Disclaimer: Anything that rings a bell belongs to J.K Rowling

Trigger warning: Physical violence

'Putain. Que font-ils ici' - Damn, what are they doing here

'Connard' - Asshole

'Sortir' - Out

'Merde' - shit

Chapter 31: Of Redheads and Rooftops

James sipped his red wine, feeling far more sophisticated than his just turned seventeen self. He was beginning to like the taste of wine, perhaps it was the side effect of coming of age. Moony and he were hanging out with Baron and his friends, or, more accurately Baron's friends, their host being lost in conversation with the blonde girl at his side, Lilou.

Sirius and Camille left to 'get some air' a few minutes ago, her friends staying behind with their group of boys.

"Danse?" A tall redhead asked James, doing the motion so as to convince him. He politely declined, not really wanting to be in the middle of the writhing bodies that occupied the Arc De Triomphe right now. James didn't even know the famous arch even had an inside, which had been cordoned off for this annual event, which James was surprised to learn was attended by wizards and muggles alike, as long as the non-magical folk attended with a wizard that vouched for them. It wasn't an official French ministry approved event, but Antoine explained that this celebration happened annually since the end of the Muggle Great War, so it was standard, and expected, procedure for the ministry to look the other way.

Camille and her friends were muggles, vouched for by her muggleborn wizard brother, Philippe. The group of girls had been most amused by the wizard boys, even if half of their party were reluctant entertainers. It's not that James minded the attention, it was flattering, but he felt a bit like a beast on display at the Magical Menagerie. Also, he would really like to get Padfoot and Moony on their own to have a discussion about Jude.

He discreetly checked the Parch, he had asked Jude to tell them when she and his parents were thirty minutes away so they could apparate back to the apartment with plenty of time to spare.

"Putain. Que font-ils ici?" James narrowed his eyes as Baron unglued himself from Lilou in their nearby corner, clearly this must be important if it resulted in such a drastic measure from the boy. Moony sucked in a sharp breath as if he were winded and James snapped around.

Standing at the other end of the room were some of their least favourite people, Lucius Malfoy, Rodolphus Lestrange, Sirius' brother, Wilfreda Wilkes, Garrick Mulciber, and Aiza. The tall girl hadn't spotted them, but James swore bitterly, what were the chances that they would be in France at the same time…at the same event.

Wait, why were that lot here? Surely they didn't approve of an event that involved such intermingling with muggles. That celebrated wizards defending muggles.

The hair on James' neck rose. He'd usually be ready for whatever the Snakes threw at them, but they had been drinking for hours, and there were too many muggles around for spells to fly in such a small space.

"Why don't we find Padfoot and get out of here." James tried to grab his friend who had taken a few steps forward, but Remus dodged his hand, his eyes focused on the tall girl who was practically draped over by the dark haired boy, like some kind of disgusting leech.

"You know them?" Moony directed his question at Baron.

"Unfortunately. The Lestranges and my family have had many decades of bad blood. Both had served at the French Royal Wizarding Court for centuries until the Royal Family Massacre in the late 19th century, which was instigated by those cowards. They were most vocal against helping the muggles during the Great War, so I'm surprised they're here, celebrating that which they opposed so loudly."

"Perhaps we should go say hello." Antoine said, sounding anything but welcoming.

"Baron." Lilou had tugged at his hand, clearly not interested in the boy's family's feuding history, but he continued staring at the nest of Snakes, who had yet to notice their own group across the room. Annoyed at losing his attention, and probably fuelled with liquid courage, Lilou grabbed Baron by his cheek and pulled him into a deep kiss.

Well, they were definitely not going to leave in an hour as promised, now. James turned to lament the fact with Moony, to find him pulling Camille's redhead friend onto the dance floor.

James groaned, none of this boded well. Antoine had also taken to the dance floor with the rest of the girls. James wanted to go search for Padfoot, in the opposite direction of where Aiza and her friends were, but he couldn't leave Remus alone, especially in this weird mood his friend seemed to be in. Moony was the level headed one, he didn't usually walk towards the fight, and the fact that he was doing so now was concerning to say the least. So James joined him in the last place he wanted to be, dancing with a bunch of girls.

"Wooohoo!" One of the girls cheered as James joined their group, immediately pulling him in to dance, her hands sneaking around his waist while he kept his own visibly in the air. He won't have Aiza noticing him dancing with some French girls and relaying that information to Evans'…not that she would care, especially now, but he wasn't taking any chances. His brunette companion was swinging her hair about and he ducked the strands, catching Moony's raised brows, a small smirk on his face.

