(A/N: First off, thanks for all the reviews! Love you all to bits (platonically). And this update comes so fast after the last one because it was so incredibly bad and horrible and boring ... so there you go. I also want to appologise for missing out of random amounts of time.
Now. To business. Everyone hates Peter, Malfoy and Voldemort, right? Add me onto the list at the end of the chapter … You'll see why. It starts off nice-ish, but don't let it lull you into a false sense of security. Then, when you really hate me, Review!)

Chapter 24 – The Dark Mark

1 month later

Sirius stared at the space where the Potters' front door should have been and slowly, as he brought the Secret to the front of his mind, the house appeared. He sighed, wishing this wasn't necessary, and walked to the door. He didn't bother to knock, but pushed it open and went inside, calling, "It's me!"

James walked out of the lounge and grinned at Sirius. "Morning. Good to see you. How's Remus?"

"Fine," Sirius replied, wondering whether or not to tell James about Blade. He decided against it as his friend turned to the kitchen. After all, they hadn't even told Remus' parents yet (and Sirius didn't intend to tell his). "Want a drink?"

"Yeah, whatever," Sirius muttered absently, wandering into the lounge and dumping his leather coat over the back of one of the easy chairs before he sat down in it and reached for the remote. His hand was slapped away by Lilly as she walked in. She grinned at him as he raised his eyebrows. "Mine!"

Sirius shuddered. "I'll never understand women, let alone pregnant ones."

Lilly was now four months pregnant, and it had become very obvious. However, James wasn't complaining as much any more, as Lilly's morning sickness had cleared up and she was actually enjoying being pregnant. Apparently, at least. She sat down on the sofa and swung her legs up onto it before she turned on the TV and switched to a comedy show.

Sirius leant back into his chair and asked, "What happens when they baby's born?"

Lilly sighed. "I don't know. I mean … I can't even go to St Mungo's can I? It's … too dangerous!"

She burst into tears as James walked into the room. He rolled his eyes, passed two cups of tea to Sirius and quickly sat down next to her. "Shh, it's OK. Lilly, it's going to be fine! We've been through this …"

Sirius put the drinks carefully on the floor and rubbed his eyes. He stood up and walked over to where James and Lilly were. He crouched down and folded his arms on the armrest. "Lilly, Dumbledore told me to tell you that he's doing everything he can to defeat Voldemort."

"B-but, the prophecy said – it said our son was the only one who could help d-defeat him! How can Dumbledore …"

Sirius shrugged. "He's doing his best. According to Snape, he's getting restless. He wants to know where you are at all costs."

James sighed. "Sirius, that means he'll come after you as soon as he works the not-so-difficult puzzle out. Maybe we should have chosen Snape – least then he wouldn't have been so obvious and no one would care if Voldemort killed him …"

Lilly hit him on the arm. "Don't say that! Someone would miss him …"

"James, what'll happen if Voldemort did kill me? I mean, would the spell end?"

"I don't know. Does Remus?"

"No. Not even Dumbledore does. I've asked just about everyone … What if he just has to kill me and that's it, he can come here and … and … " Sirius tailed off, unable to say the words. He muttered, "You know, there's only three things I'm scared of. There used to be four until … until we found out about Peter. I never want either of you to die."

James ruffled Sirius hair. Lilly wiped her eyes fiercely. "We feel the same about you and Remus. It's too dangerous, letting you –"

"Shut up; I don't care if he comes for me. I'll admit I'm the Secret Keeper and they won't take Remus too, so … they can do what they like to me, I don't care. Just so long as they don't hurt you two or Remus. Or that kid. I'll never let him kill an innocent."

"Thank you."

Sirius grinned. "Any time. Did I ever tell you how good you look right now?"

Lilly laughed, wiping her eyes again. "I bet you saw that to all the pregnant, hysterical women with a death-threat over their head!"

Sirius stroked her cheek gently. "No, only you."

"Hands off!" James grinned, mock protectively, swatting Sirius' hand away. Sirius shook his head and stood up, grabbing his coat.

"I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing. Love you both. See you soon," Sirius said. Before he could go, James grabbed his arm and pulled him into a tight hug, which he immediately returned. James whispered, "Love you too, blood-brother."

Sirius smiled gently, releasing James and ruffling his hair. Then he turned and walked to the door. He turned as he came to the bottom of the path and looked back. Lilly was standing at the window; James had his arm around her. Suddenly, Sirius felt a wave of defensiveness towards them. 'I'll die before I sell them to Voldemort,' he thought angrily. 'How dare he put my friends – my family – in danger? He has no right.'

