A/N: Hi all! Thanks for all your encouragement and reviews, I always appreciate them! Just wanted you to know that I'm going back through and editing/re-working all the whole story starting with chapter one. No big changes will be made, mostly grammar and any plot holes I end up finding, but I am posting the updated chapters to AO3 under the penname ela_elle (since Solanales was already taken!). I will replaced the chapters here with the updates well slowly but surely. Thanks for reading!

oOo

What absolute bloody shite. Sirius sat at his desk, arms crossed, glaring at the stacks of parchment that simply would not go away. He had tried to do his paperwork, truly he had, but how was he expected to focus, knowing Remus and Hermione were off doing gods knew what? Perhaps getting mauled? Attacked? They could be bleeding out right now.

No, I'd probably know if that were happening. If the lingering pain in his arm and leg, mirror wounds to Hermione's, were any indication, then the Host Bond was still in full force.

Hermione.

Sirius had enough self-awareness to admit that part of the reason he was so incensed at being excluded from the Order mission tonight, was the thought of Hermione being out there without him. Oh he was concerned for Remus, there was no doubt of that, but imagining his curly haired witch getting grievously injured again was making him nauseated. How was he supposed to focus on his paperwork when all he could think about was the curve of her cheeks, the slight rise to her dark eyebrows when he said something roguish, the lilt in her laugh?

Oh gods I'm fucked, I am absolutely fucked. I should've kissed her. When did I become so bloody chivalrous?

"What are you pouting about, Black?"

Sirius looked up into the dark eyes of a tall witch, black hair plaited into a long braid down her back. The casual confidence she exuded while leaning against his desk conveyed everything one would ever need to know about Alcina Williamson, his partner of the last two years.

Sirius sighed. "I thought there were important things to do tonight, but apparently it's just a load of bloody paperwork."

Alcina chuckled, her laugh low and smooth. "Mayhaps if you actually did your paperwork in a timely fashion, it wouldn't pile up like this." She idly picked up one of his case files and flipped through it. "Hmm you've filled out the witness statements incorrectly on this one." She commented, pointing to the paper as she spoke.

Sirius snatched the file from her hands. "Mayhaps if you weren't so bloody annoying then...maybe..." the wizard trailed off. "I don't need this from you tonight, Al," he barked, absently shuffling files on his desk, "I'm very busy you see, so much to do." He accidentally knocked over a bottle of ink onto one of the many stacks of parchments. "Bollocks."

Alcina continued laughing while flicking her wand, pulling the ink out of the stained papers. "You're agitated tonight, hmm?"

"I'm not agitated!" Sirius snapped, running a pale hand through his hair.

Alcina rolled her eyes. "Gods, get it together, Black, we've got an assignment."

"I do have it together- an assignment!" Sirius popped up so quickly he knocked his chair over. "Oh thank the gods. What is it? Where're we going?"

"Slow down, tiger, I haven't been told yet. Kingsley instructed me to find you and report back to his office."

"Let's get going then!" Sirius grabbed the sleeve of Alcina's Auror robes, practically dragging her towards Kingsley's office.

"Unhand me, fiend," Alcina pushed his hand away good naturedly. "What's been up with you lately?" She asked more seriously.

"Nothing," Sirius lied, not meeting her gaze.

"Uh huh, sure," the witch made a face that clearly conveyed her disbelief. "I've had to spend enough time with you now to know when something's bothering you, Sirius. You Gryffindors read like books."

"Ravenclaw harpy," Sirius muttered without malice.

"Gryffindor prat," Alcina shot back with a smile.

Sirius grinned despite himself. "Just a little restless s'all," he admitted, "ready to do something."

Or some one.

"Kings!" Sirius declared, pushing the door to the Head Auror Office open before Alcina could stop him.

"One day," Kingsley said not looking up from his work, "you'll learn to knock."

"Doubt it," Alcina said, making her way to one of the two chairs in front of Kingsley's desk.

"Oh if you wanted me to knock the door wouldn't have been unlocked. We're ready, Kingsley," Sirius said excitedly, taking the other chair. "What's the assignment?"

Kingsley let go of his quill, which continued to scratch away at the parchment, and leveled the two Auror's with an austere gaze. A wandless wave of his hand cast a silencing charm around the room and locked the door. Sirius shifted in his seat looking over at Alcina who, he was relieved to see, appeared just as bewildered as he was.

"Taking some extra precautions, Kings?" Alcina asked, her tan forehead wrinkling.

