Date: July 22nd, 1979 Time: 12:48pm Location: Hogwarts

The hot sun beat down on the witches and wizards who had gathered outside of Hogwarts that day for training, a rare cloudless day granting them little relief from the July heat. As Remus turned away from the group, he lifted his wand, whispering an enchantment and watching as his bottle refilled itself for the second time that afternoon.

The long sleeves of his heavy cotton over-shirt were itchy, the fabric clinging to his damp skin in a highly uncomfortable manner. Brushing up at the edge of his wrists, the werewolf reluctantly tugged the material down to cover his scarred skin for what must have been the hundredth time that day, pushing down the urge to just take off the damned thing altogether and settle for a t-shirt like any other sane person in the summer.

There were plenty of things to be happy about, of course. Surrounded by the high castle walls and thick forest in the distance, there were few places that felt safer than Hogwarts. Plus, when Remus had apparated to Hogsmeade that morning, he had heard birds.Not women, mind you, but proper flying birds that hung about on the trees, chattering away about whatever it was that birds had to chat about. It reminded him just how much he had missed Hogwarts. It felt comfortable.

However, spending most of his time in the cool and cloudy city of London for the past year, Remus had found himself forgetting just how dreadful a hot summer day could be until just now. And by gods, was it miserable.

Lifting the cool water bottle to his lips, Remus took several deep swallows, not entirely eager to return back to the group of Order members who had gathered together for the day. Brushing a hand through his damp and tangled hair, the werewolf let out a sigh, wiping at the back of his neck and knowing that his face must be blotchy and red. Brilliant.

Turning to his side, Remus was surprised for a moment to realize that he wasn’t alone. With an awkward smile, the werewolf held his water bottle out in front of him.

Date: July 2nd, 1979 Time: 12:32pm Location: The Provisional Hospital, Hogwarts

“ATTENTION BAR PATRONS!” Sirius screamed at the top of his lungs, standing in the center of The Three Broomsticks. He was attending the celebration for one Atticus Scabior’s graduation and had just been communicating with his brother regarding Regulus’s all-too-recent engagement to Alecto Carrow. He had to do something to deter the Carrows from wanting to marry into the Black family. “Regulus Black has a defective cock! Just thought you all ought to know! He’s my brother, you see, and I know these things! His sperm doesn’t work! Such a tragedy, I am well aware. Looks like the Black line ends with us ‘cause you sure as hell know I’m not havin’ kids, and if I did, they wouldn’t be little Pureblood pricks like my dear old mumsy would want! Anyway, spread the news! Regulus Black is infertile!”

She knew it was coming; she’d known for a couple weeks now that her father planned to marry her off to Regulus Black, but the weight of the announcement at her very own graduation party felt heavy enough to crush her into nothingness... which she might have preferred. Alecto had wanted to beg Avitus not to do this to her, not to make her marry someone, but she knew that nothing would come from it, or if anything did, it would only be punishment. 

She heard the round of applause, the murmurs of congratulations and it was glaringly clear to the girl that this was not the life for her. Marriage was a cage and she’d been living in the cage that was the Carrow Manor for her whole life... she couldn’t go into another cage with a new master. She glanced up at the awkward Regulus, thankful that he seemed as uncomfortable with the arrangement as she was - he wasn’t the problem after all, it was simply the circumstances. 

But being uncomfortable with their predicament wouldn’t get them out of it, though as far as the blonde was concerned, there was no way out of this and that realization more than anything nearly sent her over the edge. She didn’t go over the edge; Alecto somehow managed to keep smiling, thanking people as they congratulated her and laughing off the vile questions of whether or not she had already planned her whole wedding out or asked if she was excited for the big day. How could these fools think she was excited for this?

Mr. Black,

Not all who wander are lost.

Muggle items have their uses, with or without magical charms. May it always lead you back to the right path.

Molly had loved Halloween as a child. The ability to dress up as someone else and collect candy was something she had waited all year for. She was the child that spent all year planning her halloween costume and collecting the things she needed so it was just perfect. As she grew older and went off to Hogwarts, the joy of Halloween never faded from Molly’s heart. When Bill was born she had looked forward to being able to indulge her childish love for the holiday again. 

