Keep Breathing ♢ James Potter

Prologue

"Stay close to me," whispered Regulus as he glanced over at his older sister.

Before heading into the cave, Astrid looked back at her little brother as she held his hand. "I'm not going anywhere."

Although she wouldn't admit it, Astrid was scared.

She knew that her chances of survival were slim to none. If she died, her family would live the rest of their lives never knowing what happened to her. And even if she did succeed, it would only be a matter of time until Voldemort found out and sent someone to kill her and Regulus. Despite it all, Astrid knew that this was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

As bad as it sounds, Astrid was not doing this for the good of the world. Her biggest concern isn't saving everyone and doing what's right. That's a hero's job, and Astrid was far from a hero.

Instead, she was more focused on her family. Regulus and Sirius.

Astrid didn't care about whether or not the world burned. All she cared about was stopping her brothers from burning down with it.

As she made her way into the cave alongside Regulus, Astrid couldn't help but think about her older brother.

"Would Sirius be proud if he knew what we were able to do?

Would he go looking for us if we disappear?

Will he ever find out about the death eaters, the dark mark, the Horcruxes?

Would Sirius still consider me a sister if he knew everything I have done?"

As they got closer to the cave, Astrid could only hope that her sacrifices would be worth it in the end, even if she wasn't alive to witness it.

While thinking of Sirius, Astrid couldn't help but let her mind wander to the thought of his best friend: James.

Memories flashed before Astrid's eyes. She was reminded of the time he taught her how to cast a Patronus charm, and when they chased each other down the Quidditch pitch, and when they snuck out of Hogwarts at night to go to Hogsmeade. The best memory of all, however, was when James and Astrid danced in the Room of Requirement together as they tried to escape the world for just one night

Oh, how her heart ached for James. Astrid knew him well enough to know that he would not be pleased with her decision. James would probably hold her down and beg until she agreed to put an end to her plans. But this was her decision. Her sacrifice to make.

Astrid could only hope that James would understand why she did it. Why she would go on a mission that would cost her life. Why she would go knowing there was a chance that she would never get to see him again.

James was her lifeline. Yet here she was, heading straight towards danger.

Why?

Because Astrid valued James's life more than her own. Astrid didn't want James to survive. She wanted James to live. To fall in love, get married, have a family, and grow old.

She wanted James to be able to tell his grandchild the stories of his heroism. How he fought alongside the brave Order members who died fighting for the future. How they fought to make a world where blood did not matter.

Despite wanting this for James, the reality was that Astrid did not care whether or not the war was won. Astrid only cared about giving James the life he always wanted. A life where he can breathe.

Astrid may not be a hero, but she would gladly sacrifice her life for them all.

Astrid would gladly sacrifice her whole life for him.