James didn't appreciate his friend's silent teasing, he was only in this mess because of him. He felt a tap on his shoulder and he turned around, "I thought you were into redheads, not skanky French girls."

James' almost groaned, so much for Aiza not noticing him. His eyes flicked to Remus, who suddenly became very interested in the redhead with him, their bodies moving against each other as Moony whispered something in her ear, the couple throwing back shots of alcohol that a passing waiter offered. Aiza's eyes followed James', "Ah, I see the only skanky French redhead was taken, you should have called dibs. May we have a word outside?"

"What do you want, Aiza." James snapped, not in the mood at all for the girl's teasing.

"Now now Potter, perhaps someone ought to teach you some manners." James glanced up to see Lucius Malfoy at Aiza's side. James was fortunate to not have seen his ugly mug in years, the boy had been a prefect when they started school, and had docked him and Padfoot about a hundred house points in their first year.

"Perhaps someone ought to teach you to shut the fuck up, Connard." James caught a shock of red hair as Antoine stepped in front of him, threatening the pale blonde prat.

James already had his wand out, when a voice cut through, and two wizards approached them, speaking rapid French, Antoine responding quickly. James couldn't understand but he noticed that Malfoy turned around, grabbing Aiza to pull her away but she flung him off.

"Do not touch me!" She spat, glaring at Malfoy and James stepped forward without thinking, angry he may be at her, but she was practically family, but before he could do anything Remus had launched himself at the blonde boy.

Moony had the boy on the floor and flung a fist at him, and before James could even help his friend, he felt his hands bind behind his back against his will.

"Sortir! Sortir! OUT!" A man boomed at him, and he felt authoritative hands push him towards the exit. Before he could protest he already felt the cold air as they were forced to leave the party.

"Merde!" Antoine spat in annoyance. James just noticed it had just been him, Remus and Antoine that were kicked out, the Snakes managing to slither away in time. Baron and Padfoot were both still inside, busy with Lilou and Camille.

The redhead narrowed his brown eyes, "I'm going to go get Baron and Sirius. You both head to the apparition spot, something feels off."

James wanted to offer to come along with him but Remus had thundered off towards the circular road that surrounded the Arc, and he quickly followed his friend.

"Moony!"

"She should get a bleeding trophy for bringing out the worst in me!" Remus growled, massaging his knuckles, "Acting like an animal." He kicked a nearby trashcan, doing more damage to his foot, and James' heart dipped at his friend's word, knowing how Remus loathed acting violent in anyway, trying his best to be the model example of what a werewolf could be.

"Mate, if you didn't punch him, I'd have done it." James glanced back at the Arc, "She asked me to step outside to talk before Malfoy got there."

Against his will James could see his friend grow curious, "What are they even doing here?"

James shrugged, looking at his new pocket watch, a gift for his seventeenth, and sneaking a look at the Parch, but Jude hadn't messaged to let him know they were near. They should still leave.

He looked away from his watch as he heard a retching sound and he let out a sigh. Moony was throwing up near a tree, which was not surprising, he had downed about five shots ever since Aiza entered the party. He walked over, patting his friend on his back, glancing at his watch again.

This night had gotten away from them completely.

-x-x-x-

Sirius had barely navigated the girl up onto the rooftop of the Arc, her towering heels so thin, he wondered how they didn't just snap.

Camille giggled, moving closer to him as they were exposed to the windy night. The rooftop was technically off limits, but Camille knew the guard, and it was pretty easy getting them up here. Sirius had fun watching her work her own kind of magic, with her curly brown hair, and bare shoulders, and suggestive poses, for a muggle, the girl did almost a better job than an imperius curse in getting men to do what she wanted.

Sirius gulped down a bit of their bottle of champagne, walked over to the closest wall of the rooftop of the Arc and jumped onto it.

"Sirius!" The girl giggled, hastening forward, "Down! Get down!"

The dark haired boy laughed, enjoying his little private canine joke, "Don't you worry, I'm not quite at the point of giving my mother the satisfaction of an early grave just yet."

