December 31st, 1985

3rd POV

It's been four years since the fall of Voldemort and the wizard community has been enjoying the silence so far. What was once a festive day has become festive again as many people began getting ready for year to be over and for another one to begin. Families were visiting and rejoicing each other, while friends hopped from house to house. As families rejoiced in their homes, the Potter family was at St. Mungo's awaiting their newest arrival with some of their closest friends.

A streak of blonde was seen running around in the waiting room being chased by a boy of five years. As the blonde turned a corner, she quickly crashed into someone's legs, and the boy unaware of the events turned the corner tripping over the girl. They both looked up to see a woman staring down at them looking at them sternly.

"How many times have I told you not to run around the waiting room," she asked.

"Sorry mommy," the young girl replied looking down a little shamefully. The woman looked at the boy at her feet knowing that he was most likely the one to have caused the running around.

"But Uncle Sirius said that we could play with each other Aunt Lysandra," the young boy whined.

"Harry. Running around a hospital could set a bad example for your younger sister and new sibling. How do you think it would look like if one of you ran into a sick person," she asked.

"Not good," Harry grumbled looking at his feet.

"Why don't you two go sit with Grand Uncle Charlus and Great Aunt Dorea and ask for one of their stories about traveling the world," Lysandra suggested. The two of them brightened up by the suggestion and before anyone knew it, they were running off again. "Walk!" she cried after them, but it quickly fell deaf to their ears as they raced away laughing.

"Oh to be young and full of freedom," a man with long luscious brown hair said as he approached.

"Sirius why did you have to rile them up at a hospital?" Lysandra asked.

"It was either entertain them or let them run around so that they fall asleep quicker later on," the man revealed as Sirius replied.

"Next time have them play with Dahlia or something. Speaking of where is she?"

"She's with Remus, but they should be here soon enough. She's extremely excited to have a new sibling. Where's Cyrus?" Sirius asked looking around the room searching for the man who had quickly become one of his best friends.

"He's checking up with the head of security. The peace has lasted but who knows for how long," Lysandra replied. As she finished speaking Cyrus entered through the doors across the room quickly. He was quickly followed by Remus who was holding Dahlia seemed to be sleeping with her head on his shoulder. Daphne looking up when she heard the door quickly ran to hug her father before returning back to Charlus and Dorea, while Harry was so engrossed by the story, they were being told he didn't even realize his fiancé had left. The two men approached Lysandra and Sirius.

"How was security," Sirius asked.

"I don't like it one bit. 5 minutes of looking at the security plans and I was able to find at least three different ways for us to be easily attacked if it were to happen," Cyrus replied grimly.

"Unfortunately, it seems that all the regular guards are at home for the holidays. James and Lily wanted them to have the holiday off seeing as they're going to ramping up security once the baby is born," Remus informed the rest of the group.

"Damn. I told them to keep a couple of the regulars, so we knew that there were at least some people we trusted to make sure there were no holes in security. They need to be more careful, especially with all the rumors going around," Sirius said uncharacteristically solemn.

"What rumors?"

"The ones that something big is happening sometime soon. Our sources have said that people loyal to the Dark Lord are beginning to mobilize and have been starting to meet more and more regularly."

"Is he back?" Remus asked as Lysandra looked horrified as she remembered the last time "he" was around.

"No… the Death Eaters have been silent for the past couple of years because there was a power vacuum. Voldemort didn't have a second in command, so different factions were trying to install a leader causing a lot of infighting. Unfortunately, no deaths, but there were definitely some dark days for some of them."

Before anyone could say anything, else James ran into the room holding a pink bundle.

"It's a girl! We have another baby girl! Her names Ivy and she's amazing. Quickest birth out of the three," James said proudly. Everyone gathered around him trying to get a glimpse of the newest addition to the Potter family. Everyone except for Harry that was. He was a little bummed out that he had another sister. He was really looking forward to having a boy to play with more regularly. After a couple of minutes of everyone silently adoring the sleeping child in James arm, Remus finally broke the silence.

"I've got news everyone… I was planning on telling you all later, but I can't hold it in anymore and want to share it with you all," he said looking at everyone as they stared at him expectantly. He took a deep breath and said, "the reason I was late was because I was with Amelia before I came over. I asked her to marry me."

There were a few moments of silence where everyone stared at Remus wanting to know the results as he blankly stared back him wondering why no one was reacting. Sirius finally broke the silence between them and said, "well are you gonna keep us hanging or are you going to tell us what she said, you arse."

That broke Remus out of his stupor as he sheepishly smiled realized why no one had been saying anything. "She said yes," he said with a broad smile on his face. The room erupted in cheers congratulating the man. Harry even broke out of his moodiness and gave his uncle a hug in congratulations. Once they quieted down again, he continued, "she's also pregnant so we can expect to be here in about eight months." That caused everyone to end up congratulating him again and making fun of Sirius for being single and without child, who attempted to defend his bachelor style-life.

Their happiness was cut shortly however, as one of their guard's bodies flew through the doors killing him instantly as he hit his head against the wall. As the body flew through the door over twenty people dressed in black poured into the room shooting spells as they ran in. Everyone quickly sprang into action, and casted shields over the children forming a little bubble around them as they were assaulted by spells. Two of the nurses hearing the commotion ran into the waiting room.

One of them yelled at James, "we can take the children to Lily's room where the emergency portkey is located! We just need you to cover us!"

James looked over and read her nametag, "Healer Barbara Newton. I now know your name… if any harm befalls any of these children, I will destroy your family! Do you understand me?" The nurse looked at him a bit shocked and scared but nodded her head. James turned to Remus who was holding Dahlia with one arm and holding his want with his other shielding them from the onslaught of spells.

