…The Funeral…
We dressed in black. I dropped Genevieve off with my dad. Sirius and I joined the others at Lily and James' funeral I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I turned and was face to face with Petunia.
"Your Aithne right?", she asked taking in my outfit. Thankfully, I was dressed properly. She eyed me carefully. "Yes, I'm Aithne.", I said. She nodded. "Lily talked about you a lot. You do look like a doll. She was glad to have met you.", she sniffed looking towards Lily's grave.
Sirius came over. His hands wrapped protectively around me. "Harry is doing well. I thought you should know. He doesn't seem to be that harmed by the incident.", she sniffed again. Her husband came over and they left.
"Harry is ok!", Sirius muttered. I nodded. "Lily told her about me!", I sniffed fighting back tears. "Oh, yeah. James told me that at their dinner Petunia kept referring to you as Miss Doll.", he remembered. I stiffened but he kissed my cheek.
I relaxed. I left a wreath on Lily's grave. I put a book of practical jokes on James' grave. Sirius knelt by James' grave wordlessly talking to his friend.
"Time to go.", he said as he stood up. He led me down to the car. We climbed in and the tears fell on to my face. Sirius wrapped his arms around me as I cried. I was hiccupping and trembling.
He held me until I was done crying. I took deep breaths and looked up. Sirius was crying too. I wiped the tears from his face. He looked at me, "Better?"
I nodded and he cranked up the car. I fell asleep on the drive back. When I woke, I was in bed. I sat up. Sirius came in with tea, sandwiches, and soup. He placed the tray on my lap.
He sat on the bed and watched me eat. "We're not to interfere with the way Petunia and Vernon raise Harry.", he mumbled. I stared at him. "Dumbledore's orders. Even though we're his godparents. We can't take him or anything. At least until he turns 17. I don't know what we're going to do. Vernon does not seem like the nicest bloke.", he continued.
I nodded. "I think we'll manage. It'll be hard at first, but we can do it.", I sighed picking up my mug of tea. We turned to the door when we heard the knock. Genevieve poked her head in.
"Nightmare!", she whimpered. I moved my tray to the bedside table. Sirius went over and picked her up. they slid into the bed with me. "Do you want to hear something good?", he asked as he covered us with blankets.
She thought for a moment for a moment. "You're going to be big sister. Do you like that idea?", he whispered. Her eyes went wide. She let out a squeal of glee. Sirius kissed her forehead. She babbled excitedly until she fell asleep.
I watched her until I felt myself tire. "Good night love.", Sirius whispered. I smiled as I fell asleep.
…Confrontation…
I was patting Matthew's back comfortingly. Genevieve had gotten mad and made his toys catch fire. Matthew was barely two and he feared his big sister. She didn't know how to communicate with him yet. Sirius pulled Genevieve to the side to talk to her and dad who was over for lunch put the fire out.
Genevieve looked at her baby brother apologetically, but it caused him to wail loudly. His gray eyes filled with tears and kissed his head. Dad put out the last of the fire.
We went downstairs. Matthew still crying. I paced back and forth trying to calm him down. Dad sighed as he sat down. "Did Aithne and her siblings ever act like this?", Sirius asked as he sat with Genevieve.
Dad shook his head. "Her editor and publisher. They touched her idea boards and she nearly burned the house down.", he smiled at the memory. Sirius shot me a look, but I shrugged. Matthew was only sniffling now. He was pouting and I tried to hold back a laugh.
There was a knock on the door. Dad leapt up. He got the door. I sat in a chair and played with the pouty baby. He giggled. I could hear dad talking angrily to someone outside. Dad never got angry.
Sirius got up. He motioned for me to stay put. He went outside. Dad came in looking nervous. "Who is it?", I asked. Matthew babbled at dad.
"It's Carrie.", he muttered. I froze. "Take Matthew and Genevieve upstairs.", I told him. I stood and handed Matthew over. He groaned but took the kids to the playroom. I rolled my shoulders back and took a deep breath.
Sirius opened the door. My mother stood on the steps. Her lips pursed and she was looking irritated. "Aithne dear!", she called as I appeared. I winced. The words hurt my ears. She scowled and her face turned stormy and she snarled.
"I am your mother Aithne, and I will be treated with respect.", she spat. My eyebrows shot up and I smiled. Sirius turned to me. "You win. Your mum's worse than mine.", he growled in her direction before heading inside.
Once the door was closed, I turned to Carrie. "Did you need something Carrie?", I asked examining my nails. She snarled. "You didn't tell me you got married! Why did I have to hear it from your father? Why have I not met my grandchildren? Why are you not calling me mother?", she growled.
