AN: I've drastically changed Chapter 2 from what it had been, and a few changes in Chapter 1, so you probably want to go back to those before reading this!
Chapter Three
Things were tense while we waited for Tina and Lottie to come back. There was a lot of awkwardly avoiding eye contact and needless shushing of the little boys, until Remus jerked. "Don't you dare!" he shouted, a spell flying from his wand to Pettigrew, who stiffened beneath the ropes. "You're not getting out of it that easily, Wormtail."
Pettigrew, who'd been immobilized, couldn't reply, but Nic did. "What was that?" he asked quietly, moving closer to Danae, who was still holding Dudley.
"He's an Animagus," Remus spat, still glaring at his… Pettigrew. "A rat, fittingly enough."
"Pettigrew's an Animagus?" Danae laughed, rather disbelievingly. "You've got to be taking the mickey."
"No, he is," Sirius corrected. "I am, too, and Jame- James was, as well. We did it for Remus." And suddenly, a huge black dog was standing in his place, causing Harry to laugh and clap his little hands. Sirius, as a dog, snuffled his belly, causing shrieks of laughter. Of course, Dudley then decided he needed them, too, so Sirius obliged before changing back to his human self.
"Of course, you're a bloody Grim," Nic said, somewhere between a sigh and a sneer.
The doorbell rang before the two of them could begin arguing. I shoved Harry at Nic to keep him occupied while I answered the door. Lottie and Tina were back, with a whole contingent of Aurors. "Miss Evans, I understand you have some people waiting for us," Auror Moody said to me.
"Yes, please come in."
Sirius had his hands in the air and his wand given to Remus by the time everyone was inside. "Moody, I am surrendering myself to you, but I want it on record that I am innocent of the charges against me," he said, speaking clearly and deliberately. "I am not and never have been a follower of Lord Voldemort, and I would never have betrayed the Potters."
"That's not for me to decide, Black," Moody replied, though I did notice the almost apologetic look in his eye. "We'll be taking you both in, and the courts can decide who's guilty."
"I only ask for a fair trial," Sirius said with a nod. "Can I say goodbye to Harry before you take me into custody?"
Moody tipped his head, and Sirius hurried over to where Nic stood, still holding Harry. Nic was reluctant to let go, but he eventually gave Harry over with a grimace. Sirius cradled Harry with a gentleness that still surprised me. "You be good for Auntie Pet, alright, Mischief? I've got to go away, but I'll come back. I'll always come back, Mischief. Be a good boy for Auntie Pet," he whispered, breaking my heart further.
Harry patted his cheeks and babbled at him. Sirius grinned at him, pressed a kiss to his cheek, then passed him back to Nic. He started back toward Moody, but Dudley's "Pa-foot!" stopped him in his tracks. "Pa-foot!" Dudley cried again, straining in Danae's arms for Sirius.
"It's alright, Scamp," he assured him, taking him from Danae. "I'll be back for you, too. Be good for Mummy, alright?"
Dudley began crying and refused to go back to Danae, clinging to Sirius with a ferocity that surprised me. I nearly had to pry him off Sirius, by which time I was in tears, as well. Sirius kissed my cheek, whispering, "I'll be back, Petal. It'll all turn out right," before turning back to Moody. "I'm ready, sir."
"Shacklebolt, Robards, and Proudfoot, you're to take Black and Pettigrew to the holding cells. The rest of you, begin taking statements," Moody ordered.
Somehow, I found myself in my parents' kitchen, where Auror Moody stumped around filling the kettle with a magical eye that he hadn't had the last time I'd seen him taking everything in around him at all times. A moment later, he thunked a teacup in front of me, with surprising gentleness. "I'm very sorry for your loss, Miss Evans," he growled out.
"Thank you," was all I managed. I bounced Dudley a bit to try to calm him, but he continued to wail. From the lounge, I could hear Harry doing the same.
