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AN: Dear Guest reviewer I cannot reply to your inquiries if you don't leave your name. Thank you . I would also like to thank those who have continued to show support and constructive criticism's.
I am trying to clean some of this up and fix previous mistakes please don't be afraid to let me know if I miss something.
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Sirius had been acting funny until Belvina had slipped him some truth serum. When he'd confessed his fears of her no longer wanting or needing him around she'd wacked him with a dainty hand, before making it very clear that he would not be getting rid of her that easily. With a great deal of consideration Sirius and Bel had decided that they would use Grimauld Place. Number twelve was heavily warded and hadn't been used in years and the muggle neighborhood around it was generally in disrepair. They would purchase number eleven to fix up for if they had visitors, while number twelve would have the fidelius charm added to it for extra security. The Aurors would no doubt come search number eleven when it was discovered they were living there.
While they distracted the aurors Sirius would be safe inside number twelve. It was the best solution they could come up with. Bel had already sent house-elves to clear up her home in Wales which she would be selling soon. Selling the house in Wales would add to their own savings and allow them to buy many of the supplies they'd need to renovate two houses from locale recourses. When money had gotten very tight even with bartering and selling potions and certain island grown ingredients, Sirius had found himself a job of sorts. Being who he was legal honest employment wasn't really an option. That left illegal work that wouldn't disappoint his kids if they found out.
His first job had fallen into his lap quite literally. He'd been sitting on the bank by the docks when the biggest nerd he'd ever met had fallen into his lap. The muggle had been looking for someone to smuggle him out of the country with a little statue he'd made off with. You could argue that he'd stolen it, but then again it had been stolen from his family first. The small statue had belonged to the muggles grandparents and been stolen from them during World War 2. The man explained that he hadn't originally been trying to steel it he'd approached the current holders of the statue hoping to speak to them about it and they'd blown him off and laughed at him and he gone to leave and it had been right there. So he'd swiped it and not really thought about what he was doing until he was already out the door.
Sirius had volunteered to help by smuggling the little thing back to his home country for him and the man had agreed, offering to pay Sirius two hundred pounds for it. It was all the man had. Sirius had agreed and that had been that. He'd begun smuggling little things here and there and even been hired by a group who kidnapped already kidnapped kids and smuggled them back to their rightful birth parents. Sirius figured the smuggling wasn't so bad as far as dishonest jobs went and helping return kids and stolen bits evened things out, allowing him to do more good than bad. He'd managed to make a good living for his family and he'd even made decent friends with the former soldiers actually in charge of recovering the kidnap victims. Not that smuggling was his only job. He had found himself quite good with his hand and shaping wood into objects such as tables, chairs, dressers, coffins and various other house hold things. The problem being they were often in places were those didn't sell well or if they did it was only one or two pieces.
This was more difficult than they had first imagined it would be. Since They were getting ready to go to England they were preparing their trunks with everything the kids would want to take to school with them. Sirius and Belvina were packing trunks for the London Town house they would live in. It turns out that they amount of junk seven people accumulated over three years was nearly astronomical. They got rid of their torn and stained clothes, broken toys, and broken pet stuff. Little things that they had picked up here and there but never used were tossed all the toys were neatly packed into the play room the only exceptions being those that Lyra would be taking with her, for her new toy room. Carina had managed to somehow accumulate a vast wardrobe the majority of which she'd outgrown just this past month. When she'd developed curves much to Sirius' horror. Belvina had packed up all the clothes still in good condition that they'd outgrown to either sell or give away once they were in England.
Sirius had made each of their trunks out of exotic woods and other plants that they had picked up on their adventures. He had been working on them for a while only presenting them to the kids now. Harry admired his with a critical eye looking for anything that might be inappropriate or pranked. It was carved with animals most prominently lions and plants, with a beautiful red gloss finish. The flat lid had a plank on the top where the word Gryffindor was neatly carved and bottom read HJBP spelled out in onyx and crystals.
Carina's was white, her plank was blank, the crystals were pink and the carvings were mostly of flowers with a few birds. Likewise Cory's trunk was dark brown the plants were tree's and the animals were all predators of the four legged mammal variety.
Hyd's trunk was greenish white; rocks, shrubs, and cacti were carved into it along with lizards and the occasional snake. There was otherwise no real differences in the trunks appearances. As they investigated more they discovered hidey holes and hidden compartments dotted through out all in different places in each trunk giving each one a unique character.
The main compartments were for clothes sorted by season, books which were sorted based on their own preferences, a plain trunk space meant for miscellaneous items like games they might want, and last was designed to hold cases, for brooms, potions, telescopes and the like. The clothes compartment had draws and shoe cubbies and a place to hang their uniforms when they got them.
Harry fingered the necklace Sirius had gifted him with just last year. It was a plain leather rope with four crystals dangling from the end. Each crystal held a magical signature. Sirius and Belvina's magic had been easy to obtain they'd just held a crystal and poured some in. However James and Lily's magic had been a little more complicated. Harry hadn't even known his school work carried magical signatures like that. In going through his parents stuff he'd found their school trunks. Sirius had been very excited about finding their graded bits of homework and tests. It turns out that the little corner on the top left bit of the official school parchments all students were required to buy had a special feature.
The first thing the professors had instructed them to do was write their names class year and subject on that spot of all their papers. This was because of that special corner it siphoned and stored a bit of magic so that teachers always knew you'd done your own work. Sirius had used those old homework papers and freshly dug out crystals to syphon the magic out of the paper and into the crystals, there by preserving the signature for any one to feel. Sirius had made some for all the kids. For himself and Belvina he'd made wedding rings. He'd ground up a crystal carrying James' signature mixed it into melted gold than using some enchanted tools had twisted the molten gold into a ring, He'd done that three more times until he'd had all their magical signatures than twisted the four rings together to create a braided rope look, he'd added a pearl surrounded by small diamonds to Bel's.
As the kids prepared for their transition into school, the adults planed for how they'd pay for the cost of public schooling and living in London, Sirius could and probably would continue to work while the kids were in school but that wouldn't be enough. They decided they would have to use the family money. Which while legally theirs could still prove problematic.
While the ministry couldn't confiscate the Black family vaults and property, they could place a freeze order on it for as few as thirty days and as many as ninety. They could also renew the freeze order only twelve hours after the last had ended if they had probable cause. The only reason they hadn't yet was because Narcissa had given everyone the impression that those vaults were now hers. Once Bel accessed the vaults as Lady Black, the goblins would be obligated to report it to the ministry there was a good chance they would freeze the vaults as soon they got the info. Bel's idea was for her and the older kids to go and gather as much as they could out of the main vaults before a freeze could be put in effect. They would meet with the accounts manager first and see what vaults were available to them. They needed enough money to pay for the kids education. Hogwarts cost one thousand two hundred galleons a year.
She needed it for four kids for the next few years. Plus enough to buy the equipment, clothes, and pay for lawyers. She planed to sue the ministry for Sirius's undue incarceration, the misappropriation of Votes and artifacts (Which had been handed over to Narcissa), attempted line theft, and the slander of her Most Ancient and Most Noble elder house. One or more of them were bound to stick as Sirius hadn't had a trial he'd been considered guilty because Crouch hadn't liked his last name.
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Harry, Sirius and Belvina spent the seventh in absolute misery. While they hadn't aged in three years they had sun bathed, done all sorts of activities, and exercises that were now catching up to them. While they still wouldn't age the experiences of the last three years had still left an impact. They all finally got that tan living in the Caribbean should have given them. Both Harry and Sirius put on a lot of muscles. Belvina's potions help them get accustomed to the changes quicker than they would have on their own and to be honest Harry really liked his new look. He was no longer so pale, scrawny or short. His curly hair hung fairly long and he had to put a clasp in it to hold it in a ponytail, his eyes were fixed, and his health much improved. He loved it.
