Friday 28th November 1980

Marauder Flat, 23:30

Sirius was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Marlene was lying next to him and he was pretty sure that she was trying to sleep. Something he should be trying to do as well. But he couldn't. Too many thoughts going around in his head.

"Do you think we should think about going into hiding?" Sirius asked.

The thought had been niggling at him the past few days. There had been a few too close shaves at work and sometimes he thought he was being followed when he was in Diagon Alley. Though, when he turned around there was no one there. It was a bit unnerving but then again, going into Diagon Alley when he wasn't on patrol wasn't exactly the most comfortable experience these days. The whole place was eerie. Watchful. Like everyone was holding their breath and waiting for something to happen.

Marlene rolled over in bed so she could talk. They seemed to be doing an awful lot more talking in bed than anything else. Which was a shame because that's not what beds were designed for, in Sirius' opinion. Not that they were doing much of his favourite activity these days what between work and the Order and their annoying but cute little mood ruiner more commonly known as their daughter, they hadn't exactly had a lot of free time. And what free time they did have was used for eating and sleeping. What a sad life they led.

But would going into hiding fix that? Would it be worth it? Did they even have a choice in the matter? Sometimes Sirius felt like they shouldn't be here, not in Diagon Alley where there were skirmishes every few days. Granted, not near their flat but still. It wasn't something he wanted Cassie to grow up around.

"We aren't actively being targeted by Voldemort," Marlene said, after seriously thinking it over. "We just have the normal risk of being Aurors. Oh, and bloodtraiters," she added, almost as an afterthought.

"True. And we do need all the Aurors we can get." Sirius said, slowly nodding.

He didn't really want to go into hiding - who did? But he felt like he had to ask. All this talk about James and Lily and also the Longbottoms had him thinking things over a bit more. Yes, yes, a first for him and all that. Still, these were thing you had to think about, unfortunately. And they did have Cassie to think about now.

"Exactly."

"So, no going into hiding."

"No going into hiding," Marlene confirmed with a yawn.

"Good."

It didn't wound that appealing anyway. Always being on your guard. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to do it. James and Lily didn't exactly have that choice.

A brief cry came from Cassie's room.

"I'll get her," said Marlene, hopping out of bed. "She's probably just hungry."

"Babies eat so much," Sirius said as Marlene returned with Cassie in one hand and a bottle in the other.

"More like they eat such small amounts that they need to eat a lot of times throughout the day," Marlene said absentmindedly, completely entranced with watching Cassie drink from the bottle.

Which was fair enough, Sirius also got distracted with her little cheeks going in and out as she sucked furiously. It was like she was trying to force herself to eat loads so she grew faster or something. It was adorable. She was going to be one of the best witches ever, he just knew it.

But unfortunately, Cassie's little stomach couldn't keep up with the milk she wanted to consume and she was soon full. She gave this tiny little baby yawn, letting Marlene remove the bottle from her mouth. A little bit of milk dribbled down her chin.

"Who's a mess?" She cooed and the slowly blinking baby. "You are. That's right."

Cassie was soon burped - surprisingly, no spit up this time - and Marlene held her out so Sirius could give her a kiss.

"Time for beddy-byes," she singsonged. "Say night night!"

She waved Cassie's little hand at him and squeaked a, "Night night, daddy," at him nearer bringing her back to bed.

Sirius couldn't help but chuckle at that. Who would have thought that they would ever be so domestic? Yet, it felt right. The only thing that felt right these days. Sirius frowned as he thought about his friends and the concept of going into hiding.

"Do you think we'll still be able to see Lily and James?" Sirius asked anxiously as Marlene returned.

She frowned. "Pretty sure going into hiding means that they won't Exactly be out and about."

"But we will be able to visit them?"

"I hope so," Marlene said honestly. "But I don't know."

Sunday 30th November 1980

Godric's Hollow, 15:30

Lily and James watched anxiously as Dumbledore walked around and through their home, muttering things and tapping his wand here and there. He was checking how good their protections were. There were wards and protections spells and shields and alarms and even more wards. Everything they could possibly fling at this house, they had it. They just weren't sure if it was enough.

"I still say we should have looked into making this whole house unplottable," James muttered to her.

"That wouldn't stop him from finding us completely," Lily said in exasperation. "You just wouldn't be able to put the house on a map."

James grumbled but he knew she was right. It just felt like they hadn't done enough, okay? Would it ever have felt like they had done enough? This was Voldemort, after all. He was powerful. He was dangerous. And he was after them. Nothing would feel like enough in his opinion. Hopefully, Dumbledore would be able to ease their fears.

Speak of the devil, Dumbledore came to a stop and returned to them, a thoughtful look on his face. James felt Lily tense beside him and he was sure he wasn't much better. Both of them looked at him expectantly, hiding their breath. James hoped for good news. They could do with some good news.

