chapter three; that night. (flashback)
OCTOBER 31ST 1981- GODRIC’S HOLLOW
LUPIN-BLACK HOUSE
It was a cool autumn night; the wind was blowing, the leaves were falling, and the stars were shining. Everything seemed normal; the kids were screaming, cheering and running from door to door gaining candy from every house.
In the wizarding world however, everything was far from normal.
In a house in the middle of Godric’s Hollow, lived Remus and Sirius Lupin-Black with their daughter, Lyra. Their house wasn’t big nor was it small, but it was just right for the family of three. Sirius, who Lyra had looked most like, had come from a rich pureblood family and didn’t want to live in a big home. Remus, coming from a poor halfblood family, felt the same.
Their “just right” home was nicely decorated with furniture, and pictures of their family and friends that filled the room. The hallway was filled with more pictures of their Hogwarts years and of Lyra and Harry, who they knew were going to date when they were older.
In her room, Lyra was sleeping peacefully, not a noise except the cool breeze that came in through the window. Her room was filled with many toys including a toy broom and mini quaffle, and a toy dog and wolf her parents got her for her 1st birthday.
Downstairs, in the living room, Remus and Sirius were having a drink. They just finished with the last of the trick-and-treaters.
“Happy Halloween, Moons.” Sirius said, with his infamous grin, that made Remus’ stomach do somersaults. Even after all these years.
“Happy Halloween, Pads.” Remus replied, grinning back. He was so incredibly happy. He had everything he wanted; friends, a lover, a daughter.
All of a sudden, Sirius got up and began walking towards their fireplace.
“What are you doing?” Remus asked, confused.
“Making this Halloween even better.” He said, going to the record player and putting on a record.
Ooh, love, ooh, loverboy
What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy?
Set my alarm, turn on my charm
That's because I'm a good old-fashioned loverboy
“My favourite song.” Remus thought.
Sirius then went towards Remus and grabbed hold of his hands, his hands immediately feeling warm and not due to the temperature of the room. He pulled the taller man off the coach, put both their drinks down and they began to dance. Terribly, may I add.
They didn’t know how much time passed as they continued to dance, laugh, kiss and sing badly. All of a sudden, a rush of new smells and emotions hit Remus. He stopped everything. He smelt death, evil, dark magic…. One usually associated with Deatheaters and dark wizards. This time, it smelt worse. He felt anger, sadness, and sin all in one. Fear entered his body as he figured out what was happening.
“Remus, are you okay? Moons..?” Sirius said softly, his hand on Remus’ cheek.
“Sirius, go in the hallway.” Remus said austerely.
“Huh?” Sirius asked, confused. He didn’t know what brought this change in emotions.
“Go!” Remus yelled, nerves evident in his voice. Sirius went, hearing the sudden change in his lover's voice.
Remus suddenly went towards the door, his wand long forgotten. He walked slowly, nervous as to who or what was on the other end. Everything was on the line; his daughter, his life, Sirius. He would protect them with his life if it meant they lived.
His hand grabbed the handle, his whole world rested on this one lock. His hand trembled as his nerves took over his body. He took a breath and unlocked the door and opened it. Outside, was Peter Pettigrew, one of his best friends.
“Oh hey Pete! What are you doing here? I thought I- You know what my senses have been off since the full moon.” Remus spoke rambling, his nerves going away.
Peter’s grin went wolfish, he pulled up his sleeve, and under it was a reminder of what kind of person he was. Under his sleeve was the Dark Mark.
Remus jumped back, his chest began moving up and down fast, and he reached for his wand that wasn’t there.
From behind Peter, came the person Remus was scared would show up there. A man in a hood stood next to Peter.
“YOU TRAITOR!” Remus asserted angrily.
“Sirius, take Lyra and GO!” He yelled to his lover.
“Remus-”
‘Now!” He yelled as Sirius ran up the stairs to their daughters room.
“Remus, I did what I had to do.” Peter said in a voice so coarse and deep, Remus almost didn’t recognize it. This was definitely not the same Peter he and Sirius grew up with.
“We trusted you! You coward! How could you betray us? We are your best friends!” Remus yelled, tears threatening to spill out.
“As I said before, I did what I had to. No hard feelings.” He spoke again coldly.
“You were our friend, Pete.” Remus spoke in sadness.
‘Pity.” A dark, evil voice spoke before he raised his wand, mumbling a few words. Green light flashed, Lyra and Sirius the only thing on Remus’ mind as everything went dark for the last time. He screamed in agony and his body fell to the floor with a thud.
***
Upstair, Sirius shut the door as quietly as he could. He was freaking out. Was he going to die? Was Remus?
Oh my God, Remus.
Sirius opened the door slightly, and he saw the green lights flash. He knew. He wanted to scream, to cry, to fall in a hole and stay there for an eternity, but he couldn’t. He had to be quiet and stay strong for Lyra.
