A/N Thanks to the reviewers. I love you all.
Lolua- Narcissa is more evil than you know. And Draco … oh Draco. Yes, he will show his true character soon. As for Snape being a git, I'm rather partial to him, but you're right. The levitating sherbet balls were a friend's idea. They make me laugh. I can promise there will be no miraculous recovery of Lucius Malfoy. I despise the man. Lily has become my favorite child. And Bane is a close second. The boy needed a friend. Thanks for reviewing. Can't wait to hear your comments on this chapter.
Dementorchic- Well here is your plot. More will come in the next chapter. I don't know why people don't review. It's bothersome, but you get used to it. As for Harry and Ginny, it's a long bumpy road to recovery. Give them time.
Thanks you all for reading. Review. I love reviews. They make my day worth living through. Be prepared this chapter is a bit…cruel of me.
(Draco)
A dull ache was beginning behind my eyes. Somehow I remained upright through the meeting, despite the tiny flashes of light that sped across my pupils and the incessant whine in my ear. Once I placed a hand to my forehead in an attempt ease the strain, it did nothing. Silently I wished the meeting would end, that I would be able to take my son and go home to bed. I thought that if I could lay down and close my eyes I might be able to sleep it off.
I heard Snape talking and vaguely understood his words. The tone of his voice bothered me and I spoke up, not even realizing what I was saying. He responded in a softer voice and my nerves eased somewhat. Other people spoke, but their words were mixed in my head, I couldn't focus on one alone.
Movement around me registered as the meeting being adjourned. I meant to stand up but instead found myself resting my forehead on the table top. A soft hand touched my back and for some reason I thought it was my wife, but knew it couldn't be. Someone was whispering in my ear and I tried to hear them.
"You need to lay down." It said and the soft hand helped me to my feet.
"Go home." I mumbled through the chaos that raged in my head.
"Ginny will help." The voice said again.
My feet moved involuntarily as strong arms supported me up the stairs and directed me into a room that wasn't mine. I protested distantly, but made no move to escape the soft hand or the strong arms. Another voice began to speak, gently and slowly.
"Drink." It said and I obeyed.
Gradually the whine in my ears ebbed and the flashes of light ceased. A pain still lay behind my eyes, but I found I could focus on my surroundings again.
"Where am I?" I asked my mouth feeling cottony.
"You are in one of the third floor bedrooms, you collapsed after the meeting. Neville and Hermione carried you up the stairs and then got me to take care of you." Someone said.
I turned my head very carefully and saw Ginny Potter sitting beside the bed, a strange unreadable look on her face.
"What?" I was unable to process what she said.
"I assumed you had a very nasty headache, you kept grabbing your head and whimpering, so I gave you an elixir to dull the pain. I'm afraid without knowing the cause I can't really make it stop." She leaned forward in her chair and smiled a bit at me.
"How long?"
"You've been here for nearly three hours. Dinner ended and everyone else has gone to bed."
"My son." I muttered and tried to sit up.
"Oh no." Her hands met my chest and pushed me back down.
"My son needs to go home."
"He is sleeping now, we put him to bed in the children's room. He's fine." She assured me and pulled the covers, that were over my feet, to my neck.
I wanted to insist on going back to my home. Pip would be worried and despite my teachings she could not care for my father properly for more than a day. I needed to go, but the pain still lingered, altering my perception and confusing my senses.
"Sleep. You'll feel better in the morning." She promised.
I heard a door open nearby, but my eyes would not see beyond the edge of the bed. A milky darkness flowed there and I could not see through it not matter how I tried.
"How is he?" A male voice asked.
"He's all right, needs to sleep." Ginny answered.
"Hermione was worried, refused to go to bed until Ron sent me to check on him." I recognized the reluctant manner as Neville.
"I'll go with you, I need to get Lily and go to bed myself." Ginny said.
"Don't." I managed, not wanting to be alone with the pain.
"I have to go get some sleep. The elixir should help you rest, just close your eyes." I felt her touch on my shoulder and obliged her orders.
As soon as my eyes were closed I was dreaming.