He was being dramatic, and reckless, but he felt justified in both emotions. For the first time in his life, Sirius attempted to commit to someone, it may have been just for a few months, but he had been faithful and devoted to just Cece, prioritising responding to her letters over working on constructing the Map, or ignoring the appreciative glances he often received from hopeful girls. He hadn't even entertained the physical company of some of his usual playmates, finding the creative letters Cece penned to be all the amusement he needed.

Some voice in the back of his head laughed mockingly at Sirius, why did he think this would end differently. Why did he think that he was good enough to be anything more than just a bit of fun to a girl, what could he actually offer anybody in terms of substance.

He wasn't even that angry at Cece for not showing up, he was angrier at himself for letting himself believe that he could be someone's boyfriend - what did he know about the first thing about loving someone. His own mother never loved him, his parents marriage was a mess, he was tainted by Black blood, nobody in his family ever had happiness, ever deserved it.

"Sirius?" Camille's voice shook with nerves and Sirius immediately felt guilty, he didn't want to scare the girl. He didn't particularly know what he wanted from her, but he didn't want to upset her.

He of course knew what she wanted from him, what they always wanted from him, the only thing they thought he was good for.

He jumped down from the wall, rubbing his eyes, drunk and exhausted. The Eiffel Tower twinkled nearby, Paris' eternal guardian, it's why he had jumped onto the wall in the first place, he just wanted to get a better view of it.

Of it all really.

This City of love which now felt more like a city of heartbreak for Sirius.

He pulled Camille easily into his arms. She was lovely to look at, brunette curly locks and bright blue eyes. Her painted red lips begging to be kissed in words that her eyes were spelling out to him.

But he just couldn't do it…

Even though Cece clearly didn't care about him, Sirius didn't have the magical incantation she seemed to have the wandwork to. He couldn't just make that spark she lit in his chest die so quickly.

He was an idiot.

"It's cold. Let's get you inside." He muttered, letting go of the girl and ignoring the wounded look in her eyes, feeling guilty. He knew just how painful rejection felt now, and he wouldn't wish that on…actually he would totally wish this on Snivellus. Or Rabastan. Or any number of the Slytherins.

As if his very thought conjured the boy, Sirius gasped.

Rabastan Lestrange had just entered the rooftop, not noticing Sirius or Camille as he was too distracted by the girl he had been kissing.

Sirius' hand found his wand, and he was glad to find that it was steady, but he didn't want to know what the amount of alcohol he consumed would do to his reflexes. He pulled Camille back towards the door which stood in the centre of the roof, watching as Rabastan did the same to his girl, pulling her to the other side of the door, but his girl flung him off.

"I told you, I'm done, I don't want you!" Sirius stilled, he knew that voice, but in his state he couldn't be sure, and it didn't make any sense for it to be her. Camille seemed to sense his anxiety and remained silent, moving closer into him.

"Didn't say that this morning when I had you in my father's study. And it doesn't feel like it." Rabastan had pushed the girl against a wall, and from Sirius' position he couldn't see what he had done, but he could use his imagination. Suddenly there was a gasp and Sirius heard the obvious sound of a slap.

"Go downstairs." He whispered to Camille, who didn't need telling twice, Sirius had pulled out his wand, approaching the couple, turning the corner just to see Rabastan hit Bella back, grabbing her by the neck and pushing her against the wall.

Before his body could touch hers though, Rabastan was flung backwards, this time magically, and hit the wall of the Arc forcefully, the combination of what must have been both Sirius' and Bella's spells increasing his impact.

Sirius didn't wait for the boy to get to his feet, he flung a slashing spell at Rabastan, but missed…he clearly was too inebriated.

The other boy stood, throwing a purple curse at Sirius, but he was surprised to find a shield charm on him.

"You're defending this blood traitor bastard?" Rabastan spat.

Sirius had also turned, a look of surprise easily on his face but Bella didn't respond, and Sirius' hand flexed when he noticed her nose.

It looked like it was broken, and it was gushing blood.

Before he could think twice he was on Rabastan, forgetting his magic, pushing the boy hard against the wall, punching him in the gut, and then the face. The boy was smaller than Sirius, and lacked substance, and had no chance in a physical fight even with him drunk.

He felt sharp fingers at his shoulders, pulling him off Rabastan, he made to get to him again but a hand on his heart stopped him. Bella was in front of him, getting physically in between him and Rabastan, who had been struggling to his feet, his wand raised. "Just get downstairs!"

The dark haired boy glowered at Bella, clearly torn between listening to the girl or fighting the boy.

