Chapter 7

And then We Have Twelve

It was now mid-January and I had around a week before I needed to return to London. I had received an owl a week from Amanda keeping me abreast of how things were going. The Death Eater attacks on the mundanes were becoming more frequent and the disappearance of witches and wizards of less than pure blood status were increasing, leading her to belief that our rescue of Luna and the deaths of Lucius and Dolohov had really pissed Tommy Boy off, and that he was becoming desperate to find just that right stimulus to bring us back out of hiding, as her informant put it.

Since the shields had gone up around the Manor and town the Weasley's had moved down to the town, into a nice home that looked small on the outside but was more than large enough for the still growing family on the inside. Ginny had moved down to the town with her parents on the contingency that her mother promises to never make another love potion for as long as she lived. Ron had chosen to stay at the Manor with Lavender, Harry, Hermione, and the Creevey brothers. Luna had gotten word to her father who had arrived a day after we set the shields up. Xenophilius found a house on the edge of the town about halfway to the Manor that was within the shields that was just what he was looking for and he and Luna quickly made it their own.

It was about this time that Colin and Dennis expressed to me their concern about the safety of their father and asked if there was any way he could be brought to Brynmawr. This was really getting complicated, but I understood their worry and chose to send Remus and Arthur to ask Mr. Creevey to join use up in Wales. About two hours after they left, they returned with William Creevey in tow. To say that the boys were happy would be making light of the intensity of the reunion. William had been told by Headmaster Snape that the boys had been killed in the attack on the train and had spent the last two weeks grieving, so for him this is like Christmas all over again, and for Colin and Dennis just being able to hug their father was all they wanted. The boys had been used to corresponding with their father daily by owl and for two weeks hadn't had that option.

Once their celebration had settled into mere joy I was able to send the boys off to eat with the others and was able to talk with William. He was aware of Tommy Boy and all the pain and destruction he was causing and was very proud that his sons had wanted to help in whatever way they could, but until the owl had arrived from Headmaster Snape he had not truly understood that he could well lose his boys. I told him that unless it was inevitable, I would keep his boys out of the fight for as long as possible. And that if things worked out the way we were hoping that we would keep many more lives from being lost. He then looked me straight in the eyes and told me that Colin had informed him that the owl from Snape was not false, that he had died trying to save Harry and that I had brought him back, as well as Lavender and Sirius. I looked down at the floor not knowing what he wanted me to say. "Ms. Cassy, please tell me if what Colin said is true."

"Yes," I looked up into eyes filled with hope and knew what he was going to ask so I answered before he could. "The potion I have created will only work on those who are very recently dead and their body had to be in good enough state that they will not die again if the soul were to return. As for Sirius I did not use the potion on him. The way he had died was extremely unusual and allowed me to retrieve him Body and Soul intact from the other side of the Veil. So before you ask, no I cannot bring back your wife, from what the boys told me her body was too badly injured by the lorry and it has been years since her death, my potion only works if death is within a few hours."

He slumped back in the chair. "I was afraid that was going to be your answer, but I would like to thank you anyway for bringing me back my boys." He reached out and took me hands in his. "You are a wonder of a woman Ms. Cassy, thank you for my boys. Now tomorrow we will be leaving, you seem to have a rather full house and we would not wish to put any more pressure on you and your home."

"Mr. Creevey, your boys asked me to have you brought here for your safety and that is what I have done. I am not now going to let you leave to just head back into the danger they asked me to get you out of. You are not adding any strain to my home. But if you wish we can see if there is an open house in town for you and the boys, and if there is a job you would be suited for. The boys say that you are a milkman, we can see if there is an opening for a delivery driver at one of the shops. If not, I know I could use a stableman and my staff are in the process of rebuilding our out building if you wouldn't mind saying in in the manor till they are done, there is a Couch house that goes along with the job of stablemaster."

"Well, I guess there is no big hurry and I always did like working with animals. My first job at the dairy was as a stable hand in the milking barn."