A voice whispered around me. I knew I needed to hear what it said. I needed to know it's intent, but I couldn't find where it was. The darkness was absolute and I flailed helplessly about. The whispering began to grow louder until it filled my head completely. I struggled to regain consciousness, but Ginny's elixir served it's purpose and eventually I succumbed. Hearing as I drifted into nothingness, "Use the fire. Burn them!"
(Meshach)
I was no longer outside and for a moment I thought I was awake. I knew exactly where I was, but not how I had arrived. A cool wind whipped around me from an open window somewhere down the hall and I shivered in my shorts and tee shirt. The stone walls of Grimmauld Place led forward and my feet followed the thread bare carpet down the stairs.
Soon I found myself in front of the door, reaching for the knob. My mind knew I shouldn't go out, but I couldn't resist. As the door opened flames burst through and knocked me back. Scrambling to my feet I tried to run, but the fire burned all around me. Screams echoed from every direction.
Then the dark figure stepped from the blaze and stood above me.
"You cannot run." He said, a strange emptiness to his voice.
My muscles would not respond and I stood, staring up into a face darkened by shadow. His robes were black and very long, dragging the floor despite his incredible height.
"Accept your fate." His voice was as if two people were speaking at once, one very human, the other with a strange hiss.
"No!" I cried.
Slowly he raised an arm and pointed his wand at me. Strange words filled the air and a new stream of fire shot towards me. I covered my face but still felt the burning of my flesh, the charring of my bones. I screamed.
"MESHACH!" Mab was whispering urgently and shaking me hard.
Shaking violently I grabbed her shoulders and held on for a minute.
"What's wrong?" Another voice said from behind her.
Ivy stuck her head around my sister and looked at me with a frown.
"He's here." I managed trying to catch my breath.
My arms still felt as though they were burning, gingerly I touched them and felt only cool skin.
"Who? What are you talking about?" Mab asked leaning closer.
"He's in the house." My voice was no longer trembling.
"Who?" Ivy asked.
I shook my head and wiped the sweat from my brow. Cautiously I laid back down on the pillows and stared back and my sister and best friend. Both of them seemed about to say something, I was glad when they didn't.
"I don't know who." I said finally.
"What's wrong?" Ivy asked again.
"I had a nightmare. There was fire and a man…"
The man was in the house. I could hear his voice in my head, feel the heat of the fire.
"We should get Dad." Mab said and tried to pull me up.
"No. We'll tell him in the morning."
"He won't be here in the morning." She was nearing tears.
"She's right, we should get someone." Ivy put in.
"We'll tell Mum when she gets up. I promise."
Neither of them seemed happy about it, but they nodded.
"I'm going to go back to sleep." I said and made a motion with my hand that they should do the same.
Mab was still frowning but lay down next me. Ivy scooted to the edge of the bed and slipped off. I considered asking her where she was going, but decided against it. She wouldn't tell. Soft murmurs reached my ears and I realized she was talking with her sister. The door opened and closed and both of them were gone.
Before long I had drifted off again into peaceful sleep.
(Neville)
The room was pitch dark when I opened my eyes. My covers were stiff with disuse and I remembered where I was. Rubbing my eyes roughly and kicking the blanket off, I sat up, thinking to get dressed. Instead I sat on the edge of the bed and imagined. The darkness was so complete, so encompassing that I let my mind run wild.
Images of the past raced by at incredible speed. Luna leaning against me in the bath, breathlessly holding our daughters after they were born, her laughter, her voice, everything she had been. I groaned and rested my elbows on my knees, head hanging low.
"I saved her for you." Luna's voice whispered.
She had given her life for someone she thought I loved. Someone I had lusted after most of my school years. Someone who could never be mine, save in my dreams. Slowly thoughts of my wife were replaced by visions of Ginny.
I wanted so badly to make her smile the way she had before the war. She had once been a force of nature, like the wind or the rain. Strong, resilient, and tough. I admired her bravery and her spirit. That is not to say that I did not see how beautiful she was. She was radiant. She was completely out of my reach.
I began to wonder if I had gone crazy. My thoughts brought me full circle, back to my wife, back to her sacrifice. Ginny did not know how she survived that night. She did not know that Luna took the pain and the torture for her, for me. That thought pained me above all else. Luna died for my stupid fantasies.