Kingsley nodded. "Yes, new procedure. For the time being Aurors will not be sharing the details of their assignments with anyone except me and their partners."

Alcina and Sirius exchanged glances.

"Alright," Sirius said slowly, "don't suppose we're to know why?"

"The only thing you need to know is that you're not talking to anyone except me and each other." Kingsley folded his massive arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair, studying the two Aurors in front of him. He sighed. "As far as your assignment tonight, I'm going to be putting the two of you on guard duty."

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Guard duty?"

"Yes, the witches and wizards in the spell production unit have managed to create a charm to track all the muggle-born witches that fit the victim profile of our serial killer." Kingsley clarified.

"Kinglsey, we can't possibly spend our time watching every witch that could be the next victim, we need to be tracking the killer," Alcina argued.

"Unless the two of you have leads you're not sharing with me, this is the best we've got right now," the Head Auror responded.

"It's Bellatrix," Sirius insisted, leaning forward, "I told you I'm sure of it."

"And it's not that I doubt you, Sirius, but Bellatrix Lestrange is currently already on our most wanted list and we are no closer to tracking her down than we were before all these witches ended up dead." He turned to Alcina. "What's the count currently?"

The witch sighed. "Seven that we can confirm fit the same profile, another six that might match as well." Alcina took a deep breath. "So thirteen total."

"Thirteen," Kingsley repeated. "Thirteen dead witches. We're lucky this hasn't gotten to the press yet or they'd be having a field day. This sort of thing could insight mass panic. Care to guess how many muggle-born witches fit our murderer's kill profile?" Kingsley didn't wait for an answer. "Six Hundred and Twenty-five."

"Circe," Sirius breathed, "but that's even more reason why there's no way we can have our eyes on all of them, Kings. What, should I take 313 and Alcina can take the other 312?"

"That was some good math, Black," Alcina nodded approvingly.

"I'm not a complete dunce, Al," Sirius shot back.

Alcina grinned. "Not all the time, no."

"Enough you two," Kingsley put up a hand. "No, I don't expect you to have eyes on all of them, but we do have reason to believe that tonight Bellatrix will be looking for a particular one."

When Kingsley did not elaborate further, Sirius shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "Alright, spill then, what witch is Bellatrix going after?"

Kinglsey rubbed the back of his neck. "A muggle-born named Amelia Thorton, she's three."

"Oh gods, a toddler?" Alicia cursed, her face twisted in disgust. "Her parents wouldn't even know she's a witch yet."

Kingsley shook his head. "No, they wouldn't," he confirmed, "which is why discretion will be of the utmost importance, not just because we don't need the killer catching wind of your presence but also because we don't want to scare her muggle parents."

"With all due respect, Kings," Sirius began, "I think their daughter being murdered would be much more terrifying than finding out wizards and witches exist, which they'll find out in a few years anyway."

"Just be careful," Kingsley said before floating two identical folders to Alcina and Sirius. "Here's the information on Miss Thorton and her family. I expect you to head over there immediately."

Sirius opened the folder, finding nothing but blank pages inside. He looked up at Kingsley with eyebrow raised.

"The folders are charmed, a simple revelio will do the trick. But, they have been specially charmed to only open with your magical signatures," Kingsley informed them.

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "This is quite a bit of concealment, Kings, beyond normal protocol."

Kingsley nodded. "It is."

Not going to tell us why, though, hmm?

Sirius tapped his wand against the folder. "Revelio."

The folder popped open and suddenly all the blank papers filled with writings. An unmoving picture of a little girl with pigtails and a lopsided smile appeared pinned to the inside. Sirius ran a finger over the child's face. Instantly he imagined her wide green eyes staring forward, her small body limp and lifeless. He imagined blood staining her pink little dress. He clenched his jaws to steady himself, white knuckles gripping the case file.

He was so tired of dead bodies.

"Wait," Alcina began, looking up from her folder, "how do we know this girl is the next victim?"

"Classified intel." Kingsley stated without further elaboration.

"Hmph," the witch scowled, but Sirius didn't figure they would be receiving any further information from Kingsley; the Head Auror had apparently told them everything he felt they needed to know.

"Right," Sirius tucked the folder under his arm and stood. "We'll get to it then."

"Good," Kingsley gave them a clipped nod. "Dismissed."

When they were in the hallway and safely out of earshot, Sirius pulled Alcina into an empty conference room.

"That was bloody weird," Sirius commented, motioning his head in the direction of Kingsley's office.

Alcina hummed her agreement. "Confirms a few things though, doesn't it?"

