Dormant Life: Philosopher's Stone

by Maud Greyluck

At King's Cross Harry Potter made a choice, but he didn't calculate into his plan that Fate will have something to say about it. Robbed off his former memories he is robbed of his parentage and grows up happily as the only son of Sirius Black but then..

11. Chapter 11: The World Around Us

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything what you can recognize from the books. I do however own the plot of this story but I don't have profits because of it unless you count improving my English as a profit.

Thanks to omega13a for beta-reading and helpful suggestions.

Dedicated to all my wonderful Readers.

This chapter is incredibly personal and at the same time it isn't. It's something which had waited to get out of my system since April. It's imperfect and I know it. But the again reality in ideal world never seems perfect. I done it for few reasons: in some way to honor people who had lost their lives in a tragic accident on 10th April in Smolensk, I might not agreed with the most of them for the most of the time but I bear in mind that they weren't just politicians, they were people like the rest of us, people who lost their lives in tragic accident and a loss of life should always be honored because it's the last thing we can do for them. This is my small tribute to their memory as imperfect as it is I wrote it from the bottom of my heart.

There are other reasons, plot concerned. Harry, meaning Regulus, needs to start growing out of his worry free childhood for the sake of becoming the man who can defeat Voldemort without having to many people noticing that he wasn't dead. For that he needs to stop being a child and acting like a grown man and therefore making big man's decisions. He needs to find within himself the power which Voldemort has not. Another plot concerned reason is: actually how many times you can read the same scenario? I need to make changes in the story to not bore you to death and to sum up whole Philosopher's Stone in two chapters, even though the change in the plot line is drastic I don't think that I would get past twenty chapters for year one and even if I did it would be only a chapter or two, three tops (and yes I'm stretching the possibilities).

Besides I had an ulterior motive (and I'm not mentioning it yet).

---

Chapter eleven: The World Around Us.

S. B.

It was Thursday, 31st October. Like at any average Thursday Mirzam only had only one double Ancient Runes with the third years.

He had stayed at home, together with Moony, Randa, Alana and Minnie, he was supposed to dispatch them through the Floo Network just in time for History of Magic and get ready to go to work.

He had drunk his coffee, yelled at Moony for losing Codex of the Honourable Auror, tried to maintain some order with three nine years old girls on a sugar high (either because they had eaten pancakes with maple syrup for breakfast or because of Halloween itself) and five minutes to half past ten after sending the girls to Hogwarts he was ready to leave

Since the Ministry of Magic wasn't too far away and he was supposed to start work at eleven o'clock he chose to get there by foot.

Upon reaching the street which lead to the guest entrance of the Ministry he realised that something was wrong, very wrong.

The street was too crowded for this time of the day and too many people in the crowd wore cloaks. He managed to spot Dora talking animatedly with Shack, behind her were other Auror trainees who were supposed to visit Auror Headquarters today and he frowned.

"Mr Black," someone called his name through the crowd. "Commissioner Black!" the voice started getting closer and closer and in few seconds he saw Dawlish making his way through the crowd.

"Johnny!" he called back. "What's going on here?"

"We don't know, sir," Dawlish answered quickly as he stopped in front of Sirius. "All that we know is that all entrances to the Ministry of Magic are blocked. We can't get in and we don't know what's happening with people inside. It's a disaster, sir."

Sirius took a deep breath as he scratched his beard before he said, "Tell the trainees to arrange our people on the street by the departments and the offices in them. They will also gather information from those people about who from their office or department should be inside the building. In the meantime take Tau division to place very strong deception spells on the buildings on the street, I don't want any Muggles looking through the windows; make Sigma division close the street. Whoever is from Kappa division is here, contact St Mungo's, discretely that they should prepare for arrival of people who possibly will be injured. I want all of Omega division, which at this hour is not on duty inside the Ministry, right in front of the guest entrance. Tau, after finishing with their duties will join them. Other divisions help the trainees to collect the information, contact their heads or deputy heads if they are here."

"Yes, sir!" Dawlish saluted and hurried away, barking the orders on the way.

Omega division immediately gathered by the guest entrance to the Ministry of Magic, Sirius watched from the corner of his eye when he was trying to activate the guest lift by typing the standard password. Thrice the answer to the password was a dull silence and no movement at all.

"Andromeda Team to me!" he yelled without turning around as he started typing emergency password. "We go in fours. Next group which is going downstairs presses redial. The last person from Andromeda comes back upstairs to call down, or not Aurora and the others if the need arises!"

In the meantime he was typing the numbers 46326437.

He, Shack, Dawlish and Proudfoot squeezed into the lift before it started lowering.

Something was wrong, very wrong, the descent was far too slow for the emergency lift and far too loud for him to like it. Suddenly when the lift hit something with a dull thud just as the windows started showing the floor in Atrium and all four of them lost their footing.

He hit his head against the glass and cursed loudly as he closed his eyes but immediately after opening them any curses he knew had died on his lips.

The atrium was in ruins, the way to the lifts was covered with stones and the remains of glass. He looked up at the topmost levels… The level one and two seemed non-existent. Half of the level three had collapsed onto level four. The level five lacked windows and he could see bodies hanging from the gaping holes in the once beautiful building.

"Dawlish, examine the damage of the structure of atrium. Proudfoot, move the stones under the lift out of the way. Shack, you are going with me," Sirius whispered. "Johnny, you will find someone from Andromeda who will tell Aurora to start the search from level eight upwards, Tau will take levels nine and ten. Under no circumstances don't use the main lifts, we don't know the extent of the damage there."

"Sir, others have arrived," Dawlish announced.

"Carpenter!" Sirius barked. "Immediately go upstairs. You will be descending in sixes. Andromeda, Aurora, Tau and Sigma. Kappa takes over the order upstairs and inform St Mungo's immediately that they will probably receive many injured, send for Healers for those that are to injured to be moved. Sigma will go from level eight upwards, all of Omega will go from level one downstairs. Tau searches levels nine and ten. On your way you are taking downstairs any injured, we will collect the dead in a second sweep. Additionally find some Ministry official and tell him to deal with the press. NOW!"

"What's going to happen now?" whispered meekly one of the secretaries in DMLE offices, how he got there while the Aurors were passing Sirius didn't know.

All that he saw was quite a big group of non-Aurors looking at him expectantly.

"We will ensure that the living will continue to live," Sirius said. "We will pay proper respect to the dead, ensure that they will be buried with all the honours they deserve, that their families will be taken care of."

"That's people," said one person from the crowd. "What about the Ministry of Magic, how we are supposed to function, where, with whom in our lead?"

"I trust that employees of Department of Magical Law Enforcement will be able to work out proper personnel arrangements, Mr Fellony," Sirius said loudly. "I'm more educated in criminal laws rather than constitutional ones so I cannot answer immediately that question. As for where I suggest Hogwarts, from what I know the Ministry of Magic was invited to use the part of the classrooms which aren't in use as temporary offices for as long as required. The most important papers were already transported there with guards placed by them. Additionally those bodies which St Mungo's wasn't able to admit today to their morgue were transported to the catacombs located under Hogwarts's graveyard.

"For now it's essential for Department of Magical Law Enforcement officials, those who had remained, to get to Hogwarts, consult the codexes, others educated in the area of constitutional law, like retired members of DMLE, Professor Dumbledore or any person who knows constitutional law. In the meantime, Aurors, using the list of Ministry of Magic's employees which at the time of the tragedy were inside the Ministry Headquarters as well as our own knowledge, together with the help of pathologists from St Mungo to prepare complete list of deceased, injured, missing people.

"What I'm planning to do might seem against the law but allow me to inform you that the actions which I'm going to take now aren't born from ill will or wanting to be noble… No, I understand that together with the deaths of Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge; Madam Amelia Bones, the Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office it is my duty to ensure that the investigation of this tragedy is lead properly and that no statues are breached. And it's very likely that they are dead considering the damage to the building itself. Therefore, after stationing Aurors around the site I will go to talk with the Muggle Prime Minister about the need to close this street and the adjoining streets by Aurors in disguise of Muggle police," Sirius explained carefully. "Please proceed to your other duties."

"What about informing the nation about the scale of this tragedy?" asked one of the Ministry officials, one of DMLE employees.

"I think that families should be informed first. If some of you are willing to help us in passing this tragic news to the families you know that their families should be inside the building, of course after making sure that they are indeed dead or injured, you are truly welcomed. After informing immediate family DMLE should appoint a spokesperson who would remain in contact with the newspapers and wires," Sirius said sombrely.