This year was no different then any other, she had her three eldest children with her, all dressed up in costumes walking the streets of the magical neighborhoods in search for candy while Art was at the Tonk’s party with the twins. She herself was dressed up as Amelia Earhart, with her wand tucked up her sleeve ready to pull out quickly if she needed it. She was not about to let her guard down after everything that had happened, but she was also not going to rob her children of the fun and candy. Bill was running ahead with Charlie, as very odd pair of Oliver Twist and a dragon, while Percy stayed close to Molly’s side pulling on the sleeves his suit. Only Percy would want to dress up as a ministry worker for Halloween. 

They had already been out for a bit, the children’s bags starting to get full of candy and other treats. Molly’s attention was fully on her boys, but she was always keeping an eye out around the streets, she didn’t trust things to go off without some sort of attack. It was too much of an opportunity to cause havoc. Bill and Charlie ran up to the next house and Molly pushed Percy to join them at the door while she waited at the sidewalk and looked around. She heard the chorus of her boys “Trick or treat!” as her eyes scanned over the other people walking along the street. 

The costumes this year were impressive, there was a variety of princesses and pirates, imps and gnomes ran around as well. Molly couldn’t help but smile as she watched a little fairy try and steal a piece of candy from her brother who was dressed as a knight. Some of the older children were dressed in more morbid costumes, zombies, werewolf's, vampires, the usual, but once costume drew her attention more than other’s. There was a rather horrifying looking mask that she kept seeing out of the corner of her eye. Whoever was behind it didn’t seem to have kids, and was weaving their way in and out of the crowds. Molly’s heart started to beat faster as she looked for the mask again after it avoided her gaze. As her eyes scanned over the crowd she noticed a mother starting to panic. The women was frantically looking around for her child. Molly’s eyes started searching around again, she didn’t see the creepy masked figure or a lost child anymore. 

Molly’s wand slipped easily out of her sleeve and into her hand. Something was off and she didn’t like the feel of if. She waited for her children to come back from the door with smiles and more candy. Molly kept her smile on her face but she could feel the panic starting to take over. “Alright boys, I think it’s time we head back to your father, what do you say?” Molly asked as she started to heard her children back toward the Tonk’s house. “Bill and Charlie, please stay close, I don’t need you getting lost.” Molly warned as she hurried them along. 

There was a reason he never went to Diagon Alley without a plan in mind. Invariably he spent far too long looking for ‘something’ and all too often ended up with nothing at all. Such was turning out to be the case today. He checked his watch again and sighed. He was going to be late and as glad as everyone was, work could not be put off indefinitely.   

“Did you find what you wanted Mr. Tonks?” He glanced up and smiled faintly at the shop keeper, Mrs. Guthridge, before he shook his head. “Ahh, well just let me know when you do.”

“Right.”Sighing he turned back to the cauldrons. Andy really needed a new one, but he had a feeling this was not a purchase she would appreciate him making without her given that she was the one that would be using it. So remind me again why we are in here Teddy boy? He scratched a hand along the back of his neck. He’d been looking for something small that could hint that he wanted to get her a cauldron in the hopes that she’d let off a hint of what kind she wanted. Then she did get to pick without actually knowing she was picking. I think your logic is inherently flawed. It probably was…didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try. He eyed the children’s cauldrons again, and wondered if getting Dora a mini cauldron might inspire the right conversation. Still they didn’t exactly have money to waste either. Finally he sighed, waved a hand at Mrs. Guthridge (who smiled and shook her head since Ted stopped by regularly but never actually bought anything) and stepped back out onto the busy cobbles of Diagon Alley.

There was no warning. One moment he was standing outside of the little cauldron shop a few feet from the Leaky Cauldron, and in the next, chaos had enveloped the buzzing little street. While his fighting skills had never been top notch, Ted’s survival skills were nothing to be laughed at. Diving for cover, he yanked his wand out of his coat, and then leaned up, searching for the source of the chaos…only there was more than one. Dark cloaked figures seemed to swarm the alley, and in their wake left screaming innocents and flaming destruction.