He grabbed his only daughter in his arms for the last time, kissing her head, tears falling onto her face. He held her close for a while until he laid her back down.
“I love you Lyra, Daddy loves you. Okay? You are so loved. So loved. You have gotten so big- it is insane! You look like daddy sometimes, you know that? Mainly me though.” He said, laughing softly.
“I will always love you, my sweet girl.”
Suddenly, the door burst open. Peter and Tom Riddle walked in, Sirius immediately went in front of Lyra’s crib and blocked her.
“Please not Lyra! She is only a baby! I’ll do anything, just not my daughter!” He begged, he knew his time was short but she was just one. Her life shouldn’t end as soon as he is about to.
“You and your boyfriend were not meant to die, Black. Move, and you shall not meet the same fate as he did.” He spoke and Sirius let out a sob.
The love of his life was dead. He could not let his daughter die as well.
“No.” Sirius spoke.
“Very well.”
AVADA KEDAVRA
Sirius Black dropped dead like a doll, his mind filled with the thought of seeing his love again and the hope that Lyra would survive.
What he didn’t know then, was that his sacrifice would lead to extraordinary things.
***
James and Lily Potter walked towards the entrance of their best friend's house, dressed as each other. They were not paying attention and didn’t notice the house in ruins.
“Happy Halloween!” James joked knocking on the door, causing it to open.
“That’s odd.” Lily spoke, nervously.
“Remus? Sirius? I swear if this is a prank-” James said but his words were cut off with a scream. Lily’s scream.
There in front of him was Remus Lupin. Dead. His face held a look of betrayal and sadness. One that James wanted to cry after seeing.
“Remus?” James spoke, his knees almost giving out from what he was witnessing. His voice cracked and was so quiet, Lily could barely hear him.
Lily dropped to her knees in front of his body, her sobs filling the room. She began shaking the body.
“Rem? Come on, wake up! Please! You can’t be dead!” She exclaimed.
“Lily…” James cried.
His mind had a thought suddenly. Where was Sirius? Where was Lyra?
“Wait, where’s Sirius and Lyra?” James spoke suddenly, immediately running up the stairs.
The hallway was a wreck; pictures weren’t straight, broken glass and wood pieces were everywhere. James immediately went towards Lyra’s room. Sirius would protect Lyra over himself.
He walked into the destroyed room and immediately saw his worst fear. James dropped to the floor, his eyes drawn to the body of his brother, who laid flat in front of his daughter.
“Sirius!” James cried out, laying his head down on the body. His brother and best friend were gone.
Suddenly, James heard a cry. Not from a man, from a baby. He looked up to see Lyra. Alive.
“Lyra..?” James cried out, this time in happiness. He went towards her crib and picked her up. He held her close, like he was going to lose her as well.
He then noticed her face more closely. She had a scar; not a werewolf scar, a sort of magical scar that went across her face. It was shaped like a lightning bolt; the wand movement of the Killing Curse.
Had Lyra..?
“No. Not possible.” James spoke quietly, holding her even closer.
“What’s not possible?” A quiet voice spoke and he turned to see Lily. She was standing over Sirius’ body shaking.
“Lyra she’s alive but, Lily, look at her face.” He turned so Lily could take a look at her. Her eyes widened at the scar.
“That’s the-” Lily began as James cut her off.
“The wand movement for the Killing Curse.”
“But no one has ever survived the Avada Kedavra curse! It’s called the Killing Curse for a reason!” Lily exclaimed.
“Yet Lyra is still here! Voldemort was after her. She also has a scar on her forehead Lils. She isn’t a werewolf.” James argued. He was overwhelmed.
“Okay. Let’s go see Dumbledore. He needs to know what happened.” Lily finally decided. James nodded and they walked out of that house for the last time.
***
“It was Pettigrew. He led Voldemort to their house and watched.” Albus stated, the anger in James forming rather quickly.
“He watched? What kind of sick human watches their “best friends” get murdered?” James asked, disgusted at what Peter had done.
“What kind of sick human betrays their best friends?!” Lily exclaimed, also disgusted at what he did.
“Apparently him. He also said that when Voldemort tried to use the curse on Lyra, it rebounded.” Dumbledore stated
“So he’s dead.” Lily stated, overwhelmed from everything she has been told.
“Yes. Everyone in the Wizarding World is celebrating his death.” He said.
“Celebrating? Remus and Sirius died and they are celebrating!” James spoke with so much anger Lily jumped.
James was in disbelief. He was acting as if their deaths weren’t a big deal.
“James his death i-“
“More important? No it is not. Get the hell out until you learn to respect us and not see all of us as pawns on a chess board.” James screamed at Dumbledore and he left.
“What the hell? He has known them since they were eleven and he is acting as if they aren’t important. I am disgusted with him.” James spoke and that was the last time they ever would join anything to do with Dumbledore.