A/N: As with the previous chapter, please pay close attention to the dates!

6 December 1980

"Just friends, huh? Tough luck, mate," James said, glancing pitifully at Remus.

"Better than what I had before," Remus muttered.

Sirius sighed. Guessing Dora's past – without confirmation of it – had done almost nothing to change their relationship with her. She was as hard to find as ever, and only appeared when there were more people around than Sirius and Remus. Sirius was beginning to suspect she knew something, but said nothing. If Dora really was mini Tonks from the future, there wasn't a damn thing they could do about it.

After over a year of avoiding his beloved cousin and hating her for something she almost certainly couldn't control – time traveler or not – Sirius gave up. The war could take any of them, and he didn't want to die without fixing his relationship with Dora.

"Take what you can," Sirius said. "I think we both should feel lucky she's willing to forgive us."

"Didn't she need your forgiveness?" James asked, as he gleefully tossed Harry in the air. "I thought she had wronged you both."

"I think we've all wronged her, in some way or another," Sirius replied. "It's becoming more obvious to me that she's done nothing but try to help us in the last ten years and we've been arseholes to her the entire time."

"Not the entire time," Remus grumbled.

"Just most of the time?" James teased, earning glares from both Remus and Sirius.

Sirius glanced at Remus; they'd been meaning to share their theory of Dora's true past with James, hoping that another voice might help clear their thoughts.

Sirius cleared his throat. "James, we have a wild theory…do you think Dora could be from the future?"

James cocked his head to one side, as Remus and Sirius explained the details of their experiences and chats with Dumbledore. After divulging their thoughts, James frowned, and ran a hand through his messy hair.

"It's more likely she's a Seer," James said. "A really powerful Seer."

"We considered that," Remus said. "But her magic has always been powerful, even from her first year, not to mention the quirk with her age."

"Didn't she say she had an accident with a Time Turner?" James asked, still frowning. "What if she is from the future but was obliviated as a kid, and only remembers a few things? It's impossible for Time Turners to go back more than a week. Even the experimental ones don't go further than that."

"She works in the Department of Mysteries, doing Merlin-only-knows-what," Sirius pressed. "Surely she would know if there were more Time Turners."

"But that doesn't explain her past. There's no way to tell if little Tonks becomes an Unspeakable one day," Remus added. "It's not like we can ask her."

"Mini Tonks wants to be a Magizoologist, last I checked," Sirius said. "She also wants to be a hippogriff princess, so…not helpful."

"Don't you mean unicorn princess?" James interjected. "She's a little girl, isn't she? Unicorn princess?"

"No, no," Sirius said, wagging his finger at James. "She likes unicorns, but made it very clear she's going to be a hippogriff princess, or queen of all hippogriffs. Merlin only knows what goes through that kid's head."

"Hippogriff princess meets Time Turner," James chuckled. "I don't think so. I'm sticking with Seer."

Sirius grimaced, while Remus did the same. If James didn't believe them, no one would.

Then again, Sirius considered, it was a truly bizarre theory. It wasn't as if it could really be true…could it?

….

1 June 1981

Sirius was the last to arrive. Dora, Remus, and Peter were already at the Potters', waiting for an announcement of sorts.

"Finally!" Lily said, holding a squirming Harry in her arms. "Get inside!"

"We're not expecting Potter baby two, are we?" Sirius joked.

"This one's plenty," James beamed. "I'm convinced he'll be a Beater one day."

"Seeker, I think," Dora said softly, smiling at Harry, and taking him out of Lily's arms. Remus' hunch about Dora and Harry had been right – she adored him, and had been the best choice for his godmother.

"We can talk Quidditch later," Lily sighed. "Did you lot get the message from Dumbledore on Fidelius Charms?"

Everyone nodded, and Lily continued. "Since Sirius is Harry's godfather, we're making him Secret Keeper. Pandora, we know you spend a lot of time with…unsavory sort…so please don't take offense."

"None taken," Dora smiled. "It should be Sirius – always."

"Not me?" Remus said, looking slightly hurt.

"Remus is fine too," Dora conceded.

"And me?" Peter squeaked. Dora narrowed her eyes at him, making Sirius wonder what else she knew or foresaw.

"Fine," Dora said, with a clenched jaw. Sirius chalked it up to Dora's longstanding dislike for Peter, and agreed to be the Secret Keeper.

