A/N: Final year of my Law degree is my only excuse, and thankfully it paid off. I can only apologise. The next chapter is written and I will update next week - if there is anyone there still reading this I cannot thank you enough xxxx

Chapter 23:

Eve and Althea were half way to the greenhouses for Herbology when a distant cry caught their attention.

'Eve!'

It wasn't the shout that startled Eve, but rather who was calling her name, and Eve could tell by Althea's raised eyebrows that she was not alone in her surprise.

Eve turned and watched in silence as Anastasia marched intently towards them, an expression that could either indicate determination or rage set upon her face.

Eve hoped for the former.

When Anastasia came to a halt, one step closer than would generally be considered polite, Eve was made acutely aware that Ana stood one whole head taller than herself.

'Ana, what d'you –' she began, but was quickly cut off.

'Why did you do it?' Anastasia demanded, her hands placed on her hips.

'What did I -?' Eve repeated dumbly, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

'Why did you do it?' Ana repeated, her gaze set levelly over Eve's shoulder and she spoke as if every word were struggling to escape her clenched teeth.

'Do what?' Eve asked.

'You know what! Why did you take the blame for me?'

Eve blinked.

Is that really what this is about?

It had been over a week since she had taken the blame for Anastasia, and exactly a week since she had served the consequential detention. Unconsiously, Eve traced her fingers lightly over the scars on the back of her hand.

'Oh that' she sighed 'because you would have gotten into trouble with your mum.'

'And you wouldn't?'

'No, I wouldn't' Eve replied smoothly 'I didn't' she corrected herself.

'Why would you care if I got into trouble?'

'I don't know Anastasia' Eve sighed 'because you're my Dorm Mate, and you're in Hufflepuff, and from what I gather we're supposed to look out for each other.'

'Don't say 'we'' Anastasia barked.

'Woah! Ana you need to calm down!' Althea 's shocked voice interrupted.

'I am nothing like her –'

'Fine' Eve snapped, and turning on her heel continued on her path towards the Greenhouses.

'No – wait, Eve – wait!'

Eve turned, utterly baffled, raising an eyebrow expectantly.

'He killed my Dad.'

Whatever she had been expecting, that had not been it, and Eve felt her mouth fall open. She did not need clarification, she knew who the 'he´ was that Ana was referring too, and she also knew that 'he' was in fact not guilty of the crime.

'Sirius Black killed twelve Muggles that day, Eve. My dad was one of them.'

'Ana, I –'

'And you look like him.'

'I – No I look like my mum' Eve blinked, surprised.

'Not the eyes, I've got photos…I've looked at those eyes over and over and – and you have them. You have the eyes –'

'Ana, I'm sorry about your father'

Ana nodded, her eyes finally meeting Eve's, and Eve noted that she flinched slightly.

'Thank you for taking the blame.'

Ana didn't wait for a response, and quickly turned away, marching back towards the castle.

'Bloody hell, that was uncomfortable to witness.' Althea muttered.

When Eve didn't respond, Althea linked her arm through Eve's and gently tugged, leading her friend along the pathway.

They were a long way from friends, herself and Anastasia.

But Eve felt a small bubble of hope expand in her chest.

Perhaps they were one step closer than before.

'Sirius?'

Alina knocked on Buckbeak's door, and stepped back, waiting for a response.

Silence.

'Sirius?' she knocked three more times, this time harder.

No reply.

She felt a flicker of annoyance and curling her hands into fists she pounded the door loudly.

'SIRIUS!' she snapped.

'WHAT?' came Sirius' irate response, and Alina counted silently to ten before continuing.

'Can I come in?'

No reply.

'SIRIUS!'

'FINE!'

Clenching her teeth together, and breathing in slowly, Alina entered the room and found Sirius bare chested and wearing a pair of loose Muggle jeans, sitting beside the Hippogriff.

'What do you want?' he snapped.

She noted that he hadn't shaved.

'Well I would like to know what side of the bed you've been getting out of for the last few weeks, for a start! Because I recommend you try the other side from now on!' she replied tartly 'but for now, I'm going Christmas shopping, is there anything you'd like me to get?'

