A/N: Woah, I haven't updated for like, a week. I've been messed up about something, and took sanctuary at my Grandparent's house for a week, to chill out, but I'm back and ready to update. A big thank you goes out to my two new reviewers:

Nicole: well, that's what I thought, but a mate hit a fic for miss-rating, and it got taken down, so she's now got me terrified... she's going to kill me when (if) she reads this lol. Thank you for the review, it's much appreciated

lilchocolatechip011: Woah two reviews in one go, nice. ::Accepts cookie:: no, it's not Peter, he's been bound by the oath, and even though he joined his side, he still couldn't betray her, unless she knew about the oath in the first place, and realised she was being betrayed. Realisation is the oath's only weakness, and Voldemort will use that to his advantage in this chapter ;) Thanks for reviewing. Twice.

Wobble: hello my friend, how are things? Like I said before, my rating is probably too high, but I just want to make sure... feel free to ignore my next A/N, it excludes you buddy.

Disclaimer: Don't own it, don't want it, and after this chapter, hate myself for messing with the poor character's lives.

A/N: Question: why does no one review twice? I mean, people review, so I post the next chapters... then they never review again... its like I've scared you all, or done something horribly wrong. But I don't know unless you tell me...

Dedicated to Wobble, faithful reviewer in times of depression ;)

Remus sighed a heavy sigh. It was now or never. He opened the lounge door, and slowly walked in.

"Moony! Where did you go?"

"Hogwarts." Sirius' face fell at the tone of Remus' answer.

"Dad? What's the matter?" Shadow brushed her long hair away from her face, revealing a worried look.

Remus was inwardly screaming. He, in a few minutes would bring the world crashing down upon the three people he loved more than anything. He could guess their reactions. Sirius and Harry would jump to Lily and James' defence. They would blame Shadow, blame her for the pain they had both felt... and Remus, uncontrollably, would blame her too. And how he hated himself for it. His own daughter... Like she had had any control over the five, as they swore the oath. The oath that would doom lily and James. Shadow wasn't to blame for Voldemort's actions... but Harry and Sirius had been starved of a person the could hurt, in revenge for James and Lily's deaths. It would be like condemning her to death. And he had no choice.

"Remus?"

"All three of you... Dumbledore, this morning... told me some news..." he was surrounded by three puzzled expressions; eagerly awaiting his news... they wouldn't be so eager once he told them...

"And? What news Moony?"

"Well..."

And he told them. Every detail. The puzzled expressions turned to looks of pure hatred on Harry's face, horror on Sirius' and despair seemed to emit from every part of Shadow's body. Harry edged away from her, anger rising up in his veins. Remus hadn't finished yet, but he no longer wanted to know , nor did he care. He had trusted her. He had almost fallen for her. Yet she was the reason his parents were dead. He stood in the centre of the room, shaking, his eyes blurred over.

"W-what? A-after all this time? My parents were killed for some baby? And you all knew about this!?"

"No Harry! Listen to me! Shadow had no idea. I promise you that. I swear she knew nothing."

"I don't fucking care! She knows now doesn't she?"

"Harry sit down! I haven't finished yet. The oath-"

"DON'T YOU DARE FINISH THAT SENTENCE REMUS. I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT OATH, OR-" he couldn't say her name. "-YOUR DAUGHTER."

"Harry, I understand you're angry, but please, just listen-"

"I think Harry has a right to be angry. That day in the Shrieking Shack. I knew it. I fucking knew it. I never even wanted to swear that god-damned oath in the first place. I spent TWELVE YEARS of my life in that hell hole. And for what? HER? SOME KID?" Suddenly, pain spread throughout Shadow's body. She felt herself go limp, her vision blacked out. The three noticed a cold grey light spread out from Shadow, and hit Sirius squarely in the chest.

"Happy now Sirius? There you go. You no longer have a tie to her anymore."

"Well thank fuckin god for that then." And with that Sirius stormed from the room.

"Harry, please, just listen to me."

