Monday 3rd May 1982

Marauder Flat, 14:00

Marlene's stomach felt all twisty and tight. Like it was trying to tie itself into knots. And it was starting to feel like it was pretty successful at that. Was that even possible? She bet there was a spell or a curse or something that did that. Curses could get pretty strange and specific; she had come to learn. There was one that enlarged your nostrils, after all. She still didn't see why that became a thing but whatever. That wasn't what was important right now. What was important was that she got her stomach to settle.

She hadn't been able to eat all day and at one point she had thought she was going to throw up but thankfully nothing had come from it. She had been in work and there was no way she wanted to raise any suspicions or have questions directed at her. Not today. Not about this. Though she was surprised that Moody hadn't said anything though these past few days he hadn't really been saying much and more growling at people who were more concerned about his appearance than their jobs. She didn't really blame him; it wasn't like he couldn't be an effective Auror with a chunk out of his nose. Was it weird to look at? Yes. Did she feel guilty that she hadn't got such an injury during the raid? Yes. Did she also feel guilty for being glad that it wasn't her? Also, yes. But guilt was Not something she should be focusing on today. Because Moody was fine, even though he now had a literal chunk taken out of him, and she couldn't control what was going on with him. Mind you, she couldn't control what she was worried about either even though it felt like she could. Did that even make sense?

It was ridiculous, the way she was acting. There was really no need for it. It wasn't like what was going to happen was going to change things right away. There would be no explosion, no big announcement. It was just filing a request. That was it. Nothing would happen until it was processed. The things would start happening. But not today. Today was just the start of... Well, the start of something. Something important.

It was only going to be uphill from here, she just knew it. Uphill wasn't enough for what they were going to face if this even went anywhere. It was a vertical line that they were going to have to go up. That's how hard it was going to be if this went anywhere. And that was her being hopeful. Which she wasn't exactly feeling right now because she had no clue what was going on and felt like everything was going to go wrong if she didn't find out. Did that make her a control freak? It felt like that meant that she was being a control freak.

Maybe she should just floo the man and see if he actually did it. It wouldn't hurt to check, right? Or was that unprofessional? Surely it was fine to do a quick check in? That would be expected, wouldn't it? It wouldn't hurt.

She actually went over to the jar that contained the floo powder (that was very much out of Cassie's reach after a particular incident) and had the lid off before she realised show ridiculous, she was being. Come on, she didn't have to check that he'd lodged a form. It wasn't even anything big. She could trust him to do that. Of course, she could.

She could.

She really could.

The floo powder was right there. Just there, staring at her. It didn't even have its lid on. She frowned at that, that was dangerous. There was a very quick an agile toddler running around. Nothing should be left unsecured.

Before she knew it, she was walking over to the little had and grabbing the lid. And now the bat was in her hand. It would be very easy for her to just take a pinch and throw it into the fire. It wasn't a lot of effort at all. Then all she would have to do was stick her head in the fire. This whole situation didn't necessitate a whole trip over. She just had to talk to him. Check in.

No. No, she didn't. That was her being a control freak. She didn't need to do anything.

Except throw a pinch into the fire, apparently. It had all happened so fast; she hadn't even realised that she was doing it. And now the fire was green. Marlene stared at it.

Well, it would be a shame to waste it, wouldn't it?

Azkaban, 19:00

Sirius was sick. Not sick of where he was (though, that was true too) but actually sick. With an illness. He didn't know what was wrong with him just that he felt horrible. In fact, horrible wasn't the word he would use. That was far too tame. Awful, disgusting, weak, horrific, all of those words combined. Throw in some dizziness and wavering vision too because why not? Everything ached, even the slightest touch made everything throb. So, of course, since he couldn't get up from the damp, stone floor everything hurt all the time. And he wasn't sure if the moisture on his clothes was from his sweat or from the general damp. Either way it was disgusting yet he couldn't do anything about it. Not even get himself up off the floor.

A fever. He definitely had a fever. He felt all sweaty but at the same time he was cold. So cold that he shivered and then heat flooded through him in a way that he was sure he was steaming and then he was cold again. No matter what temperature he felt like he couldn't stop shivering. And then there was this sweat his body seemed to be producing. Which, again, was disgusting. But that couldn't bother him for long when he because dizzy and woozy at the same time. He just wanted to stop himself from throwing up again, that's all he wanted.

