Liliana picked up the book and turned to the next chapter.

Chapter 11. Barrier

James and Charlus shared a brief look at the name of the title.

Harry was worried when he went down to breakfast and saw Aries asleep on an empty plate.

Regulus sent a worried look at his son.

Neville kept trying to wake him up but Aries just kept sleeping on the golden plate.

"And I thought I had sleeping problems." Leo snorted.

Harry sat down next to Ron who was eating a stack of blueberry pancakes.

Septimus shook his head fondly at the mention of the Weasley family appetite.

"Harry, how're y—what the heck happened to Aries?" Leo asked when he and Velvela walked over towards them. "He's been doing plenty of late night readings." Luna said airily.

Leo smacked a hand upside his cousin's head.

"Huh?" Ron asked as he had a piece of bacon in his mouth. "He's been trying to figure out what Harry did at the duel." Luna clarified.

"Of course he did." Sirius said fondly.

"But that was weeks ago." Harry said worriedly.

"Uh Ree, you didn't need to go through all that." James said. Aries nodded.

Velvela sat next to Aries and gently shook him awake.

"Best way to wake up if you're stuck with these lot." Aries said motioning towards Leo and Harry.

"Hmmfuh?" Aries groaned as he rose his head slightly. "You should eat something." Velvela suggested. "Yeah Ree, you're running on empty." Leo pointed out. Aries yawned and stretched a bit.

"Welcome to playing house." James snorted. "Now you know how I feel when you two did it to me." Harry said as he crossed his arms. Aries and Leo shared an eye roll.

"Did you happen to find anything?" Neville asked.

"I hope you did." Alice said.

Aries nodded as he rubbed the sleep out of his bleary eyes.

Charlus looked shocked.

"I think I found a book that would say what happened." Aries yawned and Velvela had to keep shaking him from sleeping on the plate again.

Aries and Harry shared a look.

"What's the catch?" Leo asked. "Restr-YAWN- ed secti'n." Aries mumbled.

"Of course." Several future parents and grandparents groaned.

"Can't this wait 'till we go on break?" Harry asked uncomfortably. "Harry, this is Aries we are talking about." Leo deadpanned as he snagged a waffle.

"Where did you get you're determination?" Sirius asked Aries. Aries didn't say anything.

"But to get in the restriction section we need a Professor's signature." Neville pointed out as Velvela was trying to coax Aries into eating a small bit of melon.

"Neville has a point." Frank said. Regulus sent a questioning look at his son. Aries smirked a bit.

"But only someone really thick would sign off on a book like this." Ron pointed out as he cleaned his plate.

"REALLY thick." Remus said loudly. Teddy yipped and turned his hair teal as he demanded for Remus to hold him.

That's when Aries jolted upright with a glint in his eye.

"Oh boy." Barty said. "You sound like Harry there Ree." Leo said.

"Ron, you're a genius!" Aries said happily. "What just happened?" Ron asked.

Several people chuckled and laughed.

"Never mind that—EAT." Velvela said as she pushed some fruits and pancakes onto Aries plate.

Arcturus raised an eyebrow at the book.

Aries raised a single dark brow at her. She narrowed her hazel eyes briefly.

Aries chuckled a bit.

"Leo's right you're running on empty." She said. Aries sighed and bean to slowly eat. They all left for their classes.

"Good." McGonagall said sternly.

"I thought you had sleeping issues." Velvela muttered at Leo as they walked to Herbology. Leo blushed and mumbled an 'I'm sleeping more.'

"Now you sleep too much." Harry intoned.

The mandrakes were now covered with acne.

"EWW."

Harry and Ron were disgusted slightly as Neville was completely excited.

"Neville likes Herbology?" Augusta asked. The three nodded. "He's the best in the subject." Leo said happily.

Harry even heard Neville talk to Professor Sprout about the Venomous Tentacula in the corner of the greenhouse.