I sighed and leaned against the door. "From what I've heard you haven't met any of your grandkids. You haven't attended any of our weddings. You never gave a damn about any of your kids, did you?", I could feel the irritation and anger growing inside of me.
Her expression turned deadly. "Aithne I want to be in my grandkids lives! I treated you kids the best I could. It's not my fault you were insufferable little maniacs. All you had to do was obey my every word. What is so damn hard about that?", she scoffed. She looked crazy.
Her hair whipped around her face and her eyes kept scanning around. "Let me see my grandchildren! I demand it.", she screamed. Dad came back outside. She turned to him. "Ashton, help me convince Aithne she's being ridiculous.", she tried to sound sweet and affectionate.
I pretended to throw up. She moved towards me. "Aithne! My grandkids! Now!", she yelled. Dad moved forwards. "The police are on their way. You don't look well. You need rest.", he said.
She cackled. It was bone chilling. Then we heard the siren. The cops came and she stalked up the steps to us. "Obey me! Stop challenging me. I want to see my grandkids!", she yelled. A police officer tried to calm her down.
I noticed the officer pulling out a wand and I understood when dad said he'd called the police. Carrie's face went blank. She fell back and the 'officers' caught her. "Take her to St. Mungo's please.", dad sighed.
He ran his hand through his hair as they put her in the back of the car. We watched until they were gone. Sirius opened the door and ushered us inside. Dad apologized for the inconvenience.
After a few hours, dad went to St. Mungo's to check on Carrie. I slumped onto the couch. Sirius collapsed on top of me and groaned. "Your mum is tough as nails.", he groaned. I nodded.
Genevieve came down the stairs. "I'm hungry!", she whined. She marched over to us. "I'm hungry!", she whined. Sirius gave her a look and she flopped on the floor and cried.
Her cries woke Matthew. I groaned and Sirius sighed heavily. "I'll get you a snack ok?", he told Genevieve. She stopped crying and ran to the kitchen. Matthew wailed loudly. I closed my eyes and groaned.
Sirius kissed me gently before getting up to get Genevieve a snack. I sighed and got up. I hurried up the stairs. Matthew was banging his head on his mattress when I entered the room.
"Oh, my little baby. Stop hitting your head!", I cried. He looked up and reached out for me. I picked him up and took him down to the kitchen. He looked around and reached for the fruit bowl. Sirius handed him a strawberry. He gnawed it happily.
By the time, the kids were asleep I was worn out. I slumped against Sirius' back as he carried me upstairs. I slid out of my clothes and into bed. Sirius slid in after me and I curled up against him. "Maybe we should go on a vacation.", he murmured. I snickered and nuzzled his neck.
We talked about a possible vacation until midnight and we fell asleep. I woke with a start a few hours later. And then I heard crying and the sound disappeared. I bolted out of the bed to the kid's room with Sirius close behind me. The window was broken, and the kids were gone.
Whitley lay on the floor her eyes fixed on the ceiling. She was still breathing but apparently stunned. Sirius ran to the window and cursed. I ran over. I saw my mum turn and vanish with Genevieve and Matthew in her arms.
I let out a wail and slipped to the floor. I began crying and Sirius' arms wrapped around me. "She took my babies!", I cried. Sirius was shaking with anger, but he stayed and tried to calm me down. When I was calm enough, he went over to Whitley, but it was no stunning spell we'd ever seen. I picked her up in my arms and we went downstairs. There was a knock on the door. Sirius opened the door. Aden and a very pissed off Giselle entered. "She took the kids!", she cried.
The room went silent. She'd kidnapped all of her grandkids. Comprehension dawned on me and I felt anger boiling inside me. There was a knock on the door. Alexia and Aaron, Savannah and Calix, Jane and Isaac, Catherine and Christian, and Kirsten and Henry walked in looking as angry as the rest of us.
"Where would she have gone?", Henry asked. Kirsten squeezed his hand like she need a reminder he was there. I went to my study and brought out some maps. Jane was observing Whitley. She murmured something and the little elf sprung back to life.
"Bad woman!", she cried. She looked around. Jane quickly filled her in. "She wants to raise them as her own. She thinks if she can raise them her way it will be a second chance. She wants to reset.", the little elf cried.
The room was quiet again. "She told me that we were insufferable little maniacs and she raised us the best she could.", I scoffed and then gasped.
My siblings stared. "Dad sent her to St. Mungo's. he left here a few hours ago to check on her.", I gasped. Everyone went white. She must've escaped. I threw on my travelling cloak and we left the house to St. Mungo's.
We rushed into the hospital to find it in chaos. Healers and Trainee Healers ran to and fro. Sirius pulled me out of the way as a Healer barreled past. The Welcome Witch was trying to calm a group of visitors.
