Chapter 10

The morning of December the 17 dawned to the odd sight of a castle full of multicolored students. Green and silver Slytherins, yellow and black Hufflepuffs, blue and bronze, Ravenclaws, and red and gold Gryffindors. On each notice board in every common room was pinned a piece of parchment.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.
THE ROGUES

That morning, at breakfast, most of the younger years, first through fourth, sported their house colors. The older years, fifth through seventh, had used a finite on themselves and some of their younger friends and siblings. Still, there were quite a number of students with odd hair colors.

As soon as they entered Great Hall, Leo and Lyra made a beeline for Dora.

"Help us, dear, kind cousin!" they pleaded, piling it on rather thick.

"Oh very well, don't think that I don't know that you did it," she said while pulling out her wand. "Finite incantatem."

"Thanks Dora!"

As it was, about a quarter of the students of Hogwarts climbed aboard the Express with green, silver, gold, blue, red, or bronze hair. The three fifth year Ravenclaw girls had chosen to keep their hair, but they were the only ones. All the others were multicolored because they couldn't undo the charm, and they didn't think to asked someone fifth year or above.

"That was a brilliant prank idea, Lyra!" the Weasleys said together when they had claimed a compartment.

"Yeah, did you see their faces?" Leo asked. "They'll be driving themselves crazy to find out who the Rogues are more than ever, now."

"We've got to be careful," Lyra cautioned, "if we don't act puzzled," here all three boys adopted exaggerated puzzled expressions, "not that puzzled, don't over do it. As I was saying, if we don't act puzzled, then we'll be prime suspects."

"You've got a good point," her brother nodded at her.

"She always does." Fred's comment was unexpected.

"Um, thanks."

There was an awkward silence. George broke it by saying-

"I am so glad that we did the Rogues, if it were just me and Fred, we would have been taking full credit, and would have been in numerous detentions and gotten lots and lots of howlers from Mum. Have you heard one of her howlers? They're awful.

"Yeah, I wasn't looking forward to Cousin Andi's either, but thankfully, Dora didn't tell."

As if her name was a summons, Dora appeared in the compartment door clutching an envelope.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure," came the chorus.

"Leo, Lyra, Mum sent a letter." She paused.

"Yes?"

"She's trying to make up with Aunt Narcissa again. Dad's picking us up, and she you to be on your best behavior. Meet Aunt Narcissa, then go directly to your rooms. Separate." She put a lot of stress on the 'separate'. "That means no pranks, or you will regret it. More than dish washing this time."

The two faces fell. Lyra started pouting, which made her look startlingly like her cousin Bellatrix. Dora and Leo shuddered, while Fred and George looked confused.

"Don't do that, Lyra, you look like I-killed-S-" he stopped abruptly, realizing that he wasn't alone with Lyra.

Lyra shuddered. "That is not happening, ever! I refuse to allow it."

Leo nodded his agreement.

"What not happening?" asked the other three.

"We can't tell you, we promised Dumbledore.

"Alright," Dora shrugged and left it, but when she was gone, the Weasleys pressed them.

"What did you mean?"

"What's not going to happen?"

"Err.."

"Um.."

"We'll tell you later," they said together in a hurry.

"We're holding you to that."

The next few hours, until the lunch trolly came along, were occupied with multiple Exploding Snap (or as Leo called it, Exploding Snape) tournaments. As soon as the twins had almost bought out the pumpkin pasties with the money Dora gave them, Lyra got up to use the restroom.

"Be back in two ticks!"

She made her way to the front of the train. On her way there, she passed a compartment which contained five of the first-year Slytherins, including Parkinson and Fireson. She continued to the restroom with an evil grin on her face. When she had relieved herself, she returned to the door, taking care to keep out of site. One whispered colloportus later, and she was skipping back to her friends.

"What took you so long?" Fred asked as she entered.

"I was busy."

"Busy doing what?"

"You'll see. Just exit by the front when we leave." She reached up into her trunk and pulled out a slip of parchment and a quill. "Live...do not...disturb," she muttered under her breath as she wrote. "Right. Be right back." Stowing her quill, she ran down the length of the train.

