::4 July::
Harry walked.
It was crowded at the Ministry and everyone seemed to be watching him. Remus and Draco were on either side of him and Severus walked behind them, glaring. Dumbledore in all his authority, walked ahead of them, parting the seas of people. The Department of Mysteries loomed as an unseen challenge. They approached the door and Aurors let them through.
In all the chaos of the post-war Harry had not been able to return to the veil until now. He desperately worried that it was too late. Nearly five months had passed and he was almost sure Sirius was lost again. They entered the room and stood before the veil for a moment. It was quiet and moved in a breeze that no one could feel.
"We're too late," Harry sighed and stared at the ground, "Sirius isn't coming back, is he?"
Draco turned to him, "No, my mother would make sure he could come back. She wouldn't leave Sirius in there and lie to you."
Remus put a hand on Harry's shoulder, "Sirius will come back, do not fear, Harry."
The veil moved.
Dumbledore smiled softly.
A sudden motion caught their eye and, as if someone shoved him, Sirius fell through the veil and landed hard on his back.
"Merlin!" Remus ran to his side, "Sirius, are you okay?"
The man blinked a few times, "I-I can't see. Remus, Merlin, I cannot see."
Harry ran to Sirius, "Thank Merlin you're okay!"
"Harry, my boy!" Sirius turned, eyes staring blankly and held out his hands for his godson. Harry smiled and silently thanked Narcissa while he tried not to cry.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I-I am okay but I still can't see anything." Sirius said and turned his head as if a new angle would help.
"After not using your eyes for more than a year that is to be expected, your eyesight will return in a few days, Black." Severus said.
"What? Snivellus? What are you doing here."
Harry smiled, "It's okay Sirius, don't worry, Snape's a friend."
"What?" Sirius turned quickly, grabbing the young wizard by the shoulders, "That git is our friend? What happened there? Oh, Merlin! What has happened with the war? Is everything okay? Why do you smell like smoke?"
Harry chuckled, "It's a habit I picked up," He and Remus helped Sirius stand, "Everything is fine."
"Who else is here?" Sirius asked, his dark eyes rolled around, trying to see but unable and they passed over all the people, the room, without stopping. "I can smell them…"
"Dumbledore and my boyfriend."
"You're wha?"
"My boyfriend, Draco Malfoy."
Draco stepped up, "Hello Sirius."
"My cousin Draco Malfoy? You're dating…does Lucius know?"
"Yes," Harry smiled and they began to leave, "We'll explain everything once we get back to Head Quarters."
Sirius nodded.
Getting out was less complicated than Harry expected, Aurors surrounded them within milliseconds of exiting the Department and they were thus surrounded until they reached the apparition point.
Upon reaching Number 12 they sat Sirius down in the living room and Remus quickly went to make tea.
"The war is over, Sirius."
"What?"
"It ended in March when Narcissa Malfoy sacrificed her life to destroy the Dark Lord."
"She did what?"
Harry, with help from Dumbledore and Draco, explained the Keeper situation, the attacks and the final battle.
Remus entered and handed Sirius a large mug, "This will help."
Above them Chael awoke and cried.
Severus stood, looked around wildly and then seated himself when Blaise came downstairs with Chael in his arms.
"What is that?" Sirius asked.
"That's Chael Kieren Malfoy Snape," Remus smiled, "Severus and Narcissa's son."
"What?" Sirius whirled his head around to try and pinpoint the baby and or Severus. "Snivellus had a kid?"
Chael quieted and giggle loudly as he was placed in his father's arms.
Blaise sat next to his Head of House.
"He did," Albus said, "Chael is just over six months old."
"So…Narcissa died really soon after the boy was born…" Sirius was quiet for a moment, "I'm sorry for your loss Snape."
Snape remained silent.
"How did you end up dating my cousin, Harry?"
Harry laughed and explained the story.
"…in October it'll be a year and I couldn't be happier."
Draco smiled.
Sirius nodded, "I'm glad you're happy." He blinked a few times, "Has anything else happened?"
"My cousin," Draco said, "Julian, is going with Lord Azriel Snow."
"Son of Agereon Snow? I thought he and his sons died a few years ago."
"Agereon died and Azriel killed Arden, Agereon's murderer."
Sirius nodded. "And this cousin of yours, Julian, was he not a servant of Voldemort's?"
"He was," Draco nodded, "But not by choice."
Draco went on to explain the situation and the events leading up to the current moment in regards to his cousin and Lord Snow.
Sirius smiled, "You have an interesting cousin, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco laughed.
"I have a colorful family, Sirius."
The door opened and they heard voices approaching. Fred, George, Ron, Ginny and Hermione entered smiling.
The lions gasped and flocked to Sirius.
"You're alive!" Hermione hugged him.
"What?" Sirius' eyes darted around at the voices but he smiled when he realized it was mostly Weasleys. "Oh, Merlin, hello children." He laughed, "I cannot see right now but I'm glad you're here."
"What? Why can't you see?" Ron asked. He stood next to Blaise and almost put an arm around him but stopped upon realizing his family was present.
