Alright, before we start: This one-shot is completely different from the ones I usually write, which and fluff and/or jealousy. This one falls in the category of dark, like seriously dark the characters will be different and the one shot will be long. Please bear with me.

▪Trigger warning for blood, death, suicide and murder and implied sexual intercourse. No smut▪

( In which ghosts try to solve the riddle known as life )

•••

The lights of the pub could hardly be called lights. They were flickering yellow, red, and blue bulbs. The bar counter was dusty and old, the leather from the seats was torn off and the place had a musky essence to it.

"We will never win," a ghost of a voice whispered, cracking with emotional strain

"If that isn't obvious, I don't know what it is," a grey-eyed man, in his  late teens, laughed mirthlessly. His voice was hoarse and rough, indicating that he was no stranger to insomnia. His once moon grey eyes were foggy and unfocused, dimmed with weariness and grief.

The woman who had spoken earlier, a rather beautiful one if you ignored the dark circles under her sapphire blue eyes, breathed out a cloud of smoke, and she watched it dissolve into nothing, much like a mortal life.

"Isn't this ironic," a dark-haired man said, the first two buttons of his shirt open to reveal three long scars. "Coming from a funeral and then preparing another funeral."

Marlene McKinnon-Black closed her eyes, shutting them tightly, as she relived the horrific sight she had seen moments earlier. While she had her eyes closed, James Potter leaned towards her and crushed her cigarette, a scowl on his face as he turned to his best mate.

"You know she shouldn't smoke," James hissed darkly, gesturing to Marlene's stomach.

"I need it to survive, James," the pregnant woman said wearily. "I'd rather die of Black Lungs than die in this world."

"And you are taking your child with you?" Lily Evans snarled, appearing out of the shadows, followed by Albus Dumbledore.

That instantly quieted down Marlene and Sirius. James stood up and walked towards a dusty, cracked window. He folded his arms against his chest and spoke in a quiet voice, "How long can we survive here? It's only a matter of time until The Death Eaters find us."

"They won't," Dumbledore spoke. "They won't. Not unless all the secret-keepers, that means you, Caradoc and I throw our secret away."

Voldemort had won over Britain. Hogwarts was under his control now. Frank, Alice and Neville Longbottom were dead and all the other Order members were hidden away in a building on the outskirts of London. The first floor consisted of professors of Hogwarts, the second floor and third floor for Order members. On the ground floor was a pub and apart from that there were all empty rooms.

"We're running out of supplies," Lily said, taking a seat on the old and battered couch. "Water is scarcely found and how long can we steal food from the bakeries and restraunts in this fucked-up place? Also, Marlene needs more nutrition. She's pregnant."

"Just for another month," Marlene muttered under her breath, as though she could not believe it.

"For another month," murmured Sirius, squeezing her hand tightly in his own.

•••

On the 25th of August 1979, Marlene McKinnon-Black gave birth to twins, namely Artemis Alice and Apollo Frank McKinnon-Black.

Artemis and Apollo were born during an age of war. The twins, named after two Greek Gods and two of Marlene and Sirius's dearest friends, would spend their childhood hearing the sobs of their weak mother and their father calming her. They would see barren lands and dark skies in their childhood, not beautiful gardens and sunny days as Marlene and Sirius had dreamed about.

To Marlene, it seemed like they grew up way too quickly. They were one-year-old now, and it seemed like yesterday when she was sitting in that pub, mourning the death of Dorcas Meadowes and Emmeline Vance, who had commited suicide shortly after the death of her girlfriend.

•••

It was a windy, cold November night. Lily's head was resting against James's bare chest and her eyes were closed, breathing deeply as James stroked her hair.

"It'll be fine," he murmured to her comfortingly, placing a kiss on her temple. "You can't get pregnant on the first try. Besides, I cast the charm."

Lily listened to his heartbeat, beating in synchronisation with hers. "The charm was late though," she whispered, eyes still shut. "And this can't be the first time when we forgot the charm."

James tightened his hold on her, burying his face in her cherry red hair, which smelled like strawberries, no doubt from her shampoo. He whispered, "It'll be fine. Don't worry."

Lily nodded slightly and sighed as he started to kiss her neck. She let that thought comfort her for now, but deep down in her gut she knew that she was pregnant.

And the last thing she wanted was a child during a war. If it could be called 'war' anymore.

•••

On the 31st of July 1980, Harry James Potter arrived in the world.

When James held him, his tears freely fell down on his cheeks as he bit his lip and stared at his son. Lily was tired but she managed a small, weary smile at the father-son duo.

"Moons, I'm so sorry with what happened to you," Sirius said, smiling over-sympathetically at Remus Lupin, who rolled his eyes. For a moment, just a moment, it seemed like the Marauders were back. The Marauders who used to laugh, had smile lines on their faces and crinkled corners of their eyes. They were not back. These three boys standing in front of Lily were merely ghosts of what they had once been. And of course, one Marauder turned out be a traitor.

This life, Lily decided, was a riddle. A riddle which could be solved, but after many, many tries. Some gave up, some did not. And is it not incredible how much difference a single choice can make?

•••

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Green light flashed from Lord Voldemort's wand and Lily screamed in horror as it flew towards her son. She tried to move, but the charm held her in place, unable to move. James was not much better either, he was cursing and yelling.

Lily choked out a sob, closing her eyes, ready to hear the truimphant laugh from the monster's mouth, but all she heard was a wail and a falling sound.

"L-Lily, look," James breathed beside her.

Lily opened her eyes, which were hazy with tears. She was greeted by the sigh of The Dark Lord lying on the floor of their apartment, staring at the cracked ceiling with open, blood-red eyes and a shocked expression.

Harry wailed again and that was the moment when he earned the title of The Boy who Ended.

•••

A lot happened over the years after that.

On the 27th of March 1983, Lily gave birth to Euphemia Dorcas Potter and Jasmine Emmeline Potter.

On the 15th of May 1983, Marlene gave birth to Rigel Neville Black.

A lot of things changed as well. James started teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts and Lily became the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department. Sirius and Marlene got a jobs as aurors and Remus started teaching Ancient Runes at Hogwarts.

And they made sure that Frank, Alice, Neville, Dorcas, Emmeline and thousands more did not die for nothing. Even now, Lily could recall the ghosts of their smiles, and it may cause her to choke, but she stayed strong. This life was a riddle, and Lily, James, Sirius, Marlene and Remus had solved it.

•••

A/N: So yeah, hi. I know its a VERY late update and I'm sorry, just got a little caught up with the ending of TFR, writing TLM and Caelum Mihi. Hope you liked this one. Take care and stay safe.

Love,
~Aurora♡