"Well I'm glad to see that's all settled." Sirius sat on the arm of the overstuffed chair and handed me a glass of wine. "Now if you two wouldn't mind joining the rest of the family, dinner is waiting."

Will headed into the dining room first, Sirius wrapped me in an embrace, "Will is a very observant man, you really are a wonder Cassy. And now that we will have a trained stableman, I promise to take him to meet Buckbeak myself, so he will not have any problems, I would like to head to London with you and Remus next week. Before you tell me you need me here remember that we have a full staff of house elves as well as Will and Nym. Besides I have a favor to ask the Queen."

"And that would be."

"I wanted to ask her if she could arrange for a quiet little wedding, something a little more legal than you and me in front of the kids, Remus and Nym, by the fire exchanging vows."

"If that would make you happy that yes." I rose on my tip toes and kissed him. He kissed me back so intensely that it felt like electricity was running through us, and I forgot completely about dinner. When we finally broke he saw the look in my eyes and smacked me lightly on the ass. "Food first."

Everything had finally settled into a comfortable routine, classes on wandless wordless magic in the mornings with Ginny, Luna, and Ethan coming up from the town. A break for lunch then onto potions, and personal studies with the kids breaking off into small groups to work on whatever subject they wished, then dinner and then off to town or wherever they wanted for some fun. It was nice to feel as if some of the tension had lessened with the protection wards and shields around the manor and town allowing everyone to spread out and not having to stay cooped up at the manor. Lavender loved to drag Ron down to do some shopping or just go to the movies; they had both learned to love the movies. Harry and Hermione just liked going for long walks and being able to spend time alone. Ginny, Luna and Ethan had become inseparable doing whatever they felt like in town or in the woods within the shield. Colin, Dennis and their Dad played football, or Will would watch as the boys practiced on their brooms. And Remus and Nym kept going to check on the rebuild of the Gatehouse, since Sirius and I had promised it to them once it was done. The Coach house was to be the Creevey's new home, and the Gardiner's house and Gamekeepers house were going to Harry and Hermione, and Ron and Lavender respectively. Which would then allow Sirius and I the freedom of having the manor to ourselves.

One day till London and I was getting tired of Harry insisting that he had to accompany Sirius, Remus and I, that since he was the one that had to kill Tommy Boy that he needed to be there for every part of the defenses as well, and maybe get at least one of the Horcruxes since the pendulum said that one was in London.

" Fine Harry, but before I say yes I need you to go back to the library and use the pendulum once more to make sure the horcruxes are still where they were, the last time you checked three weeks back."

We walked together back to the library where Lavender, Ron and Hermione were all working on different subjects. Harry moved to the middle of the room and started the pendulum swinging, then commanded it to show him what he was seeking. With ever slower arcs the pendulum swung till it just stopped not pointing to anything. Confused Harry repeated the ritual giving the pendulum a little more energy, and again it slowed and then stopped revealing nothing. It was clear that Harry was now getting angry and he shoot me a glare as if accusing me of interfering with the reading. I just shook my head and moved back away from the map.

"First I am not interfering, second calm down and clear your mind, Third focus clearly on what you seek."

Harry took three deep breaths and centered himself then once again started the pendulum swinging. The room cracked with magical energy and then Lavender who had been staring intently at the pendulum began to speak in a voice that was quiet and rather ethereal but filled the room, her words clear and commanding in their intent.

"The items you seek are all in his grasp.

The Crown, the chalice and the snake, leaving one last

Fiend Fire so hot will burn them to ash

Leaving only you to fall to the lash,

For you a gift will drive it to ground

And with sword in hand it will be cut from your crown

Then like a phoenix you shall rise again

To win the day and put the war to an end"

Hermione had been fast enough to start writing as soon as Lavender has started to prophesize. Ron ran over to Lavender as she finished, catching her as she started to tip forward out of the chair. "Cassy." He looked at me for help. I pulled a small vial of smelling salts out of my pocket and ran it under her nose.

"Oh, oh how harsh, my head is spinning. Won, won what happened?"

"You went into a trance and made a prediction is what happened, and a bloody good one at that."

