Alice felt huge. Gone were the days where she could sleep comfortably, or even see her feet. No, as summer had begun and the longest day of the year been reached, she had arrived at her final month of pregnancy. She was swollen and uncomfortable, always too hot – no matter what the temperature was. Frank did what he could to help, bringing cool drinks and ice cream home with him after a shift at work. Yet, now that she had only a few weeks between her and the arrival of the baby, Alice didn't even have paperwork to distract her.

Today she was lucky though. It was a Sunday, which meant she had Frank home and all to herself. Alice spent the afternoon lounging in the back garden, enjoying the sun, which had crept out from behind the clouds for the first time in days. It was beautiful weather and Alice wore her loosest sundress – one of the few things that still fit.

"Is it just me or did nine months pass very quickly?" Frank asked, sliding the door shut behind him as he entered the garden. He passed Alice an iced tea, sitting on the end of her lawn chair.

"It couldn't be taking any longer for me at this point," Alice complained, running her hands over her belly. Gone were the days when she'd disguised it beneath baggy sweaters and layers of clothes. No, she'd need a truck to hide the stomach on her now.

"Soon enough," Frank smiled. Without encouragement he lifted Alice's feet into his lap, rubbing them the way he knew she loved. Alice couldn't complain about her husband. Frank had been dotting from the moment she'd revealed she was pregnant, making sure that she was always as comfortable as possible.

"Remember when we used to have sex?" she asked. Frank snorted with amusement.

"Yeah, vague memories."

A smile spread across Alice's face from cheek to cheek. "This feeling," she pointed to the massage she was getting, "takes a close second." It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon – and perhaps things would've stayed that serene for a little bit longer – but the moment was rudely interrupted.

"Hello?" a familiar voice chimed from inside the house. Alice's eyes – closed peacefully just seconds before – stared at Frank in horror.

"Is that your mother?" she demanded. The last thing Alice needed during her "relaxing" Sunday afternoon was her mother in law showing up. Reminding Alice what she could and couldn't eat, giving tips on child rearing, treating her like an ailing patient. The whole thing would drive her mad.

Alice heard the back door slide open and Frank's head perked up. "Hi mum," he greeted her, Alice staring at him with fury in her brown eyes. As usual, she struggled to get herself upright, swinging her feet over the side of the chair.

"Oh Alice dear, don't exert yourself!" Augusta insisted – as though the simple task of rising from a chair might be too much. "I just brought over a few things for the baby!"

"You really didn't have to—"

"I'll just bring them up to the room then?" Augusta interjected – ignoring Alice's subtle protest at any more "gifts." Augusta had practically decorated the whole nursery by herself. She turned back into the house, Alice ready to blow steam from her nose.

"Help me up," she commanded. Fran pulled her from the chair without protest, Alice waddling into the house after her mother in law with a purposeful stride.

"I just got a few little things," Augusta explained, wandering upstairs like she owned the place. "Clothes and such."

"Augusta really, we're quite prepared already—"

"I thought maybe I could stay for a few weeks after the baby's born? To help out?" Alice was glad Augusta's back was turned so that she missed the look of utter horror upon her daughter-in-law's face.

"Well that's kind, but really," Alice was out of breath as she rounded on the baby's room, "not necessary."

"What is the crib doing against that wall?" Augusta gasped. "I thought we agreed it should stay by the window?"

"I moved it." Alice refused to back down, standing tall with her arms crossed above her bump.

"We should put it back," Augusta insisted. "It gives the room more space—"

"No, that's fine—"

"Don't worry dear, you won't need to lift a finger – FRANK!" Augusta wailed out the door. "WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH THE CRIB!" If Alice weren't pregnant she might have throttled her. How on earth was her baby's bedroom out of her control? She didn't want the crib near the window in case the morning light was to wake the baby – or interrupt napping schedules. Of course, this was not something Augusta needed to concern herself with.

Alice was struggling to remain calm as she heard the sound of approaching footsteps, preparing herself for Frank to take his mother's side.

"Sorry," a female voice apologised, stepping into the room. "Frank's hiding in the kitchen."

"Merlin's sake," Augusta cursed beneath her breath. She exited the room, mumbling something about Frank's being a "stubborn boy." Marlene gave Alice one look and grew red faced with laughter.

"Oh my god," she chuckled, "you might go into labour right now with the look on your face."

"I'm going to murder her," Alice growled through gritted teeth. She sounded like a rabid animal. "I'm going to bloody murder her—"

"Come on." Marlene urged her friend forward, placing a comforting hand on Alice's shoulder. "Let's go find a quiet place to chat. We can fix whatever mess Augusta makes after she leaves."

Alice was grateful for the buffer, another minute alone with her mother in law might have caused a fight to break out – not a recommendation for expecting mothers. Marlene led the way to the master bedroom, shutting the door behind them.

"What's up?" Alice asked, settling rather uncomfortably at the foot of the bed. Marlene stood before her, playing with her fingers – an anxious tick.

"I'm going to do something that Moody would frown upon," she explained, "but I promise it's for the greater good."

"Merlin," Alice sighed, trying to remember what her carefree Sunday was supposed to look like. "Okay, go for it."

"Sirius is being sent out tonight with Gideon," Marlene explained, biting her lip nervously between sentences. "But I…I'm worried about it," she admitted. "Since that whole Emmeline debacle—"

"You mean when he found out his ex-girlfriend had moved on with another woman?"

