Ch. 1. Dinner

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Prologue

"Whatever happens today, promise me that you will protect him," Sirius takes my hands in his, before bringing them up to his mouth, where he plants a kiss in each palm before letting go. When I don't answer, he forces my chin upwards with his fingertips, the touch featherlight against my skin. "Promise me, darling," he smiles sadly as I whisper the words to him, his hand moving to cup my cheek as he ducks to kiss the tears from my cheeks.

Remus clears his throat before giving us the signal and Sirius vanishes into white smoke before dropping into the chamber below us.

Seconds later, the ground emits a soft thud as Tonks half apparates, the white smoke dissipating just as I land beside her, my own smoke billowing at my feet.

Frantically assessing the situation as she disappears again, I mark each of the Order as they chaotically attack the Death Eaters trying to take the kids hostage. Each one fumble back, grappling for their wand to aid each other. I sprint towards Luna, who is struggling to reach her wand a few feet away from me as a Death Eater stalks towards her. We throw out spells at the exactly the same time, knocking the man off his feet. Grabbing her underneath the arm, I haul her up and push her behind me as I turn, struggling to find Sirius.

The room continues to explode in chaos, yelling and shouting coming from all angles. Remus is screaming for Tonks, who's screaming for me to hurry as I finally spot Lucius stalking towards a pair of people crouching near the Veil. It takes seconds to realize that Sirius is whispering to his godson, Harry only nodding before the two jump up to duel with the white haired man.

I feel frozen as the battle rages around me, my heart rate spiking as the realization of what is about to happen hits me. As if I'm pushing through one of the twins' Portable Swamps, I begin fighting towards them, zaps of power coming out of my wand every few seconds as my Auror senses kick in fully. I defend myself even as my focus is honed into the three bodies in front of me.

Their wands crack out bits of light, but I can't hear what they're saying as I can only focus on Bellatrix's maniacal laughter from somewhere behind me. Harry manages to disarm Malfoy, who looks stunned as he stumbles back, watching the pair inch towards him.

Then time stops completely as Sirius flourishes his wand, laughing out, "Nice one, James!"

Lucius flies backwards, Harry curiously watches his godfather and a flash of green light comes bolting towards Sirius just as I scream. There's a clatter somewhere behind me as the killing curse hits his chest, his cousin cackling from the darkness.

He looks towards his best friend's son and smiles, holding his chest tightly, his hand clenching at the invisible injury. As the mist of the veil envelops him, his grey eyes meet mine, a tear sliding down his cheek.

Then he's gone.

As mine and Harry's limbs begin to move at a normal speed, arms wrap around us both. Remus struggles to contain him as he screams, and Tonks just holds me as I collapse to my knees, words choking me as I try to say something.

Anything.

But instead of letting Harry follow Sirius' cousin as she disappears, everyone manages to crowd around us before we vanish to the Burrow.


Seven Years Later

A knock echoes on my office door and I tuck the moving picture away.

"Come in," I close the drawer, standing up to retrieve my coat as the door opens. Harry's disheveled hair peeks through the door before his head follows.

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