Another chapter! Can you believe it! Woopwoop! Thanks again to my reviewers.

And now a question, which i hope you'll take time to answer. Do you think that Lara and Alex should learn to become Animagi at some point?

To Promise

Alex

The last two week had whizzed by until all of a sudden we were packing our trunks. Our friends hadn't stopped trying to persuade us not to go but we, Lara especially, had an iron will.

"See reason. You can't go to him. You can't put your selves in danger like that. Don't go, just stay here" Remus was practically begging. He had given up trying to persuade Lara and had turned to me in one last desperate plea. He was exhausted, the dark shadows under his eyes were enough to tell this, and he was beyond anxious if his thoughts were anything to go by.

"We have to. Anyway, it probably won't be too bad. The only thing that's happened to make him angry is us being put into Gryffindor and even he knows that that is hardly our fault." I said as I started to fold my robes and tuck them into my trunk.

"That's what she said and I know she was lying so don't try and put that across!" He shouted, and I could tell he was close to tears, his mind tense and spinning fast.

I rubbed my head with the back of my hand, my back to him. Sirius was in the room, sulking on his bed and his presence gnawed at my brain. He too had tried to convince me not to go and had failed. He was still angry and resentful.

"Look" I said turning back to them "as hard as this is to hear, you're right, it's not okay. But we're used to it, or at least as used to it as you can get. We've both been- He's used- It's not our first time, okay?" Remus flinched but Sirius just sat there, his jaw clenched.

I turned back to my packing.

"Sirius, you must see the madness of them going" Remus seemed to be on his last arguments and as he said this I turned again to stare fixedly at Siri.

He wasn't looking at me; he was staring resolutely at his bed post, though he did glance up briefly before looking down again. My heart ached to see his concern.

He sighed and looked at Remus.

"Just let them. They can handle themselves. They're both as stubborn as stone and I doubt we'll be able to sway them." He continued to grumpily study the grains of wood that made his bed. Moony sagged and walked out of the room, defeated.

"Thanks" I said quietly.

He grunted without moving his gaze.

I turned back to my trunk and was ashamed to feel tears boiling in the corners of my eyes. I really didn't want to go. I was so scared and I felt as if there was something missing. What else could he blame us for? I hadn't told the others about the arranged marriage either... I still didn't know how we were to get her out of that...

Sirius seemed determined not to speak to me and none of our friends could understand why we were going. Every time one of them started up an argument I found my reasons for going becoming more and more diminished.

I drew in a shaky breath and rubbed my eyes viciously.

"Alex?"

I shook my head, resolute not to let him see me wavering. I hastily grabbed one of my books from my side table and threw it into my trunk. The tears were running down my face fast now, hot and salty on my lips.

"Al? Are you crying?" Siri had got off his bed and was walking toward me. I turned my back to him, using the pretence of searching the windowsill for my belongings. A pity there was nothing there.

"No, don't be crazy" I said, hoping my voice didn't betray me.

Obviously he didn't believe me – who would? I felt his hand on my shoulder turning me to face him; I got one look of his anxious face and kind black eyes before I broke into sobs.

It was stupid. I shouldn't be crying like this, was I a man or not? Nevertheless there was no stopping it, man or not, I just couldn't stem the flow of tears. My breath was uneven and I was raggedly drawing in huge gulps of air. I just couldn't stop it.

It took me a long time to realise Sirius had pulled me into his arms and once I realised I awkwardly pushed him away and brushed the tears from my face. Dammit.

"Sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me. I'll just…"

"Don't go" he said distraught, interrupting my ramblings.

"I have to" I said and I pushed past him and picked up the various items lying around the room. There was a box of chocolate frogs under my bed which I grabbed and my Herbology book had managed to get down the back of my side table.

"Don't go" He said again, but I ignored him and piled the things into my trunk.

I folded my other muggle clothes and stuffed them in. He was following me around the room, repeating those two words. I felt extremely guilty as I brushed the words away.

Finally I had finished and I was buckling up the trunk. I stared it for a while, trying to gather the courage to pick it up.

"Please. I can't imagine you, and Lara, being… being tortured. I can't, won't, let you go, I won't. Just don't go. Stay here at Hogwarts and never go back to them. I've left home, I'm not going back, why couldn't you? You have more reason than I ever did."

I looked at him. He looked so helpless and frantic and I wished I could just tell him that I was going to stay.

"I can't. I'm sorry"

I picked my trunk off my bed and began to drag it towards the door to the dorm; Sirius grabbed it from me before I could get there though.

"I can carry a trunk you know!" I told him, slightly annoyed.

"Shut up" he growled and he picked it up and… and dropped it behind him.

"What-"

I started but he interrupted me.

"Just shut up"

And then he did something I would never have expected. He fisted the front of my T-shirt and he…

Lara

I smirked at Alex's distant eyes as he and Sirius came down the stairs from the boy's dorm. I'd had to engage James in conversation when he'd tried to go up there to see what was taking him so long.

