"These children have appeared at the door of the Institute," Alec said, looking at Magnus with concern. "We don't know where they came from, but they are not Shadowhunters, and they have been injured by a Scorpio demon."
"How did you let this happen, Alexander?" Magnus asked angrily, rolling up his sleeves as he approached the children.
"It wasn't my fault," Alec responded, his expression serious as he locked eyes with his husband.
Magnus said nothing and, with a snap of his fingers, his characteristic blue flames appeared. He began to inspect the children, while the others looked on, alternating their gazes between the children and Magnus.
"The black-haired boy mentioned your name, Magnus," Jace said, breaking the tense silence. "There's a photo of you with a woman in their backpack, along with what I think are diaries."
"These children need a blood transfusion quickly, or they will die," Magnus said after the blue flames had disappeared.
"But they are mundane, Magnus. Our blood is not suitable for a transfusion," Izzy said, her concern evident. "They could die during the procedure."
"I don't have time to explain everything right now, but these children would survive the transfusion," Magnus stated. "So please, roll up your sleeves and do something useful."
Alec quickly rolled up his sleeves, followed by Izzy and Jace. Alec sat beside Mia's bed, Izzy beside Adhara's, and Jace beside Theo's. Magnus summoned syringes and bags to collect the blood and carefully pricked their forearms. They watched as the blood flowed into the bags, allowing them all to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Who are these children, Magnus?" Marysse asked, approaching the beds as she studied the unconscious children. "Their parents must be looking for them."
Magnus, who had been examining Theo's journals and the photo, raised his gaze and said, "The black-haired boy is Theodore Nott, and his mother was one of the few true friends I've ever had. These children are wizards. I imagine the platinum-haired girl will be a Malfoy, and the black-haired girl will be a Potter. Their physical features are undeniable."
"We have to inform their parents immediately and reassure them that their children are safe," said Maryse, preparing to leave.
"I don't think that's the most accurate thing to do, Maryse," Magnus cautioned. "These children are wearing bracelets, an invention of Theo's mother, which prevent them from being tracked. Something terrible must have happened for them to wear these bracelets."
Draco and Harry began to cry, and Clary and Maryse picked them up in their arms to comfort them.
"These little ones must be hungry," Maryse suggested. "Come with me, Clary."
"What are we going to do with these children?" Jace asked, concerned. "We can't release them into the street. The mundane police will involve social services, and according to Clary, foster homes aren't always good and kind."
"What if we keep them?" Simon suggested with a smile.
"Are you crazy?" Alec questioned. "We can't take care of five children."
"Simon isn't entirely off track, brother," Izzy said with a small smile, glancing at Adhara's sleeping form. "You and Magnus could adopt them, and then I'd have nephews and nieces to spoil."
"But... but... Magnus, say something," Alec stammered in disbelief.
"We've talked about it countless times, Alexander," Magnus reminded him. "We want to start a family, or do you not want to?"
"You know perfectly well that I want to start a family with you, but these children... they must have a family somewhere," Alec argued, his shoulders slumping wearily.
"Why don't we wait for them to wake up? We don't even know their names," Jace suggested. "The Malfoy child, the dark-haired girl, and the black-haired girl. And if their family situation is complicated, we can look into it."
"Well, guys, meet Harry and Draco," Clary said with a smile, lifting Harry in her arms.
"Who's Harry and who's Draco?" Izzy asked, confused.
"This is Draco," Maryse said, lifting the baby into her arms. "And Clary has the black-haired baby, Harry."
"They're super cute," Izzy exclaimed as she took Harry from Clary's arms. "And he looks just like you, Alec."
Alec huffed in response, looking at Harry. "I beg to differ."
"Theo, the dark-haired girl, and Harry could very well be your biological children," Maryse suggested, her gaze alternating between Alec and Magnus.
"Mia," Harry said, trying to escape from Izzy's arms. "Mia."
"Addie," Draco added, imitating Harry and looking at his older sister.
"I guess we already know what their names are," Simon said with a slight smile.
Suddenly, Mia began to convulse, her breathing erratic. She rolled to one side, her body writhing, and she began to vomit a viscous black mass, demon ichor. Alec, who was closest to Mia, placed a hand on her back as she coughed, trying to comfort her. A chain reaction followed as Adhara and Theo began to vomit as well, filling the infirmary floor with demonic ichor.
"That's fucking disgusting," Jace commented, wrinkling his nose in disgust. Clary smacked Jace on the back of the head as she looked at him disapprovingly.
"Love, don't look at me like that," Jace said, pouting.
"I suppose you are Magnus Bane," Theo's gruff voice interrupted, his sapphire gaze fixed intently on Magnus.
The morning of November 1st was a bittersweet day for the wizarding world. Copies of the Daily Prophet arrived at millions of homes, bearing news of Voldemort's fall, the tragic loss of the Potter family, the Malfoy family, Regulus Black, and the disappearance of the heirs of the Malfoy and Potter houses.
People from all over had gathered at Godric's Hollow, Potter Manor, and Malfoy Manor to pay their respects. They left flowers, small notes, and toys in memory of the missing children.
