Hello lovelies!

Hopefully the holiday season is going well for all of you. It's crazy to me that in a couple days it's going to be 2022!

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, only the story line and any OC's belong to me


Charlus and Remus lean against one another and search their surroundings. They agreed to come back to the desecrated ruins and ensure the horcrux was destroyed afterwards. Finding the others took precedence.

Remus loses his voice at a point, and his coughing increases. Charlus continues to call out the three missing persons names.

At the edge of the destruction, they find Ron, Lily and Frank gathered together against a broken tree. The ginger and redhead are passed out and their wounds don't appear to be life-threatening. They are covered in soot.

Frank, however, is in much more dire condition. His left arm has been cut off just below his elbow and his tattered sleeves are singed. Blood is flowing from the wound and his skin has gone ashen.

Charlus and Remus drop to his side. Charlus curses. He pulls out a knife and uses it to tear strips of his shirt off. He begins to tie them tightly around Frank's stump.

Black spots are dancing across Remus's vision, he sways, and against his will he collapses into the hard earth. He is gasping for air.

Charlus swears again. "I don't have enough magic left to side-along everyone." The man continues to mutter to himself, but Remus can't hear it.

Black paints fat brushstrokes across the world, and the last thing Remus sees is a flash of ginger hair speeding towards them.


Wednesday, October 17th, 1979

Potter Manor

Sirius Black's 20th Birthday

It's been over a week since the encounter with Tom Riddle's soul fragment that was housed in the Gaunt ring. A close encounter.

Lily and Ron slept for three days straight, and Frank had been placed in a magically induced coma as Alfred operated on his left arm. He tried to salvage and stitch it up the best he could, so that perhaps a magically enhanced limb could be attached at a later date.

Charlus hadn't been working as an Unspeakable for months—he'd taken a sabbatical due to the war—but he still had ties to his department. There are a few people who owe him favours.

"I don't know if or when they'll be able to craft something, but there's someone who might be able to get the job done. If anyone can, it's her," Charlus assured a weeping Alice when they'd returned.

They had retrieved the charred golden box and the ring inside. The golden band was distorted as if it had been screaming and trying to wrench itself free of something. The black glittering stone was somehow still intact.

They'd run countless diagnostics on the stone, but no traces of dark magic remain. Harry had convinced Dorea to give it to Hermione for safekeeping. She'd locked it away and hadn't told anyone—not even Remus—where she put it.

There was more to the story than the golden trio was letting on, but Sirius gave up trying to push for information.

Their close-knit group had all gathered together today to celebrate Sirius's birthday, although part of him knows it's just an excuse to celebrate something after the harrowing encounter his friends had survived.

I need a break from the festivities, Sirius thinks as he strolls down the corridor. Away from the boisterous party being held in his name. The mirth and music trails after him. The celebration has been going on for hours and it doesn't seem like it is going to end anytime soon.

Sirius has a secret carton of caramel swirl fudge ice-cream hidden in the ice-box's freezer. It is in the right-hand side corner with a notice-me-not charm on it. He'd shoved some of the other contents in front of it for good measure.

Sirius rounds the corner, catches a whiff of lavender and mint and halts abruptly in the doorway. Ginny Weasley is sitting on the marble countertops, kicking her feet back-and-forth, holding his ice-cream in her hands.

Sirius is about to swiftly retreat, but her blue eyes lock onto him and she hums in acknowledgement as she scoops out a spoonful of his ice-cream.

"Don't you have a party you should be attending?" Ginny asks with a quirk of her lips. She puts the spoon in her mouth and lets the ice-cream melt in its warmth.

"The same could be said about you, Little Red," Sirius says as he appraises her. She is wearing a halter-style, navy blue, knit top and black, high-waisted shorts that end just below the curve of her arse.

"That's mine you know," Sirius says dryly. A touch miffed that despite all his precautions, the witch still got her hands on his ice-cream.

"I don't mind sharing," Ginny says. She takes another spoonful out of the carton.

"You might not," Sirius grumbles. He warily takes a few steps into the room. He smooths down the front of his orange and blue striped, button-down shirt, the left half is tucked into the front of his leather trousers.

