Long chapter. This was by far one of the heaviest chapters I've written out of both stories… I intended to finish this and publish last night, but it took a bit of a toll on me.

Thanks for the reviews, xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx and CharlotteBlackwood!

Reviews if you're alive, please? :P

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THIS, EXCEPT FOR ANY CHARACTERS YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE. JK ROWLING IS QUEEN!

CHAPTER 88

Fire.

Fire consumed everything, and all that could be heard was the burning of wood and faint screams. The air smelled of ash and death, it shook my bones and rattled my soul.

It started off as a normal day, or at least, as normal as it could get. It was one of the few days Audrey had off in a long time, she spent it with her daughter. They read, played games, and played cello. Sirius was undercover that day; he was working in the Ministry in the Magical Law Enforcement division.

In the early afternoon, a silvery phoenix flew through her window. She knew the Patronus well, it belonged to Albus Dumbledore.

A few days had gone by since the Jacques-incident, but Audrey was still a little irked at her former Professor. He really hit a nerve.

"A community near Dalnacardoch Wood has been attacked, all Order members are being called to for assistance. The Ministry is ignoring this one."

Audrey took some floo powder from a pot, and fire called Molly.

"Did you just get a patronus from Albus?" Audrey asked as the woman's head appeared in the fireplace.

Molly was about to respond, but she turned her head the otherway and shouted.

"BILL, PUT PERCY DOWN!"

Audrey chuckled to herself, Molly turned back.

"Yes, dear. I did! Quite a fright…I had to stay behind to watch the boys, Arthur went over though. Would you like me to watch Asia?"

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, Molly. If not, I can come over and help you with the boys and we'll have some tea."

"As much as I'd love that, dear, I think you ought to go. Given the circumstances of the situation."

Audrey didn't know what she meant, but she'd find out later.

"I'm going to apparate over with Asia in a moment." Audrey said.

"Alright, Audrey. See you soon."

Audrey made her way from the fire place to the hallway.

"Anastasia?" Audrey called.

"Yes, mummy?" said a small voice.

"Would you like to go to Aunt Molly's for a bit and see your cousins?"

"Okay!" The child said excitedly.

"Don't forget your coat!" Audrey called, as she buttoned her own.

The child was quickly at her mother's side, jumping up and down in excitement. Audrey picked her up, and dissapparated to the Burrow.

"You better get there quick, Audrey." said Molly, as Bill and Charlie began to chase Asia around in the snow. "Arthur said it was really bad over there."

Audrey took a deep breath and nodded, she closed her eyes. When she opened them she was in a dense forest. She could see the smoke at the top of the trees, and began to follow it to the center. There was a clearing down a small, steep hill.

Fire.

Fire consumed everything, and all that could be heard was the burning of wood and faint screams. The air smelled of ash and death, it shook my bones and rattled my soul.

"There you are." said a familiar voice. Audrey turned to see Edgar coming up the hill.

"How bad is it?" Audrey asked, she was pretty sure she already knew the answer.

"Bad." Edgar admitted.

"What was this place?"

"It was a refugee colony called Paz." Edgar said, looking out onto the fire.

"Peace?" Audrey asked, trying to translate. Her Galician wasn't great.

Edgar nodded.

"They wanted us here." He choked for a moment, composing himself.

"Us" always meant Edgar, Hisoka, Remus, and I…this was a refugee colony for creatures. The Order wanted us here to be liasons, and to be protection. Over the last few years, our community had become very hostile in reaction to the brutal murders and attacks. There was a very extremist view to trust no human…

"Let me guess, hostile activists and rebels?" Audrey said flatly, looking around.

Edgar nodded.

"They wanted to see if we could…identify anyone."

Audrey paled.

At that point, I had only been called out to a site once to identify someone. I had been very lucky that it wasn't someone I knew…but I always feared.

"OI!" said a voice, stirring Audrey from her thoughts. A group of four men (or creatures…Audrey wasn't quite sure) walked over to them from the other side of the hill.

"Hello, sir." Edgar said politely.

"Cut the shit, human." hissed the vampire, baring fangs. He appeared to the be the leader of the group. "Your kind isn't welcome around here."

Edgar cut his civility, his eyes narrowed.

"Do we look like humans to you?" He bared his fangs. "You don't smell any blood here, d'you?"

The man stopped, taking a step back from Edgar.

"I'm sorry, sir." He said, giving a small bow. "Ye' can't be too careful nowadays."

"Apology accepted." Edgar said, shaking the man's hand. "I'm Edgar."

"Thayer." replied the leader.

"Enough with the introductions, Thayer." hissed a vampire in the back. "That still doesn't clear the girl…and she looks delicious." He licked his lips.

Before Edgar or Audrey could reply, there was another shout in the distance.

"HEY, HUMANS!" another group of vampires was coming towards them from the other side. "Does this belong to you?"

They were surrounding a rather straight-faced Sirius Black.

Audrey gave her husband a look that said "Don't do anything stupid, let me handle this."

He mouthed to her. "I know…merlin…" He rolled his eyes.