For Remus and Sirius, it had been an agonizing night. The funeral of their friends and family was scheduled for today, and they struggled to find the strength to say their final goodbyes. Sirius, in particular, felt ill-prepared to bid farewell to his family and friends, knowing that his nephews and nieces were missing.
They had decided to lay James and Lily to rest in the Potter family crypt at Potter Manor. Likewise, Lucius and Narcissa would find their final resting place within the Malfoy family crypt, as per their wishes. For Sirius, it was a difficult decision, but he eventually decided to bury Regulus in the Black family crypt, following tradition.
"Today is the day," Remus said, exiting the bathroom in their master bedroom and watching as Sirius struggled with his tie. "How are you holding up?"
Sirius remained silent, his eyes fixed on the mirror as he completed his tie. Remus studied him carefully, noticing that Sirius looked more composed than usual. He wore a perfectly pressed suit and even took the time to style with gel his typically unruly hair, looking more like a traditional pureblood than his usual self. It was a stark contrast to the Sirius Black Remus had grown accustomed to. In fact, Remus often forgot that Sirius was a pureblood. He was accustomed to his husband sporting messy buns, partially open shirts, and his leather jacket. Yet occasionally, Sirius displayed traits that betrayed his pureblood upbringing, like the way he handled cutlery or maintained perfect posture.
"I'm ready," Sirius finally murmured, reaching for his coat.
Remus nodded in understanding and followed him silently as they descended the stairs. They had purchased a mansion located between the Potter and Malfoy estates before the war, a place Lily had jokingly referred to as the potential Marauders' shared residence. Remus sighed inwardly, thinking how different things could have been.
Sirius, usually known for his playful and fiery spirit, remained uncharacteristically quiet during the journey. Internally, he was wrestling with his emotions, a raging storm of grief, anger, and regret. He had lost Lily, Lucius, his younger brother, his cousin, his two best friends, and his goddaughter, niece and nephews were nowhere to be found.
If this was the price of peace, Sirius wasn't sure he wanted it. Maybe it was the Black in him but he would gladly trade peace for a thousand more years of war if it meant his family could live. He would rather see the world burn than lose them. Fucking Gryffindor bravery , Sirius thought bitterly.
Sirius never told anyone that the Sorting Hat had considered placing him in Slytherin, not just due to family tradition, but because of certain qualities he had inherited. Despite his rejection of his family's values, he had learned some useful lessons from them.
James had been the most important person in Sirius's life, and he still was. James had taught Sirius the value of friendship without expecting anything in return. He had shown Sirius what unconditional love was. James had taught Sirius how to love wholeheartedly, without the influence of wealth or expectations. In return, Sirius had promised James unwavering loyalty, and when a Black promised something, that promise was never broken.
They were only 21 , Sirius thought, they had their entire lives ahead of them. They had their dreams, their families, their futures. James, Lily, Lucius, and Narcissa deserved to see their children grow up. They deserved to see their children off to Hogwarts, engage in playful debates about their sorting, and share countless afternoons playing Quidditch. Sirius couldn't bear the thought that they would never experience any of that.
When Remus and Sirius arrived at Potter Manor, where they had chosen to hold the funeral, they recognized familiar faces among the crowd. Former Hogwarts students, colleagues, Order members, and others had gathered to pay their respects.
"Is that... Petunia?" Remus inquired, surprised.
Sirius followed Remus's gaze and indeed saw Petunia Dursley, dressed in black, her blonde hair tied back. She stood slightly apart from the rest of the mourners. Sirius quickly approached, his anger evident. Petunia didn't deserve to be there.
"You've got some nerve showing up here today," Sirius snapped angrily.
"She's my sister," Petunia replied, her tone laced with hurt.
"Petunia, you hated Lily," Sirius reminded her, his glare unwavering. "You despised her for being better than you, for being your parent's favorite, and most of all, for being a witch while you were not."
"BUT SHE WAS MY SISTER!" Petunia exploded, her voice filled with hurt. "SHE WAS MY LITTLE SISTER, OKAY?"
"Hello, Petunia," Remus said, approaching. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Remus, what the—" Sirius started, but Remus cut him off.
"Lily forgave Petunia during our final year. James encouraged Lily to make peace with Petunia, just as you and Reggie did."
"Lily... she helped me through my divorce," Petunia admitted quietly. "She sent me pictures of Harry and Mia. I apologized for all those years I ignored her instead of being supportive, and she forgave me."
"You got divorced?" Sirius exclaimed, astonished.
Petunia nodded, "Lily made me realize that Vernon wasn't the right man for me, especially after the way he reacted to a false positive."
"I'm sorry," Sirius said, his cheeks heating. "I had no idea that you and Lily had made up"
"No worries, you couldn't have known," Petunia replied with a small smile.
"The ceremony is about to start, Sirius," Remus reminded him gently.
"You can…If you want, you can sit with us. After all, we're family," Sirius offered Petunia with a small smile.
