The Unravelling Chapter Five:
Nightmare's
Ryan's screams filled Chloe's ears, as she tried to find her way to him through the maze of long corridors. As she got closer his screams became more and more intense. It was too much to take, not being able to help, to find him, to keep him safe. How had this even happened?
"RYAN!" Chloe bellowed, running as fast as her heart could take.
Finally, she found a door, and she burst into it. Sirius lay on the ground, unmoving, and blood trickling from his mouth. Chloe gasped, and fell to his side to check his pulse.
"Please Sirius, don't do this," she choked as tears began to fall from her eyes. She shook him hard, praying he would wake up, open his eyes, do something that told her he was still alive. "Please," she begged, pounding her hands on his chest.
Crying echoed around the barren room, and Chloe turned around to the corner of the room. A woman, her face hidden behind a veil of hair, was cackling as she held Chloe's son close to her breast. She had her roughly in front of Ryan's mouth to keep him from talking. His face was red as he fought against her, crying fiercely. Chloe jumped up, but it was too late.
"Silly girl," the woman sneered, and with a flash of green light Chloe fell to the ground.
"CHLOE!"
Chloe woke abruptly, shivering. Cold sweat covered her body, and it took her a few minutes to realise that it had all been a dream. A nightmare brought on by her mother's words. Tears slid down her cheek, and Chloe sat up in bed, tripping to control her heart the was beating madly.
"You scared me," Sirius' voice made Chloe jump, and she turned to see Sirius kneeling next to the bed, worry in his eyes, his hands gripping the sheets. Seeing Chloe's face, he didn't hesitate to move on to the bed next to her. Pulling her against his chest, she cried helplessly.
"You... were dead. They had - hic - Ryan and I couldn't get to him. This woman... she killed me. It felt so real..." Chloe tried to explain.
"It's okay, only a nightmare." Sirius assured, kissing Chloe on top of the head, and rubbing her back with his hand. "I promise you I won't let anything like that ever happen, I swear it."
Chloe looked up at him. "Please don't promise me that, Sirius. Promise me... promise you'll try your hardest to not let it happen, but don't promise that it won't ever happen. I don't want you breaking your promises." Chloe breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sirius struggled to speak for a moment, before nodding. "I promise I will try my hardest to never let anything happen to you, to Ryan, or to myself; I promise that we will get through this war together."
Chloe gave a watery smile, and moved away from Sirius to look at the clock. It read five-thirty AM, and Chloe groaned. "It's too early to get up, Ryan won't be up for another two hours."
Sirius shook his head, rolling his eyes. "In case you have forgotten, happy birthday, love." Sirius said gently.
Chloe turned back to him, her mouth gaping. "I actually had completely forgotten with all the Christmas business. Thanks," Chloe mumbled leaning into give him a soft kiss.
"How does it feel to be twenty, then?" Sirius asked with his usual smirk.
"So far, freaking brilliant." Chloe grunted, pulling the covers over her, and getting back into bed. "Now let's see if I'll be able to fall asleep again."
Sirius pulled her close to him, getting under the covers himself. "I'll make sure of it."
"MUMMY!"
Ryan's shouting sent a terrified shiver down his mother, and Chloe burst awake, nearly falling off her bed, a she fought against Sirius's firm arms around her waist. "Ryan, it's okay, mummy is here!" Chloe said shrilly.
"What the hell-" Sirius woke up, confused.
"Happy birthday Mummy," Ryan giggled, falling back on the floor, laughing at the response of his parents.
Upon seeing that her son was perfectly okay, and currently rolling on the floor laughing, she relaxed. A little dazed from her sleep she took a minute to collect herself. Sirius, moving off the bed, squeezed her shoulder and moved to the floor, falling next to Ryan and grabbing him by the waist.
"Throw me Daddy!" Ryan squealed.
Sirius did as he was told, throwing Ryan a foot in the air. He winced a little, catching him, and putting him down. "Your getting a little too big for that," Sirius reckoned, sitting up, and looking to Chloe. Ryan ignored his father, got up and jumped on to the bed.
"Yes, Ryan is a big boy, isn't he?" Chloe smiled, pulling Ryan to herself. "Thank you for the wake up call," Chloe whispered in his ear. "Have you used the bathroom yet?" she inquired.
Ryan struggled to move away from Chloe at this question. "No pee, no pooh."
"Well, isn't that nice?" Sirius asked nobody, and stood up. "Come on, let's go to the bathroom." Sirius moved towards the door and gestured with his head. Ryan begrudgingly relented and followed Sirius out of the bedroom, taking his father's hand as he went.
Chloe smiled, and lay back in bed. The nightmare drifted back into her mind momentarily, but she quickly pushed it out of her thoughts. It had just been a nightmare brought on by too many leftovers and her mother's terrifying worries. Chloe did have to admit, her mother had scared her that night, and Chloe had been constantly thinking of how right her mother had been. But at the same time, Chloe couldn't see herself turning her back on her friends, abandoning them and going into hiding. She definitely could not see Sirius doing it either, and she just reminded herself constantly that she was doing the right thing. She just had to be.
"There are presents in the living room from your mum and sister apparently," Sirius informed, walking past the bedroom.
"Really?" Chloe yawned, not moving. Sirius didn't answer, and a few minutes later she heard him shuffling about in the kitchen. It was now or never, if she planned on getting up. Of course, she was reflecting in her mind how old she felt and how in actuality she was quite young. She had a newly four year old son, a boyfriend (or as her mother would say her 'partner'), her own flat, and a good job at the ministry. Perhaps half those things would seem normal for a twenty year old witch, though it was still common to see un-wed Witches and Wizards still living at home until marriage. Still, Chloe felt positively old.
