Hello my beautiful readers!

Thank you to all of you for continuously reading, reviewing, favouriting and following. To my new readers and followers, please do not hesitate to leave a review, they honestly make me smile so much and motivate me to write more.

Also, thank you so much for the ship names, I think I have two favourites at the moment, siribeth (submitted by the lovely hpfan) and Blackmore (submitted by the lovely Marie! Coincidentally this was one of my teachers names aha!)

Also, to my beautiful reviewer, Marie; I wish you had an account aha, I always appreciate and anticipate your heartfelt reviews. I feel as though many will feel hesitant towards Beverley just as you do, but when I started writing this, (September 2015) I was awful at dialogue and until about Chapter 10 I was still getting a feel of the characters. I think within the next two chapters you will begin to like her much, much more, as her personality is explored more in depth! I hope so anyway, she's one of my favourites :)

All I can say is brace yourselves! This chapter is just a tad dark...just a bit!

"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,

but to be fearless in facing them.

Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain,

but for the heart to conquer it." -Rabindranath Tagore

"I don't even understand why you get that rag." Lily shook her head as she took a letter from a tawny owl and looked at it with a grimace as she recognised the handwriting, Beverley rolled her eyes as she gave the owl 3 sickles.

"Because it informs me about the wizarding world and all its glory Lily." Beverley drawled whilst unravelling it, her face dropping as she looked at the front page, whispers erupted from all sides of the hall, echoing off the grand concrete walls, the whispers got steadily louder as the article went on.

'What the hell is going on?' Elizabeth thought looking around the hall, She leant over and looked over Beverley's shoulder to see something that would shock her to the very core, in large, bold print was written.

MUGGLEBORN MASSACRE, 75 KILLED, 30 MISSING.

It seems that the use of the word 'situation' is no longer relatable to our predicament.

As I'm sitting at my desk, I'm trying to put into words the disgust and horror I feel over this affair, no... this act of terror. For years there have been rumors going around of a terrorist group dubbed 'The Death Eaters,' who follow a dark wizard who goes by the name, Lord Voldemort. Their goals are to purge our world of muggleborns and muggles alike, along with all those whom are dubbed 'blood traitors.' After many suspicious happenings in the last two years, many have come to the conclusion that this is no longer a situation, but that we are at war.

The horrific tragedy of the 16th of December 1977, could be said, is the start of a battle, the catalyst for this war.

My dear readers what you are about to read is not a horror novel, but a sickening reality of what could be our nations future.

Last night Death Eaters raided many towns, specifically targeting muggleborns, hunting them down and brutally killing them. There were no survivors that weren't kidnapped and with the brutaility of last night I wouldn't be surprised if the 'survivors' were either killed or are being tortured.

Their houses not only broken in, but marked, with a mark that has become familiar as a calling sign to Lord Voldemort. Whenever someone has been killed by a death eater that mark is left behind, a mark so shockingly green, a green that can only be described as the colour of the 'avada kedavra' curse.

Many of the victims were described as having shocked expressions on their faces and had no evidence of any harm indicating that they quite possibly were killed with the killing curse. However their seemed to be a sickening amount of victims who shall we say, were toyed with before their demise. There was evidence of the cruciatus curse, broken bones, burns, lacerations and sexual assault.

If this is what happened in the last moments of those that were killed, what could be happening to those that lived.

What horrors could they be facing as you sit at your table sipping your cup of tea. They may never have that luxury again, maybe they're being controlled, maybe they're being starved, tortured, maybe they're being used as slaves.

I implore that we fight, that we do not let those that wish us harm do so, ward your homes, protect your familys, do what you must, not only to save yourself, but those around you. For we are living in uncertain times, we never know if we could live to see tomorrow.

Take care my loyal readers, keep your eyes open and stay alert.

For list of the missing page 3, list of the dead page 4-5.

Elizabeth looked at the article in shock before dropping her fork, her breathing uneven and tears springing to her eyes. How many people she knew had perished?

