I do not own Harry Potter.

Sirius

The mission failed. Sam wasn't there. We almost died getting out, and Kaelin is badly injured. Remus had to take her to St. Mungo's. That was almost two months ago. James and I have a plan. It's our last chance, and if it fails, we really have no hope. I have to find her. I have to.

Lily is due any day now, and I know it worries James. It worries us all. Lily wants to help find Sam more than anything, but even she has to accept she cannot at the moment.

James and I stand outside of Hogwarts. The place where we met, where we grew up. Our home. The last person we can turn to is here. Dumbledore. If he can't help, who can? Professor McGonagall actually cries when she sees us. "Sirius, James. How's Lily?"

"She's doing fine," James says and I can tell his mind is a hundred miles away. He'd give anything to be home with her right now, but he'll stay with me because he's my best friend.

"Any luck finding Sam?" she asks me. Not even McGonagall ever called Sam Samantha. I shook my head, and before I know what was happening, she has engulfed me in a hug. "We'll find her." I nod not trusting myself to speak.

I've cried more in the past eight months than in my entire life before. I'm turning into a pansy.

"Ah, Mr. Black. Mr. Potter. I trust you've come to see me?" Dumbledore asks walking into the room.

"Yes sir," James answers. "We've come about Sam." Dumbledore nods looking at me.

"Yes, I thought so," he says.

"So can you help us?" I find myself saying. I want information not small talk.

"Yes, I know where she is," he says simply. I nearly attack him, but James pulls me back.

"And you didn't tell me before!" I cry. He smiles.

"You didn't ask," he says. "Help will always be given at Hogwarts, to those who ask for it." His eyes twinkle mysteriously, but I've got no time for nonsense.

"Where is she?" I say gritting my teeth.

"Azkaban," he says simply. My head explodes. Sam's in Azkaban? For what? Why? HOW COME NO ONE TOLD ME!

"Azkaban?" James echoes. He looks at me, and grabs my arm as if guessing I'm ready to Avada Kadavra everyone in the room right now.

"Yes. Underneath it technically. There is only one way in or out. Mr. Black, I suggest you calm down, or I'm afraid I cannot help you," he says. I force my breathing to remain steady and my fists to unclench letting my wand drop to the ground.

"Help me find her," I whisper looking intently at the ground.

"As I was saying, there is a way in underneath the prison. A bit of Polyjuice potion should help you there. Once inside be warned. Sam will be heavily guarded. It will not be easy getting in and out," he says. "I suggest you go tonight. They plan to move her tomorrow."

"Sir?" James asks. "How do you know all this?"

"I have my fair share of spies," he says. "Now go!"

We race out of the room and apparate to James's house. It's become a safe house for us, and Kaelin has been recovering there. When we get there, we hear screaming coming from upstairs.

Immediately, James runs up the stairs his face turning pale. Kaelin, now healed, comes running down almost knocking James over. "Lily's in labor!" she cries. In a flash, James is up the stairs with Kaelin and I following closely. Remus is already in the room. I have no idea where Peter is. (A/N: I apologize in advance. I know nothing about giving birth, so I will probably get everything wrong.)

As a healer, Kaelin has taken it upon herself to deliver the child. "I've never done this before," she panics. Remus strokes her hair.

"You can do it," he says.

"You better hurry! We found Sam!" I say. "We have to go get her. Now!" James glares at me.

"My wife is in labor! We can't leave until it's over," his words are drowned out by another scream from Lily. He takes her hand, and she squeezes it so hard I swear it breaks.

"I know I know," I say quickly. "But Sam is out there maybe dying. I have to save her. I'll go."

"NO!" all four of them shout, and Lily screams again.

"Sirius you can't! You'll never make it in and out by yourself!" Lily says between screams of pain.

"Lily, don't stress yourself out. You're doing fine okay?" Lily nods weakly as Kaelin instructs James to get Lily a wet cloth.

"Guys I have to do this," I protest. "I can't sit here knowing Sam's out there."

"Sirius Orion Black. If you leave while I am giving birth to your Godchild I will personally rip out your heart!" Lily snarls. I gasp.

"G-Godchild?" I stutter. She nods smiling. "James and I decided weeks ago." She broke off with another cry.

"Okay. It's coming. You're doing fine. Just breath," Kaelin says.

A little while later, a small cry sounds as the child is born. It's a boy. Lily cries when she sees him and holds him tightly. I almost smile, then I remember Sam. "What's his name?" Kaelin asks.

"Harry?" Lily looks at James who nods. "Harry."

He looks just like James. It's scary. "MiniProngs," I say. Lily glares.

"No," she says. "Now let's go get Sam!" She starts to get up from her bed, but James and Kaelin push her back down.

"Lily! You just gave birth! You can't go off into battle!" Kaelin says. "You're weak!"

"No one's going anywhere yet," James says staring pointedly at me. I freeze with my hand still on the doorknob guiltily. "We need a plan."

Sam

Eight months I've been here. Eight months I've undergone torture. My most recent torture was being strapped to a bed with no food or water. An IV bag sits on a tall stand, and a long wire attaches to an oxygen tank. I watch as blood pumps from one wire trailing from my side into a container while another wire brings in more blood. It's not healing me. Not even close. It's keeping my alive enough to torture. Even now, if I make the slightest movement, a shock like a thousand needles penetrates every inch of my skin and it takes everything I've got not to scream.

The questioning stopped long ago. Now, they simply wait for me to break. They could probably heal me with magic, though it wouldn't be easy, but they choose to use these muggle instruments that keep me alive, yet dead.

I gave up on Sirius long ago. He's not coming. I will die here eventually. I no longer assume I'll be saved. Sirius is dead. There is no other alternative. He would never leave me here if he were alive, so he must be dead. I hope he died valiantly. I've accepted my fate. I will not give them what they want. I will die. Tonight.