Sirius frowned. "Such as…?"

"Y'know," Alcina looked around warily, "the rumors."

"What rumors?" Sirius asked.

"Gods, Sirius, I know you haven't had your head in the game lately, but I figured even you'd heard them by now."

"Well obviously I haven't, so why don't you educate me?"

Alcina leaned in close, her voice dropping to a barely audible whisper. "The rumors about a spy in the department, you daft git."

"What?" Sirius exclaimed and then at the look on Alcina's face, whispered, "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

"Circe," Alcina squeezed the bridge of her nose, "sometimes you're the most competent Auror I've ever worked with and sometimes you're as observant as a rock."

Sirius scowled.

Alcina sighed and gave Sirius that look he almost hated, the look he assumed she reserved for when speaking to him or children. "Sacco and Thomas were ambushed last week. Two weeks before that it was Ragunathan and Bones." She waited a moment, searching his face for comprehension. "Someone is telling the remaining Death Eaters where we're going to be and what we're going to be doing. They've been two steps ahead of us for the last three months and it seems unlikely that they have a Seer on their side, so the logical conclusion is that someone is giving them intel from the inside."

Sirius ran his tongue over his teeth, looking down for a moment. "But who? We've been on a hiring freeze for nearly two years, there's no one new," he pointed out. "So...who could've turned?"

Alcina shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine and, it seems, as good as the higher ups," she pointed a finger in the air and waved it, "obviously they don't know what's going on either."

Sirius made a clicking noise in thought. "Well this department just got bloody complicated, didn't it?"

Alcina snorted, her face twisting with amusement. "We work for the Ministry, Sirius, things are always complicated."

oOo

Alcina, a half-blood, had transfigured their robes into appropriate Muggle attire. The two looked not a bit out of place walking down the Muggle streets of London, something Sirius didn't do often but enjoyed nonetheless, inconspicuously making their way to the Thorton residence. Muggles were fascinating. Their clothes were so shiny and the shoulders so pointy and every once in awhile he'd see someone with colored hair done up in rather dramatic spikes if you considered Muggles had no charms to keep their hair in place. Muggles were impressive, indeed. Unfortunately, being on a case was not the distraction he'd been hoping for, instead being in Muggle London was only making him think more about his Muggle-born witch.

Alcina's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Are you going to tell me what's been on your mind lately or are you going to make me guess?"

Sirius gave the witch a half smile. "Oh, I think it might be entertaining to hear what your guesses could be. Shall I give you three?"

"Ha!" Alcina hit his arm good-naturedly, taking advantage of the comradery shared between people who have saved each other's lives on multiple occasions. "I don't think I need three, bet I could do it in just one."

"Oh yea?"

"Yea," Aclina replied confidently. "It's obviously about a witch."

"Obviously?" Sirius guffawed. "Well, you'll need those other two guesses, because it is not a witch on my mind."

Why am I lying to Al? Sirius felt a small pang of guilt, normally he would have no issue sharing the details of most of his life with Alcina, the two had come to know each other quite well. However, he found himself feeling a bit possessive of Hemrione even in his thoughts.

"Ohh!" Alcina whispered conspiratorially. "A wizard then!"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Nothing against wizards, but I certainly prefer breasts to bollocks, make no mistake."

"So crass!" Alcina exclaimed in mock outrage, placing a hand over her chest. "Sir, I am a lady."

Sirius raised his ebony eyebrows, stifling a laugh. "Are you now? I hadn't noticed."

Alcina hit his arm again. "Indeed! But, I can certainly understand preferring breasts to bollocks." The witch wiggled her eyebrows. "Really, though," she began more seriously, "why're you lying to me?"

"I'm not-"

"Pfft!" Alcina cut him off. "Don't continue to lie to me, it's quite annoying. If you don't want to talk to me about it, that's fine, but don't lie to me."

Sirius sighed deeply and nodded his head a bit shamefully. The two walked in companionable silence then, weaving around pedestrians lit by the glow of the street lamps, until finding themselves on a small residential street in Brixton.

Alcina reached out a hand and stopped Sirius. "Right then, this is the place," she nodded to a quaint little Victorian style house. The two Aurors looked about and, seeing the street momentarily empty in the late evening hour, stepped behind a brick fence across the street.

With one last swift glance around, Sirius quickly pulled out his wand and cast a disillusionment charm around himself and his partner. Alcina gave him and a grin and a wink before she pulled herself up onto the top of the fence, sitting with a clear view of the Thorton residence. Sirius pulled himself up to sit next to her and the two settled in silently.

