The snow fell steadily as Sirius, Ashlynn and Aludra made their way towards the Longbottoms house. Aludra giggled at the snow flakes and tried to catch them in her pudgy little hands. It was mid afternoon but the sky was already darkening on the cold Christmas Day. Having very little family alive the Longbottoms, Potters, and Blacks had chosen to spend Christmas Day with each other. The Longbottoms had spent Christmas Eve with Frank's family, the Potters and Blacks had just spent it in their houses.
Ashlynn clutched Sirius's hand as he carried their daughter in the other arm. It was nice to feel normal and going visiting for Christmas was defiantly a normal thing to do this time of year. They walked up the small flagstone pathway that Alice had charmed to melt the snow off of. Ashlynn smiled at the lights that lined the pathway they glittered in red and green as the small family walked up the pathway.
The door opened just as they got to the door. "Merry Christmas!" Frank cried as he opened the door. He wore his normal sweater best and long-sleeved dress shirt with slacks but upon his head he wore an elf hat.
"Nice hat Longbottom." Sirius said with a smile. "Happy Christmas."
Once everyone was greeted and settled down Alice, Lily, and Ashlynn worked in the kitchen while the three men watched the children. It was a relaxed atmosphere and it was nice to relax today as they had spent so much time on their guard as of late.
The kitchen was a flurry of activity Lily had proven the best at cooking charms while Ashlynn the best at prep spells. For the time being she had started potatoes slicing and green beans snapping. Alice was whipping up a batter for a red velvet cake.
Ashlynn watched the activity with curiosity. She never would have imagined spending her Christmases anywhere but Malfoy Manor and now she was far away from her ancestral home. The idea didn't make her sad in the least, she was happier now then she ever had. She loved her husband and child and she loved her friends and wouldn't want to go back to Malfoy Manor even if she did have the chance. Her last ties to that world had been cut the day they killed her mother.
She was pulled from her thoughts by Alice waving her hand in front of Ashlynn. "Earth to Ashlynn Black" She cried with a laugh. Ashlynn blushed as she shook the cobwebs from her mind. "What had you in such deep thought?"
"It was just silly thoughts." Ashlynn said as she smiled. "It smells wonderful Lil."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Don't sell yourself short Ashlynn your pretty good at charming food. If it wasn't for you we'd be short the ham." She said with a smile.
"For someone who's never done a chore before leaving my family I think I've come a long way." She said with a smile. "Of course I had to learn pretty quickly once I realized Sirius couldn't charm a sock clean."
Lily and Alice giggled. They all had come a long way since the more carefree days before children were ever thought of. They heard a noise at the backdoor and Ashlynn stood up, wand quickly in hand as she looked through the window. There stood a very worn out looking Lupin.
She opened the door and ushered the older man into the small cottage. "Remus!" She cried. "Are you okay?"
He sunk into the chair she had just vacated and sighed. "I'm fine Ashlynn. I just couldn't spend Christmas with the pack." He whispered. "I went to the Potters and they weren't there so I went to your apartments in Hogwarts and once again you weren't there. So this was my last stop I'm sorry if it's presumptuous." He said as he looked at Alice.
She waved her hand and smiled. "It's no problem Remus your always welcome here, especially today no one should be alone on Christmas." She said with a small smile.
"Plus it looks like you haven't had a decent meal in weeks and you probably have the best three person team making a semi eatable meal." She said with a grin.
Lupin laughed easily as James entered the kitchen. "I knew I heard a familiar voice! Come on Remus don't sit in the kitchen with the hens. We men are having a few drinks." He said with a smile.
"Oh James please don't get drunk before dinner. I would like a nice holiday." Lily cried.
"Yes dearest." He said as she pecked her on the cheek before hastily retreating from the kitchen.
"Well it seems like we are all here." Ashlynn said happily.
"Not all of us!" Lily cried. "Peter's not here."
Alice frowned and nodded. "It was the most peculiar thing, I invited him and he was very excited about it but then two days ago he told me he wasn't coming he had other plans."
Ashlynn laughed and smiled. "Well that's Peter isn't it?" Alice and Lily both laughed and nodded in agreement.
The dinner had gone very well and now the dishes were cleared from the table and the adults sat watching the fire blaze. Alice smiled at the group and waved her wand. Music began to play from a small radio. Lily's eyes blazed with delight as a muggle song poured into the room.
"I found this channel the other night it plays all these wonderful muggle songs." Alice said with a smile as she stood up once again waving her wand. This time the table disappeared and she held out her hand to Frank. "We shall dance."
Frank laughed and nodded as James quickly picked up his goddaughter. "She's my dance partner." He said not wishing to show off to his friends once again his two left feet.
