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June 21, 1996

It was one day since Iris Potter had been declared in an untreatable coma to the Wizarding World.

Only those closest to her knew the truth: that her body and mind were merely frozen in the state she was in moments before her would-have-been death. They had rushed her stagnant body off almost immediately, bringing it to the Shielded headquarters away from prying eyes.

They told the world a tragic story. How Iris had spent her life in a heroic action to save her godfather— who was freshly liberated in the wake of the battle, his innocence plastered alongside her death notice in every copy of the news the next morning. It was easier to lie. They told the world it was unlikely she would ever recover enough to wake from her coma— she was as good as dead. It meant fewer questions and less uncertainty. No one had any idea how long it would take to find a solution to stop the girl from dying— if there even was one.

Harry Potter was not taking it well.

Not only did he lose his twin sister, but he was also introduced to a whole new realm of madness as the Shielded finally revealed themselves to him. They told Harry everything, including Iris' involvement and the lack of a cure for her current predicament.

Then, while still reeling from the loss, Dumbledore dropped one more bomb on his heavy heart: he was the chosen one. The elder headmaster, newly reinstated, explained the reality of the young boy's position and the true meaning of the prophecy. Harry didn't know what to do. He felt numb. The world seemed to have gone grey and empty without his sister. She was always the voice of reason, the guiding light, the strong post he could hold when he felt like he was slipping.

When finals ended and it was time to leave Hogwarts, Harry had his most difficult time yet packing up his belongings. He couldn't help but think of the dormitory on the other side of the common room, the one that housed the fifth-year girls, and he pictured his sister's things still out where she had left them, no one there to pack them away. Of course, someone would take care of her stuff eventually, but Harry's stomach churned at the thought of a stranger messing with Iris' possessions. He was sure they wouldn't put them away properly.

Never before had Harry gone home without Iris. The Dursleys were given a stern warning not to mistreat Harry at Platform 9 3/4 by several members of the Order. Harry couldn't help but notice Sirius was nowhere to be found. Remus told him the man had hidden himself away in Grimmauld Place, unable and unwilling to enjoy his new freedom, wracked with guilt over what had happened to his goddaughter, and his life a persistent reminder of her sacrifice.

Meanwhile, the Shielded headquarters had descended into chaos. No one was sleeping. Those who weren't out searching the globe for any hint of an answer had their eyes glued to ancient texts, reading through every passage, desperately searching for something.

Slowly, weeks passed.

Kai was the worst off. The bags under his eyes informed onlookers that he was severely sleep-deprived, and if not for Khalee forcing him to eat every few hours, he likely would have disregarded that function too. He had gone into a frenzy, scouring magical libraries near and far trying to find any bit of information possible. But each day that yielded no answers only increased his frustration and restlessness.

He and Harry sent letters back and forth every few days, passing messages of no progress. Harry would visit at least once a week just to sit beside Iris' suspended body. He would stare, hoping more than anything to see her eyes open or her lungs inhale a breath until his vision went blurry with tears. She was perfectly still, never moving, never fading. He watched the darkness that had crawled up her forearms with contempt, for the first time ever truly hating magic.

Part of him shouldered the blame for it. He couldn't help but think if he had just learned occlumency like he was supposed to, they never would have gone to the Ministry and Iris taking the killing curse would never have happened in the first place. He wished he could talk to Sirius... someone who would understand his feelings. According to Remus, his twin's godfather had started spiralling. 

The Summer passed by with no advancements to Iris' state.

On the 31st night of July, Sirius Black sat alone at the end of a table in his kitchen, drowning himself in a bottle of whiskey. At the same time, Harry, who had planned on spending his birthday night sitting beside his twin, had been picked up by Dumbledore and dragged off elsewhere to help recruit a certain ex-professor. As always, the old man had a plan, and it just did not seem to be bothered with Iris at that time.

All of Sirius' demons had come out to haunt him that night. His guilt manifested itself in the drink he downed one too many of.

"I really fucked up, James..." he whispered, staring into the amber liquid.

He emptied his cup and ran a tired and regretful hand over his face, then reached once more for the bottle. A feminine hand grabbed the glass before he could.

