Please read and review!! Oh yeah thank you in advance!! -Lena Knight!
Ashlynn sat next to Aludra's small crib in Saint Mungo's, reading the Evening Prophet. Aludra had thankfully survived the evil curse but just barely. Due to the effects of the curse she would always carry a large scar on the right side of her face. Ashlynn touched her own cursed scar on her chest and new that Aludra's beauty would not be dulled due to the scar.
It was two week since the attack and still the young babe was not strong enough to leave Saint Mungo's and the Healers insisted she stay for a bit long to fully heal under the watchful eyes of the Healers and Medi-witches and medi-wizards.
Since that horrible day Ashlynn had spent much of her time right next to Aludra, neglecting her teaching duties and debating on weather to return to the Order of the Phoenix. Though today would be the last day she would or could stay by her daughter's side all day and night sadly. She was resuming her teaching duties in the morning and she was going to her first meeting of the Order in sometime.
She sighed as she looked at the watch Sirius had gotten her for her birthday. He was late, not surprising but she wasn't allowed to travel without him. He had made her promise a hundred times to not leave Saint Mungo's or Hogwarts without him. Of course this would be changing soon as she would be going on missions for the Order once again.
She turned around as she saw Sirius walked in with a large grin playing on his face. He glanced around the hospital room and made his way to his wife. He bent down and kissed her forehead. "Hullo Love how is our little bundle of joy doing today?" He asked as Ashlynn returned his kiss upon his cheek.
"Hello Sirius." She said softly "She is stronger today she was able to sit up for a bit before she fell back asleep." She frowned for a moment worry read across her face. She shook her head a bit and then said. "The healers gave me some information today."
Sirius moved toward s the crib and picked up the sleeping child and turned to his wife. "What's that love?" He asked looking down at his daughter.
"Aludra has to stay here till September 19th then she'll be allowed to come home." She said with a small smile. Ashlynn had avoided going to the apartments at Hogwarts because she missed her daughter.
Sirius smiled and kissed his daughter. "You hear that Al you're going to come home in 18 days." He set her sleeping form in the crib. "Come on love, we have to get going, Ashlynn if we are going to make on time."
Ashlynn nodded slowly as she stood and moved towards the crib. She bent down and kissed her daughter. She then turned to Sirius and held out her hand who quickly grasped it. She squeezed it tightly before she released it with a bit of a pout. She hated to be away from Sirius anymore. It was hard for her to not be near Sirius or Aludra.
Ever since they had been back in England Ashlynn had clung to Sirius much like she had in the beginning of their relationship. It was refreshing to be so needed by her even now that he didn't care if it was only because their daughter had been so near death. He looked once more at their beautiful daughter before looking at his beautiful wife.
"Are you ready love?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course I am dearest." She said as she made her way over to the wall where she quickly donned her cloak. Sirius nodded as she grabbed his hand once again and they made their way hand in hand down the hallways of Saint Mungo's in the chilly streets of London.
Ashlynn and Sirius walked into the Hog's Head Pub and were directed to the upstairs room where the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix was being held. Sirius entered first and the room went silent as Ashlynn walked in. Most had heard of Ashlynn's vow to kill the Death Eater Achmetha Mesnik. So some where not surprised to see her at all but yet others were.
Ashlynn was thankful for Lily and Alice when they both hugged her and insisted she'd sit with them. Sirius kissed his wife's head and then went and sat by James, Peter, and Remus. "How's that darling daughter of yours doing?" Marlene McKinnon asked Ashlynn.
Ashlynn smiled at Marlene. "She's a lot stronger today, thankfully." Ashlynn said in her soft voice.
"Well that's good, and I'm glad to see you back within our ranks we need every good fighter out there." Marlene said with a smile.
"Thank you." Ashlynn said with a smile as Marlene moved away. She looked at Alice and Lily a bit taken back. "What was that about? I thought I wasn't welcomed here?"
"Once they heard what happened to Aludra they knew you would never purposely hurt your own child so they figured they'd trust you again." She whispered.
Ashlynn nodded slowly as Dumbledore made his way to the front of the room. Everyone took a seat and the meeting began. The meeting progressed normally until Dumbledore waved his wand and a picture of Achmetha Mesnik, Evan Rosier, and Jullien Reyes. Ashlynn felt her anger boil looking at Mesnik.
"We have determined that the attack on the Blacks was due to the traitor Jullien Reyes. Jullien carried no mark and only contacted the Death Eaters about the Blacks' whereabouts for the money." Dumbledore said with a frown. "As for whom the two Death Eaters were thanks to Ashlynn and Sirius we were able to identify them as two low ranked Death Eaters Achmetha Mesnik, and Evan Rosier." Dumbledore paused and then looked at Ashlynn. "I would like you to explain about the curse Sectumsempra."
