BODIES FOUND

The bodies of Aryiamna Kane and husband Vidal Kane were found late last night, the Prophet can reveal. Both were found cradling each other with the Dark Mark hanging overhead and their robes in rags.
Ariyamna was a strong dedicated auror within the ministry and her husband Vidal was a respected photographer for the Daily Prophet. Both were declared missing over a month ago, with many aurors including head Auror Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody looking for the young couple, who have a young daughter. Moody released this statement earlier today:
"As of yet, we do not know why Voldemort kept them alive for so long. However, there are clear indications of assault on the bodies, including the cruciatus curse and several cuts made with knifes. We believe this to be the work of Death Eaters and are looking to question the following suspects; Devlin Spheer, Levia Bearnish, and Gulliver Jones. We are very saddened to lose one of our best and brightest aurors at such a young age and we will not rest until her and her husband's murderers are put to trial."

A small service will be held in Hogsmede this week to commemorate the two fallen at the hands of you-know-who. All are welcome to attend.

Sirius lowered the prophet, his hands shaking violently. James was reading over his shoulder and sat down on the arm of the chair. Peter's jaw was set, as if something had completely snapped inside him.

"They killed her," Sirius said. Remus pulled the paper away, laying the full article down on the coffee table, on top of their abandoned homework. Lily was staring at them, her arms folded.

"I'm sorry," She said. "Were you close?"

Peter nodded as a reply as the others stared numbly at the waving pictures of Vidal, Ariyamna and their young daughter. The spread documented a memorial page for the young couple. "We were… James' father and her worked closely together. We met her a few years ago…"

"Why would they kill her?" Sirius asked. "What did she know that was so special?"

"Padfoot, don't do this," James warned gravely. Sirius had leapt to his feet and was beginning to bellow out to the empty common room.

"No! Why her? What was so fucking special about her?" He shouted, grabbing the newspaper angrily and holding it out. "What the fuck would death eaters want with her, with a photographer?"

Remus got up and moved silently so that he was behind Sirius and his ranting. Slowly the thinner boy pulled his friend into a close hug as Sirius broke completely falling to his knees. "It's the frailty of humanity," Remus said sadly. "That sometimes people just get bored."

"They killed them because they were bored?" Sirius grumbled, pushing Remus away. Remus pulled his friend up pushing him down against the couch before sitting on the coffee table and returning the newspaper to its rightful place.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Lily said, her voice cracking, she began to move away.

"Wait," Remus said, pulling out his wand. He conjured up five glasses and a clear crystal bottle of firewhiskey. He poured the glasses out individually before handing them to the Gryffindors seated around the dying embers of the fire. "Here,"

Sirius took the glass and stared down at it. "Old werewolf remedy?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Remus let out a small sad chuckle and nodded. "Sadly yes," He replied. They didn't toast, and drank silently. Remus poured another round before Lily announced that she was going to go to bed. She left the glass on the coffee table, before gently touching James arm in sympathy. James watched her leave before pulling off his glasses and sighing deeply.

"I want to talk to dad," He said.

Remus was now onto his third firewhiskey, the others had disbanded their drinks finding it to have already had a really intense effect on them. Sirius had not yet even finished his first glass.

"How?" Peter asked, falling back onto his chair. "A letter will take too long."

James' eyes narrowed as he pulled back on his glasses. He reached inside his robes and pulled out a small pouch. "I have this," He said, opening it to reveal sparkling dust. He jumped to his feet and went over to the fire, his hand resting on the wall. Peter got up and moved beside him and Remus followed suit, drink in hand. Sirius downed the rest of the firewhiskey and kneeled beside Remus staring into the embers. A handful of floo powder was cast onto the coal and it spluttered and spat green flame.

"Dad?" James called.

They sat staring at the flames a little longer, waiting patiently for Mr Potter to make an appearance. He didn't come. James fell back as the last of the green flame disappeared into nothing. Silence filled the air around them only softened by the gentle pats of rain on the window outside.

Peter was the first to get up. He looked over at Remus who sighed, rolling the glass between his fingers. He put it down, and struggled to his feet, massaging his legs. Together they pulled Sirius and James up to their feet. "Send a letter tomorrow," Remus muttered. "You'll have a clearer head."

James nodded numbly. "I think I'd like another drink," He whispered.

"No," Remus replied.

"You had one,"

"That's because I can handle it," Remus said. "Another one and you will be out like a light."

"Then I'll take another one," James said his voice cracking. Remus' jaw set before reaching over and pouring out a glass. He handed it over, his eyes gently flickering. James took it, downing it in one go. He stumbled slightly and Remus grabbed him, hauling him up. Sirius moved silently behind them, Peter picking up the newspaper and followed. The last embers died off leaving the entire common room cold and empty. James fell across his bed entering an uneasy sleep. Sirius pulled off his friend's glasses, putting them on the bedside cabinet before kicking off his shoes and pulling off his jumper and falling into bed. Remus sat, crossed legged on the bed, staring miserably at his shaking hands. And Peter sat with the newspaper over his knees. He drew out his wand and cast it over the photographs cutting them out. He piled them on top of each other before putting them to one side and falling back onto his pillow.

…

It was the first Hogsmede visit of the term and students fell around in the snow, laughing joyfully as they did so. James, Peter, Remus and Sirius moved over the bridge their cloaks flapping around their ankles, Peter struggling to keep footing. Remus was ahead, easily the tallest of them all and taking his strides with gentle ease. Peter fell and Sirius hauled him up.