"Wingardium Leviosa, Epoximise." She levitated and stuck the sign on the door. She grinned at her handy work. There was a glass window into a compartment with five young people in it. On that window was a sign.

LIVE SNAKES. DO NOT DISTURB.

They were nearing the end of their journey when Bill entered the compartment. He had a look of determination on his face, like he was about to challenge someone. And challenge he did.

"You're the Rogues." He sat down next to Fred and glared at them.

"No!"

"Why would you think that?"

"Impossible."

"You are suffering from delusions, dear brother mine."

Bill snorted. "You told me yourself. Don't try denying it."

"When did we tell you?" George asked. He was supported by yeahs from the others.

"On Halloween. Courtesy of half of the Rogues and accomplice. I'm not blind."

"So you're the mysterious accomplice!" exclaimed Fred and George together. They turned to Leo and Lyra. "Why didn't you tell us, he's our brother!"

"Fear of retribution," said Leo, as if it explained everything. In truth, it probably did.

When they got to the platform, they quickly said good-bye to the Weasleys then lugged their trunks to where Ted was standing, scanning the crowd for them and Dora.

"There you are, you three. Here, give me your trunks." He tapped them with his wand, making them shrink to doll-sized trunks. "Dora, stay here in the corner with the trunks, I'll be right back. Leo, Lyra, grab my arms." In three cracks, all four had vanished.

The two sisters, Narcissa and Andromeda, were sipping tea in the sitting room. There came a crack. Ted, Lyra, and Leo had popped into view. Another two cracks, and Ted was back with Dora.

"Dora, you remember your aunt Narcissa, and Leo, Lyra, this is your first cousin once removed, Narcissa Malfoy. She is my sister. 'Cissy, this is Leo Black, and this is Lyra Black, Sirius's children.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Cousin Narcissa," Lyra greeted politely. "How are you, Cousin Andi?" She was interrupted by Leo.

"Bloody hell, Harry was right, at the World Cup, she-" he broke off. Both Dora and Lyra hit him. Hard.

"Shut-" began Dora.

"Up." completed Lyra.

"Let's go upstairs," said Dora as she grabbed Both Lyra and Leo's arms. "Cousin Narcissa, Mum." She dragged the twins up the stairs, dropping Leo off in his bedroom, and sealing the door with a colloportus. She then marched Lyra off to their room and sealed that door, as well. With a long suffering sigh, Lyra sat down on her bed and opened the Return of the King.

When Leo was left alone in his room, he pulled his trunk out of one pocket, and his wand out of the other. He poked the trunk experimentally. To his delight, it grew back to it's original size. He stuck it at the foot of his bed, then walked over to the calender on the wall. When he saw how close Christmas was, he gave a start. Presents! Not only for Lyra, but for Ted, Cousin Andi, and Dora as well. He dug around the bottom drawer of his dresser. He seemed to remember putting the bag from Gringotts in there. There it was! He pulled it open and looked inside.

On top of the heap of golden Galleons, there were two small, black boxes.

That night at dinner, no one could figure out why Leo was not present. It was only half way through the meal that Dora remember that she had locked the door, and he couldn't use magic.

(The next day...)

"Cousin Andi?"

"Yes Lyra?"

"Could we go to Diagon Alley today? We have Christmas shopping to do."

"I don't think we have anything planned, just staying at home. Alright, we can do that. Let me call Dora."

Soon, almost the whole family was standing in the Leaky Cauldron, brushing off soot.

"Can we go-" began Leo

"-and get presents-" continued Lyra

"-without you watching?" finished both at once.

Cousin Andi looked indecisive. "Only if I cast a tracking spell on you, and if you promise not to do anything besides get gifts."

"Why would we?" they asked, with too innocent smiles.

"That's what I'm afraid of," said Cousin Andi grimly. "Very well, you may. Be at Florean Fortescue's in one hour. Semita."

"Bye!" they chorused.

The hour was almost up, and they had gotten everything they needed.

"You head down to the Ice Cream place, Lyra, I'll be there. I've got to use the restroom bad," Leo told his sister, right outside Eeylops Owl Emporium.

"Alright. See you there."

Leo entered the shop and walked up to the young man behind the counter.

"Could you send this to Leo and Lyra Black on December 25th?" he asked, holding up the two boxes that he had found.

