Potter,

Have you heard anything from Black or Lupin? I haven't gotten any word from Cela or Alice, and it's unlike them to go so long without writing. I'm starting to get worried about them. There's been some not-so-pleasant stuff in the Prophet lately, and I know that Black's family isn't the most friendly… I'm not implying anything, so don't start with me. It's just, Alice and Cela are both pretty openly against the whole pureblood thing. I don't know where Black stands on all this, or what he's doing to deal with it, but I'm afraid that something's going to happen to Alice or Cela. Please, please, please, I just have to know if my best friends are okay.

Lily

– 03 – 03 – 03 –

Eva-- Lily,

There's been some unusual activity from around the area I think Sirius said they were going. I sent Sirius and Remus a letter a couple of days ago, and if I don't get a response in the next day or two I'm going to start panicking, they're always good about replying on time. I got a letter from Celaeno's step-dad, he's my uncle, about a week ago. He said that Alice is supposed to leave in a couple of days, and that's when Remus said he'd be getting back too. But Sirius told me about a week later, so I wouldn't be surprised if Sirius and Celaeno are going to be staying longer. I doubt it means anything, but I figured you'd want to know in case it does. Please, Lily, don't jump to conclusions. Venatici's dad is no better than Sirius' family, they're different branches of the same tree. Just keep yourself safe.

James

– 03 – 03 – 03 –

She looked at her father, teary eyes hard as she trembled. "So, shall we bring in your little friends and have them take part in the consequences you face?"

"Don't hurt them! Please!"

Procyon Venatici laughed. "You know, there was a time I actually found you a pretty little thing. Every hope that one day you'd be a credit to your name. It's an honour, you know, to be a Venatici. Your mother didn't deserve, but she lost it. At least she didn't marry a worthless half-blood, or mudblood, even if Rookwood is a muggle-loving bastard. You, you are my child and you have disgraced everything about the blood in your veins."

"I am not yours! Don't touch me!"

He leaned back, examining the features so like his own. "You aren't half bad-looking, Mira Celaeno. Where did you go wrong?"

"You're the one who's wrong, Father, everything I've done has been to correct that mistake."

"Hm," he said, half laughing and half terrifying. "Because you are my child, even if I wouldn't admit it in public, I'm going to give you two options. You can face whatever they have planned for you on your own, and I won't lift a finger to interfere. Or you can split the punishment between you and your friends and each suffer a few rounds of the crutacious. It's your choice."

Mira Celaeno trembled, staring at her father in horror. "How do you expect me to answer that? How can you, as my father, sit there and tell me to choose between hell and betrayal?"

"Just as I am now, with ease."

He was cold, heartless, and the icy hand that grip her heart ripped at her very soul. "Where are they? I have to see them! Please! You said you wouldn't hurt them."

"Did I really? Oh, well then I guess I'll have to pacify you for now. I can't very well get an answer out of you before then, can I?"

She stood, silent and frozen as he left. She had nowhere to go, and she wouldn't have risked their safety even if she had. Alice came in first, looking at her in confusion as Sirius and Remus attempted to look awake, despite their cloudy eyes and pyjamas. She stood, ramrod straight and pale, and looked at them all levelly. "Wassgoinon?"

Her lips quirked at Sirius's completely unintelligible question. "Nothing for you to worry about."

Alice wasn't so tired as to not catch on and her entire face changed. "Oh, Cela! Please don't do this! What are you doing? What's he asking you to do?"

"He hasn't asked me to do anything, for a change. It's entirely up to me. You and Remus are ready to leave, right? I mean, you are leaving tomorrow morning and all."

"Yeah, you and Padfoot are seeing us off," Remus said, yawning as he slowly became alert.

Celaeno smiled uncertainly. "Well, about that. It might have to be just Sirius. There's a possibility that I'll have to go somewhere before then. Just for a bit, please don't worry. But we might have to wait until later this summer to see each other again."

Sirius cursed, glaring at her. "What did the bastard say to you? What's he doing to you?"

"Please, Sirius. He isn't doing anything, to any of us. Just the way I had hoped. I told you I didn't want to get you involved."