"Are you coming Mummy?" Ryan appeared at the doorway, waddling his over to Chloe. He tugged on her arm, and she smiled at him. "Daddy's made breakfast."
"Has he?" Chloe said, sitting up. "What has he made?"
"Waffles - and there's syrup and ice cream!" Ryan sputtered, pulling on Chloe's arm. "Please come mummy, I'm hungry."
Chloe didn't say anything more, simply laughed and let him lead her out of the bedroom, down the hall and into the kitchen where sure enough, was a feast. Sirius kissed her on the cheek as he placed a platter of steaming hot waffles on the table, followed by a sippy cup of juice for Ryan, and two mugs of steaming coffee.
"Ah, just what I needed," Chloe purred, sitting down and reaching for the coffee.
Ryan mirrored his mother and grabbed his sippy cup. Chloe smirked as Ryan copied her every move, right down to how she ate her waffles. Sirius ruffled Ryan's hair, as he sat down with his own breakfast, laughing as Ryan screwed up his eyes in annoyance.
"He wants to be just like his mum," Sirius teased looking at Chloe.
Rolling her eyes, Chloe chose to ignore this. As she ate silently to herself, in her head she began to think about her nightmare, and what Sirius had said the night before. She didn't like that there was always a chance one or both of them wouldn't be there for her son. For the first time, Chloe asked, "When is your next meeting?"
Sirius froze, his hand stopping mid-way as he went to put a mouthful of food in his mouth. He didn't answer right away, shocked by her sudden question. Knowingly he looked at her. "Not for awhile - Chloe don't worry please, not on your birthday."
Chloe frowned, and went back to her food. She felt a little guilty as a tense silence fell between her and Sirius, only interrupted by the sounds Ryan was making as he ate. He kept picking up pieces of waffle and 'zooming' them around as if they were planes, or giant birds as he liked to call them. Instinctively, Chloe reached over and put her hand on Ryan's arm gently.
"Please don't play with your food honey, it will get cold if you don't eat it." Chloe told him gently.
Sirius cast an apprehensive look at Chloe before suddenly getting up and putting his empty plate in the sink. "I'll go get your presents." He announced.
"I don't need to open them yet," Chloe called as Sirius went into the living room to the window where everyone's owls had left her gifts.
She watched threw the doorway as he used his wand to pick them up off the ground. "Where is your sense of fun?" he grinned.
"I must have forgotten it," Chloe mused.
Sirius returned with her hovering gifts and set them in front of her. She could see easily that the largest ones had come from her mother and Aunt - probably a new house coat. There was also a gift from Remus, Lily and James, and a few cards, most notible one from Peter. Chloe picked up the card, and gave Sirius a surprised look. Peter usually got gifts with Remus, never knowing what to get his best friend's girlfriends for gifts.
"I know," Sirius sat, down his eyes echoing Chloe's thoughts. "It seems Peter has finally tapped into that Gryffindor courage."
"I mean, I know it's just a card, but even that usually gets Peter in a tissy. I should thank him personally," Chloe joked.
"Well you'll get to thank everybody in person at News Years - the Order has decided to have a little get-together at the Hogshead." Sirius noted.
Chloe furrowed her brow. "You mean I don't get to see anybody tonight?"
Sirius gave an uneasy smile. "You get to see everyone but Lily and James..."
"Why only them?" Chloe questioned, more concerned than upset.
"Well, they are sort of... busy." Sirius began. Chloe's brow furrowed even more. "Trust me, Lily was really sorry, she left this monsterous letter. She and James got sent on this Ministry Assignment in Ireland. The Ministry believes they have a lead or something, they couldn't give me details." Sirius explained.
Sighing heavily, Chloe sunk in her chair. "I suppose I can forgive them if they couldn't avoid it." Chloe decided, looking to Sirius with a smirk. "Though I think I should milk it, no?"
Sirius chortled, a little relieved that Chloe was fine with not knowing further details that even he, himself didn't know. Chloe could manage to have a level head some times. "Well, are you going to open your presents?"
Chloe shrugged, sitting up again, "If you insist."
Chloe reached for the cards first, inspecting Peter's closely. Eventually Chloe opened it, pausing momentarily to notice how messy Peter's hand-writing was. It was simple card, or at least in a wizarding sense. Confetti appeared from no where as soon as you opened the card and repeatedly did so every time you closed and opened it again. Simply inside, Peter had wrote, Hope your birthday is good, Peter
"More words than he would be able to string together in person." Sirius exaggerated.
Chloe slapped him on the arm playfull. "Not fair - he is your friend after all. I think it's sweet, so don't go teasing him the next tim you seem."
"Yeah, yeah, open the next one." Sirius maintained, throwing a card from Kathy at her.
Chloe caught it swiftly, and opened it up. It contained the usual long-winded note about how long they had been friends, and it was absolutely mental how old they all were getting. Chloe couldn't help smile though - even in the darkest of times Kathy managed to stay her normal bubbly self. The next was from Albert, simply wishing her happy birthday and informing her that he missed her at the hospital. The last card was from Nadine, and contained a fiver and an apology that it was all she had on her.
"Crazy Muggles - using paper money!" Sirius exclaimed as he took the fiver from Chloe, who simply ignored him and moved on to her first present from her mum and Aunt.
"Mummy can I help?" Ryan asked, pushing himself out of his chair and on to the floor.