Most of the people started clearing away, some were arranging into groups, especially around the young Aurors. They were talking animatedly, most probably settling the details of informing the families.

"Sirius," Kingsley said quietly. "Emergency bridge?"

"There is no other way, Shack," Sirius shook his head sadly. "Do the honours."

Shack pressed the correct combination of bricks with his wand and spiralling stairs had emerged from the wall and from the ceiling had emerged a bridge to the emergency exit on level one.

They were hurrying along the bridge as if chased by a herd of dragons. Sirius was the first one to reach the emergency exit from level one and upon opening them he had to resist the urge to throw up.

Bodies, or more accurately remains of many bodies were sprawled around the floor next to emergency exit, the ceiling of The Minister of Magic's office was half collapsed on the floor.

He took a deep, shaky breath, scolded himself for delaying his work and started making his way through the wreckage, checking for survivors. They weren't any.

He entered The Minister's Office on weak legs while through his mind had passed many hurried thoughts. Okay he didn't like Fudge and in his opinion Fudge was an idiot and a puppet but Fudge was also a human being and he didn't wish him dead. Just getting kicked out from his office.

In The Minister's Office were only two bodies. One was Umbridge's, the only death which didn't make him feel like mourning and the other of Fudge himself. His lime green bowler hat was laying on the floor next to him as Fudge's unseeing eyes were starring at the ceiling, the look upon Fudge's face had showed the last feeling which the man had experienced was of utter horror and the finality of approaching death.

Unaware of what he was doing he knelt on one knee next to Fudge's body and diligently, slowly and carefully he closed older man's eyes, then collected his bowler hat and placed it on Fudge's chest to hide the gaping hole in his stomach.

"Shack," Sirius said quietly.

"Mockingbird, sir," corrected quickly a very shaky voice.

"Mockingbird," Sirius corrected himself. "Once Omega crosses the bridge, take last of them with you and bring the Minister's body to the atrium, with all his due respect, please. I will search the rest of the floor with the others."

The way downstairs was even harder. No one from Omega (and there were about fifty of them) hadn't found a person that was still alive on level one.

The descent downstairs to level two had filled all of them with dread. After all Omega was the only division that was stationed in Ministry Headquarters and between the dead there will be many of their co-workers, friends and colleagues.

He paid quiet respect to the bodies of Amelia Bones and the people who were in her office when ever what happened had occurred.

They still hadn't found any survivors on their way.

Suddenly through the air had passed shriek, "Mr Black! Mr Black!"

He followed the shriek as fast as he could without tripping at the bodies of his friends and colleagues on his way and fell into Scrimgeour's office breathing heavily.

"Sirius!" he heard soft whisper. "Sirius…"

"Rufus," he choked out as he jolted forward, falling to his knees in front of his one time mentor and long time colleague. "Ruffy, don't you dare to think about leaving us…" he begged.

"Take … care … of … our … peop…" Scrimgeour whispered, choking out the word but he didn't have a chance to finish his thought because his eyes had rolled out in their sockets.

Sirius could practically feel Scrimgeour's soul leaving his body and passing between his inferiors.

He closed his own eyes, trying desperately to hold back the tears which started slowly gathering there. When he opened his eyes again, a lone tear slipped down his face as he brought his right hand to gently close Scrimgeour's eyes.

"Kingsley, Johnny," he whispered. "Be gentle. Emilianus, Horace," he added without turning around Proudfoot's and Savage's names, "take care of Madam Bones, you will find her body in her office."

"Yes, sir," the four of them saluted.

With a heavy heart he made his way to the corridor where the rest of his inferiors had gathered. One look at their sombre faces and eyes full of tears which simply weren't spilled yet was enough. There were no survivors on level two either.

Descending down to level two brought the feeling of his stomach filled with lead as he passed between the bodies of members of the Muggle Worthy Excuses Comittete, the Invisibility Task Force, the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, and the Oblivators.

There were no survivors here either.

At least on level four there were survivors, though heavily injured, ten out of around fifty which worked on that floor. With extreme care Sirius sent them away, in assistance of Aurors, after his Aurors gave them first aid.

Upon reaching the stairs level five he had ran into Hawthorn, the head of Division Sigma.

"Sir!" Hawthorn saluted upon seeing him.

"Auror Hawthorn," Sirius nodded slowly. "Report, please."

"About two hundred and ten injured sir. Ten in critical conditions, might not survive the transportation to St Mungo's."

"And levels nine and ten?" Sirius asked quietly.

"I counted with those levels, sir," Hawthorn explained. "Tau is helping ours."

"Once you are done with moving the victims, please start removing the dead from the building. Remember to use stairs only. I'd hate to lose more Aurors in this tragedy than those who were already on duty in the Ministry today," Sirius said slowly. "Omega will do the same thing from level four up."

"Robertson from Tau reported to me that St Mungo's already arrived. The first healers left with the first group of injured, about twenty of them, the most heavy injured who we found during our search. There is a group of lightly injured, especially on levels seven, nine and ten. Those are either helping us or are arranging the bodies of the dead to be transported…"

"Contact Headmaster Dumbledore about it, Hawthorn," Sirius said quietly. "Hogwarts has catacombs near the graveyard, they are empty now, St Mungo's won't be able to admit so many bodies. I'd hate to leave their bodies here because that construction might collapse any minute now."

"Should Tau secure the papers, sir?" Hawthorn asked quietly.

"As soon as we will move the bodies from the building. At level nine should be enough special trunks for that. Once they are filled and locked send them to Hogwarts and tell Professor Dumbledore to find someone to mind them until a Ministry official will come to relieve them, preferably someone trustworthy, the most trustworthy," Sirius nodded.

"And you, sir?" Hawthorn asked meekly.

"I will help Omega and will help Kappa and the trainees. They are probably going frantic by now but as long as we have healers travelling back and forth I won't go upstairs," Sirius shook his head.

Emptying level four of bodies was incredibly painful duty, not painful physically but emotionally.

For about two hours Aurors were coming and leaving the offices in company of the dead, they were aided by those of the survivors whose injures allowed them to help in moving the bodies into more respectable places.

Despite his earlier promises Sirius had remained with the Aurors who had secured all the files from all of the departments.

Just as the last trunk was closed and carried by two Aurors in the direction of the lifts by which Sirius was waiting the ceiling of the atrium had cracked dangerously.

He had hissed impatiently at the Aurors and quickly run to them to help them carry the trunk to the lift.

They stepped inside and had pressed return button just as the first lone stone from Atrium's ceiling had fallen down, quickly followed by the others, soon the remaining levels of the Ministry Headquarters started collapsing one on another and then all had collapsed onto the Atrium's floor just as Atrium's light went out and the three of them had found themselves in a dark tunnel.

The phone-box emerged from the ground and the light of the day had hit his eyes so hard that he had to close them.

The door had opened and they emerged from the phone-box, first the Aurors and he as the last.

His eyes had meet the eyes of so many others and he shook his head sadly. There were no words in which he could describe the horror of what he had seen under the ground and he had lived through a war with Voldemort as an Auror and that was saying something.

After instructing the Aurors to stand immediate around the entrances to the Ministry of Magic, he had hurried without wasting time to 10 Downing Street.

Luckily for him he yet had to break the habit of leaving his Invisibility Cloak in the pocket of his uniform cloak so hidden under the cloak he had Apparated through the emergency ward placed around the 10 Downing Street, more particularly Prime Minister's office, luckily for him empty, sans the man himself who was sipping his tea between turning the pages of the memo he was reading.

It was greatly uncomfortable occurrence, of course he had met the Prime Minister, on occasions, two or three when Aurors had failed to capture a serious criminal, dangerous not only to wizards but to Muggles as well and since Fudge hated to pass bad news that unpleasant duty had fallen either Scrimgeour or Sirius and Scrimgeour both. However never before he had eye to eye conversation with the Prime Minister.

He cleared his throat softly and with a grim satisfaction watched how man's eyes immediately landed at the portrait of frog like man with silver wig in the far corner of the room.

"It wasn't me, Prime Minister," the portrait coughed. "But it seems to me that you are in company of a wizard or witch."

"Err, hello?" Prime Minister mumbled nervously.

Sirius quickly threw the hood of his cloak from his face as he turned to face the man while he shed the rest of his cloak.

"Prime Minister," he said quietly. "I'm terribly sorry for interrupting in your work."

"Can wait," the man said unsurely. "Not every day I get such surprising visits from members of your kin Mr…"

"Black," Sirius said quickly. "Sirius Black, Deputy Commissioner in the Auror Office, County of Great Magical London. To explain it on visuals someone akin to the Assistant Commissioner of the City of the London Police."

