A/N: The things you learn reading TOS.

For instance, I was not aware that author's notes were no longer allowed on FFN. (Sigh) Another break down in their community spirit. I really loved doing Authors notes, guys. Kind of gave you a little look into what I was doing, and I felt a little more connected to my readers through them.

But they are no longer allowed, so I am following rules and this will be my last.

However, sometimes I need to relay things to you that are directly related to the story. So from now on, on those occasions you will find Story Commentary, as seen below, which will explain itself.

And as always,

Enjoy.

Story Commentary: This section, guys, will be a lot less personal in the future, I'm afraid, as to comply with FFN's 'let's not connect with our readers in any way, shape, or form' rules. This section will, however, give you valuable information, such as when a story takes place, and point out any errors in previous chapters, or other pertinent information.

For this story, you can safely place it around Harry's fourth year. The exact date is not that important right now. Orion and Katlin are married in this story, and have been for a number of happy years.

People are aware Orion is married, but the list of those who know 'to who' is remarkably short. Safely assume Dumbledore, Charly, Orin Bale (remember him?), Bo (of course), Sirius, Arabella, and Hershel Bennett. Oh, and of course, the groom's parents.

The wizard in the North (Heudros) is still around and gaining power, but currently is more of a pain in the asterisk to anyone who really cares than anything else. But he is there, and it is semi-important to the story.

The theme of the story is laid out for you in the plot description line on my author's page, if you feel so inclined.

Disclaimer: With the sole exception that I am partly borrowing Rowling's settings and plot layout, this story is so OC, in that regard, it's completely mine.

IN THE FAMILY WAY

CHAPTER ONE: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Katlin sighed quietly as the small roadster sped over the pavement.

She loved simply riding in the open car as much as the man next to her enjoyed driving it. Especially at night, when the air was cool and the wind danced through her long, lightly tinted auburn hair.

Next to her Orion sat in the driver's seat with an intense look of concentration on his face as he skillfully maneuvered the little car through the darkness.

Just above the speeding roadster, a dark shape was keeping perfect pace with the little car, darting about it as it maneuvered through the air as easily as the driver navigated the roads. All in all, the shape seemed to take unmitigated joy in its flight. Occasionally it would attach itself to the baggage railing on the trunk and seem to simply hold on for the ride. At these times Katlin noted that Orion, with a quick backwards glance and a smile, would take the next corner exceptionally sharp, tossing the dark flapping robes off to the side and sending it tumbling through the air to shrieks of what could only be described as enthusiastic laughter. But almost instantly the dark shape would catch up to them and the game would be repeated later in the drive.

"Love," Katlin said as Orion brought the car through a sharp curve that bumped her against the door handle on her side, "it's not a race to get home."

Katlin immediately felt the car's pace decrease and heard the slight 'sorry' next to her. Not that she was the least bit worried. Orion could handle almost any situation they could get into with the car. Be it physically or magically, he always had absolute control of the machine. And she knew Bo was enjoying the outing as much as any of them, settled now on the hood of the car as he let the wind whip around him. But traveling too fast at night made her a bit quezy when everything that was passing by was just a blur.

Katlin turned her attention to the sky line off to the side.

It was a calm, peaceful night and they were just coming back from an evening in London. She pulled her black silk wrap tighter about her shoulders; her only protection from the cool night air past the strapless black gown she was wearing.

As she watched the stars just above the horizon they suddenly became obscured, only to reappear seconds later. Katlin lifted her head from the back of the seat.

"What is it, Love?" Orion asked as he noted his wife's fixed stare off to the side.

"Stop the car!" She said in a soft tone. But the hand that gripped Orion's arm was anything but gentle.

The little roadster quickly pulled off to the shoulder of the road and the dark robed hood ornament turned about to see what had happened to end the ride.

"What is it?" Orion asked again. This time more certain something 'was' wrong.

"Smoke." Katlin replied in the same, calm, almost disinterested tone. But the look she gave her husband was anything but disinterested. "There's smoke on the horizon."

"So somebody's having a cookout."

Katlin turned back to the area where she had seen the column of smoke, which was suddenly illuminated by a dim flash of light from the ground.

"And look," Orion added quickly, "they're having fireworks as well."

A small trail of gravel littered the road as the little car sped away from the curb and headed off in the direction of the flashes of light.

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Parking the car a way off from where they could now smell the smoke, Orion had Bo quickly apparate them close to the area, aiming for any cover they could get.

The boggart left them safely sheltered in a small grove of trees still several hundred yards away from the source of the smoke.