"Why don't I take the lad, and you can drink your tea." It was not a suggestion, and before I could really comprehend what was happening, Moody had Dudley balanced on his knee and was entertaining him with his magical eye. I didn't know what to do, so I took a sip of tea. And instantly choked.
"I may have slipped a bit of firewhiskey in there," he told me, with his normal eye still on my son. "I thought you might need something a little stronger than tea right about now."
I coughed again, but took another sip. Now that I was prepared for it, the warmth it brought was rather comforting. As one of the most acclaimed Aurors entertained my son, I drank my tea in silence. And stunned disbelief.
We eventually got around to my statement, using a recording quill. Once I finished, Moody set Dudley down on the ground, right at his wooden leg, which Dudley immediately was fascinated with. Moody sealed the parchment and tucked it into an inside pocket of his coat. "I am deeply sorry for your loss, Miss Evans," he said quietly. "I didn't know Lily well, but James was an incredible Auror. He deeply believed in protecting those weaker than himself, and in bringing to justice those who tried to take advantage of them. Like another young auror taken before his time."
I squeezed my eyes shut at the reminder of Gid. "Please help Sirius," I whispered. "He didn't- He never betrayed James and Lily. He needs your help."
Moody sighed. "I believe you," he finally said. "Unfortunately, his last name will work against him with a lot of those in the Wizangamot. But I will do my best to help him."
"Thank you, sir," I replied softly.
His snort of derision surprised me. "There's no need for sir. Moody'll do just fine."
His gruff protest brought a bit of a smile to my face, and I could swear I saw a glimmer of satisfaction on his. "I'm sure the others are done getting statements from your friends by now, or they bloody well should be," he said, groaning as he stood. Even as he stood, though, he was still very careful to move around Dudley, who was still staring rather fascinatedly at the wooden leg.
Picking up Dudley, I followed Moody back into the entryway, where everyone else waited for us. "Thank you for your time, Miss Evans, and thank you all for your statements. Given the highly public nature of the case, I'm sure you'll be hearing from the Wizangamot soon with the trial date. Now, get out of this nice lady's house, you lot," he ordered his Aurors. Who all obeyed rather hastily.
Harry lunged for me as soon as he saw me, meaning I was once again juggling two upset children. Nic and the girls all offered to take one or the other, but neither would accept someone other than me. So I settled onto the floor in the lounge and focused solely on those two boys, letting everything else fade to the back. Soon enough, the boys were back to laughing and playing happily with one another, and they even allowed Danae to come join their game. And when Nic and Lottie informed us that dinner was ready, it was a blessed relief when I realised I didn't have to cook for once. "It might not be quite as good as a Pet Evans dinner," Nic joked, "but it's at least edible."
"Which wouldn't have happened if I'd been in charge," Danae cheerfully added, kissing his cheek.
Dudley and Harry immediately also wanted kisses, to which all three women happily complied. And then I realised we were one member short. "Where's Remus?" I asked, but the sinking feeling in my heart told me I already knew the answer.
"He left Sirius's wand on the table in the entryway," Tina replied softly. "He said he would see us all at the trial."
"He looked like he needed some time alone," Lottie added uncertainly. But I knew better. The times when I'd thought I wanted to be alone were the times when I needed someone the most.
I stewed over it all through dinner, but when Harry and then Dudley both fell asleep at the table, I had my answer. "We'll put them to bed, Pet," Danae promised softly, knowingly.
"And you're all staying here tonight?" I couldn't help the neediness that slipped into my voice. I couldn't handle another night on my own. I wasn't ready for that just yet.
"Go get Remus," Lottie ordered. "We'll still be here."
"For as long as you need," Tina added with a kiss to my cheek. "We're not letting you slip away again."
AN: Okay, here's where we're leaving canon in the dust. I tried to stay as close as possible to canon all throughout What Might Have Been, but going forward, basically everything is going to change. Because all of my favorite characters deserve a happy ending, and by everything in me, they will have it! At least, all of those left alive. So, hold on to your seats, enjoy the ride, and thanks for coming along with us!