This is the Chapter that readers have been waiting for! I cannot thank everyone enough for their kindness and their patience. I hope everyone enjoys reading this chapter.

Also I would like to thank a few kind reviewers (you know who you are) who have been kind enough to point out that Harry Potter's parents are named Fleamont and Euphemia Potter. Charlus Potter is therefore a relation of some sort to Fleamont. I did not know this when I began to write this story. Since my plot with Harry needs him to be the grandson of Dorea Black, I have to decided not to change a thing about the way I have set up this fanfic. I am instead going to ask my readers to take it on faith that this is as I have said… An Alternate Universe.

I do promise to remember for future fanfics such as "The Malfoy Defiance" that Harry Potter's grandparents were Fleamont and Euphemia Potter instead of Charlus and Dorea Potter. Thanks again for the proper information!

And now on with the writing…


Chapter 11: Terror in Diagon Alley

London, England

July 25, 1980

Olivia Macmillan smiled in thanks to the waitress who brought her the glass of pink lemonade. She took a sip of the refreshing liquid and sighed in relief. She had spent her morning shopping with her sister-in-law Evelyn Greengrass. Evelyn was likewise seven months pregnant and had insisted on Olivia joining her for a day of nursery shopping. Olivia, had leapt at the opportunity. Aside from a few missives from Evelyn over the last few months she had not seen her sister-in-law or indeed any member of the Greengrass family.

"Cravings?" Evelyn asked of her with a raised dark eyebrow.

Olivia looked up at the lovely brunette and blushed. "Ever since the fourth month I have adored Pink Lemonade." She admitted. "It has been the one craving that has remained consistent."

Evelyn laughed. "I wish I could say my consistent craving was something so simple." She said. "Mine has been Fortescue's Double Chocolate Brownie Icecream with strawberry syrup."

Olivia smiled. "At least you didn't say Maple syrup." She pointed out helpfully.

Evelyn stared at her, beautiful blue eyes wide in astonishment. "Maple?" She asked.

Olivia laughed. "Yes. Narcissa, that is Lady Malfoy." Olivia began. "She told me that when she was in the fifth month of pregnancy that she wanted Maple syrup on her deserts for three days straight but on the fourth day she could not abide the thought of Maple syrup and so she would not have pancakes nor waffles."

Evelyn laughed and took a sip of her own drink, a water with lemon. "You are in the Lady Malfoy's favor then?"

Olivia blushed slightly but nodded. "Lady Malfoy has been very kind to me. Lord Black has treated me as though I were his widowed granddaughter and that brought me some support within the Black Family. Narcissa was one of the first ladies to offer me friendship. That I became pregnant so swiftly after marriage and that Narcissa was pregnant already I am sure was part of why she chose to befriend me."

"The last certainly makes sense." Evelyn agreed. "I had no idea that Lord Black had given you such prominence. To treat you as though you were his widowed granddaughter, that is a high honor."

Olivia agreed. "Yes, well with Sirius disowned…" She trailed off. Thoughts of Sirius Black, even now still had the power to hurt her. She despised the longing that she felt for him. She especially despised how it still felt slightly wrong to be touched by Malcolm instead of Sirius.

Evelyn smiled in sympathy. "He is practically dead to the Black's." Evelyn said softly, compassion in her blue eyes. "Be grateful that the Black's have not sought his life. In generations past they would have. Perhaps it is due to the influence of Dorea Potter."

Olivia mulled that over. "Perhaps. I do think it more likely that it was Melania that begged for Sirius' life." She admitted to her sister-in-law. "From what Narcissa once told me, Sirius was Melania's favorite grandchild."

"I am glad that you were so well accepted by the Black's." Evelyn said before she prompted. "And what of married life?"

Olivia blushed. "It is pleasant." She admitted to Evelyn. "Malcolm is a very kind and attentive spouse. He keeps busy with work of course. He is the sort of man who does not like to be idle and he truly loves creating structures both muggle and magical." She praised her spouse. "He was thrilled that I became pregnant so swiftly. It must have hurt him dearly to know that he was the last of his lineage."

Evelyn sipped at her lemon water and nodded. "I cannot imagine such a thing." She said with a shiver. "As you know I have an older brother. I cannot imagine losing him and realizing that I am the last of my line."

Olivia nodded. "As much as Nicholas annoys me, I would not want to be without my little brother." She revealed to Evelyn.

"I should think not." Evelyn agreed swiftly. Then the two women giggled. "We are being quite morbid."

