64

Choices

Two months later:

The holidays had gone by in a pleasant haze for everyone, until the new term came, and the students returned to class and so did the professors. Lily and Severus had spent their first Christmas together with Arthur, quietly on Christmas Day, and then went to visit their parents and James and Petunia. Lily had cast a small Alter Hearing Charm upon Arthur, so anytime someone called her Lily, Arthur heard Zoey. She hadn't told her parents about her secret life as a spy, knowing they would not only disapprove but be petrified for her life. But as her pregnancy progressed, so did her magic, until now it was very strong. She had contacted her old mentor, Filius Flitwick, and he had shown her how to do an Aura Suppression Charm, which would mute her aura down to ordinary levels, thus allowing her to continue attending Voldemort's meetings.

But there had not been a meeting called in several weeks, possibly due to the holidays or something even more sinister. It worried Lily, and that in turn worried Severus, who was trying very hard to keep his wife calm during these early months of pregnancy. Of course it was impossible to be stress free during a time of war, given what they both were, but nevertheless Severus struggled to make it as peaceful as he could. He kept his temper under wraps and his concerns that Voldemort might be planning something major to himself. They did not discuss the war, except in abstract when he spent those nights at their cottage.

Severus' birthday came, he turned twenty-one, and celebrated it quietly with a handful of family and friends. Soon after that, more reports of disasters in the Muggle world began to circulate. A power plant blew up in York, injuring over fifty people, for unknown causes. Three buses crashed in London, killing several passengers, over half of them children. Terrible thunderstorms wracked Cornwall and Devon, ruining homes and wrecking ships. All over Britain there were reports of people suddenly dropping dead in their sleep or of heart failure, people who had no previous medical history of heart problems and were perfectly healthy one day and gone the next. The papers were full of stories, some suspected a type of biological warfare, others said it was the hand of God and heralded the Apocalypse.

But the wizarding community knew the truth. All of the deaths and accidents could be laid at the feet of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. This was Voldemort attacking Muggles, playing with them like a cat with a mouse. The Aurors attempted to figure out where he would go and target next, but were unable to anticipate such illogical whims. Muggleborn and blood traitor families were also attacked.

Things were growing worse and tension running high, so once more Dumbledore instituted the "wands for class only" policy again. Severus had also approached Dumbledore about his willingness to teach Muggleborns and half-bloods about the wizarding world so they would not be at a disadvantage with purebloods entering Hogwarts.

Dumbledore said he would consider it, in the meantime, Severus arranged tutoring sessions with the Muggleborn and half-blood students in Slytherin. He had two hour sessions every Friday with them. So far he had seen a marked improvement in their written work and their understanding of wizarding customs. He hoped that by the end of January or February Dumbledore would see the wisdom of his suggestion and allow the class to be instituted for every Muggleborn and half-blood in all the Houses when they entered school.

On a dark and snowy night in the middle of January Severus and Regulus felt the Mark flare and burn and were summoned to Voldemort's side, along with a few others, including Zoey and Lucius. They convened in the comfort of Malfoy Manor, in Lucius' parlor, which was tastefully decorated in masculine furniture and complete with a roaring fire.

Voldemort was dressed in heavy robes of a deep purple, the color worn by emperors, as he had said once. He was still a handsome man, but there was a coldness to his features that not all the inborn charm in the world could overcome. His eyes were pits of darkness, shimmering with a lethal intelligence. He seated himself in the largest most comfortable chair available, putting his feet up on the large hassock.

The other Death Eaters sat on the sofa or stood, eyeing their volatile master warily.

"Good evening, my loyal children," Voldemort began, his voice soft like a snake hissing. "I have summoned you here to discuss a thing which must be done, but first I would like to ask how you are all fairing with the assignments I gave you." He began to question Lucius first, asking him about the plants within the Ministry, and concluding with how Narcissa was doing. He seemed satisfied by Lucius' efforts, and moved on to question Nott and Mulciber. Regulus was next, Voldemort had him looking for any heirloom magical objects that came through Borgin and Burke's.

"I regret, Master, that I haven't found one yet that suits you, although there was a pearl necklace that might have suited you . . . but it bears a powerful curse upon it, a Curse of Eternal Withering."