Lily looked at her in concern, before curiosity took over and she ripped the article from a panicked Beverley, as she read each word her face became pasty, even her freckles became paler.

She recognised the same thing as everyone else.

This was no longer a string of terror attacks, but a declaration of war.

"This is Barbaric!" she screeched as she stood up, "Utterly ridiculous!" tears sprung to her eyes as she stormed out of the hall, her flaming her flying behind her as the Gryffindor table looked at her before breaking into pandemonium.

Mary gaped after Lily, but sat still, still trying to recover from her shock. Elizabeth looked at her friends before looking at the door, they had one another, Lily had no one.

She jogged out of the hall in search for Lily, she looked in the kitchens (grabbing a handful of choc chip cookies whilst at it), library, common room, potions class, astronomy tower, before resuming her search out side. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of red, turning completely, towards a willow tree by the lake was a short, red haired figure. Lily.

She approached her best friend who was sitting grasping a letter tight in her fist, wiping away stray tears as they fell against her will. She has down next to her and wrapped an arm around her, as they sat not a single sound was uttered between them, they just sat in peace, looking out at the Black lake, which was painfully calm; the only interruption was the pattering of rain making small splashes against the water, imitating the tears rolling down many peoples cheeks as they mourned the loss of their friends and family for something that was beyond their control.

"You okay Lils?" Elizabeth broke the silence whilst running her hands through Lilys hair in a soothing manner causing the girl to lean into her touch. Lily let out a shuddering breath.

"We are being hunted down for something as stupid as our blood, people everywhere are dying and my sister hates me, so yeah, I'm bloody brilliant."

"Sorry, stupid question." She muttered looking down, "Was Petunia the one that wrote to you?" Lily nodded her head against Elizabeths shoulder and with a sigh he handed her letter over to her best friend who flattened out the crumbled paper so she could read the cursive writing.

Lily,

I just wanted to let you know that Vernon's family has invited us to Christmas lunch, I have already told them you wont be able to make it due to finals. I want to make a good impression and having someone with your… abnormalities may make him reconsider being with me.

Merry Christmas,

Petunia.

It was short and sharp, straight to the point. No nonsense and no jibber jabber. That is what had become of the relationship between Lily and Petunia Evans, the once inseparable sisters now weren't even spending Christmas together. She hoped that the relationship with her younger sister and herself wouldn't shatter like Lily and Petunia had.

"What a bitch." She muttered causing Lily to snort,

"You think."

"Well I guess my Christmas plans are sorted then." Elizabeth clapped, "haven't had Christmas at Hogwarts for ages!"

"huh?" Lily looked up in confusion before her expression went into annoyance, "You aren't staying here when you can go home to your family!" she exclaimed, horrified.

"But I am, plus its safer here than home anyways." She shrugged, "I think Mary's staying as well."

"Liz, its a war." she sighed in regret. "I don't mean to be blunt, but this could be your last Christmas with your parents!"

Elizabeth shook her head and looked down.

"I know." she sighed, "But they would rather me be safe, and in all honesty, they'd be safer without me there as well. The fact that you're going to be here makes me feel better about staying here."

Lily huffed and crossed her arms, turning away so that her obvious smile couldn't be seen, a smirk grew on Elizabeth face as she directed her fingers to poke Lily in the stomach,

"Oi"

Lily jumped and turned, her face contorted but her eyes betraying her joy,

"Oh did I forget to mention that your favorite head boy is staying as well." She winked causing Lily to scowl, she stood up, her hair dripping and mascara running down her cheeks, Elizabeth cast a tempus charm before her eyes widened,

"We're so stuffed!" Lily exclaimed and stood up. Hand in hand the two girls sprinted to Defence.

Nobody wanted to be late for Bradleys class.

"You're late." Professor Bradley raised an eyebrow at their attire, both girls were panting, sopping wet, they were in one word, a mess. "You know the drill." He pointed to the side of the room which was plain with nothing on it.