"Everyone but Sirius, leave," James said. "He'll come get you and share our location with you when the time is right."

Within minutes, Sirius became the Secret Keeper for the Potter family, and shared the secret with his closest friends, hoping they'd all stay safe.

….

31 July 1981

"What's with you and mini Tonks?" Sirius asked Remus. His lupine friend was watching the girl carefully, stopping himself each time she tripped over herself, which was painfully frequently.

"If that really is Dora one day, I don't want her to get herself killed before she comes to the past," Remus grumbled. "The kid's a magnet for disaster."

"Has she grown on you?" Sirius teased. "I thought you found her annoying."

"She is annoying, but I'll be damned if I don't do anything for her. It's the least I can do, after everything I've done to Dora."

"What, you want to be with mini Tonks?"

Remus glared at Sirius, his wolfish features more prominent than ever. "I am not interested in children, you deranged fuckwit. If that kid grows up to be Dora, I'm not letting anything happen to her."

"If little Tonks is Dora one day, I've no clue when she comes to the past. I'm not letting her die before that happens," he added grouchily. "If she isn't Dora one day, then I'm not going to piss off our Dora any more by letting her little cousin get hurt."

"It's not your responsibility," Sirius shrugged. "If she's traveled to the past, and we're the past, then you know mini Tonks survives. So calm down and get some pudding."

Tonks tripped over a set of toy cars, landing face first into a set of wooden blocks, causing Remus to wince. Andromeda was already at the girl's side, but Tonks continued as if nothing had happened.

"Let me ask you something else," Sirius said. "Do you want her to be Dora?"

"Merlin, no," Remus said forcefully. "You think I like the idea that my ex-girlfriend is currently a child, even if she is an adult now? No, I hope we're wrong. I want Tonks to be Tonks, and Dora to be Dora."

"If she isn't Dora?" Sirius asked, resting back in the Potters' sofa.

"Then she's your kid cousin who happens to be a lot like Dora, less the clumsiness and…age."

"They are similar, aren't they?" Sirius wondered aloud. "Both seem to have a thing for werewolves and hippogriffs."

"Stop." Remus put his hands over his ears. "Please don't compare the adult woman I love to a child."

Sirius grinned, elated he'd made Remus so uncomfortable. "If she turns out to be Dora, what are you going to do, Moony? Have two at once?"

Remus put two fingers up at Sirius and stood abruptly, seeing that Tonks was going to trip face first into the counter. Sirius couldn't help but chuckle. It was uncomfortable for him, too.

….

7 August 1981

Sirius received a short letter from Dora, asking him to check on Peter. It was unusual – Dora never cared for Peter, but as Remus and Sirius were trying to repair their relationship with her, she must have been doing the same with Peter.

He Apparated in the Pettigrews' garden, where Peter had set up his enchantments to receive guests. Peter must have sensed a change in the protective enchantments, and rushed out the back door, wand pointed at Sirius.

"It's me, mate," Sirius said, as he transformed to and from Padfoot. Being an Animagus certainly had its perks in wartime, Sirius thought, as a good way to identify oneself.

"How are you, Petey?"

"Fine, mum's up in bed. We should stay out here, so she can rest." Peter glanced around himself, before summoning two chairs for the two of them to sit in.

"Is everything alright?"

Sirius almost pitied Peter in the moment. He was unemployed, and spent his time either on smaller missions with the Order or with his sick mother. Even if his mother hadn't been ill, Peter didn't have the marks to have any solid career. At least Remus, despite his lycanthropy, was a good student and could've been a Healer or Auror if he'd been given a chance. Peter's best option might've been as a shopkeeper.

"It's fine. Mum keeps me busy. Order missions too. How's work?" Peter sounded sullen and bitter.

"Mental," Sirius replied. "With Voldemort and his pals wreaking havoc all over Britain, we hardly have time to focus on anything else. They pulled us out of training early to get us on other cases."

"How's Moony?"

"You don't know? I'd have thought you'd seen him recently?"

"He does missions for the Order, but spends a lot of time with Pandora."

"Dora doesn't spend time with him unless there are others present," Sirius said, confused. "Is that what he's told you?"

"I assumed they were back together," Peter said glumly. "Didn't realize they were still broken up."

"I wonder why he hasn't reached out to you more," Sirius said, frowning. "Maybe Dumbledore's got him parlaying with werewolves again."

Peter shrugged. "It doesn't matter, I guess."

"I'll look into why Moony isn't around. Maybe he got a job?"

"That makes one of us," Peter muttered angrily.

"If he did get a job, it's not going to be anything spectacular," Sirius reminded. "I maybe remember him telling me about finding a job at a Muggle bookshop."

Peter didn't have much to say. Sirius attempted to continue conversation with him, but Peter wasn't responsive. Sirius chalked it up to the war – everyone was busy, and Peter only had his mother for company most days. Maybe, as with so many things lately, Dora had been right for Sirius to check in on him.

….

18 October 1981

"Change your Secret Keeper," Sirius told James. It had been another grueling day of hunting for the three very wanted Lestranges. They were wanted for the murders of the Longbottoms and the kidnapping of Peter, who had somehow managed to escape being murdered himself. With two trained Aurors gone, Sirius and James were being given more responsibility than ever.

"Why?" James asked, nursing several wounds on his body. "We haven't had a problem yet."

"Yet being the key word. My cousin Bella's on the loose. Petey said she tortured him and the Longbottoms for information. Thank Merlin he didn't have anything to give them, but I do."

James' jaw dropped. "You'd give up our secret?"

"I'd die before I gave it up," Sirius said solemnly. "But if I die, Dora, Remus, and Peter will all become the new Secret Keepers. That's three people they could torture to get the secret out. It can't be Dora, because she's already a double agent. Remus doesn't need any more torture. It should be Peter."

"Petey? Really?"

"They've already captured him once, and know he doesn't have any information," Sirius explained. "They're not going to bother him again. They'll come for me."

"You sure, Padfoot? Pete looks like he's seen death. I don't want to make it any worse on him."

"He probably has seen death, if he was there when they…" Sirius took in a sharp breath, remembering Frank and Alice. "When they killed the Longbottoms. Peter should be Secret Keeper. Dumbledore will keep him safe now that he's been captured once."

"If you're sure, Sirius," James hesitated. "Only if you're sure."

"I'm sure. Pete's the best hope we have now."

….

21 October 1981

"D'you think Dora knows something about Peter that we don't?" Remus asked Sirius, the two of them standing guard outside the Potters' home. "She was really unhappy we made him Secret Keeper."

"Dora's never liked Peter, for whatever reason."

"That's what I mean – do you think that if she is Tonks from the future, she knows he does something terrible?"

"Wouldn't she say anything?" Sirius asked, raising a brow at Remus. "I like to think Dora's decent enough to tell us if something were wrong."

"I s'pose you're right…I just have a bad feeling that Dora's unhappy."

"Is it because you're trying to be with her?" Sirius joked. "Don't want to upset your bird?"

"It's more than that. I'm trying to trust her instincts," Remus confessed. "I think this one is important."

"She'd tell us," Sirius insisted. "Petey's with the Order all the time now. There's no way they'll get to him."

Remus shifted from one foot to the other. "Dora looked ready to murder."

"Doesn't she always?"

Remus couldn't find anything to say in return, and Sirius took the win.

….

Halloween, 1981 - Sirius

"I haven't had a night out like this since before Harry was born!" James said joyfully, clinking his glass against the others'. "Thank Merlin for Pandora."

"Dora? Why?" Sirius asked. "What does she have to do with this?" The four Marauders – James, Remus, Peter, and Sirius – were enjoying a night out at The Three Broomsticks, their first outing together in years.

"She volunteered to babysit Harry," James said. "Brilliant, she is. She had Petey here share our location with the Tonkses, so if anything goes wrong, Dora can take her cousin and Harry back to the Tonkses."

"The Tonkses are under the Fidelius Charm too?" Remus asked.

"Only Dora, and now little Tonks know the location of both homes," James continued. "Apparently your cousin Bellatrix is out for murder for little Tonks, and Dora suggested an exchange of safe houses for both kids."

"That is brilliant," Sirius said, in awe. "She can babysit both kids and have a safe house ready either way."

"Making her Harry's godmother was one of the best decisions we've made," James grinned. "She's a natural with him."

"She's taking on both little Tonks and Harry in one night?" Remus whistled. "She'll have her hands full, won't she?"