"These are quite strong," he finally said, making them breathe a sigh of relief. "Not the same strength as a place where magic has been present for generations," he added pointedly which made James studiously look away from him. "But these are strong."

"Strong enough to keep out Voldemort?" Lily asked anxiously.

"I have to admit that I am not one hundred percent satisfied at the amount of protection this gives."

"But you just said that the wards were strong!" James said indignantly.

"They are," Dumbledore answered patiently. "But nothing is a hundred percent guaranteed."

"Especially against Voldemort," Lily said softly.

"Exactly my point."

"But what else can we do?"

Dumbledore looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Let me get back to you. I shall need to research something and I will report back on my findings."

James and Lily looked at each other. It was weird to hear Dumbledore say that to them. Usually, it was the other way around.

"Of course, Sir," James said.

What else could they say to that? It wasn't like they could demand answers from Dumbledore of all people. You just didn't do that.

A snuffling sound came from the baby chair they had on the floor in the living room. It was one of these muggle contraptions. A seat with a string of toys across it that Harry could bat at. It was a bit weird in James' opinion but Harry seemed to like it. Even if he mostly just looked at it.

"I shall report back to you as well, young man," Dumbledore said to Harry who looked at the man with his big green eyes.

Lily's eyes. They hadn't changed colour since the change from baby blue to green. James loved it.

Dumbledore raised a hand in farewell and soon his was gone.

James and Lily looked at each other.

"Do we just wait?" James asked.

Wednesday 3rd December 1980

Hogwarts, 22:00

Severus tugged Remus back at the end of the Order meeting that evening. Thankfully, Dora was there to hang back - she had caught an awful cold and was trying to sleep it off so she wouldn't miss a day of training. On that note, he had to give Remus the improved Pepper up potion he had adjusted. It should kick her nasty cold easy as that. She might steam a bit more and her nostrils will feel like they've been blasted with sandpaper but it really did work. He was quite proud of it. Though, he'd have to get rid of that sandpaper effect if he wanted to sell it.

"Hey, good meeting, huh?" Remus said, letting everyone else walk past them.

"Huh? Yeah, I guess." Severus answered.

If you counted no deaths among the Order or their supporters being reported as good news. Which he supposed it was.

"What's up?" Remus asked, frowning at him. "You, okay?"

"What? Oh, yes. Yes. I'm fine."

"You sure?"

Severus nodded jerkily.

"I just wanted to ask you something."

"Me?"

"Well, I am talking to you, aren't I?" He bit out.

Remus held his hands out defensively.

"No need to get snappy."

Severus tried to stop himself from giving him another sarcastic response. He just had to take a deep breath and tell Remus what he had wanted him for. It was as easy as that.

"Sorry."

"It's okay," Remus said easily.

He was ways so easy-going. It could be annoying. But hopefully it could work in his favour. Okay, another deep breath. He could do this. Gryffindors didn't have the monopoly on bravery.

"It's just, I had this idea-"

Thursday 4th December 1980

Longbottom Manor, 07:30

"This is. This going to be weird." Alice said as they pulled on their Auror robes that morning.

"Just, don't think about it," Frank advised. "We don't want to give anything away."

"I know that. It's still weird."

This was going to be their last day of being Aurors. Of working. At least until the War was over and Voldemort was gone. Which felt wrong, by the way, because them being Aurors would hopefully quicken that process. But instead, they were helping it do the opposite. Leaving the Auror Department with even fewer people. Yes, she was feeling guilty about that but it couldn't be helped.

They were going into hiding for a good reason. A very good reason. The best of reasons. To keep their precious, little, innocent son safe. They had to do all they could to make that happen. And going into hiding was the best option. It was as simple as that. Nothing else mattered. It really didn't.

It didn't matter what other people thought of them. It didn't matter if it looked like they were running away. It didn't even matter if people missed them. None of that truly mattered.

They were even going to leave behind some clues on their desks and such that they had fled the country. Maybe to France or even Germany. That way people wouldn't even think about looking for them in England with any luck. And maybe if Voldemort thought that they weren't in the country then he wouldn't see them as a threat.

Either way, they were going to make sure that people didn't feel the need to go looking for them, they had agreed on that much. It would make them feel less guilty about vanishing and leaving the Auror Department short two Aurors.

It was for their own safety. They had to think of themselves for a change.

That didn't stop Alice feeling incredibly guilty about the whole thing.

Godric's Hollow, 17:00

Lily stopped in the doorway of the room that had kind of turned into an office for them come dumping room for, well, everything. Mainly her research, she had to admit. But also, their school trunks - neither of them having the heart to put them up into the attic just yet, a rack of robes for formal occasions that neither of them got a chance to wear these days and numerous boxes they still hadn't unpacked. And were the contents even necessary if they hadn't used them in the past couple of months? In fact, the only thing that made it vaguely a study were the two small desks they had crammed in there. One for each of them. They were even facing each other with the romantic idea of them gazing at each other as they did work together. When, in reality, James only really did Lord Potter business in here and Lily did her research anywhere that wasn't an actual chair. The floor, perched on the kitchen counter, bed (hence their ink-stained sheets) and even, on one memorable occasion, the bathtub. Her quill never quite recovered from that. It had been one of her favourite ones too. Well, it still was her favourite. It was just all sad and bedraggled looking now. She felt sorry for it, okay?

"Hey, Lily. What's up?" James said, looking up.

Right as she was about to turn around and not ask. Because of course. Oh well. She squared her shoulders. She was a Gryffindor, after all.

"I was just wondering," Lily began hesitantly and then stopped, not knowing how to phrase her next sentence.

James looked up at her curiously.

"Yes?"

"Well."

Seriously, how was she supposed to ask this? Now James was looking all worried and he really didn't need to be. She just had to come out and say it. It should be easy.

"I know you haven't really celebrated any of the Sabbats in the past few years," she began.

"It's a lot easier to celebrate in school when it's basically scheduled for you," James said with laugh, though the smile never quite made it to his eyes. "Kind of like how it's easier to study because you're constantly doing it."

Lily knew that that was only a part of the reason why James didn't celebrate them anymore. Another way she caused of the sheer lack of time. Death Eaters and criminals didn't stop just because of Sabbats, after all. Though, you think they would, considering they claimed to be traditional purebloods and all that. And then there was also the whole family aspect of it. The fact that you performed the minor ones with your parents and your significant other and your children. Except they didn't have James' parents anymore. And James still didn't like to talk about them. He wasn't ready yet. Everything was still too raw.

Which meant that James didn't discuss the Sabbats never mind perform them. Which was a shame because it was Harry's birth right as a wizard and something that she should be learning about because of James.

It wasn't like she could be the one to introduce them to Harry. It still wasn't really her culture, not matter how assimilated she was and how much research she had done. There was just always going to be something that felt different because she wasn't brought up in it. It would have to be James that celebrated them. That shared them with her and Harry. Case in point, Lily had never really participated in any of the minor ones - they were more family affairs, after all. And from what she had gathered only the really upper-class purebloods had celebrated them; the Blacks, the Potters, the Smiths, the Longbottoms and so on. She even remembered overhearing a sneering comment that the Malfoys had only started practicing the minor ones only a century ago.

"Well," she said hesitantly. "Why don't you try to get into the habit again. For Harry."

"For Harry," James repeated softly.

Lily nodded and stayed quiet so he could think. She didn't want to push him on this.

He looked at Harry intently, who was babbling and wriggling about on the floor. A thoughtful look came over him.

"I'll think about it," he said finally.

Saturday 6th December 1980

Tonks Home, 21:30

Remus lay back in bed, Dora snoring softly next to him. She had a slight cold at the moment and it and Teddy and training, had completely wiped her out. He had firmly told her that he would look after Teddy tonight instead of them swapping as usual. Hopefully this would get them into a habit of doing this. For training, Dora needed all the sleep she could get. He didn't. Though, she would have to get up at least once - she was breastfeeding Teddy and he was a reluctant bottle drinker. But still, he should be the one to do the night shift. He'd bring it up when she was feeling better.

Anyway, it wasn't like he was going to get much sleep tonight. He hadn't the past two nights either. Not since the idea that Severus had sprung on him. A potion. For werewolves. That could help them. That was what Severus' idea was. And what an idea it was. Imagine. Being able to be a werewolf and not hurt anyone.

Now, he wasn't stupid or anything - that was one thing that no one could claim Remus John Lupin to be. He knew that a cure wouldn't be made just like that. Or maybe even not at all. But if there was one person that he believed could do it, it was Severus. And maybe Lily. Those two were verifiable geniuses at Potions after all. And Severus loved research and tweaking Potions. If someone could create an effective one from scratch, Remus would place all his meagre savings on Severus. But even then, it wouldn't be an instant thing. He was not going to get his hopes up like that. Nothing ever good came of that.

Should he talk to Dora about this? Get her opinion? It sounded like something he should discuss with Dora. His partner, his future wife. Huh. He'd never thought of her like that before. Not really. Even though they had discussed marriage. So, yes, she was his future wife. Technically. Well, almost certainly because Dora did day that she wanted to marry him at some point. Huh.

Then this was definitely something they should discuss together. This wasn't something he should hide from her. They had both vowed to be better and talking to each other, after all.

He frowned at the ceiling as he thought about it. Then he resolutely nodded his head. Yes. He would tell Dora. Turning over he saw her peaceful, sleeping face.

Tomorrow. He would tell her tomorrow.