When the Roses Went Black: The Lost Lover of Sirius Black

XXV

TW//death, fighting, bruising, slight blood

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One Year Later

October, 1979

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"Rose. duck!" Sirius yelled out to Rose as a stunning spell missed her by inches. Four other Aurors were with them, darting through the sky on brooms. Seven Death Eaters were among them, coming in and out of the clouds. "Stupefy!" Rose called out as she cursed a Death Eater behind Sirius. The man fell off his broom and plummeted through the clouds, to the ground below. "Expelliarmus!" Kingsley Shacklebolt cried to a particularly large Death Eater who was rearing back to shoot a curse at Mad Eye. Having dropped his wand, the brute lost balance and joined his peer on the ground.

Sirius was flying in a circle, searching for more Death Eaters in the sky. He didn't notice one coming up behind him, but Rose did. "Flipendo!" she screeched, sending the man flying backwards right before he reached Sirius. Sirius turned to Rose with wide eyes and a pale face. "Be careful!" she yelled, then went to help Mad Eye, who was dueling with Dolohov. Flying through a cloud, she came up behind Dolohov. She nodded at Mad Eye before calling out "Conjunctivitis!" Dolohov began to lose balance on his broom as he lost his eyesight, giving Mad Eye just enough time to jinx him and put him to sleep. Rose reckoned they would take him to the Ministry after to press charges.

Looking around, it seemed that the Death Eaters who hadn't fallen to their deaths had been rounded up, Sirius holding one in ropes, Kingsley holding another. Just as she began to let out a sigh of relief, Mad Eye's eye directed right behind rose. "Stupefy!" he bellowed, and Rose turned to see another Death Eater frozen in place right behind her. The wind picked up, and he too would join his friends in fate, thousands of feet below. She nodded at Mad Eye. "Confiscate their wands everyone, we're going back to the Ministry," he asserted, and the Aurors took off. Sirius flew next to Rose. "Alright Rosie?" he asked, face full of concern. Rose gave him a weary smile. "Another day at the office Black."

After handing the remaining Death Eaters to the Ministry, Rose and Sirius apparated to the Longbottoms, where the current headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix was. The house was in the middle of Bristol, in a bustling part of town, and covered in enchantments. The location was perfect; no one would suspect a house in the middle of a busy street.

Standing at the doorstep, they took in each other's appearance. Their hair was windswept, their faces were red and covered in ash. Sirius was bleeding from his eyebrow and Rose's arm was covered in dark bruises. Sirius laughed. "You're a beauty love," he teased, shoving her. "Watch it Black, I can still kick your ass with my hair undone," she snorted. Shaking his head, Sirius knocked four times on four different parts of the door, the signal for Order members. Alice Longbottom opened the door, and ushered them quickly inside.

"Gave you two the work did they?" she asked, taking in the couple's disheveled appearance. "Nasty, they were," Rose agreed. Alice shook her head and tutted. The three walked into the dining room. "Look what the cat dragged in!" James called at the sight of his two friends. Lily went to go hug Rose with a concerned smile. "Alright?" she whispered. "Alright." Rose replied softly, patting Lily on the back. Lily went to go kiss Sirius on the cheek and James got up to hug Rose. Remus soon joined him, a fresh scar going across his neck. "Blimey Pads," he said, turning to Sirius. "You're a right sight worse than I." "Still better looking than you I'd imagine," Sirius scoffed. No matter the light anyone made of the situation, things with the war had gotten considerably worse in the past year. Voldemort had followers all over, and it was so hard to tell who you could and could not trust. Muggle disappearances were an everyday thing, and wizards who were known to be blood traitors and muggle sympathizers turned up dead everywhere. Not to mention, none of the friends had heard from Peter in weeks. People were worried, and life became more dangerous each day. The Order was hard at work, placing spies all across the country to get tips, but it seemed Voldemort was always two steps ahead of them.

"Rose, Sirius, a word?" Lily asked, nodding toward the vacant living room. James nodded at her, and squeezed her shoulder. Rose and Sirius looked at each other with worry, but followed them out to the living room anyway. Once far enough away from the dining room, James began. "Well erm, we wanted to let you know...Lils?" he stuttered. "I'm pregnant. And we want you two to be the godparents." Sirius gaped at the news, and Rose brought her hand to her mouth. She got up and threw her arms around Lily and James both. "It's an honor," she said, tears running down her face with a smile. Sirius got up and squeezed James tight, doing the same with Lily.

"I'm just... so scared," Lily whispered with a shudder. "Everything that's going on, I almost fear bringing a baby into such a chaotic world. We're only 19..." Rose waved her hand and grabbed Lily's. "The baby will be fine. They will have two amazing parents, and a big loving family to take care of them," she assured her. Sirius nodded fiercely. "We will all protect the baby. Together." he asserted. "Besides, they'll want to spend more time with us anyway." James and Lily both smiled softly. The four friends hugged, knowing that they would protect the child with their lives, and no matter what happened, they'd all be in it together.