Chapter 37

A/n: Sorry guys I have been busy with school and work, but I thought in light of the Holiday Season I would sit down and write something for you all. A gift from me to you! May your holidays be filled with love, joy, family, friends and fun. The amount of support this story has received is unbelievable, and know that all of you mean the world to me. As always I am not JKR.

There was a distinct chill in the air surrounding Number 12 Grimmauld Place those situated inside it's hallowed halls anxiously awaited the return of its master. Calist clutched a cup of tea between two shaking hands. She felt useless, how was it Narcissa could stay so composed through all of this. Narcissa never lost that look of calm, Calist suspected that the walls could be coming down around them and Narcissa would still look as if she was above worrying over such petty things.

" The children are all sound asleep in the playroom, Harry knows somethings up he keeps asking for Sirius,"

" What do we do now?"

" We wait," stated the blonde witch as she slid into the other chair.

" What if ….." started Calist

" Don't go there Calist, there is no point stressing over something that hasn't happened yet. Whatever happens will happen we will get through it. If not for Sirius' sake then for Harry's."

Calist didn't mean for it to happen she tried to bite her tongue but Narcissa's calm demeanour enraged her.

"How can you be so cold, he could be hurt, he could be dead. For crying out loud he is your cousin!"

" How dare you!" snarled Narcissa.

"You've known Sirius less than a year, I was there the day he was born! I watched him take his first steps, learn his first spell, buy his first wand. Every childhood memory I have is with him. It wasn't you who spent all night tossing and turning when he got sorted into the traitor house, because you knew what his parents were going to do to him! It wasn't you who spent the hours before your wedding in tears because you knew he wouldn't get to see it. You're just some tramp he picked up on his travels, I'm his blood! If you think for one second …." Narcissa's voice broke off as she saw the tears trailing down Calist's face.

"I'm sorry, that was out of line. Anyone can see Sirius is crazy about you. You have to understand that we Black's were taught showing emotion was a sign of weakness. To this day I have problems letting people in. Sirius used to call me the ice queen."

"I'm sorry too, I know you love him. It's just hard sitting here watching you act so composed when I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin," said Calist quietly.

" Why don't you go upstairs and get some rest? I'll call you if anything happens," suggested Narcissa. Calist nodded and slowly walked out of the room.

Narcissa let out a deep sigh and fell back on the sofa. She began to remove the pins from her hair allowing her blonde locks to fall loosely around her face. She should probably try for some rest as well, there was no telling how long it would take the others to return. It wasn't proper for a lady to sleep in a parlour, but she was willing to make the exception. She needed to be on hand as soon as Sirius arrived. They had assembled a powerful group of witches and wizards but she was the only one with any talent as a healer. The byproduct of being a lady of a Noble House. Family issues were handled in the house.

She removed her shoes from her feet and swung her legs up onto the sofa. She laid back and slowly allowed her eyes to close. She was completely alone now, and Narcissa could finally allow her mask to break. The tears came fast and strong as she held a pillow tightly to her chest. She couldn't lose him, not again. He had stumbled back into her life and somehow managed to make the jagged and broken pieces of her life fit. Her relationship with Lucius was better then ever, finally after years of marriage she thought that she just might be able to love the man.

Before Sirius' return her and Lucius had nothing in common, she cared little for his political aspirations. Her maiden name was more then enough to garner them respect and political respect. But, when Sirius barged his way into their life his priorities changed. He was no longer consumed with vying for the top spot. He mellowed out, and she realized that family did mean something to him. She was now able to see that his political aspirations had been part of Lucius' way. He wanted to give her and Draco everything, sure he was ambitious enough but that was Lucius. He showed his love through achievement.

Sirius brought a much needed sense of stability back into her life. He was her rock her sense of comfort and safety. He had mended her relationship with Andromeda. She finally had her family back and to hell with Albus Dumbledore if he thought he could ruin that. Lost in thought Narcissa slowly drifted to sleep.

Narcissa awoke to the sound of apparating, as Aatos and Brawin appeared before he carrying a battered bruised and clearly unconscious Sirius Black. Narcissa heard herself choke back a sob, but she managed to gain composure conjuring a bed and helped the men lay her cousin out on it. Aatos and Brawin were not small men by any stretch of the imagination but Sirius had inherited the Black stature and manual labor had done nothing to diminish it.

"What happened?" she asked.

" Cruciatus, Dumbledore's doing." I am so sorry Narcissa," soothed Lucius, she hadn't even notice he was there.

" Will he be okay?"

" We have no way of knowing, but he spent hours subjected to torture. Even if he manages to survive it, chances are high he won't be all there," stated Moody, now when did he show up?

Narcissa couldn't help it the tears were falling freely now.

" But, you can fix him right? With Natural Magic I know you can! Bring him back!"

" It doesn't work that way, the only thing capable of brining Sirius back is his own magic," said Kathleen quietly.

It was then that Narcissa noticed a shaky pale white Remus Lupin. He approached the bed cautiously, he looked her directly in the eyes as if to ask for permission. Part of her wanted to say no, part of her wanted to be selfish, and blame the whole thing on Lupin. But, she couldn't bring herself to do it, so she nodded. He conjured a chair and took the other side of bed grasping Sirius' hand tightly in his own.

" I am so sorry Padfoot, this is all my fault," he whispered.

" Don't blame yourself Lupin, Dumbledore would have found out eventually. This is on him and him alone," said Narcissa trying to keep her voice even. She reached a hand across placing it on Lupins'.

They both looked up to see a pale Calist clutching Harry in her arms. She slowly approached the bed and placed the small child down on the bed. The child let out an exclamation of excitement at Sirius' presence and slowly crawled up to the head of the bed and promptly tried to wake the wizard.

" Pa! Wake-Up! UP PA! Get up!" the child cried pawing at Sirius and shaking him.

Calist immediately scooped the child up hugging him to her chest as the tears began to fall freely. This was it he was gone. If anyone could wake him it would have been Harry.

"Maybe you should take him back to his room, he is too young to see this …" But Kathleen's words fell flat when the previously unconscious Sirius Black let out a loud groan.

" What are you all standing around for?" he joked as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Before Calist even had time to process this Narcissa had smacked the wizard right across the face.

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK! IF YOU EVER PULL A STUNT LIKE THIS AGAIN I WILL HEX YOU CLEAN INTO NEXT WEEK!: