It was a dark night and Tabitha had noticed the flashes of green that pierced the moonless black. She knew that magic anywhere. It was one of the Unforgivable Curses, the worst Unforgivable Curse. She hastened to her door and sprinted as fast as her little old legs could carry her. She burst into the cottage next door that had collapsed halfway since her last visit.

There, lying on the floor was the body of her neighbour and friend. Her breath caught in her throat and she leaned down to close his eyes. She proceeded into the house to find the door to the twins' bedroom open and cries spilling out of it. 

"The children are alive," a voice whispered beside her that made her jump out of her skin.

"Jesus, Bathilda. Are you trying to scare me to death?" Tabitha whispered angrily at her older sister.

"Only halfway," the old hag joked. "I just thought you might need some magical help."

"I can take care of myself perfectly fine, thank you very much," Tabitha spat. "Magic wouldn't be much help if we came up against You-Know-Who anyway."

"I could certainly buy us some time, though," Bathilda replied as the pair stepped into the room. They were met by the sight of a greasy haired man crying over the body of their other neighbour.

"Lily," he mumbled. "Lily, wake up."

Bathilda stepped forward and laid a hand on the wizard shoulder. "She's gone, Severus."

"No," he cried. "LILY ISN'T DEAD! NOT MY LILY!"

"Severus, calm yourself. You'll only upset the children," Tabitha scolded as she scooped up the girl half of the twins.

"You can't take care of them both, Tabitha. It's too dangerous to keep them together," Bathilda urged her sister.

"I know, Bathilda," Tabitha replied. "But I promise Lily and James. I promised."

"Then take Alice," Severus sighed. "Professor Dumbledore has already sent people out to collect the twins. I'll let him take Harry but Alice cannot live with Lily's sister. I won't allow it."

"Severus," Bathilda said, shocked. "You know that you'll be deliberately disobeying Albus by letting Tabitha take the girl."

"I know," Severus replied. "That is why he can't know until she comes to Hogwarts. Alice is my only remaining link to Lily. I cannot allow her to be crushed by some anti-wizard muggles who are rash and stupid."

"Very well," Tabitha nodded. "But I expect a yearly visit on her birthday accompanied with gifts and not a word of our exchange to anyone. Understood?"

The other two nodded and Tabitha pulled aside Alice's hair to reveal a spiral-shaped scar on her forehead. 

"One of these twins will be famous. The other will cease to exist," Tabitha whispered in a melancholy tone. "Until they are ready."