Thanks to Sakura Lisel for posting some wonderful reviews! A question was posed about why Sarah would simply go along with Dumbledore placing Harry and Rose with the Dursley's, this is my update to try and explain that, and changed it so she didn't simply go along with it. If I get enough reviews and questions, I'll just update and revise the chapters as appropriate, but feedback is welcome.
I'll be following cannon very closely, but with my own surprises here and there. I don't expect to many readers, but if you're willing to stick with it, cool.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I know the Harry Potter world isn't mine, so do you. But fan fictions are free, and as such, anyone is free to rewrite, repost, remake, this fiction in their own image if they like. I prefer to be sited as the original author, but if you don't want to do that, that's okay, too.
Chapter 1 Beginnings
August 2, 1980.
"Oh, thank you, Sarah." Lilly Potter said in sheer relief.
Sarah smiled back at her as she held Harry in her arms. She was quite pregnant, and though Harry had been born only two days prior, he hadn't stopped crying.
"It's no problem." Sarah responded. "I wonder why he stopped crying when I held him."
"I don't know." Lilly said.
Sarah suddenly gasped and said, "Oh, I think it's time."
Lilly took Harry from her, who instantly started to cry again and squirm around as he'd been doing the past few days.
"Shh, Harry, shh." Lilly said, all the while trying to get to the fireplace.
One hour later found Lilly and James Potter, Sirius Black and his wife Sarah, along with Remus Lupin at St Mungo's hospital. Sarah was gripping Sirius's hand quite hard, though he didn't mind.
"Just a little more." He said encouragingly.
Sarah let out a violent snarl. She was a werewolf along with Remus, and due to that, had needed some convincing from Sirius to even travel down this road. Watching her, he knew it would be worth it.
"You don't know how it feels!" She shouted.
"I do." Lilly said gently, touching her shoulder. "Just a little longer, Sarah, it'll be over and it will be worth it."
She gazed down at Harry, who had stopped crying but would start again if he was brought too far away from Sarah.
With a shout, Sarah gave one hard push, trembling in pain. She shouted in pain again as her grip on Sirius's hand tightened so powerfully he felt as if she'd broken some bones. The Healer helping them smiled as a little girl was revealed, who coughed and fluttered her eyes open.
"Congratulations, Sarah and Sirius. She said. "It's a girl."
"Rose." Sirius breathed. "You're so beautiful."
The Healer handed her to him. She seemed content as he dried her off and held her, staring down into her beautiful face. Her eyes moved aimlessly around the room and she squirmed a little in his arms. After a moment, he handed her to Sarah.
"She's so beautiful." She said as Lilly, James and Sirius gazed on happily.
Rose suddenly let out a sound that was almost a shriek, violently twisting and struggling. Harry screamed and Sarah shouted in surprise. Acting on a sudden idea, Lilly put Harry near Rose and pulled their hands together. Both stopped crying instantly and started sucking on each other's fingers, a powerful golden glow forming around them. The Healer gasped in surprise as the glow grew brighter, then faded. Harry appeared asleep but Rose was still awake, eyes wandering aimlessly as she stared. With excitement, the Healer pulled out his wand and ran some diagnostics, then said, "I'll offer Congratulations again. These two are soul bonded, a rare thing to happen at birth. I warn you not to hide this from either of them and not to attempt to break the bond. It's a rare and treasured thing for two people to have. I can recommend a few books for you to read, but I'd recommend keeping them as close as possible to each other. From the strength of the bond, it's probably best if they grow up together."
"Why?" Lilly asked.
"Because if they don't, it's likely they'll be lost and grieved without the other, so much so that it will probably effect their ability to function." The Healer said. "I recommend reading the book entitled Soul Bonds And Magic, written by a magical pair of soul bonded named Julia and Dan Parker. I believe that will answer many questions for both of you."
"Thank you, we'll do that." Lilly Potter responded as Sarah Black gazed at the two children, who both looked content.
August 4, 1980.
"So, Sirius, want to be Harry's godfather?" Lilly Potter asked as she held both her son and Rose.
Sirius grinned and said, "I'd love to!"