There's a strange pull dragging him towards her, a pull he has been staunchly railing against since she arrived. He's been avoiding her whenever he can; there is something compelling about her that scares him.

"Well, do you want some or not?" Ginny asks, blinking curiously at him. He wishes he knew what she is thinking, he doesn't know her at all.

Sirius closes the distance between them and places his hands on her knees, the heat from her skin sparks against his palms. She grins wickedly at him, holding out the spoonful of melting ice-cream to him; she has the carton underneath, ready to catch anything that drips down.

Sirius scoffs. Ginny's legs fall to the side. There's enough space for him to step in between them. "Come on. I won't bite." Sirius highly doubts that.

Sirius's heart stutters in his chest, but he pushes back his shoulders and doesn't let her see how much she affects him. He steps closer, hands sliding up onto her thighs.

They are inches apart now, a counter and a sliver of space are all that separates them. It's a thrilling and terrifying concept.

Ginny feeds him the spoonful, and there is something intimate about the eye contact they are maintaining. It's sizzling, intense and it goes straight to his groin. He swallows a whimper and enjoys the sweet yet chocolatey taste melting on his tongue.

She takes back the spoon and stabs into the ice-cream. Lowering it onto her lap. Sirius absently begins to rub circles against her smooth skin, he encounters a couple of raised, faint scars, but pays them no mind. Ginny raises her eyebrows, but she doesn't tell him to stop.

"You're the birthday boy, aren't you supposed to be at your own celebration?" Ginny asks.

"Technically," Sirius says, continuing to brush the pads of his fingers against her skin. She is so soft, yet firm. "You're right. I am the birthday boy…did you get me a gift?"

"You're ridiculous," Ginny rolls her eyes. "No, I didn't. I don't know you well enough to get you one."

"Do you want to?" Sirius asks quietly. An electric charge is crackling in the air around them, at least, he can hear it crack and feel its heat against his flesh.

"Do I want to do what?"

"Get to know me better." Sirius says. It's bold and he doesn't know where the words are coming from. He's always been a hopeless flirt, it comes naturally to him, but with Ginny it feels different. There is meaning behind this conversation, he can see it as her blue eyes swirl with unknown emotions.

"Yes," Ginny answers finally.

Footsteps from the corridor snap the electric thread weaving itself around them. Sirius glances at the entrance. Remus and James stroll into the room.

"There you are Pads…and Ginny," James notes with surprise. He runs a hand through his unruly hair.

Sirius steps back, hastily withdrawing his hands from the witch as if scalded.

"Sorry for the intrusion, mate," Remus smiles crookedly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Sirius had been worried about Remus for several days, the smoke inhalation alone could have killed him if not for Alfred's care and attention. You wouldn't know looking at him now, he is the picture of health.

Sirius risks a glance at Ginny. She has gone back to her ice-cream. "Sorry for…"

Ginny shrugs, but seems to understand what he is so eloquently attempting to convey. "Your guests are waiting for you."

Sirius narrows his eyes as she puts another small scoop of ice-cream into her mouth.

"To be continued," Sirius promises.

"Looking forward to it," Ginny says, scooping out more ice-cream, smiling.

Sirius slides his hands into his pockets—it's a tight fit—and heads for the door. That witch is trouble, he thinks as he passes by his friends.

James and Remus follow him. James swings an arm around Sirius's neck. Sirius peeks at his friend and sees the large grin.

"Say it. I know you're dying to say—"

"This is brilliant, Padfoot. You and your brother have a thing for gingers."

"Shove off, Prongs," Sirius scowls. He attempts to grapple James into a headlock, but the man slips from his grasp and jogs down the corridor.

"You're the last to talk, Prongs. You've been in love with a redhead for years!" Sirius yells as he chases after him.

"My impeccable taste is not the topic at hand! And I didn't hear you say I was wrong! You fancy the youngest Weasley!"

Sirius chases him all the way back to the party, hollering the entire way. Remus leisurely strolls after them, glad to hear the rambunctious sounds. Glad that he had survived facing a treacherous horcrux.

A tinge of sadness brushes over him. They may have gotten rid of another one, but there are others. Remus fears what facing them will do to those he loves.