"Ah, we had meet before, Commissioner Scrimgeour introduced you during the search of Morgan the murderer," the man said with slowly appearing smile. "You appeared to be terribly tired back then."

Sirius tried to stop the blush which crept upon his face, trust the man to remember him at his worst, "I'm terribly sorry for that, several sleepless nights of the chase, coupled with quite a heavy blow to the head didn't make me the most gentleman companion around."

"I don't feel insulted Commissioner Black, I understand that we aren't always at our best. How your superior is faring?" the man asked curiously.

"I would love to say, very well Prime Minister," Sirius sighed. "However citizens of wizard world were …"

He didn't have a chance to finish because there was a telephone ring and the man had to answer that.

"I'm terribly sorry Commissioner Black, but Commissioner Owen Kelly is asking for a meeting," Prime Minister had said as he put the telephone away.

"Oh, really," Sirius sighed. "Actually I was planning to talk with him too since the reason of my sudden visit also falls into the area of his duties."

They waited a moment before the man himself walked into the office. Upon spotting Sirius his eyes opened wide and he mumbled, "Please, Commissioner, not another criminal."

"I'm afraid that there will be one if my inferiors will learn that he or she had survived, Commissioner Kelly," Sirius sighed grimly.

"And you are asking for what exactly, Commissioner Black?" the older man sighed.

"Evacuating London's citizens from the area around Leicester Square and Covent Garden tube stations and I will be really pertinacious about it, Commissioner Kelly," Sirius said sternly.

"You are a mad man," Commissioner Kelly breathed out.

"That would be the one who at half past ten o'clock this morning had walked into the atrium of British Ministry of Magic and fifteen minutes later had blew up whole building, effectively killing Minister of Magic and his entire office, all Aurors which at this hour were stationed inside the Headquarters on duty, including the Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Head of Auror Office, Commissioner Scrimgeour, whom I believe you had the pleasure to meet, Commissioner Kelly, as well as many, many others. Which at the moment leaves me as the highest person in command of what is left of the Ministry of Magic until our constitutional lawyers appoint someone more suitable than an Auror. Insofar I know about four hundred thirty dead, two hundred and ten injured, twenty missing and Merlin only knows how many people who had been there when this terrible tragedy occurred," Sirius explained stiffly. "To put it on visuals of your citizens imagine that whole house of Parliament was blown up, together with 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace while the Queen and her family were inside, all at the same time during the work day when Parliament is in session. That's how the tragedy which meet us looks to wizarding citizens. So, Commissioner Kelly, will I get your blessing to protect your people while I investigate the deaths of my people?"

The man sighed but nevertheless he gave Sirius curd nod as he shook his head and added, "Help me if you ever get promoted higher than the Auror Office…"

"Don't worry, Commissioner Kelly," Sirius said grimly. "If I get promoted I will ensure that my successor will be only twice as persistent as I happen to be."

"Should I walk you to the door?" Prime Minister asked suddenly.

"Better not, Prime Minister," Sirius gave the man small smile. "I'm afraid that it won't give you good press if you did. I will simply leave the same way I got here."

"How many people have access to that way of transportation, to this place?" asked Commissioner Kelly grimly.

"At the moment?" Sirius scratched his beard. "Only me. Before the attack there would be the Minister of Magic, my direct superior, Commissioner Scrimgeour and me. Additionally if we felt that it was necessary for the safety of the Prime Minister one of my Aurors whose duty was to protect the Prime Minister in case of magical attacks, but since until now were no inclinations of such attack at the moment I'm the only one person able to get here through the wards. Speaking about bodyguards, I will feel much more better if one or two of my Aurors for next few weeks were members of your crew, Prime Minister."

"If you feel that it is necessary," Prime Minister said nervously.

"It's your death which is unnecessary, Prime Minister," Sirius stressed out.

"What about the Queen and Royal family, Commissioner Black?" Commissioner Kelly asked quickly. "Do you protect them as well?"

"We do," Sirius nodded shortly. "Had been doing it for ages actually, Commissioner Kelly. Now you have to pardon me gentlemen but I have to go back to my work. A lot of things have been done but even more needs to be done."

He threw his invisibility cloak around his shoulders and wrapped it around his body before he pulled on the hood of the cloak.

"Our army would appreciate a device like this one," sighed Commissioner Kelly.

"It's a part of the standard equipment for Aurors, Commissioner Kelly. But don't worry. Your scientists perhaps in a decade or two would be able to create an invisibility cloak without the use of magic," Sirius said before he nodded as he added, "Prime Minister, Commissioner Kelly, I wish you good day."

He Apparated immediately to the area of the site, located Shack and Dawlish, and beckoned them to come to him.

"Sirius," Shack sighed.

"We have Kelly's blessing," Sirius sighed. "Anyone had come with some good excuses?"

"Leak in the gas main. We are evacuating them out of the fear of the street blowing up. Muggle Worthy Excuses will take them to some hotel on the outskirts of London. Also prevent any contact with the muggle press. Their memories of the day will be modified upon arrival to truly believe in the leak, Shack you will brainwash the gas company. We need to reopen the streets, at least partly to bring the buses to them."

"You are searching for any signs of magic in the area, ensuring the safety of the houses, and be quick about it. As soon as the Muggles leave have the experts check the structural integrity of the streets and later of the Ministry. If there is anything which can be repaired, do so, especially the Ministry's ceiling," Sirius ordered. "The last thing we want is for this area to collapse into the Ministry."

"And you?" Dawlish asked.

"I will go to St Mungo's after quickly consulting with those who will be informing the families. I will help them as much as I can, then pay a visit to Hogwarts. You can reach me by two-way mirror at any time."

His discussion with Thomson about first going over the list of killed, grievously injured, injured in lesser extent, as well as missing from either list had lead to two trips, one to St Mungo's and another to Hogwarts's catacombs and both of them were incredibly sombre.

Four hundred forty people in total were killed, another ten were grievously injured, two hundred were injured in lesser extent. The attack had occurred when most offices were filled with most of their staff. Those who happened to be at the end of the street outside the Ministry were people from the late morning and afternoon shifts who arrived earlier because some of the Departments scheduled big meetings around noon, usually closer to eleven o'clock than noon.

From all the Aurors Divisions in United Kingdom, Division Omega had suffered the most terrible losses, out of one hundred and sixty Aurors in Omega Division as whole around a hundred were killed in the attack, a few were fighting for their lives in St Mungo. The rest of the division had remained at the site of the attack together with Divisions Tau and Kappa who were scheduled to have a meeting today at noon with Scrimgeour and Sirius about, oh irony, the safety of the most important public buildings in the area of their Magical Counties.

It was his sad duty to inform Charlotte Fudge, Rosalyn Scrimgeour and the Bones family about the attack which killed their husbands and sister. To his greatest discomfort upon Apparating to the gates of the Fudges residence, after being let in by Mrs Fudge into the sitting room he had spotted Rosalyn Scrimgeour and Arianna Bones, Madam Bones's sister-in-law seated at the couch with cups of tea in their hands.

"Mrs Fudge… Mrs Scrimgeour, Mrs Bones…" he whispered.

"Mr Black…" Mrs Fudge said straightforwardly, she was far more straightforward than her husband ever could be. "Did something happen?"

"I'm afraid …" he started and stopped immediately as he tried to swallow the bile which suddenly appeared in his throat. "I'm terribly sorry to inform you that Minister Fudge, Commissioner Scrimgeour and Madam Bones were …" he paused to quickly take a breath as he said those words, "killed in a dreadful accident which happened at the Ministry of Magic Headquarters today…"

"How many others… Sirius," Mrs Scrimgeour whispered.

"Four hundred and forty," Sirius whispered. "Ten might die in a matter of hours. Twenty are still missing. Two hundred were injured to a lesser extent."

"Omega?" Mrs Scrimgeour said quietly.

"From those who were inside when the attack occurred only ten had lived, their conditions are critical. Others are clearing the site and are examining the damage in the structure of the buildings around the Ministry. They are being aided by those from other divisions who were supposed to meet with us at noon…" Sirius explained quietly.

"Did they suffer, Sirius?" Mrs Fudge asked. "Greatly?"

"I…" Sirius started and chocked on the bile in his throat. "I saw Minister's body upon entering his office… he looked … looked like he felt, knew that he will die in a moment."

"Amelia?" Mrs Bones whispered.

"Extensive damage from the collapse of the first floor, was crushed by the stones, one of the heavy ones hit her on the head…" Sirius shook his head sadly.

"And…" Mrs Scrimgeour started.

