Beta: None of them had the time.
Original release date: 01/25/15
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter universe or any other universe.
Chapter 21 – Home Sweet Home
Some drops of blood cover the five roughly carved runes on the block of wood, followed by Remus casting a lengthy spell.
"Amelia, please try to summon Jack here, please" asks Remus.
Seconds then minutes pass before Amelia steps outside of the wards to see if Jack knew roughly where to go, or just couldn't find any trace of Amelia. Walking back in, Amelia carries Jack in her arms and into the backyard where Remus, Sirius, Harry, and Kreacher stand, before laying Jack on his back.
"Jack, are you alright?" asks Amelia, voice full of concern.
Getting to his feet, Jack wobbles slightly before replying, "Jack is alright."
"When I called you to me, did you know where to find me?"
"Jack didn't know where to find master. Jack just felt pull of magic in general direction."
"Did you detect any wards preventing you from entering when you arrived?" inquires Remus, a hint of curiosity tinting his voice.
Jack shakes his head and opens his mouth to reply when Amelia interrupts him with, "Jack, thank you. This is now our home."
With a confused look plastered on his face, Jack says, hysteria beginning to appear, "New home for Jack? Not clothes!"
Grabbing Jack in a hug, Amelia replies, "No, not clothes. You, Susan, and I will be living here now. Together. We are more heavily protected here. And you won't have to do all of the household work by yourself now; Kreacher lives here too and will help you out. Now, please come over to this wooden block and have a single drop of blood hit on each rune, so only you and Kreacher can pass through the ward."
Jack follows Amelia's instructions with Remus casting the spell, indirectly causing a wave of steadiness to flow over Jack.
"Interesting, when a house elf enters the ward and isn't keyed into it, they become ill, or unsteady until they are granted access" muses Remus.
Speaking for the first time in a while, Sirius says, "Jack, our house/manor is fairly large, so please feel free to find a room that is to your liking and use it as you see fit."
Bursting into tears, Jack sobs, "Master's Sirius is kind. Jack is overwhelmed."
"Kreacher will show Jack around if Jack desires" comments Kreacher.
Kreacher and Jack disappear into the house before Sirius claps and rubs his hands together, "Now that our new ward works, we've gotten Jack into his new home, how do we progress? Get Susan and have her move in?"
"How about we move our belongings here and let her enjoy playing with Hannah Abbott" suggests Amelia.
"Alright, shall we see if Kreacher and Jack are ready to help move everything over, and then make dinner, giving them a break?" suggests Sirius.
Ten minutes later, Sirius, Amelia, Kreacher, and Jack go directly to the Bones's residence and begin moving their possessions over.
At the Black, Lupin, and Potter and now Bones household, Remus pours hot water into the cauldron containing nearly fifteen pounds of angel hair spaghetti. An hour or so later, Sirius pops his head into the kitchen and asks, "Amelia and I are going to pick up Susan. Will the food be ready?"
"It's a simple meal, but it should be ready in a few minutes" replies Remus.
Roughly five minutes later, Susan, Harry, Amelia, and Sirius enter the dining room where the table is laden down with spaghetti, ground up cheese, fruit, and vegetables.
"Hello, Susan" greets Harry.
"Hello, Harry" replies Susan.
"Harry, why don't you show Susan to her room after dinner? She's across the hall from you" suggests Remus.
Finishing up their meal, Susan follows Harry to the second floor where he leads her to her new room. Looking around the room, Susan exclaims, "It's like my room was transported perfectly here! It's even the same color!"
"I'll leave you to enjoy your room, but across the hallway is the bathroom. If you need anything, I'm across the hall, or you can call for Jack or Kreacher" states Harry, leaving Susan in peace.
/*A few days later at breakfast*/
"Susan, Harry, your Hogwarts list came. We've worked it out with the Weasley's to get your Hogwarts items starting around noon. Susan, I communicated with Mrs. Abbott to meet us around the same time, so you can go shopping with Hannah if you so choose. Sound good you two?" states Remus, cooking sausage links.
