Into the Hands of Fate

Chapter Twenty One

"Don't worry, Lily, we're going to be all right," he said softly, holding her close. They were both sitting on the couch near the fireplace, watching Harry play with his toys before them. "Just think of Harry."

"I always think of Harry," she told him softly.

He smiled at her and kissed her cheek tenderly. "I know you do."

"James, your dream, something happened to us, right?"

The young man looked into the fire before looking into the flame of green in his wife's eyes. "Yes, something did happen to us." But he said no more. It was already a burden for him, knowing what was going to happen to he and Lily, but to let her know...he just couldn't.

Her eyes filled with tears. "What about Harry? You said he'd be okay, right? He'd be okay because of that charm?"

James' eyes widened. "I cannot believe it! I almost forgot!" He closed his eyes and when he opened them, he reached to his neck and unclasped something. It was a golden necklace with an amber stone the shape of a teardrop dangling from it. "Wear this, when-when the time comes," he said, "put it on Harry, just be yourself and put it on Harry."

She had no idea what he was talking about, but because she trusted him more than anything in the world, she did as was told. "Be myself?"

He smiled genuinely. "Yes, just be you, Lily, and everything will be okay."

He knew what was to happen, and though he wished he could tell Lily, he knew that he couldn't tell her, or the spell that was set to save Harry, might destroy the baby boy instead of saving him.

"It'll be all right," he said again.

She sighed and rested against him. "I believe you, but I can't help being scared to death."

He smiled. "Don't worry, I'm just as afraid as you are."

A short while later, Harry was fast asleep, curled up on the floor, clutching his teddy bear close. Lily moved away from James. "I'll take him up to bed," she said softly.

He smiled up at her. It was that smile that she had fallen in love with and it still made her knees weak. "All right," he replied.

She picked up Harry who stirred slightly and then put his arms around his mother's neck, burying his face into her shoulder. Lily looked to James who was looking at her with tender smile. Quietly, she crept up the steps and placed Harry in his crib. He turned on his side and she put a blanket over him.

"Goodnight, Harry, sweet dreams."

James watched her go and smiled to himself.

Life wasn't so bad. Tonight had been the perfect night for him and if he could relive it, he would have, changing nothing.

His daydreams were cut short by a sound outside. His heart skipped a beat as he stood up to look out a window. A shadow of a figure caught his eye and his stomach seemed to drop into a bucket of ice. His breathing seemed to slow into gasps and his heart raced.

Slowly, he went to the door to look outside.

The figure was suddenly before him, hooded and menacing. James felt a tingle of fear and coldness run through him. Quickly he shut the door and locked it.

Lily came down the steps. "James, Harry's sleeping. What-," but she stopped at the way his eyes were looking crazily about.

"Lily," he gasped out, "run - I'm going to try and hold him off -,"

"James - what?"

"Run, Lily!" he bellowed.

A wail hit the night from upstairs. "James, I don't understand -," but a banging started on the door.

James gave her a slight push in the direction of the steps. "You have to go, Lily, go now!" His voice was filled with agony and sobs that he restrained.

Her eyes filled with tears. "I can't leave you," she said running to his arms. The door slammed open. James pulled Lily along.

"You have to. Think of Harry, we have to save him, we have to. We can't fail," he said heavily. The tears fell and he kissed her. "Run! GO, Lily!"

With a last cry and small kiss, she raced up the steps.

James held his wand before him and pointed it at the doorway in which he knew the other would come through.

He took a deep breath and watched as the figure walked in.

~*~

Lily ran up the steps, remember what James had told her to do. She touched her neck and felt the pendant of the amber teardrop. Quickly, she fumbled to take it off herself and clasped it around Harry's neck. To her amazement, it seemed to sink and melt away, becoming a part of him.

She heard a yell from downstairs and picked up Harry. "Come on, Honey, don't cry, we have to go." He cried loudly, his tears scorching her where they touched her skin.

When down the steps, she heard a loud 'thump' and saw a bright flash of green light.

Her heart seemed to feel as if it were being attacked my a million swords. "James," she whispered in a trembling voice.

But then the hooded figure was walking towards her.

She backed up quickly but fell backwards, Harry falling behind her.