Olivia agreed. "We should speak of life and not of death."

Evelyn smiled and nodded her agreement. "Yes. To life." She said raising her glass.

Olivia swiftly lifted her glass in agreement. "To life." She agreed.

The two women raised their glasses to their lips to drink when a loud explosion shook the building and the pane of glass near their table exploded inwards. Olivia gasped in surprise and raised her arms in an attempt to protect herself.

She heard Evelyn scream as the building shook again and she forced her eyes to focus upon her sister in law. She gasped in fright at the large spike of glass that was sticking out of Evelyn's side. "Evie!" She exclaimed in fright as she pushed from her chair moving instantly to her sister-in-law's side. Olivia barely acknowledged the smaller pieces of glass that were sticking out of her own arms as she gently touched Evelyn's bleeding side.

A whimper of pain escaped Evelyn's throat. "Livia, I need a healer." She managed to bite out.

The prompt snapped Olivia out of her horrified daze and into motion. "Right." She said and then she moved to Evelyn's other side and helped the woman to her feet. She forced herself to take a few tentative steps on broken glass and wood as she moved herself and Evelyn forward. She turned her head toward the fireplace only to frown at the sight of so many people fighting to exit through the floo network.

She swiftly ruled out the floo network as a means of escape and instead she moved Evelyn toward the front door. "We are going to have to go to another building and then use their floo." She informed Evelyn.

Evelyn hissed in pain and clung to Olivia. "What is happening out there?" She wondered aloud as another explosion shook the floor beneath their feet.

Olivia gripped Evelyn tightly to her side the better to keep both of them standing. "I don't know." She replied as she managed to keep them moving. She paused near the doorway and gently helped Evelyn to sit down in a chair. She then took the chance to step outside and glance out onto the street.

Olivia gasped in shock as she watched Wizards in black robes, their faces hidden in masks, firing spells at various witches and wizards in the alley. She was relieved the see the red robed Auror's in the alley returning fire. She screamed in surprise as a spell was fired at her from one of the masked wizards. She had no magic with which to protect herself. Her own magic had become impossibly unstable due to her pregnancy. She had no time to run. She closed her eyes terrified that this was to be her last moment alive. Her hands curved around her stomach in a futile effort to protect the life growing within.

She heard the sound of rock shattering and slowly opened her eyes to see dust and rocks falling four feet in front of her. She stared in confusion and then she felt strong arms wrap around her and pull her against a hard chest.

"Reducto!" The strong masculine voice of Sirius Black shouted with his left arm wrapped around her and his right arm out wielding his wand. "Incarcerous!" He called out.

Olivia watched wide eyed as first the Reducto Curse destroyed the statue that the masked man had sent hurtling toward them and then ropes and chains shot out of Sirius' wand and wrapped tight around their assailant. Then she felt herself being pushed forward and she was soon once more inside of the restaurant and she found herself pushed up against a wooden pillar. She trembled when she stared into the handsome yet livid face of Sirius Orion Black.

"Blood hell Olivia!" He swore as he shook her. "What did you think you were doing just standing there?" He growled at her.

"I.." She tried to answer even as she felt tears spring to her eyes. Sirius had saved her. He had been there when she needed him. "Sirius.."

He shook her once more and then his hands began to rove over her, touching her tenderly looking for signs of injury. "Your arms have glass in them." He stated, and then he ran a hand over her right cheekbone. She winced at the sting she felt when he touched it. She had not noticed that her cheek had been harmed. "You'll be bruised but I don't think you have rock in it." He told her even as he began waving his wand over her arms. She whimpered as she felt the glass slowly pull itself out of her arms. "You'll need to get to Saint Mungo's or to a healer to get your arms truly looked over." He told her. He stared at her for a few moments more, allowing his hand to tenderly cup her cheek.

Olivia closed her eyes, letting the tears stinging her eyes fall. She turned into his touch and she raised a trembling hand to hold him to her. "Sirius, what is happening?"

He moved closer then, crowding her, and she loved the feel of having him so close. She knew she would hate herself later for allowing herself this, but for the moment she could not bring herself to care.

Sirius stared into her green eyes and she could see the longing in his blue eyes. "Sirius, who are those people?" She asked of him. "Those men in the masks?"

"Death Eaters." Sirius explained as he let himself caress her cheek. Let his eyes rove over her. Even visibly pregnant with another man's child he still wanted her. Time and distance had not reduced his longing. "They are followers of He Who Must Not Be Named."