Both girls leant against the wall and sat in a seated position. Being late to Professor Bradleys class almost always resulted in some sort of Physical punishment, not dangerous stuff, but exercise, muscle building stuff. Depending on how many times you'd been late prior to this point, your punishment deferred.

"Anyway, after that interruption, with the holidays coming up be prepared for some more gruelling classes, today is some more patronus practice before a little surprise." Murmurs broke out around the class room at his exclamation.

"After the holidays, we will be working on duelling and curses. Namely we will be going over more dark magic and the unforgivable." Excited whispers came form around the room at the prospect of learning more taboo Bradley stood back and motioned for everyone to stand up, and begin practicing, those that had already got the charm were walking around helping the rest of the class.

A groan escaped Lily as she heard James calling her over.

"Evans, Can you please help me!" he asked running his hand through his messy hair, Lily's eye twitched as she watched him do the action. Merlin why did he make his hair look even messier? Had he ever used a bloody brush.

"What do you need help with?"

"Baking cookies Evans, what do you think?"

"Just think of a really happy memory and say expecto Patronum, that's it." She said standing next to him, with her hand placed on her cocked hip.

"Maybe if you cast your Patronus, then I might be able to." He smiled, his eyes twinkling deviously. Lily's emerald eyes narrowed with suspicion, she raised her wand and within moments a bright doe stood proudly infront of them. Lily looked towards James and motioned for him to cast his patronus, surprisingly within moments a large majestic stag was standing next to the doe and cuddling it, the looked like the perfect pair.

Lily's eye twitched and a scream escaped her as her patronus disappeared, she turned to look at james with accusatory gaze. He set it up, he somehow transfigured something into a patronus that happened to be the pair of her patronus.

"I think the heavens are telling us something Evans, coz if that's not a hint then I dunno what is." He shrugged ,a smug smirk gracing his features,

"And what exactly are they telling us?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow,

"That we belong together, stop fighting it Evans, you know its true." He whispered leaning towards her, they were so close that their noses were almost touching, her warm breath as tickling his cheeks and their eyes were connected if by a magnetic force. James titled his head to the side, and lily stood bolted to the ground, her eyes slowly shut as he neared.

A cough from behind them interrupted them, Professor Bradley was standing behind them his eyebrows raised and arms crossed.

"PROFESSOR THEY WERE ABOUT TO KISS!" Sirius groaned out loud, he spared a flickering gaze to Sirius and raised his eyebrows,

"Now that Miss Evans and Mr Potter have stopped undressing one another with their eyes lets move onto the next part of the lesson." he sighed and with a simple spell moved all the desks to the side of the room. "All of you in a line."

The class quickly moved into a straight line, resulting in lots of pushing and shoving amongst the students. Professor Bradley levitated a trunk in front of them, before standing straight.

"I know that you all did Boggarts in your 3rd year." Exclamations of equal amount of dread and excitement were heard around the room. "but much has happened since then, you are now older, less naïve, more open to yourself and who you are. As you get older and more mature you fears develop, they change. Sometimes they stay the same, but sometimes they become much more complex. But weakness in times like these is…unacceptable, anyone can use your weaknesses against you, and that may just be your undoing." The rest of the class had gone slightly pale and some were shaky on their feet. "I'm sure you all remember how to fight a boggart." The rest of the class nodded before moving. Mary bravely moved forward, she looked at the professor expectantly before her worst nightmare came out of the trunk.

However what came out had many of the students snickering, it was a needle, the boggart had formed the shape of a large needle which was full of a suspicious looking liquid, Mary shuddered and stepped back, her chest heaved and her eyes glazed over as if stuck in a memory. Slowly, slowly the needle seemed to grow larger, and larger. It was gargantuous for a needle.

"R-r-rid-ridiculous." She waved her wand and the needle turned into a large flower that sprayed water. It wasn't funny, but the sight of the needle disappearing caused Mary to hunch over in relief, a slow, shuddering breath escaped her.