Growling at myself I stood and found my clothing. Dragging them on, I decided to go for a walk, settle my thoughts, maybe see if Remus kept wine in the kitchen. Wearing my muggle jeans and an undershirt I made my way down the stairs to the kitchen.
Voices from within stopped my approach.
"Remind me why we are up this early in the morning?" Harry's voice mumbled sounding groggy.
"Fucking broomsticks, exploding ones." Ron sounded worse.
There was an exasperated groan and a soft thud. Smiling a little I pushed the door open and was met with Ron staring dazedly at the ceiling and Harry with his head on the table. Each other them looked at me blearily.
"Oi, Neville." Ron managed.
"Hey." I replied and stood uncomfortably in the doorway.
"What are you doing up this early?" Harry asked lifting his head up.
"Couldn't sleep. Came looking for some wine, always helps me relax." I explained.
"The cabinet over there." Harry pointed lazily, but I saw the one he meant.
I found glasses and the bottle of Elderflower wine. I had hoped for something a bit stronger, possibly the sweet wine that Fred and George were so fond of, but at this point I'd settle for anything. The other two continued to wake themselves up over cups of tea while I poured myself a tall glass.
"Come on, Harry, we've got to get going." Ron muttered and stood up.
His robes seemed slept in and there was dirt on his nose, Hermione must have been sleeping when he left, she'd never have allowed him away like that. Harry didn't look much better. His hair seemed to all be standing on end, more so than usual and his eyes kept drooping closed.
"You should have chosen a less demanding career path." I chuckled sipping at my wine.
"Oh do shut up." Ron snapped and I laughed harder.
Harry was looking about the floor for something.
"What did you lose now?" Ron asked sighing.
"I think I left my bag in the dining room." The other replied and shuffled his way to find it.
Ron rolled his eyes and we followed the dark haired boy up the stairs and into the dining room. The large leather bag lay on the table and Harry snatched it up.
"Guess I'll be seeing the two of you later." I said and took a seat at the table.
"Yeah, keep an eye on things." Harry said.
Ron gave me a wink and they both disapparated with a loud popping sound.
Left alone again I leaned back in my chair and took another long drink from my glass. I knew I should go to bed, there was work to do in the morning, but I wasn't ready to face the darkness of the room or the apparitions my mind called up.
"Daddy?" A small voice said.
I looked up and saw both my daughters standing in the doorway looking timid.
"What are you guys doing awake?" I asked and beckoned them to come to me.
Lotus obliged eagerly and climbed into my lap. Ivy took her time but soon both of them were leaning against me while I petted their soft blonde curls.
"Meshach had a nightmare. Woke me up." Ivy whispered.
"Is he okay?" I asked thinking to check on the boy.
"Oh, he went back to sleep." Lotus assured me.
"And you all ventured out to find me?"
"Yes." They answered simultaneously.
I laughed and hugged them to me.
"The sun is going to rise soon." Ivy murmured.
I looked at her curiously, there were moments when I wondered if perhaps it was Luna looking out of those eyes.
"Would you guys like to go and watch the sunrise?" I asked.
They grinned at me and Ivy's eyes sparkled.
"Since all of us are up, we might as well greet the day together. Your mother and I did this sometimes. She'd wake me up early and wrestle me out of bed and into some clothing, then we'd go out into our yard and watch the sky turn red and then golden and finally the sun would rise overhead." I whispered lifting each of them with one arm.
"And the clouds were etched with silver." Lotus breathed.
I paused again, recognizing those words. There was no doubt my children were special.
We went to the front door and I opened it slowly, not wanting the rusty hinges to wake anyone. A cool breeze blew in and the girls shivered in their long lavender nightgowns. They huddled against me and we stepped out onto the front step.
"Come on, stay close to me." I whispered setting them on the ground.
Over time the neighborhood of Grimmauld Place had become nearly abandoned. Few of the run down houses contained occupants and those that did remained tightly closed. I had no fear of muggles seeing us exit or reenter the building, in a place like this, no one paid attention to anyone else. It didn't pay to get involved in something that wasn't your business.
Ivy gripped my hand tightly as we passed the dark, unkempt bushes. I squeezed back and she smiled a little at me. Soon we stood on the other side of the road looking over the top of Number 12. The pavement was cold under my bare feet and the girls were shaking in the chill.
