ALWAYS

Alice and Frank

James and Lily Potter had realised the threat to their son and had shifted to Godrics Hollow, a much more safer and secluded place. They had visitors rarely. Bathilda Bagshot would come and go now and then, but that was it. In the three months the family had spent in Godrics Hollow the Marauders had visited them only once. Lily missed them, but James missed them even more. He was always used to being around the Marauders, or at least around Sirius. But lately, everything was happening so fast he didn't even get enough time to stop and mourn his parents properly. 

James was playing with Harry while Lily was cooking in the kitchen when they heard a knock on the door. James and Lily looked at each other with the same scared and anxious expressions. They bought out their wands and put Harry in his room, charming it closed. James neared the door, "Who's there?" he asked. "It's me, Padfoot" Sirius announced. James was about to open the door when Lily grabbed his hand. He looked up at her to see her shaking her head. James nodded back, "If you really are Sirius tell us, what was Sirius going to do before Marlene's death?" he asked, flinching at the thought. "Propose to her" the voice replied, cracking at the end. Lily let out a sigh of relief as she opened the door to let Sirius in. 

"You scared us! Why are you here though?" Lily asked as she broke away from their hug. "Hello to you too Lils" Sirius retorted before pulling James into a hug. "Now, where's my godson? Hope you guys are taking good care of him" he chuckled as he walked towards Harry's room. He tried opening the door before being pushed back. "Good. Charming the door locked. You've learnt well Evans" he said before breaking the charm and walking in to find Harry sitting in his crib looking towards the door. Harry's eyes brightened at the sight of Sirius. 

Though the two had had little time together they had bonded the one time the Marauders had visited. Sirius walked out with Harry in his arms while Lily and James followed. He sat down and plopped Harry down on his lap. He smiled at Harry as he played with Sirius's locks and looked up at James and Lily. 

"So what's up?" asked James looking at Sirius. Sirius sighed sadly, "It's not good" he said, preparing them for what was to come. "What happened ?" Lily urged. Sirius looked at them.

"Two days ago there was an attack, on a muggleborn. The Order was there. Frank, Alice, Remus, Peter, Dumbledore, McGonagall and me. But we were overpowered. The death eaters got Frank, Alice and me. They stupefied me and held me up while Bellatrix tortured Frank and Alice.Crucatious Curse" he said looking at them , knowing that both of them had experienced the curse. He cringed. "Bellatrix didn't stop. I didn't know she could be this mean. She was cackling and laughing while she tortured them. She left them after hours and me with them. By the time the aurors could get us the damage was done. They rushed Frank and Alice to St.Mungos. They've gone mad, Lils. Healers don't know when they'll get better." he said, as a tear escaped his eyes. 

He looked down at the little boy in his lap and smiled at him. "They can't recognise anyone James. Not me, not Dumbledore. Frank can't remember his mom and they can't even recognise their own son. " he said rage engulfing him. 

"Neville. The poor boy" Lily said as she cried softly. Sirius stuck around for another hour before he decided to leave. "It's time mate. I have to go" he said looking at James. He was about to leave when Lily stopped him. "Wait" she said, before rushing into their room. She came back with a few pictures in her hand and handed them to Sirius. "Give these to Frank and Alice. See if they can remember anything" she said squeezing Sirius's hand. He nodded before walking out and apparated. James and Lily watched him vanish and walked back inside. 

"Hey, you okay?" James asked as he saw Lily walk towards their room. She didn't reply. She was staring into oblivion. "Hey, Lils?" he said shaking her out of her trance. "Hmm.. Yeah" she said looking at her husband. "You okay?" he asked her again. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine" she said walking towards their room. "I have to do the laundry" she said. James watched her go inside and frowned. She was definitely not okay, but she needed some space. 

"Hello little guy" he cooed picking Harry up and placing him in his chair. "Let's make some dinner shall we" he said heading to the kitchen and finished cooking the meal Lily had started. 

He had just finished cleaning Harry up after his dinner. "Now play with your toys until Daddy comes back okay?" he said as he placed Harry down on the floor and kissed his head. He sighed as he looked towards their room, the door closed. Lily had been in there for three hours now. He walked to the door and opened it. He entered and found Lily in bed, curled in a ball, the blankets wrapped around her, not even exposing her face. He crawled in and slowly pulled the blankets away from her to reveal a pair of hazel eyes, puffy, red and filled with tears. Her face streaked with tears and her eyes tired.

James took one look at Lily and melted. Lily sat up wiping her face and James too sat up beside her. They leaned on the headboard and stared at the wall, a picture of them with their friends. Them at graduation. Lily sniffled as she lay her head on James's shoulder. James put his head on hers and held her hand. "Will they get better?" she asked. "To be honest, I don't know. But I really really hope they do" he said. They sat there for a few more minutes in comfortable silence before James dragged her out of bed for dinner. 

They walked out to find Harry on the floor, playing. He had a lot of toys around him, but the one he was holding was his teddy. The one Charlus and Dorea had given for him. James and Lily smiled at the sight of their son. They watched him play and walked back to have dinner. 

As they had dinner, they thought about Alice and Frank. They had lost their memory, their son and everything they held dear, only to stop Voldemort. Would they let their sacrifice go in vain? Never. Alice, Frank, James and Lily were always friends. Always.