July 17 1981

Marlene walked down the stairs of her family home, just leaving the small nursery upstairs. She made her way into the kitchen where her brother Nathaniel already waited for her at the table.

"How is she?" He asked as she sat down across from him. He pushed a cup of tea towards her.

She ran her hand over her face exhausted from the day she had just had, "Fast asleep, we spent most of the day with Andromeda and I think Dora must have tired her out," She said softly before taking the cup into her hand and peering down into it.

Nathaniel tilted his head at his sister before asking her attentively, "So is Sirius coming home tonight?"

She kept looking at her cup contemplating what to say, the truth was that she didn't know where Sirius was or what he was doing that night. Frustrated once again her words came out as a grumble, "Who knows," she said pushing her cup away deciding she didn't want its comfort.

"Really?" He was really quite shocked. They had been fine a few months ago, but as the war intensified and the tensions grew higher he could see the strain on everyone growing, especially his sister.

She shrugged, "We talk in front of the baby but other than that..." She didn't need to finish her sentence for him to understand her.

"And how does he feel about the entire situation?" Nathaniel was trying to get his little sister to open up. Over the past few weeks, she had become isolated and a mere shadow of the women she once was. The truth was Marlene had changed after leaving the order. When the little girl had been born, they both decided that one parent should step away from the war effort to look after her. In the end, it had been decided it would be Marlene. Now Marlene loved her daughter, there was no denying it, but the need to do something rather than sit back and do nothing had started to agitate her.

"I don't know, he's never here, He's always away. I've talked to Remus, and he doesn't even know what Sirius is up to," She put one hand over her eyes as they started to water, The hopeless feelings of the last few moths coming back over her.

"Well, maybe you should hear him out, let him explain?" He asked, he took one of her hands from across the table and tried to get her to look at him.

But she pushed his hand away and wiped her eyes before finally looking up. "But he doesn't explain, if he did, I would know where he is most of the time but I don't, and every time I bring it up with him, he gets so upset, and just leaves," She said hurriedly.

Pausing from her outburst she drew in a breath to calm herself. After her parents and younger brother had been killed, she had relied on Sirius. He became her one comfort and stood by her the entire time. Then their child had been born just a little under a year ago and everything almost seemed alright, They where happy. Well, as happy as they could be with a war raging on their heels. But things had changed, now he was never home, every time Marlene talked to him he couldn't even show her the courtesy of looking her in the eye. It was like he was ashamed of something, but didn't know what. Now he only came home for the baby while Marlene he just plain ignored.

"He's keeping something from me I know it," she sighed looking at her brother.

The house shook, and all their sense became blurred when a loud bang resonated throughout the McKinnon household. The kitchen wall blew apart and was engulfed by flames. The force of the explosion sent Marlene flying backwards, hitting the kitchen cabinet before her body fell to the floor with a sicking thud.

When she finally was able to get her bearings, her eyes slowly blinked open but her ears rung from the thundering explosion , the kitchen seemed to still shake around her making her stomach churn.

She was only able to focus when everything went quiet leaving only the sound of the aftermath. She opened her eyes as from the ruble of the explosion three cloaked figures walked into her kitchen.

Marlene stood quickly, her Auror training kicking in. She made a quick attempt to run back up the stairs but before she could get halfway there, her long brown hair was seized by the roots and she was tossed roughly to the ground.

She landed hard on the ground with a thud but she didn't stop. She turned but came face to face with one of the cloaked men, she looked up at the tall figure standing above her. She moved quickly and snatched her wand from her boot, pointing it up at the figure.

"STUPEFY," she yelled as he flew back into the wall across from her, his hood fell from the back of his, revealing sallow skin and black eyes that looked at her with surprise. Snape.

Still on the floor, she raised her wand a second time only for it to fly from her hands as the other two cloaked figures now made themselves known.

She looked around the room looking for her brother, only to find him still laying on the floor. She saw his neck on a twisted angle, his eyes open but unmoving, he was dead. But she had no time to mourn her loss as she turned to her attackers.