Sirius leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, thinking about the scent of parchment and ink and sandalwood shampoo.

Circe's sake, can't I think about anything else? Anything?

Sirius heaved a long suffering sigh. "It is a witch," he admitted slowly.

Alcina's sparkling eyes shot over to him and she grinned, but when she made no comments, Sirius wrinkled his nose.

"She's uh-" Sirius scratched the dark stubble that was growing along his jaw, "she's actually quite insufferable."

"Oh?" Alcina raised an eyebrow.

"Gods yes, intolerably so at times."

"Is that why she's got you all wound up into this ball of restlessness?"

"Yes-well-umm, I mean, sort of?" Sirius waved his hand while he spoke as if he could swat the right words from the air. "She is," he struggled for a moment, "entirely impossible to describe."

"But you fancy her all the same." It wasn't a question.

"Bloody hell," Sirius hung his head. "I do."

Alcina let out a barking laugh. "What's the problem then? Is she too well acquainted with what a prat you can be?"

"Yes," Sirius spat out, "you damn bint. I mean-I suppose so. She won't listen to anything I say, she thinks she's the cleverest witch to ever wave a wand, won't take any advice, stubborn as all get out." He grew impassioned as he went on, gesticulating madly. "When I try to be logical and fair she-she acts as if I am the most idiotic wizard on the face of the planet-"

"She's not wrong."

"Are you on my side or not?!"

"Oh gods, Sirius, I'm on your side, of course. I'm just taking the piss."

"Alright well, don't because I may need some actual fucking advice."

Alcina sat up a little straighter and frowned. She looked over at her partner, taking in the picture of him for a long moment. "Hell," she finally whispered, "you really fancy her, don't you?"

Sirius stared out at the house across the street.

"Well, fuck, Sirius, why don't you just tell her?" Alcina asked.

"Oh right!" Sirius snapped. "I'll just tell her. 'Oh, hey, Hermione, I know you seem to only find me absolutely annoying and you're just oh so sweet on Remus and I know I called you a raging bitch the other night and then told you some very confusing things about how I'm not going to kiss you but really I am going to kiss you, WELL I QUITE FANCY YOU.' Is that what I should fucking tell her?"

During Sirius's tirade Alcina's eyebrows had migrated up practically to her hairline. "No," she said slowly, "I absolutely do not think you should tell her almost any of that." She frowned. "There's quite a bit to unpack there, mate."

"Your deductive powers are second to none," Sirius drawled.

"She fancies Remus?" Alcina asked, choosing to ignore his previous comment.

"I don't think so," Sirius admitted, "and I'm very certain Remus doesn't have feelings for her, they're just good friends."

"But you're jealous," Alcina pointed out.

"How could I not be?" The wizard demanded. "I say something charming and she rolls her eyes, Remus says anything and it's all small smiles and adorable little laughs. None of my usual charms appear to work on her, she's entirely immune."

"Shocking," Alcina deadpanned.

"You," Sirius jabbed a finger in Alcina's arm, "are only immune because you don't like blokes."

"Keep telling yourself that, mate," Alcina laughed. "Ouch! Quit it!" The witch swatted Sirius's hand away as he continued to poke her. "Enough! Enough! You're so charming, Sirius, if I was at all interested in wizards I would simply fall all over myself for your amazing body."

"That's what I thought."

"But I do feel it's my duty to inform you, that if you wanted her to like you then calling her a raging bitch was probably not the best choice."

"Ugh," Sirius dropped his head. "I know, I know. I was drunk when I said it, drunk Sirius makes poor choices."

Alcina nodded knowingly.

"And-and then after that, she asked me something really peculiar," Sirius remembered, though the exact details of everything said last night were still a bit foggy to his sober mind. "She asked me why witches like me and why men don't like her."

"Ahhh well, that explains quite a bit."

"It does?"

"Of course!"

Sirius stared.

"Oh gods," Alcina pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm dealing with rock Sirius not capable Auror Sirius. Look, she obviously has some self-esteem issues then, doesn't she?"

"Ha!" Sirius guffawed. "I highly doubt that, she is the most self-assured woman I've ever met. Stubborn as hell and won't take advice, remember?"

"Mmhmm," Alcina hummed, "perhaps in certain directions, yes, but does she date?"

Sirius thought for a moment. "I know she was engaged, but he left her."

"Oh damn, well that would be a blow to the self-esteem," Alcina pointed out.