"Sure, come here," Chloe agreed, picking Ryan up and putting him on her lap. Before Chloe could even grip a piece of paper Ryan began tearing away, revealing exactly what Chloe assumed, a new bath robe.
"Oh, boring," Ryan frowned.
"Exactly my thoughts, my boy!" Sirius laughed, taking hold of Ryan and putting him on his lap. "Why don't we let mum open the rest of her presents on her own?" Ryan pouted but said nothing.
"I told him it was okay..." Chloe tried, but Sirius shook his head.
"It's your birthday," Sirius affirmed. Chloe rolled her eyes and picked up the box shaped present from Lily and James.
No wrapping paper, Chloe took the lid off, and stared unsurprised. "They got you books!" Sirius roared, looking disappointed.
Chloe ignored him again. "They are all about healing, and household remedies..." Chloe pulled the books out and looked over each one until she came to the bottom of the box where a bunch of dungbombs from Zonko's joke shop sat. Pulling them out, Chloe read the note attached aloud. "'For Sirius, so he isn't too disapointed in me, James.'"
Sirius grinned as he held the dungbombs in his head. "Ryan and I will enjoy these greatly when we go to the park."
"Here mummy," Ryan said, pushing the last present towards Chloe.
"Thank you love," Chloe said, leaning over and kissing Ryan on the cheek before opening her present. The box was the smallest yet, but that meant nothing. Feeling the weight in her hands, Chloe could tell what ever Remus had gotten her was not just some silly gift. Opening it, her mouth dropped open in surprise. It was a picture of she, Sirius, Ryan, Lily, James, Peter, and lastly Remus the first day Chloe had them all introduced to Ryan for the first time. It had been taken in her back yard, many moon's ago, and framed in bamboo. The card read, Happy Birthday! I thought you would like looking back on the days when things were still simple - well better yuor friend, Remus.
"It's certainly a Remus gift," Sirius commented when he saw the picture. Chloe punched him hard this time on the arm.
"Hey, I meant it in the nicest way," Sirius whined, rubbing his arm.
"So where's my gift from you?" Chloe asked, knowing full well that knowing Sirius he had some big plot if he hadn't given her a tangible gift along with the others.
"Oh, my dear, you'll just have to wait." Sirius gave a devilish grin.
"What about mine?" Ryan cried.
"Why don't you go get it?" Sirius suggested, helping Ryan down from his chair. Sirius looked to Chloe: "He picked it out himself."
Ryan ran from the kitchen and few minutes later apeared with a small box with a silver bow on it, and handed it to Chloe a little haphazardly. Chloe took it in her hands, and kissed the top of Ryan's head before opening. "Thank you darling," she said to him, and Ryan grinned back at her widely.
Untieing the bow, Chloe opened the box slowly, wanting to savour the moment of opening her very first present ever from Ryan himself. Usually the gifts had been chosen with advise from his father or grandmother or Aunt. So this gift that was now in her hands was soley from Ryan, and this warmed Chloe's heart. Finally removing the lid, Chloe grinned as she looked at the oval shaped pandent reading 'Mom' in fancy script. Pulling the necklace out, Chloe grinned at Ryan. "It's beautiful - come give mummy a big hug."
Ryan moved over to her shyly, and than wrapped his arms around her as she pulled him up on her lap. Hugging him tightly to her chest, she caught Sirius' eye. He reached over to brush a strand of hair from her face, and smoothing away a tear that had fallen without Chloe's realization. Her nightmare had seemed all to real, but having Ryan tightly in her arms countered this fake reality.
"Mummy, can I go watch some telly?" Ryan asked, his voice muffled against her chest.
"What? Oh, yes, go ahead. But not for too long, I want to go for a walk." Chloe said, letting him go run into the living room where he turned on the telly. "Why did I ever agree to get one of those?"
Sirius smirked. "Because its the only time Muggles ever did something we couldn't!"
"Oh, is that so?" Chloe mumbled, leaning her head on the table. She was tired, the nightmare had taken any energy she had out of her.
"Go back to bed, I'll wake you up once I've cleaned up in here and have Ryan ready for your walk." Sirius ordered, playing with Chloe's hair.
Chloe gave a sheepish smile, and stood up. Stooping down to kiss Sirius on the lips, she missed and kissed him on the chin. A throaty laugh escaped Sirius, and he held her face firmly between his fingers and kissed her on the lips. "Call me if you need to," he told her as she left.
After running her hand through Ryan's hair once, she returned to her bedroom and lay down in the bed, snuggling underneath the warm comforters. Morning light had begun to trickle through the curtains, but Chloe found the light comforting. She fell asleep in no time, and an hour later Sirius kissed her awake. Chloe's eyes fluttered open as she instinctively reacted to his kiss. He grinned at her as he pulled away, her hands clasped tightly around his neck.
"Time to get up love, Ryan's almost ready and I figured you would want to get out of those clothes before we left." Sirius explained softly, playing with her pajama's.
"All right mum, I'm getting up." Chloe joked, letting go of Sirius and pushing him away from her so she could get out of bed. She stripped of her clothing as Sirius left, and put some fresh clothes on. She could have a shower when she got back. She brushed her hair haphazardly into a pony tail, and brushed some blush on her cheeks before joining Sirius and a now dressed Ryan in the hall. "How is my little snow-wizard?" Chloe grinned, bending down to tighten Ryan's scarf.
"Hot!" Ryan whined. "Can we go now? Please!"
"Yes, yes, just let mummy put her coat on." Sirius said, sounding a little impatient. Chloe went to get coat - not her cloak - and smiled as Sirius helped her put it on. She slipped a scarf around her neck, and taking a hand each, Sirius and Chloe exited their apartment, Ryan in between. With his free hand Sirius pulled out his wand and cast a few non-verbal protective spells and they were on their way.
