It's crazy how many times you can end up rewriting something and still not like it or at the least, not be content with it? But after a certain point, you just have to accept that the chapter is what it is and move on to the next one… just to repeat the process. I apologize for what you're about to read. I'll try and spruce it up better when I start editing the story as whole, but this was as good as I could get it for now.

Warnings: This is slash, gay, shounen-ai Tom/Harry, Harry/Tom and Sirius/Remus, Remus/Sirius

Notes: (X) is pov change and or time jump

Chapter 13

"No!"

Harry blinked, surprised at Tom's sudden outburst. What did he mean no? No wasn't exactly an option here. "Tom—"

"No," he repeated, his eyes narrowing. "You almost died the other day!"

All of us almost died the other day. Given the look in his boyfriend's eyes, it didn't seem wise to say that out loud. "I can't just let Milan kill my mum," Harry protested. Surely his boyfriend had to understand that. It wasn't like he was trying to steal food from Dudley or offering to be Neville Longbottom's partner in Potions. He actually had a chance at surviving this, and he had to do it. This was about his mother.

"But it's okay if something happens to you!?"

"Of course not." His mother would be livid if she found out he'd sacrificed himself to save her. "I don't want anything to happen to anyone, but I have to try. I'll never forgive myself if I don't."

"Milan's managed to double his following while he was in Azkaban. If we don't stop him, he'll only get more people behind him," Sirius said. "We can't let that happen."

Tom stared at Sirius. "Of course, you can't! You're an Auror! It's your job to go after people like Milan! But as his godfather, you shouldn't be encouraging him to go and get himself killed!" The rage radiating from Tom and the hatred in his eyes directed at Sirius scared Harry.

Sirius looked taken aback. "I don't want Harry killed!"

"He almost died," Tom said, no doubt hoping that Harry hadn't heard him the first time and that by saying it again, it would change his mind. "If I hadn't stepped in, he'd be dead! So would James!"

"Tom—" Harry couldn't believe how fast Tom's emotional state was deteriorating. Is this what Dumbledore had meant when he'd said Tom and Harry should be kept apart? His boyfriend wasn't even attempting to listen to reason at this point. There was no point in getting worked up about any of this right now, they didn't even know where Milan was.

"Shut up!" He climbed off the lounge chair, his shoulder shoving into Harry as he got off.

"Tom!" Harry attempted to grab Tom's wrist as he fell forward, but the Slytherin dodged it with ease.

"Watch it," Sirius snapped, catching Harry.

Snarling, Tom turned back to them, his eyes slits. "I risked everything to save you and your father, and now you want to just walk right back to Milan! I CAN'T!" Harry scrambled off the chair, stopping only when Tom held his hand out in front of him. "I can't," he repeated, his voice calmer as he dropped his hand to his side. "If you're that determined to get yourself killed, I'm not going to watch." His expression begged Harry to see reason while also managing to look absolutely devastated.

Harry wanted so badly to tell Tom he was right. It was too dangerous, and he would stay put while the adults handled the mess. He was sure if he did, Tom would forgive him and they could go back inside, eat lunch, and crawl back under the blankets. And Harry would regret it for the rest of his life. Not just because he wanted to prove to everyone, he was good enough to be an Auror, but because Milan had his mother. "We can't just let someone like Milan go free so he can kidnap anyone whenever he wants," he said, managing to grab Tom's wrist. How could he get Tom to understand? Yes, he was doing this for his mother, but it would benefit all the people Milan planned on targeting later on if he wasn't stopped now. "Milan has to be stopped."

"And we're not going to be caught off guard this time," Sirius added. "We'll have a real plan this time."

"You don't even know where Lily is!"

"No, but we will, and then we can decide the best way to handle it." His godfather still looked somewhat annoyed, but thankfully wasn't raising his voice. There was no telling what might happen if Tom and Sirius decided to duel, besides the obvious. They'd destroy Dumbledore's house, Harry would know who to try to stop first, they'd get kicked out, not to mention all the other horrible things that could happen.

The door to the house opened, Dumbledore and Remus walking out, both of them clearly worried.

"We heard yelling," Remus said, looking back and forth. His face fell as he took in the sight before him. "What's going on?"

