1981
Life progressed normally for the next few months. It was December 1979 when Athena began to notice changes in Lily. She ate more, she looked tired more often, and she had put on a small amount of weight over the last month. Since Athena was a pediatrics healer, she could tell the signs of a pregnant woman. A week before Christmas, Athena convinces Lily to come over for a girl's day, in which she proceeds to sit Lily down and talks to her about her symptoms. “ How have you been feeling lately Lils?” Athena asked as she sat a tray of cookies and tea on the table between the two. “A little tired I think,” Lily says, “I think it's just because of the season you know. Otherwise I feel fine, all though I think I’m coming down with the flu or something,” she adds as an afterthought. “Hmm, interesting “ hums Athena. “Lily, you trust me right?” Athena asked. Lily looked at her confused, “of course I do Athena, you know that” Lily said, slightly hurt that Athena would even think otherwise. “Okay, well don’t get mad, but I think you’re pregnant and I actually invited you here to run a diagnostic on you.” Athena rushed out as she fiddled with her sweater. She looked up as Lily signed. “ I figured as well, I just didn’t want it to be true. We’re getting ready to enter the war for crying out loud! I don’t wanna bring a baby into it! I figured if I just ignored it, I-I don't know what I figured” cried, Lily. Athena brought Lily into her arms and slowly rubbed her back. “Lily, love,” she began, “ I know how scary that is, but you have to take care of yourself and the baby, Jamie is gonna protect you and the pronglet. Hell so is Moony and Padfoot, and Wormtail and especially me, that's my little niece or nephew in there. “ She giggled with Lily. Lily nodded, “you're right Athena, you're always right” Lily laughed. “Will you run the diagnostic please?” she asked. “Absolutely” Athena smiled. After running the diagnostic and confirming the little tike as well as the gender, Athena set up a plan for treatment, and then the two women began a way to tell James.
Christmas Morning 1979
Everyone was at Potter Manor for the annual Christmas Brunch, where everyone got together, ate, and opened presents. This is the first Christmas that the Potter siblings are without their parents as they succumbed to Dragon Pox, which James found rather ironic considering Athena's soul mark. Athena was still hurting from the loss, but with the help of her friends and the Weasleys, she was slowly getting better. They had already eaten and were now surrounding the Christmas tree giving out presents. Everyone had already given and received their gifts however one still laid under the tree. Sirius grabbed the gift and read the name tag. “To James, From Lily. I thought you already got your present from Lilyflower, Prongs?” he asked, always nosey. James nodded at him as he grabbed the gift and shot Lily a curious look. “Just open it you idiot” Lily laughed. James gave her a look before he untied the package. As he opened the top of the box, small blue fireworks shot out of the box forming into the words ‘Congratulations Daddy!’. James just looked at the words in the air and then at Lily and then at the words and then back at Lily and then back at the words before throwing himself at Lily and hugging her while shedding a few tears. Athena whipped a few of her own tears before looking around at the boys who had varying degrees of emotion on their faces. Peter looked happy but slightly uncomfortable with all the emotions in the room. Remus had a few tears in his own eyes but quickly wiped them away. And of course, Sirius had a look of horror on his face. “A BABY?”
It’s been a few hours since the reveal and Sirius has finally calmed down and is now possibly more excited than Athena for THEIR nephew. Athena was now leaving Potter Manor in favor of the Burrow for their annual Christmas dinner. Now that it was out that she was Charlie's soulmate, she was around way more than before. She and Molly had yet to tell Charlie about the soul mark, but now he was just a few years off from going to Hogwarts they are planning to tell him soon. When she arrived she was bombarded with hugs from Bill and Percy, who both shouted “AUNTIE THENA” as she arrived. She was then met with hugs from the Prewitt brothers whom she has grown quite fond of. “Where’s Charlie?” asked Athena as tickled the twins who were wiggling around in the older twin's arms while also greeting Molly with a hug. “He’s in his room, I don’t know what he’s doing up there” Molly replied while rubbing her pregnant belly. “I'll go check on him. And how's little Ronniekins and mommy feeling” Athena replied. “The same as the other 4, kicking up a storm and driving me crazy” Molly laughed in response. “That's good! I’ll be right back” Athena laughed as she made her way up the stairs. As she approached Charlie’s door, she noticed the door was slightly ajar and she could hear Charlie muttering to himself. She knocked on the door and watched as Charlie whipped his head around and scrambled to hide whatever he was doing at his desk. “Hey buddy” Athena smiled at the young boy. “Whatcha got there,” she asked, slightly curious. The young boy looked at her and grinned sheepishly. “It’s your Christmas gift, but I just can’t get it right,” he mumbled. “Charlie, you didn’t have to get me anything,” Athena said, “And I bet whatever you got me I'm sure it's perfect” she smiled reassuring him. He smiled brightly at the girl before handing her a poorly wrapped box. She took it from him with a smile and opened it up with a gasp, “Oh Charlie it’s lovely.” It was a simple brown bracelet that was braided but knowing it came from Charlie and how proud he looks of it, it was worth everything to her. Charlie gave her a huge grin before throwing himself at her for a hug. Athena hugged him back before saying, “let's get downstairs, I think your mom has dinner ready”. Charlie nods before grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the room.
