Disclaimer: Aurora Clementine Badeau, Annalisa Dairine Black, Conri Carmine Black, Rupert Severus Badeau (Lupin-Snape), 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 :)
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.
OOOO Pretty dark chapter here. Thought I'd warn you. It's very sad. I even cried while typing it :( OOOO
September finished quickly and they were already two weeks into October but still no Pippa. Remus had gone berserk when Aurora told him that Pippa had just disappeared. He became irrational and on October 3rd, he too was gone, leaving a note that said he was going to find her. Aurora and Lily kept in contact through Dumbledore, who visited them a lot. Aurora was hardly ever able to visit them herself but she finally got another chance on October 14th.
Aurora and Sirius were borrowing the Invisibility Cloak that was James'. Aurora had Conri in a baby carrier that was strapped to her front; Sirius had the same strapped to him but with Rupert in it. Italia held Annalisa the best she could while staying under the cloak. They were able to Apparate into the square in Godric's Hollow and then they walked to James' and Lily's house. They got up to the door and knocked; they remained under the cloak just in case. They could hear James talk to Lily as he came to the door. They heard him stop and they knew that he was peaking out to see if he could see anyone. Then he asked Sirius a question.
"My Animagus and my nickname?" James' voice said through the door. Sirius grinned.
"You transform into a stag and you're nickname is Prongs. Now let us in; it's cold and we have three babes and a kid, you berk." The door opened and as soon as they were over the threshold, James had shut the door. Sirius threw the cloak off of them and hung it on the knob of the banister. Aurora helped Sirius and herself out of the baby carriers before turning and hugging Lily and then James. Italia beamed, smiling widely at Lily who kneeled down to take Annalisa from her.
They went to the sitting room and Aurora arranged herself on the sofa with the three babies. Lily joined her with Harry a few minutes later and soon Annalisa and Harry were playing by the hearth as Lily cooed over Conri and Rupert. Sirius and James were laughing and joking with each other as Italia began to look around.
"It's so good to see you, Aurora…" Lily said happily as they watched Annalisa and Harry giggle and play with each other. Aurora smiled at her as she took a picture of the babies.
"It's good to see you again too, Lil. So, how has everything been?" she asked as she took a beautiful picture of her best friend; Lily's green eyes twinkled in the lights from the ceiling lights and her dark red hair glimmered and caught the light from the fireplace. She was smiling from ear-to-ear.
"Oh everything has been ace; though James wishes he could help the Order more. He's been in an arse-on for quite a while now. He doesn't do much either; mostly just arses around," Lily complained to her friend, sending James a playful look and smile. Aurora laughed.
"He and I feel the same then; I wish I could help the Order more than I am…"
"But you can't. You have a family to raise now; you have to think of your children and younger sisters." Lily said exactly what Aurora had been trying to convey to her husband for weeks and, when Aurora looked over at Sirius, he looked a bit sheepish.
Hours passed and soon it was pass midnight. Italia was lying down next to Aurora, her little golden head resting against Aurora's thigh. Annalisa, Rupert, and Conri were fast asleep as well; Lily had already put Harry to bed upstairs. James helped Sirius strap up and Lily did the same for Aurora before she went to Italia and gently awoke the child. Italia yawned and stretched before sliding off of the couch, her blonde hair ruffled from sleep. She clung to Aurora's leg and somehow they were able to get out of the door under the cloak. Aurora took one last glance back at her friends and she saw them smiling and waving at them even though Aurora, Sirius, and the kids were completely invisible. Aurora had no idea that this was going to be the last time she saw them alive.
The days passed slowly for Aurora who was always stuck in the house. Lately though, Dumbledore confined Sirius to the house as well, which made him very anxious and angry. They fought here and there but their love life was doing great. It was October 31st and Aurora sat next to the window in the living room with Italia as the sky darkened. Italia was upset that she couldn't go out and Trick or Treat and Aurora felt terrible for her. One thing was sure about this Hiding stuff: you didn't have a life.
