Chapter 21

"Lily quit!" James whined.

"I can't!" Lily began to cry and then looked down at her belly, "Why are you doing this to me!"

A pregnant Lily was blowing things up again, but more frequently then before. James was scared that if Lily was just a month pregnant and making things blow up then how bad was it going to get with the further Lily got through her pregnancy?

"I am so frustrated and my hormones are off the chart!"

"Sit," James said guiding her to the sofa. James then handed Lily some knitting needles and some yarn, Alice had Lily knitting with her now. "Knit."

"But the house…"

"I will decorate."

"You don't know how."

"You sit there," James said giving her a look she had never seen before…was it terror? "Just knit and please don't get mad and me or send things flying towards me."

"James!"

"I will clean the house up and then you tell me what you want up for all the decorations, and I will do it all."

"I want to…"

"No."

"I agree with Prongs."

"No one asked you Black," Lily growled as their good friend came from the front door. "Don't you ever knock?"

"Hormones flying again?" Sirius asked not looking at Lily, but looking at James in pity. "Geez, Cassidy had just got into crazy hormones before we lost…" Then he shut up. It just hit Sirius that this was the first Christmas he would be without his wife, today would have been their first year wedding anniversary. They would be getting ready to celebrate Aurora's first Christmas. "I will be back later…"

"Sirius?" Lily said turning around realizing what was going on in his head.

James's eyes bugged out, he knew that tone in Lily's voice and he knew exactly what was going on now. "Sirius."

"See you guys tonight at eight," Sirius disapparated.

"Oh man."

"Exactly," Lily sighed.

"What is going on you guys?" Amelia asked walking out of the fireplace.

"Since when do you use the Floo Network?" Lily asked looking at her friend oddly.

"Since I wanted to," Amelia said sticking her tongue out at Lily. "Where is Sirius? I just went by his flat to see if he had a cup of sugar I could borrow."

"A cup of sugar?" James asked not convinced, "Why would you need to borrow a cup of sugar? You have a wand, you could just magic it."

"I am not good at just doing magic with food, I always mess it up."

"Why didn't you come and borrow sugar from us?"

"Because I have seen Lily with her crazy hormones and stuff flying. Alice's hormones have not got that crazy, yet."

"Hey I resent that!" Lily yelled.

"Sirius was just here," James said changing the subject. "He got a bit upset and left."

"What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything," James answered honestly. "He just remembered what today is and that it should have been his and Cassidy's first Christmas together. Their one year anniversary, Aurora's first Christmas, and his first Christmas without them."

"Oh dear," Amelia sighed. "I should go find him."

"What is going on between the two of you?" James asked.

"Nothing," Amelia says shrugging. "Besides, he had a date with Dorcas Meadows a few weeks ago and some other girl just a couple of days ago. We are just friends."

"Do you know where he is at?"

"I have a few places in mind," Amelia nodded.

"I should go after him."

"No stay here, clean the house, and watch out for your wife."

"What about Sirius?"

"By the time I find him, he will have had the amount of time he needed by himself. I will make sure he is not totally belligerent when we show up at eight tonight."

"Thanks Amelia."

"Yeah thanks Amy," Lily said smiling. "You are a life saver."

There is that mongrel that gives the noble house of Black a bad name. How he got the name Black is beyond me. I would love to be the death of him and then we would have one less blood traitor. Master would love that I got rid of him.

Black would have been a great ally to our side, Merlin knows he has skills. Another blood traitor, goody too shoes and that Potter sidekick, make me sick.

It is so funny to me that none of the 'dream team,' does not know that their 'friend' is betraying them at this moment. That he has joined our side to be with that psychotic whore, Bellatrix Lestrange. That he is the reason that the blood traitors Cassidy Black and Gabriella Martinez is dead.

Just tickles me inside.

It is hard being out here alone on my own, but I could not be around them now. Not without her. It is just too tough, even though I wonder what they have all been up to. When I left Alice had just found out she was pregnant. I wonder how she and Frank are doing. Lily, James, and Sirius too. I miss them all.