They were in the middle of dinner when Bill asked a question that shook the whole room. “Auntie Thena? When are you and Uncle Fabian getting married?” Athena started to choke on the water she had taken a drink of while Fabian did the same with his dinner. “What?” they both spluttered at the same time. “Well we call you Auntie and you're always here together,” Bill says with thought. The whole table is quiet before Gideon explodes into laughter. “No sweetie-” Athena began to say before she was cut off by Charlie. “You can't get married! You just can't! She's my soulmate! We have the same mark and everything!” shouted Charlie desperately. Charlie’s outburst stuns the adults sitting at the table. How long has he known? Athena thinks. “No sweetie. They aren't getting married, don't worry. Charlie sweetie how long have you known about Athena being your soulmate?” Molly asked calmly, seeing as everyone else was still stunned. “I’ve known since we met at the hospital. She was showing us how to use a steposcupe thing and she loved her shirt over a bit to show us and I saw it! But I wasn't gonna say anything till I was older!” Charlie explained. “Well, now that that's settled can we please get back to eating” moaned Gideon, which earned him a slap on the back of the head from Molly and Athena.
July 31st, 1980
“He’s beautiful Jamie” Athena whispered to her baby brother as they stood next to the baby’s bassinet in Lily’s hospital room. “He isn’t he” he whispered back while stroking his son's cheek with the backside of his fingers. “Thank you for taking care of them during the delivery sis, you don’t understand how much that means to me” he added. “Jamie I will always take care of you and your family, you know this,” Athena said. “I know,” James said dreamily, “That's why we want you to be the godmother as well as the aunt, with Padfoot.” Athena let out a shaky breath as tears trickled down her cheeks, she hugged her brother's arm to her chest, “of course I will Jamie of course I will.”
A year later: July 31st, 1981
“I’m doing this James! Whether you like it or not! This is my family and I am going to protect it at all costs!” Athena yelled at James from the kitchen in Godric's Hollow. Godric’s Hollow is a safe house set up for James, Lily, and their son Harry. Outside the kitchen, Lily, Remus, and Sirius were cleaning up the living room as Harry’s first birthday party had just ended. With the threat of Voldemort rising rapidly within the last two years and the new prophecy about a child born at the end of July being the key to Voldemort's fall, the Potter’s and Longbotoms were pushed into hiding for safety. “ I don’t care, Athena! I don’t want you involved! I’m not asking you to do this! I need you safe and away from all this!” James yelled back. The Potter siblings were arguing because Athena had joined the Order of the Phoenix without telling James, who is not happy with his big sister. “ I am involved, James! Everyone in the wizarding world is involved! I need all of you safe, but you don’t see me asking you or Mooney or Padfoot to sit out now do ya!” Athena yelled back. James is silent for a minute before pulling his sister into a huge. “You’re right, sissy. I’m just so scared of losing everyone, of anyone! I don’t think I can lose anyone, especially not you.” he whispered into her neck as she felt his tears gather on her neck. She wrapped her arms around her baby brother and said, “I can’t promise you that nothing is going to happen to you or to me or to any of us, but I will promise that I will do anything in my power to get back to our family Jamie, I promise”.
August 27th, 1981
“Since Sirius was injured last week during his Auror duties, I need someone to go along with the Prewitt boys and me on a quick mission tonight after the meeting. It’s a simple mission, just traveling around on the lookout for anything suspicious. We got a tip about a death eater sighting so well check that out as well. So who will be going with us?” Alaster Mooney asked The Order at the end of the meeting. “I'll be going on the mission” Athena stands up, gathering her coat. “No offense little lady but-” Moody began. “I'll have you know Moody that I graduated top of my class at Hogwarts and I received top marks on both my OWLS and my NEWTS in DADA” Athena sneered at the Aurora. He looked shocked, never really been spoken to like that before, he nodded and cleared his throat, “I'll be in the other room waiting for you a lot” he said before rushing out of the room. Athena rolled her eyes before pulling her brother into a hug. “I love you Jamie” she whispered into his neck. “I love you too sissy” he whispered back. It became a ritual to the group of family. No matter where you were going, you would say goodbye like it was your last. While it was morbid, they didn’t want to risk their potential last goodbye to waste, ever. Athena then moved on to Sirius and Lily, and finally baby Harry. Remus was out on a mission with other werewolves and wouldn't be home for another week. Athena looked around the room as the twins stood at her side, “Goodbye everyone, oh Arthur? Will you tell Charlie I’ll be a bit late for storytime tonight? Just about a half-hour, I’d say.” Athena asked. Arthur smiled and wished the three good luck, promising to relay the message to the young boy. Athena nodded before her and the Prewitt twins apparate away with Moody.
However, Athena never made it to storytime that night. Nor the next night, nor the next.
It was supposed to be a quick mission. Just scouting the perimeter of the tip they had received. No one had the idea that this quick mission would shatter the worlds of the Potters and Weasleys.
It started after Athena never showed up for storytime with Charlie. An occasion she never missed, not even with good reason. It continued when the Prewitt boys never returned to their shared flat.
It continued when James Potter passed the halls of Godric Hollow with his son in his arms calming both the baby and himself.
It continued when Charlie Weasley, at 11 years old, woke up screaming bloody murder scratching at his chest and soul mark.
It continued when Auror Moody showed up at the Order hideout alone with blood all over his clothes and a missing eye.
It continued when the next day they sent out Aurors to find the missing members.
It ended when the Aurors brought back the Prewitt boys, neither alive.
It ended when there was no trace of Athena left behind, besides the inhuman amount of blood left at the scene.
On this day Fabian, Gideon, and Athena were pronounced dead.
And that’s the day it all changed.