"Move aside, girl," said Voldemort menacingly.

Lily crawled before Harry, covering him, concealing him, protecting him.

"No, no, take me, take me," she whispered. "Don't kill Harry, anyone but Harry!"

She felt a glare pierce at her. "Move aside, I don't want you."

"No!" she cried as he raised his wand. "Please, please have mercy, not Harry, please! Please have mercy!"

The Dark Lord scowled and pointed his wand at her. She whispered, "I love you, Harry," before he yelled, "Avada Kedavra!"

There was a blinding flash of green light and an agonized scream pierced the night.

~*~

Fate watched with tears in her eyes, and let them fall.

~*~

Lily looked up in that last moment, seeing a bright light. She saw James smile down at her, holding out his arms.

"I'm coming, James," she whispered. "I love you Harry."

And then she was gone.

~*~

Sirius took his motorcycle from the Forester mansion shed and made his way to Peter's home and knocked on the door. When there was no answer and no light was switched on, a feeling of panic swept through him. "Peter?" he called, knocking again. After a few more moments, he muttered, "Alohomora," and stepped inside. "Peter!" he yelled. There was no answer. Everything looked fine, but something seemed horribly wrong. There was no sign of struggle.

He suddenly rushed out of the house not bothering to close the door behind him and apparated to Godric's Hollow.

Above hovered the Dark Mark.

Sirius ran over to the ruins of Godric's Hollow. He gazed around, his eyes filling with tears that threatened to fall.

He fell upon his knees with choked sob. "Oh, God, oh God..." he cried softly.

The tears fell and left burning trails in their wake. He shook his head looking around.

"No...oh, god, no..."

His breaths came out in trembling gasps that he tried to calm, but he just cried harder when he found he couldn't.

He cried for James, he cried Lily, and he cried for Harry.

But not only for them...

He cried for the world, he cried for what it had become and for all the pain and loss in everyone. He cried for the hate, the destruction, and the will to kill.

For how long, he knew not, but he stayed there, upon his knees, letting the tears silently fall, and the sobs rack his body. He shook his head and gazed around in a half-dazed stage with wide eyes.

And then he heard it. He heard the pained wail of a baby.

Sirius scrambled to his feet and looked around. "Harry?" he tried to say, but found that his voice wasn't working at the moment. He cleared his throat and started stumbling to the location of the cry. "Harry?" he called.

The wailing quieted a little bit, but started again.

"I'm coming," Sirius whispered, and then louder, "I'm coming, Harry, I'm coming." His tears touched the ground and fell down his face but he didn't care, he let them fall. "Don't cry, Harry, I'm coming."

He saw a bundle of movement and raced towards it. He stumbled on something and fell. His knees were scraped and his hands blistered. A sob was lodged in his throat as he slowly turned around to look at what it was that he tripped on. His mouth fell open and moved up and down without words when he saw what it was.

"Oh, God, oh, God..." he cried. "Lily," he whispered.

Her flaming red hair had lost its fire and was left to a dull auburn color. He shook his head and crawled over, ignoring the pain of his sores from falling. With trembling hands, he pushed the hair from her face and hugged her. "Lily," he cried.

He sobbed into her shirt and a while later, he was calmer. "Why did this have to happen?" he asked softly.

His mind suddenly rushed to one word. "Peter," he said. Though this time, it wasn't in a tone of sorrow, but of complete fury, he glared into the night. "You did this, Peter!" he yelled. "This is your fault! It's your fault!" His face contorted into a horrifying mask of anger that could not be put into words, for the feeling is felt only deep within the heart.

But he collapsed into sobs again, falling to his knees. Shaking his head, he buried it into his hands. "No, it's my fault. It's all my fault." He looked to Lily, and then to the bundle that was Harry. "I failed you. I failed you all, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry," he cried.

He clambered towards Harry. He touched the little boy's cheeks and kissed the fuzz on his hair. "I'm sorry, Harry, I'm so sorry."

And then there was a poof and he turned around quickly to see who it was. Hagrid stood there, looming greatly because of his giant descent. "Sirius? That yeh?" asked the man in a soft voice.

"Yeah-," the latter started, but his voice wasn't working anymore. He just nodded.

