Into the Hands of Fate

Chapter Eighteen

"From graceful lilies pure and white

God fashioned lovely skin;

Forget-me-nots He chose for eyes,

Then formed your baby chin."

Lily stood, looking over the bars of the walls of the crib and at her son. Her eyes were alight with radiating love for him. "Sleep well Harry," she said.

"He took a tulip bright and red--

'Twas one that did not fade;

A softer, sweeter little mouth

Before was never made."

James came in and wrapped his arms around her. She muffled a shriek and sighed with a smile on her face. He kissed her cheek tenderly.

"Another flower next He used--

A rosebud, pink and fair;

Touched it to your dimpled cheeks

And bade it blossom there."

She smiled at him and they both looked at the sleeping form of their baby boy.

"Then with His magic fingers, picked

Two morning glories white;

Curled and shaped your little ears,

Soon they were fastened tight."

"We're alone now, aren't we, James?" Lily wondered softly, her eyes bright with tears as she looked at Harry.

"That crowning bit of golden down

Will soon become your hair;

He gathered pollen from the flowers

And sprinkled it with care."

He looked at her gently. "No," he said, turning his gaze to Harry. "No, we're not alone."

"For dainty little fingers dear

And precious, tiny toes,

He used the slender daisy frills;

A snowdrop made your nose."

Harry yawned and blinked his eyes open. He looked up at his parents and giggled.

This world and all within it

He created here for man;

But Baby was "God's Masterpiece"

Since time and life began!

--Dora Dinsmore

Lily smiled. "You're right, James," she whispered. "We're not alone."

~*~

Voldemort looked up at the young man before him. "Well?" he asked in an impatient voice.

Evan bowed low and smiled, a mask of triumph upon his face. "She's ready, my Lord."

The latter smiled and nodded. Evan Rosier bowed himself out and went into the room where she sat, looking out the window, outfitted in a long black gown.

"You look beautiful," he said to her softly.

She looked at him and smiled, her bright hazel green eyes bright with life. "Thank you."

He took her hand and led her to the grand hall where their master awaited. Evan bowed and Lynette swept a graceful curtsy. Voldemort looked her over. She still had that young innocent look to her that she had when they were first introduced some few months ago, but he and Evan had changed her, she was no longer the Lynette she was, she was now a soon to be Death Eater.

~*~

Remus looked up at the night sky. It looked darker than usual, and it was not only because of the change of season. His heart was filled with grief, but why, he didn't know.

'James and Lily left with Harry,' Sirius had said, 'because Voldemort's after them.' But Remus already knew this, everyone did.

It hurt him, that he couldn't see his best friends much. Peter seemed to be drifting a bit away and seemed at a distance most of the time. Remus thought that the happenings throughout their years were starting to have its impact on him.

He sighed and looked to the sky. Only one more day and then the torture would be on him. James wouldn't be there, but Sirius said he would, he wouldn't miss out. Peter, too, however, wouldn't be there. He had apologized profusely, with an extremely guilty look upon his face, but Remus shook his head and said he understood. The times were getting rough; everyone had to be in two places at once.

They had planned to go into the Ministry, or become Aurors. Remus shook his head as his vision blurred. But James and Sirius said they wouldn't, they wouldn't because Remus couldn't get in. Peter had agreed as well.

He walked on, brushing away the pained drops of liquid falling from his eyes. They wouldn't do something when he would be left out. He was part of their gang, and they were part of his. They were his friends.

'All for one and one for all, right?' Sirius had asked that one-day.

James laughed. 'Where did you hear that?'

Sirius shrugged and said, 'From Lily. It was in that Muggle book The Three Musketeers.'

It always amazed Remus that Sirius liked to read; he just didn't seem the type, yet he did. He just couldn't imagine what Sirius could have made of himself if he really tried hard at school.

But as Sirius said, 'I only put my all into what I really want. I don't want good grades...Speaking of what I want, do you know where my dungbombs are?' That was in their fourth year. His mind drifted to their early years at Hogwarts.

Gwen.

What had happened to this girl that always seemed a bit mysterious, but another great friend?

He wiped away the new tears, though, these were not wistful ones; these tears were ones of anger and pain. She was the one who had taken away the better half of him. It was she who had taken away Lydia.

He angrily wiped away the tears again that kept falling. It had been a long time since he had broken down and thought about her. He had built up a wall of protection, a wall to block out the pain that had grown inside of him. And because of this wall, the unbearable anguish had built up to a point where he felt as though he was being torn from inside out.

He found a bench in the park that he was wandering. Slowly, he lowered himself onto it and buried his head in his hands.

"Think about something else, Remus," he whispered to himself. His voice cracked and sobs racked his body.