Olivia nodded her head in understanding. "So that is what the Death Eaters look like when they go out to terrorize." She said softly.

Sirius nodded. "I need to go." He told her. "I need to get back out there and…"

"No!" Olivia grabbed his red robes and clung. "No..wait! I need your help." She insisted.

"Olivia, stay here and you'll be fine." Sirius tried to reassure her.

She shook her head in the negative. "No. No, I…Evelyn. Lady Greengrass and I were dining together when the glass exploded inward. She took a shard to her side. She is bleeding and she is seven months pregnant Sirius."

Sirius paled slightly at that news. "Where is she?" He asked, gone was the longing lover and now the Auror had reasserted himself.

"I left her near the doorway." She said and she felt guilt stir in her that she had wasted time letting Sirius' presence comfort her when Evelyn had needed her.

Sirius turned away from her and he began to search for the Lady Greengrass. Olivia followed suit and turned toward where she had left Evelyn. She swiftly spotted her sister in law still seated in the chair near the doorway. "Evie!" She cried and moved as swiftly as she was able to her sister-in-law's side.

Evelyn was terribly pale and she was perfectly still, unresponsive to Olivia's pleas for her to open her eyes. Olivia felt Sirius behind her and he reached around her to grasp the wrist of Evelyn Greengrass. "Evie…please…" Olivia pleaded with her sister-in-law to still be alive. Then she was surprised when Sirius gently put his hands on her to maneuver her to the side. He then lifted Evelyn into his arms. "Sirius?"

"She's alive, but she needs a healer." He said as he carefully held Evelyn so that the glass shard did not go deeper into the woman's side. "Come here Olivia." He ordered and Olivia immediately arose and stepped close to him. "The chain around my neck is a portkey." He told her. "Press the green jewel and it will take us to Saint Mungo's."

Olivia had to press herself close to him in order to pull the necklace out from where it was tucked into his shirt. She let herself have only a moment to study the interesting shield design of the necklace before she pressed hard on the emerald jewel. Then she felt the familiar pull of the portkey and she was whisked away from the battlefield and taken to Saint Mungo's.

Sirius was moving with Evelyn before Olivia could recover from the travel. She felt a strange shifting pain within her and gasped with the pain. She watched as Sirius spoke to a healer and turned Evelyn over into the care of healers. A moment later he was turning to her and staring at her concerned blue eyes.

Olivia felt close to fainting and she tried to take a deep soothing breath. She found she could not breath easily. Instead another pain rolled through her and she felt her knees collapse. Sirius caught her before she could fall to the floor and he held her close. She leaned her head against him as he scooped her up into his arms. "Something is wrong." She whimpered as another fierce pain washed through her.

"Healer!" Sirius called out and then he pressed a tender kiss to Olivia's forehead. "It's going to be alright love." He promised her. "You'll be just fine."

Olivia continued to try to breath as she listened to Sirius' words. She didn't protest as he carried her to a bed and slowly sat her upon it. He removed the support of his arms long enough for the healer to do a swift scan but then he placed his arms around Olivia once again. Olivia shamelessly reveled in his support as she whimpered in pain.

"The babe is coming now." The Healer declared.

Olivia shook her head in the negative. "No. No. He can't. It's too early." She insisted as she tightened her grip upon Sirius' hand. When had she grabbed his hand? She had no idea. "Please, can you stop it?" She asked the healer.

The healer shook her head. "No. I am sorry Lady Macmillan." She said with regret. "We will have deliver now."

Olivia heard the words and felt as though she could not breath. Her thoughts were centered on her child and the fear that he would now be born damaged or worse, dead. She barely heard Sirius begging her to calm down, to take a long deep breath. Her mind could only think of her child, her poor dead baby. It was a blessing when her thoughts stopped and darkness claimed her.


Sirius Black paced down the white and cornflower blue marbled halls of Saint Mungo's. His mind was a chaos of thoughts. His day had started off with paperwork at the office. He had been looking forward to lunch time where he was to meet James and Frank for a quick meal. The two men had gone into hiding with their families, though they still reported to work. They had been placed on desk duties around the office. Sirius, who was James partner, was likewise on desk duty at the moment. It chaffed his senses. He wanted to get out there and take the fight to the enemy.

He wanted vengeance for Regulus.