The scene was everything Katlin had dreaded.

Fire was her enemy from the time she was fifteen, and smoke was its harbinger. And this time it did not disappoint. From still deep within the trees Katlin could see the blaze of the element as it reached skyward.

When they reached the edge of the trees, the scene simply worsened for her. The fire was well on its way to a raging inferno, and in the center of the conflagration stood a small house, the roof and upper story engulfed already in flames. Around the house stood a dozen or so figures all dressed in black robes and wearing masks.

"Looks like you're lot." Orion said as he watched the dark robes darting about the yard still.

But Katlin quickly shook her head, her gaze transfixed on the blazing fire. "No. These aren't my people." She replied in a whispered voice.

"Someone's masquerading as Deatheaters? That's a bit strange."

'It's not our MO, Orion." Katlin replied, pulling hard to break the trance that threatened to engulf her as she heard the skepticism in her husband's voice. "What's the point in this?" She went on, indicating the burning house. "Deatheaters do things quick and clean. The house wouldn't be burned, it would be destroyed. The rubble would be burned after nothing was left standing. And we wouldn't hang around afterwards having...some...some damned party! You do, you leave. That's how we operate."

"Not always." Orion pointed out. "What about the World Cup?"

"That was a gross and demeaning display." Katlin replied. "That action was not sanctioned by the dark lord. Those who participate were caught and punished severely."

"Well, it looks like he's got a few more in need of a good spanking."

"Trust me, they were not 'spanked'. Voldemort takes opposition to his rule very seriously. Those that oppose him usually don't do it twice." She turned a small smile to Orion. "You'll note that Lucius Malfoy has been a rather good boy of late."

"So what about this?" He asked, pointing his wand to the scene in front of them.

Katlin looked over the scene, shaking her head. "There was no attack planned for tonight." She replied. "That makes me even more certain these are not Deatheaters."

"So we have a new game in town."

Katlin shrugged. "But I don't understand what is gained by what they're doing. Why burn a house from the top down?"

Just then a streak of light flew out of one of the front windows of the house, hitting one of the robed figures, who instantly fell to the ground.

"Because what you want is still inside." Orion replied. "They're trying to smoke someone out. You stay here." He told her, heading off to the side, but staying within the cover of the trees.

"Orion!" Katlin hissed, heading after him.

But Orion stopped her. "Katlin, I need you here to try and get whoever that is inside out. I'll draw their fire. You get in and get that person out."

Katlin's eyes widened in horror. All the fear and numbing pain of all those years ago came rushing back at the mere possibility of what her husband was suggesting. "You are not serious!" She screamed in a whispered voice. "Orion, I can't! You know that!"

Orion took her by the arms and fixed his stare on her. "Katlin, whoever is in that house is still alive. They need help, and currently we are it."

But Katlin pulled hard against his hold. "I can't!" She stated with a solid conviction in her voice. "You know I can't! You know why I can't!"

Orion directed her attention back to him. "Katlin, I need you to do this! I need your help."

"Bo!" She stated suddenly, the fear in her voice rising rapidly. "Bo can do it!"

"Bo is coming with me to act as decoy. It has to be you, Love, and we're wasting time arguing." Orion set his gaze back on her, forcing her to look at him. He had to get her to get a handle on her fear, and he didn't have much time to do it in. "Katlin, I know you're scared. And yes, I know 'why'. And I know I'm asking more than I have a right to. But Love, I need help, and you're the only one here. And I wouldn't ask if I didn't believe you can do it. Now, wait until Bo and I have drawn them away from the house, then get in and get out. Bo, let's go!"

Katlin, her eyes still wide with fear watched as Orion took off through the trees, the familiar black shape hovering just above him. Taking a deep breath, she used every resource she had to force her fear back down. Finally she turned back to the blazing house, watching intently for her opening.

A few minutes later streaks of light started firing out of the trees, all from different areas. Four of the five spells hit their targets as four of the black robed figures fell to the ground.

The other robed figures turned and quickly began firing off spells into the trees randomly.

Katlin shook her head as she managed a small smile. 'Idiots.' She thought, knowing Orion was well gone from where the spells had been fired before they even started.

As if to prove her point, the black robed figures were suddenly fired on again from a different position. This time three fell while the rest turned and returned the fire. A lone shot from the house streaked by one of the black robed figures.

'Good.' Katlin thought. 'They're still alive.'

As the black robed figures fired into the trees, they were fired on a third time. This time from another completely new area. But by now they were facing away from the front of the house and no longer congregated around the front door.