"Mr. Lupin?"

Remus Lupin turned around to see the doctor he had been waiting for, "Yes?"

"Here is the recipe to make the Wolfsbane Potion. It is a hard potion to make, you will need an awesome potion maker to make it for you."

"I understand," Remus nodded and took the piece of parchment from the Healer in Spain. "Thank you."

More and more attacks and deaths were occurring as the days went on and there were very few happy days anymore.

Lily and James's Christmas Eve party would bring a little bit of happiness for a short while.

"Lily!" Alice said running over to her best friend and hugging her, "This party is just crazy!"

"I did not expect everyone to get so…"

"Trashed?"

"Yeah," Lily chuckled.

"They aren't that trashed yet…"

"You realize we are going to be like the only sober people here?"

"Yeah, but Lily we are the only pregnant women here."

"You have got a point now."

"Hey girls," Amelia said stumbling into her best friends.

"Trashed are you?" Lily chuckled.

"A bit," Amelia giggled.

"Where is Sirius?" Alice asked.

"I don't know," Amelia slurred. "Geez, sometimes I think that you guys think I am his keeper. Probably shagging Meadows," Amelia said with the usual sparkle in her eyes missing.

"I thought you liked Dorcas?"

"Who said I didn't?" Amelia snapped.

"Well the way that you…"

"I don't really even want to hear it Alice," Amelia said rolling her eyes. Lily and Alice looked at each other speechless, "I always knew you guys didn't like me but at least Lily acted like she liked me."

"What?" Alice and Lily asked at the same time looking clueless, and then Lily took over. "We love you Amelia."

"I did not mean any harm…"

"Whatever," Amelia said rolling her eyes and storming off into the crowd that was James and Lily's living room.

"What in Merlin's name?" Lily asked totally stumped.

"You are as clueless as me, but I know one thing is for sure."

"What is that?"

"Amelia was lying through her teeth, she is head over hills in love with Sirius Black." Alice said nodding her head back and forth and as much as Lily thought it would be wonderful for Amelia and Sirius to get together, but what happened if they got together and then split. What would happen to their group?

Things had already gotten really weird when Cassidy died, even weirder when Amelia began to hang out with them, horribly weird when Gabriella died, and just depressing when Remus left up and out of no where.

"Lily dear, are you alright?"

Lily turned around to see a very pregnant Molly Weasley beaming and just glowing with being totally smitten with being pregnant. "Molly!" Lily said smiling from ear to ear at her very dear friend, "It's been so long…"

"Too long," Molly nodded. "So I heard the happy news?"

"About?" Lily asked going blank minded for a moment.

"Your little bundle of joy."

"Oh," Lily said smiling again from ear to ear as her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink.

"Our babies will be the same age, same year at Hogwarts too!"

"Oh," Lily said smiling even bigger. "I did not even think about that, heck wouldn't that be so cute if they became best friends."

"Of course they will as long as they come out as sweet as we do."

"So you are due here soon, aren't you?"

Molly nodded, "March ninth."

"Three months. Wow, are you ready?"

"Been in labor four times and have five boys. I swear after the third kid, they just start sliding out."

"Molly!" Lily looked at her shocked as she began to blush.

"What? It's the truth!"

"So what are you having?"

"Another boy," Molly said with a somewhat sad smile.

"You aren't happy?"

"Of course I am, I love children but…"

"You were really hoping for a girl?"

"Yes. Arthur and I agreed that this is the last kid we are going to have. Six boys is enough, I don't know what I would do if I had a seventh."

"Seventh time could be the lucky one."

"I know, but I just keep getting my hopes up for a girl."

"Sorry Molly."

"No don't be," Molly said shaking her head. "I love all of my boys, but I would love to have a girl to help me around the house. You know dress up, and do all the little cutesy little things with."

"You ready?"

"Yeah," Molly sighed. "My back has been really killing me. How far along are you?"

"Two months and Alice is three months."

"Alice and Frank are going to have a baby too?"

"Yeah," Lily said smiling from ear to ear. "Alice and Frank told us all that they were expecting the night of the ministry ball."