I sat on the curb and pulled them to me, we stayed like that as the sky brightened, their little blonde heads leaning against me, cold toes wiggling next to my own. I could almost see the red rim of the sun coming over the buildings when Lotus pulled on my sleeve.
"What was that?"
I looked to where she pointed and saw a shadow lurking near the bushes we had passed minutes before.
"I don't know." I replied frowning.
The figure seemed to be doubled over as if in pain. It stumbled and fell against the bushes then stood and tried to walk towards us. The second time it fell I stood to go investigate.
"Stay here, don't move." I commanded.
As I drew closer I found the darkness surrounding the shrubs hid the persons face. I reached for my wand but found I had left it in my room. Silently I cursed my forgetfulness.
"Hey there, who are you?" I called only a few yards away.
The person looked up at me, but I could not see their face.
"Run." He said.
I heard a duality in the voice, human and an oddly familiar high pitched hissing.
"What?" I asked.
"Run." Recognition dawned on me and my eyes grew wide. He was dead. We had killed him.
"Daddy!" The girls shouted and joined me.
"Run." I said now and the three of us began to back away.
As soon as my daughters were in sight the figure stood up straight and drew his wand. I turned to hurry the girls on, to make them run. A crackle of flame came from behind me.
"Ivy, Lotus go, just go." I cried trying to push them away, they seemed rooted to the spot.
"You cannot run." The voice said now.
Ivy moved away from me and stood alone, her eyes narrowed trying to see through the fire spouting from the end of the man's wand. There was a roar of flame and I whirled around to see a spiral of curse fire directed at my child. Without a second thought I threw myself in front of her covering my face with my arms.
The pain was horrible, it felt as though my flesh had melted away, my blood boiled in my veins. Through the screams of the children and my own howls of agony, I heard the man curse loudly.
"Daddy!" One of the twins was calling over and over, the other bent over me her eyes streaming with tears.
"Run." I managed and gasped raggedly, praying for unconsciousness.
"He's gone." One of them said.
There were new voices now, but all I could see was the sky, the red sun rising over the buildings and the clouds etched in silver.
Lolua- Narcissa is more evil than you know. And Draco … oh Draco. Yes, he will show his true character soon. As for Snape being a git, I'm rather partial to him, but you're right. The levitating sherbet balls were a friend's idea. They make me laugh. I can promise there will be no miraculous recovery of Lucius Malfoy. I despise the man. Lily has become my favorite child. And Bane is a close second. The boy needed a friend. Thanks for reviewing. Can't wait to hear your comments on this chapter.
Dementorchic- Well here is your plot. More will come in the next chapter. I don't know why people don't review. It's bothersome, but you get used to it. As for Harry and Ginny, it's a long bumpy road to recovery. Give them time.
Thanks you all for reading. Review. I love reviews. They make my day worth living through. Be prepared this chapter is a bit…cruel of me.
(Draco)
A dull ache was beginning behind my eyes. Somehow I remained upright through the meeting, despite the tiny flashes of light that sped across my pupils and the incessant whine in my ear. Once I placed a hand to my forehead in an attempt ease the strain, it did nothing. Silently I wished the meeting would end, that I would be able to take my son and go home to bed. I thought that if I could lay down and close my eyes I might be able to sleep it off.
I heard Snape talking and vaguely understood his words. The tone of his voice bothered me and I spoke up, not even realizing what I was saying. He responded in a softer voice and my nerves eased somewhat. Other people spoke, but their words were mixed in my head, I couldn't focus on one alone.
Movement around me registered as the meeting being adjourned. I meant to stand up but instead found myself resting my forehead on the table top. A soft hand touched my back and for some reason I thought it was my wife, but knew it couldn't be. Someone was whispering in my ear and I tried to hear them.
"You need to lay down." It said and the soft hand helped me to my feet.
"Go home." I mumbled through the chaos that raged in my head.
"Ginny will help." The voice said again.
My feet moved involuntarily as strong arms supported me up the stairs and directed me into a room that wasn't mine. I protested distantly, but made no move to escape the soft hand or the strong arms. Another voice began to speak, gently and slowly.
"Drink." It said and I obeyed.