Sirius wrote to Remus and Dumbledore requesting a meeting in Spain on the eighth. He hinted to them both that he had someone they should meet and that Dumbledore should bring the forms and testing papers for transfer students.
Belvina got in touch with a realty agent that would broker the deal for number eleven, and to sale her house in Wales. They would sign the paperwork paying in cash when they arrived on the tenth.
When they got to port in Spain Remus was waiting for them at the docks. He came running as soon as the Marauder docked. "Sirius you idiot what have you done now." His smile though took the sting out of any negativity his words might have otherwise conveyed. Harry ran up and hugged him glad to see the man especially after reading all his letters. Remus hugged him back. "Harry? Holey crap! Just look as you two." Indeed Sirius was dressed in a white shirt with loose sleeves and an open front, tight leather trousers his right ear was pierced with a hoop earring. Harry was dressed somewhat similarly only Harry's earring wasn't as large a hoop. Sirius happily told Mooney about his wife Belvina His marriage to Lily and James, and then introduced the kids.
"When I introduced Harry to his step-mum, she had an interesting question about his mail. Turns out the Ministry was rerouting it to a mail office. The mail office thought the Ministry had already told Harry and his family and the Ministry thought the mail office would inform them. So it had just been sitting their pilling up. We went through it this summer." Sirius concluded.
"How what about the blood wards?" Remus asked.
"Oh, We recharged those first." Sirius answered, "We than used a bit of magic to give ourselves some extra time. So both me and Harry could get reacquainted with the rest of the family. A chance to make up some the time Azkaban stole from us."
"Look Remus, Harry has a long letter he wrote you," Sirius began looking distractedly out at the piers end. "Why don't you let him show you around and you can look at it. I need to have a long talk with Dumbledore." Sirius drew a long breathe and began to walk out to meet his old headmaster and to allow the man on board.
"Come on uncle Remus this way." Harry drug the man toward the door to the yachts interior where his siblings were already gathered and spying on them. Harry quickly pointed out who was who and Lyra all of eight demanded he hold her and tell her if he was really a werewolf like aitatxo said or if he'd been pranking her again. Remus did pick her up and admit to being a werewolf.
"What is an aitatxo?" Remus asked.
"It's Euskera," Lyra told him. "It means daddy"
"Dare I ask what Euskera is and how you speak it?" Remus asked looking confused.
"It's the official language of Basque, ama, that means mom, hid us there for a while to be safe, from the ministry and scheming blood relatives who want the family resources for themselves." Cory told him.
"We still speak it a lot when we are talking to each other especially." Carina added.
"It will be difficult going to Hogwarts and only speaking English." Hyd complained. "My English isn't as good as the others my own fault cause I don't practice it often I know.
"Well you have time to get some practice in I'm sure you'll be fine by September." Remus reassured him. The kids drug Remus all around the ships interiors the 'captains quarters' were their parents slept had two hidden bedrooms but looking in from the door all you could see was a spacious living room with a prominent radio in the corner. Each kid had their own small bedrooms the Kitchen was huge and connected to an equally large dining room. They had three guest rooms on the yacht one of which they told Remus he should claim for his own. "I'm not sure I'll be here long enough to need a place to sleep." he told them gently. Then shifted uncomfortably at the looks Harry and Carina gave him. They both looked like they were channeling Lily at that moment. It made Remus wish to simultaneously run and surrender.
"Of course you're staying. There is a room already prepared for you, in the Cargo hold for if you need to transform and you've missed all of our birthdays, Yules, and all the important holiday's" Carina argued. "Harry at least got a story and a card for all of the ones you missed. We deserve the same you know." She placed her hands on her hips they way Belvina did just as she won an argument.
"Well, when you put it that way." Remus smiled. Looking genuinely touched.
"Oh wait until you see aitas part of the cargo hold." Cory yelled as grabbed Remus's hand and took off for the floor below them. "It's where he stores his favorites. We have a garage full of them at home, but since we're heading to England next dad packed up a larger selection than usual."
Remus allowed the kids to guide him along, amused at their enthusiasm. He had to admit that they were right, it was quite the sight. The hold was full of trunks with the stuff they were taking to their new house and certain sections were divided up. They passed an enclosed Metal room that had a wolf's head carved into the door, before reaching what was clearly their main destination. Cars and motorcycles lined the walls and filled the rows in between. Remus could make out the models from here. He didn't know how Sirius could have possibly collected even one of them let alone so many. He spotted an Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, and Ducati motorbike right off the bat. The others took a second longer but he soon recognized them as well. Looking out of place was not one but two limousines. One of the vehicles was painted for Formula one racing. Remus just hoped it was replica and that Sirius hadn't stolen the real thing from somewhere.
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Dumbledore made his way up to the ship he had been asked to meet Sirius at. He owed the man. He had after all bollixed things up quite completely in regards to his relation ship with the young man. What had he been thinking all those years ago when he'd not insisted on a trial? He hadn't obviously or he'd have ignored Crouch's whining about wasting resources they didn't have and the ministers speeches about putting it all behind them. Now a young man once loyal to him had spent over a decade in one of the worst prisons the world had to offer. When he had opened the letter signed by Lord and Lady Black he'd recognized Sirius' hand writing. This he thought could go a long way to rebuilding bridges. It also lessoned the Malfoy's influence if their was a Lady Black than Narcissa Malfoy had never had any right to the family resources she and her husband had been using. Dumbledore looked forward to informing Lucius Malfoy that he was no longer welcome at the Board of Governors meeting. While after the chamber fiasco Lucius had been stripped of his title as head of the board and asked to step down, Lucius had pointed out that he was sitting the Black seat and they couldn't actually dismiss him. Now Dumbledore was looking forward to the look on Mr. Malfoy's face when he realized they could in fact ask him to leave.
Albus saw Remus going downstairs with a young man, must be one of the mysterious transfer children. Ah, Sirius was waiting for him already, it took him by surprise he must admit the man looked fantastic. Just goes to show how powerful love was if his wife could work such miracles so quickly.
Sirius brought Dumbledore to the dining room where Belvina was already waiting for them. They sat out snacks and offered Dumbledore a sweet lemon tea, Sirius was sure the man would love. They sat Dumbledore down on one side and they sat on the other. They lay their hands on table in front of them Belvina's fingers automatically curled into his. They had perfected looking in love. While they had learned to love each other, it was purely a platonic sibling kind of love. However they had discovered that if they looked each other in the eye's once in a while, held hands, kissed each other on the cheek just close to the lips, that others automatically assumed they were sexually involved with one another.
Dumbledore certainly bought the act. They fed him their 'official' story, only admitting to the time travel that allowed Sirius to heal and get reacquainted with his kids, well in Lyra's case meet his kid. She had been born using samples that Belvina had kept from Sirius and Lily. Belvina claimed that she had always wanted more children and had hoped one more might help fill the hole that appeared after that catastrophic Halloween when she'd lost her wife, both husbands, and her step son. Two of those loses had been permanent and she'd not known if she'd ever see Sirius or Hadrian again.
Dumbledore was both sympathetic to her plight and willing to help with everything they might need including making sure she got official custody of Harry. To no one's surprise Dumbledore had at first tried to stress the importance of the blood wards only giving in when they assured him that they would work with the Dursley's to keep the blood protections active. Dumbledore than met with all the children including Harry who would be taking placement tests for Runes, Arithmancy, and muggle studies. Sirius and Bel had already told Dumbledore of their plan to have Harry, Carina, and Cory test out of DADA, Potions, and History by taking the OWL's early. They were only adding Muggle Studies because they knew the kids could all pass it. So they would self study in that class and take the OWL's with their classmates. Carina and Harry both tested into fifth year Runes, and Arithmancy they could probably test into the sixth year class but that would mean having to take the OWL's early and Everyone thought would be to many NEWT classes for them at this time. Corvus tested into fifth year transfigurations and the Fourth year classes otherwise.
