Year III: An Extra Brother is a Bother

Despite the good weather at Hogwarts before term let out, the summer in Wales was dreary. Mists hung over the land and seemed to match the mood of the Potter family. James was moping as he still had not made up with Sirius. Their father, despite having officially retired, still kept receiving unofficial calls for support from St. Mungos. With the rise of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, as the Daily Prophet had begun to call Voldemort, there were a lot of injuries.

Wizards and witches who purchased protective amulets and spells sometimes bought forgeries with curses instead. Guerrila warfare tactics terrorized Wizarding neighborhoods—suddenly a home would be under fire and the Dark Mark, a ghastly smoky skull and snake, in the sky. Deaths were most common, but the Cruciatus Curse had hospitalized many people. The hospital was sometimes short-handed. Even worse, were werewolf bites. They were on the rise, Harald knew, despite no acknowledgement in the newspaper or by the Ministry that even one werewolf had sided with Voldemort.

Personally, Diara thought that was odd. The ministry loved to criticize werewolves and this would be another chance to do so. But then, perhaps some Purebloods in the paper didn't want that out: after all, Voldemort was still currying political favor. Allying with werewolves would please nobody. So much of what was going on was shrouded in mystery, just as thick as the cold mists that filled the air all that summer.

With Sirius not around, it had been quiet. Too quiet really. Courtney's parents didn't want her to spend time in the Wizarding World without them, and Diara didn't fit in well in the Muggleborn's home. Courtney's parents struggled with the oddities of witches; even for a witch, Diara could admit to herself she was odd. This limited the two girls to letters. Sierra was spending her summer with family in Norway. Diara wasn't nearly so close with the other girls in her year-group. Grimelda was a friend, but not quite on the visit during the summer level. Although, Diara had received an owl informing that Grimelda's younger brother, Calum, was expected to start at Hogwarts this fall.

James, despite being a mopey toe-rag, was spending time with Remus and Peter over the summer. Each of the marauders had their animal shape down, so they had moved onto new activities. They were spending a lot of time in the Muggle village nearby. Diara had heard something and understood that Peter had a crush on one of the girls who worked at the sweet shop.

One evening, about three weeks after school let out, Diara was sitting in the family room in her pajamas, playing a game of Wizarding Chess with her father, when the Floo unexpectedly went off. Harald grabbed his wand tightly and indicated for Diara to stay put, as a precaution. They weren't expecting any visitors: James was at a sleepover at Peter's house, with Remus as well.

Instead of an intruder, however, a trunk was shoved through the fire and slid against the far wall—a lot of force had been used. Then, Sirius followed the trunk. He was a mess: his normally well-styled hair was at all angles and even had a bit of soot. His left eye was red and swollen—sure signs of a coming black eye. The boy looked around, and Diara gasped: it wasn't just his face (which also sported a bloody nose). His shirt was ripped and there was a couple of bleeding scrapes.

Still holding his wand, Mr. Potter hurried over to the teenager. In these times, you didn't just automatically trust anyone (certainly not coming through the Black's floo). "What is the Marauders' greatest invention?"

Sirius raised his eyebrows, then winced at the pain. They had created it not long before all the drama at the end of the school year. James had bragged about the great piece of magic. "A map," Sirius replied. Harald relaxed his grip on his wand, then pulled the boy over to a chair to begin healing his wounds.

Diara padded over in her slippers, having stayed back until his identity was confirmed. "What happened?"

"I'm not welcome home anymore. Mother threw me out." That explained the trunk. "I didn't…I didn't know where else to go," the boy said quietly.

Harald patted Sirius on the shoulder. "Charisse told you that you were always welcome here. That hasn't changed. This is your home for as long as you need it." The scrapes were all healed up in no time at all, but a bruise does tend to take some time as it was more internal damage. As Harald discussed Sirius' eye with him, Diara called for Twilsy.

"How's mes be helping miss," the House Elf squeaked.

"Can you please tidy up the guest room next to James'? Sirius will be living with us now," Diara informed. The bat-eared created smiled and nodded happily. The girl wasn't sure if it was happy for the work, or for an extra family member to dote upon. Spotting the trunk, the elf quickly popped it upstairs with her.