"His eyes weren't used beyond the veil so they stopped working. Snape says it'll come back in a few days," Blaise explained.
Sirius nodded, "I hope he's right. My sense of smell can only get me so far."
"Tell me Sirius," Dumbledore said, "What was it like beyond the veil?"
The man frowned, "I-I don't remember. I know I was sent through and I remember thinking I could never forgive myself if Harry was hurt because I was knocked out of the fight. I remember worrying about Remus and about everything. The next thing I know I'm back out, like no time passed at all."
"The veil," Blaise spoke up, "Is an artifact dating from the Dark Ages and was used as prison for those convicted of great crimes against the wizarding world. It's part other dimension and part holding cell. Things can go in but as far as any records show Sirius is the first thing to come out. They're going to have to monitor it for a while to make sure it hasn't caused a reverse effect and the veil starts spitting out badies again."
Sirius frowned, "Who was that?"
"Blaise Zabini," he smiled, "Desdemona's son."
"I remember, you're Ridex's boy."
"That too," Blaise admitted.
Sirius laughed, "Ridex may have been a Slytherin but he threw the best parties. Do you remember we went to one in Sixth year, Remy? It was the one with-with all the naked girls and-" he paused, coughed and stopped grinning, "I mean…uh."
The room erupted in laughter.
Remus lay one hand on Sirius' shoulder, "You should rest soon, Sirius."
"I'm fine," he insisted and then paused, "But now that you mention it I am tired."
"You lost a year of your life," Draco said, "Of course you're tired."
Sirius stood and Remus led him upstairs.
Fred and George took the newly vacated seats and Ginny sat on the arm of that couch.
"So, Ron," the smirked at their younger brother.
Snape could tell he did not want to be present and exited. Dumbledore too left after bidding them good-bye.
Ron cocked his head to the side and looked at his brothers, "What?"
"We came in to check on you last night-"
"-probably around one thirty-"
"-and what do you know-"
"-you weren't there." They spoke together and gave him an expectant look.
"Now-"
"-any regular person-"
"-would suspect you were simply out for a pee-"
"-but a half hour later-"
"-you were still-"
"-nowhere to be found." They finished.
"So-"
"-where were you?"
Ron turned bright red, "I-uhm-I was…uhm."
Fred and George smirked. "Nervous Ronnie?"
"I-uhm," he shrugged, "I was, uhm."
Draco and Blaise exchanged a look. Blaise elbowed his boyfriend in the rubs. Ron turned quickly to look at him with both fear and questioning on his face. "What?"
"You should probably just say it," Blaise whispered. Ron turned a very dark shade of red.
"What?" Fred and George leaned in curiously.
"I-I was with Blaise." He said.
"Oh?" They leaned back and raised they eyebrows, looking between the two boys.
"Yeah-uhm, we've been going together for a while now."
"Ooooh," the twins grinned, "Do mum and dad know?"
"No," he said, "And-"
The front door opened and they heard the Weasley parents enter.
"Really Arthur, we don't have to bring a bunch of Aurors with us now. The war is over and we were just getting groceries. It wouldn't have taken an hour and a half if you had stopped playing with the cereal boxes."
They passed the living room and paused to look at the gathering of children.
"Hello kids."
"Ronald, why are you so red?" Molly dropped her bags and went to his side, "Are you getting sick? Come here."
Blaise shifted away from Ron and let his mother inspect him.
"He's fine mum," the twins grinned, "Just embarrassed."
"What did you two do to him?" she turned on them.
"Nothing!"
Someone came down the stairs. "Hey Blaise, are these your clothes or Ron's?" Theo walked in and stopped dead when he saw the parents. "Oh, hello Mr. and Mrs. Weasley."
Molly looked at the clothes, "Ronald, why are your clothes all mixed up with his?"
There was a heavy silence before the twins broke up laughing.
Theo stepped in, "Sorry, I was doing the laundry and mixed them up."
Blaise stood and sorted them out, "All this is mine and that's Ron's."
"Thanks," Theo took the basket back upstairs and Hermione stood.
"I'll go help him sort everything else."
She dashed up after him.
Molly turned back to the twins, "I'll never understand you two."
She no longer hated the Slytherins but she did not trust them either. She had quickly learned about Draco and Harry and was warming to the blonde but Theodore and Blaise seemed strange hangers-on to her. She was not sure why they were at Number 12 and she thought it strange. They were only there for eight days and only to help clean and prepare for Sirius' return and to help him get settled when he returned but she did not like it. She eyed Blaise for a half second before she walked into the hall.
"Dinner will be ready in a half hour, Ronald, could you and Harry set the table in a little while?"
"Yes mum."
She and Arthur disappeared down the hall and the twins turned back to Ron.
"Why are your clothes really mixed up?"
"Why do yours get mixed up? Blaise asked.
"Because we get undressed at the same time every night and they just sort of…" the twins trailed off, "Oh."
The Italian smirked.
"Ginny, did you know about this?" The twins turned to her.
She nodded, "Word hasn't gotten out about those two yet," she pointed to Harry and Draco.
