/𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒\ [𝒔. 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌]

𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

𝟏,𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬

"I used to think this was how I wanted to spend my life," Regulus said in a low voice, scanning the cafe to make sure there were no watchful eyes. "I used to think I would die for him.

Percy nodded slowly. "What was it for you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for me, it was when he told me I had to 'disappear' my sister and the woman who raised me." He was holding his coffee cup with shaking hands, drinking it black like his mother always did. Not his mother, he reminded himself for what had to be the ten millionth time in his life. Jane. "And when I didn't, he said he was gravely disappointed in me and that I'd have a chance to redeem myself later. And I dunno when or what that'll be, but it keeps me up at night."

Regulus stared down at his tea, no longer able to drink. "For me, it was all the times my brother came to me, on the verge of tears, telling me not to do it. But it was too late, and he didn't understand that."

"None of them do," said Percy. "Not Sirius, not Art, not Jane... nobody."

"Except for us," said Regulus, and when his eyes met Percy's, he could almost muster up a small smile.

Percy took a deep breath. "Except for us. And I was thinking... maybe we can keep them safe. Maybe we can... I mean, we'll probably die if we do anything too outright-"

"I'm willing to do that," Regulus said quickly.

Percy inwardly winced. Regulus was young, still a seventh year in school, and he was already willing to sacrifice his life to fix his mistakes. "No," he said, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "I'll go first if I have to. You- you have a chance to get out. You could do it."

"I don't care about getting out anymore," said Regulus. "I care about keeping the people I love far, far out of the cross-fire."

"They're not going to be in the cross-fire," Percy murmured darkly. "They're going to be the ones shooting."

~

Months had passed. It was nineteen seventy-eight, and Lily was getting married in a year. Artemis woke up in her sun-filled bedroom, the covers all tangled around her from the night before. Sirius was nowhere in sight. When she checked the clock, she realized why. It was noon. She smiled a little to herself and rolled off of the mattress, catching herself before she fell and standing up to stretch. She pulled on a t-shirt and made her way out to the kitchen.

Sunlight streamed in the kitchen windows and Artemis stood in it for a moment, reveling in the new spring light. Coffee was already brewed on the counter, but still, no Sirius. She was just wondering if he went out to the store or to see one of their friends when she heard banging sounds from the garage. She poured herself a cup of coffee and went out.

Sirius was standing over his motorbike in the garage, wearing only an old pair of black jeans. He was covered in sweat and his hair was tied up in a knot as he crouched by the back wheel, pounding it back into place. He seemed to be trying very hard to ignore the girl standing on the other side of the garage.

Kate, the pretty girl next door, was obsessed with Sirius. She was a year younger, and lived alone in the cottage that shared a yard with Artemis and Sirius's place. She was leaning against the back of garage, chewing her gum loudly and twirling a lock of dark hair in her finger. "So... what does that do?"

"Art!" said Sirius, springing to his feet the moment he noticed his girlfriend in the doorway. He crossed the room quickly and his shoulders instantly relaxed as he leaned down to kiss her. "Jesus, you slept long."

She laughed. "You tired me out," she murmured just loud enough for him to hear. "Hi, Kate, how are you?"

"Fine."

"So... Mr. Potter finally brought the bike over," she said, walking a slow circle around the motorbike.

Sirius patted the front of it lovingly. "Yup, ran away from home on this baby."

"Then crashed it into a tree," Artemis said, chuckling.

"That's a story I'd like to hear," said Kate, only watching Sirius.

He smiled lightly and put an arm around Artemis's shoulders. "Yeah, we'd love to tell it sometime." He looked down at Art. "Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet."

"Well, Kate, it was lovely talking to you as always, but I'm going to go make my girl some breakfast."

Kate gave Artemis a false smile. "Well, you two have fun with that."

"Bye!" Artemis said cheerfully, and led Sirius back into the house. "I feel a bit bad for her sometimes, you know?"

"Don't," said Sirius, pulling out pots and pans to make breakfast. "This morning she told me all about how nobody should commit to a relationship so young when there's 'other fish in the sea."

Artemis laughed. "Oh yeah? Other fish like... her?" Sirius turned from the stove to wrap his arms around her waist. "Ew, you're all sweaty."

"Like it bothers you," Sirius chuckled.

"Let's finish breakfast later," Artemis murmured, pulling him back towards the bedroom.

He grinned. "Aren't you hungry?"

She shrugged and grabbed a box of biscuits Mary had dropped off the other day from the counter. "We'll bring snacks."

They didn't roll out of bed again until six in the evening. That was Artemis's favorite part of living alone with Sirius. On her days off, they could do whatever they wanted, and that day, it was laying in bed. Finally, Sirius checked his watch and sighed. "We should get ready for the meeting."

"Do we have to?"

"Come on, Blake, we don't want Minnie suspecting anything," he said, getting up and pulling on a t-shirt. "I'm gonna go take a shower."