"Hmm . . . perhaps it may suit for another purpose. Do keep up your diligent work, Regulus. I shall expect progress when I next call."

"Yes, Master," Regulus bowed, a shiver etching its way down his spine. He knew that if he failed to find a sufficiently ancient and powerful object to give Voldemort, the dark wizard would most likely punish him terribly.

Voldemort's eyes found Severus and Zoey. "Ah, my two brilliant potion brewers! Snape, what new things have you discovered about the doddering old fool and his bumbling organization?"

Severus gave carefully worded information, things which were true, and half-true, which Dumbledore and he had concocted beforehand. He felt Voldemort's mind try and invade his, and winced at the other's heavy handed mind touch. But he allowed the other to "see" his carefully constructed memories, keeping the rest locked away behind his Occlumency shields.

Once Voldemort was satisfied, he turned to Zoey and asked her if her poison research was proceeding well. Zoey replied that it was going as well as could be expected. "I have developed a poison from acromantula venom that when mixed in food is utterly tasteless and whose effects mimic sudden heart failure," she replied calmly. She had also developed an antidote, but that she did not say.

"Good. I have gathered you here because you are all expert brewers of potions. I have decided our campaign against the blood traitors and Mudblood trash is moving too slowly. So I wish to institute . . . a way to kill off whole families over a period of a few days. To this end I wish all of you to brew this ancient potion called Plague Water. I have a partial recipe here, but no time to recreate the whole thing. That is your task. Finish the recipe, and return to me with the potion. We shall test the brews upon a few prisoners and the one whose potion works the best will be given the honor of it being used upon all the Mudbloods and blood traitors in Britain."

Severus felt a cold trickle of fear crawl down his spine. "Master, how is this potion distributed?"

Voldemort smiled, a terrible grin. "Ah, my Potions professor. That is the beauty of this draft. It is distributed by water. We can place the potion into the drinking water of all those we wish to slay and they will become sick and die within minutes. Do you see? Whole families can be destroyed in a single week, days if they succumb quicker. That will eliminate much of our competition, and demoralize the old goat and his paltry band of bootlicking Aurors."

"It is a very ambitious plan, Master," Severus said, though inwardly he wanted to draw his wand and hex the bastard till he bled.

"A brilliant one," added Regulus.

"One that at least one of you should be able to succeed at." He snapped his fingers and a small stack of crumbling parchment appeared. "Here is the partial recipe. Take it and begin working. I expect you to have a finished brew in a fortnight."

They all murmured their agreement, tucked away the parchments and drank a toast with Lucius' finest brandy to the Dark Lord's health. Then they discussed a few other things, mainly about gaining some more new recruits, before Voldemort dismissed them.

After Apparating back to their cottage, feeling sick to their stomachs, Lily took a hot shower to scrub the taint from her skin and Severus told her he had to go back to the castle and report to Dumbledore. "I wish I could stay the night, but . . ."

"I know. But right now I am poor company. Severus, what shall we do?"

"Try and brew the potion. I can work on that and you can work on an antidote. I don't like it any better than you, but I'll not run the risk of you being tortured or myself."

"Do you think there is one?"

"Yes. I believe that we're the only ones who can do what he wishes. Regulus is good, but his heart won't be in it, and none of the others ever bested my NEWT scores. Or yours."

"Surely he knows that."

"Of course he does. I think this is a test. Of my loyalties and yours. He expects the others to fail. Me, he expects to succeed. And so we must." He kissed her goodbye and hurried away, to tap at the Headmaster's office.

PageBreak~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Page Break

"So he is going to contaminate the water supply throughout Britain?" Dumbledore frowned. "Is that even possible?"

"I don't know. He seems to think it is." Severus said gravely. "Our only defense is the antidote Lily will brew."

"If you can manage to recreate the rest of the recipe." The Headmaster said.

"Even if I make a diluted recipe, that would still be enough to affect thousands of people, Albus! And not just wizards but Muggles."

"You couldn't deliberately fail?"