"If you like the snow so much," He smiled playfully. "Date a snowman,"

"That was lame," James said throwing a snowball at Sirius's head. The snow scattered over Sirius' thick hair and he shook it like a dog.

"Nice dandruff Black," Sneered a voice.

Sirius looked up through the mangled mess of hair. "Please tell me that was who I think it was."

"It was," James said.

"Good, then I won't feel so bad cursing his knickers off." Sirius pulled himself up, wiping out his wand and sending Snape flying back, causing the snow to drift around them. A flash of red and black sped towards them.

"JAMES POTTER YOU FOUL EVIL LITTLE-"

"It wasn't me this time Evans," James shrugged, pulling off his glasses and wiping them. Lily twisted around to see Sirius holding out his wand. She didn't look any less furious. Sirius raised his hands.

"In all fairness I was provoked." He said.

Lily pulled out her wand but not before Snape got to it and began firing spells in their direction. James deflected easily, Sirius by his side. Peter pulled out his wand in effort to help casting whatever he could towards Snape. Lily had no choice but to fire spells back angrily.

"ENOUGH!" Bellowed a voice. Something forced them back, and they saw Remus standing between them, casting a very powerful shield charm. James rubbed his shoulders.

"They started it," He shouted defiantly as Snape took off, grabbing Lily's hand and pulling her away with him. She looked back at the four boys tears streaming down her face. Sirius rounded on Remus.

"Why'd you ruin our fun like that?" He barked angrily.

"Fun?" Remus raised an eyebrow, stowing his wand back into his cloak. "If you consider that fun, then you are no better than the death eaters that killed Vidal and Ariyamna."

James muttered something angrily, stowing away his own wand. Sirius was completely offended, marching towards Remus.

"How dare you compare me to them?" He spat.

"Padfoot that's enough," Remus ordered. "You've had your fun,"

"Don't call me Padfoot like we're-"

"What?" Remus raised an eyebrow. "Like we're friends? I'm pretty sure we are, aren't we? Isn't that how you came about the name Padfoot anyway?"

Sirius stopped and blinked. He sighed. "I'm sorry." Remus nodded as he apologised. "I wasn't thinking straight,"

"I know," Remus said. "Come on," He pulled Sirius down the snow covered roads, walking quietly between villagers and students. James and Peter followed behind, shivering until they stopped at a familiar looking cottage. Under the gate sat flowers and small notes and floating candles.

"Do you think it's safe to go in?" Peter asked.

James looked up sadly at the doors and pushed open the gate, moving quietly up to the house. The door was unlocked and the house showed signs of trespass. He pulled out his wand and illuminated the dark. The house was in tatters, with broken photographs, paper strewn, curtains ripped and window shards. It was a dark shell of something once bright and vibrant and filled with love. Remus was flicking through the unopened mail before putting it aside neatly on a table, knowing that they would never read it.

"I suppose…" James said silently. "That we should say something…"

"What?" Sirius blinked looking up. "What do we say?"

"Do you think they're still here?" Peter asked. "Or have they…?"

"They wouldn't have chosen that path," Remus said. "And I think, even if they did, they won't hang around here. They would be with their daughter." He held out a photograph that he was holding showing Ariyamna holding the young infant in her arms, smiling and waving up at them. James' jaw tightened and he nodded silently in agreement.

They looked around the destroyed room silent as ever before deciding that they had overstayed their welcome. Together they walked from the house out of the street and towards the surrounding Hogsmede woods. They had no idea where they were going, but knew that they couldn't really go back to Hogwarts, not yet at least. They walked and walked until they came to the end of the forest, and looking up at the swaying shrieking shack. Remus trembled slightly as they cracked open the doors and went inside.

"You know Moony," Sirius said, holding his wand aloft. "I bet if we livened this place up a little, you would have some of the best times of your life in here."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "What are you planning? A four poster bed? A new set of curtains?" He smirked holding himself tightly.

"Oh that, and a little potpourri, some lavender scented candles," James grinned looking around. "Maybe a coal fire…"

"It's only cold because it's winter," Remus said, rolling his eyes, moving towards a window and looking out through the cracks of the boards gathering dust. He glanced around before finding claw marks against one of the walls. His hands traced the marks carefully, lost in thought. He glanced up to see James and Sirius and Peter pulling out their map and laying it across the dusty floor.

"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." James said pointing his wand at the parchment. And like that, thin ink lines spread across the page. Remus reached into his bag and pulled out the Thestral ink and a quill handing the items to Sirius who began to map down Hogsmede.

"Join us, fellow Marauder," Peter smiled, pushing a cushion towards him. Remus fell to it and crossed his legs watching Sirius' hands move across the paper with very little effort. Sirius glanced up.

"Look, I'm sorry I…"

"Don't,"

"But I-"

"Sirius," Remus sighed. "I get it. You were upset. It's how you deal with things,"

"Do you think that they put up a fight?" James asked.

"I would be very disappointed in them if they didn't," Sirius chuckled, looking up vaguely, flashing a grin.

"I hope I put up as good a fight when I die," Peter said.

"Don't talk like that Wormtail," James said. "No one is going to die until we're all at least 150 years old… Except maybe Moony who is probably going to outlive us all…"

My god that was a depressing chapter.
I have never written something so heart-breaking to write. I'll be back on form in my next instalment. Lots of love xx