"Was alive when we found him…" Sirius whispered, feeling tears welling behind his eyes. "Extensive damage in the central region… he was bleeding heavily but he was still clinging to life only to die in my arms as he passed his last order to … to take care of our people…"

A glass of cognac was pressed into his hand and he gulped it immediately.

"The Ministry itself?" Mrs Fudge asked quietly.

"In ruins, Mrs Fudge," Sirius rasped out as the cognac burnt in his throat. "We placed enchantments but they lasted as long as one of ours was below the ground. I was one of the last who left the atrium after ensuring that all people, alive or dead were removed from the scene, items were dispatched to Hogwarts which is the only big enough building which came to my mind when we decided on evacuating everything which we were able to move fearing the collapse which occurred as soon as we stepped out of the atrium."

"How many people are informing the other families?" Mrs Scrimgeour asked, her voice sounded strangely brisk in current circumstances, but that was Mrs Scrimgeour…

"About two hundred and fifty last time I checked, mostly from the Departments other than DMLE because DMLE is at Hogwarts and is trying to find a solution in our statues for current situation," Sirius explained quietly.

"You will be heading to Hogwarts, won't you?" Mrs Fudge asked quietly.

"I need to learn to whom we are answering to before I will go back to the site of the accident to help the rest of Omega, Tau and Kappa to keep the order around the street and trying to restore the remains of the building for at least enough to gather the evidence of what happened…" Sirius said slowly.

"Then we won't be keeping your from your job, my dear boy," Mrs Fudge said quickly. "Arianna, my dear, would you help me at St Mungo's? Rosalyn, my dear I know that you will be at the Ministry… and I have a feeling that in a moment you will run into your wife, dear Mirzam, who will come to the Ministry too."

The quick trip to Hogwarts had left him with no answer to his question. He was only reassured that they were still looking, though he got a reassurance that until they will find the proper clauses and solutions he was the one in charge.

Going to Hogwarts, via 12 Grimmauld Place to tell Moony to keep the girls at home, had resulted in coming back to London with Mirzam in tow, just like Mrs Fudge predicted and frankly it was Mirzam's quiet idea to use quite an unusual method of gathering the evidence from the accident.

In a matter of minutes a quiet communication method was arranged with Gringotts's goblins who eagerly offered their help, for a price but Sirius hardly cared, help was help and goblins enchantments were his best chance to gather the evidence.

It was established that forty goblins gathered in the atrium will use their enchantments to recreate the original building from before the attack and that the Aurors, those skilled in casting Echoing Enchantment, a very complex spell requiring a lot of concentration and determination, to be cast on each floor to find the identity of the attacker and the way which the Ministry was destroyed and killed the people inside it.

To Sirius's silent displeasure, silent because Echoing Enchantment was a really very complex spell, out of nearly the two hundred Aurors from all divisions gathered at the site only forty Aurors knew of the Enchantment and only thirty were able to cast it, twenty-four were able to do it properly, including him.

In the meantime Mirzam, together with Mrs Scrimgeour and several Aurors were assisting the goblins in recovering the bodies of people who at the moment of the attack had been trapped in the lifts.

Sirius, with two other Aurors who able to cast the Echoing Enchantment were on level one since the most damaged levels were the upper ones.

Echoing Enchantment after Echoing Enchantment they had managed to learn the identity of the terrorist; the half-blood son of a Death Eater and Muggle-born whom the former had raped; Malcolm Simkin-Yaxley.

After comparing their results Sirius was more or less able to recreate the whole picture from before the accident and what happened when it occurred.

Yaxley entered the building easily, through the guest entrance, somehow. Sirius didn't have idea how the man learned to do it and more importantly from whom Yaxley had blocked the guests' lift to remain in the atrium.

The man had slipped past the guard, offering his wand with ease to the man, but not the backpack which he was carrying. Then he had taken the lift straight to level one where for about four minutes give or take two or three seconds (with a watch in hand for Sirius) he had talked with Florence Nightingale, Fudge's private secretary responsible for appointing the meetings with the other people, trying to persuade her to let him inside.

His backpack during his talk with Florence had remained on the floor by her desk and right at the moment the man started leaving the corridor without his backpack Sirius knew what was going to happen…

While more stable than most Muggle buildings, the Ministry of Magic Headquarters wasn't indestructible… if his reasoning was accurate the amount of explosive material which was in the backpack would be able to blow up one of the London's districts, the material itself was an erumpent horns, very concentrated.

Florence was practically wiped out of existence when the bomb blew up. The force of the explossion knocked the door out of the hinges, one of the chair legs in Fudge's office which was located right behind Florence's desk had went through the man's stomach, killing him immediately. Umbridge was less lucky than Fudge and had received a blow into an artery, she had bleed to death in a matter of two minutes.

Yaxley himself had died in the attack, not wanting to wait for the lifts he had left through the stairs and when the bomb went off he was halfway through the stairs between level two and three.

People on level two stood no chance at all, Scrimgeour lived as long as he did only because the impact of falling first floor had knocked him in the direction of the fireplace so when the rest of the ceiling in his office had fallen he was huddled inside the empty fireplace. Unfortunately Scrimgeour had left his spot too early and he was knocked down by a lose suit of armour from upstairs, that brought him to his knees and the desk from the office upstairs had did the rest. He received a heavy blow to his stomach which caused internal bleeding and in the end had killed him.

The lower he went the less gory the damage was but since even in wizarding world gravity is a law; level one collapsing upon level two and then level two collapsing onto level three which collapsed only in half way to level four the whole structure of the building was greatly weakened, enough for the whole building to finally collapse when the enchantments placed by the Aurors had stopped working. Protective magic around the Ministry while it couldn't stop the explosion from happening it prevented the building from collapsing completely.

Some of the goblins who had come to help them while Sirius was busy were working together with the remaining Aurors to ensure the stability and preventing the potential collapse of the buildings above ground.

Sirius also managed to establish that some of the goblins' enchantments will remain in place even when everybody would leave, along with prepared to be conjured columns which will be holding the ceiling to prevent it from collapsing. Unfortunately only the shape of the cave was deemed as the least dangerous place for any person in close vicinity, something which couldn't be said about the floors of the headquarters. Yes indeed, the goblins' enchantments had worked but they wouldn't be able to hold the structure for too long.

The wall on which the offices' windows were coming to the atrium was secured by another wall, as soon as everybody who was supposed to leave this part of Ministry Headquarters had done so, was put in place and sealed by the goblins.

Hearing the sound of stones collapsing one over another Sirius could easily imagine seeing the walls collapsing behind the other wall. And it was easy to imagine the shrieks of horror when the bomb went off and the building started to collapse, killing and injuring people inside it.

He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to make those images vanish from before his eyes.

"Is there anything we have to do here?" Mrs Scrimgeour's soft voice asked.

"The structure was secured, evidence was gathered…" Sirius whispered. "I will instruct Tau division to move the Muggles back to their houses. Then I will go to St Mungo's, then to Hogwarts to catch up with Thomson about the list."

"The press?" Mrs Scrimgeour asked quietly.

"Someone from Hogwarts was supposed to inform them," Sirius sighed. "Should be over by now."

"I don't think so," Mirzam shook her head. "They will be waiting for more information. Of course they had shared necessary information but what they probably got wasn't much and they will be waiting for you."

The trip to St Mungo's had provided him with another list of people who were either killed or died because of the injuries they received. Total number of people who lost their lives had raised from four hundred forty to four hundred ninety-seven.

He had given up searching for familiar names on the list, there were too many familiar names on it already to delve deeper...

He welcomed the squeezing pull of Side-Along-Aparition… most likely Mirzam's doing and to his utmost relief he found himself seated on Mirzam's desk with a glass of cognac in his hand.

"Drink," Mirzam instructed him. "You are pale like a sheet."

"Better make it half," tired voice said and when Sirius looked past Mirzam he saw a tired looking Brainslook standing by the door to Mirzam's office. "The officials want you to read the lists… the wires… Dumbledore and the officials had summoned almost the whole wizarding population to Hogwarts."

"Fuck," Sirius whispered.

"Fuck indeed," Brainslook said grimly.

R. B.

He slept bad that night, terribly in fact, at first he couldn't fall asleep and when he did so he kept waking up every hour to spend another hour at trying to fall asleep. Finally at six o'clock in the morning he had enough, dressed himself up and decided to have an early morning run around the edge of Forbidden Forest.

By breakfast for an unknown reason his anxiousness reached a new level and he paid no attention to the lesson, something which almost made his grandpa give him a detention.