Gradually the whine in my ears ebbed and the flashes of light ceased. A pain still lay behind my eyes, but I found I could focus on my surroundings again.
"Where am I?" I asked my mouth feeling cottony.
"You are in one of the third floor bedrooms, you collapsed after the meeting. Neville and Hermione carried you up the stairs and then got me to take care of you." Someone said.
I turned my head very carefully and saw Ginny Potter sitting beside the bed, a strange unreadable look on her face.
"What?" I was unable to process what she said.
"I assumed you had a very nasty headache, you kept grabbing your head and whimpering, so I gave you an elixir to dull the pain. I'm afraid without knowing the cause I can't really make it stop." She leaned forward in her chair and smiled a bit at me.
"How long?"
"You've been here for nearly three hours. Dinner ended and everyone else has gone to bed."
"My son." I muttered and tried to sit up.
"Oh no." Her hands met my chest and pushed me back down.
"My son needs to go home."
"He is sleeping now, we put him to bed in the children's room. He's fine." She assured me and pulled the covers, that were over my feet, to my neck.
I wanted to insist on going back to my home. Pip would be worried and despite my teachings she could not care for my father properly for more than a day. I needed to go, but the pain still lingered, altering my perception and confusing my senses.
"Sleep. You'll feel better in the morning." She promised.
I heard a door open nearby, but my eyes would not see beyond the edge of the bed. A milky darkness flowed there and I could not see through it not matter how I tried.
"How is he?" A male voice asked.
"He's all right, needs to sleep." Ginny answered.
"Hermione was worried, refused to go to bed until Ron sent me to check on him." I recognized the reluctant manner as Neville.
"I'll go with you, I need to get Lily and go to bed myself." Ginny said.
"Don't." I managed, not wanting to be alone with the pain.
"I have to go get some sleep. The elixir should help you rest, just close your eyes." I felt her touch on my shoulder and obliged her orders.
As soon as my eyes were closed I was dreaming.
A voice whispered around me. I knew I needed to hear what it said. I needed to know it's intent, but I couldn't find where it was. The darkness was absolute and I flailed helplessly about. The whispering began to grow louder until it filled my head completely. I struggled to regain consciousness, but Ginny's elixir served it's purpose and eventually I succumbed. Hearing as I drifted into nothingness, "Use the fire. Burn them!"
(Meshach)
I was no longer outside and for a moment I thought I was awake. I knew exactly where I was, but not how I had arrived. A cool wind whipped around me from an open window somewhere down the hall and I shivered in my shorts and tee shirt. The stone walls of Grimmauld Place led forward and my feet followed the thread bare carpet down the stairs.
Soon I found myself in front of the door, reaching for the knob. My mind knew I shouldn't go out, but I couldn't resist. As the door opened flames burst through and knocked me back. Scrambling to my feet I tried to run, but the fire burned all around me. Screams echoed from every direction.
Then the dark figure stepped from the blaze and stood above me.
"You cannot run." He said, a strange emptiness to his voice.
My muscles would not respond and I stood, staring up into a face darkened by shadow. His robes were black and very long, dragging the floor despite his incredible height.
"Accept your fate." His voice was as if two people were speaking at once, one very human, the other with a strange hiss.
"No!" I cried.
Slowly he raised an arm and pointed his wand at me. Strange words filled the air and a new stream of fire shot towards me. I covered my face but still felt the burning of my flesh, the charring of my bones. I screamed.
"MESHACH!" Mab was whispering urgently and shaking me hard.
Shaking violently I grabbed her shoulders and held on for a minute.
"What's wrong?" Another voice said from behind her.
Ivy stuck her head around my sister and looked at me with a frown.
"He's here." I managed trying to catch my breath.
My arms still felt as though they were burning, gingerly I touched them and felt only cool skin.
"Who? What are you talking about?" Mab asked leaning closer.
"He's in the house." My voice was no longer trembling.
"Who?" Ivy asked.
I shook my head and wiped the sweat from my brow. Cautiously I laid back down on the pillows and stared back and my sister and best friend. Both of them seemed about to say something, I was glad when they didn't.
"I don't know who." I said finally.
"What's wrong?" Ivy asked again.
