby, by the super-power that was appointed to me to be your celebrant, and on that fabulous day, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss, like this is something new for us to see, he laughed, but all sound and images disappeared when my husband kissed me.
October 31, 1981
- I miss you, Red, I said to her reflection in our communication mirror.
- I know, I miss you too, so much, she sighed. But, for now, we need to stay hidden, for Harry's sake, until things cool off... She added.
- I know, I understand... I sighed too. How is he? Still an adorable brat, like his father? I asked.
- The little demon! You know what he managed to do, yesterday? That marvelous gift from Sirius and you, he LOVES it. I mean, he was a handful already, always making a mess in every corner, not you idiots gave him the opportunity to extend his destruction to walls and ceilings! I was pouring myself tea, I was gone, what? 20 seconds? He emptied a complete bottle of ink all around the living room! FROM THE AIR!
- I'm glad he likes the broomstick, I'm sure he'll be playing Quidditch when he gets to Hogwarts! I laughed.
- I'm thinking about a mysterious disappearance of that Merlin forsaken broomstick! She laughed with me.
- Can I see him? Is he close? I asked.
- Oh, no, he's asleep for now. Sirius' on his way here?
- Yeah, he needed to run a couple of errands before, though. I'll need to go, Lils, I'm supposed to meet my work's partner this afternoon. I hope I won't be paired up with an idiot, wish me luck!
- Good luck! You're beginning your officials Auror's function when?
- Next monday! FINALLY!
- So proud of you, hon, you did it, do you realise?
- No, I don't. It's weird to finally being able to say that I'm an Auror. I'll have my golden plate on my office door and all, can you believe?
- Absolutely, I totally can. After all the efforts you putted in it!
- Need to go, Red, I said, taking a last sip of my tea and grabbing my vest on the back of a chair.
- Oh. Sirius is arriving, too, let's talk again very soon, all right? She asked, before she blew me a kiss. Bye, Mrs. Black, she grinned at me.
- Soon, Mrs. Potter, winking at her.