"That's a menacing plant." Lily pointed out. "Only when it's teething." Aries pointed out. Lily didn't look convinced.

"How is it you're brilliant at Herbology, but still completely rubbish at Potions?" Ron asked.

"Good point. Usually both coincide with each other rather intricately." Abarax said.

Neville was a bit nervous. "Snape doesn't like me at all." Neville said. Harry grimaced. "He hates me too." Harry pointed out.

Lily huffed a bit and Harry would have said something if Aries didn't shoot him a warning glance.

"Same with Leo and Aries." Ron added as Leo managed to wander in the wrong direction and Velvela had to drag him up to the castle so he doesn't get lost again.

"I'M BETTER!" Leo defended.

"Me and Leo I get since our dads used to fight with Snape when they went to school." Harry pointed out.

"More like bully." Lily snapped. Leo grimaced and clenched a fist as Harry crossed his arms crossly.

"But from what I can tell, he should like Aries since his dad was a Slytherin.

"Ugh." Aries groaned. "I think he really only likes Evans." Regulus pointed out. Several students nodded.

And I have no idea why he doesn't like you." Harry said to Neville.

The Longbottoms and Alice shared a grimace. "I think it gets explained soon." Leo said.

"I think he doesn't like Aries since he's a lot like your god father." Neville said causing Ron's eyes to round. "That makes sense. Aries isn't a traditional Slytherin like his uncle, he pulls pranks and he isn't a pureblood supporter." Ron said as they walked back up to the castle.

Aries shrugged a bit. "You're still a lot like your dad." Sirius said. Sirius' words brought a small, barely noticeable smile on Regulus' lips.

"That still doesn't explain about why he hates Neville." Harry pointed out with a frown.

Several people grumbled, not noticing Lily's irritation and Harry's rigidness.

"I don't mind too much." Neville protested. "But I think your gran will." Ron said causing Neville to pale.

Frank sent a slightly fearful look at his mother and was rewarded with a look that curdled his spine.

"If she found out, she'd take his greasy head!" Neville cried. "Hopefully." Ron snorted.

Lily frowned. "He really has the personality of a cactus." Aries said as Harry opened his mouth to say something. Nymphadora's hair went deep green and spikey. Teddy tried to copy it, but his hair was just messy with green tips.

Snape loved to torment him and his friends, the man could get sacked to Timbuktu for all Harry cared.

"That's rather mean of you." Lily admonished. "Y'know, I'd prefer it if you didn't judge me based on my twelve year old thoughts about a man who made it clear that he hates me." Harry snapped. Lily looked shocked that he would say that to her.

Liliana looked a bit surprised, if a bit proud, before she continued reading.

They wandered into Defense and Harry was again chosen to reenact something. This time it was the Wagga Wagga werewolf.

Remus rolled his eyes as his friends snickered.

He managed to snarl convincingly enough to freak Lavender and Hermione out a little. And he couldn't help but give a realistic howl that even had Lockhart trembling in his coral colored buckled heeled shoes.

"I learned from the best." Harry said with a grin at Remus. Remus returned the smile before Teddy gave a squeaky little howl of his own that had Moony proud of the little pup.

After Defense they had a free period thankfully. As Harry and Ron were waiting for Neville to finish packing his things Aries, Leo and Velvela walked into the classroom.

Several people looked confused.

Leo motioned for them to follow and soon the six of them were standing in front of Lockhart.

The Marauders shared a questioning look before that look transformed into a smirk.

"Professor Lockhart, may I have your signature for this book?" Velvela asked as Aries held a slip of paper in one hand that said 'The Tome of Ancient Talents' in a neat scrawl.

"Hogwarts has a copy?" Arcturus asked in surprise. "I thought I owned one of the few copies still intact." Charlus said.

"You did." Harry said. Then the voice from earlier came back. "Well this doesn't get explained in any of the books so here it is: that book is yours Charlus. Dumbledore added it to the library after collecting several other items off of you and James."

Everyone went livid, and it took several minutes for everyone to calm down.