The cold wind bit their faces as they walked up the empty streets. The shops were all closed, and it would only be every now and than that they would see another person. Ryan spent this time explaining to Chloe how had planned to make the biggest snow-wizard their was as soon as they got to the park. He also told her that he wondered what it would be like to be made of snow - "Would you feel cold? Or would you just be used to it?" Ryan had asked.
"I would think you would be used to it. If you are made of stone I think you would rather enjoy the cold. If it was hot, you would melt!" Chloe reasoned, casting a knowing look towards Sirius.
When they arrived at the park Chloe was glad to see another family had gone, and their were two boys around Ryan's age playing. Ryan quickly reocognized them as his usual play-mates, and he ran to meet them. Chloe and Sirius went to join their parents - Chloe had never met them before but they were much older than she. Of course, that wasn't a hard task.
"Oh, so this must be Chloe!" the mother said. She was tall, slim, and had long black hair. "Sirius has told us so much about you - studying to be doctor!" she exclaimed when she saw them.
"Excuse my wife, Chloe, her name is Nancy and I'm Elliot. It is good to finally meet you." Elliot, a balding man in his early thirties with a warm smile, greeted. Chloe shook both of their hands.
"Yes, and it's good to meet you to," Chloe lied, glancing at Sirius. She knew about them, but she didn't know that they had names - Sirius had never told her. "Ryan talks about your sons so much - he loves coming to the park."
Nancy smiled widely. "Oh the boys love your son - it's a shame they don't go to the same primary school. Andrew, he's the one wearing the blue coat, is the same age. Where is it that Ryan goes again?" Nancy asked looking to Sirius as if Chloe didn't know. Well, she didn't, but Chloe didn't like that this woman seemed to believe only Sirius would know.
"Oh, it's a private school outside of London. Chloe's mother runs it," Sirius explained smoothly, as if he had told the story many times.
Nancy glanced at Chloe and offered a cheesey smile. "Isn't that nice."
Chloe would have added to this, just to play along, when Ryan ran up to her and grabbed her hand. "Come make a snow-wizard mum! Please!"
Chloe grinned up at Nancy who looked bewildered by Ryan's choice of words, and nodded at Ryan, "Sure thing love."
Following, stumbling a bit through the snow, Chloe followed Ryan past the playground and to the small patch of grass was covered in a deep layer of snow. Nancy and Elliot's sons had already started the bottom part of the snow man, and Chloe and Ryan began working on the middle ball. She quickly learned the older boy's name was Ben, and that he was a year older than Ryan and Andrew. However, this age difference meant nothing; Andrew and Ryan seemed to boss him around alot.
Chloe helped Ryan roll the snow ball and it got bigger. They had to stop at one point to help the other boys with their part as it was too heavy for them to push. Chloe rolled it into place, and with the boys help she picked up the middle part and put it on top, holding it there while the boys patted snow in to keep it from falling off. She stood and watched as they quickly rolled the head, and waited for Chloe to put it on top.
"Now you've got to find some pebbles for his face." Chloe instructed, and laughed watching the boys dig through the snow for all the pebbles and rocks they could find in the frozen ground. After a small collection built around her feet she pushed them into the snow-wizard and created a lopsided face. The boys cheered when she put the last stone in place, and Nancy and Elliot came over to look at it, Sirius trailing behind.
"What a lovely snowman!" Nancy congradulated, bending down to look her sons in the face.
"Snow-wizard!" the three boys chimed.
Nancy gave an un-easy smile, but corrected herself, "Yes, sorry, it's a snow-wizard."
Chloe glanced at Sirius who was trying to contain himself. Elliot inspected the snow-wizard, Andrew trailing behind him. "Great work boys," Elliot cheered, and picked up Andrew and turned to Sirius and Chloe. "It was great seeing you again," he said shaking Sirius's hand.
"Oh, you're leaving now?" Chloe asked, standing up, her hand on Ryan's head.
"Yes, we're having a little dinner party," Nancy explained proudly. "You could come, if you wanted? I'm sure the boys would love Ryan's company."
Chloe tried to think of an excuse, and Sirius easily answered. "Oh, I wish we could! It's actually Chloe's birthday party tonight, were meeting up with some old friends." Sirius said with convincing disappointment.
Nancy plastered a smile on her face and looked to Chloe. "Oh, isn't that nice? Happy Birthday than!"
"Yes, well we better be off." Elliot said, looking a little uncomfortable.
"Oh, don't let us keep you. Have a good dinner party!" Chloe smiled.
"Bye!" Nancy called, picking up Ben. They walked out of the park, the boys waving at Ryan as they left.
"A bit nauseating, don't you think?" Sirius said cooly.
Chloe looked at his, her brow raised. "I cannot believe you endure them everytime you come here."
"Oh, Elliot is cool when Nancy isn't around. Unfortunately he works all the time so he only comes on weekends. Nancy, well the best way to avoid her is to play with Ryan. The other mothers thinks its adorable." Sirius grinned.
"Well you can manage to be adorable sometimes." Chloe grinned back, and Sirius leaned over to kiss her. Ryan made a disgusted sound, and ran between Chloe and Sirius, pushing them apart.
"No time for kissy!" he said, running off and picking up a handful of snow and throwing it at Sirius. Chloe laughed, and mirrored Ryan's action.
"Hey, why am I getting ganged up on!" Sirius cried, running for cover behind the slide as Ryan and Chloe flung snowball after snowball at him.