"And don't you go teaching him any of your tricks." Lilly said firmly and warningly. Sirius widened his eyes in an innocent manner.
"Lilly! I would never do that!" He then grinned and chuckled. "Besides, you already know I would and you asked me anyway, so..." He trailed off and Sarah Black gave him a light slap on the head.
"Behave, now." She said with amusement.
"Here, Sarah, let's try this again." Lilly said and Sarah gently took Rose from her and held her in her arms. Both children whimpered at the loss and squirmed, but didn't cry.
"Well, that's improvement, I suppose." Sarah said. "What are we going to do about them, should we keep them together all the time? I just don't know if that's wise and I want to have some time alone with my daughter."
"I understand that, I feel the same way about Harry." Lilly said, ruffling her Son's hair.
"Maybe we should try a night or two in our own homes rather than taking turns as we've been doing." Sarah said.
"Okay." Lilly responded hesitantly after a moment.
As it turned out, the experiment didn't go well. Both Harry and Rose cried and couldn't sleep, it seemed, despite being exhausted. Even after they were brought back together they didn't fall back asleep immediately, but some of their exhaustion seemed to leave and they calmed quickly. As the months passed, the parents of Harry and Rose noticed that the two of them were almost like having twins, but far more involved and more deeply connected. They did everything at the same time. They cried at the same time, ate at the same time, even needed their diapers changed at the same time. When something happened to Rose that made her cry, Harry cried as if he'd felt it. Even their crying sounded the same, and when they were checked by healers to see if they were doing well, their heartbeats and breathing were also the same.
February 2, 1981.
Harry and Rose crawled along the floor side by side as James Potter watched the two of them fondly. He'd worried with the rest of them about how this bond would effect their development, but in some ways, it seemed to be a benefit. They did some things earlier than most children, such as learning to crawl and he idly wondered if they would learn to talk earlier as well.
"No, don't go in there you two." James said, getting up to keep them away from the kitchen.
Neither cried when he picked them both up and put them on the floor, but they were insistent so he sat in the doorway to prevent them from going to the kitchen. Both cried at that and hit him. Their movements weren't the same, but their intention was.
"No hitting." He said firmly.
As he expected, they didn't listen. Picking them up, he placed them both in hi chairs and watched them as they cried, tears rolling down their cheeks.
"You can't hit, okay? That's very bad!" James said to them between their long and loud cries.
Rose and Harry both were struggling to try and escape the hi chairs with different movements, but as he watched, he realized there was a type of coordination with them. One would try something while the other attempted something else. They still cried even as they struggled, but gave up after a moment and simply sat, staring down at the trays.
"No hitting me, okay?" James said gently. "I'm going to let you out now, but don't do that again." He was firm also as he spoke and both children looked at him. He thought they understood.
April 19, 1981.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Lilly asked Sarah, coming to sit next to her, watching several blocks spinning and levitating as the two children stared at them, fascinated.
"Oh, I'm okay." Sarah responded in a tired voice, also looking at the blocks.
"Maybe you shouldn't be doing that." Lilly said. "You know how tired you get before and after the full moon."
"Oh, yes, but it's not me." Sarah said, sounding amused. "It's Harry and Rose."
Some of the blocks brushed their cheeks and hair gently and the two children giggled as Lilly watched in awe. She'd never seen such accidental magic from children before. It was incredible. The blocks continued their movements for a little longer, then settled to the ground.
"What are you up to now?" Lilly asked with a smile as Rose and Harry both struggled to stand. Rose managed to stand, but tottered and fell to the floor, which didn't seem to upset them or throw off Harry's balance as such things had before. Harry didn't quite manage it and slid to the floor slowly, his clothed back against the couch. Rose moved to him and patted his cheeks and the two women's eyes grew misty.
"That's so cute." Sarah said with a slight hitch to her voice.
As Sarah's face crumpled in sadness and she started to sob, Lilly put her arms around her and patted her back comfortingly.
"I know how you hate to leave." Lilly said.
"Yes, but we know it's for the best, right?" Sarah asked, sounding as if she was trying to convince herself as well.
"The werewolf won't care who it attacks." Lilly said. "We both know that."
