The sun had just broke through the horizon as Tabbitha blinked a few times before rubbing her eyes to get rid of any sleep out of her eyes. In her tired state she thought she was in her bed, but it was much harder than she remembered. That was when it hit her like a freight train. All of the events of the night before came flooding back in. Before they could steer her focus from the current situation at hand she mentally slammed that flood gate shut as she sat up slightly. In front of James lay on his back with arm splayed out while the other rested against his stomach as his mouth hung open emitting the occasional snore. Looking down and behind her she saw Lily laying on her side facing her with one arm tucked underneath her head as a pillow and the other draped across her stomach with her legs curled up towards.

If she remembered correctly she was in the Potter manor and the three of them were in the library. She assumed that Anna was in one of the many bedrooms that the manor had. After all, Tanya had said she was ok, unlike their mother. Not only was today the girls' birthday, but Tabbitha would have to make funeral arrangements if not today, most likely tomorrow.

It was then that a small cough drew her attention to the couch. Looking over she saw Sirius laying on it as he watched her. With a sigh she sat up right taking her eyes away from him. Needing to stretch her now sore back she twisted left then right as her back popped and cracked to sort of relieve the tension she felt.

"Bloody hell, was that you?" Startled she looked over to see James sitting up as he yawned before looking at her wide eyed.

"Y-yeah…," she said with a small shrug.

"I'm surprised you didn't break your back doing that," he laughed, all too loudly waking up Lily in the process.

"Shut up, Potter, you can wake the dead with that laugh," said the redhead, as she too sat up yawning in the process before she realized that Tabbitha was awake. "Oh my, Tabby, how are you doing this morning? Did you sleep well? I'm sure you're positively starving. We should've gotten you to a bed last, but…," it was then that James had taken the opportunity to scoot behind Tabbitha and next to Lily to cover her mouth with his hand.

"I think we need to leave her be for now. She's had a long night and probably needs some time to sort things out," he said, letting go of her mouth. As she made to speak again he held up a finger, "ah ah, now let's go find mom and see if she'll help us make breakfast for everyone, ok?" He stood up holding his hand out to her. For a moment the girl hesitated looking to her friend then back to the hand offered to her.

"If you need anything let us know." And with that she took James' hand to help her stand up, but let go once she was. Though it was a rejection his smile didn't falter as it was one small victory for Team Potter, as he would say. Letting her lead the way the two of them stepped out of the library leaving Tabbitha and Sirius in silence.

Sitting on the rug in front of the fireplace Tabbitha brought her knees to her chest struggling to keep her mind blank. Struggling to keep the memory of her mother's death out of her mind, but it was hard. With her head buried in her arms she kept her eyes closed willing the images of her father casting the spell that should have ended her life. She should be dead not her mother. That spell was meant for her. The more she thought on it the more her heart began to race and the more her breathing became erratic. Soon she found it difficult to breathe and it sounded as if there was a strong wind blowing in her ears making it so that she did not hear the footsteps coming towards her. At that moment, right when she was about to fall off the ledge two strong hands came down on her shoulders gently followed by a voice.

"Tabby-cat, look at me." Slowly she raised her head only to be met with Sirius' gray eyes. "I need you to take a deep breath for me, but keep your eyes on me, can you do that for me?" Nodding her head she inhaled deeply followed by a ragged exhale. "Now, tell me three things you see in this room."

Glancing around her eyes landed on the couch, "there's a couch." Looking around some more she spotted the fireplace, "and a fireplace." And with one more glance around she said, "and there are bookcases," before bringing her eyes back to his. It was then that she realized her increased heart rate had slowed down to normal as well as her breathing. This wasn't her first panic attack, but it was the first one that anyone had brought her down from so easily. "How?"

Plopping down next to her Sirius faced towards the windows as he shrugged, "Remus has had them before and that's what has always worked for him. Figured I'd give it a go with you." Nodding her head she just stared at the wall that she was facing.

As he opened his mouth to speak Lily walked back in with a letter in her hands. "It's from Professor McGonagall," she said, handing the letter over to Tabbitha.

Opening it she read it silently aware of Sirius reading over her shoulder. "It says she'll be here in a couple of hours to help me in…," her voice trailed off unable to say the words. They only cemented the fact that this was all real and not just some elaborate dream that her brain had cooked up. Her mother was dead and she, being the oldest, had to plan the funeral. Handing it to Lily she hung her head fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. Closing her eyes as she took a few deep breaths to calm her down she felt Sirius wrap his arms around her from behind now as he rested his forehead on her shoulder.

"Why is Minnie helping with your mother's funeral arrangements," asked James, having popped in right before Lily had received the letter from Tabbitha.

"She's my godmother," she shrugged as if that wasn't the weirdest thing in the world.

"You never told me that Professor McGonagall was your godmother," balked Lily, sitting down on the couch. Even Sirius lifted his head up in shock to look at the brunette next to him. As he looked at her though the more he realized that this must be her natural hair color. He was so used to seeing her with different hair colors thanks to her metamorphagus gene that he hadn't realized that it was a simple chocolate brown that fell loosely down her back tickling his neck.

"I guess it slipped my mind. Anyways, I should probably check on Anna and get ready." Pulling out of Sirius' arms he had struggled internally to let her go wanting to hold the incredibly broken girl, but he knew she had things she needed to do. And with that she left the study to go check on her sister asking Mrs. Potter on the way where they had put her.