"Your godson has a death wish," Tom growled. "And I'm done trying to stop him from pursuing it." He jerked his wrist away from Harry, a look of shock taking over when he saw that he'd failed in freeing himself.

"I'm not going to abandon my mum because you're worried about me. I'm sorry if you can't accept that. I love you, but I love my mum too." Harry let go of him.

Tom stared at him for half a second before shaking his head. "Fine. Go find your mother and whatever the outcome, don't bother coming back!"

Harry stared at his boyfriend, the words running through his mind on repeat and slowly sinking in, causing cracks in his sanity. Tom didn't mean that, right? He couldn't possibly mean that. After everything they'd already gone through, him wanting to save his mother was the breaking point? That, out of everything, was the one thing Tom couldn't accept?

"You're hurt and you're scared, we all are. But that doesn't give you the right to take it out on my godson," Sirius snapped.

"No…" He looked back to Harry, frowning, hundreds of emotions flashing across his eyes, all of them sad. "No, I'm just done," he said evenly. He turned his back on them and strode into the house without a single look back.

"But…" Harry watched Tom go, unable to get any other words out. Internally he screamed at himself to say or do something, anything to stop Tom and try to get him to listen, but his voice and body refused to obey. Deep down he knew if he went after Tom it would only make things worse. Tom...

"Tom," Dumbledore called after him. The teen didn't acknowledge his adopted father, instead slamming the door shut once he was inside.

"I knew he wasn't ready," Dumbledore sighed, turning back to them. He looked stressed out and tired, and Harry couldn't blame him. It was hard enough to keep up with a happy Tom, let alone a pissed off one.

"We'll get James and leave." Sirius said, then frowned. "Remus, where do we even go from here?"

Dumbledore's eyes widened. "You can't leave!" He moved closer to them.

"We appreciate you taking us in despite the risks, but with these two fighting—" Sirius started.

"Risking your lives because these two are fighting is ridiculous!"

"I agree," Remus said. "We can't afford to do anything rash."

"We can't stay here. That kid just dumped Harry!"

Harry opened his mouth to say something, anything, but he still couldn't get anything to come out. He didn't want to end his relationship like this. Not because he wanted to save his mother. But I told Dumbledore if Tom said he didn't want to see me… Frowning, he went back to the chair and sat down. Tom had been one of the few good things in his life since everything had gone to hell, and now his boyfriend had made him choose between him and his mother. It wasn't fair or right, and he knew he should have expected it sooner. I should have never given in. Why hadn't he listened to all the warnings in his head back in Wiltshire? As happy as Tom had made him, as many times as he'd saved Harry, the sudden pain and loss at having the relationship end didn't make any of it worth it. The grief oozing through every crevice in his defenses was far stronger than the joy he'd experienced and would overwhelm him soon if he didn't redirect his mind on something else.

Sirius sat down next to him. "Are you okay?"

He nodded, clearly not okay, but telling Sirius would only cause more fighting. And despite the heartache threatening to rush over him, his mind was clear enough for him to know Remus and Dumbledore were right. Leaving now without a plan or knowing where they should go next would be suicidal and none of them would be able to save his mum if they were all dead. Not that he was sure he could even survive stepping outside of Dumbledore's protected home, let alone make it through the rest of his messed-up summer holiday without Tom. A meteor might slam into him as soon as they walked past the fence. If I fall apart here… He couldn't let that happen, not until after he'd gotten his mother back. "I'm fine." His voice sounded hollow, but it was the best he could do right now.

Sirius seemed to relax at that. "Tom's out of sight, why don't we get you back upstairs?"

I don't want to go back inside. Sirius helped him to his feet and towards the door. What if he ran into Tom while they decided where to go? Would he scream at Harry more, or would he pretend Harry didn't exist? He was pretty sure the later was worse, and that's how Tom treated the exes he was angry with. Suddenly those people no longer existed in his reality, and so help them if they tried to wiggle their way back in. It'll be okay. I'll be okay. He kept his eyes forward and Sirius's arm wrapped around his shoulders as he entered the house. "Harry—"

"I don't want to talk about it." He saw the hurt in his godfather's eyes, but he just couldn't. Not yet. Not until they'd gotten far away from Tom and this house. Maybe not until Milan was dead. What were the chances they'd kill Milan and save his mother a day or two before the school term started and he wouldn't have time to indulge in a complete breakdown? If he could just make it back to school, his friends and classes would distract him from everything… except every time he saw the headmaster… He groaned.