Severus scowled. "Do you wish me to die? Because have no doubt, he expects my results to be the best. Anything less and I am signing my own death warrant. I am between a demon and a dragon here, Albus! Do you think I want this terrible responsibility? But even if I flubbed the potion, there is always the slim chance one of the others won't. He's hedged his bets, do you not see?"

"No, your death would serve no purpose. Yes, of course you're right. Forgive me. We shall simply have to figure out a way to minimize the damage." The Headmaster sighed. "Good luck, my boy."

Severus grimaced. "May fortune favor the foolish. Good night, Albus."

"Good night, Severus. Sleep well."

Severus snorted. Ha! Fat chance of that! He walked a knife's edge, one misstep and he would be dead. He could only hope that Regulus could figure out a weakness of Voldemort's before the body count rose too high. For some reason, the Dark One trusted Regulus, as much as he trusted anyone, and that might prove the Light's salvation in the long run.

Page Break~*~*~*~*~*Page Break

St. Mungos Hospital

Potions explosion ward:

"Merlin, a real wizard's duel!" Nate Grimsby said, his voice filled with equal parts of envy and longing. "And I missed it. Blast! I hate being stuck in this bed. I feel like my life's been put on hold." He grumbled to his best friend, Arthur, who had just finished filling him in on what had happened at school in the past few months.

"But at least you have most of the bandages off your face," the other consoled him.

"I know," Nate replied, the special cream Severus had invented had helped the scarring immensely and Grimsby now had part of his face uncovered, exposing his nose, eyes, and mouth and part of his left cheek. Most of his upper body was still heavily scarred, but the scars were lighter and the boy's legs were finally healed, though with faint puckered scars along the right leg and thigh. "I am really grateful to Professor Snape. My parents visited for a bit over Christmas, and my mother said if I continued to improve, I might be out of here by Easter."

Art's eyes lit up. "That would be awesome, mate."

"Yes, but I'll have tons of make-up work!" groaned Grimsby.

"A whole year's worth, right?"

He made a face. "Don't remind me, Stephens. So, what's new with you? You get rid of those damned nightmares yet?"

Arthur sighed then. "Kind of. I still get them, but . . . I'm trying some new meditation sequences and they seem to be coming less often."

"That's good. Just keep on and you'll have them licked before you know it," Nate said. "Least that's what I told myself whenever the pain got too bad. Just last one more hour and then you can sleep."

"I don't know how you ever got through that," Arthur said admiringly. "I would have given up and died."

"Believe me, there were times I wanted to, but . . .something inside me wouldn't let me quit, not even after my mama stopped coming to see me."

"But she came to see you over Christmas."

"I know, but that's only because now I look halfway normal and she thinks I might have a chance again," Nate said, somewhat bitterly. "She didn't want to know me before."

Arthur quickly changed the subject from family to the latest headlines. "Have you read the paper yet? There have been more deaths in Muggle London."

"From You-Know-Who." Nate said quietly. "I thought the Ministry had said they were rounding up a lot of known Death Eaters and suspects."

"Sure they are, when they can find them," Arthur said. "But they hide and they seem to have second Sight when it comes to knowing when the Aurors are raiding."

"Or maybe there's a spy somewhere in the Ministry."

"Could be. Nothing would surprise me after what happened to my family," Arthur said cynically. His innocence had been lost on that dark day, never to be regained. "If I could find him and rip out his heart, I would."

Nate gave his hand a squeeze. "I don't think he has a heart anymore."

"Then I'll rip out his guts."

"Ahem!" Annie cleared her throat as she walked by carrying a fresh set of towels and sheets. "Hey, tone down the violent talk here. It's not really conducive to healing."

"Sorry, Miss Lyons. We were talking about killing You-Know-Who." Nate apologized.

"Ah. Well, I can't blame you then. But if you must discuss eviscerating him, do it quietly." She paused beside Nate's bed. "Time for me to change your sheets, Master Grimsby. And I believe you need an application of Scar Reducer as well."

She motioned for the boy to get up.

Nate obeyed, slipping from the bed. His hospital gown barely covered his knees, showing his skinny legs and scars.

Arthur turned his head away slightly, not wanting to stare.

Nate touched his shoulder. "Go ahead and take a look. Better you see what's there than imagine something worse."