What was he supposed to do when he was sick and there was no access to potions or spells that would make him feel better? What he wouldn't do for a nausea-reducer right now. Or even a cold glass of water. Be groaned at the thought. All his drinks were lukewarm here, whether it be water or his morning cup of (watery) tea. Even the thought of tea made bile rise to his throat again. Another groan left him.

It wasn't like the Dementors cared. They didn't feel emotion. They didn't care if the bodies they were looking after were sick or not. They only cared if they were alive. He thought. Let's be honest, he didn't really understand Dementors.

There was no one around to care was his last thought before he went unconscious.

Tuesday 4th May 1982

Potions Lab, 11:00

Severus bit his lip as Master Andrews slowly read through the parchment, he had handed him. He wasn't normally one to bite or chew on his lip, he wasn't the type the show any outwards signs of nervousness at all. A survival tactic he learned when he was very young. Showing nervousness meant that you were vulnerable. Being vulnerable meant you were weak. Severus Snape wasn't weak. He wasn't allowed to be. Not now. Not ever.

Where had that come from? That sort of dramatics was a Gryffindor thing. He was no Gryffindor.

The thing was, that piece of parchment - that long piece of parchment - was the most important thing to him right now. It was his hypothesis and planning and early research of his project. No, it wasn't a project. Project was too tame. Kt wasn't something stupid for school. It wasn't a thesis wither because kt was more than his Potions Mastery. It was a goal. Yeah, that was the best word for it. A goal. A goal that he needed to make happen. He had to.

Yes, it was all about his werewolf potion. The potion that was actually going to help people like Remus. Severus was not so full of himself to say that it was going to cure him. A werewolf bite was a curse, a potion was not going to cure that. At least, not on its own. But a potion could help. Ease the symptoms, maybe or tone down the aggression? Something. Anything. He had to help. He couldn't just keep standing back and watch Remus go through hell every month like he had done for years. Surely, he would be able to do something? He had to do something, hence this whole idea!

But all he had managed to do was analyse werewolf blood. Severus couldn't help bit snort at how he referred to it. As if it was from a different species all together. Which it wasn't. It wasn't. It was cursed blood, if you wanted to get down into technicalities. Cursed blood didn't make you a whole different species, it made it Cursed! It was in the name for Merlin's sake! Argh, he couldn't get too hung up on technicalities like that. The blood was different, that's what was important. It was still human; his research had proved that much. It just had a few abnormalities. Kind of like a clotting disorder would.

Clotting disorder...

Severus snatched the roll of parchment from Master Andrews' hands. The older man shouted at him in shock but Severus wasn't paying any attention because he was already rushing away.

Clotting disorder! Why hadn't he thought of that before?

Thursday 6th May 1982

DMLE, 09:00

"What do you mean we can't see him today?" Dora asked in an outraged voice.

Her mother placed a calming hand on her shoulder. Well, to anyone else It would look like a calming hand but the way she gently but firmly pressed on her shoulder, Dora knew it was a warning to calm down. Which she just couldn't manage right now though the touch did reassure her a bit. Her mum was on her side, that's what that touch meant. If she just wanted to get her attention to calm down, she would have just tapped her back sharply. Her old gesture from when she was younger to get her to straighten up and calm down. But the shoulder press was more 'I'm here, I've got your back but you need to calm down' sort of gesture. The words calm down didn't even sound like words anymore. Either way, it worked and she took a deep breath and exhaled noisily. It didn't help but her mother gave her an approving look so that was something. She was at least calm enough not to throttle the guy.

Which he deserved because he was stopping them from doing what they wanted to do, him and his partner who was watching this whole thing with disinterest. All they wanted to do was visit Sirius but apparently, they weren't allowed and they weren't being given a damn good reason. Or any reason, actually.

"Will you please enlighten us as to why we cannot see my cousin?" Andromeda said in a way that came across as calm and in control but there was a measure of steel under it.

"Can't do that, Ma'am."

Dora winced. Did he really not know who he was dealing with? Of course, he did, they had had to sign in and everything but did he know? Because if he did, he wouldn't be acting like this, would he?

Her mother drew herself up to her full height, which was an enviable one, and towered intimidatingly over the now trembling, blond-haired man.

"And why not?"

The man gulped and looked to his partner who had just been standing off to the side, unconcerned with what was happening in front of him. It would be kind of amusing if it wasn't so infuriating. Someone had better start talking and talking fast or else she wasn't going to be responsible for her actions. And yes, she meant that someone was going to get a fist in their face. She wasn't exactly subtle and deadly like her mother, she was far more blunt and to the point.

"Them's the rules, ma'am. Nothing we can do about it."

Dora felt like she should be impressed with how steady the man's voice was despite the fact that he was dealing with her mother. She was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to do that. But that didn't matter, she didn't care because he was getting in their way!

Andromeda drew herself up to her full height, which was extremely intimidating and always made Dora feel jealous. How come both of her parents were tall (her mother) or above average (her father) and she was left being short? Where did all those tall genes go and how was that fair?

"Nothing you can do? Nothing You can do?"

The man was bobbing his head up and down like he was some sort of duck or something.

"Yes," though he sounded more unsure of himself now.

Dora was quite impressed that he had managed to withstand her mother up until this point. Not many people could say that.

"Do not be ridiculous."

This stirred the unbothered partner into action.

"Hey, look here, we're not ridiculous." He complained.

Andromeda was not impressed. "Oh, you aren't?"

Dora winced at the warning in her tone. Something the man didn't pick up.

"No!"

"Then you are just incompetent then?"

That was delivered in this sickly-sweet sort of voice that made her shudder in fear and it wasn't even being directed at her. This guy, unfortunately, didn't get the message because he was all indignant.

"Of course, I'm not!"

"Oh, are you not?"

It was like watching a predator circle in on prey. Dora found it fascinating to watch. She almost wanted to warn the guard but she didn't feel that sorry for him.

"Then you should have no problem informing us why we cannot visit my cousin like we have been doing or, if you cannot do that, let us through so we can see him."

The unbothered man - seriously what were their names, she was pretty sure they had been told - frowned and very deliberately placed himself in front of her. A very bold move.

"We've told you we can't do that, lady."

"My name is Mrs Tonks. Andromeda Tonks, in fact. I would prefer that you used my name.

"Right, Mrs Tonks," he said with a nod. "Still can't let you through."

He and her mum had a brief stare off and although he cowered slightly, he didn't back down.

"Yes, you can."

"I really can't. I'm sorry."

"And I suppose you cannot tell me why, either?"

"No, I cannot."

"Even though I am a blood relative?"

"Her maiden name's Black," Dora added helpfully.

That got a look of shock from both men that was absolutely hilarious. Dora actually had to stop herself from laughing, that was something that definitely wouldn't help anything.

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"She's one of the Black Sisters," the blond-haired man hissed to the previously unbothered one (he wasn't exactly unbothered now).

Seriously, they really should have name tags or something because this was just silly, referring to them by character traits of all things. It was like her referring to Severus as the snarky one and Marlene the sarcastic one. It was daft.

"I figured," the other said through gritted teeth.

"Which one do you think she is?"

"Not the Death Eater one, obviously."

"But there's another two."

Finally fed up with them, her mother answered for them.

"I am the disowned one. For going against my family's beliefs. Now can I see my cousin?"

Both men stated at her for a few moments before the blond-haired one elbowed the other, which got him a glare. But he did answer.

"The answer's still no, ma- Mrs Tonks."

Dora couldn't believe it. She just couldn't believe it. After all of that and they didn't manage to get what they wanted. She didn't think that that had ever happened to her mother before. She gaped at the men in front of her, who were still looking terrified. What had just happened? This wasn't how it was supposed to go? Her mother grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her away.

"Something is definitely wrong," Andromeda said darkly as she strode along the corridor, Dora all but jogging to keep up.

"Think they've done something to Sirius?"

The look that was on her mother's face made her want to flee the country. No, the planet.

"They better not have."