The twins whipped their heads around, "What?"
Harry laughed, "We've been together for nearly a year, Forge, you didn't know?"
"No."
Draco smiled softly. "Now you know."
"We sure do."
"Boys, set the table!"
Ron and Harry left, smiling, to set the table as ordered.
Inside the kitchen they were surrounded by the clatter of pots and pans and the warmth of cooking. They pulled dishes from the cupboards.
"Boys," she turned, "How was your day?"
"Good," Harry smiled, "We got Sirius and he's resting now but we can wake him for dinner I'm sure."
"Oh good," Molly smiled. "Ron?"
He shrugged, "I spent most of the day lying in bed and reading."
"What were you reading?" She asked and Harry couldn't tell if it was out of surprise or for the sake of the conversation.
"Just uh-a school book."
She turned, "Don't lie to me Ronald."
He turned red, "It was nothing interesting, just a book mum."
She huffed.
Harry leaned close to Ron, "What was it?"
"Blaise read to me in Italian," he admitted sheepishly.
"All day?"
"Well…" Ron turned a deeper red, "He sounds really hot when he speaks Italian."
Harry burst out laughing.
"Shut up Harry," Ron could not help but smile too.
Molly turned, "What's so funny?"
"Ron said something really cute, Mrs. Weasley," Harry laughed and Ron elbowed him.
"You're a prat."
"What did you call him?" Draco entered and went to Harry's side, wrapping his arms around the lion, "Don't make fun of my boyfriend, Ron, or I'll kick you in the shin."
Ron laughed, "It's better than waking me up by throwing Christmas baubles at me."
Draco laughed too.
A week prior, Ron and Blaise had slept in for six hours. At noon Draco had planned for them to go out and have lunch but neither boy was awake at half past eleven. He found a box of ornaments, walked into their room and started hucking them. Ron and Blaise had screamed like little girls and hid for twenty minutes before rolling out of bed and accompanying the group to lunch.
"What happened?"
"We were all going out to lunch and your son refused to wake up so I took to alternative methods," Draco smiled and hugged Harry a little tighter. The Boy Wonder turned his head, kissed Draco's forehead and moved to set more places. Draco let go and walked to the food, "It all smells so good Mrs. Weasley."
"Thank-you Draco," she smiled at him.
"Do you think you could teach me to cook sometime? Or, maybe I could start helping you?" He asked.
"Well of course," her smile brightened.
"My mother always had the elves cook and she never had time to teach me that sort of thing. Of course Father refused to let me in the kitchen during the holiday season…or any time of year really. He thought I would eat too much and get pudgy." Draco giggled, "I would too."
Mrs. Weasley patted his shoulder, "You're so scrawny though! You should eat more and bulk up, then you won't be cold when winter comes."
Draco smiled too, "Oh yes ma'am but I hardly ever get meals cooked by a mother, I mean, usually we just have the elves prepare us something or we go out and eat."
"Oh you poor thing," she gasped, "You and Harry and everyone absolutely must come to the Burrow for Sunday dinners. We'll get the twins to come home and Percy and Bill and Fluer and Charlie will all come and we can all get together. Oh! We'll have Sirius and Remus and Tonks and Albus all come for dinner too! It'll be just a great big gathering and everyone can come and enjoy themselves."
"That's a large gathering for every week Mrs. Weasley." Draco reminded her, "Twenty some people including you and your husband. Maybe you should have the gathering at the Malfoy Manor here in London, we have a very large dining room and a great big kitchen you could use."
She thought about it for a second. "That's a wonderful idea, Draco, we'll have one there and then perhaps we can tone it down and just you and the boys and Hermione can come to the Burrow the next week."
"Wonderful thinking Mrs. Weasley."
"Oh!" She gasped, "It will be a welcome home feast for Sirius, next Saturday, oh what a great idea! We can call in Andromeda and Ted too," she smiled, "I'll owl them right after dinner."
Draco hopped up and down, "I haven't seen Aunt Andromeda in ages!"
Molly smiled.
"Good, I'll set it up right away."
I promised a longer chapter and you got it.
The first chapter got a great response, I'm so glad!
You find out what the tree is for later on. I just really liked that openeing line 'nothing said middle of summer like a pine tree.'
Draco: Bloody tree shed everywhere and now I can't walk barefoot.
Harry: You shouldn't walk barefoot to begin with, who knows what's on the floors of Blaise's house.
Blaise: Hey, my floors are cleaner than yours, slut
Harry: I beg to differ, I have no floors to clean and thus they are infinitely more clean.
Blaise: Damn you and your logic skills.
Harry: skillz, skillz Blaise.
Draco: You're a loser
Harry: lozer, darling, lozer
Draco: What is your obsession with Zs?
Harry: They're so cool! I want to change my name to Harryz
Draco::dies::
Blaise: Harry-
Harry: Harryz!
Blaise: FINE! Harryz, your boyfriend is dead, you should check on that
FireStorm: Yeeeeeeeah...
LOVE!
FireStorm and the Gang