"Crucio!"

She heard it before she felt it and all of sudden what felt like a thousand piercing knives came at her body and she felt them carve into her skin with a electrifying spark. Her body began convulsing and an uncontrolled scream erupted from her mouth. After what felt like hours but could only have been seconds, the pain stopped and she fell limply to the floor. She turned her head weakly to her left as she watched one of her attackers walk towards her. She tried to get away but he grasped her hair a second time and dragged her into a kneeling position in front of him. He pulled her head back, using her hair as leverage, holding it in a tight grip, she now knelt forced to look up at the third and finale Death Easter directly in front of her. He pulled his hood back to reveal long platinum blond hair.

"Kill me," she said looking into his eyes defiantly.

Lucius gave the Death Eater behind her a nod before she felt the grip on her hair release. She fell onto her hands and knees in front of him as the pale man began to talk.

"Well, interrogations tend to work best when the individual is alive," He said coming to stand in front her. Now that her head was free, she was able to look around. Severus now stood directly to her left while the other had moved to her right and she felt fear as she came to realise it was Rodolphus Lestrange

Lucius calmly walked further forward, standing directly in front of his fallen victim. In one viper like movement, his hand shot out and gripped her chin hard enough for a bruise to form, his thumb and forefingers resting on her cheeks

"Where are they?" he asked his face sinister but yet, still calm.

"I don't know," she said defiantly.

He raised his leather clad hand before using the back of it to deliver a swift blow to the side of her face. She fell back to the ground, she could feel her now split lip as thick red blood started to fill her mouth.

"You're telling me you don't know the whereabouts of your godson or his parents?" He asked Marlene, his voice full of scorn and mockery.

"No, I don't," she spat at him, "I haven't been apart of order activity for almost a year," she said, hoping he would believe the truth.

He looked back down at the witch kneeling before him. Marlene Mckinnon, how pathetic she had come to be and even more pathetic when her protector wasn't here. "But your Husband is, I'm sure he let a few things slip in his time at home," Marlene kept a deadly lock on his eyes, "Sirius is much too good at his job to let important facts just slip, especially when the people he cares about are at risk." Lucius glared down at her with contempt.

"Than where is he now?" asked Rodolphus Lestrange snidely, finally joining the conversation. Marlene gaze dropped hiding her despair as she remembered that Sirius was not here and she had no one else but herself to blame.

"To busy running rabid to be spending time at home with you, I suppose," whispered Snape who was leaning on the wall, his face twisted in distaste,"Now tell us what you know," He ordered cooly..

"I've told you I don't know anything," she said, her gaze flickering nervously between Severus and Lucius who was rasing his wand once more.

Lucius examined his wand with vigour before maliciously smiling down at her. "Nothing at all?" He asked before pointing his wand at her.

Glaring at his wand, she tried to hide her fear. But when her eyes travelled up from his wand to meet his cold blue eyes she knew there was almost little to nothing she could change, she lifted her chin and said firmly. "Nothing."

"Crucio!"

This time she was prepared for the pain but it was in no way dulled. She felt her body fall back and her back arched when she hit the floor. After a while tears started to stream down her face as her screams reached their highest peak. The pain went on and soon enough her mind was begging for death. The pain stopped quite suddenly and she was left heaving on the floor. Her head rolled to the side to see the group of Death Eaters looking towards the stairs in a dazed manner as if trying to hear something.

The noise came again, they heard it, a small whimper came from upstairs. Marlene froze, her face stoic as she looked towards the sound.

"Severus would you please?" Lucius asked, turning slowly to look at his fellow Deatheater.