"Right," Marlene cleared her throat awkwardly, "well…he's a bit…self-destructive."

"You mean he's been drinking more than ever before? Pissing everyone off? Throwing himself in the eye of danger?" Alice asked eyebrows rose.

"Alice, I don't think this is a good idea."

"Moody must think it's all right if he's sending him out—"

"Moody's desperate," Marlene stressed. "He knows we're losing, he's lost all sense of what is safe. He sent Emmeline out on a low-risk mission and nearly got her killed – he's losing it, Al."

"He's one of the best Aurors there is—"

"He was one of the best Aurors," Marlene corrected her, gaze pointed. The thought made Alice uneasy – if Alastor Moody was no longer the greatest soldier among them, who was? Moody had taught Alice everything she knew, she'd looked up to him during her early days in the office. He'd been her inspiration, one of the reasons becoming an Auror had been such an easy decision, what was the department without Alastor Moody at its head?

"What do you want then?" Alice asked. Her face had fallen, the humour was gone.

"Get him to pull Gideon out," Marlene insisted. "If anyone can convince him you can."

"And what if you're wrong?" Alice countered. "You can't pretend you're not a little close to the situation here."

"It's not about Sirius — he can take care of himself, I don't doubt that — I'm worried about Gideon, worried he might do something reckless…" Marlene's eyes fell, as though ashamed of the thoughts running through her mind. "You've been there before Al, so have I."

Alice remembered that dark period of her life all too well. The hopelessness, the lack of desire to even get out of bed in the morning. She felt the baby stir within her, pressing his foot into her rib cage painfully, and she was reminded of how precious life was. Her brown eyes rose to meet Marlene's gaze, now sharing in her determination.

"Okay," Alice agreed, "I'll do it."


Fabian pressed his fork into the apple crisp that Molly had prepared for lunch. With their parents away on vacation, Molly knew her brothers well enough to be certain they were rationing whatever food was left in the house – barely cooking meals for themselves. Fabian was grateful for the home cooked meal she had offered them that afternoon. The same could not be said for Gideon though.

He stirred around each course with disinterest, his nose barely rising from his plate. He'd been in a funk for weeks, freezing out everyone now that his future with Emmeline was clearly off the table.

"Gideon, look, Fred has something for you." The toddler had waddled up to the table and handed Gideon a poorly done drawing – presumably of the two of them – with a devilish grin.

"Thanks," Gideon mumbled, taking the child's work with little interest. Fabian, who was close enough to reach out for Fred, ruffled the young kid's hair with affection.

"That's okay," he spoke quietly to the toddler, "your uncle Fabian is much cooler." Fred waddled back towards the living room – where he and George played – chuckling. Gideon shot his brother a chilling glare.

"Watch it," he snapped – the whole table going still.

"What on earth is the matter with you?" Molly demanded. Their sister had little time for games, especially now that she had six children keeping her occupied. Arthur, who sat at the head of the table, watched the scene uncomfortably. He could feel the tension building between the three siblings and knew better than to get involved.

"Come on boys," Arthur beckoned his oldest sons, Bill and Charlie. "Let's help clear the table for your mum."

"But dad—" Bill began to protest. His brown eyes gazed downwards at the dessert he'd hardly had the chance to touch.

"We'll eat it in the living room," Arthur insisted, desperate to get away from the scene before chaos erupted. Happy with the compromise, Bill and Charlie gathered their things and left, Bill offering his uncles a final wave.

"Will you come see my train set afterwards?" Charlie asked Fabian before following.

"The minute I'm finished," he promised his nephew, the eight-year-old skipping off happily.

"I'll leave you three to it," Arthur said, his eyebrows raised suggestively. "Try not to kill one another."

Fabian could make no promises for his siblings. Molly looked her younger brother down with a deadly gaze that meant business. Gideon did his best to ignore it, watching his plate instead of her.

"For Merlin's sake," Fabian gave in after half a minute, "he and Emmeline have broken up."

"I thought that happened months ago?"

"Yes, but Gideon has just found out she's in love with someone else."

"She's found another man in a matter of months?" Molly asked in awe.

'Stop it," Gideon warned his brother before he could get out another word.

"She'll find out eventually Gid, you're not being very discreet—"

"You wanker—"

"Hey!" Molly silenced the pair of them. Her shout stirred Ron, asleep in his bassinet that rested at the back of the room. He made a few quiet noises to alert the room to his presence before letting out a piercing wail. He didn't calm until Molly scooped him into her arms and began rocking him back and forth.

"It's not another man," Fabian clarified despite Gideon's angry sigh from beside him. "She's seeing a woman."

"Fabian dated a man for a year," Gideon blurted out spitefully. Fabian refrained from smacking his brother across the side of his head. They'd agreed – long ago – to keep his romantic tendencies under wraps. He hadn't assumed that his "traditional" sister would understand his attraction to men.

Molly stared at them, wide eyed, trying to figure out whom to deal with first. She turned her milky brown eyes on Fabian, who bowed his head, wrecked with guilt. It had been impossible to keep secrets from Molly since they were children and any time he was caught he would feel as though he'd gravely disappointed her.

"Is that true?" Molly asked him. Fabian nodded his head, too afraid to face her.

"Why wouldn't you tell me?" his sister asked. Her voice lacked the pain or judgment Fabian had prepared himself for. When he found the courage to raise his eyes he found his sister looking remorseful, as if she had done something wrong.