'Something feels wrong…' Aurora thought as she stroked Italia's soft hair while the little girl pouted as a small group of trick or treators walked by the house, oblivious to it's existence. Sirius was gone for the day; Dumbledore had come to get him, bringing James' Invisibility Cloak for Sirius to use. Aurora glanced at the clock above the telly. '7 pm…'
"I'm going upstairs. This is depressing…" Italia suddenly said as she moved away from the window and went upstairs to her room, shuffling her feet the whole way. Aurora frowned and pet Angel on the head gently. She got up a few minutes later and went to the kitchen to feed the cat/kneazle hybrid and Isis. After they were done, she had the distinct feeling that she should move them upstairs. And so she did. She put Isis in her cage and called for Angel to follow her, which she did with a loud meow. Aurora placed the owl and cat in her room and then went back downstairs. She began cleaning the dishes and soon, it was 8 pm. She went back upstairs to take a shower.
She took a quick one, getting out after about fifteen minutes. She toweled off and then changed into a pair of Sirius' flannel PJs. She went to the nursery to check on Annalisa, Rupert, and Conri. Rupert and Annalisa were awake but Conri was fast asleep. Aurora cooed to Annalisa and tickled Rupert's tummy, making the baby boy squirm and gurgle happily at her. Then she heard it.
A soft mumbling was coming from the baby monitor that stood on the small light yellow stand next to Annalisa's bed; Sirius had replaced the batteries and had left the baby part of the monitor downstairs in the living room and Aurora always carried her part of the monitor with her. Aurora stilled as her wide eyes watched the monitor. She grabbed it and put it to her ear, listening intently.
"---Travers, listen to me! Damn it…Do you want to be punished by the Dark Lord because you didn't really listen to him or me?" Aurora recognized her older brother's deep voice. Travers became quiet and Alfred continued. "Good. Now, remember: Do NOT kill any of them. He wants to be able to keep the babes and young girl so he can influence them."
"But what of the Black woman?" Travers spoke and Aurora felt a chill run down her spine. This wasn't some coincidental cut in from a different line; they were downstairs in her house.
"She's to be saved for him; he has his own plans for her. Torture her if you must, but do not aim to kill any of them."
"And what of my as-good-as-dead cousin?" came a woman's voice and Aurora recognized it as belonging to Bellatrix Lestrange. Aurora was breathing quickly but softly now and she felt the blood drain from her face as she began to tremble.
"Kill him. Oh and kill the animals; Aurora has an owl and a kneazle/cat hybrid; the hybrid will attack if she sees Aurora being hurt. So is everything understood?" There was a soft agreement from his fellows and Aurora reacted instantly. She put the monitor back on the stand and turned it off before she went and got Angel and Isis, trying to get Italia's attention on the way but it didn't work. She placed the animals in the nursery and then went to Italia's room quietly and slowly; her eyes were trained on the stair case. Unfortunately, Italia's and Nicola's room sat directly in front of the stair case and the door was wide open. Aurora froze when she saw Alfred, Bellatrix, Travers, and Rodolphus at the bottom of the stairs; and they saw her too.
They all reacted at once; Aurora dashed to Italia's room and grabbed the six year old's wrist, ducking as a green flash was sent at her; Italia screamed; Alfred yelled and reprimanded Travers again; Rodolphus sent a Stunning spell at Aurora and Italia, but they ducked and tumbled. Aurora stood quickly and lifted Italia onto her feet just as Rodolphus tackled her from behind. Italia screamed again and Aurora cried out as she landed hard on her shoulder. She looked around for her wand and saw it lying three feet ahead of her. She reached for it but Rodolphus punched her in the ribs, making her cry out in pain again.
Alfred, Bellatrix, and Travers joined them in the hall; Italia reacted quickly. She grabbed Aurora's wand and pointed it at Rodolphus. She let out a frustrated scream and a burst of red shot out of Aurora's wand; Rodolphus was Stunned. Aurora got up immediately, took the wand from Italia and pointed it at Alfred. "Italia, go to the nursery now. Grab onto Angel and Isis' cages." Italia nodded and did as her older sister had ordered, disappearing from sight. The adults in the hallway were still, all wands pointed at Aurora and hers pointed at Alfred still. 'Protego,' she thought silently and a protective shield shot up between them all. Aurora made a run for the nursery door.
She slammed the door shut, making the babies cry from being startled. Italia looked frightened and Aurora placed an anti-intruder spell on the room after locking it securely. She knew there wasn't much time still so she grabbed the filled baby bags that had everything she needed for each baby in them and she grabbed her small duffle bag that had clothes for her, Italia, and Sirius in it. She grabbed the two brooms that were leaned up against the wall for an emergency. She turned and handed one to Italia, who looked at it with large eyes.
