Chapter 3 The After

There was a high blood-curdling scream from inside the dark and shadowed house that stood upon the hill. A scream that no one could forget, even after 50 years. That scream, though, didn't affect everybody else as it did to Sirius Black, and James and Lily Potter. But after that there wasn't a sound, not even the ragged breathing of the tortured body of Sirius Black.

And that's what worried Lily Potter the most.

She should have heard the cries of her children when they were scared. She should've heard at least someone breathing. But. nothing. Nothing to jump- starts her slowly beating heart. Nothing.

Lily jumped to her feet at the same time James and Sirius tried to pull her back down. But no use, because Lily was going as fast as her feet-and beating heart- to the house upon that hill. She burst into the house, not taking notice of the dead body of Wormtail on the floor, or the wall half blown away, just the rushing sound of utter silence.

James and Sirius rushed after her, trying to talk some sense into her while running, now, up the stairs. It was not successful.

When Lily finally reached the top of the house where her children, and James's daughter were supposed to be, she saw nothing. No sign of Harry, Cameron, Brian, or Reye.

So she cried. Right there against the wall, arms wrapped around herself, not hearing James trying to comfort her, or Sirius telling her they still could be somewhere in the house.

The lightning flashed and the thunder roared, and Lily Potter knew that her boys, Harry, Cameron, Brian, and her lovely step-daughter, Reye, were gone from her, and that they wouldn't be coming home soon. She *knew*.

Review Please! I'm begging you. *wails*