The funeral ceremony was both beautiful and heart-wrenching. Finally, the time came for Sirius to speak. As he stood in front of the gathered crowd, he found it hard to start. He had prepared a speech, but his emotions were too overwhelming.
"I... I didn't expect to be the one standing here," Sirius began, his voice wavering. He fought to find the right words. "I was always the hothead in my family and among my friends. And yet, here I am. I honestly don't know where to begin."
"Reggie is... he was my little brother. He always will be," Sirius continued, his voice breaking. "He always followed Cissy and me in our wild antics when we were kids, even though he was the shyest of the three of us. Being a Black is not easy. There are rules about who you can interact with and how you should behave. But Narcissa and Reggie made things easier. None of us liked galas and balls; we preferred sneaking out to the gardens to drink or smoke. Narcissa began to enjoy those events when she met Lucius."
"Many of you may not know this, but my cousin, my brother, and Lucius were the ones who planned the fall of Voldemort," Sirius declared, raising his voice. "It was them, a group of so-called 'Death Eaters' who managed to bring down the most dangerous wizard since Grindelwald. They also convinced Peter, James, Lily, Remus, and me to trust them. They are heroes, and they will be remembered as such. My family sacrificed their lives so that all of you could sit here and continue with your lives."
Remus took a step forward, standing beside Sirius. "James and Lily were the best friends anyone could ask for. Lily was the first person to discover that I was a werewolf, not James. She always left a bar of chocolate for me after the full moon and had my homework ready on the hospital wing nightstand. James, what can I say about him that you don't already know? He was more than a friend; he was a brother to me."
"James might have had an ego the size of the Black Lake, but he also had a heart just as big," Remus continued with a wistful smile. "He always made me laugh with his antics. I nearly killed him when he revealed that they had become illegal Animagi, but he just smiled and said he'd do anything for me."
"Everything for our Moony, that's what we used to say," Sirius chimed in, his voice tinged with grief. "James opened the doors of his home to me when I had nowhere else to go. He didn't ask questions. James taught me how to love and be loved. He wore his heart on his sleeve and didn't care if people stepped on it if he believed that what he was doing helped others"
"All of you know the story of James and Lily," Sirius continued with a faint smile. "It's impossible to talk about James without mentioning Lily. I have to confess that I didn't like Lily at first. She didn't know it, but I didn't like seeing my best friend rejected time and time again by a girl who barely acknowledged him. I watched James spend six years, almost seven, chasing the same girl. Many of us heard him singing songs, reciting poems, and proposing marriage endlessly. James spent half his life pursuing Lily Evans, and he could only be with her for four years. Life can be so unfair, right ?James and Lily are the kind of couple who deserved a happy ending."
"But they won't get that," Sirius added, his voice heavy with sorrow. "They should be here, but they aren't. James and Lily had two children during the war—a girl and a boy, Hermione Cassiopeia and Harry James Potter. I never got to meet Harry, but I got to know Hermione, or Mia, as we all called her. She is the spitting image of James, the happiest girl in the world. James and Lily raised her with all the love in the world, even in the midst of a war. Do you know how complicated that is? I'm not Mia's godfather; that was Reggie's role. It was all part of the plan; nobody would ever believe that a Death Eater could be the godfather of a Potter."
"My goddaughter was Adhara Lucretia Malfoy," Sirius revealed, his eyes filled with tears. "Lucius and Narcissa's firstborn. Mia and Addie are best friends and always found themselves in trouble. They were like James and me. Unfortunately, for our entire family, especially for Lily and Narcissa, they resembled us in all the wrong ways. Addie, Mia, Draco, and Harry deserved to grow up with their parents. Their parents deserved to see them grow. Now, they won't have that chance. Live your lives to the fullest, and do it not only for yourselves but also for those we've lost in this war. Do it for my family, who gave their lives so the wizarding world could live without fear and so that your children can grow up happily."
As Sirius concluded his speech, the crowd burst into applause. Tears flowed, and many were moved by his words. Remus embraced Sirius, who began to cry uncontrollably. People came forward to offer their condolences.
After everyone left, only Remus, Petunia, and Sirius remained to place the coffins in their respective family crypts. It was an emotional and somber moment. Regulus went first, and Remus performed the task because Sirius was trembling too violently.
"I'm so sorry, Reggie," Sirius wept. "I should have protected you better."
Next were Lucius and Narcissa. This time, Sirius took on the responsibility of burying them. He decided to bury them together, just as he was confident Lucius and Narcissa would have wanted. He was well aware that Narcissa would find a way to exact retribution if she wasn't buried beside her husband.
"I can't do it," Sirius whispered, crushed. Now it was time for James and Lily.
"Sirius, you have Remus and me," Petunia said gently. "We can do this together."
Sirius nodded, and with great care, he levitated the coffins into the Potter family and Petunia supported him, and Sirius finally broke down on the ground, weeping.
"I'm sorry, Jamie," Sirius repeated through his tears. "I'm sorry, Lily."
"We're going to find them, Sirius," Remus assured him, holding him close. "We're going to find Addie, Mia, Draco, and Harry. We'll bring them back home."