"It's Halloween for Merlin's sake Reggie," Ron rolled his eyes after he saw Regulus twitch again when older students passed by them. "There is no evil lurking around the corner, well other than Snape but with Dumbledore around there is nothing he can do."

Regulus shook his head at that comment. He liked Ron but some of Ron's comments…

It started innocently enough, right after they were let out from their punishment Hermione hurried to the library to get her hands at every copy of Daily Prophet from July and August. She had learned valuable information about attempted robbery in Gringotts which took place on the day of Charlie's birthday, nothing had been stolen from there because the vault was emptied on the same day.

The five of them, meaning Hermione, Neville, Charlie, Teddy and Ron had managed to reach ultimate conclusion that the mysterious object had been taken out of Gringotts only to be placed in safe place… and what was safer than Hogwarts… Besides considering Grandpa Albie's cryptic explanations about third floor corridor had lead to another conclusion. The mysterious object was at Hogwarts and quite possibly hidden under the trapdoor guarded by the Cerberus.

Regulus was above the mysterious object hidden on the third floor. After all it was hidden by Grandpa Albie and Grandpa Albie knew what he was doing. There were bigger mysteries than some hidden object.

For the last month Professor Quirrel was constantly getting on Regulus's already thin nerves. He had seen Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers come and go. No one had lasted longer than a year and yet there wasn't a man which at the same time made Regulus more uncomfortable or unreasonably nervous than Quirrel.

To make matters worse Quirrel took a liking to Regulus and every now and then he kept asking Regulus to join him in his office. The frequency of Quirrel's requests had been so ridiculous that Regulus avoided the man at all cost.

Why was Quirrel so obsessed with him Regulus didn't know.

In the end he had shared his doubts with his Dad and to his utmost relief his parents managed to persuade Professor McGonagall to excuse Regulus from Defence Against the Dark Arts for the whole year seeing that Regulus was way ahead of the class.

But even that hadn't stopped Regulus from fretting and worrying that something bad had happened.

By lunch Great Hall had filled with whispers, some older Gryffindors had spotted several Ministry officials coming and going along the corridors with extremely sombre expressions on their faces.

Regulus wasted no time to make a beeline to Grandpa Orion, who in the last months had proved to have the same level of confidence as Uncle Severus or Professor McGonagall with Grandpa Albie. Seeing that Grandpa Albie was questioned by older students Regulus chose next best option.

"… I'm afraid that I cannot say more…" Grandpa Albie's comment had reached Regulus's ears as he looked at his grandfather. "We don't know the exact number…"

"Professor," Regulus said casually. "What's happening?"

"Your father is safe…" Grandpa Orion whispered. "Your mother is with him. Be strong for your friends and go back to your seat."

Regulus rolled his eyes at the comment but obeyed the request. At least his dad was safe and his mum was with him.

He barely managed to reach his seat when red sparks had drawn his attention back to the high table. To his utmost shock Regulus spotted his grandpa Orion standing on the high table with his wand outstretched. He looked almost as powerful in his stance as Grandpa Albie… almost.

"Silence!" Grandpa Orion hissed. "Those out, please come back to your seats, those seated don't move from there until I finish."

To Regulus's unhidden amusement the command was quickly obeyed and within a minute Great Hall looked as calm as one could make it.

"We had been asked to withhold the information which I'm about to reveal. The request wasn't made from ill will but to prevent panic. However the panic already started making its way and I see no other choice but to tell you the utmost truth about what we know," Grandpa Orion said gravely.

"Today at half past ten o'clock in the morning an unknown assassin had entered the Ministry of Magic and with an explosive had managed to kill over four hundred employees of Ministry of Magic," he paused and started searching for someone in the crowd. "An explosive was placed by the office of Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge and the force of the explosion had destroyed three upper levels effectively killing anyone who happened to be there… There were survivors on the fourth floor but most of them are heavily injured… Division Omega, Aurors from Auror Office at the Ministry of Magic had suffered greatly and lost over a hundred Aurors during the explosion… For now that's all we know… Hopefully within next hour we will have a complete list of the deceased, injured, missing and unharmed…"

Regulus heard Susan Bones gasp in shock and felt Neville's grip on his arm… Neville's dad was in Cologne at International Conference of European Aurors… but his mum.

From the corner of his eye Regulus saw a small, balding and big-bellied man talking to Grandpa Orion hurriedly. The older man listened intently to the official before he turned towards the crowd and said carefully.

"Due to the loss of Minister of Magic and his natural successors in case of sudden and unfortunate demise of the Minister, Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement Madam Amelia Bones and Head Commissioner of Auror Forces, Auror Rufus Scrimgeour, the remaining Heads of the Departments had decided to name Deputy Commissioner of Auror Forces, Auror Sirius Black, Acting Minister of Magic and Head Prosecutor of Auror Forces, Albus Slugtruckar as Acting Head Commissioner of the Auror Forces. In addition Arcturus Black has been named Acting Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He got this position because he had headed aforementioned department during the war with Dark Lord Grindelwald and in so far is the most experienced and alive member of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, even if retired. Considering the gravity of the situation and the great loss of life it has been decided that all acting Heads of the Departments and Offices will continue heading the departments and offices to which they were assigned for the longest period which Acting Upper Personnel of Ministry of Magic can substitute … which is six months.

"Mr Waver here had brought with himself the list of injured people which are in St Mungo at the moment," Grandpa Orion mentioned at the small balding man. "If you will give him a moment to distribute the copies of the list between the members of the staff…" he paused as he looked down at the man with disgust, "Coward, sure go ahead," he growled as he barely caught the list which was thrust into his hands before he turned to face the crowd. "When I will read out the surname of your relative please stand up from the table and approach the end of your house table and stand there until your Head of the House will take you and your classmates to St Mungo's."

Regulus listened intently to the names of injured, finding it more and more gruesome, he hardly knew those people but for Neville's sake he had his fingers crossed that his mother was only injured rather than dead, she was an Auror and she would have been on second floor with other Aurors…

Regulus swallowed thickly as he continued listening and running circles over Neville's back, who was looking paler than Regulus had ever seen him.

"What about you?" Charlie asked, and from the corner of his eye he spotted Ron looking more and more relieved.

"Dad was supposed to have night duty last night," Ron whispered. "There is absolutely no reason why he should be there when the building exploded… But I will ask McGonagall when she will return… There are people who need her assistance more…" Then he turned to Neville and said sympathetically, "I'm sure that your mum is going to be fine Neville, she is great Auror…"

"…but still a human," Neville whispered brokenly. "She was supposed to be on duty today since six…" he shook his head. "She wrote yesterday, complaining about your dad starting his shift at eleven rather than six… He missed the explosion by half an hour…" he looked at Reggie nervously.

"Knowing dad?" Regulus flinched. "He missed it by fifteen minutes…" he flinched again. "She might have gone out for a coffee."

"She is dead," Neville whispered softly. "I can feel it… I know that she is dead… I cannot explain it but I know."

Regulus sighed, not really knowing how to fight with that statement. So he wrapped his left arm around Neville's shoulders and hugged his friend tightly, praying inwardly that Neville's feelings were wrong and in few minutes Mrs Longbottom will walk through the door to Great Hall smiling brightly…

But she hadn't come.

It had taken Regulus a while to draw Neville out of the Great Hall after the list of injured and missing members of the Ministry of Magic personnel was read. Together with Hermione's, Teddy's and Ron's help they dragged Neville under the willow by the lakeside, Charlie remained inside the Great Hall to listen to any news.

"Longbottom is snivelling," said a taunting voice from behind Regulus's back. "Your pet died Snivellius?"

Regulus saw red, literally. Quickly he whirled around and pointed his wand at Draco Malfoy as he said viciously, "I wouldn't be going there if I were you. For all we know YOUR father might have seen a fit to visit Minister of Magic today to corrupt him some more…"

That comment made all blood leave Draco's face and the git scrambled hurriedly in the direction of the castle.

"That was a bit cruel, Reggie," Hermione said pointedly.

"That was wishful thinking, Hermione," Regulus rolled his eyes. "Lucius Malfoy has annoying tendency of getting himself away from the very hard places. For all we know he might be at the Malfoy Manor toasting to the dead and destruction."

"I'm afraid that you are wrong, Regulus," said a soft familiar voice of Grandpa Archie. "Lucius Malfoy had been seen in the Ministry today, leaving sixth floor, had been in the lifts when the explosion took place."

"But he wasn't listed as injured or missing," Neville protested weakly. "We heard that list."