Hydrus would be in the Second year regular glasses because his core was not big enough to handle the higher classes. He would however be taking runes and Care of magical creatures with the third years. A child's core grew steadily from ages eleven to seventeen. They had a growth spurt at thirteen and another at seventeen, after which it than slowed its growth until a person was on average twenty five when it stopped growing all to gather.
Belvina signed the paperwork taking them out of DADA and Potions regardless of their OWL score she would be providing Tutors for those subjects. They also had to fill out paperwork to have the kids floo home every Wiccan holiday to celebrate with family. Providing they kept an EE average that was allowed. Dumbledore approved of course because he thought it would be cruel to deprive her of her children, when it was clear she was still afraid of losing them. Dumbledore lamented that he could have eased her suffering sooner if only he had checked the ministry records before placing Harry with his aunt As Harry's siblings shared Lily's blood and could have easily replaced Petunia in the wards, alas it was too late now.
No matter Dumbledore could help them now. It was even better Dumbledore upon seeing the children had inquired about the famous boy-who-lives missing scar only to be told they'd cleansed the dark magic out of it and purified the wound completely healing Harry. Indeed the Horcrux was gone as far Dumbledore could tell. It eased his mind immensely. He even promised to go visit the Weasleys and explain the situation so that Mrs. Weasley might consider allowing Ron to visit with the Blacks sometime during the summer vacation. He left them carrying a package including a letter for the Weasleys and a box of packaged lemon tea for himself the stuff was a true delight.
He took himself straight to the lane leading towards the Burrow contemplating what he would say as he walked its length. Mrs. Weasley greeted him as he came closer. "What ever the twins did I'll promise we'll fix the damage." Mrs. Weasley swore as she saw him.
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Dumbledore had gathered all the Weasleys into the Kitchen, even the older children were there having saved up vacation days to come home. "No, None of you kids are in trouble. Rather, I am here to talk about one of my mistakes, mine and the ministry's." Dumbledore began. "You see, at the end of the last war, we allowed hubris to get the better of us. We believed we knew everything there was to know. James and Lily were Potters and had been married and Sirius was a Black and Blacks are dark. In our hubris we believed that was all there was to know. We never bothered to get out the files and check." Dumbledore's tone took a sorrowful edge. "We should have. In my hubris I thought I knew the whole story, why waste time combing thought the archives to confirm it."
"I hate to interrupt headmaster. It sounds like something awful happened, but how does that effect us?" Arthur asked,
"Oh, I'm afraid it does, I am so sorry to say, that because of my mistake an innocent man went to Azkaban. The real murderer a death eater than hid himself using his illegal animagus form, that of a rat, with the first magical family he could find." Dumbledore paused. "Your family."
He waited for the outrage and talking to die down before he continued. "While, Sirius had enough presence of mind to recognize the traitor he knew no one would listen and that your family was in danger. So he escaped prison and set out to save you himself." Dumbledore kept with the story and even Ron began to talk to fill in things from his point of view, for the first time ever all the family's attention was on him. He wasn't quite sure he liked it for one his mother was about to brake his ribs if she squeezed any tighter.
"So as soon as Sirius was away from the dementer's he began to recover his mind more, and with some dread realized that he had inadvertently caused poor Ronald harm emotionally and physically." Dumbledore concluded that. "Naturally he wished to make it up any way he can and to that end contacted his only living spouse who encouraged him to contact me to help."
"For Ronald as an apology he sends you these one for you personal use the other for your family." Dumbledore took the cover off the cage sitting in the middle of the table to reveal a money bag, two regal looking Eagle Owls, and a box full of owl treat bags was sitting beside it. While owls fed themselves mostly post owls still needed the treats as vitamin supplements. The vitamin supplements were expansive and part of the reason the Weasley's had not yet replaced Errol. Their looked to be enough in that box to feed all three of their owls for the next two years.
"They have also invited you and any of your family who wish to accompany you to come sailing with them. Keeping in mind of course that young Harry is already there and quite wishes for you to meet his siblings." Dumbledore told them handing over a thick letter to Ron from Harry and one to Mrs. Weasley form Mrs. Black.
"Why the money?" Arthur asked.
"Why to replace the uniform and other cloths that were no doubt ruined in the altercation. It's hardly fair to expect you pick up the cost when someone else caused all the damage." Dumbledore told them with a smile. In truth the money was Harry's contribution, he'd been carrying roughly thirty galleons on him when Sirius and Belvina had gone to get him. They had refused to use his money insisting that as the adults it was their duty to pay for essential things. With that Dumbledore dismissed himself and headed back to Hogwarts he had paperwork to submit after all.
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Bright early on the tenth of July the family docked in a small port in England and left straight to Grimauld place. Sirius let them into number twelve and they all curled their lips in disgust. Belvina had used a spell she'd found on her travels for deep cleaning and lifted everything out of the small den to the side of where they had entered. Once all the furniture had been shrunk and put up on the shelf she banished the old moldy carpet hit it with a few more cleaning charms and laid down a thick rug she'd brought with her. The rug was part of a play pen set for Lyra. Several toys were put on it for Lyra to play with. Since she was still quite young only eight she would have to stay in here while they surveyed the rest of the house. The portrait of Sirius's mom would have to go. Belvina tried every spell, hex, curse, and charm she could think of and Sirius tried the same when they both failed Belvina tried to take out the wall it didn't work. They decided they'd have better luck with some muggle tools namely a chainsaw and some turpentine.
So it would have to wait until they had some more money. The sale of Belvina's house was being used to buy number eleven and while they would have some money left over it would all be needed. Remus stayed in the house to deal with Sirius and watch over Lyra while Belvina and the older kids all went out to greet the realty agent. Once the paper work was signed they made their way in and Belvina knocked out part of the wall on the fifth floor which was technically the attic. They turned the hole into a door attached to the attic in number twelve than placed number twelve extra door and all under the fidelius with Belvina as the Secret keeper.
They ate breakfast out of a pic nick basket before getting cleaned up and heading to the bank. All the surprises today were good ones. Harry claimed his heir ring and the vaults for the Potter family. He wouldn't be able to vote until he was seventeen but he had been Lord Potter since his father died at least according their paperwork that said he'd been blood adopted before Sirius was sent to prison. For the Black side of the family the news was just as good as it turns out there were several high security vaults that they could empty if they wished. Corvus as the official heir could access his own heirs vault and was owed an allowance out of the main family vault.
While only Sirius as head and Lord of the family could access the majority of the family wealth the other vaults weren't nearly so restrictive. These vaults had been set up for others to use. For instance one vault had only Narcissa Malfoy on the access list. The vault itself and therefore all its contents belonged to the head of the Family. She'd merely been granted access to it at one point and that access never denied. Cassiopeia's vault hadn't been touched since she died in nineteen eighty and ownership had gone to Arcturus who'd left everything to Sirius.
The Goblins were happy to tell them that they only had to inform the ministry thirty minutes after the heirs vault had been accessed. So Belvina offered to compensate them for say the twenty nine minutes of work they'd be missing out on because she was being such a difficult customer. They happily agreed and she and the kids got to work she went to empty Narcissa's vault herself, Corvus the heirs vault, Hyde took Cassiopeia's, Carina took a vault only Bellatrix had previously had access too, and Hadrian emptied out the deceased Pollux's vault. They stood out side of the vault and used certain safe spells to pull everything out the vaults and into the trunks and bags they'd brought with them.
As soon as Belvina had emptied the vault she made her way to the accountings offices and found the ones in charge of Hogwarts. She showed the children's acceptance and placement letters signed by Dumbledore and paid for the rest of their education in full a sum of twenty one thousand six hundred galleons. The rules said you could place a child's name down as having accepted admissions as soon as they were born but just incase the raised the price you couldn't pay in full until your child was actually attending, hence why she'd only paid in full for four of her kids. Keeping in mind that three of them were going into their fourth year and the other was a second year. Harry's trust vault had been paying his yearly fee's until this year when Belvina stopped it.