"Italia, I just need you to follow me on that broom; you've had practice, remember?" Italia nodded and Aurora put charms on the baby bags, the duffle bag, and Angel's and Isis' cages to make them feather light. She put them on one broom and opened the window. She helped Italia onto the broom and got the babes, placed them in their baby carriers, and made them feather light as well, then she put them on her broom. She got on it and kicked off; floating outside of the window. She looked back; Italia kicked off and slowly rose out of the window just as the door broke open. Italia screamed and shot forward, flying pass Aurora. Aurora cried out and put one last Shield Charm up before she took off after Italia; she caught up with the terrified girl and gently grabbed her broom with her right hand, steering both brooms now.
They flew to the safest place Aurora could think off; Lily's and James'. She knew something was very, very wrong when they landed in the forest just behind the cemetery. The night was eerily quiet. It was Halloween; where were the children in their costumes? Aurora led the way to James' and Lily's but when she got closer to the house she noticed a crowd of wizard's and witches. Aurora shushed the babies and led Italia to the house.
She almost dropped everything when she saw the wreckage; the upper right part of the house was blown apart. Aurora's breath hitched in her throat as Italia began to cry again. Aurora took a step forward but was stopped by an old man. She looked up and saw Dumbledore's crying face. She gently handed him the baby carriers and walked pass him, despite hearing him and many others object. She made her way through the maze of people and into the house, slowly. Time seemed to stand still, like everyone was moving like a sloth except for her.
She looked shocked at the sight of James. She kneeled down at his head and gently brushed his dark bangs out of his lifeless brown eyes. "Oh James…" She sounded choked up as she adjusted his glasses, that were askew on his face. She heard someone behind her telling her to leave. She shook her head and kissed James' cold forehead before she thought of his son and Lily. "Lily!" Aurora cried out and left James to dart up the unstable stairs. She heard people yelling after her but she kept going anyway, one hand on the busted banister and the other on the wall. She didn't feel anything, even when a thick sliver of wood sliced her palm open.
She stopped at the nursery door and slowly pushed it open. There was a body covered there, near the crib. She slowly approached it, praying that it wasn't Lily. But then she saw it; a tuft of dark red hair sticking out from under the sheet. Aurora screamed and pulled the sheet off of her friend, who stared up at her with wide, glassy green eyes. The tears were immediate as Aurora gently and shakily touched her dead friend's soft hair and cold face. "Lily!" She screamed and cried harder as she pressed her own forehead against her best friend's and squeezed her eyes shut. "No! Nooooooooooooo!"
It took them ten minutes to tear Aurora from Lily and to drag her down the stairs. They gave her to Dumbledore and the old man pulled her to him, hugging her and rubbing her back as soothingly as he could as they both cried. After a few moments, Aurora looked up at Dumbledore and asked the question that she suddenly feared to speak. "Where's Harry?"
"He's alive…"
"What?" She was shocked; James and Lily lay dead in the house but Harry, a mere baby boy, was still alive? She felt a mix of feelings; relief, agony, worry, anger...
"Voldemort came after James and Lily because of a Prophecy that spoke of Voldemort and a boy born in July to parents who defied him three times…"
"But Frank and Alice…they…"
"Aurora, Frank and Alice were attacked tonight as well. They escaped unscathed with baby Neville. We believe that Voldemort was covering his bases; that included you, the Longbottoms, and the Potters. Fortunately, his plan backfired…He tried to kill Harry after Lily gave her life up for him; his Killing Curse backfired off of Harry and killed himself. Voldemort is dead."
"Dead?" She felt a bittersweet satisfaction at the news. She looked around and then kneeled down to Italia, bringing the young girl to her. They stayed there, crying in each other's arms as Minerva and Albus watched after the three babes. Italia didn't have to go inside the house to know that Lily and James weren't going to be around anymore.
:( Lily's and James' death. Very, very sad. Poor Aurora. She thought she'd be safe there. The reason why I had Aurora and her sister and kids attacked was because I don't think Voldemort is one to not cover his bases, so to speak. He's pretty thorough when he's not panicked or acting rashly. Anyway, sad chapter. I'll have the last one up next and then the sequel shall be started. Thanks to EmSyd, sands' gal, and MilitaryMaruader for the reviews and thanks to wickedwench1 and hovizi for the adds! Please review! Thanks. -Siriusgrl88