The skin around his eyes was slightly red from crying but that seemed like a far away memory for him now. His grey eyes, so like mine, were sparkling and bright. Sirius was slightly flushed and looked like he was trying to hold back a grin.

They approached us and I felt everyone spark with curiosity. I chuckled.

"Well, it's about time you two" I said giving them a pointed look that to my immense delight made them both blush scarlet.

"I couldn't find my charms book" Alex said calmly, though he still had pink cheeks "and we have that charms essay to do so it was important"

"Really, where were you looking?" I said innocently and they blushed again.

James and Remus were laughing at the boy's obvious discomfort while the others just looked confused. I saw Lily give the pair a knowing look and remembered her insight into my feelings for Remus.

I chuckled.

"Well, then. If we continue to loiter here much longer we're gonna miss the train. Come on" I jumped up and Amy ran at me to give me a hug. I steadied the tiny girl to stop her tipping me over and she threw her arms around my neck and began jabbering on about having a good Christmas.

"It's so annoying you can't stay here. I hope you have an alright time and nothing too bad happens because Tabby was saying about your dad being a complete prick. I can't wait for you to see the present I'm sending you, even though I'm not actually going to see you, I can still try and imagine your face any way. I got the same thing for Alex too because it seemed a very you-two-Grey-twins kind of thing. If you get super bored you can owl us and we'll-"

"That's alright Amy. I have to go now."

"Oh right yeah" she let go and I stepped back and said goodbye to my amused friends.

"Come on then, let's go" Alex said and we walked to the portrait hole.

Remus was tagging along to say his goodbye before we go on the train and he pulled my trunk from me, rolling his eyes at my scowl. I looked back and saw Padfoot hesitating to follow us.

"Oi Paddy. I need to ask you something before we go" I shouted to him and he gratefully followed.

Alex's thoughts were cheerful too and he sent me a thank you (with a little imaginary bow on the top, but we don't have to go into that).

Alex

The glossy train was preparing to go in a minute and Lara and Remus were 'saying' goodbye in our compartment. I awkwardly pushed that away and surveyed Sirius nervously.

"Well… I guess I'll see you in a couple of weeks then…" I said studying him.

"Yeah… I guess so. Look after yourself"

I wanted to kiss him again but I was nervous to initiate it. Sirius smirked and raised an eyebrow at me as if daring me to try. I chuckled and found that his teasing removed the doubt I still held.

I leant in and pressed my lips to his, relishing in the feel of his warmth surrounding me. This kiss was gentler than our first and I found myself immersed in the movements of his lips, melding them to mine.

Somebody near us loudly cleared their throat and we jumped apart. I felt my cheeks heat up as I saw my sister and her boyfriend standing by.

They looked like a perfect couple. His arm was wrapped around her waist and there was a sense of effortless comfort around them. However, Remus looked miserable and beaten emotionally as I saw him give Sirius an understanding look.

I turned back to Sirius, he was looking at me with a distressed helpless look and I didn't have to probe his thoughts to know what he was thinking. I felt a gut wrenching pull to find away to wipe away that look but there was nothing I could do but continue to assure him.

"I'll be fine. See you in two weeks"

"Yeah, remember that promise you made. I might have to kill you if you break it, understand?"

"Understand" I nodded and Lara and I climbed onto the train, which instantly began moving.

"We'll be fine" Lara shouted as the train pulled away. The two boys just looked sad as they waved.

Flash back:

He fisted the front of my T-shirt and he pulled my face roughly to his. His lips slammed against mine and I froze briefly in shock.

And then I realised what he was doing and all of the compressed passion I'd been hiding from this incredible, exhilarating man broke through. I grabbed his hair in my hands and pulled his face closer to mine. My lips felt like they were bruising they were being forced so close to his. He was like fire whiskey on my lips and everything I thought about, everything I could feel was him.

Soon I was gasping and we pulled back just to breathe. I could feel his own breath on my cheek and his hands were still clasping me close to him. I opened my eyes and found his dark ones already staring at me with an astounded look.

"I didn't expect you to kiss back" he said breathlessly.

"I didn't expect you to kiss me, ever" I replied studying his face for regret "when did you… find out?"

He looked at me quizzically.

"What? That I was gay?" He asked and I nodded. He smiled and reached up to gently stroke my face, sending shivers down my spine.

"I found out when I met you" he whispered and I was almost overcome by the feeling of his breath on my mouth.

I leant into him, desiring the warmth of his lips on mine again and was accepted gladly. His hands were gently stroking my face and I was lost to the feelings he was making me feel.

"I'm curious. When did you find out?" he said drawing back gently, I rested my head against his shoulder.

"Fourth year" I said sheepishly and I heard him draw in a breath.

"Makes me seem a bit like a minor, doesn't it? I'll admit that I'm… well I'm a little scared" I looked up at him and saw the truth in the nervous way he was biting his lip.