Rose and Harry were suddenly there and Rose grabbed Sarah's shoulder, pulling herself toward her.
"What are you doing, hmm?" Sarah asked, trying to give her a smile, but failing.
Rose put her arms around her neck and patted at her face, then kissed her cheek. Sarah pulled her into her arms and said, "You're such a good girl, you know that?"
"Mama." She said in a content sigh, but her voice seemed to have an echo.
"Oh, my!" Lilly said as she picked up Harry. "You spoke with her!"
"Say it again, Rose!" Sarah said in an excited voice, having forgotten about her sadness.
"Namana." Both Rose and Harry said at the same time. The two women laughed.
"Well, I must be off." Sarah said. "Kiss mama bye bye."
Rose did so and Harry squirmed in Lilly's arms until she put him down. He then crawled to Rose, who let go of Sarah and moved to Lilly, grabbing at her hair and staring at her as Harry pulled himself into Sarah's arms, giving her a sloppy kiss and letting himself fall to the floor, giggling at the movement.
"We'll see you in a few days." Lilly said.
"Okay." Sarah said as she stood. "Good luck and thanks again."
"No problem." Lilly said, then Sarah left through the fireplace in a flash of green flames.
June 26, 1981.
"What is up with you two this morning?" Remus asked as Harry and Rose giggled, watching him intently. He noticed the straight face of Sirius, who looked utterly serious. "What did you do, Sirius?"
"Oh, nothing, Remus." He said. "But this is a grave and momentous event."
Remus looked around suspiciously and intently examined his chair. He spotted nothing suspicious with it and carefully sat down. As he did so, he heard several clicks and a bucket of extremely cold ice water poured down on him. Harry, Rose and Sirius were laughing quite hard, then Harry and Rose chanted, "Pake! Pake! Pake!"
"So that's what you've been teaching them, is it?" Remus asked, pulling out his wand and drenching Sirius, who spluttered and coughed.
"Okay, that does it." Sirius said as he and Remus jumped to their feet.
Harry and Rose shrieked with laughter as they watched Remus and Sirius pouring different liquids on each other from their wands, tears pouring down their faces. Both of them got into the battle and started changing the color of the liquids they produced, some thick, others thin. Neither of them heard Lilly and James arriving, but they heard her speak.
"What do the two of you think you're doing!" She said firmly.
Harry and Rose stopped laughing and looked at Lilly, then said in perfect synchronicity, "Daddy tuble."
"You're both right about that." Lilly said with a smile toward Harry and Rose, who grinned back. "Now, Sirius, Remus, care to explain yourselves?"
Both of them turned toward her, dripping wet with honey, paint, water, and other various liquids of different colors.
"I started it, I thought the children would like it." Sirius said.
"Well, they sure did, old chap." Remus responded, both of them grinning and slapping each other's backs from a job well done.
"Never, never again." Lilly said, swiping her wand over both of them, cleaning them instantly. "I don't want to hear about either of you doing anything like this. Do you realize what a mess the two of you made?"
The two of them looked around at the kitchen and the various things dripping. They gulped and their wands flew out of their hands to land in Lilly's.
"I want this kitchen cleaned the muggle way and spotless, you two." She said sternly.
July 31, 1981.
"Happy birthday, Harry!" Six voices shouted.
Remus, Sarah, Lilly, James, Sirius, and another of their friends, Peter, were all at the house of Lilly and James, currently the most protected out of them. The parents of Harry and Rose had recently learned of a prophecy that involved their children, so had done their best to protect them. That included limiting visitors, unfortunately, or the gathering would have been extended.
Harry and Rose grinned and looked at the candle on the cake in front of them, gazing at it intently.
"And Rose!" Harry said.
"And Rose." Lilly smiled at them. "Now, blow it out!" She demonstrated.
The two took a deep breath and blew, putting out the candle. The adults cheered and Lilly took the candle from it, then Harry and Rose picked up the cake and fed pieces to each other, both acting in perfect coordination and at the same moments as always.
"You're both so cute." Sarah said with a wide smile.
"Picture time!" James said, clicking several photos of both of them eating the cake.