"What we will do until then?" inquires Harry.
"Sirius is handling the store with Fred and George, so we can hang around here until shortly before noon, or we can go to Diagon Alley and you two can hang around the store until we meet up with everyone. It's your choice" replies Remus.
Opening his mouth to comment, Harry is interrupted by a large rectangular mirror having Sirius's face appear.
"Remus, it looks like some Lockhart guy is signing books at Flourish and Blotts later today. Business is starting to pick up here, and I could use a hand, despite having Fred and George here."
Turning to Susan and Harry, Remus says, "Well, eat up, because we're apparently going to the store shortly."
Eating their breakfast in relative silence, Harry and Susan soon finish their morning ablutions and stand in the living room, ready to leave. Susan, having not traveled to the Marauders Emporium before, asks Remus, "Um, how are we going to get to the store?"
Without warning, Harry grabs a pinch of floo powder and disappears into the roaring green flames. Sighing audibly, Remus answers, "We normally travel through the floo system to get to the store. We have some security measures that are harder to undo from the outside than the inside. Take a pinch of floo powder like you would normally and say, 'Marauders Emporium'. We have select fireplaces connected and allowed to access it. I'll let you go first so I can see where you end out at, alright?"
Nodding her head, Susan takes a pinch of floo powder, throws it into the fireplace, before disappearing into the emerald green flames. Seconds later Remus appears in the workshop, looking around at a messy workshop, with Harry and Susan standing awkwardly around the room.
"I assume that you two couldn't have done this in the seconds we took from the house to here, correct?" says and exasperated Remus.
"It was like this when I arrived" replies Harry.
Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, Remus instructs, "Please go to the main part of the store and send Sirius back here."
Walking in, Sirius shifts his gaze away from the clutter and asks, "Harry told me that you needed something from me?"
Indicating around him, Remus replies, "Mind explaining what this is? It was nicely put away last night and then I come in and find it a mess. At least let me know when you're using the workshop, so someone can be at the counter to serve customers while you tinker around back here."
"Remus! Let me first explain that the twins came onto a way to implement one of my ideas. I think we should work on it, but we have to keep it under wraps."
Exhaling loudly, Remus goes, "What is this great idea that you want to keep quiet?"
As Sirius whispers in Remus's ear, Remus's face goes from confusion to content, and finally to a giddiness that is quite infectious.
"Sirius, if this takes off, do you know how this will affect the magical world as we know it?!" exclaims Remus excitedly.
"We definitely need to prototype this and get it into production. But we also want to take our time so we don't mess this up. Does that explain the mess?" states Sirius.
Looking around the room, Remus nods his head before replying, "Yes, but let's try to keep a certain distance around the fireplace clear for entering and exiting the floo system, agreed?"
"Agreed."
Going to the front of the store, Remus announces to the twins, Susan, and Harry, "We're meeting up with the Abbotts and Weasleys about noon. Sirius will be taking you all for new robes, potion supplies, and the likes, except for books in which there is a book signing at one at Flourish and Blotts with Lockhart, whose books are on your Hogwarts lists."
"Susan, do you want to go with us or wait and go with Hannah?" asks Sirius.
"I'll wait" replies Susan.
"All who are going, let's go!" exclaims Sirius loudly, walking out the front door.
"Wait, what about us?" choruses the Weasley twins.
Chuckling, Sirius replies, "We'd like to invest in your future. We'll pick up the bill for some new robes apiece, some gloves for Herbology, some potion ingredients, and give you two a small budget for books that aren't related to your Hogwarts list. Essentially some books for pleasure or books about charms for more products. You'll be getting a cut of the sales of any ideas you two create and help with. Sound good? Of course, your Hogwarts studies supersede idea creation you understand."
Fred and George exchange incredulous looks with each other, with Fred asking, "All of this…for us?"
