Monday 7th December 1976

"You should rest, Dorea," Charlus Potter told his wife who was slowly walking towards her rose garden.

"I'm fine, Charlus," Dorea replied patiently.

Charlus moved to offer her his arm and Dorea gently pushed it away.

"You were hit by a crucio, ple-"

"And I'm fine," Dorea reminded.

"A crucio at your age, Dorea, means you need to rest. Especially since you refuse to see a healer."

"Why Charlus Potter, are you calling me old?"

"W-What?" Charlus stuttered, "Of course not!"

Dorea laughed loudly and then took Charlus' arm.

"Of course you're not," she grinned, looking remarkably, like her son. "After all, you're a whole two years older than me."

Thursday 10th December

Marlene had suggested that they pause their matchmaking plans for a year, but Sirius insisted that they make Lily fall for James as soon as possible. Marlene knew it was because he hated the fact that he couldn't prank.

But Marlene had more pressing things on her mind than matchmaking. Things that she would have in fact forgotten if Marlene hadn't noticed how Sirius kept turning to glare at Narcissa and Remus in Potions. It was lucky she had noticed it or she would have completely forgotten about why she'd gone to the astronomy tower to find Sirius that day – because he'd fought with Remus.

Sitting near the back of the classroom gave Marlene plenty of opportunities to spy, sorry observe Narcissa and Remus during the lessons. And Marlene didn't know how she hadn't noticed it before. Sure, Remus and Narcissa had been friendly enough since they'd been paired up together. They'd always worked together rather than just split up the work like Marlene and her partner, Rowle, did. If Marlene hadn't spent so much time glancing at them as subtly as she could, she'd never have noticed the way they glanced at each other whenever they thought the other wasn't looking. Or the soft curling up of Narcissa's lips, barely a smile but more than the usual neutral, haughty face she usually had plastered on. It was odd, like seeing a statue come to life.

And Remus. Studious, serious Remus seemed to be at ease with her in a way he wasn't with other classmates. Remus had always seemed a little aloof from everybody until he grew comfortable with them. Merlin, it'd taken ages for him to relax around her and Alice after Lily and he became friends and he'd interacted with them for years by this point. How in Morgana's name he was so comfortable with Narcissa Black of all people within the span of what, little more than a year was baffling.

The question was whether Narcissa Black returned whatever feelings Remus had for her. Marlene couldn't tell in all honesty. If Remus had been a little aloof then Narcissa took that aloofness to another level, holding almost everyone at arm's length. Sirius probably didn't even realise it, but it was only around him that Marlene had seen glimpses that Narcissa Black actually had feelings like the rest of them. As for why Remus and potentially Narcissa felt comfortable around each other? Marlene could only put that down to recognising a kindred spirit in each other. With no conclusions apart from the fact that Remus clearly had feelings for Narcissa, Marlene resolved to keep an eye on the two and the interactions between Sirius and Remus and Sirius and Narcissa Black.

Saturday 12th December 1976

"Oh, thank Merlin," Molly cried as she held Charlie, the newest member of their family. "He's fine - the healer said he's completely healthy."

Arthur exhaled thankfully. The tension he'd been holding since the attack melting away.

He kissed Molly's forehead, wiping away her tears and gently took his son from her, cradling him.

"You gave your mother and me such a fright," Arthur whispered. "But that's okay because we love you. We'll always love you, Charlie."

Molly and Arthur had agreed on the name just yesterday, wondering if they should still honour Arthur's elder brother, Charlus who'd died almost twelve years ago. Not wanting to tempt fate, they agreed to call the baby Charles - similar enough to honour Arthur's brother but hopefully different enough that another Weasley brother wouldn't be taken before his time.

"Everything's going to be alright," Arthur repeated, kissing Charlie's forehead.

Thursday 17th December 1976

Narcissa Black quietly made her way to the statue of the one-eyed witch where Remus would be waiting for her, drawing her cloak around her tightly.

"Lumos," she thought and then looked around in the dull light that shone from her wand. Remus was standing in the shadows with his back towards her and turned at Narcissa's pointed but quiet cough. His face lit up with a smile and Narcissa's breath hitched as she stared at him.

"Cissa," he grinned.

Narcissa felt herself smile back widely at him and moved closer towards him. Remus whispered quickly and quietly and though Narcissa strained her ears, she couldn't quite catch what he'd said.

Remus led her down and Narcissa found herself in a tunnel as Remus lit up his own wand so that they could look at each other more properly and talk normally rather than whisper and risk being caught.