Two days later, the same thing happened for Rose's birthday, and she included Harry just as he'd included her. It was yet another example of their strange bond, but the adults knew they wouldn't have it any other way.
September 23, 1981.
"Hey, you two!" Sarah Black said cheerfully as she entered the living room of her house where Harry and Rose were playing with various toys.
"Mama!" They shouted at the sound of her voice. Both of them ran over to her and hugged her, as they'd missed her being gone for the few weeks she hadn't been with them.
"Hey." She said, picking up both of them in her arms. "Are you both okay?" She asked with tears in her eyes.
"Yeah." They said at the same moment, then patted her cheeks. "No cry."
"Oh, it's okay." She said. "I'm very happy to see both of you."
"Harry play." Rose said, snuggling into Sarah's arms as Harry squirmed free and dropped to the floor, rolling before he crawled back to the toys, causing both of them to laugh a little. Sarah watched as she held Rose, then quite suddenly, her body went rigid.
"Mama?" Rose asked, watching as her face started to transform along with the rest of her body.
Sarah struggled not to cry out from the extreme pain she was in, and Rose, oblivious to the danger, giggled and rubbed her face against the fur on her Mother's face. She felt her hands as they sharpened into claws and moved as Sarah fell to all fours, returning to tug on her tail that had grown from her. She giggled again and leaned against the werewolf, who remained still for a moment before spinning in a flash of claws and teeth.
Rose screamed along with Harry as the teeth sank into her left arm, both of them shrieking wildly in pain as the wolf bit down harder and growled. Harry tried to move but couldn't, the pain too great and effecting both of them, their bodies flailing as one. Remus and Sirius flew into the room and aimed their wands at Sarah, who turned to face the greater threat. Several red flashes later, Sarah lay on the ground and James entered quickly with Lilly behind him.
"I'll look at her, you check Rose!" James said, waving his wand over Sarah in several patterns as Lilly hurried over to Rose, who was still screaming. Harry had made his way to her by now and grabbed her wounded arm in his hands. Both of them screamed louder at that before a pure golden light washed over Rose's arm from Harry's hands. They stopped screaming and Harry removed his hands from her arm, which had no wound and no scar. Lilly waved her wand over Rose several times, then said, "I think she's okay."
"Oh, good." Sirius said in relief, picking her up and holding her close as she trembled. "You're okay, Rose, I've got you."
Harry jumped at Sirius and struggled to climb up his body. Sirius reached down and lifted him up, Rose grabbing him and pulling him to her. The two clung to each other and softly sobbed, tears of terror rolling down their cheeks. As they did this, Lilly went to Sarah on the floor, looking at the results of James' spells.
"Got it." Lilly said, then waved her wand at Sarah, who's transformation reversed. "Someone forced the transformation on her."
"Voldemort?" Remus asked.
"It's possible." Lilly said. "She was gone quite a while, and she said she'd been captured by Death Eaters."
"Will she be okay?" Sirius asked frantically.
"Yes, she'll be fine. As for Rose... I don't know." Lilly said.
"Let's get her to the hospital." Sirius said with determination.
Thirty minutes later, the healer gazed at them, her expression deeply concerned.
"I'm sorry." She said. "Rose is a werewolf. It's likely her first transformation will kill her."
"Can you do anything?" Sirius asked desperately.
"I'm afraid not." The healer said. "You can give her this on the night of the full moon, it might help with the pain." She handed him a small potion bottle and he took it gently.
"Thanks." Sirius said softly, dreading breaking the news to Sarah.
October 13, 1981.
Rose had been quite tired throughout that day, just as they expected. Though Harry played, he remained next to her and handed her things. He was quite active, though, Rose's tiredness not seeming to effect him much. She smiled in an exhausted way as if she was enjoying herself, though neither James or Sirius were surprised by that. Anything was possible with Harry and Rose.
"Okay, Harry, time to go." Sirius said, picking up Harry as the evening approached.
"Rose!" Harry called as she tried to follow, though was too tired to do anything effectively.
"She'll be okay." James said, taking Harry and leaving the room. "Shh, Harry."