'Christmas isn't for another month' he bit back scathingly.

'Well I haven't been able to celebrate it for the last fourteen years, so forgive me for getting excited for it this year!'

She cursed herself for rising to the bait, and turned to leave the room, regretting ever having entered it in the first place.

'Are you going to tell me what you're hiding from me?'

His words caused her to freeze in her steps and her heart rate increased instantly.

'I don't know what you're talking about' she replied slowly, not turning back to face him.

He scoffed at her words 'don't think I haven't noticed you and Moony whispering, and I can feel that you're anxious you know, I know something's scaring you – If Eve's in trouble, or Harry I swear to God Alina –'

'They're fine, Sirius! This has nothing to do with them – and there's nothing going on anyway!' she quickly corrected herself 'you're being paranoid'

She didn't wait for a response, one that would increase the guilt she was already experiencing, instead she quickly rushed from the room and down into the hallway, intending to escape the house as soon as possible.

She was startled, but not surprised to run into Remus at the doorway.

'Going out?' he smiled.

'Christmas shopping' she replied, trying and failing to force a smile onto her face.

'Sirius?' he guessed rightly, the smile fading from his lips.

'He knows something is going on Remus, he knows we're hiding something.'

'Of course he does Alli, he's not an idiot. But you're the one who thought it was for the best –'

'It is for the best! if he knew one of the Deatheaters that took me, that took Eve, had been hovering around – do you really think he would stay put? He wouldn't care about getting caught again!'

'I know Alli'

'The Malfoy kid made it clear that they all know about his Animagus form –'

'I know Alli'

'And Rowles has been back twice already, we'll catch him next time! And when we do, when he's safely here in Headquarters, then we can tell him what's going on.' She let out a sigh and smiled wearily at Remus 'good luck with him today, he's in one of his best moods'

She waved him goodbye, and a few minutes later, she was strolling through Diagon Alley, refusing to spare a seconds thought on Sirius Black.

'Did I actually hear that right?'

Barely a second after Alina had apparated, Remus' heart was almost obliterated by the dreaded sound of his best friend's voice .

He closed his eyes for a second, panic and nausea consuming his chest, before turning to the source of the voice, and finding Sirius standing at the top of the staircase, making his way towards him, his expression darker than even his name.

'I said,' his voice was dangerously soft 'did I actually hear that right?'

'Yes, Sirius' Remus' voice sounded gruff and he cleared his throat 'you heard right.'

'So you're telling me, that there have been countless sightings of one of the men responsible for taking Alina, Eve, for destroying my LIFE?'

Remus jumped as Sirius' voice suddenly exploded in volume, his stormy eyes bulging.'AND YOU KEPT IT FROM ME?!'

'Sirius, it was for your own safety – Alina was scared you'd –'

'SINCE WHEN DID YOU ANSWER TO ALINA?' Sirius yelled 'WE'RE THE MARAUDER'S REMUS, NOT ALINA, US!'

'Sirius –'

'And let me guess – Alina's been putting herself right in the middle of it all? Been on guard, waiting for him to appear again –'

'Sirius it's a mission given to –'

'She is not your responsibility, she is no one else's responsibility, she is mine!' he spat 'she had no right to put herself in danger without telling me, this has EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ME!'

'I know, Sirius, but –'

'No buts Moony – you owed me the truth, keeping secrets is what destroyed us before!'

'Padfoot –'

'Don't' Sirius hissed 'just – don't'

Remus just stood and watched helplessly as his friend glared at him in disgust, before he turned, stomping back up his stairs. The slam that followed a few seconds later seemed to tremor through the entire house.

Remus exhaled a breath he had not known that he was holding and tiredly made his way into the kitchen.

One cup of tea later, he was attempting to write up a report for Dumbledore, but the nervous sensation that plagued the pit of his stomach was making it a difficult process.

From past experience, Sirius was one to loudly take out his anger, and Grimmauld Place was earily quiet.

Surely he hasn't snuck out. He wouldn't be that foolish…

A new sense of dread replaced his nerves, and with a scrape Remus jumped up from his seat, and rushed across the kitchen.