Hagrid looked around, his eyes filling. The great tears fell down his face. It was the most sorrowful thing that one could ever see. "I can' believe it," he said softly.

Sirius dusted off his robes so that the other wouldn't see his expression. His face was filled with grief that could not be described in a million words. The young man's eyes showed pain, pain for a loss that was more than just a loss to him. It was part of him taken away. It was part of him deprived and stripped like freedom. He felt lost, alone, abandoned...it was more than he could take.

Once more, he fell to his knees and cried into his hands.

Hagrid placed a large hand on his shoulder. "It's all righ'," said the man. "It's gonna be all righ'," but his words were more confident than he felt. He heard the soft whimpering cry from Harry. "Is - is that-," Sirius nodded.

Hagrid went over and picked the bundle up. He looked to Sirius who was looking straight ahead, as if in a trance, his expression not changing from the one of melancholy it held. "I 'ave orders ter bring Harry ter Dumbledore," he said quietly.

Sirius suddenly snapped out of his reverie and scrambled up. "W-what? Why?"

"Sorry, Sirius, but it's secret," said Hagrid, looking uncomfortable.

"I'm his godfather, Hagrid, let me take him. I'll take care of him," Sirius said, wiping his tears away.

But Hagrid shook his head. "Sorry, but I've got orders from Dumbledore."

"You can tell him I've got him. I'm his godfather, he can stay with me. Hallie won't mind either," Sirius pleaded, but Hagrid stood his ground.

"I'm sorry, Sirius, but I've got orders."

Sirius sighed in defeat and looked around, looking to find something. He brought over his motorcycle. "Use this, I won't be needing it anymore," he said softly.

Hagrid thanked him and flew off. Sirius watched after them and looked about him, sitting on the ground, thinking of what to do.

He thought of going home, but he didn't want to break the news to Hallie. Slowly, he stood up and apparated to Remus'.

It was almost dawn when he was on his friend's doorstep. He knocked on the door. A few minutes later, Remus opened the door, looking exhausted and pale.

Sirius' eyes widened. "Oh my gosh, Remus, I'm so sorry, I forgot, I don't know what's wrong with me," he said in a rush.

The latter smiled. "Don't worry about it. I'm fine," but he looked otherwise. "Come in," he said and stepped to the side. A few moments later, they were seated in the living room drinking tea. "What's wrong, Padfoot, I can tell you're troubled," Remus said softly.

Sirius looked up, his eyes with a frightening fire burning. "They're gone," he whispered.

Remus' inside wrenched painfully, his teacup fell shattering on the ground. "What?" he asked sharply.

Sirius closed his eyes. "James...and Lily, they're gone."

~*~

Later that morning, Sirius stood at the doorway saying farewell. "I-I'll see you later, Moony," he said.

Remus noticed that look of guilt in his friend's eyes, but pushed it aside. "Okay," he said quietly back.

Sirius turned to go, but stopped and walked back. "Remus, if something happens to me - I mean, if - if," he swallowed. "If something happens to me, will you take care of Hallie? For me?"

Remus looked at him for a moment before nodding slowly. "I don't understand," he told Sirius.

The latter just shook his head. "Just promise me you'll take care of her for me," he said softly.

"I promise."

Sirius smiled, but it had lost its life. "Thanks." He turned and walked away. Yet, it wasn't his usually lively walk that had its bounce in it, it was solemn, and his shoulders seemed tense. He then apparated away.

~*~

Peter backed away, his stout face bright with beads of perspiration. His eyes looked crazily around for an escape, but he was cornered in the alleyway. His only exit was passed Sirius, and he knew he wouldn't be able through. "Sirius, how-how nice to - er - see you again," he stammered, trembling nervously.

Sirius cornered him, his wand pointed at its foe. "Why'd you do it, Peter, how could you do this to them?"

"Do what?" But he stopped when he noticed the angry contortion of Sirius' face.

"Why would you betray them?" his voice shook with raw emotion. His hand trembled and his voice had a slight tremor from both anger and anguish. "They were our best friends! Why would you do this? Why?"