"I had a nightmare. There was fire and a man…"
The man was in the house. I could hear his voice in my head, feel the heat of the fire.
"We should get Dad." Mab said and tried to pull me up.
"No. We'll tell him in the morning."
"He won't be here in the morning." She was nearing tears.
"She's right, we should get someone." Ivy put in.
"We'll tell Mum when she gets up. I promise."
Neither of them seemed happy about it, but they nodded.
"I'm going to go back to sleep." I said and made a motion with my hand that they should do the same.
Mab was still frowning but lay down next me. Ivy scooted to the edge of the bed and slipped off. I considered asking her where she was going, but decided against it. She wouldn't tell. Soft murmurs reached my ears and I realized she was talking with her sister. The door opened and closed and both of them were gone.
Before long I had drifted off again into peaceful sleep.
(Neville)
The room was pitch dark when I opened my eyes. My covers were stiff with disuse and I remembered where I was. Rubbing my eyes roughly and kicking the blanket off, I sat up, thinking to get dressed. Instead I sat on the edge of the bed and imagined. The darkness was so complete, so encompassing that I let my mind run wild.
Images of the past raced by at incredible speed. Luna leaning against me in the bath, breathlessly holding our daughters after they were born, her laughter, her voice, everything she had been. I groaned and rested my elbows on my knees, head hanging low.
"I saved her for you." Luna's voice whispered.
She had given her life for someone she thought I loved. Someone I had lusted after most of my school years. Someone who could never be mine, save in my dreams. Slowly thoughts of my wife were replaced by visions of Ginny.
I wanted so badly to make her smile the way she had before the war. She had once been a force of nature, like the wind or the rain. Strong, resilient, and tough. I admired her bravery and her spirit. That is not to say that I did not see how beautiful she was. She was radiant. She was completely out of my reach.
I began to wonder if I had gone crazy. My thoughts brought me full circle, back to my wife, back to her sacrifice. Ginny did not know how she survived that night. She did not know that Luna took the pain and the torture for her, for me. That thought pained me above all else. Luna died for my stupid fantasies.
Growling at myself I stood and found my clothing. Dragging them on, I decided to go for a walk, settle my thoughts, maybe see if Remus kept wine in the kitchen. Wearing my muggle jeans and an undershirt I made my way down the stairs to the kitchen.
Voices from within stopped my approach.
"Remind me why we are up this early in the morning?" Harry's voice mumbled sounding groggy.
"Fucking broomsticks, exploding ones." Ron sounded worse.
There was an exasperated groan and a soft thud. Smiling a little I pushed the door open and was met with Ron staring dazedly at the ceiling and Harry with his head on the table. Each other them looked at me blearily.
"Oi, Neville." Ron managed.
"Hey." I replied and stood uncomfortably in the doorway.
"What are you doing up this early?" Harry asked lifting his head up.
"Couldn't sleep. Came looking for some wine, always helps me relax." I explained.
"The cabinet over there." Harry pointed lazily, but I saw the one he meant.
I found glasses and the bottle of Elderflower wine. I had hoped for something a bit stronger, possibly the sweet wine that Fred and George were so fond of, but at this point I'd settle for anything. The other two continued to wake themselves up over cups of tea while I poured myself a tall glass.
"Come on, Harry, we've got to get going." Ron muttered and stood up.
His robes seemed slept in and there was dirt on his nose, Hermione must have been sleeping when he left, she'd never have allowed him away like that. Harry didn't look much better. His hair seemed to all be standing on end, more so than usual and his eyes kept drooping closed.
"You should have chosen a less demanding career path." I chuckled sipping at my wine.
"Oh do shut up." Ron snapped and I laughed harder.
Harry was looking about the floor for something.
"What did you lose now?" Ron asked sighing.
"I think I left my bag in the dining room." The other replied and shuffled his way to find it.
Ron rolled his eyes and we followed the dark haired boy up the stairs and into the dining room. The large leather bag lay on the table and Harry snatched it up.
"Guess I'll be seeing the two of you later." I said and took a seat at the table.
"Yeah, keep an eye on things." Harry said.
Ron gave me a wink and they both disapparated with a loud popping sound.
Left alone again I leaned back in my chair and took another long drink from my glass. I knew I should go to bed, there was work to do in the morning, but I wasn't ready to face the darkness of the room or the apparitions my mind called up.
