The Black Dahlia

Prologue

The twins were born on a stormy July 31st, 1980 night.  Harry arrived first, screaming for the world to hear him.  The Potter girl arrived quietly as if she knew she’d have little fanfare.  Lily began immediately fussing over her son.  She was proud to have birthed the chosen one.

James left the room with his precious bundle.  Lily didn’t ask to see her daughter or name her.  It mattered not as James and Sirius named her together.  They decided to stick to Lily’s family theme of flowers, but since Lily seemed to not care, her flower name would be a middle name.  Neither Sirius nor James thought Lily deserved the honor of it being a first name.  Thus, the friends named their daughter Audrina Dahlia Potter.

Back before the Potter marriage went downhill, the parents had chosen their godparents.  Lily chose for Harry whilst James chose for his daughter.  That was the first sign that Lily wasn’t who he thought she was, but he missed it.  Lily chose Remus for Harry’s godfather and Marlene as his godmother.

James chose Sirius and Alice as the godparents for his daughter.  He figured with Sirius as one of them he needed someone responsible as the other parent.  Sirius was the only godparent there for the twins' birth.  Alice was giving birth to her own possible chosen one.  Just as James chose Alice, she chose him as her Neville’s godfather and Dorcas as the godmother.

“Will Remus show up?” Sirius asked.

“No.  He’s on yet another Order mission that he’s not allowed to tell us about.” James muttered.

“Do you ever feel like we’re all being set up?  We all know there’s a leak.  I feel like Remus is being set up to look like it could be him.  But it also makes sure there’s no one here protecting all of you.  Peter is never around since his mum is ill.  Marlene and Dorcas are always on the frontline of battles, which is why they aren’t here.  The Longbottoms are also in hiding.  It’s all just very suspicious, you know?” Sirius asked.

James looked silently at his friend.

“I think that’s the most thinking you’ve ever done.  You aren’t alone.  My parents before they passed thought something was amiss.  They found it odd that a prophecy would be had in the middle of a bar for all to hear.  Not to mention that a job interview was held in a bar.  They set up their will that should anything happen to them and myself for our family lawyers to look out for you.  You’d be the last man standing in this possible scheme.  That could just be paranoia.” James explained.

The ball of that scheme rolled fast.  It wasn’t long the parents who no longer loved each other if they ever did went into hiding together.  James built a trap door in their living room that was seamless on the floor.  There is no handle to give it away.  He knew if Voldemort came, Lily would only protect Harry, so it was up to him to protect his flower.

He changed his will to state Peter was the secret keeper as additional protection for Sirius.  It was a good thing James was ready as it was all coming to a head on Halloween night in 1981.  The broken family had just finished dinner when their front gate creaked, alerting them someone was here.

“Da da.” Audrina said as she raised her hands to be lifted.

“Lily take the kids and escape.” James said urgently.

As he predicted, Lily ran off with Harry abandoning her daughter.  James swore as he quickly lifted his daughter and grabbed his wand.  He dropped down to the trap door and opened it.  He put his daughter down and shut the door.  Voldemort came in, and James never had a chance.  His wand was next to him as he was still crouched down.  He made a valiant attempt to grab it, but Voldemort had already hit him with the killing curse. James fell over the door, further hiding it as Voldemort began his slow walk up the stairs.

Voldemort thought the slow approach helped build the fear.  You know Voldy likes to be dramatic like that.

Sirius arrived not long after as he had a bad feeling.  He felt justified when he found the front door hanging open and cottage destroyed.  He stepped inside and saw his best friend dead.

“No Prongs!” Sirius cried as he dropped to his friends side.

“Pa foo.” Audrina whimpered out.

“Bloody hell.” Sirius muttered as he gently moved James.

Sirius felt around and found the door and opened it.  He saw his little flower in her hiding space and picked her up. He ran upstairs, where he found Harry crying on the changing table with a scar on his forehead.  Lily was dead on the floor.  Sirius picked up Harry and rushed downstairs as Hagrid arrived. 

“Snape alerted Dumbledor, and he sent me to get the kids.” Hagrid explained.

“Here.  I’ll be back for them. I have to take care of a rat.” Sirius said before running out into the night.