Of course he'd be that foolish, it was Sirius Black!

He tore open the kitchen door and flew into the hallway, before freezing in disbelief.

'All right, Moony!' a widely grinning Sirius greeted him, jumping the last two steps on the staircase.

'Sirius! W-What are you –' Remus spluttered.

'Fancied a cuppa, and maybe a piece of that Bread and Butter pudding Molly made' Sirius replied merrily, moving past him into the kitchen.

As Sirius hustled and bustled around the kitchen, whistling as he did so, Remus stood staring at him in confusion.

'Sirius…why are you so happy all of a sudden?'

'What do you mean, my dear Moony!' Sirius grinned back 'why wouldn't I be happy?'

Suspicion had fully wormed its way through Remus now, and he narrowed his eyes at his grinning friend…a grin that he had seen far too often on Sirius' face…a grin filled with smugness.

A tap on the window broke Remus from his thoughts, and his eyes followed the sound, surprised to see Fawkes waiting to be given access. Quickly, Remus crossed the room and opened the window for the Phoenix, taking the parchment that the creature was offering to him.

As he tore open the letter, he noted that whilst in Dumbledore's hand, it had been hurriedly written. His eyes flickered back to his friend, who was now smirking at him and looking far too pleased with himself.

Remus paused.

'What have you done, Sirius?'

Sirius' grin widened at Remus' question.

'Why, I just hopefully caused Alina a bit of a scene' he smirked 'taught her a bit of a lesson for keeping secrets from me.'

'What d'you me –' Remus cut off his own words, as his eyes simultaneously scanned those written on the parchment in his hands. His stomach sunk and his eyes widened.

'What did you do, SIrius?' Remus' voice was strangely cool as he spoke.

Sirius' smugness wavered a little as he caught the strange tone in his friend's voice.

'Moony, wha-' he began.

'SIRIUS, WHAT DID YOU DO?!' Remus bellowed, and Sirius' expression was immediately replaced with shock 'SIRIUS!?'

'I – I sent her a howler, that- that's all' Sirius spluttered 'why w- what's happened?'

'Oh God SIRIUS! Do you never think?'

'Remus what –'

'There was a sighting of Rowles at Alina's parents' house' Remus explained tightly 'the letter is from Dumbledore alerting me, but Alina – Alina's on first call for this, she would have been first on scene.'

'So what –'

'I just hope that she got that howler before she's gone to assist in catching a Death Eater Sirius.'

Sirius' face dropped and the two men just stood and stared at one another.

All trace of humour; gone.

The second Alina's wand vibrated in her hand, the tip growing a deep red, she forgot about the clothes she was queuing to buy in Gladrags and sprinted to the nearest apparition point, disappearing the second she entered the designated area.

When she landed, amongst the familiar surroundings of her childhood home, she was met with the sight of two crumpled bodies and it was all she could do to stifle her own scream of horror.

Mum!

Her mind cried out her fear, and she looked around frantically to detect any sign of the person responsible for the bodies of the two guards. She bent down, flinching at the sight of the two youthful faces of Sturgess and Haythawn, only recently recruited by the Order. She brushed her fingers along Haythawn's cheek; warm.

He could still be here.

She didn't pause to think, instead she ran into the house.

She kept her tread light and her ears alert, suddenly very aware that she had no back up – she was supposed to be the backup.

A muffled sob from the kitchen caught her attention and moving swiftly, Alina followed the sound, hoping that her heart wasn't as loud as it seemed to her own ears.

She edged open the kitchen door cautiously, and peered in, her stomach lurching as her eyes absorbed the scene before her.

Two bodies lined the floor, their bodies too still to own a pulse. One dressed in the familiar uniform of Death Eater and the other…

Alina's eyes widened as recognition washed over her, and she bit down on her lip hard enough to draw blood.

His body lifeless. His eyes glazed and empty. His suit uncharacteristically creased.

Her father.

'You may as well come with me, it will only be worse for you if you choose to resist' an icy voice drew her attention away from her father's body, and her blood froze as Rowles strolled into vision.