Shortly later, fully healed, and having explained that his eviction was because he wouldn't support Voldemort, Diara led Sirius upstairs. "You've always stayed in James' room before, but, I thought since you'll live here, you might like private space."

"Thanks," Sirius muttered. His spirits were obviously very low. "I don't think he wants anything to do with me, really."

Diara glanced sharply at Sirius. "I know your idea of family is shitty," she said. "But James wouldn't turn you away forever for a mistake. " She grinned, a tad viciously. "Another black eye might even things out."

Sirius moaned theatrically. "I didn't mean it…"

"That's the problem," the younger girl said. "You never mean things. But you do them anyways. You, Padfoot, are rash. You jump in feet first and think later. You meant to get Snape in trouble and maybe hurt him. But you'd have hurt Remus even worse."

The boy nodded ruefully. Looking at the ceiling he moaned, "Merlin! Even getting lectured by a specky little girl!" More seriously, he turned to her. "You're right, though. I really screwed up."

Diara nodded. "Yes, you should worship me and James for stopping it being worse really. We've decided you can start by living in this room and taking responsibility for serving us like a slave," Diara intoned monotonously as she waved Sirius into a room.

The room was a moderate sized bedroom, completely with fresh sheets and Sirius' trunk. "Henceforth, welcome to the Dog House."

Sirius didn't even look surprised. He'd long ago gotten used to Diara knowing things she hadn't been told. The marauder's being illegal animagi (although, as a consequence for the spring's event, James at least would be required to register upon turning 17) and their exact forms had long been openly discussed with the younger girl.

Xx00xX

James, Remus, and Peter came through the floo the next mid-day, as Sirius and Diara were sitting down to lunch. Harald was at a luncheon with some other men involved in politics. Diara and Sirius had been invited to go, but a lunch at a table full of old men had not appealed.

Tension swiftly rose into the air as the three boys faced off against Sirius, who rose from his chair. A dark look spread over James' face. "What, having a date with my sister, while I'm out," he snarled. Diara shot her brother a dirty look.

Sirius ran a hand through his hair. "No. She's like a sister to me too, mate."

James sneered, "Some way you treat family! Trying to get Remus to kill someone!" Peter grabbed James arm, holding him back, as tension rattled through James' body.

"Enough, Prongs," said the quiet voice of Remus. "I can fight my own battles."

Remus, tall and thin with floppy sandy hair, faced Sirius—tall, athletic, perfectly groomed, with a hint of purple around his eye, all that was left of the black eye that Mr. Potter had treated the night before. Remus' hazel eyes were bright as he stared at his friend. "You're an idiot. Had your plan worked, Snape would be dead. And so would I, as soon as word got out," Remus stated, cruelly emphasizing the consequences. "Your parents might love you then: killing a pathetic half-blood and getting a werewolf executed all in one stroke. A plan worthy of a Slytherin."

Sirius yelped at the accusation, but didn't deny the consequences. "I know! I wasn't thinking. It was meant as a joke. I never meant to hurt you," he said, looking at the others in the room, as he had nearly hurt all but Peter, "any of you. Merlin, I'm so sorry."

Remus continued to gaze harshly at Sirius. "If you ever try anything so stupid again, I'll make sure you're turned over to the Death Eaters," Remus threatened. "I bet they'd love to get their hands on a Blood Traitor."

Sirius flinched. "Especially after I refused to support him and told my family to go to hell," he responded. Remus raised an eyebrow. Padfoot looked at his friends, "If I ever screw up that badly again. Stop me. I'd deserve whatever Voldie's minions throw at me."

"Damn right you would, you git!" Remus stepped forward and sat at the table. "Enough lunch for three more?"

Peter looked back and forth between the other marauders. James was still scowling, Remus was acting nonchalant, and Sirius looked like a puppy that had been beaten. "Is he forgiven?"

James walked past Sirius, punching his shoulder, and sat down at another seat at the table. "James," Lupin admonished. "We discussed this. He's forgiven."

"Doesn't mean I have to make it easy on him," James grinned. Sirius sagged against his chair in relief.