Reaching out and touching her cheek, Remus asked softly, "What is it? Tell us, Cela, please. Or I'm going to spend the next two months worrying about whether or not I should have stayed. Please."

"Oh, please don't," she said quickly, staring at him carefully. "I guess in a way he's being generous, giving me a choice. Since none of us can really do anything here without breaking the wards or getting his permission. Or your mum's, Sirius. Anyway, I'd rather not have to have your welfare on my conscious."

"Would you please stop being so bloody self sacrificing!"

Sirius's face was a picture of rage and he stepped toward her. She froze, her face terrifying as she looked at him. Her mouth was firm, but her eyes glittered and her jaw betrayed her. "Would you do any different for the people you care about?"

She had him there and he froze, staring at her. Going forward, Alice hugged her gently and said, "Can I convince you to change your mind? Please?"

"No, so don't bother. Just get out and go have fun at Potter's, both of you. Please, for me. It's not hard to have fun there."

Remus leaned forward and kissed her, deeply, and there were no jibes from Sirius or annoyed looks from Alice this time. "Be careful. Please. And please take care of yourself. I don't think I'd forgive myself if anything happened to you."

"Sirius will still be here, not to worry. And I'll get what I asked for. You shouldn't worry yourself, you have bigger things to worry about."

Alice tugged on Remus's hand, stepping back as Sirius glared at her. "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

"Oh, Sirius, please. Don't play angry with me. You're as stuck here as I am. And you'd be in a much worse position otherwise."

When Procyon Venatici returned, Remus and Alice stood outside the door, listening blindly as Sirius stood tall, hand on Celaeno's shoulder as he demanded, "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing? I should just take her and leave, go with Remus and Alice to the Potter's and never deal with you again."

"You can try. Mira Celaeno can't go anywhere. She's bound here, unless you can break my wards. You may be smart, Mister Black, but you are not a powerful wizard. You may be, one day, but certainly not yet. You know, if she wasn't placing herself ahead of you, you would be even worse off than she is. Your mother hasn't really stepped forward to keep harm from reaching you."

"Do your worst, Venatici."

"If you insist –"

"No! Please!" Celaeno's face was white, her eyes huge in her face. "You said you wouldn't hurt him if I didn't fight. You said that you would not harm Remus or Alice in any way, and that you'd get them safely to the Potter's. Keep your word. Please. Or has the word of a Venatici come to mean so little?"

She knew her father well enough to hit home there. "Your little friends out there will be untouched, without a single shred of physical or mental harm except what they bestow upon themselves. And I will not physically harm young Mister Black. After all, he may see the error in his ways and I would never risk losing the potential of such a capable young man. His mind is more easily convinced than yours, I'm certain. Yours is so stubborn that's near impossible not to be."

"Maybe so. But swear it. You won't hurt them. Please, do whatever you will to me, but not a hair on their body is to be harmed."

"Oh, please. I wouldn't hurt you, my child. I leave that to others. But you have my word. And anything that happens, you are asking for it."

"I know. But I have your word that they'll be safe."

He clapped a hand on her shoulder as he walked out, "If I admired bravery, I'd be impressed. It's almost admirable, your devotion to your friends. Very probably misplaced, but you'll figure that out on your own. I'll see you when I see fit."

Sirius looked at her, astonishment and horror written on his face as she looked at him, tears in her eyes. "Please, Sirius, don't. I'd rather. It's better than seeing you hurt. Please."

He stiffened, squeezing her hands, letting her tremble in his grasp as he felt her voice in his shoulder. Her voice was shaking, soft, and lingering even after she had left. "Please, Sirius, don't. Please."

– 03 – 03 – 03 –

Prongs,

Shit. Moony and Alice are getting out of here fast. I mean fast. I think I've got things under control. I'm stuck with Mira, believe it or not. This is moving way too bloody fast, and she's the only thing I've got here. Just get Evans with you, and wait for me. I'll be there as soon as I can. Don't ask questions, and don't write back. Please.