Beverley stood in front of the boggart before the floor began to get covered in water. She turned around, her eyes widened in panic. The water rose higher and higher until it was up to her knees. Beverley was shaking as she tried to move, however she was glued to the spot. She hated water. She hated water so much.

She couldn't deal with this. A dry sob escaped her as her knees trembled rapidly in the water. "Ridiculous!" she screamed and the water turned into snow. She fell and curled into a ball. Her chest heaved as James pulled her to the side and embraced her.

Then Alecto Carrow stood forward, and her boggart materialized into… a small fluffy bunny. That grew in size, then grew sharp teeth that dripped with blood.

Alecto Carrow's biggest fear was a vampire bunny…

Elizabeth laughed, how could she not. The prejudiced Slytherin that attacked her a few short weeks ago was afraid of a vampire bunny, in fact it was so ridiculous even the Slytherins were snickering.

Oh how the tables had turned.

Alecto pathetically whimpered and wrapped her arms around herself, rocking herself back and forth. Elizabeth never thought she'd see the girl looking so pathetic.

However when Elizabeth stood infront of the boggart something appeared that had even more people snickering and laughing then with Alecto's Vampiric bunny.

Now it didn't feel as great to laugh at a boggart.

It was a porcelain doll. It was knee high with blonde ringlets and a large pink dress, however when it looked up, it stared right at Elizabeth, the rest of the class moved back at the dolls movement.

Dolls don't move. Dolls weren't meant to move.

But this one did.

Then a small whimper escaped Elizabeth, the doll had black eyes, her whole eye was black, and the dolls mouth was pulled into a large toothy smirk. Her unusual, freakish, never ending smile sent shivers down her back, like a spider crawling along her spine as she laughed at her fear. A tear escaped her as she cowered back. She shook her head and let out a shuddering breath. It wasn't real, the doll wasn't real, she could control this doll, because it wasn't real.

"Ridiculous." She sobbed before the doll dissolved and turned into a tub of paint. It wasn't humorous , no, It was rather bland and uninventive, but making a fear funny, was more difficult than one would think.

Then Sirius stood forward, straight backed and confident.

One would wonder, what does the great Sirius Black fear most. Oh the things he would say, and they'd probably have a long and dreary backstory behind them too. Spiders (James was constantly having to kill the spiders that made their way into the dorm whilst Sirius huddled onto the corner of his bed with a pillow), small spaces, zombies (thanks to Remus who introduced him to muggle comic books), becoming bald, turning into a cat. Oh he had many fears, most of them were trivial and insignificant, they battled against dominance when really none of them would ever top his worst fear.

It was so unlikely that nobody would think of it.

Sirius stepped in front of the boggart and he took a deep breath and shut his eyes, he knew what his fear was, he knew what the boggart was. And now that he was standing infront of it, it didn't seem so easy to face that fear.

Then, to most of the classes confusion, the boggart turned into himself.

However this Sirius was much more formal, sophisticated. Gone was the teenager who hid his elegance under a guise of ruggedness, there stood a man, a man who looked dark and dangerous. Clad in a Black, velvet tux, shoes glimmering in the light, a collar so stiff it was a wonder that he wasn't choking. His hair was loose around his shoulders and emerald cufflinks adorned his sleeves along with a sliver, gold and emerald watch. He held a black, lacquered cane in his hand that had gold, silver and emerald detailing on it.

They both stood, eye to eye, as equals. One stared the other down, coldly with a predatory gaze whilst the other was a bundle of nerves. He couldn't do this. How could he make this funny. And then the doppleganger spoke,

"You ended up like the rest of them. Just as you knew you would." his voice cold and calculating, faux Sirius's accent was far more snobbish and exaggerated. His eyes glowing, with distaste as he sneered at him.

"You're a black, what did you expect? Your parents, oh were they glad to see the back of you! Good riddance they said, your cousin laughed and your brother…well he learnt the duties of a heir to the black family the hard way, just like you did. Found out how great mother and father were." He let out a bark of laughter, it hurt those around them to hear it, for it sounded so like Sirius yet came from something so…awful. How could the boy standing in front of them, be the same person as the man standing before them all.