She turned to us. "You're her family.", she sighed. I figured mum was behind the disaster. She motioned us forward. "Your mum attacked your father. She ran into a poisonous plant that is messing with her ability to recognize right and wrong. We don't know when she encountered the plant, but it has been affecting her mind for a long time. It seems to be switching what is wrong and right in her mind.", she started. Jane let out a gasp of horror and Alexia looked faint.
I trembled and turned into Sirius' chest. "Is there anything you can remember about any incidents in the past when she became violent?", she asked. A healer stopped. "I was your mother's healer. Is there any information?", she asked.
Jane told them about mum's treatment of the house elves. They listened carefully. My thoughts were going fuzzy and I fought to keep my eyes open. "She kidnapped her grandkids!", the healer gasped. "If what you've said is true then she might treat your children just like the house elves if you don't hurry and find her.", she mumbled.
I felt my legs give way and Sirius caught me before I hit the ground. Tears coursed down my face. "She hit your father with the Cruciatus curse. He's not awake yet but we're hoping for the best.", she tried for a smile, but her eyes looked hopeless.
She left down the hall. We sat down in silence. I sat on Sirius' lap. "I'm going to kick her ass!", Calix growled. "We don't even know where she is. She can't travel that fast with 12 kids who are that young.", Catherine sounded like she'd rather kill her than kick her ass.
Remus walked in. Sirius looked up at him. "I heard. I caught her scent. She's already left from the airport. They're on their way to New York.", he informed us. I started shaking again but in anger not fear.
A low growl came from my throat. "We should go pack and then we can start tracking the bitch down.", Aden muttered darkly. Everyone nodded. I packed quickly. I threw things into my bag. Sirius hugged me from behind. "Calm down love. Please. We'll get the kids back.", he whispered.
I turned to him. He looked as bad as I did. I put my head in his chest. He kissed the top of my head. We finished packing and Whitley joined us at the door. "The house elves will join you.", Whitley
I looked at her. "Ruth and Ailward watch over master Ashton at the hospital but the rest of us follow our masters to get back their children.", she stated. Ruth and Ailward were her parents and they helped my dad when mum wasn't home.
I nodded and we left to the airport. The house elves went ahead to search for Carrie. I tried to sleep on the flight, but my efforts were in vain. When we landed, we went to the hotel to check in. Everyone rested before we began our search.
Whitley came by and gave us updates on the house elves progress. There was Baxter who worked for Aaron, Myrna who worked for Jane, Idona worked for Catherine, Amalie worked for Kirsten, Cordell worked for Aden, and Ceallair who worked for Calix.
Baxter and Cordell were asking other house elves if they'd seen Carrie. Ceallair and Idona were trying to find a trail or hint that she'd passed through the area. Myrna was checking any security footage.
I relayed the information to the others. I thought about the last time I was in New York with my mum. We stayed at a hotel not far from where we now were. She'd spent the day with a friend art shopping. I decided this might be relevant to our search and told the others.
"She has friends?", Kirsten scoffed. "Of course! She has 'friends'.", Aden rolled his eyes. Christian and Henry looked utterly confused. "She slept around on dad a lot. Dad knew but at the time he loved her enough to overlook it. They don't live together much now.", Aaron explained. Their eyes went wide.
Sirius scoffed. "Could she have run into the plant because one of her 'friends' wanted her to? You know. A petty attempt at revenge.", he sighed. "Aithne. Did you ever see the person?", Aden asked. I shrugged. "She was a singer.", I muttered trying to remember.
Giselle squinted her eyes trying to remember something. "A female singer who hung out with your mother a few years back.", she mumbled. Alexia gasped and hit the table. "Celia!", she hit the table again.
We turned to her in confusion. "Your mum and Celia were photographed leaving an art auction arm in arm. They looked friendly enough at the time but near summer break they had a falling out. No one knows why, but her brother, Mike, was mentioned in a fight they had outside of a public event.
Giselle smacked her head. "Carrie, Celia, and Mike were all in a relationship with each other.", she suddenly remembered. "I heard one of Celia's old friends talking about it at the restaurant. They were in a sexual relationship and your mum ended and they didn't want it to end.", her voice trailed off.
My brain hurt as I tried to absorb the new information. "That sounds better than the last time.", Kirsten scoffed after a while. "Ugh, the time she broke it off with a dragon keeper to start seeing that dueller.", Jane shuddered at the memory.
Mum did get around a lot, but never paid any attention unless it interfered with my personal life. "If she survives this one, I hope she finally learns her lesson.", I growled. Murmurs of agreement filled the room.