"Do you know of anywhere else safe," Remus asked. He and Dumbledore were trailing behind Sirius and himself.

"No," Dumbledore said. "Milan wants all of you dead, and I fear nowhere is truly safe from him right now."

"We already know he has followers outside of England," Remus said.

"They are, however, less in numbers the further you go from England."

They entered the bedroom James was in.

"Why are you so pale?" Harry blinked a few times, his gaze going to his father. James was sitting up in the bed, looking thoroughly exhausted, and yet his eyes were alert. Without thinking, Harry ran across the room, climbed onto the bed, and clung to his father. "Harry?" His arms went around Harry immediately. "What's wrong?"

"That brat dumped him," Sirius said, scowling. He stopped next to the bed. "You feeling alright?"

"I warned all of you Tom was not mentally stable and none of you listened!" Dumbledore waited until Remus had joined them in the room and slammed the door shut.

The action made Harry smile. It seemed Tom had picked up some of his habits from Dumbledore. Tom's parting words echoed in his mind again, taking with it any joy the realization had brought.

I'd tried to stay away, Harry mentally grumbled. He'd been depressed, but he'd kept his distance and stayed out of sight as much as possible per Dumbledore's request. Remus was the one who'd sent Tom after him, not that he blamed his godfather. Tom had probably used his skills of master manipulation and convinced Remus that Dumbledore was crazy, and he was fine, just like he'd done to Harry and now here they were. All of them fighting over what to do next and Harry clinging to his father like a two-year-old, single, and unsure what to do first. Scream or just jump out the window and into the ocean so he could just be done with it all.

"I screwed up," he whispered.

"We all do," James said, and when Harry looked up, his father was smiling tiredly at him. "Let's look on the bright side. It looks like we survived the Ministry attack."

"Only because Sirius, Remus, and Tom came running in and saved us." He sat up, his father's hug and smile somehow driving some of his darker thoughts out of his mind and behind his mental shield. Now if he could just get them to stay there, preferably until he died.

"If you leave now, Tom will fall apart," Dumbledore pleaded.

"And we're supposed to be okay with Harry falling apart," Sirius demanded.

"Of course not," the headmaster said. "I'm asking that none of you do anything drastic and to wait until everyone's tempers have cooled down before making any decisions."

"Jeez. Once you're awake you aren't entitled to any peace, are you?"

"Nope," Harry said, managing to smile at his father.

James sighed and pulled himself up more. "Will all of you stop for just a minute?" The three adults did, though Dumbledore and Sirius kept glaring at each other, and Harry decided it would be a miracle if the two didn't get into a fight the second they succeeded in ditching Remus. "I'm going to guess since we're in Dumbledore's house, Milan is still alive?"

"I tried," Harry said, images of Milan staggering forward after he'd been impaled going through his mind. One more screw up to add to his list. If he'd killed Milan, he and Tom would still be together, and his mother would be safe. "I put a bar through his stomach. The Fiendfyregot into the stairway, but he still escaped."

James let out a breath. "Thank Merlin for that."

"Huh?" That was the last thing he'd expected to hear from his father.

"I know we want Milan dead, but if you'd killed someone while I was taking care of you, your mother—"

"DAD!" This was hardly the time for jokes! "Milan is alive, and he still has mum!"

"I figured," he said, still smiling. "But I trust your mother to handle herself. She's fine. I'm more worried about Milan, to be honest. If he's stupid enough to tell her he almost killed us, well. Let's just say as a healer, your mother knows some ingenious ways to make someone feel pain."

"Mum would never—!"

"She would for you Harry." He sounded so sure of himself that Harry believed him, despite everything else he knew about his mother. "Okay, so let's forget about Lils for just a minute, because I know she's okay. Why are these two fighting?" He motioned to Harry.