"Suppose so, yea," Sirius agreed thoughtfully.

"Alright so let's set the scene," Alcina stood up, balancing carefully on the fence. "Last night you were drunk-"

"She was too, Remus as well," supplied Sirius.

"Everyone was drunk and you called her a raging bitch-"

"Not my finest moment."

"And then she asked you why women like you and why men don't like her. Am I painting an appropriate picture?" Alcina asked, gesticulating as she spoke.

Sirius nodded his agreement. "Yes and then she became all embarrassed and left to go to bed and Remus told me to go after her-"

"Interesting."

"-so I did and when I found her down the hall I wanted to kiss her so badly, Al, you have no idea how badly I wanted to kiss her, but-but she was drunk and I was drunk and I didn't want the first time I kissed her to be-to be something that she could-I don't know- say the next day was some sort of drunken mistake. I wanted her to know that when I kiss her for the first time it's something we both want and how could I really know if she wanted it if she's drunk?"

"That is," Alcina looked taken aback, "surprisingly enlightened and mature of you, Sirius."

"Why do I feel like that wasn't really a compliment?"

"Oh it was!" Alcina assured him. "I do admit I'm pleasantly shocked drunk Sirius was able to think that clearly, because based on the description you've given, your little witch most definitely would have rationalized any intoxicated snogging the next day as a mistake. Most likely on your side."

"My side?" Sirius's face twisted in confusion.

"Yes, your side. As in, she would've assumed you had made a mistake." At the still puzzled look on her partner's face, Alcina sighed. "Tell me, is she beautiful?"

"Unimaginably so."

Alcina gave him a half smile. "Do you think other men would want her?"

"Undeniably so."

"Then if a self-assured, stubborn, beautiful witch who was dumped by the person she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with is drunkenly asking why no one likes her, do you think it's because she really couldn't pull herself a strapping young wizard?"

"No," Sirius said slowly, "I'm sure she could pull anyone she wanted."

"Then why would she have asked you that?"

"Because...because she doesn't think she can?"

"Exactly."

Sirius sighed. "I still don't understand."

"You will," Alcina shrugged. "I think if I can offer you any advice, though, it's that you really need to make up for calling her a 'raging bitch' before you try snogging her."

Sirius had to nod at the wisdom there. "Good advice, that."

The two chuckled and spent the next few hours idly chatting about the department, making jokes about who the spy could be. Neither chose to hazard any real guesses; believing that one of their comrades could be capable of turn coating felt akin to blasphemy, even when faced with mounting evidence.

"Obviously it's Bones," Alcina stage whispered.

"Ahh yes! The Hufflepuff who, if I'm remembering correctly, stole your doughnut a few weeks ago," Sirius drawled, knowing full well his partner didn't suspect Bones, he was actually fairly certain Alcina had a bit of a crush on her.

"Exactly!" Alcina declared. "Doughnut thieves are always up to more nefarious deeds."

"Of course," Sirius snorted. "What about Moody?"

"Alastor? Ha!" The dark haired witch laughed. "I'd sooner believe it were Kingsley."

"Well," Sirius began solemnly, "afraid that only leaves one suspect."

"Oh?"

Sirius nodded gravely. "Indeed, my lovely partner, I'm going to have to bring you in, the only other potential spy would be you."

"I don't believe that's true, my dear Sirius," Alcina narrowed her eyes, "because there is one other wizard we have yet to discuss."

"Yea?"

"Yea, you!" Alcina whipped out her wand and made a wooshing sound like a jelly-leg jinx at the same time Sirius pointed his wand at her and pretend to cast a binding spell.

The two Aurors collapsed into a fit of laughter, clutching their sides. Sirius hadn't realized how much he needed this. Being with Alcina, even if they were on a stakeout of sorts, and falling into the routine of his job was oddly comforting. He appreciated her. The wizard opened his mouth to say as much, but when he glanced over at his partner he realized she was still as the night, eyes fixed on the Thorton house.

Sirius's grey eyes followed her gaze swiftly, immediately noticing what Alcina had already focused on: the barest shimmer of a disillusionment spell next to a cracked window on the side of the house. Wordlessly, the Aurors slipped down from the fence. Sirius circled around widely in an attempt to sneak up on the other side of the would be stalker. The two moved cautiously until they saw a small shimmer and the window push up ever so slightly, as if someone had just crawled inside.