Sirius stood rigid as he heard those words, the meaning of them hitting him right in the chest as the blank mask he'd so perfectly placed on his face slipped away, the veins in his body throbbed and his eyes, the hurt marred through them, his jaw clenched in anger and teeth gritted together; Unshed tears appeared in his eyes, he blinked them away. He wouldn't show weakness, they were all seeing his biggest fear, they wouldn't see his reaction to it too. He wouldn't let them.

Showing weakness was unbecoming of a Black, his mother would say.

For those around him, for all those in the classroom, they felt as though the world they knew was slipping away from them, as if they'd fallen into a dark and twisted place. Where else would they see a boy they so often saw laughing reduced to a hypothetical ball of panic and fright.

"Your friends left you when they found out you weren't all that different," Sirius let out a shuddering breath as the rest of the Gryffindor seventh years inhaled sharply, at the stamen.

"What have you done for them? They've provided a home for you, love for you, a family for you... What have you ever given? Of course they would get sick of your uselessness. You have no family, no legacy, no family fortune. Whose going to want a colossal fuck up such as yourself huh?"

"Sirius this isn't real!" James shouted across the classroom, he sped across and moved close to Sirius, "Its all in your head."

"I know, that's the scary part." James flinched as he heard those words his usually warm best friend, His voice sounded so haunted and cold, so similar to the faux Sirius; mixed together with the cold bark of laughter radiating from boggart Sirius, he felt a stab at his heart as he saw how cold its eyes were, how that coldness was directed at him.

He'd never thought he'd feel hate radiating from his best friends eyes.

"They don't trust you, they don't care for you!" Boggart Sirius moved forward so that he was so close to Sirius that their noses were almost touching, but he could not feel the breath of the boggart. Did Boggarts breath? "THEY. NEVER. DID." He emphasised those three words and said them outloud. Sirius looked broken, it was as if he believed it, no, how could he.

"Bella was right, what she said the night before you left. You're both not all that different, she just embraced the darkness within her, whilst you supressed it." he spat, a wry smirk on his face as his eyes darkened dangerously.

"You're just as dark, just as insane, just as powerful, JUST AS BLACK AS ANY OF THEM!" boggart Sirius yelled whilst clenching its fists. it seemed that the boggart was getting agitated that nothing was happening, that he did not get a reaction.

"It seems that you truly are, As Black as the blood that runs through your veins. And you hate that, because you know you're no different-" he spat, spittle spraying from his full lips.

"Ridikulous!" Sirius yelled his voice cracking half way through causing the boggart to slowly change its hairstyle to an elegant bun, for his robes to turn light pink before transforming into a ballerina that kept stumbling over its feet. Half of the class laughed, but most of it laughed halfheartedly, whilst the other was too shocked by the dark thoughts tainting Sirius's soul.

Had they woken up from a nightmare? You couldn't compare who they saw presented to them everyday, to the broken and haunted boy, that stood trembling before them.

The influx of magical energy caused by Sirius's panic and the strength of the boggart caused Sirius's (and everyone elses) hair and robes to billow around them as if they were in the middle of a wild cyclone. He was bent over with his hands placed on his knees, as his chest heaved and his body shook, perspiration licking his skin. James swooped forward and put his arm around Sirius who leaned into his touch with closed eyes. He couldn't face the class, he couldn't look at them after being humiliated as he was. James walked him out of the class without permission as tears begun welling in his eyes.

He couldn't do this, he couldn't face them all.

Showing Weakness is unbecoming of a Black.

The bell rung moments later and the class walked out in silence, shocked to the core from the revelations and horrors faced that lesson. They were too emotionally drained to even contemplate what just happened.

An eight year old girl sat in her room, surrounded by her many dolls and teddy bears, not knowing that within minutes the ways she saw things would change, that in minutes she'd find out one of her biggest fears.

She sat there and played with her dolls innocently.