"Because I wanted to go help save mum."

James raised an eyebrow. "After promising him you'd stop leaving him?"

Harry nodded. "He thinks I'm going to get myself killed."

"Are you?"

"Not intentionally," he shouted, his face burning.

"So, you're breaking your promise."

"No!" But he realized instantly what his father meant, and that he was right. There was a chance he wouldn't survive another run in with Milan, and that meant he'd be leaving Tom again, thus breaking his promise. "Yeah… But I can't just not help mum!"

"We have to stop Milan," Sirius cut in.

"You could at least wait for one of our contacts to get back to us on Milan's whereabouts," Dumbledore shouted.

"I didn't say anything about giving up on saving Lily or not going stopping Milan. I just want Harry to know why Tom's so upset." The room went quiet. Harry noticed Remus was standing behind Sirius and smiling. "I won't make you, but I think you need to apologize to him before we go anywhere, in case we don't make it back."

Sirius started to say something, and James gave him the darkest glare Harry had ever seen on his father's face. His godfather closed his mouth, but he didn't look happy.

Another unexpected sentence. So, his father didn't think they'd survive another duel with Milan? He was so used to his father acting like he was capable of anything, for him to admit that they might not win against Milan, or at least not live through it… "O, okay, but I don't think he wants to talk to me."

"That's okay. Write him a letter. You can leave it here for him so he can read it when he's ready." Harry didn't think Tom would ever be ready to read anything from him, but maybe he would feel better after writing the apology. He was still mad and confused, but his father was right. He owed it to Tom to try to explain everything and to apologize, just in case he didn't come back.

He looked at Dumbledore. "Would you hold on to it?"

"Of course," Dumbledore said without hesitation.

"Alright, now that Harry has a goal to focus on. What are we going to do? What's going on with Milan and his followers?"

Harry couldn't help being impressed by his father's sudden display of leadership skills. James often acted like a fool and joked every chance he got, but beneath his prankster side he was quite smart. No wonder mum fell for him.

"It's not good," Remus said. "There were a lot more than we believed just at the ministry alone. We underestimated him. As far as what Milan's actually after, there haven't been any more attacks or demands since the Ministry."

"I would like to think a pole and some Fiendfyre was enough to slow him down for a day and give us some time to recover," James said. "Do we have any idea where him or Lily might be?"

Remus shook his head.

"There was a rumor," Dumbledore mumbled, refusing to meet anyone's gaze. "I sent Klaus to investigate, but he's yet to contact me."

James frowned. "… Klaus is pretty skilled. Where did you send him?"

Dumbledore looked torn and Harry began to wonder if the headmaster had been withholding this information for a while so no one would run off. Even if he'd been doing it for Tom's sake, if his mother died because he didn't want anyone to leave right away…

"The catacombs in Paris. Others have seen some of Milan's followers using entrances unknown to Muggles. One reported seeing Alexandre dragging a man down there from a tunnel in Petite Ceinture."

"The catacombs," James groaned.

What had Harry and his family done to make France hate them so much this summer? Where do we even start? The catacombs under France weren't completely mapped out by Muggles or Wizards. Plenty had tried, both sides losing countless numbers of people in their attempts. Muggles thought the deaths were from cave ins and people getting lost in general, which was true, for about two percent of everyone who died down there. The catacombs were actually filled with magical creatures and spells left behind by various Witches and Wizards who just wanted to be left alone, were up to no good, or needed a secluded spot for some reason. Never thought it'd pay off to listen to one of Binn's History lessons. Luckily, the words 'maze' and 'skeleton' had made him look up from the stick figure he'd been drawing that day in class.

"Do we know what entrance he used," James finally asked.

"The twelfth arrondissement," Dumbledore said.

"So, it's safe to assume that Klaus found something and hasn't come out yet, or that he's been taken prisoner," Remus said. "Which tunnel?"

"I have a map downstairs," Dumbledore sighed.

"Alright. Do you need anything James," Remus asked.

"I'm okay, for now."

"Send Harry down if you think of something." James nodded and Remus left the room with Dumbledore.