Sirius took off, all thoughts of stealth abandoned as Alcina did the same, her long legs out pacing his quickly. A woman's muffled scream split the air and Alcina ran to the front door, casting an alohomora far enough back that the door swung open in enough time that the witch didn't need to slow down. Sirius rushed into the house after her; heart pounding, wand brandished.

Alcina frantically dashed around the first floor while Sirius ran up the stairs.

"Up here!" He yelled to Alcina, hearing shuffling and something tip over in one of the bedrooms. Sirius threw himself into the door, magically steeling his shoulder as he did so, and knocked the door from its hinges.

He found himself in what was obviously the room of a young girl, stuffed animals and dolls strewn about the floor next to the unmoving body of a woman. Suddenly Sirius was hit by the most sickening wave of deja vu as he imagined the woman with deep auburn red hair. He raised his wand at the black robed figure in the middle of the room, holding a girl Sirius recognized as Amelia from the photo in her file.

Though she thrashed and opened her mouth as if screaming, the little girl was making no sound and Sirius knew instantly the robed figure had cast a silencing spell on the child. The figure turned to Sirius, hood falling away to reveal a silver mask, and brought their wand underneath the toddler's throat. Fat tears rolled down the girl's cheek and Sirius felt himself overcome with an inhuman rage as the canine inside him struggled to break free.

Kill, it growled. Kill kill kill kill

Alcina was behind him now, wand raised. "Put the child down," she demanded slowly, "and we will take you in peacefully."

The figure laughed, the sound twisting diabolically from under the hateful silver mask. The Death Eater shook their head.

Sirius did not want to kill a child. He would sooner kill himself. But he knew it was Bellatrix standing before him, he could smell her the way a dog can smell spoiled meat, and he knew unless he and Alcina did something soon the girl was as good as dead anyway.

"Expelliarmus!" Alcina called from behind him before Sirius had the chance to cast a more harmful curse. The Death Eater flicked the spell away like one would swat a fly.

She continued to laugh.

Sirius growled and without second guessing himself, shot a blasting spell at the Death Eater and child. The Death Eater, not expecting such an aggressive spell from the Aurors, was a hair too late to block the hex. They and the child were flung backwards into the wall, the Death Eater dropping the girl as they both hit the floor.

"Sirius!" Alcina screamed in shock.

Sirius was not listening. He waved his wand. "Accio child!" He yelled and much to his own surprise, the little girl flew into his arms. He cradled her protectively with his free arm.

The Death Eater was quickly on their feet and the bloodthirsty screech that escaped from behind their mask left Sirius with no doubts that it was his cousin standing before him. Bellatrix waved her wand, the Killing Curse erupting from the tip.

Alcina and Sirius dove out of the way as the green light went through the door and hit the adjacent wall.

"Two birds with one stone then!" Bellatrix screamed, raising her wand again but she was hit by another blasting spell, this time from Alcina. The two witches began to duel, each with an impressive repertoire of spells to call upon. Sirius, still holding the girl, watched the back and forth until he saw an appropriate opening and shot his cousin with a well placed stupefy that, to the shock of everyone in the room, hit Bellatrix square in the chest.

"Yes!" Alcina yelled with uncontained excitement before casting a binding spell on the incompacitated Death Eater. "Oh my gods," she whispered breathlessly, rushing up and pulling off Bellatrix's mask. "We've got her! We've got her, Sirius!"

Sirius couldn't believe it himself, he briefly wondered if it were a trick, until a small movement in his arms reminded him he was carrying a precious parcel. With uncharacteristic gentleness, Sirius placed the small girl on the floor, checking her for injuries while Alcina hurried to the woman on the floor.

"Alive and breathing!" Sirius exclaimed happily, fingers on the girl's pulse.

Alcina frowned and looked up from the woman, meeting Sirius's gaze sadly. She shook her head.

"Damnit," Sirius slammed his fist into the ground, ignoring the sudden jolt of pain in his knuckles.

"But the girl's alive!" Alcina reminded him, standing up. "We need to send a patronus, call in back-up and clean-up crew and- Sirius?"

The wizard cried out, suddenly doubled over and as hot pain wound itself around his arm, like he'd suddenly been wrapped up with a fiery rope. Desperalty he pulled off his robes, staring down at an arm that appeared perfectly normal but burned with pain.

"What the fuck?" He whispered desperately as the pain spread. Sirius looked up into Alcina's wide eyes and then he felt it, the tug of the Host Bond pushing him to Apparate.

The color drained from his already pale face.

"Sirius!" Alcina blanched and took a step towards him.

Sirius let go, giving in to the Host Bond and disapparating with a crack.