"You know so many women are pregnant this year?"

"Really?"

"Yes. You, Alice, me, Edgar Bones's wife , Lynne Patil, Craig Abbot's wife, Sally Moon, Narcissa Malfoy…"

"Narcissa Malfoy," Lily said turning ghost white.

"Yes those horrid people decided to bring another spawn to the Black family and Malfoy family name, no offense towards Sirius."

"He doesn't even claim himself a Black, he says that's just his last name. By heart he is a Potter, through and through."

"I totally agree," Molly nodded and she looked across the room. "Oh no! I need to go pull Arthur away from the punchbowl he looks…"

"Drunk," Lily giggled. "I bet all of our money in Gringotts bank that Sirius spiked it."

"I totally agree. Good bye sweetheart, and please don't lose touch."

"I won't I'll owl you soon, we have got to go out for tea one day."

"Of course," Molly nodded and she went off to rescue her drunk husband.

Lily sat down on one of the empty chairs just feet from where she had been sitting, and was truly thinking. Lily remembered Lynne, she had graduated two years before Lily and she had been a very sweet girl. Sally graduated the year before Lily, but Lily had had a Muggle Studies class with her in her fifth year, in fact Lily had tutored Sally for a while. She had met Edgar's wife once or twice and she was very quite, but sweet…Craig's wife too.

But the fact that Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy were having a child too…

Repulsive.

Totally repulsive.

Just the thought of them was…

"Lily!" James said pushing Lily's chair back into the wall and kissing her very passionately, while she could smell the Firewhiskey on his breath.

When Lily could finally pull back she felt very faint and looked up at him, "What was that for?"

"Because I love you," James winked at her and then whispered into her ear. "Let's go upstairs."

Lily's eyes got big and she giggled at him, "James we can't!"

"Yes we can," James said setting the chair down and now crawling into her lap, straddling her.

"No we can't James, we have company."

"Yes we can, everyone is so trashed they won't even notice. Even if they do, who cares? We are married."

"Later James."

"Fine," he pouted.

The party had been a total smash and everyone had had a wonderful time. A good time that they all really needed was a holiday for all of them. Speaking of holiday…

"Lily," James said smiling at his sleeping wife.

"Five more minutes."

"Happy Christmas my beautiful wife."

Lily opened her eyes and looked at her handsome husband with his spectacles, and his more than usual messy hair. "Christmas?"

"Yes love," James said chuckling at his beautiful wife in the morning sun glow that was creeping in from the curtains. "It is Christmas."

"What are we doing up here then! Let's go and open presents!"

Lily jumped out of the bed, threw her robe on, and pulled James downstairs with her. To see Sirius Black sleeping on their sofa.

"Sirius?" James asked taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes, while blinking.

"Huh?" Sirius asked sitting up and when he saw the Potters his face lit up. "I've been waiting for you guys for hours now."

"How long have you been here?" Lily asked resting her hand upon her abdomen without noticing her motherly instincts already kicking in.

"Since four this morning."

"Four?" Lily asked totally shocked, "But the party didn't end until about two thirty."

"I was too excited for Christmas that I couldn't sleep, but then waiting for you lazy bums to get out of bed I fell asleep. So when do we get to open presents!"

James and Lily sat on the sofa and Sirius jumped to the floor and began to sort presents in front of James's feet, Lily's and an empty spot in front of the armchair for himself. "Let's open!"

Lily chuckled, "I swear you are going to be as excited about Christmas as our child will be."

"I can't wait for the little marauder to come!"

"Who said it was going to be a boy?" Lily asked, "It could be a little girl."

"In your dreams," Sirius said rolling his eyes. "James knows better than that, he has to bring us a little marauder."

Lily rolled her eyes, "Okay let's just open presents."

Christmas had been wonderful for the Potters, Longbottoms, Amelia, and Sirius.

The biggest surprise of all would be coming soon and very soon…

Amelia Bones had been acting weirder and weirder around everyone else. Amelia began to not coming around as much as usual and this finally bugged Alice and Lily, so that they went to visit her at her flat.