She turned and looked towards a doll that she'd placed in the corner of her room, it was a porceline doll, perfect pale skin, light brown hair that fell in ringlets around her shoulders and light blue eyes, her light blue eyes were like ice, they were so cold yet so…inhumane. The same As if there was nothing behind them. As if everything that was important was taken away from her. Of course an eight year old would never understand a concept like that. Not even Elizabeth Gilmore.

It was a beautiful doll, it was her favorite even. For it reminded her of herself. But there was always something about that doll...no matter how much she loved it, something that put her off. As she stared intently at the perfect porcelain doll she had momentary flashes of it coming to life, of it walking around and following her, of it moving places without her knowing. She shuddered, no, dolls didn't move.

Only alive things moved, and dolls weren't alive.

Now, weird things happened to Elizabeth all the time, the zombie pasta, her hair growing as long as Rapunzel's, changing some bullies hair neon orange… but this… this scared her. To her side she heard a creak. And then another creak. Elizabeth turned only to find her doll in the corner…except…was it a little closer? She shook her head and turned around, dolls didn't move, what sort of ridiculousness was this.

Creak, creak, creak.

Elizabeth shut her eyes in fear, the sharp noises being made were like nails to a chalkboard. She cringed and shuddered before squinting to look forward, only to see the doll, except it was closer, much closer than before. Elizabeth crawled up on her bed and huddled in the middle of it, she wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked back and forth. She didn't understand, what was going on? Was she dreaming? She couldn't help it, Elizabeth squinted and looked forward to see the doll even closer than before, except this time its facial expression had changed, it wore a large smile, but it wasn't a pretty smile, it was ugly, it looked disfigured. The dolls eyes seemed colder, more alive.

Infront of her innocent, blue eyes, the eyes of the doll turned pitch black. There was no longer blue, or white. Just black. A deep, dark, unknown abyss.

This wasn't real, it couldn't be… and then the doll moved its arms towards her and a scream ripped through her throat, a blood curdling scream, it echoed throught the house…

She woke up with a start, clawing at her throat and her chest heaving, salty tears ran down her cheek and mixed with the perspiration licking her skin. She gripped at her bedsheets as she heaved. It had been so long.

So long.

She hadn't had a nightmare like that for so many years, one that caused her to react so badly. The undenying fear she felt, the horror within her. She was scared. so scared.

It had been so long since she'd seen that nightmare.

It wasn't even a nightmare, it was a memory.

And she wanted nothing more than to forget about it.

Remus deeply exhaled as he stared up at the blank ceiling of his dorm. It had been hell, defence that day had taken it out of him, his senses were on overdrive. It was as the fears of everyone else in that class infested itself within him. He felt a curdling darkness within him, writhing with pleasure as it was fed the fears and darkness within others souls; relishing their pain and suffering.

Boggarts were both lethal yet wonderful things, he decided. They gave you the opportunity to learn about your fears, so you could then overcome them, and learn to face them. But they were awful, because they made you face them,a nd you had no choice but to grow some balls and banish it.

He shifted his eyes towards the bedside table towards his left only to see bright neon lights blaring back at him, 3:17am. Brilliant.

"Moony?" sirius's voice harshly broke through the peace and darkness of the room.

"good morning pads."

"Not so good If I say so myself." He commented scoffing. And then there was a silence between them. It was awkward yet blissfully wonderful. The silence shared between them seemed to magically block out Peters snores and James incoherent mumblings of his deep slumber.

"Couldn't sleep?"

"Something like that, you too?" Remus then heard the rustling of covers as Sirius moved around.

"Yup and I don't see myself myself sleeping anytime soon, even if theres like 5 hours until I need to get up." He sighed, remus could make out the silhouette of Sirius sitting on the edge of his bed. It was unnerving, despite how loud and raucous Sirius was, when he wanted to be he would become the most silent person in the world and move around more stealthy than a panther.