"It's in the restriction section but it will help us with completely your genius when you trapped that ghoul in a tea strainer." Leo said smoothly.

Sevreal people snorted in derision.

"Aries here, was trying so hard on his own to understand the genius at work." Leo tacked on. "He's been trying so hard he hasn't slept in weeks." Harry added as Ron and Neville nodded.

Aries mimed a gag.

"Ah, Gadding with Ghouls, a personal favorite." Lockhart said. "But don't feel too bad Aries, many have also tried, and have come to similar stops." Lockhart said pompously as he got a peacock quill that swished a foot in the air as he wrote out his signature with practiced fluidness.

"Eurgh." Septimus groaned.

Ron made a disgusted face at the quill. "Yes, it's rather impressive isn't it?" Lockhart asked, not properly reading Ron's expression.

"Family resemblance." Leo coughed.

That's when Luna came in. "Excuse me professor, but can you sign my text book?" Luna asked airily.

Even Xenophilius looked puzzled.

"Of course my dear." Lockhart said as he signed the first blank page of the book. Soon they all walked out and as soon as they rounded the corner Aries slapped Leo. "His genius!?" Aries asked indignantly.

"His stupidity and ego." Leo amended.

"Hey, YOU said to stroke the ponce's ego." Leo retorted.

"I was also running on an hour of sleep, so don't always listen to me." Aries said.

"So we got him to sign for this book, what's Luna need the autograph for?" Ron asked as he glared at the cover version of Lockhart. "I thought that we could forge a signature later if we need it." Luna said.

"Brilliant!" The marauders praised.

Ron blinked before grinning at the small Ravenclaw. "Luna, that's brilliant." Ron praised and Luna smiled up at him warmly.

The three from the future shared a warm look.

They rushed towards the library. Harry, Ron, Luna, Leo and Neville waited at an empty table as Velvela and Aries went to Madam Pince to get the book.

"These two do the same." Remus said as he pointed at the two teenaged animagi.

They came back carrying a large book that made a heavy THUD.

"Yeesh!"

Aries opened the book, causing dust to fly from the ancient pages. Inside were pictures that surprised Harry. There was one of a witch talking to trees, and a wizard that was changing his hair to long red curls.

"Metamorphmagi information?" Ted asked curiously. Charlus nodded. "If you want you and Andromeda can look through it after this." Charlus offered. The Tonks couple accepted with warm smiles.

"I found something on parselmouths." Aries said. "You're a pareselmouth?" Ron asked in shock and Neville looked at him with wide eyes. Harry nodded as he looked down a bit.

Liliana rolled her eyes a bit at the prejiduce that was quick to form in Britain.

"It doesn't matter Harry." Luna whispered. His friends gave him all reassuring looks that put him at ease.

Harry smiled.

"Says here most cultures respect them, and some claim it's a divine blessing from ancient gods." Aries breathed.

Liliana nodded. "Some people were crazy about parselmouths back in Italy." Liliana added.

Harry sent the book a shrewd look. Gods? Divine powers?

Several people snorted at the idea, not noticing the strange looks in the eyes of the three from the future.

Soon they were all taking turns going through several pages each when Harry skimmed and found something that caught his eye. There was an entire page on empathy. When no one was looking he silently freed the page from the fragile binding and pocketed it for later.

"You better hope Pince didn't see you or your hide will be tanned." James said morosely.

Soon it was Velvela's turn and she whispered "I found it!" at them.

Several peole were very interested.

Harry shifted the book towards himself and read the page.

Barriers

"NO WAY!" Sirius shouted as he looked between the Potter men. Charlus nodded. "It's true Pads." James said. Liliana was confused so she continued.

There are a select few with the power to manipulate barriers.

A wizard with this skill can create, control, or even negate barriers.

A barrier is something like a shield spell. However

It is not just a physical barrier from spells.

It can be used to block living objects, or even

Attacks on the mind, as if it were a natural occumens.