Sirius didn't say a word as a red-haired woman slid into the seat catty-cornered to him. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, not wanting to see the disappointment or judgement in her eyes.

"Having a productive night, are we?" Audrianna asked rhetorically.

Nothing was uttered in response. The witch watched Sirius closely, her ever-sharp gaze seeing straight through all his layers. 

She leaned forward, "You know it's Iris' bir—"

"Of course I know," Sirius cut her off sharply.

Audrianna pursed her lips. After a moment of silence, she said, "I'd have thought perhaps you would have wanted to see her." At seeing him tense up, Audrey pressed softly, "You haven't visited her once since it happened."

Sirius had successfully averted his gaze from his old flame until then. His eyes flitted about the room, beginning to burn from holding unshed tears, and he gulped heavily before finally meeting the woman's look.

"It's my fault," he choked out in a whisper.

Her hand impulsively reached over to grab his. "No," Audrianna denied him sternly, "Iris knew what she was doing, there is nothing you could have done."

The raven-haired man tried to ignore the feeling that stirred in his gut when their hands touched. His blood, which ran warm from the alcohol consumption, had his heart beating out of his chest and his brain doing somersaults.

Sirius stared at her with youthful eyes, "You are beautiful."

"And you are drunk," Audrey said softly.

He squeezed her hand gently, his thumb running over the top in a familiar touch. Neither one of them made any move to pull apart. Sirius gave her a sad, soulful look, "I don't think I ever truly stopped loving you... all these years."

Her eyes glistened. She looked away and then back, her voice restrained as she said, "Come with me— please. You need her."

And finally, Sirius agreed.

He hadn't seen her since the night they moved the body.

"She looks peaceful."

The man felt numb. There his goddaughter was in front of him, laying arms at her sides and eyes shut, her chest not lifting with breath as it once had.

"Hopefully she is..." Audrianna said comfortingly, watching Iris closely. "She should be stuck in a sort of in-between world. Neither living nor dead, just... drifting."

Sirius hesitantly reached forward and took Iris' hand in his. He stared at the darkness that had climbed its way up her forearms and felt his body rise with emotion. He looked to Audrey, "It's consuming her, isn't it..."

"It's trying to... but she'll be alright," Audrey reassured gently, "She's tough. A fighter— like her godfather." The woman turned her head and their noses were mere inches apart. "And for the record," she whispered, looking mesmerisingly into his grey eyes, "you didn't fuck anything up."

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As time went on, still no answers were found.

August passed and turned to September, and that meant the return to Hogwarts for Harry and his friends. He was angry. At nothing, at no one, at the sky just for being blue, and the wind just for blowing. He couldn't fathom how life could just go on without his sister. How the world could keep spinning when she was frozen.

Dumbledore cut back on his allowed visits to her, saying it was better for his mental to keep undistracted and in the castle. Harry disagreed immensely but there was nothing he could do. He started having lessons with the headmaster in which the old man would bring him into the Pensieve to show Harry parts of young Tom Riddle's life.

Each new week back at school without his sister, Harry grew more restless. He couldn't focus in classes, he was playing off in quidditch (in which he was promoted that year to captain of the Gryffindor team) and he wasn't the only one with downcast spirits. Hermione and Ron were struggling as well with the fact that she was gone. It also didn't help that the entire school did nothing but stare at Harry in either pity for his loss, awe because of the rumours that he is 'the Chosen One,' or a sad combination of both.

Finally, one day, after weeks of absolutely no news, Harry received a letter. He had been sitting in the common room with Ron and Hermione reading his annotated copy of the potions textbook when there was a purple shimmer in front of his eyes. From that, a scrap of parchment materialised from thin air and slowly drifted downwards. Harry snatched it from midair and his eyes scanned across the three words written upon it in the tidy handwriting he recognised as Kai's:

I found something.

Harry leapt up from the sofa, his things clattering to the floor. He ignored his friends' calls as he ran out of the common room, his heart racing faster than ever.

