October 2, 1998

She couldn't remember anything of the next few years. She knew she must have gotten up and taken potions and bathed and walked around the room, but she couldn't remember a single detail.

Calandra drummed her fingers against the wooden top of the bedside table and tried her hardest to remember anything between the time she saw her name there in the paper, and when she heard he'd escaped.

She couldn't remember any of it. It didn't really matter; it wasn't as if there was anything to remember during that time anyway. It was just endless days of the same grey walls and white ceilings.

She thought back to the first time she'd heard voices in the hallway. The first time there was any sign of other people on the same floor as her.


August 16, 1993

There were voices coming from the corridor. That was new. Every time before, when the healer would come into the room, the place beyond the door was quiet. Calandra listened from where she sat against the wall, as the healer measured out vials of potions.

The little old woman waved her wand around the room and Calandra watched her, disinterestedly. The witch walked toward the door and drew it open.

"Remember to take your potions." She said to Calandra.

Calandra nodded, focused on hearing more from outside the door.

"He's out…. First time…Dementors…..Escaped."

The healer stuck her wand in her pocket. Calandra tilted her head closer to the door.

"Extra security….no one alone….catch Sirius Black."

The door shut firmly behind the old witch and Calandra sprang to her feet, trying to tug it open.

They'd said his name. They'd said Sirius Black.

What else had they said. She thought back to the bits of conversations. He'd escaped. A laugh bubbled up inside of her.

He'd done it!

That brilliant sneaky bastard! He'd done it! He'd gotten out!

Calandra's hands shook and she looked around the room as if for the first time. He'd done it. He'd finally gotten out of there.

She walked over to the bedside table and tilted the potions into her mouth.

He'd done it!


September 2, 1993

Calandra sat up as the healer came into the room.

"What's going on?" she asked. "What's the latest news?"

"Nothing of interest Ms. White." The healer said.

"I've heard people in the hallway." Calandra said. "Something's going on."

"Yes, well." The healer poured potions into vials. "New procedures the hospital is implementing. Nothing exciting."

Calandra ground her teeth together.


September 18, 1993

"I know he got out." Calandra said.

The healer paused pouring potions into the vials.

"I heard them." Calandra said. "I know he escaped."

"Not for long." The witch replied. "They've got Dementors looking for them. Even at Hogwarts. He'll be back in there soon enough."

Calandra bit her tongue and drank the potions. He wouldn't. She was sure of it. If he got out of there, there was no way he'd ever go back.


September 30, 1993

Her head swam anytime she sat up. Calandra had no idea what was wrong with her, but something was going on. Her brain felt foggy and she got dizzy very easily. Lifting her head off the pillow exhausted her. Her days were spent in bed with the covers over her head, trying to rest.

Her dreams grew odd. Different colors and shapes permeated ones she knew she'd had before. Voices she couldn't remember hearing interrupted conversations she was familiar with. Calandra clutched the sheets in her hands tightly. Was she going crazy?

She dreamt of a snowball fight that night. Back at school. She remembered the snowball fight. Remus had asked her if she wanted to join in and Dorcas had agreed before Calandra had a chance to say anything.

But this dream had it wrong. The voices were almost a different pitch in the dream. The colors looked wrong, just barely off. And Calandra noticed details she hadn't noticed before when she thought back to the memory.

She threw a snowball and it hit Alice in the back of the head. She laughed and ran from Alice, tossing snowballs at the others. One hit Sirius square in the face and she asked him if he was ok. James Potter gave her a high five and told her it was a good hit, then the others chased them down the hill.

Calandra woke up with a pounding headache. She lay on the bed and watched the blue light softly glow on the ceiling. She tried counting potion ingredients or Quidditch stats to distract her from the pounding in her head, but it overwhelmed her. She retreated under the covers and clenched her hands together until she fell asleep again.


November 16, 1993

The headaches got so much worse. Calandra's ears popped from some unseen pressure. She cried and banged her forehead against the stone wall to try to relieve some of the pressure in her skull, but just ended up with a worse headache.

Her eyes often became unfocused and images seemed to dance in front of her vision. Cloudy figures going through motions that seemed so familiar. She tried to focus on them, to bring them into full view and see what they were, but that just made her head hurt.

