"Mother I just don't understand why we had to move," said the youngest of the Belle children as she sat at the kitchen table. She was leaning on her elbow, playing with her porridge and spoon.

"Stop playing with your porridge," said Alice Belle. "Eat it. There are children in Kenya who would consider that a weeks worth of meals."

"Mum," sighed Kendra.

"Oh, Kendra, stop whining," said Amelia Belle walking into the kitchen. Her long straight strawberry blonde hair swished as she walked. She looked just like her Mother, with pale blue eyes and white fair skin. Amelia was the second oldest of the four Belle girls, technically anyways because she was a twin with Serena, only older by about ten minutes.

"I'm excited to be going to a new school," said Amelia. "Especially to the school that Mother went to! And what do you care, its not like you had to leave any friends behind."

"Amelia," said Alice sternly. "That wasn't nice. Kendra, if you're not going to eat your porridge, please go up and wake your sister. We're going to Diagon Alley in about thirty minutes to buy you all our school supplies."

"Mother!" said another voice of a young girl.

"In the kitchen Amber!" said Alice back to the voice as she picked up Kendra's bowl of porridge. Kendra ran into her oldest sister as she walked out of the kitchen.

"Sorry Amber," she said. Amber said nothing to her baby sister; she looked like she was on the war path. She carried the news paper in her hands and a grumpy look on her face.

"Amelia, are you ready to go?" asked Alice glancing at her oldest child. She knew something was wrong by the look on Amber's face.

"No," said Amelia. "I'm going to wear that new shirt you made for my birthday."

Amelia walked out of the kitchen, leaving Alice and Amber Belle alone.

"What is it Amber?" asked Alice calmly as she began to wash the breakfast dishes.

"How did Dad die?" asked Amber.

Alice stopped washing the dishes and looked at her daughter. She turned off the water in the sink and put her hand on her hip. She looked awkward about the subject of her husband. She looked at her daughter with a studying stare.

"He was killed by a Death Eater Amber," she whispered. "You know that." Alice turned back to the sink, breaking the stare. Amber threw the paper onto the counter top.

"According to the paper he just broke out of Azkaban," said Amber harshly.

Alice leaned over the counter, picked up the paper and stared in horror at the front page.

"That's him isn't it!" said Amber in an outrage. "I knew it! Why did you lie to us? He's not dead at all!"

"Amber," sighed Alice. "You don't understand!"

"I think I understand just fine," said Amber harshly with a glare at her Mother.

"What's going on?" asked Serena, the third of the Belle girls in age. "Why are you yelling at Mum?"

"She's a lying witch," snapped Amber picking up the paper and throwing it on the table in front of Serena. Serena looked at the paper for a few seconds then looked up.

"Yea," she said. "I heard about it on the Muggle radio. Said he's armed and dangerous." She laughed softly and shook her head. "The Muggles don't know how dangerous he really is."

"Serena!" snapped Amber. "He's our Father!"

"Yes?" said Serena calmly. "I am aware. I can see that by his picture and the fact that I have his eyes."

Serena was the only of the four girls that looked like their Father. She had curling chestnut brown hair, dark blue almost black eyes, and a shadowy beauty that would someday make her one of the most desirable girls her age. She had that Black charm like her Father and his family. Every person in his blood line had been beautiful until old age, or dark magic took hold of them.

"Aren't you upset about this?" said Amber.

"Well," said Serena looking at her older sister. "Honestly, I don't give a damn. He's dead to me anyways. Did you read the article Amber or are you jumping to conclusions as usual and blaming Mother for something that was out of her control? He killed Uncle James and Aunt Lily! He's responsible for not just their murders, but the murders of another wizard, their friend Peter! And even worse thirteen Muggles! I don't blame her for not telling us about him."

"You're not upset that she lied to us?"

"No," whispered Serena. "Like I said, I don't blame her." Serena moved past Amber and picked up an orange from the fruit basket on the counter. She began to peel it and throwing the pieces into the sink. "Why don't you call Kendra and Amelia, Amber? Tell them all about it and not give Mother the chance that she deserves to explain."