"The little girl is there too?" Peter squeaked. "I thought it was just Pandora and Harry."

"You knew about this?" James asked, apparently surprised. "Did Lily tell you? We only set it up the other day."

"I…yes, Lily told me," Peter said, flushing. Remus narrowed his eyes at Peter, and glanced at Sirius, who shrugged.

"Either way, Dora's going to have a fun night," Sirius barked in laughter. "A mini Metamorphmagus and a baby. What could go wrong?"

"Especially when the little Metamorphmagus in question is the clumsiest child I've ever seen," Remus added. "The kid's a walking death trap."

"She's not that bad, Moony," Sirius laughed. "If my mother ever laid eyes on her, she'd screech until the end of time. We have some idea that she might grow out of it."

"Not this again," James said, rolling his eyes.

"What's this?" Peter interjected. "What about Pandora?"

"Remus and Sirius are under the impression that Pandora is actually Tonks from the future," James said. "It's ridiculous, obviously. We've known her for years, and Time Turners go back in time for at most, a week. I say she's a Seer."

Peter paled and shifted uneasily in his seat. "Could she See everything, you think?"

"She can't be a Seer," said Remus. "Wouldn't she tell us what the future holds?"

"Prophecies and Seers can be wooly, can't they?" Sirius said, taking another swig of his Butterbeer. "If there was a prophecy she made or saw, why bother telling us if it might not come true? Isn't there a thing about that – self-fulfilling prophecies?"

Peter made a sound somewhere between a squeak and a cough, looking slightly ill from where he sat. He might be getting sick like his mum, Sirius thought grimly.

"Well, wouldn't she say anything about the future if she was actually from it?" James countered. "If she's a Seer, she could keep prophecies to herself. If she's from the future, she could've changed things enough to make it different."

Sirius dragged his fingers down his face. "This is pointless. We'll never know, will we?"

"What do you think, Petey?" Remus said, facing Peter. "Seer or time traveler?"

Peter was white as a sheet. Sirius grew concerned over the startled look in his eyes, as he was clearly agitated by something.

"Petey?" Remus repeated. "You alright? You're not looking well, mate."

"I've made a huge mistake," Peter whispered. "Please forgive me."

James, Sirius, and Remus stared at Peter expectantly.

"He's coming for Harry," Peter mumbled, in barely more than a whisper. "You-Know-Who. Tonight."

"How would you know this?" Remus asked slowly. Sirius noticed Remus' knuckles were white as he gripped the table for dear life.

Peter whimpered. "Because I told him where to go."

A fraction of a second was all it took before all hell broke loose.

James' hands were shaking, and Remus' eyes were burning with a fury they had only ever seen when he was fully transformed as a werewolf. Sirius saw only white-hot rage as he looked at Peter.

"James, get Harry. Now," Sirius growled. "Remus, find Lily. I'll take care of the rat."

James and Remus toppled the table, wreaking havoc in their wake as they stormed out of The Three Broomsticks. Peter was still wide-eyed, pale as a ghost, before Sirius.

"You," Sirius hissed. "You little fuck. How could you?"

Peter's eyes darted from side to side, and before Sirius' eyes, he transformed into a rat. Sirius tossed several coins on what remained on the table, and transformed to Padfoot, in hot pursuit of Wormtail.

Padfoot was suddenly grateful for the many years he'd spent chasing Wormtail through the Shrieking Shack. Wormtail was scurrying through the streets of Hogsmeade, sneaking around corners and in the shadows. Padfoot was in hot pursuit, his paws slapping against the pavement with fury and speed. He rounded the corner past the Hog's Head, seeing the still squirming rat tail go further beyond, into the grass.

Padfoot was there – so close – the rat was so close! He could smell Wormtail – see the slither of the tail in the grass. Just as Padfoot's jaws came to chomp on the body, a crack rent the air. The rat was gone.

….

Halloween, 1981 – Remus

The moment Peter's confession left his lips, Remus' body was filled with unbearable rage – and fear. If Voldemort was coming for Harry, Voldemort would find Dora….and little Tonks! Both the woman he loved and the child she'd once been. If Voldemort killed them all, there would be no Dora, in any time.

"James, get Harry. Now," Sirius growled. "Remus, find Lily. I'll take care of the rat."