"I was scared," Fabian admitted. "After the way Gideon reacted…"

"Blame it all on me," Gideon rolled his eyes.

"Oh please! You refused to sleep in our dorm for weeks! You refused to look at me in the corridors. You exiled me from your life when I needed your support most."

"Gideon, really?" Molly exclaimed.

"Of course you'd take his side!"

"I'm not!" Ron continued to stir anxiously in Molly's arms, upset by the arguing that took place around him.

"Great way to knock a man while he's down Mol."

"Now you're just being a child, you're the one who has been acting like someone died all afternoon!"

"Someone has died! Someone I love!"

"She's not dead Gideon," Fabian corrected his brother, forcing a placid tone for Ron's sake if anyone's. "She's the same Emmeline you were in love with for all that time, she's simply moved on. You can't punish her for that."

"She broke my heart," Gideon confessed. His voice cracked with anger. Fabian could see his fists clenched to his side, as though bottling up some uncontrollable rage. "She humiliated me."

"Gideon…" Molly's tone had softened now that her brother's pain was so clear. Fabian felt for him, mourning the end of a relationship and the difficulty of being left behind. Fabian had experienced it once too when a certain red haired girl had left him for another man…the right man. Fabian remembered all the stages of grief he had endured as he let go of Lily Evans, waiting for the pain and humiliation to subside. Luckily, it did.

"Now I have to see them together every time we have a bloody meeting."

"Give it a few weeks," Fabian suggested. "It'll get easier—"

"As if! We all said the same thing to you when Lily went for James, we all told you it was just a phase, and now look at them! She's about to have his baby!"

"And I'm not crying over it," Fabian reminded him dryly. He couldn't miss his brother's attempt at a subtle insult, reminding him that Lily had moved on for the better. "Time heals all wounds."

"Fat chance," Gideon snapped. He stood up abruptly, pushing his chair back with a painful screech. Molly clutched Ron to her chest, trying to prevent any further tears.

"Don't leave," she begged her brother. "Stay, I can make up the guest room. It'll be good for you to get a break from that world."

"And be surrounded by a bunch of screaming children? I'll pass." Molly flinched, as though the comment truly caused her pain.

Gideon had always struggled with expressing his feelings. As children, he'd been the same, acting cruellest to the ones who loved him rather than directing his anger at the problem. Fabian watched his sister's face fall as Gideon made his way to the door.

"Gideon, please!" Molly begged. "It's not good for you to be on your own in such a state." Gideon ignored her protests, slamming the door behind him as he left. Fabian, who remained in his seat at the table, frozen by the turn of events, watched as his sister's shoulders fell, the baby resuming its cries due to the sound of the door.

"Here," Fabian insisted, coming over to relive his troubled sister. He looked down into his nephew's eyes, a warm shade of brown. They were glistening with the tears he'd shed but now, passed into the arms of someone a little calmer than his mother, his crying lulled. He stared up at Fabian curiously. Wisps of ginger hair peeked out from the ends of the hat he wore.

"You need to take care of him," Molly said desperately. Fabian hated the suggestion that his twenty-year-old brother needed babysitting but in Gideon's state, she was right. He couldn't be trusted on his own. He was in a self-destructive state that could only be made worse in the presence of danger.

"Of course," Fabian promised, reaching out for Molly's hand. He drew her into his side, keeping her there until he felt her exhale some of the tension.

"Those four extra minute you got to cook made a big difference," Molly whispered, pulling a piece of fluff from her brother's hair with affection.


Lily drummed her fingers along the side of her glass, watching Emmeline expectantly. It was one of the first time the ladies had sat down just the two of them but – after the scene, Lily had witnessed in Mary's guest room – she was desperate to get her friend alone. They had decided upon lunch, in a cosy spot nestled in the middle of a side street in downtown London.

"He hates me," Emmeline sighed.

"He'll get over it." Lily had dealt with her own heart broken Prewett brother once. "He was shocked is all."

"Why should I have to protect him any longer?" Emmeline complained. "We've been broken up for months now!"

"We all thought it was temporary." Lily took a healthy gulp of her ice tea, hoping the cold drink might cool her rising body temperature. Being pregnant in the summer was no picnic.

"Maybe I did too," Emmeline shrugged. "But why should I have to settle? I mean, I'm twenty for Merlin's sake! Why am I going to waste my best years with someone I've fallen out of love with? Why should I not go after what I really want?"

"So Hestia…that's what you really want?" Lily asked uncertainly. Emmeline's new partner, for more reasons than one, had caught her off guard. Lily had never even seen the girls speak, let alone caught onto the growing affection between them.

"I don't know," Emmeline's shoulders slouched forward as she let out a big breath of air. "I'm…exploring."

"It sounded like you loved her," Lily quipped, "when we were all in that room…"

"Okay, well, I was also under the influence of some very heavy potion, and – might I add – was convinced I was on the verge of death!"

"Touché."

"Marlene told me he's been totally self-destructive," Emmeline said, face growing long and serious once more. Lily stirred around the ice in her glass, not wanting to say anything that might make Emmeline feel guiltier than she already did. Lily was the last person to judge someone for hurting others in order to obtain their own happiness; she had done the same years ago…

"He's…struggling…"

"He's going to do something stupid. God, he can be so thick sometimes—"

"It's not for you to fix," Lily reminded her friend, eyes rising knowingly. "It's his responsibility."