"Daddy?" A small voice said.
I looked up and saw both my daughters standing in the doorway looking timid.
"What are you guys doing awake?" I asked and beckoned them to come to me.
Lotus obliged eagerly and climbed into my lap. Ivy took her time but soon both of them were leaning against me while I petted their soft blonde curls.
"Meshach had a nightmare. Woke me up." Ivy whispered.
"Is he okay?" I asked thinking to check on the boy.
"Oh, he went back to sleep." Lotus assured me.
"And you all ventured out to find me?"
"Yes." They answered simultaneously.
I laughed and hugged them to me.
"The sun is going to rise soon." Ivy murmured.
I looked at her curiously, there were moments when I wondered if perhaps it was Luna looking out of those eyes.
"Would you guys like to go and watch the sunrise?" I asked.
They grinned at me and Ivy's eyes sparkled.
"Since all of us are up, we might as well greet the day together. Your mother and I did this sometimes. She'd wake me up early and wrestle me out of bed and into some clothing, then we'd go out into our yard and watch the sky turn red and then golden and finally the sun would rise overhead." I whispered lifting each of them with one arm.
"And the clouds were etched with silver." Lotus breathed.
I paused again, recognizing those words. There was no doubt my children were special.
We went to the front door and I opened it slowly, not wanting the rusty hinges to wake anyone. A cool breeze blew in and the girls shivered in their long lavender nightgowns. They huddled against me and we stepped out onto the front step.
"Come on, stay close to me." I whispered setting them on the ground.
Over time the neighborhood of Grimmauld Place had become nearly abandoned. Few of the run down houses contained occupants and those that did remained tightly closed. I had no fear of muggles seeing us exit or reenter the building, in a place like this, no one paid attention to anyone else. It didn't pay to get involved in something that wasn't your business.
Ivy gripped my hand tightly as we passed the dark, unkempt bushes. I squeezed back and she smiled a little at me. Soon we stood on the other side of the road looking over the top of Number 12. The pavement was cold under my bare feet and the girls were shaking in the chill.
I sat on the curb and pulled them to me, we stayed like that as the sky brightened, their little blonde heads leaning against me, cold toes wiggling next to my own. I could almost see the red rim of the sun coming over the buildings when Lotus pulled on my sleeve.
"What was that?"
I looked to where she pointed and saw a shadow lurking near the bushes we had passed minutes before.
"I don't know." I replied frowning.
The figure seemed to be doubled over as if in pain. It stumbled and fell against the bushes then stood and tried to walk towards us. The second time it fell I stood to go investigate.
"Stay here, don't move." I commanded.
As I drew closer I found the darkness surrounding the shrubs hid the persons face. I reached for my wand but found I had left it in my room. Silently I cursed my forgetfulness.
"Hey there, who are you?" I called only a few yards away.
The person looked up at me, but I could not see their face.
"Run." He said.
I heard a duality in the voice, human and an oddly familiar high pitched hissing.
"What?" I asked.
"Run." Recognition dawned on me and my eyes grew wide. He was dead. We had killed him.
"Daddy!" The girls shouted and joined me.
"Run." I said now and the three of us began to back away.
As soon as my daughters were in sight the figure stood up straight and drew his wand. I turned to hurry the girls on, to make them run. A crackle of flame came from behind me.
"Ivy, Lotus go, just go." I cried trying to push them away, they seemed rooted to the spot.
"You cannot run." The voice said now.
Ivy moved away from me and stood alone, her eyes narrowed trying to see through the fire spouting from the end of the man's wand. There was a roar of flame and I whirled around to see a spiral of curse fire directed at my child. Without a second thought I threw myself in front of her covering my face with my arms.
The pain was horrible, it felt as though my flesh had melted away, my blood boiled in my veins. Through the screams of the children and my own howls of agony, I heard the man curse loudly.
"Daddy!" One of the twins was calling over and over, the other bent over me her eyes streaming with tears.
"Run." I managed and gasped raggedly, praying for unconsciousness.
"He's gone." One of them said.
There were new voices now, but all I could see was the sky, the red sun rising over the buildings and the clouds etched in silver.