Chapter Twenty Five

Disclaimer: I suppose that since there is much that I would have done differently with the books I am not Jk Rowling. Nor will I ever own Harry Potter.

A.n. I decided to not skip to June because I suddenly realized we have basically hit the end of June. The department of mysteries is probably going to happen in the next chapterS after this. Just to warn you all Calli is about to do some ranting about Umbridge. I don't think any one really minds.

XXX

"Oh My God, SIRIUS!" I screamed as I clutched the counter to steady myself. He was at my side in an instant.

"What's wrong!" He demanded. I shoved the letter into his hand. He skimmed it three times as fast as I had read it the first time.

"No." He breathed. I nodded slowly before anger boiled up inside of me.

"THAT EVIL INSANE WOMAN! SHE CAN'T BE HUMAN! NOT TO DO THIS! HOW COULD SHE! SURE, MINERVA DIDN'T LIEK HER BUT WHO DID! HOW DARE SHE JUST LET THEM ATTACK HER! WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS! THE MINISTER? I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!" My rant got cut off when Sirius yanked me against him. I saw a flash of fear on his face when he did so. Then I just burst into tears and sobbed against his chest. He stroked my hair gently as I shook in his arms. I could tell I had scared him when I lost it, I had never lost it that bad before. He let me cry it out before he pushed me to arm length.

"What are we going to do?" I asked shakily. Sirius took a deep breath.

"We're going back to Grimmauld." He answered and I looked at him.

"You go tell Molly what happened and I'll pack our stuff. It's our best option." He explained and I nodded. I headed as fast as I could for the door and in the process I passed the living room. I saw the girls laying in a circle staring at Andromeda's sneak-o-scope. I swallowed a sob and continued on my way out. Molly was outside when I showed up in her garden.

"Calli." Molly stated then stopped because of the look on my face. I passed her the note and she went pale.

"Oh God, NO!" She said loudly and Arthur's head poked out of the chicken coop. He was by Molly in an instant.

"Molly?" Arthur asked and she looked at him. I guess living through the previous war made him able to understand that something had gone horribly wrong.

"Who?" He whispered.

"Minerva." She replied. I took a deep breath.

"She's not dead. Just stunned four times. Which isn't too much better." I explained. Arthur wrapped Molly in his arms and sighed in thankfulness.

"Sirius and I are moving back to Grimmauld. I just came to tell you." Arthur nodded and Molly hugged me.

"Give us news if you can." She said and I nodded before apparating back to our house. Sirius was standing there with the girls on the porch. I walked up and picked up two of the kids while Sirius handled the luggage and Narcissa.

XXX

We conjured three cribs in the room Harry had been staying in during his summer stay. We put the girls there and then headed down to the library. It was our place in a way. I curled up on the couch while Sirius paced in front of me. We stayed like this until we heard someone open the door downstairs. I ran down there first. It was Remus and Dora, the latter who was sobbing just like I had been. They must've received the news. Sirius snagged my hand as I began to cry again.

"Dumbledore has called an emergency meeting. Everyone will be here in about two hours." Remus announced as he held Dora against him. Sirius nodded as he pulled me a little closer to him, just enough so that he could wrap an arm around my shoulder.

"Let's go back to the library." Sirius suggested and Remus nodded. When we got back up there I sat in Sirius' lap.

"She just seemed so resilient." Dora sobbed when she sat down. Everyone nodded solemnly before silence fell over us again.

"Calli can I hold one of the girls?" Remus asked and I nodded. I brought back the still sleeping Bellatrix a few seconds later.

"It's nice when you can see the innocence in their faces." Remus stated. I stayed on Sirius' lap listening to his heartbeat again. He wrapped his arms around me and pressed light kisses into my hair. He put his mouth by my ear.

"Can you change your hair back to normal?" He asked shakily. I leaned away from him. He pulled a lock of my hair out in front of my face. It was the colour of a rainy day sky. I assumed it was because I was sad. I shut my eyes then shook my head after it didn't change.

"I guess I'm too emotional." I answered.

"Thank you for trying." He said. I nodded. I guess he just couldn't stand seeing me so sad and I hated to see him so serious. I reached up and kissed him gently. Or at least it started that way, by the time we pulled away my lips were swollen and pink. I smiled as he ran his thumb over them before kissing me again, right where we had left off when we pulled away. When we finally pulled away from our very passionate kiss, Sirius pulled another lock of my hair in front of me. It had returned to my signature blonde colour. He smiled.

"Much better." He stated and pulled me tight against him again. I sat there and stared as Remus and Dora followed our example only slightly more passionately, though with a little bit more trouble because Remus was still holding Bellatrix. I stood up and grabbed Sirius' hand.

"Let's go down to the kitchen. That's where people are going to be looking for other people." I said and grabbed Bellatrix from Remus as we walked past. I put her back with her sisters. When we sat down in the dining room Sirius laughed lightly as he stroked his thumb over my hand.