"Will you two please stop!" Alice finally shouted over her bickering daughters. "I am standing right here. Thank you Serena for defending me, but it is not necessary. Amber, I don't answer to you. You are my daughter and it was in your best interest that I didn't tell you who your Father was. You may not see that now, but someday I hope that you will. I personally don't care if you believe my explanation as to why I didn't tell you about your Father, that's your business, but you will listen to it. Because damn me if I'm wrong, but I am your Mother and what I did, I did to protect you and your sisters. Everything I've done in the past fifteen years was for you four."

Amber said nothing, but turned red slightly in the cheeks.

Amelia entered at the right moment, coming in just after her Mother's long speech to Amber. Kendra followed her slowly, holding a cloak to wear.

"What'd you do this time Serena that caused Mum to yell?" asked Amelia.

"For once it's not me," said Serena with a laugh. "Little Miss Perfect here is upset that Dad is alive."

"What?" said Amelia.

"Dad?" Kendra said with shock and dropped her cloak.

"Serena!" snapped Alice with frustration.

"Where are you going?" asked Serena looking at the cloak on the ground. She picked it up and handed it to her younger sister.

"Diagon Alley," said Alice softly. "Girls, all of you sit down please."

Amelia, Serena, and Kendra sat down easily at the kitchen table. Serena leaned back in her chair and looked between her Mother and Amber, who was still standing. Amelia and Kendra were looking at Amber, noticing that she was obviously upset.

"Amber," said Alice leaning against the counter near the table. "Please, just sit down."

Amber rolled her eyes and sat in a chair. She pushed the paper away from her and Amelia looked at it.

"Sirius Black?" she whispered. "That's our Father!?"

"Amelia," said Alice picking up the paper. "Let me talk."

"Oh, good, he's not our Father. He's hideous!" said Amelia.

"Amelia," sighed Serena. "There is more to this world then beauty."

Amelia rolled her eyes.

"Girls, please," whispered Alice rubbing her face in her hands. "Your Father is Sirius Black. He and I had been together since we were in Hogwarts. Amber was born just after our marriage…yes we were pregnant before our marriage. Soon after Amber was born, your Uncle and Aunt, your Father's and my best friends, married and had a son, Harry. Then you twins were born right after him, in August. When Harry was one, him and his parents went into hiding from Voldemort. Sirius was believed to be their Secret-Keeper—"

"—what's a Secret-Keeper?" asked Kendra.

"Shh," said Amelia.

"When people go into hiding, a spell is put on their home and no one knows where it is except for them and their secret keeper. If someone wants to find or see the house, the secret keeper has to tell them. When Voldemort was able to find the Potter's and kill them, everyone assumed that Sirius had given them up."

"He had, hadn't he?" sad Serena. "He was their Secret-Keeper?"

"No," whispered Alice shaking her head. "I would have known if he was. He wasn't. Peter Pettigrew was. Peter gave the Potters out to Voldemort. He's the reason they're dead. Sirius was furious and when he found Peter in a Muggle street corner, he threatened to take him, but Peter cast a spell that killed thirteen Muggles, and cut off his own finger. No one has seen him since. Your Father, Sirius Black took the fall."

"Why?" said Amber.

"Because there was no proof that Peter was alive," said Alice.

"You don't know that he is," said Amber harshly. "For all you know Black did kill them."

"I would have known if he was the Potters Secret-keeper," Alice repeated. "And I love your Father. I know your Father. He would have never done the things he was accused of. I saw him before he was convicted. There was no evil or murder in his eyes, only sadness and love."

"I don't believe this," said Amber shaking her head.

"Oh, so you're going to believe the papers over our own Mother?" asked Serena. "Some daughter you are. I'm really happy you're going to Spain for the school year. I wouldn't be able to stand you."

"Oh shut up Serena," snapped Amber with anger.

"Quiet!" said Alice. Her voice was stern and harsh. "When your Father was convicted as guilty, I dropped the name Black and we moved to Dublin with my parents. They took us in and cared for us, helping us get back on our feet. I moved us to Ireland to protect you girls. If you had grown up here in England you would have had a hard time in school."

"Why'd we have to move back then?" asked Kendra.

Alice sighed and rubbed her face.

"I accepted a job with the Ministry," she whispered. "They were looking for a new Auror to fill an old position. The job is the best I've had since just after I got out of school."

