Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter (deep sigh) this is just the way it will go in my head until the brilliant J.K.R. tells it differently…

In light of Ella's hastened departure James found himself on pins and needles constantly in every turn of his life. After all not only had the only other person his wife had to vent on disappeared she had managed to destroy a group of people that were closer than brothers in the process. In the end Dumbledore's sources maintained that information on their close groups was still being passed on to the Dark Lord. Sirius had never in his life felt so empty, he had driven away someone for reasons not even he could justify anymore. The real heart breaker had been when her mother had sent a letter explaining that she had gotten Elvin Fever while in Elvin territory and although she had made a recovery the illness had made her lose the baby. Sirius was torn up about it and had gone over to Lily and James' to confide his woes, the scene, upon his arrival, however, drove his own problems form his mind.

When Sirius entered the house all he could hear was a very stony silence. An air of gloom hung about normally happy home, he found his best friend staring into the fire in the family room, and the sleeping form of a very puffy looking Lily lying on the couch.

"James?"

Broken from his gaze he looked up at Sirius and for the first time since the fiasco with Ella started Sirius really looked at his friend. Although they hadn't been out of school for long James was not the same carefree individual he had been in his youth. He had bags under his eyes and his brow was often in a crease. His head was pounding from the news he had just received. The news that Albus Dumbledore could not in good conscience hide from the young couple any more. There unborn son was as good as a marked man.

"Why?" Was all the noise that managed escaped James's mouth.

"I wish I had the answer mate." Sirius sighed and sat down next to him.

Dumbledore sat at his desk looking defeated. Defeat seemed to be the theme of the day Dumbledore reflected as he thought back on how he had spent his 140th birthday. He had gone to see Lily and James. As much as he hadn't wanted to do it he had to warn Lily and James. It had been difficult after all they had had so many obstacles thrown at them lately what with the dissention that 'the monster' had been able to create among the group of friends. The boys that had once been as thick as thieves now were barley on speaking terms, and the only other female that had managed to penetrate the circle other than Lily had taken her leave swiftly. Albus had heard from Ella informing him that she would be back to working on her order mission as soon as she had recovered from the illness that had plagued her and caused her to miss-carriage.

Albus felt for Sirius, the man would have made a good father and no doubt with genes like that baby had the whole of the wizarding world would have had a new generation of entertaining trouble makers. Yet if it life had ever taught Albus anything it was that life heads no mans plans. So not only did he have to visit a man grieving over the 'would have been' he had to see yet another young couple predicting doom.

That had to be the most difficult thing that he had ever had to do in his entire life. He had seen the defeated in their eyes as he told them that the one thing in their life that was supposed to be the light in all the darkness was now their primary area for concern. That the young child that they were going to bring into the world may be in more danger than they could protect it from, for when all was said and done they could and would die to protect their son however that didn't help him if you know who managed to get that far.

Dumbledore sighed and began placing the tough memory into his pensive. All and all this hadn't been the best birthday he had had in his life. After all he had always had a soft spot where James and Lily were concerned. James had changed for her and Lily hadn't let past events blind what had turned out to be a beautiful relationship. When all was said and done they were the module for what hope could bring.

'And lets face it,' Dumbledore whispered. 'At the end of the day dreams are precious, and hope is a distant memory.'