'I- I don't know what you want from me –'

Alina clenched her teeth at the confusion, the vulnerability in her mother's voice.

'Oh but you do! As you have so wonderfully displayed on my poor companion over there…you have talents that the Dark Lord is very much interested in…'

Alina's eyebrows rose, it must have been her mother who had caused the death of the other Death Eater.

'It was an accident' her mother whispered, shaking her head furiously 'I – I used to be able to…but not any more…It doesn't work anymore!'

Rowles' cold chuckle seemed to suck the air from Mrs Blake's lungs and the woman let out a dry sob, her blue eyes wide and unusually alert.

'Yes Anabelle, you have poisoned your body over the years, weakening the hold you have on your powers…but that is pure human weakness which holds you back' he paced slowly in front of her, his eyes devouring the cowering woman.

Alina flexed her knees, knowing that at any moment he would attack her mother. She narrowed her eyes and clenched her wand, preparing for action.

'- but what we have planned for you does not require human weakness –'

'No – please! Please!' Mrs Blake cried 'Frayne! Frayne! Help! Please!'

Mrs Blake's cry seemed to surprise not only Alina but Rowles as well, who froze thoughtfully for a moment, before opening his mouth to respond.

Blinking away her own shock, Alina opened her mouth, lifting her foot to step forward, when a loud screech caught her off guard and she turned around to find a large tawny owl, dropping a red letter by her feet…a red letter that was horrifically familiar.

No, surely not, her mind went numb with disbelief this cannot be happening…

'ALINA BLAKE, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?'

Sirius her entire body shook from head to toe how could he be so stupid…

'AFTER EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH, HOW CAN YOU BE SO LYING, SNEAKY –'

His rampage was stiffled by the loud explosion of the door being torn from its hinges, and half of the wall crumbling into a pile of bricks, Alina dived to the right but cried out in pain as a heavy brick struck her on the side of the head, and immediately she felt the wetness of freely flowing blood.

'PROTEGO!' she cried desperately, flinching.

'- WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THIS TOGETHER. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO PLACE YOURSELF IN DANGER WITHOUT –'

Rowles was not deterred by her shield, and instead began furiously shooting spell after spell at her, each one more dark and viscous than the last.

Alina rolled over once more, using the movement to propel herself to her feet, but stumbled slightly as dizziness engulfed her.

'- NO CONSIDERATION TO ANYONE ELSE –'

'M-Mum, run!' she called, slashing her wand sharply downwards, causing a kitchen chair to launch itself at the Death Eater – she was pleased to witness the connection.

The attack provided enough time for her mother to stumble across the room, and reach her daughter. Alina grabbed her mother's hand and pulled her into the hallway.

'Can you apparate?' Alina turned to her mother and asked urgently 'Mum! Can you apparate?'

Mrs Blake shook her head.

'No – No magic…'

Alina groaned.

'Okay, mum get out of here! Go!'

'- WE ARE CONNECTED, DOES THAT MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?-'

She pushed her mother roughly, not waiting to watch her run and instead turning back to the kitchen doorway just in time to see the jet of red light shoot towards her.

She blocked the attack quickly and countered with her own as Rowles marched through the hole that had once held the kitchen doorway, pausing to spit blood from his mouth before grinning tauntingly at her.

'Alina!' he greeted her 'it's been so long!'

'Not long enough' Alina spat back at him, grimacing as the blood on her cheek infiltrated her mouth.

'Oh, well that's not a nice way to greet an old friend' he pouted, before chuckling and causing a fresh wave of anger to pound through her veins.

I'll teach him a lesson she smirked to herself, gathering the trendles of electricity pulsing through her body and pushing forwards with her mind.

Rowles let out a cry as he was propelled into the destroyed pile of brickwork behind him, but Alina barely had a moment to revel in her success before the dizziness once again returned, combined with a startling wave of nausea.

She lurched over, heaving, and throwing an arm out to support herself, noticing with alarm that as she hunched over, a pool of blood was gathering on the floor before her, dripping from her head.

Not good.

'Seems like your little tricks aren't going to save you this time, Alina.' Rowles' voice was raspy, indicating the pain that he was in, but Alina was terrified that he was correct.

