Author Notes: Guys! It's been a while! This is short, but we're coming to the cusp of the climax, are you ready? I wasn't and that's why it took me so long. I'm sorry, and I hope this makes it up to you.

The defining next few days were that of busywork. Remus, Lily, and Hermione spent a reasonable amount of time pouring over the books that Hermione packed. It was all on the basis of basilisks and notes of what Harry encountered in the Chamber of Secrets. Lily several times moved uncomfortably at the idea that her son in the future of exposure to such a deadly creature, but Hermione assured her that he was a stellar young wizard.

Sirius spent his time trying desperately to get Hermione to relax and not take on too much. It was heavily noted that he became more neurotic than anyone had seen him ever. It was as if she was breakable now, and it occurred to him that they were doing something deadly. James tried his best to lighten the conversation with the dog animagus and get him in better spirits, but he was not having it.

Hermione was resting against Remus's thigh on the floor, and her legs were crossing over Sirius's lap. It was no secret that this couldn't have been more commonplace, but Sirius kneading her feet gingerly was a sign that this conversation was causing him anxiety.

"Well, we could see about the rooster to be positive. Something about the crowing doesn't kill them per se, but this book describes incapacitation." Hermione murmured as she set down her book.

"Hermione, can we not do this whole snake thing? What if we don't end up killing it, and he takes control of the beast?" Sirius murmured then gnawed his bottom lip.

"Pads, you need to trust me. This won't work, and we won't be able to finish this if you don't," Hermione insisted as moved.

Lily nodded, rubbing her stomach. "I can't say I want to volunteer my husband for slaughter either, but I have to agree with Hermione. He knows the basilisk is there. He might try to retrieve it if he thinks the battle won't be his."

James flopped over the couch and nudged Sirius. "Come on, mate. We need to trust. Dumbledore said he would assist her, he will likely do the same for us," James reassured him, and Sirius bowed his head.

"Don't worry, mate, we can handle a bloody snake," Remus mumbled and kissed Hermione's hair. "I appreciate this idea much more than her doing it."

"One last thing," Sirius said, holding a finger up. "You aren't taking our child into the fray, Hermione. It's just not going to be a concept I will allow."

Hermione groaned and rubbed her face. "Sirius, I love you and your determination, but you have little choice in the matter."

Remus and Sirius gazed at each other; they just weren't going to accept this. Neither one of them was keen at her even leaving the safe house. It was real and tangible now. This was their future, and they would be damned to the dark reaches of the veil if they allowed it.

"A conversation for later," Hermione said, shutting her book. "For now, I need to run to the loo, and we have to pack for Hogwarts."

The curly-haired witch walked out of the room, and the marauders were giving each other a replicated look. "I know that face. What is it?" Lily asked with a scowl.

"We can't let her go. She will get killed," James murmured with a nod.

Sirius tilted his head and tightened his lips. "Moony, where are those sheets of parchment my brother left her?"

Remus waved his hand to the table and tilted his head. "What's wrong, Pads?" he asked as the animagus stood up and paced to the table.

He was digging through the sheets until he came upon the cryptic one line. Scrutinizing it, he noted the handwriting. It was as if a light went on in his mind and blinded him to all else. "I have to go! I'll see you at Hogwarts!" Sirius shouted and pocketed the page.

"Wait, where are you going!" Lily gasped, trying to stand.

Sirius was at the door before he could respond. "I'm going to prevent her from dying!" he shouted and left within seconds.

The room was dumbfounded, and James arched an eyebrow. "Is it me, or is this his new normal? I miss the arsehole personally."

Remus stood up and wandered to the table. He took a quick inventory of the papers and notes Hermione had splayed out, but something occurred to the man. Some of these were written by Regulus. This was their work. "No, he is right…" Remus mumbled. "He went to go find out what would be the best course of action from the one wizard who could tell him where she hid the Horcruxes."

Sirius was nearly pounding on the small door in a dingy village. The door opened, and Severus was standing at the door, he was down to a pair of green shorts. The man looked beyond grumpy as he rolled his eyes and offered Sirius to enter. There were no words as the animagus wandered into the house.

He was uncomfortable, a bit out of his element, and frustrated. The room was small and covered in notes, books, and trinkets. Never in Sirius's life did he plan to be in Severus's house. His brother was splayed, nearly naked, on the sofa with a book in hand. He set it down and frowned up at his brother.

"Sirius, what are you doing here?" Regulus huffed with a twitch of his nose. "We don't need to go to Hogwarts until later."

Sirius ran fingers through his hair before offering up the page. "Tell me, why did you write this for me?"

Regulus smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "It took you long enough. Are you ready?"

"What do we have to do? I can't lose her now, Reg. She is holding my child."

Regulus sat up with large eyes. "She pregnant?

Sirius just motioned agreement as he thinned his lips. "Tell me, what do we have to do to prevent her from stepping in front of him and risking her life for us."

Regulus shook his head and waved his hand in a circle. "There is no way to stop that. Even if we try, Sirius. She's going to do it because that is the design of the prophecy. She will have the stone with her, but I don't know how it will affect the baby."

"What stone are you talking about?"

Regulus's expression evolved to something more menacing. "She didn't tell you about that? What was she even thinking? What is she planning? This isn't what we talked about."

Sirius huffed and waved the nearly empty parchment. "She's going to try and finish it."

"Well, we will just have to do it, brother. If we do the plan the way we had set it up without her, we can push her to be distracted by the last Horcrux," Regulus mused.

Severus returned with a dark robe on and a glare. "Regulus, you promised me."

"I know what I promised," Regulus growled. "She's more important than that."

"She's not more important than your life!" Severus snapped.

Sirius snarled as he pointed his wand to Snape. "She's more important than all our lives. If it weren't for her, we would all be dead or eventually dead. Don't you understand?"

Severus narrowed his gaze at the animagus. "We won't be dying for her."

"No, we won't," Sirius breathed and turned back to his brother. "What does the ring do?"

Regulus stood up and yanked up a blanket around his shoulders. "Let's go over all our plan, Sirius. I have a new one that does put her in harm's way. It's the least I could do for her."

"You promise?" Sirius asked with a pout as he lowered his wand.

Regulus breathed and bobbed his head. "Let's go. I hid my notes in a place no one would find it."

"Okay, brother, I trust you," Sirius sighed.

Regulus arched an eyebrow. "That would be a first."

"Well, stranger things have happened. I ended up with your wife."

The younger Black rolled his eyes. "Please, brother. She was never truly mine. She was in love with you and Remus since she saw you both wandering Diagon Alley the first week she was here. I was just oblivious of it."

"Let's go," Sirius agreed.

"Clothes first, Regulus?" Severus grunted.

Regulus grinned and nodded. "Yes, I suppose so. Let's get dressed, Sev," he paused and turned to his brother. "This might be a moment. You were interrupting after all."

Sirius grimaced and waved him off. "I'll step outside and scratch my arse as a dog. Tell when you're ready."

Regulus winked and wandered off down the hallway.

"If you do something to get him killed, I'll pull your insides out," Severus warned and left Sirius in the sitting room.

Sirius, despite his dislike for the wizard, could understand that sentiment. He slowed his anxiety and prepared his mind as he stepped outside. It was going to be a long day and possibly a hard one. There was a fear that she would do this from the beginning. Run off to try and save the world. He had to stop it.