I found something. The words cycled through his mind with the speed of a jet as he took the stairs two at a time. Three meters from Dumbledore's gargoyle doorman Harry practically screamed the password as he came at it full speed. The staircase spiralled up much too slowly for Harry's liking but soon enough he was at the grand wooden door. He impatiently pounded on it, and when the familiar voice beckoned him inside, Harry nearly slammed the door open he had so much energy.

"Ah, Harry!" Dumbledore's face lit up with a smile though he arched an inquisitive brow, "What is this about?"

The boy panted, his lungs straining from the run, "I need to go—" he took a strangled breath, "shielded— Iris— now."

The headmaster stood from behind his desk and made his way around to Harry. His face was wearing a much more severe expression now, "Has something happened?"

Harry drew in a large breath, "Kai found something— I have to go."

Dumbledore waited only a moment before giving a nod and leading the young boy over to the fireplace. He took a handful of floo powder from a jar that sat beside it and tossed it across the orange flames, turning them a vibrant green.

With one last look to his headmaster, Harry stepped inside and shouted his destination, vanishing from the office with no trace.

Upon arriving at the Shielded Headquarters, Harry was greeted by Kai himself who was sitting on the sofa waiting anxiously for him. His head snapped up when the fireplace roared with green flames. He stood to meet Harry.

"What is it?" Harry immediately fired off, hope shining brightly behind his eyes.

The expression on Kai's face was of little reassurance as it displayed a mix of fear, nerves, and a dash of excitement. He only said, "Come with me."

The two boys hurried their way through the halls, finally coming to the door of Iris' room. They burst inside to be met with Audrianna, Mira, Jess the girl who froze Iris' body, and Kai's twin Khalee whom Harry had only met once. They all had very different reactions going. The elder twins and leaders as well as Jess looked quite calm, if not optimistic. Khalee on the other hand seemed quite upset.

As soon as her brother entered the room she said, "Please don't do this Kai— we'll find another way." Harry's eyebrows furrowed, "It's too dangerous."

He didn't like the sound of that.

They all stood surrounding Iris' body, which was laying on a long stone pedestal looking as lifeless as every time he had visited.

"I have to," Kai said quietly, walking up to Iris' side.

The young boy took her hand in his and looked to Audrey and Mira for reassurance. They both nodded in approval and he inhaled shakily, looking down at Iris' expressionless face. Khalee paced behind him worriedly, her arms crossed tightly over her body.

Harry's feet carried him forward unconsciously, "What are you doing?"

Kai didn't speak for a moment, almost unsure of how to answer before he at last said, "Sharing her sacrifice." He then braced his feet and closed his eyes in concentration.

He held Iris' hand tightly, his grip strengthening when he felt the tug of magic in his gut. Where their hands met lightning began to crackle. Each of the bystanders in the room watched with bated breath as Kai's lightning began to travel up both of their attached arms and with it an electric blue cast. Suddenly the boy grunted, his face turning in anguish. They all had wide eyes as the inky black colour that had spread up to Iris' forearms began seeping off of her left hand and onto Kai's, which clutched it tightly. He gasped as he felt the magical weight settle.

When the last of it finally crossed over to him, the blue lightning that was shooting up and down the length of their linked arms fizzed out. With it went Kai, as his eyes rolled back into his head and he suddenly started falling toward the floor.

"Kai!" Khalee shouted, throwing a shield out to catch him before impact.

Everyone stood in place, unsure of what to do. Harry didn't think his eyes had ever gone so large.

Kai wasn't out for more than a few seconds before he regained consciousness. They all waited for a confirmation.

"Did— did it work?" Harry asked hesitantly.

The dark-haired boy on the floor nodded somewhat unsurely. Audrianna exchanged a glance with Jess and then said, "Only one way to find out."

The younger girl stepped up beside Iris and placed her hands over her heart as though she were about to administer CPR. After just a moment, there was a bright glow from her hands that rippled all around Iris' body like a balloon popping.

She stepped back and they all waited, staring anxiously. At first, there was no change, then Harry thought he saw her finger twitch.

And then, for the first time in months, Iris Potter opened her eyes.

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i hope the drama is good guys, there will be plenty more of it next chapter

spoiler alert: we'll be back at hogwarts pov soon 🤭