Annie nodded approvingly. That was usually a difficult step for burn victims, becoming comfortable with people looking at their scars.

Arthur took a quick glance, discovering that the scarring wasn't half as bad as he'd thought. There were two long red ridges down the sides of Nate's legs, puckered like a seam sewed wrong. "Do they hurt?"

"Not so much anymore." Nate admitted. "I'm a lot better now than I was months ago." He moved a few steps away so Annie could put on fresh sheets. "Could Professor Snape put the Scar Reducer on me?" Though he was accustomed to the nurses seeing him in various stages of undress, he preferred a man to apply the Scar Reducer when possible. He felt less embarrassed that way.

"I don't see why he wouldn't," Arthur said, gesturing to where Snape was conversing quietly in a corner with Petunia. "Want me to ask?"

"Please," Nate said, flashing the other a grateful look.

Arthur went over to where the professor and the volunteer were. "Excuse me, sir, but I need to ask you something."

Severus looked over at his ward. "Go on, Mr. Stephens."

"Uh, Nate was wondering if you'd mind putting the Scar Reducer on him."

"Not at all. Where is he?"

"Over there."

"Tell him I'll be over shortly."

Art nodded and ran back to where Nate was waiting.

Petunia, who was now quite well-rounded, smiled at the boy. "He's a good boy, to come and visit Grimsby so faithfully."

"Yes. When I first met him, I thought him a first rate brat, a prankster to rival your husband," Severus admitted honestly. "But once he realized the danger of fooling around in potions, thanks to my little field trip, he became focused and behaved. He is now one of my best students and though he struggles daily with his loss, he still manages to smile on occasion."

"He's a plucky thing."

"That he is. He is also my saving grace, the one child I managed to save from Riddle's reign of destruction," Severus whispered into her ear. "All the others I was forced to watch perish, but not him. He at least I could keep safe, and perhaps by saving him I may begin to atone for letting the others die." For an instant, a bone deep pain surfaced in the tall wizard's eyes.

It was gone in another flicker of an instant, but Petunia saw. She laid a hand upon her brother-in-law's arm. "You do what you can, Sev. Yours is a great service, and a terrible one, perhaps more than any of us shall ever know. You shall always have my respect."

"Thank you, Petunia. And now, let me see to Mr. Grimsby."

Severus approached Nate, who flushed slightly and thanked him. Annie handed Severus the container of salve and drew the curtains about the pair. They could hear the professor asking where the salve needed to be applied, Nate replying wherever there were scars, and then Snape asking him to remove his hospital gown and lie down.

Ten minutes later they emerged from behind the curtain, the skin on Nate's legs slightly shiny from the salve, which reduced the redness and thickness of the scars while Arthur watched. Even now, after months in the wizarding world, Arthur still found some aspects of magic, like magical healing salves, incredible. "Can the salve remove all the scars, Professor?" the Gryffindor asked.

"Not all. But most, and it can reduce the appearance of the ones that remain so they aren't as noticeable."

"Yeah, so I don't scare my wife and kids someday," Nate joked.

"Anybody who marries you will be a lucky girl, sweetie," Annie told him, hugging him.

Nate promptly blushed. "Errr . . .thanks, Miss Lyons." He reached up and rubbed at the bandage still about his face. "I can't wait till these come off, they itch."

"That means the skin is healing," Severus told him. "Be patient, Mr. Grimsby. You shall be back at school soon."

Nate heaved a sigh, then asked if Art had time to play a round of gin rummy.

"A brief one, we must be getting back to school," Severus allowed, then retreated to inquire of Annie if she had a proposal from Sirius yet.

The young woman, wearing a glamour on the side of her face to camouflage the burns she had received as the victim of spell barrage by Death Eaters, flushed a gentle rose color. "Well, I know that he does intend to ask me, but . . . so far he hasn't."

Severus frowned. "What is he waiting for, the second coming of Merlin?"

"You know Sirius. I think he's dragging his feet because he's afraid once he says yes, his carefree days as bachelor are over."

"And well they should be. Being married is a great responsibility."

"He knows that, Severus. Which is why he's reluctant. I think he fears messing up. But he does love me, Severus. And I love him." She reached up and touched her face. "He's told me he doesn't mind waking every morning to this beside him on the pillow."

