20th August 1986
Lily had been going back and forth between the Potter mansion and the Bones residence, unable to stay until the windows were UV filtered. Each night she arrived she would head to the room Raven, Harry and Susan lay bedridden, which is where she currently resided.
Lily sat upon a red cushioned chair beside the bed her children slept in, snuggling against Susan who lay between the two, the room itself was quite large containing a queen sized bed with golden silk sheets, an oak wardrobe stood just off from the door with full body mirror beside it, the walls and ceiling a cream colour and a similar coloured carpet.
The door opened. Lily glanced up to see Amelia enter the room and take the seat beside her, placing a comforting hand upon on the back of Lily's hand as a sign of comfort.
"You shouldn't worry yourself so much Lily, they're in no danger as long as they remain together and touching, this is a natural process." Amelia said softly, trying to ease the vampiress.
"Then why is it taking so long, four days, they should be awake by now." Lily responded, her tone nothing but worry.
"It could be down to them being so young, their cores are still developing and this ritual works by linking their cores and normally when our kind find our mates we are fully grown or close to it and thus their magical cores are fully developed…the ritual expands the cores of those participating in it, that much is common knowledge but since their cores are premature it'll probably force them to grow and that could be the reason they are taking a tad longer, expanding cores can't be rushed and since there's three taking part in the bond it'll slow it down partially…but it won't take too long." Amelia explained.
"Won't their cores maturing be dangerous…they're just children." Lily argued.
"No, their bodies will grow to adapt to the increase of magic but considering the…condition Harry and Raven were in when the ritual began they'll only age a couple years and will be restored to full health, as for Susan her true form will age a tad more than the twins but her human form will be linked to the ages of Harry and Raven, so she'll appear the same age as them." Amelia explained, reaching out and stroking a hair from Susan's face and tucking it behind her ear.
"Is it really necessary that they're naked?" Lily asked in a tired tone.
"It will make the bonding easier on them, flesh on flesh contact is better than touching through a fabric." Amelia responded as she laid back into her chair "Oh, I have converted the basement into a room worthy of a Lady so you can move in whenever you like, as for the windows they will be sorted in a couple weeks and then you won't need to worry about sunlight while you are here" She stated.
"Thank you, I'm sure Harry and Raven will love to hear that when they wake up." Lily said as she grew a small smile onto her face, her smile soon faded and a sigh escaped her lips.
"Something wrong?" Amelia asked.
"I was hoping to wait for Harry and Raven to wake up before we started this but I've already gone over the amount of time I should have allowed it." Lily stated.
"And what pray tell is 'it'?" Amelia questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"What do you know about Sirius?" Lily asked.
"That he's currently sitting in a cell in Azkaban for betraying your family to you-know-who and for killing Peter Pettigrew as well as several muggles." Amelia stated.
"He didn't betray us and from what I've heard he was sent to Azkaban without trial, as for Peter, he was the secret keeper and the one who betrayed us to Voldemort." Lily explained, Amelia flinched at the name of the Dark Lord.
"You Potters never did fear saying his name." Amelia muttered "So you're telling me that at this very moment an innocent man is sitting in Azkaban." She stated.
"Yes, I personally can't do anything without revealing the fact I'm not dead and I'd rather that not be common knowledge just yet." Lily stated "But you, however, have the connections and the authority to get Sirius his trial." She continued.
"If what you say is true then I should be able to pull it off, all I need is a day to look through the records and call in a favour from the minister and I'll have the trial before the end of the week." Amelia stated.
"Thank you." Lily's smile grew, knowing that Sirius would soon be free and hopefully he'll be there around the time that Harry and Raven woke up.
…
Dumbledore sat in his office, going over the list of students accepted and who were to be accepted in the coming years, his aged gaze scanned over dozens and dozens of names before finally coming to a stop on the Potter twins, rather far down the lists while still being no way near the bottom.
"Well that confirms it, Molly has heard nothing about Raven and since they are still on the list then they are both alive, now the only question is, where are they." Dumbledore mused allowed as he lowered the list back onto his desk, lightly stroking at his long beard in contemplation with his free hand.
"All my tracers have been destroyed along with the binds on their cores, so I can't track them so my only option in locating them is trial and error…let's see the were placed with the Dursleys, only a handful of people knew of their location." Dumbledore continued as he rose from his chair and began to pace around his study "McGonagall wouldn't go against my word or use such methods in gaining custody of the twins by massacring the Dursleys, Hagrid, no he trusts me too much to do that and neither does he have the power to do it…but beside them only Arabella and myself knew they were there…" He drifted off seeing himself at a dead end.