Sirius' command startled Remus. He was halfway to deciding how he'd murder Peter before Sirius made the decision for him. Lily. She had to know what was happening to her son – Andromeda would need to know too.

Good Godric, what was happening?

Remus bolted out the door of The Three Broomsticks, only to realize he hadn't a clue where Lily was. James had never said where Lily would be. Remus sent a Patronus to Lily, his silvery wolf rushing off into the distance to demand to know her location for an emergency.

Moments passed, and to Remus' surprise, Severus' bat Patronus returned. "Spinner's End. I'll meet you." Remus hesitated, worried he'd be set up. What was Lily doing with Severus? Seeing no other option, Remus turned on the spot, concentrated on Spinner's End.

A few seconds later, and a dark, grimy street materialized before Remus' eyes. A hooded, cloaked figure lurked in the shadows, and Remus raised his wand.

"Reveal yourself! Show your Patronus!"

"Expecto Patronum!" A flapping bat emerged from the shadow, flying around Remus' head. Remus returned the gesture, and his silvery wolf crept to the shadows.

"Severus, where's Lily?" Remus demanded. "There's an emergency – Voldemort – he's at their house!"

"I know," Severus said coolly. "Lily is safe with me."

"You don't understand! Harry is there! Dora is there! Dora's little cousin Tonks is there!"

Severus' eyes widened and he blinked rapidly. "What?"

"Dora is babysitting the children! Lily needs to get home now!"

"No," Snape said coldly. "If she goes, she'll die. The Dark Lord will see to that."

"He's going for her son, don't you see? Harry needs her!"

Snape sighed. "Lily is not in the state to be leaving."

"You drugged her?" Remus was horrorstruck. "Why would you do such a thing?"

"What do you take me for? She's had wine. She's fine," Snape said silkily. "She's helping me sort through my mother's things, and brought the wine herself."

"Then she needs to sober up now, we need to go!" Remus cried. "It's her son, Severus! Please. She's going to be furious with you if you don't let her go!"

Severus blinked twice and turned on the spot, leaving the crack of Apparition in his wake.

Remus waited – and waited – growing more impatient by the minute. After minutes of uneasy silence, Remus couldn't wait any longer. Dora was in danger, and so was little Tonks. He turned on the spot, bound for Godric's Hollow.

….

Halloween, 1981 – Severus

Severus paced in front of his small home, biting his lip. The werewolf had given him startling news. Pandora had vowed to keep Potter and his brat safe. Potter was elsewhere…surely he had been out with his pack of followers? Or else…the werewolf. The rat. Wormtail must have grown a conscience and now Potter was on his way to his death, unless Pandora's plans, whatever they were, thought Severus, had failed.

Why had she brought an additional brat? Her younger self? Why would she risk the younger's life, and therefore her own? Nothing made sense to Severus.

Lily. She would be furious if something happened to the brat. But Pandora had promised to keep Lily safe. Severus' pacing had not stopped. The minutes were passing, and he was no closer to finding a solution.

He would have to go with her. There was no other option. He had fed the lie to the werewolf on the wine, but it was really a simple Sleeping Draught keeping Lily safe. She hadn't heard or seen the wolf Patronus. If she woke and found her child dead, with Severus' knowledge…he would go with her to keep her alive.

He stepped through the door of the small home, finding Lily still asleep on his lumpy sofa. He took a deep breath and went to his stores, finding the required vial.

Severus unstoppered the vial and brought it to Lily, tipping her chin to allow the potion to make its way down her throat. Within moments, she was coughing and waking.

"S-Sev?"

"Lily."

"Did I fall asleep? I'm so sorry, Sev!"

"You have a child. It's understandable," Severus said. "I wouldn't have woken you, but I just received an urgent message. Your son is in danger."

"HARRY?" Lily stood abruptly, scrambling to get her things.

"I'll come with you. Perhaps I can help."

"Fine, Sev, but please, we need to get to Harry." Lily's hair was practically sparking with worry, and Severus led her out of his home, as she Side-Apparated him to her home.

It was worse than Severus expected – much worse.

The house was in ruins, but Severus could hear crying. Amid the crying were flashes of red, green, and purple light, sparks flying throughout the sky.

The house was a battle scene. Aurors and Death Eaters alike were battling for their lives. Lily was already running into the battle, wand raised and ready.