Peter cowered backwards. "What is there to gain, Sirius? The Dark Lord's on the rise!" he squealed, tears starting to brim in his eyes.

"They were our friends!" Then some things started to dawn on him. "You led Voldemort to the manor, didn't you, Peter."

The latter swallowed and looked at him with wide eyes, backing up against the wall and staring at the wand pointed at him. He muttered an incantation under his breath and a breeze swept past.

"You let him hurt Hallie, didn't you?" The other man swallowed noticeably again and looked at him in fear. Sirius' voice was lowered and in his eyes burned a ferocious fire.

Peter's head raced with thoughts and his heart pounded painfully in his chest. And then it was as if a light had flashed on in his mind.

"James and Lily, Sirius!" he cried out, suddenly as the wind seemed to throw an especially forceful gust around the two in the alleyway.

Sirius frowned, a countenance of confusion upon his face. "What -?" But from here to the end, it seemed as if everything moved in slow motion.

"How could you?" and then he muttered a curse and Sirius was blasted away. He heard the screams and cries of pain from Muggles that were hit by the spell. Just before Peter transformed, Sirius saw his face contort into a mask of horror at what he had done and a shadow of guilt and panic flew by.

But soon, Peter was Peter no more, but a tiny creature.

Sirius sat up and saw the Muggle police cars pull up and their sirens blaring loudly with red and blue lights. Screams of agony and pain were heard and loud voices were shouting.

Ministry wizards started pouring in and he was lifted onto his feet. He saw the well-known Barty Crouch glaring at him.

"Sirius Black, you are arrested for the deaths of James and Lily Potter and for this recent incident," he said coldly.

Sirius blinked at him and looked around, seeing Peter in his rat form run towards the sewer. It stopped to look at him for a moment and then raced away. Sirius watched after it with a glare.

He turned to look at Barty Crouch who was looking at him strangely and started to laugh. His whole world was crashing down around him and he no longer had any control of any of it. Sirius was close to hysterics and he knew it. He laughed to himself as he gazed around. Inside, however, his heart tore to pieces at the site.

Look what you've done, Peter, he thought to himself.

Mr. Crouch looked at him and knew that the young man before him was cracking. He turned away at the poor site and missed the crystal tears of sorrow starting to fall from Sirius' eyes.

Look what you've done, Peter...

~*~

Remus rushed into the manor. Hallie looked away from the fireplace at him and quickly stood up. "Remus? What-," but she got cut off.

"It's Sirius," he gasped out. "He - he's been taken to Azkaban!"

Hallie's eyes widened. "W-What? Why? What happened?"

Remus looked at her. "You-you don't know? A-About Lily and James?"

Her stomach seemed to do a summersault inside of her. "What about them? What's happened?" He bit down on his lip uncomfortably. "What happened, Remus?" she asked softly, walking up to him and looking at him squarely.

"They - Voldemort - he killed them last night."

She swayed on her spot and he caught her. "What?"

"They're gone, Hallie, Voldemort killed them?"

"And Harry?" she whispered, her voice failing into soft sobs.

"He's all right. He just got a scar. Dumbledore dropped him off at Petunia's to live there."

"Petunia's?" Hallie yelled. "Why the hell would he leave Harry with Petunia? She's a Muggle! We've got to talk to the Ministry. No son of James' and Lily's is going to live with Muggles!"

Remus held her tightly. "It's all right, everything's going to be okay."

"Sirius - where - what did you say? Is he all right? What happened to him?" she wondered quickly, giving him a frantic glance of worry. "He's okay, isn't he? He's fine, right?" Remus looked away. "Remus?" she whispered.

"He was arrested for the murders of James and Lily. He was their Secret-Keeper," he replied quietly.

Hallie stared at him in disbelief. "No, no, that can't be right, he-he'd never-," but Remus shook his head. "Sirius would never betray James and Lily! He wouldn't ever do that! He loves them!" she yelled at him.

But Remus looked at her painfully, his eyes shining with tears as well. "But he did, and we have to get over it, Hallie! He's going to Azkaban for the rest of his life!" he yelled back.

"He can't! I know Sirius! You do too, Remus, why can't you-,"

"It's over, Hallie, you have to face it! He's going to Azkaban and he's never going to get out! He betrayed them! He was the only one that could have kept them safe, and the only one that could have killed them!" He looked at her in the eyes. "And what happened?"

