Prologue
"Siri, I can't-"
"Shut up, Prongs. Go."
"No! Pads-"
"James, mate, get out some. You've been rotting in here for far too long, and I know you've been getting beyond bored. Evans' letter told me so."
James shot his wife a betrayed look, who, for her credit, didn't seem fazed at all. James sighed and pulled at his hair. "I can't ask you to do that-"
"You're not asking, Jamie. We're telling." interrupted the pretty blonde on Sirius' arm.
Melanie Black née Whitman was Sirius' wife, whom he'd married pretty recently. Melanie had studied at Beauxbatons, and had only come to England with the purpose of visiting her sister. However, she had bumped into Sirius on a raid, and he had helped her get out.
James was incredibly happy for his friend that he had finally found someone for himself. He had been best man at their wedding, which wasn't really a grand affair. Only the order and a few more friends had been present.
Sirius and Melanie had a four-month-old daughter, Lyra Delphine Black, with Ted and Andromeda Tonks as her godparents. And they had a son, Jéricho Regulus Black, who was biologically the son of Sirius' brother, but had been raised by Sirius after Regulus' unknown wife's death. James and Lily had been named godparents.
Sirius was right, of course. James was going stir-crazy trapped in the cottage. But still...
"I wouldn't want you missing the meeting," he said, as a last attempt.
Sirius just shook his head. "Fill us in later, when you come back. Besides, you know I love spending time with my two little Prongslets."
Lily sighed. "Fine, you stubborn git. We'll go. Take care of the kids, eh?"
But they didn't know how wrong things would go.
Sirius and Melanie were sitting on the sofa, watching three-year-olds Echo and Harry play. They were born only a few days apart and got along swimmingly. Lyra was in a cot in Charles's room, who was just a year old.
Suddenly, the door was blasted open. Sirius was on his feet in an instant, yelling at the top of his voice. "IT'S HIM, MELA. TAKE THE BOYS AND RUN!"
Melanie, though hesitant, listened. She knew the kids were a top priority, even above her husband. Sirius was thankful for this, as he readied himself to fight back.
The creature that entered the room was simply horrifying. White bloodless face, noseless. Ruby red eyes, void of emotion and mercy. His gaze fell on Sirius before opening his lipless mouth to speak.
"Lord Black. I hope we'd met on much better terms."
"The pleasure's all mine," Sirius responded coolly.
"Where is the boy?"
"Like I'd tell you."
"I do not wish to kill you, such an upstanding personality. Your loyalties are misguided, but your blood is too pure to spill."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Just fight me already."
Voldemort bowed. "As you wish, then."
And so they dueled. Voldemort looked surprised at first with Sirius' prowess, and then thrilled to have a challenge. Sirius was easily one of the best duelers, a match of Bellatrix. He had been personally trained by her when he'd been little and then been coached by Moody. Nobody underestimated Lord Black, who was second-in-command to the Aurors after Mad-Eye.
But one could only resist so much against the Dark Lord. A blasting curse tore straight through Sirius' shield, propelling him into a wall.
Upstairs in Charles's room, Melanie was desperately trying to work the emergency portkey. Apparently, though, there were wards around the house to prevent that. Hearing the thud from downstairs, Melanie knew that Sirius had fallen.
So, she knelt by the four kids and looked them all straight in the eyes. "Remember. Whatever happens tonight, I love you all. Siri loves you all. James and Lily love you all. Okay? You're not unloved; you'll never be."
The door opened and Voldemort himself strolled in at that moment. His lip curled in annoyance at the sight of her. "Lady Black... I hope to spare you tonight. Your blood-"
"Is very pure. Yes, I'm well aware. Quite frankly, though, I don't care. To get to the children, you'll have to go through me."
"Just hand me the youngest Potter boy. Your children shall be saved."
But Melanie was shaking her head. "He's my nephew, you monster. Have you not feelings? Mercy?"
Voldemort sneered. "I have neither time nor the patience to deal with you. Especially after the impressive yet tiresome display your husband put."
So Sirius was dead.
Melanie took a last look at her children. James and Lily will take care of them.
That was her last thought before everything went black in a flash of green.
Meanwhile:
James felt uneasy. Just a feeling he had. Like something would be going awry...
And his fear came true the minute he felt a sharp pain in his head in the middle of the meeting. He stood up and grabbed Lily's hand, whispering 'Voldemort' before disapparating.
The house was in complete ruins by the time they arrived, with the order and Dumbledore a step behind. James ran hurriedly, and the sight he was greeted to made him feel like the Earth was yanked away from under his feet.
At the stairs was lying Sirius, sprawled in an awkward position. His ankle was bent at an unnatural angle, but otherwise, he looked like he was sleeping. His pale complexion was grey and waxy, and he was still and unmoving.
James collapsed on his knees beside him, cradling his brother's head in his lap, sobbing and shaking. "No, no, no, no..."
Lily was crying with her hand over her mouth, and Remus had already fallen with his mouth agape in shock.
"Please, Pads, no..." James pleaded as he put a shaking finger to his neck.
And he felt a pulse.
"HE'S ALIVE!" he suddenly shouted.
There were exclamations of shock all around, but no one wasted a minute. Lily had already come to kneel beside Sirius, and after checking him over, she nodded. "Safe to move."
James didn't need any further instructions. He apparated with Remus at his side to St. Mungo's, trusting Lily and the others to check on Melanie. James hoped she and the kids were alive too, but it seemed like wishful thinking. And while he knew he would be devasted if his sons had died, he had to first make sure his still-breathing mate stayed alive.
Lily was already bounding up the steps, praying with all her heart that she found the kids alive. She cautiously peered into the open door to Charles's nursery and gasped.
Melanie was lying in front of the cot, her eyes wide open and lifeless. Lyra and Charles were crying, with the latter bleeding from a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, and Echo and Harry were both unconscious.
Lily quickly crossed the room to her youngest son and hugged him to her chest. Marlene, meanwhile, picked up Lyra and started to soothe her. Lily blinked back tears as she knelt and closed Melanie's eyes, and they apparated with the kids.