He had just finished lunch with James and Frank at the Leaky Cauldron when the call had come in for all available Auror's to report to Diagon Alley. Being as they were already at the Leaky Cauldron they entered Diagon Alley and saw a world in chaos. There were witches and wizards running about in chaos dodging spells being fired by Death Eaters. Sirius and James had shared a quick glance before launching themselves into battle.

Sirius was proud to say he had felled three Death Eaters when he had caught sight of a fourth Death Eater firing a spell at a pregnant woman. He had felt his blood run cold when he realized that the pregnant woman was none other than Olivia Macmillan. She just stood there staring down the spell and then her eyes closed and her arms curved around the swell of her stomach in some sort of resigned to her fate yet aborted attempt to protect her child. Sirius had with a swift flick of his wand levitated a large piece granite and thrown it into the path of the oncoming killing curse. The curse had hit the granite and destroyed it, turning it to dust and smaller rocks but Olivia was safe, she stood still unharmed. Sirius had not hesitated to take her into his arms to protect her even as he swiftly incapacitated the Death Eater.

The rage he had felt, that the Death Eater would dare hurt Olivia. He still shook with the anger. He trembled with the rage, with the need to hurt the man who had dared to fire the Killing Curse at her. He smiled then, a grim smile that would frighten any who saw it. He had not killed the man, merely incarcerated him. The man would be in lock up now, taken in by his fellow Auror's. There would be time to interrogate the prisoner.

He had been relieved that Olivia had only minor injuries. She had needed him and wanted him. He saw that when he stared into those impossibly beautiful green eyes. He had wanted to stay with her but there were Death Eaters out there still battling Auror's in the alley. James and Frank and his fellow Auror's needed him. Duty. He needed to return to the battlefield.

Olivia had pleaded with him to stay to help her. When he saw the Lady Evelyn Greengrass he had feared the woman dead. Olivia had been near hysterics and he knew that he could not leave her yet. Fortunately, the Lady Evelyn was still alive and Sirius was able to get her to Saint Mungo's. Then Olivia had crumpled and he had raced to catch her before she could hit the floor. She was in pain and then the healer said her child was to be born. The child was early. A healer had revealed that Olivia was in her seventh month of pregnancy. Too soon. It was too soon.

Now he found himself pacing, terrified for the woman he loved. Would the child survive the birth? Would Olivia? The way she had passed out…he was sure she could not hear him before she had fallen limp in his arms.

He ran a shaking hand through his raven black hair, roughly pulling through the tangled curls. He felt so helpless. Why was it that he did not let himself truly cherish the ones he loved the most until he had lost them?

Regulus. The little brother whom he had adored when he was young and then he had pushed the boy away and even shunned him when he was a teenager. What had Regulus really done to deserve that from Sirius? Nothing. Sirius had agonized over the answer for some time and he knew the score. Regulus had loved him and he had looked up to him. How badly had he hurt his little brother? Sirius knew he would carry the guilt for how he treated Reggie for the rest of his life.

Olivia. She had loved him. She had given herself to him completely. Her mind, her body, and her heart had been his to enjoy. He had, in his misguided bid to keep her safe, pushed her away, broken her heart, and shattered her dreams of sharing her life with him. He should not have pushed her away. He should have held her tight and cherished her the way that James cherished Lily.

'James was right. I am a thrice damned fool.' Sirius thought.

He was torn from his thoughts when he noticed the arrival of Nicholas Greengrass. The man was just a year younger than Sirius. He looked remarkably like Olivia. Nicholas had the same shade of golden blond hair and when he looked at Sirius he had the same shade of green eyes.

"Auror Black." Nicholas said formally and he reached forward his hand to shake Sirius' own. Sirius automatically responded, meeting Olivia's brother in a hand shake. "Thank you for your protection of my sister and my wife." He said with a weary sigh. "Such a terrible thing." He said softly. "We pay Auror's to protect us, but we never think it must be against a rag tag group of terrorists." He hissed out in anger.

Sirius nodded his head in agreement. It was well known that the Auror Department was in need of more bodies but most especially more equipment. He was now positive that the Greengrass family would be supporters of the Auror's gaining said equipment.

"I just came from Evelyn." Nicholas admitted.

Sirius brightened then. "Were the healers able to save her?" He asked gently yet with an urgency. He needed to know that he had saved Evelyn Greengrass.

Nicholas nodded. "Yes. They said if she had come in just a few minutes later then all might have been lost. You saved her, Auror Black. I cannot thank you enough for that."

"Please, call me Sirius." He insisted. "And it wasn't just me. Olivia helped a great deal."