An hour later, they apparated to Gideon and Fabian's sister's house, the Burrow. There had been some controversy over the location at the first meeting over the red-haired children running around like crazy and the run-down appearance of the house, but Dumbledore himself had quieted everyone's concerns. It was discrete. Nobody would suspect the family home of Arthur Weasley.

Nearly everyone was already gathered when Sirius and Artemis walked in. Marlene sprang to her feet and dramatically threw her arms around Art. "Oh, thank Merlin, you're here- James keeps asking about my love life."

"Bad idea, mate," said Sirius, taking a seat next to James. "Believe me, that's one territory you don't want to explore."

"I was just curious!" cried James.

They crowded into the dining room, everyone taking seats in whatever cramped corner they could find. Molly Weasley bustled around, a red-haired baby bouncing on her hip, offering everyone tea and snacks. "Molly," Lily said at last. "Sit down, you work yourself too hard."

"Well," Molly huffed, "I do need to get the twins to sleep-"

"Exactly," said Remus, patting her arm soothingly. "You've just had twins, go rest."

She disappeared down the hall, and then Dumbledore stood up in the front and clapped his hands together once for silence. On either side of him sat McGonagall and Moody.

Artemis settled into a seat next to Lily and leaned over to whisper in her ear, "How's the wedding planning coming?"

"James wants to invite every goddamned person we know," she whispered back.

Artemis laughed softly. "And why shouldn't you? Come on, it'll be a party."

"Can we please get silence?" McGonagall called shrilly from the front.

Lily and Artemis straightened up, half-giggling, and diverted their attention to Dumbledore. He gave them a soft smile and cleared his throat. "As we all know, Voldemort's power is only growing. His followers have all but taken over the Ministry, our wizarding industries, and the magical creature community. But one thing they cannot take over is the general populace of wizards. They cannot take over the hearts and minds of our people, and they cannot take over our will to fight."

Sirius pounded his fist on the table as James shouted, "Damn right!"

The room exploded in laughter and even Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes... damn right. And we will fight back. Each and every one of us can do something, and in the end, we will win. There's no doubt about that, because we have the upper hand. We have our hearts."

"Now that the sappy stuff is over, can I dish out the assignments?" Moody muttered from his seat next to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore smiled. "Yes, please."

Moody got to his feet, his new magical eye swiveling in its socket. "Meadowes, Longbottom, Longbottom, I want you making Ministry connections. You'll be aurors soon, and now's your chance to integrate yourselves. Make friends, get as much information as possible and get it back to me."

Frank, Alice, and Dorcas all nodded. Dorcas was sitting hand-in-hand with Hestia Jones, her new girlfriend. "Consider it done," said Frank.

"Black, Potter, Blake, McKinnon, the Prewetts and Evans," Moody went on, "-you're on night patrol. I'll get your specific assignments to you the day off, got it?"

Artemis resisted the urge to sigh. She hated night patrol. Moody always split her and Sirius up because 'couples don't do well on the battlefield,' and anyway, it was a menial job. While the older members got to go out spying or fighting evil, she was stuck walking up and down Diagon Alley and jumping anytime a stray cat ran past.

"McDonald, Pettigrew, I want you keeping tabs on known Death Eaters. Keep using that chart you made. If anyone has any new information, it goes to them."

Mary and Peter nodded resolutely.

"Lupin, we're going to start on that special assignment we talked about. We'll talk when we're done here, and then I want you to get your bags packed."

Remus lifted his chin, but didn't react. His eyes were full of sharp determination. Artemis's heart sank. Remus was getting sent off to work with magical creatures, to try and convince them that the Death Eater's cause wasn't worth it. It was important, of course, but she didn't want him to go. He was her best friend. If she lost him... she'd lose everything.

When the meeting was over, the Marauders gathered in a huddle with Marlene, Mary, Lily, and Artemis while Remus spoke to Moody. "What's the special assignment?" asked Lily.

"He's getting sent away," Sirius said gloomily. "Special assignment."

"Sent away where?" said Marlene, eyes wide.

At that moment, Remus joined them. "Hey," he said, putting a gentle arm around Artemis's shoulders.

"Where are you getting sent?" Marlene asked at once.

He winked at her, trying to keep the mood light. "That's confidential, love."

"How long are you going to be gone for?" said Artemis.

"Couple months," Remus said with a shrug. "Dunno. It's not a super dangerous mission, really just outreach if anything. But I won't be able to write or have any... contact... with anyone. For awhile."

James let out a long breath. "Mate, I dunno, I wish we could come with you."

"We can't do everything as a group," Remus said with a light smile. "Believe it or not, there are some things I can handle myself."

Sirius smiled. "We know that, it's just that... we have done everything together. I mean, ever since we were kids."

"I know, I know," Remus said impatiently. "But things change. Look, I leave tomorrow morning, but you lot will be the first I visit when I get back. Promise."

"Will you be at our wedding?" Lily asked in a small voice.

Remus smiled softly. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."