She lay in bed trying to see the image that was walking in front of her. It was a blurry outline of two people. Voices floated through her mind and she felt an odd sense of Déjà vu. Whatever these memories or visions or hallucinations were, she recognized most of them. Even the ones that didn't feel familiar to her had a sense of belonging; like she knew the characters, but not what they said.

Alice's laugh rang out in her head and it almost made her jump. She sat up and looked around the room. That laugh had been so real. It was as if Alice was in the room with her. Calandra got up and, ignoring the pounding in her head, looked under the bed and in the bathroom to see if Alice had somehow snuck in.

She padded over to the door and pressed her ear up against it. Maybe Alice had figured out where she was! Maybe she was talking to the nurse right now, out in the hallway. Calandra leant against the door and strained her ears for some sound that would prove Alice was there. Her mind drifted back to years before as she listened for her friend's voice.

Calandra stood in the chapel grasping a bouquet of wildflowers. She watched, rapt as Alice repeated the vicar's words. Frank's face shone with love. Calandra had never seen him look as handsome as he did tonight. His eyes never left Alice's face. Alice slid a ring over his finger and his face broke out in a huge smile. Calandra felt a tear run down her face as the couple kissed.

The vicar announced the two as husband and wife and the chapel erupted in applause. Alice turned to Calandra and enveloped her in a hug. Calandra returned the embrace with everything in her. They pulled apart and Calandra studied her friend's face. Alice had teared up, her lips curved in a euphoric smile. Her cheeks shone and her eyes danced with happiness. Calandra tried to memorize every single detail. The next time she painted Alice, she wanted it to be this. This moment.

Calandra kissed her friend's cheek and pushed her back toward Frank. The couple walked down the aisle among the cheering and applause. Calandra took the arm of Frank's best man, a good-natured bloke named Christopher, who was a year above her in school. They made their way back down the aisle and stopped for pictures with the bride and groom. Soon, the photos were finished, and everyone made their way to the marquee lit up behind the chapel.

Calandra sat down at her designated chair and pulled out her wand. She recast the cushioning charms on her feet and applauded with the rest of the guests as Alice and Frank made their way to main table. She watched as her friend sat her bouquet off to the side and leant in close to Frank. Alice was starting a whole new life. Calandra was so incredibly happy for her. Alice deserved the world.

Food appeared on the plates in front of everyone and champagne floated over in buckets of ice. The guests settled themselves happily to their meals as soft music played. Somewhere near the front of the tables a voice cleared, and a small ding ding ding rang out. Frank's best man stood up and he raised his glass to give his toast. His eyes twinkled and he kept smoothing down his tie as he joked about his time at school with Frank and wished the couple his best. He sat back down and that was her cue.

All eyes turned to Calandra as she stood up. She swallowed and smiled at the crowd.

"Alice is the best friend I've ever had in my life. She's closer than a sister to me and seeing her here tonight so happy and in love is one of the greatest honors I could ever have."

Calandra looked up at Alice and continued.

"I got to have a front row seat in her and Frank's love story and, let me tell you, its impossibly sweet."

The crowd chuckled.

"But it isn't just the good times that make you fall in love with someone. It's the hard times as well, the ones that challenge you and make your love grow strong enough to withstand anything. Alice and Frank have that love."

Alice wiped a tear from her eye and nodded at Calandra.

"And I wish them a lifetime full of that love and all the happiness it will bring. I love you both."

Calandra lifted her champagne glass in a toast and looked out over the tables of people as she brought her glass up to her mouth. Her eyes locked on a pair of grey ones at the back of the marquee. He made it. Calandra tilted her glass back and smiled, watching as the person she shared that love with strode toward her with his signature mischievous smirk.

"I didn't know if you'd make it!" she said, wrapping an arm around Sirius.

"You must be joking." He said, pulling her chair out for her. "Great food, free booze, you looking fitter than anyone ever should in that dress. I wouldn't miss it for a thousand galleons."

Calandra laughed as she sat down and spread her napkin over her knee.

"You know that compliment would mean more if you didn't already have more galleons than you know what to do with." She said.