It was unsurprising that despite all of James' attempts to comfort Harry, he still tried to get to Rose and Sirius in the other room. About twenty minutes after they'd left, Harry's back arched and he screamed along with Rose for a moment before relaxing.
"James!" Sirius called in a shocked voice.
James ran into the room, Harry in one arm and his wand in his other hand. Rose was there, but she wasn't a werewolf, though wasn't quite the Rose they knew, either. She was taller and larger than she'd been, and her eyes were a deeper blue than they'd been before. She and Harry looked almost feral and wild, but Rose wasn't attacking. As she stood quickly, Harry pushed hard away from James and was caught by Rose, who sniffed at him as she held him.
"What happened?" James asked in shocked surprise.
"I don't know, but she's not dangerous, she's not like any werewolf I know of." Sirius replied as Rose set Harry down, and clutching his hand, pulled him along with her as they explored the house.
James and Sirius kept an eye on them, though couldn't do much to stop them. When they tried, Rose would turn with a shriek and bared teeth, Harry along side her saying, "Away! Away!" Both still worked together and Rose seemed to simply want to explore with Harry. A few hours passed before she let James and Sirius lead them to their room, curling on the bed with Harry to sleep.
The next few days were also a surprise. Rose wasn't tired as she'd been. In fact, she seemed healthier than before, and also had a much higher temperature than she'd had previously, as if the bond had somehow mutated the werewolf transformation into something else entirely. Though she reverted to her normal size after the full moon, her eyes remained the deeper blue they'd been. She was also stronger than she'd been before, and faster, too. It wasn't until a week after the full moon that she and Harry calmed and were no longer quite so emotional, which had faded as the full moon passed. When Sarah heard about what had happened, she was quite happy that it wasn't anything worse, trying to plan to work around her other transformations as they occurred. Unfortunately, they never got the chance.
October 31, 1981.
Voldemort strode with purpose down the road toward the Potter residence, staring around at the Muggles playing their pathetic Halloween games, dressing up in costumes they believed would be frightening. The ignorance. Now was not the time to rid himself of Muggles. No, that would come later, Voldemort decided. He strode through the shopping square, not feeling anger at how the Muggles lived their lives, but triumph. He had waited, hoped for this moment. Once Harry Potter and the other were dead, he, Voldemort, could rule without opposition, without fear that someone could kill him.
"Nice costume, mister!" A child called.
Voldemort saw the fear in the child's eyes and face as he approached close enough to see the face under the hood of his cloak, then after a moment, the child ran from him. Beneath his robe, Voldemort fingered his wand. It would only take a simple spell, one movement to prevent the child from reaching his mother, but no. That was unnecessary. Later, perhaps, but not now.
As Voldemort strode along another darker street, he spotted his destination at last. The Potters didn't know that the Fidelius charm had been broken yet, but they would quite soon. Voldemort made less sound than the dead leaves being blown across the pavement as he moved. He drew level with a dark hedge and peered over it, spotting the Potters through their window.
The curtains were not drawn and Voldemort saw two of the Potters quite clearly. One, a tall man with messy black hair was emitting colored smoke from his wand. The child whom he had come to kill was in blue pajamas, laughing and trying to catch the smoke in his small, chubby hands without success. Such simple things could entertain so feeble minded children, Voldemort thought to himself. And there was the other, he thought with a derisive pleasure, watching a black haired girl also trying to catch the smoke in her hands. As he watched intently, he noticed the two of them seemed to work together, almost as one being rather than two. So they were bonded, Voldemort thought. This would be simple.
A door opened and the mother of Harry Potter entered. She spoke, though Voldemort couldn't hear the words she said. He watched her long red hair fall over her face as the tall man picked up his child, his son, handing him to the mother. The father then threw his wand down on the couch and stretched, yawning. He then picked up the small girl, who grasped at his hair, and from what Voldemort could tell, kept her gaze on Harry. He watched as the girl was gently placed in the mother's arms along side Harry, the two children curling around each other in a blissful contentment.
The gate creaked as Voldemort pushed it open, though James Potter didn't hear the sound, likely not expecting him to arrive. The fools had trusted Peter Pettigrew. Now, they would pay the price.