"I'm the one who pushed him towards this…"

"Emmeline, sooner or later we all have to take responsibility for ourselves." Lily found herself frustrated by the antics of her friends now that she was pregnant, just over a month from being a mother, and dealing with the turmoil of the world that surrounded her. Gideon's heartache seemed trivial in her eyes, his immature behaviour pitiful.

"I envy you, you know that?"

Lily laughed, hand running over her enormous stomach – she doubted she could stretch any further.

"Is that so? If you saw the size of my ankles right now you might think twice."

"You know what I mean," Emmeline rolled her eyes. "It all worked out, in one way or another. If you'd asked me a few years ago if you'd ever become Lily Potter I would have been rolling on the floor laughing."

"People change," Lily smiled. "You certainly have."

"So you don't think I should intervene?"

Lily knew that Marlene would disagree with her. She wanted everyone to rally around Gideon and try and save him, but that was Marlene. She couldn't stand the thought of not being able to save everyone. Lily, on the other hand, knew coddling would do him no good.

"Space," Lily advised her. "It's the only thing that fixes these situations."

"So I stay away? Wait until he's ready to talk?"

"It's what I would do."

Their waitress came by, dropping off a salad for Emmeline and a BLT for Lily – whose craving for meat seemed to have doubled in the past few months.

"So Hestia is…casual?" Lily asked once she'd taken her first few bites.

"We're taking it slow," Emmeline nodded. "Seeing where things go."

"She's cute," Lily grinned. It wasn't a lie; everyone knew it. Hestia was petite and fairy like. She had shoulder length dark hair and big blue eyes. She was kind, yet harsh when it came to the bottom line. Lily had always admired her and enjoyed the few occasions where they'd been placed on work together.

"Yeah," the blush rose in Emmeline's face, "she is."


Alice felt ridiculous wandering through the Auror office, the few people working the weekend shift smiling warily at her. She ignored the looks, breathing heavy as she reached Alastor Moody's office.

"Come in!"

"Hi sir," Alice greeted her boss. "Have a minute?"

"Shouldn't you be getting ready to have a baby?" Moody responded.

"Probably," Alice scoffed, dropping awkwardly into the chair in front of Moody's desk. He watched her curiously, hands clasped on top of the table.

"What can I do for you?"

"I'm concerned about Gideon."

"Concerned?"

"You've got him scheduled to go out on a raid tonight with Black—"

"Now how on earth do you know that you're not to be sharing information about missions."

"You can't send him out sir," Alice said, ignoring his previous warning. "He's in no state—"

"Do you know what it's been like around here?" Moody snapped. "I've had Vance out of commission since her incident, you and Potter are both gone, your husbands are too anxious to commit to anything that might be too dangerous—"

"Yes but—"

"I'm not finished," Moody said pointedly, in no mood for a lecture from Alice. She nodded, averting her eyes like a scolded child. "We're losing this bloody war and I've had it up to here with the demands from you lot. You signed on to this, you agreed to the consequences and the demands."

"You send him out there and you'll regret it."

"Is that a threat?"

"No," Alice sighed, too exhausted to argue. "It's the truth. You're sending Black and him on a suicide mission. Gideon is not a team player right now."

"I should kick you out of my office right now," Moody grumbled. Alice was surprised to find that at nine months pregnant she was more confident than she'd ever been facing off with Alastor Moody – her own boss.

"That's your choice," she shrugged. "I'm only here because I care. You know that."

"You're a pain in my ass is what I know," Moody responded, rubbing his hands along his tired face. He was worn out, anyone could see it. As tired as they all were, it was Moody who truly needed the war to end. He needed to see results after all the innocent bodies he'd sent to the grave.

"I can't take him off," he finally determined, "but I'll send Fabian out with him, make sure he keeps an eye on his brother. He'll be back up, just in case."

Alice knew it wasn't the result Marlene had hoped for but it was the best she could do. It was impossible to ask Moody for anymore and she didn't have the heart to.

"Thank you, sir."

"Now go home, and don't come back here until you've popped that baby out and I can put you to work!"

Alice laughed; rising from her chair with the same difficulty she'd experienced getting into it. "I'll take that as your version of congratulations."


"Hey," a tender voice whispered into Marlene's ear. "Wake up." She roused slowly, confused at first about her surroundings. A couch. The radio still playing softly beside her. A book spread open on her chest.

"What happened?" Marlene mumbled, sitting up on her elbows.

"You fell asleep," Sirius shrugged.

"What time is it?"

"Quarter past eight, I've got to get going soon."

Marlene felt more awake than ever, sitting up so quickly her book went flying to the floor. "No," she shook her head, "No, I was going to make you dinner—"

"It's fine," Sirius smirked. "I don't like to eat before going out on a mission anyway."

"But you need to! You can't go out without eating—"

"I can't be late either, I'm supposed to meet Gideon in fifteen minutes exactly." Marlene scrambled onto her knees, making herself the same height as Sirius, who leant over the back of the couch. She held his face in her hands and kissed him hard. A kiss to leave a mark.

"Don't go," she begged as they pulled apart.

"Marls…"

"I have a bad feeling about this! Remember the last time I had a bad feeling?" she reminded him darkly. The last time she had a bad feeling she'd watched Donovan's get burnt to the ground. It wasn't a risk she ever wanted to take again.

"Would it stop you?" Sirius asked her. Marlene bit her lip, shaking her head shamefully.

"No…"

"I have to go."