"You're pathetic." Rabastan spat, taking the few steps to the exit with a scowl.

Sirius didn't move, panting as if he was in his canine state, his body abuzz from the fight, trying to regain control. Neither did Bella, her back still to him, but almost no space keeping them apart. After a few moments, she turned, but she didn't step away, so close to him that he couldn't properly see her face at this angle, the top of her dark mane at his nose. He felt a drop of something hit his hand, and he glanced up at the sky, thinking it was rain, but all he saw was the endless stretch of clear blue. He sniffed the air, the smell of rust answering his question, and his hands found her chin easily.

He was surprised that she didn't resist as he tilted her face up, and he was even more surprised to find that amidst the blood from her nose were tears.

Sirius had known Bella all his life, but had only seen her cry once before, and that had been when Narcissa was nine and was sick with Xebonite Infection and had reacted poorly to the antidote, almost dying. Sirius recalled Bella's tears had more to do with her father's refusal to let her visit Narcissa who was potentially contagious, than sadness.

Back then too, it had only been Sirius who witnessed her tears. She had floo'd to his house and ran straight to his room and ranted to him for an hour about how unfair Cygnus was, and they had snuck out of Grimauld place together to visit Narcissa at St Mungo's, when her parents were not there. They had spent the rest of the day wandering the streets of London, sneaking onto the rooftop of St Paul's Cathedral, making the most of their 'accidental' magic privileges before they got the trace put on them when they started school.

Those two kids who watched the sunset over London, gouging themselves on a galleon's worth of candy from Sugarplum's, would never believe what had become of their grown-up selves. Yet again, on a roof top, but no trace of sweetness between them, metaphorically or literally.

"Why did you let that bastard treat you like that?" Bella was much stronger than Rabastan, as much as Sirius disliked who his cousin had become, he always admired her choice in fighting against being some typical purebred woman. Bella was a beast, and a rat like Rabastan should cower at her feet.

"There are far worse things you can do to a person than strike them." She mumbled, and Sirius, nauseated by the sight of the blood about her lips, fixed her nose.

"Don't tell me you're making excuses for that bastard?"

She scoffed, "You think in this game Rabastan and I are playing, I'm losing? I've done far worse to him, far more often. Though, I know better than to taint your innocent little lion ears with such things."

Sirius caught the whiff of alcohol on her breath, which explained why she was behaving so differently. He began cleaning the blood off her lips with a damp towel he conjured, not sure why he was doing this physically. Bella was the devil incarnate herself…but she had been hit and possibly worse…and in this Bella, his Bella lived, somewhere far behind those wild black eyes.

That Bella who was his first best friend. His big sister.

"Why?"

That was a multifaceted question if there was one. Sirius guessed she must mean why did he help her, and he didn't really want to answer that himself.

"I can ask you the same question? Isn't that your fiancé's brother." He much rather talk about Rabastan than dissect his feelings towards his family, and that was saying something.

"Husband." She mumbled, "As of today."

Sirius' brows rose, and then without helping himself he let out a chuckle. She frowned in question, "None of this funny. I just…of course you're spending your wedding night like this…fuck. Our family is cursed."

"What?" She grumbled, finally her face was clear of blood and Sirius couldn't believe the level of intimacy she was allowing, and he was giving.

"Well, not spending your wedding night with your husband doesn't scream blissfully in love."

Sirius had expected an eye roll, some sardonic quip about how love was a waste of time, anything but the dull look in her eyes, "Well, I didn't plan to be here. Rodolphus had other ideas. Why do you think our family is cursed?"

He accepted the change of subject, "Have you ever seen a family line so overcome by miserable marriages. We're clearly unlovable."

She cocked a brow, "Speak for yourself. Men have wanted to claim me since I was in training bras."

"That's not quite the same thing, claiming someone isn't the same as loving them."

"Oh, and since when were you such an expert on love?" Her face was passive, it had been years since Bella looked at him without disapproval, or even hatred. Not that he had looked upon her with any positive emotion in years, he had given up on Bella. She had done too much, was too far gone, and he really ought to leave. She didn't deserve his comfort, but it was hard to abandon her now, he had never seen her quite so vulnerable. She was yet to move away from him, and the blood had long since left her face yet he was still wiping at it. "Lucius loves Cissy. And that mudblood must love Andromeda. Perhaps it's not some blood curse, maybe it's just us. We're unlovable."