"You see Neville," Grandpa Archie said gently as he knelt in front of Neville. "Not all bodies were recovered during the first two swipes which brought injured and deceased. The lifts were damaged so badly that they weren't touched at all. Sirius last time I heard something about him was talking with the goblins about using goblin enchantments to rebuild the building long enough to gather the evidence against the assassin. By the evening the list of the deceased should be complete. In the meantime all we can do is wait."

"What you are going to do now?" Regulus asked carefully.

"Yell at the incompetent idiots to stop doing nothing and actually do something. Secure the papers because if something will go missing our country might be put in jeopardy and most important of all summon your father," he nodded at Regulus, "to Hogwarts, I already summoned the Slugtruckar lad, he is coming back from his vacation but seeing that he cannot use the international floo network it's taking some time but he should be here within next hour… unlike some unlucky sods he has an Auror's pass."

"Auror pass?" Hermione asked sceptically.

"Anti-Apparition ward was cast two hours ago around Hogwarts, Hogsmeade and remains of the Ministry of Magic. The only places where common people can go are St Mungo's and Diagon Alley," Grandpa Archie explained.

"But you cannot Apparate at Hogwarts!" Hermione protested. "I read about it in Hogwarts: A History…"

"That's actually true my dear girl, for the most of the time… but considering dire circumstances Apparition was allowed by Dumbledore but only to teachers and Ministry officials. Seeing that I'm neither and the floo network is down… I had to use the old Firestopper to get here, left him in the forest," Grandpa Archie explained. "I would love to talk to you kiddies but I really need to head inside."

He stood up and swiftly whipped the knees of his robe before he looked down at Neville sympathetically.

"Don't lose hope laddie," he said softly. "Alice is strong girl… but if she died… take comfort in the thought that her death was quick and she hadn't suffered," he squeezed Neville's shoulder gently.

Neville nodded slowly and took a heavy sigh.

"Morgan's plea," he whispered. "Long life and agony is for Healers, we die young and quickly for we are Aurors. She always found it morbid… but I know that she wanted to pass away quickly and painlessly… at old age… but one cannot have everything."

How long they were sitting there Regulus didn't know… at some point they were joined by Ron's older brothers and Charlie, who came back with the news that Great Hall was packed nearly to the brim and that Grandpa Orion was looking for Regulus and the rest.

"What for?" Regulus asked sceptically. "Hadn't he had enough at his hands already. Apparently he was dubbed Ministry of Magic Spokesperson to Hogwarts Students."

"Apparently not," Charlie shrugged. "Your grandpa relieved him from that duty after yelling at that idiot who ran away from giving the list of injured. Your grandfather was reassigned by Dumbledore to keep the vermin in the Great Hall."

"Vermin?" Neville asked blankly.

"Reporters," Regulus explained. "He hates Rita Skeeter and calls her a vermin. By I still don't see a reason why he wants us there now, it's not evening."

"People started to gather and there is a rumour that your father came back to Hogwarts. One of the portraits saw him around your mother's quarters… Brainslook told me that the full list of the deceased will be given within ten to fifteen minutes… if your mother will manage to put your father together during that time. According to painted source he looks exhausted…"

Regulus stopped listening and quickly gathered his friends.

Getting into Great Hall was a bloody horror, there were people everywhere and no one was keen to let them through until pissed off Regulus used Moses Crowd-Parting Spell (his father always tried to convince him that it was the real name of the spell but in so far Regulus didn't manage to find its true name… nevertheless the spell was useful even if considered as rude) and the crowd had parted forcibly wide enough for Regulus to usher his friends to the front.

They didn't manage to find any free place at the front of the hall, it was filled mostly with disturbed members of the families who lost their beloved ones… But thankfully in third row by the wall Ron spotted his brothers, sister and father talking with Cedric and his parents, so Regulus quickly ushered the bunch there.

Five minutes had passed before the commotion started dying down slowly and people had settled in conjured chairs quite hastily. Over the heads of people in his way Regulus spotted his family. Grandpa Orion was walking ahead with his dad, few steps away behind them was heading Regulus's mum with her arm wrapped around Mrs Malfoy's shoulders. The girls weren't present but then again it was bad enough for Regulus's parents to have Regulus and his friends in Great Hall amongst the crowd.

Upon reaching the podium for a moment Regulus's dad kept conversating with Grandpa Orion but not before giving small nod to Regulus's mum who passed the first row along with Mrs Malfoy and quickly come to stand by Regulus.

She looked exhausted even thought the full moon was over a week ago but if she was with Regulus's dad for most of the time Regulus really couldn't blame her for looking deadly pale.

Nevertheless swiftly she disposed the sobbing Mrs Malfoy in Mr Weasley's arms, who looked at Regulus's mum with mixture of shock and bewilderment, before she knelt in the cramped space between the wall and the rows of chair and looked at Neville.

"I'm sorry Neville…" she said softly.

"Was it quick?" Neville asked in cracked determination.

"Instantaneous," Regulus's Mum said softly. "I'm truly sorry…" she added as she hugged Neville.

"Dad?" Neville chocked out.

"We tried to reach him, he is still at the conference, locked up as if in Gringotts… Sirius wanted to tell him what happened…" Regulus's mum said quietly. "But there is…"

"HUSH!" an old lady with brown hair hissed at them.

"Hush me again and I will hex you out of the Great Hall," Regulus's mum said lividly. "I know for a fact that not one of your relatives is working in the Ministry of Magic and neither do you so I will have no reservations with doing it."

"You can't!" the woman protested. "I'm Greta Catchlove famous…"

"… author of a very good tinder," Regulus's mum said venomously. "One word Mrs Catchlove, I'm warning you."

The warning seemed to sink in and Mrs Catchlove closed her mouth but Regulus's mum couldn't finish what she started saying anyway because Regulus's dad started speaking…

"… given the sad task of giving the completed list of the deceased…"

Regulus acknowledged the names of the Minister and better half of the Auror office… as expected Neville's mum was amongst the deceased but so were the others. There was Mr Edgecombe, Mr Brocklehurst… Neville sobbed through the list of the Aurors wrapped in Regulus's mum's arms…

The further his dad read the names the more unrecognisable the names became to Regulus but then again he knew mostly Aurors.

But suddenly Regulus's dad said, "Lucius Abraxas Malfoy," which caused a sob to tear from Mrs Malfoy throat and on the other side of the Great Hall was heard a chocked gasp, most probably from Draco.

'Molly Weasley and Augusta Longbottom' caught Regulus by surprise. Quickly he looked at Neville and the Weasleys.

Neville was still wrapped in Regulus's mum embrace and so was Ginny who quickly hid her face in Regulus's mum robes. Mr Weasley stared at Regulus's dad at the podium in utter shock, and he had to be in utter shock to keep rubbing Mrs Mafloy's back in comforting circles while the woman herself was sobbing into Mr Weasley's robe.

Percy's mouth was dropped slightly and the twins looked as if someone had pulled the worst prank ever on them. Ron looked deathly pale and if he wasn't held firmly by the arms by Teddy and Charlie he would have collapsed on the floor.

The list was finished fairly quickly afterwards with giving the name and fate of the assassin, luckily for assassin the man he was dead because Regulus had sneaking suspicions that he would be lynched otherwise.

"I take upon my honour to ensure that despite the loss which had befallen on us our government will continue to exist and that we will prepare the fastest and most efficient way to ensure that a tragedy of this scale will never happen again. However it's essential for all citizens of United Kingdom to not disturb the Aurors in ensuring the safety of our country. More so I had been asked by Acting Head Commissioner of Auror Forces, Prosecutor Slugtruckar to make an official order for all retired Aurors to come back to work within next day. Additionally all trainers from Auror Academy no matter the year will be going through accelerated training which I'm reinstalling until further notice, which I had been assured will remain in place even after elections for Minister of Magic in April… to my knowledge at the moment is scheduled for 26th April," Regulus's dad finished.

He continued his speech afterwards and parts of it was reaching Regulus but not much of them because as soon as the day of the elections was announced Regulus's mum had started leading the whole bunch out of the Great Hall.

They almost made it to the door when they were assaulted by a tall woman with blonde hair with rigid curls, heavy-jawed with heavily pencilled eyebrows and jewelled spectacles. She snapped her large, mannish hand at Regulus's mum and Regulus saw her viciously red and absurdly long fingernails. From her arm was hanging crocodile-skin handbag with parchment and acid-green Quick-Quotes Quills.

"Mrs Black, would you care to make a statement?" the woman asked. "How does feel the new wife of the Minister of Magic?"

"I have no idea," Regulus's Mum snapped at the woman. "Last time I checked my husband had only one wife and that was me and since we had been married for ten years I'm hardly a new wife."