For a long time throughout that night, he sat there, letting the chill wind clip at his thin clothes. When he finally looked up with his tear stained face, he saw that the sky was just starting to glow with bright yet soft colors.

~*~

The next afternoon, Sirius followed Requillo back to the manor. At the doorway, the older man looked at the younger who had a silly sort of foolish grin on his face. "I'll definitely be there," he said. "There's no way I'll miss it, but I may not be able to be seen, on account of these times."

Sirius nodded. "That's all right, I'm not planning on having it any time soon. I don't want to commit myself when everything's like how it is. Something might go wrong and she'll be left alone, I don't want that."

He opened the door and walked in. Requillo followed him. "Hallie! I'm home!" Sirius called out with a grin. Requillo looked around. Everything seemed to be just how he left it. "Hallie!" Sirius called again. A frown came to his face and he looked around. Everything looked all right. "I don't understand, she said she'd be here. I told her to stay here because I was bringing home a surprise..."

And then he heard it, a soft muffled shout from up the steps. Requillo and Sirius shot to the steps and above, they saw her. Her eyes were wide with fright, pleading with Sirius. And then she saw her father and shook her head, desperately trying to tell him something. The black gloved hand that was over her mouth let go.

"Run! He's here! He-," but then she was falling. The man who was holding her captive had pushed her down the steps.

"No!" Sirius yelled. But down she fell. He desperately tried to take out his wand and stop her falling, but it was futile. And then she was at the bottom. She rolled from the last step and lay still.

With wide eyes, he knelt by her, not hearing the others speak. "Hallie," he whispered. He brushed away a strand of hair that covered her face. She didn't stir; she didn't make a single movement. His heart pounded in his chest and his breaths came out in short gasps.

Requillo rushed up the steps and looked around. Whoever it was that was there, was now gone. Racing to the closest room where the window was open and the breeze was blowing in, he looked out. There, he saw a cloaked figure riding away with three others. They looked back and he knew.

He knew who it was.

"Come back! Damn you! Come back!" But they were at a distance now. "I'll get you, Voldemort," he whispered to himself. "I'll get you."

~*~

Sirius gently picked her up, his eyes still wide, and carefully set her down on the couch. There, he knelt by her, looking at her.

Requillo came down the steps in a defeated walk, but was soon by the younger man. "How-," but Sirius cut him off.

"She's breathing," he murmured. Requillo looked at him. Sirius' eyes were alight with tears, but also with a different brightness.

"Sirius," he started.

The other man shook his head. "Don't," he said.

Requillo nodded and stood up. "I'm going to get help," he muttered quietly. Sirius didn't say anything back, but the latter knew he had heard. Slowly he stood and walked to the fireplace where he drew a pinch of floo powder. He knew Hallie would be all right for the time being with Sirius there beside her. As long as he was there, he knew she'd be okay.

Sirius caressed Hallie's cheek tenderly. She'll be all right, he thought to himself. She's breathing, and that means she'll be okay. But he felt that his hopes were high. "This is all my fault, Hallie, I should have been there with you, I'm so sorry."

~*~

That night they were in the hospital. Remus sat next to Sirius and Sirius next to Requillo. It was silent and Remus looked at the clock in worry.

"Sirius," he whispered, biting down on his lip. His friend looked at him, with unseeing eyes. "I-I have to go. I'm sorry."

Sirius looked blinked at him. "Go?"

Requillo looked at Remus. "Don't be sorry. If - when she wakes up, I-I'll tell her you were here, but had to go. She'll be all right, the doctor said she would." Remus nodded and looked to Sirius who had put his head in his hands once again. "He'll be fine," Requillo confirmed. Remus left, not looking back.

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Well, every moment spent with you
Is a moment I treasure
I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing

And then she stirred slightly. Sirius ran over. Her eyes flickered open and she closed them with a soft moan. When she opened her eyes again, she slowly looked around, her eyes bright with pain.

Then she saw him by her. "Sirius?" she asked softly. He smiled and brushed away the liquid that fell down his cheeks. He sat at the edge of the bed.

'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing
Lying close to you
Feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together
And I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever, forever and ever
I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing

In vain, she tried to sit up to look at him clearly, but fell back onto the bed. He helped her sit up. She leaned against him; her head rested on his shoulder.

'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do

I'd still miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing
I don't wanna miss one smile
I don't wanna miss one kiss
Well, I just wanna be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just wanna hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time
Don't wanna close my eyes
Don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing

Tenderly, gently, he ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead. Tears fell from his eyes and he looked at her sweetly. "Sirius, what's wrong?" she asked softly.

'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
'Cause I'd still miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing

Requillo watched them quietly; they didn't seem to remember he was there. All the better.

"Nothing, nothing," Sirius said. She turned to look at him, but stopped when she found that her whole body ached.