She didn't want him to. She hated watching him walk out the door, not knowing whether he'd live or die, not certain of what was happening to him for hours on end. Sirius could see the worry taking over. He came round the couch, stretching his arm around her shoulder.

"I'm going to be okay."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," she grumbled.

"You're going to stay here tonight?"

"I guess…"

"I'll wake you up when I get home," he promised. "You can see how well I keep my promises then."

Marlene turned to him, taking his face in her hands, her thumbs rubbing against his stubbly cheeks affectionately. She wanted to remember him just like this – in case. She'd never thought of that when she'd left Henry's bedroom, minutes before he was blown to pieces. She'd imagined there'd be a thousand more days to worry about that.

Marlene wanted to remember the piercing grey of Sirius' eyes, the stubble that now travelled from cheek to cheek, his hair – now just past his chin– and the slight wave to it. She pressed her lips to his and tried to memorise his taste, the feeling of his tongue in her mouth, his hands on her waist.

"We've done this before," he told her as they pulled apart.

"It doesn't make it any easier." She knew the same worries plagued him when it was her turn to walk out the door. It was the consequence of the job.

"Smile," he told her, knowing how much the suggestion pissed her off.

"Fuck you."

"Oh come on," Sirius teased, leaning forward with a sly smirk. "Just one little smile?"

"I mean it!" Marlene said, suppressing laughter. He kept moving forward, forcing her to fall back onto the couch, his hands on either side of her. His breath smelt of mint as he leant in, kissing her lips and then her neck, pulling at the skin he way she both loved and hated.

"I am not showing up to work tomorrow with a hickey on my neck!" she protested, giving Sirius a smack on the back. She could hear his muffled laughter as he resurfaced, knowing well the damage had been done.

"Just so you never forget me," he teased, Marlene rolling her eyes.

"What happened to your promise?"

The moment reminded Marlene too much of the final happy ones she'd shared with Henry. Was it because of her? Was she a bad omen? She couldn't stand the thought of losing Sirius. It made her inside clench and her chest ache as though a deep crack had been opened within it. She wanted to hold him to her and never let him go. She wanted to know he'd be home safely in a few hours time.

"Kiss me," she ordered. He did – no argument to be had – and rose from the couch with a triumphant smile. Marlene followed, walking him to the door, holding her breath all the while.

"Just wait," Sirius said, leaning in to whisper in her ear, "I'll leave all kinds of marks on you when I get home tonight."

Marlene watched him out the door, blushing.


When Sirius arrived in the alley – the night's meeting place – he found not one Prewett but two.

"I didn't know you'd be here," he said, looking towards Fabian. The younger of the twins leant uncomfortably against the brick wall, his head bent.

"Neither did I, Moody called me in last minute."

"Apparently I need a babysitter," Gideon grumbled irritably. Sirius could see it'd be a long night. The sun had set and the sky grew dark. The less light the more trouble they'd have and so the three men apparated into the night. They landed on the outskirts of the graveyard Moody had received the tip about.

With the sun out of sight, and darkness creeping in, the graveyard had an eerie feel. Sirius couldn't help but jump each time the wind blew a funny way, certain something (or someone) might come jumping out of a grave. He paused, listening for any sign of noise in the distance when Gideon sighed impatiently behind him.

"We better get some action tonight," he snapped, shoving past Sirius and Fabian to get a better look around.

"Prick," Fabian muttered under his breath once his brother was far enough ahead. Sirius smirked, unable to disagree in the moment.

"Emmeline did quite the number on him."

"You wouldn't realise that only a few months ago he stormed out on her at the Longbottoms' New Years party, would you? He has a funny way of distorting the past…"

Sirius could understand how easy it was to replace the bad memories with the good. Regardless, he couldn't sympathise with Gideon's tantrums and unfavourable attitude. While the three of them were meant to have each other's backs Gideon had disappeared into the fog that had settled upon the evening, leaving Sirius and Fabian behind to search for him.

"We need to find your brother a nice bird and distract him from this heartache," Sirius mumbled after five minutes of hopeless searching. The short period of light they'd been granted had faded and the fog did little to help with their already confusion surroundings.

"If we don't get murdered in this fucking graveyard," Fabian replied. His voice was tense, both men anxious to find Gideon before he got himself into any trouble.

"It'd be ironic though wouldn't it?" Sirius noted. They chuckled, soaking in the innocence of the moment, before hearing the sound of a spell being cast in the distance.

Sirius looked to Fabian like a deer in headlights. They went rigid, neither daring to breathe. It was quiet as they listened until the sound of another spell followed, both men set off in a sprint.

Fabian pulled his wand out, stretching it ahead of them at the ready. Neither dared draw more attention to them by casting a light but instead followed the sound of battle. Sirius saw a jet of green light shoot across the graveyard at high speed, his insides churning anxiously. What had Gideon done?

"Which fucking side is he on?" Fabian cursed from ahead, still fighting to remain out of sight. They inched closer and closer, staying low, hiding behind gravestones, crunching through the grass it was impossible to avoid making noise. When they were on the edge of the fighting they could see Gideon, across from them, about four Death Eaters between them and him.

"Shit," Fabian said under his breath, head bowed with the look of a losing man.

"We surprise these two with their backs to us," Sirius whispered urgently. "That just leaves the two facing Gideon and they'll be distracted."

"And if they're not?"