"There has to be someone else…Dudley!" Dumbledore cried, inspiration striking his mind "He survived that night, he saw who took the twins, he's the answer." He continued, he began to move towards the fireplace intent of flooing some of his contacts in order to track down the muggle, he froze, his form stiffened, he slowly turned to a dark corner of his study.
"Stop right there Dumbledore." A feminine, commanding voice stated, a voice that carried authority and hostility.
"Who are you?" He asked, his gaze hardening as he focused on the shadowy figure that stood within his office "Or perhaps a better question would be, what are you?" He continued, picking up on the dark energy that slid off of the intruder.
"As perceptive as ever Dumbledore…then again it hasn't been that long since we last met now then has it?" She responded, the figure stepped into the dim candle light and the second Dumbledore's gaze received a decent look of her he felt a twinge of fear.
"Dawn." He stated in a cold tone.
"That's Heiress Lake to you." She hissed, baring her pearlescent fangs as her pupils swallowed her eyes.
"So it was you who took the twins…but how did you find them…I made sure…" Dumbledore stammered.
"Made sure I wouldn't be able to? Oh that's right you set the gears in motion that led to Victoria's demise, the gift of sight, you wanted to make sure she wouldn't destroy all your plans before they came to pass…well you succeeded, my sister is dead!" Dawn spat, her hands curling into fists, the entire study began to violently shake.
"You can't prove I had anything to do with the tragedy that was your sister's demise and don't forget my treaty with your mother still stands, vampires will not be called upon during any wizard war and in return your kind will not attack ours without provocation, you harm me, the leader of the light and Supreme Mugwump and you'll have a war on your hands that would devastate your kind." Dumbledore stated.
The room stopped shaking, Dawn's eyes returned to normal as her fangs gradually retracted.
"How'd you even get into Hogwarts, the wards prevent your kind from entering?" He questioned.
"The wards only work on those Hogwarts herself deems as a threat and let's just says thanks to a few recent developments in my clan has led to myself being deemed an ally to Hogwarts." Dawn stated.
"Now about the twins." He said after a moment's hesitation.
"You will stop looking for them." She stated as she moved to seat herself upon the headmasters' desk, crossing a single leg over another.
"So it was you who took them." He stated.
"Actually it wasn't though I admit to playing a minor role in their disappearance I didn't take them." She responded, beginning to examine her black nails.
"Who took them?" He pushed.
"Someone who I will protect from you and your manipulations." Dawn hissed, leaning forward, her hands shooting back and gripping the edge of his desk.
"Then you would know that it would be best to return the twins to my care if you don't wish for the one in current possession of them from becoming a piece in my little game." Dumbledore replied, a dark gleam in his eye.
"You should know threatening me will do you no good Dumbledore, I'm the Heiress and I forbid you from looking into this, if you go against me, you go against my family and by extension my mother who holds a lot of power in the society of dark creatures, you will bring war upon yourself, not the wizards, a war of vampires, werewolves, Goblins, Ghouls, Ghosts, Succubi, Incubi even Acromantulas, every dark creature you can possibly imagine will be after your blood and if you get the wizards involved…well, you may be able to hold your own against the vampires but what about everything that isn't entirely human." Dawn stated, growing a sinister smirk.
"So as you can see, you're hands are tied, the twins are in my territory…of course this will remain a secret, after all I would rather not have those bloody Death Eaters knocking on my doors at all ours, they make terrible nuances of themselves when they are after something." She continued.
"What will it take to ensure they remain human and ignorant of magic and alive?" He asked after letting out a small sigh, realizing she had really gotten him this time.
"Oh they won't be ignorant of magic Dumbledore, and trust me when I say they will remain alive, I was careful in choosing the one who should retrieve them from those muggles and you have my word neither I nor any vampire shall turn them, all I ask is you not try to manipulate myself and my clan or I can assure you that before the twins graduate Hogwarts you'll be removed from Hogwarts with a very powerful enemy opposing you." Dawn replied.
"So you want me to sit back and do nothing while you take control of those brats?" Dumbledore sneered.
"Actually I won't be the one in control, their development will be covered by someone I trust whole heartedly, you will take a seat back, not that you have much choice in the matter, my last move rendered you all but powerless concerning them, I have taken away your ability to access the Potter vaults, you can no longer go anywhere near the twins, so much for your little game, your favourite pieces are now mine and your funding is gone but I'm sure your own vault has more than enough to ensure that little contract stays active." Dawn chuckled 'Too bad it isn't even valid.' She inwardly remarked.