Ashlynn nodded and made her way to the front of the meeting. "As many of you know Sectumsempra has been an intricate part of this war used by many Death Eaters." She began. "It is designed to be like invisible sword, it slashes the target over and over again. It inflicts internal injuries and if the counter curse isn't said within a certain amount of time it can cause death. It heals slowly and will leave a scar." She paused for a moment then said. "That's all I know, the only way to protect yourself from it is to dodge it." Dumbledore nodded and Ashlynn sat down in her seat next to Lily and Alice. Sirius turned in his chair and winked at Ashlynn as mission teams were being put together. Dumbledore read off some names and Ashlynn noticed that none of the married couples were being put on the same mission.
Ashlynn leaned closer to Lily and whispered. "Why are none of the married couples put together?"
Lily smiled sadly. "It's only those with children and it's just in case god forbid they are killed in the line of duty, they will still have a parent alive." She said softly.
Ashlynn sighed and nodded. "So Sirius and I will never be on the same mission together?" She asked quietly.
Lily shook her head. "Unless the whole of the Order is needed it's the only way we are going to be with our husbands." She said with a frown.
James, Sirius, and Frank made their way over to their wives at the end of the meeting and James slung a friendly arm around Ashlynn. "Hello partner!" He cried as he looked at the shorter blonde girl.
"Partner?" Ashlynn questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah Dumbledore has insisted we all have partners now. Lily and Frank are partners, and Sirius and Alice have been partners so I volunteered to be your partner. We will make a good team I think." James said with a smile.
Ashlynn laughed and nodded. "I think so James. When is our first mission together?" She asked with too much excitement. She couldn't wait to get back out there, fighting the cause she full heartily believed in.
"Slow down there speedy." James said with a smile. "Not till Thursday night. I'll be at the gates of Hogwarts at nine okay?"
Ashlynn nodded and the group said their goodnights leaving in small groups of three or four. The Potters and the Longbottoms left long before Ashlynn, Sirius, and Dumbledore made their way towards the gates of Hogwarts.
"Sir," Sirius began as they climbed up the hill slowly. "I have some worries about members of the Order."
Dumbledore's hands were clasped behind his back and nodded at Sirius. "Ah yes? Who is that Mr. Black?" He asked after a moments thought.
"Remus Lupin sir, I believe he is the spy we have been trying to weed out of the Order." Sirius said with no reservations at accusing one of his best friends at being a spy for the Death Eaters.
Ashlynn gasped and cried. "Sirius how can you say that about Remus! He's your best friend, and has been nothing but supportive of me."
"Please don't remind me Ashlynn." He mumbled and then turned to Dumbledore. "I have my reasons sir; he's spent much of his time with the werewolves and has even started refusing our offers of company. He has changed sir I think we should keep a close watch on Remus Lupin."
Dumbledore nodded and patted Sirius back. "Thank you for your worry Sirius. I understand why did not bring this up during our meeting as many are loyal to Remus, including it seems your adoring wife." He said with a small smile.
Ashlynn scoffed and glared at her husband a bit. "I still can't believe that he did accuse our dear Remus to being a spy for Death Eaters." She said softly.
"It is alright my dear." Dumbledore said to Ashlynn before turning to Sirius. He grabbed a hold of the young man's arm before he entered into Hogwarts. "I will look into this matter as quickly and as quietly as I can."
"Thank you very much sir." Sirius said forlornly.
"And I shall not." Dumbledore said with a small sigh. "But my dears this is where I take my leave and retire for the night. Have a wonderful rest of the night."
"Good night Professor." Ashlynn and Sirius called at the same time before he entered and they stood in the chilly night air together.
When Ashlynn was sure they were alone she said. "I can't believe that you think Remus is a spy. He's my biggest supporter. If he was a Death Eater spy wouldn't he want everyone to think I am the spy?"
Sirius shrugged for a moment. "It's just a feeling my love. Let's go to bed, I'm tired." Ashlynn nodded and hand in hand the couple made their way to their apartments.
Nine o'clock Thursday night found Ashlynn making her way down to the gates by herself. Sirius had kissed her goodbye at the door and had rushed back to their sleeping daughter. She saw James waiting patiently by the gate with two others she quickly realized to be Marlene Mckinnon, and Emmeline Vance.
"Good evening Ashlynn!" James cried happily.
"Evening." She said with a smile. "Are we ready?"
"This is everyone, it's a simple spy and report mission no action is required unless we are compromised." Marlene said with a smile. She was clearly in charge of tonight's mission which surprised Ashlynn. She had assumed James would be but that had been a bit closed minded.
They made their way into Hogsmeade and James smiled at her. "Is it ok if we do a Side-Along Apparition since you don't know where you're going?" He asked as he held out his arm.
