Chapter Ninety-Eight
Denial and Defection
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air
If I should die before I wake
It's 'cause you took my breath away
Losing you is like living in a world with no air
(No Air - Jordin Sparks)May 19th, 1980He reeked of firewhisky.
He always reeked of firewhisky these days.
Sirius sat in the back of the circular drawing room, half-lidded eyes set toward the
front where Frank went over the details of an approaching mission. James stood beside
him as the two took charge of the meeting while Moody and Dumbledore lingered in the
other room, potentially discussing the most recent Death Eater attacks where Benjy
Fenwick and Dorcas Meadowes had been murdered. Losing Dorcas was the reason that
headquarters had been temporarily relocated to Potter Manor. Tuts Tower had
been her home and, upon her death—and the death of Fenwick, her Secret-Keeper—the
Fidelius Charm wore off, and the Order was forced back into hiding elsewhere.
James had stepped up, opening his childhood home.
Their childhood home.
Of course it now completely belonged to James, since Mia had been pronounced dead
five months ago.
Following her disappearance at the end of September, the Order kept the search
for Mia very hush-hush as per Dumbledore's request. Sirius and Remus were both
questioned under Veritaserum, and Dumbledore insisted that he be the one to ask
questions. James and Lily were summoned home early from their honeymoon, and James
had gone into overdrive trying to find his missing sister. When no clues showed up, Sirius
went behind Moody and Dumbledore's backs and started his own investigation into the
disappearance of his witch.