"Never show mercy Ryan!" Chloe cried, having difficulty throwing snawballs due to her uncontrollable laughter. Ryan giggled behind her, enjoying his fathers torment. Noticing Chloe's weakness, he threw a snowball hitting her stomach, and she fell back dramatically. "Oh no, he's got me!" Chloe shouted, and Ryan jumped on to her, laughing.
"Mummy, are you dead?" Ryan asked, his face close to hers.
Sirius ran over, and fell next to Chloe. "Don't die, I don't think I'll be able to go on!" Sirius vowed.
Ryan crawled on to Sirius. "Daddy, stop pretending!" he threw some snow in Sirius's face.
Sirius coughed, and quickly sat up, grabbing Ryan as he did. "You brought me back to life! Why don't we bring your mother back to life?"
Chloe sat up quickly befor any snow could be thrown her, and glared at Sirius, smiling. "All right, I'm alive."
"Well just in case," Sirius smirked and he and Ryan threw snow into her face.
"Sirius!"
Chloe's birthday was a small get-together at the Leaky Cauldron, and Chloe enjoyed seeing all her friends again, but she couldn't wait for New Year's. James and Lily returned New Year's Eve, stopping and Chloe and Sirius's flat to tell them it had been a dead end, just as Moody had expected. Preperations had been made that everyone would meet later at Moody's home for the party. It would be the first Order party that everyone would be able to attend, and Chloe was excited and nervous. It would be like Christmas all over again except she didn't have to play hostess.
"Have you finished giving Ryan his bath?" Chloe called from the bedroom.
Sirius entered the room, the sleeves of his robes rolled up to his elbows. "He's in the bedroom, waiting for you to change him."
"Thank you," Chloe smiled. She herself had already changed into a simple set of blue dress robes, and left to get Ryan dressed in his own robes. She had been thankful for the days off work, and being able to get away from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's war. She knew it would be a different story, being surrounded by Order members, but as most members were bringing dates and family, Chloe wouldn't feel like an outsider. Not too mention all (mostly) of her friends were in the Order.
"Mummy, I can't see." Ryan was struggling with his undershirt, and Chloe rushed to help him, laughing as she did. It took her all of ten minutes to sort Ryan out. Sirius came back into his bedroom, wearing his matching dress robes, his hair freshly trimmed. Chloe was brushing out Ryan's hair, when Sirius accio'd it away from her.
"Leave it wild, makes him look much more dashing." Sirius smirked, holding the comb in his hand.
Chloe gave him a bemused look. "He's only four, Sirius."
"Better to start young," Sirius sat on the bed, mushing Ryan's hair.
"Yes Mummy, let me keep my hair like this." Ryan pleaded, looking at his mother.
Sighing heavily, Chloe grumbled to herself, knowing there was no use in arguing. "Well, should we get going?" she looked to Sirius.
Putting his hand on her shoulder, he rubbed in tenderly. "Don't worry - everyone loves you!"
"Just because I'm with you, Sirius." Chloe mumbled, looking to the floor. Ryan had begun playing with his toy snitch, giggling as it spun around the room.
"That isn't true."
"I hardly know most of them. They are all these amazing confident people, all prepared to die for the cause, and here I am at home with my baby, going to work, and living a semi-life of ignorance. How can they like me Sirius?" Chloe looked him in the eye.
Sirius frowned. "Because they know you only do it for my own sanity. Trust me, they understand full-well that I refuse to let you into the Order."
Chloe breathed heavily, leaning her head on Sirius's shoulder. "I'm sorry you have to put up with me."
Sirius went to answer, when Ryan jumped into the air to grab the snitch, fell back down and tore his robes with a resounding rippppp.
"Ryan!" Chloe exclaimed, getting up. Pulling her wand out, she made Ryan stand still - his Snitch still zooming around their hands. Murmering spells, she watched as an invisible needle pulled the torn robes together seamlessly.
"Good work," Sirius admired, picking Ryan up when she had finished. They were ten minutes late for the party. Ryan made a last grab at the Snitch before his father caught it easily and put it back in it's case. "You can't let that out all the time, Ryan, it will tire and get old faster." Sirius told him, absently. Chloe followed them out, waving her wand so the lights would go.
The Floo Network was never Chloe's favourite way to travel, but it was the safest and easiest way to get to Moody's with Ryan. Sirius, too large to fit in their fireplace with Ryan, went first to ensure that everything was good. Counting to twenty in her hand, Chloe stepped in the fire, holding Ryan close and repeated the adress Sirius had said. The familiar spinning feeling filled Chloe, and she held Ryan as he squrimed uncomfortable in her arms. Though she had taken Ryan everywhere with the Floo Network, Ryan hated it, and much preferred when Sirius or his Uncle James would take him on their broom.
When Chloe finally came to Moody's fireplace, she stumbled out, caught quickly by Sirius, who steadied her by taking Ryan from her arms. "Thanks," Chloe mumbled.
They were standing in an office, but Chloe could hear noise from the hall outside. The fire lit the room up enough for Chloe to see that Moody spend a lot of time in there. Maps covered the walls of various area's in Britain, red tacks covering them. Sneakascopes and other dark magic detactors lined the shelves of a grand book case. Chloe moved to look closer and read the titles as various Defense and reference books.
"Moody just went to speak to Dumbledore about security - he told me I was to ask you questions to ensure that your Chloe Roberts, but I'm pretty sure it's you." Sirius smirked, as he put his hand on her back and led her and Ryan to the door. "Go on out there, Lily and James are already here as well as half the Order." Sirius assured her.