Sirius

James blanched. Sirius hadn't signed his given names in a letter to him in three years. Something was wrong. He had to act, and he did, quickly.

– 03 – 03 – 03 –

Lily,

My parents are on their way to pick you up. Get your stuff together. Just do it, please, I'll explain everything once you get here. As much as I know, at least. Please.

James

Lily swallowed. Something was wrong. She knew it! Her stuff was packed within seconds; she had been waiting for something like this. Running down the stairs, she looked at her mother and father with an ashen face and large green eyes. Sitting, she swallowed again and explained the events of the past two weeks as briefly as she could, doing everything to keep them from worrying about her. As tears filled her eyes, the thought of her friend in danger too much for her to bear, her father leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Of course, Lily. The Quirke's have talked about the Potters before, and if you're willing to spend part of your summer with your hated foe, it isn't our place to deny you. And let us know if Alice and Cela are safe. Be careful, please, that's all I ask."

Less a pushover than her husband, Mrs. Evans knelt before her daughter. "If we are to let you go anywhere, we must meet these Potters first. And you must promise to keep yourself safe under any circumstances. Promise, please?"

Knowing her mother's strictness was only out of concern, Lily nodded and hugged her parents, "I promise. Thank you so much. I just need to make sure that Alice and Cela are okay."

The doorbell rang and when Lily opened the door to face a man with James' features, she knew it was the Potters. "Mr. Potter?"

"Andrew Potter at your service, Miss Evans," he replied gallantly, sweeping a messy-haired woman to his side as he bowed. "And my wife, Elizabeth. James informed you that we were coming, am I correct?"

"Oh! Of course, he did. Come in, please, come in."

Andrew Potter was one of the most gorgeous men she had ever seen, partly because he had James Potter's features without his wild hair, and Lily wondered how the messy-haired woman had ever landed such a beauty. However, as she looked again at the woman she saw strikingly beautiful features, a radiant face and bright eyes that made the messy hair disappear. With a quick twist, Mrs. Potter had her hair up, the messy strands suddenly looking irresistibly tousled. Gaping for a moment, she blushed as the woman touched her cheek gently. "Lily Evans? You really are as beautiful as James said. It's a pleasure to meet you at last. I just wish it could have been under different circumstances."

She touched Lily's shoulder lightly, turning toward where her husband and Mr. Evans were speaking. Voice soft, she greeted Mrs. Evans with a brilliant smile before turning to her husband, "Andrew, we should hurry. You're still on call."

Wondering at the composure of James' father, Lily watched as Andrew Potter tensed momentarily. "Of course. Mr. Evans, if you don't mind, we'll rush off. If you leave your number, I can call you and arrange for a portkey to bring you to our house tomorrow or the day after. It's in Lily's best interest to be at our house, she'll be much better protected, and with the news we've been receiving it is most certainly better safe than sorry. I do hope you understand."

"Please," Mrs. Evans said with a laugh, motioning for Lily to go get her trunk, "Lily's been preoccupied enough for us to consent to anything that relaxes her. Will Alice and Celaeno be okay?"

"We're doing everything in our power to make sure they are," Elizabeth Potter said softly. "Andrew's an auror at the Ministry, he's more capable than most. Oh, Lily darling, let me help you with that!"

With a small flick of her wrist, Elizabeth Potter levitated the trunk and let it drop at her side. Saying goodbye to the Evans couple, hand on Lily's shoulder, Elizabeth Potter followed her husband, Lily's trunk in his arms, out the door. "Anyone watching Eli?"

Glancing around, she shook her head. "Please, Andrew, muggles. We're okay. Grab my hand, please, Lily. We're going to apparate."

Lily felt an uncomfortable sensation and she closed her eyes, opening them to see a large manor in the beautiful countryside. Feeling a wave of shock, she followed Elizabeth Potter's gentle guiding hand. She stood, silent and still surprised, grinning to herself as she watched tall, wiry James Potter flung himself over the side of the stairs. Catapulting himself into the petite woman's arms, he kissed her fondly, "Mum! Back so soon?"