He waved, forcing a smile onto his face, and then turned and walked out into the street to collect his bike and ride home.
Remus rubbed his forehead, yawning. This Order of the Phoenix meeting was particularly boring. What was more, he could sense that Sirius was upset and angry. He glanced over at Peter – the traitor in their midst – and sighed deeply. Peter looked up into his eyes for a moment. Remus' throat tightened. How could someone they had known since they were eleven just betray them?

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Mrs Weasley popped her head around the door, looking grave and teary. "There's been another attack. The Ministry isn't coping well. It was on Muggles and Wizards alike."

Dumbledore stood. "We will go and see what can be done. I'm sure these good people can accompany me?"

Half the table nodded; others apologised and said they had other business – either for the Order or in their own lives. Remus was one who followed Dumbledore out of the dark room and into the hall. Once they had the location, they apparated to the spot.

The site was chaotic. It was evident that the Death Eaters had blown up a house, apparently belonging to a wizarding family. Muggles were standing around crying; in the explosion, many had been wounded or killed. There were far too many bodies, and a smell of smoke and blood. Remus walked over to one of the Ministry officials. "Anything I can do?"

"You can go and see if there's anyone alive we haven't found yet," he snapped, obviously assuming those in the order to be in the Ministry. He would have told anyone else to shove off. Remus shrugged and walked towards the house. He picked his away through the rubble, occasionally stopping and poking around in the dirt. After a while, he found a photograph of the family. There had been two children. His blood boiled. How could anyone kill two innocent children?

He continued through the rubble until he found a body. He shouted, "There's someone here!"

Dumbledore hurried over. "Alive?"

"I doubt it," Remus replied sadly, hauling a piece of timber off the body. The skin was torn; there was blood everywhere. Limbs lay in awkward positions, and the face was smashed so that the features were indiscernible. The body was too small for an adult; it looked like the smaller of the two children. He passed the photograph to Dumbledore. He sighed deeply, "The Bones. They were members of the Order."

Sickliness washed over Remus as he looked at the body, as did an overwhelming feeling of hate and anger. The Death Eaters now knew who was in the Order, and he knew that it was Peter telling them. "Sir, why don't you tell the Ministry about Peter?"

"We have no proof but Severus' word and they would ask how he knew and then probably put him in Azkaban too."

"Mm. You're right. Besides, no one would believe us. Shall I go get someone from the Ministry? They'll have to see to this …" Remus asked. Dumbledore nodded. Remus turned to go.

"How is Sirius?"

"Fine. He's worried about … you know."

"Once you've told someone about this, you can go if you like. I know you'll want to get home …"

Remus thanked him and walked away, suddenly glad that Dumbledore understood. Now that he had seen that body, and been reminded of what the Death Eaters were capable of, he wanted to go home more than anything.
"Sirius? Are you here?"

"Kitchen."

Remus walked into the kitchen and slid his arms around Sirius from behind. Sirius frowned as the werewolf rested his head against his back. "What's the matter?"

Remus shrugged and kissed Sirius' neck. Sirius turned around as Remus snuggled into his chest. He sighed deeply, relaxing properly for the first time since he had left the Potters, and closed his eyes. Sirius cuddled him close, leaning back against the worktop. "What is it?"

"There's been another attack," Remus explained, suddenly sounding tired and ill. "The Bones. All dead as far as we know."

"Even their children?" Sirius asked gently but rigidly, stroking Remus' hair. The werewolf replied softly in the affirmative. Sirius swore. "Those bastards really don't care do they? They'd kill their own mother if they thought she was a threat! Don't they have families?"

"Apparently not," Remus sniffed. He changed the subject. "How's Lilly?"

"She's very pregnant," Sirius replied. Remus leant back, a faint smile on his lips, and raised his eyebrows. Sirius smiled back and kissed his nose. "She's fine, just worrying about what'll happen when the baby decides it wants to see the world."

Remus leant back into Sirius' arms and sighed again. "Why can't they leave us alone?"

Sirius shook his head. /I ask myself the same thing every day, sweetheart./

Remus didn't reply. He felt like crying. The Bones' children had done nothing wrong. They were innocent. Sirius sensed his mate's discomfiture and hugged him tighter.

Remus sobbed suddenly, closing his eyes tight to shut out the world. He leant against Sirius, who nuzzled into his hair, crooning softly. "Remmie, it's OK … please don't cry …"

The werewolf moaned, "They're not going to stop, are they. They'll keep killing until … until he's in control!"

"Remus, don't say that," Sirius said firmly but gently. "He won't win."