"What happened?"

He sighed heavily. "You don't remember?"

She shook her head, but stopped. "Sirius, Voldemort knew - he saw Dad - and he said - oh Sirius, is he all right? Where is he?" She tried to move away from Sirius and stand up but he held her tightly, yet gently.

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing

"He's all right, he's here, look there," he said pointing to the man in the seat. She sighed and closed her eyes, leaning back against him. "What happened?" he asked after a while.

She was silent for a moment, and he thought she wasn't going to answer, but then she said, "I was just reading in my room. I heard someone knocking at the door so I got up. I thought it was you..." She looked at him and he kissed her forehead delicately. "It wasn't."

He smiled down at her. "Obviously," he said softly. She smiled.

Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing

"And then, well, he-he sort of dragged me up the steps. I didn't know what was going on, it happened really fast. There was another man there too; he was hooded as well. He said he was trying to find Dad and-and other things of when he did..." She looked towards her father who sat a few feet away. "We waited for you. When you came home, Sirius, I tried to tell you, but he had his hand over my mouth. Then I saw you, Dad." She shook her head. "But it's fine now, nothing bad happened."

Sirius looked at her. "Nothing bad happened?" he yelled. "Hallie, look around! You're in a bloody hospital!"

"But I'm fine," she protested.

He looked at her for a moment, closed his eyes for another, and sighed. When he looked at her again, she saw a fire blazing in his eyes. He leaned down and brought his lips over hers. He held her tightly and when he pulled away, the blaze was gone.

That flaming fire in his eyes had frightened her and she never wanted to see it again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned close to him. He closed his eyes and kissed her forehead. "I love you," he whispered, but she didn't hear. She had fallen asleep, but she didn't need to hear him say it, she knew.

Don't wanna close my eyes
Don't wanna fall asleep, yeah
I don't wanna miss a thing
I don't wanna miss a thing

Courtesy to Aerosmith for

"I Don't Want to Miss A Thing"

~*~

Lily opened her eyes and saw the light streaming in through the window. "Morning, Sunshine," whispered a soft voice beside her. She smiled and snuggled closer to him. He held her close and grinned. "Sleep well?"

"Mm hmm, you?" she asked back.

"Wonderfully."

She smiled. "This feels perfect," she said softly, closing her eyes and resting her head on his chest. He smiled for a moment before pulling away.

"Not quite." He walked over and got Harry, who was playing with the hovering toy, and brought him to the bed. They lied together like that, all three of them. "Now it's perfect."

~*~

Snape looked out the window again. Beneath his eyes were black eye bags and the dark penetrating orbs were filled with pain.

"And he knows, Albus, I know he does. He's just waiting for the perfect moment, when I least expect it."

The other man stood up. "Then you mustn't go back."

Severus looked at him. "But I must, I must go back, it's my job." There was a frightening look of insanity starting to grow in the depths of his black eyes, starting to grow and overpower the rest of him. "It's my life, this is what I'm for."

Albus placed a hand on his shoulder. "This isn't your life. I will allow you to pass information no longer," said he with a stern tone.

Severus looked out the window once more with fevered eyes.

"They're hiding, aren't they, Albus?" he said. It was more of a statement than a question.

The latter nodded and said, "Yes, and they're well protected."

Snape looked at him with a sardonic smile. "So you think, but they aren't, they are far from it."

"What do you mean?" asked Professor Dumbledore.

Severus just shook his head. "There's a traitor in our midst, Albus. Both you and I know it, just not who." The headmaster looked at him. Severus shot a long piercing gaze at him. "They're not safe, no matter how well they may be hiding."

~*~

Requillo left the next morning and Hallie was allowed to go home. There, Sirius had her lay down on the couch while he made her some hot soup. She grinned up at him. "Sirius, I'm fine, they wouldn't let me go home otherwise." He shrugged and set the soup on the table.

"Scoot," he said. She grinned up at him. "Fine then, don't move." He picked her up and nicely placed her on the floor, taking her spot.

"Sirius!" she exclaimed with a laugh. She got up and lied down on top of him. He looked at her and raised his brows up and down. She laughed and messed his hair.

"Hey!"

"What? You haven't fixed it since yesterday morning!" He smiled and brought his hand to the back of her head. Bringing his lips to hers, he kissed her softly. They parted and she rested her head on his chest.

"Sirius?" she asked softly after a while.

He ran his fingers through her hair. "Hmm?"

She sat up to look at him. "How did Voldemort know to look here? How did he know Dad would be here?"

He too sat up to look at her squarely. "I didn't tell anyone I was bringing Requillo here, no one except Remus, Peter and-," but he cut himself off. No, he wasn't supposed to say James. James, Lily, and Harry were gone, they were in hiding. "And-that's all."

