Chapter 27

Albus Dumbledore hummed to himself as he looked over the in-term reports sent to him by the professors. He heard a firm knock at the door alerting him that his deputy headmistress was waiting on the other side. He lifted his wand and muttered a spell to open the door. The stern looking witch walked in accompanied by none other then Remus Lupin. He shot Minerva a inquisitive look.

"Mr. Lupin was adamant in his request to have an audience with you."

" Well thank you for bringing him Minerva, I'll speak to Remus alone."

" No, I want her to hear what I have to tell you."

" Mr. Lupin I must insist …"

" I wanted to be the one to show you this," the werewolf snarled throwing the newspaper onto the desk.

"Now, Mr. Lupin I don't know what you think Albus has done but surely we can reach reconciliation in a civilized manner …." she stopped when she noticed the colour draining from the headmaster's face.

" He's been cleared," the headmaster said gravely.

" Yes, no thanks to you. Now tell her how! Tell he how I told you months ago that Sirius was innocent. I provided you with proof and how you continued to lead the aurors to believe he was a death eater. All to further your own agenda."

" What do you mean, he's innocent. Albus said ..."

" Albus thought Sirius was James and Lily's Secret Keeper. When I provided him with evidence that proved he was not, Albus here showed his true colours. This isn't about justice for you, it was never about justice."

" I don't expect you to understand Remus, but sometimes sacrifices are required for the greater good."

" The greater good! How many sacrifices are we expected to make. James, Lily, Harry, Sirius! That price is far too high. I would watch my back if I were you Dumbledore. I look foreword to seeing what Sirius has in store for you."

The deputy headmistress had never seen the headmaster look so downtrodden. He placed his head in his hands, as if trying to block out all sounds.

" Is it true?" she asked quietly, but if his face was anything to go by she already knew the answer.

" You must understand Minerva, it was the only way. The boy is destined to be Lord Voldemort's downfall."

" Since when have you put much store in divination?" she asked appalled.

" Since horcruxes became involved Minerva." Minerva let out an audible gasp.

" I received intelligence sometime ago that Voldemort was hiding valuable objects among his most loyal followers."

" That isn't all that suspicious, Albus."

" Not on its own no, but other information kept falling into my hands. Voldemort escaping from situations that should have resulted in his death. His sudden and abrupt change in appearance, the feeling of cold that follows him like death. It all pointed towards one thing horcruxes. The prophecy only cemented my theory and brought young Harry into the picture. I started feeding Lily information about blood magic, just in case the worst came to pass and it did. Harry needs to be guided and as noble as Sirius' intentions may be he can't adequately protect the child."

" He seems to have done a fine job protecting him from you!" she couldn't help herself she growled. She spun around on her heels and slammed the door shut behind her.


Nymphadora fidgeted in her dress robes. Her parents were nervous, that much was evident. She had never seen her parents like this nervous before, not in all her twelve years. Her hair turned bright pink and curly.

" For Merlin's sake Dora, put you hair back to its natural colour this instant." She rolled her eyes as her hair turned dark brown falling down her back in waves. Her father took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The door was opened by an unfamiliar brunette witch with blue eyes.

" You guys must be the Tonks Family. I'm Calist, I'm a friend of Sirius'. It is so nice to meet you."

" You too." said Andromeda tightly.

" Sirius is in the parlour Narcissa isn't here yet but she should be here shortly."

" Your sister is coming too!" whispered Ted.

They walked into the parlour too see the new Lord Black sitting on the floor with two small children. " Andy!" he smiled looking up.

" So, glad you guys could make it. Sorry for the stiffness of the letter but Kreacher insisted on writing it. He's convinced that I'll be able to ruin all we've worked for with a single letter."

" Not to be rude Sirius, but what is this about."

" Its a celebration of my freedom of course! It is also our chance to return the Noble House of Black to its former glory."

" And here I thought that the lack of evidence of you being a death eater meant you might not be one," snarled Andromeda eyes narrowed.

" I am not a death eater cousin, nor have I ever been one. I've taken over Lordship of this house for one thing and one thing only. To protect my godson from those who seek to do him harm. Forgive me for thinking you'd want to be a part of the methodical destruction of everything our family once stood for. I want the power, and the notoriety, not the symbolism."

" Then why are Narcissa and Lucius coming tonight then!?"

" Narcissa has mellowed out in motherhood. Her number one priority is the protection of her son. She would do anything for to protect him, I can't fault her for that. As for Lucius, well I've called in the old alliance he's a means to an end nothing more."

" I don't know Sirius," she sighed.

" We were once close Andy, I need you to trust me. To take down Voldemort we need to be a united front. This is more then just my celebration, it is a celebration of the reuniting of the Black Family. You can be a force of change."

Dora saw the blazing passion in her cousin's eyes. She couldn't help herself she believed him, she glanced quickly at her mother seeing the gears turning in her head.

" This isn't a Sirius I'm familiar with."

" Months on the run changed me Andy. I need to protect Harry I failed James and Lily once and I refuse to do it again."

" Oh Sirius," At that moment Andromeda saw the children, two of them around 2 years old. The girl sported the same blue eyes as the woman who had greeted them at the front door. The boy though there was no mistaking his parentage. That boy was a Potter.

" Is that Harry?" she whispered nodding towards the black-haired child.

" Yeah, Harry, Judith there are some people I would like you to meet." The children giggled sharing a secret trance then flew across the room. Flew.

" So, its true he is super powerful. I know he must have been to defeat You Know Who but,"

" No just your average air element. I have a feeling he's going to be quite the master with a broom." He laughed noting the blank expressions on the Tonks faces.

" Harry and I have spent a great deal of time at a Natural Magic compound believe it or not that sort of thing is pretty normal around there"

" Can you levitate?" asked Dora in a quiet voice.

" No, I can't levitate air isn't my strong suit. I'll show you what I can do though."

He walked across the room and grabbed a torch. He muttered something under his breathe and the flame from the torch began to flare and made fantastic shapes against the darkness of the walls.

" Not quite as interesting as levitating but their isn't much a fire element can do indoors." She couldn't help herself, her mother always told her she spoke without thinking.

" Could you teach me?"

" If your parents say its okay I don't see why I can't teach you some of the basics."

" You take on anymore kids Sirius you might as well open up a school," smiled Calist from the doorway.

" Me a teacher no thanks, that was always Moony's cup of tea."

A/n: Sorry for the wait guys, I had a lot of trouble with this chapter it didn't turn out the way I hoped. But I decided I needed to finnish it so we could move foreword so here it is.