The woman giggled falsely and turned her eyes to Regulus, "Such a sweet little boy."

"Make a step in my direction and I will show you how sweet I can get," Regulus hissed lividly. "And in case you didn't happen to realise that it was a warning not a promise."

"So how do you judge the chances for your husband's election in April?" the woman turned her attention to Regulus's mum.

"Nil," mum shrugged. "He is not entering."

"Are you forbidding him to enter the elections?" the woman asked hopefully and one of her acid-green quills snapped into her hand.

"No," mum said simply. "I simply know my husband, Rita. He won't leave Aurors Forces for anything."

"The prestige, the fame, money…" woman muttered.

"He has his share and doesn't want more," mum shrugged. "Now kindly move out of my way."

"So that means that you aren't resigning from your post Mrs Black?" the woman continued prying.

"Why should I?" Regulus's mum asked.

"It's tradition…" the woman said. "Besides in your condition… I'm sure that Headmaster wouldn't allow a werewolf to work with children…"

Regulus heard gasps coming from all around them and carefully draw his wand waiting for an opportune moment to hex the woman into bloody Timbuktu.

"… nor a werewolf should be a wife of the Minister of Magic, acting or not," the woman finished viciously. "I'm sure that when Minister will learn of your deception he will make sure to renounce your marriage and take your spawns away."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Regulus said sweetly. "Dad knows that mum is a werewolf, so does Headmaster Dumbledore and Hogwarts Board of Governors. Now leave or I will hex your sorry arse into bloody Timbuktu."

"And if I will find that you had entered premises of Hogwarts again at the time when no press conference takes place I will personally ensure that you will be watching the sun through the bars of Azkaban Rita," Regulus's mum hissed viciously. "Though I have half a mind to inform Mrs Cuffe of the real reason why her husband had paid such a hefty fine for his unregistered Animagi of a journalist… she would be delighted I assure you. Last time I heard about it she was mentioning floggings and skinning off."

"Mrs Black are you implying that Ms Skeeter is having an affair with Barnabas Cuffe?" asked small timid voice from Regulus's right.

"I'm not implying," Regulus's mum said simply. "My husband is an Auror and my close friend is a Prosecutor. Ms Skeeter over the years managed to get caught and accused for printing lies for which Mr Cuffe had paid quite a lot, enough to buy the Daily Prophet for ten times more than it's worth… half of his personal fortune as it was estimated went into the fines. Besides what kind of a husband would spend privately nearly two thousand galleons per year to a not very talented journalist while he refuses to let his wife to spend one hundred galleons for a dress robe for the Journalists' Yule Ball. Don't you find it curious because I do?"

"Galloping gargoyles, Mrs Black you are right," gasped small balding man. "So who is telling Mrs Cuffe?"

"She promised a pretty penny from what she will get after her divorce," Regulus's mum said calmly.

Miraculously good three quarters of the reporters surrounding them had dashed in the direction of the doorway leaving a stuppified Rita Skeeter by the door.

Regulus's mum swiftly passed by stunned journalist and started walking up the stairs when Grandpa Orion had caught up with them, to his side was clinging a devastated Draco Malfoy.

"Thank you Professor," Mrs Malfoy whispered. "I couldn't find him in that commotion. Would I cause a problem if I asked you to find Professor Snape and ask him to come to Professor Black for me?"

"I'm afraid that it would be a problem, Mrs Malfoy," Grandpa Orion shook his head. "Professor Snape hadn't returned with the rest of the students, in fact he contacted me to take the charge of the Slytherin house for the moment… Someone dear to him had suffered greatly in today's attack…"

"I understand," Mrs Malfoy whispered. "I never knew that his mother had worked at the Ministry of Magic."

"Mrs Prince is a Potions Mistress at Beauxbatons Mrs Malfoy," Grandpa Orion clarified gently. "And she seems to be in fine health, was when I spoke to her for the last time."

"I understand," Mrs Malfoy said quietly. "Perhaps she… would like to help him…"

"Splendid idea," Grandpa Orion said swiftly. "She would be delighted to come. I shall contact her immediately," and with that he left them standing on the stairs.

"Abraxas…" Mrs Malfoy said weakly as she leaned heavily on Regulus's mum. For some reason she seemed to be very frightened. "Please don't let him come here…"

"And how do you suppose I shall do it?" Regulus's mum asked ironically. "I'm a Mudlood, he won't answer to me."

"But he will answer to Mrs Black," Mrs Malfoy said softly.

"Perhaps not," Regulus's mum said as she watched the crowd in the hall and Regulus's dad heading towards an aging man with pale hair and long walking-stick. "He will take care of him."

"Why?" Draco asked quietly. "He is my grandpa."

"Not anymore," Mrs Malfoy said quietly. "Not anymore."

"But mother…" Draco started.

"If you think just like your grandfather that I should marry him to retain the name of Malfoy and all of your father's belongings then be my guest Dragon and go to him. However you would have to take into consideration that you won't be able to return to me if you change your mind," Mrs Malfoy said stiffly.

"Why?" Draco asked suspiciously.

"Shows how little you know cousin," Regulus coughed. "Our father had claimed blood feud between our families. You can be either a Malfoy or a Black, but never both. So pick a side and stick to it."

"So where that leaves us?" Draco asked weakly.

"Standing on the stairs, on publics display, especially one of your grandfather's," Regulus's mum said stiffly.

"Can someone tell me what's going on?" Draco huffed.

"Gladly. Upstairs," Mrs Malfoy said quickly.

Dormant Life

What Mrs Malfoy had told Draco he didn't know until much later. He almost made it to his mother's quarters but that was it. Right in front of the entrance he was intercepted by Professor Burbage and was asked to help with finding a Ravenlaw girl which had gone missing upon hearing that both of her parents were dead.

Locating Lisa Turpin was a horror actually, thankfully he was aided by Dannie and her Slytherin friends and after a solid hour of looking around the dungeons they found small brown-eyed blonde huddled in alcove in the farthest end of the dungeons and escorted her to Uncle Severus's office.

While Uncle Severus was away Regulus was not an idiot and could tell a difference between a calming draught and other potions very well and Lisa was shaking so badly that calming draught was a must. So they 'broke' into Uncle Severus's office.

Regulus seated Lisa in the chair and went to fetch the potion. He almost make it back to the office when the door to the corridor had opened and three people stepped inside it.

One was Grandpa Orion. Another was a tall, lanky man with shoulder-length, almost white hair and kind warm brown eyes. He had his arm wrapped around Grandpa Orion's shoulders and Regulus couldn't help but hazard a guess that the man had been those mysterious friend Grandpa Orion had often mentioned. There was also something incredibly familiar about the man but Regulus wasn't able to put a finger on it.

The woman to the contrary was their complete opposite starting from the simple fact that she was a woman, through her waist-long black hair as dark as her heavy eyebrows, long face and crooked nose. Her dark eyes had settled on Regulus immediately or more precisely on the bottle he was holding.

Even though the similarity was small the unreadable expression and crooked nose was enough for Regulus to come to right conclusion.

"Good evening Professor Prince," Regulus said swiftly. "I trust that Professor Brainslook had informed you of the circumstances surrounding your visit and that Professor Snape would be unable to attend to your needs for some time as he is otherwise occupied at the moment. If you wouldn't mind I would like to apply calming draught to my friend and we shall leave the office at your disposal."

"You are…" Mrs Prince said slowly.

"Regulus Black," Grandpa Orion said dryly.

"Nice to meet you Professors…" Regulus said swiftly.

"Johanus Jahnn-Nupital," the other man said swiftly. "German roots."

'Yeah right and I'm the Queen of England,' Regulus mussed inwardly.

The probability of the man really being Johanus Jahnn-Nupital was as possible as Regulus being betrothed to Pansy Parkinson, none existent. And after meeting Grandpa Orion and discovering his secret Regulus could easily bet his wand that the name was just another anagram like Cirius Brainslook was, the only difference was that Brainslook actually sounded like a normal surname.

"What subject do you teach Professor Jahnn-Nupital?" Regulus tried his best to appear curious and not suspicious.

"Ancient Runes. I always had a knack at solving mysteries," the man answered swiftly.

"What do you think about 'Negation of Mesmer's Theory of Unnatural Language Related Abilities' by Professor Mirzam Black?" Regulus asked. He grinned inwardly. If the man was a real expert then he would be able to come to conclusion that such article had never existed. "It gets very interesting towards the middle where the Professor discusses Parselmouths."

"Ah, Negation of Mesmer's Theory of Unnatural Language Related Abilities," the man said fondly. "I loved the Parselmouths part."