When the door was shut leaving the other three alone, Harry noticed Sirius's hands were balled into fists. "Why should Harry have to apologize for that stupid kid losing his mind?"

"Because I don't want Harry, having any regrets when he goes into the catacombs," James sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Besides, with all the hell this family has put that kid through, he deserves an apology from all of us."

"It wasn't Harry's fault!"

"I don't care whose fault it was. I don't want Harry having any regrets if this goes wrong. I can't have him becoming a ghost."

Harry blinked at that. If he died now, as things were, would he have too much regret to cross over? He loved Tom, it would be nice to say bye to him properly, but becoming a ghost? If he was that determined to tell Tom anything, he'd wait until the teen died himself.

"Harry won't become a ghost!"

"He's in love," James said, flatly. "I'm not risking it."

"I don't like it."

"You're not the one writing the apology."

Sirius threw his arms into the air and left the room. Harry could hear his godfather's footsteps stomping down the hall and then down the stairs.

"Don't worry about it. He'll get over it," James said.

"I hope so… Do you really think I'd choose to be a ghost?"

"No, but the catacombs, Milan." He let out a long sigh. "I just have a bad feeling, that's all. I know I can't talk you out of going and I don't want you regretting anything should the worst happen."

"Tom's not worth becoming a ghost for," he muttered. Besides, what good would being a ghost do for him? He could haunt Tom, sure, but the teen probably knew how to exorcise ghosts making the whole thing pointless. No, if he wanted to be with Tom, he wanted to be with him alive.

"If you want a chance at getting him back, you'll at least leave him with an apology." He frowned. "And given the way our luck is going, maybe another one that says goodbye."

Harry winced at that and nodded. His father really didn't think they were coming back. He really wanted that Time Turner now. Not just to spare himself from a breakup with Tom, but to stop Milan from ever escaping Azkaban. "Any chance you grabbed a Time Turner while we were at the Ministry?"

"That might have saved us some trouble, huh?"

(X)

Harry hadn't been sure where he was going to get parchment or anything else to write his letter to Tom with until Dumbledore had been nice enough to show up with everything he could possibly need. A small bottle of ink, a quill, and what he'd thought at first was overkill, about twenty pieces of parchment. He'd already crumpled up eight pieces and chucked them into the rubbish bin and hoped the headmaster had more somewhere in the house because he didn't think the next sixteen were going to be enough.

His father had fallen back asleep and his godparents were in another room, leaving Harry alone on the floor with the bedding him and Tom had been sharing that morning, annoyed and just wanting to leave.

'I hope you're handling this better than I am.'He let out a choked laugh. Of course, Tom was handling this better than he was! Tom was the one who'd broken it off! He crushed up piece of paper number nine and it joined the other eight pieces.

Closing his eyes, he pulled his pillow over his head. Was he really never going to see Tom again? I should try to explain everything to him again. That might be better than trying to apologize, but would Tom even bother reading his letter either way? He'd made it clear on the porch he didn't want anything to do with Harry anymore. Maybe he could write it now and ask Dumbledore to burn it if he survived.

He unburied himself from beneath the pillow and started again.

'I know you're mad and right now, I am too, but I think it's because we're both hurt. All I can say is, it's my mother. I have to do everything I can to save her.'

He reread what he'd written, rolled his eyes and threw it across the floor. Leaving a letter like that for Tom would just make him track Harry down to set him on fire. That would let him see him again though…

'A few nights ago, we were both "pretty sure" we loved each other. I don't want to give that up. I'll let you decide because the last thing I want to be is one of those creepy exes you mentioned.' Too late for that.

Growling, he threw that one across the room as well.

'Get over it so we can make up and snog!'

"Yeah, right." It might be safer to wait before writing any letters, but they were leaving tomorrow morning before the Petite Ceinture opened for any visitors. "He won't read them." So, I can write whatever I want, right? Even if he didn't make it back, Dumbledore disapproved of their relationship and after the deck incident, Harry couldn't help agreeing with the headmaster that they shouldn't have ever been together. Besides, Harry would have to give Dumbledore the letter, because Tom would never take it from him and the headmaster could decide Tom would never be ready to read his letter. In fact, Dumbledore would probably take the letter and the second Harry was out of sight would burn the thing.