Severus stood, transfixed. He couldn't fight. Who would he battle? He was an Order member and a Death Eater. He fought for the Dark, and for the Light.

"Severus," a voice hissed. "Move!" The voice came from behind a mask, and judging by the platinum blond hair emerging from the hood, Severus could only assume it was Lucius. He would have to fight for the Death Eaters.

Severus made Lily his priority. Wherever the sparkling red hair went, so he would go, and cast Shield Charms wherever needed. As Severus made his way into the thick of the battle, following Lily. There were flashes and ropes of magic flying, too many of them in Lily's direction. An inhuman howl rent the air, and Bellatrix Lestrange began firing curses at Lily.

"You and your brat destroyed him!" Bellatrix shrieked at Lily. "You will pay!" A flash of green light emerged from Bellatrix's wand before Severus could cast a Shield Charm, and the light hit Lily squarely in the chest. Severus collapsed.

….

Halloween, 1981 – Sirius II

Sirius saw Lily fall backwards, stiff as a board. Just minutes earlier, he'd seen James die in the same manner.

Sirius had arrived at the remains of the Potters' home, seeing a dark, hooded figure through a crater in the wall. James was there, bent over a smaller figure. The house was caved in, the stairs completely destroyed. Sirius would have to Apparate more closely. Before he could do so, James' pained voice reached his ears.

"Not Harry! Not my son!" James cried, putting his body in front of the crib. "You're not killing another child tonight!"

Another child? Sirius blanched. Little Tonks – Andromeda would be devastated.

Voldemort laughed in James' face. "You fool," he hissed. "Just like the others."

James attempted to duel with Voldemort, but it was pointless; a few well-placed curses, and James ran out of breath. Green light lit up the room, and a soft thump indicated that James was gone.

Harry. My godson! Sirius was struggling to Apparate, his emotions running wild. Wormtail the betrayer. James – dead. Dora – likely dead. Little Tonks – dead. He had to save Harry. He just had to!

Voldemort approached the crib in an instant and lifted his wand.

Just as Sirius saw a flash of green light, the others arrived. Aurors and Death Eaters alike had appeared as if from nowhere, and Sirius joined the battle with the Aurors. Bellatrix's cackle and shrieking distracted him, and he paled upon seeing Lily die moments after James, at his cousin's hand.

The rage that had been building up all night was emerging.

"Avada Kedavra!" Sirius screamed, his wand pointed at Bellatrix. The surprised, almost betrayed expression didn't leave her face in death. Sirius didn't care; he was out for cold blood.

Another figure howled upon seeing Bellatrix in death, his mask having been ripped off from the battle. Rodolphus.

Sirius had no wish to see the Lestrange line continue any further. "Avada Kedavra!" he bellowed, and Rodolphus fell over, stiff and glassy-eyed, no longer staring.

"YOU! BLOOD TRAITOR!" A man with a mop of auburn hair came running towards Sirius. He was wearing a Death Eater mask, as well. Sirius didn't care anymore. "Avada Kedavra!"

The man's eyes bulged, in apparent surprise, and fell over in a crumpled heap.

"Black! Hold your fire!" Moody's gravelly voice cracked in the night air.

Sirius pointed his wand at Moody, who disarmed him. There was a flash of red light, and he fell unconscious in the rubble.

….

Halloween, 1981 – Remus II

A battle was raging around him. Sizzling lights, the acrid smell of burning, and the fantastic bursts of light and magic surrounded Remus. He cast Shield Charms around his body, unwilling to participate in the battle at the ruins of the Potter home. He had one singular focus, which was waiting upstairs in a child's bedroom.

The staircase was destroyed. The entire home was in ruin, and the sounds of crying and screaming did nothing to calm him. Remus clawed his way through the mess, his hands growing increasingly bloodied by the effort. His palms were filled with splinters, cuts, and his body was bruising, but nothing compared to the anguish growing in his heart.

Remus' eyes fell to the figure he most longed to see – Dora. She lay on her back, in the middle of the remains of Harry's bedroom. Harry was still alive and screaming, but an unmoving tuft of pink hair and James' still body indicated that the room had seen more than one death. Remus rushed to Dora's side, but he knew it was too late.