"Aren't you coming?" Chloe asked, confused.
Sirius shrugged. "Moody wants me here until he gets back to seal the Fireplace."
"Oh, okay," Chloe said, distracted. Sirius held the door open, and taking Ryan's hand she walked into the hall. The door closed behind her, and the sound of music and loud chatter filled her ears. Pulling Ryan closer to her, Chloe entered the main room, and searched for a familiar face. Of course, they all had faces she recognized - they had all been at her home just days before.
"Uncle Jamesy!" Ryan shouted, causing many people to turn and look as Ryan ripped away from Chloe and into his godfather's arms. Chloe grinned as James spun him around.
"Certainly know how to make an entrance," Lily said into Chloe's ear. Turning around, Chloe wrapped her arms around her friend.
"How was Ireland?"
"A dreadful bore. Moody only sent us there to try and draw the Death Eaters away from London, make them think the Order stretched further away." Lily explained unhappily.
"Well, it must have been nice to have a little vacation with James, right?" Chloe glanced down to Lily's stomach, and for the first time it was a little noticable she was pregnant. "Getting bigger, you are?"
Lily instinctively placed her hands on her stomach. "I know; I mean its only the size of a what? My fist-"
"More like a small mango." Chloe corrected with a smile.
"You should become my healer!" Lily exclaimed.
Chloe shrugged. "I haven't finished my training yet, Lily. Only five months to go."
Lily simply shook her head, and linked arms with her, pulling her to sit on a sofa, avoiding James who was now parading around with Ryan in his arms. "He will be a good father, I know it." Lily murmered softly to Chloe, looking at James lovingly.
Chloe smiled, thinking of Sirius. "Yes, we certainly choose them right."
Lily smirked. "Now we just need to get Remus and Kathy together."
Chloe laughed. "That's only if they stop being so stubborn. She won't go out and take him as her own because she thinks he truly doesn't want her, and he's afraid because of his, well, you know..."
Lily rolled her eyes. "One of these days..."
"Speaking of Remus, where is he?" Chloe looked around the room.
"He's coming later - he had some appointment at St. Mungo's about his furry-little-problem. Apparently they want to set up a study." Lily provided, and leaned on Chloe's shoulder. "Did you ever feel so tired that you didn't think you could ever get up when you were pregnant?"
Chloe chuckled. "Every day - it's normal. Have you started your potions? They will help tremendously."
Lily sighed. "I would if I just felt up to making them. I mean, sure I could buy them but after all my training, and seeing as I'm okay at Potion-"
"-your a genius when it comes to potions Lily-"
"I don't see the point in buying potions I can make myself." Lily finished looking pleased with herself.
Just as Chloe went to pat Lily's head, a loud barking laughter came from the hall, and Sirius entered the room. People greeted him happily, slapping him on the back as he walked over to James, who had begun throwing Ryan in the air - he definitly knew how to play his Godfather.
"Sirius!" James roared, catching Ryan one last time and putting him on the ground. The two hugged tightly, patting each other on the back. They spent a few moments play-fighting, Ryan dancing around their feet while the entire room watched in amusement.
"It's as if they hadn't seen each other in a year rather than four days." Lily snorted, sitting up.
"I think we've been replace," Chloe joked.
Lily smirked. "We always knew the day would come when they realized their love for each other and left us."
As the girls laughed, James and Sirius finally gave up their charade and joined Lily and Chloe, Ryan in Sirius's arms.
"What are you two laughing at?" Sirius asked, suspicious.
"Oh, you know; we were just waiting for you two to annouce your undenying love for each other to the entire room." Lily smiled ruefully.
Chloe laughed, and for a moment it felt as if they were back at Hogwarts. There wasn't a war going and people weren't dying and disappearing. It was just Chloe and her friends on the Holiday's having a good laugh at each others expense.
"Of course they wouldn't; not nice to break your heart at Christmas." Remus appeared behind Sirius and James, his hands on their shoulders.
Sirius and James both turned to look at him, and immediately he was put into a headlock via James. "Don't let him go until he takes it back!" Sirius cried.
Remus laughed, struggling against James. "I was only telling the truth!" he argued.
"You three act like children," a tall man who looked to be a few years older than Chloe joined the group. He had a striking scar that ran from his eye to his mouth so that when he smiled he almost looked ghoulish. Looking past the scar, Chloe saw a handsome face, and deep blue eyes.
"Now, Sturgis, it's a party, live a little." Sirius told the man.
"It is New Year's Eve after all," James added, letting go of Remus.
"No, I think Sturgis here is quite right," Remus said with a smile, "You two do act like children." He laughed, rubbing his neck.
Sturgis simply rolled his eyes and looked at Lily. "I cannot believe you are marrying him." With that he strolled away, not even waiting for Lily's retort.
"Well he seems like a nice fellow," Chloe mused, looking to Sirius, Ryan now on her lap.
"He is always like that. He disapprove's highly of fun - remember in school that Ravenclaw Prefect who had me in detention for a month for nothing?" James recounted.
"I don't think it was nothing James, you were setting up a trap for Snape outside the Library - one the involved dumgbombs and garlic." Remus smirked.
"What? You were behind that? James Potter-" Lily began.
"It's all in the past love," James tried to recover. "Third year; it was all ages ago. He never even passed the censor, I heard some girl-"
"-it was me!" Lily almost shouted, and stood up. "I heard Sturgis yelling at you, and pushed past Sev to see what it was all about. You were already gone, and Sturgis had been standing there helplessly, trying to figure out how he to dismantle it-"
"-quite difficult considering there was a curse to stop it from being removed-" Remus interupted.