Belvina exchanged a bag of gold into muggle currency and they left the building just minutes before the aurors arrived with a freeze order. Her first stop was after was to the Once home Bel sent Remus to purchase the muggle supplies they needed as she, Sirius and the other got to work on number eleven first. Cleaning, vanishing and repairing everything as they went.
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Dean was bored, he lay on his bed bouncing a ball off the ceiling and catching it as it fell back down. His step dad was outside with his sisters putting together a play house and his mom was in the kitchen. Dean had gotten into a fight with his parents again. He had been investigating his birth father in the magical world not that he'd found much beyond Shafiq being a pureblood name. His step father had been furious when he'd found the paperwork. They both though Dean should just forget about the Shafiq's. If he had any family on that side they didn't want him. His father had certainly not cared enough to come check on him any time in the last twelve years not even when he'd gotten his Hogwarts letter. If the man had been a Wizard you'd think he'd at least be curious to know if son got his letter. Dean liked his step father to an extent. He didn't resent the man for marrying his mom or anything he just wanted to know where he came from. It was a like a part of him was missing and he didn't know how to find it. Watching his mom, step dad, and his normal non magical little sisters was sometimes like standing outside a window and looking in as if he didn't belong there. He gave the ball a toss it was about to hit the ceiling when a tapping sounded on his window. He looked over to see a familiar Snowy owl glaring at him. He'd forgotten about the ball as gravity took course and it hit him on the eye. "OW, Shit!" He rubbed the spot and got up to let the owl in. Why was Harry writing him?
TO Dean.
The summer before we started Hogwarts you wrote to me likely having just heard all the redikkulus hype surrounding my name. Up until a few weeks ago a mix up with the ministry and post office meant all my letters ended up in storage I only just got them. I read your letter and showed it to my step mother as it happens she did recognize your father. I have gathered many things I think you should see, however, I am not sure how to say what's needed in a letter so I would like to meet you at the Leaky Cauldron on the Eleventh at noon.
Thank you Harry.
Harry's hand writing had improved but like always his people skill could use a little developing. Dean sighed there was no way his mom would let him see Harry if she knew why the other boy wanted to meet. Dean had almost forgotten he'd even written Harry. When he'd first gotten to school and realized Harry was just another child and had no idea that Dean had written him he'd lamented the loss of his fathers photo and given up that line of inquiry. Now though Harry might have real information for him. He had to see it. He just had too. "Hey mom" he yelled "I'm going over to see some friends for school shopping tomorrow" He'd convince her this was the best way the twins had ballet and mom had already been complaining that she didn't have time for trip to London. Dean would convince her to let him take the trip using the knight bus with the understanding that his friends step mom would be their to greet him. They hadn't gotten their supply lists yet but Dean argued that with the exception of one or two books he knew what would be on the list already and books were easy to owl order. In the end she caved and Dean took the knight bus bright and early on the next morning. He couldn't wait to see what Harry had found. But, the longer he waited the more his stomach twisted into knots. What if his dad was married to some witch with a hoard of kids and didn't want him after all?
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Harry, Belvina and the rest of the kids arrived a the Leaky Cauldron at eight o'clock the next morning to get some shopping done before his meeting with Dean later. They already had Telescopes and state of the art potions kit far better than anything usually sold for Hogwarts students but they needed a full wardrobe and uniform sets. The list Hogwarts sent was a guideline that trusted Parents would know they meant three different types of uniform the regular set the Herbology set, and the Potions set. It also trusted parents to know kids needed things like summer and winter clothes and that other things like underwear, shoes and gloves would also be needed. Harry had been very underprepared his first and second year. His third year he had learned somewhat and had bought himself a scarf and winter cloak. Now he would have a full wardrobe plus some if Belvina and Carina were to be believed. They had made a plan for shopping that had made Harry think they were planning for war. First they bought their backpacks or the Satchel bangs the Wizarding schools used at least. They bought the ones with several sections all expanded to hold more than normal.
Belvina had her own purse with its expansion charms on it already with her. They went clothes shopping next making sure every one had everything they might need. Lyra and Sirius would need clothes too and Belvina was discretely putting in the orders for their clothes with the measurements she had already taken of them. Four clothing stores, three shoe places, and a little place that sold enchanted gloves, hats, and scarfs later they were all tired of shopping. The clothes were done and put away as they headed back into the Alley for quidditch gear Harry had broken his playing with the others and so they usually played with out safety gear however playing at Hogwarts meant full gear the kids did this themselves wile Belvina went to the Bank. She inquired about the Shafiq accounts to see if they would have anything new she might be able to tell Dean about. They handed her the same information filed at the ministry along with a letter spelled so that only the Shafiq heir could read it. Her next stop was to a lawyers office where she handed over payment, took their oaths, and handed over all the files paper work and personal statements from Sirius. She directed them to immediately begin filing suit against the ministry and daily prophet for slander among the other charges.
They all met up at the Leaky Cauldron at eleven so they could get lunch before the meeting but Dean was already there and waiting so Harry flagged him down and waved him over to the private room Belvina was renting them. Dean looked momentarily confused before he met Harry's eyes.
Dean watched as some bloke waved at him. At first he'd thought there might be someone behind him but after checking he looked back the amused boy and met Harry's green eyes. No one else that Dean had ever met had had eyes like that. "Bloody Hell, mate what did you do?" Dean gaped at him.
Harry through his head back and laughed. "My step mom got custody of me and got me all healthy. It turns out that scar on my head should never have been there but no one thought to take me to a professional healer to get it cleaned and healed, go figure. She's also a potions mistress and patented a potion that heals eye's among others. So now I don't need glasses either."
"Hello Dean dear, My name is Lady Belvina Black since my little Hadrian hasn't seen fit to introduce me." Belvina cut in. Prompting Harry to blush.
"Yeah sorry about that, Dean this my Step mother Lady Black, my half sister miss Carina Black, my half brother Heir Corvus Black, and my youngest half brother Hydrus Black. My littlest sister Lyra is only eight so she's at home right now." Harry told him. "But you can just call them Cary, Cory, and Hyd, I do."
"Hi, nice to meet you all." Dean said a little awkwardly.
"Hello" They chorused.
"Well Dean we were about to order lunch go ahead and give your order while I pull out some stuff I have here for you." Belvina told him.
"Umm, How do we order without a waiter?" Dean asked, feeling foolish.
"Oh I'll show you just copy me but ask for whatever you want to eat instead." Cary told him as she picked up a menu. She held it in front of her for moment before speaking clearly at it. "I would like the shrimp salad a glass of pumpkin juice and side of buttered bread, please." The menu disappeared with a pop. Not more than two minutes later her meal popped up in front of her. Dean and the other's all copied her. Belvina had pulled out a stack of things which she sat beside her while they ate. She ordered a large cheesecake for after's and only once they were done and the table cleared did she pull out the stack and place it in front of her. Cary grabbed Cory and Hyd and left to explore the main room she claimed leaving him alone with Mrs. Black and Harry.
"Dean, It's not easy to say this so let me start by telling you that if at any time you needed a moment to just let me know." Belvina started.
"Yes, ma'am, I mean Mrs. Black."
"You can call me Bel dear." She told him smiling. "What do you know about your father first off."
"He went out on January fourth saying he had some work to do and never came back." Dean told her. "I looked up his name at school but didn't find it, just his last name is shared by a pureblood family. My mom said he used to draw her pictures and paintings, but didn't know if ever sold anything. That's all I really know that and." Dean said looking ashamed. "The courts said he didn't exist so mom was free to remarry."