"No. That doesn't make you sound like a minor at all. I'm scared as well you know and it took me ages to accept it. It perfectly natural." I reassured him.

He nodded and looked back sadly at my waiting trunk.

"I wish you didn't have to go" his voice was gloomy.

"Me too, but I must."

He turned back to me suddenly and gripped me face in both of his. I thought he was about to kiss me again but instead he just stared determinedly at my face.

"You have to promise me something. Okay? You have to promise me you will come back safely and that if things get too dangerous you come straight back here, okay?"

"I promise you"

"Good, you have to come back or I swear… I swear that I will hunt you down" he said resolutely.

"I promise Sirius. I promise"

Remus

Sirius and I stood side by side watching as the train and the faces of the twins that had shaken our lives up moved out of sight. We stayed in companionable silence for a while before heading back to the school.

I heard Sirius sigh.

"Do you believe them? When they say they'll be fine?" he asked.

"I have to, but honestly? No, I don't but I have to tell myself they're right anyway"

Cynthia

"How's father" Alex asked me as we drove 'home'. I didn't know where home was anymore, but it wasn't to the cold house we were going to.

Cynthia Grey looked at her son and saw how he had grown. I had missed all those years, all that time in which he had matured. I'd hardly even looked at him, never mind spoken to him, in the short periods I actually could when he wasn't at school. He was a tall handsome man now, no longer her little boy, if he'd ever even been hers. Lara was the same. She'd grown so fast, I didn't even know when she'd had her first period or who had helped her through that. I'd never spoken to her about boys or taken her out cloth shopping. Now she was a beautiful, elegant woman who I didn't know. They were both cold and distant towards me now, just as I had planned. They needed to get away from this family, I'd seen that when they were still very young. If they had been keen on the ideas their father had tried to drill into them then it would have been different, but they didn't. And now they were in danger from the one person who should protect them at all costs.

They didn't need a reason to feel guilty about leaving us when they had to. So I had distanced them from me, the one possible hook.

Alex's eyes were so much like his fathers, only his weren't icy and angry nor were they filled with ambition or lust. They were like Alex Seniors eyes when I had first met him and fallen in love. When we had walked in the park at twilight, hand in hand, heart in heart. Our families had been thrilled that we'd found pure-blood spouses.

I hadn't known then what he would turn into.

"Mother?" my daughter asked and I shook myself out of my pointless thoughts.

"Your father... is being difficult. He comes back from raids and meetings with the Death Eaters angry and frustrated. It's not going as smoothly as he planned and he blames you two. The Dark Lord" I resisted a shiver "became distrustful of us when you were put into Gryffindor" I sniffed. I'd decided before hand that if they asked I would tell the truth, as if this would help protect them.

This silenced them and I looked up to see they looked nervous and scared and I couldn't blame them.

"You both need to be careful" I said and they turned to me, their eyes full of shock. I felt my heart clench, they really thought I was heartless, didn't they? They didn't think I loved them.

"I can't calm your father anymore, not like I used to, and if he decides you need to be punished then he will not hesitate and he may do something... rash"

They clasped hands quietly and clenched their jaws. They shouldn't have come back. They were going to find that a lot of changes had appeared in the months they'd been away. Decisions had been made that they didn't even know about. I knew my daughter well enough to know that she would be infuriated at the idea of an arranged marriage. And Alex would be no better.

Yes, things were in motion that would be impossible to prevent if they didn't act fast. Already discussions had begun concerning my brother's daughter, Natalie Rosier, and Alex. She was a few years older I knew but they didn't care about that. It was all about the blood, not that I didn't agree. I may not agree with the Dark Lords actions anymore but I could help but want our family, the prestigious house of Grey, to remain pure. But I didn't want to force them.

The car glided to a halt and the driver opened the door for us, offering me a hand to get out. Getting out of the car I gave a brief glance to the large manor that I called home. It was a three story building made out of a grey stone with extensive gardens surrounding it. It was larger than our German home and was the eldest Home of the house of Grey. I didn't like it.

"Would Lady Grey wish for anything?" One of the house elves asked me to my left.

"Yes, show Alexander Junior and Larissa to their rooms and bring a pot of tea to my study" I would need lots of caffeine to deal with my new stress.

At least my husband wasn't home, yet...

Regulus

I was sitting on the train on the way home for Christmas when Darien opened the compartment door and sat opposite me. He had an odd strained expression and he seemed to be thinking something over very carefully. I didn't make a single remark until he drew out a piece of parchment and a self inking quill.

"Odd time to be writing a letter"

He grunted in reply and began writing in a delicate script. The letter wasn't long but he took immense care of it. When he was done he studied it then quickly drew out his wand and tapped it twice. It disappeared with a small pop and a flash. His face seemed to fall the moment it was gone.

"It seems I've gone and done it again, Regulus. They'll never forgive me if they find out" He chuckled humourlessly "Not that they would have forgiven me anyway..."

I had no idea what he was talking about.