Marlene's eyes darted to Severus in alarm and her resolve became stronger and her struggle as well. "No don't" Marlene groaned out. She tried again and again to make a move toward the staircase but her body was working against her. But she had to, she finally got a leg up and was ready to sprint after Severus on weak legs, but she didn't get far before she was snatched around the waist by Rodolphus Lestrange. He held her tight as she kicked and screamed her body flailing, she needed to reach the stairs before Snape. Throwing her head back, she felt her skull knock into the Rudolphus' nose, he let out a growl of pain before he raised her up and threw her to the floor with such force that her shoulder exploded in pain, having popped from its socket. He dove at her again, grabbing her by the back of her neck in a death grip, making her scream at the pressure in her shoulder.

Lucius' turned his head back towards her in triumph enjoying her struggles, "What would you be hiding up there Marlene?"

Severus walked up the stairs and again heard the light sniffling. He slowly almost with caution opened the door which looked to be the one hiding the noise. He stood still in the doorway as his eyes rested on the sight. A little girl standing on the edge of her cot, her eyes red and bottom lip trembling. He walked closer taking in her black hair and grey eyes instantly recognising who the child was immediately. He walked closer until he was standing next to the crib. He didnt let any thoughts cross his mind. He knew what he had to do.

Grasping her under her arms he lifted her from the cot, placing her on his hip. She resisted him a bit, but eventually settled in his arms when comfortable. they walked back down the stairs the weeping but tired child now rested her head in the crook of his neck. He felt a pang of guilt as they went to rejoin the awaiting madness, but it left him quickly when he remembered why.

Marlene struggled harder the pain not mattering anymore, her instincts telling her one thing. To get to her baby. But Rodolphus took his other hand before digging his finger into her mangled shoulder, allowing another scream to escape her.

"And who is this Mckinnon?" Rodolphus hissed into her ear. She looked up, his words faded into the background, her focus on her child who now peacefully sat in Snapes arms.

"Leave her," She said struggling in Rudolphus' tight grip, "She has nothing to do with this." She writhed in Rodolphus' grasp but escaping him was proving to be a challenge. Instead, her weak legs gave out from under her and she fell like a ragdoll in Rodolphus' arms. Severus placed the small sleepy girl on the ground next to him and she quickly moved to grasp his pant leg, her eyes wide with fear.

"Please," Marlene whispered it like a prayer hoping Lucius would show some grace.

Lucius slowly walked closer to her but she refused to look at him. Instead, she looked to her daughter, trying to silently reassure her everything would be alright, but Rodolphus, using his grip on her neck, forcibly turned her head to look at Lucius. "Tell us what you know, and this can all be over," Lucius said in a sultry tone as he came to stand in front of her, he reached out and she tried not to flinch as he wiped away a stray tear almost tenderly.

"I don't want to do this to you Marlene, but I will if I need to," he continued in his most sincere voice. It was almost believable.

Marlene's eyes returned to her daughter as the small girl moved further behind Severus' leg. For the first time, her eyes met her mother's and Marlene's heart broke at her daughter's fear, "But I don't know where they are, no one does."

Lucius' face changed in the blink of an eye to pure malice as he took a step back before crouching down to be eye level with the little girl. An evil smirk growing on his lips.

Marlene let out a distressed cry as Rodolphus moved her back to her knees. He gripped her hair as he had before, holding it in place so she couldn't look away. She was now the same height as Lucius and his merciless glare gave her no hope.

"Come here little one," Lucius said outstretching his arm towards the small figure.

"No don't," Marlene began to beg, before Rodolphus's other hand gripped her throat, "Shut your mouth," he hissed.

Lucius' hand remained out stretched, "Come see mommy," he said playfully.

The toddler looked at her mother almost like she was seeking permission. As subtly as she possibly could, Marlene shook her head, telling her no.

The 11-month-old shook her head at Lucius and tried to move farther behind Severus' legs but Lucius was too quick. He reached out and grabbed her hand before she could get too far.

"Stop it!" Marlene demanded, not caring as the grip on her throat tightened.

Her daughter let out a little yelp as Lucius dragged the girl roughly by her wrist and brought her to stand in front of him, her back to his chest between his crouched legs.