She looked worried. "But-but they," she silenced herself at the look in his eyes. "Sirius," she whispered. He looked at her again; his eyes had that frightening fire burning within the depths. Gently, he touched her cheek and kissed her lips softly. The fire died down until the normal glow of life glimmered once more in his ebony eyes. "Are you all right?" she wondered in concern. He smiled.

"I'm fine." And he kissed her again.

~*~

Remus woke up to find he was on the floor. Looking around, he saw he was in his basement. Carefully, he stood and steadied himself by leaning against the wall. He sighed and let himself slide back down.

He was alone.

The tears fell from his eyes and he didn't even attempt to brush them away, he just let them fall. Why was all this happening? It hurt to think about, but he knew he'd have to face it some time.

It seemed to him he had been crying a lot lately, and he almost laughed at himself. He wasn't the type to just give it all out and bawl like a baby, but these times were different. It didn't surprise him that much that he felt like a child. Most people probably did, but could hide it better than he could.

With a heave of a great sigh, he stood up. Dizziness rushed to his head and he balanced himself once more by leaning against the wall. After counting to ten, he slowly made his way up the steps. He took his wand from the corner of the wall and undid the lock.

Standing stock still at the doorway of his basement, he looked around. Something didn't feel right. Something seemed horribly wrong.

~*~

Sirius looked at Hallie lying beside him and kissed her forehead as he had done many times before. She just snuggled closer to him.

His mind drifted to when he was in the hospital. Horrible thoughts running through his mind. What-ifs and what could have beens popping up without notice.

Suddenly, he thought of Remus. His heart twisted inside him. Oh no...I've ditched Remus. Slowly, he sat up. Caring not to awaken Hallie, he got up and apparated to Remus' house.

He knocked on the door. "Remus?"

After a short while, the door opened to reveal the poor man. His eyes were bloodshot and he had deep black eye bags. Like always after the full moon, Remus was extremely pale and thin.

Remus smiled an exhausted smile. "Hi," he said softly. He leaned against the doorway and ran a hand through his hair.

Sirius looked at him guiltily. "Look, Remus, I am so sorry. I should have been there. I-I have no excuse, but I'm really, really sorry..." He watched the other man's face for a sign of anger or anything else.

He was surprised to see him smile. "That's all right, I understand. Don't feel as if you have to be there all the time. I know you have a life too."

Sirius sighed and rolled his eyes. "You're my friend, I'm supposed to be there all the time." Remus chuckled quietly and moved away so his friend could come in.

He went into the kitchen and brought out two cups of tea. Handing one to Sirius, he led the way to the living room where he plopped down in a seat. "Don't make yourself gray headed, Padfoot," he said with a small grin. He took a sip of his tea and closed his eyes, yawning. "I was all right."

Sirius blew on his tea. "You're sure? I'd completely understand if you never speak to me again."

Remus laughed. "It's fine, Sirius, I'm fine." There was a short silence. "How's Hallie?"

Sirius smiled softly. "She's fine." Remus nodded. He looked at his friend who ran a hand through his dark midnight black hair. Sirius' eyes were burning slightly with a fierce fire that Remus had never seen there before.

"Sirius, are you okay?" The other man didn't look up but nodded. Remus chewed on his lip, thinking. "How did they know to look in her mansion?" he asked after a while.

Sirius looked at him sharply. His eyes bore into Remus'. "I don't know, you tell me," he said quietly.

Remus looked at him questioningly. "You don't know?" Sirius shook his head. "Who else did you tell?"

Sirius sighed and shook his head. "Just Peter and you," he replied, remembering that he wasn't supposed to say James.

Remus swallowed deeply. "But-but-," he started.

Sirius looked at him penetratingly. "But what?"

The other man shook his head, still looking at Sirius intently.

Sirius stood up. "I should get home now, then," he said softly. "Tell me if you know anything." There was a secret meaning to his words, and he half hoped Remus would understand it. The other half however, hoped he wouldn't.

Remus nodded, not looking at him now. "I'll see you later, Sirius," he mumbled. Sirius disapparated and walked into the manor.

Hallie stood up from the couch and rushed over to him. She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely. "Oh, Sirius, I didn't know where you went! I thought - I woke up and you were gone - maybe Voldemort got you - maybe you ran away!" She pulled away and glared at him angrily. "Don't you ever leave me like that again!" And then she jumped up to hug him once more.

He pulled away to look at her from an arms length. Her cheeks were tear-stained. In confusion, he blinked at her. "Hallie-," he started, puzzled.

"Where'd you go?" she asked with a trembling voice.

He looked at her carefully. "What's the matter? I just went to Remus'."

She blinked at him. "Oh."

He touched her cheek gently. "Hallie, what's all this about? What's wrong?"