"What in Merlin's name has happened here!" Alice asked putting her hand to her mouth and looking around terrified.

"I don't know but it looks as if there has been an…"

"No don't say it."

"Alice it looks like there has been an…"

"There was no Death Mark above this apartment, so there could not have been an attack!"

"Yeah, okay." Lily nodded trying to make herself believe Alice's story, "right she is fine."

"She has to be, she just has to be."

"Sirius would know. Let's try and find Sirius. Sirius would know what to do."

"Sirius?" James asked bringing his best friend out of his daydream, "What is going on inside that pea sized brain of yours."

"Stuff it Prongs."

"Well I have been trying to get your attention for over ten minutes. You were off in like Space."

"What do you mean space? Like closet space?"

"No like space, space."

"That makes no since whatsoever," Sirius barked.

"Yes it does," James said rolling his eyes. "That's what muggles call the place that keeps the stars and the moon."

"Right," Sirius said rolling his eyes.

"Ask Lily."

"Sure."

"Anyways, about what I have been trying to ask you."

"What is that?"

"Where did you show up after the party?"

"How would you know? You and Lily sneaked upstairs to do only Merlin knows what."

"We were doing what married couples do."

"Eek," Sirius said scrunching his nose up.

"So after Lily and I came back downstairs we noticed that you were gone."

"I noticed that Amelia was missing too," Frank Longbottom said joining the guys down at dinner.

Sirius turned quaffle red and James began to chuckle, "I knew it! I knew you guys would finally get together."

"Stuff it Prongs," Sirius snarled. "She woke up the next morning and told me that it was a total mistake and disapparated out of my flat talking about the biggest mistake of her life."

James was now rolling, "Biggest mistake of her life! That's rich."

"I said stuff it," Sirius snarled.

"James does have a point though, I mean have you ever been called anyone's 'biggest mistake of their life?' "

"I said stuff it."

"That would be a no," James pointed out.

"What would be a no?" Lily asked sitting down beside her husband joining him for lunch as Alice sat down beside Frank.

"That…"

"No."

"Whatever," Alice said waving her arms around. "Lily and I have bigger problems here."

"What could be worse than a woman telling Sirius that he was the biggest mistake of her life?"

"Amelia's flat is torn up and ruined," Lily said with tears filling up in her eyes.

"WHAT!" Sirius yelled loud enough to make the entire restrant turn around.

"Yes," Alice nodded. "We showed up at Amelia's flat because she hasn't talked to neither one of us since the night of Lily and James's party."

"That might be because Sirius is the biggest mistake of her life."

"What are you on about now James?" Lily asked snapping at her husband, "What does that have to do with…" Lily eyes bugged out, "The two of you slept together than night didn't you!"

"What does that have to do with her flat destroyed!"

Three wizarding pagers went off at the table, and all three men looked down at them.

"It's a code green," James said looking from Sirius, to Frank, to Alice.

"What does a code green mean?" Lily asked totally clueless.

"Death Eater attack," the four of them said at the same time.

"I will meet you at home love," James said kissing the top of Lily's head.

"Yeah me too," Frank said kissing Alice too.

"What are you talking about?" Alice asked as her eyes got as big as saucers, "I am as much of an Auror as you are and I am coming along!"

"You are pregnant!"

"So what!" Both women yelled at the same time.

"For now," Sirius spoke up. "Swallow your pride for once Frank, let's just go."

"See you later Lils," Alice said as they all apparated to the Ministry so they would know where to go next.

Lily apparated out of the restaurant and back to her home with James to wait to hear what had happened next.

The Aurors had already been called, obviously their code 'green' from what I had heard from a few of our spies at the Ministry. The Aurors were really no match for us, they thought they were but in all actuality they really weren't.

The ones of us that were actually out here on the field had had the best training from the Dark Lord himself and had been studying the dark arts if not all of our lives then most of it.

We were throwing Aurors and killing them left and right.

I knew how much of a reward I would get from the Dark Lord if I killed Potter or one of his friends.

What a great asset I would be to the Dark Lord.