"That's a good thing. You deserve to be appreciated for yourself, Annie Lyons."

Annie chuckled. "Has anyone ever told you that you're a gallant man, Severus Snape?"

"Oh?" his eyebrows rose. "You're the first, madam."

"Don't look so skeptical. It's the truth. I'm sure Lily will agree with me."

"Not this week she wouldn't. She's been rather cranky lately, the pregnancy's taking a lot out of her, so right now I'd say she thinks I'm a pain in the ass."

"Poor Sev! Has she kicked you out of the bedroom yet?"

"She did that last week. Claims I'm too warm and it's like sleeping next to a furnace. Plus she had back aches and can't sleep for long in one position. So she tosses and turns all night long and keeps me awake. I'm better off on the sofa. Or at school."

"James told me the same thing two weeks ago. He said Tuney has a kick like a mule gone insane and he moved into the spare bedroom."

"A wise decision." Severus conceded. "Good luck with your courtship, Annie. I'm afraid I must be going. My homework won't grade itself, more's the pity." He called for Arthur.

The boy reluctantly rose to accompany his professor back to Hogwarts, telling Nate he'd be back to see him soon. He came to stand next to Severus, who put an arm about him and then Apparated back to the gates of the castle. Once they were inside, Severus turned to his ward and said, "Now, young man, I believe you have homework to be done?"

"Aww, Severus!"

"None of that now. You promised before visiting Grimsby that you would do your homework after without whining. Are you going back on your word?"

"No, sir," Arthur groaned.

"Then go upstairs and start doing it." He ordered, and sent the boy on up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower with a gentle swat.

Then he turned and swept down the stairs to his office, where a mountain of homework needed to be graded.

PageBreak~*~*~*~*~*~*PageBreak

Sirius' flat

London

That same evening:

"So, what do you think? Will she like it?" asked Sirius, somewhat nervously. He held out a velvet box with a beautiful square cut sapphire set in a 14-carat gold triple braided band for Remus and Peter to see.

Remus examined the ring closely and nodded appreciatively. "I think it's a wonderful ring, Padfoot. I'm sure she'll love it."

"I think it matches her eyes." Sirius said, smiling. "She has such brilliant blue eyes."

"They're her best feature," Peter remarked snidely. He did not care for Annie at all. He felt Sirius could do much better than a half-blood with a face like a melted candle.

"What's that supposed to mean, Wormtail?" demanded Sirius, bristling. "Are you saying my girlfriend is . . . ugly?"

"W-well, you have to admit that she's . . . damaged and she'll never win a beauty contest, mate," Peter whimpered, backing away from Sirius, who was glaring at him angrily.

"So what? Beauty's in the eye of the beholder, Petty. And I happen to think Annie's gorgeous. Outside and in."

"He's in love, all right, Moony," Peter snickered. "They say love is blind."

"That's enough with the wisecracks, Wormtail!" Sirius growled, his fists clenching.

"What? You lose your sense of humor or something?" asked the other innocently.

"It's not funny, Peter," interrupted Remus. "It might have been when we were in school and she was just some girl walking down the hall, but we're past that now and Annie's going to be his wife."

"So show her some respect, Pettigrew." Sirius ordered.

"I would if I thought she was worthy of you," Peter replied sullenly. "But I don't get what you see in her. She's nothing but a simple half-blood with a face only a mother could love."

Sirius' eyes flashed. "How dare you say that? Annie's one of the brightest witches I've ever met. She's also scrappy and brave and I don't give a damn if she's half-blood or Muggleborn. Where do you get off judging her, Pettigrew? You're no prize rooster yourself, you runty little arse!"

Peter squeaked and backed up. "You don't understand, Siri! I think you only want her out of pity, because you feel sorry for her. Or is she good in the sack? That can make up a lot for looks if—"

Wormtail yelped like a kicked mongrel as Sirius' fist smacked him in the jaw, knocking him right on his arse. His jaw slammed shut and he howled as his sharp incisors cut his tongue. Blood filled his mouth. "Oww! You . . . you made me bleed, you son-of-a-bitch!"