She looked away and he pulled her close. "I got scared," she muttered. He rubbed her back soothingly and she buried her head into his robes. "I didn't-didn't know where you went." She swallowed the tears that threatened to come. "I thought," but she didn't say it.

Sirius kissed her forehead. He pulled slightly away. "What did you think, Hal?" he asked, looking at her lovingly. Hallie looked down and blushed in spite of herself. She mumbled something incoherently. He grinned. "What?"

"I thought-I thought that maybe you left," she whispered almost inaudibly. Tightly she shut her eyes, afraid of what he might say.

He put his fingertips under her chin, peering at her. "You thought I left?"

She swallowed and felt the butterflies soaring in her stomach give an extra flutter of wings. "It was stupid, I know, I just-I was worried. Everything's so-so horrible, and James and Lily are in hiding. Maybe Voldemort was after you. God knows he's after everyone else. And Dad's in hiding too. Sirius I thought-," but he put his finger to her lips.

"Hallie," he said softly, looking at her with amusement in his eyes.

A small smile appeared on her lips. "Am I rambling?"

He shook his head. "I thought you said you'd trust me."

Her eyes widened and she wrapped her arms around his neck as if refusing to let go. "I do!" And then he felt the wetness touching his skin. "I'm so sorry, Sirius. I just-I didn't know what else to think. I was frightened. You were right beside me just a few hours ago and then when I woke up, you were gone! I-," but she couldn't speak after that. He hugged her tightly and led the way to the couch. There he rubbed her back and whispered sweet words in her ear.

"I wouldn't ever leave you," he whispered. "I love you."

It's not the happiest time, nor the most romantic, but maybe it's the best...he thought, and pulled out a small box from his pocket.

"Hallie," he said softly.

"Hmm?" she asked in a tearful tone.

"Look at me." She pulled away and sniffed. He wiped away her tears. She looked ashamed of herself and he smiled. "Don't feel bad, I understand what you went through."

"I-I know, but-but still," she replied, not looking at him, but to the side.

He bit down on his lip, and felt the box hidden beneath his robes. "Hallie," he started.

"Yes?"

"I - er - want to ask you something."

Fearing another burst of tears, she simply nodded.

He put his fingertips under her chin and made her look at him. Her eyes were bright with tears. His heart melted inside of him.

"Hallie, uh...well, see," he stammered. "You-you know that I-I love you with all my heart and-and-"

Her eyes widened in horror. "You're breaking up with me," she whispered.

His eyes too widened and he looked at her in surprise. "No! I'm not breaking up with you!" He would have laughed if she didn't look so traumatized.

"Then what are you trying to say?" she asked in the same frightened whisper.

He kissed her cheek and pulled away to kneel down before her. "Hallie, will you marry me?"

She stared at him, looking faint. "What?" she breathed.

He tried to look away, but couldn't. "Will-will you marry me?" he asked again, looking uncertain.

She burst into sobs and buried her head in her hands. He stood up and hugged her tightly, feeling extremely dejected.

"Er - I was just kidding, Hallie, I didn't really mean it," he said, in a choked voice.

She looked up. "You didn't? You were joking?"

He gazed at her, surveying her expression. "Only if you want me to be joking," he said quietly.

"So-so you weren't kidding then," she said just as softly. He sighed and shook his head. She smiled through her tears. "I guess you didn't hear me the first time then, 'cause I said yes."

He looked at her. "Yes to what?"

She laughed and wrapped her arms about his neck. "I'll marry you, silly!" He laughed and hugged her back.

"Really?"

She nodded. "Really."

And then he kissed her.

~*~

Lily picked up Harry and followed James outside. He plopped down in the meadow of flowers and sighed. She smiled and placed Harry on top of him, then lied down beside them both.

James laughed at Harry who was tugging at a flower. "Say flower, Harry," he said. "Can you say flower for Daddy?"

"Daddy!" said Harry. Lily laughed with James and he leaned over to give her a soft kiss on the cheek. She gave him one back.

Harry pulled on the flower and when it became uprooted, he tumbled backwards and off of James.

He started to cry.

"Oh, no, Honey, it's all right," said Lily.

James picked him up. He kissed the fuzz on the baby boy's forehead. "See, all better." Harry looked at them with tearful emerald green eyes. He peered at them curiously. "You're turn Lily," said James with a grin.

She laughed at him and kissed Harry's forehead. "It's all better, Harry," she said softly. He giggled and reached out his chubby arms out to his mother who received him with her own open arms.

James watched them with a content smile. He looked at his wife, playing with his son and his eyes glowed. Life was perfect; he didn't need anything else.

"Say 'hi' to Daddy, Harry! Can you say 'hi' to Daddy for Mommy?" said Lily with a smile towards James. He crawled over and sat next to her. She put her head on his shoulder and he let her lean against him.