A smile spread across her face, "How wonderful, I only wish Madame Trelawney had been here to see it."

"That's nice and all but now we need to now find out where Tommy Boy is." Hermione handed Harry the parchment.

"Well," the voice came from behind me. "That is easy if Harry is feeling up to it." Remus finished hanging up his cloak as he joined us in the library. He had left earlier that day to retrieve Andromeda so she could stay with Nym and the kids. "You have been practicing Legilimency do you think you are ready to try and read Tommy Boy without having him notice."

Harry's head dropped and he shook it. "Not yet, I need more practice at being able to move through thoughts without letting the person I'm reading know I'm there."

"Then there is your answer, for now you keep practicing with Nym and we will see how you feel after we return from London. Till then, you try and passively let him tell you where he is. Just clear your mind so he doesn't get anything from you and make sure you are with Ron and Nym in case you need help." Remus ruffled Harry's hair. "It's not that bad, we will be back in a week and then Sirius and I can work with you Harry."

I sent the kids off to get started with dinner while I put the books back on the shelves. "So, I'm gathering Andy is having a bit of a reunion with Nym." Remus nodded. "And you didn't tell her where you were bringing her."

"Nope and Nym known to not let the cat out of the bag. "

"Well then I best go get Sirius from the stable."

Sirius and Will had been busy making sure that all the animals were use to Will taking care of them. "Time for dinner."

They both quickly washed up and we headed into the house. Sirius was aware that Andy was there and we were both waiting to see how she was going to react when she saw him since she had not been told about his resurrection.

The winter wind was blowing fierce as we made our way into the house. The others were all sitting and eating as we hung our cloaks and brushed snow out of our hair. Will was the first to enter the dining room taking the open seat between his boys and introducing himself to Andy.

"So Nymphadora, is this the person who is the master of this fine home?"

Nym rolled her eyes, "No Mother and how many times do I have to ask you to not call me that."

"Call you what sweetie?"

"Call her Nymphadora; round here we just call her Nym, Andy."

Andy spun around on her chair to look at the person who had just spoken and if she hadn't been sitting I'm sure she would have been on the floor. "OH MY…." Her hand went to her mouth and tears began rolling down her cheeks. "They said you were dead, that you died in the Ministry in battle with Bella."

Sirius walked over then stooped down to take Andy's hands and talk to her. "They didn't lie to you, I fell though the death arch in the Department of Mysteries and if it hadn't been for some skillful spell work, potion work and rune work I would still be there."

Andy kept stroking his face and looking into his eyes trying to come to grips with having back her favorite cousin. "Who?"

I stepped around the corner and out of the shadows. "That would be me."

"By Merlin's beard, Cassian. You did this? You brought Sirius back from the dead?"

Sirius rose and came to put an arm around me. "She just can't live without me."

I elbowed him in the ribs then kissed him on the cheek. "It may sound sappy but he is right, I just couldn't get over him and when Remus told me he had gotten out of Azkaban I started making plans to come back to England. Then the whole thing with Tommy Boy happened and I started to work on how to bring him back…." I explained to Andy the whole story of how we had retrieved Sirius and how we had exchanged wedding vows on New Year's Eve in front of Remus, Nym, Harry, Ron and Hermione. Then I told her that we would be leaving for a week to London and that that was why Remus had asked her to come.

"But I just got here and you have to leave tomorrow. Fine I will make sure that Nym and these youngsters don't make a mess of your home, but you have to promise me you will be back in a week and everyone will be alive and well."

"I promise my Dear Cousin that I will do my best to return with wife and best friend, all alive and intact." Sirius bowed with a grand flourish. Which Andy greeted with a slap to the top of his head.

The rest of the dinner was spent joking and reminiscing. Then Nym and Remus took Andy out to see the Gate house which was close to finished. Tap had promised me that it would be ready by the time we returned from London, and that the Carriage house would be ready by the end of the first week of Feb. Leaving just the two small cottages, The Gardener's and the Gamekeeper's which were on schedule to be finished by Valentine's Day.