This isn't for Tom… Dad wanted me to write this for me. He grabbed another piece of parchment.

'I told my dad what happened, and he explained to me why you got so mad. I broke my promise to you, and I feel bad, but I can't just not help save my mother. I'd thought you would understand that, at least enough for us to meet halfway. I mean, we've been through so much; I can't even imagine anyone else tolerating half of the things you have in the short time we've been together. You put up with my grumpy attitude, both sides of my family, and the hell that suddenly consumed my life this summer, but trying to save my mother you can't handle?

You are by far the most amazing, talented, manipulative arsehole I've ever met, and I love you so much, that once this is all over and I have nowhere else to run, I'm going to fall apart. You deserve someone who doesn't bring so much chaos into your life though, or even a fraction of the grief and annoyance that I've caused you. Maybe you should track down Hermione, I think the two of you would hit it off. She's brilliant and will understand and adore all of your research.

I'm sorry I was such a failure of a boyfriend. I want to say if none of this had happened, maybe we'd have had had a chance, but I feel like I still would have screwed, eventually. Things would have ended in one big messy, fight one way or another. Maybe you knew that and decided to end it before things became more serious between us. I'm still glad we met and that you even bothered to talk to some random guy from a bookstore who was buying shoddy writing supplies. I have no idea if I'll ever see you again, given what you told me about your exes, probably not. Thanks for the time you did spend with me. Thanks for all the times you've saved me this summer. I don't think I would have made it this far without you given the way my summer has been going. I'll miss you even if you forget me.

Maybe don't give Dumbledore such a hard time? I think deep down, he really loves you.'

He reread the letter a few times. It was far from perfect, but he did feel better having written it, even though Tom would never see it. Would be worse if he did… He'd done his part and Dumbledore would do his own as soon as they left. He placed the ink bottle back onto the bedside table, placed the letter into an envelope, closed it, and placed the letter under his pillow. With everything finished, he flipped onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. His father seemed to think they weren't coming back from the catacombs. He wished he could tell Tom bye in person, but that was probably the last thing Tom needed right now.

At least he was going with his family.

He was still staring at the ceiling what was no doubt hours later, his thoughts on overdrive and refusing to let him sleep. Sighing, he got to his feet and left the room, hoping at least one of his godparents were still awake. One of them would have a calming draught or be able to make him one. He counted the doors as he went, stopping at the fourth one from James' room. He gave a small knock and waited. No sounds from movement or voice came from inside the room. They wouldn't be mad if he woke them up, but it felt wrong all the same.

Maybe Dumbledore has some. Not that he knew where Dumbledore would keep a calming or sleeping draught. He started for the stairs directly across from the room his godparents were staying in and bit down on his fist so he wouldn't scream. Tom was sitting on the couch, his legs thrown over the armrest, staring out the window. There was just enough light for Harry to make out his features. Quietly, he moved forward to lean on the banister. One last look. Tom's face gave no hint to his feelings or what he was thinking. It was a nice contrast to the way he'd looked earlier on the deck. You can't be one of those stalker exes, he warned himself. Tom hated those, and he was pretty sure he hated Harry enough without adding crazy stalker to his credentials. Not like I'll have a chance to do this after tonight. If his father was right, they'd wouldn't be leaving the catacombs. I need to tell my other friends goodbye. It hadn't even occurred to him that he should leave letters for Hermione and Ron, maybe even Draco.

Movement pulled his attention back to the couch. Tom was looking at him, his glare causing a shiver to run down Harry's spine. Bye Tom. He stepped away from the banister andwalked back to his father's room in record time, locking the door behind him.

He dropped down onto the blankets, frowning when he felt a few drops of water on his hand. Stop it! He tried to will himself to stop crying and as always failed. Just write the other letters! Deep down he'd hoped Tom would come after him, even if it was just to yell at him. I should have said bye while I had the chance. Why am I such a coward?

(X)

"There's still no word from Klaus…"

"All the more reason we should leave now."

Harry frowned, opening his eyes. It seemed he'd drifted off at some point between writing the three letters to his friends and crying. Pale light filled the room from the window. His godparents were sitting on the bed next to his father, who looked better than he had the day before. Not perfect, but better.