Sirius stood up and bowed a bit towards Ashlynn. "Honor me with a dance?" He asked with a smile and she stood up and allowed him to lead her to the makeshift dance floor.
Remus smiled at Lily and asked. "Would you like to take a whirl around the dance floor?"
As Remus and Lily stepped up the song changed to a little slower one. Sirius smiled and began to sing. "Kiss, Kiss me say you'll miss, Miss me, kiss me love with heavenly affection. Hold, hold me close to you Hold me see me through with all your heart's protection." Ashlynn smiled and stared into his eyes as they swayed around the room.
At the third verse Sirius spun her slowly but quickly pulled her back into his arms. "Thrill, thrill me with your charms Take me in your arms And make my life perfection. Kiss, kiss me darling then Kiss me once again. Make my dreams come true."
At the end of the two verses there was small break in the song Ashlynn smiled and said. "How do you know this song Mr. Black?" She asked with a wink.
Sirius smiled and nodded over to Lily. "She likes this music and played this song enough when I stayed with them." He spun her out again just as the next verse started and once again he began singing.
"Thrill, thrill me with your charms Take me in your arms And make my life perfection. Kiss, kiss me darling then Kiss me once again Make my dreams come true." As he sang the last words and the piano began to fade he leaned down and kissed his wife chastely on the lips. He hadn't wanted the song to end, in those few moments the world had been perfect and safe.
He was about to begin the next dance when Frank cut in and they switched wives for a few moments. The next song was a faster song and Sirius could hear Frank and Ashlynn laughing as they tried to figure out what to do. It was one thing for a slow song they could've swayed in a circle but this song needed quick dance moves.
Everyone watched with humorous smiles as the pair ended up waltzing all over the room together. It was obvious the two were by far the worse dancers in the world but they laughed as Frank spun her around and she misjudged how far away he was. She ran right into him and the both fell down in a tangle of limbs. "Alright I think that's enough dancing for now!" Ashlynn cried through her laughter.
Sirius laughed as walked over and helped the two up. "That's okay I think it's time for gifts anyways." He said as the adults made their way over to the living room. Ashlynn flopped down on the couch and Sirius sat in between her legs so she could play with his hair. Frank smiled as he came in with some Fire whiskey everyone accepted a glass as Lily began to hand out the gifts from her and James. Ashlynn stared around the room as they all began tearing open the wrapping off the gifts. Tonight was a perfect night and nothing could change it.
She laughed as Alice thrust a large package into her hands. "It's to help you in your teaching career!" She cried happily.
She tore off the brightly colored paper and smiled. There was a large text book on Runes. Ashlynn smiled, "Thanks Alice!" She cried happily she had been bemoaning her lack of a proper Runes book as of late glad someone got the hint as Sirius had not.
"Hey!" Frank cried unhappily at being left out of the thanks.
"Thank you Frank." Ashlynn said with a laugh. After a moment she poked Sirius in the back as she leaned down and whispered in his ear. "Don't be a bump on the log Sirius Black! It was your idea for it to be gift time so hand them out and don't forget Remus'."
Sirius frowned but stood up with a smile and bowed. "As you wish my lady!" He cried.
Ashlynn awoke in the dark of the strange room with a start. She could hear her daughters' muffled cries as she wiped the sleep from her eyes. It took her a minute to remember where she was. Everyone had opted to stay at the Longbottoms house as when they were all ready to leave it had been late, and James and Sirius had been a bit drunk. Frank had insisted that they all stay the night so they knew everyone was safe.
She picked up her watch off the nightstand and saw it was three am. She slipped from the bed and made her way to the nursery. She quickly picked up Aludra and realized Harry was not in his crib. She knew that Lily must have accidently awoken Aludra when she went to feed Harry. Ashlynn made her way down to the living room were Lily sat with Harry in her arms feeding him a bottle.
"You're up early." Lily said with a smile.
Ashlynn nodded as she held her crying daughter and bounced her up and down a bit. "Little Harry probably woke her up with his crying, and once you came and got him she thought it was mommy time." Ashlynn said with a smile.
"I'm sorry." Lily said with a small frown.
"It's okay." She said as she walked to the windows as she gently bounced Aludra. She was quiet for a few moments as she watched the darkness. It was a moonless night but the street lights not too far away made it easy to see the street.
Ashlynn turned towards Lily and smiled. "It's been a long night I'm surprised he's hungry already." She said with a nod towards Harry who had just fed not to long ago.
Lily laughed and nodded. "I know but he's a growing boy and he knows what he wants when he wants it." She giggled.