"They - they," she stammered.

"They're gone," he whispered, the tears falling. She turned away from him. "Hallie, I'm sorry," he said, feeling ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry for yelling at you."

She looked at him and shook her head. "Why is this happening? Why's this happening, Remus?"

He hugged her tightly. "I don't know, I really don't know," he whispered with a hurt and betrayed expression on his face.

How could you do this, Sirius? How could you?

~*~

Hallie pushed her hair out of her face and went down the steps.

It was a week later and she was expecting Remus to meet her soon. There was a knock on the door, he was on time like always. She opened it and tried to smile. He forced one back and they walked out.

They soon arrived at their destination. Hallie and Remus took their seats in the second row and saw Barty Crouch on the panel with a number of others.

She looked around and was surprised to see Severus Snape in the room as well. He was seated next to Albus Dumbledore who seemed unusually haggard and solemn.

She looked up front again and saw Mr. Crouch rise. The doors opened and she watched as he was dragged in by two hooded figures that sent chills up her spine. Her eyes were wide and she suddenly felt colder than she had ever been.

He didn't look up, but kept looking at the ground. Tears came to her eyes. "Sirius," she whispered, but he didn't hear.

Remus held her hand and squeezed it in reassurance. She looked at him and tried to swallow the lump that formed in her throat. They looked forward again.

"Sirius Black," boomed Mr. Crouch in a loud frigid voice, "you are charged with the murder of James and Lily Potter! Do you deny it?"

At this, the young man looked up in fury, his eyes glowing with fiery tears. "Yes, I deny it," he said softly, his voice trembling. "I would never kill them."

Around Hallie and Remus, others stood up and booed at him, yelling awful curses towards him and calling him names. Some even threw rotten vegetables at him.

Sirius was seated on a seat in the front of the room, with dementors on either sides of him. "I didn't do it!" he yelled defiantly at Barty Crouch.

The older man just glared at him. "You are also charged with the killing of one wizard, Mr. Peter Pettigrew, and twelve Muggles. Do you deny this?" growled the man.

"Yes, I deny it! I didn't kill anyone! I wouldn't ever kill anyone!" Sirius yelled. He looked around the room for any believing face and his eyes locked with Hallie's and widened. "Hallie, Hallie, please," he begged.

"You will have no trial," said Mr. Crouch, "on account of the number of witnesses present during the murders of the twelve Muggles and Peter Pettigrew."

But Sirius wasn't paying attention. He stood up, but the dementors restrained him. "Hallie, I didn't do it! I didn't kill them!"

"You were the Potter's Secret-Keeper and they can only have been killed if they had been betrayed," Barty continued.

She closed her eyes and looked away with a soft cry. "Hallie!" Sirius pleaded. "Please! You have to believe me!"

Remus hugged Hallie and she buried her face into his shoulder.

The dementors started to drag Sirius out. "Hallie, please! Please believe me!" he yelled as they took him away. "I didn't kill anyone! It wasn't me! I would never betray them! Please!"

He was dragged away and the doors closed loudly behind him.

~*~

Her eyes drifted to the moon outside. It was at the moment, a waxing crescent. She remembered the events of earlier that day. Sirius' expression when they were accusing him of being the cause of Lily and James' deaths.

Hallie shook her head. It was too much to bear. She looked at her engagement ring and her vision blurred. "Why is this happening?" she whispered in a trembling voice full of emotion. She put a hand on her stomach and closed her eyes. "Oh, God, I think I'm going to be sick," she muttered, standing up.

When she felt a bit better, she wrapped herself up in the blanket and turned over on her side, facing Sirius empty space and closed her eyes. The tears, however, rebelled and leaked through.

It took a while for her to fall asleep, but later that night, she finally succeeded and left reality for the land of dreams.

~*~

The next morning, she sat up and looked around the brightly-lit room. She quickly got dressed with a countenance of resolve.

She contacted Remus through the fire. "Hi, Hallie," he said softly, his face drawn and thin.

"Hi," she said back. "Er - I-I was just wondering if you would come with me to - um - to," but Remus held up a hand in understanding.