"I take they will still attend Hogwarts?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Of course they will, after all you told just about every other school that Lily's and James' last wish was that they attend this school…so only Hogwarts will owl them, that much has remained in place." She responded.
'Well at least that's something…I may lose a couple years but the damage should have been done…they were abused for five years straight, now they're being raised by blood sucking monsters who won't think twice about killing, the warmth they shall meet at Hogwarts will be welcoming to them and with the time they'll spend here I should be able to gain control of them pretty quickly.' Dumbledore inwardly smirked, but his sense of confidence wavered slightly as something occurred to him.
"Is your mother involved in this?" He asked.
"No. If she was you'd be dead by now, she has very little patience for child abuse." Dawn replied and Dumbledore didn't doubt it, her mother took after great grandmother, Carmilla and by Merlin was she a force to be reckoned with and still is with even more influence than himself and the Lake clan combined.
"I prefer to use the term training in obedience." Dumbledore replied, Dawn snarled, her fangs sharpening as her grip tightened to the point of the wood of the desk within her grip shattering.
"Ah, ah, ah Dawn, you lay a single finger on my person and entire light side if wizards will be after your blood." Dumbledore reminded, waging his finger in her general direction, she snarled. "Just as my hands are tied concerning the twins neither can you lay a fang on me." He reminded her.
'He's right, we're at a stalemate, for now anyways but once Victoria's vision comes to pass the light and dark shall fall along with the false superiority of wizards and you will be six feet under.' She inwardly remarked.
"Then it looks like we're at a stalemate, for now, guess now all that's left is to sit back and watch this playout." Dawn stated.
"Indeed, now if you'll kindly leave my school I have to find a new Defence Against The Dark Arts instructor." He stated.
"But of course, just remember that I will make you pay for the death of my dear sister and for all the lives you have destroyed." Dawn responded in a sickly sweet tone before taking her leave using all the speed she could muster, the elder wizard barely noticed her move and only did through the fact he consciously knew she was going to leave.
"Regardless of your efforts Heiress Lake when all this is over I will be the one on top and will be forever remembered as the greatest wizard since Merlin himself." He muttered, a dark gleam evident in his eyes.
23rd August 1986
Amelia was currently sat within the courtroom where the trial of one Sirius Orion Black was taking place. Crouch fudge stood at the end podium, the entirety of Wizengamot seated around court, Sirius himself sat upon a small chair in the centre of a small cage in the middle of the room.
"Now calling to order the trial and hearing of Lord Sirius Orion Black." Crouch declared, lightly banging the podium.
"About time I get a trial." Sirius muttered, his hands gripping the sides of his chair, his hair dirty and greasy, his clothing grey in colour and shredded in several places, a psychotic gleam in his eyes, his body lightly shaking. Crouch sent the Lord a look of disgust.
"Quite." Cornelius muttered, before rising to a straight posture. "Through consent of the accused, bring in the Veritaserum." He declared, a hand rose in the stands, Crouch turned.
"Is there something you would like to say Ms Umbridge?" He asked.
"Yes, Mr Black was declared guilty of betraying the Potters six years ago to the Dark Lord, has this trial being called?" She questioned.
"Delores, actually it turns out that Lord Black never received a trial and like everyone else is entitled to one." He countered "Now unless there are any more objections I would like to proceed with the trial." He stated, no one moved to indicate any form of objection "Very well, administer the Veritaserum." He said.
A man approached Sirius' cage with a small vial in his hand, he passed the vial through the bars and Sirius downed its contents the minute he had hold of it.
"Amelia Bones, you volunteered to question Lord Black and act as his defence, would you please ask the test questions?" Amelia rose from her chair and headed to the centre of the courtroom, giving the Minister a small nod before turning her full attention to the man in question.
"What is your name?" She asked.
"Sirius Orion Black." He answered.
"What is your age?"
"27." He answered.
"Residence?"
"At the moment Azkaban." He replied, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Are you or have you ever being a Death Eater?" She asked.
"No." He spat, unable to prevent the anger from entering his tone at the very suggestion of him being a Death Eater.
"Were you the Potters secret keeper?" She asked, moving straight to the questions that needed to be asked and would prove Sirius' innocence.
"No, Peter Pettigrew was." He answered "I was the first choice but when I explained how obvious a choice I was it was switched to Pettigrew." He continued.
"Did you betray the Potters to you-know-who?" She asked.
"No, Pettigrew did." He answered.
"Did you kill those muggles, the day you killed Pettigrew?" She asked.
"No, Pettigrew killed them in his method of escaping me and I didn't kill Pettigrew, he is still alive as far as I know, I was captured and detained before I could get my hands on him." He replied.
