As the months continues to pass, the Order seemed to be falling into the gutter. Members were being picked off at one by one as Death Eaters continued to force the wizard community to submit. The paranoia was becoming too much for Barbara as she tightened her grip on where her fiancé was allowed to go. She hated to restrict Sirius's adventure; but the adventures were becoming too frequent and increasingly dangerous. Dumbledore made sure couples went on missions together in fear of being blamed for a lover's death.

Nonetheless, Barbara was still forced to go on missions without Sirius when they related to Vampires.

Valerie kept her promise as a loyal servant to the Order and constantly kept contact with Dumbledore. Vampires discreetly helped Order members on their missions by becoming spies into the Death Eater community. They convinced Voldemort by claiming the muggle community would serve them well as slaves, thus tricking the wizarding community that they were out for blood.

Barbara and the other members knew this would stain the reputation of Vampires as the worst creatures known to wizard-kind. But nobody cared in their present; all that mattered was taking down the harsh reign of hatred.

As the woman thought about her future while cooking for her parents, she thought of her wedding. Its date was approaching too fast for Barbara's taste. She barely managed to squeeze in time to go dress shopping with Lily and their parents. She recalled how she received a patronus in the bathroom from Dumbledore explaining that Sirius and James were in trouble.

The wording made Barbara believe her fiancé and brother were seriously injured, and rushed her parents, Lily, and Lily's parents back to the Potters' to check on the boys. However when she saw the bright red faces and a faltering smirk on the boys' faces, Barbara forced herself to not punch her brother and make Sirius sleep outside for a month.

"We apparated here on one of our first breaks since joining the Order, Sirius. If you don't have a damn good excuse I'm inviting your parents to our wedding."

Sirius gaped at her. "You wouldn't dare!"

"I dare," she flashed her electric blue eyes at him, "so tell me what in the Merlin you two did."

James, in an attempt to calm his sister, pushed Sirius into falling on the couch as he sat down like an obedient dog. He dared not to look at his fiancée in the eyes, fearing the ginger's wrath. The Potter behind the women quickly put a concealment charm on the bags containing the wedding dresses; and then invited the Evans into having tea in the kitchen.

"Barbara," Fleamont called his daughter, "tell your mother and I the story later. We'd like to give our son and soon-to-be son-in-law some two-sense after they deal with you and Lily."

"And Hell!" Shouted Euphemia from the kitchen. Fleamont states off after his wife in a smile and trotted into the kitchen to join her.

Barbara turned her attention back onto the two culprits. They were clearly afraid of her.

She made sure to heighten their fear by glaring at them both with her Royal eyes, not once faltering her gaze as Lily spoke.

"Tell us the truth," Lily said flatly, "and your lives just might be spared."

Sirius coughed awkwardly, trying to suspend the story and thus stall his punishment. However, James informed them of what happened in the early hours of the morning.

She and Lily were told on their "motorcycle escapade", in which James and Sirius caused chaos for Muggle policemen. They had been speeding on Sirius's motorbike and chased by the policemen when they were cornered in a brick alleyway.

"It was really funny," James chortled, "The guy's buttons flew off when he tried to go 'round his car."

"If you speak that way about him again I'm going to hex you." Lily said dryly. James shut his mouth immediately and tapped Sirius to continue the story.

"Basically, they were about to arrest us. But a shadow moved behind them, something too tall to be one of them. I figured it was a Death Eater and nodded to James so he saw them. We both instinctively pulled out our wands, which confused the police. They thought the wands were drumsticks–"

"— you ran into Death Eaters and you're only telling us now!" Lily interrupted, flabbergasted. Barbara put her hand on Lily's knee to not distract the guys from their story.

"Yeah," Sirius answered nonchalantly, "so we shouted spells at the Death Eaters, who ended up running into the car. It was funny, we stunned them but the car did the rest of the work. We send a patronising to Dumbledore summarising what happened and got three Death Eaters out of the way."

"How did they know where you were, Sirius?" Barbara asked worryingly. She would let out her anger after they answered her questions.

"Don't know," he replied, "which is a bit puzzling–"

"—A bit! You could've been killed! This is a grave situation, Sirius. Your name should match this conversation... this isn't a joke!"

Sirius's growing smirk fell, and a solemn look replaced it. He sensed Barbara's mentality uncoiling with each crazy event after the next. "Barbara, Love, let's go back home and rest. We both had long days."

"Until we figure out this whole mess," Barbra replied, "I'm not letting you two out of my sight. Lily, what do you think?"

"I think," Lit said with a frown, "that we're the next targets. Why else would they go after James and Sirius in the Muggle world?"

"A fair point, but we've always been higher targets," James countered, "Lily, we've defied him twice. I think he's getting a bit pissy at this point that we won't accept his invitation. Barbara, you've been damaging his campaign before the Order was even founded. I'd think you're in his top three hit list."

"And he goes after people mainly in the Order,"  Sirius added, "since it was founded by tightly knit friends."

"So everybody needs to be on guard," Lily said seriously, "this is one of their first times going out into the Muggle community to kill wizards."

"Should we have Dumbledore tell the Muggle Prime Minister what happened?"

"I think so, Barbara." James replied.

As they adjourned their powwow for the day, Barbara and Sirius walked back to their home in silence. Sirius could tell his fiancée was about ready to turn him into Voldemort.

"Babe, I really am sorry about the whole mess. Jame and I should've been more careful."

"You're lucky I'm allowing you to sleep in the same bed as me," Barbara seethed, "if you die how am I supposed to move on!?"

Sirius was taken aback by Barbara's harsh question. "I– I think you would manage, Barbara. But what's the issue about my death?"

"You damn well know what I mean. The Death Eaters are more aggressive than ever, Sirius. Everyone has to watch themselves, and it's hard enough having to watch my parents as well. I'm not marrying a child, I'm marrying a man and I expect you to act like one."

Sirius watched her stomp into the house and into the bedroom. He scratched the back of his head, a nervous habit he picked up in his youth.

He didn't feel like a man in his twenties; he felt like he was in his fifties. He was fighting in a war with his fiancée, living day-by-day in a state of paranoia. Barbara went on more dangerous missions he could imagine, forcing himself to take care of easy Order business. He knew he needed to make sure Barbara was okay before they retired to bed; and forced himself to stop thinking about the what if's and attend to Barbara.

Barbara slipped into pyjama pants and ruffled her hair in anxiousness. She knew her words were harsh, but she couldn't apologize for her feelings. Sirius and James' actions shook her to the core.

She heard the door creak a little and whipped around to see Sirius. His eyes reflected Barbara's weight on her shoulders.

"Let's forget about tonight," She said softly, "I don't want to think about anything right now..."

"You're right though," Sirius said, "it was immature of James and I to worry you and Lily when you both have a lot on your plates."

Barbara just gave him a small smile and motioned him to hug her. Sirius responded immediately and walked over to Barbara.

He out his hands on her shoulders and rubbed her arms assuringly. "We'll make it through this, remember our wedding's in a couple weeks."

She smiled up at his grey eyes. "I know, Sirius, I believe you."

Sirius wrapped her into his arms, their hug seeming to stop time. Sirius had an effect on Barbara in which he could make it feel peaceful in his hugs. She felt his hands rub over her back and bra strap, ultimately glancing up at him to make sure he knew nothing would happen that night.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."