There have even been reports of barriers being broken to

Enter other realms most wizards are unable to enter.

It is believed to be a hereditary skill.

The last known barrier master was

From there the name was smudged badly.

"That would be our ancestor Marcellius Potter." Charlus said shocking Harry.

"That thing with the snake—you created a barrier between it and Justin." Aries breathed.

Harry averted his eyes at the shocked looks he was receiving.

"But if that's the case why didn't I use this barrier thing before?" Harry asked.

"Excellent question." Abarax said as he casted a look at the Potters.

"Hang on." Neville said as he thumbed through the book. "Here." He said as he showed them a page.

Several people were at the edges of their seats.

Blocks

This is a learnable skill, but it takes much magic to fully master.

A block is essentially a seal placed on another wizard's magic.

Often times, it is placed on dangerous criminals, or children who

Are unable to control most of their magic.

While it is rare, some blocks can go unnoticed

In medical examinations if the blocker is powerful enough.

Harry paled a bit. Did someone put a block on him? Did Aries and Leo have blocks on them as well?

Several people growled viciously at the implication.

"Let's get to class." Velvela said as she returned the book to Madam Pince.

"She really does sound like you Moony." Sirius said in surprise.

They went about their lessons when someone screamed. They ran towards the scream and found Daphne Greengrass shaking as she stared up in horror at a petrified fourth year from Ravenclaw.

"WHAT!?"

"It was here." Neville said in shock.

Frank was nervously looking at Alice.

Harry shuddered. Why didn't he hear anything? Was it anywhere near the library?

Harry grumbled a bit.

Daphne was still shaking badly. Walked over towards her. "Are you ok?" Harry asked. She nervously nodded.

"Such a ladies man." Leo snorted. Harry gave him a rude one handed gesture.

"Did you see what did this to them?" Harry asked. She shook her head. Harry stepped around so he faced the usually haughty brunette.

James and Sirius waggled their eyebrows at Harry.

"You're fine right?" Harry asked kindly. She looked him in the eye and nodded after a brief pause.

Dorea was slightly giddy and Charlus had a fond smile in his face.

"That's good." Harry said. "Yeah." She said quietly. "We need to be more careful then." Harry said as he casted a look back at the petrified student.

"Why has nothing been done yet?" McGonagall asked angrily.

"We? Isn't the monster attacking Muggleborns?" Daphne asked.

"Excellent point." Arcturus added.

Aries and Luna looked carefully at the Ravenclaw.

"That was eerie for us." Aries said.

"How can the monster know? We're all witches and wizards." Harry asked.

"Well put Harry." Charlus praised. Harry smiled brightly at his grandfather.

She gave him a strange look before turning away. They were ushered towards their common rooms when the Professors came in.

McGonagall nodded.

For days after that several students were nervous since the monster still hasn't been caught, and so far the only victims were muggleborn. The only ones not worried about all of this were the purebloods like Malfoy. In fact some of them were gloating.

There was grumbling from both ends of the spectrum, so Liliana quickly continued the chapter before any arguments could take place.

Harry had to visit Madam Pomfrey after holding Velvela back when a Slytherin a year below them said something rude about Colin.

Harry rubbed his arms at the memory. Aries and Leo nodded. "She's one of the sweetest girls in the world." Aries said. "You just don't want her mad." Leo added.

"Why don't we go and visit Hagrid that always cheers us up." Leo said as he was rubbing a patch of bruises Madam Pomfrey was in the middle of healing. They all walked to Hagrid's hut after dinner.

Regulus frowned a bit. He was thankful that the Groundskeeper told Aries about being a wizard, but he wished his son chose better when it came to the individuals he associated with,

They got in and chatted briefly with Hagrid. Apparently he had some choice things to say about Lockhart. "If a word of his books 's true, I'll eat me kettle." Hagrid huffed.

They all laughed at that.

Before they knew it, it was about half an hour past curfew.