"Really?" Regulus asked swiftly.

"Naturally. Professor Black is a great scholar…"

"Sure she is," Regulus rolled his eyes. "But there is a small problem here Professor. You aren't teaching Ancient Runes because if you did you would know that Professor Mirzam Black had never written 'Negation of Mesmer's Theory of Unnatural Language Related Abilities' and most certainly hadn't discussed Parselmouths in it."

"Err…" the man looked nervously at Grandpa Orion.

"He's teaching Charms, Regulus, but he was filling in for our Ancient Runes Professor for two months and he loves that title better, even if he can easily get outsmarted by a first year," Grandpa Orion said tiredly.

"Who happens to be a son of the aforementioned professor," Regulus said dryly. "Though I'm sure that my mother would love to write the negation of Mesmer's theory of unnatural language related abilities."

"Why?" Mrs Prince asked curiously.

"Because it's impossible to negate it and she eats impossible for breakfast," Regulus said simply and quickly manoeuvred the girls out of the office.

"Does she really?" Dannie asked sceptically. "I mean I like your mum… but she is… you know a human."

"Of course she doesn't Dannie. She is tackling the Avis' letters at the moment and is loving every minute of it," Regulus explained.

"She really does?" Tracey asked eagerly. "Boy she would be completely adored by Potions Masters from around the world. No one had tackled more than the infamous note."

"Because wizards are allergic to logic and Avis letters are simple to decipher once you apply logic to them," Regulus clarified. "Professor Snape is checking the recipes for accuracy from Potions Master's point of view and when they are done they would publish the book together."

"When?" Lilith asked eagerly.

"I was told that it should happen sometime in this century," Regulus answered.

Dormant Life

He left Lisa under the care of Professor Flitwick while he hurried to his mother's quarters where he found her seated at the sofa and staring stubbornly at the glass of wine in front of her.

"What happened while I was gone?" he asked eagerly.

"If I will start now I won't finish until tomorrow, Reggie," his Mum sighed.

"A summary then?" Regulus asked as he flopped on the seat next to his mum and leaned into her embrace.

"Lucius Malfoy is dead, so his father Abraxas had decided that for Narcissa and Draco to keep the name of Malfoy and the Malfoys fortune she has to marry him before the year ends. Draco is wary, Narcissa is firmly against it. Arthur on the other hand is in some kind of a stupor and cannot shake it off. What is worse he is completely cowed and won't tell why. It's not that he is grieving… I saw grieving people and Arthur's reaction is not the one I would have expected from a man who quite recently lost his beloved wife and the mother of his children… He acts… normal… I mean as a man would normally do except it seems as if he wasn't involved, as if it wasn't his wife."

"You reckon that Mrs Weasley…" Regulus mumbled. "Used a love potion on him? Things like that happened before… Well not to the Weasleys."

"Not a love potion," his mum shook her head. "Something much more subtler… Something which actually can make a man so cowed to have show no reaction whatsoever."

"A suppressant?" Regulus suggested. "A potion or a charm."

Something fell to the ground right in front of them. Regulus bend to pick it up but his mum caught his arm before he touched small silver ring.

The ring rose in the air as if controlled by magic, which it was knowing mum and came to hover two inches above her right palm.

"Fidelity Spell," mum murmured. "See this silver aura on the inward side," she moved the ring closer to Regulus by the wave of her hand. "Very strong Fidelity Spell… Libido dampening potion, that's the faint green aura at the edges… Memory Modifying spell… the white one on the outer side… Who in the name of Merlin would use it on someone."

"Molly did," Mr Weasley said quietly. "Long time ago… we were going through a small crisis…"

Regulus and his mum exchange a look on that comment. A crisis involving Mrs Weasley was never small… But since it was rude to speak ill of the dead…

"Don't judge her too hard," Mr Weasley said slowly. "She was afraid… and for a good reason too. We loved each other… when we were younger… some part of me still does. But there were lots of things on which we couldn't agree on. We grew up with siblings and it was quite natural for us to decide to have more than one child. So we had Bill, then Charlie … and Percy… For me it was enough… I didn't get much from my work and while three children wouldn't strain our budget very much I tried to put my foot down. We could have waited a few more years for my promotion and in the meantime the boys would get old enough to help with a younger sibling if it came around."

"It's Ginevra, isn't it?" Regulus's mum asked softly.

"Molly's family always had daughters, at least one. I knew how much she desired to have a girl… even thought I knew that the chances for a girl were minimal," he said heavily. "I agreed to give the idea a try. We agreed to have another child… The last one for few years if not longer… no matter its sex… The last one… and then the twins were born… Molly was deeply disappointed… but there was nothing she could do…"

"She started plotting how to persuade you into having another child," Regulus's mum said.

"She did," Mr Weasley nodded. "I tried to avoid it… The Order, the Ministry… it was a salvation and damnation at the same time. I made sure to never had much of the time at my hands to spare, and the one I had I tried to spend maximum of it with the kids… It wasn't their fault that they weren't a girl.

"A year before Ron was born I had meet Gloria Robertson… Delightful girl… Very understanding… very kind… and… everything Molly wasn't back then. She was a great friend to me… knew how to make me laugh… how to cherish small moments. I never lied a hand on her… but I did… fall in love… Ironic isn't it."

"And Molly found out," Regulus's mum said quietly.

"I loved them both. I loved Gloria and I had loved Molly, I couldn't have chosen between the two of them. Not when the kids were involved… I never meant to harm either of them… but it happened. Molly was pregnant with Ron, quite close to his birth, about a month to it. She had found the note from Gloria… While I never let my feelings show there had to be something in the letter which Molly saw that I failed to see…"

"I bet she was livid," Regulus's mum sighed.

"She was… she put a spell on the wedding band… Fidelity… much more later she added Memory modifying charm to make me forget all about Gloria… the potion… was added after Ginny was born… She finally achieved what she wanted… she had a daughter she longed to have… she didn't need me."

"Did you love her? Truly?"

"It was easy to love Molly without Gloria in the picture… but there was something in it… some part missing. Things I wouldn't dare to think about discussing with Molly while I knew that there was someone with whom I could talk about everything."

"And now?"

"Now is now, past is past," Mr Weasley said quietly. "It happened and cannot be undone. Part of me feels angry while the other part mourns… I lost them both and there is nothing I can do… I have to learn how to live with this void inside me… I loved two women in my life and I had lost both… one to my selfishness and the other to my stupidity…"

"You couldn't have known that the attack was going to happen," Regulus's mum said stiffly. "There was nothing you could do to prevent it."

"I shouldn't ask her to pick up that file on her way home. Regardless of what you think, if I hadn't asked her by the time the building had collapsed she would be back at home," Mr Weasley shook his head. "I'm going to catch some fresh air. Would you mind to have an eye on the kids for a hour… They are sleeping but…"

"I won't mind at all," Regulus's mum answered. "I won't be able to sleep tonight anyway."

Mr Weasley hadn't said a word as he left the sitting-room.

"I hope that they would be able to help one another," mum sighed when the door closed. At the puzzled look on Regulus's face she added, "Narcissa is somewhere out there too… She stormed out after Draco fell asleep…"

"What about Neville?" Regulus asked.

"I stayed with him until he fell asleep, Hermione is with him now. Your father went to inform Frank of the attack and Alice's death. He would need a friend tonight."

"Don't we all?" Regulus asked sleepily. "I feel as if I had lived a lifetime already mum."

"We all did, Reggie, we all did," mum said softly. "We are lucky that no harm had come to our family… I cannot imagine my life without your father by my side… We have the strength to be with our friends and to help them through difficult time… The world around us had changed Reggie… I don't know what will come tomorrow but whatever it would be it will change the world we once knew."

---

Awaiting criticism - like always. I'm replying as long as you leave me your email or you log in while reviewing.

Next chapter: well I was promising myself Remus's point of view for that day (as well as personal stuff - and yes I'm speaking about 'glowing' which Sirius observed not so long ago). But that isn't whole chapter, just a part of it. Unless I won't change my mind by the end of the next chapter we should be around Sirius's birthday or at least Regulus's adoption party. Which means that by chapter thirteen we should be around Christmas break - quite appropriate, considering my sluggish tempo it should be posted around Christmas break . Then most probably I will start skipping to June but not overly fast... I was right, Philosopher Stone should be completed in around twenty chapters (pats herself on the shoulder). Then we would move to the Chamber of Secrets and the fun will begin.

And yes, formating and I don't like each other very much so I devised 'cool' lines which remind you what you are reading ; )