"We haven't ever spent the night in this house as a married couple." He answered when I looked at him in question.

"Have you missed being here?" I asked and smiled largely at the look on his face. It was a mix of horror and disgust.

"Have you?" He countered and I shook my head. Then I heard the door open and a few seconds later Emmiline's head poked through the door. She sighed in relief when she saw us. I stood up and hugged her.

"I never would've thought it would be Minerva." She stated as soon as we pulled away. Sirius nodded and Emmiline joined us at the table, with her next to me and Sirius across the table.

"Are Tonks and Remus here? I thought I saw their coats." Emmiline asked. I blushed at the thought.

"Their in the library. With each other." I explained and Emmiline shuddered. Sirius huffed in frustration.

"Mooney must know some kind of werewolf magic, because I have to stop to breath." He muttered. I blushed again before reaching over and smacking Sirius on the arm lightly. He looked at my face and shut up. Emmiline stood up and headed into the kitchen to make hot chocolate just as the Twins burst in from the hall. How they didn't wake up Sirius' mom was beyond me. I got up and hugged them both.

"Mum owled us. Said someone had been attacked." George puffed.

"Who?" Fred huffed after him.

"Minerva." Sirius and I chorused. Their mouths hit the floor in shock.

"Umbridge is a dead woman, when she's back on her feet." They both announced. Sirius nodded in agreement. Remus and Dora joined us suddenly, with Dora smoothing down her shirt down. I smirked at her widely as the dining room table filled with people. Right when it started to get packed Fred launched up from the table and ran upstairs. He came down with Narcissa and Andromeda in his arms. He passed George Narcissa.

"Something just told me that they were awake." He explained when I looked at him in question. I smiled and nodded. Andromeda still had her sneak-o-scope clutched in her hands. She seemed to sit up more in Fred's arms when Mad-eye clunked in with Albus behind him. After he sat down at the head of the table he took a deep breath.

"As you are all aware Minerva was attacked a few hours ago. She is currently in Saint Mungo's after taking four stunners while protecting Hagrid. At this moment she is stable but has not yet awoken. There was a simultaneous sigh of relief around the table.

"What are we going to do about the students?" Hestia asked from down the table. Sirius snagged my hand as realization washed over the whole table. There was no one who could outwardly protect the students.

"Severus is still there." Albus reminded us.

"Yes, but he can't as easily help all of the students. Minerva's being deputy gave her some power." Katherine pointed out from beside Kingsley. I hadn't seen her come in.

"We could send someone there." Emmiline suggested. Dora shook her head.

"If anyone who isn't staff walked within three feet of Hogwarts, She'd have you carted off to Azkaban before you could say stupefy." Dora said and Sirius squeezed my hand as Kingsley nodded.

"Unfortunately she's right." He replied.

"Perhaps we could get in contact with one of the students." Dedalus offered. This time I shook my head.

"We have no options. She's watching the floo network and her screening process takes a month for an owl to get through. We don't have that kind of time." I informed them all. I saw shoulders sag all around the table. I was still confused as to how Hermione had gotten Hedwig to me so fast. Mad-eye shifted towards me.

"Any word on how Harry's doing?" He asked. Everyone leaned forwards, well aware of the fact that I had been keeping in touch with Ginny and Hermione.

"He still hasn't started his Occulemency lessons again, which Hermione has been harassing him about it. They haven't mentioned whether he has had another dream or not." I answered and everyone leaned back in their chairs. Remus turned to Albus.

"What do you suggest we do?" He requested. Albus sighed with a hint of worry in his face.

"Term is almost over, the only thing we can do is hope for the best. It would be best if we had someone staying here, in case of emergency." Everyone nodded.

"Calli and I have already moved back in." Sirius announced and I nodded.

"I'll move in as well." Dora offered.

"I'm already living here." Remus added.

"That will do." Albus said. Mad-eye stood.

"Stay in contact as much as you can. Everyone agree?" He asked and a loud chorus of 'ayes' around the table.

"Meeting Dismissed. Callista, may I see yo for a moment?" Albus questioned and I nodded and followed him into the kitchen.

"There has been no word on any dreams at all." He confirmed and I nodded.

"Nothing. If he's had any, Ginny and Hermione haven't told me so. I really believe they would though." I explained. He nodded.

"Its either he hasn't had any or he hasn't told Miss Weasely or Miss Granger." He said.

"I'm more inclined to the latter." I stated.

"Yes." He mused before falling silent. I bit my lip before asking a question which was hopefully going to be well received.

"How long?" I blurted out. He gave me a questioning look and I plunged on.

"How long have you loved Minerva?" I asked and then blushed as he chuckled.

"Thirty or so years." He answered. I smiled.

"Have you told her?" The fact he had answered the question had given me courage to continue.

"Thirty or so years ago. We've been married for quite some time now." He replied. I smiled widely before giving him a hug.

"Congratulations. And don't worry I won't tell a soul." I promised. He smiled and his eyes glittered.