Ashlynn nodded and smiled. "That's fine with me." She said and gripped onto James' arm. He grinned at her one last time as he turned in a circle and they appeared in a moonlit grove. Ashlynn was amazed at the beauty of it.
"Ashlynn, follow James." Marlene said with a nod. "He'll show you where to be. We will see you two at dawn. Have a goodnight. Oh and if you have any problems remember to send up the red sparks."
James nodded and the two began making their way through the forest. James helped her through the steep places and had once even lifted her over a fallen tree she would've otherwise had to crawl underneath. She had to bite back the irony of them as partners, the man who had claimed for so long she was betraying the order was now the same man she would work closest with in the Order.
After twenty minutes they arrived on a cliff over looking a large manor. Ashlynn smiled at Peter and Remus. Remus hugged her closely and smiled. "Well there is only one Death Eater in there currently. So it should be a quiet night." He said with a smile. "It's a good night for your first night back on duty, Ashlynn."
Ashlynn smiled and thought about Sirius' accusations. There was no way Remus could or would betray the Order. "Thanks Remus, have a good night, you too Peter."
Peter whimpered and ran out of the clearing as James flopped down onto the ground. "Come and sit down Ashlynn it's going to be a long night."
Ashlynn nodded and sat down. "So this is what we do, we watch a manor?" She asked.
"Report and watch missions are the worst I know but we are helping them. If we start to see a pattern then we know how and when to attack them and when they are at their weakest." James said with a small smile.
Ashlynn nodded and watched the one small light on in the whole of the manor. She wondered who was working into the late hours. Some time past and Ashlynn and James were talking in whispers about their children when they heard a pop from down the street.
Ashlynn's eyes narrowed when she saw Achmetha Mesnik, and Evan Rosier walking casually toward the manor. Without thinking she grabbed her wand and ran down the cliff.
"Ashlynn get back here!" James cried as softly as he dared but he knew there was nothing he could do. Quickly he sent up red sparks and ran down the hill after Ashlynn. Evan Rosier saw them and smiled but Achmetha took off. Without waiting Ashlynn quickly followed him towards the house.
She first tried to stun him but he dodged it easily and shot a stun at her. Thus began the cat and mouse game, Ashlynn stalking Achmetha. "I'm going to kill you Achmetha; you tired to kill my daughter!" She called to him as he ran ahead of her.
"I'd like to see you try!" He screamed back at her as they reach the fifth and highest floor. There was no where for him to run and he turned to fight the young woman. "You're too weak to kill me!"
Ashlynn laughed as she gripped her wand tightly. "That's what you think Achmetha!" She cried. "Avada Kedavra!"
He dodged the spell as Ashlynn began to advance towards him. He slowly backed away and cried. "Confringo!" A mirror exploded and the shards cut into Ashlynn's arm and face.
Without thinking she screamed through the pain. "Expelliarmus!" She grinned crazily when his wand flew out of his hand. She began to laugh as she advanced towards him. "Now I am going to kill you Achmetha. You were my friend and now I am going to kill you." She laughed softly as she raised her wand. "Avada…"
"Stupefy!" A male voice cried and Achmetha was sent through the stain glass window. Ashlynn turned around infuriated she was staring at James Potter. She ran over to the hole in the window and looked down starting at the dead body of Achmetha.
She turned back to James and in a menacing way she began to advance on him. "He was mine to kill! He harmed my daughter Potter! He was mine to kill!" She shrieked as tears began to roll down her face smearing with the blood.
James shook his head and came near her trying to pull her into a hug. "You're no murder Ashlynn." He said with a sigh.
She slapped his hands away her anger seething through her veins, tears poured down her face harder. "I am a murder!" She cried. "I've killed before and I will kill again!"
James nodded. "Yes you've killed before and you've carried that guilt with you, I could not let you carry another death on your shoulders." He whispered as he once again reached out for her.
Ashlynn stumbled back a bit and fell in the pile of glass staring into the empty space. "We need to leave." James said urgently. He didn't know if or when another group of death eaters would come. Suddenly he realized that Ashlynn looked more like a child then anything with her cut cheek and arms, blood running down her face mixing with her tears.
"I…I…can't." She stuttered as she stared at her hands that shook from anger.
James walked over and carefully sat down next to Ashlynn as he pulled her into a hug and hummed a small song as he ran his fingers through her blonde hair. Her tears soon turned into sobs as she turned and looked at James. Through her sobs and gasps of air she asked. "What….kind…of…world…did…we…bring…our…children…into?"
That's when it hit James they had brought their children into a war torn world that no one was safe. 20 years old and he was fighting for his children to live without fear, and Ashlynn was only 19 and had murdered people before. Now he himself had blood on his hands. He sighed and pulled himself up along with Ashlynn. "Come on Ashlynn, we have to get home and report what happened here today."