WARNING: SPOILERS!!! ~A Watty's 2019 Submission!

Saved for Karina Potter, Aunt Marauder

Harry awoke the next morning to nothing but Sirius James's soft breathing next to him. He opened his eyes, and smiled at the sleeping baby lying next to him. Sirius James had slept through the whole night, only waking up once. Harry had slept better than he had in a few days himself. Maybe having someone who'd had bad dreams similar to his own lying next to him had helped both of them sleep.

Knock knock knock! Someone was at the door downstairs. Harry listened for Karina's quick, soft footsteps hurrying to the door, but none came.

Maybe she was still asleep, Harry though as he pulled on his bathrobe and went to answer the door, which knocked again.

"Hello?" He said into the door, copying what Karina had done multiple times before opening.

"Harry, its me. Remus."

"When did Aunt Karina and Dad show you their Animagus form?" He asked, feeling weird about calling her Aunt Karina.

"Christmas of our first year." He answered. "When did she show you her Animagus?"

"When I was three years old, after I asked her about you being a werewolf." Then he opened the door, and Remus walked in, looking around.

"Where's Karina, Harry?" He asked at once. "There was a reported Death Eater attack in the area last night. Mad-Eye said he heard Bellatrix with one of Fred and George's Extendable Ears when he was doing surveillance. But when he came over, they had already gone. I want to know if Karina saw them." Harry furrowed his eyebrows.

"Possibly. She's still asleep." Remus sighed, then hurried upstairs to her room while Harry went to check on Sirius James, who was still asleep.

"Karina?" Remus knocked on her door, but Harry heard no answer. "Karina, wake up!" Still nothing. This made Harry start to worry. Why wasn't she getting up?

Harry hurried out into the hallway as Remus entered Karina's bedroom. "Karina? Karina!" Harry ran to her room, and found that it was empty! It was as if she hadn't been there all night. Her bed was freshly made, and her bathrobe hung from a hook by the door, her bedroom slippers sitting in front of her closet next to her work boots and a pair of sneakers, all in a perfect row like soldiers preparing to go off into battle.

"Mum!" Harry tore out of the room, shouting for her. "Mum! Mum! Where are you!?" Sirius James woke up and began to cry from Harry's loud shouts, but Harry was in a frenzy.

"Harry!" Remus hurried over to him and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Look, maybe she's gone out for surveillance, or to get something for the journey away. We just have to stay right here and wait for her." Harry sighed, but stopped shouting. Maybe Remus was right. After all, Karina wouldn't just run off, would she?

SKIP!!

Karina didn't come, and didn't come, and didn't come. Harry and Remus managed to keep busy all day. They had breakfast, did the laundry, bathed Sirius James, fed him, put him down for a nap, , and managed to pack a bag for Harry's journey to find the Horcruxes, and she still hadn't shown up. And Harry was really starting to worry.

"She didn't even take Blackwing, or wear shoes, Uncle Remus." Harry told him in an ornery manner as they practiced battling in Harry's room, mostly so that they could mess it up and make it look like someone had come through here. Sirius was downstairs in the kitchen. "She might be in trouble!"

"I'm not saying I disagree, Harry." Remus told him, shooting a Stupefy spell at Harry's bed, shooting a hole right through it. "But, Karina would still want you to go through with this plan. Besides, she's a tough woman. I'm certain that she can get herself out of any jam she's gotten herself into."

"But what if she didn't get herself into this jam?" Harry asked, standing straight. "Maybe she was dragged off or something!" Remus gave him a look, then sighed.

"Look, if it will make you feel any better, why don't you send a message about it to Molly's with Hedwig? Most of the Order is there, they'll figure it out. Until then, we're going to stick to the plan the best we can."

"But-" Remus held up his hand, and Harry was silenced.

"No buts. And remember, Sirius James is still here, Harry. We have to watch out for him too." Harry had almost forgotten about his baby brother. He didn't think he could ever forgive himself if something happened to him.

SKIP!!

Night fell, and still no sign of Karina. Harry watched like a shy child from the kitchen as a load of people came into the house, Remus letting them all in. Harry held Sirius James, waiting Mad-Eye to come in so he could ask him if he found Karina.

"...Harry's in the kitchen, you two." Harry saw Ron and Hermione enter, and they went straight after him.

"Hiya, Harry!" Ron called, and Hermione smiled at him and Sirius James.

"You ready to take flight tonight?" Harry shook his head.

"I'm not going." Both Rona and Hermione's eyes went wide. "Mum's still not here. I want to make sure she gets home safely."

"Harry, Karina would want you to go!" Hermione told him.

"But nobody even knows where she is!" Harry countered. "How am I supposed to go anywhere, knowing that my mother is out there, maybe lost, or hurt, or-" he stopped himself from saying the last one. He didn't even want to think of it.

"She's fine, Harry." Ron told him, though he didn't sound convinced himself. "I'm sure of it."