"The little girl looked at her mother questionably which caused Marlene's cries to grow, "Please, Please I don't know anything about the Potter's location" Marlene said looking at the men around her, trying to find a hint of mercy in their eyes.

"Are you sure?" Lucius said pulling out the knife that had been tucked away in his belt. He brought it close to the little girl's neck as she started to wriggle in the uncomfortable grip Lucius had on her.

Beginning to sob while her daughter, too young could not register the full danger she was in. Marlene gave a hurried reply as she felt the last specs of sand start to run into the bottom of her hour glass. "No I don't know, please don't hurt her, kill me but please don't hurt her." Lucius grasped the back of her daughter's neck and began to press the knife down, the child let out a cry of pain. Her to little hands reached up at his wrist and tried to pull the knife away but he was much too strong for her. At this point, Marlene could see the small beads of blood that had started to dribble down her daughter's chest, staining her white sleep shirt. Tears leaked out of the little girls' eyes as she released a distressed and confused cry all the while trying to pull Lucius' hands away from her neck.

"Stop please, Stop," Marlene cried, sobs wracking her body. She kept trying to rip Rodolphus' grip off her but every time she did his grip around her tightened, little black spots started to appear in her vision. He was not letting up, so all she could do was cry and watch.

Lucius pressed the knife harder into the little girl's neck but the look in Marlene's eyes told him everything he needed to know. He quickly stood up, realizing that McKinnon indeed knew nothing. The little girl fell to her side her hands grasping her neck, sobs making her body quake. Marlene let out a breath of relief as she looked the shallow cut.

But Rodolphus let go and Marlene fell to the floor limply.

"Crucio!"

The pain came again, the strongest she had ever felt it.

She felt a boot on her stomach as it pressed down to hold her in place as she convulsed and screamed on the floor. They knew she knew nothing, now they were just having fun. Her vision started to blur. like time was no longer a concept, images just flashed in her mind. Rodolphus Lestrange towered above her, laughing at her as he pressed down on her stomach making it hard for her to catch a breath. She saw a glimpse of her daughter, through the pain as Lucius bounced her on his hip try to shush her cries. The wailing child just kept pushing at his arms to get herself away but to no avail, and that's when the severity of the situation dawned on Marlene. She wouldn't survive this.

She felt Rodolphus press his foot down even harder on her stomach before withdrawing it completely and lifting the curse. She coughed with a sry throat, barley making a sound.

Marlene looked at her child, who was looking back at her with wide red eyes while Lucius watched with glee in his cold ones. Wanting to break her completely he now knew exactly how to do it, "Severus take the girl," Lucius demanded.

"No!" Marlene cried, "please no!" She wanted to stand, she had to keep fighting but she was too weak. Her legs and arms still had the residing pins and needles from the cruciatus curse, and when she tried to move her body it sent jolts of pain making her quiver. She couldn't move.

Snape who until this point had simply sat and watched, walked over to Lucius as he handed him the crying child.

"Please Severus don't," her lip trembled as she lay motionless but not resigned. She looked up at the man she formerly went to school with, a boy she had once tormented.

Severus looked down at Marlene with no pity in his eyes as he left the room carrying her child away.

She heard her daughter's shrill and desperate screams as she kicked and cried in Severus' arms before they both walked out of the house.

A loud crack sounded outside. She was gone.

Marlene head rolled back to look up at the ceiling, she continued to cry, there was no point in hiding it anymore, she had no more time. It wasn't long before Lucius Malfoy's intimidating figure came into her view, "Bring her back," she cried, "please I don't know where they are," looking up into Malfoy's cruel and unforgiving eyes she New it was over.

"We didn't think you would know anything," Lucius said crouching down next to her, he took his hand and moved some of her messy hair away from her face. He placed his wand between her eyes and whispered to her, "So I guess a message will have too suffice."

As the green light hit her, the last thing she thought of was her perfect little girl.

Atria Alphia Black.