Smiling, Sirius replies, "Of course. We aren't going to buy you two new brooms though. Remember you two do get our Quidditch gear for free, with free replacements of course. There is also you two getting our test products for keeps."
"What's our book budget?" asks George, not missing a beat.
"How about five galleons apiece?" replies Sirius cooly.
"Five galleons…" begins Fred.
"…apiece?" finishes George.
"Yep. Sound good?" replies Sirius.
"Yes!" choruses Fred and George.
"Alright, let's go get these purchases taken care of before lunch" declares Sirius.
An hour or so later, the quartet return to the store, thoroughly happy with the little traffic encountered at the store.
"We've got about half an hour before we have to meet everyone for lunch" announces Remus.
Closing the safety door separating the workshop and the rest of the shop and beginning to close the metal window coverings, George asks, "Why do you lower these metal partitions over the windows?"
"For just in case someone wants to break in and steal anything?" replies Sirius, confused.
"Why not have something cover the shelves and register and leave the windows uncovered. The store might look a bit more...inviting, or so I think" comments George.
Sirius and Remus stop and look at each other for a few seconds before Remus replies, "That could be done, and might attract more customers."
"Let's go to lunch and think about it. Fred, George, don't forget your things in the portable shrinking chests" reminds Sirius.
Having everything, the group of six make their way to the Leaky Cauldron to meet up with everyone for lunch. Entering the Leaky Cauldron, Remus spots Molly and leads the group over to the rest of the lunch crowd, in the back. Shortly after getting their drinks, a surprise guest appears.
"Amelia! How good to see you here" greets Sirius enthusiastically.
"It's good to see you too, dear. Thanks for the message about lunch."
At the other side of the table, Molly begins fussing over Fred and George's new robes.
"And you got them where?!" demands an angry Molly.
"With our own money of course, mum" replies Fred, exasperated.
"And where did you get such money?" demands Molly, narrowing her eyes.
"We get paid for learning how to run a business" replies George, equally as exasperated as his twin.
Turning around with a flourish, Molly accuses, "Sirius Black! Remus Lupin! How DARE you pay my boys! Think we can't provide for our family?!"
Holding his hands in the air, Sirius calmly replies, "Of course I don't think that you can't provide for your kids. The non-magical folk pay anyone working for them, in compensation for their time. I simply provided them with some compensation for their time."
Keeping her eyes narrowed, Molly remains on the other side of the circular table, staring daggers in Sirius's and Remus's direction.
"Auntie! It's so good to see you" comments a bubbly Susan.
Hugging Susan, Amelia replies, "It's great to see you too, Susan."
The massive group lunch continues on as peacefully as it can with a peeved Molly Weasley. Nearing the end of the lunch, however, Amelia and Sirius stand, and Amelia announces to the group, "Sirius and I are having our wedding the day before our kids head back to Hogwarts, or the 31st of August. Everyone here is welcome to come. The wedding and reception will be held at the Bones manor. But anyone on the invitation must be touching some part of the invitation, like a portkey", before handing out wedding invitations.
Some light clapping is heard and with Sirius declaring, "I'll pick up the bill for the lunch, as I invited everyone here. And thank you for coming."
The group files out individually while Sirius pays for the lunch, still receiving the evil eye from Molly. Entering Flourish and Blotts, the group joins the end of the snake like line to get a copy of Gilderoy Lockhart's complete collection of books. Minutes drag on as the line moves steadily, but slowly towards Lockhart. Just a few feet away from Lockhart, a photographer moves in jagged movements, taking photos with puffs of smoke being emitted with each photo. Attempting to move out of the way, Ron is too slow and his foot is stepped on by the photographer, which in response, loses his balace and falls on his back.
Looking up from where is signing books, Lockhart spots Harry, and breaks out into a smile.
"It's Harry Potter; the boy who lived" exclaims Lockhart, pulling Harry to the table where he was signing books.
The photographer takes photos like mad, with smoke beginning to gather at the ceiling.
"Harry here walked in for just my autobiography, but he wasn't aware that he and his friends will be getting me. I will be the most magical Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year."
Lockhart quickly signs a few books, with Harry's name in them and hands the entire collection of his books to Harry, shaking Harry's hand while the photographer resumes. Moving through the crowd rapidly, Harry offers his collection of books to Mrs. Weasley, who declines.
"I honestly don't need it, Mrs. Weasley, so please, take them. Enjoy them" says Harry.
"Harry, you keep them. They have your name signed in them" replies Mrs. Weasley.
"Mum, what if we bought our own books?" asks Fred slyly.
"Buy your own books?" exclaims Mrs. Weasley, forgetting Fred and George had gotten paid by Sirius and Remus.
"Well, not like it matters any more; we already purchased our books" George adds in.
"Congratulations!" exclaims Hermione, patting Harry on the shoulder.
"Yes, congratulations, Harry" adds Neville.
"I'm sure you just loved that, Potter" drawls a male voice.
Turning around, the group of friends come face to face with Draco.
"Do I detect a sense of jealousy, Mr. Malfoy?" replies Harry, smirking.
"You walk into a bookshop and get onto the front page of the Daily Prophet. I wouldn't want that" sneers Draco.
"Just leave us alone" chimes in Ginny.
"Potter, is that your girlfriend?" sneers Draco.
Opening his mouth to reply, Harry is interrupted by loud and ear piercing sound, causing nearly everyone around the group to twist in pain and try to plug their ears. A very long ringing sound before a deafening silence settles over the store before a shriek from Draco causes everyone to flinch. Running out of the store, Draco continues his shrieking, as his new robes were on fire.
"Draco, wait!" shouts Lucius Malfoy, striding out of Flourish and Blotts.
Looking around, Sirius suggests, "Why don't we get some ice cream from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour?"
Coming to unanimous agreement, the group quickly hightails it out of the store and quickly arrive at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.
/*early on the 31st of August*/
"Are you ready, Amelia?" asks Alice.
Lowering her veil, Amelia replies, "As much as I will be."
Hearing the music playing, Amelia exits from the room and begins walking down the aisle to where Sirius stands hands clasped behind his back. Arriving at the altar, the official begins the ceremony. Minutes later, Sirius says, "I do", followed by Amelia speaking, "I do."
"And I pronounce you two married" finishes the official.
Cheers erupt as Sirius and Amelia kiss. Beginning the wedding reception, Remus stands up and begins a toast, "A toast to begin this wonderful relationship. I remember when Sirius was naught but a pup, causing chaos at Hogwarts. But since he and I took it upon ourselves, following James and Lily's will, to raise Harry, he has matured greatly. Even more, since starting to see Amelia, Sirius has grown more responsible, which we can all agree is a major improvement. Here's to the newly-weds!"
Toasts continue and hours later the reception wraps up. Returning home, Amelia steps across the threshold and says, "Home sweet home."
Author note: According to the legacy story stats, this fanfic [not including this chapter] has over 51k words and 53k views, so thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, and messaged me. I do want to remind everyone that I do not have chapters written until I release them. So I can't release chapters any faster than I already do.
Now, before anyone says anything, I couldn't find anything on how to set up your own wards and how they work, so I sat down and came up with a plausible way to create a ward system, at least for the house elf ward system. If there is an official way from Pottermore that can be cited back to the books or J.K. Rowling, please let me know. What led me to the idea of a house elf ward was thinking on how Dobby popped into the Dursley's house, Hogwarts, and other locations and how other house elves could possibly do the same and quietly kill witches and wizards. I do understand that using blood is a bit risky, as some of you readers might not like using blood magic, but I think the use of blood magic will make it good or evil. I'll also keep that usage down. One last thanks to JHarry1960 for the money sharing idea for the Weasley family. While Fred and George didn't give money to their parents, they did get school supplies that did help reduce the expenditures for Molly and Arthur. My apologies for such a long author note.