Hey there HP lovers ! I'm baaaack ! I know, I know, you must all hate me, I hate making you wait too, but I had too. A lot has happened in my life but I am adamant on finishing this story, no matter how long it takes. I am thankful to those who will stick around, and I hope I won't make you regret doing so. I promise I will try to upload much more frequently.

Anyway, enough with my babbling, and without further ado, here it is !

Enjoy xx


"Back at it Sirius ?"

The Duke looked behind him only to see his godfather smirking at him. He smiled, as the Malfoy patriarch sat across him on a long comfortable armchair by the fire. Sirius' study was one fir for royals, with golden finishing on big oak bookcases, wine red velvet curtains shading windows the view of the wild sea. Winter was harsh this year, with heavy rain followed by even heavier snowstorms. Hampshire Manor's gardens had to be put under warming and shielding spells to survive the hostile weather.

The Black paterfamilias took a long puff from his cigar, blew, and then spoke "I upgraded from cigarettes you see"

"I thought Hestia would have you quit for sure" Abraxas said as he was pouring himself a glass of firewhiskey from the counter next to him.

Sirius sighed as he puffed at his cigar once again "She did manage to make me stop, well up until now at least. I need it…after everything that's happened"

Abraxas looked at his godson somberly as he sipped on his firewhiskey "Lucius is no longer a son of mine, that blood traitor sold us all to his filthy half-blood of a master, my old classmate no less…how did I not see…Sirius where did I go wrong ? Was I not a decent godfather to you ?"

"You weren't always there…"

Abraxas held up his hand and stopped his godson from speaking any further "You ran away from home, I tried to contact you but you didn't want anything to do with us. What was I supposed to believe Sirius ? Besides, I did send you money-

"My uncle Alphard was the-

"Your uncle Alphard wasn't as wealthy as you think. I know you wished he were your godfather at one point, for surely he was more 'fun' than I was, but he wasted half his money on gambling. I sent him money to send to you, I was angry at you but couldn't leave you with nothing Sirius…" Abraxas said as he filled his glass up again with the strong drink.

Sirius sighed and looked at his godfather "I'm sorry I didn't come to you, I just didn't reckon you would understand why I left."

Abraxas set his glass down and stared deeply into his godson's eyes "Of course I would have! You know more than anyone how much I loved you. For merlin's sake, Lucius was always jealous of you, and he ought to, we all know I loved you much more than I could ever love him. You're the son I wished I could have, I-

"You taught me everything I know. I will never forget that, nor do I want to godfather." Sirius smiled and looked at Abaraxas "You're the father I wished I had as well."

Abaraxas' gaze softened at that, he raised the glass to his lips again, swallowed and said "You, Draco, Narcissa, and your family are all I have left. I want to do right by you all" He laid back in his armchair and fingered his cane "I went to Gringotts this morning, I disinherited Lucius from everything, with Draco as my new heir. However, one of my vaults is now in your name, and another is in Orion's"

Sirius' eyes widened at this "Godfather surely you can't-

"Not another word, I just told you that you're the son I wished I had. Draco has a sea of galleons awaiting him after my death, one or two vaults won't affect his wealth. I just wanted you and your son to have something to remember me by after I'm gone-

"-Which won't be any time soon godfather. You are in great shape; thank Merlin for that, so none of that somber talk, please." Sirius frowned as he smoked his cigar.

Abaraxas chuckled at his godson's concern "Worry not my son, I am well and fine, and ready to fight that half-blooded bastard that wants to steal my family away. No one messes with a Malfoy and gets away with it, nor with a Black"

Sirius smiled at that.


Christmas decorations adorned the whole of Hampshire Manor, but the spirit of Christmas was just not as prominent as earlier years. Orion and Draco had arrived, with Hestia and Narcissa fawning over them and showering them with kisses, much to their dismay. Hermione Granger arrived two days later after saying goodbye to her parents who were on their way to a long vacation at the Maldives, something the Blacks and the Malfoys thought would grant the Granger more safety at this troubling time. Hermione was received with open arms as usual, and given her usual room at the Manor. Neville and Ron couldn't join in the festivities, as both preferred to stay and entertain their own families this Christmas, but promising to join in on New Year's Eve.

Hermione sat by the window in her room as she heard a knock on the door. She stood up and straightened her velvet red dress.

"Come in"

Draco came in, looking as aristocratic as ever. His robes were emerald green and looked as if they were worth the whole of Gringotts. He smiled at her beauty as he walked towards her and then took her hand and kissed its back. "You look gorgeous"

She beamed at him "So do you"

"I'm so happy you're here for the holidays, Orion is as well. It's never the same without you." He ushered her to sit down next to him on the canopy next to her bed "What did you want to talk to me about earlier this today?"

Hermione sighed and looked the door, making sure that it was closed "Daphne Greengrass"

"What about her?" Draco's brow furrowed at her words.

"I don't know, I have a bad feeling about her, about her sudden interest in Orion"

"It's not sudden, she's been practicing her for a long time for the recital we're about to attend just now. Why this sudden suspicion Hermione? Is it about Susan-

"No! Well…not just about her" Hermione replied, a bit flustered "I can't really explain it, but I have a really bad feeling about her…Plus, Orion is moving on way too fast, it's like Susan never existed !"

Draco shook his head at this "You do know he still has nightmares about her right ?"

"What?!" Hermione said incredulously, her eyes widening.

"Yes, well at least he thinks it's her" Draco looked at her as he said "You must promise not to tell anyone about this"

"I promise" She said as she held his hand.

Draco sighed and spoke "Orion has been having these nightmares…well they've been very…recurring, and I fear that they might be visions."

"Visions?!"

"We all know he has an inexplicable connection with Voldemort, what if he's trying to somehow trap him, show him something that is not ?" Draco shook his head again, all frustrated "He wakes up screaming every other night, I have tried to confront him about it, to make him tell Uncle Sirius and Aunt Hestia, but he just refuses to. I don't know what to do-

"Hermioneee, Dracooo, it's time to go"

"Aunt Hestia's calling, we should probably go downstairs" He said, as he led his girlfriend out the door.


Daphne Greengrass stood behind the grand curtains, her heart thumping, almost threatening to escape her chest. Tonight was the night she was dreading.

Members of the cast just thought she was nervous and assured her that she was to do beautifully, that she has a beautiful voice and that she has practiced long and hard with her vocal coach, as well as with the duchess herself. Little did they know it was not what she was nervous about.

Her family's fate was counting on her. Her father had gambled away the family fortune and was in debt to Lucius Malfoy. The latter had forced him into the Dark Lord's service, but with the excessive guilt and drinking, her father had fallen extremely ill. With her mother dead, Lucius found her as the perfect replacement to her unfit father, and promised to hide her father's failure from the Dark Lord, with her enlisting as one of the latter's loyal followers in return. She had begrudgingly accepted and taken the oath. She sighed and looked down at her arm, which was covered by long black silk gloves. She made sure no one saw as she slid the right glove down, just enough to see the fruit of her decision, her dark mark.

Make him trust you

His words wrung in her ears. She closed her eyes and slid up her glove again.

Make him fall in love with you

Those words brought tears to her eyes. She quickly wiped them away as she heard the stage director call for the cast to get ready. The show was about to begin, the curtains were opening, and her mission has only just begun.


Cliffhangerrr ! I know you must hate me even more for that ! But alas, I had to :P

What do you think will happen ? Did you enjoy this chapter ? What are your inputs ? I WANNA HEAR IT ALL ! So PLEASEEE REVIEW !

Again, much love to you all.

XOXO

Cleo26