Xx00xX

James was no longer so gloomy for the rest of the summer. The Marauders would get together regularly. Diara found the house much livelier. Although some excitement she could do without, like the day she walked in on Sirius talking about wanting to shag Hyacinth Salem, a Ravenclaw going into 7th year this autumn. (Diara had thrown an orange from the kitchen table at him, when she walked into him and James discussing this over a snack.)

Another day, when Peter had been home with his mother who needed help around the home (Peter's father hadn't been in the picture in a long time), Diara had informed Remus and Sirius that she was adopted. Sirius' jaw had hung wide open when Diara had glibly informed them, "You know Sirius, you're as much James' brother as I'm his sister. I'm adopted too." Remus had looked back and forth between the two siblings, his eyes narrowed.

Finally, Sirius had spluttered. "What, are you a cousin or something? You look so alike!"

James had shrugged. "Not really sure. Doesn't matter—Mum and Dad blood adopted her, so some of her blood is a Potter's, no matter what."

Remus nodded. "Yes, but not all of it. So, maybe the seer comes from … the other side?"

Diara and James looked at each other. "I haven't really thought about it," Diara answered. She had never been very curious about her family. "I've always felt like I belonged here. I haven't really wanted people to know I was adopted, but…I figured my extra brothers should know. Don't tell Wormtail though: he can't keep some secrets." Diara frowned as she said that. Peter had never been someone she was comfortable with; they had never 'clicked' and she had no idea why.

Diara however, could not appreciate the lightened atmosphere as much as she would have liked. Her stomach was frequently upset and she sometimes had difficulty sleeping. The dreams were getting worse.

…red hair flashed. A scream pierced the cacophony of shattering rock and thundering feet. Round glasses and dark hair—James—ran ahead, wand out. A snarl and a figure with cloak hood obscuring features and a hideous white mask. Green smoke obscured the scene.

A different image: A dark haired, thin boy. Clenching his forearm. Fingers removed and a Dark Mark left on the skin. A rat disappearing around the corner.

Diara felt herself walking. A roof was on the ground, splintered beams of wood against the snow. A footprint the size of a dog, edged in blood on the snow.

Some mornings, Diara awoke from her dreams and threw up. Over the summer, the girl had grown, but with her stomach and dreams, she was rail thin. Harald was making her drink Pepper Up potions.

Finally, in early August, after Diara celebrated her 13th birthday, the book lists arrived. Harald insisted that he escort his three children to Diagon Alley later that day. Even before reading his list, James hurried to see if Peter and Remus could meet them at the alley. Diara noted that her electives had all been approved. Her Divination, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy books were all on her list. She was hoping that taking Divination would help her gain control over her visions. Recently, they had been so disordered, she could only make out fear and pain.

Diara Floo-Called Sierra, Courtney, and Grimelda, but none of them could come to Diagon that day. Courtney's parents were at work and wouldn't let her go alone. Sierra had some Muggle cousins visiting. Grimelda said that she could go if her parents hadn't wanted to make it a family trip, since Calum had gotten his letter and her dad couldn't go that day. Once again, Diara was stuck with her older brother and his friends.

Remus met them in the Leaky Cauldron. Harald informed the teens that he would swing by Gringotts while they got their robes sized. Each of the teens needed new robes (although Remus had to get second-hand) as they had grown.

On the way to the shop, Diara was distracted by a new shop that had opened next to Madame Malkin's. The sign read Modern Music. Looking into the shop, Diara found record players and Muggle artifacts. Sirius, seeing her interest called the other guys over. Anything Muggle was of interest to him, as his family had always forbade it.

Looking into the store, James suddenly ruffled his hair and checked his clothes, backing away from the window. "It's Lily-Flower!"

Diara looked past the display and noticed that Lily Evans, James' long-time crush, was at the counter of the store. Having checked his appearance, James sauntered into the store. "Evans! Couldn't stay away from me for a whole summer. Are you sure you won't agree to a date?"

Remus and Diara looked at each other. "Merlin! He's getting worse," Remus whispered.

Sirius looked at them, bewildered. "What's wrong with that? I gave that line to Edith Summers last year and she practically dragged me into the broom—" Diara shoved her hand over Sirius' mouth, stopping him from finishing the story.