"I stopped by Gringotts just a few days ago, and I'll have you know that my gold only goes halfway up the wall." He said haughtily. "The Most Noble and Ancient House of Black hasn't been this destitute since Rigel Black lost four vaults worth of gold in a drunken bet over eight hundred years ago."

Calandra entwined an arm through his and patted his elbow.

"Try not to nick the silver then, you penniless cretin."

Sirius held up his fork and gave her a withering look.

"Please. It's not even goblin made."

Calandra laughed and went back to her meal. She listened as Sirius told her the latest news of their friends. Lily had created a makeshift potions lab in the new house and was brewing all throughout the day, she was coming tonight as soon as James got back. James met with the Prewett's the day before yesterday and they compiled a list of all the pureblood families that might have ties to the Death Eaters. The twins were going to meet with Aurors to discuss it. Remus was moving closer to the forest soon, he sent his love to Calandra and invited them over for supper before he left. Peter took a job at the apothecary and was tracking the ingredients that sold out the quickest for Dumbledore.

"I'd love to go see Remus." She said. "I figured he might show up tonight, but I guess he had other plans. I miss him."

"Old Moony's psyching himself up for his new assignment." Sirius said, slicing his piece of chicken. "Dumbledore's asked him to be a sort of envoy to the werewolf pack in the North Forest."

"What?" Calandra almost dropped her knife.

Sirius nodded.

"Seems to think that the other side are opening ranks to the werewolves. He's probably not wrong, a lot of them are bloodthirsty and want power. Remus is going to offer them Dumbledore's protection in exchange for them joining the Order."

"And what if they turn on Remus?" Calandra hissed. "If they're already working with You-Know-Who, then what makes Dumbledore think Remus is going to convince them to change? Doesn't he know how dangerous it will be for him?"

"Remus signed up, Cal." Sirius said. "He knew what he was getting into. Dumbledore told him what he would be asking before Remus ever agreed to join the Order. He could've said no."

"What a load of tripe!" Calandra stabbed a potato. "As if he would say no! As if any of you would say no! You know Remus thinks he can do no wrong."

"He is an extremely powerful wizard." Sirius pointed out. "And you'd join too, if you didn't have to tell anyone where your dulcet tones come from."

"Not if he asked too much of me." She said. "Not if I had to stay with my father."

Sirius reached over and squeezed her hand.

"Moony knows what he's doing." He said, softly. "You worrying about him isn't going to change anything. We'll go see him soon. You can fuss over him all you like, then. But tonight, is a night of celebration. Enjoy yourself."

Calandra sat back into her seat, thinking of Remus. It was so incredibly dangerous, what he'd agreed to. How on earth was he coping with it? She pasted a smile on her face when Dorcas came over to them and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She stood when Sirius grabbed the photographer's arm and motioned him forward. Dorcas waved to Alice and soon she was standing arm in arm with her friends, smiling toward the camera. Calandra hoped the picture didn't show how worried she was.

Frank twirled Alice around the dance floor. The guests looked fondly at the couple as the music floated on the air around them. The song ended and the couple kissed and took a bow. Calandra clapped along with the other guests and smiled a wide smile at her friend.

Frank opened up the dance floor to the rest of the guests and a few couples stood and swayed along to the music. Frank turned to his mother and offered his hand. Alice bounced over to Calandra's table and leant down.

"Come dance with me, Callie!"

"Trying to steal my date, Fawcett?" Sirius teased.

"Please." Alice scoffed. "As if she wouldn't come willingly."

Sirius laughed and pulled Calandra's chair out for her. He leaned over and gave Alice a hug.

"Congratulations. I'm chuffed as can be for you, Fawcett." He said, warmly.

Alice smiled at him and pulled Calandra out on the dance floor. She threw her arms around Calandra and spun her around. Calandra laughed and hooked an arm under Alice's, resting her hand on Alice's shoulder.

"You look beautiful, Alice." Calandra said.

"So do you." Alice said. "You know, I could've been cruel and put you in some peach colored monstrosity so you wouldn't upstage me. But, me being the good friend I am, chose this beautiful silver frock."

"As if I could ever upstage you." Calandra rolled her eyes. "You're the envy of every witch here tonight."