After she left the three of them sat in silence when it was disturbed by Lily gasping audibly. "What, what is it," asked James frantically.

"Today is their birthday," she said, wide-eyed looking between the two.

"Wait, so what you're saying is that they have the same birthday exactly six years apart," said James, trying to understand what Lily was getting at.

"Yes, don't you see, that means that Tabbitha is 17 as of today and Anna is 11. That means that this is Anna's first year at Hogwarts, she should be getting her letter if she already has it and…," she said, trailing off before something else dawned her and the rest of them. "That means…."

"They lost their mother the day before their birthday and now Tabbitha has to spend it planning a funeral." Casting their eyes down none of them knew what to do. Having known Tabbitha for so long they knew she'd probably forget her own birthday in lieu of recent events. If anything Lily knew she'd at least remember her sister's, but forgo reminding anyone of her own. It was then that Mrs. Potter walked in letting them know that breakfast was ready. When they got to the table Mr. Potter sat at one end with an extremely tired Anna few seats away.

"Good morning sleepy head," whispered Lily, sitting next to the girl while James took the seat to the girl's right with Sirius sat across from them. The little girl said nothing in return opting to stare at the table through half lidded eyes. Deciding it best to not push her to talk Lily opted to filling the younger girl's plate with her favorites once food had appeared. It was half way through the breakfast when a pop sounded from the living room.

"Is anybody home," called Minerva from the other room.

"We're in the dining room, Minnie," replied Mrs. Potter, soon followed by the other woman walking in. "She should be down in a moment. Would you like some breakfast, Minni?"

"On no, but thank you, I already ate before I came," she said, though she did sit down next to Mrs. Potter. Leaning closer to the older woman, "how are they?" As she spoke she glanced over at the youngest McKinely as she picked at her food having barely eaten anything with Lily and James trying to get her to eat while Sirius just laughed to himself at their failed attempts.

"Not so good, Minnie," sighed Mrs. Potter.

"No, I suspect they wouldn't be so good. After all, they did just lose their mother on their birthday," she whispered, still watching little Anna pick at her food as Mrs. Potter gasped softly.

"Is that so?" Sirius having caught her eye nodded his head solemnly.

"I'm afraid so, which makes this one here 11 as of today. That reminds me," as she spoke she reached into her robes to pull out a letter. "Anna McKinely," she spoke in the voice that got anyone's attention when heard. Lifting her head up she looked at the woman blinking slowly not having heard her come in. "I understand today's your birthday and that you are 11 now, is that so?" The young girl nodded her head slowly unsure of what this woman was getting at. "In that case, I have something for you," with that said she handed the letter to Lily who then gave it to the now wide eyed girl. Holding it in her hands she began read aloud after opening it.

"Dear Ms. McKinely,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment." Stopping there she looked up wide eyed glancing around at everyone still watching her.

"I apologize for getting it to you so late. It seems as if someone has been intercepting my owls to you for the past two weeks," said Minerva, looking around the room as they all knew who had been behind that.

"I was wondering when you'd actually get your letter, because I distinctly remember getting mine in June." At the sound of Tabbitha's voice all eyes at the table looked to her. Seeing her big sister a wide grin broke out on Anna's face as she pushed away from the table, jumped down from her chair and ran to her sister.

"I'm going to Hogwarts, sissy," squealed the little girl in excitement.

"I heard. Are you excited," she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Yeah! I'm gonna be in Hufflepuff just like you, sissy." Even Minerva smiled warmly at the little girl's enthusiasm.

"Is that so? Well, I guess we'll just find out for sure come September 1," she said, getting down to Anna's height. "Now, I have to leave for a bit, but I promise we will do whatever you want when I get back."

"Anything?"

"Anything, but only if you eat all of your breakfast and you're good for the Potter's while I'm gone," said Tabbitha, matter-of-factly. With a high pitched 'ok' the younger girl ran around the table to climb back in her chair to finish her breakfast.

"Are you ready, Tabbitha," asked Minerva, now standing up from her chair. With a nod of her head the two women made their way to the living room followed by Sirius. Grabbing onto Tabbitha's arm he stopped her in tracks as she looked back at him.

"I can go with you… for support. You don't have to do this alone," he said, eyes full of concern.

Placing her hand on his she gave it a squeeze before releasing it from his grasp, "I'll be fine, Sirius, besides I won't be alone I have Minnie." With that she stepped away as Minerva asked she was ready to which reminded her that she could indeed apparate on her own now as she was of age.

It was Mr. Potter who came up behind him as he stared at the spot where she once stood only moments before. "She'll come to you when she's ready, son." And with that he head patted the boy on the back before heading to his study.

"Hey Pads, I just owled Remus and Peter to come play quidditch with us, wanna join," shouted James from the dining room snapping the other boy back to reality.

"Only if I get to play Keeper this time," he shouted back, turning around to walk back to the table.

"I wanna be seeker," piped up Anna, to which everyone laughed as they began to clear the table. Though the air had grown considerably lighter there still hung a cloud over them weighing on their minds, but they knew they needed to keep Anna occupied. She was still a child and they were determined to keep it that way.

Author's Note:
I have decided to updated this every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in an effort to finish something for once in a reasonable time. I have no exact plan for this as of yet, and I haven't actually written anymore chapters past 7. So, hopefully with a schedule in place I'll actually keep up with it. Let me know what you think so far and if there is anything you wish to see happen in future chapters. Enjoy!