Voldemort pointed the wand at the door and it burst open. He was already over the threshold as James sprinted into the hall. It was too easy. James hadn't even picked up his wand...
"Lily, take them and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!" James shouted.
Hold him off, without a wand in his hand! Voldemort laughed before casting the curse...
"Avada Kedavra!"
The green light filled the cramped hallway, it lit the pram pushed against the wall, it made the banisters glare like lightning rods, and James Potter fell like a marionette whose strings were cut.
Voldemort heard Lilly screaming from the upper landing. She, at least, had nothing to fear as long as she remained sensible. Though she was trapped, Voldemort had only come to kill the boy and his bonded, the girl. He climbed the steps, listening with faint amusement at her attempts to barricade herself in. She had no wand on her either. How trusting these Potters had been, trusting in their friends to keep them safe, that weapons could be discarded even for a moment.
He forced the door open, cast aside the chair and boxes that had been hastily erected with a wave of his wand, then came face-to-face with the mother and the children. When she caught sight of him, she dropped the children in the crib behind her and threw her arms wide, as if this would help, as if shielding them from site would stop Voldemort from killing him, would choose her instead.
"Not the children, not the children, please not Harry or Rose!" Lilly said with desperation in her voice.
Ah, so Rose was her name. Rose Black, perhaps, Voldemort thought to himself, remembering having met the woman who was the potential mother of her, Sarah Black. He had allowed the woman to escape after placing a forced transformation spell on the werewolf, delayed for a time, but now was not the time to think of such things. Now, he needed to get the woman and these children out of his way so he, Lord Voldemort, could once and for all rule the world.
"Stand aside, you silly girl... stand aside, now." Voldemort said with a cold calm.
"Not the children, please no, take me, kill me instead..." Lilly said, though Voldemort cut her off.
"This is my last warning." He said.
"Not the children! Please... have mercy... have mercy... Not the children! Not the children! Please - I'll do anything..."
"Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!" Voldemort called.
Lilly gave one last plea for mercy and Voldemort killed her like he had her husband, the green light flashing around the room as she fell. How pathetic.
The children had not cried throughout the encounter. They could stand, their hands gripping the bars of the crib as they looked up at the intruder with interest, standing side by side and, perhaps, thinking it was Harry's father who hid under the cloak making more pretty lights, that Harry's mother would pop up at any moment, laughing. Lilly had laughed her last laugh, though, and Voldemort would make sure he was the last sight the children would ever see.
Voldemort pointed the wand carefully into Harry's face. He wanted to see the death of half of the one, inexplicable danger that stood in his way. Harry began to cry. It seemed he now knew this was not James.
Voldemort didn't like the boy crying, he had never been able to stomach the small ones crying at the orphanage in which he lived as a child. He would end it quickly, mercifully. As he rose his wand, he noticed the girl, Rose, her eyes wide with fear and anger, her hands clutching the crib and Harry's arm tightly. She did not cry, but Voldemort cared not.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The green light hit Harry in the forehead and rebounded. Voldemort felt the pain as the light hit him, ripped him from his body, broke him and filled him with pain and terror, and he needed to hide, but not here, somewhere far, far away... Away from the children... Away from his loss... And as Voldemort fled, both children cried, clinging to one another as the magical backlash caused damage to the house.
November 1, 1981.
Albus Dumbledore appeared on a corner of Privet Drive with a pop of apparition. He was tall and thin, with long hair and beard, both of which were silver and tucked into his belt. The robes he wore were dark so as to blend into the shadows more easily and his blue eyes twinkled behind half-moon spectacles. He took something from a pocket in his robes that looked like a lighter. He flicked it several times, balls of light seeming to move from the street lamps into the device. Only then did he set off toward Number Four, intently looking for any spies, anyone to stop him from his goal. He knew two things, that both the children must be protected at all costs, and that here would be stronger protections than anyone could place. He'd listened to the concerns of Professor McGonagall, who had reported to him of the Muggle's treatment of their son and how spoiled he was. He had high hopes that the children would be included in the Dursley family, though above all, he knew they must be protected.
