Chapter 39: Heartbreak
The next morning there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it." May said, standing up from the table. The four of them had been having a large cooked breakfast, courtesy of James and Sirius. "Hello Peter." May smiled and allowed him into the flat. "Do you want some breakfast? James and Sirius made enough to feed a Quidditch team."
He laughed. "Sure."
The two of them walked into the flat. "Look who I found." May announced as she went into the kitchen.
"All right Pete?" James asked. "When do you start work?"
"Monday. Last day of freedom tomorrow." He laughed softly as he sat next to Lily. "Thanks May." He smiled at her when she placed the plate of food in front of him.
"We're off into Diagon Alley to find dress robes for the wedding and then taking Pete into the Leaky Cauldron to get him steaming." James grinned widely.
"Well, you're looking after him when he can't stand up any longer." May raised an eyebrow when she sat down with a fresh cup of tea. "Is Remus joining you?"
"I don't know." Sirius shrugged his shoulders and looked at James, who mirrored him. "Haven't spoken to him since the end of school."
"Right." Lily stood up, having finished her food. "I'm going to get ready." Taking her empty plate to the kitchen sink. She waved her wand and it automatically began cleaning itself. "We can go when you're finished May."
"Ok." May smiled at her friend, who left the room and went into her and James' temporary bedroom.
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The two girls left the Wizarding World and ventured into the muggle world to go shopping for Lily's wedding dress. They were meant to be meeting Lily's mother in Paddington Station. They waited for over an hour, even after her mother's train was meant to arrive. "I don't like this." Lily said nervously as she constantly looked out of the window. "My mother is never late."
"Shall we go to her platform and see if she is there? She might have forgotten to meet us here." May suggested, paying for their teas.
"Yes. Probably." Lily laughed nervously as the two girls left the café and made their way towards the train platforms. "I don't like this, May. Something is wrong."
May lowered her voice. "Why don't you try and contact them first? If not, we'll apparate over there."
"Ok." Lily nodded slowly. They made their way to the payphone. Lily immediately put in the money and dialled her parents' home number. She waited for a while and nothing. "No answer. I'm really worried now, May. Something has happened." Placing the phone receiver back and moving away. "We need to go there." She grabbed May's hand and the two rushed out of the station, in search of an apparation point. The two apparated to Lily's home town in an alleyway, not too far away from her street. They walked onto her street and Lily gave a cry. "No!"
"Oh Merlin!" May gasped. The Dark Mark swirled over Lily's house. It was destroyed but police were walking in and walking back out with confused looks on their face. They stared at the sky and looked up at the strange smoke in the sky. "Lily, we have to go." She pulled on her friend's arm. "Let's go and get James. We need to let Dumbledore sort this."
"Dumbledore? These are my parents, May!" Lily said angrily and sped towards the house. "No!" She fell to her knees when they pulled out to body bags. May was at her side quickly.
"Miss? Miss?" A policeman came to her side. "Are you all right?"
"That's... That's my house." Lily whispered. "My parents..." She gasped.
"Are you Petunia?" The policeman asked as he knelt in front of the two girls. Lily cannot speak. She only shakes her head.
"She's Lily. So, her sister wasn't in the house?" May asked as she held onto her sobbing friend.
"No. Just the parents." The man spoke softly. "I'm very sorry for your loss, Miss Evans." Lily sobbed heavily against May. "Is there anywhere she can stay?"
"At mine." May spoke softly. "She can stay at mine." She hugged Lily tightly.
"We need you to come to the police station. To answer a few questions." He spoke softly.
"It's all right." May reassured Lily. "I'll be with you." The two girls went with the policeman.
Lily had been questioned for over an hour. By the time she was out, all of the Marauders were there to comfort them. James immediately wrapped his arms around his fiancée, kissing her face repeatedly. "Come on. Let's go back to Sirius'." Lily nodded silently and the small group left the area, disapparating to Diagon Alley. James led Lily into the flat and led her into their bedroom. The other four moved into the sitting room and sat in silence for a moment.
"I can't believe it." May said as she settled into Sirius' arms, when they sat on the sofa. "Why Lily's parents?"