The two witches face one another, panting heavily, their bodies coated in sweat.

Hermione's hair is tied back, but her curls stick to her skin, and some strands have escaped her ponytail and are clinging to her face. She has been forced into a half-crouch, exhausted. Her wand is tucked into a holster on her thigh. Scorch marks surround the ground around them.

"Good, you're starting to get the hang of it," Dorea praises. She straightens and wipes her forehead with the back of her hand. "Elemental magic isn't about wand waving and hyper-specific incantations. It's based on your willpower and ability to shape the chaos of magic itself."

"Seems you're having fun, toying with lighting as you always do."

Hermione glances towards the voice as she tries to catch her breath. Pollux Black is standing a few feet away in fine black robes with a golden trim. He impatiently taps his foot as he stares at his sister. Sirius and Regulus are flanking their grandfather on either side.

Neither of them is close to their grandfather, but he holds deep affection for them nonetheless, and he has always treated them well.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, little brother?" Dorea asks with a huff. She shrugs off her outer robes and is left in a thin, silk shirt tucked into black trousers. The bracing autumn winds whip against her sweaty skin, but she ignores them.

Pollux appears to have aged since Hermione saw him last, haggard lines draw his features into a glum frown. His grey eyes are flat and vacant. "Pettigrew is dead."

"What?" Sirius erupts behind his grandfather. Moving over to his side and peering down at him grimly.

"Are you sure?" Dorea asks. She takes several steps toward her brother until they are face-to-face.

Pollux features curl into a sneer. "Yes. I am sure. He wasn't alive for long before You-Know-Who disposed of him."

"How did you find out?"

"Does it matter? We had an arrangement, Dorea. I think I've more than fulfilled my familial obligations considering what you did."

Hermione knew the sibling's relationship was permanently damaged, but the cold way Pollux is addressing Dorea is hard to watch. Especially because she sees Dorea clench her fists, her body trembling.

"I will not impede nor aid you from now on. I won't betray my grandsons, but I shall remain on the sidelines for the remainder of this war," Pollux turns on his heel, his cloak billowing out behind him.

"Goodbye sister." Pollux vanishes mid-step. Dorea walks over to Sirius and places a hand on his shoulder. The wizard catches her as she sags against him with a sob.

"I'm sorry, Lux," Dorea cries.

Hermione hadn't noticed Regulus at her side. The boy holds out a hand and she accepts it. He helps her to her feet, but he doesn't let go immediately like she thought he would.

"Is he okay?" Regulus asks. Hermione knows who he means.

"You should ask him that question," Hermione replies. Ron's nightmares have been worse since the incident with the Gaunt ring. He crawls into bed with Harry or Ginny every night after his night terrors wake him up. Some nights Harry joins the Weasley siblings, his own nightmares increasing in frequency.

Ron blames himself for Frank's arm. He was the one who had tugged Frank away from the fire and severed the ablaze limb.

Lily has been riddled with guilt, she was scared the horcrux would overwhelm them as it had gained the upper hand against them. Its strength was far more formidable than they could have predicted, its malice scratching at their bones.

Hermione briefly thinks about how Remus has been holding her at arm's length since they dealt with the ring. He saw something that scared him, yet he won't tell her what it was. Thoughts of his distance are most prominent when she lays in his arms at night, so close to him, yet so far away.

"I don't know how," Regulus confesses, dropping her hand.

"You know that doesn't matter," Hermione says with a growl. She has never possessed an overabundance of patience, but Regulus's rejection had hurt Ron and she cannot find it within her to curb her tongue.

"All he needs is for you to try."

"What if I try and I end up hurting him even more?" Regulus asks reticently.

"Regulus. You've already hurt him. What if you try and it ends wonderfully," Hermione sighs. She combs her fingers from her hairline back to the hair tie, smoothing her sweat-soaked hair down in the process.

"You won't know until you try," Hermione says, her tone kinder. She pats his shoulder and walks past him. Over to the witch who had become her teacher and a well-admired friend. A witch who clearly needs her support.


I know Sirius's canonical birthday is different from the date I have it as. I chose a date at one point and it's a habit to use it in all my stories. Just in case anyone was wondering!

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter x