Author's Note: Here it is, a day early. You'll find events from other stories of mine will begin occurring here, however, they're going to be slightly different, out of order or otherwise not quite as you remember. If anyone needs help remembering, I will be creating a website for the "Bound/Woven/Restored" trilogy and for the "Continuum/Ranimer/GUMD" trilogy. All of the different times lines, the family trees, artwork that has been created for the stories as well as the trailers will be there. I will also put up the playlists for all stories. It should be up by mid-January, and I will leave the information here and on my author page when it's ready. Also, I'm looking for someone to draw me a picture of Anwen and Sirius. If you're artistic and you'd be willing to make something for me, I'd love to hear from you. That's it. I should have one more chapter up before the New Year and our family vacation, if not, it will be up shortly after Jan. 1. Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing,

MNFeathers

Chapter 12

August 25, 1984

The others Dumbledore, Minerva, Alastor, Alice, Lily, Remus and Eva, were waiting when Anwen, Sirius and James arrived at Hogwarts, using the Floo which went directly into Dumbledore's office. Harry and Neville were waiting for their friends, and the parents were surprised when Madame Hooch came in and said she was taking the four youngsters out to the Quidditch pitch for a flying lesson. It was like a second Christmas for the boys. After kissing their mums the boys were off. The important discussion waited until the youngsters were clear of the stairs and out of ear-shot.

"Did you speak with my Grand-mere before you left my family?" Anwen asked Alice, her voice more stern and laced with more worry than usual. "She's formidable, but not young. I don't know if she's enough to hold off more than one attacker."

"Anwen, they're fine," Alice confirmed, taking her friends hands in hers. "Kingsley was going to cover until the team could get in place in the cottage across the lane. He's asked that the children be kept inside until they can raise the full protection wards."

"Okay," Anwen nervously replied. "If Narcissa is anything like her husband, she would have no qualms about going after my parents and siblings. There's no one to hurt in Sirius' family, but mine… and then there's the boys…" she trailed off, slipping her hands free from Alice's and turning into her husband's embrace. She turned her face upward and gazed into his eyes, hoping to find assurances there.

"She has no legal standing to take Draco, but at the same time, she hasn't relinquished her rights. She refuses to sign the adoption order. Sirius, what are we going to do?"

"Winnie, little one, she can't take him from us, not legally anyway. She's a convicted Death Eater. The Wizengamot took Draco away from her, and gave him to me as the head of the Black family. Louise is the only Malfoy left, and she approved of our raising him. Draco is our son," Sirius attempted to comfort her. "We just need to create a plan to keep all of us safe."

"Why?" she eked. "Why now? Haven't we sacrificed enough? My heart can't take another loss." Sirius gathered his wife in his arms and held her. He couldn't believe just an hour ago they were celebrating; now he didn't even need to look at her to know Anwen was terrified.

"Shh," he cooed at her. "Everything will be fine, my dearest. We will keep the boys safe," he promised before he whispered to her. "I will make sure both of you are always protected." His lips grazed her cheek and she settled some as his love flooded over her. He turned her around, his arms never leaving her midsection.

"What do we know?" Sirius asked in a louder voice, looking to Alastor for answers. He'd intentionally kept his eyes away from Albus Dumbledore. Sirius had a well-honed sense of self-preservation, finely tuned through his upbringing with a drunken, abusive father. While his head wanted to ignore what his gut was currently saying, Sirius couldn't in good faith write off that his senses said to distrust the old man. Alastor was the only other one in the room who knew exactly how much was at stake for his wife and him.

"Best that Frank was able to piece together," the one-eyed Auror began, "was that something was passed yesterday between Pettigrew and who we believed to be his barrister. Thing is, we've had someone watching Ophiuchus Nott since Crouch, Rosier and Ellerthorpe escaped. He wasn't at Azkaban yesterday, or any other day for that matter."

"Doesn't the charming on the place keep people under Polyjuice Potion from entering?" James asked.

"It does, but there are other ways to disguise yourself," Moody replied in a more grumpy than usual tone.

"James, the elder Ellerthorpe boy, Elam, was very talented at Transfigurations. I heard he had gone to the Far East to study," Albus interjected.

"But, Elam wasn't a Death Eater," Remus interjected. "He'd intentionally stayed away and took his youngest sister with him. Why would he get involved now?"

"They returned once Voldemort was gone," Dumbledore stated. "The Ellerthorpe's are an old family. The bonds between blood are stronger than anything. You know the saying."

"Prosapia supremos touts alius" James, Sirius and Alice all repeated at the headmaster's prompting. It was something which was drilled into pureblood children's minds from an early age.

"What?" Eva asked, unsure of the Latin translation.

"Family above all else," James said. "For families of the old bloodlines, your first priority is to family. To turn your back on your blood is considered grounds for disinheritance or worse."

"Is there any way we can confirm Elam was the one who went to Azkaban?" Sirius asked.

"He didn't do any magic," Mad-Eye said with a shake of his head. "There's nothing to trace."

"What did he pass to the rat? Do we know?" Sirius asked.

"Minerva, is it possible to trigger an Animagus transformation any way other than with a wand?" Alastor asked.

"Some witches and wizards are strong enough to trigger the transformations without their wands, but Peter wasn't particularly blessed with skill or natural talent. However, there are rumours of ancient spells in which an item is embedded with enough magic to start the Transfiguration," she explained. "I, however, have never actually seen the spell myself."

"It doesn't even begin to explain what magics were used to get Mrs. Malfoy out of there. She wasn't another unregistered Animagus, was she?" Alastor grumbled, looking pointedly at his newest recruits. James and Sirius looked chagrined while Anwen just smiled, knowingly.

"We are all registered, now," James mumbled. "So, I take it we need to research what sort of magic they used to escape?"

"I've got trainees who can research such things. The bigger issue is where to have the Blacks live. There are issues with both your homes," he said while looking at the defeated looking couple.

"What does he mean?" Anwen asked.

"By nature of her Black blood, Narcissa can come and go from Grimmauld Place. I've stripped her of her inheritance, but she can still enter any of the family properties. I can't change the charms until the last caster has been dead for ten years, and father hasn't been gone that long. We've got five years until I can make those changes," Sirius explained.

"What about our new house in Wales? Why can't we simply ward it better?"

"Anwen, our house is on a mixed street. To put stronger enchantments on it would be difficult with the Muggles so close. Whatever we created wouldn't be strong enough to make us truly safe," he explained. "We also don't know what your magic is going to do in the next few months," he added as a whisper. "You might not be in complete control." Anwen nodded, understanding what he was saying. The others puzzled at their quiet words, but didn't ask for clarification. It did, however, make Lily and Eva share a look of puzzlement. Silence fell onto the room, making one of the mothers anxious.

"So we're all just sitting ducks?" Lily asked, irked by how quickly their peaceful lives were unravelling. "Are you going to put Anwen and Sirius into hiding, like we were before Harry was born?"

"We can't go into hiding," Anwen interjected. "Sirius has a business to run. The boys are to start their schooling and I'm supposed to start my law classes. I will not be driven underground by that psychotic bitch." Sirius smirked at his wife's bluntness, pride puffing him up just a bit.

"We're not puttin' you into hiding," Mad-Eye remarked. "None of us were wonky enough to think you'd go happily anyway. Dumbledore has another idea." All eyes turned to the professor, who swallowed hard, suddenly looking uncomfortable.

"Why don't we all sit?" Albus suggested, and enough chairs for the assembled group appeared and they sat down. "I find myself in an odd position," he explained. "I am without two key members of my teaching staff for the next year. A week ago I received a communication from Filius Flitwick that he and Madame Sinistra had been wed, and were going on a year long tour to celebrate their nuptials."

There were puzzled looks around the room. No one even knew the Charms and Astronomy professors were more than colleagues.

"Additionally, they are hoping to start a family, which will be rather complex given his part Goblin and her part Banshee heritage," the headmaster continued. All three Marauders began to snigger, obviously attempting to figure out how the three-foot, eight-inch man and five-foot, eleven-inch woman would accomplish such a task.

"That was something I didn't need to imagine," James muttered under his breath, and Lily groaned before elbowing him in the ribs.

"How does this affect us?" Sirius asked, ignoring his friends comment, even though he had several very bad puns already springing to mind. Given Anwen's current mood, he'd have more than a rib-poke if he upset her.

"I believe you just completed your Masters in Charms, as well as the Mage requirements as set forth by the International Council of Wizards, did you not?" Dumbledore asked and Sirius nodded, understanding dawning on him.

"I didn't realize you'd become a Mage as well," James stated. "Why didn't you tell any of us?"

"It didn't seem that important," Sirius replied, suddenly feeling somewhat self-conscious. "It's simply another title, like being Lord Black or Vicomte de Cygne, Noblesse d'épée. I don't feel the need to flaunt my titles to make me feel important." Only Anwen was unsurprised by his confession.

"I never knew you were a Viscount," James stated. "With both titles, you outrank me."

"Yes, and as with most things related to my heritage, I'm so proud to be associated with my family," Sirius stated. "What exactly are you thinking, Albus?"

"I've made arrangements for a friend from Japan, Hoshi Kanagawa, to come and fill in for Madame Sinistra-Flitwick. I have not, however, found an appropriate replacement for Professor Flitwick. Given your credentials, Sirius, I hope you would consider the position.

"Additionally, Hogwarts has always remained safe. Neither Grindelwald nor Voldemort were able to breech our walls. I feel confident that Anwen and the children would be safe here," he added.

"Where would we stay? Mimi's quarters aren't that large. We'd never all fit," Anwen stated.

"The castle would ensure that you'd have more than enough space," Albus explained.

"How would being held captive in the castle be any different than being in hiding in a house under the Fidelius Charm? Not being able to leave would have the same stifling affect on our lives," she rebuked. "I would rather us move into one of our French holdings, or one of the other homes the Viscounty title entails."

"You'd leave the U.K.?" Lily asked, stunned and hurt.

"To keep my family safe? Certainly."

"I don't think we're in a place where we need to consider relocation," Sirius stated, trying to keep his wife from impulsively saying something she'd regret. "Tell us about how it would work, should we move in here."

Albus explained how the teaching schedule would be arranged, leaving him time to be with the children and continue to work with James, Frank and Remus on rounding up the eight Death Eaters they were after. Sirius was pleased, especially with the protection the boys and Anwen would be afforded when he wasn't around. There was only one thing weighing on his mind.

"I won't be able to help much with the shops, Prongs," he stated.

"You're not much help with running them anyway, Pads," his friend retorted making the others laugh. The mood had lightened, and Sirius looked into his wife's face.

"I think we should take this offer," he said very quietly, his hand stroking along her face, his eyes pleading. "I want the extra protection for you, please, love." Anwen nodded, knowing he was right. The Blacks would soon be living in Hogwarts castle. She then surprised the amassed group by looking at the Headmaster, something she'd not done as of yet

.

"You promise we will be safe?" she asked. The old wizard nodded, and Anwen settled, her mind beginning to consider how living here would work.