"Hi, Daddy for Mommy," said Harry with a laugh.

James kissed his forehead. "Hello, Harry. Can you say 'hi' to Mommy for Daddy?"

Harry waved his arms about and looked at Lily with a happy smile.

"Hi to Mommy from Harry." He looked puzzled and looked at James who grinned at him. James' hair was as untidy as any day but his eyes were alight with happiness and life. Lily had pulled her hair back into a fiery French bun with strands of hair tugging away from their restraint. Her heart was filled with joy and she felt as if she needed nothing more.

James and Lily laughed.

Everything was fine. The thoughts of the real world were gone. Only their enclosed fantasy paradise was left, they didn't need anything else.

~*~

Sirius blinked his eyes open and quickly closed them again. The sun blared into his eyes and after adjusting to it, he sat up. He looked towards Hallie's side of the bed and found the blankets were pulled back. Her space was empty.

He stood up with a yawn and looked around. Then he heard a flush from the bathroom and heard the faucet run with water. He walked over and peeked in. Hallie looked up at him with a shaky smile.

"I think I'm sick," she said after she finished brushing her teeth.

He grinned. "Guess last night's dinner didn't agree with you."

She shook her head with a grin back at him. "What dinner? I just threw it all up." He came over and hugged her around the waist. She sighed and leaned back against him, looking at them both in the mirror.

He had grown taller again and was a little less than a head taller than she. His hair was messed from sleep and his eyes groggy. She touched his cheek. "You're adorable, Sirius," she said with a small smile.

Sirius smiled back and kissed her temple. "So are you. Now come on back to bed. You're staying there."

She looked at him with a pout. "But I don't want to."

He laughed. "How old are you again?"

She shrugged and said, "Only five months and five days younger than you."

He picked her up and she laughed and put her arms around his neck. After dumping her onto the bed and pulling the covers over her, he went down the steps with a smile.

Hallie was now his fiancée. Just the thought sent chills through him and the foolish smile on his face seemed as if it would never leave.

Life wasn't as bad as he thought it was.

~*~

Severus walked along the corridors of Slytherin Castle. He was in a state of panic. What was he to do?

Go to Albus Dumbledore, the voice inside him said.

He shook his head. Should he though? Then he nodded. Yes, he should.

He muttered the charm to put the bubble of privacy around him and then disapparated.

Albus looked up when he arrived and smiled. "Hello, Severus," he said conversationally.

"Albus, Voldemort," started Severus. "He-he knows, he tracked Requillo. He found a way."

"A way? A way for what?"

"There's someone sending information to Him, Albus, and they told him where he lives and-," but the other man put up a hand.

"Where Requillo lives?"

Severus nodded. "And they've found a way to catch Requillo, they know what he'll do and that's his weakness. They're planning the attack for tomorrow night." His eyes were wide.

"Severus, you haven't had any sleep these past few nights have you?'

He made a sound of aggravation. "That's not the point! Albus, they're going to kill him!"

Albus sat down and rubbed the bridge of his nose warily. "I know," said he softly. "I know." He looked up. "Get some sleep, Severus. I will take care of it."

Snape looked at him in exasperation. "This is the Dark Lord we're speaking of, Albus. Even your words don't soothe me thoroughly anymore."

"Severus, get some sleep," repeated the headmaster again.

The latter closed his eyes with a deep sigh. "Goodbye then." And he apparated to Slytherin Castle.

"Where were you?" said Janice.

Rick grinned. "Off committing treason against our Lord," he said.

Snape glared at them. "Back away from me slowly if you know what's good for you," he told them, his voice filled with malice.

Rick's eyebrows shot up. "What will you do?"

"It's not a question," said a voice behind them, "of what he will do, it's of what I will do if you both do not leave at this moment."

All three of them turned around to see Voldemort looking at them all in amusement.

"Yes, master," murmured Janice and Rick. Then they left as was told.

Voldemort circled Snape, his hand rubbing his chin in contemplation. "Where have you been, Severus?" he asked. "Not committing treason against me as the other two have said, I hope."

Snape bowed low. "Of course not, my Lord, I wish to never go against you," he muttered.

Voldemort pointed his wand at him. "No, you don't wish that. Now get up." There was a clipped edge to his voice that made Severus look at him sharply.

"Yes, master."

"Where have you been?"

"Checking on the tracking spell, master," Snape replied, praying to himself that Voldemort would check.

The Dark Lord nodded. "All right. Go onto your quarters. Just looking at you disgusts me."

Snape hurried away after bowing.

~*~

Sirius walked along the streets of Hogsmead. James had given him the list of things they needed. The skies suddenly blackened with black cloaked figures on brooms riding overhead.