"Ah, good, good." Dumbledore said to himself. No one was there, invisible or otherwise. "Nesa." Dumbledore said the last word firmly and as a command.
With a pop, a short creature with large, pointed ears and long, slender fingers appeared in front of Dumbledore, holding a bundle in her arms. Dumbledore took the bundle from her, then said, "Very good, Nesa. You are return to Hogwarts and never repeat a word of this to anyone. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Dumbledore sir." The small creature said in her high voice, though spoke quietly as Dumbledore had done. She then vanished with another pop and Dumbledore lay the bundle on the porch.
"And now, I take my leave of you, Harry Potter and Rose Black, or should I say, Rose Potter." Dumbledore said after tucking a letter between the two sleeping children, both of who were curled around each other and hugging, looking blissfully content. With a sad smile and dull eyes, Dumbledore walked back to the corner and flicked the device he'd used to put out the lights before. All the balls of light returned to their lamps and he turned on the spot, vanishing as quietly as he'd appeared.
Dumbledore reappeared on what looked to be a well traveled path and spotted Remus Lupin on the porch. He immediately leapt up as Dumbledore started walking toward him, looking quite grave.
"Dumbledore!" Lupin shouted. "Dumbledore, where are they? Where are the children?"
"It was necessary for me to leave them with the Dursley's." He responded, then let out a sad sigh. "I would have preferred another, but you, and Sarah especially, are quite aware of Voldemort's followers, who will wish to come after them and kill them."
Sarah stepped from behind Remus, a cold anger on her face and tears in her eyes.
"I want to see my daughter." She said fiercely.
"I will make arrangements for you to do so." Dumbledore responded. "I will give you the address if, and only if you promise me you will not attempt to see them yourself."
"Promise not to see them?" Sarah asked coolly. "Who do you think I am, Albus, a fool who's just going to quietly go along with your plans? How dare you! Harry is as much mine as Rose is!"
"I am positive that the protection of them at the Dursley's is absolute, both because of Lilly Potter's sacrifice, and being with a blood relative of the Potter's. As you know, Petunia Dursley is Lilly Potter's sister." Dumbledore stated.
"Albus, I don't care about this nonsense, I want to see them, now!" Sarah shouted frantically.
"Them being at the Dursley's is as much for your protection as it is there's." Dumbledore said firmly.
"But..." Sarah began.
"How long do you believe you will survive, Sarah, Remus, should Death Eaters come after you both?" Dumbledore asked.
"You know Rose is almost a werewolf, don't you?" Sarah asked furiously. "You can't leave her with those Muggles! They hate magic, too, it's the worst place they could be!"
Dumbledore's eyes widened.
"At least she won't kill them when she transforms." Sarah stated.
"I need to know everything you know about their condition." Dumbledore said with urgency. "If they place the Dursley's in danger..."
"No, Dumbledore, you know nothing until I get to see them!" Sarah shouted. "Now tell me where they are!"
"That, I will not do." Dumbledore responded firmly. "There has been talk of making attempts on their lives already. I cannot put them in further danger by placing them in a place that could possibly have practically no protection."
"Then you put up some wards, do something!" Sarah shouted. "You're handing them off to Muggles so you don't have to do all the work yourself!"
"That is the furthest thing from my mind." Dumbledore's eyes were cold and his voice sharp. "Such accusations will not help you to see Harry or Rose. If I place wards to protect you, they will be broken. Harry Potter survived Voldemort's killing curse, and you know they do not enjoy separation. I would not dream of subjecting them to that type of pain."
Sarah looked lost and deeply confused, uncertain how to proceed.
"I shall return at a later date to tell you, and show you where they are so you may visit them." Dumbledore said. "Remember, protection against the killing curse isn't known. Given that, it's highly unlikely any Death Eater's will have the opportunity, ability, or knowledge on how to kill them there in the first place. It's stronger protection than I could place by far, even more secure than such a place as Hogwarts. I promise you, I shall tell you where they are when I have time."
"When you have time? When you have time!" Sarah shrieked.
"Yes, when I have time." Dumbledore responded firmly and sharply. "They are protected, they are safe. Now, I must work on getting Sirius Black from prison and trying, in vane I fear, to get the minister to see sense in regards to his situation. I shall return soon, Sarah."