Taking another deep breath, Katlin tried to focus her attention on the dark robed figures rather than what lay before her. Keeping low to the ground, she forced herself toward the house even as what felt like every cell in her body screamed for her to turn around and run back to the safety of the trees. Away from the heat. Away from the pain. Away from the horrifying memories.

How could he ask her to do this? How could she even begin to think she could?

Fear nipped at her heels as she pushed herself forward.

This wasn't going to work. The fear was too strong and she couldn't stop it from grabbing hold of her again.

As she moved forward, trying to gage her own safety, Katlin felt her heart beating as though it were trying to pound its way out of her chest. Her breathing began to seize up and she suddenly found herself choked for air.

She wasn't going to make it.

Her feet suddenly froze to the ground and refused to keep moving forward.

The fear had won and she had failed.

But even as she continued to fight it, a wailing cry cut through the air, suddenly capturing her attention to the exclusion of everything else.

A child!?

Snapped out of her trance, Katlin pulled up quickly just as a spell cut by her. The black robes had heard the cry as well and, turning back to their original target, had spotted her making for the house. Another spell cut by her even as the cry sounded again from within the house.

What were these idiots doing attacking a child!?

Katlin didn't ponder the question too long, nor did she care any longer who they were as she raised her wand and fired off several spells in rapid succession at the black robes advancing towards her. Several turned and began protecting their rear as a series of spells caught a few more from behind.

The fight was brief as the black robes found themselves caught between two adversaries. One in the front and they had no idea how many on the back. With their numbers already depleted, the remaining members grabbed their fallen comrades and apparated from the area.

"What in the name of Magic was that!" Orion stated as he came running across the yard towards his wife. "It sounded like someone was stepping on a dragon's tail."

Katlin looked absolutely pale as she turned towards the house. "It was a child." She replied a little breathlessly. "Orion, they were attacking a child."

A sudden streak of light from a spell cut between them, causing both to dive for cover.

"A well armed one." Orion put in as he pulled himself up from the ground.

"They're frightened." Katlin replied. "They're bound to be."

Orion listened to the sounds of the house under the hissing of the fire. "Well, frightened or not, we have to get whoever that is out of that house. It's close to collapsing."

"How...?"

But before Katlin could even ask, a loud creak filled the night air. Turning she watched as the roof of the house began to collapse in on itself and one side wall began to bulge outward under the weight.

A frightened shriek came from within the house.

Without even a thought of what she was doing, Katlin jumped back to her feet and ran for the house.

"Katlin!" Orion shouted, trying to grab her arm, but missing.

Pocketing his wand, Orion quickly focused, channeling the power as he called to it and felt it answering the summons. 'Keep the house standing', he recited over and over. That was all. Just until Katlin got whoever was inside out.

A solid sphere of white light formed between his hands, then suddenly leapt out, heading directly towards the house.

It hit the fragile structure straight on. Any one watching would have thought that surely the collision would have been the end of the small house. But the light immediately burst out in all directions as soon as it made contact, encircling the house in a dim, hazy glow.

From within the white sphere, not so much as a chard cinder now fell. The fire still burned and the wind still buffed it. But nothing about the house itself moved.

Orion held his stance for what to him could have been hours. His eyes tightly closed, his expression echoed the force that was holding the house together.

"Orion."

Orion reacted at once to Katlin's voice. Opening his eyes and turning to her, they widened in surprise. The sphere between his hands blinked out, and with it the glow about the house abruptly vanished.

With one loud, creaking groan, the remains of the house began to instantly crumble, walls collapsing in on themselves into a pile of flames as cinders shot up into the night sky, carried on the rising wave of heat.

Standing in front of him, next to Katlin, was not one, but four children. Three of them boys, one girl; and in her arms, Katlin held a small white bundle of cloth. All of the children were smudged with dirt as was the tiny bundle in Katlin's arms.

"Five?" He asked quietly.

Katlin nodded.

"Anyone else?"

Katlin paused, then slowly shook her head.

Orion reached out and took the small wrapped bundle from her. If anything, to him she looked as shell-shocked as the children.

"Are you all right?" He asked quietly.

Katlin again only managed a small nod.

"All right." He told her. "I'll take care of things here. You know what you have to do."

Katlin nodded again slowly. Indeed, she knew exactly what she needed to do.

But as for Orion's concerns, she knew that he had to report the attack, which would mean within minutes the area would be swarming with Aurors, as well as possibly agents from his own department due to the nature of the attack, and she couldn't be found there.

With one last look at the four dirt and soot smudged faces staring up at her, Katlin disapparated.