"Hi," he said.

Narcissa smiled, "Hi," she replied before looking around a little curiously.

"The tunnel leads to Hogsmede," Remus said, answering Narcissa's unasked question.

"Really? Where?" asked Narcissa.

"Umm don't tell Sirius, James or Peter I told you but it lea-"

"Don't worry about it," Narcissa cut him off, "I don't want you telling me any secrets I'm not meant to know."

"You sure?"

Narcissa nodded, "I get the importance of secrets...growing up in a family like mine...learning how to keep a secret is the first thing you learn."

"I get it," Remus said softly.

Narcissa wondered if he knew just what those three words meant to her. Even Emilia, her best friend and a pureblood who'd grown up in a family just as dark as the Blacks, if not more, didn't fully realise just how paranoid the Blacks were. There was a reason, Andromeda, the sister Narcissa was... no, had been closest to, hadn't told Narcissa her secret - that she'd been in love with a mud...muggleborn. But Remus understood. Remus, who had a secret more important than any secret Narcissa had ever kept. One that could get him killed if the wrong person found out. Remus understood just what secrets meant.

After all, there was a reason that Narcissa was the only Slytherin, at least this far, who had worked out that he was a werewolf.

Shaking herself out of such thoughts, Narcissa pulled out the gift she'd bought for Remus. Even though they'd agreed that they wouldn't buy each other presents, Narcissa hadn't been able to resist when she'd seen it and had immediately bought it.

"Don't open it before Yule," she said, passing it to him.

To her surprise, Remus pulled out a small, wrapped box and shyly smiling, he gave it to her.

"Don't open it before Christmas," he said.

Narcissa smiled widely at him.

"I won't."

"I won't either."

SPECIAL EDITION of The Daily Prophet: Friday 18th December

HOGWARTS STUDENTS STRANDED IN THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS!

MINISTRY ATTACKED BY DEATH EATERS!

By Barnabas Cuffe

A group of Death Eaters have attacked the Ministry today which is thought to have caused the train journey from Hogsmeade to Kings Cross Station, London to be presumably cancelled which has left Hogwarts students stranded in the Hogwarts Express. Parents are urged not to worry by Headmaster Dumbledore who assures parents that he and other staff members are attempting to contact the driver of the train.

The dark mark has been spotted over the ministry. The ministry is under lockdown and there is little known about the current situation besides some confirmed deaths.

Confirmed deaths in the Ministry so far include Robert McGonagall, Eleanora Travers, and Cornelia Shacklebolt amongst others. For a full list of confirmed and suspected deaths, turn to page 3.

The new Lord Malfoy, the chosen spokesman for the Wizagonmot blames Headmaster Dumbledore for prioritising the emergency Wizagonmot session over the rescue of the young, stranded children.

For Headmaster Dumbledore's full statement, turn to page 4.

We hope to have more information soon so keep an eye out for the Evening Prophet later today.

Friday 18th December 1976

For once, Lily thought, Potter hadn't been a complete waste of space. Surprisingly, he'd been serious and acting his age rather than being a toerag who loved to prank. When the train had slowed to a stop, she had thought that Potter and his friends pulled a prank. She'd felt the relief that he'd broken their deal before the annoyance at the fact that she'd be late had kicked in. So, she'd stormed to the Marauders compartment, with Marlene on her heels, to scold them only to find that the Marauders were just as, if not more confused as everybody else.

Potter hadn't made a single joke, only gripping his wand tightly with a pale face which was when Lily realised that he thought this could be a death eater attack. Lily hadd felt the colour drain from her own face as she'd pulled out her own wand, trembling.

Remus and Peter kept looking between their watches and the sky out of the window nervously and Sirius Black was pacing, looking furious.

It was then that Frank and Alice walked into the Marauders' compartment. "Prefects are rounding up the first years together. The driver and trolley witch both don't know what's going on. Wilkes and MacMillan want people to keep their wands on them."

Lily had nodded with the others as the two left.

"Good thinking of them," Marlene finally said.

"Probably why they're head boy and girl," Peter said nervously.

James ran a hand through his hair, "We can't just stay here. The first years are probably terrified. We should all go round up the first years, hell probably the second and third years too."

Lily nodded, "We should partner up. Just...just in case."

"I'll go with Peter," Remus said immediately.

Lily had been hoping to pair up with him but nodded.

"Sirius," Marlene said, staring at the still pacing Sirius.