"Oh," whispered Kendra. "I miss Grandma and Grandpa."

She got up off the chair and began to walk away.

"Kendra," said Alice.

"It's okay Mum," said Serena. "I'll go talk to her. I'm sure she's fine."

Alice nodded as Serena stood up and followed Kendra out of the kitchen, and down a hall towards a staircase. Amelia was next to leave the kitchen, muttering something about fixing her hair before they left for Diagon Alley, if they were still going at all. Amber was left sitting with her Mother in the kitchen. Her pale blue eyes stared at Alice with great disappointment.

"So him escaping from Azkaban makes him innocent?" she whispered. She stood up. "I'm happy I'm going to Spain. I don't want to deal with this messed up family anymore."

"Just because you're going away this year doesn't mean you're not coming back!" snapped Alice. "And you're still a part of this family!"

Amber said nothing as she walked out of the kitchen.

"Everyone better be ready to leave in ten minutes!" Alice yelled through the house with frustration. "Or you won't be getting any of your school supplies!"

She stood for a few seconds by herself in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and sucking in her tears. She opened a drawer near by and pulled out a piece of parchment and an ink quill. She wrote a quick note of her stress and the events that had just happened so early in the peaceful morning. After writing, she folded the letter up and put hot wax on the fold. Once the wax had dried she grabbed it and headed up to her study. Simon, her owl, was sitting on his perch near the open window of the study. She held out the parchment to him and he snapped on it and hooted, then flew out of the window.

"Mum?" called Serena. "Are you ready?"

"Yea," Alice called back. "I'll be down in a minute…"

She took a deep breath and rubbed her face. This was the nightmare she had every night. This is what she feared since Sirius had gone away and she had lied to her daughters. She stood up straight though and frowned as she looked at herself in the mirror. This is what she had planned to do though. This is what kept her daughters safe from prying eyes, cruel words, and victimizing bastards. She took a deep breathe then left the study. All four girls were dressed in traveling cloaks in the kitchen, waiting by the fireplace for her to join them so they could go to Diagon Alley.

"Alright girls," said Alice entering the kitchen. "Let's go."

Serena went first, followed by Amber, then Kendra. Amelia was the last of the children to go, and Alice followed her. They all arrived safely in the grate of a busy moving pub. The pub wasn't crowded, but the breakfast crowd had come down for some food. There was a large table with many people crowded around it, most with flaming red hair and freckles.

"Come on girls," said Alice leading the way to the door as she dusted herself off.

"Merlin's beard!" said an astounded male voice. "Alice Belle! I haven't seen you in nearly thirteen years!"

Alice turned to a man with ragged robes, a pointed hat over his red hair, and freckles all over his face. Alice beamed as the man approached her.

"Arthur!" she said. "How good to see you!"

She looked around after greeting him with a hug and noticed the rest of the red head crowd.

"These are all yours?" she said.

"Yes," he said nodding. "Well, not Hermione right there," he pointed to a brown haired girl who was hugging an orange tabby cat. "And Harry at the end next to Ron."

"Harry?" said Alice with surprise. "Oh, I haven't seen him since he was a baby."

"You should come say hello," he whispered.

"No," she said. "I couldn't."

"Mum?" asked Amber with some inpatients on her voice. "Are we going or not?"

"Oh," said Alice looking at her four girls. "Arthur, these are my children: Amber, Amelia, Serena, and Kendra."

"All are—?"

"—Yes," she said quickly. "You know that."

Arthur nodded his head.

"You've heard the news?"

"Yes we have," said Amber harshly. "And then some."

"Amber," hissed Alice. "Please don't be rude."

Amber said nothing and looked away, rolling her eyes.

"You sure you don't want to see Harry?" he asked. "He doesn't know about Sirius at all."

Alice sighed.

"No, it's okay," whispered Alice.

"Arthur!" a chubby woman appeared by his side. "Who are you talking to? Oh! Alice!" The woman smiled cheerfully and hugged Alice, kissing her cheeks. "It is so good to see you again! You're looking lovely."

"Thank you," said Alice. "You're looking lovely yourself Molly."

"Oh you have to meet Harry," said Molly. "After all you were his Mother's best friend! He'd love to meet you and hear your stories about her."