Dora's steely grey eyes were unseeing, pupils fixed and dilated. Her skin was now ashen, save for the mottling already beginning to form on her back, where she'd fallen. Her body was growing colder; little to no heat remained on her hands, face, or chest.

A sob tore through Remus' throat. He picked Dora up into his arms, her lifeless arms swinging lamely against his chest. His whole body was grieving, violent spasms of sobbing, wheezing, and heaving against the dead witch held close to his body.

It was too late. Voldemort had killed Dora, and there was no going back. His cries were coming out in loud, gasping sobs. He didn't care if he lived or died, as the battle raged on. Dora – his Dora, forever his Dora – was gone.

Remus hardly noticed when the battle stopped. The flashes of light no longer lit up the space in his eyes that had been blinded by tears. The scorching, pungent smells of burnt wood, fabric, and flesh smoldered in the night, but no new fires had been started. Shouts from robed figures marked the otherwise silent night. None of it mattered to Remus. Dora was dead, and there was nothing he could do to reverse her fate.

A crack of Apparition resounded next to Remus. The noise hadn't startled him, until he heard another anguished cry.

Remus turned to see Andromeda Tonks clawing her own way through the rubble, as Ted Tonks levitated and blasted furniture away.

"Nymphadora!" Andromeda screamed, upon finding a pale, silver-haired Nymphadora Tonks pinned underneath a broken rocking chair. Ted threw the rocking chair out into the open sky, and the two descended upon their daughter.

"She's breathing! She's alive, but just barely!" Andromeda screeched, holding the girl against her own body and sobbing. "We need St. Mungo's!"

"'Dromeda, take her with you," Ted said, his own face pale and ashen upon seeing his injured daughter, momentarily startled by the still-screaming Harry Potter. Remus watched as Ted took Harry out of his cot, and soothed him. "Remus isn't in his right mind, I'm staying with him and the baby. Take Dora and go!"

"You're not taking Dora," Remus said harshly, clutching his Dora against his body.

"No, not big Dora, little Dora," Ted said. "'Dromeda, go now!"

Andromeda held little Tonks close to her body and turned on the spot, the crack of Disapparition tearing the air once more.

"Remus," Ted said softly, sinking down to the floor with a sniffling Harry in his arms. "Remus, I'm so sorry."

Remus was dry heaving with sobs, feeling unable to breathe or think. The pain of losing Dora was overwhelming all of his senses. He almost felt guilty that James lay dead just feet away, and his only thought was Dora, rather than one of his best friends.

He loved Dora. He adored her. She was his, and now she was gone. The eyes that would never see him again, the arms that would never hold him, the face that would never brighten upon seeing him. Though they hadn't been on the best terms in recent years, he would have given anything to see her alive and well.

Another crack of Apparition startled Remus and Ted. A somber Albus Dumbledore appeared before them, a tear falling down his cheek upon seeing those gathered in the remains of Harry's bedroom.

"Voldemort – he did this," Remus gasped, in between his spells of dry heaving. "Dora – gone."

Dumbledore bent down to look into Dora's lifeless eyes, and he closed her eyelids.

"I'm so very sorry for your loss, Remus," Dumbledore said softly. "She was one of the best witches I've ever known. Unspeakables are on their way."

Remus was aghast. "What? Why?"

"Dora made it clear that if she should die, her body should go through the Veil in the Death Room," Dumbledore explained gently. "She did not want a funeral or burial."

"But…no, please don't take her."

"Remus, she's gone. There's nothing we can do."

Remus began crying again, hot, wet angry tears falling down on Dora's ashen face. A few more cracks of Apparition surrounded Remus, and he looked up to see a few figures in Unspeakable robes looking solemnly at the scene.

"Bode," Dumbledore greeted politely. "I do wish we were meeting under better circumstances."

"She had such potential," Bode murmured. "We are sorry to lose her." Bode looked at Remus, still weeping over Dora's corpse.

"Sir?" Bode said gently. "I'm sorry, but we must get on with this."

Remus blanched, his body feeling hot and cold simultaneously. They were going to take her away.

"Remus, she's gone," Dumbledore said gently, bending down to meet Remus' eye level. "I'll need your help this week, starting with Harry Potter. Please, Remus."

Remus stared at Dumbledore, and then looked back down on Dora's ashen face, her lips already blue. He gave her forehead one last kiss and closed his eyes, to let the Unspeakables take her body away.