A/N: okdoke, after this, we've got five chapters - not including a possible epilogue, which I'm currently debating over. Halloween, 1981 - the one-shot this story comes from will be split across the last two chapters.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the content referenced/quoted. Warning for swearing.

...

The Ambush

It's a dark and dreary summer day that finds Em sitting alone in the Order's safe house. A cup of coffee is steaming in her hand; she blows on it, watches as the thin mist swirls into shapes, pretends it's her own patronus.

Her grip is tight on the mug and her knee bounces under the table. She tries not to look at the clock, but her eyes are drawn to those ticking hands again: tick, tock, tick, tock.

She places the mug on the table with a sigh, turns her face towards the window where rain is thundering against it. They are late.

Her stomach is twisted in knots and she's trying desperately not to dwell on why they might be late; slicing hexes, dismemberment, concussion, death.

Fuck, she thinks and stands abruptly, pacing a path from the living room back to the kitchen. She'd known there was something off about this mission. But who would listen to her, little muggle that she is.

Lily would kill her if James didn't come back in one piece.

Crack.

Em freezes mid-pace. Total silence falls.

Finally, stomach churning, she begs her feet to move. She inches around the corner of the kitchen door to see - James, huddled in the corner of the room.

His face is bloody, and there's a tear in his shirt shoulder. She's pretty sure one of his hands is broken, or at least some of the fingers. But his chest is rising and falling, rapidly but it is rising and falling, he's alive.

She moves forward to alert him of her presence, but something gives her pause. Something about the sight of James huddled on the living room floor shakes her to her very core. She's seen this before.

She's seen this before.

"No, no, no."

His fingers suddenly twitch and then he is turning with a shout. Em scrambles back in fright, as James surveys his surroundings with wild eyes, wand aloft. He blinks, his eyes eventually falling on a startled Em, curled up in the corner and mumbling to herself.

"Em?" His voice is hoarse. He reaches for her, but she shrinks back, "Em come here. It's ok."

It takes him a minute to coax her out of the corner and firmly into his arms. He holds her as tightly as he can with his broken fingers, his other hand running through her hair.

"It's ok, it's ok," he whispers. "I'm sorry for frightening you."

"No, no, no."

"It's ok, the others are coming, they shouldn't be far behind me," he says into her hair. "We were ambushed."

"I knew something wasn't right."

James stares down at his friend, her empty eyes looking off into the distance.

"Em, what do you mean?"

"I knew something wasn't right."

He's about to question her further when there's another crack. Sirius appears with the Prewett brothers propping up a heavily injured Moody between them. The old wizard's face is gushing with blood and half his leg is missing. James pushes down bile and tries not to puke at the ghastly sight.

Suddenly, Cass is in front of him, reaching for her sister with a concerned expression.

"What happened?"

He shakes his head, "I gave her a fright. It was my fault."

Cass tucks Em into her arms. James stands and moves over to help the others with Moody.

The witch spares him a quick glance as he moves off, "I'll need to sort those fingers out."

"Just check on Em first," he says over his shoulder.

Cass glances back down at her sister, who is staring at the living room floor.

"Em?" She places her hands on her sister's face. It's ice cold, "Em?"

"I saw it before." Cass has to strain her eyes to hear the words. She stills instantly.

"What did you see?" The witch pulls her sister's eyes to her own, "What did you see, Em?"

Em's face is tear-streaked and she is trembling under Cass' grip.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches."

Cass stares at her, eyes wide.

"Em, breathe, ok?" She says. "Just breathe with me. In, out, in, out."

Em nods, life slowly returning to her eyes as they inhale and exhale together. When the colour finally returns to her face, Cass tucks her little sister tightly into her arms.

"What do you mean you saw it before?" she says.

Em shakes her head, "I don't know. I just know things sometimes, I knew something wasn't right about this mission. I just knew."

"Em?"

She shakes her head, her gaze becoming more lucid and her mouth set in a firm line.

"Forget it."

Cass pulls back to stare at Em, who looks at her fiercely.

"You said-"

"Forget what I said, Cass. I mean it."

A shout behind them startles them both and they turn to see Sirius shove James into one of the bookshelves. The wood gives way under the force, splintering the shelves and sending books raining down around them.

The Prewett brothers hover behind the men. Cass springs up, but Fabian catches her arm before she gets too close.

"He's your friend!" James shouts.

"And where is he!" Sirius shouts back. "Someone knew! They knew we were going to be there and now...now…"

"Sirius, mate," Fabian tries to reach for him, but Sirius pushes his grip off.

"This doesn't concern you," he snarls, a hand still clutching James' shirt.

"Sirius, you cannot be serious right now. I know you're upset-"

The man's face grows thunderous and Cass sees something she hasn't for a while - something dark, lonely and so familiar. He releases James, who drops to the floor.

"You're a fool, Potter," he says as he turns to leave. "You're all fools."

He storms out, leaving utter silence in his wake. After a moment, Em jumps up and runs after him.

She's still trembling and she knows that the conversation between her and Cass was far from over. But she's more worried about Sirius.

"Sirius!" She cries as she follows him out the door, down the close and out onto the street.

Sirius is still there, just, cursing to himself as storms down the street. He glances over as she catches up with him, out of breath.

"You shouldn't have followed me, Em."

"Why not? You're obviously upset about something!"

"I don't have time for this," he turns abruptly and starts to stalk up the street. She follows close on his heels.

"Talk to me Sirius."

"No."

Em grabs his sleeves and pulls him to a stop, "Sirius."

"Emilia, stop!" They come to a sudden stop in the middle of the pavement. He shakes her off roughly.

They stare at each other, eyes blazing.

"Someone is spying on the Order, Em. Someone is picking us off one by one," he says finally. "Just watch your step. I would hate to see you hurt because you got into bed with the wrong person."

"Sirius-"

He turns and walks away. He huddles into his jacket, shoulders tense. Em watches until his figure is swallowed by the thin crowd.