"Morning," Sirius said, grinning, or trying to. He didn't seem to be able to lift the sides of his mouth up to manage a full smile. "Did you umm…get any sleep last night?"

"Yeah." He hadn't thought he would after his run in with Tom, but even his most depressing thoughts hadn't been able to keep him awake. Surprising, but good. Being sleep deprived usually didn't allow for someone to be reliable and they all needed to be able to rely on each other today.

"Sirius and I went and bought supplies while the two of you were sleeping." Remus motion to the bags sitting at the foot of James' bed. "Are you sure you want to go with us?"

"Of course, I do," Harry said, glaring at his godfather. Why would Remus even ask such a thing? He was not going to abandon his mother or his family, and what did he have left besides them?

"I just want to make sure. None of us can promise this is going to go well."

It was way too late for Harry to get a happy ending. And just because they were understandably worried didn't mean they weren't going to survive. Fiendfyre took awhile to heal from. They could be walking into the catacombs with only a few of Milan's followers, inside and he doubted any of them would be nearly as strong as Alexandre or Milan. "I'm going."

"Here." Sirius shoved a sandwich into his hands. "We've eaten already. As soon as you're done, we're leaving."

"Okay." He ate his sandwich quick, knowing if he didn't, he wouldn't be able to get it down. Once he'd had his so-called breakfast, he took the bag Sirius handed to him, and the letters he'd written the night before from under his pillow. Sirius scowled when he saw them but said nothing. "Do you feel any better dad?"

"Good enough," he said. "I'm not fully healed, none of us are, but as things stand…"

Harry knew what he meant. They had no idea who they could trust to help save his mother besides Dumbledore, and he knew that wasn't going to happen. If they wanted Lily back, it was up to them. They gathered up everything in silence and left the room.

"If you're waiting for an apology, I'm not giving you or your prodigy one," Sirius growled as they approached the steps.

Harry looked over the banister. Dumbledore stood at the bottom of the stairs, frowning. He hoped Dumbledore and Sirius hadn't gotten into a fight after Remus went to sleep. "Nor do I expect one. Tom was out of line and I fear will come to regret his outburst all too soon. We disagree because we have what we believe to be the two's best interests in mind, different as those ideas may be."

Harry wished Tom regretted his words, but he didn't, couldn't believe that. If he thought, there was even the slightest of chances Tom would take him back... All he had to do though was remember the glare Tom had given him the night before to remind himself that it was definitely over. There will be other boyfriends. I only have one mother. If we get out of the catacombs alive, anyway.

"We shouldn't have stayed to begin with," Sirius said.

Yeah, because that would have went well. They might have made it to Sirius's condo or to Harry's house where they might have been safe until they had to leave for food or when Tom realized where they were and destroyed wherever they were staying. Tom would have still accused him of abandoning him, and they would have ended up fighting, anyway. This relationship was doomed from the start. He promised himself he was going to listen to his common-sense next time if there was a next time.

"Or left after Remus and I were well enough to go into The Bay."

"What you're doing is suicidal," Dumbledore muttered, moving away from the stairs as they joined him on the main floor.

"We have to find Lily," James said, gently.

"Even if it is, this isn't just about Lily anymore," Remus said. "A lot of people have fallen victim to Milan. We have to stop him."

The headmaster nodded slowly. "... I know and I will send you whatever information is sent to me about Milan."

"Thank you." Remus turned to Harry. "Ready?"

"Yeah." A complete lie, but saying anything else wouldn't change a thing. While the others started pulling on their shoes, Harry went over to Dumbledore and held out the letters. "Here." Dumbledore stared at them a moment before he took it. "If I don't make it back, please send the three letters to my friends. Do whatever you want with Tom's. You can throw it away or rip it up, but knowing Tom, if you don't want him to see it, I'd set it on fire and throw the ashes into the ocean," he said, quietly.

Dumbledore smiled. "Knowing him, he'd still find a way to read it."

"I don't think you'll have to worry about that, he won't want to read anything I've written."

"No?"

