-october 31, 1981-
It was Halloween, Raylene's favorite holiday, but this year felt different. A sense of unease hung in the air like a thick fog. Raylene kept her daughter, Amara, close, never letting her out of sight. She tried to push away the feeling, but it clung to her, making her uneasy as she attempted to put Amara to sleep.
The door flew open suddenly, and Sirius burst in, breathless and wild-eyed. "Ray, I've made a mistake. I need to make it right. I should've never changed the secret keeper," he panted, pacing back and forth.
Raylene's heart clenched. "Sirius, I understand, but tonight is not the night to do this. Do you understand?" she said softly, laying Amara gently in her crib.
"Ray, they're my best friends. I have to do this. I'll be back as soon as I can," Sirius said, his voice trembling as he cupped her face with rough, warm hands.
"If you leave, there's no guarantee you'll come back. Do you not understand? I can't lose you. We can't lose you," Raylene pleaded, glancing at Amara's peaceful face.
Tears welled in Sirius's eyes. "I'm sorry," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I promise I'll return."
Raylene stood frozen, feeling helpless. She had no real reason to stop him—no vision, nothing. "Okay. Please be careful," she murmured.
With those words, Sirius pulled her into a tight embrace, neither realizing it would be their last.
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾
After Sirius left, the uneasy feeling in Raylene's chest tightened like a vice. She took Amara upstairs, hoping to wait out the dread that gnawed at her. But as she laid her daughter down, the world shifted.
Suddenly, Raylene wasn't in Amara's room anymore. She was standing in a long, narrow hallway. The transition was jarring—it always was when a vision took hold. The walls were lined with portraits of Amara, but she was older, surrounded by three other children—a red-haired boy, a dark-haired boy with glasses, and a bushy-haired girl. Raylene's breath caught. Who were they?
She took a step forward, drawn to a large mirror at the end of the hallway. As she approached, the reflection shifted into an image of herself, tired and worn out, her face etched with worry. But the reflection wasn't really her—it was a young girl with the same big eyes and freckles. A wave of sadness washed over Raylene as she reached out.
Before she could speak, the mirror transformed into a tapestry. The images on it twisted, changing until they settled on a scene that made her stomach drop—James and Lily Potter, lying lifeless on the floor. Raylene's heart shattered as she realized she was witnessing their deaths, powerless to stop it.
The scene dissolved into darkness, only for Raylene to find herself in the middle of a winding street. It was night, and the air was filled with tension. She saw Sirius chasing Peter Pettigrew, the man who betrayed them all.
Raylene's pulse quickened. This was it—the vision she had feared. She could see the outcome already, but she refused to accept it.
The vision blurred, and with a jolt, Raylene was back in her house, gasping for breath. The Potters were dead. Sirius was in danger. She knew she wasn't supposed to interfere, but she couldn't just stand by.
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾
Raylene ran across the street to her sister's house, banging on the door.
"Ray? What's wrong?" Riley asked as she opened the door.
"Please, just take Amara. I can't explain. Just watch her," Raylene said, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face.
"Of course. Hey, do you need to come in and take a breath?" Riley asked, taking Amara from her trembling arms.
"I can't. I have to go," Raylene said, pressing a desperate kiss to Amara's forehead. "I love you," she whispered, holding her daughter close one last time.
With a final look at her sister, Raylene turned and sprinted down the street. She had to reach Sirius before it was too late. She replayed the vision in her mind—she knew where they were going. A street in London where they'd watched Muggle films before.
With a crack, Raylene Disapparated.
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾
She appeared on the desolate street, the exact spot from her vision. Panic surged through her as she spotted Sirius and Peter up ahead. Spells flew through the air, crackling with raw energy. Raylene ran toward them, her mind racing.
"Sirius! Stop!" she shouted, but her voice was lost in the chaos.
Desperate, she aimed her wand at Peter. "Expelliarmus!" she cried.
The spell struck true, knocking Peter's wand away, but the magical backlash hit her like a sledgehammer. Pain seared through her, and her legs buckled beneath her.
As Raylene collapsed to the cobblestones, Sirius turned away from Peter, rushing to her side. "Ray! What have you done?" he cried, his voice breaking with anguish.
Raylene's vision blurred as she struggled to focus. "I love you, Sirius. Protect Amara," she whispered, her strength fading fast.
In those final moments, she saw the regret and heartbreak in Sirius's eyes. But fate was already in motion. Peter scrambled away, escaping in the confusion.
Sirius cradled Raylene in his arms as she slipped away, his heart breaking under the weight of everything they'd lost.
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾
A/N uh hey this is kinda a really intense first chapter and idk if i explained it very well ive been trying to perfect it for weeks im not even lying but i hope you got it and if you didnt im sure youll figure out more in the future as this chapter will be explained or just feel free to ask questions right now
please feel free to corecct me and give feedback i hope you enjoy
ALSO SINCE THIS IS THE BEGINING OF THE STORY JUST A HEADS UP I MIGHT CHANGE MINOR THINGS SO THE STORY MAKES SENSE, ILL ALWAYS LET YOU KNOW IF I EVER CHANGING ANYTHING.
also some might think sirius is free and im just squashing those thoughts right now so don't get to exited..
anyways next chapter isn't as sad so yuhr
YOU ARE READING
Echos of Love
Fanfiction"I can lose everything, but not you." In the heart of the battlefield, where magic clashes and shadows loom, Amara Black and Harry Potter find a refuge in each other's presence. Shoulder to shoulder, they navigate the chaos, their connection a stead...