"Even Sirius?" He questioned. I laughed.

"I'll tell him in fifteen years." I answered. He nodded his head before heading out of the kitchen. (A.n. Now JK might have said that Albus is gay but I ship Albus/Minerva so I put that in there for my own purpose. You're just going to have to deal with it.)

I headed out into the living room where people had gathered after the meeting. Mad-eye, Kingsley and Katherine were there, along with Remus and Dora. Fred and George were entertaining all the girls on the floor with a firework.

"Is there enough room for me to stay here?" Katherine asked as soon as I sat down next to Sirius on the love seat.

"Of course there's room for you." I replied and she smiled.

"I can't find a flat and I want to be close in case something does happen." She explained and everyone nodded. I assumed she had been staying with Kingsley all this time.

"Well then I'll just go and get my stuff." She replied standing up. Kingsley followed after her. Mad-eye's magical eye followed as well.

"I'll stop in every day." He announced before turning and clunking out. Fred and George looked up at Sirius.

"We would stay but our joke shop needs us." Fred explained and Sirius nodded.

"Speaking of joke shops. About that firework." I raised my eyebrow and inclined my head to the one that was whizzing around and being swatted at by three children.

"Don't worry we made sure these one's can't cause serious burns. If they did we would lose a lot of our client base." George said.

"We also bewitched it to stay in between them." Fred added.

"Just making sure." I replied and tipped my head back on Sirius' arm.

"If I offered to go to Hogwarts as Snuggles what would you say?" Sirius asked. I rolled my eyes, I had been waiting for that question. I was glad that he hadn't offered to do so in the meeting.

"I wouldn't say anything. I would just tie you to a chair until term was over or we received word of something." I answered. He laughed.

"I thought so. But if I didn't ask you would get worried." He said.

"Too True." George piped up from his position on the floor. I laughed lightly.

XXX

Sirius, Remus and Dora were upstairs helping Katherine get her stuff moved in to one of the bedrooms, while I was showing Fred and George out. A few hours had passed since the meeting had ended. I was surprised to see Severus enter the door shortly after the twins had left. His lip was curled up in a distasteful manner.

"Is Black here?" He questioned. I raised my eyebrow up at him.

"Of course Sirius is here." I replied. I had tried to avoid being alone with Severus for long periods of time ever since the time he had slapped me. He smirked.

"Well then it appears that Potter is just as bad as a liar as his father was. He said that the Dark Lord had captured Black." He announced. Any control I had disappeared.

"Can you every talk about Harry without having hate and sarcasm drip for your mouth?" I asked none too lightly. His smirk turned into a glare. I didn't flinch just turned to walk down the hall.

"And apparently your not as brave as everyone says you are." I spun back around at the bottom of the stairs.

"And you are apparently the slimy git that everyone says you are." I hissed. The next thing I knew he had both hands wrapped around my wrists.

"Let go of me." I ordered and he squeezed tighter. I thanked every lucky star that Sirius was upstairs.

"Too cowardly to let him out of your sight. Too cowardly to tell him the truth all those times you've been hurt." He shook me lightly.

"Let go of me." I ordered again with a little more fire in my voice.

"Too afraid to tell him the truth." He continued as if I hadn't interrupted.

"Let go of me." I ordered louder just as Sirius appeared at the top of the stairs. I glanced up at him in horror and saw the fire in his eyes from where I was standing. He had his wand out instantly.

"Let go of her." He commanded as he raced down the stairs. When Sirius got beside us his wand was at Severus' throat.

"I will if you don't let go right now." The tone was the sound of someone who you did not want to mess with. Severus smirked and released one of my wrists.

"You're not brave enough." he goaded. Sirius pushed harder on his throat. I snagged his arm with my free hand.

"Don't." I begged.

"Even your darling 'wife' isn't brave enough to let you do it." I could practically hear the quotation marks. I pulled my hand back and punched him in the face. He dropped my other hand in shock. Sirius shoved me behind him as Severus raised his hand to retaliate.

"If you touch her again, Dumbledore or no Dumbledore, I will kill you." Sirius promised with his wand extended. He walked out the door. Sirius turned to me.

"It was him all along wasn't it?" He confirmed what he already knew.

"Yes." I answered while nodding. He ran a hand over his face.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked. I gaped at him.

"I knew that you would kill him if I did tell you! I was not going to be the reason that you got carted back to Azkaban." I replied.

"I didn't just now." He waved his hand around us.

"Only because I was there and you knew that there was the possibility you would miss and hit me. I saw how much your arm was shaking." I said and he frowned. I sighed before hugging him.

"I can't lose you Sirius. I need you here. Not in Azkaban." My voice caught. He wrapped his arms around me and swayed us back and forth.

XXX

Yep that's right people. Sirius knows about snape. I think the whole thing went well. I'm sorry its shorter but the next part is going to be fun and dramatic. With a lot of screaming and crying thrown in there. Department of Mysteries is just around the corner. Sit tight and review!