"They probably thought she was there." Sirius spoke softly as he held her tightly. "She'll be heartbroken for some time."
"I know." She whispered.
Remus walked into the sitting room with 6 empty cups and a teapot of tea. "Here, something warm." Pouring them all tea and making it as they liked it. Sirius liked it with a small bit of milk, Peter had traditional: milk and two sugars, May had just two sugars and no milk. "I'll take them tea." He said as he made tea for Lily and James, taking the cups into the bedroom and returning. "They're all right. Lily's asleep."
"What do we do?" May asked, holding her cup between her hands. "I don't to say to her. We lost Mum and Dad separately and not at the hands of an evil man."
"Just be there for her." Remus spoke softly. "Let her talk first. It's how we were with you and James."
May gave him a small smile and had a small sip of her tea. "Oh right. It's different for me. It's someone I know. Not me, who is suffering the loss of loved ones."
They sat there for a little while until Peter stood up. "I should go. I'll come back tomorrow." He smiled as he pulled on his coat. "They need their space." He nodded and left the flat.
"I'll go too." Remus stood up.
"No." May shook her head. "Peter's staying in the Leaky Cauldron and you're going home. Stay here. Saves you a trip."
Sirius nodded. "Yes, Moony. Stay the night. Lily would prefer to see you in the morning than to see me."
Remus chuckled and nodded. "Thank you." He took the empty tea things into the kitchen and started washing them by hand.
"I'll get him some bed things." May spoke softly to her boyfriend and stood up. She left the sitting room and stopped outside the spare bedroom, where Lily was mourning inside. She gently knocked on the door. "Lily? James? Do you need anything? I'll cook food if you want me to."
The door opened and James' face appeared. "She's asleep. I'll cook later when she wakes up. You go to bed." He kissed her cheek.
"Remus is staying tonight." She spoke softly.
"Ok. See you in the morning." He smiled once more at his sister before disappearing into the bedroom.
Lily moved in with James at the manor. She and James had found a small flat in the middle of muggle London and they were moving there after the funeral of Lily's parents. Today was the funeral. She stood in front of a floor length mirror putting her hair into a messy bun on the top of her head. She wore a knee length black dress with long sleeves. She barely spoke to anyone, just James.
"Are you ready?" He asked softly as he walked into the bedroom. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"No." She rested her hands on top of his and leant back into his safe arms. "I'm scared James." The tears began again. She turned around and cried into his chest.
"Come on. It's time." He kissed the top of her head. She nods and the two part, leaving the room and house in silence and hand-in-hand. He was her pillar. She held his hand the entire time through the funeral. Her sister and her sister's overweight husband were there but they did not say a word to them. Her parents' friends were there and they were sympathetic but Lily could barely say a word to them. It was still too hard.
"Petunia." Lily tapped her sister's shoulder before her elder sister left the churchyard.
"What?" She hissed at her sister. "You had the guts to bring him?" Glaring at James.
"I'm marrying him, Tuney." Lily spoke softly. "I want you to be there."
"No!" Petunia hissed at Lily. "I don't want to be anywhere near the freaks like you." She spun around and linked her arm into Vernon's, who led her away. Leaving Lily and James at the entrance to the graveyard.
"Don't worry, Lily." James held her hand tightly, sweeping his thumb over her skin. "Let's go." He led her away from the empty graveyard.
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May had received her last letter from Hogwarts. "I'm Head Girl." She announced over breakfast to Sirius and Remus. She smiled as she held up the badge to them. Sirius and May had offered to Remus to move in with them. He objected due to the fact he still didn't have a job but the two argued with him until he agreed.
"Well done." Remus took the letter from her and quickly read. "James will be proud. Following in his footsteps."
May laughed as she finished eating her breakfast. "He and Lily are meeting us outside Gringotts at 11." She waved her wand and sent it to the sink. "I'm going to have a shower." She kissed Sirius on the lips and kissed the top of Remus' head. "I won't be long." She walked out of the room and into her and Sirius' bedroom, where their en-suite bathroom was.
"It's going to be weird." Sirius laughed as he sipped his coffee. "Her going to school and we're not." He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Well, you're starting your Auror programme next week. Plus, we have things to do with the Order."