"Time flies by at Hagrids." James said. The marauders and the three from the future nodded.

Right when they were about to get ready to leave there was a knock on the door. "Hide!" Hagrid whispered at them. "Jus' a minute!" Hagrid said loudly as Harry and his friends clambered down under the large bed.

"Plenty of room." Leo noted.

Harry was holding his hand over his mouth so that his breathing wouldn't be heard.

The marauders nodded at the hiding tactic. McGonagall shook her head and Lily looked annoyed at their pranking streak.

Hagrid opened the door to show Snape.

Grumble, grumble, several insults about Snape later.

Harry didn't have to look to know that most of his friends were glaring at the bitter dungeon brewer.

So were several others listening.

"Hagrid, I came to ask about that order of cox combs." Snape sneered. "Sorry, Pr'fessor Snape. Somethin's been killin' most of me roosters. I'll get yer order filled in a couple o' days." Hagrid said politely.

"Why can't he just go and buy some himself?" Frank asked with narrowed eyes.

"I should hope so… Good night." Snape said before prowling off with a swish of his black robes.

"He does the prowl and swish thing now." James said. Lily frowned at the stag animagus. "He does that only when you guys pick on him." Lily defended.

"But to treat our sons like crap just because their fathers were jerks is in and of itself childish." Shizuka said steadily. Lily blushed a bit in embarrassment. "Besides, Snape's baggage gets explained soon." Harry said as he casted a stern look at Lily.

"Harry, can I have a word with you?" McGonagall asked. Harry and the professor walked into an empty room that was provided for them.

"Yes, Professor?" Harry asked politely. "Mr. Po—Harry, can I ask why you're behaving the way you are around Ms. Evans?" The Transfiguration Professor asked. Harry blinked in surprise. "It'll be explained in later books, but a main reason I can tell you is that I saw what she did to my mother." Harry said strongly.

McGonagall nodded her head as her eyes misted. "But if she attacked your mother, why wasn't she-" Harry grimaced a bit. "They only get removed if they used magic to harm." Harry said bitterly. McGonagall nodded and soon they were back in their usual seats.

As soon as Hagrid closed the door, they all slipped out. Harry was sure he heard Leo call him 'Professor Snivellous' along with other insults he was sure he learned from Sirius.

Lily glared at Sirius. Sirius didn't notice as he grinned at his son.

"Something's been killing your roosters?" Luna asked. "Yeah." Hagrid said. "Is it some fox, or animal?" Aries asked. "Nah, nothin' ate 'em. They're jus' left a big bloody mess." Hagrid said.

"That's really odd." Frank said. Xenophilius opened his mouth to say something when Liliana hurried up her reading.

Hagrid ushered them up back to the castle with a note that said 'These students were helping me with work—Hagrid.'

Everyone not in Slytherin shook their head fondly at the so-Hagrid move.

"Normally an animal would eat the prey they killed." Aries puzzled as they walked inside the castle.

Remus nodded.

"Maybe that's the blood used to write the message on the wall!" Ron said as he lowered a fist into his palm.

Several people paled badly.

"Oh Merlin." Neville whimpered. "That's disgusting." Velvela said with a scrunched nose.

Several people made similar sentiments.

"So why roosters though?" Leo asked. "Maybe since they were easy to get to? Hagrid did have a bunch of them." Ron pointed out. "Yeah, they were in a big coop near the hut." Aries said with a nod.

"Shouldn't his dog guard the things then?" Barty asked. "Fang's a coward." The three from the future chorused.

"I don't know about you lot, but I can't wait for holiday." Neville said nervously. Leo nodded with him, and Harry had to agree. Eventually the term came to an end and they all boarded the train to go spend Christmas with their families.

Everyone smiled to various degrees at the mentions of spending time with family.

"I wonder if we'll go visit Bill or Charlie." Ron wondered as he dug around a box of jelly beans.

Septimus looked briefly puzzled, before shrugging his confusion to make room for Christmas fuzzy feelings.