"I'll be right over," he said. And soon he was. "I was just thinking of going to Azkaban myself."

~*~

They sat on the boat, Remus holding her protectively. "You're scared," he said.

She nodded. "Terrified." Looking up with her sapphire blue gaze boring at him, "Are you?"

He looked ahead at the shadowy jail up ahead, and then he nodded. His face was a mask without expression and though Hallie fought to find out how he was feeling, she found she couldn't. He looked down at her with a small reassuring smile, and then faced forward again, his face falling into the expressionless façade it was in before.

She tried to be brave, but inside, she was in torture. What would she say to him? It frightened her that she didn't know how she'd react when she would see him again...if she would.

But thoughts seemed to stream through her mind. Thoughts she never thought she'd ever think...it was as if she didn't know him anymore. Who was Sirius Black really? How could this have happened? Hallie shook her head resolutely. It didn't matter.

I will see him, she thought. But what if they didn't let her? She frowned. Then I'll make them let me.

They soon were docked and Remus helped Hallie off the boat. The man that led them there saluted them with a solemn gaze and took out a book for he would wait until they needed to go back to the mainland.

For a moment, Hallie looked up at the infamous Azkaban, a formidable feeling settling within the depths of her heart.

You can't stay here, Sirius, she thought, her eyes brimming with tears. No one can last in this place.

Remus took her hand in his and she followed him inside. He led the way to the office and as soon as she stepped into the intolerable jail, she felt a shiver run up her spine.

They stepped into the office and a middle aged man looked up from his newspaper.

Hallie caught sight of the words 'Sirius Black Charged-' but the man put it down. She looked up at him. "Hello there! My name's Jack McKinnon. How may I help you?" he asked. His voice was smooth and soft yet held a certain tone of frigidity.

Remus looked to Hallie who looked back at him with a blank expression. "Er - we'd like to see one of the prisoners here," he said softly.

Jack looked at each of them in turn. Shrugging, he said, "Who?"

"Sirius Black," said Hallie.

His eyes widened slightly but he cleared his throat and rummaged through his desk cabinet. "Er - right." He cleared his throat again, blushing slightly. "I-I'm not supposed to let anyone see him. Er - maybe if you come back some other time -," but Remus cut him off.

"He didn't get a trial and we couldn't bail him, we'd really appreciate it if you'd let us see him, please."

Jack looked up at him.

"We were," Remus swallowed, "are his best friends." He gestured to Hallie. "She's his fiancée."

Jack's eyes widened a bit more and he swallowed noticeably. "Er - oh - well, see, I-I still can't-"

"We won't take long, I promise," Hallie said quickly. "I-I just want to see him." She looked up at Remus who nodded.

Jack looked at them both in contemplation. After a moment he sighed, "You tell anyone and I'm in for it," he told them, picking up his keys

Remus smiled, his pale face illuminating into brightness. "Thanks, you won't regret it," he said.

Jack ran a hand through his hair as he led the way out. "I sure hope not," he muttered. Remus took Hallie's hand and they followed the man down the hall. A harsh breeze of frigidness surrounded them and Remus could have sworn he saw yellow eyes staring back at him. When he blinked a few times, they were gone.

"He can't stay here, Remus, he can't," Hallie whispered, moving closer to him. He squeezed her hand lightly, encouragingly.

"He'll be all right," but he thought that his words were more confident than how he felt.

Jack looked back at them and gave a crooked smile. "Joyful place, in't she?"

They finally stopped in front of a cell surrounded by many hooded figures. "What are they," Hallie whispered to Remus unsteadily.

"Dementors," he replied softly.

Jack undid the lock and opened the door. "Let them through," he said to the dementors and stood back. "You can have five minutes," he whispered.

Hallie looked up at Remus who nodded and she led the way in. Inside, she felt herself starting to shake.

She saw a figure move slightly in the corner and jumped slightly. "Sirius?" she whispered in a trembling voice.

The figure abruptly stood. "Who's there?" he asked, his voice filled with fright.