Sirius had really settled down since we got married, though it was a reflex of mine to warn him. If we didn't have a daughter, he would be challenging the four vampires that surrounded him.

She was right.

"Yes, he does." Audrey said in a prissy manner.

"I can't smell you from here, love." said a tall, built vampire with sandy blond hair. "But merlin, you look delicious."

"Yes." Audrey replied shortly, waving him off. She wasn't bothered by him at all. "That is my husband, and I'd greatly appreciate it if you let him be."

"Well, what if I don't feel like it?" He replied. "He smells fantastic."

"If you hurt a hair on his head, you will regret it." Audrey said darkly.

"Who said we was gon' hurt 'is 'air?" smirked another. "And why would we take you seriously, ye' filthy little human?"

Audrey's eyes turned red, then black. Her teeth began to turn into tiny sharp points, she let out a low hiss.

"Woah." said Thayer. "It's her…"

The vampires all were in awe, and got down on their knees and bowed.

Sirius took his chance to escape and strode over to his wife and Edgar.

The three of us were rather perplexed; we had never seen this happen to Audrey before. She certainly didn't know anything about it.

After a minute or two, Audrey said.

"Erm, you can stand…"

There were some murmurs from the eight vampires, something about Audrey being polite. That was shocking, seeing as she was about to become the opposite if they didn't leave her husband alone.

"Might I inquire what that was about?" Edgar asked, addressing Thayer.

"Ye' haven't heard the legend?!" said one.

"Mate, how d'you call yerself a vampire and not hear about this?" said another.

"No, how d'you call yourself a creature?"

"I was converted…I wasn't born as a vampire." Edgar replied awkwardly.

There was a collection of Ahhh's that followed.

"We know about you." said a vampire, approaching Audrey and kissing her hand. "It's in the stars."

Sirius resisted the urge to snort, he hated Astronomy and Divination.

I didn't understand…I was more frightened than anything. The way they were treating me was so strange. I was not royalty.

"We could tell ye' the legends…but it would take a while." said Thayer. "We should really get down to the colony, that's why we're 'ere."

"The same with us." Sirius nodded, as they began to make their way down the hill.

"Who are ye' with?" asked Thayer.

"We're from the Order of the Phoenix." said Audrey.

"Who's your leader?" asked another.

"Albus Dumbledore." Edgar replied.

"No way." said one.

"The Albus Dumbledore?" said another, in shock.

"Yes." said Edgar. "We're friends of his, we're the only mixed united rebel group in England."

"We've 'eard. News travels fast." Thayer replied, his eyes scanning the wreckage.

It was a horrid sight, the ash, and the mutilation…

"Why?" Audrey's voice shook. "Why do they think they can do this and get away with it?"

"I've been asking myself that every day for the last 400 years." replied Thayer, shaking his head.

Audrey was trying hard to keep it together, she was trying not to lose control. There were very subtle tremors running through the ground. The vampires all looked at her.

"Are you alright?" asked Thayer, looking concerned.

"No." Audrey took a shaky breath. "Are you?"

"Of course not…" he replied. "You just seem very…tense, like you know something about this place."

"I don't, actually." Audrey replied. "I used to live in a few refugee colonies in the last few years with my parents. A lot of them were attacked and destroyed. I just have this feeling…it's an intense sense of déjà vu."

Sirius intertwined his hand with hers.

I must admit, I was getting annoyed at that Thayer bloke…he was a little too close for my liking. What can I say? Old habits die hard.

The group walked, observing the wreckage. As they got deeper into debris, they noticed more creatures and humans searching for survivors. Audrey could recognize some Order members in the groups.

In the distance, the rubble had been pushed to the sides to accommodate a small brown tent.

"What's that?" Audrey asked, nodding her head towards the tent.

"Medic." said one of Thayer's soldiers. "Everyone has to go in there to see if they can identify anyone."

Audrey swallowed the lump in her throat. She was dreading this.

The group filed into the tent, which of course, was much bigger on the inside. There were volunteers flitting around, catering to the injured.

The deceased were lined on the left side, all visitors were instructed to walk along the left and look. The causes ranged from a simple killing curse to full on brutality. I felt so sick…and then I saw her…

"No." Audrey shook, falling to her knees.

Catherine Roux, Chantal's mother lay in the cott. There was a large gash down her face. In the cot next to her, were Tara and Tierney – Teagan's mother and sister.

It felt as though the world had just come to an abrupt halt, I couldn't hear anything around me. I barely noticed Sirius wrap his arms around me.

"Why?" Audrey whispered, looking at her neighbors, members of her makeshift childhood family.

"Audrey?" said a whisper.

She turned her head over her shoulder, her eyes scanning for the voice. She knew she wasn't hearing things.

It didn't take her long to see her.

"Teag!" Audrey cried, rushing over to the right side.

Teagan was terribly injured; there was a large tourniquet around her torso. She was bleeding through.

"What's happened to you?" Audrey sobbed, as her friend reached for her hand.

Tegan shook her head, she was losing color quickly.