Lily closed her eyes and sighed inwardly.

"That leaves me with Potter then," she finally said, waiting for the remark that was sure to come from Potter. Something flirty or funny or about how she just couldn't resist him. But Potter barely seemed to register her words, looking restless as his eyes kept looking towards the window.

"Let's go," he said, grabbing Lily's arm. Lily let him drag her out of the compartment before snatching her arm back.

They checked the next compartment, Potter peeking inside while Lily nervously watched the corridor.

After a few seconds, Potter looked at her again. "Fifth years, told them to lock the doors and keep their wands out."

Lily nodded and they moved towards the next compartment and then the next, warning the older years and looking for the younger years, besides the two second years they'd already found.

Lily peeked inside the next compartment to find a group of confused first years inside.

"Potter, I found first years."

Potter gestured for the second years and Lily to enter the compartment and then entered it himself, locking it behind him.

"Hi," Potter said to the first years, a mixture of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. "My name is James Potter, and this is Lily Evans. We're just going to take you to the rest of your yearmates, yeah?" He smiled reassuringly at them, and Lily stared at him. How was he so calm, so good with the younger years? She knew that he was an only child and she'd never seen him act like this around the younger years…but why did it even matter. It didn't matter in fact.

"Right, now have you all got your wands?" Potter asked.

"Right, now have you all got your wands?" Potter asked.

They nodded.

"Good, I want you to grip them tightly, okay, and follow us," He instructed.

"Umm Mr P-Potter," one of the first years said.

Potter smiled at him, "Just James. Mr Potter's my dad."

The boy laughed a little nervously. "M-My owl's here, can I take her?"

It was obvious that there were other pets that the other first years wanted to bring along.

"How about toads go in pockets, owls fly ahead and umm there's one cat so how about I carry her?" Lily said kindly, "We'll leave trunks here for now and we can always grab them for you later if you need them."

The first years agreed and within the next few minutes, Lily and James were shepherding the group. Lily at the front, the first and second years in the middle and James at the back, all of them gripping their wands tightly.

Lily checked the next few compartments and a few more students joined their group until after what felt like hours, they'd finally made their way to the largest compartment in the train - the dining compartment - which was apparently a compartment that had always been on the train, but Lily had somehow never heard about.

"Ah good," Annelise MacMillan said, smiling as the group of students entered the compartment, "Thank you Evans, Potter. Now, Wilkes has a list of names, and we need to go to him so we can make sure everybody's here."

The group of students followed MacMillan and Lily found herself exchanging looks with Potter of all people who still looked a little restless. They waited in awkward silence for several minutes, not entirely sure what to do next until MacMillan walked towards them again.

"That's the last of the first years. Good thinking about bringing the second and third years here too. It'll get a little crowded, but Wilkes and I'd rather have them safe and uncomfortable rather comfortable but unsafe," MacMillan said.

Lily gave a small smile as Potter nodded but surprisingly didn't boast about it all being his idea.

So, Lily said it for him, "It was Potter's idea."

Potter's head snapped to face her, clearly shocked. MacMillan looked between the two of them and smiled at Potter.

"Good thinking Potter, if it wasn't for all the mischief you get up to, you'd be a great Prefect."

Lily bit her lip at Potter's horrified expression to stop herself from laughing.

"Potter, Evans," Wilkes said, walking over, "I want sixth and seventh years patrolling the train and compartments. Report back here every hour."

"What is there's an attack?" Potter asked, frowning.

Wilkes glanced at the younger years seated around the crowded compartment.

"Loud sounds to warn the others. I'll be asking the seventh year Prefects to go around telling students to lock their compartments and the driver's trying to contact the ministry. Hopefully, the train will resume the journey soon," Wilkes instructed.

"Have you sent an owl yet?" Potter asked.

"The windows have been sealed," Wilkes told them quietly, "The driver tells us that the Ministry has remote access to most of the train's enchantments. We are lucky to be able to lock the compartments if what he says is true. Ah, there's Longbottom, excuse me." With that Wilkes left to speak to Frank Longbottom who was still standing by Alice.

"We should go patrol," Lily said. Potter nodded and the two silently exited the dining compartment.

Potter ran a hand through his messy hair.

Lily fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve with her free hand, hating the silence between them. She hated patrolling in silence and even if she was stuck with Potter, she felt the need to talk just to stop thinking about how worried her parents would be if the train was late.