She attempted to stand upright, but all that she could make out was the blurred silhouette of the Death Eater approaching. She blinked, trying to clear her vision, but instead it was replaced with small stars.

Not good, not good at all she acknowledged as another wave of nausea hit her focus, Alina, focus!

'The Dark Lord knew that your mother was damaged, but still held her uses…imagine how pleased he shall be when I return with the matching set –'

Alina heaved once again at his words, the contents of her stomach bringing themselves up.

'How classy' Rowles wheezed.

'Piss off' Alina managed to growl.

'Enough of the foreplay, Alina, it's time to go home'

Alina raised her wand, in a desperate attempt to form a shield, but was prevented from doing so as a figure dived forward, launching upon Rowles, taking him as much by surprise as Alina.

'WHA-?' he cried.

Alina blinked furiously, trying to prevent the world from spinning so violently, desperately trying to grasp what was taking place.

A struggle between two people; tearing at one another with equal vigour. There were no spells, just limbs, fists, fingers, flying everywhere.

'Wha – what's –' Alina stumbled as she pulled herself upright, blinking once more and her vision slightly beginning to improve.

Improve enough for her to recognise the blonde hair and willowy frame of the figure in the altercation with Rowles. Improve enough for her to cry out in horror as she watched Rowles gain the upper hand. Improve enough for her to forget her wand and instinctively throw every ounce of power she could muster at the Death Eater before her, anything to protect the woman he clasped by the neck.

'MUM!' the words tore from Alina's lips as the power escaped her, and were immediately followed by a sharp pain exploding from the left side of her head.

A loud crack sounded, and suddenly everything was moving too fast.

It were as if she were on a carasoul moving faster and faster, the world filled with bright colours and shapes, a roaring sound vibrated through her ears.

'Mum?' her voice was faint, and she felt her knees buckle, the nausea returned.

Breathe, breathe, breathe she repeated the instruction over and over until the words seemed to echo around her.

'Breathe, breathe, breathe' the instructions were no longer her own, the voice was deeper, huskier and less desperate; Sirius.

She listened to his voice, taking deep breaths until the world began to slow, and with one final shaky exhale, her vision became less obscured.

'Mum?' her voice croaked, and she scrambled tentatively from the floor.

She scanned the hallway, taking in the destruction around her. It seemed that her final attack had destroyed nearly all of the wide hallway and part of the winding staircase leading down into it. The paintings and photographs on the walls were singed and cracked.

'Mum?' her voice was thick, and strangely small in the hall.

The loud crack that she had heard suddenly came back to her, and she closed her eyes with understanding, with recognition; Rowles had apparated away, taking her mother with him.

A dull buzzing seemed to vibrate through the air around her, and Alina had to swallow the saliva building in her mouth, the threat of vomit present once again.

Feeling weak, feeling a failure, she slowly dragged herself to her feet and knowing that it was probably not the most sensible idea in the condition she was in, she apparated back to Grimmauld place.

'Alli!'

'Alina?!'

'Thank God you're all right! When we didn't hear from you, we thought – well, we were about to send back up.'

Alina blinked, taking in the concerned faces around her, sweeping them until her eyes settled on Sirius, who hung back from them all, looking suitably ashamed of himself.

'Do you realise how stupid you are?' her voice was soft, weary.

'Yes'

She had not expected the utter resignation in his tone.

'I should have told you' she offered quietly.

'Yes' he agreed.

Remus and Bill shifted uncomfortably at the exchange.

'But even if I wasn't there, you could have given up your whereabouts, people would have known that I knew where you were –' she flinched and swayed slightly.

'Alli, we need to get you some medical attention, your head is completely cut open-'

Alina held up her hand indicating one more minute.

'Sirius, one day your impulsiveness is going to get one of us killed.'

Sirius paled at her words, his eyes darkening, but he did not argue.

Alina turned to Bill and Remus.

'Sturgess and Haythawn are dead, as is a Death Eater and my father.' She ignored the reactions her words received 'you need to tell Dumbledore that they have her, Voldemort has my mother.'