Sirius was drowning, he felt as though every coherent thought and feeling had left him, and all that was left- was nothing but a broken, and empty shell. He needed someone, he needed someone to hold him when he was being weak. To accept his weakness, and help him thrive.

Even if weakness was unbecoming of a Black.

"cm'ere" remus muttered and patted the empty spot next to him. Sirius crawled across the bed before settling himself into the empty spot and snuggling upto remus. Remus knew what was wrong, he always did. They lay side by side in silence, drowning in their teenage thoughts whilst battling insomnia.

"Do you ever wonder whether you made the right choice?" Sirius questioned, "Do you ever wonder if the light side is right for you?"

Remus felt his heart begin to thump as the conversation became more deep, his inner turmoil raging against the walls he built between the wolf and himself.

"All the time, I'm a dark creature, I'm fighting against my nature. But every time I win the battle raging between the wolf and I; I feel..." he stumbled for a moment "proud, I won, and I"ll keep winning for as long as I can."

"well blacks a pretty dark colour." Sirius retorted wryly.

"Ha di har har."

"But your inner self is your true self." Sirius muttered whilst biting his lip causing remus to sigh,

"Maybe I just don't like my true self." He muttered and turned his head to the side to see Sirius whom was burrowing himself in Remuses sheets. Once he settled and snuggled into Remuses side he questioned. "I strive to change, perhaps I can make my true self into a version I actually like."

Remus hated the wolf, he hoped that in his lifetime, there would be a breakthrough, that he'd be able to spend the full moon in bed, or with some friends out, laughing and drinking...Just having fun, instead of clawing at himself and hunting others. He hoped that one day he could just wake up, and there was no pain, no scars, no wolf. Nothing but serenity.

After a lull in conversation Remus murmured, his warm breath tickling Sirius's face.

"What was your nightmare about?" Remus could feel Sirius's adams apple bob against his shoulder and an intake of breath.

"Torturing some muggles." He replied shortly, his voice seemed to become abit shaky and choked, Remus didn't need more explanation , he understood, oh how he understood. He like, Sirius knew Sirius's fear before he stepped infront of the boggart.

It was of who he could be.

Remus in many ways understood Sirius in a deeper way then many others, much deeper. He pondered as sirius's breathing evened out and he fell into a peaceful slumber.

For Remus and Sirius were more alike then one would think.

They both had an unquestionable darkness to them, they both had nightmares and demons…

And everyday they fought to the best of their ability's, so that the darkness doesn't consume them.

Elizabeth walked through the paths of Hogsmeade by herself as she did her Christmas shopping. She had done plently of owl ordering, but there were some things that just couldn't be bought through owls. She was now standing in dervish and banks for jewellery for the girls whens he was startled by a not so suprising visitor. Okay screw that, a very surprising visitor.

"Boo!" a deep voice whispered in her ear causing her to jump and spin around with her wand in her hand in shock. "Oww" he grunted, "Your braid wacked me across the face." He rubbed his cheek, which seemed to be reddening after being whipped by her hair.

"Well you deserved that and more!" she commented, "I ought to send a stinging jinx or three at you."

"Please don't!" he groaned falling to his knees in front of her, he took her hands in his, "I promise, I'll be nice, I'll carry all your shopping!" he looked ridiculous, snow was gathered ontop of his head dusting his silky black hair, his cheeks were rosy and he had a sweater on.

"Is that your sweater?" she questioned confused, Sirius black didn't own sweaters last he checked, especially cream ones with red reindeer on them. "Are those reindeer?"

"No, they're stags honestly get your facts straight!" he commented whilst batting his lashes. "And I really have no clue, I think its Remuses. But then again it could be James's, he owns plenty of daggy sweaters with stags on them."

"Does he think that it'll make the girls fawn over him or something." She laughed with a wink, a smile stretching over her face. A bark of laughter escaped Sirius as he threw his head back in mirth.

"yeah probably, but they'll never fawn over him as much as I am over you."

"Get up you mutt." She commented causing him to snort,

"What!"