Leo couldn't sit still. "This will be my second Christmas with Papa!" He said giddily as Harry passed him a box of peppermint toads. Harry noticed the sad looks Neville, Luna, Velvela and Ron shared.

Everyone looked sad. "This time around though, we'll make sure you never miss a Christmas with us." Shizuka said. Sirius snuggled her gently and Leo couldn't stop the smile on his face.

"Second?" Ron asked thickly. "Mmhmm." Leo said with a grin. "This will be the best Christmas ever!" Leo cheered as Aries nodded alongside him. Harry couldn't help but smile too.

James looked down sullenly. Liliana gripped his hand and James looked at her. She gave him a reassuring smile and James nodded with a wobbly smile.

They didn't notice the dreamy looks Dorea was directing at her husband or the warm, yet distant look in Harry's eyes. But Aries noticed something in the midst of sorrow, regret and loves. A growing sprout of jealousy and want that seemed to nag uncomfortably at his nerves. He turned his eyes slightly and saw the source.

Aries was wondering if it was a good idea to bring Lily Evans after all.

Soon they all got on the platform. Ron waved goodbye as he went to his parents and brothers. The twins gave Aries and Leo a goodbye noogie, to which the cousins swore that they would get payback when school started again.

Seve3ral people chuckled. Sirius and Septimus being the loudest.

"Bye, guys." Neville said as his Gran walked over towards them and welcomed Neville warmly. Velvela and Luna each gave them a warm hug goodbye as they went to their parents.

Xenophilius grinned at the idea of spending Christmas with his little Luna.

"Boys!" Sirius cheered happily as he ran towards them. He picked each of them up in a tight hug.

"He's like the puppy you leave behind." James, Remus and the boys intoned. Sirius blushed a bit as Shizuka hugged him.

"So good to have you boys back." Sirius said with a warm look in his pale grey eyes. "Down boy." Remus chuckled before they hugged him too.

"Next time use a training collar." Leo said. Sirius gave a mock look of hurt. "I'm betrayed by my own son!" He wailed over dramatically.

"Is Sirius being a fool again?" Aunt Andy asked. "Mum, this is Sirius we're talking about." A voice behind her said.

Andromeda and Ted looked shocked. Then they looked down at their pink and blue haired two year old daughter.

"Tonks!" Leo cheered before running around her and giving her a hug.

"She goes by Tonks?" Ted asked. "Sometimes she goes by Dora." Aries said with a sad tinted smile.

Tonks, or her real name is Nymphadora, was a young woman with a pale heart shaped face and dark twinkling eyes, dressed like a punk with short spikey plum colored hair.

"Punk!?" Andromeda asked in shock. "Where do you think Ree was inspired to go punkish?" Leo asked as he gestured over to his cousin. Aries shrugged. "I had several influences, but she's an important one." Aries said.

"Actually this is toned down for Aries." Harry mentioned. Regulus was giving his son a look. "I have some issues with that this time around." The younger Black brother said.

Leo thought she was so cool, especially when she changed her hair color.

"It's awesome!" Alice cooed as Teddy and Nymphadora changed their hair to a matching bubblegum pink.

"Hello Tonks." Moony said kindly. She grinned at him.

The three from the future shared a look that clearly said 'we know something you don't.'

"Dromeda, you shouldn't tease Sirius so much." Uncle Ted said in his usual mellow and pleasant voice. Tonks grinned and turned her hair the same fair color her dad sported.

Teddy tried, but he still had some pink streaks in it. Several people cooed at the baby Remus was holding. "So Teddy inherited the metamorphmagi talent?" Bellatrix asked. Harry nodded stiffly. "His mother was a metamorphmagi." Leo said sadly. The room was a bit gloomy, so Liliana read on.

"Come on, we have a holiday to enjoy!" Sirius cheered before they all apparated back home.

Everyone grinned. "Finite." Liliana said as she ended the chapter with a warm smile.