"It's the only shot we have at getting him out of this alive," Sirius said, watching as a spell Gideon narrowly avoided a jet of red light that shot past his ear. Sirius didn't warn Fabian before shooting up from where he'd been crouched on the ground, hitting the Death Eater closest to him with a powerful stunning spell. With his opponent knocked out cold, he disarmed him and turned to find Fabian rising, the second Death Eater more prepared.

Fabian's spell was blocked and the other two Death Eaters had noticed them, one turning away from the duel with Gideon to face Sirius. He wore a devilish grin beneath his black mask.

"A Black," he said with joy, tongue running along his lips. "Killing you is going to be quite the pleasure."

"I assure you, the pleasure is all mine," Sirius smirked.

He enjoyed the fight, the thrill of it, the rush after each spell he ducked. How often had he played with death? How many more times would he win? He refused to give in now. No, he had a point to prove, a promise to keep. There was a blonde haired girl waiting back in his bed for him and he refused to let her down.

Sirius had become so soaked up in his own fight he didn't notice the Death Eaters that had appeared as back up. Fabian – having already beaten his opponent – hexed Sirius', both men gasping for air.

"GO!" he ordered, Sirius still catching his breath.

"What the fuck are you—"

"GET HELP! There's too many for all three of us to take." Sirius looked around, eight Death Eaters circling in on them now. He could see Gideon, on the other side, growing tired. "I've got his back!"

"There's eight of them Prewett, I'm not going anywhere—"

"Get Dorcas, Remus, they'll be the best—"

A spell was thrown at Gideon, Fabian turning towards his brother in a panic, eyes wide. He carried a sense of responsibility Sirius couldn't quite understand. What was the use in him fleeing if it only left them more vulnerable?

"BLACK!" he howled once more. Sirius didn't feel right about it, leaving two people behind. It wasn't what they did. Despite himself, he couldn't refuse Fabian's pleading gaze. He needed to protect his brother and he couldn't do it looking over his shoulder to make sure Sirius was okay too.

"I'M COMING BACK!" Sirius promised, giving up. "DON'T YOU DARE LET US LOSE THIS FIGHT!"

"Wouldn't dream of it!" Fabian winked before rushing to his brother's aid.

Sirius apparated away, landing with a thud in front of the building where Remus and Dorcas lived. He'd never moved so fast, thundering up the stairs, heart racing in his chest. He pounded on the door so hard he thought he might break it down.

"What on earth—" Dorcas answered.

"NOW!" Sirius shouted. "LET'S GO! NOW! WE NEED BACK UP!"

It wasn't usual they showed up on each other's doorsteps like this, demanding assistance, but it wasn't a usual situation either. Dorcas rushed back into the apartment, throwing on shoes, grabbing her wand. Sirius might've asked where Remus was but the two had no time. They rushed back into the street and apparated away.

Within minutes they returned to the graveyard, the same spot Sirius and the Prewetts had landed earlier and went off at a jog. Sirius didn't bother crouching low or hiding behind the graves this time as he led the way back to the site of the battle. He followed the sound of spells being cast and the bright light that shot from them, hearing the shouts of Gideon and Fabian in the distance. They would make it. They would reach them in time.

Sirius was certain they were only seconds away when he heard a deafening crack, the sound of someone being hit hard, and then the thud of a body. He paused, Dorcas, running right into him.

"NOOO!" he heard Gideon cry, and then the sound came a second time. A silence fell over the graveyard, and there could be a murmuring heard, the sound of victory.

"Sirius…" Dorcas whispered a warning tone. She knew, even before him, what he was going to do. His heart pulsed in his ears, his skin crawling. Sirius took in a deep breath and then set off running, Dorcas' footsteps sounding behind him. Most of the Death Eaters had apparated away, the party over, but Sirius took his pick of the ones who'd stayed behind.

"GET AWAY FROM THEM!" he shouted, disarming one of the Death Eaters crouched over the Prewetts' bodies. He left the second hooded figure for Dorcas to deal with. Sirius sent his opponent flying backwards, disorienting the man before he got down to business. Sirius slammed his foot into the side of the Death Eater over and over, his rage taking over. He didn't take the time to look at the Prewett twins, bodies motionless on the ground, as he continued his assault.

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" he shrieked. The man squirmed and fought to roll away but it was no use, Sirius couldn't let him. Not when the pain and anger inside of him burned so strong. "YOU FUCKING PRICK—"

"SIRIUS!" It was Dorcas he heard, her voice riddled with horror. "STOP IT! SIRIUS, STOP!" She tried to pull him away, Sirius shoving her aside thoughtlessly. He continued, not stopping until Dorcas used enough strength to topple him to the ground.

"IT WON'T FIX IT!" she screamed, brushing the hair from her face. With the wind knocked out of him, Sirius stared over at his bloodied victim, unmoving. He pulled himself up, hands shaking, his shoe covered in blood.

"Damn it," Dorcas cursed, the strength in her voice gone lame. She was looking at the twins, just across from them, their bodies side by side. How ironic, Sirius thought, that they should enter and leave the world as one. He crawled towards them, tears spilling from the corners of his eyes. Fabian had a line of blood trailing from the corner of his mouth, his brown eyes dull.

"I'm so sorry," Sirius sobbed. His knees wobbled and went weak as he leant over the body. "Oh god, I'm so sorry."


Marlene always panicked when she was woken by the sound of a knock at the door but tonight was an exception. When she heard Remus' knock, drawing her from her sleep, something awful clenched within her.

