Just a note as I realized I've never done this I own nothing of this story, especially the letter from Lily in this chapter. Anyways I'm sad to say that after this chapter there are only three more chapters! So please please leave me some reviews! As always thank you in advance and now onto the chapter!! - Lena Knight

The months passed quickly for the Order who worked tirelessly around the clock yet nothing was coming together as it should. Finally without any other ideas Dumbledore sent Ashlynn and Sirius Black to France. Their mission there was to recruit members of the French Auror office into helping combat Voldemort. They had been gone since late June and had no luck convincing even one of their Auror's to help out.

The Black's had chosen to leave their daughter safely at Hogwarts with Madam Pomfrey who had gladly accepted the task of taking care of the almost three year old girl. Ashlynn who had never left her daughter for longer then a day was having trouble being away from her for almost two months.

Sirius scrunched his nose in disgust at the early August heat. The two had once again been turned out of the Ministry of Magic for speaking openly about the havoc Voldemort spread in Britain. "I hate this country." He mumbled looking at his half French wife who chuckled softly.

"You only hate it because we've been stuck here for almost two months." She said as she took his hand and they made their way down the marble steps.

"Do you think Dumbledore's ever going to bring us home? I feel that we could be doing more then sitting around trying to get meetings to see some wimpy French Aurors." Sirius said with a slight pout.

"I hope so I don't want to miss, Aludra's birthday like me missed Harry's and Neville's. Gosh it's hard to believe that they are a year old and Aludra's going to be three." Ashlynn said in an awed voice.

Sirius smiled at his wife. "We will be home to celebrate her birthday I promise you that." He said as they turned into a dark alley way. "See you at home." And with that he was gone with a small pop.

James sighed as he paced in the living room of his parent's house. He had spent much of his time in hiding here. Dumbledore only allowed him and Lily on missions occasionally; he knew it was in order to protect his family better but he hated it. He groaned as Lily's laughter was heard from the kitchen where she was having tea with Bathilda Bagshot.

He frowned as he looked at his son who played with the toy broom Sirius and Ashlynn had sent for his birthday. "I need to get out of here my dear boy." He said as he picked up little Harry.

Harry cooed in amusement at his father's attention. "That's right little man laugh at your father's insane ramblings." James said with a chuckle as he tickled Harry's stomach who rocked with laughter. James' chuckled disappeared as did Harry's, it wasn't often he had a chance to laugh anymore and was glad that his son could be the one who had made him laugh.

James walked into the kitchen and smiled at the two ladies. "That's not true!" Lily cried. "Dumbledore could not have been friends with Gellert Grindelwald"

"Why couldn't he be Lily?" Bathilda asked.

"Well Dumbledore is good and well Grindelwald was evil." Lily said with a frown.

Bathilda laughed and patted Lily's hand as she grinned. "You have much to learn my girl. Just because someone is evil in later years or even good, it does not mean they were not the opposite before."

Sirius and Ashlynn both appeared in the foyer of her family's estate. "Oh la vache!" Her Grand-mere cried as she looked down at the broken vase she had just been holding. Cherina De Lenfent smiled at them as she repaired her vase. "Any luck?" She asked hopefully.

Sirius sighed and shook his head. "No Grand-Mere sadly we had no luck." He said as he kissed her cheek. Since the Black's had been staying at De Lenfent Manor Sirius had been quickly adopted by Cherina and Theon as one of their own.

"It's a sad, sad thing." She mumbled and then waved her hand. "There's lunch set out on the balcony."
Ashlynn nodded and kissed Sirius' cheek. "I think I'm going to lay down for a bit, my headaches pretty badly." She said.

Sirius nodded and said. "I hope you feel better love."

"I hope so too." Ashlynn said as she kissed her Grand-Mere's cheek. "I'll come for dinner I promise."

"Very well then dear I will see you then." Cherina said with a smile as her granddaughter left the room. "Oh Sirius I almost forgot a letter arrived for you while you were away. It's in the room if you want to read it."

Sirius nodded and smiled "Thank you." He said before he made his way to his room. He prayed that it was a letter from Dumbledore. As soon as he saw the writing he knew it was Lily Potter. With a sigh he tore it open and read:

Dear Padfoot,

Thank you, thank you, for Harry's birthday present! It was his favorite by far. One year old and already zooming along on a toy broomstick, he looked so pleased with himself; I'm enclosing a picture so you and Ashlynn can see. You know it only rises about two feet off the ground, but he nearly killed the cat and he smashes a horrible vase Petunia sent me for Christmas (No complaints there). Of course James thought it was so funny, says he's going to be a great Quidditch player, but we've had to pack away all the ornaments and make sure we don't take our eyes off of him when he gets going.

We had a very quiet birthday tea, just us, Aludra (We stole her from Madam Pomfrey for the day) and old Bathilda, who has always been sweet to us and who dotes on Harry. We were so sorry you and Ashlynn couldn't come, but the Order's got to come first and Harry's not old enough to know it's his birthday, anyway! James is getting a bit frustrated shut up here, he tries not to show it but I can tell – also Dumbledore's still got his Invisibility Cloak, so no chance of little excursions. If you could visit, it would cheer him up so much. Wormy was here last weekend I thought he seemed a bit down but that was probably the news about the McKinnons; I cried all evening when I heard.

Bathilda drops in most days, I'm just glad she can still apparate or I'd be stuck here all by myself. I really do hate this old house. She's a fascinating old thing with the most amazing stories about Dumbledore, I'm not sure he'd be pleased if he knew! I don't know how much to believe, actually because it seems incredible that Dumbledore could ever have been friends with Gellert Grindelwald. I think her mind's going, personally! Well I hope my letter finds you and Ashlynn in high spirits, even though from her last letter it seems that the mission is not going as well as we had all hoped. I stop by to see Aludra most days as has Alice but she missed her mum and dad. Well send Ashlynn my love hope to see you soon.

Lots of love,

Lily

Sirius sighed and put the letter in Ashlynn's letter box. He hated being stuck here in France on this futile mission to recruit Aurors, it was time to go home and he knew it. He sat down at the cherry writing desk. He pulled out the silly peacock feathers that the De Lenfents used as quills and a piece of parchment. He laughed at the bright blue ink they used as he dipped the quill in the ink pot and began his letter to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore,

As much I have enjoyed my time here in France I fear that our time as been wasted here when it could have been put to better use for the Order. The French ministry refuses to allow us to spread word about Voldemort's rise of power in England. All ministry employees caught speaking to us will be fired and Ashlynn and I have been banned from the ministry it's self. So simply I beg of you to allow Ashlynn and myself to return to England and find a more fruitful way of helping the Order. We both miss home and our daughter, especially with her birthday approaching so quickly.

Faithfully,

Sirius Black

He smirked at it before he took it down to the small owlery where Ashlynn's beloved elf owl Petrie stayed for the time being. "Hullo my boy." He said with a smile. The little elf owl hooted in delight at seeing Sirius. "Are you up for a long flight?"

The owl hooted twice in a row and flew around the room as if to prove he was. "Alright you little show off come down here." Petrie came and landed on the stone and stuck out his leg.

"Take this to Dumbledore quickly as you can Petrie and when you're done stay at his side until he writes me back. Understood?" Sirius asked as he petted the owl's head. He hooted and then took off threw the window. Sirius smiled as he watched the bird fly out of the window and into the afternoon sky.

"That's the best investment I have ever made." He said quietly to himself before turning on his heel and going to join his wife for a nap.