Squeezing her son tightly, Elizabeth Potter returned the kiss as only a mother could, beaming at him. "Please, James. You were the one who was rushing to get pretty Lily here. Go help your father, will you? Or show Lily to her room. You know what. I'll go help your father. Show Lily to her room, please. Lily darling, James will take you to your room."

"Yes Mum," James said with a smile, kissing her cheek fondly and beaming at Lily. "Evans! Merlin, that feels awkward. Come on, Lily, you'll be up this way."

"Your house is huge."

"Hi to you too."

Blushing, Lily smiled at him sheepishly. "Sorry. Alice said your family was rich, but I wasn't expecting anything like this."

"Please, Lily, don't worry about it. Mum says that Alice and Remus should be getting here any minute now, if they're on time. Alice's parents are still on holiday, so she was going to be coming here, and I talked Moony into staying with us for a few days before going home, so they'll both be floo-ing here when they leave Sirius and Venatici."

"Okay. Have you heard anything from them?"

"I'll tell you all about that once you're settled. Here is it, hope you like it."

Lily was speechless. It was as though the room had been designed especially for her. "It's perfect."

James blushed, shuffling his feet. "I mean, it's no big deal. Just a guest room. I mean, I had our house elf add some stuff I knew you liked, but it isn't much."

"James Potter, acting humble?" Lily teased, going to sit on the large fluffy bed. "I think the apocalypse may be coming!"

"Funny, Evans," James teased in return, grinning as he sat across from her. "So, what's been going on other than this whole mess with our friends? Now that we're being civil we may as well talk some."

James felt his heart swell and burst as Lily smiled at him. Forgetting his worry about his best friend, smitten James Potter let himself be carried away by the bright green eyes.

– 03 – 03 – 03 –

"Where's Mira?"

"I don't know," Alice replied, looking uncertain.

They had been together for nearly twenty-four hours, without Mira Celaeno, and they hadn't even heard scattered screams and cold laughter that typically accompanied the young woman's "punishment". Of course, it had begun as simple rounds of crucio that had seemed more standard than threatening. And nothing had seemed serious. Not until Alice had been taken to see Procyon Venatici. Especially when she and Remus were to be leaving within the hour. When Alice had returned, safe, Remus and Sirius had hoped for news. "Please, Alice, did you see anything?"

Looking at Remus sorrowfully, she managed hoarsely, "Nothing. Cela's dad just talked to me, really civilly, like nothing was going on. I saw Death Eaters walking by the room. There's a whole bunch of them, not just her dad, Sirius, but a whole gang of them. I asked Venatici what was going on. I begged, almost. I don't think I've said please so many times in one sitting. But he didn't budge. Just said that Remus and I would be leaving as scheduled. He's kept that part of his word, too well. Please, don't be mad. I tried."

"Not at you," Sirius said shortly. Stiffening, he looked at Remus carefully. "They won't check on us soon, will they? Since they just left you here, Alice, it'll be a while before they head back this way. You guys are supposed to leave in an hour. We can figure this out before then. Remus, let's cast a disillusionment charm and go find her. If we can't get her out, at least we can see if she's okay. And I already have our stuff, me and Mira's, if we can manage to get out."

"I'm staying. I won't go out there again. I love her, but I don't want to risk anything. If they catch us they'll hurt her. You two go. And please, tell me if she's okay."

Sirius nodded, casting the charm quickly and waiting for Remus to do the same. Gulping down air, the tall young man nodded and with his best friend they slid out of the room. "I wish we had the Marauder's Map," Remus muttered darkly, pleased to see Sirius' sombre features twitch in an unwanted grin.

"Shh," he said softly, sneaking around a corner, "I hear something."

They edged closer, and they heard it alright. The screams pierced their hearts and they flung themselves at the crack in the window. Their blood froze and anger filled them so that it overflowed. Death Eaters were not supposed to resort to muggle methods like that! Especially not to Mira Celaeno, whose dark eyes were wide with terror as she screamed, fighting like a wildcat. Too stunned, too horrified, too incensed to move, they stared in horror as she was invaded again, and again. The screams that came forth, the pallor of her face, the terror in her eyes, would haunt them forever. "Please," Sirius gasped. "Please, leave her alone."