"Well, you wouldn't have found him in the muggle world or at Hogwarts. While your grandfather was a British Pureblood your grandmother was a pureblood witch from America she was a type of Native American called the Ojibwa or sometimes the Chippewa I didn't really understand that part. If you choose to meet her you will have to ask. She and your grandfather fell in love while they were both in Portugal for business. They signed a marriage contract to be married right away so that your father would be legitimate and preformed the ceremonies later." Dean found himself blushing. Ewe, more than he'd needed to know right there. "Your grandmother is still alive and knows that you exist, however, she was never informed of your name or address or how to find you. To this day she has posted an award for a significant amount out of money. It is to be rewarded to whomever can tell her information that would lead to her meeting you."
She let Dean process this. "Does that mean that my dad is, is what exactly?"
"On January fourth that same day your dad went out to work, he was killed. I'm sure you've read some of the more recent history books about the blood war? Things were hectic back then. They probably all thought someone would inform your mom and you, and so didn't bother to themselves. I'm so sorry Dean." Belvina reached for the stack pulling out a an old newspaper article about his dads murder. She than pulled out a file she handed over with information about his grandmother and how to contact her. "This is something we picked up for you from your father exhibit in New York City." She passed over the book to sit it in front of him.
"Exhibit?" Dean asked still crying.
"Your father was one of the most brilliant artist the world has ever been graced with." Belvina told him. "The book contains his biography and a picture every known art piece he's ever done. I my self own several paintings and you are welcome at Eleven Grimauld Place anytime you want to see it."
"Thank you," Dean mumbled as he was looking down at the book he'd opened.
"I will give you a moment to collect yourself and then we can walk to Gringotts. There is a Goblin account manager whom would really like to talk to you. He was a expecting a Dean Z. Shafiq to show up to exchange money for school and was quite thrown when he never did."
"My mom decided to change my name to my step-dads when she remarried." Dean told her bitterly he hadn't wanted to but his mom had been determined to erase all evidence of the man who'd left her.
"Well that might have worked in the muggle world but here your name is still Shafiq and you should use it. Be proud of it. Your name has a long and great history full of good and bad people who did amazing things and who should all be remembered even if you don't like them." Bel told him softly. He nodded his head as she patted his hand and left to find her other kids. Harry stayed there sitting next to him, waiting for him to speak. An hour later Dean followed Harry out into the Alley until they found his mom and siblings. Bel kept her promise and walked him to the bank, where she introduced him to a Goblin named Hardfist. Hardfist had him hold a stone that drew out some of his blood and magic and tested it to see if he was who he said he was. Once it confirmed his identity the Goblin got excited and was happy to tell him all about his accounts and how his mother was a squib. So Dean could inherit the Shafiq votes and family vault but he had to sign a few forms for his vaults to assign the votes to a family member to act as proxy until he was seventeen. Harry's proxy was by law his step mother. Dean didn't know his magical family very well but his closest relatives were his fathers mother who wasn't a British citizen and therefor not qualified and Blaise Zabini who was his age and his mothers half brother.
They shared the same father. Belvina advised against asking his step grandmother for help because Angelica Channing was well known for her string of husbands who'd all died mysterious deaths after leaving her large sums of money. Out of all her husbands only Deans grandfather had had vaults that were blood locked and required a blood heir to inherit them, he was also the only one she'd had a child with. Dean had his fathers personal vaults and everything he had patented as well and he could assume control of them right now. Belvina advised that he claim them but allow the Goblins who'd been managing things so far to continue their jobs. Since Dean had no idea how to manage an estate he happily agreed. Considering his family conditions they would petition for the right to use a Lawyer as Deans proxy, it was allowed for Orphans but the Goblins thought the way the actual law was worded might work for Dean too. Last but not least. "Will you contact your paternal grandmother?" Hardfist asked. "She came here the summer you would have gotten your letter and waited for you. When we told her no one by the name of Shafiq had come she was, well, I believe distraught might not be strong enough a word for it. She never gave up hope though that you were out there somewhere."
"I, Yes, I will contact her. Mrs. Black got me her information and I'll write her right away." Dean told him looking resolute.
"If you don't mind we can send her word that you've been found today using our methods word would reach her within forty-eight hours and she could be on a port key here as soon as the fourteenth."
"Yes, that sounds best." Dean agreed. The Goblins had him sign to pay for this years Hogwarts tuition than escorted him to his vault to collect enough money to buy his school supplies. So he wouldn't have to use his step-dads money after all. Belvina took him to get his clothes not just his school uniforms but an entire wardrobe full of wizarding wear and even showed him how to use it and were to put his wand as many of the robes and cloaks had built in pockets for them. She than took him to get a new school satchel to put everything in and they met up with Harry and the others at the book store. Belvina had met with the Headmaster already and so had this years book lists. She even had him buy a few for reference material that would help him in his classes especially potions.
They got his Potions kit, by buying everything individually at three different apothecary's because Belvina was a potions mistress and insisted on the only the best ingredients. They also replaced his old telescope after he'd been tricked into telling her what he'd gotten before. They wondered the Alley until diner time, goofing off eating ice cream and just generally getting to know the other kids. The took him home afterwards instead of letting him take the knight bus. Their car was a small limousine that fit them all and their purchases with room to spare. Dean got a kick out their driver being a house-elf he thought the stilts the little thing needed were hilarious. Harry confessed that all the kids could drive. Bell could too, she just didn't like to and didn't trust the kids not to wreck them or do something reckless that could bring the muggles attention to them.
At Deans house the lights were all on and they could see Mrs. Finnegan in there talking to Mrs. Thomas. So they walked Dean to the door to say goodbye. Dean opened the door to an argument between his mom and Mrs. Finnegan. Seamus was sitting on the couch with his sisters. His mom wanted to call the police because he'd clearly run away. "What?" Dean asked out loud. Every one turned to look at him though his mom looked relieved she was also mad.
"Where have you been?" She asked him putting a hand on her hip and waiting.
"What are you on about we talked about this last night?" Dean asked her not understanding.
"You said Mrs. Finnegan was taking you kids shopping today!" His mother exploded "Clearly you lied to me. Now you won't even admit it? You are grounded."
"I did NOT." Dean yelled furious. "I never said anything about Mrs. Finnegan or Seamus!"
"What?" His mother was looking confused now. "Of course you did. You said you were going shopping with your friend and that his parents would be there."
"I have more than one friend." Dean told her. "I was talking about Harry, and I said his step-mother would be there and she was, she even brought me back."
"Hello," Belvina called out form behind Dean. Dean moved into the house proper and beckoned them in behind him. They followed him Hyd closing the door behind him.
"Woah, Harry mate where have you been this summer and next time take me." Seamus exclaimed. Harry laughed and told him he'd tell him about it later. He did however introduce Deans rather cross still parents to his step mother. "May I introduce you to Lady Belvina Black, my step mom."
"Dean?" His step dad started, his voice patronizing. "You knew when you asked your mom to go that she would think you were with the Finnegan's."
"No I didn't. I specifically told her it was my friends STEP MOM who would be there." Dean argued back "How does that in any way describe Seamus's family?"
"Dean you purposely didn't tell us who'd be with" His mom interjected "and I for one would like to know why?"
"I didn't purposely mislead you, I wanted to see Harry because his step mom knew my dad." Dean told her. "I knew if you found out you'd stop me from seeing her."
"HOW COULD YOU!" Mrs. Thomas yelled. "YOU KNOW I WANT NO MENTION OF THAT GOOD FOR NOTHING JACK ASS IN MY HOUSE!"
"We've spoken of this Dean." his step father started. "We aren't hashing out this argument again."
"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE GRATEFUL FOR THE FATHER YOU HAVE?" Mrs. Thomas asked.
"My father was a good man." Dean told his mother, "If you would stop being unreasonable and listen you'd know that already"
"UNREASABLE!" She yelled "YOU'RE THE ONE WHO WON'T DROP THE SUBJECT AND LET IT REST ALWAYS BRINGING HIM UP, PRETENDING HE LOVED YOU" She took a deep breath. "WELL GUESS WHAT HE DOESN'T AND NEVER DID, YOU WERE NOTHING TO HIM, NOTH…" Whatever she might have said next was cut off as she suddenly lost the ability to be heard. Both Belvina and Mrs. Finnegan had their wands out and pointed in her direction.
