United We Stand, Divided We Fall

November 1998

"Suppose something goes awry?"

"It will not. I am certain of it."

It was their last hope, their last chance to bring down the Dark Lord and his followers - once and for all.

The plan was to bring a complete outsider into their world. One with no history of magic in their family, one with no knowledge that magic even existed. In short: a Muggle. When the right person had been chosen, a portal in time would be opened, and they would be sent back, remaining there for as long as was needed. When the battle was over, they would be returned to their own time. Providing everything went as planned, of course. Nobody was even willing to consider the second possibility. They were possibly endangering someone's life, which was completely unavoidable but necessary.

The gaze of the Hogwarts' headmaster swept the room. "You all are aware that you must all be lenient with him or her when the time comes?" Nods all round. "Then let us begin."

~ + ~

The final guitar chords of Man From Milwaukee sounded, and the assembled crowd raised the volume a notch or ten. With an exhausted grin or two, Isaac, Taylor and Zac farewelled the audience and disappeared backstage. Another successful sold-out concert was over, one of the few remaining on the tour.

"Hey, Tay, there's a note here for you," Zac called, having darted over to a table and picking up a folded over piece of paper, held closed with a scarlet wax seal. Actually, it wasn't quite paper…it was heavier somehow.

"I'll thank you for not opening that, Zac, and if you please I would like to read it in private. I'll catch up," he added, noting the glance their father had shot in his direction. "I won't be long, I promise."

He stayed behind a moment to open the note, written in green ink.

Come alone to the front of your hotel at eleven tonight, and tell nobody.

It was a strange note, he decided as he tucked the note into one of the pockets of his jeans. But there was a certain air of urgency about it - lives being in jeopardy or something of that calibre. Any other time, he would have disregarded it; however, this time, his instincts were telling him otherwise. Do as the note says.

~ + ~

A cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows as a tall, blonde teenaged boy exited the hotel, denim jacket pulled close for warmth. It was reasonably cool this evening.

"Taylor Hanson, I presume?"

The boy jumped. "Who're you?" he asked, a little frightened. Long blonde hair whipped around his face in the slight breeze that was quickly sharpening into an icy draught. "Did…were you the one who left that note?"

"Yes." The hood of the cloak was lowered. "My name is Sirius Black."

Another question came. "How did you know my name?" Taylor asked, pushing his hair behind his ears.

"There will be time for that later. Right now, you need to come with me." Sirius crouched down, so as to be eye level with Taylor. "Taylor…we need your help."