"Come on," Remus urged when Marlene had found the strength to answer the door, "there's a call for everyone to head to the safe house."

Marlene's hands were shaking as she threw on a jumper and followed Remus out the door, still wearing her pyjamas. They entered the home, arms linked, Remus keeping her standing when her legs failed her. The living room was already filled. Lily and James upon one couch, Alice and Frank the other. Marlene saw Emmeline and Hestia, Peter, Edgar, Sturgis. No Sirius to be found.

"Breathe, Mar," Remus instructed, pushing Marlene towards the nearest chair. She felt nauseous. Her heart pounded so heavily in her chest she feared it might stomach had remained clenched she being woken up.

Moody took the stage once everyone was settled, clearing his throat to command the room. "We needed to share this news with you lot before the press gets ahold of it," he explained, averting his eyes. "The Prewett twins were murdered tonight."

A horrific sound filled the room, something between a scream and a sob. Marlene glanced over to find Emmeline, hand thrown over her mouth, pale as a ghost.

"It took five Death Eaters to take them down," Moody said, as though the feat made their loss any easier to bear. "They died like heroes."

Dumbledore, who stood in the corner of the room, bowed his head remorsefully, his expression hidden. Marlene was frozen, waiting for news of Sirius.

"Emmeline," Hestia whispered the room dead silent. Perhaps they all hoped for the same – that if they stayed quiet enough they might wake up. They might find that the Prewett twins were still happy, healthy, and safe. Yet, all that could be heard were the sobs that escaped Emmeline's lips, her face in her hands. "Are you…" Hestia stopped herself before she got out the whole question, turning away shamefully.

When Emmeline's head finally raised it was not remorse in her eyes but rage. She got to her feet, staring Moody down like an ant to be squashed.

"You did this," she growled.

"I'm sorry for your loss—"

"YOU SENT HIM OUT THERE!" she shouted furiously. "YOU THREW HIM TO THE FUCKING WOLVES!"

Never before had Marlene seen such anger from someone who was usually so calm. Emmeline's entire body shook with the weight of the news. She stood dangerously close to Moody, her face right up in front of his, and Marlene felt her breathing grow a little staggered. She wondered how he stayed there, straight backed, not even flinching.

"That's not going to help," Frank warned her, hand pressed to his forehead as if it throbbed terribly.

"FUCK YOU FRANK!" Emmeline shouted; rage turned on anyone who tested her. "We all knew he was self-destructive, we knew!"

"We all know why he was self-destructive as well but you don't see any of us pointing fingers," Edgar warned. It seemed with the news that had been dropped on them no one's tact remained in place.

Marlene could see Emmeline turning on her newest victim and stepped in before any more damage could be done, putting aside her grief.

"Come here," she said, drawing Emmeline in. She resisted at first, trying to fight the need for a shoulder to cry on, but eventually, she collapsed. Emmeline threw her weight into Marlene - as if unable to carry it any longer - and wailed so painfully it brought the room to a standstill.

"Oh God," Emmeline sobbed. Her knees gave in and it took all of Marlene's strength to keep her from tumbling in a heap to the floor, both women lowering down as gracefully as they could. She couldn't fix it, she couldn't make it any easier as she felt all the grief and pain spill from inside her friend.

"Breathe," she tried to comfort her, rubbing Emmeline's back. "Breathe, Emmy." Emmeline buried her head in Marlene's lap, letting her hair be stroked as tears soaked the flannel pyjama pants Marlene had arrived in.

"Lily…"

Marlene heard someone say the name, her head rising. Lily was rushing from the room, hand pressed against her mouth, James chasing after her. Marlene might've joined where it not for the broken woman already lying in her arms.


Lily had felt something inside of her crack as Moody's announcement was made. Her green eyes zoomed in and out of focus, Emmeline's out burst distracting anyone from noticing. Lily gripped the side of the couch so firmly she thought her fingers might snap, her head spinning. It felt like a weight had been pressed against her chest, making it nearly impossible for her to breath. She looked around the room, panicked, desperate for an escape.

Suddenly it felt overcrowded and hot, Lily's heart pounding dangerously fast in her chest. She rose – not without difficulty – from beside James, stumbling a little as she rushed to leave the room. The weight had not yet lifted from her chest as she moved towards the back door, throwing it open carelessly. She gasped like she'd been holding her breath for too long, trying to inhale as much air as she could.

"Lily!" James' voice came through her fog, panicked. "Are you okay?"

She was gasping, swallowing in whatever air she could get, her hands pressed against her chest. James forced her down onto the steps, crouching in front of her.

"Breathe," he commanded, "breathe." He was staring at her, his hazel eyes grounding her in reality, reminding her with his gentle touch that he was there and he was real. With a shaking hand Lily reached for him, her hand cupping his cheek, and then the crack she had felt earlier tore open, tears tumbling down her rosy cheeks.

Lily thought of late autumn, the leaves all fallen from the trees, the winter chill arrived. She thought of Fabian's cheeky smiles across the common room, his attention to her every detail, his hand brushing against hers as they studied together in the library. She thought of the blush that rose in her cheeks as Marlene leant over to whisper, "Prewett has been watching you all period."

"Lil? Can you hear me?" James' voice called to her. She wanted to respond, to raise her weary head and nod, but she couldn't. The tears kept on rolling, no matter how tightly shut she kept her eyes, and the pain within her refused to numb.