Sirius was more surprised at her mention of Ted and Andy than at her display of insecurity. But what surprised him most was the confusing sadness he felt for her in this very moment. He remembered an eleven year old Bella, lying in his bed, whispering to him what she wanted out of life.

"I didn't say I wanted a good kisser, I said we should kiss. All the time. Like we can't keep our hands off of each other." She smiled and her teeth glinted in her mouth, "What I want is power. A man who'll be even more powerful than you one day."

Sirius scoffed, "Good luck finding someone with a name yielding more power than our family's."

She smiled, "Is that a challenge? You do know how I adore challenges. Anyway, better power than a pretty face. Pretty faces age with time, power never goes out of style."

He turned around and found her looking up at the ceiling, "What about love?"

She turned and stared at him, "Even I know my limits Sirius."

He was sad to learn that eleven year old Bella had been right.

"Your marriage has barely begun. I know this is a less than ideal wedding night, but it's just one night. You've never shied away from a challenge, do you really think you couldn't conquer a mere man?"

She laughed darkly, "If I have to work for it, it's not worth it. Do you like it when girls throw themselves at you, don't you think it's pathetic? I'd rather be a miserable wife, than a pathetic one."

"I don't think it's pathetic, I think it's brave to go out there and get what you want."

She rolled her eyes, "Brave. Gryffindors." Bella began to fiddle with the top button of Sirius' shirt, "Have you ever done that?"

"Go out and get what I want?" Sirius sighed, "I suppose just once." He wouldn't tell her that it had in fact been today and that he had been completely rejected.

"Oh." Sirius could tell that this was, for some reason, not the answer she wanted. "So, you've been in love?"

"Oh Godric no. I didn't say that." Her eyes brightened at his words, and that confused him. "Have you?"

She shook her head quickly, "I listen to Cissy and Wilfeda talk about it all the time, how they love Lucius and Walden. How they can't wait to be their wives, and take care of them. Please them." She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the last statement.

"Well, I doubt Lestrange expects that of you. There's more than one way to show that you care."

"Well, what if the ways I'm used to doing so, he doesn't like?" Sirius frowned at her question, and she sighed in frustration, "I think Rodolphus chases for the other team."

"Ahhh." Sirius reflected on the statement, thinking back to the older boy's time at Hogwarts. He didn't recall him tied to anybody romantically, though he had been engaged to Bella for ages. "Is that why you're messing about with Rabastan?"

She waved her hand in dismissal, "I've been messing about with Rabastan since third year. Rodolphus hasn't said anything, and he was always very physically distant, but…well…" Her eyes filled with tears, "He was so quick. And so…cold. And, it felt like he was just doing it to finish the bedding rituals." Sirius knew there were a few steps to establish a magical marriage. Even though he never attended a wedding in person, he had heard that in order for some of the marital vows to take effect the bedding rituals, which was more or less physical consummation between the married couple, would have to be completed.

"I mean it was your first time? First times are often awkward." Sirius didn't feel uncomfortable talking to Bella about any of this for some reason. He himself had learnt what sex was from Bella, who had found some of her father's questionable magazines at the age of ten, and was only too happy to share in the disgust with her cousin. They had been at the age where the opposite sex was yucky, and found the moving pictures funnier than anything else.

"I don't think it's that. He barely looks at me. And when he does, its the same way you do. Like I disgust you."

Sirius was surprised at the direct statement, but didn't hasten to correct her. She did disgust him, she had awful views on the world, had done heinous things. But, Rodolphus not only knew all this about Bella already, but he shared her views, he had no right to make her feel so unwanted.

"Do you think, perhaps, he knows about you and Rabastan?"

"I only initiated things with Rabastan because I was trying to get his attention, I used to think he was just indifferent to me back then. Now I think he hates me." She sniffed, and Sirius blamed the alcohol for her uncharacteristic vulnerability, but nevertheless placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

She looked up, her black eyes wide but now dry, "Why did you leave us?"

Sirius raised his brows - had Bella forgotten the night that she tortured his neighbour Jenny? The fight they had a few weeks ago? How she lauded the fact that his own mother tried to poison him. All the awful things they had said to each other over the years?

He didn't think any answer he'd give would make her less sad, so he remained silent.

She shook her head, clearly not wanting the topic to fall, "Showing up to quidditch matches with James Potter, while you abandoned your brother - how do you think that makes him feel?"

"Like Regulus cares." He muttered, recalling that his brother hadn't even acknowledged him in the Top Box, he didn't even wear his Christmas gift. Regulus took every opportunity to show Sirius how much he now hated him.

"You and I both know that boy is nothing but care." Bella's voice was cold, but her face was soft, and Sirius knew she was right. Reg was always the most considerate of their family, whilst Bella and Sirius butted heads, he often played peace maker, Cissy being lost in the clouds, whilst Andy usually took Sirius' side. "I'm working on that though. If the head of the family is too soft, it will be too easy for it to be chopped off." She looked up at him then, her eyes bold and alluring, "Or, you can come back. Uncle Orion is softer since Uncle Alphard is gone, I'm sure he will give you whatever you wanted. What do you want?"

Sirius frowned, nobody in his family had ever asked what it is that he wanted, and he didn't know how to answer the question. What he wanted from his family as a child had always been for them to accept him for who he was, but as an adult he knew that that wasn't good enough, they needed to be acceptable to him too. He couldn't tolerate their pureblood mania, their support for the Dark Lord.

"Why do you even care?" He deflected her question, "You've made it quite clear that you hate me, that you want me nowhere near our family."

Bella responded more emotionally to his retort than Rabastan's violence, "Hate you? I wish I hated you, Sirius, then perhaps it wouldn't hurt so damn much that I've lost you. And it hurts all the more when you save me from falling, or defend me, Morgana, why do you do that!" She snapped, suddenly shoving Sirius' chest, "Why do you always save me!" The voice ripped out of her throat, and Sirius let her push at his chest, moving back with her force, until he hit the short wall that stood between him and the Paris skyline, the wind whipping her hair about them, as she continued pelting his chest, and then dissolved into tears, clutching him in an embrace, that Sirius reciprocated.

They stood there for what felt like hours, all of Paris at their back, the wind the music their dark hair danced to. Sirius blamed it on the alcohol, they had both been quite drunk, and it would seem she felt as heartbroken and unloved as he did today. That could be the only explanation why he was hugging his cousin.

Without saying another word, Bellatrix moved out of his arms. She looked at him, face dry and hard…sober and sombre. For a moment, they just stared at each other, one last look not riddled with hatred…and then Bella spun on her heel and made for the door.

Sirius wiped his face, he didn't know when he had started crying, and why that hug felt like a final goodbye. Perhaps it was - he knew that Bellatrix would never show that level of vulnerability with him again - lightning never struck twice.

Sirius had never wished he were born in a different family. He knew he loved his cousins, he had only ever wished they were on the side of light, rather than their varying shades of greys and blacks. Bella had been one of his favourite people when he was a child, she was witty, and protective, and charming, and strong, and they had always been like two knives sharpening each other.

A hatred for his mother flooded through his veins. She had indoctrinated them all at a young age on her views on pureblood supremacy, and none dared contend her.

He imagined he could spend all night lamenting about his lot in life, but he much rather find his friends and make it back to Baron's before Mr Potter and Alex got back.

He made his way down the stairs, the noise of the party that was in full swing descending on him. He glanced at his pocket watch, it was close to 11pm, it would be better to meet at their agreed upon meeting point, the apparition spot of the Arc de Triomphe rather than try and find everyone in the mess of people…and he really couldn't stand being in a crowd right now.

He took the elevator down to the ground floor, grateful to find that the Arc was completely deserted outside. He leaned against the wall next to the apparition spot, nice and shaded from the quiet muggle street that circled the Arc. Antoine mentioned for the special occasion they had anti-muggle wards up, it's why they couldn't just apparate from inside, and had a designated spot for it on the ground.

Suddenly, the floor shook, and Sirius grabbed a wall, to steady himself, just as thunder ripped painfully at his ears and he grit his teeth, always being sensitive to sounds. He glanced up, completely distracted by the loud bang, and his heart leapt into his throat…something was not right.

Rubble was falling from above as the Arc de Triomphe seemed to be breaking apart. "What the fuck."

He made for the elevator, concern for his friends flooding his veins, just as a unfamiliar, honey soaked voice, ripped through the air, "Sirius!"

He snapped around at the sweet voice that felt like music to his ears, just in time to see the green spell pass in front of him, just where his head would have been.

A small figure collided with his chest, running at him with force, and he fell backwards.

"What in Salazar's name are you doing! We have to get out of here!" Sirius looked up from the floor, catching his brother's profile as he pulled Rabastan Lestrange away, the latter's face riddled with hatred as it glared at Sirius, his wand still on him, probably another killing curse rearing to go.

Clearly Rabastan was not happy at how the events on the roof went down, upset enough to ignore Bella's orders to leave Sirius alone, angry enough to seek him out and attempt to kill him, all for a few punches?

Sirius was on his feet in seconds, quickly shoving the small creature that helped him behind him protectively, but it was for nought, Regulus and Rabastan had disapparated.

He realised the girl in his hands had been fighting his hold, and he let go of her, surprised to find that it was Judalia Devon.

"What on earth?"

She shoved him off, jabbing at the elevator, desperate to get upstairs, and he pulled her out of the way of another falling rock, they had been coming down steadier now.

"No!" She shouted, and Sirius registered that her voice was delicate and sweet, but strong, "James!"

Suddenly fear froze him to the spot…how could he forget about his friends.

Godric, they were up there right now. He glanced around, looking for stairs, finding none.

"PADFOOT!" He turned at the shout, grabbing Devon against her will, recognising the voice and running towards it, the girl had stopped fighting him though, keeping up his pace at the sound of James' voice.

"PRONGS!" He shouted, noticing the jet black strands in the sudden mass of people that appeared out of nowhere a few feet away. His heart lifted, noticing Remus as well. James' face flooded with relief at the sight of him, but quickly turned to a stunned look as it clapped onto Judalia Devon.

"James!"

Sirius looked on befuddled as Devon shouted and jumped into James' opened arms, and his friend hugged the girl just as fiercely back.

"Where's Baron?" Alexandre Sabre had just reached their group, his eyes frantically searching for his son.

"We were already outside when we heard the blasts, I think he was still inside with Antoine and Lilou." Remus spoke quickly, glancing fearfully up at the Arc de Triomphe, half of it completely up in flames, a gaping whole on one side of it.

Alexandre didn't need telling twice and ran at the collapsing building.

"Jude! James!" Mr Potter had just reached them, quickly holding both Devon and James and looking to Remus and Sirius, his eyes flickering about, looking for Baron, they caught on Alexandre who was already feet ahead through the mass of people.

"Your mother will get here in a minute, tell her I'm helping Alexandre, she'll know what to do. Take the boys and Jude back to Alexandre's after you relay the message to your mother." Mr Potter clasped eyes with his son, his voice authoritative. He made to move but the girl didn't let go of his arm, his hazel eyes softened when they fell on her but he untangled himself from her grasp, and she made to move after him but James held her steadily back.

He knew his friend wanted to run after his father, to help, and so did Sirius, but they both respected the auror too much to disobey his wishes.

"Oh!" Mrs Potter had just found their group, embracing James, kissing Jude, patting Remus and Sirius on their heads, Sirius had to wonder how many hands she had.

"Dad's gone after Alex, we think Baron is still up there." James' voice lacked emotion, but he could tell that his friend was anything but from his eyes, "Can you take Jude back to Alex's, we can stay and help."

Mrs Potter didn't even process his statement, "You boys take Jude back to the apartment, wait for us there. There looks to be a lot of injuries here so I'm going to stay and help while your father finds Alex and Baron."

James and Sirius opened their mouths to protest, but Mrs Potter shot them a look that should not be tested. "Go. Now James."

And with that she was of, and Sirius knew that she was probably the most helpful in this scenario with her years of medi-wizard training.

Devon made to follow Mrs Potter, sneaking out of James' hold but Sirius easily stepped into her way.

She collided with his chest and he effortlessly stopped her, her dark grey eyes glared at him defiantly, but he ignored it, looking at his best friend, a slight burning feeling of betrayal flicker to life in his chest.

He thought in James he had someone who confided in him wholeheartedly, who trusted him. Why did his best friend not tell him that he knew Judalia Devon, that his parents did? That they appear to be close?

Before his thoughts could descend on him further, Moony and Prongs disapparated. Sirius had still been holding Devon's wrists, her eyes steady on the burning arch, a fearful look flickering in them. His grip about her grew tighter, and he could feel her chest thump at his arm.

He spun on the spot, following his friends back to safety, the girl unwillingly coming with.

A/N: Quite an action packed ending! Let me know what you think of this chapter - it's always hard writing Bellatrix, hopefully I didn't make her too OOC.

Thank you for reading!

Kalina