"Shhh. She doesn't know." Sirius shook his head as he stood up, taking his empty dish and cup to the sink with his cigarette still between his lips.
"Are you going to tell her?" Remus asked as he joined him in the kitchen.
"I don't know." He shrugged his shoulders as he washed the dishes and cups by hand. "I'll talk to Dumbledore and see what he says." Placing a clean plate on the drying, where Remus dried it. "We're babysitting my cousin tonight. Andromeda and Ted want some time to themselves. So, May being May offered for us three to look after Dora."
"How old is she now?"
"4 or 5. I think." Sirius laughed. "I think we were 13 when she was born."
"Ah yes. I remember the drama with your cousins." Remus chuckled as he put away the clean and dry plates. "You haven't heard from Pete, have you?"
"Not for a while." Sirius shrugged a shoulder as he moved back into the sitting room. He was still smoking his cigarette, tapping the ash into the ash tray.
May returned dressed in a pair of jeans and black strap top, her wet hair was piled on top of her head. "I'm going to go into Diagon Alley, before Dora comes, to get my books."
"I'll come with you." Her boyfriend stood up, stubbing out his finished cigarette.
She chuckled and kissed him. "I won't be long. Only going to Flourish and Botts. Don't need anything else. I've got enough potions things." She took her hair out of its tie and waved her wand over it, drying and straightening it instantly. "Do you need anything?" Looking between the two of them.
"I don't want you going on your own." Sirius sighed heavily, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Shut. Up." She rolled her eyes and kissed him. "I'm going down stairs and straight into Diagon Alley. We live on that street." Kissing him again before picking up her handbag, stowing her wand inside it. "Is there anything you need?"
He laughed loudly. Her favourite sound in the world. His barked laughter. "Just parchment and ink." Kissing her hard on the lips.
"Fine." She laughed. "Remus? Need chocolate at all?"
"Yes please. I'll pay you back."
"Oh shut up." May rolled her eyes at one of her best friends and left the two of them alone.
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When 5 o'clock arrived, there was a knock on their flat door. Sirius opened in and was greeted by a small weight wrapping their arms around his legs. "Hello to you too."
"Hi Sirius." His cousin kissed his cheek when she swept past him into the flat. "She has not stopped talking about staying here tonight." Andromeda laughed. "Now, where is this girlfriend of yours? I haven't met her yet."
May nervously stepped into the hall to meet them. "Hello." She smiled nervously and held her hand out to Andromeda as Sirius greeted Ted and closed the door. "Nice to meet you."
"You look exactly like your mum." Andromeda smiled and hugged May. This shocked the 17year old as this older woman was the spitting image of her sister, Bellatrix.
"You knew my Mum?"
"Yes. She was in the same year as my Mum in school." Andromeda smiled as the two women moved into the sitting room, where Remus was waiting. "Hello Remus." The two greeted each other while May was introduced to Ted and Nymphadora. The couple stayed for an hour, just talking and getting to know Sirius' friends more.
"We best get going." Ted said when it was close to half past 6. "Behave Dora." He smiled at his daughter who was sitting on Sirius' lap.
"Yes Dad." She laughed and jumped off Sirius' lap to give them a hug and a kiss.
"I'll walk you out." Remus smiled at them and led Andromeda and Ted out of the flat. Returning 5 minutes later to Sirius reading to Nymphadora and May cooking in the kitchen. "They've gone." He smiled as he sat in one of the comfy chairs next to the fire. The layout of Sirius' flat reminded him of the Gryffindor Common Room with the sofa and chairs facing the fire. The fire wasn't lit as it was summer and it was a warm evening. "What are you reading?"
"Tales of Beedle the Bard." Nymphadora smiled broadly.
"We're reading The Wizard and the Hopping Pot." Sirius smiled at Remus.
"Who is enjoying it more?" May called from the kitchen.
Remus chuckled and called back, "Sirius, I think." Watching as Sirius quietly read the book to his cousin. He stood up and joined May in the kitchen. "What's for dinner then?"
"Sausages and chips." She grinned. "It's all I can be bothered to make." Laughing as she dished out the cooked food onto four plates. "Dora, go and wash your hands. You too Sirius."