"…We both know once he's done with someone, he's done. My letter wouldn't be any difference then the ones he receives from his other exes." He thought about it a moment and sighed. "I'm trusting you with this letter, knowing you're going to destroy it the second we're out that door. Let him keep his anger. If he hates me, he won't think twice if none of us make it back."

The smell disappeared from Dumbledore's face. "Tom is stubborn, yes, but no matter how angry he is with you right now, he will be devastated if you do not come back. For the sake of the entire world, do us a favor and survive."

"I'll try," he said, deciding that was probably the only thing to say without the risk of lying. "Just destroy it the first chance you get. It's embarrassing." He joined his family in putting his shoes on then.

Together, the four of them left the house, Dumbledore watching from the doorway. James waved at Dumbledore, grinning as always before he snatched Harry's hand. Harry swore he saw some sort of movement from the direction of the house, but he blinked, and it was gone. Wish I'd gotten more sleep.

"Ready," Remus asked.

"Let's go save Lily," Sirius said.

They grabbed each other's hands and Apparated.

(X)

They arrived in front of a large tunnel, stone brick walls towering high above them on either side, covered in moss. The outer top part of the tunnel was also made from stone and, sadly, covered in graffiti. Harry could just make out the first four feet or so inside the tunnel. Beyond that, the light had given up.

"Torches," Remus reminded them. Harry couldn't help snickering, Sirius was already holding his wand up, looking guilty. "Just until we're actually in the catacombs." He pressed the button on the torch in his hand and started into the tunnel.

"Yeah, Sirius. Don't get us arrested by Ministry officials," James grinned before vanishing into the tunnel after Remus.

Sirius took a step towards the tunnel and stopped. "… You sure you're okay?"

"Even if I wasn't, what good would it do?" He rummaged through his bag and pulled the torch out of it.

"Might help if you talk."

"After we save mum."

"… You're a strong kid. That brat has no idea what he's giving up." He started into the tunnel, Harry rolling his eyes when his godfather's wand lit up.

"A funeral without a body." He wondered if anyone would even bother attending. They'd technically been dumb enough to go into the catacombs themselves, knowing how dangerous it was.

"This isn't going to be easy. Your dad just wanted you to understand how dangerous this was, but we'll all make it out of here alive. Everyone, except for Milan."

"Maybe."

"No, maybe. Do you actually think I'd let anything happen to you or Remus?"

Harry shook his head. No, Sirius would die protecting both of them. But what could he do once he was gone?

They followed the rusted railroad tracks, the darkness so thick it seemed to eat any light from the torches and Sirius's wand. The smell of damp mold, grass, and soil assaulted his senses, making his eyes water. Above them, rows up rows of bats shifting nervously at the intrusion. Just out of sight, they could hear the scrambling of mice and who knew what else.

"The door should be just a little further in," Remus said.

"Last chance to use some common sense and leave," James said, looking to Harry.

"I'm not leaving," he growled.

"Wish you would," James muttered, slowing down, so he was walking next to Harry. "There aren't any other heirs to the Potter bloodline you know."

"I'm going with," Harry said, glaring at his father. Who cared about the Potter bloodline? If his father was so worried about that, Harry should have younger siblings.

James sighed. "You two are my witnesses. I tried talking him out of it."

Remus shook his head as Sirius snickered.

"Here." Remus stopped in front of a wall covered in more graffiti. He removed his wand and tapped it against a rather detailed painting of an eyeball. Harry stepped back when it blinked at them. Bricks began moving away from each other, forming a doorway. "Let's get this over with," Remus said, his face grim. He walked into the entrance, James following close behind.

Sirius shoved Harry in ahead of him and brought up the back.

The entrance way was big enough for them to walk single file down it. Harry had the sinking feeling it wasn't going to be Milan to kill them, but the tunnels themselves. They were currently in a passage carved out of dirt with no support beams or anything else to suggest that it had been made with the intention of remaining put for very long.

Insects scuttled across when their hiding spots were exposed by a torch or wand light. Even the spider that ran past him on the ground about the size of his foot seemed innocent enough compared to the other things he'd heard dwelled within the catacombs. Ron would have had a heart attack. He wished he'd brought a camera with.

(TBC)