"Oh, no Molly," said Alice quickly, but Molly was quicker.

"Harry! Harry, come here dear," she said to him.

The boy stood up. He was tall, lanky and geeky looking. His black hair was a messy mop on his head, he wore glasses across his nose, just like his Father, and his eyes were the match of his Mother's: brilliant and intense green. Alice couldn't help but smile—he was the image of her past; a past that she longed to remember and live again.

"Harry," she stammered. She swallowed and held out her hand.

"Hello," he said slowly.

"It's wonderful to see you again," she whispered. "The last time I saw you, you were in diapers."

"I'm sorry," he said pulling his hand out of hers. "But who are you?"

"I'm Alice Belle. Your Mother was my best friend all through school, and later into life," said Alice. "You used to play with my daughters…"

"Oh," he whispered slightly taken aback. "Do they go to Hogwarts?"

"This will be their first year," said Alice. "Actually they're right here…we just moved from Dublin and were getting their school supplies." She turned and looked at her four daughters. "Girls, come here."

The four walked slowly up to their Mother and Harry. Everyone at the breakfast table was watching them.

"This is Amber," said Alice. "She's two years older then you. Amelia and Serena are twins, and your age, and then Kendra; she's two years younger then you. They'll all be going to Hogwarts starting this September."

"Hi," said Harry slowly, his hands tightly in his pockets. "It's nice to meet you."

"You too," said Serena. "I hear that we used to play a lot when we were little." She looked at the others around the table. Her eyes fell on a red headed boy that had been sitting next to Harry. Her face turned paler and she looked away.

"Yea," said Harry awkwardly. "I hear that too."

He was staring at Serena oddly, like he recognized her from somewhere. Not only that, she was the only one who looked out of place in the family. All the other girls looked like their Mother with blonde hair and light blue eyes; Serena had dark brown hair and dark blue eyes. Harry frowned. He knew those eyes. They were those that belonged to Sirius Black, who he had read about in the paper. He said nothing and looked at Alice.

"Well," she said. "We best be going. Lots to shop for. I'm sure you'll all see each other very soon."

"Yea," said Harry with a forced smile. "Nice to meet you all."

"Bye," said Amelia.

Kendra waved and took her Mother's hand. Amber said nothing and walked away, followed by Amelia, Alice and Kendra. Serena stayed for a moment and stared at Harry.

"See you around," she finally said. "Bye everyone," she added looking at the table of viewers. One of the boys with red hair, who was sitting next to his twin, smiled and winked at her. She smiled and shook her head then walked towards the door with her family.

"Alright girls," said Alice opening her bag and handing her daughters some money and their book lists. "I trust you to go on your own. Stay together. Kendra and I will stay together. Be back here, to this very spot, in an hour and a half."

"Alright Mum," said Serena. Amber nodded as Amelia collected her book list and money from Alice.

"Thanks," she muttered.

The three oldest Belle sisters walked away from their Mother quickly, heading for a book shop.

"Well that was awkward," said Amber once they were up the street and out of ear shot of Alice.

"It was going to happen eventually," said Serena.

"Do you think he knows that our Dad killed his parents?" asked Amber harshly.

"No," said Amelia. "He'll find out sooner or later though…should we tell him?"

"Yea," said Amber sarcastically. "That will sound good…hey Harry, by the way, my Dad slaughtered your parents. I hope that's okay, we can still be friends, right?"

"Well if you're going to tell him," Amelia said with her own sarcasm towards Amber. "Don't tell him like that."

"Can you two stop it," Serena said softly. "You're giving me a head ache. It doesn't matter. He probably knows already. What he doesn't know is that we're related to Sirius Black. I don't think he really has to know. Mum kept it a secret for the last thirteen years for a reason; I think we should be keeping it a secret too."

"That won't be hard," said Amber. "I don't want anyone to know that I'm a murder's off spring."

"You make him sound like the devil," said Amelia.

"That's what he is," snipped Amber. "And if not the devil, pretty damn close."

Serena shook her head.

"It doesn't matter," she said looking at one of Sirius Black's wanted posters on a store window. "He'll get caught soon and be back in Azkaban. They'll probably kiss him this time too. We'll never meet him or know him. Don't worry Amber he's not coming back to life…not to us anyways. He's dead."