"Good. You deserved it." Sirius snapped.

"Here." Remus tossed Peter a dish towel. "You shouldn't have said that, Pete. It was in poor taste."

Peter took the towel and held it to his mouth. He felt unappreciated and unwanted. "You never listen to me, any of you," he whined.

"Ah, shut up!" Sirius barked. "If you're going to act like a bloody whinging brat, just get up and get out. I don't need someone who's going to sneer at my fiancé behind her back and talk about her as if she were a piece of dirt under your shoe. So you either put up and shut up or leave."

"Siri, you don't mean that—" began Remus, ever the peacemaker.

"Yes, Remus, I do! He's been nothing but a bloody nuisance ever since his father told him he would never be head of the firm because he didn't have the smarts to lead the company. I told him to go and find another job, something he's good at doing. Is it my fault he can't come up with anything?"

"I'll find a job when I'm damn good and ready, Black!" Wormtail spat, blood dripping down his chin. "I don't need your advice, you scurvy dog!"

Sirius laughed mockingly. "You sound like a third-rate actor in a pirate film! Maybe you should go on stage."

Wormtail got up, trembling with rage. "Go on and laugh, Black! Someday I'll have more than you, Mr. Big Shot Auror! I'll be rich and powerful and then you'll be begging for me to notice you! Just you wait! I'll show you all!"

"Right, Wormtail. Have you been taking a nip of the Irish on the side, Petty?" Sirius asked, sniggering.

"I have friends in high places!" blustered the small man. "You'll see!"

"Yup, I'm sure." Sirius' eyes narrowed. "Beat it, pal. Before I really lose my temper."

Peter went a sickly yellow. "You're throwing me out? But you can't do that!"

"Can and am. Annie will be here in half-an-hour, and I don't want to see your pointy schnozz anywhere by her, Wormtail. This is a special occasion and if you can't accept my girlfriend, then you don't belong in my flat. Got me?"

"Fine, then! I don't need you anymore, Mr. High and Mighty Sirius Orion Black! Hope you and your bint have lots of pug-ugly brats! I'm finished with you lot!" spat Peter with a vicious grin. Then he shifted into a rat and darted out the door before Sirius could hex him.

Remus shook his head. "Siri, maybe you shouldn't have twitted him about that. You know how he gets."

"I know, and I don't give a damn. I have too many things to worry about to be bothered catering to his hurt pride, Moony. All he's done for over a month is eat me out of house and home, get drunk, puke, and pass out on my couch. And now he thinks he has the right to tell me who I should marry? He can go bugger himself! He's not my father, and even my father knows better than to say anything nasty about Annie."

"All right. Calm down, Siri. You don't want Annie to see a raving lunatic, now do you?"

Sirius took several deep breaths. When he had calmed down enough, he took the ring box and tucked it into his pocket. Then he Summoned three crystal champagne flutes and a bottle of Cristal on ice and set them on the low table in front of the fireplace. "Annie ought to be here any minute."

Remus nodded. "I wonder what Peter meant, that he has friends in high places?"

"He was talking out his arse, Moony. He doesn't know anybody, he just said that to make himself seem important. Trust me."

"I don't know, Padfoot. When he said that . . . he didn't smell like he was lying . . ."

"Forget him, Moony. All I want to think about right now is how to propose to my girl."

Just then the Floo flared and out stepped Annie, still in her volunteer uniform from the hospital. "Hi, Remus! Hello, Siri! Sorry I'm late, got held up by a patient. Just let me go change, all right?"

"You look fine, love," Sirius reassured, going to hug her and kiss her gently.

"Liar. I'm all disheveled and my hair's a mess," she retorted, kissing him back. "I need to take a hot bath before I frighten away the neighbors with my stench."

Sirius grinned and held her tight. "You smell heavenly, babe."

She rolled her eyes. "Flatterer. I smell like antiseptic and sweat and . . ."

"Pain relieving potions, burn salve, and strawberries," finished Remus, smirking.

Annie stared at him. "Blessed Brigid! You can smell all that? I had strawberries for lunch."

"He's a werewolf," chuckled Sirius. "He's got a better nose than a bloodhound."