"Hey, Evans!" Fabian called to her from the end of the corridor, jogging to catch up to her and Alice. "Got a second?" He was beautiful, one of the best looking boys in their year with his charming grin and lush auburn hair. Lily had been doing a jig as they stepped aside together, Fabian running his hands together nervously.

"I like you…"

"I like you too."

"I like being friends with you…" he started awkwardly, Lily smiling, "and I wouldn't want to lose that but I…I…" It was the bravest she'd ever felt, leaning in, kissing him to seal the deal. She hadn't minded who saw what was now hers.

Eggnog shared, mistletoe hung above their heads, gifts exchanged at the Prewetts' Christmas party. It had been the happiest time of Lily's life so far. The first time she'd fit in, been loved, been wanted. Fabian's hand curled in hers as they strode along the lake, his lips – tasting of mint – fresh from being brushed.

"Are you okay?" he'd asked, that rainy April Sunday. The rest of the boys were cleared from the dorm for Quidditch practice and afternoon studying, it was just Fabian and Lily alone.

"I love you," she responded, kissing him sweetly. She inhaled sharply in anticipation of the first thrust, sighing with relief when it was easier than she'd expected, more comfortable with someone she loved…

"Talk to me," James pleaded, his hands holding her face steady. "Speak to me, Lil." She looked up, bleary eyed, cheeks blotchy. Her chin quivered as she stared into her husband's eyes. Lily felt weak and vulnerable in James' gaze, her insides all twisted up.

"I loved him," she said, her voice shaking. "I loved him, James…"

James drew her in without another word, knowing what Lily didn't have the strength to say. He'd seen it too; he'd heard her speak of it. He knew that Fabian was a huge part of her life, a huge part of her heart that she would always hold on to. Now he was gone, murdered, dragged to his death too soon, and how could she be okay with it? How could she smile and live knowing he would never do the same again?

Lily let a painful sob escape her lips. She gripped James' shoulders, feeling herself slipping off into her grief once more when she felt the baby kick her hard in the stomach. The pain made her flinch, a hand pressing to her belly instinctively.

"What?" James asked, drawing away with concern. Lily didn't say a word, dragging James' hand to her stomach, placing hers on top of his. He smiled, feeling the movement inside of her, Lily pressing her forehead to his with a heavy sigh.

"We still have this," she said, more to herself than anyone. "We'll always have this."

"Always," James agreed.


Sirius and Dorcas had been waiting on the edge of the property since dawn. Sirius had been ready to move forward then but Dorcas had stopped him, insisting it was wrong to intrude on the family so early. At the first sign of light, the sun taking its place among the parting clouds, Sirius trudged forward through the dewy grass.

Dorcas had promised to visit the Prewett family on her own, assuring Sirius he'd already been through enough for the night, but he'd refused. He'd failed to save his friends but this, this small gesture, he could do.

As they neared the front door of the crooked, wonky looking house, Sirius could see movement from the first-floor window. A woman, round and tired looking, rocking a baby back and forth in her arms, whispering something to it. Sirius paused before knocking on the door, waiting to let her savour the last few moments of a happy morning.

"You don't have to—" Sirius cut off Dorcas by knocking on the door, taking a few steps back. It was a ginger haired man, not the woman, who opened it – two young boys clinging to his legs.

"Yes?"

"Is Molly Prewett here?" Sirius asked formally.

"There's a Molly here." the man smirked. "She's a Weasley now though."

"Who are you?" one of the boys asked innocently. His big brown eyes gazed at Sirius with wonder. He wasn't sure how to answer the question, still in shock from the night.

"I'm uh…" he cleared his throat awkwardly, "a friend of your uncles'."

"Are they here?" the little boy gasped with excitement, unlatching from his father's leg. "I have to show uncle Fabian my train set!" He went sprinting back into the house, the other boy hiding behind his father now.

Molly's husband gave Sirius and Dorcas a pointed look – the humour in his face vanquished. "It's bad news then?" he asked certainly. Sirius nodded, watching the man's face drop as his wife came up behind him. She still had the baby cradled against her chest, staring curiously at the scene.

"What's going on?" she asked. When no one answered she turned to her husband, "Arthur?"

Arthur stared from Sirius to his wife, his face solemn now, and reached wordlessly for the baby. He pressed his lips to her forehead, a gesture she didn't yet realise came from sympathy "Why don't we step inside?" he suggested. "Make a cup of tea—"

"Who're you?" Molly demanded. For a short woman, she managed a commanding presence, shaking even Sirius.

"We work with your brothers," Dorcas spoke up when Sirius went mute.

"Work with…" Molly began to mumble, putting it all together at once. Her eyes went soft and then they grew weary with tears, her hand clutching the doorway.

"Oh no," she shook her head in denial, "Oh please."

"They were together," Sirius forced out, his voice cracking. "Fabian…he put himself in danger to try and protect his brother." Tears were beginning to spill down Molly's cheeks, Arthur watching helplessly from afar. "We tried…" Sirius looked down shamefully. Had they even done that much?

"They were heroes," Dorcas said with certainty. "I know it doesn't make a difference but they…they died like heroes."

It didn't make a difference. Not to the sister, weeping for the brothers she'd lost at war or the young boy, wondering why their uncle would never see the train set they'd made. As Sirius wandered away from the tragic scene – Molly Weasley falling desperately into her husband's arms, he couldn't help but wonder whether it had been worth it at all.