"B-but what if he does? He'll kill you and James and Lilly …"

"Remus, calm down. Everything'll be fine … love, please …"

"Haven't we been through enough?" Remus whispered into Sirius' neck. The animagus tilted his chin up and kissed him gently. "We have, Moony. We've both been through more than our fair share. But the moment he's gone, I swear to you I'll do everything I can to stop this ever happening again."

Remus smiled weakly. "I know you will. And we'll be parents."

Sirius smiled and kissed Remus gently. "See, doesn't that thought make you feel better?"

Remus leant against Sirius and kissed his neck. Sirius leant his head against Remus' and they stood there for a long time, lost in their own thoughts and simply enjoying being close.
3 months later

Remus woke; it was still the middle of the night, and a sense of foreboding was gripping his heart. He could hear shouts and catcalls outside. He snuggled closer to Sirius, hoping it wasn't what he thought it was – another Death Eater attack. Sirius unconsciously tightened his arms around Remus in his sleep, nuzzling into his hair. Remus sighed and closed his eyes again, trying to relax. After all, he had no reason to worry – yet.

Suddenly, there was a flare of brightness. The screams outside doubled. Remus sat up as though electrified and looked out of the window. Hanging in the sky outside was the Dark Mark. It was so close he could see every detail of the skull and every scale of the snake hanging from its mouth like a living, writhing tongue. Sirius woke with a start. "What's goin' on?"

Remus couldn't move. There was one thought in his head: 'They've come for Sirius.'

Sirius sat up too and saw the Mark. He paled. "Oh, Merlin …"

Remus turned to look at him, his eyes filling with tears. Their eyes met and they simply stared at each other. Remus whispered, "They still sound quite a way off …"

Sirius nodded. "You think we can hide? Or run?"

Remus shrugged. His throat was constricted with fear and he felt sick. "I don't know. They'd probably follow."

Sirius slid his hands onto Remus' waist and pulled him close. "Please promise me you won't do anything stupid if they are here for me."

Remus sobbed, holding Sirius tightly. /I'd die for you. You know that. I couldn't live knowing I'd just let them take you away …/

"Remus, you can't …"

Remus buried his head in Sirius' shoulder and whispered, "I don't want you to be hurt, mate."

Sirius cuddled Remus close. His voice was shaky when he said, "I don't want them to hurt you either … and you know how he loves to kill people he – he doesn't need …"

They sat in silence for a while, listening. There was nothing else to do, really. Remus calmed down after a few minutes, and they just held each other. The Dark Mark glowed unpleasantly, turning everything sickly green. Sirius commented, "They're coming closer."

Remus replied, "We ought to run, you know. You could go and stay with Lilly and James …"

"And leave you here for them to kill? No way in hell!" Sirius replied fiercely, kissing the top of Remus' head. Remus sobbed again, his fingers gripping Sirius tight enough to bruise. "I love you, Sirius. I don't want them to hurt you."

"I want you to go."

Remus pulled back and looked at Sirius angrily. "Whatever reason you have, it's not good enough. I am staying right here with you."

Sirius opened his mouth to argue, but was cut off by the sound of someone hammering on the front door. They looked at one another. Sirius whispered, "I love you."

Remus nodded, beyond words. They heard the door burst open downstairs, despite the locking charm, protection spells and sturdy bolt protecting it, and there was the sound of people rushing inside. Sirius slid his arms around Remus' waist. The werewolf leant on Sirius' shoulder. Someone was heading up the stairs.

The door opened slowly. The man who came into the room was wearing the robes of a death eater, but the hood was thrown back and – apparently, the Death Eaters weren't bothering with masks tonight – maybe they were that sure that none of the people who would see them would ever have a chance to tell anyone of significance. However, Sirius noticed none of this, and Remus barely did. Because the moment the man entered the room Sirius recognised him. "Regulus?"

It was Sirius' brother. The man hung his dark-haired head. "I don't want to do this, I really, really don't want to see you hurt, either of you … but if I don't they'll kill me! They already tortured me because I didn't do what they wanted … please don't hate me … I wouldn't if I had a choice …"

"Regulus, please, you can't – " Sirius began, but someone pushed past him and stood, hands on hips. It was Lucius Malfoy. He ordered, "Black, go and tell the rest of them that they are here. You two, get dressed."

Sirius pleaded, "It's me you want – please don't take Remus."

Malfoy shook his head. "He wants you both. Hurry up."
(I know; I'm evil! I feel bad now, really bad. I have to say, thought, it does get … dare I say it … worse! But now – Go on, have some fun; vent your anger; send me hatemail. You know you want to. Review, please! Please! I am down on my knees and begging! Review!)