She knew it couldn't be true. Was this the Sirius Black she knew? The Sirius Black that she loved? What had happened? Everyone now thought of him as the man who killed the Potters...but she couldn't believe it. Was this man a disguise for the cold-blooded killer inside?"

"Who are you?" asked Sirius again, standing up.

Hallie's disregarded the past thoughts and ran over to him. She felt his arms go slowly around her. "Hallie," he whispered, a sob catching in his throat. "What're you doing here?" She didn't answer but buried her head into his robes and sobbed. "Shh, it's all right, everything's okay." Hallie shook her head and looked up at him.

"How can you say that? Look where we are!" He smiled gently down at her and cupped her cheek with one hand, bringing his lips down on hers.

A scream suddenly exploded and Hallie jumped away. Sirius hugged her tightly. "It's okay," he said when she shook violently. "They do that sometimes."

"Sirius, you can't stay here," she muttered. "You can't stay here."

"I'll be fine, you'll see," he told her consolingly, but the tears that fell from his eyes gave him away. She hugged him tightly and he kissed her forehead. "Don't worry about me."

"I can't help it," she said in a muffled voice.

"Hallie, forget about me," he said heavily, after a short moment.

She pulled away. "What?"

He averted his gaze and tried to blink away the tears in his eyes. There was a heaviness in his heart that he couldn't seem to push away. "I'm not going to be leaving this place, Hallie, ever."

She looked at him with wide innocent blue eyes. "I'm staying here with you," she whispered. "I'm not going to leave you."

He remembered those familiar words. She didn't leave him in Slytherin Castle, and to tell the truth, he hadn't wanted her to. Now, he didn't want her to leave either.

"You can't," he tried to say, but his voice didn't seem to work. Two big fat tears leaked from his eyes and he let out a trembling breath. He cleared his throat. "You can't stay here."

She jumped up and hugged him tightly. He let his chin rest at the crook of her neck and buried his head in her hair. "I'm going to stay here, you can't make me go."

Two people suddenly came in. Sirius looked up and saw Jack and Remus. "Remus," he said softly. The other man looked at him for a moment before looking down.

"Er - Hallie," said Jack, "the five minutes is up..."

She shook her head. "No, not yet, just five more minutes."

Jack swallowed and gave a look to Remus who just looked away. "I-I'm sorry, but I wasn't supposed to let you come at all..."

Sirius looked at him, and then kissed her cheek. "Hallie, you have to go," he whispered. She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

"No, not yet, Sirius, I just got here."

His tears made crystalline paths down his cheeks. "You can't, sweetheart, you can't stay here."

"Please! Please, let me stay here, please," she whispered, crying softly. He held her tighter, wishing that he could stay like this forever and felt her bury her head into his shoulder again.

"I wish you could, sweetheart, but you can't." His words now felt as if with each and every syllable, a piece of his heart was being torn away from him.

She pulled away to look at him with a tear stained face full of pain. "Please, please, let me stay here with you. I just want to be here with you. I don't want to leave you."

And he saw behind her, the looming figures, and closed his eyes tightly. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"No! Sirius, Sirius please!" she cried as Remus and Jack gently pulled her away. "I don't want to leave you! I want to stay here! With you!" She tried kicking at the two men. "Sirius, please!"

He watched her for a moment before running up. He hugged her fiercely and gave her a long kiss. When he pulled away, he took her hand. She looked at his face and in his eyes saw the torment and suffering he was feeling.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, and slowly, pulled the golden engagement ring off her finger.

Hallie gasped. "Sirius, Sirius no! You can't! You can't take it away from me!"

"I'm sorry," he said again, choking on his sobs.

Remus held her tightly and pulled her out. "Give it back! It's mine! Sirius, you swore! You promised me! Give it back!" He backed away and sat on his bed, watching her go with wide and tearful eyes. "Sirius!" she cried.

And then the cell doors shut. He buried his head in his hands. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

~*~

Remus hugged her tightly, and just before the doors shut, he took one last at his best friend. He looked away in hurt and betrayal.

I just can't believe it...

He hugged Hallie tightly. Her sobs had quieted some and her face was buried in his robes. He stroked her hair. "It's going to be okay." But he knew the dementors were starting to have their effect on her, and him.

Today would stay with them forever; it would never leave.