"That" said Mrs. Finnegan, "Is quite enough of that." She stormed over to Mrs. Thomas until she was standing in front of her. "You never ever say something so grotesque to your own child. I don't care the circumstances."
"My father was murdered when he went to work in Diagon Alley during the war." Dean spoke up. "No one at the ministry told us. Moms a squib so the DMLE should have told us but they probably thought she was just a muggle and left it to the muggle liaison office who wouldn't have any record of her and therefore thought the DMLE would do it. Mom thought he'd abandoned her. I began looking into it and mom didn't approve." Dean told her. "Like I said though. He didn't leave us he was murdered."
Mrs. Finnegan took the spell off of Mrs. Thomas. "Get out of my house." She said softly. "All of you, and take that ungrateful brat with you." She said pointed at her son much to everyone's shock even her husbands. Belvina and Mrs. Finnegan summoned all of Dean's stuff and began to pack it into his case.
"Mum?" Dean asked quietly. "Why"
"I won't have you in my house telling lies and trying undermine Rich and I." She told him not looking in his direction. "Of course you can stay if you apologize admit you were lying and swear to drop all this nonsense about the bastard who sired you."
"I'm not lying mum. He died." Dean tried.
"STOP IT, just stop." She said crying as looked away. "You can leave at any time now."
Mrs. Finnegan took Deans hand and led him out of the house with Seamus, Harry, the Black children, and finally Belvina following behind.
Belvina offered to let Dean stay with them until his Grandmother arrived in a few days time and he gratefully accepted. Mrs. Finnegan would have been happy to have him normally she told them but she had three kids under eleven and her sister n law and her four kids were in from the continent and staying with her. Seamus asked if would be allowed to visit and Belvina gave him the floo address she'd set up at number Eleven yesturday. She figured with that many small children running about he could probably use some peace.
They headed first to the yacht because they hadn't fixed up enough of the houses to live in yet. Only the bedroom Sirius was using a play room for Lyra and the Kitchen had been done with they'd left this morning. It was hard to tell how much would be done by now with only Remus and Sirius working on it while also watching Lyra.
Once they were on the yacht Harry took Dean to one of the spare bedrooms. Bell sent a message to the guys letting them know Dean was with them and that Diner was ready. They soon came over Lyra running up to hug her and ask about her day. Sirius wanted to know how they'd ended up with a spare boy. Belvina told them about the confrontation with Mrs. Thomas as she directed the house-elves cooking for them to make extra. They sat at the tables talking while the kids were showing Dean around. She figured being muggle raised he'd like Sirius's little collection. Soon the hungry hoard descended on the table all talking and laughing as they did, though Dean was slightly subdued and perhaps a wee bit in shock.
Supper was an interesting mix of exotic foods and drinks. Dean looked in wonder as it was brought out. Carina was happy to tell him a little bit about each dish and She and her siblings ended up telling Dean stories about the first time they'd tried each one. With supper over and feeling full Dean thought they'd be dismissed to bed only to find that they had desert prepared. The evenings in the Black household, Dean discovered, were reserved for family activities. Tonight was trivia night each person picked a Category when it was their turn and they all tried to stump each other with tricky questions from it. Occasionally someone had to be stopped and reminded that Dean only spoke English and that they should too while he was there.
In the morning they let Dean sleep in while the rest of them got to work fixing up the combined homes on Grimauld Place. Belvina placed a ward on his door to let her know when he left it and a note for him on the dining room table. She sent harry to fetch him with the ward charm pinged her. Dean was served yogurt and various fruits for breakfast by a house elf while wondering where every one was up and gone by nine in the morning. Yes he'd read the note he just didn't understand why anyone would get up so early if they had a choice otherwise. In the mean time he wondered if he could beg some eggs and bacon out the little elf. Harry came and got him just as he was finishing his second breakfast, turns out you could beg the house elf out of more food.
They went to Grimauld and Bel told him to help out Harry and Corvus upstairs. Dean was more than a little surprised to find that he was allowed to use magic here. Harry explained. "The ministry sensors can only tell if magic is happening around an underage person, but can't tell if that person is the one doing the magic or if a nearby adult is responsible. Not that it matter's here the security wards stop ministry sensors from working." The Blacks were quite paranoid on principle and always put up their own version of a sane persons standard security package up around the house before they moved into it. The wards would be expanded and modified later as well.
So they spent the morning vanishing anything moldy, rotten, or just to old to keep. They broke for a hearty lunch lots of water and juice and started again putting up new replacements for everything they had just vanished. Every now and then Dean would here odd screams and a chainsaw and didn't know whether or not Harry was joking or if he should be afraid when other boy told him it was just his dad in a hidden part of the house. Harry figured it was good thing Dean didn't know that his dad was Sirius Black. Dean had known professor Lupin of course, and vaguely recognized Harry's dad but he put that down to having spent the day with the mans kids. All of whom looked as least a little like him. Mr. Black had shaken his hand told him he was always welcome and to call him Padfoot. Professor Lupin who told him his name was Moony now that he no longer worked for the school had than asked Mr. Padfoot about the new open layout they had wanted to put into a property they were redoing and the man had barely said more than a thrown out good night to Dean after.
To Deans surprise things were coming along quite nicely in the renovations at least in the parts of the house he could see. They had turned the first floor into one large open living room with the largest fire place Dean had ever seen. The adults had put in huge support beams the day before so that they could clear all the walls today. The new ceiling was quite tall with gorgeous red wood beams running across it. They put up a bookcase that hade delicate runes carved all over its surface front, back, on the shelves, under the shelves and all the sides. That book case covered an entire wall. Dean was temporarily confused; because the wall they hid with it was also the one with the stair case leading to the bedrooms, up until Harry pushed a section of the case in and it slid back creating a doorway just large enough for everyone to go through if they went one at a time. It was not the first false wall or even false doorway that they put in today. Dean loved it. He thought the secrete passages were the neatest thing ever. He knew of course that Hogwarts had all sorts of them, he even used a few on a regular basis and Harry promised to show him more.
Belvina called them all down for lunch on the ground floor, where the renovated kitchen and dinning rooms were located. The basement was being turned into a potions lab for Belvina to work out of. While the front door opened into a small hallway with a door leading right and the stair case leading up and hooks to hang your coats. The rest of the house was quiet open. That doorway to the right led into the sitting room which was opened to the dinning room which in turn opened into the kitchen. Each was large and spacious and had huge archways instead of walls and doors separating the rooms.
The only thing left to do was finish the bedrooms and roof. Bel told them the adults could handle that in no time at all and she had some shopping in Hogsmead for things she'd like them to pick up for her. She sent all the kids out with instructions for them to keep an eye on Lyra and not to eat to much sweets at Honeydukes. They were off after that Flooing to the Three Broom Sticks. They had a blast goofing off and telling stories as they wondered through the shops finding odds and ends they liked while picking up their ama's stuff, including more Floo powder as they were apparently running low.
They made it back in time for supper and at the house this time instead of the yacht. After diner Mr. and Mrs. Black showed them the newly renovated bedrooms one for each of them had been finished including one for Dean. They had even moved their stuff from their rooms on the yacht over. They had copied their children's bedroom furniture from what they had had in their tree house so they would still feel at home.
On the Thirteenth Dean finally met Impress, Harry's Shih Tzu who woke him up by deciding she wanted to sleep where he was laying. Lupin, Sirius and Lyra had been taking care of the pets on the other side while they redecorated the public side. Now though things were beginning to settle into a semi-normal routine they would be taking care of their own pets again. Dean had to laugh when he met them all. Mr. Black was the proud owner of a light apricot colored Pomeranian comically named Mrs. Knickers after her favorite things to chew. Harry owned not one but three itty bitty ribbon toting ankle biters the other two named Grace, and Lady, one of which was so ugly Dean felt bad for it. Cory's Chocolate Chow had sat on Dean and demanded some of his bacon as a bribe to get off of him again. Lyra's ankle biter was a boy dog actually named Biter. They were both adorable. Cary was the proud owner of Tiggy, the meanest kneazle in existence outside of Mrs. Norris. Strangest of all was the pet Bearded Dragon Lizard who sat up on Hyd's head and whom Hyd snuck his veggie's when his mom wasn't looking.