Screams pierced the air and he looked sharply at a burning store. A man shrieked with pain for flames burned on his robes. Sirius rushed over and caste the spell to get rid of the fire.

He then hurried away with a pounding heart. It was substantial that he get away. If something happened to him, anything could happen to James, Lily, and Harry. He couldn't let harm come to them. They trusted him. Their lives were in his hands.

Reaching his broom, he flew away, taking care not to be seen.

Inside, he felt like a coward for running away, but what was he to do? He wasn't running for his life anymore, he was running for the Potters' lives.

He reached the manor and opened the door.

When he stepped inside, he saw Remus sitting on the armchair and Hallie asleep on the couch. Remus stood up and looked at him with a tired smile.

"Hi," he said.

Sirius grinned back, but it lacked some of the life and warmth it used to have, Remus noted. "Hi."

Remus jerked a thumb Hallie's way. "She gave me a call saying she didn't want to stay home alone," he told the other man.

Sirius smiled at him thankfully. "Thanks, Remus, I know you didn't have to do that."

He shrugged chastely. "That's all right." He looked over at Hallie. "I saw that ring on her finger," he said with a broad grin. The other smiled just as broadly. "So, how does it feel?"

"How does what feel?"

Remus laughed. "How does it feel to be engaged?"

Sirius sighed and plopped himself onto the free couch. "It feels great," he said simply.

The other nodded and said, "Well, I should go now. I'll see you later, all right?"

Sirius nodded and after thanking him again, Remus left. He went over and sat beside the couch. "Hallie," he said softly. There was no response. "Oh, Hallie," he repeated in a singsong voice.

She moaned and turned over. He stood over her and felt her forehead. She was burning up. He picked her up and brought her to the bedroom. After putting numerous blankets on her, he turned to go get the living room fire going, but heard her speak.

"Sirius? Stay here with me," she said softly. He turned around and smiled at her. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Were you able to find everything all right?"

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?"

He frowned slightly. "Why wouldn't I be."

She gave him a small smile. "I don't know, you seem worried about something." He lied down next to her and put her arms around his neck and his went around her waist. She snuggled close to him and he could feel how hot she was yet she shivered.

"I'm fine. Are you okay?" She nodded.

"Sirius?" she murmured a while later.

"Hmm?"

"Where are James and Lily hiding?"

He looked down at her but her eyes were closed. Her cheeks were rosy with the heat of her fever but she was as pale as Remus was after his transformations. "Why?"

She moved closer to him and squeezed his neck tighter. "I miss them. And Harry too."

Sirius kissed her forehead. "I know," he said softly. "So do I."

"When can we see them again?"

He closed his eyes and sighed. "I don't know, Hallie, I'm sorry."

For a long time, he just lied there, with his arms around her. He had thought that she had fallen asleep, but then her voice came again. "Sirius?" she murmured

"Hmm?"

"Sirius, do you love me?"

He laughed. "Of course I do," he said kissing her forehead once more.

"Are you sure?"

Laughing again, he said, "Yes, I'm sure." She sounded drunk, to put it simply. "Why?"

"What if I become really fat, and ugly. Would you still love me?"

He held back his laughter this time. "No, I only love you because you're beautiful and slim."

She pulled away and looked at him. He looked at her with a serious (no pun intended) expression.

And then she broke into sobs.

His eyes widened and he held her close again. "Hallie - Hallie - don't cry! I was just kidding! Shh, it's all right! I was joking! I'll love you forever and ever just because you're you!"

It was a few moments later that she sniffed and hiccuped as she looked up at him. "Kidding?"

He nodded and wiped away her tears. "I was kidding, I'm sorry."

"I'm sick, aren't I, Sirius?"

He grinned and nodded again.

She frowned, looking puzzled. "But I never get sick."

With a smile, he said, "Everyone gets sick some time, sweetie."

"Not me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He shrugged. "There's a first time for everything."

She looked up at him with big bright sapphire blue eyes. "Okay." And then she closed those eyes and leaned against him again.

He held her tightly and touched her forehead with his cheek. She was burning with a ferocious fever.

~*~

Requillo sat in his abandoned barn loft calmly looking out the window.

It was then that the owl flew through it and dropped a letter into his lap.

Requillo ~

Return home. Your daughter needs you.

~ Your Master

~*~

He woke up later and saw that the light was dimming, it was starting to get dark. Looking down a bit, he saw Hallie snuggled closely next to him. It was then that he noticed that something was different. Sirius touched her forehead and noticed that her fever had gone down. It had gone down very much.

He pulled away to look at her. Her color was still gone, and she still looked sick, but she wasn't warm anymore. He pulled the covers off of them both and touched her skin. She was as cold as ice.