We searched New York for a week before we got our first clue. Kirsten and Henry found it because it belonged to their baby Phyllis, a bright blue and silver rattle. Kirsten punched a tree. The tree shook and fell over.
Henry went to calm her down. I searched the ground and smiled. "Latin!", I called. Everyone froze. "And you teased me about teaching them Latin.", I smiled at Ellie. She shook her head. There were Latin words everywhere. Hurt, scared, hungry, pain, cold, home.
The words were repeated over and over on the ground as Ellie and I read them out to the others. Sirius was shaking. Then he sniffed the air. "Go ahead.", I told him. he transformed into his Animagi form and tore off into the woods.
"He sensed something?", Sav asked hopefully. I nodded slowly. "It's not good.", I said looking in the direction Sirius had left in. We waited for an hour. Sirius came back looking like he'd seen hell.
He leaned against a tree. "Celia and Mike are with her and the kids. They're injecting Carrie with a serum or something from the plant. We need to hurry.", he panted. The others took their wands out.
Sirius led us to where they were. I could see Celia and Mike over my mum's body. The kids were huddled in a corner. There was a patch of dried blood on the ground. My breath caught. Genevieve was hurt.
Aden, Sirius, Aaron, Calix, Henry, Isaac, and Christian rounded the clearing and we waited until they were near the three kidnappers. I began t make my way to the kids followed by the others.
Aden and Sirius stunned Celia. Mike whizzed around to look for the attackers but was hit with a stunning spell from Aaron and Calix. Henry and Christian quickly checked on Carrie and then put the full body binding curse on her.
We came out of the trees to check on the kids. Matthew and Genevieve crawled over to me. They were crying and I was too. Giselle was kissing Lynna and Lawrence. Alexia checked Adam for injuries, and he fought the urge to sleep.
Sav was asking Zachary if he was ok, but he wasn't responsive. He normally talked a lot. Jane was rocking Hazel in her arms. Catherine was hugging Rosanne, Steven, and Justina. Kirsten cried while she held Grace and Phyllis close.
The kids were safe. Genevieve's wound was closing but needed treated. We got a plane back to London as soon as possible. Sirius gave the Healers the plant so they could find a treatment. The kids were slightly traumatized and stayed at St. Mungo's for a week.
Sometimes Genevieve would scream in the middle of the night. I was extremely worried, but the Healers said it would pass eventually.
Dad was out of the hospital and back home. We filled him on what happened. He was pissed. "How could she be so reckless? I thought she'd learned by now. What happened with Celia and Mike?" he asked.
We went silent. "Mike used the Cruciatus curse on Zachary to get him to stop talking so much. He hasn't spoken since we found him.", Sav mumbled sounding close to tears. Calix pulled her into his arms as she began crying.
"Genevieve is healing nicely but she'll have a scar. Celia scratched her with the used needles when they found out the kids were writing messages in Latin for us.", Sirius informed him. "The others were unharmed. Celia and Mike are awaiting trial and Carrie is still being treated.", he finished.
Dad was stunned. "They're just kids! I don't understand how people can be so cruel.", he muttered. We sat in silence for a while. Dad got up and hugged each of us. "I should have stopped this a long time ago and now your kids have been put in harms way. I'm sorry.", he said.
Aden shook his head. "We knew about her behavior too. We could've stepped in too. Don't blame yourself.", he patted dad's shoulder. Just then an owl came swooping in. Dad retrieved the letter.
It was from St. Mungo's. Mum had been responding to the antidote, but as her memories of her violence came back to her, she was losing her mind. Dad put his travelling cloak on and went to visit. Jane and Isaac, Catherine and Christian, and Kirsten and Henry went with him. The rest of us stayed behind to watch the kids.
In my old room Genevieve and Matthew slept. We entered the room quietly and climbed into bed with them. Sirius wrapped a protective arm over us as we watched them.
Mum's condition did not improve, and dad moved her permanently into St. Mungo's. I visited her twice, but we did not speak. Celia and Mike were doing time in Azkaban for what they'd done.
Zachary was slowly beginning to talk again but he hesitated a lot now. Genevieve's scratches healed but every now and then I catch her touching the place where they used to be.
She sat on my lap staring at the floor. "I tried to communicate better.", she mumbled. "Who were they? The lady with hair like yours said she was our grandma. She didn't act like one.", she continued. I didn't know how to answer and turned to Sirius, but he didn't know how to answer her either.
She stared at Matthew in Sirius' arms. "He didn't cry after Zachary got hit. No tears. No nothing.", she mumbled. I was shaking and she held a hand to my face and wiped away a fallen tear.
"You did good communicating. That lady that said she was grandma was telling the truth.", I told her. She stared up at me and smiled. I hugged her. "You did wonderful communication.", I whispered.