He choked as the masked man grabbed Celaeno by the throat, tossing her down and shoving himself in her mouth. She sobbed, recoiling and screaming as a boot came in hard contact with her face. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, choking on the red substance as she screamed in pain. It was never supposed to happen with that much force, not to anyone, and Remus felt something in him break as he watched the girl he had been kissing only a day earlier be violated by yet another masked man. And both boys felt a mixture of fear, disgust, and anger as hands clamped on their necks. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here."

Forgetting that these men would not pity them, Sirius sobbed helplessly, "Please, please. Dear Merlin, you have to help her! Please!"

Cold laughter filling their ears, the two felt their souls break a little as the door flew open and they had to face Mira Celaeno. The man was still inside her, and her desperate attempts to fight faded into shame and horror. Tears trickled over her white cheeks, mixing with blood and sweat, and she stilled. She convulsed, blood bubbling from her lips as she bit her tongue to stop another scream. She didn't want them to see her like this; she didn't want them to be a part of this. She had asked for this, hadn't she? To get them out of this hell, and it had backfired.

"Leave her alone! Bloody hell! Please, leave her alone! Please, dear Merlin!"

Silently she prayed for Sirius to shut up, though Remus' terrified silence drove burning needles through her already shattered heart. What was left of her shuddered, tears streaming over her cheeks as she heard Sirius scream, throwing himself at the Death Eaters. Grabbed firmly around the chest, Sirius found himself looking into the cold eyes of Procyon Venatici. "I told you to stay out, didn't I? Get the other one out of here, he and the girl are supposed to leave now anyway. Put this one where he can watch. Let him see what his protection got this bitch. It won't hurt him."

"Please," Sirius begged, terror on his face as Mira Celaeno lay motionless, her tears the only sign of life from her still form.

Remus grabbed at Sirius as he felt the other boy be pulled away. "No! Please!"

"Please, oh look at me! Please!"

Tears burning his eyes at the mockery, his eyes locked on Sirius', and he nodded as Sirius mouthed, "The Ministry. Get to the Ministry."

– 03 – 03 – 03 –

Alice sat awkwardly in the corner, curled in a ball and helpless as she watched Elizabeth Potter hold Remus, letting him cry it out. They had been to the Ministry, and there was nothing more to be done. They would leave for St. Mungo's in an hour, as Andrew Potter had gone to Celaeno's parents and they were waiting for his return. Alice may have wanted to see Lily, or even James, but now she just wanted to get to St. Mungo's, to wait for Mira Celaeno, and not to leave until her friend arrived.

– 03 – 03 – 03 –

He screamed, pounding on the transparent wall as he shook with sobs. "Please! Stop! Leave her alone! NO! DON'T!"

The brand seared into her skin and she screamed, shrieking like a banshee and collapsing onto the floor. Her hair was short, boyishly so, and Sirius knew that the cut had been nearly as painful for her as any physical torture. He could hear her screams, watch her cry, and he could do nothing as she slowly began to break. It was wrong, and he would have given his life to see it end. Sliding onto the ground, he sobbed helplessly and watched as the girl he had grown to love was tortured to the edge of her life.

-

The door opened with a jerk and he snapped to attention. What were they going to do to him? He was too stunned to move as the beaten bundle was thrown carelessly into the room. Tears of relief streaming over his face, he pulled her into his corner and caressed her gently. "Mira. Dear Merlin. Please Mira, wake up. Please, tell me you'll be okay. Please, please, please."

Her eyes fluttered and she was too weak, too broken to fight him. "Go ahead," she gasped. "I'm ready for it."

She thought he was going to torture her as well. The idea tortured him, and he cried out vehemently, rocking her desperately, "No! Mira, it's me! It's Sirius! They have me too. Remus and Alice are gone. They've been gone for four or five days. They're doing all they can. Look at me, please. Please, let me know that Mira's still there somewhere. Please."

"Sirius?"