A feeling of frightened panic shot through him and his stomach was soon inhabited by nervous and tense butterflies.

"Hallie," he whispered. "Hallie, wake up."

His breathing became slow and rugged.

He shook her slightly. "Hallie, wake up," he said a little louder now.

A moment later, it had gotten down to him shaking her harder. He put his ear over her mouth and felt a slight breeze of breath touch his skin.

With wide eyes, he got up and quickly did the spell to contact Remus.

"Remus, Remus, I need you to come here now," his said urgently, his voice catching in his throat.

Noting the tense sound of his friend's voice, Remus said, "I'll be right over." And he was, he apparated right into the living room. "Sirius? Where are you?"

"Up here!" Sirius called back. He brushed away the hair falling over Hallie's face.

Remus rushed in and out of breath said, "What's wrong? What's happened?"

Sirius pointed at Hallie. "She-she's not waking up. I don't know what's wrong. Just this morning she was burning with a bloody fever and now - now she's practically a bloody corpse!" His voice had risen to a tone of hysteria.

Remus put a hand on his shoulder. "Her immune system is probably kicking in or whatever medication she used might be starting to work or something."

"She didn't use medication! Just this morning she was saying she had never gotten sick before. I didn't believe her and now look what I've done! I've killed her! I've-," but Remus swatted the back of his head, and hard.

"Shut up," he said sternly. "You're becoming hysterical."

Sirius rubbed the aching spot and sat down. "Thanks," he said.

"Come on, let's bring her to the hospital."

Sirius picked her up but just then, someone came bursting into the doorway. "Requillo!" exclaimed Sirius.

"Where's Hallie?" he asked urgently. "Is she all right? What-," but then he saw her. He rushed to her side and touched her cheek. "Hallie," he said softly. "Wake up." But she didn't."

Sirius was now shaking. "She won't wake up. I tried shaking her and yelling and everything, but she didn't wake up. I've killed her. I've-," but he stopped when Remus raised his hand to swat at his head.

Requillo looked at them both. "What happened?"

Remus shrugged helplessly and Sirius said, "I don't know. This morning, she had a fever."

"But she never gets sick," Requillo said instinctively. "Well, she never did when I used to be there," he added quietly.

"So she told me, but she had a fever. And then we went to sleep and when I woke up, she was freezing cold and wouldn't wake up."

"We should take her to the hospital," said Hallie's father. The other two nodded and Sirius followed them out the door.

He nearly dropped her when he saw who was standing at the bottom of the steps.

~*~

"It's nice to see you again, Requillo," Voldemort said once Requillo, Sirius, and Remus were body-binded onto chairs. Hallie lay on the couch nearby, still ice cold and unconscious.

Requillo just glared back in response.

"Now, what have you been up to lately?" At this, the other man didn't say a word. "Ah, yes, I remember. You ran off that one day with these youths and a few others if I remember correctly."

"There was a reason for that," spat Requillo.

The Dark Lord looked amused. "A reason for turning your back on your master? Please, do enlighten me on this reason."

"I found my daughter! The one you said that you killed along with my wife! I ran out on you because I found something better. Something that you had tried to take away from me!" yelled the man in a sudden rage.

Remus looked from one to another with wide eyes while Sirius kept looking over at Hallie who hadn't moved during the whole fiasco.

"Unbind him," Voldemort ordered. Immediately, a cloaked Death Eater came out of the circle to bow to his master and then did as was told.

Requillo stood up and reached for his wand.

Voldemort pointed his own at the opposition. "Go ahead, Requillo, try and curse me. Try to kill me even. We'll now see who's the better man."

Severus was slowly creeping away from the crowd. He went to the couch. "Enervate," he whispered. Hallie blinked her eyes open and ever so slowly did she sit up. Snape showed her who he was and then replaced his hood once again. Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to speak, but he put his hand over it. "Not a word," he said almost inaudibly.

She nodded, but stopped for it hurt too much. It felt as if she were as frozen as ice and a slipping feeling was passing through her. Her energy seemed to be drifting away like a current in a quick river.

Her breath nearly stopped when she saw the ring of black cloaked men surrounding a few in the middle. There was a small opening in which she could see the happenings.

Requillo swallowed deeply and glared at his enemy. His eyes burned with hatred and tears that were starting to come. They weren't tears only of anger, but of sorrow as well. It was because of the man before him that his life had been diminished and he had lost his wife. It was because of the man before him that his life had gone so awry.

Before, he ran away into concealment so as Voldemort and his Death Eaters wouldn't be able to find him. What had he feared? He feared losing his life again, losing his life with the person he loved most, his daughter. But running away hadn't solved that; he didn't get to see her anyway.

Now, however, he would hide no longer.

Fire burned through his veins with the anger deep within him as he pointed his wand at Voldemort...