"Nothing. No biggie."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and pulled him up, "since you offered." She then proceeded to drop her bags on him. And there were a lot of bag.

"What have you bought?" he exclaimed in shock as he picked the bags off the ground,

"presents."

"really I never guessed, I thought these were bricks." He replied with a roll of his eyes, "did you buy me anything?"

"I haven't found you anything yet and if you keep going on this way I might just accidentally forget about getting you a present." She put heavy emphasis on the accidentally before walking away.

"Oi, don't you are forget.. ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT ME CARRYING THIS RUBBISH!" he exclaimed with a stamp of his foot as he tried to pick up the heavy bags.

"YOU'RE THE SERIOUS ONE! YOU TELL ME!" she yelled out twirling to face him and snorting as she saw that he was still picking up the bags.

"Oi! Lizzie dear! You should get this for Beverley!" Sirius shouted across the shop, Elizabeth moved forward to see him holding a square pink box, she took it tentatively before dropping it in shock. In it was a neon pink, mesh and lace baby doll that was rather revealing and to add onto it was a gstring, that was the same colour.

"NO!" she shrieked, she could never buy this for anyone let alone Beverley,

"come on, it'll bring out her eyes. And it would compliment her figure wonderfully!"

"You buy it for her then, I'm not buying one of my best friends lingerie!"

"Fine then, Oh My Gosh…" he trailed off as his eyes lit up and his jaw went slack, was that some drool running down his chin. Before he ran off to a mannequin, he grabbed the leather jacket that was placed on it and chucked it on, it automatically changed to fit him impeccably. It was black, the inside had multiple pockets, and on the front, there was a paw print. The jacket hugged all his muscles and well… everywhere it was meant to…those shoulders… he looked hot. Full stop. She wouldn't mind a piece of that, and I huge chunk out of those looked like a typical bad boy. She liked bad boys…where'd that come from?

No, nope she liked good, kind boys. but wheres the fun in that? A voice deep in her mind whispered. No she didn't like that voice, however something brilliant sparked in her mind as she looked at Sirius.

An idea sparked in her mind causing her to walk off to the counter, she had a present to buy.

"So then…my pasta starts moving." Elizabeth said, whilst everyone around her began to laugh, Peter was doubled over in his chair, Mary was covering her mouth with her hand to cover her snorts and Lily whom had heard the story from Liz's parents was leaning against the bench with her head on the table whilst her shoulders shook with laughter.

"Your pasta started to move?" Remus asked whilst wiping tears from his eyes,

"YES! It started moving on my plate like worms and I swear one of those zombie pasta things ate another zombie pasta thing." She said seriously, Peter and Remus looked at her disbelievingly whilst everyone was in guffaws.

"I'm Serious!" she stomped her foot, and Sirius shook his head,

"No darling, you're Elizabeth, I'm Sirius." He said cheekily with a charming wink, James groaned and Lily rolled her eyes,

"Shut up you bastard!" she laughed,

"I put the star in Bastard!" he flicked his hair and batted his eyelashes causing everyone to once again burst out laughing when a scream was heard outside, followed by several other screams, The three Broomsticks immeadiantly became cold and quiet, anticipating something to happen.

James began to stand up with his wand in his hand when a dishevelled man ran into the inn and yelled so loud some people winced.

"DEATH EATERS! THEY'RE HERE!"

A shudder of fear went through her, the hair on the back of her neck stood static and her arms were covered in Goosebumps. Her throat was dry and her heart was thumping against her ribcage like a wild bird trying to escape a cage. Knees shaking, she got up, she was going to fight.

She was going to survive.

It was at that moment, when she ran out onto the street with her wand in her hand that she realised.

This was not a Horror story,

It was reality.

It was war.

Oh damn! I cannot wait until Thursday to post the next chapter just to see your reactions. After this, things start getting darker, but I mean, that's the fun part! I can't help myself, down below is a little spoiler.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

I get shivers reading that...

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to leave a review! Your love and support makes my heart grow fonder.

thechosenbibliophile xo