"NO! SIRIUS WAS RIGHT." He started to leave the room, when a bight green flash left shadow, and hit Harry in the back of the head. The pain was unbelievable. It had felt like her very skin was being pulled off, and Shadow fell unconscious. "She deserves all the pain she gets."

........................................

Sirius roared in anger, and thumped the wall. Snarling, he kicked the bin, and sent it flying across the room.

'That fucking-' he couldn't quite bring himself to curse her, and yet the promise had left him. He was now lost, in a place between regret and anger. He had failed them all. Lily, and dear dear James. His best friend had been killed for a child. One pure innocent child. Yet James had said himself, that he accepted anything that might fall upon him, after swearing the oath. No, his anger was for himself. He was angry at twelve years of his life being cruelly torn away from him. Shadow was just someone he could blame. He knew as much as anyone else Shadow had had no control over Voldemort's actions... Jesus he felt so stupid.

"Hey, Remus, where's Shadow?" Sirius walked into the lounge, with a sense of foreboding. It had been hours since the argument, yet Remus' anger was apparent.

"Why? Want to go shout at her again? Does it make you feel better inside?" His tone was cold and harsh. Sirius bit his lip and hung his head. He had really hurt him.

"Remus... I... am so sorry. James and Lily accepted their fates, when they went down there into that dungeon and said 'I do'. I wasn't mad at Shadow, only mad at myself, for allowing that scum Peter to manipulate me like he did. I realise that now."

"Is that so?" Remus couldn't have been more sarcastic if he'd tried.

"Please Remus, listen to me. I'm over dramatic, and sarcastic, and rude, and I speak before I think, and always regret what I say, apart from this, and I don't regret swearing that oath, I love her as much as you do, Remus-"

"You're rambling." Yet his tone was still cold, and he refused to look at Sirius.

"I know, but I am truly truly sorry... please forgive me."

"It's not me you should be asking."

"I know that, but I've looked for her and can't find her anywhere."

Remus stood up sharply.

"Are you absolutely sure you haven't seen her since this morning."

"Yes, I swear."

"This is bad Padfoot... where the hell is she? I put her to bed, after this morning. She'd fainted." Sirius relaxed slightly, at the use of his nickname, but felt disgusted with himself...

"I haven't seen Shadow since this morning..."

"Strange... best not to ask Harry though." They gave each other significant looks. " I'll talk to him later."

"There's something you have to tell him..."

"Oh now what?"

"Well, sit down, and let me explain..." Sirius obeyed, looking more like a scared dog by the second. Remus could have sworn that if Sirius had a tail it would be drooping round about now. "When Prongs and Lily were killed, their... Harry..."

"Just spit it out man!"

"Harry replaces Lily and James, in the oath's eyes..."

"There was a green flash! Harry told me once, that all he could remember about that night was a bright green flash..."

"Yes that was the oath..."

"So Harry, you and me-"

"You and Harry are no longer sworn to protect her... only me" This surprised Sirius.

"Well, I take what I said back. I should be able to protect her again... shouldn't I?"

"That's what I can't understand. You now understand your duties to her... any second now, there should be a flash of grey light, that should go to Shadow. But there's nothing."

"Well what range does this greyie – flashie – thingy have?"

"And how would I know? Honestly, we should now try and find Shadow... I'll check her room."

"Already did. She's not there."

"Black! What have I told you about my daughter's room being off limits?"

"Hey it was an emergency."

"Whatever."

The two men spread out, and after an hour, agreed that Shadow was no longer in 12 Grimmauld Place. They'd agreed not to ask Harry, it was probably best just to leave him alone for a while.

"Reckon she's gone out?"

"I'm going to go check... Sirius, I'm really worried. My power isn't that strong..."

"True, but your love is." Remus nodded and quietly pulled open the front door, praying he didn't wake Mrs Black in her portrait. He was surprised she has stayed quiet through out the shouting before. It was hard to believe it was mid evening now though... Slowly stepping outside, Remus noted the eerie green glow outside. He looked for the source of the light, and instantly felt a cold hand swamp over his heart, as he looked up at the night sky.

The Dark Mark was floating above 12 Grimmauld Place.