"Can I do anything?" Remus asked, watching her every movement. She was only 17 years old and she seemed to be like a housewife already.
"Put the cutlery out on the table and drinks too." She smiled as she placed the chips on the plates.
"All done!" Nymphadora called as she returned, showing her hands to May.
"Brilliant. Go and choose a seat." May grinned as she picked up two plates. Placing the first one in front of Nymphadora, when she was seated. "Eat up." Placing the next one in front of Sirius. Remus had already placed the knives and forks on the table as well as the drinks and was now bringing out the last dinner plates. "Thank you Remus." She sat down next to Nymphadoa, who was tucking into her dinner.
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All evening they played games with the young girl, who had too much energy for the three adults. The original idea was that Nymphadora was to sleep in the spare room and Remus was going to sleep on the sofa. But Sirius had a better idea. "Why don't we make a tent in the sitting room and we all sleep in there."
"Oh yes please!" She laughed, making her hair change from pink to blue and then back to pink.
"I'll get some sheets. Sirius, you look for some string. We'll do this the muggle way." May grinned as she went to the bedrooms, grabbing all the sheets and duvet covers. "Let's do this." She smiled as she threw the sheets at Sirius. The four of them made the tent, tying the sheets to the tables, chairs, wall and anything they could. The entire room became a large tent. The cushions from the sofas and from the beds were placed on the floor to make a large bed.
"Wow! This is so cool." Nymphadora grinned as she dove into the tent.
May was pulling out some fairy lights and tying them over the sheets. "There. Looks like stars." Sirius and Remus were already inside the makeshift tent. "Boys." She rolled her eyes and went to the kitchen. "Right, who wants hot chocolate before bed?"
"ME!" Shouted Nymphadora. Her hair now bright pink. "Have you got any marshmallows?" She asked as she climbed out of the tent and stumbled into the kitchen.
May lifted her up and sat her on the counter. "Now, what kind of hot chocolate would it be without marshmallows?"
"A boring one." She responded.
May laughed, glancing over her shoulder at the men standing in the archway. "Too right." Pouring four mugs of hot chocolate, sprinkling small marshmallows on top as well as some cream. "Done. Right. Let's go and sit at the table. If you're anything like Sirius, you'll probably make a mess."
"I do not!" Sirius grumbled as he drank his drink leaving him with a cream moustache.
"Yes you do!" His young cousin pointed at his upper lip. She did the same.
"So do you!" He pointed at her. The four drank their drinks and the youngest of them all was starting to fall asleep. "Come on you." Sirius tapped her elbow.
"Come on Dora. Let's get your pyjamas on." May picked her up and carried her into hers and Sirius' bedroom, where she helped the sleepy girl to get dressed. Nymphadora had fallen asleep on the large bed, while May quickly dressed. "Miss Tonks, you need to brush your teeth." Tapping the girl's leg to wake her up. "Come on." Pulling her up and leading her into the bathroom.
Once that was done, May carried her back into the sitting room where Sirius and Remus were dressed for bed. "She's worn out." Sirius chuckled as May climbed into the tent with Nymphadora still in her arms. Sirius and Remus followed them inside. "I'll get the blankets." Sirius climbed back out and went to get loads of blankets for the four of them.
"I cannot believe how one child can be such hard work." May chuckled as she ran her fingers through the bright pink hair. "I'm exhausted." She lay next to the young girl. May felt herself slowly fall asleep. She didn't even feel Sirius place a blanket over her and Nymphadora. Remus and Sirius joined soon after. How could one child have so much energy?
A/N: Sorry for taking such a long time updating. Been busy. So here it is...
Responses from Chapter 38:
PrincessK16: That part just came to me. I wanted to have Sirius panic about the future.
Kerreb7: Uh oh! Tut tut! Reading drunk is bad for you! ;)
javalon14: I haven't had anything deleted for the smut... yet. Fingers crossed! :D The sequel will be posted when this story is completed.
Wolnim: Ahhh! The sequel is a secret. Don't want to give too much away.
JennLD: Thank you. :) Don't worry, the situation with Aimee will resurface. I cannot say what happens in the sequel but it will be a shock.