"Yes, it's me. Merlin, Mira, it's me."

"Please, don't let them take me. Please, it hurts. Please."

One week ago Sirius would have thought it unmanly and weak to sob helplessly as he was now. Now there was nothing unmanly about it. "You're with me. We're the same. You're all I have right now. You're all the family I've got. Please, believe me. I won't let them take you. I'll fight them."

"Please, don't fight them. Just hide me. My Sirius, right? Good brother. Please, just don't let it hurt."

Holding her tightly, nodding, Sirius passed out. "All I've got left, Mira."

Looking at him through eyes more alert than they had been moments before, Mira let tears slide over her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Sirius. Please, forgive me."

Why she was sorry, why she was asking forgiveness, were reasons only her half-crazed mind could have understood. But she was stronger than anyone could have guessed, a strength that showed itself vividly as she pressed a kiss to his forehead and lay down beside him, "We're together, at least. Please, in the name of Merlin, don't let me lose him. He's my family now. Please."

– 03 – 03 – 03 –

"Aww," she cooed, her voice pitiless. For hours they had been together, sleeping in silence and holding each other tightly in terror. "Pretty please, Mummy, can I take them out to play?"

Eyes widening, Mira Celaeno shrank into Sirius, whispering furiously, "Please, don't let them take me. I love you, I love you, I love you. Please. Please. Pl –"

Her fervent pleading was cut short by a scream as strong, brutal hands grabbed her around the waist. She squirmed, fighting the grasp as she felt rough fingers grope her and enter her ruthlessly. Sirius screamed, his anger turning into pain as he felt the swords prick his skin from every angle. So this was what an unforgivable felt like. It fell from him and he watched, helpless, as Celaeno was violated, again. "Mira!" he cried hoarsely. "Look at me! Please! I love you!"

She was left there, lying still, eyes closed on the pain and dirtiness that filled her. He grabbed her shoulders to shake her, to see her dark eyes look into his, and his jaw tightened in pained realization as she refused to look at him. So quickly, and she was already afraid of him as well. He sat, knees and palms flush against the cold floor, and he watched in horror as she was taken away, his voice hoarse as she left. "Please."

When she was brought into the room opposite the transparent wall he plastered himself to it, beating at the wall and watching as she was whipped, the blood slowly seeping to the surface of her broken skin. He watched as the wand came forward, and he couldn't identify the spell for the blood ringing in his ears. Eyes wide, he could not break his gaze as she shuddered, shivering violently as her lips, fingers, and toes blued, the rest of her skin reddening and blistering from the cold. He would never be able to estimate how long those hours lasted, for to him it was an eternity. Far from the end of her "punishment", he turned and retched as she was raped. It seemed that sexual torture was their favourite and when they left her she fell to the floor, body shaking as she vomited blood. Fixed on the horrific sight before him, he watched as she passed out.

The creature on the floor did not look like Mira Celaeno. Mira Celaeno was lively, beautiful, with flawless skin, shining eyes, and bright features. This creature was bloody, crumpled, blistered, discoloured, with hollow eyes and bloodless face that served as a brutal reminder that she was no more than a shell of whoever she may once have been. Like he had countless times before, Sirius wished Remus was there. Remus was the smart one. He would have thought of some way to get her out of there.

It was a tedious process. Unable to sleep from anticipation and worry, unable to focus from exhaustion and hunger, Sirius watched her. She would alternate from slumping forward in resignation, a lifeless rag when her tormentors were gone, to fighting madly in terror, a panicked wildcat when her tormentors were present. Slowly she began to break, her physical wounds appearing as though they were healing. But the blue tinge never left her and the blood she vomited seemed of an endless supply.

Weak, helpless, and utterly lost, she succumbed to the physical demand of her injuries. Though she still fought, though she still screamed, her body could not keep up with her desperation any longer. And the Death Eaters lost interest. As resigned as she, though for his mental torment rather than physical, Sirius felt a new wave of determination seep through him as he heard her last word. She managed it hoarsely, as though it would save her while endless amounts of persistence, capability, and strength had not. "Please."