The long black limousine pulled up slowly, and came to a stop, in a long line of cars just like it. It was a balmy evening in early June, and two Aurors stepped forward in practiced unison, as Joandra Alvar Black emerged gracefully from the car in front of the east entrance to the Minister of Magic's house. She smiled to one of the Aurors as he saluted. She was short and stocky, in white evening robes that draped elegantly from one shoulder. Her hair was dirty blonde and swept up in a neat French twist which showed off her petite bare neck to perfection.

Her skin was pale, her eyes dark blue, and she moved with enormous poise and grace in high-heeled silver sandals. Her eyes danced as she smiled, and stepped aside as a Daily Prophet photographer flashed her picture. And then another, as her husband stepped out of the car and took his place beside her. Sirius Black was powerfully built, a man of forty-five, he had made his first fortune just by being a member of the Black family, invested it brilliantly, and by forty owned the most famous Dark Arts shop in Knockturn Alley. Sirius Black had long since turned his fortune into big business. And he was very big business. Now, he was the Minister's advisor. Fudge's right hand and his go- to man.

The photographer snapped their photograph again, and then they swiftly disappeared into the Minister of Magic's house. They made a striking couple, and had for seven years. Joandra was thirty-seven, and had been twenty-eight when Sirius discovered her in Wales.

Sirius spoke in powerful clipped tones that convinced the listerner instantly that he knew exactly what he was doing. He had gray eyes that pursued his quarry to all corners of the room, and he had a way of listening to several conversations at once, while still managing to seem intent on the person to whom he was speaking. There were times, people who knew hin well said, when his eyes seemed to bore right through you, and other times when you felt he was about to caress you. There was something powerful and almost hypnotizing about him. Just looking at him, sleekly put together in his dinner robes, his dark hair smoothly combed, he was someone one wanted to know and be close to.

He had had the same effect on Joandra when they met, when she was barely more than a girl in Wales. She'd been a receptionist at a small wizarding newspaper. She was awkward and shy, but she had a girl-next-door quality about her that everyone loved. Sirius was bowled over whenhe first saw her. Her words as well as her eyes were searing.

"What do you do here, pretty girl? Break all the boys' hearts, I bet," he'd said to her. She didn't look a minute over twenty, thought she was nearly eight years older.

"Not likely," she laughed. He was negotiating to buy the company. And he had, two months later. And as soon as he did, he made her editor, and sent her to London to teach her first everything she needed to learn about writing the news, and then how to do her hair and makeup. And the effect, when he saw her again, was impressive. Withing months, her career was off and running.

It was Sirius who helped extricate her from the nightmare she had been living, with a husband she'd been married to since she was eighteen, who had commited every possible kind of abuse on her. Michael Bobbyt had been her Hogwarts sweetheart. Then Sirius Black made her an irresistible offer. He promised he could get her a possition in the research department of the Ministry of Magic, and promised her that if she came, he'd help her sort her life out.

He came to Wales himself in a limousine. Shemet him with one small clothing bag and a look of terror. She got in the car with him without a sound, and they drove all the way to London together. It took Michael months to figure out where she was, and by then she had filed for divorce, with Sirius' help, and a year later, they were married. She had been Mrs. Sirius Black for seven years, and Michael Bobbyt and his unthinkable abuse on her were a dim nightmare. She was a star now. She lead a fairy-tale life. She was known and respected and adored. And Sirius treated her like a princess. As they walked into Fudge's house arm in arm, and stood in ther reception line, she looked relaxed and happy. Joandra Alvar Black had no worries. She was married to an important, powerful man, who loved her, and she knew it. She knew nothing bad would ever happen to her again. Sirus Black wouldn't let it. She was safe now.