"Bloody hell! Will you shut up about that? Ugh!" The girl went into the store to look around, just to get away from Sirius. The other two followed, chuckling, as Lily started yelling at James.

It was as they were in the store, that the ground shook and screams started. Everyone gripped their wands. Outside of the store curses were flying. Diara felt her knees shake. Death Eaters!

James, Sirius, and Remus pushed toward the door of the store. "Stay back Diara!"

The girl opened her mouth to argue that she could help, but Lily put her hand on the girls' shoulder. "You're going to be a third year, right? You haven't learned nearly enough." The witch gently pushed Diara behind the counter. The storekeeper, obviously not a brave man, ran out the back.

Outside the store, the three boys and Lily were fighting. Sirius cast a curse that blasted a Death Eater back. James had to push him down as another curse was fired at him, though not from someone garbed in Death Eater robes, but from a man in navy robes—who was firing indiscriminately at anyone.

"Is he mad?" James gasped.

"More likely Imperiused," Lily said grimly, and aimed a Stunner at him. Remus agreed. "Half the street might be."

It was chaos. James had no idea where his father was, but felt anxious for him. Harald Potter was a very good wizard, but he was old.

"Merlin," Remus gasped. "Back into the shop! Hide," Sirius snarled and began to push.

A figure was walking down the street, surrounded by three Death Eaters, as an escort. He was tall, with a face that might once have been handsome, but was now sallow and gaunt-faced with red eyes. His voice, low and powerful, rang across the alley. "Modern Music? Yes, I heard of this new store. A filthy disgrace, Muggle musical contraptions." A smirk slid across his face. "It's opening salvo shall be it's last.

A man, dressed in trousers and a bloody white polo, came forward and flung something onto the cobblestones at Voldemort's feet. Lily's face paled and James braced her, Sirius and Remus on either side, as they stood in the doorway of the shop. It was the body of the shop owner, who had fled. Blood flowed from ravaged wounds. He was unmistakably dead, with his throat ripped open.

"Ah, good job, Greyback." Remus stiffened and clenched his wand tighter. "The Muggle-loving fool is dead. Now, for the premises." Voldemort raised his wand and quickly cast an Incendio into the store.

"Diara! No," James cried out and began to cast hexes and curses toward the Death Eaters. One of the Death Eaters cast a Bombarda toward the shop: Lily stepped in front and shielded it. Remus snarled and joined in the spellfire.

The smoke thickened from the shop. "Sirius! Get Diara," James called. Sirius broke off his casting and looked inside. The Bubble-Head and Flame Freezing charms weren't taught until after 2nd Year: Diara wouldn't know them. The fire was already spreading too rapidly. An aguamenti wouldn't be enough.

He ran inside after his little sister, as pops sounded around the alley. The aurors were arriving at last! Sirius found Diara struggling with the back door. It appeared to be blocked from the outside. He quickly cast a Bubble-Head charm around the girl. "No use! The whole thing is on fire, we'll have to go out the front—the aurors are arriving!"

By the time they got to the front of the burning store, Lily, James and Remus were scraped and bruised, but fine. Voldemort was gone—the aurors had arrived, so the Death Eaters had left. They had achieved their mission, after all: the only shop selling Muggle items in Diagon Alley would never open again.

Diara looked around the street. Splashes of red painted the cobblestones. A couple dozen people were injured. She saw her father hurrying over, ignoring the injured as he raced toward his children. She felt numb: there weren't just injured around. The Dark Mark hung over head and several bodies littered the ground.

This was just the beginning, if Diara's dreams were to be believed. And they usually were. Dazed, she stumbled toward her father, her vision going black for just a second. Silhouettes sitting around a table. James. Sirius. Lily. Dumbledore. A set of red-haired twins. War.

For perhaps the first time, Diara realized that she wouldn't just be forced to see Voldemort's reign in her dreams. Her family was going to fight. James, Remus, and Lily Evans had already stood in defiance of Voldemort once, brief as it had been. Sirius had only not fought because he had been busy rescuing her. She had been a burden.