Ashlynn smiled and turned back to the windows she gasped when she saw a black cloaks quick movement into the shadows. "What is it?" Lily asked suddenly scared at her best friends gasp.
"Someone is out there Lil." She whispered as she backed away from the windows, suddenly unnerved by the thought of someone creeping around in the dark.
"Where?" Lily asked as she stood up and peered into the dark. After a moment she sighed. "I don't see anyone."
"I am sure there was someone out there Lily." Ashlynn said softly her voice shaking a bit. She knew she was being a bit paranoid but her gut feeling was that someone had been out there was still in fact out there.
"It's just nerves I'm sure of it." Lily said with a smile as she patted Ashlynn's shoulder reassuringly. "You're not used to being away from Hogwarts…" She began but outside a car was engulfed in a fireball.
Ashlynn screamed as she fell to the floor the explosion of the car rocked the house. The windows blew in on the two women as three sets of thundering feet were heard on the stairs. James, Sirius, and Frank were out the door faster then ever before.
Ashlynn got up quickly and dashed up stairs with Lily not to far behind. Alice had locked herself in the nursery with Neville. "Let us in Alice! We can protect each other better together." Lily screamed.
The door opened slightly and Ashlynn and Lily ran in, Alice took Aludra from Ashlynn's arms as she slammed the door shut and charmed it with a shield. When she turned around she saw that Lily and Alice had placed all three children in one crib and placed a shield charm around them.
The moments ticked by when finally they heard Sirius cry. "Ashlynn it's alright come down here!"
She looked at Lily and Alice. "Should I go?" She asked.
Alice nodded finally after a moment. "You and I will go down; Lily can stay here with the kids." She said with a firm nod so that Lily would not argue about her choices. Slowly they made their way down the steps wands at the ready.
Sirius sighed as he grabbed Ashlynn around the waist and held her tightly. "What is it Sirius?" She asked softly.
"They are going to see it." Frank said softly. "Dumbledore is on his way." He added as an afterthought.
"See what?" Alice asked confused. Frank took her by the wrist and led her outside. Sirius moved his arm around Ashlynn's waist and they made their way out to the front. In the sky hung the Dark Mark; underneath twinkling in the same greenish mist hung three names, Longbottom, Potter, and Black.
Ashlynn gasped and buried her face in Sirius' chest as a loud pop was heard and everyone whirled around wands in their hands. Dumbledore stood there his hands raised. "It is just me dear friends." He said softly as he looked up at the sky. For a few moments it was quiet until he clicked his tongue and raised his wand.
Within a few moments the last names and the Dark Mark were gone. "I think we should go inside and not dwell in the dark of the night." Dumbledore said. Soon all the adults were sitting around with tea to calm their nerves.
"I am glad to see that none of you have taken any hurts tonight as I have some grave news." Dumbledore informed them as Sirius wrapped his arm around Ashlynn's shoulder and pulled her closer.
"What is it?" James asked as he crossed his arms.
"I had the saddest news about the Edgar Bones my dears. It appears that Voldemort killed him, his wife and their children earlier this evening as they were sitting down to a Christmas dinner." He said softly.
Lily gasped as tears sprang to most of their eyes. "All are dead? He even killed the children?" Alice gasped.
Dumbledore nodded sadly. "It was the most horrible scene I've seen in a long time." He stood even though he had left his tea untouched. "I am afraid I have to cut this visit short my dears, I wish to inform Edgar's family myself because the ministry gets to it." He nodded once and with a pop he was gone.
After Dumbledore left everyone floated back to their rooms Ashlynn and Sirius had brought Aludra into their room as the other couples had taken their sons from the nursery. Ashlynn sighed as she lay down exhausted. "It's been too long of a night." She moaned as Sirius wrapped his arms around her. "How did they know we were all here? Could we have been watched without any of us suspecting it?" She wondered aloud after a rather loud yawn.
"I don't think so love." Sirius said softly.
"What do you think then Sirius?" Ashlynn asked as she turned and looked at her husband.
"Who is the only person who knew we were here and left Ashlynn?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow. Without speaking his name Ashlynn knew he meant Remus Lupin and suddenly she now understood why Sirius mistrusted him.
"I see." She said before turning over and closing her eyes. She could never mistrust Lupin but who knew what was going on in their crazy world. "You know Peter knew where we were, Alice invited him."
Sirius chuckled and Ashlynn knew he was rolling his eyes at her. "He didn't tell the dark lord where we were Ashlynn. He's spineless." Sirius said. Ashlynn shook her head slowly no matter how many times she had told Sirius that the dark lord actually went for weaker wizards he still didn't believe it.
"If you say so." Ashlynn snapped implying that it was the end of the conversation.