Spying several cowering families, he checked to make sure dark figures were occupied, and jumped up, racing over to them. “Go on…get out through the Leaky Cauldron if you don’t want to apparated but get out of here now!” He pushed them none-to-gently toward the brick face of the cauldron, taking cover in the Apothecary overhang. Spying an approaching Death Eater he twisted and focused on the frantic family, casting a shield that worked in protecting his charges, though the cauldron wall didn’t do so well. Unfortunately, doing that had also drawn the attention of the Death Eater who seemed to think he’d make a fine replacement for his lost fun.

The air in Ted’s lungs froze. It was one thing to protect someone else when there were no obvious obstacles. Now he was a direct target, and his opponent was a ruthless killer. Come on Teddy boy, we don’t want to be the Daily Prophet’s next story. Stiffen that spine. Panting, he nodded to himself, but when he twisted out, the Death Eater had been distracted by something else and was moving away again. Relieved, Ted glanced back at the Leaky Cauldron. He could go, get himself to safety. The door was right there.

The panicked scream of other people…more innocents had him shaking his head. He could never live with himself if he walked away without trying to help. Jerking at his coat, he peered around the wall and when he was sure the Death Eaters had dismissed him, he darted up the curving cobbles of Diagon Alley in the hopes of helping another family.

He managed to get four more groups out before his luck finally ran out. He’d just nudged an elderly woman and her grand daughter back toward the Leaky Cauldron when an explosion rocked the wall of the tiny building that abutted Eeylops Owl Emporium. He glanced toward it, and to his horror, spied a tiny girl, not much older than Dora, dears streaking her sooty face. More importantly, just behind her the wall that had born the brunt of the latest explosive impact was rocking precariously.

Swearing softly, Ted didn’t think, just dove. He caught the girl and curled his body around her just as several large chunks of brick and mortar toppled down over them. To his credit, he managed to contain his pain to a soft grunt, but he knew it was the trembling form his body was protecting that had made that strength possible. Shifting he tried to move, his braced arms already trembling beneath the weight of the rubble, but it was too heavy or he was too weak. Either way, he couldn’t budge it on his own, and he couldn’t get his wand out.

September 25th, 1978 

Diagon Alley 

It was nice to be out of the house. The sun felt warm on her skin and the sound of people talking and laughing was a nice change from the quiet that had filled the burrow as of late. Arthur was safe at St. Mongo’s and Molly could breath once more. Things were starting to look up for her family and she couldn’t be more relived. 

Looking down to her side she smiled down at her oldest son. The last few days had been hardest one him so here they were out to get some ice cream. Molly knew that he bad been helping his younger siblings the past week and she couldn’t be more grateful or amazed at her child. He had such a big heart and was wise beyond his eight years. 

When they arrived at Florean Fortescue’s, Molly let Bill order whatever he wanted, she watched as his little bowl was filled with toppings. She couldn’t help but laugh when she saw the look on his face she the bowl was handed to him. 

“Are you sure there’s even ice cream in there?” she asked as she searched though her purse for the few coins she needed to pay for the ice cream. Bill looked up at her and just rolled his eyes before running outside to sit at one of the tables. He liked watching the people, or at least that’s what he said. Molly just laughed and paid before joining him outside. 

She sat and picked at her son’s ice cream occasionally as she listened to him go on about some gnomes he had chased that morning or something that the twins had done while she wasn’t looking. It felt good to laugh again, it had been too long. 

Molly felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, causing her to look around for a moment. Everything looked normal, but there was a gnawing feeling in her gut. 

“Mum, what’s wrong?” Bill asked finishing his last bit of ice cream. 

“Nothing, dear, just think it’s time we get back to your brothers.” Molly answered standing up and offering a smile and her hand to Bill. As she felt his little hand settle into her’s, Molly heard a scream shatter the peace. Grabbing her wand out of her pocked, Molly pushed Bill behind her. Dark clouds rolled in over the sun as masked men started appearing out of thin air and sending curses. The sudden appearance of chaos made Molly’s heart jump into her throat. The screams continued as people started to run. The light of the curses and spell bounced across the alley. Windows started to shatter as well as the building. 

“Mum…w-what’s going on?” Bill asked. The fear clear in his voice and on his face. “Are they going to take us, like they took Dad?” Molly turned to face her son and hugged him tightly.