"-I smelled like an Italian lavotory for days!" Lily finished, shrilly. The entire room was staring at her, the few who had stayed after the Marauders had joined together. It became apparent that the other Order members liked to steer clear of their rough-housing, for obvious reasons.
"I'm sorry," James said, defeated. "It was a stupid prank, never meant for you-"
"- it was a rather bad prank," Chloe interupted, "As you never took into consideration that Lily spent ninety-five percent of her time with Snape, the other five in our dormitory sleeping or during times that her and Snape were seperated by houses."
"I was thirteen, thinking wasn't part of my process yet," James argued.
Sirius bravely put his arm around Lily's shoulders as she glared daggers at James. "Don't forget, you are carrying his child, best not to kill him yet."
"Shut up," Lily snapped, shaking Sirius's arm from her shoulders.
"It was pretty bad," Chloe went on, enjoying the walk down memory lane and enjoying the usual (and missed) banter between Lily and James. "Kathy, Nadine, and I had forced her to sleep in the common room until the smell wore out."
"I actually took refuge in Mary's dormitory after they had all fallen asleep - she has no sense of small, oddly." Lily glanced at Chloe with a grin.
"See, it wasn't all that bad?" Sirius pushed.
"What wasn't all that bad?"
"Peter!" Sirius and James chorused together, upon seeing their rather chubby awkward looking friend. They embraced Peter, slapping him on the back and asking him where he had been. Remus took this as a chance to sit down next to Chloe.
"Uncle Remy?" Ryan piped up.
"What?" Remus answered, smiling at his Godson.
"Why does everyone like to shout?"
Remus and Chloe laughed. "I've been asking myself the same question for ten years now," Remus responded, ruffling Ryan's hair as Sirius and James pulled Peter over to the group.
"Please to us a favour and tell Lily to forgive James - he was only a child." Sirius told him, his arm slung around his shoulder.
Peter seemed to struggle with this. "What? - er - I don't know - forgive him? For what?"
"Just repeat me," Sirius said, "'Lily forgive James - he was only a child when he preformed that prank, and in his foolishness he did not think she could fall victim.'"
"Oh, okay, er-" Peter fumbled, "Lily, forgive - forgive James. He was an only child-'"
"'-was only a child'"
"Erm, yes, right... 'He was only a child, and he didn't think er...'"
"-'She would fall victim!' Merlin, Peter!" James said, exasperated.
Peter burned bright red. "Oh, sorry - 'He didn't think-'"
"Stop Peter! Why you go on with their nonsense, I'll never know." Lily said in a huff.
James frowned. "Because he is my best friend - one of my best friends - and we stick up for each other and put up with each other's nonsense."
Lily sighed, and after a few seconds of silence she stood up. "Sorry Peter, I'm not mad at you." She said with a meaningful look and then headed to the door, James following her.
"Those two will never stop," Chloe mumbled to herself.
"What was all that about?" Peter asked, looking from Sirius to Remus.
"Oh, she just found out that he was behind the 'Big Stinker' plan." Sirius explained, a glass of wine appearing in his hand.
"Oh," Peter said, understanding.
"This is boring," Ryan yawned, leaning back on Chloe.
"The Weasley's are here - why doesn't he go play with their sons? They are his house?" Remus suggested, looking to Sirius.
"I've never met them before..." Chloe trailed off when Sirius put his glass down, and pulled Ryan off her lap, taking his hand.
"Don't worry, they are good people. I'll introduce Ryan now. They would be...?"
"In the Kitchen," Remus supplied. Sirius nodded, and led Ryan from the room.
"So Peter, what have you been up to? Dumbledore didn't say anything to us about where he was sending you."
"There wasn't any reason not to," Peter said in his high-pitched voice, "I was just visiting my mother. She hasn't been doing well with the rise of You-Know-Who."
"I've told you Peter, you can say his name." Remus said passively, as if chatising a child. "Was she feeling better after your visit?"
Peter nodded. "She always cheers up when I visit her."
"That's goos," Chloe smiled. Peter smiled back, but turn a fierce shade of red.
"So, anything new and exciting at work?" Remus asked, and Chloe could tell he was trying to create conversation, as Peter hovered above us uncomfortably.
"No, not really. I mean yesterday was my first day back, and I was stuck doing paper work. But we had this guy come in who a potion explode on him that caused tentacles to grow from his arms. He said it had been some kind of protective potion that venders were selling in Diagon Alley." Chloe explained.
"Sounds more like Knockturn Alley," Remus commented darkly.
"That's what I thought, but Albert told me that it wasn't the first case he had seen or heard of. Apparently people are making theese fake potions and jewlery that are supposed to protect them from Voldemort as if he were the common flu! Most of them are harmless, but Albert thinks that Death Eaters are putting out dangerous ones in the hopes of killing Squibs or witches and wizards who can't defend themselves properly. It's just horrible," Chloe said, feeling angry now.
"I've heard about that," Peter piped up, "Dumbledore has asked Dorcas and I to look into who is behind it all; who the main Death Eater is. He doesn't like that innocent people are getting hurt. Dorcas thinks she'll have it solved by the end of the week..." Peter trailed off looking rather nervous.
"Don't worry about it Peter," Remus said with a tired smile. Chloe frowned, noticing a new scar on his neck, still red as if it has only healed the day before.
"What happened to your neck?" Chloe asked, concerned.
Remus raised his hand to his neck, but didn't touch it. He forced another tired smile, and Chloe gave him a look that meant Don't-Give-Me-That-Look-And-Tell-Me-The-Truth. Remus sighed, and for some reason Peter took this as his cue to leave, mumbling something about finding James.
"I got into a bit of a fight, I didn't want to worry you, and this is the result. It's nothing bad, I healed it pretty quickly." Remus explained passively.
"I know there is something you're not telling me. Your never around anymore - you used to stay with us or James and Lily before your transformations. They say you haven't come in the last three - where are you going? Tell me the truth, Remus, or so help me Merlin I will beat it out of you." Chloe warned.
Remus gave a light laugh, shaking his head at Chloe. "You'll never change. I told you, I got into a fight..."
"With who?"
"You don't know him. It's unimportant who he was anyway, but I did what I had to do." Remus explained .
"Do you really think I'm going to let you get away with an answer like that? You couldn't be any more vague!" Chloe exclaimed.
Remus didn't laugh this time, and leaned back into the sofa, sighing heavily. "I don't mean to be, Chloe, really, but it was pretty confusing in itself."
"Explain please, stop giving me these excuses." Chloe groaned.
"Well, I supposed it won't do any harm. You'll either find out now or later." Remus took a moment to think, and Chloe tried to stay patient. "Dumbledore has the suspicion that Voldemort will try to recruit the Warewolves to his side. It's logical, many Witches and Wizards shun Warewolves whether they be Muggle or Magic. It doesn't matter. But his suspicions are true - Voldemort promises that if he were in power they would have free reign, so to speak."
"You're kidding me? They wouldn't be foolish enoough to believe him, would they?" Chloe asked, looking at him incredulously.
"I'm afraid so," Remus frowned, "Of course I'm not completely clear on the details. I've only just been accepted to the group. They aren't quick to trust, and it's hard to convince them that I am one of them when I have such close ties to all of you. That's why I've been keeping my distance." Remus finished.
Chloe stared for a long time at his face, unable to say anything. Finally she forced a smile just as he had minutes before. "Well now I can tell my mum that you aren't avoiding because of your Mum's death but because you're trying to get in with the other Werewolves."
"I'm sure she would understand, she has always been understanding." Remus marveled.
Chloe laughed, and leaned on her friends shoulder. "I have missed you though, promise me you are being careful."
"As careful as I can manage being part of this group." Remus replied honestly, putting his arm around her shoulders and giving her a one-armed hug.
"Hey, you better not be making a pass at my girlfriend, Remus!" Sirius had burst into the room again, which had since emptied out, and Remus and Chloe were the only ones still in the room.
"Where did everyone go?" Chloe asked, still leaning on Remus.
"Oh they went into the kitchen, Molly Weasley has since told Moody that he can't cater a party and has made a bunch of food everyone. The countdown is going to start soon." Sirius walked around the room, looking at things and picking them up. It was the most relaxed Chloe had seen Sirius in a long time, and she hoped it was because he was surrounded by friends, instead of staying home all day with Ryan.
"Where is Ryan?" Chloe asked, thinking of her son.
"Oh, chasing one of the boys." As Sirius said this, Chloe saw through the open door a small boy with red hair being chased by Ryan and two bigger boys with red hair. They were all shouting, and Chloe could hear Ryan shouting "come here big nose!"
"He's your son," Sirius joked when Chloe looked at him.
"Yes, and he's your too. Spitting image," Chloe bit back.
"Let them have their fun Chloe, Ryan doesn't get to play with other wizards very often." Sirius reasoned, and Chloe let it drop. She felt bad for the boy who was being chased.
"Nadine and Kathy are here by the way," Sirius said, pulling a chair over to the couch. Chloe wasn't sure if this was said more for her or for Remus.
"Are they in the kitchen?" Chloe asked, knowing Remus would spend an hour of trying to think of something to respond with.
Sirius smirked. "Yeah, Nadine is talking up Marlene's brother, Nathan Mickinnon. Kathy is talking to Lily right now, but I saw her looking around, I think she's looking for someone."
"Sod off Sirius," Remus grumbled darkly.
"He's only being honest," Chloe said moving away from Remus. "I don't know why you have to be so stuborn - so ridiculous about all of this. You like her, she likes you-" Chloe started to chirp, but Remus cut her off with a dark look.
"It doesn't matter, let's just drop the subject." Remus bit.
They were all silent, and in the background they could hear as everyone began to count down the seconds from twenty. Chloe took this as a sign to get up, and she walked over to the door, stopping just before the hall to turn and look back at Sirius and Remus who wre still sitting. "You two are coming, right?"
The boys both stood up, and followed Chloe from the parlour and to the kitchen - Chloe simply following the sounds of the counting crowd. As she went to go push open the door a flashing of light appeared in the corner of her eye. Turning to look she screamed as a giant shimmery tabby cat bounded towards her.
"-four...three...two-"
Chloe fell backwards into the wall trying to avoid the cat as it bounded down the hall, Sirius and Remus moving out of the way just in time as well. However, they didn't look confused, but instead worried. The tabby stopped at the end of the hall just as everyone scream "one!" and a woman's voice escaped its open mouth.
"Attack in Hogsmead, hurry."
"McGonagall," Remus and Sirius said together, and burst into the kitchen.
A/N: So I don't have much of an excuse for how long it took me to update. I mean, I could use the excuse that my computer crashed and I had to re-write the chapter on my MSN, but I could have had it finished before the crash, so yeah, my fault. However, due to the crash I was given a lot of time to sort of re-write out the plot line in more specific details, so I have this story down-pat which will help with the overall reading experience. Anywho, I hope you liked the chapter :) I have to now go write another one for my other story. Lots of love for sticking with me all this time!