"Sure thing," replied the man, taking them. "Who should I say is sending them?"

"Please send them anonymously. They're Christmas presents."

"Ah, I understand. Say no more, and consider it done."

"Thanks!"

(Christmas, December 25, 1989...)

Dora was bounced awake by a hyper eleven year old at seven in the morning.

"Wake up wake up it's Christmas!" The ball of energy bunny hopped out of the room and down the hall. Leo's door was flung open as she reached it.

"It's Christmas!" they shouted together, then bounced away to the elder Tonks' room.

It was a rather sleepy family that walked downstairs to the Christmas tree that morning, excepting, of course, the two youngest members.

There were presents for all, and Cousin Andi had made a Danish Pastry, which they ate while opening. Lyra, as the youngest, went first. There was a sack of dungbombs from Leo, which Ted confiscated, a packet of Liquorice Wands and Jelly Slugs from Dora, a hair clip that had been hers from Cousin Andi, and a copy of Hogwarts; A History from Ted. ("Are you sure you're not a Ravenclaw?")

Then it was Leo's turn. He had a copy of The Silmarilian from Lyra ("You wanted to read it"), Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bots from Dora, an assortment of leather hair ties from Cousin Andi ("You need something to hold back that crazy hair of yours"), and a Muggle sketch pad, pencil box, and eraser from Ted."

Dora was next. She got a set of quills from Leo and Lyra, a hair clip that matched Lyra's from her mother, and a mug with her name on it from her father.

Cousin Andi and Ted went together, as all three children had collaborated to get their present for them. It was a first edition copy of A History of Magic, in perfect condition.

"This, this is amazing! Thank you!" Cousin Andi gathered them all in a group hug.

"Merry Christmas," they all said with a smile. Their wonderful morning was interrupted by the arrival of two owls. One was an old, tired beast, who flopped limply on the table. The other was a normal post owl. They each bore packages marked Leo and Lyra. They opened the floppy parcel first.

It was two purple Weasley sweaters, each with a large, yellow 'L' in the middle.

"Weasley sweaters!" squealed the twins. "Our very own Weasley sweaters!" They pulled them on over their pajamas and started a victory dance.

If owls could clear their throats, the post owl had done so. Dora turned from watching the odd dance taking place on the table, and gently pulled the boxes off of him. He flew off in a huff.

"Oi, Elvendorks!"

"Yes Nymphadora?"

"These are for you as well." She tossed them the small boxes that Leo had mailed a week before. They slowly opened them. There was a slip of parchment and a ring in Leo's, and Lyra had a locket inside of hers.

Leo read his first.

My Dearest Son and Daughter,

As I am writing this, you are lying in a crib next to me. Your godmother, Lily Evans is rocking you, while your godfather, James Potter, is making faces at you. I hope that you will never read this letter, but if you are, please know that I love you and am very proud of you. The ring in your box, Leo, is the ring of the heir of the Black family. When you set it on your finger, it will only be visible to members of the Black family. The locket in your box, Lyra, was your mothers. The photos in it are of Marlene and I. The curly hair is Marlene's, and the strait is mine. I love you both.

Your father,
Sirius Black.

P.S. Aunt Lily and Uncle Prongs say hi.

Slowly, Leo placed the ring on his finger. There was a flash, and only Lyra and Cousin Andi could see it. Lyra then opened the necklace. As Sirius had said, there were two locks of hair, and two photos. She showed them around. Both Leo and Lyra were crying, though later Leo would deny it. Lyra slipped the locket around her neck, then collapsed with Leo into Cousin Andi's arms.

Sorry this took so long to get up, I hope you like it. I had a bit of writers block, but Elladan pestered me through it. I also was re-reading Lord of the Rings. That can be a bit of a set back. If you like Lord of the Rings fan fiction, I'd recommended checking out my sister Nimrodel626's page. I may be a bit biased, but I think she writes really well.

~Ginny

House Points Question: Who was Harry supposed to originally speak to in fifth year, before his hearing was turned into a full-blown trial.

House Points:

Gryffindor: 70

Ravenclaw: 10

Slytherin:

Hufflepuff:

Remember, leave your Hogwarts house with your answer, and your house will be awarded ten points.