Disclaimer: Aurora Clementine Badeau, Annalisa Dairine Black, Aberto Adriano Badeau, Alicia Doireann Badeau (nee Riddle), Timothy Durante Badeau, Alfred Cillain Badeau, Holly Caoimhe Badeau, Nicola Sorcha Badeau, Italia Isla Badeau, Thekla Sophia Badeau (nee Metaxas), Maximus Eligio Badeau, Alexander Fidel Badeau, Massimo Cillian Badeau, Dolores Maria Badeau (nee DaSilva), Nikita Gorbachova, Rosaline Amherst, and Delilah Abernathy are all (C) to me :) And now Conri Carmine Black is also (C) to me :)
Pippa Lupin (C) Ashley :)
The other Lupins that are (C) to no one really. I don't claim to own them and they are not mentioned in any of the HP books. You may do as you wish with them.
All other characters are (C) Jo Rowling.
July went by fast and the birthdays for Neville, Harry, and Annalisa were held together at James' and Lily's house on July 31st. It was a small gathering; Dumbledore and Minerva came together with Hagrid tagging along; Mad-Eye and Kingsley were able to join them as well as Andromeda, Ted, Nymphadora, and 20 month old Aquila; Molly and Arthur brought their sons William, Charles, Percy, Fred and George, and one year old Ronald; and Remus and Peter were there. Pippa asked Aurora to make up a story for her and she had left the house for a few hours until the party was over. It was an adorable little get together, with one cake that was decorated in light yellow and light green to keep it neutral.
Aurora and Dumbledore had to speak again about her second pregnancy and she wasn't happy to hear that he thought she should take a few years off of work; she'd always have a position there but with another baby on the way and the potential for more babies in the future, Dumbledore thought it was best if she took time to actually raise her children with Sirius. Aurora had agreed reluctantly but when Sirius asked what was wrong, she denied that there was anything wrong. Aurora had noticed that Peter seemed a bit agitated, almost nervous around everyone.
Aurora was contemplating on using Legilimency against him unknowingly but decided against it; if she didn't need to use it, she wouldn't. It was a violation of the mind in Aurora's opinion and the only reason why she had learned it was because she took the Psychology of the Magical Mind in her fifth, sixth, and seventh years. Soon, August was in full swing and Nicola and Holly were excited to be going back to school, though their spirits were dampened a bit because Aurora wouldn't be going with them. It was the three weeks before the two girls were due for school when Aurora's water broke and she began to have contractions. Sirius had informed Dumbledore of their plan a while before so he came and brought with him Madam Pomfrey, who had been a mid-wife in the past.
By 10 pm on August 10th, 1981, Sirius and Aurora welcomed their second child and first son into the world. Sirius was overjoyed at having a son and he quickly got Annalisa to show her the baby boy that was her younger brother. Annalisa had fussed and began to cry at the site of the pink baby and Sirius had looked a bit defeated as he soothed her and then took her back to her crib to sleep. Aurora had laughed and soon she was cleaned up and holding her son, nursing him. Dumbledore and Sirius had stepped out of the room as Madam Pomfrey stayed with Aurora, cooing over the baby. After Aurora was finished with feeding her son, Sirius came back in with Dumbledore; Aurora shot Sirius a glare and he immediately looked sheepish.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"No more babies for a while, ok? Conri is only a year younger than Annalisa; I need a break," she answered and Sirius looked very relieved as he nodded and sat on the bed next to her, fluffing the pillows a bit for her. Dumbledore chuckled and said his good-byes before he left with Madam Pomfrey. Pippa crept into the room with Holly, Nicola, and Italia, all of them were smiling broadly.
Holly, Nicola, and Italia went to Aurora's left and Pippa stood at Sirius' side. Aurora looked at Nicola and smiled. "Would you like to hold Conri, Nicola?" Nicola nodded and carefully took the gurgling baby boy from her older sister's arms. She supported his head and looked down at the baby who was barely able to gaze up at her.
"He has your eyes, Sirius…Though, they're a bit lighter it seems," Holly whispered.
"He looks just like Sirius but Conri's smaller and pink," Italia corrected and Sirius looked proud. Pippa and Aurora giggled and Aurora patted Sirius' hand that rested on her shoulder. He kissed her temple and looked over at Pippa, grinning.
"You're turn," he teased and she paled a bit. Aurora knew that Pippa didn't like pain so she wasn't looking forward to the birthing pains.
"Don't worry, Pip; it hurts, yeah, but the aftermath is so worth it," Aurora reassured as she looked back down at her son in Nicola's arms.
Pippa gave birth to her son, Rupert Severus Badeau (really Lupin-Snape), on August 19th at 5 pm exactly. Aurora saw the similarities between Remus, Severus, and the baby boy immediately. Rupert had a mop of dirty blonde hair growing atop his head but dark eyes like Severus. It would take a while to see who he really took after, but Aurora had a feeling that he was going to have his father's nose and sallow skin.
For the next week and a half they had visitors coming through to see the new baby boys. Everyone commented about how much Conri would look like his father when he got older and each time, Sirius beamed with pride; they would also ask who Rupert took after and Aurora and Sirius told them all the same story, even Remus, Peter, James, and Lily; though Remus seemed suspicious, he never said anything about his suspicions. "My grandfather on my father's side; he had dark eyes and blondish hair." Aurora would say, feeling a bit guilty; true, her grandfather had been that way but she was lying about the baby being hers.
It wasn't long before James and Lily had caught on and confronted their three friends about it. Pippa had cried and refused to speak so Aurora had to tell them everything; the truth but of course she left out the part about Severus loving Lily; she didn't want a livid James in her house. All of this celebration was soon cut short, unfortunately.
On August 26th, when Sirius, Remus, Peter, Dumbledore and many other Order members were busy in Ireland, a terrible message was broadcasted across KeepInOrder, a news radio station for the Order and was secret to Voldemort, the Death Eaters, and his supporters. Aurora, Pippa, Molly, Holly, Nicola, and Italia all sat around the radio, listening intently to the broadcast. Aurora tuned the baby monitor down a bit so they could hear the news; Ron, Conri, Ginny, Rupert, and Annalisa slept in cribs upstairs and William, Charles, Percy, Fred and George sat at the women's feet with Italia, Nicola, and Holly.
"Things are getting a lot worse lately; three Muggle families were eradicated just the night before. The Farnham family, a 'blood traitor' family, were all killed two nights ago and the Hale family was also killed just earlier today…" A familiar voice said solemnly. Holly and Nicola cried together as Pippa and Molly hugged each other, also crying. Italia, Charles, Percy, Fred, and George didn't really understand what was going on so they just looked around the room at all of the women. Aurora sat completely still, her eyes glazed over in a shocked gaze, her lips parted and face pale. Her hands shook in her lap as tears slowly filled her eyes. William, Molly and Arthur's oldest son and child, gently patted her leg and Aurora glanced down at him briefly.
"Let's just take a moment of silence for those lost souls…what? Hold on a moment, folks…" there was muffled mumbling on the other end of the radio and all of the women and girls perked up a bit. Good news perhaps? A heavy sigh reached their ears. "More…terrible, terrible news…The McKinnon's were all killed about an hour ago."
Aurora broke; Marlene had been a friend and fellow Order member. She began to sob and shake; she barely felt Italia go to her and hug her, she barely felt any of them touch her. "Let's have a moment of silence for the Farnham's, the Hale's, the McKinnon's, and those Muggle families." A silence droned on, only disturbed by women's gasping and sobbing. Finally, after about three minutes, the newscaster spoke.
"Most of you know that many of the Order are out fighting tonight in Dublin, Ireland. We have an update."
Aurora looked up, tears silently streaming down her face now. Molly, Pippa, Holly, Nicola, and Italia all looked at the radio with her. Silence filled the room.
"We don't know where any of them are but we have a…a body count," he continued and the room became suddenly thick with tension; Molly had Arthur there and Aurora had Sirius there and Pippa had Remus there. "For the Death Eaters: Jonathan Haggard, Hilda Owens, Kimberly Reedy, Roy Reedy, Hanson Watson, and Joanne O'Leary. All Pure-Bloods. For the Order…Not as large but still some casualties...Jeremy O'Sullivan, an Irish Pure-Blood 'Blood Traitor'; Susan Quigley, another Pure-Blood 'Blood Traitor'; Thomas Ward, Muggle-Born; and Jeffery Young, 'Half-Breed'. That is all for tonight. Remember, 'it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.' Hold those you love as close as you can tonight. This is Jeremy Edwards reporting. Good night." And with a buzz, the radio station was off.
"But…but what about the rest?! Where's the rest about the battle!? Who was injured!? Where are they?!" Pippa began to pace, panicking. Aurora looked to her and was about to say something when a single knock from the front door echoed throughout the house. Molly, Holly, Nicola, Italia, and the boys rushed up the stairs to hide in the nursery. Pippa and Aurora approached the front door, wands drawn out in front of them. Precautions needed to be taken; precautions. Sirius wouldn't knock twice; it was their rule. Aurora peeped through the peephole and saw Sirius, Remus, and Arthur. It took all of Aurora's power to keep her from yanking that door open and jumping into her husband's arms.
"When we first met…where were we and what did I say to you?" Aurora asked loud enough so Sirius and the two other men could hear her. And Sirius responded.
"We were on the Hogwarts Express; the train had just left the station and people were still trying to find compartments. You sat with Severus Snape and Lily Evans. James Potter and I, Sirius Black, overheard the three of you talking about what Houses you would all get into. Severus said to Lily that she better get into Slytherin; you had made a face but didn't say anything until Lily asked you what House you thought you'd get into. You said 'either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw'.
"James spoke up and said that Gryffindor would be the best House to be in and you objected, saying that 'even if you're brave, it doesn't mean your smart; and brains are everything.' I made a snide remark…'Well, I guess you won't get into Ravenclaw then, eh?' and then you retorted with 'Sirius Black, I hope you do get into Gryffindor so your family will give you hell for it!'" He answered correctly and before he could say anything more, Aurora had the front door open and she was in his arms, crying into his shoulder.
"We need to change our code, love…It's a bit lengthy," he whispered in her ear and she clung to him tighter as he walked into the house with her. Molly had poked her head around the corner at the commotion and then squealed, running as fast as she could towards Arthur; they embraced as Molly cried. Pippa was holding her brother now and Aurora began to slowly release Sirius. She looked up at him and he smiled down at her, wiping her tears from her face. He looked tired and worn; his hair was disheveled and his eyes had dark circles under them.
They all settled down and then the three men began to tell the children and women everything that happened at the battle. When they were finished, Pippa asked a question. "Did you hear about the Hale's and Farnham's?"
"No…what happened?" Remus asked with concern heavy on his voice. Molly began to cry again and Pippa couldn't continue.
"They…they're all dead. The McKinnon's too," Aurora answered and the men looked at each other grievously.
"God…I can't believe…Marlene too then?" Sirius asked and Aurora nodded. He looked floored. He sat down next to her on the arm of the sofa and he squeezed her hand in his when she patted his thigh, looking up at him sadly.
Earlier that day…
"My Lord?" Alfred asked as he stepped into the dimly lit room. He could barely make out the small snake at his Lord's feet.
"Alfred…" Voldemort hissed and Alfred looked up at him.
"Yes, my Lord? You wanted to see me?"
"Yes…It seems to me that the McKinnon's are getting in the way…Just like the Hale's and Farnham's…"
"The…The Mc-McKinnon's, my Lord?" he didn't want to be hearing this; Marlene was his love. 'No…don't ask me to kill Marlene…'
"They need to be eradicated. Completely. Even the children." Voldemort spoke in a hissing voice and Alfred felt dread sink in his gut.
"My…My Lord?"
"I want you, Travers, Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Rabastan, Crabbe, and Goyle to go to the McKinnon's and end each and all of their lives…" His back was to Alfred as he spoke and Alfred had his mind blocked to him as he thought rapidly.
"Yes, my Lord…" he whispered out and turned on his heel, his mind reeling from his orders. He stopped just in front of the door and turned slowly again. "My Lord…may I ask a question?"
"Yes, Alfred?"
"May we spare Marlene McKinnon?"
"And why is that?"
"I…I…desire her…" he said softly. He couldn't say love; he'd be killed on the spot. "She is pure-blood, my Lord…She'd…be a good wife; a good breeder." He couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth but he knew this was the only way she might be spared from death.
"Hmmm…" Alfred waited what seemed like forever but in reality was only half a minute. "Fine; you shall spare Marlene from death; she would breed pure-blooded children." He conceded and Alfred felt an immense relief fill him. Travers, Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Rabastan, Crabbe, and Goyle were in next. Once the plan was given to them, they, led by Alfred, left the house and went to find the McKinnon's.
Alfred and his fellow Death Eaters approached the McKinnon household at 8:30 pm. The lights were all on in the house; children were up in their rooms, the adults were in the sitting room. Bellatrix and Travers were getting excited so Alfred had to stop them before they entered.
"Remember; kill all but Marlene," he reminded them and they all nodded impatiently before following him towards the house. He stopped at the stairs of the porch and pointed his wand at the door. He used a blasting charm against the door; it blew off of its hinges with a loud bang and there were screams from all over the residence. The others rushed passed him and into the dwelling. His eyes were hard as he slowly walked over the threshold. Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan were downstairs, fighting Marlene's father, mother and brother. Alfred could hear Travers, Crabbe, and Goyle attacking the children upstairs.
Marlene snarled and launched herself at Alfred. He was able to snatch her wrists in his but she had knocked his mask off. She stared up at him in complete shock. "Alfred?" she whispered under her breath just as Bellatrix brought Marlene's mother down. Marlene looked over her shoulder at her father's and brother's mixed yells of grief. Marlene screamed and began to cry and struggle.
"Marlene, listen to me," Alfred whispered in her ear and she stilled, her eyes on her dead mother as Bellatrix ran pass them to join the men upstairs. "Marlene, don't fight me. If you come quietly, if you give in and join the Death Eaters; you'll be spared. You can marry me and have children to secure your safety…" She looked up at him incredulously.
"You're not the Alfred I knew…the Alfred I dated…the Alfred…" she trailed off and he frowned. He got her down to her knees and then bound her with ropes from his wand. She was gagged as she glared up at him with stubborn, painful tears. Alfred heard the silence and looked around; Marlene's father and brother, Henry and Henry Jr., lay on the floor, dead.
They were about ten feet from Marlene's mother, Alexis. Travers, Bellatrix, Crabbe, and Goyle came back downstairs, smiles of complete pride and happiness on their faces; they carried with them Marlene's two younger brothers' and baby sister, all dead. Marlene made a strangled noise from the floor and she slumped over, shaking with sobs. Even the family dog was dead, lying awkwardly in the hallway.
"Are we done?" Travers asked, his eyes sliding to Marlene. Alfred stepped in front of her, his eyes set in a glare at Travers.
"Remember what the Dark Lord told you; she is to be spared," he reminded the blood-thirsty man. He scowled but let it slide. Somehow, Alfred let his guard down, his ropes that were bound around Marlene slackened and Marlene took advantage of the situation. She attacked Alfred from behind. She jumped on his back, yanking at his hair and scratching at his face. He yelled and doubled over with her weight on his back. Bellatrix and Rodolphus were restraining the others from attacking. Marlene was able to get to her wand that was lying on the couch that Alfred had landed by. She pointed her wand at him but before she could say a word, there was a flash of green, a rushing sound, and a soft thud about three feet from Alfred.
"NO!" He yelled as his eyes widened and he shuffled over to Marlene's dead body on his knees. He cradled her to him, her head resting against his shoulder as he gazed down at her. A shaky hand slowly brushed her bangs from her eyes; her golden hair lay neatly about her head like a halo and her beautiful hazel-green eyes gazed up at nothing, lifeless. She was already getting cold. Alfred sniffed and squeezed his eyes shut tightly to prevent the tears from falling from his eyes; his back was to his so called friends, his shoulders shaking with rage and grief. He gently placed Marlene's head back down on the carpet and stood slowly, turning wiht his wand pointed at Travers. He looked deranged, his eyes wild and his mouth set in a snarl. "CRUCIO!" he bellowed.
Travers shrieked and dropped to the floor, writhing and yelling in pain after the curse hit him squarely between his eyes. He approached Travers slowly, his wand still pointed at him as the man on the floor still moved in odd angles and strange movements, crying out in pain. "SHE WAS TO BE SPARED!" he roared and Travers jerked harshly, screaming loudly in pain.
Bellatrix reached out and grasped Alfred's wrist urgently. He rounded on her, leaving Travers to pant upon the floor, unable to really move because he was so sore. Bellatrix backed up towards her brother-in-law, her hands in the air; Rodolphus stepped to her side, half in front of her. "Alfred…She was going to kill you…"
"She wouldn't have!"
"How do you know? How would any of us know?" Bellatrix asked and Alfred faltered slightly.
"She loved me…" he whispered and Bellatrix actually looked sympathetic. She approached him slowly and gently pushed his wand to his chest.
"It's too late now…There's nothing anyone can do now…"
Alfred didn't look at any of them and in less than a second, he walked out of the house forever, leaving them behind.
Thanks to AmeliaRose for the add and thanks to EmSyd and MilitaryMarauder for the reviews. Sad, I know. Another twist...Alfred was in looooooove. Isn't that fantastic? Well, I hope you like this darker chapter. Please review! Thanks. -Siriusgrl88