They heard on the fourteenth news from Dean's grandmother who would be arriving via international port key the following day. She knew where Shafiq manor was and could let Dean into the wards. He would soon have his grandmother and his own place to stay for future holidays. Shafiq manor hadn't been used in a long while though so Dean would be staying with them for the whole summer, while his grandmother saw to the manor. After breakfast the floo chimed surprising everyone because it'd only been on the public network for last day. Belvina answered it as Sirius made his way to the hidden home, just in case. Mrs. Weasley's face came through.
"I'm so sorry to bother you dear, you wouldn't happen to be Harry's step mother would you?" Mrs. Weasley began.
"Yes," Belvina said cautiously studying the face in her giant fireplace. "May I ask who's asking?"
"Of course dear, I'm Molly Weasley."
"Oh of course your Ron's mother than, come on through no need to sit on your knee's that can't be comfortable." Belvina gushed. "I'll just call Harry down." Bell turned and cast a mild sonorous charm. "Harry honey Mrs. Weasley is in the floo come say hi." This served a second purpose as it alerted both houses that it was safe.
"Oh but their isn't any one to watch the kids…"
"Just bring them on through I know Harry will be happy to see Ron he's been dying to tell him about his siblings and all the changes." Belvina barely took a breath and began again "Did you know they never took him to a healer after the attack in eighty one? That scar should have never been there I healed him up after I got him of course. I'll stand back so you can come on in shall I?" Bel opened the Floo and walked off before Mrs. Weasley could get a work in edge wise. She had a plan to see through. Harry had confessed to her his fears of Ron's jealousy and if their was one thing she and Sirius had mastered in the last three years it was being creative enough to do a lot with very little. She had a good idea why the Weasley's hadn't done what Sirius had and just made their own stuff. Mrs. Weasley was a great potions brewer but she'd never gotten a mastery, and Mr. Weasley spent a lot of time at work to make ends meet. It had probably never occurred to him that he could do so much on his own if he only had the time.
Soon teenagers started popping through first a set of twins who introduced themselves as Gred and Forge much to her delight. She had that niggling feeling she got when Sirius was planning a prank the moment they smiled at her and the one on her left took her right hand and vice versa until hands were crossed and she was turning to keep up with them. She laughed as she took her hands back threatened to bend both over her knee's if they did permanent damage to anything and directed them to the Kitchens where her boys were. Next through was a younger girl probably a around the same age as Hyd. After her came one she assumed must be Ron a tall gangly boy Harry and Cory's age he came through covered in floo powder she hit both of them with a vanishing spell and sent them to the kitchen with the others.
Mrs. Weasley came through next and Belvina greeted her with a smile. "Have you eaten?" Molly said she had so Belvina gestured her over to one of the more comfortable sofa's. "What were you wanting to talk about?"
Mrs. Weasley wanted to return the money it was way too much for just one outfit. "Oh I know, but I thought it would be cruel to get one child new clothes and none of the others I know how jealous mine get if one of the others gets something new and they don't."
Molly and Belvina got into the cost of clothes in Diagon Alley. Molly admitting she usually just bought muggle clothes because it was cheaper. Belvina mentioned her sewing machine, Molly had never seen one and they got into how easy it was to make your own clothes with one. It was also much cheaper to buy the fabrics and make it your self most of Carina and Lyra's prettier clothes were hand made. Molly mentioned how hard it was to get girl clothes for Ginny, she was growing and that meant she needed more. Molly felt bad she wouldn't be able to get Ginny certain things without shorting the boys. After all everything the boys wore were hand me downs several times over. Ginny being the only girl that wasn't an option for her clothes many times. Though Molly confessed that she sometimes just modified the smaller boy clothes for Ginny anyway. It meant Ginny often looked more like a tom boy than a girl.
"Well I might be able to fix that!" Belvina told her. "Carina, bless her, never throws anything out. This last summer especially Carina developed her curves and we had replace most of her clothes. I was just going to drop them off at a give away but if you don't mind I think Ginny might like it more." Mrs. Weasley tentatively agreed. They called Ginny up from where the kids had set up board games in the dinning room and Belvina summoned some of the trunks she'd stored clothes in and started pulling some of Carina's old clothes out. She conjured a screen and told Ginny to change behind it they'd adjust anything she liked, to her size so she could take them home with her.
The moms had a grand time dressing Ginny up and occasionally charming her hair into different styles. Any objections Molly might have had died the first time she saw Ginny in one of the frilly lace covered dresses. The only problem Bel could find was that they were all summer and spring clothes. Where were the fall and winter? She summoned and sent off several detection spells. Nothing. "You should really get some of the winter clothes, you know that child of mine didn't even wear most of those? Carina hates the snow. Work would take us to Norway or Sweden or Russia and she'd insist on new warm outfits for the trip than she'd spend one maybe two days outside and the rest she'd find an excuse to stay in by the fire. Now if only I could find them."
"Harry?! Come here a moment honey?" Feet thundered up the stairs as the boys came up.
"Woah, Gin, Gin." one of the twins whistled. Ginny was currently in an outfit of Spanish design it was a long sleeved off the shoulders number with a flared out skirt.
"Hush now, no embarrassing your sister, Fred." Mrs. Weasley said. "She does look so lovely doesn't she?"
"She does" Bel agreed. "Harry dear I can't find any of the old winter clothes and I know I packed them can you floo the docks and see if they are still on the boat?"
"Sure ama, not a problem can Ron come with me?" Harry asked, he and Ron hadn't had much time to talk alone and Harry was having trouble gaging the other boys response to everything.
"If its okay with his mum he may." Bel said, "Just remember that you are not going to goof off just grab the trunks and be back."
"It's not too far is it?" Molly asked.
"Oh no just at the dock off the Thames. We're in London now. Taking the Floo means avoiding the thirty minute walk, is all."
"Well if your sure it's safe." The boys didn't wait for more Harry grabbed the floo powder off the mantle one of the small bottles so he could take it with him for the return trip. The docks had a public floo but you had to pay for using the floo powder on the other side so it was cheaper and easier to just think ahead and use your own. He and Ron took the floo together and Harry led the way to their boat. He and Ron spoke along the way. Harry telling him about the time travel and living on the boat and at the tree house. Ron asked how Dean had come to live with him. He'd wanted to ask earlier but Dean had changed the subject.
"His mum threw him out." Harry told him. "His dad was killed by Voldemort only no one told his mum that. So she's spent all this time thinking he abandoned her. We tried to tell her otherwise but she has spent so long being mad at a dead man that she doesn't know how to be anything else to him. Got real mad when she found out Dean was investigating his father. Threw him out of her house when he wouldn't agree that his father had been a good for nothing who didn't love him."
"Really she told him that?" Ron asked shocked. "That his dad hadn't loved him." At Harry's confirmation nod Ron shook his head "Blimey, can't imagine that. This your boat?"
It's also our house a good bit of the time, but yeah, Aita, that means dad," Harry answered the unasked question as it was written all over Ron's face. "Aitas mind is real scattered from, you know where, building stuff really helps him. He built this out of junk and drift wood we found."
"Wow." Ron said giving the sail boat another look. "I know you said you had some extra time but how much exactly?" He asked looking at the size of the yacht.
"Three years." Harry told him. "I missed you and Hermione like crazy though. I must of told the others so much about you they got sick of hearing me talk."