"You do look lovely, Callie." Alice said.

"Why, thank you Mrs. Longbottom." Calandra said and pulled Alice into an exaggerated dip.

"Ergh." Alice grimaced as she stood back up. "That makes me sound like Frank's mum."

Calandra laughed and spun them around.

"You better get used to it." She said. "You are married to him after all."

"Yeah." Alice smiled. "I am, aren't I?"

Calandra smiled fondly at her friend and Alice pulled her in for a hug. The song faded out and a new one started to play. Alice spun them around theatrically.

"I think someone is getting jealous." Alice laughed and nodded behind her.

Calandra looked over her shoulder and saw Sirius standing at the edge of the dance floor smirking at the two of them.

"Well, this is our song." Calandra said with a smile.

Alice winked at her and motioned for Sirius to come forward.

"I know." Alice whispered and gave Calandra a kiss. "Who do you think added it to the list?"

Sirius swooped in a kissed Alice's hand.

"You're looking ravishing tonight Alice. Frank's the luckiest guy in the world." He said.

Alice laughed and motioned Sirius toward Calandra, weaving back through the couples on the dance floor to find Frank. Sirius pulled Calandra into his arms and whispered in her ear.

"Behind me, that is. I'm the luckiest bloke ever." He said.

Calandra smiled up at him and rested her hand at the nape of his neck, twirling his hair around her fingers. He glided them across the floor, effortlessly leading Calandra in a complicated step. Calandra caught sight of Alice over his shoulder and Alice smiled at her. Calandra smiled and looked back to Sirius. It didn't dawn on her until she saw a picture of them later on, that the color of her dress was the exact color of Sirius's eyes glinting in the candlelight.


Calandra flicked her wand at the small group of tables under the marquee. The dishes and cutlery sparkled and shone as they packed themselves neatly into the box at the corner of the tent. The tablecloths folded themselves and floated over to a separate box. Alice came out of the chapel and skipped toward her. Calandra smiled at her friend. Alice changed into light blue robes that seemed to float around her. She looked like she felt as light as a feather.

"No, no!" Alice said, batting her hands at Calandra. "None of that! It's fine!"

"I'm just putting them in boxes. The marquee people will be here soon and it's one less thing for them to do." Calandra replied.

Alice rolled her eyes and swept Calandra into a hug, spinning them around.

"I can hardly believe it." Alice said. "I'm married!"

"Feel any different?" Calandra smirked.

"Doesn't feel real yet." Alice admitted. "It probably won't for a while."

"You're happy, though. Right?" Calandra gazed at her friend.

Alice nodded, and her face split into a wide smile.

"I am." She said. "I'm the happiest I've ever been."

Calandra nodded a firm nod, then wrapped her arms around her friend.

"Good." She said. "That's what matters."

Alice's eyes softened as she pulled back and looked at Calandra.

"Are you happy?" she asked softly.

Calandra thought about her friend's question.

"Most of the time." She said.

Alice shook her head.

"You're not really, though are you?" she asked.

Calandra smiled.

"I have friends who are absolutely wonderful and a man who I love to bits. If the world wasn't such a shit show I think I'd be perfectly happy." She said.

Alice studied her and pulled her back in for another hug. Frank called out from somewhere in the chapel looking for her. Calandra nodded her head toward the church doors, motioning for Alice to go. Alice took a step back then reached for Calandra's hand.

"It's not a trap." She said, big amber eyes staring into Calandra's very soul. "Not when it's with the right person."

Calandra nodded.

"I know." She said. "I really do."

Alice squeezed her hand and ran toward the chapel. She turned around on the step and blew Calandra a kiss, before disappearing behind the doors. Calandra smiled after her friend and looked around the empty marquee. Sirius popped around the corner levitating a stack of chairs behind him. He shot her a smile.

It's not a trap. Not if it's the right person.

She knew that it wouldn't be a trap with Sirius, not for her. But what if it was for him?


November 16, 1993

The pounding in her head dulled the tiniest bit. Calandra pressed her head against the wall and thought back to that night. She'd been trapped in lots of different places before. But being with him had never been a trap; it had been the most freeing thing on earth.