"They…they just came…it was so unexpected…they stormed into the cottage…threatening us…" She wheezed.

"Who were they?" Audrey asked with urgency.

"The Death Eaters…there were so many of them…more than I certainly expected…they were killing the children right in front of their parents…"

A very pronounced tremor ran through Audrey, her blood was boiling.

"We fought while we could…but they used fire…they ambushed…we were outnumbered! I never thought I would witness the day that his army could outnumber us…one of the biggest colonies…that's what we were…"

Sirius noticed a medic coming by, he pulled him aside.

"Is there anything you can do for her?" He asked quietly, gesturing to Teagan.

"Yes." replied the medic, wearing a distressed expression. "She's refusing it."

"I don't want treatment!" Tegan coughed, glaring at the medic.

"Teag...why?" Audrey's eyes were pooling with tears. "Teagan, let them help you…please." She whispered.

The banshee shook her head.

"Audrey…" She looked at her childhood friend, her lip quivered. "I have nothing…" She looked across the tent at her mother and her sister. "I have no reason to be alive…my heart, Audrey…my heart hurts…"

"I know, Teag." Audrey cried.

"Audrey, how did you ever do it?" Teagan asked. "How did you learn to breath again after all of that?"

"I…I don't know, Teag." Audrey blinked back tears, she looked at Sirius. "I had some great support."

Sirius gave her a small smile, and squeezed her shoulder.

"Sirius…" Teagan called, weakly motioning him to come closer. He obeyed, kneeling next to her on the opposite side of Audrey.

Teagan looked at Audrey.

"Leave for a moment, see if Luc and Chantal have arrived. Don't eavesdrop."

Audrey obeyed, swiftly rising and walking down the aisle of the tent.

Teagan took Sirius' hand, she looked him square in the eye. Despite being weak, she had the same fire in her.

"Sirius Black, you take damn good care of my best friend and your daughter. Don't let them come to this." She gestured to the tent around her. "Audrey's the only hope that we all have…if she's gone…I don't know…"

Sirius nodded.

"Promise me." She commanded.

"I promise, Teagan. I will protect them."

Teagan's eyes traveled down the tent, she could see Audrey comforting Luc, Chantal's father.

"D'you want me to call them over?" Sirius asked softly.

Teagan shook her head. "Give them a moment to be with Catherine."

"I'm so sorry, Teagan." Sirius whispered, stroking her hand.

Teagan let out a shaky sigh. "It's alright…I've always had a feeling my life would…end like this."

"How?" Sirius asked.

"I…don't know. I just...did…" She replied, her eyes not leaving him.

Considering her injuries, she was highly functioning. I was amazed.

"Teagan." said a soft mournful voice.

"Bonjour, monsieur." Teagan said weakly, a small smile.

"Mon dieu, what's happened to you?" He asked, kneeling next to her on the same side as Audrey.

"I don't really remember…" Teagan blinked. "It happened very fast…I was battling…the cottage collapsed…"

Luc was muttering in his native tongue, he stroked Teagan's hair.

"Teagan, why did they come? What did they want?" He asked.

"I…don't know…they came because they could…one of the men…he kept asking me… Where's your friend…where's your friend…I didn't know what he meant…I didn't understand…" Teagan said, looking around the tent.

"They hurt everyone…" A few tears rolled down her cheeks.

Audrey's head snapped up, looking down the aisle. Sirius turned to see that she had spotted Chantal. In a flash, the veela was with them. Chantal hugged Audrey with such great force that she nearly caught her off balance. There were muffled sobs; all that could be heard was Why?

Teagan was withering away, and Sirius decided he'd leave them to be in private with her. He wanted to go find the Order.

We all had our own time with her, Luc went first, his was the shortest. He was a broken man trying to comprehend the loss around him. I couldn't imagine how he felt, Chantal was all he had now.

Chantal went next, naturally she took a while…There were so many words we wanted to say, but didn't know where to begin. What do you say to your dying friend? I was so anxious, scared, confused, and angry. I was angry with my friend for refusing the help that she so easily could have gotten. I was angry with the world that did not accept us, angry with the humans who hurt her.

"Audrey." Teagan said, with a small smile.

"Teagan, you're the first person other than my daughter to speak banshee to me in so long." She replied, giving a watery smile and holding her hand.

"She's a gifted child, Audrey. I've seen it...Very gifted..." Teagan replied. "I'm also speaking our tongue because the Healers piss me off…I don't want them to eavesdrop."

Audrey gave a nervous laugh, some things never changed.

"Or maybe it's the external bleeding going to my head…I don't know…Look, before I go off on my delusional rambles there's something you need to know."

Audrey looked at her, listening intently.

"They're looking for you…you and your daughter...they want you both...they have drawings of what they think you look like…" Teagan coughed. "They were shouting about how they were going to tear every colony to pieces until they found you…when they asked us all…we said we did not know you…"

Audrey shook, her eyes rapidly changing colors.

It was because of me…it was my fault. They would not speak my location, and for that…they suffered. It was a familiar feeling I knew all too well.