"That is a lie, Pettigrew is dead, all that was found of him was a single finger." Delores declared, rising to her feet.
"Order!" Crouch yelled as he banged to the podium once again, the woman retook her seat and sealed her lips.
"Pettigrew cut off his own finger after blowing up those muggles and creating a while into the sewers and after he cut off his finger he turned into a rat and fled, leaving me to take the fall for his crimes." He explained.
"Are you saying that Pettigrew was an unregistered animagus?" Amelia asked.
"He is madam Bones as am I." He responded, Amelia nodded before turning to face Crouch.
"No more questions your honour and unless anyone else wishes to question Lord Black I would like to request the antidote to the Veritaserum." Bones stated, Crouch cast a small glance over the whole of the Wizengamot, no one seemed to jump at the chance, he quickly turned back to Amelia.
"Personally I don't see what other question could possibly be asked in this situation and so since it appears that Lord Black is undoubtedly innocent of the crimes he has been accused of and so with power within me I decree Lord Sirius Orion Black innocent of all charges and such will be released from Azkaban and will be compensated for all he has had to endure there." Crouch declared, banging the podium once again.
…
Lily sat beside the bed the twins laid, the sun had just set and the second it did she was at their side, watching them and waiting for them to awake, a familiar pop was heard.
"Miss Lily I have brought you your breakfast." Teesy said as she handed Lily a glass of blood.
"Thank you Teesy." Lily replied, never looking away from her children, Teesy placed the bottle on the bedside table next to her mistress before taking her leave to continue her chores.
A small groan emitted from Susan's lips as rolled over and snuggled into Harry, beneath his eyelids the boys eyes moved, Raven slid closer to Susan, pressing herself against her and pushing Susan further into Harry, a smile grew on Susan's lips as did one grow on the twins' faces.
Harry's eyes opened, he blinked a couple times before adjusting his position and sitting up in bed not noticing that he wasn't alone or that he didn't have a stitch of clothing on his body, fortunately the quilt didn't move any lower than his waist. He rubbed his eyes, glancing round.
'Where am I?' He mused, still half asleep.
Lily's eyes widened, a smile erupting on her face, she shot forward, her arms encircling the young hybrid and pulling him into a strong hug while being careful not to spill blood on the poor boy.
"Mum?" He asked in a slight daze.
"Yes, you're finally awake, I was so worried." Lily wept, another groan was heard as the other two awoke from their slumber.
"Can you keep it down…I'm trying to sleep?" Raven yawned, rubbing her eye with the back of her hand, Lily only moved to pull her into the hug too, catching Susan in the motion.
"Err…mum…why am I naked?" Raven asked as she slowly realised her state of attire or lack thereof.
Lily moved back and released the trio, the twins pulled up the covers to hid their bodies and preserve their modesty, cute blushes adorning their features.
"Well…you sort of bonded with Susan…" Lily stammered, not sure how to explain the situation, Harry and Raven sent her confused looks, Susan however, clung to Harry, hugging him snuggling into him, finding comfort as she surrounded herself in the scent of one of her mates.
"Err…" Lily stammered, trying to find the words to explain the situation when the door opened and Amelia entered the room followed by a filthy man.
"Lily you have a visitor…oh they're awake." Amelia greeted, her eyes widening at the sight before her.
"Lily? But how?" Sirius gasped.
"Killing curse doesn't work on vampires." Lily answered.
"Since when were you a vampire?" He questioned, while true he did notice she had an odd scent through his animagus form he was never sure why.
"I'll explain it to you later." Lily answered with a rather sheepish expression as she rose from her chair and moved to hug her old friend, he returned it and for once Lily actually regretted having enhanced senses, including an enhanced sense of smell, when they parted Lily turned to face Amelia.
"Thank you." She said, gratitude filling her voice, Amelia gave her a kind smile.
"Don't mention it." She answered, Lily's smile grew, she turned back to the twins.
"Harry, Raven meet your godfather Lord Sirius, Sirius meet your godchildren and their new mate, Susan Bones." Lily introduced.
"Mate?" Sirius questioned, eyes widening as he turned back to Lily.
"I think I'll let Amelia explain." Lily answered before slipping out of the room, Amelia's eyes widened, her gaze shot about and widening further in horror at all the questioning and mostly innocent expectant looks she was receiving.
'Oh Lily you'll pay for this, mark my words you shall pay.' Amelia inwardly swore before setting about the embarrassing task of explaining how the children became mates, why they were naked and what it meant for them to be mates.
A/N Hope this chapter didn't drag, first attempt at a Harry Potter courtroom scene, sorry if I made any errors, I open to any suggestions and please review.