"I didn't know that there was a dining compartment in the Hogwarts Express. Did you?" The words escaped without Lily even realising it for a moment.

Potter glanced at her before looking straight ahead again.

"My parents mentioned it. The Head Boy and Girl usually spend at least some of each train ride there to speak with the muggleborn first years."

"But I-"

"Were you with Sniv- Snape, weren't you?"

Lily nodded.

Potter nodded like this explained everything which, Lily realised, it probably did. Severus hadn't made it any secret that he was a half-blood and his mother had probably told him about the dining compartment too. And Lily knew he hated muggles ever since their fight so was it so much of a stretch to believe that he'd always hated muggles and maybe even muggleborns, but Lily'd never realised it before? No. Lily couldn't believe that. After all, he had been her best friend and she was a muggleborn. It probably just hadn't occurred to him to tell her about the dining compartment. After all, Marlene and Alice hadn't told her either!

No sooner had a break been declared in the Wizagonmot emergency session that Charlus found his wife waiting for him. To the casual observer, Dorea Potter would seem perfectly composed and calm. But Charlus could see how tightly she was clutching her hands together and how pale and tired she looked. With a start, he realised that without him realising it, Dorea and he had gotten old, wrinkles and all.

"Any news?" Dorea asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"No," Charlus said, sinking down into an armchair, "The small amount of news trickling out of the ministry has completely stopped and they're still unable to get in touch with the driver of the train."

"What about Aurors that weren't working?" Dorea asked.

"There were none in any condition to work. Only a handful recovering in Saint Mungo's," Charlus sighed, "Turns out that the DMLE is ridiculously understaffed with everything that's going on. Not to mention there was an important meeting today. No, He timed this well."

"What about the train? Surely, they've located where it is," Dorea asked.

"No. Dumbledore's got the Head of Houses working on it while he's here but the train has always been under the Ministry. Hogwarts has no way to track it and without the resources of the Ministry and the attack...well...everybody's frightened. The Dark and Light are fighting and Greengrass has merely managed to speak. The Wizagonmot is in shambles. If only Crouch wasn't stuck in the Ministry, we might actually get something done."

Dorea rubbed her forehead tiredly, not able to stop a few tears from escaping. "I just hope that our boys are safe," she whispered.

Charlus grabbed her hand, "As do I."

Marlene and Sirius were in the middle of their own patrol of the train three hours after the train had stopped when they ran into him. Really, it was no surprise that they did. After all, all sixth and seventh years had been instructed to patrol.

"Black," Snape sneered, the first Slytherin to notice the pair.

"Snivellus," Sirius spat.

The other Slytherins moved closer to Snape, identical sneers on their face.

Now that they'd moved, Marlene could see that there was a girl laying unconscious behind them.

She stepped forward, her grip on her wand tightening.

"Where are you going, McKinnon?" Mulciber sneered.

"Who's that?" Marlene demanded.

Sirius peered around to see where she was looking, and his scowl deepened.

"Just a mudblood," Mulciber smirked, casually playing with his wand.

Marlene tried to around but Rosier blocked her path.

Sirius rose his wand and Marlene quickly said, "You want a duel, Rosier. I'll give you a duel but think about it. We've been stuck on this train for three hours with no idea why. How about we fight when you're not disobeying Wilke's and MacMillan's orders."

The Slytherins all laughed.

"You think I care about listening to Wilkes or MacMillan when it's obvious that nobody, but the Dark Lord would have the power, the skill to get the train to stop," Rosier gushed.

"Yes, and he'll be pleased when he comes to find us gathering the mudbloods and blood traitors in one place," Mulciber added.

"Stupefy," Sirius yelled. Snape ducked and the spell hit the wall.

"Sectumsempra!"

Sirius pulled Marlene out of the way of Snape's spell and Marlene groaned as her head hit the floor. She could, should produce a large noise. It'd get the Prefects attention but what if that was the moment the Death Eaters chose to attack? It could leave so many other muggleborns vulnerable to their torture. No, Marlene had to accept the fact that help wasn't coming, and she had to save that young girl.

She got up, barely managing to avoid a stray spell, and rushed towards the girl, turning her over so she could see who it was. It was a Gryffindor girl that Marlene had seen around though she didn't know who she was.

A glance at Sirius showed that he was bleeding and limping slightly, unconscious Slytherins on the floor while he duelled Rosier, Snape and Mulciber. Marlene knew that he couldn't keep fighting the three of them on his own, but the unconscious girl was bleeding. There was so much blood soaking her torn robes and Marlene knew that if she didn't do something, the girl would die.