Once outside, Jack looked at them solemnly. "Er - I-I hope all goes well," he muttered.

Remus didn't have the heart to try and smile, and so he just nodded. Hallie pulled away. "He took my ring, Remus, he took my ring. He promised - he promised he'd come back. But he took my ring. Why did he take it?"

He opened his mouth to reply, but found that he couldn't. She looked so deprived and traumatized. "I don't know, Honey, I'm sorry," he murmured.

She looked down. Silent tears fell.

~*~

All is lost

There's nothing to gain

The Victory of Hearts

Has been slain.

~*~

Sarah shared a look with Frank who shrugged. "I wonder who that could be," she said as she stood to open the door. He watched after her, holding Neville who giggled and waved a chubby arm in front of his father's face.

There was suddenly a scream from the doorway.

Frank nearly dropped Neville when he abruptly stood. "Sarah?" he called. There was another scream, yet this one more agonized and petrified.

His eyes widened and he put his cloak on top of Neville after putting him under the couch. "Don't make a sound, Neville," he said softly and then stood and ran to the entrance where he saw Sarah twitching with pain on the ground.

A fire burned within him, through his veins, through his blood. His eyes penetrated at the figures standing before him. He shot a curse towards them and ducked as one threw one at him. Picking up Sarah, he raced away only to be hit in the back.

He couldn't even scream. The pain shooting all throughout him was the most horrible thing he could have ever felt. It was worse than a million swords piercing through his flesh. Worse than burning alive...

And then it stopped, but the pain was still there.

He heard Sarah gasp beside him. She sat up. "Who are you?" she yelled. "What do you-," but she screamed again and fell on the ground convulsing.

The hooded figures laughed. "We know you know," drawled one of them. The others laughed as he advanced.

"Where is he?" asked another.

"Where is who?" asked Frank desperately trying to crawl in front of Sarah. She lied there, breathing heavily, tears of pain welling in her eyes.

He was hit with the Torture Curse and keeled over. "The Dark Lord!" yelled another one of them. "Where is he?"

"Stop it!" Frank heard Sarah scream. "Stop it!" They hit her with it again.

"I don't know!" he shouted once he could speak again. "We don't know where he is!"

The first one narrowed her eyes as she pulled her hood back. Both Frank and Sarah gasped. "Ly-," but she hit them both with the dreaded curse again.

"Then we'll pull the information from you..."

~*~

Remus lay sleeping on the couch. Hallie looked at him for a moment before gazing out the window. She sat on the ledge and looked up at the crescent moon and found that her vision blurred. Brushing away the tears, she pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin on her arms. "I wish you knew, Sirius," she whispered. "How I wish you knew." Her eyes turned to the star that showed brightest of them all.

~*~

Sirius swallowed and looked up through the slight crack in the ceiling at the moon. It glowed gently down on him, making a soft glow appear on his face.

His eyes watered and his ears sounded with screams and cries from others in the lone island jail Azkaban. "I wonder what you're doing now, Hallie, I wonder where you are..."

His eyes roamed to the star that shone most brightly down on him.

~*~

Somewhere out there
Beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me
And loving me tonight...

Somewhere out there
Someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another
In that big somewhere out there...

Somewhere, not far away, did little Harry Potter lie. On a doorstep of his only relatives, was he wrapped up in a small bundle of blankets. The scar, the only memory of the one night, the night that James and Lily Potter died, remained upon his head, to forever be. Silent tears trickled down his face, leaving a trail of crystal liquid shining in the moonlight. Poor Harry Potter...who was doomed to live without his parents...

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star...
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
If helps to think we're sleeping
Underneath the same big sky...

Hallie looked to the sky, and wondered, if somewhere, far away, someone else was looking at the same one...

Somewhere out there
If love can see us through
Then we'll be together
Somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true...
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star...

Sirius looked up at the sky and before he fell asleep, whispered, "I'll love you always, always and forever..."

And when the night winds starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping
Underneath the same big sky...
Somewhere out there
If love can see us through (can see us through)
Then we'll be together
Somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true...

The End

(Author's Note: Courtesy to Linda Ronstand and James Ingram for "Somewhere Out There" from an American Tale.)