"And what if they kill the Dursley's, hmm?" Sarah asked coldly. "Then that'll Bollix up you're entire plan!"
"Given the lack of urgency when you spoke to me of Rose's condition, I believe they are in no danger." Dumbledore stated. "In fact, I believe you attempted to use Rose's condition to sway me to your argument."
"You can't just leave them there!" Sarah shouted with wild desperation.
"When I am certain you can protect them as well as the protection offered by their living with the Dursley's, you have my word that I will not delay in returning them to you." Dumbledore stated. "For now, I have other matters to see to, and while I would like nothing more to devote my full attention to this matter, life does go on. I will return soon."
Before Sarah or Remus could say anything more, Dumbledore turned on the spot and vanished.
November 12, 1981.
"What's this about?" Sarah asked desperately. "Can we see them, where are they? Are you going to let me keep them now? Tell me!"
Albus Dumbledore gazed at them with a terrible sadness and Sarah staggered.
"No..." She said weakly.
Dumbledore stepped aside. In front of her was a partly familiar body. It was Rose, horribly twisted and mangled in what looked to be a gruesome partial transformation into a werewolf. Sarah then cried out in a terrible grief, shouting, "No!"
She fell to her knees, Remus doing the same next to her, both of them weeping over the body.
"I am terribly sorry." Dumbledore said, his voice also reflecting a terrible grief, tears rolling down his cheeks as he shook with silent sobs.
"How did this happen?" Remus asked after a long few moments of silence. "She didn't transform like this before!"
"I don't know, Remus." Dumbledore said weakly. "I just don't know."
"I have to check, have to know." Sarah said frantically, a knife appearing with a wave of her wand. She moved to the body as Remus and Dumbledore watched sadly, cutting the body and letting a small amount of blood leak into the snow as she pulled it from her with her wand, then cut herself and let her blood mingle with her daughters. Trembling, she waved her wand in a circle and said, "Familial." They watched in anticipation as the blood gathered in a sphere, then vanished. A deep red light traveled out from it and Sarah fell to the ground, screaming in terrible grief. Rose Black was dead. Moments later, Sarah leapt up and shouted, "You told me they would be safe, Dumbledore, you told me! Now his followers got to Rose because of your arrogance! I'll kill them first and you're next!" She then turned on the spot and vanished.
"Oh, dear." Dumbledore said with a sigh, looking down in a grief Remus had never before seen from the man.
"What do we do?" Remus asked, blinking the tears from his eyes.
"Should we attempt anything, I am certain Sarah Black will have many harsh words and harsher magic to go with them." Dumbledore responded slowly as he looked up. "However, we should proceed to find her. Harry Potter deserves his godmother. Rose Potter..." He swallowed heavily and Remus blinked tears from his eyes.
"Rose Potter?" Remus questioned with a tremor in his voice, staring back at the body.
"Indeed." Dumbledore responded. "Before I brought them to the Dursley's, I checked the magical records. It would seem that Harry and Rose Potter are... Were... Considered married by all magical rights."
Dumbledore's voice cracked with grief and he took a deep breath, trying to collect himself. He then waved his wand over the snow and muttered a few words, looking suddenly triumphant.
"I have her destination." He said.
"Let's go." Remus responded, determined. He gripped Dumbledore's arm, and together, they disapparated.
Two hours later, Albus Dumbledore apparated directly into his office. That was one of the benefits of being the headmaster of Hogwarts, something he wouldn't give up for anything. His face sagged with grief and he sank down in his chair, his head in his hands.
"Oh, Sarah, why." He whispered to himself. Fawkes, his phoenix, flew over to him, singing some notes that rose his spirits, even if a little. With a trembling hand, he reached out and lightly stroked Fawkes.
"I am so sorry, Harry." He said quietly, though he was many miles away. "Your mother, your bonded, Rose, are dead. I have made the gravest of miscalculations." He swallowed and a few tears rolled down his cheeks. After a long moment, he let out another sigh and rose his head. He had work to do. Though the circumstances were terrible, life continued.