'Think Marlene, think. Are there any small cuts I can heal?' A split lip, Marlene could use episkey, but healing was such a delicate art. Marlene knew that spells had to be layered when the patient was seriously ill or hurt like this girl was.

She glanced at Sirius again. He was still fighting but Marlene could see he was tiring. She had to do something. The question was what.

"Are you okay Peter?" Remus asked.

Peter was breathing hard, and Remus helped him lean against the wall.

"How...how...are you...not scared?" Peter wheezed, scrunching his eyes shut.

"Breathe in slowly," Remus instructed, "count to five and exhale. Good. Repeat."

Peter slowly breathed in and out for the next few minutes until his breathing evened and he could push back his hair from his sweaty forehead.

"Why am I the only one scared?" Peter asked so quietly that Remus felt like he'd heard this by accident.

"We're all scared, Wormtail," Remus replied softly.

Peter looked at him, scrunching up his nose that was rather like something he did in his rat form. "You don't seem scared? Neither did James or Sirius."

"I'm terrified that we'll be stuck here for so long that I'll transform into Moony," Remus confessed.

"But that doesn't count," Peter retorted, "We're all worried about that because we don't want anybody to find out."

Remus laughed bitterly, "Yes but I'm scared I'll hurt someone, Peter. You wouldn't have to live with that. I would."

Peter pulled Remus into a hug, "You won't hurt anybody, Remus. Ever. I promise I won't let you do that even if Moony tried."

Remus gave a small smile.

"Why're you scared?" He asked as they started walking again.

Peter stared at his feet.

"I'm scared that You-Know-Who will attack. That I won't get to say goodbye to my mum when the last time I talked to her, we argued."

"It's going to be fine," Remus reassured, "don't worry."

Everything was not going to be fine unless Marlene did something. And Marlene was not going to watch this girl, who had to what a year or two younger than her, die in her hands. Sirius had taken Rosier out and though Marlene knew he wouldn't last much longer, she had to help this girl first. Marlene was going to be a healer damn it and she couldn't just sit there.

So, bracing herself and praying that somehow she could just save the girl, Marlene cast the only one spell she could think of that might save her. She'd never cast them before, having just read about them but she was a Gryffindor and if there was ever a time she needed her Gryffindor courage to take the hugest risk of her life, this was it.

But first, she had to wake the girl up.

Steadying her shaking wand hand, Marlene whispered, "Rennervate." The girl slowly stirred into consciousness, moaning in pain.

"I'm so sorry," Marlene whispered, "I don't how else to help you."

The girl just groaned, her eyes closing. Her chest falling and rising more and more slowly.

"V-v-ulnera Sanentur," Marlene cast, one of the wounds seemed to quiver.

Marlene closed her eyes and focused on the incantation. She just had to find the right rhythm. The wand movements, at least, were easy enough.

She traced her wand around a wound in the girl's shoulder and tried again. "Vulnera Sanentur."

The blood oozing out of the wound slowed a little. Something she'd done was right and something was wrong.

"Vulnera Sanentur," Marlene whispered, directing as much magic as she could in the spell. The wound knitted itself back together through a red scar remained.

But Marlene couldn't rejoice yet, there were still so many wounds to heal. Focusing, Marlene slowly repeated the incantation over as many wounds as she could. They slowly closed and the girl seemed to be breathing more normally now. The shoddy job Marlene had done was clearly visible through the patchwork of scars littering the girl but at least Marlene had managed to save her life.

"Episkey." There, now the split lip was healed. Hopefully, there wasn't any internal damage, Marlene prayed. "Reparo." The girl's robes repaired themselves a little. Though still soaked in blood, at least the girl looked a little better.

"Now Black, let's hear you scream."

Snape and Mulciber had Sirius disarmed, lying on the floor with blood streaking down his forehead.

"Never," Sirius spat, blood trickling out of his mouth.

Marlene gently moved the girl into a comfortable lying position on the floor.

"Crucio." Marlene flinched as the sound of Sirius' screams filled the girl and rose, ignoring the blood on her, clutching her wand.

"Stupefy," she cast. Somehow Snape managed to avoid the spell and Mulciber turned.

"Aww you saved the mudblood's life," he sneered, "too bad I'll kill right after I kill you and your blood traitor boyfriend."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this! Please let me know if you spot any mistakes. Comments make me smile & I'd love to hear which character POVs you'd like to see more of!