Ron took everything else rather well from Harry's point of view. He'd been a little stand offish around his brothers and Carina, who hadn't helped by being stand offish around the Weasley's but Harry just told them she was shy and to ignore it. They soon located the trunks in the cargo hold hidden behind one of the larger cars. "Figures." Together the boys moved the three trunks together toward the floo.
"So," Huffed Ron, "How did your aita get all those muggle cars?"
"He dug them out of muggle junk yards." Harry told him as they made it to the floo line. "Turns out muggles mess them up and throw them away all the time." They huffed as they pushed the trunks through floo to the living room. Ron took a moment to ponder that. It must of really been a tough few years if they'd resorted to routing around in muggle trash. Ron who'd grown up in the Burrow couldn't imagine living in such a small place like that boat. With no quidditch either so as not to risk the muggles seeing you. Sure Harry said they went swimming a lot but Ron didn't particularly like the water and couldn't imagine have only that to do all day. Harry spoke of the tree house as if it was magnificent which was something else Ron just couldn't see. Then again Harry had lived in a cupboard for ten years anything had to be better than that. He supposed with magic the elder Blacks could have made things better but then again his dad and mum had used magic to make the Burrow and it was small cramped and leaning so far left the twins often made jokes outside their mums hearing, about it finally going limp.
"These what you wanted ama?"
Bel wasted no time in pulling out the winter dresses and fur lined cloaks that she thought would fit Ginny. Soon Ginny was taking the clothes back with her along with one of the larger trunks. It was a sturdy thing larger inside than school trunks usually were but Ginny had admitted her old trunk was falling apart. Molly said they couldn't afford more and was going to turn down the offer take this one for Ginny until Bel stopped her by saying they hadn't bought them either.
At the questioning looks Bel told them. "My husband's real handy and he likes having things to do to take his mind off the nightmares he made all these trunks and the kids school trunks as well didn't cost us a single knut." Molly agreed to take it for Ginny since neither Bel nor Sirius would mind. "Sirius likes making them I have dozens, trust me I'm not going to run out anytime soon. Say didn't you say you had an apple orchard and some woods on your property?" They did. "Well why don't you pick out some trees you won't miss shrink them down, bring them here, and Sirius can make some trunks for your other kids too that way they all have their own." After a small bit of arguing Bel got her way and Molly agreed to not only send Arthur over with several trees the following day but to go shopping for fabrics and her own sewing machine with Belvina.
Molly wasn't sure how it happened exactly. She thought as Ginny lugged a brand new trunk filled with clothes already, up the stairs to her room. She had gone over to the Black home to return money. She'd come back with the money, clothes a new trunk, and a promise of more new trunks for the rest of her kids. She felt she'd just been to battle and lost before she even realized the fight had begun.
The following day came with Deans grandmother a short old lady with soft leathery brown skin and long braided silver hair, wearing a long dress with intricate beaded designs sewn into it. Beaded bracelets decorated the wrist that knocked on their door. She introduced herself as Suleta Shafiq one of the Anishinaabe, the first men. When they introduced her to Dean she tackle hugged him never mind he was a good foot taller than her already. She was so happy to see him she was crying one wrinkled hand holding onto his own hand and the other reached up to cup his cheeks. "You look like your father." She told him with a smile. Belvina showed her to a small den tucked away in a secret passage on the first floor.
"You two can talk in peace in here if you want. Dean we'll be in the living room if you need us. Alright?" she asked. He nodded. "Good." Bel nodded her head to her guest and left the to get acquainted with one another.
While Dean's grandmother took him to Shafiq manor, Belvina headed out to meet Mrs. Weasley on a shopping excursion. Lupin was watching both sets of children today. She had dug through her old stuff and found an extra sewing machine, one of the ones Sirius had gotten her last year before he had perfected the design he had constructed for her. It didn't make all the patterns her new one did but it still worked just fine. So she left the boxed up machine on Molly's side table and they'd gone off to magical craft stores to look at fabrics. Belvina brought her notebook and fountain pen with her to take notes. She got Molly to tell her which magically treated fabrics she liked most. Some they bought from the stores but most they simply took note of left. Much to molly's consternation. Than they traded some of their galleons for muggle money and went to muggle stores finding much of muggle fabrics to be considerably cheaper.
They sorted through until they found the right colors and bought tons more fabric than molly had ever bought in premade clothing. She was sure it was more than the kids could possibly wear. Belvina than asked her about certain potions ingredients which she had in her own home already and those she could easily gather. The ones not on those lists they purchased. Once back at the Burrow Molly sat the fabrics in the laundry room. They gathered the potions ingredients from the first two lists and met back up in the kitchen. Belvina than showed her how to brew the potions they infused into the magical fabrics casting the charms was easy you just had to know when. Which was just before the potions dried into the cloth. After the fabric had been enchanted they got out the old sewing machine Molly quickly got the hang of it and Belvina had brought her patterns with it.
Molly quickly took the boys measurements and applied them to the patterns. Before she knew it she had several new trousers and sweaters and formal buttoned shirts for all three boys still in school it had cost her half what she usually spent on their cloths and she still had more galleons left over to buy them their school uniforms. If she shopped smart she could buy several pairs more than usual each without any enchantments and just enchant them at home. The kids had never had so many new clothes in such good condition before. They made all of them Formal robes next though Molly didn't know why the kids would need them. Lastly they made the cloaks, light cloaks enchanted for the summer and spring, heavy cloaks for fall; and some old fur's Bel had insisted they buy at a second hand shop were cut up and turned into lining for the winter cloaks. They even made Molly herself a new dress. She loved this new machine. It made it so easy to make the kids clothes she just wished she'd had one ages ago. With the work done Belvina convinced Molly to make up a few potions for her bath and beauty routine. Molly was quite young for a witch really. She'd graduated from Hogwarts already pregnant with her first and had been so busy with kids she'd let herself go. Bel thought she'd be happier if she actually looked her age.
Belvina didn't know it but she had also inspired Sirius to get a somewhat knew job. She'd convinced him to make trunks for the Weasley kids nothing as fancy or complicated as what he'd made his own, but new and sturdy and large enough hold anything they might need to smuggle into Hogwarts. Or away from their mother in the case of the twins. Little miscreants after his own heart those two were, if only they'd quit making eyes at Carina, Sirius was sure he'd like them.
It had given him a string of thoughts that quickly formed into a brilliant idea if he did say so himself. One Remus needed a new job and had been grumbling about them carrying his wait. Two Sirius could make furniture but couldn't sell it out here in London where too many people were looking for him. Three his family curtesy of the late great Cassiopeia Black owned an old store here in London. The place was vacant now and run down had been for years. That was an easy fix though. His third thought was that Arthur when he'd brought the tree's over to make the trunks with had told him the trees had grown up pretty thick in places and really needed to be thinned out anyway. The Weasleys needed money and Sirius was going to need those tree's it was win, win there. He convinced Remus to help him clean up the outside of the store and fix it's roof and foundation everything else could wait. They took off the muggle notice-me-not's, clouded the windows to temporarily stop people from looking in so they could get to work fixing the outside.
It had to be a legitimate muggle business so they had Arthur introduce Remus to his accountant cousin so they could get the muggle side and taxes in order. Sure they used magic to speed things along but soon enough they had all the paperwork and permits needed. It took two day's to get the legal side in order and in that time they fixed up the store complete with a workshop for Sirius to make things in. He convinced Arthur that his tree's really were worth the ten galleons a piece he paid the man for them. In all honesty they were probably worth more but that was all Arthur would take. He had been overwhelmed at the price anyway considering Sirius had bought twenty tree's from the man. By the seventeenth Sirius had filled the store with all the wooden furniture one could possibly want. A large sign in the side glass that would appear to muggles as an intricate design was in reality a advertisement for school trunks for the young witch's and Wizards who had outgrown the standard size sold on Diagon Alley. Those would be kept in a charmed door to the back where muggles couldn't wonder in or see.