Nicholas eyed him critically but then nodded his head once. "Yes, I do not doubt she had a small hand to play in the heroics of the day." He sighed then. "The healers tell me that Olivia is in the same situation as my Evie."

Sirius frowned at that.

Nicholas expanded. "I am now a proud father." He said wearily. "Evelyn delivered a daughter. She is too young and so I have not been allowed to touch her. The little girl is being placed in the special ward for infants. I will not be able to hold her for several weeks, maybe even months."

"And that is happening to Olivia as well?" Sirius asked of Nicholas.

"Yes. She is still in labor." He told Sirius. "She is awake now; in case you were wondering. I had heard from the healer how she had passed out."

Sirius smiled in gratitude. "Thank you for explaining to me. I had feared the worst."

"I can understand an Auror wishing to know that he had done good service at the end of the day." Nicholas said and then he moved to stand close to Sirius. "And do not forget yourself…Sirius." He said succinctly. "You are the Auror who assisted my sister and my wife, but you are not my brother-in-law. You gave up that possibility when you abandoned Olivia to rear your offspring alone."

Sirius felt his blood freeze even as he glared at Nicholas Greengrass. "Offspring? What are you talking about?" He demanded to know. His voice had gone cold, a sure sign that he was not in the mood to take anyone's nonsense.

Nicholas scoffed at him. "Please, as if you didn't know?" He glared back at Sirius. "You ended your liaison with my sister and left her pregnant with your child. She gave birth to him in December and approached the House of Black asking them to please take the boy in and raise him. He is now the acknowledged heir of the Black family and Lord Black even arranged for my sister to be able to wed Malcolm Macmillan, who still wanted her despite what you had done to her." He sneered. "So you see, despite how you used my sister and then tossed her away like garbage, she has proven to be a crown jewel. She is the mother of the Black heir and before the day is through she will be the mother of the Macmillan heir." Nicholas stated proudly.

"The Black's?" His mind was reeling with the information that Nicholas Greengrass had just imparted. "She was pregnant and she never told me." He said in shock. "She…she gave our child, my son to the Black's?" The idea of it made him seethe in rage. He could picture his infant son, a babe with black curls being dressed by Kreacher. He could imagine the child just a little bit older being ordered about by his mother, Walburga Black. That the picture of the child in his mind highly resembled his memories of Regulus he did not stop to question. How could she? How could Olivia place a child with Walburga after everything he had ever told her of his mother?

Nicholas frowned at Sirius. "The child lives in the care of Cassiopeia Black. It was to that estimable woman that my sister fled and begged for help and guidance. Since then Ms. Cassiopeia has been a mentor to Olivia."

The information that his son was at least in the hands of his Great-Aunt Cassie instead of in the hands of his mother eased something dark inside of him. Still he felt rage and panic within him. They were like caged beasts clawing at the walls inside of him, wanting to burst free.

The healer came forward then to speak with Nicholas and Sirius stood still close enough to hear their swift conversation.

"Though she is weakened by the birth, the Lady Macmillan should make a full recovery. She has delivered a son and we have moved him to the child security ward where he will remain in care along with his cousin." At this the healer bowed her head in deference to Nicholas.

"Thank you. I shall of course inform my brother-in-law when he arrives." Nicholas promised her.

The healer nodded and then moved away to attend to a more thorough clean up. Sirius stared at Nicholas who looked at him blandly.

"I know you heard." Nicholas stated. "Olivia shall be fine and the babe is well in hand." He pointed out.

"Where was Lord Macmillan?" Sirius questioned.

"Need that for your records do you?" Nicholas sneered. When Sirius did not bite back he sighed. "Malcolm was in New Zealand at a conference for Magical Architects. Since there were two months before she was due to deliver, Olivia had encouraged him to go and then to hurry home to her."

Sirius nodded. "I am very happy to know that the Lady Evelyn and the Lady Olivia shall recover. I do hope that your heiress and the Macmillan heir shall grow strong and healthy." He said stiffly.

Nicholas nodded graciously, as though he were a king. He spoke again as Sirius had turned his back to leave. "Do yourself a favor Auror Black. Stay away from my sister and her family. As she has proven, you are not at all needed."

Sirius scowled at the wall ahead of him, his jaw clenched. "We'll see about that Lord Greengrass. It seems that I was very much needed today."

Sirius departed then, moving swiftly and with purpose through the corridors of Saint Mungo's.