Annie grinned and wriggled free of his arms. Then she spotted the champagne and glasses upon the table. "Are we celebrating something?" she asked, her heart suddenly beating fast.

"Uh, yeah we will be. Once you're . . .umm . . .all freshened up." Sirius replied huskily.

"I'll hurry," she said, then Apparated into the bathroom.

She returned some twenty minutes later, smelling like almond milk and honey, dressed in some casual gray slacks and a long royal blue tunic with bell-like sleeves and soft gray half-boots. Her sandy blond hair fell in waves to her shoulders and she looked fresh as a spring morning. She had left off the glamour, since wearing it all day long taxed her magic, and Sirius and Remus had long since accepted her true features.

Sirius and Remus were lounging on the couch, arguing over Quidditch stats, but Sirius leapt to his feet when she came towards them.

"So, what's the occasion?" Annie inquired, her lips curving in that saucy smile he adored.

"I believe it's called an engagement," her boyfriend answered. Then he dropped gracefully to one knee, and removed the black velvet box from his pocket. He held it out to her, his brown eyes sparkling with joy. "Open it."

"Oh!" She gently opened the box, and gasped when she saw the ring. "It's beautiful, Siri!"

"Like you." He took her hand and slipped the ring on her finger. "Annie Lyons, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I promise to love and be faithful to you for as long as we both shall live."

She stared at him, her eyes sparkling with tears of joy. "You really mean that, don't you?"

"With all that I am."

"Of course I will!" she answered. "Now get up off the floor, Black, so I can kiss you like you deserve." She tugged his hands and he rose and she took him in her arms and kissed him fiercely, with a passion that nearly set the room on fire.

Remus looked away, blushing faintly.

When they at last came back to the world, they looked over at Remus and Annie flushed. "Oh, Merlin, I'm so sorry, Remus! You must think we're—"

"Two people who love each other very much," he answered softly. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks, old friend." Sirius accepted the glass of champagne Moony held out. "It's too bad Prongs couldn't be here too. But he got stuck with night duty, the poor bloke."

Remus poured two more glasses and handed one to Annie. "Here's to my best friend Sirius and his chosen lady, may you both be happy and blessed with a long and happy marriage. Oh, and lots of children too!" he added with a mischievous grin.

"Cheers!" Annie said, and they all clinked glasses and drank.

"You just had to add that bit about kids, didn't you?" Sirius pretended to glare at the werewolf.

"Of course, Padfoot. You need some kids to torture you like you tortured your parents." Remus laughed.

"Thanks a lot!" his friend grumbled, then he downed the rest of the glass and poured some more.

"I think you need about six daughters, all of them pretty like their mother and rebels like their father," continued Remus, his amber eyes twinking outrageously.

"Six daughters!" exclaimed Annie. "I hope you're going to have them, Moony!"

"How about three?" Moony amended.

"That's doable."

"Hey! Don't I get any say in this?" demanded Sirius.

"You don't want to have daughters?" Annie asked. "Don't tell me you're one of those wizards who insists on having an heir and all that rot."

"No . . . it's just that . . .I'm not ready to be a father yet . . ."

"Relax, you silly mutt!" Annie laughed. "You won't need to worry about that till after the wedding night."

"Oh. I knew that."

"Uh huh." His fiancé purred, then she leaned over and kissed him again.

"So, when's the wedding?" asked Remus.

"Soon," Sirius answered when he could speak again, looking as happy as Remus had ever seen him.

The werewolf smiled, thinking wistfully that James should have been here as well, and that it was too bad Wormtail mucked things up as bad as he had. His intolerance and stupidity had spelled the end for the Marauders. For an instant, Remus regretted Pettigrew's leaving, but then shrugged. Wormtail had made his choice and now he would have to live with it, like the rest of them. Little did he know that one choice would have dire consequences for all concerned.

Thanks to everyone who is still reading and reviewing this. Sorry about the wait, but I got caught up with work and a new Lily/Sev story called Lily's Defender that I'm co-writing with Alethea27. If you're enjoying this one, you might also like to read that one as well. It is posted on my account.

Now this story is tied with Return to Prince Manor for the most chapters in one of my stories. Hope you all like!