"Remus go help protect the children as they escape. Once they are safely gone come back and help us finish off whoever's left," James yelled. Remus looked ready to argue but given the situation and the fact that he had a toddler screaming in his arms he listened and quickly followed the nurses to Lily's room. James then turned to everyone else who were waiting for a plan.

"Lysandra and Cyrus you two go to the left wall and hit them on their weak side. Aunt Dorea and Uncle Charlus, you two are by far the best duelers and the best team so you guys take the right side where they're the strongest. Sirius and I will take the center and distract them so that you guys can pick them off. Ready? GO!"

As soon as he said the word "go" they all sprang into action quickly incapacitating many of the attackers. Four of the attackers managed to slip by their defenses, but no one was worried as they knew that between the three nurses, Remus, and Lily… none of the children would be harmed. That and they knew that the emergency portkey had to have activated and gotten everyone out by now. After what seemed like fifteen minutes of fighting Sirius, Cyrus, Dorea, and Charlus all coincidently aimed in the same general area of the attackers and yelled Bombarda. That quickly ended the fight as that area of the building collapsed on the attackers effectively killing them before dust and debris flew everywhere.

As the dust began to settle everyone yelled out each other's names making sure that they were alright. Due to multiple people yelling at the same time no one was able to understand what each other were saying. Eventually they all just got up and walked towards the center of the room. Once they were situated in a circle James started from his right making sure that everyone was ok.

"Uncle Charlus are you ok," he asked to the elderly man immediately to his right.

"Yea I'm fine. Those bastards are going to need a hell of a lot more firepower to take me down," he replied with fire in his eyes.

"Lysandra?"

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. Where's Daphne? Please tell me she got out ok?" she asked frantically clearly not realizing that her temple was bleeding a bit.

"I got Daphne out with Lily, Harry, Dahlia and Ivy. They used the emergency portkey to get Potter Manor, so we have nothing to worry about. Now love, we're going to get your head checked by a healer and then we will get Daphne. We don't need to be freaking her out, ok?" Cyrus said before anyone else could answer. She put up a fuss at first wanting to see her child, but finally relented knowing that she was safe and the two quickly left to get Lysandra checked out.

"Aunt Dorea are you alright? You seem a little winded," James asked turning to the next person.

"I'm ok now. Just tired that's all," she responded. Once her and Charlus were deemed fine by Sirius and James they left returning back home to recover and regain their energy.

"Sirius? You good? You seem awfully quiet," James asked his best friend who seemed deep at thought.

"I know for a fact that Remus didn't leave with Lily and the kids, but when the dust settled, I couldn't find him anywhere. I think we should check the rooms and make sure he's ok."

With that they both began sweeping the floor, going room to room checking to see if their best friend was in it. As they got further and further down the hall, they became increasingly worried for their friend. They finally reached the last door. The door Lily was in when she gave birth to Ivy. As they were about to enter the room, they heard voices down the hall alerting them that the Aurors and healers had finally arrived.

"Bout bloody time. You'd swear they're getting lazier and lazier every day," Sirius mumbled. Before James could reply they heard a thud on the other side of the door. They both looked at each other and threw the door open, and what they saw wasn't a pretty scene.

Blood was splattered on the walls and three of the St. Mungo nurses that helped Lily and the children escape were at the entry of the doorway. Further down there were four attackers or at least what seemed like attackers. Their bodies were mangled, bones were missing, and blood had been spilt everywhere. But the sight that broke their hearts was when their eyes landed on a body in a corner. Remus was sitting there with his left leg missing, his right leg bent in ways no one thought before, and his left arm was holding right arm which was also unattached from his body. They quickly rushed to him kneeling beside him as they yelled for help. Hearing the commotion, he finally raised his head and smiled.

"Don't worry Moony! Help is on the way! Just hold on," Sirius begged his friend his clothes quickly being soaked in blood.

"Don't go like this Remus! Dahlia needs her godfather! The werewolf community needs you to keep fighting for them… we need you. We can't lose another friend, Moony," James said his voice breaking.

Remus dropped his severed arm and quickly shushed the two of them with his remaining one.

"Don't worry," he said. "It's too late for me… I can slowly feel the darkness taking me. I just wanted you to know…" he began to trail off.

"Know what," Sirius and James asked simultaneously shaking their friend. After a few shakes he finally came to.

"I don't regret it. I don't regret fighting for you, James. Sirius. I need you to know… I need her to know…" Remus said trailing off again. They shook him again as the Healers finally arrived. As they began to check him he came to again and spoke weakly.

"Promise me, Sirius… promise me," he said with all his strength.

"I promise Moony… I promise you," Sirius replied tears streaming down his face. As soon as Remus heard his promise, he put his head back against the wall and closed his eyes with a smile on his face. As his head fell back everyone heard what seemed like a relieved sigh.

"Mr. Lupin we need you to stay with us please. Mr. Remus!" one of the Healers frantically yelled. Another Healer began to do CPR, but everyone knew that it was useless. They did CPR for a few minutes before the Healer stopped.

"I'm calling it. Time of death… 12:01 am," he said, and the Healers left the room so that the two friends would be able to mourn in peace.

"Happy fucking New Years," Sirius said bitterly after a few moments of silence of staring at Remus's dead body. James looked at him and chuckled, not because it was funny but because of the irony of the whole situation. They both looked at each other and began to laugh, but slowly that laughter turned into tears as they both mourned the death of a friend, and the loss of another Marauder.