Rebirth {Marauders Era}

CHAPTER 2: SIRIUS: LIVE OR DIE, YOU DECIDE

That night, Sirius borrowed the invisibility cloak and placed several Fillibuster fireworks under the Slytherin table. James refused to help him, as he was Head Boy. That was the excuse but Sirius was sure it was because he was tired instead. They hadn't yet been provoked this year, but any reason to prank Snivellus was accepted, even for just plain fun.

He stuck them under the table, and chuckled as he did. Then, once they were in place, he snuck back, stealing glances at the map for Filch and Mrs Norris. When he made it back, it was nearing eleven.

"Did you do it?" James asked sleepily.

"Of course, Prongsie. I would never let you down, ever."

After that short conversation, he climbed into bed and prepared himself for tomorrow's hilarity. He didn't prepare himself for a night terror, however.

"Please!" A long drawn out wail was heard through the manor, as Frank stared at his wife. She writhed under the cruciatus curse. She had been for about two hours now, and she was slowing going insane, he felt as though he was going to follow just from watching.

Then his heart broke. Alice no longer writhed under the curse. She just stared, her eyes unfocused. She had broken, and it had shattered him. "Alice, Alice please, for Neville Alice! Come back!"

They had just had Neville, a beautiful baby boy with chubby cheeks and a brilliant smile. Now Alice would never again be able to recognize or even live with their son, and Frank knew he would probably follow soon. Bellatrix, the Death Eater in charge of 'disposing' the Longbottoms, turned to Frank.

"Now sweets, we turn to daddy..." She dragged out the word and grinned at him evilly. Her eyes were crazed with a madness that made Frank shiver. "What's he going to do, Alice dear? Should Daddy follow Mummy?"

"No, no please..." Franks voice broke. "Not me, please, don't take both of my son's parents from him, have mercy. Have mercy!"

"Mercy, sweets?" Then her voice darkened a frightening degree. "The Dark Lord does not have mercy for those who do not follow him. Pledge yourself to him and perhaps you will be spared." Frank looked at him wife, who lay limply in the corner, her eyes vancant in the faint moonlight filtering through a dusty window.

"I will never ever join those who do this," He gestured his wife with tears in his eyes. "Never. I'd sooner go to hell."

It was to no avail, no pleading would pardon that in Bella's mind. "Crucio!" Pain seared through his very being, his screams were punctured by another person's screams, as Sirius felt what Frank did. After a few hours, Frank felt nothing. Wearily, he gave in to the pain, and then he felt nothing.

"I'm sorry Neville. I couldn't."

Then aurors showed up in the basement, and Bellatrix shrieked as the fun was taken away from her and she was to be sentenced to life in Azkaban.

Sirius opened his eyes, tears running from them freely. He was in a darkness he couldn't explain. Then a faint light appeared, and illuminated a figure. It spoke softly, and these words Sirius would hear many nights, not just after this dream.

"You decide. Live or die. You decide. The choice is yours. Nothing or everything."

"Sirius!" A voice called him. He stared at the figure.

"What do you mean? Why, why did I see this?" His eyes filled with tears, he'd felt the awful burn of the cruciatus more than others, he couldn't imagine it for hours.

"You decide. Live or die." It said, its voice deep and meaningful.

"Sirius!, come on, wake up, you're alright, it's only a nightmare, c'mon mate!" The figure turned to Sirius, and he still couldn't see it clearly.

"You decide." Then it was gone, and Sirius gasped deeply.

"No! Come back! What do you mean?"

Then a powerful shake went through him and he jerked awake. The dream rang in his ears and he curled up into himself as James leaned over him.

"Sirius, its alright, look at me mate." He did, and James looked pale. The other boys also looked at him with concerned faces.

"You gave us a right scare there mate." Remus said, looking the palest, probably because of the full moon tomorrow."You were screaming, like you were being tortured."

Sirius shared a secret look with James, and he nodded. "Come on Padfoot, let's get you some tea."

When he had settled Sirius on the couch and served him a steaming cup of tea, he sat down across him.

"Spill."

"James, this one wasn't even about me. I-it was Frank and Alice."

"What about them?" James asked, as the two had just graduated last year and were Aurors. They were dating, and Frank had sworn he was going to get married to Alice.

"They, oh James, they were being tortured! In a manor, they were tortured until they were insane, by my cousin Bellatrix. I-it was horrible, James." He started to cry again. "I'm such a child, I screamed because when Frank was tortured, I felt it. And after I saw all that, I saw a person." He stopped. Somehow it didn't feel right to speak of it just yet.

"And?" James probed, but Sirius was silent.

"And nothing. It ended there. James, it sounded like Alice and Frank had a son." James's eyes widened.

"Wow mate, that's some dream. It could never happen though, Alice and Frank are strong."

"I know, but it doesn't make it any less terrifying. Especially the screams for mercy." He shivered. "I'm glad they're alright. Boy, I haven't had a dream like that in ages. I don't know what triggered it." He sighed.

"Well, let's get back to bed then mate." James sighed. "Moony and Wormy are going to be worried. I for one want some rest before classes start tomorrow.

He walked off. Sirius stayed on the couch. He could not shake the feeling that his dream meant more than it seemed.

You decide. Live or die. You decide.

He heard Frank and Alice's screams echo in his head and he shivered.